AN OFFICE FOR PRISONERS FOR Crimes, Together with Another for PRISONERS FOR Debt.  
CONTAINING both Proper Directions, and Proper Prayers and Devotions.  
For Each of their Needs and Circumstances.  
By John Kettlewell, late a Presbyter of the CHURCH of England.  
LONDON, Printed by A. and J. Churchill, at the Black Swan in Pater-Noster-Row, 1697.   

AN Advertisement TO THE READER.  
IT is thought necessary to assure the Public, that the following Treatise is a genuine Piece of that reverend Author, whose name it bears; 'twas left finished under his own hand, and may serve as a fresh proof of that true Christian Zeal which inflamed his Mind, and extended his Concern, to the necessities of those miserable Wretches, who are confined to Prisons for CRIMES and Debt.  
Such afflicting Circumstances, naturally incline Men to Consideration, the want whereof is for the most part the true cause of all their Misfortunes; but since it is as impossible to make that undone, that is once done, as it is to call back Time; the only remedy that is left for the returning Sinner, is to make all those Reparations to God and Man, which his particular case will admit off: Now to this Purpose he is here furnished with variety of Directions both how to begin and complete his Repentance, and with variety of Devotions to implore the assistance of that Grace, which is so necessary in order to his recovery.  
There has been so little writ upon this important Subject, that I persuade myself the Publication of it; will be very grateful to all good Men, who rejoice at any means that are used to rescue captives from the Slavery of Satan: Besides the accurate Management of the Argument, will recommend it to the Approbation of the most judicious.  
Composures of Devotion, when perfect in their kind, I think may very well be ranked among some of the difficult performances in Divinity; since they require not only propriety and decency of Expression, but a mature Judgement; spiritualised Affections; and a most comprehensive knowledge of all Christian Duties, to render them Complete; that while the mind is stored with rules to make a sound Judgement, the will may be determined to the choice of what is just, and all the faculties winged to the swiftest prosecution of it.  
How far this Devout Office answers that Character, must be left to the world to Judge, but the talon our Pious and Learned Author had that way is so well known, that I need say no more to satisfy the Reader, than to assure him this is of a piece with what he has already published in that kind.  
God grant that it may Attain that End which he Aimed at in this and all his other Writings, which was the Service of his Blessed Master, and the Salvation of those Souls which were redeemed by his most precious Blood; that they may both perceive and know those things which they ought to do, and may have Grace and Power faithfully to fulfil the same, AMEN.  
8 th' March, 1696/7. Blackheath. Nelson.   

TO THE READER.  
Reader,  
THE Case of Poor Prisoners, both for Crimes, and also for Debt, is very lamentable, and uncomfortable, with Relation to their Bodies; but more with Relation to their most Precious Souls. And I think it a Good Piece of Charity to Direct them, how in their most Dangerous Circumstances they may, however, set their Souls Safe, and also Provide for their Bodily straits; making them as easy and advantageous to them, yea, and I add really as safe too, as their Case admits to make them.  
But when such Helps are provided for them, these miserable Persons are neither like to inquire after them, nor be at any Charge to buy them for themselves. And therefore another Sort of Charity will still be wanting to their Relief, and that is, the Charity of some Pious Persons to Distribute such Helps among Prisoners, and put them into their hands. And when Compassionate and Charitable Persons, do not Visit Prisons themselves, methinks such of them as are of Ability, should not think much to send such Visitants and Companions as these among them.  
I have Prepared this little Piece to be sent Abroad, both to Furnish them with Particular Directions, and also with Particular Prayers, for their several Needs and hard Circumstances. And I hope God will from Time to Time stir 〈…〉 of some or other of 〈…〉 and Charitable Servants in Several Counties, to send some of these Pieces (or others which they like better) to be Distributed some Due Time before the Assizes in their Neighbouring Prisons. By God's Blessing they may Help to Save many Souls by this Means; at least they will greatly Benefit, and Recommend their own to his Mercy, who sets not so much by any Charity, as by that of Converting Sinners, from the Error of their ways.   

Brief Directions FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES, AND FOR PRISONERS FOR DEBT.  

I. Special Directions, for Prisoners for Crimes.  

CHAP. I.  
How to Behave and Employ themselves, after Commitment, and before the Trial.  
I. AS soon as you are Committed to the Prison, begin seriously to Consider, and Resolve within yourself, how to spend your Time there.  
Do not once fancy, that you must lie shut out there from all Business, and Condemned to a State of Idleness. But set yourself with all your might, to mind the one thing necessary, viz. The Great Work of Repentance, and making your Peace with Almighty God: And know assuredly, that this will cut out Work enough for you, and of more Comfort and Profit to your Soul, than any other Employments which you have formerly been used to.  
And do not think of leaving this most necessary and important Work for an aftergame, and that it will be time enough to fall to it after you have received Sentence of Condemnation. For this shows, that you do not yet think Repentance to be the Work of a Living, but only of a Condemned and Dying Person, and that if you could have any Hopes to live on, you would Reserve yourself and are Resolved to Sin on. And when you come to it with this Mind, you are never like to do much Good in the way of Repentance; nor is it like to do much Good to you. Besides, the Review and Amendment of a whole Life, and making your Peace with God and Men after a long course of Provocations against both, if it be done as it should be, is a Work of more Time, and Difficulty, and Thoughtfulness, than you are aware of. And after Sentence is once passed upon them, the wretched Criminals often times are either so Dejected with their Misfortunes, or so Distracted with Terrors, that their Minds are not Capable, to be any thing near so composed, Intent, and Thoughtful, as the Work of Repentance Requires; or to make half so much use as they should of that little Time which is left them. Not to put them in mind likewise, that Considerable parts even of that little Time will be snatched away from this Grand Business, to be taken up in Farewell Visits, some of Business, others of Love and Kindness, and in other Avocations and Interruptions, which both the Noisy and Incommodious State of Prisoners, and the Condition of Persons taking a Deliberate Leave of this World, must expect to meet with.  
As soon therefore as you are shut up from others, fall to Converse with yourself, and Call your own Heart and Ways to Remembrance. And apply yourself with Seriousness to think of leaving this World, and of Giving a Strict Account to the Dreadful Judge of Heaven and Earth, of all the Good or Evil which you did whilst you lived in it, and of the many Things which you need to amend, and have to do, to make your Peace with God, before you leave it.  
First, fix your Thoughts on Heaven and Hell, and look upon them as most Real and Certain Things, and as States of utmost Joy or Grief, and of Endless Continuance. They who will not Believe that there is an Hell, shall surely feel it: And when, by feeling the most Exquisite Pains thereof, they come to be Convinced to their Cost that there is One; they shall be for ever incapable, either to bear it, or to get out of it. Who can abide the Raging Torture of Fire and Flames, and 
† Isa. 33. 14.  Dwell with everlasting Burnings? Who can Endure to be perpetually gnawed, and pierced to the quick, with the Worm of Conscience, always accusing and tormenting him, and eating through his Spirit? To lie down in a Bed of Sorrow, yea, and which he has madly Chosen, and obstinately Sought out for himself: Where there is nothing, but Anguish without abatement, and Horror without hope; and wherein there neither is, nor can be the least Glimpse of the Divine Mercy, but inexorable Justice comes Armed with Power, to heap on such Plagues, as an Almighty God can inflict, and an immortal Sinner can suffer, for evermore.  
And assure yourself, that this will surely be the just Wages of the Crime for which you are made a Prisoner, and the unavoidable end of your misspent Life, unless you Employ that little space of Time, which you have yet remaining, to prevent the same, by true Repentance, and making of your Peace with God before you die.  
Being therefore without delay to Survey your past Life, and to Repent of all that needs Repentance.  
Read over your Baptismal Vow in the Church-Catechism, upon the engagement and undertaking whereof, God admitted you to the Hopes of his Mercy and Eternal Life in Christ Jesus; and attently bethink yourself how you have kept it. And read over your Duty to God and to your Neighbour, and at every particular of each of them, propose to yourself, and Consider how you have Performed the same. And this will show you what Commandments you have Broken, and what Sins you have to bewail and amend, that you may Recover God's Favour, and Prevent the Torments of Eternal Fire.  
And having thus Discovered what your Sins and Offences are, which expose you to God's wrath, set yourself instantly to humble your Soul for them before him, that so you may be fit for his Mercy. With hearty Self-abasement, and Condemnation of yourself for the same, acknowledge before him, your own Baseness, and abominable Unthankfulness, and Wretched Folly therein. And fix in your Heart the Firmest Purposes of Amendment thereof, as seeing assuredly, that there is no other way, either of showing your Duty, your Love, or Thankfulness to God, or of saving yourself from Everlasting misery.  
And having thus Considerately, and fully Purposed this Amendment within yourself, and that of all the several Sins which you find you have been Guilty of, Faithfully Promise him, that by his Help you will Amend them. And beg his Grace to fix you in this Purpose, and to Enable you, as occasion is offered, to perform it. And then humbly and earnestly beg his Pardon for all your Sins, for Jesus Christ's Sake. And every Day afterwards, as it comes, apply yourself with utmost Care and Diligence, to make Good your Work, and Perform these Promises, Considering, that it is the honest keepers of Promises, who are to Claim the Benefits of them; and therefore in all the Opportunities you meet with afterwards, you must be strictly mindful according to your Promise to do better, in all those Points wherein you had done amiss before.  
And as for all Wrong and Damage, which you have done to any by your Transgressions, especially by this for which you are now a Prisoner; Resolve within yourself, to make them full Satisfaction if you are able; or else, to make them as much Satisfaction as you can, and to beg their Pardon, and their Prayers to God to Pardon you, for the Rest. And contrive how to do this, and have things in a readiness, that it may be done effectually and without delay, as soon as ever it may be Prudent and Convenient to do it; providing at the same time against Casualties, that whatever happens to you, it may not be finally dropped and be undone. And give out such General Intimations before, of your true Repentance and fixed Intentions, of doing justice according to your Ability, to all who have suffered by you, as may be safe for you, and something of Satisfaction to them, in the mean time. And look on this Reparation for Wrongs, as a thing that must take Place of any Provisions, which you would desire to make for yourself, or your Family, out of your worldly Goods; and that it is a necessary Course, to prevent Gods Future Wrath, and to Clear your Conscience.  
In this Great Work, of posing, and purging of your Conscience, and perfecting the Course of your Restitution and Repentance, and expressing your Heart thereupon to Almighty God, you will have great need of, and may receive much comfortable assistance and benefit, from Godly Directions, and Forms of Prayers fitted for this purpose. And if you are not otherwise provided therewith, your needs herein may be supplied by a small Book, entitled A Companion for the Penitent, wherein is An Office for the Penitent to Carry on their Reconciliation with God: And a Trial or Judgement of the Soul, to Discover the Safety of their Spiritual Estate, etc. lately Printed.  
And during all the Time, which God shall spare you after your Commitment, to attend this Grand Business, make Pious Books your Companions, which you may Converse with as often, and as much as you please, and always with great Comfort and Advantage to yourself; And Discreet and Religious Friends likewise, if you have any such who will come at you. For their Discourses and Devout Breathe, will be like gentle Blowing on dying Embers, and help to kindle any sparks of Virtue and Goodness that lie Dormant in you. They will call forth your Penitential Relent, and increase them, and bring you by use to take Comfort therein, and Direct you how to carry on the same. Especially if you have a Wise and Faithful Guide of Souls for your Friend, prise his Visits, and make the most of them, and prepare yourself still to receive both Direction and Warmth from his Lips. And be free in opening yourself to him, and in begging his Judgement and Direction, upon all the great Passages of your Life, and the present Conduct of your Repentance, how you are to order it so, as that you may be most sure of making your Peace with Almighty God. And be careful to receive his Directions with Thankfulness, and to follow them with Care.  
And this way of spending your Time, in transacting and perfecting your Repentance and Peace with God, let me again beseech you to look upon, not only as an incident, to fall in now and then, but as your Work and Business in Prison. And be sure to keep yourself to it, as much as your Spirit will bear. Remembering, that you have a Great Work to do, and no Time to throw away. That if you fail or fall short therein, you are irreparably undone for ever. And that there is Great Danger of your Failing, unless you show such an early, a watchful, and incessant care, as I advise you to. That you have been desperately Foolish, as well as Wicked, in throwing away the former Days of your Life, and therefore should now seek to redeem them, and to be double diligent in the good Husbanding and Religious Improvement of that small shred thereof which still remains.  
Take not therefore more than needs of your Precious Time, especially not any great Portions, from this most necessary and salutary Employment, to attend unprofitable Visits, or to throw away in Idleness. But by no means spend any Portions thereof, in that Cure and Diversion of Cares, which alas! Is too often the Refuge of Imprisoned Malefactors, viz. Wine, and Jollity and Profane and Loose Conversation. Go no more into such Society, than you would into an Infected Room: But eat it as you would do the Plague, or as you would do Persons who are throwing Fire-balls among Combustible Stuff, and spreading Endless Ruin.  
And in this Course, wait for the Sessions or Assizes, and continue thus to Employ yourself till your Trial comes.   

CHAP. II.  
How to Behave and Employ themselves, in order to, and at, their Trial.  
AND then in the next Place, as to what Concerns your Trial, look up to God as your only Deliverer to bring you off there. All Trials in Human Courts, are of uncertain Issue. Even the Innocent have Cause to Fear, and the Guilty much more. For there Men stand or fall, by the Understanding and Dispositions of Judges and Juries. And their Hearts and Minds are in no Hand but Gods, who Turns and Governs them as he pleases. Their Verdicts and Sentences in Trials, are influenced and determined, either in Favour of the Prisoners or Against them, according as some things are offered in Evidence, or others Omitted, which are apt most to affect them in their several ways of Reasoning and Believing, and sway most with them. And tho' these Particular Suggestions or Omissions in Evidence, whereon the Judgement thereof is like to turn, seem accidents to us, and were not foreseen nor dreamt of by the Prisoners; yet are they all Wise Ordering and Providences in God, so that in the Verdict brought in thereupon, we have what he pleases.  
If you do Escape therefore at all, lay down this beforehand within yourself, and be both attended and fixed in the belief thereof, that it is he alone who must send you Deliverance. And if your Deliverance must come from thence, Direct your Eyes to him from whom your Help Comes, and place all your Confidence in his kind and watchful Providence: And when you trust to him for Deliverance, seek for it with earnest Prayers, and beg a longer Respite in this World if he pleases. But withal, seek this with Resignation to his Holy Will, humbly submiting to his Justice, if he think fit to bring you to Deserved Punishment for this Offence, for an Example to terrify others; and Praying, that whatever Vengeance he Exacts for your Crimes here, he would by no means Extend his Wrath further, but for Christ Jesus's sake spare your Soul hereafter.  
And thus you see, that the Religious Spending of your Time, which I have advised you to, is really the best way you can take to prepare for your Trial, and to deliver you from the Sentence of Death here, as well as of Damnation hereafter. For if God, and his most undeserved Care and kind Providence, must be your Deliverer; these Religious Exercises, which are the surest way to gain God, must be the surest ways of Deliverance, and they have most Hope to escape the Danger, who have done most and taken the best care to secure his Favour.  
If you have any Matters to Order relating to this World, do them, as much as you are able, before your Trial comes on, and leave them not to be cared after Sentence of Condemnation is passed upon you. For all your Time after that, will have Care and Work enough of its own, and should therefore be kept as free from all other interruptions as it can.  
When you are going to your Trial, go first to you Prayers, and put yourself into God's Hands, and beg his Assistance. Desire that his Grace and Holy Spirit, may govern all your Carriage, and all your Answers there, and prepare your Heart to express yourself with Wisdom, and Uprightness, and the Hearts of Judges and Juries to receive the same with Favour and Tenderness. Remembering, that both the Preparations of the Heart in him who needs and asks Favour, and the Answer of the Tongue in those who are either to Grant or Deny it, is from the Lord. Prov. 16. 1.  
When you are brought upon your Trial, I think you may safely make the Legal Plea of not Guilty: For though you are Guilty in reality, yet you are not Guilty in the Eye of the Law, till you are Legally found to be so. And when the Law asks you this, I conceive you may answer, not according to your Real, but your Legal Guiltiness, being innocent in Legal Estimate till you are Convicted. For 'tis the Humanity and Equity of our Law, as I take it, not to require Criminals, Especially in Capital Cases, to Accuse themselves, which would be very unnatural, and casting off all Tenderness and due Regard to Human Weakness. But whatever they are in Truth, it allows them to put their Gild upon the Proof, by Pleading not Guilty, that where they can not voluntary publish themselves, and glory in a Fact as Confessors, they may be Convicted thereof by due Proof as Criminals, and brought to suffer Punishment for the same, as common Humanity allows punishments should be suffered, against their Wills. Yea, further to manifest its moderation and disposition to Clemency in this Case, after they have thus put their Guiltiness upon the Proof, the Form and Voice of the Court is, to pray them a Good Deliverance.  
And having put yourself upon the Trial of this Plea, you may say such things in your own Favour, as you can say truly. But seek not for Safety in Lies, and Falsification of things against your own knowledge; denying what you know to be True to save yourself, or positively Affirming what really you do not know, or perhaps know to be otherwise. Much less seek it in Mischievous Lies, to cast your Faults on others, and either bring Innocent Men under Suspicion, and into Dangers, or make other Guilty Persons Guilty of more than really they are: For this is to give God fresh Provocations, and back an old Sin by a new one, and to forsake him when you stand in the greatest need of him, which is the readiest way to forfeit both his Peace hereafter and his Preservation here, and utterly to lose both Him and yourself too.  
Trust your Life therefore in his Hands, by keeping your Defence thereof within the Bounds of Truth and Justice: This is a Great Trial of your Faith. But 'tis a Trial which you have wickedly brought yourself into. And under the same, it is necessary for you thus to approve your Faith, in his mercy and care of you. You have no Faith in him left, or none that he will accept of, if you forsake him and his ways in this difficult case, and fly to Sin to save yourself. But if you can trust wholly to his Providence and not at all to evil ways, and have Faith to contain yourself within your Duty under the hazard of your Life, this noble Faith will be a mighty Endearment, and of Great Account in his Eyes; nothing ever recommending poor Sinners more to God, than Faith doth, when it keeps them innocent and obedient in such hard Trials.  
And therefore set yourself resolutely to act this Great, and most concerning Part well, and to approve your Faith in him when it is Tried. And look upon this trusting of yourself to him, to be the wisest way of saving your Life, as well as of preserving your Innocence. For if you are Preserved at all, as I say, you must owe your Preservation above all things to his watchful Care and kind Providence. And if you must receive your Life from his Hand, seek to him for it, and trust him with it; and by no means leave him, to seek out other unlawful Helps, which will be like to Deceive you in this World, and are certainly the way to Destroy you afterwards, in that which is to come.  
And when you have heard your Accusers, and have been heard to make as wise a Defence as you could make for yourself with Truth and Justice, lift up your Heart to God when you are taken from the Bar, and humbly and devoutly Commit the Event of all to him. And Pray that he will be pleased to Order it in Favour to you, waiting with Patience and Resignation of Spirit, to see how he will Dispose the Hearts of Judges and Juries to deal with you.  
If you are Acquitted, give him the Praise thereof, and Receive it with utmost Devotion and Thankfulness. But if you are brought in Guilty and Condemned, humbly Submit yourself, and own the Justice of your Sentence: And give Glory to God, by justifying his Providence, which has recompensed your high Crimes with a deserved Vengeance; and by justifying his lawful Ministers, who bear the Sword in his Place, and use it at any time upon such Criminals as you are, confessing freely that 'tis used now in your Case, for the Punishment and Terror of evil-doers.   

CHAP. III.  
How to Behave and Employ themselves after Sentence of Condemnation, and at the Time of Execution.  
AND after you have received Sentence, set yourself to lose none of those precious moments of Time which are left you, but to make the Wisest and Carefullest Use thereof which you can, in preparing for Death. You are to Discharge this Great and last Part of Dying but Once, Oh! Therefore take care to do it well. You can rectify or amend nothing after, Oh! Then labour as much as in you lies to make all sure, and set all strait before. Finish all your intended Acts of Restitution, and Repeat anew all your former Acts of Repentance, and add Earnestness and Vigour to them, and Perfect what is Defective therein, and send them up to God in continual Strains and Breathe of Devotion, either short and occasional Ejaculations, or more set and solemn Prayers. And to Consummate your Repentance, and to Comfort up your Spirit with the Pledges of God's Love and Peace, take care before you die to receive the Holy Communion, after you have endeavoured the best you can to fit yourself for it, and to Satisfy the Holy Man who Administers it to you, of your Fitness for the same. And if you can often have the Blessing of a Prudent and Pious Ministers Direction in that disconsolate time, prise it highly, and improve it diligently, and take such further ways for the Securing of your Peace and Quieting of your Conscience, as in his Discretion he shall Direct you to.  
And when you are brought from Prison to Execution, own the justice of your Sentence: Profess your abhorence and true Repentance of the Crime which you Dye for, and of all your other Sins. Declare the Satisfaction you have made, or would make, were you able, to all you have wronged. Beg all Persons to forgive you, who have suffered by you in any kind, and all who have ever learned any ill from your Acquaintance and Example. Declare that you do from your Heart, forgive all Persons, and that you bear not the least ill will against any of your Prosecutors, or the Judges and Juries who were concerned in bringing you to Justice. And when you make this Protestation of Forgiveness and Good Will to them, be sure nothing fall from you, that may bring the Sincerity thereof into Question. And therefore take Diligent Care, not to show uneasy Remembrance and Resentment, of the Evils or Injuries which you have suffered, but only of those which you yourself have done: And to keep your last Breath from being an hurtful Blast upon any Persons, and your Dying Words from casting out Darts and leaving a Sting in your Enemies, Remembering, that you are to leave the World and come to Execution, not as a wild Beast, fight with your Foes, and pushing and goreing; but as a Lamb, meekly submitting, as your Blessed Saviour did, though he had no Real Gild but was perfectly Innocent, who suffered the worst things without aggravating them or being angry at them, and on the Cross spoke nothing of his bitter Enemies, but to Excuse them, and Pray for them.  
And having thus testified your Godly Sorrow for your Sins, desire all the Bystanders to learn of you Repentance (though by no means to delay it so long as you have done) and to be horribly afraid of the sad end of evil doers, and of the Vengeance of God, which is ofttimes swift, but when 'tis most slow, will be sure at last, and utterly insupportable to all those, who will not take care in time to appease him by amendment of Life. Beg all that need it, to take warning by your punishment, that your most just and lamentable Death, may terrify more from Continuing in their Sins, than the Example of your Evil Life had lead into Sin.  
Likewise, if you can do Right to any Persons falsely accused, or wrongfully suspected, fail not to Do it the best you can, before your Breath is stopped.  
Profess also your Faith, whereinto you were Baptised, devoutly and audibly; repeating the Apostle's Creed, and declare the Religion, wherein you Dye; and lament the Dishonour, which you have brought upon them by your wickedness, and declare your earnest Desires to Do some Right to them now by your Repentance.  
And when by all these ways, you have expressed before them all, how truly penitent you are for your Sins, then humbly profess your lowly Hope in God's free Mercy and most Gracious Promises, who for the Death and Merits sake of our most Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ is ready to pardon, even the Greatest Sinners, such as you are, upon their true Repentance.  
After this, beg the Prayers of all the Beholders, and the Prayers of all Good People. And then fall to your own Private Devotions, praying earnestly for yourself, and for them. Then Pray with the Minister, who stands ready to perform this last Office of Charity for Dying Men; and desire all present to help you by their affectionate and fervent concurrence therein.  
Then take a kind and decent Leave of all the Company, and pray God to make them all the better by the Sadness of this Sight. Thank them all heartily for their Pity, and their Prayers, and Desire the Continuance thereof to assist you in your last Agonies. Then turn yourself to take a fitting Farewell of your particular Friends or Relations, if any are there present, and after that commit yourself to the Mercy of God through Jesus Christ, and with continued and earnest Prayers and Ejaculations, wait till the Executioner or Minister of Justice stops your Breath.  
To remember all these Points at the Place of Execution, may be thought hard for the Poor Prisoner. But he may have this little Book in his Eye, for his Remembrancer. And however he may express himself on as many of them, as he can think of; and then satisfy his own mind, that although he has not done so much as he Desires, yet he has done the best he could do.    

Brief Directions FOR PRISONERS FOR DEBT. II. Special Directions for Prisoners for Debt.  
WHEN you are made a Prisoner for Debt, it first concerns you to consider how you came in Debt. And if you are made Poor and Disabled from paying your Debts, merely by the Hand of Providence, you deserve Pity from all, and Patience and Forgiveness from your Creditors. They lose nothing by you, that you have squandered, but only what God has taken away. But if rigorous and unchristian Creditors will still be hard upon you, you must do them all the Justice you can, and when that is done, bear the Rest with Resignation, and conform your Will to the Will of God, who calls you hereby to the Patience, Religious Trust, and Dependence of an hard Condition, remembering all the while to your comfort, that you have not sought this afflicted State to yourself, but may receive it as a State of Gods choosing for you, who knows best what is fittest for us all, and as a Visitation of his sending.  
But if you can charge yourself with any great wickedness, and have highly offended God, to bring these Losses and Impoverishment upon you, as a Judgement; or if you have run yourself in Debt, by riotous and luxurious Living, by the Expensiveness of Riot, Pride▪ Gaming, or by Idleness and Neglect of Business; than you must humble yourself, and be heartily sorry for these Sins, for which you suffer, and bear the confinement you have brought upon yourself patiently, and set your self to learn Repentance thereby. And for working this Repentance, you may have recourse to the foregoing Directions about the same for the Prisoner for Crimes, Chap. 1.  
But which way soever your Debt comes, when you are their Prisoner, be sure to deal candidly and openly with your Creditors. If you cannot fully satisfy them, lay your condition truly before them, and show yourself disposed to do Right to all as far as you can. Do not pretend ways of raising Money for them, which are not true; nor promise payments, which you cannot perform. 'Tis your Duty to be sincere and plain with them, and plaindealing may mollify and engage them; but it will be your Sin, and may double their Resentment, if you abuse and delude their expectation.  
And let them be first served out of your Estate, so far as it will go; unless in compassion to your needs, they are willing to allow you some part of it. But think not first of saving maintenance (whether they will allow of it or no) for yourself, or for your Family, and then of letting them take what remains. For your Duty is first to be just to all Men, and not live yourself, nor maintain your Dependants, upon other men's Goods kept from them against their Wills; which is to live upon withholding Right, and perverting Justice.  
Much less think of forcing them to abatements and scanty compositions, to reserve and raise a good Estate for yourself, or for your Heirs, out of their Purses Nor choose to endure the tediousness and hardships of a Jail for your Life, to supersede all Legal Remedy against your Heir, for your Debts, which he cannot be sued for a second time, after you have died a Prisoner for them. For this is paying very dear for doing wrong, and denying Men their own; and is certainly the way to carry off a very unrighteous and guilty Conscience with you, and to leave the Curse of ill Reserved Goods and of unpaid Debts, to your Heirs who survive you.  
And seek not to Tricks, or any dishonest Fetches and Misuse of the Law, to set aside Debts, or put them off and postpone them, instead of paying them. Nor spend any of your Money, in defrauding, or hindering your Creditors of their just Right, which is all little enough, it may be too little, towards the honest Satisfaction of it.  
And if by your Insolvency, any of your Creditors are brought against their wills to abate Part rather than lose all, look on that Part as respited not remitted, and pay it afterwards (if God enable you) in the Sum itself, or (if you cannot do that) be studious to make it up in Good Offices and Grateful Services, and for the rest have Recourse to God by Prayers in their behalf. And what after-Recompences you make them, do the same with goodwill, cheerfully, and diligently; and thank them heartily for their Patience and Kindness, in being Content to want it so long as they have done, when you do at last pay them the sum itself, or, when you cannot do that, in accepting your services in lieu thereof.  
And having first taken this upright care of your Creditors, and of their Payments, then look to yourself, and provide the best you can for your own Maintenance. If you have any thing of your own left, after your Creditors are satisfied, live frugally and thankfully upon it. If you have not, than you are called to get your Livelihood still as you need it, and in the way of Honest Industry look up to God to give you day by day your daily bread. If he has enabled you to seek this, by earning it for yourself in any lawful Labour or Business, look on that as the best way, and ply it with Diligence and Contentedness. But if thro' disability, or the numerousness of your Family, or otherwise, you need to be helped out by Gifts of Charity, humble yourself to your state, and represent your necessities modestly, and receive an Alms with Thankfulness. First represent your wants to your near Relations, who are more especially bound to relieve the needs of their own House; 
1 Tim. 5. 4, 8.  and then to any other Charitable Persons, as your Case requires.  
And whether you Live by Alms, or by taking Pains, bear always in your mind, that you are called to act the Part, and discharge the Duties, of a poor Estate: And let it be your daily study, to bring your mind to it, and to think only of having such accommodations, as are fit for a Poor Man; not such as you had whilst you were in a wealthier condition.   

Brief Directions FOR BOTH. III. General Directions for both.  
BUT when Men are Prisoners, whether for Debt or for Crimes, they will be like to groan especially where they are kept long in Prison, under the burden of Solitude, or Want, or both. They are shut up from their Friends and Acquaintance; and are much straightened for Conveniences, or it may be for Necessaries. And for a Conclusion of these Advices, I shall give them some Brief Directions for their due Reception thereof, and for their Carriage and Improvement under each of these bitter Ingredients, and sorrowful Appendages of the State of poor Prisoners.  
And first as for Solitude, that indeed is a punishment as coming to them against their wills, as their imprisonment is; but nothing is more fit to be their Choice, if they will make Repentance their Business. For he must retire from the World, who would fall in earnest to converse with God, and to look 〈◊〉 himself. The greatest Saints fall to this at certain times, as the best means of evening their Accounts with God, and perfecting their Repentance. And all Men have Reason enough to wish for some such thing, before their Deaths! Especially if these dying Persons are but young Penitents. For when Men at first enter upon the great work of Repentance, 'tis extremely advisable, and more than ordinarily needful for them, to retire from the Noise, and Business, and Diversions of the World, that they may have little else to do, but to attend it. And that they may keep out of the way, of their former evil courses, till they have unlearnt them; and of their corrupt Acquaintance and Companions, till they can withstand and deny their Solicitations; and of those Temptations of the World, which have ordinarily been too hard for them hitherto, till they have considerately form, and fixed and fortified their Holy Resolutions to such a Degree, as may be able to overcome them.  
Let the Prisoners therefore make Repentance their Work and Business in Prison, as I have advised them in the foregoing Directions, and then they may Thank their Prosecutors for the Benefit of their Solitude and Melancholy Retirement, and make it their own hearty desire and free choice. If they employ it to converse with God, and to know and amend themselves, which they may do if they please, and will do if they are wise to do well for themselves, their Confinement will be as good to them in a Jail, as it is to a Devoto in his Cell, and may be as welcome to them when put upon them by others, as his is to him when he seeks it for himself. And thus, what God sends to punish your Sins, O, ye poor Prisoners, by your wise use thereof, you will turn to cure them. And this alone will change that Confinement! Which may come upon you as a Curse, into the greatest blessing.  
And to make that Confinement easy to you in the Practice, which this way will be so blessed and beneficial in the Effects, keep your Fancy from running out after the Noise, the Diversions, and busy Occupations and Entertainments of the World. Discontent and roving Desires abroad, are the greatest sting in being shut up. But keep your Mind at home, and your Desires within bounds, and the want of those Liberties abroad which you Covet not, and which you daily see do hurt to others, and have formerly done very much to yourself, will sit light upon you.  
And Consider, that as you are hereby kept out of the Enjoyment and Affairs; so are you likewise out of the Temptations, and, if you please, may be out of the Cares of this World. And ordinarily the Temptations of Liberty have more of Danger, and of the Cares of Trouble and Sorrow, than the Enjoyments thereof can fairly recompense.  
And if you are shut up from your Friends, you are shut up also from your Enemies. For a Prison is a Guard against all other Wrongs, and you are safe there in Stirs and Tumults, in Public and in Private Dangers. And though it be hard to be without the Company of those that Love us, yet is it no despicable Recompense, if thereby we are secured from the Envious and Malicious, and from the further attempts of all that hate us. For ordinarily we are not to promise ourselves so great Effects from the kindness of our Friends, as we have reason to apprehend from the malice of our Enemies; Spite and Envy being usually more industrious and watchful of opportunities to show itself, and eager to do it to the full, than Love is.  
Perhaps you Fancy, that now you are as one taken almost out of the World. But what if you be? You have seen Evil enough, and Done too much in it, to be fond of it; and this Recess from the World, affords you great advantages of making yourself ten thousand times more happy in another World. And if imprisonment is bidding adieu to the World, Consider, that this Time of your Commitment to Prison, is not the first Time of your Renouncing the World. For every Christian doth this, when he is Baptised. They all Profess to be as Persons out of this World, and to keep Hearts free and loose from it, and to live above it: And if People are really of this mind, it will not affect them much, wheresoever God calls them to make their abode in it.  
You are restrained also to one Place, and must move but in a narrow Compass. But if by God's blessing, you can have your Health, and be easy and quiet under this Confinement to one Place, may you not well be contented not to change whilst you are well, and whilst the will of God is so, rest satisfied without trying new Places. And if it please God to send sickness, tho' you were at Home, sickness would tie you to your own House, or it may be to your Bed, which is a narrower Compass than a Prison is. 'Tis worse being Prisoner to a Disease than to the Keepers of Common Prisons. And Diseases, as the worst of Jailers, bring their Prisoners into such a close Custody, as is much more irksome and afflictive, than any other is. For under others, you are shut up, indeed, but that is to sit at Ease and Rest. But under a Disease, you are shut up too, and likely closer confined, and that to have constant Pain and Sorrow with it.  
But whatever Restraints you are under in Prison, as to your Body; yet remember, that even there your Mind is Free. Your Thoughts may go abroad, and run over all the great Occurrences of your Life, and fetch in Matter enough to busy yourself withal, even all those things thro' all your Life, which you should be sensible were done ill, and which you have yet space before you die, to correct and make better, You have liberty to think as much as you please, of God, and of yourself, of the Joys of Heaven, and the Terrors of Hell, and the Vanity of this World, and of all things else, which may either direct or comfort you, and be of use either to your Soul or Body. Nay, the more your Body is restrained, and the less you have left to mind of other ●hings, the more liberty you have for these thoughts. And therefore if spiritual things and employments are your design, instead of being a place of Encumbrance and Restraint, your Prison is a place of Leisure and Freedom. Take away the Name of Prison, as Tertullian advises, and Call it a Recess; and that is no Let, but the Greatest Opportunity and advantage to true Penitents, and Spiritually and Heavenly minded Persons.  
And then Secondly, as for the other embitterment of Want and Poverty; when God is pleased to send it too, be patient under it, and set yourselves to gain as much as you can by it. And if you please, you may gain abundance more thereby in spiritual Exercises and Improvements, than your bearing all its temporal hardships and inconveniences will amount to.  
When you are brought therefore to a poor Estate, be sure you take Care to be poor in Spirit, or to have no● 〈◊〉 Thoughts or Desires as I hinted before, after the Fineries and Satisfactions o● this World, but what are suited to your Poverty. Do not let your Desire run, or your Fancy please itself with the Thoughts of what Table yo● kept, what Servants you retained, what Garments you wore, what Conveniences you had, or Respects you received once. But look now only for such things, as are fit for a Person in your present want, and poor estate, to desire and think of.  
As a poor man then, be Content if you are reduced to a course and frugal Diet, and a mean Habit, and an hard Bed. Be Content if you have nothing else but Necessaries, which God provides for all his Creatures, even the Beasts of the Field, and the Birds of the Air, 
Mat. 6. 26.  who, as our Lord observes, have no Contrivance to lay up Stores for themselves. Nay, esteem and own yourself unworthy, even of these necessary Provisions, and think it not enough to be contented with them, but be Thankful for them. And seek them without Solicitude, or Mistrusts of Providence: But after a cheerful Care spent in the best ways you have to compass them, quietly rely on God; and trust him for them. Do what you can, to have them of your own; if that succeeds not, ask of them, who are like to Pity and Relieve you, and if one denies you, try others; but if that misses too, God will send it, and put it into the Hearts of those to give whom you do not ask, and send it to you, you know not how.  
And in your Poverty, be sure you be Humble. Be willing and contented to be maintained what way God pleases. And if he brings your State to need an Alms, let not your Spirit be above it. Think not yourself too good, to receive, nor if need be modestly to ask it. And be Patient where you meet with Repulses, and Thankful for all that is given you, whether it be little or much; yea, even for good words and compassionate answers where you receive nothing else. And if under a poor estate, you can, by God's Grace, arrive to this true Poverty of Spirit, you are a very Rich Poor Man; you are Poor in this World, but Rich in Faith and Good Works, as our Blessed Saviour Christ, and his Apostles, and earliest Saints for the most part were; and may comfortaby hope thro' his Grace, to have your humble, holy, and obedient Poverty rewarded at last together with theirs, with unspeakable Riches, Honour, and Happiness in his Heavenly Kingdom.  
And having after this sort Received, and Improved, both your Poverty, and your Solitude, look upon them again, with a discerning and impartial Eye, and then tell me what Cause you have to Repine, or Complain of them. Judge of them, not by the Opinions which other People pass, but by the good Use which you yourself make of them. They are certainly Good, exceeding Good to you, when you Receive and Improve them after this manner; and therefore are things, not only for you to bear, but to Bless God, and be Heartily Thankful unto Him for.    

AN OFFICE FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.  

Scriptures for Prisoners for Crimes.  Psal. 51. Ezek. 18. v. 10. to the end. Ps. 25. v. 7. to v. 20. Rom. 1. v. 28. to Chap. 2. v. 8. 

I.  
THEY that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. Job. 4. 8.  
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the Cords of his Sins: Prov. 5. 22.  
Bloody and Deceitful Men shall not live out half their days.  
My Heart is sore painted within me, and the Terrors of Death, are fallen upon me.  
Fearfulness and Trembling are come upon me, and Horror hath overwhelmed me. Psal. 55. 4, 5, 23:  
What Glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your Faults, you shall take it patiently? 1 Pet. 2. 20.  
My Son, Give, I Pray thee, Glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make Confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done.  
And Achan answered Joshua, and said, indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus have I done. Josh. 7. 19, 20.  
We indeed suffer justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds. Luke 23. 41.   

II.  
Fools, because of their Transgression, and becuse of their Iniquities, are afflicted.  
Then they cry unto the Lord in their Trouble, and he delivereth them out of their Distresses. Psal. 107. 17, 19  
Oh! Let the sorrowful sighing of the Prisoner come before thee, according to the greatness of thy power; preserve thou those that are appointed to die. Psal. 79. 11.  
The Lord hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from Heaven did he behold the earth.  
To hear the groaning of the Prisoner: To lose those that are appointed to death. Psalm 102. 19, 20.   

III.  
If our heart condemn us not; God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 1 Jo. 3. 20.  
The Law is not made for a Righteous man, but for the Lawless and Disobedient, for the Ungodly and for Sinners, for Unholy and Profane, for Murderers of Fathers, and Murderers of Mothers, for Man-Slayers.  
For Whore-mongers, for them that Defile themselves with Mankind, for Menstealers, for Liars, for Perjured Persons, and if there be any other Thing, that is contrary to sound Doctrine. 1 Tim. 1. 9, 10.  
Without are Sorcerers, and Whoremongers, and Murderers, and Idolaters, and whosoever Loveth and maketh a Lye. Rev. 22. 15.  
Know ye not, that the Unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Neither Fornicators, nor Adulterers, nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind, nor Thiefs, nor Drunkards, shall inherit the Kingdom of God.  
Such were some of you: But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10, 11.  
The Lord hath sent me to Proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound. Isa. 61. 2.  
They that be whole, have no need of the Physician, but the sick. I came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance. Mar. 2. 17.  
If the wicked restore the Pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the Statutes of Life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Ezek. 33. 15.  
Zacheus stood, and said unto the Lord, behold! The half of my Goods I give to the Poor: And if I have taken any thing from any Man by False Accusation, I restore him fourfold. Luk. 19 8.  
Father, I have Sinned against Heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy Son. Luke 15. 18, 19  
God be merciful, unto me a Sinner. Luke 18. 13.    

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.  

I. A general Prayer for all Prisoners, taken out of the Companion for the Persecuted. pag. 135.  
O! Almighty and Everlasting God, thou seest the straits and Sorrows which I endure in this Place, and how unable I am to help myself, or to bring about my own Deliverance. But the less Hope and Support I have in myself, the more I look up unto thee, and place my Trust in thy Mercy. And when my own Care can avail the least, let thine, O! Thou blessed Helper of the Helpless, appear the most for me.  
Give me a Body, O! My God, fit to bear the Inconveniences of this close Place, and Grace to be content therewith; whilst I lie up here, let me not want necessary Provisions, nor repine at the meaness thereof. Suit the Lowness of my Desires, to the hardship of my Circumstances, & let the greatness of my Study and Care be [to do 
† To indemnify and content my Creditor when fo● Debt.  Justice] and show temperance and selfdenials, not to please myself, or to gratify my own Carnal Ease and Appetites.  
Whilst I am here kept a part from my former acquaintance, Grant, O! Lord, that I may carefully retire into myself, and call my own ways to remembrance. And, Oh! That I may amend▪ whatsoever is amiss there, and set all so straight with thee, that I may delight to look into my own Heart, and to search out my own Spirit. Lord! Now thou hast left me nothing else to do, make me apply myself to the one thing necessary: To grow in Holy Reverence and Devotion of Spirit, in the Study of dealing justly and fairly with all, who are any way Concerned with me; in Humility and Mortified Affections, in Patience and Contentedness, Oh! Plant and fill my Soul with all Heavenly Virtues, and make bright all the cloudy and dark parts thereof, with the Rays of thy Divine Image. And then, O! My God, I shall see something of thee, as oft as I look into myself, and learn to be pleased with my own Company, though others are kept from me.  
And in whatsoever want I am of other Comforts, Grant, O! Father of Mercies, that both here and ever hereafter, I may have the Comfort of thy Presence. When all else are taken from me, do not thou forsake me. Though I dwell in a disconsolate Room, let thy Spirit dwell with me. Let thy Law at all times direct me, and let the Sense of thy Love Comfort me. And after thou hast graciously improved this Melancholy Restraint, to wean me from vain and carnal delights, to set my Soul free; in thy good time, O! My refuge and strength, deliver me out of this Prison, and set my Body too at liberty, for my dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.   

And for the more Particular Necessities OF Imprisoned Criminals, They may use these Prayers following:  
A Particular Prayer FOR PRISONERS for CRIMES.  

I. For deliverance from his Sins and Sorrows.  
O! Blessed Lord, who art the comforter of all sad and sinsick Souls, comfort me, I humbly entreat thee, in this height of my Fears and Sorrows. But first convert me, and then comfort me. I am over-laden with Sins, which overload me with Sorrows. And do thou, O God, rid me of my Sins, that I may get rid of my Sorrows. Nay, rid me of my Sins, though, for my just Punishment in this World, thou leavest me under my Sorrows. Whatever befall my Body, for just Punishment of my grievous▪ 
* Or Crimes.  Crime, for which I am here in Custody; let true Repentance set my Soul safe, and secure it of thy everlasting Mercy, for the Merits of thy dear Son, and of my sweetest Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.  
Our Father, etc.   

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.  
II. The Prisoners Confession of God's Justice in his sad Circumstances.  
I am come into this Prison, O! Most Holy and Righteous Lord, laden with Sins and Sorrows; and am here shut up for the Curse and Shame of an untimely end, which my Heinous Wickednesses have most justly deserved. I am terribly afraid of my earthly Judge, and of that heavy Sentence which my Crimes make me justly liable to receive from him. But infinitely more afraid, of that far more heavy and eternal Doom, which I am liable to receive for the same at thy Righteous Bar.  
Now Fear and Trembling have seized upon me, 
Psal. 55. 5.  and an horrible Dread hath overwhelmed me. Without, is the prospect of Death and Disgrace; and within, 
Psal. 38. 8. 10.  is Gild and Anguish. My Spirit is broken within me, and I am even at my wit's end, 
Psal. u●. 1.  and my Heart faileth me: And though my Burden is Intolerable, yet O! Almighty Lord, I cannot say, but it is infinitely just. 'Tis a most reasonable, and righteous Return, for my daring Provocations of thy justice: And much more, for my vile Abuses of thy Mercy and Patience. I must needs acquit, and justify thee; and have none to accuse, but mine own Self, for all my present Fears and Misery.  
I am 
† Prov. 11. 6.  taken, O! just Lord, in mine own Naughtiness, and am only left to lie down in that Bed of Gild and Sorrow, which I have been long a making for myself. All my life, I have been 
† Job. 4. 8.  Sowing wickedness, and am now brought to Reap the Fruit thereof. I have 
† Job. 15. 16.  Drunk up iniquity like Water, and tho, to my mad and distempered Fancy, it seemed to yield a slight and short Pleasure, while it slid along the Palate; yet now I find it leaves an immovable Bitterness, and is nothing but Gall and Wormwood, when it is got into the Belly. I have Drunk it up with Greediness, and filled up the measure of my sins, till I perceive now, alas! That there is like to be no measure of my Sufferings, and I am in danger to be swallowed up, and utterly to sink under the Number and Weight of them.  
Thus, Oh thou Righteous Avenger of all ungodly and incorrigible wretches, has thy Justice at last overtaken me. And although thy vengeance is oft times slow; yet to my Grief, and thy Glory, I find 'tis sure, and, when it comes, insupportable. I can in no wise bear my Load, though I have not the least exception against the Reasonableness, and Justice of it. Only my Hope is in thy Mercy, which thou art wont to remember even when thou takest upon thee to show Judgement. And as thou art the Avenger of Sinners; so remember, Gracious Lord, that thou art also the Saviour of them. Oh save me, the Chiefest, and most wretched of Sinners: And show Favor unto me, not according to my Deserts, but according to thine own boundless Mercies, for our dearest Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.   

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.  
III. His Profession of Repentance under the same.  
I have sinned, O Almighty Lord, and sinned Grievously, and have continued irreclaimable in the same for many years. But now, by the Alarm of mine own Dangers, and by the Help of thy Grace, I am made sensible of mine iniquities, and am made truly sorry for my sins. I sadly lament, all the wicked waist of my time and strength, and all my long and heinous Course of Ungodliness, and abuse of thy Patience, which has provoked thee to give me up to this great sin, for which I am now most deservedly made a Prisoner, and may be called to answer shortly with my Blood.  
I am touched to the quick, and sorely afflicted, O! Righteous God, with the Trouble and Sorrow, which this Crime has brought upon myself. But more with the Offence, which it has given thee; and the greatest Care I have upon me, is to have thee forgive me. Lord! I do from the bottom of my Heart, repent of all my Sins, but especially of this great 
* Here you may name the sin.  One. I am greivously Troubled for what is past, and am fully bend against falling any more into it for the Time to come, and am ready to take shame to myself for the same, I am vile in mine own eyes, and am content to be so in the eyes of other Persons. I am truly willing to make any submissions, where I have given just Offence, and, as far as I am able, to repair the wrong which I have done thereby. And Oh! That thou wouldst ever keep me most ready to do this fully and faithfully; and then direct me to do it prudently, and in such sort, as may not be more prejudicial than needs to my worldly safety.  
Tho' thou lookest upon me therefore, O! Almighty Lord, as a Sinner, yea, as one of the greatest of Sinners: Yet for Christ's sake, look upon me as a penitent Sinner. And tho' my sins are Great, my dearest Saviour shed his Blood for the greatest Sins; and thro' the Merits of that Blood, true Repentance is accepted by thee, O! Merciful God, from the greatest Sinners. Oh! For his sake, spare thy sinful, but repenting Creature, and tho' Justice be exacted of me for my crimes here, yet admit me to some comfortable and well-grounded hopes of thy Mercy for the same hereafter, through the Merits of my dearest Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.  
Our Father, etc.   

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.  
IV. Prayers for Learning Righteousness, and Improvement of remaining Moment's of Life.  

I.  
THY Rod, O! Blesse● Father, which is lifted u● in justice, to punish our Iniquities; is used also by thy Grac● to cure them. Oh! Let this my most deserved Affliction teach m● Wisdom. Make my Goal, my school wherein I may learn Righteousness; and let my chains be preachers of Repentance. Now I feel the smart and punishment thereof, give me grace to be fully sensible of the wretchedness and folly, of an ungodly and misspent Life. Let me loathe the Sin, as well as the Sorrow; and be duly affected with the injury and dishonour which I have thereby done to thee, as well as with the danger and distress which I have thereby brought upon myself; that my contrition being truly for my sins against thee, I may be duly qualified for thy most gracious Pardon of the same, thro' the Merits of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.   

II.  
And Help me, O! Gracious God, carefully to improve all my remaining moments, and to employ all the time which I have now to Live, in minding the true work and business of Life. Habituate my heart to thy fear, to humility and patience, temperance and self-denials, fasting and prayers. Teach me to prize and set a great value upon all helps and opportunities, of instruction and improvements in the way of Godliness. To be desirous above all things of thy Grace; and of the Company of good People whose discourse and carriage may affect my heart therewith; and of their Prayers, since I am most unworthy thro' the multitude of my heinous offences, to pray unto thee for myself, or to present unto thee any Petitions from my polluted Lips.  
Let not my corrupt Lusts, O! God, run at Liberty, whilst my body is under Guards and Custody. And let me by no means resort to the company of desperate Sinners, to keep off Remorse for my own Guilts; nor seek to drown the agonies of my Mind, in excess of Wine, nor to divert them by vain Conversation. But what space thou shalt graciously spare me, Oh! That I may carefully employ, and lay out with utmost diligence, to make my peace with thee, and to prepare for eternity.  
Lord! Help me to true Repentance, that with all my Heart I may return unto thee. Do thou help me, now I call unto thee. help me, O! God of mercy, for none else can help me. Help thou me, or I shall die eternally. Make my Repentance true and acceptable in thy sight, that if I die, I may depart in thy Peace; or, if by thy Grace, I be spared to live on still longer, I may return from all my former Errors to a Life of Holiness, and devote all the remainder of my Days to thy Glory, thro' our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.  
Our Father, etc.    

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.  
V. Prayers for Acceptance of Repentance, though late, and for the sincerity and integrity thereof.  

I.  
THESE good thoughts of Mine, O! Most merciful God, I know are late Purposes in one drawing towards the end of his Days. And Purposes, of one affrighted with the near approach of Death; who whilst he was at ease and liberty, was wont most wretchedly to slight thy Calls, and to abuse thy Grace.  
But O! Father, accept me, though I return late into thy service; and 
† Mat. 20. 9  have tarried till it is the last hour of the day. Accept me, though it is the Rod that has given Repentance, and Affliction that has made me Wise. Be graciously pleased, O! Good Lord, with any thing, and at any time, that shall bring me back to thyself. And despise not my Repentance, although it is the Repentance of a Malefactor in agonies; more than thou didst despise that, 
Luk. 23 42, 43.  of the Penitent Thief upon the Cross. But make me find that true Repentance is welcome to thee at all times, and that in this world it is never too late to grow Wise, nor will ever be in vain to return with our whole heart to thy Service, thro' Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   

II.  
And, Oh! Merciful God, by the Power of thy Grace, make my Repentance True, and my Return entire, that it may be acceptable in thy sight through the Blood of my dearest Lord. What good Purposes I have begun, through Fear of this World; carry me on to perfect, by the considerations of the next world. Improve my Horror of Pain, into an Hatred of Sin; and my Sorrow for the Dangers, which I have brought upon myself, into a Godly sense of the dishonour which I have done to thee. Oh! Cut me not off from my Sins, till thou hast cured me of them, and finished the Work of Grace upon my poor Soul. That I may have all my Punishment in this Life, but Peace with thee, and Rest after Death, in the Joys of Paradise, for my dear Saviour's sake, who died to save Sinners; yea, to save such capital offenders, as I am, and as suffered with him, when he hung upon the Cross between two Thiefs, Amen. Our Father, etc.    

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.  
VI For Respite, and longer Time in this world; and against the day of Trial.  

I.  
LOrd! If it be thy good pleasure, spare me a little longer, and let me escape that untimely end, which my Crimes have deserved. I would fain live on some time, to make proof of my good purposes; and having abused so much time to contract evil Habits, I should be most glad and thankful to have a little more, to wear them off again. Tho I have many worldly Reasons for this Respite; yet O! Great and Righteous Judge, I desire it not so much upon any other account, as of Redeeming my former years of Vice, and of growing more Perfect in thy service, and of being better fitted than alas! I am at present, to appear before thy Judgement Seat. Hear me, O! Lord, for thy mercies, and thy Dear Son and my only Saviour Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.   

II.  
Oh! Thou God of Patience and long-sufferance, show thy accustomed Forbearance unto thy wretched Servant. Save me from that▪ Pit of Destructions, which I have Digged for myself; and from the sentence of Death, which I am▪ horribly afraid to hear from the mouth of my earthly Judge.  
But let this deliverance be brought about, O! My God, only by the wise Ordering of thy good Providence, not by any Falsehood of mine, or other unlawful Arts. I fear Death, O! Righteous God. But that which makes me most afraid of it, is, because I have sinned. And I Desire to fear sinning, more than dying.  
O! Therefore, gracious Father, suffer me not to yield to any new wickedness, though it be to save my Life. Make me diligent, in all innocent ways, and means, for my Preservation, and direct me to the wisest. But let me resort to none that is ill, nor say or do any thing for my own Defence at my Trial here, which will rise up against me, and be Matter of Accusation, when I come to be tried again at thy dreadful Bar. And the less care I may seem capable hereby, to take of myself; the more do thou care for me, O! My God. And when my Cause comes to be heard, so order things by thy Mercy, that there may not be a full evidence produced against me; and that neither the Judge, nor Jury, may be disposed to stretch things to my Prejudice; that so thy Servant may escape.  
But if in thy Justice, thou hast determined, to cut me off untimely for this offence: Thy Blessed, and most Righteous Will be done. But then, gracious Lord, perfect my Repentance, before I go hence, and for the voice and merits of thy dear Sons most precious Blood, pardon my Sins. I am more concerned for thy Favour, than how to come off here. I am content to suffer, what thou pleasest in this world; so thou wilt let me go off in thy Peace, and admit me among the meanest of thy Servants in the world to come, for our Lord Jesus-christs' sake, Amen.  
Our Father, etc.    

EJACULATIONS FOR THE PRISONER FOR CRIMES, At his TRIAL.  

LORD, Hear the Cry of the Prisoners, and Deliver thou those who are appointed unto death, Amen.  
Here the cry of my wants for Mercy, not of my sins for Justice, Amen.  
Help me, O! Lord, for I have none but thee to look unto: My defence lies not in my own Innocence, but only in thy mere Mercy and tender Providence, Amen.   

EJACULATIONS After his TRIAL, if Acquitted.  
LORD, thou redeemest me from the Grave, and this Acquittal of me, is as Life from the Dead. Blessed, yea, for ever blessed be thy most endearing Mercy, Amen.  
Lord, the Life which here thou hast given me, I do most humbly and entirely give back, and devote to thee. Oh! Accept me, and let me have nothing more to do with Sin and Vanity, Amen.  
Oh! Let me never forget this inestimable Mercy, nor fail to make the best use of this remainder of Life, which out of thine abundant Goodness, thou hast now lent me, Amen.   

If Condemned.  
LORD, I meekly receive this Sentence, as my just Punishment: I have the due reward of my Deeds.  
But as my Sin brings this untimely and shameful Death; Oh! Let my true Repentance, thro' my dear Lord and Saviour's Merits, secure the forgiveness of my Sins, and bring me to everlasting Life, Amen.    

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.  
VII. Prayers after Sentence of Condemnation, or any time before Execution, and at Execution, only making the Changes as they are noted in the Margin.  
O! Almighty, and most righteous Judge, to thee it belongeth to take vengeance, and to me to suffer it. I must clear thy justice, and confess I have my deserts, and have none but myself to blame for this heavy [
† At Execution instead of Sentence, say and shameful Death,  Sentence.]  
But now, O! Lord, when the Sword of vengeance is unsheathed, and is come to the stroke, do thou stand by me, and Comfort me. Deal not with me, as I have done with thee; but though I have basely, and wretchedly forsaken thee all my Life; yet leave me not, I humbly entreat thee, in 
† add this at execution  my last Hour.  
[
‡ now for when at execution.  When] the justice of man lays my Blood upon my own Head, let thy Mercy, O! Blessed Jesus, lay thy Blood upon it too, to expiate the guilt of mine. Let that purge me from all my sins, that although I Dye Stained therewith here, I may appear without spot before the Tribunal of my Heavenly Father, Amen.  

II.  
Sweet Jesus! Thou disdainedst not to Cast an eye upon the 
† Luk. 23. 43.  Penitent Thief on the Cross. Oh! Despise not me, 
† who am now to for when I at execution.  [when I] suffer in like case, as he did; and I hope truly repent me of my sins, and fix all my Hopes in thee under my distress, as he did in his. Thou once hungest upon a Tree thyself, for the sins of others. Oh! By the Blood of thy Cross, Save me, who [
† at execution say a●● now.  stand justly condemned] to suffer the same for mine own sins. Save me, O! Lord, a great & wretched, but a penitent contrite Sinner. In thy merits, Do I trust, 
† Luk 23. 46  Into thy merciful Hands do I commend my Spirit. I Believe, that thou, O! Lamb of God, art 
† 1. Tim. 1. 15.  the Saviour of sinners: Oh! Save me, who am Chief among Sinners, and rescue my trembling and departing Soul from eternal Misery. I Freely, and from my Heart, forgive all mine Enemies; Oh! Do thou, in the abundant Riches of thy Mercy, forgive me. Accept of such recompense, as I am able to make to those, who have suffered by me, and make up the wrongs, which I have done to any, and which now I am no longer able to repair. Supply all that to them, and their Families, by thy mercy, which they have lost by my wickedness, that they may neither be tempted nor burdened by the loss, nor I tormented by the punishment accrueing thereby.  
Give me strength, O! Almighty and most merciful Lord, under 
† Add these at execut.  my last Agonies. Help me, to bear all patiently, and to resign myself holy to thy Mercy. Let the example of my Fall, be a warning to others, that the prevention of their Crimes may make some reparation for the grievous Scandal, which I have given by mine. And though I taste thy Justice in my ignominious Death, yet, O! Gracious Father, let me find the sweetness of thy mercy after it, for my dearest Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.   

III.  
Lord, save me, for I flee unto thee for safety. Save me, or else I perish everlastingly. Save me a wretched Sinner, O! Jesus, thou Saviour of Sinners. I have been a lost Sinner, but thou 
† Luke 19 10.  Camest to seek and save that which was lost. And after all my woeful and wretched course of Sins, my own most deserved afflictions, and thy most undeserved Grace, I hope have brought me now at last to true Repentance; and thou hast Ordered 
* Luk. 24. 47.  Repentance and remission of Sins, to be Preached to all Sinners. Oh! Save me a penitent Sinner, and as thou didst with 
† Luk. 23. 43.  The Thief upon the Cross, receive and comfort me in this may last Hour, Amen.  
Our Father, etc.    

EJACULATIONS For him at the time of Execution.  
INTO thy Hands, O! Lord, I commend my Spirit, Amen.  
I return thee a Spirit, alas! loaded with Sins: But washed I humbly hope with the tears and sorrows of true Repentance.  
Lord graciously accept my Repentance, and pardon my Sins, for the Merits of that most Precious Blood, which was shed to wash away the sins of all truly and penitent Sinners, Amen.   

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR CRIMES.  
VIII. A Thanksgiving for deliverance out of Prison, whither they had been justly committed for capital Crimes.  

I.  
O! Almighty Lord, who art the blessed Author of all Life & Happiness, with a most thankful Heart, I humbly adore and praise thy Mercy, which hath now lent me my life anew, and rescued me out of the jaws of Death. My Sins, had set a snare for my own Life, and I had digged a pit for mine own Soul. Yea, my ungodly ways, had most heinously injured thee, at the same time they threatened to destroy myself: And yet, neither my own madness in seeking misery; nor the resentment of the grievous wrongs thereby done to thee, could put by thy Love, O! Father of Mercies, and God of all Comforts, from showing mercy unto me. I called out to thee, and was holpen; I put my Trust in thee, and was not confounded. I sought thee earnestly, and thou wast found of me. The snare is broken, and I am delivered. The Pit is covered, and to the glory of thy free Mercy, and tende● Care of me, I have happily escaped: For which all praise an● thanks be ever ascribed to the● thro' Jesus Christ my Lord. Ame●   

II.  
And Lord, keep, the memory of this surpassing Mercy always fresh upon my Spirit, and let me ever be praising thee for the same, with joyful Lips. Never suffer me to forget the vows, which I made in my distress; but let my whole life be one acceptable Sacrifice to thee my Redeemer, and make all my actions to show forth thy Praise. When I was in Trouble, O! Blessed Lord, it was not so much out of the love of Life, as out of the love of innocence, that I desire to be Respited. Oh! Grant me Grace now to employ my Life, as I then designed to do and to make good now, what I did then pretend. Fix me unalterable in all the ways of Godliness, which I have begun. Preserve me from Repeating any of my former wickednesses, especially this Great one, which was so like to bring down vengeance on my Head for all the Rest.  
Tho I am cleared thereof before men, yet I know, O! Righteous Lord, that I shall ever stand Guilty of it before thee, unless I show true amendment of the same, and make Restitution for all the wrongs done to any thereby, in the best sort I can. Oh! Keep me ever ready to do that fully, whatever it cost me; and carefully to slip no opportunities of doing the same. And make me so watchful, to spend all the remainder of my Days, in all holy and Thankful obedience, that I may not only have the Purposes and Promises of Repentance, which, alas! was a great part of what I had to show before, but the Proofs thereof to produce, and to comfort my heart withal on any new Alarm. And then▪ O! Gracious God, when thou shalt bring me to fear Death a second Time, thy blessed will be done, and by thy Grace I shall be able, and in condition to bid it welcome, thro' the merits of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.   

III.  
Once more Blessed, yea, for ever Blessed be thy Great and Glorious Name, O! Almighty Father, for bringing me into this Distress, as well as for bringing me out of it. I reverence thy Justice, for bringing it upon me. But at the same time, I most thankfully own thy Mercy, which, when all other ways sailed, would order this to reduce me to thyself, and to make me break off my wicked Courses.  
And ever deal with me, O! blessed Lord and Saviour, in this manner. Distress my Body, when thou seest that is necessary to save my Soul. My Flesh is very desirous of ease; but my Heart, O! My God, thro' the help of thy Grace, is more desirous of Innocence: And whatever else I am given up to feel, let me not lie hardened and past feeling in my Sins. Spare not the Rod of Discipline towards me, when thou seest there is need thereof to make me wise; and let me pass, though it be thro' present Misery, if that alone can keep me in the way to thine eternal Mercy. Which Grant, O! Almighty, and most Gracious Lord, that I may here comfortably hope for, and at last enjoy, for our Blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.  
Our Father, etc.       

AN OFFICE FOR PRISONERS FOR DEBT.  

I. Scriptures for Prisoners for Debt.  Psal. 142. Leu. 19 v. 11. to v. 16. Luk. 12. v. 22. to v. 32. Psal. 130. Deut. 24. v. 10. to v. 16. Chap. 15. v. 7. to v. 12. 

I.  
THE Lord executeth judgement for the oppressed, the Lord looseth the Prisoners. Psal. 146. 7.  
I have sent forth thy Prisoners out of the Pit, wherein is no Water.  
Turn ye to the strong hold, ye Prisoners of hope. Zech. 9 11, 12.  
I give thee for a Covenant to the People, that thou mayest say to the Prisoners, go forth; to them that are in darkness, show yourselves. Isa. 49. 8, 9  
The Lord heareth the Poor, and despiseth not his Prisoners. Psal. 69. 33.  
He satisfieth the longing Soul, and filleth the hungry Soul with goodness.  
Such as sit in darkness, and the shadow of Death, being bound in Affliction and Iron.  
Because they rebelled against the Words of God, and contemned the Council of the most High.  
Therefore he brought down their Heart with Labour, they fell, and there was none to help.  
Then they cried unto the Lord in their Trouble; and he saved them out of their Distresses.  
He brought them out of Darkness, and the shadow of Death, and broke their Bands in sunder. Psal. 107. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.   

II.  
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again. Psal. 37. 21.  
Defraud not one another in any matter. 1. Thes. 4. 6.  
For he that doth wrong, shall receive for the wrong which he hath done, and there is no Respect of Persons. Col. 3. 25.  
Render to all their deuce. Owe no man any thing, but to Love one another. Rom. 13. 7, 8.  
Have Patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Mat. 18. 26.   

III.  
Forgive us our Debts, as we Forgive our debtors. Mat. 6. 12.  
A servant was brought unto his Lord, who ought him ten Thousand Talents.  
And for as much as he had not to pay, he desired Forbearance: And the Lord was moved with Compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the Debt.  
But the same Servant went out to his fellow servant, which ought him an hundred Pence. And he would Grant him no Forbearance, but laid Hands on him, and cast him into Prison till he should pay the Debt.  
Then his Lord called him, and said unto him Oh! thou wicked Servant, I forgave thee all that Debt, because thou desiredst me:  
Shouldest not thou also have had Compassion on thy fellow-Servant, even as I had Pity on thee?  
And his Lord was wrath, and delivered him to the Tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  
So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your Hearts forgive not every one his Brother their Trespasses. Mat. 18. 24, to 36.  
To whom much is forgiven, the same loveth much. Luk. 7. 47.   

IV.  
Hath not God chosen the Poor of this World, rich in Faith, and Heirs of the Kingdom, which he hath promised to them that Love him? Jam. 2. 5.  
Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Mat. 5. 3.  
I am instructed, both to be full, and to be hungry; both to abound, and to suffer need. Phil. 4. 12.  
As having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Cor. 6. 10.  
Glory be to the Father, etc.    

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR DEBT.  

I. The General Prayers for Prisoners, which the Prisoner for Debt,  
may find for his use in the foregoing OFFICE. And For the more particular necessities of imprisoned Debtors, these Prayers following may be made use of.   

II. Particular Prayers for Prisoners for Debt.  

I. The indebted Prisoners Prayer, for clearing the store of his Sins.  
O! Almighty and most Righteous Lord, my worst Debts are my Sins, which are many and grievous, and which are all to be accounted for to thy Justice. And 
* Ps. 130. 3.  who may abide, shouldest thou be extreme to mark what we do amiss? Much less could I abide, who have done amiss extremely, and have [
† This, when the Debts are Contracted by our own Faults, in Luxury or Mispence. But if thro' innocent Misfortune, and mere Hand of Providence; instead of, brought not only, etc. say, Deserved, not only to be made a Prisoner for the same, in this uncomfortable Place, but to be committed among the lost Angels, to Chains of everlasting Darkness, till the Terrible Judgement of the great Day.  brought, not only the fear of thy future Wrath, but my present restraint and sorrows upon mine own Head, by my own evil Doings.]  
But O! Gracious Lord, I am sensible of my wickedness, and am truly Contrite and Sorry for my Sins. And although this sense of my Sin and Folly, comes too late to prevent this my uncomfortable Restraint, and worldly Misery: Yet 'tis not too late, to move thy pardoning Mercy. Oh! For Christ's sake, strike off these Scores, that they may neither sink my Soul, nor terrify my Conscience. [
* In Case of 〈◊〉 contracted by mere Hand of Providence, omit this within the Hooks.  Particularly, O! Gracious Father, strike off the Score of all those Sins, and expensive Vices; and of all my unlawful, or unwise and self-willed Projects; and of all my impoverishing Neglects, or Mismanagements; which have drawn all these straits and hardships upon myself, and have brought all this damage and trouble to my Creditors.] Cleanse me of all the guilt of these Sins, Good Lord, that my Soul may not hereafter be made a Prisoner, or arraigned again for the same, at thy dreadful Bar. And when once thou hast blotted out thine account against me, I shall the better bear to have mine earthly Creditors exact theirs; and patiently endure their Rigours, in hopes of thy free Mercy and Forgiveness, thro' the merits and satisfaction of my Blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.  
Our Father, etc.   

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR DEBT.  
II. A Prayer for Mercy from his Creditors.  
O! Father of Mercies, move the Hearts of all, who have sent me hither, and who have it in their Power to set me Free, to have pity on me. Touch their Humanity and good Nature, with a compassionate feeling of what I suffer. Let a sight of my necessity, pierce their Souls and move their Compassion; yea, moreover, make their consciences Sensible, O! Lord, how for their own Souls sake, they are indispensably obliged to show Charity towards such Debtors, as are sincerely willing and desirous to pay them what they owe them, but cannot do it. Show them, that all sinners are Debtors; and that they are thy Debtors, as well as I am theirs; and that for infinitely greater sums than mine is. Yea, and that they are no more able to pay thee, O! God, than I am able to pay them.  
Oh! then, that their own Necessity may make them wary, and prompt them to show Mercy. That they may have patience with me, till I can raise as much as I am able, towards the discharge of their Debt; and mercifully forgive the rest, when I can raise no more. Oh! That they may not be rigorous, in exacting the Hundred Pence, which I am not able to pay them; because than thou 
† Mat. 18. 28, etc.  declarest, that thou likewise wilt exact the many thousand of Talents, which they are as unable to pay thee. And that thus, by mutually showing Mercy, we may all be prepared to receive it at thy hands, for thy dear Son, our most blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.  
Our Father; etc.   

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR DEBT.  
III. Prayers for an Heart, to be Honest to his Creditors.  

I.  
O! Almighty Lord, who 
† Ps. 45. 7. & Ps. 11. 7.  lovest Righteousness, but hatest Iniquity; let me not take up with a Prison, as an Art of Defrauding; nor choose to rest thus uncomfortably confined in mine own Person, to leave the guilt and curse of ill gotten Goods, and of unpaid Debts, to my Family. Make me willing, O! God, to do justice to all who are any way concerned with me, to the utmost of that worldly estate, which I have to dispose of: And ready to give every man what I owe him, tho' I keep nothing to myself, but am left thereby to live upon thy good Providence. If want must be my share, Oh! Let me want the Conveniences, or even the necessaries of Life, rather than the innocence thereof. And grant good Lord, that the place of my wanting, may be here in this world, where my wants will soon have an end; not hereafter in the next world, where they will know no end, for Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.   

II.  
Enable me, O! Blessed Lord, if thou pleasest, by thy good Providence, and put me again into a Condition, fully to discharge and clear my Accounts with all my Creditors. Let none of them, O! My God, be losers in the end by me. But bless me in my ways, that I may have enough wherewithal to satisfy all their just Demands, and give me an Heart to pay it out accordingly, and that with thankfulness for their Forbearance, and without unnecessary delays. And dispose them to have patience with me, till this can be done. And suffer not me in the least to abuse that Patience; but make me apply myself diligently, to raise it for them, as fast as I can, and honestly to pay it to them as fast as I can raise it for them.  
But if I am not able to pay them all that I owe them, grant them the Heart to forgive me what I cannot pay. And since what is thus given to me, is given to the Poor; look upon it, O! Lord, as 
† Prov. 19 17.  lent to thee, and be thou their paymaster. As they very charitably consider my Necessities, do thou carefully prevent theirs: And whatsoever they abate to me of my Scores, do thou make up abundantly to them and theirs by thy good Providence.  
And after they have forgiven me, though I am no longer answerable to them in Law, yet make me ever sensible, O! God, that I still owe the same to them in Equity. And give me always the heart to repay, whatsoever they Acquit, if ever thou shalt put me in a Capacity, either by proper Payments, or by grateful Offices, so to do. And by living always in this inward readiness and preparation of Mind, to do them all exact justice; tho' I can never fully clear my Debts, yet by thy Grace I shall clear my Conscience, and be fit, not only for their Charity, but also for thine eternal Mercy, thro' the merits and mediation of my blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.    

PRAYERS FOR PRISONERS FOR DEBT.  
IV. A Thanksgiving for a Prisoner for Debt, on his Release from Prison.  

I.  
O! Father of Mercies, and God of all Consolations, 
† Psal. 79. 11.  the sigh of the Prisoners have come before thee, and thou hast graciously heard my Prayer, and set my feet at Liberty. To thee, O! Blessed Lord, do I owe this comfortable Freedom, which I have now obtained; and to thy Boundless and undeserved Mercy, will I ever thankfully ascribe it. And, Oh! That in all my Life, and thro' the whole course of my Conversation, I may ever remember, that I am thy Freeman. O! That I may always adore and praise thy Goodness, for my Deliverance, and walk so humbly, and thankfully, and obediently towards thee, as may show that I am never unmindful, that thou gracious God, hast given me my Liberty, and that I am ever to improve and spend it to thy Glory, thro' Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.   

II.  
And Lord, let me never lose those good Thoughts and Purposes, nor forget those Vows, which I made to thee when I was in Trouble. Give me a mind suited in all things to my Circumstances, and Grace to deny myself, and to study to the utmost of my Ability to do justice to all my Creditors. Never suffer me, to forget their kindness in my Release, nor to give them any just Cause to Repent of it: Nor do thou ever forget it, O! Merciful God, but remember it always for their good. Keep me thankfully Sensible of all the kindness of my Friends and Neighbours, of all who did me any good Offices, who showed me Countenance, or supplied my Necessity, in the days of my Adversity. Oh! Do thou make each of them that Requital, which I ought to do; and keep me always willing and ready to requite them, after the best manner I can; and, when I am able to do no more, to pray earnestly to thee, that thou wouldst make up for me whatever returns of kindness I fall short in.  
Remember also, I humbly entreat thee, O! Most merciful Father, all those poor Prisoners, who are still under their uncomfortable Restraints, and in thy good Time, do the same for them, which in thy Mercy thou hast now done for me. Oh! That 
† Heb. 4. 15.  having felt the same in myself, I may ever have a most compassionate Sense, and tender Feeling of their Afflictions, and may joyfully embrace all opportunities of recommending them to the pity of others, especially of those Persons, from whose Charity they are to hope for their Release, but above all, O! Blessed God, of Recommending them to thine everlasting Mercy; which Grant, that both they, and I, and all thy faithful People, may ever earnestly Seek, and successfully Find, for the sake of our only Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, AMEN.  
FINIS.       

THE CONTENTS. OF THE Office for Prisoners for Crimes.  

I. Directions for Prisoners for CRIMES.  
Chap. I. HOW to Behave and Employ themselves, after Commitment, and before the Trial. page 1  
Chap. II. How to Behave and Employ themselves, in order, to and at, their Trial p. 12  
Chap. III. How to Behave and Employ themselves after Sentence of Gondemnation, and at the Time of Execution. p. 20  
II. Special Directions for Prisoners for Debt. p. 27  
III. General Directions for Both. p. 33  
Scriptures for Prisoners for Crimes. p. 44  
I. A general Prayer for all Prisoners, taken out of the Companion for the Persecuted.   

Particular Prayers for Prisoners for CRIMES.  
I. For deliverance from their Sins and Sorrows. p. 55  
II. The Prisoners Confession of God's Justice in his sad Circumstances. p. 57  
III. His Profession of Repentance under the same. p. 62  
IV. Prayers for Learning Righteousness, and Improvement of remaining Moment's of Life. p. 66  
V. Prayers for Acceptance of Repentance, though late, and for the sincerity and integrity thereof. p. 70  
VI For Respite, and longer Time in this world; and against the day of Trial. p. 74   

EJACULATIONS.  
Ejaculations at his TRIAL. p. 78  
Ejaculations after his Trial if Acquitted. p. 79  
If CONDEMNED. p. 80  
VII. Prayers after Sentence of Condemnation, or any time before Execution, and at Execution, only making the Changes as they are noted in the Margin. p. 81  
Ejaculations for him at the time of Execution. p. 86  
VIII. A Thanksgiving for deliverance out of Prison, whither they had been justly committed for capital Crimes. p. 87  
Scriptures for Prisoners for Debt. p. 93   

Particular Prayers for Prisoners for DEBT.  
I. The indebted Prisoners Prayers, for clearing the Score of his Sins. p. 98  
II. A Prayer for Mercy from his Creditors. p. 101  
III. Prayers for an Heart to be Honest to his Creditors. p. 103  
IU. A Thanksgiving for a Prisoner for Debt, on his Release from Prison. p. 107   
The End.