Certain devout prayers of Mr. Bolton upon solemn occasions. PublishedCertaine devout prayers of Mr. Bolton upon solemne occasions. Published

Among Treatises fit to be published and read, Treatises of Devotion are most fit: as being freest from offence, and fullest of divine matter. If comparison may be made betwixt parts of sacred Scripture, the Psalms of David have an excellency in that they consist of matters of Devotion. Answerable to the stile of his name, is the stile of ⟨image 3⟩his book. The stile of his name was,¹ A man after GODS own heart. ²For such was his piety and sincerity as GOD was well pleased therewith,³ and took much delight therein. The rather because his devotion towards GOD incited him to do what GOD required to be done. So the Book of Psalms, may well carry this stile, A book after Gods own heart, in that nothing is more acceptable unto GOD, nothing wherein he takes more delight then Devotion. And no ⟨image 3⟩book of sacred Scripture fuller of Devotion then that book. Most of the Psalms wholly consist of Prayers or Praises: very few, if any at all, wherein there are not some divine raptures,⁴ and such heavenly ejaculations, as manifest an heart full of Devotion. For Devotion is a pious and humble affection to God-wards. Humble through conscience of a mans own infirmity. Pious through a due consideration of the divine clemency. Such Devotion is never more fully and to the ⟨image 4⟩life manifested then in Prayers and Praises. For in these divine duties, if rightly performed, the soul presents it self before GOD, and that in a special manner, being after a sort even rapt out of the body. Then, if ever, doth the soul, so far as it is capable, with an holy admiration apprehend the divine Majesty, Purity, Justice, Wisdom, Power, yea Mercy, Goodness, and other excellencies wherewith GOD is decked. Then, if ever is the soul brought throughly ⟨image 4⟩