God and make him their enemy for he hath said Vengeance is mine Rom. 12. 19. And therefore we must take heede wee take not the office of God vpon vs in taking reuenge of our Enemies either by our owne sword or by any sinister meanes but to appeale vnto the Christian Magistrate who beareth the Sword to right the wrongs done vnto his children Wee must leaue the reuenge to whom it belongeth and seeke to be and to continue at peace with God without which no Creature can be at true peace with vs. And being reconciled to him in Christ we shall not need to feare our enemies for he will make our Enemies to feare vs as he made Esau to feare Iacob Genes 35. 5. 6. If we walke in his commandements and obserue his Lawes among many other blessings We shall chase our Enemies they shall fall before vs Leuit. 26. 7. 8. Deut. 11. 23. 25. 28. 1. 7. And hee will deliuer our Enemies into our hands if it be expedient or our cause being heard before the Magistrate hee will giue censure with vs and make vs to reioyce ouer them that would triumph ouer vs. And therefore in these crosses of Enemies we must flye vnto God by prayer as Dauid in many of his Psalmes sheweth himselfe to haue done and especially in the 35. Psalm If therefore thy cause be iust and thou be vniustly pursued feare not for God will not faile thee nor forsake thee A Prayer against the power and practices of Enemies who slander and pursue a man either without a cause or in a matter which he cannot reconcile INcline thine eare Lord vnto my prayer and harken mercifully vnto my complaints for thou séest how man intendeth mischiefe against mée many lay snares for mée to catch me that they may take mée and so deuoure mée but thou art my trust I will not feare what man can doe vnto mée yet good Father iudge and reuenge my cause let them not triumph ouer me that hate me without a cause say I without a cause yea Lord without cause coÌ„mitted against them vnlesse thou calling to minde my sins committed against thée doest stirre them vp to be instruments of thy wrath against me So am I indéede in excusable for I doe confesse that I haue transgressed thy Lawes I haue done euil in thy â—ight but to these men Lord what haue I done my conscience is cleare of all desire to offend them and therefore Lord let their malice come to an end if not Lord giue me Faith in thée and patience to indure them for thée whom indeede I haue offended They trauell in mischiefe thou art mercifull they conceiue wickednesse and bring forth lyes but thou art righteous the God of truth my defence is in thée and therefore though they digge pits for mee they shall fall in themselues and be taken in the same that they themselues haue laid Their mischiefe shall returne vpon their owne head and their cruelties vpon their owne pates although in their pride and malice they boast themselues as if they had already destroyed me Up Lord therefore and defend mee let them not preuaile against mee rather let them relent or perish They thinke in their hearts as it séemeth by their insolence they shall neuer be remooued and thou séest it thou beholdest their wrong done vnto thée take my cause therefore into thine owne hand for thou iudgest right and helpest such as suffer violence Oh breake the arme of the wicked and malicious who bend their bow and make ready their arrowes vpon the string that they may secretly shoote at them which are vpright in heart they shoote out their sharpe and malicious accusations bitter words and slenders against mée yet Lord of thy mercy it is that though they hit mee yet they wound mée not deadly their hatred and malice tendeth but to the hurt of my body not being able to touch my soule and therefore if they should preuaile their conquest were small but my ransome is their owne ruine curbe them good Father and bridle their wicked deuices set mée at liberty whom these wicked men would hold for euer snared I rest vpon thy prouidence to be defended I séeke not reuenge against them vengeance is thine thou wilt reward but were I inclinable to reuenge they are more mighty then I more carnally politicke then I more befriended of the world then I and yet as Elisha said vnto his Seruant there are more with mée then with them for thou pitchest an Hoast of Angels about such as are thine Therefore I will neuer feare what these men can doe vnto mee either by fraud or force openly or secretly for thou who iudgest rightly wilt turne all their malicious deuices to worke for my good and their owne confusion as thou didst end the malice of hatefull Haman against harmelesse Mordecai Wherein thy prouidence brought it to passe that he was snared that laid the grin and fell into the pit he made for another Therefore good Father I will rest me vpon thy prouidence and relye vpon thy mercies in Christ in whom all things shal worke together for my good as did the selling of Ioseph by his Brethren his Mistresses false accusation his wrongfull imprisonment all which together wrought to his high aduancement Euen so Lord let all things worke to my conformation and consolation in Christ heare mée oh heare me lest they reioyce ouer me for when my féet slip they reioyce and extoll themselues against me O Lord increase my Faith and weaken mine Enemies A Prayer of the Flocke for their diligent painfull and faithfull Pastor O Most bountifull and great God how gracious hast thou béen vnto vs in lending vs a good and godly Past or according to thine owne heart who is able and willing to instruct vs with knowledge and vnderstanding and to deliuer vnto vs faithfully thy holy Word one who is sufficient to resolue vs in our doubts and to comfort vs in our calamities to recall our wandrings to instruct our ignorances and to goe before vs as a guide in the way that leadeth to saluation O Lord thou hast not so dealt with all people neither is there any desert at all in vs for which thou shouldest bestow on vs such a fauour If thou hadst still left vs in our naturall darknesse and hadst suffered vs to be perpetually plunged into that region of the shadow of death in which we sate of our selues it had béene but iustice in thée euen vtterly to haue forsaken â—s O Lord make vs thankfull and quicken vs vp that we may euen fill our mouthes with the praises of thy name who hast caused the light of thy Gospell thus to shine amongst vs to our excéeding great comfort O make vs carefull and diligent to walk while we haue light that wée may be the children of light and to beware how we receiue thy word in vaine or neglect so great saluation let vs euer remember that to whom much is giuen of
mouthes but thou who relieued mée when I wanted things necessary but thou who hath deliuered mée in the time of danger but thou who shall haue the praise and glory but thou the God of my saluation and mine euerlasting refuge But what recompence deare Father shall I make vnto thée what reward shall I giue thée what sacrifice shall I offer thée I am a worme no man I haue no good thing to present vnto thée but onely I say and confesse and acknowledge euen from my heart and soule with my tongue and lips that thou onely art God onely good onely able and willing to helpe the poore to relieue the distressed to comfort the abiect and to deliuer them that are ready to be swallowed vp of mercilesse waters I am poore yet thou prouidest for mée I want and thou giuest mée things expedient I haue Enemies but thou defendest mée from their tyranny I am féeble and weake and fearefull to fall but thou doest yet strengthen mée and vphold mée thou leauest mée not in misery thou forgettest mée not in my calamity thou doest not euer hide thée from mée nor turne thy face when I séeke thée but thou rather hearest me before I call and preparest mée salue before I vnfold my sore and giuest before I aske more then I can desire Yea Father when I thinke my selfe ouer-whelmed with the troubles that like raging waues doe follow one another thou takest mée vp and settest me on a sure Rocke and when I begin to slide and my faith séemeth to faile me thou euen then with thy helping hand dost hold me vp so that neither the waters of this worlds troubles can altogether swallow mee vp neither I altogether so fall as if there were none to helpe me vp Therefore O Father full of loue full of power full of compassion and patient to thée onely I yéeld praise for my present reliefe and comfort I thanke thée for thy louing and fatherly helpe who art absolute in thy prouidence and therein raisest meanes to support thy Children when they are in danger And as thou of thy frée fauour in Christ thy beloued hast at this time and for euer deliuered mee yea when I was past hope so continue my louing God and helper and Sauiour vnto the end and as thou séest my Soule in aduersity continually so be thou my continuall helper that I may still sing vnto thee the song of praise for thou art worthy to be praised oh thou art worthy to be praised to thée be praise for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith PSAL. 18. 2. The Lord is my rock and my fortresse and he that deliuereth me my God and my strength In him will I trust my shield and the horne also of my saluation and my refuge A Thankesgiuing to God for that Enemies haue not preuailed according to their desires with prayer to preuent them OH Lord of Hosts Lord of heauen and earth who defendedst Dauid from the malice of Saul Hezekiah from the power of Senacherib and all thy Children from their Enemies so farre as was euer expedient for thy glory and their soules comfort I thanke thée and blessed be thy holy Name for euer for that thou hast not suffered mine Enemies to triumph ouer mée buc hast most graciously deliuered mée from their malicious deuices hatefull inuentions Thine eye hath séene their laying in wait for mée and their wicked practices and in thy prouidence they are fallen and I stand they are snared and I am deliuered they are punished and I am preserued But it was not mine owne policy mine owne power wisedome or sword that hath kept them backe it was thine owne will thy worke and thine is the glory neither haue I escaped their wicked practices because I was iust nor because I was innocent neither of which deserueth so much but it was thine owne frée mercy in Jesus Christ by which they are snared and I am deliuered and I doe acknowledge it and doe confesse before all men yea I doe publish thy praise for thy goodnesse who art my strength and my saluation be thou euermore so and I shall neuer be moued be thou my rock whereupon I may euer more rest saie And grant that as I haue séene thy saluation tasted of thy sauing health felt the power of thy right hand and béene partaker of so many of thy benefits and blessings make mée able to glorifie thy Name that as thou hast now disappointed mine Enemies of their hope and weakned their power as thou hast scattered them brought their deuices and imaginations to nought so Lord stand alwaies by me and as they haue made a mocke of me trusting in thée so let shame befal them for their cruelties let their mouthes which spake lyes be stopped their armes still weakened and their hearts waâ—e faint whensoeuer they shall attempt their malicious deuices against me againe when they shall compasse me about with the multitude of their wicked imaginations then let the multitude of thy mercies ouer-match them They haue sought my hurt without a cause and therefore fell without my force thou tookest my cause into thine owne hand and hast brought me out of the snare that they had laid and taken them for thou iudgest right let them therefore know that it is thou hath hast done it and although they say in their hearts The Lord will not see nor consider let them finde that thou séest and considerest their practises and let them vnderstand that thou regardest the cause of the oppressed let them neuer haue power to rise againe against me let them neuer preuaile let mee euermore reioyce in thée O Lord my God my strength and my Redéemer O Lord increase my Faith A Thankesgiuing to be vsed after the returne of a Iourney or comming to some Inne or place of rest O God of all goodnesse mercy and loue I giue thée most humble hearty thankes for thy diuine prouidence in leading and conducting me in this my Journey and for preseruing mée from dangers in the same wherein I doe acknowledge thy goodnes towards me who as thou diddest euen by thy hand conduct Lot out of Sodome so hast thou taken mée as it were in thine armes and deliuered mée from perill And as thou diddest send Raphael thine Angell to conduct Tobias And as thou diddest leade the Seruant of Abraham and diddest guide Iacob in their iournies euen by thy holy ministring Spirits so doe I acknowledge that thou hast béene this day with me in my iourney thou hast brought mee in peace and safety vnto this place wherein I may take my bodily rest and refection hauing graciously protected mée from many secret dangers not onely of Enemies Robbers and Théeues but also from danger and hurts of my limbes which are commonly incident and d ee befall euen thine owne Children blessed be therefore thy holy Name for euer I giue glory vnto thy sacred and most glorious Name for that thou hast not onely preserued me but
the Lord will not regard it O Lord thou séest and beholdest thou findest out and considerest all mens wayes mischiefe and wrong equity and iustice are before thée and thou takest the causes of men into thy hands and thou giuest iust iudgement because thou onely knowest the truth of euery mans cause The poore commit themselues to this God that knoweth them to this God that séeth them and to this God that pittieth them and prouideth for them The Lord looketh downe from heauen vpon all men such is the force of his knowledge that hée knoweth in man more then the heart of man it selfe for he fashioneth the heart and vnderstandeth all my thoughts long before they be conceiued within me And therefore my soule prepare thée to patience addresse thée to praise God and continue in prayer be not idle to meditate good things that the Lords goodnes may be thy goodnesse that his loue may be thy life and his prouidence thy protection for as hée knoweth thy going and marketh well thy wandring when thy féele follow value things and fatherly correcteth thée for them so doth hée behold thy teares and heareth thy groanes which thou makest for sinne committed against him and healeth thée and comforteth thée Yet all things are so hidden in the treasure-house of his prouidence that the naturall man séeth not the meanes how to be cured when hée is sicke how to be raised againe being brought low how to be defended hauing many mighty enemies But the Spirit of God discerneth and as he is God knowing all things done so he is a God fore-séeing al things to be done hereafter And hée séeing mée in my mothers wombe before I was any thing or dained for me then what I receiue now therefore my hope must not faile but take hold of his ancient loue wherein hée first created me to liue in him and by him and therfore Oh that I might be able truely to serue him that hée might louingly relieue me still that I might faithfully obey him that hee might fatherly helpe me still He is the good shepheard Oh that I were a good shéepe of his pasture hee féedeth and guideth and holdeth vp and comforteth and maintaineth all that are his hée looseth none that are his he confoundeth none that are his neither doth he forsake any of his vnto the end Within his fold is his fauour and in his fauour is life and in that life is liberty and in that liberty is reliefe and in that reliefe true peace and in that peace the assurance of saluation and in that assurance the ioy and comfort of the Spirit whereby euery outward vnsauory thing is made inwardly swéet euery crosse hath his comfort and euery tryall and temptation and sorrow and griefe is turned to the vnspeakable good of the shéepe of his pasture Therefore O my soule sigh no more sorrow no more be no more pensiue at outward pouerty fret no more at the worlds miseries dismay no more for thy many sinnes but striue to stand in the fauour of this God and he will set thée frée and banish thy feare and fill thy Cup and féede thée with the hid treasures of his neuer-failing loue O Lord increase my Faith God knoweth the hearts of all men Acts 1. 24. 15. 8. The foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his and let euery one that calleth on the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. vers 19. Thou hast counted my wandrings and put my teares into thy bottle Psal. 56. 8. A Godly Meditation of the Word of God whereby men distressed may be strongly resolued to cast off all feare and to cast all their care on God that careth for them according to his promise in his Word OH what am I that I should conceiue of any happinesse or glory or ioy or comfort to be giuen mee either in this earth below or in the heauens aboue for I am a man of corrupt conuersation my heart is fraught within mée with corruption my soule is defiled and my whole man polluted Is it not therefore my iust portion to haue here misery and calamity and crosses and enemies and euils innumerable to follow me for my sinne and to vexe me for mine iniquities so hath the Lord threatned in his word Most true it is that right it were that I should receiue these vnsauoury things of this life and to be depriued of the Land of them that liue for euer if I should receiue according to my deseruings for death is due for sinne O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this danger of death that shall neuer haue end Surely when I looke into this book of mine owne wayes and workes and wantonnes and wicked life I sée nothing but danger and feare and sorrow and death it selfe written therein how then my poore soule vnhappy soule wretched soule how canst thou escape oh tremble and feare for i◠thou finde not fauour thou are fallen for euer and for euer forlorne Where then wilt thou séeke for succour to whom wilt thou flye for grace to the weake and wicked and wofull World or wanton worldlings No my Soule flye from these feeble friends and looke into and consider and beléeue and imbrace the Word of God taste that Bread of life drinke of that Fountaine that floweth from the liuely Spirit of truth thou shalt liue It is a pure Word and will purifie thée it is a liuely Word and will reuiue thée the Word of truth and will teach thée the Word of comfort and will recomfort thée O my soule what thing is so precious as this Word that bringeth the glad tidings of thy saluation thou deseruing damnation of Life thou deseruing death of Comfort thou deseruing confusion and of mercy endlesse thou deseruing miseries infinite It is a Word full of consolation to such as are sorry for their sinnes and séeke after righteousnesse a Word of terror to the obstinate it is a killing sword vnto the wicked and sauing shield vnto Gods children the sauour of Life vnto life to them that are his and the sauour of Death vnto death to the wicked It is more to be desired then the purest gold or swéetest hony Come vnto me saith this Word and I will refresh you Seeke saith this Word and you shall finde rest for your soules O my Soule here then to thy rest here is thy safety and here is thy saciety and here is thy life and liberty and here shalt thou dwell as vpon the Mountaine of Peace vpon the Rocke of Reliefe and Hill of continuall Helpe This is the Staffe to stay thée by this is the Weapon to defend thee with this is the Way to walke in and this is the Foode to relieue thée withall Oh reioyce therefore in the Lord O my soule because of his Word by which he assureth thée of health if thou be sicke of comfort when thou art sad of defence
so to walke before thée in this present life as becommeth thy Saints O continue thy word of truth amongst vs euer to our comfort Let the séede thereof now sowne in our hearts take such déepe roote that neither the burning heate of persecntion cause it to wither nor the thorny cares of this world riches or voluptuous liuing choake it but as séede sowne in good ground it may bring forth fruit according to thy pleasure O Father giue vs grace that when we heare or â—â—nde by thy word any sinne that is in vs we may striue and study without delay willingly to reforme it Kéepe vs good God that wée neuer swarue for the feare of man from our owne true knowledge becomming seruers of time and deuiers of thée Kéepe vs from all hardnesse of heart contempt of thy word and from all dissembling of sinceritie Increase true loue amongst vs more and more Blesse thy whole Church O God with graces necessary this parcell of it our natiue Land and Country deare Father blesse it still with continuance of thy truth Iessen in it daily the number of blinde and ignorant Papists prophane Atheists and increase the number of thy true children Preserue vnto vs long aliue good Lord if it please thée our gracious King and Gouernour multiply thy Spirit vpon him and all his that still more and more he and they may séeke and set forth thy glory in maintaining Christian religion in all purity suppressing all vice superstition and Idolatry with all seuerity Giue vnto him an honourable Counsell giue them graces necessary for such a calling Blesse all other Nobles Magistrates and the whole body of this Realme with true hearts to thée and to this Countrey Increase in this our Israel the number of true Watchmen whose hearts may séeke thée and thy people and not their owne glory and commodity Bring to thy fold by them such wandring remnants as are thine And O Lord be gracious to our kindred and friends in the flesh lighten their hearts with the Sunne of vnderstanding that they and wée acknowledgeing one truth may glorifie thée in the true and constant profession of the same all the dayes of our life Comfort O Christ thy afflicted members wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled and grant vs peace in our dayes if it be thy pleasure Finally because the night is now vpon vs and we ready to take our rest let the bed O Lord strike into our hearts a consideration that the graue is almost ready for vs. Which of vs can tell whether these eies of ours once closed vp shall euer open any more againe or no Lord therefore receiue vs into thy hands we all here now commend our selues bodies soules vnto thy holy protection and prouidence kéepe vs this night and euermore ready for thée when thou shalt call vs. Heare vs O Lord O God and Father mercifull in these our petitions for thy Sonne Jesus Christ his sake our Sauiour in whose name we altogether begge these mercies saying as Christ our Sauiour hath taught vs Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs and make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs this night and euermore Amen A Prayer to be vsed in priuate Families Morning and Euening Leuit. 26. 6. If yee truely serue God yee shall sleepe and none shall make you afraid Lord prepare our hearts open our lips sanctifie our prayers and increase our Faith O Most mighty Lord God and our most mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ we thy poore creatures and vnworthy children humbly present our selues in his name before thy glorious maiesty acknowledging that we be most vnworthy to appeare in thy presence by reason not onely of our originall but also of our continuall actuall sinnes and déepe disobedienee being originally borne the children of wrath and the least of our actuall transgressions is sufficient to cast vs into hell and vtter perdition if thou shouldest deale with vs according to the measure of our manifold iniquities We therefore doe humbly beséech thée O mercifull Father in the merits of Jesus Christ fréely to pardon and forgiue our manifold offences both in that wée haue committed and done those things thou hast forbidden and left vndone the things thou hast commanded Lord forgiue vs and remember our sinnes no more let them neuer good and gracious Father rise vp in Judgement to our condemnation Giue vs a full assurance of thy mercies and frée forgiuenesse in Jesus Christ and let thy holy Spirit from henceforth euermore so sanctifie our hearts minds and bodies that wée neuer hereafter giue consent to the corrupt motions of our fleshly affections and vnclean desires and let the liuely light of thy continuall presence so illuminate our dark vnderstandings that we may still search for thy will in thy word reuealed and giue vs will and power to practise and performe all godly seruice duties and obedience to thée giue vs féeling hearts that we may finde out our own weakenesse and confesse vnto thée our infirmities and that we may boldly in the Name of thy Sonne Christ Jesus fall downe before thée calling faithfully and sincerely vpon thy holy name for pardon for our former euils for grace to reforme so the rest of our wicked liues that thou maist be pleased to accept vs anew into thy fauour and fatherly protection Grant that we may continually féele in our hearts and consciences more and more the virtue and power of the death resurrection of our Lord and Sauior Jesus Christ that we may continually striue against and mortifie our grosse sins and foule corruptions and grow more strong against all euill motions and temptations in thought word and déede and be more and more renewed in the spirit of our mind and féele a continuall increase of ioy and comfort in the reading hearing and meditating of thy holy and heauenly word and a feruency of true zeale to séekethy glory by encreasing more and more in knowledge and in the hatred of sinne in our selues rebuking it in others especially in those of whom we haue charge and in a happy and faithfull going forward in all godly obedience vnto thy will all the dayes of our liues Direct and strengthen vs that we may with all faithfulnesse labour to
be difmayed at any of thy corrections Lie my heart within mée reioyce let my soule triumph and my conscience retaine true peace and godly alacrity in the middest of the causes of my déepest discontentments And assist me Lord so with thy grace that I may not onely séeme but be indéede truely patient and by the same thy grace let Patience haue her true and liuely working in mée bringing forth all other spirituall effects of Obedience all the fruits of thy sanctifying Spirit Faith to beléeue zeale to pray and constant perseuerance in that hope which maketh not ashamed So shall all my tryals and temptations crosses and afflictions worke for my good to thy glory and al my troubles be approued tryals of thy loue and fatherly fauours toward me howsoeuer the desires of flesh and bloud oppose themselues to weaken the swéete assurance setled in mée by a liuely féeling of thy promises made in thy word infinite in number comfortable and neuer failing Plant therefore in me O good Father plant in mée these sauing fruits and water them continually with the distilling dewe of thy sanctifying Spirit that they may grow vp in mée from the small and weake buds that scarcely appeare in mée to such liuely fructifying and neuer-dying branches as may beare in mée true testimonies vnto my selfe of mine assured Saluation and future Glorification and to thine Elect encouragements of diuine imitation and to the contrary minded examples either to their reformation or condemnation A Prayer against the temptations of the Diuell MOst mercifull God and leuing Father thy blessed World teacheth vs that the old Dragon and subtle Serpent our aduersary the Diuell â—uns about vs like a roaring Lion séeking daily to deuoure vs. Hée vseth all his wicked sleights against our Soules with an in finite number of diuellish Stratagems to make vs fall into sinne or despaire He practiseth to entrap vs by riches by pouerty by voluptuous and wanton pleasures by gréedy desire after honour worldly dignities by coueting earthly goods and possessions by care for the belly and prouision therefore with all other vnrighteous and sinfull affections and desires Hée cunningly doth cast abroad his daits and snares to intangle vs night and day in our words and workes so that wake we or sléepe we he is before or behind vs to deuoure vs. O glorious God who can escape for he is continually watching and neuer at rest and wée are weake and vnable of our selues to resist Open thou our eyes O Lord that we may comprehend how mighty and crafty our enemie is Confirme our Faith for we are not to fight against flesh and bloud but against Sathan the vtter enemy of the Soule therefore O faithfull Father haue compassion on vs. Make vs strong in the power of thine owne streugth put vpon vs thy defensiue armour to resist manfully the temptations and subtle deuices of the Diuell Giue vs thy weapons gird our reynes with the Girdle of truth put on our brests the Brest-plate of righteousnes let our féete be shod with Euangelical peace and aboue all things let our hearts be defended with the shield of Faith so shall wée be sure to quench all the fiery darts of the diuell so that our hearts be couered with the Helmet of Saluation and our hands hold fast the Sword of the Spirit which is thy most sacred anâ— neuer failing Word Then shall wée be able to doe any good thing and valiantly through thy â—ide and succour ouer come our aduersary the Diuell for in thy very name we shall strongly with stand him Be thou but our helper and no feare can assault vs stand thou but by vs and though the world should be ouer-whelmed and the Mountaines tumbled into the bottome of the Sea yet shall wee be safe for thou art our assistance that liuest and raignest world without end Amen The Motiue to the first Prayer in distresse Being a Confession of sinnes and a Petition to be released of the punishments due for the same DAngers and afflictions moue poore men to repaire vnto God not onely in their silent sighes as Anna and Moses did but also in their vnfamed zeale vsing the meanes the tongue and lips in crying vnto the Lord who willeth vs to aske and enioyneth vs to waite vntill his good time be to giue what we desire And for that God heareth not sinners here is inserted a Confession and Prayer for forgiuenesse that our vnworthinesse may be put away and our vnaptnesse turned into true submission and our coldnes into zeale that the Spirit of God being renewed within vs through our humiliation and prayer we may not faint but liue in hope and vndergoe the correction of our louing God in what manner and for what time heseeth it fit for vs without indenting with him what to doe for vs or when to come to vs because he is wise and we our selues fooles he is mercifull and neuer faileth nor forsaketh the miserable God is loue and imbraceth them that deserue to be hated And therefore heâ— beareth with our imperfections and accepteth vs righteous being vnrighteous worthy being vnworthy of our selues And in this hope and assurance is this prayer following to be faithfully vsed and it shall comfort the soule of the most sorrowfull The way truely to seeke our God is to doe iustly to loue mercy to humble our selues and to walke with him Reioyce in hope be patient in tribulation continuing in Prayer Rom. 12. 12. The first Prayer in distresse O Father full of knowledge thou searchest the hidden thoughts of all hearts thou beholdest the desires euen of such as kéepe silence But yet thou requirest that thy children should know and confesse thée to be their Father and so to iudge of thy workes as that thou hast framed in man an heart wherewith to beléeue and a tongue and lips whereby to confesse thée to be his louing Father and dost challenge at his hands the Sacrifices of Prayer and Praise continually Thy children must not be dumbe in their Soules nor mute in their lips that want thine aide no thou commandest them to aske séeke and knocke an t she west thy selfe ready to heare ready to be found and ready to receiue thy distressed ones who are faithfull and patient and perseuere vnto the end And therefore deare Father I beset with many miseries come vnto thee as vnto the chiefe fountaine of all rest and reliefe inward and outward but I am stâ—full and that I confesse and thou wiâ—â— not heare such as are defiled with iniquity the wicked cannot finde thée and the vniust cannot come before thy presence Alas what shall I then doe being so vnfit to aske so vnapt to séeke and so vnworthy to receiue what I desire by reason of my sinnes But cleanse mée O Father most pure and sanctifie mée O thou most holy teach mee what to speake vnto thée for I cannot keepe silence my griefes are great and my miseries increase more and more I must
that couet to catch me in the snare and to 〈◊〉 ap me in the net of deserued reproofe Beare me vpon the wings of thy blessed protection and let mée not come within the reach of their malicious inuentions Let not such as lay wait for mée haue iust cause to desire or opportunity to worke any euill against mée rather let me so trend the pathes of that loue and performe that duety to all men that thou hast willed in thy word that my conscience bearing me witnes of mine innocency I may fréely say The Lord is my helper no euill shall happen vnto me I confesse that I cannot so carry my selfe in this life but offence wâ—ll be taken against mée and I shall deserue as I doe the iust reproofes of men yea against my will and consequently the carnally affected cannot but breake out into bitternesse against me for the same and the more by reason they sée me afflicted as it were by thy hand which they take as a strong argument that I am a sinner most notorious and that thou hast vtterly cast mée off foreuer I cannot indeede louing Father but confesse my sinnes and that I am worthy of sharper corrections theâ— I haue yet tasted or am able to beare yet consider that I haue not maliciously done what thou dislikest but in weaknesse and of naturall imbecility onely and much against my will rather as suffering Sathans oppressions then willingly or wilfully committing sin And therfore trust I in thy mercies O forgiue me I depend on thy power O saue me and deliuer me lest my miseries ouer-whelming me such as pretend euill against me take occasion to pursue me and so dâ—uoure me Consider my troubles O Lord behold my dangers and be vnto me a perpetuall rest and refuge Why standest thou aloose O Lord and séemest not to regard my tâ—oubles why turnest thou away thy face and considerest not my wants thy hidest thou thy selfe when my troubles so much abound Arise and let not the wicked take occasion through mine afflictions to say there is no helpe for me in thée or that thou regardest not the causes of thy distressed children Deliuer me rather and reléeue me that the righteous perceiuing thy readinesse to saue me may the more feare thée and trust in thee and not â—aint when they are likewise afflicted Thou willest the poore to commit himselfe vnto thée and promisest to relieue such as haue no helper Thou preparest the dull hearts to call vpon thée thou againe hearest their cries and comfortest them How long then O Lord how long wilt thou forget me how long shall I cry and not be heard how long shall I seeke counsell of thee and yet be ignorant what course to take I am wearied with my daily sighes and groanes which my heart fraught with griefe and heauines doth powre forth before thée continually O be vnto mee that liuely light that may lighten my sad and pensiue Soule Send that Comforter vnto me whom thou hast promised to send that hee may teach mee what to doe in this my miserie Thou hast threatned to increase the sorrowes of such as seeke vnto other gods why then should they continue still miserable and heauy and grieued that seeke thee onely and onely beleeue in thee how shall they be still ignorant that aske counsell and wisedome of thee who hast created all in the beginning and doest preserue all and maintaine all for euer being God onely powerfull prouident and louing To thée I only come on thee I onely call thee I onely seeke with thee is mercy and with thee is right Redemption and thou deliuerest all that trust in thee as a most sure Sauiour and mighty Protector And thy Word expresseth the liuely force of thy loue and power wherein thou keepest them that are thine as the apple of thine est and couerest them with the wings of thy sauour from the mercilesse and cruell men O be therefore my Rocke whereon I may safely rest be thou my strong Castle wherein I may be freed from the dangers prepared against mee for thou hast promised that all such as hope in thee shall be as Mount Sion that shall neuer be moued Breake thou my fetters Lord wherewith I am tyed and remoue my sorrowes wherewith I am brought euen to the doore of death that I walking in the liberty of a free spirit may grieue no more at my crosses but glorifie thee with a song of ioyfull deliuerance Let not sinne preuaile against mee any more which as a Lyon teareth in peeces the assurance of my soule Beare me vpon thy sauing wings through the miseries of this life and let not the Mire and Clay wherein I sticke fast detaine mee euer let not the Water-flouds which roare fearefully and fiercely swell against me vtterly swallow mevp But rather diuide and put backe the mercilesse Waues that so dangerously rage on all sides against me that I may passe on and finish this my mortal course as one that liueth and hath his being of thy meere loue and not as one that languisheth in thy displeasure O Lord increase my Faith The Motiue to the third Prayer VVHerein the poore Man disclaymeth his owne worthinesse and appealeth to the mercies of God yet grieued vnder the burthen of his miseries he instantly prayeth vnto God that he will not correct him ouer-sharpely lest he faint For by reason of his grieuous crosses not withstanding his continuall prayers he feareth as it were lest hee pray in vaine and be driuen to thinke that either God heareth him not or regardeth not his Petitions and therefore beseeching God to come now at the length either with deliuery or to giue him such inward spirituall strength as hee may constantly indure vnto the end For hee hauing tryed the helpe of mortall men findeth it to tend onely to words and not to relieuing workes assuring himselfe that God is not as Man that promiseth and performeth not but is absolute to worke by meanes against meanes and without meanes euen what hee will for his setting before the eye of his hope Gods former fauours and fatherly assistance shewed vnto our faithfull Fathers of old by whose example hee seemeth to challenge at the hands of God the like louing kindnesse and that God will not suffer him vtterly to perish putting his trust in him although the World gaze on him and deride him as if he were a Monster and no man expostulating as it were with God that forasmuch as hee was cast vpon him as soone as hee was borne he onely depending on his mercies he cannot leaue him in the deepe but rather for his owne glories sake lift him out of his calamities lest the Righteous faint also to see him still visited notwithstanding his continuall Prayers and that the wicked should thereby gather that there is not a God that regardeth the causes of poore Men. The third Prayer wherein he flyeth and wholly relyeth vpon God and trusteth not in the helpe nor
importunate with mee for that which I cannot performe and resting in danger of their cruelties haue no other refuge but to depend on thy mercy and prouidence wherein as in a safe sanctuary I shall rest euermore preserued vntill these dangers be ouerpast Many doe looke vpon me to sée and consider what will become of my miseries and I continually pleade thy frée mercy in Christ wherein thou promisest to couer the multitude of my sins for which I am thus afflicted the righteous thereby take hold of hope and in my behalfe wish a prosperous and happy end of my destres encouraging mee to perseuere for that thy word euer sure warranteth a timely deliuery of all such as are penitent patient and faithfull vnto the end But alas good Father in Christ Jesus I a most sinfull man doe challenge no comfort ease or reliefe in mine owne right but in the merits of him in whom thou art well pleased and in whom thou shewest mercy vnto sinners among whom I am the greatest Yea Lord I am ignorant of good things and wander as a beast by nature in the vast wildernesse of this worlds vanities hauing little or no taste of thy sauing truth or féeling of future dangers but of thée onely I haue knowledge of my selfe I am weake but from thee I haue all strength of my selfe is misery from thée is mercy of my selfe I am altogether vnperfect but from thée is all perfection both inward tending to the consolation of my said soule and outward to the reliefe of my distressed body Therefore teach me O Lord teach me thy truth shew me thy wayes and leade mee in thy pathes continually withhold my heart from euery euill thought my hands that they commit no euill kéepe mine eyes sincere and my tongue that it speake no vnséemely thing and my féet from falling Regard moe not as I am in mine owne selfe nor deale with me as I deserue by mine owne wayes but according to thy tender mercies and louing kindnesse banish my sinnes as a mist driue away my imperfections as a cloud and supply my wants with timely reliefe Thou art righteous and gracious and reformest sinners and forgiuest their sins Be mercifull therefore vnto mine iniquities for they are very great Kéepe my soule and deliuer me let mee not be confounded nor perish vtterly for I trust in thée Thou art the light of my saluation the strength of my life and my refuge and sure defence in trouble In the time of my greatest dangers thou shalt hide mee in thy tabernacle namely in the secret places of thy prouidence which no man can finde out thou shalt kéepe me and hide me from them that couet my destruction thou shalt set me vpon a rock against which man shall not preuaile Harken therefore O Lord harken vnto my voyce when I cry vnto thée haue mercy vpon mee and comfort mee Thou sayest Seeke yee my Face And what is it O Lord but to séeke thy helpe in distresse and danger to craue thy fauour and succor in the time of néede O Father my soule by the priuiledge of thy frée Spirit which teacheth truth in the inner parts is ready my heart also is prepared to séeke thée my tongue speaketh vnto thée as vnto the liuely helper of all that are oppressed Hide not therefore thy face in displeasure which in loue thou willest me to seeke be vnto me as heretofore thou hast béene my succour and shield and leaue me not vnto the end My naturall father indéede that begat me and my mother that bare mee may forget mée my friends that pretend to fauour mee may forsake mee when thou rebukest me but thou canst not forget mée nor forsake mee for thou in thy Word hast promised the contrary and therefore I will not feare to flye vnto thée who giuest what earthly fathers cannot giue and supplyest my wants that neither my most familiar and my dearest friends can supply I should vtterly faint did I not verily trust in thée and assuredly know that thou hast no respect of persons and that thou acceptest not of men as the world doth by the outward habite and externall glory but the inward parts decked with faith feare and obedience thou likest and embracest the poorest for pietie and in the proud whom the world doth reuerence thou hast no delight Frame thou therefore mine inward zeale and let not my outward basenes ouer-much depriue me of some comfort among the children of men and when I cry vnto thée be not as men who regard not the poore but with spéede heare and consider and refuse not to answere me with timely reliefe And let not the vnsauorie miseries of this life accompanied with the naturall we akenesse of my flesh draw me into the way of the wicked but let me rather hold fast by thy promised protection as by the Altar of a liuely â—â—fuge â—ow downe thine eare I â—ay O Lord and let me not for euer cry vnto thée in vaine Draw me out of the net that is laid for mée deliuer me from the dangers prepared against me Thou hast séene my troubles and hast knowne my soule in the bitternes of distresse and yet thou hast not vtterly forsaken mée but in mercy hast mightily preserued mee from infinite perils And now Lord euen now séeing my life wasteth in heauinesse and my yéeres consume in forrow sith I am a reproach euen among my neighbours and all my friends faile me and sith I am euen at the point to perish be pleased to thinke of my miseries and send me spéedy reliefe As thy goodnesse O Lord is great which thou hast laid vp as in a treasury for all that feare thee so let thy mercy appeare and thy prouidence and power toward me be séene among such as thinke indéede thou hast forsaken me vtterly O Lord increase my Faith The Motiue to the fift Prayer VVHerein the poore man appealeth vnto God being stricken with a kinde of despaire because there be that say of him There is no helpe for him in God he therefore not onely cryeth vnto God that he will consider it but he himselfe also entreth into the cause why they so say and findeth it to be for that they see his store consumed and his basket emptied and his foes furious against him but hee herewith not dismayed reasoneth against these mens infidelity who in these their allegations seeme to deny that either there is a God or that he careth for or will or can helpe the poore And yet hee presumeth not vpon his owne integrity but confesseth God to be iust and rightly may punish sinners among whom he is the greatest and hee finding this temptation to be very grieuous he prayeth God to second his feeble nature by his free grace and that he will stay him with his staffe while he correcteth him with his rod because he is but a weake man may easily be burdened aboue his owne strength But being assisted by God hee assureth himselfe
Mordecay deliuered Susanna cleared and the Iudges stoned Euery Kingdome is this great Gods and hée raigneth ouer all Nations hée controlleth and is not controlled he â—â—iteth and is not resisted thée aduanceth and none can throw them downe O my Soule feare and serue and loue and reuerence obey this great God this Lord high and terrible that approueth himselfe a King ouer all the earth being guarded with such inuincible power and maiesty that hée can strike Saul to the ground with his terrible voyce and againe raise Saul with a louing and kinde hand O Lord how terrible art thou in thy works Through the infinite greatnesse of thy power thou hast made all things and preseruest all men insomuch as all such as séeme to deny thée thy power and prouidence the fooles that say in their harts there is no God are made mute and put to silence and both their will and their practises made all subiect vnto thy will and pleasure What then shall I rest amazed at the friuolous inuentions of fleshly men that séeme by their owne power to build themselues Babels on earth working terrour to the poore by their pride and practice impiety without any remorse of conscience No I will kéepe silence and neither mine owne wants nor sorrowes nor dangers nor the worlds ignominious taunts at my base estate shall wrest me from this glorious God from this powerfull Iehouah from this so louing and kinde a father that feareth not the strength and forces of millions of Kings but shieldeth and defendeth his by his mighty hand and kéepeth them safe in the flaming fire in the raging seas and in the strength of the Lyons pawes Let this God I say arise and chase his enemies and cherish his little ones and pull downe the proud and set vp the simple and scatter the wicked that they dwel not beyond his time appointed to tyrannize ouer his chosen vpon the earth The Chariots of this God are twenty thousand Angels the Lord himselfe being among them the generall worker of all good for all his and of all iudgement against the vniust All the gods that are estéemed as Gods among men are but Idols but the Lord he is God that hath couered himselfe with light as with a garment whereby hée discouereth all darkenesse infidelity disobedience and sinne he findeth out the faithlesse howsoeuer they dissemble zeale and approueth them not most godly that are most glorious nor them reprobates that the world reiecteth but through the light of his most high wisdome and prouidence he yéeldeth to euery one his owne to him that doth well life and reliefe and succour and patience and rest and peace but vnto the wicked sorrow and anguish and tribulations and a worme euer deuouring in perpetuall horror in hell fire O my soule be therefore patient in these transitory troubles in these momentany afflictions stand fast faint not feare not flie not but féed on hope for a strong helpe commeth for this smal suffering thou shalt receiue a perpetuall and most admirable waight of glory O my soule now consider whom hast thou in heauen but this God or whom or what desirest thou in earth in comparison of him for hée is the portion of thine inheritance he filleth the cup of saluation vnto thée for euer therefore I feare not neither will I faint for this God hath promised neither to faile me nor forsake me There is none like vnto God Oh righteous people which rideth vpon the heauens for thy helpe and on the clouds in his glory The eternall God is thy refuge and vnder his arme thou art for euer he shall cast out the enemy before thee and will say Destroy them Deuteronomy 33. 26. 27. O the deepnesse of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how vnsearchable are his Iudgements and his wayes past finding out Rom. 11. 33. Of him and through him and for him are all things to him be glory for euer Amen Vers. 36. They inherited not the Land by their owne sword neither did their owne arme saue them but thy right hand and thine arme and the light of thy countenance because thou didst fauour them Psal. 44. 3. A sweet Meditation concerning the knowledge and prouidence of God whereby the soules of the distressed members of Christ are so quickened through faith in Christ that they rest assured that God hauing foreseene all things cannot but in mercy bring all their sorrowes to a ioyfull and wished end IT is in vaine I sée for me a wretched creature to striue with my powerfull Creator If I should séeme to bide me from him and to séeke to escape his rod and corrections he being alwayes solitary I doe but deceiue my selfe for he is in all places and with all persons and knoweth the wayes of men searcheth the hidden thoughts within and soeth mine actions without the workes of his children hée séeth and approueth the euill actions of the reprobates hée séeth and condemneth yea this righteous God tryeth the very hearts and reynes he findes out the hidden dissimulation of hypocrites pretend they neuer so great denotion and sanctity Should I therefore thinke to colour my sinnes with the painted shew of dissimulate holinesse could I performe it so farre as men might approue of all my sayings and allow all my doings and that I were held iust No no for if my inner parts be not perfect hée in his most absolute knowledge findeth me a deceiuer and so will make mine euils at the last breake out as the morning light O my soule therefore as thou tenderest thy saluation to come and my comfort here in this life leaue off to sinne in secret and flie al shewes of impiety and regard truth and imbrace iustice and follow good euen with thy most inward affection and let neither my hand nor mine eye nor mine eare nor my tongue be instruments of iniquity but rather of sincere piety and of a sanctified life The cause of misery is sin the way to obtaine mercy is repentance and a reformed conuersation How canst thou looke for loue that louest not to liue well and how canst thou liue and not lacke many yea all Gods blessings inward and outward vnlesse thou loue him and reforme thy selfe before him that séeth thy loose behauiour towards him Thou art in outward pouerty because thou art full of inward impiety thou hast many enemies because thou art enemy to God and thy dangers encrease daily because thou dwellest not in God nor Gods Spirit in thée Thou sayest thou art Gods and yet vngodly thou sayest thou fearest him and yet thou still offendest him thou thinkest thou shouldest receiue what good thou destrest and yet thou destrest amisse and deseruest euill God knoweth who are his and who are not his and none know they are Gods but who know God and serue him rightly The righteous onely he knoweth and their wants and the vnrighteous he despiseth because of their sins wherein they say Tush
not the flouds of these dangerous waters ouer-flow mée quite but when I am ready to sinke yéelde mée thy helping hand and saue me lift me out of the mire and clay of all my miseries and set mée on the relieuing pastures of thy continuall frée fauours let the chearefull dewe of thy blessings and blessed graces showre downe vpon me so shall my little store increase and my empty basket become full And forasmuch as I haue no frée portion in this earth not the breadth of a foote neither haue I of mine owne a house to hide my head in put mée therefore where thou wilt and let mine abode in earth be in what place and how long of short time thou wilt for of my selfe whither to turne mée or what to doe I know not Be thou therefore my guide and direct all my desires of earthly things by thy Word and let my will alwayes follow thy will lest my will led by the blinde affections of corrupt reason bring me mine owne preiudice and shame Thou euermore prouidest for them that aske of thée directest them that take counsell of thée therfore hauing thus weakly laid open my cause before thée consider it and giue me patience in all my trials and let me not so much mourne and hang down my head and be heauy for the want of outward necessaries as at the consideration and looking backe into the vgly gulfe of my former continuing sinnes Oh frée me Lord frée mée from my sinnes and sanctifie me anew that howsoeuer the outward man séeme to be discouraged yet the inward man may be still more and more filled with all spirituall knowledge and consolation and true contentment Thou hearest my reproofes thou knowest my sorrowes and my groanes are not hid from thée put my teares few and weake into thy bottle Remember thy promises and I shall neuer forget thy praises Oh faile me not forsake mée not my God and my Redéemer O Lord increase my Faith A Thankesgiuing and Prayer to be vsed of a sicke man when he is recouered oftentimes I Yéelde and giue vnto thée O mercifull and most deare Father all humble thankes honour glory and praise for thine infinite and excéeding great blessings hauing no way merited the least of them and namely for that it hath pleased thée of late to deliuer mée from the very point of death and as it were raised my féeble body from the graue and redéemed my soule from death that I should walke before thée in the land of the liuing that I might further glorifie thy name doe more good in my calling and be made méete for the inheritance of thy Kingdome This worke O Lord procéeded from thy mercy and no desert at all of mine and for thy grace and not of any goodnesse in mée not vnto mée not vnto mée but vnto thy blessed name be giuen all glory But séeing that I through my sinfull corruption am more ready to bury in the graue of obliuion then to kéepe in thankfull remembrance thy great mercy yea and rather to grow cold backward in all holy exercises and duties then to holinesse of life I therefore beséech thée with all earnestnesse to renew my nature and to ingraue the remembrance of this thy goodnesse in my heart by the illumination of thy holy Spirit and grant that for the residue of my temporall life I may in humility and truth be directed by thy most sacred Word and alwayes submit my selfe to the gouernment of thy blessed Spirit Make me good Father a light and example of vertue and godlinesse vnto others and to grow in grace as I increase in yéeres that so I may liue in thy feare and dye in true peace of conscience and assurance of eternall glory with all the Saints and Angels in heauen vouchsafe O my heauenly Father to grant me all other things conuenient for mée in this life for the onely merits obedience and mediation of Jesus Christ our Mediatour and Redéemer Amen In time of affliction pray thus yea often The Lord shall make the Pestilence cleaue vnto thee vntill hee hath consumed thee the Lord shall smite thee with a consumption and with the feuer and with a burning ague c. vntill thou repent Deut. 28. 21. O Lord most iust and Father most mercifull thou it is that renewest thy plagues against man when hée offendeth thée thy vengeance from heauen is both sudden and fearefull toward the rebellious and disobedient children thou for one sinne in King Dauid destroyedst with the loathsome disease of the Pestilence many thousands of his people cast thine eyes of mercy vpon vs O thou preseruer of men which languish now in this land and in this house with the like disease and sicknes Now deare God hath not Dauid onely offended thée in trusting to his strength and numbring of his people but euen each congregation and euery houshold hath one way or other prouoked thee to plague thy disobedient people now that wée sée thy plagues appearing to the piercing and piercing of our bodies and soules asunder Lord wee stand amazed in our mindes heartily sighing with groanes at the sight of our sinnes Now wee consider wée haue sinned grieuously wee haue done amisse wee haue dealt wickedly we haue liued vngodly we haue iwerued from the way of truth without any godly feare or remorse of conscience thy great benefit of peace and rare blessing of long prosperity vnder so good and gracious a Gouernour haue brought too too many of vs to such security and contempt of Religion that altogether forgetting to be thankefull wée haue abused thy benefits as fast as they came that with a churlish kinde of impiety the thoughts of our harts the words of our mouths and the workes of our hands are vaine carnall and diuellish yea our seruice to thee oftentimes but meere abomination so farre alas haue we erred from the path of thy Commandements As thou didst finde with the Israelites wickednesse in Gilgal sinne in Bethel and iniquity in Bâ—rsheba so in euery Church in euery Court nay in euery concourse or assembly amongst vs thou beholdest how the flesh hath ouer-growne the spirit and how reason is ouer-ruled with affections so many labour in these dayes vnder the displayed Ensigne of Sathan that very few deare Father are found setled in the dutifull forme of vpright and spirituall Obedience which thou requirest Wée confesse thou mightest iustly therefore forsake vs as we haue forsaken thée and not onely procéede to sting the head-Cities and whole body of this Land with sundry plagues and grieuous diseases but for our manifold sinnes and iniquities which we daily commit thou mightest iustly and worthily condemne vs man after man to eternall death all consciences being so guilty that they already condemne themselues Yet who is hée O mercifull Lord that can measure thy goodnesse who by thy word doest oftentimes bring sinners to beliefe repentance and saluation though it be not thy pleasure good Lord to make the
cast-awaies but in our owne consciences the childrē of God through Christ and they in their own conceits blessed in their wealth wanton and delicate and loose liues but by the Word of God without repentāce Reprobates And therefore faith Christ vnto them Woe be vnto you that are rich for you receiue your consolation in this life And againe Weepe and howle yee wealthy and worldly men for the miseries that shall come vpon you But vnto his little ones such as are least estéemed in the World he saith Feare not my little Children I haue prepared for you a City And againe I will neither faile you nor forsake you What shall wée then say The Lord is our portion and our sure defence why then should wée feare what man can doe vnto vs Esay 9. 7. The zeale of the Lord of Hoasts will performe this Let vs therefore rouze vp our soules that are dulled with our miseries and let vs rest vpon him that is the God of mercies Let vs be faithfull patient and humble let vs only grieue that we haue sinned and be fearefull to offend againe Let vs fall downe before his foot-stoole for he is holy let vs cry to him for hee is pittifull let vs aske of him for he is liberall let vs referre vs to his will for he is louing O Lord increase our Faith Here follow sundry most effectuall Prayers for distressed men howsoeuer their trials continue or increase When thou saydest Seeke my face my heart answered Thy face O Lord will I seeke Psal. 27. 8. IT appeareth by this resolution of godly Dauid that hée was moued by the Spirit of God in his troubles to séeke aide from aboue and not in the Earth of God and not of Man And to the end that Dauids true affection which he bare towards the good of all Posterities and especially the loue of God towards his Children might be recorded to their perpetuall encouragement it is continued euen vnto vs that wée that are euen now afflicted should sée and as in a glasse behold the good will of God wherein hée willeth vs to séeke his face which importeth a most swéet encouragement that all men troubled should séeke aide at God who to the end that this World and the comforts thereof should not allure his Children lest they should be also miscarried thereby and so be condemned with the World hée setteth a veile as it were before their eyes namely pouerty ignominy crosses miseries and sundry calamities that they delight not in the face and shape of this World but that rather it appearing vgly and nothing pleasant vnto them they might séeke another way to comfort themselues namely the most amiable face of heauenly Iehouah who willeth vs as hée did will Dauid to séeke him onely in our distresse that is to call on him faithfully to craue his fauour instantly and to leade our liues vprightly So shall his most louing countenance shine vpon vs his hand be extended towards vs and his power and might be with vs. And therefore as hée saith fréely Séeke ye 〈◊〉 let vs instantly and faithfully séeke him with our whole hearts so shall wée be sure to sée his saluation after wée haue patiently vndergone the swéete burden of the yoke of his fatherly chastisements A Motiue to the Prayer following for Patience in Affliction PErforce maketh a man patient against his will but that cannot be called Patience but a discontentment But thatis Patience when a man beareth all iniuries wrongs crosses afflictions and miseries with a willing minde without grudging or murmuring without seeking or vsing any euill or sinister practice or attempt to ease himselfe of that which God layeth vpon him wherein he would seeme to be wiser then God who knoweth better then the wisest man what is best for him And therefore Dauid giueth counsell To wait patiently vpon the Lord and to hope in him in what estate soeuer we be although we be poore and see others rich and prosper Fret not thyselfe for him which prospereth in his wayes Psal. 37. 7. Naturall reason is deceiued when it conceiueth men happiest that prosper most in the world for then were the Word of God not true which saith Many are the troubles of the righteous◠and then were the wicked in better case then the godly for they prosper best in the world But reade the 37. Psalme their estate is there described their end presaged and the godly comforted and confirmed in patience A Prayer for patience in affliction very comfortable HEauenly Father mercifull and louing full of power absolute in wisedome vnsearchable in thy prouidence and giuer of all diuine and spirituall graces whereby thy children are guided in the way of Obedience supported in their dangers and relieued in their wants whereby they learne to loue thée for thy mercies to reuerence thée for thy greatnesse and to obey thée for thy goodnesse and in all the changes and alterations of their estates to imbrace Patience whereby such as thou blessest become thankefull such as thou afflictest become méekely contented and beare the burden of their crosses without any outward shew of discontentment or inward grudging or murmuring at thy corrections but depending vpon thy fatherly prouidence they are either timely deliuered or inwardly comforted their hearts eased and their consciences quieted neuer presuming to limit the time when or the manner or meanes how thou shouldest ease or reléeue them but rest assured by thy Spirit working in their hearts that they are thine and therefore all things are promised by thée in thy Word to work together for their good sicknesse of the body griefe of the minde want of necessaries enemies and all crosses all conioyne to worke good vnto those that are thine and being hereof assured they rest themselues in patience and wait thy timely release for their miseries in hearty obedience to thy will And for that most gracious Father it is not the nature nor in the power of man to accomplish these heauenly duties no not in thine owne Elect giue mée this heauenly vertue Patience to vnder-goe whatsoeuer thou shalt lay vpon mée with a willing and contented minde acknowledging that I know nothing lesse then thy secret purpose in working with man in this life why thou aduancest one and pullest downe another Why one prospereth and another is miserable knowing yet by thine own Word and Promise that to such as are thine all things turne to their good And therefore I come vnto thée who hast willed mée to come I begge of thée who hast willed mée to aske and I knocke at thée who hast willed mée to enter into thy presence and all for Patience Good Father giue patience vnto my perplexed Soule that howsoeuer I féele either inward griefe or outward troubles I may rest me onely in thée and by thée in peace within howsoeuer the outward man séeme to perish And let neither my fainting heart be cast downe nor my spirit disquieted within mée nor my conscience