him and forgaue him the debt Not only ready to forgiue but profuse in mercy Psal 130.7 With thee is plenteous Redemption Luc. 15.22 The father of the Prodigall not only pardoned him but put on him the best Robe and a Ring and killed the fat Calfe for him Luc. 15.7 He will haue ioy in Heauen for a sinner repenting Thy pardon extendeth not only to small but great sinnes and sinners Such as Peter Luc. 26.74 who forsware thee Paul â— Tim. 1.13 who blaspheamed thee The Luc. 23.43 Theefe on the Crosse The Ioh 8. Adultresse Luc. 7.36 Mary Magdalen Ier. 3.1 They say if a man put away his Wife and shee goe from him and become another mans shall he returne vnto her againe shall not the Land be greatly polluted But thou hast played the harlot with many Louers yet returne againe to me saith the Lord. Luc. 6.35 He is kinde to the vnthankefull and euill But all these are recapitulated and summed vp in Christ Iesus 1. Pet. 1.4 In whom he hath giuen vs great and precious promises 2. Cor. 1.19 And in whom all the promises of God are Yea and Amen In Ioh. 16.23 naming of whom it will bee sufficient Mat. 15.22 Iesu thou Sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me Mat. 1.21 Which name Iesus was giuen vnto him because he saueth vs from our sinnes Aug. Lord doe not so earnestly marke our sinnes as that thereby thou forget thine owne Name Thou Sonne of Dauid 2. Sam. 19. who forgaue Shemei his sworne enemie reuiling him Forgiue me O Christ heare me Intercede for me Make the Father propitious to me Say vnto my Soule Psal 35.3 I am thy Saluation Let not thy Apostle comfort me in vaine when he saith 1. Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Rom. 5.20 Where six hath abounded there grace hath super-abounded God hath concluded all vnder Rom. 11.32 sinne that he might haue mercy vpon all Rom. 5.10 When we were Gods enemies we were reconciled to him by the death of his Sonne Let not another of thy Apostles say in vaine 1. Pet. 3.18 Christ once suffered for sinne the iust for the vniust that hee might bring vs to God Let not the third Ia. 2.13 Mercy reioyceth aboue Iudgement Let not the fourth 1. Ioh. 2.1 If any man sinne wee haue an Aduocate with the Father Christ Iesus the Righteous 1. Ioh. 2.2 And hee is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours only but for the sinnes of the whole world Let not thine owne Words be spoken in vaine Mat. 11.28 Come vnto mee all yee that labour and are heauie laden and I will giue yee rest Luc. 5.32 I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Ioh. 12.47 I came not to Iudge the World but to saue it These things are not cannot be spoken in vaine Psal 94.19 Wherefore in the multitude of the sorrowes that are in my heart thy comforts O Lord haue refreshed my soule Heb. 4.16 Let vs therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtaine mercy and finde Grace to helpe in time of neede Which I beseech thee to grant me For thy great and many mercies Thy Names sake The Glory of thy Name Thy promise sake Thy practize sake My misery My infirmitie Euen for thy Sonne Iesus Christs sake The seuen penitentiall Psalmes analysed 1 Psalme 6. 1 O Lord my God rebuke me not I beseech thee in thy fierce indignation against my sinnes either in this life or at the day of Iudgement neither chasten or correct mee in thy hot displeasure by condemning mee to eternall death 2 Haue mercy and compassion vpon me according to thy accustomed goodnesse O Lord for I am weake and fraile by nature strengthen me therefore by thy Grace O Lord and heale me by curing the infirmities of my soule for they are multiplied so greatly vpon me that my bones and all my inward parts are vexed and disquieted with the remembrance of them 3 My sinfull Soule considering my manifold offences and trembling at the thought of thy iust anger against them is also like as is my flesh sore troubled and almost at the point of desperation but thou O Lord that desirest not the death of a sinner how long will it be ere thou looke vpon me and bring mee out of this misery 4 Returne from the rigour of thy Iustice O Lord to the sweetnesse of thy mercie and deliuer my soule from the bondage of sinne O Lord saue mee from the assaults of the Deuill not for any merits of mine but for thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus my Sauiour 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee to praise and glorifie thy Name and who surely none there is that shall giue thee thankes or celebrate thy goodnesse in the Graue of Hell where nothing is to be heard but weeping gnashing of teeth and blasphemies 6 I am weary and faint with my groaning and sighing for my transgressions euery night when I should take my rest I wash my bed weeping for them and I water my couch the place of my rest with my teares of vnfeined repentance 7 Mine eye of reason and vnderstanding is consumed and groweth weake because of the griefe I take fearing thy Iudgements yet it waxeth Old and I continue in sinne because of the vnited forces of all mine enemies the World the Flesh and the Deuill 8 Depart therefore farre from me all ye mine enemies which are and haue beene the workers and causers of mine iniquitie by your tentations and euill examples for henceforth I will haue no more to doe with you for my conscience assureth mee that the Lord of his infinite goodnesse hath heard and pittied the voyce of my weeping and therefore I should be vnthankefull to him to returne to those sinnes which he in his mercy hath forgiuen 9 The Lord I cannot repeat it too often hath gratiously heard my earnest supplication for the pardon of my sinnes and he The Lord plentifull in pittie hath not only now but will also hereafter receiue my prayer whensoeuer I call faithfully vpon him 10 Let all mine enemies therefore who haue sought my destruction be ashamed at my conuersion and bee sore vexed and troubled at the consideration of Gods Iudgements Let them no longer delay but repent and returne to the Lord and bee ashamed that they haue so long deferred their conuersion and suddenly without any longer delay make their peace with him by vnfeined repentance Glory be to the Father c. 2 Psalme 32. BLessed is he in this life in assured hope and thrice blessed in full and perfect fruition in the life to come Whose transgression by Gods mercy is forgiuen in respect of the offence and whose sinne by the imputation of Christs
of thy hands admiring thy Power and Wisedome in the creation of all things 6 I stretch forth and lift vp my hands in my prayers vnto thee O Lord my soule which is drie for want of the deaw of thy grace thirsteth after thee for the water of life as a thirsty land in a time of drought 7 Heare me and answer me speedily delay not O Lord for my spirit waxeth faint and faileth me in my deuotion Oh hide not thy face and louing countenance from me miserable sinner least it come to passe that I bee like in condition vnto them that goe downe headlong after their owne inuentions into the pit of destruction and perdition 8 Cause mee by thy spirit to heare and feele thy louing kindnesse and mercy in the morning speedily least I perish for in thee only and not in the helpe of men or Angels doe I place my whole trust and confidence cause mee by thy grace to know and learne the way of thy testimonies wherein I should and ought to walke without declining to the right hand or the left For I lift vp my soule by prayer and repentance vnto thee who only canst direct me aright 9 Deliuer me O Lord by thy power from all mine enemies visible and inuisible for I flie and make hast for succour vnto thee as to my protector to hide and defend me from their violence 10 Teach and instruct mee that am ignorant to doe thy Will and those things which thou commandest for thou art my God and director Thy Spirit is good and all sufficient for me Lead me therefore by it into the right way which bringeth into the land of righteousnes and truth 11 Quicken mee againe O Lord and reuiue mee from the death of sinne for thy Names sake which is Iesus and for thy righteousnesse sake and loue to goodnesse bring my soule by thy grace out of the trouble and anguish whereinto my sinnes haue brought me 12 And of thy tender mercy and compassion cut of and kill in me mine enemies the concupiscences of the flesh and destroy and confound all them that with iniuries and tentations afflict and disquiet my soule which is wholly deuoted to thee for I am thy Seruant and Sonne of thy handmaid and desire to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of my life Glory be to the Father c. Directions before receiuing the Holy Communion AS many as desire to be partakers of the holy Sacrament of the Bodie and blood of Christ as of necessitte euery one must be that intendeth to receiue benefit by him ought before the taking of it to prepare his soule and fit it for the due receiuing of it and not come to it carelessely without due examination of himselfe and respectiue consideration of the excellency and worth thereof And therefore before the time of communicating wee ought to spend some time or dayes the more the better In meditating vpon the great and vnspeakeable loue and mercy of God toward vs. miserable sinners in ordeining so powerfull a meanes to purge and cleanse vs and bring vs to him In beleeuing all his promises made to vs in Christ Iesus in applying them to our selues in performing the workes of charitie in examining in what estate our soules doe stand in calling to minde our sinnes and confessing them to God in grieuing and repenting for them and that in all humility and Godly sorrow in a Luc. 15.20 returning with the Prodigall smiting our brests with the Publican b Luc. 18.13 weeping with Mary Magdalen begging mercy with the theefe on the Crosse Luc. 7.38 and lastly in promising to God to lead a better life for the time to come Thus if wee doe no doubt but wee shall be welcome guests to this feast as being of that number for whom it was prepared For by how much the more we come prepared to take this Sacrament so much the greater shall bee the grace which we shall receiue by it There are foure Duties required in euery Communicant First Faith to beleeue that Iesus Christ did and suffered all things which are written of him in the Holy Scriptures for the Redemption of mankinde Secondly Repentance by which a man confessing his sinnes to God with a purpose to lead a new life is reconciled to him Thirdly Reuerend behauiour that in all humility we make our selues fit guests for such a feast Fourthly Meditation and Attention that we during the time of the administration of the Sacrament attend no earthly thoughts but wholly fixe our soules vpon our Sauiour Christ and meditate on nothing but this great and high benefit and thereby bee inflamed with a hearty loue and thankefull minde to God not only for his infinite loue in suffering so great things for vs but also for instituting this blessed Sacrament to remaine to the end of the World as a sure pledge of his continuance amongst vs and perpetuall care ouer vs. After we haue communicated and are refreshed wee ought also to be thankfull to God for so great a benefit thankfulnesse being not the least dutie of this seruice The Sacrament it selfe being called Eucharistia which is thankesgiuing and to striue to imitate him as well in life as death to liue purely and not to defile our soules againe being purged and cleansed by the powerfull operation of this blessed Sacrament that so by Examination meditation thankesgiuing faith and constant resolution of amendment Wee may worthily receiue Christ into our soules and be made members of his mysticall bodie Meditations and Prayers before the Communion WHat am I O Lord that I should be so bold as to come neere to thee what am I that should attempt to receiue this so great and high a mystery what is man by nature but a vessell of corruption vnapt to any good and propense and most ready for any euill What is man but a creature of all others most wretched blinde in Iudgement inconstant in his actions vncleane in his desires and though small in desert yet proud and great in his owne conceit Thou seest O Lord what I am But thou O Lord art great good wise and eternall omnipotent in strength wonderfull in wisedome deepe in thy counsells terrible in thy Iudgements and absolutely perfect in all thy workes How then dare I that am so base and vncleane a creature approch to the Feast of so great a God and a Lord of so great Maiestie Behold the Heauens are not cleane in thy sight Iob 15.15 and the pillers of Heauen shake and tremble at thy nod Saint Iohn the Baptist who was sanctified in his mothers wombe professed himselfe not worthy to vnloose the latchâ—t of thy shoes Ioh. 1 27. Saint Peter cried out to thee Luc. 5.8 to depart from him a sinfull man How then can I the chiefe of all sinners but tremble at thy presence O LORD I feare that being thus wretched and vnfit I shall not bee admitted to this Feast but rather
land of Righteousnesse Giue me grace O Lord. Rom. 7.18 To know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing To abstaine from fleshly lusts which fight against the Soule To keepe in minde alwayes that the world passeth away and the desires thereof and that the benefit which a man getteth by the world is nothing but destruction Truely to say Psal 119.52 I haue remembred thy euerlasting Iudgements and my Soule receiueth comfort thereby O Thou that a 1. Pet. 5.5 giuest grace to the humble giue me grace to be humble Giue me a good heart which Luc. 8.15 hearing thy Word may keepe it and bring forth fruit with patience O Lord Gen. 6.8 let me finde grace in thine eyes Heb. 12.17 Let me finde a place and time of Repentance Let me not receiue thy Grace in vaine 2. Cor. 6.1 Let Heb. 12.15 mee not faile or fall from it But Act. 13.43 let me continue in it And 2. Pet. 3.18 let me grow in it To the end of my daies 2. Cor. 7.11 Giue me O Lord the workes of RepentaÌ„ce Carefulnesse Defence or clearing my selfe Indignation Feare Vehement desire Zeale Reuenge Phil. 4.8 Giue mee Grace to thinke vpon doe Whatsoeuer things are True Venerable Honest Iust Pure Louely Of good report Giue vnto me ô Lord Humility of heart Charity to my Neighbour Patience of minde Temperance of life Chastity of body Contentednesse of minde Alacrity of Spirit Giue vnto me good Lord. Perfect knowledge of my sinnes Hearty sorrow for them Perfect hatred against them Feruent loue to all goodnesse True obedience to thy Will 2. Pet. 1.5 Giue mee grace O Lord to adde To faith Vertue To Vertue Knowledge To Knowledge Temperance To Temperance Patience To Patience Godlinesse To Godlinesse Brotherly Kindnesse To Brotherly kindnesse Charitie Gal. 5.22 Giue vnto me ô Lord the fruites of the spirit Loue Ioy Peace Long suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith Meekenesse Temperance Giue vnto mee good Lord. Contempt of the world Hatred of sinne Loathing of the flesh Desire of Heauen Giue vnto me O Lord. A right Faith to liue well A sure Hope to perseuere well A perfect Humility to obay well A true Charitie Neuer to be diuided from thee Giue mee grace O Lord To be content with that which â—s necessary To despise that which is superfluous Grant O Lord That I may so liue that I repent not to haue liued That I may so liue that no man may know I haue liued amisse That I may so liue that I may alwaies liue Luc. 2.29 That dying I may liue and liuing I may dye and say with a chearefull Spirit Lord now lettest thou thy Seruant depart in peace Phil. 1.23 I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ Prayers for Spirituall Graces O Blessed LORD Iesus Christ who art my only Tutor and instructer and from whom I haue learned whatsoeuer I know I beseech thee that thou wouldest further teach me those things whereof I am ignorant and which are necessary for my Saluation that thou wouldest keepe me in those things which I haue already learned and rectifie mee in those matters wherein as a man I erre strengthen mee and make mee firme whereinsoeuer I wauer and am doubtfull and keepe me from that which is erroneous and hurtfull Aboue all things O Sauiour strengthen my Faith and giue me grace dayly to profit in the knowledge and vnderstanding of thy Holy Word and so gouerne all my actions by thy Holy Spirit that my life may be answerable to my knowledge and that I may shew the fruites of whatsoeuer I haue learned by my good and religious conuersation Giue mee a firme and assured hope in thee and thy gratious promises that in all my troubles and necessities I may haue an assured confidence in thy mercy Be vnto me a strong tower of defence against mine enemies that whether the world allure me the Deuill assayle me or the flesh rebell I may flie vnto thee for refuge And although thou presently put not forth thy hand to helpe me but deferre thy comfort according to thy good pleasure yet keepe me from doubting or despairing of thy aid because thy promises are sure Giue me a feruent loue and perfect charity to my neighbour that I may be as kinde to him and as carefull of him as of one who is a member with mee of the same body whereof thou O sweete Sauiour art the Head Let my loue to him bee sincere and vnfained which may charitably releeue him in his wants patiently beare with his infirmities and willingly forgiue him all his trespasses against me Create in mee I beseech thee a pure milde peaceable and humble heart which may thinke harme to no man nor recompense euill for euill but good for iniuries Cleanse me from all vncleane and earthly desires and lift vp my heart to thee and Heauenly things and so write thy Lawes in it that I may wholly bend my selfe to keepe them and please thee perseuering in the same to my liues end Giue me O Lord true Compunction of heart and so water it with the dew of thy heauenly Grace that I may in the bitternesse of my soule with abundance of teares sighes and groanes bewaile and lament all my hainous and grieuous transgressions against thee Giue mee grace O Lord that I may not boast in any merits or workes of mine owne or haue any confidence in them but let mee glory in this alone that I am a member of that Body of thine which was crucified for me and did sufficiently satisfie for all the sinnes of the world If thou O Lord looke or expect or any merits from me behold I tender vnto thee thine owne merits the merits of thy death and Passion which thou hast vouchsafed to make me partaker of by vertue whereof alone I dare boldly appeare before thy Tribunall These merits I set betweene my sinnes and thy Iustice and otherwise or in any other manner I dare not I will not contend with thee O sweet Iesu I desire thee to offer them to the Father as a propitiatory Sacrifice for all my great and grieuous offences that when my soule shall depart from this body it may by the same be freed and deliuered from all the Iudgements and punishments which are due vnto it for sinne and be carried to that blessed Place where there is no sorrow but endlesse felicitie where thou together with the Father and the blessed Spirit liuest and raignest for euer Before Prayer O Almighty and euerliuing God Heauenly Father to whom it is manifestly knowne how inconstant and wandering the mindes of Men are in any good actions and how easily we suffer our selues to be carried away from the contemplation of thee by diuersity of distractions and vnseasonable thoughts which take hold of vs in the time of our deuotions and praiers vnto thee who also by thine only begotten Sonne Christ Iesus didst
assisting grace that they may perseuere in goodnesse To all my friends kindred and enemies and to those which pray for me giue all thy good blessings Keepe vs all from all euill and make vs to continue in thy Seruice to our liues end and after the course of this miserable life ended bring vs to thine euerlasting Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. Or thus ALmighty and Euerlasting GOD I praise and blesse thee from the bottome of my heart that of thy infinite goodnesse thou hast preserued me this night past and hast with the impregnable defence of thy Prouidence defended mee from the power and malice of the Deuill and kept me both in soule and body from all his deuices and snares and raised me from sleepe the Image of death and not left me to be stifled in the darknesse of my sinnes but hast giuen me a longer space to repent me of them I humbly intreat thee that thou wouldest not withdraw thy hand of Protection from me but take mee into thy Tuition Watch ouer me with the eyes of thy mercy and direct me in the way of thy Commandements Endue me with those graces of thy Holy Spirit which may assist me to passe this day and the rest of my life to the praise and glory of thy holy Name the benefit of my Neighbour and the saluation of my sinfull soule Keepe me O Lord from all sinne bridle and mortifie my flesh that I offend not nor fall into any transgressions which may prouoke thy wrath against mee Direct my soule and body my words and actions according to the rule of thy Will Diuert my heart from fastning too much on transitory pleasures and conuert it to the delight of eternall ioyes And because I am not worthy O Lord that thou shouldest heare me poore wretched sinner behold I set before thee the merits of thy only Sonne who is the propitiation of our sinnes looke vpon him and for his Righteousnesse pardon the offences of thy Seruant and grant to me Those things by thy mercy which by the strict Rule of thy Iustice are not due to me Defend me O Lord from all mine enemies Arme me with thy Spirituall weapons put on me the Clothing of wisedome and strength Ephes 6. the Brestplate of Righteousnesse the Helmet of Saluation the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit that in this earthly Pilgrimage I may manfully oppose the enemies of my Soule the Concupiscence of the Flesh Tentations of the World and Malice of the Deuill that so hauing finished valiantly the course of this Terrestriall warfare I may hereafter praise thee in thy Celestiall Kingdome And thou O Lord who giuest food to euery liuing Creature Psal 147.9 and feedest the young Rauens which call vpon thee be mercifull vnto me in the supply of those necessaries which I dayly want Preserue mee in health 1. Tim. 6.8 giue mee foode and rayment and sufficient to maintaine me in that course of life to which it hath pleased thee to call mee that hauing sufficient in all things I may abound in good workes And grant that I may leade a quiet life in all Godly conuersation that hauing and vsing thy blessings worthily I may passe this life with ioy and comfort till it please thee to call me to a better Giue thy blessings to the Kings Maiestie the Queene and the whole estate of this Kingdome and grant that we all may bend our thoughts and studies to please thee that at the last by the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ we may bee receiued to thy Heauenly Kingdome Amen Or thus O Almighty Lord God which day after day dost minister to sinfull man infinite occasions whereby hee may be stirred vp to praise thy holy Name and art most plentifull in pittie and fauourable to those which with pure hearts and vnfained faith call vpon thee behold me thy poore vnworthy seruant with the eyes of compassion that at this time aâ—… bold to offer vp vnto thee a morning Sacrifice of praise and thankes for all thy blessings and amongst the rest for that thou hast vouchsafed after a sufficient and quiet sleepe to raise me safe from my bed againe which fauour thou hast not affoorded to many others who in farre greater measure haue deserued it then my selfe for which mercy of thine I am not able through my insufficiencie and weakenesse to giue vnto thee due praise and thankesgiuing I pray thee therefore in thy deare Sounes Name In whom thou art well pleased to accept these poore and weake thankes and for his sake also to be further aiding and assisting vnto me this day following in whatsoeuer I shall take in hand For thou knowest O Lord how feeble mans nature is insomuch that if he trust to his owne strength of necessitie he must fall into many miseries errors and dangers Haue mercy therefore vpon mine infirmities and be propitious and helping to me that by thine Illumination I may discerne and perceiue good from euill and by thy leading and direction may follow the one and auoid the other Lord so guide me with thy Holy Spirit that I may neither doe speake nor thinke any thing this day contrary to thy holy Will Behold O Lord I offer my selfe a Liuing Sacrifice to thee and humbly pray thee to aceept it Good God direct my soule in the way of thy Commandements increase my faith strengthen my Hope enlarge my Charitie and infuse all the good graces of thy Holy Spirit into me Giue me grace so to remember my sinnes as that thou mayest forget them and so to forsake them as that thou mayest forgiue them Instruct me in all goodnesse and giue me the grace of Perseuerance that I flye not backe from any good courses in this life but that I may goe forward and continue in them to the end of my dayes O Lord who hast promised the necessaries of this life to those which shall first seeke thy Kingdome I humbly intreat thee to giue vnto me this day all things necessary for my sustentation as foode rayment health of body ioy of heart peace of conscience and a blessing to all my endeauours giue me a minde contented with that which shal be sufficient and not desirous of that which is superfluous that I may passe the rest of my dayes on earth religiously honestly and soberly as becommeth thy seruant to thy honour and my endlesse comfort Bee gratious to the Kings most excellent Maiestie his Royall Queene the whole Estate Cleargie Nobility Gentry Magistrates and Commons giue vs all grace in our seuerall places to doe our Duties as in thy sight that at the last by the merits of Iesus Christ our Sauiour we may receiue the reward thereof in thy Eternall Kingdome where thou raignest together with the same our Lord Iesus Christ and the Holy Spirit World without end Morning Prayer for a Family O Almighty Lord God heauenly Father we giue thee most humble and heartie thankes in that thou
O Lord that I haue offended thy Maiestie in Repeat the sinnes thou canst call to minde And not onely these doe I acknowledge but all the rest which I haue committed from my Infancy to this present houre wittingly or ignorantly in thought word or deed against Thee my neighbour and my selfe O Lord I confesse my weaknesse I doe not that which I should Rom. 7.19 and would doe but that which I should not and am vnwilling to doe I doe not regarding or fearing thy incomprehensible glory venerable presence terrible power exquisite Iustice nor thy goodnesse vnspeakeable for which if thou shouldest enter into iudgement what would become of me But O Lord for as much as thou art a Father of mercies and dost not desire the death of a sinner if hee returne vnto thee by vnfeined repentance I most humbly in the Name and Mediation of our blessed Sauiour Christ Iesus craue pardon for them Lord I repent helpe my impenitencie and heare my request Be mercifull to mee a sinner and pardon all my offences whereof thou O Lord knowest me to be guilty And I beseech thee O Lord for the time to come to mollifie my heart water it with the dew of thy heauenly Grace that I may not alwaies bring forth Thornes and Weedes fit for nothing but the fire Conuert me O Lord I shall be conuerted open mine eyes direct my heart and wayes Draw me after thee and being conuerted suffer me not to returne againe with the Dogge to his vomit 2. Pet. 2.22 And for as much O Lord as thou hast appointed the Night to refresh our bodies I humbly pray thee to defend mee as well sleeping as waking from the snares of the Deuill Psal 31.5 O Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit which thou by thy pretious death and passion hast redeemed Suffer it not to sleepe in sinne and in it to lie languishing vnto death and so be buried in the graue of thy Iudgements but watch ouer it I beseech thee and defend it vnder the shadow of thy Wings Let me not be oppressed with vnnecessary sleepe but raise me in due time to thy Seruice and Praise Thou knowest O Lord that of my selfe I haue no strength waking much lesse when I sleepe I humbly therefore pray thee to defend my soule body goods and all things which thou hast bestowed vpon me this night from all euill and damage and so to dispose of me that I bee not troubled with any terrors terrified with any vaine phantasies weakned by any sicknesse or impouerished with any casualties or crosses Keepe me O Lord from all euill dreames and vncleane thoughts and compasse me with a wall of thy mercies that the Tempter approach not to my Bed so that being preserued by thy protection and refreshed with comfortable rest I may arise and offer vnto thee my daily bounden duty and seruice euen praise and thankes to thy most Holy Name Or thus O Blessed Lord Iesus Christ to whose inexhaustible bounty we owe all honour and praise I giue thee all possible thankes that thou hast vouchsafed to keepe me this day from all euill so that none of thy fearefull Iudgements to which I was iustly lyable haue fallen vpon me but of thy vnspeakeable mercy thou hast preserued mee from them and hast also liberally and with a bountifull hand supplyed me with the necessaries of this life notwithstanding my great and manifold sinnes committed against thee O Lord I confesse that I haue wasted the time which thou hast giuen mee for repentance altogether idely vainly and vnprofitably not so much as considering or taking notice that this day might haue beene the last of my life but haue added and heaped vp sinne vpon sinne in thy alseeing sight as if I had stood in no feare of thee at all dayly renewing as much as in me lay thy torments and passions for which I haue deserued that the earth should open vnto me and hell deuoure mee and which that it is not come to passe I ascribe withall thankefull acknowledgement to thy infinite mercy and goodnesse O Lord I acknowledge that it is of thy goodnesse alone that I am thus preserued from al thy iudgements seeing that many calamities haue befallen diuers others who haue lesse deserued them then my selfe That therefore some haue perished by water some by fire some by sword others by sudden and violent death and that I liue that some haue beene taken blinde some lame some distracted in their sences that others haue sustained much damage in their worldly estate and I haue escaped and not been punished in any of these kindes to what shall I ascribe and attribute the cause surely to thy mercy alone for which I cannot giue vnto thee sufficient thankes But O Sweete Sauiour as thy mercy exceedeth so doe our necessities increase thou canst not want matter for thy mercy to worke vpon by reason of our inabilities to helpe our selues wherefore I further pray thee that this night following may be also safe and prosperous vnto me that by a sweete sleepe and comfortable refreshing I may be fitted when I awake to serue thee with a thankefull and chearefull heart And because O Lord that this life hath not one certaine houre Psal 13.4 I beseech thee to enlighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death and grant that after I haue rested quietly I may by thy grace and mercy arise to serue thee in singlenesse of heart Lighten O Sauiour my darkenesse and mercifully keepe me from all dangers of this night Saue mee waking and keepe me sleeping that I may watch in thee and rest in peace There is nothing that more resembleth our life then the Day nor Death then the Night nor the Graue then our Beds O Lord therefore when I am laid downe and by sleepe made vnable to helpe my selfe being like vnto a dead man defend me then by thy power from the crafts and assaults of the enemy that he doe me no harme so that though my body sleepe my soule may watch vnto thee and contemplate of the life to come And graunt that hauing passed the night quietly I may arise as well from the sleepe of sinne as from my naturall sleepe and with all alacrity passe the day following in thy seruice and in the end of my pilgrimage by thy merits receiue the Crowne which thou hast promised to those that loue thee in that day which no night shall follow and in that heauenly Kingdome where thou raignest togither with the Father and the Blessed Spirit world without end Euening Prayer Psal 141.2 LEt my prayer O Lord be set forth in thy sight as the incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be an euening Sacrifice Psal 55.18 In the Euening Morning and at noone day will I pray and that instantly and thou Lord shalt heare my prayer Psal 91.5 Blessed be thou O Lord who hast preserued me from the arrow that flyeth by day and
from the sicknesse that destroyeth in the noone day Esa 38.12 Who hast not cut of my life like a weauer nor made an end of me O Lord I confesse that as my dayes haue increased so hath my sinne multiplied Pro. 24.16 The iust man falleth seuen times a day But I miserable sinner seuenty seuen times seuen times But I returne to thee O Lord and repent Luc. 17.4 Let not the Sunne goe downe in thy wrath O Lord whatsoeuer good I haue done this day I acknowledge that thou hast wrought it in me and desire thee gratiously to accept of me for it as thy Instrument only O Lord whatsoeuer euill I haue committed this day I confesse it to be the worke of mine owne hands and heartily pray thee to pardon it O Lord which giuest the sleep of health to them that loue thee and causest those that feare thee to sleepe confidently Psal 13.4 Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in death Keepe me from the terrors of the night and from the workes of darknesse Psal 91.5 Lord though I sleepe yet let my heart watch to thee and when I wake let me be presently before thee let my thoughts ascend to thee Grant that I may alwaies remember that the night is no night with thee and that the darkenesse and light are to thee alike Psal 139.12 Grant that I may alwaies meditate vpon the long and last sleepe the sleepe of death the bed of my Graue and the Couering of wormes and dust Let my sleepe be a cessation from sinne and let me not in my sleepe doe or thinke any thing that may offend thee or defile my selfe And grant that after the sleepe shall depart from mine eyes I may remember thee search my reynes and trye my heart O Lord I commend my selfe and all that of thy bounty is mine to thee In thee I put all my trust and confidence Thou seest in what dangers we are what snares the Deuill layeth for vs. I humbly therefore pray thee to defend me from him And grant me so to order and end my life that I may sleepe peace and take my rest with thee for the merits of Iesus Christ c. Psal 4.9 I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest me dwell in safety Euening Prayer for a Family O Almighty and euerlasting God who hath appointed all times and seasons to succeede in their due course and hast ordained the day for the workes of the day and bodily labour and the night to take our quiet rest and refreshing by whose prouidence and mercy we haue beene preserued this day from all dangers and haue beene furnished with all things necessary for this life wee humbly pray and beseech thee that now in this time of night and darkenesse wherein we poore and miserable sinners stand in most need of thy helpe and aide thou wouldest be pleased to keepe vs from all dangers spirituall and temporall O Lord we confesse that we haue not deserued the least of thy fauours nay if thou shouldest with strict eye examine our actions how we haue spent this day and the rest of our daies past we should not be able to stand in thy sight much lesse beg any further blessings of thee For notwithstanding thy manifold and daily fauours wee haue in all things beene rebellious and repugnant to thy blessed Will and obedient and comformable to the command of our enemies the Flesh the World and the Deuill in so much as wee haue lost our liberties and are become seruants and slaues vnto them For we haue wholly giuen our selues to serue the pleasures of the Flesh in concupiscences and other carnall Acts we haue hearkened too much to the delights of the World in couetous desiring that which is not our owne in abusing the Creatures thereof which were created for our necessary vse and not for our wanton and insatiable desires and wee are become the seruants of Sathan in not opposing and resisting his vncleane and wicked tentations Our sinnes are infinite and our iniquities are numberlesse so that wee cannot nor are any way able to recount them vnto thee We haue fled from thee seeking vs neglected thee Louing vs stopped our eares to thee speaking to vs turned our backes to thee reaching thy hand to vs forgotten thee doeing good to vs and despised thee correcting vs. Yet O Lord we humbly intreat thee to shew thy accustomed mercy to vs poore and miserable sinners who in griefe and anguish of soule confesse these our offences and earnestly and bitterly bewaile them Looke vpon vs with the eyes of compassion not for any thing in vs but for the loue and respect which thou bearest to thy Sonne Christ Iesus in whom we verily beleeue that thou art fully reconciled vnto vs. Take away our sinnes and the punishment due vnto vs for them Let thy wrath be turned from vs and destroy vs not together with our manifold transgressions Lord thou seest our wickednesse and withall how and in whose name we craue thy mercy Turne thee O Lord from thine anger which thou mightest iustly power vpon vs and bee gratious vnto vs according to thy wonted goodnesse who abhorrest nothing which thou hast made Create also we beseech thee in vs new hearts hearts fit to serue thee and write thy Law in them with the finger of thy Holy Spirit that all our desires and all our actions may bee conformable to thy blessed Will And now againe O Lord we desire thy Maiestie to take our soules and bodies into thy protection this night following suffer vs not to sleepe in sinne but watch ouer vs and defend vs vnder the shadow of thy wings Let not our sleepe bee excessiue or immoderate but raise vs againe in due time that after a quiet and moderate sleepe we may arise to serue and praise thee ioyfully beginne and perfect our workes iustly labour in our vocations truely and seeke thy Kingdome earnestly that at the last by thee with thee and in thee wee may come vnto the same Kingdome by the merits of our Sauiour Iesus Christ in whose Name and Prayer wee are bold to call further vpon thee saying Our Father c Prayers for seuerall Persons For a married man O Heauenly Father Maker and Preseruer of Heauen and Earth who in the beginning didst institute Matrimony foretelling the mysticall vnion of the Church with our Sauiour Christ who also in the time of his being vpon earth did honour Marriage with his first Miracle Ioh. 2. and hast appointed it also for a meanes whereby mankinde is propagated Gen. 2. for a remedy to auoide vnlawfull lust and for the mutuall comfort and consolation of thy Children I humbly entreat thee to giue me the assistance of thy diuine Grace that I may liue according to thy commandements with my wife whom thou hast giuen for my helpe and comfort in this world Mortifie in me all vncleane
O Lord. Psal 119.31 Put me not to shame Psal 119.39 Turne away reproch from me Psal 25.2 Let not mine enemies triumph ouer me Psal 27.12 Deliuer mee not ouer to their will Psal 64.1 Preserue my life from them Deliuer me O Lord From Eph. 4.19 hardnesse of heart to impenitence Act. 28.27 Grossenesse of heart Prou 7.13 Impudence of countenance Esa 48.4 Hardnesse of countenance From a seared conscience Tit. 1.16 A reprobate minde 1. Ioh. 5.16 Sinne vnto death Viz. Mat. 12.32 against the holy Ghost From Ia. 1.21 all superfluity of naughtines Heb. 12.1 The waight of sinne 1. Ioh. 2.16 The lusts of the flesh and eyes and pride of life All wicked vaine desires Hurtful vncleane thoghts Desire of Vaine-glory From a deceitfull tongue Mat. 6.2 Ecclus. 51.5 Vnpure lips Hands stretched out to couetousnesse Feet swift to euill Eyes open to Vanity Eares open to Toyes From blindnesse of heart Inconstancie of minde Scurrilitie of speech Intemperance of the belly From desire of Riches Reproch of my neighbours Contempt of the poore Oppression of the weake Rancor of minde Roote out of me O Lord. Prophanenesse and Superstition Pride and Vndecency Anger and Contention Swearing and Cursing Passion and Corruption Fraud and Rapine Lying and Slander Enuy and Malice Take from me The sinne of Gluttony Giue to me The Vertue of Abstinence Take from me The spirit of vncleanenesse Giue to me The Loue of Chastitie Take from me The Desire of the World Giue to me Content of Minde Take from me The heate of Anger Giue to me The spirit of meeknesse Take from me The Care of this Life Giue to me Thy SPIRITVALL Ioy. Take from me Haughtinesse of Minde Giue to me Compunction of Heart Deliuer me O Lord From All euill and mischiefe All noysome diseases All things hurtfull to my Soule Health Estate Quiet From all Scandall Griefe Infamy From all enemies Secret Open Crafty Potent From Sudden death Violent death In all my Prayers and petitions Distresses and dangers Infirmities and neede Tentations and tribulations Good Lord deliuer me and helpe me From the Terrors of Hell Eternall Damnation Apo. 6.6 The angry countenance of the Iudge The fearefull sentence of Mat. 25.41 8.12 Depart from me into vtter darknesse Iude. 6. The chaines of euerlasting darknesse The Apo. 20.10 Lake of Fire and Brimstone The Apo. 14.11 smoke of the torment which ascends for euer Good Lord of thy great mercy deliuer me In Affliction MOst mercifull Redeemer alwaies louing to vs whither thou sendest vs heauinesse or ioy for thy mercy is great whilest by afflictions as by bitter pilles thou curest the inward diseased man and by temporary troubles thou preparest vs and makest vs fit for Ioyes Eternall Grant O Sweete Sauiour that I may drinke of this cup of aduersitie and all others as reached to me by thy hand Thou knowest O Lord that they are bitter to flesh and blood yet withall I know that thou didst endure farre greater things for mee and that I haue deserued to suffer much more then thou hast laid vpon me O Lord thou knowest also the weakenesse and frailtie of mans nature and therefore I doe assuredly beleeue that thou the good Samaritan wilt not only cleanse the woundes of my sinnes Luc. 10.33 with the sharpe Wine of thy Iustice but wilt also adde the oyle of thy Mercy and comfort whereby I may be strengthned againe If thou thinkest not yet sufficient or that enough which thou hast laid vpon mee yet adde patience I beseech thee to my further griefe and grant that these thy punishments may prouoke mee to true repentance whereby I may by thy merits obtaine remission of my sinnes But if thy Fatherly clemencie shall be contented with this gentle and milde chastisement take off thy corrections and heauy hand from me that so I may for both thy mercies to me praise thy holy Name as well that thou hast so gently dealt with me in amending me so vnprofitable a Seruant as that thou hast in time taken of the bitternesse of affliction and not vtterly confounded mee in the first of thy workes of mercy respecting my Necessity and in the last not forgetting my Infirmity To thee O Sauiour with the Father and Holy Spirit be all Praise Laud and Glory now and euermore Amen In time of Pestilence O Lord God who reiectest none that trusting in thy goodnesse and beleeuing in thy promises come to thee for succour and helpe Behold wee beseech thee with the eyes of compassion and mercy thy poore sinfull and miserable people who now are much afflicted and visited with the Plague of Pestilence with the scourge of thine angry hand Our streets are full of griefe and our houses are filled with heauinesse and all our ioy is turned into mourning by reason of thy heauy wrath and hot displeasure which now is gone out to destroy and consume vs from the face of the earth Wee confesse O Lord it is but iust that all thy Creatures should rebell against man and oppose themselues against him who hath so desperately rebelled against thee his Creator for they are all obedient to thee only Man sinfull and wretched Man is continually stubborne and rebellious dayly abusing thy Blessings and hourly transgressing thy Commandements not leauing his euill waies for feare of thy threates nor being allured to goodnesse with the hope of thy promises We daily heare by thy messengers and read in thy Sacred Word what thou hast threatned of old to thy rebellious people and in them to vs. How that if they kept not thy Commandements thou wouldest send vpon them the Sword Leuit. 26.25 to auenge the quarrell of thy couenant and when they should be gathered in their Cities Ierem. 14.12 thou wouldest send the Pestilence among them and they should be deliuered into the hands of the enemie and yet wee haue hitherto beene so sencelesse thereof that wee feare not to adde sinne to sinne and to multiply iniquitie vpon iniquitie And now O Lord we reape the iust reward of our impiety and feele too soone that we are iustly plagued for our disobedience O Lord we confesse that thy Iudgements are iust and withall humbly acknowledge our misdeeds and heartily repent vs of them and earnestly beg and craue that thou wouldest in mercy pardon them and remit the punishment which in Iustice is due vnto vs for them O Lord In thy iust anger remember thy mercy encline thine eare and heare open thine eyes and behold our desolations and vpon our repentance and humiliation remooue this thy punishment which in thy displeasure thou hast begunne to inflict vpon vs. Command thy destroying Angell to spare vs Ezech. 9. and not to strike vs to vtter desolation Be mercifull vnto vs who are euery houre in danger of thy heauy Iudgements Take away the vnwholsomnesse of the ayre and purifie our
God hath promised thee pardon but no man can promise thee to liue while to morrow If therefore thou hast liued ill hitherto begin to liue well euen to day Therefore wee must haue a speciall care that we deferre not our Repentance from time to time lest we be taken in a time when we least expect and with the Virgins heare that bitter saying I know you not Mat. 25.12 Yet many there are and those too many that so largely promise to themselues Gods expectancy and patience and thereupon so long continue in their euill courses that they are by his indignation at their procrastination so preuented that they neither finde time to conuert nor the Benefit of Remission Wherefore the wise man giueth good and safe counsell Ecclus. 5.7 Make no tarrying to turne to the Lord and put not of from day to day for suddenly shall the wrath of God come forth and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed and perish in the day of vengeance Neither is it so acceptable to God if thou put of thy Repentance till thou art old as if thou returnedst to him in thy dayes of strength for if thou repentest when thou canst sinne no longer thy sinnes leaue thee and not thou them Lastly the most powerfull act of Repentance with God is vnfained sorrow with sighes groanes and weeping accompanying it For teares are euen as the bloud of a wounded soule and ascend vp to the nostrills of God as the Odour of a sweete smelling sacrifice neither doe Teares which are shed without hypocrisie fall to the ground but as Dauid saith Psal 56.8 God telleth and gathereth them and putteth them into his bottle The teares of penitent sinners worke much vpon Gods mercy Peter hauing denied our Sauiour thrice wept bitterly but said nothing We finde that he wept Luc. 22. we finde not what he said yet we see that he made choise to repent rather with teares and no words then with words and no teares Mary Magdalen said nothing but she wept and Christ said vnto her Luc. 7.48 Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee Ezechias wept sore and the Lord said Esa 38.5 I haue heard thy prayers and seene thy teares behold I will adde to thy dayes fifteene yeeres Of teares there are three sorts 1. Naturall which in themselues are neither good nor bad such are those which we spend for the losse of goods friends or the like 2. Euill as the teares of the Hypocrite Harlot and other the Deuills Instruments 3. Good and they are of two kindes First of Hatred or griefe such are the teares we spend in bewailing our sinnes 2 Of Ioy or Loue either for that Comfort which we receiue in our Soules by the Hope that God in Christ Iesus is reconciled to vs or for the Loue and earnest desire we haue to see God in the Communion of Saints Otherwise Teares in themselues are nothing else but plaine water flowing from the Conduits of our heads by the pipes of the eyes a meere excrement The Dutie of Repentance THis Dutie of Repentance consisteth of two parts 1. Mortification of the old man which is the first degree of Regeneration 2. Quickning of the New which is the second Mortification is an act of the holy Spirit in vs Rom. 6.4.5.6 who doth by little and little quench and abate in our soules and bodies the naturall strength of our corruption which was crept into vs partly originally by Adams fall Colos 3. which is that we meane by the old man and partly that Sinne which we haue actually encreased by our owne frailty It consisteth 1. In our acknowledgement of Sinne. 2. In our Contrition and Sorrow for it Both which Psal 38.18 are set down in one Verse of the Psalmist 1. Our acknowledgement is either 1. Inward 2. Outward 1. Inward acknowledgement is when we feele the burden of our sinnes pressing vs downe our consciences accusing vs Psal 38.5 Rom. 2.15 and our thoughts testifying against vs. 2. Outward Psal 38.39 is when we make Confession of them by speech or other outward actions And this Confession of Sinne is a Publication or manifestation of our vnworthinesse and guilt whereby we testifie and bewaile that we haue sinned against God and haue withall a settled resolution and purpose to offend him no more Confession is either Publique Priuate Publique Confession is when vpon the Sabbath day or other dayes appointed for Gods worship we in the open Congregation together or after the Minister doe confesse our sinnes to God Priuate is either 1. To God in our Closets or other priuate places as Psal 32.5 38.9.18 41.4 51. 2. Sam. 24.10 Dan. 9. 2. To men Iam. 5.16 2. Contrition is a sorrow and griefe of the conscience and mourning of the Soule because we haue offended God hauing also ioyned with it a displeasure against our selues and a true humiliation both of soules and bodies as Iam. 4.9 Esa 66.2 Ezec. 36.1 41.10 Ion. 3.8 2. King 22.19 Mat. 5.4 2. Cor. 7.9,10,11 Quickning of the new man is when we returning to God liue spiritually and haue a desire for the time to come to please Him this is also called a Conuersion to God And this we doe 1. By auoiding euill 2. Following that which is good Both comprehended Psal 34.14 Esa 1.16,17 The Benefits we receiue by Repentace are The deferring of Gods punishments due for sinne Psal 95.10 The mitigation of his displeasure Psal 89.32.33 2. Chr. 30.8 Ion. 3. Ezech. 33. Ioh. 3.10 1. King 21.29 Dan. 4.27 The auerting of his iudgements The escaping of eternall death The prolonging of our prosperity The attaining of Eternall Life Confession of sinnes Ier. 9. WHo will giue Water to my Head or Teares to mine Eyes that I may day and night bewaile my sinnes and ingratitude against thee O GOD my Creator Many things there are which terrifie mens consciences and bring them to the true sence of their sinnes but nothing is so auaileable thereunto as the contemplation of the greatnesse of thy goodnesse and the multitude of thy Benefits That therefore O Lord my poore wretched soule may the better see and consider in what state it stands I will recount thy manifold Blessings and withall the number of my sinnes that thereby also I may more clearely vnderstand who thou art and what I am how gratious a God thou hast been to me and how vile and rebellious a sinner I haue beene to thee There was a time O Lord as thy diuine Maiestie best knowest when I was not and thou tookest me out of the dust of the earth and gauest me a being creating in me a soule after thine owne similitude and likenesse and made it capable of thy Glory Thou didst create my Body with all the members and sences thereof Thou didst create my Soule with all the powers and faculties thereof And as thou didst create me so of thy especiall goodnesse thou didst preserue me in my mothers wombe
whose mercy is ouer all thy workes Psal 145.9 All things are vnder thy Power and Rule both in Heauen and Earth Thou shewest mercy on whom thou wilt and art pitifull to whom thou pleasest and wouldest not the death of a sinner neither delightest in the destruction of any O God rich in mercy who Eph. 2.4 out of thy extraordinary Loue to mankinde euen when wee were thine enemies Rom. 5.10 didst send thine onely Sonne into the VVorld that euery one that beleeued on him might not perish but haue life euerlasting Haue mercy vpon me haue mercy vpon me according to thy mercy and according to the multitude of thy mercies Psal 51. doe away my offences Holy Father I haue sinned against heauen and before thee Luc. 15.18 and am no more worthy to be called thy Sonne I haue turned from thee and haue broken all thy Commandements I haue not walked aright but haue gone after mine owne lusts Esa 65.2 choosing those waies which thou hast forbidden me to tread in Neither O Lord haue I feared thine anger but haue beene in all things disobedient vnto thee and haue hardned my heart against thee I haue hated Instruction and cast thy sayings behinde me Truth hath found no place in mee and my hands haue been the workers of much wickednesse I haue spoken vainly idly and wickedly haue brought forth deceit and meditated the way of vntruth I haue prouoked thy wrath against me by accustoming my selfe to doe the workes of the flesh and reiecting the good motions of the Spirit Woe vnto mee rebellious wretch Esa 30.1 that I haue committed these wicked acts against thee so louing so good so gratious a God to the vtter destruction of my soule without thy mercy in Christ Iesus In remembrance and confidence whereof O Lord I come to thee and humbly intreat thee that thou wouldest not reiect a contrite humble miserable and repentant sinner who at this time earnestly inuocateth thy Name Psal 7.9 Returne a little O Lord and bee intreated for my manifold sinnes doe not vnto me according to the multitude of them neither reward me according to my transgressions Let my humble prayers sighes and groanes come into thy presence and according to thy promises receiue me againe into thy fauour For O Father I am one of those whom thy only Sonne redeemed with his most pretious bloud O Lord my soule doth loath my life by reason of my manifold sinnes and I humble my selfe vnder thy mighty hand 1. Pet. 5.6 because I know that in thine anger thou shewest mercy Abac. 3.2 and in time of trouble thou dost forgiue offences And behold O Lord that I confesse my sinnes beseeching thee for thy goodnesse to doe vnto me according to thy wonted mercy I am confounded and ashamed to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee because my sinnes haue preuented my prayers and haue ascended vp to thee before them Against thee O Lord haue I sinned Psal 51. and done much euill in thy sight yet wherefore should I dye in my sinnes seeing it is not thy pleasure that any sinner should dye Ezech. 18. but turne vnto thee and liue For thou art good and gracious and sauest those who are altogether vnworthy out of the abundance of thy mercy in Christ Iesus the Righteous For although thine anger against sinners is vnsufferable and who may abide it yet thy mercy towards offendors is vnsearchable and who can finde out the depth thereof or describe it Psal 22. Our Fathers in their troubles cried vnto thee and thou diddest deliuer them they put their trust in thee and were not confounded And though they by their offences had iustly prouoked thine anger yet vpon their humiliation thou diddest remember thy couenant and ease them of their afflictions O Lord be mercifull also vnto me for I am miserable and wretched Heale my soule Psal 41.4 for I haue sinned against thee Psal 6.3 My soule is very much disquieted within me how long Lord will it be Psal 13. ere thou looke vpon mee and deliuer it Lighten mine eyes Psal 13.3 for I haue too long slept in death and my sinnes haue too long had domminion ouer me Returne O Lord at the last and be gratious vnto me O deliuer my soule and haue mercy vpon me And all my bones shall say Lord who is like vnto thee To thee be all Honour Praise and Glory world without end Amen Another O Lord Iesus Christ the only Phisition of sicke soules who in the fulnesse of time came into this World not to call the Iust but sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 Behold me the most wretched of all sinners who with as much humility as I am able in the confidence of thy great goodnesse cast my self before the footestoole of thy Maiestie confessing my great and grieuous offences And if the Publican in the Gospell durst not lift vp his eyes to Heauen Luc. 18. but stood a farre of and smote his brest saying Lord be mercifull to me a sinner what shall I doe whose sinnes surpasse the greatest sinners offences For all my inward and outward parts are wholly depraued and nothing that is good remaineth in mee And when I looke into the booke of my conscience I finde that I haue abominablie polluted that garment of innocency which I receiued at my Baptisme I haue put all my strength to offend thee with all the members I haue For my feete Rom. 13.15 haue beene swift to euill and slow to good mine eyes open to Vanity and shut to that which is truely amiable My hands stretched to couetousnesse and closed from the workes of mercy mine eares ready to heare euill and stopped to the good motions of the Spirit and my Soule the noblest part in mee which hath eyes to contemplate the Glory of thy Maiestie I haue turned away from the consideration of thy Excellency to vaine and transitory things of this life I haue giuen liberty to whatsoeuer mine eyes haue desired and haue not resisted the vncleane passions of my heart so that the whole course of my life hath beene a continuall warfare against thee How often haue I returned as a dogge to the vomite and as a Sow washed 2. Pet. 2.22 to the myre I am that Foote which hath said in his heart Psal 14. there is no God For I haue liued so dissolutely that I haue made plaine demonstration by my behauiour that I beleeued Thou either wert not at all or else couldest doe nothing at all Thou O Lord hast often called me and I haue neglected thy voice Thou hast expected me and I haue abused thy patience Thou hast giuen me the treasure of a long time to repent and I haue consumed it wastefully Thou hast stricken me and I haue not beene sensible of thy hand Thou hast afflicted me and I haue made no vse of thy correction Thou didst sweate to make me cleane and I
this bread 1. Cor. 11.27 and drinke this cup of the Lord vnworthily shall bee guilty of the bodie and bloud of the Lord. I am in such a streight that I know not what to doe For gladly would I receiue this Sacrament being desirous to liue but fearefull I am to take it vnworthily trembling at thy Commination I come therefore to thee the fountaine of mercy hoping that thou wilt wash me I come to thee the good Samaritan Luc. 10.34 hoping that thou wilt cleanse my wounds I open my griefe and discouer my iniquities to thee I looke vpon my finnes great and grieuous and thereupon tremble Yet beholding thy mercies great and plentifull I am therewith againe refreshed Remember O Lord how many drops of Sweat and Bloud thou didst shed How many Paines and Sorrowes thou didst sustaine to expiate my sins I entreate thee therefore by them to purge and purifie me that I may worthily bee incorporated into thy body which is thy Church and may worthily also receiue this blessed Sacrament that so together with thy whole Church I may giue thee praise euerlastingly Or thus O Mercifull Lord Iesus I confesse my selfe to be a most grieuous and wretched sinner not worthy to approach into thy presence altogether vnfit and vnmeet Luc. 7.6 to receiue thee vnder the roofe of my soule in respect of the staynes and pollutions thereof and that it is not decked and fitted with such good graces as thy Maiestie and presence requireth and therefore am afraid to come neere vnto thee Yet O Lord considering thy comfortable saying that Thou dost not desire the death of a sinner Mat. 11.28 but that he should turne vnto thee and liue and thy blessed inuitation how louingly with the armes of thy mercy stretched out thou hast called all that are heauily oppressed with the burden of their sinnes to come to thee for comfort and ease And lastly thy vsuall practize in pitying and releeuing those which were cast downe with the thought of their misdeedes as the a Luc. 23. Theefe on the Crosse b Luc. 7. Mary Magdalen c Ioh. 8. The woman taken in adultery the d Luc. 18. Publican e Luc. 26. Peter and Paul all of them grieuous sinners I am comforted and emboldned to come vnto thee assuredly trusting that thou wilt of thy goodnesse supply my defects and make me a worthy receiuer of the high mystery and benefit of thy blessed Sacrament whereof of my selfe I am altogether vnworthy Stretch out thy right hand O sweete Iesu to me thy poore seruant and giue out of thy rich store-house of mercy what I want that thereby I may be made a liuing Temple to thee and an acceptable habitation for thine honour to abide in And grant that being cleansed by thy mercy and goodnesse I may by thy grace and power perseuere in all godlinesse and holinesse of conuersation to the end of my dayes and attaine to that blessed place where thou raignest with the Father and holy Spirit world without end Amen Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament receiued IF all the Creatures in the world should offer themselues together with me to praise thee O Lord yet is it certaine that we could not giue thee sufficient thankes for the least of thy mercies and if together we cannot sufficiently praise thee for the least how much lesse can I alone performe so great a duty for such inestimable blessings as I haue at this time receiued for vouchsafing to visite me comfort me honor me with acceptance and admittance of me to thy blessed Table Luc. 1.43 If Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist vpon the Virgin Maries entrance to her house said Whence is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me What shall I say whom the Lord himselfe hath visited and vnited to him by his blessed Sacrament being a vessell and receptacle of all impuritie who hath so often offended despited and neglected him King Dauid wondred Psal 8. why God should so esteeme of or visite man But I wonder much more why hee should be made man for man abide with him suffer death for him and giue himselfe to him for spirituall food Salomon after he had built a Temple to God reasoned thus 1. Kings 8.27 But will God dwell indeed on the earth Behold the heauen of heauens cannot contayne thee how much lesse this house that I haue builded May not I much more maruell that God will not disdaine to come and abide in this my poore and wretched soule What greater benefit or grace what greater argument of his loue is there can there be shewed to me Oh my soule if thou wouldest but throughly conceiue the happinesse that commeth to thee by this holy Sacrament then consider and well weigh what benefits it bringeth with it By it the sonnes of men are made the Sonnes of God and all that is earthly or carnall in vs is mortified that the Deity may liue and abide with vs. What therefore O my Lord shall I doe What thankes shall I render to thee with what feruency shall I loue thee For if thou so mightie a Lord hast vouchsafed to loue me poore wretched creature how should it be but that I should returne loue againe to thee And how shall I expresse my loue better then in forbearing those things which thou dost abhorre and following those things which thou dost command Giue O Lord to this end thy concomitant grace to mee whereby I may returne a reciprocall loue to thee and loue those things which are acceptable to thee and auoide those things which are to thee vnpleasing Giue me a heart which may loue thee with so true faithfull and constant affection as that nothing vnder the Sun may separate me from the loue of thee Rom. 8.39 Let me not follow the loue of the world or delight in the vanities of it any longer but giue me power to kill and quench all other loue and desires and to loue thee onely desire thee only and only thinke of thee and thy Commandements that all my affections and thoughts may be fixed on thee that in all tentations and aduersities I may haue recourse to thee onely and receiue all comfort from thee alone who liuest and raignest one God world without end Amen Another I Humbly thanke thee O sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou hast so plentifully refreshed my dry and fainting soule with the holy Sacrament of thy pretious bodie and bloud I earnestly entreat thee further that whatsoeuer is in me vicious or contrary to thy blessed will may by vertue of this Blessed Sacrament bee rooted out of me that my soule may become a fit habitation for thy holy Spirit Let it be to me the absolution of my sinnes the confirmation of my faith an encrease of all thy graces in me the viands of this my peregrination and pilgrimage the only delight of my soule peace and ioy in tribulation health and
Sonne of God Great is the benefit of Redemption and indeed the greatest of all others but without Vocation and Iustification it had auailed me nothing Great is the benefit which ariseth by the Expectation of Glory and no lesse is this of Iustification for it is a worke of no lesse power to make a Iust man a sinner then to make a Iust man happy and blessed for as much as the difference betweene Sinne and Grace is more then betweene Grace and Glory I acknowledge therefore O Lord that the benefits which arise by these Heauenly guifts and graces are so great that my toung faileth and my heart wanteth ability wherewith sufficiently to praise thee for them I praise thee also O Lord for thy Blessed Sacraments for that of Baptisme whereby I was cleansed from the guilt of originall sinnes and regenerated and adopted into the number of thy Children and for the other of the Blessed body and Blood of our Sauiour Iesus Christ the Sacrament of Grace Vnitie Charity and Remission of sinnes the foode of our Soules in this Pilgrimage and the Conduit through which all graces are conueighed to our fainting Soules Lastly I thanke thee for thy preseruation of me in thy Grace by which I am restrained from returning to the mire with the washed Sowe 2. Pet. 2.22 and to the Vomit with the Dogge and by which I am strengthned to doe something acceptable and pleasing vnto thee I confesse O Lord that whatsoeuer good I haue done is wrought in mee by thee and whatsoeuer tentation or euill I escape is meerely by thy prouidence O Lord continue and keepe me still in this Grace that I may so vse all thy blessings and so keepe them in minde that they may stirre vp in mee a more ardent desire to magnifie thy Blessed Name and a great care of ordering my waies hereafter that I may no more grieue thy Holy Spirit who with thee Eph. 4.30 and thy Blessed Sonne our alone Sauiour liueth and raigneth one God world without end Another ALL praise honour and glory be giuen to thee O Lord God Father almightie for all thy inestimable benefits bestowed vpon me and all mankinde whether priuate or publique generall or particular spirituall or temporall Who is able to reckon vp or declare the seuerall kindes or parts of them for creating the world for beautifying enriching and making it fruitfull for the vse of man for giuing vnto vs soules and bodies and adorning them with infinite faculties and gifts and which exceedes the rest of thy blessings for deliuering vs from the power and seruitude of sinne and the Deuill for forbearing and expecting our repentance so long preseruing vs from all dangers and furnishing vs with all things necessary for this life What praise shall we render to thee O Sweet Iesus for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs we praise and blesse thee for thy Incarnation and Birth for all the labours paines sorrowes wounds and disgraces together with the vile and ignominious death which thou didst suffer to reconcile vs to thy Fathers fauour from which our sinnes had iustly excluded vs for which thy great loue to the Sonnes of Men Blessed be thy holy Name O Holy and Blessed Spirit who in the beginning of time didst moue vpon the face of the Waters Gen. 1.2 at our Sauiours Baptisme Mat. 3.16 in the shape of a Doue Act. 2.3 and on the Apostles in the shape of fiery tongues we praise and worship thee for inlightning our vnderstandings for fitting and making vs apt to conceiue the mysteries of life eternall for conuerting vs from euill conuersation to newnesse of life and for Sanctifying vs to life euerlasting for directing vs in the works of truth and gouerning vs in our temporall affaires O Glorious and Sacred Trinity infuse into vs we beseech thee such measure of thy Grace that we may bee dayly mindefull of all these thy Blessings Pardon all our former ingratitude and negligence in that we haue beene no more zealous to loue thee nor more carefull to serue thee and so forgetfull to thanke thee for all thy benefits and mercies Illuminate our hearts that wee may firmely beleeue in thee deuoutly call vpon thee and obediently execute thy Holy Will that at the last wee may by the merits and passion of thee O Sauiour attaine to that heauenly Mansion where thou O blessed Trinitie in Vnitie and Vnity in Trinity abidest world without end I thanke thee O Lord For my Creation my Being my well being That I am endued with Reason That I am A Ciuill man A Christian. Free borne Ingenious Of honest Parents That I am sound in minde Senses Body That I am well brought vp taught I thanke thee For thy guifts of Nature Grace Estate For deliuering me from Danger Infamy Trouble For the health of my Body A Competencie of Estate Friends Children Kindred I thanke thee O Lord For my Redemption Regeneration Instruction Vocation Consolation Illumination Iustification Hope of Glorification For thy Patience toward me Grace preuenting me Gouerning me Continuall care ouer me Strengthning me in tentation Reprouing me in ill Assisting me in good For the Compunction of my heart The hope of pardon for my sinnes For the Benefits I haue receiued For any good done by me For all those that haue done me good by their Writings Sermons Conferences Prayers Examples Reproofes Iniuries For all and euery of these and for all other knowne or vnknowne remembred or forgotten I confesse and will confesse thee I blesse and will blesse thee I thanke and will thanke thee as the Author and Giuer of them all SEVEN PSALMES OF THANKESGIVING analysed 1 Psalme 8. 1 O Lord our God Creator and Preseruer of all things how excellent glorious and reuerend is thy great and holy Name not in one particular nation onely but in all the Kingdomes of the earth who as thou hast magnified thy Name in the earth so hast thou set and extolled thy glory aboue the heauens also 2 Out of the mouthes and tongues of babes and sucklings euen very infants hast thou because men of riper yeeres and vnderstanding neglect thy Glory ordained strength and giuen little children abilitie to praise thee because of the malice of thine enemies the principalities of this world that thou mightest by this thy great wisedome and power still the tongues and suppresse the blasphemous speeches of the enemie and auenger when he shall see that by such weake meanes thou canst effect so great matters 3 When I consider and duly weigh thy Heauens and the Glorious frame thereof the worke of thy fingers made and created only by thee togither with the Moone and the Starres and other beautifull lights of Heauen which thou at the beginning of time hast ordained of nothing I cannot but in the depth of admiration say 4 What is man for whose vse and seruice thou hast made them and all things in this world and him to serue thee That thou so
great and glorious a God art mindefull of him in so large a manner and what is the Sonne of man the posterity of sinfull Adam that thou in such measure of mercy visitest and regardest him 5 For if I looke vnto his creation and consider whose Image he beareth I finde that thou hast made him in all respects very little lower in degree then the pure Angells who are honoured with thy presence and hast of thy bounty and especiall fauour crowned him with Glory and Honour in making him so glorious a Creature 6 Thou madest and hast appointed him also the vicegerent on earth to haue dominion and command ouer thy Creatures the workes of thy hands and creation thou hast subiected and put all things which thou hast made vnder his feete to obey and serue him 7 All Sheepe and Oxen Beasts for his foode and sustentation yea and not those only but the vntamed beasts of the field also hast thou made pliable and seruiceable to him 8 The Foule of the Ayre some for foode and some for pleasure and delight and the fish of the vast Sea which is stored with variety and whatsoeuer else passeth swimmeth or liueth through the vnknowne pathes of the Sea are also created by thee to serue him 9 O Lord our Lord when I seriously consider thy power and wisedome in thy worke of creation and the especiall honour and fauour thou she west to mankinde in giuing him this large commission ouer the rest of thy Creatures I cannot but admire and say how excellent and great is thy Name and power in all the kingdomes of the World there is none O Lord worthy to bee compared to thee Glory be to the Father c. 2 Psalme 30. I Will extoll thee and praise thy Name O Lord as long as I liue and not without great cause for thou in thy mercy hast lifted me vp and endowed me with thy blessings and hast not made no nor suffered my foes who intended if thou hadst forsaken mee to reioyce and triumnh ouer me 2 O Lord my God and Sauiour I cried and made my humble supplication vnto thee in my trouble and aduersitie and thou of thy accustomed goodnesse didst gratiously heare mee and hast healed me of all mine infirmities 3 O Lord thou by the power of thy grace hast brought vp and restored to life my sinfull Soule from the Graue of perdition whereinto my sinnes had well nigh cast me Thou hast in thy loue to mee kept mee aliue and preserued mee from my dangerous sicknesses that I should not yet goe downe into the pit of death but liue and praise thy Holy Name 4 Sing and reioyce vnto the Lord our God O ye Saints and faithfull people of his who haue with me felt and tasted of his mercy and giue thankes togither with mee at the remembrance and consideration of his holinesse 5 For his anger and displeasure endureth towards sinners but a moment and short space if they truely turne vnto him and if we truely consider his mercies we shall finde that in his fauour is life to those that lie desperately sicke in their sinnes if he but touch them with his finger of Grace as for weeping heauinesse and affliction it may and of necessity must sometime befall his seruants but yet it shall endure and afflict them for a night a little while only but ioy and comfort commeth againe to refresh them in the morning by sending the light of his countenance vpon them 6 And before I fully vnderstood how God vsed to deale with his Seruants I was so confident of my selfe that in my prosperitie when I felt the grace of God abundantly in mee I said and presumed that I was so fully settled in Gods fauour that â— shall neuer fall or bee remooued from it 7 Lord by thy fauour and goodnesse thou hadst fixed and made my mountaine of Grace to stand so strong that I conceiâ—…d my selfe so secure that I could not slide backe or fall away yet after a while I found by expâ—… that I was in an error for thou didst but hide thy face and a little while obscured thy Grace from mee and being left to my selfe I found such an alteration and defect in mee to doe good that I was therewith sore troubled and disquieted 8 I thereupon presently recalled my selfe and cried earnestly by prayer to thee O Lord and betooke my selfe vnto the Lord who neuer vtterly forsaketh his Seruants and to him I made my earnest supplication neuer ceasing till I obtained his returne and thus I said in my prayer 9 What profit O Lord is there can there be in my blood or death when I goe downe into the pitt or if I die in my sinnes surely none to thee for thou delightest not in blood or in the death of a sinner Shall the dust or they which are resolued thereinto before repentance praise thee or shall it declare thy Truth and shew thy Glory nay verily they shall rather in the horror of punishment blaspheme thy Name Suffer me not therefore O Lord to bee of that reprobate number of which I must needs bee one if thou absent thy selfe or withdraw thy Grace any longer from me 10 Heare mee therefore O Lord and that right soone for my spirit waxeth faint for want of thy Gratious assistance and haue mercy vpon mee in this distresse O Lord I renounce all further confidence in mine owne strength bee thou my only stay and helper Vpon this petition The Lord heard my request and thereupon I turned my prayer into a song of praise and said 11 Thou O Lord art worthy of all honour and praise for thou hast turned for me and for my good my mourning for thy absence into dancing and ioy for thy gratious presence thou hast made mee to put of my sad habite of Sackecloth and sorrow and in stead thereof hast girded and apparrelled me with a vesture of gladnesse euen the peace of conscience And all these things hast thou done for me 12 To the end all my sorrow being remoued and I being deliuered from all feare my glory tongue and heart together may sing praise and thankes to thee who hast done so great things for me and that I should not bee silent in extolling thy mercy And therefore O Lord my God as thy goodnesse deserueth and my duty requireth I will with all the affections and faculties of soule and body giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy Maiestie for euer as the only author and finisher of my Salution Glory be to the Father c. 3 Psalme 34. 1 I Will blesse and praise the Lord for all that hee hath done vnto mee at all times as well in aduersitie as prosperitie and his praise as it shall euer bee in my minde and heart so shall it be continually without intercession in my mouth by declaring it to others 2 My Soule especially shall make her boast and glory in the Lord and not in any thing that is in me so
Seruants to whom in particular thou extendest thy mercy shall blesse and continually praise thee for the same 11 They especially shall not bee silent but speake of and declare vnto those that haue not knowne thy Name the Glory and Maiestie of thy Kingdome which is aboue all the kingdomes of the earth and shall wheresoeuer they come talke of and set forth thy mightie power which no potentate is able to resist 12 To make knowne and to make manifest thereby to the sonnes of men euen all the gratiousnesse to come his mightie and wonderfull acts which he hath done in our time and in the ages foregoing and also the glorious Maiestie and super-excellency of his Kingdome and power 13 Thy kingdome O Lord is not temporary or of short continuance but it is an euerlasting Kingdome was without beginning and neuer shall haue end and this thy dominion and rule endureth firme stable throughout all generations to the end of the world 14 The Lord in his mercy vpholdeth and lifteth vp all those that fall by frailty and weakenesse and raiseth vp by the grace of his holy Spirit all those that be deiected bowed and cast downe with the thought of their sinnes 15 The eyes of all creatures waite and are fixed vpon thee as vpon their carefull father for sustenance and helpe and they no sooner call vnto thee but thou of thy prouidence suppliest their wants and giuest them their meate and all things necessary for them not onely in due proportion but in due season and time also 16 Thou openest thy hand of bounty and satisfiest the insatiable desire of men which nothing but thy selfe can satisfie and of euery other liuing thing besides 17 The Lord is only righteous iust and vnreproueable in all his wayes and actions and it is hee only that is holy and pure in all his workes 18 The Lord is nigh and ready at hand vnto all them that in distresse call vpon him and seeke vnto him for helpe Yea to all without respect of persons that call vpon him in truth faith and vprightnesse of heart 19 He is so gratious that he will not only heare them but grant their petitions and fulfill and satisfie the desire and request of them that feare and serue him he also will heare their cry in time of affliction and will saue and deliuer them out of all their trouble 20 The Lord by his omnipotent power preserueth and keepeth all them that loue him sincerely and obey his Commandements but as for all the wicked and vnrepentant obstinate sinners those will he destroy from the face of the earth 21 My mouth shall as long as I haue any being speake of and declare the praise and Maiestie of the Lord most mightie and as I doe so Let all flesh people nations and kindreds from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe thereof blesse land and magnifie together with me his holy and great Name euen for euer and euer from this time forth for euermore Glory be to the father ' c. Imprecation THis part of Deuotion or of zeale as I may call it although it seeme harsh and not well to stand with the Charitie of a Christian yet in these Cases it hath beene and may be lawfully vsed 1 When the Church of God in any part of the World lyeth as it were at the stake and groaneth vnder the burden of Persecution and the enemies thereof are incorrigeable and not to be reconciled in this case not onely a priuate man in his Deuotions but the Church also in generall may vse these Imprecations to the end that the Church may by these kind of Prayers and Gods assistance recouer its former peace and quiet 2 When as a Christian man shall perceiue that his enemies ayme altogether against the Rules of Charitie at his vtter subuersion both in Body and Soule in this case also a man may without breach of Charitie vse these Imprecations And in either of these Cases if the children either of Gods or our owne enemies shall ioyne assist or persist maliciously in the steps of their Parents they are in our estimation to be accounted of no better nay not so well as the very Heathen who haue not knowne the name of God at all And to this end I haue onely giuen you a taste of some of the zealous wishes and earnest desires or Imprecations of some Holy men Prophets and Apostles which are set downe in sacred Scripture and left no doubt for our imitation in the seuerall Cases before named Imprecations against the enemies of God and his Church REspect not thou their offering Num. 16.15 The Lord shall trouble thee Ios 7.25 Destroy them Psal 5.10 let them fall by their owne counsels Breake the arme of the wicked Psal 10.15 Breake their teeth O God Psal 58.6 Let them be scattered Psal 68.1.2 Let them flee Driue them as Smoake melt them as waxe Powre out thy wrath vpon them Psal 79.6 Make them like a wheele Psal 83.13 and as the stubble before the winde Burne them as the fire burneth the wood Psal 83.14 Persecute them with thy tempest Psal 83.15 Fill their faces with shame Psal 83.16 Let them be confounded and troubled for euer Psal 83.17 Let them be as grasse on the house top Psal 129.6 Grant not their desires Psa 140.8 Let the mischiefe of their owne lips couer them Psa 140.9 Let burning coales fall vpon them Psa 140.10 Let them not be established vpon the earth Psa 140.11 Let euill hunt them If any man loue not the Lord Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 16.22 let him be Anathema Maranatha If any man preach any other Gospell Gal. 1.9 c. Let him be accursed I would they were euen cut off Gal. 5.12 Against the enemies of our Soules Let them be confounded and put to shame Psal 35.4 that seeke after my soule Let them be as chaffe before the winde Psal 35.5 Let the Angell of the Lord chase them Let their way be darke and slipery Psal 35.6 Let the Angell of the Lord persecute them Let Destruction come vpon them Psal 35.8 Let them be confounded and ashamed Psal 40.14 Let them bee driuen backward Let them be desolate Psal 40.15 Let death seize vpon them Psal 55.15 Let them go downe quicke to Hell Let them be couered with reproach and dishonour Psal 71.13 Set a wicked man ouer him Psal 109.6 Let Satan stand at his right hand Let his prayer become sinne Psal 109.7 Let his daies be few Psal 109.8 Let his children bee fatherlesse Psal 109.9 and his wife a widdow Let his children be vagabonds and beggers Psal 109.10 Let the extortioner catch all he hath Psal 109.11 Let there be none to extend mercy to him or his children Psal 109.12 Let his posteritie be cut of Psal
Heare my Prayer O Lord and with thine eares consider my calling hold not thy peace at my teares Psa 39.14 For I am a stranger with thee and a soâ—ourner as all my fathers were Psa 39.15 O spare me a little that I may recouer my strength before I goe hence and be no more seene Iob 13.23 Answer me O Lord How many are mine iniquities and sinnes make me to know my transgressions and my sinnes Iob 13.24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face from me and holdest me for thine enemie Iob 13.25 Wilt thou breake a leafe driuen to and fro and wilt thou pursue the drie stubble Psal 71.8 Oh cast me not away in my weakenesse forsake me not when my strength faileth me Though I be afflicted yet let me not be destressed Though in want of some of thy comforts yet not of all Though chastned yet not forsaken Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastnest O Lord and teachest him in thy law Psal 94.13 That thou mayest giue him rest in the dayes of euill Psal 119.67 Before I was troubled I went a stray but now I shall learne thy Word Psal 25.7 O Lord remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth Nor iudge me according to my workes For I haue done nothing worthy of thy sight but of eternall death Wherefore I pray thee Psal 51.1.2 blot out all my offences and wash me throughly from my wickednesse and cleanse me from my sinne Iob. 7.20 I haue sinned what shall I doe vnto thee O thou Preseruer of men Why hast thou set me as a marke against thee so that I am a burden vnto my selfe Iob. 7.20 And why dost thou not pardon my transgressions and take away mine iniquitie for now I shall sleepe in the dust and thou shalt seeke me in the morning but I shall not be Iob 10.20 Are not my dayes few cease then and let me alone that I may take comfort a little Iob 10.21 Before I goe whence I shall not returne euen to the land of darkenesse and shadow of death Iob 10.22 A land of darkenesse as darkenesse it selfe and of the shadow of death without any order and where the light is as darkenesse Psal 89.27 What man is he that liueth and shall not see death shall he deliuer his Soule from the hand of the graue Psal 55.4 The feare of death ouerwhelmeth me and my heart is disquieted within me for that I haue daily sinned and not repented considering that from the Infernall pit there is no redemption But be thou mercifull to O Lord and save me for thy Names sake and in thy strength deliuer and comfort me Psal 119.75 I know O Lord that thy iudgements are iust and that thou of very faithfulnesse hast caused me to be troubled Oh let this light affliction which will quickely be gone cause vnto me afterward a more excellent and eternall waight of glory 2. Cor. 4.17 Psal 94.19 In the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart let thy comforts O Lord refresh my Soule Iob. 10.8 Thine hands haue made me and fashioned me round about yet thou dost destroy me Iob. 10.9 Remember I beseech thee that thou hast made me as the clay and wilt thou bring me into the dust againe Iob. 10.10 Hast thou not powred mee out like milke and crudled mee like a cheese Iob. 10.11 Thou hast cloathed mee with skinne and flesh and fenced mee with bones and sinewes Iob. 10.12 Thou hast granted me life and fauour and thy visitation hath preserued my Spirit O Lord thou numbrest my Iob. 14.16 steps and dost set a watch ouer my sinne Iob. 17.1 My breath is corrupt my daies are extinct the Graue is ready for me Iob. 14. I haue said to corruption thon art my Father and to the worme Thou art my Mother and Sister Iob. 7.1 Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth and are not his dayes as the daies of an hireling Iob. 9.25 My dayes are swifter then a Post they flee away and see no good Iob. 30.23 I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appoinfor all the lining Woe is me therefore O Lord that I haue sinned What shall I doe whither shall I flie but to thee O Lord my God Be mercifull to mee in the last day My soule is very much disquieted within me but Lord I require thy aidee and comfort Bee mindefull O Lord of thy Psal 119.49 Word wherein thou hast caused mee to put my trust and let thy mercy come vnto me according to thy Promise For thou art my maker and I am the worke of thy hands Deliuer me O Lord from eternall death in that day wherein Heauen and Earth shall be dissolued when thou comest to Iudge the Earth I am affrighted when I consider that day the day of thy wrath the day of misery that great and exceeding bitter day O Lord in that day where shall I hide my selfe from the face of thine anger O Lord when thou comest to Iudgement condemne mee not I beseech thee but deliuer from the gates of hel my poor soule which I commend vnto thee Acknowledge then O Lord thy Creature not made by any strange gods but by thee the true and liuing God Make my Soule ioyfull with thy presence and remember not my sinnes but according to thy great mercy thinke vpon mee in that day for the merits of my Blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer for the Sicke ALmightie and most mercifull Lord God who by the infirmities of this life dost put vs in minde of our mortalitie and by these outward afflictions dost call vs to inward Repentance I crie vnto thee with my whole heart Psal 6.1 Rebuke me not in thine anger neither chasten me in thy displeasure Psal 6.2 Haue mercy vpon me O Lord for I am weake O Lord heale me for my bones are vexed Thou art He O Lord a Iob. 5.18 That woundest and healest againe b 1. Sam. 2.6 that killest and reuiuest that leadest to the gates of Hell and bringest backe againe If this my sickenesse O Lord be not vnto death helpe me on this my bed of infirmity and strengthen me If thou thinkest expedient rather that I should die then liue doe with me according to thy good pleasure and receiue my Spirit to thy peace which I commend into thy hands who liuest and raignest God of all mercy world without end Amen Or thus O Mercifull Lord God who of thy great mercy dost forgiue the offences of those who truely repent mercifully looke vpon me thy poore Serand hearken vnto me who humbly craue of thee remission of my sinnes Renew O Lord in me whatsoeuer is corrupt and decayed by the Deuils malice or mine owne frailtie Pitie my sighes pitie my teares pitie my groanes vouchsafe to be reconciled