with thee and to approue our very thoughts vnto thee Giue vs a sober vse of thy creatures make vs readie to reach out our hands vnto the wants of others beget in vs a godlie iealousie ouer our selues that we may walke circumspectly taking heede to our selues in our eatings in our apparell in our companie in our recreations often considering our wayes and labouring quicklie after euerie error to turne our féete into thy testimonies And Lord cause vs to be earnestlie mindfull of the estate of thy whole Church blesse all kingdomes and states professing thy truth bee gratious especiallie to this our kingdome forgiue the crying sins of the times continue thy gospel disappoint the hope and expectation of all Papists let them perish as manie as haue euill will at Sion discouer Antichrist more and more enlarge the territories of thy church stablish thy kingdome of grace hasten the kingdome of glorie Heape thy blessings vppon our gratious King make him a further instrument of much good vnto thy chosen blesse his Quéen prosper the worke of thine owne handes begun in the young Prince shew mercy to the rest of the royall progenie Be gracious to the Councell to the Court the Nobles the Gentry of the Realme graunt that they may all ayme at the honouring of thee by whom they haue receiued honor amongst men Bee with the Magistracy Ministrie of the Realme make thy word to grow by the labours of those whome thou hast appointed to the seruice of thy church Containe the subiects in their due obedience to authority bring to nought all tumultuous rebellious practises comfort al thine afflicted seruants refresh them with a sweete feeling of thy fauour Giue vs compassionate harts and a fellow feeling of others miseries prepare vs vnto the daie of triall and keepe vs by thy mightie power through faith vnto saluation Graunt vs these good thinges for Christs sake in whose name wee commend our selues and our sutes vnto thee saying as he hath taught vs Our Father c. 2. An Euening Prayer for priuate Families O Lord our GOD most mercifull and gratious in Iesus christ among other thy mercies with which thou doest euen follow vs thy most vnthankfull seruants we acknowledge this to be none of the least that we haue this comfortable freedom of comming into thy presence there to poure out our soules before thee and to laie open our necessities vnto thee We praie thee teach vs to value this priuiledge according to the true worth thereof that wee may come together to the performance of this duty with glad hearts and cheerefull spirits reioycing in it that wee haue opportunitie giuen vs to testifie some part of that great dutie which in manie respects wee owe vnto thy maiestie And now Lorde being come before thee wee cannot but confesse the vilenesse of our estate wee were conceiued in sinne and in sin wee haue continued all our dayes wee haue euen drunke iniquitie like water wee haue drawne it after vs and tyed it vnto vs as with cartropes wickednesse hath beene swéet in our mouth we haue fauoured it and would not forsake it we haue euen made a mocke of sinne and it hath beene a pastime to vs to doe wickedly Thou hast often called vs but we haue still refused thou hast againe and againe stretched out thine hand but wee haue not regarded thou hast sought to reclayme vs but wee haue hardned our neckes as it were yron sinewes and haue hated to be reformed Thou hast waited to haue mercie vppon vs thy spirit hath striuen with vs thy verie bowels haue beene troubled for vs and how graciouslie hast thou called vpon vs by thy word saying Returne yee sonnes of Adam why will ye die Come vnto me and ye shall finde rest for your soules Yet we notwithstanding haue despised thy patience wee haue abused thy goodnes we haue turned thy graces into wantonnesse and haue giuen thee cause to heape vppon vs all those fearefull plagues and punishmentes which in the extreamitie of thy law are belonging to the wicked When we looke into our hearts we see nothing but a confused heape of grosse corruptions vanitie ignorance frowardnes vnteachablenes dulnes vnwillingnes and vnaptnes vnto good pronenesse readines to any manner of euill secure irreligious profane vncleane enuious couetous and gréedy thoughts peruerse and disordred affections all these as it were marching together to rebell against thee and leading vs captiue vnto sinne The verie wisedome of our flesh is death and the spirits of our minds are defiled when we look forth into our liues wee behold sinnes more in number then the haires of our head when wee take view of our selues in the glasse of thy Law we can see in our bodies and soules in our outward and inward man nothing but vglines and deformitie Yea the sinnes of this one daie are sufficient to bring downe vppon vs the eternall weight of thy displeasur How negligent haue we béen in our callings how haue we yeelded to our own vnbridled lusts in the vse of thy creatures how haue we cherished in our selues worldlie carnall and voluptuous thoughts howe many blessings haue we vnthankefully enioyed neuer thinking vpon thee which didst bestow them how haue wee misspent this pretious time which thou vouchsafest vs how manie good opportunities haue we let slip by which wee might haue edified our selues done good to others howe negligentlie haue wee kept our heartes by meanes whereof sathan hath got great vantage against vs how slenderlie haue wee bewailed the iniquities of the times howe poorelie haue wee striuen against our owne corruptions O LORD if thou shouldest straightlie marke our iniquities O Lord how shall wee stand where shall we appeare what shal become of vs what answere shall wee bee able to make thée to one of a thousand And yet most gratious God which is worst of all custome in euill hath bred such a hardnesse in vs and hath brought such a crust vpon our consciences that wee cannot be perswaded that thy wrath is so terrible or our sinne so greeuous or our estate so wofull as indeede it is Hence it commeth that we do not stand in such awe of thy maiestie as we should we doe not so tremble at thy iustice nor esteeme thy promises and mercies as we ought to doe wee beseech thée therefore to take the stony hearts out of our bodies and to put newe spirites into our bowels that wee maie with feeling and with a liuelie and sensible apprehension confesse our selues to bee as we are poore and wretched and miserable and blind naked such as in whom there is no goodnes such as to whom there is nothing due but shame and confusion of face for euer And héere Lord according to that measure of spirituall féeling which by thy grace wee haue attayned to wée doe vtterlie renounce our selues wee doe whollie disclaime all hope of help by our selues we account all that is in vs but as drosse and dung and
haue I these things but from thee The safety of this night the quiet rest wherwith I haue béene refreshed to whom can I ascribe it but onely vnto thee That I haue liued hitherto that I haue not béene swallowed vp with some suddaine iudgement that Sathan had not had his will vpon me that I know the way and the meanes vnto a better life that I am deliuered from the power of darknesse and translated into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne that I haue daily accesse into thy glorious presence whence are all these but from the freedome of thy grace If thou hadst giuen mée my desert I should haue perished long agoe it is from thy mercy alone that I am not consumed O Lord make mee ashamed of mine vnthankefulnesse wound my hart with the consideration of my owne dulnesse whom so many kindnesses haue not wrought vnto more obedience And vouchsafe I pray thee notwithstanding the smalnesse of my deseruing yet to looke graciously vpon this my morning sacrifice of prayse which I do here tender vnto thy Maiesty let not I beséech thée the scantnes and barrennes of my seruice make thee to turne away thine eyes and to haue no regarde vnto mine offering But as thou art wont to spare thy seruants euen as a man spareth his owne sonne that serueth him and in them to accept the will for the ful performance so be pleased to looke vpon mée in Iesus Christ and for his sake to remit my former vngratefulnesse and to strengthen me by thy grace for the time to come in some good measure to reforme the same And to the end O God that I may manifest the trueth of my desire to be thankefull I beséech thee to beget in me a holy care both this day and for euer to walke worthy of that calling wherevnto I am called to study to please thee with reuerence and with feare by a blamelesse pure and vnrebukeable conuersation to shine as a light amongst men I cannot I confesse doe this of my selfe I haue in mee the same corruption of nature which the most wicked hath I entreat thée therefore to worke in mee that which is pleasant in thy sight Giue me a cleane heart and a right spirit make mee to vnderstand aright the way of thy precepts direct me in the path of thy commandements knit my soule vnto thee and make it to cleaue vnto thy testimonies stay mee and stablish me that my foot-steps may not slide Crucifie my flesh with the affections and lustes mortifie my members which are on earth suppresse and subdue that law in my members which leades mee captiue vnto the law of sinne Graunt that I may sensibly féele the power of Christes death killing corruption in mee and the power of his resurrection raising mee vppe vnto newnesse of life Make mee to resolue to renounce euen my swéetest and best-pleasing sinnes and not to take libertie to my selfe to continue in any knowne vngodlinesse Let it bée inough that I haue hitherto giuen the raynes vnto mine owne lusts graunt that heereafter I may take no thought for the flesh to content it but may striue rather to curbe and to subdue it and to bring it vnder the yoke of due obedience And good Lorde encrease my fayth and better my féeling and apprehension of thy loue that I may with courage and chearefulnesse runne the race which is set before me Blesse mee also this day in the dutyes of my calling Idlenesse and godlinesse cannot agrée and it is thy will that in the sweate of my face I should eate my bread Preserue me from all fraudulent guilefull oppressing gréedy courses draw my affections from the loue of the world fixe my heart vpō the things which are aboue If things succéede according to my minde make mee thankefull to thée which hast giuen the blessing If any crosse come make mee patient and carefull to profit by euery chastizement And because the daily occasions of danger to my soule are infinite teach me to put on thy whole armor and to kéepe my heart with all diligence to furnish my selfe with holy meditations to make a couenant with mine eyes to kéepe my mouth with a bridle for the auoyding of all filthy communication to vse such words as may minister grace vnto the hearers to bée sober in diet wary in disports moderate in apparell choise in my company and euer to practise that cōtinuall feare which hath a promise of blessednesse Finally Lord so guide mee through the course of this whole day both in my priuate and more publique imployments that if I liue by thy sufferance vntill night I may haue much comfort in the taking notice of thy grace and goodnesse towards me and all this for Christ Iesus sake thy onely Sonne and my alone Sauiour Amen 4. An Euening Prayer for a priuate Person MOst mercifull God and gratious Father in Iesus Christ were it not that thou hast made a gratious promise in thy word that whatsoeuer is asked of thee in the name of thy Sonne shall bée bestowed I should not dare to presse into thy presence being guilty to my selfe of so many sinnes which I haue heaped vp in thy sight from the beginning of my dayes vntill this present I am by nature O Lorde the child of wrath a vassall of Sathan no better then a very firebrand of hell It is thy great mercy that I escaped the fury of thy wrath due vnto mée at the very instant of my birth in respect of that masse of corruptiō which I brought with mée from my my mothers wombe Neither haue I since I came to vnderstanding any whit amended or bettered my first estate but I haue added to it a numberlesse number of transgressions breaking euery of thy commandements by thought word and déede sinning in many things against knowledge against conscience and against that light which thou hast giuen me yea cleane against many vowes and promises of better obedience I haue no colour of excuse nothing haue I to plead in the defence of my many slips If I dispute with thée I must néedes lay my hand vpon my mouth and learne to abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes And Lord giue me I beséech thee a fleshy and melting heart that nothing may more affect mée or touch me more deepely then to sée my owne vilenesse and how disobedient and stubborne I haue béene towardes thee which hast euen heaped vpon mee so many fauours Make me ashamed of my barrennesse and vnfruitfulnesse in my profession who haue giuen thee iust cause to range mée among those hypocrites which make a shew of godlinesse but yet deny the power thereof Beget in me that godly sorow which causeth true repentāce neuer to be repented of that I may bee grieued in my very soule for my sins not so much because of the danger of hell that followeth as because I haue offended thee the loue of whose maiestie ought to bee a sufficient motiue to obedience And for the
with glorie and honor c. 1. Tim. 6.16 who only hath immortality and dwelleth in a light that none can attaine to c. and such like places To supply thee with words of promise consider Psa 50.15 Call vpon me c. so wil I deliuer thee c. Is 65.24 yea before they call I will answer and whiles they speake I will heare Iohn 14.13 Whatsoeuer you aske in my name that will I do and many such testimonies To bring thee to see thy own vilenesse ponder Iob 5.14 Man drinks iniquitie like water cha 25.4 Hee cannot bee cleane that is borne of a woman Psalme 51.5 I was borne in Iniquitie c. Romanes 7.18 I knowe that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing Gather account of thy particular sinnes as Iob did Chapter 9.3 View thy selfe often in the glass of the Law 1. A Morning Prayer for priuate Families MOst gratious GOD and louing FATHER in all humilitie of soule and vnfained acknowledgement of our bounden duty we present our selues heere before thy throne of maiestie and glory desiring in some measure to shew our thankfulnesse for the multitude of thy mercies heaped vpon vs thy most vnworthy seruants By thee at the first we were fearefully and wonderfully made thou coueredst vs in our mothers wombes thou gauest vs the shape of men women when it was free for thee to haue equalled vs vs vnto thy basest creatures since it hath pleased thée to preserue vs to watch ouer vs and to guard vs by thy prouidence to open thy hand and to replenish vs with good things to giue vs foode and rayment health libertie peace O Lord thy compassions faile not but they are renued euerie morning euen in this night past we haue receiued an apparant euidence of thy loue For whereas for the sinnes committed the day before thou mightest euen in the deade of sleepe haue taken our soules from vs and so suddenly haue brought vs to our account it hath been thy pleasure yet to spare vs and not onlie so but to refresh vs with quiet rest and to bring vs in safetie to the beginning of this day Grant O Lord wee pray thee that the ordinarie vse of these thy kindnesses may not make vs the lesse to esteem them but so affect our hearts with the apprehension of them that we may learne to admire thy mercy which dealest so gratiously with such vnthankfull persons as wee haue alwayes béene and may euen bind our selues to striue to shew all obedience duty to thee which dost so enlarge thy goodnes vnto vs. But chiefelie O Lord raise vp we beseech thee our hearts and our affections from these outward fauours the least of which notwithstanding is greater then the best of our deseruings and drawe vs to the serious consideration of those blessings which doe more directlie concerne a better life Make vs thankefully mindfull of the grace of election by which thou fréely chosest vs in Christ to be vessels of mercie before we were of thy sending thy sonne out of thine owne bosome being in thine owne forme to take on him the forme of a seruant and to become obedient vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse for our sakes of thy calling vs out of the kingdome of darknes by the power of the gospel preached of thy shining into our hearts by the enlightening of thy spirit of quickening vs when we were dead in trespasses and sinnes of thy begetting vs againe vnto a liuelie hope of the first fruites of the spirit and of that earnest of our inheritance which thou hast giuen vs of the dailie free vse and libertie of thy worde whereby that great mysterie of godlines yea euen thy whole counsell is cléerelie reuealed to vs. O Lord teach vs to consider what miserable creatures wee were in our selues what a fearefull case we had yet beene in if thou hadst left vs to our selues that so the veiw of these vnspeakable and vndeserued fauours may euen rauish our spirits and so possesse our hearts that we may constantly resolue henceforth to giue vppe our selues as a liuing sacrifice holie and acceptable vnto thee and to deuote all our powers both of soule and body to the glorie and honor of thy name And Lord enable vs hereunto we pray thée for we are not suffcient of our selues to thinke anie thing as of our selues we are naturally reprobate to euerie good worke Open therefore the eies of our mind that we may see what is good and what thou requirest of vs teach vs to make thy word our delight counsellor that by it we may be informed in thy paths put thy spirit within vs and cause vs to walke in thy statutes let our eares continually hear a word behind vs saying This is the way giue vs hearts of flesh yéelding pliable affections subdue the crookednes of our nature and bring it vnder the obedience of Christ And when thou hast entred vs into a good course vphold vs therein by thy alsufficient grace stablish vs in euerie worde and good worke fill vs with the fruites of righteousnesse let vs not be idle nor vnfruitfull-in our profession but graunt that wee may bee euen rich in good workes and so may adorne the doctrine of thée our Sauiour in all thinges making the aduersaries of thy truth ashamed when they shall haue nothing concerning vs to speake euill of And shield vs O Lord we earnestlie intreate thee against the malice and rage and fury of the diuel giue vs wisedome to discerne his policies and courage to resist euen his most fiery assaults make vs wise against the beguiling entisements of this sinfull world let vs not be caried awaie with the streame of these corrupt times harden our faces against the reproches enmities of euill men suffer vs not to bee wearyed nor to faint in our minds for any tribulations sanctifie vnto vs euerie affliction that it maie bee a meanes to purge out our corruptions Draw our mindes from the loue of this present world teach vs to vse it as if wee vsed it not graunt that wee may euer remember that wee haue heere no continuing citty that so we may séeke for that kingdome that cannot be shaken but is eternall in the heauens Cause vs to depend vpon thy prouidence and to cast our care and burden vpon thee assuring our selues that thou which hast giuen vs Christ canst not but with him giue vs all thinges also And Lord if at any time we fall by occasion into a fault as who are we that we should presume put vnder thy hand we beséech thée deliuer vs out of the mire that we sinke not let not sinne swallow vs vppe let it not grow strong vpon vs least wee perish Enable vs vnto diligence and faithfulnes in our seuerall callings teach vs to lift vppe our heartes to thee for a blessing vpon our indeuours and to remember that we are alwayes in thy presence that so we may studie to walke
do most earnestlie entreate thee to looke vpon vs in thy sonne Iesus Christ accepting his death and his passiō as a sufficient absolute and compleate discharge for all our sinnes whatsoeuer O Lord let the chastisement of our peace be vpon him and let vs be healed with his stripes we haue no other name vnder heauen in which we can be saued and wee know that thou hast sealed him and sent him into the world to saue thy people from their sinnes wee beseech thée therefore for his sake to bee at peace with vs put away our transgressions like a cloud and our sins as a mist forgiue our iniquities and remember our offences nomore And withall seale vppe to our soules and consciences the feeling of this thy loue by the gracious testimonie of thy spirit that wee may know that there is peace in heauen for vs and that Christ is made of thee vnto vs Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption and that nothing shall euer bee able to separate vs from thy loue in him We doe begge this at thy hands so much the rather because wée see the vanitie of all things in this world all things in it are subiect to vncertaintie they are all lighter then vanitie it selfe But thy loue in Christ is firme and perpetuall For with thee there is no shadow of change thy calling and gifts are without repentance and therefore wee pray thee settle vs in the assured perswasion of thy loue to the end that we may haue some comfortable vnderstanding that whatsoeuer do be fall vs here howsoeuer wée be tryed yet after all we shall lay downe our heads in thy peace and be made partakers of thy glory In the meane space so long as thou shalt bée pleased to respite the dayes of pilgrimage vpon this earth we pray thee doe not leaue vs to our selues neither forsake vs but giue vs as pledges of thy loue those Spirituall blessings in heauēly things wherwith thou art wont to furnish thy chosen that so wee may make our conuersation such as becommeth the Gospel wée may neuer discredit our profession or be a scandall and offence vnto others but rather by our holy cariage may prouoke and winne others vnto thee Helpe vs to this ende wée beséech thee against our manifold infirmities against those euils to which our natures doe most encline enable vs to shake off that sinne that hangeth so fast on strengthen vs to euery good holy duety make vs perfit in good works sanctifie vs throughout and kéepe our whole spirits soules and bodies blamelesse vnto the comming of Iesus Christ Make vs thankefull as becommeth vs for thy many fauours for that continuall preseruation which thou affordest vs for the comforts of this day both to our soules and bodies for thy enlarging our time and opportunitie to repent grant we pray thée that our thankefulnesse may not stand only in outward showes but that wée may be thankefull in déed and in trueth labouring to be dutiful vnto thee which art so mercifull vnto vs. And inasmuch as O Lord wée doe professe to beléeue the Communion of Saints therefore it becommeth vs to bée mindful of others in our Prayers besides our selues we are suters to thee on the behalfe of all thy people sparsed ouer the face of the earth thou O Lord art priuy to their seuerall wants thou art onely able to make a gracious supply we beséech thée for them as for our owne soules More particularly wee powre out our soules before thee for those Churches which amongst vs thou hast planted and vnited vnder one gouernement Our sinnes O Lorde chiefly our contempt of thy glorious Gospell doe deserue a curse euen that thou shouldst remooue our candlesticke and cleane put out the light of thy holy word and withall make vs a by word to the world by some extraordinarie iudgement But wée pray thee in Christ vouchsafe to reuerse those plagues which wee haue deserued continue those fauours which wee haue hitherto enioyed continue and enlarge the fréedome of thy word stablish the trueth of Religion amongst vs by a perpetuall decrée both for vs and for our posteritie after vs. To this end blesse all good means aboue others our Soueraigne and King enable him euery day more and more to the discharge of that great duety wherwith thou hast entrusted him lengthen his dayes prosper his Raigne defeate his enemies giue him and vs comfort in his Quéene and ioy in his posterity Encrease wisedome in his Councell faythfulnes in his seruants loyalty and true-heartednesse in his subiects Stir vp Magistrates and men in Authoritie to séeke the aduauncement of thy glorie and the wealth of thy people Make thy Ministers able and willing to publish the secret of the Gospell water their endeuours with the deaw of heauen that daily such as belong vnto life eternall may be added to the Church And seeing thou art pleased to exercise diuers of thy seruaunts with the crosse some with sicknesse of body some with perplexitie of spirit some with losse of goods some with restraint of libertie some in one kind some in another we pray thee to swéeten their afflictions and to season their sorrowes with the comfort of thy spirit furnish them with a measure of patience agréeing to the proportion of their trials and put an ende to their grieuaunces when thou shalt see it fit And O Lorde make vs ready for affliction teach vs to remember that wée must through many tribulations enter into thy blessed kingdome In our health make vs mindefull of sickenesse of death and of our last account that these things may not come vpon vs as a snare but that wée may bée prepared alwayes in some good measure to submit our selues vnto thy most wise and holy appointments And now O Lord our God wée pray thée to beare with the weakenesse and coldnesse of our Prayers Take vs this night into thy blessed tuition we know that thou doest neither slumber nor sléepe kéepe vs from euill kéepe vs from the malice of Sathan from securitie and carelesnesse from dulnesse and drowsines of spirit that if it shall bee thy pleasure to let vs liue vntill the morning we may become so much the fitter to serue thee in our seueral callings so as may bee most for the glory of thy great Name through Iesus Christ in whose Name wee commend our selues and our vnworthy Prayers vnto thee saying as he hath directed vs in the Gospel Our Father c. 3. A Morning Prayer for a priuate Person O Almightie Father the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and in him my Father also how vnworthy and wretched a Creature were I if receiuing so many blessings frō thee I should not stirre vp my selfe to returne some thankefulnesse vnto thee for the same It is euen thou O Lorde which from my first being vntill now hast couered me vnder thy wings and vnder thy feathers I haue béene sure My body soule my health my strength my maintenāce whence
suffer me not I beseech thee to satisfie my selfe with this that I haue once made some shew of humiliatiō and sorrow for my falles but graunt I may encrease in the performance of these duetyes and may euery day renue enlarge my repentance for particular slippes growing still into a deeper detestation of my sins and desiring with more and more earnestnesse and striuing to bee renewed in the Spirit of my mind that so being cleansed from all filthinesse both of the flesh and Spirit I may growe vppe vnto full holinesse in thy feare through Iesus Christ In whose name only I commend vnto thee my requests and for whose sake thou hast promised to deny nothing to thy seruants So be it * ⎠* 11. A Prayer in respect of death needful at all times but especially in sickenesse O God the God of the Spirits of all flesh and which hast the keyes of hell and of death thou hast prepared them both and thou rulest them both at thine owne pleasure I beséech thee bee mercifull to a poore trembling weak-hearted sinner and vouchsafe to preserue mee from the horror and extreamitie of dread into which I am euen now ready to fall When I consider O Lord how that I dwell in a house of clay my foundation being in the dust that I must erelong make my bed in the dark saying to corruptiō Thou art my Father and to the worme Thou art my Mother my Sister O how my belly trembleth what a kind of rottennesse cōmeth into my bones my spirit seeming to fayle me my heart within mee being filled with dismayednes Especially when I thinke vpon the iudgement that commeth after it the straitnesse of that account which I am instantly to be called to and vpon those euerlasting chaynes vnder darkenes in which the wicked are reserued vnto the last sessions I am then so euen ouerwhelmed with amazednesse that I séeme to my selfe for the present not to know where to find any true refreshing I am told by thy blessed and not-deceiuing word that the sting of death is mine owne sinne and with it I daily feele my selfe goared and galled and wounded so excéedingly that mée thinketh to mee poore wretch there can be no hope of recouery but death must néedes bée as a passage to leade mee into the bottomlesse prison of hell Rayse vp O Lord I beséech thée these my sad vnquiet thoughts teach mee how to ouercome these discouraging and killing perplexities the death may not be vnto me as a king of fear nor I as one of the wicked whose hope doeth perish with their breath the candle of whose comfort is put out when thou art pleased to take away their Soule Reuiue my memory that I may call to minde and cōfortably ponder those things which thy sacred word hath taught me namely how the nature of death is cleane altered to thy seruants the sting is plucked out it selfe is swallowed vp in victory To them the comming thereof shall be a time of discharge they shall by it bee fréed from sicknesses of body from anguishes of spirit from all possibilitie of sinning against their God from the tedious and discontenting societie of the vngodly their flesh shall rest in hope their graues shall bee vnto them as beds of ease being swéetened and seasoned by the buriall of their Sauiour the Angels shall giue attendance vpon their Soules to conuey thē into Abrahams Bosome to the fellowship of belieuers to the spirits of iust and perfit men so shall they bée with Christ which is best of all This O Lorde is the happinesse which cōmeth by death vnto thy chosen Oh what are all the most torturing sicknesses the bitter pangs and sorrowes of the graue vnto such a glorious exchange Who would feare corruption for a neuer sading crowne of righteousnesse What is a momentany yéelding of the body to consumption in the dust in comparison of the euerlasting preseruation of the Soule with assurance also that in the time appointed these vile bodyes shall by the mightie working of thy beloued Sonne be fashioned like vnto his owne glorious body and so both bodyes and soules bee for euer with him in his kingdome Teach mee O Lord effectually to apply these things to mine owne comfort that so this timorousnesse procéeding from the guilt of sinne may be turned into a chéerefull expectation and euen a longing for the day of my dissolution And lest I should beguile my owne Soule in laying clayme to that spirituall refreshing which belonges not to mee make mee to labour for those assured euidences and vndeceiuing fore-runners of a happy departure I know O Lorde that if I liue héere without conscience I shall surely dye without comfort Holinesse here is the way and path to future happinesse I must seeke to glorifie thee if I desire to be glorified with thée I must fight the good fight against sathā against the world against mine owne corruption I must faythfully fulfill my course and performe the seruice to which thou hast appointed me I must know thy trueth and keepe the faith in soundnes and sinceritie to the end otherwise it will bee in vaine to exspect a crowne of righteousnesse I must come to the first resurrection or else I shal neuer escape the second death Graunt mee therefore grace I humbly pray thee to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all my dayes and to endeauour alwayes to haue a cléere conscience towards thee and towards men Kill my corruption in mee that I may bee euen dead to sinne but aliue to thee in Iesus Christ And because if I liue after the flesh taking thought for it to fulfill it I shall dye therefore I beséech thée to mortifie the deedes of the body by thy spirit that so I may haue my fruite in holinesse and my end eternall life Teach mee often to number my dayes and to consider the vncertaine certaintie of my ende that I may dye euen euery day still looking and still preparing for my change and making account that each day may bee the day of my dissolution Strengthen also my weake and faint faith make mee strong in thee and in the power of thy might seale me with the holy spirit of promise as with the earnest of my heauenly inheritance that so no anguish of sicknesse may discourage me no pang of death dismay mee no assault of sathan ouercome mee but that come death when it will or in what manner it shall please thee I may boldly through Christ commit my soule to thee as vnto a faithful creator Grant me this cōfortable blessing for his sake who dyed to free me frō death from him that had the power of death euen for Christ Iesus sake Amen 16. A Prayer more specially fitted to the state and occasions of a sicke person O Most mercifull and gratious God thou whose prouidence reacheth into the most withdrawne and solitarie places and which causest the beames of thy fauour
cōtinually euē so lōg as I haue my being Graunt that I may learne by this euidence of thy mercy and might for euer hereafter to depend vpon thee Quicken me vp to all holy dutyes that my thankefulnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian cariage Make me a kinde and carefull Mother willing to vnder-goe the paines and troubles of education let no nicenesse or curiositie hinder me frō those seruices to which both Nature Religion haue appointed mee Let mee also bee carefull heereafter when time shall require to season that which thou hast giuen mee with the knowledge of thee and of thy Sonne that my desire may manifestly appeare to bee set for the encreasing of thy kingdom Vouchsafe so to order my affections to bring them into obedience vnder thee that if it should bée thy pleasure either now or hereafter to take this infant from mee I may patiently submit my self to thy appointment And now O good God perfite in mee that strength which thou hast begun make me to growe in care to serue thée faithfully both in the duetyes of piety in other businesses of my place and calling that I may be a comfort to my husbād an example to my neighbours a grace to my profession a means of glory to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen 21. A Prayer for those which are employed in the assistance helpe of a trauailing woman IT is not our diligence O Lord or paines which can do any thing without thy blessing our sins are sufficient to bring thy curse vpon whatsoeuer we vndertake Be pleased we pray thée to be reconciled to vs in the blood of thy Sonne Make vs to remēber that we are here in thy presence that all our thoughts words actions are open to thy sight prosper the busines for which wee are come together put far frō vs all supersticious cōceits idle fancies teach vs to séek help only frō thy grace Enable vs to speak comfortably to this pained woman that we may further her dependance vpon thy holy Maiestie and may be a means vnder thee of her true refreshing in her sharpest fits Furnish vs with skill and her with strength patiently to awaite the appointed time of her deliuerance knit al our hearts vnto thee that we may feare thy Name noting obseruing thy mercy and power in all thy works studying to giue thee prayse and glory for the same through Iesus Christ our only Lord Sauiour Amen 22. A Thankesgiuing after when God hath blessed their paines in the womans deliuerie O Lorde wee haue séene thy goodnes and haue receiued an apparant token of thy readines to heare the Prayers of those which call vpon thée and to succour those which flye vnto thee for thy helpe Thou hast giuen ease and deliuerance to the woman light and life to the infant ioy and gladnesse to vs all The glory and prayse is thine alone Fill our hearts with thankefulnesse make vs forward both now hereafter to prouoke and stirre vp one another thereunto And And let not our thankefulnes stand in words onely or outward shewes but cause it to appeare in our whole course that the obedience the sobrietie the modestie the vertue of our liues may witnes the thankfull féeling of our hearts Goe on in thy mercy wee pray thee both to the Mother and her babe continue encrease their strength so as may serue best for thy glory And as thou hast added one vnto the number of mankind shewing thy wonderful wisedome power both in the framing of him in the wombe in bringing him foorth into this light so in thy time adde him also to thy Church and beget him again vnto a liuely hope by the immortall séed of thy holy word deliuering him from the power of darkenesse in which by nature we are al into the glorious libertie of thy chosen And if it shall so séeme good to thee to lay any further triall eyther of sickenes or death vpon this thy seruant or vpon the fruite of her wombe prepare vs all to a patient and quiet bearing of thy hand and to a contented cōfortable resting vpon thy gracious prouidence assuring our selues that all things shall turne to the good and benefit of thy chosen Heare vs O Lord and accept vs and forgiuing the weakenes of our Prayers graunt vs all néedfull graces out of the rich store-house of thy bottomlesse bounty and that for Iesus Christ our gracious Redéemer Amen 23. A Prayer for a Souldier fighting for his Countrey or the confederates thereof O Lord it is thy glorie to bee called The Lord of hostes and it is thou alone from whom when men haue made their most politicke and puissant preparations the victorie must be looked for Drawe my heart I beséech thee from all relying vpon my own valor or vpon the strength of the battaile in which I stand and teach me to looke vpward and to waite and trust onely vpon thee Thou giuest conquest and thou giuest courage thou deliuerest from the perill of the sword or else makest death a meanes of happinesse to thy seruants Forgiue my sinnes I pray thee and assure mee of pardon by the witnesse of thy spirit that the guilt thereof make not my heart to tremble in me and to behold death as a messenger to conuey me into hell If thou O Lord bée on my side peace being made betwixt thée and my Soule through Christ what can bee against mee what hazard can befall my Soule Nothing shall be able to depriue mee of thy loue Let not spoyle or blood or mine owne aduancement be the ends of mine attempts but make me to ayme onely at thy glory in the defence of thy trueth and in the good and safety of the State wherein I liue The issue of all things to thee O Lorde is knowen but to man it is hidden prepare me therefore indifferently to whatsoeuer shall befall me If I dye giue mee comfort in my last breathing and take my Soule into thy gracious hands If I bee taken captiue giue mee patience giue mee wisedome and godly courage to doe nothing contrary to the honour of my countrey or preiudiciall to the profession of a faithful Christian If I returne with life and victorie make me thankefull kéepe mee from taking frō thee any part of thy glory Preserue mee from those riotous lasciuious and blaspheming courses which are the vsuall fruits of good successe Let me not thinke deuotion to be an enemie to resolution or that a religious feare of thy Maiestie doeth abate the spirit that should bee in a Souldier but settle me in this that the assurance of a lawfull cause the hope and confidence of a better life by the merites of Christ the care to please thee and to depend vpō thy power are the onely true grounds of valour which can giue a man boldnesse and life in the day of battaile Vouchsafe me these
and all other needfull fauours in and for Christ Iesus sake Amen 24. A Prayer for a man trauailing by Sea about his lawfull businesse O Heauenly Father vnto whose eares the Prayers of humbled sinners haue fréedome of accesse out of euery place let it please thee to encline to me who being prouoked by mine owne present néede and taking heart vnto my selfe by thy liberall large promises doe desire to powre out my Soule before thy Maiestie Heere O Lord by reason of the calling and place in which it hath béene thy prouidence to ranke mee I am come downe to the sea in a Ship and I doe now sée thy workes and continually beholde thy wonders in this déepe How easie a thing is it vnto thee when thou raysest a storme liftest vp the waues not only to tosse vs to and fro and to make vs stagger like a drunken man but vtterly to swallow vs vp and to turne vpon our heads in a moment the bottome of these mouing houses in which wee are It is thy great and excéeding mercy that these swelling billowes foaming surges doe not drinke vs in and so make our bodyes to become as a prey eyther to that great Leuiathan the Whale whom thou hast made to play here or to some other of thy creatures with â—…ire varietie and troupes whereof this vast body is replenished But it is euen thou O mightie Lord which layedst the foundations of the earth which diddest shut vp the Sea with doores thou didst first gather these waters together as vpon an heape and storedst vp the depths in thy treasures thogh the waues are maruailous though the floods lift vp their voyce though the waters rage and be troubled and the very mouÌ„taines shake at the surges of the same yet thou art much more mightie thou soone appeasest the noise and turnest the storme into a calme Look gratiously therfore vpon mee I beséech thée teach mée to vnderstand the greatnes of thy terror by that fearfulnes of thy creatures which I do still behold Cause me to rest my hope and comfort vpon the power of thy mercie let that be the anchor of my Soule both sure and stedfast And lest my sins not being pardoned should be a hinderance stoppage to thy fauor I pray thee settle in mee an hearty vnfained detestation of them a godly griefe and sorrow for them a stedfast resolution and purpose in the whole course of my life to striue against them Open my heart that I may often earnestly sue and entreate for thy grace in thy son and may neuer giue ouer till I féele in my conscience some comfortable assurance that thou hast forgiuen me Fit prepare me to thine owne appointments If it be thy pleasure that I should heere ende my dayes I know well that the soule which thou kéepest cannot miscary To thee therfore I coÌ„mend my spirit forsake mee not I pray thee in my last breathing Albeit these waues may ouerwhelme my body yet let them not bee able to quench my comfort or to plunge mee downe into despaire Graunt me euer to lay fast hold vpon my Sauiour that neither sea death nor hell may separate mee from his grace And if it shal séeme good vnto thee to bring me safe vnto that hauen where I would be Oh that I may neuer forget thy kindnesse but may make conscience to performe that obedience which I am now ready to vowe in my necessitie Make me alwayes to take as great delight to serue thée as I am now forward to aske and desirous to receiue life and safety from thée Heare me O Lord in these and other my petitions forgiuing my vnworthinesse in the merites of Iesus Christ thy blessed Sonne and my great Redéemer Amen 25. A Prayer applyed to the state and condition of a malefator condemned by law to dy and drawing neere to the time of his execution VOuchsafe O thou God of all mercie and compassion to looke with pity vpon the most wofull case of a poore wretch ready by the sword of Iustice to bee cut off as vnworthy to liue amongst men like also without thy spéedy fauor to be shut out of heauen and to haue my part in the second death Trueth it is O Lorde that all this though it bée grieuous yet is no more then my desert and touching that bodily death whereto I am adiudged I must confesse it to bee thy mercie and goodnesse toward me that I haue béene found out by the eye of the Maigstrate and stopped by the power of authoritie from going on into further euill I beséech thée that my death may bee both a chastizement to mee and an aduertizement to others to containe themselues within the listes of ciuill obedience But concerning my Soule which is now ere long to appeare before the Tribunall seate of thy great Maiestie I humbly pray thee to be mercifull thereunto I cannot but acknowledge that if thou giue me my due recoÌ„pense I must néeds be thrust into that dreadfull place of infinite eternall torment which thou hast prepared for the wicked the burning whereof is fire and much wood and which thy breath like a riuer of brimstone doth kindle neither sée I in my self or in any creature any means or possibilitie to escape Fearefull vnto mee hath beene the face of an earthly Iudge the sentence of death to bee inflicted vpoÌ„ this my house of clay hath made my heart to quake within mee What then will become of mee when I shall be arraigned before thee at whose rebuking the very fouÌ„dations of the earth are discouered before whom no man liuing can be iustified Thou O Lorde knowest all mine iniquities they are sealed vp with thee as in a hugge they are all noted in thy registers Although I haue many times sought for the couering of my euill wayes to hide my selfe in the darkenesse of the night supposing that no eye should sée me yet thou hast still compassed my pathes and beene accustomed to all my wayes there hath not bin a thought in my heart or a worde in my tongue but thou hast wholly knowen it Often haue I said in my heart God will not regard he hath forgotten hee hideth away his face wil neuer sée I shal neuer be mooued nor be in danger Thy word I had no delight to heare I hated knowledge I would none of thy couÌ„sel I sought to damme vp the mouth of my coÌ„science that it might not check me when my friends admonished me I hated scorned their reproofe Thus it was a pastime to mée to doe naughtily wickednesse was swéete in my mouth I fauoured it and would not be perswaded to forsake it Iustly therefore O Lord hast thou thus ouertaken me and made me to eat the fruit of my owne way bringing me to be a spectacle to the world to dye as one of the fooles of the people Yet O gratious God sith there is mercy with thee and that thou art
very ready to forgiue be fauourable I entreat thee to mee a most vnworthy sinner Manasse being put in fetters and bound in chaines prayed vnto thee and humbled himselfe greatly before thee in his tribulation thou wast entreated of him The womā of Canaan whom thou tearmedst to be no better then a dog yet thou diddest afforde her some crummes of thy mercy and didst cause it to bee vnto her as she desired The thiefe at his execution confessed his sinne prayed to bee remembred in thy kingdome thou didst promise him an entrance into Paradise O Lord are not these things written for my learning that I through the comfort of these examples might haue hope Hath thy Word spoken it in vaine that at what time soeuer a sinner sigheth vnto thée thou wilt put all his wickednesse from before thée Shall I thinke that thou wilt call mee being laden with my sinnes to come vnto thee and then when I come wilt not accept mee Make me I pray thee to sée the depth of my sinnes that I may not beguile my Soule by lessening eyther the weight or number of mine iniquities Worke me to a true and vndissembled acknowledgement and confession of them euen before others that they which sée my end and know mine euill may haue some euidence of my repentance and may learne by me to beware of the deceitfulnesse of sinne Enable me to looke with the eye of my faith vpon my crucified Sauior casting my self wholly vpon him and desiring by him to bee hidden from thy wrath Giue mee some taste of thy loue and some inward and secret pledge of thy being reconciled to mee for his sake Strengthen mee against the feare of death that albeit I haue euery way iust cause to tremble at it it being both the desert of my offence to men the wages of my sinne against thee yet hauing some assurance in my Soule that the sting thereof is plucked out I may embrace it in my bosome and entertaine it as an end appointed for my miserie as a meanes to bring me vnto happines Thus O Lord with fulnesse of desire out of the bottome of this misery and shame which I am fallen into to fly vnto thy mercy and to be shrouded vnder the shadow of thy grace I commend my selfe my soule and my body into thy hands praying thée not to cast off him which hath no hope but onely in thée and that alone in and by Iesus Christ my only Lord and Sauiour Amen 26. A Prayer rising out of the serious meditation of the last Iudgement O Lord thou hast reuealed it in thy holy Word that the fashion and figure of this world must passe away that as by appointment wee must all dye so also wée must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ and that from thence some shal go into euerlasting paine and some into life eternall This the Atheists and Epicures and Libertines of the world doe thinke to bee but a méere fable they say in their hearts The Lord will doe neither good nor euill But yet O Lord as thou hast deliuerd this in thy Word of which one iote nor tittle shall not perish so thou hast not left it without a sufficient proofe in the very bosome of euery mā The accusing or excusing of our owne thoughts the secret checks accompanying those euils to which none is priuy the feares of wicked men who are continually as one that trauaileth of child flying oft times when none pursueth them and being chased at the very shaking of a leafe are an euident proofe of thy prouidence and a certaine assurāce written as with a point of a Diamond which can neuer be done out that verely there is fruite for the righteous and doubtles there is a God that iudgeth the earth This truth O Lord my God thou hast taught mee to belieue and I make no doubt but it shall shortly come to passe It was sayd long since that the Iudge did stand before the doore and that hee which should come would come would not tary and now the height of iniquitie is such and sinne is grown to that perfection that it cannot stand with thy Iustice much longer to forbeare Teach me I pray thee as I doe know belieue this so to make a true profitable vse of my knowledge Let it bee euer in my thoughts and in my best and most serious meditations whē I am about by the prouenesse of my corrupted nature to doe euill let the remembrance hereof be a bridle to me to restrayne me when I am like by the iniquitie of the times to suffer euill among men let the exspectation of the right which thou wilt then do to the oppressed be a comfort to mee to refresh me Especially O Lord grant mee to keep daily as it were a priuy sessions in the closet of mine owne heart arraigning my selfe before thy iudgement seat searching and trying my wayes accusing my selfe before thee frō whom nothing can be hid confessing my vnworthinesse bewailing my corruptions suing with al instant earnestnesse for thy grace fauour in thy Son O that I may learn thus to iudge my selfe that I may not be iudged of thee in that day Suffer me not to flatter my selfe or to blesse my Soule in any euill way or to goe about to finde hidings and couerts for my sinnes inasmuch as all things are naked in thy sight and that in that great terrible day thou wilt lighten the things which are hid in darkenesse and make manifest the counsell of all mens hearts Let mee not imagine this thy great session to be like the courses among men in which oft times by vniust meanes the vilest offenders do procure escapes but make me to know as the trueth is that with thée there is no hope by corruptiō or fauour or fraud or importunitie of sute to find euasions Thou art the Iudge of all the world and thou wilt doe right euery man shall receiue the things which haue beene done in his body according to that he hath done whether it bée good or euill And whereas O Lord it is a great griefe to thy seruants to liue among the vngodly it must néedes vexe their righteous soules to heare and sée their vnlawfull deeds let this be my comfort that though it be thy pleasure to suffer with long patience the vessels of wrath to permit the tares to growe vppe with the Wheate vntill the haruest yet then thy Angels shall come and shall gather out of thy Church all things that offend and bring the iust into the kingdome of their father Seeing also O gratious God that whosoeuer in this world wil liue godly shall suffer and ly open to the wrongs and iniuries and reproches of the wicked Grant that if at any time eyther my name be put out as euill or otherwise my estate or profession or life for thy trueths sake be called into question I may possesse my Soule with
patience looking for the blessed hope and appearing of thy glorie knowing that then the iust what disgraces so-euer are now cast vpon them shall shine as the light in thy presence Finally O Lord make make me daily to grow so wearie of this vaine wretched world and of the heauy load of mine owne corruptions and of this body of death which is vpon mee to striue to gather that assurance of an interest in that glory which shall be shewed hereafter that I may looke for this great day and in my desires may sigh for it and hasten to it and that whensoeuer it commeth I being foūd waking with my lāp of oyle in my hand may haue cause to lift vp my head not doubting but to haue a gracious admittance into my masters ioy Graunt mee this for his sake which sitteth at thy right hād to make request for mee Iesus Christ the Mediatour of thy chosen Amen 27. A Prayer fitted to the time of warre O Almightie God who art hie aboue all nations and whose glory is aboue the heauens the comfortable successe of all enterprises is from thée onely to bee looked for Thou art hee which giuest victorie vnto kings to thee it is all one to saue by many or by fewe thou canst make one to chase a thousand thou canst cause the hearts euen of the most valiant to melt their hands to bée weake their mindes to faint and their knees to fall away like water If thou fight for vs wee cannot miscary if thou fauour vs not wee must néeds bee discomfited O bée gracious vnto vs and bee on our side now that men are risen vp against vs. They take craftie counsell against thy Church and consult how to cut vs off from being a nation and by what meanes to quench the light of thy truth which shineth in our streetes Their desire is to embrue their hands in our blood and to aduance their owne ambition by our ouerthrow O turne their counsels into foolishnes let not their mischieuous imaginations prosper lest they bee too proud O our God make them like vnto a whéel as the stubble before the wind scatter the people that delight in war Go out O Lorde with our armies giue wisedom and courage to our captaines gird them with strength vnto the battel be with our Souldiers teaching their hands to war their fingers to fight Assist al the consultations prosper the policies crown those enterprises with good successe which are vndertaken for the common good comfort of the State Doubtlesse O Lord we haue deserued thine anger our sins do cry loud in thine eares for vengeance and it were but iust with thee if thou shouldest make vs a prey and spoyle vnto our enemies But O gracious God let vs fall now into thy hands for thy mercies are great let vs not fal into the hāds of men whose displeasure at vs is not for our sins but for our profession and religions sake and that they may fill their own enlarged vnsatiable desires with those blessings of wealth which thou hast giuen vs Put therefore thy hooke into their nostrils bring them backe by the same way they came Let it appear that thou art in the middes of vs that wee shall not bée mooued that thou wilt help vs and that very early Let there be none inuasion nor going out nor no crying in our stréets But set thou peace in our borders make strong the barres of our gates especially let the Gospel of thy Sonne sound yet louder amongst vs that by it many Soules may bee gathered vnto thée So we thy people the shéepe of thy pasture shall prayse thee for euer and from generation to generation we will set foorth thy glory through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen 28. Another of like nature respecting the time of Dearth and Famine CLeannesse of teeth O Lord and scarcenesse of bread haue béene aunciently threatened by thee as iudgements vpon the sonnes of men for their sinnes Many wayes also thou hast to turne a fruit-full land into barrennesse for the wickednes of the Inhabitants Thou canst make the Heauen ouer our head as brasse the earth vnder vs as yron by bringing a drought vpon the land Or else thou canst cause the séed to rotte vnder the clods by commanding the bottels of heauen to powre out raine in too great abūdance or when the Corne is come vp thou art able to smite it with blasting mildeaw or to send among vs thy great hoste the grashopper the canker the caterpiller and the palmer worme so that although much bee sowen yet little shall bee brought into the barne Or if the Corne doe grow ripe vnto the haruest it is in thy power suddainly to send in an enemy to eat the fruit of the land and to deuoure the labour of the people And though the bread do come to be set in plenty before vs yet thy hand is not shortened thou canst take away the staffe thereof so that wee shall eat not be satisfied Thus O Lord thou hast euen store-houses of punishments so that our hearts can not endure nor our hands be strong in the day that thou shalt haue to doe with vs. And heereof we haue now already some experiēce For now thou hast in part begun to punish our abuse of thy creatures our fulnes of bread our contēpt of the spiritual food of our soules with outward scarcity The time is com by gréedy worldlings long exspected in which they may make the measure small and the prices great selling euen the very refuse of the Wheat Their treading is vpon the poore their desire is to swallow vp the néedy of the land Look mercifully O Lord vpon vs wée beséech thée lift vp thine hand forget not the poor Thou preparest for the rauen his meate when his birds cry to thee wandring for lack of food thou takest no delight in the confusion of thy creatures thou hast promised that if wée séeke to thée we shall want nothing that is good thou wilt preserue vs in the time of dearth and in the dayes of famine wee shall haue inough Accomplish wée beséech thée these thy gracious promises Saue vs from this encreasing miserie and deliuer vs from their crueltie which being without all bowels of mercy doe respect nothing but their owne commoditie And because O Lord our sinnes doe separate betwixt thee and vs and doe hinder good things from vs therefore humble our soules vnder thy mighty hand make vs to see and to consider our owne deseruings drawe from vs an hearty and sincere acknowledgement how great cause wee haue giuen thee to affamish both our bodies and soules for euer Giue vs an vnderstanding of our particular grosse sinnes which doe lay vs open to this iudgement aboue others namely our wantōnesse our pride our luxuriousnes our riot our feastings without feare our want of mercy to the poore our spurning with the héele against thee