Lords day Page 10 Sacraments Page 11 Supply of all wants temporall health Page 12 Preferment maintenance dwelling food Page 13 Plenty prosperity trust in Gods deliverance Page 14 Preservation Page 16 Deprecation against the evill of sin Page 18 Against the evil of punishment in body Page 19 Estate conscience troubled Page 21 Death Page 22 Hell and Satan Page 23 World Warre and all enemies Page 24 Reproach and slander Page 28 Against evils nationall Page 31 Church of Christ Page 32 Confusion to the enemies of the Church Page 33 Thankesgiving for our Election c. Page 35 For Gods Word temporall blessings and creation Page 36 Providence preservation plenty and prosperity Page 37 Safety afflictions Conclusion with thankesgiving Page 38 FINIS Recensui hunc librum cui titulus Holy Incense c. nihilque in eo inveni quod Christianos mores ac pietatem non redoleat Ac ob id dignum existimo ut Typis mandetur Ex aedibus Fulham Iun 17. 1634. Thomas Weekes R-P D. Episc Lond. Cap. domest a Mr Foxe Acts monum vol. 2. pag 578. col 1. lin 41. * Rev. 6. 9. b Fox ibid. col 2. lin 32. c Pref. before his Sermons d Nullus abit dies quin â—t minimum tres â—â—ras easque studijs aptissimas in orationâ—m poâ—aâ— c. Viâ— Theodor ad Melanc Vid. Acts monum vol. 2 pag 〈◊〉 col 1. 〈◊〉 55. * Luk 6. 1â—â— Acts 9. 11. Isay 38. 16. * Innocentius ex advocâ—t vicar prâ—â—fectur misâ—râ— labâ—â—ns morbo â—â—â—ula câ—â—â—pit orare quibus modis quo affectu quo motu animi quo â—luvio lachrymaruÌ„ quibus gemitibus atquè sâ—â—gultibus-Domine quastuorum â—reces ex 〈…〉 as 〈…〉 nihil enim mihi viâ—ebatur addi jam posse 〈…〉 exâ—iraret orandâ— qui miraculose à Deo sanabatur ab illoâ—â—n let hali morbo Aug. li. 22. de civit dei c. 8. â—ooker Eccles policie lib. 5. * Kâ—lsey Ier. 17. 13. u Galcacius Caracciolus sonne and heire apparent to Calantonius Marquesse of Vicum in Naples bred born brought up in Poperie a Courtier to the Emperour Charles the 5. nephew to Pope Paul the 4. being married to the Dake of Nucernes daughter having by her sixe goodly children at a sermon of Pet. Martyrs was first touched after by reading Scripture and other good meanes was fully converted laboured with his Lady but could not perswade her Therefore that hee might enjoy Christ and serve him with a quiet conscience he left the lands livings and honours of a Marquesdome the comforts of his Lady and children the pleasures of Italy his credit with the Emperour his kindred with the Pope and forsaking all for the love of Christ came to Geneva and there lived a poore and meane but yet an humble and holy life for fortie yeares together And though his Father his Lady his kinsmen yea the Emperour and the Pope did all they could to reclaime him yet continued he constant to the end and lived and died the blessed servant of God leaving behind him a rare example to all ages Hee lived vvith his vvise till the yeare 1551. and then forsooke all His lâ—â—e was translated out of Italian into Latine by Beza and englished by Mr. Crashaw 1608. Reading meditating in this word hath beene the practise of all gods saints Marcella nunquam Hieronymum ipsum conveniret quin de Scripturis aliquid interrogaret tantamquè sibi eruditionâ—m compararet ut si in aliquo testimonio scripturarum esset aborta contentio ad illam judicem pergeretur Chamier de canonis usu lib. 10. cap. 4. Sect. 18. * Dr. Taylour taking his leave of his vvife vvith vveeping and teares before his Martyrdome gave her for his Fare well and last token a book of the Church-service set out by K. Edward which in the time of his imprisonment he daily used Mr. Fox Acts and Mon vol. 3. pag. 175 col 1. lin 10. a Pet. Martyr and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury offered to defend the Protestants Common-Prayer Booke against Queene Maries Religion Acts Mon. vol. 3. pag. 18 col 2. lin 50. The Prelates in King Edwards time after long learned wise and deliberate advise did finally conclude and agree upon one Vniform order of Common-Prayer Sacraments c. vol. 2 pag. 659. lin 47. And Doctor Taylour Parson of Hadley saith therof that the book of Church-service vvas so fully perfected according to the rules of our Christian religion in every behalfe that no Christian conscience could bee offended with any thing therein contained vol. 3 pag. 171. lin 20. b M. Hooker lib. 5. Sect. 26. Eccles policie * Pause before thou speak Solomons caveat Be not rash an Extempore oration before a Prince becomes not much lesse to open our mouthes rashly before our Mâ—ker Mr Harrâ—â— Ha in Epist to Peters Enlargement c Nu 6. 23. d From the tyrannie of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable errours idolatries and abominations good Lord deliver us Acts Mon. vol. 3. pag. 170. lin 19. Hooker ibid. e Preces hirudo curarum Luth Ep. ad Melan Swanus King of Denmarke to all his ouâ—â—â—ges done in Eng. and his â—â—â—â—ing excessive impositions upon the people having entred the territory of St. Edmund spoyling the countrey and despising the holy Martyr menacing also the place of his Sâ—pulture the men of that countrey fell to prayer and fasting so that Swanus shortly after died suddenly crying and yelling among his Knights See the vertue of Christian mens prayer Acts Mon. vol. â— pag 208 col 2 lin 20. K. Ethelred then at service and meditations when his broâ—â—er Alured was in fight with the Danes being required to make haâ—e such was his devotion hee would not starre out one foote before their service was fully complet his brother being in great danger then neverthelesse the King through the gracious assistance of that God whom hee invoked wan the field and the Danes lost both the victory and their lives Mr. Fox Acts. Mon. vol. 1. pag. 182. li 58. Pious Oâ—wâ—ld also K. of Northumberland boat Penda Cedwall by the power not so much of his sword as prayer Strength of prayer overcoÌ„meth armies Act. Mon. vol. 1. pa. 157 col 1. lin 71. What should I speak of his Praiers which were soardent unto Christ that they which stood under his window as hee was praying might see his teares falling aropping downe Meâ—aâ—cth de Luthero Againe with such power hee prayed that he as himselfe confesseth had obtained of the Lord that so long as â—elâ—â—ed the Pope should not prevaile in his country after my death said hee let them pray who can M. Fox Act Monn vol. 2 pag 88. f. An exercise I can assure thee of unspeakable strength and comfort without which thou canst not live and by which thou maist live in the mouth of death c. Mr. Harris of Han. in Epist before Peters enlargement 2. Pet. 1. 4. Isay 65. 24. Math. 7.
iniquity of our sinne Thou hast stricken us but we have not grieved thou hast consumed us but wee have refused to receive correction wee have made our faces harder than a rocke and have refused to returne We have received the grace of God in vaine and have neglected the great Salvation which thou tendrest unto us in Iesus Christ Wee have grieved the holy Spirit of God whereby wee are sealed to the day of redemption and have turned the grace of God into lasciviousnesse We have left our first love our soule thirsteth not for God for the living God We have even sinned wilfully since we received the knowledge of the truth so that we may justly feare there remayneth now no more sacrifice for our sinnes but a certaine fearefull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation For if he that despised Moses law died without mercy Of how much sorer punishment shall wee be thought worthy who have troden under foote the Sonne of God and have counted the blood of the covenant wherewith we were sanctified an unholy thing and have done despite to the Spirit of Grace Many scarlet and crimsin sins have wee committed whereby great occasion hath beene given by us to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme Yea we overpasse the deeds of the wicked Wherefore I abhorre my selfe and repent in dust and ashes For innumerable evils have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to looke up they are moe then the haires of my head therefore my heart faileth me For thou art the God of my strength why dost thou cast me off why goe I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy Thou hast set our iniquitles before thee our secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance When yee come to appeare before me who hath required this at your hand to tread my courts For Ierusalem is ruined and Iudah is fâ—llen because their tongues and their doings are against the Lord to provoke the eyes of his glory Woe unto them that draw injquity with cords of vanity and sinne as it were with a Cart rope But your injquities have separated between you and your God and your sinnes have hid his face from you that hee will nor heare As a Fountaine casteth out her waters so shee casteth out her wickednesse violence and spoyle is heard in her before mee continually is griefe and wounds Yet I had planted thee a noble vine wholly a right seed How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me For though thou wash thee with niter and take thee much sope yet thine injquities is marked before mee saith the Lord God The sinne of Iudah is written with a pen of jron and with the point of a diamond it is graven upon the table of their heart and upon the hornes of your altars Behold I am pressed under you as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sinnes For wee know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall sold under sinne But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sinne which is in my members O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death 2. EVILL of punishment And for all these thou our God hast punished us lesse than our injquities deserve It is of the Lords mercies that wee are not consumed because his compassions faile not If thou shouldst lay judgement to the line and righteousnesse to the plummet thou mightest make thy anger and jealousie to smoke against us and all the curses that are written in thy booke thou mightest lay upon us and blot out our name from under heaven Thou mightest give us our portion with the wicked that are turned into hell and all the nations that forget God See the heads Plague Punish c. in the Seripture Phrases 2. PETITION for FORGIVENES But with thee Lord is mercy and with thee is plenteous redemption O therefore pardon our injquities and our sinne and take us for thine inheritance Put away our transgressions as a cloud and our sinnes as a mist O Lord though our injquities testifie against us doe thou it for thy names sake for our back-slidings are many we have sinned against thee O that I might have my request and that God would grant mee the thing that I long for even that it would please him to cover mine injquity and cause my sinne to be blotted out from before him Remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my transgressions according to thy mercie remember thou mee for thy goodnesse sake O Lord. For thy names sake O Lord pardon mine injquity for it is great O remember not against us former iniquities let thy mercies speedily prevent us Take away our injquitie and receive us graciously so will we render the calues of our lips Turne againe and have compassion upon us subdue our injquities and cast all our sinnes into the depthes of the Sea Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world To this end was hee borne and for this cause came hee into the world that hee might save sinners of whom wee are the chiefe Hee was wounded for our transgressions hee was bruised for our injquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes are we healed For his sake and in his blood wash me throughly from mine injquities and cleanse me from my sinne Purge me with Hysope and I shall be cleane wash mee and I shall bee whiter than snow Hide thy face from my sinnes and blot out all mine injquities I have sinned greatly in that I have done and now I beseech thee O Lord take away the injquitie of thy servant for I have done very foolishly Looke thou upon me and bee mercifull unto me as thou usest to doe unto those that love thy name Though your sinnes bee as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like câ—imson they shall be as wooll Behold thou art the Lord the God of all flesh there is nothing too hard for the. For FAITH O we are of little faith therefore O Lord encrease our faith though it be yet but as a graine of mustard seed that being justified by faith wee may have peace with thee Worke in us not a dead faith but that which may bee rich in good workes following after peace with all men and holinesse without which none shall see God Create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of
he may And thou who preservest the way of thy Saints hold up my goings in thy paths that my foote steps slip not Give thine Angels charge over us to keepe us in all our wayes that they may beare us up in their handes lest at any time we dash our foot O be thou with us and keepe us in all places whither we goe and bring us againe and leave us not untill thou hast done that which thou hast spoken to us of O that thou wouldst blesse mee indeed and enlarge my coast and that thine hand might bee with me and that thou wouldest keepe me from evill that it may not grieve me Prosper now I pray thee thy servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of the man and let the beauty of the Lord our God bee upon us and establish thou the worke of our hands upon us yea the worke of our hands establish thou it We know not what to doe but our eyes are upon thee thou also must worke all our workes in us It is in vaine for us to rise up early to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrowes O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps neither is hee that planteth any thing neither hee that watereth but God that giveth the increase Deliverance from Evill 1. Of SINNE Let not sinne raigne in our mortall bodies that wee should obey it in the lusts thereof neither suffer us to yeeld our members as instruments of unrighteousnesse unto sinne but unto God as those that are aliue from the deast and our members as instruments of righteousnesse unto God looking diligently lest any man faile of the grace of God lest any root of bitternesse springing up trouble us and thereby we be deluded that being now made free from sinne and become the servants of God wee may have our fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing mee into captivity to the law of Sinne which is in my members O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Cleanse thou mee from secret faults Keepe backe thy servant also from presumptuous sinnes let them not have dominion over me then shall I bee upright and I shall be innocent from the great transgression Subdue the pride of our nature cast downe every imagination and every high thing that exalteth it selfe against thee and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ Let not my heart be haughty nor my eyes lofty neither suffer me to exercise my selfe in great matters or in things too high for me but behave and quiet my selfe as a child that is weaned by his mother Order my steps in thy word and let none inâ—quity have donion over me make me also to be upright before thee and to keepe my selfe from mine inâ—quity Let us lay aside every weight and the sinne that doth so easily beset us that we may run with patience the race that is set before us that we may not love the world nor the things in the world because all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but of the world that denying ungodlines and worldly lusts wee may live soberly righteously and godly in this present world That we may walke circumspectly not as fooles but as wise giving none occasion to the adversary to speake reproachfully Mortifying our members which are on the earth fornication uncleannesse the inordinate affection evill concupiscence and covetousnesse which is idolatry Putting off all these anger wrath malice blasphemie filthy communication That wee may resist unto blood striving against sinne taking heed lest there bee in any of us an evill heart of unbeliefe in departing from the living God taking heed to our selves lest at any time our hearts bee over-charged with suffering and drunkennesse and cares of this life That wee may bee sober and vigilant because our adversary the devill as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom hee may devoure whom that wee may resist stedfast in the faith let us take unto us the whole armour of God that we may bee able to stand against all his wiles being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might 2. PVNISHMENT Let no evill befall us neither let any plague come nigh our dwelling Send from heaven and save mee from the reproach of him that would swallow me up My soule is among Lyons and I lye even among them that are set on fire even the sonnes of men whose teeth are speares and arrowes and their tongue a sharpe sword Plead my cause O Lord with them that strive with me fight thou against them that fight against me Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weake O Lord heale me for my bones are vexed My soule also is sore vexed c. Returne O Lord deliver my soule O save me for thy mercies sake For in death there is no remembrance of thee in the grave who shall give thee thankes I am weary with my groaning all the night make I my bed to swimme I water my couch with my teares Mine eye is consumed because of griefe it waxeth old because of all mine enemies Turne thee unto mee and have mercie upon me for I am desolate and afflicted The troubles of my heart are enlarged O bring thou me out of my distresses Looke upon mine affliction and my paine and forgive all my sinnes O my Father if it be possible let this affliction passe from me neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt Lord make mee to know mine end and the measure of my dayes what it is that I may know how fraile I am Behold thou hast made my dayes as an hand-breadth and mine age is as nothing before thee verely every man at his best state is altogether vanity So teach us to number our dayes that wee may apply our hearts unto wisedome The HOLY CATHOLIKE CHVRCH of IESVS CHRIST Preserve that little flocke to whom thou hast promised and reserved the Kingdome Be unto it a wall of fire round about Let thy delight be to Mount Sion grave her on the palmes of thy hands let her walls bee continually before thee Let her builders make haste and cause her destroyers and such as would lay her wast to depart from her Feed them that oppresse her with their owne flesh and make them drunken with their owne blood as with sweet wine Looke downe from heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holinesse
may receive them as pledges of thy favour and gracious assurances of thine everlasting love through Iesus c Matter for Graces after meate Blessed bee thy name for health life strength and for all the blessings of this and the blessed hopes of a better life make it our meate and drinke to doe the will of thee our heauenly father make us to hunger after that bread which endureth to everlasting life Provide dayly bread for all thy poore servants till thou bring us to that place where we shall never hunger nor thirst any more thy loving kindnesse is better than life that I may labour not so much for this meat that perisheth but for that meate which endureth to everlasting life the body and bloud of our Saviour which is meate indeed and drinke indeed Keepe us in thy feare while we live on earth and afterward receive us to glory in thy kingdome We thanke thee O Lord for the comfortable use of these good blessings we beseech thee also feed our soules to everlasting life with the meate that perisheth not through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Blessed bee thy name O Lord God for thus opening thy hand and filling us at this time with thy good creatures vouchsafe still to be our God with-hold no good thing from our soule or body Save all thy Church protect our King Queene Prince Royall Progeny and Realme Grant free passage to to thy Gospel comfort to thy Servants and peace of conscience to us all through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen An EPITOME of a Christians Conversation and Religious course of life gathered out of some Godly Practicall Divines c. Every day bestow halfe an houre in reading the Scriptures and Prayer Gods word will not onely shew thee what to do what to pray but will worke a secret power to accomplish the same Appoint and set a part some time once every day seriously and solemnely to cast up the eye of thy Faith on that never-fading crowne of life which after an inch of time shall for ever rest upon thy head The comforts hereof will make a man live almost without a soule and sweeten all the troubles of this life Set one houre in the weeke a part Saturday in the afternone is more fit by reason of the approching day to consider of search and try thy wayes this will snub and keepe downe the weeds of corruptions from overspreading thy soule Thou bestowed an houre on thy body every day in dressing it and lookest thy selfe in a glasse to attire thy outward sheath and wilt thou not once a weeke doe as much for thy soule thy body must one day rot and turne to dust perhaps to morrow thy soule must live ever either in weale or woe Life and death are now in thy choyse chuse then that good part Give God the honour of thy thoughts as well as of thy words and actions often thinke how all the glistering shewes of this whole world must and doe vanish and moulder into vanity and nothing very smoke As soone as thou hast broken of sleepe set God before thee and thinke What shall I doe what course shall I take that I may bring glory to God that I may not sinne this day O that my wayes were so directed Never speake the evill which thou too certainely knowest by others but with fearefulnesse as it were and some kinde of enforcement being sure thou hast a calling to it and then doe it seasonably charitably discreetly and not in humour spleene imperiousnesse T is the humor of Hypocritts to be supercilious and censorious but for Gods glory thy owne discharge use no moe wordes against mâ—ns sinnes than thou wilt make prayers for their soules in secret Be bold yet wise in speaking for Christ and with height of resolution goe through all the disgraces that the sinfull times lay in the wayes of God In Actions civil Doe as thou wouldst be done to religious Strive to live by faith because faith is the soule of all our actions our prayers will bee cold unlesse this warme them Take heed of falling from thy first love Serve not God for by-respects but onely for himselfe So long as thou art unfeinedly displeased with and sorry for all thy sinnes and dost mortifie the deedes of thy body by the spirit thy cafe is the state of salvation Let thy whole conversation favour of the Lord. Bee alwayes bemoaning thy spirituall pride knowne hypocrisie covetousnesse perfâ—â—ctorinesse and formality in Gods service Give not way to a heartlesse neglect of the use of Gods holy ordinances reading prayer fasting private humiliation for this is the fore-runner to some fearefull sinne or fiery temptation to some heavie judgement or dangerous apostasie Seeke not thy selfe in any of thy actions Looke to thy repentance that it bee sincere universall constant from the heart root for all sinne Incorporate thy selfe into the Communion of Saints be intimate onely with them such an holy and humble majesty is in their carriage such a deale of heaven is in their countenances such spirituall ravishments is in their hearts such grace and powerful piercings in their speeches such zeale and hearty melting is in their prayers that they cannot but worke upon thy heart if thou converse with them Looke well to thy carriage that thou leave not an ill savour behinde thee in any company Wait for occasions to doe good Act. 26. 28. In bad company give them apparent signes of thy dislike Unlesse you give some kinde of reall or verball reproofe they will be hardned Often withdraw your selfe apart imparting unto God your griefes wants desires Walke with God on the top of Mount Tabor once a day Prayer in secret will bee unto thee an unspeakeable comfort a testimony that thou art not left to thy selfe if words will not come sigh God heares the sighing of his servants if thou canst not sigh breath God hath an care for that thou hast heard my voyce hide not thine eare at my breathing at my cry yea speake with thy countenance be humbled for thy unfitnesse dulnesse c. Then wee pray most happily when wee arise from prayer most humbled After prayer thou shalt carry thy selfe in thy vocation with much more zeale and standing thus upright with God thou wilt not feare the world thou shalt have rest and peace within what ever stirres bee without Have a speciall eve to a sincere constant and fruitfull performance of holy duties take heed of customarinesse and Formality which cuts out the heart and drawes the very life-blood from them Strive by all meanes for attainment of what thou prayest for by all occasions helpes and heavenly offers Be diligent in thy personall employments and take heed of idlenesse 2 Have an eye to Gods glory in all thy undertakings 3 Goe about earthly busines with an heavenly mind 4 Let not any unrighteous gaine entice thee to sinne or belime thee 5 Set not thy delight
and try my wayes to looke backe upon all the ungodly actions and aberrations of my fore-past life to view my sinne-deformed soule in the cleare glasse of thy undefiled â—aw that so I may judge and abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and bee still more vile in mine owne esteeme make me to examine my selfe and so eate of that bread and drinke of that cup knowing that if I eate and drinke thereof unworthily I eate and drinke damnation to my selfe because I discerne not the Lords body Teach mee to try my selfe whether I be in the faith or no for without faith it is impossible to please thee in any service T is my faith in the death of my Saviour that is the hand and mouth by which I must apply him and make him mine in this Sacrament Assure me by these broad seales annexed to the covenant of grace and letters patents of thy holy word that thou wilt make good what thou hast promised that as thou hast called Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters so thou wilt refresh this my gasping and thirsting soule as thou callest all that be weary and heavie laden to come unto thee so thou wilt in no wise send mee empty away that cast my selfe into the bleeding armes of my dying Saviour Perswade my unbeleeving and doubting heart that as thy Minister taketh and blesseth and breaketh and poureth out and giveth and saith Take and eate the bread take and drinke the wine of the Sacrament so thou from everlasting hast separated consecrated and ordained Iesus Christ to be a Sacrifice for my sinnes hast poured out his blood to be a satisfaction to thy offended justice for my sinfull soule and that hereby I shall continue in communion with him my head and his mysticall body my fellow members Thy flesh O sweet Saviour is meate indeed and thy blood is drinke indeed O let me I beseeth thee find it so in my fainting soule that I may bee ravished with thy love that I may taste and see how gracious the Lord is and find thy free promises and pledges of thy grace to bee better than wine sweeter also than the honey and the honey combe Let thy holy spirit set to his privie seale on my heart inwardly by the secret and sweet refreshment of his blessed testimonie that I am my well beloveds and my well beloved is mine establishing my heart in thy love and knitting my soule unto thee for ever O draw me and I shall run after thee shew me the light of thy countenance and I shall bee saved And Lord make mee to love my brethren as thou hast loved me yea to love my very enemies for thy names sake reconciling my selfe to those whom I have offended following peace with all men and forgiving them their hundred pence as thou hast freely forgiven me my ten thousand talents Vouchsafe me this aud all other graces which may fit mee for thy service in thy kingdome of grace and prepare mee for the enjoyment of everlasting glory through my Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Amen After the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper O Lord what shall I render unto thee for all the benefits which thou hast bestowed upon mee and daily ladest mee withall a most unworthy sinner how shall I bee sufficiently thankefull unto thee for them when they bee more than I can reckon up unto thee more then my heart is able to conceive or comprehend Should I offer up unto thee thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oyle they all would come farre short of thy most free eternall undeserved infinite love Lebanon it selfe is not sufficient for wood nor the beasts upon a thousand hils for a burnt offering What shall I then doe unto thee O thou Preserver of men or what recompence shall I make thee I will even take the cup of salvation and give thankes to thy name O Lord. I will offer up my soule and body for a holy living and acceptable sacrifice unto thee this will please thee better than bullocke that hath hornes and hoofes Thou O Lord in the beginning didst make mee to bee when I was not before and when I had lost my selfe and forfeited my being and life and happinesse didst in Christ restore mee to a more blessed estate than at my Primitive integrity Thou thy selfe art become my Father thy sonne my Saviour thy holy Spirit my Sanctifier thy word my Instructor thy Sacraments the food to refresh satisfie and feed my poore hungry soule to everlasting life This day thou hast called me to thy holy Mountaine and made me joyfull in thy house of prayer this day hast thou invited me to sit downe at thy table and made unto mee a feast of fat things full of marrow a feast of wines on the lees well refined thou hast abundantly satisfied me with the fâ—â—nesse of thy house and hast made mee to drinke of the river of thy pleasures Blessed bee thy glorious name for ever and ever which is above all thankesgiving and prayse of mine O that I could bee indeed thankefull unto thee as thou art gracious unto me If I should open my mouth never so wide thou wouldest fill it thy favours to my poore soule are more than all tongues of men and Angels can worthily magnifie And now O Lord accept I beseech thee the free will-offering of thy servant that desires to feare thy name and to make a covenant with thee never to bee broken that my soule shall cleave close unto thee and avouch thee this day to bee my God and Saviour for ever more Here I doe resigne myselfe soule and body all that is in me and all that belongs unto me to bee wholly thine and that I will never wickedly depart from thee my God as I have done O that my wayes were so directed that I might keepe thy commandements alway Never let mee with the disgorged dog returne any more to my former vomit nor with the washed sow to wallow in the mire but as I have now washed my feete so suffer mee no more againe to defile them as I have put off the filthy rags of my old conversation so I may never againe put them on but become a new creature That seeing the expiation of my sins cost my Saviour so deare as the shedding of his precious blood and that thy wrath lay so heavie upon him who was our suretie onely being innocent in himselfe I may hence conceive how heinous a thing sinne is how abhorred by thee and so hate it in my selfe with a perfect hatred and resist it even to blood and not crucifie againe hereby the Lord of life and glory O make mee thankefully to remember that bitter passion of his and thy love O Father unto mee in that thou hast accepted mee to life in him and hast brought salvation this day home to my house to my heart Lord enter in abide with and dwell in my soule for ever Take not
to come out of it yea though with Lazarus I stinke already yet roll away the stone and speake thou by thy all-powerfull word and I shall come forth and live O purge my conscience from dead workes redeeme mee from death ransome me from power of the grave and though I be lesse than the least of all Saints lesse than the least of all thy mercies yet make me a prisoner of hope and by the bloud of thy covenant send forth my soule out of the pit wherein is no water Wash my robes and make them white in the bloud of the Lambe Create in me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Make thy word to be unto me like a refiners fire and like fullers sope cleansing me from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit that so I may be meete to be a partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but holy and without blemish the sonne of thy love through Christ Thou hast promised that if I returne unto thee thou wilt receive me and that if I seek thee early I shall finde thee that thou wilt have mercie upon me and wilt abundantly pardon all my sinnes heale my backeslidings and love me freely O Lord it is not sinne in the highest degree when it is out of measure sinfull and is come to the full that can hinder the Sunne of righteousnesse from arising with healing in his wings on any humbled soule no for where Sinne abounded Grace doth much more superabound and where shall or can the skill of thee our heavenly Physician be so much seene so much adored and magnified as in healing a poore soule weltring and wallowing in its bloud and desperately wounded unto everlasting death O speake thou the word and my soule shall live Subdue mine iniquities and cast all my sinnes into the depths of the Sea O redeeme me from my former vaine conversation that I may renounce the hidden things of dishonesty turne thou mee and I shall be turned betroth my soule unto thee in faithfulnesse make with me a covenant of peace And because no man can come to thee except the father which sent thee draw him O draw me and I will run after thee open my blinde eyes say Epphata to my deafe eares touch my lips with a coale from thy Altar that my iniquity may bee taken away and my sinne purged then shall my lame feet leape as an Hart and my dumbe tongue shall sing forth thy praise A new heart doe thou also give me and a new spirit doe thou put within me and take away the stony heart out of the midst of me and bestow upon me an heart of flesh and put thy spirit within mee as thou hast promised and cause me to walke in thy statutes and to keepe thy judgements and doe them And for the time to come Lord make me more zealous of thy glory more profitable in wayes of my calling more carefull to doe and receive all possible good that I can Alas I have beene a barren tree thou hast planted mee neere the rivers of water hast digged about me and taken much paines with me but I am still unfruitfull thy glory is not so deare unto me as it ought to be nor is my owne salvation or the edification of others so sincerely indevoured by me as was meet O turne me into another man circumcise the foreskinne of my heart let the time past of my life suffice to have served and live in sinne Give mee grace now in this my day to know the things that belong to my peace to make use of this time of my visitation to lay hold on eternall life to take the kingdome of heaven by violence now thou standest at the doore and knockest O let me open unto thee that thou mayest enter in and sup with me Give mee grace to worke out my salvation with feare and trembling to bee often in calling upon thee in prayer and lifting mine eyes up to the hills from whence both pardon of sinne and power over sinne must bee expected Make mee often search and trye my wayes and examine my selfe whether I be in the faith or no. Now I beseech thee to heare me and helpe me doe away the iniquity of thy servant cover my transgressions and let my sinnes bee blotted out from before thee for the Lord Iesus Christs sake Amen Amen Some particular formes of PRAYER For the English Colonies and Plantations in New-England Virginia c. O Most high God Possessor of heaven and earth the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the habitation of thy holinesse and of thy glory by thee the Mountaines were brought forth and thou hast formed the earth and the would and hast given it to the children of men for a possession And by thy word of blessing hast commanded man to encrease and multiply and replenish the face of the earth We in this nation have found thy gracious Providence over us in thy continuall protection and preservation for thou hast strengthned the bars of our gates and blessed our children within us thou hast set peace in our borders and hast abundantly given us blessings of the brest and of the wombe insomuch that wee are exceedingly multiplyed so that the place where wee dwell is too narrow for us for our seed is become as the sand and the offspring of our bowels as the gravell thereof And now O Lord thou of thy good providence hast espied out for us an exceeding good land watred with the dew of heaven from above blessed with the farnesse of the earth from beneath and hast made roome for us to bee planted therein that wee who are growne into so great a nation and are thronged at home may swarme out and bee gathered thither for the glory of thy great name the honour of this Kingdome and the further enlargement of our Kings dominions O let their designe be holinesse to the Lord honour and wealth to our nation and enlargement also to the kingdome of thy Christ who are transplanted into those remoter parts of the world Build a place of rest for thy tabernacle among them that the heathen that have not knowne thee and the families that have not called on thy name may by this meanes bee delivered from the power of darkenesse and translated into the kingdome of thy deare sonne Bee thou a wall of fire round about our people and a little Sanctuary unto them Let no sonne of wickednesse approach neere to hurt them build them up into a nation there plant them and make them to dwell in safety Let no seditious Sheba be author of faction or schisme among them And as thou causest the Sun to arise upon all the earth so that nothing is hid from the heate thereof so leâ— there bee no speech nor language where the voyce
omitting good particular failings frailties distractions indisposednes to serve God our ignorance Atheism infidelitie hypocrisie inconstancie pride vaine-glory envy uncharitablenesse putting off our repentance forgetfulnesse distrustfulnesse unthankefulnesse dulnesse unchearfulnesse felfe-love strife wrath flattery idlenesse gluttony uncleannesse covetousnesse all inordinate desires and all the evill of our good workes c. may never bee imputed or layd to our charge As likewise the Nationall unthankfulnesse heresies schismes swearing oppression security which crye open mouth'd against us may not enter into the eares of the Lord of hosts Secondly That we may from on high be indued with power over those corruptions and lusts to which pleasure allures profit provokes sinfull custome most of all swayes us the plague of our own heart that the lusts of our flesh may be crucifyed and the whole body of sinne abolished and we leade our captivity captive 2 Victory over all the deceits of the whole world which lieth in wickednesse and all the temptations thereof that neither the persons nor things therein may become our suare 3 Over the Devill that arch-enemy of our salvation and his fiercest and eraftiest assaults that he may never finally prevaile over us that the God of peace would tread downe Satan under our feete and so make us more than conquerors through our Lord Iesus who hath loved us Secondly Deprecation of the evill of Punishment 1. All those dreadfull curses due to our sinnes that they may not be inflicted on us 2 Deliverance from all plagues which we now feele or hereafter may feare viz. 1 Iudgements nationall which the whole Land mournes under Plague of the pestilence famine warre sedition conspiracie 2 Afflictions personall that lie on our selves either in soule body or in estate troubles and terrours of conscience griefe of minde scandalls and offences imprisonment banishment sicknesse poverty disgrace losse of friends or any other afflictions of what kinde soever preservation from and in all dangers Death it selfe the king of terrours the day of judgement from Hell and chaines of darknesse from Gods wrath and everlasting damnation c. Secondly We petition for others which is Intercession and thus here wee pray for the Catholike Church of Iesus Christ militant every where on earth which is either 1 Uncalled yet belonging to the election of grace that they may be converted as 1. Iews our elder sister which was in the covenant before us 2 Pagans and Infidels that they may heare the glad tidings of salvation and that the Sunne of righteousnesse may arise on them with healing in his wings that they may enjoy Gods Word Sacraments Sabbaths that God would bring home them that goe astray instruct the ignorant and forgive them that rebelliously transgresse Heretickes yea the Enemies and Persecutours of the Church that they all may bee converted or if implacable confounded beseeching God to forgive our Enemies Persecutors and Slanderers and to turne their hearts 2 Already called that the Lord would purge it from Schisme and Heresie and appease all unhappy differences in the Church making all Christians keepe the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace and that he would warme and enliven the setling and cooled affections of these secure and earthly-minded times To watch over it for good whether in the transmarine parts and forraigne countries abroad or our owne nation at home herein especially our gracious soveraigne King Charles and his Highnes Dominions with all his sacred Stocke and Lineage the Queene young Prince Princesse Duke the Lady Elizabeth the Kings onely sister and her Progenie The Lords spirituall and temporall those of his Majesties most honourable Privie Councell the Nobility Majestraâ—ie Ministrie the two Universities the Gentry and Commonalty our Parents Kindred Friends Benefactours all such as we stand obliged unto by nature desert duty or any speciall relation Thirdly Afflicted in soule body or in estate being oppressed and persecuted under Popish tyranny or Mahumetan cruelty those that bee destitute of all comforts of this life that want foode rayment harbour liberty peace health that grone under poverty famine nakednesse c. that all the Israel of God may bee delivered from all their troubles 3. THANKSGIVING THe third and last Part of our Prayers is Thankesgiving that God would give us thankefull hearts for all his Blessings First Positive Secondly Privative in Temporall spirituall and eternall good things towards his whole Church 1 Triumphant for providing for it Heaven a place of rest and happinesse for the glorious Martyrs godly Bishops Preachers and Confessors that out of their ashes he hath wondrously raysed up beleevers 2 Militant for giving â—â—â—m 1 Christ to be their Saviour captaine and leader 2 Holy spirit to bee their comforter 3 God himself to be their father 4 His Gospell Sacraments c. Secondly For his blessings to our selves for that eternall unchangeable infinite everlasting undeserved love of his to us in our Election in and Redemption by Iesus Christ our vocation our Adoption Iustification Sanctification inchoate with assured hope of future Glorification That we were borne of Christian and beleeving Parents in a land of righteousnesse in a time of knowledge planted in religious families towns undergodly and painfull Ministers and gracious Governours that we enjoy Gods word and Sacraments in the power and purity of them for the many great and precious promises made to us therein Which are either performed already towards us or shall be hereafter in due time accomplished For all the Graces of the holy spirit for the gracious and free pardon of our many sinnes Faith Repentance some care of sincere obedience and tender hearts desiring to feare God for power against and prevailing over any sinne that we are not given over to Heresies and Errours in opinion nor to those base and fleshly Lusts that some others are in our lives nor to a hard heart reprobate minde benummed conscience and finall Apostasie for victory in any temptation over subtle Satan the alluring world and our own selfe-deceiving selves Secondly Temporall Blessings viz. of Creation Providence 1 Creation after Gods own image not being made a Beast Toad Foole c. 2 Gods providence Nationall Personall in those wonderfull Deliverances of the nation Preservation peace plenty towards us and fatherly care over us in our birth and infancie ever since we hung upon the â—rests in our childe-hood youth mans estate unto old age and gray haires for our health continued so long or restored of late for understanding judgement and discretion peace liberty prosperity food raiment same and good esteeme among Gods people for wealth friends Godly parents carefull â—utours masters and governours good education quietnesse of minde contentment c. Daily preservation manifold deliverances from imminent and apparent yea unseene and unfeared dangers For his fatherly chastisements and corrections for sanctifying to our everlasting good our afflictions
thy holy spirit from mee make mee one with Christ my head flesh of his flesh bone of his bone make mee one with the mysticall body of thine Elect that I may have my part in the prayers of the Church in the Communion of Saints here on earth in the kingdome of grace and may enjoy thee and them face to face and sit downe and eat and drinke with thee in thy kingdome of glory Amen For the Sacrament of Baptisme O Lord our God the great the mighty and the terrible God who keepest covenant and mercy with all them that feare thy name and trust upon thee even to a thousand generations thou hast promised to bee our God and the God of our seed to enter into covenant with us that wee should bee thine O Lord I come to thy throne of grace at this time to lay claime to my interest in that new covenant sealed unto thy Church in the blood of Iesus that thou wouldst performe the same unto mee and mine also hast not thou said thou wilt circumcise mine heart and the heart of my seed to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soule that thou wilt put thy Law in our inward parts and write it in our hearts and that thou wilt bee our God and wee shall bee thy people that thou wilt forgive our injquity and wilt remember our sinne no more O Lord hast thou said it and wilt not thou also doe it By faith I plead my interest thereunto not for my selfe alone but for mine also with whom I beseech thee to make an everlasting covenant of life and peace that being baptized into Iesus Christ they may bee sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word O Lord wee are all borne the children of wrath and there is no way for us to escape the damnation of hell except wee bee borne againe of water and of the Spirit O Lord doe thou sprinkle cleane water upon us wash away the filth of Zion and purge the blood of Ierusalem from the midst thereof Baptize us with the Holy Ghost that having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water wee may bee new creatures fit to bee an habitation of God through the spirit O blessed be thy goodnesse for ever which hast given us this seale of thy rich promise this is that Arke in and through which thou savest thine Elect thou dalliest not with us herein it is no idle ceremonie thou art present in thy own ordinance to fulfill that which thou hast promised O wash our soules with the baptisme of Repentance as thou doest our bodies with the outward element of water Let the vertue of Christs death kill sinne in us for how shall wee that are buried with Christ by baptisme and thereby dead to sinne live yet therein Doe not wee herein vow to forsake the Devill the Pomps and vanities of this wicked world and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh and shal we break our vow transgresse the covenant O let this be far from us teach us therefore to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts deliver us from every evill worke that we may serve the living God Sprinkle cleane water upon us that we may bee cleane from our naturall filthinesse and from all our uncleannesses Wash us O wash us throughly from our iniquities and cleanse us from our sinnes Make our hearts to be stedfast in thy love and never to forget this covenant of our God thy mercie doe thou keepe for us and ours for evermore and let thy covenant stand fast with us and bee established for ever as the Moone and as a faithfull witnesse in heaven And as thou hast thus brought us into the bond of the covenant so let us never depart from thee Bee thou unto us a God and let us be thy people for evermore even till thou bringest us unto Mount Sion and to the Citie of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem and to an inumerable company of Angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Iesus the Mediatour of the new covenant and to the bloud of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel Make me to be thine my self be thou my Father and make me to be thy Sonne for if the first fruit be holy the lumpe also shall be holy and if the roote be holy so also shall the branches bee This mercie I beg of thee in his name merits and mediation out of whose pierced side issued forth water and bloud for the sanctifying and justifying of thine Elect. To whom with thee and the Holy Spirit be all glory service thanksgiving and dominion through all the Churches of the Saints for ever Amen For Regeneration Sanctification and grace to serve God O Lord thou God of truth who hast sworne in thy faithfulnesse that as thou livest thou hast no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that hee should turne from his way and live and therefore commandest thy people saying Turne ye turne ye from your evill wayes for why will ye dye O house of Israel and hast enjoyned that I should wash me and make me cleane put away the evill of my doings from before thine eyes promising moreover that though my sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they bee red like crimson they shall be as wooll I that am a wicked and miserable caitiffe a sinner before the Lord exceedingly even as the men of Sodome that have done abominable workes and denied the God that is above wilfully sinning after I had received the knowledge of the truth and treading under foote the Sonne of God counting the bloud of the covenant wherewith I was sanctified an unholy thing and having done deâ—piâ—e to the spirit of grace O Lord even out of the deepes doe I call unto thee for helpe yea out of the belly of hell doe I earnestly cry for thy mercie O cast not out my prayer Though mine iniquities be more than the haires of my head my transgressions heavier than the sand yet is there forgivenesse with thee and although my sinnes have reached up to heaven yet thy mercie is above the heavens mine are at the most but the sinnes of a man but thine at the least are the mercies of an infinite God yea thou hast the relenting bowells of a most tender Father O spread the robe of thy Sonnes righteousnesse over me that so thou mayest not behold my nakednesse cloath me with the garments of his salvation say unto my soule Live cause breath to enter into my dry bones lay sinewes upon them and bring flesh upon them and cover them with skinne that I may know that thou art the Lord. And albeit I be dead in trespasses and sinnes yet open my grave and cause me
2. Surely there will bee wrath upon us from the Lord for so doing 2 Wicked men are Sonnes of Belial 1 Sam. 2. 12. of their father the Devill Ioh. 8. 44. servants of â—inne Rom. 6. 20. now the Godly are borne of God Sons of God 1 Ioh. 3. 9. heires of God Gal. 4. 7. the servants of God 1 Pet. 2. 16. who have fellowship with the Father and with his Sonne Iesus Christ 1 Ioh. 1. 3. and shall such keepe company with prophane wretches uncircumcised in the heart Ier. 9. 26. 3 Wicked men are of the Synagogue of Satan Rev. 3. 9 the Godly are the Temple of the living God 2 Cor. 6. 16. of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. Besides the Godly feare the Lord and thinke upon his name Malch 3. 16. Wicked men forget God neither is God in all their thoughts their 's are the paths of all that forget God Iob. 8. 13. 4 What communion hath light with darkenesse now wicked men walke in darkenesse 1 Ioh. 1. 6. nay are darknesse Ephe. 5. 8. But the Godly are light in the Lord 1 Thes 5. 5. yee are all the children of the light Againe Godly men are Wise men Math. 7. 24. wicked men Fooles Psalm 14. 1. and what credit shall a Wise man have by keeping Fooles company 5 What should living men doe among the dead Luk. 24. 5. why seeke yee the living among the dead None but Lâ—gion a mad man possessed of the Devill lived among the tombes But all ungodly men are dead in trespasses and sinnes Ephe. 2. 1. Dead while they live 1 Tim. 5. 6. yea they seeke death Pro. 21. 6. Now the Godly are quickened together with Christ Eph. 2. 5. and therefore should arise from the dead Eph. 5. 14. Vse Exhort Therefore have no fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of darknesse all yee that know righteousnesse the people in whose heart is Gods law order your conversation aright and walke worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing behave your selves holily justly and unblameably say with David Psal 139 â—2 Doe not I hate them that hate thee O Lord And as inducements Feare lest ye perish in the sinnes of the ungodly men and partake of their Plagues for consider I pray that among prophane ungodly men the best of them are as a Bryer and the most upright of them are like a thorne hedge Bryers and Thornes bee with thee and thou dwellest among scorpions a generation of vipers that will sting the conscience scratch and teare your flesh 2 Wicked men pervert their wayes are out of the way but the Godly walke in the way of the Lord they walke with God their faces are to Zion-ward what then should they doe in such company as turne their backs on heaven they have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs 2 Chr. 29. 6. 3 Consider your owne dignity you are Saints on earth and excellent Psal 16. 3. Gods jewells Mal. 3. 17. wicked men make themselves vile very swine dogs that love the myre 2 Pet. 2. 22. 4 The Godly are trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord wicked men are roots that beare gall and wormwood Deut. 29. 18. 5 The shame and discredit will light on your selfe If you follow vaine persons you will get to your selfe a blot Prov. 9. 7. It s a shame for Christs Spouse whom he hath married to himselfe Hos 9. 1. to keepe strumpets company they are a wicked and adulterous generation Math. 12. 39. that goe a whoriug from the Lord Psal 37. 24. and will you associate your selfe with such This for a taste I meant not to handle the Point exactly but only to point to a way in which there may be use of these Phrases for who seeth not that Reasons Uses Motives Meanes Marks c. may from hence as a Sacrum pena be drawne which have a speciall weight Emphasis and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in them surely the Spirit and blessing of God goes along with his Word even those expressions which it pleased the Holy Ghost to utter himselfe in at the first carry with them an heate and warmth to the soule of a beleever And why may not the most able memorie and best versed in Scripture be helped hereby to find readily some apt expressions which memorie could not command presently What disparagement to any mans Prayers Meditations Exhortations to have a helpe at hand In the time of Pestilence thou mayest thus order thy complaint and meditate RIghteous art thou O Lord Head God Scripture Ier. 12. 1. when I plead with thee yet let mee who am but dust Scripture Gen. 18. 27. and ashes talk with thee of thy judgements Wherefore hast thou shewed Head Man Scripture Esal 60. 3 thy people hard things and made us to drinke the wine of astonishment why hast thou smitten Scripture Ier. 14. 19. Head Afflict and there is no healing for us why doth thine anger Scripture Psal 74 1. smoake against the sheepe of thy pasture All joy is Scripture Isai 24. 11. Head Plague darkned the mirth of the land is gone all the merry-hearted Scripture 7 doe sigh weep and howle Scripture Iam. 5. 1. Head Mourne for the miseries that are come upon us Scripture Psal 83. 15. for thou persecutest us with thy tempest and makeâ—â— us afraid with thy stormes The arrowes of the Scripture Iob 6. 4. Almiâ—hty are within us the poyson whereof drinketh Head Afflict up our spirits the terrours of God do set themselves in array against us For Loe Death is come up Head Pestilence Scripture Ier. 9. 21. into our windowes and is entred into our palaces to cut off the children from without and the young men from the streets thy anger Scripture Deut. 29. 20 and thy jealousie smoake against us and thou hast Scripture 21 separated us unto evill there is a Head Plagues Scripture 1 Sam. 5. 11 deadly destruction throughout all the Citie and Country the hand of the Lord is very heavie there upon us The Scripture 1 Chr. 21. 12. Sword of the Lord even the Pestilencefills all places with Scripture Psal 110. 6. the dead bodies Head Slay the carkeises of men Scripture Ier 9. 21 fall as dung upon the open held the valliant men are swept Scripture Ier. 46. 15. away and thou Scripture Rev. 2. 23. hast killed our children with death O thou Sword of Scripture Ier. 47. 6. the Lord how long will it be ere thou be quiet put up thy Head Peace selfe into thy Scabberd rest and bee still Surely for the Scripture Ier. 13. 22. greatnesse of our iniquities Head Plague our skirts are discovered and our heeles made bare Our transgressions Scripture Ezek. 33. 10 and our Head Sinne. sinnes bee upon us and wee pine away in them how should we then live We are a people that Scripture Isai 65. 3. provoke thee continually Scripture Psal 78. 8. a generation that set not our heart aright and Head
herein Was not thy servant Moses a very meeke man above all the men that were on the earth Doth not my blessed Saviour command mee to learne of â—iâ— who was meeke and lowly in heart he was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he was led as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a sheepe before her sherer he was dumb and can all the indignities offered to me be comparable to all those shamefull spittings and revilings that he for my sake was exposed unto alasse no. O teach me therefore to bring downe my swelling and proud heart to suffer patiently for his sake the servant of God must not strive but be patient toward all men why doe I not then rather take wrong and suffer injury why doe I not take up my Crosse daily and follow him that endured such contradiction of sinners Labouring for A meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price but hee that is soone angry dealeth foolishly O make mee therefore wise in watching over mine owne heart in keeping downe mine owne unmortified spirit to restraine my mouth with a bridle seeing the discretion of a man deferreth his anger and it is his glory to passe over a transgression vouchsafe mee thy grace for Iesus Christ his sake To whom with thee and c Against Apostacie and Backsliding in religion O Lord my God never I beseech thee let there be in me an evill heart of unbeliefe to depart from thee the living God let mee never be of the number of them that draw back unto perdition leaving my first love casting off my first faith to embrace this present world or to enjoy the pleasures of sin which are but for a season O Lord though some fall away and are already turned after Satan even denying the Lord that bought them and so bring upon themselves swift destruction yet doe thou please so to establish my heart with grace that I may continue to the end in that good way in which I have begun let mee not leave the pathes of righteousnesse to walke againe in the wayes of darkenesse or with the dog returne to my former vomit and with the sow that was washed to my wallowing in the mire O Lord there is in me by nature a revolting and rebellious heart I am bent to backsliding from thee unlesse thou doe draw me I shall settle and lag O teach mee to looke to my selfe to keepe my heart with all diligence that I lose not those things which I have wrought but that I may receive a full reward make mee to run with patience the race that is set before me and to be faithfull unto the death that thou maist give me a crowne of life As thou hast given mee a little strength to keepe thy word and not to deny thy name so establish O God the thing that thou hast wrought in me ' â— is he that continueth to the end that shall be saved not he that beginneth well that putteth his hand to the plough and looketh backe O let me hold Faith and a good conscience that my last workes may bee better moe than at first thou art able to keep mee from falling and to preserve me faultlesse before the presence of thy glory with exceeding joy O doe it I beseech thee for thy names sake Even so Lord Iesus Amen See Apostate Backslide Persevere c. in the Scripture phrases Against distrustfull Cares O Lord hast not thou commanded me to cast all my care upon thee because thou carest for me hast not thou said thou wilt never leave me nor for sake me art not thou God all-sufficient Thy Sonne my Saviour hath also bidden mee to take no thought for my life what I shall eate or what I shall drinke nor yet for my body what I should put on Doest not thou feed the fowles of the ayre which sow not neither reape nor gather into barnes By taking thought I cannot adde one cubit unto my stature and thou my heavenly father knowest what things I want what things are best for me and hast promised rather to starve the Lyons than to let thy children want any thing that is good for them O let me believe thy gracious promise to live by Faith to be content with those things that I have yea to receive evill at thy hands as well as good I am yet in better condition to the world-ward than many of thy dearest Saints and now-glorious Martyrs that wandered up and downe in sheepe-skins and goatâ—-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented of whom the world was not worthy yea I have more worldly riches than the Lord of the whole world my blessed Saviour who had not wheron to rest his head who when he was to pay tribute-money had never a penny but sent his Disciple Peter to the Sea to cast in a hooke and to take up the first Fish and there found to supply his present necessitie O let not me expect to be carved to in a better condition than my Lord and Master But to wait on thee my God continually Teach me first to seeke the Kingdome of heaven and the righneousnesse thereof then hast thou promised that all other things shall be added unto me Amen Vid. Care Providence c. For Marriners or Seafaring men c. O Lord the great and dreadfull God which hast placed the sand from the bound of the Sea by a perpetuall decree that it cannot passe it and though the waves thereof tosse themselves yet can they not prevaile though they roare yet can they not passe over it for thou shuttest up the Sea with doores and barres and sayest to the waves hither shall yee come and no further Thou art the hope of all the ends of the earth and of such as abide in the broad Sea wee O Lord whose imployment and calling is in the deepe in this heape of great waters in the midst of the Seas that go down to the Sea in ships and doe businesse in great waters we see thy works and wonders in the deep For thou commandest and raisest the stormie wind which lifteth up the waves thereof We mount up to the heaven we go downe againe to the depths our soule is melted because of trouble wee reele too and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at our wits end O teach us to cry unto thee in our trouble and doe thou bring us out of our distresses make thou we beseech thee the storme a calme that the waves therof may be still and so bring us to the desired haven then shall we praise thee Lord for thy goodnesse and for thy wonderfull works towards the children of men Thou art our refuge and strength a very present helpe in trouble therefore will wee not feare though the earth be removed and though the mountaines be carried into the midst