to hide that from thee which thou before whom all things are naked doest know better then my selfe yea such is thy mercie that when I do lay my sinnes open thou doest couer them good Father I beseech thee giue mee that minde which a seeke man should haue and increase my patience with my pain call to my mind all which I haue heard or read or felt or meditated to strengthen mee in this my visitation that though I neuer taught any good while I liued yet I may now instruct others how to die and to beare patiently whatsoeuer thy holie hand shall lay vpon them Apply vnto me al thy mercies and merites of Christ Iesus as if he had died for me in particular bee not farre from mee I beseech thee when the enemie comes to tempt me but when hee is most busie then let thy good spirit be busiest also to defend me and let my last houre be my best houre and my last thoughtes and words the best that euer I did thinke or speake Lord I know that I can not escape death then why should I feare it and if I must dye why not now if it so please thee for my chiefest happines is behind and I can not haue it vnles I go vnto it I confesse O Lord my paines are great but séeing I trauell to heauen make mee patient I beseech thee to beare my paines and when it shall please thee to call me out of this vaile of miserie command thy holy Angels I humbly pray thee to carrie my soule into the bosome of blessed A. braham there to rest with thee in eternall glorie for euer and euer Amen A Prayer of thanks-giuing vnto God for Deliuerance out of any Sicknesse ALl honour and praise be giuen vnto thee most gracious God and mercisull Father for all thy mercies and fauours bestowed vpon mee euen from my cradle to this present houre for my Election Creation Redemption Iustification Sanctification Preseruation and that blessed hope of Glorification in the world to come O Lord thou hast loaded mee with thine abundant fauors as if I had euer done thy will although I neuer knew thée as I ought loued thee as I should obayed thee as thou commandedst nor beene thankefull to thee as thou hast deserued excéeding experience haue I had of thy goodnes many times but neuer more then in my late sicknesse wherewith thou didst visit mee Lord grant that I be not in the number of those who are forward to aske in time of trouble and affliction but slacke and carelesse to acknowledge their thankfulnes when mercy is bestowed like those Lepers that when they were cleansed returned not to giue God thanks for his mercy O Lord thou hast chastened me and corrected me but herein appeares thy mercy that thou hast not giuen mee ouer to death I confesse thou mightst iustly haue cut mee off depriued mee of the rest of my yeares but it was thy good pleasure to deliuer my soul from the pit of corruption Imprint in my mind I beséech thée the vowes promises which I made in my sicknesse of better obedience and seruice to thy maiestie then heretofore and grant that I may make conscience to performe them and let me know that howsoeuer thou hast now giuen me some little respite and prolonged my daies yet I must not deâ—eiue my selfe in putting farre from my remembrance the day of my death but that I may make a holy vse of this thy fatherly correcting me and to expresse my thankefulnes in my life and conuersation in walking godly before thee and in preparing my selfe for my end that I may finish my course with ioy and bee ready to meete my Sauiour in the clouds and to rest with him and his holy Angels for euer and in his euerlasting kingdom of glorie Ameâ— A Prayer for a Sick man MOst gracious God and in Christ Iesus our mercifull Father wée poore wretches gathered here before thee doe truely and most freely confesse that wee are most vile and miserable vtterly vnworthy to speake vnto thee or to receiue the least fauour from thee by reason of our many and grieuous sinnes our blindnes of minde ignorances negligences peruersenes of heart and vnseruiceablenesse in our liues but with all we doe remember thy great loue and mercifull promises made vnto them that with â—enitent and humble spirits do sue vnto thée wherfore wee are enboldned to approch vnto thy throne of grace in the name of thy Son Christ Iesus beseeching thée for his sake to forgiue vs all our sinnes originall and actuall wash vs we pray thée in his bloud and cloth vs with his righteousnes giue vs grace to turne vnto thée with our hearts from all our sinnes and inable vs by thy grace to serue thee in righteousnes holines all the dayes of our liues Take care we beséech thée of this thy Seruant whom thou hast afflicted before our eyes O Lord receiue him to thy grace and assure him of thy glory grant vnto him faith in thy promises patience vnder thine hand and hope of thy mercy restore him if it be thy blessed will to his perfect health againe and blesse all good meanes vnto it if not prepare him for death and for thy kingdome comfort him with an assured hope of a ioyfull resurrection and whensoeuer his soule shall depart from his body grant that it may be presented without all sinne to thée through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for a Woman with child BLessed God and gracious Father I thy poore Handmaide doe héere humbly present my selfe before thy throne of Grace beseeching thee to forgiue me all my manifold sins committed against thee burie them in the death of my Sauiour thy Son Christ Iesus O Lord I beseech thee for his sake to accept of me and this poore worme inclosed in my wombe vouchsafe to giue vs thy Sonne and to sanctifie vs with thy Holy Spirit grant me strength and patience I humbly intreat thee to indure and ouercome those paines which for my sinnes are worthily imposed on me Asswage them O Lord I pray thee and vouchsafe mee a safe deliuerance with safetie to this child within me if it may please thy Maiestie so will I dedicate my selfe and that which thou shalt giue me to the glorie of thine holy Name O Lord heare O Lord help be thou my God and my guide my saluation and my succour not for my merites but for the honour of thy mercie and the all sufficient merites of Iesus Christ to whome with thee and thy Holy Spirit three persons but one euer-liuing and euerlouing God bee all honour and glorie for euer and for euer Amen A Prayer for a Midwife by her selfe alone O Lord my God I beseech thee forgiue me my manifold sins and wickednes accept of me I beseech thée in thy Sonne Iesus Christ honour mee with all the graces of thy spirit grant me wisedoms modesty temperance and a religious heart
forsaketh them shall find mercie Some pray for remission but care not for repentance they desire a blessing but yet absteuie not from that which pâ—â—ureth cursing These pray in vaine because their practise is vaine For God heareth Saints not Sinners and granted his pardon to the penitent onely and not to such as perseuere impenitent He therfore that would obtaine pardon let him abstaine from ssnne which might deteine his pardon He that would not that sinne should damne him must not indure sinne to dominere with in him Though this be true that no man is pardoned because he is penitent yet this is true that No man is pardoned but he that is penitent If thou wilt not mortifie sin sinne shall mortifie thée if thou wilt not dye to it thou shalt dye for it If thou wilt not that it should dye in thee thou shalt dye in it Some seeme to couet nothing more then a ioyfull resurrection after death yet shall they not attaine to a ioyfull resurrection of their bodies after death because they labour not the resurrection of the soul before death There are two resurrections the first of the ssoule from the sléepe of sinne in this life the second of the body from the sleepe of death in the life to come Woe be vnto him that riseth not tâ—ise for if he rise but once he shal rise but from death to death from sleepe to sorrow his body shall rise from the earth and fall into hell But hee that riseth from the death of sinne in this world shall bee raised vp to the life of happinesse in the world to come I will therefore pray for a ioyfull resurrection of my body to glorie and will not forget whiles I liue the resurrection of my soule to grace as knowing that if I will not study to be gracious I shall not attain to be glorious I haue heard some desire to dye and some desire to liue neither durst I condemne the desires of either I will desire to lâ—ue till I haue learn'd to dye I will desire to die when I haue learn'd to liue For a bad death cannot follow a good life and hee hath learn'd to dye that hath learned well to liue If I can gain Christ in my life Christ will not loose mee at my death If the loue of Christ liue in mee whiles I liue I cannot but liue in the loue of Christ when I dye There are many that often pray they were in heaued which yet I dare not say they shall go to heauen For he y â— praies for heaueÌ„ and goes in the way to hel shall not ascend whether he wisheth but descend whether he walketh hee shall gee whether his féet doth lead him not whether his fooilsh fancie slatters him There are some pray for death yet cannot dye others dye and would not And God by crossing both doth punish both For to the one nothing seemes swéeter then death and to the other nothing seemes swéeter then life to the one it séemeth death to liue to the other the very thought of death is a verie death accounting it the only heauen to liue alwaies vpon the earth Some pray they may dye and may dye to their cost if they pray without care and liue without conscience If the heauinesse of crosses and not the hope of a crowne if the losse of libertie and not the lothing of lust if the sustaining of sorrowes and not the wearisomenesse of sin if the feeling of paines and not the fellowship of Christ doth make a man desire to dye his desire is naught and his death not good For those onely desire well and dye well that are mooued more with sinne then sickenesse with heauenly comforts then earthly crosses with Christ then with all calamities Before thou pray to dye first pray for the death of sinne which is the sting of death and when thou dost desire to die let it be rather to be disâ—nedeâ—ed of thy sinnes then of thy sorrowes and to liue with Christ rather then to be deliuered of thy crosses I sée much hardnesse of hart amongst men and but a little mercy I suppose such persons implâ—re not pray not much for Gods mercy For it cannot bée that any man should bée without mercie to his neighbour who doth truly pray for Gods mercy to himselfe There are in the world which pray God to pardon them yet will they not forgiue their neighbours These are not men but monsters which would receiue mercie of God but wil shew no mercie to men for God which would haue God forgiue them but will not forgiue others Such cannot say the Lords Praier but they pray to the Lord against themselues make their truest friend their greatest for For wrath without pardon belongs to them that wil not pardon I will forgiue and I will pray to be forgiuen I would not that any man should néede my pardon but if he doe desire it God grant I may not denie it The rich and the poore pray together and both do obtain the rich being poore in spirit and the poore being rich in faith Thus would I bée poore that I way be rich thus would I be rich least I should bée poore The rich the poore both pray and neither are heard the rich because he is poore in humilitie the poore because he is rich in pride the rich because he hath no pity the poore because he hath no patience the rich because hée contemnes the poore the poore because he enuies the rich I will labor therefore to be rich in humilitie and poore in hautinesse I wold be pitifull and patient courteous and contented There are many that cry Lord help whom the Lord wil not help Hée that would haue help of God let him not deny his helpe to Man hée that would haue God help him let him not forget to help himselfe For God helpes the helpefull such as are ready to helpe themselues and others to T is pitty but that thou shouldest lie and die in the ditch that saiest Lord help but will vse no meanes if thou maiest to helpe thy selfe I will therefore pray for helpe and yet vse the meanes of helpe and pray that God would help me in those meanes of helpe and blesse them to mée There are many which desire Christ might bée their Sauiour which yet shall not be saued because they would bée saued but will not serue their Sauiour they like his saluation but they loue not his seruice he may suffer or do what he will for them but they will neither suffer nor doe ought for him His merits they pray for but his lawes they care not for Now hée will not bée their Sauiour because they will not be his seruants for hée will saue none but such as will serue him I will therefore suffer him to be my Lord as I doe desire him to be my Sauiour Two graces I desire of him grace to serue him grace to be saued by him Some
vnworthinesse to inuite me to this blessed banquet which thou hast ordained for the strengthning of my weaâ—e faith and for the preseruation of the memorie of Christs death O Lord I beséech thée giue me grace to put on the wedding garment and séeing thou hast commanded that I should examine my selfe grant that I may not presume to thrust my self into thy holy presence without a due examination of mine owne estate both how I haue liued and also how I am prepared for so weightie a seruice I desire to do it O Lord help my desire I promise to liue more holy than I haue done giue me power I pray thée to performe my promise O Lord I confesse I am by nature a childe of wrath as well as others giue me a true and liuely faith wherwith as with a spirituall hand I may be spiritually ioined vnto thée that in this outward pledge wherby it hath pleased thée to stoope to my sences by visible signes of bread and wine setting forth thereby inuisible graces so grant good Lord I may wholly rest in thy death and passion which is the matter of both thy Sacraments cleanse mee O Lord that thou maiest enter into me and maiest vouchsafe to take vp thy habitation within me I know O Lord that I am most vnworthy of this excellent mercy but it is thou that for thine own names sake hast shewed vnto me this great saluation not sparing thine only begotten son whom when the fulnesse of time was come thou diddest send into the World made of a woman that in him thou mightest receiue a full satisfaction for my sinnes committed both in body and soule remoue far from me O Lord all swelling disdainefull and vncharitable affections for this is a feast of loue therefore to it a malicious and reuengeful heart cannot be a welcome guest and when I present my self before thée at thy table O Lord I beséech thée restrain wy wandring and idle thoughts and let them bée seriously fixed on that which is the Sacrament namely the death of my sauiour quicken me vp to deuote and consecrate my self for euer vnto his seruice who hath vouchsafed himselfe to be a sacrifice for me and grant that when I sée bread and wine on the table with my bodily eie I may with the eie of my soule behold Christ on the Crosse and when I looke vpon the wine powred out of the vessell I may consider how Christs blood was powred out for my sinnes and as I receiue this bread and wine into my stomack for bodily sustenance so cause me I beséech thée to féede on the body and blood of our Lord and Sauiour Christ that it may be nourishment for my soule Amen A Praier after the Receiuing of the Lords Supper O most louing and mercifull father I cannot giue thée thankes worthy enough according to the desire of my minde for the inestimable treasure of this heauenly foode which thou hast now made me partataker of in this heauenly mysterie to wit the true bread of heauen that euerlasting meat that abideth for eueâ—â— thy blessed sonne pur Sauiour Christ Iesus in whom I haue obtained by the gift of this holy Communion an earnest of an immortall inheritance to come O Lord let not this pretious blood of his be shed in vaine for me but nourish my soule by his flesh and more and more clense it by his blood quicken me O Lord I beséech thée in this life that in the body of his Church I may be partaker of all spirituall blessings through him and as thou hast seperated me O Lord from the wicked in this holy banquet so kéep me I pray thée from their corruptions that I be not as a dog that returneth to his vomit and as a filthy swine that is washed to her wallowing in the mire but good Lord grant that I may seusibly féele the death of Christ to be swéete vnto my soule as I doe now these creatures of bread and wine to afforde a pleasant taste and refreshing to my body O heauenly Father let me not depart hence forgetful of thy kindnesse but grant that I may euen now at this present time euen resolue with mine owne soule to walke in a better course of holy obedience to thy Magesty than heretofore hauing respect vnto all thy Commandements and as I haue béene this day put in minde of the benefit of Christs death so let mée euery day thinke often of his death that thereby I may liue vnto righteousnesse and learne to die vnto sinne and grant that euer heereafter I may so walke before thée that all men may sée that I am become a new creature thus endeuouriug to walke in this life according to thy will expressed in thy holy worde I may heereafter enioy the ioies of thy kingdome in thy presence there to abide for euer euer Amen A Pâ—aier before a man begins the workes of his calling O Almightie and euerliuing God séeing all iust and lawfull vocations and callings grounded vpon thy worde are warranted for vs to liue in and also hast commanded that no man should be idle giue me grace I humbly pray thée that I may walke faithfully before thée as in thy holy presence so that no deceit cunning or guile take any hold of me but that I may labour truly and diligently as doing thine owne work Good Lord I beséech thée so prosper and blesse my godly endeuours that in Iesus Christ they may be a seale of thy fauour towards me to maintaine me and mine and that I may be also helpfull and beneficial vnto others knowing it to be a better thing to giue than to receiue and when it shall please thée O Lord by thy blessing vpon my labours that my basket and my store is increased grant that I may not ascribe to mine owne industry pains but to giue thée the praise of it to whom it wholly belongeth And good father grant that I may not set my heart vpon these outward things but rather as riches encrease so I may be more and more affraid of my selfe least the cares of this World and the deceitfulnesse of riches choake in me the séedes of grace so steale my minde away from better things let me not I beséech thée so eagerly follow the duties of my calling that I should abridge and skant my selfe of conuenient seasons for heauenly and spirituall exercises but alwaies make me behold thy all séeing presence in whose sight all things are naked that so I may approue my selfe vnto thée by a streight vpright cariage and in so doing I shall imitate thy son Christ Iesus who in the daies of his flesh humbled himselfe to liue as a man vpon this earth by following a painfull trade and when the time was come that he was to publish himselfe to the World he was neuer idle but went about doing good yea with that alacritie and chéerefulnesse that it was his meat to do the will of his
greeuous iudgement is on them from whom this word is hiâ— 9 Lastly the least measure of true fâ—â—tâ— that a man can haue is â—hen of an humble spirit by reason of the smalenesse of his faith he doth not yet féele the forgiuenesse of his sinnes and yet is perswaded that they are pardonable and therefore desireth y â— they should be pardoâ—ned with his whole hart praieth to God to pardon them Esay 42. 3. Luke 17. 5. Christian directions necessarie to be practised in the course of our liues FIrst aboue all things sée that thou feare God and kéepe his commandements for this is the whole dutie of man Eccles 12. 13. 2 Exercise your minde in meditating often on the works of God as his creating gouerning the world his prospering and punishing the wicked his blessing correcting his children as séemeth best to his godly wisedome Ier. 12. 2. Math. 25. 31. 32. 3 Submit and humble your selfe for your sinnes that the lord may raise you vp for he that iudgeth himselfe aright shall neuer be iudged of the Lord 1. Cor. 11. 31. 4 Loue all things for Gods sake and God cheifly for his owne and remember you make him your friend whosoeuer be your enemy this you shall doe if as an obedient childe you liue alway in the eie of your heauenly father 5 Neuer make mention of God or any word or work of his but with feare and reuerence nor of any man but with loue vsing his name as you wold haue him to vse yours Deut. 28. 58. Math. 7. 12. 6 Let no more holinesse appeare outwardly then you haue inwardly in your heart which God seeth and in which he desireth truth neither please your selfe with your vnprofitablenes or vnwillingnes to perform that which is good Ro. 12. 11. 7 Speake often to the praise of God neuer or little of your self because many words can not want iniquitie therefore speake as few as you can rather none then vnprofitably Pro. 17. 27. Iam. 1. 19. 8 â—re-patient vnder the correcting hand of God because 1. He doth it 2. â—ee doth it for your good 3. â—ee will moderate it and supply strength and in his due time will deliuer you out of it Psal 39. 9. 9 Stick fast to God as well in aduersitie as in prosperitie the one being as necessarie as the other If you haue necessaries bee humbled for them and vse them well lest hee that gaue them take them away Iam. 1. 2. 10 Take héed of performing holy duties for fashion sake or without féeling and profit for this is hypocrisie and profanenes Heb. 3. 12. Esay 1. 11. 11 Whatsoeuer you take in hand first take counsell by Gods word whether it be lawfull or not be it for profit or pleasure 2. Sa. 2. 1. 1. Sam. 30. 8. 12 When you awake froÌ„ sléep awake with God and before all things giue him your first fruits and calues of your lips 1. Confession of sin 2. Request of things necessary for bodie and soule 3. Thankfulnes for mercies receiued especially your last preseruation and rest 13 Eschew as much as in you lies all occasions of sin wisely endeauor your selfe in subduing the least that at length the greater may take no place 14 Set your selfe carefully as in gods presence that setting him at your right hand you may not fall 1. Cor. 10. 32. 15 Use prayer as a doore to open morning a locke to shut euening first preparing your heart to seek the Lord and thinke in the morning that day may bee your last day when you goe to bed you know not whether you shall rise vnlesse it be to iudgement 16 Waite vpon the Lord and hee will direct your way become his seruant in obaying his will for this is your truest libertie Psal 37. 34. 17 Thinke euermore your present estate and condition to bee the best estate for you whatsoeuer it bee because it is of the good prouidence of God 18 Account of euery day as of the day of death and therefore liue now euen as though you were now dying and doe those good duties euery day which you would doe if it were your last day 19 When night comes before you lie down in bed call to â—â—â—d how you haue spent the day passed think that day lost wherein you haue not done some good 20 Alwaies remember that the greatest work you haue to finish in this world is to die well and to make a happy departure out of this world for they which dye well dye not to die but to liue eternally 29 Estéeme not of your selfe better then you are for the more vile you are in your owne eyes the more glorious you are in y â— eyes of God for he reiecteth the proud giueth grace to the humble 1. Pct. 5. 5. 22 Redéeme the time past of your life with Repentance and looke to the time present with diligence and to the time to come with prouidence Ephes 5. 16. 23 Exercise your selfe in reading something of gods word daily doe not only serue God your self but sée that al that are vnder your charge do the same Dev. 6. 6 24 When you craue any blessings at the hands of God aske them in the name of Christ for no man commeth vnto the Father but by him Ioh. 14. 6. 25 In all your affaires before you attempt any thing first aske counsell of God whether it be lawfull to be done and then you may doe it with a good conscience 1. Sam. 30. 8. 26 Let your carriage in the world bee such as may shew your dislik of y â— world for if any man loue y â— world the loue of the father is not in him because the loue of the world is enmitie with God 1. Ioh. 2. 25 27 Arme your selfe continually against temptations knowing them to bee your portion in this life learne from Christ and his Apostles to beare them patiently 1. Thes 4. 4. 5. 28 Be more afraid of secret sins theÌ„ of open shame and be alwaies perswaded you are in the presence of God and let all your actions be framed accordingly Ier. 23. 24. Acts 17. 28. 29 In all your afflictions and miseries bee still perswaded that your punishment is farre lesse then your â—â—â—ne 30 If Gods mercies abounds to wards you merwell not if he mixe them with some crosses for God sends blessings with crosses lest you should despaire and crosses with blessings lest you should presume 31 Such ontward blessings which you can not haue desire God you may not be vexed for them for if you gréedily couet such things it is longer before you shall enjoy them and more subiect to abuse them when you haue them 32 When you would do any good or receiue any good offer vp your endeuours in a sacrifice to God in Christ beséeching God to giue his holy Spirit to sanctifie his owne sacrifice 33 When God visites you with affliction kisse the toddâ— and offer vp all to him from whom
seruice wal king faithfully and conscionably in our callings wherin thou hast placed vs O Lord blesse all our gouernours whom thou hast set ouer vs in thy roome in especiall manner showre downe thy blessings vpon the Kings Maiestie blesse him both in body and soule with all graces necessarie for so high a calling and make him long a Nursing Father in this Israell Blesse our graciousquéen make her a help vnto him in all good things Blesse their Royall issue graunt that they may dayly growe in fauour both with God and man and make them loyall to his maiesty all the dayes of his life blesse all the Nobilitie the Magistrates and Ministers of thy holy word and graunt that euery one of vs from the highest to the lowest may walk faithfully in our places before thee all the daies of our liues through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost bee all praise and glorie both now and euer Amen Another Euening Praier for priuate Families O Eternall and euerliuing Lord God and in Iesus Christ our louing Father thou which hast giuen vs our bodies and soules our health our strength our maintenance whence haue wee all these things but from thée thy fatherly protection ouer vs this day in our calling to whom can we ascribe it but vnto thée that wee haue liued hitherto that wee haue not béene swallowed vp with some suddaine Iudgement that Sathan had not his will vpon vs that we know the way and the meanes to a better life that we are deliuered from the power of darkenesse and translated into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne that we haue dayly accesse into thy glorious presence to offer vp our petitions vnto thée and to make knowne our wants whence are all these blessings O Lord but from the fréedome of thy grace we confesse O Lord if thou hadst giuen vs our deserts we should haue perished long agoe therefore it is from thy mercy alone that we are not consumed Now if receiuing so many blessings from thee wee should not stirre vp our selues to returne some thankefulnes to thy Maiestie for them how wretched and miserable creatures should we be O Lord wee pray thée make vs ashamed of our vnthankefulnesse wound our hearts with the consideration of our owne dulnesse whom so many fauours haue not wrought vnto more obedience and vouchsafe wee humbly beséech thée not withstanding our small deseruings to looke graciously vpon vs and accept this our Euening sacrifice of praise which wee doe here render vnto thy Maiestie O Lord let not the skantnesse of our seruice make thee turne away thine eyes from vs but euen as thou art wont to spare thy seruants as a man spareth his own sonne that serueth him and in them to accept the will for the full performance so be pleased to looke vpon vs in Iesus Christ grant that we may sensibly feele the power of his death killing sin corruption in vs and the power of his resurrection raising vs vp to newnes of life Make vs resolue to renounce euen our sweetest best beloued sins and not to take libertie to our selues to continue in any knowne vngodlines that we may think it more then sufficient that we haue hitherto giuen the raines to our ownlusts therfore now to labour to stop kill all sin in the beginning before it come to the act resolue to bestow the rest of our liues according to thy blessed word And because the night is at hand which thou hast appointed for vs to rest in he beséech thée to take vs into thy fatherly protection this night and euer command the guard of thy holy Angels to pitch their tents about vs preserue vs both sléeping waking that we may be the better fitted and prepared the day following to goe on in our vocations callings to thy glory our own comforts the benefit of our brethren through Iesus Christ our Lord Sauiour In whose name we beg these mercies at thy hands whatsoeuer else thou knowest to bee néedfull either for soule or body better then we our selues can aske in that forme of prayer which hée himselfe in his holy word hath taught vs saying Our father which art in heauen c. Another Morning praier MOst mercifull God and louing Father we thy poore and vnprofitable seruants doe here humbly cast downe our selues and our sinfull soules before the foot-stoole of thy maiestie acknowledging and confessing that we are not worthy to approach into thy presence much losse to haue any thing to do with thée in any part of thy most pure worship and seruice séeing wee haue liued and continued in the breath of thy holy commandements not only through negligence and infirmitie but many times witingly and willingly contrarie to our owne knowledge and the holy motions of thy good spirit to the wounding of our own soules and consciences to the great dishonour of thy maiestis O Lord we besâ—ech thée regard vs not as wee are in our selues but looke vpon vs in the countenance of thy sonne our Al-sufficient sauiour Christ Iesus for his sake wee pray thée bee gratious and good to al our sinnes both in generall and particular original or actuall of ignorance or of knowledge of omission or commission whereby wée haue offended thée from the first houre of our conception till this present time Lord accept the death and passion of thy sonne as a sufficient ransome for all our sins burie them déeply in his graue and cancell the book of thy wrath wherin they are written with his bloud that they may neuer be laid to our charge either in this life present or in the next Let thy blessed spirit seale the pardon of them all to the comfort of our coÌ„sciences Furnish vs we beséech thée with all néedefull graces especially as Christians to walke worthy of Christ Iesus in holy conuersation vouchsafe to blesse al good means vnto vs which thou hast sanctified for our continuall groath in grace and thy fears especially thy holy word the ministry therof print déeply in our heartes all holesome instructions which are deliuered and taught vs out of the same by thy ministers good lord make vs thankefull euermore for al thy benefits bestowed vpon vs chiefely for thy sonne Christ Iesus the fountaine of all good to vs and ours as also for all those blessings that concerne this life present as health libertie apparell such like for thy fatherly protection ouer vs bringing vs to the light of this present day kéepe defend vs we pray thée from all euill that may hurt vs and from falling into any grosse sin that may displease thée set thy feare alwaies before our eies that we may speÌ„d this day and all the daies of our liues to thy glory the peace of our owne consciences for this day wée beséech thee giue a blessing to our endeuours in our calling that wee may bee therein conscionably occupied knowing that
Iudgements and fatherly chastisements both vpon others and vpon my selfe and haue not profited therby to true repentance and reformation of life yea O Lord I haue liued in the proâ—anation of thy holy ordinances thy Word Sacraments and this exercise of Prayer neither preparing my selfe hereunto â—right nor being conuersent therin with that care diligence and conscience as I ought and therfore thou maist iustly depriue me of that fruit of edification I might haue reaped by the reuerent and religious vsing of these diuine Ordinances Many other sins O Lord I haue committed the least whereof if thou shouldest lay vnto my charge I were neuer able to appeare in thy sight or to answere thée one of a thousand I beseech thee deale fauourably with me as thou art wâ—nt to doe with thy children that call vpon thy name and séeke thee in the truth of their hearts In the midst of Iudgement I pray thée remember mercie open my blinde eyes that I may come to a particular knowledge of my sinnes touch my hard and stony heart that I may sigh and grone vnder the burthen of them beeing heartily displeased with my selfe because I haue dishonored thy name stirre vp my heart also that I may hunger and thirst after Christ and his righteausnes and after euery drop of his most precious bloud in him alone to bee well pleased with me and for his sake to pardon and forgiue me all my sinnes wash them all away in his bloud and my heart from the filthinesse and impuritie of them all say vnto my soule I am thy saluation and let me féele thy good spirit perswading my conscience by the inward testimonie of the same that my sinnes are pardoned that I stand discharged of them all before thy Iudgement seate and séeing it is the lot of thy children to be tryed sundry waies O Lord prepare mee to the dayes of tryall Arme mee with spirituall patience to endure thy hand that I may méekely and contentedly submit my will to thy good will and pleasure howsoeuer it shall please thée to deale with me onely teach mee to profit vnder thy rod of correction and grant that I may learne thereby to deny my selfe to forsake this world the pleasures profits and preferments of the same to make vile and base account of them in respect of the heauenly things destring to be dissolued and to be with Christ that sinne and the corruption thereof might bee abolished and I may â—aue neere coniunction â—ith thy Maiestie in thine â—wne Kingdome notwithstanding so long as â—hoâ— pleasest to hold mee in this earthly Tabernacle increase dayly more and more the graces of thy Holy Spirit in mee as namely Faith Repentance Feare Loue Humilitie and a good Conscience and all other graces whereby thine Image may be renued in me that the longer I liue in this world the neerer I may drawe to thy Kingdome indeauouring to serue and please thée in righteousnes and new obedience all the dayes of my life Be mercifull I beséech thée to all thine afflicted whether with sicknesse vpon their beds or distressed in conscience for sinnes relieue them I beséech thée accorcording to their seueral necessities strengthen them in their weakenes sanctifie all thy corrections vnto them and grant them a speedie issue in thine owne good time as shall seeme best to thy godly wisedome Be mercifull to all my friends in the flesh and acquaintance in the Spirit and all other for whom I am bound by any duty to pray for granting vnto vs all a supply of all graces néedefull for our present state and callings and eternall saluation of our â—oules these mercies I beg â—t thy hands for Iesus Christs sake in that prayer which he hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in heauen c. Morning Prayer for the Sabbath day before hearing of the Word O Most gracious God and mercifull Father wee thy vnworthy seruants do here prostrate our selues our bodies and selues to offer vp to thy maiestie this morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing for all thy mercies and blessings bestowed vpon vs we blesse thy name for the quiet rest and comfortable sléepe this night passed from all perils and dangers of the same wee confesse O Lord if thou shouldest deale with vs according to our deserts thou mightest haue made our beds our graues and our sléepe our death euen for the sins of this night past O Lord we haue done more against thée this wéeke past then wee haue done for thée all the dayes of our life yet notwithstanding O Lord manifold are thy mercies towards vs still and thy goodnes is infinite in euery particular which befalleth vs we haue exceeding experience of thyloue It is thy great mercy that wee which haue so many wayes prouoked thée should be suffered to liue to behold the light comfort of the day but herein thy mercie is much more manifest that hauing béene heretofore profaners of thy Sabbaths barren and hypocriticall professors of thy holy word yea fruitlesse and vnprofitable hearers of the same that-we should yet enioy the blessed opportunitie of another Sabbath O Lord wee confesse thou mightst iustly haue fatted vp our hearts and giuen vs ouer to a Reprobate sâ—nce and commanded the doores of thy Sanctuarie to be shutte vp against vs and not to suffer vs to tread within thy Courts O Lord grant that we may rate estéeme thy mercy towards vs in this kinde according to the true valew thereof and that wee may not carelessely forget this or any other of thy fauours and as thou hast of thy mercie brought vs to the beginning of this holy Sabbath so we humbly pray thée enable vs to sanctifie the same as thou requirest and our dutie bindes vs Lord make vs to remember that this is not any Commandement or Ordinance of man but that it is thine owne ordinance and one of those lawes which thou wrotest with thine owne hand namely that this day should after a more speciall manner be consecrated to thy seruice Lord giue vs grace that in this thy Sabbath wee may beware of doing our owne works or of séeking our own wils or of speaking vaine and idle words that wee may seriously binde our selues to the performing of such duties as doe belong to this day O Lord we know that herein wee shall méete with many corruptions in this holy seruice our own corrupt nature and affections will thinke it a taske that can not bee endured besides in the world wee shall haue many examples of the wicked to draw and entise vs froÌ„ our diligence and constancie in our godly course but wée beseech thée from the bottome of our hearts to strengthen vs that these things preuaile not against vs and grant that wee may more estéeme the performance of our duties to thy maiesty then either the contenting of our owne corrupt natures or wicked persons and séeing O Lord we are now to heare thy holy word we beséech thée poure downe thy blessings
vpon our endeauours this day in time of prayer grant vs reuerence to thy Maiestie faith in the promises of thy Sonne Christ Iesus a liuely féeling of our owne wants and a continuall remembrance of all thy former fauours and mercies towards vs and when we heare thée speaking vnto vs by the mouth of thy Ministers bee pleased to giue vnto vs vnlocked and vnderstanding hearts rectifie our Iudgements sanctifie our affections and strengthen our memories that those holy instructions which wee shall heare reuerently and attentiuely may of vs be practised faithfully and effectually in the whole course of our liues through Iesus Christ our Lord giue vnto the preacher O Lord a doore of vtterance touch his tongue with a Cole from thine Altar that he may deliuer the word of life boldly that whatsoeuer corruption lies hid in our hearts the power of thy holy word may search and discouer it to the very bottome and grant that wee may not heare it as the word of a miserable mortal man like vnto our selues but as it is indéed the word of thee the euerliuing God who art able to saue and to destroy And because Sathan a deadly enemie to mans saluation readie to picke the séede of thy word which is sowne in our hearts therefore wee pray thee O Lord confound Sathan and all his workes and be thou more mercifull in blessing thine owne ordinance vnto vs then Sathan either is or can be possibly malicious to hinder the same for this end and purpose wee beséech thée O Lord to take out of our mindes all vaine and wandring thoughts all couetous desires of the world and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be an enemie to the sauing hearing of thy holy word that thy word may be vnto vs not as our sinnes deserue it should but as it is in it selfe thy power to our saluation that it may bee as seede sowne in good ground which bring forth in vs plentifull fruit to thy glorie and our own comforts through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whom with thée and the Holy Spirit bee all praise and power maiestie and dominion now and for euer Amen Euening Prayer on the Sabbath day EUerlasting God and in Iesus Christ our most mercifull and gracious Father we thy poore seruants are here met together in the feare of thy maiestie and in the confidence of thy mercy to offer vp our eueuing sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing for all thy mercies and blessings bestowed vpon vs in most abundant manner especially O Lord for that thou hast not suffered vs to walke in darknesse ignorance and blindnesse but hast giuen vs thy most holy and blessed word to be a lanthorne to our feete and alight vnto our pathes to eternall life Wee render to thy maiestie from the ground of our harts humble thanks for that portion of thy blessed word which this day through thy mercy we haue béene made par takers off wee confesse O Lord that wee haue heard the same with manifold infirmities and much weaknesse neuerthelesse wee pray thée let thy power appeare in our weakenes and vouchsafe to water with the dewe of grace euery of these particular instructions which this day or at any other time we haue béen taught out of thy holy word that they may be as seede sowne in good ground and may bring forth much fruit to thy glorie and our owne comforts in this world and the eternall saluation of our soules in the world to come O Lord we confesse thou mightest iustly haue giuen vs ouer to a reprobate sence for our negligence and carelessenes in matters of thy worship and seruice yca euen O Lord our last behauiour in hearing of thy holy word hath béene so farre short of that which wee ought to haue donâ— that we haue deserued that thou shouldest make thy word a sauour of death vnto vs and not a sauour of life wee confesse O Lord our knowledge is very small in comparison of the time we haue enioyed the blessing of thy holy word so plentifully preached among vs and our practise is farre short of our knowledge which makes our case the more miserable but O Lord God seeing thou art so good vnto vs in bringing vs to a view of our owne defects and wants bee thou also mercifull in giuing vnto vs a heart to lament and to bee truely humbled before thy maiestie for them wee beséech thée in Iesus Christ to bee a reconciled Father vnto vs freely to pardon and remit all our sinnes and grant that the word which hath beene sowne among vs this day may take déepe roote in our hearts that neither the scorching heate of persecution or affliction cause it to wither nor the thornie cares of the world choake it but that wee may dayly grow vp to these holy duties till at length we come to a perfect age in Christ Iesus and forasmuch as we are taught in thy holie word to make prayers and supplications for all men we are not onely mindefull of our selues héere present but of thy children and Church in al places Blesse O Lord all those that thou hast set in authority ouer vs especially thy seruant our soueraigne the kings Maiestie sanctifie his goâ—ernment vnto vs. Blesse the Quéeâ—e and there hopefull Progenie the Nobilitie and Magistrates of the Land grant that we may be godly quietly gouerned vnder them Blesse O Lord the faithfull Pastors and ministers of thy holy word to whom thou hast committed the dispensation therof the charge of thy people y t both in their life doctrin they may be found faithful setting only before there eles thy honour and glorie and that by them all poore shéepe which wander go astray may be brought home into thy fold o lord as féeling members of one body wherof Christ is head we pray thée for all such as are afflicted with any crosse or tribulation whether in body or minde or both that it would please thée to giue them patience and constancie to endure thy holy hand so long as it shal please thée to exercise it vpon them giue them strength of faith against all assalts of Satan whatsoeuer giue them the pardon remission of their sins sealed vnto their constiences by the blood of thy déere sonne Christ Iesus Be pleased O lord to deale with them in mercy and not in iustice knowing they are but dust ashes in thy good time release them out of that misery they are either by life that they may glorifie thée here or by faithfull departure they may bee glorified of thée hereafter These mercies and whatsoeuer else thou knowest necessary for vs we craue at â—hy hands in that forme of Praier which Christ hath taught vs in his Gospell Our father c. A Praier before the receiuing of the Lords Supper MOst mercifull father I thy vnworthy seruant do héere render to thy Maiestie humble thankes for that it hath pleased thée notwithstanding al my former sins
father that sent him O Lord grant that I may follow his steps endeuouring to please thée in the whole course of my life through the same Iesus Christ our Lord and only Sauiour Amen A Praier containing humble confession of Sinne and desire of pardon O Eternall God and mercifull father infifinite in iustice and truth taking vengance vpon all disobedient children and yet abundant in goodnesse and mercy towards al such as vnfainedly feare thy name and return vnto thée in sincerity of heart and contrition of spirit prostrating their soules before thée I most vile and wretched sinner doe humbly beséech thée of thy infinite mercy to haue compassion vpon my sinnes which are so grieuous and so vile and loathsome as thy pure eies can not abide to looke vpon them I confesse O Lord that all my life hath béen in sinne our fathers and mothers were sinnefull euen from the sâ—ock of our great grandfather Adam whose blindnesse should haue béen our light and whose sight was turned to our blindnesse and darkenesse by the deceitfull entisements of that enemy of our saluation that subtill serpent Satan by whose baites our forefather being clothed with innocency and integretie and vnspeakable hapinesse was moued by the desire of the knowledge of that which thou wouldest he should haue béene ignorant of by breaking of which thy commandement he with the woman which thou gauest to bee a help comfort vnto him were according to thy determinate will cast out of Paradice a place of ioy to a place of miserie and labour I beseech thee most gratious God smite my hard and stonie heart and make it euen to melt with in me at the sight of my manifold transgressions settle in it I pray thée that godly sorrow which causeth repentance vnto saluation not to be repented of humble my soule vnder thy mighty hand and suffer it not to fréeze in the dregs of mine owne corruptions and make my head full of water mine eies a fountaine of teares which may run down like a riuer day night and grant O Lord that I may sorrow not so much because of hell and damnation which is due vnto me for my sinnes but that my chiefest sorrow may be this that I haue offended so good and gratious a God as thou art in abusing thy mercies and requiting thy excéeding loue with so greiuous sins O Lord I am bold to come vnto thée at this time not in my owne name for who am I that I should dare to presse into thy presence but in the name and mediation of thy déere and welbeloued son Christ Iesus Let his death passion be a full satisfaction for all my sinnes wash me throughly in his blood from mine iniquities and clense me from my sinnes let not thy hand of iustice destroy me but giue me the comfort of thy help and stablish me with thy truth Most gratious father thou which art the father of mercies and the God of consolations of thée I aske mercy and forgiuenesse of all my sinnes thou wouldest that none should perish but that all should be saued and come to the knowledge of thy truth thou hast commanded me most gratious God in thy holy word to call and knock vnto thée whereupon thou hast gratiousty promised so to finde as to enter into me and to entertaine me I beséech thée make good my promise vnto me at this time and regard my teares my sighes and my groanes which doe knock at the gate of thy mercies I endeuour most gracious God and striue to do thy will Lord make good thy promise I beséech thée in thy word and accept my desire and howsoeuer vilde wretch that I am euer since I Couenanted with thée to doe thée seruice I haue either vngratiously forgotten or vngratefully remembred all thy benefits and haue not so estéemed thée for them as I would haue done a mortall friend for a few common Curtesies yet neuer the lesse haue mercy vpon me I can not excuse my faults and If I should yet my consciense would condemne mée for I had thy expresse word to stay me and mine owne conscience to bridle me yea I would haue allowed those things which I did if any other had done them but my selfe now when my memorie is the handwriting of my debt and my thoughts are willing wâ—â—nesses against me and mine owne knowledge condemneth me what remaineth but that I must néeds fall into thy hands O Lord I beséech thée according to thy wonted mercy and old louing kindnesse haue pity vpon me miserable sinner and grant me a frée remission of all my sinnes and a perfect reconciliation with thée in Christ Iesus this O Lord I earnestly craue at thy hands euen for the same Iesus Christ sake our Lord and sauiour Amen A godly Prayer in time of sicknesse or at the point of Death ALmightie God and in Iesus Christ my most mercifull Father I thy poore wretched seruant which doe here lye vnder thy hand féeling thy punishment of the corruption and transgression that is in me and in all flesh euen this same sicknesse which at this time thou hast sent vnto mee I doe here humble my selfe vnder thy hands and acknowledge against my selfe my heinous sins and corruptions so that I confesse that I haue not only deserued sicknes of body yea the separation of my soule from my body but also the separation both of bodie and soule from thée and thy kingdome for euer but good Father I humbly beseech thee looke vpon me in the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus in whome thou hast loued mee before the foundations of the world were laid though sinne haue brought sicknes and sicknes bee an vndoubted messenger of death at the time thou hast appointed yet grant good Lord that I may be vndoubtedly perswaded in this that death is swallowed vp in victorie and that this death can no more hold me vnder then it hath done Iesus Christ into whom I am translated therefore I beseech thée giue me a swéet féeling of my incorporation into Christ Iesus in whose death though I dye yet I shall liue by y â— vertue of his resurrection eternally O Lord in this my sicknesse giue me I beséech thée a déep touch and a sensible vnderstanding of my sinnes past that I haue not vsed this temporall life which thou didst lend mee more to thy glorie that I did not so watch for death as that I was no better prepared for it that I was no more diligent in my calling to seeke the aduancement of thy glory Now O Lord I pray thee take from me all guile of Spirit all disposition to flatter or to sooth vp my selfe or to lessen either the number or the qualitie of my sinnes cause mee euen to breake vp my hart and to search and trie my waies that so out of the abundance of my feeling I may poure out a most plentifull and sincere confession before thee knowing it to be in vaine to endeuour