and causeth vs to detest hate loathe and abhorre sinne in all men but especially in our selues and maketh vs to haue our whole delight and ioy in those things which be agreeable vnto Gods Will and causeth vs likewise to shew and expresse the same in our life and conuersation or else it is no true Faith but a dead Faith Que. Rehearse the summe of this faith An. I beleeue in God the Father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord which was conceyued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie He suffered vnder Pentius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hell and the third day he rose againe from death He ascended into Heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie From thence shall he come to iudge both the quick and the dead I beleeue in the holy Ghost The holie Catholike Church The Communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie and the life euerlasting So be it Que. What is the effect of this Creed An. This Creed contayneth foure especiall pointes First what we ought to beleeue concerning God the Father Secondly concerning God the Son Thirdly concerning God the holie Ghost Fourthly concerning Gods people called the Church Que. What beleeuest thou in the first part concerning God the Father An. First I beleeue that God the Father thorough Christ into whose bodie I am grafted by faith is not only a Father of other faithfull but euen my Father therefore loueth mee Secondly that hee is Almighty that is that hee hath all power in his hand guiding and ruling all things so that nothing can be done in heauen earth or hell without his prouidence Que. What beleeuest thou in the second part concerning God the Sonne An. I beleeue that Iesus Christ one God in substance with the Father and the holy Ghost tooke flesh of the Virgin and is become perfect man as I am in al things sinne onely excepted and in my Nature hath wrought for mee whatsoeuer was needfull for my saluation Que. What meanest thou when thou sayest Hee suffered vnder Pontius Pilate Ans Because that manner of death which men do suffer by the sentence of the Iudge and vnder the Title of Iustice is more shameful slanderous and terrible then if a man should dye naturally in his bedde Therefore Christ took on him our person to shew himselfe before an earthly Iudge and to bee condemned by the mouth of Pilate hee being then Iudge that therby we might be cleared before the iudgement seat of God Que. What meanest thou when thou sayest Christ was crucified dead and buried An. First I meane in that he was crucified that he suffered the death of the crosse which was an abhominable and cursed death to deliuer mee from the curse vvhich was due for my sinnes Secondly forasmuch as death was a punishment due vnto man for sinne therfore our Sauiour did suffer death and by suffering ouercame death For in his death doth lye the principall point of our saluation for if he had not beene truely dead wee should be yet subiect to eternall death and damnation Thirdly he was buried for the more greater confirmation of his death and Resurrection And in the intent to make it more certainely knowne vnto vs it pleased him also to bee buried after the common maner of men and that by two notable persons Nicodemus and Ioseph of Aramathia which was done also by the wil consent of Pilate who caused the body to be deliuered to them Que. What meanest thou concerning this that Christ descended into hell An. Where it is said that Christ descended into Hell therby I beleeue that Christ did not onely suffer in his body the punishment due to my body but also in his soul the punishment due to my soule which was the Torments of hell second death sorrowes of death and abiection from God as it doeth appeare by the anguish of his soule in the garden when drops of blood yssued out of his body and also vppon the Crosse by his lamentable crie to his Father For in miserable case had we beene if he had suffered onely the punishment due to our bodies and not to our soules Que. What fruite hast thou by the death of Christ Ans First I beleeue that this death and punishment which Christ suffered is the appeasing of Gods wrath a full satisfaction to God for all my sinnes Secondly that as he is dead for sinne so he will cause sinne to die in my mortall body Que. What profit hast thou by the rising againe of Christ An. First I am assured by his rising from death that he hath ouercome death hel and sinne and hath finished my iustification Secondly that as he is risen from death so he causeth mee as a member of him to rise from sin and delight in righteousnes Thirdly his rising againe is a sure pledge to me that my body shal in like manner rise againe Que. What is the meaning of this that Christ ascended into heauen An. Christ as touching his manhead is onely in Heauen but in his Godhead and comfort of his holy Spirite hee is with vs to the end of the world Que. What good gettest thou by the ascending of Christ into heauen An. First Christ his ascending into heauen is a sure pledge vnto mee that I shal in like maner as a member of him by his power be receyued into heauen in that same nature wherein he is ascended Secondly Christ hauing ascended into Heauen maketh continuall intercession for me Que. What is the meaning of this that Christ sitteth on the right hand of God the Father An. Christ sitteth on the right hand of the father that is hath all power giuen him of the Father ouer all things whatsoeuer Que. What fruite dost thou receiue by this that Christ shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead Ans To mee that am a member of Christ it is a singular comfort vvhen I know assuredly that none shal be my Iudge but he that is my Sauiour But terrible it will be to those that flee from Christ when they shall see him come to iudg them whom they in their life time refused Que. What beleeuest thou in the third part concerning God the holy Ghost An. I beleeue that GOD the holy Ghost sealeth into my heart all Christes benefites to be mine and maketh sinne to dye in me and stirreth me vp to righteousnes and holinesse of life Que. Seeing there is but one onely God why namest thou the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost An. Because God hath so opened himselfe in his Word that these three sundry persons are in substance but one true and euerlasting God Que. Now let vs come to the fourth part What callest thou the Catholicke Church Answer The Catholicke Church is the whole company of faithful people that euer were since the beginning of the world in all places which also
to study to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life Wee doe not onely pray for our selues but also for all thy whole Church especially such as bee persecuted for thy word grant vnto them that whether it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues end Be mercifull to this Church of England Scotland Ireland we beseech thee good Lord preserue euery part and menber of the same especially thy seruant Iames our King grant him all such giftes as bee needfull for so high a calling to the aduancement of thy glorie and benefit of this Common wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouerment of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition and reliques of Antichrist to the gouerning of his subiects in all peace and tranquilitie Defend him O Lord from all conspiracies treasons rebellions and so worke in the hearts of all his subiects that knowing his authoritie doth come from thy heauenly Maiesty they may with obedient hearts humbly obey them in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Councell and the Magistrates of the Realme that being lightened through thy holy Spirit they may defend the truth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Behold all the Pastours and Preachers of thy word blesse their labours increase the number of them place ouer euery Church a painefull watchman remoue all idle lubbers and confound the power of Antichrist and turne the hearts of the people that they may be obedient to thy truth Blesse the two famous Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxford all the students of the same with all Schooles of Learening Behold all those that bee afflicted with any kind of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of life Lastly for our selues here gathered wee humbly O Lord craue at thy handes that it would please thee to make vs thankefull vnto thy Maiestie for all thy louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs euen from our infancie especially that thou hast this present night deliuered vs from all dangers both of body and soule whereinto many haue fallen as wee in the like manner should haue done if we had not beene staied with thy mercifull hand that thou hast aâ—so granted vnto vs so sweete comfortable rest and hast now presently brought vs to the beginning of this day For these things good Lord wee yeeld thee most hearty thankes beseeching thee to make vs more more daily thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for them and pardon our vnthankfulnesse And as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this present houre from all the dangers of this life so we beseech thee continue thy fauour towardes vs this day and the whole course of our life Defend vs O Lord that we now entring into the affaires of this day bee not drawne away with the vaine allurements of this world to sinne and wickednesse that wee walke not in the shadow of death that wee be not intangled in the snares of sinne that wee stumble not at the blockes of iniquitie that we finally fall not into the pit of death and destruction but beeing shadowed vnder thy wings we may cheerefully constantlie goe on forward to the end of our course Grant vnto vs O Lord our God that this good time which thou grantest vnto vs in this life be not idlely or vainly of vs consumed but that euery one of vs may be diligently exercised in his calling this day and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeeld an account of our Stewardship Indue vs we beseech thee with those gifts and graces which bee needfull for vs in our calling that with a pure heart sincere conscience wee may vse them to the benefit of our bretheren and discharge of our owne conscience before thy Maiestie We beseech thee O Lord that in all our consultations words and workes this day and the whole course of our life we may alwayes haue thee presnet before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughts of our hearts which alwaies may bee as a bridle to pull vs backe that wee neither do nor yet consent to any sinne or wickednesse but that alwaies wee may bee so exercised in the affaires of this life that wee looke still to the end of our course when it shall please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting rest with thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour In whose Name for these mercies and whatsoeuer thou knowest to bee needfull for vs for thy whole Church wee pray vnto thee as hee himselfe hath taught vs in his holy word saying Our Father c. The Lord blesse vs saue vs the Lord make his face shine vppon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauorable countenance towards vs grant vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable fâ—llowshippe of the holy Ghost bee with vs preserue vs this day and euermore Amen Euening Prayer for priuate Houses and Families O Gracious God and louing Father according to thy Commandement we do heere present our selues againe before thy Maiestie humbly prostrating our sinfull selues before the Throne of thy mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that wee are miserable sinners daylie breaking thy Commaundements both in thoght word and deede wherein we iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence Yet O Lord wee see thy goodnesse againe towardes vs who not sâ—ffering vs thus to perish in our sinnes hast set thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due â—o reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him theâ—efore good Lord and through him doe wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the greeuousnesse of our sins and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ Iesus our Lord hath borne the burden of them euen for vs. Graunt O Lord that wee being assured heereof in our Consciences may thorough thy most holy and blessed Spirit be renewed in the inner man to hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and that wee may studie to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life And now O Lord God we pray not onely for our selues but likewise for all thy whole Church especiallie for such as be persecuted for the testimony of a good conscience Grant vnto them O Lord that whether it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues end Blesse these Churches good Father wherein wee liue and therein our gracious Soueraigne and thy seruant Iames King of Great-Britaine France and Ireland Keepe him O Lord from all Conspiracies Treasons and Rebellions Preserue the Noble and hopefull Prince Charles the
of my duetie to my selfe and mine that so in our fayling each other wherein happily we might be more confounded as making this the main of our Religion rather to be honoured of each other in mutuall helpe then to honor thee our God in seeking help from thee alone wee might knowe the true cause why thou didst fail vs in the publike euen because we sought our selues and not thy Glory Oh the infinite riches of the wisedome of God! How wisely didst thou abase thy Seruant at home where hee sought to aduance himselfe in priuat by profiting others who neither sought thine honour abroad nor how to benefit himselfe by the publike Ordinances And yet how mercifully diddest thou heerein deale with him by calling him to account and charging him as an vnprofitable seruant for his vnworthy walking before thee in the publike while he was casting vp his peniworthes at home and expiated the approbation and recompence of a profitable seruant Euen thus O Lord my God fared it with me at home the best that I reaped was accordingly as I had sowne As I sowed to the flesh abroad so of the flesh I reaped corruption and confusion at home and while I endeuoured to heale the wound and mend my selfe by imparting of my bâ—d peniworths to others it was more encreased by their drowsinesse and deceitfull chaffering with me yeelding me no better then the chaffe and refuse of bodily and formall attendance for all my Lip-labour and cold deuotions bestowed vppon them And this is all that I can truly account with thee O thou Searcher of my secret parts for all the goodnesse I haue receiued from thee this day euen to account my selfe vnworthy of the least of thy mercies not able to answere thee one for a thousand if thou sholdst enter into iudgment with me But herein yet haue I boldnesse before thee comfort from thee that in this I do vnfeignedly iudge my selfe that thou mayest not condemne mee that in the iudging of my self I desire to giue thee the onely glorie of all thy mercies vouchsafed vnto me this day in acknowledging my selfe vnworthy of the least of them that so still I may bee found of thee in Iesus Christ not hauing mine owne righteousnes and so in his Peace may find peace and comfort with thee O pardon therfore I humbly pray thee the manifolde wanderings of thy poore seruant from thee this day euen while he hath bin with thee and discharge him of those fearefull reckonings which he hath had with his owne soule because he hath reckoned without thee not measured himselfe by his acceptance with thee but rather by what he hath slightly performed vnto thee Accept me therfore in the righteousnesse of my Sauiour and couer all mine imperfections with the perfect holinesse of my Redeemer that in him I may appeare all faire before thee And speake vnto my poore soule by the testimonie of thy good Spirit sealing vp vnto me the forgiuenesse of my best endeauours that so the conscience of my manifold wanderings and backeslidings from thee in my vain worldly thoghts carnall walking and behauiour farre vnbeseeming either this day or thy presence may not confound me in thy presence while I sue out my discharge from thee O giue me to mourne vnfainedly for greeuing thy Spirit so often this day and dishonoring thy great name wherein I haue sought to honour thee and make mee to abhorre my selfe before thee in a iust detestation of my best endeuouâ—s as to bee iustified thereby that so I may be acquitted by thy free mercy in Iesus Christ and in him may finde peace comfort in thee both that my faylings are not imputed vnto me and that my poore endeuours being the worke of thine owne Spirit may bee accepted of thee Let this comfort me O my God that I haue desired to walk before thee this day in the trueth of my heart and let this still humble me before thee that I haue not answered my desires heerein that so I may haue comfort in thy free acceptance aboue all that I could do or desire And so in this comfort grant mee to repose my selfe whollie in thy free Grace both to refresh me in the night season that I may not sleep in death and so to raise me vp again to a wise redeeming of the time of my ciuill Calling therein to lay vp a good foundation for better preparation against the next Sabbath and so to be prepared to my eternall Sabbath with thee for euer in thy glorious kingdom Heare mee O Lord in these my supplications pardon the weaknesse of my sinful prayers accept my person in the Sonne of thy loue and answere me aboue all that I can aske or thinke euen for the onely merit of thy deere Son my onely Sauiour Iesus Christ in whom thou art wel pleased Amen A Prayer to be said before the hearing or reading of the holy Scripture O Heauenly Father whatsoeuer I am whatsoeuer I haue whatsoeuer I know it is only by thy grace for by nature I am the child of wrath and I am not borne anew of flesh and bloud neither of the seed of man or of the will of man Flesh bloud cannot reueale the mystries of thy heauenly kingdome vnto me but by thy blessed will I am that I am and by the same know I that I know Therefore O Father doe I commit into thy hands onely my saluation If my knowledge be small yet I doubt nothing but that I am the child of thy euerlasting kingdome and therfore by thy mighty power I shall grow when it shall bee thy good will and pleasure to a more full and riper knowledge as of a more perfect age wherein my faith shall bee fully able to comprehend and perceiue the breadth depth heighth and largnesse of thy great mercies and gracious promises But seeing O Father this power of full knowledge and perfect reuelation passeth all power naturall and remaineth onely in thy power and light of thy Spirit O Lord doe thou whatsoeuer it shall please thee to open vnto me and all the rest of thine elect seruants and children depending vpon thee so much of the light of thy countenance as may bee most for thy glory and our comfort yea and at such time as shall seeme good to thy wisedome and fatherly mercy In the meane while thus resting wholy vppon thee neithet can I despaire neither will I be too much carefull although I cannot attayne to the knowledge of many of thy workes neither to the vnderstanding of many places of thy Scriptures But I will confesse vnto thee the weaknesse of my faith waiting alwaies for the further reuealing of thy glorious light to bee vttered vnto me thy poore seruant when thou shalt thinke of thy Fatherly beneuolence goodnesse meete and conuenient I knowing most assuredly that thou wilt pittie my weake imbecilitie and childish infancie and cause the same to serue for thy glory and my great commoditie
Eternall God and mercifull Father who in the riches of thy mercy hast ordained thine onely Sonne Iesus Christ to bee the propitiation for the sinnes of thine elect that whosoeuer beleeues in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life that so many as receiue him and beleeue in his Name may haue power from him to bee the Sonnes of God and heires with him of eternall glory And in thine infinite wisedome hast so disposed of me thy Creature that being first estated by thee in a condition of holinesse and falling willingly from the same by mine owne rebellion into a most fearfull desprate estate of sinne and damnation I might bee restored againe to a better condition of life and immortalitie by the death passion of thy deere Sonne Looke downe I humbly pray thee with the â—ies of thy mercy vppon mee thy most vnwoâ—thy seruant who doth vnfainedly here confesse before thee that though I am by Nature most sinfull and miserable yet such herein is my desperate case that through the blindnes of my minde and hardnes of heart which cannot repent I am so farre from knowing my misery much lesse how to helpe my selfe out of this wofull estate that the very wisedome of my flesh is emnity against thee And my selfe not onely rebelling against the meanes which might discouer vnto mee my miserie but most desperatly peruerting those meanes to the further hardning of my heart and so to the more desperate enwrapping me in the bonds of damnation by heaping vp wrath against the day of wrath And therefore First I humbly pray thee Blessed Lord who hast the key of Dauid that openest and no man shuts that shuts and no man openest to open the blind eies of my mind that I descerne the wonderous things of thy law that so in the true glasse of thy holy law I may clearly discerne mine owne miserable estate and by the hammer of thy Law my hard heart may be throughly broken with the sence of my sinnes that so feeling my sinne a burthen which I am not able to beare I may be wholy confounded in my selfe as discerning my selfe to bee an vtter cast-a-way and reprobate branch fit for nothing but for the vnquenchable fire of thy Ielousie O make me Lord to see the inward vildnesse of mine heart and that all the thoughts and imaginations thereof are onely euill continually that though I may be happily free from grosse euils and seeme to shew forth some ciuill goodnesse yet those may bee coÌ„uinced to be most abhominable because they proceed from the filthy sink of my heart and the lesse I discerne the euill of my waies the more I may acknowledg the deceitfulnesse of mine heart the more I may conuince the obliquitie thereof that howsoeuer I seemed to be aliue as being ignorant of my misery yet now discerning my selfe in thy righteous Law I may not only acknowledge my selfe dead in sinnes and trespasses and so vtterly senselesse and vnable to helpe my selfe but also may renounce vtterly mine owne wit and wisedome to any good as being no better then desperate Rebellion against thee Thus beeing confounded and wholly cast out of my selfe and finding my case to be out of measure sinfull and so altogether desperate in regard of any ability as of my selfe to my recouery O let mee not sinke vtterly vnder this insupportable burthen but put thine holy hand vnder me to preuent vtter dispaire and sustaine mee secretly by thy mighty Power that I bee not swallowed vp in death Oh raise mee vp I humbly pray thee with the hope of thy mercie and leade me by the hand of thy grace to seeke it where it may bee found Bring me into the secret Chamber of thy gracious Presence where I may behold thy face in my Sauiour and grant me to admire thine infinite wisedome and mercie in prouiding so soueraigne a remedie for my distresse O giue me to be rauished with thy loue in the exceeding riches of my Redeemer and make me so to valew the worth of his Merit as for the obtaining thereof to resolue on vtter renouncing and parting with whatsoeuer I haue to obtaine the same And so finding now by thy Grace what neede I haue thereof oh worke in me a secret hope that thou maist be reconciled if I can fasten on the meanes thereto and grant me aboue all to hunger after his righteousnes that so mine iniquities being thereby couered I may draw neere with confidence vnto the Throane of Grace to begge vnfeignedly euen with strong cries the pardon of my sinnes And though I receiue not a present answer to my desire yet sustaine me I pray thee with thy gracious Spirit that so I may with patience waite thy good leysure and neuer giue ouer till thou hast saide vnto my Soule I am thy Saluation And though I do not presently feele this testimony of thy Spirit sealing me vp to the day of Redemption yet grant me I pray thee to be strong in Faith beleeuing what I feele not as I would and hoping for what I do not yet enioy that so thereby being knit vnto Christ my Sauiour and made one with him I may therby draw vertue from his death to the mortifying of my corrupt Nature and killing of those speciall lustes that do hindeâ— this sense of thy loue in him towards me that so feeling in me a dying to corruption I may also therby apprehend more fully the discharge of the guilt of my sinnes in the merites of my Sauiour and so therby renewing my peace with thee my gracious God I may reioyce in the hope of that glory which hee hath purchased for me And so in the hope of that Glory grant mee I humbly pray thee to draw vertue from the Resurrection of my Sauiour that so I may be raised vp with him to newnesse of life whereby I may render thanks vnto thee for this vnspeakeable gift and to bee made meete for the same in the acceptable time And that I may not be disappointed of my Hope Oh grant me still to liue by faith in the Sonne of God dayly denying mine owne righteousnesse that still I may bee found acceptable with thee in him aboue all worthinesse in my selfe of my imperfect endeauours only in his righteousnesse and so therby may be prepared to the hope of Glorie And seeing I am like to meete with many hinderances in pursuite of this Glory both from the World without either detaining mee in the way or drawing me from the marke as also from mine owne deceitful heart within as discouraging mee in my course and laggering mee in my pace and sometimes also blinding me either not to discerne or mistake the gole Oh grant me to walk by faith and not by sight as to rest on the foundation which stands sure the Lord knoweth who are his though sometimes in the building I may misse of it so to walke as a stranger Pilgrime in the world not clogging my selfe in my iourney with
and enioy for euer thy glorious presence Grant these things O Gracious Lord according to thy goodnesse in Iesus Christ my Sauiour and blessed Redeemer Amen A Prayer for obtaining Triall and cherishing of the holy Spirit of God GLorious and euerlasting Lord God Father of all Spirits and soules of the righteous who hast reuealed thy selfe in thy sacred word to be a Spirit holy and incomprehensible eternall infinite immortall all-sufficient and therefore wilt be worshipped in Spirit and truth And hast in the riches of thy mercy promised to send thy holy Spirit the Comforter into our hearts to lead vs into all truth and to comfort vs in all our tribulations and so to seale vs vp to the day of Redemption Looke downe graciously vppon mee thy poore and forlorne seruant whose poâ—tion is in this valley of miserie to wander in darknesse and walke many times in the valley of the shadow of death altogether ignorant of my way and so subiect to continuall error and wholy destitute of all direction therein and so necessarily exposed to continuall danger For mine owne heart within me is no better then a guide to betray me to error and the glory of the world is nought else then a baite to deceiue me either by clogging mee in the way that I may faint in my iourney or diuerting mee from my right home that I may set vp my rest in mine Inne or build my foundation vpon the sands And mine old aduersarie still compasseth and watcheth all opportunities from both either to sinke mee with dispaire that I may perish in the way or to swell me with presumption that I may not enter into the straight gate And euen so did it fare with me Blessed Lord all the daies of my vanity before I knew thee in Christ As mine owne heart misled mee into all error through my wilfull ignorance so it betrayed mee hereby to all occasions of sinne without which I swallowed more greedily then my appointed food and blessed my soule therein as my cheefest happines and so was faster bound in the chaynes of Sathan as being led captiue at his will to euery lust and reioycing therin as my greatest liberty And so also hath it in part befalne mee since my liberty in Christ by whome though I receiued the free Spirit to lead mee in the way of thy statutes and so haue somtimes obeyed the motions thereof to the euidencing of my glorious libertie yet such hath beene the power of my corruption preuailing ouer mee that I haue many times greeued thy good Spirit by my manifold back-slidings and to my sense and apprehension seemed vtterly to haue quenched the same so strong haue I found my corruption to lead mee captiue into many desperate euils so little life and comfort haue I found in prayer hearing thy word especially in my endeauour to repentance either to resist temptations or release my selfe out of the snares thereof And yet thou hast promised that thy Spirit shall abide with mee for euer and still methought in my greatest wandrings on the right hand and on the left methought I heard the voyce of thy Spirit behind me saying This is the way walke in it Me thouhgt I haue heard the voyce of my beloued many times knocking at the doore of my heart when I haue beene asleepe in the bed of my securitie saying Open vnto mee my Loue my Doue my vndefiled yea I haue felt him puting in his finger at the hole of the doore to open it for mee that so I might arise and let him in And haue I not many times arose to entertaine him and loe he was gone Did I not follow after him to seeke him and yet found him not Haue I not many times smarted soundly for my folly because I would not open betimes Haue not the watch-men that should haue cherished mee wounded me iustly for my carelesnesse Haue they not pluckt away my vaile to discouer my nakednesse the more that so my face being couered with shame I might seeke thy face more humbly And yet O my God I am still to seeke of thee though thou still callest on mee to seeke thy face and my heart in some poore measure answereth Thy face Lord will I seeke Yet what fellowship can there be betweene light and darknesse what hope haue I to find thee seeing I want my guide vnto thee yet thou art not wanting vnto mee to tender this holy guide and my guide is not farre from me though I know it not yea thou art euer with me to keepe mee from vtter fainting and thine holy Spirit is within mee helping me to crie vnto thee O harken therefore I humbly pray thee vnto the groanes of thine owne Spirit and haue mercy vppon thine owne seruant for greeuing the same Restore to mee the ioy of thy saluation that I may discerne the seale of thy Spirit and establish mee with thy free Spirit that I may euer bee with thee O make mee wise to trie the Spirits whether they bee of God or no that neither I may be deluded by a Spirit of error and withall may be able to discerne the worke and euidence of thine holy Spirit from the motions and testimonie of mine owne ignorant and dâ—ceitfull heart Grant me therefore Gracious Father to plead mine interest in thy Spirit by such true meanes and endeauors as may vndoubtedly auouch it to proceed from thee and may apparantly conuince that it dwelleth in me Giue mee to discerne the means wherby thy Spirit is conuayed vnto mee that after I haue heard thy word and beleeued therein then I haue beene sealed with the Spirit of promise grant mee to discerne the maner how it tooke possession of mine heart that to make way for it fit habittation it cast downe euery Imagination that enabled it selfe against thy wisedome that it onely might rule and gouerne mee Spiritually and that withall thereby my house was swept and cleansed from the Dominion of sinne that Iesus Christ thereby might wholy gouerne mee And grant mee to auouch the truth of thy Spirit dwelling in me not somuch by my entertainment and apprehension thereof because it bloweth where it lifteth and though I may heare the sound thereof yet I know not whence it comes nor whether it goes but rather by the nature and qualitie of thy Spirit which will leaue it true stampe in my receiued Spirit in euery qualitie thereof for the assuring my possession thereof by resemblance therto though yet surely and absolutely according to the Nature of the Spirit neither working it at all times alike nor at any time in full measure but still working according to the capacitie of the vessell and the maine end the glorie of God that still it power may bee seene in my weaknesse that the glorie may be of God and not of Man And therefore as I may not challenge a right in thy Spirit vnlesse I find some liuely resemblance and effects of it holy nature in mee as to be
soule in mercy preserued and thy whole Church edified now for euer Amen A Prayer for patience in tribulation and that God may bee glorified thereby GRacious and mercifull Father who hast from time to time in all ages exercised euen thy most deere children with greeuous afflictions and sharpe corrections to draw their minds from too much loue of earthly pleasures to delight in heauenly ioyes and spirituall comforts of the soule graunt I beseech thee that I euen from my heart may acknowledge this affliction which doth nowe greeuously pierce my soule to bee thy Fatherly correction and scourge of thy meere mercy and loue layd vppon mee to put mee in minde of my dutie towards thee least else with too much quietnesse I should haue beene drawne through the flattering pleasures of this vaine world from the remembrance and delight of my spirituall ioy in heauenly things to haue had my sinfull delight in this vaine world and so should haue runne headlong to euerlasting damnation with the wicked world But that thou O Father hast called me back by this thy Fatherly rod whereby thou mindest to let me see that of my selfe I haue no strength vnto goodnesse but that it was thou who by thy aboundant mercy hadst before time replenished my heart with ioy that I tooke great pleasure and comfort in reading and hearing thy holy word and receiuing other benefits which spirituall comfort and quietnesse of mind because I did not fully acknowledge to bee thy good gift in mee thou hast now taken from mee for a time that I may effectually perceiue and learne by the lacke of it that it was thy worke in me and when thou restorest the same againe I may more aboundantly glorifie thee in thy manifold mercies But while it shall be thy good will pleasure O Lord to exercise mee with this thy louing correction giue me grace that I may patientiy abide whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vpon me for my amendment strengthen mee O Lord that I doe not faint vnder the burthen of affliction but being vpholden by the strength of thy holy Spirit in mee I may neuer cease calling vppon thy name with full perswasion that thou wilt at thy time appointed send mee full assurance to my singular comfort and thy eternall glory And when it shall please thee O Lord fully to deliuer mee I beseech thee so worke in my heart that I may acknowledge the same to come from thee and to be thy onely worke that I may be thankfull for thy so great mercies in all the daies of my life and I neuer forget thy louing and Fatherly dealings towards mee but so to the end of my life I may liue in thy feare and loue that thy holy name in my life may be glorified and after death I may bee receiued to that full ioy which thou hast prepared for thine elect children through our onely Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer for mortification and holinesse BLessed Lord God and most mercifull Father I doe acknowledge vnto thee that I am vnworthy to appeare before thy high Maiestie to offer vp vnto thee a sacrifice of prayer being full of sinne and corruption naturally glad of euill and vnprofitable to good Yea being so miserable yet I see not my miserie I feele it not I bewaile it not as I ought to doe but multiply mine iniquities prouoking thy iust iudgement against me My zeale is cold my loue feeble my exercises of Religion faint and few and I take no way but that which leadeth from euill to worse and finally would lead me from sinne to the reward of sin All this is true deere Father yet my heart is not moued with feare all this is true yet I doe not sorrow for it but walke with ioy where I must if I continue reape affliction therefore be mercifull vnto mee and blesse me be mercifull vnto me in Christ Iesus wash away all mine iniquities be mercifull vnto me and create in me a new heart and prepare it to prayer and to thy holy seruice for thou alone O Lord art my hope and the mighty God of my saluation Thou hast giuen mee a desire to serue thee O teach me that I may doe it and the good worke which thou hast begun make it perfect in me that I may no more loue wickednes follow vanity but that my good desires in thee may be increased and all of them accomplished so shall I praise thee and magnifie thee for euer For ther is no honor but thy honor no glory but thy glory O Lord it is vaine to trust in Princes but truely to trust in the Lord bringeth plentifull saluation From age to age it hath appeared that thou O Lord God art mercifull and that in thy Courts there is nothing but truth and holinesse This world is full of vanitie full of pride full of rebellion and the flesh also The world hath many baites of destruction and the flesh doth delight in them they are sworne together to betray vs to Sathan yea wee betray our selues therefore deere Father by the crosse of Christ mortifie in vs the deeds of the flesh and crucifie in vs the deeds of the flâ—sh and crucifie both vs to the world and the world to vs that our soules may liue In our generall calling make vs obedient to serue thâ—e in holinesse and in righteousnesse all the daies of our life in our particular callings also make vs faithfull that we may neither put away a good conscience nor make ship-wracke of faith I beleeue O Lord helpe my vnbeleefe in the day of peace and prosperitie make vs sober in the day of trouble and aduersitie make vs looke vppe and cheerefuly to waite and trust in thee for our deliuerance that our enemies mouthes may bee stopped by our godly conuersation and their hearts pricked with zeale to turne vnto thee Neither do I pray O Lord for my selfe alone but for the whole body into the which I am grafted by Christ Iesus that is for thy Church O God for thine inheritance that rhou wouldest encrease it from one end of the world to another that all Nations may worship before thy foot-stoole Especially O Lord I pray for them that professe thy Gospell as for this our Nation that thou wouldest be mercifull vnto it turning our hearts to thee for our gracious Soueraign the King and for all our Councell that thou wouldest poure thy graces vpon them to discharge of their dutie and our peace for all the holy Teachers in the Church that thou wouldest blesse them and their labours for the peace and full beautie of this Church for the peace and wealth of the Common-weale Wee pray thee also for to blesse all the meanes to bring this to passe Also we pray thee for our Parents for all others to whom wee owe speciall loue or seruice but principally wee beseech thee to shew thy compassion vpon all that are in persecution for thy Gospel O Lord