Christ THat he will draw near by grace unto Knowledge of God and our selves thy soul to strengthen thee with knowledge true faith unfeigned repentance and perfect charity that thou maiest rightly reverently and faithfully receive this holy Sacrament to Gods Ps 14. 22. 1 Jo 1. 8. glory and thine owne comfort and salvation Now when thou commest to communicate and receive this blessed Col. 3. 2. Rom. 12. 1. 2. 1. 15. Sacrament of the Lords Supper First banish all vaine and earthly thoughts and recollect thy heart to the serious meditations of that which is the life of the 1 Tim. 2. 4 Humility 1 Pet. 5. 6. 1 Jo. 2. 2. 4. 14. Sacrament even the death of thy Saviour and humbly and devoutly present thy selfe and service to the Redeemer of thy soule and Lord of the feast the only saviour of mankinde Jesus Christ our righteous Lord. Then apply thy minde to these contemplations First remember with great reverence the infinite Majesty of God his mercy True repentance 1 Jo. 9. Prov. 28. 13. goodnesse and justice in whose presence we are Secondly consider thine owne vilenesse misery and unworthinesse being wholly corrupt both in soul and body Thirdly confesse all thy sins True faith 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19 21. 2. 14. 1. 3. 21. plainly for in hiding our sins this work will not prosper but with most hearty and unfeigned sorrow in all humility cast thy self at Jesus feet earnestly begging for pardon with hatred to all sin and purpose of amendment For who 1 Pet. 3. 22 Heb. 12. 24. 1 Jo. 2. 3. so confesseth and forsaketh their sins shall finde mercy Fourthly trie and acknowledge thy faith and stedfast beliefe in Christ Jesus the blessed Son of God the Creator to be the only Saviour 1 Tim. 21 5. Jam. 1. 17. and Redeemer of the world who dyed for thy sins and rose againe for thy justification and is ascended up to heaven for thy salvation where sitting at Gods right hand he maketh intercession for 1 Tim. 21 5. thee and powreth downe all graces and blessings upon thee who giveth himself with all his merits unto thee in this Sacrament covering all thy offences with Jam. 1. 17. his perfect obedience So making thee righteous and leaving thee a pledge and Sanctification 1 Jo. 17. 19. Heb. 13. 12. seale of thy future and eternall happinesse this his holy institution which the divine word hath sanctified to that end and purpose Now call to minde the exceeding love of God and Christ towards thee the one in sending his only deare Sonne to become man and suffer death The fifth in giving his most pretious body and bloud to bee crucified Gods love to us and shed upon the crosse to satisfie the just wrath of God due for thy sins of which this bread broken wine powred out that we see is a remembrance which we ought often to celebrate and set our hearts and soules duly and truly Our love to God to love and honour this gracious God and Lord who hath loved us first and done such great things as to give himself for us 6. Ponder well in thine heart 1 Ja. 4. 9. 10. all the divine mysteries of this holy Sacrament to which heavenly banquet Jesus thy Saviour now inviteth thee taking away thine hatefull iniquities and Jam. 2. 8. cloathing thee with his innocencie so Jo. 15. 12. Charity to our neighbours 1 Jo. 4. 21. to make thee acceptable in the sight of God the Father and by the gracious operation of the Holy Ghost joyning thee unto himselfe as thy head and all of us in true love one to another as members of one body to walke in newnesse of life the rest of our dayes 7. And Amendment 1 Jo. 33. 10. 1 Pet. 4. 2. lastly forget not to be ever truly thankfull for these inestimable benefits of God the Father of the blessed Trinity and of Jesus Christ our Lord towards us who hath laid downe his own life to redeem us such vile and miserable sinners all which the Holy Ghost applieth unto us Thankfulnesse 1 Jo. 5. 7. Eph. 5. 20. 1 Thess 5. 18. Infinite mercies we are never able sufficiently to acknowledge and admire Prepare not thy belly but thy soule believe and thou hast eaten this saith St. Augustine 14. A thanksgiving after the holy communion of the Lords Supper OH blessed and praised for ever be the Name of the Lord my God who hath done great and many things for me and holy is thy gracious and glorious name and let thy mercy and thy truth O Lord never forsake me but vouchsafe to continue thy goodnesse and loving kindnesse towards me for ever and say unto my soule thou art my God my helpe and my salvation for evermore And now especially O Lord as I am infinitely bound I render unto thy divine Majesty all humble and possible praise and thanks for this present and particular favour shewed unto me thy unworthy servant in feeding my soule to eternall lfe with the most pretious food of thine owne sacred body and bloud blotting out all my sinnes and sanctifying mee by thy holy Spirit imputing to me thy righteousnesse and admitting mee so unworthy to be a happy partaker of this blessed Sacrament The benefit whereof is unspeakable and the mercy therein unexpressable only I admire thy goodnesse towards mankind and magnifie thy great mercy beseeching thee my God as thou hast vouchsafed to accept mee at this holy Table so good Lord let mee not depart without a blessing but be pleased to receive me into thy gracious care and favour that I may live and die therein and give mee grace to spend the rest of my time in a carefull reformation of all evills past a diligent performance of thy most holy will in all things and true obedience to all thy Commandements with a faithfull and right application of all thy mercies and merits so that I may feele thy bitter passion O Lord sweet unto my soule and by the assistance of thy Spirit bring forth the fruits of amendment of life and most hearty thankfulnesse all my daies that at the end of this life I may obtaine a blessed roome in the Kingdome of glory there to praise thy holy name for evermore Amen 15. A short Prayer for conclusion to any prayer O God the Father blesse and governe my soule and body in all things to thy service O Lord the Sonne my Saviour Jesus protect me and direct me at all times to doe thy will O holy Ghost blessed Spirit preserve mee from falling into any sinne or evill but instruct sanctifie and lead me into the waies of truth and righteousnesse that I may live in thy feare and dye in thy favour and may continue in thy right Church and true faith unto my end So that in the houre of my death and in the dreadfull day of judgement I may finde grace in thy sight that thou
other thy holy Commandements heretofore and vouchsafe O God alwaies to knit my straying heart to the true feare of thy great name to keep me from offending thee and fill my soul with the infinite love of thy divine Majesty that I may daily strive to lead the rest of my life in all obedience to thy holy will And Lord vouchsafe to inspire me thy most unworthy servant I humbly pray thee with thy blessed Spirit that I may withdraw my minde this blessed day from all worldly cogitations thinking my owne thoughts speaking my owne words doing my daily works or going my owne waies but assist me with thy grace that I may apply my heart and soule wholly to meditate of thy wonderfull works and manifold mercies with thankfulnesse and to attend thy service either publique or private with care and faithfulnesse and to obey all thy Commandements henceforth with diligence and constantly serving thee all my life to come that so I may praise and glorifie thee and thou maiest pardon my sins and save my poore soule through thy great and unmerited mercie in Jesus Christ my Lord and only Redeemer Amen 5. A Prayer for the Lords day in the morning before going to Church My soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy name who is most worthy of all honour and glory ALmighty God our heavenly Father in Jesus Christ thy beloved Son who of thy infinite goodnesse by thy great power and divine word didst in six dayes create heaven and earth the sea and the whole world with all things therein and resting the seventh day didst blesse and hallow it commanding all thy people in purity after thine owne image to keep the same holy to thy due honour and praise having also given us six dayes for our owne occasions and after this great and unexpressible worke thou didst also in thy appointed time accomplish by thy beloved Son Jesus that happy redemption of mankinde who were lost by sin and fallen from thee which unspeakable mercie and benefit was as upon this first day of the week consummated by the miraculous blessed resurrection of our Saviour which wee Christians now keep in commemoration of these thy infinite benefits that according to thine appointment thy servants may rest this holy Lords day from all worldly affaires to thy honour and glory blessed and praised now and for ever bee thy glorious Name for these thy marvellous workes Therefore I most humbly beseech thee O Lord of thy great mercie by thy Spirit of grace to sanctifie mee thy most unworthy servant both in soule and body that I may at all times but especially this Lords day and upon all other daies consecrated by thy Church to the memory of any of thy blessings benefits and deliverances wholly devote my selfe to thy true feare holy devotion and faithfull service in performance of thy blessed will and commandement And so thy worthy name may be glorified my salvation furthered and thy favour and blessing rest alwaies upon me and mine And likewise I most humbly pray thee O God for thy Son Jesus sake to forgive all my sins done in my whole life past in breaking this and all other thy divine Laws that through the death and bitter passion of my deare and innocent Saviour which hee suffered to redeem us thou wilt vouchsafe to be reconciled unto me thy guilty and sinfull creature that as this is a day of rest to thy due praise so by thy marcy it may bee a happy day of joy and peace to my poore soule and conscience through my only Lord and blessed Saviour Jesus Christ Amen Amen 6. A Prayer to be said at the Church as soone as we are come into our seat O Lord our God who art here present amongst us thou seest and understandest all things and knowest my heart prepare sanctifie and assist my heart and soule with thy grace so to behave my selfe both outwardly and inwardly as in the presence of thy glorious Majesty in this thy blessed house of prayer and hearing thy word with such due reverence feare humility true faith and devotion as may be best pleasing and acceptable unto thee and most profitable and available for the good of mine owne soule O God indue thy servant the Preacher with thy holy Spirit to teach thy saving truth rightly and sincerely that it may be powerfull to our edification and effectuall to the beating downe and banishing of all sins from our soules and the encrease of faith and grace in us that heare him to thy glory and the furthering of our salvations through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen 7. Another shorter Prayer to the same purpose GOod Lord that knowest my infirmities prevent and remove all sin and evill hindrances and impediments of drousâ—nesse and wandring thoughts from me fraile sinfull creature and open my ears and heart like Lidiees to attend and marke diligently what is taught out of thy most sacred word Inlighten Lord my understanding to conceive rightly what I heare and keep my mind wholly intentive upon thy faithfull service in hearing thy holy word with true devotion before thee and make my memory retentive of all the good instructions that I learne and give me grace carefully and conscionably to practice them throughout my whole life to the honour of thy great name the performance of thy most holy will the amendment of all my faults and finally the salvation of mee thy poore servant through my Saviour Jesus Christs merits and mercies Amen 8. A Prayer after the Sermon is ended before we go out of the Church MOst Gracious Lord God I humbly beseech thee to pardon all my sinfull neglects defects and want of due preparation or any infirmities that have overtaken mee in the performance of my duty towards thee in this thy house and blessed exercise of Prayer and hearing of thy divine Word And let me not depart out of this holy place without thy blessing whereby my knowledge faith holinesse and comfort in thee may be daily increased in me And Lord adde thy grace to what I have now heard that by thy gracious assistance it may bring forth plentifull fruit in me to the reformation of my life and conversation in avoiding all evill and doing all good which may be serviceable and acceptable to thy Majesty and best pleasing in thy sight through Jesus Christ my only Saviour Amen A Prayer for the Lords day at night of three Petitions FIrst thankfulnesse for benefits already received with prayer for the continuance of all Gods mercies Secondly for repentance true faith remission of sins and amendment of life Lastly so to live and dye unto God here that after death we may live with him in heaven for ever 9. The Prayer MY soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits which forgiveth all thine iniquities and healeth all thine infirmities which redeemeth thy life from death and crowneth thee in mercy and compassion who provided a ransome
that so I may be inabled rightly and faithfully to serve and please thee while I live here and also make me carefully to fit and prepare my soule for thy mercifull acceptance before thou call me to thy selfe out of this vale of misery and give mee grace daily to die unto this world and forsake it while I am in it that I may live more and more in true holinesse and righteousnesse before thee and so I shall obtain blessednesse here to be directed by thee in all things and to have thy protection over me to die happily in thee and live eternally with thee who art my only Saviour and Redeemer Iesus Christ the righteous to whom be all glory for ever and ever So be it 17. The conclusion for Tuesday to be said at night or in bed to the Son for my selfe and children MY sweet Iesus by thy grace and holy Name keep mee thy poore servant and all mine from all sinne and shame and by thy bitter death and passion save us from thy great wrath and endlesse damnation and by thy powerfull resurrection raise us daily from sin to grace and newnesse of life and by thy glorious ascention draw me thy unworthy servant continually to heaven after thee by a holy life and godly conversation and of thy great mercie after death reserve me to be where thou art and make me partaker of thy everlasting salvation and in all my troubles sorrows and distresse doe thou my griefes redresse and be my blessed consolation and vouchsafe to receive me this night and alwaies into thy mercifull preservation for now I will lay me downe in peace and also rest and sleep because thou Lord dost only mee sustaine and wilt in safety keep for on thee alone I wholly doe depend who art all my hope helpe comfort and confidence sweet Iesus my Saviour Amen 18. A Prayer for Wednesday to the glorious Trinity at first awaking GReat is our God and worthy to be praised I will speake of all thy marvellous workes for thou hast done great things and holy is thy Name To thee O God heavenly Father our gracious Creator of all things with God the Son that blessed Redeemer of mankinde and God the Holy Ghost the sanctifier of thine elect unto thee O Lord three Persons one true and everliving God be given and rendred as is due by mee and all other thy children and servants all humble and possible praise and thanks now and ever For I thy most unworthy servant doe humbly and thankfully acknowledge that I finde thy blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall sleeping and waking daily and howrely to be renued towards me for which I blesse and magnifie thy holy Name especially for those spirituall graces thou hast vouchsafed unto my soule from time to time before I had any being for my election by the whole Trinity and my creation by God the Father which thou didst fully performe in thine owne innocent person but chiefly in that infinite love token unto mankinde of God the Father in ordaining and sending thy deare Son out of thy bosome into the world and thou O Christ in comming amongst wicked men to put thy selfe into their cruell hands for our redemption and so become our righteousnesse justification and salvation which thou hast dearly purchased for us with thy own bloud And since I was borne O blessed Spirit for my continuall preservation and daily supply of all needfull blessings for my soule and body especially for my vocation and calling to the right knowledge of God and his saving truth with some measure of true faith sanctification and regeneration from sinne to grace all wrought in mee by the holy operation of thee Lord Holy Ghost by whom also we are united unto our Lord and head Christ Jesus from whom Lord let me never be separated Now vouchsafe O God still to continue all thy mercies towards me and chiefly in giving me daily a supply and increase of all heavenly gifts and spirituall graces whereby I may be able rightly faithfully and constantly to feare and love to seek serve and please thee my God in all things as I ought to doe that so I may obtaine thy grace and favour by thy assistance to live a holy life here according to thy will that thou of thy infinite mercie Almighty God and glorious Trinity maiest make me partaker of thy heavenly Kingdome of glory hereafter Amen 19. A Prayer to the Trinity for Wednesday morning O God the Father of heaven the gracious Creator of all things the righteous judge that searcheth the heart and trieth the children of men and beholdeth all our waies and knowest my substance is but dust flesh and bloud and my nature as it is corrupted by sin is of it selfe earthly sensuall and divelish and can merit nothing from thee O Lord but condemnation Deare God the originall of all goodnesse I most humbly beseech thee to have mercy upon mee miserable sinner and enter not into judgement with thy poore servant for no flesh living is righteous before thee neither reward me after my wickednesse for I am a wretched and most sinfull creature and have done exceeding much evill in thy sight but I humbly pray thee O God for thy dear Son and my Saviours sake to withdraw thy great wrath and heavy displeasure from mee which my sinnes have justly deserved and if it be thy will Lord release my present afflictions which now and long have lain upon me and vouchsafe also to prevent and remove those weighty judgements that hang over my head for my iniquities that by thy unspeakable mercies I may escape them yet if thou please further to visit mee with fatherly chastisements for the amendment of my faults Lord give me wisdome and patience to beare all things as I ought to doe without offence towards thee and by thy grace to make the best and rightest use of all thou sendest so as in the end they may turne to thy glory and the furtherance of my salvation in Christ my Lord. O God the Son Redeemer of mankinde who didst vouchsafe to bee borne of a woman to become man for our redemption and camest into the world to seek and save all those that were lost by sin that they might live by faith in thee which Lord grant unto me sweet Jesus my Saviour and have mercie upon me a wicked sinner to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and offences that I have done before thee all my life past in thought word and deed and impute not my iniquities unto me neither destroy mee with my transgressions nor let thy heavy displeasure reserve evill for me hereafter but deare Lord of thy great goodnesse grant me thy poore servant true faith and unfeigned repentance with thy gracious remission of all my trespasses and wash my sinnes out of thy sight with thine owne most pretious and innocent bloud which thou didst so freely shed for our redemption naile all my offences upon thy crosse and
preservation this night and formerly and safe approach by thy providence to this light I humbly beseech thee vouchsafe this day and alwaies to bee my present helpe in all dangers and my mercifull God to pardon all my sinnes and wickednesse that I have done heretofore and to prevent and to protect mee by thy grace and favour from falling into any sin or evill to offend thee hereafter and direct me by thy holy Spirit in all things I goe about to doe that which is acceptable in thy sight through Christ and to the best for my owne soule Deare Lord give me thy sinfull servant thy grace whereby I may be able rightly and faithfully to seeke serve and please thee my God as I ought to doe this day and at all times throughout my whole life These great blessings I beg of thee O God the Father by thy gracious assistance in and through and for the sake of thine owne deare Sonne and my only Saviour Jesus Christ the righteous So bee it 23. A Prayer for Thursday morning to God the Father MOst mighty God and my mercifull Father the giver of all good gifts grant mee thy grace and the light of thy countenance to guide mee this day and ever to walke in thy paths of truth and righteousnesse all my life and to runne in the way of thy Commandements unto my end for thy beloved Sonne hath taught us before all things to seek that which is most needfull even the Kingdome of God and the rightousnesse thereof and then our heavenly Father will supply all things else which he knoweth to be necessary for us Good Lord make me with Mary to choose the better part to seek heare and follow our Saviour Jesus and let that never bee taken from mee thy poore servant To which end I humbly pray thee O God to weane and withdraw my heart and soule from the cares love or liking of this vilde world and all the vanities thereof all which like a dream and shadow fade away And Lord drive all wicked thoughts out of my minde and banish covetous desires the root of all evill from my heart and make me ever consider what it would advantage me if I could win the whole world and should lose my owne soule Therefore I beseech thee O Lord by thy holy Spirit to settle my heart and soul my desires affections and delight only upon thee my God thy glory thy Kingdome thy righteousnesse and make me to account all earthly things but drosse and dirt so that I may win Christ and attaine to the excellent knowledge of Jesus my Saviour who is the Lord of life him chiefly O God let me finde and obtaine to be mine with whom I shall have all other good things by thy infinite mercie I beseech thee that so I may be able rightly and faithfully to serve and please thee as I ought while I live heare that after death thou of thy unspeakable goodnesse maiest make mee partaker of thy heavenly Kingdome of glory And now deare God vouchsafe unto me thy most unworthy servant the grace of daily and unfeigned sorrow and repentance for all my sins with a sound sense and feeling of them in a contrite spirit with care to reforme all my former faults in the rest of my life and make me strictly to examine my owne heart soule knowledge and conscience of all the evills I have done before thee and severely to judge hate and condemne my selfe for them that so I may escape thy great wrath and may not bee judged and condemned by thee in thy heavy displeasure which I am not able to beare for who can stand in the sight of thy great Majesty when thou art angry therefore I most humbly pray thee good God in the multitude of thy mercies to forgive and grant me thy grace and pardon of all my sins and offences past that I am guilty of for thy beloved Sonnes sake that so my iniquities may never be imputed unto me but Lord give me true faith to lay fast hold upon thy mercies and all thy gracious promises and the merits and sufferings of Ghrist with grace rightly to apply them to my owne salvation through Jesus my Saviour that so I may be quit through him and freed of my account with thee before I die and grant that I may daily die unto the world and hate all the vaine pressures thereof and may live more and more unto thee in all righteousnesse and true holinesse of living before thee as becommeth thy Saints that so when thy appointed time is come for me to enter into my long sleep of death that thou wilt be pleased by thy holy Spirit to fit and prepare me and to give me a happy and blessed departure out of this life to die in the Lord that I may rest in peace and safety and be raised up by my Saviour to grace and glory that thou pardoning all my sinnes and receiving me to mercie thou maiest wipe all teares from mine eies and remove all sorrow from my soule and for Jesus sake to admit me into thy glorious presence and there to enjoy eternall felicitie and be a happy member of thy blessed Church triumphant to praise thee there for evermore Amen And the blessing of God Almighty the eternall Father the beloved Son and the Holy Ghost be ever with mee to sanctifie blesse and preserve my soule and body in thy feare and favour and true faith stedfast hope and perfect charity unto my lifes end Amen 24. A Prayer to God the Father for Thursday night HAve mercy upon me O Lord and hearken unto my prayer for I know thou Lord wilt blesse the righteous and with thy favour wilt compasse him as with a shield Lord thou lovest not wickednesse neither shall evill dwell with thee thou shalt destroy them that speake lies for thou abhorrest all them that worke iniquity yet thou desirest not the death of a sinner but that he should returne and live therefore deare Lord deliver my soule and save me in thy manifold mercies for I have grievously sinned before thee and my iniquities are gone over my head into thy presence and are too heavy for mee to beare But I most humbly beseech thee for thy beloved Son Jesus sake to give me unfaigned sorrow and repentance for all my sinnes past which are great and many and grant me thy gracious pardon and remission for all my offences committed this day or heretofore against thee and Lord indue me with true faith to lay hold of all thy mercies and my Saviours merits and sufferings with grace to amend reforme my life according to thy most holy word and Commandements all the rest of my daies to come to which end Lord give me a soft a penitent upright and contrite heart with a tender conscience and a true and sound sense and feeling of all my sinnes infirmities and spirituall wants with grace earnestly and faithfully to cry and pray unto thee for mercie and reliefe
in all my necessities and chiefly for all spirituall graces to my soule And as I trust thou wilt awake mee from the dulnesse of this nights sleep in safety to the morning light so dear Lord by thy holy Spirit daily quicken my soule from the deadnesse of sinne to newnesse of life and raise me up in mercie hereafter from the darknesse of death unto light and life eternall to live with thee my God for evermore Now gracious Lord receive mee with all that doth belong unto me into thy mercifull protection now and alwaies to keep and deliver us from all sinne and evill giving us this night quiet sleep health and rest if it be thy will and grant whether I sleep or wake live or dye I may be wholly thine and doe all to thy honour and glory that so both in life and death Christ may be to me an advantage through thy infinite mercie O my blessed Lord God Now I humbly pray thee so to inlighten the darknesse of my soul and understanding with thy grace that I may see clearly the right way to heavenly happinesse and by thy assistance follow hard after it untill I have attained to it and also for thy holy Names sake defend mee from all perills and dangers of this night either to my soule or body to me or any of mine for the love of thy only Son my deare Saviour Jesus Christ for whose sake grant me also the guard of thy holy and good Angells now and ever that they may pitch their tents about mee to preserve mee from all my enemies bodily and ghostly and commit mee Lord to the custody of thy blessed Spirit to keep me from falling into any sinne or evill and to guide my waies into the paths of truth and righteousnesse that I may live in thy holy feare and dye in thy faith and favour and good God grant that in the howre of my death and in the day of judgement thy dear Son and my sweet Jesus may bee my mercifull judge and Saviour to pardon and pasle by all my sinnes and cover them with his righteousnesse that after death I may bee received and accepted into thy grace and favour to live and remaine in joy and blisse eternally with thee my God Father Son and Holy Ghost Now O God who canst doe abundantly more then I can aske or thinke to thee be all praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen 25. The conclusion for Thursday night in bed O Lord my God I thanke thee for all thy mercies vouchsafed unto mee this present day and formerly and now be pleased O Lord by thy holy Spirit to sanctifie me thy poor unworthy servant in soule body and spirit throughout to thy right faithfull and constant service all my daies and assist me with thy grace that I may daily confesse lament hate leave and amend all my former misdeeds and may become faithfully and unfainedly thine in all true obedience and sincere and perfect love toward thy Majesty both living and dying and for ever that through thy mercy and Christs merits I may be found blamelesse at the appearance of my Lord Jesus by whom I trust to obtaine to live in heaven with thee and to bee presented by my Saviour unto thy gracious acceptance in that great day of the Lord to remain with thee my God for ever Amen 26. A Prayer for Friday at first awaking to God the Son DEare Saviour Jesus have mercy upon mee a miserable sinner Thou immaculate Lambe of God that knewest no sinne but diedst for our transgressions and shed thine owne most pretious bloud to cleanse us from sinne I most humbly praise and magnifie thy holy Name for all thy mercies who hast done and suffered great and many things for mee but especially I blesse thee for those spirituall blessings thou hast bestowed upon me before I was borne and hitherto Now sweet Jesus who knowest my frailty I doe most humbly pray thee never to leave me to my self nor to my soules enemies neither while I live at my death nor in the great and dreadfull day of judgement when all things shall bee made manifest before thee and it will be wholly in thy power to save or to condemne then Lord Jesus looke in mercie on me as one of thine whom thou lovest to the end to pardon and cover all my sinnes and receive me into thy grace and favour for by thee only commeth my salvation and in thee O Lord is my whole trust Therefore vouchsafe Lord to continue thy goodnesse thy favour and thy loving kindnesse towards me this day and for ever in forgiving all my iniquities that I have committed in my whole life past and also my sinfull omission of those duties and good workes which thou hast commanded and I have wickedly neglected But I most humbly beseech thee my Saviour to indue mee thy most unworthy servant with thy grace and holy Spirit to direct my heart and all my waies aright before thee and preserve me at all times in the sincere and perfect love of thy divine Majesty and in thy feare and favour with unfaigned repentance and amendment of life that I may obtaine thy gracious pardon for all my offences and Lord give me true faith stedfast hope and perfect charity unto my liâ—â—â— end These great mercies I aske at thy gracious hands deare Jesus Christ who art my only Saviour Redeemer Mediator and Advocate to whom be all praise and glory for ever Amen 27. A morning Prayer for Friday to God the Sonne SWeet Saviour none can come to the Father but by thee and whosoever commeth unto thee thou castest not away but wilt raise him up at the last day unto eternall life Now deare Jesus thou blessed Son and innocent Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the sinnes of the world who graciously callest unto thee all heavy laden and penitent sinners that thou maiest ease and refresh them have pity on me and vouchsafe to sanctifie and cleanse my soule and body from all sinne and evill by thy holy Spirit and make mee pure and upright in thy sight and be pleased to protect and direct my heart and soule and all my waies before thee and to indue me with thy blessed Spirit to preserve mee from falling into any sin or offence towards thee but assist me with thy grace in all things I goe about to doe that I may doe that which may be most acceptable and best pleasing in thy fight Now Lord I confesse that I was conceived and borne in sinne and I am a miserable and wretched sinner above all others and unto whom should I come but to thee the Saviour of mankinde who camest into the world to save sinners by thy grace of whom I am chiefe O fountaine of mercy who didst vouchsafe to bee borne of the blessed and pure Virgin Mary to become man and tookest our wretched nature upon thee therein to suffer death to reassume us from eternall death sinne
everlasting happinesse to live with thee and glorifie thee there for ever and ever Amen 2. A Prayer to live blessedly and dye happily OH gracious Lord God who didst create all things by thy omnipotent power and lastly made mankinde thou best knowest the frailties and corruption of our wretched nature which we inherit from our first parents whose substance was but earth and we are of our selves inclined onely to earthly and evill things and such is the condition of mortall man that all that are borne must dye and returne to dust from whence they came but the spirit returnes to thee O God that gave it to receive either joy or blisse with thee for ever or else eternall banishment from thee who art the only good therefore I doe most humbly beseech thee deare Lord to looke mercifully upon me to helpe my manifold infirmities and daily to prevent and keep me from falling into any sinne or evill to offend thee But especially in the time of my death dear Lord be mercifull unto me a most miserable sinner to forgive all my sinnes and offences past that I have committed against thee my God my brethren or my owne soule and grant through the merits and many sufferings of thy beloved Son and my only Saviour Jesus that they may never bee imputed unto me thy poor servant but vouchsafe good God in thy manifold mercies to indue mee thy most unworthy suppliant with all saving graces leading to my salvation both in life and death for we daily see by example how suddainly death may surprise us when we least expect it therefore while this life is in being and I am going on in the way of all flesh which can be of no long continuance Lord teach and assist mee to make my peace for my offences with thee my God while I am here who else wilt take an account of me in a dreadfull place and art able if thy wrath be not pacified to cast me into hell fire from which there is no redemption therefore have mercy on me sweet Jesus that I may by thy helpe grace and assistance rightly fit and prepare my self for thy acceptance before sicknesse lay hold on me for when death seiseth it will carry mee immediately before the judgement seat of thy great Majesty Oh there let me finde thee deare Jesus to be my gracious Saviour and Advocate and so I shall obtaine mercy and favour and by thy sufferings my offences pardoned and Gods severe justice satisfied And thus in thee and through thee only my blessed Redeemer Iesus Christ I shall be received to grace and mercy and made partaker of eternall life and remaine with Almighty God in whose presence is the fulnesse of joy and at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore which Lord make me partaker of there to glorifie the Name of Almighty God Father Son and Holy Ghost for ever Amen 3. A Prayer to be prepared for a happy death and to gaine a joyfull resurrection MOst glorious Lord God who didst make all things thou well understandest that we poor creatures how highly soever we are conceited of our selves are but dust and ashes and must returne to earth from whence we came our lives and times are in thy hand and power and what thou hast appointed we cannot change and all things to our selves are most uncertaine for when thou with just rebuke dost chastise man for iniquity thou makest his strength and beauty to consume away like a flower of the field that withereth and falleth for when thou callest man cannot retaine the spirit nor adde one houre to his time but it returnes to thee that gave it and hee goeth downe to the grave from which he shall not returne againe till this world is at an end Therefore deare Lord I now most humbly beseech thee for thy beloved sonnes sake who hath satisfied thy just wrath by his infinite and innocent sufferings and redeemed me from sin and Sathan by his death Lord forgive and pardon me all my sinnes and offences past either in soule or body that I have committed against thee ever since I came into this miserable world which I confesse are innumerable more then the haires of my head or the sand upon the Sea shoare but vouchsafe O mercifull God to be reconciled unto mee a wicked sinner in thy deare and righteous Son Christ Iesus my only Saviour who hath paid my ransome with his owne pretious bloud wherewith oh God of mercie blot my debt to thee by sinne out of thy sight and also he did fulfill all righteousnesse for me who is now my blessed Mediator in heaven to impute all this unto mee Therefore deare Lord Holy Ghost by thy gracious and holy Spirit joyne and unite me unto my Lord and head Christ never to be separated from him while I live here and when I goe from hence carry me to be where he is and give mee grace and faith in and through him to make my peace while I am in the way and passage of this life and while I have breath to call upon thee before I am laid into the darke dungeon of the earth when the wormes shall eat my corrupt flesh yet I trust and doe believe through him that hath overcome death the grave and hell for me that at the blessed resurrection of thy children and servants that my corruption shall put on incorruption and I shall see my blessed Lord and Saviour with these my eyes who did redeeme me and shall be my mercifull judge to save me therefore I have sure confidence in his favour and under the wings of his mercie shall I rest in safety Now I humbly pray thee O God the Holy Ghost to sanctifie fit prepare and assist my heart and soule with thy Spirit to fill me with all saving graces for my salvation while I live to enable me to call pray and strive to please thee here in all things but especially Lord at my death stand by me and pray for me that my faith faile not fit and prepare me for thy gracious acceptance before thou call and seise upon me to take me out of this present life and make me alwaies mindefull both in health and sicknesse of my owne last end and then of my appearance before thee to make answer before the great God of Heaven Earth from whom nothing can bee hid of all my life and deeds past even to my very words for thou art only and above all to be feared who canst both save and kill and cast both soule and body into utter perdition in hell Therefore Lord vouchsafe to assist me with thy grace to worke in me all things which may make me acceptable unto thee before the day of my departure that when it doth approach it may not bee fearfull and terrible but happy and comfortable unto me in Christ Jesus my Lord that through him my last day may be my best and most welcome to my soule that I may then call and
let thy right hand uphold and sustaine me to preserve me from all my spirituall enemies that wait to destroy my soule But thou my Lord art sufficient for me O Lord vouchsafe me thy grace to direct my heart and words towards thee and by thy ready helpe to assist me in all things and at all times that in thy mercie at the last thou maiest finish all thy favour in mee which is the accomplishment of my faith and hope in thee And Lord grant that I may willingly and readily come unto thee when thou callest and vouchsafe O blessed Spirit Holy Ghost to fit and prepare me by unfeigned repentance to obtaine remission of all my sinnes that I have done before thee with true faith to lay hold of all the mercies of my God in Christ and with stedfast hope to rest on all thy gracious promises O Lord who never failest those that trust in thee Now Lord give me strength and patience to wait thy good leasure and pleasure untill thou have pity and compassion on me either to recover and restore my health here if it be thy will that I may live and glorifie thee longer in this life or else that thou wilt please to receive and prepare me for thy selfe and give me all saving graces for thine own mercifull acceptance when thou pleasest to call and take me to thee out of this wretched world that so my faith and sure trust in thee may never faile unto my last breath Now lastly Lord grant that as the outward man the body decayeth and groweth weaker so the inward part the soule may by thy gracious assistance grow together in faith and confidence towards thee with full assurance of thy Spirit within me of thy favour to me for my eternall salvation Then come Lord Iesus when thou pleasest for into thy hands I humbly commend my spirit that when this life shall leave me thy grace and mercy may receive mee into that endlesse happinesse in heaven which my Lord and only Saviour hath purchased for me that I may praise God everlastingly Amen 6. My Prayer of thanksgiving after my long and great fit of sicknesse which begun on Twelfth day at night and held me till Whitsontide This may serve upon any other occasion MOst gracious Lord God I blesse and praise thy great and holy Name for all thy blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall vouchsafed to my soule and body but especially I magnifie thy glorious Majesty for all those spirituall graces thou hast bestowed upon my soule before I was borne and hitherto which I beseech thee of thy mercie daily to continue and increase towards me Now deare Lord make me thy unworthy servant ever truly thankfull to thee for all thy goodnesse extended towards me and grant me grace to make such right use of all thy mercies as may be most to thy glory and my salvation in Christ But now O Lord that art my God I must at this time render thee humble thanks in particular and not forget to acknowledge thy benefits and to praise thy holy Name for all thy mercies shewed unto me for in my late and long sicknes thou hast heard my groanes and taken pity on me and released me from all my paine and griefs for thou dost visit my transgressions with favour not in wrath and hast alwaies been my stay and comfort from my youth and thou art my deliverance and ready helpe in all my adversities thou didst bring me downe for my sinnes almost to the grave and hast in mercy lifted me up again from the gates of death and restored me to health who healest all my infirmities pardonest all my iniquities and givest me present supply in all my necessities blessed be thy glorious Name for ever Now O God as thou art pleased to prolong my dayes on earth so especially I humbly pray thee daily to increase all saving graces in mee for thy true and faithfull service and vouchsafe alwaies to continue all thy goodnesse and mercies towards me that I may truly feare perfectly love and carefully obey thee in all things and by the assistance of thy holy Spirit make me to become and ever to continue to bee more and more thy unfeigned servant And now I am aged and fit to leave the world when thou pleasest yet while I am in it Lord make me continually to grow from grace to grace unto the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ with faith in him rightly to please and praise thee so long as I live And gracious Lord vouchsafe never to withdraw thy grace and favour from me untill thou hast finished thy greatest worke of mercy and the height of my hopes and happinesse which is the salvation of my poor soule through thine owne deare Sonne and my only Saviour Jesus Christ and when it shall please thee to call me away to thy selfe out of this vaine world be pleased to give me a happy and blessed departure to dye in my Lord Jesus and in thy true faith and favour that thou having pardoned all my sins and passing by my unworthinesse in Christ thou maiest after death receive and accept mee poore sinner into thy grace and favour though thy dearly beloved Sonne in whom only thou art pleased who is my righteousnesse Lord and my Redeemer and so when I have left this life I shall rest in peace and safety sleep in Christ and bee raised by him hereafter to great glory amongst his servants and may obtaine favour to be accepted into the society of holy Angels and blessed Saints and admitted into the glorious presence of Almighty God there to praise and magnifie his Name for ever and ever Amen 7. My conclusion A Prayer to my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ OH my deare Lord Jesus I most humbly begge for thy love and mercies sake to pardon all my sinnes past that thou maiest looke downe in pity and compassion on me to heare the prayer of thy unworthy sinfull servant who doth earnesty intreat thee to vouchsafe me thy gracious and continuall helpe protection and direction in all my weake endeavours wants and troubles that so all my desires wayes and actions being begun continued and ended in thee I may bee able rightly and faithfully to serve and please thee at all times really to love and honour thee above all things truly and carefully to feare and obey thee according to thine owne will confidently to relye upon thee and willingly to submit to thy pleasure in all my crosses and calamities and constantly to praise and magnifie thy most worthy and holy Name for thy great and manifold blessings and benefits bestowed upon me of thy meer grace and mercy O my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who art the author and finisher of my good and finally of my eternall salvation to thee be all praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen 8. Another short Prayer O Lord my God have pity upon me that am a most miserable sinner and full of frailty unapt and unable to doe any good I earnestly desire rightly to serve thee but without thy grace and help I cannot doe it a fit subject for thy great mercy Dear Iesus pardon all my sinnes past and give me grace henceforth to become a new creature in thee daily to attend thy service constantly and to performe all holy duties which Iowe unto thee faithfully and to shun and resist all sinfull neglects towards thee carefully that so while I live I may duly feare and obey thee rightly and truly to love and praise thee here and for ever Amen FINIS
A LADIES LEGACIE TO HER DAVGHTERS In three BOOKS Composed of Prayers and Meditations fitted for severall times and upon severall occasions As also severall Prayers for each day in the Weeke By Madam Elizabeth Richardson wife to the late Sir Thomas Richardson Knight Lord Chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench. LONDON Printed by Tho. Harper and are to be sold at his house in Little Britaine 1645. VIRTVTE HONOS ACQVIRITVR The Contents of the Prayers contained in these three Books BOOK I. A Preface or inducement to Prayer Pag. 7 1. A preparation to Prayer 11 2. A Prayer to the Holy Ghost 12 3. A Preface to any Prayer 13 4. A confession of finnes c. 14 5. A Prayer for the Lords day before we go to Church 16 6. An entrance to Prayer 18 7. A short thanksgiving at the first sight at the morning light 19 8. A private morning Prayer ibid. 9. A thanksgiving 21 10. A Prayer for the afternoone 22 11. A short Prayer for the night 24 12. A short Prayer in bed before sleep 26 13. A Prayer before the receiving the Sacrament ib. A short meditation direction or preparation c. 29 14. A thanksgiving after the holy Communion c. 32 15. A short Prayer for conclusion to any Prayer 34 16. A Prayer for the Lords day in the afternoone c. 35 17. A Prayer to the Trinity for direction and acceptance from God of all our Prayers 38 18. Another Prayer for the afternoone for many severall blessings 39 19. A Prayer of three petitions to the blessed Trinity c. 42 20. The conclusion to this book c. 45 21. A thanksgiving to Almighty God for his most mercifull preservation of my noble kinswoman c. 47 22. A Petition of the Author for her selfe 48 BOOK II. AN Exhortation concerning Prayer Pag. 53 1. A short Petition to precede any other Prayers ib. 2. A Prayer to God the Holy Ghost for the true spirit of grace in Prayer 54 3. A short preface before any other Prayers for the Lords day 56 4. A Prayer for the Lords day at first awaking ibid. 5. A Prayer for the Lords day in the morning c. 58 6. A Prayer to be said at the Church c. 60 7. Another shorter Prayer to the same purpose 61 8. A prayer afer the Sermon is ended c. 62 9. A prayer for the Lords day at night c. 63 10. A prayer for Munday to God the Father at first awaking 65 11. A morning prayer for Munday to God the Father 66 12. A prayer to God the Father for Munday night 69 13. The conclusion for Munday to be said last 72 14. A prayer at first awaking for Tuesday ibid. 15. A prayer for Tuesday morning 73 16. A prayer for Tuesday at night 76 17. The conclusion for Tuesday to be said at night c. 79 18. A prayer for Wednesday at first awaking 80 19. A prayer for Wednesday morning 82 20. An evening prayer for Wednesday 85 21. The conclusion for Wednesday night 87 22. A prayer for Thursday morning at first awaking 89 23. A prayer for Thursday morning 90 24. A prayer for Thursday night 93 25. The conclusion for Thursday night 95 26. A prayer for Friday at first awaking 96 27. A morning prayer for Friday 98 28. A prayer for Friday night 101 29. The conclusion for Friday night 103 30. A prayer at first awaking for Saturday 104 31. A prayer for Saturday morning 105 32. A prayer for Saturday night 108 33. The conclusion for Saturday night c. 111 BOOK III. 1. A Short Preface before any other prayers or petitions 113 2. A short thanskgiving at first sight of the morning light ibid. 3. A prayer for helpe in present temptation c. 114 Munday 1. A thanksgiving to the blessed Trinity 116 Tuesday 2. A prayer for grace and true faith 117 Wednesday 3. A prayer for charity 119 Thursday 4. A prayer for spirituall graces 120 Friday 5. A prayer for defence c. 123 Saturday 6. A prayer for the true spirit of prayer c. 124 A short prayer to be joyned to the former prayers c. 125 7. A prayer containing 7 humble petitions c. 126 1. A sorrowfull widows prayer c. 133 2. A prayer for mercy in time of affliction 136 3. A prayer for due preparation before the Communion of the Lords Supper 140 4. An humble thanksgiving after the receiving c. 145 1. A meditation concerning death 147 2. A prayer to live blessedly and dye happily 154 3. A prayer to be prepared for a happy death c. 156 4. A prayer in sicknesse c. 159 5. A prayer in the time of sicknesse to be fitted c. 161 6. My prayer of thanksgiving c. 165 7. My conclusion c. 167 8. Another short prayer 168 A LADIES LEGACIE TO HER DAVGHTERS MY dearly beloved Daughters of which number I account my two sons wives my daughters in law the Countesse of Marlborough and Mrs. Francis Ashbournham to be mine also assuring my selfe of your loves and kinde acceptance I present this little Booke unto you all which being mine I hope you will carefully receive it as comming from my love and affection towards you and that you will please for my sake the more to imploy it to your good to which I will while I live daily adde my prayers and blessing for your present and future happinesse and that this my poore labour may prove a happy furtherance to all your good endeavours towards vertue and piety Therefore let me as a Mother intreat and prevaile with you to esteem so well of it as often to peruse ponder practice and make use of this Booke according to my intention though of it selfe unworthy for you shall finde your greatest happinesse will be in the true feare constant love and faithfull service of Almighty God which never faileth of comfort and reward he being the only and most liberall giver of all good gifts and blessings both spirituall and temporall to whose infinite mercy and gracious guidance I most humbly commend you all and daily will doe the like in my prayers so long as I live And further most deare hearts consider That these Petitions are presented to a most bountifull and Al-sufficient Lord that vouchsafeth in Christ to make us his adopted children and to be our Gracious Father who gave his only Son for us in whom he will deny us nothing And greater benefits then here are asked cannot bee received therefore give me leave since I have such great interest in you to perswade and obtaine of you all often to beg these blessings of God by these prayers faithfully offered up unto his Majesty Whereby you shall glorifie his holy Name make your selves eternally blessed and bring much joy and comfort to Your most affectionate Mother ELIZ. ASHBOURNHAM I Had no purpose at all when I writ these books for the use of my selfe and my children to make
them publicke but have beene lately over perswaded by some that much desired to have them Therefore I have adventured to beare all censures and desire their patience and pardon whose exquisite judgements may finde many blameworthy faults justly to condemne my boldnesse which I thus excuse the matter is but devotions or prayers which surely concernes and belongs to women as well as to the best learned men And therefore I hope herein I neither wrong nor give offence to any which I should be very loath to doe This Booke was written at Chelsey in the yeare 1625. by E. A. at the Duke of Buckinghams house a part whereof was lent me by the good Dutches my most honoured Lady when the great sicknesse was in London A Letter to my foure Daughters Elizabeth Frances Anne and Katherine Ashbournham of whom three were then unmarried only Anne was married to Sir Edward Deering Knight and Baronet My deare Children I Have long and much grieved for your misfortunes and want of preferments in the world but now I have learned in what estate soever I am therewith to be content and to account these vile and transitorie things to be but vaine and losse so I may win Christ the fountaine of all blisse wishing you with me to condemne that which neglecteth you and set your hearts and affections on better subjects such as are above more certain and permanent and feare not but what is needfull for this present life shall bee supplyed by him who best knows our wants and had it not been for your sakes whose advancements love and nature bindeth me to seeke I had prevented the spite of my enemies and forsaken the World before it despised me But though I am so unhappy as to be left destitute not able to raise you portions of wealth yet shall I joy as much to adde unto the portion of Grace which I trust and pray that God will give to each of you to whose mercy I daily commit you nothing doubting but that he will receive you into the number of those fatherlesse he graciously taketh care of if you omit not to serve and depend upon him faithfully for he never faileth them that trust in him God is as free and ready to give as we to aske and contrary to the World he grows not weary of importunate suters but often deferreth his blessings to make us the more earnest for them Neither hath the Lord withdrawn his favour so from us as to leave us utterly desolate to despair but hath graciously raised us comfort by honourable friends to be carefull and deare parents unto us whom God preserve and shew mercy to them and theirs as they have done to us And here I send you a motherly remembrance and commend this my labour into your loving acceptance that in remembring your poor mother you may be also put in minde to performe your humble duty and service to our heavenly Father who hath created us to his owne glory and service and all we can performe comes far short of what we owe unto him yet is he well pleased if we returne for all his mercies but obedience and the sacrifice of praise and calling upon his holy Name Now prayer being the winged messenger to carry our requests and wants into the ears of the Lord as David saith he will praise the Lord seven times a day and prevent the light to give thanks unto God and indeed who can awake to enjoy the light and pleasure of the day and not begin the same with intreaty of the Lords gracious direction in all things and desire of his blessing upon us and all that we have or doe Or how can we possesse or hourely receive so many favours and benefits from God and not offer unto him an evening sacrifice of thanksgiving Or who dares adventure to passe the dreadfull night the time of terror and yeeld themselves to sleep the image of death before they are at peace with God by begging pardon for their sins and craving his protection and care over them in the night I know you may have many better instructers then my self yet can you have no true mother but me who not only with great paine brought you into the world but do now still travell in care for the new birth of your soules to bring you to eternall life which is my chiefest desire and the height of my hopes And howsoever this my endeavour may be contemptible to many because a womans which makes me not to joyne my sons with you lest being men they misconstrue my well-meaning yet I presume that you my daughters will not refuse your Mothers teaching which I wish may be your ornament and a crown of glory to you who I hope will take in the best part my carefull industrie for your present and future happinesse towards which I have not failed to give you the best breeding in my power to bring you to vertue and piety which I esteem the greatest treasure and sure I am it leads you to him that is the giver of all good things both spirituall and temporall to whose infinite mercy I most humbly commend you who I trust will fulfill all your necessities through the riches of his grace and make you perfect in all good workes to doe his will And the God of peace sanctifie you throughout that your whole spirits soules and bodies may bee kept blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ which shall bee the endlesse 1 Thess 5. 23. joy of your most loving Mother Eliz. Ashbournham A Preface or inducement to Prayer THe great God and Lord of Heaven Acts 17. 2â— 27. 8. Cap. 23. 14. 17. Rom 1. 19 20. and Earth whose wee are and whom only we ought to serve hath not left himselfe without witnesse For as much as that which may be knowne of God is made manifest unto us for the invisible things of him that is his eternall power and Godhead are seen by His power Godhead Rom. 5. 5. 8 9. the creation of the world being considered in his workes to the intent wee should bee without excuse Also the infinite love of God is shed abroad in His love Redemption Jo. 3. 16. Jo. 4 9. 10 3. 16. Jo. 15 23. 10. 15. our hearts and set out towards us in the most gracious worke of our redemption in that Christ died for us being sinners and when we were enemies God reconciled us unto himself by the death of his only begotten Son whom God sent into the world that wee might live through him and be saved by his life Christs love greater love then this can none have to lay downe his owne life for us Now there are three speciall things amongst many that doe alwaies binde and urge us to the acknowledgement of God to the love of his Majesty and the often His benefits Of our sins calling upon his holy Name viz. First the multitude and greatnesse of his benefits towards us for
maiest pardon and passe by my sins and receive me to mercy through Jesus Christ that I may live with thee my God for evermore Amen 16. A Prayer for the Lords day in the afternoone when you are from Church being seven humble petitions from a poor sinner to our Saviour Jesus Christ the Lord and fountain of mercy prescribed and allowed by sacred Scripture MOst great and gracious Lord and 1. Remission of sins and amendment of life Luke 18. 13. Rom. 6. 6. my only Saviour Jesus Christ whom the Angels doe admire all the Saints doe magnifie and at thy name O Jesus doth every knee bow in heaven and earth I most humbly beseech thee to have mercy on me that presume to speake unto thee who am but dust and ashes yet Lord I beg of thee to forgive all my grievous and manifold offences and cast all my sins out of thy sight and not only to pardon all my past misdeeds but also by thy mighty power and spirit to slay all sin in me for the time to come And of thy gracious favour vouchsafe while I live in this world to make mee a blessed partaker in the first resurrection 2. To rise from sin Rev. 20. in this life to arise here from remaining or lying dead in sin and so the second death shall have no power to hurt me but by thy 3. In death Rev. 14. 13 21. 3. 4. Luke 22. 32. 36. grace and assistance I may become a new creature in all holinesse of life before thee that I may daily bee raised from sin by thy holy Spirit to a new life of grace in Christ But when the appointed time of my death doth approach sweet Jesus leave me not but keep and deliver mee from that great houre of temptation when Sathan will sift mee and seeke my destruction then deare Lord pray for me that my faith may never faile neither let my soules enemies prevaile over mee but make thy poore servant one of those blessed that shall die in thee O Lord whose tears God will wipe from their eyes and they shall rest from their labours and their workes follow them Now good Iesus grant also in the last day and houre of death 4 The first judgemēt Mat. 25. 34. 41. when I shall come to my first account before the Throne of God and the dreadfull Majesty of the Father O my Saviour appeare with mee that by thy gracious mediation I may finde favour in his sight and through thee obtaine to bee received into the society of thy Saints and servants and also by thy infinite mercy and bitter passion that I may in and through thee have my sins covered and pardoned and may be accounted worthy to escape thy just and great wrath which my iniquities have deserved and say alwaies unto my soule thou art my God and my salvation for ever And so I miserable sinner through thy merits sufferings and unspeakable mercy may be made able to stand before thee the blessed Son of God and man at my appearance in thy glorious and awfull presence when thou commest to judge the world and hast full power to save or to condemne us then looke Saviour on me as one of thine And sweet 5. At the last judgement 6. Is after death Rev. 8. 20. 15. Saviour I further beseech thee by thine owne former and free election and meer grace towards me vouchsafe in the dreadfull time of thy great visitation that my poore name may be found written in heaven in the booke of life so as sin nor Sathan may not bee able to blot mee out but that thou gracious Iesus wilt be pleased to acknowledge me thy most unworthy servant to be thine before God and all his holy Angells Now lastly Lord by thy great goodnesse and The 7th For eternall life John 17. 22. 24. Ps 16. 11. Conclusion mercy that I may be received into thy grace and favour and so accepted as to injoy that most happy place and heavenly inheritance of everlasting glory which thou our Iesus hast dearly purchased for us that where he my blessed Saviour is I may live with him who loved me so much as to die for me and through him being admitted into the glorious presence of God which is the fulnesse of joy at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore I shall there eternally serve praise and magnifie his most holy name who liveth for ever and ever Amen 17. A Prayer to the Trinity for direction and acceptance from God of all our prayers MOst glorious God and our heavenly Father in Christ I most humbly pray thee for his sake to heare and accept mee and my supplications that I offer up unto thy Majesty in the name of thy beloved Son And I beseech thee sweet Iesus in thy love and mercie which made thee become our Redeemer vouchsafe also to be my gracious advocate and to direct and receive my petitions and present them to the Father for by and through thee only I must obtaine acceptance Now further I beg of thee Lord Holy Ghost who best can teach us to pray as we ought to take compassion on my frailties and infirmities to heale and helpe them and be pleased to sanctifie and assist my heart and soule to performe this duty and service at all times rightly faithfully and constantly to Gods glory and mine owne comfort and furtherance of my eternall salvation in Christ my Saviour Amen 18. Another Prayer for the afternoon for many severall blessings OH most dear Lord who knowest my manifold infirmities and innumerable miseries In mercy let thy gracious care and holy hand bee over me now and ever to guide me into thy right paths that I may walke in the wayes of thy Commandements and keepe them with my whole heart unto my end And vouchsafe good God to clense and change the thoughts of my corrup heart from vaine and idle imaginations to good and godly meditations which may produce ◠me by thy assistance holy actions agreeable to thy most blessed will and by thy spirit let my affections be reformed and my love withdrawne from the vanities of this vile world and may bee fixed on heavenly things above that there may be my heart and only joy where my Lord Christ sits in glory at the right hand of his Father and so I may with blessed Mary chuse the better part to forsake all the world and my selfe also to follow and heare Iesus and first and chiefly so to seek as to obtaine that which is most needfull even thy glory O God thy Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof and leave all other things to be bestowed on me as shall seem best unto thee And Lord grant that my understanding may be inlightned to discerne imbrace and practice the holy workes of thy blessed Spirit and that my memory may be strengthned to retaine and make right use of all the good instruction that I heare or read according to thy will and make
for thee before thou hadst being to understand thine owne wretched estate Oh my Lord God! how good and gracious hast thou ever been in all thy mercies both spirituall and temporall towards me the least and unworthiest of thy servants before I was borne and ever since from time to time Now Lord I humbly pray thee in the same love and favour from which I have hitherto received so many and great benefits vouchsafe thou alwaies to continue thy blessings unto me especially in daily renewing all spirituall graces in my soule for the true performance of all holy duties and service in a right and acceptable manner towards thy Majesty and Lord make my humble thankfulnesse unto thee appeare in my true obedience of thee in all things that I may duly praise and glorifie thy name for ever Now deare God let not thy mercy in prolonging my daies encrease the number of my sinnes and so to heap up wrath unto my selfe against the day of wrath by drawing upon me due punishments for my offences but mercifull God adde thou grace unto my daies and for Jesus sake forgive all my sinnes past that I have done before thee in my whole life time especially in my many breaches of this holy and blessed Lords day which we keep in remembrance of our Saviours resurrection with all my neglects and defects in the performance of my duties towards thee this present day and heretofore according to thy Commandements And grant O God through thy mercies and my Saviours merits that my iniquities may never bee imputed unto mee but Lord let thy goodnesse patience and long sufferings lead me to daily and unfaigned repentance and give me true faith in all thy gracious promises and by the assistance of thy holy Spirit to bring forth amendment of all my former faults with true obedience unto thy blessed will and holinesse of living all my life to come That so I may obtaine grace and favour in thy sight to prevent and keep mee hereafter from all sin and evil or offending thee my God in thought word and deed and direct thou my waies right before thee in all godlinesse and uprightnesse of heart that I may be enabled through my Lord Jesus Christ to doe every good worke and by thy grace to live here according to all thy Commandements and when thou pleasest to call for mee â—ut of this wicked world unto thy selfe Lord assist me with thy spirit and grace to make a blessed end and to die in thee my Lord and so I shall finde mercie through the merits of my Saviour Jesus after death to be accepted and received into the Kingdome of heaven and through Christ my Saviour may bee admitted into thy glorious presence O God where is the fulnesse of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore of which Lord make me a happy partaker when this life is ended Amen Amen 10. A Prayer for Munday to God the Father at first awaking I Will praise thee with my whole heart for thou hast dealt lovingly with mee Blessed and praised now and ever be thy most glorious Name O my God heavenly Father for all thy great and manifold mercies and blessings both spirituall and temporall in soule and body vouchsafed unto mee thy most unworthy and sinfull servant before I was borne and hitherto this last night and all my life past for thy favours have ever been right good and gracious towards mee having done great and many things for mee praysed be thy most holy Name who hast been my only stay succour helpe and comfort in this world and thy infinite mercy in Ghrist is all my hope and confidence for the life to come Now Gracious Lord who hast been my good God and guide from my youth have pity upon my infirmities and for Jesus sake forgive all my sinnes that I have committed before thee in my whole life past and let thy mercy and truth never leave me nor forsake me neither in life in death nor in the last judgement but be pleased by thy Spirit to say alwaies unto my soule especially at my death thou art my God and my salvation for in thee will I trust so long as I live and for ever So be it A short supplication before the weekly Prayers 11. A morning Prayer for Munday to God the Father HEare me when I call upon thee O God of my righteousnesse have mercy upon mee and hearken unto my prayer Most Gracious Lord God and my heavenly Father in Christ Jesus my Saviour thou knowest my great and grievous infirmities that I can of my selfe neither will nor performe any good nor think a good thought but by thy grace therefore I most humbly pray thee to indue mee thy poore unworthy servant with thy holy Spirit whereby these and all other my prayers and petitions that I presume to offer unto thy Majesty may by thy assistance be made in a right manner and in an acceptable time when thou wilt please to be found of me and graciously to heare and receive me and my supplications And now vouchsafe dear God to sanctifie prepare and assist my heart and soule with thy true Spirit of grace and prayer to drive away all vaine and wandring thoughts sluggish dulnesse and all evill temptations out of my minde and knit my heart and soule to the true feare of thy great Name and to the devout love of thy divine Majesty and teach mee with all due reverence and such true humility and devotion as is fit to appear in thy sacred presence that I may rightly faithfully and humbly now and at all times call upon thy holy Name as I ought to doe and daily pray unto thee O my blessed Lord God who hast awaked mee in health and safety to this daies light which I most thankfully acknowledge with all other thy blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall bestowed on me thy sinfull servant from time to time beseeching thee of thy infinite mercy alwaies to continue them unto me And as thy gracious providence hath brought me to begin this new day so Lord by thy power defend me therein from falling into any sin or evill to offend thee but give me grace at this present to performe and ever continue to lead a new a holy and an upright life in thy sight all the rest of my daies to come to frame my heart and reforme my waies in all true obedience hereafter to thy most holy will and Commandements And further I humbly praise thy glorious Name for thy gracious preservation of me and mine and all other thy benefits vouchsafed me the last night and all my life past unto this instant houre having hitherto given me health maintenance and safety which I pray thee whilst I live still to vouchsafe me and make me truly thankfull to thee for all thy mercies and let thy benefits never slip out of my minde but that I may daily and duly acknowledge them to the true praise of thy
humbly pray thee O Lord my Saviour of thy infinite mercy both in this world and after this life is ended to make me thy poor unworthy servant a happy partaker amongst thy Saints and servants that I may live hereafter with thee and them to praise and glorifie thy Name my deare Jesus for ever Amen 15. A Prayer for Tuesday morning to God the Son our Redeemer I Know that my Redeemer liveth and shall stand the last day upon the earth to judge the world in righteousnesse and all the people with equity O sweet Iesus Christ who art my Lord and perfect Saviour the beloved Son of God the blessed Redeemer of the world the only searcher of mans heart before whom all things are manifest all desires knowne and from thee no secrets can be hid Lord cleanse and reforme the thoughts of my wicked corrupt heart by the inspiration of thy most holy Spirit to purge my heart soul and conscience from all sin evill and dead works rightly and faithfully to feare and serve thee the true and living Lord that I may unfainedly love thee and constantly praise and magnifie thy holy and blessed Name all the daies of my life and for ever Now Gracious Iesus grant that the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of my heart in these and all other prayers and petitions that I make unto thy Majesty may bee alwaies guided by thy blessed Spirit and that all my waies and actions be directed according to thy holy word and so by thy merciful assistance all things I goe about shall be ever right and acceptable in thy sight O Lord God of truth that art my strength and my Redeemer And deare Saviour who knowest the infinite corruption of my wretched nature and my unaptnesse to all goodnesse vouchsafe to draw and knit my heart and soule to thy true feare and faithfull service and suffer no worldly respects regard of persons nor any pleasures to withdraw my minde or hinder my soule from the true performance of my daily duties and service towards thee my God with due observance of thy great Majestie faithfully devoutly and constantly serving thee and calling on thy holy name now and at all times and daily worshipping thee in spirit and truth as thy selfe hast commanded And be thou pleased dear Lord by thy grace to guide and direct my heart soule and body with all my desires waies and workes according to thy owne good will and pleasure for I humbly commend and commit my selfe my children and grand-children with all belonging to mee and all things that any way concerneth me to thy most gracious protection direction and disposing now and ever And I humbly pray thee O my sweet Iesus so to prevent me with thy holy Spirit that I bee led into no temptation this day by the divell or his evill agents the vaine world or my owne corrupt flesh neither suffer any sinfull thoughts to possesse my soule but assist me I beseech thee to set a watch over my heart and waies and before my mouth and set a seale of grace and wisdome over my soul and upon my lips that I offend not with my tongue or in my actions either against thee my God my neighbour or my owne soule but Lord make my heart cleane and upright before thee and keep me from falling into my former sins againe but indue me with grace so to number my daies that I may apply my heart to wisdome and goodnesse and daily endeavour and strive to lead a new and godly life in thy sight and make me firme stedfast and constant in thy right Church saving truth and true faith unto my lives end to live and die therein but if I hold any errors contrary to thy will and word O Lord speedily convert my soule unto thee and shew me the paths of life and teach me thy truth and suffer me not to slide from it but so long as I live here constantly to set my whole heart soule and delight to seek to serve to love and to fear thee my Lord in all true obedience humility repentance and purity with stedfast faith in thee and true holinesse of living as is required of thy children and servants through the assistance of thy blessed Spirit and the blessing of thy heavenly Father who liveth and reigneth with thee three Persons and one true eternall God blessed for ever Amen Concluding my humble petition with that perfect prayer which Christ our advocate hath sanctified and taught us saying Our Father c. 16. A Prayer for Tuesday at night to our blessed Saviour for my selfe and children O Sweet Iesus Christ that art both God and man my blessed Saviour Redeemer and Mediator who understandest all things and seest what we want before we aske and knowest best what is in miserable mortall man that is made of earth how corrupt my nature and substance is how many and great my frailties and infirmities are and how subject I am to fall into all manner of evill both in soule and body if thy grace uphold me not therefore I most humbly beseech thee O Lord to receive me and mine now and ever into thy provident and gracious care to protect and direct us in all our waies to doe thy blessed will and to live in all thy holy feare to save and guide us waking from all sinne and shame and to keep and defend us sleeping from all perills and dangers either of soule or body that so by thy mercie we may rest in peace and safety this night and also awake in thy grace and favour and doe all things to thy honour and glory and may live and dye thy true and faithfull servants and after death vouchsafe dear Lord by thy merits and sufferings to give us eternall life with thee in heaven which thou hast dearly purchased for us Now sweet Jesus vouchsafe to indue and assist mee with thy grace and holy Spirit that I may be able rightly faithfully and confidently as I ought to doe to cry and pray unto thee my God for grace and mercie that I may finde favour in thy sight and that my trust in thee may never cease that so I may obtaine true contrition for all my offences and pardon for my sins past with all saving graces for my salvation both in life and death and assured hope of everlasting life when this is ended through thy pretious death and bitter passion sweet Iesus my Saviour Now good Lord indue me with grace to fit and prepare my soule as I ought before my day of death approacheth that I be not taken unprovided but assist me with thy blessed Spirit to worke in my heart a true and lively faith to lay fast hold upon all thy mercies merits and gracious promises and rightly to apply them to my owne soule And further give mee I humbly pray thee unfaigned repentance and remission of all my sinnes with other needfull graces for the performing of all holy duties to thy Majestie