Mr. EDWARD DERING HIS Godly priuate Prayers for Christian Families Whereunto is annexed his briefe and necessary Catechisme for Housholders Marke 11.24 Whatsoeuer you desire when you pray beleeue thâ—t ye shall haue it and it shall be giuen vnto you â—om 10.13 Whosoeuâ—r shall call vpon the Name of the Lord shall be saued LONDON Printed by Isaac Iaggard 1624. A PREFACE describing the Glorious estate of the Saints on earth and the true Nature and Right vse of Prayer To the excellent that are on earth all things pertaining to life and glory through the spirit of Grace and Supplication Beloued in the Lord Iesus AS the loue of God hath heerein exceedingly abounded vnto vs that we are called the Sons of God so there is not a more pregnant Embleme of our Adoption to be his Children then that wee cry Abba Father nor a more liuely pledge of our loue vnto God then that we doe cast our selues into the armes of his mercy by faithfull prayer Oh how much better is it to bee a doore-keeper in the House of God then to sit on the Throne with Princes How exceeding were the riches of Gods mercie towards vs that spared not his onely Sonne vnto death to restore vs from death to life That the Lord of Glory became a Seruant vnto all that hee might redeeme vs from the bondage of sinne into tbe glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God That life it selfe became death that hee might deliuer vs from death vnto life That he that knew no sinne but was perfect holinesse it selfe yet became sinne for our sakes that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Surely if Dauid thought it an high aduancement to bee the sonne in law to an earthly wicked King How much more glorious is our aduancement that we are become the adopted sons of the Almighty and Holyest God who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords And if the Queene of Saba counted the seruants of Salomon happie because they enioyed his presence and were partakers of the worldly and fading Comforts as abounded in his Court Oh how much more happie is the condition of the Saints of God that do not only enioy the gracious presence of God with open face in whose fauour is Eternall life but are thereby translated into the same image froÌ„ glory to glory as by the Spirit of GOD that so they may bee made meete partakers of that glorious inheritance with the Saints in light euen that light which is immortall and vndefiled which fadeth not If to be rich in faith good workes be the true and dureable treasure which fayleth not If the ioy of the Spirit be that which none can take away from vs If all earthly honor be as dung in comparison of that inward glory wherewith the Kinges daughter is adorned If theyr safety be impregnable which haue a wall of fire to beguirt them therein walking most secure that haue the Lord of Hosts to protect guide them then happy surely and thrice happy is the condition of Gods Children who haue God to bee their Portion and may enioy durable riches pure and euerlasting Comfort honor that neuer fadeth and security without securitie For as our security in God makes vs watchful ouer our owne waies and iealous of our owne inability so heereby are we daily cast vpon the riches of Christ and from him encrease and grow in grace And as we grow in grace so do we attaine to and prosper more and more in peace of conscience and thereby abound with ioy in the holy Ghost And the more we are filled with ioy and peace in beleeuing the more do we glorify our God in cheerfull obedience and so as members are more intirely interessed in the glorie of our head approaching heereby neerer to the life of Glory the more wee triumph ouer all our oppositions and are more throughly abased and excluded of all glorying in our selues that so dooing all things to the glory of our God we may be aduanced by him in abasing our selâ—es and weaned from all carnall fading glorie that we may bee fitted for the glory of the life to come And what can now hinder vs heerefrom whereto all things shall further No trouble can do it seeing it prepares thereto No not sinne shall hinder because it is not imputed but rather auailes to the imputation of righteousnesse that so the sting of sinne may be remoued It is not life can doe it because we are dead vnto sinne neither shall death auaile hereunto seeing we are aliue vnto GOD. Much lesse may Angels hinder because they are ministring spirits for our good to keepe vs in all our waies Nor Principalities can preuaile because the Kingdomes are the Lords and so ouerseers to the Saints It is not powers shall hinder seeing all power is giuen to our Head and so in him we are able to doe all things Neither things present should ought auaile hereto because we liue by Faith not by sight and so can lay vp a good Foundation by them agâ—inst the life to come Neither shall things to come hinder vs which are alreadie ours by Faith whereby wee apprehend them though yet we enioy them not and so in patience wait for them and so by continuance in wel-doing make ready for theÌ„ And how shal height hinder vs who haue the Highest to bee our hope whom lowlinesse aduanceth and highnesse abaseth Can depth preuent vs vvhen our Head is aboue water nay aboue the highest Heauens whether he will draw vs vp all after him out of the deepest snares No no it is not hell can hinder vs seeing it is destroyed nor Satan shall preuaile for seeing we haue the shield of Faith to resist him hee will flye from vs Behold the wonderfull and glorious priuiledges of the sons of God! And by this wee know that we haue this glorious vnion and fellowship with God euen by his Spirit that hee hath giuen vs. And hereby we know effectually that the Spirit dwelleth in vs euen by this blessed libertie and boldnes in pressing to the throne of Grace crying Abba Father with all Son-like importunity and challenging his promise in Christ Iesus Thus by the Spirit wee know our Adoption and by the Spirit of Prayer we pleade the same And can we be denied when the Spirite helpes our Infirmities and knovves our Wants Shall wee not preuaile aboue whatsoeuer wee can aske or thinke seeing our Sauiour is our Aduocate to make intercession for vs who knowes what is best for vs who heares before we aske and askes that we may be heard Behold here the ground and necessitie of Prayer If the Spirit be in vs we shall pray in the Spirit and if we pray in the libertie of the Spirit wee are set at liberty thereby euen the libertie of the Sonnes of GOD. Onely be we wise to try the Spirit by the Spirit that so vvee may not offer the sacrifice of Fooles 1. It is
good in our owne fantasie but onely that which God commandeth vs to aske of him All which things be contained in the Lords prayer Quest Rehearse the Lords prayer Answere OVr Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Qu. What dost thou desire of God in this prayer An. First I desire of our heauenly Father that his name may be hallowed First in his excellent works which is when we acknowledge his mercy wisedom iustice and prouidence that he alone worketh ell things and that only the Lord God be had in honour all other set aside Secondly that his name may bee glorifyed in our godly liuing and conuersation 2 In the 2. petition wee desire that God his Kingdome may come that is that he will declare himself to be King ouer his Church in guiding and defending it in encreasing the number of the faithfull in thrusting forth Laborers into the haruest and blessing their Labours and suppressing the rage of the wicked Tyrants Secondly that he will exercise his kingdome seuerally in euery one of his killing sinne in vs and all worldlie care and renewing of vs to righteousnesse of life 3 In the third petition wee desire that Gods will may bee done that is that wee may willingly in euerie thing resigne our selues vnto Gods will without murmuring or grudging 4 In the fourth petition we pray that he wil giue vnto vs walking faithfully in our calling our daily bread that is all things needful for our liuing in this present life 5 In the fift petition we pray that our sinnes may bee forgiuen vs that he will not lay to our charge our sinnes nor the punishment due vnto them but that he will accept the death and passion of Christ as the full satisfaction for our sins and that we may hereof haue iust assurance in our Conscience that the punishment of our sinnes is fully discharged in Christ and therefore freely forgiuen vnto vs as surely as we do forgiue others and that we may loue one another from the bottom of our hearts all desire of reuenge set aside 6. In the sixt and last petition we doe pray God that he wil not lead vs into temptation but deliuer vs that is that he will not bring vs further into that battell with our spirituall Enemies then we by his holy spirit shall be able to preuaile and ouercome Que. And why is this added For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen An. Not onely to kindle in our hearts to desire the glory of God but also to teach vs that this Prayer is grounded vpon none other then God onely and that we should not thinke the kingdome of God to bee weake and voyd of force might Also that he is not onely to be honored praised and gloryfied and that his power is infinite perpetuall and euerlasting And in this word Amen is expressed the feruent desire to obtaine those things which wee aske of God and our hope is confirmed that those things which we aske bee granted vnto vs by which our consciences are pacified and so we end our prayers Qu. Tell mee now briefely the effect of all thou hast said An. By the tenne Comdements I see my miserable estate that I deserue death damnation and the curse of God which must needs bee paid because God is iust whereas I my selfe am not able to pay it the holy ghost through the preaching of the Gospell worketh in me Faith which assureth mee that the Sonne of God being made man for me hath euen in my nature suffered whatsoeuer my sinnes deserued and hath made me with him the childe of God and heire of euerlasting Life Whereof least I should doubt or wauer he hath appointed two Sacraments as outward signes and Tokens to be seene and felt of mee that as surely as I see my self made partaker of them outwardly so the holie Ghost inwardly bee partaker of Christ himselfe with all his benefits his ransome righteousnesse and holinesse to be mine that in him through him I shall haue life euerlasting And thus being borne anew into this liuely hope by the holy ghost my waies should be directed guided by the same Spirit to walke in holinesse and righteousnes all the daies of my life So be it A prayer containing the effect of this Catechisme O Mercifull and heauenly Father for so much as at euerie light occasion I am withdrawn from thy holy lawes to the vanities of this life vnto all sinne and wickednesse I beseech thee in mercy set before mine eyes alwaies the remembrance of thy iudgement seate and my last end whereby I may be daily stirred to consider in what great danger I stand through the horrible punishment due for my sinnes that daily groaning vnder the burthen of them I may flye for succour to thy beloued Son Iesus Christ who hath fully paid suffred and ouercome the punishment due to them and through the working of thy holy Spirite in me I may be fully assured in my soule and Conscience that the curse condemnation and death which these my sinnes deserue is fully paid suffered and ouercome in Christ that his righteousnesse obedience holines is mine and whatsoeuer he hath wrought for mans saluation is wholly mine Strengthen this faith in mee dayly more and more that I may inwardly feele comfort and consolation in this that I feele thy holye Spirit beare record vnto my spirit that I am thy Childe grafted into the body of thy Sonne and made with him fellow heire of thine euerlasting kingdome So worke in me by thy holy spirit that daily more and more I may feele sinne die in mee that I do not delight therein but daily may groane vnder the burthen therof vtterly hate detest and loath sinne set my selfe and all the powers of my soule and body against sinne and haue full delight ioy comfort and pleasure in those things which be agreeable to thy will that I may walke as becommeth the child of light looking still for that good time when it shal please thee to call mee vnto thine euerlasting kingdome for Iesus Christ his sake Amen FINIS GODLY PRIVATE Prayers for Householders to Meditate vpon and to say in their particular Families Made by Mr. Edw. Dering sometime Reader of the Diuinitie Lecture in Paules Marke 11.24 Whatsoeuer ye desire when ye pray beleeue that yee shall haue it and it shall be done vnto you LONDON Printed by Isaac Iaggard 1624. Godly priuat Prayers to bee saide at all times in Christian Families A prayer containing the effect of the Housholders Catechisme ALmighty God and most mercifull Father I see in thy
mercie compassion towardes our Brethren yea euen towards our Enemies Fourthly to loue one another inwardly in heart as our selues yea euen our enemies and them that hate vs. Que. What is the seauenth Commandement An. Thou shalt not commit Adultery Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. We are forbidden in this seauenth Commaundement first all Adultery Fornication and all other vncleannesse in our bodies Secondly all vnpure thoughts and lustes of the heart Thirdly all other things which might intice to such vncleannesse as all vnchast behauiour filthy talke and songs wanton apparrel leud and idle pastimes gluttony drunkennesse houses of open whoredome and whatsoeuer else may allure vs to vncleannesse Fourthly on the other side he commandeth vs to keepe our bodies and soules chaste and pure as Temples of the holy Ghost Or if the guift of Chastity be not giuen vs then to vse the lawful remedy appointed by God which is marriage Que. What is the 8. Commandement An Thou shalt not steal Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. In this eighth Commandement the Lord God forbiddeth all stealing and robbing in ouâ—ward deeds Secondly he forbiddeth all stealing in heart that is all desire of any mans Goodes wrongfully Thirdly hee forbiddeth all false and wrongfull dealing Fourthly on the other side he chargeth vs that we bee content with the portion of goodes which the Lord giueth vs to apply our selues in our vocation and calling to get our owne liuing and liue of that which is our owne and also to be helpfull to others Que. What is the 9. Commandement An. Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy Neighbour Qu. What is the meaning of this Commandement Ans The Lord God in this ninth Commandement doth command vs first that we should neuer speak falsly in witnesse-bearing Secondly that not onely in witnesse-bearing but also in other matters wee should neuer lye flatter or dissemble Thirdly that we should neuer tell any false tales behinde our neighbors backe or heare them of others that we shold neuer beleeue any euill spoken of them behind their backes vntill we fully know the certainty Fourthly in priuate offences to speake nothing although it be true to the hurting of our Brothers good name if by priuate admonition hee may be wonne Que. What is the 10. Commandement Ans Thou shalt not couet thy neighbors house Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. Heeâ—e the Lord God in plaine words doth forbid all inward desire whatsoeuer is vnlawfull to be done although we neuer consent vnto it as the rebellion of the flesh all corruption of the old man all blot of originall sinne so that by this Commaundement most clearely we may see the Image of that man that pleaseth God euen such an one in whom nothing is impure neither in will nor nature Que. Canst thou fulfill all these Commandements of God without breaking any one of them An. These are the Commandements of Almightie God the perfect fulfilling whereof no flesh can attain vnto No although I do all that I can yet I breake them daily both in thoght word and deede Que. What punishment doth God appoint for breaking any one of these An. The punishment for the breaking of the least Commandement euen in thought yea if it were but once broken in all my life is the euerlasting curse of God which containeth al the torments that can bee deuised both of soule and body and in the Scripture is called by diuers names to expresse the paine as hel fire the worme that neuer dyeth vtter darknesse burning Lake second death damnation and such like Qu Is there nothing which a man can do in the World to serue as a sufficient recompeÌ„ce to God for one sinne An. No althogh I should giue all my goodes vnto the poore or suffer my bodie to be whipped all my life long or suffer any other punnishment which might be deuised it is not sufficient for one of my least sinnes Que. Yea but God is mercifull will he therefore punish sin so sharply thinkest thou An. Our God indeede is mercifull but he is also iust and true and therefore must needes of iustice and trueth punish mans sinne with the punishment which hee hath appointed Que. Seeing then this punishment must needs bee suffered are we in our selues able to suffer and ouercome it An. None is able to suffer and ouercome this great punishment of sinne being onely man Quest Is there then no meanes at all whereby we may be saued from those pains euerlasting An. The pains which our sinnes deserue must needes bee suffered by man beecause that God of his iustice must needes bee suffered by man because God of his iustice must needes punnish sinne in man which vvas committed by man and therefore our Sauiour Christ being euerlasting God became also man and hath fully suffered whatsoeuer was due for mans sinne Que. Are not then all people discharged seeing the punnishment is paid An. None are discharged sauing those that take holde vpon Christ and his merites with a true Faith Que. What callest thou this true Faith An. This true and liuely Faith is a full perswasion assurance of my hart grounded vpon the promise of God and wrought in me by the holy Ghost whereby I am fully assured that whatsoeuer Christ hath wrought for mans saluation pertayneth not onely to others but euen to me and is whollie mine as surely as if I performed the same in mine owne person Que. How can it be that thy sinnes are forgiuen thee yet according to Gods trueth fullie punished with the punishment which God hath appointed for sinnes An. By this my true faith I see my sinnes both to bee forgiuen and yet fully punished for in Iesus Christ to satisfie Gods iustice they be fully punished and yet to me they be forgiueÌ„ because in me they be not punished but in Christ for me to set forth Gods mercy and therfore shall neuer be laide to my charge In this manner therefore I see the Lord my God to be both mercifull iust Que. Yea but although the punishment of my sins be paide in Christ yet seeing there can no vnrighteousnesse dwel with God how canst thou stand before Gods iudgement seate as righteous and iust s ing thou hast no righteousnesse but such as is staind with so many sins An. I stand as iust righteous before the Throne of God not clothed with mine owne righteousnesse which I haue wrought in mine owne person but with the righteousnes of Iesus Christ Which righteousnes being taken hold vppon by a true faith is made mine thus am I iust in the sight of God not in respect of mine owne workes which I haue done but taking hold vpon Christ his Workes to be mine by Faith Quest Doth not this make men to runne into all sinne wickednesse An. No for this true faith as soone as it hath wrought in vs through the holy ghost doth frame our hearâ—s anew
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
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
we shall at length attaine the hauen Haue mercy vpon me thy poore seruant and vouchsafe mee this grace of hope to establish my wauering spirit that neither things present may discourage me from the hope of a good issue nor things to come may confound mee in the pursuit thereof as being so farre aboue my capacitie so exceeding my desart For I confesse O Lord vnfeignedly before thee by reason of this body of sinne which I carrie about mee I am a stranger from thee as all my Fathers were and in regard of my inward blindnesse cannot see afarre off to the price of the high calling that is set before mee and therefore am subiect to many distractions slauish feares both to diuert or stay mee in my iourney and to disappoint me of the marke which I should hasten too so that I manytimes misse of my way and manytimes am ready to giue ouer in the midst of my race O grant me the refore holy Father to liue by hope in what thou hast promised that I neither may be confounded in any present distresse nor yet may rest in any present comfort whatsoeuer that I may not bee deceiued with the counterfeite thereof nor yet may settle my selfe in any true measure of the same O grant me a liuely hope that I may not feare in death and giue me to apprehend that blessed hope of the appearance of Iesus Christ that I may attaine to the resurrection of the dead And that I may improue my vnfeigned hope in thee alone O strengthen my weake Faith to see more clearly within the vaile that so I may be strong in hope to enioy what yet I see not make me more acquainted with the secrets of thy speciall prouidence that by mine owne experience of thy wonderfull dealing in bringing contraries out of contraries euen light out of darknesse I may hope for the accomplishment of thy promises though neuer so impossible to humaine capacitie Aboue all make more expert the riches of the glorie of that great mystrie euen Christ in mee the hope of glory that so I may not bee weary nor faint in my mind let the ayme of my hope be to see thee who art inuisible and in thee those vnspeakable mercies which as yet I doe not see And grant me blessed Lord an vndaunted and inuincible hope euen to hope aboue hope that no oppositions may confound me Let my hope be patient that I may waite for that I yet enioy not and purifie my hope daily in the expectation of what I shall be that so I may be purged and fitted to the enioying therof season my hope with ioy that I may not quaile in any present troubles and quicken my weake fainting hope with the strong cries and groanes of thy blessed Spirit that I may fasten on the inestimable glory which is laid vpp for mee let the hope of the life to come stablish mee in thy blessed feare and so make mee liuely and diligent in all present occasions enableing me to hold fast the profession of my hope without wauering and to sanctifie my God in giuing a reason of my hope with meeknesse and feare to those which may demaund it And that I may not be disappointed of my hope comfort me O Lord with the sweet and glorious fruits thereof that seeing it is the hope of saluation and eternall life which is surely laid vp for me in the highest heauens grant mee in all occasions to lay hold vpon eternall life that I may not bee ashamed of my hope O let me haue hope euen in death because I haue hope in the resurrection from the dead And let the hope of what I enioy not humble mee daily in the sense of my imperfections which are the cause thereof that so I may daily feare and depart from euill And seeing I am a prisoner of hope O grant mee daily to groane vnder this body of sinne which I carry about me that so I may long for my glorious deliuerance from this body of death and in the hope of this deliuerance cause mee in all my troubles to commit my selfe in well doing into the hands of thee my faithfull Creator that so I may bee keept by thy mighty power through Faith Grant mee these things O God of my hope euen for thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ his sake the hope of mine endlesse glory to whome with thee O righteous Father with God the blessed Spirit the Comforter be ascribed all glory power dominion and thankesgiuing for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for the obtaining and encrease of Loue. HOly Father who out of the boundlesse riches of thy free Grace didst so loue me that thou gauest thine onely Sonne to death for me that being redeemed from the bondage of sinne and snares of destruction I might bee translated from death to life and therefore didst loue me first that I might serue thee in loue and offer vp my self a Free-will Offering gracious and acceptable before thee in all holy obedience and hast hereby assured me that I am beloued of thee if all my workes bee done in loue louing thee for thy selfe and all other things for thy sake Looke graciously vpon me thine vnworthy seruant and shedde thy loue into my heart by thy blessed Spirit that I may loue thee aboue all things and all things in for thee And that I may so loue thee that I may be more vnited vnto thee and fully at the length enioy thee O grant me first to know thee in Iesus Christ the Sonne of thy Loue that so I may know what loue in him thou hast shewed me that when I was dead in sinne thou diddest raise me vppe in him from dead workes that I might serue thee the liuing God in the newnesse of Spirit that so discerning in this liuely Mirrour of thy Loue vnto me mine owne vnworthinesse of thy loue and inability to loue thee againe I may wholly deny my selfe that I may be found of thee in Christ and by his power be enabled to loue thee againe Grant me therefore gracious God to trust perfectly in Iesus Christ that I may feele my selfe to be beloued of thee in him and inflame my hart with the loue of Christ that so in him I may loue thee againe And seeing nothing in me was able to hinder this thy loue in him to me Oh grant me that nothing within me or without me may hinder or separate my Loue from thee And seeing of thine owne free grace thou diddst loue me in him oh grant me for his sake onely to loue thee seeing hee thought nothing no not his precious blood too deere to expres his loue vnto me oh let mee thinke all things base in comparison of my loue vnto him Seing he loued me in deeds not only in words both doing for me what I could not do and suffring for me what I could neuer haue endured oh grant me to loue thee againe not in words but in deeds both dooing
be now and shall bee to the end of the world Of the which number I beleeue that I am one I beleeue that God knoweth them all and hath a most tender care ouer them Que. What callest thou the Communion of Saints An. The Communion of Saints is the society that all we which beleeue haue one with another as members of one head Iesus Christ whereby wee are ready to communicate all Gods benefites both Spirituall and Temporall to the mutuall health and comfort one of another according vnto the measure which we haue receyued of God in this life Que. What is it to beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes An. I beleeue that Iesus Christ hath wholy appeased God for my sinnes paide the full punishment due to them and therfore that they be freely forgiuen mee and shall neuer be laide vnto my charge Que. What beleeuest thou of the rising againe of the body Ans I beleeue that after this life eÌ„nded my soule shal go to God that gaue it and my body shall rest in the graue vntill the appoynted time and then I shall see God in my flesh and mine eyes shall looke vpon him and this my bodie shall bee made like to the glorious body of Christ without al corruption Que. What is it that thou sayest of Life euerlasting An. I beleeue that when God shall raise againe this my body and ioyn it againe together with my soule that then I shall liue with Christ for euer in his euerlasting kingdome of glory Que. By what means do we attaine to this which thou hast heere confessed An. The holy Ghost hath appointed the preaching of the word to be the ordinary meanes whereby hee worketh in our hearts this true and liuely faith and without this preaching of the Word we can neuer haue faith Que. After that GOD by the meanes of his word hath wrought in our hearts faith by what meanes afterward doeth he strengthen the same An. This faith doth God strengthen in vs by the selfe same preaching of the word and also by the vse of the Sacraments Que. What callest thou the Sacraments An. Sacraments bee outward signes ordaind of God for the greater assurance and strengthening of our Faith beeing vnto vs sure pledges of these benefits of our Saluation which we receiue in Christ to be ours and are represented vnto vs by the outward signes of water in baptisme and Bread and Wine in the Supper of the Lord. They serue also for a marke of our profession whereby we differ from other people which be Heathen Qu. How many Sacraments be there An. There be two Sacraments that is to say Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Qu. What strength of faith hast thou through Baptisme Ans I am taught and assured by Baptisme that my sinnes are forgiuen mee for as the water washeth away the filthinesse of my bodie euen so should I through the holy Ghost be thereby fully certified and perswaded that the bloud of Christ beeing sprinkled vpon my soule by the hand of Faith hath washed away both the guiltinesse of my sinne and the punishment due vnto the same the fruite and effect whereof appeareth heerein that through the power of Christ his death and resurrection I am dead as touching sin and raised vp againe in newnesse of life vvhich two things in whomsoeuer they appeare not they may well haue the name title of Baptisme but indeed they are no Christians Qu. What strength of faith do wee finde in the vse of the Lords Supper Ans The Supper of the Lord thorough the holy-Ghost doth strengthen my Faith that I should not doubt but as surely as I receiue the Bread and Wine into my body to become wholly mine so my soule receiueth withall Christ with his passion and righteousnesse to be wholy mine as surely as if I had wrought them mine owne selfe Que. Are not then the bread and wine in the supper of the Lord turned into the body and bloud of Christ An. The bread and wine as touching their nature and substance are not turned but as touching the vse of them they differ from common Bread and Wine in that they are appointed of God to serue vnto vs as Seales â—ledges of those benefits which Christ in his body hath wrought for vs. Qu. In what maner oughtest thou to prepare thy selfe to the receiuing these misteries An. In preparing my selfe to receiue the supper of the Lord I ought diligently to obserue these three things First to examine my selfe whether I stand in faith or no which I shall know if I feele my hart assured by the Spirit of God that the punishment of my sins is fully discharged in Christ and that whatsoeuer hee hath done pertaineth not onely to others but euen to me Secondly to examine my selfe whether I find my hart inwardly sorry for my sins with inward hatred and lothing of sin and an earnest desire and sure purpose wholy to conforme my selfe to the will of Gods word Thirdly if any offence be betwixt others and me that I reconcile my selfe vnto them All these things although they ought earnestly to be considered in the whole course of our life yet then especially when wee come to the supper of the Lord. Que. Now seeing wee be saued by Christes Works without our deseruings wherto then now serueth our wel doings or what auaileth it to do good workes An. We must do good workes not to deserue our saluation by them but by our works to glorifie God in walking as becommeth Gods Children declaring thereby our thankfulnes to God for our redemption Secondly by our works to make our election more certaine vnto our selues Thirdly to winne others vnto Christ by our holy life and conuersation Quest What works callest thou good works An. Our works can neuer be accepable and good in the sight of God vnlesse in doing them wee keepe these two things First that they be framed according to the rule of Gods lawes Commandements not after our owne deuice Secondly that they proceede from an heart purged by faith If either of these two pointes be lacking our workes are abhominable in the eyes of Almighty God although they appeare neuer so glorious in the sight of men Que. Because prayer is one especiall meanes which Gad will haue vs vse to increase our faith tell me what belongeth to true prayer An. It is requisite in true prayer that we obserue these fiue things First that we make our prayers onely to God thorough Christ and not to Saints Secondly that we be inwardly touched with neede of the thing we aske hauing our minde wholly bent therupon and not caried away with by-thoghts Thirdly that our prayers be grounded vppon Gods promise with full assurance that they shall be granted so farre as the Lord doth know them to be meete and needfull for vs. Fourthly that we continue in prayer although we haue not our requests at the first Fiftly that we aske not those things which we thinke
blessed Lawes and Commandments the greatnesse of my sinnes and wickednesse yea I see O Lord my God the whole course of my life to be almost nothing else but a continuall breaking of thy holy Lawes and Commandements The thoughts of my heart eyther in vanitie or else open wickednesse are in number infinite daily in the aboundance of them causing my mouth to speake and my bodie to execute and doe contrarie to thy holie will And againe O Lord I see thy heauie wrath vengeance and iudgement against sin to be intollerable that euen the least wicked thoughtes and most secret cogitations of my heart procureth thy heauy wrath and euerlasting curse the torments of hell and euerlasting fire euen although I had but once in all my life broken any of thy Commandements so much as once in thought And I know O Lord GOD that thou art true and iust and canst not abide sinne and wickednesse but will iustly punish euerie sinne euen with the selfesame torments of hell which thy iustice hath appointed This O Lord my God throweth me downe and euen amazeth me so that I know not what to doe I looke into my selfe viewing mine owne power whether I am able to ouercome this punishment of my sinne or no and I see that all euen the most exquisite punishment which I can deuise of my selfe in whipping of my body as long as I liue wearing Hair-cloth pining my selfe with fasting or any other paine I see I see O Lord that all this punishment is not sufficient for one of my least sinnes because it deserueth euen the euerlasting paines of hell I looke to Heauen I see there is no Saint nor Angell able to abide and ouercome this punishment of sinne I looke to men in this woâ—ld euen to the Popes Treasure that wicked man of sin and I see that neyther his Masse nor Purgatory Pilgrimage Pardons Pennance Satisfactions nor any of such like wicked stuffe alas I see they are nothing for the satisfying for one of my least wicked thoughts seeing the punishment is due by the iust decree and sentence of thy euerlasting cursse Wherefore I am driuen out from my selfe and all that I can doe to seeke this punishment dischargd other wher or els to quaile vnder the burden I see there is no help for me in Angels Saints nor Mortall men but onely in that perfecte man Christ Iesus thy deare Sonne in whom I see the full punishment of my sinne wholy paide satisfied discharged and ouercome death vanquished the paines of hell in victory swalowed vp the cursse satisfied and the eternity of the punishment thorough his euerlasting power ouer-reached This I see O Lord by the eyes of faith being through thy holy spirit wholy assured that all the whole punishment of sinne payd by my Sauiour Christ is not onely paide for other men but euen also for mee and my sinne This assurance of faith beeing thine onely worke in me I beseech thee in mercy to strengthen and increase for I feele it often full of wauering and doubting Grant that I may dayly more and more in my soule and conscience feele my selfe knit and ingrafted into the body of thy Sonne whereby I may be assured that whatsoeuer hee hath done pertaineth to me and is fully and wholy mine that I may through the power of his death feele sinne dayly dye in mee and thorough the power of his resurrection feele my selfe risen from sinne to haue my full ioy and comfort in those things which bee agreeable to thy holy will onely detesting hating and abhorring from my heart all things which be contrary to thy will and pleasure that euen in this life I may still looke for his endlesse ioy felicity vsing the things of this world as though I vsed them not till that good time that it shall please thee to call me to thine euerlasting kingdome of glory there to raigne with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for euer and euer Amen A Prayer vpon the Lords prayer The first petition Our Father which art in heauen O Most mighty Lord and eternall God who hast by thy deere sonne Chrtst Iesu our Lord and Sauiour reconciled vnto thy selfe all things in Heauen and earth and in him hast made an euerlasting bonde and Couenant with vs thy faithfull Children that thou wilt not onely be our God but also our most louing and mercyfull Father whereof as a pledge uhou hast giuen vs thy holy spirit of adoption wherby we may with boldnesse and full trust and confidence come to thee by hearty prayer as vnto our most louing and mercyfull Father being assured that thou wilt not deny ought which thou knowest shall be expedient for vs grant wee beseech thee deere Father that being fully perswaded in our hearts of this thy Fatherly loue and affection toward vs we may be stird vp to make our petitions with such an affection ardent desire loue and reuerence to thy Maiesty that our minds be not carried away with by-thoughts creeping in but without all wandring may be fully bent and attentiue to the things we aske and fully staid vppon thy mercifull and iust protection Hallowed be thy name WE then beseech thee deere Father that thou wilt strenghen our hearts with thy holy spirit that considering thou hast made al things for the glory of thy name so we may in all our doings enterprises counsels and purposes cheifely aboue all things seeke thy glory that wee may fully acknowledge thee not onely the Auther of all things but the Ruler Guider and Gouernor of all things both in heauen and earth that we neuer diminish thy incomprehensible glory by attributing vnto our selues any power strength or ability to doe will or thinke that which is good but from our hearts we may acknowledge all our goodnes to come from thee yeelding for the same continuall praise thankesgiuing to thy glorious Name that we neuer by distrusting thy mercyfuâ—l prouidence dishonour thy Name but that euen in our greatest desires we may put our full confidence in thee not looking vpon our weaknes but staying vppon thy power promises by harty prayer flying vnto thee our onely refuge that our whole life may be framed according to thy holy will in all pointes that thy glorious name in vs may be sanctified and that we be not an occasion that thy holy Name be any way blasphemed throgh our wicked life and conuersation The Second Petition Thy kingdome come LEt thy Kingdome most mercifull Father appeare and manifestly be declared in all the world but especially amongst thy Church faithfull Flocke declare thy selfe Lord and King ouer them ruling them by the scepter of thy holy word force of thy holy spirit Encrease the number of faithfull Pastors and Preachers among the people blesse their labours to the increase of this kingdome of thy deere sonne Iesus Christ and to the destruction of the kingdome of Sathan and Antichrist Suppresse the rage of the Enemies that they mâ—y
heart and minde bee fully assured thou by thy heauenly prouidence rulest and guidest all things in heauen and earth so that nothing in the vvhole world commeth to passe but according to thine appointment that thou guidest and framest the affâ—ires doings of men that thou hast euen their hearts and all their powers in thy mercifull hand to turn them which way soeuer it seemeth best vnto thy godly wisedome so that whether we be in prosperity or aduersity we may acknoledge both of them to be thy worke in vs and therefore be no lesse thankfull for sicknesse then for health for sorrow then for comfort for a troubled minde then for a quiet for imprisonment and banishment then for liberty especially seeing wee know that thou turnest them all seeme they neuer so sharp to the comfort and commodity of thy children which feare thee and that in all thinges which shall befall vnto vs whether they be grieuous or ioyous prosperity or aduersity life or death thy holy name may be sanctified in vs by yeilding due and continuall praise and thankesgiuing to thy eternall Maiâ—sty that we neuer cease to put our ful trust and confidence in thy mercie who hast promised to be our defender buckler and shield to keepe vs as the apple of thine eye to deliuer vs when we cal vpon thee to open when wee knocke to giue when we aske that we knowing our owne weaknes that of our selues wee haue no power or strength to do no not so much as to will that which is good we may acknowledge al our strength comfort ioy faith loue hope and confidence to be thine onely guift and worke in vs. And for the same and the increase of the same and for all thy benefites in vs whereof we feele our selues destitute we may constantly flee vnto thee by heartie prayer requiring the same at thy mercifull hand And hauing felt thy mercifull dealing towards vs we may alway to the end of our life continue thankfull vnto thy blessed name that wee neuer speake or thinke of thee O LORD GOD without high reuerence and an obedient fear vnto thy glorious Name The third Petition Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heauen ANd forasmuch O Lord God as of our selues wee bee nothing but stubbornesse and rebellion against thy holy Maiesty we beseech thee deere Father that as thine Angels in heauen doe willingly obey thy holy and most blessed will without any resistance so wee thy most vild and vnworthy Seruants and Children in earth all stubobrnesse rebellion peruesnes by thy holy Spirit in vs being vtterly extinguished and quenched we may willingly submit our selues resigne and yeeld our whole affections to thee O Lord to bee gouerned after thy blessed and heauenly will That wee may feele in our selues no other motion or desire then a meete consent to thy holy will that whatsoeuer affections in vs fight against thy holy will thou wilt vtterly make them voide That wee neuer will any thing of our selues but that thy holy Spirite in vs may gouerne our hearts by whom inwardly being taught wee may learne to loue embrace and take comfort in those things that please thee and to hate those thinges that displease thee That our hearrs minds and wills being wholy subdued to thy blessed will we may willingly bee content with that estate of life which it pleaseth thy goodnesse to excercise vs withall in this world whether it be in aduersity or prosperity in sicknes or health in ignominy or glory in quietnesse or trouble in sorrow or gladnesse Grant vs deare Father this willing and patient minde that euen in our greatest distresse wee may bee content with thy good will and not to murmure or grudge against thy Maiesty knowing that thou wilt lay nothing vppon vs but that which shall turne to our goodnâ—sse and profit And that wee may patiently abide whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vppon vs that we be assured in our hearts that thou wilt lay no more vnto vs then thou wilt giue vs strength to beare euen in our greatest afflictions wilt find a way for our deliuerance and that thy power and strength is more fully declared when wee feele our selues vtterly voyd of strength and see no way of deliuerance that we may in our most greeuous assaults conflicts and anguish or mind submit our selues wholy to thy blessed will and looke for our deliuerance at thy hand when thou knowest it most expedient for vs and most for thy glory leauing the time and meanes of our deliuerance to thy good will and pleasure and that in the meane time we neuer cease but call vpon thee by hearty prayers continually as thou hast commaunded vntill such time as thou shalt heare our petitions And although after many and sundry callings vpon thee thou seeme not to regard vs but rather deale more extreamly with vs yet notwithstanding strengthen vs so with perseuerance in prayer that wee faint not but still continue in prayer being assured that although we feele our selues nothing released yet we may quiet our selues herein that we as thy Children haue laide our complaints griefes and sorrows in the bosome of thee our heauenly Father who will as a louing Father when he seeth it most conuenient helpe vs. And although thou seeme nothing to grant our requests yet wee honor thee in calling vppon tâ—y name seeing thou dost accept it as a most cheefe honor to bee called vppon in the day of truble The fourth petition Giue vs this day our dayly Bread ANd forasmuch deare Father as thou dost by thy mighty power nourish feede sustaine preserue and maintaine all liuing Creatures yea euen the very young flocks and Beasts we beseech thee to send vnto vs thy Children ouer whom thou hast a more speciall care all things necessary for this our present life that we hauing sufficient may walke euery one in our calling in sincerity and pure holynes before thy face acknowledging all our benifits of riches health wealth meate drinke apparell and all our substance to be thy meere gifts bestowed vpon vs and deliuered vnto vs from thine hands that we be not drawne from thee through setting our mindes too much vppon them but so moderately vse them as thy benefits for a time bestowed vppon vs knowing that thou wilt at our hands require an account how we haue vsed them That wee doe not carefully gape or seeke after them but discreetly to thy glory vse them acknowledging in them thy goodnesse and liberality towards vs. And seeing most mercifull Father that it is not our trauell labour paines study or endeauour which is able to get vs our liuing but onely in so much as it pleaseth thy goodnesse to blesse and prosper them we beseech thee that yet through our great Trauaily and paines wee be yet still poore and in meane estate that thou wilt giue vs a contented heart knowing that thereby thou lettest vs vnderstand that it is thy good will and pleasure
so to keepe vs vnder that wee more effectually may giue our selues to serue thee Or if it bee thy will and pleasure more abundantly to blesse vs and our trauaile to send vs abundance of all things wee beseech thee deare Father giue vs a thankfull heart to acknowledge them to bee thy good giftes and frame our hearts with such liberality that wee may be contented to distribute them according to the necesity of thy children being assured that thou hast to this ende made vs Stewards ouer them that maist at his hands require much on whome thou hast bestowed much so that we hauing the due estimation of thy benefits which we ought to haue may both reuerence thy goodnesse in thy benefits and supply the want of our bretheren to the releefe of their necessity and furtherance of thy glory The fift petition Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. AND whereas most mercifull Father thy Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ hath in our nature paide the ransome and debt of all our sinnes which wee haue from the beginning of our life committed and do dayly commit wee beseech thy gracious gooodesse that thou wilt by thy holy spirit in our hearts assure our soules and consciences with a liuely faith that by that same one onely sufficient sacrifice the punishment of our sinnes is paide thy wrath appeased and thy Iustice satisfied whereby our consciences may be quieted set at peace with thee our mercifull Father and God Let vs deare Father feele in our soules and consciences that wee are vnited to thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and made one body with him and heires with him of euerlasting glory so coupled and ioyned with him that wee are members of his body so that whatsoeuer hee hath done in his body wee may bee assured that it is ours that his righteousnesse is our righteousnesse his sanctification and holinesse is ours the curse condemnation and death which hee suffered is the same curse condemnation and death due for our sinns that wee know that our sins bee done away and cleane forgotten and forgiuen by thy mercifull loue goodnesse declared in offeâ—ing vp thy Sonne to death for vs wee may be driuen to loue thee vnfainedly from the bottome of our hearts for this thine vnspeakable loue And considering that thou hast in mercy pardoned so many our haynous offences we may gladly bee moued to forgiue one another their offences and put out of our heart all rancour malice hatred toward ouâ— Bretheren knowing that we are all members of one body Christ our Sauiour that so surely as we haue forgiuen them that offend vs we may be so certainely assured that our mercifull Father hath forgiuen vs like as we haue forgiuen our Bretheren The sixt petition Lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill ANd for as much most heauenly Father as we of our selues bee feeble and fraile and weak and haue a strong and subtile Aduersarie Sathan the Diuell who goeth about continually like a roaring Lyon seeking whome hee may deuoure we beseech thee strengthen vs by thy holy Spirit that wee may withstand his subtle suggestions and motions hold thou vs by thy mercifull hand and keepe vs alwaies in thy safegard and protection that wee be not ouercome in the mighty assaults of our aduersary And forasmuch as he often vseth euer our owne flesh armed against vs to conquer vs we beseech thee deare Father mortifie subdue and kill in our flesh all subtle suggestions and sinfull motions of Sathan that we yeeld not our selues as slaues thereunto but continually fight against them and bring them into subiection of the Spirit Grant vnto vs deare Father that we may not be drawne through the subtile and sliely torments of Sathan to haue our delight pleasure in the vanities of this world but by thy grace might and power may so in the prosperity of this life bee vpholden that our minds with full ioy and comfort may be lifted vp to our perfect consolation in our Lord and Sauiour Christ and in him take our full and perfect ioy and consolation so that no vaine delight of this world put vs from the same neyther any sharpe aduersaty as pouerty misery or calamity through the malice of the diuell driue vs to dispaire of thy mercifull goodnesse towards vs but alwaies being through thy grace and assistance defended we may be fully perfectly armed against all the subtile intrappings of Sathan and rest wholy in thy mercifull defence and aide For thou hast O Lord and eternall God in thy gouernment all things in heauen and earth all power dominion ouer all creatures Angels and diuels to rule them according to thy good pleasure and will to the profit and commoditie of thy Church and euery faithfull member thereof and to thine incomprehensible glorie that in all things in all ages for euer and euer thy glorious Name may be exalted and thy faithful flocke edified thâ—ough Christ our Lord Amen A Confession of sinnes with Faith and Repentance O Mercifull and heauenly Father we thy Seruants doe humbly pâ—ostrate our selues before thy Maiesty acknowledging here in thy sight our haynous offences committed against thy Maiesty seeing and beholding thy heauie wrath against them wee feele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge company of horrible sins whereof the very least beeing but conceiued in thought is sufficient in iudgment to throw vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake Our owne consciences O Lord do beare witnesse against vs of our manifold transgressions of thy blessed Law of our security sencelesse blindnesse running headlong to destruction committing sinne after sin although not notorious to the world yet horrible before thine eyes The thoughts of our harts rise vp in iudgement against vs the vanity of our talke before thy Maiesty condeÌ„neth vs the wickednesse of our deeds from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughts words and deeds with the inward corruption of our nature doe altogether as it were a whole lumpe loade of sinne lye heauy vpon vs and with their intollerable waight doe euen presse vs downe to Hell Wee doe daily groane vnder the burthen of them inwardly lamenting our owne folly too greedily running into them In heauen earth or hell wee see none able to sustaine the waight of them but euen thy dearely beloed Sonne Iesus Christ who in mercy infinite and compassion endlesse hath sustained and ouercome that endlesse punishment due vnto them in him therfore in him most mercifull Father and through him we come to thee being fully assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept take that full recompence which hee thy deare Sonne hath made for vs as a iust ransome for the sinne of all those who with a true Faith take hold on him In him therfore we see thine anger towardes vs appeased thy wrath satisfied and our debts paide Increase in vs good Lord wee beseech thee this liuely
vanities of this world all licentious and inordinate life all flattering and dissimulation being vtterly banishâ—d the fâ—are of thy glorious Maiesty may so reigne in the harts of all within his Highnesse Pallace and Court that their liues and conuersation may bee agreeable to thy blessed will in sinceritie and true holinesse and integritie of life that from them as from the head may shine purity of life and conuersation as an example and patterne of true godlinesse to the whole Realme Preserue him wee beseech thee good Lord from all conspiracies and Treasons that if it bee thy good will he may haue a long quiet raigne ouer vs to the benefite of thy Church and aduancement of thy glory Indue the whole Counsell good Lord with true and perfect wisedom that in all their consultations Counsels hauing thee present before their eies they may consult of those things which principally cheefly may bee for the aduancement of thy glory and the commodity of thy Church and next for the quiet peace and gracious gouernment of this his Realme So lighten all inferior Magistrates of this Realme good Lord with brightnesse of thy holy Spirit that vnderstanding thy will they may zealously defend maintaine and further the course of the Gospell with the sword of iustice cut off the wicked and cherish the godly Defend and gouerne by thy holy Spirit the Pastours of thy Church and labourâ—rs in thy vineyard that â—hey may zealously earnestly and diligently feed thy flocke committed vnto them with the food of life thy bl ssed word wherewith their soules may bee nourished to life euerlasting Increase the number of them deare Father place ouer euery flocke a godly learned and painfull Pastor who may painfully carefully trauell euery one in his charge to bring thy people which now alasse in many parts doe wander and goe astray like lost sheepe to the true knowledge of their Lord and God and of thy deare Son Iesus Christ their Sauiour And for thy mercy wee beseech thee to take pitty vppon thy poore and simple flocke roote out all rauening woolues which haue craftily crept into thy sheepfold and doe make hauocke of the soules of thy simple Flocke Câ—st out all hirelings time-seruers dumbe Dogges which to fill their bellies onely haue thrust themselues among thy sheepe and doe pittifully suffer the Flocke of Christ thy Sonne to be deuoured and scattered of the Woolfe Stirre vp good Lord and place in their roomes faithfull Sheepeheards which diligently painefully carefully and earnestly may labour in thy Vine-yard seeke to winne the soules of thy people out of the tyranny and power of Sathan to the freedome of thy deare Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord. And that thy Church may better be furnished with godly learned Pastors wee beseech thee good Lord to prosper and increase in all Godly knowledge all schooles of leaâ—ning especially the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxford Grant deare Father vnto all the students of the same that the chiefe end of all their studies may bee to the furtherance of thy Church and maintenance of the common-wealth Blesse their studies deare Father that al vaine studies set aside they may so fructifie in all profitable and godly Sciences that hereafter they may become profitable members of thy Church godly Vpholders of the Common-wealth Grant good Lord to all the whole Commons of this Realme that their hearts being touched with a sincere feare and reuerence of thy Heauenly Maiesty acknowledging thy mercy in placing ouer them a godly Religious Prince they may euery one in their callings walke in all true and humble obedience vnto him in thee and for thee without resistance tumults Insurrections conspiracies or rebellions knowâ— grâ—at to resist the higher Powers is to rebel against thy Maiesty Finally wee beseech thy goodnesse so to giude gouerne the hearts of all the whole Realme of euery degree that euery one in his calling being by thy holy wisedome supported may so occupy his Talent that thy glory in all things may be aduanced thy church inlarged this whole Realme into sincere godlines vertuously reduced Moreouer wee beseech thee O Lord our God in Mercy to behold all those which suffer persecution for thy glorious words sake whether it bee imprisonment death or banishment or whatsoeuer else strengthen them good Lord that they hauing thee alwaies before their eyes and the glory laide vp for them in the life to come may continue constant in defending thy truth without feare of man or vaine allurements of the world that whether it come by life or death they may glorifie thy holy Name in continuing in the truth to the end Preserue in like manner wee beseech thee all others thy Children whome it hath pleased thee with any kind of Crosse to chasten for their amendment whether by pestilence famine warre pouerty Imprisonment sicknesse or banishment trouble of conscience vexation of spirit vnquietnesse of minde want of spirituall comfort or whatsoeuer kinde of affliction of body or minde thou dost try them with that by thy holy spirit being fully assured that thou by this thy correction mindest to call them backe to a feeling of their sinne due consideration of their life conuersation they may patiently abide thy Fatherly tryall looking for aide helpe and comfort from thee when it seemeth most conuenient to thy holy wisedome and being by thy mercifull hand once deliuered may acknowledge thy singular power and worke giuing all laud and praise to thy glorious name and afterwards all the daies of their life study and liue before it hee in sincerity and perfect holinesse euen to their liues end This O Lord we beseech thee in Mercy to grant for thy beloued Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Morning prayer for priuate Houses and Families O Gracious God and louing Father according to thy commandement wee doe here present our selues before the throne of thy mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that we be miserable sinners daily breaking thy commandements both in thought word and deed wherein wee iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence yet O Lord wee see thy goodnesse againe toward vs who not suffering vs thus to perish in our sins hast sent thine owne deare Sonne Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him therfore good Lord and through him doe wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the grieuousnesse of our sinnes and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release ease of them in that we bee thorough thy holy Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ hath borne the burthen of them euen for vs. Grant likewise O most mercifull Lord heauenly Father that wee being assured hereof in our consciences may through thy holy Spirit be renued in the inner man to hate detest and abhorre sinne and
seeing that I erre as a child before such a Father which canst not but off thy Fatherly pitty and compassion but rather as thou hast bought mee vnto thee to bee an heire of thy kingdome by the bloud of thy naturall Sonne my Sauiour Iesus Christ so am I sure that thou wilt lighten mee in the end with full fruition of the bright light of thy countenance that I may see thee and know that as this thy Sonne knoweth thee yea see thee and know thee my Father face to face to know thâ—e as I am knowne Thus rest I onely in thy hands O my God crauing of thee to encrease my knowledge in thy holy word whereby I may know thy good will pleasure And knowing the same giue mee O Lord thy holy Spirit to conduct and lead mee in the same all the daies of my life that in sinceritie of faith and purenes of liuing and conuersation thy glorious Maiesty bee magnified in mee for euer Giue mee grace therefore most mercifull Father that for so high a treasure left among vs as is this thy most holy word I may be thankfull reuerently embrace accept and esteeme of the same as the most precious iewell in earth bee thereâ—n confirmed more strongly that all things therein contayned to be most certaine and vndoubtedly true not by any mortall man but by thy most holy Spirit in man penned and written to the comfort and behoofe of man that I may most humbly lowly and with most high reuerence submit my selfe thereunto as becometh thy Maiestie and thy word proceeding out of thy most blessed mouth that I may reuerently with humblenesse and obedience read heare and occupie my selfe in the same to the comfort of my soule and encrease of thy glory Lighten mine vnderstanding most deere Father with thy holy Spirit that I may learne cleerely to conceiue and vnderstand the things therein contained which no mortall man can conceiue saue those who haue learned of thee whom thou by thy holy Spirit dost lighten and instruct Guide mee deerâ— Father with thy holy Spirit that hauing the true vnderstanding of the mysteries therein contained I may be fully established and confirmed in the true knowledge of thee my deere Father of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour throughly in conscience perswaded that I haue my full and perfect saluation life euerlasting in him and through his attonement made through his death and passion that I doe not vainly abuse the knowledge of thy sacred word to satisfie vaine curiositie or bragge of knowledge but onely to the releeuing of my hungry and wounded conscience to the loosing of my fettered soule and the appeasing of my sorrowfull heart that I may to the end of my life walke in sincerity before thee my heauenly Father in the comforts of thy deere Sonne our Sauiour vpholden still by the mercifull power of the holy Ghost to thine euerlasting praise and glory world without end Amen A Thanks-giuing after the hearing or reading of the word of God O Eternall God and most mercifull Father I yeeld vnto thee most heartie thankes for all thy benefits bestowed vppon mee especially that it hath pleased thy heauenly goodnesse to shine into my heart through the light of thine holy Spirit in the Mysteries of thy holy word and that thou hast framed my heart and mind to take such vnspeakeable ioy and comfort in thy most blessed holy word and the embracing of my saluation therein offered vnto mee For these thine vnspeakable mercies I beseech thee O Lord make mee thankfull that I may acknowledge the great benefit thereof and esteeme of so inestimable a treasure aboue all earthly possessions or treasures And O Lord my God for so much as I wander in this present life among many and infinite dangers whereby I am euery moment in perill of sliding backe and falling from this feruent zeale of thy euerlasting truth which thou hast kindled in my brest if otherwise thou doe not stay mee by thy mercifull hand and for so much as I learne out of thy most blessed and holy word that it is not sufficient to haue begunne well vnlesse I continue to the end not sufficient to hold my hand to the plough and looke backe I craue at thy hands in the name of thy beloued Sonne my Lord and Sauiour Christ that this thy worke which thou hast begun in mee thou wilt in mercy encrease in me more and more and continue it euen to the end of my life that I doe not waxe cold secure dull or faint but continually encreasing in true zeale I may still more and more be delighted with reading hearing and meditating of thy holy word I may thereby also daily encrease in true knowledge of thy blessed will from faith to faith that I may euen from the bottome of my heart so sincerely professe thy true Religion that all hypocrisie vaine-glory and fained holinesse vtterly through thy holy Spirit rooted out of my heart I may onely hold my selfe contented that I may haue the eyes of thy Maiesty beholding my inward heart minde whereby I onely studying to be allowed before thy Maiesty may vtterly reiect all the vaine praise of men which might puffe mee vp or the scoffing iests taunts or reproches of the vngodly which might else driue me downe To this end O Lord my God that I may encrease and daily more and more be confirmed in thy mercies begun in mee I beseech thee stirre vp true sincere Preachers and Messengers who daily may stirre vp my minde and heart otherwise by nature dull to the ioyfull embracing of the glad tidings of peace Leaue mee not destitute O Lord my God of the meanes which thou hast appointed for the encrease of a liuely faith true zeale which meane is onely the Ministery of thy blessed and holy word but make mee alwaies carefull for the seeking of it and so prouide O Lord my God that I may alwaies haue it comfortably receiue it and sweetly digest it Keepe mee by thy holy Spirit O Lord that I neuer be seduced by erronious doctrine but that onely I may giue eare vnto thy voice that cleauing onely vnto thee I may in this present life which thou hast giuen mee so occupy my selfe and vse this good time which thou hast appointed that I may still looke for the comming of thy deere Sonne to receiue mee into the euerlasting rest prepared for all the elect and chosen whereby I shall for euer remaine together with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee the holy Ghost be all honor and glory world without end Amen A Prayer before the receiuing of the Sacrament O Lord Iesus Christ which art the sweete comfort of all that call vpon thee and the sure succour of all such as sue vnto thee behold mee a most sinfull creature and foule offender which bowing the knees of my heart with all humilitie before thee confesse vnfainedly that I am
not worthy to entertaine and receiue thee into my sinfull vncleane house Neuerthelesse most louing Lord which hast said that who so eateth thy flesh drinketh thy blood shall dwell in thee and thou in him haue mercy vppon mee O haue mercy vpon mee most mercifull Sauiour and behold mee most miserable sinner prepared at this present not only to let thee in vnder the roofe of my mouth but also to lodge thee in the house of my heart O bountifull Iesu be my gracious Redeemer and grant that I receiue not the Sacrament of thy body and blood vnworthily purchasing thereby vnto my selfe death and damnation but rather be made through faith in thee a worthy receiuer a meete member of thy blessed body and so by the strength of this heauenly foode may not onely bee enabled to cast away all my former sinnes and most beloued corruptions but may also walke before thee in all constant holines to the making sure of mine election Grant this I beseech thee for thine owne mercy sake Amen A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Sacrament O Sweete Sauiour which with thy precious salue of compassion curest the foule and filthy sores of our sinnes and prouidest for vs all necessarie preseruatiues against the poyson of the soule-infecting maliciousnes heare I beseech thee the humble supplications of me thy poore seruant which heere present my selfe before thee at this present and grant that this my receiuing of the Sacrament of thy blessed body and blood may be a true testimony vnto my conscience that I haue through faith in thee receiued full remission of all my sinnes and offences past and am now become as it were a new Creature in thy sight I beseech thee likewise grant that casting away all my former workes of wickednesse I may henceforth walke in newnesse of life and godly conuersation bringing forth such fruits of true conuersion as may mooue others by my example to honor praise thy holy name And that running the whole race of my life in dutifull obedience toward thee I may when it shall please thee to thinke meete receiued among the number of thine elect into that euerlasting happinesse where wee shall bee perfect in holinesse Amen A Prayer for Constant perseuerance in praying when wee are dull to prayer O Lord God most mercifull Father according to thy commandement in mine afflictions and necessities I seeke to thee for succor by continuall prayer calling vppon thy Name I call vppon thee in the day time and in the night season doe I poure out my prayers vnto thee and yet for all that I feele mee nothing released but oftentimes worse and worse which maketh me many times deare Father almost to doubt of thy goodnesse that thou dost reiect my Prayers and giuest no heed vnto them whereby I doe almost thinke that it is no boot for me to pray seeing I feele no release but O Lord this is but weaknesse in me and the frailty of flesh which will not willingly bee subdued vnto thy Spirit which my frailty I beseech thee O Lord forgiue me For thou dost O Lord God see my conflicts and lookest vppon my continuall sighes and petitions but thou dost deferre prolong thy helpe the longer dost not at first helpe me to this end that I may see fully mine owne weaknes learne by little and little to subdue my rebellious will to thy good will who knoweth better what is meet for mee then I my selfe Therefore O most deare Father strengthen mee by thy holy Spirit that I may still perseuere and continue in prayer and with longing desires patiently waite for thee O Lord being assured that although it appeare not yet thou art alwaies present with mee and hearest my sighes and complaints and wilt when thou seest thy time declare thy selfe manifestly in the renewing my heart with spirituall ioy stirre vp O Lord my dull sluggish nature to call vpon thee continually appointing thee neyther time nor the meanes of my deliuerance but leauing all to thy good will and pleasure I may in the meane time neuer cease my continuall prayer to call for thy mercifull helpe vntill such time as it shall please thy goodnesse to send mee full deliuerance I feele my selfe O Lord oftentimes very vnwilling to pray for that I doe not fully perceiue my prayers to be heard but doe go on still languishing in my sorrowes as though thou hadst no care of mee But this my dulnesse I beseech thee O mercifull Father pardon in me and grant that I may be raised vppe to pray for aide and releefe of thee continually although I should see no signe of fauour yet that I may continue still with the faithfull Woman of Canaan and neuer cease in heart mind and mouth till thou grant my requests at thine appointed time when thou knowest it shall be most for my behoofe and for thy glory And that when thou shalt mercifully looke vpon mee to deliuer mee I may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge thy goodnesse toward me and let it neuer stirre out of my heart but continue thankfull for the same all the daies of my life whereby thy glorie in mee may be declared and my soule releeued thorough Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for all times O Lord God Father of mercy and God of all consolation without whom wee haue neither hope nor comfort we poore wretched sinners beseech thee of thy Fatherly goodnesse to looke vpon vs and to make vs partakers of thy gracious goodnesse so that euermore wee may set foorth thy honor and glory let our conuersation bee such that a great many beholding our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father and so direct our waies that we may hold forth the profession of thy Gospell as a Lanterne to lighten the steps of a great many that they may turne to the and prayse thy name in their visitation Thus O Lord wee beseech thee to deale with vs that in deed wee may be vessels of honor vnto thee now to set forth the glory of thy name and after this transitorie life to behold thy glory who hast immortallitie alone and dwellest in light that no man hath approched vnto remoue farre from vs our sinnes and iniquities that they may not separate betweene vs and thee blotte out of vs our offences and make our prayers righteous that thou mayest fauourably grant our requests looke vppon vs with thy fauourable mercy that thou mayest haue pittie vppon vs and behold vs in the righteousnesse of thy beloued Sonne Christ Iesus and that wee may be presented faultlesse in thy sight and thou accepting vs as holy we may haue the grace euermore to set forth thine honor and glory and to speake of thy praises in the midst of all thy people Let vs loue O Lord the things that are good and hate the things that are euil let vs delight in all things that may please thee and let vs
vnnecessary luggage and fretting cares nor setting vp my rest in any present Inne of outward happinesse or inward means therto but still casting away euery thing that presseth down and the sinne that hangeth so fast vpon me I may run with ioy the race that is set before looking vnto Christ Iesus the Authour and finisher of my Faith and so by him seeing within the rule into the glory that is set before mee I may despise the shame and waite with patience the great recompence of Reward That so neither riches may daunt my Faith by presuming too farre nor depth may quayle it by stooping too low That Principalities may not shake it by force of tentation nor Powers ouercome it by their violent impressions that neither things present may abase it by groueling thereon nor things to come may deiect it by doubtings or false feares That neither life may corrupt it by doting thereon nor death may confound it by vnpreparednesse thereto That nothing may separate me from the loue of God in Iesus Christ in whom by Faith I am more then Conqueror ouer all things Thus grant mee gracious God to walke by Faith and not by sight And that I may receiue the end of my Faith euen the saluation of my soule Oh keepe me by thy mighty power through faith vnto saluation and guide me by the word of Faith in all my wayes that I may not leane to mine owne wisdom bur to thy sure Word as to a Light shining in a dark place that so I may daily grow in knowledge and in the grace of Iesus Christ from Faith to Faith filled with all ioy and peace in beleeuing abounding in all fruits of righteousnesse and perfect holines that so I may be perfect and intyre wanting nothing waiting for the appearance of Iesus Christ that so my Conuersation being in heauen an entrance may bee thereby made vnto me into the euerlasting kingdom of thy deare Sonne euen to take possession by faith in this life therof and to see a farre off by faith into the fulnesse of that glory that so I may fight the good fight of Faith and lay hold of eternall life in full assurance of what I haue alreadie the earnest of by Faith and so in that hâ—pe daily purging my selfe of all wickednesse of the Spirit and of the Flesh that I mâ—y grow vp to perfect holinesse in thâ— fauor of GOD waiting daily by Faith the adoption of the sonnes of God and laboring to attaine the resurrection of the dead that so I may bee kept blamelesse in Soule Body and Spirit vnto the comming of my Sauiour Iesus Christ Grant these things gracious Father euen for his sake in whome thou art well pleased Iesus Christ the righteous To whome with thine owne blessed Spirite one glorious Vnitiue Trinity be glory and prayse Dominion now and for euer Amen A Prayer to feele in heart Spirituall comfort and the liuely sence of our Adoption by Faith O Lord God most mercifull Father now I fully perceiue know that the heart of man is not in his owne hand for thou hast taught mee by diminishing thy Spirit of comfort in my heart that it resteth wholie in thy power to make ioyfull the heart of man and to diminish the same ioy according to thy good pleasure and will For if O God it had beene in mine owne power and will to haue receiued comfort in thy holie word or to haue beleeued thy promises from my hart I would long since haue enioyed comfort and beene confirmed in faith but I cannot most mercifull Father it is thy meere worke I looke therefore O gracious God for thy blessed comfort strength of faith which I beseech thee O Lord send into my heart to fill the same with spirituall ioy that by the working of thy holy Spirit in mee the comfortable promises of thy mercifull protection may be throughly sealed in mine heart and sinke downe deep into my soule that I may be fully assured that thou art my strong rocke and house of defence that thou dost keepe mee as the apple of thine eye as thou hast promised in thy blessed word that thou wilt not lay more vppon mee then thou wilt giue mee strength to abide and that thou wilt assuredly at thine appointed time renew my heart the whole powers of my mind that I may fully glorifie thy holy name But in the meane time O Lord alas my heart is cleane voyde of spirituall ioy yea euen as hard as a stone so that the louing promises of thy holy word although I know them to bee true yet they cannot sinke into my hard stony heart vntill such time as thou by encreasing of thy holy Spirit to me shalt mollifie and make tender my hard heart that it may bee meete to receiue the sweet comfort of thy Spirit Thy holy Spirit O Lord in mee which is the assurance of my saluation doth continually send forth vnspeakable sighs and longings for thy full ioyfull presence I beseech thee therefore deere Father for thy Sonne Christ Iesus sake harken vnto my prayers and grant my requests make tender my hard and stony heart by thy holy Spirit that I may from the bottome of my heart acknowledge thee to bee my most mercifull God and Father and all things in thy holy word contained to be most certaine and true reuerently embrace the same and into my soule take comfort and ioy in the same that I may deere Father euen vnto my liues end walke before thy face in sinceritie of heart being assured of my saluation through that one alone sufficient sacrifice for my sinnes made by thy deere Sonne Christ Iesu to whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honor and glory world without end Amen A Prayer against doubting to strengthen a weake Faith and to perseuere therin GLorious and mightie Lord who by â—hy Soueraigne All-sufficient power as thou madest al things of nothing so thou callest those things which are not as if they were and dost command light to shine out of darkenesse that so wee might bee translated out of darknesse into this maruelous light Holy Father it is thine vnspeakable mercy that I thy most vnworthy seruant being once the child of hell yea darknesse it selfe am now through thy free grace illightning mine heart by Faith enabled to behold thy face in Iesus Christ and so through this light am become light in the Lord being enabled by faith to discerne the great Mystery of Christ and so by faith to lay hold thereon as to bee freely thereby discharged from the guilt of my sinne and to be inuested with the perfect righteousnesse of my Sauiour that so I might bee found acceptable vnto thee Holy Father how vnspeakable herein haue beene thy mercies to me a vilde sinner that passing by the wise and noble of the world it hath pleased thee of thy free grace to visite mee a very reprobate branch with thy sauing health and to
what thou commandest with all sincerity and diligence and suffering what thou imposest with all ioy chearfulnes patience so to loue thee for thy mercies as to feare to offend thee in regard of my corruption so to feare in respect of mine owne aptnes to offend thee as to loue thee for thy free grace in Christ accepting mee in him aboue mine owne vnworthinesse not imputing my sinnes vnto mee and for his sake accepting my willing minde to doe what I cannot and enabling mee daily in him to doe aboue what I am able in my selfe yea doing in him all my workes aboue the worth thereof yea doing wonderfully by him in mee aboue what I presently can discerne yea aboue whatsoeuer I am able to aske or thinke that thou in him maist haue the glorie of all thy goodnesse O let thine vnspeakeable loue vnto mee enlarge my heart from thee to the loue of the Brethren that so I may know heereby that I am translated from life to death Grant me so to loue thine owne Image wheresoeuer I finde it stamped on Man that I may loue him best that is most like vnto thee and yet loath that in him which is vnlike vnto thee Giue mee to loue him with a pure heart as thou louest mee and to affect him feruentlie as thou affectest mee Grant mee to doe the best good to him as thou gauest the best for me and yet not to neglect to do the least as thou failest not mee in the least occasions Giue me to loue him constantly as thy loue to mee continues and not to be weary of well-doing that I may obtaine the reward And as thou louedst mee when I was thine enemie so grant me to loue my enemies pray for them that persecute me because they cary thine Image are thine Instruments to do me good that so I may ouercome euill with good heape coales of loue vpon their heads And seeing I am yet a stranger and soiourner in this world O grant mee not to loue the world nor the thinges therein but so to vse them as if I vsed them not and yet thereby be stirred vp to loue thy most wise prouidence who hast made all these thinges for me that I therein serue honor thee and that I may so do O knit my heart fast vnto thee by this hand of loue that I may loue thee more the more thou openest thine hand to fill mee with them and yet loue thee more constantly the more thou sustainest mee without them still returning thee the prayse both of giuing them to me and taking them from me that nothing may bâ—e able to seperate me from thy loue that I may daily more and more hate my corruption and all occasions thereof so to hate my sinne that still I may more loue thy mercie in pardoning thereof more admire thy wisedome in turning it to my good more loue and long for the appearance of Iesus Christ for the full abolishing of the same That so liuing in thy loue I may die in thy fauour and dying in loue I may liue for euer with thee to loue and glorifie thee my blessed God in Iesus Christ with the blessed Spirite one glorious God in three persons blessed for euermore to whom bee prayse and Dominion with all hearty loue and obedience of all that loue the comming of Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer to obtaine and preserue the Feare of God that wee may be kept constant thereby in holinesse to the end GLorious and euerlasting God whose Loue is as thy selfe free vnchangeable and because thou art not changed therefore the Sonnes of Iacob are not consumed and that they may not miscarâ—y thou hast promised to put thy Feare in their hearts that they shall not depart from thee And hauing accepted the blood of thy Sonne as a sufficient satisfaction for their sinnes dost daylie accept also the crie of that blood to preserue them in thy feare to present them blamelesse at the glorious appearance of thy righteous Sonne Iesus Haue mercy vpon mee thy poore seruant and put thy Feare in my heart that I may cleaue fast vnto thee and neuer depart from thine holy Couenant for I confesse vnfeignedly O Lord my God that as mine owne vnbeleeuing heart doth daily misgiue mee and is ready to betray mee to such occasions as may with-draw me from my stedfastnesse So there is no occasion without which without thy speciall Grace is not likely daily so to enueigle and estrange my heart from thee as that it may stagger and vtterly deny thee For if I looke on the right hand to faire shewes of the vvorld what are they else but so many baites to ensnare my wauering spirite and steale it from thee If I looke on the left hand to the sorrowes and stormes thereof are they not either as so many billowes to ouerthrow my weake Barke in the first setting out or else to sinke or swallow vp in the midway Aboue all O Lord my owne deceitfull heart is so subiect to presumption and secuâ—itie that I am in danger either to bee split vpon the Rockes euen at the shore or else to bee swallowed of quick-sandes in the very hauen Against all which seeing thy name O Lord is a strong tower and as thy name so is thy Feare O grant me in all things to feare thy great and glorious name to stand in awe of thy Maiesty that I may daily feare my owne selfe and so distrusting mine owne inability I may both feare to offend thee and in all thinges may study to please thee and that I may so feare thee as still to rely vpon thee and draw neere with confidence to thee O grant mee to feare thee for thy mercies that I may loue thee in the entertainement of them so to bee afraid of thy iudgements as to take warning by thy threatnings that I may auoid them as to answere thee by repentance that I may not bee swallowed vp of them Giue mee so to feare thee as not to bee daunted with thinges present least my life bee vnprofitable and vncomfortable neither to be distracted with things to come least I bee vnprepared to mine end And that I may bee continually prepared for thee O grant mee daily to make euen reckoning with thee by repentance that I bee not taken tardie and to renew my life daily in Christ so liuing by Faith in him that I may worke out my saluation in feare and trembling both renouncing the worth of whatsoeuer good I haue or can do as to bee iustified thereby yea though I know euill by my selfe yet not standing vpon my cleering because thou knowest all things and also not resting in any present measure as if I had attained or were already perfect but forgetting what is behind hastning that which is before I may presse towardes the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Iesus Christ That so being daily dead to sin yea to my selfe and hauing
my life hid with Christ in God when Christ which is my life shal appeare I may also appeare with him in glorie Grant this gracious Father for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Aduocate and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for grace and wisedome O Most mighty God and mercifull Father poure into my heart thy heauenly grace wisedome Comfort my sinnefull soule with thy heauenly Manna molifie and make soft my hard heart with the sweete pleasant oyle of thy most holy word Suffer me not O mercifull Lord to swerue or slide from the waies of truth but grant helpe of thy holy Spirit that I may walke in the same vnto my liues end and let not thy heauenly wisedome depart from me at any time during this life According to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Preserue me from this my youth and infancy vnder thy fauourable protection Giue mee grace O Lord that I may euen to the graue continue a faithfull and manly Souldâ—er in defence of thy truth and that I may in all my life daily grow to the ripe perfection of godly wisedome and truly and iustly acknowledge thee mine onely God Deut. 6. That I may onely feare thee and honor thee That I may cleaue fast vnto thee Deut. 10. That I doe not after the abhomination of any idolatrous people worship stocks or stones Deut. 8. Nor let me not O Lord harken to any false Prophets that teach their owne imaginations and not the word of God Deut. 13. Now vouchsafe O Lord God to heare me and let thy wisedome gouerne mee I know my God that no creature can truly say I haue done my dutie in the seâ—uice of the Lord neither is it in the power of man who is so deeply subiect to sinne to escape all those stumbling blockes which haue made our waies dangerous and perillous through those innumerable practises wherewith Sathan our great enemie through his malice and craft hath deuised to intrap our sinfull soules to our vtter destruction Lord of thy great mercy roote and pull out of my heart all the workes of Sathan namely fornication adultery vncleannes wantonnesse pride enuie vnnaturall desires vnpure thoughts lewd behauiour idlenesse and all other vicious and naughty actions which being followed according to the pleasures and delights of the world in this life bring with them euerlasting damnation of body and soule in the world to come Encrease in me O Lord such aboundance of thy grace wisedome and heauenly blessing that through the operation of the same in me I may proue a true workman in thy haruest such a seruant as occupieth his Maisters Talent vnto gaine a witnesse that beareth testimony of Christ to all people at all times and in euery place continue constant in the truth during the whole course of this my mortall life In thy truth O God do I delight therefore make me perfect in the same In thee alone doe I repose my whole trust and confidence saue me O God of all mercy and defend mee against my enemies Establish and confirme me O Lord in faith towards thee Keepe thou my lips and gouerne my tongue Suffer not my heart to purpose any thing that may displease thee nor my tongue or lips to speake ought whereby I should purchase thy wrath Whosoeuer doth trust in thee O God shall vnderstand thy truth and the faithfull shall haue rest in thy fauour but the vngodly according to their owne wicked thoughts shall find corruptioÌ„ The soules of the iust are in the hand of God and the force of death shall not touch them All wisedome commeth from the Lord and hath beene with him alwaies and is with him from the beginning Eccle. 1. The feare of the Lord doth expell sin Lord of thy mercy grant me thy heauenly wisedome whereby I may truly learne to know thee rightly and be diligent to performe thy precepts effectually Lord leaue me not in my young daies let thy wisedome enter into my heart and make her habitation in my soule so shall I liue in thy fauour and perseuer in thy lawes through thy grace Let not them that trust in thee O Lord God of Hoastes bee ashamed let not those that seeke thee bee confounded O God of Israel Lord I make my prayers vnto thee in an acceptable time euen in the multitude of thy mercies O God heare mee in the truth of thy saluation In thee alone O heauenly Father are all things generally and what is not of thee is altogether naught Replenish and blesse me O Lord with all good giftes shew thy louing countenance towards me gouerne me by thy grace continue me in thy fauour and protect and defend me now and euermore vnder the winges of thy manifold mercies so shall no vile temptation haue power to preuaile against me Such is the force of thy heauenly wisdome O God that whosoeuer obtaineth the same and directeth his life accordingly shall prosper and see good daies Whosoeuer pleaseth thee O Lord from the beginning are made whole through wisedome Sapient 9. Which of thy mercy O my God vouchsafe to grant vnto me for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ his sake To whome with thee the holy Ghost be all glory honor and praise now and for euer Amen A Prayer to walke conscionably in our ciuil and personall Calling O Most glorious and wise God who in thine infinit wisedome hast ordayned that euery Sonne of Adam should eate his bread in the sweat of his face and so hast wisely fitted each man in his seuerall place with seuerall and particular gifts of nature experience and grace that so hee might glorifie thee in some speciall calling not willing that any should liue idlely like an vnprofitable burthen of the earth mispending his precious time and wasting away thy Creatures neither doing good to humaine society And herein hast giuen vs a patterne from thy selfe who euen workest hitherto and albeit that thy great businesse of Creating all things ended with those first six daies in which euery particular was brought forth by thee in his proper kind yet thy prouidence is neuer intermixed in it neither slumber nor sleepe ouer taketh thee And so also thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ whilst in the daies of his flesh hâ—e humbled himselfe to liue as man vpon the earth both in his priuate life attended vppon a painefull trade and when the time came of his manifesting himselfe to the world went about doing of good yea with that chearfulnes that it was his meate and drinke to doe thy will and to finish the worke of him that sent him And all thine holy actions also in continuall action obeying the voyce of thy word and ministring for their sakes that shall be heires of life nay doth not euery Creature in his place obey this thine ordinance the Sunne the Moone all those heauenly Orbes Do they not execute their operations faithfully and finish their Reuolutions in their seasons Do not these inferior things daily performe thy
preuailed against my vnworthynesse Thou mightest for my sinnes haue left me to perish in mine extremities but thou hast compassed mee about with ioyfull deliuerance thou mightest haue made my wombe a graue to burie the dead or in affoording life to another thou mightest haue procured my death but yet thou hast not onely made my wombe a wel-spring of life but restored life vnto me also for the cherishing thereof Marueilous O Lord are thy workes infinite are thy mercies my soule by present experience knoweth it well O my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy Name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits Thou hast heard my prayers and looked vppon my sorrow thou hast redeemed my life from death and healed mine infirmities and crowned mee with thine euerlasting compassions O giue me I humbly pray thee a thankfull heart not onely now while the memorie and sense of thy fauour is fresh before mee but continually euen so long as I haue any being Grant that I may learne by this liuely euidence of thy power and mercy for euer heereafter to depend onely on thee Quicken mee also to all holy duties that my thankfulnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian carriage Make mee a kind and carefull mother willing to vndergoe the paine and trouble of education Let no nicenesse or curiositie hinder mee from those seruices to which both nature and religion hath appointed me let me also be carefull when time requireth to season the fruite thou hast giuen mee with the sauing knowledge of thee and thy deere Sonne that my desire may manifestly appeare to be set for the encrease of thy Kingdome Vouchsafe so to order my affections and to bring them in obedience vnder thee that if it should be thy pleasure either now or heerafter to take this Infant from me I may as willingly part with it as thou freely gaue it me And now O God perfect in mee that strength which thou hast begunne make me to grow in care to serue thee faithfully both in the duties of pietie and in other businesse of my place and calling that I may bee a comfort to my husband and example to my neighbours a grace to my profession and a meanes of glorie to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for those who are employed in the assistance of a trauailing woman HOly Father who hast commanded vs to serue one another in loue and hast made this the triall of our true loue vnto thee and our neighbour that wee helpe them in the time of need Be present we pray with vs â—y thy gracious Spirit to seale vp the pardon of our sinnes that they hinder vs not in this businesse and to assist vs with such conscience and diligence that our labour may not bee in vaine Wee confesse O Lord that wee are not worthy of â—ny gâ—â—d for our selues much lesse that wee should smother the good of others neither that any labour of ours can further thy good without thy speciall Grace enabling vs therein and accepting the same Accept vs therefore wee pray thee in the blood of thy Son shed thy loue into our hearts by thine holy Spirit that all our labour may be done in loue In loue to thy Maiesty who enablest vs to all good and in loue to our Christian Sister especially to her soule And therefore keepe vs wee pray thee from all idle sauours and superstitious conceits as auaileable heereunto from all rotten and vnsauoury speech which may interrupt the worke and teach vs to seeke helpe onely from thy Grace vsing al gracious communication both among our selues and to the comfort of the distressed that shee may only depend vpon thy mighty power applying all diligence and wisedome in affoording seasonable helpe for the easing of the paine or furthering of the birth Furnish vs with skill and her with strength patiently to awaite the appointed time of her deliuerance and knit all our hearts vnto thee that wee may feare thy Name obseruing the passages of thy prouidence in this and all other thy great workes and studying to giue thee praise and glory for the same in Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A thankesgiuing vpon the blessing of their labour in the Deliuerance HOly Father who hast reuealed thy selfe in thy word to bee a God that hearest prayer and hast now made good this promise vnto vs thine vnworthy seruants in hearing our prayers in the behalfe of this distressed woman Giue vs hearts we humbly pray thee to conceiue wisely of this thy great kindnesse and open our mouths we beseech thee that wee declare this thy goodnesse for the comfort of others that by this liuely example we may beleeue in thy great Name What hast thou not done heerein O Lord euen aboundantly aboue what wee could thinke or aske And what can we repay vnto thee worthy of so great saluation Wee confesse our selues vnworthy to aske much lesse to obtain for our selues yet behold thou hast heard our cries and releeued this thy desolate seruant It is not enough that thou hast giuen ease and deliuerance to the Mother vnlesse also thou didst liue to her Babe that so in it her life might bee againe receiued yea thou hast made our cup to run ouer with ioy and gladnesse who were almost ouerwhelmed with sorrow and dispaire Thine O Lord bee the onely glorie and praise heereof O fill our hearts with thankefulnesse that our reioycing may bee in trueth and humble vs vnfeignedly in the consciences of our owne vnworthinesse that we may giue thee the onely glory of all thy mercies Let our humility appeare in seruing each other in loue and let our loue bee manifest in prouoking each other to trust in thee alone for the time to come let our confidence in this prepare vs to this or the like occasion that so we may finde a gracious issue in our greatest extremities And let our experience of thy good hand heerein weane vs from the loue of the world wherin wee are like continually to meet with what will oppose or ensnare vs and prouoke vs to long for our dissolution when all teares shall be wiped from our eyes And let our desire to bee with thee make vs alwaies ready for thee in all sobriety modesty humility patience and perseuerance that so wee may bee found faithfull when our Maister commeth And that wee may bee found in peace at his glorious appearance O grant vs daily to deny our selues that still wee may bee found of thee in the righteousnes of our Sauiour may by the power thereof be daily accepted of thee by the efficacie of the same may bee more and more conformed to thine holy Image and so may at length be fully satisfied therewith And as thou hast now added one vnto the number of mankinde shewing thy wisedome and power in the framing of him in the wombe in bringing him
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
Thus am I bceome O Lord as one forlorne and out of minde free among the dead no better in mine owne account then a meere abiect and cast a-way whose hope is not onely perished from the earth but without hope or helpe from thee my God And all this is iustly come vpon me by reason of mine owne foolishnes who haue neglected my watch and so haue fallen from thee and haue bene carelesse of the means to restore me speedily againe whereby my wounds haue festered and seeme to be incureable and so my anguish is greater then I can expresse my sinnes are become a burthen that I am not able to beare my heart within wasteth with continuall sorrow and I daily receiue a sentence of death And yet though all this bee come vpon me yet thy foundation standeth sure thou knowest who are thine though thou hast chasticed mee sore for my folly yet thou hast not giuen mee ouer vnto death and therefore yet there is hope though I haue receiued a sentence of death yet it is that I might dye to mine owne confidence and trust in thee the liuing God who raiseth vp from the dead the more I feele my sinnes a burthen which I am not able to beare the more dost thou inuite me to come vnto thee that I may be raised and therefore I must finde my selfe daily lost in my selfe that I may bee found of thee in Christ not hauing mine owne righteousnes Though thy law doth thunder nothing but vengeance against me yet thou commandest mee still to beleeue in thy name and therefore though thou kill mee yet I will trust in thee For thou O my God wilt be found in the issues of death thou louedst me euen when I was thine enemie and therefore canst not reiect mee now I seâ—ke thee in truth Thou hast embraced mee with euerlasting compassions and therefore canst not neither wilt forsake me in my great extremitie and thou hast many times heretofore deliuered me from the Lyon and the Beare from many desperate snares thou hast many times rescued mee and wilt thou not deliuer me from euery euill worke and preserue mee constantly vnto thy glorious appearance yea certainely blessed Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe I beleeue that thou art able to do wonderfully aboue what I can thinke or desire and therefore that thou wilt not deny mee what I aske in thy name I beleeue that thou canst bring light out of darknesse and therefore thou wilt turne my darknes into light I beleeue that all things shall worke together to the best to those which are called according to thy purpose and therefore that thou wilt turne this my greatest abasement to my greatest comfort Onely I humbly pray thee giue mee patience to waite vpon thee vntill thou come and comfort me submit mee to thy wise physick whereby thou maiest heale mee that so being healed I may bee fit for comfort O heale me therefore I humbly pray thee by the blood of thy sonne wash me throughly from all my sinnes and clense mee from all mine iniquities Create in mee O Lord a cleane heart that I may appeare all faire before thee and renew a right spirit within mee that I may worship thee in spirit and truth Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation that I may be perswaded of thy loue vnto me and stablish me with thy free spirit that I may vnfeignedly loue thee againe and neuer depart from thy holy couenant grant me to renew my couenant daily with thee that thou maiest be for euer with me to keepe me in thy feare and keepe mee daily lowly in mine owne eyes that still I may bee accepted of thee in thy beloued Giue mee trust in thee by distrusting mine owne deceitfull heart especially in time of temptation and teach mee to rely on thy mighty power by faith euen when powers and principalities doe most oppose mee O strengthen mee with the strong cries of thy blessed Spirit that I may be feruent in prayer to wrestle with thy Maiesty that so thou maist hasten thy worke to comfort me And though I finde not that comfort I haue had or desire yet let this comfort me that I haue done thy will and let it humble mee still that I am not fit for the comfort I doe desire that so with patience I may waite for the same comforting my selfe that seeing this is the time of my warfare and not of my crowning therefore if I waite for what I am not fit for yet there is enough before mee to satisfie me aboundantly and therefore grant mee still to forget what is behind and to hasten to what is before to waite for the comming of my Lord and Sauiour and so prepare my selfe daily to his glorious appearance And euen so come Lord Iesus come quickly Amen FINIS