world if I say Satan inticed me and I did sinne thou hast commanded me to resist Satan and his tentations so that though I plead with Adam that my Heuah my carnall part that thou gauest me did moue me and I did sinne it will be no excuse for mee if I say the world allured or Satan tempted me it booteth me not and therefore Father I cannot but freely confesse against my selfe that I euen I haue sinned and done all these euills against thee against thee O Lord I haue sinned against my selfe and haue deseruedly stirred vp thy displeasure against me and in thy displeasure is death This this O Lord is the gaine that my sinnes haue gotten not onely a dissolution of the soule and body due to all flesh but the death of body and soule due onely to impenitent sinners among whom I euen I acknowledge my selfe worthy to bee numbred without thy mercy For who hath power Lord by his owne corrupt nature to repent By nature Lord I sinne How can I by the same sinfull part repent of that wherein nature it selfe delighteth A fountaine bringeth not forth bitter water and sweet How then Lord can I bring forth true repentance out of a corrupt heart as it is corrupt Yet Lord though my heart bee corrupt by nature being made in part sincere and holy by thy grace it shall so farre forth worke repentance as is thy grace powerfull and effectuall in me So that though sinne by nature dwell in me by thy grace may sanctity also as Esau and Iaakob in Rebeccahs wombe striuing for superiority Therefore good Father as Esau the elder gaue place and became seruant to Iaakob So let sinne which is in me the first borne giue place in mee vnto sanctity And let sanctity haue the sole dominion in my heart then shall my heart bring forth the good fruits of a godly life though while I liue here the weeds of corruption will also grow but Lord let them not ouergrow the good seed of thy spirit but let them wither and die before they grow vp to beare any fruit vnto death But feed me now at the last with the most wholesome fruits of thy spirit and giue me grace to expresse my sorrow for my sins that I haue done with an inward relenting heart grieued that euer I contriued sin in my inward thoughts that euer I acted it or consented vnto it Lord see and behold my sorrow for my sins if it bring not forth sincere repentance water it so with thy mollifying spirit that it may worke in mee that which may testifie that I repent indeed so that sinne may become loathsome vnto me and sanctitie sweet And although while I carrie about me this vnholy lump of earth my best exercises cannot but sauour of the fountaine from whence they flow if of corruption corruptly if of thy spirit heauenly O season therefore my heart O Lord my soule and whole man with thy spirit that whatsoeuer I thinke speake or doe may sauour from aboue that I may feele in my heart and soule a true and liuely detestation of whatsoeuer sauoureth of the loue of this world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eies and the pride of life Giue me strength to performe all perfect obedience in all righteousnesse euen to the forgetting of sinne And yet to remember my sinnes past and to repent them that thou my louing Father before whose presence I presently stand maiest bee pleased to turne thy louing and fatherly countenance in mercy towards me in the merits and mediation of Christ my Reedeemer Let these mine humble petitions O Lord ascend vp vnto thee and let the infallible tokens of thy mercies appeare towards mee that my heart now cast downe for feare of thy iudgements may bee againe lifted vp feeling the inward testimonies of thy mercies in Christ. To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour praise and glory A Praier for the morning with thankes for rest and safetie O Father mercifull and euermore louing in Iesus Christ who this night past hast beene a powerfull and prouident Watch-man ouer me euen when by the deadnesse of sleepe I was depriued euen of sense care or feare of any danger which yet without thy preseruation and prouidence might suddenly haue seized vpon me and that by infinite meanes For Lord thou knowest what a malicious and watchfull Aduersary we haue who is attended on by a troupe of infernall Ministers that hourely seeke by some meanes to surprize vs Besides the corruption of our owne nature that is alwaies working in vs sinfull thoughts vncleane desires and most vngodly affections mouing vs in our night-wakings in stead of holy meditation and godly praier to purpose the committing of infinite sorts of sinnes when we enter into the day hauing no meanes to preuent the execution of most sinfull actions but by thine owne most gracious working holy feare and godly obedience in our hearts Wherefore louing Father I come this morning into thy holy presence from which I cannot hide mee and vpon the knees of my heart I vnfainedly intreat thee that as it hath pleased thee this night to preserue me and giuing me comfortable rest and sleepe in safetie so thou wilt be pleased to watch ouer mee this day that no danger befall me either in body soule or any thing belonging vnto me But that I may be so led vnder the pauilion of thy protection guided by thy spirit that neither in thought word or deed I may offend thee endeuouring to performe all holy and heauenly duties vnto thee my God who for all thy mercies requirest onely pure and sincere obedience which is also thy gift for none by his owne power can thinke a good thought much lesse Lord worke any thing pleasing vnto thee but the contrary therefore disclaime I all mine owne merit and cleaue onely vnto thy mercy in Iesus Christ Humbly beseeching thee for his sake to take charge of me this day preuent the malicious intentions of Satan and his ministers mortifie mine owne sinfull affections and infuse into my heart all diuine graces that my waies this day may nothing sauour of sinne but of sanctitie And as I haue by thee safely passed this night so I may begin continue and end this day and all the daies of my life in thy faith feare and obedience And that in all mine actions whereunto I am bound by my place and calling I may so walke and so performe them as that thy blessingâ— may accompany whatsoeuer I endeuour Giue me Lord an vpright heart asking and let me euer receiue counsell from thee to be guided in whatsoeuer I purpose that so prospering the glory may bee thine to whom all power wisdome strength and glory belongeth Amen A Praier to be vsed before a man goes to his rest LOrd as it hath now pleased thee to bring mee in safetie to the end of this day and hast therein by many blessings testified thy fatherly care
if pouerty or want oppresse thée as it did sometimes Dauid feare not he will reléeue thée for hée preserueth with little as with much hée fed many thousands with little meanes and when they were all well filled there was taken vp in the remainder more then was before they had eaten He increased the Oile and Meale of the poore Widow that she fed her selfe and hers and paid her debts with the remainder Hee brought water out of the stones and out of the dry Jaw-bone of an Asse Hée fed his children with Bread from Heauen and sent them Quailes in the hungry Wildernesse He sent abundance of wheat extraordinarily vnto distressed Samaria This is he euen that great God that is the sustainer of my life my light and my saluation and not mine alone but the God of all that faithfully séek him in their distresse Should I then feare though I be enuironed with enemies though I were in distresse nay should I feare though I were in penury and want though I were imprisoned for the constant profession of Christs truth did he not breake the fetters and opened he not the very iron gates and cast the watchmen in a slumber to fetch Peter out of prison did he not giue Ioseph and Paul fauour with their Jailors of whom or of what then may the faithfull bee afraid what crosses what troubles what afflictions what threats of tyrants can make Gods children afraid though the seas rage and rose though the world be in confused combustion though the mountains cleaue in sunder though the heauens melt though he that made all consume all I will not feare The Lord high mighty he is the strength of my life nay he is to mee life it selfe who then or what can without him force my death If he take away this life he hath prouided for me a better and permanent whom or what shall I be afraid of then Shall I be afraid of Hell or Satan Hée my Lord in Christ my light and my saluation hath conquered both Satan and Hell what néed I feare A Prayer that God will be our light and our saluation in all our troubles and dangers O Lord who art the light that neuer goeth out whereby thou guidest and gouernest those that acknowledge their owne darknesse thou art the strength that neuer groweth weake whereby thou sauest defendest thine from the hands of all that hate them Bee thou my light O Lord and lighten my darknesse that I may walke in that light and neuer goe astray for there is no agreement betweene error and thy truth giue mee therefore heauenly knowledge and I shall not be ignorant of that which I ought to know and assist me with thy diuine grace and I shall practise that which thou hast taught me to know Be thou my strength then whom need I to feare stand thou on my side and then of whom should I be afraid Stretch forth thy hand and hold me vp thou hast a mighty arme and strong is thy right hand in thee therefore I trust and will not feare what man can doe vnto me Be not farre from mee O my God for thou seest my troubles and knowest my dangers neglect me not but hasten to helpe me giue care vnto me and saue me and let not mine enemies haue their desires against mee nor triumph ouer me though they be many and in shew far too mighty for me yet in comparison of thy strength they are weake and of no strength they trust in their Chariots munition and multitudes but I trust in thee and in thy strength alone only praying thee to blesse vnto me the ordinary and lawfull meanes which it shall please thee to raise vp in thy wisdome for my defence Though I doe know and doe acknowledge that as a horse of it selfe is a vaine helpe to deliuer his rider by his great strength or swiftnesse so are all outward visible and carnall meanes vnable to defend mee without thee and vnlesse thou blesse the vse of them and dispose and manage them in thy wisdome for my defence they are also vaine Therefore come I vnto thee my God my strength my light and my saluation who hast promised and art able to send euen from Heauen to saue me Thou canst command an host of Angels to campe about mee though enuironed with many and mighty aduersaries yet hauing thee on my side I know there shall be more with mee than with them while I am vnder thy protecting wings I am safe I will not feare Giue thine Angels charge of me therefore O Lord to keepe defend me shew thy power in my weaknesse and the weaknes of mine enemies by thy strength then though an host pitch against me my heart shall not bee afraid though war be raised against me I will trust in thee my Lord my light my strength and my saluation VERSE 2. and 3. 2. When the wicked euen mine enemies and my foes came vpon mee to eat vp my flesh they stumbled and fell 3. If an host pitched against me my heart should not be afraid though warre be raised against me I will trust in thee IN all actions Experience is as the mother of knowledge and knowledge the ground of Assurance which made Dauid strong in his resolution to encounter Goliah hauing formerly found that God assisted him in two seuerall dangers the one in killing a Beare the other in ouercomming a Lion two strong fierce and deuouring beasts and that when he was but young and a Shepherd yet it seemeth he had learned to feare God and to trust in him for that he acknowledged that he ouercame them not by his owne proper power but by the power of God which two conquests wrought in him-assurance that by the same aid hee should vanquish that monster of men Goliah though his vgly presence and furniture of armes amazed the whole host of Israel Dauid yet not daunted hauing a strong faith in God vndertooke the combat and preuailed though that monster scorned him and threatning that hee would giue his flesh to be deuoured of the Fowles of the aire and wilde beasts of the field which by the aid of him in whom Dauid trusted came contrarily to passe for Dauid tooke off his head and disarmed him and left his carkasse to the Fowles of the aire whereby he more and more increased in faith strength and courage and bold to assure himselfe that as this monster stumbled and fell at his flying stone that would haue eaten vp his flesh so should all his wicked enemies and foes when they should come vpon him to eat vp his flesh namely to take away his life they should euen so stumble and fall as by experience he after found that God still defended him so that to the praise of God hee sung When the wicked euen mine enemies and my foes came vpon me to eat vp my flesh they stumbled and fell When Saul a mighty King sought Dauids life to destroy it first by his owne hand
generation to generation Preserue vs therefore O God from these cruell men and the praise and glory shall bee thine the comfort ours And the example of thy so fatherly protecting vs shall be a motiue to others in like danger to call vpon thee So be it VERSE 4. One thing haue I desired of the Lord that I will require euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to visit his temple GReat is the difference betwéene the worldling the true Christian betwéene a carnall and a spirituall minded man The one coueteth to dwell and to haue his continuall abode here below the other soareth and aspireth vpward the one resembleth the Swine the other the Eagle the one is neuer satisfied with earthly and carnall things for hee hath as many desires as he hath senses and euery pleasing thing that offereth it selfe to any of them he coueteth for euery sense hath its particular delights as many senses so many fantasies numberlesse yet neither of them can be satisfied for the heart of a carual man ingrosseth them all and the more vanities it apprehendeth the more desire increaseth for the eye is neuer satisfied with seeing nor the care with hearing pleasing things But the spirituall minded desireth onely one thing namely to be assured of his saluation and the glory to come And therefore holy Dauid desired as all true Christians ought this one thing for this only one thing is necessary Bershaba the wife of Dauid and mother of Salomon desired but one thing of her sonne and hee promised her faire but performed it not according to her desire But Dauid the father of Salomon desired one thing which hée longed for of a King greater than Salomon and a matter of far greater moment than was Bershabaes and his Petition was accepted both their Petitions séemed to procéed of loue but the difference of their issues was great the one procured hatred and death the other a most blessed successe Shée made her request to man in whom to put confidence is vaine He made his request to God the holy one of Israel in whom there is mercy and truth To whom also Salomon made one especiall request only for wisdome and obtained it and with it many earthly blessings which he asked not So bountifull is God as if wée aske that one thing necessary namely the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof he will also adde blessing vpon blessing though we aske them not Dauids only Petition was y t he might dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of his life A blessed yet a strange request of a King in the opinion of worldly men who might thinke Dauid not to be so wise as some ambitious and carnall polititians are at this day who had rather be in Kings Courts to take their pleasures than to bee restrained in a Temple for a day And Dauid being a King might haue retired himselfe in his Palace and haue taken what pleasure and delight hee would hauing a Kingdome to supply whatsoeuer might haue pleased any of his senses But these delights hée found not answerable to his affection which was seasoned from aboue hauing tasted so swéetly of the loue of Iehouah who of a Shepherd made him a King and who had so often deliuered him from his enemies he had rather bée conuersant with him in his house one day than a thousand in the Court of Saul or in his owne Court among his Gallants Nay he would choose rather to be a doorekéeper in the house of God than to command an earthly kingdome and to be depriued of his heauenly exercises in the house of God It is a most glorious estate indéed to be a King but farre more glorious to be a godly King He is Gods Uice-gerent in that part of the earth wherein God in his prouidence hath set him yet must he looke to haue some discontents mixt with his greatnesse and necessary too otherwise greatnesse might cause forgetfulnes that he is a man as former examples haue discouered And therefore did God visit Dauid chosen after his own heart with many troubles to the end he should not be vnmindfull what he was whence and from what estate God had raised him to that place of eminence and that hée should serue the Lord and maintaine his lawes and defend his people cherishing the good and chastising the euill And therefore was Dauid to forward in calling his people to serue the Lord and himselfe to be the leader of them to the Temple of God to which he had so sincere a desire that hée requested of the Lord that hee might dwell therein all the daies of his life or at least haue frée liberty often to visit it to the praise of God and exercise of prayer This desire is commonly the last and least in great men for the most part though no doubt they desire as Balaam did to die when necessity requireth the death of the righteous and greater glory would it be vnto them if they would practice while they haue time the life of the righteous as they seldome doe yet few or none of whatsoeuer quality are so irreligious in shew but they will looke into the house of God peraduenture once it may be twice in a Sabbath And peraduenture thinke it long as loth to spare their pleasures delights or profits to liue a whole day in the Temple of God with fasting and prayer Some would thinke it as hard a taske as the bondage of Aegypt or the captiuity of Babylon But blessed bée God some there are that haue Dauids desire though not to dwell really in the Temple yet to bee comfortably conuersant among Gods people in hearing God speake vnto them and they to speake vnto God This is that that great men should principally desire for their example in well doing much moueth inferiours to imitation for it is commonly obserued that example doth draw more to good or euill than documents or dehortations The godly life of a great man is as a Towre séene a far and many especially his followers will imitate his steps at least in shew and euen that shew of a godly life is a good motiue to others to liue godly indéed and as a good life giues comfort encouragement to others to be good so the president of euill makes many euill If greatnesse and goodnes goe together it is the swéetest consort y t a mortall man can make in this life 〈◊〉 the contrary as harsh hellish This holy desire of Dauid was not for a day for hée speakes of the time past I desired which implies a continuall inward Petition and argues his constancy in desiring though he were often in such straits and distresses as he could not visit the materiall temple as he desired yet wheresoeuer he was driuen by the malice and rage of his enemies he euen there found Bethel the house of God in the
or abuse vs to complaine to him and he will redresse it If we bée sicke he knoweth our diseases he is our Physician and knoweth whether life or death be fittest for vs. If we die he will restore vs to life eternall therefore may wée fréely cast our care vpon him for hee careth for vs. Fathers saith Salomon are the glory of their children How much more shall the God of all glory our heauenly Father be a glory to vs his children who hath prouided for vs an inheritance which no man can depriue vs of yea a Kingdome whose glory shall haue no end The remembrance of our futurâ— enioying it is as a most deepe Sea of comfort in this inferiour Kingdome of crosses It cannot bee fadomed with the line of mans capacity what hee hath promised hee will performe for his children therefore may we stand assured and boldly affirme that though the fathers and mothers of the faithfull doe forsake them that God will take charge of them A Prayer that God will shew himselfe our father in all our troubles and afflictions when all other helpe faileth O Gracious Lord God most mercifull and louing Father from whom proceedeth euery good and perfect gift and who of thine owne will hast begotten vs with the Word of truth shew thy selfe a father vnto mee who am depriued of father and mother from all helpe and comfort in this life beset on all sides with troubles dangers and many afflictions relying only vpon thy prouidence shew thy selfe vnto me a father a powerfull and protecting father as thou diddest vnto Ioseph who being depriued of father and mother hated of his brethren sold as a slaue falsly accused sharply imprisoned hauing none to helpe him or to comfort him forsaken of all his friends yet when all helpe failed thou tookest him into thy protection and directedst him in thy waies he became louing vnto thee as a sonne obedient vnto thee as a seruant he waited on thee as vpon a most faithfull father hee called vpon thee and thou heardest him and gauest him the honour of a sonne euen in this life holinesse and honour testifying vnto him that thou his father hadst a respect vnto his faith constancy and wrongs neuer leauing him nor forsaking him to teach vs O Lord faithfully to depend vpon thy mercy power and prouidence in whatsoeuer danger I was left vnto thee as soone as I was borne and thou like a most louing father tookest me vp hast hitherunto kept me O forsake mee not for if thou my father leaue me and forsake mee who will or can take charge of me I am many waies afflicted and full of sorrow not so much for my troubles as for that I haue sinned and offended thee so louing a God as thou Hast beene vnto me euer vnto this day but now louing Father I seeme destitute of thy fauour of thy releeuing hand I am he â—ily oppressed and what I endure is not hid from thee and thou onely knowest how to releeue me my father my mother and all my friends haue forsaken me Dauid being thus destitute he resorted vnto thee confessing that when his father and his mother forsooke him thou tookest him vp and is thyr fatherly affection dead and discontinued in Dauid No no louing art thou still powerfull art thou still and helpfull art thou still for thy faithfulnesse and thy truth and thy power and thy prouidence are for euer and happy yea most happy is he that hath thee his releeuing and helping father for nothing is wanting to him that is thus cast vpon thee He hath not only the promise but the assurance of thy presence and loue both in this life and the life to come Yet gracious Father among all men it goeth hardest with thine owne children often troubled much abused deeply distressed falsly accused scoffingly derided and many crosses cruell calamities and great afflictions follow them I am enforced to vndergoe the burthen of infinite trialls as if thou hadst not onely not taken mee vp but vtterly cast mee off And were it not that I truly know thee to bee my father in that thou so fatherly yet sharply correctest me I could not but faint but thy grace sustaineth mee and doth inwardly comfort mee else should I vtterly despaire O my father take mee into thy protection leaue me not forsake mee not for I am brought very low and there is none that careth for mee there is none willing to adde any comfort but sorrow vnto my soule there is neither father nor mother neither friend nor helper to commiserate mine estate but thou whom I only trust for thy promises tend to mine encouragement to cast my care vpon thee who hast willed all that are oppressed to come to thee and be eased But Lord what booteth it mee to seeke thee when I cannot finde thee to pray vnto thee when thou seemest to refuse to heare me Haue I so deepely offended thee that neither my repentance can pacifie thee the mediation of thy Sonne reconcile thee nor my faithfull prayers preuaile with thee Is thy mercy come to an end Hast thou no more blessings for thy children O wretch that I am Why doe I thus reason with thee am I able to ouer-rule thee with my words Shall I teach thee what thou shouldest doe No Lord I only bewray mine ignorance by my words which can no further preuaile with thee than thou in thy wisdome and mercy thinkest fit for mee Therefore will I close my lips I will keepe silence and wait both thy pleasure and leisure for thou hast a time to be angry and a time to hee pacified I will rest with patience and commit my selfe vnto thee in obedience and if thou lay a greater burthen vpon mee then yet I beare if thou suffer mee to sinke and to bee cleane ouerwhelmed with more bitter waters than yet I feele I will yet trust in thee though my body perish and all outward helpe faile mee preserue my soule O Lord for thou art the father of it and respectest it farre aboue my carnall parâ—â— yet both make but one body yet may the one prosper when the other may perish But I know that such is thy care of both that rather than thou wilt permit me vtterly to bee confounded thou wilt euen send from Heauen and saue me Be it vnto me euen as thou wilt O God my strength and my saluation VERSE 11. Teach mee thy way O Lord and lead me in a right path because of mine enemies IT is the property of an enemy to bée alwaies prying into the life of him hee hates and to obserue whatsoeuer faults hée doth commit though he himselfe bée quilty of more and to publish and proclaime them to the world to his vttermost disgrace And therefore it behooueth all men especially a man that hath enemies as Dauid had to looke vnto his waies lest by the errors of his life they take aduantage and so make his cause otherwise good séeme the worst
colour and therefore as long as none but wicked men scandalize vs and condemne vs we néed not be ashamed no though they raile reuile and curse vs wee néed not feare it for in stead of their curses God will blesse vs yet let vs pray Teach me O Lord thy way and leade me in thy path aright because of mine enemies None but enuious and wicked men are malicous enemies vnto such as feare God and they indéed cannot sléepe vntill they haue contriued some mischiefe against the innocent whom they would disgrace taking all occasions and aduantages to worke them any violence though they be already afflicted they will afflict them more if they bee already fallen they will euen tread vpon them to kéepe them downe that they may not rise It is their glory if they can adde more sorrow to the sorrowfull and more griefe to the grieued they are continually trauelling with wickednes conceiuing mischiefe but they commonly bring forth a lie for the mischiefe y t they intend to others fals in the end vpon their owne heads and their cruelty vpon their owne pates they are snared euen with the works of their owne hands for God hath euer he doth and euer will preserue his owne from these wicked men though he suffer them somtimes bodily to perish vnder their tyranny it is but to aggrauate the sins of their persecutors and the sooner to bring his vnto their finall glory Therefore behoueth the most godly to bée wary of their waies for how much the more godly religious and zealous they are in walking with God so much the more malicious is Satan to raise vp troubles slanders and reproaches against them by such as he can stir vp against vs who howsoeuer inwardly enuious they are yet haue they learned of their master to speake plausibly though deceitfully flattering with their lips hauing a venomous heart within whereby they oftentimes allure the innocent without suspicion to bewray vnto them their secret thoughts and intentions and in simplicity by their inchanted subtilties discouer that which these wicked serpentine wretches worke vpon and wrest to bring not only their names reputation and credit but their estates and liues in question By their wicked counsell they compasse our steps they set their enuious eyes vpon our waies If they finde wée walke vnblameable they wil plot to haue some blockes to be laid in our waies that if it be possible we might stumble though they could not make vs fall altogether If we erre on the other side neuer so little they will insult ouer vs they will blow the trumpet of our defamation and cry There there so would we haut it But these deuices of theirs God séeth and what they practise against such as feare him therfore let vs only say Teach vs O Lord thy way and leade vs in the right path because of our enemies As long as wee walke in the way of God truly and be lead that path that is right let vs not feare Heare what Dauid said vnto Salomon his sonne whom he exhorted to walke in the waies of the Lord to keepe his Statutes and his Commandementes his Iudgements and his Testimonies We must endeuour to haue Gods lawes euer before our eies and neuer depart from his precepts This is the way walke in it Though it bee a strict way and vnpleasant to a carnall minde it is a most swéet and comfortable way a way that leadeth here to happinesse and after to Heauen There is another way a common high way much beaten by diuers passengers all carnall men traffike this way a very pleasant way wherein yet many haue walked for a time but they haue found that as a man that eateth too much hony may surfet through the swéetnesse of it so they were euen glutted with the vanities that are strewed in the way It is a way full of carnall content indeed but it is but short men are at their waies end many times when they think themselues not halfe way there and are grieued their iourney is so soone done But when they come to the end of the race they suddenly finde a most fearefull gulph which they cannot auoid turne backe againe they cannot as ordinary trauellers often doe when they haue mistaken their way and take another but they that walke this high and pleasant way must bée enforced to stay and to take vp their hideous Inne not for a night as waifaring men doe but remaine there for euer with the Deuill and his Angels A Prayer that God will be pleased to direct vs in his waies and leade vs vprightly because of our enemies O Gracious Lord God most mercifull and louing father in Iesus Christ vouchsafe to looke in mercy vpon me teach mee thy way O Lord and lead me in a right path because of mine enemies Giue mee grace that I may walke aright and pray aright and beleeue aright and in all mine actiōs be guided by thee aright Reframe me from the way of the wicked and guide me in the paths of righteousnesse make thy way plaine before my face for of my selfe I am blinde I cannot see the right way direct and guide me that I stumble not to cause mine enemies to laugh and reioyce at my fall Send out thy light and thy truth let them leade me and bring mee to thine holy mountaine where I shall be safe from mine enemies order and direct my goings O Lord aright according to thy word reclaime me from euery euill way and direct my feet in the way of truth in that way that leadeth to life preuent mee of that forbidden way which is pleasant yet perillous seeming plaine and delectable but the end thereof is death Lord let my walkings bee vpright because of mine enemies who watch euen the course of my life they pry into all mine actions they obserue my conuersation and if they see mee but slide or slip neuer so little awry they sound the trumpets of my disgrace If they see mee to fall into any sinne through my frailty they cry out and say That there is no feare of thee before mine eies O my God consider this and in mercy remember I am but dust by nature subiect to great infirmities which I doe acknowledge O Lord reclaime mee from my euill inclination by thy grace set me in the way of truth and obedience and leade me therein for euer and learne mee to liue after thy Commandements and yeeld mee thy feare and thy direction that I may walk in them for mine owne waies are as my will is by nature euill euermore but thy waies are mercy and truth and such as truly feare thy name thou teachest the waies of perfect obedience and reducest euen sinners to walke aright reclaiming them by thy grace from their euill waies Guide me that I may know thee and thy waies and leade me aright in them let me neuer goe astray from them lest mine enemies take occasion by my transgressions to say that I haue