with thee and to approue our very thoughts vnto thee Giue vs a sober vse of thy creatures make vs readie to reach out our hands vnto the wants of others beget in vs a godlie iealousie ouer our selues that we may walke circumspectly taking heede to our selues in our eatings in our apparell in our companie in our recreations often considering our wayes and labouring quicklie after euerie error to turne our féete into thy testimonies And Lord cause vs to be earnestlie mindfull of the estate of thy whole Church blesse all kingdomes and states professing thy truth bee gratious especiallie to this our kingdome forgiue the crying sins of the times continue thy gospel disappoint the hope and expectation of all Papists let them perish as manie as haue euill will at Sion discouer Antichrist more and more enlarge the territories of thy church stablish thy kingdome of grace hasten the kingdome of glorie Heape thy blessings vppon our gratious King make him a further instrument of much good vnto thy chosen blesse his Quéen prosper the worke of thine owne handes begun in the young Prince shew mercy to the rest of the royall progenie Be gracious to the Councell to the Court the Nobles the Gentry of the Realme graunt that they may all ayme at the honouring of thee by whom they haue receiued honor amongst men Bee with the Magistracy Ministrie of the Realme make thy word to grow by the labours of those whome thou hast appointed to the seruice of thy church Containe the subiects in their due obedience to authority bring to nought all tumultuous rebellious practises comfort al thine afflicted seruants refresh them with a sweete feeling of thy fauour Giue vs compassionate harts and a fellow feeling of others miseries prepare vs vnto the daie of triall and keepe vs by thy mightie power through faith vnto saluation Graunt vs these good thinges for Christs sake in whose name wee commend our selues and our sutes vnto thee saying as he hath taught vs Our Father c. 2. An Euening Prayer for priuate Families O Lord our GOD most mercifull and gratious in Iesus christ among other thy mercies with which thou doest euen follow vs thy most vnthankfull seruants we acknowledge this to be none of the least that we haue this comfortable freedom of comming into thy presence there to poure out our soules before thee and to laie open our necessities vnto thee We praie thee teach vs to value this priuiledge according to the true worth thereof that wee may come together to the performance of this duty with glad hearts and cheerefull spirits reioycing in it that wee haue opportunitie giuen vs to testifie some part of that great dutie which in manie respects wee owe vnto thy maiestie And now Lorde being come before thee wee cannot but confesse the vilenesse of our estate wee were conceiued in sinne and in sin wee haue continued all our dayes wee haue euen drunke iniquitie like water wee haue drawne it after vs and tyed it vnto vs as with cartropes wickednesse hath beene swéet in our mouth we haue fauoured it and would not forsake it we haue euen made a mocke of sinne and it hath beene a pastime to vs to doe wickedly Thou hast often called vs but we haue still refused thou hast againe and againe stretched out thine hand but wee haue not regarded thou hast sought to reclayme vs but wee haue hardned our neckes as it were yron sinewes and haue hated to be reformed Thou hast waited to haue mercie vppon vs thy spirit hath striuen with vs thy verie bowels haue beene troubled for vs and how graciouslie hast thou called vpon vs by thy word saying Returne yee sonnes of Adam why will ye die Come vnto me and ye shall finde rest for your soules Yet we notwithstanding haue despised thy patience wee haue abused thy goodnes we haue turned thy graces into wantonnesse and haue giuen thee cause to heape vppon vs all those fearefull plagues and punishmentes which in the extreamitie of thy law are belonging to the wicked When we looke into our hearts we see nothing but a confused heape of grosse corruptions vanitie ignorance frowardnes vnteachablenes dulnes vnwillingnes and vnaptnes vnto good pronenesse readines to any manner of euill secure irreligious profane vncleane enuious couetous and gréedy thoughts peruerse and disordred affections all these as it were marching together to rebell against thee and leading vs captiue vnto sinne The verie wisedome of our flesh is death and the spirits of our minds are defiled when we look forth into our liues wee behold sinnes more in number then the haires of our head when wee take view of our selues in the glasse of thy Law we can see in our bodies and soules in our outward and inward man nothing but vglines and deformitie Yea the sinnes of this one daie are sufficient to bring downe vppon vs the eternall weight of thy displeasur How negligent haue we béen in our callings how haue we yeelded to our own vnbridled lusts in the vse of thy creatures how haue we cherished in our selues worldlie carnall and voluptuous thoughts howe many blessings haue we vnthankefully enioyed neuer thinking vpon thee which didst bestow them how haue wee misspent this pretious time which thou vouchsafest vs how manie good opportunities haue we let slip by which wee might haue edified our selues done good to others howe negligentlie haue wee kept our heartes by meanes whereof sathan hath got great vantage against vs how slenderlie haue wee bewailed the iniquities of the times howe poorelie haue wee striuen against our owne corruptions O LORD if thou shouldest straightlie marke our iniquities O Lord how shall wee stand where shall we appeare what shal become of vs what answere shall wee bee able to make thée to one of a thousand And yet most gratious God which is worst of all custome in euill hath bred such a hardnesse in vs and hath brought such a crust vpon our consciences that wee cannot be perswaded that thy wrath is so terrible or our sinne so greeuous or our estate so wofull as indeede it is Hence it commeth that we do not stand in such awe of thy maiestie as we should we doe not so tremble at thy iustice nor esteeme thy promises and mercies as we ought to doe wee beseech thée therefore to take the stony hearts out of our bodies and to put newe spirites into our bowels that wee maie with feeling and with a liuelie and sensible apprehension confesse our selues to bee as we are poore and wretched and miserable and blind naked such as in whom there is no goodnes such as to whom there is nothing due but shame and confusion of face for euer And héere Lord according to that measure of spirituall féeling which by thy grace wee haue attayned to wée doe vtterlie renounce our selues wee doe whollie disclaime all hope of help by our selues we account all that is in vs but as drosse and dung and
with glorie and honor c. 1. Tim. 6.16 who only hath immortality and dwelleth in a light that none can attaine to c. and such like places To supply thee with words of promise consider Psa 50.15 Call vpon me c. so wil I deliuer thee c. Is 65.24 yea before they call I will answer and whiles they speake I will heare Iohn 14.13 Whatsoeuer you aske in my name that will I do and many such testimonies To bring thee to see thy own vilenesse ponder Iob 5.14 Man drinks iniquitie like water cha 25.4 Hee cannot bee cleane that is borne of a woman Psalme 51.5 I was borne in Iniquitie c. Romanes 7.18 I knowe that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing Gather account of thy particular sinnes as Iob did Chapter 9.3 View thy selfe often in the glass of the Law 1. A Morning Prayer for priuate Families MOst gratious GOD and louing FATHER in all humilitie of soule and vnfained acknowledgement of our bounden duty we present our selues heere before thy throne of maiestie and glory desiring in some measure to shew our thankfulnesse for the multitude of thy mercies heaped vpon vs thy most vnworthy seruants By thee at the first we were fearefully and wonderfully made thou coueredst vs in our mothers wombes thou gauest vs the shape of men women when it was free for thee to haue equalled vs vs vnto thy basest creatures since it hath pleased thée to preserue vs to watch ouer vs and to guard vs by thy prouidence to open thy hand and to replenish vs with good things to giue vs foode and rayment health libertie peace O Lord thy compassions faile not but they are renued euerie morning euen in this night past we haue receiued an apparant euidence of thy loue For whereas for the sinnes committed the day before thou mightest euen in the deade of sleepe haue taken our soules from vs and so suddenly haue brought vs to our account it hath been thy pleasure yet to spare vs and not onlie so but to refresh vs with quiet rest and to bring vs in safetie to the beginning of this day Grant O Lord wee pray thee that the ordinarie vse of these thy kindnesses may not make vs the lesse to esteem them but so affect our hearts with the apprehension of them that we may learne to admire thy mercy which dealest so gratiously with such vnthankfull persons as wee haue alwayes béene and may euen bind our selues to striue to shew all obedience duty to thee which dost so enlarge thy goodnes vnto vs. But chiefelie O Lord raise vp we beseech thee our hearts and our affections from these outward fauours the least of which notwithstanding is greater then the best of our deseruings and drawe vs to the serious consideration of those blessings which doe more directlie concerne a better life Make vs thankefully mindfull of the grace of election by which thou fréely chosest vs in Christ to be vessels of mercie before we were of thy sending thy sonne out of thine owne bosome being in thine owne forme to take on him the forme of a seruant and to become obedient vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse for our sakes of thy calling vs out of the kingdome of darknes by the power of the gospel preached of thy shining into our hearts by the enlightening of thy spirit of quickening vs when we were dead in trespasses and sinnes of thy begetting vs againe vnto a liuelie hope of the first fruites of the spirit and of that earnest of our inheritance which thou hast giuen vs of the dailie free vse and libertie of thy worde whereby that great mysterie of godlines yea euen thy whole counsell is cléerelie reuealed to vs. O Lord teach vs to consider what miserable creatures wee were in our selues what a fearefull case we had yet beene in if thou hadst left vs to our selues that so the veiw of these vnspeakable and vndeserued fauours may euen rauish our spirits and so possesse our hearts that we may constantly resolue henceforth to giue vppe our selues as a liuing sacrifice holie and acceptable vnto thee and to deuote all our powers both of soule and body to the glorie and honor of thy name And Lord enable vs hereunto we pray thée for we are not suffcient of our selues to thinke anie thing as of our selues we are naturally reprobate to euerie good worke Open therefore the eies of our mind that we may see what is good and what thou requirest of vs teach vs to make thy word our delight counsellor that by it we may be informed in thy paths put thy spirit within vs and cause vs to walke in thy statutes let our eares continually hear a word behind vs saying This is the way giue vs hearts of flesh yéelding pliable affections subdue the crookednes of our nature and bring it vnder the obedience of Christ And when thou hast entred vs into a good course vphold vs therein by thy alsufficient grace stablish vs in euerie worde and good worke fill vs with the fruites of righteousnesse let vs not be idle nor vnfruitfull-in our profession but graunt that wee may bee euen rich in good workes and so may adorne the doctrine of thée our Sauiour in all thinges making the aduersaries of thy truth ashamed when they shall haue nothing concerning vs to speake euill of And shield vs O Lord we earnestlie intreate thee against the malice and rage and fury of the diuel giue vs wisedome to discerne his policies and courage to resist euen his most fiery assaults make vs wise against the beguiling entisements of this sinfull world let vs not be caried awaie with the streame of these corrupt times harden our faces against the reproches enmities of euill men suffer vs not to bee wearyed nor to faint in our minds for any tribulations sanctifie vnto vs euerie affliction that it maie bee a meanes to purge out our corruptions Draw our mindes from the loue of this present world teach vs to vse it as if wee vsed it not graunt that wee may euer remember that wee haue heere no continuing citty that so we may séeke for that kingdome that cannot be shaken but is eternall in the heauens Cause vs to depend vpon thy prouidence and to cast our care and burden vpon thee assuring our selues that thou which hast giuen vs Christ canst not but with him giue vs all thinges also And Lord if at any time we fall by occasion into a fault as who are we that we should presume put vnder thy hand we beséech thée deliuer vs out of the mire that we sinke not let not sinne swallow vs vppe let it not grow strong vpon vs least wee perish Enable vs vnto diligence and faithfulnes in our seuerall callings teach vs to lift vppe our heartes to thee for a blessing vpon our indeuours and to remember that we are alwayes in thy presence that so we may studie to walke
cōtinually euē so lōg as I haue my being Graunt that I may learne by this euidence of thy mercy and might for euer hereafter to depend vpon thee Quicken me vp to all holy dutyes that my thankefulnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian cariage Make me a kinde and carefull Mother willing to vnder-goe the paines and troubles of education let no nicenesse or curiositie hinder me frō those seruices to which both Nature Religion haue appointed mee Let mee also bee carefull heereafter when time shall require to season that which thou hast giuen mee with the knowledge of thee and of thy Sonne that my desire may manifestly appeare to bee set for the encreasing of thy kingdom Vouchsafe so to order my affections to bring them into obedience vnder thee that if it should bée thy pleasure either now or hereafter to take this infant from mee I may patiently submit my self to thy appointment And now O good God perfite in mee that strength which thou hast begun make me to growe in care to serue thée faithfully both in the duetyes of piety in other businesses of my place and calling that I may be a comfort to my husbād an example to my neighbours a grace to my profession a means of glory to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen 21. A Prayer for those which are employed in the assistance helpe of a trauailing woman IT is not our diligence O Lord or paines which can do any thing without thy blessing our sins are sufficient to bring thy curse vpon whatsoeuer we vndertake Be pleased we pray thée to be reconciled to vs in the blood of thy Sonne Make vs to remēber that we are here in thy presence that all our thoughts words actions are open to thy sight prosper the busines for which wee are come together put far frō vs all supersticious cōceits idle fancies teach vs to séek help only frō thy grace Enable vs to speak comfortably to this pained woman that we may further her dependance vpon thy holy Maiestie and may be a means vnder thee of her true refreshing in her sharpest fits Furnish vs with skill and her with strength patiently to awaite the appointed time of her deliuerance knit al our hearts vnto thee that we may feare thy Name noting obseruing thy mercy and power in all thy works studying to giue thee prayse and glory for the same through Iesus Christ our only Lord Sauiour Amen 22. A Thankesgiuing after when God hath blessed their paines in the womans deliuerie O Lorde wee haue séene thy goodnes and haue receiued an apparant token of thy readines to heare the Prayers of those which call vpon thée and to succour those which flye vnto thee for thy helpe Thou hast giuen ease and deliuerance to the woman light and life to the infant ioy and gladnesse to vs all The glory and prayse is thine alone Fill our hearts with thankefulnesse make vs forward both now hereafter to prouoke and stirre vp one another thereunto And And let not our thankefulnes stand in words onely or outward shewes but cause it to appeare in our whole course that the obedience the sobrietie the modestie the vertue of our liues may witnes the thankfull féeling of our hearts Goe on in thy mercy wee pray thee both to the Mother and her babe continue encrease their strength so as may serue best for thy glory And as thou hast added one vnto the number of mankind shewing thy wonderful wisedome power both in the framing of him in the wombe in bringing him foorth into this light so in thy time adde him also to thy Church and beget him again vnto a liuely hope by the immortall séed of thy holy word deliuering him from the power of darkenesse in which by nature we are al into the glorious libertie of thy chosen And if it shall so séeme good to thee to lay any further triall eyther of sickenes or death vpon this thy seruant or vpon the fruite of her wombe prepare vs all to a patient and quiet bearing of thy hand and to a contented cōfortable resting vpon thy gracious prouidence assuring our selues that all things shall turne to the good and benefit of thy chosen Heare vs O Lord and accept vs and forgiuing the weakenes of our Prayers graunt vs all néedfull graces out of the rich store-house of thy bottomlesse bounty and that for Iesus Christ our gracious Redéemer Amen 23. A Prayer for a Souldier fighting for his Countrey or the confederates thereof O Lord it is thy glorie to bee called The Lord of hostes and it is thou alone from whom when men haue made their most politicke and puissant preparations the victorie must be looked for Drawe my heart I beséech thee from all relying vpon my own valor or vpon the strength of the battaile in which I stand and teach me to looke vpward and to waite and trust onely vpon thee Thou giuest conquest and thou giuest courage thou deliuerest from the perill of the sword or else makest death a meanes of happinesse to thy seruants Forgiue my sinnes I pray thee and assure mee of pardon by the witnesse of thy spirit that the guilt thereof make not my heart to tremble in me and to behold death as a messenger to conuey me into hell If thou O Lord bée on my side peace being made betwixt thée and my Soule through Christ what can bee against mee what hazard can befall my Soule Nothing shall be able to depriue mee of thy loue Let not spoyle or blood or mine owne aduancement be the ends of mine attempts but make me to ayme onely at thy glory in the defence of thy trueth and in the good and safety of the State wherein I liue The issue of all things to thee O Lorde is knowen but to man it is hidden prepare me therefore indifferently to whatsoeuer shall befall me If I dye giue mee comfort in my last breathing and take my Soule into thy gracious hands If I bee taken captiue giue mee patience giue mee wisedome and godly courage to doe nothing contrary to the honour of my countrey or preiudiciall to the profession of a faithful Christian If I returne with life and victorie make me thankefull kéepe mee from taking frō thee any part of thy glory Preserue mee from those riotous lasciuious and blaspheming courses which are the vsuall fruits of good successe Let me not thinke deuotion to be an enemie to resolution or that a religious feare of thy Maiestie doeth abate the spirit that should bee in a Souldier but settle me in this that the assurance of a lawfull cause the hope and confidence of a better life by the merites of Christ the care to please thee and to depend vpō thy power are the onely true grounds of valour which can giue a man boldnesse and life in the day of battaile Vouchsafe me these
labouring daily to bee led forward vnto more perfection And séeing hearing and knowing without practise doe but encrease vnto more condemnation therefore O Lord do thou so water that which I heare with thy heauēly deaw that it may bring foorth much fruit in my life that I maybe a credite to my profession and no disgrace nor slander to thy trueth Grant all these things for thy deare Sons sake Iesus Christ to whom with thee thy blessed Spirit I desire to ascribe all honour and glory now and for euer Amen 7. Another of the like nature respecting the Sacrament of the Lordes Supper I Am taught O Lorde that without thee I can doe nothing and that all mine endeauours are in vaine without thy blessing In due regard whereof I am become an humble suter vnto thy maiestie that thou wouldest bée pleased to prosper and to direct my present purpose of communicating at thy table It is thy will that I should often come vnto this holy banquet for the strengthening my fayth for the preseruation of the memory of Christes death O Lord strike my heart with reuerence vnto it as vnto thy ordinance and as to a feast to which thou hast tyed thy more especiall presence that I may not dare to presse in before thee vnprepared Before I come teach me to grow into a very strict examinatiō of mine own Soule that I may sée how I haue liued in what measure I am furnished for so waighty a seruice And because I know that the more I looke into my selfe the more I shall sée mine owne nakednesse and deformity therefore I pray thee to supply mee from thy infinite fulnesse Giue mee a through vnderstanding of the miserie of my estate who am by nature a childe of wrath as well as others Make me to sée the hainousnesse of those innumerable euils and grosse sinnes which I haue multiplyed before thee from time to time nay which I haue runne into since my last presenting my selfe before thee at thy board when I promised better obedience O cause my stony heart to bléede within mee when I thinke vpon mine owne scantnesse in good dutyes and vpon my delight and forwardnesse to transgresse Make me to be ashamed and euen confounded in my self for those many enormities which frō my corrupt and vnreformed heart doe continually breake foorth into my outward man euery member being a very weapon of vnrighteousnesse to doe seruice vnto sathan Thus O Lord shall thy mercyes in Christ be swéet vnto me I shall come with an hungring and thirsting soule vnto thy table And I pray thee to encrease in mée that gift of fayth that I may both come to this thine ordinance with a desire to enlarge it and may also féele it to receiue strength and growth of assurance of mine owne personall and particular interest into the death of Christ Remooue farre from mee all swelling disdainefull and vncharitable affections O Lorde this is a feast of loue and to it a malicious and a reuengeful heart can be no welcome guest And when I haue presented my selfe at thy table I beséech thee to restraine my idle and gadding thoughts drawe them to the earnest serious meditation of that which is the life of the Sacrament the death of my Sauiour Rauish my Soule with the admiratiō of his loue that should giue himselfe to dy for me a most vile vnworthy and sinfull creature Stirre mee vppe euen to vowe and consecrate my selfe for euer vnto him that hath vouchsafed himselfe to bée a sacrifice for mée And after I haue receiued these pledges of thy loue and seales of thy fauour in thy dearest Sonne O make me truely thankefull to thy maiestie and carefull both at the present and euer after to shew foorth the fruits of thankfulnesse in an holy and religious conuersation to thy glorie the good of others and mine owne eternall comfort in Iesus Christ my Sauiour Amen 8. Presently after Receiuing before the Thankesgiuing by the whole Congregation a man may secretly lift vp his soule on this fashion AFfect my heart O Lorde with this euidence of thy loue teach me in it to sée the riches of thy grace who art pleased for my weakenes sake by such familiar meanes to figure out before me and to seale vp vnto my soule a treasure of that infinite worth as is thy fauour in Iesus Christ O that I may as sensibly féele his death to be swéet vnto my Soule as I do these creatures of bread and wine to afford a pleasing taste and refreshing to my body O Lord euermore giue mee such a féeling And now O heauenly Father suffer mee not to depart hence forgetfull of thy kindnesse but graunt that I may now at this instant euen couenant with mine own soule to walke in a better course of holy obedience then heretofore respecting all thy commandements and endeauouring alwayes to haue a cleare conscience before thee before all men that so glorifying thee in this life I may be glorified with thee in thy kingdom through Iesus Christ Amen 9. A Prayer for the afflicted in what kind soeuer O Gratious God how happy am I who haue such a strōg tower as thy great name to run vnto especially now in this sad heauy day of tribulation I sée O Lord by continuall experience that the help of man is vaine and that all earthly cōtentments notwithstanding the flattering shewe they make yet are but as a staffe of réede vpon which if a man leane it will runne into his hand and pearce it If I turne mee to my auncient louers and friendes it may bee they will stand aside from my plague mine olde acquaintance wil hide themselues and I shal be euen as a stranger in the sight of my familiars If I séeke to my neighbours alas what refreshing shall I finde Trueth it is O God thou hast so ordayned that he which is in misery should be cōforted by his neighbor but men haue forsaken the feare of the Almightie so that hee which is ready to fall is as a despised lampe and few are apt to wéepe with him that is in trouble Besides the greatest part are so ouercome with grosse ignorāce that they are miserable cōforters physiciās of no value not able to minister a worde in time to him that is weary Whither then or to whom shall I goe but vnto thee O most gratious tender Father Thou art a pitifull God thy compassions are great thou art the Father of mercies the God of all comfort thou makest the wound and bindest it vp thou smitest thy hands doe make whole thou hast commaunded to call vpō thee in the day of trouble and thou art a helpe ready to be found To thee therefore do I lift vp my soule Encline thine eare O Lord and heare open thine eyes O Lord and sée look mercifully vpon thine afflicted seruant the dayes of sorow are come vpon me euen changes armies
suffer me not I beseech thee to satisfie my selfe with this that I haue once made some shew of humiliatiō and sorrow for my falles but graunt I may encrease in the performance of these duetyes and may euery day renue enlarge my repentance for particular slippes growing still into a deeper detestation of my sins and desiring with more and more earnestnesse and striuing to bee renewed in the Spirit of my mind that so being cleansed from all filthinesse both of the flesh and Spirit I may growe vppe vnto full holinesse in thy feare through Iesus Christ In whose name only I commend vnto thee my requests and for whose sake thou hast promised to deny nothing to thy seruants So be it * ⎠* 11. A Prayer in respect of death needful at all times but especially in sickenesse O God the God of the Spirits of all flesh and which hast the keyes of hell and of death thou hast prepared them both and thou rulest them both at thine owne pleasure I beséech thee bee mercifull to a poore trembling weak-hearted sinner and vouchsafe to preserue mee from the horror and extreamitie of dread into which I am euen now ready to fall When I consider O Lord how that I dwell in a house of clay my foundation being in the dust that I must erelong make my bed in the dark saying to corruptiō Thou art my Father and to the worme Thou art my Mother my Sister O how my belly trembleth what a kind of rottennesse cōmeth into my bones my spirit seeming to fayle me my heart within mee being filled with dismayednes Especially when I thinke vpon the iudgement that commeth after it the straitnesse of that account which I am instantly to be called to and vpon those euerlasting chaynes vnder darkenes in which the wicked are reserued vnto the last sessions I am then so euen ouerwhelmed with amazednesse that I séeme to my selfe for the present not to know where to find any true refreshing I am told by thy blessed and not-deceiuing word that the sting of death is mine owne sinne and with it I daily feele my selfe goared and galled and wounded so excéedingly that mée thinketh to mee poore wretch there can be no hope of recouery but death must néedes bée as a passage to leade mee into the bottomlesse prison of hell Rayse vp O Lord I beséech thée these my sad vnquiet thoughts teach mee how to ouercome these discouraging and killing perplexities the death may not be vnto me as a king of fear nor I as one of the wicked whose hope doeth perish with their breath the candle of whose comfort is put out when thou art pleased to take away their Soule Reuiue my memory that I may call to minde and cōfortably ponder those things which thy sacred word hath taught me namely how the nature of death is cleane altered to thy seruants the sting is plucked out it selfe is swallowed vp in victory To them the comming thereof shall be a time of discharge they shall by it bee fréed from sicknesses of body from anguishes of spirit from all possibilitie of sinning against their God from the tedious and discontenting societie of the vngodly their flesh shall rest in hope their graues shall bee vnto them as beds of ease being swéetened and seasoned by the buriall of their Sauiour the Angels shall giue attendance vpon their Soules to conuey thē into Abrahams Bosome to the fellowship of belieuers to the spirits of iust and perfit men so shall they bée with Christ which is best of all This O Lorde is the happinesse which cōmeth by death vnto thy chosen Oh what are all the most torturing sicknesses the bitter pangs and sorrowes of the graue vnto such a glorious exchange Who would feare corruption for a neuer sading crowne of righteousnesse What is a momentany yéelding of the body to consumption in the dust in comparison of the euerlasting preseruation of the Soule with assurance also that in the time appointed these vile bodyes shall by the mightie working of thy beloued Sonne be fashioned like vnto his owne glorious body and so both bodyes and soules bee for euer with him in his kingdome Teach mee O Lord effectually to apply these things to mine owne comfort that so this timorousnesse procéeding from the guilt of sinne may be turned into a chéerefull expectation and euen a longing for the day of my dissolution And lest I should beguile my owne Soule in laying clayme to that spirituall refreshing which belonges not to mee make mee to labour for those assured euidences and vndeceiuing fore-runners of a happy departure I know O Lorde that if I liue héere without conscience I shall surely dye without comfort Holinesse here is the way and path to future happinesse I must seeke to glorifie thee if I desire to be glorified with thée I must fight the good fight against sathā against the world against mine owne corruption I must faythfully fulfill my course and performe the seruice to which thou hast appointed me I must know thy trueth and keepe the faith in soundnes and sinceritie to the end otherwise it will bee in vaine to exspect a crowne of righteousnesse I must come to the first resurrection or else I shal neuer escape the second death Graunt mee therefore grace I humbly pray thee to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all my dayes and to endeauour alwayes to haue a cléere conscience towards thee and towards men Kill my corruption in mee that I may bee euen dead to sinne but aliue to thee in Iesus Christ And because if I liue after the flesh taking thought for it to fulfill it I shall dye therefore I beséech thée to mortifie the deedes of the body by thy spirit that so I may haue my fruite in holinesse and my end eternall life Teach mee often to number my dayes and to consider the vncertaine certaintie of my ende that I may dye euen euery day still looking and still preparing for my change and making account that each day may bee the day of my dissolution Strengthen also my weake and faint faith make mee strong in thee and in the power of thy might seale me with the holy spirit of promise as with the earnest of my heauenly inheritance that so no anguish of sicknesse may discourage me no pang of death dismay mee no assault of sathan ouercome mee but that come death when it will or in what manner it shall please thee I may boldly through Christ commit my soule to thee as vnto a faithful creator Grant me this cōfortable blessing for his sake who dyed to free me frō death from him that had the power of death euen for Christ Iesus sake Amen 16. A Prayer more specially fitted to the state and occasions of a sicke person O Most mercifull and gratious God thou whose prouidence reacheth into the most withdrawne and solitarie places and which causest the beames of thy fauour
to shine euen vpon chiefe sinners vouchsafe to cast thy cōpassionate ey vpon thine afflicted creature whō thou hast laid vpon his bed of sicknes Iust O Lord it is with thee thus to chasten me nay if thou shouldest crush my body into many pieces and suddenly plunge mee into hell it were no more then my due desert What a stayned sinner am I by nature stript of al goodnes and easie to be wrought vnto any euen the vilest euill What a world of trespasses haue béene since committed by mee notwithstanding the greatnes of thy patience and the varietie of good meanes which thou hast vsed both to informe and to guide me vnto godlinesse I will not therefore O Lorde I dare not I cannot plead against thée It is my duety rather to magnifie thy mercy who art pleased so mildly so fatherly to correct me it being free to thy iustice to cut me off as an eare of Corne and to giue mée ouer to the prince of darknesse to leaue me for euer to that woefull kingdome of eternall miserie Vnworthy I am I most willingly confesse because of my former slackenes and coldnes in this duety of calling vpon thy Name to haue any small accesse into thy presence Yet seeing thou art wont euer more to respect the trueth of thine owne promise then the desert of those which pray vnto thee therefore I beseech thee which art pleased to call thy selfe The hearer of Prayers to hearken vnto the hearty and vnfained desire of my soule Sanctifie vnto mee O Lord this present sicknesse let it bee as thy schoole in which I may truely learne to know my selfe more effectually then heretofore Make me to consider seriously that al paine and griefe is but the fruite of sinne and that as all sicknesse naturally makes way for death so death in it self is the fore-runner of eternall condemnation Blesse this thought and this meditation so vnto mee that I may make it my first care now in this visitation to séeke peace and assurance of reconcilement with thy Maiestie To this ende giue mee a deepe touch and a sensible vnderstanding of my sinnes by past take from mee all guile of spirit all disposition to flatter or to sooth vppe my selfe or to lessen eyther the number or qualitie of mine iniquities Cause mee euen to breake and plough vppe my heart to search and to try my wayes that so out of the abundance of my féeling I may powre out a most plentifull and sincere confession before thee Let mee remember it to bée in vaine to séeke to hide that from thée which thou before whom all things are naked and open doest know more fully and more directly then my selfe and that the discouery and laying open of my sins is the next way to finde thy mercy in forgiuing them Adde withall that strength vnto my scant and smoking fayth that I may amidde the sight of mine owne transgressions lay holde vpon the merite and fulnes of my Sauior Make me hartily to disclaime all hope of help by my selfe or any other creature in Heauen or Earth whomsoeuer and to cast all my burthen vpon him who by himselfe hath purged sinne and whose death is an absolute and an alsufficient sacrifice for the guilt of all belieuers Oh that I may féele my selfe knit and vnited vnto him so shall I in and by him be presented blameles to thy Maiestie And because O Lord I am full of imperfections and there is in my nature much weaknes and a great deale of frowardnes and readines to repine and rebell against thy ordinance therefore furnish mee with necessary graces with all such giftes as thou knowest to be fitte for my present case Endue mée with patience to beare whatsoeuer it shall bee thy pleasure to lay vpon me and méekly to submit my selfe to thy most wise appointments Assure mee that thou which knowest whereof I am made and that I am but dust wilt not oppresse me with more then thou shalt giue me strength power to endure Let mee not desire life otherwise then for the further aduancement of thy glory Subdue in me all loue liking of this present world grant that the hope of the glorie which shal be shewed hereafter may be so strong within me that all things may seeme vile vnto mee in comparison thereof Make me comfortably capable of the aduise and counsell of my Christian friends which in their loue shall goe about to refresh my Soule Make mee able also to speake profitably and for good to those that belong vnto mee Put vpon mée and in mee charitable affections and thoughts to and concerning others being ready to satisfie where I haue fayled and to remit euen where I haue receiued the greatest wrong Prepare mee to my last conflict and strengthen me against sathans assaults that in despite of his malice yet I may still holde mee fast by thee and resolue though thou slay me yet to trust vpon thee And because such is thy great goodnesse to vs thy poore creatures sickenesse doth not alwayes exercise his full strength vpō our bodies therefore giue me I beséech thee that wisedome to make vse of euery breathing and of euery little time of ease which thou doest afforde mee that in it I may gather strength against the times of greater anguish Bring still into my minde those things which I haue frō time to time learned by thy word that thereby I may bée quickned and find comfort in my greatest neede And alwayes O Lorde as the time of departure shall approache so let my soule draw neerer vnto thee my heart powerfully crying when sicknesse shall take away the vse of my tongue Into thy hands I commend my Spirit Come Lord Iesu come quickly And when death hath parted my Soule from my body let thy Angels which do alwayes by thy appointment pitch their tents about thy seruants conuey it into that place of rest which the blood of thy Sonne hath prouided and purchased for thy chosen To which thy Sonne with thy selfe and thy blessed Spirit be prayse and thankesgiuing now euermore Amē 17. A direction for those who desire to performe the Christian duety of prayer on the behalfe of a sick friend or neighbor whom they come to visite WEe are vnworthy O Lorde to speake vnto thy Maiestie either for our selues or others yet this duty lying vpon vs by commaund hauing a promise of hearing annexed thereunto wee are bold in Iesus Christ to commend vnto thee the weake estate of this thy seruant All sicknes is from thee to thee belong the issues of death Thou killest and thou makest aliue thou bringest downe to the graue thou raysest vp to whom shall we go in this and other our necessities but onely vnto thee Wee could wish O gracious God the continuance of his Christian fellowship the lengthening and enlarging of his dayes but wee willingly subiect our wils to thy determining Thou Lord knowest what is the best