to wish well vnto them that haue done much good for me much more vnable to performe that good towards them that I would and ought Forasmuch therefore as I haue no power of my selfe giue mee at least a will that my inward destres may work with thee by the mediation of thy welbeloued Sonne to the obtaining of inward loue and filiall affection towards them and be able to expresse it in my coÌ„tinual faithfull prayers for them Deale with them mercifully O Lord heape vpon them thy blessings the peace of a good conscience plentie of diuine knowledge holy and religious hearts towards thee the continuall abundant supply of all necessaries health of bodie the strength and vse of their limbes ayde in whatsoeuer their neede defence from enemies and prosperity in all things Blesse them with all spirituall blessings and graces in heauenly things Let them heare thy word attentiuely let them beleeue it faithfully let them embrace it cheerefully let them practise it religiously and in a good conscience and let them taste of thy fauours and loue continually and seeke to please thee in all things truely giue them comfort I beseech thee in my well doing and of thâ— vertuous and religious conuersations of al their children friends â—llies and seruants Let not 〈◊〉 misbehauiour or vnseemely course of life procure their griefe or shame but grant that they liâ—iâ—â— long according to thy good pleasure in thy faith feare fauour 〈◊〉 loue they may so giue vp the 〈…〉 soules in peace into thy hands thâ—â— gauest them through Christ Jesâ—â— our Lord and our euerlasting Redeemer Amen Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO stirre vp Masters to a godly gouernment of their seruants and to pray for them AS there is areciprocal dutie between the husband the wife between the parents their children so is there likewise betweene masters and seruants In euery of these there is a superioritie and a power to command and Subiection mouing inferiours to obey It is a great priuiledge that masters haue ouer their seruants yet not such as some masters doe impose vpon their seruants for although they haue a libertie to gouerne and to command it is not so absolute but it hath it limitations and bounds for now as well seruants as masters beleeuing the promise are equally within the couenant And therefore seruants although bound to corporall masters as touching their bodily seruice are yet the Lords free men and so fellow-members of Christ with their beleeuing masters which maketh them brethren in the Lord whose feare should preuent too much seueritie in the master moue the seruant to the more obedience and faithfull seruice The strength of Israel said vnto me saith Samuel Thou shalt beare rule ouer men being iust and ruling in the feare of God Heere is the bound and limit of mans authoritie ouer them whom they gouerne Iustice and the feare of God whereby we are taught that masters are not to quarell with and threaten their seruants or afflict them without good cause they may not vniustly taxe them or correct them neither ought masters to conceile but teach them their trades and mysteries The feare of God imports a diuine office which the Masters owe vnto their seruants and that is to indeuour to make them the true members of the Church of Christ by godly education and counsell to vse the authoritie they haue ouer their seruants modestly and holily seeing that they in another respect haue a common Master which is in heauen who will iudge both the bond and the free the master the seruant without respect of the ones glory and the others basenes of the ones authoritie to command or the others seruitude and bondage and it is not commendable for masters too much to insult ouer their seruants or mistresses and sterne dames to tyrannize ouer their maydes who were begotten borne and brought forth in as glorious a maner as the proudest richest and most vaine-glorious master or dame whâ— haue but gotten as it were the start of their seruants by Gods permission who as we daily may see and obserue hurleth downe and confoundeth the most imperious and insolent masters and exalteth the humble and obedient seruants yee masters and dames threaten not nor abuse your seruaÌ„ts they are but lent you for your ease and seruice by their and your Father and Master for a time who will take an account of you how you haue gouerned them and of them how they haue serued and obeyed you and if you take astrict account of euery offence committed by your seruaÌ„t how think you that your Master which is in heauen should winck at or passe by your many transgressions against him as if there were a priuiledge for you to offend the God that made you men and women and made you masters and gouernours ouer men and women your gouernmeÌ„t being but only carnall and their seruice but corporall whereas your Master which is in heauen gouerneth spiritually and your seruice towards him ought to be holy and truely spirituall And thinke that if your seruants disobedience be offensiue vnto you what are your sins and rebellious courses of life vnto God your great Master which seeth your sinnes in secret and will reward them openly Make the case of your corporall seruants disobedience vnto you your case of disobedieÌ„ce to God and consider whether you could be content that euery sinne you haue committed should haue it due reward would it not be a terror vnto you and make you lesse furious and lesse bitter vnto your seruants for euery trifle in committing of a fault or omitting some small dutie to be done I mooue not this to defend or incourage euill and disobedient seruants but to aduise masters and women commanders to vse Christian counsell to their seruants and to gouerne them in the feare of God according to the rule of religion and let none of them thinke it a needlesse a superfluous or a base dutie for masters and gouernours to pray for their seruants and such as are vnder their commaund But let them know it is a duety required of and performed by all godly masters and dames that God may be pleased to make them honest religious and fit for the businesse wherein they vse them to make them dutifull and obedient fearing God so shall such masters and gouernours be blessed for such godly religious seruants sakes vnder whose hands all that they doe shall prosper And to this purpose I haue framed a forme of prayer which or some other to the like purpose such Masters and Dames may vse as desire the meanes to haue good and gracious seruants and whosoeuer scorneth or neglecteth the means is worthy to be crossed by their crooked behauiour and a more excellent meane there is not then godly counsell and diuine prayer to keepe them in obedience A prayer to be said of masters for their seruants not vnfit to bee vsed of all that haue command ouer others GRacious Father who
the will and the worke of the desire and the deede Inspire into my heart gracious Father in Iesus Christ good and godly motions indue me with a truly obedient heart vnto thee that so I may truly obey and sincerely serue in the place thou hast called me vnto giue mee wisedome vnderstanding and dexterity of wit to apprehend and performe my calling instruct me perfectly in the mysterie trade function imployment which I do professe and practise for without thy assistance I confesse I can doe nothing as I ought to doe neyther in the discharge of mine own dutie seruice to my master according to the flesh for mine owne profit or reliefe nor in answere any duetie in any thing But thou Lord teachest the ignorant thou guidest the hart and framest the hand to euery perfit work Grant therefore that I may discharge my duety in all things faithfully religiously honestly carefully cheerefully vnto my corporal master not in eie-seruice only but at all times in all places and in all things that I giue not occasions of offence by reason of mine ignorance negligence idlenes or disobedience Giue me a religious hart to serue thee before all men to feare loue thee aboue al things that thy blessing may so possesse me that the goods of my master vnder my hand may rather the better and more and more increase and prosper then to miscarrie or diminish for my sake Labans goods prospered for Iaakobs and Potiphers for Iosephs sake So blesse mee that what I doe may be blessed Giue vnto my Master and confirme in him a wise and vnderstanding heart that hee may know how to direct and command according to true knowledge in thy word that he commanding me and I obeying him in thee wee may liue godly peaceably plentifully and helpefully together as long as thou shalt be pleased to continue me in corporall seruice and after dispose of me in thy mercies according to thine owne will Amen Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee vsed of Artificers and handicraftsmen THere is no mystery trade occupation or handy-craft that of it selfe be the actor neuer so exquisite in skill neuer so industrious in his labours neuer so warie in disposing that can truly and permaneÌ„tly prosper without the blessing of God The rising earely and labouring late profiteth not vnlesse Gods assistance be therein faithfully desired and really obtained And yet it is too coÌ„monly obserued that men of all conditions are too carelesse and backward in this point standing only vpon their owne wit arte and carnall meanes as sufficient preuentions of future penurie want and miserie which as wee daily see doe suddenly seize vpon men best qualified much more vpon the irreligious and prophane men that thinke their duetie discharged if they indeuour to get by their labor to eate to spend as they gaine neuer crauing a blessing at the hands of God vpon their workes because they feele no present misery and therefore dreame of the continuance of the meanes to relieue support them still forgetting the many causualties that attend euery profession especially such as depend vpon the labour of mens hands one by sicknes of the body a second by the decay and dimnes of sight a third by the weaknes of his limbs a fourth by the distractioÌ„ of his sences is disabled to worke in his vocation besides the many meane of diminishing of goods as by casuall losses by fire by euill seruants and by many hindrances that may be fall men suddenly Therefore to preuent these or the better to prepare to patience it behoueth euery man of these faculties to deale vprightly conscionably and religiously in their professions with all men to seek vnderstanding in the word of truth to pray vnto God in faith that hee may bee pleased to blesse their labors and to make them prospor and their conuersations with modesty honesty and temperance So whatsoeuer shalbefal them shal work for their good prosperitie shall make them thank full aduersity patient and whatsoeuer they doe it shall prosper And for them that are religiously affected I haue set downe a forme of Prayer not vnfit to be vsed of all handy-crafts men and artificers A prayer for Tradesmen Handicraftsmen and Artificers GReat and gracious Lord God mercifull louing Father in Iesus Christ thou hast made the glorious the base the mightiest and meanest of condition some to gouerne some to labor I beseech thee looke vpon me of the lowest ranke in this life And although I were borne to labor as the bird is created to flie the fish to swim let me not be yet Lord so abiected cast out of the society of men as not worthy of some place or function in Church or Common-weale I am a member of thy Church coÌ„firme me so I pray thee in Iesus Christ the I may be the more fit to steed the CoÌ„mon-weale by my vocation though meane for thou hast not left me so naked of vnderstaÌ„ding I thaÌ„k thee but that in thy 〈◊〉 I am able in some measure to performe that calling that thou hast allotted vnto me yet not so exactly and exquisâ—tely as I ought by reason of my many naturall infirmities and therefore I instantly craue of thee my heauenly Father who createdst mee and hasâ— brought me to the estate and calling wherin I stand that thou wilâ— teach mee and instruct mee in this my lâ—wfull trade of life that I 〈◊〉 be able to performe it lawfully perfectly iudicially religiously and sincerely and so prosper and liue thereby knowing that ignorance deceit and corrupt dealing in my calling cannot but offend men with â—homâ— my profession occasioneth me to deale and my corrupt and deceitfull dealing with men cannot but extend to the dishonor and consequently offend thy most righteous Maiestie who punishest vnjust dealing most iustly and seuerely showing thy holy dislike of all vnholy dealing with men Blesse me therefore Lord with spirituall together with my humane knowledge that the last being sanctified by the 〈◊〉 I may studie in all equitie to performe my calling to the good of my brethren and to thy glory Let the labours of my hands prosper let all things go well with me giue me health of bodie the vse of my limbes and of my sences let no euill-happen vnto me in bodie goods or good name Giue me carefull able and faithful seruants preserue vnto mee whomsoeuer and whatsoeuer belongeth vnto me that although I be inforced to â—â—te my bread by the sweate of my bodie according to thy iust sentence pronounced vpon our originall transgression yet I beseech thee blesse my lawfull calling vnto me and blesse me in it that I may end my labour in plentie and my life in peace through Jesus Christ and bee finally sealed vp among the number that shall be eternally saued Amen Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO stirre vp Husband-men and Plough-men to prayer vnto God THe Huâ—bandman and 〈◊〉 ler of the ground is
God must be conceiued of vs in our prayers as subsisting in the whole three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost The vnitie in Trinitie and Tâ—initie in vnitie is to be worshipped retaining in mind the distinction and order of all the three persons without seuering or sundring them for as they are conioyned in nature so are they to be conioyned in worship And therefore he that prayeth vnto God the Father for the forgiuenesse of his sinnes must aske it of him for the merits of the Sonne and by the assurance of the holy Ghost and he that prayeth for the remission of sinnes to God the Sonne must pray that he would procure the Father to graunt him pardon and to assure it by his Spirit He also that prayeth for the same to God the holy Ghost must pray that he would assure vnto him the remission of his sinnes from the Father for and by the merits of his Sonne Thus must we apprehend the Trinitie in our prayers so shall we auoide that idolatrous conceiuing of him imbraced of some who cannot pray vnlesse they haue the figure of a humane creature to represent vnto their bodily eyes the shape of God the Father in likenesse of an olde man and a crucifixe figuring Christ suffring on the Crosse and the holy Ghost by a Doue whose worship cannot bee reputed spirituall but carnall and their prayers not heauenly but prophane Prayer is a spirituall action proper onely to the children of God who are Saints by calling sanctified in Christ And they and none other truely call vpon the name of the Lord Iesus prophane persons pray not though they seeme to pray But most happie is that man that commeth vnto God Father Sonne and holy Ghost truely prepared and duely attentiue he may boldly aske and confidently assure himselfe to receiue grace for grace and all blessings spirituall without limitation and all benefits corporall needfull If our prayers bee made in vs by him who hath promised and hath power to giue what we aske shall wee thinke hee will faile to performe The hope of hypocrites in deed shall perish and their prayers vanish as the smoake because they wait vpon lying vanities and desire carnall pleasures and worldly profits But the Lord will surely fulfill the desires of them that feare him because their prayers tend to the setting foorth of Gods glory to the good of the Church to the remission of their owne sinnes and other mens to the obtaining of Gods graces to the increase of the vnderstanding of heauenly things that they may walke before God and be vpright that they may doe the workes and bring sorth the fruits of the spirit These are the prayers that are the PENSIVE SOVLES DELIGHT These are the prayers that wound the Serpent that please God bringing peace to the conscience afflicted But which is to bee lamented all men are dull by nature And the very elect sometimes weakely disposed to pray And therefore is euery godly man to vse all holy meanes to inkindle their hearts to the right performance of this heauenly dutie And nothing more preuaileth therein then Meditation whereunto wee are also very vnapt by nature and know not how nor vpon what ground to lay the foundation therof yet if we can truly frame our hearts to a holy Meditation wee shal find that it is the very key that openeth our dull hearts lockt vp vnder griefe vnder feare vnder trouble vnder persecutioÌ„ misery and sendeth forth by litle and litle the fire of true zeale which at length becommeth a great flame of preuailing prayers which thing they easily find that are conuersant in this sacred exercise of Meditation and Prayer who yet many times finde themselues most dull and most vnapt to pray hauing yet an inward desire thereunto which desire they cannot containe but labouring a while in silence speaking inwardly to God in sighes and groanes at length they speake effectually with their tongues Seeing therefore that all men need motiues to stirre them vp to prayer let euery man addresse himselfe to the word of God or peruse some godly worke of religious men And although vocally he cannot reade by reason of his naturall dulnes yet if his heart can be but conuersant and duely attend the sence as the eye obserues the letter his minde by little and little shall mount it selfe from earth to heauen fixed on the Trinitie whence shall arise such spirituall fruits of faith and feruencie of spirit as shall fill the soule with more sweet consolation byinkindled praier then the tongue can vtter And to this end gentle Reader according to the small measure of mine vnderstanding I haue prefixed before euery prayer a Motiue or Meditation touching the substance and matter of the Prayer following Thankesgiuing after Prayer The third and last duty in this holy exercise is Thankesgiuing which cannot but follow sanctified praiers that with such ioy in the holy Ghost as it cannot but break forth into most vnspeakeable inward thaÌ„kfulnes to God who hath beene so graciously pleased not only to forgiue our sins but to helpe our infirmities by his holy spirit by whom wee haue had accesse vnto the throne of grace found such fauour with God in Christ as we haue obtained by the holy Ghost both the will and the power to pray Also we ought in all things to giue thankes to God for euery blessing and benefit wee receiue at his hands according to the counsell and precept of the Apostle who commands vs to giue thankes alwayes for all things vnto God euen the Father in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ Ephes. 5. 20. Thus much touching the admonition Great Britaines happines in regard of the free vse of the Gospell in respect of other Nations FInally I thinke it not impertinent altogether by way of comparison to consider of our happines in being partakers of the free vse of the Gospell in respect of the most vnhappie condition of many Nations and infinite people that either know not God at all or knowing him honour him not as God The Old and New Testaments haue beene freely opened vnto vs neere threescore yeares without Persecution and so it hath not been in any one Kingdom we reade of Some Kingdomes and Free States in their Iurisdictions haue and doe in a sort permit the Gospell but with the same tolerate contrary religions professions Where doth the freedome of the Gospell appeare as in Great Britaine In what Kingdome is it so publikely receiued so plentifully preached and so freely professed without danger or contradiction We haue heard and seene the troubles of the Netherlands and the Massacres of France and the persecutioÌ„s in other territories for the profession of the Gospell and we all this while haue quietly enioyed that for the profession wherof many haue perished May wee not therefore truely say with Dauid The Lord hath not dealt so with euery Nation Queene ELIZABETH restored Religion almost smothered by Queen
many if not the wilde beasts of the field other vnsuspected meanes to hurt vs or destroy vs. Moreouer as no man taketh a Iourney in hand but it tendeth to some profitable or nâ—cessary end So â—e wisheth the good successe of his intentions and he that standeth vpon his owne wit or iudgement onely or vpon his owne strength dependeth but on a broken reede and often meerely misseth of his purpose to his apparant hinderance whereas if hee truely and sincerely recommendeth himselfe and his occasions to diuine direction in a liuely faith in Christ Iesus in whom all things are blessed vnto vs he may then assure himselfe that all things shall succeede vnto him for the best So shall he trauaile in assurance rest in safety as when Dauid had recommended himselfe to God though he were in danger yet he lay downe in peace assuring himselfe that it was God that had taken charge of him and would make him dwell in safetie It is a sweet contentment to a faithfull man to rest assured of Gods presence in all his wayes and of the ayde of his holy Angels whom he sendeth ministring spirits for the good of his nothing can hurt them of whom God hath taken charge neither can any thing but prosper which he blesseth vnto vs. And therefore he that wilfully omitteth this holy dutie of seruing the liuing God cannot assure him of any good successe of whatsoeuer he attempteth Lord encrease my Faith A Prayer before a man begin his Lo 〈…〉 〈◊〉 attempt any weighty corporall 〈◊〉 MOst gracious Lord Goâ— most wise louing and prouident who in thy wisedome disposest all things in the loue preseruest them that see 〈…〉 thine aide in thy prouidence 〈◊〉 uentest all dangers prouidest 〈◊〉 necessaries for them that as 〈…〉 them at thy hands Let it pleast thee good father in Iesus Christ to guide me this day in my Journey and giue me good successe of 〈◊〉 occassons for I doe acknowledge mine owne weakenesse and 〈◊〉 blenesse to performe my trau 〈…〉 being but dust ashes not able to endure without the strength of thy grace working strength in my members Many dangers and casualties also lurke in the way where thou art not pleased to be a guide in number and varietie so many as cannot be numbred And therefore gracious Father fauour me so much this day as to accompany me in my wayes send thine â—uly Angels to administer comfort vnto me direction protectioÌ„ that 〈◊〉 going forth comining in may the prosperous and in safetie and leaue me not to my self who am as a beast of my selfe neither knowing what dangers lie in my wayes nor how to auoide them But thou knowest all things takest charge of them that recommend themselues into thy hands thou defendest them and deliuerest them take me Lord into thy defence let no euill happen vnto me be vnto me a strong towre and a place of safetie for nothing can hurt them whom thou keepest keepe mee Lord and I shall bee safe giue ablenesse vnto the creatures which necessitie inforceth mee to vse that they may serue to my vse giue mee all necessaries for my Journey and blesse them vnto mee and as thou Lord knowest whereof I haue neede giue mee dayly and continuall supply according to thy will Thou knowest also mine occasions and the end of my present intended 〈◊〉 nailes let it please thee to worthe for me all things for the best giue me wisedome to manage it and to performe it to the discharge of my godly duetie according to a goâ—â— conscience I commend mee 〈◊〉 thy hands Lord Lord receiue 〈◊〉 keepe me hold me vp that I 〈◊〉 into no perill of soule or 〈◊〉 keepe my cogitations euer holy 〈◊〉 hands cleane my heart pure 〈◊〉 all the parts and powers of my 〈◊〉 by euer prepared with a 〈◊〉 affection to serue thee in a sanctified conuersation to thine own glory and mine euerlasting consolation and send me a comfortable returne Amen Lord encrease my faith and blesse my Iourney A MOTIVE TO Prayer to be said after the returne from a Iourney or comming to the Inne or place of rest ALl men in their Iourneyes wish for good successe but not according to true zeale and that is the reason when they returne safe they doe not giue the glory to God they asked not his presence to be with them and therefore giue they the glory to their owne abilities to trauaile to the goodnesse of the horse and to the good companie they had If euill happen vnto them or hurt befall them they lay it vpon the creature or vpon some suddaine accident neither giuing thanks to God by whose prouidence indeed they returned or came safe to their place of rest nor their crosses to proceed of their sinnes and neglect of the seruice of God If euery man would truely and without partiality enter into the examination of his owne heart how many would finde in themselues a true desire to haue theâ— iourneyes or enterprises blessed 〈◊〉 God by their zealous prayers made vnto him before they attempt them And how many would there be found so thankefull as to prayse God seriously when they returne or come to their place of rest in safetie It is the last worke in euery action And therfore God although he permit forgetfull men to succeed wishedly in their affaires yet retaineth hee their vnthankefulnesse in memorie and often turneth their glory to shame their ioy into sorrow and the things wherunto they ascribe their greatest preseruation into their suddaine destruction It is a matter too common to receiue good at the hands of God and to reward him euilly as doe all men that begin their trauailes without him and seeke not his fauour and direction in their occasions which maketh many to forget their religious thankefulnesse and to be 〈…〉 them to wantonnesse and vanities 〈◊〉 soone as they enter their place of â—bode if but for a night whereas â—deed it behooueth them that professe a diuine prouidence to seeke safety preseruation and direction at the hands of God and hauing receiued the successe be it according or against their desires they may assure themselues it falleth out for the best because God doth all for the good of true beleeuers whatsoeuer is done and therefore requireth thankefulnesse in the conclusion of euery Iourney action or enterprise for true thankefulnesse for a benefite receiued standeth in place of a preuailing petition for and obtaining a newe blessing Lord increase my faith A thankesgiuing after the returne from a Journey or comming safe to a place of rest MOst gracious and louing Lord God I giue thee most humble vnfained thanks that thou so mercifully hast blessed me this day in my Journey and trauailes preseruing me froÌ„ many perils that I haue escaped euen by thine owne power and prouidence and hast in safety brought me vnto this place of rest which yet without thy blessing may becom a place of trouble for as the fields
ablenes to discharge the office according to iudgement it is not enough to be a deepe Politician a profound Naturalist but to be a religious Christian well seene in the booke of God especially and in the Lawes and ordinances of the Kingdome to be of an vpright heart of a godly conuersation qualified in the vertues diuino the first whereof is to respect Gods glory secondly the honor of the King the good of the Church and Weale publike to shine before men in godlines for that ministreth ioy consolation to the good and terror to the wicked It is impossible for him to giue good counsell to men that hath not taken counsell before of God Psal. 33. 10. And therefore hee that seeketh not wisdome where Salomon found it let hiâ— be as wise in humane affaires 〈◊〉 was Achitophel it will either come to nought or redound to his owne disgrace to the dishonor of the King and hurt of the Church or Common-weale Great happines then it is to that King and Kingdome where men of worthie not for their Religion Prudence and Integritie are inuested in that most honorable societie and therefore much behoueth it all honorable persons of that most worthy rancke to commence in humilitie and in the feare of God from whence cannot but proceed that true wisedome and sinceritie which are the truest arguments of the Kings and Subiects happinesse and safetie And for that these supernaturall gifts no man attaineth vnto by chance arte or carnall means they are to be sought for by prayer at the hands of him that freely giues them without remuneration Iam. 1. 5. He then that loueth righteousnes and is in this eminent place cannot but desire true Wisdome and that instantly in regard of the vertues that accompanie her As Sobernes Prudence Righteousnesse and Fortitude Wisd. 8. 7. ornaments of highest honor to such as are of the secrets of Princes But fearing lest I should seeme to lightâ— candle to giue light to the Sunne I craue pardon and patience onely I aduenture to insert this among other Motiues not to teach but by way of well-wishing vnto all of that most high and most honorable association whose wisdome and iudgement is a light in the Court and life of the Kingdome A Prayer not vnfit to be sometimes vsed of a Counsellour of Estate as he hath oportunitie O Gracious Lord God most wise prouident and louing Father I acknowledge my selfe farre vnworthy of the plâ—câ— and dignitie whereunto thou iâ— great mercie hast aduanced me a man of meanest vnderstanding What am I O Lord that thâ—â— shouldest respect me so That thoâ— shouldest associate mee with the grauest and most prudent to m 〈…〉 me partaker of the secret counsel of thine Anointed I know that witâ— thee is wisedom and counsell mercie and iudgement but I am ignorant only thou art the Author and fountaine of true wisedom giuest prudence knowledge abundaÌ„tly to them that truly faithfully aske it of thee to the end to do good to execute Justice to aduante thy word 〈◊〉 loue countenance and defend the true professors of the same not to seeme the more singular in Naturall and Humane policies But indeed to be the more able to preuent the euils which the enemies of thy sacred and sauing truth plot and practise against thy Church and thine Anointed And therefore Father Al-sufficient seeing it is thy good pleasure to put into the heart of thine Anointed to call me vnworthy to his Counsell make 〈◊〉 more worthy by infussing into mee wisedome to aduise iudgement to determine and strength to performe all the godly duties required in my high calling Make me especially studious in thy worâ— giue 〈◊〉 vnderstanding according vnto the same lest I through ignorance or rashnesse should propose deliberat or censure any thing to thy dishonor to the danger or damage of our Soueraigne Lord to the distaste or disturbance of thy Church or against the peace or profit of the â—â—â—eale publike of the Dominious vnder the charge of thine Anointed And aboue all things Lord giue mee a religious heart that in a godly and right constant resolution I may more and more seeke the propagation increase continuance and aduancement of the Gospell of Iesus Christ and more and more seeke to weaken and bring to nought all Idolatrie and superstition Take from me a parciall eye that in respect of persons I seeke not to free the faulty or to discountenance or condemne the innocent Giue me a loyal hart to my Soueraigne season my loue towards him with thy loue that as much as in mee lieth I may euer defend his person though to the losse of whatsoeuer is dearest unto me and that I may seeke to discouer those that hate him and endeuour to bring them to their deserued shame and punishment Lord increase my faith and mine vnderstaÌ„ding according to thy word Another short effectuall Prayer to be said of a priuie Counseller fit to bee said before consultation FRuctifie my heart O gracious Lord God with righteousnesse and sincere iudgement that I may wisely consult sincerely censure and iudge iustly all things that at any time shall be propounded to mine opinion for of my self Lord I doe acknowledge that I am a man of weake vnderstanding of a corrupt heart and ignorant of perfect equitie and therefore I humbly beg knowledge and wisedome of thee Keepe my feet aright in all my wayes free my hands and keepe them euer cleane from gifts that they cause me not to peruert iustice and wrest sound counsell Indue mee with a mercifull heart and let mine affections be euer such as may in all things administer true tokens of mine integrity And for as much as things may diuersly fall out to be debated and determined by vs of this high calling of so worthy and weighty consequence as may concerne the life and state of Church Common-weale and we being but men not able to fadome by our wisedomes the end of thy secret purposes nor to sound the depth of thine vnsearchable iudgements bee pleased to reueale vnto vs thy will for the good of thine Anointed vnder whom thou hast placed vs that we may accordingly consult and determine for nothing succedeth wiâ—â— without thee and against thee there is neither wisedome vnderstanding or counsell that can preuaile Thy Judgements are vnsearchable and thy wayes past finding out Furnish vs therfore O louing Father with all graces and vertues necessarie to the performance of out bound duties to thy selfe thine Anointed thy Church and the Common-weales vnder the gouernment of our Soueraigne Lord thy seruant through Christ our wisedome our Strength and ou◠〈◊〉 â—eeiner Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said of euery good subiect for the good successe of the Counsell Royall SAint Paul in the first to Timothie cap. 1. 2. exhorteth all men to make prayers and supplications for kings and men in authoritie and yeeldeth such a reason to moue thereunto as