infernall spirit that falsely pretendeth dominion in the earth and in the ayre and how he enuieth and opposeth as much as in him is euery good dutie and seruice which thy dearest children owe and endeauour to performe vnto thee and aboue all other duties tending to thine owne glory and mans saluation he seeketh to hinder none with more bitter violence with greater enuy more wicked and subtill wiles then this of diuine prayer and endeauoreth to draw thine owne dearest children into manifold sinnes But Lord as thou hast commaunded vs to call vpon thine holy Name to pray vnto thee for faith repentance obedience and other graces and blessings So according to thine holy ordinance I fall downe prostrate vpon the knees of mine vnfayned heart praying thee to prepare mee to this holy dutie thou sayest Open thy mouth and I will fill it O Lord open thou my mouth and fill it with heauenly words furnish and fill my heart with a strong powerful and liuely faith constant and firme obedience that without wauering and straying thoughts I may at this time make my prayers supplications vnto thee through thy Spirit And thou O inuincible Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah stand vp for me against my most mortall and most malicious enemy satan who among his own is strong and powerfull but where thou my Captaine Christ Iesus appearest he is weake he cannot enter the house where thou dwellest O fortifie therfore O Lord and barre vp the doore of my soule that hee enter not nor preuaile against it with the fire of his tentations Lord thou knowest hee is enemie to thee how much more vnto mee Hee tempted thee but preuayled not but his tentations flesh and blood cannot withstand Therefore arme thou me against him with heauenly weapons and hee shall neither stoppe nor hinder mine intended prayers as he desireth and laboureth to doe Let my spirit O Lord bee strongly assisted by thy Spirit and my prayers shall be faithfull my heart shall entertaine no wandering wauering vnholy or prophane thoughts euill cogitations or wicked motions though I bee an vnholy lumpe of my selfe by nature prompt and more ready to thinke or doe euill then good yet by thy Grace Satan shall slie sinne shall die and thy Spirit shall be liuely in mee and my prayers powerfull and effectuall to thee in my mediator Christ Iesus O let thy heauenly helpe Lord in Iesus Christ descend into all the powers and parts of my soule and body that in speaking vnto thee I may feele the worke and operation of thy Grace so sufficient in my heart that I may obtaine a victorious conquest ouer satan sinne and mine owne corruptions and bee assured through Christ Iesus my Sauiour to bee either freed from his preuayling tentations or to bee able to resist them that all my prayers at all times may bee such as thou maist Fatherly accept them in thy beloued Sonnes mediation for mee howsoeuer weake and imperfect they bee in respect of my selfe who am full of imperfections which I humbly pray thee to grant for his sake who hath conquered him that couets my finall destruction Amen Lord euermore strengthen and increase my faith in Iesus Christ. A meditation or motiue when wee are dull to pray a most necessary preparatiue to prayer AS it is my griefe O Lord to consider the hardnesse of my heart my faintnesse and dulnesse to pray So can I not but comfort my selfe in the consideration of thy great mercie towards mee in often remouing my dulnesse and in steed thereof to giue mee thy holy Spirit and by him power effectually to call vpon thy holy Name which effectuall fauour of thine I haue oftentimes found and felt when I haue had an inward motion tending to a desire to pray and yet no power or ablenesse to open my mouth or aptnesse to mooue my tongue which hath caused mee many times to thinke that thou my God hast beene angry with me and in that thou hast with-holden thy Grace so long that thou hadst forsaken me So that I haue beeâ—e infoâ—ced oftentimes to keepe silence when I would haue prayed and to close my lippes when I would haue spoken Thus good Father haue I beene many times as I am presently troubled and inwardly greeued euen in my soule at the hardnesse of my heart and dulnesse of my spirit And yet at length I haue felt as it were the fire of feruent zeale so inflaming my heart as I haue suddenly spoken with my tongue I haue prayed vnto thee and thou hast heard me This holy and heauenly worke of diuine Prayer I finde to bee farre from mine or the best mans owne power it is the onely worke of thine owne spirit which I haue many times formerly discerned for when I haue beene most dull and most vnapt to pray thou euen then euen in my silent musing and meditation hast enabled mee to breake forth into words through faith which haue pierced the very heauen of heauens euen vnto the Throne of thy great Maiesty where Christ my mediator stands at thy right hand presenting in my behalfe my weake Petitions euen in his owne name and obtayneth mine humble desires according to thine owne will which worketh betâ—er things for mee then I can wish or will I am not therefore discouraged good Father thogh I seeme dull in spirit and as it were cleane destitute of faith for I know thy guifts are without repentance and though I feele not this heauenly worke of thy holy Spirit at all times a like in mee yet doe I assure me hee is in mee and will worke againe the same heauenly effects for where thy blessed Spirit hath once taken habitation and once sanctified the soule that soule is so effectually possessed by that â—pirit and that Spirit so possesseth that soule that he may be assured neuer to bee absolutely dispossest of the same howsoeuer hee may for a time seeme absent It is but to mooue mee to seeke him finding the want of him to long for him Though therefore deare Father my heart bee hard by nature and my spirit dâ—ll to euery holy and heauenly dutie so that I cannot outwardly vtter what I inwardly concâ—iue and desire with such earnestnesse and feruencie of spirit as I would but weakly and coldly yet doe I assure my selfe that thou considerest mine inward desires and hearest my most secret sighes as plainely as if I cryed vocally and aloud vnto thee I cannot therefore but confideÌ„tly assure my selfe that according to thy promise thou wilt heare and consider that I hunger and thirst for thy Grace that my dulnesse being remooued I may conceiue in my heart and frame with my lippes mine humble Petitions which thou hast promised to heare especially such as thine owne Spirit composeth in mee Deny not therefore good Father thy holy Spirit to me that faithfully craue him onely to be enabled effectually to pray vnto thee for thou hearest not the best man nor the best maâ—s best prayers for his
wheresoeuer wee are whatsoeuer wee doe wee are to haue our hearts exercised in godly meditation of the Word and inward prayer Bethel the house of God is euery where where the truly godly are Dauid found it euen in the wildernesse of Ziph in the holds of Engedi in Mâ—an and Gath. Hee found the Lord in these desolate places though hee were hated and persecuted driuen from place to place through the malice of his enemies he was neuer out of the presence of God in the Temple or in the field for where God is present there is his Temple In the Lyons Denne Daniel found him In the Furnace the three Children In the Dungion Ieremy In the Prison Peter vnder the stones Stephen yea euen in sinnefull Sodom Lot and Noah in the Floud Euery true Childe of God is alwayes in Gods house where Dauid desired Spiritually to dwell finding it true that God was with him euery whâ—re yet had hee an earnest desire to bee conuersant in that Temple where the Children of God did assemble to heare GOD speake and to speak vnto God He was their king yet did hee thinke it the greatest part of his dutie nay of his glorie and happinesse to accompany his subiects in the holy exercises of religion to goe before them to incourage them to call vpon and to serue the liuing God with them whereof being preuented by the malice and furie of his enemies he complayneth that he was left as a Pellican in the wildernesse and as an Owle in the Desert and thought the Sparrow more happie then hee because that silly bird could at all times resort vnto that holy place to which he could not come It is our dutie to frequent the materiall Temple to accompanie the congregation in pâ—aying vnto and praysing of God and attentiuely to heare his Word yet are not wee to hold it a necessitie to pray onely in the Temple as if God could or would not heare our prayers but in the Temple made with hands wherein God himselfe sayth he dwelleth not his dwelling is in the heauens and his footstoole is the earth and as long as wee are pilgrimes in the earth wee must seeke and we shall finde God in the earth by his presence and power Therefore as Moses put off his shooes when hee came into the presence of God because the place was holy whereon hee stood So must we put off all our vngodly affections and vnholy desires before we enter into his holy presence He teacheth vs by his Prophet Ieremy what it is to come prepared into the presence of God whether into the materiall Temple with the congregation to heare him speake vnto vs by his Word or to speake vnto him in publike or in any conuenient place in our priuate prayers Wee must amend and redresse our wayes our works then he will admit vs and entertaine vs into his holy presence It is not enough saith hâ— to crie and say The Temple the Temple of God this is the Temple of the Lord 〈◊〉 amend our wayes and our works to execute iudgement betweene a man and this neighbour not to oppresse the poore nor the stranger the fatherlesse nor the widdow not to shed innocent bloud nor to walke after other gods Tâ—is is the condition which God makes with them that shall dwell in his house that shall see his beauâ—ie and that are admitted into his presence and truely to visite his holy Temple but bars all those that trust in lying miracles and vaine words and vanities that cannot profit they that steale murder commit adultery idolatrie such as sweare fasty the coueteous oppressors vniust enuious malicious drunkards and the like if these stand in this house the materiall Temple God will haue no respect vnto their prayers finding them hypocrites that worke wickednesse in secret coueting to couer it with a forged shew of cunning with the congregation into the Temple of God which by their presence make it a denne of theeues For what are Hypocrites but theeues shewing themselues to bee religious and are not obedient and are not thanâ—efull and are not faithfull and are not These are they that rather coÌ„mit sacriledge theÌ„ offer acceptable Sacrifice they visite not the Temple but rather defile it with their couÌ„terfeit holines in shew seeming saints in deed enemies to Christ and Christians They can crie the Temple of God the Temple of God They can say Preach Preach and seeme neuer satisfied with Sermons The desire is good if the heart bee good for a true and sincere desire of the heart to heare the Word cannot but please God for such are approoued to be of the family and house of God Such shall dwell in his Tabernacle and rest vpon his Holy Hill for they are of the generation of the righteous But there is a generation saith Salomon that are pure in their owne conceits and yet are not washed from their filthinesse They follow the deuices of their their owne hearts and assume vnto themselues a peculiar manner of seruing of God not according to the sincere truth These mens sacrifices God abhorreth but he that hath innocent hands and a pure heart that hath not lift vp his hand vnto vanitie nor sworne deceitfully he comming into the house of God in priuate or in publike petitions shall receiue a blessing from the Lord vnderstanding by hearing God speake vnto him and bee heard speaking vnto God it is contrary with the hypocrites they may heare and not vnderstand they may pray but GOD will not heare them They cryed sayth Dauid but there was none to â—aue them eueÌ„ vnto the Lord â—ut he answered them not God heareth not hypocrites â—hough they come neere him with their lips in a counterfeit zeale when yet their hearts are prophane To come into the marteriall Temple is required of all to accompanie the congregation in the diuine seruice of the liuing God Princes and greatest persons As Dauid a King who was glad and reioyced when the people sayd vnto him Come let vs goe into the house of the Lord where in deed his owne desire waâ— to dwell To dwell is not to come for a spirt and away but hiâ— desire was to make there hâ—â— continuall abode all the daieâ— of his life It may bee conceiued by â— naturall man and one thâ—â— builds his happinesse vpoâ— the pleasures of this life thâ—â— it was not wisdome in Dauiâ— to desire to dwell in the meâ—lancholy Temple continually but it may be sayd vnto that carnallist Thou deemest it to bee a place of sadnesse and melancholly which administreth to the true Children of God the most absolute ioy mirth gladnesse and consolation and finally truest happinesse Carnall men in deed delight in vaine aspects and shewes moouing to sinne in Stages Theaters and the like and thinke them therewith much cheered and in short time therewith wearied But the Temple of God the heauenly Theatre that is most glorious by the Diuine presence onely seene by the sanctified minde
of thy blessed Spirit testifying vnto my spirit that thou art the whole and sole disposer of all these and that all things worke together for the comfort of all that loue thee knowing and being assured of thy presence and prouidence I will not feare whatsoeuer befall mee for all troubles crosses and miseries I finde to bee but holesome medecines tempered and gently prepared by thine owne hand for the cure and preseruation of my sicke and sinnefull soule from eternall death I humbly therfore deare Father pray thee so to moderate my troubles and afflictions as by the helpe and aide of thy holy Spirit I may with patience and an heauenly kinde of alacrity vndergoe them And according to thy good pleasure continue the health of my body the vse of my senses limbs peace with thee my God and with all men as becommeth mee still guided by thy Spirit that I abuse none of thy blessings through 〈◊〉 corruptions And while I liue here in this earthly pilgrimage as a stranger vouchsafe me with thy heauenly Spirit to giue mee a competent portion to sustaine me and those whom thou hast coÌ„mitted vnto my charge both in spirituall and corporall sustinance Let not too heauie tentations ouer-presse me let too much want and too heauy crosses ouer-afflict me but lay vpon mee what thou wilt and neuer take from me thy holy spirit so shal I be able to beare what soeuer thou thinkest fit to be laid vpon me for by the strength of thy preuayling spirit I shall vndergo what thou in loue as indeed it is shalt lay vpon me By promise thou carest for me and hast willed mee to cast my care vpon thee which I haue done euer since it pleased thee to reueale thy selfe vnto mee in thy beloued Son and thou hast not deceiued me for I haue euer found thee true in performing whatsoeuer thou hast promised euen in sending that Comforter who hath euer assisted mee in reuealing thy Son in whoÌ„ thy continual fauour I haue euer found most certaine secret sweet so enabling me to speake vnto thee as when I haue offended thee by my sinnes I haue felt the pardon of them in my conscience by the blood of that Lambe testified vnto mee by thy blessing and sanctifying Spirit When I haue been sicke thou hast healed me I haue been in mortall danger and thou hast preserued me I haue had enemies and thou hast defended mee and often haue I been in distresse and want and thou hast without my desire or desert plentifully releeued mee yea Lord thou hast giuen when and what I haue not asked thou camest and soughtest mee first Lord I sought not thee thou aboue all shewedst thy selfe most louing vnto me in sending me thy heauenly spirit without whose ayd I could neither aske nor receiue I could neither seeke nor find comfort neither could I knock or deserue to enter into thy fauour By his presence I haue felt the fulnes of ioy and gladnesse And therefore as thou hast graciously begun Lord so continue thy grace in mee and thy loue towards me alwayes in all places among al men in all my labours iournies and lawfull and godly endeauors for thou hast commaunded mee while I liue â—eere not to rest idle but to bee doing that which is good Thou hast giuen mee a calling wherin without thy blessing I may labour and yet lacke I may ayme by good intent and yet erre without the gracious direction of thy Spirit I am ignorant of and dull to performe that which may bee either well pleasing vnto thee or truly profitable to my self But by the blessing of thy holy spirit I shall please thee in Christ who pleaseth thee for mee and then whatsoeuer I thinke speak or doe shall prosper and yeeld mee supply in all my wants both spirituall and corporal and that from day to day which by thine owne promise shall be sufficient for the day O holy and heauenly Father hold me euer in thine â—bedience shelter me vnder â—he shaddow of thy protecting wings stop the whole course of sinne in mee and continue thine holy spirit euermore in me that he being my guide in all mine actions I may finish the course of this my pilgrimage in all sinceritie sanctitie and safetie and in the end obtain the glory which thy Sonne my Sauiour hath purchased for mee by the shedding of his blood vpon the Crosse and that euermore while I liue I may hunger and thirst for righteousnesse vntill I become a perfect man in Christ Iesus that leauing this mortall life I may ioyfully enter into that euerlasting rest Amen Amen in Christ my hope my strength and my assured and faithfull Redeemer Lord euermore increase and confirme my faith and continue that holy spirit in mee A motiue to begin the day with Prayer IT is a dutie not so much required by God for his owne sake of vs as necessary and profitable for our selues to begin the morning with Thanksgiuing and Prayer The first God requireth of vs as due vnto him for preseruing vs and giuing vs rest and sleepe and safetie the night past The second namely Prayer most necessary for our selues for without the helpe fauour power protection and prouidence of God wee can expect no comfort or safetie or good successe the day following wherein doe lye hidden many dangers of our bodies many bayts allurements and tentations of Sathan the world and our owne corruption for our soules much weaknesse and ignorance in our selues to performe the works of our owne callings besides ill successe in our labours without his blessing And shall we think that God will giue a blessing to our labours safetie to our persons or defence from these spirituall enemies vnlesse we recommend our selues to him in the name of his sonne No no we may not flatter our selues that because we are lustie and strong our senses good our wit and vnderstanding quick we may goe from bed to businesse and walke in our owne wayes vntill the euening either forgetting or neglecting God who with-holding his help and hand infinite are the dangers wee are subiect vnto both spirituall and corporall Therefore looke vp powre out thy pâ—ayers as a sweet morning sacrifice to God in the name of Christ and then goe on thy lawfull occasions and prosper And for want of thine own abilitie to discouer thine owne necessities and to craue Gods blessings and to declare thy thankefulnesse vse the helpe of the labours of such as haue framed prayer for this holy purpose Or this howsoeuer weake prayer following wherein thou mayst finde comfort and so with inward ioy thou maist from day to day the more cheerefully follow thy vocation A Prayer fit to be vsed euery morning O My God my God and my most louing Father in thy best beloued Christ Iesus I yeeld thee vnfained thankes for thy wonderfull mercies and vndeserued fauors vouchsafed vnto mee all my life and especially for electing creating and redeeming mee and for all
prosper in outward shew by callings or rather trades vnlawfull whereunto there can bee no lawfull calling neither is the vse lawfull as common professed Gamesters combined Cheaters and the like But leauing such to their owne wicked practises wherby they often deceiue the innocent and simple but most of all themselues I wish that other men that haue lawfull callings would consider the necessitie of Prayer to God for a blessing vpon their labours and endeauors not onely Mechanicks and such as liue by their handy-labours but from the highest to the lowest in Church or Common-wealth It is by God that Kings gouerne therefore in imitation of Dauid and Salomon they pray for and obtain wisdome rightly to gouerne their people and where good godly wise and religious Kings reigne there the people in imitation of them pray for their peace and safety and that God would furnish them with wise and religious Counsellors and that no Achitophell lurke wayting for mischiefe Counsellors of State haue an high and weighty calling so haue Iudges of the Land and other chiefe and eminent Magistrates deriued mediatly from God for as the King is called of none but immediatly by God to take chaâ—ge of his people So he imparts the power of the sword vnto his sub-ordinate Magistrats for the execution of Iustice functions of greater weight and moment then is vulgarly esteemed And therefore though I neither presume not neede to mooue them when or how to pray I only may remember them that as they haue highest functions they and we in their behalfes for them may pray for the due execution of them because their office and place is to correct the euill and to protect the good and that they mistake not as by sinister information they may and so erre vnwittingly Men in authoritie and in eminent places are chosen for their Vertues Wisdome Integritie and Iustice yet are they subiect to censure not onely of their Superiours and equals but often of most inferiours wherein happie are the innocent for GOD preserueth them who sitteth in the Throne that iudgeth right to whom whosoeuer prayeth as Dauid did shall finde that he will be a buckler vnto him his glorie and the lifter vp of his head the greatest honour that man in this life can receiue It may seeme needlesse to put such in minde of this holy dutie of prayer who haue the charge and ouersight of the Lords flocke for their calling is so diuine as they may not bee but diuinely indued with heauenly gifts abounding alwayes in the worke of the Lord whose labours are not in vaine blessed be God whom we ought to reuerence as the Ministers of God labouring our saluation and to pray for them Yet may it not bee superfluous to intimate to such as enter rashly into this holy function that it is fit for them to examine their owne inward hearts whether they came with a sincere Spirituall deuotion to edifie Gods Church or to make onely a carnall liuing vnder the name of a workeman in Gods haruest If he came in regard of the first Let him pray that God will blesse his labours if onely of the second Let him pray that God will enable him to discharge it and withall that GOD remit the euill thoughts of his heart for he entred not aright Such as liue by their labours bee they neuer so ingenious neuer so labourious neuer so cunning in their profession art or trade they must know and acknowledge that what they know or howsoeuer they may performe it it is but in part and weake in comparison of the perfection And that the knowledge and skill they haue is not theirs but giuen them by God as hee gaue to Tubalkaine the art of working in yron and to Iubal skill in musicke Yet some and they not of best perfection will attribute their knowledge to their owne naturall wit and inuention making an idol as it were of their owne braine neuer giuing the prayse to the true Giuer and that and the want of prayer is the cause that many Artists and others faile often-times of good successe of what they vndertake to performe Nothing can truely prosper without Gods blessing which cannot bee obtayned but by faithfull prayer Neither will God heare their prayers that deale vniustly in their callings taking neuer so great paynes rising early taking rest late sparing euen their food to increase their store it is all in vaine Howsoeuer some may doe waxe rich by dealing vniustly in weights measures false and counterfeit wares by swearing forswearing and lying the gaines they get are but froth and silth scraped out of the deuils dunghill that will quickly returne from whence it came and hee that so gets without repentance shall haue his portion with his like the Rich man not with Lazarus Happy therefore is he that labouâ—s in his calling diligently deales truely craues Gods blessing faithfully hee and onely he and his like haue rest and peace and plenty in their little truely gotten Such are they that eate the labours of their hands and art blessed Hee therefore that will bee happie and prosper in his calling let him often and faithfully call vpon the Name of the Lord to which purpose he may vse the prayer following or any other to the like purpose A Prayer that God will blesse and prosper our labours and indeuours in whatsoeuer calling O Heauenly Father great in Maiesty wise of Counsell absolute in Power and vnsearchable in Prouidence who of nothing hast made all things and in thy greatest Wisdome hast created man whom thou guidest gouernest and disposest according to thine owne Will and to whom thou hast appointed labour and trauaile whereby to get their reliefe yet not all in one manner of calling Gracious Father as I haue receiued life and being of thee and in thy prouidence a calling therein whereby to maintaine my being So giue a blessing vnto mee that I may haue true iudgement and an vpright heart to performe my dutie therein according to thy Will that my calling may prosper vnder my hands as thou blessedst Iaakob vnder Laban and Ioseph in Potiphers house So blesse me and my vocation that whatsoeuer I doe it may prosper I confesse louing Father that neither the most absolute art greatest naturall knowledge corporall or mentall diligence can auaile any thing without thy blessing By my naturall vnderstanding I can neither apprehend in my minde nor performe with my hands or wit the things that properly belong vnto my calling But it is thy onely Wisdome and of thine owne Fatherly fauour that I haue beene made in some measure capeable of that reason and iudgement to which I haue attained it is not in me as of mine owne power to performe the least part of that which necessarily belongeth vnto my vocation It is thine owne worke in me If thou shouldest deale with mee according to my deseruings thou mightest iustly depriue mee of that meane measure of knowledge that by thy fauour and aide
I haue attained vnto thou mightest weaken my senses and the faculties of my body and minde all which I cannot but confesse I haue abused and without the vse of them thou knowest I cannot performe the workes of my calling I humbly therfore pray thee good Father rather to increase and continue in me that measure of knowledge and that perfection of my body and minde which thou hast already bestowed vpon mee then either to depriue mee of them or to weaken them in mee I acknowledge Gracious Lord that there is no vocation or calling high or low no labour exercise or endeuour that can bee vsefull or profitable to himselfe or others no mans life pleasing or commendable without thine especiall direction and blessing and that in the Name of that blessed of all blessings in whom as all blessednesse doth consist So through his most blessed mediation and merrits blessings vpon blessings are powred vpon the godly labours of all them that in whatsoeuer calling â—n his Name truely seeke to be blessed In him therefore Father of blessings let thy blessing be vpon mee in all my labours enterprises and endeuours for without thy blessing ayde direction and protection I may labour trauaile bee carefull solicitous diligent and most industrious yet all in vaine my paines may bee great my rising vp to my labours earely yet without thy blessing little profit mee I may get much but I shall put it as it were in a broken bagge my going foorth without thy blessing cannot be but dangerous my trauailes subiect to many perils in euitable inconueniences Mine owne carnall corruptions accompany mee whithersoeuer I goe ride or remaine the vanities of the world euery where distract my wauering and inconstant minde And Satan with his millions of infernall ministers prouoking mee to sinne pursue mee euer plotting and practising occasions to draw mee from thee suggesting Idlenesse and Ease to bee sweete and Labour and Trauaile in lawfull and honest callings painefull deceite in my vocation gainefull iust dealing foolish nicenesse negligent performance a sufficient discharge of my dutie Thus being beset good Father within and without with sundry tentations I cannot without thy Grace auoyde the committing of many sinnes not only in abusing my calling but in mine ordinary conuersation and course of life and sinne committed draweth on thy displeasure and thy displeasure punishments such as in thy seueritie may iustly disable mee to performe my dutie in my calling hauing no power in or of my selfe to performe the least part of my duetie either in my vocation or conuersation Leaue me not therfore deare Father vnto mine owne weakenesse nor to the will and wiles of my Spirituall or corporall enemies that hate me and couet to hinder or slander euery good worke in mee reioycing when any euill befals in my life or calling Preuent them O Lord and for thy best beloueds sake teach mee wisdome and giue me vnderstanding according to thy Word that in all my wayes I may bee watchfull in my labours painfull in my carriage and calling faithfull and iust that my principall chief care may euer bee to please thee And furnish mee so with true iudgement in all and euerie part of my duetie as there may bee nothing wanting in mee which may further thy Glorie which grant for thy blessed Sonnes sake IESVS CHRIST to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost bee praise for euermore Amen Lord increase my faith Hee whose calling requireth Iourneys by land or sea may prepare himselfe by adding this Prayer following or to vse it by it selfe MOst louing and most mercifull Father in â—esus Christ I acknowledg my selfe the weakest and most ignorant of al humane creatures hauing receiued in thy prouidence a calling requiring continuall trauailes iourneys and much labour of body and mind hauing such and so great a troupe of aduersaries and dangers accompanying me in the execution thereof as euermore seeke to stop the way of my good successe therein as well in my iourneying forth in performing my lawfull labors abroad as also in my returning home I most humbly therefore pray thee to haue a fatherly care of mee and to take charge of me in all my proceedings in all places among all men and at all times that all my iourneis from and to mine owne home may be prosperous and all my labors indeauors may succeed to thine owne glory to the faithfull discharge of my dutie in all mine imployments to the competent supply of whatsoeuer I need And forasmuch as these my iourneys trauailes and labours are and may bee much hindered through sicknes infirmities of my body defects of my limbes bodily members and senses the perfection of which being originally thine own gifâ—s continue my body in health my limbs in streÌ„gth and all my senses perfect vntill the time when thou shalt thinke fit to dissolue my whole bodily frame when I shall no more trauaile no more labour nor feele any defect of body or mind And grant if it bee thy good pleasure that neither sicknesse death or any other corporall infirmitie seize vpon mee in my trauels and iourneys submitting my will yet vnto thy will knowing that thou knowest what is most necessary for mee and that who so is thine is thine and in thy fauour and protection as well abroad as in his owne house yea whensoeuer wheresoeuer and in what manner soeuer thou art pleased to touch him with thy correcting hand or to call him out of this mortall life And forasmuch good Father as there are many other impediments to hinder my necessary iourneys trauels and labours as distemperature of the ayre immoderate weather difficulties of wayes inundations of water danger of theeues euilly disposed persons defects in the creatures which thou vouchsafest for my vse in trauell and many other dangers and hinderances infinite in number all concealed from mee vntill they fall yet all knowne and foreseene of thee and all disposed and permitted by thee I most humbly therefore pray thee to watch and spread the wings of thy power and prouidence ouer mee and stretch foorth thy helping hand ouer me that no euill if it please thee befall me But if thy will bee so grant me wisedome and patience not to impute it to fained Fortune but as indeed it is to mine own sinfull deseruings and that I may be euer thankfull vnto thee whatsoeuer befal me Let the Angel of thy presence accompany mee let thy heauenly spirit euer possesse me let my heart euermore possesse thee let my thoughts be euermore free from sinne and all the parts and powers of my body my mind affections and will from euery euill action and vngodly desire Giue me a holy feare to walke worke trauaile and vse mine occasions as in thy presence knowing that thou beholdest me mine inward inclination and outward actions Thou knowest also good Father that besides mine owne wandring and wauering heart Sathan ceaseth not to watch opportunitie to snare mee