place where the truth and purity of thy Gospel is profess'd and taught where we have the freedom of worshipping thee according to thy Will and do enjoy the precious means of Grace and Salvation Good Lord help us to make a wise and Christian use of all thy blessings to improve all spiritual advantages for the good and happiness of our souls that having well employed the Talents committed to us we may at length be approved by thee as good and faithful servants and may enter into the joy of our Lord to which blessedness do thou in thy good time bring us all through thy mercy in Jesus Christ in whose name and mediation we beg thy gracious acceptance of our Persons and Prayers which we further recommend unto thee in his words Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Thy grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us all evermore FAMILY DEVOTIONS FOR THE EVENING A short Prayer before Reading the Scripture ALmighty Creator and Evening most wise Governour of all the World thou art God and there is none beside thee and thou only art to be worshipp'd 't is of thy mercy and happy forbearance that we are yet alive and 't is the greatest happiness of our life that we can thus attend upon thee to hear thee speaking to us in thy written Word and to speak unto thee our selves by our Prayers and Supplications O Lord draw near to us with thy favourable mercies while we approach to thee in our humble duty have a gracious regard to this our evening Sacrifice and let thy good Spirit help our Infirmities since thou hast appointed the holy Scripture for a Rule of our Faith and a Law to all our actions grant that we may attend thereunto with godly reverence let thy word dwell richly in us and have a powerful influence on our hearts and lives that having obeyed thy Will here on earth we may receive the promise of eternal life in thine heavenly Kingdom through our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with thy self and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen A Psalm and Prayer for the Evening O Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever To him that made great lights for his mercy endureth for ever The Sun to rule by day the Moon and Stars to rule by night for his mercy endureth for ever O Lord thou hast searched me and known me Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways If I say surely the darkness shall cover me even the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to thee I will say of the Lord he is my refuge my God in him will I trust He shall cover thee with his Feathers and under his Wings shalt thou trust his truth shall be thy shield and buckler Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrour by night and the arrow that flyeth by day Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness nor the destruction that walketh at noon day Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee O Almighty and most glorious God Creator of Heaven and Earth we acknowledge our dependance on thee for we are the work of thine hands and in thee we live move and have our being wherefore our souls and bodies which thou hast made and hitherto preserv'd we do humbly prostrate at thy Footstool ascribing unto thee honour and worship adoration and praise and with lowly subjection submitting our selves to thy most great and excellent Majesty 'T is thy wonderful condescension that thou doest permit vile dust and ashes to have freedome of access to thy Throne of grace that thou art pleased to invite and command us to present our supplications We are altogether unworthy to speak unto thee and by reason of our manifold sins do justly deserve thou shouldest reject both our persons and prayers for the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts the course and practice of our life have been exceeding evil and that continually We have obeyed the lusts of our depraved nature more than the precepts of thy sacred Word and have compli'd with the temptations of Satan rather then the motions of thy blessed Spirit thy Law which is holy just and good we have broken from day to day and also slighted and abus'd the riches of thy grace discover'd in the Gospel wherefore to us belongs nothing but shame and punishment but with thee there is mercy and with thy Son plenteous redemption we beseech thee therefore for thy mercies sake and for thy Sons sake whom thou hast made a Sacrifice for sin that thou wouldest blot out all our transgressions and remember our iniquities no more deal not with us after the strictness of thy Law but according to the gracious terms of the new Covenant in which thou doest promise pardon and reconciliation to all repenting Sinners We do here profess our deep sorrow and humiliation for all our sins past and our serious resolution to lead the future part of our life in holy obedience to thy Will and Commands But for as much as our sufficiency is of thee and of our selves alone we can do nothing that shall be good and acceptable in thy sight be thou pleas'd to supply our defects and strengthen our weakness let thine holy Spirit lead us into truth and assist us in every good Duty Write thy Law in our inward parts and put thy fear into our hearts that we may never depart from thee Prepare us O Lord for all events of thy providence that in every condition we may be therewith content and grant whatever things shall befal us in this World they may work together for good and be a furtherance to us in our service of thee and in our passage to eternal happiness And because thou hast commanded that Prayers and Intercessions be made for all men we beg thy mercy for the whole race of Mankind that the light of thy Gospel may shine upon all the Earth and every Nation thereof may partake of Christ and the benefits of his Redemption Bless thy Church Universal that it may flourish more and more in purity of truth and holiness and that the Gates of Hell may never prevail against it Vouchsafe thy special care and kindness to this Church and Kingdom to which we belong preserve the religion profess'd among us from errour and corruption let piety justice and sobriety encrease and abound that thou mayest delight in us to do us good for
harm but that we may be constant and steddy in our Faith and Duty and by a continuance of well doing may attain that life Eternal and Crown of Glory which thou hast promis'd Bless thy Church throughout the World that it may flourish in truth and holiness and remain safe from all persecuting Powers Be thou favourable to this Church and Kingdom to which we belong continue thy Gospel to us and grant that Piety Justice and whatever is is requisite to make us a good and happy people may encrease and abound We implore thy pity for all in any trouble or calamity whether of Soul or Body that thou wouldst please to afford them thy comfort and seasonable relief And we likewise beg thy favour and special kindness for all our friends that thou wouldst bestow thy blessings upon them both for life and godliness Accept O Lord our return of thanks for thy goodness continued to us the day past that thou doest still supply us with accommodations for the support and comfort of our lives that thou hast preserved us from many evils which if left to our selves we should have fallen into and that we are still alive whereas so many others have been this day cut off from the land of the living we bless thee for sparing us so long and granting us so large a time for making our calling and election sure help us to improve thy long-suffering and the day of Grace by working out our own salvation That when ever thou shalt call us hence we may be ready and prepar'd to enter into the joy of our Lord. We commend our persons and all belonging to us to thy care and protection this night defend us from our ghostly enemies and let no evil come nigh our dwelling grant us a quiet and comfortable repose and that we may awake in safety the next morning dispos'd both in body and mind for thy service Hear us O merciful Father and fulfil our desires for the sake of our blessed Saviour who sitteth at thy right hand in whose words we continue to pray unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us and abide with us henceforth and for ever A Psalm and Prayer for the Evening Sunday Evening on the Lords day O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches When I consider thy Heavens the work of thy fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained What is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of man that thou visitest him For thou hast made him little lower than the Angels and hast crowned him with glory and honor Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thine hands thou hast put all things under his feet Why do the heathen rage and the people imagin a vain thing The Kings of the earth set themselves and the Princes take Counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed Let us break his bands asunder and cast away their cords from us He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure Yea I have set my King upon my holy hill of Sion I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost part of the earth for thy possession The Lord hath sent redemption unto his people he hath commanded his covenant for ever holy and reverend is his name He hath shewed his word unto Jacob his Statutes and his judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any nation and for his judgments they have not known them praise ye the Lord. ALmighty and most glorious God we acknowledge thy great grace and favour in permitting us to wait upon thee from time to time with our devotion and supplications thou art most perfect and happy in thy self not needing any service of ours and yet thou art pleased to invite and command us to come unto thee thou art the high and lofty one the Maker and Governour of all the World and yet doest condescend to receive the addresses of us thy Creatures who are vile dust and ashes We must confess O Lord that our righteousness doth not extend to thee nor can our religious performances deserve thine acceptance for there is iniquity in our most holy things we do not attend upon thee with that humility and reverence with that faith and servency which thou mayest justly require When we draw near unto thee with our lips our hearts are often far from thee we present our bodies before thee when the thoughts and affections of our souls are running after vanity And since our best Duties are so liable to thy displeasure how much more the ordinary and common actions of our life and how can we stand before thy justice if thou shouldst call us to a strict account for all our careless omissions of Duties by thee required and our many commissions of what thy Law hath expresly forbidden If thou shouldst be extreme to mark what is done amiss O Lord who could abide it but thou art a God full of compassion and plenteous in mercy and thou hast given thine own Son to be our Mediator though we have no righteousness or oblation of our own that can procure thy favour yet be thou gracious to us for the sake of him who is the Lord our righteousness and for the merit of his most perfect Sacrifice which he made for us when he offered up himself a Lamb without spot or blemish let the blood of Christ cleanse us from all unrighteousness and purge our conscience from dead works to serve the living God And that we may from henceforth walk as the redeemed of the Lord unto all well-pleasing give unto us thy grace and holy Spirit for the mortification of sin and the sanctifying of us throughout in Soul Spirit and in Body grant that our hearts and lives may be conform'd to thy heavenly Will and the Precepts of thine holy Gospel that we may fear thee at all times and love thee above all things and serve thee with our chiefest care and endeavour let not the love of any worldly good or the fear of any temporal evil cause us to turn aside from thee into any sinful practice but grant that we may still account it our
especially that of an eternal and glorious 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 life 〈…〉 Childhood know 〈…〉 Scriptures shall however neglect the worship of God it will be an impiety void of all excuse and for such it will be more intollerable at the last day than for rude Scythians and Americans It might in reason indeed be thought unnecessary that Persons bred up in the Church of Christ especially in such a part of it as ours where the Bible is vulgarly known and practical Religion so clearly taught should be call'd upon to pay their tribute of service to the Almighty But however we may unhappily observe how innate depravity and the immorality of mens lives do alienate them from God and his Worship there are too many every where who live by Sense more than by Faith or Reason And because God is not present to their outward sight as were the Idols of the Heathen he is also absent from their thoughts and they are not apprehensive 't is of any great concern to them that they attend upon him in the Duties of his Service But the more easie and common impiety in this kind is the neglect of those Devotions which should be in private Families and in the retirements of particular persons apart For securing the publick Worship of God the National Government hath been very Zealous there being penal Laws for bringing men to it and they find themselves oblig'd to frequent the Ordinances of our Religion not only by the fear of God but also by that of the Magistrate who beareth not the sword in vain And for the solemn service of God in Parochial Assemblies 't is abundantly provided in our Liturgy wherein are pious forms for all publick occasions compos'd at first by the renown'd Reformers of this Church and Kingdom Men who hazarded their lives and some of them lost them too for the Name of the Lord Jesus and in defence of his Truth and Gospel To these great Worthies the Souls of this Nation are more endebted under God than words can express and their Memories as well as their Reformation should be for ever precious to us But though the publick exercise of Religion be so well cared for yet there are not the like furtherances of private Devotion by the commands of God indeed and by all the reasons of Divine Worship Domestick Piety is no less requir'd than that of the Temple But yet it is not inforc'd by any humane Laws nor hath the Church thought fit to recommend any Forms of Devotion either for Closet or Family that the Prayers in our Liturgy are not prescribed with respect to private Houses so as to be obliging there is declar'd by Dr. Hammond and he doth not only approve of other Forms to be us'd in Families but also that it may be in Visitation of the sick though there be an Office in the book of Common Prayer for that occasion And it hath been thought by some having as high an esteem for the Liturgy as others that considering the general temper of men it would much abate their veneration of the publick service and make them more slack and regardless in their attendance at the Church if the Devotions there were no other than what they have every day in their own Houses But whether so 〈…〉 no doubt that 〈…〉 which injoyn religious Duties together with the Sanction of Penalties annex'd to them do only respect the publick places of Worship So that elsewhere men are left to the alone obligations of Religion and their own Conscience And 't is the less to be wonder'd that this so considerable a part of Christian Piety is no more practic'd The neglects of holy Duties in Families may be too well known and those others more private may be also presum'd without any breach of charity But 't is much to be lamented that any instructed in the Discipline of the Gospel should think it enough to Worship the glorious God their Creator one day in the Week and content themselves with so much only of Religion as the Laws of their Country do force from them Now if we enquire how this may come to pass beside the sinful corruption of men and their aversation thereupon from the exercises of Piety it may be thought generally to proceed either from this that they do not sufficiently know or at least are so stupid as not to consider their Obligation in Conscience to the Duties they thus omit and how much their own interest is concern'd in the due performance of them or else in some it may doubtless be from a want of assistance to their Devotion while destitute of suitable compos'd Prayers in which they should address themselves to God Both which probable causes of so great irreligion the Author was willing to remove The former of them by his following Perswasives and the atter by some composures for Domestick Devotion thereunto subjoin'd In the Perswasives he hath not undertaken any exact discourse concerning Devotion as to the nature of it it 's several parts and the manner of due performance much less to entertain the Reader with an elaborate flourish of words but his design is only to inforce the Practise of this great Duty by a Summary of Arguments which seem'd most material and to do it with such plainess as might render them more apt to convince and affect those of meanest capacity And the Prayers here offer'd by him to the use of well dispos'd Christians are but a few being only for ordinary occasions excepting those in case of Sickness In all of them he he hath chosen still to take in what he thought pertinent and necessary rather than boast his own invention in an affected variety Hoping his good intention herein will attone for any lesser failings that may occur to the Critical he doth send them abroad with this one short Prayer more that by the Divine blessing they may prove really useful to the furtherance and help of Christian Devotion and for promoting the service and honour of the Great God of whom and to whom are all things Amen ERRATA PAge 7. l. 16. read Subsisteret P. 11. Marg. r. Just Mart. P. 34. l. 27. put VI. for 6. P. 40. l. 9. r. by God P. 43. l. 25. r. effected P. 47. l. 3. r. doth P. 73. l. 26. r. there the. P. 85. l. 16. r. much the. P. 88. marg r Ascet P. 93. l. 7. r. do thou P. 94. l. 24. r. and hasty P. 104. l. 17. dele thy P. 107. l. 15. r. thee my P. 108. l. 6. r. imploying P. 133 l. 14. r. attone P. 139. l. 12. dele happy P. 136. l. 6. r. pity P. 198. l. 3. r. or any l. 23. r. adapt P. 169. l. 9. dele all l. 25 r. intention P. 205. l. 28 29. r. supposed P. 206. l. 26. dele not P. 208. l. 7. r. corners P. 229. l. 28. r hath P. 251. l. 10. r. in my A PERSUASIVE TO PRAYER A PERSUASIVE TO PRAYER PRayer is a Duty of
cannot but bring it with a wicked mind k Prov. 21. 27. beside whereas a domestick Minister should by his good example and converse promote holiness and sobriety in those of the Houshold if he be himself vitious and disorderly they will be the more embolden'd to be such too or at least the Duties of Religion wherein he is concern'd will be the less regarded on his account It must therefore be remembred by all Heads of Families that having a spiritual as well as secular Government and the charge of their Houshold as consisting of Christians as well as Men it behoveth them to acquit themselves herein by taking care for Religion and Divine Worship and also that God may be so serv'd as shall be best to his honour and good liking and for the Spiritual benefit of their Families which doth mind us to add in the next place that VII The practice of Devotion in the houses of Christians as it is highly becoming their holy profession so it is a very great furtherance to their leading lives agreeable thereunto Our Religion is that general and high Calling in Christ Jesus * Phil. 3. 14. which all profess and they will grant 't is their chief business to serve God and that it ought to be their greatest care to obey and honour him by a sober righteous and godly life but if Religion be our chief Calling can it suffice to exercise the same one day in the Week Is it not rather reasonable that they be daily employ'd in it and not that their whole time should be ingross'd by worldly Callings if the Service of God be indeed their greatest business shall it not be minded every day as well as their others which are about the things of this World and is it not fit that God should be constantly serv'd by them in their houses at home and not only in the Church now and then when they cannot easily avoid it for fear of publick censure since men cannot chuse but own it should be their principal care to lead a good life well-pleasing to God without whose favour it can never be well with them they must thence think it needful that they be often exercis'd in those religious Duties which are the proper and likely means for the begetting and encrease of holiness That Family Devotions including Prayer and the Reading of the holy Scriptures are really such there needs little trouble to evince To be much conversant in Prayer doth greatly conduce to make men good because hereby there are renewed impressions made of that great and holy God to whom we pray and it leaves in the Soul awful apprehensions of him beside that it is one necessary part of Prayer to beg the Grace of God which he is ready to bestow on all who ask it of him But the holy Scripture is the most apt and efficacious means of promoting holiness being written by Gods special direction for that very purpose For it is given by inspiration and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness l 2 Tim. 3. 15 16. it is a sanctifying word as is imply'd in that Petition of our Saviour for them by whom the New Testament was to be set forth to the World Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth m Joh. 17. 17. and it is able to make a man wise unto Salvation as saith the blessed Apostle n 2 Tim. 3. 15. how these sacred Writings have their happy energy it is not hard to assign One account of it is that they make known unto us those Principles of Faith which are the fundamental reasons of practical Religion and strong enforcements to it as the being of a God and his glorious Attributes of Holiness Goodness Omniscience Power Justice the Creation of the World by him and his Providential Government of it our Redemption by Christ the immortality of our souls and the future retribution in the World to come likewise in the Scripture is the Law of God which doth plainly declare both the Duties we are to perform whether toward God our Brethren or our Selves as also the sins of all sorts to be avoided by us which is done so fully that it is thereby a complete rule of action For the Law of God is perfect o Psal 19. 7. and the Apostle teacheth that the holy Scriptures are sufficient to make the man of God perfect throughly furnish'd to every good work p 2 Tim 3. 17. also because in the word of God 't is so clearly shewn what we are to do and what not hence it follows that by it men are reproved and convinc'd of sin and thereby dispos'd to repentance and amendment of life it's convincing power is with much Emphasis thus express'd by the Apostle For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the hearts q Heb. 4. 12. and by means hereof it reduceth men from the errours of their ways For the Law of God converteth the soul Psal 19. 7. and 't is prescribed to the young man as that which would be most effectual to reclaim him from the disorders of that vain Age. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way even by taking heed thereto according to thy word Psal 119. 9. How St. Austine that eminent Father was rescu'd from his former ill course of life on his reading the last Verses of the thirteenth to the Romans himself hath attested to the World r Confes l. 8. c. 12. Again the Scriptures do make known those severe punishments both temporal and eternal which shall be the portion of evil doers and they do also represent the many and great rewards of a good Conversation some whereof to be enjoy'd in this life but the greatest of all which is set forth with highest expressions is a Kingdom of endless Glory prepared in Heaven Now the Principle of Self-love and a desire of happiness being natural to all men it cannot be but these divine Writings should on this account have a potent influence for delivering men from sin and engaging them to Vertue and Holiness Of such admirable use are the sacred Books for rectifying the minds and governing the Lives of men and so well fitted are they for this excellent purpose and we wonder that the good Father lately nam'd did esteem them so highly and so much delight in the reading of them for after his Conversion Cicero of whom he had been extremely fond before became vile to him and he could think no Book comparable to the Bible as he hath Written of himself f Ibid. l. 3. cap. 5. lib. 7. cap. 20. 21. But it must be still understood that whatever efficacy the Scripture hath 't is but in subordination to the Grace of God It being the Sword of
to the present purpose that beside his extraordinary learning especially in his own profession and his admirable care and integrity in the Administration of his great Office he was a most pious and devout Christian and particularly was eminently so in his domestick relation he used constantly to worship God in his Family and the Duties of Religion there were always perform'd by himself if there were no Clergy-man present p Dr. Burnet in the life of Sr. Mat. Hale he took great care and omitted no endeavours toward the forming of his Children to the love and practice of Religion following them with repeated instructions which he not only deliver'd to them by word of thy mouth but that they might abide with them and still occur to their thoughts he did use to leave them in Writing giving charge that they should take Copies of them Some of his Written directions to his Children have come abroad into the World in which he did excellently prescribe concerning their due observation of the Lords day and how they were to demean themselves in the publick Duties of the Church also he doth therein enjoin them the Devotion of Prayer and reading the Scriptures in private and we find him there putting them in mind how It had been his practice to give them Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept for enabling them to steer and order their course of life through an evil and dangerous World Now the example of this wise and good man whose transcendent worth is yet fresh in our memory and his reputation so great throughout the Nation may I hope have some good influence to engage others in the same relation to a pious imitation of him as being really convinc'd like as he was of how great concern it is in reference to the future welfare of those under their care and government But if notwithstanding all Obligations to the contrary any Governors of Families should be so stupid and uncharitable as to have little regard for the spiritual good and safety of others related to them yet the love they bear toward themselves cannot suffer them to live in neglect of the important Duty we have been urging upon them for they must also consider that the state and welfare of their own souls are herein most of all concern'd Beside that the omission of Prayer and Reading the Scriptures must needs be prejudicial and of ill consequence to themselves as well as to the rest in their houses nor can they think well of their own condition to God-ward while they so much disregard his Worship and Service I say beside all this they cannot but think that the whole Sin and Guilt of this domestick Irreligion will be justly chargeable on them and they must expect that the impiety of those who are of their Families will be laid to their account as the Persons who might and ought to have prevented the same and if through want of pious Discipline and the exercises of Devotion their Children or others belonging to their charge shall become profane and wicked how will they be able to answer for it at the great and terrible day That they are so bound to consult and endeavour their good in the things which concern their future state as to be accountable to God the Judge of all for the neglect hereof they may understand from the pious and earnest advice in a Tract which goeth under St. Austin's name Written to a Friend and let each Master of a Family suppose it spoken to himself I beseech my Brother I beseech thee that thou teach in thy house to all under thy Government from the greatest to the least the Love of Holiness the Delights of the Heavenly Kingdom the Bitterness and Terrour of Hell that thou be solicitous and very careful for their Salvation because of all who are Subject to thee in thy Family thou shalt render an account do thou Teach Command Charge Perswade them that they beware of Pride Back-biting Drunkenness Fornication of Luxury Anger Perjury and Covetousness which is the Root of all Evils q De Salutar Docum c. 20. And whoever are Faithful and Conscientious herein being Zealous for Religion and for keeping up the Duties of it in their Houses implying their vigilant care that all under their domestick Authority may serve God and live like Christians they do truly approve themselves as good Servants to their great Lord and Master to him of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named r Eph. 3 15. and they shall not fail of being well rewarded by him for his kind favour shall be toward them his blessing on their Persons their Families and Estates and after they have a while devoutly serv'd him in these their Earthly dwellings he will Translate them to his own glorious Habitation they shall be admitted to be of his own Royal Houshold that they may adore and praise him for ever together with the glorifi'd Saints and blessed Angels in Heaven Where it will be some addition to their Joy to meet their Wives their Children and others of their Families whom by their good Example and pious Government they had helped forward in the way to that happy Place DEVOTIONS FOR THE USE OF FAMILIES FAMILY DEVOTIONS FOR THE MORNING A short Prayer before Reading the Scripture Oeternal God who art Morning the Lord of Heaven and Earth infinite in Holiness and of terrible Majesty to be honoured and had in reverence by all them that draw near unto thee We pray thee to beget in us awful thoughts and a pious temper of mind suitable to that great and holy God with whom we have to do that so our religious performance this Morning may find acceptance with thee help us O Lord to understand thy Will revealed in the Scripture and to receive the same with ready subjection as thou doest cause the Light of the day to arise upon us without so let thine Holy Word shine into our Souls that it may be a Light to our Feet and the guide of all our Actions till we shall come to the end of our Race and to the blessed Reward of all our holy Duties in thy Kingdom of Glory through thy Mercy in Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour A Psalm and Prayer for the Morning THe Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work Day unto Day uttereth Speech and Night unto Night sheweth Knowledge Their line is gone out thorow all the Earth and their words to the end of the World in them hath he set a Tabernacle for the Sun Which is as a Bridegroom coming out of his Chamber and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a Race His going forth is from the end of Heaven and his Circuit unto the end of it and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof I will sing O God of thy Power yea I will sing aloud of thy Mercy in the Morning for thou hast been my Defence and
Refuge in the day of Trouble Vnto thee have I cry'd O Lord in the Morning shall my Prayer prevent thee The Lord is thy Keeper the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand The Sun shall not smile by day nor the Moon by night The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and for ever Blessed is the man whose Delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth Meditate day and night And he shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of Waters that bringeth forth his fruit in his Season his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doth shall prosper Lead me O Lord in thy righteousness because of mine Enemies make thy way straight before me O hold thou up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not O Almighty God who art infinitely great and glorious the Creatour and Governour of the whole World thou deservest to be feared and Worshipp'd we desire therefore with humble Reverence to Adore thy Divine Majesty presenting our Souls and Bodies as a Morning Sacrifice and earnestly imploring thy favour and blessing without which we cannot be in safety for one day or moment of our Life O lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon us which is much more desireable than that of the Sun and of greater value than all the Riches this World can afford We confess O Lord that we are guilty Sinners and so justly obnoxious to the frowns of thy displeasure and the severity of thy Justice In Sin we were conceived and brought forth in iniquity there are corrupt inclinations within us to Rebellion and Disobedience against thee and thy holy Commands and these have very much prevailed in the whole course of our Lives for from our Nativity to this present hour we have been still offending the pure Eyes of thy holiness by evil thoughts and inordinate desires by vain Words and irregular Actions We have neglected the Duties by thee enjoined and committed the sins which thou hast strictly forbidden But thou art a God gracious and merciful who delighteth not in the death of a sinner and thy Son is a Mediatour of Atonement and Reconciliation for all who come unto thee through him we do beseech thee therefore for his sake in whom thou art well pleased to pardon all our offences and justifie our persons and to receive us into thy love and favour as thine adopted Children That we may be capable of these great benefits be thou pleased to work in us an unfeigned repentance of all our sins past a lively Faith in the merits of thy Son and serious resolutions of leading a sober righteous and godly life let the power of thy Grace subdue and mortifie all corrupt lusts and the Principles of sin and do thou endue us with all the Vertues of Christian holiness that being sanctified throughout all the Faculties of our Souls and Members of our Bodies may become instruments of righteousness unto holiness in thy Service and for thy Honour Accept O Lord our humble thanks for all thy manifold Mercies both spiritual and temporal for thy care and protection of us the Night past that thou hast refreshed us with sleep and preserved us to the beginning of another day as thou dost lengthen out our life so continue to us thy loving kindness which is better than life it self let thy kind providence Watch over us this day to secure us from those many dangers and evil accidents to which we are always expos'd and grant us thy blessing and furtherance in our lawful Imployments But above all we beg the presence and assistance of thy special Grace to preserve us from sin and all the temptations to it that neither inbred corruption nor the snares of the World nor the suggestions of Satan may draw us aside from the way of righteousness but let a pious fear of thy great and holy name always possess our Souls And that we may be the more careful and circumspect in all our doings help us to bear in mind that we are still under thine all-seeing Eye to which all things are naked and open and that we must one day appear before thy just Tribunal to receive according to the things done in the Body whether good or evil let the consideration of the future punishments which thou hast threatned deter us from sin and the prospect of that glorious happiness which the Gospel doth promise encourage our obedience that having a fixed eye on the eternal recompence of reward we may despise the pleasures of sin which are but for a season O Lord bless thy Church purge it from all corruptions and cause thy Gosple to be known and embraced by all the Nations of the Earth more especially be favourable to thy Church and People of this Kingdome pardon our many and great provocations withold the Judgments we have deserved guide and protect our Soveraign Lord the King and prosper his Government that it may be happy both to himself and his Subjects Comfort and relieve all that labour under any affliction of body and mind give them patient submission to thy good pleasure and an happy deliverance out of all their troubles We implore thy special love and kindness to all who are our friends or more nearly related to us bless them in all their concernments both of body and soul make them good and prosperous here and eternally happy hereafter O Lord pardon the infirmities of this our devotion and grant thy favourable acceptance through the Merits and Intercession of thy blessed Son our alone Saviour Jesus Christ who hath taught us thus further to pray unto thee Our Father c. Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O Heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Comunion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us and remain with us this day thenceforth and for ever Another Psalm and Prayer for the Morning MY heart is fixed O God my heart is fix'd I will sing and give praise Awake up my glory awake Psaltery and Harp I my self will awake right early I will praise thee O Lord among the people I will sing unto thee among the Nations For thy Mercy is great unto the Heavens and thy truth unto the Clouds The Lord is good unto all and his tender Mercies are over all his Works He holdeth our soul in life and suffereth not our foot to be moved I will extol thee my God O my King I will bless thy name for ever and ever Every day will I bless thee and I will praise thy name for ever and ever The day is thine the night also is thine thou hast prepared the light and the Sun Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice O Lord thou art my God early will I seek thee There be many that say who will shew us any good Lord Lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon us And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us
will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee To see thy Power and thy Glory so as I have seen thee in thy Sanctuary Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy Courts we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house even of thy holy Temple The Heavens are thine the Earth also is thine as for the World and the fulness thereof thou hast founded them I will praise thee for I am fearfully and and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth Thy Eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect and in thy book all my Members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the Assembly of the upright and in the Congregation The works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein His Work is honourable and glorious and his righteousness endureth for ever He hath made his wonderful Works to be remembred the Lord is gracious and full of compassion I praise the Lord for thou art become my Salvation The Stone which the builders refused is become the head Stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing it is marvellous in our Eyes This is the day which the Lord hath made I will rejoice and be glad in it MOst gracious God blessed be thy name that thou hast brought me to a new day and to another Christian Sabbath That thou doest not only lengthen out my natural life but also the means and opportunities of Grace for obtaining the life eternal Thou alone art worthy to receive adoration and Praise from Men and Angels and 't is the greatest honour I am capable of to be employed in thy Service But I do acknowledge my self very unworthy to approach thy presence or to receive any token of thy favour for I am a polluted Sinner and my whole life hath been a continued disobedience against thee and thy righteous Laws I have neglected the good Duties by thee requir'd but have been very forward to do those evil things which thy Law hath forbidden And my sins are much the more hainous and provoking because committed against the light of thy Gospel the great obligations of thy Mercies and after Vows and Promises of better Obedience Wherefore I do here humble my self at thy Footstool lamenting all the Offences of my former life and earnestly begging thy gracious pardone O Lord I do condemn my self but be thou pleas'd to acquit me for the Merits and Mediation of thine own Son who hath fulfill'd all righteousness and made a perfect Atonement by the Sacrifice of himself And as I pray to be freed from the guilt of sin by Justification so I desire to be deliver'd from the Power and Dominion of it by thy sanctifying Grace Be thou pleas'd to mortifie in me all corrupt lusts and sinful affections and to renew me after thine own Image in righteousness and true holiness To this end bless unto me thine holy Ordinances make them effectual for my spiritual benefit and grant that in the religious Duties of this holy day I may sanctifie thee in my heart and make thee my fear and dread O Lord this is a day set apart for thine honour in remembrance of the Worlds Creation which thou didst complete in six days and of our redemption by Christ which was finished by his Resurrection I do therefore ascribe unto thee Praise Thanksgiving and Worship for this glorious Fabrick of Heaven and Earth and the whole variety of Creatures contain'd in them more especially for that excellent being thou hast given to man whom thou didst make after thine own likeness and advance to an eminence and dominion over the Works of thine hands I do with all humble reverence own and adore thee as the Author of mine own life and being yielding thee due thanks that thou hast placed me in the highest rank of thy Creatures that thou hast endow'd me with a reasonable soul and such noble faculties as do fit me for the Knowledge and Service of thy self and the happy enjoyment of thee for ever And prais'd be thy Name for thy great Mercy and rich Grace in sending thine only begotten Son from thine own bosom to redeem Mankind from Sin and Misery and to direct the World in the right way of Life and Salvation I bless thee for the manifestation of the Gospel by him Preached and for the great confirmation of it by his Resurrection from the dead let the light of this Heavenly Doctrine shine over all the Earth that so all the Kingdoms thereof may become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ Be propitious to that part of the World where thy Gospel is already planted let thy Church be reformed more and more from all corruptions both of Doctrine and Practice remove all the unhappy causes of discord and division that all who profess thy Name may agree in thy Truth and live in Unity and Godly Love More especially be thou gracious to this Church and Kingdom whereof I am a Member pardon our abuse of thy great Mercies and all other our provocations grant that the Inhabitants of the Land may turn from the evil of their ways unto the Lord their God that thou mayest rejoice over us to do us good give us outward peace and prosperity and continue thy Gospel and true Religion to us and the Posterities that shall come after us I beg thy kindness for all who are my particular friends or more nearly related to me that thou wouldest bless them in their persons and in all their concernments both of this life and of that which is to come And ô thou who art the Father of Mercy and God of all consolation shew thy tender pity to all who are under pain sickness want sorrow or any other calamity and wherever there be any that suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness or in defence of thy Truth and Gospel be thou near to them for their comfort and happy deliverance Have respect O God to the Prayers and Supplications of thy people which shall this day be offer'd up in the Christian Assemblies throughout the World assist and bless thy holy Word which shall be preached that men may be edified by it in sound Faith and real Godliness Be merciful O Lord to me thy Servant lift thou upon me the light of thy Countenance and let thy Grace be alwaies present with me grant that on this thy day I may not only abstain from worldly employments but also from all the works of Sin give me a spiritual temper of mind that my
and being and 't is of thy great Mercy I am not consumed thy goodness hath been my support and comfort ever since I was born I do therefore prostrate my self with humble adoration submitting my soul and body to thy divine Majesty and offering up my thankful acknowledgments of all thy Mercies and Benefits conferr'd upon me I bless thee for my redemption by Christ and all the means of Grace and Salvation for the comforts of this present life and all my temporal enjoyments I thank thee for that kind Providence which hath watched over me this day that thou hast continued my life and preserv'd my person from those many evils to which I am alwaies expos'd O Lord I am less than the least of all the Mercies I have received at thine hands for my sins have been very many and exceeding great I have broken thy righteous Laws both by neglecting what thou hast commanded and by doing what thou hast strictly forbidden and my practice hath been very unsuitable to the rich Grace and holy Precepts of thy excellent Gospel so that I have justly deserv'd thy wrathful displeasure and the severities of thy justice But thou art a God plenteous in Mercy ready to forgive and thou hast given thine own Son to be a propitiation for Sin O Lord I come unto thee in his Name most humbly beseeching thee that through his Merits the Transgressions of my life may be all blotted out and my person freely justifi'd from all unrighteousness More particularly I beg the pardon of whatever Sins I have fallen into the day past whether in thought word or deed O merciful Father be thou perfectly reconcil'd unto me this Evening And be thou pleas'd to deliver me more and more from the power and dominion of sin that I may be the servant of righteousness and live in constant obedience to thee and thy commands strengthen me by thy Grace against the corruptions within me and all temptations from without and keep me by thy mighty power through Faith unto Salvation Bless thy Church and People throughout the World and let the Kingdom of thy Son be daily enlarg'd Be propitious to this Church and Nation pardon our great sins and avert the judgments we have deserv'd keep us in peace and safety and let truth and holiness still flourish among us Shew thy favour to all my friends to such as have done me any good or do wish me well bestowing on them all the blessings that pertain both to life and godliness Have pity on all who are in any distress or tribulation giving to them thy speedy comfort and relief and be thou a present help in the needful time of trouble to all who cry unto thee finally I commend my self to thy Fatherly care this Night humbly praying that thy watchful Providence may be my guard and defence grant unto me a quiet and comfortable rest that my frail nature being refresh'd thereby I may awake the next Morning the better fitted for the Duties of another day Hear me O Father of Mercies and do for me above what I can ask or think through the Merits of my blessed Redeemer To whom with thy self and the holy Ghost be all Glory Dominion and Praise World without End Amen Sunday Evening Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with me all thine and mine henceforth for evermore Amen A Psalm and Prayer for the Evening of the Lords day IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord to sing praises unto thy name O most high To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night The earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof the World and they that dwell therein Thy hands have made me and fashion'd me give me understanding that I may learn thy commandements All thy works shall praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall bless thee They shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy Power My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee and my soul which thou hast redeemed I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord. One day in thy Courts is better than a thousand How sweet is thy Word unto my tast yea sweeter then hony to my mouth Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee I will delight my self in thy Statutes and I will not forget thy Word I will bless the Lord who hath given me Counsel my Reins also shall instruct me in the night season Into thine hands I commit my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth O Most glorious God the mighty Creatour and wise Governour of all things the heaven is thine the earth also is thine with all that in them is and thou canst do whatsoever thou pleasest in all places of thy dominion wherefore unto thee alone it doth appertain to receive honour and worship and service from the Sons of men I do thankfully acknowledge it is a very great favour and priviledge that I am so often admitted into thy presence and have this liberty granted of presenting my supplications unto thee who art a God hearing Prayer for what am I vile Dust and Ashes that I should take upon me to speak unto the Lord or how can I expect to find any acceptance with thee who have so greatly offended thine holy Majesty by my repeated transgressions O Lord my very righteousness is as filthy rags and my best performances are sinful and poluted I have waited upon thee this day in the duties of thy Worship but it hath been with much weakness and distraction my thoughts and affections have not been heavenly and devout nor have I honour'd thee as I ought on the day consecrated to thee and thy service But O God who art gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness be thou pleas'd to overlook whatever hath been amiss in my life and actions from my Nativity to this moment grant me an interest in the Merits and Redemption of the Lord Christ and let his precious blood cleanse me from all unrighteousness pardon the defects of my obedience and of all my religious duties through his most perfect Sacrifice who hath taken away Sin by the Oblation of himself once for all Add thy blessing to all the opportunities and means of Grace vouchsaf'd to me and cause thy Word to abide in me that it may be as good seed taking deep root and bringing forth abundantly the fruits of righteousness Grant O Lord that as I have been created by thee so I may make it my chief business to honor and serve thee both in soul and body and as Christ died for my Sins and rose again for my Justification so I may crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof and rise daily from the death of sin to a life of holiness Enable me