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
perfect and glorious the Creator of us and the whole World and Governour of all things both in Heaven and Earth our great Law-giver and most just Judge who will reward or punish according to our actions That he can save or destroy us make us miserable or happy h Jam. 4. 12. That he is the Author of all good and having all things at his dispose can do for us whatever we can need or desire I say considering the Almighty in all these several respects we cannot but be satisfied that he is to be honour'd and worship'd by us and doth highly deserve our service and adoration That we are greatly concern'd to humble our selves at his Footstool imploring his mercy to submit our persons to him and placing our whole trust in his power and goodness to beg at his hands a supply of all our wants IV. This holy performance will be thought very congruous and necessary on a due consideration of our selves for we are Beings entirely dependent on God we have been created by him and 't is by his power and providence that we daily subsist Whatever good things we enjoy whatever do administer to our life either as to the necessities or conveniencies thereof they are all his Creatures and by him provided for our use and benefit We are weak and frail exposed to dangers of all kinds in every place and every hour of our life nor have we foresight or power enough of our own to secure our selves Moreover we are guilty Sinners before God and so have forfeited his kindness and made our selves obnoxious to his wrath and severity There are in us corrupt inclinations to sin We are still encompassed with Temptations and the Devil is our malicious and subtile Adversary So that if left to our selves we cannot hope to be holy in this life nor happy in the next Now when we thus reflect 't is easie to understand how much we are oblig'd to honour and worship the Divine Majesty and to render to him our daily thanks and praise for all that we are or have how much it doth behove us to desire his constant care and protection recommending our selves to his watchful Providence We may quickly apprehend of what importance it is that with humiliation and hearty repentance we beg the pardon of our sins lest we fall under condemnation and eternal punishment and that we earnestly crave the assistance of Divine Grace whereby we may be able to overcome sin and all spiritual enemies and may be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation V. There is in Prayer it self enough to make it desirable and much valued by us 1. It is highly honourable for what greater honour then to be taken into an immediate attendance about the Almighty and to have converse with the supream Monarch of the world the great King of Kings and Lord of Lords in respect of whom the Potentates on Earth are of an account infinitely meaner then the vilest Begger if compar'd to them And what an high priviledge is it that poor mortals made up of Clay can be admitted to the Throne of this Glorious Majesty there to present their Petitions and to have his ear on all occasions Holy David was so apprehensive what an advancement it was to wait on God in his Worship that though he were a King he esteemed the meanest Office in the Temple well worth his ambition and would be content to be a Door keeper in Gods house i Psal 84. 10. rather then live in a state of distance and alienation from him The famous Constantine first Christian Emperour thought it much for his honour to be openly represented as in the posture of one at Prayer And therefore gave order that his own Effigies in the the Impresses of the publick Coyn should be so fashion'd As it was also over the Gates of his Palace in several places k Euseb Vit. Const lib. 4. c. 15. Certainly whosoever hath understanding enough to know God and himself and to compare the one with the other will see abundant reason for saying as the pious Father that he cannot but admire and wonder at the great love of God towards man for vouchsafing him so high an Honour as familiarly to speak unto himself by Prayers l Chrys de Orand Deum lib. 1. 2. It is a duty so material and comprehensive that it doth in a manner take in the Whole of our Religion our piety to God is largely contain'd in it since by Prayer we acknowledge and honour him as our Creator and Lord offering up our Souls and Bodies to his service We profess our subjection and rely upon him for all the good we desire We do hereby give particular honour to his Divine Attributes to his Omni-presence and infinite Knowledge in that we suppose him near at hand to take notice and hear our Petitions wheresoever we are to his Holiness and Justice by lamenting our sins and deprecating his deserved punishments To his Mercy and Goodness while we beg forgiveness and all the Blessings we stand in need of To his Power and Soveraignty in that we think him able to do for us in all the things we request of him and do commit our selves to his Care and Providence We ascribe to him the Glory of all the great and good things he hath done for us and all Mankind by our praise and thanksgiving Likewise we do herein perform our duty with respect to Christ as our blessed Redeemer in that renouncing all our own Righteousness we plead his alone merits for our pardon and acceptance and present all our supplications in his name and through his intercession There is moreover in Prayer an happy concurrence of our Christian Graces and a fruitful exercise of them Of Faith for whosoever cometh unto God believeth that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him m Heb. 11. 6. Rom. 10. 14. He is perswaded of his power and readiness to help and doth confide in the truth of his word and promises Of Repentance in our humble confession of sin our profess'd sorrow for what we have done amiss and our petition for Grace to amend our lives Of Hope for t is by it we are encourag'd to pray and have a comfortable expectation of receiving the good things we pray for and our charity shews it self while we pray for others as well as our selves and do profess to forgive men their trespasses against us as we desire God to forgive ours And it belongs to our holy obedience that we implore the divine assistance and Gods holy Spirit for enabling us tomortify sin and to lead a sober righteous and Godly life And because the substance of Religion is thus compriz'd in Prayer hence it is sometimes us'd to signify a mans duty to God in general as when it is said Whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved n Joel 2. 32. Act. 2. 21. Rom. 10. 13. and in
thanksgiving to God and he doth propose it as a good means for restraining men from abuse of the Creatures by intemperate Eating or Drinking and also for procuring the blessing of God on both Soul and Body k Ad Pop. Antioch Homil. 89. We read in particular of the good Emperour Theodosius Junior that he would never eat or drink nor taste so much as a Fig or any other Fruit until he had first given thanks to the great Creatour l Soz. in praefat ad Hist Eccl. And when the Duty of Prayer was thus perform'd by them they did also usually read the holy Scriptures and Sing to the praise of God in pious Hymns by their frequent use of the Scriptures they knew how excellent and beneficial they were and did therefore value them accordingly for when in the Reign of Dioclesian there came forth an imperial Edict requiring that these sacred Volumes should be brought from their houses and given up for the Flames there were vast numbers of them who chose to suffer exquisite Torments and Death it self rather then they would be Traditores or such as would Sacrifice their Bibles to save themselves m Baron Ann. 302. The singing of Psalms was a great part of their Devotion and therefore Pliny in his account of the Christians to Trajan doth mention it as that wherein the Religious service of their Assemblies did chiefly consist that they did Carmen Christo quasi Deo canere secum invicem n Plin. l. 10. Epist 97. and it is related of the same Theodosius we mention'd before that he and his Sisters did use to sing devout Hymns very early in the morning with alternate voices o Soc. Hist Eccles l. 7. cap. 22. How in the houses of the ancient Christians the Duties of Prayer reading of the Scriptures and singing of Psalms were intermix'd with the refreshments of their ordinary Meals these passages do shew Non priùs discumbitur quà m oratio ad Deum praegustetur c. They never sit down to eat untill they have first tasted of Prayer after they have done eating one is called forth to sing to the praise of God as he is best able whether out of the holy Scriptures or else some Psalm of his own by this it is to be try'd how he hath drank likewise their Meal is concluded with Prayer So Tertullian of the Christians in his time p Apol. cap. 39. The whole life of a Christian is an holy Festival his Sacrifices are Prayers and Praises and Reading of the Scriptures before Meat Psalms also and Hymns at the time of eating thus Clemens of Alexandria q Strom. 7. Nor let the time of eating be void of heavenly grace let your temperate entertainment sound forth Psalms and since thou hast a good memory and musical Voice do then begin this duty after the usual manner they are the words of St. Cyprian r Ad Donat And moreover good care was taken by the Parents and Governours of Families in these elder times that the persons belonging to them might be religiously instructed and dispos'd to holy living as shall be made appear under our next consideration But the places which concern the Piety of the Ancient Christians at their times of eating I have the rather cited that they may be for instruction to us of the present Age. When we consider how religious their entertainments then were and that they serv'd for the nourishment of the Soul no less than the Body it may let us see how much we are degenerated from the pristine Sanctity and doth at once both reprove and shame the irreligion of our days in which it is too common with many who are called Christians to take their Meals no otherwise than the bruit Beasts do theirs save that they are less temperate than these they sit down at their Tables and rise again without looking up to Heaven without any acknowledgment or thanksgiving to him whose Creatures they all are by which they are sustain'd and whose Providence doth cater for them from day to day it must needs look ill and scandalous that after persons have at a long sitting been filling themselves from the bounty of the Creatour with the plentiful varieties of Earth Air and Water yet if they return him any thanks at all it is mostly done in such a superficial and lofty manner as if it were but a little inconsiderable Mode to be perform'd only for Fashions sake And at the entertainments of our times how often is it that instead of calling upon the name of God men prophane it by wicked Oaths instead of the Scriptures read the ears of the Company are taken up with loose and filthy Communication instead of holy Psalms they are made first merry and then mad with excess of liquors Such impieties cannot be allow'd in Families where the Governours of them are really good nor will they consist with that holy Discipline for which we are now pleading they are contrary to the ancient Practice of good Christians and much more to the Precepts of that holy Religion which we all profess Lastly the most pressing consideration and that which all Masters of Families should lay to heart is still behind it is that in this Duty of domestick Devotion the Eternal welfare of Souls is greatly concern'd for frequency in Prayer and reading of the Scriptures being so requisite as it is for the maintenance of holiness and a good life where these are neglected how can it be expected that persons will live as becometh the Gospel and as 't is requir'd of all whom God will admit into that holy Place which no unclean thing can enter ſ Rev. 21. 27. and where without holiness no man shall see his face t Heb. 12. 14. Is it not rather likely that in houses where the name of God is not call'd upon nor his Word read throughout the Week the Inhabitants will be Heathenish and wicked not having God in all their thoughts much less any fear of him or his Laws before their Eyes And what must become of such in the other World none can be ignorant that is acquainted with the Bible Now it cannot be doubted but Masters of Families are oblig'd in Conscience to seek the Spiritual good and future happiness of those under their Government if they provide not for them as to the necessaries of this temporal Life they have in St. Paul's account deny'd the Faith are worse than Infidels u 1 Tim. 5. 8. What Censure then shall they be thought to incurr if they altogether neglect their more noble part and take no care of them as to the things that concern their eternal good in the Life to come The holy Father of the faithful was highly favour'd by God as one who would endeavour that his Children and Houshold might fear the Lord and keep his way w Gen. 18. 19. holy Job was very careful that sin might not abide on those of his
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
Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth for the living God One day in thy Courts is better than a thousand I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the Tents of wickedness For the Lord God is a Sun and a shield the Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly O come let us worship and bow down before the Lord our Maker For he is our God and we are the People of his Pasture and the sheep of his hand To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts ALmighty God who art great and glorious infinite in all perfections and of incomprehensible Majesty in comparison of whom the Princes of the earth are but vile Worms and all the Nations of the World less than nothing and vanity Thou deservest to be feared and magnified to be adored and praised and 't is our greatest honour to wait upon thee thy service is the most perfect freedom and we cannot but think it very meet and reasonable that a good part of our time should be devoted to thee and thine honour yea our whole life is too little to celebrate as we ought the excellence of thy divine Nature and of thy great Works O Lord this admirable Fabrick of the World is of thy making for in six days were all things Created by thee and the Seventh day in which thou didst cease from thy Work thou didst set apart for an holy Sabbath in which the Sons of men might remember thy Creation and honour thee for it Wherefore on this day of our religious rest we desire to meditate and admire that wonderful workmanship which doth appear in thy Creatures By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made with all that glorious Host of Sun Moon and Stars thou hast founded the earth beneath and given life and breath to all things living We acknowledge thy signal kindness to our selves above the rest of thy Creatures in that thou didst Create man after thine own Image making him little lower than the Angels that thou hast given him dominion over the works of thine hands and made him capable of eternal happiness in the service and enjoyment of thy self O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches and what is man that thou shouldest magnifie him That thou shouldest set thine heart upon him We do likewise extol thy love to mankind which hath been further shewn in the great work of our Redemption That after we had broken the Laws of our Creation by sinning against thee had faln short of the glory of God and were become liable to Death and Hell thou wert pleas'd to send thine only begotten Son out of thine own bosom to save us from destruction and restore us again to thy love and favour who took on him the form of a Servant liv'd a persecuted life dy'd a painful and ignominious death for us men and for our Salvation he did alone thy justice by the Sacrifice of himself overcame Death and the Grave and finished our Redemption by rising to life the third day when he was declar'd to be the Son of God with power by his wonderful Resurrection which we and all thy Church do this day commemorate O God thine acts of favour have been thus great and admirable to us-ward we do therefore offer up our hearty praise and thanksgiving for the discoveries of thy Wisdom Power and Goodness in the Creation of us and the whole World for thy compassion and rich grace in and through our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ And we do here with deep Repentance humble our selves for that our lives have not better answered such obligations of thine to duty and obedience for we have sinn'd against thee as thou art our Creatour by not loving and fearing thee as thou hast deserv'd by neglecting thy service and employing our souls and bodies which thou hast made in actions displeasing to thee and which thou hast forbidden We have offended thee as the Author of our Redemption by not receiving the Gospel with a due love and esteem thereof nor conforming our lives to its holy precepts nor walking suitably to that abundant grace which hath therein appeared teaching us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts But O thou Father of Mercies who delightest not in the death of sinners be thou pleas'd to pardon and justifie to do away our iniquities and receive us graciously bless unto us all the means of grace and the opportunities of receiving instruction from thine holy Word When we appear before thee in the Congregation of thy people help us to be serious and devout as in thy presence to join in Prayer with an intent and fervent mind and to hear thy Word with reverence and submission that by an attendance on thine holy Ordinances we may encrease in Piety and all the Graces of Christian Holiness for the righteousness and merits of that holy One who died for our sins and rose again for our Justification And we do also humbly beg for his sake that thou wouldest grant unto us thine holy Spirit and Heavenly Grace whereby thine Image may be renewed in us that we may from henceforth honour and serve thee from whom we have received our being and help us more and more to conform our selves to the death of Christ by dying to sin and to his Resurrection by rising to holiness and newness of life To this good end we pray thee to grant that on this thine holy Day we may sanctifie thine holy Name that our thoughts may be heavenly and our affections set on things above that we may take delight in the exercises of religion and may be in thy fear all the day long Bless thy Church and be thou graciously present in all Christian Assemblies throughout the World to hear the Prayers they shall this day put up and to prosper thy Word which shall be Preached that it may become effectual for pulling down the Kingdom of Satan and for edifying the body of Christ in sound Faith and real Godliness Let the light of thy glorious Gospel be spread abroad and the borders of thy Sons kingdom daily enlarg'd Call home thine ancient people the Jews and bring in the fulness of the Gentiles that all the Nations of the earth may be one sheepfold under the one great shepherd of Souls We implore thy particular kindness for this Church and Kingdom and more especially for the Kings Majesty that he may have Wisdom Justice Piety and all princely vertues to govern according to thy Will for thy glory and the good of thy people And let thy true religion be continued to us for all generations We present unto thee our hearty thanks for thy many and great benefits vouchsafed to us for our excellent being our preservation hitherto and all temporal enjoyments for our birth and education in a
thy private prayers which God may see in secret and reward thee for them openly c Basil in Asc Tom. 2 p. 181. Under this private Devotion in its full notion are comprized Prayer Meditation reading of the holy Scriptures and other pious Books and though we shall proceed with respect to the first of these especially yet we would not be thought to divide such good company but while recommending private Prayer to intend Meditation and Reading too they do indeed mutually assist each other and we cannot be without either of them Now to enforce this excellent Duty in which both the reality and comfort of a Christian do so very much consist we shall briefly propose some perswasive considerations which may easily prevail on all who are truly dispos'd to the Practice of Religion or the prosecution of their own interest I. It doth appear out of holy Scripture that we are not only to worship God and call upon him in company with others but that he expects moreover to be honour'd by the devout service of every man singly and apart and that each person in his own behalf should seek unto him for his benefits this is manifestly contain'd in those Texts where it is given in charge that every one address himself to God on his own particular occasions as to call upon him in the day of trouble c Psal 50. 15. and if any man be afflicted let him pray d Jam. 5. 13. In which places it cannot only be meant that the party afflicted is to crave the Prayers of the Congregation or of the Minister where he lives but chiefly at least that he is himself alone to call upon God and supplicate for his help and deliverance and this must be done in many sad cases which afford no opportunity of having the Prayers of others again when we are bid in every thing to make known our requests e Phil. 4. 6. it must needs intend that we are to do it in particular cases and matters of private concern though they fall not under the publick or ordinary Prayers And when 't is commanded that in all places we lift up holy hands f 1 Tim. 2. 8. it doth certainly include the places of our privacy and retirement and this Text Mr. Mede will have peculiarly understood of private Prayer g Conc. Lat. De Vener Sac. But the precept of our Saviour is very express Enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut the door pray to thy Father which is in secret h Mat. 6. 6. the words are plain and to neglect the duty enjoin'd in them is to live in a known sin which we are highly concern'd to beware of as we tender the safety of our souls II. Let us set before us the examples of eminent and renowned persons by whose practice this Duty of private Devotion is recommended to us That it was in use with the holy Patriarks of old doth appear on sacred Record of Abraham Gen. 15. 2. and Chap. 17. 18. of Isaac Gen. 25. 21. and of Jacob Gen. 32. 9. Concerning Isaac that other Text Gen. 24. 63. might also be added where it is in our translation that he went out to meditate in the Eventide but the original word doth signifie submissa voce loqui labio tenùs murmurare to speak just moving the lips without any audible sound as is wont to be in private prayer more than in meditation and thus it was in the supplication of Hannah i 1 Sam. 1. 13. but that the Verb in that place may signifie to pray doth appear from hence that the Substantive coming from it is used for Prayer in other Texts of Scripture as Psal 5. 1. and 19. 14. and therefore both in the Caldee Paraphrase and the Arabick version it is And Isaac went out to pray likewise it is thus understood by Munster Vatablus and the same is approv'd by Grotius we are also told by the first of these that the Jews themselves have generally taken the Text in this sense but whether it be meant of Prayer or Meditation 't is much indifferent to the present purpose since the latter as well as the former is an act of Devotion 〈…〉 the resolv'd custom 〈…〉 devout Prince 〈…〉 â—â—â—self to God three times every day At Evening saith he and Morning and at Noon will I pray k Psal 55. 17. and the same was done by the Prophet Daniel nor could any danger affright him from it for notwithstanding a Royal decree to the contrary which made it Capital in his Chamber he kneeled on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks unto his God l Dan. 6. 10. That the Apostle St. Peter was wont to retire for his Devotion may be seen Act. 10. 9. where 't is said that about the sixth hour one of the usual times for that Duty he went up upon the house to pray chusing that place as most distant from all noise and disturbance likewise St. Paul as we often read had his private Prayers they were such in which he be sought the Lord thrice that the Thorn in the Flesh might depart from him m 2 Cor. 12. 8. and those wherein he did earnestly intercede for the Churches himself had planted whereof there is mention in his Epistle to them n Eph. 1. 16. 3. 14. Phil. 1. 9. Col. 1. 9. It is in Ecclesiastick History concerning James the brother of our Lord who for his eminent sanctity was sirnamed The Just that by frequency of praying his Knees became void of sense being harden'd like those of a Camel o Eus Hist Eccles l. 2. cap. 23. And the learned Origen as from his childhood he had been accustom'd to religious Duties under the education of his good Father So he was most strict in the Practice of his Devotion throughout his whole Life all his time almost both by day and night was divided between Prayer and Reading the Scriptures nor would he take the natural refreshments of the body without those others of the soul for whenever he sate down to meat somewhat of the Bible was still read and the same was done at his lying down to sleep p Hieron ad Marcel Epist 18. The Emperour Constantine thought it his greatest honour to have access to God in private Devotion for it is reported of him that notwithstanding all the affairs of his vast Empire Every day at stated hours shutting himself up he alone conversed with his God q Euseb de vit Const l. 4. c. 21. And we read of our King Alfred who wore the Crown of this Realm about nine hundred years ago that as he allotted the one half of his Revenue to pious uses so he devoted the like proportion of his time to the exercise of Religion they who speak least say that dividing the twenty four hours of each natural day into three parts one eight hours he allow'd himself for eating sleeping and recreation another
Mat. 26. 39. When we read the holy Spirit doth help our infirmities directing us to things we ought to pray for * Rom. 8. 26. and when our own Church doth teach us to desire of God that he would make us to ask such things as shall please him y Collect for 10th Sund. aft Trin. it doth suppose our chusing Petitions in Prayer and that we may not err in that choice which will not be understood of stated Prayers and must therefore refer to the private and occasional supplications of which we now speak and unless we sometimes make use of such we shall be extremely defective in our devotion both as to our duty toward God and our regard to the good of our selves and others for how else can we in a suitable manner offer up praise and thanksgiving or deprecate evils and beg mercies according to our own and the needs of other Christians as on many particular occasions we ought to do it being impossible that these should be fully provided for by any forms composed for private use and much less will the publick Prayers descend to them V. If a man serve God in private it is one good evidence of his being sound and sincere in Religion for those who are void of all true Piety who are but Hypocrites or Atheists may and often do outwardly join with others in the acts of publick Worship though from no better inducements than that they may comply with the custom of the place or to please others on whom they depend or that they may gain to themselves a good reputation as some in our Saviour's time who were not real in their Piety for he calls them Hypocrites and yet would pray standing in the Synagogues and in the corner of the Streets to be the more observ'd by others and from this occasion that his own followers might not rest in an outward shew of religion but be sincere and truly pious in the duties of it he injoin'd them the practice of private devotion as it follows in the same place z Mat. 6. 5 6. for acts of Piety when in secret cannot likely proceed from Worldly Motives but do rather suppose a Soul really affected with a sense of God and Religion That a true Christian Faith is more eminently impli'd in secret Prayer the holy Father St. Cyprian hath intimated in these words He hath commanded us to pray privately in secret and retir'd Places in our very Chambers because it is more agreeable to Faith that we apprehend God to be every where present to hear all men and by the fulness of his divine Majesty to penetrate into all secret and hidden things a Cypr. lib. de Orat. Domin Though it be accountable enough why bad men may frequent the devotions of Christian Assemblies yet why any should adore and supplicate by himself alone when none else can take notice of it 't is not easie to assign any other reason than that he hath an inward reverence of an infinite God as of one who ought to be served and who is able in all things to do him good after St. Paul had been stricken blind by that light from heaven which shone on him in the way when he was first call'd to the Christian Faith he having in devout Prayer evidenc'd a true conversion Ananias is immediately commission'd by God to go to him that by the laying on of his hands he might receive his sight and also the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost to qualifie him for the office of an Apostle b Act 9. 11 17. Arise saith God and go into the street which is called strait and enquire in the house of Judas for one Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth If therefore we would avoid the sin and danger of being formal Professours and Hypocrites and would approve our selves to God and our own Conscience as real and sincere in the Religion to which we pretend we are concern'd not to acquiesce in outward and visible Duties but to be also conversant in those others of private Devotion which as it is an evidence of true Holiness so will it be a very good means to cherish and preserve it in us For VI. By the constant exercise of Religious Duties in private the life and power of Godliness is very much maintain'd and 't is of excellent use to secure men in the fear of God and a steddy obedience to him for since the acts of Piety whereof none but God is Witness must be thought to proceed from Conscience and to be a compliance with its Dictates it may easily be presum'd that while men are conscientious in performing this so pious a Duty they will be alike dispos'd as to other parts of Christian holiness and not venture on any gross and deliberate sins but carefully avoid all temptations to them beside a frequent exercise of private Devotion must needs beget a serious and heavenly temper of mind and leave such holy impressions as will restrain corrupt motions and fortifie the Soul against the daily assaults of Sin and Satan Moreover it being a part of this private Devotion to read the holy Scriptures the Christian will thereby be still put in mind both of the Duties which God requires and the Sins which he hath forbidden as also of the great and precious promises belonging to the former and the severe threatnings denounc'd against the latter And it must needs have the like effect as including holy Meditation of God as Creatour Lord and Judge of Mankind as infinite in Holiness Knowledg Justice Power and the Author of all the good we have or do hope to enjoy of our selves as Beings dependent sinful frail and as having immortal Souls which shall be for ever happy or miserable in another World according to our good or ill conversation in this these and such like thoughts are apt to beget good resolutions and make men circumspect and holy in all their ways And there is this further that by such attendance on God and Prayer to him we engage him to have a particular care of us to give us his Spirit for our guide and support and to strengthen us with all might in the inner man that we may be preserved holy and blameless unto his heavenly Kingdom * 1. Thes 5. 23. 2 Tim. 4. 18. On these accounts St. Chrysostome hath pronounc'd it impossible that the man who is constant in his Devotion should lead a sinful life * Ad Pop. Antioch Hom. 89. VII This Duty of private Devotion is the greatest comfort and surest refuge of a Christian amidst all the fears and hazards all the troubles and calamities of this present state and he can by no means subsist without it 't is a remedy still at hand on all occasions and whenever he finds himself oppress'd either by passions within or sufferings from without he can ease his Soul by pouring out his complaints as David was wont to do c Psa 55.
and all other perfections and thy Works have been wonderful and gracious towards the Sons of Men. But what is Man that thou art mindful of him and what am I vile Creature that I should be admitted to thy Throne of Grace O Lord I am but Dust and Ashes and therefore unworthy thou shouldst have any regard unto me I am a polluted Sinner and therefore unfit for thy presence or any testimony of thy favour the frame and disposition of my heart is to sin and folly and the practice of my life have been always disobedient and provoking to this very day I desire therefore with shame and hearty repentance to humble my self begging thy merciful pardon of all my sins past through the Merits of Christ and the assistance of thy special Grace for the future whereby I may be enabled to lead a sober righteous and godly life Since I am thy Creature who hast made all things for thy self and thine own glory let it be my chief care to serve thee and whether I eat or drink or whatever I do to do all in thy fear and to the honour of thy great Name as I have been bought with a price even the precious blood of thy dear Son so grant I may glorifie thee both in my body and soul which are thine and whatever power or opportunities thou dost vouchsafe unto me help me to employ the same in doing good and discharging my Duty both toward thee and toward men that I may not be barren or unfruitful but always abounding in the Work of the Lord and for the greater usefulness and comfort of my life be thou pleas'd to continue to me my understanding and senses together with health and soundness of body and let my Members and Faculties be always instruments of righteousness unto holiness O stablish my heart by thy Grace that I may be constant in thy Faith and Fear in sincere obedience to thy holy commands and so after a patient continuance in well-doing may receive the promis'd reward of eternal life O Lord I do thankfully acknowledge the continual Mercies of thy good Providence by which I have been preserv'd and cherish'd hitherto I bless thee for the protection and refreshment of the night past and that thou hast prolonged my life to another day be thou pleas'd to guide and defend me throughout the same bless and prosper my endeavours in every lawful undertaking and suffer me not to fall into any danger or unhappy accident Above all do thou preserve me from sin and the temptations to it and let neither the World the Flesh nor the Devil draw me aside from thee into any wicked practice but grant that I may still walk on in the way of righteousness without turning from it into those sinful paths that lead down to the Chambers of death Bless thy people throughout the World and send thy comfort and deliverance to all who are in any distress or affliction of body or mind Preserve this Church and Kingdom to which I belong and make us happy in Truth Righteousness and Peace do good to all my friends and if I have any Enemies forgive them and turn their hearts O Lord pardon the defects of this my devotion accept my person and hear my Prayer through the Righteousness and Intercession of thy blessed Son my alone Saviour In whose own Words I further call upon thee Our Father c. Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Communion O blessed Spirit be with me this day and for evermore Amer. Another Prayer for the Morning CAuse me O Lord to hear thy loving kindness in the Morning for in thee do I trust Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my soul unto thee Order my steps in thy Word and let not any iniquity have dominion over me O Lord my God who art the Author of my being and the giver of all the good things which I have at any time receiv'd I do here offer up my bounden Duty of Worship and Praise and I do present my Soul and Body to be consecreated unto thee and thy Service despise not I pray thee the Work of thine own hands but though I am vile and unworthy by reason of Sin yet according to thy rich Mercy and for the worthiness of thy beloved Son be thou pleas'd to overlook whatever is amiss in me and to receive me graciously as one of thine adopted Children That I may be qualify'd for thy love and favour make me conformable to thy divine Image in righteousness and true holiness do thou govern my will and affections that I may chuse the good and refuse the evil that I may love what thou doest command and hate whatever thou hast forbidden O Lord who knowest my ignorance and folly instruct me how to demean my self in all the affairs and passages of my life thou who seest my weakness strengthen me by thy Grace that I may be able to resist all evil motions and temptations to Sin and to perform all the Duties of my Christian obedience suffer me not to err from thy Commandements but let the direction of thy Word and Spirit be as a voice behind me shewing the way wherein I should walk when I am turning to the right hand or to the left confirm my Soul in thy true Religion and the holy fear of thy great Name make me steadfast and immoveable in thy Service that being faithful unto the death I may at length receive that Crown of everlasting Life which thou hast promis'd Be thou pleas'd to bless me in my body with health and strength in my Soul with encrease of divine Knowledg of true Piety and all saving Vertues and give me such a measure of temporal good things as may best contribute to my real happiness I yield thee humble thanks that I have been preserv'd and refresh'd the Night past that I am kept alive to this Morning as thou hast brought me out of the shades of Night so help me to cast off the sinful works of darkness and to walk as becometh a Child of Light let thy presence be with me and thy blessing upon me in the day following give thine Angels charge to keep me in all my ways that I fall not into any disaster and let thy Grace be sufficient for me that I be not exercis'd in any evil work but grant me to abide in perfect safety and to be still holy and upright before thee to the end of this day and of my whole life through my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ in whose holy Name and Words I continue to pray unto thee Our Father c. Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O Heavenly Father thy Communion O blessed Spirit be with me this Day and for evermore Amen A Psalm and Prayer for the Morning on the Lords day I Laid me down and slept I awaked Sunday Morning for the Lord sustained me O God thou art my God early
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
the Spirit t Eph. 6. 17. who doth make use of it in slaying the Lusts and Vices of men and subduing them to the Kingdom of Christ but the Divine Grace is never wanting to them who make a diligent use of this written Word which is the outward means by God appointed and he is ready to assist the same with his own concurrence and blessing Since therefore the goodness and condescention of Almighty God have been so great in vouchsafing the holy Scripture which is his kind Epistle from Heaven imparting his mind to us for our own good what a rude and ungrateful indignity will it be if we care not to read it Since he hath given this light shining in a dark place as 't is called by St. Peter u 1 Pet. 1. 19. that we might not stumble and perish how great is the madness if hiding it under a Bushel w Mat. 5. 15. or shutting our Eyes against it we love darkness more than light x Joh. 3. 19. It is our singular happiness above most other Nations of the Christian world that this Heavenly treasure doth lie open to us in a Language which the unlearned can understand 't is not Heresie with us if a Laick read the Bible nor a Capital crime if he keep one in his house that is in his own Vulgar tongue but the Guilt and Condemnation will be much greater if having this advantage any shall refuse to make use of it It may further recommend to Christian Families the constant use of Prayer and the sacred Scriptures as very necessary to an holy Conversation if we mention what St. Austine hath said to this purpose to whom a great regard is due not only for his Eminent knowledge of Divine things but also for his own great experience in the Practice of Piety by him it is declar'd that the best of men have need of Prayer every day as that by which they secure themselves against the assaults of Sin and Satan By Prayer saith he they strive with the more vigilance and stoutness against the Devil the Prince and King of all Vices that so his deadly suggestions may nothing prevail y Lib. De Continent cap. 8. and elsewhere The daily reading of the Scriptures doth purifie all things it strikes into us the fear of Hell and stirs up the heart of the Reader to the joys of Heaven Whoever would be always with God ought always to Pray and Read for when we pray we are speaking with God and when we read God is speaking with us z De Temp. Serm. 112. likewise hitherto belongs what Tertullian hath said in this very case of domestick Piety when upbraiding the Heathen with their unprofitable Devotion to the Lares excluding that of the true Religion which would be of real benefit to them Quae dei mentio quae Christi invocatio Vbi fomenta fidei ex Scripturarum interlectione a Tert. ad Vxor l. 2. â— 6. he taxeth their Folly as well as Impiety that while in their several Families they were very punctual and solemn in performing superstitious Rites to the Houshold Gods they took no notice of him who was God indeed wholly neglecting the Christian Devotion of Prayer and Reading the holy Scriptures which should nourish in them the saving Faith and Religion of the Gospel VIII It may be another inforcement of Family Devotion to mention how well it hath been practis'd by the Ancient Christians for it ought to have the Authority of an Argument and should demand our Imitation to have before us the good examples of those who were in the first and purer Ages of Christianity now of them it doth appear that they were exceeding careful and zealous in the daily performance of Religious Duties within their Houses in the Morning and Evening of each day all of the same Family did joyn in their Devotion as may be Collected from what we find to this purpose in the Fathers of those times b Clem. Alex paed l. 2. c. 9. Cypr. de Orat. dom Basil in Ascit Chrysost Hom. l. De precat They would not begin the day without desiring the blessing of God on themselves and their undertakings throughout the same nor did they lie down to rest without returning him thanks and imploring his watchful care over them After Supper ended saith Clemens Alexandrinus having render'd our Thanks and Praise to God for that he had supply'd us in the day with the good things necessary for our use and granted us to pass the same prosperously we betake our selves to our sleep c Ibid. Nor did they think it enough to worship God in their Families at the beginning and end of the day but so intent were they on this Duty as to break off their natural rest and leave their Beds in the night time that they might then exercise their Devotions for under the Heathen Emperours while the open practice of religious Duties was so much persecuted it was generally the Custom of Christians to arise from sleep about Midnight for worshiping God with Prayers and Singing of Psalms and the same continu'd in use even after the Pagan Persecutions were over Of these nocturnal Devotions we do often read as in the Father last nam'd when he speaks of Prayers to be put up not only before going to bed but also again in the time of night d Strom. 7. and afterward in the same place Wherefore we must also rise from our beds in the night and God is then to be praised for blessed are they that watch for him per noctem exurgebant oratum they arose by night to Pray e Tert. ad Vxor lib. 2. and again Ita Saturantur ut meminerint etiam per noctem orandum deum sibi esse They so feed at Supper as remembring they are to awake and worship God in the night f Apol. c. 39. thus doth Tertullian testifie of them and to this refers that exhortation of St. Cyprian let us think that we always walk in the light nor should darkness which we have escaped hinder us there should be no prejudice to our Prayers from the hours of night nor our Devotion suffer any dammage through sloth and laziness g De Orat. Domin Likewise these Prayers of the night are recommended by St. Chrysostom in one of his Sermons h In Act. Apost Homil 36. Beside the times of more solemn Devotion from day to day which we have already mention'd they did moreover invoke God as often as they receiv'd their natural food Before we eat saith Basil let Prayers be made suitable to the gifts of God both of the good things he doth bestow at present and also for those he hath provided for the future likewise let Prayers follow after meat and in them let our thankfulness be express'd i Epist 1 ad Gregor Theol. And St. Chrysostom doth prescribe as a necessary Duty that Christians begin and end their Meals with