dishonest and fleshly lusts let not the heate of vnlawfull concupiscene take hold of me but make me to bee fully pleased and satisfied with her loue and to loue her as Christ loued his Church to cherish and comfort her as mine owne bodie and to haue as great a care of her health as of mine owne Grant that we may liue in peace without debate in vnity without discord like the members of one bodie equally desirous to praise thy holy Name And as thou hast O Lord bestowed many children vpon vs giue vs discreet hearts and vnderstanding mindes to bring them vp in thy Faith and Feare in a religious honest and ciuill manner Giue them obedient hearts to thee and to thy commandements and to all that thou requirest of them to be performed in duety towards vs their Parents Keepe them from those which are ready to seduce them and so lead them in thy Faith Feare and Knowledge that they prooue not a curse but a blessing vnto vs and thereby attaine to that blessing which thou hast promised to those which honor and obey their Parents Grant likewise O Lord that I may guide and instruct the familie which is vnder me in thy feare and in honest and carefull manner prouide as well for their bodies as their soules And giue them the like Grace O Lord to performe their duties in feare and obedience not as eye-seruers but in simplicitie of heart as in thy sight And giue vs O Lord a competencie of estate to mainetaine our selues children and family according to that ranke or calling wherein thou of thy goodnesse hast placed vs without excesse riot or vaine-glory and in singlenesse and purenesse of heart with all humility relying vpon thy blessed will who knowest better then wee our selues what is needfull for vs To thee be all Honour and Glory now and for euer For a married Woman O Mercifull and louing Lord God who in the beginning for the propagation of mankinde didst take Eue out of the side of Adam Gen. 2.22 and gaue her to him as an helper Gen. 2.20 I giue thee humble thankes that thou hast vouchsafed to call me to the honourable estate of Matrimony Giue me grace O Lord that I may lead a life worthy thereof that I may loue my husband with a pure and chaste loue acknowledge him for my Head and truly reuerence and obay him in all good things that thereby I may please him and liue quietly with him Grant that I bee not carried away with the vaine fashions of this World but may put on such habits as shal be agreeable and suitable with the estate of my husband and may become a modest woman to weare Helpe me O Lord that I may vnder him prudently and discreetly guide and gouerne his houshould and family and carefully looke that nothing be either carelesly lost or wickedly committed in my house Fit me with those good Graces which the wise man described in a good woman Pro. 31. and Saint Peter in Holy and Sanctified Matrons Giue me such care 1. Pet. 3. concerning the education of my Children as belongeth to my part that I may liue to see them prosper in this life and afterwards we may all be receiued to thy eternall Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. For a Childe O Almighty Lord God to whom the obedience of Children to their Parents is most acceptable and all disobedience most displeasing who hast promised a Blessing to the dutifull and threatned a curse Exod. 20. to the disobedient children I beseech thee to put away from me the detestable sinne of disobedience and rebellion against my Parents and giue me grace to obserue them with all kinde of dutie to obey them in all their iust commands and to be aiding and helpefull to them at all time of their need Giue me grace to beare all their reproofes and errors patiently and not to grieue them by stubborne and euill courses Let me not bee so farre depriued of thy Grace that I scoffe or deride them though by age or infirmitie they shall faile in their Iudgement or Reason but cause me to supply their wants lest that I hauing plenty and they being in any neede or distresse I not supplying it nor succouring them their liues to whom I owe mine may be in danger to be shortned Lord forgiue all the offences which I haue heretofore committed against them Increase the number of their dayes keepe them safe in body and minde let them see their Childrens Children to their comfort and thy Glory Let them gouerne vs and the rest of their family with wholsome Discipline and good example that at the last they may in their due time depart this life in peace and come to thy Kingdome vnspotted through Iesus Christ our Lord. For a woman with Childe O Blessed Lord God who for the offence of the first woman Gen. 3.16 didst denounce and impose an ineuitable curse vpon all her posterity namely that they should conceiue in sinne and bee subiect to many grieuous paines and should bring forth their children with great danger Asswage I beseech thee of thy goodnesse the sharpnesse of that decree and preserue mee that I may ouercome and escape this great danger and be deliuered of the fruite of my body without perill of death and that it may safely be brought to the Sacred Font of Baptisme and be regenerated and ingraffed into the mysticall body of Christ and be made partaker of his death and passion And as thou hast of thy bounty giuen bodily life to it and me so grant to vs both life spirituall and so Sanctifie our Bodies and Soules heere that hereafter we may liue among thy blessed Saints for euer in the life to come For a young man or Maid O Lord forasmuch as I am at these yeares in the heate of the flesh and in the most dangerous time of my life I beseech thee take not thy mercy and fatherly prouidence from me but by how much the greater danger of tentations I am in with so much the more care let thy grace preserue me lest happily I become a prey to mine enemies who goe about to load me with so many sinnes that if they preuaile I shall neuer of my selfe to get from vnder the burthen of them But O mercifull Father distrusting in mine owne strength I betake my selfe wholly to thy protection and desire thee both now and euer to keepe me Let me not get that habit of sinning in my younger yeeres that I be forced in my age if I be not stifled before in my offences to be waile the sins of my youth and to say with Dauid Remember not O Lord Psal 25.6 the offences of my youth but rather accustome me from this time forward to all goodnesse that I may daily more and more profit therein and that seruing thee with a pure heart now I may in mine age say with good King Ezekias O Lord remember I beseech
Christ himselfe to encourage this holy duty of publique prayer hath promised his presence amongst those that shall bee assembled and gathered together after this manner Therefore whosoeuer shall neglect these publique assemblies sheweth and discouereth thereby how little he regardeth Christs cōpany or presence These prayers are also distinguished into these parts 1. Inuocation 2. Confession 3. Thankesgiuing part 1 Inuocation consisteth of 1. Petitions for the good of our owne Soules in Spirituall things Bodies in Temporall things 2. Intercessions either in praying for the good or against the euill of others 3. Deprecations against euill Spirituall Temporall part 2 Confession is threefold 1. Of our Faith 2. Of the Glory of God 3. Of our owne sinnes part 3 Thankesgiuing is either 1. For deliuerance from euill 2. For Benefits receiued To these may be added part 4 Imprecation either 1. Against the enemies of God 2. against the enemies of our soules incorrigible and irrecōcileable So that these rules bee obserued 1. That it be not vsed for priuate hate or reuenge 2. That we reioyce not in any mans destruction 3. That we ayme at their correction The vse of the Lords Prayer BEcause that our SAVIOVR CHRIST hath taught vs how to pray and hath put the very wordes as it were into our mouthes which wee should vse in praying I thinke it necessary to begin with the same which he hath so left vnto vs. 1. In respect of the Excellency of the Author of it who was no lesse then God 2. In respect of the perfection of the worke it selfe the praier for it comprehendeth in it petitions for all things which we stand in need of 3. In respect of the Efficacy of this prayer in working for it cannot choose but preuaile and work much with God for none knew the minde and disposition of God better then hee which composed it which was God And let it not loose any part of the due praise which belongeth to it in regard of the compendiousnesse or shortnesse of it for it deserueth the more henour because though it be short yet is also copious and plentifull in matter and therefore the more absolute and perfect It is not therefore without cause that the Ancients haue giuen so many excellent Attributes to it As the Abridgement of the Gospell and our Faith The Interpretation of our desires and hope The very Bond of Charity And an inexhaustible Treasury Yet let not any man thinke that our Sauiour prescribed vs this prayer as that we should vse no other but be tyed to the very words contayned in it but this we must conceiue that hee made it to bridle our desires that though wee make our petitions and frame them according to our seuerall necessities yet to keepe vs in compasse that wee exceede not the limits nor vary from the extent and bounds of this prayer The vse of it is two fold 1. That we might be instructed by it what is necessary in generall to require of God and not without neede seeing wee being naturally blinde in spirituall things know not what is fit to aske and many times we craue those things as Zebedees children did which are vnworthy both of God and our selues Mat. 20.21 and might proue hurtfull also to vs if they should bee granted And therefore vnder certaine generall heads he hath bounded the desires of the flesh and taught vs after what man◅ and rule wee should square all our petitions For whatsoeuer wee shall desire against the directions therein contained disagreeth from the will of God and therefore is neither good holy not profitable 2. That wee may bee able thereby to conceiue frame and make all our prayers according to our seuerall necessities and after that petition which fitteth vs as our occasions shall alter The Lords Prayer analysed Our father 1. Chr. 29.10 A Father not a Iudge One beeing a name of goodnesse Comfortable The other of Power Terrible Who durst bee so bold as to call thee Father but that Christ did commaund it For exceeding great is thy Maiestie And exceeding great is our Pouertie But wee are bold to doe it for we come not of our selues thy Sonne Christ hath taught vs the Forme Take notice of the words they are thy Sonnes Father Luc. 3.38 1. Of all Creatures In Creation Preseruation Gouerning 2. Of Mankinde which he formed after his owne Image Gen. 1.26 9.6 3. Of Christians more especially by Grace Regeneration Eph. 1.4,5 Iam. 1.18 1. Pet. 1.23 and adoption by Iesus Christ who was the Sonne of God by Nature Father There is no Father like vnto thee When my Father and mother forsake me Psa 27.10 then the Lord will take mee vp Thou art our Father Esa 63.16 though Abraham bee ignorant of vs. 49.15 Though a woman forget the Fraite of her wombe yet will not I forget thee A most indulgent Father To whom the prodigall sonne arose and went Luc. 15.18 whom the insoluant seruant besought Mat. 18.27 Though thou bee an angry Father yet a Father thou art Though I be a wastfull and disobedient sonne yet a sonne I am Though I haue lost the duty of a sonne yet hast not Thou lost the compassion and Loue of a Father Father Whom we finde so to be By his inciting vs to good Confirming vs in it Deliuering vs from tentations Reclaiming vs from sinne Crowning vs with blessings 1. If thou our Father Then are we sonnes How great what manner of Loue hast thou bestowed vpon vs 1. Ioh. 3.1 that we should be called the sonnes of God 2. If thou our Father and we the sonnes of God How great is the Honour that wee are as it were Gods 3. If thou our Father Then are we brethren to Angels as also to Men. Heb. 2.12 Saints as also to Meane men Christ himselfe as also to Poore men How great ought our Charity be Let no man therefore extoll himselfe aboue his Brethren nor be ashamed to call any man Brother whom God hath vouchsafed to call sonne 4 If thou our Father How great is our Hope What are wee to expect from thee Euen all things which a Father giueth to his Children Mat. 7.11 What are wee to render vnto thee Euen all Dutie and Obedience belonging to Children Malach. 1.6 1. Pet. 1.17 Our father In no part of this prayer is found either the word Mine or J. Our is a word of Charitie and Vnitie Let euery one therefore not only pray for himselfe but for others also considering that in so doing hee prayeth for him whom Charitie hath made as himselfe Christ bore vs all in his body let vs do the like to one another in word and deed For our selues Necessity compelleth vs to pray My Father For our brethren Charity inuiteth vs to pray Our Father In these two words Our and Father is comprehended the Law and Prophets In Father the Loue of God In Our the Loue of
and suitable to his nature to haue mercy but hee is hardly drawne to punish as being a worke altogither vnsuitable to his disposition To them that loue mee With their whole heart without hypocrisie and doe not impart that worship to others which is due to him And keepe my Commandements In obedience walking in his waies All his Commandements but chiefely this concerning his worship The third Commandement Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord wil not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine THe Name of the LORD which in it selfe is Holy True and Iust Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord in vaine And therefore wee ought not to prophane it or take it in our mouthes lightly or vpon euery small occasion Herein we offend When we Blaspheme God either openly or in our hearts When we vse his Holy Word to any prophane scurrilous or impure end When we commit Periurie When we murmure against him When we leaue his Prouidence and consult with Witches or the like When we sweare vpon triuiall and light causes When we curse or vse vnlawfull Imprecations When wee performe not that which we faithfully promise When we in any action of our owne detract from Gods Glory and attribute and arrogate too much to our selues For the Lord will not c. The Lord and Iudge of Heauen and Earth who seeth and obserueth all our actions is so farre from conniuing at this sinne that without repentance he will condemne euery one that offendeth therein Saul 1. Sam. 14. â—… for vnaduised Cursing and adiuration lost a victory against the Philistims 1. Sam. 14.24 For consulting with a Witch 31.4 was with his sonnes brought to vntimely ends Sennacherib 2. Kings 19.10 for blaspheming God was slaine by his owne sonnes Ananias Act. 5.5 for lying to the holy Ghost died suddenly The fourth Commandement Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabboth day c. IN this Commandement are two things contained 1. A Precept or declaration of the will of God To set apart some day 1. To the publique worship of God 2. In ceasing from our labours 2. A Reason of the Commandement 1. Because God after the Creation rested on the seuenth day 2. Because he also blessed and Sanctified it Remember Let not worldly cares put it out of thy minde but obserue it with all care and Religion 1. Not without great cause was this Precept so strictly vrged 1. Because by the neglect of it ariseth the neglect of all Spirituall duties 2. Because that in it was contained a Type or shadow of the great and euerlasting Sabboth which is our Sanctification 3. Because that we haue therby some time to shew mercy to our seruants and beasts wearied with labour That thou keepe holy c. In frequenting the Church and there to exercise thy selfe In Prayer Hearing the Word Receiuing the Sacraments In pious and religious workes as Visiting the sicke Releeuing the poore Meditating on Gods worke Praising him for them In refraining from sinne In resting from seruile labour And although that part of the Iewes Sabboth be abrogated which respected the Seuenth day Sacrifices and other exterior acts of Gods worship commanded and enioyned to the Iewes yet the Church hath appointed in stead thereof the Lords day or Sonday called the first day of the weeke wherein all Christians are bound to retaine and obserue all the duties of the first Sabboth Reue. 1.10 Act. 20.7 1. Cor. 16.2 auoiding the Iewish strict and superstitious Ceremonies Sixe dayes c. In following the vocation appointed there by God wherein thou art to omit nothing necessary for the sustentation of thy family And not to spend those sixe dayes wholly in idlenesse pleasures or excesse Nor in the publique duties of the Sabboth and thereby neglecting the care ouer thy family But the seuenth day In that day neither thou nor any of thy familie or cattell shall doe any seruile labour except in case of necessity and preseruation of Gods Creatures from damage or losse but ye shall spend it in those religious duties formerly set downe In case of necessitie Mar. 2.27 The Sabboth being made for man and not man for the Sabboth we are to conceiue that it was ordeined not to destroy but to preserue him and therefore all workes are not forbidden that day 1. As dressing of meate Numb 28.1 By the example of the Priests who on the Sabboth killed the Beasts for sacrifice and dressed the rest And of Christs Disciples plucking eares of corne Mat. 12.1 and Tertullian saith that the Ancient and Primitiue Church neuer fasted on the Sabboth day De Coron militis c. 3. 2. Ministring Phisicke to the sicke Luc. 6. By the example of our Sauiour healing on that day Io. 5. 3. Sauing Corne Hay Houses and the like from perishing By our Sauiours question to the Pharises Mat. 12.11 2. The Reason why God commanded the obseruation of the first Sabbath was 1. Because after God by his Word had created the vniuerse of nothing hee rested himselfe from all the worke that he had made Gen. 2.2 2. Because this day was by him blessed and sanctified And the Reason why the Seuenth day was changed into the first day of the weeke vpon which the Christians Sabbath is obserued was in remembrance of our Sauiours Resurrection which hapned on this day as may be gathered by Christs selecting that day to appeare twice to his Apostles after his Resurrection Ioh. 20,19.26 The second Table The fifth Commandement Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee AS the first Table teacheth the Honor and loue of God so doth the second the Dutie we owe to our Neighbour And the first Commandement of this Table enioyneth vs to honour and reuerence our Parents as being the thing which God esteemeth next in degree to his Honor. And it containeth First A Precept Secondly A Promise 1 The Precept is Generall and Particular 1 The Generall comprehendeth our Dutie to all our Elders and Superiors whom God hath set ouer vs for our gouernement and preseruation which dutie is of necessitie to be performed in respect of the vpholding of Politique gouernement 2. The particular Precept conteineth our dutie to our naturall Parents Father and Mother of what degree estate or condition soeuer they be Whether Poore or Rich Good or Bad this Commandement layeth hold on vs. Honour thy Father and Mother That which we are enioyned to doe by these words is to Reuerence them as from whom we receiued our being Loue them for their care sorrow and paines in our education Obey them in all lawfull things as being appointed by God to command ouer vs. Be thankefull to them In requiting their charge and loue In ministring to their necessities Be
patient with them In their Correction and bearing with all their Infirmities That which we are forbidden to do against them is Exo. 21.17 Leuit. 20.9 Not to speake euill of them or to curse them Mat. 15.5 Mat. 7.11 Not to see them want Not to be ashamed of them for pouerty or other cause whatsoeuer That thy dayes may c. 2. The Promise is made to all such as shall keepe this Precept which is Long dayes of life here and happy too else they would be no better then a Curse Long dayes hereafter for euer in blisse which is the highest blessing that can befall to any This Promise God made 1. To prouoke vs to that Dutie of reuerencing and obeying our Parents and Superiours 2. To shew how highly he esteemeth of it The sixth Commandement Thou shalt not kill THis Commandement followeth properly and in order in the next place for mans life being the most previous thing in this world and vpon which all other things depend God seemeth to take care by this Commandement for peace and quietnesse whereby mans life may be preserued Thou shalt not kill Neither thy selfe nor others Neither shalt thou haue any desire to doe any such act Vnder this Commandement are diuers other particulars forbidden for as God forbiddeth the Act so doth he command that all occasions or meanes to execute that Act be forborne and taken away If God command vs not to kil then he prohibits Anger Quarrelling Chiding Hatred Mat. 5.22 And all other things of this nature which may be as prouocations ro flaughter And on the contrary hee enioyneth vs. To loue our neighbours as our selues To liue peaceably and quietly with them To doe good for euill And all this because Man is the Image of God Flesh of our Flesh The thing that Christ paid so deare for The seuenth Commandement Thou shalt not commit Adulterie Thou shalt not commit adulterie THe chiefe aime and scope of this Commandement is to preserue the marriage bed inuiolate And with great reason it is placed next to the prohibiting of homicide because that next and dearest to a man after his owne life is the preseruation and Honot of his wife for they two are but one flesh Gen. 2.24 And by this Commandement is also implicitly and secretly forbidden Whoredome Incest Sodomy a Rom. 1.26 Sinnes against Nature b Mat. 5.28 Vnlawfull desires and affections Vncleannesse Euill talke Obscene songs and impudent behauiour vnciuill sights Lasciuions Pictures Intemperance of diet Delicacy and excesse in Apparrell and the like being prouocations to the Sinne here forbidden And as wee are prohibited these things so are we commanded hereby To liue Chastely Temperately Mat. 5.8 Modestly and Purely in heart For by these Vertues as our Sauiour telleth vs wee shall come to the beatificiall vision of God and enioy that Blessednesse which he hath promised to those that in purenesse of heart loue and serue him The eight Commandement Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt not steale THat is thou shalt not take from another any thing which is not thine owne And against this Commandement we may offend diuers waies By committing Sacriledge taking any thing from the Church By with holding that which is due to King or Prince By robbing on the high way or out of houses By deceiuing any man In bargaining In false weights and measures In being bankrupt without cause By oppressing the poore or keeping his pledge By encroching vpon the possessions of any other either by violence openly or by fraud in remouing Land markes c. By keeping that which is found from the true owner By denying or concealing a trust By detaining the Laborers hire By Liuing idlely and eating out of another mans labour By neglecting a Masters Seruice and mispending his goods The Ninth Commandement Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy Neighbour Thou shalt not beare false witnesse c. THou shalt not giue false euidence before a Iudge against any man Whosoeuer doth so is not only guilty of the breach of this Commandement but of the Third also in committing Periurie Neither is false Testimony with an Oath forbidden only but also without an Oath 1 Thou shalt not accuse thy brother vniustly Slander him Reuile him Backebite him Abuse him by vnciuill iests 2 Thou shalt not lie or equiuocate Either for sport Or to auoid danger or losse For although some seeme to approue Of Iacob Gen. 27.19 in lying to his Father that he was Esau The Midwines Exo. 1.19 to saue the Children Rahab the Harlot Iosu 2.4.5 to saue the spies Michol 1. Sam. 19.14 to saue Dauid her Husband Iudith Iud. 11.5 to deceiue Holofernes Aug. Yet it is safer with Saint August to hold that all lyes being directly opposite to truth must needs be sinne The Tenth Commandement Thou shalt not couet thy Neighbours house Thou shalt not c. THis Commandement is directly against Couetousnesse or euill Concupiscence the issue of Originall Sinne which was deriued to all mankinde after the fall of Adam Not Couet No man ought to couet or desire no not so much as in his heart any thing which belongeth to another man and whereby he may receiue any damage or detriment Neither his house which is his inheritance and his defence against the heate of the Sunne and the sharpnesse of the cold Nor his wife which is bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh His partner as well in sorrow as pleasure Nor his Seruants without whose helpe and labour he cannot dispatch his affaires Nor his Cattell which doe his worke In conclusion nothing which may any way preiudice him Now seeing that Ia. 2.10 He which is guiltie in breaking one part of the Law offendeth in all and that to the keeping of it the whole inward and outward man is required and that the flesh while wee are in this world is wholly opposite to the Spirit It is impossible for vs to fulfill the same by our owne endeauours For it is with vs as it was with Saint Paul Rom. 7.18 In our flesh dwelleth no good thing and the good that we would we doe not but the euill which we would not that we doe And seeing also that Rom. 3.20 by thee deedes of the Lawe no man can be iustified not that the Lawe is in fault being good of it selfe but our owne flesh Rom. 8.7.8 the carnall minde being enmitie with God and they which are in the flesh not being able to please him for the comfort therefore of all when as neither the workes of the Law could iustifie vs nor we were able to fulfill the same God of his infinite mercy sent his Sonne Christ Iesus into the world Galat. 3.13.14 that he suffering death for vs might redeeme vs from the curse of the Law that we might receiue the promise of the Spirit through Faith For in him all the
to me that haue confidence in nothing but thy meere mercy O Lord it griueth me that I haue offended thy Maiestie and it grieueth me much that I can grieue no more then I doe And I humbly pray thee by the Death Passion and Intercession of thy Sonne Christ Iesus to pardon my offences promising that if I recouer my former health thy grace assisting me to abstaine from displeasing thy Maiestie hereafter I willingly O Lord and freely from my heart for thy sake forgiue all offendors and offences against me and I heartily desire all those whom I haue any way offended to forgiue me O Lord though my naturall man trembleth at the thought of death yet I professe that I am willing to die if it be thy good pleasure I haue receiued life and all the blessings of this life from thee what shall I render backe to thee for them I will willingly receiue this Cup of death and praise thy Name Psal 31.6 I commend into thy hands my spirit and whither thou disposest of me to liue or die I resigne it to thy good will and disposition and humblie pray thee that if thou seest it good for mee to prolong my dayes on earth that thou wouldst renew my conuersation by the direction of thy holy Spirit that I may passe those dayes in thy feare if thou be otherwise pleased to dispose of me take mee I beseech thee into the armes of thy mercie for Iesus Christs sake my only Sauiour and Redeemer Or thus O GOD of all consolation who hast promised to heare all those that faithfully call vpon thee and not to reiect any that with a contrite heart and penitent soule shall humble himselfe before thee I humbly intreat thee in the name and mediation of thy Sonne Iesus Christ that thou wouldest bee pleased to bee mercifull to mee thy poore Seruant at this time afflicted with sicknesse O Lord pardon forget and blot out of thy remembrance whatsoeuer I haue committed against thee in the whole course of my life Seale and confirme vnto me by thy Spirit a pardon vnto me for all my offences that I may thereby receiue such comfort in my soule that I may with all ioy and willingnesse depart out of this life vnto thee Let me be certified that there is Rom. 8.1 no condemnation to those which are vnited and engraffed into Iesus Christ by Faith that I may be confident 32. that neither my sinnes death the Deuill nor ought else can draw me away or separate me from thee and that I may be assured that thy Throne will not be to me a Barre of seueritie but a Hauen of safety and a sure Sanctuary and refuge for mee to flie vnto Strengthen this Faith in me which may serue as a Buckler to defend me from all tentations and that forsaking the confidence or strength of all other things I may flie wholly to thy mercy in Christ Iesus whereby I may be protected from the Terrors of thy Iudgement Grant vnto mee distressed sinner these graces euen for the same Iesus Christ his sake who with thee and the Holy Spirit liueth and raigneth for euer Or thus ALmightie and euerlasting God whose yeares faile not and who hast determined the daies of man which he cannot passe yet thy selfe endurest for euer and thy Throne from generation to generation Remember that I am but dust like grasse and my dayes as the flower of the field which flourisheth in the morning and in the euening is dried vp and withered Psal 39.5 O let me know my end make me mindefull of my mortalitie Psal 39.14 I am a stranger with thee and a soiourner as all my fathers were and cannot promise my selfe one houre much lesse any dayes or yeares in this my Pilgrimage Psal 6.2.3 I am like a tottering wall and a broken fence giue mee grace therefore that I trust not in the vncertainty of this life like the rich foole in the Gospell but that I may euery houre Luc. 12. prepare my selfe in thy feare to passe out of this fraile mansion and to expect thee with a solid faith and firme hope waiting cheerefully for the day and time of my dissolution Tit. 2.13 And looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Saniour Iesus Christ Make me like the faithfull and wise seruant euer ready and prepared for the comming of my Lord lest being suddenly preuented I bee taken like a Bird in the snare of the Fowler O Lord thou hast by this gentle correction put me in minde of my mortalitie giue me also Grace that I may make good vse of it that I may cast of all the cares of this world and wholly betake my selfe to make my peace with thee And I humbly pray thee that thou wouldst not forget me in my paines and miseries in all my infirmities be not farre from me when by reason of the terrors of death and assaults of the enemie I shall haue most neede of thy helpe but strengthen my soule with thy holy grace against all tentation that my Faith faile mee not but that thy holy Spirit assisting me I may ouercome my spirituall enemies and at the houre of death Lord I beseech thee let thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word Luc. 2.29 Or thus BLessed Lord Iesus Christ the only comfort of the liuing and the eternall life of those which dye in thee I wholly submit my selfe to thy blessed Will whether it please thee to suffer my soule any longer to liue in this earthly Tabernacle to serue thee or to haue it depart out of this transitory world being certainely assured that it cannot perish being committed to thy keeping O Lord I put of this fraile flesh with a willing minde in the hope of the Resurrection of it at the last day togither with my soule when it will become much more glorious and happie then now it is I beseech thee O Lord Iesu strengthen mee with thy Grace against all temptations and defend mee with the shield of thy mercie against all the assaults of the Deuill I know that of my selfe I haue no strength wherefore my whole confidence is in thee I haue no merits of mine owne to alleadge for I see many yea too many of my sins to stand vp against me but by thy mercy I trust that thou wilt repute â—…e amongst the Iust Thou wert borne for me didst hunger thirst fast and pray for me thou didst many good workes and sufferedst many bitter things for my sake Let thy blood wash away the spots of my offences Let thy Iustice couer my vnrighteousnesse and thy Merits plead for me before the great and seuere Iudge And as my sicknesse encreaseth let thy Grace encrease that my faith faile not my hope wauer not nor my loue to thee waxe cold Let me not bee cast downe or deiected with the terror of death but when death shall seize on the eyes of my body let the eyes of my soule looke to thee and when the vse of my tongue shall faile me let my heart crie vnto thee Psal 31.6 I commend my spirit into thy hands O Lord who liuest and raignest c. Psal 23.4 Although thou kill me yet will I trust in thee and though I walke in the midst of the shadow of death yet will I not feare because thou Lord art with me A short Table of the chiefe Heads contained in this Booke A Generall Exhortation to Prayer page 1 In regard of Gods Precept 2 Promise 3 Christs example ibid. The Necessity ibid. The Dignitie 4 The Benefit 5 Directions how to Pray 1. To God only 8 2. In Faith 9 3. In Hope 10 4. In Charitie ibid. 5. In Humilitie of Spirit 12 13 Of Body 14 6. In Perseuerance 15 with feruency and attention 17 The Time for Prayer 20 The Place for Prayer 21 How to pray aright 22 Prayer diuided into Parts 25 The vse of the Lords Prayer 28 The Lords Prayer analysed 32 Petitions for spirituall Graces 68 A Prayer before Prayer 78 Before a Sermon 80 Petitions for temporall blessings 82 Rules for the Morning 84 Morning prayers priuate 85 For a Family 97 Rules for the Euening and Night 102 Euening prayers priuate 105 For a Family 116 Prayers For a married man 121 For a married woman 124 For a Childe 126 For a woman with Childe 128 For a young man or maid 129 For a Seruant 132 Before a Iourney 133 After a Iourney 135 Intercession 137 Deprecation 140 In affliction 145 In time of Pestilence 147 The Creed analysed 152 Confession of Gods Glory 164 Motiues to Repentance 169 The Dutie of Repentance 175 Confession of sinnes 179 Seuen Penitentiall Psalmes analysed 218 Direction before the Sacrament 259 Meditations and Prayers before the Sacrament 263 Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament 276 Motiues to Thankesgiuing 285 Thankesgiuings 289 Seuen Psalmes of Thankesgiuing analysed 305 Imprecation 345 The Tenne Commandements analysed 350 Meditations of death 384 Meditations for the sicke 387 Prayers for the sicke 395 FINIS Faults escaped Page 38. line 16. in the margent reade Hallowed p. 80. l. â—… r. thou p. 97. in the mar r Gen. 1.26.9.6 p. 114. l. 7. r. seuenty times seuen p. 116. l. 9. r. sleep in peace p. 119 l. vlt. r. powre p. 130. l. 1. r. selfe be able to get p. 144. l. 13. r. sentence Depart p. 156. l. 9. put out vs. p. 164. l. vlt. r. bosome p. 169 l. 9. r. who p. 178. l. 5. r. Repentance p. 190. l. 6. r. I haue brought forth p. 211. l. 15. r. art patient p. 267. l. 16. r. long p. 271. l. 6. r. the greatnesse p. 291. 17. r. damnation p. 297. l. 16. r. Iust man of a sinner p. 307. l. 23. r. thy vicegerent p. 309. l. 15. r. triumph p. 314. l. 8. r. to the end that all p. 323. l. 17. for not onely r. as well p. 328. l. 23. r. felt p. 329 l. 7. r. with p. 340. l. 13. r. wherewith p. 341 l 26. r. generations p. 345. l. 14. r. incorrigible p. 374. l. 10. r. beatificall