usefull for those particular occasions whereto they are directed which I shall be very glad and joyfull if my children grand-children kindred friends or any good Christian that shall peruse them may make a good and right use of them to Gods glory And I doe most heartily and humbly pray that God will vouchsafe to heare in heaven and to receive accept and grant their just requests to his owne honour their comfort and my great happinesse who am a wel-wisher and true lover of their soules in the Lord. Eliz. Richardson THese Prâ—â—â—â—â— I composed for the instructions of my children grand-children after the example of my dear parents Sir Thomas Beaumont and his Lady of Stoughton in the County of Leicester who I thinke were as carefull and industrious to breed up their children which were living in the instruction and information of the Lord to serve and obey God as any parents could possibly be which made them take much paines with us more then is usuall by their endeavours to bring us to know and feare God and to keep his Commandements Which Solomon saith is the whole duty of man But when parents have done the best and all we can it is Gods grace and blessing that must perfect the worke which I humbly pray him to adde to accomplish my desire to their eternall happinesse An Exhortation concerning Prayer BEfore thou goest to pray consider seriously of these three things which are very necessary to fit and prepare thee the better for that holy and blessed exercise First ponder with thy selfe into whose presence wee come and to whom we presume to speak being before the great Majesty of God Almighty Secondly in what manner we pray and to what end our prayers tend which must chiefly respect the glory of God and his service and then out owne desires and necessities both for soule and body Thirdly weigh well what good or hurt what benefit or danger may ensue by the performing of this duty carefully or negligently 1. A short Petition to precede any other Prayers O Lord Holy Ghost who knowest my corrupt heart and the frailty of my soule which can performe no good but by thy grace Vouchsafe my Lord to sanctifie assist and teach me the unworthiest of thy servants by thy holy Spirit so to pray now and alwayes that my supplications may be faithfull and acceptable to my God to his glory and the comfort and good of my selfe both in soul and body for ever Amen 2. A Prayer to God the Holy Ghost for the true spirit of grace in prayer O God Holy Ghost the giver of all good gifts and graces give mee thy true Spirit Lord who art the comforter and sanctifier of thine Elect thou knowest my great and manifold infirmities and frailties all which I humbly pray thee in thy love and mercie to heale and helpe And Lord give me power strength and grace by thy assistance to resist and overcome all wicked assaults and temptations of the divell that seeke to draw me from God and goodnesse and lead mee to all evill but vouchsafe Lord I beseech thee still to be present with me in this holy exercise and indue thy poore servant with thy blessed Spirit and gift of prayer to call upon thy glorious Name faithfully and sincerely whereby my unworthy petitions though full of imperfections may be received and accepted by thee And Lord banish all wandring thoughts and wicked hindrances from my soule in the performance of this my bounden duty and service that I owe unto thee my God Father Son and Holy Ghost And be pleased Lord to assist mee now and ever with thy grace to worship thee at all times in spirit and truth as thou requirest and not to present a dead dull and corrupt offering unto my Lord of the lips without the heart or by joyning in my thoughts God and the world or mammon together which thou hatest and so make my prayers abominable to thy Majesty for thou hast made the heart who ought and must be served and honoured with it Therefore I humbly pray thee to inable me by thy assistance to offer unto thee my God a holy and living sacrifice of my selfe my prayers and praises daily in a right and acceptable manner not looking so much to the benefit and recompence of reward that shall bee received thereby from thy mercifull hands to my owne good but chiefly for the honour and glory of thy great Name whose I am and whom I am bound to serve and from whom I have already received so many great blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall for which I render most humble and hearty thanks unto thy Majesty Now lastly deare Lord Holy Ghost I earnestly beg of thee daily to unite mee unto thy glorious head and only Saviour Jesus Christ that so I may performe with true faith good devotion humility and sincerity this and all other holy duties and services according to thy blessed will and word to thy glory and my great comfort now and for ever So be it 3. A short preface before any other Prayers for the Lords day ALmighty Lord God in whose glorious presence I am presuming to take thy sacred name into my sinfull mouth before thee Lord I most humbly prostrate my selfe thou seest the heart and knowest our wants before we aske yet hast thou commanded us to ask in thy Sons name promising for his sake to grant us all needfull blessings both for soule and body O Lord thou understandest my great weaknesse and disability who can doe no good but by thy assistance I now most humbly pray thee to keep all evill interruptions from my heart and soule and so to indue mee with thy true Spirit of grace and prayer in performing this duty and service to thy glorious Majesty that so all my supplications may now and at all times be right faithfull acceptable and pleasing unto thee and by thy great mercy also prevailing for my good and furtherance of my salvation through my only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen 4. A Prayer for the Lords day at first awaking O Most glorious Lord God the high and gracious Creator of heaven and earth with all things therein Thou didst finish that mighty workin six dayes and rested the seventh commanding thy Church and people of the Jewes to keep holy the seventh day to thy due service and praise But our Lord Jesus having finished the redemption of mankinde by his crosse and passion and bitter sufferings didst bury that Sabbath in his grave upon that day and by thy Spirit didst guide thy Apostles and Christian Church to sanctifie and keep holy this first day of the weeke in perpetuall memory of his glorious resurrection and eternall rest from that labour and suffering for our redemption to thy due service and praise blessed be thy holy name therefore And now dear Lord for all my former neglects of my duty herein for Jesus his sake pardon my sinfull breaches of this and all
which we ought to give him continuall thanks Secondly the infinitenesse of our grievous sins Our mâ—â—◠◠〈…〉 neâ—â—ssiâ—iâ—â— for which we must of necessity daily aske mercy and pardon from him Thirdly our owne manifold miseries and infirmities for which we are constrained to seek reliefe and remedy The first of thâ—se David considered saying What shall I render unto the Lord for all Psal 116. 12 13. his benefits towards me I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name 9. 1. of the Lord I will praise him with my whole heart all the daies of my life All his Psalmes are full of thanksgiving To the second Christ inviteth us saying Come unto me all ye that are weary and Matth. 11. 28. heavy laden and I will ease you If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the just He is the 1 Jo. 2. 1. 2. 1. reconciliation for the sins of the whole 9. world And if wee acknowledge our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse For the third wee are incouraged by God himselfe saying Call upon me in the day of trouble so will I deliver Psal 50. 15. Isay Matth. 8. 17. thee and thou shalt glorifie me for he will have mercy upon us and heal all our infirmities and when wee are in misery he saveth and delivereth us Now for the performance of our duty in thanksgiving the blotting out of all our offences and the release of our miseries with the continuance of Gods grace and favour in all things the chiefe and only way to find and obtain all is rightly to seek and truly to serve the Lord by prayer who is the author and fountain of all goodnes grace and mercy Every good gift comming from above even from him that freely saith Aske and yee shall receive seek and yee shall finde knock and it shall be opened unto you for hee that is Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him in truth and the prayer of the faithfull avails much if it be fervent for faithfull and devout prayer is a continuall intercourse and communion betwixt the Lord and us and it is like Jacobs ladder by which our prayers make our wants ascend unto God and his mercie descend downe upon us for with the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse and with the mouth we confesse unto salvation but take heed in sending up thy desires prefer the good of the Col. 3. 2. soule before the pleasures or content of thy body and set thy affections on things that are above First seeke the Kingdome Mat. 6. 33. of God and his righteousnesse and all other wants shall be supplied by his mercie according to his will and our necessities And when thou enterest into the house of God take heed thou offer not unto him the sacrifice of fooles but before thou prayest prepare thy self Col. 3. 2. Eccles 4. 17. 18. 22. thy heart and tongue as David did lest thou tempt God to displeasure Be not rash with thy mouth nor let thy heart be hasty to utter a thing before God But ere thou presume to present thy self Psal 108. 1. or service unto the Lord meditate upon these three things First of the reverence we owe to the great Majesty of God Psal 104. in whose presence we are and to whom we must speake this brings humility and lowlinesse of spirit which makes us acceptable unto him Secondly of our knowledge and beliefe of the Lords Esay 65. 24. Job 15. 16 sweet and gracious promises which causeth boldnesse to come unto him with sure confidence of being heard Thirdly of our unworthinesse and what apprehension we have of our owne wants and miseries and the great necessity of Gods helpe and mercy to relieve us This makes us to know and hate our selves and to love and honour God in whom is all our help hope and happinesse therefore with devout reverence zeal humility and true faith flye unto his mercy and cease not to call often as David did seven times a day upon the holy Name of the Lord Psal 119. 164. by whom we shall bee saved Rom. 10. 13. 1. A preparation to Prayer O Everlasting fountaine of all goodnesse and well-spring of grace without whose speciall assistance we are altogether unapt and unable to performe any duty or service that may be acceptable unto thee Vouchsafe therefore deare Lord to helpe mine infirmities who cannot of my selfe pray as I ought but let thy holy Spirit direct and teach me truly to call upon thy divine Name with a penitent and faithfull heart an humble contrite and lowly spirit a quiet observant and recollected minde freed from the vanities and cares of this vilde world or the love of this present life so as I may dedicate my selfe wholly unto thee a living sacrifice faithfully and devoutly to serve thee now and all the daies of my life O Lord make mee to lift up innocent hands with a pure heart and guide thou my lips with wisdome and set a watch of grace before my mouth that my tongue may not offend thee at any time but duly praise thy glorious Name now and for ever Amen 2. A Prayer to the Holy Ghost O Gracious Lord Holy Ghost I humbly beseech thee to fit and prepare my heart and to direct and assist me in the right and true performance of this duty and service now of prayer towards my God Thou understandest my disability of my selfe to any goodnesse neither know I how to pray as I ought except thy holy Spirit teach me Therefore I earnestly and humbly pray thee to give mee thy grace and true spirit of prayer that so I may now and at all times offer up my petitions and praises in calling upon thy great and glorious Name in a right faithfull and acceptable manner to the glory of God and the good and comfort of me thy poor servant in soul and body with the furtherance of my salvation through Jesus Christ my blessed and only Saviour Amen 3. A Preface to any Prayer O My Lord in all humility I come unto thee the giver of all grace thou knowest my unaptnesse to any goodnesse thou hast given me an earnest desire to please thee make perfect thine owne good worke and grant me a ready will and ability to performe my humble duty herein aright that so I may sincerely and intirely love fear and honour thee above all and most carefully obey thy blessed will in all things Good Father let thy manifold mercies cover my infinite offences from thy All-seeing eyes and by thy grace cast all vaine thoughts and sinfull hindrances out of my soule that thy sacred Spirit may direct my spirit to pray with due reverence to thy Majesty confidence in thy mercy with sure trust in thy promises and feare of thy judgements And that I may offer up all my supplications unto thee with unfeigned
for thee before thou hadst being to understand thine owne wretched estate Oh my Lord God! how good and gracious hast thou ever been in all thy mercies both spirituall and temporall towards me the least and unworthiest of thy servants before I was borne and ever since from time to time Now Lord I humbly pray thee in the same love and favour from which I have hitherto received so many and great benefits vouchsafe thou alwaies to continue thy blessings unto me especially in daily renewing all spirituall graces in my soule for the true performance of all holy duties and service in a right and acceptable manner towards thy Majesty and Lord make my humble thankfulnesse unto thee appeare in my true obedience of thee in all things that I may duly praise and glorifie thy name for ever Now deare God let not thy mercy in prolonging my daies encrease the number of my sinnes and so to heap up wrath unto my selfe against the day of wrath by drawing upon me due punishments for my offences but mercifull God adde thou grace unto my daies and for Jesus sake forgive all my sinnes past that I have done before thee in my whole life time especially in my many breaches of this holy and blessed Lords day which we keep in remembrance of our Saviours resurrection with all my neglects and defects in the performance of my duties towards thee this present day and heretofore according to thy Commandements And grant O God through thy mercies and my Saviours merits that my iniquities may never bee imputed unto mee but Lord let thy goodnesse patience and long sufferings lead me to daily and unfaigned repentance and give me true faith in all thy gracious promises and by the assistance of thy holy Spirit to bring forth amendment of all my former faults with true obedience unto thy blessed will and holinesse of living all my life to come That so I may obtaine grace and favour in thy sight to prevent and keep mee hereafter from all sin and evil or offending thee my God in thought word and deed and direct thou my waies right before thee in all godlinesse and uprightnesse of heart that I may be enabled through my Lord Jesus Christ to doe every good worke and by thy grace to live here according to all thy Commandements and when thou pleasest to call for mee â—ut of this wicked world unto thy selfe Lord assist me with thy spirit and grace to make a blessed end and to die in thee my Lord and so I shall finde mercie through the merits of my Saviour Jesus after death to be accepted and received into the Kingdome of heaven and through Christ my Saviour may bee admitted into thy glorious presence O God where is the fulnesse of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore of which Lord make me a happy partaker when this life is ended Amen Amen 10. A Prayer for Munday to God the Father at first awaking I Will praise thee with my whole heart for thou hast dealt lovingly with mee Blessed and praised now and ever be thy most glorious Name O my God heavenly Father for all thy great and manifold mercies and blessings both spirituall and temporall in soule and body vouchsafed unto mee thy most unworthy and sinfull servant before I was borne and hitherto this last night and all my life past for thy favours have ever been right good and gracious towards mee having done great and many things for mee praysed be thy most holy Name who hast been my only stay succour helpe and comfort in this world and thy infinite mercy in Ghrist is all my hope and confidence for the life to come Now Gracious Lord who hast been my good God and guide from my youth have pity upon my infirmities and for Jesus sake forgive all my sinnes that I have committed before thee in my whole life past and let thy mercy and truth never leave me nor forsake me neither in life in death nor in the last judgement but be pleased by thy Spirit to say alwaies unto my soule especially at my death thou art my God and my salvation for in thee will I trust so long as I live and for ever So be it A short supplication before the weekly Prayers 11. A morning Prayer for Munday to God the Father HEare me when I call upon thee O God of my righteousnesse have mercy upon mee and hearken unto my prayer Most Gracious Lord God and my heavenly Father in Christ Jesus my Saviour thou knowest my great and grievous infirmities that I can of my selfe neither will nor performe any good nor think a good thought but by thy grace therefore I most humbly pray thee to indue mee thy poore unworthy servant with thy holy Spirit whereby these and all other my prayers and petitions that I presume to offer unto thy Majesty may by thy assistance be made in a right manner and in an acceptable time when thou wilt please to be found of me and graciously to heare and receive me and my supplications And now vouchsafe dear God to sanctifie prepare and assist my heart and soule with thy true Spirit of grace and prayer to drive away all vaine and wandring thoughts sluggish dulnesse and all evill temptations out of my minde and knit my heart and soule to the true feare of thy great Name and to the devout love of thy divine Majesty and teach mee with all due reverence and such true humility and devotion as is fit to appear in thy sacred presence that I may rightly faithfully and humbly now and at all times call upon thy holy Name as I ought to doe and daily pray unto thee O my blessed Lord God who hast awaked mee in health and safety to this daies light which I most thankfully acknowledge with all other thy blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall bestowed on me thy sinfull servant from time to time beseeching thee of thy infinite mercy alwaies to continue them unto me And as thy gracious providence hath brought me to begin this new day so Lord by thy power defend me therein from falling into any sin or evill to offend thee but give me grace at this present to performe and ever continue to lead a new a holy and an upright life in thy sight all the rest of my daies to come to frame my heart and reforme my waies in all true obedience hereafter to thy most holy will and Commandements And further I humbly praise thy glorious Name for thy gracious preservation of me and mine and all other thy benefits vouchsafed me the last night and all my life past unto this instant houre having hitherto given me health maintenance and safety which I pray thee whilst I live still to vouchsafe me and make me truly thankfull to thee for all thy mercies and let thy benefits never slip out of my minde but that I may daily and duly acknowledge them to the true praise of thy
righteousnesse that so all thy graces may daily increase in me and my humble and unperfect service in calling on thy holy name may grow daily more faithfull and fervent now and at all times to be acceptable unto thee through the merits of thy deare Son and my only Saviour in whom thou art well-pleased Amen 7. A short thanksgiving at the first sight of the morning light O Lord I blesse thee for my health rest and preservation this last night and all my time past And now most humbly pray thee give mee grace so to spend this day that some glory may redound unto thee by my service some benefit and good unto them with whom I live by my example and some further assurance unto my selfe of thy favour and my eternall salvation through Jesus Christ my Redeemer Amen 8. A private morning Prayer ETernall God and my most loving Father in all humility of soule and unfeigned acknowledgement of my bounden duty I humbly present my sinfull selfe here before thy Throne of grace and glory beseeching thee to strike an awfull reverence into my heart lest my presumption and want of due respect towards thy great Majesty should turne my prayers into sinne And seeing without faith it is impossible to please God indue me good Lord with true faith to believe and apply unto my owne soule all thy most gracious promises in Jesus Christ whom thou hast appointed to be my righteousnesse redemption and the reconciliation of my sins his pretious bloud I know is all sufficient to satisfie thy just displeasure against me and to make me through him to appeare pure holy and acceptable before thee But of my selfe alas I confesse that I am poor wretched miserable and wholly corrupt both in soule and body the chiefe of all sinners guilty of the breach of all thy Commandements such an one as in whom is no goodnesse and to whom there is nothing due but shame and utter confusion for ever Lord give me a lively apprehension and sight of my wofull estate that with true faith contrition and unfeigned repentance I lay hold on thy mercy and gracious pardon in thy beloved Son my only Saviour humbly beseeching thee O dear Lord to accept his blessed death as an absolute discharge for all mine offences so as my sins may never be imputed unto me but that all my infirmities may be healed by his wounds for I know thy mercy is above all thy works and thou delightest not in the death of a poor sinner Therfore I will wait for thy salvation relie on thy gracious promises and trust in thee for ever and ever Amen 9. A thanksgiving I Will praise the Name of the Lord because he is good and his mercy endureth for ever for thou hast many waies extended thy great goodnesse towards me thine unworthy servant which I acknowledge with all humble thankfulnesse for who am I that thou shouldest be mindfull of me in mercy to refresh me this night past with quiet rest and to defend both my soule and body from all the perills thereof preserving me by thy gracious providence all my life hitherto from many evills and just punishments that my sinnes have deserved should have fallen upon me And thy mercies are renewed every morning O Lord thy compassions faile not but thou hast multiplied thy benefits towards me both spirituall and temporall which I beseech thee for Christ Jesus sake still to continue and increase especially thy favour in bestowing all spirituall graces on mee needfull to salvation O let thy holy Spirit direct me in every word and good worke and fill me with the fruit of righteousnesse so as I may have a holy care this day and ever to live as in thy sight and to study to please and obey thee in all things with reverence and feare in a pure holy and blamelesse conversation O God knit my soule unto thee and create a new and upright heart within me and sanctifie me throughout in soule body and spirit that I may give up my selfe a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto thee and may be preserved from all sin and evill this day and for ever crucifie my sinfull flesh with the lusts thereof and withdraw mine affections from the love of this vile world and fix my desires on things that are above where my Saviour sitteth at thy right hand who is my treasure my hope and help with whom I trust to live for evermore Amen And further I beg all these blessings in the name merits and mediation of Jesus Christ concluding in that perfect prayer which he hath sanctified and left us saying Our Father c. 10. A Prayer for the afternoone MOst Gracious God and my mercifull Father in Jesus Christ how exceedingly are wee wretched creatures bound unto thy excellent Majesty for that unspeakable priviledge which thou vouchsafest unto mortall man to have free liberty and accesse through Christ unto thy gracious presence there to unfold our woes to powre out our soules and lay open our griefes and desires before the immortall God who is ready to heare and art both able and willing to relieve and helpe us This imboldneth me unworthy wretch to present my person and petitions unto thy grace and to call upon thy holy name through thy beloved Son Lord let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be alwaies right and acceptable in thy sight my strength and my Redeemer for thou knowest my nature and substance being but flesh and bloud how corrupt and fraile it is so that I am not of my selfe able to performe any holy duty as I ought neither to will or do any thing that is good without thou grant me the assistance of thy holy Spirit to sanctifie my thoughts to guide my tongue and to helpe my infirmities what am I but dust and ashes a most vile and miserable sinner conceived and borne in iniquity and my transgressions are daily multiplied adding sinne unto sinne till they be innumerable how have I mispent this present day the sinnes whereof may justly provoke thy heavy displeasure against me having throughout my whole life committed all evill and omitted all good and have neglected the performance of my bounden duty and service towards thee upon every flight occasion and which is worst of all custome of sinning hath seared up my conscience and deprived me of the true sight and sense of my sins and wofull estate and bred such a fearfull hardnesse in my heart that I cannot duly repent as I ought and as the greatnesse of my fault requires Thou hast called often and sought to reclaime me and hast waited to have mercy on me but I have refused and hated to be reformed carelessely neglecting thy infinite patience long sufferance and goodnesse towards me But now to thee O God of mercy I bring my heavy laden soule casting my selfe downe at thy feet beseeching thee O Lord to receive me to grace and favour and reject me not as I have
in all my necessities and chiefly for all spirituall graces to my soule And as I trust thou wilt awake mee from the dulnesse of this nights sleep in safety to the morning light so dear Lord by thy holy Spirit daily quicken my soule from the deadnesse of sinne to newnesse of life and raise me up in mercie hereafter from the darknesse of death unto light and life eternall to live with thee my God for evermore Now gracious Lord receive mee with all that doth belong unto me into thy mercifull protection now and alwaies to keep and deliver us from all sinne and evill giving us this night quiet sleep health and rest if it be thy will and grant whether I sleep or wake live or dye I may be wholly thine and doe all to thy honour and glory that so both in life and death Christ may be to me an advantage through thy infinite mercie O my blessed Lord God Now I humbly pray thee so to inlighten the darknesse of my soul and understanding with thy grace that I may see clearly the right way to heavenly happinesse and by thy assistance follow hard after it untill I have attained to it and also for thy holy Names sake defend mee from all perills and dangers of this night either to my soule or body to me or any of mine for the love of thy only Son my deare Saviour Jesus Christ for whose sake grant me also the guard of thy holy and good Angells now and ever that they may pitch their tents about mee to preserve mee from all my enemies bodily and ghostly and commit mee Lord to the custody of thy blessed Spirit to keep me from falling into any sinne or evill and to guide my waies into the paths of truth and righteousnesse that I may live in thy holy feare and dye in thy faith and favour and good God grant that in the howre of my death and in the day of judgement thy dear Son and my sweet Jesus may bee my mercifull judge and Saviour to pardon and pasle by all my sinnes and cover them with his righteousnesse that after death I may bee received and accepted into thy grace and favour to live and remaine in joy and blisse eternally with thee my God Father Son and Holy Ghost Now O God who canst doe abundantly more then I can aske or thinke to thee be all praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen 25. The conclusion for Thursday night in bed O Lord my God I thanke thee for all thy mercies vouchsafed unto mee this present day and formerly and now be pleased O Lord by thy holy Spirit to sanctifie me thy poor unworthy servant in soule body and spirit throughout to thy right faithfull and constant service all my daies and assist me with thy grace that I may daily confesse lament hate leave and amend all my former misdeeds and may become faithfully and unfainedly thine in all true obedience and sincere and perfect love toward thy Majesty both living and dying and for ever that through thy mercy and Christs merits I may be found blamelesse at the appearance of my Lord Jesus by whom I trust to obtaine to live in heaven with thee and to bee presented by my Saviour unto thy gracious acceptance in that great day of the Lord to remain with thee my God for ever Amen 26. A Prayer for Friday at first awaking to God the Son DEare Saviour Jesus have mercy upon mee a miserable sinner Thou immaculate Lambe of God that knewest no sinne but diedst for our transgressions and shed thine owne most pretious bloud to cleanse us from sinne I most humbly praise and magnifie thy holy Name for all thy mercies who hast done and suffered great and many things for mee but especially I blesse thee for those spirituall blessings thou hast bestowed upon me before I was borne and hitherto Now sweet Jesus who knowest my frailty I doe most humbly pray thee never to leave me to my self nor to my soules enemies neither while I live at my death nor in the great and dreadfull day of judgement when all things shall bee made manifest before thee and it will be wholly in thy power to save or to condemne then Lord Jesus looke in mercie on me as one of thine whom thou lovest to the end to pardon and cover all my sinnes and receive me into thy grace and favour for by thee only commeth my salvation and in thee O Lord is my whole trust Therefore vouchsafe Lord to continue thy goodnesse thy favour and thy loving kindnesse towards me this day and for ever in forgiving all my iniquities that I have committed in my whole life past and also my sinfull omission of those duties and good workes which thou hast commanded and I have wickedly neglected But I most humbly beseech thee my Saviour to indue mee thy most unworthy servant with thy grace and holy Spirit to direct my heart and all my waies aright before thee and preserve me at all times in the sincere and perfect love of thy divine Majesty and in thy feare and favour with unfaigned repentance and amendment of life that I may obtaine thy gracious pardon for all my offences and Lord give me true faith stedfast hope and perfect charity unto my liâ—â—â— end These great mercies I aske at thy gracious hands deare Jesus Christ who art my only Saviour Redeemer Mediator and Advocate to whom be all praise and glory for ever Amen 27. A morning Prayer for Friday to God the Sonne SWeet Saviour none can come to the Father but by thee and whosoever commeth unto thee thou castest not away but wilt raise him up at the last day unto eternall life Now deare Jesus thou blessed Son and innocent Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the sinnes of the world who graciously callest unto thee all heavy laden and penitent sinners that thou maiest ease and refresh them have pity on me and vouchsafe to sanctifie and cleanse my soule and body from all sinne and evill by thy holy Spirit and make mee pure and upright in thy sight and be pleased to protect and direct my heart and soule and all my waies before thee and to indue me with thy blessed Spirit to preserve mee from falling into any sin or offence towards thee but assist me with thy grace in all things I goe about to doe that I may doe that which may be most acceptable and best pleasing in thy fight Now Lord I confesse that I was conceived and borne in sinne and I am a miserable and wretched sinner above all others and unto whom should I come but to thee the Saviour of mankinde who camest into the world to save sinners by thy grace of whom I am chiefe O fountaine of mercy who didst vouchsafe to bee borne of the blessed and pure Virgin Mary to become man and tookest our wretched nature upon thee therein to suffer death to reassume us from eternall death sinne
other thy holy Commandements heretofore and vouchsafe O God alwaies to knit my straying heart to the true feare of thy great name to keep me from offending thee and fill my soul with the infinite love of thy divine Majesty that I may daily strive to lead the rest of my life in all obedience to thy holy will And Lord vouchsafe to inspire me thy most unworthy servant I humbly pray thee with thy blessed Spirit that I may withdraw my minde this blessed day from all worldly cogitations thinking my owne thoughts speaking my owne words doing my daily works or going my owne waies but assist me with thy grace that I may apply my heart and soule wholly to meditate of thy wonderfull works and manifold mercies with thankfulnesse and to attend thy service either publique or private with care and faithfulnesse and to obey all thy Commandements henceforth with diligence and constantly serving thee all my life to come that so I may praise and glorifie thee and thou maiest pardon my sins and save my poore soule through thy great and unmerited mercie in Jesus Christ my Lord and only Redeemer Amen 5. A Prayer for the Lords day in the morning before going to Church My soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy name who is most worthy of all honour and glory ALmighty God our heavenly Father in Jesus Christ thy beloved Son who of thy infinite goodnesse by thy great power and divine word didst in six dayes create heaven and earth the sea and the whole world with all things therein and resting the seventh day didst blesse and hallow it commanding all thy people in purity after thine owne image to keep the same holy to thy due honour and praise having also given us six dayes for our owne occasions and after this great and unexpressible worke thou didst also in thy appointed time accomplish by thy beloved Son Jesus that happy redemption of mankinde who were lost by sin and fallen from thee which unspeakable mercie and benefit was as upon this first day of the week consummated by the miraculous blessed resurrection of our Saviour which wee Christians now keep in commemoration of these thy infinite benefits that according to thine appointment thy servants may rest this holy Lords day from all worldly affaires to thy honour and glory blessed and praised now and for ever bee thy glorious Name for these thy marvellous workes Therefore I most humbly beseech thee O Lord of thy great mercie by thy Spirit of grace to sanctifie mee thy most unworthy servant both in soule and body that I may at all times but especially this Lords day and upon all other daies consecrated by thy Church to the memory of any of thy blessings benefits and deliverances wholly devote my selfe to thy true feare holy devotion and faithfull service in performance of thy blessed will and commandement And so thy worthy name may be glorified my salvation furthered and thy favour and blessing rest alwaies upon me and mine And likewise I most humbly pray thee O God for thy Son Jesus sake to forgive all my sins done in my whole life past in breaking this and all other thy divine Laws that through the death and bitter passion of my deare and innocent Saviour which hee suffered to redeem us thou wilt vouchsafe to be reconciled unto me thy guilty and sinfull creature that as this is a day of rest to thy due praise so by thy marcy it may bee a happy day of joy and peace to my poore soule and conscience through my only Lord and blessed Saviour Jesus Christ Amen Amen 6. A Prayer to be said at the Church as soone as we are come into our seat O Lord our God who art here present amongst us thou seest and understandest all things and knowest my heart prepare sanctifie and assist my heart and soule with thy grace so to behave my selfe both outwardly and inwardly as in the presence of thy glorious Majesty in this thy blessed house of prayer and hearing thy word with such due reverence feare humility true faith and devotion as may be best pleasing and acceptable unto thee and most profitable and available for the good of mine owne soule O God indue thy servant the Preacher with thy holy Spirit to teach thy saving truth rightly and sincerely that it may be powerfull to our edification and effectuall to the beating downe and banishing of all sins from our soules and the encrease of faith and grace in us that heare him to thy glory and the furthering of our salvations through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen 7. Another shorter Prayer to the same purpose GOod Lord that knowest my infirmities prevent and remove all sin and evill hindrances and impediments of drousâ—nesse and wandring thoughts from me fraile sinfull creature and open my ears and heart like Lidiees to attend and marke diligently what is taught out of thy most sacred word Inlighten Lord my understanding to conceive rightly what I heare and keep my mind wholly intentive upon thy faithfull service in hearing thy holy word with true devotion before thee and make my memory retentive of all the good instructions that I learne and give me grace carefully and conscionably to practice them throughout my whole life to the honour of thy great name the performance of thy most holy will the amendment of all my faults and finally the salvation of mee thy poore servant through my Saviour Jesus Christs merits and mercies Amen 8. A Prayer after the Sermon is ended before we go out of the Church MOst Gracious Lord God I humbly beseech thee to pardon all my sinfull neglects defects and want of due preparation or any infirmities that have overtaken mee in the performance of my duty towards thee in this thy house and blessed exercise of Prayer and hearing of thy divine Word And let me not depart out of this holy place without thy blessing whereby my knowledge faith holinesse and comfort in thee may be daily increased in me And Lord adde thy grace to what I have now heard that by thy gracious assistance it may bring forth plentifull fruit in me to the reformation of my life and conversation in avoiding all evill and doing all good which may be serviceable and acceptable to thy Majesty and best pleasing in thy sight through Jesus Christ my only Saviour Amen A Prayer for the Lords day at night of three Petitions FIrst thankfulnesse for benefits already received with prayer for the continuance of all Gods mercies Secondly for repentance true faith remission of sins and amendment of life Lastly so to live and dye unto God here that after death we may live with him in heaven for ever 9. The Prayer MY soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits which forgiveth all thine iniquities and healeth all thine infirmities which redeemeth thy life from death and crowneth thee in mercy and compassion who provided a ransome