by the sword let my soule neuer imbrace Though true Religion haue it foundation from the Blood of Christ it is no true Religion that maintaines it selfe by the shedding of the blood of Gods Saints If therfore any shall pretend themselues religious and seek in shew to gaine vs and draw vs to their societie by blowes shall we think they come from God who willeth his to shew their Faith and Religion by meeknes and loue But admit they should offer the sword of offence it is lawfull for Gods children to vse the sword of defence and we haue the same no other God then Dauid and Hezekiah had who will assuredly defend vs and maintaine his owne cause for vs. The experience of Gods protection and prouidence in former dangers cannot but incourage vs against whatsoeuer like dangers wherein he deliuered vs to the wonder of the world nothing but our sinnes and vnthankfulnes can shorten his hand or weaken his power towards vs but that he will stretch foorth his hand still to defend vs. We are now thankes be to God seeming secure there is no apparent dangers threatened but wee must remember when wee say and see peace peace who knoweth but that our sinnes may not call for troubles if they come not looked for they will bee the more dangerous If therfore we would abandon our sinnes if wee would timely returne vnto God with humble and repentant hearts God would returne vnto vs saue vs he would as he hath hitherto done deliuer vs and euer sustaine vs hee will send from heauen deliuer vs from them that would oppresse vs. Let vs not forget that our soules are among lions though we liue among the children of men they are not all of one family they are not all of one mind they are not all the children of God some are as it were set on fire against vs some haue their teeth as spears some haue their tongus as swords yet oyle in their mouthes yet let vs depend on him that seeth their hearts and ours Heâ— knoweth who are his and seeth his and our aduersaries afar off He hath his time and the meanes to deliuer his The Lord of hosts is with vs let vs not feare what man can doe vnto vs. Though an hoste of men armed should assaile vs we need not be afraid for the Lord is with vs who is of more might and power then all the potentates of the world can resist Let vs therefore euermore lift vp the eyes of our faithfull hearts vnto him he is the hill from whence commeth our help and deliuerance in all our dangers from the Lord of hostes commeth our help who hath made heauen and earth who taketh charge of his and will neuer leaue vs faile vs or forsake vs in him let vs trust A Prayer to God that he will defend vs from our strongest enemies and most malicious with thanks to God for his former deliuerances O Lord our God whose Habitation are the heauens and whose footstoole is the earth thou gouernest all things in heauen aboue and in the earth beneath thou directest and protectest those that feare thy name so as they neede not feare the powre or malice of whatsoeuer furious enemies For saluation belongeth vnto thee and thy blessing is euermore vpon thy people Wee euen we thy feeble and vnworthy creatures haue had experience of thy former fauour and defence in our troubles and of thy deliuerance out of our desperate dangers when men haue said There was no help for vs no not in thee But we haue found them lyers deceitfull and wicked men acknowledging thee most faithfull most louing of greatest wisdome and power shewing thy selfe our Buckler our Castle and our strong defence euen when our Aduersaries sought our confusion thou shewedst thy self our God and the maintainer of our cause when our enemies rose against vs in greatest multitudes malice and madnesse Thou gauest vs courage and boldnesse euen when our enemies seemed most to insult and triumph ouer vs euen then Lord didst thou fight for vs and turnedst their glory into shame their strength into weakenesse and their multitudes into a handfull of men Shorten not O Lord thy helping hand toward vs in whatsoeuer time or manner of our danger for thou knowest what our enemies caÌ„not performe with force they seeke to effect by secret mischiefes which thou hast discouered and prouidently preuented The Sâ—are was broken and we deliuered not for any merit or worthynesse of ours but euen of thy free and aboundant mercies for thine owne glory and our safetie and without our shame wee cannot but acknowledge our vnthankfulnesse for thy manifold deliuerances from them that hate vs who yet waite opportunity to betray vs if thou preuent vs not And therefore gracious Father leade and guide vs euer in thy righteousnesse because of our enemies make thy way plaine before vs lest we in offending thee giue our aduersaries occasion to say thou hast forsaken vs. It is in thy power Lord â—o reconcile them vnto vs in the band of Christian loue by opening their eyes that they may see and now at last consider their owne errors wherein they haue kicked against thy truth so should we reioice in their perfect vnion If they continue in the hardnesse of their hearts continue in vs perfect knowledge and howsoeuer they hate vs giue vs loue vnto them leauing them vnto thy wil to deale with them as thou wilt Giue vs gratious God and louing Father a liuely apprehention of thy truth faith and obedience vnto it howsoeuer our enemies may hate vs for the same we know that thou art God all-sufficient able to deliuer vs from their greatest tyranny as thou hast done and we cannot but remember thy merueilous workes which thy very enemies cannot but acknowledge to proceede of thy meere loue vnto the continuall practise and profession of thy sincere Word which thou hast maintained hitherunto through all ages by thine owne power and for thine own names sake And therefore when our enemies rose vp against vs or rather against thee in vs thou causedst them to stumble and fall still maintaining thine owne cause Who sittest in thy throne and gouernest all things and iudgest according to equitie They therefore that know thy power and thy loue and thy promises and thy righteous dealing will trust in thee for thou hast neuer fayled to bee a sure defence to them in whatsoeuer perils Vp therfore Lord disappoint al our irreconciliable enemies of their hope lest they say We haue preuailed our own policies haue brought our desired enterprises and desires to passe Lord stay our steps guide vs euer in thy pathes lest our feet slip and our enemies that watch oportunitie to betray vs take aduanâ—tage by our sinful liues and so preuaile They lay their heads together and take counsell how they may circumuent vs and to blow vs vp neuer to recouer our hope againe in thee Keepe vs therefore as the apple of thine
not consult with our owne fantasies and so vnsanctifiedly to rush vpon the holy Throne of Iehouah but with the Word of God wherein is layde downe the persons to whom the manner how and the things for what we should pray These things being vnderstood it behooueth vs also to looke into our selues whether this great worke of diuine prayer bee within the compasse of our owne vnderstanding what to pray for Saint Paul was a man Diuinely qualified and yet hee accounteth himselfe of the number of them that know not what to pray as hee ought what then Should wee not pray at all because wee know not how or what to pray as we ought God forbid wee haue a promise that the Spirit of God shall helpe our infirmities and shall make request for vs vnto God How then can our prayers but bee heard and answered seeing they proceed from Gods own Spirit that dwelleth in vs The truely faithfull in deed haue a promise that if they open their mouthes God will hil them And what is it but to assist them in their prayers And therefore not euery one that seemeth to pray prayeth in the Spirit yet this promise may also appertaine vnto and in time be felt of them that yet want him Therefore let euery man indeuour to be assured that the Spirit of God is in him which hee shall finde by the feruencie of his heart in prayer although he be not at all times a like powerfull in vs but retires himselfe for a time to make vs to acknowledge the want of him and to thirst the more eagerly for his presence againe which euery faithfull soule exercised in this diuine dutie apparently apprehendeth for the Spirit by degrees as it were mooueth our dull spirits and at length sheweth himselfe strong and powerfull in vs for when we finde a will and an inclination to pray though wee be dull not able to open our mouthes if we continue in desire lifting vp our hearts to God wee shall feele and that sensibly the Spirit to beginne to worke and to touch our hearts that at length we shall not onely bee able to speake with our tongues but the same Spirit will frame such an holy forme of words that of our selues wee were-neuer able to vtter which I confesse to the praise of God I haue found by most comfortable experience and therfore to my more effectuall motiue I haue framed by the ayde of the same Spirit this Meditation and Prayer following which may bee also vnto others that delight in this holy exercise some meane to suppresse their dulnesse and to stirre vp their affections to an vnexpressible zeale A motiue to a prayer against the tentations of Sathan who alwaies endeauoureth the hinderance of prayer and all other diuine and holy exercises in the children of God wherby their happinesse may bee made certaine IT is impossible that any man be he neuer so deuout and religious that takes any action in hand tending either to Gods glory or his owne soules saluation that can pâ—rforme it but that Sathan that malicious enemy of mans saluation will endeauour to peruert it or altogether to hinder it As when Iehoshua the high Priest was standing before the Lord to pray Sathan stood at his right hand to resist him Zach 3.1 And therefore shall any man thinke that though he be strong in faith and feruent in zeale to pray vnto God for any holy and heauenly gift that he shall haue no opposition by this ougly Dragon and subtill inuisible Serpent nay the more faithfull the more zealous and the more strong a man seemeth or indeed is in any holy and diuine exercise so much the more mad and malicious is Sathan to oppose him especially when he betaketh himselfe to holy prayer whereof no true child of God is or can be ignorant he cannot but find that Sathan thogh vnseene standeth at his right hand at his elbow laying before the eye of his mind infinite idle and vnholy thoughts not to be nuÌ„bred or declared either to peruert or vtterly to hinder his faith zeale that sometimes with seeming though counterfeit diuine thoughts As when in the mayd he spake seeming commendably crying of Paul and other Apostles saying These men are the seruants of the most high God which shew vnto you the way of saluation Act 16.16 17. But what intended he by this his flattery onely to hinder Paul the rest from prayer a worke that offends him most and makes vs most happy Therefore when he flattereth a man most as perswading him that hee hath graces and holy giftes enough hee needs seeke no more of God he may saue his labor of praying he may take his case and betake himselfe to his wonted worldly affaires he needs not bee so curious in reading the Word or hearing Sermons he hath knowledge sufficient and in the right way to happines and may take more pleasure and delight in many other things to his better content And thus are too many ouermuch lulled asleepe by these most dangerous inchantments of Sathan especially when he coueteth to deceiue by his crafty vndermining men vnder his counterfet shew of being an Angell of light Hauing then such a dangerous enemy more malicious then the red Dragon more wiâ—y and subtill then the crooked Serpent and more strong then the roaring Lyon We had need to craue wisedome to preuent his subtilties and strength to withstand his forces for being ignoraÌ„t of his stratagems and weake to encounter his malice we can neither speake vnto God in our prayers which are the principall weapons to wound and put backe the force of this enemy nor with true desire attentiue eare a feeling heart constant resolution firme faith heare God speaâ—e vnto vs by his holy Messengers and Ministers the life of our soules and truest happinesse It behoueth vs therefore to labour to haue the eyes of our minds inlightned and to be filled with all spirituall prudence and wisdome that wee may bee able to discouer his deceiuing intisements to auoyd hâ—s forged â—laâ—teries and to withstand his deadly tentations let vs indeauor by continuall prayer to God that in vs may be created and confirmed a strong and liuely faith pâ—rfect and constant zeale to serue the liuing God and an holy iealousie ouer our selues lest Sathan cirâ—umuent vs with his secret and subtill intisements in stealing away our mindes and estranging our thoughts from heauen and heauenly things from God in Christ in our holy Meditations and Prayers A Prayer for Gods holy assistance against Sathan who indeauoureth to hinder our most godly prayers fit to bee said in all tentations O Holy mercifull louing and most powerfull Lord God who sittest in the heauens and extendest thy power ouer all the powers in heauen earth who hast the rule and absolute gouernment of all thy creatures and to whom all Principalities Powers Angels and spirits doe obey Consider I humbly pray thee the malignity and malice of that reprobate
GOD of Hostes who sent his Angell and that night destroyed in Senacheribs campe one hundred fourescore and fiue thousand men Thus God can deale with the enemies of his faithfull people hee can destroy them without their helpe as wee our selues haue found by memorable experience to shew that it is not alwayes the multitude of armed souldiers that are the absolute meanes of victorie it is the meere hand of God to declare himselfe to be in deed the GOD of Hosts against whom no power pollicie or humane wisdome can preuaile And therefore admitteth not the arme of flesh though a necessary meane to haue the glorie of the distruction of his enemies he will confound When Joshua was to goe against Jericho a Citie whom God would destroy though hee was accompanied with a multitude of armed souldiers yet the Lord would not haue the ouerthrow ascribed vnto battery and engines of warre violent instruments But at Gods command they blew with Rams-hornes onely about the wals with a shoute and the walls fell downe God by weake meanes can doe wonderfull things for his Fiue mighty kings combined their forces together against Ioshua and though God permitted Ioshua to haue the victory and slaughter of some of them yet God himselfe had the prayse who slew more with hayl stones from heauen then Ioshua slew with the sword Thus doth God manifest his power that all men may see that they that haue God on their side neede not feare though kings combine and people rage as if they would deuoure Gods people at their pleasures casting their accounts and disposing of their pray before the victorie Benadab that mighty Aramite king threatned Ahab king of Israel to depriue him of all that he had His siluer and his gold his women and his faire children But God gaue Ahab the victorie both on the Mountaines and the Vallies Because they obiected against God that he was God in the Mountaines not in the Vallies as if we should say he were God at Land but not at Sea or to impute good or ill successe in these weighty occasions to false and contrary causes as is commonly seen and obserued to ignorance or negligence of some Commanders or to this or that omission ouer-sight or rashnesse which indeed may bee blame-worthy yet for that wee attribute not good successe to God but to humane power wisdome or pollicie and ill euents and issues to our owne sinnefull deseruings and waâ—t of calling vp on God for a blessing God many times permits his owne children to suffer violence when they forget to serue him The Israelites committing wickednesse in the sight of the Lord God gaue them ouer into the hands of their enemies the Midianites for seuen yeares yet vpon their repentance and returning to God hee raysed vp Deborah and Barak to deliuer them Sinne is the cause that God permitteth a mighty multitude to bee ouer-throwne by a few foure hundred thousand Israelites for one sinne were ouercome twice by sixe and twentie thousand Beniamits If God for one sinne suffered his people to bee thus slaine by a few what will hee not permit to bee done vnto a nation that commits infinite sinnes For one seeming small sinn of one man Achan the children of Israel were chased and put to flight by a few to shew that where sinne raigneth there is no strength in the people to withstand their enemies God is a righteous God perseruing and punishing as hee findeth men faithfull or sinnefull not sparing his dearest children when they rebell against him but as long as they truely obay him no enemie shall preuaile against them Let Pharoh pursue Gods children with purpose to consume them let them but call vpon God let them bee faithfull and they shall see the saluation of God the confusion of their enemies by the immediate hand of God without the helpe or hand of man An hoste of men cannot hurt one man whom God will protect and yet permits sometimes one of his to preuaile against many as Samson who slewe one thousand men with the iaw-bone of an asse and Shamgar with an Oxe goad slew six hundred men to shew that God is not tyed to multitudes to auenge him of the enemies of his children and that a multitude to him is but as one man and as easie to bee ouercome And yet he many times permitteth the wicked to take away the liues of the most righteous and innocent as Kain to kill Abel Herod to kill Iohn Baptist James c. he permits bloody massacres and suffers his dâ—arest children to be martyred after many fearefull meanes not that he is not able to deliuer them but that his owne name by their patient suffrings may be glorified On the other side if it please him and that it stand for the good of his hee can and will defend them hee can send an hoste of Angels to defend theÌ„ and fire from hâ—auen to consume the aduâ—â—saries of them that take him for their streÌ„gth But not according to naturall mans reuengefull desire As when his disciples willed him to call for fire from heauen to consume their enemies he answered them Yee know not of what spirit yee are And therefore although he in his iustice in former times hath and yet is in his power to execute his seuere iudgments with fearefull fire as vpon Sodome vpon Nadab and Abihu and vpon the fifties which came to apprehend Eliah yet ought we to be farre from desire to haue like iudgements inflicted vpâ—on our most mortall enemies vpon such as would euen eate vs vp but rather as wee are instructed first to pray for their reformation and serious reconciliation and refer the issue to God though it may be we cannot as properly say of some malicious aduersaries as Stephen sometimes said of his Lord lay not this his death vnto their charge for they know not what they doe No our most malicious enemies are not ignorant that their malice towards vs is sinne against God to whose iudgement we are in charitie to leaue them for to him not to vs belongeth reuenge who being wise in his vnderstanding and iust in his iudgements is also mercifull and patient in punishing and in all things both to them and vs will do that which is equal right and will reward tyranous oppressors malicious persecuters of his faithful children in his time according to his owne will and for his owne he will neuer leaue nor forsake them Although our enemies may pretend Religion the cause of their malice and couer their inward hatred vnder a counterfeit pretence to worke our reformation therein and with many seeming sweet insinuations worke themselues into our thoughts it behooueth vs to be wise lest that in conceiuing they seek our good they get not our goods which are our obedience to God faith in him and perseuerance True it is that Religion is the cause of many both priuat and publike controuersies and quarrels but that Religion that is increased and maintained
infernall spirit that falsely pretendeth dominion in the earth and in the ayre and how he enuieth and opposeth as much as in him is euery good dutie and seruice which thy dearest children owe and endeauour to performe vnto thee and aboue all other duties tending to thine owne glory and mans saluation he seeketh to hinder none with more bitter violence with greater enuy more wicked and subtill wiles then this of diuine prayer and endeauoreth to draw thine owne dearest children into manifold sinnes But Lord as thou hast commaunded vs to call vpon thine holy Name to pray vnto thee for faith repentance obedience and other graces and blessings So according to thine holy ordinance I fall downe prostrate vpon the knees of mine vnfayned heart praying thee to prepare mee to this holy dutie thou sayest Open thy mouth and I will fill it O Lord open thou my mouth and fill it with heauenly words furnish and fill my heart with a strong powerful and liuely faith constant and firme obedience that without wauering and straying thoughts I may at this time make my prayers supplications vnto thee through thy Spirit And thou O inuincible Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah stand vp for me against my most mortall and most malicious enemy satan who among his own is strong and powerfull but where thou my Captaine Christ Iesus appearest he is weake he cannot enter the house where thou dwellest O fortifie therfore O Lord and barre vp the doore of my soule that hee enter not nor preuaile against it with the fire of his tentations Lord thou knowest hee is enemie to thee how much more vnto mee Hee tempted thee but preuayled not but his tentations flesh and blood cannot withstand Therefore arme thou me against him with heauenly weapons and hee shall neither stoppe nor hinder mine intended prayers as he desireth and laboureth to doe Let my spirit O Lord bee strongly assisted by thy Spirit and my prayers shall be faithfull my heart shall entertaine no wandering wauering vnholy or prophane thoughts euill cogitations or wicked motions though I bee an vnholy lumpe of my selfe by nature prompt and more ready to thinke or doe euill then good yet by thy Grace Satan shall slie sinne shall die and thy Spirit shall be liuely in mee and my prayers powerfull and effectuall to thee in my mediator Christ Iesus O let thy heauenly helpe Lord in Iesus Christ descend into all the powers and parts of my soule and body that in speaking vnto thee I may feele the worke and operation of thy Grace so sufficient in my heart that I may obtaine a victorious conquest ouer satan sinne and mine owne corruptions and bee assured through Christ Iesus my Sauiour to bee either freed from his preuayling tentations or to bee able to resist them that all my prayers at all times may bee such as thou maist Fatherly accept them in thy beloued Sonnes mediation for mee howsoeuer weake and imperfect they bee in respect of my selfe who am full of imperfections which I humbly pray thee to grant for his sake who hath conquered him that couets my finall destruction Amen Lord euermore strengthen and increase my faith in Iesus Christ. A meditation or motiue when wee are dull to pray a most necessary preparatiue to prayer AS it is my griefe O Lord to consider the hardnesse of my heart my faintnesse and dulnesse to pray So can I not but comfort my selfe in the consideration of thy great mercie towards mee in often remouing my dulnesse and in steed thereof to giue mee thy holy Spirit and by him power effectually to call vpon thy holy Name which effectuall fauour of thine I haue oftentimes found and felt when I haue had an inward motion tending to a desire to pray and yet no power or ablenesse to open my mouth or aptnesse to mooue my tongue which hath caused mee many times to thinke that thou my God hast beene angry with me and in that thou hast with-holden thy Grace so long that thou hadst forsaken me So that I haue beeâ—e infoâ—ced oftentimes to keepe silence when I would haue prayed and to close my lippes when I would haue spoken Thus good Father haue I beene many times as I am presently troubled and inwardly greeued euen in my soule at the hardnesse of my heart and dulnesse of my spirit And yet at length I haue felt as it were the fire of feruent zeale so inflaming my heart as I haue suddenly spoken with my tongue I haue prayed vnto thee and thou hast heard me This holy and heauenly worke of diuine Prayer I finde to bee farre from mine or the best mans owne power it is the onely worke of thine owne spirit which I haue many times formerly discerned for when I haue beene most dull and most vnapt to pray thou euen then euen in my silent musing and meditation hast enabled mee to breake forth into words through faith which haue pierced the very heauen of heauens euen vnto the Throne of thy great Maiesty where Christ my mediator stands at thy right hand presenting in my behalfe my weake Petitions euen in his owne name and obtayneth mine humble desires according to thine owne will which worketh betâ—er things for mee then I can wish or will I am not therefore discouraged good Father thogh I seeme dull in spirit and as it were cleane destitute of faith for I know thy guifts are without repentance and though I feele not this heauenly worke of thy holy Spirit at all times a like in mee yet doe I assure me hee is in mee and will worke againe the same heauenly effects for where thy blessed Spirit hath once taken habitation and once sanctified the soule that soule is so effectually possessed by that â—pirit and that Spirit so possesseth that soule that he may be assured neuer to bee absolutely dispossest of the same howsoeuer hee may for a time seeme absent It is but to mooue mee to seeke him finding the want of him to long for him Though therefore deare Father my heart bee hard by nature and my spirit dâ—ll to euery holy and heauenly dutie so that I cannot outwardly vtter what I inwardly concâ—iue and desire with such earnestnesse and feruencie of spirit as I would but weakly and coldly yet doe I assure my selfe that thou considerest mine inward desires and hearest my most secret sighes as plainely as if I cryed vocally and aloud vnto thee I cannot therefore but confideÌ„tly assure my selfe that according to thy promise thou wilt heare and consider that I hunger and thirst for thy Grace that my dulnesse being remooued I may conceiue in my heart and frame with my lippes mine humble Petitions which thou hast promised to heare especially such as thine owne Spirit composeth in mee Deny not therefore good Father thy holy Spirit to me that faithfully craue him onely to be enabled effectually to pray vnto thee for thou hearest not the best man nor the best maâ—s best prayers for his
of thy blessed Spirit testifying vnto my spirit that thou art the whole and sole disposer of all these and that all things worke together for the comfort of all that loue thee knowing and being assured of thy presence and prouidence I will not feare whatsoeuer befall mee for all troubles crosses and miseries I finde to bee but holesome medecines tempered and gently prepared by thine owne hand for the cure and preseruation of my sicke and sinnefull soule from eternall death I humbly therfore deare Father pray thee so to moderate my troubles and afflictions as by the helpe and aide of thy holy Spirit I may with patience and an heauenly kinde of alacrity vndergoe them And according to thy good pleasure continue the health of my body the vse of my senses limbs peace with thee my God and with all men as becommeth mee still guided by thy Spirit that I abuse none of thy blessings through 〈◊〉 corruptions And while I liue here in this earthly pilgrimage as a stranger vouchsafe me with thy heauenly Spirit to giue mee a competent portion to sustaine me and those whom thou hast coÌ„mitted vnto my charge both in spirituall and corporall sustinance Let not too heauie tentations ouer-presse me let too much want and too heauy crosses ouer-afflict me but lay vpon mee what thou wilt and neuer take from me thy holy spirit so shal I be able to beare what soeuer thou thinkest fit to be laid vpon me for by the strength of thy preuayling spirit I shall vndergo what thou in loue as indeed it is shalt lay vpon me By promise thou carest for me and hast willed mee to cast my care vpon thee which I haue done euer since it pleased thee to reueale thy selfe vnto mee in thy beloued Son and thou hast not deceiued me for I haue euer found thee true in performing whatsoeuer thou hast promised euen in sending that Comforter who hath euer assisted mee in reuealing thy Son in whoÌ„ thy continual fauour I haue euer found most certaine secret sweet so enabling me to speake vnto thee as when I haue offended thee by my sinnes I haue felt the pardon of them in my conscience by the blood of that Lambe testified vnto mee by thy blessing and sanctifying Spirit When I haue been sicke thou hast healed me I haue been in mortall danger and thou hast preserued me I haue had enemies and thou hast defended mee and often haue I been in distresse and want and thou hast without my desire or desert plentifully releeued mee yea Lord thou hast giuen when and what I haue not asked thou camest and soughtest mee first Lord I sought not thee thou aboue all shewedst thy selfe most louing vnto me in sending me thy heauenly spirit without whose ayd I could neither aske nor receiue I could neither seeke nor find comfort neither could I knock or deserue to enter into thy fauour By his presence I haue felt the fulnes of ioy and gladnesse And therefore as thou hast graciously begun Lord so continue thy grace in mee and thy loue towards me alwayes in all places among al men in all my labours iournies and lawfull and godly endeauors for thou hast commaunded mee while I liue â—eere not to rest idle but to bee doing that which is good Thou hast giuen mee a calling wherin without thy blessing I may labour and yet lacke I may ayme by good intent and yet erre without the gracious direction of thy Spirit I am ignorant of and dull to performe that which may bee either well pleasing vnto thee or truly profitable to my self But by the blessing of thy holy spirit I shall please thee in Christ who pleaseth thee for mee and then whatsoeuer I thinke speak or doe shall prosper and yeeld mee supply in all my wants both spirituall and corporal and that from day to day which by thine owne promise shall be sufficient for the day O holy and heauenly Father hold me euer in thine â—bedience shelter me vnder â—he shaddow of thy protecting wings stop the whole course of sinne in mee and continue thine holy spirit euermore in me that he being my guide in all mine actions I may finish the course of this my pilgrimage in all sinceritie sanctitie and safetie and in the end obtain the glory which thy Sonne my Sauiour hath purchased for mee by the shedding of his blood vpon the Crosse and that euermore while I liue I may hunger and thirst for righteousnesse vntill I become a perfect man in Christ Iesus that leauing this mortall life I may ioyfully enter into that euerlasting rest Amen Amen in Christ my hope my strength and my assured and faithfull Redeemer Lord euermore increase and confirme my faith and continue that holy spirit in mee A motiue to begin the day with Prayer IT is a dutie not so much required by God for his owne sake of vs as necessary and profitable for our selues to begin the morning with Thanksgiuing and Prayer The first God requireth of vs as due vnto him for preseruing vs and giuing vs rest and sleepe and safetie the night past The second namely Prayer most necessary for our selues for without the helpe fauour power protection and prouidence of God wee can expect no comfort or safetie or good successe the day following wherein doe lye hidden many dangers of our bodies many bayts allurements and tentations of Sathan the world and our owne corruption for our soules much weaknesse and ignorance in our selues to performe the works of our owne callings besides ill successe in our labours without his blessing And shall we think that God will giue a blessing to our labours safetie to our persons or defence from these spirituall enemies vnlesse we recommend our selues to him in the name of his sonne No no we may not flatter our selues that because we are lustie and strong our senses good our wit and vnderstanding quick we may goe from bed to businesse and walke in our owne wayes vntill the euening either forgetting or neglecting God who with-holding his help and hand infinite are the dangers wee are subiect vnto both spirituall and corporall Therefore looke vp powre out thy pâ—ayers as a sweet morning sacrifice to God in the name of Christ and then goe on thy lawfull occasions and prosper And for want of thine own abilitie to discouer thine owne necessities and to craue Gods blessings and to declare thy thankefulnesse vse the helpe of the labours of such as haue framed prayer for this holy purpose Or this howsoeuer weake prayer following wherein thou mayst finde comfort and so with inward ioy thou maist from day to day the more cheerefully follow thy vocation A Prayer fit to be vsed euery morning O My God my God and my most louing Father in thy best beloued Christ Iesus I yeeld thee vnfained thankes for thy wonderfull mercies and vndeserued fauors vouchsafed vnto mee all my life and especially for electing creating and redeeming mee and for all
other thine vnspeakeable fauours from time to time bestowed vpon mee touching my corporall comfort which I neither can expresse with tongue nor conceiue with my heart Accept I humbly beseech the merrits of thy Sonne and his obedience in stead of my thankfulnesse for I am corrupt and sinnefull not worthy to take thy glorious Name into my mouth nor to heare that sacred Word from thine I am dull in hearing thee speake vnto mee and slower in practise of the good things thou commandest but prone and apt to doe the contrarie Such is my wretched condition that what I should doe in answer of thy will I cannot doe it But what thou forbiddest I cannot but doe it A wretched creature deare Father I am by nature yet grieued in heart that I am thus yoked that when I would serue thee I finde a law in my members rebelling against thy Spirituall working in mee and am cast downe in my Spirit finding so strong an enemy in mine owne flesh that still fighteth against thy Grace working in me striuing to hinder euery good and holy motion arising of thy Spirit So that when I would doe good euill is present with me when I would pray dulnesse and drowsinesse nay to my shame O Lord meere infidelity seemeth so to possesse my heart that I cannot open my mouth vnto thee Thou giuest mee many occasions through the infinite tokens of thy loue to mooue mee to thankefulnesse and yet I rest vnthankefull I feele also in my selfe as many occasions through mine owne corruption and wants to huÌ„ble my selfe before thee in prayer yet I rest often-times altogether mute and can neither pray nor be sufficiently thankefull The comforts which thou daylie and hourely vouchsafest mee I receiue and enioy yet doe I not shew my selfe so forward to acknowledge these thy mercies as I am ready to receiue them They are infinite my selfe not worthy the least of them And such is thy loue and Fatherly prouidence ouer mee that euery day and euery night and euerie minute in them doe testifie vnto mee that thou art euer my mightie God in defending mee from dangers and my most louing Father in coÌ„tinually supplying all my wants Thou mayst Lord iustly with-hold from mee my food in the day and my rest in the night because in the day I neglect to serue thee and in the night I forget to call vpon thee Thou canst not but obserue that I haue not so thought and meditated of thy louing kindenesse and mine owne dangers this night as to affoord the least breach of my sleepe to thanke thee I layde me downe I haue slept my sleepe and by thy power risen againe O that mine vprising from my sleepe might through thy Grace worke mine vprising from my sleepe in sinne Gracious God and full of loue grant me thy loue that I may render thee loue which I confesse deserueth not the name of loue in comparison of thine though for thy loue I should giue my body to be burned yet such is thy mercie that thou acceptest the least mite of true obedience as a great measure of my loue so full of humane and spirituall infirmities which haue ouerspread as thou knowest all-offending Adams issue Holy Father I know thee and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ hee it is that hath taken away that heauie burden of my corruption by his most perfect Righteousnesse and the guilt and punishment of my transgressions by his owne al-sufficient sufferings Therefore though I be slack in thankfulnesse for thy blessings and fauours formerly bestowed vpon mee Let mee euen this morning as I newly enter into the light of the day so by thy Grace grant Lord that I may enter into the light of new and sincere knowledge and obedience Humbly praying thee to bee vnto mee this day following a God to preserue a Captaine to defend mee a light to guide me and a louing Father to releeue me Let thy blessings bee plentifully powred vpon mee let heauenly knowledge abound in mee let faith more and more increase and be strengthened in me and the power of sin and Satan more more be weakened in mee So shall mine obedience towards thee my God more and more appeare in mee and then shall all that I take in hand this day and at all times prosper which grant good Father in Iesus Christ sake Amen Lord increase my saith this day and euer A motiue to prayer before a man goes to bed IT is commonly obserued that hee that forgets to giue God thankes when hee beginnes the day for the rest and saftie in the night past will not be well disposed to commend himselfe to God when hee goes to rest in the night yet is the night the most dangerous time when darkenesse ouer shadowes the house wherein wee sleepe and when our eyes are shut vp by the drowsinesse of our spirits what comfort can there then appeare Though wee may lie downe in some artificiall light wee are suddenly be cloudâ—d with naturall darkenesse wherein all that intend wicked and secret mischiefes are most apt to attempt most dangerous plots vpon such as are secure without God And Satan himselfe findeth the darkenesse of the night the fittest time to present vnto our wandring thoughts some euill imaginations our mindes being then at seeming quiet free from externall obiects And what that malignant enimie suggesteth in darkenesse the man not hauing faith and the feare of God longeth for the light to put that euill in practise that Satan hath in the darke mooued him vnto Besides we see by dayly experience that many haue layd themselues downe to rest in the night in seeming safty that could not say with Dauid J rose againe in safetie for the Lord sustained me for some haue beene preuâ—nted by sudden death some by sickenesse So that if the Lord sustaine vs not if hee defend vs not if hee watch not ouer vs if his Angels garde vs not especially in the night wee cannot but be subiect to manie ineuitable perils And how can wee thinke to enioy quiet rest in safty if we cal not vpon him that is our keeper and the giuer of rest sleepe and health For where God is not in the minde there are the thoughts wandring vpon things offensiue to God pleasing to Satan hurtfull to our soules and distempering the body which in a moment may seperate the vnprepared soule from the wretched body What and how diffâ—rs the man that lies downe to sleepe not calling vpon God from brute creatures which couet and take there rest and sleepe as man and rise vp to feed Should reasonable man so neerely resemble vnreasonable creatures who in their kinde praise God and man to dishonour him by vsurping the benefit of rest and sleepe without acknowledging them his owne gifts And how can he acknowledge them his gifts without thankesgiuing vnto him for them and prayer to him to enioy them Let no man be so stupid sottish and bruitish as to goe to
I haue attained vnto thou mightest weaken my senses and the faculties of my body and minde all which I cannot but confesse I haue abused and without the vse of them thou knowest I cannot performe the workes of my calling I humbly therfore pray thee good Father rather to increase and continue in me that measure of knowledge and that perfection of my body and minde which thou hast already bestowed vpon mee then either to depriue mee of them or to weaken them in mee I acknowledge Gracious Lord that there is no vocation or calling high or low no labour exercise or endeuour that can bee vsefull or profitable to himselfe or others no mans life pleasing or commendable without thine especiall direction and blessing and that in the Name of that blessed of all blessings in whom as all blessednesse doth consist So through his most blessed mediation and merrits blessings vpon blessings are powred vpon the godly labours of all them that in whatsoeuer calling â—n his Name truely seeke to be blessed In him therefore Father of blessings let thy blessing be vpon mee in all my labours enterprises and endeuours for without thy blessing ayde direction and protection I may labour trauaile bee carefull solicitous diligent and most industrious yet all in vaine my paines may bee great my rising vp to my labours earely yet without thy blessing little profit mee I may get much but I shall put it as it were in a broken bagge my going foorth without thy blessing cannot be but dangerous my trauailes subiect to many perils in euitable inconueniences Mine owne carnall corruptions accompany mee whithersoeuer I goe ride or remaine the vanities of the world euery where distract my wauering and inconstant minde And Satan with his millions of infernall ministers prouoking mee to sinne pursue mee euer plotting and practising occasions to draw mee from thee suggesting Idlenesse and Ease to bee sweete and Labour and Trauaile in lawfull and honest callings painefull deceite in my vocation gainefull iust dealing foolish nicenesse negligent performance a sufficient discharge of my dutie Thus being beset good Father within and without with sundry tentations I cannot without thy Grace auoyde the committing of many sinnes not only in abusing my calling but in mine ordinary conuersation and course of life and sinne committed draweth on thy displeasure and thy displeasure punishments such as in thy seueritie may iustly disable mee to performe my dutie in my calling hauing no power in or of my selfe to performe the least part of my duetie either in my vocation or conuersation Leaue me not therfore deare Father vnto mine owne weakenesse nor to the will and wiles of my Spirituall or corporall enemies that hate me and couet to hinder or slander euery good worke in mee reioycing when any euill befals in my life or calling Preuent them O Lord and for thy best beloueds sake teach mee wisdome and giue me vnderstanding according to thy Word that in all my wayes I may bee watchfull in my labours painfull in my carriage and calling faithfull and iust that my principall chief care may euer bee to please thee And furnish mee so with true iudgement in all and euerie part of my duetie as there may bee nothing wanting in mee which may further thy Glorie which grant for thy blessed Sonnes sake IESVS CHRIST to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost bee praise for euermore Amen Lord increase my faith Hee whose calling requireth Iourneys by land or sea may prepare himselfe by adding this Prayer following or to vse it by it selfe MOst louing and most mercifull Father in â—esus Christ I acknowledg my selfe the weakest and most ignorant of al humane creatures hauing receiued in thy prouidence a calling requiring continuall trauailes iourneys and much labour of body and mind hauing such and so great a troupe of aduersaries and dangers accompanying me in the execution thereof as euermore seeke to stop the way of my good successe therein as well in my iourneying forth in performing my lawfull labors abroad as also in my returning home I most humbly therefore pray thee to haue a fatherly care of mee and to take charge of me in all my proceedings in all places among all men and at all times that all my iourneis from and to mine owne home may be prosperous and all my labors indeauors may succeed to thine owne glory to the faithfull discharge of my dutie in all mine imployments to the competent supply of whatsoeuer I need And forasmuch as these my iourneys trauailes and labours are and may bee much hindered through sicknes infirmities of my body defects of my limbes bodily members and senses the perfection of which being originally thine own gifâ—s continue my body in health my limbs in streÌ„gth and all my senses perfect vntill the time when thou shalt thinke fit to dissolue my whole bodily frame when I shall no more trauaile no more labour nor feele any defect of body or mind And grant if it bee thy good pleasure that neither sicknesse death or any other corporall infirmitie seize vpon mee in my trauels and iourneys submitting my will yet vnto thy will knowing that thou knowest what is most necessary for mee and that who so is thine is thine and in thy fauour and protection as well abroad as in his owne house yea whensoeuer wheresoeuer and in what manner soeuer thou art pleased to touch him with thy correcting hand or to call him out of this mortall life And forasmuch good Father as there are many other impediments to hinder my necessary iourneys trauels and labours as distemperature of the ayre immoderate weather difficulties of wayes inundations of water danger of theeues euilly disposed persons defects in the creatures which thou vouchsafest for my vse in trauell and many other dangers and hinderances infinite in number all concealed from mee vntill they fall yet all knowne and foreseene of thee and all disposed and permitted by thee I most humbly therefore pray thee to watch and spread the wings of thy power and prouidence ouer mee and stretch foorth thy helping hand ouer me that no euill if it please thee befall me But if thy will bee so grant me wisedome and patience not to impute it to fained Fortune but as indeed it is to mine own sinfull deseruings and that I may be euer thankfull vnto thee whatsoeuer befal me Let the Angel of thy presence accompany mee let thy heauenly spirit euer possesse me let my heart euermore possesse thee let my thoughts be euermore free from sinne and all the parts and powers of my body my mind affections and will from euery euill action and vngodly desire Giue me a holy feare to walke worke trauaile and vse mine occasions as in thy presence knowing that thou beholdest me mine inward inclination and outward actions Thou knowest also good Father that besides mine owne wandring and wauering heart Sathan ceaseth not to watch opportunitie to snare mee
of an euill Childe comming into shame and deepest danger with the error of his sonne when as good Children are the gifts God in mercie to the Parents and wicked ones a punishment not so much to the Parents as to themselues Though euery man would willingly haue good Children yet the best men haue had and oft haue wicked Children Adam the first man had wicked Caine. Abraham had an Ismael Izaake an Esau Dauid a rebellious Absolom and an incestious Ammon good Eli had two wicked sonnes Hophnie and Phineas Infinite are the examples yet no doubt these good men gaue good instructions to these their erronious issues whereby it appeareth that it is not in good men to beget good Children neither doth it follow that wicked men alwayes propagate wicked Children God frames both in the wombe giues them life and frames their hearts wills and affections It resteth onely then for Parents of vngodly Children to pray for their reformation and to leaue them to God in whose counsell it is determined what shall be the ends of such as feare not him nor reuerence man A Prayer for the reformation of vngodly and disobedient Children and for patience in Parents not ouermuch to afflict themselues for their irreconciliable stubbornenesse and disobedience HEare the words of my mouth O Lord and consider the meditations and sorrowes of my heart for my spirit is full of heauinesse I am vexed and sore greeued for that they whom thou gauest mee for a blessing are turned to my griefe sorrow and shame I confesse that mine owne sinnes haue prouoked thee to anger against mee and thy displeasure appeareth in that they whom I receiued as a comfort from thee are become not onely disobedient to mee but as it were rebellious against thee and thy counsell Thou art a God that louest not wickednesse and thou hatest iniquity and it cannot be hid from thee what I haue done my neglect in trayning my Children in thy feare thou mayst lay vnto my charge yet thou knowest I haue laboured to winne them vnto thee if it haue beene in vaine thou hast wisdome and power to supply in them what is defectiue in me to giue them I haue endeuoured to make them to know thee and to walke in thy wayes but they haue contemned mine instructions and cast my counsells behinde their backs they will not bee reclaymed from their vanities They forget thee the God of power to punish them and the God of mercie to receiue comfort such as returne from their sinnes to thee Lord it is onely in thee to reclaime them as thou diddest the prodigall son whom thou vouchsafest to receiue vnto mercie after his long going astray no man erreth so farre whom thou canst not recall Oh recall these that erre reduce them back to the sheepe-fold of thy Saints They are the worke of thine owne hands though I wretched man begate them in corruption and their mother conceiued them in sinne and bare them in misery these are no hindrance vnto the worke of thy Grace in them for what is or hath beene the man that hath not had the like beginning thine owne begotten Sonne excepted Enoch that walked vprightly before thee Abraham the Father of the faithfull Eliah and Iohn Baptist and all thine elect vessels came by nature of the same corrupt seed yet thou wert pleased to sanctifie them haddest thou left them vnto their owne original nature they had bin as one of these that lift vp their heeles against not me but thee Lord giue them Grace Wisdome and Vnderstanding Faith and Obedience they are onely thine to giue I may bee as the hand to giue them as from thee food for their bodies wherby by thy blessing they grow and I may sow the seeds of my best knowledge of thy worke in their outward eares but vnlesse thou plow vp the fallow ground of their hearts that it may take roote it cannot fructifie Consider gracious Father that they are of the polluted seede of Adam yet be thou pleased to accept them as thine admit them into thy fauour and guide them by thy Grace in a religious conuersation that they may cease to doe euill cleaue vnto that which is good and walke before thee be vpright TheÌ„ shal they serue thee I shall prayse thee for their reformation and saluation Let neither their sinnes nor mine any more prouoke thee to anger lest thy seuere iudgements should fall vpon them shame grief vpon vs their parents But their repentance Lord shall bee our comfort and wee shall reioyce in their conuersion and not onely wee but all the godly shall reioyce at their returne into the Spirituall societie of thy Saints Grant it gracious Lord for thy Christs sake whose righteousnes make theirs and his merrits a sufficient satisfaction for theirs and for the sins of all that haue erred as they haue done Amen Lord increase in them the holy feare of thy Name Faith Obedience vnto thee giue me grace with patience to waite their holy reformation A Christian incouragement to all that feare God not to bee daunted at the threats power and policies of whatsoeuer enemies be they neuer so many in multitude or seeming strong in armes fit vpon occasion to be taken into consideration to which is added a prayer for Gods holy protection and defence of his in whatsoeuer danger THey that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion that can neuer be mooued but remaine fast for euer And as the mountaines are about Ierusalem so is the Lord about them that trust in him from generation to generation Wherof holy Dauid had good experience who through the assurance of Gods presence with him his loue towards him and power ouer him could say with a bould and vndaunted spirit If an Host pitched against mee my heart should not be affrayd He alwayes found the redie helpe wherewith God euer assisted him and the true performance of Gods promises at all times in all his dangers and therefore assured himselfe that if tenne thousand of the people did rise against him and beseâ— him round about he would not be affrayde He was in many dangers and wonderfull his deliuerances were as appeareth by diuine History God is not the God of Dauid onely because hee was a King and a man chosen after Gods owne heart but the God of all them that faâ—thfully trust in him of good kings godly subiects through all generations to the end of the world whereof no nation hath had more manifest proofe though vnworthy then wee And therefore bee our dangers neuer so great or many God sheweth himselfe to haue euer as many meanes to deliuer vs. Saluation belongeth to him alone and his blessings are vpon them that call faithfully vpon him Hezekiah sore terrified at the threats blasphemies of Tartan Rabsaries and Rabsakeh the seruants of Senacherib who by his blasphemous letters reuiled not Hezekiah onely but high Iehouah himselfe Hezekiah therefore prayed vnto the
eye Lord hold vs euer vnder the shadowe of thy wings from them that seeke to oppresse vs For by thee alone Lord shall wee bee able to breake through an hoste of enemies And though we seeme by reason of the number of our aduersaries to walke as it were thorow the valley of the shadow of death yet will we not feare them for thou art with vs a strong rocke and a house of defence to saue vs. Thou redeemest the soules of thy seruants for when we were euen ready to be swallowed vp with a mercilesse multitude thou by the powre of thy strength didst deliuer vs. To thee be praise and glory for euer Amen Lord increase our faith in thee for euermore A necessary motiue to stirre vs vp to a holy desire to resort to the Temple of God to pray vnto him with the Congregation and to heare his word the knowledge and practise wherof is truest happinesse and he that is ignorant or negligent of this holy dutie bee he neuer so carnally wise or worldly glorious is a most vnhappy man WHat difference doth christian experience find between a carnall worldling and a man truely fearing God It can hardly be answered to the vnderstanding of the meere naturall man that hath as many desires as are pleasing delights offered to his senses and euery sense as many delights as the heart hath fantasies which are not to bee numbred and the fulnesse of euery delight esteemed a kinde of happinesse yet if each sense had as many pleasures as it could entertaine the desire were not satisfied And if all the senses had what they couetâ—d were it not a heauy burthen to the heart which ingrosseth them all And yet the more it apprehendeth the more desire increaseth for the eye is neuer satisfied with seeing nor the eare with hearing things of delight And thus with all the senses and yet but one thing necessarie This one thing Mary the sister of Martha made choyce of the hearing Christ preach a thing most needfull approued by Christ and that Mary â—n hearing Christ chose the best part which neuer could be taken from her Dauid desired this one thing namely That hee might dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of his life onely that hee might pray to God with the Congregation and heare God speake vnto him by the Prophets and men of God whom whosoeuer heareth attentiuely and profitably heareth God himselfe which is a sure token that he is of God For hee that is of God heareth Gods word The hearing of God speake vnto vs in his familiar word is the sweetest Musicke that the eare of the heart of a spirituall man can heare and acceptable also to God himselfe Jf yee will heare my voyce indeed saith God and keepe my Couenant then shall yee bee my chiefe treasure aboue all people Is not this chiefest happinesse to bee accepted of God as hâ—s onely Treasure No maruell then that Dauid dâ—sired onely this one thing a farre better request then Bathsheba his wise the mother of Salomon desired of her son which hee promised her to graunt but performed it not But Dauid the father of Salomon desired this one thing the thing most needefull of a King greater then Salomon and a matter of farre more moment then was Bathshebaes yet she was reiected and his request accepted Both their desires seemed to proceed of loue yet the one procured hatred and death the other life and happinesse Shee made her request to man in whome to put confidence is vaine The other in God the Holy one of Jsrael who is truth it selfe and neuer deceiueth But Dauids petition might seeme strange being a King to desire to dwell better then in a Kings palace where hee might sport at his pleasure take what delights hee would hauing a Kingdome to supply whatsoeuer hee desired But in these delights he found not the happinesse hee sought for it consisted in his loue to God and Gods fauour towardes him and therefore desired rather to bee one day in his Courts then a thousand in the Court of Saul or in his owne Court among his gallant Courtiers nay hee would choose rather to bee a Doore-keeper in the House of God then to command an earthly kingdome It is in dâ—ede a glorious thing to bee a King but that glory hath no long continuance many discontents distractions accompany worldly greatnesse But the glory that Dauid desired though seeming base was such as commonly greatest men desire last and least and yet desire as Balaam did To dye the death of the righteous seldome yet remembred but practise not the life of the righteous Yet fewe or none doubtlesse are so irreligious or barbarous in shew but they will looâ—e into the House of God peraduenture once it may bee twice in a Sabbath and peraduenture thinke it long they would bee loath to spare their pleasures delights and vanities to liue a whole day in hearing God speake vnto them and praying vnto God nay but one required houre but to liue all the dayes of their liues as Anna did and as Dauid desired in the Temple of God they would thinâ— it as hard as taske as the bondage of Egypt or the captiuitie of Babylon But thâ—re are no doubt diuers and some as high in Office as Dauid that haue both Dauids desire and are comfortably conuerâ—aâ—t in the House of God and doe finde that in his presence is the fulnesse of ioy and happinesse This is that chiefe happinesse and delight that great men should desire and ayme at to the ende they might be examples vnto their inferiors going before them in well doing especially in Gods seruice For it is commonly found by experience that example doeth more good or euill then documents or dehortations The godly and religious life of a great man is as a towre seene a farre off And many especially his folâ—owers will indeuour to immitate his steppes at least in shew and euen that shew of a godly life is a good motiue to others to liue godly in deed and as a good lifâ— giues comfort and incouragement to otheâ—s to bee good So the president of euill makes many euill If greatnesse and goodnesse goe together it is the sweetest harmonie that man can make in this life And the contrarie as hâ—â—sh and hellish This holy desire of Dauid was not for a day for hee speakes of the time past J desired which implyes a continuall inward petition So our desire of well doing should not be but for a moment and then vanish like Ionahs Gourd that quickly grew vp and suddenly withered and like the seede sowne in stonie ground we must be constant heires and humble petitioners not wauering like waues but as we once desire to heare and practise we must continue therein with a godly and religious perseuerance still desirous according to oportunity to visite Gods Church not yet to thinke that there is no place to serue God in but the materiall Temple but