to auoid the danger when the blow is giuen The very terror of the miseries present will so astonish and perplexe our harts as we shal run as men amazed for succor and shal find none for reliefe and none will giue it and for safetie and none shall bee able to preserue vs from the destroying angels hand Our faith will faile vs our prayer will bee cold and not steed vs when we shall runne here and there as at our wits end for feare of the dangers before our eyes O let vs therefore delay no time to flie vnto God not with our old polluted ragges of sinne and iniquitie but with renewed hearts and heartie repentance Let vs meete the Lord as the Niniuites did so shall wee recouer our spirituall strength and if any of these calamities fall vpon vs wee shall bee hardie in Christ our Sauiour and with courage meete the enemie in the gap namely the sword vndergoe famine with constancie and in pestilence rest boldly on the prouidence of him that hath promised to keepe his faithfull ones in whatsoeuer danger And therefore let vs bee mooued to some consideration that as our fathers haue been visited with these calamities for their sinnes wee cannot dreame of greater immunitie considering our sins are as ripe and as rotten as were theirs and Gods power is not diminished but his heauie and punishing and destroying hand is readie to bee stretched out still A Prayer to God to be vsed in the time of peace to preuent warre in plentie to preuent famine and in the time of health to preuent the pestilence fit also to be vsed in the time of warre famine and the pestilence also GReat and terrible art thou O God and in thy furie takest vengeance against a rebellious stubborne stifenecked and a wicked people Bee patient with vs O Lord be patient with vs and although we be of vnholy coÌ„uersations spare vs and be merciful vnto vs. Shoote not the arrowes of thy displeasure against vs for the least of them is able to wound the hayrie scalpe of thy mightiest enemies and to crush them in peeces like a Potters vessell O stay stay thine anger against vs preuent warres draw not thy sword vpon vs take not the staffe of bread from vs send not the pestilence among vs for we are not able to stand in thy fight when thou art angrie Be appeased towards vs good Father in Christ our Mediatour free vs of the dangers which wee haue deserued and which as wee cannot but feare doe houer ouer our heads for our sins Our sinnes are many monstrous horrible and as it seemeth incorrigible Thou hast shaken thy sword ouer vs wee saw it and were for the time afraid thou hast punished vs with pestilence we haue felt it and were indangered Thou hast weakened the staffe of bread amongst vs wee haue tasted it And yet we continue in our wonted disobedience we goe on still in our wickednesse like vnto those rebellious Iewes that put to death the Lord of life who are giuen vp vnto a reprobate sence We also haue eies to see and yet see not our dangers eares to heare and yet we heare not with sense thy fearefull threats for sinne and thy seuere iudgements vpon them that transgresse thy commandements wittingly we haue hearts to perceiue and yet we seeme not to vnderstand those things that belong vnto our peace and punishment we are not sensible of thy displeasure but we lull our selues asleepe with the sweet deceiuing delights of our fleshly affections and harden our hearts as Adamants against thy word O gracious Father giue vs repentant hearts for our sins vnderstanding harts of thy will giue vs obedient hearts to practise true pietie and holinesse in faith vnfained that we may appease thy wrath inkindled against vs through Christ the Mediatour of all that returne to thee in a holy submission Turne vs therefore Lord and wee shall returne from our euill wayes and obtaine mercy in him that is our aduocate with thee Iesus Christ the righteous by whose intercession it may please thee to spare vs thy people spare vs let neither the sword that deuoureth without mercie come neere vs let not famine too much afflict vs that hath no measure in pinching and let not the pestilence steale vpon vs that secretly flieth and striketh without respect of person sere or age Lord giue vs repentance and accept thine owne gift our repentance and our atonement with thee that if it please thee these euils fall not vpon vs as wee haue deserued but being made one againe with thee thine eye may bee vpon vs euer in mercie to deliuer our soules in death and to preserue vs in faâ—ine Thou art God a strong hold in the day of trouble let vs not esteeme our selues strong in our own might nor leane vpon our own wisdome to defend our selues when any of these calamities shall bee inflicted vpon vs. Make vs righteous so shalt thou preserue vs thou art the strength and hope of Israel of al that are of a holy conuersation faithfull Bee vnto vs a strong rocke whereunto wee may alwaies resort in warre in famine in pestilence and in all the calamities that accompanie or follow them Make vs constant in all goodnesse giue vs helpe against trouble for vaine is the helpe of man Harken therefore vnto the prayer of thy seruants and deliuer vs in Christ. Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A short prayer to be vsed in the time of warre THe children of Israel continuing to commit wickednesse in the sight of the Lord the Lord raised the Philistims against theÌ„ who made war vpon them and made them their seruants for fortie yeeres Iudg. 13 1. he raised likewise the Ammonites against them who vexed them 18. yeeres Iudg. 10. 7. and gaue them into the hands of the Midianites for 7. yeeres Iudg. 6. 1. As men fal from God so he sendeth them enemies as it were to inforce their reformation and if these kinds of afflictions cannot win them hee giues them ouer to more sharper calamities as he did the children of Israel whom he deliuered into the hands of meere spoilers and sold them into the hands of their enemies round about them which way soeuer they went his hand was stil against them Iudg. 2. 14. 15. yet when they repented cried vnto him he raised vp meanes to release them and deliuered them Iudg. 3. 9. 10. whereby we may be mooued to seeke the Lord before the Lord send foorth his persecuring ministers as the children of Israel intreated Samuel to pray vnto God for them before their danger fell vpon them that God might bee pleased to preuent that which they feared and at Samuels intercession they were preserued and their enemies scattered and confounded 1. â—am 7 8. 9. This is the course that Christians ought to take first to clense themselues from sinne and then to repaire vnto God in humble supplication for defence and preseruation and by
enemie desires to heare or see or finde some reprochfull blemish in him whom he loueth not and to that end will obserue and marke our conuersations and will solicite others to prie into our wayes to the end he may bring vs into slander But the man that is wise as a Serpent will seeke also to be innocent as a Doue knowing that he walkes in the light and his enemies are euer attending on his wayes in couert It therefore concernes vs much to consider how we walk before men much more how we stray before our enemies and because it is not in our power to walke before God or men to be vpright the first and principal thing for which we ought to pray is for the grace of God to liue an vpright life that our enemie the diuell haue no aduantage against vs. So shall our corporall enemies be inforced to be silent and hauing clensed and conformed our conuersation to a righteous course then our prayers to God for deliuerie against our enemies will be truely auaileable for then will hee take our cause into his owne hand and he will be our buckler sword and defence and we shall be safe vnder the shadow of his wings especially if we seeke according to the rule of Christ to doe them good that seeke to doe vs hurt for it is the part of a true Christian to seeke atonement euen with his enemies And as the Wise-man counselleth If he that hateth thee be hungry giue him bread Christ commands the same So mayest thou ouercome him and so winne him that his owne conscience shall moue him to turne his hatred into loue or else shalt thou heap coales of wrath on his head and God shall haue respect to thine offering and accept thy prayers Vse therefore this prayer following or some to 〈◊〉 purpose and God shal worke for thee and turne all enmitie of men and Satan to thy good A Prayer against enemies LOrd looke downe in merciâ— from heauen vpon me marke and consider mine enemies what they are and how many that lay wayt to doe me hurt Many 〈◊〉 there is no helpe for me in thee So proud and malicious are they th 〈…〉 they forget that thou art God who defendest the poore and oppressed that call vpon thee They remember that thou â—ittest a righteous Judge to iudge thy people with equitie how thou crushest the enemies of thy people as an earthen pot with a rod of iron Lord let them know that thâ—â— art God 〈◊〉 thy deliuery of me out of th 〈…〉 〈◊〉 They are too strong for 〈◊〉 too wise and politicke toâ— too malicious for Lord thou knowest I would gladly be at peace with them but when I seeke it they 〈◊〉 the more insolent and the read 〈…〉 to oppresse me And therefore I appeale vnto thee for succour to whom saluation belougeth Leade me and direct my wayes aright O Lord because of mine enemies deliuer me from them and saue mee for thy mercies sake O Lord my God I trust in thee saue me from mine enemies and deliuer me lest they deuour me lift vp thy selfe on my side against their malicious furiâ— let their malice come to an end let their snares be broken let their deuices come to nought and their policies wherby they plot my hurt become foolishnes and turne to their own shame Maintaine thou Lord my right and my cause for thou art set in the throne and iudgest right yet deale not with me according to my sinnes But to mine aduersaries what offeÌ„ce haue I committed I know not yet would I be reconciled and liue at peace But if thou haue raised them vp to trie me Lord giue me streÌ„gth and patience and then let them rage and swell for I know thou hast limited their power they cannot doe what they list and therefore J will not feare what they can doe vnto mee they may raile as Shem did on Dauid they may seeke my life as Iesabel did the life of Eliah and as Saul did the life of Dauid they may vow not to eat nor drink vntil they haue done me some mischiefe but thou hast a ring in their nosthrills thou hast bound them within the compasse of thine 〈◊〉 will and power keepe them 〈◊〉 lest they preuaile against me and say thou art not able to deliuer 〈◊〉 out of their hands as they said reprochfully of thee touching thâ— dearest Sonne Let him deliuer him if he will haue him Oh saue me 〈◊〉 deliuer me in that thy Sonne from the power of this malicious generation Thou hast euer beene 〈◊〉 yet art my strength my defence and my saluation therefore shall 〈◊〉 not much be moued at their contentions but vnder the shadow of the wings will I reioyce Teach 〈◊〉 thy way O Lord and I shal walke in thy truth knit my heart 〈◊〉 thee and I will feare thy 〈◊〉 So shal mine enemies 〈◊〉 put to 〈◊〉 lence they watch ouer my way 〈…〉 and couet to catch me in my sinnes and lay baites to allure me to the breach of a good conscience that they may colour their hatred with the seeming desire of sincerity But thou knowest me and them I cannot iustifie mine integritie before thee for I am a man ful of infirmities but these men I haue not offended therefore iudge betweene me and them and leaue me not in their power nor in me a reuenging spirit but rather that I may couet to doe them good that if they will not be hartily reconciled the coales of thy displeasure fall on their 〈◊〉 â—ates And my soule shall reioyce in thee yea I shall reioyce in thy saluation I shall praise thy name who hast deliuered me from him that is too mighty for me And let not mine enemies Lord vuiustly reioyce ouer me let them neuer say in their hearts nor see the day wherein they may truely imagine or say that they haue preuailed against me So shall my tongue vtter thy righteousnes and praise thy goodnes thy prouidence mercies while I haue any being Which grant Lord for thy deare Sonnes sake my only Mediator Amen Lord increase my faith and defend me from mine enemies A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said of euery true Christian for the Ministers and Preachers of the word of God IF men did duely and religiously consider what a blessing it is to haue the word of God sincerely preached vnto them they would be more thankfull to God for them who are as the conduite pipes to bring and conuey the water of life vnto them the glad tidings of peace and reconciliation with God in Christ. Men naturally loue them that giue them corporall food and necessaries they dearely esteeme and reuerence the Nurses and Eoster-fathers that yeeld them but things to strengthen and maintaine their naturall liues and the Physitians by whose art and industrie they perswade themselues to haue receiued health for their bodies And is it not much to be admired that men receiuing the nourishment and vitall streÌ„gth of
by the latter but that Antichrist would haue reinuested himselfe where now Christ Iesus is vnto vs all in all Blessed bee thy name O Lord whose eye beheld and whose prouidence preuented them and whose arme as with a rod of yron brake the actors in pieces like a potters vessell To thee therefore most louing Lord God to thy Sonne Christ and to the holy Ghost be prayse for euer Amen Lord increase our faith and euermore preserue thy seruant our King A short thankesgiuing and prayer for the Kings preseruation DEare Father infinite in power towards vs giue vs hearts to remember with thankefulnes thy too much forgotten goodnes in so mercifully defending our King and vs thy people from many dangers And forget not Lord how the wicked still study the meanes to effect that which thou in mercy diddest then preuent CoÌ„sider how they secretly thirst for the blood of thine Anointed and of his most worthy branches likely to proue powerfull protectors of thy truth and consequently long for the confusion of thy people It suffiseth that thou seest it but it suffiseth not for vs to haue the words and not to vse the workes of assurance of thy protection And therfore we humbly pray thee gracious Lord God most louing father to pardon our sinnes which are the greatest aduersaries that can rise vp against vs. Thou sendest good and religious kings to a people from whom thou expectest the fruits of holy obedience But if they waxe cold in profession and slacke in practizing thy reueiled will thou takest their godly 〈◊〉 religious and louing kings from them and in stead sendest them Tyrants mercilesse and irreligious princes neither the wisedome nor power of man can preuaile where thou art a partie in the iudgement Wherefore louing Father as thâ—â— hast furnished the heart of Iames thy seruant our King with heauenly wisedome furnish our hearts with true obedience to follow thy will reueiled in thy word that so our obedience beginning towards thy Maiestie may appeare and worke more and more in our continuall thankefulnesse vnto thee 〈◊〉 him and our loue and true loyalty to him that thy word may still preuaile with vs remaine amongst vs and wee euermore abide constant in thee that howsoeuer enemies rage whatsoeuer euill counsaile they take we may be either still free in thee protected by thy hand or may with patience vndergoe thy fatherly tryall knowing that all things worke together for the best to them that loue thee and are chosen of thy purpose in him by whose merits both hee our king and we thine and his people haue receiued the promise that thou wilt neuer faile vs nor forsake vs. Lord increase our faith A most piâ—â—ie and patheticall Prayer for the King and ouerthrow of Antichristian religion and enemies of the truth BLesse LORD and graciously defend and preserue our King looke vâ—n him as thou didst vpon Dauid chosen after thine owne heart Leade him by thine owne right hand in all his wayes that hee may leade vs thy people vnto thy holy Sanctuarie Giue him a reioycing heart to see his subiects readie to resort vnto thy holy Temple receiuing thy blessed Sacraments and faithfully seruing thy sacred Maiestie by his religious example Let him euer be instant to call vpon stirre vp and incite the Ministers of thy word that they be instant in sounding the trumpet of thy word vnto thy people that sin may bee weakned obedience to thee increased that mercie and truth may meet together and righteousnes and peace may kisse each other Giue him euermore a preuailing power to bring to nought or weaken the power of Idolatry and superstition within his Kingdomes and to further construie the sincere seruice of thee let him neuer cease O Lord vntill hee haue banished or fully reformed the Fauorites of Antichrist namely such as haue the marke of that Beast in their foreheads or in their hands whose names are not written in the booke of Life Giue him Lord an eye to finde them out and a right resolution to abandon them without respect of persons together with all flatterers and Hypocrites And blesse vnto him godly wise religious and faithfull Counsellers and as thou hast giuen him a sword and Scepter let him truly and valorously vse them to the cutting off of all the daungerous branches of sinne and impietie and all the inormities of thy Church and Common weale and to the defence of the godly and innocent Let his person Lord be euer in thy protection keep him as the apple of thine eye preuent all secret practises and open violence preteÌ„ded against him Stand betweene him and the enemie and let the hailestones of thy seuere iudgements fall vpon the heads of them that hate him wouÌ„d the hayrie scalpe of all that rise vp against him And in all his occasioned incounters with Antichrist or any of his adherents giue him Ioshuahs prosperous victories Dauids zeale and Elishacs faith Discouer vnto him largely the counsell of thine owne will giue him a forward willing and constant heart to effect what thou commandest and grant that he dismay not more in the ouerthrow of Antichrist then Ioshuah did at the confusion of Ierico Be thou his buckler whet his sword bend thou his bow make ready his arrowes vpon the string and let them all and alwayes be directed by thy prouidence to the destruction of his thine irreconciliable enemies as was the Sliâ—â— of Dauid against Goliah so let the. Judgements be against the wicked in the day of battell Let his Subiects loue him let his enemies feare and flie him let all Nations admire his righteous iudgements Princely gouernment and religious constancie let them all bee moued to follow him as he deliteth Lord to follow thee in truth and equitie to the glorie of thy vniuersally admired name through Christ in whom let him euer bee blessed And so blesse vs Lord that we may blesse thee for him Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee vsed of such as are of the Kings Maiesties priuie Counsell IF men of meanest professions bee moued by common reason to seek vnderstanding to manage their own priuate occasions how much more ought men of most eminent places especially Counsellors to Kings craue wisedome and fitnes of God for so high a calling How can they consult deuise deliberate direct and determine matters of weightiest consequence without extraordinarie gifts of prudence How can they marshall the care and carriage of him that hath the care and charge of the gouernment and defence of Kingdomes and people in peace and warre not onely in matters Ciuill but Ecclesiasticall Spirituall and Temporall Is it a small matter saith Dauid to be sonne in law to a King So may a man say Is it a small preferment to be thought a fit man to be of the secret counsell of a King Many thirst no doubt and desire this highest honor who haue not first truely examined their gifts of
promise they may be assured of timely deliueraÌ„ce in the instant of their greatest danger Some trust in chariots and some in horses but let vs remember the name of the Lord our God A Prayer to be vsed in the time of warre O God of hoasts wee beseeth thee looke downe vpon vs thy people oppressed and afflicted with the fearefull visitation of the sword wherwith thou threatnest to punish vs for our disobedience Thou art the God of peace send peace if it please thee and if they will not bee appeased breake the swords of thine and the Kings and thy Churches enemies shiuer their speares in sunder confound their counsels distract their league dissipate and disperse their companies stop their furie frustrate their hopes strike terror in their hearts weaken their armes take from them the staffe of bread and stand thou in the defence of thine Anointed incourage his heart and the hearts of all his subiects to shew themselues faithfull in thee girâ— thou their victorious swords vpon their loynes Manage thou their battels and giue them the victorie Giue them such successe as Iehosh aphat had against his enemies by thee Confound the enemie as thou didst Sennacheribs souldiers do vnto them as thou didst vnto Pharaoh and to his hoast Prosper them that fight for thy truth as thou didst Dauid against the Philistims and let thine Anointed take vp the triumphant song of Dauid The Lord hath diuided mine enemies asunder as water is diuided Goe out before our Captaines as thou didst before Deborah and Barak giue vs vi 〈…〉 ie as vnto them for it consisteth in thy power and prouidence not in Goliahs strength nor in Achitophels counsell nor in multitudes but in thee alone and therefore in thee do we trust let vs neuer be confounded It is sinne wee confesse that stirreth vp these calamities against vs giue vs repenting hearts and reformed spirits Let vs lift vp pure hands with vndefiled hearts as Moses did vnto thee and prosper Let our enemies fly before vs as before Iosuah and let their strong holâ—â— be as the wals of cursed Iericho hurle them downe and let them neuer bee built againe to trouble the peace of thy Church Thou art the author of peace extend thy peace ouer her like a floud Lord lift thou vp thy countenance vpon vs and giue vs thy peace in Christ. Amen Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer in the time of famine or dearth FAmine is the most grieuous plague that can befall man in this life for the want of foode causeth the bodie to pine and consume it pincheth the very entrails of al creatures brutish and humane without respect In so much as to appease this greedie monster as it may be termed men are inforced to feed on things most lothsome and vnwholesome instead of things salutarie and good There may be a Dearth without Famine but neuer Famine without a Dearth for to appease the violent furie of hunger men will giue their greatest Jewels and in the times of much necessitie hunger is of so homely a condition as where in the time of abuÌ„dance it scorned base and homely meats she scornes not now the basest nor the vilest things Famine is a Tyrant Dearth but a theefe the one fauours neither poore nor rich but oppresseth all without respect of person age or sexe the other is parciall stealeth from the poore and giueth to the rich it pineth the needie and filleth the wealthie and therefore is Dearth vncharitable vnreasonable and vnconscionable vncharitable in not giuing to the poore vnreasonable in not obseruing where most need is vnconscionable in withholding from the poore and giuing to the rich but they are both the instruments of Gods heauie displeasure for sinne and therefore not bee preuented or relieued without true repentance and faithfull prayer God hath promised that such as seekâ— him with a faithfull heart shall want no maner of thing that is good and in the time of dearth they shall haue enough Woâ— bee vnto them that in the time of dearth keepe in their corne and other victuals to inhaunce the prices that grinde the facts of the poore they shall be numbred among the wicked and their names shall be written among those that haue no loue but the faithfull shal feed and be satisfied and the little that the righteous hath shall be better more comfortable vnto him then the great abundance of the vngodly Therfore in the time of this kinde of visitation it behoueth all men to pray vnto God whose power is able to doe wonderfull things to make a cup of cold water and a morsell of bread to giue strength whereupon to walke fortie dayes as Eliah did and to increase the small portion that we haue and to make it powerfull to nourish vs as to the widow of Sarepthah Trust thou therefore in the Lord be doing good and thou shalt be fed assuredly They shall not bee confounded in the perillous time that trust in the Lord but in the dayes of famine they shall haue enough A Prayer in the time of Famine and Dearth O Great and powerfull mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ who hast made man to serue thee and all creatures to serue maÌ„ Look down wee beseech thee vpon vs now in the time of distresse want of necessaries to sustaine our mortal bodies Thou knowest whereof we are made remember that we are but dust and our liues are sustained by those thy creatures that thou hast created for our vse which thou hast now so diminished and decreased as the staffe of our sustinance is broken and we waxe faint vnder the burthen of thy heauie displeasure It is our sinnes Lord that haue drawne downe this fearefull visitation vpon vs which we are not able to beare And therefore as thou art gracious merciful powerfull and prouident forgiue vs our sinnes in thy mercie in Christ. Releeue vs by thy power for his sake and prouide for vs in thy prouidence call to minde thy mercies of old wherein thou relieuedst not only our faithfull Fathers but such as were strangers also vnto thy Couenant the Aegyptians to whom thou diddest send Ioseph to prouide for the Famine to come a speciall worke of thy wonderfull prouideÌ„ce Come now vnto vs Lord coâ—â— now vnto vs increase our small store and blesse it as thou diddest the oyle and meale of Eliahs h 〈…〉 faile vs not nor forsake vs in the 〈…〉 e of our greatest need leaue vs not in our distresse Thou haddest compassion Lord vpon foure thousand which were to depart from thee and diddest feede them when they had nothing to eate and thou gauest them sufficient with seuen loaâ—es â—as also fiue thousand with fiue loâ—â—es and a few fishes all men suffised and many fragments remained Why therefore should we feare or despaire of thy prouidence seeing thou canst feed so many with so little shew of outward meanes and as thou canst releeue with little in quantitie so
would seeme holy And so instead of a blessing procure a curse vnto themselues for their hypocrisie Wee must consider that God is a iealous God holdeth none guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine as they manifestly doe that come neere him with their lips when their hearts are farre from him It is a kind of spirituall adultery outwardly to seeme wholy to be gods and yet inwardly to be meere worldlings Before we open our mouthes therefore to God we must cast out of the Temple of God which is our heart all buyers and sellers as Christ did out of the Temple of Ierusalem for as long as our hearts doe harbour the desires of worldly profits and carnall pleasures aboue the sincere seruice of God our heart the Temple of the liuing God becommeth a den of theeues that steales away all our godly affections to settle them on Belial Let vs looke vnto the man Christ Iesus crucified by whose blood wee are redeemed by whose mediation wee are sure to haue our prayers heard of God and granted especially if for our further and more perfect preparation we can truely obserue the rule of Christ to forgiue our enemies knowing that if we forgiue not our brother that offendeth vs God will not forgiue vs that farre more grieuously offend him And therefore Christ counselleth vs that if we bring our sacrifice to the Altar namely if we intend to pray and there remember that a brother hath ought against vs we ought to leaue our offering before the Altar that is forbear for the time to pray yet to continue our holy intention to pray and to goe first and bee reconciled to our brother and then to come to offer our gift namely our prayers freely vnto God in Christ for before we be vnburthened of all rancor malice enuie hatred and all other prophane desires it is not only not auaileable but lamentable that so many will as doe presume to come before God with hearts so fearefully fraught with these vnholy affections and stagger no more to presse into Gods presence nay not so much as some that come vnto God with most prepared peacefull and most sanctified consciences Let such cast-out the bond woman with her sonne namely the old man the works and lusts of the flesh and giue entertainment vnto the free-woman and her sonne the new man which after God is created vnto righteousnes and true holines And so recommend our prayers vnto God the obiect of our prayers in Christ the Mediator of our prayers by the holy Ghost the Author of all holy prayers Attention in Prayer Being thus prepared let vs endeuour to yeeld due and true attention in our prayers that is to giue â—eed to what we pray to whom we pray for what we pray and with what zeale we pray which are the truest tokens and greatest arguments that our prayers are liuely powerfull effectuall and of faith which properties can neuer be in lip-labour for there cannot be a more apparent discouery of a rancke Hypocrite then to make outward showes of Deuotion with the gesture and lippes and yet the heart to be busied in the cogitation of idle â—arthly and prophane things And nothing more discouereth an idle heart outwardly then the wandering of the eye in the time of diuine prayer for it is probable and often found by experience that the eye withdraweth the heart and if the eye be inconstant the prayer hath not nor can haue the due attention of the heart yet it doth not follow that although the eye bee fixed on any certaine obiect or be shut that therefore the heart is rightly set on God for oftentimes the eye followes the heart the cogitation of the heart making the eye to forget it obiect as when the heart is wandring in the fields of corne viewing the herdes of cattle and flockes of sheepe when it is in the ware-house in the shoppe in the chest minding bands payments ouercome with pride plotting reuenge oppressed with feare besotted with pleasure iâ—tangled with cares or otherwise peruerted by any prophane and vngodly cogitations Prayers made witls such an extraâ—agant heart be they in words neuer so holy they are imputed vnto vs as sin for shall wee thinke that God will heare our prayers to our profit or comfort when the thoughts of our hearts in the meane time dishonor him Many pray in their owne familiar language and yet consider no more what they speake for want of attention then if they spake in an vnknowne tongue and yet such men will hold themselues very deuout and to haue power in themselues to pray when they list as if true prayer werâ— of that facilitie and ease to vtter as is an idle tale and as it seemes by beggers that tumble out the Lords prayer with one breath at a doore and yet minde nothing but their almes Such men are to be pitied and to be wished better to aduise themselues before they attempt this seruice of God most holy for Prayer is not an easie worke it is of a deeper straine then a tale that is but from the tongue to the teeth from the teeth to the lips and so into the ayre True prayer is cordiall and of that force and efficacie as it constraineth the heart to sighes groanes and teares with such inward â—eâ—uencie of holy zeale as tenters the heart with such internall gripes as may bee truly said the râ—ting of the hart And the more we feele our hearts thus inwardly sharply touched so much the more comfort it yeeldeth to the soule of the faithfull petitioner yea such and so great consolation as he that feeles it cannot expresse it with his tongue be he neuer so eloquent neither can any conceiue or apprehend the sweetnes of it that is not exercised and experienced in the same for nature apprehendeth it not No man can say that Iesus is Christ but by the holy Ghost and none can desire the Spirit of God but by the Spirit of God Flesh and bloud cannot as much as desire spirituall things spiritually for spirituall things are to be compared with spirituall things and spirituall gifts are obtained by spirituall meanes And therefore are words without the spirit as naked and bare incense without fire but being inkindled in the heart and sanctified by the holy spirit of God who is promised to assist our spirits they are as a liuely and acceptable sacrifice to God working so powerfully with him through Christs mediâ—tion as they neuer returne empty of what soeuer blessing we desire Prayer can neuer be effectuall 〈◊〉 there be sâ—me certaine spirituall obiect of the mind to moue the attention of the heart which obiect is God and we must consider that when we pray vnto him or yeeld him any other worship that we are not to conceiue him in the forme of any earthly or heauenly bodily or spirituall creature whatsoeuer for in that maner not to conceiue him is a degree of coÌ„ceiuing him a right according to Master Perkins
are wee to conceiue the glory prepared for thine elect in the heauens Giue vs therefore good father hearts of loue vnto thy Maiestie that we may striue with a godly egernesse rather to abandon all lets impediments which may hinder vs from that promised glory then curiously to seeke to knâ—w in this mortalitie that the secrets whereof thou hast reserued vntil our immortalitie And let not the cares of this transitory life and the blind affections which we naturally beare vnto the pleasures thereof choake the good seede of grace in vs. Make the way of our saluation familiar vnto vs as thou hast made it plaine for vs. And let not our bodily labours hinder our hearts from continuall meditation of thy goodnesse towards vs. Let vs lift vp pure mindes vnto the heauens with a longing desire to with thee where is no labour or sweate or feare or care or hunger or thirst or nakednesse or enemies or strife or paine or griefe But all comfort all ioy all peace and blessednes and glory vnspeakable Giue vs therefore longing hearts to remoue out of this body of miseries yet so as we omit not our callings vntill thine appointed time but that we may labour accordingly in the world not as we so loued the world as we should imbrace it as our home but vse it as our Tabernacle or lodging place for the time of our pilgrimage And let thy blessing bee so vpon our labours this day as wee may liue thereby haue sufficient of all necessaries as food rayment friendship peace plentie health of bodie preseruation of our limbes and sences and a blessing vpon all that belongeth vnto vs. That we be not constrained to vse vnlawfull meanes for our reliefe Then as we by thy blessing haue entred into this morning shall passe the day with comfort and end the same in peace of conscience and consolation of the holy Ghost and so continue from day to day vntill the last of our dayes when we shall surrender againe vnto thee to be disposed both our soules and bodies for euer to liue with thee in the glory purchased by Christ our mediator our hope our strength and our euerlasting redeemer to whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee all power maiestie and dominion ascribed for euer Amen O Lord euermore increase and confirme our faith A short prayer for the morning to be said of one in priuate or in a Family vsing the plurall instead of the singular number ALmightie Lord God whose presence is alwaies light vnto thy Saints vouchsafe as thou hast banished the darknesse of the night past and made the light to shine vnto our corporal eyes So let the sauing Sunne of thy holy Spirit lighten the darkenesse of mine vnderstanding this morning And as the Sun of the firmament cleareth cheereth and comforteth all thy creatures in earth with the beames thereof so let thy sacred and sauing countenance recomfort my sad and dulled heart and as it hath pleased thee to giue me power and ablenesse to rise out of my bed of corporall rest and by the sleepe which I haue this night enioyed haue in some measure shaken off the heauie sluggishnes of my fleshly part So I beseech thee to giue me power to rise out of the bed of sinne and securitie and with cheerefull alacritie to cast off the dulnes and drowsines of my corrupt heart that with full affection and entire loue I may praise thee for thy loue wherein thou hast preserued mee this night from perils and dangers of the darknes wherein the secret arrowes of Satan and sin are sent forth to wound euen the vpright in heart wherein diuers casualties befall them that are dead in their sleepe not able to preuent the least danger incident to soule or bodie and hast now graciously brought me to the beginning of this day in safety the end whereof nor the least remaining part what it shall afford me thou only knowest from whose all-seeing eyeâ— nothing is hid but as well the times to come as the seasons past and present are alike manifest As thou therefore knowest what shal succeed me this day turne those things from me Lord in thy prouidence which thou knowest dangerous and blesse vnto me all things for my comfort and whatsoeuer befalleth me contrary to my health wealth or peace make me wise to make vse thereof to the confirmation of my further faith in thee knowing Lord that all things shall worke together for the best to them that loue thee And therefore giue me patience to vndergoe al thy corrections and trials and to be vnfainedly thankfull for all thy benefits And for asmuch as nothing can prosper vnto vs without thy blessing blesse Lord I beseech thee vnto me all such thy creatures as I shall haue cause to vse this day giue a blessing vnto all that appertaineth vnto me whomsoeuer or whatsoeuer and let the meditations of my hart the words of my mouth and the labours both of my bodie and minde be sanctified vnto me this day that whatsoeuer I doe it may prosper I recommend my selfe my soule and bodie all that I haue charge of vnder thee into thy fatherly tuition and defence this day for I know Lord and am assured that thou to whom I commit me arâ— able and willing to keepe me Let not my sinnes gracious Father which I haue no power to resist preuent thy mercies but in thy mercie preuent my sinnes for Satan the World and mine owne corruptions are euer ready to draw me into forbiddeÌ„ vanities But strengthen thou the armes of my faith teach my spirituall fingers to fight valiantly against their enemies giue me the sword of the Spirit the brest-plate of righteousnes the helmet of saluation that I feare not their assaults this day that fighting the good fight of faith I may preuaile and receiue the crowne of victorie through Christ that triumphant Lion of the Tribe of Iudah Remember thy promises made vnto all that beleeue in him I beleeue Lord helpe mine vnbeliefe Let the fruits of that loue that is greater then faith and hope appeare in mine actions this day the chiefe wherof is obedience vnto thee So shall I passe this day in thy faith feare due reuerence of thy great and glorious name and daily more and more prepare my selfe in a holy readines to attend thy calling mee out of this mortall to an immortall condition And for my greater comfort in this my pilgrimage giue me a true feeling of the ioyes promised in the Kingdome of glorie euen here in the Kingdom of grace that hauing heere receiued the earnest of thy holy Spirit I may daily looke for the principall in the Kingdom purchased by Iesus Christ in whose name I humbly recommend my selfe and all my labours this day vnto thy blessed prouidence and direction yeelding vnto thee all praise in Iesus Christ by the holy Ghost blessed for euer and euer Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said
he shal recouer and liue with them which kinde of comfort is rather iniurious then friendly for what if the partie thus idlely secured perish without repentance These kindes of comforters haue little cause to imagine they haue performed a Christian dutie in this their visitation of their sick friend whom they seemed to loue much bewailing his sicknes and yet content to send him away with the heauie burden of his sinnes A second Christian duty is to pray for the sicke either in priuate or in publike assemblies of and with such as are present with the sick person wherein also the sicke person may conioyne either in the whole prayer by an inward lifting vp of his repenting and faithful heart to God in a holy meditation of what they pray or to conclude with them all Amen The prayer of the faithfull auaileth much if it be feruent The Lord by this meanes will strengthen him vpon his bed raise him to health or translate him in his good time To visite the sicke is an action most acceptable to God Yee haue visited me saith Christ when I was sicke therefore c 〈…〉 yee blessed c. Them that comfort the afflicted God will comfort He is the Father of mercies and comforteth vs 〈◊〉 all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort them which are in any aff 〈…〉 by the comfort wherewith we our selues are comforted of God O Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said for a sicke man or woman of his or her friendes that visite them O Most gracious Lord God who hast made all things preseruest euen the meanest of them by thy prouidence a sparrow lighteth not on the ground without thee Much lesse can any thing befall man but by thy will and determinate counsell So that we doe acknowledge that thou visitest this thy seruant here at this present languishing and that the present infirmity wherewith he is afflicted is of theesent to humble him for his sinnes Let it please thee O Lord to behold him in mercy and lay not vpon him too great a weight of thy dispeasure knowing that man in his greatest strength is weake how much more feeble being crushed as it were in â—eeces by the violence of thy visitation mitigate if it please thee the extremitie of his sicknesse and giue him patience to beare this thy light and louing correction And for that sinne is the cause of all troubles and tribulations Remoue Lord the guilt of all his offences through the merits of Iesus Christ and moderate his punishmeÌ„t though in iustice the most iust man is worthy of more stripes then he is able to beare yet thou refusest no truely repenting sinner bee his sins as reâ— as scarlet thou hast promised to make them as white as snow through the blood of Iesus Christ the sauing Lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world Touch the hart of this thy seruant with a liuely feeling of his sinnes and a full assurance of thy mercy in forgiuing them That hee being really reunited vnto thee through an â—ufained faith in Christ may â—ouze vp his fainting soule vnto thee and by thee that howsoeuer his corporall weakenesse may argue the heauy displeasure towards him thy holy Spirit may yet work such peace in his conscienc through the assurance that his sins are freely forgiuen him that hee may take this thy visitation as a fatherly correction and louing chastisement for his former offences And that if thou be pleased to restore him to health it may worke in him a true renouation reformation of the rest of his life heare haue mercy vpon him O Lord haue mercy vpon him and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away all his offences Looke fauourably vpon him cure him if it please thee restore him to health if it may stand with thy glory and his good But thou knowest Lord whether sickenesse or health bee most expedient for him whereof both he and wee are ignorant And therefore wee recommend him vnto thy fatherly disposition beseeching thee to confirme his hope assure him so of thy mercie that hee may imbrace life or death at thy pleasure and willingly to vndergoe this affliction knowing that all the tribulations which man can beare in this life are not worthy of the glory which thou hast prepared for them that loue thy second comming whâ—â— thou wilt giue to euery man according to his workes And therfore Lord turne his heart from the loue and vanities of this life vnto thâ— loue of the ioyes to come And 〈◊〉 him no longer set his heart and affections vpon this world or thâ— things in the world but onely and altogether vpon heauen and heauenly things That when the moment of time shall be wherein thâ—â— shalt determine the separation 〈◊〉 his soule from the bodie let 〈◊〉 the common enemie of our saluâ—tion preuent him But let thy sanctifying spirit possesse all thâ— powers of his soule that with holy alacritie and cheerefulnesse he may commend his spirit into thy hands and be thou pleased to reâ—â—iue him as one of thine adopted children into that celestial inheritance by the merits of Christ And in the meane time while hee shall rest here either in health or sickenesse be euer present with him for whose bodily recouery and hiâ— soules saluation O Lord hearâ— our prayers and let our cry come vnto thee Amen O Lord increase his and our faith for euermore A MOTIVE TO A Prayer before a man bâ—gin his Iourney HEe that well considereth the casualties of this life and hath but the least measure of vnderstanding and of the feare of God cannot attempt the least enterprise of the body but will forecast diuers daÌ„gers incident in euery action much more taking a Iourney on horse or foot being subiect to so many misfortunes and crosses as he maketh steppes in his wayes It is not rare to heare of one breaking his legge another his arme a third bruzing his body a fourth comming to vntimely death by falling off or from his horse nay the slip of the foote hath many wayes occasioned death besides hazard of meeting with and suffâ—ring danger by the ministers of Sathan and by malignant men laying wait to doe mischiefe Our bodies being thuâ— daily and vniuersally beset with perill requireth watchfulnesse in our wayes and walkings But it is not in our power wisdome to preuent the least crosse much lesse able are we to defend our selues as of our selues froÌ„ the hidden and sudden misfortunes of this lifes casualties And therefore had we neede to leaue our owne selfe wisedome and prouidence though not our Christian care and betake vâ— to the holy protection of the Holy one of Israel who guided Iacob in his Iourney towards Laban and the seruant of Abraham iourneying for a wife for Isack But they prayed for good successe So must euery faithfull man if he hope of the like Otherwise as the Lyon mette the Prophet and sâ—ue him So can God rayse
thâ—â— hast appointed Counsâ—llâ—rs of Estate vnder our King by the rule of right reason and diuine wisedome that all their consultations and determinations may tend vnto and come to a holy eâ—d being 〈◊〉 rated in thy feare and sanctified by prayer Heare our petitions for them heare them for themselues and vs and heare them and vs for the safetie of thiâ—â— Anointed for the good of thy Church pr 〈…〉 and peace of thy people in and for thy Christ our solâ— and only 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 to whom with 〈◊〉 and the holy â—â—â—st be praise 〈◊〉 nally Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee vsed of Iudges and Superiour Magistrates that haue power and authoritie to heare and determine causes betweene man and man which Motiue is fit to be often read and considered of â—hem ABoue all the men in the world Iudges superiour Magistrates and Ministers of Gods word haue greatest cause to seeke wisdome and iudgement at the hands of God by prayes for that Rule and gouernment is giuen them of the Lord and power by the most high who will trie their workes and search their imaginations Wisd. 6. 2. 〈◊〉 If they iudge iustly he will iustifie their Iudgements but if they perueit Iustice horrible and sudden will be â—ppâ—are vnto them a â—ard iudgemeÌ„t shall they haue that rule and rule not according to right Let them pray that God will giue them grace to keepe their hearts vpright and their hands cleane for nothing peruerâ—â—th the heart of a Iudge as do bribes they bewitch him they make him of a free maÌ„ a slaue for being once corrupted with reward he letteth slip the reines of Iustice and wresteth the cause to the Briber whose hireling he is whereby the iust man is oppressed and the oppressor freed the lawes of God neglected the lawes of Common-weales peruerted the King abused Subiects wronged the common peace indangered Gods iudgements threatned confusion feared God will be a seuere Iudge of all partial corrupt Iudges the people shal perish where bribery corruption ouerswayeth Iustice The Iudges of the house of Iacob the Gouernours of the house of Israel did abhor Iudgement and peruert equity they iudged for rewards thinking as corrupt Iudges doe that God saw them not in their priuate studies and therefore could there bee no accuser consequently no danger follow But the Iudges were punished the people oppressed Sion plowed as a field Ierusalem became a heape of stones Mich. 3. 9. 11. Such desolation followeth where Iudges are corrupt where the Priests teach for hire and the Prophets prophesie for mony These may be all set in the table of Iudges Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill Iudges were coupled together by Micah the Prophet and therefore may they heare one and the same admonition namely that they be diligent to seeke wisdome and learning together Ye are al Iudges of things in the earth and in earthly vessels of things Diuine I indeuour not to teach them but to moue them to seeke wisdome at the fountaine Iehouah of him to learne Iudgement for he shall be the Iudge of their Iudgements and he shall reward them that take reward against the innocent If therefore they would remember and ruminate the exhortatioÌ„ of Iehoshaphat which he gaue to the Iudges in his time that they should take heed what they did considering they executed not the iudgements of men but of God They would bee circumspect in iudging and the more if they considered what Iehu said vnto Iehoshaphat Wilt thou helpe the wicked and loue them that hate the Lord As all Iudges doe if for affection or bribes they suppresse a iust and preferre an vniust cause Iudges may bee compared to beautifull women in their places for as the deformed are seldom or neuer assailed or tempted to incoÌ„tineâ—â—ie but the beautifull eagerly often So coÌ„mon persons are seldom or not at al tempted with brib 〈…〉 but Iudges and Magistrates strongly and many times And happie is that Iudge that keepeth his hart free from parriall affection and his hands from gifts A Iudge first mounting into his chaire of Iudgement ought to prâ—meditate of the weighty taske hee hath vndertaken for hâ—â— is entred as into the seat of God himselfe in his â—â—ead to execute Iustice iustly If they fore he poruert Iudgement he doth what in him lieth to make God vniust It is an office not vashly to be desired not vnaduisedly to be vndertaken for if they runne before desert and finde not in themselues fitnes for experience and sinceritie and be there unto called as God commanded Moses to constitute such to be Iudges of the people as would administer righteous Iudgement fit it were to forbeare But being lawfully called and finding â—â—tnes inwardly for gifts let him theâ— pray that God will inable him with wisdome and 〈◊〉 Iudgement that he may discharge a good coÌ„science without respect of persons or bribes two strong enemies to Iustice and impossible it is to preuent them without the especiall grace of God who being instantly petitioned is readie to giue wisdome and to keep the hart cleane from vniust rewards pray therefore and be warned yee that bee Iudges of the earth for fire shall consume the houses of bribers Iob 15. 24. A Prayer to be vsed of Iudges and Magistrates O Gracious and merciful Lord God Father of mercie inst in Judgement absolute in wisdome pure and holy in all thy waies and works Lend thine eare of mercie vnto my petitions who am a man weak in vnderstanding ignorant in iudgement apt to erre in opinion vnworthy of the high calling whereunto thou hast aduanced me to execute Justice and JudgemeÌ„t as in thy stead in earth and in thy name to giue sentence according to equity But I am by nature of a corrupt heart of prâ—phane lips and of a deâ—â—led conuersation Therefore of mine own disposition and wisedome vnable to iudge iustly and consequently vnfit for so high a function But thou louing Father art the fountain of wisdome the directer of the hart the mouer of the tongue the giuer of true knowledge And therfore I do huÌ„bly beseech thee to fill my hart with wisedom from aboue my will with equity mine vnderstanding with iust iudgement that I laying aside all mine own wit policy pretended prudence which naturally is meerely carnall may only rely vpon thy holy heaueÌ„ly direction and obtaine it that I rightly coÌ„ceiuing the equity of all causes that shal be tendred vnto my censure I may iudge iustly between parties without respect of persons that I may truly imitate thee who art iust in thy iudgements acceptest no person for reward Giue me an vnderstaÌ„ding hare to distinguish between truth falshood between the wronged the wrong-doer that I punish not the iust let the wicked goe free Let no priuate respect Lord eyther of mine owne benefit or steeding a friend miscarry my iudgement but let thine owne glory and reueiled
in Lebanon let our pastures yeeld plentiful and wholesome food for our câ—â—tle let our seruants be vnto vâ—â—â—â—stie strong faithfull and diligent in their labours Teach vs rightly to manage the things we take in haÌ„d and blesse all our handy labors and indeuours Continue the strength and vse of our limbs and sencâ—â— that wee may bee able to vndergoe that burthen patiently and thankefully which thou laidst vpon all mankind in the beginning the tilling and manuring of the earth which without thy blessing we cannot but confesse can yeeld vs no increase to our comfort our rising earely our hardest labour and our late and little taking rest can profit vs little without thy blessing Blesse vs therefore Lord and our labours blesse all that and those that do belong vnto vs. And as thy blessings and plentie shall increase and abound vnto vs so let our continuall desires to do good increase and according to our meanes be helpefull to the poore and needie and charitably performe all the workes of true pietie If riches increase make vs the more humble if they diminish make vs patient let not Satan delude vs in either with pride or dispaire Let not our corporall enemies haue power to preuaile against vs to hurt vs in bodie goods or good name Let vs walke before thee in true sinceritie let vs liue in thee religiously and faithfully in thy feare and loue and die in thy fauour in Christ Jesus Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A prayer to be vsed in the time of and to preuent any of these three seuerall common calamities that may happen vpon a people namely of warre of faminâ— and of the pâ—stilencâ— THere are three capitall and chiefe scourges wherewith God vseth to correct a disobedient people warre famine the pestilence the least of them of force to confound kingdoms War is a grieuous affliction where it is acted especially ciuill and internall combustionâ— in a kingdome where the father shall be against the sonne the sonne against the father brother against brother and one neighbor to shead anothers blood Where one friend stands suspicious and fearefull of another where is no certaine freedome no assured safetie of any mans person or goods but infidelity trechery rebellions treasons murders thefts rapines rauishments and vniuersal confusion threatens all men in all places by â—ll impious and bloodie meanes How many Countries kingdomes nations and people haue tasted of this vnsauorie cup histories humane and diuine amply intimate Our own Chronicles record many ciuill miseries to haue infested this kingdome and parts of the same where insurrections haue begun especially in the time of the dissention betweene Henrie the third and his Barons the troubles of the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster and other like troubles of later memorie And what calamities haue accompanied this kind of punishment are likewise at large related in domesticall and forraine in prophane and diuine histories namely famine and pestilence Samaria being besieged such was the famine there as an Assâ—s head was worth fourescore peeces of siluer and the fourth part of a kab of Doues dung was sold for fiue peeces of siluer mothers did seeth and eate their owne children 2 King 6. 25 28. 29. The like at the siege of Ierusalem according to Iosephus And as Plinie reporteth wheÌ„ Hambal besieged Cassilinum a City in Italy a mouse was sold for â—00 peeces of mony he that sold it died of famine he that bought it saued his life In these extreme famines things most lothsome became daintie foodâ— horses dogs rats mice hides of beasts shooes boots and many other abhorred things As not onely diuers cities in France and other forraine parts but our owne natiue countrie can too well witnesse not vnfit to be remembred as a necessarie caueat Acts and Mâ—n In the time of Edw. 2. the Scoâ—s taking opportunitie by the quarrelâ— that rose betweene the King and his Nobles about Pierce Gauestone inuaded England in so furious and hostile manner as our Countrie men vnder the crueltie of the enemie were besides the generall slaughter driuen to that penurie and want of victuals that they were inforced to feed on the former most vnwholsome relicks The King himselfe could hardly get corne and victuall to sustaine him and his followers Some did steale other mens children and ate them many prisoners were in that height of hunger as they tooke and tore in peeces new-come prisoners and ate them raw and halfe dead And this extreme famine and warre with the pestilence that followed the warre and the famine consumed the greatest part of the people in the land for it is commonly found by experience that warres follow securitie famine war and the pestilence followes famine A statute was therupon made in respect of the scarcity of bread that no corne should be vsed in making of drinke a statute fitly to be in part put in execution at this day being so highly abused to drunkennes one of the most capitall sins that draw downe threats of these calamities to be renewed vpon vs. And how is it considered what preuention is there fought fulnes plentie breed securitie our securitie idlenes our idlenes Atheisme Idolatrie selfe-loue contempt of God and his word oppressions cruelties pride riotousnesse lasciuiousnes wantonnesse and consequently the neglect of prayer And these call for warres warres for famine famine for the pestilence and these come with armies of euils vpon a people forgetting God fearefull to be considered euen the least of these namely that which Dauid chose being inforced to vndergoe one of the three It is an affliction much against our natures to yeeld vnto yet more tolerable then terriblâ— warre or intolerable famine It threatens death yet with a milder countenance then sterne warre or meager and consuming famine But seeing sin is the impulsiue cause of all these miseries in the fierce wrath of God who againe is the efficient and working cause how forgetfull are we wretches that find in our selues this cause of the causes of our dangers and will rest carelesse how by whom or by what meanes to preuent the comming of them vpon vs knowing that they are sudden And if the wrath of God bee inkindled yea but a little how shall we bee able to stand in his presence how shall wee auoid the comming forth and the execution of his most fierce decree If one destroying Angell could in one day by one of these three dreadfull calamities send so many soules vnto their places as of the people of Dauid and hoste of Senacherib what may we thinke if he send his other most fearefull ministers together to visit our trespasses Let vs therfore seek atonement with God in Christ in time Let vs not play the secure seruants that perswade them selues their Master wil be long in comming if he come and find vs in our drunkennes and surfering and bribing and tyrannizing ouer our weake fellow members it will bee too late then to seeke
sobrietie modesty patience and true magnanimitie and boldnes Preuent in me wantonnesse ryoting drunkennes swearing blasphemy whoredome and such a profane and vngodly course as commonly too much accompanieth this militarie life And seeing Lord that I in duty am inforced to vse the sword against those that rise vp against vs blesse the vse of it to me as thou didst the sling of Dauid and the sword of Gideon teach my hands to war my fingers to fight Giue me a couragious heart vndaunted spirit to incounter the enemy as ofteÌ„ as need requireth make strong my loynes and fortifie my armes let good successe befall our armies daunt our enemies hearts Teach our Leaders and Commanders wisedome and Christian policie to direct vs and giue vs courage strength and obedience to performe our dutie with good conscience And if in thy wisedome peace be more to our profit and comfort and to thy glory then warre send vs peace in thy name and let both peace and warre life and death bee to our aduantage in Christ in whom al things are blessed to them that truly serue thee Let vs want no maner of thing Lord that is good vouchsafe vs all things necessary for our warfare Stand euer on our side and let thy sauing and protecting Angel preserue vs in all danger Remamber thy louing promises and thy mercies of old bee vnto vs a shield and buckler of defence and a sword of offence against our enemies accept vs into thy blessed protection neuer faile nor forsake vs O God of hostes Goe euermore foorth with our armies keepe euery one of vs free from the excommunicate thing sin and iniquity And sanctifie vs with thy holy spirit that in thoughts words and deeds we may be approued not souldiers carnally valiant or desperately bold but truly and religiously couragious both in our outward and inward warfare through Christ to whom with thee and the holy Ghost beâ— ascribed all â—ouor and power for euer Amen Lord increase our faith and euermore mightily defend vs. A MOTIVE TO a prayer to be said of such as trauaile by sea SVch as vse the seas as Dauid obserueth and haue occasion to passe the great waters by ship see the wonderfull workes of the Lord. Wonderfull in deed in the creation of so huge a heape of waters wonderfull in containing them within appointed limits wonderful in ebbing and flowing wonderfull in violence and rage wherein sometimes it swelleth and worketh wonderfull in respect of Iehouah at whose word the most furious waues therof are appeased And lastly wonderfull in respect of man whom God hath indued with the vnderstanding to frame a vessell wherein as in a house he may safely fly as it were through the furious furrowes of so mercilesse waters But all these wonders may be knitte vp in one namely in the wonderfull power and prouidence of Iehouah who by his word hath made the seas and gathered the great waters into one place and commandeth them not to passe their bounds and they obey hee hath giuen man iudgement and art to frame the hull to place the Roder to stretch out the Tacklings and to spread the sailes to descend into the deepe But if God should there leaue him to his owne will wit power or art though he haue his card and compasse to guide him he should neuer attaine his wished port when the winds blow the tempests rise the seas rage the waues lift them vp as vpon mountaines and hurle them downe againe as into deepe gulfes What then can art or force do Doe not their hearts then melt for feare vntill the winds cease the tempests appease the seas calme and the waues be still And who worketh this wished and most comfortable change only that mightie Jehouah hee that made the seas he commandeth them to rage to shew his power and againe willeth them to bee quiet to shew his mercie Are not these the wonderful workes of God who but he commandeth and the seas obey Ye therefore that are occupied in this dangerous trade of life bee not vnmindfull to serue the liuing God for ye see by experience how suddenly hee commandeth and calleth for a tempest and then ye thinke your selues neere vnto the doore of death Yet as saith Dauid When they cried vnto the Lord he deliuered them out of their distresse and brought them to the hauen where they would bee There is none that vseth the seas but hath seene and felt this If then they confesse not the power prouidence and louing kindnesse of Iehouah and acknowledge the wonderfull workes that he hath done for them euen before the sonnes of men Let them bee assured that a thousand perils futurely attend them But the most of them that exercise this kind of trauell shew themselues temporizers when dangers appeare they seeme much humbled promising reformation of their finfull liues they pray and are cast downe with importable feare and sorrow but the danger past they forget it and God that deliuered them from it especially wheÌ„ they approch the hauen where they would bee in safetie where in stead of giuing of thanks to God for his mercies in leading and conducting them the first thing they doe is to shew they owe him no duty by presently falling to transgresse his will by drunkennesse wantonnesse whoredome swearing and blaspheming him as though the danger past were the last they need to feare or could befall them But they deceiue themselues for God is patient and long suffering but neuer forgetteth them in iudgement that so forget and neglect his mercies Hee followeth them when they thinke dangers farthest off Shipwracke Pirats Famine or some other Iudgement seazeth vpon all carelesse Sea-faring men Wherefore yee that occupie the Seas remember that as in discretion you prepare all needfull things fit for your Sea voyage so are there things most materiall to bee prouided toÌ„wards your heauenly peregrination Godlinesse Faith Obedience true Feare and sincere Loue and seruice of God which if you omit let your corporall prouision bee neuer so plentifull let your ship bee neuer so strong neuer so swift of sayle neuer so well manned and munited the least breath of the Lords mouth is able to coÌ„found you No men haue more interims and times of leasure to serue God then Seafaring men Why then spend yee not those times in searching the word of God in prayer and in holy exercises that God may be your guide your defence preseruer and protector so shall all things goe well with you and whatsoeuer ye doe it shall prosper A Prayer to be said of such as haue occasion to vse trauell at sea GRacious Lord God mightie mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ who hast made all things by thy word And by thy power and prouidence dost gouerne all and all obey thee in their kinds the heauens the earth and the seas but man only is disobedient only rebellious therefore doe thy creatures whom thou madest to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 become aduersaries vnto man