graces in that short and absolute form of Prayer which he hath taught us Our Father c. A Prayer for Thursday-Morning BLessed and glorious Lord God thy mercys are infinite and thy long-suffering and patieâ—ce is exceeding great else had not I a poor wreched miserable sinner been spared so long considering my many provocations against thee in thought word and deed but thou hast exalted thy mercy above all thy works and of thine infinit goodness hast preserved me this night and hast given me the light of this day Lead me I beseech thee O Lord and guide me this day in the way of all truth and righteousness and so govern all my actions that I may not run into any Sin or any kind of danger but that all may Actions may tend to thy glory and the discharge of my duty in my life and Conversation defend and deliver me also from all temptations and afflictions in this sinful world and from all mine Enemies and from all the deceits and dangers of Satan the deadly Enemy of Mankind Kindle in my heart and affections a fervent Zeal to do thy will and let me imbrace thy holy word and walk in thy wayes strengthen me with thy holy Spirit boldly and constantly to profess the honour and service of thy great name O Lord strengthen my weak faith Kindle it more and more in fervency and love to reward thee and in all Christian love towards my Neigbours Give me a contented mind with my estate and all other blessings which thou O Lord God of thy bountiful goodness in mercy hast bestowed upon me that I may use them soberly and discreetly and be truly thankful to thee for them keep my wandring will and affections from all evil thoughts my tongue from profane and lewd Speeches my body and every part thereof from all sinful Actions and outward violence let all my love my hope my delight and confidence be only upon thee And grant that I may lead my whole life and conversation so that I may live in the fear of thy holy and blessed name and may die in thy favour that I may also rise again to live for ever and ever with my Lord Jesus In whose Name and Words I further pray Our Father c. A Prayer for Thursday-Evening O Heavenly Father the giver of all good things and the Protector of all those that love thee I yield thee most humble and hearty thanks not only for keeping and preserving me this day but also all my life that neither my Enemies have prevailed against me as they might nor any other danger which in this world is incident to Mankind hath overcome me but that thou as a loving father and careful purveyor hast given unto me and provided for me all things necessary for which thine inestimable love I cannot suffiently praise thee O Lord forgive me mine offences which this day I have committed and done against thy most holy Majesty pardon them O God for Jesus Christ his sake and vouchsafe me thy grace to amend my life and to return unfeignedly unto thee in serving of thee And since I cannot have a being without thy continual Protection be pleased to extend the same toward me a wretched poor creature this night that I may quietly take my rest which thou hast appointed for the refreshing of my weak and wearied body I beseech thee O Lord to guard me and defend me that nothing hurt me preserve me by the watching of thy holy Angel that I may take my rest with thee until the morning and that I may then give my self to the fulfilling of my duty and the discharge of my calling and the doing of thy will unto my lives end Here me I beseech thee for these things and for all things necessary for me and for all others whom thou hast commanded me to pray for even for all such as are in any kind of Affliction in body or mind O Lord Strengthen them and bless them and me and keep me and mine this Night and for Evermore All these Petitions I humbly beg of thy Majesty in and through thy Son Jesus Christ in whose Blessed Name and Words I further Pray Our Father c. A Prayer for Friday Morning HOly and most Gracious Lord God who art full of loving Kindness and Mercy and art a continual Defence to all that trust in thee whether they wake or sleep I a poor unworthy Sinner render unto thee humble and hearty thanks that it hath pleased thy Great Goodness to keep and preserve me the Night past as well from all my Enemies as from all other casualties and dangers that poor mortal Creatures are subject unto and that thou hast given me sweet and pleasant sleep that I find my Body refreshed and comforted for performing the Duties of this Day O Lord I beseech thee show thy goodness to me this Day in preserving my Body and Soul that no evil may overtake me and that I may neither speak nor do any thing that may be displeasing to thy Fatherly Goodness nor dangerous to my Soul nor hurtful to my Neighbour but that all my enterprises may be agreeable to thy most blessed Will by doing always that which may advance thy Glory and be sutable to my calling that whensoever thou shalt be pleased to call me from this Vale of Misery I may be found a Child of Light and not of darkness and so may for ever Reign with thee in Glory who art the True and Everlasting Light whose Kingdome is an Everlasting Kingdom whose Joyes and Glories are such as Eye hath not seen neither hath Ear heard nor hath it entred into the heart of Man to conceive what it is To this Blessed Place O Lord doe thou at last bring me through Jesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all Honour Glory Power and Praise for Ever and for Evermore Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Friday Evening GRacious Lord and heavenly Father I cannot cease but I must cry unto thee for mercy because my sins cry against me for Justice how shall I address my self unto thee but with the Publican I must stand and admire thy goodness toward me considering thy tender mercy and long patience toward me in that thou hast kept me this day past from being consumed and brought to naught for Lord what is man or the son of man that thou regardest him for the more days past over my head the more sins and iniquities I heap up against thee if I should cast up the Accounts of my good deeds this day O Lord how few and how small would they be but if I should reckon up my miscarriages this day surely they would amount to many and great O blessed Father let thy sons blood wash me and cleanse me from all my impurities and from all the stains of sin that are upon me give me grace to lay fast hold upon his merites that it may be my Reconcilation and Attonement unto thee
afflicted and needy Supply all my wants and confer upon me all necessary blessings O be reconciled unto me in the blood of thy Son that I may â—ere depend upon thy fatherly protection and may hereafter be received into thy heavenly Kingdom there to reign with thee world without end through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour in whose blessed name and words I conclude my imperfect Prayers saying as he himself hath taught me Our Father c. The Prayer of a Marriner MOst glorious and eternal God whose power and wisdome is infinite and whose dominion is without end thou canst order and dispose of thy poor creatures to thy own praise and to their souls comfort Be pleased to look down from heaven the habitation of thy dwelling place and take notice of the broken requests of a poor worm in thy presence that is not worthy to take thy name into his lips Lord I may well say What is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou shouldst visit him that thou shouldst compass him about with loving kindness as with a garment The divine Architecture of this goodly fabrick of heaven and earth raysed out of nothing to this admirable perfection is beyond the apprehension of poor sinful dust and ashes but to behold thy glorious works upon the deep waters is much more admirable these declare thy glorious power O blessed Lord vouchsafe thy presence with a poor sinful creature in this undertaking that I may praise thee in the vast Ocean be a preserve from the danger of the Sea and prosper what is lawfully undertaken but especially preserve me from the danger of sin Oh let the gales of thy gracious spirit blow my soul at last to its desired harbour Oh thou that carriest the winds in thy fist so take care of me that the waves of the sea or of worldly desires may not swallow me up and return me home in safety that I may bless the land of the living and in the congregation of thy people and all this and whatsoever else is needful I aske for the sake of Jesus Christ my Lord to whom with the holy Spirit of grace be glory and honour now and ever Ameâ— The Thanksgiving of a Mariner after a prosperous voyage EVerlasting God the powerful preserver of men there are no bounds to be set to thy bounty for besides the great work of thy Creation thy continued Preservations and wonderful works of Providence declare thee to be a God of mighty power so also of wisdom goodness justice and truth oh never to be enough magnified is thy mercy for the continuance of thy favours thou never leavest nor forsakest those that put their trust in thee Oh holy Lord what shall I render unto thee that so aboundest in love and mercy in the deep the Lord hath been seen and every morning thou preventest me with thy loving kindness and though sin hath abounded yet thy grace hath superabounded Thou dost fulfil the desires of them that fear thee oh now as thou hast given me a new life and delivered me from the dangers and terrors of the deep waters so be graciously pleased to give me a thankful heart let there be found in me hungring and thirsting after righteousness that I may be brought home at last to that land of promised blessedness Good Lord do this and what else thou seest needful for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake our Lord in whose most holy name and words I further pray Our Father c. A Prayer to be used by all Christians O Almighty everlasting God and most gracious and dear loving Father I beseech thee for Jesus Christ his sake thy most dear and only Son to have mercy pitty and compassion upon a most vile wretched and miserable sinner whose innumerable offâ—nces both old and new are grievous and great by which I have justly deserved thy grievous wrath and everlasting damnation But now good Lord I do only appeal to thy great mercy which far surmounteth all thy works and thou hast promised in thy holy Word yea and sworn as truly as thou livest that thou desirest not the death of a sinner but ratheâ— that he should repent and live O gracious Lord I do confess that I am a great and grievous Sinner yet O Lord let me not perish nor suffer that everlasting death of my Soul which I have so deeply deserved but make me a vessel of thy great mercy that I may live and praise thy name amongst thy chosen Children for ever O let not my great sins separate me from the sight of thy holy Majesty but let thy great power and mercy be magnified in me as it was in David and Peter and Mary Magdalen and the Thief upon the cross O Lord I put my whole trust and confidence in thee who hast taken away the sins of the World who camest not to condemn the World but to save it that none which truly believe in thee should perish but should have everlasting life who camest noâ— to call the righteous but sinners to repentance O gracious God give me true hearty earnest and unseigned repentance that I may from the very bottom of my heart continually lament my manifold sins and wickednesses and so assist me with thy grace that I may never trespass against thy divine Majesty any more but that I may gladly serve thee in true holiness and righteousness all the days of my life Guide me O Lord by thy holy Spirit in all my ways works words and thoughts that I may gloriâ—y thy holy name which livest and reignest for ever through Jesus Christ my blessed Lord and Saviour in whose name and words I further pray Our Father c. A Prayer of a sick person FAithful Creator and preserver of all men look down I beseech thee upon thy poor servant who is punisht and afflicted in body with the smart of my pain and sickness and who is also troubled with the fear of thy heavy displeasuâ—e for my many sins and iniquities wherewith I have provoked thy holy Majesty in the time of my health I confess that of very faithfulness and goodness to me thou hast laid this scourge upon me to the end that by the stripes of my fleâ—h my spirit might be healed and saved in the day of the Lord Jesus I valued not the benefit of health as I should have done and therefore thou hast made me sensible of it by the want of it in my prosperity I remembred not the afflictions of my brethren and therefore thou hast afflicted me like unto them I was in a kind of spiritual lethargy till thou didst awake me with the strâ—â—ke of thy hand and because I know that it is good for me to be thus disciplined by thee I humble my self under thy mighty hand kiss this thy rod which I trust through thy grace shall make my Soul appear fair beautiful in thine eyes Comfort O Lord my fainting spirit and strengthen my
that I may assure my self that my sins are forgiven by his death and passion And now O Lord I beseech thee to imbrace me in the Armes of thy mercy vouchsafe to receive me into the bosom of thy love shadow me with thy wings that I may safely take my rest in thee this night in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ in whom I refer my self wholly to thy protection beseeching thee that when this life shall end my last sleep being come I may take my everlasting rest with thee in thy heavenly Kingdome for the glory of thy holy Name and to my eternal comfort through the merits of thy dearly beloved Son my Lord and only Saviour in whose perfect form of Prayer I conclude my imperfect Petitions saying Our Father c. A Prayer for Saturday Morning O Merciful Father for Jesus Christ his sake I beseech thee forgive me all my known and secret sins which in Thought Word or Deed I have committed against thy Divine Majesty and deliver me from all those Judgments which are due unto me for them and sanctifie my heart with thy Holy Spirit that I may henceforth lead a more Godly and Religious life And here O Lord I praise thy Holy Name for that thou hast refreshed me this Night with moderate sleep and rest And I beseech theee to defend me this day from all Perils and dangers of Body and Soul and to this end I commend my self and all my actions unto thy blessed protection and government beseeching thee that whether I live or die I may live and die to thy Glory and the Salvation of my poor Soul which thou hast bought with thy precious Blood Blesse me O Lord in my going out and comming in and grant that whatsoever I shall think speak or take in hand this day may tend to the glory of thy Name the good of others and the comfort of my own Conscience when I shall come to make up my last accounts before thee O my God help thy servant that I do no evil to any man this day and let it be thy blessed will not to suffer the Devil nor any of his wicked Angels nor any of his evil Members to have power to do me any hurt or violence but let the eye of thy holy providence watch over me for good and not for evil and command thy holy Angels to pitch their Tents round about me for my defence and Safety in my going out and coming in as thou hast promised they shall do about them that fear thy name Grant this O heavenly Father for Jesus Christ thy sons sake in whose blessed name I give thee glory and beg at thy hands all other graces which thou seest to be needful for me this day and ever in that prayer which Christ himself hath taught me saying Our Father c. A Prayer for Saturday-Evening O Most gracious God and loving Father who are about my Bed and knowest my down-lying and mine up-rising and art near unto all that call upon thee in truth and sincerity I wretched sinner do beseech thee to look upon me with the Eyes of thy Mercy Father I beseech thee let thy holy Spirit work in me such a serious Repentance as that I may with Tears lament my sins past with grief of heart be humbled for my sins present and with all my endeavour resist the fame sins for the time to come And now O Lord I Bless thee for my Health Food Rayment and Prosperity and more especially that thou hast defended me this day now past from all dangers and Perils both of Body and Soul furnishing me with all necessary good things that I stand in need of and as thou hast ordained the Day for man to Travel in and the Night for him to take his rest so I beseech thee sanctifie unto me this Nights rest and sleep that I may enjoy the same as thy sweet blessing and benefit that so this dull and wearied body of mine being refreshed with moderate sleep and rest I may be the better enabled to walk before thee doing all such good works as thou hast appointed when it shall Please thee of thy Divine goodness to waken me the next Morning More especially I beseech thee to prepare me for thy Service to Morrow it is thine Holy day O Lord prepare me for the Sanctifying of the same that I may not spend it in my own Lusts and pleasures but that my chief delight may be to Consecrate it to thy Glory and Honour and that ceasing from the works of sin as well as from the works of my ordinary Calling I may through thy Blessing feel in my heart the beginning of that Eternal Sabbath which in unspeakable Joy and Glory I shall celebrate with the Saints and Angels to thy Praise and Glory in thy Heavenly Kingdom for Evermore Keep my heart O Lord in thy fear and guide all the course of my life by thy Favour and prepare me against the hour of Death and Dissolution that if thou shouldest this night make my Bed in the dark and turn my sleep into Death I may Live and Die unto thee who livest Everlastingly these Graces and all other Blessings which thou O Father knowest to be requisite and necessary for me I humbly beg and crave at thy Hands in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son in that form of Prayer which he himself hath Taught me saying Our Father c. FAMILY DEVOTIONS OR A COLLECTION OF Morning and Evening PRAYERS For Families for every day in the Week But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord Josh 25. 15. Family-Devotions A Prayer for a Family for Sunday Morning LOrd teach us to Pray that we may call upon thy Name Prepare our hearts to seek and open thou thy ears Mercifully to hear us O Eternal and Everliving Lord God Creator and continual Preserver of all things both in Heaven and in Earth by whose gracious Providence as we were at the first wonderfully and fearfully Made so we are no less preserved and kept unto this present We the Workmanship of thy own hands desire to humble both Soul and Body before thee And now O Lord we being here in thy Presence cannot but acknowledg and confess against our selves our own unworthiness to come before thee to call upon thee or to perform even the least Duty that shall concern thy Worship and Glory Our hearts alas are no better then the sink of sin and a mass of all Pollution and uncleanness Wheresore O dear God most meek and Merciful Father we poor Wretches heartily beseech thee to be Gracious unto us for Jesus Christ thy Sons sake for his Death sake for thy Promise Truth and Mercies sake have Mercy upon us Pardon us and Forgive us all our Sins Iniquities and Trespasses whatsoever we have committed against thee in thought Word or Deed Ever or at any time hitherto by any meanes Dear Father have mercy upon us though we be poor yet our
him for these thy great and unspeakable mercys we render thee most humble thanks from the bottom of our hearts beseeching thee still to continue thy gracious protection over him and to grant him a long and happy reign over us so we will give thee thanks for ever and will always be shewing forth thy praise from generation to generation through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Vpon the Twenty Nineth of May the Day of his Majesties Birth and happy Return NO voice more soft then Thunder can express Our present joy our past heaviness None can the largeness of this Joy set out Unless at once he make three Kingdomes shout O therefore let us jointly all proclaim The praise of this great Act due to the Name Of Him by whom Kings Reign and Oh that we Could make our souls Wing'd with Devotion flee To God on High in Thankfulness and Praise Who without Blood has Crown'd our King with Bays Brought from three conquered Nations which he Holds in Subjection but to keep them free From the hard Yoke of Bondage which of late So gaul'd our necks whilest that we called a State Was nought but mad-men sitting at the Helm T was a great Bedlam which is now a Realm But those bad times are past this day we were Even rescu'd from the Sword without a War Without a War Great Charles his Kingdomes wone Thus strait when God Will hav 't the thing is done O may we thankful be and sing his praise Who for our Cypress now has given us Bayes May we give God and Caesar all their due And always Peace and Loyalty Pursue A Thanksgiving for the 29th of May being the day of his Majesties Birth and happy Return O Lord God who by thy divine providence and goodness didst this day bring into the world and didst this day also bring Back and restore unto us and to his own just and undoubted right our most gracious Soveraign Lord thy Servant KING CHARLES preserve his life establish his throne we beseech thee be unto him a helmet of salvation against the face of his enemies and a strong tower of defence in the time of trouble Let his reign be prospeâ—ous and his days many and let him so duly serve thee on earth that he may hereafter everlastingly reign with thee in heaven and let us thine unworthy servants make an oblation of our selves unto thee vowing all holy obedience in thought word and work unto thy divine Majesty promising in thee and for thee all loyall and dutiful Allegiance to thine anointed servant and to his heirs after him whom we beseech thee to bless with all encrease of grace honour and happiness And together with him bless the whole Royal Family with the dew of thy heavenly Spirit that they ever trusting in thy goodness protected by thy power and Crowned with thy gracious and endless favour may continue before thee in health peace joy and honour a long and happy life upon earth and after death obtain everlasting life and glory in the Kingdome of Heaven by the merits and mediation of Christ Jesus our Saviour who with the Father The â—Pestilence 〈◊〉 1665 and the holy Spirit liveth and reigneth for ever world without end Amen Vpon the Dreadful Pestilence in 1665. ON the great City of this Sinful Land London with Wealth and Folk abounding and With sin the cause of woe too God first pour'd The brim full Vial of his wrath and showr'd His ireful Judgments There his Angel drew The sword of Vengeance and that people slew At first by Tens which soon to Hundreds come Then Thousands weekly sent to their long home The frighted Citizens begin to fly From house and habitation lest they dye A wrathful day a dismal time wherein Thousands receive the wages of their sin Now might you see Red Crosses there great store And Lord have Mercy upon many a door The Knells of death continually do ring And that same doleful sound of Buryers Bring Your dead out Mortal ears with Terror Pierce And now a Cart becomes too many a Hearse Now might you see all faces blackness gather The son lamenting for his dying Father The wife for her deceased husband crying And parents mourning for their Children dying And some who did in stately houses dwell Now gladly creep into a Country Cell And others wandering up and down the Fields No Town or Village them admittance yeilds Thus from the Rod of God poor sinners fly Not from their Crimes for which they smart and dye Had you your selves forsaken when at home You need not thus about the countrey rome Had you fled from your sins before as fast You need not from the Plague have made such hast There have been three great Plagues in London within these sixty years and how much greater this last was then the former may appear by this Comparison In the year 1625. Buried of all Diseases 54265 Whereof of the Plague 35417 In the year 1636. Buried of all Diseases 23359 Whereof of the Plague 10400 In the year 1665. Buried of all Diseases 97301 Whereof of the Plague 68586 A Prayer in time of Pestilence OMnipotent Lord thou sin revenging God who for disobedience didst threaten thine own people Israel to smite them in the knees and in the legs with a sore botch that could not be healed be pleased O thou great offended Lord in the bowels of thy compassion to let thine anger cease and to bow down thine ear to thy sorrowful servants we turn unto thee our weeping eyes our dejected countenances our wringing hands our bended Knees our mournful voices and our groaning hearts O Merciful God behold our tears and view our countenances and look upon our hands and strengthen our Knees and hearken to our voices and comfort our hearts Give us a fight of our sins O Lord which have thus provoked thee to enter into Judgment with thy Servants and make us more to loath and tremble at our wickedness then at these Messengers of death wean us from the love of sin from the consideration both of thy displeasure and our own mortality and speak peace and health unto our souls which do every moment expect our dissolution to come O Lord thou art a God who canst not abide to behold unrighteousness look not therefore with thy wrathful eye upon us who are full of sin and pollution but look upon thy Son and his righteousness or if thou wilt look upon us first cloth us with the righteousness of that immaculate Lamb and so shalt thou see us with love and delight and we shall behold thee with unspeakable joy Seal unto our souls the remission of our offences and then make us willing to resigne our bodies to thy disposing yet we know O Lord if thou dost but Speak the word we shall be made whole if thou say'st the Plague shall not come near our habitations we then know we shall be safe if it be thy blessed will O Lord let us praise thee in the
mans brains are dasht Full in the next mans face his bowels pasht On his next neighbour a third is found Groaning his Soul out in a wide-mouth'd wound There bullets fierce drive a heart out which dies To mortals rage a bloody Sacrifice Good Lord how will Heaven quietly hold those Souls who just now wert here such deadly Foes A Prayer in the Time of War ALmighty Lord God Thou art he only which givest victory to thee it is all one to save by many or by few thou canst make one to chase a thousand thou canst cause the hearts even of the most valiant to melt their hands to be weak their minds to faint and their knees to fall a way like Water if thou fight for us we cannot miscarry if thou favour us not we must needs be discomfited O be gracious unto us and be on our side now that men are risen up against us Go out O Lord with our Navys and Armies give wisdom and courage to our Captains gird them with strength unto the battel be with our Sea-men and Souldiers teaching their hands to war and their fingers to fight Assist their consultations prosper their policies crown their enterprizes with good success which are undertaken for the common good and comfort of the State Doubtless O Lord we deserved thine anger and our Sins do cry aloud in thine ears for vengeance it were but just with thee it thou shouldst make us a prey and spoil unto our enemies but O gracious God let us now fall into thy hands for thy mercies are great and let us not fall into the hands of men let it appear that thou art in the midst of us and that we shall not be moved that thou wilt help us and that very early and in thy due time set thou peace in our borders and make strong the bars of our Gates especially let the Gospel of thy Son sound yet louder among us that by it many Souls may be gathered unto thee So we thy people and the sheep of thy pasture shall praise thee for ever and from generation to generation we will set forth thy glory through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen A Prayer in time of Prosperity HEavenly Father Lord of plenty thou who hast created the world by thy power and continuest thy love in thy providence and protection to thee do I render thanks for my plenty and to thee do I offer the service of my store what I have is thine for the Earth is thine and all that therein is the Compass of the World and they that dwell therein it is thou only that givest a blessing to the fruits of the Land to the Corn to the Wine and to the Oyl It is thou only that commandest thy blessing in the store-houses and in all that thy servants do set their hands unto Lord make me one of thy faithful servants that what thou hast sent me may be a Testimony of thy love and not of thy hatred make me allways to magnify thee in the time of plenty and not to be high-minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in thee the living God who givest me all things richly to enjoy O suffer me not to treasure up the deceitful riches of this sinful world as thereby forgeting to be rich toward thee but as from thy bounty I receive these temporal blessings so in thy mercy make me abound in grace that allways having Sufficiency in all things I may abound to every good work In this my prosperity prepare me for adversity if it shall please thee at any time to send it unto me give me a sence of the afflictions of many of thy saints and distressed servants and enlarge my heart that I may be ready and forward to contribute to their necessities make me to shew mercy with cheerfulness and to possess with thankfulness what thou sendest unto me that I may neither â—orget thee in thy poor members nor deny thee to be the giver let me never stop mine ears at the cries of the distressed who beg for relief in the name oâ— thy self Thou Christ who wert rich didst for my sake become poor that so through thy poverty thou mightest make me rich Lord make me as willing to the poor for thy sake always considering that the Vanities of the earth are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed Make me labour for heavenly riches and for the ornament of the hidden man in the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in thy sight of great price make me O heavenly Father rich in thy self rich unto liberality rich in good works and in faith make me to buy of thee gold tryed in the fire that I may be rich and white rayment that I may be clothed that the shame of my nakedness may not appear let me always remember that great account which one day I must render to thee the Lord of Heaven earth that so I may serve thee here with my substance in my body and in my Soul with zeal and devotion and hereafter be received to thine everlasting glory through the merits of thy Son in thy bosom Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer in time of adversity FAther of pitty and Lord of comfort thou that hearest the cry of the afflicted look down in mercy on a distressed Sinner thy hand O God is heavy upon me for thou hast taken from me what I called mine by reason that I did not call it thine O Lord thou knowest my bleeding heart my sorrowful eyes and my mourning tears thou seest how poor I am and what miseries I suffer I am a scorn to my neighbours and a derision to those that are round about me my life is become a burden unto me because thou hast deprived me of the comforts thereof my lovers and my acquaintance stand looking upon my misery and my â—insmen stand asar off Lord if it be thy pleasure thus to humble me let it be thy goodness to give me patience to endure it the pride of my heart my forgetfulness of thee in the time of plenty did cry aloud for thy severest punishments now O now I feel thy just displeasure and groan under the burden and weight thereof yet thou O Lord canst ease me thou canst restore me hear Lord and have mercy Lord be thou my helper suffer me no more to rely upon the arm of flesh or to put my trust in uncertain riches but make me forever to depend upon thy bounty forgive me O Father the sins which I have committed when I lived in prosperity for I am sensible that they are a cause why at this time thou hidest thy face from me and causest me to be troubled O give me a sight and sence of the greatness of them and true contrition and sorrow for them that so though the world forsake me I may yet find favour
the Mysteries of Salvation my hope established in the promises of the Gospel and my life set forward in a setled course of holyness and righteousness whereby the Kingdom of sin and Satan is beat down and destroyed and the Kingdom of Christ built up in me By this thy Word the careless sinner is admonished the ignorant instructed the presumptuous teâ—rified and the Penitent comforted the Power of sin is abated the force of temptations weakned the motions of the Spirit quickned grace received and my Election assured by the infallible marks and tokens thereof set before me in holy Scriptures Blessed be thy Name for it this day thy word hath dwelt with me richly in all wisdom The dispencer of thy Mysteries hath scattered many Doctrines like so many Pearls among the People Lord grant that with Mary I may keep these and all thy sayings in my heart and make use of them in my life and receive comfort from them at my Death And here I would proceed to intreat at thy hands the continuance and increase of thy Spiritual Temporal blessings upon me but my sins lye at the door of my Conscience and affright me My heart smites me for my failings in the performance of the duties of this day My devout meditations have been â—tifled in the womb that bare them my Prayers have not been without distractions my hearing without â—earisomness nor my Alms-deeds without Grudging Pardon dear Father the want of preparation before I come to thy house of intention and Zeal at thy service and of Meditation and Application of those things which I heard there since I came thence Bury I beseech thee these slips and all my sins especially of this week and day in the night of eternal oblivion Ease me of the burthen of them that I may more securely repose my soul and body upon thy gracious protection to take their natural refreshing by sleep whereby I may be enabled and strengthened to do the better service the next day in walking carefully diligently conscionably and constantly in the wayes of thy Commandements and in the duties of my Calling so as may be to thy honour and Glory and my eternal comfort through Jesus Christ our Lord. To whom be honour and glory world without end Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Munday-Morning MOst Glorious Lord God the great Creator and preserver of all mankind Blessed be thy Name that thou hast been graciously pleased to preserve me the night past and that thou hast once more vouchsafed me the light of the Morning whereby to manage my affairs and business O Lord preserve me this day and keep me in all my wayes give unto me the repose of a quiet Conscience and the clear light of the Gospel to guide my feet in the way of peace and grant that this light may convince me of the Errors of my understanding the depravedness of my will the disorder of my affections the Impunity of my thoughts the vanity of my desires the deceitfulness of my heart and the wickedness thereof Make me sensible O Lord what a wretched creature I was in my birth slime and filthiness what I am in my life vanity and solly and what shall be in my death stench and rottenness Discover unto me O Lord that I have nothing which I have not received that without Christ I can do nothing that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good that I am not able of my self as of my self to think a good thought that I cannot desire to think nor have will to desire nor grace to will any good O Lord let me consider that my comforts in this world are very few and small my crosses and troubles many and great my pleasures here are momentary and short my pains hereafter without my repentance and thy great mercy are permanent and everlasting My gifts O Lord are very small my wants and infirmities are great my helps are weak my assaults and temptations are strong my good deeds are few and they tainted with Imperfections but my ill deeds are infinite Let these considerations O Lord humble me in my self that Christ may raise me and wound me in my self that Christ may heal me And O Lord who this day madest the Heavens or Air without which I cannot breath naturally no not for a moment infuse into my heart the Spirit of thy grace without which I cannot breath Spiritually in my Prayers nor sigh nor so much as move any part or faculty of my soul or body unto thee and as oft as I take in or let out the air which I breath let receive me in grace from thee and breathe out praise unto thee Be my guide O Lord this day and do thou keep me both Now and Ever Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Munday-Evening HOly and Eternal Lord God who art the King of Heaven and the Watchman of Israel who never slumbrest nor sleepest Look upon me thy unworthy servant who by reason of my sin and the corruption of my nature am wholly subject to sloth and am even now ready to ease and rest my self upon my bed I know not whether thou wilt this very night make my bed in the dark and the hour of my visitation be this present Evening all my years are but a span long my dayes pass like a Weavers Shuttle my life ends like a Tail that is told this hour may be my last hour my next sleep may be my last and long sleep I beseech thee therefore that I may every Evening seriously ponder and meditate heaven that I may be the better prepared in that day and hour that thou shalt call me And though my Eyes shall now sleep and enjoy that moderate refreshment which thou hast appointed for the wearisome condition of my weak body yet let my soul continually watch unto thee to attend thy coming Forgive me O Lord the sins of this day past and all other my former sins and misdemeanors keep me this night both in body and soul that I may with the next light joyfully rise again Let not my sleep be unmeasurable and excessive to please the ease of my flesh but sufficient and seasonable whereby I may be the better disposed to thy service to morrow diligently and fruitfully walking in my calling and repenting me of my sins with fear to offend thee Let thy unspeakable mercy alwayes preserve me let thine endless sweetness rejoyce me let thine heavenly truth strengthen me let thy knowledg imbolden me and thy goodness keep me from my Enemies visible and invisible now and for Evermore Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Tuesday Morning O Eternal Lord God thou commandest us alwayes at all times and in all things to call upon thee day by day I come unto thee beging refreshment from the overflowing streams of thy mercy O Lord open unto me the gate of thy favour and let me be satisfied with the fountain of thy loving kindness O merciful Lord who
hast said As surely as I live I desire not the death of a sinner but rather that he should Convert and Amend and Live Who hast also said Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee have mercy upon me for Jesus Christ his sake whom thou wouldest should be a peace-maker to the end that thou mightest shew thine exceeding great Wrath against sin and thine inestimable mercy towards Mankind sanctifie and illuminate my heart with thy holy Spirit O God the guide of my life forsake me not turn from me the filthiness of desire Turne mine Eyes away from beholding vanity strengthen me in thy wayes and grant that mine offences in this world overcome me not and I beseech thee O Lord with a most ardent affection that this day and ever thou wilt keep me and all mine and that thou wilt be unto me a Mighty Protector a firmament of strength a covering against heat a shadow at noon-tide a defence from falling an assister from offending a comforter of my soul an enlightner of my mind a giver of health and happiness in Christ Jesus my Lord and Saviour To whom be all glory honour and power for ever Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Tuesday-Evening MOst mighty and most merciful Lord God by whose goodness I was created by whose Justice I am punished and by whose mercy I am saved I cast my self down before thee and lift up my hands unto thee at this present as my Evening-sacrifice but alas my conscience accuseth me the secret cogitations of my heart reprove me my fear checketh me the infinite number of my sins oppress me yea my miscarriages this day witness against me and exceedingly condemn me O Lord what am I that thou shouldest yet favour me and shew thy self so loving and bountiful a Father unto me why should'st thou so nourish me who am so unworthy a wretch with thy mercy and loving-kindness I know that it is for His sake in whom there is no guile and in whom there was found no evil that thou regardest me and imbracest me Pardon I beseech thee through Jesus Christ all my sins faults vices and offences and indue me with all holy vertues make me to live a godly life and to continue to the end in good works Take away all darkness from my mind that I may see thee by understanding thee and love thee by knowing thee And grant O Lord that I may so keep and govern and end my life that I may sleep in peace and rest in thee and so into thy hands I commend my self both soul and body this night and for ever Hide me I beseech thee under the shaddow of thy Wings that I may rest quietly void of all fear spiritual darkness danger and despair comfort me in all those things wherein I have been any way discouraged this day Preserve me to the end that sleep with rest and rest with quietness and quietness with everlastingness may receive me that having run the race of this life I may be made partaker of a better that so I may live and reign with thee for ever through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Wednesday-Morning HOly Lord God the glorious face of the Sun which sheweth it self and casteth its beams over the whole World I take it for an argument and earnest of thy good will toward thy Children in the number of whom I account my self though the chief of Sinners and not worthy to loose the latchet of thy shooe for if we enjoy such benefits in this strange country together with thine Enemies then what joy and glory what excellent goodness shall we be made partakers of when we come to our heavenly country the blessed land of Canaan where we shall not see this earthly Sun but thou O Lord who art the Son of Righteousness will be continually before us And now O Lord I Praise thy blessed name for preserving me from the many dangers of the Night past and for bringing me safe to the beginning of this day As thou hast now wakened my Body from sleep so I beseech thee awaken my Soul from sin and carnal Security and as thou hast caused the Light of the day to shine in my bodily Eyes so good Lord cause the light of thy word and holy Spirit to illuminate my heart and give me grace as a Child of Light to walk in all holy obedience before thy face this day and grant me to endeavour to keep a good Conscience towards thee toward all men in all my thoughts words and dealings and to this end I commend my self and all my ways and actions together with all that do belong to me unto thy gracious direction and protection beseeching thee to keep both them and me from all evil and to give a blessing to my honest Labours and endeavours this day following and for evermore Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Wednesday Evening O Most Mighty Lord God and most mercifull and loving Father in thy Son Jesus Christ I sinful Creature am bold to return unto thee all possible Praise and thanks for all thy great and manifold favours which thou in thy mercy hast from time to time vouchsafed unto me a sinful wretch who am full of sin and iniquity I beseech thee favourably to hear my imperfect prayers and to grant my requests and needful suits which I make unto thee at this time Forgive me I intreat thee good Father all the sins that I have committed from day to day against thy divine Majesty and suffer me not O Lord to offend thee any more hereafter that neither sin nor Satan nor any unruly passions may have dominion nor reign any longer in my mortal body for I confess I have herein done wickedly and have broken all thy commandments for which thou mightest in thy severe Justice punish me both in Soul and Body to eternal Death besides those sins which I have this day committed Forgive me O Lord all my sins past and blessed be thy name that thou hast kept me this day in my going out and in my returning home O Lord watch over me this night and be thou my defence and protection from all dangers casualties and troubles grant that I be not overcome with any fantasies and dreams or other Temptations but that I may fully set my mind upon thee love thee fear thee and rest in thee and thou O Lord waken me again in due time that I may behold the light of the next day to my comfort still preparing my heart and mind to thy service every day and my whole life time in truth and sincerity that when I have run the short race of this mortal life thou mayest be pleased to call me to be partaker of a better and so I may live and die and ever remain with thee in thy Heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour in whose name I beg all these
toward us and impute not unto us our manifold sins and offences whereby we justly deserve thy Wrath and sharp punishment but rather receive us to thy Mercy for Jesus Christ his sake accepting his Death and Passion as a just recompence for all our offences in whom only thou art Pleased and through whom thou canst not be offended with us And seeing that of thy great Mercy we have quietly passed this night Grant O Heavenly Father that we may bestow this day wholly in thy Service so that all our thoughts words and deeds may redound to the Glory of thy Name and good examples to all men who seeing our good works may Glorifie thee our Heavenly Father And because thou hast commanded us to pray one for another we do not only make request O Lord for our selves and them that thou hast already called for the true understanding of thine heavenly Will but for all People and Nations of the World who as they know by thy wonderful Works that thou art God over all so they may be instructed by thine own Spirit to believe iâ— their only Saviour and Redeemer And the Lord be merciful to us and let not our sins and wickedness be a hinderance to thy Mercy We are now come before thee to bewail our sins and miscarriages heartily desiring thee to cause us to turn unto thee to seek and love thee that our hearts may cleave fast unto thee diligently following thee all the residue of our days and that thou wilt be pleased to guide us with thy holy Spirit that we may make Conscience of all that we do never accounting any sin little because thy Son died for the least Remove from our minds all Ignorance and Blindness making thy Word unto us as a Lanthorn unto our feet to guide ouâ— paths that we may find Christ our Saviour and Redeemer and by his rule be so directed that all ignorance in the Mysteries of our calling be done away and that we may learn thereby how to live and further good Lord settle every one of us in such a constant course of obedience to thee that we may serve thee as thy own Children ought to serve thee and not as the World the flesh and the Devil will have us Suffer us not O Lord to set our hearts upon things below but having Food and Rayment let us be therewith content and be thankful unâ—o thy Heavenly Majesty that thou O Lord our God mayst prosper all our labours and handy-Works These and all other blessings we beg of thee in the Name of Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour in whose blessed Name and Words we further Pray Our Father c. A Prayer for a Family for Munday Evening O Lord God Almighty and our Heavenly Father who art Everlasting and full of Pity we acknowledg and confess that we are not Worthy to lift up our Eyeâ— unto Heaven much less to presenâ— our selves before thy Majesty witâ— confidence that thou wilt hear ouâ— Prayers and grant our requests iâ— we consider our own deservings For our Consciences accuse us anâ— our Sins do Witness against usâ— we know that thou art an uprighâ— Judge which doth not justifie sinners and wicked Men but punishâ— est the Faults of all such as breaâ— thy Commandements yet moâ— Merciful Father since it hath pleased thee to Command us to call oâ— thee in all our Troubles and Adversities promising even then to help us when we feel our selves as it were Swallowed up of Death and Desparation we utterly renounce all worldly confidence and fly to thy Soveraign Bounty as our only stay and refuge beseeching thee not to call to Remembrance our manifold Sins and Wickedness whereby we continually provoke thy Wrath and Indignation against us Neither do thou lay to our charge our negligence nor our unthankfulness that we have not worthily esteemed nor in our lives sufficiently exprest the sweet comfort of the Gospel revealed unto us But do thou rather Accept the obedience and Death of thy Son Jesus Christ who by offering up himself a Sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sins Have mercy therefore upon us O Lord and forgive us our offences Teach us by thine holy Spirit that we may rightly weigh them and earnestly Repent for the same and so much the rather O Lord because that Reprobates and such as thou hast forsaken cannot praise thee nor call upon thy Name but the repenting Heart the sorrowful Mind the Conscience Oppressed Hungring and Thirsting for thy Grace shall ever set forth thy Praise and Glory And now O Lord though we are but Dust and Worms yet thou art our Creator and we are the work of thine Hands yea thou art our Father and we are thy Children thou art our Shepheard and we are thy Flock thou art our Redeemer and we are thy People whom thou hast bought thou art our God and we are thine Inheritance Correct us not therefore in thine Anger O Lord neither according to our deserts punish us but mercifully Chastice us with a Fatherly affection that all the World may know that if a sinner repent him of his sins from the bottom of his Heart thou wilt put away his wickedness out of thy Rememberance as thou hast promised by thy holy Prophets And for as much as it hath pleased thee to make the Night for Man to rest in as thou hast Ordained him the day to travel in Grant dear Father that we may so take our bodily rest that our Soul may continually watch for the time that our Lord Jesus Christ shall appear for our deliverance out of this mortal life and grant that we be not overcome this Night by any Fancies Dreams or other Temptations but that we may fully set our mind upon thee love thee fear thee and rest in thee and let not our sleep be excessive or overmuch after the inâ—atiable desires of our flesh but only sufficient to content our weak Nature that we may be the better disposed to live in all Godly Conversation to the Glory of thy holy Name and the profit of our brehrent through Jesus our Lord in whose Name we pray as he hath taught us saying Our Father c. A Prayer for a Family for Tuesday Morning MOst Mighty and most glorious Lord God who art of infinite Mercy who sittest upon thy Throne above Heaven and Earth are full of thy Glory we that are but Dust and Ashes unprofitable Servants presume to present our selves before thee this morning and beg such things as we have need of from thy Divine Majesty we have tasted of thy Favors this night past and for ever since we awaked we have tasted of thy Goodness Thou thoughtest of Saving us before we began to serve thee thou hadst an eye upon us when we were yet unborn and notwithstanding our unworthiness thou still receivest us thou givest us our dayly Bread and hourly Breath thou continuest and we hope wilt comfort us in Death and
grace and goodness reduce them to the obedience of thy most holy will in the practise of all piety toward thee and charity towards all men And with us be gracious to thy whole Church bless thy servant Charles our gracious King and Governour bless our gracious Queen James Duke of York and all the Royal Family bless the Nobility the Magistracy and Ministery of this land of what quality or degree soever Be merciful to all that are under any affliction or tryal whatsoever be a Father to the fatherless a husband to the Widdow and a Comforter to the Comfortless in what streight or necessity soever they are support them and bring them out of it to thy Glory and their comfort Be merciful to all that we are bound to pray for bless our Relations Kindred and Friends and let them serve thee and live to thy Glory And now we desire to return all humble and hearty thanks to thy heavenly Majesty for all thy blessings continually showred down upon us In Creating us and Preserving us to this day in keeping us the day past from all dangers and casualties that we are continually subject to Continue O Lord we beseech thee this favour to us and let thy Angels pitch their Tents round about us this night to guard and defend us from all perils both of soul and body let our weak and wearied bodies be refreshed with seasonable and convenient rest and sleep that so we may be the more fit to discharge our duties both toward God and man the day following Grant these our weak Petitions and give us all other blessings that thou knowest we stand in need of and all we ask of thee in the blessed Name and Words of our dear Saviour and Redeemer further Praying Our Father c. A Prayer for a Family for Fryday Morning MOst Holy most Glorious and Eternal Lord God we thy poor and unworthy servants in all humility of soul and body and unfeigned acknowledgment of our duty prostrate our selves before the Throne of thy Mercy praising and magnifying thy fatherly goodness for the abundance of thy blessings and for the multitude of thy mercies heaped upon us beseeching thee for Christ his sake to be merciful to all our sins committed against thy divine Majesty upon the consideration of which we confess we are not worthy to appear in thy presence much less to ask a Blessing at thy hands for by reason of our corrupt nature in us derived from our first Parents our inclinations have been proâ—e to commit all manner of sin and wickedness against thy goodness thy laws and precepts we have broken both in thought word and deed out of our hearts proceed evil and wicked imaginations which defile the soul and the whole man is altogether abominable these things O Lord we confess to our shame and if thy mercy prevent not it will be our utter destruction of soul and body Yet O Lord thou aâ—t our Creator thou hast made us and thou hast sent thy dear Son Jesus Christ to die for us and thy holy Spirit to sanctifie us and many are the benefits and blessings which thou hast bestowed upon us and which by thy goodness we enjoy both of soul and body and therefore by the testimony of our own consciences we stand convicted and the thoughts of our great sins and transgressions do much astonish us what shall we say therefore or wherein shall we open ouâ— mouths who shall deliver us from the misery due unto us for our transgressions nothing can be expected in this life but mercy and confusion and in the world to come eternal condemnation But yet O Lord in obedience to thy command and in confident assurance of thy endless and unspeakable mercy promised in Jesus Christ to all sinners which come unto thee with sorrow in our hearts shame in our faces and in all humility of Spirit And we would appeal from thee a just Judg to thee a merciful Father from the throne of thy Justice to the seat of thy Mercy beseeching thee O Lord to have mercy upon us and to turn away thy face from all our sins and to blot out all our transgressions for the only Meritorious Death and Passion of Jesus Christ who so abundantly shed his Blood on the Cross to take away the sin of the World and be pleased now to reform our affections transform us out of sin into the glorious liberty of thy own children to live in newness of life in a holy conversation and continual obedience to thy divine Majesty And now we further intreat thee O Lord for a blessing upon thy Church Universal more especially we beseech thee to continue the peace and prosperity of these Churches wherein we live and every member thereof and in a more especial manner bless with the cheifest of thy blessings thine Annointed and our Soveraign Lord King Charles the Queens Majesty James Duke of York and the rest of the Royal Family bless the Lords of his Majesties most honourable privy Council the Reverend Clergy and all civil Magistrates bless all our kindred friends and acquaintance bless all O Lord from the highest to the lowest And since it hath pleased thee O Lord of thy Goodness to deliver us from the power of darkness and all dangers of the night past affording us quiet and comfortable rest bring us safe to the beginning of this day our souls and all that is within us shall praise thy holy Name We beseech thee to bless and defend us O Lord this day direct and protect us in it bless our going out and comming in let thy Spirit guide us in all our actions prosper all our labours and endeavours this day make us diligent and dutiful in our Callings that we may keep a good Conscience in all our dealings not any way to defraud any one knowing that one day we must give an account of all our words and deeds Lord hear us we beseech thee and accept of this our morning Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving hear our prayers and grant our petitions that we have asked and all other blessings which thou in thy infinite wisdom knowest most necessary for us we ask at thy merciful hands in the Name and through the mediation of thy dear Son our blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ our Lord in whose most excellent form of Prayer we conclude our imperfect Petitions saying Our Father c. A Prayer for a Family for Fryday Evening MOst glorious and everlasting Lord God which inhabitest eternity and dwellest in that light which no mortal eye can attain unto the God in whom we live and move and have our being we thine unworthy servants do here in all lowliness and humility present our persons and Prayers before thy divine Majesty confessing and acknowledging that we were conceived in sins and brought forth in iniquity and as if that had been but a small matter we have heaped up our Actuall transgressions as the sand upon the sea-shore and as the stars
in the firmament for number we have broken thy Commandements we have prophaned thy Sabbaths we have dishonour thy name we have abused thy creatures we have neglected the day of our Visitation and turned thy grace into wantonness whereby we have most justly provoked thy wrath and everlasting displeasure we have wounded our own consciences weakned our assurance of salvation and greived thy good Spirit which sealeth us up unto the day of our redemption And now O Lord if thou shouldst deal with us after our deservings thou mightest pour upon us the deluge of thy wrath and sury to sweep us out of the land of the living into that place of torment prepared for the Devil and his Angels But thou hast revealed thy self to the sons of men to be the Lord the Lord Merciful and Gracious Long-suffering and of great Goodness who pardonest Sinnes and passest by the transgressions of thy people this is thy Name for ever and thy Memorial throughout all generations we beseech therefore for Jesus Christ his sake to be merciful unto us in the free pardon and forgiveness of all our sins that we have ever committed against thee Accept of his obedience for our disobedience of his righteousness for our unrighteousness of his Sufferings for all our sins wash them away in his blood nail them to his cross hide them in his wounds and bury them in his grave that they may never rise up for our confusion here or for our condemnation hereafter O Lord be unto us a Father of Mercy and a God of Consolation Speak peace unto our souls and consciences and say unto us that thou art the God of our salvation And give us grace for the time to come to dye dayly unto sin by vertue of thy sons death and to rise up to newness of life by the power of his resurrection wean our hearts and take off our affections from the things of this world which endure but for a season and raise them up unto those things which are at thy right hand for evermore enlighten the darkness of our understandings subdue the stubbornness of our wills rectify the disorder of our affections and bring into obedience whatsoever exalteth it self against thy will that at last we may become such as thou would'st have us to be Continue and enlarge thy blessings upon the Church and Land wherein we live upon the person and government of our King bless all the Royal Family together with his Majesties councel the Nobility Magistracy Clergy and Gentry of the land Be merciful to all those who are afflicted with any cross or calamity all our relations and acquaintance and all others whom we are bound to pray for O Lord accept our Thanksgiving this Evening for all the mercys and favours which thou hast afforded for our souls or bodies for this life or a better more especially that thou hast preserved us and our Family this day in health and happiness Now holy Father seeing the night is upon us and we are ready to take our rest in thy hands we commit our souls and bodies and all that we have beseeching thee who art the keeper of Israel that neither sleepest nor slumberest to take care of us for if thou protect us not Satan will devour us yea we shall sleep a prepetual sleep and never arise up to praise thee we praise thee therefore be good to us this night deâ—eâ—d us from danger refresh us with comfortable rest and raise us up to glorify thee in the duties of the day following that thou mayst still be our God and we may be thy people hear us and graciously answer us in these our requests and what else thou knowest needful and expedient for us and that for Jesus Christ his sake in whose most blessed name and words we conclude these our imperfect Prayers saying as he himself hath taughts us Our Father c. A Prayer for a Family for Saturday Morning GRacious Lord God thou art the great Creator of Heaven and Earth we confess our selves unworthy to come into thy presence or to speak a word before thee wretched sinful Creatures that we are full of all iniquity and uncleanness and who can make that clean which is taken out of an unclean thing the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts are evil and only evil and that continually Yet O Lord seeing thou hast commanded us to call upon thee and hast mercifully promised to be present with thy Children to hear their prayers and to grant their requests which they put up in faith unto thee O Lord this doth give us boldness to come before thee and in confidence of thy goodness that thou wilt make good the same promises unto us at this time we here offer up unto thee this morning Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving humbly acknowledging and confessing from the bottom of our hearts our manifold transgressions and offences which we have continually multiplied against thee in thought word and deed from the beginning of our dayes unto this present time we acknowledge O Lord our Original corruption in the which we were at the first conceived and born and from which there hath sprung the most bitter and unsavoury fruit of sin apostacy and Rebellion to the great dishonour of thy Name and wounding of our poor souls and consciences and the evil example of others amongst whom we have lived by the which O God we confess that we have justly deserved that thy Wrath and indignation should be poured out upon us both in this life and in the life to come And therefore O God we come not here before thee in our own worthiness but in the worthiness and mediation of Jesus Christ beseeching thy gracious goodness for his sake to forgive all our offences our open sins our secret sins our sins of Presumption sins against Knowledg against Conscience against thee or against our Brethren either in our younger years or in the days of our knowledge as we must needs confess that in many things we offend all we beseech thee O Lord for Christ his sake to forgive the same unto us and perswade our Souls and Consciences more and more that thou art at peace with us and that all our sins are done away in the blood of thy Son And grant O Lord that by the assistance of thy Holy Spirit we may serve thee with more freedom of mind and liberty of will in Righteousness and true Holiness unto the end of our days And good Lord begin not only repentance and true conversion in us but of thy great mercy perfect the same O lead us forward more and more to perfection increase in us the saving knowledge of thee and of thy Son Jesus Christ. And now O Lord we magnify and praise thy Holy Name for thy Blessings and Mercies bestowed upon us both Spiritual and Temporal for our Health Peace Food Rayment and all the comforts of this life O Lord let us make a right use of them that we may not
abuse them unto licentiousness but let us be daily stirr'd up by them to devote our selves unto thee and thy service we acknowledge thy goodness towards us the night that is now past freeing us from many imminent dangâ—rs both of Soul and Body and giving us sweet and comfortable rest we beseech thee to be with us this day and bless us in all our lawful undertakings and keep us all the days of our lives and teach us to walk as Children of the light that thy Name may be glorified by us others may take good example we our selves enjoy the peace of a good Conscience so that at the last we may come to reign with thee in Glory Bless the Churches and Kingdoms wherein we live with the continuance of our peace and true Religion bless all in Authority especially the Kings most excellent Maiesty our gracious Queen James Duke of York and all the Royal Family Bless the Nobility Clergy and Gentry of this Nation bless us all out of Sion from the highest to the lowest Be merciful to all that are afflicted in body or mind or both let it please thee O Lord to stay them and support them in time of their distress and gâ—vâ— them a happy issue out of the same as it shall seem good unto thee and â—it us all for all times and conditions which thou shalt please to bring upon us And thus O Lord we have commended our suits unto thee humbly beseeching thee to pardon our infirmities in the performance of this present service and since thou knowest our wants better than we our selves can express them unto thee we pray thee to take notice of them and minister unto us a gracious supply in thine own due time even for Jesus Christ his sake in whose Name we conclude these our weak and imperfect Prayers in that perfect form of Prayer which he himself hath further taught us saying Our Faâ—hâ—r c. A Prayer for a Family for Saturday Evening HOly Lord God and our Heavenly Father in Jesus Christ we thine unworthy creatures now here before thee caâ—not but acknowledge and confess even from the bottom of our hearts against our selves our own unworthiness that we are grievous sinners conceaved in sin and born in iniquity whereof we have brought forth most vile fruits in our lives to the great dishonour of thy name the utter dismaying of our own consciences and the evil example of our brethren by which we have deserved likewise thy wrath and heavy indignation to be poured upon us both in this life and that which is to come But yet O Lord we know that the merits of thy dâ—ar Son do far exceed our sins though the multitude of â—hem were as the sand upon the Sea-shore in his name therefore and for his sake we present our selves Souls and bodies before thy most heavenly Majesty beseeching thee to forgive us all our sins and transgressions and we do further desire to bless thy name and to shew forth thy praise this Evening and to magnify thy goodness toward us for perserving us this day from all dangers and for keeping us from our birth even hitherto for thou art a God of patience pity and much forgiveness shewing mercy unto thousands and blotting out all our offences O Lord set not before us the sinfulness of our hearts and ways so as to hinder good things from us but grant us thy grace that we may amend our lives and unfeignedly serve thee in the several duties of our callings to thy glory and the comfort of our Souls remit our punishment continue thy favour unto us and receive us into thy most gracious protection and keep us this night and for evermore that the Devil may have no power over us nor any evil overtake us and O Lord whether we sleep or wake live or dye let us be always thine for thou art our Creator and Redeemer guard us about with the Armies of thy holy Angels in our habitations do thou O God assist us that we may peaceably sleep and rest in thee hide us in thy Tabernacle and we will fear no evil for thou that keepest us dost neither slumber nor sleep let thy rod and thy staff comfort and defend us and let thy mercies O God prevent and follow us all the days of our lives that at last we may dwell with thee praising thee for evermore and to that end refresh our wearied weak bodies with moderate sleep that if thou shalt let us live till the next day even thy holy Sabbath day we may be fit to perform all the services and duties thou requirest of us Let us hear thy word with fear and reâ—erence and let us lay it up in our hearts that the fruits of it may be seen in our holy lives and conversations Let us pray unto thee by saith that so we may receive what we aske and let us devote our whole Souls minds and affections to thy service And with us be gracious to these Churches in this Kingdom we beseech thee to put a stop to that Spirit of Atheism Irreligion and Prophaness that is come in upon us like a flood and make us all an holy people that so we may be a happy people Let the choicest of thy blessings descend upon our gracious King and Queen and all the Royal Family bless all estates and conditions of men of what quality soever the Nobility Clergy Gentry and Commonalty bless all our friends kindred and relations be a father to the fatherless a husband to the widdow and a comfort to the comfortless Be our God and guide in all our ways lighten our darkness we beseech thee O Lord and by thy great mercy defend us from all Perils and dangers of this night let thy mighty Hand and Out-stretched Arm O Lord be still our defence And hear us and answer us above and beyond the desires of these our weak Petitions In the blessed Name of Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour in whose most holy Words we further pray Our Father c. OCCASIONAL DEVOTIONS OR A COLLECTION OF Prayers Thanksgivings UPON Several Occasions And for several Persons Be careful for nothing but in every thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving 〈◊〉 your requests be made to God Phil. 4. 6. Papish superstition Tyranny The Return of the Gospel The Spanish Invasion in 1588 Vpon the return of the Gospel and deliverance from Popish Idolatry and Tyranny in the time of Queen Elizabeth Darkness is fled the Sun appears Extinguishing our flames and fears The Glorious Gospel's once more free From Romish dark Idolatry We hear no dying Martyrs groan But Truth and mercy fill the Throne The Smith-field Fires do burn no more And England now does hate the Whore And all her Fallacies defies The King of Glory now doth rise With healing underneath his Wings And England her deliverance sings The Gospel now in Triumph flies Enlightning mens benighted eyes And all may now be safely good Without
subscribing with their blood Lord grant we nere may sin away The mercies of this Gospel day The Persecution in the time of Q. Mary and the carriage of the Papists in it is thus described by the excellent Bp. Jewel YOu have saith he imprisoned your brethren you have stript them naked you have scourged them with rods you have burnt their hands and arms with flaming torches you have famished them you have drowned them you have summon'd them being dead to appear before you out of their graves you have ript up their buried carkases burnt them and thrown them out upon dunghils you took a poor babe falling from its mothers womb and in a most cruel and inhumane manner threw it into the fire By all which several ways and means the Martyrs in all parts of the Kingdom in the 5 years reign of Q. Mary amounted to the number of 277. persons of all sorts and ages for there perished by these flames 5 Bishops 21 Divines 8 Gentlemen 84 Artificers 100 Husbandmen servants and labourers 26 Wives 20 Widdows 9 Virgins 2 boys and 2 infants one springing out of his mothers womb as she was burning at the stake and most unmercifully flung it into the fire at the very birth 64 more in those furious times were persecuted in their faith whereof 7 were whipt 16 perish'd in prison 12 buried in dunghils and many more lay in captivity condemned who were happily delivered by the glorious entrance of Queen Elizabeth A Thanksgiving for the return of the Gospel and our deliverance from Popish Superstition and Tyranny O Most glorious most merciful and gracius Lord God we cannot but remember thy mercies to us and to our Fathers of old when thou wast pleased to deliver this Nation from the spiritual Aegyptian bondage which we were under in the Mariâ—n days when our Fathers were in the condition of those Worthies of old who were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection who wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute afflicted tormented in desarts in mountains in dens and caves of the Earth and the sound of the Turtle was not heard in the land This O Lord was our miserable condition under that Romish Tyranny under which we groaned but thou our most merciful Father in the midst of judgment didst remember mercy and didst bring back our captivity as the rivers in the South thou broughtest thy servant Queen Elizabeth from prison to reign and with her did the glorious Sun of thy Gospel arise upon these late dark lands and the word of the Lord went throughout the Nation thou quenchest those flames that destroyed so many of thy blessed Saints and servants and didst at once restore to us religion peace plenty and Victory over all our and thine enemies O what shall we render unto the Lord for all these his great benefits to us a most unworthy wicked and sinful people let us render unto him the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and let our lives and conversations so shew forth his praise that we may never provoke the Lord to remove his candlestick from us and once more to scourge us with the thorns and bryars of Popish Tyranny from which his grace and goodness hath so wonderfully delivered us and all this we ask through the merits and mercies of thy blessed Son our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The prayer of King Edward the sixth called Englands Josiah against Popery LOrd God deliver me out of this miserable and wretched life and take me among thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I commit my spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosens sake send me life and health that I may truly serve thâ—e O my God bless thy people and save thine Inheritance O Lord God save thy chosen people of England O my Lord God defend this Realm from Papistâ—y and maintain thy true Religion that I and my people may praise thy holy name Vpon the Spanish Invasion in that remarkable year 1588. intended to reduce this Nation to Popery and slavery by the so called invincible Armada Poor Englands ruin is design'd The Pope and Spain have both combind Both have infallibly decreed In Eighty Eight England must bleed A vast Armada Spain prepares The cost and toyl of many years An hundred fifty Sail and more Come thundring from the Spanish shoar The Pope to make up the bravado Stiles it the invincible Armado Whose vast and numerous Hulls contain The Treasure and the strenght of Spain Full twenty thousand Souldiers And to encrease our woes and fears Fetters and chains they did prepare The marks of slavery we must wear Religion Laws and Liberties All were designed a Sacrifice To Romish Tyranny and we Most wretched slaves design'd to be Our Queen with watchful eyes surveys Th' approaching storm and soon doth raise Two Royal Armies to withstand The bold Invaders of our Land A Royal Fleet too she provides But God himself the cause decides The Lord of Hosts soon made them see There 's none Invincible but He. He with a breath of wind doth blast Designs so mighty and so vast That all might see that none but He An Vniversal King can be In the year of our Lord 1588. and in the one and thirtieth year of the most glorious reign of Q. Elizabeth Philip the second King of Spain set forth this mighty fleet the Spaniards themselves being so amazed at the vastness of it that they named it the Invincible Armada it being the best furnished with men amunition and all manner of provision of any that ever the Ocean saw consisting of a hundred and fifty tall ships in which were twenty thousand Souldiers and the D. of Parma was designed to bring out of Flanders fifty thousand more to join with them it had also eight thousand six hundred mariners two thousand and eighty gally-slaves two thousand six hundred and thirty great Ordnance besides boats and tenders of all sorts with provisions the Pope also contributed a million of gold to this design All these were to be landed at the Thames mouth that by seizing on the head they might the more easily command the body of the Kingdom The Queen had prepared a double guard one for the land and another for the sea that by land was divided into two Armies the one consisting of two and twenty thousand foot and a thousand horse commanded by the Earl of Leicester whose camp was at â—â—lbury where the Queen with a masculine spirit came and took a view of her Army and riding about through the ranks of armed men drawn up on both sides her with a Leaders trunche on in her hand sometimes with a martial pace another while 〈◊〉 liâ—e a woman it is incredible how mâ—ch 〈…〉 ragâ—d the heart of hâ— Captaâ—ns and Souldiers by her presence and peech to them The guard by sea consisted of one hundred and forty
ships divided into 3 squadrons commanded by the L. Howard Admiral Sr. Francis Drake Vice-Admiral and the Lord Henry Seymour Reer-Admiral When the mighty moving wood of Spain was entred into the British seas and found the Queen so well prepared contrary to their expectation they resolved rather to make a chase fight than lye by it The Queen commanded the L. Admiral to make ready eight of her worst ships and to besmear them with wild-fire pitch and rosin and fill them with brimstone and other combustible matâ—er which he sent down the wind in the dead of the night among the Spanish Fleet who spying the flames â—nd thinking them deadly inventions and murthering engines raised a sad oâ—tcry and preseâ—tly weigâ—'d anchor 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 les and in a terrible Panicâ—â—ear with great hast and confusion put to Sea Whereupon the Queens fleet under Drake and other brave Commanders took some of them sunck and drove some on the sands and many others being driven Northwards and grievously tossed impaired and mangled by storms and wracks and enduring all manner of miseries at length returned with shame and dishonour by all which ways were lost more than half the Spanish fleet and of the English only one ship and that of small value And thus this great Armada which had been three compleat years in preparing with infiniâ—e expence was within one months space many times fought with and at last overthrown with the loss of abundance of Spaniards and this mighty design came to nought Gloria Deo A Thanksgiving for our deliverance from the Spanish Armada in 1588. MOst high and mighty Lord God Almighty who workest wonders in the Heavens in the Earth and in the Sea who art a present help to all that call upon thee we the people of these Nations have infinite cause to bless thy holy name for thy mercies of old to our Fathers in delivering us from that slavery and misery that was design'd to be brought upon us by thine and our enemies who intended to have tyrannized over our souls our bodies our consciences they had prepared whips to scourge us chains and fetters to bind and manacle us and they did boast themselves to be invincible and that none could withstand them but thou O Lord didst blow upon them with a blast of thy mouth and they were scattered like chaff before the wind and they perished at thy presence thou didst put fear into their hearts and they fled thou didst confound all their projects and devices and they were all brought to nought O Lord let us never forget this mercy of thine and the multitude of thy mercies that we have recieved since that time which thou knowest O Lord we have not improved as we ought and may therefore justly fear that we have so provoked thee by our crying abominations that thou mayst once more give us over to Romish Tyranny O Lord we beseech thee yet to remember mercy and rather take us into thine own hand to correct us than give us into the hands of wicked and unmerciful men whose tender mercies are cruelties remember thy loving kindness to us of old and save us according to thy wonted mercy not for our own sakes but for the merit of thy dear Son and our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. Amâ—n Vpon the fifth of November 1 THis day allows thy praises Lord Our grateful hearts to thee shall sing Our thankful lips they shall record Thine antient loves Eternal King 2 Our Land shall boast the holy One My great preserver is become My friends my foes hath overthrown And made the pit they dig'd their tomb 3 With Parthian bows the Archers came Romes poisonous oyl on th' arrows shone Thy Turtle was the Archers aim Shoot shoot saies Satan all 's our own 4 Fond foolish Rome how darest t' oppose Whom God in his safe bosom lays Thy malice may it self disclose But frustrate still shall turn to praise 5 Thy Crozier staff thy tripple Crown Those ensignes of deceit and pride Thy purple robe thy blaz'd renown The Gunpowder Treasâ—n The dust shall ever ever hide 6 Thy merchants shall thy fall lament Thy lovers all in sackloth mourn While Heaven and Earth in one consent Shall sing Amen let Babilon burn 7 Then Lord thy Spouse whose dropping eyes Whose sighs whose sufferings prove her thine Shall from her pensive sorrows rise And as the Lambs fair Bride shall shine 8 Sweet day sweet day when shall it be Why stays my Lord dear Saviour come Thy mourning Spouse cries after thee Stay with me here or take me home Of the Powder Treason THe Plot was to undermine the Parliament-house and with Pouder to blow up the King Prince Clergy Nobles Knights and Burgesses the very confluence of all the flower of Glory Piety Learning Prudence and Authority in the Land Fathers Sons Brothers Allies Friends Foes Papists and Protestants all at one blast This damnable design was coutrived by some Priests Jesuits and other Papists to which end they took lodgings near the Parliament house and then all the Conspirators took an oath of secresy in these words You shall swear by the blessed Trinity and by the Sacrament you now purpose to receive never to disclose directly or indirectly by word or circumstance the matter that shall be proposed to you to keep secret nor desist from the execution thereof till the rest shall give you leave And now the business went on apace and all things being ready the 5 th of November 1605. was the day designed for the execution but about ten days before a letter directed to my Ld. Monteagle was delivered by an unknown person to his footman in the street with a strict charge to give it to his Lords own hand which accordingly he did and the Lord being troubled at the contents presently imparted it to the Secretary of State who soon presented it the King which was in these Words My LORD Out of the love I bear to some of your friends I have a care of your preservation therefore I would advise you as you tender your life to devise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament for God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this time and think not slightly of this advertisement 〈◊〉 retire your self into your Country where you may expect the event with safety for though there be no appearance of any stir yet I say they shall receive a terrible Blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurts them this counsel is not to be contemned because it may do you good and can do you no harm for the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the letter and I hope God will give you the grace to make use of it to whose holy protection I commend you The King reading this letter did conclude by several dark passages in it that it contained in it some extraordinary design and therefore by the Blow did suppose was meant some blast of Gun-pouder
and mercy in thy sight without thy assistance this sore burthen is too heavy for me to bear Lord either remove it from me or make it easier for me to bear Lend me thy gracious and helping hand that as I am scourged with thy rod so I may lean upon thy staff let me never despair of thy comfortable relief but in all my miseries be thou my refuge be pleased to endue me with patience from above that I may give no advantage to the Tempter in my suffering open the eyes and the charitable hands of those that should see and know mine adversity and so enlarge their hearts that they may administer relief and comfort to me in the midst of my necessities O thou that feedest the young ravens which call upon thee thou that didst bless the poulse to thy servant Daniel be pleased to fill my hungry Soul with the blessings of thy bounty grant that whatsoever I suffer in my body my Soul may thereby draw near unto thee in the misery of hunger do thou satisfy me with thy grace in my scorching thirst do thou cause me with joy to draw water out of the wells of Salvation in the pinching cold do thou warm my devotion and in my poorest and meanest habit do thou cloth me with the Righteousness of my Redeemer O suffer me not to offend thee in my greatest want but make me rely depend upon thee Teach me by this chastisement the vanity of the World and wean me from the fond delights thereof and carry me so through the storms of this troublesom life that in the end I may arrive at the happy haven of eternal peace and rest through thy own merits and passion O Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen A Prayer before the receiving of the Sacrament O Most gracious and merciful Lord God thou hast called all those that are weary and heavy laden with their sins to come unto thee and hast promised to ease and refresh them thou hast invited all those that hunger and thirst after thy Kingdom and the righteousness thereof to come to thy Table to tast of thy Supper and hast promised that thou wilt satisfy them in assurance therefore of these promises I come to thee blessed Lord Jesus beseeching thee to ease me to refresh me to satisfy me with thy mercy for my Soul hungers and thirsts after thee thy Salvation I confess and acknowledge that my dayly sins have made me unworthy of my dayly bread much more of this Manna this Bread of life that came down from Heaven I confess O Lord I am not prepared according to thy preparation of thy Sanctuary yet for as much as this day I have set my heart to seek to thee thou O God be merciful unto me and though I cannot bring with me a clean heart for who can say his heart is clean yet behold O Lord I bring with me a contrite heart and a broken spirit despise not O God this Sacrifice As for the sins that I have committed against thee bind them up into one bundle and cast them into the bottomless Sea of thy mercy bury them in thy wounds and wash them away in the blood of that immaculate Lamb Christ Jesus and for the time to come sprinkle my Conscience with the same blood that being cleansed from dead works I may serve thee the living God in righteousness and true holiness all the days of my life that so this blessed Sacrament may be a means to quiet my Conscience to increase my faith to inflame my charity to amend my life to save my Soul and to assure me that I am of the number of those blessed ones who shall eat at thy Table and be called to the marriage Supper of the Lamb. Grant this O Lord for Jesus Christ his sake in whose name and words I conclude these my imperfect prayers saying as he himself hath taught me Our Father c. A Prayer after the receiving of the Sacrament O Most gracious God from whose bounty every good and perfect gift is derived I and all that is within me praise and magnify thy holy name for all thy mercies and favours which from time to time thou hast bestowed upon me But especially I thank thee for Jesus Christ thy Son the fountain and foundation of all blessings and benefits that thou hast sent him into the world to take our nature upon him and to die for us and that thou hast fed me who am unworthy of the least of thy favours with the precious merits of his death and passion Blessed Lord God thou hast been pleased this day to set thy seal to the pardon and forgiveness of all my sins oh let me not lose it again by unthankfulness or relapsing into my old sins from which thou hast purged me lest my last end be worse than my beginning But if hereafter I shall be tempted by the Devil allured by the world or provoked by my own flesh then set before mine eyes by the remembrance of thy Spirit how dear the expiation of my sins cost my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ even the effusion of his most precious and holy blood that in the contemplation of his death and application of his most bitter passion I may die dayly unto sin and so may shew forth the Lords death till he come and bring his reward with him I may receive the Crown of Righteousness which he hath purchased and prepared for all those that love and expect the day of his appearing with the precious price of his incorruptible blood And whereas I have this day renewed my covenant with thee my God in vows and purposes of better obedience assist me by thy grace and strengthen me by thy power that I may pay the vows which I have made unto thee and that by vertue of thy heavenly nourishment I may grow up in grace and godliness till at last I come to be a perfect man in Christ Jesus Preserve and maintain always this thine Ordinance that it may be a note and a badge of my publick profession and give unto all of us that have been partakers of thy body and blood one heart and one mind in the unity of Spirit for the worthy and reverend receiving of the same whensoever we shall come to thy holy Table again and for this thy mercy towards me do I yield unto thee all praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and might and majesty through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose most blessed name and words I further pray Our Father c. The Prayer of a Virgin BLessed Lord Son of a Virgin who didst honour Virginity when thou tookest our nature hearken to the cryes of a lamenting Maid Lord I am not worthy to come unto thee I am not worthy to receive any favour from thee for I have forsaken thee my most indulgent Husband and have followed other Lovers My soul is too much polluted to be called thine too often
have I broke my vows and my promises to hope for thy love or thy gracious pardon But Lord what shall I now do if yet I shall fall into a dispair of thy Mercies I should increase my disloyalâ—y and either deny or despise the power of thy Passion So great was thy love to the Church thy Spouse that thou gavest thy self to sanctifie and cleanse it by the washing of water by the Word My Soul O Christ is a member of thy Spouse be pleased O Jesus so to sanctifie and wash my soul that thou mayst present it to thy self without spot or wrinckle both holy and blamless O thou who hast opened a Funtain to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness do thou wash me throughly from mine iniquity cleanse me from my sir. And Lord as in mercy thou hast given me Chastity of body so give me likewise Chastity of mind and purity of soul suffer not either the flesh or the Devil by their wicked suggestions to seduce me to uncleaness And though I am but a weak and an earthen vessel yet be thou pleased to make me a chosen vessel a vessel of mercy cause me to keep my body holy and to possess it in sanctification and honour and not in the lust of concupiscence like the Gentiles which know thee not O be thou mâ— Father in the grace of Adoption be thou my Brother in thy pitty and compassion be thou my Husband in thy love affection be thou my Jesus in the salvation of my sinful Soul Arm me with constancy against all assaults of carnal imaginations give me modesty in my countenance decency in my apparel civility in my behaviour sobriety in my discourse and contentedness in my condition make me obedient to my Parents respective to my Superiors courteous to my Inferiors loving unto all Let not my adorning be outward of puting on of apparel but give me that wisdom which is from above to be as an ornament of grace unto my head and as chains abouâ— my neck preserve O Christ both my body and Soul in chastity and honour while I am here upon Earth as becometh a Virgin espoused to thy self and when my dust shall return to the earth as it was let my spirit return unto thy self who gavest it and to thee let it sing that new song with the Quire of Virgins before thy Throne for ever and ever Amen A Prayer of a Married Woman ALmighty Lord and everlasting Father who hast been pleased to vouchsafe me the blessings of this life and to give me my desires both in a husband and children be pleased to give me a Thankful heart for these thy Mercies it is thy goodness and not my merit that I have received from thee these blessings of thy bounty justly O justly mightest thou at once deprive me of these comforts because I have neglected my obedience to the one and my care of the other Humbly O my God I confess my failings and am sorry for mine offences Lord be gracious to me thy servant and let me testify my thankfulness in my industrious care to perform my duties Be thou still the Protector and the gracious Defender both of me and mine Bless him whom thou hast set over me and grant that he may dwell with me according to knowledg that so we being heirs together of the grace of life our prayers may not be hindred As thou hast made me a fruitful Vine by the Walls of his house so make me endeavour to be fruitful in good Works and increase in the Knowledg of thee my God Let those Olive branches about my Table be every one like a green Olive in the house of thee my God and trust in thy mercy for ever and ever make me to my Husband a prudent Wife as sent from thee that he may rejoyce with me the wife of his youth And to this purpose set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keep the door of my Lips make me a gracious Woman retaining Honour that I may be a Crown to my Husband and a wise Woman labouring to build up my house and family and a vertuous Woman fearing thee Hear me O my God and grant me my Petitions for the Worthyness of him who is our indulgent husband to his Spouse the Church even Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour in whose blessed Name and Words I further Pray Our Father c. The Prayer for a Woman with Child MOst Merciful and Gracious God who wilt not turn away thine Ear from those that call upon thee in sincerity and truth Look down with an Eye of pity and compassion upon thy unworthy servants I must confess my sins are very great and so is my danger which is at hand my paines to come will be grievous and my life is now most uncertain Assure me I beseech thee of the forgiveness of all my sins mitigate my fear and sorrows strengthen me with the comforts of thy Spirit confirm me in the Faith of my Saviour and bless all good means appointed for my comfort that in due time I may be a joyful Mother and see the fruit of my body safe sound and perfect without blemish or deformity O Lord I know not how soon my travel will steal on me when I must fight that battle of life and death one drop of thy mercy hath soveraign power to cure all the Wounds of those sorrows Shed therefore O holy Father that drop of grace upon me in that minute when I am to encounter with so stern an adversary strengthen me with patience bless me that I perish not bless the work of my Midwife let not the child yet unborn the babe in my Womb be punished for mine offences but give it growth give it flourishing and â—orm and wheâ— the time is come that thou wilt call it out of this close house of â—lesh where it now inhabiteth to dwell in the open world sanctifie thy creature make it by Baptisme a member of thy Church a Lamb of thy Flock and direct it in the wayes of godliness to its lives end and all through Jesus Christ our Lord in wâ—ose blessed Words I continue to Pray Our Father The Prayer of a Woman in the Time of her Travel O My Lord and my God my heavenly Father my merciful Jesus upon whom I depend in the midst of my Anguish hoping in thy wonted mercies Bow down thine Ear and harken to the cryes of a pained Woman unto thee O Lord do I cry thou art my refuge and my portion in the Land of the living Attend therefore unto my cry for I am brought very low Consider mine affliction and deliver me for I do not forget thy Law all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee in thee I trust who art the living God who art the Saviour of all especially of them that believe I love thee O Lord my strength thou art my Rock and
my fortress my strength in whom I trust my buckler the horn of my Salvation and my high Tower O save me now in this heavy distress and deliver thy servant hear me O Lord in this day of trouble O God of Jacob deâ—end me Give an happy end to these my torments that I may enjoy the fruit of my Womb for which I suffer them O Lord in mercy if it may stand with thy eternal decree preserve both my life and the life of my issue arm me with patience to undergo these pangs and in the end give me comfort in what thou shalt send me but if otherwise thou hast determined to end my life by these heavy torments O my sweet and merciful Jesus receive me into thy bosom that I may pass from misery to eternal happiness Hear O Lord and have mercy upon me and mine and grant my petitions for the worthiness of that most merciful and blessed Son of a woman thine only begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour in whose most holy name and words I pray Our Father c. A Prayer of a Woman after her delivery O Merciful God and heavenly Father who hast now most especially made known unto me that thou art able to do more exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think make me thankfully to rejoyce in the works of thy love and thy tender mercy thy favours are great and wonderful in sparing the life of my self and mine Infant and freeing me from my pangs and it from the Darkness of the silent Womb. Thine O Lord is thy power by which I am delivered thine is the mercy by which I am safely returned into my bed thine is the work of the frame and fashion of this my Babe thine therefore shall be likewise thy glory for ever and ever Grant blessed Father that I may never forget thy goodness but may express my thankfulness in new obedience Make me careful to perform what service I promised thee in the extremity of mine Anguish As thou hast given me the fruit of my body to the joy of my heart so give me the fruit of Righteousness sown in Peace Give me the Wisdom which is from above that is full of good Works without hypocrisy Lord make me thy servant by grace and make this child thy child by adoption mercy give me comfort in its life for the sorrows which I endured at his birthâ— Give thy blessing on the meanes for the nourishment of this Child Give it strength that it may live to receive the seal of thy Mercy in the Laver of Baptism and do thou be present with thy blessing when the sign shall be administred O let it live if it be thy blessed Will and grow up in wisdome and in stature and in grace both with thee and with men that so I may magnifie thy Name for making me an instrument to propagate the number of thine Elect. Take pity upon all that suffer afflictions especially on those Women who are in Labour with Children Give them comfort in the time of their miseries ease from their Torments joy in their desired Issue and thankfulness for thy blessings Lord grant that both I and they may sing praises to thy Name for the greatness of our deliverance and express our thanks in our godly lives that when this painful life shall have end we may sing triumphantly in Eternal Glory through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour in whose most blessed Name and words I conclude my imperfect Prayers saying as he himself hath taught me Our Father c. The Prayer of a Widdow O God in the knowledg of whom is the perfection of all joy at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore thou makest the comforts of this life momentany that we may not overprize them and yet hast made them requisite that we may not undervalue them I a late sharer of this worlds happiness but now a sad witness of its Vanity do here address my self to thee the only Crown of all my joys in whom there is no variableness nor shadow of change Lord thou didst give me what my unthankfulness hath taken from me but thou hast taken from me what thy goodness hath promised to Supply Thou hast given and thou hast taken blessed be thy name for ever Thou then O God who art not less able to perform then willing to promise whose mercy is more ready to bestow then my misery is to beg strengthen my faith that I may believe thy promise encourage my hopes that I may expect thy performance quicken my affections that I may love the Promiser Be thou all in all unto me that am nothing without thee Sweeten my misery with the sence of thy mercy and lighten my darkness with the Sun of thy glory Seal in my heart the assurance of adoption that I may with boldness call thee my Father sanctifie my affections with the Spirit of meekness that my conversation may testify that I am thy Child wean my heart from worldly sorrow lost I mourn like those that have no hope But thou my Bridegroom and let our marriage-chamber be thy heart Own me as thy Bride and purifie me with the odours of thy spirit prevent me with thy blessings protect me by thy grace preserver me for thy self and prepare me for thy Kingdom be thou a Father to bless me be thou a husband to comfort me in the midst of my want be thou my plenty in the depth of my mourning be thou my mirth Raise my glory from the dust and then my dust shall shew forth thy praise Supply all my wants for the sake of Jesus Christ my blessed Lord in whose most holy words I further pray Our Father c. The Prayer of an Orphan ALmighty God and heavenly Father who art a Lord of comfort and a God of Consolation look down upon a sinful and distressed Orphan beâ—eâ—â— of the joy and help of earthly Parents It was my own unworthiness of so loving parents that hath made thee to take them away from mine eyes my disobedience to their commands and my neglect of honouring them according to thy laws hath provoked thee to anger and to deprive me of them O Lord forgive me my manifold offences and remember thy promises which thou hast made unto the fatherless and that I may be capable of those thy promises give me grace to become thy child by obedience thou O Lord art my Father to whom belongeth honour thou art my Master and requirest me to fear thee Lord make me fear to offend thee who art a righteous Judg and make me love and honour thee who art a gracious Father be with me in all the ways wherein I shall walk in this mortal life comfort me in my sorrows support me in my miseries provide for me in my wants and in all places and at all times be thou my Father my Rock and my strong salvation do thou defend the poor and fatherless do justice to the
feeble knees and support my weak hands and revive my deaded heart and so powerfully assist me with the spirit of strength that I may with confidence call upon thee with patience endure this trial with hope expect thy good pleasure with wisdom make use of this thy Visitation and with thankfulness ever praise thy goodness and mercy for my safe recovery if it may fland with thy will whereunto I submit and wholly resign now and for ever through Jesus Christ my blessed Lord and Saviour in whose most holy words I further pray Our Father A Thanksgiving after recovery O Lord God of my health and salvation who hast known my Soul in trouble and didst make my bed in my painful and dangerous sickness and hast now raised me out of it to stand before thee I offer now unto thee a sacrifice of praise because I emplyed not the saculties of my Soul and members of my body as I should have done thou didst bereave me of the strength and vigour and use of them for a season but now because thy compassion fails not thou hast returned them to me again wherefore I consecrate and devote them perpetually to thy sâ—rvice and as I am in the state of my body so by the power of thy renewing grace I will become in the estate of my Soul a new man My broken heart which thou hast healed shall now entirely love thee my feeble knees and weak bones which thou hast settled shall night and day bow to thee my weak hands which tâ—ou hast strengthned shall continually be lifted up unto thee I confess unto thee O Lord that in my health I often read and heard that worldly delights and comforts were vain and much like flags and bulrushes which men in danger of drowning câ—tch to bear them up but they sink doâ—â—â— under water with them yet did I not learn till I suffered till thy rod had imprinted it even in my flesh Now O Lord I beseech thee to knit my heart unto thee that I may fear thy name create in me a new heart renew a right spirit within me I asked life of thee thou gavest it me I now desire and crave thy Salvation O my God withhold it not make me to repent of my sins the cause of my sickness and to depend upon thee the giver of all good things and make me in the time of prosperity to think of adversity in health to think of sickness in sickness to think of death and at all times so to think of judgment that whither I wake or sleep eat or drink or whatsoever I do else I may ever have this voice sounding in mine ears Arise ye dead and come to judgment Give me grace O Lord to make this use of mine affliction past and to cleave and stick fast unto thee in all holiness for the time to come through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in whose name and words I further pray Our Father c. The Prayer of the Sick now ready to depart this World ETernal and Omnipotent infinite incomprehensible God Lord of my life and determiner of my days my body now is returning into dust and my soul returning to thee that gavest it O Lord most holy O most mighty draw near unto me who make hast to come unto thee give me a clearer sight of thee by how much the nearer I am out of the dark prison of my body Give me also a quicker tast of the powers of the life to come that I may the more comfortably pass over these last troubles of this present life O Father of mercy and God of all consolation let not the guilt of my sâ—â—s or horror of thy judgments or Satans suggestions or the fear of death or terrors of hell drive me to desperation I confess that for my unmindfulness of thee and ungratefulness to thee all my life I deserve that thou shouldest utterly abandon and forsake me now at my death but thy thoughts are not like our thoughts nor thy affections like ours Dear Father shew thy strength in my greatest weakness confirm thy mercy to me in my greatest need apply thy comforts to me in this my last extremity asswage the pains of my body with spiritual Comforts and diminish the fear of death by the assured hope of a better life O let me that am now returning to dust and ashes speak but this once to my Lord and Maker with ill my heart soul and strength I beseech thee by all that my Saviour Jesus Christ hath done and Suffered for me I entreat thee to speak peace unto my soul at its departing and say unto it I am thyâ— Salvation Make my election sure by my true repentance fervent charity assured confidence constant patience and comfortable perseverance to the end and in the end Amen At the Hour of death WElcome blessed hour the period of my pilgrimage the term of my bondage the end of my cares the close of my sighs the bound of my tarvels the goal of my race and the heaven of my hopes I have fought a long fight in much weakness I have finished my course though in great faintness and the crown of my joy is that through the strength of thy grace I have kept the true faith and now I dye in it I willingly resign my flesh I despise the world and I defie the Devil who hath no part nor share in me And now what is my hope my hope Lord Jesus is even in thee for I know that thou my Redeemer livest and thou wilt immediately receive my soul and rayse up my body at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and no other my heart â—ainteth my strength faileth my tongue faltereth Lord let thy spirit of comfort help mine insâ—â—mities and make Supplication for me with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered I submit my self wholly to thy will I commit my soul to thee as my faithful Redeemer who hast bought it with thy most precious bloud I profess to all the world I know no name under heaven by which I may be saved but thine my Jesus my Saviour I renounce all confidence in any merits save thine I thankfully acknowledg all thy blessings I unfainedly bewail all my sins I steadfastly believe all thy promises I heartily forgive all mine enemies I willingly leave all my friends I utterly loath all earthly comforts I entirely long for thy coming Come Lord Jesus come quickly Lord Jesus receive my spirit SACRED POEMS UPON SELECT SUBJECTS WITH Divine Meditations OF THE Vanity of Mans Life and the World And also of the Four Last Things Death Judgment Heaven and Hell With Graces Speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing and making melody with your Heart to the Lord Eph. 5. 19. The Souls Breathing after Her Heavenly Country 1. JErusalem my happy home O that I were in thee Oh would my Woes were at an end thy joys that I might see
Christ is Rich though we be sinners he is Righteous though we be impure yet he is Pure and Holy for his sake therefore O Lord have mercy upon us and Write thy Law in our Hearts engrave it in our Minds we heartily beseech thee And let us this Morning of thy Holy Day wholly turn unto thee with all our Hearts Minds Thoughts Deeds and Meditations that we may joyn in Praises to thy holy Name for thy preservation of us the night past and refreshing us with sweet sleep and let us declare thy loving kindness in the Morning on thy Holy and Blessed Sabbath-Day for it is thy Will and Commandement that we should Sanctifie this thy Day unto thy Service and in Praise unto thee and offer up unto thee a morning Sacrifice of Praises and Thanksgiving and to hear what thy Spirit by the preaching of thy Word shall speak unto us thy Servants O let not our sins stand as a cloud to stop our Prayers from Ascending up unto thee or to keep back thy Grace from Descending by thy Word into our hearts that we may cease from the works of sin as well as from the works of our ordinary calling and that we may feel in our hearts the beginning of that Eternal Sabbath which brings unspeakable Joy and Glory and filling us with the Spirit of Prayer make us diligent and ready in the performance of thy will And take us O Lord into thy custody and governance for ever both our Souls and Bodies yea our Lives and all that ever we have so that our Lives may please thee and our Deaths may praise thee through Jesus Christ our Lord for whose sake we heartily Pray thee to grant these things thus asked and all other things necessary for soul and body and that not only to us but to all others also for whom thou wouldest we should pray Grant unto us all true hearty Repentance that we may turn from our evil ways that thou mayest turn from us the evils that we have so highly deserved And with us O Lord bless thy whole Church especially that part of it in these Kingdomes Be Gracious to thy servant and our Soveraign Lord King Charles Bless him in his Government and in his Royal Relations our Gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the Royal Family bless the Nobility Clergy Magistracy Gentry and the whole People of this Land be merciful to all our Kindsfolks and Families Neighbours and to all such as are any other way Related to us and we beseech thee to grant us all thy Blessings and thy holy Spirit to sanctifie us and to keep us this day and for Evermore from all Evil to thy Eternal Glory and our everlasting comfort through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour in whose Blessed Name and Words we further Pray Our Father c. A Prayer for a Family for Sunday Evening O Eternal God our most loving and merciful Father in Jesus Christ it is thine own commandment that we should call upon thy name and it is thy gracious and merciful promise that where two or three are gathered together in thy name there thou wilt be present among them we thy poor and unworthy servants Dust and Ashes yet the Workmanship of thine own Hand are more bold to come before thee to offer unto thee this Evening sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving O Lord we beseech thee to sanctifie unto us thy word which we have heard and read this day make it the seed of life unto our souls that it may fructifie grow and increase and get such strength by thy good providence that neither the burning heat of affliction or persecution cause it to wither but that as seed sown in good ground it may bring forth thirty sixty and a hundred fold as thy heavenly wisdom hath appointed And now O Lord being here before thee we cannot but acknowledg and confess ever from the bottom of our Hearts against our selves our own Unworthiness that we are greivous sinners Conceived in sin and born in iniquity whereof we have brought forth most vile fruits in our lives to the great dishonour of thy Name the utter dismaying of our own Consciences and the evil example of our Brethren by which we have deserved likewise thy wrath and heavy indignation to be poured upon us both in this life and that which is to come in such sort that no creature in heaven or earth is able to reconcile us again to thy Majesty but only thy Son Jesus Christ we intreat thee therefore O Lord to be merciful unto us and as we acknowledg our sins unto thee so be thou faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness wash us thorowly from our wickedness and cleanse us from our sins for we acknowledg O Lord against thee we have sinned and done evil in thy sight To thee therefore O Lord do we come to crave the pardon of our sins both â—or the guilt and punishment of the same that so they may not draw down upon us our deserved Judgment And good Lord we pray thee accept of our Thanksgiving unto thy Majesty for all thy mercies and blessings from time to time bestowed upon us for this life and for a better we praise thee for our Election Vocation Justification Sanctification continual Preservation and the assurance thou hast given us of a better Life when this is ended as also for all temporal blessings health peace and prosperity for thy goodness extended toward us for this day past that thou hast goâ— in and out before us and freed us from many dangers of soul and body and hast brought us with peace and comfort to the beginning of this night Lord Watch over us by thy Spitit and Presence give us a holy and sanctified use of our rest and sleep and fit us for the Duties of the next day especially O Lord fit us for that day which shall never give place to night And grant unto us all good things that thou in thy Wisdome knowest more expedient to give than we to ask and all we beg for Jesus Christ His sake in whose Name and Words we conclude these our imperfect Prayers saying as he hath taught us Our Father c. A Prayer for a Family for Munday Morning MOst Merciful and Gracious Lord God we do not present our selves here before thy Majesty trusting in our own merits or worthiness but in thy manifold Mercies which hast Promised to hear our Prayers and grant our Requests which we shall make unto thee in the Name of thy Dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord who hath also commanded us to assemble our selves together in his Name with full assurance that He will not only be amongst us but also be our Mediator and Advocate toward thy Majesty that we may obtain all things which shall seem expedient to thy blessed Will for our necessities Therefore we beseech thee most Merciful Father to turn thy loving Countenance