no man is to be proud of his gifts because they are none of his own he hath but received them to use We count him worthy to be laughed at as a fool who having borrowed brave apparell of others as a silk gown a sâ—tten doublet a chain of gold velvet breaches c. should proudly jet it in the streets in them as if they were his own even so are they worthy to be chronicled for fools which are proud of good gifts which are none of their own Therefore the Prophet Jeremy saith Jer. 25.3 Thus saith the Lord Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom not the strong man in his strength neither the rich man in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me To this point also well saith the heathen Poet Tâ—eoâ—tiâ—us No man can escape the punishment of pride therefore in greatest prosperity be not puffed up Phil. Yet it is a world to see how proud surly haughty stately insolent and thrasonicall some be because of their gifts they think they touch the clouds with their heads and that the earth doth not beare them they take themselves to be petty angels or some wonderfull wights they contemne and disdaine all others which have not the like gifts they doe contemptuously over-look them as a lion should over-look a mouse a King a begger or as we say in a proverb as the Divell looked over Lincoln Theol. Oh proud dust Oh haughty wormes meat If they would bring their hearts before God and their consciences thoughts and affections to be judged by his law it would soon cool them and take them down well enough they should see their wants and imperfections to be so great that they indeed should have no more cause to boast of their gifts then the Blackmoor hath of his whitenesse because his teeth are white The holy Ghost ours all our combs and plucketh down all pride of flesh when he saith Job 26.14 How â—mall a thing doth man understand of God Phil I pray you let us proceed to speak of the outward and grosse pride of the world and first of all tell me what you think of pride in apparell Theol I think it to be a vanity of all vanities and a folly of all follies For to be proud of apparell is as if a thiefe should be proud of his halter a beggar of his clouts a child of his gay or a fool of his bable Phil. Yet wee see how proud many specially women be of such bables For when they have spent a great part of the day in tricking and trimming pricking and pinning pranking and pouncing girding and lacing and braving up themselves in most exquisite manner then out they come into the streets with their pedlers shop upon their back and carry their crests very high taking themselves to be little angels or at least somewhat more then other women Whereupon they doe so exceedingly swell with pride that it is to bee feared they will burst with it as they walk in the streets And truly we may think the very stones in the street and the beams in the houses doe quake and wonder at their monstrous intolerable and excessive pride For it seemeth that they are altogether a lump of pride a masse of pride even altogether made of pride and nothing else but pride pride Theol. You seeme to be very hot in the matter Asun Marry Sir I like him the better for the world was never so full of pride as it is now adayes Theol. Alas alas indeed who can hold his peace at the pride of this age What a thing is it that flesh and bloud worms meat dust and ashes dirt and dung should so brave it out with their 〈◊〉 clouts and that in the sight of â—od Angels and men For the time will come when both they and all their gay clouts shall be buried in a grave Yea as Job saith Iob 12.13,14 The grave shall be their house and they shall mâ—ke â—heir bed in the dark And â—hâ—n tâ—ey shall say to corruption Thou art my Father and to the worm Thou are my Mother and my sister What then shall it availe them thus to â—aâ—e râ—â—fled it out in all their bravery wâ—o as suddenly they shall 〈…〉 struction What did it prove tâ—e riâ—h man to bee sumptuously clothed and fare deliciously every day when his body was buried in the dust and his soul in hell fire Asun I pray you Sir what say you to these great ruffes which are born up with supporters and rebatoes as it were with post and rail Theol. What should I say but God be mercifull unto us For such things doe draw down the wrath and vengeance of God upon us all and as the Apostle saith Gal. 5.6 For such things sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience And truly truly we may wel fear that God wil plague us for our abominable pride Asun What say you then to these doubled and r doubled ruffes which are now in common use strouting fardingales long locks fore-tufts shag hair â—nd all these new fashions which are devised and taken up every day Theol I say they are far from that plainnesse simplicity and modesty which hath been in former ages our fore-fathers knew no such things It is recorded of William Rufus Graftous 〈◊〉 â—4 sometime King of this land that when his Chamberlain on a time brought him a new pair of hose he demanded of him what they cost who answered three shillings Whereat the King being somewhat moved commanded him to prepare him a pair of a mark If Kings were then thought to exceed that bestowed a mark upon a pair of hose what is it to be thought of many mean men in these our dayes yea such as have no living and are scarce of any good calling which bestow as much upon a pair as the King did upon two when he was thought most of all to exceed But alas alas we have passed all bounds of modesty and measure there is no hee with us Our Land is too heavie of this sinne For the pride of all Nations and the follies of all countries are upon us how shall we bear them And as for these new fashions the more new they be the more foolish and as foolish they that use them For with our new fashions we are grown clean out of fashion If we had as many fashions of our bodies as we have of our attire we should have as many fashions as fingers and toes But vain men and women do apparently shew their vain minds by following so greedily such vain toyes and fashions Asun It was never a good world since starching and steeling busks and whale-bones supporters and rebatoes full moons and hobby-horses painting and dying with selling of favour and complexion came to be in use For since these came in covetousnesse oppression and deceit have increased For how else should pride bee maintained and
foole for flattering himselfe in security and promising unto himselfe long life Moreover hee plainely told him that the same night hee should make a hellish and miserable end Note I pray you how Iesus Christ the fountaine of all wisedome câ—lleth this man a foole and yeeldeth a reason thereof to wit because hee gathered riches to himselfe and was not rich in God hee had great care of this life and none at all for that which is to come So then it followeth that all such are right fooles indeed and may be chronicled for fooles how wise soever they be taken and reputed in the world which have much care for their bodies and none for their soules great care for this life and little for that which is to come well let all such profane worldlings as dreame and dote of long life and therefore deferre the day of their repentance and conversion unto God take heed by this mans example that they reckon not without their host and he suddenly snatcht away in the midst of all their pleasures and jollitie â—â—s Job saith Job 22.13 Some die in their full strength being in all ease and prosperity Their breasts run full of milke and their bones run full of marrow Wee see therefore how dangerous a thing it is for men to flatter and â—ooth up themselves with hope of long life Phil. Proceed to the seventh gate which is Conceitednesse Theol. This is indeed a very broad gate into hell For the Scripture saith Prov. 16.12 Seest thou a man wise in his owne conceit There is more hope of a foole than of such a one And againe The foole is wiser in his owne eyes Prov. 26. â—6 then seven men that can give a sensible reason The holy Ghost wee see affirmeth that such as are puft up with an overweâ—ning of their owne gifts are farthest of all other from the Kingdome of Heaven For they despise the wisedome of God to their owne destruction They hold scorne to be taught they will say they know as much as all the Preachers can tell them For what can all the Preachers say more then this Wee are all sinners wee must bee saved by Christ wee must do as wee would be done to There is no more but doe well and have well c. Alas poore soules they looke â—loft they are desperately hoven up with conceitednesse not knowing that they are poore Rev. 3.17 naked blind and miserable These men trust altogether to their owne wit learning policie riches and great reputation in the world And because all men crouch to them and clap their hands at them therefore they swell like Turkiâ—â—-Cocks set up their feathers and draw their wings upon the ground with a kind of snuffe and disdaine of all men as if they were the onely wights of the world Moreover when men doe praise them for their naturall gifts soothe them and applaud them then it is a wonder to see how they streake themselves as though they would forthwith take their flight and mount unto the clouds But let all insolent and conceived men hearken unto the woe that is pronounced against them by the eternall King of glory saying Woe unto them that are wise in their owne eies Esay 5.21 and prudent in their owne sight Againe let them hearken to the counsell of God which saith Trust unto the Lord with all thine heart Pro. 3.5 but leane not unto thine owne wisedome Be not wise in thine owne eyes but feare God and depart from evill These silly conceited fooles thinke that because they have the cast of this life and can cunningly compasse the things of this world and goe through stitch with them therefore they can compasse heaven also by their fine wits and deepe devices but alas poore wretches they are greatly and grossely deceived For the wisedome of the world is foolishnesse with God and hee cotcheth the wise in their owne craftinesse 1 Cor. â— 19 And againe the Lord saith 1 Cor. 1.19 I will destroy the wisedome of the wise and will cast away the understanding of the prudent Let not these men therefore stand too much in their owne light let them not trust to their owne policies for they are all but as an ice of one nights freezing which will deceive them that trust unto it Let them therefore become fooles in themselves that God may make them wiâ—â— Let them denie themselves that God may acknowledge them Let them be humbled in themselves that God may exalt them For assuredly there is no use after this life of the most exquisite wisedome of flesh it endeth all when wee end Eccles 2.16 For how dieth the wise man â—â—ven as dieth the foole saith the holy Ghost And where all worldly wisedome endeth there all heavenly wisedome beginneth Thus therefore we see what a wide gate into hell Conceitednesse is and how many enter in thereat Phil. Now let us understand of the eighth gate into hell which is Ill Company Theol. The Spirit of God foreseeing the great danger of this and knowing how ready wee are to be carried away with ill company doth give us most earnest warning to take heed of it as a most dangerous thing Prov. 4.14 Enter not saith hee in the way of the wicked and walke not in the way of evill men Avoid it goe not by it turne from it and passe by The reason hereof is yeelded in another place where it is said Prov. 13.20 A companion of fools shall be made worse Let men therefore take heed of ill company for many thereby have beene brought to the gallowes and have confessed upon the ladder that ill company hath brought them unto it and therefore have admonished all by their example to take heed and beware of lewd company Moreover the Scripture saith Hee that followeth vaine companions shall be filled with poverty Prov. 18.19 And again in the same chapter Hee that keepeth company with banquetters shameth his father Let us therefore say with David Psa 119.63 I am a companion of all them that feare God and keepe his commandements And on the contrary let us say with him Psal 2.6 I have not haunted with vaine persons neither kept company with the dâ—ssemblers I hate the assembly of the evill and have not accompanied with the wicked Let us therefore by Davids example shun the company of the wicked for as a man is so is his company It is the surest note to discerne a man by For as all unlike things are unsociable so all like things are sociable Herein let us beware wee deceive not our selves with vaine words and an opinion of our owne strength as if wee were as strong as Christ and could not be drawne away with any company No no wee are more apt to be drawne than to draw to be drawne to evill by others then to draw others to good therefore God saith by his Prophet Jer. 15.16 Let them returne unto thee
but returne not thou unto them Vndoubtedly hee is an odde man that is not made worse with ill company For can a man touch pitch and not be defiled therewith Can a man carrie coales in his bosome and not be burnt Daily and lamentable experience sheweth that many of them which thinke themselves strong are this way most grievously smutted Let a man thinke therefore hee never abandoneth evill till hee abandon ill company For no good is concluded in this Parliament For ill company is the suburbs of hell Furthermore it is to be observed that some upon admonitions and some inward compunctions of their owne conscience do leave their sinnes untill they have new provocations and untill they come amongst their old copesmates and sin-companions and then are they carried backe againe to their old byas and returne to their folly as a dog returneth to his vomit For we see some which otherwise are of good natures and dispositions most pitifully and violently carried away with ill company Pro. 26.11 For even as gréen wood of it selfe is unapt to burne yet being laid on the fire with a great deale of seare wood it burneth as fast as the rest So many toward youths which of themselves are not so prone unto evill as others yet with this violent streame and blustering tempest of ill company are carried away Phil. Let us come to the last gate which is the Evill examples of Ministers Theol. It grieveth me and I am almost asham'd to speak of this point for is it not a wofull and lamentable thing that any such should be found amongst the sons of Levi Is it not a curse that the Ministers of Christ should be of a scandalous conversation For if the eye be darke how great is the darknesse If they be examples of all evill to the flocke which should be patternes lights and examples of all goodnesse must it not needs strengthen the hands of the wicked so as they cannot returne from their wickednesse But this is an old disease and evill sicknesse which hath alwayes been in the Church The Prophet Jeremy doth most grievously complaine of it in his time Jer. 23.24 and saith That from the Prophets of Jerusalem is wickednesse gone forth into all the Land For both the Prophet and the Priest doe wickedly I have seen saith he in the Prophets of Jerusalem filthinesse They commit adultery and walke in lies they strengthen also the hands of the wicked that none can returne from his wickednesse they are all unto mee as Sodome and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah And in the ninth verse of the same Chapter he sheweth that it was no pleasure or joy unto him so publikely to reprove them but that he did it with exceeding griefe as being forced thereunto both in regard of Gods glory and the good of the Church His words are these Mine heart breaketh within mee because of the Prophets and all my bones shake Moreover in the same Chapter is set downe how the Lord would feed them with wormwood and make them drinke the water of gall and sundry other wayes plague them for their flatteries seducements corrupt doctrine and evill example of life Phil. Most certaine it is that the evill example of Ministers and especially of Preachers is very dangerous and offensive for thereby thousands are hardened in their sinnes For men will say Such a Minister and such a Preacher doth thus and thus and therefore why may not we doe so too They are learned and know the Word of God therefore if it were evill I hope they would not doe it for they should be lights unto us and give us good examples Therefore sith they doe such things wee cannot tell what to thinke or what to say to the matter they bring such simple folke as wee are into a mammering Theol. Oh that I could with the Prophet Jeremy quake and shake to thinke of these matters Oh that I could mourn as a Dove in penning of it Oh that I had in the wildernesse a cottage and could with Job be a brother to the Dragons and a companion to the Ostriches whilest I have any thoughts of these things Oh that I could weep and mourne without sin before I yeeld you an answer For weep indeed I may but answer I cannot Alas with much griefe I speake it all is too true that you say and herein the people have a vantage against us if I may call it a vantage But let this be my answer If the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch Mat. 13.14 Blind guides and blind people shall perish together If because we are wicked they will be more wicked then both they and we shall burne in hell fire together Then let them reckon their gaines and see what they have got They have small cause to triumph over us for thereby their market is never a whit amended Let them take this for answer And let us that are the Ministers of Christ and Preachers of the Gospel looke narrowly to our selves and make straight steps to our feet for if we tread never so little awry we may see how many eyes are upon us Let us therefore with David pray continually Order my goings O Lord that my foot-steps slip not for when my foot slipped they rejoyced against mee And as for the people let them follow the examples of those which walke unblameably as God be thanked some such there be and let them flye the examples of such as are offensive So shall God have more glory and they more peace in their owne hearts Thus have we heard what a wide gate is opened into Hell by the evill example of Ministers and especially of Preachers Phil. Well sith there be so many bars out of Heaven and so many gates into Hell it is a very hard matter to break thorow all these bars and to enter into life and as hard a matter to misse all these gates and to escape Hell He quits him well that can doe it Theol. True indeed And as hard a thing as that is so hard a thing is it for flesh and bloud to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven And yet most men make light of it and thinke it is the easiest matter of an hundred Asun As hard as it is yet I hope by the grace of God I shall be one of them that shall enter in For so long as I doe as I would be done to and say no body no harme nor do no body no harme God will have mercy on my soule And I doubt not but my good deeds shal weigh against my evill deeds and that I shall make even with God at my later end For I thank God for it I have alwaies lived in hâ—s feare and served him with a true intent Therefore I know that so long as I keep his commandements live as my neighbours doe and as a Christian man ought to do he will not damn my soule Theol. Can you then keep
that they may draw it out to punish the wicked and to defend the godly and that they may with all good care and conscience discharge the duties of their places Increase the number of faithfull and zealous Ministers in this Church Send thy Gospel to those places where it is not and blesse it where it is Remember them in thy mercy O Lord that are under any crosse or affliction whatsoever be comfortable unto them heale up their wounds bind up their sores put all their teares into 〈◊〉 bottle and make their bed in all their sorrowes and put such a good end to all their troubles that they may redound to thy glory and the furtherance of their owne salvation In the meane time give them patience and constancie to beare whatsoever it shall please thy mercifull hand to lay upon them Last of all in a word wee pray theâ— blesse the Magistracie Ministry and Commonalty Blesse all the people doe good to all that are true and upright in their hearts And so deare Father we do commit and command our selves our soules and bodies into thy hands for this day and the rest of our life praying thee to take care and charge of us Keep us from all evill watch over us for our good let thine Angels encamp about us let thy holy hand be over us and keep us in all our waies that we may live to thy praise and glory here on earth keeping faith and a good conscience in all our actions that after this life wee may be crowned of thee for ever in thy Kingdome Grant these things good Father to us here present and to all thine absent praying thee in speciall favour to remember an our friends and kinsfolkes in the flesh all our good neighbours and well-willers and all those for whom wee are bound to pray by nature by deserts or any duty whatsoever for Jesus Christs sake our onely Mediatour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be given all praise and glory both now and for evermore Amen An Evening Prayer to be used in private Families O Eternall God and our most loving and deare Father wee thy unworthy children do here fall down at the foot of thy great Majesty acknowledging from our hearts that we are altogether unworthy to come neere thee or to look towards thee because thou art a God of infinite glory and wee are most vile abominable sinners such as were conceived and borne in sin and corruption and such as have inherited our Fathers corruptions and also have actually transgressed all thy holy Statutes and Lawes both in thoughts words and deeds before wee knew thee and since secretly and openly with our selves and with others our particular sins are moe then can be numbred for who knoweth how often hee offendeth but this wee must needs confesse against our selves that our hearts are full of pride covetousnesse and the love of this world full of wrath anger and impatience full of lying dissembling and deceiving full of vanity hardnesse and profanenesse full of infidelity distrust and selfe-love full of lust uncleannesse and all abominable desires yea our hearts are the very sinkes of sinne and dunghils of all filthinesse And besides all this we doe omit the good things we should doe for there are in us great wants of faith of love of zeale of patience of contentment and of every good grace so as thou hast just cause to proceed to sentence of judgment against us as most damnable transgressours of all thy holy commandements yea such as are sunk in our rebellions and have many times and often committed high treason against thy Majestie and therefore thou maist justly cast us all downe into Hell fire there to be tormented with Sathan and his Angels for ever And wee have nothing to except against thy Majesty for so doing sith therin thou shouldest deale with us but according to equity and our just deserts Wherefore deare Father wee doe appeale from thy justice to thy mercy most humbly intreating thee to have mercy upon us and freely to forgive us all our sinnes past whatsoever both new and old secret and open knowne and unknowne and that for Jesus Christs sake our onely Mediatour And wee pray thee touch our hearts with true griefe and unfeigned repentance for them that they may be a matter of continuall sorrow and heart-smart unto us so as nothing may grieve us more then this that wee have offended thee beâ—ng our speciall friend and Father Give us therefore deare Father every day more and more sight and feeling of our sinnes with true humiliation under the same Give us also that true and lively faith whereby we may lay sure hold on thy Son Christ and all his merits applying the same to our owne soules so as we may stand fully perswaded that whatsoever hee hath done upon the Crosse hee hath done for us particularly as well as for others Give us faith good Father constantly to beleeve all the sweet promises of the Gospel touching remission of sin and eternall life made in thy Sonne Christ O Lord increase our faith that wee may altogether rest upon thy promises which are all Yea and Amen Yea that wee may settle our selves and all that wee have wholly upon them both our soules bodies goods names wives children and our whole estate knowing that all things depend upon thy promises power and providence and that thy Word doth support and beare up the whole order of nature Moreover we entreat thee O Lord to strengthen us from above to walke in every good way and to bring forth the fruits of true faith in all our particular actions studying to please thee in all things and to be fruitfull in good workes that wee may shew forth unto all men by our good conversation whose children we are and that we may adorne and beautifie our most holy profession by walking in a Christian course and in all the sound fruits and practice of godlinesse and true religion To this end we pray thee sanctifie our hearts by thy Spirit yet more and more sanctifie our soules and bodies and all our corrupt naturall faculties as reason understanding will and affections so as they may be fitted for thy worship and service taking a delight and pleasure therein Stirre us up to use prayer watchfulnesse reading meditation in thy Law and all other good meanes whereby wee may profit in grace and goodnesse from day to day Blesse us in the use of the meanes that we may daily dye to sinne and live to righteousnesse draw us yet neerer unto thee helpe us against our manifold wants Amend our great imperfections renew us inwardly more and more repaire the ruines of our hearts aide us against the remnants of sin Enlarge our hearts to run the way of thy Commandements direct all our steps in thy Word let none iniquity have dominion over us Assist us against our speciall infirmities and master-sins that we may get the victory over them all to thy
glory and the great peace and comfort of our owne consciences Strengthen us good Father by thy grace and holy Spirit against the common corruptions of the world as pride whoredome covetousnesse contempt of thy Gospel swearing lying dissembling and deceiving O deare Father let us not be overcome of these filthy vices nor any other sinfull pleasures fond delights wherewith thousands are carried head-long to destruction Arme our soules against all the temptations of this world the flesh and the Divell that wee may overcome them all through thy help and keep on the right way to life that wee may live in thy feare and dye in thy favour that our last dayes may be our best dayes and that wee may end in great peace of conscience Furthermore deare Father we intreat thee not onely for our selves but for all our good brethren thy deare children scattered over the face of the whole earth most humbly beseeching thee to blesse all them to cheere them up and glad them with the joy of thy countenance both now and alwayes Guide them all in thy feare and keep them from evill that they may praise thy Name In these dangerous dayes and declining times wee pray thee O Lord raise up nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers unto thy Church Raise up also faithfull Pastours that thy cause may be carried forward Truth may prevaile Religion may prosper thy Name onely may be set up in the earth thy Sons Kingdome advanced and thy will accomplished Set thy selfe against all adversary power especially that of Rome Antichrist Idolatry and Atheisme curse and crosse all their counsels frustrate their devices scatter their forces overthrow their armies When they are most wise let them be most foolish when they are most strong let them be most weake Let them know that there is no wisdome nor counsell power nor policie against thee the Lord of hosts Let them know that Israel hath a God and that thou which art called Jehovah art the onely Ruler over all the world Arise therefore O most mighty God and maintain thine owne cause against all thine enemies smite thorow all their loines and bow downe their backes yea let them all be confounded and turned backward that beare ill will unto Sion Let the patient abiding of the righteous be joy and let the wicked be disappointed of their hope But of all favour wee intreat thee O Lord to shew speciall mercie to thy Church in this Land wherein wee live Continue thy Gospel amongst us yet with greater successe purge thy House daily more and more take away all things that offend Let this Nation still be a place where thy Name may be called upon and an harbour for thy Saints Shew mercy to our posterity deare Father and have care of them that thy Gospel may be left unto them as a most holy inheritance Defend us against forraigne invasion keep out Idolatry and Popery from amongst us Turne from us those plagues which our sins cry for For the sins of this Land are exceeding great horrible and outrageous and give thee just cause to make us spectacles of thy vengeance to all Nations that by how much the more thou hast lifted us up in great mercy and long peace by so much the more thou shouldest presse us downe in great wrath and long warre Therefore deare Father woe most humbly intreat thee for thy great Names sake and for thy infinite mercies sake that thou wouldest be reconciled to this Land and discharge it of all the horrible sins thereof Drown them O Lord in thy infinite mercy through Christ as it were in a bottomlesse gulfe that they may never rise up in judgement against us For although our sins be exceeding many and fearfull yet thy mercie is farre greater For thou art infinite in mercy but wee cannot be infinite in sinning Give us not over into the hands of the Idolaters lest they should blaspheme thy Name and say Where is their God in whom they trusted But rather deare Father take us into thine owne hands and correct us according to thy wisdome for with thee is mercie and deep compassion Moreover wee most heartily beseech thy good Majestie to blesse our most gracious Soveraigne King Charles Queene Mary Prince Charles and the rest of the Royall Progenie We beseech thee also to blesse his Majesties most honourable privie Counsellors counsell them from above let them take advice of thee in all things that they may both consult and resolve of such courses as may be most for thy glory the good of the Church and peace of this our Common-wealth Blesse the Nobility and all the Magistrates of the Land giving them all grace to execute judgement and justice and to maintaine truth and equitie Blesse all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospel increase the number of them increase thy gifts in them and so blesse all their labours in their severall places and congregations that they all may be instruments of thy hand to enlarge thy Sons Kingdome and to win many unto thee Comfort the comfortlesse with all needfull comforts Forget none of thine that are in trouble but as their afflictions are so let the joyes and comforts of thy Spirit be unto them and so sanctifie unto all thine their afflictions and troubles that they may tend to thy glory and their owne good Give us thankfull hearts for all thy mercies both spirituall and corporall for thou art very mercifull unto us in the things of this life and infinitely more mercifull in the things of a better life Let us deeply ponder and weigh all thy particular favours toward us that by the due consideration thereof our hearts may be gained yet neerer unto thee and that therefore we may both love and obey thee because thou art so kind and loving unto us that even thy love towards us may draw our love towards thee and that because mercy is with thee thou maist be feared Grant these things good Father and all other needfull graces for our soules or bodies or any of thine throughout the whole world for Jesus Christs sake in whose Name wee further call upon thee as he hath taught us in his Gospel saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Prayer to be used at any time by one alone privately O Lord my God and heavenly Father I thy most unworthy childe do here in thy sight freely confesse that I am a most sinfull creature and damnable transgressour of all thy holy Lawes and Commandements that as I was born and bred in sin and stained in the womb so have I continually brought forth the corrupt and ugly fruits of that infection and contagion wherein I was first conceived both in thoughts words and workes If I should goe about to reckon up my particular offences I knew not where to begin or where to make an end For they are more then the haires of my head yea far more then I can possibly feele or know For who knoweth the height and depth
of his corruption Who knoweth how oft he offendeth Thou only O Lord knowest my sins who knowest my heart nothing is hid from thee thou knowest what I have been and what I am yea my conscience doth accuse mee of many and grievous evils and I doe daily feele by wofull experience how fraile I am how prone to evill and how untoward unto all goodnesse My mind is full of vanity my heart full of profanenesse mine affections full of deadnesse dulnesse drowsinesse in matters of thy worship and service Yea my whole soule is full of spirituall blindnesse hardnesse unprofitablenesse coldnesse and security And in very deed I am altogether a lump of sin and a masse of all misery and therefore I have forfeited thy favour incurred thy high displeasure and have given thee just cause to frowne upon me to give me over and leave me to mine own corrupt will and affections But O my deare Father I have learned from thy mouth that thou art a God full of mercy slow to wrath of great compassion and kindnesse towards all such as groane under the burthen of their sins Therefore extend thy great mercy towards me poor sinner and give me a generall pardon for all mine offences whatsoever seale it in the bloud of thy Son and seale it to my conscience by thy Spirit assuring me more and more of thy love and favour towards me and that thou art a reconciled Father unto me Grant that I may all time to come love thee much because much is given and of very love feare thee and obey thee O Lord increase my faith that I may stedfastly beleeve all the promises of the Gospel made in thy Son Christ and rest upon them altogether Enable me to bring forth the sound fruits of faith and repentance in all my particular actions Fill my soule full of joy and peace in beleeving Fill me full of inward comfort and spirituall strength against all temptations give me yet a greater feeling of thy love and manifold mercies towards me work in my soule a love of thy Majesty a zeale of thy glory and hatred of evill and a desire of all good things Give mee victory over those sinnes which thou knowest are strongest in me Act me once at last make a conquest of the world and the flesh Mortifie in mee whatsoever is carnall sanctifie mee throughout by thy Spirit knit my heart to thee for ever that I may feare thy Name renue in mee the Image of thy Son Christ daily more and more Give mee a delight in the reading and meditation of thy Word Let me rejoyce in the publike Ministery thereof Let me love and reverence all the faithfull Ministers of thy Gospel Sanctifie their doctrines to my conscience seale them in my soule write them in my heart give me a soft and melting heart that I may tremble at thy words and be alwayes much affected with godly Sermons Let not my sins hold back thy mercies from me nor mine unworthinesse stop the passage of thy grace Open mine eyes to see the great wonders of thy Law Reveale thy secrets unto me be open-hearted toward mee thy unworthy servant Hide nothing from me that may make for thy glory and the good of my soule Blesse all meanes unto me which thou usest for my good Blesse all holy instructions unto my soule Blesse me at all times both in hearing and reading thy Word Give me the right use of all thy merciâ— and corrections that I may be the better for them Let me abound in love to thy children Let my heart be very neerly knit unto them that where thou lovest most there I may love most also Let me watch and pray that I enter not into temptation give mee patience and contentment in all things Let me love thee more and more and the worldlesse and lesse So draw my mind upward that I may despise all transitory things Let mee be so rapt and ravished with the sight and feeling of Heavenly things that I may make a base reckoning of all earthly things Let me use this world as though I used it not Let me use it but for necessity as meat and drinke Let me not be carried away with the vaine pleasures and fond delights thereof Good Father worke the good worke in me and never leave mee nor forsake mee till thou hast brought mee to true happinesse Oh deare Father make mee faithfull in my calling that I may serve thee in it and be alwayes carefull to doe what good I may in any thing Blesse me in my outward estate Blesse my soule body goods and name Blesse all that belong unto mee Blesse my goings out and comings in Let thy countenance be lifted up upon mee now and alwayes cheere me up with the joyes and comforts of thy Spirit make me thankfull for all thy mercies For I must needs confesse that thou art very kind to mee in all things For in thee I live move and have my being of thee I have my welfare and good being thou art a daily friend and speciall good benefactour unto mee I live at thy cost and charges I hold all of thee in chiefe and I find that thou art never weary of doing me good thy goodnesse towards me is unchangeable Oh I can never be thankfull enough unto thee for all thy mercies both spirituall and corporall But in such measure as I am able I praise thy Name for all beseeching thee to accept of my thanksgiving in thy Son Christ and to give me a profitable use of all thy favours that thereby my heart may be fully drawne unto thee give me O Father to be of such a good nature and disposition that I may be won by gentlenesâ— and faire meanes as much as if thou gavest me many lashes Pardon all mine unthankfulnesse unkindnesse and great abusing of thy mercies and give me grace to use them more to thy glory in all time to come Strengthen me deare Father thus to continue praising and glorifying thy Name here upon earth that after this life I may be crowned of thee for ever in thy Kingdome Grant these petitions most mercifull God not onely to mee but to all thy deare children throughout the whole world for Iesus Christs sake in whose name I doe further call upon thee saying as he hath taught mee O our Father which art in Heaven c. FINIS