good in our owne fantasie but onely that which God commandeth vs to aske of him All which things be contained in the Lords prayer Quest Rehearse the Lords prayer Answere OVr Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Qu. What dost thou desire of God in this prayer An. First I desire of our heauenly Father that his name may be hallowed First in his excellent works which is when we acknowledge his mercy wisedom iustice and prouidence that he alone worketh ell things and that only the Lord God be had in honour all other set aside Secondly that his name may bee glorifyed in our godly liuing and conuersation 2 In the 2. petition wee desire that God his Kingdome may come that is that he will declare himself to be King ouer his Church in guiding and defending it in encreasing the number of the faithfull in thrusting forth Laborers into the haruest and blessing their Labours and suppressing the rage of the wicked Tyrants Secondly that he will exercise his kingdome seuerally in euery one of his killing sinne in vs and all worldlie care and renewing of vs to righteousnesse of life 3 In the third petition wee desire that Gods will may bee done that is that wee may willingly in euerie thing resigne our selues vnto Gods will without murmuring or grudging 4 In the fourth petition we pray that he wil giue vnto vs walking faithfully in our calling our daily bread that is all things needful for our liuing in this present life 5 In the fift petition we pray that our sinnes may bee forgiuen vs that he will not lay to our charge our sinnes nor the punishment due vnto them but that he will accept the death and passion of Christ as the full satisfaction for our sins and that we may hereof haue iust assurance in our Conscience that the punishment of our sinnes is fully discharged in Christ and therefore freely forgiuen vnto vs as surely as we do forgiue others and that we may loue one another from the bottom of our hearts all desire of reuenge set aside 6. In the sixt and last petition we doe pray God that he wil not lead vs into temptation but deliuer vs that is that he will not bring vs further into that battell with our spirituall Enemies then we by his holy spirit shall be able to preuaile and ouercome Que. And why is this added For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen An. Not onely to kindle in our hearts to desire the glory of God but also to teach vs that this Prayer is grounded vpon none other then God onely and that we should not thinke the kingdome of God to bee weake and voyd of force might Also that he is not onely to be honored praised and gloryfied and that his power is infinite perpetuall and euerlasting And in this word Amen is expressed the feruent desire to obtaine those things which wee aske of God and our hope is confirmed that those things which we aske bee granted vnto vs by which our consciences are pacified and so we end our prayers Qu. Tell mee now briefely the effect of all thou hast said An. By the tenne Comdements I see my miserable estate that I deserue death damnation and the curse of God which must needs bee paid because God is iust whereas I my selfe am not able to pay it the holy ghost through the preaching of the Gospell worketh in me Faith which assureth mee that the Sonne of God being made man for me hath euen in my nature suffered whatsoeuer my sinnes deserued and hath made me with him the childe of God and heire of euerlasting Life Whereof least I should doubt or wauer he hath appointed two Sacraments as outward signes and Tokens to be seene and felt of mee that as surely as I see my self made partaker of them outwardly so the holie Ghost inwardly bee partaker of Christ himselfe with all his benefits his ransome righteousnesse and holinesse to be mine that in him through him I shall haue life euerlasting And thus being borne anew into this liuely hope by the holy ghost my waies should be directed guided by the same Spirit to walke in holinesse and righteousnes all the daies of my life So be it A prayer containing the effect of this Catechisme O Mercifull and heauenly Father for so much as at euerie light occasion I am withdrawn from thy holy lawes to the vanities of this life vnto all sinne and wickednesse I beseech thee in mercy set before mine eyes alwaies the remembrance of thy iudgement seate and my last end whereby I may be daily stirred to consider in what great danger I stand through the horrible punishment due for my sinnes that daily groaning vnder the burthen of them I may flye for succour to thy beloued Son Iesus Christ who hath fully paid suffred and ouercome the punishment due to them and through the working of thy holy Spirite in me I may be fully assured in my soule and Conscience that the curse condemnation and death which these my sinnes deserue is fully paid suffered and ouercome in Christ that his righteousnesse obedience holines is mine and whatsoeuer he hath wrought for mans saluation is wholly mine Strengthen this faith in mee dayly more and more that I may inwardly feele comfort and consolation in this that I feele thy holye Spirit beare record vnto my spirit that I am thy Childe grafted into the body of thy Sonne and made with him fellow heire of thine euerlasting kingdome So worke in me by thy holy spirit that daily more and more I may feele sinne die in mee that I do not delight therein but daily may groane vnder the burthen therof vtterly hate detest and loath sinne set my selfe and all the powers of my soule and body against sinne and haue full delight ioy comfort and pleasure in those things which be agreeable to thy will that I may walke as becommeth the child of light looking still for that good time when it shal please thee to call mee vnto thine euerlasting kingdome for Iesus Christ his sake Amen FINIS GODLY PRIVATE Prayers for Householders to Meditate vpon and to say in their particular Families Made by Mr. Edw. Dering sometime Reader of the Diuinitie Lecture in Paules Marke 11.24 Whatsoeuer ye desire when ye pray beleeue that yee shall haue it and it shall be done vnto you LONDON Printed by Isaac Iaggard 1624. Godly priuat Prayers to bee saide at all times in Christian Families A prayer containing the effect of the Housholders Catechisme ALmighty God and most mercifull Father I see in thy
not worthy to entertaine and receiue thee into my sinfull vncleane house Neuerthelesse most louing Lord which hast said that who so eateth thy flesh drinketh thy blood shall dwell in thee and thou in him haue mercy vppon mee O haue mercy vpon mee most mercifull Sauiour and behold mee most miserable sinner prepared at this present not only to let thee in vnder the roofe of my mouth but also to lodge thee in the house of my heart O bountifull Iesu be my gracious Redeemer and grant that I receiue not the Sacrament of thy body and blood vnworthily purchasing thereby vnto my selfe death and damnation but rather be made through faith in thee a worthy receiuer a meete member of thy blessed body and so by the strength of this heauenly foode may not onely bee enabled to cast away all my former sinnes and most beloued corruptions but may also walke before thee in all constant holines to the making sure of mine election Grant this I beseech thee for thine owne mercy sake Amen A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Sacrament O Sweete Sauiour which with thy precious salue of compassion curest the foule and filthy sores of our sinnes and prouidest for vs all necessarie preseruatiues against the poyson of the soule-infecting maliciousnes heare I beseech thee the humble supplications of me thy poore seruant which heere present my selfe before thee at this present and grant that this my receiuing of the Sacrament of thy blessed body and blood may be a true testimony vnto my conscience that I haue through faith in thee receiued full remission of all my sinnes and offences past and am now become as it were a new Creature in thy sight I beseech thee likewise grant that casting away all my former workes of wickednesse I may henceforth walke in newnesse of life and godly conuersation bringing forth such fruits of true conuersion as may mooue others by my example to honor praise thy holy name And that running the whole race of my life in dutifull obedience toward thee I may when it shall please thee to thinke meete receiued among the number of thine elect into that euerlasting happinesse where wee shall bee perfect in holinesse Amen A Prayer for Constant perseuerance in praying when wee are dull to prayer O Lord God most mercifull Father according to thy commandement in mine afflictions and necessities I seeke to thee for succor by continuall prayer calling vppon thy Name I call vppon thee in the day time and in the night season doe I poure out my prayers vnto thee and yet for all that I feele mee nothing released but oftentimes worse and worse which maketh me many times deare Father almost to doubt of thy goodnesse that thou dost reiect my Prayers and giuest no heed vnto them whereby I doe almost thinke that it is no boot for me to pray seeing I feele no release but O Lord this is but weaknesse in me and the frailty of flesh which will not willingly bee subdued vnto thy Spirit which my frailty I beseech thee O Lord forgiue me For thou dost O Lord God see my conflicts and lookest vppon my continuall sighes and petitions but thou dost deferre prolong thy helpe the longer dost not at first helpe me to this end that I may see fully mine owne weaknes learne by little and little to subdue my rebellious will to thy good will who knoweth better what is meet for mee then I my selfe Therefore O most deare Father strengthen mee by thy holy Spirit that I may still perseuere and continue in prayer and with longing desires patiently waite for thee O Lord being assured that although it appeare not yet thou art alwaies present with mee and hearest my sighes and complaints and wilt when thou seest thy time declare thy selfe manifestly in the renewing my heart with spirituall ioy stirre vp O Lord my dull sluggish nature to call vpon thee continually appointing thee neyther time nor the meanes of my deliuerance but leauing all to thy good will and pleasure I may in the meane time neuer cease my continuall prayer to call for thy mercifull helpe vntill such time as it shall please thy goodnesse to send mee full deliuerance I feele my selfe O Lord oftentimes very vnwilling to pray for that I doe not fully perceiue my prayers to be heard but doe go on still languishing in my sorrowes as though thou hadst no care of mee But this my dulnesse I beseech thee O mercifull Father pardon in me and grant that I may be raised vppe to pray for aide and releefe of thee continually although I should see no signe of fauour yet that I may continue still with the faithfull Woman of Canaan and neuer cease in heart mind and mouth till thou grant my requests at thine appointed time when thou knowest it shall be most for my behoofe and for thy glory And that when thou shalt mercifully looke vpon mee to deliuer mee I may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge thy goodnesse toward me and let it neuer stirre out of my heart but continue thankfull for the same all the daies of my life whereby thy glorie in mee may be declared and my soule releeued thorough Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for all times O Lord God Father of mercy and God of all consolation without whom wee haue neither hope nor comfort we poore wretched sinners beseech thee of thy Fatherly goodnesse to looke vpon vs and to make vs partakers of thy gracious goodnesse so that euermore wee may set foorth thy honor and glory let our conuersation bee such that a great many beholding our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father and so direct our waies that we may hold forth the profession of thy Gospell as a Lanterne to lighten the steps of a great many that they may turne to the and prayse thy name in their visitation Thus O Lord wee beseech thee to deale with vs that in deed wee may be vessels of honor vnto thee now to set forth the glory of thy name and after this transitorie life to behold thy glory who hast immortallitie alone and dwellest in light that no man hath approched vnto remoue farre from vs our sinnes and iniquities that they may not separate betweene vs and thee blotte out of vs our offences and make our prayers righteous that thou mayest fauourably grant our requests looke vppon vs with thy fauourable mercy that thou mayest haue pittie vppon vs and behold vs in the righteousnesse of thy beloued Sonne Christ Iesus and that wee may be presented faultlesse in thy sight and thou accepting vs as holy we may haue the grace euermore to set forth thine honor and glory and to speake of thy praises in the midst of all thy people Let vs loue O Lord the things that are good and hate the things that are euil let vs delight in all things that may please thee and let vs
Mr. EDWARD DERING HIS Godly priuate Prayers for Christian Families Whereunto is annexed his briefe and necessary Catechisme for Housholders Marke 11.24 Whatsoeuer you desire when you pray beleeue thâ—t ye shall haue it and it shall be giuen vnto you â—om 10.13 Whosoeuâ—r shall call vpon the Name of the Lord shall be saued LONDON Printed by Isaac Iaggard 1624. A PREFACE describing the Glorious estate of the Saints on earth and the true Nature and Right vse of Prayer To the excellent that are on earth all things pertaining to life and glory through the spirit of Grace and Supplication Beloued in the Lord Iesus AS the loue of God hath heerein exceedingly abounded vnto vs that we are called the Sons of God so there is not a more pregnant Embleme of our Adoption to be his Children then that wee cry Abba Father nor a more liuely pledge of our loue vnto God then that we doe cast our selues into the armes of his mercy by faithfull prayer Oh how much better is it to bee a doore-keeper in the House of God then to sit on the Throne with Princes How exceeding were the riches of Gods mercie towards vs that spared not his onely Sonne vnto death to restore vs from death to life That the Lord of Glory became a Seruant vnto all that hee might redeeme vs from the bondage of sinne into tbe glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God That life it selfe became death that hee might deliuer vs from death vnto life That he that knew no sinne but was perfect holinesse it selfe yet became sinne for our sakes that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Surely if Dauid thought it an high aduancement to bee the sonne in law to an earthly wicked King How much more glorious is our aduancement that we are become the adopted sons of the Almighty and Holyest God who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords And if the Queene of Saba counted the seruants of Salomon happie because they enioyed his presence and were partakers of the worldly and fading Comforts as abounded in his Court Oh how much more happie is the condition of the Saints of God that do not only enioy the gracious presence of God with open face in whose fauour is Eternall life but are thereby translated into the same image froÌ„ glory to glory as by the Spirit of GOD that so they may bee made meete partakers of that glorious inheritance with the Saints in light euen that light which is immortall and vndefiled which fadeth not If to be rich in faith good workes be the true and dureable treasure which fayleth not If the ioy of the Spirit be that which none can take away from vs If all earthly honor be as dung in comparison of that inward glory wherewith the Kinges daughter is adorned If theyr safety be impregnable which haue a wall of fire to beguirt them therein walking most secure that haue the Lord of Hosts to protect guide them then happy surely and thrice happy is the condition of Gods Children who haue God to bee their Portion and may enioy durable riches pure and euerlasting Comfort honor that neuer fadeth and security without securitie For as our security in God makes vs watchful ouer our owne waies and iealous of our owne inability so heereby are we daily cast vpon the riches of Christ and from him encrease and grow in grace And as we grow in grace so do we attaine to and prosper more and more in peace of conscience and thereby abound with ioy in the holy Ghost And the more we are filled with ioy and peace in beleeuing the more do we glorify our God in cheerfull obedience and so as members are more intirely interessed in the glorie of our head approaching heereby neerer to the life of Glory the more wee triumph ouer all our oppositions and are more throughly abased and excluded of all glorying in our selues that so dooing all things to the glory of our God we may be aduanced by him in abasing our selâ—es and weaned from all carnall fading glorie that we may bee fitted for the glory of the life to come And what can now hinder vs heerefrom whereto all things shall further No trouble can do it seeing it prepares thereto No not sinne shall hinder because it is not imputed but rather auailes to the imputation of righteousnesse that so the sting of sinne may be remoued It is not life can doe it because we are dead vnto sinne neither shall death auaile hereunto seeing we are aliue vnto GOD. Much lesse may Angels hinder because they are ministring spirits for our good to keepe vs in all our waies Nor Principalities can preuaile because the Kingdomes are the Lords and so ouerseers to the Saints It is not powers shall hinder seeing all power is giuen to our Head and so in him we are able to doe all things Neither things present should ought auaile hereto because we liue by Faith not by sight and so can lay vp a good Foundation by them agâ—inst the life to come Neither shall things to come hinder vs which are alreadie ours by Faith whereby wee apprehend them though yet we enioy them not and so in patience wait for them and so by continuance in wel-doing make ready for theÌ„ And how shal height hinder vs who haue the Highest to bee our hope whom lowlinesse aduanceth and highnesse abaseth Can depth preuent vs vvhen our Head is aboue water nay aboue the highest Heauens whether he will draw vs vp all after him out of the deepest snares No no it is not hell can hinder vs seeing it is destroyed nor Satan shall preuaile for seeing we haue the shield of Faith to resist him hee will flye from vs Behold the wonderfull and glorious priuiledges of the sons of God! And by this wee know that we haue this glorious vnion and fellowship with God euen by his Spirit that hee hath giuen vs. And hereby we know effectually that the Spirit dwelleth in vs euen by this blessed libertie and boldnes in pressing to the throne of Grace crying Abba Father with all Son-like importunity and challenging his promise in Christ Iesus Thus by the Spirit wee know our Adoption and by the Spirit of Prayer we pleade the same And can we be denied when the Spirite helpes our Infirmities and knovves our Wants Shall wee not preuaile aboue whatsoeuer wee can aske or thinke seeing our Sauiour is our Aduocate to make intercession for vs who knowes what is best for vs who heares before we aske and askes that we may be heard Behold here the ground and necessitie of Prayer If the Spirit be in vs we shall pray in the Spirit and if we pray in the libertie of the Spirit wee are set at liberty thereby euen the libertie of the Sonnes of GOD. Onely be we wise to try the Spirit by the Spirit that so vvee may not offer the sacrifice of Fooles 1. It is
to study to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life Wee doe not onely pray for our selues but also for all thy whole Church especially such as bee persecuted for thy word grant vnto them that whether it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues end Be mercifull to this Church of England Scotland Ireland we beseech thee good Lord preserue euery part and menber of the same especially thy seruant Iames our King grant him all such giftes as bee needfull for so high a calling to the aduancement of thy glorie and benefit of this Common wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouerment of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition and reliques of Antichrist to the gouerning of his subiects in all peace and tranquilitie Defend him O Lord from all conspiracies treasons rebellions and so worke in the hearts of all his subiects that knowing his authoritie doth come from thy heauenly Maiesty they may with obedient hearts humbly obey them in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Councell and the Magistrates of the Realme that being lightened through thy holy Spirit they may defend the truth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Behold all the Pastours and Preachers of thy word blesse their labours increase the number of them place ouer euery Church a painefull watchman remoue all idle lubbers and confound the power of Antichrist and turne the hearts of the people that they may be obedient to thy truth Blesse the two famous Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxford all the students of the same with all Schooles of Learening Behold all those that bee afflicted with any kind of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of life Lastly for our selues here gathered wee humbly O Lord craue at thy handes that it would please thee to make vs thankefull vnto thy Maiestie for all thy louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs euen from our infancie especially that thou hast this present night deliuered vs from all dangers both of body and soule whereinto many haue fallen as wee in the like manner should haue done if we had not beene staied with thy mercifull hand that thou hast aâ—so granted vnto vs so sweete comfortable rest and hast now presently brought vs to the beginning of this day For these things good Lord wee yeeld thee most hearty thankes beseeching thee to make vs more more daily thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for them and pardon our vnthankfulnesse And as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this present houre from all the dangers of this life so we beseech thee continue thy fauour towardes vs this day and the whole course of our life Defend vs O Lord that we now entring into the affaires of this day bee not drawne away with the vaine allurements of this world to sinne and wickednesse that wee walke not in the shadow of death that wee be not intangled in the snares of sinne that wee stumble not at the blockes of iniquitie that we finally fall not into the pit of death and destruction but beeing shadowed vnder thy wings we may cheerefully constantlie goe on forward to the end of our course Grant vnto vs O Lord our God that this good time which thou grantest vnto vs in this life be not idlely or vainly of vs consumed but that euery one of vs may be diligently exercised in his calling this day and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeeld an account of our Stewardship Indue vs we beseech thee with those gifts and graces which bee needfull for vs in our calling that with a pure heart sincere conscience wee may vse them to the benefit of our bretheren and discharge of our owne conscience before thy Maiestie We beseech thee O Lord that in all our consultations words and workes this day and the whole course of our life we may alwayes haue thee presnet before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughts of our hearts which alwaies may bee as a bridle to pull vs backe that wee neither do nor yet consent to any sinne or wickednesse but that alwaies wee may bee so exercised in the affaires of this life that wee looke still to the end of our course when it shall please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting rest with thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour In whose Name for these mercies and whatsoeuer thou knowest to bee needfull for vs for thy whole Church wee pray vnto thee as hee himselfe hath taught vs in his holy word saying Our Father c. The Lord blesse vs saue vs the Lord make his face shine vppon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauorable countenance towards vs grant vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable fâ—llowshippe of the holy Ghost bee with vs preserue vs this day and euermore Amen Euening Prayer for priuate Houses and Families O Gracious God and louing Father according to thy Commandement we do heere present our selues againe before thy Maiestie humbly prostrating our sinfull selues before the Throne of thy mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that wee are miserable sinners daylie breaking thy Commaundements both in thoght word and deede wherein we iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence Yet O Lord wee see thy goodnesse againe towardes vs who not sâ—ffering vs thus to perish in our sinnes hast set thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due â—o reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him theâ—efore good Lord and through him doe wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the greeuousnesse of our sins and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ Iesus our Lord hath borne the burden of them euen for vs. Graunt O Lord that wee being assured heereof in our Consciences may thorough thy most holy and blessed Spirit be renewed in the inner man to hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and that wee may studie to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life And now O Lord God we pray not onely for our selues but likewise for all thy whole Church especiallie for such as be persecuted for the testimony of a good conscience Grant vnto them O Lord that whether it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues end Blesse these Churches good Father wherein wee liue and therein our gracious Soueraigne and thy seruant Iames King of Great-Britaine France and Ireland Keepe him O Lord from all Conspiracies Treasons and Rebellions Preserue the Noble and hopefull Prince Charles the
be greiued with whatsoeuer is displeasant in thy sight And to the intent we may haue true vnderstanding and be able to descerne betweene things what is good or euill wee beseech thee let thy word dwell in vs plentifully that it may guide our vnderstandings so that wee may abound in all knowledge and doe according to that which is righteous And in this estate of true Christianitie being instructed in mind and readie in body in all holy obedience we beseech thee make vs to grow and encrease from grace to grace from faith to faith vntill we come vnto the fulnesse of age to bee perfect members of the body of Christ waiting for the blessed hope of thine elect and sighing in spirit vntill the time that thy Children be reuealed In the meane season let vs sigh with all those that haue receiued the first fruits of thy spirit that these daies of sinne may cease that Sathan bee troden downe vnder feet that Antichrist may be reuealed yet to many thousands that bee in ignorance that the number of thine elect may be full the bodie of thy Saints made perfect all teares wiped from their eies euen then when thy Sonne shall appeare the second time to iudge the quicke and the dead which time O Lord send quickly according to thy good will and teach vs to pray with all thy Saints Come Lord Iesus come quickly Grant this O most mercifull Father for thy Sonnes sake in whose name wee pray vnto thee And although wee bee but earth and ashes yet wee are bold to say vnto thee the God of all glorie euen as hee hath taught vs. Our Father which art in heauen c. A Prayer for all estates O Lord God Father of light with whome is no change neyther yet shadow of change but hast established thine appointed counsels which shall not be changed for euer thou O God hast made among vs this diuersitie of estates and degrees according as euery Common-wealth needfully requiteth keepe vs all wee beseech thee that wee may walke obediently in our calling and follow the steps that thou hast set before vs euen from the highest to the lowest let vs accomplish that dutie vnto which thou hast appointed vs and with a faithfull remembrance of thy promise made of old to our Father Abraham that thou art his exceeding great reward wee may likewise depend on thy prouidence and seeke not any shamefull waies to get our liuing wandring from the righteousnes of our vocation into the manifold errors of sinne and iniquitie Looke vppon vs O Lord inrich vs with thy grace make vs obedient to our superiours meeke towards our enemies faithfull to our friends true and iust towards all men that wee may dwell stedfastly rooted in the hope of thine â—lect vntill thou shalt make an end of all our labour looke vppon our most excellent King and Prince with his Highnes honorable Counsell as thou hast called them to the highest roomes so giue vnto them the greatâ—st measure of grace that they faithfully dispense the Talents commited vnto them Lead them with good King Dauid into the Sanctuarie that they may see thy louing kindnes which is better then life and say with the Prophet All flesh is grasse and the glorie of man is as the flower of the field so consecreate themselues to do thy will offer vp their bodies to be holy liuing and reasonable sacrifices vnto thee that they may bee nurse-fathers vnto thy Church looke also wee beseech thee vppon the Ministers whom thou hast appointed to the preaching of thy Gospell make them O God faithfull dispencers of thy mysteries without respect of persons to do the worke vnto which thou hast appointed them that they may conuert sinners and haue their glorie perfect in the day of Christ knit vs together in peace and loue that they may bee full of compassion one towards another to reioyce with them that reioyce and mourne with them that mourne especially to instruct one another in the way of righteousnesse that by our mutuall helpe wee may the better withstand our enemie and dwell safe in hope of thine elect till our daies shall bee full and we shall walke in the waies of all the world which time we beseech thee bring vs happily vnto euen for thy Sonnes sake we beseech thee to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons and one God be all honor and glorie now for euer euermore Amen A Prayer to bee confirmed in the knowledge of God O Most mightie and eternall God thou that by the creatioÌ„ of the world the Sunne the Moone and Starres the Earth the Sea and all that therein is hath sufficiently declared thy selfe to be the euerlasting Almightie God for that these things doe farre passe the reach of mans wisedome And not herein onely hast thou declared thy selfe to bee a God but in that also that thou dost continually guide and gouerne all things of thee created It is thou therfore that thunderest from heauen that with lightnings and tempestes and of waters windes shewest thy terrible vengeance vpon sinfull flesh It is thou O God which lettest vs feele sensibly in our selues thy mighty power and working not only in that that thou hast made our bodies and soules but especially that thou makest vs euen of force to confesse thy eternall Spirit in vs who so mightily fighteth against the assaults of the enemie that of force we are driuen to acknowledge that it is thy working in vs and not we our selues Seeing therefore O most mercifull Father that wee haue both in thy creatures and also in our selues so manifest testimonie that thou onely art the eternall and euer-liuing God which raigneth in all thy creatures guiding them by thy heauenly prouidence grant we beseech thee that our hearts may be hereof fully assured to acknowledge thee not onely to bee God eternall who hath created all things but also that we may in heart be fully perswaded that thou O Lord God dost gouerne all things according to thy most blessed will so that nothing can bee done in the world without thine appointment and that thou hast such a singuler care ouer thine elected people so that not so much as an hayre of their head shall fall without thy prouidence that thou so guidest all their doings that all things shall turne to their commoditie and thy glory Grant O Lord God that hereof we may be fully assured in our hearts and soules that we may in all our doings set thee before our eyes acknowledging thee to bee our onely Lord and Father and by the working of thy holy Spirit in vs may bee confirmed in Faith and comforted in soule and lightened in vnderstanding that alwaies here vppon earth wee may glorifie thy holy name and after the dissolution of this body wee may attaine to euerlasting ioy through our Lord Sauiour Iesu Christ who liueth and raigneth world without end Amen A Prayer for the obtaining of sauing Faith O
holy thoughts and may diligently watch ouer my selfe for the preuenting of all vncleane and worldly cogitations Let me neuer presume vpon the aduantage of my secrecie seeing thou art in my secret parts nor that I am vnknowne in the places where I come as to doe ought vnbeseeming the profession of a Christian seeing in all places I am knowne to thee and would bee knowne and approued of thee And if I light into the company of others make me still carefull to seeke and entertaine all good opportunities of doing or receiuing good that I may neuer conforme my selfe to the humors of prophane persons but in a godly discretion may so cary my selfe as that I may neither wilfully make my selfe a scorne to the wicked neither yet may any why bee offensiue to the godly either by wounding them by my scandalous carriage or wounding mine soule by communicating with their euils but either may winne or bridle or at least make them inexcusable either bettering them or being better by them not returning to them if they will not returne to mee This grant mee gracious God in an assured expectation of thy gracious guidance to betake my selfe to mine entended iourney And so I commend both my selfe and it together with these my suits vnto thee my louing Father in the name and worthinesse of Iesus Christ my onely Mediator and Redeemer Amen A Thanksgiuing after a Iourney IT is thy great mercy O Lord my God that as I craued thy assistance in my iourney so it hath pleased thee to giue mee good successe therein and to bring mee safe againe vnto mine owne home and it is my dutie as I haue obtayned fauour from thee heerein so to returne thee the onely praise and glory thereof For thou O Lord hast onely prospered my occasions thou onely causest me to go forth and returne in safetie Gracious hast thou beene vnto mee euen from the wombe vnto this present deliuering mee out of all my troubles supplying all my wants and doing all my workes for mee aboue all crowning thine owne graces in mee and accepting both me and all my seruice aboue the worth thereof in the merit of my Sauiour in whom thou hast paâ—doned all my sinnes and sanctified my afflictions yea my very sinnes vnto my good There is no day nor houre of the day nor minute of the houre no occasion that hath befallne mee in any moment of time in which thy blessings are not renewed towards me O that I could bee so liuely and effectually thankefull vnto thee as becommeth mee O that my heart within mee might euen melt with greefe that I haue passed ouer so many of thy fauours without due regard And yet behold how now also thou prouokest mee to this dutie O quicken mee I humbly pray thee heerevnto Make me diligently to looke backe into the course and order of the whole iourney and to obserue by degrees how thou hast bene good vnto mee how thou hast blessed my going out and my comming in hast brought me in peace to my resting place Many dangers might haue swallowed me vp which yet through thy great goodnesse I haue happily escaped sundry times hath there bene such is the brittlenes of this house of clay which I beare about mee but euen a stâ—ppe betweene me and death out of the iawes whereof thy right hand and thine owne onely arme hath saued mee I can ascribe nothing to my selfe or mine owne prouidence neither can I say that my safety is the reward of mine owne deseruing Not vnto me O Lord not vnto mee but to thy Name doth belong the glory for thou hast preserued mee O God of truth And now grant I beseech thee that the sense of thy loue may beget in mee such a loue of thee and of that which thou commandest that I may willingly cheerfully and with full purpose of heart dedicate my selfe to thy seruice accounting as my life now renewed vnto mee so euery new kindnes is as it were a new bond and a fresh encouragement hereunto that I may walke before thee daily in newnesse of life passing the time of my pilgrimage in feare and going on from strength to strength till I appeare before thee my God in Sion euen that new Ierusalem which is aboue Grant me these things gracious Father euen for thy deere Sonne sake Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer for a woman in time of her trauaile RIghteous and holy Lord God I doe now finde by experience the fruite of my sin that I must trauaile in sorrow and bring forth in paines and I vnfeignedly adore the truth of thy Sacred word as certifying vnto me that sorrow must bee in the Euening so comforting me also against the Morning that a Childe shall be borne Willingly do I desire to submit my selfe in hope into this thy chasticement and to learne the desert of my sinne horrible in themselues that these temporall paines are fore-runners of eternall and yet by thy mercie may bee so sanctified vnto mee as not onely to preuent eternall vengance but also prepare for eternall comforts euen to bee Sacred by bearing of Children Grant me therefore gracious Father true repentance and pardon for my sinnes past that they may not stand at this time in this my need betweene mee and thy mercie Giue mee a comfortable feeling of thy Loue in Christ which may sweeten all other pangs though neuer so violent or extreame make mee still to lift vp my soule vnto thee in my greatest agonies knowing that thou alone must giue a blessing to the ordinary meanes for my safe deliuerance Lay no more vpon mee then I am able to endure and strengthen my weake body to the bearing of what sorrow soeuer by which it shall seeme good vnto thee to make triall of me Grant me to consider that howsoeuer it be with mee yet I am alwaies as thine hand whose mercies faile not who will bee found in the Mount and greatest extreamitie and to whom belong the issues of death so prepare mee therefore to death that I may bee fit for life euen to yeild fruite aliue vnto the world and to bee renewed and enabled to nourish the same And when thou hast safely giuen mee the expected fruite of my wombe make mee with a thankfull heart to consecrate both it and my selfe wholly to thy seruice all the daies of my life through Iesus Christ mine onely Sauiour and Redeemer Amen A Thanksgiuing after safe deliuerance O Blessed for euer be thy great glorious Name most deere and louing Father for thy great mercy to mee most weake and sinfull woman Wonderfull art thou in all thy workes O Lord the riches of thy mercies are past finding out thou hast plunged mee with great afflictions and yet thou hast returned refreshed me againe thou hast brought me to the feare of the graue and yet thou hast raised mee vp againe to life O how hast thou shewed thy power in my weaknesse How hath thy louing kindnesse
preuailed against my vnworthynesse Thou mightest for my sinnes haue left me to perish in mine extremities but thou hast compassed mee about with ioyfull deliuerance thou mightest haue made my wombe a graue to burie the dead or in affoording life to another thou mightest haue procured my death but yet thou hast not onely made my wombe a wel-spring of life but restored life vnto me also for the cherishing thereof Marueilous O Lord are thy workes infinite are thy mercies my soule by present experience knoweth it well O my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy Name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits Thou hast heard my prayers and looked vppon my sorrow thou hast redeemed my life from death and healed mine infirmities and crowned mee with thine euerlasting compassions O giue me I humbly pray thee a thankfull heart not onely now while the memorie and sense of thy fauour is fresh before mee but continually euen so long as I haue any being Grant that I may learne by this liuely euidence of thy power and mercy for euer heereafter to depend onely on thee Quicken mee also to all holy duties that my thankfulnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian carriage Make mee a kind and carefull mother willing to vndergoe the paine and trouble of education Let no nicenesse or curiositie hinder mee from those seruices to which both nature and religion hath appointed me let me also be carefull when time requireth to season the fruite thou hast giuen mee with the sauing knowledge of thee and thy deere Sonne that my desire may manifestly appeare to be set for the encrease of thy Kingdome Vouchsafe so to order my affections and to bring them in obedience vnder thee that if it should be thy pleasure either now or heerafter to take this Infant from me I may as willingly part with it as thou freely gaue it me And now O God perfect in mee that strength which thou hast begunne make me to grow in care to serue thee faithfully both in the duties of pietie and in other businesse of my place and calling that I may bee a comfort to my husband and example to my neighbours a grace to my profession and a meanes of glorie to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for those who are employed in the assistance of a trauailing woman HOly Father who hast commanded vs to serue one another in loue and hast made this the triall of our true loue vnto thee and our neighbour that wee helpe them in the time of need Be present we pray with vs â—y thy gracious Spirit to seale vp the pardon of our sinnes that they hinder vs not in this businesse and to assist vs with such conscience and diligence that our labour may not bee in vaine Wee confesse O Lord that wee are not worthy of â—ny gâ—â—d for our selues much lesse that wee should smother the good of others neither that any labour of ours can further thy good without thy speciall Grace enabling vs therein and accepting the same Accept vs therefore wee pray thee in the blood of thy Son shed thy loue into our hearts by thine holy Spirit that all our labour may be done in loue In loue to thy Maiesty who enablest vs to all good and in loue to our Christian Sister especially to her soule And therefore keepe vs wee pray thee from all idle sauours and superstitious conceits as auaileable heereunto from all rotten and vnsauoury speech which may interrupt the worke and teach vs to seeke helpe onely from thy Grace vsing al gracious communication both among our selues and to the comfort of the distressed that shee may only depend vpon thy mighty power applying all diligence and wisedome in affoording seasonable helpe for the easing of the paine or furthering of the birth Furnish vs with skill and her with strength patiently to awaite the appointed time of her deliuerance and knit all our hearts vnto thee that wee may feare thy Name obseruing the passages of thy prouidence in this and all other thy great workes and studying to giue thee praise and glory for the same in Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A thankesgiuing vpon the blessing of their labour in the Deliuerance HOly Father who hast reuealed thy selfe in thy word to bee a God that hearest prayer and hast now made good this promise vnto vs thine vnworthy seruants in hearing our prayers in the behalfe of this distressed woman Giue vs hearts we humbly pray thee to conceiue wisely of this thy great kindnesse and open our mouths we beseech thee that wee declare this thy goodnesse for the comfort of others that by this liuely example we may beleeue in thy great Name What hast thou not done heerein O Lord euen aboundantly aboue what wee could thinke or aske And what can we repay vnto thee worthy of so great saluation Wee confesse our selues vnworthy to aske much lesse to obtain for our selues yet behold thou hast heard our cries and releeued this thy desolate seruant It is not enough that thou hast giuen ease and deliuerance to the Mother vnlesse also thou didst liue to her Babe that so in it her life might bee againe receiued yea thou hast made our cup to run ouer with ioy and gladnesse who were almost ouerwhelmed with sorrow and dispaire Thine O Lord bee the onely glorie and praise heereof O fill our hearts with thankefulnesse that our reioycing may bee in trueth and humble vs vnfeignedly in the consciences of our owne vnworthinesse that we may giue thee the onely glory of all thy mercies Let our humility appeare in seruing each other in loue and let our loue bee manifest in prouoking each other to trust in thee alone for the time to come let our confidence in this prepare vs to this or the like occasion that so we may finde a gracious issue in our greatest extremities And let our experience of thy good hand heerein weane vs from the loue of the world wherin wee are like continually to meet with what will oppose or ensnare vs and prouoke vs to long for our dissolution when all teares shall be wiped from our eyes And let our desire to bee with thee make vs alwaies ready for thee in all sobriety modesty humility patience and perseuerance that so wee may bee found faithfull when our Maister commeth And that wee may bee found in peace at his glorious appearance O grant vs daily to deny our selues that still wee may bee found of thee in the righteousnes of our Sauiour may by the power thereof be daily accepted of thee by the efficacie of the same may bee more and more conformed to thine holy Image and so may at length be fully satisfied therewith And as thou hast now added one vnto the number of mankinde shewing thy wisedome and power in the framing of him in the wombe in bringing him
soule in mercy preserued and thy whole Church edified now for euer Amen A Prayer for patience in tribulation and that God may bee glorified thereby GRacious and mercifull Father who hast from time to time in all ages exercised euen thy most deere children with greeuous afflictions and sharpe corrections to draw their minds from too much loue of earthly pleasures to delight in heauenly ioyes and spirituall comforts of the soule graunt I beseech thee that I euen from my heart may acknowledge this affliction which doth nowe greeuously pierce my soule to bee thy Fatherly correction and scourge of thy meere mercy and loue layd vppon mee to put mee in minde of my dutie towards thee least else with too much quietnesse I should haue beene drawne through the flattering pleasures of this vaine world from the remembrance and delight of my spirituall ioy in heauenly things to haue had my sinfull delight in this vaine world and so should haue runne headlong to euerlasting damnation with the wicked world But that thou O Father hast called me back by this thy Fatherly rod whereby thou mindest to let me see that of my selfe I haue no strength vnto goodnesse but that it was thou who by thy aboundant mercy hadst before time replenished my heart with ioy that I tooke great pleasure and comfort in reading and hearing thy holy word and receiuing other benefits which spirituall comfort and quietnesse of mind because I did not fully acknowledge to bee thy good gift in mee thou hast now taken from mee for a time that I may effectually perceiue and learne by the lacke of it that it was thy worke in me and when thou restorest the same againe I may more aboundantly glorifie thee in thy manifold mercies But while it shall be thy good will pleasure O Lord to exercise mee with this thy louing correction giue me grace that I may patientiy abide whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vpon me for my amendment strengthen mee O Lord that I doe not faint vnder the burthen of affliction but being vpholden by the strength of thy holy Spirit in mee I may neuer cease calling vppon thy name with full perswasion that thou wilt at thy time appointed send mee full assurance to my singular comfort and thy eternall glory And when it shall please thee O Lord fully to deliuer mee I beseech thee so worke in my heart that I may acknowledge the same to come from thee and to be thy onely worke that I may be thankfull for thy so great mercies in all the daies of my life and I neuer forget thy louing and Fatherly dealings towards mee but so to the end of my life I may liue in thy feare and loue that thy holy name in my life may be glorified and after death I may bee receiued to that full ioy which thou hast prepared for thine elect children through our onely Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer for mortification and holinesse BLessed Lord God and most mercifull Father I doe acknowledge vnto thee that I am vnworthy to appeare before thy high Maiestie to offer vp vnto thee a sacrifice of prayer being full of sinne and corruption naturally glad of euill and vnprofitable to good Yea being so miserable yet I see not my miserie I feele it not I bewaile it not as I ought to doe but multiply mine iniquities prouoking thy iust iudgement against me My zeale is cold my loue feeble my exercises of Religion faint and few and I take no way but that which leadeth from euill to worse and finally would lead me from sinne to the reward of sin All this is true deere Father yet my heart is not moued with feare all this is true yet I doe not sorrow for it but walke with ioy where I must if I continue reape affliction therefore be mercifull vnto mee and blesse me be mercifull vnto me in Christ Iesus wash away all mine iniquities be mercifull vnto me and create in me a new heart and prepare it to prayer and to thy holy seruice for thou alone O Lord art my hope and the mighty God of my saluation Thou hast giuen mee a desire to serue thee O teach me that I may doe it and the good worke which thou hast begun make it perfect in me that I may no more loue wickednes follow vanity but that my good desires in thee may be increased and all of them accomplished so shall I praise thee and magnifie thee for euer For ther is no honor but thy honor no glory but thy glory O Lord it is vaine to trust in Princes but truely to trust in the Lord bringeth plentifull saluation From age to age it hath appeared that thou O Lord God art mercifull and that in thy Courts there is nothing but truth and holinesse This world is full of vanitie full of pride full of rebellion and the flesh also The world hath many baites of destruction and the flesh doth delight in them they are sworne together to betray vs to Sathan yea wee betray our selues therefore deere Father by the crosse of Christ mortifie in vs the deeds of the flesh and crucifie in vs the deeds of the flâ—sh and crucifie both vs to the world and the world to vs that our soules may liue In our generall calling make vs obedient to serue thâ—e in holinesse and in righteousnesse all the daies of our life in our particular callings also make vs faithfull that we may neither put away a good conscience nor make ship-wracke of faith I beleeue O Lord helpe my vnbeleefe in the day of peace and prosperitie make vs sober in the day of trouble and aduersitie make vs looke vppe and cheerefuly to waite and trust in thee for our deliuerance that our enemies mouthes may bee stopped by our godly conuersation and their hearts pricked with zeale to turne vnto thee Neither do I pray O Lord for my selfe alone but for the whole body into the which I am grafted by Christ Iesus that is for thy Church O God for thine inheritance that rhou wouldest encrease it from one end of the world to another that all Nations may worship before thy foot-stoole Especially O Lord I pray for them that professe thy Gospell as for this our Nation that thou wouldest be mercifull vnto it turning our hearts to thee for our gracious Soueraign the King and for all our Councell that thou wouldest poure thy graces vpon them to discharge of their dutie and our peace for all the holy Teachers in the Church that thou wouldest blesse them and their labours for the peace and full beautie of this Church for the peace and wealth of the Common-weale Wee pray thee also for to blesse all the meanes to bring this to passe Also we pray thee for our Parents for all others to whom wee owe speciall loue or seruice but principally wee beseech thee to shew thy compassion vpon all that are in persecution for thy Gospel O Lord
so to keepe vs vnder that wee more effectually may giue our selues to serue thee Or if it bee thy will and pleasure more abundantly to blesse vs and our trauaile to send vs abundance of all things wee beseech thee deare Father giue vs a thankfull heart to acknowledge them to bee thy good giftes and frame our hearts with such liberality that wee may be contented to distribute them according to the necesity of thy children being assured that thou hast to this ende made vs Stewards ouer them that maist at his hands require much on whome thou hast bestowed much so that we hauing the due estimation of thy benefits which we ought to haue may both reuerence thy goodnesse in thy benefits and supply the want of our bretheren to the releefe of their necessity and furtherance of thy glory The fift petition Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. AND whereas most mercifull Father thy Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ hath in our nature paide the ransome and debt of all our sinnes which wee haue from the beginning of our life committed and do dayly commit wee beseech thy gracious gooodesse that thou wilt by thy holy spirit in our hearts assure our soules and consciences with a liuely faith that by that same one onely sufficient sacrifice the punishment of our sinnes is paide thy wrath appeased and thy Iustice satisfied whereby our consciences may be quieted set at peace with thee our mercifull Father and God Let vs deare Father feele in our soules and consciences that wee are vnited to thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and made one body with him and heires with him of euerlasting glory so coupled and ioyned with him that wee are members of his body so that whatsoeuer hee hath done in his body wee may bee assured that it is ours that his righteousnesse is our righteousnesse his sanctification and holinesse is ours the curse condemnation and death which hee suffered is the same curse condemnation and death due for our sinns that wee know that our sins bee done away and cleane forgotten and forgiuen by thy mercifull loue goodnesse declared in offeâ—ing vp thy Sonne to death for vs wee may be driuen to loue thee vnfainedly from the bottome of our hearts for this thine vnspeakable loue And considering that thou hast in mercy pardoned so many our haynous offences we may gladly bee moued to forgiue one another their offences and put out of our heart all rancour malice hatred toward ouâ— Bretheren knowing that we are all members of one body Christ our Sauiour that so surely as we haue forgiuen them that offend vs we may be so certainely assured that our mercifull Father hath forgiuen vs like as we haue forgiuen our Bretheren The sixt petition Lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill ANd for as much most heauenly Father as we of our selues bee feeble and fraile and weak and haue a strong and subtile Aduersarie Sathan the Diuell who goeth about continually like a roaring Lyon seeking whome hee may deuoure we beseech thee strengthen vs by thy holy Spirit that wee may withstand his subtle suggestions and motions hold thou vs by thy mercifull hand and keepe vs alwaies in thy safegard and protection that wee be not ouercome in the mighty assaults of our aduersary And forasmuch as he often vseth euer our owne flesh armed against vs to conquer vs we beseech thee deare Father mortifie subdue and kill in our flesh all subtle suggestions and sinfull motions of Sathan that we yeeld not our selues as slaues thereunto but continually fight against them and bring them into subiection of the Spirit Grant vnto vs deare Father that we may not be drawne through the subtile and sliely torments of Sathan to haue our delight pleasure in the vanities of this world but by thy grace might and power may so in the prosperity of this life bee vpholden that our minds with full ioy and comfort may be lifted vp to our perfect consolation in our Lord and Sauiour Christ and in him take our full and perfect ioy and consolation so that no vaine delight of this world put vs from the same neyther any sharpe aduersaty as pouerty misery or calamity through the malice of the diuell driue vs to dispaire of thy mercifull goodnesse towards vs but alwaies being through thy grace and assistance defended we may be fully perfectly armed against all the subtile intrappings of Sathan and rest wholy in thy mercifull defence and aide For thou hast O Lord and eternall God in thy gouernment all things in heauen and earth all power dominion ouer all creatures Angels and diuels to rule them according to thy good pleasure and will to the profit and commoditie of thy Church and euery faithfull member thereof and to thine incomprehensible glorie that in all things in all ages for euer and euer thy glorious Name may be exalted and thy faithful flocke edified thâ—ough Christ our Lord Amen A Confession of sinnes with Faith and Repentance O Mercifull and heauenly Father we thy Seruants doe humbly pâ—ostrate our selues before thy Maiesty acknowledging here in thy sight our haynous offences committed against thy Maiesty seeing and beholding thy heauie wrath against them wee feele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge company of horrible sins whereof the very least beeing but conceiued in thought is sufficient in iudgment to throw vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake Our owne consciences O Lord do beare witnesse against vs of our manifold transgressions of thy blessed Law of our security sencelesse blindnesse running headlong to destruction committing sinne after sin although not notorious to the world yet horrible before thine eyes The thoughts of our harts rise vp in iudgement against vs the vanity of our talke before thy Maiesty condeÌ„neth vs the wickednesse of our deeds from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughts words and deeds with the inward corruption of our nature doe altogether as it were a whole lumpe loade of sinne lye heauy vpon vs and with their intollerable waight doe euen presse vs downe to Hell Wee doe daily groane vnder the burthen of them inwardly lamenting our owne folly too greedily running into them In heauen earth or hell wee see none able to sustaine the waight of them but euen thy dearely beloed Sonne Iesus Christ who in mercy infinite and compassion endlesse hath sustained and ouercome that endlesse punishment due vnto them in him therfore in him most mercifull Father and through him we come to thee being fully assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept take that full recompence which hee thy deare Sonne hath made for vs as a iust ransome for the sinne of all those who with a true Faith take hold on him In him therfore we see thine anger towardes vs appeased thy wrath satisfied and our debts paide Increase in vs good Lord wee beseech thee this liuely
and feeling faith for we feel it oftentimes in vs very weake and troubled with many doubtes Increase it in vs O Lord that wee may through thy holy spirit bee assured that the punishment of our sinne is fully in thy Sonne discharged Make vs O Lord our God to feele the same in our soules and consciences that Iâ—sus Christ is ours and all that hee hath done that we are ingrafted into his body and made one with him and therefore fellow-heires with him of euerlasting life Let vs not onely haue these words in our mouths good Lord but through thy holy Spirit let vs feele the comfort of them in our hearts fully sealed setled in vs that we feeling our selues inwardly before thy Iudgement seate discharged and our consciences towards thee appeased may bee swallowed vp with an vnfained loue towards thy heauenly Maiesty and towards our Bretheren for thy sake Make sinne to die in vs daily more and more that wee may hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and wickednesse in all men but especially in our selues that wee mâ—y strongly through thy holy Spirit sette our selues in open defiance against all sin and wickednesse that wee please not our selues in our sins but straightly examining sin by the iust rule of thy holy Lawes wee may vtterly from the bottome of our hearts condemne euen the least sinne in our selues hauing our whole ioy comfort and consolation vpon those things which bee agreeable to thy blessed will alwaies being afraide to doe any thing contrary to the same that wee may euen from the bottome of our hearts examine and try our thoughts before thy presence that they bee vpright vnfained not hypocritical in outward shew only appearance but that euen all the corners of our hearts being opned and disclosed before thee we may euen as though it were openly before the face of the whole world bring them in shew knowing that a double heart is destitute in thine eyes and that wee may walke alwayes as before thine eyes not onely before the eyes of man being more carefull to walk circumspectly in this respect that we haue thee to be a viewer of our doings a thousand fold more then the eyes of man That thus wee may walke as becommeth thy Children not onely in outward shew but also in sincerity of hart abhorring euen the least sinne in our selues striuing resisting and fighting against sinne not nourishing the same in our breast but earnestly embracing and studiously seeking after those things which bee pleasant in thine eyes that neyther the feare of man nor losse of goods life landes possessions or friends draw vs away from thee to doe anie least thing contrary vnto thy will and pleasure neither the fauour and friendship of man nor yet the flattering enticements of this World nor the vaine promotions of the same do mooue vs â—ny whit from the true and endlesse ioy delight pleasure which we ought to haue in those things which be agreeable to thy will and the constant performance of the same but that alwayes to the end of our life wee may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength till at length we shall come to thine euerlasting rest Amen ¶ A Prayer for the prosperous estate of the whole Church O Lord our God and heauenly Father forasmuch as by thy holy word we are commanded in our Prayers not onely to be mindefull of our selues but also of all other thy children yea euen of our enemies wee commend vnto thy diuine Maiestie all thy whole true and Catholicke Church and euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the bright beames of thy holy word to shine ouer the whole world whereby thou hast expelled driuen away caused to vanish the darke and misty cloudes of ignorance and superstition so thou wouldest vouchsafe by thy holy Spirit to touch the hearts of men that they may ioyfully imbrace that thine so high a Treasure sent amongst vs that through our vnthankefulnesse wee prouoke not thy Maiesty in anger to take it from vs. Crush bruise and destroy with the breth of thy mouth the mightie power of that man of sin which so proudly exalteth himselfe aboue al that is called God Let not thy simple flocke deere Father in whose consciences he so long time hath yet doth sit as God bee any longer poisoned with his sweet inticing poisons but so lighten their harts that they may perceiue his iuglings embrace the sweet and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting reuealed in thy glorious Gospell And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue all Nations of the earth to powâ—e down the sweet showers of thy heauenly graces vpon this our English Nation aboundantly in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of thy holy Spirite in promoting thy Gospell and ouerthrowing Idolatrie we beseech thee continue thy fauour towards the same and vttery roote out all Remnants Reliques and Monâ—ments of Idolatrie that thy glorious name may be throughly exalted in sincere pure and holy worship And as thou hast in mercie from amongst vs in this thy Church vtterly banished all false venomous and poisonfull doctrine wherewith the soules of thy Children heretofore haue beene wounded â—o death and in place thereof hast placed the true and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy children may be fedde and norished to euerlasting ioy so in like mercie and fauour we beseech thee deare Father establish in the same thy Church a true perfect and sincere regiment therof according to the prescript rule of thy blessed Word all fantasies of mans brains and dreames of humane policie vtterly abolished that thy glorious Maiesty onely may be exalted in the light of thy glorious Gospel and that thy Church may flourish increase being through thy protection aided supported maintained and defended we beseech thee â—â—thy holy Spirit guide and rule euery part and member thereof especially thy seruant Iames our King whome thy gracious fauor and mercifull prouidence hath appointed a cheefe member of the same vnder whose winges next vnto thy protection it hath a cheefe succour and support Grant vnto him O Lord a pure and perfect zeale aboue all things to promote thy glorie first cheeflie in labouring and endeuoring of himselfe earnestlie in wiping away and purging out of the Church all blots and deformities to reduce the same to a pure sincere forme of worshippe agreeing to thy blessed word vtterly to remooue all stumbling blockes which stay and hinder the course of thy Gospell Giue in like manner O Lord GOD the spitit of wisedome discretion gouerment that with equitie and iustice he may see this whole Realme which thou hast committed to his charge peaceably quietly gouerned that hee may studiouslie labour that as well through the whole Realme vertue be exalted vice abandoned as especially in his owne house and Court that all wicked
vanities of this world all licentious and inordinate life all flattering and dissimulation being vtterly banishâ—d the fâ—are of thy glorious Maiesty may so reigne in the harts of all within his Highnesse Pallace and Court that their liues and conuersation may bee agreeable to thy blessed will in sinceritie and true holinesse and integritie of life that from them as from the head may shine purity of life and conuersation as an example and patterne of true godlinesse to the whole Realme Preserue him wee beseech thee good Lord from all conspiracies and Treasons that if it bee thy good will he may haue a long quiet raigne ouer vs to the benefite of thy Church and aduancement of thy glory Indue the whole Counsell good Lord with true and perfect wisedom that in all their consultations Counsels hauing thee present before their eies they may consult of those things which principally cheefly may bee for the aduancement of thy glory and the commodity of thy Church and next for the quiet peace and gracious gouernment of this his Realme So lighten all inferior Magistrates of this Realme good Lord with brightnesse of thy holy Spirit that vnderstanding thy will they may zealously defend maintaine and further the course of the Gospell with the sword of iustice cut off the wicked and cherish the godly Defend and gouerne by thy holy Spirit the Pastours of thy Church and labourâ—rs in thy vineyard that â—hey may zealously earnestly and diligently feed thy flocke committed vnto them with the food of life thy bl ssed word wherewith their soules may bee nourished to life euerlasting Increase the number of them deare Father place ouer euery flocke a godly learned and painfull Pastor who may painfully carefully trauell euery one in his charge to bring thy people which now alasse in many parts doe wander and goe astray like lost sheepe to the true knowledge of their Lord and God and of thy deare Son Iesus Christ their Sauiour And for thy mercy wee beseech thee to take pitty vppon thy poore and simple flocke roote out all rauening woolues which haue craftily crept into thy sheepfold and doe make hauocke of the soules of thy simple Flocke Câ—st out all hirelings time-seruers dumbe Dogges which to fill their bellies onely haue thrust themselues among thy sheepe and doe pittifully suffer the Flocke of Christ thy Sonne to be deuoured and scattered of the Woolfe Stirre vp good Lord and place in their roomes faithfull Sheepeheards which diligently painefully carefully and earnestly may labour in thy Vine-yard seeke to winne the soules of thy people out of the tyranny and power of Sathan to the freedome of thy deare Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord. And that thy Church may better be furnished with godly learned Pastors wee beseech thee good Lord to prosper and increase in all Godly knowledge all schooles of leaâ—ning especially the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxford Grant deare Father vnto all the students of the same that the chiefe end of all their studies may bee to the furtherance of thy Church and maintenance of the common-wealth Blesse their studies deare Father that al vaine studies set aside they may so fructifie in all profitable and godly Sciences that hereafter they may become profitable members of thy Church godly Vpholders of the Common-wealth Grant good Lord to all the whole Commons of this Realme that their hearts being touched with a sincere feare and reuerence of thy Heauenly Maiesty acknowledging thy mercy in placing ouer them a godly Religious Prince they may euery one in their callings walke in all true and humble obedience vnto him in thee and for thee without resistance tumults Insurrections conspiracies or rebellions knowâ— grâ—at to resist the higher Powers is to rebel against thy Maiesty Finally wee beseech thy goodnesse so to giude gouerne the hearts of all the whole Realme of euery degree that euery one in his calling being by thy holy wisedome supported may so occupy his Talent that thy glory in all things may be aduanced thy church inlarged this whole Realme into sincere godlines vertuously reduced Moreouer wee beseech thee O Lord our God in Mercy to behold all those which suffer persecution for thy glorious words sake whether it bee imprisonment death or banishment or whatsoeuer else strengthen them good Lord that they hauing thee alwaies before their eyes and the glory laide vp for them in the life to come may continue constant in defending thy truth without feare of man or vaine allurements of the world that whether it come by life or death they may glorifie thy holy Name in continuing in the truth to the end Preserue in like manner wee beseech thee all others thy Children whome it hath pleased thee with any kind of Crosse to chasten for their amendment whether by pestilence famine warre pouerty Imprisonment sicknesse or banishment trouble of conscience vexation of spirit vnquietnesse of minde want of spirituall comfort or whatsoeuer kinde of affliction of body or minde thou dost try them with that by thy holy spirit being fully assured that thou by this thy correction mindest to call them backe to a feeling of their sinne due consideration of their life conuersation they may patiently abide thy Fatherly tryall looking for aide helpe and comfort from thee when it seemeth most conuenient to thy holy wisedome and being by thy mercifull hand once deliuered may acknowledge thy singular power and worke giuing all laud and praise to thy glorious name and afterwards all the daies of their life study and liue before it hee in sincerity and perfect holinesse euen to their liues end This O Lord we beseech thee in Mercy to grant for thy beloued Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Morning prayer for priuate Houses and Families O Gracious God and louing Father according to thy commandement wee doe here present our selues before the throne of thy mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that we be miserable sinners daily breaking thy commandements both in thought word and deed wherein wee iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence yet O Lord wee see thy goodnesse againe toward vs who not suffering vs thus to perish in our sins hast sent thine owne deare Sonne Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him therfore good Lord and through him doe wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the grieuousnesse of our sinnes and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release ease of them in that we bee thorough thy holy Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ hath borne the burthen of them euen for vs. Grant likewise O most mercifull Lord heauenly Father that wee being assured hereof in our consciences may through thy holy Spirit be renued in the inner man to hate detest and abhorre sinne and
and vsed the same that together with them wee may haue thy Spirit to instruct vs as well in the wants as in the true lawfull vse of them that wee may more earnestly and seriously study and labour in these vocations wherein thou hast set vs through thy great mercy to the promoting and increasing of thy Kingdome to the benefite and comfort of thy Children And wee pray not onely for our selues but beseech thee make vs earnest and feruent in prayer vnto thy Maiesty euen for others also yea for all men that as thou art the Creator of all so thou wouldest mercifully regard them and continue thy gracious goodnesse mercy in adminstring ordering the world so that by no Tyrants nor wicked men that order which thou hast established be ouerthrown but the spring and haruest the raine fruitefull times and the ioy which thou shewest and giuest by them may prouoke all men continually to feare and loue thee yea to seeke thee and finde thee That not in those outward blessings alone but much more in thy Spirit they whâ—me thou hast there-unto ordayned may reioyce in thy Fatherly goodnesse by Iesus Christ And that to this end it may please thee to poure out thy graces vppon men that they may bee instructed and framed meete instrtments for the calling of all such as thou hast appointed to bee of thy Church That these builders may be cunning and expert That these Gardiners may bee wise to plant water with iudgement and discretion that these Stewards of thy mysteries may so behaue themselues in thy Church that they knowing how and wherewith to feede thy house the glory beauty thereof may appeare in the eies of all the world which thou hast before so long time promised and which to see the eyes dazell faint with looking for And although wee know well O Lord that the cause of all miserable disorders deformities and breaches nowe adaies is in our selues which shutte vp thine hand as it were bind thine armes from reaching them out vnto vs for our saluation and comfort yet let the Lord arise and be mercifull vnto Sion haue pitty on the ruines thereof For the time is come our owne Country and people are before our eies continually whose sinne and disorder whose Ignorance and stubbrnoesse whose negligence and contempt of thy word thou hast now long time punished withdrawing thy hand from doing them good For by thy iust iudgment now many yeares thou hast plagued them and vs with idle prophane vnlearned and vnskilfull Pastors Guiders thou hast giuen them but to their ruine Feeders but of themselues not of thy flocke Teachers and Doctors who haue mouthes but speake not eyes but see not neither haue they Iudgement to instruct thy people nor wisedome how to goe out and in before them and that which is most fearefull thy good hand is not wiâ—h those Prophets which are amongest them who do sowe indeed but the earth giueth not her encrease They water but thy plants rise not in any number They feede but thy flocke is poore not fat nor beautifull O let the Lord forget the sinnes of his people Why hath hee bound them vppon his hand to looke vppon them for euer Why hath he set them day and night in the sight of his countenance Wee confesse and acknowledge against our selues O Lord all our sinnes we iudge and condemne our selues yea wee testifie against our selues that we haue deserued that euen those sparkes of thy fire and heauenly light which are amongst vs shold bee quenched and put out that the smoake of thy glory which is still in thy Church amongst vs should rise vp and vanish away from amongst vs as the dew of the morning that the same building which as yet standeth were to bee throwne downe that the Lord shold mount vppon his Chariot and flee from vs. But shall the Lord deale with his people by waight and measure shall hee vse iudgement and not mercy shall our Father forget his Children although we prouoke him shall not the sighes grones of them that bewayle Syon come before him enter into his eares O Lord let the iudgement â—nd seuerity which we haue deserued bee stayed let Chariots and Horses bee loosed let the Armies of the Lord bee discharged and let the Lord vngird himselfe and forgette his counsell and turne and bee mercifull gracious vnto them acknowledge and confesse their sinnes Let the Angels that bee the destroyers goe from before thy face to ouerthrow and cast downe all that standeth to hinder thy glory and to maintaine sinne and Ignorance Pride and Vanity That thy good Angels may follow to mete out and describe all thinges that pertayne to the building of thy Temple Let them lay to it the square and plummet and let all thy people stand and showte and sing glory at the laying of this foundation Let thy Spirit guide all those good Lord that in feare and reuerence before thee walke in their vocation In the Vniuersities and in all parts of the Realme yea of the earth looking labouring for this worke encrease the little mumber as the thousands of Ephraim the tenne thousands of Manasses and those that laugh at and hinder drawe backe this worke let them bee ashamed and confounded and all thy maruelous blessiings be shewed in the successe thereof But let them haue no force nor strength to hinder it so shall Iacob reioyce in thy mercy and Israel in thy euerlasting truth So shall our eies see thy glory O Lord and wee sing perpetually to thy prayse So shall Iesus Christ delight in the beauty of his Church and his people bee a people meete to serue him decked and adorned with his guifts labouring and studying to please him that in them his loue may rest To this end good Lord shew thy mercy vppon all Princes and Magistrates of the earth that belong to thy election turning the hearts of all those that hitherto haue not knowne thy truth but lent their power and might to Sathan and Antichrist to persecute thy people to the great dishonor of thy name That yet now at the last they may bâ—e brought home into thy sheepfold and in stead of persecutors become Nurse-fathers and Nurse-mothers to thy Church But especially wee most humbly beseech thee for all such Princes and Magistrates as haue receiued thy truth And namely for our deare Soueraigne Lord the Kings Maiesty whome thou hast placed ouer vs in this Realme for his most honorable Counsel and all Magistrates therein that thou wouldst augment the graces of thy holy Spirite in him and in them especially the spirit of wisedome counsel and power that hee and they may goe forwarde in the worke of the building vp of thy Church in all obedience to thy will speedily and constantly and perseuerantly that thy people the Sheepe of thy pastours whome thou hast committed to him and their gouernment may godly and peaceably liue
my selfe and all mine into thy speciall tuition beseeching thee to giue mee my full acquitance before I meete thee in publike that I may approach thy presence with comfort and pertake thine owne ordinances as my appointed food make such benefite by them as may satisfie mee with thy fulnesse to the reioycing of my soule in the light of thy Countenance and to prouoke mee to long for thine euerlasting presence and fit mee daily to meete my Sauiour in the Clouds in whose worthynesse I humbly pray thee to accept thine vnworthy seruant and his weake prayers to whome with thine owne Maiesty and God the blessed Spirit three glorious Persons one God in vnitie might and Maiesty be ascribed as most due all glory and Power and Maiesty Dominion with all feare hearty obedience of vs and the whole Church of God now and for euer Amen A Prayer for the Sabbath Euening ALmighty and euerliuing Lord God Fâ—ther of our Lord Iesus Christ in him our most louing and gracious Father whose faithfulnes is euerlasting louing kindnes past finding out it is thy good prouidence holy Father that wee thine vnworthy Seruants haue had this opportunity to commerse with thy glorious Maiesty this day in thy holy ordinances and now are to make vp our reckoning for our imployment therein in the shuting vp thereof and it is thine infinite mercy tender compassion towards vs that thou hast yet respited vs to the end of this thine holy Sabbath to make our peace with thee that so wee may lye downe in thy fauour and so bee sealed vp herebâ— vnto thine eternall Sabbath For wee vnfainedly here confesse before thee O thou thee searcher of our hearts that though thou hast offered thy selfe most graciously vnto vs this day in all thine ordinances to the reclayming of vs from our vaine and peruerse waies as also to allure vs to constant and cheerefull obedience yet Lord thou knowest what little power wee haue found to subdue the rebellions of our proud spirits how little comfort wee haue reaped from thence to arme vs against temptation and stay vs from sinking therein Nay our wisedome hath the more opposed thy Spirit by how much the more it hath bene conuinced there by and our wounds haue more stunke and putrified the more thou hast laboured to lance and cure them How slightly did wee prepare our selues to thy publike worship being only formall and customarie in the priuate rather standing vppon the adorning of our stinking carcasses to please men then to humble our soules that wee may bee accepted of thee How carelesse haue wee bene in exhorting and preaâ—iâ—g thy Familie that they together with vs might go vp with confidence to the house of God and so bee there refreshed with the fatnes of thy house And as we tooke not heâ—d to our feet when wee should come before thee so when we came our footing deceiued vs and though we saw our face in thy glasse and were iustly abased at the foule spots therein yet wee forgate presently the true hue thereof and so lose our selues at home euen when wee sought to find thee abroad departing alwaies without sound comfort from thy presence because we could not endure to be thorowly abased in our selues before thee And thus hath it befalne vs holy Lord euen while we haue endeauoured to honor thee in thine Ordinances that while wee haue rather sought therein our own glorie then thine and desired rather the outward credite of Profession then the power of Conuersion and renuing of our inward spirits Thogh thou gauest vs our desire to be seene of men yet thou didst send leannesse into our soule denying vs iustly the true comfort which wee did not cheefely desire or indeed were not fit for For alas what leaue could we expect from thee or at all in thee who while we tendred with the Harlot offrings of peace and made glorious shewes of loyaltie vnto thee yet did no better then vsurpe vpon thy honour by our hypocrisie vaineglory and as much as lay in vs challenge most blasphemously thine omniscienced righteousnesse as if either thou didst not discern our inward rottennesse or didst approue of our outside and bodily worship And did euer any fight against God and prosper Euen so Lord hath it fared with me this day Mine owne proud heart hath fought against thee in the vse and sence of all thy Blessings seeking to serue my selfe by them and not thy glorie and so to harden my heart therewith that though thou fillest the hungrie with good things yet diddest thou send mee away empty of true comfort because my proud and swolne heart vtterly excluded the same And so it iustly befell me according to thy word that it carried mee from the presence of thy grace While I stood in the presence of thy Ordinances Lord how my minde wandered from thee while my bodie was before thee Nay my disharted mind peruerted my body also that euen with much deadnesse of the outward man much drowsinesse and irreuerence I behaued my selfe so before thee as I durst not before my Friend as I might giue iust aduantage to mine Enemie rather thinking the time too long because my mind was on my belly yea sometimes wishing mine cares shorter and more slow to heare that so I might not conceiue what was contrarie vnto my corruption that I might as it were blesse my soul in my shallow and counterfet holinesse And what I yet conceiued how quickely either did I lose it that I might not finde my selfe or how foolishly did I turn it to the puffing vp of my flesh with a conceit of knowledge or to the adoring of the vessel that yeelded the Treasure that so he also might cloake magnifie me O Lord how my deceitfull heart couzened it selfe heerein Either in applying what I heard to others as if my selfe were not aymed at that so I might hereby commit two Euils both to condemne others and iustify my selfe Or else in misapplying what I heard vnto my selfe fastening on such Comforts as did not belong vnto mee or slighting such Terrors as specially aymed at my sore What should I say vnto thee O thou more inward with me then mine inmost parts Though mine eare was somtime tickled yet mine heart was not moued at al or more hardned by its contrarie motion Though mine heart was stricken for the present and shaken by thy Terrours yet it was calmed againe by the enchantments of Hypocrisie and Securitie And although I saw my true face in thy glasse yet I stopt mine eares from the hearing of thy Law and therefore thou diddest also hide thine eares from my Prayers which I afterward made before thee in priuate and deniedst thy gracious blessing to my endeauours in the informing of my Family and conferring of what I had heard for their further building vp in knowledge and obedience and because I had beene so carelesse in attending thee therefore thou diddest iustly leaue mee to the neglect
of my duetie to my selfe and mine that so in our fayling each other wherein happily we might be more confounded as making this the main of our Religion rather to be honoured of each other in mutuall helpe then to honor thee our God in seeking help from thee alone wee might knowe the true cause why thou didst fail vs in the publike euen because we sought our selues and not thy Glory Oh the infinite riches of the wisedome of God! How wisely didst thou abase thy Seruant at home where hee sought to aduance himselfe in priuat by profiting others who neither sought thine honour abroad nor how to benefit himselfe by the publike Ordinances And yet how mercifully diddest thou heerein deale with him by calling him to account and charging him as an vnprofitable seruant for his vnworthy walking before thee in the publike while he was casting vp his peniworthes at home and expiated the approbation and recompence of a profitable seruant Euen thus O Lord my God fared it with me at home the best that I reaped was accordingly as I had sowne As I sowed to the flesh abroad so of the flesh I reaped corruption and confusion at home and while I endeuoured to heale the wound and mend my selfe by imparting of my bâ—d peniworths to others it was more encreased by their drowsinesse and deceitfull chaffering with me yeelding me no better then the chaffe and refuse of bodily and formall attendance for all my Lip-labour and cold deuotions bestowed vppon them And this is all that I can truly account with thee O thou Searcher of my secret parts for all the goodnesse I haue receiued from thee this day euen to account my selfe vnworthy of the least of thy mercies not able to answere thee one for a thousand if thou sholdst enter into iudgment with me But herein yet haue I boldnesse before thee comfort from thee that in this I do vnfeignedly iudge my selfe that thou mayest not condemne mee that in the iudging of my self I desire to giue thee the onely glorie of all thy mercies vouchsafed vnto me this day in acknowledging my selfe vnworthy of the least of them that so still I may bee found of thee in Iesus Christ not hauing mine owne righteousnes and so in his Peace may find peace and comfort with thee O pardon therfore I humbly pray thee the manifolde wanderings of thy poore seruant from thee this day euen while he hath bin with thee and discharge him of those fearefull reckonings which he hath had with his owne soule because he hath reckoned without thee not measured himselfe by his acceptance with thee but rather by what he hath slightly performed vnto thee Accept me therfore in the righteousnesse of my Sauiour and couer all mine imperfections with the perfect holinesse of my Redeemer that in him I may appeare all faire before thee And speake vnto my poore soule by the testimonie of thy good Spirit sealing vp vnto me the forgiuenesse of my best endeauours that so the conscience of my manifold wanderings and backeslidings from thee in my vain worldly thoghts carnall walking and behauiour farre vnbeseeming either this day or thy presence may not confound me in thy presence while I sue out my discharge from thee O giue me to mourne vnfainedly for greeuing thy Spirit so often this day and dishonoring thy great name wherein I haue sought to honour thee and make mee to abhorre my selfe before thee in a iust detestation of my best endeuouâ—s as to bee iustified thereby that so I may be acquitted by thy free mercy in Iesus Christ and in him may finde peace comfort in thee both that my faylings are not imputed vnto me and that my poore endeuours being the worke of thine owne Spirit may bee accepted of thee Let this comfort me O my God that I haue desired to walk before thee this day in the trueth of my heart and let this still humble me before thee that I haue not answered my desires heerein that so I may haue comfort in thy free acceptance aboue all that I could do or desire And so in this comfort grant mee to repose my selfe whollie in thy free Grace both to refresh me in the night season that I may not sleep in death and so to raise me vp again to a wise redeeming of the time of my ciuill Calling therein to lay vp a good foundation for better preparation against the next Sabbath and so to be prepared to my eternall Sabbath with thee for euer in thy glorious kingdom Heare mee O Lord in these my supplications pardon the weaknesse of my sinful prayers accept my person in the Sonne of thy loue and answere me aboue all that I can aske or thinke euen for the onely merit of thy deere Son my onely Sauiour Iesus Christ in whom thou art wel pleased Amen A Prayer to be said before the hearing or reading of the holy Scripture O Heauenly Father whatsoeuer I am whatsoeuer I haue whatsoeuer I know it is only by thy grace for by nature I am the child of wrath and I am not borne anew of flesh and bloud neither of the seed of man or of the will of man Flesh bloud cannot reueale the mystries of thy heauenly kingdome vnto me but by thy blessed will I am that I am and by the same know I that I know Therefore O Father doe I commit into thy hands onely my saluation If my knowledge be small yet I doubt nothing but that I am the child of thy euerlasting kingdome and therfore by thy mighty power I shall grow when it shall bee thy good will and pleasure to a more full and riper knowledge as of a more perfect age wherein my faith shall bee fully able to comprehend and perceiue the breadth depth heighth and largnesse of thy great mercies and gracious promises But seeing O Father this power of full knowledge and perfect reuelation passeth all power naturall and remaineth onely in thy power and light of thy Spirit O Lord doe thou whatsoeuer it shall please thee to open vnto me and all the rest of thine elect seruants and children depending vpon thee so much of the light of thy countenance as may bee most for thy glory and our comfort yea and at such time as shall seeme good to thy wisedome and fatherly mercy In the meane while thus resting wholy vppon thee neithet can I despaire neither will I be too much carefull although I cannot attayne to the knowledge of many of thy workes neither to the vnderstanding of many places of thy Scriptures But I will confesse vnto thee the weaknesse of my faith waiting alwaies for the further reuealing of thy glorious light to bee vttered vnto me thy poore seruant when thou shalt thinke of thy Fatherly beneuolence goodnesse meete and conuenient I knowing most assuredly that thou wilt pittie my weake imbecilitie and childish infancie and cause the same to serue for thy glory and my great commoditie
seeing that I erre as a child before such a Father which canst not but off thy Fatherly pitty and compassion but rather as thou hast bought mee vnto thee to bee an heire of thy kingdome by the bloud of thy naturall Sonne my Sauiour Iesus Christ so am I sure that thou wilt lighten mee in the end with full fruition of the bright light of thy countenance that I may see thee and know that as this thy Sonne knoweth thee yea see thee and know thee my Father face to face to know thâ—e as I am knowne Thus rest I onely in thy hands O my God crauing of thee to encrease my knowledge in thy holy word whereby I may know thy good will pleasure And knowing the same giue mee O Lord thy holy Spirit to conduct and lead mee in the same all the daies of my life that in sinceritie of faith and purenes of liuing and conuersation thy glorious Maiesty bee magnified in mee for euer Giue mee grace therefore most mercifull Father that for so high a treasure left among vs as is this thy most holy word I may be thankfull reuerently embrace accept and esteeme of the same as the most precious iewell in earth bee thereâ—n confirmed more strongly that all things therein contayned to be most certaine and vndoubtedly true not by any mortall man but by thy most holy Spirit in man penned and written to the comfort and behoofe of man that I may most humbly lowly and with most high reuerence submit my selfe thereunto as becometh thy Maiestie and thy word proceeding out of thy most blessed mouth that I may reuerently with humblenesse and obedience read heare and occupie my selfe in the same to the comfort of my soule and encrease of thy glory Lighten mine vnderstanding most deere Father with thy holy Spirit that I may learne cleerely to conceiue and vnderstand the things therein contained which no mortall man can conceiue saue those who haue learned of thee whom thou by thy holy Spirit dost lighten and instruct Guide mee deerâ— Father with thy holy Spirit that hauing the true vnderstanding of the mysteries therein contained I may be fully established and confirmed in the true knowledge of thee my deere Father of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour throughly in conscience perswaded that I haue my full and perfect saluation life euerlasting in him and through his attonement made through his death and passion that I doe not vainly abuse the knowledge of thy sacred word to satisfie vaine curiositie or bragge of knowledge but onely to the releeuing of my hungry and wounded conscience to the loosing of my fettered soule and the appeasing of my sorrowfull heart that I may to the end of my life walke in sincerity before thee my heauenly Father in the comforts of thy deere Sonne our Sauiour vpholden still by the mercifull power of the holy Ghost to thine euerlasting praise and glory world without end Amen A Thanks-giuing after the hearing or reading of the word of God O Eternall God and most mercifull Father I yeeld vnto thee most heartie thankes for all thy benefits bestowed vppon mee especially that it hath pleased thy heauenly goodnesse to shine into my heart through the light of thine holy Spirit in the Mysteries of thy holy word and that thou hast framed my heart and mind to take such vnspeakeable ioy and comfort in thy most blessed holy word and the embracing of my saluation therein offered vnto mee For these thine vnspeakable mercies I beseech thee O Lord make mee thankfull that I may acknowledge the great benefit thereof and esteeme of so inestimable a treasure aboue all earthly possessions or treasures And O Lord my God for so much as I wander in this present life among many and infinite dangers whereby I am euery moment in perill of sliding backe and falling from this feruent zeale of thy euerlasting truth which thou hast kindled in my brest if otherwise thou doe not stay mee by thy mercifull hand and for so much as I learne out of thy most blessed and holy word that it is not sufficient to haue begunne well vnlesse I continue to the end not sufficient to hold my hand to the plough and looke backe I craue at thy hands in the name of thy beloued Sonne my Lord and Sauiour Christ that this thy worke which thou hast begun in mee thou wilt in mercy encrease in me more and more and continue it euen to the end of my life that I doe not waxe cold secure dull or faint but continually encreasing in true zeale I may still more and more be delighted with reading hearing and meditating of thy holy word I may thereby also daily encrease in true knowledge of thy blessed will from faith to faith that I may euen from the bottome of my heart so sincerely professe thy true Religion that all hypocrisie vaine-glory and fained holinesse vtterly through thy holy Spirit rooted out of my heart I may onely hold my selfe contented that I may haue the eyes of thy Maiesty beholding my inward heart minde whereby I onely studying to be allowed before thy Maiesty may vtterly reiect all the vaine praise of men which might puffe mee vp or the scoffing iests taunts or reproches of the vngodly which might else driue me downe To this end O Lord my God that I may encrease and daily more and more be confirmed in thy mercies begun in mee I beseech thee stirre vp true sincere Preachers and Messengers who daily may stirre vp my minde and heart otherwise by nature dull to the ioyfull embracing of the glad tidings of peace Leaue mee not destitute O Lord my God of the meanes which thou hast appointed for the encrease of a liuely faith true zeale which meane is onely the Ministery of thy blessed and holy word but make mee alwaies carefull for the seeking of it and so prouide O Lord my God that I may alwaies haue it comfortably receiue it and sweetly digest it Keepe mee by thy holy Spirit O Lord that I neuer be seduced by erronious doctrine but that onely I may giue eare vnto thy voice that cleauing onely vnto thee I may in this present life which thou hast giuen mee so occupy my selfe and vse this good time which thou hast appointed that I may still looke for the comming of thy deere Sonne to receiue mee into the euerlasting rest prepared for all the elect and chosen whereby I shall for euer remaine together with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee the holy Ghost be all honor and glory world without end Amen A Prayer before the receiuing of the Sacrament O Lord Iesus Christ which art the sweete comfort of all that call vpon thee and the sure succour of all such as sue vnto thee behold mee a most sinfull creature and foule offender which bowing the knees of my heart with all humilitie before thee confesse vnfainedly that I am
send the Spirit of thy Sonne into my dead heart whereby thou hast quickned mee by faith in the merits of my Sauiour enabled mee with boldnesse to draw neere vnto thee and to crie with confidence Abba Father O how hast thou shed thy loue abroad in my heart by the holy Ghost which thou hast giuen me whereby though I haue beene in great heauines through many temptations especially with the sense and horror of my sins yet hast thou wonderfully refreshed my fainting spirit and caused mee to reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious O how haue these holy rauishments taken me vp into the third heauens How hath my soule now longed to put off this corruption and to be taken vp for euer to enioy thy glorious presence How gladly would I now haue obtained the marke before I had run my race How willingly would I haue the crowne before I had finished my course O the vnspeakable riches of the wisedome and mercy of my God toward me Didst thou not put this precious treasure of faith into an earthen vessel that the glorie might bee of God and not of man didst thou not Redeeme mee out of the hands of our enemies that so I might passe the time of my pilgrimage in feare and magnifie thy power daily in mine infirmities daily denying mine owne righteousnesse that still I may be found of thee in Christ that still I might liue by faith in the Sonne of God and grow vp in him to perfect holinesse Surely blessed Lord when I consider mine owne corruption daily more and more appearing in me and rebelling against thy righteous will and casting vp daily mists to dimme the eie of my Faith that I cannot so clearly discerne the light of thy countenance yea somtimes so leading me captiue into sinne that I am many times to seeke of the sence of thy Loue I am many times put to question the truth of my faith and to distrust my selfe whether I haue any faith or no. For alas Lord I must needs confesse to thy glory that although thou commandest mee to beleeue perfectly in thy Sonne and to be strong in faith yet I find on the other side such strength of corruption preuailing ouer mee and commanding mee forcibly to giue way thereunto and so not onely interrupting the sense of thy loue vnto me but also challenging my loue vnto thee that I am forced many times to feare whether I am led by the Spirit truly of faith or no whether euer thy loue were shed abroad in my heart if euer I loued thee in truth seeing it seemes vnto me that my loue vnto sinne is not altogether quenched nay I feele the power of corruption carrying mee so violently after the lusts of my heart that as I find my selfe lesse cheerfull and constant in thy seruice so on the other side I sometimes find my selfe lesse able to resist temptations more apt and inclinable to such lusts which heretofore I haue subdued yea often more fouly ouercome and foiled by them What shall I say vnto thee O thou searcher of my heart and preseruer of my soule dost thou not see how cold somtimes I am in prayer How dull in the hearing of the word How carelesse of thy Sabbaths How vnconscionable and negligent in my calling How rebellious and inordinate in my affections O how often haue I greeued thine holy Spirit by neglecting the good motions thereof yea many times willingly crossing the same and entertaining contrary suggestions of my cruell enemie How carelesse haue I beene to examaine my heart and renew my couenant with thee How deceitfull or carelesse in breaking often my vowes which I haue made vnto thee against speciall corruptions for renuwing of decayed graces O How often haue I beene ready to giue way to such curssed thoughts of blasphemie and fearefull impietie which might euen quench thy Spirit lead to the dispighting thereof How haue I sometimes bin readie to violate my Conscience by rushing on desperate euils yea how fearfully haue I wounded the same by committing grosse sinnes and to make vp the measure of my misery How haue I hardned my heart by sleeping in sinne and neglecting the sauing meanes of deepe humiliation to awaken me to repentance Alas Lord thou knowest ful wel that though thou hast followed mee with many secret and open afflictions to rouse me out of this sleepe of Security yet either it hath proued but a dreame and so I haue falne asleepe againe or if my heart hath bin awake yet it hath not bin vnto thee to make my sound peace but rather vnto my Enemie to cease his violence yea somtimes to the World to procure some temporary lenity rather to ease my present paine then to heale me thoroughly And surely righteous Lord euen thus it hath befalne that such as I haue sown I haue often reaped euen more hardnesse of heart lesse sense and remorse for sinne more boldnesse thereto and more ease therin lesse delight in holy duties lesse life in prayer lesse coÌ„science in the word more slights in my calling more distraction in my recknings and more confusion in my Spirit Yet still O Lord I heare a voice behinde me saying This is the way walke in it Yet still I finde thy hand ouer me to stay me from sinking still my better aduised heart tels me it was better with mee formerly then now when I had comfort in thy presence and conscience in thine Ordinances Still thy Spirit is readie to reuiue me with hope that I may recouer againe and my hope is confirmed heereby that the meanes are still offered me and I am capeable of them But alas Lord insted of comfort by them I reape nothing but further confusion because as I am vnable to apply them to my selfe so indeed I am not now fit for that comfort which I seeke for in thee For what peace can there be to mee while my corruptions stink before thee Or how can I look for comfort bâ—fore I be soundly healed O the vnspeakeable Riches of the wisedom and mercie of my God! how insearchable are thy Councels and thy waies past finding out As thou diddest bring light out of darkenesse in calling mee from darknes vnto light so doest thou cause thy light to shine in darkenesse that thy glorie may bee perfected in my infirmities And therefore though I am now thy Creature renewed after thine owne image yet seeing thou wilt haue the onely glory of thy worke therefore as the light of the righteous must shine more and more vnto the perfect day so the darknesse of corruptions must not bee dispelled vtterly at once but daily be banished more and more vnto the coming of Christ Therefore is it blessed Lord that though thou hast cancelled the guilt of my sin at once by faith in Christ yet hast thou wisely left the corruption of sinne to be abolished by degrees that so I might still liue by Faith in the death of Christ for the mortifying thereof that I
my life hid with Christ in God when Christ which is my life shal appeare I may also appeare with him in glorie Grant this gracious Father for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Aduocate and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for grace and wisedome O Most mighty God and mercifull Father poure into my heart thy heauenly grace wisedome Comfort my sinnefull soule with thy heauenly Manna molifie and make soft my hard heart with the sweete pleasant oyle of thy most holy word Suffer me not O mercifull Lord to swerue or slide from the waies of truth but grant helpe of thy holy Spirit that I may walke in the same vnto my liues end and let not thy heauenly wisedome depart from me at any time during this life According to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Preserue me from this my youth and infancy vnder thy fauourable protection Giue mee grace O Lord that I may euen to the graue continue a faithfull and manly Souldâ—er in defence of thy truth and that I may in all my life daily grow to the ripe perfection of godly wisedome and truly and iustly acknowledge thee mine onely God Deut. 6. That I may onely feare thee and honor thee That I may cleaue fast vnto thee Deut. 10. That I doe not after the abhomination of any idolatrous people worship stocks or stones Deut. 8. Nor let me not O Lord harken to any false Prophets that teach their owne imaginations and not the word of God Deut. 13. Now vouchsafe O Lord God to heare me and let thy wisedome gouerne mee I know my God that no creature can truly say I haue done my dutie in the seâ—uice of the Lord neither is it in the power of man who is so deeply subiect to sinne to escape all those stumbling blockes which haue made our waies dangerous and perillous through those innumerable practises wherewith Sathan our great enemie through his malice and craft hath deuised to intrap our sinfull soules to our vtter destruction Lord of thy great mercy roote and pull out of my heart all the workes of Sathan namely fornication adultery vncleannes wantonnesse pride enuie vnnaturall desires vnpure thoughts lewd behauiour idlenesse and all other vicious and naughty actions which being followed according to the pleasures and delights of the world in this life bring with them euerlasting damnation of body and soule in the world to come Encrease in me O Lord such aboundance of thy grace wisedome and heauenly blessing that through the operation of the same in me I may proue a true workman in thy haruest such a seruant as occupieth his Maisters Talent vnto gaine a witnesse that beareth testimony of Christ to all people at all times and in euery place continue constant in the truth during the whole course of this my mortall life In thy truth O God do I delight therefore make me perfect in the same In thee alone doe I repose my whole trust and confidence saue me O God of all mercy and defend mee against my enemies Establish and confirme me O Lord in faith towards thee Keepe thou my lips and gouerne my tongue Suffer not my heart to purpose any thing that may displease thee nor my tongue or lips to speake ought whereby I should purchase thy wrath Whosoeuer doth trust in thee O God shall vnderstand thy truth and the faithfull shall haue rest in thy fauour but the vngodly according to their owne wicked thoughts shall find corruptioÌ„ The soules of the iust are in the hand of God and the force of death shall not touch them All wisedome commeth from the Lord and hath beene with him alwaies and is with him from the beginning Eccle. 1. The feare of the Lord doth expell sin Lord of thy mercy grant me thy heauenly wisedome whereby I may truly learne to know thee rightly and be diligent to performe thy precepts effectually Lord leaue me not in my young daies let thy wisedome enter into my heart and make her habitation in my soule so shall I liue in thy fauour and perseuer in thy lawes through thy grace Let not them that trust in thee O Lord God of Hoastes bee ashamed let not those that seeke thee bee confounded O God of Israel Lord I make my prayers vnto thee in an acceptable time euen in the multitude of thy mercies O God heare mee in the truth of thy saluation In thee alone O heauenly Father are all things generally and what is not of thee is altogether naught Replenish and blesse me O Lord with all good giftes shew thy louing countenance towards me gouerne me by thy grace continue me in thy fauour and protect and defend me now and euermore vnder the winges of thy manifold mercies so shall no vile temptation haue power to preuaile against me Such is the force of thy heauenly wisdome O God that whosoeuer obtaineth the same and directeth his life accordingly shall prosper and see good daies Whosoeuer pleaseth thee O Lord from the beginning are made whole through wisedome Sapient 9. Which of thy mercy O my God vouchsafe to grant vnto me for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ his sake To whome with thee the holy Ghost be all glory honor and praise now and for euer Amen A Prayer to walke conscionably in our ciuil and personall Calling O Most glorious and wise God who in thine infinit wisedome hast ordayned that euery Sonne of Adam should eate his bread in the sweat of his face and so hast wisely fitted each man in his seuerall place with seuerall and particular gifts of nature experience and grace that so hee might glorifie thee in some speciall calling not willing that any should liue idlely like an vnprofitable burthen of the earth mispending his precious time and wasting away thy Creatures neither doing good to humaine society And herein hast giuen vs a patterne from thy selfe who euen workest hitherto and albeit that thy great businesse of Creating all things ended with those first six daies in which euery particular was brought forth by thee in his proper kind yet thy prouidence is neuer intermixed in it neither slumber nor sleepe ouer taketh thee And so also thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ whilst in the daies of his flesh hâ—e humbled himselfe to liue as man vpon the earth both in his priuate life attended vppon a painefull trade and when the time came of his manifesting himselfe to the world went about doing of good yea with that chearfulnes that it was his meate and drinke to doe thy will and to finish the worke of him that sent him And all thine holy actions also in continuall action obeying the voyce of thy word and ministring for their sakes that shall be heires of life nay doth not euery Creature in his place obey this thine ordinance the Sunne the Moone all those heauenly Orbes Do they not execute their operations faithfully and finish their Reuolutions in their seasons Do not these inferior things daily performe thy
forth into thy light so in thy time adde him also to thy Church and beget him againe vnto a liuely hope by the immortall seed of thine holy word deliuering him from the power of darkenes in which by nature we are all into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God And if it shall seeme good vnto thee to lay any further triall either of sickenesse or death vpon this thy seruant or the fruite of her wombe prepare vs all to a quiet and patient bearing of thine holy hand and to a comfortable and contented resting vpon thy prouidence assuring our selues that all things shall turne to the good and benefite of thy chosen And so into thine holy hands wee commend our selues with thy seruant and her issue together with hers and our Families and that great Familie of thy chosen wheresoeuer distressed and dispersed to be kept by thy mighty power through Faith vnto saluation Grant vs these things O God of our saluation for the merite of thy beloued Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for such as in this world be very rich and wealthy ETernall GOD and most mercifull Father from whom all good things doe come and proceede who in thy wisedome distributest thy benefits and bestowest thy blessings manifoldwife as seemeth good to thy heauenly will to some more to some lesse as thou who knowest all things seest it to be best for euery one I giue thee hearty thanks in that it hath pleased thee to bestow vpon me a most vnworthy sinner such large blessings of earthly treasures and riches in this life most humbly beseeching thee for thy great mercies sake to giue mee grace to vse them to thy glory and to the helpe and comfort of those that haue neede knowing that thou hast giuen mee this aboundance to the end that I should be ayding and helpfull to others vpon whom it hath pleased thee to lay the crosse of pouerty and that I am but as a Steward from thee which must render account how I haue bestowed them I beseech thee also good Lord that while I liue and possesse plenty of all things from thee I may bee carefull to doe good vnto all men but especially vnto them that be of the houshold of Faith according as thy holy word hath commanded me laying vp therby a good store of my selfe against the day of wrath and to make me friends of vnrighteous Mammon that when I depart hence they may receiue mee into euerlasting habitations And as these thy good gifts O heauenly Father so I beseech thee that I abuse them not either by getting retaining or otherwise by mispending of them Let not my heart at any time be affected towards them nor my minde drowned in the delight of them but that alwaies I may esteeme both them and all things else as vile dung and filthy durt in respect of thee And in the midst of mine aboundance keepe mee O Lord that I aduance not my selfe vaingloriously aboue my Brethren that I be not puffed vp nor high minded that I consume not thy treasure vpon pride whoredome gluttonie drunkennesse or any other wickednesse else whatsoeuer thereby purchasing thy heauy iudgement against me for the same But grant good Lord that as thou hast made me rich wealthy in worldly substance so thou wilt make me much richer in all goodnesse righteousnesse holinesse and innocencie of life thorough Iesus Christ our only Mediatour and Aduocate to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be praise for euer Amen A Prayer for such as bee poore and needy O Eternall and euerliuing God who appointed diuers sundry states and conditions of men some rich some poore some high some low and hast notwithstanding commanded euery one to be content with his estate and calling without repining or grudging against thee for the same I poore wretch and miserable caitiue whom it hath pleased thee to place in the lowest and meanest degree most entirely beseech thy Fatherly goodnesse to giue me grace to be well contented with the sâ—me to submit my will to thy will to depend wholly vppon thy prouidence to cast all my care vppon thee who hast promised to care for mee to repose all my affiance trust and confidence in theâ— and none else and to looke for all good things from thy mercifull hands And though I be poore and needy O Lord yet I beseech thee let mee not dispaire of thy helpe nor yet attempt any vnlawfull or vniust meanes to maintaine my estate withall contrary to thy will But grant that I hauing all things necessary in this life for body and soule may neither bee swallowed vp nor choaked with the cares of the world nor yet remaine barren and destitute of good workes through Iesus Christ our Lord who liueth and raigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A Prayer to obtaine grace of God against the assaults of the world the Flesh and the Diuell O Lord God of eternall glory and Father of endlesse mercy wee thy vnworthy Creatures are bold in the name of thy beloued Sonne to represent our selues before thee humbly beseeching thee for his sake that thou wilt vouchsafe to send downe thy holy Spirit into our hearts to guide and gouerne vs in all our godly waies and to defend vs from all manner of temptations of this world and the assaults thereof Lord God of thine vnspeakable goodnesse grant that thy grace may continue with vs alwaies and that at no time we swerue nor fall from thee Let thy truth euermore bee with vs and make vs constant in the same that wee neuer bee afraid of any thing which lieth in the power of man ouer our bodies but alwaies confessing that whomsoeuer thou pleasest to defend no Tyrant shall bee able to destroy Strengthen and increase Faith Loue and Charity in the hearts of all people Make vs able to resist the vaine pleasures of the world let not the perillous allurements haue any power to conquer ouercome vs nor the subtilties thâ—reof bee able to deceiue vs. Defend vs also O Lord from the many perils and temptations which the diuell our aduersarie practiseth against vs least wee fall into his snaâ—es Let neither his endeuours nor the wanton inticements of our owne flesh preuaile against vs. Wee know O Lord that without thy sufferance hee of himselfe can take no hold on vs nor bee able to diminish the least haire of our head Giue therefore vnto vs such grace from thee that we may be willing to striue against the world the flesh and the diuell and such strength as we may be able to breake and beate downe the forcâ— and vehemencie of their strong temptations Grant vs thy heauenly light whereby wee may perfectly see and perceiue those malicious and cruell engines which they lay to entrap vs least vnawares we fall into the fame Euen now O Lord in these perillous daies the diuell and his ministers doe most busily seeke to sift vs by
increase and renew their strength giue them victorie and turne their aduersaries hearts if they pertaine to thy holy election otherwise O Lord bring vpon them the confusion that they would bring vpon others into the pit that they haue digged let them fall and neuer rise vp againe O Lord heare vs in these suites pardon our dull spirits in praier and giue vs these and all other graces needfull for vs and the Church to thy glorie for our Lord Iesus Christ in whose name wee pray as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the feeling of the sinne of hyprocrisie that wee may direct our life according to the perscript rule of the word RIghteous Lord God and heauenly Father which art a iust â—udge to punish all them that doe continue to offend thee as thou art a Father most pittifull to receiue to mercie all those which giue ouer themselues to please thee shew mee thy grace and fauour To that I may be truely touched with inward displeasure of my sinnes and that in the place of flattering my selfe to sleepe in sinne I may be so cast downe in heart that the rather I may truely with mouth confesse most humbly to giue thee the honour glorie and prayse due vnto thy holy name and that as thou of thy great mercy dost instruct thereunto by thy holy word so for thy mercies sake make that the same may so lighten and cleere our conscience that in due examination of our life wee may truely learne to be angry and displeased with all our former and corruptible liuing O that it may please thee to draw neere vnto vs in addressing and guiding our footsteps in the true and perfect way of obedience to thy holy Lawes and Commandements Send thy holy Angell to pitch his Tents round about vs that Sathan and his infernall army neuer preuaile against vs but that alwaies with strong faith we may through Iesus Christ withstand all his crafty engines and snares knowing vndoubtedly that thou neuer forsakest them that put their trust in thee O let vs not bee led by the infirmity of our outward flesh but strengthen vs by the vertue of thy holy Spirit Suffer vs not to lie vnder thy heauy wrath and vengeance through hypocrisie but rather touch vs so inwardly that we may without ceasing sigh and grone vnto thee by true and vnfeigned repentance And although we be not alwaies so well disposed to aske and pray as we ought to doe yet good Lord for thy glorious Names sake stretch out thy mighty hand that by the gracious working of thy holy Spirit our mindes and hearts may be drawne from all earthly and corruptible things so that our prayers vnto thee may proceede of an inward earnest vehement affection so that wee neuer presume to come before the throne of thy Maiesty with a double heart knowing that whosoeuer asketh and prayeth for any thing of thee not asking in faith cannot obtaine Increase therefore sweet Lord our faith that we presently may liuely feele the benefite of remission and pardon all our sins through the merits and death of Christ Iesus our Sauiour and so worke in vs for euer heereafter to liue in thy feare and to stand in awe of thy displeasure that thou mayest continue our mercifull Father world without end Amen O Shepheard of sheepe seeke out mee thy wandring sheepe And being found lay mee vpon thy blessed shoulders and bring mee home to the very folde of thy flocke heale my sicke soule feede my hungry soule yea almost dying through hunger watch ouer the same O sweete Lord least the rauening Wolfe do inuade my soule and so slay it to vtter destruction Wherefore O most deere GOD be mercifull to mee a wretched sinner and grant pardon to him that repenteth giue not foorth the voice of thy sentence according to my demerits but like as thy mercy before hath done in the beginning of my life so let it conclude the end thereof to remaine with thee world without end Amen deere God Amen Forasmuch as in this life holy Scriptures doeth promise trouble penuries oppressions increase of griefe and aboundance of temptations vouchsafe O most louing Lord GOD to prepare my heart to all possible patience least I doe faint in thy foote-path compell my sweete Lord this stubborne and rebellious flesh of mine to bee subiect to thy holy Spirite beyond all expectation so that I may possesse my soule in patience and keepe the same continually in thy euerlasting seruice to the which purpose thou of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie hast created the same Wherefore O Lord GOD shew thine almighty power vnto mee most wretched sinner that so long as I fight in this wretched life I may obtaine victorie against mine enemies thou being my defence for there is none other that fighteth for mee but onely thou O God Now I say represse the violence of mine enemies and vouchsafe with great effect to bring into bondage my miserable flesh that tormenteth my soule So that obtaining victory I may giue praise to thee my onely deliuerer in perpetuall eternity Amen A prayer against tbe secret venim and great danger of prosperity O Lord prepare my heart to wisedom prepare it to prayer and teach my soule to feele all the dangers wherewith it is beset on euery side and grant good Father that I mâ—y not pray in wordes or in sound of speech but in Spirite and Faith I acknowledge to thee O Lord thy great mercies toward mee at this time for beside the vnspeakable graces of my redemption and of my holy calling in the Gospell which are euermore good thou hast giuen me a large measure of earthly blessings my table is richly and daintily furnished my Cup ouer-floweth mine enemies are chased away and I feele no want no affliction no sorrow My prosperitie leadeth mee as by the hand from one delight to another and from one pleasure to another In the morning peace is at my right hand and at night quietnesse at my left O Lord are not these thy blessings Hast not thou opened thy mercifull hand and filled me with all these comforts True it is O Lord that they came all from thee and for them I am indebted vnto thee and giue thee hearty thanks But alas O Lord I finde by experience that prosperitie such is our infirmitie carrieth vs too too farre away it feedeth vs from day to day and from time to time with new delights it ingendereth also secretly such peace and confidence in these things which are but as a reede to leane vpon that we are carried away wee forget not thee onely but our selues also But the day of aduersitie the day of sicknesse the day of trouble that layeth open our weakenesse it causeth much care to bee released it prouoketh many praiers for releefe O it is a happy day a day of returning to the Lord a day of repentance as in Sackcloath and Ashes O how may my soule praise the
day of affliction wherein I called vpon the name of the Lord and hee heard mee and I found that his rod comforted me Neuerthelesse O good Lord consider and helpe two dayes of health take away the fruite of many dayes of sicknesse wee are as men Sea-sicke that comming on the shore presently returne to ioy and mirth and forget both dangers on the Sea and dangers on the Land So came it to passe from age to age in thy people of Israel being tied fast in miserie and iron they called vpon thee and receiued mercie being deliuered they soone turned backe like a bow and became drunken with prosperitie Then thy face was against them thy anger was kindled and they cast into affliction againe but in their miseries they renewed their prayers and thou diddest renew thy grace but new prosperitie brought new rebellion and new rebellion new punishments and new punishments new conuersation The house of mirth was to them and is to all a baite to wantonnesse but in the house of sorrow a prouocation of humilitie and prayer Prosperitie is as a Cup of wine mingled with poyson as a bed of securitie and a way to destruction Therefore O Lord with the fulnesse of earthly things giue mee also the fulnesse of spiâ—ituall thinges that I forget thee not in vanity of life or in the false delights of sinfull flesh O keepe my heart that it bee not made drunken with prosperity but grant mee in sobernesse to vse thy blessings to thy glory and to the releefe of my Brethren and when I reioyce not to reioyce in these base things for that reioycing is euill but to reioyce in thee turning my mirth from wanton Daunces from vaine Songs from other carnall delights to exercises of Religion to helpes of knowledge singing of Psalmes with melodie to thee in my heart Finally O Lord seeing that in this earthly prosperity there is so great abuse and so present danger for want of grace to abuse them O Lord teach mee the true vse of them that I may not set my heart thereon but in thee giuing thee thanks for them and labouring with all diligence through thy grace in Iesus Christ that they bee not through my wickednesse turned into curses As Salomon teacheth wisedome to take heede of an Harlot so teach mee to take heed of vaine pleasures in worldly matters that I be not bewitched with prosperity and forget thee bathing my selfe in pleasures and neuer setting thee before mine eyes O mercifull Father for thy deerely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ worke this in mee that I may bee rich in good workes that I may haue as not hauing that I may vse the world as not abusing it but vsing it to thy glory and praise through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons and one God bee all praise honor and glory both now and for euer Amen A Prayer against Whoredome and vncleannesse O God which by thy holy word hast commanded that for the auoyding of the filthy sinne of fornication eueâ—y man should haue his lawfull wife and euery woman enioy her lawfull husband threatning death and damnation to all such as seek to liue contrary to thy commandement herein I humbly beseech thee for Christs sake that thou wilt mortifie and kill in me all carnall concupiscence filthy motions and fleshly desires by the operation of thy holy Spirit in me that I neuer defile either my body or soule in this loathsome and stinking sinne of whoredome adultery fornication Incest or other vncleannesse of body whatsoeuer but liuing purely vnpolluted therewith all the dayes of my life I may practise to please thee in all my proceedings I know O Lord that flesh and blood the filthy vncleane workes of flesh and blood cannot enter into thy habitation nor yet possesse any portion in thine euerlasting kingdome of glory therefore whensoeuer the diuell his wicked members the world or the flesh shall tempt and prouoke mee to preparation hereto giue me power and strength to withstand their assaults and put into my minde to consider that thine eyes doe behold me and thine holy Angels looke vpon me also that the horrible company of diuels compasse me about ready to register my filthy fact in a booke of memoâ—ials against the great day of the Lord. And so by thy gracious assistance and thâ—se good considerations I may beâ— partly terrified and partly ashamed for euer to commit the same knowing that thou who sparedst not the former world but destroyedst Sodom and Gomorrha with fire brimstone from heauen the whole world with water the Citty of the Sichemites with the edge of the sword and the children of Israel at sundry times slaying infinite Millions of them for this horrible vice wilt not spare me a most wicked and abhominable sinner if I commit the like offence Wherefore blessed Father suffer mee not thy deere Child in Iesus Christ bought with thy most precious blood to bee once spotted stained or blemished either in body or mind with this filthy stinking sinne of whoredome fornication that I appearing cleane in thy sight may after this life ended liue with thee thy Sonne Iesus Christ and the holy Ghost one true and euer liuing God world without end Amen A Prayer against Couetousnes and ambition ALmighty God and most mercifull Father who hast commanded euery man to labour and trauaile in his vocation and calling thereby to releeue his necessities and to maintaine his estate and hast promised thereto thy blessing Blesse I beseech thee all my actions and laboures which I shall at any time take in hand in thy name and thereby I receiuing sufficent sustentation maintenance for mine estate and calling may be free from the insatiable desires of couetousnes ambition auarice and all desire of vnlawfull gaine knowing that those that desire to bee rich fall into diuers temâ—ptations and snares of the diuel From which coÌ„tagious infection I beseech thee so much more warily to keepe mee by how much more I finde the same forbidden in thy holy word The holy Apostle calleth it idolatry worshipping of Idols and the roote of all euill excluding them out of the kingdome of heauen that be infected therewith And thy deere Son Iesus Christ telleth vs that it shall be easier for the Camell to goe through the eye of a needle then for a rich man that is a couetous rich man whose affiance is in his riches to enter into the kingdome of heauen Wherefore good Father keepe me farre from this filthy vice of couetousnesse and ambition grant that I hauing food for my body and cloathes for my backe with all other necessaries incident to this life may bee well contented therewith not coueting or desiring any more and all the daies of my life in true simplicity of heart may giue thee praise for the same Finally grant that I seeking the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnesse thereof as thou hast
that he seeth not the wickednesse that hee committeth And therefore Lot being drunke perceiued not his incestuous fact committed with his two Daughters The Israelites swelling in gluttony and drunkennesse perceiued not their grieuous sinne of Idolatry which they fell into The rich glutton drunken with the aboundance of all things perceiued not his contempt of the poore nor yet their great want and therefore thou in thy great wrath tookest him away from the face of the earth By these and the like exampes of thy Iudgements grant O heauenly Father that I being admonished may bee carefull and studious neuer to bee culpable in this filthy vice least in thy wrath thou depriue mee of the vse of thy creatures in this life and in the world to come giue mee my portion with the wicked in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone that neuer shall be quenched This is the reward thou threatnest in thy holy word to all drunkards gluttons and ryotous persons saying by the mouth of the Apostle neither whoremongers adulterers gluttons drunkards nor such like shall euer enter into the kingdome of heauen Wherefore most deere Father I beseech thee to deliuer me in mercy that I neuer bee stayned therewith but may alwayes vse thy giftes to thy glory the releefe of mine owne necessities and the helpe comfort of others that doe want the same And grant that I seeking after not onely this corporal food which perisheth but also that sweet Ambrosia and heauenly Nectar the word of life which neuer decayeth may after the end of this life haue the full fruition thereof to my eternall comfort and for euer laude and praise thy blessed name through Iesus Christ our Sauiour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer against idlenesse and sloth MOst holy Fathâ—r after thou haddest created man thou placedst him in paradise commanding him for the avoyding of idlenesse to dresse and manure the same And afterward being cast out of paradise for the sinne of transgression and sent into the world thou enioynest him in the sweat of his face to eate his bread to the end he should not at any hand be idle and so minister occasion to the enemie to inuade him for man being idle and inclined to sloath the diuell he besiegeth vs with a thousand of temptations our flesh lusteth to euill our minds are inflamed to all kinde of wickednesse Wherefore most mercifull Father I most heartily beseech thee that duting the short course of my life in this world I may be alwaies godly occupied and vertuously exercised in the affayers of this life and in all manner of good workes before thee that my enemies the Diuell the World nor the Flesh preuaile not against me And considering that I must render account of all my actions whatsoeuer and of euery minute of an houre or iotte of time lent mee in this life I beseech thee giue me grace to spend my time in such godly actions as may please thee not in idlenes sloath or in any wanton lewd lasciuious or wicked exercise that being found faithfull and vigilant in my calling when the day of Tribulation commeth when euery man shall be rewarded according to his deeds I may obtaine euerlasting life And as it may please thee to keepe my body from idlenes sloath so vouchsafe I beseech thee to exercise my soule in godly contemplations and vertuous Meditations of thee and of thy holy and blessed word together with the heauenly ioyes and beatitudes prepared for all those that vnfeignedly long for thy comming In the practising whereof make mee to loue nothing but thee to honor and obey thee to feare dread and reuerence thee and to desire and couet nothing but thee that I dwelling with thee in minde onely during this life may after the dissolution of this earthly tabernacle dwell with thee both in body and soule world without end through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whome with thee and thy holy Spirit bee all praise and glory now and for euermore Amen A Prayer against Infidelitie and dispaire necessarie for a troubled and wounded spirit GLorious Lord God and our most tender Father in Iesus Christ in whom thou hast elected vs before all worlds to life and glorie and in thy due time hast called vs to a liuely hope of eternall happinesse that we might walke before thee in holinesse and righteousnesse and in thine infinite wisedome hast so disposed of vs in this estate of holinesse that thou maiest haue the glory of thy free grace and therefore as thou hast discharged vs freely of the guilt of our sinne by the blood of thy Sonne and accepted vs perfectly righteous in his obedience so also thou hast left corruption in vs to be daily maistered and subdued that so being thereby daily conscious of our owne vnworthinesse and vnsufficiency and subiect in regard thereof to much distraction and infidelity wee might learne still to liue by faith in the Sonne of God denying our owne righteousnesse that still we may be found in him to the glorious praise of his free grace and so may bee keept by his mighty power through faith vnto saluation Looke graciously vpon me thine vnworthy seruant who doe here vnfeignedly acknowledge before thee that thy Foundation stands sure thou knowest who are thine yet my faith is so weake that I ofttimes am to seeke whither I am thine or no. For such is my ignorance of what I should know that I sometimes grope at the light in the noone day neither knowing the worth of my holy calling nor being able to vse the meanes which may truly informe me therein but somtimes ouer value mine estate as if it were better with mee then it is and sometimes abase my selfe to bee worse then indeed I am or should be And my corruption sometimes breaking out into grosse rebellion doth so hinder and obscure my spirituall eye of faith that I can neither truly discerne whereto I am come neither can see afarre to what I should attaine yea many times it fareth so ill with me that for want of speedie endeauour to recouer my selfe by repentance I doe not onely plunge my selfe deeper into the snare of sinne by not applying the true remedie aright or stumbling vpon vaine helpes but hereby many times am cast into such straights that I not onely question all former truth of thy grace as if I were no better then an hypocrite and had builded on the sands but also am ready to giue ouer all hope of attaining the same as if either it did not belong vnto me or else it were too late to pursue and apprehend the same as if thou hadst forgot to be mercifull because I feele my selfe so miserable as if thy compassion were cleane gone because my rebellion seemes so desperate Hence it is O my God that I turne all thy comforts to be corrasiues vnto me and esteeme all thy threatnings no better then flashes of hell and enterances to eternall vengeance