they me me if I turn to the right-hand they terifie me if to the left-hand they tormeâ— me If I look down into the Earth Hâ— is ready to devour me Now I have â— way but to look up to thee help me good God save me dear Father succour me â—weet Redeemer assist me merciful Creaâ—or that my Prayers may be so servent so â—ealous so affectionate towards thee that â—hey may draw down thy Mercies upon me Power down thy Blessings showre â—own thy Graces open thy hand of Merâ—y and restore joy and consolation to my â—eavy-laden Soul wash away my Sins â—ipe away my Iniquities heal my Infirâ—ities purge my wicked Mind of all ill â—houghts pardon all my Damnable Deeds â—nd detestable Dealings take all hardness â—â— heart from me and according to thy â—ood promise renew a right Spirit within â—e send the Joys of thy holy Comforts â—â—on me O Lord let me have some taste â—â—d some sense of thy most glorious and â—ost comfortable Presence let me be reâ—ewed by thy Grace and established in â—y Service that I may never back-slide â—om thee But grant O most merciful â—ther that my whole dependance may be â—on thee so that in all my Thoughts â—ords and Actions I may rejoyce in serâ—â—g fearing and obeying of thee that I â—y spend the residue of my Days in thy â—vice seeking thy Honour and Glory And most merciful Father favourably govern help instruct guide and teach me by thy Wisdom to magnifie thy Name and preserve me in all my Ways and Workâ— and all about me Remember thy poâ— Flock build up thy Church in the moâ— holy Faith Comfort Sion govern anâ— assist all painful Pastors and Teachers teach them and us rightly to know thee and truly to follow thee in all the Paths oâ— Righteousness and true Holiness O Lordâ— Rouse my sleepy Soul and defend it froâ— evil Imaginations keep me always in thâ— good frame of Spirit which will causâ— me to meditate upon thy Law Day anâ— Night Grant that I may not do anâ— thing that is contrary to thy Commandâ— but that I may walk in Piety and in Peace Give me a true and hearty Repentanâ— for Sin that I never may repent of that â— may be truly sorrowful for spending of mâ— time so much in the Devils Service â— powerful preserver of Men remember mâ— and restore me to Joy and Comfort anâ— hasten in time thy Salvation unto mâ— Draw my lingring Soul with the Coâ— of thy Love and it shall run after the Good Lord declare thy Mercy unto mâ— that I may make known thy hand-â—oâ— Establish me in thy Grace excite me to Goodness give me Grace that I may grow stronger and stronger to walk before thee and weaker and weaker to sin against thee and faithful and stedfast in thy Service to my Life's End Grant this dear God for thy Son ' sake my blessed Redeemer Amen A Prayer before a Sermon MOst gracious Father give us Hearts to hear thy Word with that due Reverence and Attention as we ought knowing that it is the Word of God and not of Man therefore we ought to hear what by thy Servant thou art pleased to command us that we may do it with all our Hearts and with all our Souls Lord do thou keep our Thoughts upon what we hear and let them not be carried away with any vain Illusions and wicked Imaginations Grant that we be not overcome with Sleep and Drowsiness but quicken O Lord we beseech thee our Senses open our Ears to hear and make us to understand how to observe thy heavenly Word for thy only Son's sake our Saviour Amen A Prayer to be said after Sermon O Lord God we beseech thee to leâ— that Word which we have heard thâ— Day with our Ears to be set home to oâ—â— Hearts that we may not be only Heareâ— of thy Word but Doers that we may so learn to live to please thee and make iâ— our Business to keep thy Commandments and spend the rest of our Lives in thâ— Service to the Honour and Glory of thy Great Name and the Salvation of oâ—â— Immortal Souls through Jesus Christ oâ—â— Lord. Amen A Prayer against wicked Thoughts MOst Glorious and Eternal God I one of the unworthiest of thy Creatures am come on my bended Knees to implore the gracious Assistance of thy Holy Spirit against the Evil Thoughts that do arise in me to the great Dishonour of thy Holy Name and the great Trouble of my own Conscience When I have Thoughtâ— to be fervent with thee in Prayer either the Devil the World or the Flesh do disappoint me and I cannot do as I would for those things that I do I would noâ— do and those that I would I do not â—n follows me Shame is ready to overâ—ke me Confusion is like to lay hold on â—e Destruction attends me and Horrors â—d Fear affright me I have none to â—ake my Supplications to but to thee my â—viour my Rock and Salvation Help â— God save me merciful Father deâ—nd me dear Creator a Poor worthless â—orm as I am draw me from my Sins â—e succour pardon and forgive me â—ash me and I shall be clean help me to â—t away the Evil of my Doings and â—arn me O God to do well Give me â—iritual Thoughts to renew all good purâ—oses within me help me to put away â—â—r from me all vain and lustful Thoughts â—f the Flesh and all malicious reproachâ—â—l and froward Thoughts that proceed â—â—om the Devil or any worldly Occasions â—o that I may live purely and have no Thoughts but what are innocent and â—haste always fearing to displease so graâ—ous a God and loving a Father as thou â—â—t and walking circumspectly before â—hee that I may be a good Example to 〈◊〉 my Neighbours round about me that â—ey may see my good Works and glorifie â—ee the only and alone Author of them To whom I give Praise Honour and Glâ—ry at this time henceforth and for evermore A Prayer in Prosperity MOst bountiful Father as thou haâ— been pleased to bless me with a large Portion of this World's Wealth give me an humble thankful and charitable Heart that I may be a good Stewardâ— that thou hast been pleased to entrust mâ— with in bestowing of it upon those Objects of Pity and Compassion that are iâ— great Straits and Necessity for it and nâ—â— upon base and sordid Lusts of which should certainly have cause to repent oâ— and that for ever O Lord grant that thâ— more earthly Blessings that thou give me I may the more seek thy Heavenâ— Graces that I may be the more humbleâ— in the due consideration of my great uâ— thankfulness and ungratefulness of Spiâ—â—â— that I may live more piously and religiouâ—ly and that when I depart this sinful Lâ— I may be mindful to leave some good aâ—â— godly Examples of Charity to those thâ— follow Grant that this my Wealth maâ— be no hindrance to my Salvation but rather a furtherance to me in all
of this Sacrifice of Thanks giving for thy great Mercy in appearing so wonderfully for me to my great Ease and Comfort in that dreadful and painful Hour of Child-bearing that thou hast been pleased safely to deliver me from the Perils of it and to lengthen out my Days in the Land of the Living and to see the Fruit of my hard Labour and Travail Lord grant that it may prosper and grow up in thy Fear to thy Glory and both our Comforts And grant Lord that I may live worthy of this Mercy and make thee some grateful Returns for all thy Mercies Pardon and forgive me all my Sins and preserve me from sining against thee any more And all I beg upon the account of thy dear Son To whom with the O Father and with the blessed Spirit be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Christian Vertues as Love Faith Hope and Charity c. O Lord Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations bless me with all thy Spiritual Blessings and Heavenly Graces make me rich in Love strong in Faith full in Assurance of Hope and abound in all Charitable Actions according to that Sufficiency thou hast been pleâ—sed to bless and entrust me with that I may have nothing to answer for at that great and terrible Day wherein the Secrets of all Hearts shall be opened and every one rewarded according to their Doings Lord grant that thy Graces may all flourish in me as the Bay-Tree that so by my good Example others may return to thee their Lord and Saviour and so have cause to sing Praises to thy Great Name for all thy Wondrous Works Lord keep me from Insolence and Pride and grant me true Humility and Zealousness of Mind and give me a true Consideration of my own Vileness that so I may tremble and stand in Awe before thee as a sinful Man having always a better esteem of others than my self Gracious Lord when the Devil shall accuse my own Conscience bear Witness against me and the whole World forsake me for my Sins do thou be my Strength my Salvation my Rock and strong Tower of Defence against these potent Enemies of my Soul Enflame my Dead Heart with the Heavenly Affection of an unseign'd Love that I may love and adore thee above all and my Neighbour as my self Grant me a good Mind to help and succour all to my Ability to forbear and forgive all that ever any did against me Let not the least Spark of Envy or Wrath lodge within my Breast nor never let the Sun go down upon my Anger but let me be satisfied that Vengeance is thine and that thou art so just that thou wilt send it upon the Heads of those that fear thee not and call not upon thee but that live in Envy and Malice and Implacableness of Spirit against thy Children Give me Grace O Lord to follow the Example of all good Men and keep me from that hateful Sin of Sloath and Iâ—leness which is the High-way to Want and Beggary Grant me a contented mind and moderate my Desâ—res towards the Things of this World and Lord be with me at the Hour of Death and when I go hence and be no more seen I may be admitted into thy Kingdom of Glory that I may eternally sing Hallelujah's to thy great Name Grant this O God and whatever else I stand in need of for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Earthly Blessings O Lord God Eternal which causeth the Sun to shine upon the Just and the Unjust satisfie the Desires of thy Servants with thy bountiful Goodness we cannot but must humbly acknowledge that we are not worthy of the least of thy Favours but that it is of thy Eternal Goodness we are living Monuments of thy mercy all this Day Lord do thou supply our daily Necessities and give us this Day and every Day our daily Bread Bless the manuring of our Ground prosper 〈◊〉 Corn and bless the Seed-time with the Former and Latter Rain in their due Seasons Keep our Fruits while they be upon the Earth from Haâ—l and Thunder from excessive Droughts over much Raâ—o and Mildews and send us a joyful Harvest O Lord bless and increase our Cattle and keep them from those Casualties they are obnoxious to amd bless our â—â—skeâ— and our Store and keep our Granaries Barns and Store Houses from Fire and boisterous Winds Thieves aâ—d sudden Inundations Prosper all our Undertakiâ—gs whether by Sea or Land Be thou a present Hâ—lp in time of Trouble and turn our Dearâ—â—s into Cheapness and Scarcity into Pleâ—ty And Lord open the Hearts of those to whom thou hast dealt liberally that as thou hast been to them they may be to their poor Fellow-Creatures that are in Want Help us O Lord in all our Straits and oppress us not with too much Poverty neither let us be puffed up in the Day of Prosperity but keep us in Evenness of Temper in either extreme that we may live in thy Fear and die in thy Favour And all this we beg upon the Account of thy dear Son and our blessed Redeemer to whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Graces before and after Meat Grace before Meat O Lord God Maker of Heaven and Earth who hast created â—ll things for the use and service of Men Bless these thy Creatures which thou hast provided for us and set before us at this time that they may strengthen our Bodies so that thereby we may be the better able to live to thy Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Grace after Meat ALmighty God and Everlasting Father who out of thy infinite Goodness hast most plentifully fed us for which and all other Mercies we return thee hearty Thanks begging of thee so to direct and guide us as that we may in some measure live answerable to thy Goodness to us All which we beg for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be Praise Honour and Glory henceforth and for evermore Grace before Meat MOst Gracious Father we crave thy Blessing upon these good Creatures that thou by thy good hand of Providence hast bestowed upon us grant that they may give Nourishment to these our mortal Bodies and sanctifie them so unto us as that we may live to thy Praise to thy Honour and to thy Glory both now henceforth and for evermore Grace after Meat MOst Bountiful and Gracious Lord God whose Goodness is extended to the uttermost Parts of the Earth what cause have we to praise and magnifie thy holy Name for this great and singular mercy of daily taking care for us and plentifully feeding of us with the best and choicest of thy Creatures As thou hast filled our Bodies with them so fill
Comfort Peace Security Joy keep away I will I have none of you except you bring a pardon with you As to many that are sick all things seem bitter so all your pleasures are distasteful unto me I account you my deceitful and flattering Enemies Disquiet shall be my Rest Mourning my Mirth sowre Sorrow my Comfort Alas how shall I present my self before the Majesty of the most righteous and upright Judge how shall my fearful Face behold him how terrible will he cast his Countenance upon me his Eyes far brighter than the Sun have narrowly observed all my Actions he hath weigh'd my Words he hath examin'd my Thoughts he hatâ— fealed up all my Sins he hath hitherto been silent hither patient but alas he wilâ— one day cry out and call me to a reckonâ—ing for all O my heart O poor heart a heart fuâ— of miseries never able to sustain these Firâ— brands of Conscience alas Wretch that â— am comfortless and forsaken Wretch whither shall I go to whom shall I seeâ— for succour who shall have pity and compassion upon me If I behold the Heaveâ— I am justly excluded because I have griâ—vously sinned against them If I look upoâ— the Earth it is weary of me because I haâ—â— been noisome unto it on the one side I sâ— the Good I have declin'd on the other siâ— the Evil which I have pursued before â—â— is Death ready to arrest me behind me my wicked Life ready to accuse me aboâ— me thy Justice ready to condemn me bâ—neath me Hell fire ready to devour me â— am altogether unworthy that the Eaâ—â— should bear me that the Light and Aâ— should refresh we that any Creature shouâ— serve me my eyes are not worthy to loâ— towards thee yea they are most wortâ— to be extinguished with Tears If then I â— ashamed to be seen how shall I be assur'â— to be received I have no Heart to ask what hope can I have that I shall obtain Go to then O sinful Soul enter again into the Closet of thy Conscience turn over the Books of thy Accompts cast up thy Reckoning set down thy Sum see what thou hast done and what thou hast deserved O Lord I must confess I have been guilty of abusing many Creatures in desiâ—ing seeking and embracing them above and before thee I have been guilty of Blasphemy guilty of Swearing guilty of Lying guilty of vain and foolish Talking guilty of Covetousness guilty of Cruelty guilty of Pride guilty of Ambition guilty of Riot guilty of Gluttony guilty of Drunkenness guilty of Lightness guilty of Looseness guilty of Lust guilty of Envy guilty of Hatred guilty of Anger guilty of Unquietness guilty of Frowardness guilty of Obstinacy guilty of Rashness guilty of Violence guilty of Idleness guilty of Sloth guilty of Hypocrisie guilty of Flattery guilty of Curiosity guilty of Detraction guilty of Oppression guilty of Slander and to sum up all guilty of breaking of all thy Commandments The penalty is eternal Banishment from thy presence and intolerable and endless Pains in Hell-fire Out upon me Wretch alas what shall become of me O my Lord I know not what to do I cannot tell what answer to make and being now in Extremity both of danger and fear my Cogitations trouble me my Conscience tormenteth me every Thought is a Thorn unto me insomuch as that I may conclude of my self with that of Judas It had been good for me that I had never been born Nay go on then a little further look down into Hell before thou leap into it observe there who expects thy coming what shall be thy entertainment look down into Hell I say over which thou now hangest by the slender twined thread of Life which if it should happen suddenly to break thou art in danger therein to be devoured if it doth noâ— break yet the turning of the Heaven is instead of a Wheel which continually windeth some part towards thee A short View of the Horrors and Terrors the Damned in Hell O Good God! what do I behold in thâ— Infernal Lake nothing but Horroâ— Tumultuous and Eternal Horror Fieâ— Chains Flaming Whips Scorching Darness tormenting Devils and burning Souls howling roaring and lamenting Woe and alas with a mad Rage blaspheming God in despair for ever to be received into his Favour and for despite in being fetter'd by him in those Eternal Flames with a desperate Impenitency cursing all Creatures and especially themselves tearing in a manner their own Substance and inviting the furious Fiends to torment them All the Pains of this Life are singular vexing some one sense or member of the Body or if many be affected at once yet never all but here every Pore and Part of the condemned Prisoner as well inward as outward hath both a full and fit charge of Punishment without either intermission or change for as he hath offended God with every part of his Soul and part of his Body so must every one of them receive his peculiar Punishment the Memory is tormented with Pleasures that are past the Apprehension with Pains that are present the Understanding with Joys that are lost and Miseries that are to come the Will with a malicious and envious Disposition at the Glory of God and his Elect and above all the Conscience is griped with a bitter despite and raging fruitless Repentance for every particular Offence the Sinner hath committed which once seem'd â—oft and sweet but then like Serpents cruâ—lly and restlesly gnaw upon him never â—â—asing to rub into his remembrance how â—â—ase were the Causes of his Calamity what Warning was given what Means was preâ—ented for the avoiding of it how effectuâ—lly he had been persuaded how earnestly â—ntreated to change his choice and accept â—he offer of eternal Happiness how easily â—e might and many times how nearly he â—ad apprehended the occasion and yet â—ow negligently how foolishly how madâ—â—â—he continued in his careless course Further the Sight is affected with fearâ—ul Darkness and ugly Devils the Hearing with terrible and hideous Cries the Smell with poisonous Stink the taste with bitâ—erness far exceeding Gall the Feeling â—ith intolerable Fire A Fire which as nothing does feed it so â—t consumeth nothing that it doth burn a Fire which hath no Light to comfort but Heat to torment no Light but to shew â—hem their own Miseries and the Miseries â—f those they did inordinately affect A 〈◊〉 whose force shall never be spent or â—â—â—inguished or yet abated but so long as â—d is God so long it shall torment the â—cked and that with such vehement rage at one drop of Water to be applied to â—â— scorched Tongue will be of greater â—luation than a Thousand Worlds O unhappy Bodies which are to be baâ—ed in this burning Lake speaking nothing â—t Curses seeing nothing but Miseries â—aring nothing but mourning and gnashâ— of Teeth O silly Souls which passed â—ay the time of this Life either in Idleness in Evil what an endless Chain of Calaty have your
Wickedness no longer therefore lift up your Head O ye Gates and be ye lifted up ye Everlasting Doors I will force my way thro' I will enter and all that ever Men or Devils can do unto me shall not hinder shall Tribulation or Distress or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness Peril or Sword these can but kill the Body but I have an immortal Soul that is of greater value if I save that I save all and shall I fear dangers in striving to be abundantly satisfy'd with the Fatness of God's House I see a City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God I see a-far off a House made without Hands eternal in the Heavens farewel deceitful Heart I will give Ear to your false Suggestions no more I have a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto I resolve to take heed how often hast thou taught me to hide my Sins and call them by wrong Names that I might excuse my self for departing from them But dare I presume to think to deceive the all-wise God No God will not be blinded he will not be mocked he is not asleep like Baal or gone a Hunting No Canst thou draw a Curtain before the Eyes of Infinite Wisdom No he sits and sees and observes all the Actions of Men therefore I am ashamed knowing what I have done I have called my Pride Decency my Covetousness Frugality my Drunkenness Good-Fellowship my Lasciviousness Impossibility of resisting the Dictates of Nature my slandering others but saying what I hear And thus I have deceived my self but I will for the future be deceived no more but I will hearken unto what the Lord will say unto me and not to my base and deceitful Heart's Lust I have seen enough of Impiety I will stay no longer in Sodom these flowery Meadows these pleasant Fields shall make me lie down no more I see there 's Death in the Pot and the great Day of God's eternal Wrath is hastening therefore I come Lord I will stand off no longer I have staid in the service of Sin and of the Devil too long already I will give ear to what thou shalt be pleased to say to me I will turn my back no more upon thee I will harden my heart no more It is the voice of my beloved that knocks I will arise and let him in Awake up my Glory Awake I have slumbered too much get up my drowsie Affections the Lord is at hand O my God! wilt thou spread forth thy blessed Arms to embrace and receive such a wretched Creature as I am filled with all manner of wickedness and Deceit and having known the Judgment of God that they who commit such things are worthy of Death have not only done the same but have had pleasure in them that do them is there Mercy in store for such a Rebel then I heartily renounce the Devil and all his Works therefore arise O Lord and let thy Enemies be scatter'd and appear for me with thy Almighty Power and out stretch'd Arm and deliver me from this Slavery this hard Bondage that I am under Deliver me from these my Enemies that seek my utter Destruction Methinks I see them quaking and trembling before God's Tribunal that thought it below them while upon Earth to make Religion their business Methinks I see them how they are ashamed of their Madness and Folly and methinks I hear them caâ—l and cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the Face of him that sits upon the Throne Direct me O Lord and teach me by thy holy Spirit draw me and I will run after thee teach me to sing the Song of Sion guide me in the Path of Life Leave not my Soul in Hell pull it out I have made a solemn choice of God for my Portion leâ— me know how I must love him I will obey your Counsel I will act according to your Directions be not afraid of me I will not turn my back in the day of Battle I have done with these fading deceitful Pleasures I find no Comfort no enjoyment in them they may please for a while but they cannot satisfie for ever Nay they are destructive both to Soul and Body Solomon took a tryal of them all and found them so and so all Men are forc'd to confess at last and too often when it is too late I see most Men of another Mind when they come to die to what they are in the time of their strength and health and Liberty But O my Soul come not then into their Secret unto their Assembly my Honour be thou not united Take warning by these sad Examples There are many Snares laid I am beset with temptations but I will hug those Monsters no more but will resist and overcome them by thy Power Come my Soul ascend to higher Thoughts Hopes and Labours and away with thy soft Wishes and dull Endeavours are these fit for seeking Eternal Joys doth a slow pace become a Man that is resolv'd for Eternity The Voice of the Lord is powerful the voice of the Lord is full of Majesty the Voice of the Lord breaks the Cedars and art thou the only Creature he cannot shake it's done I am sensible and I am resolved Resolution will go far as I may see by these Examples Resolution made David run thro' a Troop and leap over a Wall Psal 18. 29. It was his Resolution made him say thus Psal 119. 46 106. I have sworn and will perform it that I will keep thy righteous judgments I will speak of thy Testimonies before Kings and will not be ashamed and I will delight my self in thy Commandments My hands will I lift up unto thy Precepts which I have loved and I will meditate in thy Statutes It was Resolution made Shadrach Meshech and Abednego go voluntarily into the Fire It was Resolution made St. Paul ready not only to suffer but to die at Jerusalem for the Name of Jesus Resolution made David's Worthies draw Water out of the Well of Bethlehem Resolution made Ignatius despise Fire Sword and wild Beasts Resolution made Empedocles give himself to the Flames and Artalus to sit down as one unconcern'd in the fiery Chair his Enemies had prepared for him and Resolution made Job bear his great Losses Shall I be faint-hearted shall I be a Coward shall these and others resolve to part with anything so much as their very Lives for their Saviour's Sake Lord I am resolved with these Worthies to undergo any thing for the advancement of thy Honour and Glory My heart is ready to obey all thy Commands therefore Lord make me clean help me to put a way the evil of my doingâ— and learn me to do well that so I may siâ— no more against thee or grieve thy Holy Spirit I am convinced that thy service iâ— perfect freedom he that enters upon it is under the Government of a good and a lawful Prince he feels nothing that iâ— burthensome unto him
to my everlasting Comfort Amen After the Bread say Oever blessed Jesus Son of the moâ— high God sanctifie this Bread to thâ— Soul that it may enable me to overcomâ— all Assaults of the World the Flesh anâ— the Devil and that I may continue thâ— faithful Servant to my Live's end Amen Before Receiving of the Cup say THe Lord himself is the portion of â—â— Inheritance and my Cup thou shâ— maintain my Lot my Lâ—t is fallen to â—â— in a fair Ground yea I have a good Heritage I have set God always befâ—â— me he is on my right-hand therefoâ—â— shall not fall Gracious is the Lord aâ— Righteous yea our God is merciful Wâ—â— reward shall I give unto the Lord for the benefits he hath done for me I â—â— receive the Cup of Salvation and callâ— on the Name of the Lord. Devout Prayers Praises and Thanksgivings upon several Occasions A Short Collection of some of the Holy Resolutions of Holy DAVID concerning Prayer and Praises PSALM ix Verse 1 2. I Will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart I will shew forth all thy marvellous works I will be glad and rejoice in thee I will sing praises to thy Name O thou most High Verse 11. Sing praises to the Lord that dwelleth in Zion declare among the People his doings Psal xviii 3. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I be saved from my Enemies Psalm xix 12 13. Who can understand his Errors Cleanse thou me from secret Faults Keep back thy Servant also from presumptuous sins let them not have dominion over me Psal xxviii 1 2. Unto thee O Lord will I cry my Rock be not silent to me Hear the Voice of my Supplications when I cry unto thee Psalm xxxiii 1 2 3. Rejoice in the Lord O ye Righteous for Praise is comely for the Upright Praise the Lord with Harp sing unto him with the Psaltery and an Instrument of ten Strings Sing unto him a new Song play skilfully with a loud Noise Psalm li. 1 2. Have Merey upon me O God according to thy loving kindness According to the multitude of thy tender Mercies blot out my transgressions Wash me throughly from my Iniquity and cleanse me from Sin Psalm lxvii 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. God be merciful unto us and bless us and cause thy Face to shine upon us That thy way may be known upon the Earth and thy saving health among all Nations Let the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee O let the Nations be glad and sing for joy for thou shalt judge the People righteously and govern the Nations upon the Earth Let the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee Then shall the Earth yield her Increase and God even our God shall bless us God shall bless us and all the ends of the Earth shall fear him Psalm c. 1 2 3 4 5. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye Lands Serve the Lord with gladness come before his presence with singing Know ye that the Lord he is God it is he that hath made us and not we our selves we are his People and the Sheep of his Pasture Enter into his Gates with thanksgiving and into his Courts with Praise Be thankful unto him and bless his Name For the Lord is good his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all Generations Some few of God's Promises to those that truly serve him and call upon his Name Psalm cxii Verse 1 2 3. BLessed is the Man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandments His seed shall be mighly upon the Earth the Generation of the Upright shall be blessed Wealth and Riches shall be in his House â—nd his Righteousnes shall endure for ever Job li. 7. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto â—im and he shall hear thee and if thou seek â—im he will be found Isa lxv 24. Before they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear John xv 7. Ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you John xvi 24. Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be-full John xiv 13 14. Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name I will do it Matthew xxi 22. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive Matthew vi 6. Pray to thy Father which seeth in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly Matt. vii 7. Ask and it shall be given you seek and you shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you A Morning Prayer for a Family MOst glorious and ever blessed Lord God whose goodness and mercy is extended to the very ends of the Earth who dost from thy Throne behold all the actions of the Sons and Daughters of Men whether they be good or evil that thou mayest reward them according to their doings O Lord we poor sinful Dust and Ashes are this Morning come before thee to beg Grace of thee hoping in thy Mercy which is over all thy Works Keep us we humbly pray thee this Day as thou hast kept us the Night that is past and gone keep us in thy Faith Fear and Love and forgive us all our Transgressions by the Merits of thy dear Son Teach us to bewail them as we ought and separate them from us that would separate us from thee our God O Lord take away from our Minds all Ignorance and Blindness and all hardness of heart and make thy Word more precious to us than the Gold of Ophir and guide us by thy holy Spirit here out of all that is evil into all that is good that when our great change comes we may receive that Crown of Glory that is laid up for all those that run and are not weary that walk and are not faint but that travel in thy strength and by thy gracious assistance till they arrive to their Journeys end which is to rest in thy Bosom O Lord do thou strengthen our Weakness enlighten our Understandings more and more that in the greatest Temptation we may have knowledge of thee and of thy ways that we may never be overtaken but that for the future we may press forward towards the mark of the high Calling in Christ Jesus our Lord. Lord do thou prosper all our Undertakings and bless our Goings out and Comings in and give us Hearts to learn something of every thing and make a spiritual Use of our Actions and Occasions till we come to lodge with thee in thy Kingdom Let our Affections grow one towards another unfeignedly and that we may love our Enemies and bless them that curse us but especially the houshold of Faith and that we may always pray for them and they for us and both of us be heard of thee for our selves and one for another and thy Son for us all Bless Lord the Catholick Church with Truth Peace soundness of Doctrine and holy Discipline Continue thy
Favours upon this Land of our Nativity and with the choicest of thy blessings bless the King upon the Throne and all the Royal Family sanctifie the Lives and the Studies oâ— thy Servants that labour in thy Word oâ— Doctrine Bless his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council and all others iâ— Authority with necessary Favours Bless the Nurseries of good Learning all Grammar-schools the famous Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and the Inns of Court Bless this City and Place wherein we live Remove the Punishments due for the Sins thereof and give them Grace to repent in time lest they be destroyed Bless all our Friends Relations and others for whom thou hast appointed us to make Prayers and Supplications Bless this Family with Grace and Peace that they all may know their several Duties towards thee and one towards anâ—ther And all we beg for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the Blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory ascribed by us here and all thine elsewhere both now and for evermore An Evening Prayer for a Family O Lord God Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations we 〈◊〉 come this Evening by thy great Mercy 〈◊〉 to the Throne of Grace to beg Grace oâ— thee to help us in the time of Need anâ— also to return thee hearty thanks for 〈◊〉 multitude of thy great Mercies but 〈◊〉 especially for thy merciful preservatin oâ— us this Day and all the Times and Days of our Lives that thou hast by thy mighty Power and streched out Arm brought us out of innumerable Perils and Dangers and hast attended us both by Night and by Day and poured upon us contrary to our deserts so many Excellent Blessings and Benefits both Spiritual and Temporal Good Lord we beseech thee keep us as thou hast done hitherto from Day to Day and make us steadfast in the profession of thy Holy Name and keeping of thy Commandments that neither the Wrath of Man nor the Malice of the Devel may turn us away from thee Lord turn thy back upon our Iniquities blot ouâ— our Transgressions and remember our Sins noÌ„ more in which we have so much delighted change our corrupt and polluted-Hearts and wash and cleanse us in the Blood of our dear Redeemer Forgive us all that is past and grant us the assurance of that Forgiveness seal'd up iâ—â—ur Consciences by thy Holy Spirit Forgive us our intolerable Barenness in good Works our base Unthankfulness and the Abuse of thy Grace and strike our stony â—earts with the Rod of thy Fear that wâ— may attain unto a due Thankfulneness for 〈◊〉 thy Favours and a most unfeign'd and â—rnest Repentance of our Sins O Lord â—ess us all this Night and after our Boâ—ies have been refreshed do thou bring us â—â— the light of another day wherein we â—ay praise thy great Name in the Land â—f the Living Sanctifie us by thy Word â—â—roughout Soul Body and Spirit for thy â—ord is Truth Bless this Nation preâ—erve the King and all that are in Auâ—hority and all thy Children Raise up â—â—e Heavy-hearted that mourn in Zion Give them Beauty for Ashes the Oil of â—oy for Mourning and the Garments of â—raise for the Spirit of Heaviness Lord â—e merciful unto them whom thou hast â—ade any way helpful unto us Bless every one of us in our proper station that we â—ay serve thee with all our Hearts fear â—hy Majesty and love thy Precepts These â—hings O Lord and what ever thou knowâ—st is needful for us we humbly crave of â—hee in the Name and Merits of Jesus Christ our blessed Redeemer saying as â—e hath taught us Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Prayer against the Temptations of the Worlâ— the Flesh and the Devil O Most merciful Father and mighâ— God of Jacob a strong Tower 〈◊〉 the Faithful a Rock of Defence an Refuge for all the Distressed thou knoâ—est I am set in the midst of many Daâ—gers my Weakness is very great insâ—much as that without thy help I cannot â—void being ruined and that for ever beseech thee preserve my Body and Soâ— from all Temptations and Snares of thâ— Devil and suffer not my Senses to taâ— that Pleasure and Delight in the things â—â— this World as I used to do but Lord lâ— me use them as if I used them not anâ— take my Affections more and more off them and settle them upon their rigâ— Objects those things that are above Lord do thou take from me all that 〈◊〉 Deformed and of a corrupt Nature anâ— work and establish that which thy Graâ—â— hath wrought in me that having on thâ— Armour I may be able to stand against aâ— the Besetments of the Enemy Let mâ— not be drawn away into any Sensuality 〈◊〉 any desire of the Flesh but give me power to overcome it that I may live soberly righteously and godly in this present evil World and serve thee better and live â—ore in the Spirit Lord preserve me â—rom the darkness filthiness and deceitâ—ulness of this World that I may not faâ—hion my self like unto it to follow a Mulâ—itude but being changed by the renewâ—ng of the Mind I may walk upâ—â—ghtly â—efore thee all the days of my appointed â—ime till my change comes O Lord do â—hou be a present help unto me in the time â—f Trouble for in thee I do and will â—ut my trust and confidence therefore â—ead me no further into Temptations than â—hou art pleased to give me strength to oâ—ercome them O Lord that I may with â—â—rong Faith resist Satan and help me to â—ull down his Kingdom more and more 〈◊〉 Watching Fasting and Praying morâ—fying the Deeds of the Flesh and let thy â—ighteous Law be my meditation Day â—nd Night and not the foolish Vanity and â—nful Pleasures of this World Let not â—rosperity make me forget thee nor Adâ—ersity cast me into Despair but let me â—ake all thy dealing with me whether on â—he one hand or on the other in love from â—ee which is that wherein thy Dispensaâ—ons are towards me Lord arm me with thy Spirit encourage me with thy Prâ—sence and let me always feel the effectuâ—â— working of thy Power which is ever madâ— perfect thro' Weakness even for Chriâ—â— Jesus his sake A Prayer for the Remission of Sins O Glorious Lord God and everlastinâ— Father I a wretched and an uâ—done Sinner without thy Mercy aâ— come before thee to beg favour of thee foâ— all my Offences begging praying deâ—ring and beseeching thy heavenly Majestâ— that thou would'st in Mercy look dowâ— upon me I cannot but confess were not for the hope I have of thy Mercy aâ— the hold of thy Comfort and the reneâ—ing Graces I sometimes receive from thâ— and that sweet rellish I have of thy gooâ— Gifts and thy Heavenly Word I sink inâ—â— Despair for my sins are continually bâ—fore me if I go they follow me if run they fly after if I look back the staâ—e upon me if I go forward
be thy Will Let me recover a little strength Spare me a little before I go hence and be no more O grant that I may find thy Grace work in me for my good that if it be thy Will to take me hence receive me to thy self Come Lord Jesus come quickly So I commit and commend my self to thee in that Prayer thou hast taught me saying Our Father which art c. Lord strengthen my Faith to the end I believe in God c. A Prayer for a young Virgin MOst Glorious and Everlasting Father look in Mercy Pity and Compassion upon thy poor Hand-Maiden and grant me the for giveness of my Sins and grant that all thy Graces may flourish in me that I may be in favour both with God and Man Crown my Virginity with pious and chaste Thoughts that I may be as watchful to wait for thy coming as the Wise Virgins that I may enter with thee and them into thy Blessed Kingdom before the Door be shut Give me such good and heavenly Thoughts that a good Name is better than any thing that I can enjoy and let me not part with my Reputation for the greatest Offers this World can afford but help me to live a sober meek and chaste Life by the gracious assistance of thy most holy Spirit O defend me frome base and slandrous Tongues and all wicked Temptations O Lord make me faithful and honest in all my actions in this Life that whatsoever Charge is committed to my Care I may be so careful of it that nothing may be wanting when I come to resign it up Marry me O Lord to thy self in Mercy and Righteousness and if thou shalt be pleased to call me to the honourable Estate of Matrimony let me take Rachel Rebecca and Sarah for my Examples in Love Wisdom Faithfulness and Obedience to my Wife and towards all Persons with whom I have to do Let me behave my self in all things so as becometh one that is wholly devoted to thy Service Grant these things O Lord and whatever else thou knowest I stand in need of for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the Holy Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now henceforth and for evermore The Wife's Prayer for her Husband O Lord God as thou hast joyned me in thy Fear and Name in thy great Mercy to a loving and kind Husband grant that I may be so loving kind and obedient to him as may conduce to thy Glory and both our Comforts so endue me with a meek and quiet Spirit and defend me and him from the power of all Temptation that may attend us that so thy Strength may be made perfect in our Weakness Grant us both the assistance of thy holy Spirit that so it may teach us to love and cherish each other and give us the Gifts of Chastity and Sobriety that bothin body and mind we may live a pure Life binging up our Children and Servants in thy Fear and Dread O Lord forgive us all our Sins and grant us both Grace to love fear and serve thee our appointed time till our Change come that so 〈◊〉 this Life we may reap the Comfort of 〈…〉 enjoy and receive the Fruit of 〈…〉 that is laid up in thy mercies 〈◊〉 all I beg upon the account of thy â—ear Son To whom with thee and the â—oly Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory â—oth now henceforth and for Evermore The Widow's Prayer EVerlasting Lord God a poor distress'd and afflicted Servant of thine is come before thee to beg the forgiveness of all her Sins and to be a comfortable Husband to me in this my desolate and forlorn condition And Lord as thou hast been pleased to lay so great an Affliction upon me as to take so loving and kind a Husband from me give me out of thy tender and everlasting Mercies some other blessings to ease the Sorrows of my poor afflicted Soul Lord do thou give me Beauty for Ashes the Oil of Joy for Mourning and the Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness that so after this Night of Afflictions I may have some refreshing Comforts and Encouragements to sing Praise to thy great and glorious Name in the land of the living and tell my Friends Neighbours and Kinsfolk how good thou the Lord hast been to me and what great things thou hast dweâ— for me whereof I shall be glad And O sakeâ— bless me in all honest Endeavours supply all my Wants whether Spiritual or Temporal and let me have the comfortable Fellowship of thy most holy Spirit tâ— direct me in all my ways that I may do nothing that tends to the dishonour of thy great Name or the disconsolation of my precious and immortal Soul I pray thee order my Children and Servants Hearts and Minds as that they may love and fear thee as they ought Lord do these things for me and more abundantly than I am able to ask or think for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the Blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for a Woman with Child HEavenly Father and God of all Power and Glory who createdst the Heavens and the Foundations of the Earth and all that in them is who createdst Man in thine own Image but he hath found out many Inventions Lord I am come to supplicate thy Majesty and to implore thy infinite Goodness to bless me in this Condition I am now in of Child-bearing and grant that the Fruit of my Womb may have all the Parts and Members that it ought to have and in their right places and stations and whatever Weakness it may bring upon my Body do thou grant me patience to bear it with all the submission imaginable to thy Will and grant that all thou dost for me and to me may be sanctified that so I may make a right use and improvement of it to the Praise of thy glorious Name and to the everlasting Comfort of my immortal Soul Lord preserve me from untimely Birth grant through Faith Prayer and Patience I may escape all sudden Fears Lord do thou stand by me when I draw near to my hard labour and let thy everlasting Arms be under me to bear me up under those intolerable Pangs which attend that dreadful Hour and grant that the fruit of my Womb as it grows up in bodily Strength so let it grow also in spiritual Strength in thy Faith Fear and Love And grant me O Lord a patient and quiet Spirit at that Hour and safe Deliverance in due Time and make me a joyful Mother Forgive and forget all my past Offences and bless my poor Infant and take it into thy Covenant and give me Wisdom and Strength to bring it up in thy Fear and to thy great Glory and my further Joy through Jesus Christ our Lord. A Thanks giving for safe Deliverance from the Perils of Child-bearing O Lord God Eternal accept