deserved but convert thou me and I shall be changed make me turne unto thee in true contrition that thou maiest returne unto me in gracious compassion to forgive all mine iniquities remit my ungratefulnesse and remember my offences no more O wash and cleanse my sinfull soule in the pure bloud of that innocent Lambe that I may feele the vertue of his death to slay all sin in me and the power of his resurrection to raise me to newnesse of life in true obedience to all thy Commandements and with a child-like love feare to offend thee striving to please thee in all things that so I may obtaine favour and mercy in thy sight both for thy blessing in this life and eternall salvation after death through thy dear Son and my only Saviour Jesus Christ Amen 11. A short Prayer for night O God the fountaine of all goodnesse I humbly and thankfully acknowledge although I am altogether unworthy of the least of thy manifold mercies yet have I great experience of thy infinite goodnesse bounty and favour both towards my soule and body all my time past this day and alwaies preserving me from all the evills which sin and nature have made me subject unto with a gracious supply daily ever since I was born of all things needfull for this present life For all which I humbly bow the knee of my heart and soule unto thy glorious Majesty but especially for all thy graces furthering my salvation by Jesus Christ I blesse and praise thy most holy name yeelding all possible and hearty thanks for all thy benefits vouchsafed to mee the continuance whereof I humbly beg at thy gracious hands commending and committing my soule and body into thy mercifull protection this night and ever praying thee to preserve me therein from all perills sin or evill for thou Lord only keepest mee in safety now stretch out thy wings of grace and mercy over me that while sleep seizeth upon my body let not security oppresse my soule but so sanctifie all outward refreshings unto me as thereby I may bee the more fit and able to serve thee faithfully all my life to come that taking quiet rest because thou Lord sustainest me I may also when this life ceaseth lay downe my head in thy peace and be made partaker of thy glory through thy mercies and Christs merits with the assistance of the blessed Spirit To whom O Father Son and Holy Ghost be all praise power dominion and glory now and for ever Amen Continuing my prayers further as Christ hath taught us saying Our Father c. 12. A short Prayer in bed before sleep DEare Lord receive me this night and alwaies into thy gracious protection to give mee now health safety and rest if it be thy will And dear God when I shall enter into my long sleep of death vouchsafe to sanctifie and prepare my soule for eternall life by the assistance of thy grace and holy Spirit before thou call me away hence and grant me a happy and blessed departure out of this world that thou maiest receive me into thy favour and mercy to be with mee in my death that I may dye in the Lord and rest in peace and obtaine a blessed resurrection that so I may be accepted to live with thee to praise thy great and holy name for ever Amen 13. A Prayer before the receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper O Most sweet Saviour Jesus Christ and my deare Lord who art the author and finisher of my faith redemption and salvation the life and food of my soule I most miserable sinner presuming nothing at all on mine owne merits or worthinesse but trusting wholly in thy infinite mercy and goodnesse doe feare and tremble to appeare before thy Majesty or to come unto the table of this heavenly banquet But thou Lord Jesus who graciously callest me and all heavy laden sinners accept in mercy the will for the deed in that I am unworthy and ill prepared to presume into thy presence and vouchsafe me the assistance of thy divine Spirit I humbly beseech thee in this holy action that my duty and service therein may bee acceptable in thy sight And powre down thy heavenly blessing upon this thy holy Ordinance of thy Word and Sacraments that they may be effectuall to revive strengthen and supply in me all sanctifying and saving graces needfull to the due and right performance of this sacred duty in an acceptable manner whereby to enlighten my understanding with thy grace to the right knowledge of thee and thy truth and work in me a lively true faith wherewith I may lay hold and apply unto my sicke soule all the sweet and comfortable promises and benefits purchased by the bitter death of my sweet Saviour Indue me also with most unfeigned and hearty sorrow and repentance for all my great and grievous sins and offences committed against thee for all which I most humbly beg thy gracious pardon and grant me such perfect love and charity that I may sincerely with all due reverence and devotion love thee my God with all my heart soul and strength and may love my neighbour as my selfe yea my very enemies for Christs sake that so I may rightly receive this blessed Sacrament being prepared by thy grace as I ought to bee And let O Lord thy pretious bloud shed for me cleanse and wash away all my sins and the breaking of thy pretious body heale all the wounds of my corrupt soule that by the gracious operation of the Holy Ghost I may be inwardly and inseparably joyned to thee my head Christ that thou maiest supply all my weaknesse and defects in soule or body out of thy infinite fulnesse of grace and mercy that being cloathed with thy righteousnesse I may be accepted by thee and through thee and so be accounted worthy to be partaker of all thy merits that with the outward signe of bread and wine I may blessedly receive the true signified Christ with all his benefits and may have grace to hunger and thirst after the spirituall food of Christs body and bloud to nourish my soule unto eternall life and to make me become a new creature in holinesse of living with all true and humble thankfulnesse to thy glory and my everlasting salvation beseeching thee to accept my poor endeavours for perfect performance and reach forth thy helping hand from heaven to save me thy unworthy servant pardoning my sins and covering my imperfections with the pure innocencie of that immaculate Lambe Jesus my Saviour And so I humbly commend my selfe unto thy mercy who art able to doe abundantly above all that I can aske or thinke to thee be all honour power and praise for evermore Amen A short meditation direction or preparation before you presume to enter into the presence and sight of God to approach unto the heavenly banquet humbly desiring this or the like by prayer As thou drawest near unto the holy table pray earnestly in thy heart unto
Christ THat he will draw near by grace unto Knowledge of God and our selves thy soul to strengthen thee with knowledge true faith unfeigned repentance and perfect charity that thou maiest rightly reverently and faithfully receive this holy Sacrament to Gods Ps 14. 22. 1 Jo 1. 8. glory and thine owne comfort and salvation Now when thou commest to communicate and receive this blessed Col. 3. 2. Rom. 12. 1. 2. 1. 15. Sacrament of the Lords Supper First banish all vaine and earthly thoughts and recollect thy heart to the serious meditations of that which is the life of the 1 Tim. 2. 4 Humility 1 Pet. 5. 6. 1 Jo. 2. 2. 4. 14. Sacrament even the death of thy Saviour and humbly and devoutly present thy selfe and service to the Redeemer of thy soule and Lord of the feast the only saviour of mankinde Jesus Christ our righteous Lord. Then apply thy minde to these contemplations First remember with great reverence the infinite Majesty of God his mercy True repentance 1 Jo. 9. Prov. 28. 13. goodnesse and justice in whose presence we are Secondly consider thine owne vilenesse misery and unworthinesse being wholly corrupt both in soul and body Thirdly confesse all thy sins True faith 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19 21. 2. 14. 1. 3. 21. plainly for in hiding our sins this work will not prosper but with most hearty and unfeigned sorrow in all humility cast thy self at Jesus feet earnestly begging for pardon with hatred to all sin and purpose of amendment For who 1 Pet. 3. 22 Heb. 12. 24. 1 Jo. 2. 3. so confesseth and forsaketh their sins shall finde mercy Fourthly trie and acknowledge thy faith and stedfast beliefe in Christ Jesus the blessed Son of God the Creator to be the only Saviour 1 Tim. 21 5. Jam. 1. 17. and Redeemer of the world who dyed for thy sins and rose againe for thy justification and is ascended up to heaven for thy salvation where sitting at Gods right hand he maketh intercession for 1 Tim. 21 5. thee and powreth downe all graces and blessings upon thee who giveth himself with all his merits unto thee in this Sacrament covering all thy offences with Jam. 1. 17. his perfect obedience So making thee righteous and leaving thee a pledge and Sanctification 1 Jo. 17. 19. Heb. 13. 12. seale of thy future and eternall happinesse this his holy institution which the divine word hath sanctified to that end and purpose Now call to minde the exceeding love of God and Christ towards thee the one in sending his only deare Sonne to become man and suffer death The fifth in giving his most pretious body and bloud to bee crucified Gods love to us and shed upon the crosse to satisfie the just wrath of God due for thy sins of which this bread broken wine powred out that we see is a remembrance which we ought often to celebrate and set our hearts and soules duly and truly Our love to God to love and honour this gracious God and Lord who hath loved us first and done such great things as to give himself for us 6. Ponder well in thine heart 1 Ja. 4. 9. 10. all the divine mysteries of this holy Sacrament to which heavenly banquet Jesus thy Saviour now inviteth thee taking away thine hatefull iniquities and Jam. 2. 8. cloathing thee with his innocencie so Jo. 15. 12. Charity to our neighbours 1 Jo. 4. 21. to make thee acceptable in the sight of God the Father and by the gracious operation of the Holy Ghost joyning thee unto himselfe as thy head and all of us in true love one to another as members of one body to walke in newnesse of life the rest of our dayes 7. And Amendment 1 Jo. 33. 10. 1 Pet. 4. 2. lastly forget not to be ever truly thankfull for these inestimable benefits of God the Father of the blessed Trinity and of Jesus Christ our Lord towards us who hath laid downe his own life to redeem us such vile and miserable sinners all which the Holy Ghost applieth unto us Thankfulnesse 1 Jo. 5. 7. Eph. 5. 20. 1 Thess 5. 18. Infinite mercies we are never able sufficiently to acknowledge and admire Prepare not thy belly but thy soule believe and thou hast eaten this saith St. Augustine 14. A thanksgiving after the holy communion of the Lords Supper OH blessed and praised for ever be the Name of the Lord my God who hath done great and many things for me and holy is thy gracious and glorious name and let thy mercy and thy truth O Lord never forsake me but vouchsafe to continue thy goodnesse and loving kindnesse towards me for ever and say unto my soule thou art my God my helpe and my salvation for evermore And now especially O Lord as I am infinitely bound I render unto thy divine Majesty all humble and possible praise and thanks for this present and particular favour shewed unto me thy unworthy servant in feeding my soule to eternall lfe with the most pretious food of thine owne sacred body and bloud blotting out all my sinnes and sanctifying mee by thy holy Spirit imputing to me thy righteousnesse and admitting mee so unworthy to be a happy partaker of this blessed Sacrament The benefit whereof is unspeakable and the mercy therein unexpressable only I admire thy goodnesse towards mankind and magnifie thy great mercy beseeching thee my God as thou hast vouchsafed to accept mee at this holy Table so good Lord let mee not depart without a blessing but be pleased to receive me into thy gracious care and favour that I may live and die therein and give mee grace to spend the rest of my time in a carefull reformation of all evills past a diligent performance of thy most holy will in all things and true obedience to all thy Commandements with a faithfull and right application of all thy mercies and merits so that I may feele thy bitter passion O Lord sweet unto my soule and by the assistance of thy Spirit bring forth the fruits of amendment of life and most hearty thankfulnesse all my daies that at the end of this life I may obtaine a blessed roome in the Kingdome of glory there to praise thy holy name for evermore Amen 15. A short Prayer for conclusion to any prayer O God the Father blesse and governe my soule and body in all things to thy service O Lord the Sonne my Saviour Jesus protect me and direct me at all times to doe thy will O holy Ghost blessed Spirit preserve mee from falling into any sinne or evill but instruct sanctifie and lead me into the waies of truth and righteousnesse that I may live in thy feare and dye in thy favour and may continue in thy right Church and true faith unto my end So that in the houre of my death and in the dreadfull day of judgement I may finde grace in thy sight that thou
presented to thy great Majesty lowly and meekly on the knees of my heart body they may by thy mercifull assistance be lifted up and ascend by the wings of faith and devotion unto the highest heavens and there with confidence through my Saviour Jesus enter into the glorious eares and presence of Almighty God where all mercy grace and goodnesse aboundeth And then my supplications by thy favour may be heard and accepted by thee my God to prevaile and draw downe from thy mercifull hand all graces and blessings needfull upon me thy poore creature both in soule and body and so my unworthy sacrifice of due praise and thanks that I offer unto thee may be received and accepted by thee the Lord of all mercies who doth often take in good part even the will for the deed from thy fraile unworthy servants and then my poore prayers shall bring much joy and comfort to me and give glory to thee my Lord. To whom as of right belongs be all honour and praise for evermore Amen A short Prayer to our blessed Saviour Jesus to be joyned to the former prayers OH my deare Lord Jesus who didst in thy infinite mercy give thy innocent selfe to death for me a poore miserable sinner Lord by thy grace make me to dedicate and offer up my selfe a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto thee in daily striving rightly and faithfully to serve and obey thee that I may be wholly thine and as thou hast bought me with an unvaluable treasure even thine owne most pretious bloud so sweet Jesus by thy holy Spirit unite me unseparably unto thee my blessed head and by thy assistance that I may become a new creature to hate and forsake all sinnes the vaine world and my wicked selfe and to be a true carefull and constant servant unto thee to feare love honour and glorifie thy great and heavenly Name who art the comfort and salvation of all that beleeve and trust in thee which Lord let me unfaignedly doe so long as I live 7. A Prayer to God the Lord of all grace and mercie containing seven humble petitions from a penitent sinner 1. For true faith 2. For the Holy Ghost 3. For wisdome 4. For the feare of God 5. For the love of God and charity to our neighbours 6. For repentance and true contrition of heart 7. And for the grace and right spirit of prayer O Most bountifull Lord God which giveth to all men liberally and reproacheth none if we aske in faith and waver not and our blessed Saviour maketh us a large promise saying Aske and yee shall receive seeke and you shall finde knock and it shall bee opened unto you And whatsoever you shall aske in my Name I will doe it if you beleeve when you pray that you shall have it for your heavenly Father if you aske in my name will give the Holy Ghost to them that desire him and wisdome to such as aske it of God and no good thing shall be wanting or with-held from them which feare the Lord and walke uprightly in his sight so that we may well say with David What is man that thou Lord art mindefull of him and dost visit him with thy mercie and crownest him with glory and honour Most mercifull Lord these thy gracious promises and great goodnesse towards mortall man imboldneth mee though a miserable sinner and most unworthy of thy favours now to offer up my supplications and become an humble suter to thy Majesty to begge these great blessings at thy hands who have justly deserved grievous punishments from thee for my offences But of thine owne meer mercie deare God who desirest not the death of a sinner but our repentance conversion and salvation and for thy best beloved Sons sake in whom thou wilt deny us nothing vouchsafe to incline thine ear to receive the humble petitions of me thy poore servant who presumeth to crave of thee the Father of mercie and the originall of all goodnesse from whom only commeth all good and perfect gifts the seven spirituall and heavenly graces wherewith to vanquish and banishus from the seven dangerous deadly sinnes which like Serpents slay and destroy so many soules the least sinne we commit being sufficient to condemne us for ever And now first Good God I humbly pray thee to bestow upon mee the blessed and most needfull gift of true faith without which it is impossible to please thee whereby I may stedfastly believe and trust in thy goodnesse and lay fast hold of all thy mercies and gracious promises especially upon the merits and sufferings of thy dear Son and my Saviour Jesus for my redemption and by thy grace rightly to apply them all to my salvation And grant I may with thy assistance bring forth such fruits of true holinesse and righteousnesse as may be most to thy glory and the peace and comfort of mine owne conscience And since I have begun to speake to thee O Lord who am but dust and ashes vouchsafe for Jesus sake further to give me the most excellent gift of the Holy Ghost to unite me inseparably to my blessed head and Saviour Christ and inspire my soule with all saving graces which may change all the evill in me to goodnesse darknesse to light vices to vertues and so wholy to cleanse and sanctifie my soule body and spirit throughout that I may be made perfect to every good worke and renewed and inabled to all obedience godlinesse and holinesse of life before thee and I also most humbly beseech thee O gracious God to inrich me thy poore unworthy servant with the unvaluable treasure of that heavenly wisdome from above which abideth about thy Throne to direct and reforme my heart and all my wayes aright in thy sight and to teach me thy holy will and what is good and acceptable unto thee and inable me with grace to doe it and likewise Lord indue me with the true understanding of thy holy Lawes that I may keepe them with my whole heart unto my end Now O my Lord we are taught by Solomon That the beginning of wisdome is the feare of the Lord and the knowledge of divine things true understanding therefore I doe most humbly intreat thee to knit my rebellious heart to the holy feare of thy glorious Name who only art to be feared with the due consideration of thy righteous and terrible judgements who canst cast both body and soul into hel let this detaine me from falling into any evill or offence towards thee and thereby also draw my sinfull soule unto thy faithfull service with true contrition for all my past transgressions against thee But especially good God be pleased to indue my poore soule with the infinite gift and blessing of thy sincere and perfect love of thy divine and heavenly Majesty who art the true and only good And O God grant that I may love and honour thee above and beyond all other things with all my heart all my soule all my strength
them publicke but have beene lately over perswaded by some that much desired to have them Therefore I have adventured to beare all censures and desire their patience and pardon whose exquisite judgements may finde many blameworthy faults justly to condemne my boldnesse which I thus excuse the matter is but devotions or prayers which surely concernes and belongs to women as well as to the best learned men And therefore I hope herein I neither wrong nor give offence to any which I should be very loath to doe This Booke was written at Chelsey in the yeare 1625. by E. A. at the Duke of Buckinghams house a part whereof was lent me by the good Dutches my most honoured Lady when the great sicknesse was in London A Letter to my foure Daughters Elizabeth Frances Anne and Katherine Ashbournham of whom three were then unmarried only Anne was married to Sir Edward Deering Knight and Baronet My deare Children I Have long and much grieved for your misfortunes and want of preferments in the world but now I have learned in what estate soever I am therewith to be content and to account these vile and transitorie things to be but vaine and losse so I may win Christ the fountaine of all blisse wishing you with me to condemne that which neglecteth you and set your hearts and affections on better subjects such as are above more certain and permanent and feare not but what is needfull for this present life shall bee supplyed by him who best knows our wants and had it not been for your sakes whose advancements love and nature bindeth me to seeke I had prevented the spite of my enemies and forsaken the World before it despised me But though I am so unhappy as to be left destitute not able to raise you portions of wealth yet shall I joy as much to adde unto the portion of Grace which I trust and pray that God will give to each of you to whose mercy I daily commit you nothing doubting but that he will receive you into the number of those fatherlesse he graciously taketh care of if you omit not to serve and depend upon him faithfully for he never faileth them that trust in him God is as free and ready to give as we to aske and contrary to the World he grows not weary of importunate suters but often deferreth his blessings to make us the more earnest for them Neither hath the Lord withdrawn his favour so from us as to leave us utterly desolate to despair but hath graciously raised us comfort by honourable friends to be carefull and deare parents unto us whom God preserve and shew mercy to them and theirs as they have done to us And here I send you a motherly remembrance and commend this my labour into your loving acceptance that in remembring your poor mother you may be also put in minde to performe your humble duty and service to our heavenly Father who hath created us to his owne glory and service and all we can performe comes far short of what we owe unto him yet is he well pleased if we returne for all his mercies but obedience and the sacrifice of praise and calling upon his holy Name Now prayer being the winged messenger to carry our requests and wants into the ears of the Lord as David saith he will praise the Lord seven times a day and prevent the light to give thanks unto God and indeed who can awake to enjoy the light and pleasure of the day and not begin the same with intreaty of the Lords gracious direction in all things and desire of his blessing upon us and all that we have or doe Or how can we possesse or hourely receive so many favours and benefits from God and not offer unto him an evening sacrifice of thanksgiving Or who dares adventure to passe the dreadfull night the time of terror and yeeld themselves to sleep the image of death before they are at peace with God by begging pardon for their sins and craving his protection and care over them in the night I know you may have many better instructers then my self yet can you have no true mother but me who not only with great paine brought you into the world but do now still travell in care for the new birth of your soules to bring you to eternall life which is my chiefest desire and the height of my hopes And howsoever this my endeavour may be contemptible to many because a womans which makes me not to joyne my sons with you lest being men they misconstrue my well-meaning yet I presume that you my daughters will not refuse your Mothers teaching which I wish may be your ornament and a crown of glory to you who I hope will take in the best part my carefull industrie for your present and future happinesse towards which I have not failed to give you the best breeding in my power to bring you to vertue and piety which I esteem the greatest treasure and sure I am it leads you to him that is the giver of all good things both spirituall and temporall to whose infinite mercy I most humbly commend you who I trust will fulfill all your necessities through the riches of his grace and make you perfect in all good workes to doe his will And the God of peace sanctifie you throughout that your whole spirits soules and bodies may bee kept blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ which shall bee the endlesse 1 Thess 5. 23. joy of your most loving Mother Eliz. Ashbournham A Preface or inducement to Prayer THe great God and Lord of Heaven Acts 17. 2â— 27. 8. Cap. 23. 14. 17. Rom 1. 19 20. and Earth whose wee are and whom only we ought to serve hath not left himselfe without witnesse For as much as that which may be knowne of God is made manifest unto us for the invisible things of him that is his eternall power and Godhead are seen by His power Godhead Rom. 5. 5. 8 9. the creation of the world being considered in his workes to the intent wee should bee without excuse Also the infinite love of God is shed abroad in His love Redemption Jo. 3. 16. Jo. 4 9. 10 3. 16. Jo. 15 23. 10. 15. our hearts and set out towards us in the most gracious worke of our redemption in that Christ died for us being sinners and when we were enemies God reconciled us unto himself by the death of his only begotten Son whom God sent into the world that wee might live through him and be saved by his life Christs love greater love then this can none have to lay downe his owne life for us Now there are three speciall things amongst many that doe alwaies binde and urge us to the acknowledgement of God to the love of his Majesty and the often His benefits Of our sins calling upon his holy Name viz. First the multitude and greatnesse of his benefits towards us for
which we ought to give him continuall thanks Secondly the infinitenesse of our grievous sins Our mâ—â—◠◠〈…〉 neâ—â—ssiâ—iâ—â— for which we must of necessity daily aske mercy and pardon from him Thirdly our owne manifold miseries and infirmities for which we are constrained to seek reliefe and remedy The first of thâ—se David considered saying What shall I render unto the Lord for all Psal 116. 12 13. his benefits towards me I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name 9. 1. of the Lord I will praise him with my whole heart all the daies of my life All his Psalmes are full of thanksgiving To the second Christ inviteth us saying Come unto me all ye that are weary and Matth. 11. 28. heavy laden and I will ease you If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the just He is the 1 Jo. 2. 1. 2. 1. reconciliation for the sins of the whole 9. world And if wee acknowledge our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse For the third wee are incouraged by God himselfe saying Call upon me in the day of trouble so will I deliver Psal 50. 15. Isay Matth. 8. 17. thee and thou shalt glorifie me for he will have mercy upon us and heal all our infirmities and when wee are in misery he saveth and delivereth us Now for the performance of our duty in thanksgiving the blotting out of all our offences and the release of our miseries with the continuance of Gods grace and favour in all things the chiefe and only way to find and obtain all is rightly to seek and truly to serve the Lord by prayer who is the author and fountain of all goodnes grace and mercy Every good gift comming from above even from him that freely saith Aske and yee shall receive seek and yee shall finde knock and it shall be opened unto you for hee that is Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him in truth and the prayer of the faithfull avails much if it be fervent for faithfull and devout prayer is a continuall intercourse and communion betwixt the Lord and us and it is like Jacobs ladder by which our prayers make our wants ascend unto God and his mercie descend downe upon us for with the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse and with the mouth we confesse unto salvation but take heed in sending up thy desires prefer the good of the Col. 3. 2. soule before the pleasures or content of thy body and set thy affections on things that are above First seeke the Kingdome Mat. 6. 33. of God and his righteousnesse and all other wants shall be supplied by his mercie according to his will and our necessities And when thou enterest into the house of God take heed thou offer not unto him the sacrifice of fooles but before thou prayest prepare thy self Col. 3. 2. Eccles 4. 17. 18. 22. thy heart and tongue as David did lest thou tempt God to displeasure Be not rash with thy mouth nor let thy heart be hasty to utter a thing before God But ere thou presume to present thy self Psal 108. 1. or service unto the Lord meditate upon these three things First of the reverence we owe to the great Majesty of God Psal 104. in whose presence we are and to whom we must speake this brings humility and lowlinesse of spirit which makes us acceptable unto him Secondly of our knowledge and beliefe of the Lords Esay 65. 24. Job 15. 16 sweet and gracious promises which causeth boldnesse to come unto him with sure confidence of being heard Thirdly of our unworthinesse and what apprehension we have of our owne wants and miseries and the great necessity of Gods helpe and mercy to relieve us This makes us to know and hate our selves and to love and honour God in whom is all our help hope and happinesse therefore with devout reverence zeal humility and true faith flye unto his mercy and cease not to call often as David did seven times a day upon the holy Name of the Lord Psal 119. 164. by whom we shall bee saved Rom. 10. 13. 1. A preparation to Prayer O Everlasting fountaine of all goodnesse and well-spring of grace without whose speciall assistance we are altogether unapt and unable to performe any duty or service that may be acceptable unto thee Vouchsafe therefore deare Lord to helpe mine infirmities who cannot of my selfe pray as I ought but let thy holy Spirit direct and teach me truly to call upon thy divine Name with a penitent and faithfull heart an humble contrite and lowly spirit a quiet observant and recollected minde freed from the vanities and cares of this vilde world or the love of this present life so as I may dedicate my selfe wholly unto thee a living sacrifice faithfully and devoutly to serve thee now and all the daies of my life O Lord make mee to lift up innocent hands with a pure heart and guide thou my lips with wisdome and set a watch of grace before my mouth that my tongue may not offend thee at any time but duly praise thy glorious Name now and for ever Amen 2. A Prayer to the Holy Ghost O Gracious Lord Holy Ghost I humbly beseech thee to fit and prepare my heart and to direct and assist me in the right and true performance of this duty and service now of prayer towards my God Thou understandest my disability of my selfe to any goodnesse neither know I how to pray as I ought except thy holy Spirit teach me Therefore I earnestly and humbly pray thee to give mee thy grace and true spirit of prayer that so I may now and at all times offer up my petitions and praises in calling upon thy great and glorious Name in a right faithfull and acceptable manner to the glory of God and the good and comfort of me thy poor servant in soul and body with the furtherance of my salvation through Jesus Christ my blessed and only Saviour Amen 3. A Preface to any Prayer O My Lord in all humility I come unto thee the giver of all grace thou knowest my unaptnesse to any goodnesse thou hast given me an earnest desire to please thee make perfect thine owne good worke and grant me a ready will and ability to performe my humble duty herein aright that so I may sincerely and intirely love fear and honour thee above all and most carefully obey thy blessed will in all things Good Father let thy manifold mercies cover my infinite offences from thy All-seeing eyes and by thy grace cast all vaine thoughts and sinfull hindrances out of my soule that thy sacred Spirit may direct my spirit to pray with due reverence to thy Majesty confidence in thy mercy with sure trust in thy promises and feare of thy judgements And that I may offer up all my supplications unto thee with unfeigned
maiest pardon and passe by my sins and receive me to mercy through Jesus Christ that I may live with thee my God for evermore Amen 16. A Prayer for the Lords day in the afternoone when you are from Church being seven humble petitions from a poor sinner to our Saviour Jesus Christ the Lord and fountain of mercy prescribed and allowed by sacred Scripture MOst great and gracious Lord and 1. Remission of sins and amendment of life Luke 18. 13. Rom. 6. 6. my only Saviour Jesus Christ whom the Angels doe admire all the Saints doe magnifie and at thy name O Jesus doth every knee bow in heaven and earth I most humbly beseech thee to have mercy on me that presume to speake unto thee who am but dust and ashes yet Lord I beg of thee to forgive all my grievous and manifold offences and cast all my sins out of thy sight and not only to pardon all my past misdeeds but also by thy mighty power and spirit to slay all sin in me for the time to come And of thy gracious favour vouchsafe while I live in this world to make mee a blessed partaker in the first resurrection 2. To rise from sin Rev. 20. in this life to arise here from remaining or lying dead in sin and so the second death shall have no power to hurt me but by thy 3. In death Rev. 14. 13 21. 3. 4. Luke 22. 32. 36. grace and assistance I may become a new creature in all holinesse of life before thee that I may daily bee raised from sin by thy holy Spirit to a new life of grace in Christ But when the appointed time of my death doth approach sweet Jesus leave me not but keep and deliver mee from that great houre of temptation when Sathan will sift mee and seeke my destruction then deare Lord pray for me that my faith may never faile neither let my soules enemies prevaile over mee but make thy poore servant one of those blessed that shall die in thee O Lord whose tears God will wipe from their eyes and they shall rest from their labours and their workes follow them Now good Iesus grant also in the last day and houre of death 4 The first judgemēt Mat. 25. 34. 41. when I shall come to my first account before the Throne of God and the dreadfull Majesty of the Father O my Saviour appeare with mee that by thy gracious mediation I may finde favour in his sight and through thee obtaine to bee received into the society of thy Saints and servants and also by thy infinite mercy and bitter passion that I may in and through thee have my sins covered and pardoned and may be accounted worthy to escape thy just and great wrath which my iniquities have deserved and say alwaies unto my soule thou art my God and my salvation for ever And so I miserable sinner through thy merits sufferings and unspeakable mercy may be made able to stand before thee the blessed Son of God and man at my appearance in thy glorious and awfull presence when thou commest to judge the world and hast full power to save or to condemne us then looke Saviour on me as one of thine And sweet 5. At the last judgement 6. Is after death Rev. 8. 20. 15. Saviour I further beseech thee by thine owne former and free election and meer grace towards me vouchsafe in the dreadfull time of thy great visitation that my poore name may be found written in heaven in the booke of life so as sin nor Sathan may not bee able to blot mee out but that thou gracious Iesus wilt be pleased to acknowledge me thy most unworthy servant to be thine before God and all his holy Angells Now lastly Lord by thy great goodnesse and The 7th For eternall life John 17. 22. 24. Ps 16. 11. Conclusion mercy that I may be received into thy grace and favour and so accepted as to injoy that most happy place and heavenly inheritance of everlasting glory which thou our Iesus hast dearly purchased for us that where he my blessed Saviour is I may live with him who loved me so much as to die for me and through him being admitted into the glorious presence of God which is the fulnesse of joy at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore I shall there eternally serve praise and magnifie his most holy name who liveth for ever and ever Amen 17. A Prayer to the Trinity for direction and acceptance from God of all our prayers MOst glorious God and our heavenly Father in Christ I most humbly pray thee for his sake to heare and accept mee and my supplications that I offer up unto thy Majesty in the name of thy beloved Son And I beseech thee sweet Iesus in thy love and mercie which made thee become our Redeemer vouchsafe also to be my gracious advocate and to direct and receive my petitions and present them to the Father for by and through thee only I must obtaine acceptance Now further I beg of thee Lord Holy Ghost who best can teach us to pray as we ought to take compassion on my frailties and infirmities to heale and helpe them and be pleased to sanctifie and assist my heart and soule to performe this duty and service at all times rightly faithfully and constantly to Gods glory and mine owne comfort and furtherance of my eternall salvation in Christ my Saviour Amen 18. Another Prayer for the afternoon for many severall blessings OH most dear Lord who knowest my manifold infirmities and innumerable miseries In mercy let thy gracious care and holy hand bee over me now and ever to guide me into thy right paths that I may walke in the wayes of thy Commandements and keepe them with my whole heart unto my end And vouchsafe good God to clense and change the thoughts of my corrup heart from vaine and idle imaginations to good and godly meditations which may produce ◠me by thy assistance holy actions agreeable to thy most blessed will and by thy spirit let my affections be reformed and my love withdrawne from the vanities of this vile world and may bee fixed on heavenly things above that there may be my heart and only joy where my Lord Christ sits in glory at the right hand of his Father and so I may with blessed Mary chuse the better part to forsake all the world and my selfe also to follow and heare Iesus and first and chiefly so to seek as to obtaine that which is most needfull even thy glory O God thy Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof and leave all other things to be bestowed on me as shall seem best unto thee And Lord grant that my understanding may be inlightned to discerne imbrace and practice the holy workes of thy blessed Spirit and that my memory may be strengthned to retaine and make right use of all the good instruction that I heare or read according to thy will and make
my heart the store-house of all thy divine precepts that by thy grace I may bring forth good fruit in my life and make mee able rightly and reverently to read and heare thy holy word and heavenly will daily as I ought to doe and by thy grace to frame my life thereafter and direct thou me thy poor servant in all I goe about to doe that which is best and most to thy glory that howsoever all the powers and â—â—culties of my soule or the members or senses of â—â—y body may be decayed or lost by age griefe or â—â—cknesse for the occasions of this life yet so Lord all that is needfull for thy constant service I beseech thee continue to my last breath And also be pleased to grant that my death be neither sudden nor unexpected nor my pains violent whereby to be made unable earnestly and faithfully to pray and call upon thy holy name but if it be thy will give mee knowledge of my death when thy time is come to call mee out of this world and assist me fervently to crie unto thee for grace and mercie in the needfull time of dread and danger then deare Lord fit and prepare me for thy selfe and give me a blessed departure hence to dye in thee my Lord and so I shall remaine safe and ever happy and sweet Iesus make me pray unto thee with my last breath and yeeld up my spirit to God that gave it with praises in my mouth unto my gracious God the Father Son and Holy Ghost Now vouchsafe good Lord while I live to indue me thy most unworthy servant with thy grace and holy Spirit whereby devout love and feare of thy Majesty with true faith stedfast hope perfect charity and unfained repentance with all other saving graces may be daily renued and increased in mee towards thee to thy glory and the furtherance of my salvation through Christ O sweet Saviour who hast performed and suffered great and many things for mee deare Jesus continue thy infinite favour and finish thy worke of mercy towards me the least of thy servants still to call and draw me daily unto thee and make me faithfull constantly and wholly thine in all humble obedience and true humility to serve thee in uprightnesse of life and a holy conversation towards all so long as I live and wilt assure my soule that thou art my mercifull God and after death make me a happy partaker of thy everlasting Kingdome of glory So be it Amen 19. A Prayer of three petitions to the blessed Trinity the Father Son and Holy Ghost for the spirit of prayer for repentance and remission of sins and grace to amend and lead a new life O My Lord Holy Ghost our sanctifier and comforter and preserver the giver of all heavenly gifts and graces and the directer and assister of us to all goodnesse I most humbly pray thee to indue me thy poore sinfull servant with thy true spirit of grace and prayer to helpe and teach me how to pray as I ought and to drive away and banish from me in the performance of this my duty all evill temptations and wicked hindrances that seek to pervert and withdraw my heart and soule from the true service of my God and suffer not the world the divell nor any his agents to have power over me or part in mee to prevaile against me and to cause God to turn his eare and face of mercy from hearing and receiving my prayers and supplications but Lord by thy grace make my petitions now and alwaies right faithfull and acceptable to Almighty God through Iesus Christ my blessed Saviour But O my God heavenly Father the originall of all goodnesse and mercy who graciously commandest us to call upon thee in the time of trouble that thou delivering us we may glorifie thee what greater misery and danger then a heavy load of sins that will not easily be cast off and a wounded spirit who can beare it for I confesse I have most grievously sinned against thee and my iniquities are multiplied before thee as the starres which cannot be numbred O Lord whose compassion never faileth those that seek and trust in thee as thy mercy exceedeth all thy great workes so let that through thy deare Son move thee to release mee of this intolerable burthen which else will throw mee out of thy presence and favour wherein is the fulnesse of joy and presse me down to hell into everlasting torments amongst the enemies of God and man Now mercifull God who hast pity on thy poore creatures and delightest not in the death of a sinner Lord turne me from all my evill waies that I may be converted unto thee to feare love and obey thee unto my end And vouchsafe to pardon all my transgressions past and remove my sins from me as farre as the East is from the West and bury them in oblivion that they may not be able to separate my God from mee as far as heaven from hell but Gracious Lord be pleased to give me thy unworthy servant the blessed gift of true sorrow and repentance to salvation to fit me for thy mercy and prepare me with grace by the amendment of all my misdeeds for thy loving acceptance of me in thy favour againe and say to my lost soule I am thy God and thy salvation for ever and so thou working in me both the will and the deed the praise honour and glory be only thine for evermore Now swet Jesus the fountaine of mercy and Saviour of all that trust and believe in thee who graciously callest all heavy laden and penitent sinners to come to thee that thou maiest ease them have mercy on me and heale my sinfull soul with thy most pretious bloud and thy righteousnesse I know is alsufficient to cover a world of sinnes if thou please to impute it unto mee O shrowd mee under thy innocent wing that the great wrath I have deserved may never fall upon mee but vouchsafe dear Lord to receive mee sinfull creature into thy favour as thou didst Mary to become wholly thine and be thy faithfull disciple so long as I live and stretch forth thy hand of mercy as thou didst to Peter from sinking in the sea so Lord save me thy unworthy servant from perishing in my sins and by thy assistance according to thy blessed advice that I may make my peace here where I have transgressed before I goe where the utmost farthing must bee paid O Lord by thy grace make me a new creature daily to worke out my salvation with sorrow for my time lost feare to offend again and trembling at the heavy judgements due unto me and striving to make my calling and election sure by a holy life and godly conversation both towards God and man all the rest of my dayes And make mee cast utterly off all love of this deceitfull world which is but lost and my owne vaine desires that hang so fast on and only apply my heart
and soule to seek after thee and thy Kingdome with the righteousnesse thereof and then I shall obtain the end of my faith and hope even thy glory and my owne salvation through thee only dear Jesus my blessed Lord and alone Saviour To whom with God the Father and the Holy Ghost three Persons one eternall God and glorious Trinity be rendred as is due all praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen 20. The conclusion to this booke A short Prayer so to performe our duties here towards God that we may obtaine heaven hereafter OH most mercifull Lord God thou knowest my unaptnesse to any good I humbly pray thee to give me thy poor unworthy servant grace so truly to feare thee as not to offend thee so constantly to beleeve in thee and confidently to relye upon all thy gracious promises in all my troubles and necessities and so entirely and sincerely to love and honour thee above all things that nothing in this world may withdraw my minde from thee nor any vaine hopes or earthly desires make mee neglect my service to thee but that I may daily study and strive rightly and carefully to obey thee my Lord at all times diligently to seek thee and know thy will and faithfully to serve and please thee as I ought to doe as long as I live For thou O God the Father lovedst us first and sent thy deare Son out of thy bosome to redeeme us and our sweet Saviour Jesus in his love gave himselfe and laid downe his owne life to save us from eternall death greater love cannot bee found then for one to dye for a friend but thou Lord diedst for thine enemies much more having now reconciled us to the father and to thy selfe I trust being united to thee also by the Holy Ghost by sanctification and true faith wrought in me by that blessed Spirit I shall obtaine mercy through the merits and sufferings of my deare Jesus to live with thee in heaven hereafter to glorifie the great Name of God the eternall Father Son and Holy Ghost to whom bee all praise and honour for ever and let heaven and earth Saints and Angells and all creatures give glory to him for evermore Amen Here is one Prayer more which I joyne to these because it concerned one of my daughters to whom this Booke belonged though it was lately penned upon a very strange accident 21. A thanksgiving to Almighty God for his most mercifull preservation of my noble kinswoman the Lady Eliz. Feelding and of my owne daughter the Lady Eliz. Cornwalleis from drowning under the Bridge and was long under water and one worthy Gentlewoman in the company could not bee recovered This may serve upon any such fearfull accident MOst Mighty God Creator of heaven and earth and the only disposer of all things therein thou art the defender and protecter of all thy children and servants and the gracious preserver of all those that depend upon thee thy power ruleth both by sea and land and thy all-guiding providence directeth all things in the world according to thy own high will and good pleasure and for the good of all them that trust in thee Whereof thou hast given many and mee the unworthiest of thy servants an especiall testimony of thy infinite mercy towards my deare daughter and kinswoman in that great and miraculous deliverance lately of them in the dreadfull danger of sudden death by drowning in the Thames for thou didst mercifully provide and take care to save their lives when they were past sense to take care of themselves or to call upon thee for helpe yet beyond all hope thou didst bring them backe from the gates of death praised for ever be thy most glorious Name and let neither us nor any of our generation forget this thy great mercy Now Lord make us duly to acknowledge all thy benefits and let us not passe them out of our mindes without true thankfulnesse for all thy favours continually vouchsafed unto us undeserved for all which we poor creatures have nothing to returne to thee but devout love faithfull service and carefull obedience with the humble sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving which by thy assistance I will performe towards thee with a gratefull heart so long as I live and for ever Amen 22. A Petition of the Author for herselfe O Lord as Paul said he would readily performe the duty in his charge that lay upon him lest while he preached to save others himself should become a cast-away so dearest Lord I having taken pains to compose many Prayers for the use of others under my care to further them in the constant performance of this duty of prayer which being rightly used will draw many blessings from thee Almighty God I most humbly beseech thee to heare and receive their supplications that call upon thee by these Prayers So Gracious Lord suffer not me to neglect my duty and daily service herein towards thy Majesty but make me carefully rightly and reverently to offer up due praises and prayers daily unto thee in a faithfull and acceptable manner all the daies of my life And give me thy poor servant the assistance of thy grace and holy Spirit to reform all my waies before thee to suppresse and overcome the corruption of my heart the vanity of my mind and to forsake and abandon the love of this vile world with all the deceitfull vanities thereof and to cast off those great superfluous cares and desires after the things of this mutable life which passe away like a shadow or dream Wise Solomon that had the plenty and triall of all things under the Sun tells us what it will prove only vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit Wherefore let me learne with Paul in what estate soever I am therewith to be content and to submit with humble patience to thy pleasure in all things thou sendest who knowest what is best and fittest for me and keep me for repining and despairing in thy chastisements for thou canst heale as well as wound when thou pleasest Therefore I will dedicate my heart and soule and all my endeavours unto thy faithfull service striving to make my calling and election sure by looking after thee my God thy Kingdome and thy righteousnesse which is the only thing needfull This grace grant unto mee O God for Jesus Christs sake Amen The end of the first Book BOOK II. THis Book I began to write at my house at Barking in Essex where I retired my selfe in solitarinesse after the death of my worthy and dear husband Sir Thomas Richardson Knight Lord chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench who dyed at Candlemas 1634. Where shortly after I finished these Prayers following for my owne private use being the fittest imployment for my time who was then in so much heavinesse I call this Book a weekly exercise of Prayer either for a private person or in their owne family To which there are added some other necessary Prayers very
bury them in thy grave so as they may never be able to come in judgement against mee either to accuse or shame me in this world or to condemne and confound mee in the world to come for thy mercies sake sweet Jesus my Saviour But I most humbly beseech thee O Lord â—â— sanctifie and cleanse my heart and soule from all sinne and evill by thy holy Spirit that I may be upright in thy sight to reforme all my waies before thee and let thy grace and holy Spirit lead mee into the paths of truth and righteousnesse all my life that after death thou maiest of thy infinite mercy bring me to that everlasting inheritance of happinesse which thou hast so dearly purchased for us with thine owne bloud in whom is all my trust who art my only Saviour Mediator and Advocate for ever O God the Holy Ghost our comforter preserve and sanctifie thou my heart and soule that I may unfeignedly love thee truly feare thy holy Name and faithfully serve please and obey thee as I ought to doe now and all the daies of my life And vouchsafe O blessed Spirit to instruct and inlighten my soule and understanding with the true knowledge devout love and stedfast beliefe of thy sacred truth and keepe me therein for ever O Holy Ghost vouchsafe to make thy seat and dwelling in my soule and let thy holy Spirit take full possession of my heart and abide alwaies with mee to fill me with all saving graces whereby I may bee preserved from falling into any sinne or evill and bee inabled to doe all good that may be best pleasing unto thee and to performe all duty and service by thy assistance in an acceptable manner unto my gracious and Almighty God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost three Persons and one ever glorious Trinity to whom be rendred all praise honour power and thanks as is right due for ever and ever Amen 20. An evening Prayer to God the Holy Ghost for Wednesday O God the Holy Ghost blessed Spirit by whom we are sanctified and sealed unto the day of redemption and by whose holy operation we are joyned unto our blessed Lord and head Christ Jesus from whom let nothing in heaven or earth ever separate me And mercifull Lord I humbly pray thee cast me not in thy displeasure out of thy care and favour for my sinnes and withdraw not thy grace and holy Spirit from me neither forsake me nor leave me to my selfe who am wholly subject to all wickednesse But I most humbly beseech thee to creat in me a new a clean an upright a faithfull and perfect heart in thy sight to walke in all true holinesse before thee as thou requirest all my daies to come and good Lord daily renue thy grace and a right holy spirit within mee to sanctifie and cleanse my soule from sinne to preserve mee from falling into evill and to guide me into the waies of truth and righteousnesse Now dear Lord marke me thy poore servant for thine owne and prevent mee with thy grace that I never grieve despight or neglect thee my God in any thing neither to resist or quench the good motions of thy holy Spirit in my heart at any time but I most humbly pray and desire to bee led and directed in all things by thee who best knowest my frailties and infirmities that I can of my selfe neither will nor performe any good at all much lesse call upon thy holy Name as I ought all my best works and endeavours being full of imperfection and corruption but I humbly beseech thee good Lord to accept in me the will for thee deed the affection for the action and vouchsafe to heale and helpe my great disability to any goodnesse and teach and assist me rightly faithfully and constantly to pray unto thee my God now and at all times according to thy holy will and daily to call upon thy great Name in truth and sincerity And be pleased O Lord Holy Ghost to prepare assist and lift up my heart and soule towards thee and bend downe thine eare of mercy to heare me and vouchsafe thou blessed Lord to make request by thy grace in mee with such inward and faithfull devotion humility sighs and groans as cannot be expressed that so my supplications may bee acceptable to God my heavenly Father through the merits and sufferings of my dear Saviour Jesus and the holy working of thee O God the Holy Ghost my comforter who art the sanctifier and preserver both of my soule and body I humbly pray thee to inflame my heart and spirit with fervent zeale and unfeigned devotion to the true and constant performance of all duties and services that I owe unto thee my God And vouchsafe Lord by thy holy Spirit to infuse into my soule everlasting and devout love towards thy Majesty with Christian charity towards all my brethren thy children and servants And Lord put thou a right and stedfast hope into my heart that my trust in thee may never faile till I have attained to the eternall felicity which God the Father hath prepared and our blessed Saviour hath purchased and thou blessed Spirit by thy holy assistance wilt bring us unto to glorifie the Name of my God in heaven hereafter for ever Amen 21. The conclusion for Wednesday at night to the blessed Trinity MErcifull God heavenly Father blessed Son and Holy Ghost who hast appointed the night for all mortall creatures to take rest without which our weake natures cannot subsist I am now in health by thy gracious providence by thy favour and laid downe in my bed which representeth the grave and by thy mercie hope also to take quiet rest and sleepe that is the image of death from which I know not whether ever I shall awake againe to this worlds light for my life dependeth on thy good pleasure therefore I most humbly pray thee of thy infinite mercy O God to forgive all my sins past that I have committed against thee this present day or heretofore through the merits and sufferings of my Redeemer Jesus and vouchsafe heavenly Father to bee reconciled unto mee thy most guilty sinfull servant in and through thy dear and innocent Son who is my righteous Saviour And grant while I live here that in Christ I may hereafter live to thee and thy faithfull service and when I sleepe Lord let me safely rest by thy blessed preservation and by the assistance of thy holy Spirit that I may continue in thy true faith feare and favour with a good conscience unto my last breath that so if thou call me away this night or any other time in my sleep thou wilt in Christ pardon my sinnes and after death receive my soule to thy grace and mercy to remaine with thee for ever and may praise thee my God everlastingly Amen Amen 22. A Prayer for Thursday morning at first awaking to God the Father MY God I heartily praise thee for my present health rest and
preservation this night and formerly and safe approach by thy providence to this light I humbly beseech thee vouchsafe this day and alwaies to bee my present helpe in all dangers and my mercifull God to pardon all my sinnes and wickednesse that I have done heretofore and to prevent and to protect mee by thy grace and favour from falling into any sin or evill to offend thee hereafter and direct me by thy holy Spirit in all things I goe about to doe that which is acceptable in thy sight through Christ and to the best for my owne soule Deare Lord give me thy sinfull servant thy grace whereby I may be able rightly and faithfully to seeke serve and please thee my God as I ought to doe this day and at all times throughout my whole life These great blessings I beg of thee O God the Father by thy gracious assistance in and through and for the sake of thine owne deare Sonne and my only Saviour Jesus Christ the righteous So bee it 23. A Prayer for Thursday morning to God the Father MOst mighty God and my mercifull Father the giver of all good gifts grant mee thy grace and the light of thy countenance to guide mee this day and ever to walke in thy paths of truth and righteousnesse all my life and to runne in the way of thy Commandements unto my end for thy beloved Sonne hath taught us before all things to seek that which is most needfull even the Kingdome of God and the rightousnesse thereof and then our heavenly Father will supply all things else which he knoweth to be necessary for us Good Lord make me with Mary to choose the better part to seek heare and follow our Saviour Jesus and let that never bee taken from mee thy poore servant To which end I humbly pray thee O God to weane and withdraw my heart and soule from the cares love or liking of this vilde world and all the vanities thereof all which like a dream and shadow fade away And Lord drive all wicked thoughts out of my minde and banish covetous desires the root of all evill from my heart and make me ever consider what it would advantage me if I could win the whole world and should lose my owne soule Therefore I beseech thee O Lord by thy holy Spirit to settle my heart and soul my desires affections and delight only upon thee my God thy glory thy Kingdome thy righteousnesse and make me to account all earthly things but drosse and dirt so that I may win Christ and attaine to the excellent knowledge of Jesus my Saviour who is the Lord of life him chiefly O God let me finde and obtaine to be mine with whom I shall have all other good things by thy infinite mercie I beseech thee that so I may be able rightly and faithfully to serve and please thee as I ought while I live heare that after death thou of thy unspeakable goodnesse maiest make mee partaker of thy heavenly Kingdome of glory And now deare God vouchsafe unto me thy most unworthy servant the grace of daily and unfeigned sorrow and repentance for all my sins with a sound sense and feeling of them in a contrite spirit with care to reforme all my former faults in the rest of my life and make me strictly to examine my owne heart soule knowledge and conscience of all the evills I have done before thee and severely to judge hate and condemne my selfe for them that so I may escape thy great wrath and may not bee judged and condemned by thee in thy heavy displeasure which I am not able to beare for who can stand in the sight of thy great Majesty when thou art angry therefore I most humbly pray thee good God in the multitude of thy mercies to forgive and grant me thy grace and pardon of all my sins and offences past that I am guilty of for thy beloved Sonnes sake that so my iniquities may never be imputed unto me but Lord give me true faith to lay fast hold upon thy mercies and all thy gracious promises and the merits and sufferings of Ghrist with grace rightly to apply them to my owne salvation through Jesus my Saviour that so I may be quit through him and freed of my account with thee before I die and grant that I may daily die unto the world and hate all the vaine pressures thereof and may live more and more unto thee in all righteousnesse and true holinesse of living before thee as becommeth thy Saints that so when thy appointed time is come for me to enter into my long sleep of death that thou wilt be pleased by thy holy Spirit to fit and prepare me and to give me a happy and blessed departure out of this life to die in the Lord that I may rest in peace and safety and be raised up by my Saviour to grace and glory that thou pardoning all my sinnes and receiving me to mercie thou maiest wipe all teares from mine eies and remove all sorrow from my soule and for Jesus sake to admit me into thy glorious presence and there to enjoy eternall felicitie and be a happy member of thy blessed Church triumphant to praise thee there for evermore Amen And the blessing of God Almighty the eternall Father the beloved Son and the Holy Ghost be ever with mee to sanctifie blesse and preserve my soule and body in thy feare and favour and true faith stedfast hope and perfect charity unto my lifes end Amen 24. A Prayer to God the Father for Thursday night HAve mercy upon me O Lord and hearken unto my prayer for I know thou Lord wilt blesse the righteous and with thy favour wilt compasse him as with a shield Lord thou lovest not wickednesse neither shall evill dwell with thee thou shalt destroy them that speake lies for thou abhorrest all them that worke iniquity yet thou desirest not the death of a sinner but that he should returne and live therefore deare Lord deliver my soule and save me in thy manifold mercies for I have grievously sinned before thee and my iniquities are gone over my head into thy presence and are too heavy for mee to beare But I most humbly beseech thee for thy beloved Son Jesus sake to give me unfaigned sorrow and repentance for all my sinnes past which are great and many and grant me thy gracious pardon and remission for all my offences committed this day or heretofore against thee and Lord indue me with true faith to lay hold of all thy mercies and my Saviours merits and sufferings with grace to amend reforme my life according to thy most holy word and Commandements all the rest of my daies to come to which end Lord give me a soft a penitent upright and contrite heart with a tender conscience and a true and sound sense and feeling of all my sinnes infirmities and spirituall wants with grace earnestly and faithfully to cry and pray unto thee for mercie and reliefe
Will praise the Lord because he is good for his mercy endureth for ever by whom we live move and have our being our maintenance safety and preservation Now glorious Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost I humbly pray thee vouchsafe unto mee thy most unworthy servant such grace and favour to knit my heart and soule fast to theee so that my sinnes nor my soules enemies the wicked world my owne corrupt flesh nor the malice of the Divell may not be able to pluck mee out of thy mercifull and powerfull hands but Lord assist me with thine owne blessed Spirit that I may daily continue and increase in all sincere and perfect love and obedience towards thy Majesty and in thy feare and favour and all other saving graces to have a good conscience before thee with true faith stedfast hope and perfect charity unto my lifes end Amen 31. A Prayer unto the Trinity for Saturday morning O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in all the world for thou hast laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the workes of thy hands and thou didst create and dost governe dispose and rule the whole world with all things therein according to thy good pleasure O most divine and adored Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost three persons but one true eternall and everliving God to whom be all praise honour and glory as is right and due for ever Thou only by thy word and power didst make all things for thine owne glory especially mankinde after thine image in purity and holinesse to thine own service for by thy ptovidence and mercy commeth all good gifts and blessings unto us and also deliverances only from thee of those evills and dangers which sinne hath made us subject unto in falling from thee and our first integrity by the subtillty and malice of Sathan and our owne frailty yet of thine owne free grace thou didst elect a number by thee selected of thy chosen servants to inherit an eternall Kingdome with and through thy beloved Son whom thou didst ordain and send into the world at thine appointed time to be the redemption of all that beleeve in thee O God the Son our blessed Lord Jesus Christ it is written of thee that thou shouldest doe the will of God the Father who ordained thee to be our Redeemer and wert made of God unto us wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and salvation with glorification hereafter Now deare Jesus who hast paid our ransome even the all-sufficient and acceptable sacrifice of thine own pretious bloud to wash away our sins who was lifted upon the crosse between heaven and earth to make an attonement betwixt God and man his heavy wrath and our grievous offences and so thou art become our Priest to offer up thy innocent selfe to cleanse us from our sinnes who art our Prophet to instruct and teach us and direct our waies aright to shew us the path of life and make the way plaine before our faces and by thy example to beare our crosse patiently and follow thee that art the way the truth and the life to lead us to eternall salvation also thou art our King to protect defend and reigne over us in mercy truth and righteousnesse till thine enemies be made thy footstoole and all that hate thee be destroyed before thee for God hath put all things in subjection under his feet then shalt thou judge the whole world in righteousnesse and equity and wilt bring thy servants to that eternall inheritance which thou hast by thy merits and sufferings so dearly purchased for us who wert borne unto us to be the joy and comfort of all people and the glory and salvation of all that truly beleeve and trust in thee our Saviour O God Holy Ghost the giver worker and sealer of all graces unto us by thee we are called to the knowledge of God and his saving truth sanctified to the performance of his will and Commandements certified by the holy Spirit of our salvation in Christ Jesus and by thee applied unto us to bee regenerated and borne againe by thy holy operation from sin to grace to thy glory and our endlesse felicity And thy Spirit also witnesseth to our spirits that we are the children of God and heires with Christ of the Kingdome of heaven to the eternall comfort of all thy servants being by thee also united to our blessed Christ and sealed to the day of redemption and continually assisting us to all goodnesse Now great and glorious Lord God Father Son and Holy Ghost thou hast plentifully powred downe thy manifold mercies and favours upon us and multiplied exceedingly thy blessings and benefits spirituall and temporall towards us before we had being in the world since we were borne and after death thou hast laid up an eternall weight of glory for all those to possesse that truly beleeve in thee which give me grace to doe for none hath or ever can deserve them Oh the abundant mercy bounty and goodnesse of our gracious God towards mortall mankinde who can declare the height and depth of Gods unspeakable love or be sufficiently thankfull to him for such unexpressible benefits but with David we may say Lord What is man that thou art mindefull of him Or what shall we render to thee for all thy mercies having in us no good at all but what we receive from thy selfe therefore Lord adde this further grace unto thy former favours by the assistance of thine owne Spirit to make us thy unworthy servants able rightly faithfully and constantly to feare love honour serve obey and praise thy most glorious Name while we live and for ever and ever Amen 32. A Prayer to God the Holy Ghost for Saturday night O God Holy Ghost the giver of all graces and and my gracious sanctifier comforter and preserver thou knowest my infirmities my inclination to all evill and backwardnesse to any goodnesse vouchsafe Lord to sanctifie mee thy poore sinfull servant in soule body and spirit throughout to thy true feare intire love and right faithfull and constant service all my time to come And be pleased Lord by thy grace to enlighten my dull soule and understanding with the sound knowledge sincere love and stedfast beleefe of thy saving truth and keepe me ever constant therein And vouchsafe deare Lord to inrich me thy poore unworthy servant with the infinite treasure of that heavenly wisdome from above which waiteth about thy Throne that may teach me thy holy will and what is good and acceptable unto thee and inable me with grace to doe it that so I may discerne between good and evill and make me shunne and hate that which is evill and follow and cleave unto that which is good and to withdraw my love from this vaine world and fix my affections upon thee my God and on heavenly things that are above that my chiefe treasure may be settled there in heaven and my heart also and so I shall first seek to obtaine that
and with all my minde setting my affections not on things that are below but upon heavenly treasures that are above which are permanent and fade not where my sweet Saviour who dyed for mee on earth now liveth and reigneth with thee in heaven for ever and maketh intercession for mee there that by thy assistance I may continually study and strive carefully and willingly to performe all duties towards thee in obeying thy Commandements with an upright and perfect heart before thee and in all true charity being ready to doe good to others as thou commandest and to love my neighbour as my selfe even my enemies for thy sake Most mercifull Lord who knowest our fraile and wretched natures and desirest the conversion not the confusion of poor miserable sinners thou sweet Jesus camest to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance such as I am and to save that which was lost Oh let not my poore soule be lost which cost thee thy deare pretious bloud to save but Lord make mee by true faith lay hold of my redemption by thee and all other thy workes of mercy and though I have grievously offended in thy sight yet I beseech thee with-hold not thy favour from me thy poor sinfull servant but give me the grace of unfeigned sorrow and repentance with a true contrite spirit and a broken heart for all my sinnes committed before thee from the greatest to the least wherein I have displeased thee by thought desire word or deed hating judging and condemning my selfe for so offending thee my Lord God and most earnestly and humbly crave thy assistance that I may now happily returne to thee with a penitent and grieved heart from whom I have so unhappily gone astray by a vaine corrupt mind and sinfull soule whereby I hope in thy great mercy to escape thy just wrath and condemnation due to my grievous offences and may also obtaine thy gracious pardon for all my passed misdeeds with the assistance of thy holy Spirit which I most humbly crave to amend my former faults and to reforme my wayes the rest of my life in all things according to thy blessed will Now lastly O gracious Lord our righteousnesse my sure hope and heavenly Father the fountaine of all goodnesse in whom is all mercy and compassion from thee only we receive all good gifts and graces for thou hearest the prayers and to thee shall all flesh come who understandest our wants before we aske and knowest our wretched natures and disabilities to all goodnesse so that thy grace only must worke both the will and the deed of all that is good in us and then of thine owne mercie accept the same through the merits and mediation of our Saviour Jesus so doubling thy favours towards us miserable mortall creatures whose hearts are vile and false unto our selves and to thee also and our thoughts are only evill continually Therefore sweet Jesus the mirrour of mercie vouchsafe to heare and helpe me to call and draw me to thy selfe and knit fast my heart and soule unto thy true feare devout love and faithfull service for ever that so by thy selfe I may be inabled to run willingly and joyfully after thee rightly and readily to performe all duties towards thee and keep all thy Commandements constantly Oh gracious Lord Holy Ghost our blessed preserver comforter and sanctifier soften thou my hardened heart by thy grace and inlighten my dull and sinfull soule with all the powers thereof my understanding memory will and affection with all saving graces especially as the chiefe means to gaine the rest vouchsafe to inspire me with thy true spirit of grace and prayer rightly humbly fervently and faithfully to call daily on thy sacred Name and to worship thee in spirit and truth even as thou requirest to be served that so by thy favour I may obtaine grace power and strength to banish all wandring thoughts and to vanquish and resist all wicked hindrances cast in by the divell or his agents the world and mine owne corruptions which distract and disturbe my serious and devout attendance of both soule and body in rightly performing this duâ—y of prayer unto my Lord God whereby I may be duly thankfull for all thy benefits and mercies already bestowed on me and mine and also to begge and obtaine the gracious countenance of all thy blessings spirituall and temporall in whatsoever thou seest necessary for this present life and that which is to come but more especially in giving me all saving graces which may fit prepare and further me here for thy heavenly Kingdome hereafter To which my Saviour and Redeemer bring me by all the merits and sufferings and in the fulnesse of thy mercies I humbly beseech thee dear Jesus Amen Amen 1. A sorrowfull widowes prayer and petition unto the gracious protector and defender of widowes and father of the fatherlesse which I composed shortly after the death of my dear husband And this may also serve any other upon the like occasion ALmighty God and most gracious Lord who art full of pity and goodnesse vouchsafe to heare assist and accept the humble devotion and supplication of me thy poore unworthy servant in Jesus Christ thy deare Son Most mighty God whose mercies are above all thy great works and whose power and divine providence directeth and disposeth all things to the best for those that doe love and depend upon thee Thou hast ever been pleased to shew mercie unto me thy poore handmaid the most sinfull of all thy servants and hast taken care of mee even from my mothers wombe and vouchsafed me many benefits and blessings and delivering mee out of very great crosses and troubles still holding me up by thy gracious hand from sinking in the midst of a sea of sorrowes and like a most loving Father in my divers change of fortunes hast at all times provided for me and mine beyond our deserts or the worlds expectation having in thy mercifull goodnesse made me see with comfort all my children who were left destitute now by thy provident provision and blessing well setled for this life All which by thy infinite favours Lord make me ever thankfully to acknowledge and grant that I and all mine may serve obey praise and glorifie thy great and blessed Name for ever and ever And as thou Lord hast stretched forth thy hand of bounty to supply all my worldly wants so dear God vouchsafe more especially to extend thy gracious care over my soule to prevent and keep me from sin and indue me with all spirituall graces so that my whole life and waies may ever be serviceable and acceptable to thy heavenly Majesty And now O Lord since it hath been thy will and pleasure to take away and call to thy selfe my deare husband out of this transitory life before me and to bereave me of him who was my chiefe comfort in this world I humbly beseech thee vouchsafe to take me into thy care and give me grace to choose with
Mary that better part which may never be taken from mee chiefly to serve and follow thee that so I may turne this freedome from the bond of mariage only the more to thy service and may become thy bond woman to serve and praise thee day and night like Hanna so long as I live And Lord assist me with thy grace to obey thee in all things according to thy holy will daily endeavouring to work out my salvation with feare and trembling and continually striving by a godly life and holy conversation to make my calling and election sure which is one of the chiefest things needfull Now deare God make me to change and far exceed the fervent affection and carefull observance I have lived in towards my husband into a holy feare with devout and sincere love of thy Majesty and service and due watchfulnesse over my selfe that I displease not thee my God in any thing And good God by thy holy Spirit withdraw my heart from the covetous seeking desiring and longing after the vanities riches delights preferments or vaine pleasures of this wicked deceitfull world but instead of my former care and troubles in worldly businesses to please my husband and for the good of my children let me now bend my minde and wholly set my heart and soule to seeke after thee my good God thy glory thy Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof that so I may walke before thee all the rest of my daies with an upright faithfull and perfect heart in thy sight Lastly indue mee with true thankfulnesse to thy gracious Majesty for all thy manifold mercies vouchsafed unto me Lord give me grace to use those benefits thou bestowest on me conscionably as may be best pleasing unto thee and to imploy all I have to thy glory the relievement of thy truest servants and my owne comfort especially the good of my soule in performing my duty towards thee in striving to doe all the good I can while I have time for I desire so to use and receive thy blessings here as I may be also received into the place of eternall blessednesse hereafter through Jesus Christ my Lord. Finally I most humbly beg that thou wilt vouchsafe to be a loving and gracious Father in thy care and comfort to me and all mine and let thy mercie blessing and favour rest alwaies upon me my children and grand-children kindred and friends with all that thou hast given thy poore servant who doth in all humility commend and commit my selfe my waies and workes wholy to thy most blessed protection and direction to dispose according to thy good pleasure that so I may doe all things to thy glory here and by thy mercy be a happy partaker of thy eternall Kingdome of glory hereafter through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen 2. A Prayer to the God of mercy in time of affliction O Most gracious Lord God the originall of all goodnesse and fountaine of mercie thou hast commanded thy poore servants to call upon thee in the day of trouble that thou maiest deliver us and we may glorifie thee great are the troubles of thy children but thou deliverest them out of all thine eyes O Lord are upon thy servants and thine eares are open to their cry for thou art near unto all that call upon thee in truth and wilt save such as bee afflicted in spirit the sorrows of my heart are increased Lord draw me out of my troubles the poore crieth and the Lord heareth he prepareth their hearts and bendeth his eares to them and delivereth them out of all their feare and care for the hope afflicted shall not perish before thee for ever The Lord also will be a refuge in due time even in affliction and they that know thy Name will trust in thee for thou wilt not faile them that seek thee have mercy upon me O Lord consider my troubles which I suffer of them that hate me without cause thou hast been my defence and hast lifted me up from the gates of death O Lord my God in thee I put my trust save me from them that persecute mee and deliver me in thy good time But dear God I most humbly confesse that my sinnes are so many and grievous as they have deserved farre greater punishment then I am able to beare and I can hope for no helpe or release but from thine owne goodnesse who art my only hope and sure refuge for thou hast mercy on whom thou wilt have mercy and takest compassion on whom thou pleasest but I acknowledge that my sufferings are not answerable to my sinnes for thou hast corrected me with favour not in rigor therefore if thou shouldest kill me yet will I trust in thee for thy mercy exceedeth all thy workes and under the shadow of thy wings will I rest in confidence till all my afflictions be overpassed Yet Lord if it seem good unto thee to continue these heavy troubles and visitations that now lye sore on me I humbly pray thee to sanctifie all my afflictions unto me thy poore servant which I hope are but fatherly chastisements for the amendment of my faults and not the fearfull judgements and ensignes of thy wrathfull displeasure from which Lord for thy Sonnes sake preserve me â—â—y poore sinfull creature and lay no more upon me then thou wilt make me able to undergoe as I ought to doe saying with Ely It is the Lord let him do what he pleaseth and make me to consider like Job that naked I came into the world and naked I shall returne the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken praised be his name for ever but thou Lord art my stength and my stay in all distractions I further humbly beseech thee to give me grace and patience in all things and at all times to keep my selfe from any offence towards thee by repining at thy just and favourable corrections for my transgressions but grant that I may as Christ hath taught us meekly and humbly submit my selfe to thy most righteous and blessed will that so I may by thy assistance make the best and right use of whatsoever thou sendest that all may be to the best for thy honour and turne to my good when thou art pleased to give a happy issue to this temptation and in thy good time to ease and deliver me out of these great adversities to thy glory But I know that the afflictions of this present world are not worthy of the glory that shall bee revealed to us hereafter yet I humbly desire if it so please thee that I may live the rest of my daies in peace and quiet constantly to attend thy service and seek after my owne salvation Lord be mercifull to this whole Kingdome now in very great distraction distresse and misery and also to all my fellow members in thy whole Church universall wheresoever any of us are afflicted inwardly or outwardly in body or minde grant us either speedy delivery or else grace to performe thy good pleasure and with