which is the key that doth open where no Man shuts and shuts where no man ãâã that enters where no man hath passage and returnes where no man can hinder The prayer of the faithfull is the life of that soule which is sore wrapped and perplexed with the noysome puddle of a sestered and sinfull conscience where by the heart is so oppresââ with griefe that neither wine nor strong drinke by the rules of Salomon can comfort O then what shalâ wee doe but crie to thee ãâã GOD with heart and hand listed vp to ãâã saying ãâã that thou wouldest hide ãâã in thy Grace and keepe ãâã secret vntill thy wrath ãâã past Therefore if any ãâã afflicted let him pray and ãâã vs not presume in the height of our prosperitie lest wee suddenly see a change but let vs put our whole confidence in the Lord our God and pray vnto him and to none other Neither let vs presume vpon our selues or any earthly meanes besides for there was neuer contemplation exercise or any kind of study in the World so acceptable to the Maiestie of GOD so gracious in his sight so lincked and true a friend to him as heauenly meditation It awaketh in the night season it rests not in the day it forsaketh vs not by Land or by Sea in health in sicknesse in prosperity or aduersitie in weale or woe it is such a sure and tried friend in all extreamities such an inseparable companion in mans greatest distresse as no tongue is able to expresse the contentation it yeelds vnto the oppressed Therefore let vs loue it and lodge it in the bosome of our weake consciences and imbrace it in sincerity of heart for it is our last and best friend alwaies solliciting our Father in Heauen whose name is so worthy to be called vpon so mighty for deliuerance so pââssant for protection so gainfull for successe so compendicus to abridge vnnecessary labours as the name of LEHOVAH our most mercifull louing Father There was neuer Sanctuary so free for transgressors in the strongest priuiledge neuer such safetie neuer holes in the Rocke so open for the Fowles of the field the arme of my Mother neuer so open to her child as the ãâã ãâã of Gods mercifull compassion to all true and faithfull beleeuers Therefore with speede let vs all ãâã faithfully vnto this good GOD in all our wants and extremities there shroaââ our selues vnder his protection There was neuer Creature liuing vnder the Sunne that ãâã not affliction in his daies neither ãâã there euer any to whom affliction was not grieuous and irkesomeâ yet neuer was there affliction so great but it hath beene vnder the correction of a louing Lord whose hand hath beene aable to master it Euery affliction as it comes in seuerall kinds for our seueral sinnes and transgressions so our meditations must be seuerall and framed and fitted thereunto and powred forth both with wisedome and zeale that they seem not harsh and vndigested to those sacred eares that can both sift and trie the one and the other The delicacy and tendernesse both of our meditations and prayers must be so deuoutly and wisely composed and the fauour of his countenance so carefully sought for as may appeare by the example of him that knew in his soule that a faint and dissembling Petition would returne emptie into the bosome of him that sent it vp Cursed ãâã ãâã that doth the Ier. 48. 10 worke of the Lord negligently saith the Prophet ãâã But saith Dauid A broken and ãâã ãâã the Lord will not despise Dauid neuer sent vp his petitions but with the deepest affection and zeale of heart with the most sincere integritie and meditated zeale that might be for euery night washed hee his bedde and watered his Couch with teares which argued his singular contrition and feruentnesse in his Petitions And therefore after his godly example let vs with a sincere true desire of contrite hearts pray to that good GOD that he will so inspire his heauenly grace into our sinfull hearts that when wee make our Petitions we may haue the force of two tongues in our ãâã whereby we may the better speede and auoide the malediction which otherwise we may receiue in stead of ãâã blessing Wee may learne precepts and draw many excellent examples from the liues of the Heathen Philosophers and Writers as also we may learne a zeale in our Petitions euen of those woodden Priests 1 Kings 18 of whom it is written That they called vpon the name of Baal from morning to noon and when they had no answere they cried aloude nay cutte themselues with kniues till the bloud flowed so they praied not onely in teares but in bloud And then shall not wee being the Children of light be as seruent and zealous in our Petitions to GOD The agony zeale of the Sunne of righteousnesse was such that in the dayes of his flesh hee offered vp Prayers and supplications with strong cries and teares to him that was able to helpe him O Lord inspite thy heauenly grace so ãâã our hearts that wee may learne to addresse ourselues that in all temptations necessities and afflictions wee may in the true zeale of our heart pray so deâoutely vnto thy omnipotent Maiestie that our Petitions may haue a gracious acceptance in thy sight And as Gods word further declares vnto vs not only that he kneeled at the naming of whose name all knees must bow both in Heauen and Earth and vnder the Earth but that he fell vpon the ground the foot-stoole of his owne Maiestie and lay vpon that face that neuer Angell beheld without reuerence and when hee had praied once hee praied againe more earnestly as his word records He once praied departed a secoÌd time yet a third praied and departed euermore vsing the same petitions his prayer ascending by degrees like incense persume And not only his lips went but his agony contention within was so great that an Angel was sent from Heauen to comfort him and out of the trouble of his soule the sweate like drops of bloud trickled downe to the ground Let vs not therefore at any time offer vp any vnworthy sacrifice but let vs remember in our Prayers this glorious example of this our worthy and blessed Sauiour for our imitation that they may be blessed in their speede and wee in their successe and not to vtter them carelesly as if our spirits and tongues were strangers ignorant of eithers purpose the lippes babâing without the heart but no compuâction within honouring God with our mouthes but our spirits of true deuotion being farre from him our hearts not bleeding with the drops of true sinceritie which would bee heard and pittied Our Altar without fire our Petitions without heate and all that wee doe without zeale If we meane that our Petitions should be heard and accepted at the hands of GOD wee must frame our supplications with an ardent true affectionated zeale
directed to God alone for it is neither to be done to Angels nor Saints as Mediators or friends one or other greater or lesser in Heauen or Earth but onely to be offered to the Maiesty of God whose eares bee open to all them that seeke to him in Faith for without true Faith all our Petitions are naught and turne to our vtter confusion Wee must not onely pray with zeale and desire but with fitnesse of congruitie and application for his blessings in our necessities The Prophet Hosea maketh it plaine and saith The Lord at all times will take away all inâquitie and receiue vs graciously so we render vp to him ãâã caluâs of our lips Nay what is it that hee will not doe for them that put their whole rest vpon his omnipotent Maiestie in all tribulations and anguish of mind If we make our humble supplications vnto him he will stay his furious hand and fill his hand full of mercie he will with-draw his rod of correction and send his rod of comfort hee will sheathe vp his deuouring sword in the hand of his destroying Angell who on euery side strikes downe to the graue emptying houses and streets to fill vp Church yards And vpon our true repentance he will surceasse to send his deueâring Angell and send his Angell of mercy and grace which is a preseruatiue and the most soueraign restoratiue vnder heauen to make sound againe our diseased conscience which hath been long âuergrowne with âinne which ãâã both hârt and wound ãâã now wee acknowledge with a sorrow from our hearts that our sinnes haue procured it at the hand of GOD. In consideration of the great mercies that GOD doth daily hourely heape vpon vs wee must addresse our Petitions to the LORD in another key and forme of supplication meekely kneeling before the LORD our Maker lowly prostrate at the foote-stoole of GODS mercy that his iudgements may be diuerted and turned away from vs. Thus did that great patterne of wisdome Salomon whose foote-steps are worthy our imitation beseeching the LORD of Lords that when wee shall make our prayers according to our necessities either in body or in mind that he would vouchsafe then to heare vs and reach forth his mercifull hand vnto our complaints But these our Petitions cannot ascend vnlesse faith deuotion beare them vp nor can they speede vnlesse they issue from a heart that vowes vnfeined repentance and that calles to mind our sinnes transgressions that haue procured those iudgements that we may truly repent and so wash them from vs whereby God may heare vs and shew his mercifull compassion But this repentance is more bitter then can bee imagined for euery sorrow is not repentance for theâ should worldlings repent Some thinke euery confession to bee repentance then had Pharaoh and Saul repented some thinke that euery weeping is ãâã repentance then had Esau repented some take euery little humiliation to bee repentance then had ãâã repented some thinke that euery good word and promise is repentance if that were so then should sicke men repent some thinke to ârie GOD mercy is repentance then should euery âoole repent But true repentance in ââde and such as is here âent iâ more then hanging âowne of the head like a âull-rush or towring out a ââare to soâ out a sighe to âeare ãâã ãâã or ãâã cloth or with a verball sound of the lips without the priuity and consent oâ the heart within to criâ Lord haue mercy on me anâ so rest But it must bee the scourging and launcing of the verie soule with true contrition a downe-right shower ãâã teares from a broken penâtent bleeding heart filleâ with exceeding bitternessâ of sorrow and anguish foâ some committed Let no man thinke it toâ early to goe or too early ãâã beginne to goe to this gooâ Schoole not of sharpnessâ but of sweetnesse not ãâã paine but of pleasure Lââ vs goe to it in our youthâ and let Salomon be our Tâtor whereby wee shall ãâã âaught to remember our Creator in the dayes of our âouth Let it bee often rememâred that no man thinke it âo late lest hee omit and âose that which hee might âtherwise haue gained What time soeuer the sinâer shall truely repent him ââom the very bottome of ãâã heart of his loude and âisspent life the Lord will âorgiue and forget and his âânnes shall vanish from his ââght and presence euen as ãâã dâaw before the Sunne I say againe he that rightââ repents himselfe of his âickednesse and vaine life ãâã is not the misery of this âretched life nor terror of âonscience nor malice of âoes let them be Men or diuels ãâã be a whole legion to one that shall neuer hinder the ascensioâ and blessing of his godlâ prayer and it shalâ neuer hiâder the forgiuenesse of ãâã sinne Neuer was the shadoâ more faithfull to the bodiâ then a blessed forgiuenesâ to faithfull repentance aââ the good successe whiââ hath beene to a faithfull aââ zealous prayer conceiuââ in the breast and lodged ãâã the heart and powerfulâ vttered by the voice of ãâã tongue and spirit But this great expectââ successe which we looke ãâã to receiue by our Petitioââ at the hands of GOD muââ be formed in a more zealoââ fashion then our commââ âse is which vse may bee âompared to an hypocâites âustome wanting these neâessary adiuncts these vndeâayed vndelaied assistants âhat blesse the companie wherein they come and ãâã the suite wherein they ãâã Solliciters and Plaintifs âho beate not the aire with âounds that arise from the âollow and emptinesse of âhem like Brooks that roare ând make a noise but shew ââeir empty bottomes that âontaine nothing but grauel ând filthinesse within like ãâã our desolaâe and onely faââionable prayers both at âome and abroade in chamââr and Church these are âypocrites who poure âorth ãâã forme of words rather in ãâã fashion of custome then for any great zeale neither honouring God nor yet furthering the Petitions wee make for our expected desires These things duely considered we must needs think in our minds we remaine in a very wretched and desperate case our affections are so weake that the least occasion or blast of vanitie withdrawes vs from all godly desires whereby wee run both soule and bodie into vtter destruction Very little is the care which remaineth in vs to giue this good GOD our onely Sauiour that sends to all things his due so our turnes be serued and that wee haue receiued at the Lords hands our desire there is all our frailâ flesh looketh for till extremities come and then wee make a new shew of repentance with a sorrow for our negligence in the true seruing and honouring of his Omnipotent Maiesty which wee rather doe of a custome then of zeale as the Parrot of ãâã wee recite the Creede flattering God with our tongues but dissembling with him in our harts which is onely for want of Faith by whose absence our minds are fraught with toies
and fansies which beare away the due reuerence wee owe vnto God For when we haue praied to GOD that hee will giue eare vnto our requests and receiue our petitions they are sonegligently done that we had need pray againe to desire him that hee will out of his bountifull loue and great mercy cast his eye of pitty and not of anger vpon the great offence which was committed in the idlenesse of our prayers and supplications made by vs vnto his diuine Maiestie and that he will forgiue vs our sins committed in our prayers because wee thinke then leasâ of him at the time we make our prayer vnto him neuer remembring the Maiestie of his person to whom weâ speake nor the Excellencie of the worke wee take in hand neuer rowsing vp the spirit of a sorrowfull repentant heart for our former offences committed but if we âhance then to stirre vp ouâ deuotion to prayer we leaue them halt and lame bodie without soule or soule without deuotion sound of lips without the heart one part of our selues without the other or the whole without a whole clamour without intention But Dauid practised true repentance which may not bee repented of and such were the panges and prickings of Iobs heart vnto GOD My groanings saith he come forth before I eate and my roarings are powred forth Not onely groaning nor crying but also roarings with a continual inundation as one waue dasheth forth another Now when the soule is thus prepared to speake the eares of the Lord are euer open to heare the true penitent sinners cry These are wonderfull passions The hungry Lyon in the desert opprest with extremitie of suffering want neuer roared so much for his prey nor the Hart braying after the water brookes as the goodnesse of the Lord in the soule of the faithfull He is the mighty LORD of Heauen and Earth whose name be blessed and hallowed for euer in Earth as it is in Heauen and blessed are all those that are in loue with his goodnes and traââ nearest vnto his steps And to giue vs a further example in his owne cause when his soule was hedged in and enuironed round about with vexation euen vnto death when anguish sorrow incompassed him round about as also then in his greatest agony when he cried with a great voice not for particular persons as before hee wept but vndergoing the burthen and punishment of all the sinnes and sinners in the World My God my God why hast thou forsaken me and crying againe with a great voice gaue vp the ghost Therefore the blessed Apostles mentioning the daies of his humanitie and the exercise of his godly and sacred life and fruite of his lips and the passions of his spirit thought it not enough to giue notice to the World that he prayed to his Father that hee praied with teares which trickled downe his blessed cheekes and watered the ground nor of a cry alone weakely sent out but of a vehement and strong cry which if Heauen were brasse were able to pierce through it and find way into the Sanctuary into the eares of the Almighty Such a prayer as it ascends lightly vp borne vpon the wings of Faith so it eueâ comes laden heauily downe with a blessing on the head of him that first gaue it flight This Lanthorne of our direction and composition of humilitie and goodnesse this glorious and neuer enough admired LORD of life who prest opprest with the weight burthen thereof groaned vnder the affliction of our sinnes in a most perfect forme of exact obedience with his bleeding teares for vs shewed vs the right forme of faithfull supplications for our selues Let vs then bee importunate and feruent in our praiers that our Petitions may wrestle with GOD and ouercome him For if our praiers bee powred forth in the âeruentnesse of zeale without wauering then let vs make no doubt but hee wil graciously receiue them into his armes of mercie Way hâe thus grieueâ for vs and shall not wee grieue for ourselues groaned hee vnder the weight of our sin being himselfe without sinne onely in compassion and pitty towards vs why then doe not we continuallie groane and grieue It is so farre from vs that in no way wee giue his heauenlie Maiestie his due except in committing finne and drinking it downe the throate with greedinesse and a desiring thirsting appetite euen as Beheââth drinketh down Iârdan without sense sorrow or griefe for the same The true consideration hereof will enforce and procure in vs a more perfect desire to follow the true prescription that our Sauiour hath prescribed for vs in his holy Gospell which commandeth vs by expresse words to bee importunate and feruent in our prayers that our Petitions may ascend vp to GOD our Lord and onely Sauiour and there to be receiued into his bosome to preârent a further and greater danger before the dreadfull Maiestie of the omnipotent LORD of Heauen and Earth who with the breath of his nostrels is able to destroy our bodies and soules change the World and the beauty thereof into a Chaos and âeape of confusion turne the Sunne into darkenesse and the Moone into blood and alter the property and being of all the Creatures in the World at the twinckling of an eye Considering what we are that speake that offer vp the calues of our lippes and the fruites of our repentance poore naked impotent vnworthy wretches wee should be importunate and with a feruentnesse of zeale poure out our supplications vnto GOD that he wil mercifully heare vs and gently receiue our supplications and according to his wonâed goodnesse satisfie our faithfull requests poured forth vnto him in the name of CHRIST IESVS our Lord and onely helper in all distresse But our wretchednesse and mortality our nakednesse in good workes towards him is such that if there were any spark of true faith in vs it would make vs ashamed as it did our first Parents when they bidde themselues from the presence of their GOD. The view of our sinnes is exceedingly sinful the number the weight the danger thereof hang about our neckes like milstones that we are notable nor worthy to cast vp our eyes to heaueÌ for our sinnes are so exceedingly miserable that the Prophet of GOD being astonished to see either man or the Sonne of man so kindly visited biddeth vs be feruent in our Petitions to GOD. And we must expect an happy successe of our supplications vnlesse we wil cal in question or doubt of the promises of God which are more stable then the pillars of the Earth or the basis of the surest foundation except we will cast our graine into the earth and expect no haruest plant Vines and not drinke the Wine thereof If wee meane to receiue that at GODS hand we doe expect to haue then wee must prepare our selues in another forme to poure out our vnworthy plaints and petitions and thinke that GOD either heareth not or regardeth not at all the
Heauen anâ Earth bee rendered praise and thankesgiuing Worlâ without eâd Amen Another Morning Prayer O Blessed Lord thoâ hast established thy Throne in Heauen and thoâ gouernest all things by thirâ imperiall power I will mâgâifie thee O God and praise thy name World without ând I will giue thee thankes âlwaies and make thy name glorious for euermore Lord âonfirme in mee that which âhou hast wrought and fiâish the worke thou hast beguââe in me to the glorie of thy name and the sauing of âây soule at the dreadful day of thy vâsitation for thy mereâes sake O Father of goodnesse and mercy let the depth of thy bounty dry vp the depth of my sinnes and giue mee grace to efâect thy will and then command mee what thou pleaâest Lord giue me patience âonstancy and perseuerance ân my calling and duety of âife according to thy will ând direction and then let my course of life be in what thou wilt appoint Good Father bee thou my guide and âule of lââe and then all my actions shall be squaredâ and fitted by the aime of thy word to my great comfort Lord let not the world with her smile beguile mee nor with âer ârownes afright me Arme me with sanctity strength and wisdome that Sathan deceiue mee not let not my owne conscience betray mee to his malice let me euery day encrease my strength in thee to the welfare of my soule And good Lord giue me grace patiently and thankfully to take all thou shalt lay vpon me good Father deliuer me this day from sinne and all other mischiefe that may befall me through my frailâty and keepe me as the apple of thy eye Lord hide me vnder the âhadow of thy wings from the vngodly and them that goe about to trouble mee Mine enemies compaste mee âound about Lord bee thou my guard and defence let not mine enemies haue the âoper hand of me O Lord âleanse mee from my secret offâaces and let my morning teares and the sorrowâull sighing of my heart âome before thy presence ând alwaies be acceptable in âhy sight And I beseech thee good Father to cast vpon me âhe eye of thy great clemencie that through the efâects of thy spirit I may obâaine life euerlasting Amen A short Prayer for the Morning O Lord God in the multitude of thy mercies I doe heere present my selfe vnto thee beseeching thee to heare me and to addresse my heart truly and zealouslie to call vpon thee O Heauenly Father who like a diligent watchman doest alwaies attend thy faithfull people whether they awake or sleepe and mightily defendest them not onely from Sathan that olde enemy of Mankinde but also from all other aduersaries so that by thy godly power they bee preserued harmelesse I most heartily thanke thee that it hath pleased thy Fatherlie goodnesse to take care of ââee thine vnprofitable serâuant this night past that thou hast both safely kept me from all my enemies and âlso giuen me sweete sleepe to the great comfort of my âody I most intirely beseech âhee O most mercifull Father to shew the like kindnesse towards me this day in âreseruing my body and âoule that as my enemies may haue no power ouer me so I likewise may neiâher thinke breathe speake âr doe any thing that may âe displeasant to thy Fatherââe goodnesse dangerous to ây selfe or hurtfull to my âeighbour but that all mine ânterprises may bee agreeaâle to thy most blessed will âhich is alwaies good and godly doing that which may aduance thy glory answere to my vocation anâ profit my neighbour whoââ I ought to loue as my selfe â that whensoeuer thou callest me from this vale of miserie I may bee found thâ Childe not of darknesse buâ of light and so for eueâraigne with thee in glory which art the true and euerlasting light to whom with thy dearely beloued Sonne IESVS CHRIST our onely Sauiour and the Holie Ghost that most sweet comforter bee all honour and glorie Amen A Meditation to be vsed before thou goâst to bed AT night before thou goest to bedde examine wel thy conscience It is good that euery man doe not onely weekelie but euery day and houre examine himselfe ââ driue from his soule all negligence and sloath and enrich his minde with godlinesse Whereupon the Poet writeth very well Let not thy sluggish sleepe close vp thy waking eye Vntill with iudgement deepe thy daily deeds thou trie It is meet then to examine our consciences of the grieuous offences which wee haue committed against GOD and to call to remembrance how wee haue offended his omnipotent Maiestie from the time we did rise vnto this present by thought consent deedâ slaâkenesse or omitting that which âendeth to the true seruice and âonour of our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST by offending of our Neighbour bâ passing our time idlie in praying after a ââolde sort with small deuotion and in neglecting of our duty by such slothfulnesse that we thereby fall into ârronious sins which turnâ very iâiârious to our soules Therefore let vs with true sorrow and grâese and with a remorse of conscience duly consider the great offence wee comit against so mercifull a GOD then preparing our selues to prayer let vs giue God his dââ in seruing him in holinesse and righteousnesse with most humble thankes for his great âârciâs and benefits which hee so liberally bestowed vpon vs âânie waies as in making vs reasonable Creatures after his oâne siâilitude and likenesse ând by his infinite loue in shedâing his most precious bloud ââlââring vâ therâby from the ââttâââlesse pit of hell Mârââââr hee hâth prâmised and is alwâiâs ready to giue ââ euerlasting life if wee iâ faith trâly seeke it ât his âercifull âânds ââd walkâ in his Laâes and follow his Commândeâents Let vs coâsidâr âis greât loue thât ââ bath ãâã vâ in the Holy Ghost when wee were ignorant aâd in laying his shining loue vpon vs with the light of faith which hâth preserued vs from a grââtââ danger For example through priââ his Maiesty droâe out of Heaâen thâse which were soââtââes gloriouâ shining Angels being disobedient to his Law and chased Adam out of Paradise for hiâ disobedience in not obeying his heauenly will Further his Iustice hath cast many a oâe into the deepe âângeon of bell there to be tormented with perpetuall paine punishment for their sloathfull negligence in seruing of him How much then are wee bound vnto the Lord in giuing vs so many exaâples whereby we might serue him aright as true Christians ought to doâ but his mercie is infinite full of patience and long suffering If wee will at any time seeke and call to him for grace âow gently doth hee lay his râddâ of correction vpon vs whereby we may acknowledge our offences in turning to him in the sinceritie of our hearts minding neuer more to offend him whereas otherwise it might please âim to destroy vs suddenly O what a gââtle and loâing Father is this that hath
passe thou through thy vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest to a fortunate end Wee therefore being fullie perswaded of thy bent and readie goodnesse of thy present helpe of thy sweete comfort in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonie of thy Word how great intollerable the paines of Women are that trauell of childe if through thy tender mercies they be not mittigated and eased most hâmbly pray thee for Iesus Christ his sake thy Sonne our Lord that thy louing kindnesse may make that easie and tollerable which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O LORD the paines which thou most righteouslie hast put vpon all Woemen for the sinne and disobedience of our Grand-mother Eue in whom all wee haue sinned and giue vnto all such as haue conceiued and bee with childe strength to bring forth that Childe which thou wonderâully hast wrought in them be present with them in their trouble helpe them and deliuer them Let thy power bee shewed no lesse in the safe bringing forth then in the wonderfull fashioning of the Childe that that which thou hast begunne in them may come vnto good successe Make them glad and ioyfull Mothers that they through thy goodnesse being safely deliuered and restored to their olde strengths may liue and praise thy blessed name foâeuer Amen A Thankesgiuing vnto GOD for their deliuerance O LORD GOD among other thy great benefits yea and those innumerable which thou daily bestowest vpon vs thy needy and poore Creatures this is not the least O most mercifull Father that thou of thy tender goodnesse doest vouchsafe for the conseruation of mankind to preserue the Woemen that are with childe and to giue them safe deliuerance of their burthen by this meanes making them glad and ioyfull Mothers For these thy benefits and good will towards vs wee so heartily thanke thee as heart can thinke beseeching thee to worke such thankeâulnesse in the hearts of all Mothers that they being not vnmindfull of this high benefit of their safe deliuerance wrought onely by the Sauiour of all mankinde may shew themselues thankeful vnto thee for this thy goodnesse and neuer forget that thy present helpe and most sweete comfort which thou mercifullie shewest vpon them in their great trauailes labours and paines when they fled vnto thy holie name for succour as vnto a strong bull-warke and holie deâence Continue thy fauour towards them O Lord by making them ioyfull Mothers of many children and indue them with long life that they may see their Childrens Children And the Children that thou gauest vnto them make thou as in age so likewise in wisdome and in the aboundance of thy holy Spirit to encrease that they may haue fauour both with thee and with all good men vnto the glory of thy most blessed name one GOD World without end Amen A Prayer for a sicke Man O Almighty GOD and all full of mercie which art the onelie Father of helpe and true Physician of our bodies soules in thy hands are life and death thou bringest to the graue and pullest backe againe Wee came into this World vpon a condition to forsake it whensoeuer thou wouldest call vs and now the Summoners are come thy fetters hold mee and none can loose me but he which bound me I am sicke in bodie with paine and in soule for feare of condemnation LORD thou hast stricken me but in iudgement shew mercie I deserued to die so soone as I came to life but thou hast preserued me till now and shall this mercie be in vaine as though we were preserued for nothing Who can praise thee in the Graue I haue done thee no seruice since I was borne but my goodnesse is to come and shall I die before I beginne to liue But good Lord thou knowest what is best of all and if thou conuert me I shal be conuerted in an houre and as thou acceptedst the will of Dauid as well as the act of Solomon so thou wilt accept my desire to serue thee as well as if I did liue to glorifie thee The spirit is willing but the flesh is fraile and as I did liue sinfully whensoeuer thy Spirit was from me so I shall die vnwillingly vnlesse thy Spirit prepare me Therefore deare Father giue mee that minde which a sicke man should haue and encrease my patience in my paine and call vnto ây remembrance all that which I haue heard or read or felt or meditated so strengthen me in this houre of my trauaile that I which neuer taught any good while I liued may now teach others to die to beare their sickenesse patiently Applie vnto mee all the mercies of thy beloued Sonne as if he had died for me alone be not from me when the enemy comes but when the Tempter is bustest let thy Spirit bee busiest too and if it please thee to loose me out of this prison and when I shall leaue my earth to earth let thy Angell carry vp my soule as they did Lazarââ and place me in one of those mansions which thy Sonne is gone to prepare for me This is my Mediator which hath reconciled mee and thee when thou diddest abhorre me for my sinneâ and thou diddest send him from Hâauen to vs to shew that thou art bound to heare him for vs. Therefore in him I come vnto thee in him I call vpon thee O my Redeemer my Preseruer and my Sauiour to thee bee all praise with thy Father and the Holy Spirit for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be saide before the receiuing of the holy Communion THy loue towardes vs O most gentle Father is so great and vnmcasurable that it can by no meanes be expressed by mouth nor sufficiently conceiued in heart and this thy loue is without any deserts on our behalse freely and willinglie O Heauenly Father thou hast sent downe thy only Son Christ Iesus from the glorious seate of thy diuiââe Maiestie to take our flesh vpon him and to become perâect man of the substance of a pure and vndefiled Virgiu Mary through the operation of the Holie Ghâst O thou that art this our Mediatour thou taughtest the will of thy Heauenly Father confirming the same with wonderfull mercies vnto the great comfort of many which then liued and vnto the perfect establishment of our faith which liue at this present aâter thou haddest trauelled in this World certain yeeres the time afore appointed from euerlasting of thy Heauenly Father drawing nigh that thou mightest giue thy selfe an oblation and sweete smelling sacrifice to God the Father for the sins of the whole World euen so many as repent beleeue and amend willing that so noble and worthy a benefit of our redemption should not bee forgotten nor fall out of remembrance who art the sole Authour of our saluation and the onely comfort of weake consciences when thou hadst eaten the Paschall Lambe with thy Disciples according to the appointment of the Law thou tookest bread into thy hand gauest thankes
whereas thou owest vnto God al that thou art able to doe for euer GOD hath giuen vnto vs the life of his onely begotten Sonne the which is of greater price then the life of all men and by what right and prerogatiue darest thou denie vnto him the flower of thy youth and to spend the same in other things then in the seruice of God and to offer vnto him the dregs and rottennesse of old age Onely consider what the Prophet Malachie saith If hee Mal. 1. 8. offer the blind for sacrifice is it not euill If he offer the lame and sicke is it not euill Offer it now vnto thy Prince will he be content with thee or accept thy person saith the Lord of Hosts But cursed be the deceiuer which hath in his flocke Vers 14. a Male and voweth and sacrificeth vnto the Lord a corrupt thing Our selues and all that whole we haue is not sufficient to serue the Lord. Let our youth be dedicated to his seruice as well as our age let vs serue him not onlie in sicknesse but also in health let vs turne vnto him not onely when we are in affliction and vnder the crosse but also in prosperity for forced holinesse is of no account Pharaos repentance Festus trembling and Iudas sorrow auailed them nothing Saint Augustine in his second Booke of true and false repentance which affliction wringeth from men saith Will you put the matter out of doubt Repent then whilest you are young and in health otherwise whether a man doe safely depart out of this life none are sure The âame Authour saith thus Wilt thou repent thee when thou canst âinne no longer Thy sinnes then haue forsaken thee and not thou thy sinnes Sinne is common to all times and ages of mans life yea to fraile and vaine youth more then to olde age Which caused King Dauid to say Remember not O Lord the sinnes of my youth There is then at no time want of matter in vs for repentance and yea our sins are much more then our sacrifices Sinne is common to all but timely and speedy repentanc to few Let the exhortation of our Sauiour moue vs which he so oftentimeâ repeateth Watch watch because ye know not the Mat. 24. day nor the houreâ If it be demanded of you who assure your selues that after a few yeeres be past you will repent Christ made thee no promise I will not say of yeeres and moneths but of the morrow which is but one day Nay who can assure himselfe one houre What greater folly or rashnesse then can there be deuised then for a worme of the Earth to determine any thing certaine concerning the times and seasons which the Father hath set in his owne power Thou canst not be ignorant how many this vaine confidence hath deceiued euen to this day But man will say The Lord is full of compassion mercie Obiect he hath made large promises to those that trust in him he sent his Sonne into the World for vs and therefore hee will not suffer vs to perish O how wee deceiue Answ our selues Truth it is the promises of GOD are greater then fraile Man can or doth consider and his promises appertaine not to vs if we can make no better vse of them Let vs thinke vpon that Prouerbe of Salomon Hast thou found Hony eate not too much Hast thou the sweete and most comfortable promises of God in the Gospel let vs vse them to our comfort and presume not thereby to liue securely in sinne Iacob must change his garments Gen. 27. before he can obtaine a blessing and Hester must decke Hest 2. her selfe when shee commeth into the presence of the King that is to say We must put off the garment of sinne by speedy repentance and wee must bee cloathed with vertue and godlinesse otherwise our meditation and prayers returne emptie to our ouerthrow both of Bodie and Soule CHAP. V. Of the force the vse and necessitie of Prayer and the benefit which riseth therof O LORD the consideration hereof duely considered in the heart of a true Christian and touched with the least finger of thy Grace can and will heale all our infirmities if wee will but suddenly recount our mispent and leude liues and with-draw our selues into our retired closet or chamber where we may not onely vnburden our peruerse vile and festred conscience but find ease for our sickeweake soules by calling heartily to mind the sweete promises of our good God who neuer suffers the true beleeuing Petitioner to goe away vnrewarded his mercie is so great to them that faithfully serue him by keeping his Commandements And againe the largenesse of his great and vnspeakable loue the extension of his fauour the inheritance laide vp the Kingdome prepared a peace and rest euerlasting without distractioÌ tumult or vexation to annoy his chosen the eager pursuite of our vnbridled vain affectioÌs and self-loue to this world are to be meditated vpon by euery good Christian This World and self-loue to this World is but a Sea of vanities which will proue a bitter sea-flowing with all kind of miseries and if wee pull not downe the sailes of our lasciuious life we are in danger to lose the expected promises of our Sauiour Christ which hee hath promised to all his true beleeuing seruants Lord we beseech thee infuse into our hearts such abundance of thy grace that wee may be withdrawne from all vice that tendeth to the displeasure of thy omnipotent Maiestie and so being withdrawne in a most humble and prostrate humilitie wee may giue thee that true sacrifice which thou hast prescribed and commanded vs that the good thoughts of thy spirit may draw thy mercy so towards vs as that our petitions may ascend vp to the Throne of thy diuine Maiestie like the smoake of Incense into the aire Grant we lay as it were our mouthes to the eares of that Heauenly Wisedome that knoweth our wants better then wee can vnderstand them ourselues yea euen before wee can vtter them and that we goe to him that calles Come vnto mee all you that trauell and are heauy laden Mat. 11. and I will refresh you O comfortable saying to him then let vs goe nay flie that are wearied vnder the burthen of a diseased conscience for hee is that true refreshing ãâã which cureth the inwardsore of a distressed and ãâ¦ã if wee doe faithfully aske it at his ãâã ãâã the sinceritie purenes of our hearts Why should we not then âlie vnto this good Lord who is the Father of all mercy and God of all comfort Let vs runne to him that is so willing not onely to heare vs at our call but farre more willingly to receiue imbrace our godly petitions and desires He is that sweete comfortable ãâã and true ãâã of ãâã race by which all the benefits and gifts in that ãâã Treasurehouseâ are continued and reserued for Christs chosen O let vs then vse Prayer
weakenesse of our faith is such but hee is willing to grant as farre as is expedient for our good If our darke vnderstanding would giue vs leaue duely to consider there is another motiue for feruency to bee vsed vnto that great GOD who will not be mocked with the idlenesse of ouâ thoughts and lippes iâ be pittifulnesse of his fauourable countenance which is so great to man as if wee doe but carefully aske it in zeale and humility of heart hee is then so ready to hearken to our requests that presently he opens his hand of bountie and powreth on vs his benefits plenteously All these respects and considerations thereto tending doe crie vnto vs in most pittifull and lamentable manner to make out hard and stony hearts to melt and cry vnto his Omnipotent and Diuine Maiestie whereby wee may grow to be more feruent in our Petitions We must not thinke that the noise of our lips as the ringing of basons meer sounds and voices that awake and flie vp whilest the inward man doth slumber and keepe downe procures audience at the hands of God The strongest and most effectuall speech in the secret eares of GOD proceedeth not from bare words but from intention of heart Hee that heareth without eares can interpret our praiers without our tongues he that made both the one and the other knowes the language of both alike He that saw Nathaniel vnder the Fig-tree before hee was called saw and sanctified Iohn Baptist in his Mothers wombe before hee came forth and read the heart of Zachcus before his conuersion seeth and blesseth our godly praiers feruently conceiued and sowen in the root of our consciences before they bring forth any fruite But if they be onely verball and vocall sounds without wringing any droppe of contrition from the conscience bloud from the spirit they may beat the aire with empty sounds but into the eares of the Almighty shall they not enter but their want of deuotion shall bee answered by him as the prayers of those Idolaters Ezechiel 8. Though they crie in mine eares with a loude voice yet wil I not heare them Therefore let vs not herein behaue our selues vnworthilie nor presume to speake to the Maiestie of GOD but with such a due respect and reuerence to his Omnipotence that in speaking wee know to whom wee doe it Let vs stirre vp both our tongues spirits that they may ioine hand in hand the sooner to preuaile with GOD. And further if wee doe thinke that our often powred out petitions and plaints to God doe not preuaile according as our fraile flesh would haue it yet wee must not be discouraged or waxe Luc. 18. 1. faint thereby but goe on still in our suite grounded vpon Faith and so importune his Maiestie euermore and more sollicite his long suffering patient eares with our faithful clamors so shall wee at last obtaine all that we godly desire Peraduenture not in the same manner that our fraile flesh desires yet in that which the LORD out of his great mercies seeth most conuenient for the helpe of the Soule and for the comfort of the Bodie It were good for vs to carry Iobs minde saying Though GOD kill me yet will I trust in him Though GOD denieth vs a while yet let vs not despaire in him for without his helpe there is no good to bee had or to be expected either for the reliefe of body or soule It is said Heauen Earth shall passe but not one tittle of his word shall fall to the ground Therefore when we haue powred forth our suite and made our petition knowne then let vs beginne anew repeate it recite it ingeminate it and dwell vpon it bee not beaten away by any distrust or temptation from thy hold Learne adherence to thy suite from the Mariners constancy which is we beseech thee O LORD we beseech thee And if wee set our he arts truely on worke they will soone finde out this theame When the affection is fastened the tongue is easie and willing to dwell thereupon For example Dauid when he heard of the death of his âonne Absolon he said O Absolon O my sonne Absolon ô Absolon my sonne my sonne where his affection seemes onely to dwell vpon the name and memory of his Sonne and his tongue to haue forgotteÌ to pronounce any other speech saue onely Absolon It manifesteth likewise what loue our SAVIOVR âare towards that holy Ciâie in that hee ingeminated ând repeated his sorrowes âuer and ouer saying O Ieâusalem Ierusalem if I forget Ierusalem let my right hand âorget âeâ cââning Our affections must be in oue with him aâd his blesâed name more then Sonne âr Citie or any worldly deâight that it mââ beâ euer âeditating in our hearts ând walking in our tongues âaying My God and my Lord. And the more we are held off the neeâeâ let vs preasse Let vs attend his leasure merâifull pleasure with patience without distrust without wearinesse The longer Abraham talked with GOD the more hâ preuaâted hee brought him from the whole number to fiftie from fiftie to ten before he gaue him ouer Marâ the manner of his iâportunitie Behold I haue begunne tâ speake vnto my Lord and â am but dust and ashes Lâ not my Lord be angry And will speake againe once word I haue begââne and againe will speakâ And let not ââ Lord be angry So fârre wâ GOD from anger that heâ gaue him both a patienââare and a gracious answere in hiâ most importunate request If âââ befound there I will not destroy ââ Let vs confider and beâolde what is the force of âraier poured forth in sinceâity from the tongue of a âighteous and zealous man It is so powerfull in the âares of his Diuine Maiesty that if in the whoâe City â Citie so exceedingly sinfull âhat the crie thereof ascenâed vp into Heauen euen inâo the eares of the Holy of âoliest whose wrath and reâolution was of their ouerthrow ââd his deâââminate decrâe past thercupon If I âay there had bââne but ten âighâeous persons to haue stood vp betwiât his wrath and their sinnes for their sakes it had not beene destroied It pleaseth the eareâ of his Heauenly Maiestiâ right well to bee long in treated whose blessed condition and nature is neuer ãâã truly leuelled at as when ãâã perswâde our selues thââ our importunity therein cââ neuer be burâhensome to hââ Highnessâ Many times hâth his Mâiestie vnto vs âânfull and ââserable wretches in geminâted recited and repeated ââuer the riches of his merciââ As in these and the like plâces The Lord is mercifââ gracious ãâã to anger abââdant in goodnesse and ãâã ãâ¦ã for tâââsands for giving iââiqâiâââ ãâã and or aâsgressions What did he meane there by but that twise and ãâã âimes together wee should ââgeminate recite and reâeate ouer againe our reâuests and petitions and cry or his mercy and then if he âeeme deafe for a while and âake as though hee heard âot yet at last the
zeale of âur importunity wâll proâure his Omnipotent Maieââie to graât audience If our words and prayâers will not preuaile then âet vs ioine thereto our âeares that GOD may say to âs as he said to Ezekiah I âaue seene thy teares They âre so powerful messengers âhiefly if they be done in the âânceritiâ and singlenesse of âeart No sooner can the thought âppeare crauing his merciâull aide but the eye of his compassion and goodnesse âs vpon them Then who is it that wilâ not worship and serue thiââouing Master being so readie at our call to receiue ouâ Petitions into his hands oâ mercie Dââid saith that God haâ heard the voice of his weepingâ Teares and sorrow for ouâ sinnes doe cause the eares oâ GOD to open vnto our godâ lie requests Therefore let vâ glorifie this good GOD with our bodies in true humilitie and serue him in spirit and lift vp our soules with Dauid and our hands with Moses our eyes with Peter ââd our voices with Dâbârâ Thus seeking wee shall find thus knocking it shall bee oâened vnto vs. âet vs giue our Petitious but the ââght voiâe to aske with guestionlesse there is no âoubt but GOD will heare âs in his mercie to our imâeasurabâe comfort and âoy It must not be the dumbe ând silent which must giue ân eye to seeke with it must âot bee the blinde and careâesse which giues an hand to ânocke with it must not âeare to molest and disquiet âot onely the doores but all âhe Treasures and Iewels in âhe Kingdome of Heauen âhich will bee opened vnto âhose his chosen And whiâher our blessed SAVIOVR âoth hâââelf iânuite vs Come ânto âee all ãâã that labour ând are laden O this is a loue withouâ example where the King âimselfe not onely comman deâh but desireâ our appearance Who then shall keepâ vs backe where he comman deth Open ye gateâ of rightcousnesse and be ye opened ye euerlastiâg doores O what a blessed and comfortable saying is this vnto sinnefull man by so great â Lord and King Who theâ shall oppose themselues against vs What need we to haue a Mediatour an Intercessor or friend when bee himselfe hath giuen his voice and freely calles vs to himselfe alone Though the frankenesse and bounty of his loue hath yeelded acceââe vnto hiâ heauenly Maiesty this great ãâã four good GOD vnto ââ must not eâbolden vs with â lesse respect or reuerence in shewing our dutie in the true seruing of him which loue of his doth deâerue more in a farre greater degree then our vaine and âraile flesh can yeelde vnto âis Omnipotency and State that fitâ in glory at the right âand of his Father And whereas we are poore âormes creeping vpon the âoote-stoole of this Earth âray wee that his Maiestie will bee so gracious as to âouchsafe we should speaââânto him as it were face to ââce to poure out our petitiâns with our owne voices ââto his most blessed and saââed earââ All know by ãâã experâence that the Kings of thâ earth keep themselues witâ in a strict watch and waâ râgard and their persons aâââull of Maiestie and terroâ and not spoken vnto bââ with difficulty and frienâship besides the infinite dâstraction of suites and buâânesses more then the cares ãâã any mortal man can receiuâ driue them of necessity ãâã the deputation of subordânate Ministers But in GOD who rideâ vpon the Cherubins aââ maketh his enemies ãâã foote stoole there is neithââ dange of his person nor dâfect in his hearing For hâ that âlanted the eare doâ he not heare He that stââdeth and knocketh at ãâã ãâ¦ã for ââârance when wee knocke at âis will he not grant enârance In earthly Courts among which wee liue wee may haue many impediments âew will hardly fauour vs but many may hinder vs before we can deliuer our message But at these Heauenlie Gates at which we must alwaies call the LORD alone âs Porter For when the friend knocked in the Parable of Luke ât mid-night the heauiest ãâã deadest houre of the night âe who was neerest the gate âirst awaked if hee slept at all and first answered How willing is hee to grant that is so willing to âe disquieted Now glad to heare our knocke that hatâ placed his bed so neere thââ gate Hew truly may we say that hee was not oneââ nâcre the gate but thââord himselfe and the verâ gate who when his Chiâ dren were fast asleepe thâ cares of Angels and Saint shut vp hee first and at thâ veây first call nây onely he among the rest made answââ vnto it The LORD is alwaieââeerer vnto vs then we arâ vnto him Psal 10. Hee âââreth the desire of the poore Hâ first prepareth the heart anâ setteth it on worke to pray and when hee hath so donâ he bendeth his care vnto ââ giuing vnto vs both thâ cause and the effect boâ the blessing and meanes â âe blessings The true stand âost effectual messenger we âaue to send our Petitionâây is Prayer poured forth â the zeale and singlenesse four hearts If we send vp merites the âarres in Heauen will disâaine it that we who dwell ât the foote-stoole of GOD are presume so farre when âe purest Creatures in Heaâen are impure in his fight If we send vp feare and diârust the length of the way âill tire them out and with âhe weight sinke to the âround before they come âalfe way vp to the Throne of saluation If wee send vp blasphenies and curses all the Creautes in Heauen and Earth âill set themselues against vs the Sunne and the Mooâ will raine downe bloud thâ fire hot burning coales thâ aire thunderbolts vpon ouâ heads But Prayer is a Messenger freed from all these imperfections whom neitheâ the irksomnesse of the way or tediousnesse of the passage can hinder from hâ purpose quicke of speedâ faithfull of trust able ââ mount aboue the Eagles ââ the Skie into the Heauen ãâã Heauens as a Chariot of fiââ leading vs alost into the prâsence of GOD to seeke hââ assistance and grace The least finger of hiâ right hand is of more puissance then the whole arââ of flesh or armie of spiritâ yea then the whole liueâ hole substances of Angels Men of siluer gold silke âurple and all other Creaââres So that Prayer shall walke âârough life death withâut controllement If it find Angelâ Principââties Powers things present ând things to come or any âther Creature in the World âopping her passage and reâuking her forwardnesse ââe shall cleere her way notâithstanding and climbe ââto the presence of her GOD and in his eares deliâer her message Be wee in sicknesse To âim the true Phisicion that ânowes both the cause and âhe cure shee comes for âealth Be wee in imprisonment There she sollicites a releaââ from him the Lord of libeâtie Be we opprest with pâuertie or want The Earth the LORDS and all thââ dwell therein to him she comes for the blessing ãâã the Lord maketh rich Are wee afflicted aboââ
at such time as thou mindest to pray thou presently reade âuer all these chiefe points that are to be thought vpon then pause in contemplation vpon that wherin thou tookest most pleasure in thy Meditation directing thy thoughts to some vertuous actions Seriously consider with thy selfe how diligentlie Christ exercised himselfe in vertue who gaue vs an example earnestly to follow his steppes then determine with thy selfe to imitate that vertue which thy Prayer treâteth of and to increase daily in the same labour Also in the day time call to minde that which thou diddest purpose with thy selfe and omiâte no occasion whereby thou maiest put that vertuous exercise of Prayer in practise in thy selfe The chiefe point wee haue to consider of is to pray deâoâtly to our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ whereby we may liue and leade our life in his feare and walke in his âoly Commandements Gentle Reader I would not haue thee think this my simple admonition to bee supersluous but rather a thing tending to winne the weaker sort to more willingnesse for the practise of this diuine exercise of Prayer a thing not new yet needfull a thing olde and ancient long agoe practised of the poorest exercised of the most excellent and godly on the Earth the Prophets the Patriarkes the Apostles yea and of Christ himselfe the patâerne of piety who gaâe the first platforme of perfect Prayer most plaine pure precious and profound in these words Our Father which art in Heauen c. To the substance whereof although there can bee nothing added nor from thence any thing can bee taken away without manifest impietie yet are wee not so strictly tied to the words thereof onely but that wee may according to our seuerall occasions which are infinite dilate vpon the same to our comfort and without offence to the Maiesty of GOD if it bee done in true zeale without which euân the most effectuall prayer is sinne I cannot but confesse that great is the frailety remaining in mee which in my trauaile in this practise hath greatly hiâdered me and many are the vanities of my minde which in my chiefest desire haue miscaried mee yet such hath beene the faâour of my heââââly Father that he hath hither to assisted me and to my comfort hath peâformed that which of my owne proper power wisedome and will I could not performe And these Prayers which are in this little Voluâne thou shalt fiâde not alittle comfortable by the faithfull exercising thereof to euery estate degree or calling I presume not to teach but desire to bee taught and expect no praise but euen in heart yeeld all the praise to him that was and is the guide and stay of all those that truely seeke to serue him which I beseech him to grant vs faithfully at all times not in the outward word with the lips onely and with a shew aloue but with the inward affection of the heart with the longing desire of the soule and the ardent coâsent of all the powers thereof so shall our Prayers please him and euen the grones four hearts which pââsse in silence shall present our causâ before the Tribunall seate of our good God who is alwayes neere at hand and ready to performe what is most necessarie for our estates in this life which in respect is but a span lâng yea could we liue a thousand yeeres it wore but as one day We may not too much regard the ouer-dainty maintenance of our corporall estates we may not ouer-curiously seek the meanes to become admirable in respect of our aââhority our riches our friânds and ourcasuall pleasures wherewith alas our weake natures our fraile conceits our carnall desires are often begniled and cur poore soules often indaâgered Wherefore it behoueth vs carefully first before all things to sâeke the Kingdome of GOD the way the meanes aâd the guide thereunto which is not to be sought else-where for it is not in the outward view and therefore to bee sought from aboue and to bââ inwardly receiued and comprebended by faith It is the Kingdome of the mysteries of God it is the keeping of his Commandements and due obedience vnto his will The way thereunto is grace the gift of God which he giueth to them that faithfull iâ aske it the meanes to helpe vs thereunto is Christ the Sonnâ of God who sitting at the right and of God the Father obtaineth and sendeth vs that grace which guideth vs and giueth all things both spirituall ând worldlie that hee seeth needfull for vs. And yet notwithstanding the singular benefite of the Mediation of Christ vnto his Father for vs wee are not discharged of this necessary exercise of Prayer but so much the more enioyned to the executing thereof continually instantly faithfully and zealously for the graces of God without the which all our Prayers all our speeches be they many or few bee they loude or silent be they of what kind or shew soeuer auaile nothing But we must first found all ââr desires and prayers vpon an vndoubted faith wee must poure them from the very bottome of our hearâs and continue them in a godly patience and all in the name of Christ Iesus in whose name and for whose sake all things necessarie are promised to bee giuen to those that aske according to the will of God Wherein wee must note that wee are not perâittââ rashly to desire any thing according to the desire of fleshly imagination âee it in oâ conceits neuer so meât and necessarie for the wisdome of thâ flesh is foolishnesse before God but we must first duly confideâ what direction the Word ââ GOD giueth vs in that bâ halfe and there in all hââ mility râpaire to the foââ âains from whence ãâã ãâã âhich we pray for must come So I rest Thine in Christian good will Henry Thompson THE SOVLES Alarum Bell. Wherein the sicke Soule through the horror of con âience being awikened from security by the sight of his sinne hath recourse to God by Prayer The Second Part. Watch and pray lest ye fall into temptation MATTH 26. The way how to commend our selues to God in the Morning at our vprising IF thou wouldest commend thy selfe in the morning aright thou must haue respect of certaine things which follow Awake thy soâââ exalt thy selfe on high be blinâ no more but vse thy force anâ might let folly sinke let painted pleasures die shân darkenes and seeke the blessed light For Earth yeelds toile care discord paine and griefe but Heaâen giues rest peace comfort and reliefe Therefore so soone as thou risest arme thy selfe in faith tâ pray and when thou hast sâ done think not vpon friâoloâ toyes or vaine pâaâtafies bââ lift vp thy heart to God Aââ when thou kneelest on thâ ground and sayest thy prayersâ for so wee ought to pray thââ giue thankes to God that thââ hast so safely passed that night that thou hadst not died in sin as many a oâe hath doâe bââ art preserued til this day
grant me perfect patience in all trâbulations and aduersitie Preserue me from pride âre enuâe couetousnesse and from all offences contrarie to thy law suffer no false delight of this deceiueable life by fleshlie temptation and fraude of the ââend to blind mee at the houre of my death I beseech thee O Lord grant me such a light of thy ghostlie wisdome that I may doe those things which are most acceptable to thee grant mee grace to doe hurt to nobodie but to helpe those with good counsell which haue offended thee and make me to proceede in vertue vntill such time as I shall see thy Omnipotent Maiestie and let me not turne to those sinnes which I haue sorrowed for and accused my selfe of The horrible sentence of endlesse death the terrible iudgement of damnation thy wrath ire and indignation mercifull Lord let them neuer fall vppon me thy mercie and thy merites euer bee betweene them and me Lord grant mee grace inwardlie to feare and dread thee and to eschew those things whereby I might offend thee giue mee a contrite heart for that I haue offended thee good Father remoue my sinfull dispositions which dull mine heart and like lead doe suppresse me Let me not forget the riches of thy goodnesse of thy patience of thy long sufferance and benignitie let the threatning of paine and torment which shall fall vpon sinners the losse of thy loue and of thy heauenlie inheritance euer make me feare to offend thee Suffer mee not deare Father to liue and die in sinne but soone call me to repentance when I haue displeased thee and grant mee grace trulie to loue thee and when I offend thee smite mee not with thy wrathfull indignation I beseech thee but let it be thy gentle rodde of correction Let the remembrance of thy kindnesse and patience conquer the malicious wretched desire in mee draw me Lord to thee by thy holy spirit and doe with mee according to thy mercie and not after my vnthankefulnesse withdraw tây sword of vengeance O Lord for thy great mercie sake and grant me to be the childe of saluation whereby I may haue glorification cleere fight and fruition of the Deitie and bee euer present to see the glorious Trinitie O sweete Sauiour Lord Iesus Christ grant me grace for to remember perfectlie the danger of death and the great account which I must then giue to thee Lord dispose so of mee then that my soule may bee acceptable in thy sight turne net thy louing face then from me but be a merciful King meeke Iudge at that dreadful houre of my visitation that I may not haue the âigour of thy righteousnesse which is Goeâe cârsed into euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his Angels but to heare that comfortable saluation which thou doest giue to thy chosen Come yee blessed of my Father and enioy the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the World Let this hope of thy mercies comfort my sick weake soule that I neuer fall into desperation of thy endlesse mercie For the merites of thy Sonne Christ Iesus I beseech thee grant mee these petitions which I haue asked of thee haue mercie on me awretched sinner And I beseech thee bring me to thine euerlasting glorie there to rest in blisse World without end A Prayer to GOD to defend vs from euill company and our tongues from vttering âll words O Lord Iesus grant mee grace to âlie euill companie and when I come among them for thy glorious passion I beseech thee to preserue me that no occasion of sinne ouercome me and send me comfort from thy omnipotent Maiestie to withstand al illusions of the flesh whereby thy blessed name may be dishonoured Keepe my mouth good Lord from slanders ill speaking lying false witnessebeating cursing swearing vncharitable châding dissolute laughing and words of vanitie Make me blessed Lord with dread to remember that thou presentlie hearest me and that the least of my words shall iudge me Suffer not my heart to be light of credite in hearing that which is detraction obloquy rancour and ire Represse all inordinate affections of carnalitie and where I haue by euil fellowship offended thy Maiestie I beseech thee for the helpe of thy mercies in so offending thee let thy power protect me thy wisdome direct me thy fatherlie pittie correct me and send me a gracious life and a blessed ending and with thy goodnes preserue me from euerlasting damnation and terrour of mine enemie Jn my temptations I beseech thee Lord to helpe me and to keepe my soule from consent to sinne For the tender loue thou bearest to mankinde repell the power of my aduersaries which intend the damnation of mee Possesse my soule O Sauiour with all humble subâection to thy law and make mee pure in spirit meeke in speaking patient in suffering to hunger after righteousnesse and to bee mercifull to all them that be in miserie Make mee peaceable in conueâsation cleane in heart vnto godlie meditation and ioyfull to suffer persecution for thee Let all my powers and desires bee ruled according to thy will let all my petitions be ordered by thy wisdome to the euerlasting profit of my soule Lord keepe my soule and my bodie whereby I may be patient in suffering iniuries rebukes let me leade that life which thou knowest to be most to thine honor and my eternall felicity Fill mine heart with contrition and mine eies with teares that I neuer be forsaken of thee Awake my dull soule from the sleepe of sin and send mee helpe Lord from Heauen to ouercome the olde serpent with all his crafts Deliuer me from the enemie of daâkenesse and his great crueltie let thy obedience recompence for mine obstinacie thy abstinence for my superfluitie thy meekenesse and thy patience for my pride irefull heart enmitie Thy charitie for my malice thy deuotion for my dulnesse thy louing heart for mine vnkindnesse thy holy death for my wretched life Lord grant mee grace in the time of prayer to fixe my minde on thee and at that time to remember the perils of bodie and soule which I haue escaped and the benefits that I haue receiued thorow thy great mercie And I thanke thee most Heauenlie Father for all the Creatures which thou hast made to helpe man and that thou hast made man after thine owne Image in glorie to honour thee The motions of my running mind the desire of mine vnstable heart in time of praier stop and stay Lord I beseech thee and represse the power of my ghostlie enemie which then doth with-draw my minde from thee and thy true seruice to many vaine imaginations Lord I beseech thee to take me into thy power and with thy goodnesse glad me Lord let my minde be so occupied in goodnesse that my prayers may bee acceptable to thee Heare now sweet Sauiour the voice of a sinner who would faine loue thee and with the heart as greatlie please thee as euer hee hath offended thee I
I fraile man and most wretched sinner haue offended thee Therefore I most humbly pray and beseech thy gentlenesse who for my health and saluation descendedst from Heauen and diddest hold vp Dauid that hee should not fall into sinne Haue mercy vpon me O Christ who didst forgiue Peter that did forsake thee Thou art my Creatour my Helper and Maker my Redeemer my Gouernour my Father my Lord my God my King thou art my helpe my trust my strength my defence my redemption my life my health and my resurrection thou art my stedfastnesse my refuge and succour my light and my helpe I most humbly and heartily desire pray thee helpe ând defend mee Make mee âârong comfort me make me stedfast make me soberây mery giue me the light of thy spirit and visite mee reuiue me again who am dead for I am thy making and thy worke O Lord despise me not I am thy seruant thy bondman although euill vnworthy and a sinner But whatsoeuer I am whether I bee good or bad I am euer thine Therefore to whom shall I flie except I flie vnto thee If thou cast mee off who shall or wil receiue me If thou despise me and turne thy face from me who shall looke vpon mee and recognise and acknowledge me Although I be vnworthy to come to thee although I be vile and vncleane thou canst make me cleane If I be dead thou canst râuiuemee for thy mercy is much morethen mine iniquitie thou canst forgiue me more then I can offend Therefore O Lord doe not consider nor haue respect to the number of my sinnes but according to the greatnesse of thy mercie looke on me a most wretched sinner Lord say vnto my soule I am thy health who saidest I will not the death of any sinner but rather that he liue and be conuerted Turne me O Lord to thee and bee not angry with me I pray thee most meeke Father for thy great mercie bring mee vnto that blisse that neuer âhall cââsse so bee it Aâen A Prayer for the râmissââ of sinnes O Lord God if we wretched sinners had not ây thy tender mercies and âouing promises in Holie Scripture the comfort of our weake consciences and sorrowfull hearts we see no other remedy so great and âinfinite are our sinnes but that wee must needes despaire But for as much as whatsoeuer things are written are written for our learning that through patience and the comfort of Scriptures wee may haue hope though our sinnes be neuer so many neuer so abhominable yet they doe not so much make vs sad as thy louing kindnesse and âender mercieâ make vs glad Our sinnes we consesse are innumerable but thy mercies are also infinit thoâ art that most gentle Lord which wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that hee turne and liue Thou for repentance sake wilt not see the sinâes of men thou confessest that thou camest into this World to saue sinners to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance and to seeke that which was lost Thou callest vnto thee all those that are diseased and loaden with the heauy burthen of sinne and promiseât that thou wilt case them yea by thy Prophet thou saiest If wee will wash and make cleanâ our selââs put away our euill thoughts out of thy sight cease from doing euiââ and violence learne to doe right apply our selues to equitie deliuer the oppressed helpe the fatherlesse to his right and heare the widowes coâplaint though our sinnes were as âed as scarlet âet shall they be made whiâââ then snow and though they were like purple yet they shall be made like white ãâã Yea thou saiest moreouer that for thine owne sake euen for thy mercy names sake thou wilt be good vnto vs fauour vsâ and so cast away all our sinnes behind thy backe thaâ thou wilt neâer remember them more O Lord thou art the God which cannot lie thou art the soules truth thou art faithfull in thy words and holy in all thy workes For according to these thy louing promises hast thou euer dealt with the chiâdren of men whensoeuer they repented and turned vnto thee when they forsooke their sinful liuing and called vpon thy holy name thou forgauest all their sâns and healedst all their infirmities thou also sauedst their life from destruction and crownedst them with mercie and louing kindnesse For thou O Lord God aââfull of compassion and mercie long suffering and of great goodnesse thou wiââ not alway be chiding neither wilt thou keepe thine anger for euer neither wilt thou deale with vs after our sinnes nor yet reward vs according to our wickednesse For looke how high the Heauen is in comparison of the Earth so great is thy mercie towards them that feare thee Looke how wide the East is from the West so farâe dost thou set our sinnes from vs yea like as a Father pittieth his owne children euen so art thou mercifull vnto them that feare thee For thou knowest whereof we be made thou remembrest that wee are but dust that a man in his time is but grasâe and flourisheth as a flower of the fiâld and as soone as the wind goeth ouer it is gone and the place thereof knoweth it no more but thy mercifull goodnesse O Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them that feare thee Of these thy louing kindnesses and tender mercies who hath not tasted if hee sought it with all his heart Thou diddest forgiue Dauid both his whoredome and manslaughter when hee repented and confessed his sinne How oft diddest thou call back the plagues of thy vengeance when the Children of Israel lamented their sins and turned vnto thee How mercifull diddest thou shew thy selfe to the Nânââites when they repented humbled themselues in thy sight How louingly spakest thou to that sinfull Woman in the Gospel and forgauest her all her sinnes because shee repented and beleeued Peter thy Disciple although most cowardly denying thee after that he had bitterly wept and lamented his sinnes thou diddest behold with thy mercifull eye and fauourably receiue him againe into the number of thy holy Apostles One of them that died with thee being a thiefe after he had called vnto thee for grace thou didst place in Paradise and make him partaker of thine eternall felicity Many other notable examples of thy great mercies find wee in Holy Scripture which will not suffer vs to despaire of thy clemencie and goodnesse be our sinnes and wickednesse neuer so maây but they rather encourage âs boldly to come vnto the Throne of thy Grace that we may receiue mercie and finde grace to helpe in âime of neede O most gentle Sauiour thou art that most louing Shepheard who didst diligentây seeke the wandering sheepe louingly laide it vppon thy shoulderâ and tenderly brought it home againe seeke vs who haue so long run astray lay vs vpon thy mercifull shoulders and bring vs home againe vnto the companie of thy faithfull Thou art that mercifull Samaââtane who beholding the
onely Sauiour so loue thee that all mine affections may bee set on thee alone and so embrace true godlinesse that our whole life may be a cleere mirrour of all vertue and goodnesse so shall wee through thy mercie bee found worthy guests of this thy Table and receiue these holy mysteries to the saluation of our soules Yea so shall we be well assured of the remission and forgiuânesse of all our sinnes By the breaking of thy blessed bodie and the shedding of thy precious blood our consciences shall bee quiet our hearts shall be filled with all true and spirituall ioy we shall triumph ouer Sathan sinne death hell and desperation wee shall be partakers of all the fruites and merites of thy blessed passion bee made one body with thee fellow-heires in euerlasting glorie O Lord God let it so come to passe for the honour of thy name Amen A Thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the Communion VVEe thanke thee O Heauenly Father for the blessed passion and glorious death of thy dearely beloued Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ by whose holy wounds we faithfully beleeue and are assuredly perswaded that thy wrath is not onelie pacified towardes vs buâ that thou also are now become our most mercifull Father and hast freelie forgiuen vs all our sinnes Restore vnto vs thy heauenlie grace and make vs sonnes and heires of thine eternal glorie And because wee should not doubt of thy Fatherlie goodnesse rewards vs ãâã in the deâth of thy ãâã the same Son Christ ãâã Lord hath lâât vnto vs not onely his holy Word but also a blessed memorial of his death and passion set forth ãâã the holy bââad and wine which weat this present haue receiued both for a remembrance of the breaking of his blessed body and the sâedding of his moââ prââinââ blood ãâã also for the quietnâsse of our ââonscience and âââ the ãâã of the remissiââ of our ââânes through faithâââââ We ãâã thee O Heaââenly Father that we be neuer vnmindefull of this thy exceeding great kindnessâ not vnthankefull for thy maâifolde blessings vnspeakable mercies declared vnto vs in the glorious death of thy welbeloued Sonne but so worke thou in vs through thy holy Spirit that wee may be made worthy members of that bodie whereof thy Sonne and our Sauiour Christ Iesus is the head And that we may so faithfullie beleeue in thee and so âeruently loue one another alway liuing in thy feare and in the obedience of thy holy law and blessed will that wee being fruitfull in all godly and Christian workes may traine our liues according to thy good pleasure in this transitorie World and after this fraile and short life obtaine the true and immortal life where thou with thy dearely beloued Sânne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and the Holy Ghost that most sweete Comforter liuest and raignest one true God in all honour glorie World without end Amen A Prayer to be saide at the receiâing of the mysterie of Christs Bâdie in the Communion O Heauenly and blessed Father âârender vnto thoe most hearty thankes for all thy benefits which thou hast shewed vnto mee a most wretched sinner but especially for that most sweete smelling sacrifice which thy onely begotten Son offered vnto thee on the Altar of the Crosse by giuing his most pure and vndefiled bodie vnto the death for the redemption of Mankinde in remembrance whereof according to thy wellbeloued Sonnes ordinance I now receiue this holie bread most entirely beseeching thee that I may both be partaker of the merites of thy deare Sonnes Body-breaking and also leade a life worthy so great a benefit to the glorie oâ thy name Amen A Prayer to be saide at the receiuing of the mysterie of Christs bloud in the holy Communion O Blessed and mercifull Father thy loue towards mee sinful Creature is so exceeding great and vnspeakable that I cannot but giue vnto thee most humble thankes namely for the shedding of the most precious bloud of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ by the vertue whereof thy wrath stored vp against me wretched sinner is pacified my ransome is paide the Law is fulfilled mine enemies are ouercome put to flight In remembrance of this so noble a victorie and of so great a benefit I am come vnto this Table O merciful Father to drinke of this Cup desiring thee that as my outward man is comforted by the drinking of this wine so likewise my inward man may bee comforted and made strong by true faith in the precious blood of thy most deare Sonne O Lord and my Heauenlie Father giue me thy holy Spirit which may so rule gouerne my heart that I neuer bee vnthankefull nor forgetful of this thine exceeding great kindnes but so traine my life according to thy blessed will that whatsoeuer I doe speake or thinke may bee vnto the glory of thy most blessed name and the health of my soule through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Morning salutation to GOD for wisedome for grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes MY Soule O Lord hath desired thee in the night season and I haue also waited for thee in spirit and minde all the morning beseeching thee that thy presence which I sore haue longed for may expell from me all my sinne Lord water the secrets of my heart with thy manifolde graces and mightily enââââe the same with thy loue And now my most sweete Lord Iesus Christ I rise and come early to thee in the morning and pray thee from the bottome of my heart that thou wilt hearken vnto my prayers and godlie requests which I doe most humbly in heart offer vnto thee for thou art the wisdome the eternall brightnesse and verie figure of the substance of the Father who hast created all things of nothing And because thou wouldest bring againe Man to the pleasure of Paradise thou camest downe from Heauen into this vale of miserie and by thy holie conuersation thou hast shewed and trod him the path thereunto and for ransome of all Man-kinde thou wouldest bee offered to thy Father as a most immaculate Lambe Open by thy Holy Spirit my stony and hard heart that with the eies of a perfect beliefe â may alwaies behold thee who art King of Kings and Lord of Lords Giue mâ wisâdome truly to consider of thy âeath and passion that thereby I may profit in thee onely who art as a Booke of charitie for me Grant mee that I be vtterlie destitute of all vanities that now I be not he whom heretofore I haue beene but doe thou alwaies abide in me that so linked vnto thee I neuer sâverue or decline from thee Send downe good Lord thy wisedome from the seate of thy Maiestie that shee may labour and be with mee that I may know what is acceptable in thy sight that my heart and senses may bee enlightened whereby I may vnderstand how to bee a true follower of thy Precepts O my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who art most sweete vnto mee
pleased thee of thy maruellous humility patience and loue towards man kinde to descend from the high Throne of Heauen to be incarnate by the Holie Ghost and borne of the Virgin Marie and here to suffer trouble paine for our sakes I doe beseech thee for thy bitter death and passion deliuer me from all euill and from the euerlasting paines of hell and vouchsafe through thy great mercie and goodnesse to leade me whither thou diddest leade the Thiefe crucified with thee And I beseech thee thorow thy clemencie to vouchsafe vnto mee O Lord God King of Heauen and Earth the ioyes prepared for thy chosen and so direct sanctifie and gouerne my heart my thoughts my words and deeds in thy sacred Law by keeping thy Commandements that here euer through thy helpe O Sauiour of the World I may bee safe and free and by thy bitter death passion may be broght to the glory of the resurrection so remaine in euerlasting life Amen A Prayer in temptation O Mercâfull Lord and Sauiour iesus Christ the onely refuge of a desolate and afflicted soule O God thou that hast made mee and redeemed mee in whom âll things are possible vnto me and without whom I am able to doe nothing thou seest who I am that here prostrate my prayers and poure out my heart vnto thee what I would haue and what is fittest for mee thou knowest My soule is buried ãâ¦ã and blood and would be âââne dissolued and come vnto thee I am vrged against my will and violently drawne to think that which from my-heart I detest and to haue in minde the poyson and bane of my soule O Lord thou knowest mee for thy hands haue framed me and with flesh and skinne thou hast cloathed mee and loe this flesh which thou hast giuen me draweth mee to my ruine and fighteth against the spirit if thou helpest not I am ouercome if thou forsakest mee I must needes faint why doest thou set mee contrary vnto thee and makest mee greeuous and a burthen vnto my selfe Diddest thou create mee to cast me away Diddest thou redeeme mee to damne me for euer It had beene good for mee neuer to haue beene borne if I were borne to perish O my most mercifull Father where is thy olde and wonted mercies where is thy gracious sweetenesse and loue towards me become how long shall mine enemie reioice ouer mee and humble my life vpon earth and place me in darkenesse like the dead of the World What am I Lord that thou settest mee to fight alone against so mightie subtile and cruell enemies that neuer cease to bid mee a pârpetuall battaile O Lord why doest thou shew thy might against a leafe that is tossed with euery wind and persecutest a drie stubble wilt thou therefore cast away the worke of thy hands wilt thou banish mee from thy face and take thy holy Spirit clean from me Alasse O my good Lord whither shall I goe from thy face or whither shall flie from thy Spirit or shall I flie from the incensed but to the appeased whither from thee as iust but vnto thee as mercifull Doe with mee Lord that which is good in thine eies for thou wilt doe all things in righteous iudgement oneây Lord I desire to remember I am but flesh blood sraile of my selfe and impotent to resist shew thy selfe a Sauiour vnto me and either take away mine enemies or grant mee grace that without wound or fault by thee and with thee I may ouercome them sweet Lord Amen FINIS A Table to find out the principall Prayers contained in this Booke THe way how to commend our selues to GOD in the ãâã aâ our vprising Page 285. A Prayer before wee settle our selues to our Deuotions p 287. A Morning Prayer p. 291. Another Prayer for the Morning p. 296. Another Morning Prayer p. 308. A short Prayer for the Morning p. 312. A Meditation to be vsed before thou goest to bed p. 314. A Prayer for the Euening p 322. A Prayer for the Night p. 333 A Prayer to GOD for grace and to despise the vanity of the World p. 338. A Prayer to GOD to defend vs from euill company and to keepe ouâ tongues from vttering ill words p. 346. A Prayer to GOD for bâ great goodnesse vnto Man p. 354. A Prayer to GOD to deliuer vs from our ghostly enemies p. 357. A Prayer to GOD daily to bee said p 358. A Prayer to be vsed at all times p. 360 A Prayer to be daily saide vnto our Lord Iesus Christ p. 362. A prayer for the remission of sinnes p. 367. A general prâyer for all kind of sin p. 380. A ãâã Faith p. 3ââ A prayer vnto GOD that we may liue in his ãâã and that hee will turne his ãâã ãâã p. 394. A ãâã for ãâã with their duty 400. A ãâã for children their duty p. 404. A prayer against whoââdome p. 410. A prayer for a Woman with child p. 414. A Thanksgiuing vnto God ãâ¦ã deliuerance p. 41â A prayer for a siâke Man p. 421. A prayer to bee saide before the receiuinâ of the holy Communion p. â24 A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of â holy Communion p. â38 A prayer to ãâã saidâ at the receiuing of the mystery of Christs Body in the Communion p 441. A prayer to bee saide at the receiuing of the mystery of Christs blood in the holy Communion p. 442. A morning salutation to GOD for wisedome for grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes p. â44 A prayer for the King p. 454. A ãâã prayer to our Lord. p. ãâã A prayer in ãâã p. â59 FINIS