and in the life to come Amen A prayer to be kept from all vncleannesse of our Lustes O Most eternall and gracious GOD thou art pure and perfect but we are most impure and polluted all the faculties of our soules are full of corruptions and our bodyes are fraught with infirmities those parts of our bodies and of our mindes which should be the seruants of our soules doe draw vs to be slaues to euil affections Our eyes which are ordained to behold contemplate the wonderful workmanship of the world and of all the creatures therein contained do commonly become like vnto sluces and flood-gates to carrie and conuey lust and Concupiscence vnto our harts and our harts which shold be as Clossets to keep thy Commandements are for the most part made the members and instruments of sinne and of Satan This O Lord we confesse is our wofull and wretched condition Yet thou O most mercifull God art able to cleanse vs from these contagions of our vncleane lusts purge vs we beseech thee and we shall be pure keepe vs from inward infections of our owne euill imaginations from outward temptations which lasciuious sights and dallianceâ— and fleshly prouocations pull vpon vs and that by the assistance of thy holy Spirite when these temptations assalt vs pray vnto thee beseeching thee to be our buckler and our strength in the time of our weaknesse our stay when we are ready to fall and that by thy power wee may resist and repel all the sensuall and fleshly lustes which are in vs and fight against vs. Wee haue no helpe nor no hope but in thee defend vs giue vs the victory and take the glory vnto thy selfe deliuer vs from these noysome lusts and giue vs grace to giue thee praise to whom all honor belongeth So be it good Lord Amen A Prayer before the hearing of the Word preached THy Word O Lord is a light vnto our feete and a Lanterne vnto our paths Thy word preached is the propagation of thy glorious Gospell it is the seed that fructifies knowledge conscience Let it not therefore be as good seede sowen in barren soyle but first clense the weedes and corruptions which growe in the vnfallowed fields of my heart And then most gracious God when thou hast remoued those impediments of faith and feruency make my heart by hearing thy holy word a harbour of sanctitie and sincerity And in this O Lord prepare me to hear to beleeue to receyue retaine and to remember the lessons that shall bee taught out of thy Sacred Word take away in the hearing thereof all drowsinesse distraction and coldnesse of zeale In this I pray not onely for my selfe but for the people in all places professing thy trueth for their profit and for thy glorie Send forth Labourers into thy Vineyard teach them to plant make vs to be plyant in hearing learning and following So shall wee haue sustenance vnto our soules reape the fruites of those fields that thou hast giuen vs and we shall giue vnto thee nothing but what is thine and belongs to thy Maiestie which is all honour glory praise and dominion thorow Iesus Christ our onely Lord Sauiour Amen A Prayer after the hearing of a Sermon MOST mercifull and mighty gouerner of heauen of earth amongst all thy blessings multiplied vpon mankind there is nothing doeth more magnifie thy Maiesty or helpe the infirmities of vs miserable Creatures then the manifestation of our weakenes and wickednesse in the reuelation of both and reconciliation of thy selfe after all our infinite transgressions thorow the suffering of thy Sonne his mediation and the Ministerie of the word preached Of this O Lord we haue bin vnprofitable hearers and learners We haue heard with our eares but yet we haue beene vnprofitable hearers We haue not felt and followed that we haue heard we haue bene told and plainely taught our sinnes but wee haue not amended them nor truly repented for our misdeeds We haue learned somewhat though but little haue performed and practised lesse the fault is ours yet let it not good Lord stand in the way of thy grace to stop from vs good things but as thou hast prouided for vs the word of life and hast conueied it by thy conducter men like our selues the Ministers and Preachers of thy Gospell so graunt that we go not from this exercise of preaching and publishing thy holy word like vnto empty vesselles which whilst they are moued and strucken vpon yeeld some sound but afterwards lying still afford neyther sweetnes sauour nor good liquor O Lord blesse fructifie our hearing make vs not onely hearers but dooers of thy word make it a sauour of life vnto life and not of death vnto death teach vs thereby to amend our liues to increase knowledge and conscience to yeelde comfort in afflictions strength and support in temptations and when we shall depart the world we may carry with vs a testimony of good Consciences that we haue profited by the word haue thereby learned to loue our Brethren to forsake sinne to imbrace righteousnesse to liue and to die well and that by faith in Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before the receiuing of the Lords Supper BLessed Lord wee do not presume to present our selues before thee in the receyuing of this Sacrament celebration of thy Sonnes last Supper as beleeuing we are of our selues worthy to be partakers of thy heauenly banquet For we acknowledge our great greeuous sinnes our manifold mistakings our vnbeleefe vncharitablenesse hardnesse of heart selfe-loue pride and presumption with many other transgressions wherby we are made most vnworthie to come vnto thy heauenly Table Yet O Lord as it is thy holy Ordinance instruct and help vs to do that which may make vs more meete partakers of this spirituall Manna To this end take from vs our corruptions and carelesnesse in thy seruice graunt vs true repentance for our sinnes past for the trespasses that we haue committed against thee and those that professe thy trueth Lord euen now giue mee thy vnworthy seruant being so vnable of my selfe to doe this or any other spirituall duty a right and regenerated heart a sanctified soule purged from former pollutions by thy power and the grace of thy holy Spirite a desire to forgiue all men and to be forgiuen of all men to forsake sinne to follow thy holy Lawes Suffer not Sathan to worke in me his will any more but that as I now come to receyue this Sacrament so I may be a partaker of the benefites of our Sauiours death and suffering wherof this is a symbole that thorow his death sinne may dye in me and thorow his resurrection I may rise to newnesse of life A Prayer after the receiuing of the holy Communion WEE blesse and praise thy holie name O heauenly Father that amongst all thy innumerable benefits thou hast bestowed this is not the least but greatest mercie vppon mankinde to send thy Sonne our Sauiour
into the world to suffer for vs sinners to redeeme vs from life to death to lay downe his owne life to saue vs from damnation This thy mercie as it is vnspeakeable and vnualewable O Lord wee acknowledge it to bee so great that we cannot giue thee condigne prayses but doe pray thee to accept our weake sacrifices in the Eucharisticall reioycing rendering of laud vnto thee for the suffering of thy Sonne to offer himselfe vnto death euen for them that were become enemies to our gracious God breakers of thy Couenants defilers of thy Sabaths haters of truth truce breakers loaden with sin and voyde of grace Now most mercifull Lord God that thou hast vouchsafed vs this fauour to approach vnto thy blessed Table and to renew the seale of the Couenant graunt likewise for a farther addition of grace for the increase of thy glorie that we may approach neerer and neerer vnto thee by newnesse of life watchfulnesse ouer our owne wayes firmenesse in faith constancie in keeping thy Commandements obedience to thy holy word and will and this thorow the helpe of thee our Lord which only art able to saue those that serue thee Amen A prayer in the time of vnseasonable weather THe heauens the earth and all the Creatures therein contained thou O Lord hast ordained thou in thy eternall counsell and prouidence hast appoynted seasons of the yeere fit to produce and propagate things needfull for the sustenance and vse of man and hast vsually sent weather fit for those seasons but our sinnes which onely make a seperation betwixt thee and vs haue caused some alterations of these seasons hath sent many times vnseasonable weather wherby the fruits of the earth haue not come to their full ripenes the Cattle haue not theyr nourishment and man by this meanes wants things necessâ—ry All this and other thy chastisements we confesse do come from the demerits of our owne sinfull liues which draw on deseruedly thy iust indignation Yet O Lord since only thy mercie can free vs from miseries first free vs from our sinnes the causes of them and then from the punishment they haue procured Make our harts cleane so make the weather seasonable vs moderate in the vse of thy creatures them holsome to vs and with the amendment of the weather amend our liues and forgiue our sins So chaunge vs that thy chastisement may be taken away and by this let vs learne to consider thy power to confesse thy mercie and to set foorth thy praise throughout all ages Amen A Prayer to be vsed vvhen dearth and scarsity comes O Most gracious Lord God thou which diddest permit Iosephs Brethren to sell to send him into Egypt that hee being carried from his father into a strange Country might there in time of most want and necessitie after the ouer-passing of his owne afflictions be able to make prouision not onely for his Fathers Family but also for his countrey from which hee was carried So wee good Lord being solde by our owne selues vnto sinne Sathan thereby carried into the Egypt of Ignorance and Iniquitie doe beseech thee by thine owne mercies to grant vs true repentance that the scarsity thou hast sent may bee remooued Encrease our Faith zeale sorrow for our sins with amendment of life and therewith encrease our store the fruits of the earth and prouision of the Land that hauing sufficiencie wee may therewith haue content and thankefulnesse Comfort vs in thy mercies and consolations in the continuance of thy loue Let vs not O Lord with the prodigall Sonne mispend our times estates and thy blessings but with the penitent Publican lift vp our hearts and hands vnto Heauen say still from the heart God be mercifull vnto vs miserable sinners So good Lord take away this dearth and our sinnes which will bring vs vnto death A Prayer in time of plague and pestilence THe Contagion and corruption of our bodies comming O Lord from the sinnes of our soules brings all the diseases of our bodies and dangers of our liues So are we filled with infection which threatneth death vnto vs when as we see others dayly die before our eyes Since then good Lord thou giuest vs a sight and continual representation of our mortality giue vs also a sense and a true feeling with a thorow repentance of all our sinnes past the causers of all our woe distresse and perill and as our first parent by his fall and our naturall parents by theyr transgressions haue drawn vppon themselues and vs death and destruction and we our selues by our actuall iniquities haue added more curses to our particular persons and to the publike state wherein wee liue so yet good Lord remember thy Couenant of Grace remember the Sonne of thy loue and his sufferings whom thou hast sent into the world for the redemption of mankinde let these thy former and long continued mercies mooue thee to continue thy compassion in remoouing thy iudgements from vs in renewing the graces of thy holy Spirit in teaching vs to repent and renounce our former euill liues Then let thy Angel and Messenger of good tydings our Mediator sprinkle the postes and doores of our hearts with the blood of that Paschall Lambe who hath shedde his blood for the sinnes of the world in such sort that receiuing grace from thy all-giuing grace our sins and punishments for the same may cease and wee may with purified hearts after all our pollutions learn to publish thy praise and hauing receyued deliuerance for the contagion of soule and of bodie may be made instruments of thy glory both in this world and in the world to come A Prayer for increase and continuance of spirituall giftes and graces O Almighty God though wee are weake and not strong of our selues specially in the spirituall graces which might make vs beutifull corner-stones in thy Celestiall building yet thou good Lord who hast created Heauen and Earth and doest conserue all heerein contayned art able by thy wonderfull Workemanship not onely to begin and to beget but to increase and to preserue in our hearts the seedes of humility penitence patience piety zeale and other good sauing Graces We are thy creatures and thou our Creator therefore though we haue long dwelt in darkenesse yet now send vs the light of thy countenance to enlighten our vnderstanding the seale and testimony of thy holy Spirit to assure our hearts and consciences of thy loue and of our saluation To this end giue vs fortitude and corage to maintaine thy cause and to defend the trueth a subduing power to master our owne lustes and to subdue our sinnes wisedome from aboue to withstand the assaults of Sathan so of Captiues made Conquerors and of slaues vnto sinne and sathan made subduers of them both We may by the same thy mercy and power magnifie thy Maiesty hallow thy name not only in this world but in the world to come thorow all Ages euen euerlastingly So be it and so
AN Inuitation vnto Prayer and the practise of Piety directing the way to true Happinesse Wherein is principally to be considered these foure things 1. What Prayer vnto God is 2. The necessity of it 3. The profit we receiue by this holy exercise 4. The manner and vse of it London printed by Isaac Iaggard for Robert Bird and are to bee sold at his shop in Cheapside at the signe of the Bible 1624. To my Honourable and Worthy Friends in Parliament ALL good counsell comes from God Humane consultations are as fraile as themselues are feeble Nature hath her courses and corruptions in all the accidents of this world Mans aduice relyng onely on it selfe is like his actions sometimes prosperous often perillous many times pernitious The most sure and sase helpe that vvee haue comes from the gouernour of Heauen Earth The defence of his truth is our best buckler and his seruice our chiefest safety Prayers and Petitions vnto God are the Harbingers which prepares a place for our heauenly habitation and makes firme our earthly possessions This small and slender Treatise which J haue now puhlished concerning Prayer was first written ahout 27. yeares since then penned for mine owne practise since which time it hath beene concealed and in a manner cast away amongst many my other loose Papers vntill of late finding it vnlooked for J shewed it to some of my priuate Friends whose desires vvere it should be made publicke To that J yeelded not for any worth J could conceiue to bee in the worke comming from one so weake but to satisfy those who J knew would beare with my faults Of all our actions the world is as it were the Theater our selues the Actors wherein some play their partes with skill others in simplicity most with errors the greater part are censurers more ready to finde fault with others then to search into themselues whatsoeuer they are or J am J see my selfe subiect to censure This subiect is Prayer the pathway to happinesse the handling and carriage of rich Roabes by poore men makes not the garments meane but it may be more meanely valewed it is that in attyre as in Physicke the Materials of the one and ingredients of Medicines in the other beeing of themselues good yet not well by the workers managed composed and mixed makes their shew of lesse esteeme and indeede their substance of lesse vse Such may be the state of this Treatise touching prayers the subiect in it selfe holy heauenly but by mee not well handled may so fall out to be lesse valewed then the dignity of it wel set forth would shew it selfe to be Howsoeuer I offer this small Widowes Myte into that Treasurie where true Christians by Prayer and Piety makes their oblations and tribute in the Sanctuary of GOD vnto whose gracious and good guidance I commend all your good consultations with all others that by faithfull prayer and feruent deuotion desire to serue his Diuine Maiestie Yours in him who can make vs all his and to enioy all happines I. P. Knight AN INVITATION to Prayer and the practise of Piety directing the way to true Happinesse With a preparation to the practise thereof CHAP. I. What Prayer vnto God is BEfore wee treate of this most precious and inestimable gift and grace of Prayer it is conuenient to know what Prayer 〈◊〉 to Goâ—â—â— For of thiâ—â—s not knowne what they are there is little desire to attaine vnto them be they neuer so excellent in them selues or profitable vnto others Therefore to vse a breefe definition or rather description of Prayer vnto God may be said to bee the Tribute of the soule powring out praises vnto him for benefites already receiued or making supplications for such things as we stand in need of and seeke of his Heauenly Maiesty Farther to make a celestiall representation by terrestrial comparison Prayer vnto God may be termed to be as it were a Bucket to draw vp the water of Life from the bottomles Well of Gods infinite grace and mercie In the efficacie and effects it may bee likened vnto a strong Wall or Fortresse to guard the soule of him that rightly vseth it from the temptation and spoile of Sathan So is it an Armour against all aduersities and the Soules Medicine against al maladies that doth inuade indanger it To conclude this which brings vs to happinesse with that which in Diuine contemplation of heauenly Mysteries wee may somwhat shew what Prayer is as the Diuines doe declare what God is by signifying what hee is not nor cannot be So it may be said of Prayer a principall part of Gods worshippe not to be the sport or supine exercise of humane Wit nor the practise of sloathfull creatures continuing in known sinnes vnrepented but it is an ardent and zealous inuocation and in some sort a Conference with God Two partes of Prayer There are two parts of Prayer as hath bin already in part pointed out For by shewing what Prayer is we shew in some sort of what it consisteth that is Petition and Praise or Thankesgiuing vnto God Petition is an humble suit and seeking vnto God either for pardon of our sinnes for supply of spirituall graces or of temporall necessities such as our wants in both which are great doe vrge vs to aske for assistance from the Almighty Praise Thanksuing is an ardent and harty acknowledgment with a landing of Gods most glorious name and mercie As there are two parts Two kinds of Prayer so there are two kindes of Prayer the one Mentall the other Vocall The Mentall prayer is vvhen our inward conceptions and meditations of the minde are fixed on the Maiesty of God by secret and silent recounting without expression of words the miseries that our sinnes haue brought vpon our selues also wheÌ„ we remember and reioyce at the mercies of God and so do internally magnifie him for the same and for his wonderfull workes of Iustice iudgement prouidence and preseruation without vttering of any words The other kinde of Vocall Prayer is when the heart cannot be contained and satisfied onely vvith contemplation but striues to set the tongue voyce on worke either priuately alone or publikely conioyned with congregation and assembly of Christians to pray vnto God to praise him The first is profitable if it bee done with zeale deuotion and vnderstanding but the second is commonly more firme and fruitefull For when the soule is soliciting on this seruice of God yet the exteriour sences doe many times seduce and withdraw the inward meditation which maketh them vanish often wax vaine except they be vnited and bound together with the organs of voyce and speech so these concurring make an euen harmony A comparison that inward as the Heart which being the seate of the vitall spirites gâ—ines quickning spirit to the body this outward being as the Lungs which receyued from within and vents outbreath without which the heart it selfe cannot long continue
is most profitable for vs as well for the fulfilling of Gods heauenly will as for the accomplishing of our owne godly desires And also if wee see so many comfortable plaine patternes of the great safety and saluation that hath come doth daily grow vnto the seruants of God by hearty faithfull praiers vnto him then haue we no cause to doubt the profit of prayer or to deferre the doing of it with our best deuotion And lastly if wee looke into the plaine and effectuall promises of our All-powerfull God for the performance of that which we do effectually pray for then there shal be no need of more perswasion of the inestimable benefit which powerfull prayer doth bring with it neither shal there bee any necessity or motiue to follow frequeÌ„t the same but willing minds directed and assisted by heauenly grace to bee often conuersant in this most holy and heauenly exercise of zealous prayer which is so profitable vnto man so acceptable and sweet a sacrifice vnto the Creator of mankind CAP. IV. Of the manner of Prayer HAuing as we hope shewed what praier is and proued the necessity and profit thereof next comes to be considered the manner of it consisting in three things that is the time place and words to bee vsed in prayer First for the time of prayer it ought not alwaies to bee limited how often or how long wee should pray but as often as conueniently wee can and as long as our faith without fainting or time without distraction will giue leaue Neither are the prescribed rules of the Romish Church in this behalfe so profitable or so tollerable as to obserue Mattin at such houres to say so many Creeds so many Aue maries so many Pater Nosters and to recite the name of Iesus or the like so many times or to vse such and such prayers vppon such Beades vnto such Saints for such men soules As though God would haue mens deuotions practised more according to the obseruation of those prescribed rules and times then at any other time or in any other manner or as if you were bound to heare them more in these regulated rehearsals then in any other sort when they shall be deuoted to offer vp the lncense of Prayer Thanksgiuing being sti◠〈…〉 therto by the inwarâ— good motion of zeale and deuotion which ought to be in vs at all times as well as at any time certaine But if the mind be not at al times well prepared to Prayer yet as often as we may find time and meanes we must endeuour to bee exercised therein without ouer striâ—t obseruation of times limited other then at such times as we are called therto by a generall assembly of the Church and Congregation wherein we liue 2 Likewise for the place of Prayer it cannot be alwayes restrained nor appointed no more then the time can be alwayes limited For although the Churcheâ— where the congregation of the faithfull are or ought to bee assembled bee the fittest placeâ— for Prayers yet it ought not to be lonely there but also elsewhere because men cannot be alwaiâ—s or most commonly in the Church And if thâ—y may not bee there yet euerie faithfull mans he attriâ—â—â—â— time of prayer is the temple of God Whether therfore hee bee alone or in company or to what place soeuer he bee his faithfull prayers shall be heard and he is bound to pray as Christ went alone in the Mountaine to pray David prayed in his house toppe Ionas in the Whales belly Daniel in the Lyons den Peter in the pris◠〈…〉 the child 〈◊〉 so Goâ—â— might 〈◊〉 pray in all places where they come and as they caâ—â— whether it bee in the Church in the house in the fields in the war and in time of peace at home and abroad 3. Lastly for the words that shall be vsed in prayer it is a matter worthy of consideration whithâ—â— they ought alwayes to bee set downe ceâ—taineâ— eyther in writing or in the memory before we come vnto prayer Or whether they must be alwayes left vnâ—â— euery mâ—ns meditation present deliuery as occasion and his inuention shall serue him or as the Spirit of God shall direct him wherein as they do affirm that prayers ought alwaies to be set downe in certaine words may not haue allowance of their opinions so on the other side such as auerre that the forme of prayer shold be at no time certaine nor set downe in writing or in the memory must not be beleeued nor their assertions allowed as true and infallible For the first sort which say that one forme of praier in the selfesame words is alwayes to be vsed they tye Gods guifts and graceâ— which are in euery man in some measure or other ther more or lesse vnto prescription and to formal obseruation which most commonly begetteth cold affection in prayer For when a mans deuotion and all his meditation are tyed vnto certaine and vsuall words there familiaritie of vttering one thing often taketh away the feeling of that which is vttered so that it becommeth â—â—it â—ip-labour and loseth the feruent zeal of an inward deuotion which doeth best please God in prayer and without the fâ—â—uency praier is of none effect Then touching their opinions who affirme that there should bee no set forme of prayer at any time or in any place they do asmuch erre as the former which follow tradition and prescription onely in prayer For in Churches in Congregations and in Assemblyes where publike Prayer is vsed and where manie doe frequent to pray together there no doubt that a form of prayer is very profitable both for vnity and vniuersall framing of mens mindes and inward affections in one sence in one saying and at one time to lift vp both hands harts vnto God which is the sweetest harmony that can bee on earth And more then that it is the heauenly harmony that transporteth our bodies our minds and our soules from earth vnto heauen But as this vnity and setled forme of prayer is most profitable and needefull in the publike assemblies so in priuate prayers and inuocations ought no man to bee forbidden the vse of his secret and seuerall Meditations according as God shal giue him grace and abilitie to praise him and to pray vnto him For although it be not euery mans guift to deliuer in apt wordes the secret and particular desires of his soule in praiers vnto God yet there is no doubt but the man of meanest conceite and vnderstanding hauing a desire to performe his duty in this seruice of God shall finde by exercise and practise heerein his minde more apt This sences more sharp and his words more ready with daily and continuall vse of prayer Therefore as euerie man ought not in publicke places of prayer to follow his owne forme and separate himselfe in prayer from the Congregation so in priuate prayer no man ought to bee forbidden that forme of prayer which his faith and
distrust diffidence of thy power or mercy that so through thy onely and all-able assistance I may bee made of a sinfull soule though not a perfect yet an acceptable worshipper of thee my Soueraigne Lord and onely Sauiour Short Admonitions concerning the premises I Shall desire the charitable viewer of these imperfect rules concerning prayer to conceiue that they are not set downe either to informe the learned or any that are well exercised in prayer But to giue some light vnto such as are young simple ignorant or not much vsed to prayer Neither should any of them bee tied onely to these words or formes heere set downe but it is in their choise to take the sence of the same so farre as they shall finde it to further their good and godly indeauours in prayer And if GOD shall indue them with better abilities they may vse them ought to be thankfull for that heauenly talent they haue and not to hide or to abuse it A prayer for deuotion in prayer SInce all good gifts comes from thee our gracious God the author of all goodnes grant vs thy speciall sauing grace of sanctified feruent prayer in frequent and zealous supplications Wee haue it not of our selues we seeke it of thee nether can wee seeke it without thou first send the motions thereof into our hearts and mindes prepare vs therefore for this holy duty grant vs the practice and power of it before we come to it touch our hearts with the remembrance of our sinnes and repentance for the same Call to our memorie and meditations how slowe wee haue beene to present our selues to thy presence by prayer how cold wee are in deuotion how distracted in our thoughts and how full of fantasies and of fond imaginations which draw our zeale and deuotion from thee even in the time of praier when our thoughts should bee pure and our hearts onely setled vpon thy seruice so that in stead of bringing a blessing we bring iust curses to our selues by these our more formall then faithfull praiers O Lord therefore infuse grace into our hearts kindle zeale fortifie our faith let not our secure and sensuall seruice of thee increase more of our abounding sinnes nor adde more to thy deserued anger but be thou in the middest of vs by thy assisting holy Spirit When wee lift vp our hands lift thou vppe our hearts vnto thee when we speake vnto thee speake thou peace vnto our Consciences giue vs words to vtter faith to beleeue feruencie in our prayers an earnest desire to abandon all euil affections and loose carriage of our cogitations and so closely to settle our soules vnto thy seruice When we come to make our supplications before thy Maiesty let this instant time of prayer whilest we now speake bee the beginning of our better seruice and so continuing in the same with humility constancy and fauour thou maiest haue the honour and wee the benefit To thee bee giuen all honour and glory now and all times Amen Morning prayer in a familie O Lord God light of lights thou that giuest light vnto our soules and to our bodies thou that hast brought vs from the darknesse of this night to see the comfortable light of this day bring vs from the darknesse of ignorance and of sinne and from the corrupting of our soules wherein wee haue liued both day and night As thou hast raised vs from our rests to follow our callings so raise vs from security sloath dulnesse distraction lust couetousnes selfe-conceites pride and all other corrupt affections which carry vs headlong after the vaine imaginations of our owne harts and euill affections Good Lord when we go abroad about our worldly affaires let not our mindes bee led altogether from heauenly meditations but let thy blessed Spirit be our motioner to put vs in minde of the shortnesse and vncertainty of our liues let vs haue before our thoughts often the sinnes wee haue committed the good wee might haue done and haue omitted the time wee haue mispent either in doing no good at all or in doing that is euill And this good Lord teach vs to tell our selues and our owne soules not with wordes onely comming from the lippes but with inward sighs and groanes from the heart and when through the assistance of thy holy Spirit thou hast made vs to search our sins and to smite our hearts then blesse thou the works of our hands in all our good endeauours and as by the same our store doth encrease our thankfulnes to thee may encrease As thy blessings are bestowed so our prayers praises may bee rendred and redoubled At our going out in our rest trauaile and returne bee thou with vs by the blessing and assistance of thy holy Spirit let this day good Lord bee a beginning and a new birth day of faith repentance for our sinnes and of reconciliation to thy Maiesty that so thou mayest receiue vs to mercy Let al the rest of our dayes be an amendment of our sinfull liues past Blesse good Lord thy Church our King his Realmes with faith truth peace and prosperitie guide the rest of the States of this land in their seuerall conditions callings that both they and we may maintaine thy truth set forth thy glory keepe a good conscience to our selues shew charity one vnto another So wee may liue in thy feare dye in thy fauour and after this mortall life is ended we may enioy an immortall life with thee in heauen there to magnifie praise and glorifie thy most glorious Name world without end Amen A Morning Prayer to be vsed in priuate THis day our good God appearing and thy mercies appearing by our deliuerance from dangers this night past and in the ordaining of dayes and of all thy other workes what praises shall we render for thy workes of Creation and of preseruation If we should not praise thee yet one day telleth another and one night certifieth another but I most sinnefull soule haue neyther expressed nor felte what belongs to the visible workes of thy inuisible Maiesty neither can I comprehend it in thy workes and made known by thy reuealed word for thy Maiesty is so great thy Wisedom so vnserchable and thy Word so deepe that I am not able to conceiue them It sufficeth great God vnto thee that art al-sufficient in thy selfe to expresse thy self vnto vs sinners in such sort as we are able to apprehend thee And I one of the least and vnworthiest seruants doe confesse my selfe to be a most greeuous sinner in thought word and deede I haue followed mine owne wicked fantasies I haue broken thy commandements and betrayed mine owne soule yet my hope is in thy mercie and therefore in the beginning of this day I beginne my prayers vnto thee teach me therefore to pray that I may this day and the rest of my life call vpon thee and praise thee through the assistance of thy power which graunt vs good Lord. A Prayer