wisdome and humblenesse and obedience and mortification and zeale and faith and hope and all graces that may change me from sinne to sanctity from darkenesse to light and from coldnesse to a more perfect zeale to serue thée in all things Teach me O Lord teach mée to execute my vocation truely and perfectly and giue such issue and blessed successe to all my endeauours labours purposes and procéedings as I may discharge my duety in obedience to thy diuine Maiestie to my brethren in loue and equity and to my selfe and mine in godly care and true piety And let thy holy Spirit so guide and gouerne mée this day and for euer that I may more and more fructifie increase in all godlinesse vntil thou shalt cut off this corruptible life After which good Father in the merits of thy Son let me inhabite euermore inherite that heauenly City new Ierusalem where thou sittest and raignest one God with whom shall liue all thine elect in ioyes vnspeakable for euer Amen O Lord increase our Faith A Morning Prayer where the FAMILY assembles O Almighty God full of loue and pitty the chiefest comfort that any sinfull soule can haue when wée miserable sinners here met together doe consider of thy great mercy and goodnesse which we haue euer since our births and before found and daily doe finde at the hands of thy diuine Maiesty together with our great vnthankfulnesse euery way to thée againe for the same we must néedes confesse and euen from the bottom of our hearts doe acknowledge that most vnspeakeable is thy mercy in sparing vs to liue vntill this morning before which time thou mightest iustly haue consumed vs. But O deare God of thy frée mercies before the foundation of the World was laid thou hast chosen and elected vs for thy Children and hast to our endlesse comfort certified and made knowne the same vnto our spirits by thy spirit by whom and not of our selues wee now cry vnto thée Abba father and for our Redemption hast sent thine owne Sonne to shed his most precious bloud vpon the Crosse no other meanes being whereby wée could be saued Thou hast by thy holy Spirit wrought Faith in our hearts to beléeue by him and in him to be iustified before thée and in some measure begunne the death of sinne in vs and wrought our sanctification and of thy frée fauour we enioy the benefit of thy Word the freedome of conscience great peace and plenty in outward things with many and infinite other benefits waking and sléeping at home and abroad in our selues and our friends for all which instead of thankefulnesse wee become the more disobedient not doing that wée ought to doe but with pleasure and profit with vanity and selfe-loue wée are carried away spending our daies in iniquity carelesnesse and vnféeling of our sinne and there is no goodnesse in vs yet is there mercy with thée O Lord and pardon vpon repentance Wherefore we here this Morning met together before thy Maiesty humbly confesse our wants and most entirely beséech thée for Jesus Christs sake to haue mercy vpon vs Haue mercy vpon vs most mercifull Father and forgiue vs all that is past strengthen vs hereafter that daily both in bodies and soules we may glorifie thée more then we haue done yéelding thankes for daily benefits and striuing in holinesse and righteousnes to please thée all the dayes of our life But because we cannot but offend and fall diuers wayes and euery day good Lord for thy mercy sake pierce our hearts with a féeling of the same and neuer suffer vs to goe on with dull and dead soules not séeing nor sighing for our offences As a speciall meanes to kéepe vs in obedience before thée O deare Father worke in vs a continuall remembrance and an effectuall consideration that wée shall not alwayes liue here in this wretched world that doth much please vs now but that a day wil come when the trumpe shall sound the Dead shall arise and all wée shall appeare before the Tribunall seat of Judgement there to receiue according to our déedes without respect of Persons oh good Lord giue vs a remembrance and a féeling of that vnspeakeable comfort and eternall waight of glory which in that day shall be giuen vnto vs if in this day wée serue and please thée and contrariwise euen terrifle our cousciences and let vs as it were see before our faces the dreadfull Judgements and the fearefull Torments that both in Body and Soule they shall be sure to haue for euermore which in this life doe not serue and please thée but follow their owne fancies and wicked delights giue vs an hatred of sinne and a true loue of righteousnesse blesse thy Word euermore with fruit vnto our soules when we heare it giue vs a desire to heare it often and to practise it faithfully and obediently and keepe our hearts euer free from disūmulation and counterfeit holinesse prepare our hearts diligently to watch for the comming of thy Sonne make vs ready fit and willing to meete him in the clouds if thou wilt that we liue to his comming if it please thee in the meane time to call vs let vs with ioy yeeld our bodies to the earth and receiue our soules vnto thy selfe vntill the day when both our bodies and soules shall be remitted and bee totally glorified with thee in Heauen And let this day be a day of our true reformation and repentance that we becomming new creatures may serue thee in holinesse all the dayes of our liues yeelding thee most humble and hearty thankes for thy goodnesse to vs this night let thy mercifull eye looke vpon vs this day and so keep vs bodies and soules that being occupied in our seuerall callings we may be safe by thee from all our Enemies and liue to thee in feare that we may die in thy fauour and liue hereafter with thee in glory which grant and all things in the meane time necessary for soules and bodies for Christ his sake in whose name we ask them saying as he hath taught vs Our Father vvhich art in heauen hallovved be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as vve forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the povver and the glory for euer and euer Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy vvord our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs and make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance tovvards vs this day and euermore Amen A priuate Prayer for the EVENING The Motiue I Will lay
so to walke before thée in this present life as becommeth thy Saints O continue thy word of truth amongst vs euer to our comfort Let the séede thereof now sowne in our hearts take such déepe roote that neither the burning heate of persecntion cause it to wither nor the thorny cares of this world riches or voluptuous liuing choake it but as séede sowne in good ground it may bring forth fruit according to thy pleasure O Father giue vs grace that when we heare or â—â—nde by thy word any sinne that is in vs we may striue and study without delay willingly to reforme it Kéepe vs good God that wée neuer swarue for the feare of man from our owne true knowledge becomming seruers of time and deuiers of thée Kéepe vs from all hardnesse of heart contempt of thy word and from all dissembling of sinceritie Increase true loue amongst vs more and more Blesse thy whole Church O God with graces necessary this parcell of it our natiue Land and Country deare Father blesse it still with continuance of thy truth Iessen in it daily the number of blinde and ignorant Papists prophane Atheists and increase the number of thy true children Preserue vnto vs long aliue good Lord if it please thée our gracious King and Gouernour multiply thy Spirit vpon him and all his that still more and more he and they may séeke and set forth thy glory in maintaining Christian religion in all purity suppressing all vice superstition and Idolatry with all seuerity Giue vnto him an honourable Counsell giue them graces necessary for such a calling Blesse all other Nobles Magistrates and the whole body of this Realme with true hearts to thée and to this Countrey Increase in this our Israel the number of true Watchmen whose hearts may séeke thée and thy people and not their owne glory and commodity Bring to thy fold by them such wandring remnants as are thine And O Lord be gracious to our kindred and friends in the flesh lighten their hearts with the Sunne of vnderstanding that they and wée acknowledgeing one truth may glorifie thée in the true and constant profession of the same all the dayes of our life Comfort O Christ thy afflicted members wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled and grant vs peace in our dayes if it be thy pleasure Finally because the night is now vpon vs and we ready to take our rest let the bed O Lord strike into our hearts a consideration that the graue is almost ready for vs. Which of vs can tell whether these eies of ours once closed vp shall euer open any more againe or no Lord therefore receiue vs into thy hands we all here now commend our selues bodies soules vnto thy holy protection and prouidence kéepe vs this night and euermore ready for thée when thou shalt call vs. Heare vs O Lord O God and Father mercifull in these our petitions for thy Sonne Jesus Christ his sake our Sauiour in whose name we altogether begge these mercies saying as Christ our Sauiour hath taught vs Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs and make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs this night and euermore Amen A Prayer to be vsed in priuate Families Morning and Euening Leuit. 26. 6. If yee truely serue God yee shall sleepe and none shall make you afraid Lord prepare our hearts open our lips sanctifie our prayers and increase our Faith O Most mighty Lord God and our most mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ we thy poore creatures and vnworthy children humbly present our selues in his name before thy glorious maiesty acknowledging that we be most vnworthy to appeare in thy presence by reason not onely of our originall but also of our continuall actuall sinnes and déepe disobedienee being originally borne the children of wrath and the least of our actuall transgressions is sufficient to cast vs into hell and vtter perdition if thou shouldest deale with vs according to the measure of our manifold iniquities We therefore doe humbly beséech thée O mercifull Father in the merits of Jesus Christ fréely to pardon and forgiue our manifold offences both in that wée haue committed and done those things thou hast forbidden and left vndone the things thou hast commanded Lord forgiue vs and remember our sinnes no more let them neuer good and gracious Father rise vp in Judgement to our condemnation Giue vs a full assurance of thy mercies and frée forgiuenesse in Jesus Christ and let thy holy Spirit from henceforth euermore so sanctifie our hearts minds and bodies that wée neuer hereafter giue consent to the corrupt motions of our fleshly affections and vnclean desires and let the liuely light of thy continuall presence so illuminate our dark vnderstandings that we may still search for thy will in thy word reuealed and giue vs will and power to practise and performe all godly seruice duties and obedience to thée giue vs féeling hearts that we may finde out our own weakenesse and confesse vnto thée our infirmities and that we may boldly in the Name of thy Sonne Christ Jesus fall downe before thée calling faithfully and sincerely vpon thy holy name for pardon for our former euils for grace to reforme so the rest of our wicked liues that thou maist be pleased to accept vs anew into thy fauour and fatherly protection Grant that we may continually féele in our hearts and consciences more and more the virtue and power of the death resurrection of our Lord and Sauior Jesus Christ that we may continually striue against and mortifie our grosse sins and foule corruptions and grow more strong against all euill motions and temptations in thought word and déede and be more and more renewed in the spirit of our mind and féele a continuall increase of ioy and comfort in the reading hearing and meditating of thy holy and heauenly word and a feruency of true zeale to séekethy glory by encreasing more and more in knowledge and in the hatred of sinne in our selues rebuking it in others especially in those of whom we haue charge and in a happy and faithfull going forward in all godly obedience vnto thy will all the dayes of our liues Direct and strengthen vs that we may with all faithfulnesse labour to
beginning and in the seuenth day didst rest from the same labour commanding vs to obserue the sanctification of the same for euer and to rest from all labours trauels and wordly businesses and not onely our selues but our Seruants Oxen Asses and such like Grant that we may not onely lay a side all worldly cares and businesses on the Sabbath day but may in all things sanctifie and kéepe it holy with godly exercises diuine prayers and heauenly meditations with diligent regard to the auoyding of all pastimes foolish and vncomely exercises and vnlawfull practices whereby oftentimes the affection being mooued to impatience powreth forth choler to the dishonouring of thée Let our conuersation be altogether modest mortifying our owne desires wholly applying our selues not onely on the Sabbath day but all the wéeke yea all our whole life to the seruice of thée to the honouring and glorifying of thy Name to the benefit of our soules profit of our neighbours and due reuerence to our Parents whom thou hast commanded vs to honor loue and obey as the instruments of our beginning thou being the workman Grant Lord that wee truely and vnfainedly reuerence them as thou willest we should that we may long continue vpon the earth not in the number of carelesse and disobedient children in whom resteth no thankfulnesse for so great benefits had and receiued at the hand of their parents from whom thou hast said thou wilt with-hold thy blessings and altogether depriue them of their libertie of liuing But grant that we may so order our selues by thy grace both to them and other our Superiours that wee may receiue at thy hands many good gifts and length of dayes here according to thy promise in Christ. Let it likewise please thee O Lord to continue thy blessings in and vpon vs that it may goe well with vs all the dayes of our liues take from vs Lord all destres of reuenge all rancour hatred and malice lest the Diuell who reaâ—ily stands to pricke vs forward to a desperate minde procure vs to slay the innocent Wée beséech thée good Lord let not at any time such euill imaginations enter into our hearts lest wée giuing our selues thereunto loose the reynes of our naturall disposition which is 〈◊〉 inclined to wrath that vnlesse the strength thereof be subdued or the venomous sâ—ing thereof pluckt out by vertue of thy holy Spirit it prouoke vs to waite opportunity to wreake our malice with violence vpon such as by small occasions haue offended vs yea and by little and little breake out into that height of hatred as to prouoke vs to séeke the meanes to destroy the innocent O Lord forbid it and kéepe vs from the most pernitious sinne of adultery which being so odious in thy sight as thou causedst to fall in one day for the same twenty and thrée thousand but indue vs with thine holy Spirit that we may kéepe our bodies cleane and vndefiled members of thée endued with perfect sanctity may abandon all occasions that may procure vs to offend thée retaining a godly behauiour which thou dearely louest and expelling euill concupiscence which thou deadly hatest O mercifull God vouchsafe to kéepe vs from taking any thing by indirect meanes from any man whom wee ought to loue as our selues the desire whereof good Lord procéedeth often by scarcitie and want by pouerty and néede which indéede thou art able and willing to relieue without any such vnlawfull meanes And therfore I beséech thée to grant vs a sufficient and necessary portion or else constancy and vnfained hope in thee to be relieued in thy good time and vtterly to detest the horrible sinne of stealing for thou hast promised neither to faile vs nor forsake vs calâ—ing faithfully vpon thée in time of our necessity And as we ought to beware of taking any thing of others by steaith so likewise vouchsafe when any occasion serueth to grant vs héedfull mindes to depose and testifie that which is truth according to our knowledge without any respect either of greatnesse friendship or fauour of the one or the eâ—uy malice or pouerty of the other And grant that wée raise no false accusation or slander vpon any man but that wée may kéepe our mouthes from speakeing any thing hurtfull vnto others but to shew our selues helpefull both in word and déede to all and like good men muse and meditate afore-hand what we ought to speake not letting the bridle of our lips loose to babble out that which first commeth into our mindes and that we may content ourselues with our estates whatsoeuer thou sendest without an vngodly desire of any thing that belongeth vnto our Neighbours And grant vs by thine especiall grace euermore to obserue and faithfully to fulfill all thy most godly Commandements in the name for the sake of Jesus Christ in whose Name as well for grace to kéepe thy Lawes as also for all necessaries for body and soule I heartily beséech thée in that forme of prayer which hée hath set downe vnto vs in these words Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and glory for euer and euer Amen A Prayer and Meditation concerning the continuance of Gods corrections notwithstanding our continuall humiliation and daily Prayers vnto him for comfort and reliefe O Father most mercifull and louing in Jesus Christ what shall I bring vnto thée whereby to appease thy wrath conceiued against my sinne If I should bring the sacrifice of Buls or Goates thou art not delighted with them Teach mée therefore O Lord teach me what to doe to be reconciled vnto thée againe I haue long called vpon thée and that in the name of thy most beloued Sonne and finde not that I haue long sought I receiue not that I haue many dayes desired of thée I haue long and earnestly knocked at the doore of thy mercy and finde no entrance for my Soule I sée I am shut out of thy presence I wait and am weary I sigh and sée no remorse and lingring thus in distresse I languish vnder the burden of thy displeasure which séemeth to be so hetly kindled against mée as I am ready to giue ouer my suite For behold Lord my miseries are beyond measure and my griefe groweth daily more and more being of my selfe ignorant what to say more vnto thée then I haue said I know not what course to take nor to whom to make my mone direct mée and heare my prayers Thou being angry with mée all thy Creatures séeme to be also offended at mée and nothing séemeth to yéelde mée comfort Deare Father what shall I doe whither shall I flye to finde rest there is no rest for me but in thée and therefore
22 g  The 16. of this moneth Hezekiah made an end of sanctifying and purging the Temple 2 Chron. 29 17. 23 A  24 b  25 c  26 d  The 18. of this month the childreÌ„ of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the red sea Exod. 14. 19. 27 e  28 f  29 g  30 A Day before the Calends of May. The 24 Daniel saw his vision Dan. 10. 4.    The 25. of this moneth the feast of S. Marke is obserued 5. May called of the Latins Maius Graecians Scâ—irophorion Hebrewes Liar which is their 2. moneth hath 31 daies 1 b Calends The first of this moneth Moses was commanded to number the children of Israel Numb 1. 1. c. 2 c  3 d Nones of May. 6 5 4 3 4 e  5 f  The 5. of this Moneth Christ is thought to haue ascended vp into heauen Mar. 16. 9. Luk. 24. 51. Act. 19 They which could not keep the Passeouer at the day appointed by the Lord were willed to celebrate the same the 14. of this Month Nu. 39 v. 10. 11. So did the Israelites at the commandement of King Hezekiah 2 Ch. 30. 15. 6 g Day before the N. 7 A Nones of May. 8 b  9 c  10 d Idus of May. 8 7 6 5 4 3 11 e  12 f  13 g  14 A Day before the Id. 15 b Idus of May. 16 c  17 d  The 16 day Manna rained from heauen Exod. 16. 14. 18 e  19 f  The 17. day Noah entred the Arke and the floud began Gen. 7 11. 13. 20 g  21 A  2â— b Calâ—nds of Iuâ—e 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 The 22. fire from Heauen coÌ„sumed such as murmured against the Lord Nu. 11 1 23 c  24 d  25 e  The 23 the Israelites with great ioy triumphingly entred into the Castle of Ierusalem 1 Mac. 13 51. 26 f  27 g  28 A  â—9 b  The 27. Noah the water being dried vp came forth of the Arke Gen. 8. 14. 30 c  31 d Day befoâ—e the Calends of Iane The first of this Moneth is vsually celebrated for the feast of Philip and Iacob 6 Iune called of the Latins Iunius Graecians Ekatombaion Hebrewes Siuan which is their third moneth hath 30 daies 1 e Calends The first comming of the children of Israel vnto menÌ„i Sinai was the first of this moneth where they abode 11. moneths and 20. dayes in which time all those things were done recorded in Exod cap. 19. 1. c. 2 f Nones of Iune 4 3 3 g  4 A Day before the N. 5 b Nones of Iune 6 c  7 d  8 e Idus of Iune 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 f  The sixt of this moneth Alexander that mighty Monarch of the world was borne of whom Dan. c. 11. 3. doth prophesie Also on this day that famous temple of Diana in Ephesus numbred among the seauen wonders of the world was set on fire by Herostratus The Iewes likewise kept then feast of Pentecost on this day 10 g  11 A  12 b Day before the Id. 13 c Idus of Iune 14 d  15 e  16 f  17 g  18 A  19 b  20 c Caâ—â—nds of Iuly 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 21 d  22 e  The 23 of this moneth the first edict came out for the safety of Gods people the Iewes against Haman and the rest of their enemies Esth. 8. 9. 23 f  24 g  25 A  26 b  27 c  28 d  The 29. of this month the Arke of Noah through the increase of waters was lifted vp from the earth Gen. 7. 12. 29 e  30 f Day before the Calends â—f Iuly Festiuall dayes in this moneth are the 2â— which is the feast of S. Iohn Baptist. 29. which is S. Peters 7. Iuly called of the Latins Iulius Graecians Metageitnion Hebrews Thamus being their 4. moneth 1 g Calends  2 A  The 5. of this moneth Ezechiel saw his visions Ezech. 1. 1. 3 b Nones of July 6 5 4 3 4 c  5 d   6 e Day before the N. The 6. of this moneth the Capitall of Rome counted one of the 7. wonders of the world was burned and the mirror of Christian Princes King Edward the sixt dyed the sixt of this moneth Anno 1553. 7 f Nones of Iuly 8 g  9 A  10 b Idus of Iuly 8 7 6 5 4 3 11 c  12 d  13 e  14 f Day before the Id.  15 g Idus of Iuly  16 A  The 9. of this Moneth Ierusalem after it had a long while beene besieged by Nebuchadnezzar was taken Ier. 39. 2. 17 b  18 c  19 d  20 e  21 f   22 g   23 A Calends of August 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 The 12. of this moneth Iulius Caesar the first Roman Emperor was borne Of him is this moneth called Iuly 24 b  25 c  26 d  27 e   28 f  The 18. of this their yere month the 29 g  Egyptians begin 30 A  Plin. lib. 8. cap. 47. 31 b Day before the Calends of Aug. The 25. of this moneth is the feast of S. Iames the Apostle and vpon this day K. Iames was crowned King of England 1603. 8. August called of the Latins Augustus Graecians Boedromion Hebrewes Ab which is their 5. moneth 1 c Calends  2 d Nones of August 4 3 The first of this moneth Aaron 40. yeeres after the children of Israel were come out of Egypt died on mount Hor Num. 33. 38. Also on this day Ezra with his company came out of Babel vnto Ierusalem Ezra 7. 9. 3 e  4 f Day before the N. 5 g Nones of August 6 A  7 b  8 c Idus of August 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 d  10 e   11 f   12 g Day before the Id. The 7. of this moneth Nabuchadnezzar burnt the house of the Lord and al Ierusalem 2 Kings 25. 8. 9. 13 A Idus of August 14 b  15 c  16 d   17 e   18 f  The 10. of this moneth some thinke Ierusalem to haue beene burnt by the Babylonians Ierem. 52. 12. Iosephus lib. 5. cap. 26. said it was burned afterward by the Romanes the same day Therefore doe the Iewes on this day obserue a most straight fast and goe bare-footed and sitting on the ground reade twice ouer the Lamentations of Ieremie 19 g  20 A  21 b Calends of Septemb. 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 22 c  23 d  24 e  25 f  26 g
me downâ— and also sleepe in peace for thou Lord onely makest me dwellin safety Psal. 4. 8. Dauid by this declareth his ovvne bodily infirmity vvherunto all men are likevvise subiect namely to such debility as without rest and sleepe they cannot long continue yet this rest as he acknowledgeth may be a troublesome rest vnles God blesse it for as Dauid did so all men lye downe and take their rest but all not in peace for such as lye downe forgetting God God leaueth them to themselues and so their sleepe in stead of peace turneth into troublesome dreames idle sinfull imaginations horrible visions and fearefull fantasies whereby not onely the body is distempered but the soule also grieuously vexed And therefore though we couch vs on a bed of Downe with Curtaines of gold Couerings of silke these administer not the peace that Dauid speaketh of but God is he that giueth it onely It is not then the sweet sound of Musicke or the cradle of pleasures that can giue vs that peaceable sleepe and safe rest that Dauid speaketh of but Prayer vnto God in faith and true attonement with him in Christ thoughts free from sinne and the conscience cleered may safely assure a man that when he lyeth downe God is with him and when he riseth vp God wil not giue him ouer but be his God louing and mercifull for euer A Prayer for the Euening MY God and Father louing and al-sufficient I yéeld thée praise and thankes for thy mercies in that thou hast this day past strongly guarded mée with thy hand louingly refreshed mée with thy fauours and now safely brought mée to the end of this day night and darkenesse being at hand wherein all thy creatures draw to their rest And I wretched creature finding mine owne infirmity and imbecillity run now vnto thy heauenly fauour who hast made me of that brittle and grosse matter as cannot continue without rest after labour without sléepe after waking and without comfort after sorrow and griefe I doe therefore beséech thée as thou art the Fountaine of all rest and succour and health and helpe so thou wilâ— consider mée in my weakenesse and giue mée strength sée and behold my miseries and be mercifull vnto me And sith the time now is come wherein I couet rest and sléepe receiue me into thy protection and yéelde me thy helping hand that when this my corrupt lumpe of flesh shall through the heauinesse and dulnesse of sléepe be depriued of mouing and sense and ablenesse to helpe it selfe I may be kept safe and securely preserued by thée for it is thy selfe Lord onely that makest mée dwell and abide in safety Thou art my Watch-man when I slumber thou art my Defender when I am in danger thou art my Castle my Rocke my Sword my Buckler and my Refuge thou art to me and for me all in all without thée what am I but a beast that know nothing but a blocke that féele nothing but a wretch that can doe nothing rightly And therefore deare Father stretch out thy louing fauour ouer the house wherein I rest let thy Angels compasse the bed whereon I rest and thy holy Spirit kéepe my soule and spirit in peace when I rest that I may rest in peace that I may rise in peace and liue in peace that the troubles of the world dismay me not that the sleights of sinne deceiue mée not and that the deuices of the wicked ouertake me not but as I am weake of my selfe I may be made strong by thy strength as I am poore of my self I may be made able by thy riches and as I am ignorant of my selfe I may be made wise in thée so shall my lying downe be acceptable my sléepe comfortable and my rising vp profitable In hope of this thy free bountie louing fauour and high prouidence I will lay me downe and take my rest let it be in peace and Lord let it be vnto me and all thine when they rest swéet and comfortable in thée who makest all thine to rest and rise vp in safety Amen O Lord increase our Faith An Euening Prayer where the Family assembles O Most high mighty God Father and Protector of all things in heauen earth before whom all creatures feare and tremble were it not in that thou hast commanded vs neuer durst wée appeare before thée so corrupt is our nature and so many are our sinnes But good Father thou doest bid and therefore wée obey thou doest call and therefore we come giue vs spirits to pray aright Wee yéelde thée most humble and hearty thankes for all the mercies that euer thou hast bestowed vpon vs in body or minde in our selues or in ours priuate or common temporall or eternall Many and marueilous haue they béene and still are vpon vs yea eueu good Lord past finding out This day what thou hast done for vs which of vs knoweth or is able to expresse Father of heauen forgiue vs that wée cannot acknowledge them or praise thée for them as we ought and quicken vs in this duty more and more Pardon and forgiue vs whatsoeuer we haue offended thée withall this day or at any time either in thought word or déede euen our secret sinnes such as we haue committed and know not of remit them vnto vs for Christs sake change vs O Lord and we shall be changed create in vs cleane hearts and renue a right spirit within vs. Breake the strength of sin that would subdue vs more more And O mercifull Father so frame these hearts of ours within vs that we may more delight to liue according to thy will then to enioy all the world and all the pleasures therein Lay it often good Lord before our eyes by thy remembring Spirit that thou hast not breathed the breath of life into vs that we should liue as we list but that in holines and righteousnesse we should walke before thée all our daies Lay it before vs O Lord that the time will come when the Trumpet shall sound the dead shal rise and we euen we here met together at this time all and euery one of vs shal most assuredly stand before thy Judgement-seate with naked hearts with open and vnâ—olded consciences there to giue an account how and what we haue done Then shall all such as haue beléeued in Christ and truely serued thée in this life to their endlesse ioy heare that most comfortable voice of thine Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the Kingdome prepared for you But woe woe to all carelesse liuers in that day they shall drinke the wiue of the wrath of God be tormented in fire and briâ—stone before the holy Angels before the Lambe They shall haue no rest day nor night and the smoake of their torment shall ascend for euermore Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs knit these hearts of ours fast vnto thée and now while we haue time giue vs grace not onely rightly to thinke of these things but
hath béene long hammering and hazarding goods and lands and liberty and life and some pawne soule and all to haue this strange meane to make himselfe a great man and a rich man and a wise man and a cunning man and a man to be admired at for his rare skill and great wealth and hidden wisedome and while hée sought this stone of wisedome hée became a foole and a begger and a laughing-stocke to them that become the wiser to sée his ambition and folly But hadst thou this stone that could transinute Maluerne Hils into pure gold and all the Earth into siluer and couldest make thy selfe young againe and lusty and strong againe and haddest what thou couldest wish here in this life what were this vnto thée thou wert yet but a worldly wise man a worldly rich man a carnall man But the Phylosophers stone indéede thou hast not found which is to feare God and to imbrace his Word and to be content with a competent estate and therefore as impossible for thée to goe to heauen as a Cammell to goe thorow a needles eye But tush thou wilt say Abraham was rich Lot was rich Iob was rich and Salomon was rich and yet they were in Gods fauour and Gods elected ones True it is they were blessed of God in their riches because they knew God and beléeued his promises They held not their wealth but as meanes to relieue themselues and others but thou holdest thy wealth to get vaine-glory by them They were bountifull and liberall where néede required and had not the desire of money as thou that hast neuer enough and wilt depart from none that by rapine and wrong and oppression and bribery and sinne inrichest thy selfe They vsed their wealth as though they vsed it not in respect of themselues but to doe good to Gods children by it Who can but imagine that if the Phylosophers stone were to be contriued or compounded of the powder of poore mens hearts and of the bloud of their owne soules would not there be some of these stones composed by mercilesse men that hate to be reformed and say by all their cruelties daily practised that either there is not a God to recompence their wickednesse or else that God séeth not nor considereth their oppression and wrong These men yet prosper in the world and say that these things are theirs these things are Gods blessings these things are to be disposed after their own hearts lusts in vanity and pride in wantonnesse and sinne but to reléeue the necessity of the poore they haue no will the words of worldlings warrant them that they may doe with their owne what they list But the word of God cryeth wee to the rich many more to the hard-hearted and fast-handed rich Man because there is no loue in him or mercy or compassion in him the poore 〈◊〉 ous vnto him and the néedy or 〈◊〉 sed mans cry he cannot heare But God shall heare these afflicters of poore men hée shall finde out their hidden mucke and approue them lyers that say vnto the poore I haue not for you yea God shall heare them and afflict them euen he that raigneth of old shall cast them downe though they long flatter themselues in their prospority and say Wee will preuaile who is Lord ouer vs Let no childe of God therefore repine against these euill men that haue the world at will who are so fat and so well liking as they hold themselues in most happy case Let them alone their day is comming and their confusion commeth they shall be cut downe like grasse and wither as the gréen hearbe and at last be cast into the vnquenchable Furnace The Lord laugheth them to scorne while they laugh the Poore to scorne and the Lord out of Heauen thundereth terrour vnto them while they worke trouble and misery and vexation against the Just that dwell in â—â—se shew vpon the Earth whom yet tâ—…ord holdeth vnder his protection and guardeth so as the wicked preuaile no further against them then may make for the profit of their soules These oppressours and these mighty men that care not for God nor regard his Word nor feate his threates nor beléeue his promises they shall be surely confounded and perish when there shall be none to helpe they shall be consumed as the fat of Lambes euen with the Uiper of their own guilty consciences they shall be stung and consume away and come vnto a fearefull end I haue séene the wicked strong saith Dauid and spreading himselfe like a gréene Bay-trée but hée withered ere he was plucked vp and being plucked vp he is cast into the fire So that let these men of power that oppresse and pitty not the poore thinke what a goodly shew they make in the Stréetes in the Church and in the Markets and seates of Judgement how wonderfull they are in their own â—onceits by reason of their wealth and honour and glorious attite and how the poore fall at their féete and they cast by their countenance from beholding such wretched poore men and with-hold their hands from giuing and their tongues from comforting as if they themselues were and none else the substance and the poore but the shadowes of men But consider I say consider thy state and place and pompe and pride and vanity well and it shall all appeare but as a cloud that vanisheth away suddenly like a glistering bubble in the Sunne So thou goest to the graue in feare and the wormes prey vpon thée as thou didst on the poore for as thou piece-meale didst rob the poore by extortion and bribery so doe the wormes by little and little deuoure that proud carâ—eis that now as to aâ— Idoll men are forced to crouch and bow themselues Hast thou any thing rightly to boast of O thou foolish man that estéemest the more of thy selfe for thy wealth and great glory being the very meanes to make thée proud and thy pride to make thée despise thy Brethren and consequently God that made thée and them Were it not better for thée to become a Zacheus to restore all thou hast wrongfully and sinisterly gotten and of thy goods well gotten to giue halfe to the poore that thou maist say and be said to be rich in good things because thou doest good But to be rich and hoord it vp to be rich and doe no good is a badge of a man that shall neuer inioy the Kingdome of God Were it not better to wéepe here that wée may reioyce hereafter then to reioyce here and howle for euer But wéepe and howle and lament and be waile your selues yée rich men that haue no remorse for the paines and horror and anguish and torments endlesse shall be your reward if yée repent not and reforme your euill wayes Be no more stiffe-necked nor couetous nor disdainfull but liberall and humble and helpefull to the people of God that God in his mercy may make you rich in knowledge of good things rich in practice and
thy promise ease my burden giue me quiet and comfortable sléepe and refreshment to my restlesse body and to blesse all those good meanes which shall be prescribed vnto mée that they may tend to my cure and amendment for without thy blessing they are of no force and vertue that I with thy blessed Seruants Iob Lazarus Dauid and others hauing experience of thy might truth and mercy in my reliefe and amendment may with all ioy and loue praise thée truely serue thée and more confidently relye vpon thée all the dayes of my life yea and for the instruction and incouragement of the afflicted publish and declare the infinite and excéeding Power of thy might and compassion Uouchsafe O most gracious Father to incline thine eares to this mine humble Petition and to grant me all other things néedfull and necessary for my soule and body for thy deare Sonne Christ â—esus sake my onely Sauiour and Redéemer to whom with thy Maiesty and thy blessed Spirit thrée persons and one God al-powerfull and sufficient be ascribed and giuen all honour praise and glory now and alwayes Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be said at the point of Death O Lord God Almighty I assuring my selfe my time is come my soule waxeth heauy euen vnto death vouchsafe therefore O Lord to cast downe thine eyes vpon mée bedew my heart with the Oyle of thy grace forgiue mée my sinnes confirme my faith shorten my pangs of Death expell Sathan for thine infinite mercy helpe mée in this my last conflict looke vpon Jesus Christ thy Sonne my Sauiour and Redéemer into thy most blessed and gracious hands I commit my soule refuse it not O God but accept me for it is thy owne workemanship and let me depart in thy feare and rise againe in thy mercifull fauour that I may attaine and come to thy eternall and most wished ioyes of heauen for and through the merits of my blessed Sauiour Christ Jesus to whom with thée and the holy Ghost be all glory honour and praise for euermore Amen O Lord increase my Faith and receiue my soule A Confession of sinnes with a very necessary Prayer to be said of poore distressed men Morning and Euening and at all times else as they shall be thereunto moued O Father ful of mercy I yéeld vnto thée all praise and thanks for thy continual most swéet fauors and especiall graces bestowed frankely on me thy vnworthy Creature for Electing me to saluation for Creating me for Redéeming mée for Relieuing mee and for Preseruing me euermore Great is thy loue in Christ my Sauiour infinite thy Power vnspeakeable thy Mercies Relieue me alwayes and direct nice in all things let thy will be a Law vnto my will that my corrupt affections draw me not to consent againe to the vnsauoury lusts of my carnall will which to this day haâ—h ouer-much miscarryed mée into the vaine destres of this wicked Worlds pleasures the baits of that mortall aduersary deceiuing Sathan the defiled fruits of my sinnefull flesh and the cords whereby I haue beene drawne from vertue to vice from sanctity to sinne from light to darkenesse from Heauen to dreadfull Hell My sinnes O Lord haue beene many and continuall my seruing of thee cold and seldome O forgiue mee and let not my yeeres consume any longer in vanity let mine hands hate to handle vnholy things let my heart harbour no more the hatefull thoughts of vnrighteousnesse and let my soule be so seasoned with the spirituall dew of thy blessed Word that my Soule and Body being sanctified to euery good work I may cast off the vnprofitable works of darkenesse and onely cleaue to the true seruice of thée who art ful of grace and truth Be vnto me the sweet sauour of life vnto life be vnto me the light of truth that my life be not vnprofitable in good things nor my soule depriued of thy sacred spirit without which man is poore possessing all worldly riches base in most high worldly honour and dead liue he neuer so strongly in the flesh Therefore Father full of mercy be mercifull vnto mée full of power protect mée prouident relieue mee most sacred sanctifie me Let the eyes of thy fauour be alwayes on mée let the relieuing hand of thy helpe be alwayes toward mée be vnto mée a strong Castle a Restfull refuge a Fountaine of reliefe the Supply of my wants my Protector my Sauiour my Guide and my wisedome my will and my zeale Be vnto me my Jesus my Christ my Father my Physition my lot and my portion be vnto me all in all that nothing want in mée which thou likest nor any thing dwell in mée which thou mislâ—kest that I being a sanctified vessell of heauen may be a fit Mansion for thy sacred Maiesty to abide in by thy blessed Spirit Yéelde me O Lord yéelde me continuall shelter vnder thy relieuing wings foster mée with the hid treasures of thy loue and learne mée so to liue that I may euer liue in thée and thou in me make that vnion betwéene my will and thy Word that I will nothing but as thou hast willed and blot out all mine vnworthinesse and in stead thereof imprint the merits of thy Sonne in whom Lord Almighty let me be also partaker of the good things of this life let not pouerty vtterly depriue me of a competent estate here but blesse thou the workes of my hands prosper thou my endeuours and raise vp gracious meanes for me that I may liue not lack things necessary Thou art all sufficient and in thy gifts manifold thy loue is without limitation and thy will without contradiction what thou decréest shal stand and what thou willest shall come to passe Will thou therefore will thou thy creatures which thou hast ordained for the good and seruice of thy children â—o serue my vse that I and mine may be sustained by thy prouidence for what am I Lord that I should stand vpon mine owne power wit or policy which are weaknesse and foolishnesse before thée Thy Word preuaileth speake and all things in heauen and earth shall obey thée yea thine heauenly Angels shall be ministring Spirits for my good and all the fruits of the earth shall adde comfort to my wretched estate Good Father sanctifie mée within and without and fructifie my calling blesse my endeuours and teach me to vse my function iustly and as I ought that I may so prosper in this present life that I may truly pay all men their due and owe nothing to any man but good will a thing to mee impossible but to thee easie to bring to passe To thee therefore I referre mée wholly blesse me that being blessed I may prosper that prospering I may praise thée and in praising thée please thée and be here comforted of thée and liue righteously in thee through the merits of thy beloued Sonne Christ Jesus who hauing purchased all things for this life and in the life to come for me be with thée and