CERTAINE Short PRAYERS and MEDITATIONS vpon the Lords Prayer and the Ten Commandements With other particular Prayers for seuerall purposes Written by the right Worshipfull Sir IAMES PERROTT Knight LONDON Printed by Aug. Mathewes for ROBERT SVVAYNE and are to be sold at the Signe of the Bible at Britaines Burse 1630. TO THE Right Honorable WILLIAM Earle of Pembrooke Lord high Steward of his Maiesties Houshold one of the noble Order of the Garter and of his Majesties Honourable Priuy Councell Chauncellor of the Vn uersitie of Oxenford Right Honourable IT may seeme strange vnto some that J being no professed Diuine should presume to present vnto the viewe and verdict of curious Censurers a Treatise of praiers It being a subiect fittest for deepe grounded Divines to deale withall And asmuch that J should Dedicate these my Mediâ—ations vnto your Lordship For the first my excuse is that I offer them not for instruction of the iudicious but for the vse of them that are as weake in Iudgement as I am and to others of meaner capacitie if any such there bee For my addresse of them to your Honour J haue no other excuse or defence but that which is best knowne vnto your Honor to whom I am more obliged then my weake Abilities can giue hopes to yeelde other recompence then by Prayer vnto God that your proceedings may prosper by pietie and be rewarded with eternall felicitie Your Lordships most bounden to be at command'ment IAMES PERROT The Preface to the insuing Praiers and Meditations THE Reader may easily finde the Writers weakenesse yet in reading perchance he may finde sowmewhat though it be but simple that may informe his conscience and stirre vp his minde to better meditations By vsing that is good our inclinations grow to greater goodnes as by the bad that that which is euil becoms worse In this small and slender Tract of mine of Prayers on the Lords Prayer and on the Decalogue or Tenne Commandements The first containing the rule of all our Prayers deliuered by our Lord and Sauiour who taught vs how to whom and for what to pray This Doctrine being the fountaine and so from it by vs there may flow stremes of pious Prayers though our cesternes are but shallow yet the conduit or rather Conductor of them may thereby water the fields of our soules and hearts with piety felicitie fertilnesse that so our selues and our posterities may receiue encrease of all spirituall temporal blessings The true practise of Prayer is as the Path-way to heauen the guide of our life on earth the remoouers of such Remoras and rubbs as doe hinder vs here and doe stay vs from eternall happinesse hereafter For our true beliefe credendorum of things to bee beleeued which we call the Creede is Regula via vitae the rule and way of life So the Decalogue or ten CoÌ„mandements being regula faciendorum the rule of things to be done is vita viae the life of this way both these making vp by feruent frequent and faithfull prayers our progression vnto eternall life This as a gate the other as goles vnto eternall glory betwixt these two Prayers are as the Sayles the holy Spirit as the wings that carries vs thorow the troblesome waues of this world and beareth vs vp in all tentations afflictions and calamities In the vse of Prayers as of the other parts of pietie Humility is the ground Faith the foundation Petition and thankesgiuing the walles eleuated Meditations the roofe knowledge ioyned with conscience the props and pillars So is holy prayer made scala caeli the ladder that leades vs to asscend vnto heauen Prayer then being the precious balme of Gilead that cures the festring sores of our sinnes I craue pardon to publish these my weake conceptions of Prayers and meditations Which proceedeth from no other purpose but to helpe the weake and ignorant in their well disposed devotions To such I say it is not enough to pray much long and often except it bee done with a regenerat a deuout and an vnderstaÌ„ding hart although the saying was ancient Breuis oratio penetrat caelum short Praier pierceth the heauens Yet it is neither the length nor shortnes of our prayer that mooues God vnto mercy vnlesse they be ioyned with a godly and conscionable vse of them in clensing and casting away our corruptions distractions dulnesse coldnesse carnal cares vaine imaginations which presse vpon vs in the time of Prayer when it is not the voyce or the sound of words but the holy affection and pure desires of the heart with the assistance of Gods holy spirit that makes our prayers vnto God profitable and powerfull as the olde verse hath it Non vox sed votum non cordula musica sed cor Non clamans sed amans cantat in ore Dei Which signifieth thus much Not voyce but vowes not musick but the heart Not crâ—es but loue sweet songs to God impart If any man question why so many treatises of prayer being published my selfe or any other should set foorth any more therein yet I conceiue it is with the readers and specially with the vsers and learners of Prayers as with Phisitians who seeking simples to cure their Patients goe not onely to one garden medow or fielde to gather them but vnto many for in some places there grows of one kind in some another sort So in the relish vse choise of prayers which is that herbe of grace Some desire such as are short and pithy others make vse of them that are of good length waight Besides this consideration though I acknowledge there are diuers excellent treatises of Prayers yet I haue seldome seene any that haue closly and punctually handled the Petitions of the Lords Prayer and the parts of the Ten CoÌ„mandements with a strict mixture of Doctrinall Meditations in the forme and to be vsed as praiers containing therein their contents which I haue indeauoured to doe according to my weake skill and iudgement First for mine owne exercise and then for the use of such as shal neede and desire it as much as I doe Which I haue done the rather because I see how feareful dangerous and common a thing it is to finde such multitudes of people who vsing only the Lords Prayer or reading the Tenne CoÌ„mandements with out premeditation or knowledge what either of them contains do yot think that they haue sufficiently serued God when they know little or vse not that aright they shold know and doe better To knowe much and doe little doth little auaile in diuine or humane things to doe much to know little proues vnprofitable if not hurtfull Yet not to finde fault with others but to come home vnto my selfe for these my Meditations such as they are I leaue them with the readers and vsers of them to the direction of Gods holy Spirit The Contents of the Prayers and Meditations contained in this Booke SEuerall Prayers vpon the seuerall Petitions of
times of Peace and Prosperity whilest our Protestant Religion the best because the truest is enioyed and established might by Gods permission and all helping power in these serene and and Sunshining dayes before there come more darkenesse and danger cast off carelessenes of planting Truth supplanting Errors practising of Piety preseruing the publique peace and safetie reforming of things amisse in the Church Common-weale which cannot be done withour more diligence and vigilancie courage prouidence and care especially by setting the chief watchmen in the Church and State more closely to their Stations the one by Doctrine Discipline and Diligence the other by Counsell and CircuÌ„spection to prevent perills and to procure the peace of this our Sion And that this may bee performed I conclude with the ensuing Prayer that being the subiect of this small preceding Treatise A Prayer for the peace and prosperitie of the Kings Maiestie his Dominions and Subiects MOst mighty gracious and merciful God who hast made dost gouerne and preserue the Heauens the Earth and all the Creatures therein coÌ„tained Be mercifull vnto vs most miserable and sinnefull creatures who were ordained for thy seruice and yet doe nothing more or so much as commit sins against thy supâ—came Majestie Wee haue from the highest to the lowest beene polluted with originall sinnes Our great our grieuous and our out-crying sinnes call vnto thee for our destruction and damnanation But because thy Mercy is aboue all thy other workes which yet exceede in greatnesse Wee prostrate our selues before thy Throne of grace beseeching thee for thy Sonnes sake and for thine owne goodnesse sake to saue vs poore sinners who desire to doe thee seruice though hitherto wee haue gone astray and walked in the waies of wickednesse Thou hast planted thy glorious Gospell of truth heere amongst vs we haue professed but wee haue not practised it as we should yet because it is the planting of thine own right hand suffer not our sinnes to pluck vp the same but rather supplant our sinnes and thereby strengthen our states and soules To this end good and gracious God looke vpon thy seruant our Soueraign whom thou hast set ouer vs inlighten his royall heart with thy sauing Graces of knowledg piety couÌ„sell care prouidence for preseruation and aduancement of thy truth and of the people that thou hast committed to his charge Giue him Zeale fortitude power peace and protection against all that are Enemies to true Religion and to those Realmes thou hast appointed him to rule Giue him a discerning heart to discouer and shun all dangers and all that bee dangerous to him and to his Dominions vnite his heart in loue to his people and them in loyalty to him O LORD preserue thy people vnder him in peace Protect them from forrayne power and both him and them from home-bred conspiracies and all other mischieuous machinations Make the Prince his Magistrates and People zealous of thy seruice and glory constant and carefull in keeping thy Commandements couragious for defence of thy Trueth and their Countrey Conscionable and Charitable That so they may bee still thy faithfull seruants and thou their mercifull God So shall thy glorious Gospell and the light of thy Trueth euer remaine amongst vs vntill the comming of thy Sonne Christ Iesus that thou mayest raigne ouer vs and we remaine with thee in eternall Blisse Amen Amen Good Lord. A Prayer for our afflicted Brethren the Protestants beyond the Seas MOst gracious and merciful Father who vsest to chasten thy Children and to correct whom thou louest Haue mercy on those that suffer for mainetenance of thy trueth Their sinnes haue deserued thy punishments and yet we that haue sinned as much if not more haue not suffered so much for our sinnes Thou hast sent thy scourge to let them see their sinnes Thou hast not gone out with their hostes but hast scattered them O Lord yet heale and binde vp their bones which thou hast broken gather them together and now thou hast taught the Princes that their power is in vaine without thy protection and the people that there is no confidence in the arme of flesh giue theÌ„ yet confidence in thy fauour patience in aduersity courage to fight for thy Trueth comfort amidst their calamities O Lord thou doest permit thy people Israel many times after thy long sufferings and their great sinnes to bee ouercome by the Iebusites Amalachites and Philistims The Arke was taken and they cried out the glory of Israel was departed yet thou didst send helpe when there was no helpe nor hope in Man O Lord thou hast executed Iustice and Iudgement yet leaue not thine to their oppressors and when thou hast dealt with them according to thy mercy teach them thy Statutes that they may know thy Testimonies It is time O Lord for thee to worke for the persecutors of the Trueth haue destroyed thy Law The Kings of the earth band themselues and the Princes are assembled together against the Lord and his annointed O yet thou Lord of Hostes breake their bandes in sunder and cast away their cordes And though the waters rage and be troubled yet let thy seruants finde and say the Lord of hostes is with them and the God of Iacob is their refuge And that when thy seruants our persecuted brethren haue receiued comfort and deliuerance they may reioyce in thy mercies sing praises vnto thee and call vnto their neighbors to behold the wonderfull workes thou hast done for them to make it knowen vnto the world It is thou that makest wars to cease It is thou that hast broken the bowe cuttest the speare and burnest the Chatiot in sunder So we pray for them and for one another Beseeching thee to graunt vs these requests For thy Sonnes sake our Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer to bee vsed on the Sabbath Day O Lord God of infinite power and prouidence who after thy euer to bee admired and praised worke of creating this World didst ordaine one day of seauen to bee kept as a Sabboth not only to be free from labour and trauell but to be wholly dedicated and kept holy for thy seruice in Prayers and praises to be offered vnto thy Maiestie as an incense and oblation of thankefull acknowledgement of thy most great might and mercies in creating this world and ordayning man to gouerne all creatures therein conteyned in conseruing all these thy Creatures for his vse and him for thy seruice in giuing him light of Knowledge and vnderstanding of thy Word and Commandement and of the things hee should doe or leaue vndone As we receiue these thy blessings and benefits so specially on this day which thou hast selected for thy seruice O Lord settle vs vnto it fit vs for it and grant grace not only vnto vs heere present but to the publicke state and to particular persons in other places not only to rest from labours on this day but to shun sinne to communicate with thy seruants in thy seruice to
care and conscience to thy honour and our owne saluation thorow Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy Neighbour THou O Lord that art the God of truth and teachest vs to maintaine truth forbiddest vs to beare false witnesse to the losse discredit hinderance or shame of our Neighbours that wee neither slaunder them with our tongs accuse them by oath or word wrongfully thinke or iudge euill of theÌ„ without cause Deceiue them by flatery or Hipocrysie backebite any nor boulster any bad causes by countenance cunning or giue sodaine and rash beliefe vnto raysers of sedition or euill reports that wee teach not false doctrine in matters of faith nor violate faith or promise with any man to their delusion and deceipt but that wee may avoyde the perill and punishment of breaking this Commandement Teach vs most iust and wise GOD to make Conscience of our words aswell as our workes to avoide slaunder false accusation to speake the truth to bee sincere and single-hearted when we come or are called to giue testimonie of the truth without respect of persons profit friendship enuy reuenge or reward that wee may knowe and consider we are alwayes in thy presence and vnder thy power to bee punished if wee transgreâ—se these thy holy precept That wee may say and sweare the truth in all things since all that we say sweare or doe is in thy sight and subiect to thy seuere and vncorrupted Iudgement Graunt and giue vs grace by thy power to doe this for thy glory and our owne good thou gracious God to whom be praise for euer and euer Amen Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours house his Wife his seruant c. SInce thou our Soueraign Lord and God hast giuen vs all that wee haue knowest what is needfull for vs to haue and keepest for vs that thou hast giuen Thou coÌ„mandest we should subdue our lustfull thoughts and desires of coueting that which is not ours and bee content with that thou art pleased to make ours O make vs most mercifull God moderate in desiring sober in vsing and abstinent from concupiscence and coveting those things that belong not vnto vs Suffer not our wanton eyes to wander our corrupt hearts to couet or our loose thoughts to bee led with inticements of worldly vaine and transitory things which may make vs to cover any thing that thou hast given and doth belong to others and not vnto our selues whether it be the persons estates lives liberties seruices or duties of our Neighbours be they our Superiors equals or inferiors O Lord God holy and iust to this ende clense our Conseiences restraine our appetites and evil affections chastise our inordinate desires subdue our lustfull inflammations Conquer our vnbridled corruptions Send thy holy and heauenly spirit into our hearts to take the possession and protection of our poore sinnefull soules that wee be not seduced but may be kept as cleaue vessels sanctified for thy seruice to keepe this and all thy CoÌ„mandements for thy mercies sake for thy merits thorough the Mediation of thy Son our Lord and Sauiour O LORD if our Houses be but poore let vs not covet to make them better by seeking that which belongs not vnto vs or by getting that which we cannot lawfully haue If our store be small suffer vs not to seeke that which wee should not seeke either our Neighbours Wiues by Adultery inticements or carnall prouocations or any of his goods by oppression deceit or any kinde of corruption his seruants by fraude flattery or false dealing But doe thou gracious God settle our soules to contentment with what wee haue or may obtaine by industry voyde of iniury by lawefull meanes without vnlawfull practises with conscience moderation and sobrietie that shunning to seeke and covet that which is not ours we may heere faithfully serue thee set foorth thy glory and heereafter receiue eternall happinesse with thee in Heauen Amen My Mementoes which I should make to my selfe 1 THe consideration and acknowledgement of my sinnes generall and particular by prayer and by repentance 2 The Examination of my life how it hath beene lead either in goodnesse or in loosenesse of liuing 3 Whether I haue amended or continued in any known grosse sinnes 4 What they are how they haue their beginning growth 5 What resistance I haue made and what successe that hath had 6 Whether I haue repelled those sinnes and whether they haue againe returned 7 What hopes or means I haue to banish those or the like sinnes 8 Whether my prayers befainter or stroÌ„ger more frequent or seldomer then they haue beene 9 Whether my distractions doubts and dulnesse in the time of prayer remaines or be remooued 10 Whether those Passions which were more preualent in me are yet pacified 11 Whether I cannot yet heartily forgiue and pray for those that haue iniured mee 12 Whether my want of Loue and Charitie to my Neighbours be yet amended 13 Whether I haue ioyned Faith with Examination and that with Repentance There is no day wherein I liue but I should call my selfe to accompt and bestow some time in examination of my self to see and search which of these or the like sinnes I haue committed which of them I haue corrected what yet remaines to bee done that I may no more doe them And if I can fall to these remembrances by exact repetition I shall sooner come to repentance If I cannot altogeter remember them yet I must first reade them in these or the like lines then answere to euery Article as if I were examined before the strickest Iudge for any capitall offence or else I may be assured I shall come at last before a seuere and all-seeing Iudge who knowes and will iudge all when I haue done this I must goe to prayer for the remoouing of these euills the continuance in doing better Or if I finde I cannot doe it I must still pray that I may bee able to doe it These Meditations and the Prayers following them being the best Medicines to cure all the maladies of my minde and soule for which end and to attaine to that holy and happy ende It is necessarie that I should frame vnto my selfe if not vnto others some short supplications as thâ—se following or the like A Prayer for performance of the former Points O Lord GOD my sinnes are great grieuous many and infinit in number they are so many that I cannot reckon or remember them Those that I doe remember which are the fewest in comparison of the rest I haue not confessed or acknowledged as I should doe I haue not examined my sinnefull life that I haue ledde nor sought amendment of the same I haue not looked into the beginning or grouth of my sinnes nor how I haue resisted the same or if at any time I haue done it yet I haue fallen more backewards then I went forwards My hope of resistance is nothing but in thy power and mercy O therefore