thee nor presume to sinne vpon expectation of thy pardon what greater abuse of thy mercie than this can there be Rom. 2.4 thy mercy should lead mee from my sins vnto repentance not from repentance vnto sinne Lord with griefe of heart I doe mournfully confesse before thee that I haue too too much presumed in bold and wilful sinning against thee vpon hope of pardon from thee Lord humble me more and more for this my most dangerous sinne and offence and let it not bee mee but sinne in me whensoeuer I sin against thee LORD aboue all things saue me from an impudent and shamelesse soule saue mee from sinning against thee with so high an hand in so great a measure that my chiefest care being to master sinne in this life it may bee thy good will and pleasure to free mee from damnation in the world to come for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer against the Plague O Lord my God most mighty and glorious whereas thy gracious promise is Psal 91.4.7 to saue mee from plague and pestilence to hide mee vnder thy wings and to keep me safe vnder thy feathers thousands shall fall on my right hand and ten thousand on my left and no plague shall come neere my dwelling Lord for thy mercies sake saue me from this wrath of thine and euermore defend mee And heauenly Father I pray thee to this end purge my soule from the leprosie of sinne the cause of all thy iudgments present and to come this fearfull affliction neuer commeth but alwaies some or other sin procuring it foure great and grieuous plagues thou sentest against the house of Israel foure lamentable sinnes procuring the same as bellicheare Num. 11. Num. 16. Num. 25. 2 Sam. 24. contempt of thy Ministers fornicating and putting confidence in the arme of flesh for victorie O Lord preserue mee and this whole nation from these and al other transgressions that so iniquity may neuer be our destruction Thus I most humbly beseech thee saue me from sins iudgments in this life from euerlasting damnation in the world to come for Iesus sake Amen A Prayer against the Sword ALmighty and most merciful Father great are thy iudgments and fearefull thy punishments appointed for sinners yea for thine owne people if they sinne against thee though thou wilt in the Lord IESVS spare them in thine euerlasting loue from an euerlasting damnation yet if they bee bold to sinne thou wilt lash them with a temporary correction as thou didst threaten thine owne people Israel Ezek. 21.4 that thou wouldest draw thy Sword and cut off the righteous with the wicked O Lord I beseech thee saue me from this fearfull miserie let the sword of thy law pierce and humble mee that the sword of thy iudgments may neuer ouertake me I blesse thee O Lord God for peace in our borders wee haue no howling in our gates no complaining in our streets Psal 144.14 no leading into captiuity no defiling of Temple and City blessed are the people that are so happy are they that haue thee O Lord for their God O Lord God giue mee and the whole nation grace to repent with Nineve of all our sinnes Iâ—â— 3.10 that so wee may neuer bee deuoured by the sword but in peace if it bee meet for thy glory and the good of thy church we may passe to peace and glory euerlasting Amen A Prayer against Famine O Most mighty and most glorious Lord God I beseech thee saue me from miserie and destruction which iustly for my sinnes might come vpon me O Lord in particular I pray thee for thy mercies sake preserue me from famine and perishing by hunger that ruefull iudgment and of all deaths the most miserable vnder the Sun for none like staruing to death Lord grant I may daily dye vnto my sinnes that for them I may neuer in this terrible iudgment die how heauie is it to my soule the remembrance of that distressed woman 2 Kings 6.28 who in that famine of Samaria complained to her King That her neighbour shared with her in the eating of her child but she could not againe haue part with her neighbour a lamentable complaint a distresse most miserable O Lord of thy goodnes saue mee and this nation from the same And as we would be spared from these thy dismall iudgments so Lord grant wee may labor to be freed from our wicked and abominable transgressions wee haue abused thy creatures vnto vanity and thy comfortable mercies vnto riot and excesse it were iust with thee to fulfill that heauy sentence vpon vs Hee that hath not it shall bee taken away that which he hath he that hath not to a good and holy vse it shall bee taken away that which he hath O Lord haue mercy vpon mee and deliuer me from famine in this life and destruction in the next to come for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for grace in generall O Eternall GOD and my most mercifull heauenly Father who art Author and finisher of my faith from whom euery good and perfect gift descendeth I most humbly intreat thee to sanctifie my soule with thy holy and heauenly grace especially with those excellent gifts of thy holy Spirit spoken of by thine holy Apostle Peter proper onely to thine elect and chosen as faith vertue knowledge patience temperance godlines brotherly kindnesse loue for if these things be in me and abound I shall neuer fall into the ditch of hell Lord let me not do mine own wil but giue mee alwaies to bee guided by the motions of thine holy Spirit into all truth let it bee my meat and drinke the obedience of thy word grant I may finde out that old and good way Ier. 6.16 the way of thy feare and grace that walking in it constantly and conscionably I may finde euerlasting peace and rest to my soule O Lord giue me to loath sinne as the greatest enemy of my soule for the wages of sinne is death but the gift of thee O my God is eternall life Rom. 6.23 through my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ If I bee not borne twice better it had beene for mee neuer to haue beene borne except I repent I perish Luke 13.3 Lord who shall dwell in thy holy Tabernacle euen hee that leadeth an incorrupt life for no vncleane thing shall enter into thy kingdome vnsanctified vnsaued and without holinesse I can neuer see thee O God therefore I beseech thine holy and heauenly maiesty to mortifie sinne in mine earthly members and to renew mee in soule and body giue me O my God a new minde new will new affections new thoughts new words new waies all new for he that is a member of the Lord Iesus is thus become a new creature O Lord euermore delight my soule with holinesse and let thy feare preserue mee alwaies from euill thus giue mee I pray thee to liue purely in some good measure in this life that I
enlargement of thy kingdome all the world thorow in despight of Turke and Pope all malignant enemies of the same continue it where it is where it is not Lord of thy goodnes plant thy heauenly power though wee haue failed and grieuously offended yet correct vs thou in thy mercy and giue vs not ouer a prey vnto their teeth whose tender mercies are cruell downe with Dagon and set vp the glorious Gospell of Christ Iesus among the sonnes of men Now O Lord thy Church is heauily assaulted I beseech thee fight out al our battels and euermore defend vs let them not say There there so would we haue it neither let them say We haue deuoured them let them not mocke and vaunt Where is now their God they cry maliciously Downe with them Psal 137.7 down with them euen to the ground but Lord better than thy Church should bee extinguished the whole army of Sathan to bee confounded If it may bee Lord conuert the enemies of thy Church if that cannot bee Lord confound them Thus Lord I pray thee powerfully protect and graciously direct thy Church on earth and make it one day triumphant in heauen for Iesus sake alone in whom thou art well pleased Amen A Prayer for the conuersion of the Iew. MOst gracious and blessed heauenly Father there was a time wherein thou in thy mercy didst vouchsafe thy Law to Israel all other nations of the world depriued of the same and now is the time wherein they for their contempt of thy Sonne Iesus Christ are depriued of thy Gospell and the Gentiles of the world enlightened with the same and there will come a time wherein Iew and Gentile shall bee of one fold and faith and that is when the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled O Lord pitty the fall of thy first chosen and let not thine anger bee euer against them turne againe O God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and visit them with thy saluation that are now scattered and a despised people ouer the face of the whole earth O Lord conuert them and bring them to the faith of the Lord Iesus dispell the mist of ignorance from their eies and let not such multitudes goe to perdition for Abraham thy seruants sake looke vpon the desolate progeny And seeing contempt and vnbeleefe cast them off Rom. 11.2 Lord giue vs to beleeue obey thy truth left wee also bee cast out and expelled if thou sparedst not the naturall Oliue how wilt thou spare the wilde branch Lord grant that Iew and Gentile may all the world thorow oyne in one faith and truth to thy glory and the saluation of innumerable soules in the LORD IESVS Amen A Morning Prayer for a family O Lord our GOD most mighty glorious and in mercy abundantly gracious wee thy seruants desire this morning and euermore to blesse thy holy and heauenly Name for all thy blessed mercies first and last afforded vs in the Lord Iesus In particular wee blesse thee for thy safe protection and prouidence ouer vs this last night past in keeping vs aliue of thy goodnesse and mercy to this houre day O Lord as we liue by thee giue vs all thy grace to liue vnto thee and to the praise of thy blessed Name And we intreat thy Maiesty to blesse vs this day and euermore to come Lord saue vs from bodily perils and that by the watch of thy good Angels saue vs especially O Lord from sinning against thee and that by the Power and residence of grace in our soules thus blesse vs in body and soule in this life that so wee may haue the surer hope of euerlasting saluation in the life to come And good Father grant that wee may labour and striue against all corruption and sin but most especially against those euils that haue most defiled our soules let vs flie all occasions of them and vse all holy helps against them and in the might and strength of thine all sufficient grace vouchsafe vs daily victory ouer them O that wee could say with thy feruant Paul I thanke my God 1 Cor. 15. concerning sinne I die daily And good Lord so bless vs with thy grace that we may cheerefully and constantly goe on in the performance of all such duties as thou hast appointed for vs to walk in grant that the concupiscence of the eie 1 Ioh. 2.16 the concupiscence of the flesh the pride of life may neuer corrupt and defile vs but let euermore our conuersations be holy and heauenly keepe vs also from idlenesse grant wee may bee alwaies sound exercised in the duties of our calling either generall or particular that when our Lord and Master commeth being found thus vigilant wee may enter with him into the ioy of the Lord. Thus gracious God giue vs to walke in holinesse and vprightnes before thee that so we may both saue our owne soules and those that are about vs for Iesus Christ his sake thy Sonne our Sauiour Amen An Euening Praier for a Family MOST deare and gracious Lord God wee thy humble seruants most earnestly desire thy mercy and compassion vpon vs in pardoning all our sins originall actuall and in giuing vs grace for the preuention of them in time to come and so sanctifie euery of vs that all our ends may be peace O Lord to this end giue vs we pray thee to bee broken in heart for breaking thy commandements smite our sinfull soules for offending thee that so wee may come within compasse of healing and refreshing for none but the laden can be eased and the wearied onely shall bee refreshed And good Father seeing thou hast promised saluation to the humble grant that by faith wee may comfortably rest vpon thy promise for mercy and forgiuenesse and also by power of the same faith liue vnto the praise of thee our Redeemer for euermore Vouchsafe O Lord vnto vs all those blessed graces of thy blessed Spirit onely proper to thine elect and chosen as knowledge vertue faith patience temperance godlines brotherly kindnesse loue if these things be in vs and abound wee shall neuer fall into the ditch of hell Lord turne out sinne and Sathan for wee confesse that wee are out of measure sinfull sinfull by thought sinfull by word sinfull by worke Lord bee merciful vnto vs thus miserable sinners and good Lord let thine holy Spirit make his residence in vs that in this new righteousnes wee shall labour and learne to doe in that wee may saue all our poore soules euerlastingly aliue O Lord blesse with vs thy Church vniuersall Lord saue it from ouerthrow and deliuer it from the present calamity more especially wee beseech thy mercies vpon this nation whereof wee are members this sinfull nation laden with transgression iniquity sinne Lord heale the sores of it pardon the sinnes of it giue it the repentance of Nineue from the Kings person to the begger amongst vs that so thy iudgements may be diuerted from vs. Lord herein wee pray thee blesse the principall Member ouer vs CHARLES by thy good prouidence King of great Britaine France and Ireland giue him a long and lasting life on earth and an euerlasting in heauen blesse our most noble and gracious Queene the Prince and Princesse Palatine and their Princely Issue blesse all the true hearted Nobility all the reuerend Clergie the ciuill Magistracy Gentry Commonalty all Schooles of learning the two Vniuersities all afflicted persons bodily or soulely tormented O Lord deliuer Israel from all their sinnes and sorrowes And good LORD blesse all that are deare and neare in nature vnto vs as father mother brother sister husband wife child LORD giue vs all thy grace in this life thy saluation for euer in heauen And for our selues againe we beseech thee this night to blesse vs in body in soule in basket and store within doores without Lord saue vs from theeues from windes from fire from all dangers and giue vs a sweet rest and comfortable sleepe and for our soules saue them good Lord from sinfull lusts and Sathans assaults that so we being preserued from sin and danger in this life we may not faile of thy mercifull saluation in the end and that for Iesus Christ his sake Amen FINIS
THE PRISONERS PRAYERS OR An Heauenly helpe to DEVOTION Composed by H. Greenwood Preacher of the Word of God 1 THESS 5.17 Pray continually LONDON Printed by I. H. for Henry Bell. 1628. To the most Illustrious and right Vertuous Princesse the Lady KATHERINE Duchesse of Buckingham her grace all honor and grace in this life and eternall glorie in the life to come RIght Gracious Lady the counsell of the holy Apostle is Iam. 5.13 That if any bee afflicted let him pray I haue not onely in my long and great afflictions in some measure herein delightfully obeyed but also composed some few yet comfortable praiers for the benefit of the Church of God Now considering with my selfe to whom I should commend the same I thought vpon your Grace as most worthy of the Dedication both in regard of your late and happy call from darknesse to light as also for your constant conscionable maintenance of holy and wholesome praiers in your family to the glory of the Almighty and the daily supporting and refreshing of your owne soule Now that your Grace may grow and goe on in grace and in the sauing knowledge of the Lord Iesus let mee intreat you at your best leasure to peruse this poore yet profitable present the Lord giue you grace to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ Iesus made you free Gal. 5.1 and bee not intangled againe with the yoke of bondage And as your Grace by Gods especiall mercy hath tasted of the true and heauenly refreshing the Lord make you an happy and heauenly Instrument of the conuersion of many great Ones among vs so shall you shine as a starre in the firmament of saluation Thus Andrew drew on Peter and Philip Nathaniel thus doing greater shall your reward be in heauen And because euery thing is sanctified by the Word and Prayer 1 Tim. 4.5 the Lord giue you grace to reuerence the one and highly respect the other that your soule may be preserued aliue in the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus to life and glory euerlasting Psal 45.10 If you thus forget your fathers house then shall the heauenly King and earthly too take pleasure in your beauty The Psalmist setting forth the glory of that famous Ierusalem speaketh thus Psal 87.3 Glorious things are spoken of thee thou City of God so without flattery I auerre it good things are spoken of thee O thou hopefull and happy Daughter of God Great is the outward glory cast vpon your Grace I pray God with all my heart that the commendation of the Kings daughter may be yours That you may bee found also all glorious within Psal 45.13 Now the Lords best blessings euermore attend you and the Lord prosper the person of your dearest friend the most Noble and Illustrious DVKE with grace and honour and all his lawfull attempts with good successe and victory for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Your Graces most humbly obseruant in the Lord Iesus H. Greenewood From his Majesties Prison of the Fleet this 13 of Nouemb. 1627. A Catalogue of the Praiers contained in this Booke with a note of the Pages where they may bee found A Praier against sinne and Sathan in generall Page 1 A prayer against the worlds illusions Page 5 A Prayer against Pride Page 7 A Praier against Enuy Page 9 A Praier against Adultery Page 12 A Praier against Couetousnesse Page 15 A Praier against hardnesse of heart Page 18 A Praier against Drunkennesse Page 21 A prayer against Murther Page 25 A Praier against Hypocrisie Page 27 A Praier against Reuenge Page 31 A Praier against Theft Page 35 A Praier against Swearing Page 38 A Praier against Periury Page 41 A Praier against Security Page 43 A Praier against Desperation Page 46 A Praier against Heresie Page 50 A Praier against Lying Page 54 A Praier against Sabbath breaking Page 56 A Praier against idle words Page 60 A Praier against euill thoughts Page 63 A Praier against disobedience to Parents Page 67 A Praier against blasphemy against the holy Ghost Page 69 A Praier against Presumption Page 73 A Praier against the Plague Page 77 A Praier against the Sword Page 80 A Praier against Famine Page 83 A Praier for grace in generall Page 87 A Praier for knowledge Page 92 A Praier for Humiliation Page 96 A Praier for Faith Page 99 A Praier for obedience Page 105 A Praier for Zeale Page 109 A Praier for brotherly loue Page 112 A Praier for Humility Page 116 A Praier for Patience Page 120 A Praier for Innocency Page 124 A Praier for mercy and compassion Page 126 A Praier for peace of Conscience Page 130 A Praier for ioy in the Holy Ghost Page 134 A Praier for increase of Grace Page 138 A Praier for perseuerance in Grace Page 143 A Praier for preparation to the Sacrament Page 147 A Praier for the Gospels continuance Page 153 A Praier for preparation to Death Page 156 A Praier for a woman in Child-birth Page 160 A Praier after Child-birth Page 164 A Praier for the Traueller by land Page 167 A Praier for the Traueller by sea Page 170 A Praier for the Church Page 174 A Praier for the conuersion of the Iew. Page 179 A Morning Praier for a family Page 183 An Euening Praier for a Family Page 188 The Prisoners Prayers A Prayer against sin and Sathan in generall MOST blessed and glorious LORD GOD I beseech thee of thine infinite mercies be pitifully mercifull vnto mee poore miserable and most corrupted sinner O Lord cast out sinne and Sathan let a greater than Sathan enter euen thine holy and good Spirit and binde that enemie of thy glory my saluation that he may preuaile no longer against mee Thus thou didst deale O my gracious God most mercifully with Mary Magdalene â—uk 8.2 casting seuen Deuils out of her Good Father I confesse that seuenty times seuen doe grieue my poore and pensiue soule for so many foule lusts so many vncleane Deuils Lord in thy might and mercy giue mee to preuaile against them What will sinne afford mee but shame in this world and confusion in the world to come Lord therfore strengthen mee against these corruptions and chiefest enemies of my soule let mee be as willing euermore to put a Toad into my mouth as to suffer a sinne to rest and reigne in my soule O that my wayes were made so direct that I might neuer sinne more Lord heare my mournfull prayers and let these my cries come vp vnto thee for Iesus Christs sake thy Sonne my Sauiour Amen A Prayer against the worlds illusions MOst gracious and blessed heauenly Father forasmuch as thou hast taught mee that I must vse the world as not abusing it and seeing also I finde my selfe by nature too too prone and ready to set my delight on things below and to giue more affection to things seene than things vnseene O Lord who art the only sanctifier of thine elect saue mee from immoderate loue