confesse with a heauy heart O Lord that I grow but poorely in the power and might of grace Lord quicken mee Lord abound thy graces in mee Ioh. 6.12 thou that madest bread grow double thy graces in mee as that oile increased 2 King 4.6 Lord increase the oile of thy graces within mee Ioh. 2.7 as those water pots were filled so fill my soule with thy goodnesse euen vp to the brim and let my cup runne ouer with thine euer-flowing mercies that hereby I may bee made more able to serue thee in holinesse and also more assured of euerlasting happinesse in Christ Iesus to whom thou gauest the Spirit without measure to whom with thee and thy holy Spirit bee all glorie returned now and for euermore Amen A Prayer for perseuerance in Grace MY most deare gracious GOD many are the troubles of the righteous and those that truely profess thy feare Name haue man and deuill against them for Cain wil hate Abel for good and Ismael mock Isaac for God thus they persecuted the Lord Iesus and the Prophets O Lord hereupon I pray thee giue mee magnanimity and courage that nothing may draw me from thy law thy loue thy feare grant I may hold the faith to the death Reuel 2.10 that so I may haue a crowne of life for hee that endureth to the end Matth. 10.22 the same shall be saued but reuolters and back-sliders shall goe vnder the earth and great shall be their torment in hell Giue me to look vpon the constancy and courage of thy holy Martyrs who went as cheerefully to the flame as to a delicate feast my blessed Sauiour suffered ten thousand times more for mee than I can doe for him therefore grant that I may lose my life rather than thy loue for hee that will saue his life shall lose it and hee that loseth his life for thy Names sake shall euerlastingly saue it Come then torment come torture come what will come come welcome nothing shal separate me from my Lord Iesus O Lord giue me to this end to bee sincere in thy seruice to be increased in thy graces to be inflamed with the loue of thy Law and zeale of thy glory to consider the disgrace that is done to thy truth by reuolting and the danger of back-sliding and the incomparable glory laid vp in heauen for those that defend thy faith with their dearest blood that so I may neuer bee daunted at whatsoeuer torment but passe couragiously and cheerefully through the same to life and glory euerlasting in the might and merit of the Lord Iesus thy Sonne my Sauiour Amen A Prayer for preparation to the Sacrament O Almighty and most gracious Lord God great is thy mercy and rare is thy loue to mortal and miserable man in that thou hast not onely giuen him thy Word to beget faith but also the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord Iesus to seal him to life and saluation good Lord I pray thee so addresse my soule and prepare my heart that I may receiue the same thy holy and heauenly ordinance to my comfort not condemnation 1 Cor. 11.29 for whosoeuer eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth drinketh his own condemnation therefore holy Father grant I may neuer come to this thy holy table without the wedding garment without holy and due preparation prepare then deare God my heart hereunto especially in these six and seuerall Graces First I beseech thee grant that I may come with knowledge knowledge of my self knowledge of my blessed Sauiour Iesus knowledge of this most reuerend ordinance and of the holy vse of the same that I may graciously and wisely distinguish that bread Sacramentall from bread at home it prefiguring the Lord Iesus that Bread of my soule that came from heauen Secondly grant I may come with humiliation of soule for the Lords breakings heale none but the broken heart contrite soule If I cannot roar for my sinnes that killed the Lord Iesus the roarings of the Lord Iesus cannot ease me Againe prepare me by faith to rest vpon thy Son for mercy and forgiuenesse If my heart be thus humbled for sin what shall hinder me to beleeue for thy grace in Christ Iesus is giuen only to the humble therfore grant as my mouth eateth the bread my soule by faith answerably may bee comforted by the merits of Christ Iesus Fourthly I beseech thee to giue me sound repentance to die to sinne to liue to my blessed Redeemer in holinesse and righteousness all the daies of my life Fiftly giue mee a thankfull heart to thy sweet Maiesty for the redemption of my poore soule in the merits of thy Sonne Lastly giue me loue to my brethren as thou hast pardoned my sins so giue mee thy grace that I may freely and heartily pardon those that haue offended me and wish the holy Sacrament as effectuall vnto them as mine owne soule Lord grant vnto me all these my requests for the honor of thy great name in the worthy merits of the Lord Iesus Amen A Prayer for the Gospels continuance MOst holy heauenly Lord God of all thy mercies vouchsafed to thy Church on earth none like that of thy word therefore it is said by thine Apostle shewing the prerogatiue of the Iew aboue the Gentile that to them were committed the oracles Rom. 3.2 of God as though thy Law was the principall of thy blessings their preferments I pray thee then good Father continue thy Word Sacraments vnto vs of this nation and our posterities after vs till Iesus come in the clouds to iudgement To this end Lord giue vs that wee may walk in the light while the light thus clearely shineth vnto vs Reuel 2.5 lest for our contempt and prophaneness thy candlestick be remoued from vs whatsoeuer iudgement thou wilt please to afflict thy Church withall Lord saue vs from the famine of thy Word the famine of bread brings but a bodily death but that of thy Word brings perpetuall destruction to body and soule O Lord also continue good and faithfull Pastors Teachers of thy Flocke grant a bright shining Lampe to euery candlesticke and an able instructor to euery Congregation that many hereby may bee drawen from darknes to light from the power of sinne and Sathan to the knowledge and saluation of thee O God for thy mercies sake in the Lord Iesus Amen A Prayer for preparation to Death O Lord God most mighty and glorious seeing I am of a mortall condition and the time of my death vncertaine and as I am found in death so shall I bee in iudgement if in sin impenitent condemned then for euer if vigilant in godlines then imbraced to heauenly saluation Good Lord grant I may prepare for this day and so liue here as I may liue with thee in heauen for euer 1 Cor. 15.56 Death is a Scorpion and the sting of this Scorpion is sin now if the sting of a scorpion be
to preserue mee from vaine and vngodly society and let mee frequent euermore the company of thy saints temper mine affections moderate mine vnruly lust giue mee alwaies to consider that no drunkard shall inherit the kingdome of heauen Also that vnsober persons are vnable to resist the deuill but hee workes his will and pleasure vpon them preserue me then my God from this common capitall nationall euill Lord giue mee a wise and moderate vse of thy creatures let them not bee snares vnto me but refreshers of me not destroyers but supporters of me to thy glory and the eternall saluation of my poore soule in the Lord Iesus Amen A Prayer against murther ALmightie and most mercifull heauenly Father I thy poore seruant begge from thy throne of grace grace strength against all sinnes and transgressions whatsoeuer especially against those crying sins spoken of in thy word such as wil neuer leaue roaring in thine eares till thy iudgments bee â—hundred against the committers of them one wherof is murther a fearefull and diabolicall sinne for the deuill was a murtherer from the beginning Lord saue me from taking away the name or life of any man grant I may not harbour malice in mine heart 1 Iohn 3.15 for he that hateth his brother in his heart is a manslayer giue mee to looke vpon thy iudgments executed vpon such malefactors as Cain Ahab others that I may neuer offend in the same Lord giue mee loue patience meekenesse that I may in the moderation of my passions and affections preserue my soule from this griesly euill for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer against Hypocrisie O Most gracious merciful God thy holy word hath reuealed vnto mee thy heauie vengeance against such as are dissemblers with thee that deepe is their portion in hell therefore is it said Giue him his portion with hypocrites O my God I craue hereupon thy mercifull assistance that I may take heed of hypocrisie that I may walke in vprightnesse with thee that I may with Nathaniel John 1.47 be found a true Israelite in whom is no guile Lord grant in all good duties I may seeke thy glory and pleasure of thy will not mine own ends or glory of mine owne name O Lord saue mee from pride one maine cause of this foule and foolish sinne and giue mee sincerity for that man shall be aduanced to thy holy hill that speaketh the truth without hypocrisie and professeth it from the heart Lord let not the marks of this Pharisaical euill be fouÌ„d in me as pride malicious censuring and the like O Lord though my graces be small yet let them be true and then the gates of hel shal not preuaile against mee to this end I beseech thee vouchsafe mee a large and plentifull measure of humility that so I may in vprightnesse serue thee in this life and hereby bee sealed vp to thy glory euerlasting in that blessed life to come for Iesus Christ his sake my only Sauiour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer against Reuenge MOst louing and gracious GOD thy holy word hath taught mee Rom. 12.19 that vengeance is thine thou wilt repay all offered wrongs whatsoeuer whereupon I beseech thee O Lord in all abuses and oppressions giue mee patience and meekenesse of spirit Rom. 12.17 that I may not render euil for euil that I may not seeke maliciously to reuenge those that haue done wrong and iniury vnto me to doe good for good Publicanes can do the same to doe euill for euill that is an act of flesh and blood to doe euill for good is egregious vngodlines but to doe good against euill this is onely proper to the righteous when others curse let mee blesse let me pray when others persecute as the first Martyr in the Gospell prayed for them that stoned him Aâ—â—â— â— 6â— and my blessed Sauiour for those that mocked and killed him It is not possible but offences will come man is so vicious so malicious How often shall I then forgiue seuen times No Lord more than so seuenty times seuen Matth. 18.34 hee that would not forgiue his brother the pence his pounds yea talents were exacted from him to the vttermost farthing in prison If I cannot heartily forgiue my brother how shall I looke for forgiuenes of sinnes at thy hands Therfore deare God grant mee thy grace to conquer malicious and reuengefull thoughts and possesse mee with the spirit of meeknes and loue to my present peace to mine euerlasting saluation in and through my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer against Theft O LORD and heauenly Father whereas thine expresse commandment is Exod. 20.15 that I shall not steale O Lord giue me thy fear that I may take heed that I oppresse not my brother by vniust and deceitfull dealing nor take away by violence that which is his but as I would be done vnto so let me euermore do for this is the Law and the Prophets Matth. 7.12 As I desire heartily thy grace to walke before thee in holinesse so also I beseech thee giue mee in all things to carry my selfe to my neighbour in righteousnes without shall be dogs murtherers theeues these wretched persons shall for euermore be expelled and excluded thy kingdome of glorie and who shall dwell in thy holy Hill Psal 15.3 euen he that hath not done euil to his neighbour as in body and name so in goods and estate A little that the righteous hath being well got is better than great riches of the vngodly gotten by fraud violence wrong Giue me to know that I must one day giue an account of my stewardship Luke 16.2 how I haue gotten my goods as well as how I haue spent them Therefore I beseech thee giue me thy feare and grace to preserue my soule from these worldly and wicked errors here and giue me euerlasting saluation when I die in the Lord Iesus that freely died for me Amen A Prayer against Swearing MOST Mighty most glorious and most mercifull Lord God great thou art in thy maiesty wondrous in thy power who is able to resist thy wrath O Lord euermore defend mee from taking thy great and mighty name in vaine Exod. 20.7 for thou wilt not hold him guiltlesse that taketh thy Name in vain Heauy are thy iudgements denounced against this sinne thy curse shall not depart from the house of the swearer Therefore my good God grant I may neuer bee found culpable of this sinne but giue me thy grace that I may serue thee in feare reioyce before thee in reuerence all the daies of my life Lord let mee neuer thinke or speake of thy great and holy Name but with all feare respect reuerence trembling Giue me also thy feare and grace that I may not endure thy Name to bee dishonoured of others but let it bee a Simeons Sword to pierce my soule Luke 2.35 and giue mee euermore to reprooue and condemne it Lord heare helpe and
man Lord giue mee to bee innocent from all manner of offence innocent to thee innocent to man Psal 37.38 O that I could keepe innocency and doe the thing that is right this would bring me peace at the last Lord grant I may wrong no man neither in body goods nor name grant I may say with Samuel 1 Sam. 12.3 whose Oxe haue I bribed whose Asse haue I taken whom haue I done wrong to giue mee to doe good to all hurt to none giue me to be wise as the Serpent but innocent as the Doue that liuing harmlesly in this world I may liue happily in the next for the merits sake of the Lord Iesus Amen A Praier for mercy and compassion O Lord my GOD most mighty and glorious seeing thou hast commanded mee to weepe with them that weepe Rom. 12.15 and being also the godly practise of my Sauiour for he wept ouer Ierusalem and lamented their destruction grant good Lord I may compassionate the present miseries of thy Church abroad that my heart may melt within me to see thy vine thus stroyed and thy Church thus trodden down by the enemies of thy truth O Lord Psal 80.14 betimes look downe from heauen and visite this vine though thou sufferest it to bee pruned Lord let it neuer bee extinguished I further intreat thee O my God that I may not only mourne ouer the afflictions of my brethren but likewise bee pricked in heart at the falls and sinnes of thy people and let not this my pitty bee in word and shew alone but in deed and in truth to pull them out of their impiety and succour them in their aduersitie to couer the naked to feed the hungry to visit the sicke and imprisoned Matth. 25. to comfort and releeue them if this pitty dwelleth not in me no piety can possesse mee Lord grant I may bee thus mercifull as thou my heauenly Father art mercifull giue mee with thy holy Apostle to cry out Who is afflicted and I mourne not Keepe me from mercilesnesse O Lord of thy goodnesse for iudgement shall bee ministred without mercie Iam. 2.13 to him that hath shewed no mercie Thus I pray thee vouchsafe me a tender heart for thy glory the good of the afflicted and the eternall saluation of my poore soule in the merits of the Lord Iesus Amen A Prayer for peace of Conscience O Almighty and most mercifull God I beseech thee to remoue from my soule all desperate feares all vile corruptions and giue me that great and heauenly blessing namely Prou. The peace of Conscience which passeth all vnderstanding which is a most comfortable and continuall feast And seeing this peace of conscience ariseth from thy reconcilement remission of sins and assurance of life euerlasting good Lord I pray thee be at peace with mee through the Lord Iesus let all my sins in the bloody passions of thy Sonne bee discharged and let my name be found written in the Booke of life And giue me further I beseech thee good Father to preserue this peace of conscience and that by auoiding all but especially knowen sinnes by doing euery duty vprightly though not perfectly and by renewing my humiliation repentance more throughly Lord grant I may not sinne against the light of conscience that I may neuer defile and wound my conscience by wilfull offending that faith and holinesse may dwell therein O helpe me good Lord Act. 4.16 thus to keepe a cleare conscience both toward thee and man Saue mee my God from a benummed conscience a desperate conscience an erroneous conscience a polluted conscience and giue me a pure conscience a peaceable conscience a good conscience that this may minister cōfort vnto me in the greatest afflictions strongest temptations at the houre of death at the day of iudgement and bee a sure seale to my soule of life and saluation euerlasting in the merits of the Lord Iesus Amen A Prayer for ioy in the holy Ghost MOST deare and gracious GOD for as much as thy diuine consolation is a sure marke and euidence of thy loue for life for thy blessed Apostle affirmeth Rom. 14.17 that thy kingdome standeth in righteousnes peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Lord of thy goodnesse fill mine heart with this thy heauenly ioy let it not be hidden vnto mee as it is vnto those that are lost but I pray thee shed abroad this thy loue in mine heart this sweet and heauenly ioy is thine owne wine laid vp in thine owne seller for thine owne spouse the wicked of the world shall neuer taste thereof This ioy the wise men found when they found the Lord Iesus Matth. 2.10 for they reioyced with an exceeding great ioy This ioy was in the blessed Virgin Luke 1.47 for her spirit reioyced in Christ her Sauiour So good Lord distill some sauing drops of this water of life into my thirsting soule Lord shew me this thy glory Psal 4 6. some craue worldly goods and riches doe imbrace but Lord grant mee thy countenance thy fauour and thy grace for thou thereby shalt make my heart more ioyfull and more glad than they that of their corne and wine full great increase haue had O Lord to this end increase my faith inflame my zeale better my obedience mortifie my corruptions sanctifie my affections that so I may euermore reioyce vnder the hope of saluation in the LORD IESVS yea here and in heauen for euer Amen A Prayer for increase of Grace MOst blessed and heauenly Father I read in thy holy word That thy Kingdome is like a graine of Mustard seede Luk. 13.19 a little seede yet in time it sendeth forth a mightie stalke that the birds of the aire may nestle therein thy Maiestie intimating therby the smalnesse of Grace at the first and the great increase by degrees in the hearts of thy children at last now good Father I pray thee increase thy graces in mee for I may say with that poore beleeuer in the Gospel Lord I beleeue but helpe mine vnbeleefe Lord giue mee to increase in faith in knowledge in obedience in all goodnesse that so I going on from strength to strength may in the end enioy thy face in Sion That tree that groweth not is dead if I grow not better and better and bring not forth more fruit in mine old age I cannot proue my selfe an impe of the Lord Iesus And as it fareth with the naturall birth so doth it also with the spirituall a child new born is weak and small yet in time it groweth to be a tall and strong man so the soule at first is weake and feeble in grace as smoake to fire as a bruised reed to a sturdie oake of Lebanon but in time the conuert groweth to be a perfect man in the Lord Iesus therefore my gracious GOD grant I may as a new borne babe 1 Pet. 2.2 desire the sincere milke of the word that I may grow thereby I