prosper in outward shew by callings or rather trades vnlawfull whereunto there can bee no lawfull calling neither is the vse lawfull as common professed Gamesters combined Cheaters and the like But leauing such to their owne wicked practises wherby they often deceiue the innocent and simple but most of all themselues I wish that other men that haue lawfull callings would consider the necessitie of Prayer to God for a blessing vpon their labours and endeauors not onely Mechanicks and such as liue by their handy-labours but from the highest to the lowest in Church or Common-wealth It is by God that Kings gouerne therefore in imitation of Dauid and Salomon they pray for and obtain wisdome rightly to gouerne their people and where good godly wise and religious Kings reigne there the people in imitation of them pray for their peace and safety and that God would furnish them with wise and religious Counsellors and that no Achitophell lurke wayting for mischiefe Counsellors of State haue an high and weighty calling so haue Iudges of the Land and other chiefe and eminent Magistrates deriued mediatly from God for as the King is called of none but immediatly by God to take chaâ—ge of his people So he imparts the power of the sword vnto his sub-ordinate Magistrats for the execution of Iustice functions of greater weight and moment then is vulgarly esteemed And therefore though I neither presume not neede to mooue them when or how to pray I only may remember them that as they haue highest functions they and we in their behalfes for them may pray for the due execution of them because their office and place is to correct the euill and to protect the good and that they mistake not as by sinister information they may and so erre vnwittingly Men in authoritie and in eminent places are chosen for their Vertues Wisdome Integritie and Iustice yet are they subiect to censure not onely of their Superiours and equals but often of most inferiours wherein happie are the innocent for GOD preserueth them who sitteth in the Throne that iudgeth right to whom whosoeuer prayeth as Dauid did shall finde that he will be a buckler vnto him his glorie and the lifter vp of his head the greatest honour that man in this life can receiue It may seeme needlesse to put such in minde of this holy dutie of prayer who haue the charge and ouersight of the Lords flocke for their calling is so diuine as they may not bee but diuinely indued with heauenly gifts abounding alwayes in the worke of the Lord whose labours are not in vaine blessed be God whom we ought to reuerence as the Ministers of God labouring our saluation and to pray for them Yet may it not bee superfluous to intimate to such as enter rashly into this holy function that it is fit for them to examine their owne inward hearts whether they came with a sincere Spirituall deuotion to edifie Gods Church or to make onely a carnall liuing vnder the name of a workeman in Gods haruest If he came in regard of the first Let him pray that God will blesse his labours if onely of the second Let him pray that God will enable him to discharge it and withall that GOD remit the euill thoughts of his heart for he entred not aright Such as liue by their labours bee they neuer so ingenious neuer so labourious neuer so cunning in their profession art or trade they must know and acknowledge that what they know or howsoeuer they may performe it it is but in part and weake in comparison of the perfection And that the knowledge and skill they haue is not theirs but giuen them by God as hee gaue to Tubalkaine the art of working in yron and to Iubal skill in musicke Yet some and they not of best perfection will attribute their knowledge to their owne naturall wit and inuention making an idol as it were of their owne braine neuer giuing the prayse to the true Giuer and that and the want of prayer is the cause that many Artists and others faile often-times of good successe of what they vndertake to performe Nothing can truely prosper without Gods blessing which cannot bee obtayned but by faithfull prayer Neither will God heare their prayers that deale vniustly in their callings taking neuer so great paynes rising early taking rest late sparing euen their food to increase their store it is all in vaine Howsoeuer some may doe waxe rich by dealing vniustly in weights measures false and counterfeit wares by swearing forswearing and lying the gaines they get are but froth and silth scraped out of the deuils dunghill that will quickly returne from whence it came and hee that so gets without repentance shall haue his portion with his like the Rich man not with Lazarus Happy therefore is he that labouâ—s in his calling diligently deales truely craues Gods blessing faithfully hee and onely he and his like haue rest and peace and plenty in their little truely gotten Such are they that eate the labours of their hands and art blessed Hee therefore that will bee happie and prosper in his calling let him often and faithfully call vpon the Name of the Lord to which purpose he may vse the prayer following or any other to the like purpose A Prayer that God will blesse and prosper our labours and indeuours in whatsoeuer calling O Heauenly Father great in Maiesty wise of Counsell absolute in Power and vnsearchable in Prouidence who of nothing hast made all things and in thy greatest Wisdome hast created man whom thou guidest gouernest and disposest according to thine owne Will and to whom thou hast appointed labour and trauaile whereby to get their reliefe yet not all in one manner of calling Gracious Father as I haue receiued life and being of thee and in thy prouidence a calling therein whereby to maintaine my being So giue a blessing vnto mee that I may haue true iudgement and an vpright heart to performe my dutie therein according to thy Will that my calling may prosper vnder my hands as thou blessedst Iaakob vnder Laban and Ioseph in Potiphers house So blesse me and my vocation that whatsoeuer I doe it may prosper I confesse louing Father that neither the most absolute art greatest naturall knowledge corporall or mentall diligence can auaile any thing without thy blessing By my naturall vnderstanding I can neither apprehend in my minde nor performe with my hands or wit the things that properly belong vnto my calling But it is thy onely Wisdome and of thine owne Fatherly fauour that I haue beene made in some measure capeable of that reason and iudgement to which I haue attained it is not in me as of mine owne power to performe the least part of that which necessarily belongeth vnto my vocation It is thine owne worke in me If thou shouldest deale with mee according to my deseruings thou mightest iustly depriue mee of that meane measure of knowledge that by thy fauour and aide
desired and a thousand discontents from which wee can neuer bee freed vntill wee come to our heauenly Country where Christ is ready to receiue vs where the holy Angels and Saints are euer expecting the increase of that heaueÌ„ly coÌ„pany whose ioy and happinesse increaseth by the increase of sanctified soules to accompanie them where the seruitude which in this life oppresseth vs shall bee turned into ioyfull libertie where we shall haue no more cause of mourning of sorrow or griefe God himselfe will wipe away our teares which the tribulations which we heere indure haue prouoked death shall haue no more power ouer vs wee shall haue there no night nor darkenesse we shall neede there neither sleepe nor corporall sustinance wee shall be free from sicknesse we shall feare there no enuie or malice of neighbours wee shall neither buy nor sell we shall neede neither gold nor siluer wee shall want no garments to adorne and couer our base bodies as heere wee need wee shall not be oppressed with the euills wherewith we are here infested But bee replenished and made rich in euery delightfull thing wee shall be there imbraced of our God as his deere Children our happinesse shall be so vnspeakeable as it cannot be manifested here what and how glorious it shall be there but we shal haue pleasure at Gods right hand for euermore If men therefore that now delight themselues in the multitude of their riches in their siluer and gold and boast themselues of the greatnesse largenesse of their possessions of their magnificent Mansions of their rare iewels the abundance of their plate and sumptuous feasts wherein they repose their felicitie and happinesse did duely consider the shortnesse and inconstancie of these deceiuing vâ—nities and other inferiours that delight themselues in all kindes of vices would but call themselues to minde what they lose by these false baytes of Sathan they would cast their most precious things ouer-boord into the sea of contempt as disdayning this worlds accounted best things and their dearest sinnes wherein they finde a kinde of counterfeit content and felicitie which shall bee futurely requited with future infelicitie and horrour Happie then shall that man bee euen heere seeme he neuer so vnhappie that for this pearle wil sell all his carnall and corporall delights to buy such a precious purchase and so permanent which hee shall hold to himselfe for euer freely without râ—nt without feare of forfeiture and without any other mans claime for euery man shall haue so competent a portion as none shall couet another mans The purchase in respect of the value is not deere And the Lord of whom he shall hold it will neuer expose his tennant nor exact any seruile seruice at his hands but such as shall bee vnto himselfe more glorious and sweet then the most honourable attendance of the greatest Potentate of the World Hee that hath a heart to conceiue the least portion of this vnexpressible happinesse let him seeke it while hee hath time let him aske Wisdome of him that giueth it freely let him heare and consider what comfortable words and serious promises are spoken of in the Scriptures touching this happinesse by the Prophets by CHRIST who is Truth it selfe and by his Apostles who beare witnesse of the same Truth that so being assâ—â—ed of the certaintie of this happinesse to come hee may labour to attaine it hungering and thirsting for it with continuall prayer to him that giues it Yours in Christian good will I. N. To the zealous Reader THinke not the Prayers contained in this little Booke too tedâ—oâ—s by reason of their length and proâ—ixitie for if thy heart be well prepared thou wilt thinke it no burden to thy tongue lips to speak vnto God Short prayers in deâ—d are most pleasing to them that vse prayers without â—eeling more for custome then comfort A truely 〈…〉 man is not onely not wearie in Prayer but the longer hee prayeth with the more feâ—uency he prayeth and the more ferueâ—t the more pleasing vnto God Pray therefore alwayes in all manner Prayer and Supplication in the 〈◊〉 as long as Gods holy Spirit 〈…〉 Spirit and watch thereunto with all perseuerance without wauering or wearinesse And so shall thy Prayers be acceptable to God and true comfort to thy selfe This is the way walk in it A HELPE to Happinesse A premeditation or consultation what are the best things men in this life should principally ayme at to attaine vnto highest happinesse which are hearing the Word and faithfull prayer EVery man by nature hath in himselfe a desire of the best things and in heart wisheth and endeauoureth to obtaine them wherin euery man hath his priuate and peculiar affection according to his inward qualification But as Nature and Grace mans corruption and Gods holy Spirit doe differ in euill and good so doe mens desires differ in choyce of things yet all seem to tend to the attaining of the things they conceiue to be best and they are such as may giue them the content they ayme at which they account happinesse And the most of men in stead of true happinesse desire and seeke things not only not best but meerely hurtfull things subiect â—o the outward senses which are often deceiuing taking that for best that is to bee abandoned and reiecting that which is to bee chiefly imbraced as truest happinesse The best things are such as the eye sees not the mouth tasteth not the handes hâ—ndle not neither are they subiect to natures vnderstanding For the things wee see touch or taste haue neither true goodnes such as to giue a man best content nor continuance to tarry with them and therfore are but shadowes of seeming happinesse which by experience are found fickle and vanishing Beautie Health of the body Riches Honour high Office Long life Delights Carnall pleasures Humane wisdom and Naturall Literature are things much esteemed But what happinesse is there in any of these Beautie decayes Health impayreth Riches vanish Honour is enuied Offices dangerous Long life a burden humane wisdome foolishnesse naturall Learning a puffe of vaine glory Wee may therefore conclude that if a man haue all the former seeming contentments yet may he not be happie for euery of them drawes with it as many disasters as variable accidents as many peeuish passions of the minde which draw him into as many calamities and miseries And therefore doth no truely wise man thinke that these are worthy the name of happinesse for then had many Heathens attained vnto that best But true happinesse consisteth onely in the enioying of Gods graces and Spirituall blessings which carnall men who enioy onely the former haue not But are possest with an erronious opinion of those things which seeme best rather by an implicite conceit following and allowing that for happinesse whiâ—h the most hold so and to attaine the same they vse all meanes labours and endlesse trauailes to get that which indeed is not of the world to be
infernall spirit that falsely pretendeth dominion in the earth and in the ayre and how he enuieth and opposeth as much as in him is euery good dutie and seruice which thy dearest children owe and endeauour to performe vnto thee and aboue all other duties tending to thine owne glory and mans saluation he seeketh to hinder none with more bitter violence with greater enuy more wicked and subtill wiles then this of diuine prayer and endeauoreth to draw thine owne dearest children into manifold sinnes But Lord as thou hast commaunded vs to call vpon thine holy Name to pray vnto thee for faith repentance obedience and other graces and blessings So according to thine holy ordinance I fall downe prostrate vpon the knees of mine vnfayned heart praying thee to prepare mee to this holy dutie thou sayest Open thy mouth and I will fill it O Lord open thou my mouth and fill it with heauenly words furnish and fill my heart with a strong powerful and liuely faith constant and firme obedience that without wauering and straying thoughts I may at this time make my prayers supplications vnto thee through thy Spirit And thou O inuincible Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah stand vp for me against my most mortall and most malicious enemy satan who among his own is strong and powerfull but where thou my Captaine Christ Iesus appearest he is weake he cannot enter the house where thou dwellest O fortifie therfore O Lord and barre vp the doore of my soule that hee enter not nor preuaile against it with the fire of his tentations Lord thou knowest hee is enemie to thee how much more vnto mee Hee tempted thee but preuayled not but his tentations flesh and blood cannot withstand Therefore arme thou me against him with heauenly weapons and hee shall neither stoppe nor hinder mine intended prayers as he desireth and laboureth to doe Let my spirit O Lord bee strongly assisted by thy Spirit and my prayers shall be faithfull my heart shall entertaine no wandering wauering vnholy or prophane thoughts euill cogitations or wicked motions though I bee an vnholy lumpe of my selfe by nature prompt and more ready to thinke or doe euill then good yet by thy Grace Satan shall slie sinne shall die and thy Spirit shall be liuely in mee and my prayers powerfull and effectuall to thee in my mediator Christ Iesus O let thy heauenly helpe Lord in Iesus Christ descend into all the powers and parts of my soule and body that in speaking vnto thee I may feele the worke and operation of thy Grace so sufficient in my heart that I may obtaine a victorious conquest ouer satan sinne and mine owne corruptions and bee assured through Christ Iesus my Sauiour to bee either freed from his preuayling tentations or to bee able to resist them that all my prayers at all times may bee such as thou maist Fatherly accept them in thy beloued Sonnes mediation for mee howsoeuer weake and imperfect they bee in respect of my selfe who am full of imperfections which I humbly pray thee to grant for his sake who hath conquered him that couets my finall destruction Amen Lord euermore strengthen and increase my faith in Iesus Christ. A meditation or motiue when wee are dull to pray a most necessary preparatiue to prayer AS it is my griefe O Lord to consider the hardnesse of my heart my faintnesse and dulnesse to pray So can I not but comfort my selfe in the consideration of thy great mercie towards mee in often remouing my dulnesse and in steed thereof to giue mee thy holy Spirit and by him power effectually to call vpon thy holy Name which effectuall fauour of thine I haue oftentimes found and felt when I haue had an inward motion tending to a desire to pray and yet no power or ablenesse to open my mouth or aptnesse to mooue my tongue which hath caused mee many times to thinke that thou my God hast beene angry with me and in that thou hast with-holden thy Grace so long that thou hadst forsaken me So that I haue beeâ—e infoâ—ced oftentimes to keepe silence when I would haue prayed and to close my lippes when I would haue spoken Thus good Father haue I beene many times as I am presently troubled and inwardly greeued euen in my soule at the hardnesse of my heart and dulnesse of my spirit And yet at length I haue felt as it were the fire of feruent zeale so inflaming my heart as I haue suddenly spoken with my tongue I haue prayed vnto thee and thou hast heard me This holy and heauenly worke of diuine Prayer I finde to bee farre from mine or the best mans owne power it is the onely worke of thine owne spirit which I haue many times formerly discerned for when I haue beene most dull and most vnapt to pray thou euen then euen in my silent musing and meditation hast enabled mee to breake forth into words through faith which haue pierced the very heauen of heauens euen vnto the Throne of thy great Maiesty where Christ my mediator stands at thy right hand presenting in my behalfe my weake Petitions euen in his owne name and obtayneth mine humble desires according to thine owne will which worketh betâ—er things for mee then I can wish or will I am not therefore discouraged good Father thogh I seeme dull in spirit and as it were cleane destitute of faith for I know thy guifts are without repentance and though I feele not this heauenly worke of thy holy Spirit at all times a like in mee yet doe I assure me hee is in mee and will worke againe the same heauenly effects for where thy blessed Spirit hath once taken habitation and once sanctified the soule that soule is so effectually possessed by that â—pirit and that Spirit so possesseth that soule that he may be assured neuer to bee absolutely dispossest of the same howsoeuer hee may for a time seeme absent It is but to mooue mee to seeke him finding the want of him to long for him Though therefore deare Father my heart bee hard by nature and my spirit dâ—ll to euery holy and heauenly dutie so that I cannot outwardly vtter what I inwardly concâ—iue and desire with such earnestnesse and feruencie of spirit as I would but weakly and coldly yet doe I assure my selfe that thou considerest mine inward desires and hearest my most secret sighes as plainely as if I cryed vocally and aloud vnto thee I cannot therefore but confideÌ„tly assure my selfe that according to thy promise thou wilt heare and consider that I hunger and thirst for thy Grace that my dulnesse being remooued I may conceiue in my heart and frame with my lippes mine humble Petitions which thou hast promised to heare especially such as thine owne Spirit composeth in mee Deny not therefore good Father thy holy Spirit to me that faithfully craue him onely to be enabled effectually to pray vnto thee for thou hearest not the best man nor the best maâ—s best prayers for his
or his prayers sake but for thy best beloued Soâ—nes sake and such onely prayers as proceed from thine owne Spirit Fulfill therefore good Father all my godly desires through Christ Iesus Amen Let vs pray that wee may pray A Prayer to God for the helpe of his holy Spirit and other blessings Spirituall and Corporall comprehending the most needfull blessings fit at all times for all men to bee desired GRacious Lord God and most louing in Iesus Christ thou hast of thine owne free fauour willed all men in all their troubles dangers and wants of Spirituall and corporall things to come vnto thee to aske in the Name of thy Sonne and they shall receiue whatsoeuer they faithfully pray for to seeke helpe of thee and they shall finde it in due and conuenient time to knocke and they shall be admitted into thy holy presence But good Father as thou hast thus commanded me worke in me power truely to performe what thou commandest to pray I am of my selfe dull to seeke I am by nature blinde to knock I am weake and therefore thou seemest to command things to mee impossible to be effectually performed say therefore vnto mee and performe it namely that thy Spirit may bee a sufficient helpe vnto me Thou well knowest mine insufficiencie Lord for I cannot of my selfe thinke a good thought how then can I of my selfe pray and obtaine seeke and finde what I want or knock and bee heard This sacred vertue none by nature hath it is of thine owne free Grace and they onely to whom thou vouchsafest thine owne Spirit to helpe their weakenesse such in deed can faithfully aske such can dilligently seeke and constantly knock they onely obtaine what they aske they finde what they seeke and they are heard and admitted into thy presence when they knock Oh! admit me Lord into the number of them to whom thou hast vouchsafed this blessed priuiledge for they belong onely to the truely faithfull to such as thou hast chosen of thine owne purpose whom thou hast made fit to aske apt to seeke and constant to knock Apt I am to aske many things because I want manie and I know thou art able and willing to grant euery good thing But I am ignorant so to aske as I may obtaine for I know not what to aske as I ought and therefore though I often aske I receiue not because I aske amisse tending my prayers rather to the obtayning of carnall then Spirituall and heauenly riches and finde them not because thou seest the granting of them rather hurtfull then profitable vnto me Send therefore deare Father send downe thine holy Spirit who onely knoweth how and for what to pray though I bee ignorant of hee knoweth thy will though I bee weake he is powerfull and though I be corrupt He is holy as thou art holy â—ee onely knoweth my wants and how they may bee supplied Therfore none but he Lord can make my Petitions effectuall none but he can speake for me with me and in me Good Father denie him not vnto me leaue mee not destitute of his helpe When he commeth he shall teach mee all things fit for mee to learne hee will prompt and tell mee what is fit for me to aske he will prepare my heart hee will rectifie mine affections he will abandon my darkenesse deadnesse and dulnesse he will vntie my faultring tongue and open my closed lippes hee will inlarge my knowledge and increase my faith If I pray without the helpe of this thy blessed Spirit I doe but vtter a bare voyce O Lord which cannot come into thy presence nor returne any comfort to mine owne soule but speaking in and by him I shall assuredly bee heard for when I pray sinceerely and effectually in deed it proceedeth not from mee but from thine owne Spirit that speaketh in mee and beareth the greatest burden of my prayers though the words passe thorow my lippes they are not mine but his Holy Father euer louing louing in Iesus Christ inkindle mine inward godly desires through the heauenly heate of that Sacred fire touch my tongue with that celestiall cole from thine Alter then shall my heart be prepared then shall my lippes be opened then shall I speake with my tongue according to the meaning of thine owne Spirit then shall mine vnderstanding be inlarged then shall I appâ—ehend thy mercie and fully enioy thy fauour in Christ my Redeemer then shall I finde and feele in my heart an assured testimony that my prayers are come vp into thy presence then shall my guilty conscience burdened with sinne be eased and all my wants spirituall and corporall outward and inward bee fully and timely supplied and all my feare bee remooued and all things howsoeuer seeming contrary shall worke together yea together to my perpetuall peace and comfort in thee Then shall I receiue in this corrupt and weake vessell of dust the Image of my Redeemer bring forth the fruits of his Kingdome and euen here feele and be assured to bee sealed vp in the number of thine Elect Saints and enioy the glorie of that future Kingdome in full which heere I partake and know but in part according to that measure of knowledge which it hath pleased thee through thy holy Spirit to reueale vnto mee in this mortality where yet I finde the merits of my Redeemer preuayling to the washing away of my sinnes I heare his voyce and heere desire to follow him and to obey thee in him submitting my selfe to vndergoe whatsoeuer crosse for his sake as hee endured the death of the Crosse for mine euermore looking for longing to be dissolued freed from this worlds vanities and to bee partaker of the glory which by his death hee hath purchased for all that in faith and holy desire Looke for his second comming for which all that are guided by that thy Sacred Spirit inwardly and dayly cry Come Lord Iesus come quickly and end these dayes of sinne In the meane time thou knowest louing Father that I am inforced to bee combred about manie things of faâ—re inferiour condition following the things of my worldly calling which much hinder mee in the performance of better things and which often hinder the liuely working of thy holy Spirit in me I am much and often oppressed with the strength of mine owne inherent corruption often assayled by that my deadly enemie Satan who seeketh by all meanes to stop the course of thy Spirit in mee But thy Grace is sufficient to preuent him for me Thou knowest also deare Father that I am much and often afflicted heere and stand subiect to many and seuerall tryals as to Sicknesse of the body danger of the decay and losse of my Limbes and the vertue and vse of my Senses vnto Pouertie Enimies and Persecution for the constant profession of thy sincere Religion vnder the burden and feare of these ineuitable miseries I should faint but that I know thee and whome thou hast sent Iesus Christ and haue the assistance
his rest without recommending himselfe to God his body his soule and all that hee possâ—ssâ—th for it is hee onely that keepeth Israel namely all that feare him hee is euer watchfull ouer his for he neuer slumbreth nor sleepeth To his power prouidence and protection then let vs recommend our selues confessing our sins and crauing pardon â—n the mâ—rits of his Sonne so shall we lay our selues downe in peace to rest and rise againe in safetie for the Lord himselfe will sustaine vs. A Prayer before a man goe to his nightly rest O God powerfull and louing in Iesus Christ I thanke thee that thou hast safely brought mee to the end of this day wherein I thankfully confesse I haue receiued at thy most bountiful hands through Christ many coÌ„fortable blessings not worthy of the least of them but rather of punishment for this dayes sinnes though committed in the light yet are they the works of darknes Good Father disperse dispell the darknesse of my sinning minde as a mist and send mee the light of thy sauing grace to enlighten mee now in the darknes of the night which with thee is as the noone day but to me it is fearefull without thee for that in it many dangers lye hidden to mee vnknowne and if I knew them vnable I am without thee to preuent the least of them But thou that hast made the blacke euening hast made also the bright morning and in both thou art a like watchfull ouer those that are thine I doe therefore humbly recommend my selfe my soule and my body into thy most powerfull protection The darknesse of the night doth as well declare thy glory as doth the clearest rest day Though to mee weake creature the night is most dangerous but that thou art my light and my saluation what or whom therefore need I to feare Thou art the strength of my life of whom or of what should I be afrayd Thou art to mee a strong rocke a house of saftie in the night for weake is the strength of the strongest materiall house vnable to preuent the dangers which thou permittest to befall many But Lord I trust not in houses of clay I trust in thee my strength to thee I come for succour defence this night withhold not thy helpe lest I perish in the darknesse I trust in thee let my darknesse be turned into light and let the light of thy sauing couÌ„tenance cheere mee in this nights darknesse for without thy fauor I liue in darknesse in the most cleare day light and hauing thee my light the darknesse of the night shall bee light vnto mee Lord abandon from my heart all vnholy thoughts this night and giue mee a watchful heart though my body sleepe mine eyes shut vp and all thy visible creatures all carnall obiects be taken from my sight let the eyes of mine vnderstanding be alwayes open to behold to my comfort thy brightnesse and glory The Heauens declare thy glory and the Firmament sheweth the work of thine hands these and all other thy creatures shew thy greatnes and the preseruation of them sheweth thy goodnes and mine owne continuall preseruation I cannot but to my shame and condemnation confesse to thy praise and glory Giue me therefore holy Father a thankfull heart for thy mercies this day past and a fearefull heart to offend thee sleeping by euill and corrupt dreames or waking by euill and vngodly thoughts and vnholy imaginations that sleeping and waking I may feele the working of thy Spirit either in holy Meditations or faithfull Prayers that euen as the day requireth mee not to bee idle in well performing my lawfull labours so I may not spende my night-wakings in idle fantasies but in holy thoughts And let mee not be ouercome as Samson with sleep who lost his strength least Sathan finding mee so sleeping should depriue me of my faith in thee which is my strength the strength of my life but that I may so watch as whether I wake I may wake to thee or whether I sleepe I may sleepe in thee Lord let me not sleepe in my sinnes â—et mee not carry the guilâ— of my transgressions past vnto my bed but through the merites of my Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus vouchsafe mee pardon for all my sinnes and be thou pleased to bee reconciled vnto mee through his Blood So will I lay mee downe to take my rest beseeching thee so to watch ouer mee that I may rest in peace and rise in peace and let the words of my mouth that I shall vtter this night and the meditations of my heart bee acceptable vnto thee O Lord my GOD my Strength and my Redeemer Amen Lord increase my Faith this night and confirme it in mee for euermore Amen A most comfortable incouragement to all poore and distressed men to vndergoe whatsoeuer trouble with patience by the example of most holy men that haue been in greatest affliction and may serue as a generall motiue to sundry seuerall Prayers following TRouble comprehendeth all the miseries that man endureth in this life aduersitie enemies sicknes pouertie persecution and all kindes of afflictions and sufferings infinite in number grieuous in qualitie and irksome to flesh and blood and befalleth on men diuersly either for the punishment of sinne past or for the preuenting of sinne to come God sendeth affliction vpon his owne dearest children to weine them from the loue of the vanities of the world that they perish not with the world But vnto the wicked as the beginning of their sorrowes and to terrifie his own from committing like sinnes by example of their punishments Gods children are forewarned that they must suffer He that will liue godly in Christ must suffer affliction yet by promise not aboue their strength for God putteth to his hand to make their burden light with a promise also of future comfort and though their troubles seeme great and grieuous faith in God maketh them more easie to them that suffer then they conceiue that beholde them with carnall eyes Great indeed are the troubles of the righteous but God deliuereth them out of all Sorrow heauinesse may endure for a night namely during this life but ioy commeth in the morning after this death and at the resurrection of the dead glory for euermore Troubles are but for a moment and then commeth comfort therfore doe the children of God with ioy and patience vndergoe them But contrary the comfort of the wicked is here short and momentany but thâ—ir future misery will be perpâ—tuall The patient suffering of the children of God is a manifest token of the righteous iudgement of God as Saint Paul saith to the Thessalonians whose patient suffering he commended imputing it a glory vnto them that they were accounted worthy of the kingdome of God for which they suffered Whereby it appeareth that euery suffering euen of the godly is not glorious such as befall them for their transgressions But if we liue godly in Christ and for that suffer
remember so consider what correction is fit for my reformation for I am thine and vnder thine owne hand doe with mee what it shall please thee onely strengthen my faith that whatsoeuer thou layest vpon mee I may still trust in thee Yet Lord let not thy corrections be ouersharpe or ouer heauie or ouerlong for mee to beare for I am weake And therefore as thou increasest thy corrections so increase my strength to beare them And as my sinnes by thy Grace shall diminish so Lord with-draw withhold thy correcting hand that in what measure soeuer my troubles and tryalls bee my faith may bee so confirmed as I may bee able to beare whatsoeuer thou shalt be pleased to lay vpon me Hetherunto good Father as I haue felt thy correcting rod so also I haue found thy supporting hand thou woundest and thou healest nay rather Lord thou curest the wounds which my selfe haue made for there is no sharper sword to my soule then mine owne sinne and thy chastisements do abate the edge thereof As thou knowest my sins Lord so thou knowest my troubles I am in danger deliuer me I am in want relieue mee I haue enemies defend mee In thee I trust for there is none besides thee whom I may trust Thou art that mighty Iehouah that omnipotent God of Hostes who hast infinite meanes to helpe releeue comfort and defend those that are thine though they bee beset with a thousand miseries with sicknes with pouertie with enemies with slaunder backbiting enuy malice strife of tongues imprisonment and with what else soeuer misery that Sathan can deuise against them thou hast yet more infinite meanes to deliuer them out of all And therfore Father if all troubles crosses trialls and callamities should meete and combine in one against me I shall not assisted by thy grace be ouermuch moaned or dismayd Though trouble and affliction bring sorrow and sorrow heauines for a time yet is my heart restored againe at length as it were to life againe by thy grace nay Lord I often find ioy in thy fauour euen in the midst of misery for as thou Lord continuest not long in thine anger so is not my heart in continuall heauinesse But as by thine holy aid I increase in faith euen so decreaseth my grief and sorrow and in my greatest troubles the apprehension of thy blessed presence with mee causeth my heart to leape for ioy within mee though by nature I am weake and prone to stoope and droope vnder the least affliction yet I finde thy grace euermore ready to support and strengthen me Therefore doe I yeeld thee all honor praise thanks together with my Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus and thy heauenly Spirit that euermore doth comfort me confirm my faith in thee Lord euermore encrease my Faith A Prayer for a man hindred by sicknesse or any kind of infirmity of his body or limbes whereby hee is disabled to follow and performe his lawfull calling fit especially for such as cannot maintaine their poore estates without performance of their honest labors O Great and most gracious Lord God mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ thou hast created me formed and framed me with all compleat limbs and lineaments in the beginning with all my senses perfect and aboue all with a measure of the knowledge of thee thy Christ wherein for that I haue not so walked as becommeth a sonne of so gracious and great a father but haue too much neglected my dutie and thankfulnesse erring estraying and ranging to and fro from one vanity and sin vnto another abusing al the parts and powers of my soule and body contrary to that light which thou hasâ— giuen me defiling my selfe and polluting those parts of my corrupt flesh which thou first createdst in mee clean and free from any of mine owne actuall pollutions Thou in great mercy hast inflicted these infirmities vpon my corporall parts to cure my diseased soule my spirituall and best part imprisoned inthrallâ—d in a most filthy and lothsome dungeon of dark and detestable impieties Lord I doe confesse my else worthy of greater punishments for my grieuous sinnes But thou art so mercifull and so commiserate a Father that as thou knowest the qualitie of my sinns so thou well knowest what quantity of correction may be sufficient to reforme me And therefore I doe wholly and in all submission commit my selfe vnto thy mercy knowing that thou hast power to mitigate or totally to remoue the paine and misery which my sinns haue iustly drawne downe vpon me Good Father remember that thou hast promised that whatsoeuer wee shall aske of thee in the name of thy beloued Sonne Christ and wauer not we shall receiue Lord I beleeue that thou art able to cure me of whatsoeuer infirmitie let not the weakenesse of my faith hinder thy good work vpon mee let not my former sinns preuent thy mercy for I constantly assure me that thou caÌ„st help me such is thy power and that thou either wilt helpe mee or so mitigate mine infirmities as I shall not onely bee able to beare them with patience but in a measure sufficiently follow my vocation such is thy mercy Father I haue a Mediatour with thee and such a mediator as is not ignorant of though neuer tainted or touched with any humane infirmitie he hath taken vpon him and satisfied for my sinnes and for my sinns I do acknowledge this mine infirmitie is fallen vpon mee Therefore Lord my sinnes being once sufficiently punished in him punish not me ouer-heauily for them againe I am vnfainedly sory for that I haue offended thee and doe heartily repent me of my sinnes and thou hast promised pardon to the penitent and mercy vnto such as are truly sory for their sinnes This being thine owne promise Lord and thou knowing my faith though weake and my repentance what should hinder thy mercies in forgiuing my sinns and my sinnes being forgiuen what should hinder that thy sweet saying Be thou whole and I shall be whole Lord as thou canst do all things by thy word without meanes so by blessing whatsoeuer meanes that which thou wilt shall bee done the very clay in the street openeth the eyes of the blinde thou giuing a blessing vnto it which in humane opinion should rather make blinde them that see But such is thy great power and vertue of thy word as things most contrary to humane reason obey thee and worke the effect wherunto thou appointest them as the cluster of figgs healed Hezekias and the washing in Iordan cured Naaman the Syrian of his leprosie Thou Lord art the great Phisician curing Phisicians that cannot cure themselus howe much lesse others without thee Therefore I know that nothing can hinder thy healing of mee but mine owne vnbeliefe sin which are the chiefe diseases of my soule that thus pollute my body so that soule and body being sicke I come an humble patient and petitioner desirous only to touch the hem of thy garmeÌ„t for
wheresoeuer wee are whatsoeuer wee doe wee are to haue our hearts exercised in godly meditation of the Word and inward prayer Bethel the house of God is euery where where the truly godly are Dauid found it euen in the wildernesse of Ziph in the holds of Engedi in Mâ—an and Gath. Hee found the Lord in these desolate places though hee were hated and persecuted driuen from place to place through the malice of his enemies he was neuer out of the presence of God in the Temple or in the field for where God is present there is his Temple In the Lyons Denne Daniel found him In the Furnace the three Children In the Dungion Ieremy In the Prison Peter vnder the stones Stephen yea euen in sinnefull Sodom Lot and Noah in the Floud Euery true Childe of God is alwayes in Gods house where Dauid desired Spiritually to dwell finding it true that God was with him euery whâ—re yet had hee an earnest desire to bee conuersant in that Temple where the Children of God did assemble to heare GOD speake and to speak vnto God He was their king yet did hee thinke it the greatest part of his dutie nay of his glorie and happinesse to accompany his subiects in the holy exercises of religion to goe before them to incourage them to call vpon and to serue the liuing God with them whereof being preuented by the malice and furie of his enemies he complayneth that he was left as a Pellican in the wildernesse and as an Owle in the Desert and thought the Sparrow more happie then hee because that silly bird could at all times resort vnto that holy place to which he could not come It is our dutie to frequent the materiall Temple to accompanie the congregation in pâ—aying vnto and praysing of God and attentiuely to heare his Word yet are not wee to hold it a necessitie to pray onely in the Temple as if God could or would not heare our prayers but in the Temple made with hands wherein God himselfe sayth he dwelleth not his dwelling is in the heauens and his footstoole is the earth and as long as wee are pilgrimes in the earth wee must seeke and we shall finde God in the earth by his presence and power Therefore as Moses put off his shooes when hee came into the presence of God because the place was holy whereon hee stood So must we put off all our vngodly affections and vnholy desires before we enter into his holy presence He teacheth vs by his Prophet Ieremy what it is to come prepared into the presence of God whether into the materiall Temple with the congregation to heare him speake vnto vs by his Word or to speake vnto him in publike or in any conuenient place in our priuate prayers Wee must amend and redresse our wayes our works then he will admit vs and entertaine vs into his holy presence It is not enough saith hâ— to crie and say The Temple the Temple of God this is the Temple of the Lord 〈◊〉 amend our wayes and our works to execute iudgement betweene a man and this neighbour not to oppresse the poore nor the stranger the fatherlesse nor the widdow not to shed innocent bloud nor to walke after other gods Tâ—is is the condition which God makes with them that shall dwell in his house that shall see his beauâ—ie and that are admitted into his presence and truely to visite his holy Temple but bars all those that trust in lying miracles and vaine words and vanities that cannot profit they that steale murder commit adultery idolatrie such as sweare fasty the coueteous oppressors vniust enuious malicious drunkards and the like if these stand in this house the materiall Temple God will haue no respect vnto their prayers finding them hypocrites that worke wickednesse in secret coueting to couer it with a forged shew of cunning with the congregation into the Temple of God which by their presence make it a denne of theeues For what are Hypocrites but theeues shewing themselues to bee religious and are not obedient and are not thanâ—efull and are not faithfull and are not These are they that rather coÌ„mit sacriledge theÌ„ offer acceptable Sacrifice they visite not the Temple but rather defile it with their couÌ„terfeit holines in shew seeming saints in deed enemies to Christ and Christians They can crie the Temple of God the Temple of God They can say Preach Preach and seeme neuer satisfied with Sermons The desire is good if the heart bee good for a true and sincere desire of the heart to heare the Word cannot but please God for such are approoued to be of the family and house of God Such shall dwell in his Tabernacle and rest vpon his Holy Hill for they are of the generation of the righteous But there is a generation saith Salomon that are pure in their owne conceits and yet are not washed from their filthinesse They follow the deuices of their their owne hearts and assume vnto themselues a peculiar manner of seruing of God not according to the sincere truth These mens sacrifices God abhorreth but he that hath innocent hands and a pure heart that hath not lift vp his hand vnto vanitie nor sworne deceitfully he comming into the house of God in priuate or in publike petitions shall receiue a blessing from the Lord vnderstanding by hearing God speake vnto him and bee heard speaking vnto God it is contrary with the hypocrites they may heare and not vnderstand they may pray but GOD will not heare them They cryed sayth Dauid but there was none to â—aue them eueÌ„ vnto the Lord â—ut he answered them not God heareth not hypocrites â—hough they come neere him with their lips in a counterfeit zeale when yet their hearts are prophane To come into the marteriall Temple is required of all to accompanie the congregation in the diuine seruice of the liuing God Princes and greatest persons As Dauid a King who was glad and reioyced when the people sayd vnto him Come let vs goe into the house of the Lord where in deed his owne desire waâ— to dwell To dwell is not to come for a spirt and away but hiâ— desire was to make there hâ—â— continuall abode all the daieâ— of his life It may bee conceiued by â— naturall man and one thâ—â— builds his happinesse vpoâ— the pleasures of this life thâ—â— it was not wisdome in Dauiâ— to desire to dwell in the meâ—lancholy Temple continually but it may be sayd vnto that carnallist Thou deemest it to bee a place of sadnesse and melancholly which administreth to the true Children of God the most absolute ioy mirth gladnesse and consolation and finally truest happinesse Carnall men in deed delight in vaine aspects and shewes moouing to sinne in Stages Theaters and the like and thinke them therewith much cheered and in short time therewith wearied But the Temple of God the heauenly Theatre that is most glorious by the Diuine presence onely seene by the sanctified minde