oflife with such sincerity and bolduesse as neither feare nor affection may hinder the same that we thy flocke may fructifie and increase our knowledge in Faith thereby and more and more desire to féede at that the Table of thy Word and be filled open my heart as thou didst Lidyacs that I may attend with diligence to the preaching of thy Word Send forth store of Labourers O good Lord into thy Haruest which by their carefull paines and faithfull endeuours may gather the dispersed sheaues of thy Church into thy celestiall Barne and banish from this wholesome worke all such as are not sent from thée and come not truly to edifie but rather to reape their owne gaine making as it were maâ—… chandise of thy holy Word teaching in stead of truth the tradition of men Lord vouchsafe grace into the lips of those that are now prepared to declare thy will grace into our hearts that are present to heare it that they by teaching truely and we by following effectually may through Christ obtaine of thée remission of our sinnes past light instead of darkenesse peace for trouble and heauenly happinesse in stead of worldly felicitie that tasting the swéetnesse of celestiall comfort we may despise terrestriall and after this life ended enioy the perfect ioyes of eternall felicity through Jesus Christ our Sauiour and Redéemer O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer after the Preaching of the holy Word Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it Luke 11. 28. The hearers of the Lavv are not righteous but the doers of the Lavv shall be iustified Rom. 2. 13. Be ye doers of the word not hearers onely deceiuing your selues Rom. 1. 22. O Heauenly Father and most mercifull God séeing that wee haue now receiued the benefit of the hearing of thy heauenly and holy word by the mouth of thy Minister the fruits whereof doetend to the perfection of a godly life and a godly life is the way to eternall life in Christ our Lord vouchsafe O good Father we humbly beséech thée to imprint in our hearts the gladsome and most comfortable tidings which wée haue heard and receiued this day of thée by the mouth of thy Minister and grant that in faith vnfained â—t may lay vp the same in our vnderstanding and remembrance lest that forgetting the same and neglecting the exercise of a godly life wée be taken away as trées that beare no truit and so be cast into the fire therefore we most humbly pray and beséech thée that thou wouldest send vs thy holy Spirit the Comforter which may retaine the good tidings of the Gospell in our hearts wherby we may appeare as trées bearing good fruits and so be preserued vntill the comming of our Lord Jesus who will then receiue vs and giue vs the inheritance which he hath purchased for as many as beléeue in his most holy Word Amen O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer for the Sabbath day at night O euerlasting and mercifull God I giue thée thankes from the bottome of my heart that of thy mercy thou hast nourished and preserued me by thy diuine power and gouerned me by thy Word holy Spirit this day and all this wéeke yea and at all other times of my life protected me by thy power and prouidence and I most humbly beséech thée for the merits of Christ Jesus to couer and bury all my misdéedes which heretofore I haue committed in thought word and déede against thy diuine Maiestie in the death of thy Sonne Forgiue O Lord the euill that I haue committed supply the good which I haue omitted restore what I haue lost heale my sores cleanse my filthinesse lighten my darkenesse and alter the whole state of my minde that nothing may be wanting to good purposes in me nor any thing lurke in mee which may offend thée Water O Lord the séede of thy holy Word which I haue receiued this day with the dew of thy grace that with sound iudgement and godly deuotion I may practise such things as are pleasing to thy diuine Maiestie and that my heart being alwayes obedient to thy Commandements I may passe my time in peace through thy protection O Lord stretch out thy hand ouer me and of thy accustomed goodnes defend me this night Kéepe me from searefull and wicked dreames vnprofitable cares idle cogitations and outward violence Compasse me about on euery side with thy grace that when I shall either take care for things of this life or carefully séeke for those things which appertaine vnto the Kingdome of heauen I may heare the voyce of thy holy Spirit sounding in my heart from the mouth of the Apostie The Lord shall relieue thee in all thy necessities and yeelde thee a Crowne of eternall glory with Christ his beloued in the heauens Grant O Lord this and all other graces méete for me euen for Jesus Christs sake my onely Lord and Sauiour Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be said before a man begins his Labour or enter into the execution of any profession OMnipotent God and most mercifull Father since thou hast commanded that all humane creatures shall labour and eate their bread in the sweat of their browes while they abide in this life and yet séeing no man can prosper without thy blessing or receiue any good successe in his affaires we humbly beséech thée that thou wouldest blesse our labours in such sort as therby we may haue iust occasion to confesse thy goodnesse assistance and fatherly care which thou takest of vs. Let thy holy Spirit O Lord be our guide to the end we may faithfully exercise the workes of our estate and vocation without any fraud or deceit giue vs grace rather to regard the following of thine ordinance then to satisfie the appetite of our owne sinfull flesh which couets to enrich it selfe by any meanes whatsoeuer Neuerthelesse if it be thy pleasure to blesse and prosper our endeuours grant vs also chéerefull dispositions to helpe and relieue such as are in distresse according to thy talents best owed vpon vs. And let vs kéepe within the bounds of humility not puffing our selues vp aboue the poore and needy by that which we enioy by thy bounty and goodnes But if thy good pleasure be so to deale with vs as to abase and impouerish vs farre beyond that which our weake nature can beare yet vouchsafe to enrich vs with cleauing faithfully to thy promises whereby we shall no way fall into distrust but rather be more certainely assured that thou wilt neuer forsake vs in the extremity of our wants and calamities inable vs to performe truely the duties of our callings giue vs the vse of all our limmes and senses with an holy endeuour to performe our callings and patience to attend thy leasure to replenish vs both with temperall and spirituall comforts receiuing thereby daily new occasion to giue thée praise and thankes and to expect all things from thée Heare vs
the great extremity of childe-birth and to giue vnto me the swéete taste and féeling of thy comfort not only in ioy that a man is born into the world which maketh mee to forget my sorrowes but much more in the assurance of thy blessed prouidence and care ouer mee whose holy hand hath strengthened and vpholden mée who hath brought faâ—te weather after stormes and ioy after teares let thy sweete comfort alwayes rest with mée and giue mée grace since it hath pleased thée to make mée a glad mother that I may also become a good mother in shewing my selfe obedient vnto thée and to be carefull for the instruction and bringing vp of my childe in thy â—eare that wee may shew forth thy glory in this life and be made partakers of thy glory in the life to come through Jesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour to whom with thée and the sweete Comforter the holy Ghost thrée persons and one glorious God be all honor and praise for euer and euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer for a Man-seruant Let seruants be subiect to their Masters and please them in all things not answering againe neither pickers but that they show all good faithfulnesse that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things 1 Tit. 2. 9. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 18. O Most mercifull and euer-liuing God who hast ordained in the world that there should be masters and seruants and didst heare Abrahams seruant crying to thée I now prepare my selfe to thy diuine Maiesty because seruice is necessary for mée to maintaine mée in this life and doe beséech thée O most louing Father to prouide for mee among good people that may not debarre me from hearing thy Word but rather giue me occasion by their good example to séeke those things which belong to my saluation Assist me also by thy holy Spirit that I may render them good and honest seruice and truely take charge of whatsoeuer they trust mee withall Prosper O God my labours and giue a blessing to those affaires which I shall mannage and vnder-take that thy grace gouerning me while I serue on earth I may afterward be an Heire and fellow-Citizen by Christ Jesus â—eanes in the Kingdome of heauen Thy mercy was so great at Capernaum to the Centurions Seruant that hée found a good Master Thou diddest likewise so louingly respect poore Ioseph when he was a seruant that all things prospered vnder his hand I beseech thee extend thy mercy to me a poore willing Seruant and as thou hast appointed so let mee rest contented Amen Lord increase my Faith and prosper mine endeauours A Prayer of a Maid-seruant O My Lord and Sauiour seeing it hath pleased thee to call mee to this estate and condition that I must serue to sustaine life and gaine those benefits necessarily belonging thereto I submit my selfe willingly to thy prouidence and appointment For I know thou didst not despise to speake to Abrahams seruant Hagar and didst likewise prouide good Mistresses for Bilha and Zilpha therefore I humbly beseech thy Maiesty to prouide an honest place for mee where too much rigour seuerity and hard vsage may not be shewed me Giue me grace also to yeeld vnto them faithfull and true seruice carrying alwayes a good conscience and keeping myselfe chaste and honest with dutifull obedience to my Mistris and ordering my Masters businesse as it becommeth mee Blesse all my indenours that I neither waste spoile nor destroy any thing Set a locke on my lips that by euill words I giue no occasion of stâ—ife or dissension but rather that I may procure peace so much as lyeth in my power to doe Thou knowest O God much better then my selfe what is néedfull for me and thy word teacheth me that with thé◠there is no respect of persons but thou hearest the poore and néedy as well as the great and mighty when they vnfainedly make their prayers vnto thée in the mediation of Christ Jesus our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A Thankesgiuing before Meate O Lord our God and heauenly Father which of thy vnspeakable mercy towards vs hast prouided Meate and drinke for the nourishment of our weake bodies giue vs grace to vse them reuerently as from thy hands with thankefull hearts let thy blessing rest vpon these thy good Creatures to our comfort and sustentation and grant wee humbly beseech thee that as wee doe hunger and thirst for this foode of our bodies so our soules may earnestly long after the foode of eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Thankesgiuing after Meate TO thee O Lord our God which hast created redeemed continually preserued and at this time fed vs be ascribed all honour glory and power might and Dominion now and euer more O Lord preserue thy Church vniuersall this Church wherein wee liue the Kings Maiesty the Prince and Realme Grant thy Gospell a free passage confound Antichrist and all Heresies finish soone these dayes of sinne and bring vs to euerlasting peace through thy Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen FINIS A briefe Table of all the Prayers and other things contained in this BOOKE THe Motiue for a priuate Prayer for the Morning Fol. 1. A Prayer for the Morning 2 Morning Prayer where the Family assembles 6 The Motiue for a priuate Prayer for the Euening 11 A Prayer for the Euening 13 An Euening Prayer where the Family assembles 15 A Prayer to be vsed in priuate Families Morning and Euening 22 In the Morning adde this 29 In the Euening adde this 30 A Prayer for the King 31 For obedience vnto God 33 To be confirmed in the way of Righteousnesse 36 For the assistance of the holy Ghost 40 For Sunday Morning 42 Before the hearing of Gods Word 44 For the Preaching of the holy Word 46 For Sunday night 48 A Prayer to be said before a man begins his Labour 50 A Thanksgiuing or Prayer to be vsed after a mans Labour is finished 52 A generall Confession for sins and of the vanities of carnall delights 53 For humiliation and sorrow after sinne committed 56 A preparation to the Communion 61 At the Communion 66 After the Communion 73 A Motiue to the Prayer following against Temptation 75 A Prayer against all Temptations especially to any particular sinne 78 For a prosperous Iourney 82 A Motiue to a Prayer against Enemies 85 A Prayer against Enemies 87 Of the flocke for their faithfull Pastor 91 For obseruation of Gods Commandements 95 A Prayer and Meditation concerning the continuance of Gods corrections 104 A fit and comfortable Meditation when God seemeth most angry with vs. 107 Against despaire 110 Against backslyding in Religion and for increase of Faith 113 A comfortable Consultation and sweet Resolution what course to take in time of deepest distresse 116 Effectuall Prayers for distressed men 133 A Motiue to a Prayer for Patience in affliction 135 A Prayer for Patience in affliction 136 Against the Temptations of the Diuell 140 The way truely to seeke our God c. being the first prayer in distresse 144 The Motiue to the second Prayer to be said of distressed men 150 The second Prayer for Constancy in affliction 152 The Motiue to the third Prayer 158 The third Prayer wherein hee flyeth and wholly relyeth vpon God 159 The Motiue to the fourth Prayer 164 The fourth Prayer wherein he prayeth for faith zeale and strength to vndergoe Gods corrections 166 A Moriue to the fift Prayer 172 The fift prayer wherein the poore man prayeth God to keepe him from despaire 174 The Motiue to the sixt prayer 179 The sixt prayer to learne how to leaue the world and to desire heauen 180 A Motiue to the seauenth Prayer wherein the poore distressed mans desire is to hold fast the promises of God and to shew himselfe thankfull 185 The seauenth prayer in distresse 186 The Motiue to the eight prayer wherein the poore distressed man craueth pardon for his sinnes 190 The Motiue to the ninth prayer for assurance of Gods prouidence 197 The ninth prayer wherein the poore distressed man acknowledgeth that though God doe deseruedly punish him yet he assureth himselfe that God will relieue him 199 A Motiue to thankefulnesse to God for comfort and reliefe receiued of him in the time of necessity and affliction 206 Preparatiues to Thankefulnesse 238 A generall Thankesgiuing vnto God for all his benefits spirituall and corporall 240 Another thankesgiuing in and for Gods corrections 245 A Thankesgiuing to God for that enemies haue not preuailed according to their desires 250 A Thankesgiuing to be vsed after the returne of a Iourney or comming to some Inne or place of rest 253 A prayer for the Fruits of the earth 255. Meditations COncerning the Maiesty Power and Loue of God 258 Concerning the Knowledge and Prouidence of God 264 Of the Word of God 272 Of the benefit of Faith in God 279 Concerning the vncertainty of mans haphappinesse in this life 285 A sweet contemplation of heauen and heauenly things 291 A consideration of the dangerous estate of the impenitent wicked ones after this life 298 An exhortatiue Conclusion wherein the afflicted are stirred vp to Patience and not to be ashamed of their miseries and base estate 311 A Prayer to be vsed of a sicke man 318 For Patience in sickenesse 319 A Prayer to be said at the point of death 324 A Confession of sinnes with a Prayer to be said of poore distressed men Morning and Euening and at all times else as they shall be there unto moued 326 A very comfortable and most patheticall prayer to be said of such as are in greatest distresse hauing wife and children and in debt not able to maintaine the one or satisfie the other 331 A Prayer to be vsed of a sicke man when he is recouered 339 In time of Infection pray thus yea often 341 If not infected pray thus 345 In time of Tempests and vnseasonable weather 348 For Peace in true Religion 351 A deuout Prayer to be vsed of a Widdow 355 For one that prepares himselfe for Marriage 358 For a young Man or Maid preparing to Marriage 361 A Prayer to be said of women great with Childe 363 To be said of a woman in trauell 365 A Thankesgiuing of a Woman after her Deliuery 367 A Prayer of a Man-seruant 370 A Prayer of a Maid-seruant 37â— A Thankesgiuing before Meate 373 A Thankesgiuing after Meate 375 FINIS
so to walke before thée in this present life as becommeth thy Saints O continue thy word of truth amongst vs euer to our comfort Let the séede thereof now sowne in our hearts take such déepe roote that neither the burning heate of persecntion cause it to wither nor the thorny cares of this world riches or voluptuous liuing choake it but as séede sowne in good ground it may bring forth fruit according to thy pleasure O Father giue vs grace that when we heare or â—â—nde by thy word any sinne that is in vs we may striue and study without delay willingly to reforme it Kéepe vs good God that wée neuer swarue for the feare of man from our owne true knowledge becomming seruers of time and deuiers of thée Kéepe vs from all hardnesse of heart contempt of thy word and from all dissembling of sinceritie Increase true loue amongst vs more and more Blesse thy whole Church O God with graces necessary this parcell of it our natiue Land and Country deare Father blesse it still with continuance of thy truth Iessen in it daily the number of blinde and ignorant Papists prophane Atheists and increase the number of thy true children Preserue vnto vs long aliue good Lord if it please thée our gracious King and Gouernour multiply thy Spirit vpon him and all his that still more and more he and they may séeke and set forth thy glory in maintaining Christian religion in all purity suppressing all vice superstition and Idolatry with all seuerity Giue vnto him an honourable Counsell giue them graces necessary for such a calling Blesse all other Nobles Magistrates and the whole body of this Realme with true hearts to thée and to this Countrey Increase in this our Israel the number of true Watchmen whose hearts may séeke thée and thy people and not their owne glory and commodity Bring to thy fold by them such wandring remnants as are thine And O Lord be gracious to our kindred and friends in the flesh lighten their hearts with the Sunne of vnderstanding that they and wée acknowledgeing one truth may glorifie thée in the true and constant profession of the same all the dayes of our life Comfort O Christ thy afflicted members wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled and grant vs peace in our dayes if it be thy pleasure Finally because the night is now vpon vs and we ready to take our rest let the bed O Lord strike into our hearts a consideration that the graue is almost ready for vs. Which of vs can tell whether these eies of ours once closed vp shall euer open any more againe or no Lord therefore receiue vs into thy hands we all here now commend our selues bodies soules vnto thy holy protection and prouidence kéepe vs this night and euermore ready for thée when thou shalt call vs. Heare vs O Lord O God and Father mercifull in these our petitions for thy Sonne Jesus Christ his sake our Sauiour in whose name we altogether begge these mercies saying as Christ our Sauiour hath taught vs Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs and make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs this night and euermore Amen A Prayer to be vsed in priuate Families Morning and Euening Leuit. 26. 6. If yee truely serue God yee shall sleepe and none shall make you afraid Lord prepare our hearts open our lips sanctifie our prayers and increase our Faith O Most mighty Lord God and our most mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ we thy poore creatures and vnworthy children humbly present our selues in his name before thy glorious maiesty acknowledging that we be most vnworthy to appeare in thy presence by reason not onely of our originall but also of our continuall actuall sinnes and déepe disobedienee being originally borne the children of wrath and the least of our actuall transgressions is sufficient to cast vs into hell and vtter perdition if thou shouldest deale with vs according to the measure of our manifold iniquities We therefore doe humbly beséech thée O mercifull Father in the merits of Jesus Christ fréely to pardon and forgiue our manifold offences both in that wée haue committed and done those things thou hast forbidden and left vndone the things thou hast commanded Lord forgiue vs and remember our sinnes no more let them neuer good and gracious Father rise vp in Judgement to our condemnation Giue vs a full assurance of thy mercies and frée forgiuenesse in Jesus Christ and let thy holy Spirit from henceforth euermore so sanctifie our hearts minds and bodies that wée neuer hereafter giue consent to the corrupt motions of our fleshly affections and vnclean desires and let the liuely light of thy continuall presence so illuminate our dark vnderstandings that we may still search for thy will in thy word reuealed and giue vs will and power to practise and performe all godly seruice duties and obedience to thée giue vs féeling hearts that we may finde out our own weakenesse and confesse vnto thée our infirmities and that we may boldly in the Name of thy Sonne Christ Jesus fall downe before thée calling faithfully and sincerely vpon thy holy name for pardon for our former euils for grace to reforme so the rest of our wicked liues that thou maist be pleased to accept vs anew into thy fauour and fatherly protection Grant that we may continually féele in our hearts and consciences more and more the virtue and power of the death resurrection of our Lord and Sauior Jesus Christ that we may continually striue against and mortifie our grosse sins and foule corruptions and grow more strong against all euill motions and temptations in thought word and déede and be more and more renewed in the spirit of our mind and féele a continuall increase of ioy and comfort in the reading hearing and meditating of thy holy and heauenly word and a feruency of true zeale to séekethy glory by encreasing more and more in knowledge and in the hatred of sinne in our selues rebuking it in others especially in those of whom we haue charge and in a happy and faithfull going forward in all godly obedience vnto thy will all the dayes of our liues Direct and strengthen vs that we may with all faithfulnesse labour to
them there will be much required and that our sinnes will be the greater and our iudgement the more heauy if we make not right vse of this thy mercy And concerning the Watch-man whom thou hast appointed ouer our soules wée beséech thée to inlarge his heart to increase his gifts and to replenish him yet with a fuller measure of thy Graces Giue him O Lord the true zeale and spirit of Paul that he may with all boldnesse of spéech giue vnto vs thy Gospell and publish euen the secrets thereof for the edifying and comfort of our soules Make him powerfull in the holy Scriptures like Apolloes that by the power thereof hée may both conuict our consciences and stoppe the mouthes of all gaine-sayers Powre into him thy holy Spirit the word of wisedome and knowledge that he may rightly iudge of our estates and vnderstand what things are most expedient and necessary for vs and so may speake to our consciences finding vs out in our speciall sinnes and directing vs in those holy courses from which wée haue chiefely strayed Let his words pricke our hearts forward that wée may not be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Make him firme and constant in the best courses that he may not be as a Réede shaken with the winde but as a sure foundation that by his perseuerance in good workes our hearts may be the better established And wée beséech thée O Christ who commandest the Starres and holdest them in thy right hand to defend him from vnreasonable and euill men and from the wrongs and iniuries of the wicked enemies of thy truth for doubtlesse men of corrupt mindes will resist the Truth with all their power Therefore good Lord blesse his labour to the calling and conuerting of those which are elected vnto saluation Make our hearts flexible to yéelde true obedience to thy Word deliuered from his mouth that wée may receiue it not as the word of a man but as it is indéede thy Word and make it also effectuall in vs that wée may not onely be professors and hearers of thy holy will but also practisers and continuall performers of the same And teach vs to reuerence him wée beséech thée and to loue him for his profession and workes sake not sparing our goods to relieue him knowing it is a small thing for him to â—eape our earthly things who soweth amongst vs spiritual food for our soules In all our Supplications make vs mindefull of him without ceasing that his studies may be directed his endeauours guided and his labours in thy worke blessed to the glory of thy holy name and the saluation both of him and of vs which heare him All which we humbly and earnestly begge at thy fatherly hands for thy deare Sonnes sake who hath ordained Pastors and Teachers for the gathering together of his Saints and who is the supreme and soueraigne Bishop of all our soules to whom be all praise honour and glory now and for euermore Amen O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer for the true obseruation of the Commandements of the Lord. O Omnipotent and euerlasting God maker of heauen and earth who hast froÌ„ the very beginning promised to be our Lord and our God our fortresse our buckler and defence our castle refuge who hast brought vs with a mighty and strong hand with an out-stretched arme out of the land wherein we were strangers and liued in bondage vnder the yoake and tyranny of Antichrist and Satan into the land that floweth with milke and hony and of true Religion wherewith thou feédest the Soules of the faithfull ones to their vnspeakeable comfort grant that as through thy mercy and loue thou vouchsafest to bring vs into this world and to frame vs to thine owne image and likenesse so wée may account thée as our onely God worshipping none other besides thée making our selues none image of any likenesse either of things aboue or things beneath nor to séeke helpe at the hands of any as a God beside thée who as by thy mighty power thou broughtest the children of Israel out of Egypt by the hands of Moses and Aaron where they were in bondage and were continually oppressed with sundry kinds of vexations both of body and minde so thou hast vouchsafed to bring vs and deliuer vs from a greater bondage and slauery euenfrom the power of Sathan vnder whose tyranny wée rested and now escaped not by any other pollicie strength or power but by the bloud-shedding of thine only Sonne Jesus Christ who tooke vpon him the death of the Crosse for our sakes to bring vs from darkenesse wherein we walked according to the wil of the flesh vnto the true knowledge of thée againe and to redéeme vs out of the bondage of sin into the land of righteousnes from blind ignorance to the bright shining day-starre of thy heauenly will who art not onely a most louing and most gentle Father but also a most sharpe punisher and reuenger who art not onely desirous that we should come vnto thée but art also most iealous ouer vs lest wée should séeke or follow any other gods besides thée yea in all our afflictions and troubles thou wilt that wée séeke onely thée and being relieued to attribute the onely meane thereof vnto thy selfe whereby thou hast promised to be mercifull vnto thousands that â—oue thée feare thée séeke thée and truely take hold of thée as their onely God and againe threatnest vengeance on the third and fourth generation of them that hate thee and follow strange gods neglecting thy Commandements O God vouchsafe that wée neuer put our féete towards any strange gods appeare their helpe neuer so likely and plentifull but that it may both now and euer continue in our harts to confesse both in word conuersation that there is none other God besides thée who art a most gracious and louing Father Haue mercy vpon vs O Lord haue mercy vpon vs and so vouchsafe to direct vs in all our doings cogitations and words as we may alwayes and in all things fulfill thy will without taking thy most holy and most glorious Name in vaine by blasphemous spéeches dishonouring the same kéepe vs most louing Father not onely from the most detestable sinne of periurie whereby thy holy Name is often defaced and as it were trodden vnder-foote as in making it the author of abhominable falshoods and lyes but from all friuolous and vaine eathes which to the great griefe of thy Children and dishonour of thy Name are most vncomely in the mouthes of such as vnreuerently and rashly vse it euen in common spéeches without any vrgent cause whereby they fall into the most hainous sinne of taking thy most glorious Name in vaine O Lord forgiue vs and grant that we may vse such a reuerent manner and godly order in triall of matters in controuersie as we may be alwayes true hallowers and not abusers of thy Name therein And forasmuch as thou within sixe dayes didst finish all things in the
beginning and in the seuenth day didst rest from the same labour commanding vs to obserue the sanctification of the same for euer and to rest from all labours trauels and wordly businesses and not onely our selues but our Seruants Oxen Asses and such like Grant that we may not onely lay a side all worldly cares and businesses on the Sabbath day but may in all things sanctifie and kéepe it holy with godly exercises diuine prayers and heauenly meditations with diligent regard to the auoyding of all pastimes foolish and vncomely exercises and vnlawfull practices whereby oftentimes the affection being mooued to impatience powreth forth choler to the dishonouring of thée Let our conuersation be altogether modest mortifying our owne desires wholly applying our selues not onely on the Sabbath day but all the wéeke yea all our whole life to the seruice of thée to the honouring and glorifying of thy Name to the benefit of our soules profit of our neighbours and due reuerence to our Parents whom thou hast commanded vs to honor loue and obey as the instruments of our beginning thou being the workman Grant Lord that wee truely and vnfainedly reuerence them as thou willest we should that we may long continue vpon the earth not in the number of carelesse and disobedient children in whom resteth no thankfulnesse for so great benefits had and receiued at the hand of their parents from whom thou hast said thou wilt with-hold thy blessings and altogether depriue them of their libertie of liuing But grant that we may so order our selues by thy grace both to them and other our Superiours that wee may receiue at thy hands many good gifts and length of dayes here according to thy promise in Christ. Let it likewise please thee O Lord to continue thy blessings in and vpon vs that it may goe well with vs all the dayes of our liues take from vs Lord all destres of reuenge all rancour hatred and malice lest the Diuell who reaâ—ily stands to pricke vs forward to a desperate minde procure vs to slay the innocent Wée beséech thée good Lord let not at any time such euill imaginations enter into our hearts lest wée giuing our selues thereunto loose the reynes of our naturall disposition which is 〈◊〉 inclined to wrath that vnlesse the strength thereof be subdued or the venomous sâ—ing thereof pluckt out by vertue of thy holy Spirit it prouoke vs to waite opportunity to wreake our malice with violence vpon such as by small occasions haue offended vs yea and by little and little breake out into that height of hatred as to prouoke vs to séeke the meanes to destroy the innocent O Lord forbid it and kéepe vs from the most pernitious sinne of adultery which being so odious in thy sight as thou causedst to fall in one day for the same twenty and thrée thousand but indue vs with thine holy Spirit that we may kéepe our bodies cleane and vndefiled members of thée endued with perfect sanctity may abandon all occasions that may procure vs to offend thée retaining a godly behauiour which thou dearely louest and expelling euill concupiscence which thou deadly hatest O mercifull God vouchsafe to kéepe vs from taking any thing by indirect meanes from any man whom wee ought to loue as our selues the desire whereof good Lord procéedeth often by scarcitie and want by pouerty and néede which indéede thou art able and willing to relieue without any such vnlawfull meanes And therfore I beséech thée to grant vs a sufficient and necessary portion or else constancy and vnfained hope in thee to be relieued in thy good time and vtterly to detest the horrible sinne of stealing for thou hast promised neither to faile vs nor forsake vs calâ—ing faithfully vpon thée in time of our necessity And as we ought to beware of taking any thing of others by steaith so likewise vouchsafe when any occasion serueth to grant vs héedfull mindes to depose and testifie that which is truth according to our knowledge without any respect either of greatnesse friendship or fauour of the one or the eâ—uy malice or pouerty of the other And grant that wée raise no false accusation or slander vpon any man but that wée may kéepe our mouthes from speakeing any thing hurtfull vnto others but to shew our selues helpefull both in word and déede to all and like good men muse and meditate afore-hand what we ought to speake not letting the bridle of our lips loose to babble out that which first commeth into our mindes and that we may content ourselues with our estates whatsoeuer thou sendest without an vngodly desire of any thing that belongeth vnto our Neighbours And grant vs by thine especiall grace euermore to obserue and faithfully to fulfill all thy most godly Commandements in the name for the sake of Jesus Christ in whose Name as well for grace to kéepe thy Lawes as also for all necessaries for body and soule I heartily beséech thée in that forme of prayer which hée hath set downe vnto vs in these words Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and glory for euer and euer Amen A Prayer and Meditation concerning the continuance of Gods corrections notwithstanding our continuall humiliation and daily Prayers vnto him for comfort and reliefe O Father most mercifull and louing in Jesus Christ what shall I bring vnto thée whereby to appease thy wrath conceiued against my sinne If I should bring the sacrifice of Buls or Goates thou art not delighted with them Teach mée therefore O Lord teach me what to doe to be reconciled vnto thée againe I haue long called vpon thée and that in the name of thy most beloued Sonne and finde not that I haue long sought I receiue not that I haue many dayes desired of thée I haue long and earnestly knocked at the doore of thy mercy and finde no entrance for my Soule I sée I am shut out of thy presence I wait and am weary I sigh and sée no remorse and lingring thus in distresse I languish vnder the burden of thy displeasure which séemeth to be so hetly kindled against mée as I am ready to giue ouer my suite For behold Lord my miseries are beyond measure and my griefe groweth daily more and more being of my selfe ignorant what to say more vnto thée then I haue said I know not what course to take nor to whom to make my mone direct mée and heare my prayers Thou being angry with mée all thy Creatures séeme to be also offended at mée and nothing séemeth to yéelde mée comfort Deare Father what shall I doe whither shall I flye to finde rest there is no rest for me but in thée and therefore
it as a great benefit and tooke it as an high blessing and said it was good for him Was it good for him and ill for vs was it profitable to him and hurtfull to vs No and therefore Paul was not ashamed of his crosses for crosses make vs the companions of the blessed Children of God nay they make vs the more like to our elder brother Christ Jesus who finished our Redemptions through the Crosse and made the way to the ioyes of heauen through afflictions and he that is ashamed to follow him that way he cannot come to him at all hée will not know him and therefore he shall neuer enter into that holy place hée shall neuer attaine vnto that rest that shall be endlesse and most ioyfull in the heauens How vnsauory therefore soeuer our troubles séeme wée must be patient and neuer giue ouer to cry vnto our helping Father nor to vse our best endeauours in our callings which God will blesse staying our selues in hope vpon his promises Let vs neuer dismay for God that maketh this little wound without doth it to cure a greater within and while hée séemeth to kill vs it is that wée may liue euer and while hée suffereth vs to be here ignominious it is that wée may become all glorious with him in heauen The poore man cryeth and the Lord heareth him and saueth him out of all his troubles Psal. 34. 6. The Angell of the Lord pitcheth round about them that feare him and deliuereth them Vers. 6. Taste ye and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Vers. 8. A Prayer to be vsed of a sicke man O Almighty and euerlasting God who although thou art still in thy iudgement yet art thou a mercifull God to the soule that séeketh théeth infinite in thy mercy and plenteous in redemption for though thou send sicknesse yet wilt thou shew pitty according to the multitude of thy compassions for thou dost not willingly chastice and afflict the children of men therefore I poore wretched sinner which am but dust earth and ashes vnworthy the least of thy fauours doe fréely confesse to thy glory and mine owne shame that I am conceiued and borne in sinne that originall corruption stayning and infecting my whole nature hath depriued mée of all holinesse and left in mee an inclination to all euill and that I haue by mine innumerable transgressions in thought word and déede broken all thy holy Commandements and therefore besides all other euils I haue iustly drawne this sickenesse and these diseases vpon me yet not withstand séeing that thou such is thy excéeding great mercy hast no pleasure in the miseries and destruction of thy Children but doest onely by affliction try correct humble and reforme them for there present and euerlasting good I doe therefore most dear and louing Father most humbly beséech thy heauenly Maiesty to pardon my sins the onely causes of my misery and affliction increase and perfect in me all graces that concerne saluation assist mée with the counsell and comfort of thy sacred Spirit and conuert this my visitation to mine amendment and saluation of my soule in Christ. If it be thy good pleasure and will O Lord restore me to my perfect and former health that I may not onely performe my good purposes and pay my vowes which my lips haue promised and my mouth hath spoken in my affliction but also henceforth grow vp in grace in obedience in holinesse vntill I come to the end of mine hope which is the saluation of my Soule But if it be thy will and decrée by this chastisement to finish my dayes I most humbly and earnestly intreat thée O my God as the outward man decaieth to renew in me the inner man and to grant that as the body dyeth so thy grace may liue and reuiue in me Shut not the eies of my mind but open them and make mee vnderstand what the hope of my heauenly calling is and what is the riches of the glorions inheritance that thou hast prepared for me that I may liue in thy faith and obedience and end my life in thy fauour and when this life endeth remaine and raigne with thée in glory for euer Uouchsafe to be a Father to my family kinsfolke and posterity plant thy feare in their hearts confirme them in thy grace and giue them all things competently necessary for the maintenance of this present life Harken O Lord to these my prayers and grant me all other things which thy heauenly wisdome séeth necessary for my soule or body for thy dearly beloued Sons sake To whom with thy Maiesty and God the holy Ghost be rendred and ascribed all honour and glory now and for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer for Patience in sicknesse and truely to expresse sorrow for sinne O My most louing and mercifull Father God omnipotent who art nigh vnto all those that call vpon thée in truth thou art a present helpe in time of trouble all powerfull full of wisdome and compassion wonderfully surpassing all earthly Parents I poore miserable wretch long troubled with grieuous sickenesse and so sore vexed with paine and torment that neither my body can take any sleepe or rest nor my Spirit feele any ease or comfort doe here in the onely merit and mediation of Jesus Christ present and humble my selfe before thée humbly begging and intreating for fauour and mercy at thy hands Worke in my heart by thy holy Spirit godly sorrow and repentance for all mine offences impute none of them vnto mée but let mée féele and be assured in my conscience that the guilt and punishment of them are remoued Be thou my Physition to cure and heale mée auert and turne this present sicknesse into a soueraigne medicine and this vehement and grieuous paine into a fatherly and gentle visitation let thy strength appeare in my weakenesse let thy power be perfected in mine infirmity and so arme mée in this my temptation with the gift of Patience and long-suffering that I be not with-drawne from the constant practice of holy dueties neither yéelde vnto mine owne passions and the suggestions of Sathan To this end powre downe thy blessed and sacred Spirit into mine heart â—each assist and direct mée that hée may open to the eyes of my minde the righteousnesse of thy Judgements that I may in all willingnesse aâ—… knowledge the equity of the same that he may bring to my remembrance the cruell and most bitter paines and torments of my mercifull Lord and Sauiour Jesus who by his death hath swallowed the very dregges of thy wrath and by the merit and vertue of it hath so tempered and swéetned the Cup of affliction vnto â— manifest vnto mée the glorious and heauenly happinesse and holinesse of thy Saints and Seruants in heauen that the certaine assurance hope and expectation thereof may abundantly excéede and take away all my present griâ—ie and torment I beséech thée O Lord according to
the holy Ghost praised for euermore Amen O Lord increase my Faith A very comfortable and most patheticall Prayer to be said of such as are in greatest distresse and danger hauing wife and children and in debt not able to maintaine and relieue the one or to satisfie the other O Most mighty mercifull and all-knowing Father the fountaine of all comfort and consolation who findest out in thy déepe and all-searching knowledge all the sinnes that are or can be committed amongst the children of men howsoeuer hidden and secret I doe confesse vnto thée against my selfe that I haue grieuously offended thée by my manifold transgressions and thereby haue drawne vpon mée a most intollerable weight of thy deserued wrath and fearefull indignation insomuch as if thou maist not be pleased to mittigate thy â—ury towards me I shall faint and fall and shall not be able to lift vp my head any more in hope of thy fauour for deare Father in Jesus Christ I am weake and am not able to beare thy heauy displeasure by mine owne power or merit And therefore good Father lay not vpon mée the punishments which I haue deserued take away thy heauy hand of correction and as thou art patient and long in suffering the sinnes of thy weake children he yet patient with mée and send thine holy Spirit to season me anew that I may bring forth now the fruits of amendment of life So shall thy punishment cease and comfort increase though I am heset with no small or few dangers before mée behinde mée on my right hand and on my left I am beset with perils so that which way soeuer I séeme to runne or howsoeuer I couet to escape I fall into dangers What shal I doe Lord in these miseries I stand amazed at the consideration what will become of me languishing in fear while there is none to helpe I liue where none but mortall creatures are and what can they doe to my comfort Lord that haue their breath in their nostrils They mooue and breathe and liue and speake but little auaileth their helpe vnlesse thou that guidest and gouernest the hearts of all vouchsafe to moue them to commiseration and patience with mée I haue sinned Lord against thée and am indebted vnto men and cannot be released and all commeth of my sins Father pardon thou me so shalt thou in thy renewed loue send mée new reliefe Raise me meanes to satisfie men or qualifie their extremities that they may be patient vntill thy helpe come And in the meane time teach mee O teach mée the way that I should chuse Direct mée Lord what course I shall take for thou Lord art wise and prouident and mercifull and all goodnes commeth of thée Therefore O Lord instruct mée by the inward working of thy holy Spirit to doe this or that and make mée obedient vnto thy will so shall all returne to my good Raise vp some gracious meanes Lord for my succor for thou knowest though I be but one man whose ruine can be but as the death of the least creature in the censure of such as feele not nor partake of my griefes neither will my ouerthrow grieue such as haue no share of my miseries Some there be yet deare Father whom thou knowest that shall taste of the bitternesse of my fall and therefore Lord consider in mercy and although none of them Lord that shall féele the smart of my calamities but haue also added sinne vnto my sinne and so aggrauated thy displeasure against vs yet in thy Christ forgiue vs all and reclaime vs all by thy gentle corrections not by thy furious iudgements And as a sparrow Lord lighteth not on the ground nor one haire falleth from our heads without thy prouidedre so I know Lord that nothing shall befall mée but what thou hast decréed euen for my good both in this life and in the life to come Thou hast neuer Lord dealt so sharpely with any but vpon serious repentance they haue receiued comfort they haue tasted of thy loue and of inward peace So worke Lord in these my tryals and by these my crosses and dangers that I be neither inwardly too much afflicted with feare and sorrow nor outwardly too much cast downe with want but as I taste of thy correcting rod so I may also flude thy supporting staffe Lord thou art moued by a better Mediator then are my complaints Oh heare me for him and heare him for mée me Lord for his sake and him for thy promise sake lest I remaining here in this vale of continuall miseries where there is no true or liuely helper I vtterly perish in my troubles It is no true helpe Lord that commeth not of true compassion and there is no true compassion without true féeling of anothers miseries but how far Lord that is from the hearts of many thou knowest and I féele it And therefore euery heart truely moued to true commiseration is first moued by thée Oh moue them therefore moue thou such as thou pleasest to vse as instruments of thy will for my good so shall I vse it and accept it as thy goodnesse to thy glory But Lord the course of thy prouidence teacheth vs that thou wilt not haue thy dearest children to be lifted vp by the fulnesse of earthly things aboue that which becommeth the humble to kéepe them still in awe of thy corrections Forere while O Lord I thought of seife-peace little fearing further perils nor to be thus chased anew as I am by such as séeke to molest mée and to exact that from me by rigour which thou knowest I am not yet able to performe though thou féest the inward destres of my heart willing by my best lawfull endeuours to obtaine the meanes to satisfie al men their due and it grieueth mee that I cannot doe as they require And therefore O louing Father as thou well knowest what is wanting supply it in thy mercies in thy good time before I be confounded altogether and before I goe hence and be no more séene As thou blessest mée O Lord by the labours of my hands so thou knowest I yéelde to them to whom it is due And therefore Lord sith they will not haue patience with mée of their owne accord worke their hearts to be more pliable to my entreates or else which I aske especially if it please thée raise vp meanes for me that I may be enabled to pay them all wherein thy will be done I haue séene thy saluation and deliuery already in great dangers and thy promise and thy power and thy prouidence are still in force and thy mercy is no whit diminished therefore Lord remember thy mercies and looke on mée and as thou saidst vnto the blinde man in the Gospell Receiue thy â—ight and he saw so Lord say to mée Receiue comfort and reliefe and I shall receiue it thy word is thy will and thy will is thy worke therefore speake and thy will shall be done to restore mee to constancy let
wisdome and humblenesse and obedience and mortification and zeale and faith and hope and all graces that may change me from sinne to sanctity from darkenesse to light and from coldnesse to a more perfect zeale to serue thée in all things Teach me O Lord teach mée to execute my vocation truely and perfectly and giue such issue and blessed successe to all my endeauours labours purposes and procéedings as I may discharge my duety in obedience to thy diuine Maiestie to my brethren in loue and equity and to my selfe and mine in godly care and true piety And let thy holy Spirit so guide and gouerne mée this day and for euer that I may more and more fructifie increase in all godlinesse vntil thou shalt cut off this corruptible life After which good Father in the merits of thy Son let me inhabite euermore inherite that heauenly City new Ierusalem where thou sittest and raignest one God with whom shall liue all thine elect in ioyes vnspeakable for euer Amen O Lord increase our Faith A Morning Prayer where the FAMILY assembles O Almighty God full of loue and pitty the chiefest comfort that any sinfull soule can haue when wée miserable sinners here met together doe consider of thy great mercy and goodnesse which we haue euer since our births and before found and daily doe finde at the hands of thy diuine Maiesty together with our great vnthankfulnesse euery way to thée againe for the same we must néedes confesse and euen from the bottom of our hearts doe acknowledge that most vnspeakeable is thy mercy in sparing vs to liue vntill this morning before which time thou mightest iustly haue consumed vs. But O deare God of thy frée mercies before the foundation of the World was laid thou hast chosen and elected vs for thy Children and hast to our endlesse comfort certified and made knowne the same vnto our spirits by thy spirit by whom and not of our selues wee now cry vnto thée Abba father and for our Redemption hast sent thine owne Sonne to shed his most precious bloud vpon the Crosse no other meanes being whereby wée could be saued Thou hast by thy holy Spirit wrought Faith in our hearts to beléeue by him and in him to be iustified before thée and in some measure begunne the death of sinne in vs and wrought our sanctification and of thy frée fauour we enioy the benefit of thy Word the freedome of conscience great peace and plenty in outward things with many and infinite other benefits waking and sléeping at home and abroad in our selues and our friends for all which instead of thankefulnesse wee become the more disobedient not doing that wée ought to doe but with pleasure and profit with vanity and selfe-loue wée are carried away spending our daies in iniquity carelesnesse and vnféeling of our sinne and there is no goodnesse in vs yet is there mercy with thée O Lord and pardon vpon repentance Wherefore we here this Morning met together before thy Maiesty humbly confesse our wants and most entirely beséech thée for Jesus Christs sake to haue mercy vpon vs Haue mercy vpon vs most mercifull Father and forgiue vs all that is past strengthen vs hereafter that daily both in bodies and soules we may glorifie thée more then we haue done yéelding thankes for daily benefits and striuing in holinesse and righteousnes to please thée all the dayes of our life But because we cannot but offend and fall diuers wayes and euery day good Lord for thy mercy sake pierce our hearts with a féeling of the same and neuer suffer vs to goe on with dull and dead soules not séeing nor sighing for our offences As a speciall meanes to kéepe vs in obedience before thée O deare Father worke in vs a continuall remembrance and an effectuall consideration that wée shall not alwayes liue here in this wretched world that doth much please vs now but that a day wil come when the trumpe shall sound the Dead shall arise and all wée shall appeare before the Tribunall seat of Judgement there to receiue according to our déedes without respect of Persons oh good Lord giue vs a remembrance and a féeling of that vnspeakeable comfort and eternall waight of glory which in that day shall be giuen vnto vs if in this day wée serue and please thée and contrariwise euen terrifle our cousciences and let vs as it were see before our faces the dreadfull Judgements and the fearefull Torments that both in Body and Soule they shall be sure to haue for euermore which in this life doe not serue and please thée but follow their owne fancies and wicked delights giue vs an hatred of sinne and a true loue of righteousnesse blesse thy Word euermore with fruit vnto our soules when we heare it giue vs a desire to heare it often and to practise it faithfully and obediently and keepe our hearts euer free from disūmulation and counterfeit holinesse prepare our hearts diligently to watch for the comming of thy Sonne make vs ready fit and willing to meete him in the clouds if thou wilt that we liue to his comming if it please thee in the meane time to call vs let vs with ioy yeeld our bodies to the earth and receiue our soules vnto thy selfe vntill the day when both our bodies and soules shall be remitted and bee totally glorified with thee in Heauen And let this day be a day of our true reformation and repentance that we becomming new creatures may serue thee in holinesse all the dayes of our liues yeelding thee most humble and hearty thankes for thy goodnesse to vs this night let thy mercifull eye looke vpon vs this day and so keep vs bodies and soules that being occupied in our seuerall callings we may be safe by thee from all our Enemies and liue to thee in feare that we may die in thy fauour and liue hereafter with thee in glory which grant and all things in the meane time necessary for soules and bodies for Christ his sake in whose name we ask them saying as he hath taught vs Our Father vvhich art in heauen hallovved be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as vve forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the povver and the glory for euer and euer Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy vvord our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs and make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance tovvards vs this day and euermore Amen A priuate Prayer for the EVENING The Motiue I Will lay
in righteousnesse Pro. 25. 5. VVE render and yéelde vnto thée all possible thanks O Lord of mercy King of all Kings and Kingdomes of the Earth for as a great blessing vnto vs thou hast placed ouer vs in this Realme so â—ure a guide of true Religion IAMES by thy heauenly prouidence our gracious King vnder whom enioying frée liberty of the true seruice of thée wée rest in a quiet estate both of body and minde wée humbly beséech thée to behold with thy eyes of mercy the same thy Seruant our Soueraigne Lord and Gouernour to replenish his heart with the grace of thy holy Spirit that hee by the working thereof being inclined to the setting forth of thy Word may walke according to the truth of the same sincerely that wée thy Seruants and vnder thée his Subiects séeing his godly examples may be ashamed to fall from that true forme of honoring thy Name which for thy glory through thy grace by the rule of thy holy Word is prescribed vnto vs and vouchsafe to stir vp in him zeale of thy glory a desire to establish whatsoeuer wanteth in this Church of England for the increase of true and sincere Discipline Let no ignorance abide in his Royall heart but inrich him with diuine and heauenly Knowledge giue him an obedient minde abounding with all humility towards thy diuine Maiestie saue and defend him from the tyranny of forraigne Powrr and Authoritie and from all such as professe not inwardly vnfaigned zeale of thy Gospell giue him godly Counsellors and such zealous and true hearted Ministers of thy Will that hee and wée may sincerely serue thée in this life and in the end for euermore raigne with thée in thy heauenly Kingdome for Jesus Christ his sake our onely Aduocate Amen A Prayer for obedience vnto God Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as when his voyâ—e is obayed Behold to obay is better then sacrifice to harken is better then the fat of Rams 1 Sam. 15. 22. Paul commendeth the obedience of the Romans Rom. 16. 19. Obay my voyce saith God and I will be your God and ye shall be my people Ier. 7. 23. O God the Gouernour of Heauen and Earth thou that rulest in the highest that only canst doe all things and raignest for euer at whose becke the Pillers of Heauen shake and all Creatures tremble I miserable creature framed of the earth do with great feare and trembling prostrate my selfe before the â—hrone of thy Maiesty acknowledging and confessing my wickednesse and wayes abhominable in thy sight Without thée I thinke not a good thought without thée I doe no good worke without thée I am worse then a worme of the earth yea a beast in thy sight I render vnto thée thanks O God that thou hast vouchsafed mée that knowledge that I may sée and know that I am nothing and vnable to doe any thing without thée Thou art the Potter I the Clay such as thou pleasest to haue me be such canst thou form and fashion me if thou makest me blessed thou shewest thy mercy and grace if thou cast me into hell thou shewest thy iustice executest thy iudgement neither is it my duty to contradict thée why or for what reason thou doest it for thou hast mercy vpon him whom thou louest These things I consider with my selfe O Lord and I feare thy iudgmeÌ„ts depend only on thy mercy Forasmuch therefore as all my safetie and saluation relieth wholy on thee and consisteth in thy hand and power and thou hast shewed thy selfe a mercifull long-suffering God to the whole world hast testified the same indéede in that thou wouldest thy onely Sonne Christ Jesus the innocent should die for our offences should wipe away our sins with his bloud on the Crosse and since thou hast taught vs in al our perturbations and afflictions to call vpon thée craue thy grace and mercy for that thou wilt giue vs althings which we shall aske in the name of thy Sonne I come vnto thée being drosse and clay O mercifull and celestial Father humbly beséeching thée that thou wilt in thy mercy make of this vnworthy carkasse of mine an habitation for thy holy spirit that though I line in the earth I may haue my conuersation holy as in the Heauens O mercifull and most louing Father grant me forgiuenesse of all my sinnes through the death of thy beloued Sâ—n Jesus Christ make me to please thée increase in mee all heauenly vertues and grant that I may perseuere in the same to the end increase in mee that faith and loue towards thée which thou hast begun in me kindle my affections towards thée more and more in liuely obedience that by thy helpe and presence of thy grace I may obtaine euerlasting life which thou hast promised vs of thy méere goodnesse to the end I may praise thée and giue thée thanks in thy celestiall Kingdome for euer and euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be confirmed in the way of Righteousnesse God is the fountaine of righteousnesse and he that giueth himselfe to righteousnesse is knowne to be borne of him 1 Iohn 2. 29. O Gracious Lord God louing in Jesus Christ Redéemer of mankinde who is the Way the Truth and the Life I humbly begge at thy hands that I may neuer wander nor goe astray from thée who art the way neither at any time to distrust thy promises who art the truth performest whatsoeuer thou dost promise thou art eternall Life more to be destred then any thing in heauen or in earth by thée wée haue learned the true and direct way to eternall saluation thou diddest instruct and teach vs readily how to beléeue what to doe what to hope and in whom we ought to trust by thée we haue learned how vnhappy wée were borne through our first Father Adam by thée we are taught that there is no hope of saluation except by faith in thée we take hold of our frée redemption and adoption in Christ. Thou art the onely light that shâ—nest to all Creatures in the Desert of this World conduding them through the ignorance of their minds from the Egyptian darknes to that blessed Land which thou promisest vnto the méeke and such as follow thée in humility For in vs was nothing but vtter darknesse who neither could discerne our calamitie neither knew from whence to séek the remedy of our misery Thou didst enter into the World in the shape of a Seruant and didst take vpon thée our nature that thy brightnesse might disperse the cloud of our ignorance that by thy precepts thou mightst directour féet in the way of peace by the examples of thy life in thy humility thou didst limit out a path for vs to immortality making it easie for vs to tread in by thy heauenly way so becamest thou vnto vs a way that leadeth to Life in which lest we should be wearied thou hast assured vs by
thy promises that in following thy foot-steps there is an inheritance of eternity prepared for vs therefore whilest we are in this iourney be thou a staffe to vs whereby we may be sustained in all our wayes And by the comfort of thy holy Spirit repaire our strengths to the end wée may more willingly come vnto thée and as thou art made a way vnto vs seclude all errour become our â—â—uth take away all distrust and confirme our Faith in thée And as thou art made life vnto vs reuiue vs that were dead in sinne by a liuely knowledge of thée For it is eternall life to know thée Father Son and holy Ghost to be one true God Wherefore I humbly beséech thée O most mercifull Father to increase Faith in mee who am thy vnworthy seruant lest at any time I wauer in thy Celestiall doctrine increase obedience in me lest I swerue from thy precepts increase constancy that walking in thy wayes I neuer be allured by the inticements of Satan nor seduced by his terrours but that I may perseuere in thée who art the true way to life eternall increase my Faith that being partaker of thy Promises I may neuer waâ—e slow or dull in the study and practise of godâ—inesse and that I may alwayes striue and endeuour for more and more perfection Increase thy Grace in me that being mortified vnto my selfe I may liue and haue my conuersation with thée in Heauen and be encouraged by thy holy Spirit fearing nothing but thee then whom there is nothing more to be loued or feared glorified or more to be reioyced in who art the true glory of all Saints in whom there is nothing but full and perfect Felicitie A Prayer for the assistance of the holy Ghost No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 3. 4. If ye that be euill can giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly father giue the holy Ghost to them that desire him Luke 11. 13. O Gracious Lord God who didst send vpon thy Apostles and others thy holy Spirit filling their hearts with grace and wisedome I humbly beséech thee by thy vnspeakable mercy that thou wilt vouchsafe to fill my soule with thy grace and water my heart with the vnspeakable swéetnesse of thy Loue in the loue of Jesus Christ thy most dearely beloued Send down Lord thy holy Spirit to guide me being ignorant banish by his light the blacknes of sinne through Christ Jesus by him refresh my sad and sorrowfull soule there is neither wisedome nor strength without thée aide me therefore by that holy Spirit and I shall be able to shunne the deceits of Sathan and to withstand his power Thou art not ignorant that I can doe nothing of my selfe extend thy fauourable hand ouer me therefore and grant that I may forsake and vtterly relinquish my selfe and flie vnto thée Mortifie in me whatsoeuer is displeasant vnto thy Maiestie that in all things thou maiest conforme mée vnto thy will by thy holy Spirit that my life may be euer hereafter perfect in thy sight O Lord my God looke vpon me thy miserable Creature whose soule sigheth after thée day and night when shall I come and appeare before thy presence when shall I enter into that admirable place of thy Tabernacle the house of my God O comfort me with thy presence that I may taste here in this my mortall pilgrimage the swéetnesse of thy glory which shall continue for euer O my God I long to be deliuered from all temptations O eternall fountaine of light bring me backe againe to that eternall goodnesse by whom I am created that I may know thine omnipotencie euen as I am knowne of thée and may so loue thée as I am loued by thée that I may sée and inioy thée in the society of all the Elect who liuest and raignest together with the Father and the Sonne a Trinity in Unitie for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Sunday-Morning Thus saith the Lord take heede to your soules and beare no burdens on the Sabbath day nor bring it into the gates of Ierusalem Neither carry forth burdens out of your houses on the Sabbath day ney doe ye any worke but sanctifie the Sabbath as I commanded your Fathers Ier. 17. 21. 22. He that gathered stickes on the Sabbath day was stoned to death Numb 15. 32 35. 36. O Eternal God and heaùenly Father I extol thine infinite goodnesse and mercy together with thine eternall wisdome and truth who hast protected me this night made me to rest quietly and securely by thy most holy and diuine prouidence I humbly beséech thée of thine infinite goodnesse to protect and gouerne mée this day by thy mighty hand from all dangers both of Body and Soule Giue thy holy Angels charge ouer mee to direct me in all my wayes driue away the deadly enemy remoue all offences of this World mortifie and kill in me all carnall lusts and euill affections that they may haue no dominion ouer mée giue me a sorrowfull heart to bewaile my wicked life and comfort my soule by a liuely assurance that thou hast fréely forgiuen my sinnes Sanctifie me O Father this day I humbly beséech thée with thine especiall grace that I may haue decent carriage in my behauiour true deuotion in prayer and reuerent attention to heare thy heauenly and holy Word and that thou wilt please to giue mee vnderstanding ioyned with true deuotion to obserue learne and imbrace such things as are necessary to me for the confirming of my faith in Christ Jesus raise me O Lord by the power of thy resurrection from sin and giue me spirituall rest in the Communion et Saints that afterward I may kéep the euerlasting Sabbath with thée in the Kingdome of Heauen behold O Lord I knock at the dore of thy mercy with all my power and strength beséeching thée to continue vnto me the right vse of all my senses and limmes and send thy holy Spirit to beare witnesse to my spirit that I am thy childe and shall be heire of thy glorious kingdome through the mirits of Christ Jesus our Lord for whose sake I humbly pray thee to grant all those things that I haue prayed for and haue neede of Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer before the hearing of Gods Word O Eternall most high and mighty God vouchsafe I humbly beséech thée to inlighten my dark dul vnderstanding that thy word may enter into my soule and be so receiued of me as that Ignorance the mother of disobedience being put away heauenly knowledge may enter in and haue perfect rest and abiding in me Giue power O Lord to the séede of Truth that being sowne in my heart it may take deepe root and bringforth to the comfort of my soule sixty an hundred yea a thousand-fold and let thy Spirit so guide the lips of this thy Minister and Preacher as that he deliuer nothing but the Word
made to be due to me but that my chiefe vexation may be to thinke how I haue abused thy mercy and requited thy excéeding loue with so foule a trespesse Withall most mercifull God séeing there is mercy with thée and that thou desirest not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turne from his wickednesse and liue giue me leaue to become a suter vnto thy grace not in mine owne name but in the name of thy dearest Sonne the onely Mediator Intercessor of his chosen I most humbly beséech thée for his sake to haue mercy on me O Lord one drop of his most precious bloud shall be a soueraigne Medicine to cure my running â—ore his stripes and wounds are of an healing nature O then I pray thée purgeme cleane from mine intquitie and according to the multitude of thy mercy wipe away all my vncleannesse let the apprehension of my sinne be tempered with a comfortable application of thy mercy that I may hold an euen course betwixt fearlesse security and faithlesse despaire beholding at once both my vilenesse to humble me and the riches of thy grace to reuiue me And Lord permit me not I humbly pray thee to thinke it sufficient that I haue once made some shew of humiliation and sorrow for my falâ— but grant I may endeuor my selfe in the performance of these dueties and may euery day renew and increase my repentance with a déepe detestation of my sinnes and with a feruent desire more and more earnestly striue to be renewed in the spirit of my minde that being so cleansed from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit I may attaine vnto perfect holinesse in thy feare through our Lord Jesus in whose name I commend vnto thée my Petitions and for whose sake thou hast promised to deny nothing to thy Seruant So be it Amen Lord increase my Faith A preparation to the Receiuing of the holy Communion of the Body and Bloud of IESVS CHRIST ADAM the first man was forbidden to eate of one fruit which was fore-shewed to be mortall and hee did hasten to eate thereof Wee the Children of the second Adam are commanded to eate of the liuely and sauing fruit the Body and Bloud of Christ to our saluation yet how slacke are we to prepare vs thereunto and to partake thereof The first step therefore of true preparation thereunto is to search the Scriptures who teach the Mysterie of this holy Communion and the institution of the same as also the signification of the outward signes which are Bread and Wine the things signified the Body and Bloud of Christ shed for all beleeuers the end of the receiuing whereof is to retayne the remembrance of the Death Passion of Christ which he suffered for our sins By the true receiuing of this Sacrament we are vnited vnto the loue of God in and by the death of Christ the second Adam being separated from him by the fall of the first We are made heires by adoption of eternall saluation in by and with Christ which we lost in by Adam The true receiuing of this blessed Sacrament must be in sincerity with a repentant heart and faith vnfained And because it is not prouided for sinners who comming thereunto vnworthily receiue their owne damnation wee must before we repaire thereunto cleanse our soules from all sinne which cannot be done without diuing into our own soules with an impartiall search to finde out our owne corruption and truely to repent our sinnes Therefore saith the Apostle Let a man try and examine himselfe before he presume to come to this holy Table c. It is not fit that wee should come to this holy Banquet abruptly â—s men doe to their ordinary feasts where they Pharisaically and ceremoniously will wash their hands before they eate but to this most holy Supper we are not to come without inward washing of the soule from sinne for if vnwashed hands prophane the meat for the belly how much more an vnwasht heart this sacred Sacrament the foode of the Soule Inward examination impartiall accusation and an absolute condemnation of our selues for sinne is the best preparation to this holy Table For hee that looketh into and examineth the hidden prophanenesse lurking in the heart cannot but vpon due view of the same accuse himselfe of deepe disobedience to God which deserueth death Finding this he cannot but iudge himselfe worthy to be reiected from this communion of Saints and so condemne himselfe that he be not condemned of the Lord for he that confesseth his sinnes to God couereth them and he that coueteth to hide them increaseth them Therefore the Apostle willeth all men to trye and examine themselues which importeth repentance and so to eate This caueat is no inhibition but a terrifying of the soule not to presume to come to this holy Table without purification and sanctification Herein doth the Lord Iesus discouer his wonderfull loue towards vs who before hee inuite vs to come to this Table to eate doth instruct vs how wee should come and how we should feede He layes not this Table to snare vs as Absalom did Amnon and yet forewarnes vs that there is danger in receiuing it namely with polluted hands with hands full of bribery and extortion to take it with lips defiled with blasphemy cursing and lying to put it into a stomacke gorged with drunkennesse and gluttony and with a heart making no difference of the Lords body We must therefore lay aside all our old sinnes and put on the new man a Righteous a Holy and Christian conuersation and disposition Wee must be holy and heauenly minded towards God we must be louing to our Neighbours slow in taking aduantages or reuenging wrongs wee must be lowly and little in our owne eyes meeke and sober in all our actions And because things of so wonderfull value are herein exhibited and offered to the worthy Receiuers wee must consider who wee are how wee are cleansed of our spirituall Leprosie before we presume into the company of the Saints to communicate Wee must consider well whether vpon tryall made as afore is said wee can assure our selues that we are of the number of those to whom these holy things doe appertaine For who so is prophane in his person and an vnsanctified Creature let him forbeare to come to this holy Table and let him first vse the meanes of better assurance namely repentance for his sinnes amendment of his corrupt and sinfull life let him vse often zealous prayer to God for remission of his omissions and transgressions let him craue the assistance of his holy Spirit to assist him in the beating downe and mortifying sinne in him and that his Heart and Conscience may be sanctified And when he is cleansed let him shew himselfe to the Priest his Pastor and let him take knowledge by his outward Confession of his inward Contrition not by particularising of his sinnes but by manifesting his repentance and then in all reuerence
and horrible tentations would entrap me when the whole World forsakes mée and all things set themselues against mée then strengthen mée I beséech thée that I forsake not thée my Sauiour and fall from hope of thy frée mercy O comfort my heart with an inward assurance and seale of mine Adoption in thy Sonne in whom the forgiuenesse of sinnes is promised vnto all Beléeuers Call to memory thy holy Couenant entered into with vs at our Baptisme and the promise thereunto annexed Hee which beleeueth and is baptized shall be saued and grant that wée may euermore consider the same to our perpetuall comfort Amen A comfortable Prayer against back-sliding in Religion and for increase of Faith most worthy often to be said of euery Christian. O Almighty Eternall God which hast in thy Word commanded that we should beware of falling from thy grace and hast also witnessed that the end of those which goe backe from thy Word after they haue once knowne the way of righteousnesse will be excéeding fearefull Haue mercy therefore on mee O Lord I most humbly pray thée for I finde in my selfe great weakenesse no power haue I of my selfe to perseuere in goodnesse I beginne to wauer in my iudgement and to grow doubtfull euen of those things which I heretofore haue embraced with fulnesse of perswasion The exercises of godlinesse are not so pleasant vnto me as they haue béen a strange kinde of dulnesse stealeth vpon me and I haue no such life and spirit in matters of Religion as in times past I haue had and to what a wofull passe these things may come though I haue much hope when I thinke vpon thy mercy yet well may I feare when I looke into my selfe I confesse that thy goodnes is great in that thou makest my heart within mee to smart for these things and doest not suffer me to run on without stay into that hellish and infernall Pit in which I should be soone plunged if thou shouldest once leaue mée to my owne weakenesse Therefore O Lord I beséech thée to quicken my dull heart kindle those sparkes which are euen vpon quenching and like vtterly to goe out vnlesse it shall please thée to reuiue them make strong my thoughts and conscience make mée able more and more to sée the Truth in cases of Religion and to discerne things that differ from the same Giue mée vnderstanding to know both good and euill giue mée also increase of zeale that I may spring vp in grace and thriue in godlines vntil I come to that measure to which thou hast appointed mee to come in Christ Jesus let â—eé not in these key-colde and decaying times be carried away with euery blast of doctrine through the subtiltie and wilâ—nesse of those which lie in waite to beguile mée suffer neither the cares of this vaine world to wither and dry vp thy graces in mée nor transitory pleasures to entrap mée nor euill examples to misguide me nor mine owne sloathfull and heauy nature to make mée grow weary of well-doing but make mée so to burne in loue with heauenly things that I may not satisfle myselfe with any measure either of knowledge or practice but may rather still be ashamed of my selfe that I make no better procéedings and so may euer desire and striue to more perfection To this end enkindle in mee affection more and more by the hearing and reading of thy heauenly and holy Word earnest praying intentiue and feruent meditation carefull watching ouer mine owne soule following the example of godly men and imitating their gracious and holy conuersation As thy promises O Lord and most mercifull Father haue encouraged mée thus to pray so I he séech thée let it be thy gracious will to accept of these my humble petitions which procéede from a contrite a sorrowfull heart so shall my soule magnifie thée and my tongue set forth thy praises with ioyfull lips and that in Jesus Christ thy Sonne and my Sauiour Amen A most Christian and comfortable Consultation and sweete resolution what course in time of deepest distresse men ought to take worthy of all men to be considered to their vnspeakable comfort Read and Regard IT is a general complaint among the distressed children of men that great and dangerous is the triall to be long visited with the punishing hand of our high and powerful God especially notwithstanding the many instant cries and humble petitions of the afflicted soule who finding no ease nor feeling any comfort but contrariwise troubles miseries crosses griefes to increase daily thinking himselfe vtterly forgotten of God or méerely to be hated of him the silly afflicted soule thus bewrapped with feare féeling of his miseries many times fainteth and so falleth from faith in God to séek succour at the hands of mortall men and finding that to be a course of cold comfort with whom neither prayers take place nor endeauours preuaile he then pressed downe as vnder the burden of vtter despaire of any succour is moued oftentimes to frame his affections to contriue vnlawfull meanes by his naturall and corrupt conceit that his owne will and wit may shape some course to a hauen of more secure rest and so hoysing the sayles of his owne peruerse imaginations betaketh himselfe to the main sea of his vngodly deuices tâ—l at the length instead of a happy hoped harbour he suddenly sinketh and is swallowed vp of the ougly deuouring gulfe of irrecuperable confusion For the world as a sea tossing the weake ones that saile therein trieth the inclinations of all and approueth and condemneth but not according to the right rule of Christian reason and godly wisedome but after a sensuall manner of false iudgement affirmeth such as saile with a full fore-winde of prosperity here to be onely blessed happy and beloued of God and such as are becalmed with distresse and miseries with crosses and calamities and kéepe not the glorious way with the worldly-minded to be hated and accursed of him And this wretched and false censure of carnall men driues many weake soules vpon the rocks of bitter ruine euen when they dreame of a course of swéetest happinesse For as Dauid found Psalme 49. 18. much more this age affoordeth the experience that men doe praise them that make much of themselues namely such as wallow in the delights and pleasures of the flesh But them they estéeme mad men and fooles and cast-awayes and accursed that liue in a base and low and poore and ignominious estate though neuer so contented the foolishnesse of worldly men is wisedome and the true wisdome of the poore is foolishnesse with the worlds flatterers And this is that dangerous rocke vpon which oftentimes euen the godly make shipwracke when they consult with flesh and bloud which argueth it the safest course to become licentious to imbrace vanity and to studie the profitable and praised arts of flattery and dissimulation to walke the broad way to preferment to scale the wals of wealth and estimation
importunate with mee for that which I cannot performe and resting in danger of their cruelties haue no other refuge but to depend on thy mercy and prouidence wherein as in a safe sanctuary I shall rest euermore preserued vntill these dangers be ouerpast Many doe looke vpon me to sée and consider what will become of my miseries and I continually pleade thy frée mercy in Christ wherein thou promisest to couer the multitude of my sins for which I am thus afflicted the righteous thereby take hold of hope and in my behalfe wish a prosperous and happy end of my destres encouraging mee to perseuere for that thy word euer sure warranteth a timely deliuery of all such as are penitent patient and faithfull vnto the end But alas good Father in Christ Jesus I a most sinfull man doe challenge no comfort ease or reliefe in mine owne right but in the merits of him in whom thou art well pleased and in whom thou shewest mercy vnto sinners among whom I am the greatest Yea Lord I am ignorant of good things and wander as a beast by nature in the vast wildernesse of this worlds vanities hauing little or no taste of thy sauing truth or féeling of future dangers but of thée onely I haue knowledge of my selfe I am weake but from thee I haue all strength of my selfe is misery from thée is mercy of my selfe I am altogether vnperfect but from thée is all perfection both inward tending to the consolation of my said soule and outward to the reliefe of my distressed body Therefore teach me O Lord teach me thy truth shew me thy wayes and leade mee in thy pathes continually withhold my heart from euery euill thought my hands that they commit no euill kéepe mine eyes sincere and my tongue that it speake no vnséemely thing and my féet from falling Regard moe not as I am in mine owne selfe nor deale with me as I deserue by mine owne wayes but according to thy tender mercies and louing kindnesse banish my sinnes as a mist driue away my imperfections as a cloud and supply my wants with timely reliefe Thou art righteous and gracious and reformest sinners and forgiuest their sins Be mercifull therefore vnto mine iniquities for they are very great Kéepe my soule and deliuer me let mee not be confounded nor perish vtterly for I trust in thée Thou art the light of my saluation the strength of my life and my refuge and sure defence in trouble In the time of my greatest dangers thou shalt hide mee in thy tabernacle namely in the secret places of thy prouidence which no man can finde out thou shalt kéepe me and hide me from them that couet my destruction thou shalt set me vpon a rock against which man shall not preuaile Harken therefore O Lord harken vnto my voyce when I cry vnto thée haue mercy vpon mee and comfort mee Thou sayest Seeke yee my Face And what is it O Lord but to séeke thy helpe in distresse and danger to craue thy fauour and succor in the time of néede O Father my soule by the priuiledge of thy frée Spirit which teacheth truth in the inner parts is ready my heart also is prepared to séeke thée my tongue speaketh vnto thée as vnto the liuely helper of all that are oppressed Hide not therefore thy face in displeasure which in loue thou willest me to seeke be vnto me as heretofore thou hast béene my succour and shield and leaue me not vnto the end My naturall father indéede that begat me and my mother that bare mee may forget mée my friends that pretend to fauour mee may forsake mee when thou rebukest me but thou canst not forget mée nor forsake mee for thou in thy Word hast promised the contrary and therefore I will not feare to flye vnto thée who giuest what earthly fathers cannot giue and supplyest my wants that neither my most familiar and my dearest friends can supply I should vtterly faint did I not verily trust in thée and assuredly know that thou hast no respect of persons and that thou acceptest not of men as the world doth by the outward habite and externall glory but the inward parts decked with faith feare and obedience thou likest and embracest the poorest for pietie and in the proud whom the world doth reuerence thou hast no delight Frame thou therefore mine inward zeale and let not my outward basenes ouer-much depriue me of some comfort among the children of men and when I cry vnto thée be not as men who regard not the poore but with spéede heare and consider and refuse not to answere me with timely reliefe And let not the vnsauorie miseries of this life accompanied with the naturall we akenesse of my flesh draw me into the way of the wicked but let me rather hold fast by thy promised protection as by the Altar of a liuely â—â—fuge â—ow downe thine eare I â—ay O Lord and let me not for euer cry vnto thée in vaine Draw me out of the net that is laid for mée deliuer me from the dangers prepared against me Thou hast séene my troubles and hast knowne my soule in the bitternes of distresse and yet thou hast not vtterly forsaken mée but in mercy hast mightily preserued mee from infinite perils And now Lord euen now séeing my life wasteth in heauinesse and my yéeres consume in forrow sith I am a reproach euen among my neighbours and all my friends faile me and sith I am euen at the point to perish be pleased to thinke of my miseries and send me spéedy reliefe As thy goodnesse O Lord is great which thou hast laid vp as in a treasury for all that feare thee so let thy mercy appeare and thy prouidence and power toward me be séene among such as thinke indéede thou hast forsaken me vtterly O Lord increase my Faith The Motiue to the fift Prayer VVHerein the poore man appealeth vnto God being stricken with a kinde of despaire because there be that say of him There is no helpe for him in God he therefore not onely cryeth vnto God that he will consider it but he himselfe also entreth into the cause why they so say and findeth it to be for that they see his store consumed and his basket emptied and his foes furious against him but hee herewith not dismayed reasoneth against these mens infidelity who in these their allegations seeme to deny that either there is a God or that he careth for or will or can helpe the poore And yet hee presumeth not vpon his owne integrity but confesseth God to be iust and rightly may punish sinners among whom he is the greatest and hee finding this temptation to be very grieuous he prayeth God to second his feeble nature by his free grace and that he will stay him with his staffe while he correcteth him with his rod because he is but a weake man may easily be burdened aboue his owne strength But being assisted by God hee assureth himselfe
life that after my long estraying from thée I may be at last brought home to thy blessed fauour againe wherein is life and liberty and comfort and fulnesse and ioy and rest and peace for euer Oh happy is he that is in thy protection most happy is hee whom thou fauourest for he is wise he is strong he is godly he is fed he is clad hée is safe and hee is rich in euery good thing When he calleth thou hearest when hee asketh thou giuest when hée séeketh hée findeth when hée is sicke thou curest him when hée is poore thou prouidest for him when he is sad thou comfortest him when he is weary thou easest him when he hungreth thou féedest him when he is in trouble thou defendest him when he is in danger thou preseruest him when he is hated thou louest him and when he is dead he then entereth into that life which is eternall and then partaketh of the ioyes which are vnspeakable Oh accept mée into this fauour wherein are so many blessings certaine furnish me with these blessings wherein are so swéete contentations and bestow on mee those graces that make the most despised in the world most honourable with thée So shall my sorrowes be turned into ioy my want into sufficiency my teares into gladnesse and all my miseries into godly mirth Deliuer my soule from death kéepe my féete from sliding let mée walke righteously before thée and call instantly vpon thée who performest thy promises and sufferest none to depart empty away that séeke thée with their whole hearts Oh send therefore and saue mee from them that would deuoure mee and from that which afflicteth me for my soule is among Lyons I wade as through a raging sea I dwell among men set on fire against me whose teeth are speares and whose tongues are as a two edged sword let thy mercy therfore and truth be my shield buckler Thou hast euer béen mine hope helpe me therefore and let not my troubles increase renew my ioyes and set mée vpon the rock of neuer-failing reliefe and let my rest and refuge be for euer vnder the shadow of thy protection Bring to passe what is fit for me and which thou knowest expedient let the righteous sée the blessed end of my hope that they may likewise talke of thy glory and speake of thy praise And all men shall say Verily there is fruit for the righteous doubtlesse there is a God that worketh good for them that are of a perfect heart O Lord increase my Faith The Motiue to the ninth Prayer for assurance of Gods Prouidence THe poore man notwithstanding his present heauy burthen of affliction hath and feeleth in himselfe an inward instinct of comfort and in meere zeale of Gods glory breaketh out into an admiration as it were of his infinite Maiestie power and excellency and consequently recounteth the innumerable blessings and infinite mercies of the Lord who so regardeth the frailty of man as hee seemeth to winke at his many euils confessing it the meere kindnesse and free fauour of God that all mankinde is not confounded for disobedience laying vpon himselfe the guilt of his own sinnes for which beyond all other the Lord may iustly punish him acknowledging that hee more offendeth God by his sins then he can appease him with his Prayers and doth more moue him to anger by his transgressions then hee can please him by his best zeale And yet he longeth still to be at one with God in whom he knoweth there is mercy and loue and liberty and reliefe In hope whereof and that God will remember his louing kindnesse againe towards him hee will yet trust and pray and be patient And yet seeing his corruptions still strong to beat down his faith in God prayeth God to bridle his vngodly affections lest hee feare ouer-much and so faint and giue ouer his suite and desireth by the examples of Ioh Ioseph and Dauid and other godly Fathers that endured their troubles patiently he may likewise be patient vnto the end And thus rowzing vp his dead thoughts and sorrowfull soule with the sweet consideration of infinite comforts which his louing God hath euer and doth daily bestow vpon his poore oppressed children he resolueth not to faint The ninth Prayer in which the poore distressed Man acknowledgeth that though God doe deseruedly punish him yet he assureth himselfe that God will relieue him O Lord my God thy name is most excellent in all the World thy glory is spread abroad thorow the Heauens and thy praise is vttered by all thy Creatures as in an vniuersall harmony thorow Heauen and Earth For thy mercies are infinite and thy blessings without number that thou hast best owed vpon them all especially vpon the Children of men who yet among all other Creatures are most forgetfull and aptest to breake out into strongest disobedience against thy Maiestie and of thy free fauour and mercy it is that all Adams issue is not vtterly rooted out of the Land of the liuing And I for my part Father most louing cannot hold my selfe guiltlesse of infinite euils whereby I haue yéelded greatest cause among many that thou shouldest punish euen the whole World for disobedience but my selfe especially I confesse worthy of my miseries and not to deserue the vse of the Aire to breathe in nor of any of thy creatures to be comforted by them Worthily therefore hast thou afflicted me and worthily maist thou stil visite me for I sée I doe rather more incense thée by my sins then appeaâ—e thée by my prayers I more offend thâ—e by transgressions then I can please thée by my best zeale I faint at mine owne vnworthines yet faine would I be at one with thée in whom is onely safety and succour and assured saluation to them that truly reforme their liues rightly frame their repentance and sincerely follow thy will which is thine owne gift All this I desire to performe and distrust thée not for thou hast promised pardon to the penitent and reliefe to the lowly and to be with them that séeke thée and to hold them vp that hold by thée and to instruct them that séeke wisedome of thée Forasmuch therefore as I haue so long cryed vnto thée so long sought thée I will yet hope though I shut vp my sad soule in siâ—ence onely vnto thée who wel coÌ„siderest the inward groâ—es and rightly ponderest the sorrowes and sighes and wants and desires of thy distressed Children though they séeme mute in their lips and to speake nothing with their tongues If thou mightest at all haue béene pleased to heare by earnest cryes thou mightst haue heard me if it might haue pleased thée to succour mée by earnest desires I might haue béene relieued But loâ— the time is not yet come that thou hast appointed for my deliuery and therefore I will still wait and not be weary for my helpe and my comfort and my life and my saluation dependeth on thée O brible therefore all
worlds for that thou createdst mee being nothing and being borne a sinfull reprobate by nature diddest redeeme mée from Satan and hell and adoptedst mée one of thine owne children by thine owne Sonnes bloud in whom and for whose sake thou acceptest me an heyre with thy Saints of the glory of Heauen And for â—ine assurance here in this life hast giuen mée not onely thy promise in thy Word but hast sanctified mée with thy holy Spirit whereby I beléeue and can in some measure resist the motions which arise in mee by meanes of that originall corruption which I brought into the world and beare about mée which could not but condemne mée were it not that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the righteous did iustifie me by a liuely apprehension and a faithfull féeling of his most frée merits working for me and in my behalfe These most swéete spirituall fauors so farre surmount the apprehension of the most wise in the world and any féeling to the comfort of carnall men that they cannot assure themselues of their owne saluation a more miserable estate then which cannot light vpon man How much then Lord am I wretched creature bound vnto thy frée mercy in choosing mee to be one of thine owne by Adoption and to giue mée the earnest-penny of thy Spirit to assure mee thereof and that so farre from presuming vpon any desert of mine owne as I wholly condemne my selfe and acknowledge all my hope and assurance to be wrought in me by thine owne frée loue I vnworthy deseruing nothing lesse deseruing rather thine heauy and high indignation and consequently thy iust Judgements whereby in stead of my frée election I should be reiected in stead of my redemption I should be condemned and to be retained in the fearfull power and bondage of Satan and hell in stead of my sanctification and iustification I haue merited reprobation and yet deare Father in the abundance of thy fauors I haue and doe inioy the blessings of all spirituall comfort and contentment and withall haue inioyed so many corporall comforts and earthly graces at thy hands as are more in number then my sinnes which are more then the dust of the earth my life I had of thée the continuance thereof of thée the health of my body thou preseruest and when I haue beene sicke thou hast healed me In my hunger thou féedest mée and refreshest me when I am thirsty thou cloathest me and which is more thou bearest me as the Eagle doth her young euen vpon the wings of thy prouidence so that I haue bin defended from infinite imminent dangers both from the perill of the sword and the plague and from the violence of many misfortunes which might haue befallen me whereby had I not béene protected by thée I had perished long agoe and many times being poore thou hast relieued mée being eâ—uied thou hast kept mee from the power and open force and secret deuices of my many enemies And moreouer which is not the least Lord thou hast not onely giuen mée the vse of my limbes and seruice of my senses but hast taught my heart to conceiue and my hands to performe that by which in thy prouidence I profit in my calling and liue How then most gracious and louing Father am I bound vnto thy diuine Maiesty for such and so many heauenly and spirituall blessings and corporall and â—arthly benefits the least of which as I haue not deserued so can I not make recompence vnto thée for the least But as thou hast fréely bestowed them all vpon me in Christ so in Christ I returne to thée the glory in whom thou art well pleased and in him reconciled vnto mée or else would the benefits which I receiue become rather a curse then a blessing vnto me Oh that I were therefore of wisedome sufficient of power able in disposition willing and in zeale so seruent as I might powre forth thy deserued praises with a ioyfull heart But good Father accept the sacrifice of my wiâ—ling minde and impute not vnto me either weakenesse or vnwillingnes vnthankfulnesse or forgetfulnesse of this high duty forasmuch as that all-sufficient Lambe sacrificed for mée mediateth as well for me and in my behalfe my inward thanksgiuing presenteth them vpon thine altar of mercy as he euer presenteth vnto thée my prayers for pardon of my sins Of my selfe Lord I cannot bring thée Abel or Elias sacrifice but an heart of true thanksgiuing which it may please thée to accept as thou didst the sacrifice of Bullockes and Goates â—nd let mée Lord be truely able to offer vnto thée Dauids morning and euening sacrifice of praise especially that most swéete and preuailing sacrifice of â—iliall obedience which thou so much acceptest and although it can merit no fauour at thy hands as it is my worke it being sanctified in Christ it is the speciall meane not onely to discharge my duety in part but to obtaine new and continuing blessings and benefits at thy hands in Christ to whom with thée and the holy Ghost be all honour power praise and thanksgiuing for euermore Amen O Lord increase my Faith and make me euermore thankfull Another thankesgiuing in and for Gods gentle corrections O Eternall God powerfull and true which bringest downe to nought again aduancest thou in mercy often correctest thy dearest children and holdest them in by afflictions lest their ouer-much liberty should giue them ouer-much scope to run astray and consequently to sinne and dishonour thy name to their owne destruction Therefore O louing and most mercifull and deare Father I doe yéelde thée thankes that thou hast visited me with crosses and beaten me with gentle afflictions and corrected mée with fatherly chastisements for they are thy louing imbracements welcome to the spiritually minded â—â—kesome yet to flesh and bloud that fauour not of any thing contentedly but of sinne delight and vanity baites and snares of death Good therefore is it for mée deare Father that thou hast humbled me with thy louing corrections and great is thy fauour yeâ— and thy prouidence and power past all the capacity of the wisest for 〈◊〉 Lord I haue found fauour in thy sight I haue receiued comfort at thy hands euen in the time of my déepest afflictions yea when I was cast downe and in the conceit of mortall men confounded altogether thou yet didst take me vp and didst not suffer mée to perish vtterly for when mine enemies laid waite for mée and snares to take mée and intended my destruction they were by thée preuenced of their purpose and when they hasted to take me they stumbled and fell and I escaped from them as a bird from the snare of a Fowler therefore doe I giue thée the glory I praise thy name and I will magnifie thy goodnesse for euer O Father who hath looked vpon me in my troubles but thou who hath sustayned me but thou who hath fed me but thou who hath preserued me but thou who tooke me out of the Lyons
wicked innocent but rather to visit their iniquities yet haue wée this comfort that thy mercy to the humble euer rests vnmeasurable and vnmoueable though thou spakest to the Prophet against thine own people being disobedient to thée saying Though Moses and Samuel stood before me yet haue I no heart to this people Driue them away that they may goe out of my sight some vnto death some to the sword and some to captiuity yet we know O our good God that when as Ephraim was heard â—amenting and praying heartily in his distresse thou thoughtest then vpon mercy as a Father pittying his owne children This thy clemency to others incourageth vs to cry for thy mercies in this our misery vpon our repentance both for vs ours and the whole Land Uouchsafe O louing Sauiour to represse the vehement heate of thy fire with godly pitty stay thine hand from our destruction thou art long suffering good gracious and vnwilling sinners should perish Be intreated therefore O Lord most glorious to bid th ne Angels cease from punishing looke forth-with vpon this Land good Father pitty the infected people thereof that wée altogether may say The Lord liueth for euer worthy of praise because hee hath béene mercifull vnto sinners Amen O Lord increase my Faith If not Infected pray thus IT pleased thée O heauenly Father who art Lord of life and death once to plague the Egyptians and yet to spare the Israelites in the borders of Gosen onely because thou plaguest where thou pleasest So with the pestilence now hast thou infected euen from Dan to Beersheba yet my selfe and diuers others in this place rest safe from this so pestilent an Infection protected and kept as yet safe therefrom onely by thy hand onely by thy goodnesse for our sinnes we confesse stand vp as rampired walls against vs and deserue no lesse then theirs whom already thou hast bruised with a iust measure of thy Judgements O gracious Lord God stirre vs vp to â—hew our hearts throughly thankefull vnto thée that in thankesgiuing and praise we may go before others which in paines and plagues doe goe before 〈◊〉 And as in mercy thou hast drawne â—…knesse from our bodies so in loâ—e to our soules make vs loath the vaine delights of this life that we may faithfully seâ—ue and séeke thée in these our dayes of health wherein wée obtaine thy mercy inioy thy fauour and rest preserued from the pestilence wherewith many of our Brethren lie perplexed beside sundry thousands whom the graâ—t hath swallowed Blesse vs still O Lord our God blesse vs O Father without within be thou our guard thy Word our guide thy Spirit our comfort and thy Son our Sauiour Lord stand by vs for our good continually that when the world repineth at thy Judgements when the wicked swell in their impatiency when the vnregenerate grudge and murmure at thy plagues and punishments wherewith thou chastisest and correctest thy deare Children that euen then wée may haue and inioy quietnesse of heart and peace of conscience neuer to be dismaied or to distrust thy prouidence ouer vs but still to leaâ—e stedfastly vnto thée and rest vpon thée and the rock of thy Truth This confidence Lord grant vs and thy protection from this couragious disease that raigneth that wée may chearefully â—ound forth thy diuine praises amongst men vnto the praise of thy grace in Christ Jesus To whom our Sauiour and Redéemer with thée the blessed Father of vs all and the holy Spirit the Sanctifiâ—r of our soules thrée persons yet one diuine essence be giuen all laâ—d glory and thankes in this world and in that to come for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer in the time of Tempests and vnseasonable Weather God bringeth vp the cloudes from the ends of the earth and maketh the lightnings with the raine he draweth forth the windâ—s out of his treasures Psal. 135. 7. Hee commandeth and raiseth the stormie windes and it lifteth vp the waues of the seâ— Psal. 107. 25. But he ariseth and rebuketh the windes and the sea and maketh them calme Mat. 8. 26. Marke 4. 39. By his word he stilleth the winde and by his counsell appealeth the deepe Ecclus 43. 23. O Most mighty and mercifull Lord God let all the powers of the earth blesse thée and praise thee their euer-liuing God in thine holy and heauenly habitation for thou O Lord sittest on high in the Throne of thy Maiesty and makest thy strength and might knowne to all Nations thy voyce is vpon the waters From thée O God procéedeth Thunder thy voyce maketh the Wildernesse to tremble yea thou makest the mighty hils to tremble and shake the Earth trembleth and quaketh the foundations also of the Mountaines moue and shake when thou art displeased there commeth out of thy nostrils smoke and out of thy mouth a consuming fire thou makest darkenesse thy secret place and at the glory of thy presence the Clouds passe away thou thunderest from the heauens and giuest out thy voyce thou drawest forth the Windes out of thy treasures and commandest them backe againe to their places all things are in subiection vnto thée thy workes magnifie thée O Lord yea they tremble at thy presence the Mountaines and Hils dread thée when thou art displeased yea the whole world is afraid The Waters O God know thée and are afraid yea the depths tremble thy voyce O Lord diuideth the fiery flames O Lord thy voice maketh the Wildernes to tremble Thou remainest King foreuer thou wilt giue strength vnto thy People and blesse them with peace O most mercifull God shaddow vs from thy displeasure which is too vehement and intollerable let thy countenance shine vpon vs and haue mercy on vs protect thou our houses and vs that we be neither consumed by fire nor drowned by waters send not vpon the earth such vntemperate or vntimely Showres or any other vnseasonable weather whereby the Fruits thereof may be hurt or our soules harmed O God the Father which diddest send thy onely Sonne to die the death of the Crosse for my sake preserue mée and grant vnto me a blessed end O God the Son which didst suffer for my sake the heauy death of the Crosse defend me and O God the holy Ghost comfort mée blesse and kéepe mée from all dangers from this time forth and for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer for Peace in true RELIGION Behold saith the Lord I will extend peace vpon my Church like a floud as one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you and yee shall be comforted in Ierusalem Esay 66. 12. 13. These things haue I spoken to you saith Christ that yee in mee might haue peace in the world yee shall haue affliction but be of good comfort I haue ouercome the world Iohn 16. 33. O Most high and glorious God who art the Authour of Peace from whom doe procéede holy counsels and righteous destres giue vnto vs thy Seruants that Peace
which the world cannot giue that both our hearts and workes may answere thy Commandements and that our dayes through thy protection may be alwayes quiet from trouble Speake thou peace vnto all people especially to thy Saints Let thy saluation be nigh them that feare thée that glory may dwell within our Land Let mercy and Truth méete together yea let Justice and Peace imbrace each other Let Truth arise out of the Earth and Righteousnesse looke downe from Heauen Let the Mountaines and the Hils bring Peace to the people and Shéepe of thy Pasture Blesse Lord all Countries Cities Townes and places where thy Word doth abide and is purely preached and increase the number of them in the vniuersall World O Lord send them much peace that delight in thy Law let them be without stones to stumble at and blesse them with prosperity within their places O eternall God which hast called vs in peace grant wée may haue peace with all men and let vs highly account of holinesse without which none can sée the Lord nor haue peace in the Lord. Represse the Diuell the breaker of godly Concord and Christian Peace which 〈◊〉 aging throughout al Nations soweth euery where the séede of strife and discord as the Séeds-man of falshood and lâ—es O God of Peace which makest an end of Warre throughout the World protect vs from War and slaughter scatter the Kingdomes that delight in Warre breake and hinder all euill Counsels and the purpose of such as minde after nothing else but the shedding of innocent bloud Let them come to shame and perish through their owne imaginations that practise euill against thy Church Giue all men a desire of peace contented mindes in their vocation and a care to aduance the welfare of that place where they inhabite Where Strife Contention and Discord is amongst men reconcile their hearts and mindes that these flames fires may speedily be put out for thou canst conclude a Truce for vs and all Men and make the Wolfe to dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard to lye downe with the Kid. Make our Tabernacles safe and quiet that about them there may be arich tranquillity which may abound like the Streame running ouer his Bankes and our righteousnesse as the Waues of the Sea which is neuer dry In thee shall wee haue our wished peace and the worke of righteousnesse shall be peace and her fruit rest and quietnesse for euer and thy people shall dwell in the Innes of peace and in sure dwellings and in safe places of comfort Heare vs O Lord of peace and grant that thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding may kéepe our hearts and mindes in the loue of our Lord Jesus Christ who liueth and raigneth with thée in the vnity of the holy Spirit now and for euermore Amen O Lord increase our Faith in Peace A Prayer to be vsed of a Widdow Doth not the teares runne downe the Widdowes checkes and her cry is against them that causeth them for from her cheekes doe they goe into heauen and the Lord which heareth them doth accept them Ecclus. 25. 15. Shee that is a Widdow indeede and left alone trusteth in God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day But shee that liueth in play is dead while shee liueth 1 Tim. 5. 5 6. O Eternall and most mercifull God which according to thine holy will hast made mée a poore distressed Widdow by taking away my beare and louing husband out of this transitory world vnto thée do I cry in this my misery haue mercy on mée I humbly beséech thée and forgiue all mine offences which I haue committed against thy diuine â—aiesty be fauourable vnto mée O Lord and take pitty on mée for I am alone and comfortlesse Behold mine affliction and misery relieue my wants as thou didst relieue that Widdow of Sarepta whom thou diddest most miraculously preserue by the Prophet Elias take the like compassion on mée assist mée behold my necessity and deliuer mée out of all troubles Grant likewise that I may finde fauour in the sight of all Gouernours and Magistrates that I be not iniured contrary to equity In like manner let mée finde amongst men Christian consideration and commiseration of my present â—state and succour with godly counsell protect mée from false tongues which are like rasors cutting deceitfully and as the sharpe arrowes of a mighty man Kéepe mée O Lord from slander and from the tongues of wicked men which with poysoned words haue bent themselues to cast downe the poore and néedy and to destroy such as are of vpright conuersation I humbly betéech thée O Lord to giue mée grace to liue in this mine estate of widowhood chastly and godly shewing my selfe an example of godlinesse to others putting alwayes my hope and affiance in thy mercy let me with all patience and fortitude indure all crosses laid vpon me and continue faithfully in making of supplicatious night and day vnto thée Looke how the eyes of a seruant are vpon her Mistresse so are mine eyes bent vpon thée my Lord vntill thou haue mercy on me Haue mercy therefore O Lord on mée for I am full of infirmity heare me O Father euen for Christs sake thy Sonne and my Sauiour to whom be giuen all praise and honour now and euermore Amen A Prayer for one that prepares himselfe for marriage House and riches are the inheritance of the fathers but a prudent wife commeth of the Lord Pro. 19. 14. Well is hee that dwelleth with a wife of vnderstanding Ecclus. 25. 8. Blessed is he that hath a vertuous wife for the number of his yeares shall be double an honest woman recouereth her husband and she shall fill the yeares of his life with peace A vertuous woman is a good portion which shall be giuen as a gift vnto such as feare and serue the Lord Ecclus. 26. 1. 2. 3. O Heauenly God euerlasting and most powerful Father I do prostrate my selfe before the throne of thy Maiesty humbly thanking thée in that thou hast formed mée in the wombe of my mother and suffered mée to be borne such as I am maintained me likewise from mine infancy to this instant and preserued me from infinite perils for it is through thy goodnesse and fatherly blessing that I haue attained to the yéeres I am now in and in that time thou hast taught mee by thy holy word to know Jesus Christ thy beloued Sonne the onely ioy and comfort that a Christian can haue because in the true knowledge of him consisteth eternall life and therefore I cannot sufficiently yéelde thée praise for the infinite and innumerable benefits thou hast bestowed on me Neuerthelesse because thou hast commanded vs to call vpon thée in all our necessities and most louingly hast promised to heare vs let it now please thée graciously to helpe me For I haue found and proued that in regard of mine owne natures corruption I cannot continue chaste and blamelesse except I vse the meanes which thou
hast ordained and by thy holy Word hast also approued the same saying To auoide whoredome let euery man haue his wife and euery woman her husband Then I beséech thee in mercy to lend mâ—e thy helping bend and so blesse mee and my Patents that in this intended matter wee may not be abused by any exteriour appearance either of beauty riches or deceiuing spéeches which may fore-runne or procéede in this businesse but as thy Word saith A vertuous wife is a gift which comes from thee O Lord and as it is most certain that not onely thou gauest Eue to Adam but didst likewise conioyne Abraham with Sarah Iseac with Rebecca and Iacob with his best estéemed Rachel euen so I intreat and beséech thée O Father of lights not onely to be my Father but also to appoint mée my fellow-partner in regard thou oughtest to be the author and actor in so honourable a businesse Send downe the holy Angell to be my guide and leader towards her whom thou hast prepared for mée as in like case thou madest them seruants to Abraham and young Tobias Then let mée méete her inioy her and liue with her in thy feare and fauour O Lord Jesus may it please thée with thy blessing to be with me at my marriage as thou didst vouchsafe to honour that at Cana in Galilee with thy owne presence And as thou art well pleased to conioyne man and wife and to make them one body so vnite vs both vnto thée that we may euermore liue in thée and thou in vs. Amen O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer for a young Man or Maide prepared to Marriage To auoide fornication let euery man haue his wife and let euery woman haue her owne husband 1 Cor. 7. 2. The price of a vertuous woman is farre aboue the value of pearles she will doe her husband good and not euill all the dayes of her life Pro. 31. 10. 12. O Omnipotent and euer-liuing God without whom mens enbenours are friuolous cannot prosper in this world I thy poore creature and the worke of thine hands whom thou hast vouchsafed neuerthelesse to receiue into the fellowship of thy Saints by the holy Sacrament of Baptisme doe here present my selfe before thy diuine Maiesty humbly beséeching thée in the name of Jesus Christ thy beloued Sonne to stretch forth thy holy hand and helpe mée to the end that if it be thy will I shall marry thou maâ—st lead and direct mée to a vertuous yoke-fellow with whom I may liue so long as we shall continue together in thy loue and feare O God it was thou that gauest Eue to Adam and didst addresse the seruant of Abraham to Rebecca that she might be wife to the Patriarke Isaac Thou didst send thine Angell with young Tobias to deliuer Sara the daughter of Raguel out of the poore desolate and approbrious condition wherein she then liued and to match her in marriage with the said Tobias This is not a case of chance or Fortune neither guided by mens wisedome for heaping vp goods together It often hapneth that after one hath carefully considered all circumstances and causes thereto belonging searching into the vttermost as may be deuised that party fals short of his hopes expected and in stead of an helper hapneth on an hinderer I heartily therefore pray thée O God to prouide me such a one as thou knowest fittest for me and so to order the deliberations counsels and enterprises of my Parents friends that the whole issue and euent may first redound to the aduancement of thy glory and next to the endlesse contentment good and saluation of vs all in Christ Jesus our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen A Prayer to be said of Women with childe Women shall be saued by bearing of children if they continue in faith and loue and holinesâ—e with modestie 1 Tim. 2. 15. O Mercifull and mighty God the framer wise gouernour and gratious preseruer of all things I render vnto thy maiesty most humble thanks for that thou art pleased of thy gracious goodnesse to remoue from mée the reproach of barrennesse and hast opened my wombe to conception prosper O Lord within me the worke of thine owne hands which is wonderfully made whose bones and members are knowne to thée whose very hayres thou numbrest and takest care of them Blesse O Lord the worke of thme owne hand within me that it may receiue a perfect shape and portion and liue to praise thée in the midst of the congregation I commend it with my selfe into thy holy hands whom I beséech thée O most gracious God so to blesse guide and preserue that neither the malice of the wicked spirit ouercome me nor any other inconuenience approach nie mée to hurt mée kéepe me from vame feares and foolish destres that without danger I may beare and with ioy bring forth the fruit where with thou hast blessed mée to the glory of thy most holy Name and my great comfort in thée to whom be giuen and ascribed all honor might power and praise now and for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be said of a Woman in trauell O Good Lord I acknowledge and confesse that thy displeasure for sinne committed was and is very great which I doe at this present feele and was first committed by our first mother Eue and continued by vs we being by nature inclined thereunto whom for punishment thereof thou hast said in sorrow we shall bring forth children Impose not that heauy burthen vpon my weak body but regard mee with thy fauour in the promised Seede of the woman and giue mee comfort from heauen lay vpon mee no more then I shall be well able to vndergoe and euen in the middest of my calamities prepare thou the way for mee that I may patiently beare them strengthen O Lord my body giue courage vnto my heart and comfort my soule that in all parts being fastened vnto thee neither frailty of the flesh nor temptation of the Diuell in my greatest extremity may make mée faint or fall from thée or haue the least distrust of thy gracious fauour towards mée Thou art nigh O Lord vnto all that call vpon thée in heart I humbly beséech thée not to be absent from me at my time but that the assurance of thy presence may be my stay and comfort that in respect thereof I may sustaine all torments and wholly rest in thée which art the God of my strength and consolation to whom be giuen all praise now and for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Thankesgiuing of a Woman after her Deliuery Oeternall God and most louing Father thou art great and worthy to be feared thou art gracious and worthy to be praised for thy mercy excéedeth all thy workes thou woundest thou healest thou throwest downe and helpest vp againe I most humbly thanke thée my most louing and gentle Father that it hath pleased thée in thy goodnes now at the length to deliuer me from