and Vertuous with a greater Portion of Grace and bring all Sinners to Repentance Preserve all that travel by Land or by Water and give thy blessing to those that labour in their several Callings O prosper thou their handy work O good God be gracious to all my Relations and Friends convert and pardon my Enemies Deal to all degrees and conditions of Men what is most useful and profitable for them Finally I bless and praise thy holy Name for all the Mercies vouchsafed to me and to all Mankind for the sake of thy dear Son Christ Jesus I glorifie thee for his miraculous Birth Life Death Resurrection and Ascension and for his Intercession at thy right Hand for us and for the sending of the Holy Ghost for the wonderful Preservation of thy Church in all Ages for the good Examples of all Holy Men and Women that have gone before us for the means of Grace and for the hope of Glory I likewise magnifie Thee for my Health Strength Food and Rayment for the Preservation of my Self my Friends and Relations and for all the Comforts of this Life humbly beseeching Thee to give us all Grace to live so godly soberly and righteously in this present World that at the end of our Days we may come to those everlasting Joys which thou hast prepared for those that love thee through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen When this Prayer is used in the Morning add that which follows O God who by thy good Providence hast watched over me the Night that is pass'd be Thou pleas'd also to preserve me this Day defend me by thy mighty power from all things hurtful and grant me all things needful both for my Soul and Body and prosper what I shall go about through Jesus Christ Amen When in the Evening add this BE thou pleased this Night to protect and defend me and all that Thou in thy good Providence hast given me from all dangers and grant me such a comfortable and refreshing Sleep as may enable me to serve Thee better the Day following through Christ Amen End these Prayers as follows Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this Day our daily Bread And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from Evil. For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Mat. 6.9 Luke 11.2 The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the Love of God and the Followship of the Holy Ghost be with me now and evermore Amen 2 Cor. 13 14. A Brief Paraphrase on the Lord's Prayer to be used at any time as a Prayer Preface O Lord the Creator and Preserver of all Men Heaven is thy Throne and the Earth thy Footstool Petition 1. We entirely desire that thy Name may be glorified by us and by all the World who have had so many Experiences how great how wise and how merciful thou art 2. Rule thou in the hearts of all Mankind by thy Grace and so prepare them for thy Kingdom of Glory 3. And since thy Will is holy and just and wise may we on Earth yield as ready and chearful an obedience to it in all things as the blessed Angels themselves do who stand in thy Presence and do whatever thou commandest them 4. Unless Thou preservest us we all perish We therefore humbly beseech Thee that Thou wouldest give us all things needful both for our Souls and Bodies and bless us in the due use of them We are indeed unworthy of such Mercies by reason of our manifold Transgressions But 5. We humbly hope Thou wilt in tender compassion to us pardon all our Offences against Thee as we do sincerely forgive all those who have offended against us and we beseech Thee to encrease this Charity in us 6. And together with thy Pardon for all that is past we implore thy Grace to preserve us continually from offending Thee for the time to come And to that end do Thou by thy Providence either prevent us from falling into Temptations or by thy Grace so assist us that we may overcome them Deliver us from the Snares and Malice of the evil one and from all sin and wickedness and from the Miseries of this Life so far as thou seest fit for us and above all from everlasting Death Conclusion Hear us and graciously answer our Petitions for thou art the great King whose power is infinite and to thee shall all the glory of thâ— goodness and mercy be returned for ever and ever Amen So be it On the Lord's Day before Church add this to the general Prayer IN an humble and thankful sense of thy infinite goodness O Lord who art pleased to admit us thy unworthy Creatures to tread thy Courts I am going to thine House there to present my Soul and Body to thee in the Assembly of thy Saints O do thou draw nigh to me who am drawing nigh to thee in a holy Fellowship with those who profess the Christian Faith Let thy Holy Spirit compose my Mind to a serious and devout attention in all the parts of thy Divine Service Let me praise thy Name with Chearfulness pray unto thee with Earnestness and hear thy word with Reverence And vouchsafe more fully to inform me of my Duty to correct and amend what is amiss in me to encourage and strengthen my good Resolutions and to assist me in all well-doing for the time to come That so growing every Day better and better by my Communion with Thee I may become such as thou canst love and delight in now and wilt reward at the great Day of the Lord Jesus Amen When you come from Church pray thus I adore thee again O Lord of Life and Glory and do most humbly beseech thee to accept of that dedication I have made of my Soul and Body to thee with Prayers and Praises in the publick Congregation Pardon all the wandring and evil Thoughts and all the unfit Actions I may have been guilty of in my attendance upon thee Be merciful to me in pardoning all my sins and endue me with the grace of thy Holy Spirit Preserve in me always a Religious sense of thee whereever I am or whatsoever I do O Blessed Jesus I beseech thee that thy holy Laws may be more deeply engraven on my heart O that every truth I have learnt this day may be so faithfully remembred by me as may make me more diligent in my Calling more useful in my Conversation more dutiful in all my Relations and more contented in all Conditions that so running the way of thy Commandments I may at length attain thy gracious Promises and be made Partaker of thy everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before Confirmation O Almighty God and Merciful Father through whose gracious Providence over me I have been admitted into thy
Church by Baptism pardon I beseech thee all my former Breaches of that holy Covenant which I was then entred into And now that I am going to renew my Baptismal Vows in my own Person so strengthen me with all the graces of thy Holy Spirit that I may make open Profession of thy Holy Religion at all times hereafter and speak and think and live as becomes a true Member of Christ Give me Grace to mortifie all my evil and corrupt Affections and daily to proceed in all vertue and godliness of living till I at last attain the end of my hopes even the Salvation of my Soul through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper O Holy Just and Gracious God it is of thy Mercy alone that I am not consumed and because thy Compassions fail not I have by my manifold Provocations deserved the utmost of thy wrath and indignation against me yet behold thou hast not only spared me but hast now also invited me to the renewing of that Holy Covenant which I have so often and so shamefully broken I am not worthy of that daily bread which sustains my bodily Life how then shall I dare to approach thy Holy Table to partake of that Bread of Life which thou hast prepared for the food of Pious and Holy souls O Lord it is true my guiltiness makes me tremble to come and yet it makes me not dare to stay away For where can my polluted Soul be washed but in the Fountain of thy Sons Blood That alone which was shed for the remission of sins can take away all its stains Hither therefore I come according to thy gracious Invitation and hope that my Person and Service may be accepted in thy beloved Son To that end do thou prepare my heart to draw nigh to thee Let thy Divine Spirit breath into my Soul such holy Thoughts and devout Affections as may become one who commemorates the death of the Son of God who was wounded for our Iniquities and bruised for our Transgressions O let my heart be deeply affected with such a sense of sin as may make me hate the very thoughts of every evil way for the future and chuse to endure any thing rather than to despise the riches of his love And while I remember the love of my Blessed Saviour in dying for me a Sinner may I never forget to exercise Charity towards all Men even Enemies as well as Friends Let every Grace be so confirmed and strengthened in me that I may serve thee sincerely and acceptably all the days of my Life perfecting Holiness in thy fear Fulfil O Gracious Lord all my Petitions and grant that I may be made Partaker of the benefits of Christ's most blessed Body and Blood here and of his glory hereafter through the merits of the same our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer at the Sacrament immediately before Receiving O Blessed Lord Jesus I remember with all humility and love and gratitude how thy Sacred Body was broken and thy Precious Blood poured out for sinners And I am now come to receive this Bread and this Wine which thou hast appointed as the Sacramental Representations of them O let that Sacrifice of thine which thou didst once make when thou didst offer up thy Sacred Body upon the Cross be effectual for the Salvation of my Soul and Body Here is that which my Soul longeth and thirsteth after O let me not be sent empty away Give me thy self and with thy self thy Holy Spirit to take possession of me and let me feel that it always dwells in me by those Heavenly Graces moving in my Soul which are the blessed fruits and effects of it Awaken mâ— Repentance encrease my Faith inflame my Charity Thankfulness and Devotion Make me a meet Partaker of thy Holy Supper here and of the Joâ—s of thy Kingdom hereafter through Christ Jesus Amen A Prayer after the Sacrament I Return unto thee O most gracious and glorious God all praise and thanks for thine infinite and inconceivable Mercies to us the Children of Men and especiall I desire to bless and magnify thy Holâ— Name for that wonderful love of thine in sending thy dear Son to die for Sinners and for that great Grace which thou hast now vouchsafed thy humble Servant in giving me a fresh assurance of an Interest in that precious Death by admitting me to partake of thy holy Sacrament ordained in remembrance of it O may I never forget what thou hast done for my Soul but carry the thoughts of it along with me to all the â—ctions of my life that it may be in me a Spring of entire obedience unto thee all the rest of my daâ—s This is indeed my unfeigned desire that may never break those Vows and Promises of a Holy Life which I have made to thee this day But I am afraid of my own treache ous Heart and the Assaults which will be made upon me by my spiritual Enemies least they should betray me into the breach of thy Holy Commandments O therefore let the assistance of thy holy Spirit be ever with me and the grace always prevent and follow me and then I trust I shall approve my self thy faithful Servant in all things and finish my course with joy With my own I desire the happiness of all Mankind that they who are still in darkness and in the shadow of Death may see the salvation of God and taste how Gracious thou art to Christians and that all those who are called by the Name of Christ may depart from Iniquity and adorn the Doctrine of Christ their Saviour in all things May we all glorifie thy Name in this World and live for ever to praise thee in the World to come through Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer to be used by or with or for a Sick Person Note that in this Prayer when used for another I must be changed to He She or We and Me to Him or Her and My to His or Her O Most Righteous and Merciful Lord the God of Health and of Sickness of Life and of Death I most humbly acknowledge the justice of thy present Visiation upon thy Servant whose Sins had long agoe deserved it from thee Yet since thou designest not the ruine but the amendment of those whom thou scourgest I beseech thee by thy Grace to sanctify this Correction to me that this sickness to my Body may be a means of health to my Soul Deliver Me from all frowardness and impatience under it and give me an entire resignation to thy Divine will If in thy good Providence thou hast appointed that I shall live longer upon Earth Lord bless all means that are uâ—ed for my recovery and give me grace to amend the rest of my Life and with good works to glorifie thy holy Name But if thou hast otherwise determined and this Sickness must be unto Death O fit and prepare me for it Wean my Heart from
he thinks most necessary to be believed And it is Resolved in the following Section CHAP. I. Section 2. The Summ of Things necessary to be believed by a Christian Artic. I. I believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth I do believe that there is a God an Infinite 1 King 8.27 Eternal Ps 90.2 Spirit Joh. 4.24 absolutely perfect Ps 147.5 Rom. 1.20 and that this God is the Father of whom are all things 1 Cor. 8.6 and who is in a more eminent manner the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Mat. 17.5 Joh. 1.14 Rom. 8.32 And I do believe that Power belongeth unto him Psal 62.11 so that he is able to do whatsoever he pleaseth Eccles 8.3 who did at first create the World and all things contained therein Gen. 1.1 and has preserv'd them ever since by His Divine Providence Neb. 9.6 Art II. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. I do believe that that Man who was born of the Virgin Mary Luk. 2.7 in the days of Herod Mat. 2.1 and who before his birth was by an Angel from Heaven named Jesus Mat. 1.21 was the True Messias the Anointed of the Lord Joh. 1.41 and 11.27 whom God had so long and so often promised to send into the world to be the Saviour of Mankind Gen. 3.15 and 21.12 and 49.10 Deut. 18.15 And I do also believe that this Holy Person was neither Angel nor Arch-Angel nor any other Creature whatsoever but the Son of God by an unspeakable Generation begotten of God from all Eternity Colos 1.15 17. Heb. 1.5 6 10 13. God of God and together with the Father and Holy Ghost one God John 5.18 blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 and that he is rightly called our Lord in respect of that Right that belongs to him as having first Created us Colos 1.16 and then redeemed us 1 Pet. 1.18 19. and being made Lord of all things Acts 2.36 Art III. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary I do believe that Jesus Christ was not conceived after the ordinary way but by the wonderful Operation of the Holy Ghost overshadowing his Virgin Mother Luke 1.35 that he might assume our Nature without the Depravation of it Luk. 1.35 And I do moreover believe that though being conceived in that wonderful manner he had no Man to his Father yet deriving his bodily substance from his Mother he is rightly said to be the Seed of the Woman Gen. 3.15 of the House and Family of David Ps 132.11 Mat. 15.22 Acts 2.30 And so being descended from Adam Luk. 3. he is truly call'd the Son of Man Mat. 8.20 Mar. 9.12 Luk. 9.22 John 5.27 Art IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried he descended into Hell I do believe that the only begotten Son of God did in our Nature which he had assumed not only really and truly suffer both in his body by tormenting pains Mat. 27.26 29 35. and in his Soul by unspeakable sorrows Mat. 26.38 Luk. 22.44 for the Redemption of Mankind Gal. 3.13 1 Pet. 2.24 but even in the most shameful and ignominious manner also having his Hands and Feet nail'd to a Cross as Thieves and the vilest Malefactors were used Luk. 23.33 there he hung some Hours Luk. 23.44 till he was Really dead Luk. 23.46 and then for the greater certainty of it like other dead Men was embalmed and laid in the Grave Luk. 23.53 his Soul being departed into those unknown Regions where Souls separated from their Bodies are Ps 16.10 Acts 2.31 And I am verily perswaded that all this was done when Pontius Pilate was Governour of Judea under Tiberius the Roman Emperour Luk. 3.1 Art V. The Third Day he rose again from the Dead I do believe that Jesus Christ the Third Day after he died according to his own Promise Joh 2.19 and as the Scripture had foretold Ps 16.10 had his Soul by the Power of the Godhead reunited to his Body Acts 2.31 32. so that he was really and truly alive again Luk. 24.39 Acts 1.3 and is never to return to Death any more Rom. 6.9 Art VI. He Ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the Right Hand of God I believe that after he was risen from the Dead and had conversed with his Disciples Forty Days Acts 1.3 while he was Talking with them he was taken up in a Cloud and went into Heaven Angels attending and ministring unto him Acts 1.9 10. where being exalted far above all Principalities and Powers Eph. 1.20 21. and placed in full Possession of the highest Power Dignity and Dominion he always appears in the Presence of God making Intercession for us by vertue of that Sacrifice which he had before offered upon the Cross Col. 2.16 to 22. Heb. 7.25 and 9.24 Art VII From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe that Christ in his Humane Nature shall continue in Heaven till the end of the World Acts 3.21 and that then he shall come from thence in the Clouds attended with millions of Angels and with the Voice of the Arch-angel and with the Trump of God and shall call all Mankind before him Mat. 24.30 31. as well those that shall be then alive at his coming 1 Thess 4.17 as those that shall have been dead from the beginning of the World Joh. 5.28 and there shall Judge them all according to their Deeds whether they have been good or whether they have been evil 2 Cor. 5.10 Art VIII I believe in the Holy Ghost I believe that there is a Third Person 1 Joh. 5.7 proceeding from the Father and the Son Joh. 15.26 Gal. 4.6 who also is God Acts 5.4 called in sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost not only upon the account of his own most perfect Holiness and in Opposition to that Vnclean Spirit the Devil but also as he is the cause of all Holiness in us by his Graces sancrifying our Sculs and Bodies to the obedience of God 1 Pet. 1.2 and so making us acceptable to him in Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 6.11 Art IX The holy Catholick Church I believe that Christ by the Preaching of the Gospel has called not only out of Judea but out of all Nations a Society of Men Mat. 28.19 Acts 2.41 42. and 4.32 and 5.14 into which every one is admitted by Baptism 1 Cor. 12.13 and all are united to and under him as their Head Col. 1.18 And that this Catholick or Vniversal Church or whole Society of Christians dispersed over the world containeth in it as its parts many particular Churches such as were those of Jerusalem the first Church planted by the Apostles Luk. 24.47 Antioch Corinth Ephesus c. And that there is no One Governour on Earth whom Christ hath appointed Head of the whole Church or all particular Churches nor any who is sufficient for such a Charge I further believe that this Church is set apart for Holy Services and that the Calling and Profession of the
is both a punisher of evil doers Rom. 2.9 and a rewarder of those that diligently seek him Heb. 11.6 God hath threatned the Disobedient with fearful Judgments of all kinds outweighing all the short and brutal Pleasures of Sin Deut. 28.15 to v. 68. Psal 11.6 Rom. 2.9 and will at last say to the impenitent Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41 He hath also encouraged all his Servants with Promises of very great Rewards Mark 10.30 Rom. 2.7 10. to which they may have an Eye Heb. 11.26 as being assured to them thro the Merits of his Son Rom. 8.17 1 John 5.11 And as he was gracious in making his Promises so he will be just in the performing of them To the Righteous he will deny no good thing Ps 84.11 Godliness hath the promise both of this Life and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 1 John 2.25 In this life God hath promised to true Christians Mercies both temporal and spiritual as for temporal Mercies he giveth them to his Children so far as they are convenient for them that they may be Blessings to them and not Snares and he hath assured those who love him that all things shall work together for good to them Rom. 8.28 He also blesseth them Eph. 1.3 with Spiritual Blessings in Christ. By his holy Spirit going along with the means of the Gospel and the sincere endeavours of Men he enlightens the Mind and heals the Will and moderates the Affections and sanctifies the whole Man He prevents evil he brings good out of it he gives grace to repent he vouchsafes pardon he works in us to will and to do whilst we work out our Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 13. He supports in trouble He sanctifies affliction He makes us able to resist temptation He sends deliverance in his time and way He gives that Peace which the World can neither give nor take away He makes a Man happy both in Life and Death After Death he delivers him from the insupportable Miseries of Hell and rewards his mean and temporary Services with Life everlasting 1 John 2.25 He giveth not only Grace but Glory even the eternal Glory of Heaven Eph. 4.7 1 Thes 2.12 He receiveth the Souls of the Faithful into Joy and Felicity after they are delivered from the burthen of the Flesh 2 Cor. 5.8 Phil. 1.23 And at the great day of Judgment he raiseth this Mortal Body and maketh it like to Christs Glorious Body Phil. 3.21 and uniteth it to the Soul and causeth the whole Person to be entirely happy for ever and ever Eye hath not seen 1 Cor. 2.9 neither hath Ear heard nor hath it entered into the heart of Man fully to conceive the things which God hath prepared for those that love him and all this for performing but a reasonable Service Rom. 12.1 in which God also assists him Seeing now that the goodness of the End doth naturally quicken Man in the way and that God hath encouraged the Obedience of a Christian with such exceeding great and precious promises 2 Pet. 1.4 it behoves him to abstain from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit and to perfect holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 And then after he has had his Fruit unto holiness his End will be everlasting Life Rom. 6.22 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen CHAP. IV. Certain Forms of Devotion to be used either in a Family or in the Closet of a Christian A Prayer to be used at any time of the day especially in the Morning and Evening When this Prayer or any of the rest is used in a Family there needs only the change of the Person as We must be put instead of I Vs instead of Me Our instead of My Are instead of Am c. O Most Holy and Blessed Lord God the Great Creator of Heaven and Earth and the most merciful and gracious Father of Mankind in thy Son Christ Jesus It is of thy great Condescension that the Sons of Men may approach thy Presence who art Infinite in Majesty and Power and canst do what thou pleasest every where I that am miserable Dust and Ashes do humbly acknowledge the Duty which I owe thee both as I am thy Creature and as I am made a Member of the Body of thy Son I am ashamed when I call to mind my forgetfulness of thee and my Ingratitude to thee who have so often and so grievously sinned against thee in Thought Word and Deed by Ignorance Error and Presumption for which thou mightest justly cast me off for ever But Lord I repent be pleased to accept of my Repentance Lord I believe help my weak Belief Pardon all my sins that are past for the Merits of my dear Saviour and preserve me by thy Grace from offending thee for the time to come And when thou hast dealt thus graciously with my Soul be pleased to extend thy mercy to my Body also and give me such a supply of all things necessary for the support of it as thou in thy Wisdom shalt see most convenient And grant that I may use the Comforts of this Life with such Moderation and Sobriety that I may never forfeit the hopes of a better when this my Earthly Tabernacle shall be dissolved Remove far from me all Evil especially that great Evil of Sin And wheresoever thou seest me apt to fall thro' the weakness of my Corrupt Nature there let thy Strength be most graciously seen in my Preservation O Lord I beseech thee let not thine Anger Rise against me to punish me in this World Or if my sins have so far provoked thee that thou wilt not spare me altogether thy VVill be done only this I humbly beg by all the meritorious sufferings of thy dear Son that thou wilt deliver me from thy VVrath and from Everlasting Damnation and of thy great Goodness bring me to Life Eternal through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Extend thy Goodness not only to me a miserable sinner but to all mankind Let thy VVays be known upon Earth thy saving health among all Nations Be gracious to Christ's Vniversal Church more especially bless these Kingdoms and that part of thy Church which is planted in them And herein be particularly gracious to our Soveraign Lord the King Prolong his Days and prosper his Government over us Bless the Princess and all the Royal Family Give thy Grace to all the Nobility and Gentry and to all that are in Authority that Justice Mercy and Truth may flourish amongst us and there may be no Complaining in our Streets Bless all our Pastors and Teachers and prosper their Endeavours for the good of Souls Look down in Mercy upon all that are in Affliction give them an entire Resignation to thy holy Will and in thy due time send a happy End to all their Troubles Let it be good for them that they have been under thy Discipline Strengthen the Good