holy Name and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Intercession O God the Creator and preserver of all mankind I humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men that thou would be pleased to make thy ways known unto them thy saving health unto all Nations Have mercy upon all Jews Turks Infidels and Hereticks and take from them all ignorance hardness of heart and contempt of thy Word and so fetch them home blessed Lord to thy Flock that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites and be made one fold under one shepherd Jesus Christ our Lord. More especially I pray for the good estate of the Catholick Church that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of Truth and hold the Faith in Unity of Spirit in the bond of peace and in righteousness of Life I beseech thee O Lord for this whole Kingdom in general and particularly for the King and Queen that thou wouldst be pleas'd so to dispose and govern their hearts that in all their thoughts words and works they may ever seek thy honour and glory and study so to preserve Us that Peace and Happiness Truth and Justice Religion and Piety may be established among us for all generations So bless them O Lord and all the Royal Family with the dew of thy heavenly Spirit that ever trusting in thy Goodness protected by thy Power and crowned with thy gracious and endless Favour may continue before thee in health peace joy and honour a long and happy Life upon Earth and after death obtain everlasting Life and Glory in the Kingdom of Heaven Be pleased to illuminate all Bishops Priests and Deacons with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word and grant that both by their Preaching and Living they may set it forth and shew it accordingly Be pleased to endue the Lords of the Council and all the Nobility with Grace Wisdom and Understanding Be pleased to bless and keep the Magistrates giving them grace to execute Justice and Maintain Truth Be pleased to bless and keep all thy people especially my Relations Benefactors and Friends Let thy Fatherly hand I beseech thee ever be over them let thy holy Spirit ever be with them and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy Word that in the end they may attain everlasting life Be pleased to forgive all mine enemies persecutors and slanderers and to turn their hearts Lastly I most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness O Lord to comfort and succour all them who in this transitory life are in trouble sorrow need sickness or any other adversity to relieve them according to their several necessities giving them patience under their sufferings and a happy issue out of all their afflictions And this I beg for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Thanksgiving ALmighty God Father of all Mercies I thine unworthy servant do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to me and to all men I bless thee for our Creation for my continual Preservation that of this Day or Night in particular and all the blessings of this life But above all for thine inestimable love in in the Redemption of the World by our Lord Jesus Christ for the means of Grace and for the hope of Glory Furthermore I give thee humble thanks that thou hast incorporated me into thy holy Church that thou hast vouchsafed to call me to the knowledge of thy Grace and Faith in thee Increase this knowledge and confirm this Faith in â—…ermore Give me a due sense of all 〈◊〉 Mercies that my heart may be unfeignedly thankful and that I may shew forth thy praise not only with my lips but in my life by giving up my self to thy service and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all my days through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen 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 and the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen UNto thy mercy and protection O God I commit my self this day or Night and evermore O Lord bless and keep me Lord make thy facâ— to shine upon me and be gracious unto 〈◊〉 Lord lift up thy countenance 〈…〉 and give me peace both now and 〈…〉 more Amen If your necessary Business be so great and urgent that it will not allow you time to use all the Prayers afore-going then begin with the Thanksgiving and joyn thereunto the short Prayer for Morning or Night as followeth A short Prayer for the Morning O Lord Heavenly Father Almighty and Everlasting God who hast safely brought me to the beginning of this Day Defend me in the same with thy mighty Power and grant that this Day I fall into no sin neither run into any kind of danger but that all my doings may be ordered by thy governance to do always that which is righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. O defend me with thy Heavenly grace that I may continue thine for ever and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more until I come to thine everlasting Kingdom Amen Our Father c. A short Prayer for the Night 〈…〉 my darkness I beseech thee 〈…〉 And by thy great Mercy 〈…〉 all the perils and dangers of this Night for the love of thy only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ In his Name O God I commit my self to thy Mercy and Protection both this Night and evermore O Lord bless and keep me Lord make thy face to shine upon me and be gracious unto me Lord lift up the light of thy Countenance upon me and give me peace both now and evermore Keep me both outwardly in my body and inwardly in my soul that I may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the Soul through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father c. PRAYERS to be said by those that are Married O God who by thy mighty power hast made all things of nothing who also after other things set in order didst appoint that out of 〈◊〉 created after thine own image 〈…〉 militude Woman should 〈…〉 â—â—ginning and knitting them 〈…〉 didst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by Matrimony hast made One O God who hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent Mystery that in it is signified and represented the Spiritual Marriage and Unity between Christ and his Church Look
mercifully upon * Here the Woman may alter it thus Me and my Husband and grant that he may love me according to thy Word as Christ did love his Spouse the Church who gave himself for it loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh and also that I may be loving and amiable faithful and obedient to him and in all quietness c. Me and my Wife and grant that I may love her according to thy Word as Christ did love his Spouse the Church who gave himself for it loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh and also that she may be loving and amiable faithful and obedient to me and in all quietness sobriety and peace be a follower of holy and godly Matrons O Lord bless us both and grant us to inherit thy everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant O Lord that as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully togeâ—â—â—â— so we may surely perform and 〈◊〉 the â—ow and Covenant betwixt us made and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together and live according to thy Laws through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Look O Lord mercifully upon us from Heaven and bless us And as thou didst send thy Blessing upon Abraham and Sarah to their great comfort so vouchsafe to send thy Blessing upon us that we obeying thy Will and always being in safety under thy protection may abide in thy love unto our lives end O God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost bless preserve and keep us O Lord mercifully with thy favour look upon us and so fill us with all spiritual Benediction and Grace that we may so live together in this Life that in the World to come we may have Life everlasting Amen If you want and desire Children being conscious of no reasonable cause why you may not ask any then add as follows Furthermore I most humbly beseech thee O merciful Lord and heavenly Father by whose gracious gift Mankind is increased that thou wouldst be pleas'd if thou shalt think fit to assist us with thy Blessing that we may both be fruitful in procreation of Children and also live together so long in godly love and honesty that we may see our Children Christianly and Vertuously brought up to thy praise and honour through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen PRAYERS to be said by those that have Children O Merciful Lord and heavenly Father by whose gracious gift Mankind is increased I give thee humble thanks that thou hast been pleased to assist me with thy Blessing and to make me the Father or Mother of a Child or Children And I beseech thee give me thy Grace that I may truly endeavour to see him or them Christianly and Vertuously brought up to thy praise and honour through Jesus Christ our Lord. And because none can do any thing that is good without thee grant unto him or they thy Spirit O Lord to think and do always such things as be rightful that he or they may by thee be enabled to live according to thy Will through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Let thy Fatherly hand I beseech thee ever be over him or them Let thy holy Spirit ever be with him or them and so lead him or them in the knowledg and obedience of thy Word that in the end he or they may obtain everlasting life Strengthen him or them I pray thee with the holy Ghost the Comforter and daily increase in him or them thy manifold gifts of grace the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of Counsel and Ghostly strength the spirit of Knowledg and true Godliness and fill him or them O Lord with the spirit of thy holy Fear now and for ever O defend him or them with thy heavenly grace that he or they may continue thine for ever And grant that being stedfast in Faith joyful through Hope and rooted in Charity he or they may so pass the waves of this troublesom world that finally he or they may come to the land of everlasting life there to reign with thee world without end through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father c. PRAYERS to be said upon days of Fasting and Humiliation for Sin PSal 51. 1. Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences 2. Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sins 9. Turn thy face from my sins and put out all my misdeeds 10. Make me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me 11. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me 12. O give me the comfort of thy help again and stablish me with thy free Spirit Then say the Confession Almighty God Father of c. and after that as follows TUrn thou me O good Lord and so shall I be turned Be favourable O Lord be favourable unto me who turn to thee in weeping fasting and praying For thou art a merciful God full of compassion long suffering and of great pity Thou sparest when we deserve punishment and in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy Spare me good Lord spare me and let me not be brought to confusion Hear me O Lord for thy mercy is great and after the multitude of thy mercies look upon me through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Grant I beseech thee Almighty God that I who for mine evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished by the comfort of thy Grace may mercifully be releiv'd through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen After this say the Prayer for Pardon and Grace and then conclude with the Lord's Prayer PRAYERS to be said in any time of Trouble or Affliction Because Troubles and Afflictions are as well punishments for sin as tryals of our Faith and Patience therefore first humble your self before God in the words of the Confession afore-said and then proceed as follows O God merciful Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desire of such as be sorrowful Mercifully assist my prayers that I make before thee in these my troubles and adversities which now oppress me Grant that by the providence of thy goodness they may be dispersed and that being hurt by no kind of sufferings I may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen I Humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to look upon mine infirmities and for the glory of thy Name turn from me all those evils that I most righteously have deserv'd and grant that in all my troubles I may put my whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living to thy honour and glory through our only Mediatour and Advocate Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen GRant O Lord I beseech thee that I who am justly punished for mine offences may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness for
that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Deliver me him from fear of the Enemy and lift up the light of thy Countenance upon me him and give me him peace through the Merits and Mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty and everlasting God who art always more ready to hear than we to pray and art wont to give more then either we desire or deserve Pour down upon me or thy Servant A. B. the abundance of thy Mercy forgiving me him those things whereof my his conscience is afraid and giving me him those good things which I am not worthy to ask but through the Merits and Mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen O God who dost teach the hearts of thy faithful People by sending to them the light of thy holy Spirit Grant me or thy Servant A. B. by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things and evermore to rejoyce in his holy Comfort through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour who liveth and reigneth with thee in the Unity of the same Spirit one God world without end Amen Our Father c. Prayers before you go to Church ALmighty and Merciful God of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful People do unto thee true and laudable service Grant I beseech thee that I may so faithfully serve thee in this Life that I fail not finally to attain thy Heavenly Promises through the Merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O God forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee Mercifully grant that thy holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule my heart through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almighty God who by thy Son Jesus Christ dost give to the Ministers of thy Church many excellent Gifts and commandest them earnestly to feed thy Flock I beseech thee leave them not destitute of those Gifts nor yet of Grace to use them always to thy Honour and Glory but grant that they may both by their Life and Doctrine set forth thy true and lively Word and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments And to me and all thy People give thy heavenly Grace that with meek heart and due reverence we may hear and receive thy holy Word truly serving thee in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of our Life that so at last we may be all partakers of thy Heavenly Kingdom and receive the Crown of Righteousness which thou hast promised in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father c. Prayers when you are returned from Church GRant I beseech thee Almighty God that the Words which I have heard this day with my outward Ears may through thy Grace be so grafted inwardly in my heart that they may bring forth in me the fruit of good living to the honour and praise of thy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almighty God whom truly to know is everlasting Life Grant me perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the Way the Truth and the Life That obeying his Doctrine and following his steps I may stedfastly walk in the Way that leadeth to eternal Life through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen LOrd of all Power and Might who art the Author and Giver of all good things Graft in my heart the love of thy Name increase in me true Religion nourish me with all Goodness and of thy great Mercy keep me in the same through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen LOrd I pray thee that thy Grace may always prevent and follow me and make me continually to be given to all good works through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father c. Prayers on Sacrament Days before you go out of your House ALmighty God who through thine only begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome Death and opened unto us the Gate of everlasting Life I humbly beseech thee that as by thy special Grace preventing me thou hast put into my Mind good desires so by thy continual help I may bring the same to good effect through Jesus Christ our Lord who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost ever one God world without end Amen ALmighty Father who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our Justification Grant me so to put away the leaven of Malice and Wickedness that I may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty and everlasting God give unto me the increase of Faith Hope and Charity And that I may obtain that which thou dost promise make me to love that which thou dost command through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty God heavenly Father who hast this day called and invited me to thy Holy Table where will be administred the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ to be received in remembrance of his Meritorious Cross and Passion whereby alone we obtain Remission of our sins and are made partakers of the Kingdom of Heaven I give thee most humble and hearty thanks for that thou hast given thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ not only to die for us but also to be our spiritual Food and Sustenance in that holy Sacrament Which being so divine and comfortable a thing to them who receive it worthily and so dangerous to them who presume to receive it unworthily I most humbly beseech thee to give me thy Grace that I may truly consider the dignity of that holy Mystery and the great peril of the unworthy receiving thereof as also that I may so search and examine my conscience and that not lightly or after the manner of Dissemblers with thee but so as to come holy and clean to the heavenly Feast in the Marriage-garment required by thy Blessed Son in holy Scripture and be received as a worthy partaker of that holy Table Grant this O Lord for the sake of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father c. If you want a Form of Devotion for your use in the Church at the time of the Celebration of the Sacrament you may serve your self from The Best Companion Prayers when you are returned from the Sacrament ALmighty and everliving God I most heartily thank thee for that thou hast vouchsafed to feed me this day with the spiritual Food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ whereby thou dost assure the Faithful of thy favour and goodness towards them as also that they are heirs through hope of thy everlasting Kingdom And I entirely desire thy fatherly goodness to accept this my Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving most humbly beseeching thee to grant that by the Merits and Death of thy Son Jesus Christ and through Faith in his Blood I and all the whole Church may obtain Remission of our sins and all other Benefits of his Passion And now again I offer and present unto thee O Lord my self Soul and Body to be a reasonable holy and lively Sacrifice unto thee humbly beseeching thee that I and all those who have been partakers of thy holy Communion may be fulfilled with thy heavenly Benediction Grant this O Lord for thy Mercies sake through Jesus Christ thy dear Son our Lord. Amen STrengthen me I beseech thee O Lord with the holy Ghost the Comforter And daily increase in me thy manifold gifts of Grace the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding the Spirit of Counsel and ghostly Strength the Spirit of Knowledge and true Godliness and fill me O Lord with the Spirit of thy holy Fear now and for ever Amen Our Father c. FINIS ADVERTISEMENT There is lately published by the Author of this a Book Intituled the Word of God the Best Guide Or the Christians Whole Duty laid down in plain Texts of Scripture BOOKS Printed for John Howell Bookseller in OXFORD THE Common-Prayer-Book the Best Companion in the House and Closet as well as in the Temple c. The Fifth Edition Prayers in the Closet Collected out of the Best Companion by the Author of the same The Word of God the best Guide to all Persons at all times and in all places Or A Collection of Scripture Texts plainly shewing such things as are necessary for every Christian's Knowledge and Practice By the Author of the Best Companion Of Education especially of Young Gentlemen in Two parts The Fifth Impression Globe Notes by R. Holland His Notes touching the Parallax Tozer's Directions to a Godly Life Grammatica Rationis sive Institutiones Logicae Authore Johan Fell Episc Oxon. Burgersdicii Metaph. 12 o. Idea Philosophiae 12 o. Epictetus Theophrastus Gr. Lat. è Theatro 12 o. M. Foelix Edit Wower 12 o. Praeces Aedis Christi 12o. Sandersoni Logica 8o. Stierii Philosophia 4o. Pliny's Panegyrick in English An Account of Mineral Waters with Directions for Drinking Ilmington Waters By Sam. Derham Bishop Ridley's Disputation at Oxford with a Treatise of the Sacrament by the same Author Epistle of Lysimachus Nicanor to the Covenanters in Scotland Danger of the Church of England from a General Assembly of Covenanters in Scotland A Sermon about Oaths by H. Hellier Fellow of C.C.C. in Oxon. The 2d Edit Ecclesiae Anglicanae Politeia in Tabulas digesta Authore Richardo Cosin Legum Doctore olim Dec. Cur. de Arcubies Cancellario seâ— Vic. Generali Reverend Patris Johannis Archiepisc Cantuariensis Tabellae Diaelectorum in Gracis Declinationibus cum Carmine Memoriali in usum Scholae privatae Authore Joh. Meddens A. M. è Coll. Exon. Oxon. Tractatus de veroe Christi Deitate adversus Arii Socini Haereses Authore Daniele Whitby SS T.D. Eccles Cath. Sarum Praecentâ—re
the Glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ our Saviour Amen ASsist me mercifully O Lord in these my supplications and prayers And so dispose me towards the attainment of everlasting Salvation that among all the changes and chances of this mortal Life I may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready Help through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty and everlasting God who of thy tender Love towards Mankind hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our Flesh and to suffer death upon the Cross that all Mankind should follow the Example of his great Humility Mercifully grant that I may both follow the Example of his Patience and also be made partaker of his Resurrection through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O God the King of Glory who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph into thy Kingdom in Heaven I beseech thee leave me not comfortless but send me thine Holy Ghost to comfort me and exalt me unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost one God world without end Amen Our Father c. PRAYERS for your self or other being sick ALmighty everliving God Maker of Mankind who dost correct those whom thou dost love and chastise every one whom thou dost receive I beseech thee have mercy upon me thy Servant or thy Servant A. B. now visited with thine hand Grant that I he may take my his sickness patiently and so sanctifie this thy fatherly Correction to me him that the sense of my his weakness may add strength to my his Faith and Seriousness to my his Repentance If it shall be thy good pleasure to restore me him to my his former health grant that I he may lead the residue of my his Life in thy fear and to thy glory Or else give me him grace so to take thy Visitation that after this Life ended I he may dwell with thee in Life everlasting through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Lord look down from Heaven behold visit and relieve me thy Servant or thy Servant A. B. Look upon me him with the eyes of thy Mercy give me him comfort and sure confidence in thee defend me him from the danger of the Enemy and keep me him in perpetual peace and safety through Jesus Christ our Lord. For his sake renew in me him most loving Father whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the Devil or by my his own carnal will and frailness Impute not to me him my his former sins but strengthen me him with thy Blessed Spirit And whensoever thou shalt be pleased to take me him hence take me him into thy favour through the merits of thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father c. PRAYERS for your self or other being sick beyond hope of Recovery O Father of Mercies and God of all Comfort our only help in time of need I beseech thee to succour me or thy Servant A.B. now lying under thy hand in great weakness of Body Look graciously upon me him O Lord and the more the outward man decayeth strengthen me him I beseech thee so much the more continually with thy Grace and holy Spirit in the inner man Give me him unfeigned Repentance for all the Errors of my his Life past and stedfast Faith in thy Son Jesus that my his sins may be done away by thy Mercy and my his Pardon seal'd in Heaven before I go he goes hence and be no more seen I know O Lord that there is no word impossible with thee and that if thou wilt thou canst even yet raise me him up and grant me him a longer continuance in this World Yet forasmuch as in all appearance the time of my his departure draweth near so fit and prepare me him I beseech thee against the hour of Death that after my his departure hence in peace and in thy favour my his Soul may be received into thine everlasting Kingdom Wash it I pray thee in the Blood of that immaculate Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the World that whatsoever defilements it may have contracted in the midst of this miserable and naughty World through the lusts of the Flesh or the Wiles of Satan being purged and done away it may be presented pure and without spot before thee that so at the general Resurrection in the last day I he may be found acceptable in thy sight and receive that Blessing which thy Well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee saying Come ye blessed Children of my Father receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the World Grant this I beseech thee O merciful Father through Jesus Christ our Mediatour and Redeemer Amen Our Father c. Prayers for your Child being sick O Almighty God and Merciful Father to whom alone belong the the issues of Life and Death Look down from Heaven I beseech thee with the Eyes of Mercy upon my Child now lying on the bed of sickness Visit him O Lord with thy Salvation Deliver him in thy good appointed time from his bodily pain and save his Soul for thy Mercies sake If it shall be thy good pleasure to prolong his days here on Earth grant that he may live to thee and be an Instrument of thy Glory by serving thee faithfully and doing good in his generation or else receive him into those Heavenly Habitations where the Souls of them that sleep in the Lord Jesus enjoy perpetual rest and felicity Grant this O Lord for thy Mercies sake in the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever one God world without end Amen DEfend O Lord my Child with thy heavenly Grace that he may continue thine for ever and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more until he come to thine everlasting Kingdom Amen Our Father c. Prayers for your self or other being troubled in Mind or Conscience O Blessed Lord the Father of Mercies and the God of all comforts I beseech thee look down in pity and compassion upon me or A. B. thy afflicted Servant Thou writest bitter things against me him and makest me him to possess my his former iniquities Thy wrath lieth hard upon me him and my his Soul is full of trouble But O merciful God who hast written thy holy Word for our learning that we through patience and comfort of thy holy Scriptures might have hope Give me him a right understanding of my self himself and of thy Threats and Promises that I he may neither cast away my his confidence in thee nor place it any where else but in thee give me him strength against all my his temptations and heal all my his distempers Break not the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax. Shut not up thy tender Mercies in displeasure but make me him to hear of joy and gladness