to hide that from thee which thou before whom all things are naked doest know better then my selfe yea such is thy mercie that when I do lay my sinnes open thou doest couer them good Father I beseech thee giue mee that minde which a seeke man should haue and increase my patience with my pain call to my mind all which I haue heard or read or felt or meditated to strengthen mee in this my visitation that though I neuer taught any good while I liued yet I may now instruct others how to die and to beare patiently whatsoeuer thy holie hand shall lay vpon them Apply vnto me al thy mercies and merites of Christ Iesus as if he had died for me in particular bee not farre from mee I beseech thee when the enemie comes to tempt me but when hee is most busie then let thy good spirit be busiest also to defend me and let my last houre be my best houre and my last thoughtes and words the best that euer I did thinke or speake Lord I know that I can not escape death then why should I feare it and if I must dye why not now if it so please thee for my chiefest happines is behind and I can not haue it vnles I go vnto it I confesse O Lord my paines are great but séeing I trauell to heauen make mee patient I beseech thee to beare my paines and when it shall please thee to call me out of this vaile of miserie command thy holy Angels I humbly pray thee to carrie my soule into the bosome of blessed A. braham there to rest with thee in eternall glorie for euer and euer Amen A Prayer of thanks-giuing vnto God for Deliuerance out of any Sicknesse ALl honour and praise be giuen vnto thee most gracious God and mercisull Father for all thy mercies and fauours bestowed vpon mee euen from my cradle to this present houre for my Election Creation Redemption Iustification Sanctification Preseruation and that blessed hope of Glorification in the world to come O Lord thou hast loaded mee with thine abundant fauors as if I had euer done thy will although I neuer knew thée as I ought loued thee as I should obayed thee as thou commandedst nor beene thankefull to thee as thou hast deserued excéeding experience haue I had of thy goodnes many times but neuer more then in my late sicknesse wherewith thou didst visit mee Lord grant that I be not in the number of those who are forward to aske in time of trouble and affliction but slacke and carelesse to acknowledge their thankfulnes when mercy is bestowed like those Lepers that when they were cleansed returned not to giue God thanks for his mercy O Lord thou hast chastened me and corrected me but herein appeares thy mercy that thou hast not giuen mee ouer to death I confesse thou mightst iustly haue cut mee off depriued mee of the rest of my yeares but it was thy good pleasure to deliuer my soul from the pit of corruption Imprint in my mind I beséech thée the vowes promises which I made in my sicknesse of better obedience and seruice to thy maiestie then heretofore and grant that I may make conscience to performe them and let me know that howsoeuer thou hast now giuen me some little respite and prolonged my daies yet I must not deâ—eiue my selfe in putting farre from my remembrance the day of my death but that I may make a holy vse of this thy fatherly correcting me and to expresse my thankefulnes in my life and conuersation in walking godly before thee and in preparing my selfe for my end that I may finish my course with ioy and bee ready to meete my Sauiour in the clouds and to rest with him and his holy Angels for euer and in his euerlasting kingdom of glorie Ameâ— A Prayer for a Sick man MOst gracious God and in Christ Iesus our mercifull Father wée poore wretches gathered here before thee doe truely and most freely confesse that wee are most vile and miserable vtterly vnworthy to speake vnto thee or to receiue the least fauour from thee by reason of our many and grieuous sinnes our blindnes of minde ignorances negligences peruersenes of heart and vnseruiceablenesse in our liues but with all we doe remember thy great loue and mercifull promises made vnto them that with â—enitent and humble spirits do sue vnto thée wherfore wee are enboldned to approch vnto thy throne of grace in the name of thy Son Christ Iesus beseeching thée for his sake to forgiue vs all our sinnes originall and actuall wash vs we pray thée in his bloud and cloth vs with his righteousnes giue vs grace to turne vnto thée with our hearts from all our sinnes and inable vs by thy grace to serue thee in righteousnes holines all the dayes of our liues Take care we beséech thée of this thy Seruant whom thou hast afflicted before our eyes O Lord receiue him to thy grace and assure him of thy glory grant vnto him faith in thy promises patience vnder thine hand and hope of thy mercy restore him if it be thy blessed will to his perfect health againe and blesse all good meanes vnto it if not prepare him for death and for thy kingdome comfort him with an assured hope of a ioyfull resurrection and whensoeuer his soule shall depart from his body grant that it may be presented without all sinne to thée through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for a Woman with child BLessed God and gracious Father I thy poore Handmaide doe héere humbly present my selfe before thy throne of Grace beseeching thee to forgiue me all my manifold sins committed against thee burie them in the death of my Sauiour thy Son Christ Iesus O Lord I beseech thee for his sake to accept of me and this poore worme inclosed in my wombe vouchsafe to giue vs thy Sonne and to sanctifie vs with thy Holy Spirit grant me strength and patience I humbly intreat thee to indure and ouercome those paines which for my sinnes are worthily imposed on me Asswage them O Lord I pray thee and vouchsafe mee a safe deliuerance with safetie to this child within me if it may please thy Maiestie so will I dedicate my selfe and that which thou shalt giue me to the glorie of thine holy Name O Lord heare O Lord help be thou my God and my guide my saluation and my succour not for my merites but for the honour of thy mercie and the all sufficient merites of Iesus Christ to whome with thee and thy Holy Spirit three persons but one euer-liuing and euerlouing God bee all honour and glorie for euer and for euer Amen A Prayer for a Midwife by her selfe alone O Lord my God I beseech thee forgiue me my manifold sins and wickednes accept of me I beseech thée in thy Sonne Iesus Christ honour mee with all the graces of thy spirit grant me wisedoms modesty temperance and a religious heart
seruice wal king faithfully and conscionably in our callings wherin thou hast placed vs O Lord blesse all our gouernours whom thou hast set ouer vs in thy roome in especiall manner showre downe thy blessings vpon the Kings Maiestie blesse him both in body and soule with all graces necessarie for so high a calling and make him long a Nursing Father in this Israell Blesse our graciousquéen make her a help vnto him in all good things Blesse their Royall issue graunt that they may dayly growe in fauour both with God and man and make them loyall to his maiesty all the dayes of his life blesse all the Nobilitie the Magistrates and Ministers of thy holy word and graunt that euery one of vs from the highest to the lowest may walk faithfully in our places before thee all the daies of our liues through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost bee all praise and glorie both now and euer Amen Another Euening Praier for priuate Families O Eternall and euerliuing Lord God and in Iesus Christ our louing Father thou which hast giuen vs our bodies and soules our health our strength our maintenance whence haue wee all these things but from thée thy fatherly protection ouer vs this day in our calling to whom can we ascribe it but vnto thée that wee haue liued hitherto that wee haue not béene swallowed vp with some suddaine Iudgement that Sathan had not his will vpon vs that we know the way and the meanes to a better life that we are deliuered from the power of darkenesse and translated into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne that we haue dayly accesse into thy glorious presence to offer vp our petitions vnto thée and to make knowne our wants whence are all these blessings O Lord but from the fréedome of thy grace we confesse O Lord if thou hadst giuen vs our deserts we should haue perished long agoe therefore it is from thy mercy alone that we are not consumed Now if receiuing so many blessings from thee wee should not stirre vp our selues to returne some thankefulnes to thy Maiestie for them how wretched and miserable creatures should we be O Lord wee pray thée make vs ashamed of our vnthankefulnesse wound our hearts with the consideration of our owne dulnesse whom so many fauours haue not wrought vnto more obedience and vouchsafe wee humbly beséech thée not withstanding our small deseruings to looke graciously vpon vs and accept this our Euening sacrifice of praise which wee doe here render vnto thy Maiestie O Lord let not the skantnesse of our seruice make thee turne away thine eyes from vs but euen as thou art wont to spare thy seruants as a man spareth his own sonne that serueth him and in them to accept the will for the full performance so be pleased to looke vpon vs in Iesus Christ grant that we may sensibly feele the power of his death killing sin corruption in vs and the power of his resurrection raising vs vp to newnes of life Make vs resolue to renounce euen our sweetest best beloued sins and not to take libertie to our selues to continue in any knowne vngodlines that we may think it more then sufficient that we haue hitherto giuen the raines to our ownlusts therfore now to labour to stop kill all sin in the beginning before it come to the act resolue to bestow the rest of our liues according to thy blessed word And because the night is at hand which thou hast appointed for vs to rest in he beséech thée to take vs into thy fatherly protection this night and euer command the guard of thy holy Angels to pitch their tents about vs preserue vs both sléeping waking that we may be the better fitted and prepared the day following to goe on in our vocations callings to thy glory our own comforts the benefit of our brethren through Iesus Christ our Lord Sauiour In whose name we beg these mercies at thy hands whatsoeuer else thou knowest to bee néedfull either for soule or body better then we our selues can aske in that forme of prayer which hée himselfe in his holy word hath taught vs saying Our father which art in heauen c. Another Morning praier MOst mercifull God and louing Father we thy poore and vnprofitable seruants doe here humbly cast downe our selues and our sinfull soules before the foot-stoole of thy maiestie acknowledging and confessing that we are not worthy to approach into thy presence much losse to haue any thing to do with thée in any part of thy most pure worship and seruice séeing wee haue liued and continued in the breath of thy holy commandements not only through negligence and infirmitie but many times witingly and willingly contrarie to our owne knowledge and the holy motions of thy good spirit to the wounding of our own soules and consciences to the great dishonour of thy maiestis O Lord we besâ—ech thée regard vs not as wee are in our selues but looke vpon vs in the countenance of thy sonne our Al-sufficient sauiour Christ Iesus for his sake wee pray thée bee gratious and good to al our sinnes both in generall and particular original or actuall of ignorance or of knowledge of omission or commission whereby wée haue offended thée from the first houre of our conception till this present time Lord accept the death and passion of thy sonne as a sufficient ransome for all our sins burie them déeply in his graue and cancell the book of thy wrath wherin they are written with his bloud that they may neuer be laid to our charge either in this life present or in the next Let thy blessed spirit seale the pardon of them all to the comfort of our coÌ„sciences Furnish vs we beséech thée with all néedefull graces especially as Christians to walke worthy of Christ Iesus in holy conuersation vouchsafe to blesse al good means vnto vs which thou hast sanctified for our continuall groath in grace and thy fears especially thy holy word the ministry therof print déeply in our heartes all holesome instructions which are deliuered and taught vs out of the same by thy ministers good lord make vs thankefull euermore for al thy benefits bestowed vpon vs chiefely for thy sonne Christ Iesus the fountaine of all good to vs and ours as also for all those blessings that concerne this life present as health libertie apparell such like for thy fatherly protection ouer vs bringing vs to the light of this present day kéepe defend vs we pray thée from all euill that may hurt vs and from falling into any grosse sin that may displease thée set thy feare alwaies before our eies that we may speÌ„d this day and all the daies of our liues to thy glory the peace of our owne consciences for this day wée beséech thee giue a blessing to our endeuours in our calling that wee may bee therein conscionably occupied knowing that
Iudgements and fatherly chastisements both vpon others and vpon my selfe and haue not profited therby to true repentance and reformation of life yea O Lord I haue liued in the proâ—anation of thy holy ordinances thy Word Sacraments and this exercise of Prayer neither preparing my selfe hereunto â—right nor being conuersent therin with that care diligence and conscience as I ought and therfore thou maist iustly depriue me of that fruit of edification I might haue reaped by the reuerent and religious vsing of these diuine Ordinances Many other sins O Lord I haue committed the least whereof if thou shouldest lay vnto my charge I were neuer able to appeare in thy sight or to answere thée one of a thousand I beseech thee deale fauourably with me as thou art wâ—nt to doe with thy children that call vpon thy name and séeke thee in the truth of their hearts In the midst of Iudgement I pray thée remember mercie open my blinde eyes that I may come to a particular knowledge of my sinnes touch my hard and stony heart that I may sigh and grone vnder the burthen of them beeing heartily displeased with my selfe because I haue dishonored thy name stirre vp my heart also that I may hunger and thirst after Christ and his righteausnes and after euery drop of his most precious bloud in him alone to bee well pleased with me and for his sake to pardon and forgiue me all my sinnes wash them all away in his bloud and my heart from the filthinesse and impuritie of them all say vnto my soule I am thy saluation and let me féele thy good spirit perswading my conscience by the inward testimonie of the same that my sinnes are pardoned that I stand discharged of them all before thy Iudgement seate and séeing it is the lot of thy children to be tryed sundry waies O Lord prepare mee to the dayes of tryall Arme mee with spirituall patience to endure thy hand that I may méekely and contentedly submit my will to thy good will and pleasure howsoeuer it shall please thée to deale with me onely teach mee to profit vnder thy rod of correction and grant that I may learne thereby to deny my selfe to forsake this world the pleasures profits and preferments of the same to make vile and base account of them in respect of the heauenly things destring to be dissolued and to be with Christ that sinne and the corruption thereof might bee abolished and I may â—aue neere coniunction â—ith thy Maiestie in thine â—wne Kingdome notwithstanding so long as â—hoâ— pleasest to hold mee in this earthly Tabernacle increase dayly more and more the graces of thy Holy Spirit in mee as namely Faith Repentance Feare Loue Humilitie and a good Conscience and all other graces whereby thine Image may be renued in me that the longer I liue in this world the neerer I may drawe to thy Kingdome indeauouring to serue and please thée in righteousnes and new obedience all the dayes of my life Be mercifull I beséech thée to all thine afflicted whether with sicknesse vpon their beds or distressed in conscience for sinnes relieue them I beséech thée accorcording to their seueral necessities strengthen them in their weakenes sanctifie all thy corrections vnto them and grant them a speedie issue in thine owne good time as shall seeme best to thy godly wisedome Be mercifull to all my friends in the flesh and acquaintance in the Spirit and all other for whom I am bound by any duty to pray for granting vnto vs all a supply of all graces néedefull for our present state and callings and eternall saluation of our â—oules these mercies I beg â—t thy hands for Iesus Christs sake in that prayer which he hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in heauen c. Morning Prayer for the Sabbath day before hearing of the Word O Most gracious God and mercifull Father wee thy vnworthy seruants do here prostrate our selues our bodies and selues to offer vp to thy maiestie this morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing for all thy mercies and blessings bestowed vpon vs we blesse thy name for the quiet rest and comfortable sléepe this night passed from all perils and dangers of the same wee confesse O Lord if thou shouldest deale with vs according to our deserts thou mightest haue made our beds our graues and our sléepe our death euen for the sins of this night past O Lord we haue done more against thée this wéeke past then wee haue done for thée all the dayes of our life yet notwithstanding O Lord manifold are thy mercies towards vs still and thy goodnes is infinite in euery particular which befalleth vs we haue exceeding experience of thyloue It is thy great mercy that wee which haue so many wayes prouoked thée should be suffered to liue to behold the light comfort of the day but herein thy mercie is much more manifest that hauing béene heretofore profaners of thy Sabbaths barren and hypocriticall professors of thy holy word yea fruitlesse and vnprofitable hearers of the same that-we should yet enioy the blessed opportunitie of another Sabbath O Lord wee confesse thou mightst iustly haue fatted vp our hearts and giuen vs ouer to a Reprobate sâ—nce and commanded the doores of thy Sanctuarie to be shutte vp against vs and not to suffer vs to tread within thy Courts O Lord grant that we may rate estéeme thy mercy towards vs in this kinde according to the true valew thereof and that wee may not carelessely forget this or any other of thy fauours and as thou hast of thy mercie brought vs to the beginning of this holy Sabbath so we humbly pray thée enable vs to sanctifie the same as thou requirest and our dutie bindes vs Lord make vs to remember that this is not any Commandement or Ordinance of man but that it is thine owne ordinance and one of those lawes which thou wrotest with thine owne hand namely that this day should after a more speciall manner be consecrated to thy seruice Lord giue vs grace that in this thy Sabbath wee may beware of doing our owne works or of séeking our own wils or of speaking vaine and idle words that wee may seriously binde our selues to the performing of such duties as doe belong to this day O Lord we know that herein wee shall méete with many corruptions in this holy seruice our own corrupt nature and affections will thinke it a taske that can not bee endured besides in the world wee shall haue many examples of the wicked to draw and entise vs froÌ„ our diligence and constancie in our godly course but wée beseech thée from the bottome of our hearts to strengthen vs that these things preuaile not against vs and grant that wee may more estéeme the performance of our duties to thy maiesty then either the contenting of our owne corrupt natures or wicked persons and séeing O Lord we are now to heare thy holy word we beséech thée poure downe thy blessings
vpon our endeauours this day in time of prayer grant vs reuerence to thy Maiestie faith in the promises of thy Sonne Christ Iesus a liuely féeling of our owne wants and a continuall remembrance of all thy former fauours and mercies towards vs and when we heare thée speaking vnto vs by the mouth of thy Ministers bee pleased to giue vnto vs vnlocked and vnderstanding hearts rectifie our Iudgements sanctifie our affections and strengthen our memories that those holy instructions which wee shall heare reuerently and attentiuely may of vs be practised faithfully and effectually in the whole course of our liues through Iesus Christ our Lord giue vnto the preacher O Lord a doore of vtterance touch his tongue with a Cole from thine Altar that he may deliuer the word of life boldly that whatsoeuer corruption lies hid in our hearts the power of thy holy word may search and discouer it to the very bottome and grant that wee may not heare it as the word of a miserable mortal man like vnto our selues but as it is indéed the word of thee the euerliuing God who art able to saue and to destroy And because Sathan a deadly enemie to mans saluation readie to picke the séede of thy word which is sowne in our hearts therefore wee pray thee O Lord confound Sathan and all his workes and be thou more mercifull in blessing thine owne ordinance vnto vs then Sathan either is or can be possibly malicious to hinder the same for this end and purpose wee beséech thée O Lord to take out of our mindes all vaine and wandring thoughts all couetous desires of the world and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be an enemie to the sauing hearing of thy holy word that thy word may be vnto vs not as our sinnes deserue it should but as it is in it selfe thy power to our saluation that it may bee as seede sowne in good ground which bring forth in vs plentifull fruit to thy glorie and our own comforts through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whom with thée and the Holy Spirit bee all praise and power maiestie and dominion now and for euer Amen Euening Prayer on the Sabbath day EUerlasting God and in Iesus Christ our most mercifull and gracious Father we thy poore seruants are here met together in the feare of thy maiestie and in the confidence of thy mercy to offer vp our eueuing sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing for all thy mercies and blessings bestowed vpon vs in most abundant manner especially O Lord for that thou hast not suffered vs to walke in darknesse ignorance and blindnesse but hast giuen vs thy most holy and blessed word to be a lanthorne to our feete and alight vnto our pathes to eternall life Wee render to thy maiestie from the ground of our harts humble thanks for that portion of thy blessed word which this day through thy mercy we haue béene made par takers off wee confesse O Lord that wee haue heard the same with manifold infirmities and much weaknesse neuerthelesse wee pray thée let thy power appeare in our weakenes and vouchsafe to water with the dewe of grace euery of these particular instructions which this day or at any other time we haue béen taught out of thy holy word that they may be as seede sowne in good ground and may bring forth much fruit to thy glorie and our owne comforts in this world and the eternall saluation of our soules in the world to come O Lord we confesse thou mightest iustly haue giuen vs ouer to a reprobate sence for our negligence and carelessenes in matters of thy worship and seruice yca euen O Lord our last behauiour in hearing of thy holy word hath béene so farre short of that which wee ought to haue donâ— that we haue deserued that thou shouldest make thy word a sauour of death vnto vs and not a sauour of life wee confesse O Lord our knowledge is very small in comparison of the time we haue enioyed the blessing of thy holy word so plentifully preached among vs and our practise is farre short of our knowledge which makes our case the more miserable but O Lord God seeing thou art so good vnto vs in bringing vs to a view of our owne defects and wants bee thou also mercifull in giuing vnto vs a heart to lament and to bee truely humbled before thy maiestie for them wee beséech thée in Iesus Christ to bee a reconciled Father vnto vs freely to pardon and remit all our sinnes and grant that the word which hath beene sowne among vs this day may take déepe roote in our hearts that neither the scorching heate of persecution or affliction cause it to wither nor the thornie cares of the world choake it but that wee may dayly grow vp to these holy duties till at length we come to a perfect age in Christ Iesus and forasmuch as we are taught in thy holie word to make prayers and supplications for all men we are not onely mindefull of our selues héere present but of thy children and Church in al places Blesse O Lord all those that thou hast set in authority ouer vs especially thy seruant our soueraigne the kings Maiestie sanctifie his goâ—ernment vnto vs. Blesse the Quéeâ—e and there hopefull Progenie the Nobilitie and Magistrates of the Land grant that we may be godly quietly gouerned vnder them Blesse O Lord the faithfull Pastors and ministers of thy holy word to whom thou hast committed the dispensation therof the charge of thy people y t both in their life doctrin they may be found faithful setting only before there eles thy honour and glorie and that by them all poore shéepe which wander go astray may be brought home into thy fold o lord as féeling members of one body wherof Christ is head we pray thée for all such as are afflicted with any crosse or tribulation whether in body or minde or both that it would please thée to giue them patience and constancie to endure thy holy hand so long as it shal please thée to exercise it vpon them giue them strength of faith against all assalts of Satan whatsoeuer giue them the pardon remission of their sins sealed vnto their constiences by the blood of thy déere sonne Christ Iesus Be pleased O lord to deale with them in mercy and not in iustice knowing they are but dust ashes in thy good time release them out of that misery they are either by life that they may glorifie thée here or by faithfull departure they may bee glorified of thée hereafter These mercies and whatsoeuer else thou knowest necessary for vs we craue at â—hy hands in that forme of Praier which Christ hath taught vs in his Gospell Our father c. A Praier before the receiuing of the Lords Supper MOst mercifull father I thy vnworthy seruant do héere render to thy Maiestie humble thankes for that it hath pleased thée notwithstanding al my former sins
vnworthinesse to inuite me to this blessed banquet which thou hast ordained for the strengthning of my weaâ—e faith and for the preseruation of the memorie of Christs death O Lord I beséech thée giue me grace to put on the wedding garment and séeing thou hast commanded that I should examine my selfe grant that I may not presume to thrust my self into thy holy presence without a due examination of mine owne estate both how I haue liued and also how I am prepared for so weightie a seruice I desire to do it O Lord help my desire I promise to liue more holy than I haue done giue me power I pray thée to performe my promise O Lord I confesse I am by nature a childe of wrath as well as others giue me a true and liuely faith wherwith as with a spirituall hand I may be spiritually ioined vnto thée that in this outward pledge wherby it hath pleased thée to stoope to my sences by visible signes of bread and wine setting forth thereby inuisible graces so grant good Lord I may wholly rest in thy death and passion which is the matter of both thy Sacraments cleanse mee O Lord that thou maiest enter into me and maiest vouchsafe to take vp thy habitation within me I know O Lord that I am most vnworthy of this excellent mercy but it is thou that for thine own names sake hast shewed vnto me this great saluation not sparing thine only begotten son whom when the fulnesse of time was come thou diddest send into the World made of a woman that in him thou mightest receiue a full satisfaction for my sinnes committed both in body and soule remoue far from me O Lord all swelling disdainefull and vncharitable affections for this is a feast of loue therefore to it a malicious and reuengeful heart cannot be a welcome guest and when I present my self before thée at thy table O Lord I beséech thée restrain wy wandring and idle thoughts and let them bée seriously fixed on that which is the Sacrament namely the death of my sauiour quicken me vp to deuote and consecrate my self for euer vnto his seruice who hath vouchsafed himselfe to be a sacrifice for me and grant that when I sée bread and wine on the table with my bodily eie I may with the eie of my soule behold Christ on the Crosse and when I looke vpon the wine powred out of the vessell I may consider how Christs blood was powred out for my sinnes and as I receiue this bread and wine into my stomack for bodily sustenance so cause me I beséech thée to féede on the body and blood of our Lord and Sauiour Christ that it may be nourishment for my soule Amen A Praier after the Receiuing of the Lords Supper O most louing and mercifull father I cannot giue thée thankes worthy enough according to the desire of my minde for the inestimable treasure of this heauenly foode which thou hast now made me partataker of in this heauenly mysterie to wit the true bread of heauen that euerlasting meat that abideth for eueâ—â— thy blessed sonne pur Sauiour Christ Iesus in whom I haue obtained by the gift of this holy Communion an earnest of an immortall inheritance to come O Lord let not this pretious blood of his be shed in vaine for me but nourish my soule by his flesh and more and more clense it by his blood quicken me O Lord I beséech thée in this life that in the body of his Church I may be partaker of all spirituall blessings through him and as thou hast seperated me O Lord from the wicked in this holy banquet so kéep me I pray thée from their corruptions that I be not as a dog that returneth to his vomit and as a filthy swine that is washed to her wallowing in the mire but good Lord grant that I may seusibly féele the death of Christ to be swéete vnto my soule as I doe now these creatures of bread and wine to afforde a pleasant taste and refreshing to my body O heauenly Father let me not depart hence forgetful of thy kindnesse but grant that I may euen now at this present time euen resolue with mine owne soule to walke in a better course of holy obedience to thy Magesty than heretofore hauing respect vnto all thy Commandements and as I haue béene this day put in minde of the benefit of Christs death so let mée euery day thinke often of his death that thereby I may liue vnto righteousnesse and learne to die vnto sinne and grant that euer heereafter I may so walke before thée that all men may sée that I am become a new creature thus endeuouriug to walke in this life according to thy will expressed in thy holy worde I may heereafter enioy the ioies of thy kingdome in thy presence there to abide for euer euer Amen A Pâ—aier before a man begins the workes of his calling O Almightie and euerliuing God séeing all iust and lawfull vocations and callings grounded vpon thy worde are warranted for vs to liue in and also hast commanded that no man should be idle giue me grace I humbly pray thée that I may walke faithfully before thée as in thy holy presence so that no deceit cunning or guile take any hold of me but that I may labour truly and diligently as doing thine owne work Good Lord I beséech thée so prosper and blesse my godly endeuours that in Iesus Christ they may be a seale of thy fauour towards me to maintaine me and mine and that I may be also helpfull and beneficial vnto others knowing it to be a better thing to giue than to receiue and when it shall please thée O Lord by thy blessing vpon my labours that my basket and my store is increased grant that I may not ascribe to mine owne industry pains but to giue thée the praise of it to whom it wholly belongeth And good father grant that I may not set my heart vpon these outward things but rather as riches encrease so I may be more and more affraid of my selfe least the cares of this World and the deceitfulnesse of riches choake in me the séedes of grace so steale my minde away from better things let me not I beséech thée so eagerly follow the duties of my calling that I should abridge and skant my selfe of conuenient seasons for heauenly and spirituall exercises but alwaies make me behold thy all séeing presence in whose sight all things are naked that so I may approue my selfe vnto thée by a streight vpright cariage and in so doing I shall imitate thy son Christ Iesus who in the daies of his flesh humbled himselfe to liue as a man vpon this earth by following a painfull trade and when the time was come that he was to publish himselfe to the World he was neuer idle but went about doing good yea with that alacritie and chéerefulnesse that it was his meat to do the will of his
father that sent him O Lord grant that I may follow his steps endeuouring to please thée in the whole course of my life through the same Iesus Christ our Lord and only Sauiour Amen A Praier containing humble confession of Sinne and desire of pardon O Eternall God and mercifull father infifinite in iustice and truth taking vengance vpon all disobedient children and yet abundant in goodnesse and mercy towards al such as vnfainedly feare thy name and return vnto thée in sincerity of heart and contrition of spirit prostrating their soules before thée I most vile and wretched sinner doe humbly beséech thée of thy infinite mercy to haue compassion vpon my sinnes which are so grieuous and so vile and loathsome as thy pure eies can not abide to looke vpon them I confesse O Lord that all my life hath béen in sinne our fathers and mothers were sinnefull euen from the sâ—ock of our great grandfather Adam whose blindnesse should haue béen our light and whose sight was turned to our blindnesse and darkenesse by the deceitfull entisements of that enemy of our saluation that subtill serpent Satan by whose baites our forefather being clothed with innocency and integretie and vnspeakable hapinesse was moued by the desire of the knowledge of that which thou wouldest he should haue béene ignorant of by breaking of which thy commandement he with the woman which thou gauest to bee a help comfort vnto him were according to thy determinate will cast out of Paradice a place of ioy to a place of miserie and labour I beseech thee most gratious God smite my hard and stonie heart and make it euen to melt with in me at the sight of my manifold transgressions settle in it I pray thée that godly sorrow which causeth repentance vnto saluation not to be repented of humble my soule vnder thy mighty hand and suffer it not to fréeze in the dregs of mine owne corruptions and make my head full of water mine eies a fountaine of teares which may run down like a riuer day night and grant O Lord that I may sorrow not so much because of hell and damnation which is due vnto me for my sinnes but that my chiefest sorrow may be this that I haue offended so good and gratious a God as thou art in abusing thy mercies and requiting thy excéeding loue with so greiuous sins O Lord I am bold to come vnto thée at this time not in my owne name for who am I that I should dare to presse into thy presence but in the name and mediation of thy déere and welbeloued son Christ Iesus Let his death passion be a full satisfaction for all my sinnes wash me throughly in his blood from mine iniquities and clense me from my sinnes let not thy hand of iustice destroy me but giue me the comfort of thy help and stablish me with thy truth Most gratious father thou which art the father of mercies and the God of consolations of thée I aske mercy and forgiuenesse of all my sinnes thou wouldest that none should perish but that all should be saued and come to the knowledge of thy truth thou hast commanded me most gratious God in thy holy word to call and knock vnto thée whereupon thou hast gratiousty promised so to finde as to enter into me and to entertaine me I beséech thée make good my promise vnto me at this time and regard my teares my sighes and my groanes which doe knock at the gate of thy mercies I endeuour most gracious God and striue to do thy will Lord make good thy promise I beséech thée in thy word and accept my desire and howsoeuer vilde wretch that I am euer since I Couenanted with thée to doe thée seruice I haue either vngratiously forgotten or vngratefully remembred all thy benefits and haue not so estéemed thée for them as I would haue done a mortall friend for a few common Curtesies yet neuer the lesse haue mercy vpon me I can not excuse my faults and If I should yet my consciense would condemne mée for I had thy expresse word to stay me and mine owne conscience to bridle me yea I would haue allowed those things which I did if any other had done them but my selfe now when my memorie is the handwriting of my debt and my thoughts are willing wâ—â—nesses against me and mine owne knowledge condemneth me what remaineth but that I must néeds fall into thy hands O Lord I beséech thée according to thy wonted mercy and old louing kindnesse haue pity vpon me miserable sinner and grant me a frée remission of all my sinnes and a perfect reconciliation with thée in Christ Iesus this O Lord I earnestly craue at thy hands euen for the same Iesus Christ sake our Lord and sauiour Amen A godly Prayer in time of sicknesse or at the point of Death ALmightie God and in Iesus Christ my most mercifull Father I thy poore wretched seruant which doe here lye vnder thy hand féeling thy punishment of the corruption and transgression that is in me and in all flesh euen this same sicknesse which at this time thou hast sent vnto mee I doe here humble my selfe vnder thy hands and acknowledge against my selfe my heinous sins and corruptions so that I confesse that I haue not only deserued sicknes of body yea the separation of my soule from my body but also the separation both of bodie and soule from thée and thy kingdome for euer but good Father I humbly beseech thee looke vpon me in the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus in whome thou hast loued mee before the foundations of the world were laid though sinne haue brought sicknes and sicknes bee an vndoubted messenger of death at the time thou hast appointed yet grant good Lord that I may be vndoubtedly perswaded in this that death is swallowed vp in victorie and that this death can no more hold me vnder then it hath done Iesus Christ into whom I am translated therefore I beseech thée giue me a swéet féeling of my incorporation into Christ Iesus in whose death though I dye yet I shall liue by y â— vertue of his resurrection eternally O Lord in this my sicknesse giue me I beséech thée a déep touch and a sensible vnderstanding of my sinnes past that I haue not vsed this temporall life which thou didst lend mee more to thy glorie that I did not so watch for death as that I was no better prepared for it that I was no more diligent in my calling to seeke the aduancement of thy glory Now O Lord I pray thee take from me all guile of Spirit all disposition to flatter or to sooth vp my selfe or to lessen either the number or the qualitie of my sinnes cause mee euen to breake vp my hart and to search and trie my waies that so out of the abundance of my feeling I may poure out a most plentifull and sincere confession before thee knowing it to be in vaine to endeuour
so as they may neuer bee able to rise vp against vs either in this World to accuse vs or in the World to come to condemne vs. And because O Lord our nature is so prone to commit sume and that with grée dinesse so that if thou shouldest euen at this instant giue vs a frée pardon of all our sins yet we confesse such is the corruption of our weake flesh that without the restraining grace of thy holy spirit we should fall into the same sinnes againe or â—nto worse therefore wee humbly pray thée most gracious God not only to pardon that which is past but also purge our present corruptions and by the grace of thy good spirit preuent those that are to come graÌ„t good Lord that wee may thinke it more than sufficient that we haue spent the time past of our liues according to the lusts of the flesh and after our own desires and fancies and may now euen resolue to dedicate the rest of our liues that yet remaineth to thy glorie our owne comfort and the good of our brethren throgh Iesus Christ our Lord. In these our weake praiers O Lord wee are not mindefull of our selues alone but of thy whole Church dispearsed ouer the face of the earth farre and wide blesse O Lord the principall member thereof our dread Soueraigne king Iames Enrich his roiall heart with all grares necessary for so high a place stablish his throne we beséech thée and let his soule bee bound in the bundle of life with thée O God blesse Quéene his wife make her a helpe vnto him in the best things blesse their Roiall Progenie and grant that they may not want one of that line to sit vpon this throne so long as the Sun and Moone endures Blesse all his Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell be thou present with them and president ouer all their counsels as may bee most for thy glorie the honour of the King the peace of the State and the comfort of thy people Blesse all the Iudges and magistrates of the land Blesse the Ministers of thy Word and Sacraments Thou that art the Lord of the haruest thrust forth many faithfull and painefull Labourers that they may féed thy people with knowledge and vnderstanding blesse O Lord all the afflicted members of thy Church diseased either in body or minde or both especially those that suffer for the testimonie of a good conscience O Lord to whom all their cases and necessities are manifest we beséech to make al their bed in their sicknesse lay no more vpon them than thou shalt make them able to beare giue them the true sight feeling of their sins so farre as may lead them to true repentance with harty sorrow for the same And good father deale with them in mercy not in iustice either to release them out of that present miserie wherein they are either by life that they may glorifie thée in this World or by faithfull departure that they may be gloriffed of thée in the world to come These mercies most gracious God and whatsoeuer else thou knowest in thy wisedome to bee better for vs than we our selues can ask we beg them at thy hands not for our owne merits for they are nothing but for the merits of thy decre son Christ Iesus our Lord and sauiour in whose name in whose words we conclude saying Our father which art in Heauen c. Morning Prayer for priuate Families MOst gracious God and mercifull Father thou that art glorious in power and holines we thy poore and miserable Creatures being but dust and Ashes do here humbly prostrate our selues and our sinfull soules before the throne of thy Maiestie Confessing and acknowledging from the bottomâ— of our hearts that wee are most vile sinners conceiued and borne in some and that we are by nature nothing else but a â—â—nye of all wickednesse whese nature and propertie is to grow and encrease in sin as we grow in yeares and to war strong in wickednesse euen as the powers of our mindes and bodies receiue strength and although our cursed estate doth here in greatly appear yet our sinne is made out of measure sinfull through the excéeding grace which thou hast offered vnto vs. by thy Gospell of thy dear Sâ—â—me whereby we are so farre from proâ—iting that of our selues without the grace of thy holy Spirit in our hearts we should war worse and worse wherefore wee beséech thée O Lord as our sâ—nes haue magnified themselues in an infinite length bredth depth and height so let thy mercies which passe all vnderstanding outstrippe them and howsoeuer by reason of our sinnes wée haue iustly deserued to bée depriued of all thy blessings in this life and hereafter to haue our portion with the diuell and his Angels yet O Lord God wee pray thée remember that we are thy people and shéep of thy pasture whom thou host redéem'd with thy most precious bloud despise not therefore O Lord the worke of thy hands but for thy glories sake and for thy blessed names sake spare vs sparevs good Lord according to thy vsuall dealing with those which in prayer haue had recourse vnto thée and according to the old and vnchangeable Nature of a kinde long suffering and mercifull God Thy mercie O Lord hath manifestly appeared vnto vs this night past in that thou hast giuen vs quiet rest sléep for the refreshment of our weake bodies whereas for our sinnes past committed the day before thou mightst iustly euen in our dead sléep haue taken our soules from vs and so suddenly haue brought vs to our account but it hath pleased thée to spare vs and to giue vs a larger time of repentance O Lord as thou giuest vs space so wee beséech thée giue vs also grace to repent vs of our former euill wayes and to turne vnto thée and for as much as thou hast commanded in thy holy word that no man should be idle but euery one occupied in godly and vertuous exercises according to their Callings wee most humbly beseech thée that thine eyes may attend vpon vs dayly defend vs cherish comfort gouerne counsell vs in all our studies and labours in such wise that we may spend and bestow this day and all the dayes of our liues according to the blessed will setting thée alwaies before our eyes and liuing in thy feare euer working that which may be fonnd acceptable in thy sight through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we end as hée hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in heauen c. Euening Prayer for priuate Families OAlmightie Lord God and in Iesus Christ our most mercifull and louing Father we thy poore and vnworthy seruants do here from the ground of our hearts render vnto thy diuine Maiestie in that poore measure wée are able all praise and thankes for all thy blessings mercies bestowed vpon vs from time to time euer since we were born vntill this present houre especially O Lord
we thank thée for those inestimable blessings which concerne a better life and our eternall happinesse as our Election before the foundations of the world our Creation into the world our Redemption by the bloud of thy deare Sonne Christ Iesus when wee were worse then nothing our Sanctification by the holy Spirit our Uocation from the world our blessed hope of Glorification in the world to come O Lord we confesse we haue not deserserued the least of all these thy blessings either temporall or spirituall but haue rather giuen thée iust cause to depriue vs of euery one of them by reason of our manifold sinnes both Originall and Actuall which we haue multiplied against thée from time to time O Lord we confesse that our Conception our birth yea and our whole liues haue béene in sinne liuing in the breach of all thy Commandements our fathers and mothers were sinfull deriuing it euen from our first parents Adam and Eue and so to vs that as Adam purchased for vs his Children none other inheritance but the vnhappy entrance into sinne and corruption and we béeing in his loynes and engrafted into this detestable stocke of sinne we are sorie O Lord that wee haue offended thée so willingly and disobediently strayed from thy holy Lawes yea we do vnfainedly condemn our selues in thy presence for euery one of our sins purposing in our hearts by the grace of thy Holy Spirit to forsake our former euill wayes and to make more conscience of sinne then euer we haue done heretofore Now for as much as it hath pleased thée to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordained him the day to trauell in grant deare father that wee may so take our bodily rest that our soules may continually watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shal appeare for our deliuerance out of this mortall life in the meane season wée beséech thée grant that in our sléepe we be not ouercome by any fantasies dreames or other tentations but that we may fully set our minds vpon thée loue thée feare thée and rest in thée and that our sléepe be not â—â—cessiue or ouermuch after the vnsatiable desire of the flesh but onely sufficient to content our weake natures that wee may be the better enabled the day following to liue in all godly conuersation in the discharge of our callings to the glorie of thy holie name and profit of our brethren through Iesus Christ our Lord. Blesse with vs wee beséech thée thy Children and Church in all places poure downe thy blessings in especiall manner vpon the Kings most excellent Maiesty the Quéene and her Royall Progeny blesse all the Nobilitie and Magistrates of the land Blesse the Ministers and teachers of thy holy Word Lord giue a blessing to their labours that by their ministerie such may daily be woon vnto thee as belong vnto thine Election of grace Blesse and succour all the afflicted members of thy Church wheresoeuer or howsoeuer distressed bée with them in all their sicknesse lay no more vpon them then thou shalt make them able to beare giue them the true sight and féeling of their sinnes so far as may leade them to true repentance a hartie sorrow for the same howsoeuer it shall please thée to deale with them let it bee in mercy and not in iustice knowing they are but flesh and in thy good time send them a happy deliuerance out of their miserie either by life or by death as it shall séeme best tâ— thy maiestie Lastly as duty bindes vs we commend vnto thy fatherly protection all our friends and kindred according to the flesh whether they bee néere or deare vnto vs in affinitie or consanguinity and all whomsoeuer thou wouldest we should commend vnto thy maiesty for them as for our selues wée beséech thee continue thy mercies and goodnesse towards vs euen for thy deare sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whom with thee and the blessed Spirit our Comforter be ascribed as is most due all honour and glorie now and for euer Amen Another prayer for Morning O Most mercifull God and heauenly father we thy seruants doe hers humbly prostrat our selues before thy diuine maiesty acknowledging here in thy sight our heinous offences committed against thée both in thought word and worke so that our sinnes are growne more in number then the haires of our heades and if thou shouldest enter into Iudgement with vs we could not be able to answere thée one of a thousand they are so heinous that the very least of them being but conceiued in thought is sufficient in iudgement to throw vs down to the lake that burneth with fire brimstone besides O Lord wee are guilty before thy Maiestie of a huge masse of corruption which we haue drawn from the loines of our first parents which of it owne nature is inough to condemne vs if thou shouldest deale with vs according to Iustice though we had neuer committed actuall sin all the daies of our leues Further O Lord wee are full of blindnes and sencelesse securitie running on headlong to destruction and committing sinne after sinne although not notorious to the world yet horrible before thy pure eyes which seest all things but O Lord wee dayly grone vnder the burden of our sinnes inwardly lamenting our own folie In Heauen Earth or Hell we see none able to sustain thy wrath for them but euen thy deare Son Christ Iesus the Son of thy loue who in mercy infinite and in compassion endles hath suffered and ouercome that endlesse punishment which was due vnto vs for them In him therfore most mercifull Father and through him do we come vnto thee beingful assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept and take that full recompence which he our Sauiour hath made for vs on his Crosse In him therefore we see thine anger towards vs appeased and thy wrath satisfied and our debt payed O Lord enlarge our hearts with thankefulnesse to thy Maiestie for the same and make sinne to dye in vs more and more that wee may hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne in all men but especially in our selues and strongly through thy spirit set our selues in open war against all sinne and wickednesse that we may not please our selues in the least sinne but streightly examine sinne by the strict Rules of thy holyword we may alwaies walke not onely before the eyes of man but circumspectly in this respect that we haue the eies of thy maiestie to take a view of our doings we humbly thank thy maiesty for all thy mercies bestowed vpon vs either for soule or bodie amongst the rest wee acknowledge this not to bee the least that we haue quietly passed this night and that thou hast giuen vs quiet rest and sléepe for the refreshment of our weake bodies which without the same could not endure grant we beseech thée that we may bestowe this day and the residue of our life wholly in thy
thou séeest euen the very secrets of our hearts and that nothing can be done be it neuer so secret without thy knowledge these mercies and blessings we pray thée to grant vnto vs for Iesus Christs sake our Lord Amen Another Euening Praier ETernall God and in Iesus Christ our most merciful father thou which art the father of mercies the God of al consolations we thy vnworthy seruants doe héere according to our bounden duties humble our selues before thy maiestie and rendring in that poore measure we are able all praise and thankes for all thy mercies blessings bestowed vpon vs from time to time euer since we were borne vntill this present for our election creation redemption vocation iustification sanctification preseruation and the hope of our glorification herafter as also for al those blessings that concern this life present furnishing vs continually with all good things necessarie that wée stand in néede of More especially O Lord we thank thée y â— thou hast preserued defended vs this day from al perils and dangers both of body and soule wherinto many haue fallen and wée might also had we not béen guided by thy merciful prouidence O Lord we confesse to the shame of our owne selues that wee are not worthy of the least of all these thy mercies but as we were conceiued and borne in sinne so haue wée liued in iniquity and in the transgression of thy lawes not regarding to be gouerned by the holy word and therefore haue iustly deserued that thou shouldest poure vpon vs all shame misery in this life and eternall condemnation in the World to come but O Lord we know that thou art a God full of mercy stow to anger great compassion and wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that we should liue In confidence of this thy mercie we confesse before thy maiestie our manifold sinnes in treating thée to pardon them all for the merits of Christ Iesus séeing thou hast giuen vs so large a time of repentance grant that we may now at length returne vnto thée in sinceritie of heart contrition of spirit And for this night present we beséech thée sanctific our rest vnto vs this night that we may enioy the same as thy blessing that thereby our wearied bodies being refreshed with moderate and quiet sléepe wée may be the better enabled to walke before thée in our callings the day following to thy glorie and our owne comforts throgh Iesus Christ Remember with vs thy Church and children in all places gather together thine elect forgiue the crying sinnes of this land make an end of these daies of sinne and hasten the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ Preserue thine annointed and our dread soueraign King the Quéen and their roiall Progenie defend and kéep them from plots and trecheries both abroad and at home Let thy spirit of wisdome of Councell and of vpright iudgement rest vpon all the Lords of his maiesties honourable Priuie Councell the Nobilitie and magistracie for the best good of this whole Land Blesse y â— painfull preachers of thy holy word giue good successe we pray thée to their studies and labours for the winning of so many soules as thou hast ordained to eternal life comfort all thy afflicted that suffer vnder thy hand and howsoeuer it shall please thée to deale with them yet support them with patience thankfullnesse to vndergoe whatsoeuer it shall please thée to lay vpon them and when thou shalt sée it fit send them deliuerance that either by life or by death Christ may be to them aduantage Lastly we beséech thée good Lord to blesse all our kinsfolkes in the flesh and all others whom thou would est we should pray for heare vs for them and them for vs Christ Iesus for vs all In whose name we shut vp these our imperfect praiers in that perfect forme which he himselfe hath left vs saying Our father c. Morning Praier for a priuate person MOst Glorious God and mercifull father I thy most vnworthy creature doe héere confesse before thy Diuine Maiestie to thy glory though it be to the shame and confusion of mine owne face that I am not worthy to appeare before thée much more vnworthy to offer vp my praiers vnto thée with confidence that thou shouldest heare them and grant my requests by reason of my manifold sinnes and transgressions that I haue heaped vp against thy maiesty ere since I was borne vntill this present day And now O Lord being come before thée I must néedes confesse the vilenesse of my estate I was conceiued bred born in sinne and in sinne haue I continued all my daies I haue drunke Iniquitie like water yea I haue drawne it after me and tied it vnto me as with great ropes yea I haue eueÌ„ made a mock of sinne and it hath béene a pastime vnto me to doe wickedly Notwithstanding O Lord thou hast called vpon me but still I haue refused thou hast againe and againe stretched out thy hand but I haue not regarded thou hast sought to reclaime me but I haue hated to be reformed thou hast often called vpon mee by thy blessed word yet notwithstanding I haue despised thy patience and abused thy goodnesse so that I haue giuen thée iust cause to heap vpon me all thy seareful plagues and punishments which in the extremity of thy law do belong vnto the wicked It is thy vnspeakeable mercy that thou didst not make my bed my graue neuer to haue risen againe but O Lord I know there is abundance of mercies with thée that thou mayest be feared and excéeding experience haue I had of thy goodnesse long suffering and patience towards me therfore I grow in hope still that thou purposest me good not euill to saue me not to destroy me beséeching thée to accept the death of Christ as a full satisfaction for all my smâ—â—es to wash them away in his blood and to binds them in one bundle cast them behinde thy backe neuer to be remembred I humbly thank thy maiesty for thy manifold mercies extended towards me this night past al y â— daies of my life for my quiet rest sléep my foode and raiment my health peace and libertie and the hope of a better life in the merits of thy deare sonne Christ Iesus for all these thy mercies O Lord I haue nothing to render vnto thée but thine owne If I could giue thée my bodie and soule they might be saued by it but thou wert neuer the richer for it yea euen since I rose I haue tasted many of thy blessings and thou hast begun to serue me before I haue begun to serue thée I can shew no reason why thou shouldest bestow all these blessings vpon me more than others but that thou art mercifull and if thou shouldest draw all back againe from me as iustly thou maiest I haue nothing to say but that thou art iust and séeing O Lord I am now to enter
into the affaires of this day I beséech thée blesse me in the duties of my calling this day and euer for idlenesse and godlynesse can not stand together and it is thy pleasure that in the sweat of my face I should eat my bread O Lord preserue me from all fraudulent and deâ—eitfull courses draw my affections more and more from the loue of the World fix my heart vpon those things which are aboue if things succéed according to my mind by thy blessing vpon my labours make me thankefull vnto thée if any crosse come make me patient and carefull to profit by euerie chastisement that it shall please thée to lay vpon me knowing that howsoeuer they are greiuous for the present yet in the end they will bring the quiet fruit of righteousnesse to al them that are thereby exercised which God grant for his Christs sake to whom with the holy spirit bee all praise now and euer Amen Euening Praier for a priuate Person O Eternall God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and in him my most mercifull father I humbly confesse before thy glorious presence that I am altogether a lump of sinne a masse of corruption and therfore haue for feited thy fauour and incurred thy high displeasure both in thought word and deede My sins O Lord are more in number than the haires of my head yea farre more than I can possibly féele or know and if I should goe about to reckon vp my particular offences I know not where to begin or where to make an end It is thou O Lord who knowest my sins to whom the secrets of my heart are manifest and nothing can be hid from thy sight besides my consciense doth accuse me of many greiuous euils and I daily feele by ful experience how fraile I am how prone to euel and backward to all goodnesse my minde my heart and affections and all the faculties both of soule and body are ful of vanitie profanenesse dulnesse deadnesse drowâ—inesse in matters of thy worship and seruice But O déere father I haue learned from thy mouth that thou art a God full of mercie slow to wrath and of great compassion and kindnesse towards all such as are heauy laden groan vnder the burthen of their sinnes O Lord extend thy great mercy towards mée poore sinner and giue me a general pardon for al mine offences whatsoeuer seale it to my conscience in the blood of thy déere son Christ Iesus assuring me more and more of thy loue an fauour towards me and that thou art a reconciled father vnto me in the same christ O Lord I beséech thée principally giue me victorie ouer those sins thou knowest my nature most prone to commit Mortific in me whatsoeuer is carnall and sanctiffe me by thy good spirit and knit my heart vnthée for euer Lord grant that I may take delight in the reading and hearing of thy holy word that I may loue and reuerence all the faithfull Ministers of the gospell giue O Lord a melting heart that I may tremble at thy worde let not my sinnes holde backe thy mercies from me nor mine vnworthines stop the passage of thy grace I most humbly thank thee for all thy blessings bestowed vpon me necessarie for this life as food raiment health peace liberty c. which many of thy déere children doe want being notwithstanding bought with the pretious blood of Christ Iesus as well as I. Biâ—t aboue all deere Father I praise thy name for the blessings of a better life especially for thy holy worde and sacraments and all the good I enioy therby for the continuance of thy gospell the worde of truth the means of our saluation for the death of thy son and all that happinesse I receiue thereby O Lord open my blinde eies euery day more and more to sée and consider of thy great and meruelous loue towards me in all these things that by the dew consideration therof my heart may be drawne néerer vnto thee to loue thée much because thou hast giuen much and as thou dost abound towards me in goodnesse so grant that I may abound towards thée in obedience and thankfulnesse and in these my weak and imperfect praiers O Lord I am not mindeful of my selfe alone but of the whole estate of thy Church wheresoeuer blesse all christian Kings and Princes calling vpon thy name especially our dread Soueraigne the Kings Maiestie the Quéene and their roial Progonie Blesse all the nobilitie the magistrates and ministers of the Land that all their Councels and labours may begin at thy feare and may be referred thy glory Succour and comfort all those that are comfortlesse sanctifie all their afflictions and troubles vnto them that they may tend to thy glory and their owne good Finally O Lord according to my bounden dutie I commend vnto thy Maiestie all my friends and acquaintance beséeching thée for them as for my selfe to blesse vs all in our particular places and grant that we may do those things which may bée to thy glorie and our comforts through Iesus Christ our Lord. In whose name I end as he hath taught me saying Our father which art in heauen hallowed bee thy name Thy kingdome come Thy-will be done in earth as it is in heauen c. A Prayer for a priuate person necessarie at all times ALmightie God and in Iesus Christ my most mercifull and louing Father I doe here in thy presence acknowledge that I am of my selfe a most wretched and miserable sinner both in respect of the corruptions of my heart as also the transgression of my life more particularly I doe acknowledge the infidelitie of my heart wherby I haue not yet learned to depend vpon thy prouidence for the things of this life nor vpon thy mercie for the saluation of my soule I confesse O Lord the Atheisme and profanenesse both of my mind and heart whereby all my thoughts and affections are estranged from thée and so glewed to the things of this life that I can take more ioy and delight in doing mine owne will and in seruing mine owne lusts then euer I would â—â— in seruing and obeying thée I acknowledge likewise the pride of mine own heart whereby I doe eralt my selfe in the vanity of my own conceit aboue thy maiestie and aboue my Brethren whom thou hast made farre more excellent then my selfe as also the security of the flesh whereby I put away the day of wrath farre from mee promising to me selfe fréedome from all thy curses and plagues notwithstanding I walke in sinne and in the stubbornnes of mine owne heart my hypocrisie wherby I am content my selfe onely with an outward name and profession of religion and holinesse before men not regarding the truth and power of godlinesse besides O Lord my life abounds in all Actuall transgressions against euery one of thy commandements I haue liued in the abuse of thy mercies and haue not béene drawne néerer vnto thee In neglect of thy
Blesse mee in this calling to which thou hast appointed mee prosper me I pray thee in the thoughts of my heart the words of my mouth the workes of mine hands Be mercifull I most humbly beseech thée to all those women and children with whom I am to deale Bee mercifull to this thy Seruant that is now in trauel O good Lord comfort her strengthen her and grant her a seasonable and safe deliuerance blesse her burthen O Lord and giue iâ— strength life to be borne so will I render praise and thanksgiuing vnto thee Heare O Lord and grant mee my hearts desire for Christ Iesus his sake mine onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A Thanksgiuing priuate for the safe deliuerance of a woman to bee said by the Midwife or some woman present at her Deliuerie VVEE giue thee thankes most mercifull God for all thy mercies and fauours to vs for Electing Creating Redeeming Sanctifying and Preseruing vs for our health peace and libertie for the worde and Gospell and for preseruing both it and vs from that barbarous Powder-Treason of wicked Papists and finally for the safe deliuerance of this thine Handmaide and the birth of this Infant wee beseech thee giue vs thankefull heartes vnto thee and grant that by true thankefulnesse wee may consecrate our soules our selues and seruices vnto thee all the dayes of our life endeauouring to leade a godly quiet and vertuous life before thée in this world that wee may liue for euer with thée in the world to come through Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen The Lord bee mercifull vnto vs send health and strength vnto this thine Handmaide Lord blesse this Childe vouchsafe it life that it may by Baptisme bee admitted into thine house and haue interest in thy Couenant the Lord keepe vs all and honour vs with his grace in this life and with immortall glorie in the life to come Amen A Prayer in time of Pestilence or any other Contagious Sicknesse MOst gracious and euerliuing god whose Iudgements are vnsearchable and workes past finding out much lesse to bee comprehended within our weake shallow braines we can not wonder that we are afflicted with so many sorts of diseases and extraordinarie visitations for wee confesse that our sinnes haue prouoked thee not only to take vengeance vpon our bodies and those things that belong vnto vs for this life but also euen that thou shouldest seperats both our bodies and soules from thee for euer to the eâ—ternall destruction of both and howsoeuer this iudgement of the plague be grieuous vpon vs yet it is the smallest part of our desert and if thou shouldest make it cleaue fast to our loines and euen sweep vs off from the face of the earth as dung is swept away till all be gone wee haue nothing to except against thee but that thou art iust for wee haue multiplyed our sinnes before thée and haue pressed thee with the burden of them as a Cart is pressed with sheaues so that neither wee nor our Fathers haue kept thy Commandements and besides O Lord we must confesse thou hast iustly plagued vs because wee haue abused and set at naught thy manifold mercies which thou hast shewed vnto vs for our conuersion as the continuall admonitions giuen vnto vs by thy ministers rising early and late yet wee haue hardened our heartes as in the day of slaughter and haue despised thy Prophets and put farre from vs the euill day thereby adding drunkennes to thirst yet notwithstanding wee will returne vnto thée that hast smitten vs for thou art the father of mercies and the God of forgiuenesses O remember vs not according to our sins but according to thy mercies O Lord thinke vpon vs for thy goodnesse sake cleare vs wee beseech thee and make vs frée from the contagion and Leprosie of sinne and then we shall bée fréed from the noysome infection of the Pestilence so that it shall not hurt vs teach vs O Lord to feare sinne as we feare the sicknesse it selfe for it is the cause of this wasting sicknesse which is the fruit of sinne but this good Father belongeth onely vnto thee for thou canst doe both the one and the other therefore comfort vs wee pray thee according to the dayes that thou hast afflicted vs turns vs vnto thée O Lord and we shall be turned conuert thou vs and we shall be conuerted If wee humble our selues and meete thee with true faith vnfained repentance with hartie sorrow and teares thy wrath shal cease and then thou wilt call in againe thy messengers commanding thine Angell to put vp the sword of vengeance into the â—heath and shew mercie vpon vs and if it bee thy good pleasure to stretch out thy hand stil and chastise vs yet more for our Iniquities giue vs wee pray thée grace and strength patiently to endure thy fatherly hand to the vtmost tryall and teach vs that whensoeuer wee are iudged by thée we shall not be iudged with the world and much better is it for vs to bee temporally corrected in this life then eternally to ber tormented in the life to come therefore O Lord we choose rather to fall into thy hands then in to the hands of men because thy grace is great and mercie is with thee that thou maist bee feared laying fast hold of faith in Christ Iesus who is theeuerlasting propitiation and perfect sacrifice for all our sins in whom alone thou art well pleased to whom with thée thy good spirit bee all honour glory now and for euermore Amen A Prayer for the Kings Maiestie the whole State OEternall God gracious Father who in thy eternall counsell and inestimable wisedome hast ordained Kings Princes to be as Fathers Nurses to thy church and as thou hast giuen them high soueraignty and speciall authority so thou hast communicated vnto them thine own names and titles both to put them in continuall remembrance that they are for thée for thy glory and also vs thy subiects of that same continuall loue obedience which we owe vnto thy Maiestie that vnder them we may be godly and peaceably gouerned seeing y â— by thée Kings raigne and thy soueraigne authority reacheth ouer all wee beséech thée good Lord shew thy mercy vpon al christian Kings Princes calling on thy name especially wee pray thée multiply thy graces vpon thy seruant our dread soueraigne Iames by thy prouidence King of great Britaine France Ireland defender of the faith As thou hast doubled his croune lifted his head aboue others so wee pray thée double redouble thy graces and blessings vpon him both spirituall temporall make vs euermore truely thankfull we beséech thée for all thy preseruations of him from thine his enemies especially graunt that wee may neuer forget that inestimable deliuerance of his Maiestie the whole state from that more then barbarous and hellish plot of the gunpowder treason kéepe him as the Apple of thine
holy Ghost and that there is a Catholick church a Communion of Saints the forgiuenes of sins and the resurrection of the body and life euerlasting that so I may be truely perswaded of thy fatherly prouidence ouer me what Christ hath done that is for my deliuerance the holy ghost to be my comfort assistance being a member of the church and making me effectually partaker of all the priuileges thereof to my endlesse ioy happines which O father giue vnto me I beséech thée for Christs sake Amen A Prayer vpon the ten Commandements O Eternal Lord God I thy humble seruant that do owe all dutifuâ—l obedience to thée and am made partaker of manifold benefits both for body soule which then by the bloud of Christ thy only son hast deliuered from that euerlasting bondage which by corruption of nature I was held in from euerlasting death which I was subiect vnto by daily breaking of thy coÌ„mandements I beséech thée giue me grace now and euer hereafter to haue none other Gods but thée neither to make to my selfe any grauen Image nor the likenes of any thing in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath nor in y â— waters vnder the earth to bow down to them to worship them Nor that I take the name of thée my Lord God in vaine Remembring to kéep holy the Sabath day and to labour six daies doing all that I haue to do but in the seuenth day which is the Sabath of thée O Lord my God giue me grace to do no maner of work And that I may honour my father and mother Neuer to commit any murther neither Adulterie Nor to steale Nor to beare false witnesse against my neighbor Nor to couet my neighbours house nor his wife nor his seruant nor his maide nor his Oxe nor his Asse not any thing that is his that so I may do alwaies my duty to thee O God al the daies of my life beléeuing fearing worshipping giuing thankes louing thée with all my heart with all my mind with all my soul with al my streÌ„gth and louing my neighbour friend or foe euen as my selfe to doe to all men euen as I would they should doe to me to loue honour succour my father mother to honour and obey the King Quéene Prince their ministers to submit my selfe to all my gouernors spirituall temporall to order my selfe to all my betters lowly reuerently to hurt no body by word nor déede to be true and â—ust in all my dealings to beare no malice in my heart to behaue my selfe in the whole course of my life as thou maist be glorified my duty discharged my conscience comforted my brethren woone or confirmed and thye mouths of all the wicked stopped which O father vouchsafe to grant me for thy great goodnes sake thy beloued sonnes â—ake Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thée and the holy spirit bee all praise and honour giuen by me all thy Saints this time for euermore Amen A Prayer containing the doctrine of the sacraments O Most merciful father thou hast giuen met not onely thy holy word to teach me faith obedience but also two Sacraments outward signes and seales of inward graces Christ all his benefites Giue mee wiledome O Lord to acknowledge the benefite and thankfully vse the same beséeching thée that as by baptisme I am receiued into the church by water outwardly am washed so let it scale the assurance of the purging of my soule from sin by Christs bloud and appeare outwardly by thy holy spirit killing in mee corruption and stirring me vp to holines of life reioysing in my new-birth and growing more more therin dayly that so I may prepare my self in knowledge in true repentance hartie loue and a sound faith to come bee partaker of the Lords supper which is the other sacrament to nourish me vp in the same where by the signes of bread broken and wine poured out taken and giuen Christ my sauiour with his benefits is offered that gaue his body shed his blood for me Now O Lord as by my hand I take the bread wine and with eating and digestion receiue also the strength to nourish my body so I pray thee giue me faith to apply Christ with his merites that I may féele the vertue therof to nourish my soule that I may not come vnprepared least I eate drinke 〈◊〉 owne damnation in â—andling such holy mysteries neither let mee conteiâ—â—e or neglect to be partaker when by the Church thou doest call me but obediently thankefully communicat with my breathren to strengthen my faith encrease mutuall loue shewing obedience Gods mercy in Christs death till hee come to iudge vs all at that great day that for Christs sake our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Prayer before meate MOst gracious God and mercifull father from whom all good gifts procéed we poore wretches beséech thée to sanctifie to our vses these thy good creatures which we shal receiue now of thy mercy giue vs grace wee pray thee to vse them soberly purely according to thy will grant y â— by these blessings which thou so largely bestowest vpon vs wee may see thy loue towards vs seeking likewise for that spirituall bread of thy word which is the foode of our soules that by the same we may be nourished to eternal life throgh Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Thanksgiuing after meat VVE confesse O Lord it is of thy only goodnes mercy that wee liue moue and haue our beeing in this life and all things whereby our life is preserued comes from thy maiestie good Lord wee beséech thée make vs thankefull for these al other thy mercies both spirituall temporall and as thou hast now fed our bodies with corporall foode so good Lord we pray thée nourish our souls with that heauenly Manna the food of eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another before meate ALinightie God which hast created meates drinkes for mans sustenance sanctifie them to the vse of thy children without difference that they may vse them for their health hast giuen strength to nourish our bodies to thy pleasure make vs sober and thankfull partakers of theÌ„ graunt that the end of our eating drinking may tend to enable vs to serue thée in our seuerall places through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Another after meate VVE humbly pray thée most gracious God and mercifull to sanctifie these thy good creatures which now of thy mercy we haue receiued at thy hands that they may turne to the nourishment of our bodies where unto thou hast appointed them and teach vs to remember that it is thou which to vs and to all thy creatures giuest food in due season and therfore that we abuse not thy mercies but in some good measure endeuour to walke worthie of them in the course of our liues through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Another before meate VVE magnifie thygreat name most gracious God for all thy mercies bestowed vpon vs from our cradles to this present especially that thou hast giuen vs Christ Iesus with him al the blessings belonging to this life and to that which is a far better wee thank thée for all temporall blessings these which wee are now about to receiue grant that our weak bodies being by them refreshed we may much more séek for the foode of our soules which abideth vnto eternall life that so we labouring to do thy will commanded in thy word here in this life wee may hereafter enioy y â— ioies of thy kingdome in thy presence there to abide for euer and euer Amen Another after meate IT is thou O Lord who hast elected created redéemed iustified sanctified preserued and now at this present fed vs thy name be blessed praised both now and for euer God saue his church vniuersal the Kings Maiestie the Quéen their royall progeny forgiue vs all our sins comfort the afflicted remoue thy iudgements farre from vs send thy Gospell a frée passage and grant vs al the Israel of God grace mercy faith truth peace in thy Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen Another before meate ETernall God which hast commanded vs in thy holy word that whether we eate or drinke or whatsoeuer we do al should be done to the praise of thy name and whereas any of thy creatures which we receiue can not be auaileable to the nourishment of our bodies except they bee sanctified by thy word prayer wee beséech thée blesse these thy good gifts which now wee are about to receiue of thy bounteous liberalitie that wee being by them strengthened may be better enabled to procéed in the discharge of our seueral Callings to thy glorie and our owne comfort through Iesus Christ Amen Another after meate HUmble and hartie thanks be rendred vnto thée most gracious God for all thy mercies for the coÌ„fortable refreshing which thou hast now vouchsafed vnto vs we beséech thée forgiue vs our sinnes which makes vs vnworthy of the least of thy mercies pardon wee beséech thée our great vn thankfulnes and let thy mercy to our bodies stir vp thankfulnes in our soules God preserue his Church the Kings Maiesty the Quéen their progeny these Realms increase our faith prosoer thy word Gospell among vs confound Satan and all the euemies of thy truth and grant vs mercie and peace in Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen Grace before meate MOst gracious father wee beséech thée forgiue vs all our sinnes blesse these creatures vnto our vse that they may be to our health strength comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Grace after meate VVE giue thée thankes most merciful father for féeding vs at this time and for al thy fauors of this life and of the life to come we beséech thée continue thy louing kindnesse still vnto vs. Lord saue thy Church our King and his Realines and giue thy Gospel an happy passage amongst vs to thy glory and our comfort through Iesus Christ out Lord and Sauiour Amen Godly Directions for the right Receiuing of the Lords Supper 1 THere is required preparation as the commandement of the Apostle plainely shewes which pertaines to al communicants without exception Let euery man examine himself 1 Cor. 11. 28. 2 Knowledge of y â— grounds of religion especially of the vse of both Sacraments 1. Cor. 11. 26. 3 Faith for al sacraments are seales of righteousnesse of Faith Rom 4. 11. 4 Repentance which stands in a heartie sorrow for sinnes committed in hatred and detestation of the same a resolued purpose of amendment and obedience for the time to come 5 Charitie towards men for this Sacramentis a Communion wherby all the receiuers iointly vnited together in loue do participate of one and the same Christ 6 When wee see two signes to be receiued bread and wine wee must call to minde that Christ is our perfect Sauior both bread water of life Heb. 7. 25. 7 When we beheld the bread and wine set apart by the Minister and consecrated by repeating the promise and prayers made for that end wee must call to minde that Christ was ordained by God to bee our Mediatour and Sauiour Ioh. 6. 27. Acts 2. 23 36. 8 When we sée the bread broken and the wine powred out we are to meditate of Christ seriously who was crucified for vs broken by his sufferings wherby life and righteousnesse was performed vnto vs Zach. 12. 10. 9 The giuing of Elements into the receiuers hands signifies vnto vs that God doth truely and really giue Christ with his merites to euery beléeuing receiuer which should put vs in mind of the vnspeakable loue of God towards vs. Rules to know true faith by the fruits thereof Tâ—iue and sauing faith is a supernaturall gift of God and a speciall perswasion wrought by the holy Ghost in the hearts of those that are effectually called concerning there reconciliation and saluation by Christ this saith in whomsoeuer it is it hath these effects 1 To beléeue that the Scriptures contained in the old new Tèstament are the very word of God and so much as is néedfull to be beléeued vnto saluation is contained therein Iohn 5. 39. 2 There will bee an vnfained desire to be taught and instructed in the word of God and to haue the vnderstanding thereof and most to affect those meanes which are most effectual to that end and purpose 3 There will be a continuall sorrow and griefe for thy ignorance and defectiue vnderstanding of the word of God and no marnell for what can be more greiuous to the children of God then not to know or vnderstand or not to remember the euidence of his owne euerlasting estate the will of his Master 4 He will examine himselfe whether his reading or hearing the word read or preached his meditating conference and studie in it do norish his loue and delight and beléefe in it Ps 119. 92. 97. 5 Where true faith is there will be a credite authority giuen to the word of God aboue al traditions whatsoeuer and a reiection of whatsoeuer he knoweth to bee opposite to the same word of God Ps 119. 92. 113. 6 There will be a lightnesse cheerefulnesse in the conscience when any thing is done agréeable to the word of God and a trouble and heauinesse in the same when any thing is done contrary to the same word Psal 119. 92. 7 There will be a hoping in the promises of God an awfull feare of his threatnings a desiring of the blessings and an endeuour to avoid the curses contained in the word and an equall beléeuing the one as well as the other 8 There will be a continuall thankes giuing vnto God for his inestimable blessings in reuealing his word vnto him and vouch safing liberty and meanes to come to knowledge and vnderstanding of the same whereby wée may see what a