is blessed for euer Heathen men are thankfull vnto their false gods for the supposed good turnes they doe receiue of them and in recompence they do not onely giue verball thanks but will offer vnto them euen their dearest Children in Sacrifice to shew their thankfulnesse And yet such as receiue euery day new blessings of the true God yea although their plenty and health neuer so much increase and continue they will not offer vnto him the least part of their superfiuous store in giuing it to the Poore in whom euen Christ himselfe maketh Petition for a cup of cold water as it were and yet can hardly obtaine it at their hands that will not sticke to affirme they are most thankefull to God But know that God will not be serued as Men are Masters can no further iudge of their Seruants and their seruice then they sée the idlenesse and loytering of their Seruants they may in presence obserue but the hidden and concealed falshoods they cannot discerne and if it be discouered it is but by doubtfull meanes as by coniecture or report but our great and all-knowing Master hath neuer his eye from our work nay he séeth and knoweth our wils the secret idlenesse or vanity of the heart howsoeuer the hands or lips may seeme to labour in the praise of God before men he can finde out our counterfait holinesse and dissembling thankes It is no boote to tell men We be thankfull to God though men cannot reproue vs nor distinguish betwéene our dissimulation and true thankfulnesse Who would or could haue condemned Ananias and Saphira that voluntarily gaue the most part of their goods to the vse of Gods people yet the holy Ghost finding their hypocrisie gaue them the reward of death for that which they concealed from men Man could not haue found out the bribery of Gehezi nor the hypocrisie of Iudas It is a dangerous thing to dally with holy things much more to dissemble with him that is most holy Ingratitude is a contemptible vice yet not so odious as is hypocriticall vnthankefulnesse for by the one man findeth apparantly who are thought vnworthy of a second good turne but by the other man is drawne to doe a fauour vnto the vndeseruing that by dissembling insinuation and counterfait thankes for a former obtaines a second kindenesse when in truth hée is méerely vnthankefull for both but God is not thus ouer-taken he cannot deceine by dissembling gifts nor be deluded by counterfeit thankes And yet God oftentimes giueth new gifts as health wealth honor office fauour of friends a good wife and dutifull children and many such like earthly blessings to the most vnthankefull by which the mindes of carnall men are so much the more besotted in obseruing that all things succéede so well they thinke God is well pleased with them flattering themselues that they stand much in Gods fauour because their occasions succéede better then other mens perswading themselues that to kéepe a formall morall course of life among men and to make a superficiall shew of thankfulnesse vnto God and at their death to allot some matter of forced beneuolence to the World as the building of an Almes-house Hospitall Colledge or such like is so high a recompence to God for the loane of his benefits as he resteth rather in such a benefactors debt for this good déede then such a vaine-glorious giuer indebted to God for his long vsing and abusing of his blessings By which I condemne not such workes tending to charitable vses as are done in due time and by men first séeking to be themselues in the true fauour of God before they so séeke the glory and commendation of the world for I presume to say that the bestowing of mens goods while they are their owne by their owne hands in secret to the needy members of Christ is more acceptable to God then the former though commendable intendments after their deaths while we liue wée know what is for the time in our disposition but after death wée cannot take knowledge what course will be taken with that we intend to best actions neither doth the giuing after death testifie a mans assurance of Gods prouidence as doth the liberall giuing in time of life for who so kéepes his treasure till hée dye hee leaueth it perforce and against his will which no man can deny and though he grieue to forgoe he cannot feare to want them but hee that giueth in his life time giueth in assurance that hée that gaue it him and made the promise of rewarding the Giuers to the poore dependeth so surely thereupon as hée shall neuer want what may be sufficient which indéede is a worthy testimony of truest thankefulnesse to God for the things he enioyeth in this life Preparatiues to thankfulnesse SAluation belongeth vnto the Lord and his blessing is vpon all that are his Psal. 3. 8. The Lord hath heard my petition the Lord doth receiue my Prayer Psal. 6. 10. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart I will be glad and reioyce in thee Oh thou most High Psal. 9. 1. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the poore thou preparest their heart thou bendest thine eare vnto them Psal. 10. 17. In my trouble did I call vpon the Lord and cryed vnto my God hee heard my voyce out of his Temple my cry came before him and he helped me Psal. 18. 6. I sought the Lord and he heard me yea hee deliuered me out of all my feare Psal. 24. 7. Taste ye and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Psal. 34. 8. Let the Lordline and blessed be my strength and the God of my saluation be exalted Psal. 18. 46. Thou art my Lord my well doing extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth Psalme 26. 2. 3. THough men by their best gifts cannot enrich God yet they must bestow Gods gifts to the vse of his children and that is the best recompence they can make vnto him for all his earthly blessings and to be obedient vnto him according to his will reuealed in his Word is the Sacrifice wherewith hee is pleased for all his benefits spirituall and corporall which who so neglecteth is meerely vnthankfull what shewes so euer he maketh of outward Thankesgiuing Therefore euery faithfull receiuer of any his blessings will fall downe before his Maiesty in this or the like manner of hearty thankfulnes to manifest with his words the inward willingnesse of the heart A generall thankesgiuing vnto God for all his benefits spirituall and corporall ETernall God and euerliuing and most louing Father I the poorest and most vnworthy of all thy creatures doe bowe and prostrate the knées of a truely thankefull heart vnto thy maiesty yéelding vnto thée all humble vnfained and possible thankes for all thy fatherly fauours both diuine and corporaâ—l aboue all Oh Father I thanke thée for that thou diddest elect and chuse me to saluation before all
wicked innocent but rather to visit their iniquities yet haue wée this comfort that thy mercy to the humble euer rests vnmeasurable and vnmoueable though thou spakest to the Prophet against thine own people being disobedient to thée saying Though Moses and Samuel stood before me yet haue I no heart to this people Driue them away that they may goe out of my sight some vnto death some to the sword and some to captiuity yet we know O our good God that when as Ephraim was heard â—amenting and praying heartily in his distresse thou thoughtest then vpon mercy as a Father pittying his owne children This thy clemency to others incourageth vs to cry for thy mercies in this our misery vpon our repentance both for vs ours and the whole Land Uouchsafe O louing Sauiour to represse the vehement heate of thy fire with godly pitty stay thine hand from our destruction thou art long suffering good gracious and vnwilling sinners should perish Be intreated therefore O Lord most glorious to bid th ne Angels cease from punishing looke forth-with vpon this Land good Father pitty the infected people thereof that wée altogether may say The Lord liueth for euer worthy of praise because hee hath béene mercifull vnto sinners Amen O Lord increase my Faith If not Infected pray thus IT pleased thée O heauenly Father who art Lord of life and death once to plague the Egyptians and yet to spare the Israelites in the borders of Gosen onely because thou plaguest where thou pleasest So with the pestilence now hast thou infected euen from Dan to Beersheba yet my selfe and diuers others in this place rest safe from this so pestilent an Infection protected and kept as yet safe therefrom onely by thy hand onely by thy goodnesse for our sinnes we confesse stand vp as rampired walls against vs and deserue no lesse then theirs whom already thou hast bruised with a iust measure of thy Judgements O gracious Lord God stirre vs vp to â—hew our hearts throughly thankefull vnto thée that in thankesgiuing and praise we may go before others which in paines and plagues doe goe before 〈◊〉 And as in mercy thou hast drawne â—…knesse from our bodies so in loâ—e to our soules make vs loath the vaine delights of this life that we may faithfully seâ—ue and séeke thée in these our dayes of health wherein wée obtaine thy mercy inioy thy fauour and rest preserued from the pestilence wherewith many of our Brethren lie perplexed beside sundry thousands whom the graâ—t hath swallowed Blesse vs still O Lord our God blesse vs O Father without within be thou our guard thy Word our guide thy Spirit our comfort and thy Son our Sauiour Lord stand by vs for our good continually that when the world repineth at thy Judgements when the wicked swell in their impatiency when the vnregenerate grudge and murmure at thy plagues and punishments wherewith thou chastisest and correctest thy deare Children that euen then wée may haue and inioy quietnesse of heart and peace of conscience neuer to be dismaied or to distrust thy prouidence ouer vs but still to leaâ—e stedfastly vnto thée and rest vpon thée and the rock of thy Truth This confidence Lord grant vs and thy protection from this couragious disease that raigneth that wée may chearefully â—ound forth thy diuine praises amongst men vnto the praise of thy grace in Christ Jesus To whom our Sauiour and Redéemer with thée the blessed Father of vs all and the holy Spirit the Sanctifiâ—r of our soules thrée persons yet one diuine essence be giuen all laâ—d glory and thankes in this world and in that to come for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer in the time of Tempests and vnseasonable Weather God bringeth vp the cloudes from the ends of the earth and maketh the lightnings with the raine he draweth forth the windâ—s out of his treasures Psal. 135. 7. Hee commandeth and raiseth the stormie windes and it lifteth vp the waues of the seâ— Psal. 107. 25. But he ariseth and rebuketh the windes and the sea and maketh them calme Mat. 8. 26. Marke 4. 39. By his word he stilleth the winde and by his counsell appealeth the deepe Ecclus 43. 23. O Most mighty and mercifull Lord God let all the powers of the earth blesse thée and praise thee their euer-liuing God in thine holy and heauenly habitation for thou O Lord sittest on high in the Throne of thy Maiesty and makest thy strength and might knowne to all Nations thy voyce is vpon the waters From thée O God procéedeth Thunder thy voyce maketh the Wildernesse to tremble yea thou makest the mighty hils to tremble and shake the Earth trembleth and quaketh the foundations also of the Mountaines moue and shake when thou art displeased there commeth out of thy nostrils smoke and out of thy mouth a consuming fire thou makest darkenesse thy secret place and at the glory of thy presence the Clouds passe away thou thunderest from the heauens and giuest out thy voyce thou drawest forth the Windes out of thy treasures and commandest them backe againe to their places all things are in subiection vnto thée thy workes magnifie thée O Lord yea they tremble at thy presence the Mountaines and Hils dread thée when thou art displeased yea the whole world is afraid The Waters O God know thée and are afraid yea the depths tremble thy voyce O Lord diuideth the fiery flames O Lord thy voice maketh the Wildernes to tremble Thou remainest King foreuer thou wilt giue strength vnto thy People and blesse them with peace O most mercifull God shaddow vs from thy displeasure which is too vehement and intollerable let thy countenance shine vpon vs and haue mercy on vs protect thou our houses and vs that we be neither consumed by fire nor drowned by waters send not vpon the earth such vntemperate or vntimely Showres or any other vnseasonable weather whereby the Fruits thereof may be hurt or our soules harmed O God the Father which diddest send thy onely Sonne to die the death of the Crosse for my sake preserue mée and grant vnto me a blessed end O God the Son which didst suffer for my sake the heauy death of the Crosse defend me and O God the holy Ghost comfort mée blesse and kéepe mée from all dangers from this time forth and for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer for Peace in true RELIGION Behold saith the Lord I will extend peace vpon my Church like a floud as one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you and yee shall be comforted in Ierusalem Esay 66. 12. 13. These things haue I spoken to you saith Christ that yee in mee might haue peace in the world yee shall haue affliction but be of good comfort I haue ouercome the world Iohn 16. 33. O Most high and glorious God who art the Authour of Peace from whom doe procéede holy counsels and righteous destres giue vnto vs thy Seruants that Peace
oflife with such sincerity and bolduesse as neither feare nor affection may hinder the same that we thy flocke may fructifie and increase our knowledge in Faith thereby and more and more desire to féede at that the Table of thy Word and be filled open my heart as thou didst Lidyacs that I may attend with diligence to the preaching of thy Word Send forth store of Labourers O good Lord into thy Haruest which by their carefull paines and faithfull endeuours may gather the dispersed sheaues of thy Church into thy celestiall Barne and banish from this wholesome worke all such as are not sent from thée and come not truly to edifie but rather to reape their owne gaine making as it were maâ—… chandise of thy holy Word teaching in stead of truth the tradition of men Lord vouchsafe grace into the lips of those that are now prepared to declare thy will grace into our hearts that are present to heare it that they by teaching truely and we by following effectually may through Christ obtaine of thée remission of our sinnes past light instead of darkenesse peace for trouble and heauenly happinesse in stead of worldly felicitie that tasting the swéetnesse of celestiall comfort we may despise terrestriall and after this life ended enioy the perfect ioyes of eternall felicity through Jesus Christ our Sauiour and Redéemer O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer after the Preaching of the holy Word Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it Luke 11. 28. The hearers of the Lavv are not righteous but the doers of the Lavv shall be iustified Rom. 2. 13. Be ye doers of the word not hearers onely deceiuing your selues Rom. 1. 22. O Heauenly Father and most mercifull God séeing that wee haue now receiued the benefit of the hearing of thy heauenly and holy word by the mouth of thy Minister the fruits whereof doetend to the perfection of a godly life and a godly life is the way to eternall life in Christ our Lord vouchsafe O good Father we humbly beséech thée to imprint in our hearts the gladsome and most comfortable tidings which wée haue heard and receiued this day of thée by the mouth of thy Minister and grant that in faith vnfained â—t may lay vp the same in our vnderstanding and remembrance lest that forgetting the same and neglecting the exercise of a godly life wée be taken away as trées that beare no truit and so be cast into the fire therefore we most humbly pray and beséech thée that thou wouldest send vs thy holy Spirit the Comforter which may retaine the good tidings of the Gospell in our hearts wherby we may appeare as trées bearing good fruits and so be preserued vntill the comming of our Lord Jesus who will then receiue vs and giue vs the inheritance which he hath purchased for as many as beléeue in his most holy Word Amen O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer for the Sabbath day at night O euerlasting and mercifull God I giue thée thankes from the bottome of my heart that of thy mercy thou hast nourished and preserued me by thy diuine power and gouerned me by thy Word holy Spirit this day and all this wéeke yea and at all other times of my life protected me by thy power and prouidence and I most humbly beséech thée for the merits of Christ Jesus to couer and bury all my misdéedes which heretofore I haue committed in thought word and déede against thy diuine Maiestie in the death of thy Sonne Forgiue O Lord the euill that I haue committed supply the good which I haue omitted restore what I haue lost heale my sores cleanse my filthinesse lighten my darkenesse and alter the whole state of my minde that nothing may be wanting to good purposes in me nor any thing lurke in mee which may offend thée Water O Lord the séede of thy holy Word which I haue receiued this day with the dew of thy grace that with sound iudgement and godly deuotion I may practise such things as are pleasing to thy diuine Maiestie and that my heart being alwayes obedient to thy Commandements I may passe my time in peace through thy protection O Lord stretch out thy hand ouer me and of thy accustomed goodnes defend me this night Kéepe me from searefull and wicked dreames vnprofitable cares idle cogitations and outward violence Compasse me about on euery side with thy grace that when I shall either take care for things of this life or carefully séeke for those things which appertaine vnto the Kingdome of heauen I may heare the voyce of thy holy Spirit sounding in my heart from the mouth of the Apostie The Lord shall relieue thee in all thy necessities and yeelde thee a Crowne of eternall glory with Christ his beloued in the heauens Grant O Lord this and all other graces méete for me euen for Jesus Christs sake my onely Lord and Sauiour Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be said before a man begins his Labour or enter into the execution of any profession OMnipotent God and most mercifull Father since thou hast commanded that all humane creatures shall labour and eate their bread in the sweat of their browes while they abide in this life and yet séeing no man can prosper without thy blessing or receiue any good successe in his affaires we humbly beséech thée that thou wouldest blesse our labours in such sort as therby we may haue iust occasion to confesse thy goodnesse assistance and fatherly care which thou takest of vs. Let thy holy Spirit O Lord be our guide to the end we may faithfully exercise the workes of our estate and vocation without any fraud or deceit giue vs grace rather to regard the following of thine ordinance then to satisfie the appetite of our owne sinfull flesh which couets to enrich it selfe by any meanes whatsoeuer Neuerthelesse if it be thy pleasure to blesse and prosper our endeuours grant vs also chéerefull dispositions to helpe and relieue such as are in distresse according to thy talents best owed vpon vs. And let vs kéepe within the bounds of humility not puffing our selues vp aboue the poore and needy by that which we enioy by thy bounty and goodnes But if thy good pleasure be so to deale with vs as to abase and impouerish vs farre beyond that which our weake nature can beare yet vouchsafe to enrich vs with cleauing faithfully to thy promises whereby we shall no way fall into distrust but rather be more certainely assured that thou wilt neuer forsake vs in the extremity of our wants and calamities inable vs to performe truely the duties of our callings giue vs the vse of all our limmes and senses with an holy endeuour to performe our callings and patience to attend thy leasure to replenish vs both with temperall and spirituall comforts receiuing thereby daily new occasion to giue thée praise and thankes and to expect all things from thée Heare vs
which the world cannot giue that both our hearts and workes may answere thy Commandements and that our dayes through thy protection may be alwayes quiet from trouble Speake thou peace vnto all people especially to thy Saints Let thy saluation be nigh them that feare thée that glory may dwell within our Land Let mercy and Truth méete together yea let Justice and Peace imbrace each other Let Truth arise out of the Earth and Righteousnesse looke downe from Heauen Let the Mountaines and the Hils bring Peace to the people and Shéepe of thy Pasture Blesse Lord all Countries Cities Townes and places where thy Word doth abide and is purely preached and increase the number of them in the vniuersall World O Lord send them much peace that delight in thy Law let them be without stones to stumble at and blesse them with prosperity within their places O eternall God which hast called vs in peace grant wée may haue peace with all men and let vs highly account of holinesse without which none can sée the Lord nor haue peace in the Lord. Represse the Diuell the breaker of godly Concord and Christian Peace which 〈◊〉 aging throughout al Nations soweth euery where the séede of strife and discord as the Séeds-man of falshood and lâ—es O God of Peace which makest an end of Warre throughout the World protect vs from War and slaughter scatter the Kingdomes that delight in Warre breake and hinder all euill Counsels and the purpose of such as minde after nothing else but the shedding of innocent bloud Let them come to shame and perish through their owne imaginations that practise euill against thy Church Giue all men a desire of peace contented mindes in their vocation and a care to aduance the welfare of that place where they inhabite Where Strife Contention and Discord is amongst men reconcile their hearts and mindes that these flames fires may speedily be put out for thou canst conclude a Truce for vs and all Men and make the Wolfe to dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard to lye downe with the Kid. Make our Tabernacles safe and quiet that about them there may be arich tranquillity which may abound like the Streame running ouer his Bankes and our righteousnesse as the Waues of the Sea which is neuer dry In thee shall wee haue our wished peace and the worke of righteousnesse shall be peace and her fruit rest and quietnesse for euer and thy people shall dwell in the Innes of peace and in sure dwellings and in safe places of comfort Heare vs O Lord of peace and grant that thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding may kéepe our hearts and mindes in the loue of our Lord Jesus Christ who liueth and raigneth with thée in the vnity of the holy Spirit now and for euermore Amen O Lord increase our Faith in Peace A Prayer to be vsed of a Widdow Doth not the teares runne downe the Widdowes checkes and her cry is against them that causeth them for from her cheekes doe they goe into heauen and the Lord which heareth them doth accept them Ecclus. 25. 15. Shee that is a Widdow indeede and left alone trusteth in God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day But shee that liueth in play is dead while shee liueth 1 Tim. 5. 5 6. O Eternall and most mercifull God which according to thine holy will hast made mée a poore distressed Widdow by taking away my beare and louing husband out of this transitory world vnto thée do I cry in this my misery haue mercy on mée I humbly beséech thée and forgiue all mine offences which I haue committed against thy diuine â—aiesty be fauourable vnto mée O Lord and take pitty on mée for I am alone and comfortlesse Behold mine affliction and misery relieue my wants as thou didst relieue that Widdow of Sarepta whom thou diddest most miraculously preserue by the Prophet Elias take the like compassion on mée assist mée behold my necessity and deliuer mée out of all troubles Grant likewise that I may finde fauour in the sight of all Gouernours and Magistrates that I be not iniured contrary to equity In like manner let mée finde amongst men Christian consideration and commiseration of my present â—state and succour with godly counsell protect mée from false tongues which are like rasors cutting deceitfully and as the sharpe arrowes of a mighty man Kéepe mée O Lord from slander and from the tongues of wicked men which with poysoned words haue bent themselues to cast downe the poore and néedy and to destroy such as are of vpright conuersation I humbly betéech thée O Lord to giue mée grace to liue in this mine estate of widowhood chastly and godly shewing my selfe an example of godlinesse to others putting alwayes my hope and affiance in thy mercy let me with all patience and fortitude indure all crosses laid vpon me and continue faithfully in making of supplicatious night and day vnto thée Looke how the eyes of a seruant are vpon her Mistresse so are mine eyes bent vpon thée my Lord vntill thou haue mercy on me Haue mercy therefore O Lord on mée for I am full of infirmity heare me O Father euen for Christs sake thy Sonne and my Sauiour to whom be giuen all praise and honour now and euermore Amen A Prayer for one that prepares himselfe for marriage House and riches are the inheritance of the fathers but a prudent wife commeth of the Lord Pro. 19. 14. Well is hee that dwelleth with a wife of vnderstanding Ecclus. 25. 8. Blessed is he that hath a vertuous wife for the number of his yeares shall be double an honest woman recouereth her husband and she shall fill the yeares of his life with peace A vertuous woman is a good portion which shall be giuen as a gift vnto such as feare and serue the Lord Ecclus. 26. 1. 2. 3. O Heauenly God euerlasting and most powerful Father I do prostrate my selfe before the throne of thy Maiesty humbly thanking thée in that thou hast formed mée in the wombe of my mother and suffered mée to be borne such as I am maintained me likewise from mine infancy to this instant and preserued me from infinite perils for it is through thy goodnesse and fatherly blessing that I haue attained to the yéeres I am now in and in that time thou hast taught mee by thy holy word to know Jesus Christ thy beloued Sonne the onely ioy and comfort that a Christian can haue because in the true knowledge of him consisteth eternall life and therefore I cannot sufficiently yéelde thée praise for the infinite and innumerable benefits thou hast bestowed on me Neuerthelesse because thou hast commanded vs to call vpon thée in all our necessities and most louingly hast promised to heare vs let it now please thée graciously to helpe me For I haue found and proued that in regard of mine owne natures corruption I cannot continue chaste and blamelesse except I vse the meanes which thou
hast ordained and by thy holy Word hast also approued the same saying To auoide whoredome let euery man haue his wife and euery woman her husband Then I beséech thee in mercy to lend mâ—e thy helping bend and so blesse mee and my Patents that in this intended matter wee may not be abused by any exteriour appearance either of beauty riches or deceiuing spéeches which may fore-runne or procéede in this businesse but as thy Word saith A vertuous wife is a gift which comes from thee O Lord and as it is most certain that not onely thou gauest Eue to Adam but didst likewise conioyne Abraham with Sarah Iseac with Rebecca and Iacob with his best estéemed Rachel euen so I intreat and beséech thée O Father of lights not onely to be my Father but also to appoint mée my fellow-partner in regard thou oughtest to be the author and actor in so honourable a businesse Send downe the holy Angell to be my guide and leader towards her whom thou hast prepared for mée as in like case thou madest them seruants to Abraham and young Tobias Then let mée méete her inioy her and liue with her in thy feare and fauour O Lord Jesus may it please thée with thy blessing to be with me at my marriage as thou didst vouchsafe to honour that at Cana in Galilee with thy owne presence And as thou art well pleased to conioyne man and wife and to make them one body so vnite vs both vnto thée that we may euermore liue in thée and thou in vs. Amen O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer for a young Man or Maide prepared to Marriage To auoide fornication let euery man haue his wife and let euery woman haue her owne husband 1 Cor. 7. 2. The price of a vertuous woman is farre aboue the value of pearles she will doe her husband good and not euill all the dayes of her life Pro. 31. 10. 12. O Omnipotent and euer-liuing God without whom mens enbenours are friuolous cannot prosper in this world I thy poore creature and the worke of thine hands whom thou hast vouchsafed neuerthelesse to receiue into the fellowship of thy Saints by the holy Sacrament of Baptisme doe here present my selfe before thy diuine Maiesty humbly beséeching thée in the name of Jesus Christ thy beloued Sonne to stretch forth thy holy hand and helpe mée to the end that if it be thy will I shall marry thou maâ—st lead and direct mée to a vertuous yoke-fellow with whom I may liue so long as we shall continue together in thy loue and feare O God it was thou that gauest Eue to Adam and didst addresse the seruant of Abraham to Rebecca that she might be wife to the Patriarke Isaac Thou didst send thine Angell with young Tobias to deliuer Sara the daughter of Raguel out of the poore desolate and approbrious condition wherein she then liued and to match her in marriage with the said Tobias This is not a case of chance or Fortune neither guided by mens wisedome for heaping vp goods together It often hapneth that after one hath carefully considered all circumstances and causes thereto belonging searching into the vttermost as may be deuised that party fals short of his hopes expected and in stead of an helper hapneth on an hinderer I heartily therefore pray thée O God to prouide me such a one as thou knowest fittest for me and so to order the deliberations counsels and enterprises of my Parents friends that the whole issue and euent may first redound to the aduancement of thy glory and next to the endlesse contentment good and saluation of vs all in Christ Jesus our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen A Prayer to be said of Women with childe Women shall be saued by bearing of children if they continue in faith and loue and holinesâ—e with modestie 1 Tim. 2. 15. O Mercifull and mighty God the framer wise gouernour and gratious preseruer of all things I render vnto thy maiesty most humble thanks for that thou art pleased of thy gracious goodnesse to remoue from mée the reproach of barrennesse and hast opened my wombe to conception prosper O Lord within me the worke of thine owne hands which is wonderfully made whose bones and members are knowne to thée whose very hayres thou numbrest and takest care of them Blesse O Lord the worke of thme owne hand within me that it may receiue a perfect shape and portion and liue to praise thée in the midst of the congregation I commend it with my selfe into thy holy hands whom I beséech thée O most gracious God so to blesse guide and preserue that neither the malice of the wicked spirit ouercome me nor any other inconuenience approach nie mée to hurt mée kéepe me from vame feares and foolish destres that without danger I may beare and with ioy bring forth the fruit where with thou hast blessed mée to the glory of thy most holy Name and my great comfort in thée to whom be giuen and ascribed all honor might power and praise now and for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be said of a Woman in trauell O Good Lord I acknowledge and confesse that thy displeasure for sinne committed was and is very great which I doe at this present feele and was first committed by our first mother Eue and continued by vs we being by nature inclined thereunto whom for punishment thereof thou hast said in sorrow we shall bring forth children Impose not that heauy burthen vpon my weak body but regard mee with thy fauour in the promised Seede of the woman and giue mee comfort from heauen lay vpon mee no more then I shall be well able to vndergoe and euen in the middest of my calamities prepare thou the way for mee that I may patiently beare them strengthen O Lord my body giue courage vnto my heart and comfort my soule that in all parts being fastened vnto thee neither frailty of the flesh nor temptation of the Diuell in my greatest extremity may make mée faint or fall from thée or haue the least distrust of thy gracious fauour towards mée Thou art nigh O Lord vnto all that call vpon thée in heart I humbly beséech thée not to be absent from me at my time but that the assurance of thy presence may be my stay and comfort that in respect thereof I may sustaine all torments and wholly rest in thée which art the God of my strength and consolation to whom be giuen all praise now and for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Thankesgiuing of a Woman after her Deliuery Oeternall God and most louing Father thou art great and worthy to be feared thou art gracious and worthy to be praised for thy mercy excéedeth all thy workes thou woundest thou healest thou throwest downe and helpest vp againe I most humbly thanke thée my most louing and gentle Father that it hath pleased thée in thy goodnes now at the length to deliuer me from
wisdome and humblenesse and obedience and mortification and zeale and faith and hope and all graces that may change me from sinne to sanctity from darkenesse to light and from coldnesse to a more perfect zeale to serue thée in all things Teach me O Lord teach mée to execute my vocation truely and perfectly and giue such issue and blessed successe to all my endeauours labours purposes and procéedings as I may discharge my duety in obedience to thy diuine Maiestie to my brethren in loue and equity and to my selfe and mine in godly care and true piety And let thy holy Spirit so guide and gouerne mée this day and for euer that I may more and more fructifie increase in all godlinesse vntil thou shalt cut off this corruptible life After which good Father in the merits of thy Son let me inhabite euermore inherite that heauenly City new Ierusalem where thou sittest and raignest one God with whom shall liue all thine elect in ioyes vnspeakable for euer Amen O Lord increase our Faith A Morning Prayer where the FAMILY assembles O Almighty God full of loue and pitty the chiefest comfort that any sinfull soule can haue when wée miserable sinners here met together doe consider of thy great mercy and goodnesse which we haue euer since our births and before found and daily doe finde at the hands of thy diuine Maiesty together with our great vnthankfulnesse euery way to thée againe for the same we must néedes confesse and euen from the bottom of our hearts doe acknowledge that most vnspeakeable is thy mercy in sparing vs to liue vntill this morning before which time thou mightest iustly haue consumed vs. But O deare God of thy frée mercies before the foundation of the World was laid thou hast chosen and elected vs for thy Children and hast to our endlesse comfort certified and made knowne the same vnto our spirits by thy spirit by whom and not of our selues wee now cry vnto thée Abba father and for our Redemption hast sent thine owne Sonne to shed his most precious bloud vpon the Crosse no other meanes being whereby wée could be saued Thou hast by thy holy Spirit wrought Faith in our hearts to beléeue by him and in him to be iustified before thée and in some measure begunne the death of sinne in vs and wrought our sanctification and of thy frée fauour we enioy the benefit of thy Word the freedome of conscience great peace and plenty in outward things with many and infinite other benefits waking and sléeping at home and abroad in our selues and our friends for all which instead of thankefulnesse wee become the more disobedient not doing that wée ought to doe but with pleasure and profit with vanity and selfe-loue wée are carried away spending our daies in iniquity carelesnesse and vnféeling of our sinne and there is no goodnesse in vs yet is there mercy with thée O Lord and pardon vpon repentance Wherefore we here this Morning met together before thy Maiesty humbly confesse our wants and most entirely beséech thée for Jesus Christs sake to haue mercy vpon vs Haue mercy vpon vs most mercifull Father and forgiue vs all that is past strengthen vs hereafter that daily both in bodies and soules we may glorifie thée more then we haue done yéelding thankes for daily benefits and striuing in holinesse and righteousnes to please thée all the dayes of our life But because we cannot but offend and fall diuers wayes and euery day good Lord for thy mercy sake pierce our hearts with a féeling of the same and neuer suffer vs to goe on with dull and dead soules not séeing nor sighing for our offences As a speciall meanes to kéepe vs in obedience before thée O deare Father worke in vs a continuall remembrance and an effectuall consideration that wée shall not alwayes liue here in this wretched world that doth much please vs now but that a day wil come when the trumpe shall sound the Dead shall arise and all wée shall appeare before the Tribunall seat of Judgement there to receiue according to our déedes without respect of Persons oh good Lord giue vs a remembrance and a féeling of that vnspeakeable comfort and eternall waight of glory which in that day shall be giuen vnto vs if in this day wée serue and please thée and contrariwise euen terrifle our cousciences and let vs as it were see before our faces the dreadfull Judgements and the fearefull Torments that both in Body and Soule they shall be sure to haue for euermore which in this life doe not serue and please thée but follow their owne fancies and wicked delights giue vs an hatred of sinne and a true loue of righteousnesse blesse thy Word euermore with fruit vnto our soules when we heare it giue vs a desire to heare it often and to practise it faithfully and obediently and keepe our hearts euer free from disūmulation and counterfeit holinesse prepare our hearts diligently to watch for the comming of thy Sonne make vs ready fit and willing to meete him in the clouds if thou wilt that we liue to his comming if it please thee in the meane time to call vs let vs with ioy yeeld our bodies to the earth and receiue our soules vnto thy selfe vntill the day when both our bodies and soules shall be remitted and bee totally glorified with thee in Heauen And let this day be a day of our true reformation and repentance that we becomming new creatures may serue thee in holinesse all the dayes of our liues yeelding thee most humble and hearty thankes for thy goodnesse to vs this night let thy mercifull eye looke vpon vs this day and so keep vs bodies and soules that being occupied in our seuerall callings we may be safe by thee from all our Enemies and liue to thee in feare that we may die in thy fauour and liue hereafter with thee in glory which grant and all things in the meane time necessary for soules and bodies for Christ his sake in whose name we ask them saying as he hath taught vs Our Father vvhich art in heauen hallovved be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as vve forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the povver and the glory for euer and euer Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy vvord our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs and make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance tovvards vs this day and euermore Amen A priuate Prayer for the EVENING The Motiue I Will lay
me downâ— and also sleepe in peace for thou Lord onely makest me dwellin safety Psal. 4. 8. Dauid by this declareth his ovvne bodily infirmity vvherunto all men are likevvise subiect namely to such debility as without rest and sleepe they cannot long continue yet this rest as he acknowledgeth may be a troublesome rest vnles God blesse it for as Dauid did so all men lye downe and take their rest but all not in peace for such as lye downe forgetting God God leaueth them to themselues and so their sleepe in stead of peace turneth into troublesome dreames idle sinfull imaginations horrible visions and fearefull fantasies whereby not onely the body is distempered but the soule also grieuously vexed And therefore though we couch vs on a bed of Downe with Curtaines of gold Couerings of silke these administer not the peace that Dauid speaketh of but God is he that giueth it onely It is not then the sweet sound of Musicke or the cradle of pleasures that can giue vs that peaceable sleepe and safe rest that Dauid speaketh of but Prayer vnto God in faith and true attonement with him in Christ thoughts free from sinne and the conscience cleered may safely assure a man that when he lyeth downe God is with him and when he riseth vp God wil not giue him ouer but be his God louing and mercifull for euer A Prayer for the Euening MY God and Father louing and al-sufficient I yéeld thée praise and thankes for thy mercies in that thou hast this day past strongly guarded mée with thy hand louingly refreshed mée with thy fauours and now safely brought mée to the end of this day night and darkenesse being at hand wherein all thy creatures draw to their rest And I wretched creature finding mine owne infirmity and imbecillity run now vnto thy heauenly fauour who hast made me of that brittle and grosse matter as cannot continue without rest after labour without sléepe after waking and without comfort after sorrow and griefe I doe therefore beséech thée as thou art the Fountaine of all rest and succour and health and helpe so thou wilâ— consider mée in my weakenesse and giue mée strength sée and behold my miseries and be mercifull vnto me And sith the time now is come wherein I couet rest and sléepe receiue me into thy protection and yéelde me thy helping hand that when this my corrupt lumpe of flesh shall through the heauinesse and dulnesse of sléepe be depriued of mouing and sense and ablenesse to helpe it selfe I may be kept safe and securely preserued by thée for it is thy selfe Lord onely that makest mée dwell and abide in safety Thou art my Watch-man when I slumber thou art my Defender when I am in danger thou art my Castle my Rocke my Sword my Buckler and my Refuge thou art to me and for me all in all without thée what am I but a beast that know nothing but a blocke that féele nothing but a wretch that can doe nothing rightly And therefore deare Father stretch out thy louing fauour ouer the house wherein I rest let thy Angels compasse the bed whereon I rest and thy holy Spirit kéepe my soule and spirit in peace when I rest that I may rest in peace that I may rise in peace and liue in peace that the troubles of the world dismay me not that the sleights of sinne deceiue mée not and that the deuices of the wicked ouertake me not but as I am weake of my selfe I may be made strong by thy strength as I am poore of my self I may be made able by thy riches and as I am ignorant of my selfe I may be made wise in thée so shall my lying downe be acceptable my sléepe comfortable and my rising vp profitable In hope of this thy free bountie louing fauour and high prouidence I will lay me downe and take my rest let it be in peace and Lord let it be vnto me and all thine when they rest swéet and comfortable in thée who makest all thine to rest and rise vp in safety Amen O Lord increase our Faith An Euening Prayer where the Family assembles O Most high mighty God Father and Protector of all things in heauen earth before whom all creatures feare and tremble were it not in that thou hast commanded vs neuer durst wée appeare before thée so corrupt is our nature and so many are our sinnes But good Father thou doest bid and therefore wée obey thou doest call and therefore we come giue vs spirits to pray aright Wee yéelde thée most humble and hearty thankes for all the mercies that euer thou hast bestowed vpon vs in body or minde in our selues or in ours priuate or common temporall or eternall Many and marueilous haue they béene and still are vpon vs yea eueu good Lord past finding out This day what thou hast done for vs which of vs knoweth or is able to expresse Father of heauen forgiue vs that wée cannot acknowledge them or praise thée for them as we ought and quicken vs in this duty more and more Pardon and forgiue vs whatsoeuer we haue offended thée withall this day or at any time either in thought word or déede euen our secret sinnes such as we haue committed and know not of remit them vnto vs for Christs sake change vs O Lord and we shall be changed create in vs cleane hearts and renue a right spirit within vs. Breake the strength of sin that would subdue vs more more And O mercifull Father so frame these hearts of ours within vs that we may more delight to liue according to thy will then to enioy all the world and all the pleasures therein Lay it often good Lord before our eyes by thy remembring Spirit that thou hast not breathed the breath of life into vs that we should liue as we list but that in holines and righteousnesse we should walke before thée all our daies Lay it before vs O Lord that the time will come when the Trumpet shall sound the dead shal rise and we euen we here met together at this time all and euery one of vs shal most assuredly stand before thy Judgement-seate with naked hearts with open and vnâ—olded consciences there to giue an account how and what we haue done Then shall all such as haue beléeued in Christ and truely serued thée in this life to their endlesse ioy heare that most comfortable voice of thine Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the Kingdome prepared for you But woe woe to all carelesse liuers in that day they shall drinke the wiue of the wrath of God be tormented in fire and briâ—stone before the holy Angels before the Lambe They shall haue no rest day nor night and the smoake of their torment shall ascend for euermore Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs knit these hearts of ours fast vnto thée and now while we haue time giue vs grace not onely rightly to thinke of these things but
so to walke before thée in this present life as becommeth thy Saints O continue thy word of truth amongst vs euer to our comfort Let the séede thereof now sowne in our hearts take such déepe roote that neither the burning heate of persecntion cause it to wither nor the thorny cares of this world riches or voluptuous liuing choake it but as séede sowne in good ground it may bring forth fruit according to thy pleasure O Father giue vs grace that when we heare or â—â—nde by thy word any sinne that is in vs we may striue and study without delay willingly to reforme it Kéepe vs good God that wée neuer swarue for the feare of man from our owne true knowledge becomming seruers of time and deuiers of thée Kéepe vs from all hardnesse of heart contempt of thy word and from all dissembling of sinceritie Increase true loue amongst vs more and more Blesse thy whole Church O God with graces necessary this parcell of it our natiue Land and Country deare Father blesse it still with continuance of thy truth Iessen in it daily the number of blinde and ignorant Papists prophane Atheists and increase the number of thy true children Preserue vnto vs long aliue good Lord if it please thée our gracious King and Gouernour multiply thy Spirit vpon him and all his that still more and more he and they may séeke and set forth thy glory in maintaining Christian religion in all purity suppressing all vice superstition and Idolatry with all seuerity Giue vnto him an honourable Counsell giue them graces necessary for such a calling Blesse all other Nobles Magistrates and the whole body of this Realme with true hearts to thée and to this Countrey Increase in this our Israel the number of true Watchmen whose hearts may séeke thée and thy people and not their owne glory and commodity Bring to thy fold by them such wandring remnants as are thine And O Lord be gracious to our kindred and friends in the flesh lighten their hearts with the Sunne of vnderstanding that they and wée acknowledgeing one truth may glorifie thée in the true and constant profession of the same all the dayes of our life Comfort O Christ thy afflicted members wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled and grant vs peace in our dayes if it be thy pleasure Finally because the night is now vpon vs and we ready to take our rest let the bed O Lord strike into our hearts a consideration that the graue is almost ready for vs. Which of vs can tell whether these eies of ours once closed vp shall euer open any more againe or no Lord therefore receiue vs into thy hands we all here now commend our selues bodies soules vnto thy holy protection and prouidence kéepe vs this night and euermore ready for thée when thou shalt call vs. Heare vs O Lord O God and Father mercifull in these our petitions for thy Sonne Jesus Christ his sake our Sauiour in whose name we altogether begge these mercies saying as Christ our Sauiour hath taught vs Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs and make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs this night and euermore Amen A Prayer to be vsed in priuate Families Morning and Euening Leuit. 26. 6. If yee truely serue God yee shall sleepe and none shall make you afraid Lord prepare our hearts open our lips sanctifie our prayers and increase our Faith O Most mighty Lord God and our most mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ we thy poore creatures and vnworthy children humbly present our selues in his name before thy glorious maiesty acknowledging that we be most vnworthy to appeare in thy presence by reason not onely of our originall but also of our continuall actuall sinnes and déepe disobedienee being originally borne the children of wrath and the least of our actuall transgressions is sufficient to cast vs into hell and vtter perdition if thou shouldest deale with vs according to the measure of our manifold iniquities We therefore doe humbly beséech thée O mercifull Father in the merits of Jesus Christ fréely to pardon and forgiue our manifold offences both in that wée haue committed and done those things thou hast forbidden and left vndone the things thou hast commanded Lord forgiue vs and remember our sinnes no more let them neuer good and gracious Father rise vp in Judgement to our condemnation Giue vs a full assurance of thy mercies and frée forgiuenesse in Jesus Christ and let thy holy Spirit from henceforth euermore so sanctifie our hearts minds and bodies that wée neuer hereafter giue consent to the corrupt motions of our fleshly affections and vnclean desires and let the liuely light of thy continuall presence so illuminate our dark vnderstandings that we may still search for thy will in thy word reuealed and giue vs will and power to practise and performe all godly seruice duties and obedience to thée giue vs féeling hearts that we may finde out our own weakenesse and confesse vnto thée our infirmities and that we may boldly in the Name of thy Sonne Christ Jesus fall downe before thée calling faithfully and sincerely vpon thy holy name for pardon for our former euils for grace to reforme so the rest of our wicked liues that thou maist be pleased to accept vs anew into thy fauour and fatherly protection Grant that we may continually féele in our hearts and consciences more and more the virtue and power of the death resurrection of our Lord and Sauior Jesus Christ that we may continually striue against and mortifie our grosse sins and foule corruptions and grow more strong against all euill motions and temptations in thought word and déede and be more and more renewed in the spirit of our mind and féele a continuall increase of ioy and comfort in the reading hearing and meditating of thy holy and heauenly word and a feruency of true zeale to séekethy glory by encreasing more and more in knowledge and in the hatred of sinne in our selues rebuking it in others especially in those of whom we haue charge and in a happy and faithfull going forward in all godly obedience vnto thy will all the dayes of our liues Direct and strengthen vs that we may with all faithfulnesse labour to
discharge that duty whereunto wee are bound by our seuerall callings which in thy prouidence either are already or shal be allotted vnto vs. Hold vs we beséech thée by thy right hand that we fall not into any danger of body or minde Guide vs by thy holy Spirit in the paths of righteousnesse set continuall watch before our lips that wee offend not with our tongues Keepe our eyes from looking any more vpon and our hearts from seeking after or consenting vnto vanities shut vp our eares that they delight not in hearing the things offensiue to thy sacred Maiesty Rule gouerne our hearts that wée may be alwayes studious of good things and that wee may be alwayes truely inclined to deale faithfully with all men and inable vs to performe all duties required at our hand by them and keepe both our hands and feete that wee goe not about or take any thing in hand dishonourable to thee dangerous to our selues or hurtfull to any and that all that wée think speake or doe may be to the glory of thy name Let vs not spend the time O Lord of this our pilgrimage any more in wantonnesse idlenesse or vanity but in all godly vertuous exercises alwaies in simplicity and singlenesse of heart and in a good conscience as becommeth thy dearest Children Blesse we humbly beséech thée and prosper all the labors and works of our hands and blesse all the Creatures which thou hast appointed for our vse that wée may receiue comfort and reliefe in them and by them in due season by thy blessing and by the daily comfortable vse of them be the more moued and stirred vp to a thankfull acknowledging thy fatherly goodnesse in vouchsafing them vnto vs which without thy blessing would rather turne to our preiudice then profit rather to a curse vnto vs then to our true comfort therfore good Father blesse vs to a godly vsing of al thy good creatures and thy creatures to a comfortable vse for vs. And forasmuch good Father as our duty in this sacred exercise of prayer bindeth vs also to intreate thy Maiestie for all our Brethren and Sisters members of that body whereof thy Sonne Jesus Christ is the head frame in vs a true perfect and hearty zeale to pray and heare vs also for them beséeching thée to raise vp the Ministry of thy Gospell in all places of the earth that by the meanes thereof such as doe appertaine to thy Kingdome may be daily called home to thy fold and that the Kingdome of Satan Antichrist Sinne and darkenesse may be weakened and more and more beaten downe in all the world hold vp maintaine the scepter of thy word where thou hast already planted and aduanced the same increase all the meanes by which it may be increased and confirmed and weaken all the powers that resist or striue against it Blesse those O Lord that endeuor to promote and further it increase their zeale wisdome knowledge and power him especially good Father whom in great mercy towards vs thou hast made Soueraigne ouer vs Iames thy seruant our King and all his Royall Issue the Counsellors Magistrates Nobility and the Preachers of thy holy word all godly and Christian Families all true Professors of thy Gospell Beséeching thée to powre on euery of them in their seuerall Callings such graces benefits and blessings as are most méete for them wherby they may all shew themselues thy true and faithfull miuisters in furthering all sincerity in Religion and all purenesse and godlinesse of life not onely in themselues but in others so farre as appertaineth to their charge publike or priuate Beséeching thée also to be mindfull to comfort all our afflicted Brethren and Sisters howsoeuer or for whatsoeuer they suffer especially such as suffer for the testimony of a good conscience Comfort all them that are pressed downe with the burthen of their sinnes helpe relieue succour and assist all that be in want in misery and affiction that flie vnto thée for succour And as good Father we doe thus boldly begge at thy hands these many and seuerall fauours for our selues and others so Lord accept at our hands our humble thankfulnes which we here yéeld vnto thée for thy manifold blessings and benefits daily so louingly and fréely bestowed vpon vs both inward and outward spirituall and corporall in number infinite for greatnesse vnspeakeable and for goodnesse farre better then wée could either aske or thinke beséeching thée to continue thy gracious fauour towards vs alwayes and in all things that we may still giue thée the glory for our continuall safety and reliefe In the Morning Adde this ANd finally we thanke thée good Father that thou hast so graciously kept and preserued vs this night past and hast giuen vnto our bodies rest and hast brought vs to the beginning of this day in peace good Father pardon whatsoeuer corruption hath taken hold of vs this night pardon our present dulnesse of Spirit coldnesse of Zeale weaknesse of Faith and all whatsoeuer offendeth thée in vs blesse the labours of our hands and our godly endeuours this day and make vs rather able to be helpfull to others that néede then to be forced to aske or to be chargeable to any by reason of our corporall wants Grant these things good Father and al other graces necessary for vs and for euery member of thy Church for Jesus Christ thy Sonnes sake in whose name wee further pray Our Father which art c. In the Euening Adde this WE thanke thée also most gracious Father for that thou hast so mercifully kept and relieued vs this day past beséeching thée to receiue vs also this night into thy Fatherly protection and kéep our soules bodies and goods frée from dangers let thine Angels encampe about vs guard vs and defend vs giue vnto our bodies that competent rest and sléepe that may be onely sufficient and let our thoughts be euer on thée in loue feare and due obedience and reuerence that wée may be fearefull to commit the least euill yea in the darke which with thée is as the noone day Watch ouer vs good Father that Satan preuaile not against vs and giue vs grace to be alwayes watchfull for the time when our Lord and Sauiour Jesus Christ shal make his glorious appearance in the clouds to finish these dayes of sinne And at this time pardon O Lord our weakenes in prayer our coldnes in zeale and whatsoeuer doth hinder vs from the true publishing of our own wants and imperfections at full thy praise and glory as thou deseruest increase our Faith and grant vs and all thy Children all other graces necessary for soules and bodies for Jesus Christs sake in whose name we further pray Our Father c. A Prayer for the King It is God that giueth deliuerance vnto Kings it is he that rescued Dauid his seruant from the hurtfull sword Psal. 144. 10. Take away the wicked from the King and his throne shall be established
O Father of mercy for thy deare Sonne Christ Jesus sake our Lord and Sauiour Amen O Lord increase our Faith and blesse our labours A Thankes-giuing or Prayer to be vsed after a mans labour is finished O My gracious Lord God I yéeld vnto thée harty thankes because thou hast preserued me from imminent and infinite dangers which might otherwise haue happened to oppresse and vtterly ouerthrowne me if thou Lord hadst not carefully regarded and kept me from many inconueniences Therefore now O most louing Father I humbly intreate and beseech thée for Jesus Christs sake to pardon all the faults wherein I haue offended thée in the time of my labour or otherwise correct me not in thine anger nor punish me in thy heauy displeasure worke in me so by the power of thy holy Spirit that hence forth I may walke in greater integrity and carefully performe those duties which are required in my vocation and calling to the end that though I labour with my body yet in spirit I may be led by thy spirit to loue serue and glorifie thy name in all my doings words and thoughts Direct and guide me by thy holy Word in all truth and honest conuersation among men neuer swaruing from thy commandements that in the end I may attaine euerlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Lord euermore increase and confirme my Faith in thee A generall Confession of sins and of the vanities of carnall delights If we acknowledge our sinnes God is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sins and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse If we say we haue not sinned we make him a lyer and his word is not in vs 1 Iohn 1. 9. 10. O God Almighty and al-knowing Father the fountaine of all comfort and consolation I confesse against my selfe as euermore I haue done that I haue grieuously offended thée by my manifold transgressions and haue thereby drawne downe a most heauy waight of thine importable iudgements vpon me vnder the burthen whereof I cannot but faint and fall vnlesse thou set to thy helping hand of mercy in Jesus Christ to support mée for good Father I am weake and cannot beare thy displeasure I am ignorant and know not which way to turne mée vnlesse thou point out the way vnto me by thy holy Spirit directing mée within as thy Word teacheth me without For it is not euery one that heareth that vnderstandeth not euery one that vnderstandeth that can practise and performe what thou commandest for who so is not guided by a better line then that of flesh and bloud mistaketh the right path and treadeth the way of vanitie whose end is death yet for the time it is most swéete and pleasing to the outward man the man vnsanctified and vnregenerate because hee loueth to be sed with the dainties of this life as with honor preferment riches health friends and worldly delights estéeming these the earnest-penny here of Heauen to come and that wants and pouerty and sicknesse and enemies and imprisonments and crosses are euen here the entrance into Hell it selfe So foolish are they O Lord and ignorant whom thou guidest not in thy way And this hath béene my foolishnesse and my misconceit of the seuerall estates of men in this life euen vnto this day But hauing now found by due triall and experience the foolishnesse of such as put their delight in these transttory fickle and vncertaine vanities doe disclaime all confidence in them and doe heartily and most vnfainedly abhorre and detest the deceiuing baits of temporall and carnall delights and doe wholly betake me vnto the swéet sauing sanctuarie of thy wisedome and prouidence wherein howsoeuer the worldly minded doe contrarily iudge is truest safety happinesse and securitie for therein beare Father is the true feéling and founded hope of future eternall felicitie thy wisedome O Father is the wisedome of the Spirit the Spirit the sanctifier of the Soule the minde and affections which being sanctified begetteth true feare of thée and that feare is the beginning of that sacred wisedome which guideth and gouerneth the whole man in the blessed way the way to life euen vnto Christ himselfe who is the Way the Truth and the Life O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer for humiliation and sorrow after sinne committed O Lord my God and most louing Father in Jesus Christ I confesse and acknowledge that mine offences are increased and my sinnes are growne vp vnto the heauens that I am ashamed to lift vp mine eyes to thée admiring at thy influite mercy in forbearing to punish me knowing that I am worthy to be swallowed vp or swept away with some extraordinary and sudden iudgement And now O Lord especially hauing so grosely sinned against thée and done so great euill in thy sight how haue I vile wretch that I am wounded mine owne conscience how hâ—ue I laid my selfe open to the malice and enuy of the Diuell what a disgrace and slander haue I brought vpon my Profession what an offence and scandall haue I giuen vnto others what a toy will this be to the wicked that they haue now by meÌ„ gotten something to speake euill of But aboue al O Lord how haue I dishonoured thée whose fauours haue béene so many and so innumerable towards me I know not how to expresse my detestable sinnes and the hainous and hideous natures of them when I thinke vpon thy patience vpon the meanes of grace which thou hast afforded mee vpon the light of knowledge which thou hast giuen mee vpon the good motions which thou hast from time to time stirred vp in mee vpon the profession which I make vpon the sundry vowes and promises of better obedience with which I haue linked my selfe vnto thy Maiestie vpon the diuers admonitions which by thy prouidence I know haue béene vsed to mée by thy Seruants purposely to preuent and stop this euill in mée mée thinketh I may call it rebellion which is as the sinne of witchcraft or presumption in the highest degrée O Lord I sée my sinnes and know them to bée exceeding great neuerthelesse I cannot so lament them so grieue for them so detest and abhorre them as I should Striue O gracious God strike I beséech thée my flinty heart make it euen to melt within mée at the sight of mine owne transgression Settle in it that godly sorrow which causeth Repentance vnto saluation Humble my soule vnder thy mighty hand and suffer me not to fréeze in the dregges of mine owne corruptions make my head full of water and mine eyes a fountaine of teares which may runne downe like a Riuer day and night O let me take no rest nor suffer the apple of mine eye to cease cause me to powre out my heart like water before thy face that I may by all meanes testifie the vnfained griefe of my Soule that I haue so displeased thée And grant O Lord that I may not sorrow so much because of hell condemnation which J haue
desire to appeare before his glorious presence that I may sée the good things that he hath laid vp in heauen for them that are his For I am weary of my groaning I faint vnder the most cruell burthen of the miseries which hée for my sinnes hath laid iustly vpon mée here in this mortall life O God the Rocke of my strength Lord of mercy why sufferest thou 〈◊〉 thus to languish and finde no reliefe why mourne I daily and haue no comfort why cry I vnto thée and thou hearest not why doe my sorrowes increase â—â—th I séeke thée vnfainedly Defend mée O defend mee in this time of my greatest danger relieue me in the time of my most néede preserue me from the mercilesse and cruell men feede mee with the hid treasures of thy loue and multiply thy blessings vpon me for I am poore miserable and past helpe vnlesse thou helpe mee and sustaine me O Lord. Be not farre away from me and put me not altogether to confusion let me not vtterly perish while there is none to helpe I am ignominious in the sight of all men by reason of my miseries miserable by reason of my sins I am a reproch vnto my neighbours and many iest and laugh at my fall Insomuch as I am ashamed to be seene of men and wish I were able to flye out of the earth and that I might once be where I might with ioy behold thée in thy triumphant Throne where is neither hunger nor thirst nor nakednesse nor want nor ignominy nor sinne nor death but all fulnesse and glory and truth and ioy and life eternall O swéet being with thée most happy dwelling and abiding with thée But loe Lord this place so glorious these ioyes so swéet and these comforts so sure are not attained vnto but with vnfauoury affliction in this life This future happy and immortall life cannot be without the death and suffering of this mortall body And therefore Father eternall be it vnto me in this fraile life euen as thou wilt that I may possesse thée and the ioyes with thée of eternall life Afford mée thy fauour let mee inioy thy blessings euen here in this life that I may here beginne to ioy in thee and here beginne to praise thée among the children of men that they may sée and consider that though great are the troubles and miseries and afflictions which the Righteous suffer here thou yet deliuerest them out of all So shall J also giue thanks vnto thée thy praise shall be in my mouth continually my soule and mâ—ne inward parts shall glory in thée and glorifie thée I will say vnto thée O mine hope and my fortresse thou art my God in thee will I trust when thou shalt make mée glad againe I will be glad in thée and when I reioyce I will reioyce in thée for it is thy selfe onely that comfortest the abiect and deliuerest the poore from them that persecute them Awake therefore in time O Lord awake preserue me that I perish not in these miseries and lest I being as one forgotten and forsaken of thée be censured a cast-away among such as sée me and so being depriued of the occasion of praising thée for my deliuery I be driuen from one sorrow to another and all my hope turned into distrust of any recouery Hide not thou therefore thy face forget not my miseries and be not carelesse of mine afflictions for euer My soule is beaten downe euen to the dust my heart fainteth my hands become weake my knées waxe féeble mine eyes are dimme and all the parts of my body are vexed and I goe continually mourning in my miseries O sée regard my miserable plight looke vpon my griefes and ease the intollerable burthens of my calamities for though thou hast made a great wouÌ„d by thy corrections yet O Lord thou canst cure it againe with spiritual comfort not with-hold the outward good things ordained for the comfort of thy Children in this life Turne thy face vnto mee which I instantly seeke send downe thine aide which I heartily craue and haue mercy vpon mee for I am most desolate and poore Rise vp O Lord rise vp thou that art louing and bountifull let me rise vp againe by thee that am throwne downe by thee and though my sinnes as a sword haue cut me from thy fauour let the righteousnesse of thy beloued vnite me vnto thee againe in such sort as nothing may separate me from thee for euer O Lord increase my Faith A Motiue to the seauenth Prayer In which the poore distressed man sheweth his desire to hold fast the Promises of God and to shew himselfe thankefull THE poore Man being lately in an extreame agonie neere vnto despaire by reason of his sinnes and miseries he here begins to rowze himselfe vp againe sodainely crying out that the Lord is yet his hope and therefore promiseth to hold fast by him and not to giue ouer for euer no whatsoeuer troubles doe befall him and miseries assaile him yea howsoeuer the world and worldly things be moued against him he armeth himselfe with faith in God to stand with patience in all Nay such is his assurance of a more blessed being after this little time of tryall that hee affirmeth these crosses that happen here to be but trifles and of no weight to be borne in respect of the future happinesse yet because hee will not seeme senselesse of Gods corrections and be idle in well doing hee still solliciteth the Lord for some tokens of his loue here namely that hee will binde vp his sores and heale his wounds with his holy helpe and that he will renue him with spirituall vnderstanding and cleanse his affections that he may thinke speake and doe all to the glory of his name and that his tongue may be an instrument to praise him before the children of men for his deliuery promising to continue constant till the time appointed The seauenth Prayer in distresse O Lord thou art yet my hope and strength thou art a helper in trouble and doest not hiâ—e thée for euer from thy distressed Children Therefore I will yet hold fast by thée and will yet trust in thée while I liue and haue breath I will not vtterly faint nor feare though greater stormes yet arise thâ—n hither to I haue endured though the Earth tremble vnder mée and all thy creatures rage round about mée I will say still and confesse and acknowledge that thou art my God and therefore thou wilt not suffer me to be vtterly lost or perish altogether No Lord though the earth be moued and though the mountaines be tumbled into the middest of the Sea though the waters roare and swell and the loftie hils tremble at the furie thereof yet will I not be discouraged because I haue thée my Saluation Should I then faint at the small afflictions which as little darts thou shootest at me in loue not to kill mee but to put me in minde of my vanitie and forgetfulnesse
of thée to call mee from mine errours of the truth from sinne to saluation and from death to eternall life I must confesse against my selfe that I haue deserued the darts of eternall death and to be shut out of the land of the liuing but mitigate thine anger and turne thy heauy displeasure into loue and liuely reliefe and let me once taste and be refreshed with that comforting riuer that maketh glad thy distressed Children O God of hoasts come and behold my desolation and cause those thy deadly darts which so fast stick on me by little and little to fal away and cure the wounds which thou hast made Binde vp the sores of my sorrowfull soule clense the corrupted affections of my defiled heart lighten the dim eyes of my darke vnderstanding wash me throughly from mine iniquities and purifie me from sinne Make me to heare ioy and gladnesse againe after my long mourning giue me reliefe againe after my long want set me vpon a sure rocke and plant me on a fruitfull ground among the flourishing trées that prosper by the swéet waters of thy liuely fauour Oh cast me not away deare Father cast me not away from thy presence restore me rather to the glory of thy saluation and establish me with thy frée Spirit Lord open my mouth that my tongue may be an instrument to praise thée for thy liberall reliefe and ready helpe in my néede and necessity So when thou shalt renue my decaied store and replenish my empty basket when thou shalt yéelde comfort to my sad soule and refresh my sorrowfull heart I will surely vtter foorth thy praise with vnfained lips I will giue glory vnto thy name and publish thy mercy to all the world Oh â—e therefore vnto me a spéedy helper delay not too long to come my saluation for behold I am in a miserable case as thou well knowest poore as thou séest Reiect not yet my petition who cry instantly to thée for helpe O helpe before I perish vtterly hold mée fast by thy hand and lift me vp againe before I fall altogether Thou hast not promised I know that which thou wilt not performe and therefore I will waite faithfully for the time is at hand that thou hast ordained for my deliuery And therefore by the priuiledge of a liuely hope which will neuer make them ashamed that fixe it on thée I will perseuere confirme my hope and make it perfect vntill I may inioy the liuely fruits of thine assured saluation O Lord increase my Faith The Motiue to the eight Prayer In which the poore distressed man craueth pardon for his sinnes the cause of his miseries THe poore man as it were ouer-charged with the burthen of his miseries wisheth himselfe wings to flie away from all occasions of calamities but forthwith checketh his rashnesse folly in seeming desirous to hide him from God that is euery where and can euery where punish the transgressours of his will And therefore prayeth that God will bridle his affections and giue him patience appealing vnto the Almighty who knoweth his desires to doe well though the peruersenesse of his nature doe draw him into things offensiue and therefore disclaiming his owne worthinesse craueth pardon and mercy acknowledging the generall weaknesse of all mankinde and his owne to be the greatest of all and therefore prayeth for strength for wisdome and instruction affirming him to be most happy indeede whom he fauoureth by reason of the infinite blessings that he euen here enioyeth in this mortall life although hee withall cryeth out against the miseries that doe still oppresse him keeping fast hold through hope that yet God will not suffer him to perish nor fall vtterly because he is a rock whereon the righteous such as doe take hold of the death and passion of Christ doe rest most safe from al dangers and therefore concludeth his Prayer with an instant Petition that God wil giue him a blessed end of his hope that he may talke of his glory and sing of his praise that all men may see by his example that God respecteth the cause of the needy The eight Prayer in distresse OH that I had winge like a Doue then would I flye away from these troubles and make mine abode in the wildernes among the thick bushes and branches of the Cedars rather then to endure these intollerable miseries among the sonnes of men But alas Lord what doe I consult thus with the vaine wisedome of flesh and bloud thou art God and were I in the Wildernesse thou art there were I in the vttermost parts of the earth thou art there were I on the highest mountaines or in the bowels of the Earth or in the Sea or in the clouds thou art there and canst there also finde me out and there visite mine iniquities with stripes and my sinnes with scourges It booteth mée not to couet to hide me from thée better is it for mee to subiect mée vnto thy will And therefore bridle mine affections tame the vnrulinesse and fiercenesse of my heart reforme the words of my mouth teach me right wisedome and learne me true vnderstanding vouchsafe me perfect patience and then shall I be néerest vnto that liberty which I long for and best fréed from the dangers which I feare and soonest enioy the comforts that I desire O make no long tarrying O Lord but hasten my deliuerance preserue me from the furious stormes raging tempests that are yet ready to giue my wearied Soule a new encounter Wherefore hast thou left vnto vs by thy Word a commandement to cast our cares vpon thée and tolay our burdens vpon thée promising to comfort vs and to ease vs It is not to deceiue but to deliuer vs. Thou séest my desires and knowest the secrets of my heart and all 〈◊〉 wayes are manifest before thée If therefore I should iustifie my selfe thou wilt condemne mee if I hide my sinnes thou findest out my corruptions and that all my righteousnesse is worse then vanity it selfe And therefore disclayming mine integrity I craue pardon and aske mercy wherein thou art rich and whereof thou art most bountifull euen to such as acknowledge their owne weakenesse wants and wickednesse To thy mercy I appeale I flie vnto thée I depend on thée I lay my burden vpon thée fearing thée and reuerencing thée louing thée and trusting in thée What imperfections O Lord séest thou in mée for which thou shouldest thus afflict me O wretch that I am amost wicked one a corrupted one defiled within and without how can I plead any good duties done vnto thée But good Father thou art not ignorant of the generall vanity of man who is euill in his best wayes and the most pure of vs is imperfect Pardon then my weakenesse and giue mée that strength and that zeale and that obedience and that perfect loue that thou requirest Be vnto me a Father to instruct me in true wisedome be vnto me a guide to leade mée in that way that leadeth vnto
vngodly affections in me let me neither murmure nor grudge nor feare nor faint but with patience in well doing tarry till thou haue decréed to haue mercy vpon mée For is there not an appointed time for all things Iob was brought low by thée yet at thine appointed time lifted vp againe Ioseph was long afflicted in prison yet when thou sawest the time he was aduanced againe Thy deare Dauid was long and fiercely persecuted yet at length established in his desired dignitie When the poore â—iddow was euen at the end of her hope of further reliefe her cruze of Oyle being emptied and her vessell of Meale spent euen then diddest thou send her a relieuing guest by whom thou gauest her increase of necessary succour Therefore yet a little while and my appointed time will come wherein I shall be also deliuered out of all my miseries Yea thou art my strength and my portion and my defence and my saluation thou â—éest my miseries what they are and how many they be and how heauy they lye vpon me for thou that sendest them art not ignorant of them and thou that madest mee well knowest what is fittest to preserue mee I am brought to the very Pit of confusion as the naturall man déemeth but thou hast decréed the time of my deliuery to mée unknowne that when it commeth I may reioyce in thee and not attribute my recouery to the fleshly aide of mortall men which I haue sought in vaine yea while I caâ—â—ed instantly vpon ther that I might acknowledge all helpe to procéede from thée and all that the world affordeth to be but the effects of thy loue of thy power and of thy prouidence O blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to come vnto thée by afflictions for although he séemeth to be a companion of Death yet he liueth by the secret swéetnes of the pleasures of thy inward consolation and safely dwelleth in the Courts of thy protection fâ—â—ding on the liuely assurance of thy Prouidence and Loue and sainteth not at any frown of the mightâ—est on earth So am I assured O Lord that thou art my portion and thou tendrest mée as a sonne though thou visit me with thy Rod as a sinner and that thou wilt not suffer mee to fall vtterly though thou séeme to correct mee sharpely Although I séeme to be depriued of all hope of recouery of my wonted comfort because I sée no ready meane before my eyes nor present likelihood notwithstanding my long and instant cryes I will not shrinke knowing this that thy loue is infinite thy power wonderfull and thy prouidence past finding out For if the stony Rocke and the withered Jow-bone could yéeld water to refresh the thirsty if thou couldest send Manna from heauen and meate by a â—aâ—en and féede so many thousand people with little shew of bread if thou couldest send Quailes so plentifully in the Desert with infinite other things miraculously for thy distressed Children confirme my Faith euermore that I may constantly beléeue that thou both canst and will in thy good time relieue mée All power belongeth vnto thée who then will say or who can imagine that thou canst not helpe when most néede is who will say thou hast not loue sith thou so fréely hast done these many and mighty things for thy distressed Children that could not relieue themselues But loe Lord all things are thine the Heauens are thine and the Earth is thine the Cattle in the fields the Fowles on the Mountaines the Gold and Siluer and all that is aboue vs or beneath vs is thine who then can say thou canst not giue and bestow on whom thou wilt what thou wist when thou wilt Thou makest the Corne to grow and waterest the Earth with thy swéet showers from aboue so that euen the Beasts also of the field are fed as by the dew of Heauen Sith then that thou art Lord of all and sith thou commandest and forbiddest sith thou makest poore and enrichest sith thou throwest downe and aduancest sith thou triest and rewardest and sith thou doest what thou wilt in what manner thou wilt to whom thou wilt and when thou wilt and no man can command thée or forbid thée I yéeld me wholly to thy will and craue onely to will as thou willest and doe as thou directest in all things Be it thus deare Father for his merits that thou most dearely louest that died and rose againe for all and who sitteth with thée a Mediator for all for his sake O Father heare and helpe mee in time conuenient Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Motiue to thankefulnesse to GOD for Comfort and Reliefe receiued of him after long praying vnto him in the time of necessity and affliction PSAL. 28. 7. The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart trusteth in him and I was holpen therefore my heart shall reioyce and with my tongue will I praise him AS no man knoweth how profitable a thing physicke is but he that hath béene sicke and hath béene eased by it nor of what value faithfull friends are but hée that hath béene brought to extreme néede and tasted of their help so none can sufficiently comprehend how great the goodnes of God is but such as haue béene tried by some affliction and felt grieuous calamity and haue béene deliuered by God out of their dangers and miseries or in some measure béene eased And if hée that in sicknesse hath receiued health by physick if he that in his great necessity and want hath bin relieued by friends doe not acknowledge the benefit receiued by either of them will not all men of ciuill carriage condemne them of ingratitude So and far more worthy is he to be condemned that being afflicted by whatsoeuer meanes and is deliuered by the prouidence and fauour of God if he stand silent and mute not endeauouring to giue God the praise and glory of his deliuery This I confesse is my case and no doubt there is no man exempted out of the number of them whom God hath deliuered out of one danger and affliction or another But some being blinde of that side sée no other meanes of their deliuery but their selfe-wit policie strength or carnall meanes neuer turning eye to the true helpe the power and prouidence of God and that is the cause why as there were of ten Lepers but one returned to giue thankes to Christ so few scarcely one of ten that receiue blessings and comforts at the hands of God returne thankes truely to God for the same and yet there is not one of what estate degrée or profession he be of but must if he be not an Atheist acknowledge himselfe a debter vnto God in this behalfe who requireth but onely thankfulnesse for al his benefits Some may say they were neuer afflicted neuer oppressed neuer distressed neuer in danger for they haue had continual prosperity and therefore could neuer obserue wherein God hath shewed them any such néedfull deliuerance some are
Faith of Repentance of other diuine graces hée onely requireth the true vse of them as to loue him aboue all things to liue in sobriety temperance in his feare in the exercise of true religion in prayer in hearing his Word preached in reading the same with reuerence in continuall going forward from faith to faith from one heauenly vertue to another and in behauing our hearts inwardly in such a liuely and willing remembrance and execution of his diuine Will as nothing may miscarry vs from what hée hath commanded or draw vs into what hée hath forbidden Thus if hée finde vs prepared hée will then as hee hath promised blesse vs more and more and giue and bestow vpon vs more and more of his spirituall benefits and adde vnto our stocke and store such abundance of all necessary outward things of this life as wée shall not onely be able to féede cloathe maintaine and relieue our selues with wished contentment but will giue such continuall increase as we shall be able to performe these former duties to his néedy members and there by not onely testifie to the World our Faith by our workes who will glorifie God for vs but God shall sée our faith in him and approue our outward workes amongst men to be good by our faith These being the fruits of true obedience and obedience the most acceptable sacrifice of thankfulnesse a worke not onely not painefull or tedious but most swéet vnto the soule let vs unbrace it as the true wisedome which for the swéetenesse passeth the hony and the hony-combe and for preciousnesse and worth of more value then the finest gold or dearest earthly Jewels Who will not then apply his heart vnto this most acceptable thankefulnesse to which is promised a new and daily renuing of blessings one blessing shall follow another as the swéet drops of the morning dew happy is the man that is in such a case But most vnhappy the man forgetting God and Gods benefits nay who offereth the sacrifice of praise in a false or a cold or counterfait manner as Cain did who would be séene to giue vnto God part of his earthly abundance but because it was done with no true affection it was not accepted no more are these vnworthy praises which many worldlings séeme to flatter God withall offering the Sacrifices not of idle but of hatefull fooles though in common spéech they can make semblance of great piety As when they speake of Gods blessings the increase of their Corne Oile and Wine the prosperity of their Cattle the long continuance of the health of their bodies good successe in their affaires they can vse an outward kinde of humiliation bowing their counterfait knée and â—ailing their dissembling â—onnet as if the true praise of God consisted in these ceremonies when indéede their hearts are full of â—â—arice their hands of Bribes and their lips of dissimulation Hath God respect to these kinds of offerings No he accepteth the obedience to his will and his will is that thankfulnesse to him being in heauen not séene should begin in earth in doing good to our brethren whom we daily see else though God vouchsafe to seâ— as hée did vpon Cain a marke vpon such vngratefull dissemblers that they come not into misfortune in this life like other men yet it shall be a marke of their reprobation which they shall cary with them to their eternal graues Had not the men of the old world great blessings at the hands of God But where was their thankefulnesse The earth was full of cruelty a base recompence for so many blessings yet did thinke themselues very secure yea when God in his secret Justice prepared their general confusion Was God so strict in obseruing so seuere in punishing the whole world for vnthankefulnes hauing but the Law of nature their guide and will hée be lesse to a stiffe-necked people or to one disobedient person hauing the vse of his word Is not mans vnthankfulnes towards man censured in most euill part by man how much more mans vnthankfulnesse to God Laban found great benefit and many blessings to grow vnto him in his earthly estate by Iacobs faithfull and true seruice yet how vnkindly did he reward him Gen. 31. 2. Yet sée the mercies of the Lord who séeing thankfull Iacobs afflicted heart vnder his vngratefull and seuere Master wrought his deliuery and sent him from cruell Laban rich But did Iacob attribute his successe and increase of his wealth to procéede from his care and industry or did he attribute it to his â—rt of speckled Rods No hée confessed by whose meanes he was so blessed namely by God to whom as to the Author of all the good that befell him he gaue the glory saying at his returne Ouer this Brooke I came with my staffe and scrippe onely but loâ— Lord I now returne with mighty Droues Here was the true and liuely image of the Sacrifice of praise in godly iacob and the very picture of ingratitude in vnthankefull Laban giuing thankes neither to God nor Men for his prosperity Many Labans now liue that receiue the benefits of poore mens trauels and endeauours and at the hand of God rich blessings and yet they will not admit either the helpe of man nor the prouidence of God to be the meanes of their aduancement but their owne wit policie desert or humane friendship and to defend their grosse and 〈◊〉 ingratitude â—â—icke not to aâ—firme that the Seruant that laboureth is worthy of his hire I am saith this caruall Logician the Seruant of God and therefore worthy of the gifts I receiue from him Such hellish Syllogisms worldly men the Schollers of perdition can frame against themselues not finding the subtilty of the Diuell in these Arguments who striueth to colour by his Sophistry this erronious conceit of theirs in assuming desert to receiue good where they deserue to receiue euill euermore The Seruant of an earthly Master may performe in some measure his Masters worke and may thereby deserue his promised hyre but who so thus pretendeth himselfe to be or is indéede the seruant of God by whom a lawfull calling may be assigned him howsoeuer he wade in the execution of his externall vocation yet hée commeth to farre short of his true duety commanded as he not onely meriteth no earthly or temporall benefits but to be corrected with many stripes As who so looketh into or compareth his owne performance with the Commandements of God shall finde himselfe so farre behinde with God in thankefulnesse for his least benefits as hée shall be driuen to confesse he is vnworthy of the Bread and Rayment be it neuer so meane that hée inioyeth which also how meane soeuer it be it is the gift of God and in no other nor by any other meanes made ours but in Christ alone without whom the greatest Riches the most glorious Estate and most wished earthly prosperity becommeth a curse vnto them that make them not theirs by him that
the holy Ghost praised for euermore Amen O Lord increase my Faith A very comfortable and most patheticall Prayer to be said of such as are in greatest distresse and danger hauing wife and children and in debt not able to maintaine and relieue the one or to satisfie the other O Most mighty mercifull and all-knowing Father the fountaine of all comfort and consolation who findest out in thy déepe and all-searching knowledge all the sinnes that are or can be committed amongst the children of men howsoeuer hidden and secret I doe confesse vnto thée against my selfe that I haue grieuously offended thée by my manifold transgressions and thereby haue drawne vpon mée a most intollerable weight of thy deserued wrath and fearefull indignation insomuch as if thou maist not be pleased to mittigate thy â—ury towards me I shall faint and fall and shall not be able to lift vp my head any more in hope of thy fauour for deare Father in Jesus Christ I am weake and am not able to beare thy heauy displeasure by mine owne power or merit And therefore good Father lay not vpon mée the punishments which I haue deserued take away thy heauy hand of correction and as thou art patient and long in suffering the sinnes of thy weake children he yet patient with mée and send thine holy Spirit to season me anew that I may bring forth now the fruits of amendment of life So shall thy punishment cease and comfort increase though I am heset with no small or few dangers before mée behinde mée on my right hand and on my left I am beset with perils so that which way soeuer I séeme to runne or howsoeuer I couet to escape I fall into dangers What shal I doe Lord in these miseries I stand amazed at the consideration what will become of me languishing in fear while there is none to helpe I liue where none but mortall creatures are and what can they doe to my comfort Lord that haue their breath in their nostrils They mooue and breathe and liue and speake but little auaileth their helpe vnlesse thou that guidest and gouernest the hearts of all vouchsafe to moue them to commiseration and patience with mée I haue sinned Lord against thée and am indebted vnto men and cannot be released and all commeth of my sins Father pardon thou me so shalt thou in thy renewed loue send mée new reliefe Raise me meanes to satisfie men or qualifie their extremities that they may be patient vntill thy helpe come And in the meane time teach mee O teach mée the way that I should chuse Direct mée Lord what course I shall take for thou Lord art wise and prouident and mercifull and all goodnes commeth of thée Therefore O Lord instruct mée by the inward working of thy holy Spirit to doe this or that and make mée obedient vnto thy will so shall all returne to my good Raise vp some gracious meanes Lord for my succor for thou knowest though I be but one man whose ruine can be but as the death of the least creature in the censure of such as feele not nor partake of my griefes neither will my ouerthrow grieue such as haue no share of my miseries Some there be yet deare Father whom thou knowest that shall taste of the bitternesse of my fall and therefore Lord consider in mercy and although none of them Lord that shall féele the smart of my calamities but haue also added sinne vnto my sinne and so aggrauated thy displeasure against vs yet in thy Christ forgiue vs all and reclaime vs all by thy gentle corrections not by thy furious iudgements And as a sparrow Lord lighteth not on the ground nor one haire falleth from our heads without thy prouidedre so I know Lord that nothing shall befall mée but what thou hast decréed euen for my good both in this life and in the life to come Thou hast neuer Lord dealt so sharpely with any but vpon serious repentance they haue receiued comfort they haue tasted of thy loue and of inward peace So worke Lord in these my tryals and by these my crosses and dangers that I be neither inwardly too much afflicted with feare and sorrow nor outwardly too much cast downe with want but as I taste of thy correcting rod so I may also flude thy supporting staffe Lord thou art moued by a better Mediator then are my complaints Oh heare me for him and heare him for mée me Lord for his sake and him for thy promise sake lest I remaining here in this vale of continuall miseries where there is no true or liuely helper I vtterly perish in my troubles It is no true helpe Lord that commeth not of true compassion and there is no true compassion without true féeling of anothers miseries but how far Lord that is from the hearts of many thou knowest and I féele it And therefore euery heart truely moued to true commiseration is first moued by thée Oh moue them therefore moue thou such as thou pleasest to vse as instruments of thy will for my good so shall I vse it and accept it as thy goodnesse to thy glory But Lord the course of thy prouidence teacheth vs that thou wilt not haue thy dearest children to be lifted vp by the fulnesse of earthly things aboue that which becommeth the humble to kéepe them still in awe of thy corrections Forere while O Lord I thought of seife-peace little fearing further perils nor to be thus chased anew as I am by such as séeke to molest mée and to exact that from me by rigour which thou knowest I am not yet able to performe though thou féest the inward destres of my heart willing by my best lawfull endeuours to obtaine the meanes to satisfie al men their due and it grieueth mee that I cannot doe as they require And therefore O louing Father as thou well knowest what is wanting supply it in thy mercies in thy good time before I be confounded altogether and before I goe hence and be no more séene As thou blessest mée O Lord by the labours of my hands so thou knowest I yéelde to them to whom it is due And therefore Lord sith they will not haue patience with mée of their owne accord worke their hearts to be more pliable to my entreates or else which I aske especially if it please thée raise vp meanes for me that I may be enabled to pay them all wherein thy will be done I haue séene thy saluation and deliuery already in great dangers and thy promise and thy power and thy prouidence are still in force and thy mercy is no whit diminished therefore Lord remember thy mercies and looke on mée and as thou saidst vnto the blinde man in the Gospell Receiue thy â—ight and he saw so Lord say to mée Receiue comfort and reliefe and I shall receiue it thy word is thy will and thy will is thy worke therefore speake and thy will shall be done to restore mee to constancy let