and suitable to his nature to haue mercy but hee is hardly drawne to punish as being a worke altogither vnsuitable to his disposition To them that loue mee With their whole heart without hypocrisie and doe not impart that worship to others which is due to him And keepe my Commandements In obedience walking in his waies All his Commandements but chiefely this concerning his worship The third Commandement Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord wil not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine THe Name of the LORD which in it selfe is Holy True and Iust Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord in vaine And therefore wee ought not to prophane it or take it in our mouthes lightly or vpon euery small occasion Herein we offend When we Blaspheme God either openly or in our hearts When we vse his Holy Word to any prophane scurrilous or impure end When we commit Periurie When we murmure against him When we leaue his Prouidence and consult with Witches or the like When we sweare vpon triuiall and light causes When we curse or vse vnlawfull Imprecations When wee performe not that which we faithfully promise When we in any action of our owne detract from Gods Glory and attribute and arrogate too much to our selues For the Lord will not c. The Lord and Iudge of Heauen and Earth who seeth and obserueth all our actions is so farre from conniuing at this sinne that without repentance he will condemne euery one that offendeth therein Saul 1. Sam. 14. â—… for vnaduised Cursing and adiuration lost a victory against the Philistims 1. Sam. 14.24 For consulting with a Witch 31.4 was with his sonnes brought to vntimely ends Sennacherib 2. Kings 19.10 for blaspheming God was slaine by his owne sonnes Ananias Act. 5.5 for lying to the holy Ghost died suddenly The fourth Commandement Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabboth day c. IN this Commandement are two things contained 1. A Precept or declaration of the will of God To set apart some day 1. To the publique worship of God 2. In ceasing from our labours 2. A Reason of the Commandement 1. Because God after the Creation rested on the seuenth day 2. Because he also blessed and Sanctified it Remember Let not worldly cares put it out of thy minde but obserue it with all care and Religion 1. Not without great cause was this Precept so strictly vrged 1. Because by the neglect of it ariseth the neglect of all Spirituall duties 2. Because that in it was contained a Type or shadow of the great and euerlasting Sabboth which is our Sanctification 3. Because that we haue therby some time to shew mercy to our seruants and beasts wearied with labour That thou keepe holy c. In frequenting the Church and there to exercise thy selfe In Prayer Hearing the Word Receiuing the Sacraments In pious and religious workes as Visiting the sicke Releeuing the poore Meditating on Gods worke Praising him for them In refraining from sinne In resting from seruile labour And although that part of the Iewes Sabboth be abrogated which respected the Seuenth day Sacrifices and other exterior acts of Gods worship commanded and enioyned to the Iewes yet the Church hath appointed in stead thereof the Lords day or Sonday called the first day of the weeke wherein all Christians are bound to retaine and obserue all the duties of the first Sabboth Reue. 1.10 Act. 20.7 1. Cor. 16.2 auoiding the Iewish strict and superstitious Ceremonies Sixe dayes c. In following the vocation appointed there by God wherein thou art to omit nothing necessary for the sustentation of thy family And not to spend those sixe dayes wholly in idlenesse pleasures or excesse Nor in the publique duties of the Sabboth and thereby neglecting the care ouer thy family But the seuenth day In that day neither thou nor any of thy familie or cattell shall doe any seruile labour except in case of necessity and preseruation of Gods Creatures from damage or losse but ye shall spend it in those religious duties formerly set downe In case of necessitie Mar. 2.27 The Sabboth being made for man and not man for the Sabboth we are to conceiue that it was ordeined not to destroy but to preserue him and therefore all workes are not forbidden that day 1. As dressing of meate Numb 28.1 By the example of the Priests who on the Sabboth killed the Beasts for sacrifice and dressed the rest And of Christs Disciples plucking eares of corne Mat. 12.1 and Tertullian saith that the Ancient and Primitiue Church neuer fasted on the Sabboth day De Coron militis c. 3. 2. Ministring Phisicke to the sicke Luc. 6. By the example of our Sauiour healing on that day Io. 5. 3. Sauing Corne Hay Houses and the like from perishing By our Sauiours question to the Pharises Mat. 12.11 2. The Reason why God commanded the obseruation of the first Sabbath was 1. Because after God by his Word had created the vniuerse of nothing hee rested himselfe from all the worke that he had made Gen. 2.2 2. Because this day was by him blessed and sanctified And the Reason why the Seuenth day was changed into the first day of the weeke vpon which the Christians Sabbath is obserued was in remembrance of our Sauiours Resurrection which hapned on this day as may be gathered by Christs selecting that day to appeare twice to his Apostles after his Resurrection Ioh. 20,19.26 The second Table The fifth Commandement Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee AS the first Table teacheth the Honor and loue of God so doth the second the Dutie we owe to our Neighbour And the first Commandement of this Table enioyneth vs to honour and reuerence our Parents as being the thing which God esteemeth next in degree to his Honor. And it containeth First A Precept Secondly A Promise 1 The Precept is Generall and Particular 1 The Generall comprehendeth our Dutie to all our Elders and Superiors whom God hath set ouer vs for our gouernement and preseruation which dutie is of necessitie to be performed in respect of the vpholding of Politique gouernement 2. The particular Precept conteineth our dutie to our naturall Parents Father and Mother of what degree estate or condition soeuer they be Whether Poore or Rich Good or Bad this Commandement layeth hold on vs. Honour thy Father and Mother That which we are enioyned to doe by these words is to Reuerence them as from whom we receiued our being Loue them for their care sorrow and paines in our education Obey them in all lawfull things as being appointed by God to command ouer vs. Be thankefull to them In requiting their charge and loue In ministring to their necessities Be
INSTITVTIONES PIAE or Directions to Pray also A short exposition of The Lords Prayer The Creed The 10 Com̄andements Seauen Penitentiall Psalmes and Seauen Psalmes of thankesgiuing by HI O that men would praise the Lord for his goodnes And declare the wonders which he doth for the children of men Ps 107 8. LONDON Printed for Henry Seile 1630 To the Christian Reader COurteous and Christian Reader accept I pray thee these few obseruations and collections of Meditations and Deuotions which at the first I intended for my owne priuate vse but since considering with my selfe that Bonum quò communius eò melius Euery good thing is the better for being communicated I thought to publish it for the publique vse of them who shall affoord themselues so much time as to performe those Duties which are contained in it The Heathen man could say A Ioue principium to the shame of many I will not say of those who professe themselues and would be called Christians who are so farre from beginning all their actions with Gods seruice as that it is a rare thing to see them attend it at all It is no maruell then if God with-hold his hand of goodnesse from our Land or if according to the Prophet He hide his face from vs. Psal 88 14. when we are so remisse so dull either in seruing him with the Dutie of Praise and Thankesgiuing for his Benefits past or with the Seruice of Prayer for his Prouidence and Goodnesse to come Wee can talke of Comets and apparitions in the ayre and be stricken with wonder we can speake of vnseasonable and tempestuous times and bethinke our selues of what diseases famine and the like iudgements may ensue thereupon with griefe wee can discourse of warres rumors of warres and mightie preparations abroad with feare and yet wee are so stupid and sencelesse that wee cannot see or discerne the true cause of all these occasions of wonder griefe and feare namely our sinnes at least if we doe yet we set not our selues to take away the cause by that wholesome remedy which God himselfe hath prescribed to remooue it if wee would but apply and vse it We thinke it enough if wee can talke of the medicine and it is somewhat if we doe that and haue the speculation how to rid our selues of the disease but for the practise of it it fares with vs as with those who haue an infirmitie growing vpon them and know the remedy but either for wāt of leasure or for the queasinesse of the stomach or the bitter or vnpleasing taste of the medicine they forbeare the taking of it till the disease grow incurable We are content to heare what the Phisician of our soules prescribeth vs but wee neglect the Diet which hee enioyneth vs. All our Religion dependeth on the Eare and so it had pleased God to haue giuen vs but an Eare to heare hee might haue spared the tongue and lippes to praise him and all the other parts to worship and reuerence him wee could haue beene well enough contented with that member alone But beloued let vs not deceiue our selues for hee that hath made the Eare to heare what good hee hath done vnto vs hath made the tongue also to confesse his due praises for that which he hath so done And if wee neglect to giue him due thankes for his Mercie it will come to passe and that to bee feared very speedily that wee shall bee forced in bitternesse of soule to confesse his Iustice when we shall finde that hee iustly turneth his Blessings into Curses and plagues and be compelled to acknowledge and say Iust art thou O Lord and righteous and iust are thy Iudgements And therefore in time let euery one of vs recollect himselfe and in his priuate closset or chamber with himselfe and in the Church with the Congregation humbly confesse his sinnes to God desire pardon for them praise him for his blessings pray him to continue them and deprecate his iust anger from vs and then no doubt but he will be graciously pleased to bee mercifull to vs and heare vs and auert those Iudgements from vs which we most iustly haue deserued Which let vs all againe and againe beseech him to doe for the merits and intercession of his Blessed Sonne and our alone Sauiour Iesus Christ Institutiones piae OR DIRECTIONS to Pray c. A generall exhortation to Prayer FOr as much as the best of Gods Children are subiect to many infirmities and euen the iust man falleth seuen times a day Pro. 24.16 and that mans life by reason of sinne is exposed to many dangers troubles and afflictions Therefore it standeth vs much vpon and concerneth vs neerely to seeke out some remedy as well to strengthen out selues against the assaults of our spirituall enemies that as neere as may be we fall not as to raise vs againe when we are cast downe and deiected either by the sight of our sinnes or by the crosses and afflictions of this life And in this distresse what course shall we think vpon to relieue vs or what means shall we finde out to aid and succor vs Certainely no other then that which God himselfe of his goodnesse hath prescribed and commended to vs In regard of Gods Precept yea and hath commaunded vs to haue recourse vnto whensoeuer we shall be thus afflicted namely Prayer to him Call vpon me saith he in the day of trouble Psal 50.15 Come vnto me saith Christ all ye that labour and are heauy laden Mat. 11.28 Seeke yee the Lord saith he by the Prophet and call vpon him Esa 55.6 And is any afflicted Ia 5.13 by the Apostle Let him pray And the better to stirre vs vp to this duty God hath added to this Precept of his a promise also His promise that we shall not loose our labors or pray to him in vaine For no sooner shall we aske but he will giue Mat. 7.7 Io. 16.23 Psal 91.15 no sooner call but he will answere and deliuer Nay more for if God perceiue our inclination to pray vnto him he will preuent vs and before we call he will answere Esa 65.24 and while we are speaking he will heare Christs example And as we haue Gods precept and promise to prouoke vs to Pray vnto him so also haue we the Example not only of all the Saints of God but of Christ Iesus himselfe Mat. 14.23 26.39 Io. 11.47 Mar. 1.35 who while he was cōuersant in the flesh vpon Earth though he were wholly without spot or blemish wholly innocent and immaculate yet often and earnestly prayed The Necessity Among all the Euangelicall Precepts or Councells there is not any one Duty vpon which our Sauiour more earnestly beateth or to which he with more feruency inciteth his Apostles and Disciples then to this of Prayer The necessitie whereof hee enforceth amongst other places of Scripture in the parable of the vniust Iudge Luc. 18.
iust and charitable in workes true in words to loue thee with all our hearts as a Father to feare thee as a God to preferre nothing before Christ who preferred vs before all things and the like Thy Will and all thy Will without exception Thy Will and not our Will a Act. 21.14 The Lords Will be done b Iam. 4.15 If the Lord will Thy Will be done in all things as well in things pleasing as displeasing to vs but especially let it be done in vs. That our blinde and peruerse will may be led by thy most holy Will If our wills be refractory to thine roote out dissipate ours and establish thine Turne our Nill into thy Will Jn earth as it is in heauen In earth as in Heauen Hallowed bee thy Name In earth as in Heauen Thy Kingdome come In earth as in Heauen Thy Will bee done Let Heauen bee the paterne and Rule to Earth in all things Let vs begin to be on Earth as we would be in Heauen hereafter In earth In Earth in all the Earth But especially in this part of the earth where we liue Wee are of this Earth let thy Will be done in vs. As in heauen As in Heauen not as much or as well But let vs imitate though we cannot equall We beg thy grace to doe thy Will as thy Angels and Saints do it But because many things hinder vs wee say with Saint Aug. Aug. Giue vs power and ability to doe thy commands and then command vs what thou pleasest And if our condition in this life will not admit so much yet Lord accept our desires which crie to thee Thy Will be done And if our desires be also vnperfect yet heare our cry in the Prophets words Our soules haue longed to desire thy Lawes and Commandements alwaies Psal 119. Giue vs this day our daily Bread Here we may consider the excellent Order of this Prayer for what ought a Sonne before all things with more feruency desire then the Honour of his Father the prosperitie of his Kingdome and obedience to his Will And in the next place what is more proper to children then to aske Bread of their Father There is in vs a double nature or substance which requires two sorts of Bread 1. The Soule hath her viands to be prouided a Esa 55.2 The Bread of Angels b Ier. 15.16 Psal 65.4 Heb. 5.13.14 The Bread of heauen the Word c Ioh. 6.33.35.48 The Bread of Life Christ Iesus in the flesh Lord giue vs of this Bread euermore Ioh. 6.3.4 2. The Body also cryeth for her sustenance her Bread that is all the necessaries of this life Psal 132.15 for except it bee satisfied likewise it draweth our mindes from thee Thou hast promised O Father to adde all other things to vs Mat. 6.33 if we first seeke thy Kingdome Behold we haue sought it giue vs therefore Bread either fine middlesort or course which of them shall seeme good to thee And which may feed and not choake vs either with the care of them or neglect of thee With Bread giue vs O Lord a Leuit. 26.26 1. King 19.8 The staffe of Bread b Psal 6.2.91.16 Health of Body Wholesome Ayre c Pro. 15. Content in minde Conuenient dwelling Peace in our daies and the like Our Bread Ours gotten either by a Mat. 7.7 Prayer or b Gen. 3.19 Labour Ours 2. Thes 3.8 as first Thine Thine by Gift Ours by Vse Not due to vs but of thy mercy and bounty giuen to vs. Ours 1. Thes 5.14 So as if we haue more then we need we are to communicate it to those which want Ours that being contented with our owne we couet not other mens Daily Bread That we dayly wanting might dayly pray for it and that we daily receiuing might daily praise thee for it To put vs also in minde of the the vncertainty and shortnesse of this life that begging Bread but for a day it may bee perhaps enough for the time we haue to liue Bread For our necessity not for superfluity Which may profit the Soule and not hurt the Body Which may nourish the Soule and not destroy the Body If the Lord will bee with mee Gen. 28.20 and will keepe me in the way that I shall goe and will giue me bread to eate and rayment to put on so that I returne in peace then the Lord shall be my God Two things haue I required of thee Pro. 30.7,8,9 deny mee not them before I dye Remooue farre from me vanity and lyes giue me neither pouerty nor riches feed mee with food connenient for me lest I bee full and deny thee and say Who is the Lord or lest I bee poore and steale and take the Name of my God in vaine Giue Giue it thou Blesse the labours of our hands Breake it thou and giue it Let not vs take it for if thou giue it thou wilt giue it in time place and measure Whereas if we take it our selues wee obserue none of these rules but take it to the destruction of our owne soules and bodies To vs. Not only to mee and my family but to all thy seruants that need it This day That is this day of our life This time For we being vncertaine of our Dayes Heb. 3â—… why should wee begge bread for vncertaine times For we are not assured of an age a yeare or a day Our life is but a day and a day is the resemblance of our life Yet for all this Prouidence is not hereby forbidden or that none should lay vp with a Gen. 41. Ioseph or with the b Pro. 6.6 Ant. Giue vs O Lord Bread conuenient and meet to serue vs to day and to morrow also And forgiue vs our trespasses Esa 27.9 This is all the fruite to take away sinne Esa 59.2 Our iniquities haue separated betweene vs and our God and our sinnes haue hid his face from vs that he will not heare vs. Ier. 5.25 Our iniquities haue with-holden good things from vs. Lam. 3.44 Thou hast set our sinnes as a Cloud that our prayers might not passe through Ioh. 9.31 We know that God heareth not sinners As long as our sinnes stand vp against vs and are not forgiuen we are out of hope of receiuing any good at Gods hands Forgiue Therefore O Lord not only giue but forgiue also The Guilt The Punishment And in this thy mercy is manifested that thou giuest to those who after they haue receiued must craue forgiuenesse Giue vnto vs who are thine enemies and when thou hast giuen forgiue vs also Thou hast not dealt so with Angells Their sinnes are not Iude 6. will not be forgiuen ours may in thy good pleasure We are vnworthy Let vs not be vnthankefull Our trespasses or debts We become debtors or trespassers as often as
desire that thy Name may be Hallowed glorified and magnified from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe thereof euen through all parts of the world and that it may the better spread from one Nation to another giue vs grace who haue receiued the adoption of Children so to walke before thee Eph. 1.4 in holinesse and righteousnesse that the Heathen Mat. 5.16 who haue not knowne thy Name seeing our good workes may glorifie thy Name together with vs. Thou seest O Lord Thy Kingdome come that we haue many Tyrants amongst vs in this life as the Deuill malicious and cruell the World vaine and curious the flesh fraile and deceiptfull and our owne Will vile and corrupt all which doe impetuously tyrannize ouer vs and oppose themselues against thy Kingdome Arise therefore O Lord and suppresse these Tyrants and rule ouer thine and our enemies by thy power and in vs by thy Grace that we may hereafter be subiects in thy Kingdome of Glory Let thy Kingdome come and gouerne vs by thy Prouidence defend vs by thy Might lead vs by thy Spirit and teach vs by thy Word Driue farre from vs the Prince of this World and doe thou only Rule in vs. Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs grace to follow the example of thy Blessed Angels and all other thy Creatures who readily and ioyfully doe thy Will Let our wills follow thine in all things and let nothing be displeasing to vs which thy Will hath decreed either for our prosperitie or aduersitie Let vs doe nothing contrary to thy Will but let the performance and execution of thy Will be the whole scope and aime of our thoughts words and actions And to this end giue vnto vs thy holy Spirit which may direct our Wills enlighten our vnderstandings mollifie our hearts and make them obedient to thy Will Giue vs this day our daily Bread We further crie vnto thee O Lord who giuest foode to euery liuing Creature and feedest the young Rauens that call vpon thee and pray thee Psal 145.15.147.9 that thou wouldest likewise giue vnto vs this day our dayly bread First and aboue all the Bread of Life which may nourish vs spiritually and after that Bread for our bodies to sustaine nature Giue vs we beseech thee all things necessary not superfluous for this life and graunt that we vsing thy blessings as becommeth vs may be strengthned and enabled to passe this life quietlie and soberly and at the end of these our dayes by the merits and intercession of our Sauiour Iesus Christ obtaine life eternall And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And for as much O Lord as wee know that thou hearest not vnrepentant sinners and that our sinnes haue long since preuented our prayers and ascended into thy presence to stop the current of thy mercies and to call for vengeance against vs O Lord behold that we earnestly repent vs of them and are heartily sorrowfull for them Wherefore we humbly pray thee for thy great mercies to mankinde in thy Son Christ Iesus that thou wouldest be pleased to be reconciled vnto vs and to forgiue vs our trespasses Enter not into Iudgement with vs Psal 130. for if thou doe no man is able to abide the mildnesse of thy Iustice much lesse the seueritie of it Giue vs also grace to follow the Example of our blessed Sauiour who forgaue his enemies and prayed for them that wee may forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Lest when thou comest to Iudgement thou dealest as seuerely with vs as thou didst with him Mat. 18. who had much forgiuen and would not forgiue a little And lead vs not into temptation Thou knowest O Father how vnapt wee are of our selues to thinke a good thought much lesse to resist so great enemies as are hourely ready to assaile vs suffer vs not therefore to bee tempted aboue our abilities Neither by forsaking vs or withdrawing thy hand of protection from vs Lead thou vs into tentation but Lord so strengthen vs that although it be not good for vs to be altogther free from tentation yet by thy aide and Grace wee may haue a happy issue and ioyfull deliuerance from it But deliuer vs from euill And as wee haue humblie prayed thee not to leade vs in So we further desire thee to deliuer vs out of all euill For as long as we remaine in this flesh we shall haue continuall striuings wrestlings with diuerse euils but especially with the Euill spirit the enemie to Mankinde who omitteth no opportunitie to bring vs into his bondage But wee are comforted O Lord with the assurance of thy mercy which can effect worke more to our Saluation then his Malice to our Destruction Graunt therefore O Lord that wee may be deliuered from all euill and from all our enemies spirituall and temporall that so wee may serue thee euer hereafter in holinesse and righteousnesse Luc. 1.15 all the dayes of our life Amen Hauing thus discouered and laid open our necessities to thee O Lord in that forme and manner which thy Sonne directed vs wee humbly pray thee to say Amen to all our petitions In his Name and for his merits sake we pray thee to grant them For though wee haue no deserts to challenge them yet his Merits are numberlesse by which wee plead for them And with this Sacrifice and Oblation wee are bold to come vnto thee not only crauing pardon for our sinnes but supply of our necessities Wee come not to thee of our selues presuming of any thing in vs but wee are sent by thy Sonne Iesus Christ who hath commanded vs with confidence to presse vnto thy Throne and in his Name to aske whatsoeuer we shall need either for this life or the life to come And as hee hath sent vs so hath hee also put into our mouthes words meete for our requests O Lord take notice of the Stile it is his owne and for his sake say to what we haue required Amen So be it And thou O Blessed Sauiour God and Man intercead we beseech thee for vs for thou only art our Aduocate Mediator and Intercessor to the Father Couer our imperfections and nakednesse with the Robes of thy Righteousnesse and supply our pouerty with the Riches of thy Merits and cast not those from thy fauour and grace whome by Nature thou of thy goodnesse hast vouchsafed to make thy Brethren Who liuest and raignest with the Father and Holy Spirit now and for euer Amen Petitions for Spirituall Graces Psal 119.5 OH that my waies were directed to keepe thy Statutes O Lord. Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou teachest out of thy Law Psal 119.18 Open mine eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law Psal 143.10 Teach me to doe thy Will for thou art my God let thy good spirit lead me into the
land of Righteousnesse Giue me grace O Lord. Rom. 7.18 To know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing To abstaine from fleshly lusts which fight against the Soule To keepe in minde alwayes that the world passeth away and the desires thereof and that the benefit which a man getteth by the world is nothing but destruction Truely to say Psal 119.52 I haue remembred thy euerlasting Iudgements and my Soule receiueth comfort thereby O Thou that a 1. Pet. 5.5 giuest grace to the humble giue me grace to be humble Giue me a good heart which Luc. 8.15 hearing thy Word may keepe it and bring forth fruit with patience O Lord Gen. 6.8 let me finde grace in thine eyes Heb. 12.17 Let me finde a place and time of Repentance Let me not receiue thy Grace in vaine 2. Cor. 6.1 Let Heb. 12.15 mee not faile or fall from it But Act. 13.43 let me continue in it And 2. Pet. 3.18 let me grow in it To the end of my daies 2. Cor. 7.11 Giue me O Lord the workes of RepentaÌ„ce Carefulnesse Defence or clearing my selfe Indignation Feare Vehement desire Zeale Reuenge Phil. 4.8 Giue mee Grace to thinke vpon doe Whatsoeuer things are True Venerable Honest Iust Pure Louely Of good report Giue vnto me ô Lord Humility of heart Charity to my Neighbour Patience of minde Temperance of life Chastity of body Contentednesse of minde Alacrity of Spirit Giue vnto me good Lord. Perfect knowledge of my sinnes Hearty sorrow for them Perfect hatred against them Feruent loue to all goodnesse True obedience to thy Will 2. Pet. 1.5 Giue mee grace O Lord to adde To faith Vertue To Vertue Knowledge To Knowledge Temperance To Temperance Patience To Patience Godlinesse To Godlinesse Brotherly Kindnesse To Brotherly kindnesse Charitie Gal. 5.22 Giue vnto me ô Lord the fruites of the spirit Loue Ioy Peace Long suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith Meekenesse Temperance Giue vnto mee good Lord. Contempt of the world Hatred of sinne Loathing of the flesh Desire of Heauen Giue vnto me O Lord. A right Faith to liue well A sure Hope to perseuere well A perfect Humility to obay well A true Charitie Neuer to be diuided from thee Giue mee grace O Lord To be content with that which â—s necessary To despise that which is superfluous Grant O Lord That I may so liue that I repent not to haue liued That I may so liue that no man may know I haue liued amisse That I may so liue that I may alwaies liue Luc. 2.29 That dying I may liue and liuing I may dye and say with a chearefull Spirit Lord now lettest thou thy Seruant depart in peace Phil. 1.23 I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ Prayers for Spirituall Graces O Blessed LORD Iesus Christ who art my only Tutor and instructer and from whom I haue learned whatsoeuer I know I beseech thee that thou wouldest further teach me those things whereof I am ignorant and which are necessary for my Saluation that thou wouldest keepe me in those things which I haue already learned and rectifie mee in those matters wherein as a man I erre strengthen mee and make mee firme whereinsoeuer I wauer and am doubtfull and keepe me from that which is erroneous and hurtfull Aboue all things O Sauiour strengthen my Faith and giue me grace dayly to profit in the knowledge and vnderstanding of thy Holy Word and so gouerne all my actions by thy Holy Spirit that my life may be answerable to my knowledge and that I may shew the fruites of whatsoeuer I haue learned by my good and religious conuersation Giue mee a firme and assured hope in thee and thy gratious promises that in all my troubles and necessities I may haue an assured confidence in thy mercy Be vnto me a strong tower of defence against mine enemies that whether the world allure me the Deuill assayle me or the flesh rebell I may flie vnto thee for refuge And although thou presently put not forth thy hand to helpe me but deferre thy comfort according to thy good pleasure yet keepe me from doubting or despairing of thy aid because thy promises are sure Giue me a feruent loue and perfect charity to my neighbour that I may be as kinde to him and as carefull of him as of one who is a member with mee of the same body whereof thou O sweete Sauiour art the Head Let my loue to him bee sincere and vnfained which may charitably releeue him in his wants patiently beare with his infirmities and willingly forgiue him all his trespasses against me Create in mee I beseech thee a pure milde peaceable and humble heart which may thinke harme to no man nor recompense euill for euill but good for iniuries Cleanse me from all vncleane and earthly desires and lift vp my heart to thee and Heauenly things and so write thy Lawes in it that I may wholly bend my selfe to keepe them and please thee perseuering in the same to my liues end Giue me O Lord true Compunction of heart and so water it with the dew of thy heauenly Grace that I may in the bitternesse of my soule with abundance of teares sighes and groanes bewaile and lament all my hainous and grieuous transgressions against thee Giue mee grace O Lord that I may not boast in any merits or workes of mine owne or haue any confidence in them but let mee glory in this alone that I am a member of that Body of thine which was crucified for me and did sufficiently satisfie for all the sinnes of the world If thou O Lord looke or expect or any merits from me behold I tender vnto thee thine owne merits the merits of thy death and Passion which thou hast vouchsafed to make me partaker of by vertue whereof alone I dare boldly appeare before thy Tribunall These merits I set betweene my sinnes and thy Iustice and otherwise or in any other manner I dare not I will not contend with thee O sweet Iesu I desire thee to offer them to the Father as a propitiatory Sacrifice for all my great and grieuous offences that when my soule shall depart from this body it may by the same be freed and deliuered from all the Iudgements and punishments which are due vnto it for sinne and be carried to that blessed Place where there is no sorrow but endlesse felicitie where thou together with the Father and the blessed Spirit liuest and raignest for euer Before Prayer O Almighty and euerliuing God Heauenly Father to whom it is manifestly knowne how inconstant and wandering the mindes of Men are in any good actions and how easily we suffer our selues to be carried away from the contemplation of thee by diuersity of distractions and vnseasonable thoughts which take hold of vs in the time of our deuotions and praiers vnto thee who also by thine only begotten Sonne Christ Iesus didst
prescribe vnto his Disciples a forme of Prayer to be offered vp to thee and hast deriued the same from them to vs. Behold me most wretched sinner wholly depraued and corrupt intreating thee by the same Sonne that for his sake thou wouldest infuse thy holy Spirit into mee which may adopt me into the number of thine Elect that it may teach me how I ought to pray according to thy Holy Will that it may allay all troublesome and wandering thoughts in me while I offer vp my prayers and praises vnto thee Suffer me not to serue thee with my lippes and be absent in heart from thee but create a right spirit within me that I being sensible of all thy graces and comforts may with ioyfull and holy zeale performe my dutie to thee that so my prayers and desires may appeare before thee and in thy Sonnes Name I may effectually be heard and my petitions may bee granted to the glory and honour of thy most Holy Name and the endlesse comfort of mine owne Soule through the same our only Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Before a Sermon O Most louing SAVIOVR I most humbly intreat thee that rhou wouldest be pleased at this time to enlighten my vnderstanding and to open my inward eares with the grace of thy holy Spirit that I may heare the Sacred VVord with an humble heart and reioyce in it in the obedience of the Spirit that I may be fully instructed thereby how to doe good and auoid euill and bring forth the fruite thereof in my life and conuersation that thy Honour and Glory may bee thereby increased the Deuill and all other the enemies of my soule may bee vanquished my Soule may bee saued and at the last I may appeare with boldnesse before thy Tribunall and receiue the reward of a good and faithfull seruant euen his Masters ioy euerlasting Blessednesse and that by thy merits onely O Blessed Sauiour Petitions for Temporall Blessings In which we are to desire of God THat he would be pleased to continue vnto vs The Blessing of a good King iust and religious To giue vnto vs Magistrates and Iustices vpright and carefull to see good Lawes duely executed Teachers to direct vs in the Truth That he would blesse vs with Length and goodnesse of Dayes Health of Body Contentednesse of Minde Competencie of Estate Foode and Rayment Conueniencie of Dwelling Wholesomenesse of Ayre Fruitefulnesse of Cattell That he would make vs happy In Wedlocke In Children In Faithfull friends In Peaceable louing neighbors In Honest Seruants In Skilfull Phisicians That hee would preserue Our Goods Good Name Our Senses and vnderstanding That he would protect vs From Trouble From Enemies From Dangers From Losses From Sicknesses That he would giue Peace To all Nations To our Land In our priuate dwellings Rules to be obserued in the Morning WHen thou awakest in the Morning shut and close vp the entrance to thy heart from all vncleane prophane and euill thoughts and let the consideration of God and goodnesse enter in When thou art arisen and art ready retire thy selfe to thy Closet or other priuate place and offer to God the first fruits of the Day and in praying to him and praysing him remember 1. To giue him thankes for thy quiet rest receiued for deliuering thee from all dangers ghostly and bodily and for all other his benefits to thee 2. Offer vnto him thy selfe and all things that thou dost possesse and desire him to dispose of thee and them according to his good pleasure 3. Craue his Grace to guide thee and to strengthen thee from and against all Tentations that so thou mayest doe nothing the day following contrary to his will 4. And lastly beg of him according to the Rules before prescribed all things needfull for the Soule and Body To which purpose pray as followeth Morning Prayer I Thanke thee O Heauenly Father LORD of Heauen and Earth for all thy Blessings which I vndeseruedly haue receiued from thee that thou gauest me a being from honest Parents and in that part of the world where thy Sonne Christ Iesus is purely professed that thou didst endue me with reason and vnderstanding and didst also giue mee perfect members and sences that thou hast preserued me since my birth and vouchsafed me health and liberty and a competencie of meanes to maintaine me and those whom thou hast placed vnder me that thou hast Elected me in thy Loue Redeemed me by thy Sonne Sanctified me by thy Spirit and kept me this night past from all perills of body and Soule and giuen me a sweete and comfortable rest O Lord I commend into thy hands my soule and body thoughts words and actions and humblie beseech thee that thou wouldest guide and order them all to thy honour and glory and my endlesse and eternall happinesse Enlighten my minde that the Darkenesse and cloudy mists of mine offences being dispelled I may walke before thee in my vocation without offence as in the day cleane vnspotted and vnblameable Giue vnto me thy Holy Spirit which may bridle my vaine cogitations and head-strong desires and order thou I beseech thee my words and rectifie all my actions O Lord as thou hast of thy bounty raised vp my body from sleepe so stirre vp my drowzie soule from the sleepe of sinne and carnall securitie Let my body be euer assistant to my soule in all good actions in this life that they may both be partakers of life euerlasting Thou O Lord hast promised to those which shall faithfully aske all things necessary for this life giue I beseech thee vnto mee if it seeme good vnto thee such a competent estate as shall be expedient to support my life in a ciuill modest and religious manner Giue vnto me that which shall be conuenient but especially O Lord 1. Tim. 6.8 a heart and minde contented with whatsoeuer thou shalt be pleased to allot vnto me Grant O Lord that in thy Name I may cast forth my net into the Sea of this world and diligently carefully and with an vpright conscience follow that vocation in which thou hast placed me that by thine aid and assistance I may prosper and haue good successe in all my affaires Blesse O Lord the Kings Maiesty gouerne his heart in thy feare and guide his vnderstanding to doe those things which shall be acceptable to thee and profitable to his kingdomes Giue him louing and loyall Subiects and suppresse his open and secret enemies And together with him blesse his Queene make her as the fruitfull Vine on the house top Psal 128.3 Blesse all the estate Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill from the highest to the lowest Comfort the comfortlesse and helplesse Bring all Trauellers to their owne beings in safety and direct all vpon the Seas to their safe Ports Shew the light of thy Truth to those which wander out of the right way Giue to all sinners true and hearty repentance strengthen those which haue begun well and giue them thy
assisting grace that they may perseuere in goodnesse To all my friends kindred and enemies and to those which pray for me giue all thy good blessings Keepe vs all from all euill and make vs to continue in thy Seruice to our liues end and after the course of this miserable life ended bring vs to thine euerlasting Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. Or thus ALmighty and Euerlasting GOD I praise and blesse thee from the bottome of my heart that of thy infinite goodnesse thou hast preserued me this night past and hast with the impregnable defence of thy Prouidence defended mee from the power and malice of the Deuill and kept me both in soule and body from all his deuices and snares and raised me from sleepe the Image of death and not left me to be stifled in the darknesse of my sinnes but hast giuen me a longer space to repent me of them I humbly intreat thee that thou wouldest not withdraw thy hand of Protection from me but take mee into thy Tuition Watch ouer me with the eyes of thy mercy and direct me in the way of thy Commandements Endue me with those graces of thy Holy Spirit which may assist me to passe this day and the rest of my life to the praise and glory of thy holy Name the benefit of my Neighbour and the saluation of my sinfull soule Keepe me O Lord from all sinne bridle and mortifie my flesh that I offend not nor fall into any transgressions which may prouoke thy wrath against mee Direct my soule and body my words and actions according to the rule of thy Will Diuert my heart from fastning too much on transitory pleasures and conuert it to the delight of eternall ioyes And because I am not worthy O Lord that thou shouldest heare me poore wretched sinner behold I set before thee the merits of thy only Sonne who is the propitiation of our sinnes looke vpon him and for his Righteousnesse pardon the offences of thy Seruant and grant to me Those things by thy mercy which by the strict Rule of thy Iustice are not due to me Defend me O Lord from all mine enemies Arme me with thy Spirituall weapons put on me the Clothing of wisedome and strength Ephes 6. the Brestplate of Righteousnesse the Helmet of Saluation the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit that in this earthly Pilgrimage I may manfully oppose the enemies of my Soule the Concupiscence of the Flesh Tentations of the World and Malice of the Deuill that so hauing finished valiantly the course of this Terrestriall warfare I may hereafter praise thee in thy Celestiall Kingdome And thou O Lord who giuest food to euery liuing Creature Psal 147.9 and feedest the young Rauens which call vpon thee be mercifull vnto me in the supply of those necessaries which I dayly want Preserue mee in health 1. Tim. 6.8 giue mee foode and rayment and sufficient to maintaine me in that course of life to which it hath pleased thee to call mee that hauing sufficient in all things I may abound in good workes And grant that I may leade a quiet life in all Godly conuersation that hauing and vsing thy blessings worthily I may passe this life with ioy and comfort till it please thee to call me to a better Giue thy blessings to the Kings Maiestie the Queene and the whole estate of this Kingdome and grant that we all may bend our thoughts and studies to please thee that at the last by the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ we may bee receiued to thy Heauenly Kingdome Amen Or thus O Almighty Lord God which day after day dost minister to sinfull man infinite occasions whereby hee may be stirred vp to praise thy holy Name and art most plentifull in pittie and fauourable to those which with pure hearts and vnfained faith call vpon thee behold me thy poore vnworthy seruant with the eyes of compassion that at this time aâ—… bold to offer vp vnto thee a morning Sacrifice of praise and thankes for all thy blessings and amongst the rest for that thou hast vouchsafed after a sufficient and quiet sleepe to raise me safe from my bed againe which fauour thou hast not affoorded to many others who in farre greater measure haue deserued it then my selfe for which mercy of thine I am not able through my insufficiencie and weakenesse to giue vnto thee due praise and thankesgiuing I pray thee therefore in thy deare Sounes Name In whom thou art well pleased to accept these poore and weake thankes and for his sake also to be further aiding and assisting vnto me this day following in whatsoeuer I shall take in hand For thou knowest O Lord how feeble mans nature is insomuch that if he trust to his owne strength of necessitie he must fall into many miseries errors and dangers Haue mercy therefore vpon mine infirmities and be propitious and helping to me that by thine Illumination I may discerne and perceiue good from euill and by thy leading and direction may follow the one and auoid the other Lord so guide me with thy Holy Spirit that I may neither doe speake nor thinke any thing this day contrary to thy holy Will Behold O Lord I offer my selfe a Liuing Sacrifice to thee and humbly pray thee to aceept it Good God direct my soule in the way of thy Commandements increase my faith strengthen my Hope enlarge my Charitie and infuse all the good graces of thy Holy Spirit into me Giue me grace so to remember my sinnes as that thou mayest forget them and so to forsake them as that thou mayest forgiue them Instruct me in all goodnesse and giue me the grace of Perseuerance that I flye not backe from any good courses in this life but that I may goe forward and continue in them to the end of my dayes O Lord who hast promised the necessaries of this life to those which shall first seeke thy Kingdome I humbly intreat thee to giue vnto me this day all things necessary for my sustentation as foode rayment health of body ioy of heart peace of conscience and a blessing to all my endeauours giue me a minde contented with that which shal be sufficient and not desirous of that which is superfluous that I may passe the rest of my dayes on earth religiously honestly and soberly as becommeth thy seruant to thy honour and my endlesse comfort Bee gratious to the Kings most excellent Maiestie his Royall Queene the whole Estate Cleargie Nobility Gentry Magistrates and Commons giue vs all grace in our seuerall places to doe our Duties as in thy sight that at the last by the merits of Iesus Christ our Sauiour we may receiue the reward thereof in thy Eternall Kingdome where thou raignest together with the same our Lord Iesus Christ and the Holy Spirit World without end Morning Prayer for a Family O Almighty Lord God heauenly Father we giue thee most humble and heartie thankes in that thou
hast not only of nothing created vs after thine owne Image Gen. 1.9.6 but also hast from time to time most gratiously preserued vs euen to this present Morning from all dangers and terrors and hast giuen vs this night past sweet sleepe comfortable rest whereby we are refreshed and fitted to our bodily labour We thanke thee O Lord for all thy spirituall blessings for our Regeneration Iustification Sanctification in some measure and our Redemption by Iesus Christ We praise thy Name for thy bountifull supply of all things necessary for this life as also for thy patient and long expectance of vs in our Conuersion O Lord we confesse that wee haue beene so farre from the serious consideration of thy fauours to vs and from rendring due thankes vnto thee for them that in stead thereof we haue continually grieuously offended thy Maiestie with most abominable and vile sinnes notwithstanding thou hast sought to reduce vs to thy obedience by the good motions of thy Holy Spirit As often O Lord as we looke about vs either with the eyes of our bodies or mindes so often doe thy fatherly and innumerable benefits appeare vnto vs. For all which wee render againe and againe from the bottome of our hearts infiuite thankes vnto thee and humbly desire thee for thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus to pardon all our ingratitude and rebellions Englighten vs we pray thee with thy holy Spirit that we may see our imperfections kindle our zeale towards thee rule and gouerne our mindes wils affections and actions that we may not willingly offend thee any more And giue vs Grace that we may alwayes thinke speake and doe whatsoeuer shall be pleasing vnto thee and abstaine from all things which shall displease or offend thee It is more then enough O Lord that we haue beene hitherto so rebellious against thee It is too much that we haue beene so negligent to serue thee and so ingratefull to thee for all thy blessings Let all euill and wickednesse now depart from vs and let new manners new affections and new hearts be renewed in vs. We commit our selues O Lord wholly into thy protection this day and the rest of our liues and most humbly desire thee of thy infinite goodnesse that as now thou hast put good thoughts into vs thou wilt bee pleased to perfect them in vs so that being led by thy holy Spirit we may do that which is acceptable to thee and loue serue honour and praise thy holy Name all the dayes of our liues And for as much O Lord as thou hast promised to those that loue thee all things necessary for this life wee call and cry to thee O our Father which art in heauen to Giue vs this day our daily bread euen whatsoeuer is needfull and expedient for our sustentation Giue vs O Lord sufficient for our maintenance lest wee take euill and indirect courses or blaspheme or murmure against thee and not too much lest we forget from whose hands wee receiue it Giue not only that which shall be necessary but contented mindes also with it Blesse O Lord the labor and worke of our hands blesse vs at home and abroad and grant that euery one of vs may truely as in thy sight walke in our seuerall vocations and diligently and carefully intend the same making a conscience of all our waies that by thy gracious fauour and our owne endeuours wee may haue prosperous successe in all things which we shal vndertake Continue O Lord thy Gospell among vs. Blesse our gratious King with the Queene the Prince Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth with their Princely Issue the whole Land and all sorts and conditions of people in it Blesse all that trauell by Sea or Land and take into thy protection all Orphans Widdowes and all that suffer wrong Giue health and strength to the sicke and weake and ioy and comfort to the sorrowfull and afflicted Blesse vs O Lord with healthfull and sound bodies keepe our good names vnspotted and vnblemished Blesse the fruites of the earth and giue vs wholsome peaceable and seasonable times These and all other thy blessings which thou knowest better to giue then we to aske vouchsafe if it seeme good to thy Maiestie to giue vs for the worthinesse of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord in whose blessed Name and absolute prayer wee close vp our imperfect prayers and say as he hath taught vs. Our Father c. Rules for Euening and Night As we vsually twice a day at the least take our bodily sustenance so should wee be no lesse carefull for the refreshing of our Soules but twise a day likewise Morning and Euening if not oftner dispose our selues to Deuotion and Prayer When thou therefore retirest thy selfe as in the Morning remember 1. To giue God thankes that hee hath deliuered thee from the dangers of the day past prospered thee in thy affaires and giuen thee necessaries for thy sustentation 2. Examine thy Conscience narrowly and consider wherein thou hast the day past offended God either in thought word or deed and hauing set thine offences before thee confesse them to him and in the bitterenesse of thy Soule repent thee bee sory for them and craue Pardon for them and Grace that thou offend no more in the like 3. Pray to God to continue his care ouer thee the night following and to defend thee from all perills and dangers So that going to thy rest with these good actions and thoughts thou shalt doe the like to those which rake vp fire in the Embers ouer night that they may the more readily find it in the morning In the Night WHen thou awakest in the night call vpon God likewise for the night was not made wholly for sleepe praise him contemplate and meditate vpon his workes Sometimes weepe for thy sinnes according to the practize of Dauid For as the nightly Dew refresheth and tempereth the Earth Psal 6.6 so doe our nightly teares asswage our concupiscences And sometimes reioyce in the Lord according to that of the Psalmist for the great benefits thou hast receiued from him Psal 149.5 By these meanes keeping thy selfe to one holy exercise or other thou shalt be sure to auoide the Deuils tentations whose chiefe time of setting vpon vs fitteth best with his works which are vsually stiled the works of Darkenesse Euening Prayer Psal 42.10 The Lord hath granted his louing kindnesse in the day therefore in the Night will I sing of him and make my Prayer to the God of my Life O Lord God Father euerlasting I yeeld thee most humble and hearty thankes that thou hast not onely auerted thy punishments from me which my grieuous sinnes haue deserued but instead thereof hast preserued me from all dangers and supplied me with all necessaries of this life O Lord I confesse that I haue so highly offended thee this day that all the punishmēts which may be inflicted vpon vile and miserable sinners are due to me I confesse
O Lord that I haue offended thy Maiestie in Repeat the sinnes thou canst call to minde And not onely these doe I acknowledge but all the rest which I haue committed from my Infancy to this present houre wittingly or ignorantly in thought word or deed against Thee my neighbour and my selfe O Lord I confesse my weaknesse I doe not that which I should Rom. 7.19 and would doe but that which I should not and am vnwilling to doe I doe not regarding or fearing thy incomprehensible glory venerable presence terrible power exquisite Iustice nor thy goodnesse vnspeakeable for which if thou shouldest enter into iudgement what would become of me But O Lord for as much as thou art a Father of mercies and dost not desire the death of a sinner if hee returne vnto thee by vnfeined repentance I most humbly in the Name and Mediation of our blessed Sauiour Christ Iesus craue pardon for them Lord I repent helpe my impenitencie and heare my request Be mercifull to mee a sinner and pardon all my offences whereof thou O Lord knowest me to be guilty And I beseech thee O Lord for the time to come to mollifie my heart water it with the dew of thy heauenly Grace that I may not alwaies bring forth Thornes and Weedes fit for nothing but the fire Conuert me O Lord I shall be conuerted open mine eyes direct my heart and wayes Draw me after thee and being conuerted suffer me not to returne againe with the Dogge to his vomit 2. Pet. 2.22 And for as much O Lord as thou hast appointed the Night to refresh our bodies I humbly pray thee to defend mee as well sleeping as waking from the snares of the Deuill Psal 31.5 O Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit which thou by thy pretious death and passion hast redeemed Suffer it not to sleepe in sinne and in it to lie languishing vnto death and so be buried in the graue of thy Iudgements but watch ouer it I beseech thee and defend it vnder the shadow of thy Wings Let me not be oppressed with vnnecessary sleepe but raise me in due time to thy Seruice and Praise Thou knowest O Lord that of my selfe I haue no strength waking much lesse when I sleepe I humbly therefore pray thee to defend my soule body goods and all things which thou hast bestowed vpon me this night from all euill and damage and so to dispose of me that I bee not troubled with any terrors terrified with any vaine phantasies weakned by any sicknesse or impouerished with any casualties or crosses Keepe me O Lord from all euill dreames and vncleane thoughts and compasse me with a wall of thy mercies that the Tempter approach not to my Bed so that being preserued by thy protection and refreshed with comfortable rest I may arise and offer vnto thee my daily bounden duty and seruice euen praise and thankes to thy most Holy Name Or thus O Blessed Lord Iesus Christ to whose inexhaustible bounty we owe all honour and praise I giue thee all possible thankes that thou hast vouchsafed to keepe me this day from all euill so that none of thy fearefull Iudgements to which I was iustly lyable haue fallen vpon me but of thy vnspeakeable mercy thou hast preserued mee from them and hast also liberally and with a bountifull hand supplyed me with the necessaries of this life notwithstanding my great and manifold sinnes committed against thee O Lord I confesse that I haue wasted the time which thou hast giuen mee for repentance altogether idely vainly and vnprofitably not so much as considering or taking notice that this day might haue beene the last of my life but haue added and heaped vp sinne vpon sinne in thy alseeing sight as if I had stood in no feare of thee at all dayly renewing as much as in me lay thy torments and passions for which I haue deserued that the earth should open vnto me and hell deuoure mee and which that it is not come to passe I ascribe withall thankefull acknowledgement to thy infinite mercy and goodnesse O Lord I acknowledge that it is of thy goodnesse alone that I am thus preserued from al thy iudgements seeing that many calamities haue befallen diuers others who haue lesse deserued them then my selfe That therefore some haue perished by water some by fire some by sword others by sudden and violent death and that I liue that some haue beene taken blinde some lame some distracted in their sences that others haue sustained much damage in their worldly estate and I haue escaped and not been punished in any of these kindes to what shall I ascribe and attribute the cause surely to thy mercy alone for which I cannot giue vnto thee sufficient thankes But O Sweete Sauiour as thy mercy exceedeth so doe our necessities increase thou canst not want matter for thy mercy to worke vpon by reason of our inabilities to helpe our selues wherefore I further pray thee that this night following may be also safe and prosperous vnto me that by a sweete sleepe and comfortable refreshing I may be fitted when I awake to serue thee with a thankefull and chearefull heart And because O Lord that this life hath not one certaine houre Psal 13.4 I beseech thee to enlighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death and grant that after I haue rested quietly I may by thy grace and mercy arise to serue thee in singlenesse of heart Lighten O Sauiour my darkenesse and mercifully keepe me from all dangers of this night Saue mee waking and keepe me sleeping that I may watch in thee and rest in peace There is nothing that more resembleth our life then the Day nor Death then the Night nor the Graue then our Beds O Lord therefore when I am laid downe and by sleepe made vnable to helpe my selfe being like vnto a dead man defend me then by thy power from the crafts and assaults of the enemy that he doe me no harme so that though my body sleepe my soule may watch vnto thee and contemplate of the life to come And graunt that hauing passed the night quietly I may arise as well from the sleepe of sinne as from my naturall sleepe and with all alacrity passe the day following in thy seruice and in the end of my pilgrimage by thy merits receiue the Crowne which thou hast promised to those that loue thee in that day which no night shall follow and in that heauenly Kingdome where thou raignest togither with the Father and the Blessed Spirit world without end Euening Prayer Psal 141.2 LEt my prayer O Lord be set forth in thy sight as the incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be an euening Sacrifice Psal 55.18 In the Euening Morning and at noone day will I pray and that instantly and thou Lord shalt heare my prayer Psal 91.5 Blessed be thou O Lord who hast preserued me from the arrow that flyeth by day and
from the sicknesse that destroyeth in the noone day Esa 38.12 Who hast not cut of my life like a weauer nor made an end of me O Lord I confesse that as my dayes haue increased so hath my sinne multiplied Pro. 24.16 The iust man falleth seuen times a day But I miserable sinner seuenty seuen times seuen times But I returne to thee O Lord and repent Luc. 17.4 Let not the Sunne goe downe in thy wrath O Lord whatsoeuer good I haue done this day I acknowledge that thou hast wrought it in me and desire thee gratiously to accept of me for it as thy Instrument only O Lord whatsoeuer euill I haue committed this day I confesse it to be the worke of mine owne hands and heartily pray thee to pardon it O Lord which giuest the sleep of health to them that loue thee and causest those that feare thee to sleepe confidently Psal 13.4 Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in death Keepe me from the terrors of the night and from the workes of darknesse Psal 91.5 Lord though I sleepe yet let my heart watch to thee and when I wake let me be presently before thee let my thoughts ascend to thee Grant that I may alwaies remember that the night is no night with thee and that the darkenesse and light are to thee alike Psal 139.12 Grant that I may alwaies meditate vpon the long and last sleepe the sleepe of death the bed of my Graue and the Couering of wormes and dust Let my sleepe be a cessation from sinne and let me not in my sleepe doe or thinke any thing that may offend thee or defile my selfe And grant that after the sleepe shall depart from mine eyes I may remember thee search my reynes and trye my heart O Lord I commend my selfe and all that of thy bounty is mine to thee In thee I put all my trust and confidence Thou seest in what dangers we are what snares the Deuill layeth for vs. I humbly therefore pray thee to defend me from him And grant me so to order and end my life that I may sleepe peace and take my rest with thee for the merits of Iesus Christ c. Psal 4.9 I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest me dwell in safety Euening Prayer for a Family O Almighty and euerlasting God who hath appointed all times and seasons to succeede in their due course and hast ordained the day for the workes of the day and bodily labour and the night to take our quiet rest and refreshing by whose prouidence and mercy we haue beene preserued this day from all dangers and haue beene furnished with all things necessary for this life wee humbly pray and beseech thee that now in this time of night and darkenesse wherein we poore and miserable sinners stand in most need of thy helpe and aide thou wouldest be pleased to keepe vs from all dangers spirituall and temporall O Lord we confesse that we haue not deserued the least of thy fauours nay if thou shouldest with strict eye examine our actions how we haue spent this day and the rest of our daies past we should not be able to stand in thy sight much lesse beg any further blessings of thee For notwithstanding thy manifold and daily fauours wee haue in all things beene rebellious and repugnant to thy blessed Will and obedient and comformable to the command of our enemies the Flesh the World and the Deuill in so much as wee haue lost our liberties and are become seruants and slaues vnto them For we haue wholly giuen our selues to serue the pleasures of the Flesh in concupiscences and other carnall Acts we haue hearkened too much to the delights of the World in couetous desiring that which is not our owne in abusing the Creatures thereof which were created for our necessary vse and not for our wanton and insatiable desires and wee are become the seruants of Sathan in not opposing and resisting his vncleane and wicked tentations Our sinnes are infinite and our iniquities are numberlesse so that wee cannot nor are any way able to recount them vnto thee We haue fled from thee seeking vs neglected thee Louing vs stopped our eares to thee speaking to vs turned our backes to thee reaching thy hand to vs forgotten thee doeing good to vs and despised thee correcting vs. Yet O Lord we humbly intreat thee to shew thy accustomed mercy to vs poore and miserable sinners who in griefe and anguish of soule confesse these our offences and earnestly and bitterly bewaile them Looke vpon vs with the eyes of compassion not for any thing in vs but for the loue and respect which thou bearest to thy Sonne Christ Iesus in whom we verily beleeue that thou art fully reconciled vnto vs. Take away our sinnes and the punishment due vnto vs for them Let thy wrath be turned from vs and destroy vs not together with our manifold transgressions Lord thou seest our wickednesse and withall how and in whose name we craue thy mercy Turne thee O Lord from thine anger which thou mightest iustly power vpon vs and bee gratious vnto vs according to thy wonted goodnesse who abhorrest nothing which thou hast made Create also we beseech thee in vs new hearts hearts fit to serue thee and write thy Law in them with the finger of thy Holy Spirit that all our desires and all our actions may bee conformable to thy blessed Will And now againe O Lord we desire thy Maiestie to take our soules and bodies into thy protection this night following suffer vs not to sleepe in sinne but watch ouer vs and defend vs vnder the shadow of thy wings Let not our sleepe bee excessiue or immoderate but raise vs againe in due time that after a quiet and moderate sleepe we may arise to serue and praise thee ioyfully beginne and perfect our workes iustly labour in our vocations truely and seeke thy Kingdome earnestly that at the last by thee with thee and in thee wee may come vnto the same Kingdome by the merits of our Sauiour Iesus Christ in whose Name and Prayer wee are bold to call further vpon thee saying Our Father c Prayers for seuerall Persons For a married man O Heauenly Father Maker and Preseruer of Heauen and Earth who in the beginning didst institute Matrimony foretelling the mysticall vnion of the Church with our Sauiour Christ who also in the time of his being vpon earth did honour Marriage with his first Miracle Ioh. 2. and hast appointed it also for a meanes whereby mankinde is propagated Gen. 2. for a remedy to auoide vnlawfull lust and for the mutuall comfort and consolation of thy Children I humbly entreat thee to giue me the assistance of thy diuine Grace that I may liue according to thy commandements with my wife whom thou hast giuen for my helpe and comfort in this world Mortifie in me all vncleane
thee Esa 38.3 how I haue walked before thee in truth with a perfect heart and haue done that which is good in thy sight Most louing Father who takest care of all men I commend vnto thee my soule as a childe that can of himselfe doe nothing defend me I pray thee from all mine enemies spirituall and temporall keepe my body and soule pure chaste and vndefiled that I offend not either in obscene speech impure thought or vncleane act My chastity is a more pretious Iewell then I can keepe without thy helpe I therefore beseech thee who louest the pure in heart to keepe my heart pure be thou my guide and preseruer lest in the heate of concupiscence I forget thee Giue me grace O Lord to serue and obay my Parents and those to whose gouerment I am committed and that in all humility And grant that if thou shalt be pleased to call me to the honourable estate of Wedlocke I may be matched with one with whom I may serue thee in peace and holinesse all the dayes of my life at the last rest with thee in thy heauenly Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. For a Seruant BLessed Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who when thou wert the Son of God and Lord of all the World didst take vpon thee the forme of a Seruant Phillip 2.7 that by thy obedience thou mightst worke the saluation of all people as well bond as free I pray thee that since thou hast bin pleased to call me to the stare of a Seruant thou wouldst giue me an humble and obedient heart and make me contented with this condition of life as alotted to me by thy prouidence Grant that I may with gentlenesse of Spirit and singlenesse of heart and willingnesse of minde serue those vnder whom I am placed and that I may not either murmure against them or enuy those that seated in a higher estate that I may obey them in all their honest commands in all feare and true respect not with eye-seruice as men-pleasers Col. 3.22 but withall my heart and the rather because thy commandement bindeth me so to doe Grant that seruing them diligently faithfully and carefully I may auoide their displeasure and obtaine thy fauour and blessing and at the end of my dayes come to that blessed place where Thou with the Father and blessed Spirit dost raigne world without end Before a Iourney ALmighty euerlasting God who art the Way the Life and the Truth behold I beseech thee amongst how many dangers of the World Flesh and Deuill I am to passe so that without thy aid I cannot safely passe through this vale of misery Lead guide and direct me therefore O Lord in the high and right Way whither I would goe that I turne neither to the right hand or the left nor become a pray to mine enemies O Lord thou hast a generall care ouer thy creatures I therefore in this my Iourney commend vnto thee my soule and body defend me from all perills I beseech thee O Lord which didst send thy Angell as a Companion or Fellow-Traueller with the Sonne of Tobias Tob. 5.4 and didst preserue Abraham and all other thy Seruants in their trauells vouchsafe thy blessed Angell to guide and conduct me Be thou my comfort in the way and a defence in all dangers Prosper the businesse which I goe about and make this enterprise successefull to me And grant that my affaires being dispatched I may returne home safe in body and minde Preserue in my absence my family all I possesse that I being returned in safety and they securely preserued we may all together giue thankes to thy glorious Name through Iesus c. After a Iourney I Giue thee thankes O gratious Lord for thy great mercies to me all the dayes of my Life Thou art he which created me and thou art also he that preseruest that which thou hast created How often O Lord hast thou turned thine eyes from my sinnes and made as though thou didst not see them How often and that iustly mightst thou haue with-held thy hand of preseruation from me and yet thy patience hath beene so great towards me that thou hast suffered no harme to befall me And as I owe thee many thankes for thy former preseruations so now I am further obliged to thee in that thou hast at this time not onely guided me to the place whither I intended to goe but hast also brought me backe in safety and in my absence hast preserued all things vnto me Good Lord giue me grace to be alwaies mindfull of these and all other thy benefits to me and to be truely thankfull to thee for them And grant that as by thy mercy I haue well ended my affaires abroad and am safely returned to this temporall habitation so my Spirit after this Pilgrimage may returne to thy Heauenly Mansion and there abide with thee for euer and that euen for the merits of our onely Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen Intercession IN which we are to pray For all Mankinde For the conuersion of Iewes Turkes Heathen to the truth For all Christians That they may be strengthned that stand That they may bee conuerted that are in error For the Churches throughout the World that they may be vnited in Religion For our Church that whatsoeuer is amisse in it may bee amended For the Kings Maiestie and his prosperitie For all Kingdomes Christian For Ours and each part of it that it may flourish in peace For the Clergy That they may Teach Liue well For wisedome in the Counsell Integrity in the Iudges Strength in our Armies Discretion in the Magistrates Obedience in the People For the prosperitie and good successe Of Merchants Husband-men Artificers Trades-men And that they may liue carefully and honestly in their vocations For the prosperous education of Youth either in Vniuersities Schooles or Other parts of the Kingdome For our Parents Kindred Friends Neighbours and Benefactors For those of whom wee haue the charge committed to vs. Either in Church Common wealth or Families For our Enemies especially those that hate vs without cause that God would conuert them For those that commend themselues to our prayers and whose affaires and troubles will not suffer them to pray as they ought For those who are in affliction of Body or Minde Who are in danger or want in Prison or condemned to Death For those that Excell In qualities of the minde Strength of Body Abundance of Wealth That they exalt not themselues aboue their brethren For those who vndertake any notable Action which may redound To the Glory of God The Peace of the Church The Honour of the Kingdome Deprecation Psal â—…38 1 O Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath Psal 44.23 Cast me not off for euer Psal 51.11 Cast mee not away from thy presence Psal 69.17 Hide not thy face from me Psal 40.11 With-hold not thy mercy from me Psal 38.11 Forsake me not
him and forgaue him the debt Not only ready to forgiue but profuse in mercy Psal 130.7 With thee is plenteous Redemption Luc. 15.22 The father of the Prodigall not only pardoned him but put on him the best Robe and a Ring and killed the fat Calfe for him Luc. 15.7 He will haue ioy in Heauen for a sinner repenting Thy pardon extendeth not only to small but great sinnes and sinners Such as Peter Luc. 26.74 who forsware thee Paul â— Tim. 1.13 who blaspheamed thee The Luc. 23.43 Theefe on the Crosse The Ioh 8. Adultresse Luc. 7.36 Mary Magdalen Ier. 3.1 They say if a man put away his Wife and shee goe from him and become another mans shall he returne vnto her againe shall not the Land be greatly polluted But thou hast played the harlot with many Louers yet returne againe to me saith the Lord. Luc. 6.35 He is kinde to the vnthankefull and euill But all these are recapitulated and summed vp in Christ Iesus 1. Pet. 1.4 In whom he hath giuen vs great and precious promises 2. Cor. 1.19 And in whom all the promises of God are Yea and Amen In Ioh. 16.23 naming of whom it will bee sufficient Mat. 15.22 Iesu thou Sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me Mat. 1.21 Which name Iesus was giuen vnto him because he saueth vs from our sinnes Aug. Lord doe not so earnestly marke our sinnes as that thereby thou forget thine owne Name Thou Sonne of Dauid 2. Sam. 19. who forgaue Shemei his sworne enemie reuiling him Forgiue me O Christ heare me Intercede for me Make the Father propitious to me Say vnto my Soule Psal 35.3 I am thy Saluation Let not thy Apostle comfort me in vaine when he saith 1. Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Rom. 5.20 Where six hath abounded there grace hath super-abounded God hath concluded all vnder Rom. 11.32 sinne that he might haue mercy vpon all Rom. 5.10 When we were Gods enemies we were reconciled to him by the death of his Sonne Let not another of thy Apostles say in vaine 1. Pet. 3.18 Christ once suffered for sinne the iust for the vniust that hee might bring vs to God Let not the third Ia. 2.13 Mercy reioyceth aboue Iudgement Let not the fourth 1. Ioh. 2.1 If any man sinne wee haue an Aduocate with the Father Christ Iesus the Righteous 1. Ioh. 2.2 And hee is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours only but for the sinnes of the whole world Let not thine owne Words be spoken in vaine Mat. 11.28 Come vnto mee all yee that labour and are heauie laden and I will giue yee rest Luc. 5.32 I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Ioh. 12.47 I came not to Iudge the World but to saue it These things are not cannot be spoken in vaine Psal 94.19 Wherefore in the multitude of the sorrowes that are in my heart thy comforts O Lord haue refreshed my soule Heb. 4.16 Let vs therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtaine mercy and finde Grace to helpe in time of neede Which I beseech thee to grant me For thy great and many mercies Thy Names sake The Glory of thy Name Thy promise sake Thy practize sake My misery My infirmitie Euen for thy Sonne Iesus Christs sake The seuen penitentiall Psalmes analysed 1 Psalme 6. 1 O Lord my God rebuke me not I beseech thee in thy fierce indignation against my sinnes either in this life or at the day of Iudgement neither chasten or correct mee in thy hot displeasure by condemning mee to eternall death 2 Haue mercy and compassion vpon me according to thy accustomed goodnesse O Lord for I am weake and fraile by nature strengthen me therefore by thy Grace O Lord and heale me by curing the infirmities of my soule for they are multiplied so greatly vpon me that my bones and all my inward parts are vexed and disquieted with the remembrance of them 3 My sinfull Soule considering my manifold offences and trembling at the thought of thy iust anger against them is also like as is my flesh sore troubled and almost at the point of desperation but thou O Lord that desirest not the death of a sinner how long will it be ere thou looke vpon me and bring mee out of this misery 4 Returne from the rigour of thy Iustice O Lord to the sweetnesse of thy mercie and deliuer my soule from the bondage of sinne O Lord saue mee from the assaults of the Deuill not for any merits of mine but for thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus my Sauiour 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee to praise and glorifie thy Name and who surely none there is that shall giue thee thankes or celebrate thy goodnesse in the Graue of Hell where nothing is to be heard but weeping gnashing of teeth and blasphemies 6 I am weary and faint with my groaning and sighing for my transgressions euery night when I should take my rest I wash my bed weeping for them and I water my couch the place of my rest with my teares of vnfeined repentance 7 Mine eye of reason and vnderstanding is consumed and groweth weake because of the griefe I take fearing thy Iudgements yet it waxeth Old and I continue in sinne because of the vnited forces of all mine enemies the World the Flesh and the Deuill 8 Depart therefore farre from me all ye mine enemies which are and haue beene the workers and causers of mine iniquitie by your tentations and euill examples for henceforth I will haue no more to doe with you for my conscience assureth mee that the Lord of his infinite goodnesse hath heard and pittied the voyce of my weeping and therefore I should be vnthankefull to him to returne to those sinnes which he in his mercy hath forgiuen 9 The Lord I cannot repeat it too often hath gratiously heard my earnest supplication for the pardon of my sinnes and he The Lord plentifull in pittie hath not only now but will also hereafter receiue my prayer whensoeuer I call faithfully vpon him 10 Let all mine enemies therefore who haue sought my destruction be ashamed at my conuersion and bee sore vexed and troubled at the consideration of Gods Iudgements Let them no longer delay but repent and returne to the Lord and bee ashamed that they haue so long deferred their conuersion and suddenly without any longer delay make their peace with him by vnfeined repentance Glory be to the Father c. 2 Psalme 32. BLessed is he in this life in assured hope and thrice blessed in full and perfect fruition in the life to come Whose transgression by Gods mercy is forgiuen in respect of the offence and whose sinne by the imputation of Christs
righteousnesse is so couered in this World that it bee not laid open at the day of Iudgement in respect of the punishment 2 Blessed and happy is the man vnto whom in regard either of offence or punishment the Lord accepting the merits of Christ imputeth no sin but giueth so ample a remission of them that hee taketh no notice of any sinne in him and in whose Spirit as well as outward shew is no guile but penitently without hypocrisie bewaileth his offences 3 When I my selfe I speake by experience kept silence dissembling and couering my sinnes wherewith my conscience was oppressed my bones and inward parts waxed old and feeble through my roaring which God regarded not though I cried all the day long and that because I confessed not my sinnes aright vnto him 4 For day and night continually thy hard hand of affliction was heauy vpon me to punish my obstinacy and to reduce me to repentance and by reason thereof my moisture and vigor which I formerly had is turned like to the drought of Summer and is almost withered and dried vp 5 My sinne therefore at the lest being thus handled by thee did I resolue to acknowledge vnto thee in contrition of soule and mine iniquitie which I formerly concealed I haue not any longer hid but humbly confessed vnto thee 6 I further said within my selfe when thy grace began to worke in me that I will no longer continue in my rebellion but penitently confesse all my transgressions and iniquitie vnto the Lord gracious and mercifull and I had no sooner done it but thou of thy wonted compassion forganest the iniquitie and punishment of my sinne committed against thee 7 For this remission of finne as it was necessary for me to pray for it so shall euery one of what condition soeuer that is godly for the iust also fall pray vnto thee O Lord in a time when thou mayest be found in a fit season But in the greatest danger of Flouds and swelling of the great waters of afflictions God will so preserue the iust man that they shall not haue power to come nigh vnto him to oppresse or ouerwhelme him 8 Thou O God art my hiding place and refuge in all tribulations thou for in none other will I trust shalt preserue mee by thy power from trouble and aduersitie Thou shalt compasse me about with thy mercy and I will sing vnto thee Songs of praise for my deliuerance 9 I will instruct thee saith God O man if thou wilt bee ruled by me and teach thee in the way of righteousnesse which thou shalt walke in without erring I will guide thee in the right way with mine eye of prouidence that no euill shall happen vnto thee 10 Be ye not therefore O foolish men since I am so carefull ouer you without reason as the vnruly Horse and dull Mule which haue no vnderstanding to bridle their head-strong desires Whose hard Mouth must bee held in with strong hand and with bit and bridle and you with tribulations and afflictions if you be then as they must be held in lest they come neere thee and fall vpon their rider or kicke at them so shall you be forced by aduersitie to know your selues lest you oppose God your Creator 11 Many sorrowes either in this world or torments in the world to come shall be to the obstinate and vnrepentant wicked but he that with his whole heart dependeth on and trusteth in the Lord his God the Mercy of God shall compasse and defend him on euery side from all dangers 12 Be glad then Oye seruants of the most High in the saluation of the Lord and not in your owne strength and reioyce in feruency of spirit ye that are iust and righteous shout for ioy in the comfort of a good conscience all ye that are vpright in heart For that the Lord is gratious to those that loue him and hath delight in the prosperity of his Seruants Glory be to the Father c. 3 Psalme 38. 1 O Lord I do not altogether decline from and refuse thy corrections only this I require of thee that thou rebuke me not in thy fierce wrath by condemning me with the reprobate neither chasten me poore sinner too seuerely by the extraordinary afflictions of this as if it were in thy hot displeasure 2 For it is not without cause that I should thus deprecate thine anger for thine arrowes of griefe and anguish sticke fast in me and are sore vpon me already and thy hand of present affliction presseth and troubleth me sore 3 There is no soundnesse nor health in my flesh because of the vehemency of thine anger against me Neither is there any rest or quiet in my bones and inward parts when I consider that thy displeasure ariseth to ward me because of the gricuousnesse and wickednesse of my sinne 4 For hauing recollected my thoughts I find that mine iniquities which hitherto I regarded not are so many that they are gone ouer my head they are past my vnderstanding for quantitie and qualitie and as a heauy burthen for the weight of them they are become too heauie for me to beare any longer they presse me downe so much that I cannot looke vp to heauen or heauenly things 5 My wounds which sinne hath made in my conscience stinke in the nostrils of God and they are so abominable that now they corrupt and putrifie in mine owne sight and all this is come vpon me because of my foolishnesse that haue let them goe so long vnsearched vnrepented of that they are almost past cure or remedy 6 I am troubled notwithstanding that I haue so long put of my conuersion I am bowed and pressed downe with the waight of my transgressions and am humbled in soule for them greatly and craue pardon for them I goe mourning and grieuing all the day long bewailing the former time of my life mispent 7 For my loines are filled and infected with a loathsome disease of carnall concupiscence and there is no soundnesse nor goodnes at all in my flesh for that it rebelleth against the Spirit 8 I am feeble in body and sore broken in minde in so much that considering with my selfe how grieuously I haue offended thee I haue roared and cryed bitterly by reason of the disquietnesse of my heart O Lord therefore forgiue my offences 9 Lord who knowest all things and dost search into the hearts of all men all my desire to be reconciled to thee and to lead a new life is before thee thou knowest it and my groaning and earnest Prayer mingled with sighes and teares is not hid from thee but I hope is ascended into thy presence 10 My heart which hath lost the peace of conscience panteth with feare of thy Iudgements my wonted strength faileth me and I am growne weake as for the light of mine inward eyes wherewith I was wont to discerne good from euill it is also dimme and gone from mee and I am become like to them that walke
of conuersation teach transgressors how they shall keepe thy waies and commandements and by that meanes thy Grace assisting they which now are sinners shall forsake their wickednesse and shall bee truely conuerted to thee 14 Deliuer me and quit me from my former bloody offences and keepe mee henceforth from blood guiltinesse and carnall corruptions O God my protector Thou God which art my Redeemer and Author of my Saluation and all the dayes of my life my tongue for ioy thereof shall sing vnto thee and that aloud and cheerefully and praise thy Name by extolling of thy righteousnesse who dost iustifie sinners and art mercifull to the penitent 15 O Lord who giuest wisedome to the simple Open thou my lippes which are closed by sinne from doing any seruice vnto thee and then with boldnesse my mouth shall vtter and shew forth thy praise for to thee alone belongeth all Honour and Glory 16 For thou O God desirest not that I should offer the Sacrifice of Goates and Calues to expiate my offences else would I willingly giue it and lay it on thy Altar but thou hauing by sending thy Sonne Christ Iesus abrogated the ceremonies of the Law delightest not any longer in burnt offerings but in obedience to thy Commandements 11 The Sacrifices accepted of God and whereby wee are in Christ reconciled to him are a broken and humble Spirit deiected with the sight of sinne a broken and contrite heart truly mortified and repentant O God thou hast promised that thou wilt not despise but louingly accept 18 Doe good O God in thy good pleasure and be fauourable and gratious vnto Sion thy Catholique Church Build thou vpon a sure foundation of religion and establish the hearts of thy Saints and Seruants the walles of thy Church Ierusalem 19 Then shalt thou in Christ Iesus be pleased with vs and with the Sacrifices of Righteousnesse in thy Congregation And with burnt Offerings and Oblations of our hearts Then shall they thy Seruants thus established offer bullockes the Sacrifice of praise vpon thine Altar in thy presence to the honour of thy most holy Name Glory be to the Father c. 5 Psalme 102. 1 HEare my prayer which in the bitternesse of my soule I make to thee O Lord whose mercy is the Sanctuary of distressed sinners and let nothing stand betweene that mercy and me which may hinder my cry to come to thee 2 Hide not thy face turne not away thy countenance from me as if thou wert offended at me but rather in the day of aduersity when I am in trouble and sorrow encline thine eare of pitie vnto me and that right soone and speedily 3 For my daies which I haue mis-spent are cōsumed away like smoke which for want of substance resolueth to nothing and my bones which by my broken spirit are dried vp are burnt vp as a firebrand 4 My heart is deiected and smitten with the thought of thy Iustice and it is withered with remembrance of thy Iudgements like grasse without iuyce or sap so that in this anguish of soule I forget and loath to eate my bread 5 By reason of the grieuous voyce of my groaning sighes and teares I am so consumed away that my bones for want of flesh cleaue to my skinne and I am nothing but skin and bone 6 I am for shame that I haue offended thee become in condition like a Pellican that liueth solitarily in the Wildernesse and I am like an Owle not daring to be seen but that auoideth the light and is continually in the desert shunning the company of other birds 7 I watch and sleepe not for the thought of my sinnes and am as a sparrow that caring for no company sitteth alone making grieuous lamentation in a mournfull note vpon the house top 8 Mine enemies seeing mee thus penitent reproach mee with opprobrious speeches all the day continually deriding mee and they that while I was their companion in sinne applauded mee are vpon my conuersion mad against me and doe combine and are sworne to doe me mischiefe and to that end set themselues against me 9 For this cause taking no pleasure in this world I haue eaten ashes and fed vpon course meate like as if it were fine bread and dainty fare and I haue mingled my drinke with teares weeping and lamenting for my sinnes 10 Because of thine indignation at me for them and thy wrath against my life past all this euill and more hath befallen me for thou hast lifted mee vp very high and from thence hast cast mee downe that my fall might be the greater 11 My dayes few and euill are passed like a shadow vpon a Sun-diall that declineth toward the euening and I that lately seemed to flourish am withered and dryed vp like grasse without sap for want of thy comfort 12 But thou O Lord which wert and art shalt continue immutable and shalt endure for euer while all transitory things passe and come to nothing and thy glorious workes shall be had in remembrance vnto all generations euen vnto the end of the world 13 Thou O Lord who seemest to men to sleepe shalt arise in thy strength and haue mercy and compassion vpon Sion thy Church militant now oppressed with the tyranny of Antichrist for the time to looke vpon her and fauour her is at hand yea the set time which thou hast decreed for her deliuerance is or will not be long ere it come 14 For they which bee thy true and faithfull Seruants take pleasure and delight in her stones their fellow Seruants and are glad when they see them prosper and fauour and pitie the very dust and ruines thereof when they see them vnder persecution 15 So that when they shall be deliuered from their misery the very heathen shall feare and tremble at the Name of the Lord and be conuerted to him and all the Kings and Potentates of the earth which now oppose the Truth shall acknowledge thee O Lord to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords and be afraid at the greatnesse of thy Glory and Maiestie 16 When the Lord by his almighty power shall build vp Sion and repaire the ruines of his Church he shall then to the confusion of his enemies appeare in his glory which they shall not be able to endure 17 He will then in mercy regard and hearken to the prayer of his poore seruants and the destitute of his helpe and not any longer seeme to turne away his face from them nor despise their prayer and earnest supplications 18 This mercy of his shall then be recorded and written as a remembrance for the generations to come euen to the end of the world which shall attempt the like against his Church and the people yet vnborne that shall succeed and be created in ages to come shall praise and magnifie the Lord which only doth marueilous things 19 For hee hath in mercy by sending his Sonne Christ Iesus looked downe from the height of his Sanctuary his holy place euen from
be repelled for want of a wedding garment Mat. 22.22 euen the garment of a Sanctified soule For my whole life hath beene so wretchedly and lewdly spent and my dayes haue been so wickedly wasted that I hourely seemed to renew thy passion Many a time Mat. 26.14 I haue with Iudas sold thee for a small summe of pleasure or profit and now in comming to receiue thee vnworthily what doe I else but with him betray thee with a kisse How then shall I dare to receiue thee Mat. 26.26 in so desperate and wicked estate How canst thou abide or dwell in so loathsome a Dungeon wherein there is no part roome or corner cleane O Lord I acknowledge mine vnworthinesse and yet with all thy mercies are not hid from me and by them I am encouraged to come with confidence vnto thee for by how much the vnworthier I come vnto thee by so much the more will thy mercy bee glorified if thou doe not reiect mee Lord thou art not wont to put sinners backe but to call and set them forward to repentance Wherefore O Lord animated by thy calling and inuitation I come vnto thee ouerburdned with the waight of my sinnes hoping to finde ease and releife of thee Thy custome while thou wert vpon earth was to receiue sinners Luc. 15.2 and to eate with them and thy delight was to be with the Sonnes of men If thou O Lord bee still pleased with such guests behold one heere at this time of that kinde a notorious sinner I verely beleeue that thou tookest more pleasure in the teares of the sinfull woman then in the great feast of the proud Pharisee Luc. 7.38 and for a few teares of hers didst forgiue many sinnes vnto her Luc. 7.47 Behold O Lord new matter offered for thy great mercy to worke vpon Here lyeth a sinner who hath many more sinnes then shee but fewer teares by many who though he hath more grieuously offended yet doth more carelesly bewaile his offences then shee did She was neither the first nor the last who thou in thy mercy didst receiue to fauour O Lord let me also be one of the Subiects of thy mercy and although I haue not teares sufficient to wash thy feet yet thou hast shed droppes of blood more then sufficient to cleanse my sinnes I read O Lord in the Gospell that all that were diseased flocked to thee Luc. 16.17.18 and by that Vertue which came out of thee were healed and I verily perswade my selfe that thy Nature is not changed for in thee is and will be to the end of the world health and remedy for all griefes and thou art readier to make vs whole then wee are to aske health of thee I know O Lord that this Sacrament which I so earnestly looke after is not only meate for those that are in health but Physique also for the sicke and doth not only refresh the Righteous but cleanseth those that are Sinners also If I bee weake by it I shall be strengthned if in health in health by it I shall be preserued and if dead in sinne by it I shall bee reuiued I humblie therefore intreat thee O Father that as Dauid did admit Mephibosheth to his table 2. Sam. 9. for his Fathers sake so thou wouldst suffer mee to bee partaker of thy Heauenly Table for thy Sonnes sake who with so great labour and sorrow did regenerate vs by his death on the Crosse who liueth and raigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit for euer Prayers before the Communion O Almighty Lord God Father of all mercies and consolation I humbly beseech thee to behold with the eye of pitie my poore and wretched soule which though thou didst create after thine owne Image and washedst with the blood of thy deare Sonne yet I haue so abominably defiled and defaced with the staine of sinne that it can hardly be knowne O Father I was thy Sonne whom thou didst so louingly imbrace and loade with blessings and who was in thy house in great honour and dignity In the Sacrament of Baptisme thou didst adopt me and gauest me the inheritance of a Sonne and heire but I vnthankefully and prodigally by my euill life haue wasted my Patrimony I haue wickedly abused the flower and prime of my youth and the good parts and faculties of my soule and body with the pleasures of the flesh pride surfetting enuy lust couetousnesse idlenesse rebellion and disobedience and now at the last I finde that all the temporall delights of the flesh and the World are altogether vaine and vanish like smoke For all flesh is grasse Esa 1. Pet. 1.24 and all the Glory of man is but like the flower of the field and is suddenly gone He that is rich to day to morrow becommeth poore and miserable hee that walketh in health and strength of body to day to morrow is by sickenesse made feeble and weake hee that liueth to day the next day dieth and he which to day glorieth in the greatest pompe to morrow is laid in his Coffin and carried to his Graue Therefore O Lord consider the weaknesse and frailtie of man and turne away I pray thee thy face from my sinnes and remember not them so in thine anger that thou forget either thine owne mercy or my weakenesse By mine owne fault I confesse O Lord and by my euill couersation I haue made my selfe vnworthy of thy fauour and by my euill concupiscences I haue grieuously wounded my conscience I haue often grieued thy Holy Spirit by not hearkning to the good motions thereof but yeelding to my sensuall lust and beastly appetite Yet O mercifull Father cast me not vtterly from thy sight for from the beginning of the world it was not heard that thou didst reiect any sinner that with a contrite heart came vnto thee Behold I come vnto thee in great necessity and cast my selfe at thy feete confessing thy greatnesse and multitude of my sinnes They haue brought me into that euill state and condition that I am not worthy to be called thy Sonne Lue. 15.21 yet I pray thee receiue me into the number of thy hired seruants Giue mee grace heartily to repent me of my sins feede and cherish mee with the bread and drinke of the body and blood of thy Sonne Christ Iesus that by thy mercy I may be receiued to grace and restored to the former dignity from which I am worthily cast and to the inheritance of thy euerlasting kingdome through the same our Sauiour Iesus Christ Another O Blessed Sauiour I poore vnworthy sinner haue a great desire and earnest longing to come to thy Table but considering my many and grieuous sinnes tremble and feare to approach vnto it For when I consider thy words to thy Disciples Except ye eate the flesh of the Son of man Ioh. 6.53 and drinke his bloud ye haue no life in you And on the other side the words of the Apostle Whosoeuer shall eate
this bread 1. Cor. 11.27 and drinke this cup of the Lord vnworthily shall bee guilty of the bodie and bloud of the Lord. I am in such a streight that I know not what to doe For gladly would I receiue this Sacrament being desirous to liue but fearefull I am to take it vnworthily trembling at thy Commination I come therefore to thee the fountaine of mercy hoping that thou wilt wash me I come to thee the good Samaritan Luc. 10.34 hoping that thou wilt cleanse my wounds I open my griefe and discouer my iniquities to thee I looke vpon my finnes great and grieuous and thereupon tremble Yet beholding thy mercies great and plentifull I am therewith againe refreshed Remember O Lord how many drops of Sweat and Bloud thou didst shed How many Paines and Sorrowes thou didst sustaine to expiate my sins I entreate thee therefore by them to purge and purifie me that I may worthily bee incorporated into thy body which is thy Church and may worthily also receiue this blessed Sacrament that so together with thy whole Church I may giue thee praise euerlastingly Or thus O Mercifull Lord Iesus I confesse my selfe to be a most grieuous and wretched sinner not worthy to approach into thy presence altogether vnfit and vnmeet Luc. 7.6 to receiue thee vnder the roofe of my soule in respect of the staynes and pollutions thereof and that it is not decked and fitted with such good graces as thy Maiestie and presence requireth and therefore am afraid to come neere vnto thee Yet O Lord considering thy comfortable saying that Thou dost not desire the death of a sinner Mat. 11.28 but that he should turne vnto thee and liue and thy blessed inuitation how louingly with the armes of thy mercy stretched out thou hast called all that are heauily oppressed with the burden of their sinnes to come to thee for comfort and ease And lastly thy vsuall practize in pitying and releeuing those which were cast downe with the thought of their misdeedes as the a Luc. 23. Theefe on the Crosse b Luc. 7. Mary Magdalen c Ioh. 8. The woman taken in adultery the d Luc. 18. Publican e Luc. 26. Peter and Paul all of them grieuous sinners I am comforted and emboldned to come vnto thee assuredly trusting that thou wilt of thy goodnesse supply my defects and make me a worthy receiuer of the high mystery and benefit of thy blessed Sacrament whereof of my selfe I am altogether vnworthy Stretch out thy right hand O sweete Iesu to me thy poore seruant and giue out of thy rich store-house of mercy what I want that thereby I may be made a liuing Temple to thee and an acceptable habitation for thine honour to abide in And grant that being cleansed by thy mercy and goodnesse I may by thy grace and power perseuere in all godlinesse and holinesse of conuersation to the end of my dayes and attaine to that blessed place where thou raignest with the Father and holy Spirit world without end Amen Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament receiued IF all the Creatures in the world should offer themselues together with me to praise thee O Lord yet is it certaine that we could not giue thee sufficient thankes for the least of thy mercies and if together we cannot sufficiently praise thee for the least how much lesse can I alone performe so great a duty for such inestimable blessings as I haue at this time receiued for vouchsafing to visite me comfort me honor me with acceptance and admittance of me to thy blessed Table Luc. 1.43 If Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist vpon the Virgin Maries entrance to her house said Whence is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me What shall I say whom the Lord himselfe hath visited and vnited to him by his blessed Sacrament being a vessell and receptacle of all impuritie who hath so often offended despited and neglected him King Dauid wondred Psal 8. why God should so esteeme of or visite man But I wonder much more why hee should be made man for man abide with him suffer death for him and giue himselfe to him for spirituall food Salomon after he had built a Temple to God reasoned thus 1. Kings 8.27 But will God dwell indeed on the earth Behold the heauen of heauens cannot contayne thee how much lesse this house that I haue builded May not I much more maruell that God will not disdaine to come and abide in this my poore and wretched soule What greater benefit or grace what greater argument of his loue is there can there be shewed to me Oh my soule if thou wouldest but throughly conceiue the happinesse that commeth to thee by this holy Sacrament then consider and well weigh what benefits it bringeth with it By it the sonnes of men are made the Sonnes of God and all that is earthly or carnall in vs is mortified that the Deity may liue and abide with vs. What therefore O my Lord shall I doe What thankes shall I render to thee with what feruency shall I loue thee For if thou so mightie a Lord hast vouchsafed to loue me poore wretched creature how should it be but that I should returne loue againe to thee And how shall I expresse my loue better then in forbearing those things which thou dost abhorre and following those things which thou dost command Giue O Lord to this end thy concomitant grace to mee whereby I may returne a reciprocall loue to thee and loue those things which are acceptable to thee and auoide those things which are to thee vnpleasing Giue me a heart which may loue thee with so true faithfull and constant affection as that nothing vnder the Sun may separate me from the loue of thee Rom. 8.39 Let me not follow the loue of the world or delight in the vanities of it any longer but giue me power to kill and quench all other loue and desires and to loue thee onely desire thee only and only thinke of thee and thy Commandements that all my affections and thoughts may be fixed on thee that in all tentations and aduersities I may haue recourse to thee onely and receiue all comfort from thee alone who liuest and raignest one God world without end Amen Another I Humbly thanke thee O sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou hast so plentifully refreshed my dry and fainting soule with the holy Sacrament of thy pretious bodie and bloud I earnestly entreat thee further that whatsoeuer is in me vicious or contrary to thy blessed will may by vertue of this Blessed Sacrament bee rooted out of me that my soule may become a fit habitation for thy holy Spirit Let it be to me the absolution of my sinnes the confirmation of my faith an encrease of all thy graces in me the viands of this my peregrination and pilgrimage the only delight of my soule peace and ioy in tribulation health and
strength in affliction and tentation Let it be a light and guide to my actions and my onely comfort in the day of my dissolution Let the Palate of my soule be so changed thereby that it may relish nothing besides thee Graunt also that I may hunger and thirst after this bread of life and cup of saluation and that I may with a pure minde and chast affection receiue it often that thereby my soule and body may be preserued to life euerlasting To thee be all praise power and dominion ascribed now and for euer Or thus I Yeeld thee all possible thanks O mercifull Lord that of thy owne meere goodnesse and without any merit of mine thou hast so plentifully at this time satisfied me with the extraordinary food of my soule thy blessed body and blood O Lord I heartily repent me of my many sinnes past and am heartily sory when I consider how vnprofitablie and wickedly I haue spent my life hitherto I desire O Lord to amend what is amisse in me bee thou aiding I beseech thee to mee that I may not only duely bewaile and lament for that which is past but take heede to my waies for the time to come And to this end O Lord doe thou strengthen me with thy spirituall aid for without thy helpe and the direction of the Holy Spirit I shall not bee able to doe any good thing or performe that which is pleasing to thee Grant O Lord that I may hereafter faithfully follow and serue thee who hast at this time so louingly vouchsafed to come to me And because through my infirmitie I cannot follow thee as I would be pleased to assist mee with thy power and draw me after thee Let my soule be so strengthned by vertue of this Sacrament that it may esteeme nothing pleasing or delightfull in comparison of thee that it may lust after no transitory thing nor be disquieted with any worldly crosse but by thy assisting grace I may ouercome all the difficulties of this life and blesse thee in the life to come Or thus O Blessed Lord Iesus who of thy vnspeakeable loue hast condescended to my infirmity and vouchsafed in these misteries to come vnto me and hast made me partaker of thy blessed body and blood I humbly intreate thee of thy infinite goodnesse not to looke backe vpon my sinfull life past and to giue me grace to obey thy Commandements hereafter 2. Pet. 2.22 and not to returne to those former sinnes as a dogge to his vomite Grant that this most holy Sacrament may be to me life and Saluation and not turne to my greater punishment and condemnation Graunt that it may cleanse my soule from sinne past and strengthen mee against all tentations to come Graunt that it may bee so wholsome and nourishing to mee that I may walke in the strength thereof all the dayes of my life and at last be brought by thy merits to that place of Glory where thou dost raigne together with the Father and the Blessed Spirit for euer Psal 103. Praise the Lord O my Soule and all that is within me praise his holy Name Praise the Lord O my Soule and forget not all his benefits Which forgiueth all thy sinne and healeth all thine infirmities Which saueth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and louing kindnesse Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things c. Motiues to thankesgiuing IT is not the least part of the Duty of a Christian in the sight of God to be thankefull to him for the benefits hee dayly bestoweth upon vs. For as God is kinde mercifull and louing to vs so hee expecteth that wee should render backe thankes to him for those blessings which wee receiue from him For we haue nothing else to retribute to him but a thankefull memoriall of his blessings And this King Dauid well vnderstood when he said what shall I render to the Lord Psal 116.12.17 for all the benefits hee hath done vnto mee I will offer to thee the Sacrifice of thankesgiuing c. As therefore we ought to be diligent in Prayer for those things we want so ought we also to bee perpetually thankefull for them when we haue obtained what we desire And when we haue done all that we can we cannot giue him due praise and thanks for the least part of that which wee daily receiue For if wee respect that which is past present or to come wee shall still meete with matter enough which expresseth his goodnesse and loue to vs and exacteth this Duty from vs. If we consider that which is past then we shall soone perceiue that but for him we had not beene at all nor beene preserued hitherto amongst so many dangers without his protection if that which is present wee cannot but acknowledge that by his alone goodnesse we liue and enioy those blessings wherewith we are loaded beyond desert if that which is to come he is our hope of all good things which we desire or expect either for this life or for the life to come And as God accounteth Thankes-giuing a Duty Psal 50.23.15.14 so hee taketh it for an Honour done vnto him if we performe it He hath so much esteemed of it alwaies euen from the beginning that he reputed and accounted it aboue the rest of the Sacrifices offered vnto him Ose 14.2 Mala. 1.11 Besides we may consider that in the Law God himselfe instituted a peculiar and speciall Sacrifice of oblation of thankes For the Feast of the Paschall Lambe was no other thing but an Eucharisticall or thankfull seruice Exo. 12. in remembrance of the wonderfull deliuery of the Iewes from their seruitude Our Sauiour also instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist Luc. 22. for a perpetuall remembrance and memoriall of all his benefits to mankinde especially of our Redemption by his death Hester established a feast Hest 9. to preserue a thankefull memory of the Iewes deliuerance from the plots of Haman And in briefe it was generally euermore the practize of Gods Saints to expresse this Duty as may bee seene by many Songs Hymnes Psalmes and Prayers of thankesgiuing which are left vnto vs in the Scriptures as patternes for vs to imitate Of a Exo. 15. Moses and Miriam b Deut. 32. Of Moses alone c Iud. 5. Of Deborah d 1. Sam. 2. Of Hanna e Psal 34.96.103.107.111.113 c. Of Dauid in diuerse places of the Psalmes f Esa 18.10 Of good King Ezechias g Io. 2.3 Of Ionas h Abac. 3.2 Of the Prophet Habacuc i Dan. 3 Of the three Children k Luc. 2.19 Of the Angels l Luc. 1 68. Of Zachary m Luc. 1.46 Of the Blessed Virgin Mary n Act. 4.24 Of the Church o Rene. 5.12 And of the Elders And after those examples of necessity wee must frame our selues for bee sure of this That whensoeuer praise and thankes shall faile and he wanting on our parts
the humble and they which are any way deiected when they shall heare thereof how gratious God hath beene to me shall in hope of the like mercy to them reioyce and be glad also 3 O ye whosoeuer haue felt Gods fauour as I haue magnifie and extoll the mercies of the Lord with me for his goodnesse and let vs ioyfully with one accord exalt and praise his Name together 4 I my selfe when I was in trouble sought the Lord by praier and humiliation and hee reiected not my petition but graciously heard me and granted it yea and he not only deliuered me from the danger I was in but from all my feares also which I conceiued at it 5 They also that liued in former Ages our Fore-fathers whensoeuer they were distressed looked vp and cryed vnto him and were releeued by his mercy and lightned by his grace and their faces were not any whit ashamed because they did put their trust in him 6 This poore man euen my selfe cryed by their example in my distresse and the Lord plentifull in compassion gratiously heard him and caused and deliuered him immediately out of all his troubles and calamity 7 The good Angell of the Lord deputed by him for each mans protection encampeth and fortifieth round about them that with an vnfeined heart feare and serue him which Angell preserueth them in all their wayes and deliuereth them from all the machinations of the Deuill and his Angels 8 O taste ye therefore and see make experience and you shall soone finde that the Lord is good and louing to those that faithfully call vpon him and you will also confesse with me and say Blessed and happy is the man that layeth aside all confidence in himselfe and that in all his necessities trusteth in him and his protection 9 O feare reuerence and loue the Lord all ye that by truely beleeuing in him become his Saints and obserue his Commandements for take this as an infallible truth that There is no want to them they shall lacke nothing that is needfull for them that with an vpright heart feare and serue him 10 The young Lyons and mightie men of this world although they thinke themselues happy yet doe they lacke true peace of conscience and suffer hunger and want that which is truely good but they which with a pure heart and humble spirit seeke the Lord and desire to please him shall not want any good thing when the Lord in his Wisedome shall thinke it needfull for them 11 Come therefore O ye children that desire to be informed and with attentiue mindes hearken and giue good eare vnto me that am experienced in the mercies of the Lord and I will teach and instruct you in the feare of the Lord which is the beginning of wisedome 12 What man is he among the sonnes of men that desireth to liue a good life and loueth to spend many dayes so in this life that he may see and enioy good and happy dayes hereafter 13 Keepe first of all thy tongue from speaking euill let that member doe no man wrong and preserue thy lippes from speaking guile or that which is false though it be to thine owne preiudice for the Lord abhorreth lying lippes 14 Depart from euill auoid all things which thou knowest displeasing to God and yet thinke not that sufficient except thou also apply thy selfe to doe that which is good and acceptable to him Seeke peace betweene God and thy selfe thy selfe and thy conscience thy selfe and thy neighbour and if thou shalt finde that peace in any of these particulars shall fly from thee pursue it with all thy might that thou mayst recouer it 15 The prouident eyes of the Lord for thy comfort in taking this course are euer fixed vpon the righteous to preserue them from all euill and to confirme them in all good and his eares of compassion are alwayes open vnto their cry to deliuer them from all distresse 16 The face of displeasure and the angry countenance of the Lord on the contrary is set and bent against them that forsake good and doe euill without remorse of conscience to cut off and root out not only such wicked persons themselues but the very remembrance of them from the face of the earth that there shall remaine no memoriall of them 17 The righteous in their affliction crye and flie vnto God for succour and the Lord in mercy heareth their prayer yea and in his good time deliuereth them out of all their troubles either by aiding them with spirituall comfort that they faint not vnder them or by remouing their afflictions from them or them from their afflictions by taking them into Heauenly ioyes 18 The Lord who hath a continuall care ouer his elect is euer nigh vnto them in comfort that are of a broken and humble heart and alwaies saueth such and no other as are of a contrite and bruised Spirit that they fall not into desperation 19 Many in number and great in waight are the afflictions and troubles of the righteous for they that will liue godly in Christ must suffer persecution but the Lord of his infinite goodnesse forsaketh him not but deliuereth him in due time out of them all that they shall not bee able to doe him harme 20 He euen the Lord keepeth and preserueth all his bones which though the wicked goe about to breake yet notwithstanding all their attempts not so much as one of them is or shall bee broken by them and not only so but the haires of his head are numbred also 21 Euill on the other side shall slay the wicked and turne them to destruction and they whosoeuer they be that hate the righteous whom the Lord loueth shall be desolate and depriued of the comfort of Gods Holy Spirit 22 The Lord by his power and goodnesse redeemeth and saueth the Soule of euery one of his Seruants from all euill and none of them that put their trust and confidence in him and his mercy shall bee left desolate or without consolation Glory be to the Father c. 4 Psalme 103. 1 BLesseâ— and magnifie the Lord thy Creator O my soule for all his mercies and fauours extended to thee and all that is within me holy and pure giue praise vnto and blesse his holy and great Name 2 Blesse the Lord O my Soule I say againe as well for thy creation as for all his other great and glorious workes and at any hand take heed that thou be not ingratefull to him and forget not nor let slip out of thy remembrance all or any of his benefits not only in forming thee after his owne Image as in his continuall care and preseruing thee from many dangers 3 Who only by his power can and of his meere mercy and goodnesse forgiueth all thine iniquities pardoneth all thy sinnes as well actuall as originall how great so euer how many so euer as often as with a pure heart and humble spirit thou repentest thee of them Who like a good Phisitian
such wisedome and power that they ought to bee remembred and his Name to be celebrated for them And as hee is omnipotent so the Lord is also gratious and louing to his Seruants and full of compassion plenteous in mercy to euery repentant sinner 5 He hath of his prouidence and bounty euer giuen meat and all other necessaries to them that feare and serue him yea and he as hee hath formerly so will he euer to the end of the world bee mindefull of his Couenant of Grace to his seruants 6 He hath shewed and manifested to his people his elect the power and efficacy of his great workes not only in the creation but in the Redemption of mankinde that hee may giue vnto them that are in Christ the heritage of the heathen according to the promise made to our forefathers 7 The workes of his hands all his actions are done in verity and Iudgement and all his Commandements are sure iust holy and worthy to be obserued 8 They stand fast and are setled firme for euer and euer to the end of the world and they are done and commaunded vpon good grounds in truth and vprightnesse as being enioyned by the author of truth and equitie 9 Hee in the fulnesse of time sent Redemption and Saluation vnto his Elect People by Iesus Christ hee hath commanded his Conenant of the new Testament for euer to be obserued by them and it concerneth them carefully to keepe it because hee which commanded it is a iealous God and seuere to transgressors and Holy and reuerend is his Name 10 The filiall fe are of the same holy and reuerend Lord is the beginning Basis of all true Wisedome which who so euer hath not attained to is not really wise how so euer he may be esteemed by the world but a good and perfect vnderstanding haue they and they are truely wise indeed that doe his Commandements and keepe his precepts his praise and remembrance endureth for euer and continueth throughout all generations Glory be to the c. 6 Psalme 138. 1 I Will praise and blesse thee O Lord with my whole heart with all my strength yea before the Gods in the presence of thy holy Angels will I sing praise and laud vnto thee 2 I will worship in feare and reuerence towards thy holy Temple dedicated to thy honour and seruice and I will praise thy holy and great Name for two of thy blessings especially namely for thy louing kindnesse in comforting distressed sinners and for thy Truth in performing thy promises for thou thy selfe hast preferred and magnified thy Word of Truth abone all the attributes of thy Name else whatsoeuer 3 In the day and time of my affliction when I cried vnto thee by earnest prayer thou didst not stop thine eares but gratiously answeredst me yea and strengthnedst mee with thy Grace and strength in my soule 4 All the Kings and mighty men of the earth bee they neuer so high in condition shall and may worthily praise thee without disparagement to themselues when they by the preaching of the Gospell heare the words of thy mouth which are nothing but Truth 5 Yea they shall sing and reioyce in exercising themselues in the waies and Commandements of the Lord for great and vnutterable is the Glory and Maiestie of the Lord of Hosts 6 Though the Lord our God be high and his Maiestie bee aboue all things yet in his abundant mercy hath hee respect vnto the lowlie in their owne eyes and the more humble they are the more he regardeth them but as for the proud and those which exalt thhmselues hee despiseth them and knoweth them as it were a farre off 7 Though I walke and liue in the midst of trouble and sorrow and in the shadow of death yet when so euer I call vpon thee faithfully thou wilt I know reuiue and raise me vp thou shalt also stretch forth and reach vnto me thy hand of power against the wrath and malice of mine enemies and bridle their furie and thy right hand of omnipotence shall saue me from all their enterprizes 8 The Lord of his goodnesse will perfect and finish that which concerneth me and my Saluation thy mercy and louing kindnesse O Lord neuer faileth but endureth from generation to generation euen for euer withdraw not therefore that mercy of thine from me O Lord and forsake not thou the worke of thine owne hands not made by any strange God but by thee the only and true God Glory be to the Father c. 7 Psalme 145. 1 I Will extoll and praise thee my God and Creator O King of Maiestie and Glory and I will blesse and magnifie thy Name O preseruer of mankinde for euer and euer euen all the daies of my life 2 Euery day not a day shall passe ouer my head but I will blesse thee and be speaking of thy mercies and I will praise and giue thankes vnto thee and to thy Name for euer and euer as long as I liue 3 Great and glorious is the Lord farre exceeding all the false gods of the heathen and greatly is hee to bee praised for all his workes and his greatnesse hath neither end nor beginning but is vnsearchable and past mans finding out 4 One generation and age shall praise and leaue the memory of thy goodnesse and thy workes of power wisedome and mercy to another succeeding generation and shall declare to posterity the remembrance of thy mightie acts 5 I my selfe as well as I am able will as I haue good cause speake of and extoll the glorious honour and the exceeding greatnesse of thy Maiestie and tell vnto the people the excellencie of thy wondrous workes 6 And not only I but all other Men shall be forced to confesse and speake of the exceeding might and the wonderfull effects of thy terrible acts against thine enemies and I according to my poore abilitie will declare vnto posterity thy Greatnesse and Maiestie 7 They euen all people which are gouerned by thy power and satisfied with thy goodnesse shall abundantly vtter and continually with praise acknowledge and keepe the memory of thy great and superabundant goodnesse and mercy and shall in all assemblies and congregations sing and reioyce because of thy Righteousnesse when thou rulest and disposest all things 8 The Lord our God notwithstanding our grieuous sinnes is gratious and louing yea and full of compassion by nature euermore slow and vnwilling to wreak his anger vpon vs it being an act contrary to his disposition and in stead of punishing he is of great mercy and ready to pardon the repentant 9 The Lord is also good and gratious not to any particular person or people only but to all that turne vnto him and if wee shall consider his tender mercies to the sonnes of men they are ouer and exceed his Iustice and all his other workes 10 All thy workes and creatures shall therefore praise and magnifie thee O Lord in generall and aboue the rest thy Saints and
Promises Ceremonies and the Law it selfe were fulfilled and ended 1 The Promises As Gen. 1.15 the seed of the woman shall breake the Serpents head Gen. 22.18 In thee shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed 2 The Ceremonies The Priesthood by his eternall Priesthood Psal 110.4 The Sacrifices by his owne Oblation Heb. 7.27 Circumcision Luc. 2.21 3.21 by his Circumcision and Baptisme Passeouer by the Eucharist Mar. 14.22 3 The Lawe By his satisfaction and absolute fulfilling of it in whom was no sinne nor spot Cant. but an absolute and perfect Righteousnesse which Righteousnesse hee hath of his free will and mercy imputed to vs and made ours if with a liuely Faith we apprehend him and beleeue on him And in this respect it may be said that he obserueth and fulfilleth the Law of God who not trusting to himselfe or his owne workes commendeth himselfe wholly to the Grace of God Rom. 8.3.4 2. Cor. 5.21 and seeketh all his righteousnesse by Faith in Christ Iesus So that wee are to rely on those words which Saint Paul spake in his Sermon at Antioch Bee it knowne vnto you therefore Act. 13.38 men and brethren that through this man Christ Iesus is preached vnto you the forgiuenesse of sinnes And by him all that beleeue are iustified from all things from which you could not be iustified by the Law of Moses But yet wee must take this along with vs. That this Faith whereby we beleeue that Christ satisfied the Lawe and is become our Righteousnesse and Perfection is meerely by Gods Grace and Fauour infused into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which stirreth vp in vs a loue and desire to keep the Law of God which though the same desire neuer attaineth to perfection while we liue in these earthly tabernacles for the frailtie and indisposition of the Flesh yet God in his mercy accepteth the same for Christs sake For the better conceiuing of the drift and scope of these Commandements wee are to take notice of two things 1 Whereas in euery Commandement the grossest sinne tending to the breach of that commandement is only forbidden by name yet wee are to conceiue that all sinnes of that nature though lesser in degree and not named togither with the prouocations thereunto are likewise inclusiuely contained in that prohibition 2 And where any Vertue is commanded to be obserued there all the Vices and Sinnes contrary to that Vertue are forbidden And where any Vice is prohibited there all opposite Vertues to it are enioyned Meditations of Death THat all men must dye being long since enacted by Statute in the Parliament of Heauen vnrepealed and the knowledge of the day of Death being by God kept from vs Aug. in Psal 34. Conc. 1. lest we should promise to our selues any thing for future time I shall not neede to spend many words to proue either the absolute necessitie of the one or the vncertaintie of the other Only giue mee leaue to conclude this worke with a few meditations and Prayers which may serue as well for those who feele the hand of God by sickenesse as for those which are in perfect health to meditate and thinke vpon that they be not taken vnprouided And this exercise of Meditation of death and resolution to die ought not to seeme strange or hard to Christians For the Philosopher in his time accounted all dayes spent without serious consideration of our end to be but fondly consumed and affirmed that the whole life of a wise man Plato was nothing but a meditation of death And therefore it hath been obserued that Abraham Gen. 23.3 19. when he was in the Land of Canaan purchased no more Land then would serue to bury his dead To teach vs that we should not fixe or fasten our mindes upon the transitory things of the World but haue our affections bent vpon another world and meditate vpon the day of our death which bringeth two benefits with it first it deliuereth vs out of many cares and troubles and secondly it leadeth vs to ioyes vnspeakeable The first of these benefits the Heathen man could see Artabanus to Xerxes Herod l. 7. by the light of Nature when hee said that No man liued in so flourishing estate who if not often yet once iâ— his life did not desire rather to die then to liue For the vnauoidable calamitie and greeuous diseases incident to this life doe so often disquiet and vexe a man that notwithstanding our life is naturally short yet sometime it seemeth ouer long vnto him And therefore saith he Death is the most acceptable and wished for Sanctuary and place of refuge for a life full of misery and griefe And for the second take amongst many that of Saint Cyprian Cypr. Wee passe by death to immortality neither can wee come or attaine to eternall life but by leauing this life Nor is our corporall death to bee accounted an end or period of life but a passage to a better for by this temporall journey wee passe to Eternitie For this separation of the soule and body commonly called Death if we consider the true scope and aime of God in it is not inflicted by him as a seuere Iudge to punish the Elect but as a most mercifull Father who only calleth his Children from a dungeon of misery to a place of all felicitie and happinesse And this is that which hath alwaies made the Godly to leaue this life with such willingnesse and ioy and to endure with so great courage and constancie all their greatest agonies Meditations for the sicke Set thy house in order for thou shalt die Esa 38.1 Iob. 19.25 I Know that my Redeemer liueth and that he shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth Iob. 19.26 And that I shall be againe cloathed with this skin and in my flesh I shall see God Iob. 19.27 whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold This hope is laid vp in my brest Lord let me know mine end and the number of my dayes that I Psal 39.5 may be certified how long I haue to liue Psal 39.6 Behold thou hast made my dayes as it were a span long and mine age is as nothing in respect of thee and verily euery man liuing is altogether vanity Psal 39.7 For man walketh in a vaine shadow and disquieteth himselfe in vaine he heapeth vp riches and cannot tell who shall gather them Psal 39.8 And now Lord what is nay hope truely my hope is euen in thee Psal 39.9 Deliuer me from all mine offences and make me not a rebuke to the foolish Psal 3911. Take away thy stroake from me for I am consumed by the meanes of thy heauy hand Psal 39.12 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sinne thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moath fretting a garment euery man therefore is but vanity Psal 39.13
Heare my Prayer O Lord and with thine eares consider my calling hold not thy peace at my teares Psa 39.14 For I am a stranger with thee and a soâ—ourner as all my fathers were Psa 39.15 O spare me a little that I may recouer my strength before I goe hence and be no more seene Iob 13.23 Answer me O Lord How many are mine iniquities and sinnes make me to know my transgressions and my sinnes Iob 13.24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face from me and holdest me for thine enemie Iob 13.25 Wilt thou breake a leafe driuen to and fro and wilt thou pursue the drie stubble Psal 71.8 Oh cast me not away in my weakenesse forsake me not when my strength faileth me Though I be afflicted yet let me not be destressed Though in want of some of thy comforts yet not of all Though chastned yet not forsaken Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastnest O Lord and teachest him in thy law Psal 94.13 That thou mayest giue him rest in the dayes of euill Psal 119.67 Before I was troubled I went a stray but now I shall learne thy Word Psal 25.7 O Lord remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth Nor iudge me according to my workes For I haue done nothing worthy of thy sight but of eternall death Wherefore I pray thee Psal 51.1.2 blot out all my offences and wash me throughly from my wickednesse and cleanse me from my sinne Iob. 7.20 I haue sinned what shall I doe vnto thee O thou Preseruer of men Why hast thou set me as a marke against thee so that I am a burden vnto my selfe Iob. 7.20 And why dost thou not pardon my transgressions and take away mine iniquitie for now I shall sleepe in the dust and thou shalt seeke me in the morning but I shall not be Iob 10.20 Are not my dayes few cease then and let me alone that I may take comfort a little Iob 10.21 Before I goe whence I shall not returne euen to the land of darkenesse and shadow of death Iob 10.22 A land of darkenesse as darkenesse it selfe and of the shadow of death without any order and where the light is as darkenesse Psal 89.27 What man is he that liueth and shall not see death shall he deliuer his Soule from the hand of the graue Psal 55.4 The feare of death ouerwhelmeth me and my heart is disquieted within me for that I haue daily sinned and not repented considering that from the Infernall pit there is no redemption But be thou mercifull to O Lord and save me for thy Names sake and in thy strength deliuer and comfort me Psal 119.75 I know O Lord that thy iudgements are iust and that thou of very faithfulnesse hast caused me to be troubled Oh let this light affliction which will quickely be gone cause vnto me afterward a more excellent and eternall waight of glory 2. Cor. 4.17 Psal 94.19 In the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart let thy comforts O Lord refresh my Soule Iob. 10.8 Thine hands haue made me and fashioned me round about yet thou dost destroy me Iob. 10.9 Remember I beseech thee that thou hast made me as the clay and wilt thou bring me into the dust againe Iob. 10.10 Hast thou not powred mee out like milke and crudled mee like a cheese Iob. 10.11 Thou hast cloathed mee with skinne and flesh and fenced mee with bones and sinewes Iob. 10.12 Thou hast granted me life and fauour and thy visitation hath preserued my Spirit O Lord thou numbrest my Iob. 14.16 steps and dost set a watch ouer my sinne Iob. 17.1 My breath is corrupt my daies are extinct the Graue is ready for me Iob. 14. I haue said to corruption thon art my Father and to the worme Thou art my Mother and Sister Iob. 7.1 Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth and are not his dayes as the daies of an hireling Iob. 9.25 My dayes are swifter then a Post they flee away and see no good Iob. 30.23 I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appoinfor all the lining Woe is me therefore O Lord that I haue sinned What shall I doe whither shall I flie but to thee O Lord my God Be mercifull to mee in the last day My soule is very much disquieted within me but Lord I require thy aidee and comfort Bee mindefull O Lord of thy Psal 119.49 Word wherein thou hast caused mee to put my trust and let thy mercy come vnto me according to thy Promise For thou art my maker and I am the worke of thy hands Deliuer me O Lord from eternall death in that day wherein Heauen and Earth shall be dissolued when thou comest to Iudge the Earth I am affrighted when I consider that day the day of thy wrath the day of misery that great and exceeding bitter day O Lord in that day where shall I hide my selfe from the face of thine anger O Lord when thou comest to Iudgement condemne mee not I beseech thee but deliuer from the gates of hel my poor soule which I commend vnto thee Acknowledge then O Lord thy Creature not made by any strange gods but by thee the true and liuing God Make my Soule ioyfull with thy presence and remember not my sinnes but according to thy great mercy thinke vpon mee in that day for the merits of my Blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer for the Sicke ALmightie and most mercifull Lord God who by the infirmities of this life dost put vs in minde of our mortalitie and by these outward afflictions dost call vs to inward Repentance I crie vnto thee with my whole heart Psal 6.1 Rebuke me not in thine anger neither chasten me in thy displeasure Psal 6.2 Haue mercy vpon me O Lord for I am weake O Lord heale me for my bones are vexed Thou art He O Lord a Iob. 5.18 That woundest and healest againe b 1. Sam. 2.6 that killest and reuiuest that leadest to the gates of Hell and bringest backe againe If this my sickenesse O Lord be not vnto death helpe me on this my bed of infirmity and strengthen me If thou thinkest expedient rather that I should die then liue doe with me according to thy good pleasure and receiue my Spirit to thy peace which I commend into thy hands who liuest and raignest God of all mercy world without end Amen Or thus O Mercifull Lord God who of thy great mercy dost forgiue the offences of those who truely repent mercifully looke vpon me thy poore Serand hearken vnto me who humbly craue of thee remission of my sinnes Renew O Lord in me whatsoeuer is corrupt and decayed by the Deuils malice or mine owne frailtie Pitie my sighes pitie my teares pitie my groanes vouchsafe to be reconciled
to me that haue confidence in nothing but thy meere mercy O Lord it griueth me that I haue offended thy Maiestie and it grieueth me much that I can grieue no more then I doe And I humbly pray thee by the Death Passion and Intercession of thy Sonne Christ Iesus to pardon my offences promising that if I recouer my former health thy grace assisting me to abstaine from displeasing thy Maiestie hereafter I willingly O Lord and freely from my heart for thy sake forgiue all offendors and offences against me and I heartily desire all those whom I haue any way offended to forgiue me O Lord though my naturall man trembleth at the thought of death yet I professe that I am willing to die if it be thy good pleasure I haue receiued life and all the blessings of this life from thee what shall I render backe to thee for them I will willingly receiue this Cup of death and praise thy Name Psal 31.6 I commend into thy hands my spirit and whither thou disposest of me to liue or die I resigne it to thy good will and disposition and humblie pray thee that if thou seest it good for mee to prolong my dayes on earth that thou wouldst renew my conuersation by the direction of thy holy Spirit that I may passe those dayes in thy feare if thou be otherwise pleased to dispose of me take mee I beseech thee into the armes of thy mercie for Iesus Christs sake my only Sauiour and Redeemer Or thus O GOD of all consolation who hast promised to heare all those that faithfully call vpon thee and not to reiect any that with a contrite heart and penitent soule shall humble himselfe before thee I humbly intreat thee in the name and mediation of thy Sonne Iesus Christ that thou wouldest bee pleased to bee mercifull to mee thy poore Seruant at this time afflicted with sicknesse O Lord pardon forget and blot out of thy remembrance whatsoeuer I haue committed against thee in the whole course of my life Seale and confirme vnto me by thy Spirit a pardon vnto me for all my offences that I may thereby receiue such comfort in my soule that I may with all ioy and willingnesse depart out of this life vnto thee Let me be certified that there is Rom. 8.1 no condemnation to those which are vnited and engraffed into Iesus Christ by Faith that I may be confident 32. that neither my sinnes death the Deuill nor ought else can draw me away or separate me from thee and that I may be assured that thy Throne will not be to me a Barre of seueritie but a Hauen of safety and a sure Sanctuary and refuge for mee to flie vnto Strengthen this Faith in me which may serue as a Buckler to defend me from all tentations and that forsaking the confidence or strength of all other things I may flie wholly to thy mercy in Christ Iesus whereby I may be protected from the Terrors of thy Iudgement Grant vnto mee distressed sinner these graces euen for the same Iesus Christ his sake who with thee and the Holy Spirit liueth and raigneth for euer Or thus ALmightie and euerlasting God whose yeares faile not and who hast determined the daies of man which he cannot passe yet thy selfe endurest for euer and thy Throne from generation to generation Remember that I am but dust like grasse and my dayes as the flower of the field which flourisheth in the morning and in the euening is dried vp and withered Psal 39.5 O let me know my end make me mindefull of my mortalitie Psal 39.14 I am a stranger with thee and a soiourner as all my fathers were and cannot promise my selfe one houre much lesse any dayes or yeares in this my Pilgrimage Psal 6.2.3 I am like a tottering wall and a broken fence giue mee grace therefore that I trust not in the vncertainty of this life like the rich foole in the Gospell but that I may euery houre Luc. 12. prepare my selfe in thy feare to passe out of this fraile mansion and to expect thee with a solid faith and firme hope waiting cheerefully for the day and time of my dissolution Tit. 2.13 And looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Saniour Iesus Christ Make me like the faithfull and wise seruant euer ready and prepared for the comming of my Lord lest being suddenly preuented I bee taken like a Bird in the snare of the Fowler O Lord thou hast by this gentle correction put me in minde of my mortalitie giue me also Grace that I may make good vse of it that I may cast of all the cares of this world and wholly betake my selfe to make my peace with thee And I humbly pray thee that thou wouldst not forget me in my paines and miseries in all my infirmities be not farre from me when by reason of the terrors of death and assaults of the enemie I shall haue most neede of thy helpe but strengthen my soule with thy holy grace against all tentation that my Faith faile mee not but that thy holy Spirit assisting me I may ouercome my spirituall enemies and at the houre of death Lord I beseech thee let thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word Luc. 2.29 Or thus BLessed Lord Iesus Christ the only comfort of the liuing and the eternall life of those which dye in thee I wholly submit my selfe to thy blessed Will whether it please thee to suffer my soule any longer to liue in this earthly Tabernacle to serue thee or to haue it depart out of this transitory world being certainely assured that it cannot perish being committed to thy keeping O Lord I put of this fraile flesh with a willing minde in the hope of the Resurrection of it at the last day togither with my soule when it will become much more glorious and happie then now it is I beseech thee O Lord Iesu strengthen mee with thy Grace against all temptations and defend mee with the shield of thy mercie against all the assaults of the Deuill I know that of my selfe I haue no strength wherefore my whole confidence is in thee I haue no merits of mine owne to alleadge for I see many yea too many of my sins to stand vp against me but by thy mercy I trust that thou wilt repute â—…e amongst the Iust Thou wert borne for me didst hunger thirst fast and pray for me thou didst many good workes and sufferedst many bitter things for my sake Let thy blood wash away the spots of my offences Let thy Iustice couer my vnrighteousnesse and thy Merits plead for me before the great and seuere Iudge And as my sicknesse encreaseth let thy Grace encrease that my faith faile not my hope wauer not nor my loue to thee waxe cold Let me not bee cast downe or deiected with the terror of death but when death shall seize on the eyes of my body let the eyes of my soule looke to thee and when the vse of my tongue shall faile me let my heart crie vnto thee Psal 31.6 I commend my spirit into thy hands O Lord who liuest and raignest c. Psal 23.4 Although thou kill me yet will I trust in thee and though I walke in the midst of the shadow of death yet will I not feare because thou Lord art with me A short Table of the chiefe Heads contained in this Booke A Generall Exhortation to Prayer page 1 In regard of Gods Precept 2 Promise 3 Christs example ibid. The Necessity ibid. The Dignitie 4 The Benefit 5 Directions how to Pray 1. To God only 8 2. In Faith 9 3. In Hope 10 4. In Charitie ibid. 5. In Humilitie of Spirit 12 13 Of Body 14 6. In Perseuerance 15 with feruency and attention 17 The Time for Prayer 20 The Place for Prayer 21 How to pray aright 22 Prayer diuided into Parts 25 The vse of the Lords Prayer 28 The Lords Prayer analysed 32 Petitions for spirituall Graces 68 A Prayer before Prayer 78 Before a Sermon 80 Petitions for temporall blessings 82 Rules for the Morning 84 Morning prayers priuate 85 For a Family 97 Rules for the Euening and Night 102 Euening prayers priuate 105 For a Family 116 Prayers For a married man 121 For a married woman 124 For a Childe 126 For a woman with Childe 128 For a young man or maid 129 For a Seruant 132 Before a Iourney 133 After a Iourney 135 Intercession 137 Deprecation 140 In affliction 145 In time of Pestilence 147 The Creed analysed 152 Confession of Gods Glory 164 Motiues to Repentance 169 The Dutie of Repentance 175 Confession of sinnes 179 Seuen Penitentiall Psalmes analysed 218 Direction before the Sacrament 259 Meditations and Prayers before the Sacrament 263 Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament 276 Motiues to Thankesgiuing 285 Thankesgiuings 289 Seuen Psalmes of Thankesgiuing analysed 305 Imprecation 345 The Tenne Commandements analysed 350 Meditations of death 384 Meditations for the sicke 387 Prayers for the sicke 395 FINIS Faults escaped Page 38. line 16. in the margent reade Hallowed p. 80. l. â—… r. thou p. 97. in the mar r Gen. 1.26.9.6 p. 114. l. 7. r. seuenty times seuen p. 116. l. 9. r. sleep in peace p. 119 l. vlt. r. powre p. 130. l. 1. r. selfe be able to get p. 144. l. 13. r. sentence Depart p. 156. l. 9. put out vs. p. 164. l. vlt. r. bosome p. 169 l. 9. r. who p. 178. l. 5. r. Repentance p. 190. l. 6. r. I haue brought forth p. 211. l. 15. r. art patient p. 267. l. 16. r. long p. 271. l. 6. r. the greatnesse p. 291. 17. r. damnation p. 297. l. 16. r. Iust man of a sinner p. 307. l. 23. r. thy vicegerent p. 309. l. 15. r. triumph p. 314. l. 8. r. to the end that all p. 323. l. 17. for not onely r. as well p. 328. l. 23. r. felt p. 329 l. 7. r. with p. 340. l. 13. r. wherewith p. 341 l 26. r. generations p. 345. l. 14. r. incorrigible p. 374. l. 10. r. beatificall