for the Euening in the Family MOst gracious God we thanke thee for our safe deliuerance this day the rest of our life from all daungers That thou hast giuen vs food health rayment with other things necessarie for our sustenance and sustentation That thou hast not suffered vs to bee ouerwhelmed with cares crosses and calamities whereto wee are subiect whilst we lead this transitory life That thou hast granted vs liberty to trauel in those affaires to which our estates and necessities do call vs. These and many other blessings hast thou bestowed on vs this day and from day to day vntill this present time O Lord as thou hast powred downe thy mercies vppon vs in great measure so showre downe into our hearts those thy heauenly graces of thankefulnesse faithfulnesse fauour and praises that they may bee like vnto Dewe comming downe from Heauen which ascending vp thither againe and so returning thence with retribution of encrease may moisten our dry hard stony hearts and so bring forth fruits of Faith and Repentance which may grow vp to the setting forth of thy glory and the sauing of our owne poore sinnefull soules To this end good Lord settle our hearts this Euening before and when we go to bed as we cary with vs our corruptions still plucking vnto our fraile bodies flesh and blood so yet with the assistance and strength by which we must walke or else wee can neuer stand we may bee led to the consideration of our owne mortality miserable condition that we are now aliue and may die ere the next day that though we haue fedde plentifully this day yet it may be we shall eate no more that some of vs who heare and see one another now shall neuer heare or see one another hereafter For neyther of vs haue assurance to liue vntill the next day to deliuer what wee haue done this night Blessed God therfore we beseech thee euen at this instant time begin to infuse grace into vs to looke vpon our selues as corruptible and to looke into our soules as they are ful of corruption to make a true account at the least of this daies trespasses committed against thy holy heauenly Maiestie to mourne for it as much as we may before sleepe the fore-shewer of death doth seize vpon vs to pray vnto thee feruently to aske thee forgiuenes to giue thee thanks for thy mercies to lift vppe our hands and harts vnto thee and at the least to say Lord be mercifull vnto me a miserable sinner This repentance and this continuall practice of prayer of praises and of thankesgiuing grant vs good Lord and to all thy chosen children for thy Sonne our Sauiour Christ Iesus sake A priuate Prayer for one going to bed THis day good Lord is spent so doe our liues spend as our time doth decrease so do our sinnes encrease We seeke riches and know not who shall enioy them Wee couet children wealth and preferments and are not assured to possesse them And I that should know thus much doe not consider what I know nor weigh mine owne infirmities I haue good Lord this day acted my part with much frailty and many faylings I haue forgotten to call vppon thee my Soueraigne Lord this day and most of the dayes of my life my faith is weake my vnderstanding is dull in diuine things my memorie failes to retayne good things though they bee taught me my affections depriued and wandering after vaine worldly and wicked imaginations the which carry mee from the keeping of thy Commandements This O Lord I confesse and better I am not able to do without thy assistance yet keepe mee gracious God this night and from henceforth from further contagion of bodie and of soule let not my polutions in the works of darkenesse this night be added to my former transgressions but cleanse mee from that is past and keep me from the like sins from time to time change the Old man in me by repentance and renouation saue my soule and teach me to set forth thy praise both day and night Certaine Meditations and short eiaculations of Praiers to bee vsed in the night A Waking out of sleepe let vs begin with some short prayers in this or the like sort My God I am awaked againe awake mee out of sinne as thou hast done me out of sleepe Let my sleepe wherein I had not the vse of my senses teach mee not to driue out my daies in slumber security and impiety When I arise out of my bed raise me vp to newnesse of life repentaunce for my sinnes and amendment of what I haue done amisse When mine eyes shall close againe keepe mee in thy protection safegard by thy power Now Lord defend me this night and euer preserue me from danger sin and death Keepe me from concupiscence lust and vaine imaginations Knit my hart vnto thee Let my sleep be moderate and safe so that I may rise better prepared for thy seruice A Prayer for deliuerance from temptations OVR fraile Natures and our pronenesse to fall into all kind of sins forceth vs O Lord if we would doe as wee should to flye vnto thee for our safety and saluation and to call vpon thee who art our stay and our strength and who onely hast power to preserue vs beseeching thee that thou wilt be pleased either to put vs from those temptations which of our selues wee are not able to withstand Teach vs O Lord to wrestle with sinne and with Sathan by prayers reparations framed and fitted by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit and when these temptations are offered offer vnto vs thy â—elping hand to stand stedfast in faith with feare to offend thee Let vs then when these temptations come say vnto our selues Lord thou seest all and thou wilt punish vs Lord help and Lord deliuer vs and for my sinfull weake selfe saue mee from these violent assaults of Sathan I cannot defend my selfe he thou therfore my shield and buckler my corrupt nature is ready to yeelde the contagions of others the allurements of the world and wicked persons are ready to enthrall me yet if thou my mercifull God strengthen me I shall be able by thy assistance to stand If thou my Sauior stretch out thy shield and speare of defence I shall with Peter being almost sunke walke safe on the waters of strife Helpe therefore Lord for vaine is the helpe of man Put from vs Pride Presumption Luxury Lust Selfe-conceite Couetousnesse want of deuotion Malice Mischief Vnbeleefe hardnesse of heart such like sinnes which are the subiects subiects of our temptations or if any such assault vs or come neere vs let them not take such holde on vs to throw vs downe that we be not able to rise any more but in the comming or before the preuailing of our temptations support deliuer and saue vs. So shall we giue thee laud for euer and euer Amen ¶ A Prayer for patience in time of wants and
distrust diffidence of thy power or mercy that so through thy onely and all-able assistance I may bee made of a sinfull soule though not a perfect yet an acceptable worshipper of thee my Soueraigne Lord and onely Sauiour Short Admonitions concerning the premises I Shall desire the charitable viewer of these imperfect rules concerning prayer to conceiue that they are not set downe either to informe the learned or any that are well exercised in prayer But to giue some light vnto such as are young simple ignorant or not much vsed to prayer Neither should any of them bee tied onely to these words or formes heere set downe but it is in their choise to take the sence of the same so farre as they shall finde it to further their good and godly indeauours in prayer And if GOD shall indue them with better abilities they may vse them ought to be thankfull for that heauenly talent they haue and not to hide or to abuse it A prayer for deuotion in prayer SInce all good gifts comes from thee our gracious God the author of all goodnes grant vs thy speciall sauing grace of sanctified feruent prayer in frequent and zealous supplications Wee haue it not of our selues we seeke it of thee nether can wee seeke it without thou first send the motions thereof into our hearts and mindes prepare vs therefore for this holy duty grant vs the practice and power of it before we come to it touch our hearts with the remembrance of our sinnes and repentance for the same Call to our memorie and meditations how slowe wee haue beene to present our selues to thy presence by prayer how cold wee are in deuotion how distracted in our thoughts and how full of fantasies and of fond imaginations which draw our zeale and deuotion from thee even in the time of praier when our thoughts should bee pure and our hearts onely setled vpon thy seruice so that in stead of bringing a blessing we bring iust curses to our selues by these our more formall then faithfull praiers O Lord therefore infuse grace into our hearts kindle zeale fortifie our faith let not our secure and sensuall seruice of thee increase more of our abounding sinnes nor adde more to thy deserued anger but be thou in the middest of vs by thy assisting holy Spirit When wee lift vp our hands lift thou vppe our hearts vnto thee when we speake vnto thee speake thou peace vnto our Consciences giue vs words to vtter faith to beleeue feruencie in our prayers an earnest desire to abandon all euil affections and loose carriage of our cogitations and so closely to settle our soules vnto thy seruice When we come to make our supplications before thy Maiesty let this instant time of prayer whilest we now speake bee the beginning of our better seruice and so continuing in the same with humility constancy and fauour thou maiest haue the honour and wee the benefit To thee bee giuen all honour and glory now and all times Amen Morning prayer in a familie O Lord God light of lights thou that giuest light vnto our soules and to our bodies thou that hast brought vs from the darknesse of this night to see the comfortable light of this day bring vs from the darknesse of ignorance and of sinne and from the corrupting of our soules wherein wee haue liued both day and night As thou hast raised vs from our rests to follow our callings so raise vs from security sloath dulnesse distraction lust couetousnes selfe-conceites pride and all other corrupt affections which carry vs headlong after the vaine imaginations of our owne harts and euill affections Good Lord when we go abroad about our worldly affaires let not our mindes bee led altogether from heauenly meditations but let thy blessed Spirit be our motioner to put vs in minde of the shortnesse and vncertainty of our liues let vs haue before our thoughts often the sinnes wee haue committed the good wee might haue done and haue omitted the time wee haue mispent either in doing no good at all or in doing that is euill And this good Lord teach vs to tell our selues and our owne soules not with wordes onely comming from the lippes but with inward sighs and groanes from the heart and when through the assistance of thy holy Spirit thou hast made vs to search our sins and to smite our hearts then blesse thou the works of our hands in all our good endeauours and as by the same our store doth encrease our thankfulnes to thee may encrease As thy blessings are bestowed so our prayers praises may bee rendred and redoubled At our going out in our rest trauaile and returne bee thou with vs by the blessing and assistance of thy holy Spirit let this day good Lord bee a beginning and a new birth day of faith repentance for our sinnes and of reconciliation to thy Maiesty that so thou mayest receiue vs to mercy Let al the rest of our dayes be an amendment of our sinfull liues past Blesse good Lord thy Church our King his Realmes with faith truth peace and prosperitie guide the rest of the States of this land in their seuerall conditions callings that both they and we may maintaine thy truth set forth thy glory keepe a good conscience to our selues shew charity one vnto another So wee may liue in thy feare dye in thy fauour and after this mortall life is ended we may enioy an immortall life with thee in heauen there to magnifie praise and glorifie thy most glorious Name world without end Amen A Morning Prayer to be vsed in priuate THis day our good God appearing and thy mercies appearing by our deliuerance from dangers this night past and in the ordaining of dayes and of all thy other workes what praises shall we render for thy workes of Creation and of preseruation If we should not praise thee yet one day telleth another and one night certifieth another but I most sinnefull soule haue neyther expressed nor felte what belongs to the visible workes of thy inuisible Maiesty neither can I comprehend it in thy workes and made known by thy reuealed word for thy Maiesty is so great thy Wisedom so vnserchable and thy Word so deepe that I am not able to conceiue them It sufficeth great God vnto thee that art al-sufficient in thy selfe to expresse thy self vnto vs sinners in such sort as we are able to apprehend thee And I one of the least and vnworthiest seruants doe confesse my selfe to be a most greeuous sinner in thought word and deede I haue followed mine owne wicked fantasies I haue broken thy commandements and betrayed mine owne soule yet my hope is in thy mercie and therefore in the beginning of this day I beginne my prayers vnto thee teach me therefore to pray that I may this day and the rest of my life call vpon thee and praise thee through the assistance of thy power which graunt vs good Lord. A Prayer
our frailty and assist vs with his holy Spirit against such temptations Also when wee begin and after wee haue begun our prayers we must bring with vs and keepe with vs this consideration and resolution not to seeke so much temporall as spirituall blessings at Gods hands And if our necessities call vpon vs to craue temporal blessings yet let our desires be so farre limited alwayes to submit our wills to Gods heauenly will let vs begin to begge of God things spirituall before temporal blessings though both be necessary and neither to be neglected To all this must bee added Charity in pardoning offences that are committed against vs according to the president precept which our Sauiour himself hath set downe in that forme of prayer vvhich ought to be the rule of all our prayers and so reconciling our selues first by charity to our aduersaries we may come with more cleere Consciences and more acceptable sacrifice in our supplications vnto God For if wee aske forgiuenesse of our sins and do not forgiue others wee can find but little assurance to obtaine what we aske So then we see it is not fit nor safe to runne rashly vnto prayer without preparation premeditation faith repentance reconciliation and resistance of temptations CAP. VI. An entrance to Prayer HAuing prepared our mindes and our heartes for Prayer we may then most safely make our entrance into it which consisteth chiefely of these parts Inuocation Confession Laâ—ding or Thankesgiuing Supplication Inuocation is a calling or appellation on the name of God most high Which declareth denounceth the attributes belonging to the nature of God and these doe concerne his Iustice Mercie Power his Prouidence His Iustice as a most iust God who by thy Iustice doest distribute dispose vnto all creatures all that belongs and is most fitte for them who therby dost gouerne and guide 〈…〉 and men with all that is in heauen and earth His Mercy as thus Most mercifull and gracious God whose mercy is aboue all thy other wonderfull workes in pardoning and preseruing from destruction and in sending thy Son to saue sinners The inuocation of Gods Power may bee made after this manner O God of vnspeakeable power and might which madest all things of nothing by thine owne onely word wisedome and art able at all 〈◊〉 â—â—ing all this againe vnto nothing The inuocation of Gods prouidence may be in this wise O Lord God of wonderful wisedom he whose prouidence all things are preserued and from whose wisedome we haue all our knowledge and wisedom These and the like inuocations according to the appellation and declaration of Gods attributes uttered in this or the like sort may serue as some instruction to the ignorant so from Introduction and entrance into their prayer vntill by practice they bee made more perfect as the first part thereof yet to be altered amended augmented as euery mans capacity and ability shall affoord him meanes Next to Inuocation in prayer Confession hath her proper place For if we haue offended God as there is no man but dayly and hourely doth it then it is most needfull 〈◊〉 first we do confesse our selues before we ask any benifits This Confession is of two kindes the one generall the other particular That generall as when one doth declare and deplore his greeuous sinnes that hee is polluted with the same thoroughout all his parts and faculties the latter which is a mention and recitall of seuerall sinnes such as euery man may finde himselfe to bee most burdened with as those which were last committed most fresh in memory namely that this day of late I haue done these euils in thy sight I haue seduced such personnes I haue slandered my neighbour I haue in this denyed or darkened the truth I haue harbored these euil thoughts of such persons without iust cause giuen I haue followed this vaine desire affected this fond inuention presented to me by others or entertayned by my selfe I haue not withstood such an euill worke when I could haue done it I haue bene silent in such a cause when I might haue made the truth manifest And so of our seuerall sinnes either committed whereof wee may take knowledge or of necessary duties omitted which in Christian dutie wee ought to haue done when wee make faithfull confession vnto God ioyned with some repentance and the same accompanied with acknowledgement Thanksgiuing for mercies receiued are the best preparatiues in our prayers After this and the like both generall and particular confessions of our sins in prayer vnto God a lauding and a thankesgiuing for the blessings imparted vnto vs wherof we ought to be sensible and not to be silent comes next in place For it were vnseemly inconuenient and improuident to ask any new good turnes of any man before we return any shew of thankefulnesse for what good we haue receiued so would it bee as vnbeseeming and altogether as vnprofitable for mortall man to pray vnto the immortal God for any encrease of mercies before hee acknowledge those which haue beene formerly powred on him The forme of this praise and thankesgiuing may bee made after this manner We praise and magnifie thy Diuine Maiesty most glorious God for thy fauour and goodnesse extended alwayes on vs sinfull Creatures since our Creation for giuing vs vnderstanding of thee and of thy wil for preseruing maintayning and protecting vs more particularly for c. Lastly supplication or petition is to be made especially for the pardoning of our sinnes for freeing and keeping vs from falling into the same or the like againe for the obtayning of spirituall graces and of temporall necessities for the pardoning of sinnes it may bee in such like sort Thou that art the God of mercy shew mercie and compassion on me a most miserable sinner Lord let thy mercie shine aboue all thy other works Cast not thy louing countenance from me bewayling my many heynous transgressions Lord God thou seest our wantes and our weakenesse I beseech thee strengthen me in body and in health Blesse me in estate that I may be the better able to serue thee and imploy what thou shalt affoord according to thy sacred will pleasure The supplication for spirituall graces may be after this wise Though wee haue deserued no goodnes hauing done so much euill yet according to thy wonted goodnes grant vs such graces and heauenly gifts as may make vs blessed in thy sight and beloued of thy Saints Giue me a stedfast faith an humble contrite heart penitence for all my sinnes past watchfulnesse ouer my waies for time to come zeale of thine honour and glory a loue of thy truth and of such as loue the same an vnderstanding heart to discerne it constancie in following and keeping thy commandements teach me to examine mine owne heart to search it strictly to see if there yet remaine any hypocirsie or hollownesse in it Take from mee the temptations of lust vaine-glory malice sensuality
disgraces IT is iust with thee O Lord and I haue iustly deserued that thou shouldest send me some wants and small disgraces after thou hast giuen me prosperitie plenty and sufficiencie when not vsing thy blessings well and neglecting the meanes thou hast affoorded for my maintainance I am faln from that I had which was sufficient to want some things for my necessary vse And yet my wants are not so great as my sinnes are or as they haue deserued Since then howsoeuer my estate or my estimation is in this world I do beseech thee graunt me patience to beare this or whatsoeuer crosse it pleaseth thee to lay vpon mee and to acknowledge that I my selfe am the cause of it And so when thou hast brought me home vnto thy self by the acknowledgement of my selfe and of my sinnes comfort me againe according to thy eternall wisedome that I bee neyther dismaide with aduersitie or puffed vp with prosperity but if it be thy good pleasure that pouerty shall still pursue mee prepare me with patience to beare this crosse though hard for flesh and blood yet once obtaining the victorie by thy sole strength ouer this inward enemy my infirmities sticking closest vnto me I may possesse my soul in peace and whatsoeuer becomes of my worldly estate the spiritual state of my soul may be safe I saued thorow thy abundant mercies Amen A Prayer in time of sicknesse MOst gracious Father we confesse and wee are driuen to confesse wee haue deserued plagues pestilence and other sicknesses whereto we are subiect of our selues aswell by the naturall infection of our bodies whereby one taketh contagion from another as by our spirituall pollutions whereby our sinnes being the inward festring sores doe ascend vnto the Tribunall in heauen calling and crying for vengeance on the earth on the sonnes of men the inhabitants and Rulers of the earth The effects of this good Lord we haue often and visibly seene though wee doe not well consider the cause Wee feele the stroke but do not see the hand that strikes neither do we well weigh what moues that hand to bee stretched out agaynst vs. Now the sicknesse thou hast sent vs makes vs to looke somewhat about vs and to feel that which our flesh can easily find paine anguish aches torments comming from the body to the mind But O Lord we are not so sensible of that which concernes the sicknesse of the soule Yet in this time of our visitation whilest paine and perill doth oppresse vs teach vs to take this as an information of our infirmities heale vs good Lord inwardly in the diseases of our soules and keepe vs from those corruptions of our naturall affections which draws vs vnto fond desires with false and foolish appetites the procurers of these our bodily diseases O Lord yet cleanse vs within from our sins and then we shal be cured from our corporall sicknes but if it be thy blessed will to continue this Contagion yet comfort and support vs during the time of sicknesse Make thou good Lord our beddes and bodies such as may make vs able to vndergo our sickenesse comfort vs with the inward consolation of thy holy Spirit when cold heat coniunction or succession of either comes then O Lord in the time of extremity whilest Naâ—uâ—e is distempred our bodiâ—s disâ—ased our minds distracted betwixt feare of death danger of our estate care of our children friends kindrâ—d and family wee may yâ—t receyue a sweet repose from the influence of thy holy Spirit to rest content with thy good will and pleasure with a reference and relying on the same for resolution of life or of death So may wee by thy assistance say still and peaceably vnto thee in the sincerity of our owne soules We are heere now good Lord at thy disposing do with vs what thou wilt Only make vs able to bear our owne infirmities and thy visitations with faith help vs in the time of this weaâ—nesse and danger of this disease if thou giue life graunt amendment of life If thou appoint death grant vs preparation for our dissolution Repentance for our sinnes and a ioyfull assurance of thy mercies the bodie is weake the flesh tremâ—les the Spirit is troubled O thou the giuer of life and the disposer of death wheÌ„ sense is dull or distracted infuse thy Spirit to temper it and to turne vs vnto thee dispose our harts so that whither life or death do come they may bee alike welcome vnto vs and we may entertaine either according to thy good wil and pleasure Arme vs against the feare of death if life be graunted graunt wee may leade a new life setting forth thy glory If death be designed let the period of this life bee finished in thy praises lift vp our hearts at the last gaspe And now at this instant plant in my heart faith to beleeue in thy sauing health feruencie to pray for it courage to endure the conflicts of sickenesse and of sinne and in the end a blessed death and a ioyfull resurrection thorow Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer for knowledge THou O great and gracious God who art the light of our liues and the Conseruer of all sauing knowledge enlighten our vnderstanding with the true knowledge of thee of our selues and of the wayes wherein we should walke And although we can neuer in this world knowe thee as thou art being inuisible infinit in goodnesse and in greatnes yet giue vs such and so much knowledge of thee as our capacities can comprehend and thy will is to reueale Let vs attaine to so much knowledge as to see thy wonders in thy works and thy good pleasure reuealed in thy word if that which thou hast not reuealed of thy selfe let vs bee satisfied with what thou hast reuealed in thy word Of the first let our naturall inquisition of thy supernaturall power weaken or preiudice our faith And in that knowledge which thy word deliuereth let vs not be content with a weake and meane measure but couet to come vnto that knowledg which may strengthen our faith informe our consciences and reforme our liues In the knowledge of our selues teach vs to consider and know our owne weaknesse and wickednesse our frailtie and manifold infirmities our sinnes and transgressions against thy holy and heauenly Maiesty For the knowledge of our owne wayes grant vs warinesse and watchfulnes to see and finde out our faylings in the keeping of thy Commandements our feare plainly to professe thy truth thorow doubt of danger scoffe or losse the smal account we make of thy good things wee leaue vndone or do amis of the euill wee haue committed And when good Lord thou hast rightly instructed vs in the knowledg of thee by thy works and word of our selues in finding and confessing our sinnes and of our owne wayes by acknowledging them to be wandering by-paths then bring vs home vnto thee to pray vnto thee and praise thee in this life