but that our faith may bee firme our hope assured and our confidence in thee alwaies constant to expect the good pleasure in performance of thy gracious promises but that I may loue and honour thee aboue and more then all creatures which are corruptible the workemanship of thy hands and which as they haue their being from thee so they can not bee at all or subsist without thy sustentation As thou art O Lord graunt that wee may honour thee as thou art our God that wee may praise thee World without end Amen Thou shalt haue no other Gods but me THe Heathen O LORD GOD euerlasting giue thy glory vnto stickes stones and other imaginary idle vaine and euill things The Infidels and vnbeleeuers doe either openly or secretly deny thy Deitie and diuine incomprehensible Majestie The ignorant and evill instructed people though they by custome professe somewhat of thy seruice and power yet they know not what it is but either through euill instruction or for want of instruction know not or care not how to keepe thy Commandements O Lord teach them that beleeue amisse the wayes of truth and to amend their errors those that beleeue not touch their hearts make them to tremble at thy terrors and diuine Iustice which yet they feele not and so to entertaine Faith that their soules may be saued Teach vs that professe thy truth to practise it That we may haue none other Gods but thee the True and onely Euerliuing GOD There is none other but onely thou that art good and goodnesse it selfe How then shall wee stand in iudgement before thee who preferre and accompt any any created thing before or in comparison of thee O let our knees and hearts bow downe before thee alone with faith with feare and with acknowledgement Then we shall haue none other Gods but thee neither follow our owne fantasies nor the corrupt doctrine of such as misleade others Thou shalt not make vnto thy selfe the Image or likenesse of any thing in Heauen above or in the Earth beneath or in the Waters vnder the Earth For c. AS thy power O LORD is greatest and thy preheminence aboue all thy Creatures in the heauens and in the earth So is thine Honour so precious that thou wouldest not haue it giuen to any thing in heauen or in in earth Yet good Lord our natures are so fraile and our soules so sinfull that wee fancie and frame vnto our selues imaginary worshippe of creatures in Heauen in earth and in the waters by their similitude and likenesse giuing or attributing thy glory to those glowormes being false and fading fantasies of our owne imaginations Since then most mighty Maker and Monarch of heauen and earth thou seest our frailtie to fall and the dishonor of thy Maiestie by false worship by framing the likenesse of any creature to worship O suffer vs not to make to set vp or to adore false Gods to fall before them to place any power or hope in them to trust to our owne policie or power to depend vpon earthly helpes ioyes or delights but to rely onely vpon thy strength good will and pleasure That nothing in heaven aboue in the earth beneath or in the waters vnder the earth may carry vs from thy true worship and seruice which is our safety and concernes thy glory to whom be giuen praise without ceasing and Honour without Superstition now and for euer Amen Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine O Lord GOD most mighty and merciful since thy maiestie is so high great and glorious how carefull should wee be to conserue a reuerend and awefull estimation of thy holy name as to honour it in thought word and deed But O most gracious God how carelesse are wee to keep thy holy Commandement How ready by irreligion to blaspheme thy holy Name with oathes curses execrations to abuse thy holy Attributes in forswearing and false accusing to name thee O our good GOD in our mouthes when wee haue thee not in our hearts to dissemble and make Hypocriticall profession of thy holy and true Religion without any care or conscience to put it in practise O most mightie and mercifull God we beseech thee to pardon and passe by our profanenesse in taking thy name in vaine our impiety in blaspheming thy holy name our rashnesse in naming thee without inward reuerence or remembrance of thy power honour and Maiestie our pronesse to mention thy Word Workes and Worship without due premed tation and consideration O teach vs when wee talke thinke or inuocate thy holy name to doe it with conscience faith and seare when we thinke on it to cogitate and call to memory that wee are in thy presence to beleeue that wee are vnder thy power and subiect to thy punishment Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabbath Day sixe dayes c. SInce thou most glorious God by thine omnipotent power hast created this World and by thy providence for a perpetuall memoriall of this thy most wonderfull Worke hast or dained a Sabbath or seaueth day of rest to bee celebrated and set apart for thy Seruice In which wee should be free from seruile workes and worldly cares O LORD therefore sanctifie vs and so prepare our heartes for this thy seruice that we may make a conscience of performing this thy Precept For this purpose Let vs bee carefull to keepe thy Sabbaothes in publique in the Congregation and Assembly of thy Seruants by Prayer prayses and hearing of thy Word In priuate by Preparation Meditation Conference Consideration of thy Clemencie and Workes of Creation and Preseruation as in deeds of Charitie Mercie and Compassion to the needy For this ende good and gracious GOD fitte and furnish our hearts our wits and our vnderstandings with Zeale Knowledge and Conscience to shake off on this thy holy Sabbaths sloth and slownes to come vnto thine Assemblies and to exercise these religious Duties to cast away worldly cares bodily labours except such as are for necessitie for present preseruation of things ready to perish which cannot bee otherwise preuented or longer deferred and of that which may with most Moderation set forward the religious Exercises and holy Duties of that Day These Graces graunt vs Amen Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy c. O Lord God as thou art the Propagator and Protector of our soules to whom only we should giue diuine Honour so wouldst thou that we should giue to our naturall Parents reuerence obedience sustenance and faithfulnesse which in Iustice is due for the cause of our birth being education and maintenance by them And that we may doe this which thou good God requirest Wee beseech thee remoue from vs Pride selfe-conceite and selfe-loue neglect of our dutie to our Parents and Superiours impatience when they shall exercise authoritie inflict punishment or demaund those things to bee done which we doe dislike or not desire Hardnesse of heart when they stand in neede of our helpe
times of Peace and Prosperity whilest our Protestant Religion the best because the truest is enioyed and established might by Gods permission and all helping power in these serene and and Sunshining dayes before there come more darkenesse and danger cast off carelessenes of planting Truth supplanting Errors practising of Piety preseruing the publique peace and safetie reforming of things amisse in the Church Common-weale which cannot be done withour more diligence and vigilancie courage prouidence and care especially by setting the chief watchmen in the Church and State more closely to their Stations the one by Doctrine Discipline and Diligence the other by Counsell and CircuÌ„spection to prevent perills and to procure the peace of this our Sion And that this may bee performed I conclude with the ensuing Prayer that being the subiect of this small preceding Treatise A Prayer for the peace and prosperitie of the Kings Maiestie his Dominions and Subiects MOst mighty gracious and merciful God who hast made dost gouerne and preserue the Heauens the Earth and all the Creatures therein coÌ„tained Be mercifull vnto vs most miserable and sinnefull creatures who were ordained for thy seruice and yet doe nothing more or so much as commit sins against thy supâ—came Majestie Wee haue from the highest to the lowest beene polluted with originall sinnes Our great our grieuous and our out-crying sinnes call vnto thee for our destruction and damnanation But because thy Mercy is aboue all thy other workes which yet exceede in greatnesse Wee prostrate our selues before thy Throne of grace beseeching thee for thy Sonnes sake and for thine owne goodnesse sake to saue vs poore sinners who desire to doe thee seruice though hitherto wee haue gone astray and walked in the waies of wickednesse Thou hast planted thy glorious Gospell of truth heere amongst vs we haue professed but wee haue not practised it as we should yet because it is the planting of thine own right hand suffer not our sinnes to pluck vp the same but rather supplant our sinnes and thereby strengthen our states and soules To this end good and gracious God looke vpon thy seruant our Soueraign whom thou hast set ouer vs inlighten his royall heart with thy sauing Graces of knowledg piety couÌ„sell care prouidence for preseruation and aduancement of thy truth and of the people that thou hast committed to his charge Giue him Zeale fortitude power peace and protection against all that are Enemies to true Religion and to those Realmes thou hast appointed him to rule Giue him a discerning heart to discouer and shun all dangers and all that bee dangerous to him and to his Dominions vnite his heart in loue to his people and them in loyalty to him O LORD preserue thy people vnder him in peace Protect them from forrayne power and both him and them from home-bred conspiracies and all other mischieuous machinations Make the Prince his Magistrates and People zealous of thy seruice and glory constant and carefull in keeping thy Commandements couragious for defence of thy Trueth and their Countrey Conscionable and Charitable That so they may bee still thy faithfull seruants and thou their mercifull God So shall thy glorious Gospell and the light of thy Trueth euer remaine amongst vs vntill the comming of thy Sonne Christ Iesus that thou mayest raigne ouer vs and we remaine with thee in eternall Blisse Amen Amen Good Lord. A Prayer for our afflicted Brethren the Protestants beyond the Seas MOst gracious and merciful Father who vsest to chasten thy Children and to correct whom thou louest Haue mercy on those that suffer for mainetenance of thy trueth Their sinnes haue deserued thy punishments and yet we that haue sinned as much if not more haue not suffered so much for our sinnes Thou hast sent thy scourge to let them see their sinnes Thou hast not gone out with their hostes but hast scattered them O Lord yet heale and binde vp their bones which thou hast broken gather them together and now thou hast taught the Princes that their power is in vaine without thy protection and the people that there is no confidence in the arme of flesh giue theÌ„ yet confidence in thy fauour patience in aduersity courage to fight for thy Trueth comfort amidst their calamities O Lord thou doest permit thy people Israel many times after thy long sufferings and their great sinnes to bee ouercome by the Iebusites Amalachites and Philistims The Arke was taken and they cried out the glory of Israel was departed yet thou didst send helpe when there was no helpe nor hope in Man O Lord thou hast executed Iustice and Iudgement yet leaue not thine to their oppressors and when thou hast dealt with them according to thy mercy teach them thy Statutes that they may know thy Testimonies It is time O Lord for thee to worke for the persecutors of the Trueth haue destroyed thy Law The Kings of the earth band themselues and the Princes are assembled together against the Lord and his annointed O yet thou Lord of Hostes breake their bandes in sunder and cast away their cordes And though the waters rage and be troubled yet let thy seruants finde and say the Lord of hostes is with them and the God of Iacob is their refuge And that when thy seruants our persecuted brethren haue receiued comfort and deliuerance they may reioyce in thy mercies sing praises vnto thee and call vnto their neighbors to behold the wonderfull workes thou hast done for them to make it knowen vnto the world It is thou that makest wars to cease It is thou that hast broken the bowe cuttest the speare and burnest the Chatiot in sunder So we pray for them and for one another Beseeching thee to graunt vs these requests For thy Sonnes sake our Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer to bee vsed on the Sabbath Day O Lord God of infinite power and prouidence who after thy euer to bee admired and praised worke of creating this World didst ordaine one day of seauen to bee kept as a Sabboth not only to be free from labour and trauell but to be wholly dedicated and kept holy for thy seruice in Prayers and praises to be offered vnto thy Maiestie as an incense and oblation of thankefull acknowledgement of thy most great might and mercies in creating this world and ordayning man to gouerne all creatures therein conteyned in conseruing all these thy Creatures for his vse and him for thy seruice in giuing him light of Knowledge and vnderstanding of thy Word and Commandement and of the things hee should doe or leaue vndone As we receiue these thy blessings and benefits so specially on this day which thou hast selected for thy seruice O Lord settle vs vnto it fit vs for it and grant grace not only vnto vs heere present but to the publicke state and to particular persons in other places not only to rest from labours on this day but to shun sinne to communicate with thy seruants in thy seruice to
was not of this world because â—t was not temporatie but eternall it was not earthly but â—eauenly yet his power being thine thy Kingdome is heere by Creation and Preseruation It is in Heauen by all fulnesse of glorie and â—rayses O let the Kingdome and Scepter of thy word come vnto vs rule and direct our hearts heere on earth that wee may come to thy Kingdome in heauen That heere wee may obey and serue thee in this thy kingdome and heereafter enioy thy happinesse and giue thee glory in in thine euerlasting Kingdom Amen Thy Will bee done in Earth as it is in Heauen Most gracious and glorious Soueraigne â—hy will and thy wisdome are the same â—n wisdome hast thou â—one all things Thy wisdom hath wroght â—ll Thy Word hath â—euealed thy will and â—hy wisedome Thou â—n thy vvonderfull workes of Creation diddest command all things to bee done and it was done Our wills good Lord are weake in that which is good and strong to doe euill In Heauen all things obey thee and vpon earth Man is most disobedient to thy Maiestie The Earth brings foorth fruites for the sustenance of man and man is fertil in bringing forth sinne to thy displeasure and dishonour It is thy will that wee should serue thee but our wilfull desires draw vs from thy seruice So in earth earthly creatures is contention and corruption In Heauen and heauenly minded men is vnitie concord and contentment Heauen giues thee glory Earth yeelds vs fruits The fruits of the earth not well and thankefully vsed turne to the diseases of our bodies foules As thy good will hath wrought all things for our good so good Lord giue vs good wills to doe thy will whilest wee liue heere on earth 〈◊〉 that wee may make iâ— as a foot-step to aâ— scend vnto Heauenâ— Let it therefore bee our chiefest desire to conforme our willes to thy blessed will 〈◊〉 That when our Pilgrimage is passed heere vpon Earth 〈◊〉 and wee haue passed through the vale oâ— miserie thou mayesâ— prouide for vs a resting place in Heauen that wee may bee seated with thy Saints to doe thee seruice and to sing vnto thee perpetuall praises Giue vs this Day our daily Bread THIS Day O Lord as all other daies of our frailâ— and fading life being short and a space wherein we still commit sinne We stand in need of sustenance Our daily bread and food being the meanâ— to maintain our liues we cannot haue it except thou afford it 〈◊〉 and when wee haue it wee doe not afford thee deserued praises Thou hast afforded vs plentie and yet of our thankfulnesse there is great penury Wee ryot in excesse and suffer thy seruants to sustaine wants We haue not onely bread food and rayment but all things necessarie from thy liberall hands and yet wee neither returne thee laud nor to our needie neighbors supply out of the store thou hast sent vs. O Lord as thou hast comforted vs with thy creatures so teach vs to make a right vse oâ— them that wee abusâ— not thy bountie iâ— mispending them noâ— restraine our Chariâ— tie in releeuing thosâ— who are in greatesâ— necessitie accordinâ— to the meanes which in mercie thou haâ— giuen vs. Wee hauâ— need of food for ouâ— Soules and otheâ— things necessarie aâ— well for our liues aâ— for our bodies O giuâ— vs good God thiâ— day and at all other times what is conuenient both for our soules and bodies and therewith graunt vs contentment and moderation that wee may be satisfied with what is sufficient and not seeke things superfluous to abuse or mispend that we haue So wee hauing sufficient may not onely â—ee satisfied but may do good therewith to our owne soules and spare that which may â—ee spared vnto the â—oore forwhom thou hast not prouided And so not onely this day but all the dayes of our liues wee may be good Stewards of thy blessings and true Accomptants of thy earthly and Heauenly Treasures Forgiue vs our Trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. HOW often and continually wee offend thy Heauenly Maiestie thou good God onely that feest all things doest best dilcerâ—e Wee sinne hourely and therfore haue still need of thy pardon Wee often desire it and do more often offend Wee desire it with condition yet we seldome performe the condition How fearefull is our state when wee commit sinnes craue pardon promise to remitt others trespasses and yet neither avoide the euill amend our liues or passe by with pardon the smallest harmes wee haue from our Brethren but seeke release from thee and reuenge against them O good God teach vs to looke backe vnto our former backeslidings euen in this behalfe And if there bee any whose faultes wee haue not remitted done onely against our selues Mooue our hearts to relent and to bee reconciled as farre foorth as may stand with thy glory and the good of thy Church If the cause bee such as may not bee concealed or kept from question Yet let not our particular reuenge be the ground to seeke any mans ruine But so teach and temper our hearts to distinguish betwixt priuate spleene publique Iustice thy glory our owne vaine glory wrath or displeasure as this our daylie prayer or forgiuing others be not made vnfruitfull vnto them or hurtfull vnto our owne soules but by pardoninge their lesser offences thou mayst be moued to pardon our greater sinnes and that for thy sake and the safety of our soules through Iesus Christ our LORD Amen And leade vs not into Temptation But deliuer vs from euill LEade vs not or rather Gracious God suffer vs not to be ledd into temptation we leade our selues our Concupiscence and naturall corruptions leade vs The flesh the World and the Deuill lead vs driue vs vnto temptations What helpe or what hold haue we in our selues good God When that which is without assayles that which is within vs is more ready to be ouercome then to withstand Nay our inward naturall inbred corruptions giues and receiues and therefore canot withstand these assaults Our flesh is pampered and puffed vp with Pride Our lusts rising from our naturall instigations of the flesh and prouocations of others procured by internall inflamations and externall incensements lead vs and ouerwhelme vs with temptations When we good Lord as we are directed desire thee not to leade vs or suffer vs to bee lead into temptation we therein craue thy deliuerances from the frailty of our flesh which cannot resist but ray seth temptations Our Captiuity comes from our selu our Deliuerance from thee Wee are daily hourely and continually assaulted with temptations of lusts when wee doe but see or feele that wherein we delight Of pride when exalted or desiring to bee exalted wee climbe higher then our strength or capacitie can reach vnto or if comming vnto it and comming by vngodly meanes vnto it we fall good Lord from thy grace further and further as at the first wee
O Lord graunt that wee ouerweane not our selues thinking our selues wiser then our Parents Teachers Magistrates or Superiours but that wee may performe all their lawfull Commandements without grudging or delaying◠lest by disobedience we dishonour them procure thy curse thy displeasure and our own danger Let vs not bee like to cursed Cam the discouerer of his Fathers nakednesse But that wee may so keepe this thy Commandement that in honouring them wee may receiue honour from thee and that happines which thou hast promised that our dayes may bee long and blessed not onely in this Land which thou hast giuen vs to liue heere vpon earth but euen in the Land of the Liuing where thou dost raigne for euer and where we may remaine in thy glorious presence euermore to giue thee Praise Amen Thou shalt doe no Murder MOst merciful GOD that giuest life desirest not the death of sinners nor that wee by sinne or violence should slay our owne soules or our Brethren that beare thine Image Wee beseech thee to teach vs wherein wee commit murther by our hands tongues or hearts that so wee may shunne the sinne and punishment that followeth the same O Lord wee slay our owne soules by our manifold and great sinnes wee murther other mens soules by causing them to commit sinnes by which wee take from our selues and them the life of grace O Lord we slay our soules by extinguishing the inspirations of thy holy spirit not suffering it to purge our sinnes by Prayer and Repentance not receiuing or retaining but reiecting those good motions and holy desires which thy grace giues vnto vs. Wee commit Murther if not of the liues of men yet of their good Names In our hearts by Anger Wrath and Enuy with our tongues by slander reproach sowing of sedition cursing and euill speaking with our hands done vpon the persons of our selues by Violence Drunkennesse Adultery and other Distempers whereby either the soules or liues of our selues or of others are destroyed by not succouring them as wee are able with counsell correction or charitable reliefe when they stand in need of vs by these many other waies most mercifull GOD we murther either our own soules or bodies or the soules and bodies of our Neighbours O Lord God therefore who hast giuen vs soules and bodies giue vs grace and assistance not to destroy them in our selues or others but purifie our hearts and affections inlighten our vnderstandings kindle zeale to thy glory and truth which may saue our owne soules and settle vs to seeke the saluation of others and not to be a meanes of our own or of other mens subuersions Plant in our hearts Charitie Meekenesse and Mercifulnesse towards all men sobriety in our desires carriage and conuersations a desire to seeke the good and not the hurt of our Neighbours Remoue from vs Pride Presumption Cruelty and hardnes of heart whereby we slay our owne soules and destroy the liues estate or estimation of our brethren So wee being thus fenced by the grace and good gifts of thy holy Spirit with faith and feare to offend thy Majesty may thereby learne to keepe this thy holy Commandement to the sauing and not the destroying of the soules and liues of our selues and others Graunt this good Lord for thy mercies sake Amen Thou shalt not commit Adulterie O Lord GOD thou by thy holy Word hast taught vs that there is spirituall and corporall Adultery Thou hast commanded not to commit them Yet our corrupt natures drawe vs to both We forsake thee our God the true Spouse of our soules by adhering in confidence worship or disordinate affection vnto the corruptible creatures and so adulterating thy seruice and Worship become forgetfull of thee following more our own lusts pleasures or profits then thy precepts O God full of power who hast created vs thy poore creatures who seest and searchest the secret corners of our hearts vnsearchable and secret vnto our selues Cleanse these secret yet strong and preuailing lusts which drawe vs to commit the Spirituall and Carnall Adultery restraine our vnchaste lookes and inticing aspects one of another Cause vs to refraine wanton speeches to abstaine from Drunkennes and excesse of Diet which are the Instrumentes and prouocation to Idolatry To forbeare pampering of our bodies Gorgiousnes Curiosity of apparell which drawes vs to ouer-much delight of our selues and to a desire to defile our bodies with Adultery Fornication other filthy bestiall Contaminating of our owne bodies corrupting of others and breaking the boundes of this thy holy Commandement That wee should not commit Adultery spirituall against thee or corporall against one another and both against thy Lawes Keepe vs therefore O Soueraigne Lord within the compasse of this thy holy Commandement by thine own power and prouidence By and for which onely we shall be able to giue thee laude and glory now and for euer Amen Thou shalt not steale THou O gracious GOD who hast giuen vs sufficiencie requirest of vs contentednesse with that we haue And though we thinke wee haue lesse then wee neede and haue much lesse then wee desire yet thou O our good God the giver of all wee haue doest onely know what is best for vs Our seuerall estates haue neede of meanes for maintenance according to our callings but wee doe not rightly measure the lawfull and right means by which wee should come to this competency wee go by vngodly means to seeke it wee onely weigh what wee would haue but doe not consider so well where and how it may be godly and lawfully gotten which makes vs to take from our Neighbours and others what belongeth vnto them O Lord therefore take from vs Couetousnes the roote of deceit and false dealing stealthes of things we want or would haue Extortion to get any thing by colour of Iustice and bribing to pervert Iustice Violence to take any thing by force power or strong hand from others Negligence and slothfulnes in our seuerall estates and callings which breede beggery necessitie and robbery Send vs lawfull christian and honest care to prouide things necessarie without deceipt cosening or double dealing discretion and frugality in the disposing of our Estates whereby wee may prouide things needefull without being burthēsome to others or forced to steale or purloine frō them Graunt good Lord therefore that our endeauor may be to get what is sufficient for our selues without doing wrong vnto others Diligence in our callings without ouermuch care cruelty couetousnesse or circumuention Iust dealing with all men Frugalitie without miserie Contentednesse with our estates And if we haue plenty to vse it prouidently and charitably auoyding misery or mispending not seeking any thing by vniust or vnlawfull meanes nor keeping it by frande or falsehood O Lord GOD graunt that wee robbe not thee of thine honour by stealing from our selues in sloth and security that time which wee should spend in thy seruice but that we may keep this thy holy Commandement with
care and conscience to thy honour and our owne saluation thorow Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy Neighbour THou O Lord that art the God of truth and teachest vs to maintaine truth forbiddest vs to beare false witnesse to the losse discredit hinderance or shame of our Neighbours that wee neither slaunder them with our tongs accuse them by oath or word wrongfully thinke or iudge euill of theÌ„ without cause Deceiue them by flatery or Hipocrysie backebite any nor boulster any bad causes by countenance cunning or giue sodaine and rash beliefe vnto raysers of sedition or euill reports that wee teach not false doctrine in matters of faith nor violate faith or promise with any man to their delusion and deceipt but that wee may avoyde the perill and punishment of breaking this Commandement Teach vs most iust and wise GOD to make Conscience of our words aswell as our workes to avoide slaunder false accusation to speake the truth to bee sincere and single-hearted when we come or are called to giue testimonie of the truth without respect of persons profit friendship enuy reuenge or reward that wee may knowe and consider we are alwayes in thy presence and vnder thy power to bee punished if wee transgreâ—se these thy holy precept That wee may say and sweare the truth in all things since all that we say sweare or doe is in thy sight and subiect to thy seuere and vncorrupted Iudgement Graunt and giue vs grace by thy power to doe this for thy glory and our owne good thou gracious God to whom be praise for euer and euer Amen Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours house his Wife his seruant c. SInce thou our Soueraign Lord and God hast giuen vs all that wee haue knowest what is needfull for vs to haue and keepest for vs that thou hast giuen Thou coÌ„mandest we should subdue our lustfull thoughts and desires of coueting that which is not ours and bee content with that thou art pleased to make ours O make vs most mercifull God moderate in desiring sober in vsing and abstinent from concupiscence and coveting those things that belong not vnto vs Suffer not our wanton eyes to wander our corrupt hearts to couet or our loose thoughts to bee led with inticements of worldly vaine and transitory things which may make vs to cover any thing that thou hast given and doth belong to others and not vnto our selues whether it be the persons estates lives liberties seruices or duties of our Neighbours be they our Superiors equals or inferiors O Lord God holy and iust to this ende clense our Conseiences restraine our appetites and evil affections chastise our inordinate desires subdue our lustfull inflammations Conquer our vnbridled corruptions Send thy holy and heauenly spirit into our hearts to take the possession and protection of our poore sinnefull soules that wee be not seduced but may be kept as cleaue vessels sanctified for thy seruice to keepe this and all thy CoÌ„mandements for thy mercies sake for thy merits thorough the Mediation of thy Son our Lord and Sauiour O LORD if our Houses be but poore let vs not covet to make them better by seeking that which belongs not vnto vs or by getting that which we cannot lawfully haue If our store be small suffer vs not to seeke that which wee should not seeke either our Neighbours Wiues by Adultery inticements or carnall prouocations or any of his goods by oppression deceit or any kinde of corruption his seruants by fraude flattery or false dealing But doe thou gracious God settle our soules to contentment with what wee haue or may obtaine by industry voyde of iniury by lawefull meanes without vnlawfull practises with conscience moderation and sobrietie that shunning to seeke and covet that which is not ours we may heere faithfully serue thee set foorth thy glory and heereafter receiue eternall happinesse with thee in Heauen Amen My Mementoes which I should make to my selfe 1 THe consideration and acknowledgement of my sinnes generall and particular by prayer and by repentance 2 The Examination of my life how it hath beene lead either in goodnesse or in loosenesse of liuing 3 Whether I haue amended or continued in any known grosse sinnes 4 What they are how they haue their beginning growth 5 What resistance I haue made and what successe that hath had 6 Whether I haue repelled those sinnes and whether they haue againe returned 7 What hopes or means I haue to banish those or the like sinnes 8 Whether my prayers befainter or stroÌ„ger more frequent or seldomer then they haue beene 9 Whether my distractions doubts and dulnesse in the time of prayer remaines or be remooued 10 Whether those Passions which were more preualent in me are yet pacified 11 Whether I cannot yet heartily forgiue and pray for those that haue iniured mee 12 Whether my want of Loue and Charitie to my Neighbours be yet amended 13 Whether I haue ioyned Faith with Examination and that with Repentance There is no day wherein I liue but I should call my selfe to accompt and bestow some time in examination of my self to see and search which of these or the like sinnes I haue committed which of them I haue corrected what yet remaines to bee done that I may no more doe them And if I can fall to these remembrances by exact repetition I shall sooner come to repentance If I cannot altogeter remember them yet I must first reade them in these or the like lines then answere to euery Article as if I were examined before the strickest Iudge for any capitall offence or else I may be assured I shall come at last before a seuere and all-seeing Iudge who knowes and will iudge all when I haue done this I must goe to prayer for the remoouing of these euills the continuance in doing better Or if I finde I cannot doe it I must still pray that I may bee able to doe it These Meditations and the Prayers following them being the best Medicines to cure all the maladies of my minde and soule for which end and to attaine to that holy and happy ende It is necessarie that I should frame vnto my selfe if not vnto others some short supplications as thâ—se following or the like A Prayer for performance of the former Points O Lord GOD my sinnes are great grieuous many and infinit in number they are so many that I cannot reckon or remember them Those that I doe remember which are the fewest in comparison of the rest I haue not confessed or acknowledged as I should doe I haue not examined my sinnefull life that I haue ledde nor sought amendment of the same I haue not looked into the beginning or grouth of my sinnes nor how I haue resisted the same or if at any time I haue done it yet I haue fallen more backewards then I went forwards My hope of resistance is nothing but in thy power and mercy O therefore
read thy Word to heare it where it is preached to come vnto thy Congregations and where thy word is not preached to vse all the good meanes wee may for maintenance and increase of knowledge and of conscience by praying reading meditating and conference To this end good Lord teach vs to cast away as all seruile workes so sloth euill and idle company-keeping prophane speeches with other euill actions and thoughts that may either draw vs from our Christian dueties offend thy diuine Maiestie or giue euill example vnto others Make our hearts and Consciences cleane our coÌ„ferences words and workes holy and conuersation vpright and pure So beginning and continuing in thy seruice this day in such sort as thou requirest wee may not onely sanctifie this but all the rest of thy Sabbaths during the remayne of our dayes heere vpon earth vntill wee come to that Sabbath of Sabbaths that eternall rest reioycing and praysing of thy Holy and Blessed Name in the highest Heauens wherein grant vs the assistance of thy holy Spirit and the aide of thy Sonne our Sauiour Christ Iesus Amen A Prayer in the time of trouble and affliction O LORD our God great are our sins and heauie are our visitations yet our chastisments are nothing answerable to our corruption wee haue sinned much and thou hast suffered vs long yet though our sinnes be as redde as scarlet thou hast said and we beleeue that thou wilt make them as white as snow Our sinnes do fester through our owne Corruptions cleanse them O thou the soueraigne sole phisitian of our soules Since thou art pleased to purge vs with some bitter pills that vrge vs to sweat and groane yet more for worldly matters then for the offence of thy diuine Maiestie Make vs therefore first sensible of our sinnes and sorowfull for them And when thou hast purged vs take away thy punishments Cure first our soules then make our bodies and estates sound and safe Yet againe and againe bring vs backe to consider and see from whence all our calamities doe come Deliuer vs if it bee thy blessed will from present and ensuing dangers or else graunt vs patience to vndergoe whatsoeuer thy good pleasure shal be to lay vpon vs Renew vs and then restore vs to thy wonted fauour not for our merits but for the merites and mercies of thy beloued Sonne and our blessed Sauiour Amen A Prayer when publique Calamities approach or are doubted OOr sinnes O Lord haue drawne vpon vs thy heauy displeasure and greater punishments then yet we feele or feare for wee haue multiplied our offences and yet thou hast held backe thy punishing hand wee haue not been allured by thy merits though they be many nor admonished by thy chastisemeÌ„ts sent to draw vs vnto conformity But rather thy long suffering hath made vs more secure hard hearted and negligent This hath caused thee sometimes to send signes of thy fearefull wrath as sickenesse vnseasonable weather want of meanes to maintaine many who heretofore haue liued well Our brethren abroad professing the same Religion suffer many heauy pressuers and are in much perill wee at home though we haue long enioyed the liberty of exercising the Religion wee professe yet our coldnesse and carelessenes in practising besides our many other sins hath hindered the propagation of piety dishonored thy name and indangered the truth O Lord yet at length humble vs in the sight and sense of these our sins Teach vs to learne consider and remember that for such if not for lesse sinnes thou didst consume Sodom draw the deluge ouer the whole earth and destroy almost consume at an instant all the Creatures of the World Yet neither these examples nor our own chastisements haue preuailed to perswade vs vnto true humiliation repentance and amendment of life But now of late when thou hast sent signes in the ayre inundations of waters pestilence pouerty decay of trades and hast found amongst vs a decrease of desire to doe good a desire to deceiue pâ—ide of hart delicious and luxurious liuing periury and perfidious dealing profanation of thy Name Word and Sacraments So that there being little hope of better beliefe or of better liuing when thy sword of Iustice is ready to be drawne the light of trueth in some danger to be diminished and wee to receiue such punishments as we most iustly haue deserued Yet consider wee are the workemanship ordained for thy seruice And though the Axe should be put vnto the tree ready to out of our liues estates and sauing knowledge yet correct but doe not for thy mercies sake confound vs reforme but do not destroy vs Make vs yet new creatures O spare and deâ—iuer vs from the euill daies to come Thou desirest not the death of sinners but rather Conuersion Let vs yet liue to honor thee whom we haue dishonoâ—ed Though long peace and much plenty hath set vs aâ—â—eepe and prouoked vs to much pride and presumption yet let vs with Hezechiah turning to the wall and weeping be repriued from that sentence which our sinnes haue sent out against vs and let vs learne to serue thee and not Sathan So being preserued by thy mercy wee may yeeld Honour and praise to thy eternall Maiestie A Prayer against the raigning sins that a man findes to remaine in himselfe LOrd God how senselesse am I of mine owne sinnes that cannot see nor feele those I daily and continually commit Some are secret and concealed from my self which I know not or cannot conceiue And those though lesse haynous or at the least lesse vnderstood yet too heauy for me to beare Other greater and more grieuous by mee not acknowledged or not repented and amongst many more that I passe ouer without any examination of my selfe or repentance for them Those cleaue most to the corruptions of mine owne nature as pride selfe conceit and other sinnes whereto I am most subiect c. These presse mee most and others too much yet pardon mee O Lord pardon that is past purge me from them for time to come cleanse the corruptions of my nature cure the Contagion that comes by euill company and the inticements of others with whose fashions wits faces or flatteries wee are seduced And for mine owne inward concupiscense which easily sets it selfe on fire O Lord quench it with the cooling and comforting giftes of Grace sobrietie temperance and circumspection Bee thou most gracious God that good Samaritan to poure into my wounded soule the oyle of thy mercy that so these destroyers of my soule being by thee destroyed I may then surely say O Death where is thy sting O Hell where is thy victory and blesse thee who hast blessed mee with thine abundant mercies to whom bee praises and glorie for euer Amen A Prayer necessary to be vsed often O LORD God most mighty mercifull and iust who hast created all things of nothing only by thy power and word who hast preserued all that thou hast made and doest saue all those that