Heathen PRIVATE Prayer is a Duty to be used in secret where we can more particularize our sins when alone then is requisite to be done in publick Next we are to be frequent in Prayer and not Complain we want leisure for so doing for he which is most busie may find some time to perform this Duty else how can he expect his Employment should be Sanctified now it is a great advantage for Men to seek God at least Morning and Evening if they expect a Blessing upon their endeavours Next the advantages we reap by Prayer are many First It is a great honour to speak freely to the Almighty Secondly It is a great benifit for it brings down Blessings both Spiritual and Temporal to us Thirdly it is a pleasant Duty it draws us nearer to God which qualifies us for the joys of Heaven where Christ is at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore NEXT we must take care that we ask nothing which is unlawful but whatsoever we stand in need of to ask it in faith and great humility Secondly we must be attentive and mind what we are about Considering that it is the Majesty of Heaven we are to treat withal and that our necessities cannot be supplied without his Divine aid and assistance Thirdly Vigilancy Zeal and Purity of intention must not be omitted for the Sacrifice of the wicked are abomination to the Lord Lastly what we Pray for must be to a good end that is not to Pray for Wealth to Consume it upon our Lusts Or for grandeur to exercise our malice upon our Enemies but whatever we do must be done to the glory of God through whom we have Redemption in his blood even the forgiveness of our Sins Ejaculations at uprising AWake O my Soul and sing unto the Lord. Glory be to the Holy and undivided Trinity for watching and preserving me this Night I laid me down and slept for thou Lord sustainest me Lord arise and lift up the Light of thy Countenance upon me A Prayer for a Private Person in the Morning MOst gracious God whose Mercies are rich and infinite to all thy Servants that call upon thee accept I humbly beseech thee this my morning Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving which I now am to offer up unto thy Divine Majesty O Lord in thee I live move and have my being thou formdst me in the womb and hast writ my name in the Book of Life and that I might not be miserable but happy thou sentest thy only beloved Son to dye for me and to redeem me from all iniquity WHAT shall I render unto thee O Lord for all these thine inestimable benefits pour forth thy Grace upon me I beseech thee that I may abound in Thanksgiving and Praise for them Enlarge my heart with thy Love that I may in some degree Comprehend with all Saints the measure of thine infinite Mercy and goodness manifested to me by thy dear Son and my alone Saviour To whom therefore with thee and thy blessed Spirit be ascribed the whole glory of my Creation Redemption Sanctification and Salvation FORGIVE O Lord the manifold Sins which I commit daily and hourly against thee and grant that for the time to come thy restraining Grace may subdue my unruly inclinations and distempered affections and as I have been a Servant of Sin I may now become an Example of reformation That so I may rejoyce in thee as my only Treasure and rest in thee who art the Center of my felicity and be throughly convinced how good it is to draw nigh unto thee accounting all things but dross and dung in Comparison of the excellency of Jesus Christ and my alone Saviour and Redeemer O LORD as thou in thy tender Mercy and Compassion hast watched over me this Night and defended me from my Ghostly adversary so I beseech thee let thy all-seeing Eye of providence guide me this day in all my Thoughts Words and Actions whereby I may fall into no Sin nor run into any kind of danger But that all my doings may be ordered by thy governance to do alwayes that which is Righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour in whose Blessed name and Words I shut up these my imperfect Prayers in that most absolute form of Prayer which he himself hath taught me saying Our Father c. A Prayer at Departure from Home ALmighty and Everlasting God who art the way the truth and the Life looke down from thy Throne of Mercy to thy scorstcol of Compassion and behold me now betwixt the Assaults of the Devil the allurements of the World and my own vain inclinations I cannot look abroad but they are ever ready to molest me but O thou that leadest Ioseph like a sheep thou most faithful and Almighty guide lend me thy hand open mine Eyes direct my steps and cause me to walk in thy fear THOU that didst go out with Iacob from Beer sheba unto Padan aran guiding him in the wast-plains and watching over him on his pillow of Stones be not now far from me lead me O Lord in thy righteousness make my Paths straight and strengthen my goings that having finished my course here I may sit down in thy Kingdom hereafter an inheritance undefiled purchased for me with the blood of my Saviour and thy beloved Son Jesus Christ Amen Ejaculations for the Evening LET not the Sun go down upon thy Wrath Eph. 4. 6. Watch ye for ye know not when the Master of the House cometh at Even or at Mid-night or at the Cock crowing or in the Morning lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping Mark 13. 35 An Evening Prayer for a Private Person OEternal God full of loving kindness and long suffering whose Mercy is above all thy Works and thy Glory above the Heavens forgive me I beseech thee my transgressions this day my vain thoughts idle words and loose Conversation my exceeding neglect and forgetfulness of thee my headstrong inclinations and lusting after the World preferring this Land of Cabul before the Snow of Lebanon and a broken Cistern before the Well of Life JUSTLY O Lord might'st thou have cut me off this day and cast me into the Lake of thy Displeasure but thou hast had Mercy and not Sacrifice thou hast shed upon me the Light of thy Countenance and removed my sins far out of thy sight I know O Lord it is not in Man to Establish his own Ways it is thy Almighty Arm must do it it is thou alone that hast led me through this day and kept me both from doing and from suffering Evil. AND now O thou Preserver of men What shall I do unto thee What shall I render unto my Lord for all the mercies and loving kindnesses shewed unto thy Servant this day and all the days of my life even to this moment I will offer unto thee the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving and call upon the Name of the Lord I will ever love thee fear thee praise thee
in Peace and both cheerfully approach unto and joyfully and thankfully depart from thy holy and Heavenly Table receiving by and with the Bread broken thy Crucified Body and with the Wine poured out thy blood shed And by both remission of my Sins re-admission into thy presence and favour incorporation into thy myâ—tical Body and finally the glorification of my Body and Soul with thee in thy Kingdom of glory Amen A Prayer before the Communion O LORD Jesus the Son of the living God who freely offeredst thy most Sacred Body to be broken and thy blood to be shed for my Sins that I might be ransomed from Hell and delivered from wrath and eternal Condemnation O Lord my sins original and actual of weakness and wickedness have deserved thy Wrath and heavy indignation and had not thine eye spared me I had long since been in everlasting burnings and wholly banished from the presence of thy glory LORD wash away all my Sins in the streams of thy preâ—ious blood which Speaks better things than that of Abel's thou hast loved me in laying down thy life for me and hast left unto thy Church this holy Sacrament as a pledge and assurance that through thy death all that truly partake of this Sacred and Heavenly inititution apprehending the mysteries and applying the mâ—rits of Christ Crucified they may receive Comfort and Peace in believing those promises which thou hast expreâ—t unto us in thy word and be partakers of the benefits of thy Sons passion and have fruition of thy saving vertue here and life and Glory hereafter ACCEPT me O Lord in thy dear Son as washed justified and Sanctified and by thy Spirit cleanse and purifie me daily more and more Sanctifie my affections and enlarge my heart for holy and Heavenly things and grant that through a stedfast lively and constant Faith I may receive and worthily eat this Sanctified Bread and drink of this Sacred Cup in a holy remembrance that thy Body O Lord Jesus was Crucified and thy blood was shed for the remission of my sins and grant that it may so effectually operate in my Soul that I may ever hereafter live in a holy obedience according to thy heavenly Will through Jesus Christ. Amen An Ejaculation before Receiving the Bread BLESSED Lord as thou hast given thy Flesh to be the Bread of eternal Salvation so vouchsafe to work in me by a lively Faith that I receiving the same may evermore continue in me and thou in me Amen An Ejaculation before Receiving the Cup. O LORD vouchsafe that as thy Blood was shed to wash me a sinner from the Corruption of Old Adam so grant that it may through a lively Faith take effect in me washingâ— me from the filth of sin and renew in me the Fruits of Righteousness that I may become a fit Member to live in thee and dye in thee Amen A Prayer after the Communion O GOD I praise and bless thy holy Name for thine unspeakable favour and loving kindness in feeding me at this time with the spiritual Food of the Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ whom thou vouchsafest to send for our Redemption and to offer him up to Death for me in remembrance whereof he hath commanded me to eat his Body and drink his Blood to the end that by Faith I should be united to him and made a lively Member of his Mystical Body and being washed from all my sins in his Blood I should lead a new life in all obedience holiness and righteousness VOUCHSAFE I humbly beseech thee for his sake to endue me with thy holy Spirit that by casting away the works of darkness I may walk in the true light of thy holy Spirit and ever remain in the number of thy holy and elect Children give me an earnest desire to partake often of this holy Institution and to lead my life according to thy holy Will in all things keeping my Body and Soul unspotted and undefiled as fit receptacles of so heavenly Food that my Soul may be partaker of the Mysteries thereof by faith in Christ Jesus AND now Glory be to God on high on Earth peace and eternal Consolation in my Conscience I am sed now with thy Body and my heart is refreshed with the Cup of the New Testament in thy Blood Now I am a Member of thy Mystical Body Flesh of thy Flesh and Bone of thy Bone Lord let nothing be ever able to separate me from thee but since all things work for the good of thy Chosen let all things more and more unite me to thee that I may grow from Grace to Grace and Strength to Strength till I come to the full measure of thy perfect Age and not be refused by thee who hast given thy self for me and unto me Amen A Prayer before hearing the Word O LORD Illuminate my dark understanding to receive thy Word and prudently retain it give me Grace that the Seed of thy Word being sown in my heart it may take deep root downward and bring forth Fruit upward to the Credit of thy Gospel the Comfort of my poor Soul and above all to the Glory of thy most holy Name Let thy spirit rule and guide the Lips of thy Minister that he may utter nothing but the Word of Truth with that fervency that neither fear nor affection may stop the current of the same AND because the Harvest is great and the Labourers but few I beseech thee who art Lord of the Harvest to send forth such into thy Vineyard as may with a zeal discharge their Ministerial Function let thy Urim be upon them as upon thy holy ones that sincerity of Doctrine and integrity of Conversation may adorn their persons Lord guide the Heart and Tongue of him whom I shall hear this day grant he may speak home to my Conscience and leave no Corruption unbowelled but that his Words may chase away all sinful affections from me whereby I may depart from all Iniquity BLESS all thy people and grant that they may be not only hearers of thy Word but doers of the same not deceiving their own Souls and grant that thy Messengers dividing the Word aright and thy people keeping it carefully and practising it conscionably they may through Jesus Christ obtain the remission of their sins past and receive thy Grace for the time to come Give them light instead of darkness peace for trouble and eternal happiness instead of Felicity that tasting the sweetness of Caelestial Comfort they may despise Terrestrial and after this life ended they may enter into everlasting Glory through Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer after hearing the Word MOST gracious God of thy bountiful Goodness thou hast through thy Son Jesus Christ made known for my instruction and unspeakable comfort the glorious Gospel thy Word of Truth which none can learn but by hearing and none can hear but by preaching and none can preach except they be sent to this end give me thy grace I humbly
known unto God LONDON Printed in the Year 1692 ADDITIONAL DEVOTIONS A Prayer for Christmass Day O BLESSED Lord who as upon this day took our Nature upon thee and wast born of a pure Virgin keep me from defiling my self with sinful pollutions or abasing or enthralling it to Satan let thy Spirit quicken me thy Flesh nourish me thy Wisdom guide me thy Grace sanctifie me Let thy holy Ghost of whom thou wast conceived beget thee in me by the Immortal Seed of thy Word let my Faith conceive thee my Profession bring thee forth my Love embrace thee and Devotion entertain and continually keep thee with me un-thy second coming Amen A Prayer for New Years Day O Lord who this day wast Circumcised and Bleddest for my sins have pity and compassion who with weeping Eyes and a bleeding heart come unto thee beseeching thee that those drops of blood which fell from thee this day may satisfie for the sin of my unworthy Birth and as thou hast begun a new Year begin in me a new reformation make me I beseech thee a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me let me now cast off the old Man and put on the new and from this day to the end of my life walk in newness of life that I may become a fit guest to be admitted into the new Heaven where dwelleth Righteousness and to be entertained at thy Table and drink new Wine with thee in thy Heavenly Kingdom for evermore A Prayer for Twelfe Day O GOD thou light of all the World who guidedst the Heathen Sages by a Star to seek after thee give me Grace to hearken to the more sure Word of Prophesy in thy holy Scripture till the day dawn and the day-star arise in my heart the Star guided them till they approached thy presence so O Lord let the light of Faith guide me in all the Paths of this Life even till I come to behold thee not in a poor Stable littered with straw and dung but in a celestial Palace founded upon Pearls and built with Saphyrs not receiving a present of Gold which fades away but wearing a never fading Crown of Glory not having a quantity of Frankingense or Myrh in thy hand but a golden Censor full of Sweet odours which are the praises of thy Saints and Angels amongst which I beseech thee offer up the Prayers of me a Sinner that I may become a Saint thy Heavenly Kingdom Amen A Prayer for Ash-wednesday O ETERNAL God who dist fast forty dayes in the wilderness accept of my humiliation these forty days and grant that I may not only fast from accustomed Meats but that all my senses may be restrained from their usual affections of this World let no object delight me till I behold my sins removed like a mist and the light of thy Countenance shine upon me Let no sound or voice delight my Ear till I hear thee by thy Spirit speak peace to my Conscience and say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation Let no other pleasures take hold of me till with the lower Herbs of Sorrow and anguish I have Eaten the Christian passover the flesh of thee that Immaculate lamb slain from the beginning of the World Hear me O belssed redeemer and as thou wrotest in dust when thou tookest the woman in a adultery So I beseech thee write my sins in dustand bury them all in the ashes of oblivion Amen A Prayer on good Friday O MOST Merciful and Gracious Lord God who by thy obedience unto Death even the Death of the Cross didst become the Sacrifice of the whole universe the magnificent example of patience the Lord of Life the good shepherd laying down thy Life for thy sheep and the only Mediator between God and Man let thy bleeding wounds heal thy precious blood cleanse thy shameful death make me to live and thy holy Spirit make me to work righteousness all my dayes that I may by thy aid and example obey my Heavenly father with all my powers and faculties reason and affections with my Soul and Body time and Estate in prosperity and in adversity that I may bear my Cross patiently do thy work cheerfully and be ready to benefit mankind with great Charity and industry that being a follower of thy Life and a partaker of thy death I may receive a part in the Resurrection of the just in thy inheritance for evermore Amen A Prayer on Easter Day O MOST glorious redeemer thou didst pass from a painful life to an Ignominious death and from the bitterness of it to the darkness of the Grave and by thy Divine power didst raise thy self from thence to Life I give thee thanks for thy infinite love to me and all Mankind I acknowledg thee to be my Lord and confess thee to be my God I adore thy Majesty and rejoyce in thy Mercies I humbly pray thee to enable me with thy Spirit to believe all thy Doctrines and obey all thy Commandments that after a holy and religious life spent in doing honour to thy holy Name I may be a partaker of thy holy Resurrection passing from death to life from the darkness of the Grave to the light of Heaven from an imperfect duty to the perfection of holiness in the fruition of the joyes of God in thy Heavenly Kingdom Amen A Prayer upon Ascension Day O BLESSED Jesus thou didst ascend to thy holy Father and didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers thou hast espoused thy Church unto thy self with the Everlasting circles of thy providence with thy Love and with thy Care with thy Word and with thy Spirit thy promises and thy holy intercession thou hadst a feeling of my infirmiteis and art my Merciful high Priest making intercession for me for ever O be thou pleased to represent all my wants and supply them and excuse all my infirmities pity all my Calamities pardon my Sins and send down thy holy Spirit of Grace into my heart that though I wander here upon Earth yet my Conversation may be in Heaven where let my inheritance be for ever Amen A Prayer on Whitsunday O GOD the Father of all Spirits who didst send thy holy Spirit upon thy Church in the day of pentecost and hast promised that he shall abide with thy Church for ever let thy holy Spirit lead me into all truth defend me from all Sins enrich me with his gifâ—s refresh me with his Comforts rule in my heart for ever Conduct me with his truth and lead me in the way Everlasting that living by thy Spirit and walking in him I may by him be Sealed up to the day of my redemption O let thy Spirit witness to my Spirit that I am thy Child and make me to be so for ever through Jesus Christ my Redeemer who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit one God world without end Amen A Prayer upon Trinity Sunday O HOLY Blessed and glorious Trinity the Angels are amazed in the
malice had laid to destroy the King his Nobles and Commons then assembled in Parliament they had contrived by their barbarous Invention to have blown up the Bodies of that great and wise Councel but thou O God didst defeat their Bloody Enterprise whereof we rejoyce WE likewise praise and extol thy great Name for this second and never to be forgotten Deliverance O let after Ages and the Children that are yet unborn when they come to understand this thy wonderful Mercy let it never slip from their memory Thou O Lord didst raise up thy Servant our Soveraign Lord King William who like Moses stood in the Gap between us and Roman Slavery which like a Torrent was pouring upon us O let us never forget thy double Mercy extended towards us this day thou hast plucked us as a Firebrand out of the burning and hast restored to us those good and wholsome Laws and Liberties which our Ancestors have enjoyed inspire our hearts that we may extol thy Name O Lord for these great Mercies and Deliverances and let all the people with one voice say Amen A Thanksgiving for the happy success of Their Majesties Arms in reducing of Ireland and for His Majesties safe return to England O GOD the great Preserver of the Universe I offer up unto thee all Praise and Thanksgiving for putting an end to those troubles and disorders which were in Their Majesties Kingdom of Ireland thou hast done great things for us O Lord whereof I rejoyce thy Servant and our Dear and Dread Soveraign King William did expose his Person to the danger of the Enemy but thou didst protect him from their Malice gavest Success to his Arms and Royal Undertaking and didst cover his Head in the day of Battel and at last thou hast brought him safe home with Joy and Victory Prosper O Lord I beseech thee both Their Majesties with long Life and Happiness and grant that all their Subjects may be furnished with Loyal and Obedient Hearts towards them and Love and Charity one towards another give Peace in our time O Lord and put an end to all differences amongst us for thy Sons sake our only Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer for Charity GRANT O Lord I beseech thee that I may abound in Charity yeilding up my self first to thy service and then according to thy blessed will to the service and relief of my poor Brethren let me ever remember that thou O Lord madest thy self poor that I might be made rich and he that Soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly but he that Soweth liberally shall also reap liberally for thou lovest a cheerful giver Make me to abound O Lord with thy Grace that I may be plentiful in every good word and work and never let me hide my Face from the poor and needy Thou O Lord givest seed to the Sower and Bread to the Eater encrease my wealth and augment the revenue of my Righteousness whereby I may be enriched in all frankness of liberality Amen A Prayer to renounce the World and affect Spiritual things O GOD the Father who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ who offered up himself a Sacrifice for the sins of the whole World to the end he might withdraw our affections from Temporal and fix them upon that which is Eternal give us hearts to obey thy truth and infuse into us thy Spirit which may produce thy vertues in us And because we are thy Children send the Spirit of thy Son into our hearts whereby we may cry Abba Father that ' being thy Children we may be heirs through Christ and walk according to the Spirit not fulfilling the Lusts of the flesh knowing that what a Man Soweth that shall he reap for he that Soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption but he that Soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life Everlasting LET us glory in nothing save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world may be drucified unto us and we unto the World that in him we may become new Creatures not growing weary of well-doing knowing that we shall reap in due season if we faint not Wherefore while we have time let us do good to all Men but especially unto the Houshold of Faith and all they that shall walk according to this rule peace be upon them and upon the Israel of God A Conclusive Prayer O ALMIGHTY God who hast promised to hear the Petitions of them that ask in thy Sons Name I beseech thee mercifully to incline thing Ears unto me who have now made my Prayers and Supplication unto thee and grant that those things which I have faithfully asked according to thy Will may be effectually obtained to the relief of my Necessity and to the setting forth of thy Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Blessing THE Peace of God which passeth all understanding keep my heart and mind in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and the blessing of God Almighty the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost with the Virtue of Christs blessed Cross Passion Resurrection and Ascension be with me now at the hour of Death and in the Day of Judgment Amen GRACES A Grace before Meat O GOD who art the giver of every good and perfect Gift sanctifie we beseech thee these thy Creatures now prepared for us maâ—e them wholsome for our Bodies and ouâ— Souls and Bodies serviceable unto thee for them through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Or this MOST merciful Father which openest thy hand and fillest all things with Plenteousness we pray thee sanctifie these thy good Creatures unto us that we may eat to preserve life and living serve thee our God through thine only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen Or this O LORD our God by whose Providence it is that we live move and have our Being send thy Blessing upon us and our Provision and grant that whether we Eat or Drink or whatsoever we do else we may do all to the Glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen After Meat THE Lords most holy Name be now and ever blessed and praised for all his Mercies and for his blessings at this time bestowed upon us Lord as thou hast fed our Bodies with corporal Food so feed our Souls likewise with spiritual Food unto life Eternal Save thine Universal Church these Realms the King the Queen and all the Royal Family and grant us thy Grace Mercy and Peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Or this THE God of all Grace and Goodness who at this time hath fed and plenteously refreshed us his most holy Name be blessed and praised from this time forth and for evermore God save his Universal Church c. Or this WE laud and praise thy Name O Lord for all thy blessings and favours and for feeding us so plentifully at this time desiring thee of thy Grace that our thankfulness may not be in
THE Whole Duty OF PRAYER Containing DEVOTIONS FOR Every Day in the Week AND FOR Several Occasions Ordinary and Extraordinary By the Author of The Whole Duty of Man Necessary for all Families Psal. 65. 2. O thou that hearest Prayers unto thee shall all flesh come London Printed for I. P. and sold by Ric. Ianaway in Queens-Head-Alley in Pater-Noster-Row 1692. THE Preface I Need not Recommend this small Manual to the World since it hears the Name of so Learned an Author whose Works have given sufficient demonstration of his Worth and Excellency and will to his lasting Honour be venerated in all Ages This Pattern of Piety hath lay concealed for many years and was at first Dedicated to the service of an honourable Lady in whose Cabinet it hath been choicely kept as one of her precious Iewels it was never design'd for the Press by reason the Reverend Authors Modesty should not be offended Upon her Bed of Mortality she was pleased to honour me so far as to commit it to my Care with a particular Charge not to publish it but one of her Mercenary Servants by their vigilant Industry had Plagiary-like got a Transcript and since this Pious and Honourable Persons Decease did design it for the Press being unwilling so much Injustice should be acted against so Worthy a Person I was forced to Cancel my Obligation and to hand with all speed the Original to be Printed that I might prevent any Surreptitious Copy What Alterations I was forced to make was leaving out the Praying for our Royal Ancestors and placing in our Royal Soveraign Lord and Lady King William and Queen Mary c. Some additional Prayers I thought proper to insert as Thanksgiving for His Majesties Safe Return and the Success of his Royal Navy and Armies a Duty enjoyned on the Church in Publick and ought to be the Duty of every Christian in Private Lastly I have added some few Graces which may be necessary for Minor Christians I shall now conclude with the Words of St. Paul to Timothy 2 Epistle 2 Chapter Verse the 7th Consider what hath been said and the Lord give thee Understanding in all things G. B. THE Whole Duty OF PRAYER What Prayer is and the Parts of it PRayer is the Duty both of Soul and Body it is an humble address unto God for whatsoever we stand in need of either in relation to this Life or that which is to come The First part of this Duty is Confession which is the acknowledging of our Sins in all Humility before the great Author of our Being Now Confession is twofold general and particular the general is when we Confess only we are sinful without naming any particulars which indeed belongs to publick Prayer but the acknowledging our Sins to God is very necessary whether Publick or Private Particular Confession is when we express the several sorts and acts of our Sins and what ill habits we are most prone to this is proper for Private Prayer and ought often to be used for we cannot repeat too often our soulest Sins which we are guilty of nor cannot enough bewail our own unworthiness in committing them THE next part of prayer is by way of Petition which is begging of God whatever we stand most in need of either for our Souls or Bodies first for our Souls we must beg pardon and absolution for all our Sins in the name of Jesus Christ who obtained it with his blood Secondly we must earnestly beseech the grace and assistance of Gods blessed Spirit to enable us to forsake all sin and wickedness and to live in obedience to him then it will be very necessary to beg all these particular graces faith hope Charity love zeal purity and repentance if thou art proud pray for Humility if lustful for Chastity if guilty of gluttony pray for temperance and so for all other vertues thou standest most in need of IN Petitioning for our Bodies we are to beg of God such accommodations of life as are necessary for us but in such a degree and measure as his all-seeing Wisdom Knows is most suitable to our state and Conditions the next duty and Third part of Prayer is deprecation which consists in praying to God to turn away from us either the evil of sin or the evil of punishment to pray against the evil of sin is to beg earnestly of God to preserve us by his Grace from falling into any sin and when we are under any great temptation and even ready to yield then we must Humbly beseech him either to withdraw the temptation or else by the Power of his Grace Strengthen us against it next we are to pray against the evil of Punishment which are two sorts Spiritual and Temporal Spiritula punishments are the wrath of God the with-holding of his Grace and Everlasting Damnation temporal punishments is loss of Friends goods or reputation but in these things we must wholy Submit to the will of God unto whom all we have belongs A Fourth Duty in Prayer is intercession which is praying for all sorts and Conditions of Men as Governours in Church and State our Parents Husband Wife Children or other Relations and Friends for all those in affliction either in Body mind or Estate nay even for our very Enemies according to the example of our Lord and Master who prayed for his very Crucifiers Father forgive them for they know not what they do The fifth Duty of Prayer is thanksgiving praising and blessing God for all his mercies Spiritual and Temporal Spiritual blessings are his sending his Son into the World for our Redemption and his holy Spirit to Sanctifie us that we are born Christians and are made partakers of his holy word and Sacraments We are likewise to return him thanks for his patience and long suffering in not Cutting us off in our Sins and Follies Temporal blessings which we are to give thanks for may be for the prosperity of a Church or Nation and all diliverances which are remarkable Some belongs to our selves as Health Wealth Food Rayment Friends with many other Mercies we daily receive from God which whoever receives the least blessing is indebted all his life time to Praise the author and giver of all good things THESE forementioned parts of our duty in Prayer are to be made use of both in private and publick that is in the Church and in our Closet but more especially in the Church to which place there is a peculiar Blessing belongs which Christ hath promised that where two or three are gathered together in his Name he will be in the midst of them The second Duty of publick Prayer is that in a family and that indeed ought to be the Masters Care to provide for the Souls of those that belong to him as to provide food for their Temporal Nourishment Now if he neglects this Duty and takes no care of his Household in this important affair that Man cannot well be esteemed a Christian but a
and trust in thee my Song shall be of thee in the Night Season and in the Day time I will be speaking of thy wondrous Works AND forasmuch as thou out of thy tender Love and Compassion on thy Creatures hast ordained this time for their rèpose and refreshment that having past through the Cares and Dangers of the Day they might under the shadow of thy Wings find rest and security keep me I most humbly beseech thee from the Hours and the Powers of darkness watch over me this Night in thy Almighty Providence and scatter all the Rebellions and Devices of my Adversaries enlighten my Soul sanctifie my Body govern my Affections and guide my Thoughts that in the fastest closures of my Eye-lids my Spirit may see thee and in the depth of sleep be conversant with thee This and what ever thou knowest is needful for me I humbly beg at thy hands through the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer Amen Ejaculations to be used on several Occasions When you awake in the Night HOly holy holy Lord God of Sabbath Heaven and Earth are full of the Majesty of thy Glory When the Clock strikes BLESSED be the hour in which my Lord Iesus was Born and the hour in which he Died O Lord remember me at the hour of Death and in the Day of Iudgment When you intend any Business or Journey O do well unto thy Servant that I may live and keep thy Word Prosper thou the Work of my hands upon me O prosper thou my handy Work When thou art Persecuted HASTE thee O God to deliver me make haste to help me O Lord Upon some sudden Fear O set me upon the Rock that is higher than I for thou art my Hope and a strong Tower for me against my Enemy Upon any disorderly Thoughts MAKE me a clean Heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me Upon any occasions of Sadness THY rebuke hath broken my Heart I am full of Heaviness but thou O Lord shalt lift me up again Upon any Diffidence THOU art my Hope O Lord even from my Youth through thee have I been holden up ever since I was Born though thou shouldst kill me yet will I trust in thee When thou perform'st any good Work NOT unto me O Lord not unto me but unto thy Name give the praise When thou art provoked to Anger GIVE thy peace unto thy Servant O God let no man take away my Crown in patience O Lord let me possess my Soul For thine Enemies LORD lay not this Sin to their Charge they know not what they do Upon any Deliverance or Mercy received THE Lord is my Shepherd I shall not Want he maketh me to lie down in green Pastures he leadeth me besides the still Waters he hath prevented me with the blessings of Goodness he hath granted me my Hearts desire and not with-holden the Request of my Lips Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my Life and I will dwell in the House of my God for ever Upon any Loss or Adversity SHALL we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive Evil Naked came I out of my Mothers Womb and Naked shall I return thither the Lord Gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. When you hear the Bell Toll for one Departed TEACH me O Lord to number my days that I may apply my Heart unto Wisdom Upon thought of thy Sins TURN away thy Face from my Sins O Lord and blot out all mine Offences Praise the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits who forgiveth all thy Sins and healeth all thine Infirmities When thou art weary of the Cares and Vanities of this World LIKE as the Hart brayeth for the Water-brooks so thirsteth my Soul after thee O God O who will give me the Wings of a Dove that I may fly away and be at rest Meditations for Sunday THis is the day which the Lord hath made let me rejoyce and be glad therein it is a day of rest and sweetness unto my Soul and a day of Ease from Labour◠unto my Body as thou O God didst rest this day from the Works of thy Creation so grant that I may cease this day from all Sin and by an earnest Repentance implore thy Pardon thaw this frozen Heart of mine that this day it may melt at thy presence and say unto my Soul those comfortable Words which thou wert pleased once to say to Zacheus This day is Salvation come to thy House O Lord I am utterly unworthy in my self to stand at the Door of thy Sanctuary much less to appear in thy presence and be made partaker of thy Heavenly Gifts for thou O Lord art a God of pure Eyes and canst not behold Iniquity and I am thy sinful Creature not only wilfully opposite unto thee but even Enmity it self against thee Unto thee therefore belongeth Righteousness and unto me shame and confusion of Face Lord when I thus see my self in the Glass of thy Law my flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Iudgments I HAVE sinned against Heaven and before thee by my sad refusal of thy gracious offer of Eternity in my sinful relinquishing of thy Sacred Word and am now no more Worthy to be called thy Child I have been too long feeding on the empty husks of vanity amongst the filthy Swine of sensuality and am now willing by thy Grace to return home unto thee and to humble my self low before thee that thou mayest have the Glory and I the Comfort of thy Gracious Pardon Amen A Prayer for Sunday Morning O Lord I acknowledge this day to be thine as consecrated and set a part for thy Worship and Service and to be obeserved not only as a Holy day but a glorious day unto thee wherein I ought to pay my vows present my Person and my Prayers before thee to hear thy word and Meditate upon the same to thy Glory and my own Everlasting Comfort To this end remove far from me all wandering thoughts and Worldly Affections and work in me a desire of studying thy Law and walking in the Truth that thy word may not prove unto me the Savour of Death unto Death but of Life unto Life LET my Ears be attentive that I may hear those things which thou shalt instruct me that hearing I may understand them understanding I may remember them remembring I may practice them to adorn that profession which I have invocated in thy name and confirm me in the Faith of thy Son Jesus Christ wherein I was Baptized and made a Member raise me O Father by the power of my Saviours Resurrection from Sin and iniquity and give me Spiritual rest Peace of Conscience joy in the Holy Ghost and Fellowship in the Communion of Saints that when I shall leave this Earthly Tabernacle I may keep an Everlasting Sabbath with thee in the Kingdom of Heaven BEHOLD O
sight and do unto others as I would they should do unto me Let no Sin inordinate Lust or unruly Passion have dominion over me but help me to lead Captivity Captive to kill and crucifie my Lusts and sinful Affections and wage War with my Corruptions until through Christ which strengthens me I shall prove more than Conqueror Grant this unto me for Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Monday Night O GOD the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ I do in all humility prostrate my self before thy Divine Majesty to offer up unto thee this my Evening Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving who didst offer up thy Son upon the Cross to be a Propitiation and meritorious Sacrifice for the Sins of the World Lord hear me and help me and be merciful unto me my Sins are great but thy Mercies are greater my Trespasses Finite but thy Compassions Infinite and never fail LORD hear my Prayers and let my Praises be acceptable in thy sight for unto thee O Lord upon the Altar of my Heart do I offer up all possible Praise and Thanksgiving for all thy Blessings both Spiritual and Temporal which thou hast in a great measure bestowed upon me but above all for Jesus Christ the Fountain of them all by whom I have Redemption through his Blood and Access through his Life I also thank thee for thy Sacred Word and for the Confirmation and Strengthning of my Faith by those Sacred Signs and Pledges of thy Love which thou Exhibitest to me and unto every Believing Soul in the Sacraments I RENDER all thanks unto thee for my Life Liberty Food and Raiment Health Wealth Peace and Plenty which thou in much mercy hast afforded unto me from time to time and I beseech thee to continue this thy providence over me and as thou hast hitherto been a Sun to comfort me so be thou now a shield to protect me Keep me in Soul and Body goods and good name Vouchsafe me this Night Peace unto my Soul and rest and quietness to my Body that so being refreshed I may Praise thy name for evermore Amen Tuesdays Meditations O LORD who on this day madest dry Land and firm ground to appear dry up my Tears with the beams of thy Mercy and give me firm ground of Comfort in thy Word Thou who on this day Createdst all kind of Seeds Sow in my heart the incorruptible Seed of thy Sacred writ that I may thereby be regenerated to a lively hope And as on this day Createdst all kind of fruitful Trees make me like a good Tree bring forth good Fruit here that I may hereafter eat of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God LORD let me enter into a serious Contemplation of the vanity of the World and the deceitfulness of Riches the shame of Pleasures and folly of sports the in constancy of honours and danger of greatness with the strickt account which one day must be given for all perswade me by thy Spirit that I have here no abiding City but ought to seek for one hereafter and that I am but a stranger and Pilgrim on this side Heaven LET me desire Temporal blessings only for Spiritual ends Wealth that I may be Rich in good works preferment to advance the honour of the Gospel Health and Strength the better to enable me to do thee service and length of dayes that I may Praise thee in the Land of the Living O Lord this day thy Life was sought to be destroyed seek thou mine I beseech thee to save it This day thou wast anointed to thy death and burial anoint me with thy Spirit to eternal Life Save me from the hands of all mine Enemies that I may serve thee without fear in holiness and Righteousness all the dayes of my Life Amen A Prayer for Tuesday Morning O LORD what am I but Dust and Ashes and confess I am utterly lost having walked after the vanity of my mind and lived in all manner of Wickedness but O if thou shouldst be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who were able to abide it Enter not therefore into Judgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no Flesh living be justified Though my Sins have magnified themselves in infinite length breadth depth and height yet let thy Mercy which passeth all understanding far exceed them AND howsoever by reason of my Sins I have justly deserved to be not only deprived of thy blessings but for ever deserted and forsaken yet for his sake in whom thou art well pleased cast me not away from thy presence of Grace here or glory hereafter but by the one lead me to the other by Holiness bring me to Happiness Behold O Lord how I am thy Servant and the Son of thy Hand-maid O grant me Grace that I may live with thee for ever THOU hast redeemed me O let me not fall into Captivity and Bondage unto Sin and Satan but so confirm and strengthen me that both in life and death I may continue thine and never draw back unto Perdition or forsake thee the ever-living God or renounce my Saviour who hath the Words of Eternal Life and who is the Way the Truth and the Life but that both in Prosperity and Adversity I may live in thy Fear die in thy Favour rest in thy Peace and reign with thee in thy Glory Amen A Prayer for Tuesday Night O LORD how often mightest thou cut me off in the midst of my Sins but thine Eye hath spared me thou hast given me space of amendment and Grace to return unto thee to seek thee whilst thou maist be found and call upon thee whilst thou art near O Lord be not far from me but draw near unto my Soul make haste to deliver me and help me Thou hast promised to such as call upon thee to be a present help in Trouble to be their Shield and Buckler their Castle and Fortress and the Horn also of their Salvation AND now seeing thou hast brought the Night upon me wherein thou hast ordained Man to take his rest keep me O Lord as the Apple of thine Eye save and defend me from Delusions cause thine Angels to pitch their Tents round about me and watch over my Soul and Body that I may not commit any Sin either in Word or Deed but persevere in Grace until the appearing of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ unto Judgment DELIVER me I beseech thee from sudden Death Fears and Affrightments Casualties by Fire Water or Tempestuous Weather Disturbance by Thieves or any other DÃ nger whatsoever vouchsafe me peace of Conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost guide me here by thy Councel and after that receive me to Glory let my lying down in the Bed put me in mind of my resting in the Grave and my rising from thence of my Resurrection that both in Life and Death I may continue thine through Jesus Christ. Amen Meditations for Wednesday WOnderful are thy Works O Lord to
to keep our Faith and a good Conscience void of offence we may now and in the hour of death be and remain alwayes thine Defend us from all evil and sence us against the assaluts of Satan watch over us by the Eye of thy good providence and cause thy Angels to pitch their tents about us for our safety and continual preservation INTO thy hands we now commit our Souls and Bodies guide our thoughts words and actions and if we forget thee our God at any time O! do thou in mercy remember us and forgive us our trespasses make us to see our Sins in the glass of thy Law to mourn for them in the Closet of our hearts and Confess them in the bitterness of our Souls teach us to cast off the rags of iniquity and by Faith put on the Robes of Righteousness Help us to manage the Sword of the Spirit and the Helmet of Salvation that we may be able to fight against the Wiles of the Devil the vanitics of the World the Lusts of the flesh and the pride of Life BE favourable to Sion build up the walls of Ierusalem more particularly preserve and enlarge these Churches of great Britain and Ireland feed them as thy flock and Family Dress them as thy Vineyard and adorn them as thy Spouse Defend our Soveraign Lord and Lady King William and Queen Mary from all Enemies at home and abroad preserve their Bodies in Health the Hearts and Souls in soundness and truth their lives in honour and their honour from underminers Bless Katherine the Queen Dowager her Royal Highness the Princess Ann of Denmark with the rest of the Royal Family Bless those which rule in Church and State all Schools of good Education and sound Learning all thy Ministers and Magistrates with all our Relations in the Flesh and Friends in the Spirit to whom thou hast any ways made us bounden O Lord enable us to requite them or lay it on thine own account to restore it unto them and their Posterities And here we yield thee all laud and praise for Creating us when we were nothing for Predestinating us unto the Adoption and choosing us in Christ before the Foundation of the World We thank thee for our Preservation this Night past and for bringing of us this day to behold thy glorious light Lord awake our Souls from Sin and Carnal Security that we may be prepared like wise Virgins with Oyl in our Lamps to meet the sweet Bridegroom of our Souls whether at the hour of Death or the Day of Judgment These and all other Graces which for blindness we cannot and for our unworthiness we dare not ask we beseech thee to give us for the worthiness of thy dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord in whose most holy Name and Words we conclude these our imperfect Prayers in that most perfect Form of Prayer which he himself hath further taught us in his holy Gospel saying Our Father c. A Collect for the Day LORD bless us and make thy Face to shine upon us keep us from Sin and Satan sickness and sorrow shame and servitude loss of Goods and good Names or of any thing more near and dear unto us if it be thy good pleasure preserve us evermore in thy Faith and holy Fear guide us constantly by thy Councel and after that receive us to Glory Amen An Evening Prayer for a Family O GOD the God of the Spirits of all Flesh the high and lofty one that Inhabitest Eternity who hast made the Earth by thy power Establish'd the World by thy Wisdom and stretched out the Heavens by thy discretion the Father of Eternity and Fountain of Mercy the giver of all good things the forgiver of all sins and the comforter of all such as fly unto thee Lord we are here present before thee be thou present with us and President amongst us we appeal from the Seat of thy Justice to the Throne of thy Mercy beseeching thee to give us a sense of our own Miseries and an assurance of thy Mercies let us not be possess'd with over much fear but that with a holy confidence of thy goodness we may with joy appear in thy presence in an humble acknowledgment of our sins TO this end we confess that we have sinned against Heaven and before thee and are no more worthy to be called thy Children we have transgressed thy holy Laws and Commandments not only by our Thoughts and Words but by our Deeds and Actions our Iniquities are more in number than the hairs of our Head and make us seem vile in our own Eyes but much more in thy sight Lord unto thee we confess our sins O grant us Pardon and Absolution for them open unto us Penitents that ever streaming Fountain of thy Sons Blood that our sins being Bathed therein we may appear without blemish in thy sight by his Death mortifie our sinful Corruptions hide them in his Wounds and bury them in his Grave that they may neither rise in this life to shame us nor in the World to come to condemn us GIVE us thy holy Spirit let him purge our Consciences heal our Corruptions illuminate our Understandings confirm our Memories and consecrate our Souls and Bodies that they may be fit Temples for thy holy Ghost to dwell in Be merciful to thy Church and enlarge her borders shower down the choicest of thy blessings upon the heads and hearts of thy Servants our Soveraign Lord and Lady King William and Queen Mary bless them with length of days here and with a Crown of Glory hereafter bless Katherine the Queen Dowager her Royal Highness the Princess Ann of Denmark with all the rest of the Royal Family Bless the Nobility Gentry Ministry Magistracy and Commonalty our Relations in the Flesh and Friends in the Spirit protect all that stand up for thy Truth but as for thy Foes let them be ashamed and confounded AND now seeing thou hast brought the Night upon us wherein thou hast ordained man to rest in we humbly beseech thee who art the Keeper of Israel who never slumberest nor sleepest to watch over us by thy Providence cause thy holy Angels to pitch their Tents round about us that being freed from the terrors of the Night and refreshed with moderate rest and sleep we may the better be enabled to praise thy Name and to walk before thee in all good Works and holiness of Conversation all the days of our lives Let our Bed O Lord put us in mind of our Grave and our rising from thence of our Resurrection that whether we wake or sleep we may be always thine AND knowing that thy Name O Lord is a strong To ver of Defence we here commend our selves this Night to thy most holy protection if it be thy Divine Will to call any of us hence in our sleep O Lord for thy Sons sake have mercy upon us and receive our Souls into thy most blessed Kingdom but if it be thy heavenly pleasure
Days Grace and Vertue and guide my Feet in the way of peace Amen A Prayer for a Young Man or Maid MOST gracious God vouchsafe to me thy Heavenly Grace now and at all times more especially in this most dangerous part of my Life when the heat of Youth and many temptations do surround me O preserve me I beseech thee as the apple of thine Eye and though the flesh strives against the Spirit yet do thou exercise thy power and strengthen my imbecillity Stifle Sin in me at the beginning that it arise not up to a habit and prevent in me all evil and unworthy thoughts against thy Divine Majesty O LORD I recommend unto thee my Soul as a Child that can of it self do nothing defend me from all enemies Spiritual and Temporal keep my Soul and Body pure chast and undefiled that I offend not either in thought word or deed Give me grace O Lord to obey my Parents and those to whose tuition I am committed and grant that if thou shalt be pleased to call me to the honourable estate of Matrimony I may be joyned with one with whom I may serve thee in peace and holiness all the dayes of my Life Amen A Prayer for a Servant O HOLY and blessed Lord God who tookest upon thee the form of a Servant and wast obedient unto death even the death of the Cross that thou mightest work the Salvation of all people as well bond as free thou hast been pleased to call me to the State and Condition of a Servant below many others in the world O make me humbly submit to it and alwayes praise and magnifie thy holy Name that thou hast given me Health and strength of Body to perfrom my Duty LORD cast forth all murmurings and repinings in me and all Envy at the prosperity of others Endue me with meekness and humility and deliver me from the slavery of Sin that I may be made a Servant of Righteousness teach me to understand my duty and to reverence those whom I serve accounting them worthy of that honour which appertains to them Preserve me from Pride unseemly passions or disrespectfull behaviour towards my Superiors quicken my diligence in businesse and grant that whatever I shall take in hand I may not do it with Eye Service but in singleness of heart and obtain thy Grace and favour for Evermore Amen A Prayer for the fruits of the Earth MOST gracious God thy Works are to be wondered at through the World thou makest the grass to grow for the Cattel and Herb for the service of Man Thou bringest forth food out of the Earth and blessest the encrease of it look down O Lord I beseech thee upon all the dwellers upon earth wherein we inhabit That our Land may become fruitful and yield forth plenty in its proper Season And O thou who openest thy hand and fillest all things Living with good things fill our hearts with wisdome and all Christian vertues that we may bring forth abundantly the fruit of good works to the honour and glory of thy holy Name And as thou Crownest the Year with thy goodness and thy Clouds drop fatness So grant that we may evermore praise thee for all thy Mercies from whom cometh every good and perfect gift to whom be ascribed all honour power and glory now and forever Amen A Praier for Seasonable Weather O LORD God who for our sins art justly displeased at us and dost now chastise us by keeping back thy rain from watering the Earth whereby we are in danger of losing the diligent labour of our hands Pardon O Lord we humbly beseech our high provocations and accept of our hearty and true Repentance and favourably and Mercifully forgive all our transgressions committed against thee SHOWER down again thy blessings of Rain upon the Earth and water it O Lord that it may be softened and replenished But let not immoderately the Floods overflow us nor the Seed be spoiled under the Clod But let thy loving kindness renw the face of the Earth ' and make the green Pastures rejoyce Hearken unto the Cry of the Poor and Needy and though we eat our Bread in the sweat of our Face yet punish us not with the Scarcity of it which is the Staff and Support of our Lives Lord prosper all our labours and let us with moderation enjoy the fruit of it this we beg for thy Sons sake our blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving after a good Havest WE Bless and praise thy holy Name O Lord for sending us Rain from Heaven and fruitful Seasons whereby thou hast filled our hearts with Food and gladness Thou hast made the Grass to grow upon the Mountains and given Food to the Beasts of the field and hast filled us with the finest of the Wheat flower thou hast given Seed to the Sower and Bread to the Eater and hast loaded the Earth with thy bounty that our Barns might be filled BLESSED for ever art thou O Lord and magnified be thy Name for these and all others this benefits which thou from time to time hast bestowed upon us O that our hearts may overflow with love and our Tongues with expressions of thankfulness to thee grant that we may never forget nor abuse thy loving kindness towards us but by a sober and charitable use of these thy Mercies we may be made fit for a continual supply of them and at the last be made heirs of thy glorious Kingdom Amen A Prayer for a Woman with Child O GOD the Creatour and preserver of all things who in the beginning didst place mankind in unspeakable happiness and had there continued had not our first Parents broke thy Divine precepts given them in Paradise So that the Earth for their sakes was accursed and unto us the Daughters of Eve for our transgressions thou hast alotted most grievous pains and torments of Body in bringing forth Children LORD extend unto me and to all Women thy Mercy mitigate the torments thereof that we may be able patiently to endure the pains of our travell at the hour appointed And make that easie and light to us which our defects have made heavy and burdensome and that wherewith I am now laden may graciously be delivered from my frail Body and send us all good Lord a safe deliverance that we may be made joyful and happy Mothers VOUCHSAFE unto me and to all that have conceived with child strength to bring forth that which thine omnipotency hath so wonderfully wrought in us in our greatest perils O Lord help us and mightily deliver us let thy powâ—r might and Love be no less manifest en the delivery then in the forming of thiy Creature that being through thy goodness made a joyfull Mother I may obtain my perfect strength again and live to praise thee for evermore Amen A Prayer for a Woman near the time of her Travel O GOD most holy the speedy helper of all those who relie upon thee by thy almighty power I
and holy Spirit my Comfort and Consolation THE peace of God which passeth all Understanding keep my Heart and Mind in the love of God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and the blessing of God Almighty the Father Son and Holy Ghost be with me and remain with me and mine and with the whole Church of God from this time forth and for evermore GOD be merciful unto me and bless me the Lord lift up the light of his Countenance upon me and be merciful unto me and grant me his everlasting peace Amen A Prayer for one afflicted in Mind O FATHER of Mercy and God of all Consolation vouchsafe I beseech thee relief and succour unto me a wretched Sinner who am much tormented in Mind and afflicted in Conscience Lord I am afraid of thy Judgments and the severe Threatnings written in thy Law against those sins I have committed but O Lord break not the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax wound not my humble and contrite Heart but revive my Spirit that goes mourning all the day long though Satan thinks thou hast smitten and forsaken me yet frustrate his hopes and expectations leave me not destitute of thy Grace as a prey unto the Enemy of my Soul but mightily preserve and evermore defend me AND though my Conscience accuses me my Memory witnesses against me and my Reason condemns me though I am overwhelmed in discomfort and have lost the voice of joy and gladness and have neither worth to appease thy wrath nor patience to endure thy tryal yet send me O Lord the comfort of thy holy Spirit into my heart that I may not be swallowed up with overmuch heaviness but may rejoyce in thee with joy unspeakable and full of Glory Open and set open the Gate of thy Mercy to the greatness of my Misery for my mind is sorrowful my heart heavy my spirit is oppressed my words are stopt with sighs and my complaints watered with tears IN executing thy Judgments Lord remember Mercy try me not least I be condemned weigh not my offences but pardon my offences sanctifie all those means unto me which may afford me relief as Prayer Conference Meditation reading and hearing of thy Word and receiving the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of thy Son and my alone Saviour and Redeemer mitigate my extremities abate my fears and moderate my afflictions let not Night Visions like Nebuchadnezzar's make me affraid but when I awake stay me with Flaggons and comfort me with Apples thy precious promises which are pleasant to the Soul RECTIFIE my Understanding as in the days of Old and Drink no longer unto me in the Cup of Affliction but in the Chalice of refreshing that I may pay my Vows unto thee and call upon thy Name in the sight of all thy Congregation but if it be thy good pleasure to try me and not take away this Cup from me confirm my Faith and continue unto me that Hope which is to be revealed to this end cause me with the Eye of Faith to look up to thee who chastisest me and wait for the appointed time of my delivery out of all my Troubles LORD suffer me not to be swallowed up with despair but vouchsafe me a full assurance of thy Mercy that thou wilt never leave me nor forsake me but wilt be in life my God in death my Deliverer and after death my Eternal Rewarder Lord hearken and incline thine Ear unto these my Requests for thy Sons sake my only Lord and Saviour Our Father c. THE Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God the Father and the most comfortable Fellowship of God the holy Ghost be with me bless preserve and keep me both in Soul and Body in Goods and good Name in Life Health Peace and Godliness together with thy whole Church and all that appertain unto me now and for evermore Amen A Prayer to be used in behalf of one troubled in Mind ALMIGHTY God the only Guide and Comfort of our Souls and to whom alone we fly for succour in all afflictions O Lord we presume now to appear before thee in behalf of this thy afflicted Servant Support him I beseech thee in his greatest conflicts silence and appease his troubled Spirit that he may quietly hearken to thy blessed Words of Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest THOU hast solemnly proclaimed O Lord in thy holy Scripture that thou dost not delight in the death of a Sinner but rather that he should turn from his Wickedness and live O make him with joy feel his Soul turning to thee since no satisfactory Comfort can be acquired but only in thy love and favour which to all thy Servants is better than life it self We beseech thee speak peace to his Conscience and say unto him and all that are here present that thou art our Salvation ENDUE him with thy Grace give him peace of Conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost O give him the Comfort of thy help again and Establish him with thy free Spirit quicken him O Lord for thy Names sake and for thy Righteousness sake bring his Soul out of this trouble Put gladness into his heart and restore him again if it be thy Blessed will that he and we may Evermore rejoyce in thee who art the Father of all Mercies and the God of all Consolation to whom be Glory and Praise now and for Evermore Amen Meditations for the Sick O GOD thou dost what thou pleasest in Heaven and in Earth in the Sea and in all deep places thou art full of Compassion and tender Mercy long suffering and aboundest in goodness and truth thou alone forgivest Sins and savest all those that trust in thee in time of affliction I KNOW that all Flesh is Grass and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field the grass withereth the flower fadeth but the Word of thee our God shall stand for Ever In thy word therefore and gracious promises is my hope which is my greatest Comfort in my affliction IN the multitude of thy thoughts within me thy Comforts shall delight my Soul I will rejoyce even in the midst of my tribulation and glory in thy Holy Name who makest all things work together for good to them that love thee Though I walk through the vally of the shadow of Death I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff doth Comfort me WE are but of Yesterday and know nothing because our dayes upon Earth are as a shadow When thou with rebukes dost correct Man for iniquity thou makest his beauty to Consume away like a Moth Surely every Man is vanity my time is in thy hand Make thy face to shine upon thy Servant Save me for thy Mercies sake HIDE not thy face from me put not thy Servant away in thine anger Thou hadst been my help leave me not neither forsake me O God my of salvation Thou
shalt shew me the Path of Life in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for Evermore WE have had Fathers of the Flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in Subjection to the Father of Spirits and live he draweth the mighty with his power he riseth up and no Man is sure of Life WE have received good at the hands of God and shall we not receive Evil Affliction cometh not forth of the dust neither doth Travail come forth of the Ground Let us search and try our wayes and turn again to the Lord for though our outward Man decay our inward Man is renewed WE are chastened of the Lord that we should not be Condemned with the World For we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God that raised the dead who hath delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver And in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us BUT we know that all things work together for good to them that love God Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well doing as unto ae Faithful Creator We that are in this Tabernacle do groan being burdened I KNOW O Lord that thy judgments are just and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled O let this lightaffliction which will quickly pass away cause unto me afterward a more excellent and eternal weight of Glory REMEMBER I beseech thee that thou hast made me as the Clay and wilt thou bring me into the Dust again Deliver me O Lord from Eternal Death in that day wherein Heaven and Earth shall be dissolved when thou comest to judge the Earth I know thou wilt bring me to Death and to the House appointed for all Living A Prayer to be used by a sick Person O GOD my Creator and Preserver thou hast made me after thine own Image in Knowledge Holiness and Righteousness but I have sinned most holy Father against Heaven and against thee and am no more worthy to be called or reckoned amongst thy Children for this Image of thine I have defaced I have filled my Understanding with Ignorance my Will with Stubbornness my Affections with Perverseness my Heart with Deceitfulness and my whole Life with Disobedience ever since I drew my Breath I have drank Iniquity like Water so that I can expect nothing but Death and to be Arraigned at the Bar of thy Justice there to receive an irrevocable Doom BUT O most merciful God for thy dear Sons sake blot out all my Offences and receive me Graciously enlarge my patience to endure thy Tryal and lay no more upon me than I am able to bear give a happy issue unto all Temptations and make a way for me to escape and in the end grant me a full Deliverance As thou hast made me of Dust so thou canst take from me my breath and cast me forth again to that Earth from whence I was taken but I humbly beseech thee for to spare me a little that I may recover my health and strength before I go hence and be no more seen I CONFESS O Lord there is no soundness in my Flesh because of thy Displeasure nor any rest in my Bones by reason of my sin my heart panteth my strength faileth and my beauty consumeth away like a Moth fretting a Garment O Lord if it be thy holy Will ease my Agonies mitigate my Extremities be mindful of my Sorrows and be merciful unto my Sins redeem my Life from Destruction strengthen my Weakness heal my Malady and cause me again to walk before thee in the Land of the Living but if thou hast determined to call me hence thy Will be done grant me patience under thy Correction and a lively Faith in the All-sufficient and Efficacious Merit of Christ my Saviour seal unto me a free and a full pardon of all my sins in the Blood of thy dear Son and say unto my Soul that thou wilt be my Salvation IN assiance of thy merciful Absolution cause me to confess mine Iniquities and fill my heart with such a Godly sorrow as may work my Repentance unto Salvation never to be repented of sprinkle me with the Blood of Jesus and purifie me from my daily Pollutions that being washed justified and sanctified I may be presented unto thee without spot or wrinkle let nothing separate me from the love of thee grant me thy preserving Grace that dying thine Angels may convey my Soul into Abrahams Bosom there to reign with thee World without end Amen A Prayer to be said by the Friends of the Sick O LORD our God and great Creator thou madest us innocent but by sin we have brought Death and Destruction upon our selves for we have profaned thy Sabbaths contemned thine Ordinances cast thy Word behind our backs lived in all sin and sensuality spiritual slumber and security so that thou mightest justly cut us off from the Land of the Living and give us our Portion with Hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of Teeth BUT O Lord for thy Mercy sake and for the Merits of thy Son spare us a little and give us space of amendment before we go hence and be no more seen correct us in thy Mercy and not in thy Justice lest we should be consumed and brought to nothing whilst we live teach us to die daily to mortifie the deeds of the Flesh and to contemn the World with the Vanities thereof wean us from inordinate Self-love that we may not endear our selves too much to these Transitory lives of ours but may be ready and willing to depart when it shall stand with thy good pleasure to call for us take away from us the bitterness of Death and sweeten by the Cross of Christ these Waters of Marah that we may sigh and lament in our selves desiring to be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God LET our lives and the life of this thy sick Servant be now and ever precious in thy sight look mercifully upon him that is grieved with sickness Lord if thou wilt thou canst make him whole send him therefore help and health from thy holy place and evermore mightily defend him let the Enemy have no advantage against him nor the Wicked approach to hurt him but be thou present with him strengthen his Faith increase his patience under thy Correcting-hand raise him up from his sorrowful Bed and if thou art pleased longer to exercise him lend him strength to endure thy Tryal BUT if thou hast determined to take him hence Lord certifie unto him how long he hath to live make him to know his end and the measure of his days that by Prayer and Repentance he may provide wisely for his last end and be found of thee in peace and enjoy everlasting happiness dispose his
Meditations aright for Mortality and at that last hour make him to deny himself in renouncing his Justification by any inherent worth or righteousness and in all sorrows and sufferings let thy comforts rejoyce his Soul TO this end mortifie in him the Corruption of Nature quicken him with the Soul of new life and establish him with thy free Spirit purge his heart from all worldly thoughts and his mind from carnal desires motions and affections wash his Soul and Body with the Blood of Christ and sanctifie him throughout in Spirit Soul and Body with the Grace of thy holy Spirit that departing in the true Faith not casting away his confidence nor hope of rejoycing in full assurance of a blessed Resurrection he may have boldness in the day of the Lord Jesus and so pass from Death to Life and be ever with thee to behold thy Glory grant this for the sake of thy dear Son our Lord and Saviour Amen Another Prayer to be used by those that are about the Sick O LORD our God thou art the Judge of all the Earth we Dust and Ashes vile and miserable Sinners do here in all humility cast down our selves before thee for our Sins which are the occasion of all the evil of punishment thou inflictest on the Sons and Daughters of Men. Lord hear us and forgive whatsoever is past and grant that we may for ever hereafter serve and please thee through newness of life walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days and because the days are evil give us Grace to redeem the time that numbring our days aright we may apply our hearts unto true Wisdom make us constantly to eschew evil and do good to seek peace and ensue it LOOK with thine Eye of Mercy and Compassion upon this thy Servant who is grieved with Sickness sanctifie this thy Visitation unto him that those Graces which thou hast begun to work in him may be strengthened increased and by degrees perfected restore unto him the voice of joy and health that the Bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce And seeing we have need of patience send this thy Servant such a degree of patience and consiancy that he may continue thy Faithful Soldier and Servant unto his lives end work in him a sense and seeling of sin and true sorrow for the same which may cause repentance unto Salvation never to be repented of O LORD if it be not thy good pleasure to raise him up from his Bed of languishing prepare his heart for Death and his Soul for Heaven and wash away his Sins in the Blood of Jesus wean his affections from the love of this World and set them on those things which are above that being absent from the Body he may be present with thee O Lord. Repair in this thy Servant thine own Image and renew it in knowledge holiness and righteousness that thou mayest acknowledge him for thine raise him up from the Grave unto the Resurrection of Life and for ever satisfie him with thy likeness and transform him into the same from Glory to Glory Amen A Prayer to recommend the Soul to God when it is departing the Body O MOST Gracious God we commend into thy holy hands the Soul of this thy Servant beseeching thee to defend it from all evil and from thy wrath which he hath deserved let thy holy Angels receive this Soul from this ruinous habitation of Clay and carry it unto the bosom of thy dear Son O say unto this Soul this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise and fear not for it is my Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdom GIVE unto his decaying Body a blessed and a glorious Resurrection to his weary and afflicted his penitent and redeemed Soul a portion in the blessed sentence of the right hand amongst the happy Children of thy Father who shall receive the Kingdom prepared for them from the beginning of the World let his Soul dwell in heavenly Mansions be supported with thy hope comforted with a holy conscience rejoyce in a confirm'd pardon be recreated with the visitation of Angels and be arrayed in white to follow after the Lamb whither soever he goeth A Prayer for a Soul departing O LORD remember the good things which by thy Grace and by the Inspiration of thy holy Spirit thy Servant hath performed and remember not his evil Deeds nor the frailties of his Youth which by the weakness of the Flesh and the temptations of Satan and the vain contingencies of this World have afflicted and humbled his poor but penitent Soul O God remember thy only Son did die for these and thy blessed Spirit occasioned the other and for whom thou hast given thy Son and to whom thou hast vouchsafed to give thy Spirit give thy eternal Pardon and thy everlasting Glories through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen An Act of Resignation when a Friend is deceas'd O ETERNAL God who bringest good out of evil comfort out of sorrow and after a gentle visitation dost refresh thy Children have mercy upon us and return to us with thy loving kindness exchanging our present sorrow into the advantages of holiness and blessing Thy Judgments O Lord are unsearchable and thy ways past finding out but we will bless thy holy Name at all times for thou O Lord hast given and hast taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. BE thou now and for ever what thou hast so graciously promised a Father of the Fatherless a Husband to the Widow and a God of Comfort to them that mourn in secret Grant that we thy Servants may not weep as them without hope neither murmur at thy dispensation nor complain of any thing but our selves nor desire any thing but that thy Will may be done nor do any thing but what is agreeable to thy holy Word and Commandment GRANT O Lord that when thou smitest any of us it may encrease thy fear in us and when thou dost good to any of us in smiting or forbearing in chastising or Comforting it may encrease thy love in us And let thy holy Spirit so prevail over all our wills and understandings our Affections and the outward Man our interests and our hopes that we may live in this World pleasing to thee and may depart out of this World with the peace of a good Conscience and may attain to a joyful Resurrection in the last day and to a participation of thy Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Meditation after Recovery from Sickness O COME hither and behold the Works of the Lord how wonderful he is in his doings towards the Children of Men O come hither and hearken all ye that fear God and I will tell you what he hath done for my Soul I called unto him with my mouth and gave him praises with my Tongue O Lord my God I cried unto thee and thou hast healed me THOU Lord hast brought my Soul out of Hell Thou hast kept my Life from them that
Noâ—trils can drive us like Chaff before the face of the Wind and chase us into the bottomless Pit from whence there is no Redemption BUT thine Eye O Lord hath spared us and we are yet alive O make us living Monuments of thy Mercy that we may work out our Repentance unto Salvation and let it be such a Repentance never to be repented of possess my heart with such a fear and a love of thee that I may tremble at thy Word and melt at the sight of thy Judgments deliver me I humbly beseech thee in that great day of thy appearance and let me not be in the number of Depart ye Cursed but among those whom thou callest Come you blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you This I humbly beg for thy Sons sake our only Lord and Saviour Amen The Marriners Prayer O GOD the great Creator of Heaven and Earth thou dost whatsoever thou pleaseâ—t in the Sea and in all deep places I the most unworthiest of all thy Servants am at this time called upon to behold thy Wonders in the Deep and to perform my Duty in great Waters Guide me I beseech thee in all times and in all places be thou our skilful Pilot to steer us and protect us from all Dangers and rebuke the Winds and the Seas when they molest us preserve our Vessel from being rent by the loud cracks of Thunder or from being burnt by Lightning or any other accident keep us and save us from tempestuous Weather from bitter Frosts Hail Ice Snow or Whirlwinds and from Captivity and Slavery TEACH me O God to remember thee my Creator in the days of my Youth to continually think upon thee and to praise thy Name for all thy Mercies bless all our Friends I beseech thee that are on Land and let their Prayers for us be acceptable in thy sight and grant that our next meeting together may be for the better and not for the worse even to the praising and magnifying of thy holy Name and the Salvation of our own Souls in the great day of the Lord Jesus to whom with thee and thy blessed Spirit be ascribed all Honour Power and Glory Adoration and Subjection now and for evermore Amen The Soldiers Prayer O MOST Omnipotent Lord God Heaven is thy Throne and Earth is thy Footstool and the whole Host of Heaven continually pays obedience to thee O Lord I present my self before thee acknowledging my own vileness but thy infinite goodness my own weakness but thy infinite Power and Majesty O thou that teaches our hands to War and our fingers to Fight endue me with a courage and resolution to run through those difficulties I may meet withal and when any engagement presents it self for the publick good of my King and Country then O my God animate me with that vigour and Christian fortitude that I may overcome all those which oppose thee and thy people PRESERVE me I beseech thee and bless me in all my Enterprises save me from Death and cover my head in our day of Battel prosper our Arms with good success make our Religion and Country like the House of David grow stronger and stronger but let the Enemy like the House of Saul grow weaker and weaker let no covetous desires greediness of spoil ambition vain-glory hatred malice uncharitableness or any thing that exalts it self against thee and thy Kingdom ever take hold of me keep me from all Atheism Infidelity Blasphemy and Prophaneness from all Rioting Chambering and Wantonness grant that I may do no violence to any man nor accuse no man falsly but be content with my Wages that when ever Death approaches I may joyfully giving up the Ghost pronounce this saying I have fought a good fight I have finish'd my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Iudge shall give unto all those which love and fear him and put their trust in his mercy Amen The Magistrates Prayer O GOD thou Supreme Judge of the World thou didit ordain Man through thy Wisdom and gavest him dominion over thy Creatures and authority to govern the World according to equity and righteousness and to execute Judgment with all uprightness thou hast appointed me a Minister O Lord and a Judge of thy Sons and Daughters but none can discharge so great a trust without thy divine power and assiâ—tance TO thee therefore O Lord do I humbly address my self thou art the Fountain from whence every good and perfect gift cometh and none can rule without thy Wisdom guides them Endue me O Lord with that wisdom which is from above which is first pure and then peaceable inspire me with an understanding Spirit that I may discern between Good and Evil between Light and Darkness that I may be always ready to pronounce a just sentence in all Causes let the Scales of Justice be ever even and let my Eyes be blind and my Ears deaf to all gifts or popular applause amongst men suffer me not to bear thy Sword in vain but fill me with that Zeal and Courage that I may be ready to punish Wickedness and Vice but encourage true Religion and Vertue so that at the last when thou shalt be pleased to call me hence I may give up my accounts with joy and not with grief and receive those blessed Words which thou hast pronounced of Well done thou good and faithful Servant enter into the joy of thy Lord. Amen A Prayer of a Debtor in Prison O GOD the helper of the poor and needy and all those who are in adversity look down I beseech thee with an Eye of Pity and Compassion upon thy afflicted Servant the place I am in is miserable disconsolate and comfortless but withdraw not the light of thy countenance from me O Lord I confess I have abused all those mercies I have enjoyed I have not employed that precious time thou hast given me to improve but on the contrary I have been negligent and guilty of all profuseness I have been worse than an Infidel in not making that provision for my Family which I was obliged in Justice to perform neither have I paid those due Debts which I became bound to do therefore aâ— I plunged into this depth of misery Divers ways I am apprehensive I have highly offended thy Divine Majesty both in thought word and deed for which I earnestly implore thy gracious pardon and forgiveness I acknowledge thy Divine Goodness and Mercy that thou hast not snatched me hence and sent me into everlasting burnings amongst the damned but thou hast preserved me unto this moment that I might live and praise thy great Name My Body O Lord is now confin'd but I beseech thee enlarge my Spirit whereby I may offer up the Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving with all cheerfulness for all thy innumerable benefits which I have from time to time received from thee dispose the hearts of my
Creditors to a free compliance and enable me I beseech thee to make them restitution that when Ever I shall be released I may walk more Circumspectly and redeem that time I have so vainly lost Bless all those whose Charity have extended to my relief or have sought to procure my Liberty and bring us all at last to thy Heavenly Kingdom Amen A Prayer of a Malefactor in Prison O MOST merciful God thou art Holy in all thy ways and righteous in all thy Works vouchsafe thy Grace O Lord to a vile wretch and incorrigible sinner I implore O Lord that Mercy which formerly I have abused I sigh and groan now under the Weight of my sins and they are become a burden too heavy for me to bear my presumptuous and wicked proceedings stick like so many arrows within me and when with an awakened Conscience I remember them I am ready to sink down into the Pit of perdition and utterly despair of any Mercy or Compassion HOW brutish have I been in hating instruction and all manner of reproof I have not obeyed the voice of my Teachers neither did I incline my Ear to them that admonished me but like the Dâ—af adder I stopped my Ears and adhered not to wise Councel thy most holy Laws I have broken thy Sabbath I have prophaned by excess of drunkenness and all manner of riot and debauchery which have been as forerunners of this crime for which I stand now committed and the hand of justice hath overtaken me But O Lord I beseech thee have Mercy upon me even for his sake who redeemed me and all Mankind accept of his atonement for my sins and save my Soul for thy Mercies sake wash away all my sins in his most precious Blood and blot out all my offences out of thy remembrance O shew me some taste of thy tender Mercy whereby the fear of death may be abated give me some assurance of a hope in thee that when my day of dissolution comes my unworthy Soul may be received into thy Heavenly Kingdom Amen A Submission to the sentence of Death O ETERNAL God in all humility of Soul and Body I cast my self at the Feet of thy Divine Majesty thou art the Soveraign Judge of the all the World and hast fully pronounced against me and all sinners that dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return in obedience to thy Divine Justice I wholly resign all the faculties of my Soul and Body to thy sentence pronounced against me acknowledging it most just and due to me for those infinite Sins I have committed against thee O Let it never slip from my Memory that bloody and shameful Death of thy Son Jesus Christ who after he had suffered in his Soul unspeakable sorrows and in his Agony and bloody Sweat offered up himself a Sacrifice for mine and the sins of the whole World Never let me never repine at what the hand of Justice hath decreed to my Body but let me by a sincere repentance seek thy face to preserve my Soul the Death I am to suffer is painful and even a shamefull death but thou O my God canst make my passage Easie. THOU O my God didst remember the Thief upon the Cross O remember me I beseech thee in my last Hour and say unto my Soul this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise keep my heart and mouth from pronouncing words which may be offensive to Christian Ears but let me never be ashamed to confess thy holy Name and to continue thy Soldier and Servant manfully fighting under thy Banner unto my lives end Strengthen me O Lord in this great conflict and shew me the light of thy Countenance for evermore Amen A Preparation for Death MOST gracious God the Fountain of all goodness I bless and magnifie thy holy Name for all thy mercies extended to me and all Mankind I bless thee for my being and well-being from the hour of my Conception to the day of my Nativity from my Minority to my riper Years and age of full strength and even to this present moment I praise thy holy Name for all the means of Grace and for the hope of Glory for my Creation Redemption Preservation and all the blessings of this life I MAGNIFIE thee for all thy mercies in forgiving my infinite Transgressions for all thy patience and long-suffering towards me I have like the Prodigal Son absented my self from thee and at my return thou hast received me graciously Lord I humbly beseech thee raise me up from the death of Sin unto the life of Righteousness that being made a partaker of the death of Christ and a follower of his holy life I may be made a partaker of his Spirit and of his Promises O LET me never charge thee O my God foolishly nor offend thee by my impatience and uneasie Spirit nor weaken the hands and hearts of those that charitably minister to my Necessities but let me pass through this vale of tears and the valley of the shadow of death with peace and safety with a meek spirit and a sense of thy divine mercies grant this eternal God for the merits of thy only Son my ever blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer for Pardon of Sin O MOST merciful God who wouldest not the death of a Sinner but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live have mercy upon me and heal my Soul for I have sinned against thee I have committed Iniquity with greediness and have added unto sin daily and hourly I have made resolutions and purposes of amendment but in a moment I have started aside like a broken Bow and have returned to my former custom like the Dog to his vomit and the Swine to her wallowing in the mire BUT thou art a God gracious and merciful pardoning Iniquity Transgression and Sin and there is forgiveness with thee that thou maist be feared therefore to thee O God I come like an ungracious Child but to a gracious Father I come in all humility of Soul and Body and appeal from thy Throne of Justice unto thy Mercy-seat Mercy good Lord I beg at thy fatherly hands for I acknowledge with grief of heart and sorrow of spirit that I have infinitely sinned against Heaven and against thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son GIVE unto me O Lord a new heart and a right understanding that I may perceive the evil of my ways and repent of all my transgressions Lord where Iniquity did abound there let thy Grace much more abound hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine Iniquities and receive me graciously and that for his sake who died for Sin and knew no Sin even that Immaculate Lamb thy dear Son Jesus Christ the Righteous my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen ADDITIONAL DEVOTIONS FOR Several Occasions ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY Phil. iv vi Be careful for nothing but in every thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made
Word and in Tongue but expressed by our careful study to glorifie thee our God in all our Words and Works through Jesus Christ our Lord. Save thy Universal Church c. THE END THE TABLE WHat Prayer is and the parts of it pag. 1 2 3 4 5 Ejaculations at uprising p. 7 A Morning Prayer for a private Person ibid. When you depart Home p. 9 Ejaculations for the Evening p. 10 An Evening Prayer for a private Person p. 11 Ejaculations on several Occasions When you awake in the Night p. 13 When the Clock strikes ibid. When you intend any Business or Iourney ibid. When thou art Persecuted p. 12 Upon some sudden fear ibid. Upon any disorderly thoughts ibid. Upon any occasions of sadness ibid. Upon any diffidence ibid. When thou performest any good Work p. 15 When thou art provoked to Anger ibid. For thine Enemies ibid. Upon any Deliverance or Mercy received ibid. Upon any Loss or Adversity p. 16 When you hear the Bell Toll for one Departed ibid. Upon thought of thy Sins ibid. When thou art weary of the Cares and Vanities of this World ibid. Meditations for Sunday p. 17 A Prayer for Sunday Morning p. 18 Sunday Noon p. 20 Sunday Night p. 21 Mondays Meditations p. 23 A Prayer for Monday Morning p. 25 A Prayer for Monday Night p. 27 Tuesdays Meditations p. 28 A Prayer for Tuesday Morning p. 30 A Prayer for Tuesday Night p. 31 Wednesdays Meditations p. 33 A Prayer for Wednesday Morning p. 34 A Prayer for Wednesday Night p. 36 Thursdays Meditations p. 37 A Prayer for Thursday Morning p. 39 A Prayer for Thursday Night p. 40 Fridays Meditations p. 42 A Prayer for Friday Morning p. 44 A Prayer for Friday Night p. 45 Saturdays Meditations p. 47 A Prayer for Saturday Morning p. 48 A Prayer for Saturday Night p. 50 Meditations on the Lords Supper p. 51 A Prayer before the Communion p. 53 An Ejaculation before receiving the Bread p. 54 An Ejaculation before receiving the Cup p. 55 A Prayer after the Communion ibid. A Prayer before hearing the Word p. 57 A Prayer after hearing the Word p. 58 A Prayer for necessary Blessings of this life p. 59 A Thanksgiving for Gods Benefits p. 60 A Prayer for Wisdom p. 61 A Prayer for Defence against our Enemies p. 63 A Morning Prayer for a Family p. 64 A Collect for the Day p. 68 An Evening Prayer for a Family ibid. A Collect for the Night p. 72 Prayers for several Persons The Husbands Prayer p. 73 The Wives Prayer p. 75 The Childs Prayer p. 76 The Widows Prayer p. 77 The Orphans Prayer p. 78 A Prayer for a Young Man or Maid p. 79 The Servants Prayer p. 80 A Prayer for the Fruits of the Earth p. 81 A Prayer for seasonable Weather p. 82 A Thanksgiving after a good Harvest p. 83 A Prayer for a Woman with Child p. 84 A Prayer for a Woman near the time of her Travail p. 85 The Midwives Prayer before Deliverance p. 86 A Thanksgiving after Deliverance p. 88 A Prayer for one near any Temptation p. 89 A Prayer for one Afflicted in Mind p. 92 A Prayer to be used in behalf of one troubled in Mind p. 95 Meditations for the Sick p. 97 A Prayer to be used by a Sick Person p. 100 A Prayer to be said by the Friends of the Sick p. 103 Another Prayer to be used by those that are about the Sick p. 106 A Prayer to recommend the Soul to God when it is departing p. 108 A Prayer for a Soul departing p. 109 An Act of Resignation when a Friend is deceas'd p. 109 A Meditation after Recovery from Sickness p. 111 A Thanksgiving after Recovery from Sickness p. 113 A Prayer before a Iourney p. 114 A Thanksgiving after a Iourney p. 116 A Prayer before a Voyage p. 117 A Thanksgiving after a Voyage ibid. A Prayer in a Storm p. 120 A Thanksgiving after a Storm p. 122 A Prayer in time of Thunder and Lightning p. 123 The Mariners Prayer p. 125 The Soldiers Prayer p. 126 The Magistrates Prayer p. 128 A Prayer of a Debtor in Prison p. 129 A Prayer of a Malefactor in Prison p. 131 A Submission to the Sentence of Death p. 132 A Preparation for Death p. 134 A Prayer for pardon of Sin p. 135 Additional Devotions A Prayer for Christmass Day p. 141 For New-years Day p. 142 For Twelfth-Day ibid. For Ash-Wednesday p. 143 On Good-Friday p. 144 On Easter-Day p. 145 Upon Ascension-Day p. 146 On Whitsunday p. 147 Upon Trinity-Sunday p. 148 Upon any Apostles Day p. 149 For the Church p. 150 A Prayer for the King and Queen ibid. For the Royal Family p. 151 For the Clergy ibid. For the High Court of Parliament p. 152 For the Navy and Army p. 153 For Gods people in General p. 154 A Thanksgiving for our Deliverance from the Spanish Invasion p. 155 For our great Deliverance from the Powder Treason and from Popery Slavery and Arbitrary Power ibid. For the haypy success of Their Majesties Arms in reducing of Ireland and for His Majesties safe return to England p. 157 A Prayer for Charity p. 158 To renounce the World and to affect Spiritual things p. 159 A Conclusive Prayer p. 160 The Blessing p. 161 Graces before Meat p. 161-2 Graces after Meat p. 163-4 FINIS
was formed and fashioned in the Womb by thy tender care I was brought from thence and by thy Mercifull providence I have been preserved even to this momenthin laud and magnifie thy holy Name and implore thy never failing aid in this approaching time of my necessity O be not far off rom me when trouble is nigh at hand but hear my voice and save me when I call upon thee mitigate my pains or endue me with patience and support my Spirits in that great conflict LORD perfect what thou hast begun and what thou hast wrought in secret bring forth I beseech thee into thy most marvellous light that we may all behold the wonders of thy Wisdom and extol thy power O Lord in thee alone do I humbly place my Confidence for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth I wholly resign my self unto thee beseeching thee to have Mercy upon me and when ever thou shalt be pleased to call me from this Life Lord fit me for a better where all sorrows and tears shall be done away and everlasting joyes possess our hearts for evermore Amen The Midwives Prayer before Deliverance MOST gracious God who by thy never failing providence hast kept me even from my Mothers Womb to this moment and hast now deputed me the unworthiest of all thy Servants to this great office for a help and comfort in that great pain and peril of Child birth Be with me O Lord I beseech thee and assist me in this great work which I am now ready to undertake prosper thou O Lord the work of my hands O prosper I beseech thee my handy work O PUT thy fear into my heart that I may be as sincere to the Poor as to the Rich to save life and not to destroy let me not be too timerous nor too violent but endue me with those vertues and graces which thou knowest most convenient for me and give a Blessing to this undertaking preserve me I humbly beseech thee in the dangerous times from contagion infection or any bodily diseases which may be received from sick Persons AND as thou hast by thy Almighty power made her Conceive and hast now even brought it to the Birth so give her strength also to bring forth Support her Spirits in her labour bless the endeavours of those who are present with her preserve the life of that which strugles in her Womb to be delivered And let us behold the operation of thy hands to all our Joy and Comfort Lord hear our Prayers and let our cry come unto thee save her and help her we humbly beseech thee O Lord. Our Father c. A Thanksgiving after Deliverance FORASMUCH as it hath pleased thee O Almighty God of thy gra cious Goodness to ease me of my pains and deliver me of my burden and from the great danger and peril of Childbirth I here humbly prostrate my Soul and Body before thee to be unto thee a reasonable lively and living Sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight giving thy Divine Majesty infinite and unfeigned thanks for this thy gracious preservation of me and delivering me out of this great danger of Death under which I might have perished had not thy mercy and goodness embraced me on every side TO thee alone most heavenly Father be given and ascribed all Praise and Thanksgiving now and for ever as thou hast been graciously pleased to give me a Child so Lord give me thy Grace which is sufficient for me to devote and consecrate it wholly to thee and thy service to this end work mightily in it by thy holy spirit sanctifie it from the Womb not whilst it hangs upon the Breasts but so long as it shall breathe in the Land of the Living until thou translate it hence to Reign with thee in Glory Amen A Prayer for one near any Temptation O MERCIFUL God thou exercisest thy Children with sundry Trials and Temptations leaving them to themselves as thou didst Hezekiah to the end he might see his frailty some like St. Peter thou exposest to the boysterous Winds of Satans Winnowings and others like St. Paul to the blows of the Adversaries vehement Buffetings O God thine only Son thou didst not exempt from Satans sharpest and stoutest Trials when thou conductedst him into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil IF thou O Lord shouldst permit me in like manner to be tried and tempted suffer me not at any time to be overcome but hold me up by thy Almighty power animate by the presence of thy blessed Spirit and let thy Grace be ever sufficient for me whereby I may foil my Enemy and in the end get the Victory detect his Policies discover his Subtilties defeat his doings and dealings which are against me to this end endue me with such Wisdom as may make me foresee his Stratagems such vigilancy as I may avoid his Snares which he prepares for my Souls destruction LET no temptation take me but what is common to Man try me not above my strength but with the temptation make me a way to escape let me never yield to the motions of Satan suggesting unto me Death or Desperation but grant me patience to expect the hour of my Departure my Souls Separation the dissolution of my Body and deliverance from the misery of this wretched World let my trouble be without distress my perplexity without despair my persecution without forsaking and my casting down without destruction if Tears fall from my Eyes in thy good time wipe them away and preserve them in thy Bottle that they may be precious in thy sight O LORD if thou leavest me for a while draw nigh again unto me in great Compassion cover my head in my spiritual Conflicts let thy Love be my Banner thy Faithfulness and Truth my Shield and Buckler let no trial surprize me but give me a right Judgment that I may count it all Joy when I fall into divers Temptations O let not my heart be hardned by them as the Israelites were who provoked thee in the Wilderness but sanctifie all thy visitations unto me that I may be bettered and reformed by them that my Faith being tryed patience may have her perfect work in me intire lacking nothing I KNOW O Lord in all thy Temptations thou ever hast one end and Satan another thou triest me to the end that being faithful thou mightest give me a Crown of Life but Satan seeks to seduce me to Wickedness but O holy Spirit thou preserver of all Men keep me by thy Grace and strengthen me by thy Power be present with me and president in me and as thy sufferings abound in me so let thy consolation much more abound and in the midst of my greatest Agonies of Mind let thy Comforts refresh my disquieted Soul LORD let thy mighty Hand and stretched-out-Arm be now and always my Defence thy mercy and loving kindness in Christ Jesus thy dear Son my Salvation thy true and holy Word my Instruction thy Grace