thee nor presume to sinne vpon expectation of thy pardon what greater abuse of thy mercie than this can there be Rom. 2.4 thy mercy should lead mee from my sins vnto repentance not from repentance vnto sinne Lord with griefe of heart I doe mournfully confesse before thee that I haue too too much presumed in bold and wilful sinning against thee vpon hope of pardon from thee Lord humble me more and more for this my most dangerous sinne and offence and let it not bee mee but sinne in me whensoeuer I sin against thee LORD aboue all things saue me from an impudent and shamelesse soule saue mee from sinning against thee with so high an hand in so great a measure that my chiefest care being to master sinne in this life it may bee thy good will and pleasure to free mee from damnation in the world to come for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer against the Plague O Lord my God most mighty and glorious whereas thy gracious promise is Psal 91.4.7 to saue mee from plague and pestilence to hide mee vnder thy wings and to keep me safe vnder thy feathers thousands shall fall on my right hand and ten thousand on my left and no plague shall come neere my dwelling Lord for thy mercies sake saue me from this wrath of thine and euermore defend mee And heauenly Father I pray thee to this end purge my soule from the leprosie of sinne the cause of all thy iudgments present and to come this fearfull affliction neuer commeth but alwaies some or other sin procuring it foure great and grieuous plagues thou sentest against the house of Israel foure lamentable sinnes procuring the same as bellicheare Num. 11. Num. 16. Num. 25. 2 Sam. 24. contempt of thy Ministers fornicating and putting confidence in the arme of flesh for victorie O Lord preserue mee and this whole nation from these and al other transgressions that so iniquity may neuer be our destruction Thus I most humbly beseech thee saue me from sins iudgments in this life from euerlasting damnation in the world to come for Iesus sake Amen A Prayer against the Sword ALmighty and most merciful Father great are thy iudgments and fearefull thy punishments appointed for sinners yea for thine owne people if they sinne against thee though thou wilt in the Lord IESVS spare them in thine euerlasting loue from an euerlasting damnation yet if they bee bold to sinne thou wilt lash them with a temporary correction as thou didst threaten thine owne people Israel Ezek. 21.4 that thou wouldest draw thy Sword and cut off the righteous with the wicked O Lord I beseech thee saue me from this fearfull miserie let the sword of thy law pierce and humble mee that the sword of thy iudgments may neuer ouertake me I blesse thee O Lord God for peace in our borders wee haue no howling in our gates no complaining in our streets Psal 144.14 no leading into captiuity no defiling of Temple and City blessed are the people that are so happy are they that haue thee O Lord for their God O Lord God giue mee and the whole nation grace to repent with Nineve of all our sinnes Iâ—â— 3.10 that so wee may neuer bee deuoured by the sword but in peace if it bee meet for thy glory and the good of thy church we may passe to peace and glory euerlasting Amen A Prayer against Famine O Most mighty and most glorious Lord God I beseech thee saue me from miserie and destruction which iustly for my sinnes might come vpon me O Lord in particular I pray thee for thy mercies sake preserue me from famine and perishing by hunger that ruefull iudgment and of all deaths the most miserable vnder the Sun for none like staruing to death Lord grant I may daily dye vnto my sinnes that for them I may neuer in this terrible iudgment die how heauie is it to my soule the remembrance of that distressed woman 2 Kings 6.28 who in that famine of Samaria complained to her King That her neighbour shared with her in the eating of her child but she could not againe haue part with her neighbour a lamentable complaint a distresse most miserable O Lord of thy goodnes saue mee and this nation from the same And as we would be spared from these thy dismall iudgments so Lord grant wee may labor to be freed from our wicked and abominable transgressions wee haue abused thy creatures vnto vanity and thy comfortable mercies vnto riot and excesse it were iust with thee to fulfill that heauy sentence vpon vs Hee that hath not it shall bee taken away that which he hath he that hath not to a good and holy vse it shall bee taken away that which he hath O Lord haue mercy vpon mee and deliuer me from famine in this life and destruction in the next to come for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for grace in generall O Eternall GOD and my most mercifull heauenly Father who art Author and finisher of my faith from whom euery good and perfect gift descendeth I most humbly intreat thee to sanctifie my soule with thy holy and heauenly grace especially with those excellent gifts of thy holy Spirit spoken of by thine holy Apostle Peter proper onely to thine elect and chosen as faith vertue knowledge patience temperance godlines brotherly kindnesse loue for if these things be in me and abound I shall neuer fall into the ditch of hell Lord let me not do mine own wil but giue mee alwaies to bee guided by the motions of thine holy Spirit into all truth let it bee my meat and drinke the obedience of thy word grant I may finde out that old and good way Ier. 6.16 the way of thy feare and grace that walking in it constantly and conscionably I may finde euerlasting peace and rest to my soule O Lord giue me to loath sinne as the greatest enemy of my soule for the wages of sinne is death but the gift of thee O my God is eternall life Rom. 6.23 through my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ If I bee not borne twice better it had beene for mee neuer to haue beene borne except I repent I perish Luke 13.3 Lord who shall dwell in thy holy Tabernacle euen hee that leadeth an incorrupt life for no vncleane thing shall enter into thy kingdome vnsanctified vnsaued and without holinesse I can neuer see thee O God therefore I beseech thine holy and heauenly maiesty to mortifie sinne in mine earthly members and to renew mee in soule and body giue me O my God a new minde new will new affections new thoughts new words new waies all new for he that is a member of the Lord Iesus is thus become a new creature O Lord euermore delight my soule with holinesse and let thy feare preserue mee alwaies from euill thus giue mee I pray thee to liue purely in some good measure in this life that I
THE PRISONERS PRAYERS OR An Heauenly helpe to DEVOTION Composed by H. Greenwood Preacher of the Word of God 1 THESS 5.17 Pray continually LONDON Printed by I. H. for Henry Bell. 1628. To the most Illustrious and right Vertuous Princesse the Lady KATHERINE Duchesse of Buckingham her grace all honor and grace in this life and eternall glorie in the life to come RIght Gracious Lady the counsell of the holy Apostle is Iam. 5.13 That if any bee afflicted let him pray I haue not onely in my long and great afflictions in some measure herein delightfully obeyed but also composed some few yet comfortable praiers for the benefit of the Church of God Now considering with my selfe to whom I should commend the same I thought vpon your Grace as most worthy of the Dedication both in regard of your late and happy call from darknesse to light as also for your constant conscionable maintenance of holy and wholesome praiers in your family to the glory of the Almighty and the daily supporting and refreshing of your owne soule Now that your Grace may grow and goe on in grace and in the sauing knowledge of the Lord Iesus let mee intreat you at your best leasure to peruse this poore yet profitable present the Lord giue you grace to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ Iesus made you free Gal. 5.1 and bee not intangled againe with the yoke of bondage And as your Grace by Gods especiall mercy hath tasted of the true and heauenly refreshing the Lord make you an happy and heauenly Instrument of the conuersion of many great Ones among vs so shall you shine as a starre in the firmament of saluation Thus Andrew drew on Peter and Philip Nathaniel thus doing greater shall your reward be in heauen And because euery thing is sanctified by the Word and Prayer 1 Tim. 4.5 the Lord giue you grace to reuerence the one and highly respect the other that your soule may be preserued aliue in the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus to life and glory euerlasting Psal 45.10 If you thus forget your fathers house then shall the heauenly King and earthly too take pleasure in your beauty The Psalmist setting forth the glory of that famous Ierusalem speaketh thus Psal 87.3 Glorious things are spoken of thee thou City of God so without flattery I auerre it good things are spoken of thee O thou hopefull and happy Daughter of God Great is the outward glory cast vpon your Grace I pray God with all my heart that the commendation of the Kings daughter may be yours That you may bee found also all glorious within Psal 45.13 Now the Lords best blessings euermore attend you and the Lord prosper the person of your dearest friend the most Noble and Illustrious DVKE with grace and honour and all his lawfull attempts with good successe and victory for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Your Graces most humbly obseruant in the Lord Iesus H. Greenewood From his Majesties Prison of the Fleet this 13 of Nouemb. 1627. A Catalogue of the Praiers contained in this Booke with a note of the Pages where they may bee found A Praier against sinne and Sathan in generall Page 1 A prayer against the worlds illusions Page 5 A Prayer against Pride Page 7 A Praier against Enuy Page 9 A Praier against Adultery Page 12 A Praier against Couetousnesse Page 15 A Praier against hardnesse of heart Page 18 A Praier against Drunkennesse Page 21 A prayer against Murther Page 25 A Praier against Hypocrisie Page 27 A Praier against Reuenge Page 31 A Praier against Theft Page 35 A Praier against Swearing Page 38 A Praier against Periury Page 41 A Praier against Security Page 43 A Praier against Desperation Page 46 A Praier against Heresie Page 50 A Praier against Lying Page 54 A Praier against Sabbath breaking Page 56 A Praier against idle words Page 60 A Praier against euill thoughts Page 63 A Praier against disobedience to Parents Page 67 A Praier against blasphemy against the holy Ghost Page 69 A Praier against Presumption Page 73 A Praier against the Plague Page 77 A Praier against the Sword Page 80 A Praier against Famine Page 83 A Praier for grace in generall Page 87 A Praier for knowledge Page 92 A Praier for Humiliation Page 96 A Praier for Faith Page 99 A Praier for obedience Page 105 A Praier for Zeale Page 109 A Praier for brotherly loue Page 112 A Praier for Humility Page 116 A Praier for Patience Page 120 A Praier for Innocency Page 124 A Praier for mercy and compassion Page 126 A Praier for peace of Conscience Page 130 A Praier for ioy in the Holy Ghost Page 134 A Praier for increase of Grace Page 138 A Praier for perseuerance in Grace Page 143 A Praier for preparation to the Sacrament Page 147 A Praier for the Gospels continuance Page 153 A Praier for preparation to Death Page 156 A Praier for a woman in Child-birth Page 160 A Praier after Child-birth Page 164 A Praier for the Traueller by land Page 167 A Praier for the Traueller by sea Page 170 A Praier for the Church Page 174 A Praier for the conuersion of the Iew. Page 179 A Morning Praier for a family Page 183 An Euening Praier for a Family Page 188 The Prisoners Prayers A Prayer against sin and Sathan in generall MOST blessed and glorious LORD GOD I beseech thee of thine infinite mercies be pitifully mercifull vnto mee poore miserable and most corrupted sinner O Lord cast out sinne and Sathan let a greater than Sathan enter euen thine holy and good Spirit and binde that enemie of thy glory my saluation that he may preuaile no longer against mee Thus thou didst deale O my gracious God most mercifully with Mary Magdalene â—uk 8.2 casting seuen Deuils out of her Good Father I confesse that seuenty times seuen doe grieue my poore and pensiue soule for so many foule lusts so many vncleane Deuils Lord in thy might and mercy giue mee to preuaile against them What will sinne afford mee but shame in this world and confusion in the world to come Lord therfore strengthen mee against these corruptions and chiefest enemies of my soule let mee be as willing euermore to put a Toad into my mouth as to suffer a sinne to rest and reigne in my soule O that my wayes were made so direct that I might neuer sinne more Lord heare my mournfull prayers and let these my cries come vp vnto thee for Iesus Christs sake thy Sonne my Sauiour Amen A Prayer against the worlds illusions MOst gracious and blessed heauenly Father forasmuch as thou hast taught mee that I must vse the world as not abusing it and seeing also I finde my selfe by nature too too prone and ready to set my delight on things below and to giue more affection to things seene than things vnseene O Lord who art the only sanctifier of thine elect saue mee from immoderate loue
and excessiue delight of the same grant that no worldly honour pleasure profit may deceiue me but I beseech thee that thy lower blessings may be receiued of mee with a lower loue and thine heauenly graces thine eternall glories with the greatest glory and chiefest delight of my soule Lord for thy Christs sake heare mee herein Amen Amen A Praier against Pride MOst deare and gracious God I most humbly intreat thee so to assist mee with thy grace that I may euermore take heed of that first and worst sinne the sinne of the Deuill namely pride O Lord grant I may neuer be puffed vp in minde nor haue a scornfull eye for pride will haue a fearfull fall and high-mindednesse alwayes goeth before destruction Dan. 4.27 28. Nabuchadnezzar paid dearly for his vaine and foolish vaunting and that proud and boasting Pharisee went home condemned for his sinne Luk. 18.14 O Lord then giue mee power and strength against this wicked lust this base and senselesse sinne Let not O God of all goodnesse this euill appeare in mee by mine apparell speech looke gate or any other vnseemely behauiour for thou O God resistest the proud and giuest thy grace only to the humble Humble mee then I pray thee that I may in due time be euerlastingly exalted of thee in the Lord IESVS Amen A Prayer against Enuie O LORD GOD wheras thou hast taught me by thy blessed Apostle Rom. 12.15 to reioyce with them that reioyce I beseech thee saue and defend mee from that fearfull sinne of Enuy the sinne of Sathan for hee enuied the standing power of Adam the sinne of Cain Gen. 4.5 who vexed his soule at thy graces apparent in Abel O God of thy goodnesse saue mee from this sinne and wickednesse Grant most holy and heauenly Father that I may abound in loue towards my brethren and blesse thee as heartily for any mercie or blessing conferred vpon others as vpon mine owne soule As one member reioyceth in the glory and welfare of another so grant that I may proue my self a true member of Christ Iesus in delighting in the prosperity of thy Saints and seruants Lord keepe me from an hatefull soule and fulfill mine heart with loue to the glory of thy great name and euerlasting saluation of my poore soule in the merits of the Lord Iesus Amen A Prayer against Adultery MOst mighty and most mercifull Father for as much as thou hast shewen vnto me frō thy holy heauenly word that no vncleane thing shal enter into thy Kingdom and no adulterer shall inherit heauen 1 Cor. 6.9 such shall onely enter into thy glory as haue not defiled thēselues with women as Saint Iohn declareth in his Reuelations Good Father I pray thee purge my soul from all foule and fleshly lusts my body is the Temple of thy holy Spirit Lord let mee neuer defile it grant Lord that I may preserue and present it spotlesse to the comming of the Lord Iesus turne away mine eies that I behold not vanity Matth. 5.20 If mine eye offend mee Lord grant that I may pull it out better for me to go into that life with one eie than to goe with two eies into the darknesse and damnation of hell Giue mee O Lord the helpe of thy grace that I may conquer all beastly lusts all vnclean desires al polluted and polluting actions and be freed from them for the honor of thy name in the worthinesse of the Lord Iesus Amen A Prayer against Couetousnesse O Eternal euerliuing Lord God thou hast reuealed vnto me from thy blessed word Psal 10.3 that thou abhorrest the couetous and couetousnes is so foule an euill as it is called Spiritual Idolatry O LORD of thy mercy saue my soul from this vile and earthly sinne giue mee to take heed and beware of Couetousnesse for a mans life stands not in his wealth and abundance that man in the Gospel was rightly tearmed a foole for resting on his goods Luke 12.20 making them his God O Lord what greater folly can there bee than to leaue thee the fountaine of liuing waters and to trust in vaine and vncertaine riches for as the Psalmist tels me Psal 49.7 A man by his wealth cannot redeeme his brother so precious is the redemption of souls and their continuance for euer Therefore let my conuersation O Lord be without couetousnes for thou hast promised I will not faile thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 Lord raise mine heart from earthly mindednesse and let my chiefe delight bee on heauen and heauenly things giue me this couetousnesse namely to couet after spiritual things and let all my delight bee in thy statutes that my life being holy and conuersation heauenly I may in the end obtaine the kingdome of heauen and life euerlasting through Iesus Christ mine onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer against hardnes of heart O Lord my God I most humbly beseech thee in the Lord Iesus to frame my soul according to thy will to bring mine heart to the obedience of thy holy and heauenly law in all things mollifie my stiffe and stubborne heart giue me a teachable and tractable spirit that I may euermore be guided by the motions of thy holy Spirit and counsell of thy heauenly word into all goodnesse Take away good Father the stoninesse of my heart for I feele much hardnesse in it and giue me an heart of flesh Ezek. 36.26 giue mee the spirit of good King IOSIAH 2 Chron. 34.27 whose heart melted within him at the reading of thy Law giue mee O Lord to tremble at my sinnes to mourne at thy iudgements to bee comforted by thy mercies in the merits of the LORD IESVS Create in me O Lord a new heart Psal 51.10 and renew a right spirit within mee turne me and I shall bee turned conuert me and then shall my soule be conuerted vnto thee Thy mercies now I aske Lord grant that I may haue thy sweet graces now I seeke grant Lord that I may finde at thy heauenly gates I knock Lord open vnto me the doore of saluation for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer against Drunkennesse MOst deare and gracious God I thine vnworthy seruant am bold vpon the multitude of thy mercies to present my selfe before thee earnestly crauing pardon for my sinnes and thy power and presence of grace for the preuention of them in time to come In particular O Lord I beseech thee that I may bee preserued from that swinish sinne of drunkennesse fearefull are thy woes denounced against the same many other most damnable transgressions alwaies wait vpon the same yea a legion of deuils attends the same as swearing adulterie quarrelling and the like Lord for thy mercies sake saue me from excesse whether I eat or drinke or whatsoeuer I doe else let mee doe all to the glory of thy blessed name And good Father giue me to shun all occasions of this sinne especially I pray thee
way which is the good way that walking constantly and conscionably in the same I may finde euerlasting rest and peace to my poore soule Lord thus sanctifie me in this life with thy holy feare that I may not faile of saluation in the world to come for thy loue in the Lord Iesus Amen A Prayer for Zeale MOst blessed and glorious heauenly Father my heart is grieued and much perplexed within mee because I finde my soule so dead so cold in all good duties which thou hast appointed mee to walk in O Lord quickē me and make me more zealous more feruent for the praise and glory of thy great and heauenly Name let I pray thee thy good pleasure be my chiefest glory and the constant seruice of thee the greatest delight of my soule O Lord my God grant I may neuer endure thy Name to bee dishonoured nor thy holy Law disgraced by my selfe or others but so affect my soule with thy feare care loue that I may euermore defend thee and support the glory of thy Name giue mee to bleede in heart and melt in soule at the great and grieuous euils of the time let mine eies gush out into riuers of water because men keepe not thy Law Psal 119. let euery euill beholden of me be as a goad in my side and as a thorne in mine eie grant good God I may most strictly walke before thee and so burne in zeale of thy law and glory that thy seruice and the obedience of thy will may bee more precious more delightfull vnto mee than the eternall saluation of my soule Thus Lord inflame my soule with thy loue feare grace that so my part and portion may be with thy Saints and Angels in ioy and glory euerlasting in and through my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer for brotherly loue O Almighty and most mercifull Father for as much as thou hast shewen vnto me 1 Ioh. 4.16 that he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in thee for thou art loue and by this shall all men know that we are thy disciples if we loue one another and againe If I cannot loue him whom I see daily how shall I perswade my self I loue thee 1 Ioh. 4.20 whō I neuer saw good Lord I beseech thee then to fill my soule with loue and to abound mee with charity and goodnesse toward my brethren as the members of the body cary themselues one to another so I pray thee giue mee grace to behaue my selfe to my brethren and fellow-members of the Lord Iesus one member despiseth not another grant then I may not be puffed vp one member enuieth not another grant I may not grudge at the prosperity of my brethren one member is helpefull to another grant Lord that I may doe all the good I can vnto others while I liue one member suffereth with another grant that I may weepe with them that weepe one member reuengeth not another Lord grant that I may beare offered wrongs iniuries and neuer seeke reuenge Thus I beseech thee possesse me with thy Spirit of loue for it is the ground and mother of all goodnesse yea the fulfilling of thy whole Law and without loue I am as sounding brasse and as a tinkling Cymball I am nothing 1 Cor. 13.1 Thus giue mee to resemble thy Maiesty in loue and kindnesse in this life that I may be admitted to that place of happinesse where loue shall neuer vanish away and that for thy loue in the Lord Iesus my most louing Sauiour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for humility MOst holy and heauenly Lord God for as much as thou hast reuealed vnto mee from thy holy Word That thou resistest the proud 1 Pet. 5.5 giuest grace to the humble and none but the humble shall bee exalted O Lord my God endue me w th the spirit of humility grant I may be far from vain thoughts and proud lookes giue mee to learne of my blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ to bee humble and meeke so shall I finde rest to my soule the humbled Publicane went home exalted but the proud Pharisee condemned O Lord my God I cannot but confesse that I haue deserued shame and confusion for my sinnes done against thee yea the best of mine actions are so corrupted as I deserue no lesse than damnation for them yea when I haue done all that I can I am an vnprofitable seruant what cause holy Father then haue I to boast my selfe before thee If any good I doe it is not I but thy Spirit in mee for what haue I that I haue not receiued Giue mee then to bee glad of thy gifts of grace but not proud Act. 12.23 Not vnto mee O Lord not vnto me but vnto thy Name grant I may euermore giue the praise lest for mine arrogance I bee smitten as was Herod and the wormes and thy wrath consume mee Lord possess me with meeknesse and lowlines here that my portion may bee with thy Saints in glory euerlasting hereafter for thy Christs sake Amen A Praier for Patience MOST louing and gracious GOD seeing I am compassed about with so many miseries some from thy Maiesty as corrections some from Sathan as temptations some from wicked men as persecutions some from concupiscence as treacherous seductions I beseech thee therefore giue me patience in this sinfull and sorrowfull world let me possess my soule with patience Heb. 12.1 and run the race that is set before mee with comfort and patience Thus the Lord Iesus possessed himselfe in patience who when he was reuiled reuiled not again but praied for his persecutors and in his dying afflictions opened not his mouth thus thy seruants went quietly and gently thorow their sharpe afflictions as Iob Steuen Act. 7.60 and others Lord grant I may gently and meekly goe thorow whatsoeuer tribulation for the kingdome of heauen sake Grant I may not repine or murmure vnder the crosse whether it be want or imprisonment or sicknesse or banishment or death of friends or any other affliction Heb. 12.6 for whom thou louest thou wilt chasten and it is good for me to be in trouble for thereby I learne better to keep thy Law and as grace is the way of life so is crosse the companion of this way all that wil liue godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution I must bee contented to suffer with Christ and for Christ on earth if euer I would reigne with Christ in heauen Thus submitting my soule to thy wil pleasure in this life I shall haue the surer hope of admssion to life and saluation when I dye in the merits of the Lord Iesus thy Sonne my Sauiour Amen A Praier for Innocency O Eternal and euerliuing LORD GOD seeing I must one day rise to giue an account for all things done in my body I most humbly beseech thee therefore to giue me grace to endeuour with thine holy Apostle Paul alwaies to keepe a cleere conscience both toward thee and