from us all Ignorance and Negligence and prevent all those things that thou knowest may hinder us in our Christian Calling or Employment Encrease our Faith Patience and Obedience and let thy Blessing be upon this whole Family guide us in thy Truth protect us in our Ways and all those whom thou hast made dear unto us whether they be present or absent IV. Give us Grace by thy Chastisements to fear thee more carefully and to grieve for our sins more heartily let our minds be set upon thee and give us such hearts as we may learn something of every thing and make a Spiritual use of all our Earthly Affairs here till we come to dwell with thee in the Kingdom of Glory V. Bless O Lord the universal Church with Truth Peace and Unity Soundness of Doctrine and holy Discipline Preserve our gracious Sovereign and all the Royal Family Bless his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council and all others in Authority with necessary Graces VI. Bless all Schools of Learning and good Education especially the two Universities of this Land Bless this City and Place wherein we live remove the Punishment due for the Sins thereof and give them a double portion of thy Grace to repent in time before the Destroyer enters again amongst them VII Bless all our Friends Relations or others for whom thou hast appointed us to make Prayers and Supplications strengthen them that lie upon their Beds of Sickness send them the comfort and help of thy Spirit that lie in anguish of Conscience for remorse of Sin and convert all those that go astray from thy Commandments teach us by their Examples to view our own Weakness and to walk more circumspectly for the time to come VIII Bless this Family with Grace and Peace that all of them from the highest to the lowest may know their several Duties and may rightly and duly practise the same in thy fear and unto thy glory through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour Amen An Evening Prayer for a Private Family OEternal God the Father of Mercies and great Creator of Heaven and Earth we render thee humble and hearty Thanks for thy merciful Preservation of us this Day and all the whole course of our Lives that thou hast brought us safe through so many Dangers and Difficulties we might justly have fallen into had not thy Arm of Providence been stretched out to support us II. Morning and Evening thou takest care of us and heapest upon us so many Blessings and Benefits both Spiritual and Temporal yet we neither fear thee nor serve thee as we ought to do but thou art a God slow to anger and of great pity and art ready to forgive our manifold Sins which we from time to time have committed against thee III. Good Lord we beseech thee keep us evermore from day to day as thou hast done and make us constant in the profession of thy holy Name and the practise of thy Law that neither the Malice of Man nor Subtilty of Satan be able to make us turn away from thee Lord turn thy Face from our Sins even from those Sins wherein we have so much delighted take from us those hearts of Stone and give us hearts of Flesh and wash and cleanse our poluted Souls in the Blood of the Lord Jesus IV. Forgive us all that is past and grant us the assurance of that Forgiveness sealed up by the holy Spirit in our Consciences Oh kindle thy love more and more in our hearts that we may never depart from thee but attain unto a due thankfulness for thy benefits and a most unfeigned and earnest Repentance for all our Sins and Tranfgressions V. Suffer us not to close our Eyes till our Souls have reckoned and made even for all the Offences which not only this day but all the former minutes of our lives we have committed against thy divine Majesty Give thine Angels charge over us that at what hour soever thou callest us out of this Vale of Tears where we do but travail and toil all the day long we may not be found to be idle Loiterers in thy Harvest but good and acceptable Servants having Oil in our Lamps and on us the Robe of Righteousness and Wedding-Garment of Regeneration that we may be able to encounter Death the King of Terrors to meet our blessed Lord in the Clouds when he cometh to Judgment and to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth VI. Expel and remove far away from us all wicked Spirits and graciously protect us from our Persecutors which lay Snares to subdue us do thou O God assist us that we may peaceably sleep and rest in thee hide us in thy Tabernacle from the strife of all Men and keep us that we may fear no Evil. O thou that neither slumberest nor sleepest let thy Rod and Staff evermore comfort and defend us VII Let thy mighty Hand and stretched out Arm O Lord be still our Defence thy Mercy and Loving-kindness in thy beloved Son our Salvation thy true and holy Word our Instruction thy Grace and holy Spirit our Comfort and Consolation Let thy Mercy O God prevent and follow us all the days of our Lives that we may dwell in thy House of Defence in length of days praising thee evermore VIII Let thy Blessing be upon all of us within this Houshold guide us in our Ways and lead us into thy Truth Bless our Parents Kindred and Friends wheresoever dispersed and howsoever linked unto us Be a merciful Judge unto us and continually protect us from the snares of Satan the Old Serpent and finally conduct us into the society of Angels and of all Saints in thy holy Paradise to whom be ascribed as is most due to thee the Father Son and Holy Ghost one true gracious and everlasting God all Honour Power and Glory Might Majesty and Dominion now and for evermore Amen Meditations for the Sick O Lord rebuke me not in thine Indignation neither chasten me in thy heavy Displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my Bones are vexed My Soul is also sore troubled But Lord how long wilt thou punish me Turn thee O Lord and deliver my Soul O save me for thy mercies sake For in death no Man remembreth thee and who will give thee thanks in the Pit I am weary of my groaning every night wash I my Bed and water my Couch with my Tears My Beauty is gone for very trouble and worn away because of all mine Enemies Away from me all ye that work Vanity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping The Lord hath heard my Petition the Lord will receive my Prayer Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me O hide not thou thy face from me nor cast thy Servant away in Displeasure Thou hast been my succour leave me not neither forsake me O God of my Salvation What profit is there in my blood
behold the divine Presence IV. Open my Eyes more and more that I may discern the wonderous works of thy Law and open thou O Lord likewise my Lips that my Mouth and Tongue may shew forth thy Praise and extol thy great and glorious Name Prepare my Heart O Lord I beseech thee for thy divine Service this next day following It is thy holy-day O fit me for the sanctifying of the same that I may not spend it on my Lusts and the pleasures of Sin but dedicate it wholly to thy Honour and Glory V. Let my chief delight be to cease from the works of Sin as well as from my worldly Employment that I may through thy Blessing feel in my Heart the beginning of that eternal Sabbath which is Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Govern O Lord my heart in thy Fear and guide and steer all the whole course of my Life in thy Favour Fit and prepare me against the hour of Death and day of Dissolution that if thou shouldest this Night make my Bed in the Grave of Silence I may live and die unto thee who livest for ever to whom be ascribed all Power and Glory Adoration and Subjection now and for evermore Amen An humble Confession of Sins before the most holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper O Most holy Lord God who according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies dost put away the Sins of all those that truly repent and remembrest them no more Open O Lord I beseech thee the Eyes of thy boundless Mercy and fatherly Compassion upon me the most unworthy of all thy Servants from the very bottom of my heart I earnestly implore thy pardon and forgiveness for all my past Sins and Offences the number of them exceeds the ordinary expectation of thy Mercy and are so heinous that they can plead no excuse the sad Account being cast up is no less than the breach of all thy holy Commandments both in Thought Word and Deed thy Mercy and Goodness which should have led me to Repentance I have abused I have slighted thy Judgments and thy Punishments have I not feared I have utterly neglected the means of my own Salvation and by my Wickedness have most grievously provoked thy Wrath and Indignation against me my Life which should have been wholly devoted to thy Service I have mispent in the desire and sinful Lusts of the Flesh my ways have been evil and that continually the secret cogitations of my heart most wicked and so detestable hath the whole course of my Life been that my heart is vexed within me and my soul trembleth to look up to heaven for Mercy for fear of thy displeasure If therefore thou O Lord shouldst be extream to mark what I have done amiss and take Vengeance for my Sins I should be as Chaff before the face of the Wind and in Justice might be swept away into the place of everlasting Torment II. But O Lord from thy ever flowing Fountain there is Mercy that thou may'st be feared thou art a God of all Comfort and Consolation a merciful loving and gracious Father ready and willing to hear all penitent Sinners that with hearty Repentance and true Faith come unto thee I come unto thee therefore in the name of Jesus Christ the Righteous thy beloved Son and my blessed Redeemer I humbly prostrate my self before the Throne of thy Mercy-seat provided with no other hope but what proceeds from the greatness of thy Clemency for his sake only have Mercy upon me III. In all humility of Spirit and with hearty Contrition I submit my Soul and Body to thy Goodness beseeching thee not to let my Sins be as a Cloud to intercept between my Prayers and thy Pity thy Goodness and my necessities blot all my Transgressions out of thy remembrance the Sins of my Youth or Sins of my Age Sins of my Body or Sins of my Soul the Sins that I know and the Sins that I know not Sins of Remissness Omission and Commission all notorious and presumptuous Sins Sins of Pride Envy Hatred Malice and all Uncharitableness here mention thy particular Sins from all which good Lord deliver me and grant me a full and a free Pardon perfect Remission and Absolution for the same IV. As one deep calleth upon another with the prophet David out of the Depth of my Misery I cry unto thee for the depth of thy Mercy O Lord hear my Petitions and hold not thy peace at my Tears consider the Contrition of my Heart and the Sorrow of my Soul and by the Merits of his most precious Blood that was so plentifully shed upon the Cross for all Penitent Sinners and True Believers wash away the multitude of my Transgressions that my Soul by thy Mercy being cleansed from the guilt of Sin I may be found a worthy partaker and receiver of this holy and divine Mystery V. And now O holy Lord that I am about to receive the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ how shall I that am so great a Sinner Dust and Ashes dare to presume and come into thy Sanctuary or to approach thy holy Table Thou in whose sight the very Heavens are not clear and the Pillars of the Earth shake at thy Presence What then shall become of me poor wretched and miserable that I am but O thou that art the true Balm of Gilead hast left us a command in thy holy Gospel Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laiden and I will give you rest Matth. 11. 28. VI. Upon which Command I come O Lord unto thee at this time in a confident Assurance of thy Promise in Christ Jesus thou wilt have Mercy upon me ease and refresh my Soul that is wearied with the burthen of my Sins wash me and cleanse me throughly from all my Wickedness and renew a right Spirit within me Direct me in this great Mystery with a reverend and awful dread of thy Majesty that all the faculties of my Soul and Body may rightly apprehend and joyfully receive this eternal Food this Bread of Life And grant me thy heavenly Grace that I may obtain the virtue fruit and benefits of my Saviour's Death and Passion with a full remission of all my Sins and everlasting Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer before the Sacrament O Most gracious God I humbly beseech thee help thy Servant whom of thy great Mercy thou hast created out of nothing repair the ruins of my Soul and enlarge the frame of my Understanding cleanse it from all filthy Corruptions and supply it with all heavenly Graces that it may be both conveniently fit and furnished to receive thee who art a God of all Purity O Make an entry into my Heart and take thy residence there for ever possess that which is thine own both by Creation Redemption and Merits of that bitter Death and Passion through Jesus Christ Amen A Thanksgiving after Receiving of the blessed Sacrament O Almighty God
of Defence in the Time of Adversity as for his Enemies let them be cloathed with Shame but upon himself let his Crown for ever flourish Grant him a long and a prosperous Reign let Peace and Unity Holiness and Justice Truth and all Christian Vertues flourish in his time Let all his Subjects faithfully serve him with Honour and due Obedience and let him so truly serve thee his God here on Earth that he may hereafter everlastingly reign with thee in Heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for the Royal Family O God the Father of all Mercies bless and preserve Catherine the Queen Dowager the Princess Anne of Denmark with all the rest of the Royal Family unite them unto thee with the Bands of Faith and Love preserve them to their Lives end in thy Favour make them Instruments of Glory to thy Name of refreshment to the Church of joy to all faithful People of this Kingdom prosper them with all Happiness here on Earth and crown them at last with an Eternal Weight of Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for our Parents ALmighty God who from the Loins of our First Parents Adam and Eve didst produce Mankind and hast commanded us to Honour and Obey our Parents in pursuance of thy holy Will and Commandment and of our Duty to thee our God and in thee to them we do with all humility beg a Blessing of thee for our Parents who from thy Mercy and Plenty have conveyed many to us pardon and forgive all their Sins and Infirmities encrease in them all Goodness give them Blessings of the Right Hand and Blessings of the Left bless them in their Persons and Posterity in their Goods and good Name in the Comforts of thy Holy Spirit in a persevering Goodness and at last in an eternal Weight of Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of Parents for their Children O God the Creator of all the World by whose Providence Mankind is propagated I bless thy holy Name for bestowing on me the Blessing of Children Lord bless them with Life and Health with good Understanding fair Opportunities and Advantages of good Education but above all with the Gifts and Graces of thy Holy Spirit that they may live and be blessed under thy Protection grow in Grace and be in favour with God and Man and at last may make up the number of thine Elect Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for our Friends and Benefactors O Thou Fountain of all Goodness from whom proceeds all Excellency both to Men and Angels extend thy favour and loving-kindness to all my Friends and Benefactors Reward them and make them plentiful Compensation for all the Benefits which from thy merciful Hand of Providence they have conveyed to me Let the Light of thy Countenance so shine upon them as they may never enter into any Desolation or Affliction but such as may be instrumental to thy Glory and their Eternal Comfort through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer of a Wife for her Husband BLessed Lord who hast been graciously pleased to call me to the holy State of Matrimony bless me in it with the Grace of Chastity Loyalty Obedience and a dutiful Complacency to my Husband Bless him with a long Life a healthful Body and an understanding Heart and furnish him with all those Gifts and Graces which may enable him to be and continue thy Servant that he may be a Supporter and a Guide to me his Wife a Blessing and a Comfort to his Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of a Husband for his Wife O Most gracious God who art a Father to us thy Children a Spouse to thy holy Church a Saviour and Redeemer to all Mankind have Mercy upon thy Handmaid my Wife endue her with all the Ornaments of thy heavenly Grace make her to be as Religious as Hester Loving as Rachel Fruitful as Leah Wise as Rebecca and Obedient as Sarah that being filled with Grace and Benediction here she may be partaker of thy Glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of an Orphan O God gracious and merciful who art ready to succour all those that are distressed and hast promised to be a Father to the Fatherless Have Mercy upon me O Lord I humbly beseech thee who am left a poor Orphan and by thy heavenly will and pleasure deprived of my earthly Parents Supply O Lord all my Wants and Necessities guide govern and comfort me with thy good Spirit that in all my Words Works and Actions I may glorifie thee my heavenly Father Let thy heavenly Grace sustain me and work in me Obedience to my Superiors and those which have the charge and care over me that they discharging a good Conscience towards me I may by thy ready help improve my time to the Praise and Glory of thy holy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Widow's Prayer O Most holy Lord God the Comforter of all those who are in any affliction sorrow or trouble The Bands of Death by thy appointment have made a separation between me and him whom thou gavest to be my Husband who was my Head and supreme Governour and the only Guide I had in this World next under thee Grant me grace to bear this cross and loss patiently and to put my whole Trust and Confidence in thee let thy tender Care go along with me in preserving me from all Oppression and Wrong and deliver me from the Hands of those who will devour Widows Houses Bless me O Lord as thou didst the poor Widow of Sarepta let not the Barrel of Meal wast but grant me a competency fit for my Estate neither let the Cruise of Oil fail but assist me with thy Grace that I may walk worthily towards thee and all the World Let my continual Prayers and Supplications ascend up to thee and hear O Lord and have mercy when I cry unto thee for the alone sake of thy dear Son my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen The Servant's Prayer O Most mighty God and the great Lord and Master of all the World who beholdest with thine all-seeing Eye thy great Houshold and Family here on Earth look upon me thine unworthy Servant I humbly beseech thee with thine Eye of Providence grant me a contented Mind in that state thou hast placed me in so shall I enjoy a continual Feast Assist me O Lord with thy heavenly Grace that I may perform Obedience and be subject to my earthly Masters whom thou hast been pleased to set over me whether they be Good or Evil Courteous or Froward Prosper all the Designs I shall take in hand in this my Servitude which are not in opposition to thy Commands Preserve and keep me from all Evil that no Enticements may allure me either to embezel away any thing committed to my Custody or have Society with such who are Enemies to my Master's House let me chearfully
proceed in my Service that the Glass of my Time may run out with Pleasure and I in the end shall be made Free of that City of thine the New Jerusalem where I may rest for evermore Amen The Maid's Prayer O Holy Lord God let thine Handmaid speak in thine Audience and hearken unto her when she calleth upon thee though I know not how to ask aright yet teach me the knowledge of thee and how to beg those things that are requisite and necessary for me Inlighten my Soul with thy divine Inspiration that I may see and do those things that appertain unto Godliness Let me keep my honest Reputation in the Eye of the World knowing that a good Name is better than precious Ointment But especially in thy sight let me be pure honest and undefiled so shall I not be ashamed in the great Day of Account Defend me from Sin Satan and the Poison of evil Tongues assist me with thy directing hand that the labours which this day I am to undertake may prosper grant me Grace to love honour and serve thee in Holiness and Righteousness all my days that I may glorifie thy holy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for one afflicted in Mind O Eternal Lord God who art fearful in Praises doing Wonders I tremble and am even at Death's Door for alas I am the vilest of all Sinners my Conscience is so clogged with Evil that I cannot look up my Wickednesses have gone over my Head and are as a burthen too heavy for me to bear my Spirit is sorrowful my Heart is heavy my words are stopp'd with Sighs and my Plaints watred with Tears O Lord what shall I desire of thee that deserve nothing at thy Hand What can I hope for that am even hopeless My Conscience is restless and my Ungodliness fettereth me and even all my unrighteous Actions cry out for Vengeance against me my Spirit is overwhelmed and weary of this Bondage and I have bid my life farewell II. O but let thy Majesty O Lord yet appear in thy Mercy forgive my Sin the unhappy ground of all this woe Where my misery hath thus abounded there let thy Mercy much more abound I dare not add this grievous Sin unto my other Sins to despair of thy Mercy What were more Sacrilegious for thou art a skilful Physician and canst cure all my Infirmities thou art a merciful God and canst forgive all my Sins To thee do I fly for refuge which art the Land of Safety to thee do I lift up my Hands and my Heart and to thee do I pray desiring thy Mercy Let the power of thy Son's Death and Passion defeat all the Devices of the Devil against me III. Instruct me in thy heavenly Wisdom lead me in thy Truth in this dangerous Sea of Discontentment and Affliction keep me from shipwrack and bring me safe to the Land of Peace-Strengthen my Faith sanctifie all those good means unto me wherein I seek relief as Prayer Conference Reading and hearing thy holy Word Mitigate my Perplexities grant me Patience heal my Imperfections Thou that wilt not break a bruised Reed spare and have Mercy upon me Thou that delightest not in the death of a Sinner receive me Though my Heart condemns me yet do thou release me O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord defer not but even now speak peace unto me say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation to whom be ascribed all Honour and Glory World without end Amen A Thanksgiving for God's sending his Son to save Mankind O Almighty and most merciful Lord God we might utterly despair and be cast down considering our manifold Sins and infinite Offences had not thy Word been made Flesh and dwelt among us but now we dare not despair for if when we were Enemies we were reconciled unto thee by the Death of thy Son how much more being reconciled are we saved by his Life All our hope and all our confidence is reposed in that precious Blood which was shed for us and for our Salvation II. O how greatly are we wretches bound to fear thee to love thee to bless and praise thee to honour thee and to glorifie thee seeing we are redeemed at such a price saved with such a gift cherished with so many promises and blessings of the same even thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ Stablish O God that which thou hast wrought in us finish what thou hast begun that we may be able to come into the fulness of thy Mercy make us through thy holy Spirit to understand and through thy Son to discern and with due honour and reverence this high Mystery of Godliness which is how God was manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World and received up into Glory where we doubt not but we shall Reign with him for evermore Amen The Prayer of a Woman with Child O God the Creator and Redeemer of all Mankind Comforter of all that call upon thee and the only deliverer of such as are in danger be merciful I beseech thee and look down in mercy from thy throne upon me thine Handmaid and upon the Fruit of my Womb behold I seek and sue unto thee for a Blessing at this time my Sin is great my Danger at hand not small my Pains to come will be grievous and my Life is now most uncertain II. Assure me I beseech thee of the forgiveness of all my Sins mitigate my Fear and asswage my Sorrows strengthen me with the refreshing of thy Spirit confirm me in the Faith of my Saviour and bless all good means appointed for my Comfort that in due time I may be a joyful Mother and see the Fruit of my Body safe sound and perfect without blemish or deformity III. O Lord I know not how soon my Travail will overtake me when I must encounter with Life or Death one drop of thy Mercy hath sovereign power to cure all the Wounds of those Sorrows Shed therefore O holy Father that drop of Grace upon me in that minute when I am to encounter with so stern an Adversary Strengthen me with Patience preserve me that I perish not and bless the work of my Midwife IV. Let not the Child yet unborn the Babe in my Womb be punished for mine Offences but give it growth form and what thou seest in thy good pleasure to be fit and necessary for it and when the time is come that thou wilt call it out of this close house of flesh where it now inhabiteth to dwell in the open World sanctifie thy Creature make it by Baptism a Member of thy Church a Lamb of thy Flock and direct it in the ways of thy Commandments to its Life's End Amen The Midwife's Prayer MOst gracious God who alone hast the power to produce Children from the Womb and bring them into the light of this World I thy most unworthy Servant whom thou hast appointed for this
Pyrates and Robbers preserve us from Lightning Tempest and Captivity hold the Winds in thy right hand and the Waves in thy left keep us from Thunder whose fearful Crack may rend us in pieces save us in the bitterness of Frost Hail Ice Snow or Whirlwind let us be prepared for Death and meditate upon those things that concern our better Life II. Send us the Prayers of those that are upon Land and bless all our Friends that are now parted from us Save our Souls from the great Leviathan whose Jaws are ready to devour us Make good our Provision for Bodily Sustenance as well as Furniture for our Ships Let thy Peace be amongst us save us succour and defend us O Lord thou Anchor of our Hope for thy Glory and for thy Name 's sake to whom be Praise and Glory World without end Amen A Thanksgiving for a safe arrival upon the Land after a Storm O Almighty God who hast now delivered me out of the Prison of the raging Sea and brought me to a Port of rest O make me truly thankful unto thee for this thy favour and mercy and in thy due time lead me also from out of the troublesome Sea of this World unto the longed for Haven and eternal Bliss and Happiness Thou hast brought me out of a great deal of danger which I was liable to whilst I was amongst the boisterous Waves and foaming Billows of the Waters I am subject O Lord every hour to as many Perils being now at Land how secure so ever I may think my self to be my feet are still slipping into the Grave I beseech thee to uphold me to save preserve and keep me that I may still glorifie thee the God of my Salvation II. Give me Wisdom Sobriety and Temperance when I now come amongst my old Lovers Friends Cause me to make a right use of those things which I have observed and beheld in Foreign Parts free my Soul and Conscience from any stain of Corruption and Infection which may hurt or destroy me keep me in all my ways send me Health and all things necessary for this Life that having passed the Waves of this troublesome World I may at last safely arrive at the harbour of everlasting rest through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for Rain BLessed Lord who commandest the former and the latter Rain who in the time of Elias didst so shut up the Flood-gates of Heaven that it rained not on the Earth for the space of Three Years and six Months and yet when he prayed the Heaven gave Rain and the Earth brought forth her Fruit behold us thy People who mourn for want of moisture the Rivers of Waters are dried up and the Trees of the Field are withered send now we beseech thee a gracious Rain upon thine Inheritance and refresh it now it is weary make the Springs as Milk to moisten and to water the Valleys so shall the Earth bring forth her increase our Land have a plentiful supply and our Garners be furnished with store our Baskets shall be replenished our Cattle increased and thy holy Name for ever magnified II. We do confess and acknowledge O Lord that our Sins call for nothing but death and destruction and considering our deservings we cannot expect any blessing at thy hands Pardon we beseech thee what is past give us Obedience and Grace to do thy Will for the time to come and to satisfie the lawful desires of us thy Servants that we may not be wanting of our Food and daily Bread but may be pâ—rtakers of thy heavenly Blessings and wait upon thee for our Meat in due season Oppress us not with too much Poverty O Lord neither puff us up with too much Plenty but give us a competent store of things necessary for this life and grace to use them soberly to thy glory and our comfort through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for fair Weather O Lord God who feedest with thy blessing every living thing and satisfiest the lawful desires of thy Servants with thy bountiful Goodness we wretched Sinners unworthy of the least of thy Benefits humbly beseech thee that thine Anger may cease which is threatned against us by this Rain and Tempest Defend us from those Evils which we are now likely to suffer make our Habitations like the Land of Goshen in the times of the Plagues of Aegypt Cause not the Waters O God thus to swell let not thy thunder go forth against us II. Preserve our Bodies Houses and Goods keep us from Deluge and Inundation and shew us some speedy token of Peace Send us a Remedy in this our presâ—nt misery turn our Dearth into Cheapness and our Scarcity into Plenty Give a blessing to that which we shall reap bless our store furnish us wherewithal to relieve others let not thy hand be shortned at this time but rebuke the Wind and Storm that we may have a pleasant Calm III. At thy Word O Lord the Mountains smoak the Heavens tremble and the Earth quakes at thine Anger the Sea roareth and makes a noise and the fearful Depths are broken down and troubled thou commandest the Clouds and they obey O shut them up for a time and let thy punishing Angel be no more seen Hear us O Lord in these our Prayers that with joyful and thankful Hearts we may sing Praises unto thee who rulest all things world without end Amen A Prayer of a Child before he goes to School ALmighty God who has promised that out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings thou wilt have thy Wonders expressed behold I am a Child and cannot speak unto thee or call upon thee as I should but open thou my Lips that my Mouth may shew forth thy Praise Pour into my Lips the Waters of the Well of Life that I may learn those things that may lead me unto the knowledge of thy holy Laws II. Let me remember thee my Creator in the days of my youth while the evil days come not Teach me O Lord how to lead my life according to the Rule of Godliness Make me obedient to my Parents dutiful to my Teachers proud towards no man but rightly affectioned towards all People Add unto me length of Days supply me with vertues guide my feet in thy ways direct my mind sanctifie my stuâ—ies govern all my actions preserve my Body in health my Soul from uncleanness take from me all dulness and incapacity that may hinder my growth in knowledge and bring me to life everlasting through Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer in time of War O Eternal God who rulest and beholdest all the World and hast many times miraculously preserved defended us we beseech thee to shew thy power in these needful and perillous times whilst there is nothing but Wars and rumours of Wars amongst us Save us O Lord our God from our Enemies and put them to shame that hate us turn the weapons of our Adversaries and their
THE Devout Companion Containing PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS FOR Every Day in the Week AND FOR Several Occasions Ordinary and Extraordinary Psal 55. 17. Evening and Morning and at Noon will I pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my Voice The Twelfth Edition LONDON 〈…〉 Henry Rhodes at the 〈…〉 he corner of Brile 〈…〉 1699. TO THE Truly Honoured The LADY J. C. MADAM AT Your Request these ensuing Prayers and Meditations were composed which I here present to Your view not that You want my weak Instructions for You are known to be so good a Proficient in God's School and have more of this Heavenly Language by Heart than I can instruct you by Precept The Meditations I have taken from the Psalms of that sweet singer of Israel the Royal Prophet and this Key opens not only the Kingdom of Grace but the Kingdom of Heaven too it being an exact Composure of all Christian Vertues No Worshipping can be more true or more spiritual than the Psalter said with a pure Mind and a hearty Devotion For David was God's Instrumeâ—t to the Church teaching and admonishing as our Duty is to each other in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs making melody to the Lord. In your Voyage to the Almighty You might have I doubt not a better Card or Compass to sail by than this Form of Prayer which I prescribe yet I beseech You encourage others by Your pious Example to feed upon this Milk for Babes those which are weak by tasting of it your Self So recommending it to Your Pious Acceptation wishing You all Happiness that this Earthly Paradise can afford whist You remain upon Earth and at the last a Crown of Immorral Glory in the highest Heavens is the earnest desire of Madam Your humble and faithful Servant in Christ Jesus E. S. THE Devout Companion Containing MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS For every Day in the Week c. A Preparatory Prayer against wandring Thoughts and vain Imaginations Thrice Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God have mercy upon me a miserable Sinner O Almighty God the only Giver and Bestower of all good things and without whose special Favour and Grace no Man hath Power to perform any spiritual Duty as he ought to do O Lord I know not what to pray for as I ought O let thy Spirit help my Infirmities and enable me to offer up a spiritual Sacrifice acceptable to thee by Jesus Christ II. Make me to remember into whose Presence I am come and with whom I have to do even with a God of infinâ—te Majesty before whom the Cherubims veil their Faces as being astonished at the Presence of so great a God as thou art How dare I then a moâ—t vile and sinful Creature who am but Dust and Ashes presume to appear at this time before thee who have drunk Iniquity like Water breaking so often thy holy Laws and Commandments by committing those things thou forbiddest and leaving undone those good things thou commandest III. But I come unto thee O Lord in the name of thy dear Son Jesus Christ the Righteous who hath redeemed me with his most precious Blood O then look upon me in him and for the merits of his Sufferings pardon all my Sins and blot out my Offences Strike an awful reverence in my Soul that I may continually keep a watch over my Thoughts Words and Actions least my Presumption and want of due Reverence unto thy Deity should turn my Prayers into Sin IV. Give me a lively apprehension of all my wants and necessities and a right Understanding both of those Blessings which I have received from thee and of those great Mercies which thou hast promised to bestow on them that ask thee that so I may be endued with Expressions both for Prayer and Thankfulness and may become able by the assistance of thy Grace to pour out my Soul continually before thee Support me with Faith that I may come with a good assurance to thy Throne of Grace to offer up my earnest Supplications unto thee and let me not go away from thy presence without a Blessing V. Grant Lord that this holy Exercise of Prayer may prove a delight to me O make me constant and diligent in the use of it remembring the speedy access the Prayers of the Faithful have in thy Presence and what a great Privilege it is for poor Mortals to unfold their Wants and lay open their Desires and Griefs before thee VI. Ever O Lord let the end of my Prayers be to thy Glory always exercising a Conscience void of Offence by offering up my Thanksgivings for Mercies received as I shall be earnest in suing for those Gifts and Graces I stand in need of Grant this O heavenly Father for the sake of thy dear Son my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen Meditations for Sunday THis is the Day which the Lord hath made a Day of Rest to our Bodies and for the Benefit of our Souls O let us rejoice and be glad in it all the Days of our L 〈…〉 leaving off our worldly Thoughts and Employments and be â—eeking after our future Happiness II. Great iâ— the Lord and great is the Honour of this day above all others The Jews kept Holy the Seventh Day and we Christians the Sunday or Lord's Day They in their Sabbath were especially to remember the Creation of the World but we in ours the Resurrection of Christ who hath made a way for us into that better worâ—d which we expect hereafter III. This convinceth the Folly of the Jews who are so superstitious in observing the Ceremony of Rest as that they think they ought not to prepare any Food for their bodily sustenance on the Sabbath-Day neither do any work tho' it be for the Resection of Life it self But God in the Institution of the Sâ—bbath so rested whose Example we ought to imitate as that he ce 〈…〉 not in â—â—sting from doing good but in câ—â—sing to Create he continued to Preserve of which our Saviour saith My Father worketh hitherto and I work IV. This Day is set apart to be employed in the Worship and Service of God First more solemnly and publickly in the House of God from whence none ought to absent himself unless sickness or some extraordinary occasion prevent him Secondly at home privately praying with your Family or in your Closet exercising those other Duties of Reading and Meditation V. O Praise the Lord then O my Soul and enter into Contemplation with thy self upon all his Mercies Consider what a great Benefit it is to thee that there is such a set time weekly for thy spiritual Relief and Comfort cast off all worldly Business then and freely embrace this joyful Day of harvest whereby we may lay up in store for the whole Week nay even for our whole Lives VI. This day furnishes us with that Golden Rule by which we may square all our Actions and at last attain to the perfection of him whom the Royal Psalmist makes
and evermore sing of thy Righteousness in the Congregation of thy redeemed ones now henceforth and for ever Amen A Prayer for Monday Night For Preservation O Lord most Holy I praise and magnifie thy holy Name for preserving of me this Day both in Soul and Body O thou who art Alpha and Omega bless and defend me with thy heavenly Grace this Night let my rest be in thee and grant that neither much sleep overwhelm me nor Satan invade me though my Eyes sleep yet O Lord keep my Heart waking lest the subtle Tempter overtake me and I sleep in perpetual silence Keep me in the arms of thy Providence give sleep to my Eyes and slumber unto my Eye-lids compass me about and raise me up again to the joyful sight of the â—ext Morning Light and aâ—ter this miserable Life is ended grant that in thy Light I may see Light for evermore Meditations for Tuesday For defence of our Innocencâ— and against the malice of our Enemies O Lord my God in thee have I put my trust Save me from all them that persâ—cute me and deliver me Lest he devour my Soul like a Lion and tear it in pieces while there is none to help O Lord my God if I have done any such thing oâ—â—f there be any wickedness in my hands If I have rewarded evil unto him that dâ—alâ— friendly with â—e yea I have delivered him that without any cause is mine Enemy Then let 〈◊〉 Enemy persâ—cute my Sâ—uâ— and take me Yea let him â—ead my life down upon the Earth and lâ—y mine honour in the dust Stand up O Lord in thy wrâ—th and lift up thy self because of the indignation of mine Enemies arise up fâ—r me in the judgment that thou hast commanded And so shâ—ll the Congregation of the people come about thee For their sakes therefore lift up thy selâ— again The Lord shall judge the people Give sentence with me O Lord according to my righteousnesâ— and accordâ—ng to the innocencâ— that is in me O let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end but guide thou the just For the righteous God trieth the very heart and reins My Help cometh of God which preserveth them that are true of heart God is a righteous Judge strong and patient and God is provoked every day If a man will not turn he will whet his sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready He hath prepared for him the instruments of death he ordained his arrows against the persecutors Behold he travaileth with mischief he hath conceived sorrow and brought forth ungodliness He hath graven and digged up a pit and is fallen himself into the destruction that he made for others For his travail shall come upon his own head and his wickedness shall fall upon his own pate I will give thanks unto the Lord according to his righteousness and will praise the Name of the Lord the most High Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for Tuesday Morning For Protection from our Enemies O Almighty God who art a strong rock of defence to all those who trust in thee deliver me I beseech thee from those Mouths who like Lions roaring for their Prey seek to devour me Abate their Pride asswage their Malice and confound their Devices save me from the hands of all those who seek to do me evil and let their wickedness and Hellish contrivance come utterly to an end for evermore II. I magnifie thy holy Name for thy preservation of me this Night Grant that I may walk this Day according to thy heavenly will in all things not returning evil for good but on the contrary good for evil Disperse from me all clouds of Envy Hatred or Malice which seem to hover over me and though heaviness may endure for a Night yet O Lord let thy Joy and light of thy countenance appear in the Morning III. Give me Grace not to rejoice in any thing that displeaseth thee but evermore to delight in those things which are most pleasing to thee be they never so disagreeable to my desires Defend me O Lord from all shame and disgraces of this life mortifie all the corrupt affections that are in me and pardon the innumerable Sins which I have committed Bless preserve and keep me this Day by thy power from sin shame and all evil and so direct me by thy â—ace that all my thoughts words and works may please â—hee through the merits of Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer for Tuesday Noon For God's Grace and Favour O God most Holy who guidest and governest all those that trust in thee I beseech thee defend me daily cherish comfort govern and counsel me in all my enterprises so that I may employ this Day and all the days of my Life according to thy blessed will setting thee always before my eyes and aiming at thy Glory II. Let me earnestly seek and find thee O my hearts desire and let me hold thee fast whom my Soul loveth let me enjoy thee O my spiritual comfort in all my faculties even in my heart let me possess thee Be thou for ever present with me in all my undertakings let thy Favour refresh me and thy Grace which is sufficient for me support me though I walk through this valley and shadow of Death I may fear no Evil while thy rod and thy staff comfort me III. Convert and turn the hearts of those which seek to do me Evil and do hate me without a cause keep me from their anger which is fierce and from the wrath of them which are cruel and bring them down in their high imaginations lest they be too proud Grant that the remaining part of this Day I may walk in thy Fear so that at the last I may enter into thy Glory through the merits of Jesus Christ my only Saviour Amen A Prayer for Tuesday Night Of Thanksgiving for God's Mercies I Render thee most humble and hearty Thanks for thy Preservation of me this Day and relieving me according to my several Necessities Thou hast this Day past defended me from all Danger given me my daily Bread and hourly breath continue still I beseech thee thy undeserved Mercies towards me and accept this my Evening Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving II. Let not the meanness of my Devotion cause thee to turn away thine Eyes from me but according to thine accustomed kindness spare thy Servant good Lord and be not angry with him for ever Preserve me this Night O thou that preservest all the World and taking my natural repose I may through thy protection and ready help be defended both now and evermore Amen Meditations for Wednesday THe Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy-work One day telleth another and one night certifieth another There is neither speech nor language but their voices are heard among them Their sound is gone out into all lands and their words unto
the ends of the world In them hath he set a Tabernacle for the Sun which cometh forth as a Bridegroom out of his Chamber and rejoiceth as a giant to run his course It goeth forth from the uttermost part of the Heaven and runneth about unto the end of it again and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof The Law of the Lord is an undefiled Law converting the Soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure and giveth wisdom unto the simple The Statutes of the Lord are right and rejoice the heart the Commandment of the Lord is pure and giveth light unto the Eyes The fear of the Lord is clean and endureth for ever the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether More to be desired are they than gold yea than much fine gold sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb Moreover by them is thy servant taught and in keeping of them there is great reward Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou me from my secret faults Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get the dominion over me so shall I be undefiled and innocent from the great offence Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be always acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for Wednesday Morning For Repentance O Eternal God before whom all Creatures both in Heaven and Earth do bow fear and tremble I a most wretched and miserable Creature dejected with the weighty burthen of my Sins fly unto thee for Succour Plant in my heart the Fear of thy Name and in my body the purity and cleanness of Charity and let them abide there for ever Cleanse me from all my secret Sins and preserve me from presumptuous and great Offences Touch my heart O God with true Repentance that thy Judgments present and imminent may be prevented and removed and the overflowing silver stream and current of thy Mercies be never at an end II. Be gracious to my Relations in the flesh my Friends in the spirit with all those to whom I am any way bounden or desire to be commended unto thee in my Prayers and Supplications Expel O Lord and cast out of my heart all evil Imagination Hatred Malice and all Uncharitableness and whatsoever is contrary to thy holy Commandments III. I praise thy holy Name for thy preservation of me this Night past for the Gifts and Graces of thy Blessed Spirit as Faith in thy Promises Hope of a better Life when this is ended and strength against all the temptations of Satan all which have proceeded from the Fountain of thy Mercy As thou hast of thy Providence kept me ever since I was born and in Mercy preserved me the beginning of this Week so to my Comfort grant me the continuance of the same through Jesus Christ my only Redeemer and Advocate Amen A Prayer for Wednesday Noon For God's particular Care of us O Almighty God I cry unto thee for Mercy by reason my Sins cry against me for Justice all the day long will I lift up my Heart unto thee shut not thine Ear O Lord but hear my complaint and that right soon Let me in all things see that I am upheld by thee Let me perceive it is thy Work by the Health of my Body and Peace of my Conscience in the Gift of my Mind the Credit of my Name and the Work of my Calling II. But alas can there be greater Mercies O Lord than thou hast already expressed towards me for whilst I have enjoyed all thy Mercies others have lived in penury and want in ignorance profaneness and without thee in the World III. What can I render unto the Lord for all his Mercies towards me Let me not pledge Joseph's Botler in his Cup of Oblivion but David rather in his Cup of Salvation and if my single heart be too barren of thankfulness let me borrow a magnificat O my Soul to magnifie Thee O Lord and let my Spirit rejoyce in thee O God my Saviour What shall I say unto thee O thou Redeemer of all Mankind I will praise thy holy Name For evermore inspire me with thy Spirit convert me from Evil confirm me in all Goodness and bring me at last unto thy heavenly Kingdom Amen A Prayer for Wednesday Night For deliverance from Sin MOST merciful God I beseech thee to open the Eyes of my understanding that I may come to a particular knowledge of my secret Sins especially those I am most inclined to Soften my hard and flinty heart that I may sigh and groan under tâ—â— weight of my most pressing sins and acknowledge them a Burthen too heavy for me to bear II. Stir up in me all dull and dead Affections that I may hunger and thirst after thee the well-spring of Life Forgive me all my misdemeanours of this day past make me to remember that Sin is filthy and loathsome even in the greatest pleasure and act thereof teach me to keep a continual watch over my inward and outward Man whereby I may be afraid to commit the least Sin that so I may walk according to thy holy will in all things III. Give me this Night sweet and comfortable rest and fit me O Lord for the duties and service of the next day Turn from me O Lord those judgments which my sins have justly deserved and renew those hopes which thou hast been pleased to frustrate crown me with those blessings which thou hast promised to all these that fear thy Name so that at the last I may attain everlasting Happiness and live with thee in perpetual peace and safety for evermore Amen Meditations for Thursday O Sing unto the Lord a new song for he hath done marvellous things With his own right hand and with his holy arm hath he gotten himself the victory The Lord declared his Salvation his Râ—ghteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the Heathen He hath remembred his Mercy and Truth towards the House of Israel and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God Shew your selves joyful unto the Lord all ye lands sing rejoice and give thanks Praise the Lord upon the harp sing to the harp with a Psalm of Thanksgiving With trumpets also and shawms O shew your selves joyful before the Lord the King Let the Sea make a noise and all that therein is the round world and they that dwell therein Let the floods clap their hands and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord for he is come to judge the earth With righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equity Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for Thursday Morning A Sacrifice of Praise O Most glorious and powerful Lord God who with thy holy arm hath gotten for me the Victory over Sin Hell and
I praise thee for my Creation Redemption and Preservation and by whose Grace and Mercy I hope to be glorified more-especially for feeding me this Day with the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ I will therefore offer unto thee the Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving and always praise thy holy Name beseeching thee to pour upon my Heart the sweet Streams of thy Mercy Conform my Life confirm my Faith and let thy Grace evermore guide me that I may with a strong assurance of thine infallible Truth and promised Mercy vanquish and subdue whatsoever rebelleth against thy blessed will II. Keep holy my Soul and Body and suffer them not to be defiled through delectation of Sin but that my full delight and joy may be in thee and walk before thee in sincerity of Heart and godly Conversation that I may here on Earth glorifie thy Name and after this Life with all thy falthful flock possess that everlasting Inheritance which thy Son Christ Jesus hath purchased with his most precious blood To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen John 5. 14. Behold thou art made whole sin no more least a worse thing come unto thee Jude 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen A Morning Prayer for a Private Person O Eternal God and most merciful Father I thine unworthy Servant do in all humility prostrate my self before thy divine Majesty acknowledging my own Vileness natural Corruptions and abominable Sins which from time to time have been committed against thee I am unworthy O Lord to appear in thy holy Temple or approach the remotest limits of the Place where thine Honour dwelleth II. But I beseech thee for the sake of thy dearly beloved Son accept of this my morning Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving for thy manifold Mercies extended towards me this Night past and heretofore till this moment For my Rest Food Raiment Health Peace and Liberty with the hopes of a better Life when this is ended Continue thy all supplying mercies unto me this day Govern me with thy Fear and compass me about with thy Favour set all my Sins to that accompt which thy Son Jesus Christ my only Saviour hath made up for them upon the Cross and never lay any of them to my charge but freely forgive and forget them all III. Prosper O Lord all that I shall take in hand this Day let my directions proceed from thy holy Will and the success from thy merciful Hand Give me a Competency for maintenance in this mortal Life that I may with quietness of mind and thankfulness of heart pass my time in this vale of misery in doing good to all men according to my ability without disparagement to my self or harm to others IV. Grant these things O Heavenly Father and whatever else thou seest most necessary for me and all other thy Servants in the World for the good of our Souls and Bodies guide and conduct me in the doing and performing diligently those things that thou hast required of me and that the end of all my labours may tend to the Praise of thy holy Name and the benefit of my poor Brethren Grant this good Lord I humbly beseech thee for Jesus Christ his sake Amen An Evening Prayer for a Private Person O Almighty and everlasting God I do confess I am unworthy of the least of all thy Mercies yet being bound in duty for thy preservation of me this day past and all the time of my whole Life I offer up unto thee Praise and Thanksgiving for my Election Creation Redemption Vocation and Sanctification with all other Gifts and Graces appertaining to this Life or that which is to come II. O thou that sittest above the Cherubims my tongue and lips shall praise and glorifie thee for preserving me by thy Providence this Day past from so many Miseries and Casualties which I might justly have fallen into hadst thou entred into Judgment with me But thou art a God full of Mercy and Compassion and passest by Offences to win me the more by thy patience and long-suffering make me truly thankful for thy Mercies ready and willing to make a good improvement of thy most gracious Forbearance and careful to obey thy Will with Conscience Diligence and Constancy III. Strengthen me from above with thy mighty hand to walk in every good way without fearfulness and to bring forth the Fruits of a true and lively Faith in my Life and Conversation all the days of my sojourning here Arm me with thy Grace and holy Spirit against the Corruptions and Vanities of the World and Wiles and Temptations of the Devil and the Allurements of the Flesh and so settle and frame my mind to the continual exercise of devout Prayer hearing of thy sacred Word and watching for thy coming both in publick and private IV. Keep me O Lord this night from all Evils which may happen either to my Body or my Soul Extend thy Goodness towards all those that have any dependance upon me give me sweet and comfortable rest that when I shall awake all my Thoughts Meditations may be on thee and thy Law Bless me O Lord all the nights and days of my Life and at the end thereof send me a blessed departure and afterwards a joyful Resurrection both of Soul and Body unto Life eternal grant these things O heavenly Father for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake my only Saviour Amen A Morning Prayer for a Private Family O Almighty and most merciful Father thou hast promised That where Two or Three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt be in the midst of them we poor sinful Creatures dust and ashes here in all humility do prostrate our Bodies and Souls before thee as living Monuments of thy Mercy We are unworthy of the least of thy mercies yet hast thou from time to time made us partakers of many for which we praise and magnifie thy holy Name beseeching thee to give us understanding Hearts to be sensible of our Evils with direction and assistance from thy holy Spirit to avoid the same II. And as thou hast O Lord kept us this Night in the time of darkness and dangers so we beseech thee to preserve us this Day that the Sun of Righteousness may rule in our Hearts and all the darkness that lurketh in them may be scattered to the comfort of our own Souls in the day of our Lord Jesus Endue us with those Gifts and Graces thou seest to be most needful for us and grant that with sincere Hearts pure Consciences we may wholly employ them in thy service to thy honour and glory III. Continue to us we earnestly beseech thee thy blessing of Health Peace and Maintenance so far as thou seest them convenient for us chase away from us all Rancour and Malice Covetousness Uncharitableness and Unkindness and whatsoever is contrary to thy Law take
when I go down to the Pit Shall the dust give thanks unto thee or shall it declare thy truth Hear O Lord and have mercy upon me Lord be thou my helper Shew thy Servant the light of thy Countenance and save me for thy mercies sake Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer in time of Sickness O Almighty and ever-living God in whose hands consists the life of all Mankind and who correctest every Son whom thou receivest mercifully I humble beseech thee to hear my voice and despise not the Prayer I make now unto thee in the time of trouble In the vexation of my Spirit and in the very anguish of my Soul I cry unto thee for mercy II. O thou that hast created and made me of nothing and hast redeemed me from the slavery of Sin Death and Hell by the most precious Blood of thy dear Son Jesus Christ which was spilt upon the Cross for my Sins Have mercy upon me Bow down thine all-hearing Ear unto my complaint and cast me not away in thy fierce anger III. My Sins cry aloud to Heaven for Vengeance and I have deserved thy wrath and heavy displeasure against me Thou hast cast me down upon the Bed of Sickness and I begin to fall as leaves beaten with a vehement wind yet thy Chastisments are less than my deservings but of thy mercy and goodness O Lord correct me not to death but to amendment of Life for thine own sake for thy holy Name 's sake for thy Son Christ Jesus sâ—ke be merciful unto my Sins for they are great IV. Spare thy Servant good Lord which confesseth his Sins unto thee pour the Oil of thy sanctifying Grace into my Heart and work thereby in me a true and immediate Repentance and restore me again to thy favour according to thy gracious Promise to humble Penitents let thy merciful Providence so guide and govern me in this affliction thou hast been pleased to lay upon me that I may never fall into utter darkness ignorance of thee or inconsideration of my self V. Let the faintness of my Spirit and the Condemnation of my self be overcome by thy irresistable Light thou that art the God of all consolation grant that I may be mindful of the great account I have to make at the day of Judgment and that I may bear in mind the reward which is due to the faithful the end of misery and the beginning of all happiness but to the secure and careless the beginning of eternal punishment VI. Strengthen my Faith accept my penitential Tears speak peace to my Soul and Conscience and say Thou art my Salvation then let thy holy Spirit descend into my Heart with this express My Grace is sufficient for thee then shall my Heart leap for joy and my Soul shall be exceeding glad desiring to be dissolved and be at peace that after this frail mortal Life is ended I may enjoy the eternal fruition of they heavenly Presence VII Suffer me not O Lord in this my trial to be possess'd with a fear of Condemnation or to despond of thy Promises but in sure considence of heart apply to my self the remission of all my Sins that at the last hour by Faith in Jesus Christ I may enjoy a tast of eternal Salvation Let not Death if thou art pleased to send it be terrible or bitter unto me but when it cometh I may rejoicingly receive the fame and having escaped the storm of Temptation and the dangers of Satan I may triumph like a Conqueror and behold the Power and Presence of thy holy Spirit VIII Let my last words be the same which thy Son did utter upon the Cross saying Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit and when my Speech is departed from me hear the groanings and sighs of my Heart and the desire of my Soul that at the last thy Servant may depart in Peace and reach those heavenly Mansions prepared for him My Soul O Lord heartily desireth to attain to that supernatural City whereof such glorious things are spoken IX Breathe inward Comforts to my Heart tho' my Body be going the way of all Flesh yet let my Soul go the way of all Saints Lord hear me and help me stand by me and save me and if thou hast determined to lay my Body into the Grave receive my Soul into thy Kingdom to rest in joy and peace for evermore through Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer to be said by those that visit the Sick O Most gracious God who hast Compassion upon all Men and hatest nothing that thou hast made mercifully we beseech thee to have Compassion on this thy Servant who by thy Visitation hath been sorely afflicted and by the same even brought to the end of his Days and period of his Life be pleased therefore good Lord to have Mercy upon him accept of him as the work of thine own Hands a Lamb of thy Fold thy Servant redeemed by Jesus Christ who is willing by thy appointment to leave this miserable World in full assurance of thy Mercy in Jesus Christ for the remission of his Sins II. Guide him good Lord in this his last Journey that he being quit of all the troubles of this transitory Life he may be safely conducted by thy power to the Heaven of Eternal Happiness into the Arms of boundless Mercy to everlasting Peace and perpetual Joys there to reign with all the Company of blessed Saints and Angels with thee in continual Bliss for evermore III. And gracious God we beseech thee by thy abundant Goodness by the multitude of thy tender Mercies and Compassions by the Merits of thy bitter Death and bloody Passion by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension and by the Coming of thy holy blessed Spirit have mercy upon him deliver him from the burthen and guilt of his Sins from the fears and terrors of Death and from the fury and power of Hell IV. Lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon him that in all the pains of his Body in all the agonies of his Spirit let thy Comforts refresh his Soul and enable him patiently to wait till his Change shall come And grant O Lord that when this earthly House and Tabernacle of his Body shall be dissolv'd he may have a Building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens and that for his sake who by his most precious Blood hath purchased Salvation for all those who truly believe in him even Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour Amen Meditations after Recovery Psal 116. 1. I Am well pleased that the Lord hath heard the voice of my Prayer 2. That he hath enclined his Ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live 3. The Snares of Death compassed me round about and the Pains of Hell got hold upon me 4. I shall find trouble and heaviness and I shall call upon the Name of the Lord O Lord I
beseech thee deliver my Soul 5. Gracious is the Lord Righteous yea our God is merciful 6. The Lord preserveth the Simple I was in misery and he helped me 7. Turn again then unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath rewarded thee 8. And why thou hast delivered my Soul from Death mine Eyes from Tears and my Feet from falling 9. I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living 10. I believed and therefore will I speak but I was sore troubled I said in my hast all Men are Lyars 11. What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the Benefits that he hath done unto me 12. I will receive the Cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. 13. I will pay my Vows now in the presence of all his People right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints 14. Behold O Lord how that I am thy Servant I am thy Servant and the Son of thine Handmaid thou hast broken my Bonds in sunder 15. I will offer to thee the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord. 16. I will pay my Vows unto the Lord in the sight of all his People in the Courts of the Lord's House even in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Praise the Lord. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Thanksgiving after Recovery O Holy and immortal God I Laud and Praise thy holy Name that thou hast been pleased to deliver me from the Jaws of Death and the Pit of Corruption and in some measure restored me again to my former Health crowning me with thy mercy and loving kindness my Soul and all that is within me shall magnifie thee I will praise thee O Lord with my whole Heart and will extol thee O thou that dwellest in the Heavens II. It is thou alone that hast preserved my life from destruction thou didst cast me down upon my Bed of Sickness and hast raised me up again by thy Almighty Power thou hast chastened and corrected me but not given me over unto Death My time is in thy hand O God thou art the God of the Spirits of all Flesh grant that this remnant of Life that thou hast thus graciously spared may be wholly dedicated to thy Service that I may walk before thee in newness and amendment of Life III. O thou that art the only Physician of Soul and Body thou hast once more permitted me to take up my Bed and walk O make me strictly careful as the watches of the Night to be vigilant over all my Thoughts Words and Actions that I may sin no more lest a worse thing happen unto me Let not this great mercy thou hast now given me make me supine and negligent and entertain those Thoughts that my Lord delayeth his coming but grant I beseech thee that I may make a right use of this thy Fatherly Chastisement and employ the remainder of my Life to thy Glory IV. I have found by experience of thine afflicting hand what a dreadful thing it is to be snatched away by the hands of Death without our accompts and unprepared O let it be a perpetual admonition to me to stand upon my Guard and to watch for my Master 's coming and whenever the Pleasures of Sin which endure but for a Season shall present themselves to entice and allure me make me to remember the bitterness of them at last Lord hear me and grant me grace to work out my own Salvation for thy dear Son's sake Amen A Prayer fit to be said at any time O Most glorious and powerful Lord God who createdst all things out of nothing and support'st the whole Universe by thy Providence I confess O Lord I was conceived in Original Sin now full of actual transgressions I was in the Womb a loathsome Substance I am in the World a Lump of Corruption and I shall be in the Grave a prey for Vermin II. But I know blessed Jesus thy Grace is sufficient for me thy Mercy can express it self in my Misery I know and confess O Lord that my Sins are exceeding many mighty and heinous yet thy Mercy is far greater for thou art infinite in mercy but I cannot be infinite in sinning and the Righteousness of Christ Jesus the Righteous is more prevalent for me than my own Unrighteousness can be against my self III. The Fountain of thy Mercy O God hath quenched the fire of thy Justice and graceless Man falling from Goodness is by thee repossessed of Greatness Wherefore I humbly beseech thee O Lord give me the Grace of continual Thankfulness strengthen my Weakness correct my Sinfulness direct my future Frailty and protect me against the Adversary kindle my Zeal enlighten my Understanding soften my stony Heart and save for ever my immortal Soul IV. And though my whole Life O Lord hath been impure and undefiled in thy sight yet through thy precious Blood and Passion by thine all-sufficient Sacrifice Obligation and Satisfaction revert my deserved Punishment and convert my passed Evils to present good and future joys in thine eternal and most glorious Kingdom V. Pardon good Lord my loss of Time my abuse of thy good Creatures my negligence in my lawful Employment my unthankfulness for thy Loving-kindness and whatsoever is wanting in my Person Practice Prayer or Thanksgiving make a supply of it in the Merits of thy Son Christ Jesus to whom with thee and thy blessed Spirit be all Praise and Glory now and evermore Amen Prayers for all Persons and Occasions A Prayer for the Church ALmighty and everlasting God who hast revealed thy Glory both to Jews and Gentiles in our Lord Jesus Christ extend thy hand of Providence and Mercy over all the World that thy Church may spread like a flourishing Vine and enlarge her Borders to the uttermost Parts of the Earth that all Nations partaking of the sweet refreshments of thy Gospel thy Name may be glorified the honour of our Lord Jesus advanced his Prophecies fulfilled and his Coming hastned II. Bless O Lord thy holy Catholick and Apostolick Church with all Blessings of Comfort Assistance and Preservation extirpate Heresies unite her Divisions give her Patience and Perseverance in the Faith and Confession of thy Name in despite of all Enmities Temptations and Disadvantages destroy all wicked Counsels intended or levied against her or any of her Children by the Devil or any of his accursed Instruments let the hands of thy Grace and Mercy lead her from this Vale of Misery to the triumphant Throne of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer for the King WE beseech thee O Lord to bless and preserve thy Servant William our most gracious King and Governour with the richest Blessings of thy Grace and Favour make him valiant and prosperous as King David wise and rich like Solomon be unto him a Helmet of Salvation against the Face of his Enemies and a strong Tower
Office to be a help and comfort to all those which are in Extremity and near the time of their Travail do in all humility prostrate my self before thee beseeching thee to vouchsafe me thy divine Assistance in these Performances II. Have Mercy upon me and bless me guide me and govern me in all my Actions prosper all my Undertakings grant that I may be as careful of the Poor as of the Rich that I may do good and not hurt save Life and not destroy it by my negligence help my Infirmities and Imperfections that I may neither be too timorious nor too rash in the performance of my Duty but grant me art and judgment in the happy finishing all my Operations III. Work in me an understanding and a tender Heart and whatsoever else is necessary in my undertakings and mercifully grant O Lord that whensoever my Duty calls me either by Night or Day I may be always prepared preserve and defend me from the infection of all contagious Diseases by thy most gracious Favour grant me a prosperous success that whatsoever I do may tend to thy Glory the comfort and help of all good Women committed to my charge and my own credit through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer to be said by those that are present with a Woman in Travail O Almighty God we are here assembled for the comfort of this Woman who travaileth in pain to be delivered of a Child Through the transgression of our first Parents she cannot be delivered but with great sorrow for thou hast laid thine heavy displeasure upon us sinful Women that in much sorrow shall we bring forth Children yet since thou hast given us Faith in thy Son give us all especially to this Woman thy Servant now in this Extremity patience mitigate her Pains prosper our Work bless our undertakings that by our help she may be delivered and forget her pains because a Child is born into the World IV. We pray unto thee for this Child in her Womb thou hast inrolled it in thy Book thou hast made it in thy Frame the Bones thereof are not hid from thee all the Members of it are written in thy Volume Thou didst visit it at the time of Life visit it now at the hour of Birth that thou maist receive glory by thy works and the Mother gladness in beholding her Infant after all her Sorrows Give her we beseech thee neither a monstrous a maimed nor a dead Birth but as thou hast blessed the Conception of this Infant so bring it with Perfection into the World Hear us O Lord and help this thy weak Servant visit her as thou didst Sarah comfort her as thou didst Rebecca and chear her as thou didst Leah forgive her all her sins and whether she be sure to live or die let her trust in thee and let thine Angels pitch their Tents about her now and for evermore Amen A Thanksgiving by those that are present after Delivery O Eternal God infinite in Mercies towards all thy Sons and Daughters in affliction we desire to praise and magnifie thy holy Name acknowledging thy Goodness to us and thy special favour to this Woman thy Servant We called upon thee and thou heard'st us we petitioned for thy Favour to thine Hand-maid and thou regardedst her we begg'd a Blessing for her Child thou hast blessed it and hast made her a joyful Mother We offer unto thee the Sacrifice of our Lips let our thankfulness ascend up unto thee like a sweet-smelling savour II. Continue thy loving kindness to this thy Servant keep her from all further peril and danger of Child-Bed give her strength to recover her weakness joy to forget her late sorrow and thankfulness that such a Child is come out of her Loins as one day shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Give thy Blessing to the Infant now born that it may in due time increase in Wisdom Stature and Favour with God and Man Baptize iâ— with Water and the Holy Ghost endue it with all heavenly Graces defend it against all Dangers provide for it in this mortal Life and crown it in the end with Life everlasting III. Bless us O Lord that are here met together to behold the glory of our Creation and the wonders of our Creator in this little Infant Let us in all Sobriety Chastity and Godliness walk before thee all the Days of our Lives Make us like fruitful Vines and our Children like Olive Branches round about our Tables Let our Husbands rejoice in us and make us careful to love them as thou hast commanded us that thy Kingdom may be increased the Bed undefiled and our Saviour Jesus Christ glorified to whom be praise for evermore Amen A Thanksgiving by the Woman after Delivery BLessed Lord God I yield thee all Honour Glory and Praise who hast now delivered me from the great pain and peril of Child-Birth who hast taken away my reproach and made me an Instrument to encrease thy Kingdom It is in thy power to strike death into my womb but thou hast given me a double life all mine anguishes thou hast sweetened with gladness Continue thy Mercies and Favours to me thy Servant that my lips may render thee hearty thanks II. Look upon this my Infant which thou hast given me preserve it in Health quicken it with Grace crown it with long Life that it may grow up to be a Servant in thine houshold Send the Father of it and me much Comfort by it that it may be a Staff to our Old Age Bless it with store of Friends in this World and be thou a chief Friend to it for evermore III. And for the better growth in Grace feed it with the Milk of thy holy Word defend it from all dangers ghostly and bodily Guard me and regard this my Birth that Satan rule not nor reign within us but deliver us still out of his Jaws as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowler let thy blessing O Lord be upon me and my Children and evermore keep and defend us Amen A Thanksgiving after a deliverance from any Calamity ALmighty and everlasting God who hast suffered thy Church so to be tempted with Afflictions that it is never free either from the Sword of Ishmael which is a reviling tongue or the Sword of Esau a persecuting hand having taught us all to drink of the same Cup our Master did so strengthen me with Patience direct me by thy Spirit and uphold me by Faith that all trouble may be as welcome to my Soul as afflicted Ruth was to the Field of Boaz. Though troubles are many and increase daily yet thou O Lord knowest how to deliver us out of all Heaviness may endure for a Night but joy will come in the Morning Doubtless there is a Reward for the Righteous and a Rod for the Wicked Let one Plague follow another as one Quail sings to another yet as the Viper leaped on St. Paul's Hand and immediately leaped off again so
one trouble shall leap upon the Righteous and in an Instant shall as soon vanish though he fall he shall rise again for the righteous shall not be forsaken for ever II. I have lately tasted of thy goodness O Lord I have now been sensible of thy Mercy in a great Measure by this great deliverance I have had experience many times of thy loving-kindness but never more than in thy late Favours I chattered like a Swallow I mourned like a Dove I panted like a Hart but thou hast put life again into my Soul thou hast not dealt with me according to my Sins nor rewarded me according to mine Iniquities As high as the Heaven is above the Earth so great is thy Mercy towards them that fear thee since thy Mercy O Lord hath been so great towards me grant that I may love thee more zealously fear thee more reverently and obey thee more carefully all the days of my Life For as Elkanah was to Hannah instead of many Sons so be thou still to me â— God instead of many Comforters Gâ—ve me therefore patience in trouble a constancy in hope rooted and grounded in love and so bring me O Lord from this valley of tears to life everlasting Amen A Prayer before taking of Physick or any outward means for restoring of Health MOst mighty God the great Physician both of Soul and Body who by thy blessing on a lump of dry figgs didst heal Hezekiah's Boil that he recovered and by laying thy hand upon the head of Peter's Wife's Mother didst cure her of her Fever and anointing the Eyes with Clay and Spittle didst restore the Man that was blind even from his Birth unto perfect Sight and by seven times washing in the River Jordan didst cleanse Naaman the Syrian of his Leprosie and by thine appointment hast provided means for thy Children for the curing of their Sickness and recovery of their Health II. I dare not O Lord without injury to my Soul and indignity to thine Omnipotency despair of thy sufficiency and power for the restoring me to health or not use that help and expect a blessing upon those means which are requisite I should choose and use for the repairing of my Body and the restitution of my Strength I dare not send unto Sorcerers Wizards Charmers or Inchanters for help nor with Ahaziah go to Baalzebub the God of Ekron for relief and leave thee the God of Israel But I renounce and reject all other help but from thee alone and upon the bended knees of an humble heart I come unto thee beseeching thee to sanctifie what I am now to receive or apply to my ease and good and to give such a blessing thereunto that it may remove such pain sickness as doth afflict my Body III. O Lord grant me in all my Sickness patience and not to murmur or repine at thy afflicting hand and in health give me a provident care to prevent all such maladies as by reason of my manifold Sins thou maist justly inflict upon me And as David's Troubles made him pray Hezekiah's Sickness to lament the Prodigal return home and Israel under Aegypt's burthens cry unto thee so I beseech thee that every Chastisement of thine may compel me the rather to sue unto thee for thy saving Health Pity Compassion and Grace And as Christ told his Disciples that Lazarus's sickness was not unto Death but for the glory of God so I beseech thee that none of my afflictions may be unto the death of my Soul but rather for the good both of Body and Soul And as Noah's Ark the higher it was tossed with the Flood the nearer it mounted towards Heaven so my Soul being sanctified by Grace the more it is exercised with the water of affliction the nearer let it be lifted up towards thee O God grant this O holy Father for thy dear Son's sake to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory both now and evermore Amen A Prayer before a Journey or Voyage ALmighty God who preservest thy Servants in all their ways and didst protect and direct Jacob in his way to Laban Jonah in his Voyage and the Children of Israel in the Wilderness and Travels over Jordan Guide me thine unworthy Servant in the Journey that I am now to undertake Lord walk with me be about my Bed and about my Paths keep me from all dangers both of Body Soul refresh me when I am weary comfort me when I am solitary and send me health and strength of Body to perform it Deliver me from Thieves Robbers and savage Beasts furnish me with all necessaries and send me home again in safety II. Send me I beseech thee good success in all my undertakings and grant that I may undertake nothing but what shall be pleasing in thy sight If I meet with Company grant they may be such as I may receive good by rather than harm if I am alone let thy Law be my delight grant that I may then meditate such things as shall be for the benefit and salvation of my Soul and grant that after my business is fully accomplished when I return home I may find my Friends Wife Children and Family in perfect Health and though my whole Life be but a continual Travel here yet send me everlasting peace with thee and thy Son Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer upon return from a Journey or Voyage MOst merciful and gracious Lord God keeper of Israel the well-spring of Life and the alone preserver of all Mankind I render unto thee all hearty Thanks and Praise for thy provident care and gracious protection of me in this my Journey whereas I might have perished e're I had seen again this my Habitation but that thou hast walked before me by day as a pillar of a Cloud to guide me in the way and by night in a pillar of Fire to give me light Thou directest me in all my paths O lead me into the way of Life II. Give me an humble and thankful heart let me not bury this and other thy Favours in forgetfulness but let my Soul still praise thee and thy good Spirit lead me into the Land of Righteousness As thou hast brought me O Lord through this Journey and Voyage and kept this Tabernacle of my Body unsplit So in thy good time bring my Soul home to the Land of Promise the Everlasting Haven of eternal Rest and that for thy Son's sake Jesus Christ Amen The Mariner's Prayer O Eternal God who rebukest the Winds and stillest the raging of the Sea and the noise of the Tempest whose way is in the Waters and thy wonders in the Deep we are in danger every moment of perishing unless by thy miraculous Power thou deliver us from death when with thy Servant Peter we cry out Help Lord we perish let thy hand be stretched forth to command the Waters to be still Fill our Sails with gentle and also prosperous Gales save us from Shipwrack defend us from