prayer GOod God the creator and maker of all mankind seéing it hath pleased thee of thy deuine prouidence to ordaine the night as a meane to deliuer vs from the trauailes of the day and to minister ease and gladnes to the wearied lims of our bodies to the great comfort and refreshing of the same by the fruition of quiet sleep and rest according to humane nature wee beseech thee therfore O Lord of thy vnspeakeable goodnes and mercy to be our watchman and defender this night that we be not ouercome by fantasies dreames or other illusions but that through thy permission we may take such quiet rest and voluntarie sleepe as nature requireth and though our grosse sences are at such times stopped yet vouchsafe euer to graunt vs the assistance of thy grace and holy spirit that our soules may respect the comming of thy sonne our sauiour Iesus Christ that at what time soeuer he calleth wee may bee found watchfull and continually ready to performe his will that after this life ended we may eternally rest in glorie and as the brightnesse of the sunne doth in the morning disperse the darke cloudes and thicke mistes from the face of the earth whereby the same was before couered with darkenesse so wee humbly beseech thee vouchsafe to disperse and burie our sinnes in the blend and obedience of thy deare sonne which doe as it were shadow vs from the bright beames of thy fauourable countenance and euermore assist vs with thy gratious goodnesse that our sleepe may be so healthfull vnto vs that we with willing minds arising in the morning may vtterly shake off al maner of drowsinesse and make hast to exercise our selues in such Christian labours as thy deuine prouidence hath ordained vs vnto to the aduancement and renowne of thy holy name credit of thy Church comfort reliefe of our Christian bretheren and our euerlasting saluation In mercy graunt this O Lord we beseech thee for Iesus Christ his sake our onely redeemer and sauiour vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all power and dominion for euer Amen Twentie and one godly and necessary praiers gathered out of the Cxix Psalme wherein are contained petitions crauing aid of Gods spirit against Sathan and al wickednesse complaints against the rage of the vngodly thanksgiuing f r our deliuerance and consolation in aduersitie for that God both can and will assist his people 1. A Prayer for the assistance of Gods holy spirit for to direct our mindes after his holy lawes GRatious God so blesse me I beseech thee thy poore seruant that out of the hidden treasures of thy word I may gather such fruitful delights that I may walk vprightly and lead a blamelesse life in thy sight in keeping those precepts which thou O Lord God hast therein appointed Oh how blessed are those which obserue thy statutes vnto the end seeking thee with a pure heart and carefully obeying thy eternall maiestie may it please thee therefore so to guide my waies that I quaile not in my course neither bend my selfe to follow after vnrighteousnesse but faithfully perseuer in that perfect path which thou hast enclined me vnto out of thy holy word and thou being a righteous and euerlasting God doest not command me to followe any thing which is not lawfull in thy sight nor redounding to my saluation Erect my heart continually to the contemplation of thy blessed lawes whereby my dealings may be ordered through thy gouernance that I may immitate and carefully keepe the same all the daies of my life with zeale and obedience towards thy diuine maiestie then shall all things according â—o thy will goe well with me and I shall turne mine eies to beholde that thing which is good and laudable in thy fight yea and euermore worship thee with an vpright minde in spirit and truth as becommeth thy child without all dissimulation and hipocrisie Lord I am fully purposed to keepe thy statutes euen by the direction of thy spirit for my trust resteth in thee 2. A prayer to withstand the frailty of flesh cleaue vnto the Lord. GOuerne and direct mee O Lord according to thy worde that I may order my life by the rule therof and by the direction of thy holy spirit dilligently obserue those thinges which thou hast commanded me I haue sought thee O God with my whole heart let me not therfore goe astray from thee And though by frailety of my flesh I haue vnaduisedly heretofore falleÌ„ from thee yet I beseech thée of thy endlesse mercy slay me that I be not cast downe for euer and quicken me that I wander not any longer from thy precepts vnite my minde to thy sacred misteries that I may lay vp thine euerlasting promises in my hart least through the vaine entisements of my ghostly enemies I be enforced to forget negligently for want thereof to offend thy diuine maiestie for except thou O Lord which art altogether mercy dost guide and teach mee to leade my life aright truely my weakenesse would not permit mee to ioy or preuaile in that which is good teach me therefore O Lord zealously to keepe thy statutes that I may boldly speake to the land praise of thy name and openly shewe foorth thy holy word and blessed will graunt that I may take more delight in the keeping of thy exhortations and commandments then in al maner of earthly treasures and may meditate continually in thy precepts endue me with heauenly wisedome that I may vnderstand thy lawes aright and be euermore occupied therin vnto my liues end Amen 3. A prayer to be guided in all puritie and godlinesse GIue eare I most humbly beseech thee O Lord vnto the prayers that I offer heere vnto thy deuine maiestie Continue thy fauour towards me in directing me with thy holy spirit that I may ouercome that which sauoureth of euil and imbrace those things which thou hast commanded Abandon from the eies of my soule the vale of darknesse that I may view and beholde the true light and see the wonderfull secrets which euermore shine out of thy heauenly doctrine and lead my life in quietnesse to thy honor and glorie Thou knowest that I am a stranger and vnacquainted on the earth and that I desire to be brought to another place euen to thy heauenly habitation wherfore I beseech thée O God encline thine eare towards me hide not from me thy statutes neither yet take thy holy spirit from me that should leade me to imbrace thy righteousnesse I am desirous with great care to liue acording to thy lawes and to keepe thine ordinance both in prosperitie aduersity wherfore O Lord I beseech thee let this zeale consume me Thou rebukest and destroyest the proud persons and such as stubbornely striue against thee and appointest destruction and bitternesse vnto those that refuse to keepe thy precepts Though all men enuie me and haue me in despight for the truthes sake yet thou in thy good time wilt remoue them far
of hope graunt speedie release vnto me least I fall into the net that the wicked haue laid for me that I being gouerned and directed by thy mighty power may for euer henceforth extoll thy glorious name whilest the wicked are together entangled in their owne mallice graunt this O father for thy deare sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ A prayer to perceiue his owne fraile estate TEach me O Lord to ordâ—r my steppes according to the rule of thy holy word that the wicked entrap me not in my dealings Let the number of my daies be knowne vnto me and make me I beseech thee more and more seriously to consider how transitory this life is that I may apply my heart continually to the contemplation of thy hidden secrets and deuine mysteries for the length of my yeares is but as a spanne and all earthly things are nothing but meere vanitie in thy sight therefore as the chased Hart desireth to be refreshed by the aid of the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God therefore let not thy graces and holy spirit O God be taken from me but extend thy hand to deliuer me from all inconueniences that I become not an open rebuke vnto mine enemies take those plagues and seuere punishments from me that my sinnes do deserue and let thy mercie be an eternall comfort vnto mee graunt me vnderstanding and send me knowledge from aboue that I may see into the cause of my afflictions and neuer murmure at thy fatherly chastisements heare my praier and in thy mercy take pittie and compassion vpon me asswage the great heate of thine anger towards me and release the troubles of my heauy heart and grant me a space of repentance before the time of thy fatherly calling that I may rest with thee for euer A prayer for iourneying I Commit this my iourney and corporall trauell most merciful father vnto thy heauenly direction to guide and gouerne me therein as shall seeme best to thy onely goodnesse and godly wisedome and as this my troublesome and weary life is nothing els but a pilgrimes passage and onely a span from birth to graue so graunt that I may alwaies consider of it And I beseech thee O my God that as to Iacob iourneying into the East praying reuerently for thy gratious protection thou diddest fauourably and of thine infinite mercie minister all thinges necessary to his safety so thou wilt now mercifully beholde me a member of thy little Israel and safely keepe and preserue me in my iourney that the same may tend to the honour of thy name and to the comfort of my conscience both now and euer that like as Iacob saide thou shouldest be his God so we knowing that in all thinges thou art more good and plentiful vnto vs a thousand fold then we can deserue may for thy heauenly graces and continuall goodnesse sing laud praises vnto thy holy name o God that for euer liuest one in trinitie thrée in vnitie Amen A prayer out of the Cxlv. Psalme FRom the bottome of my heart O my God will I ertoll thy name and render thankes vnto thee for euer and euer I will consecrate all the daies of my life to set forth thy glory and to yéeld praises vnto thee continually for thou art great O Lord and there is no praise sufficient for thee yea the memoriall of thy name will I cause to endure from one generation to another neither shall I alone labour to doe this my dutie for verily there will be alwaies some assembly which will by all meanes testifie the remembrance of my deeds and peculiar goodnes and openly declare thy vndoubted promises remaining vnto all ages namely that thou art most mercifull and gratious vnto such as trust in thee and thy louing kindnesse endureth for euer neither is it manifest whether thou art either more slowe vnto wrath or more proue to pardon for thou O Lord I knowe art good to all men and thy mercies are aboue thy workes yet is thy name O God extolled in thy workes and the praise of thy glorie appeareth in all thy creatures thou staiest vp euery one which els should fall and grauntest releefe vnto such as are already fallen yea thou giuest help continually vnto those that loue thee but destroiest the wicked and therefore by good right O Lord will I sound foorth thy praises for euer and euer A prayer to be said before the receiuing of the Lords Supper LOuing Lord and my most merifull father in wonderfull mercy I acknowledge it hath plesed thée to purge me silly wretch by the death bloody passion of thy sonne from al my sins and iniquities to haue adopted me thy childe and giuen me the earnest of my saluation touching my heart with an infallible sence and feeling of thy mercies and setled confidence in thy promises so that euen now in the commemoration of thy vnspeakeable blessings my soule is newly entred into thy house to take the holesome cup of eternall saluation and to call vpon thy holy name assist me therfore with thy spirit O Lord giue me a wise and vnderstanding heart that I may conceiue rightly of thy sacred mysteries and deuine precepts discerne them secretly and receiue them effectually not with rashnes of minde but with sobriety in righteousnes and holinesse of life vnto the perfect consummation and finishing of that happy building which thy worthy goodnesse in mercy hath prouidently begunne in me yea vntill I be come to the measure of the eternall age and fulnesse of my Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A godly prayer for such things as be needefull both for soule and bodie Extend thy fauourable pitie towards me O Lord and in thy mercie doe away my iniquities take from me al hardnes of heart and indue me with thy grace and holy spirit that my delight may be in thy lawes blesse and prosper I beseech thee my bodily labours and send mee such necessarie reliefe both for my soule and bodie as shall seeme most expedient to thy deuine wisedome O God keepe me vnder the shadowe of thy winges from all the afflictions of this wretched life and defend me from the naughtie dealing of lying lippes and slandering tongues let me not doe any thing contrary to thy will O Lord but keepe me in such good order of life that I be not defamed of the wicked and vngodly person Confirme me in the knowledge of thy law and send me spéedie reliefe in al my troubles giue me good God a feeling of my sinnes with earnest repentance and that I may perseuer in newnesse of life to thy honor and glorie let me auoid the company of such as be euill and let my whole delight consist in the secrets of thy sacred mysteries that I may openly set forth thy praises and yeelde vncessant thankes vnto thee graunt that I may escape the net that the wicked haue priuily laid to intrap me for my hope consisteth in thy saluation and
when my weary daies O Lord shall draw to an end in leauing this life and earthly pilgrimage graunt me a strong and stedfast faith with speech and memorie euen to the end that so departing in peace I may rest with thee for euer Amen A prayer to be saide in any kinde of affliction ETernall God and father of all mercies I humbly beseech thée to bow down thine eares hearken vnto me poore sinner whose state is weake and feeble because of thy heauy displeasure but I confesse and acknowledge that it is a iust reward for my iniquities committed against thee respect me neuerthelesse in thy mercie and thinke not vpon my transgressions deliuer my soule endue me with all spirituall graces and consolation and continually keepe me in true faith and humble obedience towards thee neither let me murmure at thy chastisements but with patience endure thy correction it is in thée to deale with me at thy pleasure since thou createdst me of dust and slime of the earth and gauest me life and breath in my mothers wombe Wherfore O Lord I beseech thee suffer me not to be tempted aboue my strength neither yet to be holden downe with greater afflictions then my weak nature is able to endure but rather aâ—cording to thy tender mercie support and relieue me that neither the flesh the world nor the diuell triumph in my weakenes giue me a feeling of thy mercies that thy graces neuer depart from me and when it pleaseth thee O Lord to bring to an end this miserable life graunt that I may with humble obedience towards thee and perfect faith in thy diuine promises neglect the state of this wretched world and rest with thee O Lord my God in that euerlasting kingdome which thou hast prepared for thy elect from the beginning of the world where I shall continually yeild praises vnto thee together with all the host of heauen for euer and euer Amen A prayer of thanksgiuing to God for his benefits COntinue thy goodnesse stil towards me O Lord that I may daily haue occasion to extoll thy praises for great cause doe I already retaine to land thy glorious name for euer because thou alone act my ioy and saluation and the strong citie whereunto I alwaies flie for succour thou hast euer bene my rocke and tower of defence open now therefore the gate of righteousnesse that I poore sinner may enter therin as one of thy children so shall I be preserued in peace I haue alwaies put my trust in thee stregthen me therefore I beseech thee with thy holy spirit and as thou art altogether righteous and iust so vouchsafe to instruct me in the path wherein I ought to walke for my soule reioyceth in thy truth and desireth thee in the night season yea and my spirit shall seeke thee in the morning how mercifully dost thou nourish thy people and how glorious doest thou make thy elect when I was in distresse I called vpon thee and when thou diddest chastise me I poured forth my prayers and thou like a louing Lord diddest shew mercy on me according to thy great kindenesse O deare father my soule now replenished with griefe because of my sinnes desireth to be receiued into thy eternall rest I was dead putrified through my sinnes and enuironed with dispaire because of my fall but thou of thy goodnesse diddest yeeld reliefe vnto me and made me aliue againe yea thou hast eleuated my soule out of the darknesse of death and ministred light vnto me that I might regard my footesteps thou hast vpholden my life from daungers and preferred me against the enuious mindes of the wicked thou hast defended me from such as rose vp against mâ— and sent me reliefe in my greatest necessitie yea thou hast plenteously indued me with all things and giuen me a tast of thy goodnesse Wherfore O most merciful God assist me with thy holy spirit that I neuer be vnmindfull of thy mercies but may extol thy glorious name for euer and euer Amen A prayer to be vsed before a man doth begin to trauell or take any iourney in hand REspect me thy vnworthie seruant O Lord with the eye of thy mercie for on thee dependeth my saluation and there is none but thou alone can bring sufficient reliefe and succour vnto my afflicted spirit Wherfore O God be mercifull vnto me and rule my heart in thy faith feare and loue with a carefull keeping of thy commaundements guide thou my footesteps O God and gouerne me with thy mightie hand that I fall not into the pit of destruction assist me with thy grace and holy spirit that I may both discerne and reiect those thinges that are contrary to thy law and saue me O God from the cruelty of such as seeke to oppresse my soule send me knowledge from aboue that I may conceiue rightly of thy heauenly mysteries and teach me O Lord so to order my life that acording to the precise rule of thy holy word and deuine precepts I may daily proceede in newnesse of life to the honor and glorie of thy name Indue me with all spirituall graces to stand against the subtile assaults and temptatious of my ghostly enemies that I may neuer quaile by his tirannie but giue him his finall repulse and vtter ouerthrow be thou my protector and defender most louing father that in all my waies I may be safely directed by thy mighty prouidence for thou art my refuge in all my troubles and in thy mercie will I stay my selfe for euer and my hope shall still rest in thee O God that liuest for euer A prayer for a man that is beset with aduersaries I Call and crie to thee O God with mourning voice beseeching thee to hearken vnto my groning sighes deliuer me from my troubles that oppresse mee grieuously for misery is come vpon me and there is none but thou alone can helpe me guide me O Lord in thy truth and lead me foorth in the pathes wherein I ought to walke thou art the onely rokce whereunto I must cleaue and in thy good time thou wilt vphold my state against my enemies that enuiron me about they haue cast snares in the way to entrap me and by crueltie haue daily sought my decay Wherfore I beséech thée O God come quickly and succour me put forth thy mightie arme and deliuer me from them that rise vp against me pretending my vtter ouerthrow Conduct me in thy truth that I be not intrapped in my waies nor holden in the earke prison of this miserable worlde from the view of thy deuine maiestie but that I may be compassed with the assembly of thy elect to reioyce in thee O my good God for my deliuerance and to sing continuall praises vnto thy holy name for euermore with a chéereful voice preserue me from destruction and vouchsafe O Lord to forgiue me all my offences that I may stand stedfast in thee and neuer be put to confusion but to rest with thee eternally Amen A
things aboue renue therfore thy spirit in thy seruant that the same instructing my heart daiely in true wisedome and feare of thee I may come to the feeling of mine owne euils and know the cause of thy scourge that so my wound being apparant to mine eyes I may with all speede see to the cure thereof and deserre no time to seeke the salue to heale it Heare the voice of thy seruant O God that crieth vnto thee consider my complaint and weigh my inward woe conceiued through hate of mine owne infirmities and for want of thy knowledge for I flie from my selfe as from an vnwalled castle fearing my footsteps euen as though I walked on thornes deale not with me in thy displeasure neither let my sinnes seperate thy fauour from me but quicken me in my afflictions and make me ware wise by thy punishments giue me such a sence of my infirmities and so perfect a perseuerance of my rechlesnes in seruing of thee that I may dispose my selfe to contrarie order erecting my mind vnto thee and thereunto so ioyne the increase of thy grace and strenghtning spirit as that I may be able therby to performe my race and continue in that good way which thy goodnesse hath mooued me to in the times of my heauinesse be neere vnto me and open my eyes of faith to behold thy eternall loue so that I be not too much shaken by the enemies assaults but may be replenished with abilitie constancie and patience to giue him his finall repulse and ouerthrow Amen A prayer for our Soueraigne Lord King Iames. MOst mightie God of maiestie and heauenly father deare vnto the humble sutes of vs thy seruants poore giue eare that call on thee still to maintaine and blesse with thy great power our noble King and his ofspring our stay gouernour whōe thou ouer thy little flock vnto our comforts great ordained hast to fit vpon the high and princely seat from forraine force of foes vouchsafe good God to guard his grace that all their subtile sleights and snares he doubtlesse may deface Lend vnto him long life O Lrod and eke a royall raigne and grant that he thy graces great for euermore may gaine Thy blessings bountifull bestowe vpon him we thee pray that his delight may be to loue thy lightsome law for aye And earnestly for to imbrace thy Gospell pure at large vnto the comfort of thy church committed to his charge Vnder the shadow of thy winges Lord keepe him to the end and from conspiracies also vouchsafe him to defend Conuert or els confound all such as mischiefe do deuise against his grace and to thy truth are vtter enemies God graunt him peace in conscience and health without annoy that we long time and many yeares his presence may enioy Amen The confession of a Sinner RIghteous God thou that art the father of all mercies and comforter of all mankind euen of thy tender loue behold me poore sinner that haue straied from thy precepts through ignorance and frailtie of my flesh and most wickedly erred from thy holy commaundements like vnto a wandring sheepe hauing no shepheard O Lord I do confesse I haue followed too much the deuises and desires of my vnrighteous heart whereby I haue at sundry times grieuously offended thy maiestie in breaking and neglecting thy holy lawes which thou hast commaunded me to keepe and contrary to thy will followed these vngodly actions which I ought not to doe leauing vndone those good thinges that thy sacred word hath taught me so that in me there is no goodnes except thou O Lord do speedily looke vpon me and in thy great mercy pardon my hainous offences Forgiue me O deare father and forget my iniquities I most entirely beseech thee that here with a sorrowfull heart confesse my faultes vnto thee O God requesting thee of thy fauorable goodnesse to restore me that am penitent and in thy mercy send reliefe vnto thy seruant satisfie my soule with thy fauour againe according to thy promise which thou hast declared vnto an such as come vnto thee in the name of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ my sauiour wherefore O my God I come vnto thee with an humble minde beseeching thee from the very inwards of my soule to graunt me the assistance of thy grace and holy spirit that I may euer hereafter in newnes of life liue as becōmeth thy seruant vprightly in thy sight and deale faithfully with all men to thy honour and glory and the comfort of my soule Amen Another prayer vnto almightie God IN mercy O Lord vouchsafe to heare my prayers and let my cries haue accesse vnto to thée hide not thy face from me I be seech thee in the time of my trouble but with speed incline thine eares vnto me when I call behold there is no certenty in my flesh for my life consumeth as the smoake and my daies do wast in sorrow mine enemies lie in wait for me and they that rage against me haue conspired my death wherefore the feeling of thy wrath and heauie displeasure hath quite consumed me but thou O Lord whose promises I know endure for euer continuest all one God in mercy vnto such as call vpon thee therefore do I flie vnto thee in my distresse beseeching thee to assist me with thy grace and holy spirit that the cause of my mourning and piteous complaints being taken away I may daily proceed and goe forward in newnesse of life to the honour and glory of thy holy name Confirme thy good worke begunne in me O God and let me neuer want thy assistant aid therein lest it be vtterly frustrate Let not mine iniquities be any hinderance to thy bountiful goodnesse neither yet my negligences in seruing of thee mooue theé to detract the operation of thy holy spirit in thy seruant but with speede consider my frailty and pardon my offences for Iesus Christ his sake so shall I declare thy worthinesse and extell thy great kindenesse shewed vnto me at all times Haue mercy vpon me O God haue mercy vpon me according to thy eternall promises make me plentifull in all good workes to doe thy fatherly will and let thy commandments be my whole delight refresh my hart with the fruition of thy blessings and let me not at any time be vnmindful of thy goodnes but yeeld continuall thankes vnto thee for thy great benefits extended towards me take me not away O God in the middest of my daies but prolong my time and conduct my footsteps that hauing viewed at full thy graces inestimable kindenesse I may neuer cease vntill the last gasp to sing praises vnto thy holy name for euer and euer Amen A prayer to be vsed when a man is in any kind of trouble COnsider O my God I beseech thee the wofull complaints and prayers that I here offer vp to thy diuine Maiesty vnto thee alone doe I sue for helpe remit therefore my iniquities for the multitude thereof doe speedily craue thy aid and in