Saints may be fulfilled and the Glory of thee of our Lord Jesu and daily add to the number of thy beautified servants such as shall be saved that thy coming may be hastened and the expectation of the Saints may be fulfilled and advanced and all the whole Church singing praise to the honour of thy Name who liveth and reigneth ever one God world without end Amen The 51. O Most merciful Jesu who didst die to redeem us from death and damnation have mercy upon this thy servant whom thy hand has visited with sickness of thy goodness be pleased to forgive him all his sins and seal his hopes of glory with the refreshments of thy Holy Spirit Lord give him strength confidence in thee asswage his pain repel the assaults of his ghostly enemies and give him a guard of holy Angels preserve him in the unity of the Church keep his senses entire his understanding right give him great measure of contrition true faith a well grounded hope and abundant charity give him a quiet and a joyful departure let thy ministring spirits convey his soul to the mansions of peace and rest there with certainty to expect a joyful Resurrection to the fulness of Joy at thy right hand where there is pleasure for ever more Amen A Prayer for the Joyes of Heaven O Most glorious Jesu who art the portion and the exceeding great reward of all faithful people thou hast beautified humane nature with glorious Immortality and hast carried the same above all Heavens above the seat of Angels beyond the Cherubims and Seraphims placing it on the right hand of thy heavenly Father grant to us all the issues of thy abundant charity that we may live in thy fear and die in thy favour prepare our souls with heavenly Joyes making us righteous here that we may be blessed hereafter through thy great mercy Amen A Prayer for the Morning at the first kneeling down saying Holy blessed and glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God have mercy up-me a miserable sinner 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. O Most gracious Lord whose mercies endureth for ever I thy unworthy servant who have so largely tasted of them desire to render thee the tribute of my humblest praises for them In thee O Lord I live move and have my being thou hast made me to be and then that I might not be miserable but happy thou sendest thy Son out of thy bosom to redeem me from the power of my sins by his grace and from the punishment of them by his blood and by both of them to bring me to his glory Thou hast by thy mercy caused me to be born within thy particular fold the Christian Church where I was early consecrated to thee in Baptism and have been partaker of all those spiritual helps which might aid me to perform that vow I there made to thee and when by my own wilfulness or negligence I have fallen to do ill yet thou in thy manifold mercies hast not forsaken me but hast graciously invited me to Repentance aforded me all means both outwardly and inwardly for it and with patience hast attended and not cut me off for the acts of those many damning sins I have committed as I have most justly deserved thou art glorious in thy manifold mercies O Lord in thy restraining grace by which I have been kept back from any of the greatest sins and in thy inciting grace by which I have been enabled to do the least good therefore not unto me but unto thy Name be praises for these and all other spiritual blessings My soul doth magnifie the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy Name I likewise praise thee for those many outward blessings I enjoy as health friends food and rayment the comforts as well as the necessaries of this life for those continual protections of thy hand by which I and mine are kept from dangers and those gracious deliverances thou hast often aforded out of such as have befallen me and for that mercy of thine whereby thou hast sweetened and allayed those troubles thou seest not fit wholly to remove for thy particular care of me this night and all other thy goodness towards me Lord grant that I may render unto thee not only the fruit of my lips but the obedience of my life that so these blessings here may be an earnest of those richer blessings thou hast prepared for those that love thee and that for his sake whom thou hast made the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him even Jesus Christ. Amen A Confession O Righteous Lord who hatest iniquity I thy sinful creature cast my self at thy feet acknowledging that I most justly deserve to be utterly abhorred and forsaken by thee for I have drunk in iniquity like water gone on in a continued course of sin and rebellion against thee daily committing those sins thou forbidest and leaving undone those things thou commandest Mine heart which should be an habitation for thy Spirit is become a cage of unclean birds of foul and disordered affections and out of this abundance of the heart my mouth speaketh my hands act so that in thought word and deed I continually transgress against thee O Lord I have done amiss I have dealt wickedly the good I would do I do it not but the evil I should not that do I. O my God be merciful unto me for my luxury pride covetousness and all wandring thoughts and worldly imaginations Nay O Lord I have despised that goodness of thine which should have lead me to repentance hardning my heart against all those means thou hast used for my amendment and now Lord what can I expect from thee but judgment and fiery indignation that is indeed the due reward of my sins But O Lord there is mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared O fit me for that mercy by giving me a deep and a hearty Repentance and then according to thy goodness let thine anger and thy wrath be turned away Look upon me in thy Son my blessed Saviour and for the merits of his sufferings pardon all my sins and Lord I beseech thee by the power of thy grace so to renew and purifie my heart that I may become a new creature utterly forsaking every evil way living in constant sincere universal obedience to thee all the rest of my daies behaving my self as a good and faithful servant I may at the last be received into the Joy of my Lord grant this for Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Grace O Most gracious God from whom every good and perfect gift cometh I a wretched sinner that am not able of my self so much as to think a good thought beseech thee to work in me both to will and to do of thy good pleasure what thou requirest of me enlighten
my mind that I may know thee and let me not be barren or unfruitful in that knowledge Lord work in my heart a true faith a purifying hope and an unfeigned love towards thee Give me a full trust in thee zeal for thee reverence in all things that relate to thee Make me fearfull to offend thee thankful for thy mercies humble under thy corrections devout in thy service sorrowful for my sins grant that in all things I may behave my self so as befits a creature to his Creator a servant to his Lord enable me likewise to perform that duty I owe to my self Give me that meekness humility and contentedness whereby I may alwaies possess my soul in patience and thankfulness Make me diligent in all my duties watchful in all temptations perfect pure and temperate and so moderate in all my most lawful enjoyments that they never may become a snare to me Make me also O Lord to be so affected towards my neighbour that I never transgress that Royal Law of thine of loving him as my self Grant me exactly to perform to all a part of Justice yielding to all whatsoever by any kind of right is their due Give me such bowels of mercy and compassion that I may never fail to do all acts of charity to all men whether friends or enemies according to thy command and example Finally I beseech thee O Lord to sanctifie me within and without that my whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever Amen Intercession O Blessed Lord whose mercy is over all thy works I beseech thee to have mercy upon all men and grant that the precious Ransom which was paid by thy Son for all may be effectual for the saving of all Give thy enlightening grace to those that are in darkness and thy converting grace to those that are in sin Look with thy tenderest compassion upon the Universal Church O be favourable and gracious unto Sion build thou the walls of Jerusalem unite all those that profess thy Name to thee by purity and holiness and to each other by brotherly kindness Have mercy on this desolate Church and sinful Nation Thou movedst the Land and divided it heal the sores thereof for it shaketh make us so truly to repent of those sins which have provoked thy Judgments that thou also mayest turn and repent and leave a blessing behind thee Bless those whom thou hast appointed our Governours whether in Church or State so rule their hearts and strengthen their hands that they may want neither will nor power to punish wickedness and vice and to maintain God's true Religion and Verity Have pity O Lord on all that are in affliction be a Father to the Fatherless and plead the Cause of the Widow comfort the feeble minded support the weak relieve the needy defend the oppressed and administer to every one according to their several necessities Let thy blessing rest upon all that are near and dear unto me and grant them whatsoever is needful and necessary both for their souls and for their bodies here name thy dearest Relations Reward all those that have done me or them good pardon all those that have done or wish us evil work in me and them all that good which may make us acceptable in thy sight Jesus Christ. Amen For Preservation O Merciful God by whose bounty and love it is that I have this day added to my life I beseech thee so to guide me in it by thy grace that I may do nothing which may dishonour thee or wound my own soul but that I may diligently apply my own soul to do all such good works as thou hast prepared for me And Lord I beseech thee give thy Angels charge over me to keep me in all my waies that no evil happen unto nor any plague come nigh my dwelling but that I and mine may be safe under thy protection through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen O Lord pardon the wandrings and coldness of these Petitions and deal with me not according either to my prayers or deserts but according to my needs and thine own rich mercy in Jesus Christ in whose blessed Name and words I conclude these my imperfect prayers saying Our Father c. Prayers for Night O Holy blessed and glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God have mercy upon me a miserable sinner Lord I know not what to pray for as I ought O let thy holy Spirit help mine infirmities and enable me to offer up a spiritual Sacrifice acceptable unto thee by Jesus Christ. A Confession O Most holy Lord God who art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity how shall I an abominable wretch appear before thee who am nothing but pollution I am defiled in my very nature have a backwardness to all good and a readiness to all evil but I have defiled my self much worse by my own actual sins and wicked customs I have transgressed my duty to thee my neighbour and my self and that both in thought word and deed by doing those things thou hast expresly forbidden and neglecting to do those things thou hast commanded me and this not onely through ignorance and frailty but knowingly and wilfully against the motion of thy Spirit and the checks of mine own conscience to the contrary and to make all these out of measure sinful I have gone on in a daily course of repeating these provocations against thee notwithstanding all thy calls to and my own purposes and endeavours of amendment yea this very day I have not ceased to add new sins to my former guilt here name the particulars and now O Lord what shall I say or how shall I open my mouth seeing I have done these things I know that the wages of sin is death but O thou who willest not the death of a sinner have mercy upon me work in me I beseech thee a sincere contrition and perfect hatred of all my sins let me daily confess them but yet not as duly renew them and grant O Lord that from this instant I may give a bill of divorce to all my most beloved lusts and then be thou pleased to marry me to thy self in Truth in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life and for all my sins past O Lord receive a Reconciliation accept of that Ransom thy blessed Son hath paid for me and for his sake whom thou hast set forth as a propitiation pardon all my offences and receive me to thy favour and when thou hast thus spoken peace to my soul Lord keep me that I turn not any more to folly but stablish me with thy grace that no temptation of the World the Devil or my own Flesh may ever draw me to offend thee that being made free from sin and becoming a Servant unto God I may have my fruit unto holiness and in the
Nation do cry for In mercy O Lord prevent the ruine thereof lest the Heathen should say where is now their God O Lord bless with the choicest of thy blessings our most gracious Soveraign Lord King Charles endue his Royal heart with grace wisdom and understanding cloathe his enemies with shame but upon his head let his Crown flourish and grant that his daies may be long prosperous vertuous and happy Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the rest of the Royal Family endue them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless all our Magistrates and Ministers with all those graces necessary for their places govern thou them that they may govern us in peace and godliness and true Religion O Lord in much mercy bless all my friends and my relations with all those blessings and benefits needful both for their souls and for their bodies O Lord be merciful to all those poor souls that are under any kind of want need or necessity or under any kind of affliction in much mercy be unto them a present help in trouble support them sustain and lay no more upon them than they shall be able to bear and send them a happy issue out of all their troubles O Lord God for thy mercies sake bestow a double portion of thy blessing upon those whom thou hast made nearest or dearest unto me O Lord pardon all their sins supply all their wants relieve all their necessities and reform whatsoever is amiss in them and give them grace to lead a new life and make them thy true and faithful servants preserve them and me this day from doing or receiving any hurt or harm preserve us from all evil especially from the evil of sin and the evil of punishment and from all sad accidents O Lord bless us this day in our going out and in our coming in bless and prosper us in whatsoever we go about to do let us have all our direction from thy will and the happy success from thy merciful hand and when this mortal life is ended O Lord for Christ Jesus his sake grant that we may enjoy Heaven and the Righteousness thereof and in the mean time grant unto every one of us thy loving countenance thy favour and thy grace and here I will praise and magnifie thy great and glorious Name for electing us in thy love for creating us after thine own Image and for redeeming us by thy dear Son and for sanctifying us by the grace of thy holy Spirit and for thy gracious preservation of us this night past Likewise I praise thee O Lord for our life health strength liberty food and rayment humbly beseeching thee O Lord to continue thy loving kindness towards us from time to time so long as it may be a blessing unto every one of us and our thankfulness towards thee for all thy goodness bestowed upon our souls and our bodies which exceeds our memories and our thanks and all for the sake of thy dear Son and our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen In whose Name I further call upon thee as he hath taught us saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. O Lord Jesus Christ Son of the Eternal God interpose thy holy Death thy Cross and Passion between thy Judgements and my soul now and in the hour of death granting unto me grace and mercy and unto all the faithful pardon and peace to the Church unity and amity and to all sinners repentance and amendment to all life and glory everlastingly who liveth and reigneth ever one God world without end Amen A Form of Thanksgiving with a particular enumeration of God's Blessing O Most glorious Lord God infinite in mercy full of compassion long suffering and of great goodness I adore and praise and glorifie thy holy Name worshipping thee with the lowliest devotions of my soul and body and give thee thanks for all the benefits thou hast done unto me for whatsoever I am or have or know or desire as I ought it is all from thee thou art the fountain of being and blessing of sanctity and pardon of life and glory Praise the Lord O my soul and all that that is within me praise his holy Name THou O God of thine infinite goodness hast created me out of nothing and hast given me a degree of essence next to Angels imprinting thine Image on me enduing me with reasonable faculties of will and understanding to know and chuse good and to refuse evil and hast put me into a capacity of a blessed immortality O praise the Lord with me and let us magnifie his Name together THou O God of thine infinite goodness hast created me out of nothing and hast given me grace to know thy will and hast fed and cloathed me hast raised me friends and blessest them hast preserved me in all dangers hast rescued me from the peril of the sword from the rage of pestilence from dangers of Lyers and Robbers from perishing in publick distemperatures and diseases epidemical from terrours and affrightments of the mighty from the delusions of the Devil and sad separation and from many imminent dangers thou hast been my guide in my journeys my refreshment in sadness my hope and my confidence in all my grief and desolations and a present help in trouble I will give thanks unto the Lord of Lords for his mercy endureth for ever BUT above all mercies it was not less than infinite love whereby thou lovedst me and all mankind when we were lost and dead and Rebels against thy Divine Majesty Thou gavest thine own begotten Son to seek us when we went astray to restore us to life when we were dead in trespasses and sin and to reconcile us to thy self by the merits and the atonement of an everlasting Covenant He is our God even the God of whom cometh our salvation God is the Lord by whom we scape death O Most glorious Spirit I will praise and magnifie thee for the inspiration of the Apostles and Prophets for thy providence and mercies in causing holy Scriptures to be written and preserving them from the corruptions of Hereticks from the violences of Pagans and enemies of the Cross of Christ. I will alwaies give thanks unto the Lord his praise shall ever be in my mouth I Bless thy Name for those holy Promises and Threatnings those Judgements and Mercies those holy Precepts and Admonitions which thou hast registred in Scripture and in Records and Monuments of the Church for all those graces and helps and comforts whereby thou promotest me in piety and in the waies of true Religion for baptismal and penitential grace for the opportunities and sweet refreshings of the Sacrament of the Eucharist for all the advantages thou hast given me of good society Tutors and Governours for the fears thou hast produced in me as deliveries and impediments of sins for all my hopes of pardon and expectation of the promises made by our Lord Jesus Christ to encourage me
that we may derive from thee by this mystery grace to expel our sins to mortifie all our lusts to exterminate all concupiscence to crucifie all inordinate irregularities to produce in us humility and chastity and obedience and meekness of spirit and charity and let us not be harmed by the violence invasions of all our ghostly enemies and temporal disadvantages and give us grace and favour that we may not die in the commission of a sin without repentance nor without receiving the blessed Sacrament but that we may so live and die that we may at last rest in thy bosom and be embraced with the comprehensions of thy eternal Charity who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen Prayers preparatory to Death A Prayer for a Blessed Ending to be said in time of Health or Sickness O Blessed Jesu fountain of eternal Mercy the life of the soul and glorious Conquerour over Death and Sin I humbly beseech thee to give me grace so to spend this transitory life in vertue and holy exercises that when the day of my death shall come in the midst of all my pains I may feel the sweet refreshings of thy holy Spirit comforting my soul sustaining my infirmities and relieving all my spiritual necessities and grant that in the unity of the holy Catholick Church and in the integrity of Christian Faith with confidence and hope of thy mercy in great love towards thee in peace towards my neighbours and in charity with all the world I may through thy grace depart hence out of this vail of misery and go into that glorious Country where thou hast purchased an inheritance for us with the price of thy most precious blood and reignest in it gloriously in the unity of thy Father and ours of thy Holy Spirit and our ghostly Comforter ever one God world without end Amen All blessing and praise and honour be unto thee O blessed Redeemer and to thee I the banished and miserable Son of Adam do call for mercy and defence in this needful time of trouble to thee I sigh and cry in the valley of tears O dearest Advocate turn those thy merciful eyes towards me and shew me thy glorious face in thy heavenly Kingdom where no tears or sighing or fears or sadness can approach Amen sweetest Jesu Amen A Prayer to be said in the beginning of Sickness O Lord my God who chastisest every one whom thou receivest and with thy fatherly correction smitest those whom thou consignest to the inheritance of Sons write my soul in the book of life and number me amongst thy chosen children whom thou hast smitten with the Rod of Sickness and by thy chastisements hast brought me into the lot of the Righteous Thou O blessed Jesus who art a helper in the needful time of trouble lay no more upon me than thou shalt enable me to bear and let thy gentle corrections in this life prevent the unsupportable stripes of thy vengeance in the life to come Smite me now that thou mayest spare me to all eternity and yet O blessed High Priest who art touched with a sense of our infirmities smite me friendly and reprove me with such a tenderness as thou bearest unto thy children to whom thou conveyest supplicatory comforts greaten not the pains of thy chastisements and in due time restore me to health and to thy solemn Assemblies again and to the joy of thy countenance Give me patience and humility and the grace of Repentance and an absolute dereliction of my self and resignation to thy pleasure and providence with a power to do thy Will in all things and then do what thou pleasest with me in health or sickness in life or death let me feel thy comforts refreshing my soul and let thy grace pardon all my sins grant this O heavenly Father for thy dear Sons sake my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for a sick person in danger of Death O Lord Jesus Christ our health and our salvation our life our hope and our resurrection from the dead I resign my self up to thy holy will and pleasure either to life that I may live longer to thy service and my amendment or to death to the perpetual enjoyment of thy presence and of thy glory into thy hands I commend my spirit for I know O Lord that nothing can perish which is commited to thy mercy I believe help thou my unbelief I believe O Lord that I shall receive my body again at the resurrection of the Just I relinquish all care of that only I beg of thee mercy for my soul strengthen it with thy grace against all temptation let thy loving kindness defend it as with a shield against all violence and hostile assaults of Satan let the same mercy be my guard and defence which protected thy Martyrs crowning them with victory in the midst of flames horrid torments and most cruel deaths There is no help in me O Lord I cannot by my own strength or power give a minutes rest to my wearied body but my trust is in thy mercies and I call to mind to my unspeakable comfort that thou wert hungry and thirsty and wearied and whipt and crowned with thorns and mocked and crucified for me O let that mercy of thine which made thee suffer so much pardon me and save me let thy merits answer for my impieties let thy Righteousness cover my sins thy blood wash away my stains and thy comforts refresh my soul as my body grows weaker let thy grace be stronger let not my faith doubt nor my hope tremble nor my charity grow cold nor my soul be afrighted with the terrours of death but let the light of thy countenance enlighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death eternal and when my tongue fails let thy Spirit teach my heart with strong crying and groans that are unutterable O let not the enemy do me any violence but let thy holy mercies and thy Angels repel and defeat his malice and find that my soul may by thy strength triumph in the joys of eternity in the fruition of thee my life my joy my hope my exceeding great reward my Lord and and my Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen A Prayer for a dying person in or near the Agonies of Death MOst merciful and blessed Saviour have mercy upon the soul of this servant remember not his ignorance nor the sins of his youth nor age but according to thy great mercies remember him in the mercies and glories of thy Kingdom Thou O Lord hast opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers O let the everlasting gates be opened and receive his soul let the Angels who rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner triumph and be exalted in his deliverance and salvation Make him partaker of the benefits of thy holy Incarnation Life and Sanctity Passion and Death Resurrection and Ascension and all the Prayers of the Church that the Joy of the Elect and the Fruits of the blessed Communion of the
end everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thanksgiving O Thou Father of mercy who art kind even to the unthankful I acknowledge my self to have abundantly experimented that gracious property of thine for notwithstanding my daily provocations against thee thou still heapest mercy and loving kindness upon me all my contemnings and despisings thy spiritual favours hath not yet made thee withdraw them but yet in the riches of thy goodness thou still continuest to me the offers of thy grace and life in thy Son and all my abuses of thy temporal blessings thou hast not punished with an utter depravation of them but still art pleased to afford me a liberal portion of them the sins of this day thou hast not repayed as justly thou mightest by sweeping me away with a swift destruction but hast spared me and preserved me according to the greatness of thy mercy here mention the particular mercies of this day What shall I render unto the Lord for all these benefits he hath done unto me Lord let this goodness of thine lead me to hearty repentance and grant that I may not only offer thee thanks and praise but may also order my conversation aright that so I may at the last see the salvation of God through Jesus Christ. Amen Here use the Prayer for grace and that Intercession appointed for the morning For Preservation O Blessed Lord keeper of Israel that neither slumberest nor sleepest be pleased in thy mercy to watch over me this night keep me by thy grace from the works of darkness and defend me by thy power from all dangers grant me moderate rest and sleep such as may fit me for the duties of the next day following and Lord make me ever mindful of that time when I shall lie down in the dust and I know neither the day nor the hour of my Master's coming grant me grace that I may alwaies fear thee and that I may never live in such a state as I shall fear to die but that whether I live I may live unto the Lord or whether I die I may die unto the Lord so that living and dying I may be thine through Jesus Christ. Amen Let thy Bed put thee in mind of thy grave and when thou lyest down say O Blessed Saviour who by thy precious death and burial didst take the sting of death and the power of the grave grant me the joyful fruits of that victory and be thou to me in life and death advantage I will lay me down in peace and take my rest for it is thou O Lord only that makest me dwell in safety into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed it O Lord thou God of Truth Collects for several Graces For Faith O Blessed Lord seeing without Faith it is impossible to please thee let thy Spirit I beseech thee work in me such a Faith as may be acceptable in thy sight even such as worketh by Love O let me not rest in a dead ineffectual Faith but grant that it may be such as may shew it self by my works that it may be that victorious Faith which may enable me to overcome the world and conform me to the Image of that Christ on whom I believe that so at the last I may receive the end of my Faith even the salvation of my soul by the same Jesus Christ. Amen For the Love of God O Holy and gracious Lord who art infinitely excellent in thy self and infinitely bountiful and compassionate towards me I beseech thee suffer not my heart to be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin but let the offers of thy Love make deep impressions on my soul. Lord thou art pleased to require my heart and thou only hast right to it O let me not be so sacriligiously unjust as to alienate any part of it but enable me to render it up whole and entire to thee but O my God thou seest it already usurped the world with its vanities hath seized it and like a strong man armed keeps possession O thou who art stronger come upon him and take this unworthy heart of mine as thine own spoil refine it with that purifying fire of thy Love that it may be a fit habitation for thy Spirit Lord if thou seest it be pleased to make me taste of those Joyes those ravishments of thy Love wherewith thy soul hath been so transported But if in this I know not what I ask if I may not chuse my place in thy Kingdom yet O Lord deny me not to drink of thy Cup let me have such a sincerity and degree of Love as may make me endure any thing for thy sake such a perfect Love as may cast out all fear and all sloth too that nothing may seem to me grievous to suffer or too difficult to do in obedience to thee that so expressing my love by keeping thy Commandments I may by thy mercy at last obtain that Crown of Glory which thou hast promised to those that love thee through Jesus Christ. Amen For Devotion in Prayer O Most gracious Lord God who not only permittest us miserable sinners and needy creatures to present our petitions to thee grant I beseech thee that the frequency of my prayer may be somewhat proportionable to those continual needs I have of thy mercy Lord I confess it is the greatest honour and greatest advantage thus to be allowed access to thee yet sottish and stupid is my prophane heart that it shuns or frustrates the opportunities of it My soul O Lord is possest with a spirit of infirmity it is bowed together and can in no wise lift up it self to thee O be thou pleased to cure this sad this miserable disease to raise and enliven this earthly drowsy heart that it may freely mount towards thee that I may set a true value on this most valuable priviledge and take delight in my approaching to thee and that my approaches may be with a reverence some way answerable to that awful Majesty I come before with an importunity and earnestness answerable to those pressing wants I have to be supplied and with such a fixed attention of mind as no wandring thoughts may interrupt that I may no more incur the guilt of drawing near to thee with my lips when my heart is far from thee or my prayers turned into sin but may so ask that I may receive seek that I may find knock that it may be open unto me that from praying to thee here I may be translated to the praising thee eternally in thy glory through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ. Amen For the Fear of God O Most glorious Majesty who only art High and to be feared possess my soul with a holy awe and reverence of thee that I may give thee the honour due to thy Name and may bear such a respect to all things which relate to thee that I may never prophane any holy thing or sacriligiously invade what thou hast set
from that curse and judgment which is due unto me for them Thou that didst justifie the contrite Publican for four words of confession and receivedst the prodigal Child when he had spent all the stock of grace into favour upon his repentance pardon all my sins likewise O Lord and suffer me not to perish for my transgressions O spare me for thy mercy sake and receive me unto favour again Wilt thou O Lord reject me who hast received all Publicans and sinners that upon repentance sued unto thee for grace Shall I alone be excluded from thy mercy far be it from me to think so for thou art the same God of mercy unto me that thou wast unto them and thy compassion never fails wherefore O Lord deal not with me after my merits but according to thy great mercy execute not thy severe justice against me a sinner but execute thy long-sufferance in forbearing thine own creature I have nothing to present unto thee for a satisfaction but only those bloody wounds bitter death and passion which thy blessed Son my only Saviour hath suffered for me him in whom only thou art well pleased I offer up unto thee for all my sins wherewith thou art displeased he my Mediator the request of whose blood speaking better things than that of Abel thy mercy can never gainsay illuminate my understanding and sanctifie my heart with thy holy Spirit that it may bring to my remembrance all those good and profitable lessons which this day or at any other time hath been taught unto me out of thy holy Word that I may remember them thy Commandments to keep them thy Judgments to avoid them and thy sweet promises to rely upon them in time of misery and distress and now O Lord I resign my self to thy most holy Will O receive me into thy favour and so draw me by thy grace unto thy self that I may as well be thine by Love and Implantation as by Calling and Creation and give me grace so to keep holy thy Sabbath in this life as that when this life is ended I may with all thy Saints and Angels celebrate an eternal rest of joy and praise to the honour of thy most holy Name in thy heavenly Kingdom for ever more Amen Devotions for several Occasions In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Morning Prayer O Eternal Son of Righteousness who camest from the bosom of the Father to enlighten the darkness of the world I praise thy Name that thou hast preserved me from the danger of this night and hast continued to me still the opportunities of serving thee and advancing my hopes of a blessed eternity let thy mercies shine brightly upon me and dissipate the clouds and darknesses of my spirit and understanding rectifie my affections and purifie my will and all my actions that whatsoever I shall do or suffer this day or in my whole life my words and purposes my thoughts and all my intentions may be sanctified and be acceptable to thy Divine Majesty Amen Grant that my understanding may know thee my heart may love thee and all my faculties and powers may give thee due obedience and serve thee preserve me this day from all sin and danger from all violences and snares of mine enemies visible or invisible let thy holy fear be as a bridle to my distemperatures and thy love so enkindle and actuate all my endeavours that no pleasures or allurements of the world may draw me from thy service nor any difficulty or temptation may be my hinderance let the profound humility and innocence of my blessed Saviour keep from me all pride and haughtiness of mind all self-love and vain-glory all obstinacy and disobedience all fraudulency and hurtful dissimulation and let the graces of the Holy Ghost take such absolute possession and seisure of my soul and all his faculties that I may bring down and east out the spirit of uncleanness and intemperance of malice and envy idleness and disdain that I may never despise any of thy creatures but my self that so being little in my own fight I may be great in thine Amen An Evening Prayer In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Father which art in Heaven c. O Lord God who art the light and splendor of souls in the brightness of thy countenance is eternal day that knows no night in thy arms and in thy protection is all quietness tranquility and everlasting repose while the darkness covers the face of the earth receive my body and soul into thy custody let not the spirits of darkness come near my dwelling neither suffer my fancy to be abused with the illusions of the night Lord I am thy servant and the sheep of thy pasture let not the Devil who goeth up and down seeking whom he may devour abuse my body or make a prey of my soul but defend me from all those calamities which I have deserved and protect my soul that it consent not to any work of darkness lest mine enemy say he hath prevailed over me or do mischief to a soul redeemed with thy most precious blood Amen Pardon and forgive me all the sins and offences of my youth and age the errours of mine understanding the inordination of mine affections the irregularity of all my actions and particularly of whatsoever I have transgressed this day in thought word or deed Lord let not thy wrath arise for although I have deserved the extremest pressure of thine indignation yet remember my infirmity and how thou hast sent thy Son to reveal thy infinite mercy to us and convey pardon and salvation to the penitent I beseech thee also to accept the heartiest devotion and humble acknowledgment of a thankful heart for all thy blessings and preservation of me this day for unless thy providence and grace had been my defence and guide I had committed more and more grievous sins against thee and had been swallowed up by thy just wrath and severest judgments mercy sweet Jesus Amen Grant unto thy servant true humility great contrition a tender conscience and obedient heart an understanding alwaies busied in honest and pious thoughts a wiling tractable heart and ever prone to do good affections even and moderate a watchful custody over my senses that by those windows sin may never enter in nor death by sin make me to watch over my tongue and keep the door of my lips that no corrupt or unseemly communication proceed out of my mouth that I may never slander calumniate or detract from the reputation of my neighbour that I be not busie in the faults of others but careful to correct my own being gentle and merciful to others severe towards my self that I may speak much of thy praises and what I can for the edification of my Brethren Amen Give me a soul watchful in the service of Religion constant in holy purposes
Pit I humbly also beg mercy for my Child grant a comely body and an understanding soul life and an opportunity of Baptism and thy grace from the cradle to his grave that it may increase the number of Saints in that holy fellowship of Saints and Angels where thou raignest and livest Eternal God world without end Amen Before a Journey O Lord who didst lead thy servants Abraham and Jacob thy people Israel thy servant Tobias and wise men of the East in their several Journies by thy providence by thy Ministry of Angels by a Pillar of Fire and by the guidance of a Star vouchsafe to preserve us thy servants in the way that we are now to go be O Lord a guide unto us in our preparation a shadow in the day and covering by night a rest to our weariness and a staff to our weakness a portion in adversity a protection from danger that by thy assistance we may perform our Journey safely to thy honour to our own comfort and last bring us to the everlasting Rest of our heavenly Country through him who is the way the truth and the life our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen For Afflicted persons O Lord God merciful and gracious Father whose compassion extends to all that are in misery and need that takest delight in relieving the distresses of the afflicted give refreshment to all the comfortless provide for the poor give ease to all them that are tormented with sharp pains health to the diseased liberty and redemption to the captives chearfulness of spirit to all them that are in great desolation Lord let thy Spirit confirm all them that are strong strengthen all them that are weak and speak peace to the afflicted conscience that the light of thy countenance being restored to them they may rejoyce in thy salvation and sing praises unto thy Name who hast delivered their souls from death their eyes from tears and their feet from falling grant this for the honour of thy mercy and the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer against Temptations O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ thy Name is great thy Essence infinite thy Goodness is Eternal and thy Power hath no limit thou art the God and Father of all blessed for ever more look down in mercy and compassion from thy dwelling hear my prayers and supplications and deliver me from all temptations of the world the flesh and the Devil take not thy grace from me let me never want thy help in my need nor thy comfort in the day of my danger or calamity never try me beyond my strength nor afflict me beyond my patience nor smite me but with a fatherly Rod I have no strength of my own thou art my confidence my Rock and my strong salvation save me O God from the miseries of this world and never let me suffer the calamities of the next rescue me from the evils I have deserved and preserve me from the punishment of this world that living before thee with a clean heart and undefiled body and a sanctified spirit I may at the day of Judgment be presented pure and spotless by the blood of the Lamb that I may sing eternal Hallelujahs in heavenly places to the honour of God our Saviour who hath redeemed our souls from death our eyes from tears and our feet from falling grant this in the riches of thy mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A General Confesson ALmighty God I a miserable sinner do humbly confess that I am truly sorrowful for my many and great my innumerable and intollerable crimes of which my conscience does accuse me by night and by day and by which I have provoked thy severest wrath and indignation against me I have broken all thy Righteous Laws and Commandments by word or deed by vain thoughts or sinful desires I have sinned against thee in all my Relations and capacities in all places and at all times I can neither reckon their number nor bear their burden nor suffer thine anger which I have deserved but thou O Lord God art merciful and gracious have mercy upon me pardon me for all the evil I have done judge me not for all the good I have omitted take not thy favour from me but delight thou to sanctifie and save me and work in me to will and to do of thy good pleasure all my duty which thou O Lord requirest of me that being sanctified by thy Spirit delivered from my sins I may serve thee in a religious and holy conversation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer used by His late Majesty in the time of his trouble and restraint O Most glorious Lord God Father Son and Holy Ghost I here humbly adore thy most sacred Majesty and I bless and magnifie thy Name for that thou hast been pleased so often and strangely to deliver me from the striving of my people Father forgive them who have thus risen up against me and do thou yet turn their hearts both unto thee and unto me and do thou afford me help that I being firmly established in the Throne thou hast placed me in may defend thy Church committed to my care and keep all this thine and my people in truth and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for pardon of Sin ALmighty and most merciful Father look down upon me thy unworthy servant who here prostrate my self at the footstool of thy Throne of Grace yea look upon me O Father through the mediation and in the merits of Jesus Christ in whom only thou art well pleased for of my self I am not worthy to stand before thee or to speak with my unclean lips unto thee most holy and eternal God for as in sin I was conceived and born so likewise I have broken all thy holy Laws and Commandments by my sinful motions unclean thoughts evil words and wicked works omitting my duties I ought to do and committing many vices which thou hast forbidden under pain of death of thy heavy displeasure As for my sins O Lord they are innumerable wherefore I stand here liable to all the miseries of this life and everlasting torment in that to come if thou shouldest deal with me according to my deserts I confess Lord that it is thy mercy which endureth for ever and thy compassion which never fails which is the cause I have not been long ago consumed but with thee there is mercy and plenteous redemption in the multitude therefore of thy mercies and by the merits of Jesus Christ I intreat thy Divine Majesty that thou wilt not enter into judgment with thy servant nor be extream to mark what is done amiss but be thou merciful unto me and wash away all my sins and transgressions with that precious blood that my Saviour shed for me and I beseech thee O Lord not only to wash away all my sins but also to purge my heart by thy holy Spirit from the dross
out of Aegypt and Jacob sojourned in the Land of Ham. He turned their Water into Bloud and slew their Fish Their Land brought forth Frogs in abundance in the Chamber of their King He spake and there came divers sorts of Flies and Lice in all their Coasts He opened their Rocks and the Water gushed out they ran in the dry places like a River 105.3 4 5 7 10 11 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 23 29 30 31 41. Our Fathers understood not thy wonders in Aegypt neither remembred the great multitude of thy Mercies but provoked him at the Sea even at the Red-Sea He rebuked the Red-sea also and it was dryed up so led them through the depths as through the Wilderness And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them and redeemed them from the hand of the Enemy The waves covered their Enemies there was none of them left And a Fire was kindled in their company the flame burnt up the Wicked Therefore he said he would destroy them had not Moses stood before them in the breach to turn away his Wrath lest he should destroy them Yea they dispised that pleasant Land they believed not his Word But murmured in their Tents and hearkned not unto the voice of the Lord. Therefore he lifted up his hand against them to over-throw them in the Wilderness Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions and the Plague barke in upon them Then stood up Phineas and so the Plague ceased They angred him also at the Waters of strife so that it went ill with Moses for their sake They served their Idols which were a snare unto them And shed innocent Bloud even the bloud of their Sons and of their Daughters whom they Sacrificed unto the Idols of Canaan and the Land was polluted with Bloud Thus were they defiled with their own Works and went a Whoring with their own inventions Therefore was the Wrath of God kindled against his People insomuch that he abhorred his own Inheritance Nevertheless he regarded their affliction when he heard their cry And he remembred them for his Covenant and repented him according to the multitude of his Mercies He made them also to be pitied of them that carryed them away Captive 106.7 9 10 18 23 24 25 26 29 30 32 36 38 39 44 45 46. Blessed are they that keep Judgment and he that doth Righteousness at all times 106.3 They hunger and thirst their Soul fainteth in them Then they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them out of their distresses O that Man would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful Works to the Children of Men. For he satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness Then they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble and he saved them out of their distress Fools because of their Transgressions and because of their Iniquities are afflicted And a fruitful Land is turned into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein He turneth the Wilderness into a standing Water and dry ground into Water-springs The Righteous shall see it and rejoyce and all Iniquity shall stop her mouth Whoso is wise and will observe those things shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord 107.5 6 8 9 13 14 17 33 35 42 43. For thy Mercy is greater than the Heavens and thy Truth reacheth unto the Clouds O help us against the Enemy for vain is the help of Man Through God we shall do great Acts for vain is the help of Man 108.4 12.13 I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart secretly among the Faithful and in the Congregation His work is worthy to be praised and in honour and his Righteousness endureth for ever The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvelous works that they ought to be had in remembrance The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his Commandments his praise endureth for ever 111.1 3 4 10. Blessed is the Man that feareth the Lord he hath great delight in his Commandments Riches and plenteousness shall be in his House and his Righteousness endureth for ever Unto the godly there ariseth Light in the Darkness he is Merciful Loving and Righteous A good man is merciful and lendeth and will guide his Words with discretion he will not be afraid of any evil tyding His heart standeth fast and believeth in the Lord. His heart is Established and will not shrink until he seeth his desire upon his Enemies He hath dispersed and given to the Poor and his Righteousness remaineth for ever His Horn shall be exalted with Honour 121.1 3 4 5 7 8 9. He maketh the Barren Woman to keep house and to be a joyful Mother of Children 113.8 vers Tremble thou Earth at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the God of Jacob 114.7 As for our God he is in Heaven he hath done whatsoever pleased him but thou House of Israel put thou thy trust in the Lord he is their helper and defence ye that fear the Lord he is their helper and defender he shall preserve them that fear the Lord both small and great 115.3 9 11 13. The Lord hath enclined his Ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live I shall find trouble and heaviness and I shall call upon the Name of the Lord. O Lord I beseech thee deliver my Soul Gracious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is merciful the Lord preserveth the simple I was in misery and he helped me I will offer unto thee the sacrifice of Thanksgiving and call upon the Name of the Lord 116.4 5 6 15. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put any confidence in Man it is better to trust in the Lord than to put any confidence in Princes the Lord is on my side I will not fear what Man can do unto me thou art my God I will praise thee thou art my God I will thank thee O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious and his Mercy endureth for ever 118.6 8 9 28 29. thou hast charged that we should diligently keep thy Commandements wherewithal shall a young Man cleanse his way even by ruling himself after thy word teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it unto the end O give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall keep it with my whole heart O turn away my eyes lest they behold vanities and quicken thou me in thy way O establish thy word in thy Servant that I may fear thee O think upon thy Servant as concerning thy word wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust the same is my comfort in my trouble for thy word hath quickned me O Lord thou hast dealt graciously according to thy word before I was troubled I went wrong but now I have kept thy word thou
call O God of my Salvation for thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble have mercy upon me and hearken to my Prayers Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me ponder my Words O Lord O Lord consider my Meditations O hearken thou unto the words of my calling my King and my God for unto thee will I make my Prayer my Voice shalt thou hear betimes in the Morning O Lord early in the morning will I direct my Prayer unto thee and will look up for thou art the God that hast no pleasure in Wickedness neither shall any evil dwell with thee Lead me O Lord in thy Righteousness because of my Enemies make my way plain before my face Let all them that put their trust in thee rejoyce they shall ever be giving of thanks because thou defendest them they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee 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 also is sore troubled how long wilt thou punish me turn thee O Lord and deliver my Soul and save me for thy mercies sake my Beauty is gone for very trouble and worn away because of all mine Enemies The Lord hath heard my Petition the Lord will receive my Prayer O let the wickedness of the Ungodly come to an end but guide thou the Just my help cometh of God which preserveth them that are true of heart I will give thanks unto the Lord according to his Righteousness and will pray in the Name of the Lord the most High have mercy upon me O Lord consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate me thou that liftest me up from the gates of death Why standest thou so far off O Lord and hidest thy face in the needful time of trouble Arise O Lord God lift up thine head forget not the poor How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever How long wilt thou hide thy face from me 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 nor neither forsake me O God of my Salvation O Son of Righteousness who comest from the bosom of thy Father the Fountain of Glory and Light to enlighten the darkness of the World I praise thy Name for that thou hast preserved me from the dangers of this Night and continued still the opportunities of serving thee and advanceing my hopes of a blessed Eternity Let thy mercy shine brightly and dissipate the Clouds and Darkness of my Spirit and Understanding rectifie my Affections and purifie my Will and all my Actions that whatsoever I shall do or suffer this day or in my whole Life my Word and purposes and thoughts may be Sanctified and acceptable to thy Divine Majesty And all this I beg for thy mercies sake Amen A Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who dost govern all things both in Heaven and in Earth mercifully hear the Supplications of thy Servant and grant me thy Grace all the days of my Life and Peace through Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour Amen The Second Collect. ALmighty and Everlasting God mercifully look upon mine Infirmities and in all my dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend me through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen A Prayer for a penitent Person for Remission of his sins HOw long shall I seek Counsel in my Soul and be so vexed in my heart how long shall my Enemies triumph over me consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten my eyes that I sleep not in Death least mine Enemies say we have prevailed against him If I be cast down they that trouble me will rejoyce at me but my trust is in thy Mercy and my Heart is joyful in thy Salvation I will sing of the Lord because he hath dealt so lovingly with me yea I will praise the Lord most high Preserve me O God for in thee have I put my trust O hold up my going in thy path that my footstep slides not I have called upon thee O God for thou shalt hear me incline thine Ears unto me and hearken unto my words shew thy marvellous loving kindness unto me thou that art the Saviour of them that put their trust in thee from such that resist thy right hand keep me as the Apple of thy Eye hide me under the shadow of thy wing from the ungodly that trouble me mine enemies compass me round about to take away my Soul disappoint him and cast him down deliver my Soul from the ungodly which is a Sword of thine I will call upon the Lord which is worthy to be praised so shall I be safe from mine enemies in my trouble I will call upon the Lord and complain unto my God so shall he hear my voice out of his holy Temple my complaint shall come before him it shall enter even into his Ear the Lord shall reward me after my Righteous dealing and according to the cleanness of my hand shall he recompence me but Lord deal not with me according to my sins neither reward me after mine Iniquities who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou me from my secret sins 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 save Lord and hear me O King of Heaven when I call upon thee the Lord is my Shepherd therefore shall I lack nothing but be not thou far from me O Lord thou art my succour haste thee to help me unto thee O Lord will I lift up my Soul my God I have put my trust in thee let me not be confounded neither let mine enemies triumph over me shew me thy ways O Lord and teach me thy paths lead me forth in thy Truth and learn me for thou art the God of my Salvation in thee hath been my hope all the day long call to remembrance O Lord thy tender mercy and thy loving kindness which hath been ever of old O remember not the sins and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy think upon me O Lord for thy goodness for thy Name sake O Lord be merciful to my sin for it is great turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and in misery the sorrows of my heart is enlarged O bring thou me out of my trouble look upon my adversity and misery and forgive me all my sins consider mine enemies how many they are that bear a tyrannous heart against me O keep my Soul and deliver me let me not be surrounded for I have put my trust in thee let perfect and righteous dealing wait upon me for my hope hath been in thee deliver
help me Forsake me not O my God when I am gray-headed until I have shewn thy strength unto this generation and thy power to all them that are yet for to come What great trouble and adversity hast thou shewed me and yet didst thou turn and refresh me yea and broughtest me from the depth of the Earth again O let not the simple go away ashamed but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy name O remember not my old sins but have mercy upon me and that right soon for I am come to great misery help me O God of my salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sins for thy Names sake Turn us O God of our salvation Shew the light of thy countenance and we shall be whole O God of Hosts how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that pray O most merciful God who art great and the multitudes of thy mercies are innumerable Have mercy upon me for my sins are before me presented by the continual accusations of a troubled conscience I have sinned against thee and done evil in thy sight and yet because thou art the God of mercy and fountain of eternal life delighting in the conversion and salvation of a sinner I present unto thee the sacrifice of a troubled spirit of a broken and a contrite heart beseeching thee to let the dew of thy favour and the fire of thy love wash away my sins and purifie my soul. Make me a clean heart O God and pure hands though my sins be as scarlet yet make them like wooll though they be as purple yet make them as white as snow Restore the voice of joy and gladness unto me Let me not be ever separated from the sweet refreshings of thy favour and presence but give me the comforts of thy help again and let thy free Spirit loose me from the bondage of sin and stablish me in the freedom and liberty of the Sons of God so shall I sing of thy Righteousness and my Lips shall give thee praise in the Congregations of thy Redeemed ones now henceforth and for ever-more Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who hatest nothing that thou hast made and doest forgive the Sins of all them that be penitent create and make in me a new and contrite Heart that I may worthily lament my Sins and acknowledge my Wickedness that I may obtain of thee the God of all comfort perfect Remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen Another Collect. ALmighty God who through thy only Son Jesus Christ hast overcome Death and opened unto us the Gate of Everlasting Life I humbly beseech thee that as by thy special grace preventing us thou doest put in our Minds good desires so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect through Jesus Christ our Lord who Liveth and Reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever one God world without end Amen A Prayer that we may trust in God only in all our trouble TUrn again thou God of Hosts look down from Heaven behold and visit thy Servant O Lord God of Hosts hear my Prayers hearken O God of Jacob behold O God my defender and look upon the face of thine Anointed O Lord God of Hosts blessed is the Man that putteth his Trust in thee Turn thou me O God of my Saviour and let thine Anger cease from me Shew me thy mercy O Lord and grant me thy Salvation Bow down thine ear O Lord and hear me for I am poor and in misery Preserve thou my Soul for I am thy Servant my God save him that putteth his trust in thee Be merciful unto me O Lord for I will daily call upon thee comfort the Soul of thy Servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul for thou O Lord art my Defender and thou art good and gracious and of great mercy to all them that Call upon thee give ear O Lord unto my Prayer and ponder the voice of my humble desires in the time of trouble will I call upon thee for thou hearest me for thou art good and doest wonderful things thou art God alone teach me thy way O Lord for I will walk in thy Truth O knit my Heart unto thee that I may fear thy Name I will thank thee O Lord my God with my whole heart and will praise thy Name for evermore for great is thy Mercy towards me for thou hast delivered my Soul from the neathermost Hell and thou Lord God art full of mercy and compassion long-suffering and of great goodness and Truth O turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy Servant and help the Son of thine Handmaid Shew some good Token upon me for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast helpen and confirmed me O Lord God of my Salvation I have lamented Day and Night before thee O let my Prayer enter into thy presence Encline thine Ear unto my Calling for my soul is full of Trouble and my Life draweth nigh unto Hell thine Indignation lyeth hard upon me and thy hand presseth me sore Unto thee O Lord do I cry and early shall my Prayer come before thee O Lord why oppressest thou my Soul and hidest thy face from me I am in misery like unto him that is at the point of Death Even from my youth up thy Terrours have I suffered with a troubled Mind O Lord God of Hosts who is like unto thee Thy Truth most mighty God is on every side for the Lord is on my side The Lord God of Israel is my Defence the holy One of Israel is my King O Lord where is thy old loving kindness which thou swarest unto David thy Servant in thy Truth Remember Lord the Rebuke that I thy Servant have and how I do bear in my bosom the Rebuke of many People O Lord thou hast been our Refuge from one Generation to another O teach me to number my daies that I may apply my Heart unto Wisdom O turn thee again O Lord at the last and be gracious unto thy Servant Satisfie me with thy mercy that soon so shall I rejoyce at thy mercy and be glad all the days of my Life O comfort thou me again after the time wherein thou hast plagued me and for the years wherein I have suffered Adversity Shew thy Servants thy Work and their Children thy Glory for the Lord promised his Blessing and Life for ever more When I called upon thee thou holdest me and enduest my Soul with much strength O Lord thou hast searched me out and known me thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising thou understandest my thoughts long before thou art about my path and about my bed and espiest out all my waies for loe there is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogether Look well O Lord if there be any waies of
through thy bountiful goodness we may be delivered from the bondage of those sins which by our frailty we have committed grant this O heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake our blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving to God for all his benefits and mercies O Most merciful God whose mercies are as high as the Heavens as many as the moments of eternity thou hast opened thy hand wide to me with thy blessing and the sweet effects of thy loving kindness Thou art pitiful as a Father tender as a Mother careful as a Guardian and exceeding merciful to all them that fear thee I pray thee to fill my soul with apprehension and impresses of thy unspeakable mercy that my thankfulness may be as great as my need of mercy is and let thy merciful loving-kindness endure for ever and ever upon thy poor servant that putteth his trust in thee Keep no anger in store for me Chide me not in thy displeasure Satisfie my mouth with good things Remove all my sins from me as far as the East is from the West Heal all my infirmities and save my life from destruction for all these are mercies that thou delightest it and because I cannot praise thee according to thy excellencies take my soul in thy due time into the land of everlasting praises that I may spend a whole Eternity in ascribing to thy name praise and honour and dominion grant this for Jesus Christ his sake my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God absolve thy people from their offences that through thy bountiful goodness we may be delivered from the bonds of those sins which by our frailty we have committed grant this heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake our blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving for deliverance from misery and danger O Lord God gracious and good whose mercy endureth for ever in my trouble I cry unto thee for when my heart is brought down through heaviness there is none to help me up or to deliver me out of my distress but only thou O Lord I have sinned I have rebelled against thee and lightly regarded thy counsel I have walked and sate in darkness and in the shadow of death being fast bound in the captivity and misery of sin O bring thou me out of darkness and break my bonds in sunder Guide me through the desert of the world in which grows nothing but sadness and discontent still the tempest and smooth the floods of misery which are ready to overwhelm me and in thy due time bring me to eternal rest and to the Haven where I would fain be that in the Congregation of thy holy people I may praise thee for thy goodness and declare thy wonders that thou hast done for me in delivering me from sins misery and death and bringing me to a City to dwell in where there is life and light and joy eternal in the beholding the face of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The Collect. GRant I beseech thee O merciful Lord to thy faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and fear thee with a quiet mind through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of Thanksgiving for all the mercies and salvation which are given us in Christ Jesus O Most gracious God and most merciful Father my strength and my salvation for thy mercy endureth for ever be thou on my side take part with them that help me and forsake me not in time of need let the voice of joy and health be in my dwelling and when thou chastenest and correctest me for my sins give me not over unto death but fix my faith and hopes upon the head stone in the corner even my Lord Jesus Christ that in all the assaults made against me by my ghostly enemies the right hand of the Lord may have the preheminence and bring mighty things to pass even victory and deliverance unto thy servants that I putting no confidence in the best of men may trust in thee O Lord till at last when thou openest the everlasting gates of righteousness I may enter in and give thee praise and thanks through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. O God my Refuge and Strength who art the Author of all godliness be ready to hear the devout prayer of thy Church and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer that God would be pleased to pardon my many and great sins and direct me in the waies of Righteousness O Lord my Judge and my Redeemer hearken unto me for thy Truth and Righteousness sake and deliver me from the guilt of all my sins and from those great punishments which are due unto me for the same enter not into judgment with me for in thy sight no man can be justified by any worthiness of his own Endue my soul with a righteousness of a holy life living and working by charity Shew me the way that I should walk in Teach me to do whatsoever pleaseth thee Quicken my soul in the path of life and so continue the conduct of thy Spirit in me that it may never leave me till I be brought forth of this world into the Land of Righteousness to dwell with thee eternally through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. O God my Refuge and Strength who art the Author of all godliness be ready I beseech thee to hear the devout prayer of thy Church and grant that those things which I ask faithfully I may obtain effectually through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving for the benefit of the holy Gospel particularly of the blessed Sacrament O Blessed Jesu whose Righteousness endureth for ever thy work is worthy to be praised and had in honour for that thou hast been merciful to us and hast given meat even the fruit of a blessed Sacrament unto them that fear thee that by the participation of thy holy Communion we should have thee in remembrance and ever be mindfull of thy Covenant plant in our hearts the fear of thy Name give us wisdom and good understanding make us to have pleasure in thee and all thy works that we obeying the precepts of thy holy Gospel and performing the conditions of thy Covenant which thou hast established for ever in truth and equity in verity and judgment we may worthily praise and adore thy reverend and holy Name among the faithful in this life and in the Congregation of thy Saints in the life to come through thy mercies O blessed Jesu to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory now and for ever more Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who dost govern all things both in Heaven and in Earth mercifully hear the supplications of thy people and grant us thy grace all the daies of our life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
A Prayer for a Penitent Sinner O Lord withdraw not thou thy loving mercies from me Let thy loving kindness O Lord and thy truth alway preserve me O Lord let it be thy pleasure to deliver me from all my fear Make haste O Lord to help me As for me I am poor and needy but the Lord careth for me Thou art my Helper and Redeemer make no long tarrying O my God Hearken to my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me O hide not thou thy face from me and cast not away thy servant in displeasure Thou hast been my succour leave me not neither forsake me O God of my salvation Consider my complaint O Lord for I am brought very low O deliver me from my persecutors for they are too strong for me Hear my prayer O Lord consider my desire hearken unto me for thy Truth and Righteousness sake and enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight no man living can be justified Hear me O Lord and that soon for my spirit waxeth faint Hide not thy face from me lest I be like to them that go down to the pit O let me hear thy loving kindness betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust Shew thou me the way that I should walk in for I lift up my heart unto thee Deliver me O Lord from mine enemies for I fly unto thee to hide me Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God O let thy Spirit lead me forth into the Land of Righteousness Quicken me O Lord for thy Names sake and for thy Righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble O my God and all for Jesus Christ his sake my blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Commemoration of God's frequent pardons and mercies to the penitent O Lord God full of mercy and pity who didst many times deliver thy people from their adversity when thou for their rebellion against thee and their inventions hadst given them into the hands of the Heathen Remember me O Lord according to the favour thou bearest unto thy people and visit me with thy salvation And though I have done amiss and dealt wickedly against thee and thy Covenant yet be pleased to help me for thy Name sake Make thy power to be known in the mighty deliverance and redemption of me from so many dangers and miseries wherewith thou hast delivered me Give me grace to believe thy word to obey thy counsel and to walk in thy Laws to relinquish my own sinful and vain desire to obey my Governours Ecclesiastical and Civil that I may not have the lot of Dathan and Abyram but at last may receive my portion in thine inheritance which thou hast prepared for thy chosen people giving thee thanks with thine inheritance for that thou hast turned from me thy wrathful indignation pittying me and saving me according to the multitude of thy mercies thy Name be blessed O Lord God everlastingly and world without end through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen A Prayer for Victory against our Enemies O Lord God whose mercy is greater than the Heavens and thy glory above all the Earth be thou exalted in thine own strength and magnify thy power and thy mercy in defending me and thy holy Church against all our enemies temporal and spiritual Forsake me not O God my strength and my defence for vain is the help of man Do thou strengthen me and go along with me and stand by me in the day of battel that I being defended and armed by thee may do acts great and good fighting thy battel and putting my confidence in thy Righteousness only and thy salvation through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer for the Fear of the Lord for Gravity and the blessing of the Righteous O Lord God who art to be feared in the generations of the world teach me the fear of thy Name that I may fear to offend thee and that delighting in thy Commandments I may serve thee without fear of my enemies in holiness and righteousness all my daies Let thy Light arise upon the darkness of my understanding Let thy mercies and gentleness turn all the thoughts of unmercifulness in me and make me charitable of tender bowels earning with pity over the need of the poor Teach me to guide my words with discretion Make me never to be moved from my purposes of holy living Stablish my heart in thy love that in the day of restitution of all things thou mayest give the portion of the charitable the rewards of thy Right hand and when the wicked shall gnash with their teeth and consume away in a sad Eternity I may be satisfied with the Riches and plentiousness of thy house for ever through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer against my Adversaries and for Confidence in the True God O Lord God at whose presence the Earth trembles who worketh salvation and deliverance for thy Church in Ages thou hast done whatsoever pleaseth thee in Heaven and in Earth give me thy grace that in all my troubles I make thee my succour and defence and put my whole trust in thee only that I receiving thy mercies and the satisfaction of all my hopes from thy plentiousness and loving kindness I may give praise unto thy Name never ascribing unto my self any honour or the glory or thanks of any good action or prosperous success but to thee who art the Author and giver of all good things preserve me from all evil of soul and body from vain imaginations and making any thing to be my confidence besides thee my God that so thou mayest be mindful of me and bless me in all my waies and actions and when I die and go down into silence I may have my portion among the blessed of the Lord in the inheritance of thy Kingdom through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer O Thou Almighty Goodness the Father of the Fatherless the portion of the poor and protector of strangers cast thy gracious eyes upon a miserable sinner who with humility implores thy mercy When I look on my self I dare scarce be so bold as to lift up mine eyes unto thee When I think in what condition I am and what I have done it so confounds me that I can hardly think of any thing else it is the greatness of my misery alone that constrains me to the presumption of prostrating my self at thy feet the weight of which presseth me so much that it hath left me no more power than to expose my self before thee as an admirer of thy wondrous charity O my sins are wondrous great in which all comfort forsakes my soul. O thy terrours have consumed me how dreadful are they O the affliction and torment I endure what tongue can express it my soul is parch'd and dried up my spirits are consumed by the heat of thy displeasure may I not now beg one drop of comfort from thee O my God my
soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a barren and dry ground I remember thy loving kindness of old time I can but wish at least to see thy power and thy glory as I have known thee in thy Sanctuary There is none in Heaven that I desire but thee nor on Earth besides thee My soul followeth hard after thee O when wilt thou come unto me O hide not thy face from thy servant lest I come to misery Hear me speedily for I am poor and needy Make haste unto me O my God thou art my helper and deliverer O Lord make no long tarrying I am come a great way from my friends and kindred and here is none to pity me O my God be not thou far from me Draw nigh unto my soul and redeem it I am poor and sorrowful let thy salvation set me up on high for thou who searchest the heart knowest that I set my heart only to seek thee I desire to leave all the world that I may find my happiness only in thee O heavenly Father with my whole heart I desire to do thy blessed will in all things yea thus far I acknowledge thou hast most gratefully conducted me Hitherto I have been highly favoured and wonderfully helped and preserved by thee and wilt thou now at last abandon me who desire at last to have abandoned all things else for thy sake Hast thou called me from mine own Country and from my Fathers house and now to be forsaken by thee O my God give me leave to plead for a soul that I thought was once dear unto thee Pity O pity an heart which thou hast made too great for all the world and cannot be satisfied with less than thee Canst thou see it die for want of one smile from thee yea canst thou let it die of love to thee for that hath brought me thus far to seek thee and wilt thou suffer it to die at thy feet canst thou endure to behold it in thine arms into which it now throws it self with all the force it hath shall it miscarry full of prayers and longings after thee shall it expire in cries and tears when it calls for mercy O where are thy bowels what is become of thine ancient loving kindness are they all forfeited by one offence against thee O my God I cannot think so hardly of thee I begin to live methinks because thou permittest these addresses to thee it inspires me with some hopes to find these holy breathings in me it rejoyces me much that I feel thee drawing my very heart after thee O take it I beseech thee take it quite away from me unto thy self shape it after thine own heart make it such as thou canst embrace it create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit and all this for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Ejaculations to be used at the Lord's Supper LOrd I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou preserver of men Here recollect some of thy greatest sins If thou Lord shouldest be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it but with the Lord there is mercy and with him there is plentious redemption Behold O Lord thy Beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased Hearken to the cry of his blood which speaketh better things than that of Abel by his Agony and bloody Sweat by his Cross and Passion good Lord deliver us O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world grant us thy peace O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon me O Lord for thy mercy sake Amen Devotions for the Help and assistance of all Christian People in all occasions and necessities A Prayer against wandring Thoughts to be said at the beginning of our Devotions ALmighty God who hast commanded us to pray unto thee without ceasing and hast added many glorious promises for our encouragement let thy holy Spirit teach me how to pray Give me just apprehension of my want zeal of thy glory great resentments of thy mercies love of all spiritual employments that are pleasing unto thee and do thou help mine infirmities that the Devil may not abuse my fancy with illusions nor distract my mind with cares nor alienate my thoughts with impertinencies but give me a perfect mind great devotion a heart fixed upon thy Divine Beauties and an actual intention and perseverance in prayer that I may glorifie thy Name do unto thee true and laudable service and obtain relief for all my necessities hear me O King of Heaven when I call upon thee for thou hast promised mercy to them that pray in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen A Penitential Prayer a Form of Confession of sins to God to be said upon daies of publick or private Humiliation O Lord God of mercy and pardon give me a just remembrance and sad apprehension of my many and great sins Teach me to bewail them with as great indignation and bitterness as I have committed them with complacency and delight Let my prayers and my confession come unto thy presence and obtain a mercy for me and a pardon Let not thy Justice and thy severity so remember my sins as to forget thine own mercy and though I have committed that for which I have deserved to be condemned yet thou canst not lose that glorious Attribute whence flows comfort to us and hopes to be saved Spare me therefore O merciful God for to give pardon to a sinner that confesseth his sins and begs Remission it is not impossible to thy Power nor disproportionate to thy Justice nor unusual to thy Mercy and sweetest Clemency Blessed Jesu acknowledge in me whatsoever is thine and cleanse me from whatsoever is amiss Have pity on me now in the time of mercy and condemn me not when thou comest to judgment For what profit is there in my blood Thou delightest not in the death of a sinner but in his conversion there is joy in Heaven And when thou hast delivered me from my sins and saved my soul I shall praise and magnifie thy Name to all eternity mercy sweet Jesus mercy Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in Heaven c. I Am not worthy O Lord to look up to Heaven which is the Throne of thy Purity for my sins are more in number than the hairs of my head and my heart hath failed me Lord be merciful unto me a sinner I have not lived according to thy will but in the vanity of my own thoughts in idle sinful and impertinent language in foolish actions in blindness of heart in contempt of thy holy Word and Commandments I
in the paths of life and sanctity for those blessed waitings and knocking 's at the door of my heart patiently tarrying for me for all the holy Sermons spiritual Books and Lessons for all the good Prayers and Meditations loving and inviting me to repentance without ceasing admonishing me and reproving me with the check of a tender conscience with exteriour and interiour motives and for whatsoever means or incentives of holiness thou hast assisted me withall I Magnifie and praise thy holy Name for thy goodness to all Nations whom thou hast made and sanctified they shall come and worship thee O Lord and shall glorifie thy Name for thou art great and dost wondrous things thou art God alone and great is thy mercy towards me thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing O my God I will give thanks unto thee for ever with Cherubims and Seraphims and all the company of the heavenly Host saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabbath holy is our God holy is the Immortal holy is the Almighty the Father Son and the Holy Ghost to whom be honour and glory dominion and power ascribed of all spirits and all men and all creatures now and for evermore Amen A Prayer preparatory to the Receiving of the blessed Sacrament O Most immaculate and glorious Jesu he hold me a miserable sinner drawing near unto thee with the approaches of humility and earnest desire to be cleansed from my sins and to be united to thee by the nearest and most mysterious union of Charity and Sacramental participation of thy most precious body and blood I presume nothing of my own worthiness but I am most confident of thy mercies and infinite loving kindness I know O Lord I am blind and sick and dead and naked and therefore I come the rather I am sick and thou art my Physician thou arisest with healing in thy wings by thy wounds I come to be cured and to be healed by thy stripes I am unclean but thou art the fountain of purity I am blind but thou art the great Eye of the World the Son of Righteousness in thy light I shall see light I am poor but thou art rich unto all the Lord of all the Creatures I therefore humbly beg of thy mercy that thou wouldest be pleased to take from me all my sins to cure all mine infirmities to cleanse my filthiness to lighten my darkness to cloathe my nakedness with the Robe of thy Righteousness that I may with reverence and faith and holy intention receive thy blessed body and blood in the mysterious Sacrament that it may be unto life and pleasantness and holy nourishment and that I may be firmly and indesolutely united to thy mystical body and may at last see clearly and without vail thy face in glory everlasting who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen The Second I Adore and bless thy glorious Majesty O blessed Jesu for this great dignation and vouchsafing to me that art pleased for all the infinite multitudes of my sins and innumerable violating of thy holy Laws still to give thy self unto me to convey health and grace and life and hopes of glory in the blessed Sacrament I adore thee O most Righteous Redeemer that thou art pleased under the visible signs of Bread and Wine to convey unto our souls thy holy body and blood and all the benefits of thy bitter Passion O my God I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof but let thy holy Spirit with his purities prepare for thee a lodging in my soul. Thou hast knocked often O blessed Jesu at the door of my heart and wouldest willingly have entred behold O Lord my heart is willing ready to receive thee cast out of it all worldly desires all lust and carnal appetites and then enter and there love to inhabit that the Devil may never return to a place that is swept and garnished to fill me full of iniquity O thou lover of souls grant that this holy Sacrament may be light to my eyes a guide to my understanding and joy to my soul that by its strength I may subdue and mortifie the whole body of sin in me that it may produce in me fulness of wisdom and constancy of faith perfection accomplishment of all the Righteous Commandments and such blessed union with thee that I never more live unto my self or to the world but to thee only and by the refreshment of an holy hope I may be lead through the paths of a good life and persevering piety to the communion and possession of thy Kingdom O blessed Jesu who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen A Prayer after the Receiving of the Sacramental Bread I Give hearty thanks unto thee Almighty God that thou hast not rejected me from thy holy Table but hast refreshed my soul with the salutary refection of the body thy dear Son Jesus Christ. Lord if I had lived innocently and had kept all thy Commandments I could have not expected so transcendent a mercy but since I have lived in all manner of sin and multiplied provocations against thy Divine Majesty thy mercy is so glorious and infinite that I am amazed at the consideration of its Immensity Go on O my dear God to finish so blessed a Redemption and now that thou hast begun to celebrate a Marriage and a holy Union between thy self and my soul let me never throw off the Wedding-garment or stain it with pollution of deadly sin nor seek after other Lovers but let me for ever and ever be united unto thee being transformed into thy will in this life and to the likeness of thy glories in the life to come who livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen After the Receiving of the Cup. O Just and dear God who out of the unmeasurable Abysses of wisdom and mercy hast redeemed us and offerest life and grace and salvation to us by the real exhibition of thy Son Jesus Christ in the Sacrifice of his death upon the Altar of the Cross and by commemoration of the bitter Agonies in the holy Sacrament grant that that great and venerable Sacrifice which we now commemorate sacramentally may procure of thee for thy whole Church mercy and peace and great assistance in all trials deliverance from all heresies schisms sacriledge and persecucutions to all sick people health and salvation redemption from captivity competency of living to the indigent and necessitous comfort to the afflicted relief to the oppressed repentance to all sinners softness of spirit and a tender conscience to the obstinate conversion to the Jews Turk and remedy to all that are in trouble or adversity and grant to us O Lord that this Sacrament and Sacrifice of commemoration by vertue of that painful and proper Sacrifice upon the Cross may obtain for me and for us all who have communicated this day pardon and peace and
returned I desire with all the most fervent and inflamed affections of a grateful heart to bless and praise thee for those inestimable mercies thou hast vouchsafed me O Lord what is man that thou shouldest so regard him as to send thy Beloved Son to suffer such bitter things for him But Lord what am I the worst of men that I should have any part of this Sacrament who have so often despised him and his sufferings O the height and depth of this mercy of thine that art pleased to admit me to the renewing of that Covenant with thee which I have so often and perversly broken that I who am not worthy of that daily bread which sustains the body should be made partaker of this bread of life which nourisheth the soul and that the God of all purity should vouchsafe to unite himself to so polluted a wretch O my God suffer me no more I beseech thee to turn thy grace into wantonness to make thy mercy an occasion of security but let this unspeakable love of thine confirm me to obedience that since my blessed Lord died for me I may no longer live unto my self but to him O Lord I know there is no concord between Christ and Belial therefore since he hath now been pleased to enter my heart O let me never permit any lust to chase him thence but let him that hath so dearly bought me still keep possession of me and let nothing ever take me out of his hand To this end be thou graciously pleased to watch over me and defend me from all assaults of my spiritual enemies but graciously and specially from my self from the treachery of my own heart which is too willing to yield it self a prey and where thou seest me either by nature or custom most weak there do thou I beseeeh thee magnifie thy power in my preservations here mention thy most dangerous temptations and Lord let my Saviours sufferings for my sins and the vows that I have now made against them never depart from my mind but let the remembrance of the one enable me to perform the other that I may never make truce with those lusts which nailed his hands piercing his side and made his soul heavy to the death but that having now anew listed my self under his banner I may fight manfully and follow the Captain of my salvation even through a Sea of blood Lord strengthen the hands that fall down and feeble knees that I faint not in this warfare O be thou my strength who am not able of my self to struggle with the slightest temptations how often have I turned my back in the day of battel how many of these Sacramental Vows have I violated and Lord I have still the same unconstant deceitful heart to betray me to the breach of this O thou who art Yea and Amen in whom there is no shadow of change communicate unto me I beseech thee such stability of mind that I may no more thus start aside like a broken Bow but that having my heart wholly with thee I may continue stedfast in thy Covenant that not one good purpose which thy Spirit hath raised in me this day may vanish as so many have done formerly but that they may bring forth good fruit unto life eternal grant this O merciful Father through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ my only Saviour Amen A Prayer of Intercession to be used either before or after the Receiving of the Sacrament O Most gracious Lord who so tenderly lovest all mankind as to give thy Son out of thy bosom to be a propitiation for the sins of the whole world grant that the effect of this Redemption may be as universal as the design of it that it may be to the salvation of all O let no person by impenitence and wilful sin forfeit his part in it but by the power of thy grace bring all even the most obstinate sinners to repentance enlightning all in darkness Hereticks Jews Turks and Infidels take from them all blindness hardness of heart and contempt of thy Word and so fetch them home Blessed Lord bring them into thy fold that they may be saved among the number of the true Israel and for all those upon whom the Name of thy Son is called grant O Lord that their conversion may be such as becometh the Gospel of Christ that his Name be no longer blasphemed amongst the Heathens through us O blessed Lord how long shall Christendom continue the vilest part of the world a sink of all abominable pollutions which even Barbarians detest O let not our profession and our practice be alwaies at so wide a distance let not the Disciples of the holy Immaculate Jesus be of all others the most prophane and impure let not the subjects of the Prince of Peace be of all others the most contentious and bloody but make us Christians indeed as well as in Name that we may walk worthy of that holy Vocation wherewith we are called and may all with one mind and one mouth glorifie the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have mercy on this languishing Church look down from Heaven the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory where is thy zeal and thy strength the sounding of thy bowels and of thy heart towards us are they restrained be not wroth very sore O Lord neither remember our iniquities for ever but though our backslidings are many and we have grievously rebelled yet according to all thy goodness let thine anger and thy fury be turned away and cause thy face to shine upon thy Sanctuary which is desolate for the Lords sake and so separate betwixt us and our sins that they may no longer separate between us and our God Save and defend all Christian Kings Princes and Governours specially to whom we owe subjection plead thou their Cause O Lord against those that strive with them and fight thou against those that fight against them and so guide and assist them in the discharge of that Office whereunto thou hast appointed them that under them we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Bless them that wait at thine Altar open thou their lips that their mouth may set forth thy praise O let not the Light of the World be put under bushels but place them in their Candlesticks that they may give light to all that are in the house Let not Jeroboams Priests prophane thy service but let the seed of Aarons Hill minister unto thee And O thou Father of mercies and God of all comfort succour and relieve all that are in affliction deliver the out-cast and poor help them to right that suffer wrong let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee and according to thee greatness of thy power preserve them that are appointed to die Grant ease to those that are in pain supplies to those that are in want Give to all presumptuous sinners a sense of their sins and to all
justly deserved all shame and misery in this life and everlasting condemnation in Hell fire if that thou shouldest but deal with me according to thy Justice and my deserts Wherefore O heavenly Father I humbly beseech thee for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake and for the merits of that bloody death and passion which I believe he hath suffered for me that thou wouldest pardon and forgive me all my sins and deliver me from the Hell and vengeance which is due unto me for them and send thy holy Spirit into my heart which may assure me that thou art my Father and that I am thy child and that thou lovest me with an unchangeable love and let thy good Spirit lead me into all truth and crucifie in me more and more carnal lusts that my sin may more and more die in me and that I may serve thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life and when this mortal life is ended I may through thy mercy in Christ be made partaker of thine everlasting glory in thy heavenly Kingdom And here O Lord from the bottom of my heart I humbly thank thee for all thy blessings bestowed upon my soul and body for electing me in thy Love for redeeming me by thy Son sanctifying me by thy Spirit and preserving me from my youth up until this present day and hour by thy gracious providence I thank thee more especially for that thou hast defended me this night past from all danger and hast brought me safe to the beginning of this day and now good Lord I beseech thee keep me this day from all peril and danger and from all evil that may hurt me and from falling into all sin that should offend thee set thy fear before mine eyes and let thy holy Spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall think do or speak this day may tend to thy glory the good of others and the peace of my own conscience and to this end I commend my self and all my waies and actions together with all that do belong unto me unto thy gracious protection this day praying thee to keep both thine and me from all evil and to give a blessing to all our honest labours and endeavours defend thy whole Church from the tyranny of this world and of Antichrist preserve our gracious King from all conspiracy and treason grant him a long reign in health and happiness over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the rest of the Royal Family endue them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless all our Ministers and Magistrates with all those graces and gifts which thou knowest necessary for their places Be favourable to all those that fear thee and call upon thy Name and tremble at thy judgments Comfort all those that are sick or any way comfortless O Lord keep me in a continual readiness by faith and repentance for my last end that whether I live or die I may be found thine own to thine eternal glory and my everlasting salvation through Jesus Christ my only Saviour in whose blessed Name I beg these mercies at thy hands and give unto thee thy praise and glory in that prayer which he hath sanctified with his own lips saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the Evening O most gracious and loving Father who art about my bed and knowest my lying down and my rising up and art near unto all that call upon thee in Truth and sincerity I a wretched sinner do humbly beseech thee to look upon me with the eyes of mercy and not to behold me as I am in my self for then thou shalt see but an unclean and defiled creature conceived in sin and living in iniquity so that I am ashamed to lift up my eyes unto thee knowing how grievously I have sinned against Heaven and before thee for O Lord I have transgressed all thy Commandments and Righteous Laws not through negligence and infirmity but oftentimes through wilful presumption contrary to my knowledge and the motions of thy holy Spirit reclaiming me from them so that I have wounded my conscience and grieved thy holy Spirit by whom thou hast sealed me to the day of Redemption Thou hast consecrated my soul and body to be the Temple of the Holy Ghost I wretched sinner have defiled both with all manner of pollution and uncleanness mine eyes in taking pleasure to behold vanities that I am ashamed to lift up my eyes unto thee mine ears in hearing impure and unclean speeches my tongue in evil speaking my hands are so full of impurity that I am ashamed to lift them up unto thee and my feet have carried me after mine own waies my understanding and reasonings which are so quick in all earthly matters are only blind and stupid when I come to meditate or discourse of spiritual and heavenly things my memory which should be a treasury of all goodness is not so apt to remember any thing as those things that are vile and vain yea Lord by woful experience I find that naturally all the imaginations of the thoughts of my heart are only evil altogether and continually for these my sins are more in number than the hairs of my head and they have grown over me like a loathsom leprosie from the crown of my head to the soal of my feet there remains no part which they have not infected they make me seem vile in mine own eyes how much more abominable must I appear in thy sight the custom of sinning hath almost taken away the conscience of sin and pull'd upon me such dulness of sense and hardness of heart that thy judgments denounced against my sins by the faithful Preachers of thy Word do not terrifie me to return unto thee with unfeigned repentance and if thou Lord shouldest but deal with me according to thy Justice and my deserts I should utterly be confounded and condemned but seeing that of thine own mercy thou hast spared me so long and still waitest for my repentance I humbly beseech thee for the blood death and passions sake which Jesus Christ hath suffered for me that thou wouldest pardon and forgive me all my sins and mine offences and open unto me that ever-streaming fountain of the blood of Christ which thou hast promised to open under the New Testament to the penitent of the house of David that all my sins and uncleanness may be so bathed in his blood buried in his death and hid in his wounds that they never more be seen to shame me in this life nor to condemn me in the world to come before the judgment seat of God And for as much O Lord as thou knowest that it is not in man to turn his own heart unless thou first give him grace to convert And seeing it is as easie with thee to make me righteous and holy as to suffer me to be such O my God give me grace to do what thou hast commanded then
into any gross sins especially those whereunto our natures are most prone set a watch before the door of our lips that we offend not thy Divine Majesty by any rash or false oaths or by any leud or lying speeches give unto us patient minds pure and chast hearts and all other graces of thy Spirit which thou knowest to be needful for us that we may be the better enabled to serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the daies of our life and seeing that all mens labours are in vain without thy blessing bless every one of us in our several places and callings direct thou the works of our hands upon us even prosper thou our handy-works for except thou guide us with thy grace our endeavours can have no good success and provide for us all things which thou O Father knowest to be needful for every one of us in our souls and bodies this day and grant that we may pass through the pilgrimage of this short life that our hearts being not settled upon any transitory things which we meet with in the way our souls may every day be more and more ravished with the love of our home and thine everlasting Kingdom Defend likewise O Lord thy universal Church and every particular member thereof especially we beseech thee to continue the peace and tranquility of these Churches and Kingdoms wherein we live preserve from all evil and dangers our most gracious King Charles endue his Royal heart with more and more grace wisdom and understanding and grant that his daies may be long prosperous and happy Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the Royal Family multiply their daies with bliss and felicity and afterwards crown them with everlasting joy and glory Bless all our Ministers and Magistrates with all graces needful for their places govern thou them that they may govern us in peace godliness and true Religion and of thy mercy O Lord comfort all our Brethren that are distressed sick or comfortless especially those who are afflicted either with an evil conscience because they have sinned against thy Word or for a good conscience because they will not sin against the Truth make the first to know that not one drop of the blood of Christ was a drop of vengeance but all drops of grace powerful to procure pardon upon repentance for the greatest sins of the chiefest sinners in the world and for the other let not O Lord thy long sufferance either too much discourage them or too much incourage their enemies but grant them patience in suffering and a gracious and speedy deliverance which may stand best with thy glory and their comfort and give every one of us grace to be alwaies mindful of his last end and to be alwaies prepared with faith and repentance as with a weding garment against the time thou shalt call for us out of this sinful world and that in the mean while we may in all things and above all things seek thy glory that when this mortal life is ended we may then be made partakers of Immortality and Life eternal in thy heavenly Kingdom these and all other graces and blessings which thou O heavenly Father seest to be necessary for us and for thy whole Church we humbly beg and crave at thy hands concluding this our imperfect prayer in that most perfect form of prayer which Christ himself hath taught us saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. Evening Prayer for a Family O Eternal God and most merciful Father we thine unworthy servants here assembled do cast down our selves at the foosttool of thy grace acknowledging our selves that we inherit our Fathers corruption in thought word and deed transgressing thy holy Commandments so that in us naturally there dwelleth nothing that is good for our hearts are full of secret pride anger impatience dissembling lying lust vanity prophaneness distrust too much love of our selves too little love of thee and thy Kingdom but full of enmity and void of love patience and every spiritual grace if thou therefore shouldest enter into judgment with us and search out our natural corruptions and observe all the cursed fruit and effects that we have derived from thence Satan might justly challenge us for his own and we could not expect any from thy Majesty but thy wrath and our condemnation which we have long ago deserved But good Father for Jesus Christ his sake who is thy dear Son in whom only thou art well pleased and for the merits of that bitter death and passion which we believe he hath suffered for us have mercy upon us and free us from the shame and confusion which is due unto us for them that they may never seize upon us to our confusion in this life or to condemnation in the world which is to come And for as much as thou hast created us to serve thee as all other creatures to serve us so we humbly beseech thee inspire thy Holy Spirit into our hearts that by his illumination and effectual working we may have the inward sight and feeling of our sins and natural corruptions and that we may not be blinded in them through custom as the Reprobate are but that we may more and more loath them and be heartily grieved for them endeavouring by the use of all good means to overcome them and get out of them O let us feel the power of Christ's death killing sin in our mortal bodies and the vertue of his Resurrection raising up our souls to newness of life convert our hearts subdue our affections regenerate our minds purifie our natures and suffer us not to be drowned in the streams of those filthy vices and sinful pleasures wherewith thousands are carried headlong to eternal destruction but daily frame us more and more to the likeness of thy Son Jesus Christ that in Righteousness and true Holiness we may so serve and glorifie thee that living in thy fear and dying in thy favour we may in thy appointed time attain to the blessed Resurrection of the Just unto eternal life in the mean while O Lord increase our faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel and our repentance from dead works the assurance of our hopes in thy promises our fear of thy Name the hatred of all our sins and our love unto thy children especially whom we see to stand in need of our help and comfort that so by the fruit of piety and a righteous life we may be assured that thy Holy Spirit doth dwell in us and that we are thy children by grace and adoption and grant us good Father the continuance of health peace and maintenance and all other outward good things so far forth as thy Divine Wisdom shall think meet to be requisite and necessary for every one And here O Lord according to our bounden duty we confess that thou hast been exceeding merciful unto us all in things of this life but infinitely more merciful in the things of
like the high way which through hardness and want of true understanding receives not the seed till the evil one cometh and catcheth it away nor the stony ground which heareth with joy for a time but falleth away as soon as persecution ariseth for the Gospels sake nor like the thorny ground which by the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches choaketh the Word which it heareth and maketh it altogether unfruitful but that like unto the good ground I may hear thy Word with an honest and a good heart understand it and keep it and bring forth fruit with patience in that measure that thy Divine Wisdom shall think meet for thy glory and mine everlasting comfort Open likewise I beseech thee O Lord the door of utterance unto thy faithful servant whom thou hast sent unto us to open our eyes that we may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that we may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith in Christ and give me grace to submit my self to his Ministry as well when he terrifieth me with judgments as when he comforteth me with thy mercies and that I may have him in a singular love for his works sake because he watcheth for my soul as he that must give an account for the same unto his Master and give me grace to behave my self in the holy Congregation with comeliness and reverence as in thy presence and in the sight of thy holy Angels Keep me from drowsiness and sleepiness and from all wandring thoughts and worldly imaginations sanctifie my memory that it may be apt to receive and firm to remember those good and profitable doctrines which shall be taught unto us out of thy Word and that through the assistance of thy holy Spirit I may put the same lessons in practice for my directions in prosperity for my consolation in misery for the amendment of my life and the glory of thy Name and that this day which godless and prophane persons spend in their own lusts and pleasures I as an obedient servant of thine may make my chief delight to consecrate it to thy honour and glory not doing my own waies nor seeking mine own will nor speaking a vain word but that ceasing from the works of sin as well as from the work of my ordinary calling I may through thy blessing feel in my heart the beginning of that eternal Sabbath which with unspeakable joy glory I shall celebrate with thy Saints and Angels to thy praise and worship in thy heavenly Kingdom for evermore all which I humbly beg and crave at thy hands in the Name and Mediation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in that form of prayer which he hath taught me Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Private Evening Prayer for the Sabbath Day O Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbath suffer me who am but dust and ashes to speak unto thy glorious Majesty I know that thou art a consuming fire I acknowledge that I am but wretched stubble my sins are in thy sight and Satan stands at my right hand to accuse me for them I come not to excuse but to judge my self worthy of all those judgments which thy justice might most justly inflict upon me a wretched creature for my sins and my transgressions the number of them is so great and the nature of them is so grievous that they make me seem vile in mine own eyes how much more loathsom in thy sight I confess they make me so far from being worthy to be called thy Son that I am altogether unworthy to have the name of thy meanest servant and if thou shouldest but recompence me according to my deserts the Earth as weary of such a sinful burden should open her mouth and swallow me up like one of Dathans Family into the bottomless pit of Hell for if thou didst not spare the natural branches those Angels of glorious excellency but hurledst them down from thy heavenly habitation in the pains of hellish darkness to be kept unto damnation when they sinned but once against thy Majesty and didst expel our first Parents out of Paradise when they did but transgress one of thy Laws Alas what a vengeance may I expect who have not offended in one sin only but heaping sin upon sin without any true Repentance drinking in iniquity as it were water ever pouring in but never pouring out any filthiness and transgressed all thy Laws and Commandments yea this present day thou hast straightly commanded me to keep holy to thy praise and worship I have not so religiously kept and observed nor prepared my soul in that holiness and chastity of heart as was fit to meet thy blessed Majesty in the holy Assembly of thy Saints I have not attended to the Preaching of thy Word nor to the administration of thy Sacrament with that humility reverence and devotion that I should for though I was present at those exercises in my body yet Lord I was overtaken with much drowsiness that when I was awake my mind was so distracted and carried away with vain and worldly thoughts that my soul seemed to be absent and out of the Church I have not so duly as I should meditated with my self nor conferred with my Family upon those good instructions which I have heard and received out of thy holy Word by the publick Minister for default whereof Satan hath stollen the most part of those instructions out of my heart and I wretched creature have forgotten them as though they had never been heard and my family doth not thrive in knowledge and satisfaction under my government as they should though I know that many of my poor Brethren live in want and necessity some in pain and comfortless yet I have not remembred to relieve the one with my alms nor the other with my consolations but have feasted my self and satisfied mine own lust I have spent most part of the day in idle talk vain sports and exercises yea Lord I have c. here confess what faults thou hast done that day by omission or commission and then fetching a deep sigh from thy heart and for all these my sins my conscience cries guilty thy Laws condemns me and I am in thy hand to receive the sentence and curse that is due to the wilful breach of so holy a Commandment but what if I am by the Law condemned yet Lord thy Gospel assures me that thy mercy is above all thy works and that thy grace transcends thy Law and thy goodness delights there to raign where sinners do most abound In the multitude of the mercies and merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour I beseech thee O Lord who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor desirest the death of a penitent sinner to pardon and forgive unto me all these my sins and all the errours of that day and of my whole life and free my soul
ingenious and free from sordid ends or servile flattery a modest gravity in my deportment affability a fair courteous demeanour towards all men austerity in condemning my own sins sweetness in fraternal correction and reprehending others mature judgment a chast body and a clean soul patience in suffering deliberation in my words and actions good counsels in all my purposes make me just in performing promises and in all my duties sedulous in my calling profitable to the Commonwealth a true Son of the Church and of a disposition meek and charitable towards all men Amen O Lord let thy grace be so present with me that though my body sleep yet my soul may for ever be watchful that I sleep not in sin or pretermit any opportunity of doing thee service Let the remembrance of thy goodness and glory be first and last with me and so unite my heart unto thee with habitual charity that all my actions and sayings may be directed to thy glory and every motion and inclination either of soul or body may in some capacity or other receive a blessing from thee and do thee service that whether I sleep or wake travel or rest eat or drink live or die I may alwaies feel the light of thy countenance shining so upon me that my labours may be easie my rest blessed my food sanctified and my whole life spent with so much sanctity and peace that scaping from the darkness of this world I may at last come to the land of everlasting rest in thy light to behold light and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and ever more Another Prayer for the Evening VIsit we beseech thee O Lord this habitation with thy mercy and us thy servants with thy salvation and repel far from us all the snares of the enemy Let thy holy Angels dwell here to keep us in peace and safety and thy blessing be upon us for ever through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Lord Jesus Christ the lively Image of thy Fathers mercy and glory the Saviour of all them that put their trust in thee we offer and present to thee all our strength and powers of our souls and body and whatsoever we are or have to be preserved governed and possest by thee preserve us from all vitious vain and proud cogitations unchast affections from all those things which thou hatest grant us thy holy charity that we may love thee above all the world that we may with all sincerity of intention and zealous affections seek thee alone and in thee alone take our rest inseparably joyning our selves unto thee who art worthy to be beloved and adored of all thy creatures with lowest prostration and highest affection now and for ever more Amen O Father of mercies and God of all comfort let thy blessing be upon us and upon all the members of thy holy Church all health and safety both of body and soul assist us against all our enemies visible and invisible now and for ever more send us a quiet night and a holy death in the actual communion of the Catholick Church and in thy charity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father which art in Heaven c. Now and in all dangers and afflictions of soul and body in the hour of death and in the day of Judgment save and deliver us O sweet Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Amen Short Prayers for several Occasions for the King O Lord our heavenly Father high and mighty King of Kings who in thy hands hast the heart of Kings and canst turn them as the Rivers of water send the light of thy countenance and abundance of blessings upon thy servant our Soveraign Lord King Charles make him as holy valiant and prosperous as King David wise and rich like Solomon zealous for the honour of thy Law and Temple as Josiah and give him all sorts of great assistances to enable him to serve thee to glorifie thy holy Name to protect thy Church to promote true Religion to overcome all his enemies to make glad all his people that he serving thee with all diligence and utmost of his endeavours his people may serve him with honour and obedience in thee and for thee according to thy blessed Word and Ordinance through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For the Queen O God of Heaven Father of all mercies have mercy upon our most gracious Queen unite her unto thee with the hands of faith and love preserve her to her lives end in thy favour and make her instrumental of glory to thy Name of refreshment to the Church of Joy to the all faithful people of this Kingdom and crown her with an eternal weight of glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For our Children O Father of Heaven God of all the creatures by whose providence mankind is increased I bless thy Name for bestowing on me that blessing of the righteous man the blessing of children Lord bless them with health with life and good understanding with fair opportunities and advantages of education society tutors and governours and above all with the 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 make up the number of thine elect Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of a Wife for her Husband O My God who hast graciously been pleased to call me to the holy state of Matrimony bless me in it with the grace of chastity with loyalty obedience and complacency to my husband and bless him with long life with healthful body with an understanding soul with abundance of thy graces which may make him to be and continue thy servant a true Son of the Church and a supporter and guide to his Wife a blessing and a comfort to his Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Of a Husband for his Wife O Merciful God who art a Father to us thy Children espouse to thy holy Church a Saviour and a Redeemer to all mankind have mercy upon thy Handmaid my Wife endow her with all the ornaments of thy heavenly grace make her to be holy and devout as Hester loving and amiable as Rachel fruitful as Leah that being filled with grace and benediction here she may be partaker of thy glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For safety in Childbirth O Blessed Jesu Son of the Eternal God who according to thy humility wert born of a holy Maid who conceived thee without sin and brought thee forth without pain have mercy upon me thy humble servant and as by thy blessing I have conceived so grant that by thy favourable assistance I may be safely delivered Lord grant me patience and strength and confidence in thee and send thy holy Angel to be my Guardian in the hour of my travel O shut not up my soul with sinners nor my life with them that go down to the
of my natural corruption and as thou dost add daies to my life so good Lord I beseech thee to add repentance to my daies that when I have past this mortal life I may be partaker of thy heavenly Kingdom through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer and Confession in and for the time of Affliction ALmighty and most merciful Father it is only thy goodness that admits of my imperfect prayers and the knowledge that thy mercies are infinite which can give me any hope of thy acceptance or granting them for it is my bounden and necessary duty to confess my sins freely unto thee and of all men living I have need of and most reason so to do no man living hath been so much obliged by thee for that degree of knowledge which thou hast given me adding likewise the guilt of my transgression for it is through failing and imperfection that I have so many waies provoked thy gracious Majesty to wrath and indignation against me but with shame and grief I confess that I have done amiss and dealt wickedly that therein I followed the perswasion of worldly wisdom forsaking the dictates of a right informed conscience wherefore O Lord I have no excuse to make no hope left but in the multitude of thy mercies for I know my repentance is weak and my prayers are faulty grant therefore O most merciful Father so to strengthen my repentance and amend my prayers that thou mayest clear the way for thine own mercies to which O let thy Justice at last give place putting a speedy end to my deserved afflictions In the mean time give me patience to endure constancy against temptations and a discerning spirit to chuse what is best for thy glory and my comfort and the good of others grant this O most merciful Father for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake our only Saviour Amen A Prayer in time of Captivity O Powerful and Eternal God to whom nothing is so great that it may resist or so small that it is contemned look upon my miseries with the eye of mercy and let thy infinite power vouchsafe to limit out some proportion of deliverance unto me as to thee shall seem most convenient let not injury O Lord triumph over me and let my falls by thy hand be corrected and make not my unjust enemies the Ministers of thy Justice but yet my God if in thy wisdom this be the aptest castisement for my inexcusable transgressions if this ungrateful bondage be fittest for my over high desires if the pride of my not enough humble heart be to be thus broken O Lord I yield to thy Will chearfully embracing what sorrow thou wilt have me suffer only thus much let me crave of thee Let my craving O Lord be acceptable unto thee since it even proceeds from thee that by goodness which is thy self thou will suffer some beam of thy Majesty so to shine in my heart that I who acknowledge it my noblest title to be thy creature may still in my greatest affliction depend confidently on thee let calamity be the exercise but not the overthrow of my vertue O let not their prevailing power be to my destruction and if it be thy will that they more and more vex me with punishment yet O Lord never let their wickedness have such a hand but that I may still carry a pure mind and a stedfast resolution ever to serve thee without fear or presumption yet with that humble confidence which may best please thee so that at the last I may come to thy eternal Kingdom through the merits of thy Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen A Prayer to be said for the Sick by them that visit him O Merciful Father who art the Lord and giver of life to whom belongeth the issues of death we thy children here assembled do acknowledge that in respect of our manifold sins we are not worthy to ask any blessing for our selves at thy hands much less to become suiters to thy Divine Majesty in the behalf of others yet because thou hast promised that the prayers of the righteous shall avail much with thee in the obedience therefore of thy commandment and in confidence of thy gracious promise we are bold to become humble suiters to thy Divine Majesty in the behalf of this our dear Brother or Sister whom thou hast visited with the chastisement of thy own fatherly hand we could gladly wish the restauration of his health and a longer continuance of his life and Christian-fellowship amongst us but for as much as it appeareth as far as we can discern that thou hast appointed by this visitation to call for him out of this mortal life we submit our wills to thy blessed will and humbly entreat thee for Jesus Christ his sake and the merits of his bitter death and passion which he hath suffered for him that thou wouldest pardon and forgive unto him all his sins as well that wherein he was conceived and born as also the offences and transgressions which ever since to this day and hour he hath committed in thought word and deed against thy Divine Majesty cast them behind thy back remove them as far from thy presence as the East is from the West blot them out of the book of thy remembrance lay them not to his charge wash them away with the blood of Christ that they may never be more seen and deliver him from all the Judgments which are due unto him for all his sins that they may never trouble his conscience nor rise in judgment against his soul and impute unto him the Righteousness of Jesus Christ whereby he may appear righteous in thy sight and in his extremity at this time we beseech thee look down from Heaven upon him with those eyes of grace and compassion wherewith thou art wont to look upon thy children in their affliction and misery pity thy wounded servant like the good Samaritan for here is a sick soul that needeth the help of such a heavenly Physician O Lord increase his faith that he may believe that Christ died for him and that his blood cleanseth all his sins and either asswage his pain or else increase his patience to endure thy blessed will and pleasure in all things And good Lord lay no more upon him than thou wilt enable him to bear heave him up unto thy self with those sighs and groans that cannot be expressed make him now to see what is the hope of his calling and what is the exceeding greatness of thy mercy and power towards them that believe in thee and in his weakness O Lord shew thou thy strength defend him against the suggestions and temptations of the Devil who as in all his life-time will now in his weakness seek to assail him and to devour him oh save his soul and reprove Satan and command thy holy Angels to be about him and aid him and chase away all evil and malignant spirits far from him make him
more and more to loath the world and desire to be loosed and to be with Christ and when that good hour and time shall come wherein thou hast determined to call for him out of this present life give him grace peacefully and joyfully to yield up his soul into thy merciful hands and do thou receive him unto thy mercy and let thy blessed Angels carry him into thy Kingdom make his last hour his best hour his last words his best words his last thoughts his best thoughts and when the sight of his eyes is gone and his tongue shall fail to do his office grant O Lord that his soul with Stephen may behold Jesus Christ in Heaven ready to receive him and that thy Spirit within him may make requests for him with sighs that cannot be expressed Teach us in him to read and see our own ends and mortality and therefore to be careful to prepare our selves for our last end and put our selves in readiness against the time that thou shalt call for us in the like manner Thus O Lord we recommend this our dear Brother or Sister thy sick servant unto thy eternal grace and mercy in that prayer which Christ our Saviour hath taught us saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ thy love O heavenly Father thy comfort and consolation O holy Spirit be with us all and especially with this thy sick servant to the end and in the end Amen LEt them read often unto the sick some special Chapters of the holy Scriptures as the 14th and 19th chapters of Job the 34th chapter of Deuteronomy the two last chapters of Ioshua the 17th chapter of the first of Kings the 2d 4th and 12th chapter of the 2d of Kings the 38th 40th and 65th chapters of Isaiah the history of the passion of Christ the 8th chapter to the Romans the 15th chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians the 4th of the first to the Thessalonians the first of the second Epistle to the Corinthians the first and the last of St. James the 11th and the 12th to the Hebrews the first Epistle of Peter the three first and the three last chapters of the Revelations or some of these exhorting the sick to wait upon God by faith and patience till he send for him and praying the Lord to send them a joyful meeting in the Kingdom of Heaven and a blessed resurrection at the last day that then they may depart at their pleasure in the peace of God A Prayer in time of imminent Danger O Most merciful Father though my sins are many and grievous that I may rather expect the effects of thine anger than so great a deliverance as to deliver me from my present great danger yet O Lord since thy mercies are over all thy works and thou never failest to relieve all those who with humble and unfeigned repentance come to thee for succour it were to multiply not to diminish my transgressions to dispair of thy heavenly favours wherefore I humbly desire thy Divine Majesty that thou wilt not only forgive all my sins but also free me out of the hand of mine enemies and protect me from the malice of my cruel adversary but if thy wrath and my hainous sins and offences will not otherwise be satisfied than by suffering me to fall under my present afflictions thy will be done yet with humble importunity I do and shall never leave to implore the assistance of thy heavenly Spirit that my cause as I am thy distressed servant may not suffer through my weakness or want of courage O Lord so strengthen and enlighten all the faculties of my mind that with clearness I may shew forth and manfully endure this bloody tryal that so my sufferings may not only glorifie thee but likewise be a furtherance to my salvation hereafter grant this O heavenly Father for his sake who suffered for me even Jesus Christ the Righteous Amen A Prayer of Thanksgiving for any great Deliverance O God my God and Father thou hast strangely preserved and rescued me from all evil and for the glory of thine own Name thou hast diverted the Arrow that was directed against me what am I O Lord and what can I do or what have I done that thou shouldest do this for me I am O God a miserable sinner and I can do nothing without thy mighty grace and I have done nothing by my self but what I am ashamed of and I have received great mercies and miracles of providence I see O God that thy goodness is the cause and measure of all my hopes and all thy good and upon the confidence and greatness of that goodness I humbly beg of thy sacred Majesty to keep and defend me from all evil by thy wise providence to lead me into all good by the conduct of thy Divine Spirit and where I have done amiss give me pardon and where I have mistaken give me pity and where I have been injured give me thy favour and a gracious exchange that I may serve thee here with diligence and hereafter may rejoyce with thee and love thee as I desire to love thee and as thou deservest to be loved even with all the powers and degrees of passion of essence to eternal Ages in the inheritance of Jesus Christ whom I love for whom I will not refuse to die to whom with thee O gracious Father and the holy Spirit be all glory and honour love and obedience for ever and for ever Amen A Prayer wherewith to conclude all our Devotions ALmighty God who hast promised to hear the Petitions of all them that ask in thy Sons Name I beseech thee mercifully to encline thine ears unto me who have now made my prayers and supplications unto thee and grant that those things which I have faithfully asked in thy Sons Name according to thy Will may be effectually obtained to the relief of my necessity and to the setting forth of thy glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Blessing THe Peace of God which passeth all understanding the blessing of God Almighty the Father Son and the Holy Ghost the Vertue of Christs blessed Cross and Passion be with me and all mine now and at the last hour Amen FINIS Here thou mayest confess thy particular sins