of friendship and amitie betwixt vs. Namely that thou wilt be my mercifull Father and that againe I may be thy obedient childe Lord thou soest I doe not aske of thee riches honours or long life but onelie this euen this thing alone which with all possible importunity I vrgâ and neuer wil cease to craue that from this present houre to my liues end I may neuer more offend thy diuine Maiestie nor defile my conscience with anie mortall ofsence O Lord grant â poore sinner this his humble suite for Christ Iesus his sake my alone Sauiour and Redeemer Come holie Spirit the sweetest comforter of Mankinde I beseech thee take the possession of my soule purge and cleanse mee of all sin sanctifie me throughout wash what is corrupted water what is dried heale what is wounded bow what is ââiffened warme what is cooled call home what is straied make mee ârulie humble and resigned âhat thou maiest bee pleased âo stay and abide with thy seruant O most blessed light and glorious lampe illuminate my minde with the heauenâie beames of thy wisdome O Paradise of pleasures â Fountaine of purest deâights my God giue me thy âelfe In flame my soule with âhy celestiall loue teach me âouerne me direct and proâect mee through the whole âourse of my life Establish my mind against âll elusions and inordinate feare grant me a right faith an assured hope a siâcerâ and perfect charity and that I may preferre thy blessed will pleasure before aââ things in Heauen and Earth And now sweete Iesus vpon the knees of my heart I humbly craue pardon oâ these and all other my trespasses knowne and vnknowne yea so inspire my heart with thy spirit that seriouslie I may resolue of amendement of life for the time to come That I may carefullie reforme my selfe of those vsual errors into which this day past and so often as heretofore I haue beene accustomed to fal that I may renewall my good purposes and intentions and accordinglie put them in practise that so finallie after this my short life spent in thy seruice I may at length close vp my daies in peace and happilie end in thee who art blessed for euer Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liuest and raignest euer one God World without ende Amen A Prayer for Night O My most Soueraigne Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Lampe of light truth I miserable wretch most humbly beseech thee to with-draw and keepe my minde from wandring thoughts distractions this night Lord heare the groânings of those who vnder then of sinne and infirmitiââ crie vnto thee Lord loose âhe bonds and shackles of iniquitie wherewith I haue bound my selfe and out of the darke prison of wickednesse whereinto I haue run and captiuated my selfe deliuer my sinfull soule O Lord As thou art my skilful Phisician and best knowest my diseases take me to thy cure O Soune of God my Creatour Redeemer and Sanctifier let thy vnspeakable loue remaine in my soule for euer that I may enioy thee and ioy in thy countenance Thou that leddest the Israelites thy seruants throgh the red Sea and deliueredst them from the bondage of Pharâah and his cruell Ministers discharge mee of the grieuous weight of my sins where-with my soule is so heauilie laden Thou that desendedst Daniel in the Lions denne desend me this night and euermore Thou that pardonedst Dauids vnspeakable sinnes be mercifull vnto me thou Sonne of God and Sauiour of the World in whom ãâã lie is my saluation by whom I may become an Angell in Heauen and without whose mercie am a diuell in hell Good God looke graciouslie vpon mee wash me O Lord whose iniquities are as red as bloud and I shall appear before thy almighty Throne as white as snow Lord deliuer mee now this night and in the houre of my death from all the malicious temptations of the old Serpent my enemie adopt mee here thy sonne below that I may become thy seruant aboue and liue with thee and raigne with thee in those ioies which are euer during who with the Father and the Holie Ghost euer liuest raignest World without end Ameâ O Lord looke downe from Heauen vpon mee miserable wrâtch that lie here prostrate at thy feete crauing mercie of thy Omnipotent Maiestie for those sinnes which I haue committed this day against thee I humblie beseech thee O Christ which aââ my onelie Sauiour and Redeeââer to extend thy accustomed goodnesse to me this night that I may bee defended from the danger of the enemie and all euill which may befall mee this night good Lord take mee into thy protection of safegard that I may take safe and quiet rest this night to the end I may be the better enabled the next day to serue thee in all godlinesse holinesse of liuing whereby I may haue thy blessings powred downe plentifullie vpon me to the reliefe of me and mine and that after this painefull life ended I may dwell with thee in life euerlasting Amen A Praier to GOD for grace and to dâspâse the vanitie of the World O Gracious and Omnipotent Father haue merâie on mee and forgiue me the great offences which I haue done in the sight oâ thee Grant me grace for the loue of thee to despise sinneâ and all worldlie vanitieâ helpe mee to ouercome all temptations to sinne and the malice oâ my ghostliâ enemies and to spend my time in vertue and labouâ acceptable to thee Repressâ the motions of my sinfuââ flesh that mine hâart may bee enamoured of vertue to liue to thine honour and to the comfort of my soule O Father strengthen mee in soule and bodie to execute the workes of godlinesse to the glorie of thy blessed name and profit of my Christian bretheren whereby I may come to thy euerlasting ioy and feliâitie Grant me a firme purpose most mercifull Lord to amend my life and to make recompence for those yeers which I haue misspent to thy displeasure in euill thoughts delectations consentings wordes workes and euill customes whereby I haue deserued damnatioÌ Lord make mine heart obedient to thy will comfort mee and giâe mee grace to haue my most ioy and pleasure in thee giue me heauenly meditations gostlie sweetenesse and zeale of thy glorie Rauish my soule with a burning desire to the heauenlie ioy where I shall euerlastinglie dwell with thee ârant me sweet Sauiour contempt of all damnable pleasure of sinne and misery grant mee a true remembrance of my saluation with a feare of damnation and ãâã remembrance of thy goodnesse thy gifts great âiâdnesse shewed to me from my creation vntill this present houre O Lord reduce into my minde my sinnes and disobedience whereby I haue offended thee Lord grant me a right spirit and perfect contrition to obtaine thy grace and from filthy sinne to purge mee O God make mee constant and stable iâ faith hope and charity with continuance in vertue direct my will that it may not offend thee but
pleased thee of thy maruellous humility patience and loue towards man kinde to descend from the high Throne of Heauen to be incarnate by the Holie Ghost and borne of the Virgin Marie and here to suffer trouble paine for our sakes I doe beseech thee for thy bitter death and passion deliuer me from all euill and from the euerlasting paines of hell and vouchsafe through thy great mercie and goodnesse to leade me whither thou diddest leade the Thiefe crucified with thee And I beseech thee thorow thy clemencie to vouchsafe vnto mee O Lord God King of Heauen and Earth the ioyes prepared for thy chosen and so direct sanctifie and gouerne my heart my thoughts my words and deeds in thy sacred Law by keeping thy Commandements that here euer through thy helpe O Sauiour of the World I may bee safe and free and by thy bitter death passion may be broght to the glory of the resurrection so remaine in euerlasting life Amen A Prayer in temptation O Mercâfull Lord and Sauiour iesus Christ the onely refuge of a desolate and afflicted soule O God thou that hast made mee and redeemed mee in whom âll things are possible vnto me and without whom I am able to doe nothing thou seest who I am that here prostrate my prayers and poure out my heart vnto thee what I would haue and what is fittest for mee thou knowest My soule is buried ãâ¦ã and blood and would be âââne dissolued and come vnto thee I am vrged against my will and violently drawne to think that which from my-heart I detest and to haue in minde the poyson and bane of my soule O Lord thou knowest mee for thy hands haue framed me and with flesh and skinne thou hast cloathed mee and loe this flesh which thou hast giuen me draweth mee to my ruine and fighteth against the spirit if thou helpest not I am ouercome if thou forsakest mee I must needes faint why doest thou set mee contrary vnto thee and makest mee greeuous and a burthen vnto my selfe Diddest thou create mee to cast me away Diddest thou redeeme mee to damne me for euer It had beene good for mee neuer to haue beene borne if I were borne to perish O my most mercifull Father where is thy olde and wonted mercies where is thy gracious sweetenesse and loue towards me become how long shall mine enemie reioice ouer mee and humble my life vpon earth and place me in darkenesse like the dead of the World What am I Lord that thou settest mee to fight alone against so mightie subtile and cruell enemies that neuer cease to bid mee a pârpetuall battaile O Lord why doest thou shew thy might against a leafe that is tossed with euery wind and persecutest a drie stubble wilt thou therefore cast away the worke of thy hands wilt thou banish mee from thy face and take thy holy Spirit clean from me Alasse O my good Lord whither shall I goe from thy face or whither shall flie from thy Spirit or shall I flie from the incensed but to the appeased whither from thee as iust but vnto thee as mercifull Doe with mee Lord that which is good in thine eies for thou wilt doe all things in righteous iudgement oneây Lord I desire to remember I am but flesh blood sraile of my selfe and impotent to resist shew thy selfe a Sauiour vnto me and either take away mine enemies or grant mee grace that without wound or fault by thee and with thee I may ouercome them sweet Lord Amen FINIS A Table to find out the principall Prayers contained in this Booke THe way how to commend our selues to GOD in the ãâã aâ our vprising Page 285. A Prayer before wee settle our selues to our Deuotions p 287. A Morning Prayer p. 291. Another Prayer for the Morning p. 296. Another Morning Prayer p. 308. A short Prayer for the Morning p. 312. A Meditation to be vsed before thou goest to bed p. 314. A Prayer for the Euening p 322. A Prayer for the Night p. 333 A Prayer to GOD for grace and to despise the vanity of the World p. 338. A Prayer to GOD to defend vs from euill company and to keepe ouâ tongues from vttering ill words p. 346. A Prayer to GOD for bâ great goodnesse vnto Man p. 354. A Prayer to GOD to deliuer vs from our ghostly enemies p. 357. A Prayer to GOD daily to bee said p 358. A Prayer to be vsed at all times p. 360 A Prayer to be daily saide vnto our Lord Iesus Christ p. 362. A prayer for the remission of sinnes p. 367. A general prâyer for all kind of sin p. 380. A ãâã Faith p. 3ââ A prayer vnto GOD that we may liue in his ãâã and that hee will turne his ãâã ãâã p. 394. A ãâã for ãâã with their duty 400. A ãâã for children their duty p. 404. A prayer against whoââdome p. 410. A prayer for a Woman with child p. 414. A Thanksgiuing vnto God ãâ¦ã deliuerance p. 41â A prayer for a siâke Man p. 421. A prayer to bee saide before the receiuinâ of the holy Communion p. â24 A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of â holy Communion p. â38 A prayer to ãâã saidâ at the receiuing of the mystery of Christs Body in the Communion p 441. A prayer to bee saide at the receiuing of the mystery of Christs blood in the holy Communion p. 442. A morning salutation to GOD for wisedome for grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes p. â44 A prayer for the King p. 454. A ãâã prayer to our Lord. p. ãâã A prayer in ãâã p. â59 FINIS
sinfull therefore let vs call vpon God still pray vnto him being our Sauiour and mercifull Redeemer it is no shame to bee sorrowfull or to cry to God for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes it is no reproach to beg Gods mercies or hurt to vs to pray his Maiestie to be mercifull in the remission and forgiuenesse of our sins it is no discredit to confesse our faults vnto God and to tell him we are miserable wretched sinners This is the means to quench the extremity of thirsty sinne and to obtaine a refreshing cup with a beaten breast and broken heart to cry vnto God to be a mercifull father vnto vs and to giue vs remission of all our sinnes If lamentable pictures wofull tales carry their force with them to inforce teares from the hearers and beholders eyes then cannot wee but turne prodigall in tears when wee behold this liuely counterfet of sorrow where euery colour hath a speaking griefe euery griefe a mourning tongue to extort and wring teares from the beholders eyes Iacob did Gen. 37. neuer rent his garment in so many peeces for the losse of Ioseph as the true penitent sinner doth his soule for the burthen of his sinnes laying them vpon the raâke of repentance stretching them from earth to heauen from himselfe to God Agar beâng turned out of her maâters Gen. 21. house made her eyes ââe plaintifes of true contriââon to her solitary wanâring but the penitent in âeart being turned out of âis masters fauour makes âis hand his heart his eyes âis tongue and all labour to âessen the griefe of his disâase with a true sorrowfull âemorse his hands like the âellowes blow the fire of âontrition to his heart his heart like a limbecke distilleth the soueraigne water of repentance into his eyes who like full cesternes not being able to look vpward returne their streams backe vnto the heart that being ouercharged driues the floud of his affection to his tong his tongue like Aarons censer conuayes the sweet perfume of his precious distillation into the presence of God himselfe And as the Angels celebrated the birth of Christ with a ioyfull hymne so he welcomes his second birth with a sad lamentation much like to Peter when he denied his Master Mat. 26. Sicke men cannot away with any melancholy Sauls frensie could not indure Dauids 1 Sam. 18. Harpe Salomons thousand songs cannot mitigate the smart of the sinners disease that runnes altogether vpon the heart-string not the Harpe-string the spaces falles and rises of a melancholie ditty the first note being raised high to him that is aboue all the second with a temperate stop moued to a meane the third with a heauy touch fitted to the base Heauy O heauy is the note of man and therefore it calles for moderation of God O heauy too heauy is the note of sin and therfore it craues the voyce of mercy Wee may iustly obserue in the penitent sinner first his inuocation to God secondly his humble petitions thirdly his condition in his meditation by vertue whereof hee attaineth to know himselfe to bee the greatest offender and God his only Sauiour and Redeemer Dauid being in the depth of meditation his Psal 39. heart was hot the fire of his zeale was kindled and hee spake Lord teach me to number my dayes in the same precinct and streits of meditations is the penitent sinner his armes like the Phoenix wings hath set his heart on fire by that his zeale is inflamed by his zeale his tongue is inlarged and cals to God for his mercies hee speakes as Dauid in his meditation with iudgement discretion he speakes in his meditation what he wants his prayer directing to obtaine his wants at the hands of his mercifull Sauiour Lastly he speakes speaks authorised with a prouiso and respect to whom hee speakes What is it hee speakes The first regard is the reuerence of the person to whom he speakes God His second consists of a twofold property one drawen from himselfe being a miserable sinner the other from a necessity that GOD would bee mercifull to our mis-spent life The third is couched not so much in quantity of words as in quality of affection his praier is short but very sweet in regard of zeale His last regard aimes at the time for sinne like Noahs floud euery day getting strength was almost Gen. 7. 17. come to the top of Ararat and had almost ouerspread the whole earth so it was high time to stay the swelling rage and fury of it and therefore hee striues to bring it back to a low ebbe and with a smooth calme of an humble petition speakes in a serious meditation to God to forgiue him his sins and to bee mercifull vnto him but helples man cannot helpe but only God in whoÌ and with whom is al coÌfort I will not runne vnto the wise man with Pharoah I call not vpon any Idols with the Priests of Baal but with Exod 7. sorrowfull Sara in the gaule of bitternesse with wrinckled Tob. 3. faced Iob smitten on the cheekes with a reproach I Iob. 16. beginne my confession vnto the Lord. I pray not for the strength of body with Samson with Elisha for my enemies Iudg. 16. blindnesse with worldly Balaam for earthly treasures but with the faithfull 2 Pet. 2. Cananitish woman once Math. 15. againe reiected I begge for crummes of thy mercy that thou wilt bee a Sauiour for my sinnes euen I the sonne of sorrow present my selfe vnto thee and as the Leaper Math. 8. intreated for his own cleansing euen so I pray that God will shew his mercy compassion vpon me being weaâed a long time from the Teattes of thy loue and nourished with the corrupt milke of sinne It is euen I that haue refused thy heauenly Manna and delighted my selfe with the leauen of Aegypt now at the length strucke with the whip of repentance retire and for the âasing of my griefe presume to solicite thee in this manner O Lord bee mercifull vnto me and forgiue me the great and hainous crimes which I haue committed against thy omnipotent Maiestie I am not of Simon Peters mind that said Lord go Lu. 5. 8. from mee for I am a sinfull man but rather Lord come to mee because I am a wret âhed and sinfull man Neither doe I crie out with the possessed Iesus thou Sonne of God what haue I to doe Mat. 8. with thee but rather Iesus thou Sonne of God I haue to doe with thee Oh let me haue some interest in thy loue which like a veile couereth the multitude of sins and vniteth the peece-rent heart of the sorrow-beaten sinner It is not with mee as it was with Cain to say my Gen. 4. sinne is greater then can bee pardoned neither am I as yet clasped in that desperation and distrust as to equalize and compare thy mercy to my sinnes I know thy piety to
slothfull There is no reason in the World that the World should reape that Haruest which God hath bought with the sweat of his bloud no Law for to giue him the lees of wine that hath taken paines to plant the Vineyard and to tread the Presse no equity to leaue him the gleaning to whom the whole sheafe belongeth no iustice to diuide the heart which hee hath made one and to giue the sick and feeble part vnto him and the strong and lusty vnto the Diuell Vnlesse you bring your youngest brother saith Ioseph Gen. 14. you shall neuer see my face againe So vnlesse wee bring young Beniamin that is the first fruites of our youth and tender them to our euerlasting High Priest wee shall neuer partake his ioyful presence neuer enioy his comfortable grace neuer bee comforted with his âiuine happinesse As young Samuel and young Obadiah being 1 Sam. 2 2 Reg. 18. as it were in their children colours ministred vnto the Lord euen so I in the spring and prime of my youth no way relying vpon aged repentance will confesse my sinnes wholy vnto God and at the barre of his bounty I will sue out a pardon If in Dauids repentance the fire of his deuotion did ascend and moue the Heauens to scabbard vp the wrathfull Sword in the sheath of his omnipotent mercy doubt not but with the same flame to kindle the like sacrifice and with as strong a voice as had Eliah when he brought food from Reg. 1. 17 Heauen to moue the same God to compassion My voice shall bee as able to quench the fire of Gods wrath as was the voice of the three Children that ouercame the hotte burning Furnace My voice shal be as able to procure life as was the voice of Ezechias that 2 Reg. 20 ouercame death As Ionas out of the bellie of the Whale so I out of the hell Ionas 2. 3 of sinne As blind Bartimeus for his want of sight so I in Mar. 20. the sight of my wants will crie to God for his mercifull aide and helpe As young Tobias was not destitute of Tobi. 5. a guide to conduct him to Rages so am not I left ignorant of the way to Heauen Abraham in his iourney to Gen. 12. Canaan tooke a Map of the vpper Canaan and left it registred to all posterities We like so many Abrahams must leaue our Countrey behind our backes must depart and bid adue to the flesh the world and to our selues from pride descending to low humility leauing anger to shake hands with patience giuing our lust the farewell to welcome chastitie excluding enuie to entertaine charitie renouncing cruelty for the exchange of clemency Wee must relinquish and forsake our owne kindred that is the old custome and acquaintance we haue had with sinne shaking the vncleane spirit out of doores and being washt neuer to returne to our olde vomite and being made whole wee will sin no more Wee must turne from the sinister and left hand of this World from the Prince of darkenesse our Father to the right hand of righteousnesse to the King of Kings our heauenly Father which dwelleth in the Land of vertue not in the Land of vice in the Land of peace not in the Land of paine in the Land of ioy not in the Land of sorrow and be partakers of that desired benediction wherewith Isaac in the type and figure of Christ blessed his sonne Iacob Behold the sweet smell of my Sonne that Gen. 27. sauours not of the Onions and Garlicke of Aegypt but the sweete smell of my Sonne that hath beene daintily fed with the choice Milke and Hony of Canaan No flight is more commendable then to flie out of the middest of Babylon to hasten out of Aegypt where miseries haue no period and to trauell to the promised Land where is rest without remoue mercie without measure loue without limit goodnesse in all kind of greatnesse where euery soule may like the Doue in Noahs Arke rest without feare enioy plenty without want take repast without contempt But the frailety of our flesh is so prone to fall into the slipperie vanities of this World which doe so dazell the eies and dull the sences that wee can neither see nor yet remember to tread in the true path of righteousnesse The vanity which reignes in vs is so great that it drawes all our godly desires clean from vs by the pleasingnes thereof and it doth so possesse our weake and fraile flesh whereby it drawes such toyes and phantasies into our wauering minds that it makes vs cleane to forget to labour and trauell to find out the expected promised âand wherein remaines all rest and pleasure O vaine vaine that wee are that will bee so negligent and carelesse to labour and trauell for a benefit so commodious for the soule of man for the health whereof neither tongue can express nor hart think the comforts it brings But mans life is alway so subiect to fall into the laps of these two vices Pride and Vanity which after they haue once taken hold cleaue so fast to the bone and fasten therein such a deepe roote of continuance as it will be hardly remoued but doe so nuzzle vs in the sweete desire thereof as that they make vs liue without feare either to remember or yet regard the commandements of God which will bring vs to saluation in keeping them On the other side for want of following them we runne our selues to vtter ruine and destruction and withall reape vnto vs such a heauy curse from his diuine and omnipotent Maiestie as the weight thereof will presse vs downe into the bottomelesse pit of hell and there to remaine in darkenes with euerlasting torment which neuer will haue end The miserie that is incident to fraile man through the vaine and fading pleasures of the World is not to bee numbered by reason of our sloth and idlenes in not seruing him that serues vs in all our wants and extremities These things duely considered and pondered in our minds would inforce vs to leaue the diuell and his euill wayes and to follow God and his wayes which are all right and good O let vs call our selues vnto an account with respectiue remembrance what a seducing way is this to them that forget themselues that they are Pilgrimes and Trauellers and stand too much vpon those things which are occurrant in their iourny with a long delay The night will âome nay it will come quickely when no man can walke These men shall not come into that heauenly Ierusalem but shall be a prey for the wilde Beasts which walke in the night and for the infernall Wolues For which cause our Sauiour Christ crieth in his Gospell Walke yee while yee haue the light lest the darkenesse come Iohn 12. vpon you It is euidently seen that nothing so much blindeth the eyes of man as the deceits of the world and the vanity of things present
directed to God alone for it is neither to be done to Angels nor Saints as Mediators or friends one or other greater or lesser in Heauen or Earth but onely to be offered to the Maiesty of God whose eares bee open to all them that seeke to him in Faith for without true Faith all our Petitions are naught and turne to our vtter confusion Wee must not onely pray with zeale and desire but with fitnesse of congruitie and application for his blessings in our necessities The Prophet Hosea maketh it plaine and saith The Lord at all times will take away all inâquitie and receiue vs graciously so we render vp to him ãâã caluâs of our lips Nay what is it that hee will not doe for them that put their whole rest vpon his omnipotent Maiestie in all tribulations and anguish of mind If we make our humble supplications vnto him he will stay his furious hand and fill his hand full of mercie he will with-draw his rod of correction and send his rod of comfort hee will sheathe vp his deuouring sword in the hand of his destroying Angell who on euery side strikes downe to the graue emptying houses and streets to fill vp Church yards And vpon our true repentance he will surceasse to send his deueâring Angell and send his Angell of mercy and grace which is a preseruatiue and the most soueraign restoratiue vnder heauen to make sound againe our diseased conscience which hath been long âuergrowne with âinne which ãâã both hârt and wound ãâã now wee acknowledge with a sorrow from our hearts that our sinnes haue procured it at the hand of GOD. In consideration of the great mercies that GOD doth daily hourely heape vpon vs wee must addresse our Petitions to the LORD in another key and forme of supplication meekely kneeling before the LORD our Maker lowly prostrate at the foote-stoole of GODS mercy that his iudgements may be diuerted and turned away from vs. Thus did that great patterne of wisdome Salomon whose foote-steps are worthy our imitation beseeching the LORD of Lords that when wee shall make our prayers according to our necessities either in body or in mind that he would vouchsafe then to heare vs and reach forth his mercifull hand vnto our complaints But these our Petitions cannot ascend vnlesse faith deuotion beare them vp nor can they speede vnlesse they issue from a heart that vowes vnfeined repentance and that calles to mind our sinnes transgressions that haue procured those iudgements that we may truly repent and so wash them from vs whereby God may heare vs and shew his mercifull compassion But this repentance is more bitter then can bee imagined for euery sorrow is not repentance for theâ should worldlings repent Some thinke euery confession to bee repentance then had Pharaoh and Saul repented some thinke that euery weeping is ãâã repentance then had Esau repented some take euery little humiliation to bee repentance then had ãâã repented some thinke that euery good word and promise is repentance if that were so then should sicke men repent some thinke to ârie GOD mercy is repentance then should euery âoole repent But true repentance in ââde and such as is here âent iâ more then hanging âowne of the head like a âull-rush or towring out a ââare to soâ out a sighe to âeare ãâã ãâã or ãâã cloth or with a verball sound of the lips without the priuity and consent oâ the heart within to criâ Lord haue mercy on me anâ so rest But it must bee the scourging and launcing of the verie soule with true contrition a downe-right shower ãâã teares from a broken penâtent bleeding heart filleâ with exceeding bitternessâ of sorrow and anguish foâ some committed Let no man thinke it toâ early to goe or too early ãâã beginne to goe to this gooâ Schoole not of sharpnessâ but of sweetnesse not ãâã paine but of pleasure Lââ vs goe to it in our youthâ and let Salomon be our Tâtor whereby wee shall ãâã âaught to remember our Creator in the dayes of our âouth Let it bee often rememâred that no man thinke it âo late lest hee omit and âose that which hee might âtherwise haue gained What time soeuer the sinâer shall truely repent him ââom the very bottome of ãâã heart of his loude and âisspent life the Lord will âorgiue and forget and his âânnes shall vanish from his ââght and presence euen as ãâã dâaw before the Sunne I say againe he that rightââ repents himselfe of his âickednesse and vaine life ãâã is not the misery of this âretched life nor terror of âonscience nor malice of âoes let them be Men or diuels ãâã be a whole legion to one that shall neuer hinder the ascensioâ and blessing of his godlâ prayer and it shalâ neuer hiâder the forgiuenesse of ãâã sinne Neuer was the shadoâ more faithfull to the bodiâ then a blessed forgiuenesâ to faithfull repentance aââ the good successe whiââ hath beene to a faithfull aââ zealous prayer conceiuââ in the breast and lodged ãâã the heart and powerfulâ vttered by the voice of ãâã tongue and spirit But this great expectââ successe which we looke ãâã to receiue by our Petitioââ at the hands of GOD muââ be formed in a more zealoââ fashion then our commââ âse is which vse may bee âompared to an hypocâites âustome wanting these neâessary adiuncts these vndeâayed vndelaied assistants âhat blesse the companie wherein they come and ãâã the suite wherein they ãâã Solliciters and Plaintifs âho beate not the aire with âounds that arise from the âollow and emptinesse of âhem like Brooks that roare ând make a noise but shew ââeir empty bottomes that âontaine nothing but grauel ând filthinesse within like ãâã our desolaâe and onely faââionable prayers both at âome and abroade in chamââr and Church these are âypocrites who poure âorth ãâã forme of words rather in ãâã fashion of custome then for any great zeale neither honouring God nor yet furthering the Petitions wee make for our expected desires These things duely considered we must needs think in our minds we remaine in a very wretched and desperate case our affections are so weake that the least occasion or blast of vanitie withdrawes vs from all godly desires whereby wee run both soule and bodie into vtter destruction Very little is the care which remaineth in vs to giue this good GOD our onely Sauiour that sends to all things his due so our turnes be serued and that wee haue receiued at the Lords hands our desire there is all our frailâ flesh looketh for till extremities come and then wee make a new shew of repentance with a sorrow for our negligence in the true seruing and honouring of his Omnipotent Maiesty which wee rather doe of a custome then of zeale as the Parrot of ãâã wee recite the Creede flattering God with our tongues but dissembling with him in our harts which is onely for want of Faith by whose absence our minds are fraught with toies
Anâ thou must purpose with thy selfe to doe âothing that day which may displease God but meditate in thy minde some godly meditations desiring his assistance for the furtherance of the true seruing his omnipâtent Maiâsty â A Prayer before wee settle our selues to our Deââtions O Most gracious Lord giue me leaue to present my selfe before thy diuine Maiestie and to poure out my vnworthy prayers in the sight of thy most mighty and glorious presence Behold mee O Lord not in my merits but in the multitude of thy mercies I now comâ to make manifest my necessities and to vtter my griefeâ vnto thee I come as a poorâ and needy wretch vnto â God of infinit glory I comâ as a worme of the Earth vnto my Soueraigne Makeâ and Creatour I come as â guiltie hainous offendeââ I am not worthy to lift vâ mine eyes to Heauen muââ lesse to open my mouth in thy glorious presence oâ presume to talke with â Lord and King of so great â Maiesty being my selfe buâ slime and ashes but ô Fatheâ of mercies and God of all comfort thou promisest that who asketh shall receiue â who knocketh shall bee leâ in who seeketh shall findeâ Thou inuitest the greatest âinners and refusest not to âeelde thy assistance to any âhat will vse it grant mee âherefore grace now to pray ânto thee as my duety and âhy desert requireth grant âe a pureintention a ferâent deuotion and an attenââue mind that it be not carâed away with impertinent âoughts nor any other diâraction but with humble âeart firme hope and perâct charity I may effectualâe pray vnto thee and aske âf thee that which thou seeât most for thy glory and ây good graât Lord I beâech thee that thou wilt âelpe mee to pray worthily âat thou maiest mercifuâly ârant my Petitions keepe ây thoughts from wandring râstraine my imaginations and preserue my sences from being distractedâ defend O Lord my weakâ heart from ghostly assaultsâ and so fixe my minde vpon thee that I be not carrieâ away from consideration oâ thy presence grant mee distinctly to pronounce my words attentiuely to apply my thoughts and to bee wholly rauished and possessed with zeale and true deuotion O Lord grant me to aske forgiuenesse with â deepe contrition and fulâ purpose of amendement â grant me to craue thy benefits with hearty thankfulneââ for those which I haue receiued Grant mee to pray for my selfe with a perfect resignation vnto thy will and âor all others with true chaâitie and sincere affection Affoord O Lord such comâort to my soule as thou âeest fit âor mee and by the âssistance of thy spirit inspire âhy good motions into mee âhat I may feele them forciâly accept them thankefulie and fulfill them effectuâllie Finally I humbly beâeech thee of thy mercy and goodnesse that I may praise âhee with a true repentant âeart to appease the fury of âhy anger against me whereây I may come to enioy âith thy Maiesty eternall âlorie without end Amen A Morning Prayer O Most gracious LORD and Omnipotent Father thou which madeââ Heauen and Earth the Sea and all that is therein together with thy dearely beloued Son IESVS CHRIST and with thy holy Spirit thou hast brought vs to the beginning of this day thorow thy goodnesse now we beseech thee that this day wee fall into no sinne buâ that we may accomplish thy holy will by directing ouâ words framing our thoghts and disposing our doing accordingly Helpe vs anâ further vs O Lord in all ouâ Prayers that whatsoeuer wâ doe may alwaies take beginning from thee and being so begun wee may proceede in true seruing of thee who art the Fountaine ãâã light and most peerelessâ spring of Wisdome LORD vouchsafe that the beames of thy wonderfull glorie may beate against my darke and smal vnderstanding and driue from me two kinde of mists to wit sinne and ignorance wherein I was borne Thou O Lord that makest the tongues of little Infants to be eloquent teach me to rule my tongue and let thy grace and blessing bee pouâed on my lippes Giue mee sharpnesse of vnderstanding thy heauenly word and ability to retaine it a facility to serue a good kind of interpretation a good place to vtter my words and that they may tend to thy glory and guide my entrance to the matters I speake of direct my proceeding in the same and make perfect my conclusion Come Holy Ghost fill my heart with thy faith and kindle in mee the fire of thy loue doe thus good Lord who diddest bring the Gentiles to the vnity of thy saith by all kindes of diuers and strange languages send out Lord thy holy Spirit and all things shall be created and thou shalt make fresh the face of the Earth and thou that hast taught the Hearts of thy faithfull by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost giue mee the same spirit right vnderstanding and alway to reioice in thee make mee forsake Sathan and cleaue to thee ô Christ who art the way truth and life shew me thy wayes ô Lord and teach me thy pathes direct my steps according to thy word that no vnrighteousnesse reigne ouer mee Maâe my going perfect in thy wayes that my steps be not moued Lord whi hart the Father of grace anâ mercie desend me from my enemies and receiue mee at the houre of my death Good Lord grant I may depart in a good houre out of this World and that I may arise from the death of sinne and walke in newnesse of life that when I shall rise againe at the latter day when our life shall be seene manisestly of all men I also may bee openly but fauourably seene of thy glory who liueââ and reiguest one GOD World without end Amen Another Prayer for the Morning O Lord God and my heauenly Father I do here present my selfe with my morning sacrifice vnto thy Omnipotent Maiestie crauing thy mercifull aide for the strengthening of my weake faith at this present that thereby I may be made the more apt and able to serue thy heauenly Maiesty in all holinesse and true sincerity of heart And now that the time allotted for my feeble senses is expired and that the spring of the morning approacheth I offer vp my bounden duety of praise and thankesgiuing to thy euer blessed and glorious Maiestie vpon whom all the houres and moments of life depend for adding yet more space vnto my daies for granting me a larger time of repentance for the obtaining of thy grace and exercise of vertue and amendement of my sinfull life O eternal and euerliuing God who art the guardian to all true beleeuers make me euermore to magnifie and extoll thy mercies and in true token of this my thankefulnesse hauing nothing more neere vnto me then my selfe I here offer and present my selfe body and soule vnto thy heaâenly will and pleasure beseeching thee to dispose of me as of thine owne to direct the remainder of my life to thy Honour and seruice
to enlighten my mind more and more to the knowledge of thee and my selfe to inflame my heart with true charitie to preserue my senses in thy holie feare that by my will I may neither heare see nor touch any thing that is vncleane or offensiue vnto thee And if in taking of my naturall rest either thorow the suggestion of the enemy or the rebellion of mine own flesh I haue had any disordered motions or vnâhaste representations in my slcepe now I am perfectly awake and by thy mercy returned vnto the vse of my reason I do vtterly disclaime the same denying all consent of my will and affections thereunto And now my gracious Lord God for this day being present I may by thy heauenly assistance resolue with my selfe so to liue in this World that I may both auoide all sinne and the occasion thereof and to leaue my accustomed vices and those especially to which I am most prone to fall vnto and that I may referâe al my actions and endeauâurs to the praise and honour of thy holy name so to bestâw my time that this day may not bee lost or passe ouer my head without some good worke tending to the true worshipping of thy holie name which laudable determinations and purpose of the amendment of my leude and loose life may accordingly take effect and giue thy blessing gracious Lord to them all O merciful God I beseech thee according to thy great mercy that thou wâlt bâot out all mine offences for I am a wretched and a miserable sinner therefore I do heartily desire in all humility to adore and worship thee and to render vnto thee immortal praise and thanksgiuing for all thy blessings and especially for that vnspeakable goodnesse wherein thou diddest send downe thy onely begotten Sonne into this vale of miserie for the worke of our redemption whereby wee are cherished and nourished wherewith wee are cleansed and sanctified and our soules made partakers of all heauenly grace and spirituall blessings for which I yeelde vnto thee all possible thanks that a poore sinfull creature being but a handfull of dust can yeelde vnto thy diuine Maiestie being of no value without thy mercy Also thou hast vouchsafed first to wash mee with the lauer of Baptisme to the remission of that originall corruption contracted in my first Parents and afterwards thou hast brought me to the exerâises acts of a right faith not ceasing daily to increase the same in mee by the light of thy grace and doctrine of thy holy Word O Lord I humbly thanke thee also that from my Cradle thou hast nourished clothed and cherished me supplying all things necessary for the reliefe and maintenance of this my feeble body for which euermore I wil magnifie thy holy name that in great mercy thâu hast hither to spared me albeit from my youth I haue wantonly ryoted in manifold excesses patiently expecting till by thy grace I might bee awaked from the sleepe of sinne and reâlaimed from my vanities and wicked courses haddest thou dealt with mee according to my desarts my soule long ere this had been oppressed with innumerable sinnes and had beene plunged in perdition yea the yawning gulfe of hel had swallowed me quicke Lord in respect of all thy mercies graces and blessings which thou hast poured vpon mee I desire that my heart may be more and more enlarged to render vnto thee a more ample tribute of praise and thankesgiuing And now for those things whereof I stand in need and faine would obtaine at thy hands fiâst onely Lord God neuer leaue me vnto my selfe but let the bit of thy chaste feare be euer in my iawes to curbe and to keepe mee within the compasse of thy Law that I may dread nothing in the world as in the least sort to offend and displease thee for which cause let thy holy loue so temper all trials and temptations which happen vnto mee that I may profit and not lose by them thou my Creator knowest how fraile I am of my selfe and how my strength is nothing Moreouer blessed Lord â beseeche thee that thou wouldest keepe farte from me thy seruant all pride and haughtinesse of minde all selfe-loue and vaine glory all obstinacie and disobedience all craft and hurtfull dissimulation cast downe and tread vnder my feete the spirit ââ gluttony and letcherie the spirit of sloth and heauinesse the spirit of malice and enuie the spirit of hatred and disdaine that I may neuer despise or contemne any of thy Creatures nor preferre my selfe before others but euer little in my owne sight to think the best of my bretheren and to deeme and iudge the worst of my selfe Iââest me Holy Father with the wedding garment of thy beloued son âhe supernaturall vertue of âll things that I may loue âhee my Lord God with all my heart with all my soule ând with all my strength âhat neither life nor death ârosperitie nor aduersitie âor any thing else may feâarate mee from thy loue Grant that all inordinate afâection to the transitorie âhings of this World may âailie decay and die in mee âhat thou alone maiest bee âastefull pleasant and sauouâie vnto my soule O my most gracious God âiue vnto thy seruant an âumble contrite and obediânt heart an vnderstanding âlwaies occupied in honest âertuous cogitations a will tractable and euer prone tâ the better affections stayed calme moderate a watch full custody of my sensesâ that by those windowes nâ sin may enter into my soulâ a perfect gouernment of mâ tongue that no corrupt oâ vnseemely language maâ proceede from my lips thâ I may neuer slander backâ bite or speake ill of mâ Neighbour that I may nâ busie my selfe in the faulâ and imperfections of other but rather attend to the â mending of my owne leuâ life and finallie so long aâ am detained in this prisoâ of my bodie and exild froâ my heauenly Countrie lâ this be my portion and tââ comfort of my banishmenâ that free from all seculâ âares and carking solicitude of this present life whollie deuoted to thy seruice I may attend onelie to thee â may reioice onelie in thee â may cleaue vnto thee I may rest my soule in thee ând sitting in silence I may giue way and entertainment âo the heauenlie doctrine to âhe good motions and inâpirations of thy holy Spirit In these sweete exercises âet mee passe the solitarie âoures of my tedious pilgrimage with patience expeââing the shutting vp of my âaies and an happie end of âhis my miserable life And ârant ô thou louer of manâind my Lord and my God âhat when this my earthlie âabernacle shall bee dissolâed being found free from all pollution of sinne as afteâ Baptisme I may bee râckoned in the number of thosâ blessed soules who througâ the merites and passion oâ thy deare Sonne are heldâ worthy to raigne with theeâ and to enioy the glorioââ presence of the blessed Trinitie Father Soâne and Holie Chost to whom of alâ Creatures iâ
I fraile man and most wretched sinner haue offended thee Therefore I most humbly pray and beseech thy gentlenesse who for my health and saluation descendedst from Heauen and diddest hold vp Dauid that hee should not fall into sinne Haue mercy vpon me O Christ who didst forgiue Peter that did forsake thee Thou art my Creatour my Helper and Maker my Redeemer my Gouernour my Father my Lord my God my King thou art my helpe my trust my strength my defence my redemption my life my health and my resurrection thou art my stedfastnesse my refuge and succour my light and my helpe I most humbly and heartily desire pray thee helpe ând defend mee Make mee âârong comfort me make me stedfast make me soberây mery giue me the light of thy spirit and visite mee reuiue me again who am dead for I am thy making and thy worke O Lord despise me not I am thy seruant thy bondman although euill vnworthy and a sinner But whatsoeuer I am whether I bee good or bad I am euer thine Therefore to whom shall I flie except I flie vnto thee If thou cast mee off who shall or wil receiue me If thou despise me and turne thy face from me who shall looke vpon mee and recognise and acknowledge me Although I be vnworthy to come to thee although I be vile and vncleane thou canst make me cleane If I be dead thou canst râuiuemee for thy mercy is much morethen mine iniquitie thou canst forgiue me more then I can offend Therefore O Lord doe not consider nor haue respect to the number of my sinnes but according to the greatnesse of thy mercie looke on me a most wretched sinner Lord say vnto my soule I am thy health who saidest I will not the death of any sinner but rather that he liue and be conuerted Turne me O Lord to thee and bee not angry with me I pray thee most meeke Father for thy great mercie bring mee vnto that blisse that neuer âhall cââsse so bee it Aâen A Prayer for the râmissââ of sinnes O Lord God if we wretched sinners had not ây thy tender mercies and âouing promises in Holie Scripture the comfort of our weake consciences and sorrowfull hearts we see no other remedy so great and âinfinite are our sinnes but that wee must needes despaire But for as much as whatsoeuer things are written are written for our learning that through patience and the comfort of Scriptures wee may haue hope though our sinnes be neuer so many neuer so abhominable yet they doe not so much make vs sad as thy louing kindnesse and âender mercieâ make vs glad Our sinnes we consesse are innumerable but thy mercies are also infinit thoâ art that most gentle Lord which wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that hee turne and liue Thou for repentance sake wilt not see the sinâes of men thou confessest that thou camest into this World to saue sinners to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance and to seeke that which was lost Thou callest vnto thee all those that are diseased and loaden with the heauy burthen of sinne and promiseât that thou wilt case them yea by thy Prophet thou saiest If wee will wash and make cleanâ our selââs put away our euill thoughts out of thy sight cease from doing euiââ and violence learne to doe right apply our selues to equitie deliuer the oppressed helpe the fatherlesse to his right and heare the widowes coâplaint though our sinnes were as âed as scarlet âet shall they be made whiâââ then snow and though they were like purple yet they shall be made like white ãâã Yea thou saiest moreouer that for thine owne sake euen for thy mercy names sake thou wilt be good vnto vs fauour vsâ and so cast away all our sinnes behind thy backe thaâ thou wilt neâer remember them more O Lord thou art the God which cannot lie thou art the soules truth thou art faithfull in thy words and holy in all thy workes For according to these thy louing promises hast thou euer dealt with the chiâdren of men whensoeuer they repented and turned vnto thee when they forsooke their sinful liuing and called vpon thy holy name thou forgauest all their sâns and healedst all their infirmities thou also sauedst their life from destruction and crownedst them with mercie and louing kindnesse For thou O Lord God aââfull of compassion and mercie long suffering and of great goodnesse thou wiââ not alway be chiding neither wilt thou keepe thine anger for euer neither wilt thou deale with vs after our sinnes nor yet reward vs according to our wickednesse For looke how high the Heauen is in comparison of the Earth so great is thy mercie towards them that feare thee Looke how wide the East is from the West so farâe dost thou set our sinnes from vs yea like as a Father pittieth his owne children euen so art thou mercifull vnto them that feare thee For thou knowest whereof we be made thou remembrest that wee are but dust that a man in his time is but grasâe and flourisheth as a flower of the fiâld and as soone as the wind goeth ouer it is gone and the place thereof knoweth it no more but thy mercifull goodnesse O Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them that feare thee Of these thy louing kindnesses and tender mercies who hath not tasted if hee sought it with all his heart Thou diddest forgiue Dauid both his whoredome and manslaughter when hee repented and confessed his sinne How oft diddest thou call back the plagues of thy vengeance when the Children of Israel lamented their sins and turned vnto thee How mercifull diddest thou shew thy selfe to the Nânââites when they repented humbled themselues in thy sight How louingly spakest thou to that sinfull Woman in the Gospel and forgauest her all her sinnes because shee repented and beleeued Peter thy Disciple although most cowardly denying thee after that he had bitterly wept and lamented his sinnes thou diddest behold with thy mercifull eye and fauourably receiue him againe into the number of thy holy Apostles One of them that died with thee being a thiefe after he had called vnto thee for grace thou didst place in Paradise and make him partaker of thine eternall felicity Many other notable examples of thy great mercies find wee in Holy Scripture which will not suffer vs to despaire of thy clemencie and goodnesse be our sinnes and wickednesse neuer so maây but they rather encourage âs boldly to come vnto the Throne of thy Grace that we may receiue mercie and finde grace to helpe in âime of neede O most gentle Sauiour thou art that most louing Shepheard who didst diligentây seeke the wandering sheepe louingly laide it vppon thy shoulderâ and tenderly brought it home againe seeke vs who haue so long run astray lay vs vpon thy mercifull shoulders and bring vs home againe vnto the companie of thy faithfull Thou art that mercifull Samaââtane who beholding the