peace another praies only for peace and God giues him neither grace nor peace not peace because hée wants grace to vse it not grace because peace is all the grace hée cares for not peace because hée will punish him for not begging or estéeming grace and not grace because he séekes not for it One praies for Gods blessing vpon his meat drinke physicke and labor and God heares him not another prospers in these things without praier What is the reason Is it in vaine to pray No pray for a blessing and leaue the euent to God It is sometimes a blessing to want such a blessing By this dealing God shewes hée is tied to no man by desert hée shewes he will do with his owne what he list himselfe hée will exercise thy faith fortitude perhaps he meanes to hasten thée to better fauors and for the other that respects not praier and yet prospers God doth it to allure him to him or else it may bée to fatten him vp for the slaughter in which case that prosperitie is very aduersitie and that séeming blessing a true curse One praieth conceiuing an other reading the one frames words to his mind which is more easie the other frames his minde to words which is not so easie yet both the one and the other praieth obtaineth if they pray with good vnderstanding and godly affections A man may pray without booke and misse he may pray by a booke and get for he that praies by heart without heart does nothing but talke whereas he that praies by book with his heart doth both reade and pray with deuotion He reades a praier but praieth not who reades without vnderstanding or affection â— and â—â— likewise speakes but praies not that vtters wordes and yet weies not nor heartely wishes not the things he speakes of Two desire grace one of them obtaines the other gets it not Is God partiall or respects he persons No but one desires grace and vseth the meanes and ordinances of grace as the word and Sacraments and obtaineth another would haue grace but cares not for these meanes and is reiected Some condemne the saying of one prayer often at one time and so it may if the hart repeat not as wel as the tongue But if there be an ingemination of affection as well as of the supplication it is not to be reproued We can double our sinnes why can wee not why should wee not double our suites for the pardon of them One prayes weeping another cannot shedds a teare yet both may bee heard for the sobbes and sighes of the soule are as sensible to Gods eare as teares are to the eye and the soule can shed teares though the eyes be dry As also the eye can water when the soule is not wet The best teares are the throbs of a broken and bléeding heart Some imagine that they can make Powerfull prayers thinking with their words and arguments to preuaile with God Almightie wheras in truth if any man bee heard it is not for the swéetnesse of words the variety of matter the multiplicity of reasons but through the intercession of Christ who doth make God propitious to vs and to accept our poore and humble prayers If my prayers be heard I will ascribe it to Gods dignation and not to nay dignitie to Gods benigâ—â—ty and not to my prayers excellencie to his eare and not to my tongue Praying and wishing is not all one He that wishes doth not alwaies expresse or define a person from or of whom hee wisheth some good vnto himselfe but he that prayeth prayeth to some body But whether men wish or pray for any grace it is no signe of sauing grace except the meanes of grace be loued neither shall that grace be granted whiles these meanes are neglected Those meanes can do nothing without God and God to wit ordinarily will doe nothing without them Some are wide mouth ed but close-fisted they wil promise much but performe little part with nothing but God is open handed and open hearted his promises are performances and his wordes workes He is Verity and cannot lye hee is Vertue and cannot faile his power is able to make good his promise Amongst men promises are often as weightlesse as the winde some would performe and cannot some could but wil not but God both can and will his will is not larger then his power but what God doth will that God doth work and whatsoeuer he is able to will he is able to worke It is pittie then but that hee should want that may haue for asking Hautinesse is abhominable in a Suiter but humilitie pleaseth yet all that talke of humilitie are not truely humble Some are humble-proud proud of humblenesse but indéed he that is proud of humilitie doth want humilitie and swels with insolencie I would haue all men pray humbly yet let no man thinke he deserues to bee heard for his humilitie the opinion of such a merits wil stop the passage of mercie Others forsooth will néeds be so humble as that they will not goe only and alwaies to God directly but with the craued aide of Saints departed Truely I desire to bee humble but I would not bee humbler then my God requireth such humilitie is eyther pride of hart or ignorance of head I confesse I am not worthy of my selfe to present my selfe and my suites vnto so high a Maiestie but his precept and promise doth embolden me and what I want in my selfe it is supplyed in my Sauiour his merites doth coâ—er all my denierites Some imagin they néed not pray for that which they know they haue yet our Sauiour bids vs pray dayly for our Bread Thou hast bread now thou maist be depriued of it by and by or what if God deny it his word of blessing If he do thy bread may be thy bane it may rot it may hurt and not help I will pray for bread as though I wanted bread Though I were very rich yet would I pray as poore Though I knew I had God yet wold I stil seeke him as if I had not found him Though I were holy and knew my selfe to be in the state of grace yet would I pray that God would accept and sanctifie me as though I were vn holy and felt my selfe most miserable There are some that because they haue beene grieuous and long sinners doe thinke it is too late soâ— them and that they are not worthy nâ—w to pray fâ—â— mercy Surely they think not wrong if they respect their owne desert yet would I haue them pray for â—arden because Gods mercie is greater then their misery and â—e will remit if they will repent I will nâ—t â—e â—eterâ—d from crauing mercy though my merits are worthy nothing but endlesse misery I will pray for grace thogh I haue beene too too gracelesse because God is gracious and bids me pray because Christ is pitâ—full and bids me Come and because the Scripture saith Hee that confesseth his sinne sand
thou séeest euen the very secrets of our hearts and that nothing can be done be it neuer so secret without thy knowledge these mercies and blessings we pray thée to grant vnto vs for Iesus Christs sake our Lord Amen Another Euening Praier ETernall God and in Iesus Christ our most merciful father thou which art the father of mercies the God of al consolations we thy vnworthy seruants doe héere according to our bounden duties humble our selues before thy maiestie and rendring in that poore measure we are able all praise and thankes for all thy mercies blessings bestowed vpon vs from time to time euer since we were borne vntill this present for our election creation redemption vocation iustification sanctification preseruation and the hope of our glorification herafter as also for al those blessings that concern this life present furnishing vs continually with all good things necessarie that wée stand in néede of More especially O Lord we thank thée y â— thou hast preserued defended vs this day from al perils and dangers both of body and soule wherinto many haue fallen and wée might also had we not béen guided by thy merciful prouidence O Lord we confesse to the shame of our owne selues that wee are not worthy of the least of all these thy mercies but as we were conceiued and borne in sinne so haue wée liued in iniquity and in the transgression of thy lawes not regarding to be gouerned by the holy word and therefore haue iustly deserued that thou shouldest poure vpon vs all shame misery in this life and eternall condemnation in the World to come but O Lord we know that thou art a God full of mercy stow to anger great compassion and wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that we should liue In confidence of this thy mercie we confesse before thy maiestie our manifold sinnes in treating thée to pardon them all for the merits of Christ Iesus séeing thou hast giuen vs so large a time of repentance grant that we may now at length returne vnto thée in sinceritie of heart contrition of spirit And for this night present we beséech thée sanctific our rest vnto vs this night that we may enioy the same as thy blessing that thereby our wearied bodies being refreshed with moderate and quiet sléepe wée may be the better enabled to walke before thée in our callings the day following to thy glorie and our owne comforts throgh Iesus Christ Remember with vs thy Church and children in all places gather together thine elect forgiue the crying sinnes of this land make an end of these daies of sinne and hasten the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ Preserue thine annointed and our dread soueraign King the Quéen and their roiall Progenie defend and kéep them from plots and trecheries both abroad and at home Let thy spirit of wisdome of Councell and of vpright iudgement rest vpon all the Lords of his maiesties honourable Priuie Councell the Nobilitie and magistracie for the best good of this whole Land Blesse y â— painfull preachers of thy holy word giue good successe we pray thée to their studies and labours for the winning of so many soules as thou hast ordained to eternal life comfort all thy afflicted that suffer vnder thy hand and howsoeuer it shall please thée to deale with them yet support them with patience thankfullnesse to vndergoe whatsoeuer it shall please thée to lay vpon them and when thou shalt sée it fit send them deliuerance that either by life or by death Christ may be to them aduantage Lastly we beséech thée good Lord to blesse all our kinsfolkes in the flesh and all others whom thou would est we should pray for heare vs for them and them for vs Christ Iesus for vs all In whose name we shut vp these our imperfect praiers in that perfect forme which he himselfe hath left vs saying Our father c. Morning Praier for a priuate person MOst Glorious God and mercifull father I thy most vnworthy creature doe héere confesse before thy Diuine Maiestie to thy glory though it be to the shame and confusion of mine owne face that I am not worthy to appeare before thée much more vnworthy to offer vp my praiers vnto thée with confidence that thou shouldest heare them and grant my requests by reason of my manifold sinnes and transgressions that I haue heaped vp against thy maiesty ere since I was borne vntill this present day And now O Lord being come before thée I must néedes confesse the vilenesse of my estate I was conceiued bred born in sinne and in sinne haue I continued all my daies I haue drunke Iniquitie like water yea I haue drawne it after me and tied it vnto me as with great ropes yea I haue eueÌ„ made a mock of sinne and it hath béene a pastime vnto me to doe wickedly Notwithstanding O Lord thou hast called vpon me but still I haue refused thou hast againe and againe stretched out thy hand but I haue not regarded thou hast sought to reclaime me but I haue hated to be reformed thou hast often called vpon mee by thy blessed word yet notwithstanding I haue despised thy patience and abused thy goodnesse so that I haue giuen thée iust cause to heap vpon me all thy seareful plagues and punishments which in the extremity of thy law do belong vnto the wicked It is thy vnspeakeable mercy that thou didst not make my bed my graue neuer to haue risen againe but O Lord I know there is abundance of mercies with thée that thou mayest be feared and excéeding experience haue I had of thy goodnesse long suffering and patience towards me therfore I grow in hope still that thou purposest me good not euill to saue me not to destroy me beséeching thée to accept the death of Christ as a full satisfaction for all my smâ—â—es to wash them away in his blood and to binds them in one bundle cast them behinde thy backe neuer to be remembred I humbly thank thy maiesty for thy manifold mercies extended towards me this night past al y â— daies of my life for my quiet rest sléep my foode and raiment my health peace and libertie and the hope of a better life in the merits of thy deare sonne Christ Iesus for all these thy mercies O Lord I haue nothing to render vnto thée but thine owne If I could giue thée my bodie and soule they might be saued by it but thou wert neuer the richer for it yea euen since I rose I haue tasted many of thy blessings and thou hast begun to serue me before I haue begun to serue thée I can shew no reason why thou shouldest bestow all these blessings vpon me more than others but that thou art mercifull and if thou shouldest draw all back againe from me as iustly thou maiest I haue nothing to say but that thou art iust and séeing O Lord I am now to enter
into the affaires of this day I beséech thée blesse me in the duties of my calling this day and euer for idlenesse and godlynesse can not stand together and it is thy pleasure that in the sweat of my face I should eat my bread O Lord preserue me from all fraudulent and deâ—eitfull courses draw my affections more and more from the loue of the World fix my heart vpon those things which are aboue if things succéed according to my mind by thy blessing vpon my labours make me thankefull vnto thée if any crosse come make me patient and carefull to profit by euerie chastisement that it shall please thée to lay vpon me knowing that howsoeuer they are greiuous for the present yet in the end they will bring the quiet fruit of righteousnesse to al them that are thereby exercised which God grant for his Christs sake to whom with the holy spirit bee all praise now and euer Amen Euening Praier for a priuate Person O Eternall God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and in him my most mercifull father I humbly confesse before thy glorious presence that I am altogether a lump of sinne a masse of corruption and therfore haue for feited thy fauour and incurred thy high displeasure both in thought word and deede My sins O Lord are more in number than the haires of my head yea farre more than I can possibly féele or know and if I should goe about to reckon vp my particular offences I know not where to begin or where to make an end It is thou O Lord who knowest my sins to whom the secrets of my heart are manifest and nothing can be hid from thy sight besides my consciense doth accuse me of many greiuous euils and I daily feele by ful experience how fraile I am how prone to euel and backward to all goodnesse my minde my heart and affections and all the faculties both of soule and body are ful of vanitie profanenesse dulnesse deadnesse drowâ—inesse in matters of thy worship and seruice But O déere father I haue learned from thy mouth that thou art a God full of mercie slow to wrath and of great compassion and kindnesse towards all such as are heauy laden groan vnder the burthen of their sinnes O Lord extend thy great mercy towards mée poore sinner and giue me a general pardon for al mine offences whatsoeuer seale it to my conscience in the blood of thy déere son Christ Iesus assuring me more and more of thy loue an fauour towards me and that thou art a reconciled father vnto me in the same christ O Lord I beséech thée principally giue me victorie ouer those sins thou knowest my nature most prone to commit Mortific in me whatsoeuer is carnall and sanctiffe me by thy good spirit and knit my heart vnthée for euer Lord grant that I may take delight in the reading and hearing of thy holy word that I may loue and reuerence all the faithfull Ministers of the gospell giue O Lord a melting heart that I may tremble at thy worde let not my sinnes holde backe thy mercies from me nor mine vnworthines stop the passage of thy grace I most humbly thank thee for all thy blessings bestowed vpon me necessarie for this life as food raiment health peace liberty c. which many of thy déere children doe want being notwithstanding bought with the pretious blood of Christ Iesus as well as I. Biâ—t aboue all deere Father I praise thy name for the blessings of a better life especially for thy holy worde and sacraments and all the good I enioy therby for the continuance of thy gospell the worde of truth the means of our saluation for the death of thy son and all that happinesse I receiue thereby O Lord open my blinde eies euery day more and more to sée and consider of thy great and meruelous loue towards me in all these things that by the dew consideration therof my heart may be drawne néerer vnto thee to loue thée much because thou hast giuen much and as thou dost abound towards me in goodnesse so grant that I may abound towards thée in obedience and thankfulnesse and in these my weak and imperfect praiers O Lord I am not mindeful of my selfe alone but of the whole estate of thy Church wheresoeuer blesse all christian Kings and Princes calling vpon thy name especially our dread Soueraigne the Kings Maiestie the Quéene and their roial Progonie Blesse all the nobilitie the magistrates and ministers of the Land that all their Councels and labours may begin at thy feare and may be referred thy glory Succour and comfort all those that are comfortlesse sanctifie all their afflictions and troubles vnto them that they may tend to thy glory and their owne good Finally O Lord according to my bounden dutie I commend vnto thy Maiestie all my friends and acquaintance beséeching thée for them as for my selfe to blesse vs all in our particular places and grant that we may do those things which may bée to thy glorie and our comforts through Iesus Christ our Lord. In whose name I end as he hath taught me saying Our father which art in heauen hallowed bee thy name Thy kingdome come Thy-will be done in earth as it is in heauen c. A Prayer for a priuate person necessarie at all times ALmightie God and in Iesus Christ my most mercifull and louing Father I doe here in thy presence acknowledge that I am of my selfe a most wretched and miserable sinner both in respect of the corruptions of my heart as also the transgression of my life more particularly I doe acknowledge the infidelitie of my heart wherby I haue not yet learned to depend vpon thy prouidence for the things of this life nor vpon thy mercie for the saluation of my soule I confesse O Lord the Atheisme and profanenesse both of my mind and heart whereby all my thoughts and affections are estranged from thée and so glewed to the things of this life that I can take more ioy and delight in doing mine owne will and in seruing mine owne lusts then euer I would â—â— in seruing and obeying thée I acknowledge likewise the pride of mine own heart whereby I doe eralt my selfe in the vanity of my own conceit aboue thy maiestie and aboue my Brethren whom thou hast made farre more excellent then my selfe as also the security of the flesh whereby I put away the day of wrath farre from mee promising to me selfe fréedome from all thy curses and plagues notwithstanding I walke in sinne and in the stubbornnes of mine owne heart my hypocrisie wherby I am content my selfe onely with an outward name and profession of religion and holinesse before men not regarding the truth and power of godlinesse besides O Lord my life abounds in all Actuall transgressions against euery one of thy commandements I haue liued in the abuse of thy mercies and haue not béene drawne néerer vnto thee In neglect of thy
father that sent him O Lord grant that I may follow his steps endeuouring to please thée in the whole course of my life through the same Iesus Christ our Lord and only Sauiour Amen A Praier containing humble confession of Sinne and desire of pardon O Eternall God and mercifull father infifinite in iustice and truth taking vengance vpon all disobedient children and yet abundant in goodnesse and mercy towards al such as vnfainedly feare thy name and return vnto thée in sincerity of heart and contrition of spirit prostrating their soules before thée I most vile and wretched sinner doe humbly beséech thée of thy infinite mercy to haue compassion vpon my sinnes which are so grieuous and so vile and loathsome as thy pure eies can not abide to looke vpon them I confesse O Lord that all my life hath béen in sinne our fathers and mothers were sinnefull euen from the sâ—ock of our great grandfather Adam whose blindnesse should haue béen our light and whose sight was turned to our blindnesse and darkenesse by the deceitfull entisements of that enemy of our saluation that subtill serpent Satan by whose baites our forefather being clothed with innocency and integretie and vnspeakable hapinesse was moued by the desire of the knowledge of that which thou wouldest he should haue béene ignorant of by breaking of which thy commandement he with the woman which thou gauest to bee a help comfort vnto him were according to thy determinate will cast out of Paradice a place of ioy to a place of miserie and labour I beseech thee most gratious God smite my hard and stonie heart and make it euen to melt with in me at the sight of my manifold transgressions settle in it I pray thée that godly sorrow which causeth repentance vnto saluation not to be repented of humble my soule vnder thy mighty hand and suffer it not to fréeze in the dregs of mine owne corruptions and make my head full of water mine eies a fountaine of teares which may run down like a riuer day night and grant O Lord that I may sorrow not so much because of hell and damnation which is due vnto me for my sinnes but that my chiefest sorrow may be this that I haue offended so good and gratious a God as thou art in abusing thy mercies and requiting thy excéeding loue with so greiuous sins O Lord I am bold to come vnto thée at this time not in my owne name for who am I that I should dare to presse into thy presence but in the name and mediation of thy déere and welbeloued son Christ Iesus Let his death passion be a full satisfaction for all my sinnes wash me throughly in his blood from mine iniquities and clense me from my sinnes let not thy hand of iustice destroy me but giue me the comfort of thy help and stablish me with thy truth Most gratious father thou which art the father of mercies and the God of consolations of thée I aske mercy and forgiuenesse of all my sinnes thou wouldest that none should perish but that all should be saued and come to the knowledge of thy truth thou hast commanded me most gratious God in thy holy word to call and knock vnto thée whereupon thou hast gratiousty promised so to finde as to enter into me and to entertaine me I beséech thée make good my promise vnto me at this time and regard my teares my sighes and my groanes which doe knock at the gate of thy mercies I endeuour most gracious God and striue to do thy will Lord make good thy promise I beséech thée in thy word and accept my desire and howsoeuer vilde wretch that I am euer since I Couenanted with thée to doe thée seruice I haue either vngratiously forgotten or vngratefully remembred all thy benefits and haue not so estéemed thée for them as I would haue done a mortall friend for a few common Curtesies yet neuer the lesse haue mercy vpon me I can not excuse my faults and If I should yet my consciense would condemne mée for I had thy expresse word to stay me and mine owne conscience to bridle me yea I would haue allowed those things which I did if any other had done them but my selfe now when my memorie is the handwriting of my debt and my thoughts are willing wâ—â—nesses against me and mine owne knowledge condemneth me what remaineth but that I must néeds fall into thy hands O Lord I beséech thée according to thy wonted mercy and old louing kindnesse haue pity vpon me miserable sinner and grant me a frée remission of all my sinnes and a perfect reconciliation with thée in Christ Iesus this O Lord I earnestly craue at thy hands euen for the same Iesus Christ sake our Lord and sauiour Amen A godly Prayer in time of sicknesse or at the point of Death ALmightie God and in Iesus Christ my most mercifull Father I thy poore wretched seruant which doe here lye vnder thy hand féeling thy punishment of the corruption and transgression that is in me and in all flesh euen this same sicknesse which at this time thou hast sent vnto mee I doe here humble my selfe vnder thy hands and acknowledge against my selfe my heinous sins and corruptions so that I confesse that I haue not only deserued sicknes of body yea the separation of my soule from my body but also the separation both of bodie and soule from thée and thy kingdome for euer but good Father I humbly beseech thee looke vpon me in the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus in whome thou hast loued mee before the foundations of the world were laid though sinne haue brought sicknes and sicknes bee an vndoubted messenger of death at the time thou hast appointed yet grant good Lord that I may be vndoubtedly perswaded in this that death is swallowed vp in victorie and that this death can no more hold me vnder then it hath done Iesus Christ into whom I am translated therefore I beseech thée giue me a swéet féeling of my incorporation into Christ Iesus in whose death though I dye yet I shall liue by y â— vertue of his resurrection eternally O Lord in this my sicknesse giue me I beséech thée a déep touch and a sensible vnderstanding of my sinnes past that I haue not vsed this temporall life which thou didst lend mee more to thy glorie that I did not so watch for death as that I was no better prepared for it that I was no more diligent in my calling to seeke the aduancement of thy glory Now O Lord I pray thee take from me all guile of Spirit all disposition to flatter or to sooth vp my selfe or to lessen either the number or the qualitie of my sinnes cause mee euen to breake vp my hart and to search and trie my waies that so out of the abundance of my feeling I may poure out a most plentifull and sincere confession before thee knowing it to be in vaine to endeuour
forsaketh them shall find mercie Some pray for remission but care not for repentance they desire a blessing but yet absteuie not from that which pâ—â—ureth cursing These pray in vaine because their practise is vaine For God heareth Saints not Sinners and granted his pardon to the penitent onely and not to such as perseuere impenitent He therfore that would obtaine pardon let him abstaine from ssnne which might deteine his pardon He that would not that sinne should damne him must not indure sinne to dominere with in him Though this be true that no man is pardoned because he is penitent yet this is true that No man is pardoned but he that is penitent If thou wilt not mortifie sin sinne shall mortifie thée if thou wilt not dye to it thou shalt dye for it If thou wilt not that it should dye in thee thou shalt dye in it Some seeme to couet nothing more then a ioyfull resurrection after death yet shall they not attaine to a ioyfull resurrection of their bodies after death because they labour not the resurrection of the soul before death There are two resurrections the first of the ssoule from the sléepe of sinne in this life the second of the body from the sleepe of death in the life to come Woe be vnto him that riseth not tâ—ise for if he rise but once he shal rise but from death to death from sleepe to sorrow his body shall rise from the earth and fall into hell But hee that riseth from the death of sinne in this world shall bee raised vp to the life of happinesse in the world to come I will therefore pray for a ioyfull resurrection of my body to glorie and will not forget whiles I liue the resurrection of my soule to grace as knowing that if I will not study to be gracious I shall not attain to be glorious I haue heard some desire to dye and some desire to liue neither durst I condemne the desires of either I will desire to lâ—ue till I haue learn'd to dye I will desire to die when I haue learn'd to liue For a bad death cannot follow a good life and hee hath learn'd to dye that hath learned well to liue If I can gain Christ in my life Christ will not loose mee at my death If the loue of Christ liue in mee whiles I liue I cannot but liue in the loue of Christ when I dye There are many that often pray they were in heaued which yet I dare not say they shall go to heauen For he y â— praies for heaueÌ„ and goes in the way to hel shall not ascend whether he wisheth but descend whether he walketh hee shall gee whether his féet doth lead him not whether his fooilsh fancie slatters him There are some pray for death yet cannot dye others dye and would not And God by crossing both doth punish both For to the one nothing seemes swéeter then death and to the other nothing seemes swéeter then life to the one it séemeth death to liue to the other the very thought of death is a verie death accounting it the only heauen to liue alwaies vpon the earth Some pray they may dye and may dye to their cost if they pray without care and liue without conscience If the heauinesse of crosses and not the hope of a crowne if the losse of libertie and not the lothing of lust if the sustaining of sorrowes and not the wearisomenesse of sin if the feeling of paines and not the fellowship of Christ doth make a man desire to dye his desire is naught and his death not good For those onely desire well and dye well that are mooued more with sinne then sickenesse with heauenly comforts then earthly crosses with Christ then with all calamities Before thou pray to dye first pray for the death of sinne which is the sting of death and when thou dost desire to die let it be rather to be disâ—nedeâ—ed of thy sinnes then of thy sorrowes and to liue with Christ rather then to be deliuered of thy crosses I sée much hardnesse of hart amongst men and but a little mercy I suppose such persons implâ—re not pray not much for Gods mercy For it cannot bée that any man should bée without mercie to his neighbour who doth truly pray for Gods mercy to himselfe There are in the world which pray God to pardon them yet will they not forgiue their neighbours These are not men but monsters which would receiue mercie of God but wil shew no mercie to men for God which would haue God forgiue them but will not forgiue others Such cannot say the Lords Praier but they pray to the Lord against themselues make their truest friend their greatest for For wrath without pardon belongs to them that wil not pardon I will forgiue and I will pray to be forgiuen I would not that any man should néede my pardon but if he doe desire it God grant I may not denie it The rich and the poore pray together and both do obtain the rich being poore in spirit and the poore being rich in faith Thus would I bée poore that I way be rich thus would I be rich least I should bée poore The rich the poore both pray and neither are heard the rich because he is poore in humilitie the poore because he is rich in pride the rich because he hath no pity the poore because he hath no patience the rich because hée contemnes the poore the poore because he enuies the rich I will labor therefore to be rich in humilitie and poore in hautinesse I wold be pitifull and patient courteous and contented There are many that cry Lord help whom the Lord wil not help Hée that would haue help of God let him not deny his helpe to Man hée that would haue God help him let him not forget to help himselfe For God helpes the helpefull such as are ready to helpe themselues and others to T is pitty but that thou shouldest lie and die in the ditch that saiest Lord help but will vse no meanes if thou maiest to helpe thy selfe I will therefore pray for helpe and yet vse the meanes of helpe and pray that God would help me in those meanes of helpe and blesse them to mée There are many which desire Christ might bée their Sauiour which yet shall not be saued because they would bée saued but will not serue their Sauiour they like his saluation but they loue not his seruice he may suffer or do what he will for them but they will neither suffer nor doe ought for him His merits they pray for but his lawes they care not for Now hée will not bée their Sauiour because they will not be his seruants for hée will saue none but such as will serue him I will therefore suffer him to be my Lord as I doe desire him to be my Sauiour Two graces I desire of him grace to serue him grace to be saued by him Some
so as they may neuer bee able to rise vp against vs either in this World to accuse vs or in the World to come to condemne vs. And because O Lord our nature is so prone to commit sume and that with grée dinesse so that if thou shouldest euen at this instant giue vs a frée pardon of all our sins yet we confesse such is the corruption of our weake flesh that without the restraining grace of thy holy spirit we should fall into the same sinnes againe or â—nto worse therefore wee humbly pray thée most gracious God not only to pardon that which is past but also purge our present corruptions and by the grace of thy good spirit preuent those that are to come graÌ„t good Lord that wee may thinke it more than sufficient that we haue spent the time past of our liues according to the lusts of the flesh and after our own desires and fancies and may now euen resolue to dedicate the rest of our liues that yet remaineth to thy glorie our owne comfort and the good of our brethren throgh Iesus Christ our Lord. In these our weake praiers O Lord wee are not mindefull of our selues alone but of thy whole Church dispearsed ouer the face of the earth farre and wide blesse O Lord the principall member thereof our dread Soueraigne king Iames Enrich his roiall heart with all grares necessary for so high a place stablish his throne we beséech thée and let his soule bee bound in the bundle of life with thée O God blesse Quéene his wife make her a helpe vnto him in the best things blesse their Roiall Progenie and grant that they may not want one of that line to sit vpon this throne so long as the Sun and Moone endures Blesse all his Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell be thou present with them and president ouer all their counsels as may bee most for thy glorie the honour of the King the peace of the State and the comfort of thy people Blesse all the Iudges and magistrates of the land Blesse the Ministers of thy Word and Sacraments Thou that art the Lord of the haruest thrust forth many faithfull and painefull Labourers that they may féed thy people with knowledge and vnderstanding blesse O Lord all the afflicted members of thy Church diseased either in body or minde or both especially those that suffer for the testimonie of a good conscience O Lord to whom all their cases and necessities are manifest we beséech to make al their bed in their sicknesse lay no more vpon them than thou shalt make them able to beare giue them the true sight feeling of their sins so farre as may lead them to true repentance with harty sorrow for the same And good father deale with them in mercy not in iustice either to release them out of that present miserie wherein they are either by life that they may glorifie thée in this World or by faithfull departure that they may be gloriffed of thée in the world to come These mercies most gracious God and whatsoeuer else thou knowest in thy wisedome to bee better for vs than we our selues can ask we beg them at thy hands not for our owne merits for they are nothing but for the merits of thy decre son Christ Iesus our Lord and sauiour in whose name in whose words we conclude saying Our father which art in Heauen c. Morning Prayer for priuate Families MOst gracious God and mercifull Father thou that art glorious in power and holines we thy poore and miserable Creatures being but dust and Ashes do here humbly prostrate our selues and our sinfull soules before the throne of thy Maiestie Confessing and acknowledging from the bottomâ— of our hearts that wee are most vile sinners conceiued and borne in some and that we are by nature nothing else but a â—â—nye of all wickednesse whese nature and propertie is to grow and encrease in sin as we grow in yeares and to war strong in wickednesse euen as the powers of our mindes and bodies receiue strength and although our cursed estate doth here in greatly appear yet our sinne is made out of measure sinfull through the excéeding grace which thou hast offered vnto vs. by thy Gospell of thy dear Sâ—â—me whereby we are so farre from proâ—iting that of our selues without the grace of thy holy Spirit in our hearts we should war worse and worse wherefore wee beséech thée O Lord as our sâ—nes haue magnified themselues in an infinite length bredth depth and height so let thy mercies which passe all vnderstanding outstrippe them and howsoeuer by reason of our sinnes wée haue iustly deserued to bée depriued of all thy blessings in this life and hereafter to haue our portion with the diuell and his Angels yet O Lord God wee pray thée remember that we are thy people and shéep of thy pasture whom thou host redéem'd with thy most precious bloud despise not therefore O Lord the worke of thy hands but for thy glories sake and for thy blessed names sake spare vs sparevs good Lord according to thy vsuall dealing with those which in prayer haue had recourse vnto thée and according to the old and vnchangeable Nature of a kinde long suffering and mercifull God Thy mercie O Lord hath manifestly appeared vnto vs this night past in that thou hast giuen vs quiet rest sléep for the refreshment of our weake bodies whereas for our sinnes past committed the day before thou mightst iustly euen in our dead sléep haue taken our soules from vs and so suddenly haue brought vs to our account but it hath pleased thée to spare vs and to giue vs a larger time of repentance O Lord as thou giuest vs space so wee beséech thée giue vs also grace to repent vs of our former euill wayes and to turne vnto thée and for as much as thou hast commanded in thy holy word that no man should be idle but euery one occupied in godly and vertuous exercises according to their Callings wee most humbly beseech thée that thine eyes may attend vpon vs dayly defend vs cherish comfort gouerne counsell vs in all our studies and labours in such wise that we may spend and bestow this day and all the dayes of our liues according to the blessed will setting thée alwaies before our eyes and liuing in thy feare euer working that which may be fonnd acceptable in thy sight through Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we end as hée hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in heauen c. Euening Prayer for priuate Families OAlmightie Lord God and in Iesus Christ our most mercifull and louing Father we thy poore and vnworthy seruants do here from the ground of our hearts render vnto thy diuine Maiestie in that poore measure wée are able all praise and thankes for all thy blessings mercies bestowed vpon vs from time to time euer since we were born vntill this present houre especially O Lord
vpon our endeauours this day in time of prayer grant vs reuerence to thy Maiestie faith in the promises of thy Sonne Christ Iesus a liuely féeling of our owne wants and a continuall remembrance of all thy former fauours and mercies towards vs and when we heare thée speaking vnto vs by the mouth of thy Ministers bee pleased to giue vnto vs vnlocked and vnderstanding hearts rectifie our Iudgements sanctifie our affections and strengthen our memories that those holy instructions which wee shall heare reuerently and attentiuely may of vs be practised faithfully and effectually in the whole course of our liues through Iesus Christ our Lord giue vnto the preacher O Lord a doore of vtterance touch his tongue with a Cole from thine Altar that he may deliuer the word of life boldly that whatsoeuer corruption lies hid in our hearts the power of thy holy word may search and discouer it to the very bottome and grant that wee may not heare it as the word of a miserable mortal man like vnto our selues but as it is indéed the word of thee the euerliuing God who art able to saue and to destroy And because Sathan a deadly enemie to mans saluation readie to picke the séede of thy word which is sowne in our hearts therefore wee pray thee O Lord confound Sathan and all his workes and be thou more mercifull in blessing thine owne ordinance vnto vs then Sathan either is or can be possibly malicious to hinder the same for this end and purpose wee beséech thée O Lord to take out of our mindes all vaine and wandring thoughts all couetous desires of the world and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be an enemie to the sauing hearing of thy holy word that thy word may be vnto vs not as our sinnes deserue it should but as it is in it selfe thy power to our saluation that it may bee as seede sowne in good ground which bring forth in vs plentifull fruit to thy glorie and our own comforts through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whom with thée and the Holy Spirit bee all praise and power maiestie and dominion now and for euer Amen Euening Prayer on the Sabbath day EUerlasting God and in Iesus Christ our most mercifull and gracious Father we thy poore seruants are here met together in the feare of thy maiestie and in the confidence of thy mercy to offer vp our eueuing sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing for all thy mercies and blessings bestowed vpon vs in most abundant manner especially O Lord for that thou hast not suffered vs to walke in darknesse ignorance and blindnesse but hast giuen vs thy most holy and blessed word to be a lanthorne to our feete and alight vnto our pathes to eternall life Wee render to thy maiestie from the ground of our harts humble thanks for that portion of thy blessed word which this day through thy mercy we haue béene made par takers off wee confesse O Lord that wee haue heard the same with manifold infirmities and much weaknesse neuerthelesse wee pray thée let thy power appeare in our weakenes and vouchsafe to water with the dewe of grace euery of these particular instructions which this day or at any other time we haue béen taught out of thy holy word that they may be as seede sowne in good ground and may bring forth much fruit to thy glorie and our owne comforts in this world and the eternall saluation of our soules in the world to come O Lord we confesse thou mightest iustly haue giuen vs ouer to a reprobate sence for our negligence and carelessenes in matters of thy worship and seruice yca euen O Lord our last behauiour in hearing of thy holy word hath béene so farre short of that which wee ought to haue donâ— that we haue deserued that thou shouldest make thy word a sauour of death vnto vs and not a sauour of life wee confesse O Lord our knowledge is very small in comparison of the time we haue enioyed the blessing of thy holy word so plentifully preached among vs and our practise is farre short of our knowledge which makes our case the more miserable but O Lord God seeing thou art so good vnto vs in bringing vs to a view of our owne defects and wants bee thou also mercifull in giuing vnto vs a heart to lament and to bee truely humbled before thy maiestie for them wee beséech thée in Iesus Christ to bee a reconciled Father vnto vs freely to pardon and remit all our sinnes and grant that the word which hath beene sowne among vs this day may take déepe roote in our hearts that neither the scorching heate of persecution or affliction cause it to wither nor the thornie cares of the world choake it but that wee may dayly grow vp to these holy duties till at length we come to a perfect age in Christ Iesus and forasmuch as we are taught in thy holie word to make prayers and supplications for all men we are not onely mindefull of our selues héere present but of thy children and Church in al places Blesse O Lord all those that thou hast set in authority ouer vs especially thy seruant our soueraigne the kings Maiestie sanctifie his goâ—ernment vnto vs. Blesse the Quéeâ—e and there hopefull Progenie the Nobilitie and Magistrates of the Land grant that we may be godly quietly gouerned vnder them Blesse O Lord the faithfull Pastors and ministers of thy holy word to whom thou hast committed the dispensation therof the charge of thy people y t both in their life doctrin they may be found faithful setting only before there eles thy honour and glorie and that by them all poore shéepe which wander go astray may be brought home into thy fold o lord as féeling members of one body wherof Christ is head we pray thée for all such as are afflicted with any crosse or tribulation whether in body or minde or both that it would please thée to giue them patience and constancie to endure thy holy hand so long as it shal please thée to exercise it vpon them giue them strength of faith against all assalts of Satan whatsoeuer giue them the pardon remission of their sins sealed vnto their constiences by the blood of thy déere sonne Christ Iesus Be pleased O lord to deale with them in mercy and not in iustice knowing they are but dust ashes in thy good time release them out of that misery they are either by life that they may glorifie thée here or by faithfull departure they may bee glorified of thée hereafter These mercies and whatsoeuer else thou knowest necessary for vs we craue at â—hy hands in that forme of Praier which Christ hath taught vs in his Gospell Our father c. A Praier before the receiuing of the Lords Supper MOst mercifull father I thy vnworthy seruant do héere render to thy Maiestie humble thankes for that it hath pleased thée notwithstanding al my former sins
to hide that from thee which thou before whom all things are naked doest know better then my selfe yea such is thy mercie that when I do lay my sinnes open thou doest couer them good Father I beseech thee giue mee that minde which a seeke man should haue and increase my patience with my pain call to my mind all which I haue heard or read or felt or meditated to strengthen mee in this my visitation that though I neuer taught any good while I liued yet I may now instruct others how to die and to beare patiently whatsoeuer thy holie hand shall lay vpon them Apply vnto me al thy mercies and merites of Christ Iesus as if he had died for me in particular bee not farre from mee I beseech thee when the enemie comes to tempt me but when hee is most busie then let thy good spirit be busiest also to defend me and let my last houre be my best houre and my last thoughtes and words the best that euer I did thinke or speake Lord I know that I can not escape death then why should I feare it and if I must dye why not now if it so please thee for my chiefest happines is behind and I can not haue it vnles I go vnto it I confesse O Lord my paines are great but séeing I trauell to heauen make mee patient I beseech thee to beare my paines and when it shall please thee to call me out of this vaile of miserie command thy holy Angels I humbly pray thee to carrie my soule into the bosome of blessed A. braham there to rest with thee in eternall glorie for euer and euer Amen A Prayer of thanks-giuing vnto God for Deliuerance out of any Sicknesse ALl honour and praise be giuen vnto thee most gracious God and mercisull Father for all thy mercies and fauours bestowed vpon mee euen from my cradle to this present houre for my Election Creation Redemption Iustification Sanctification Preseruation and that blessed hope of Glorification in the world to come O Lord thou hast loaded mee with thine abundant fauors as if I had euer done thy will although I neuer knew thée as I ought loued thee as I should obayed thee as thou commandedst nor beene thankefull to thee as thou hast deserued excéeding experience haue I had of thy goodnes many times but neuer more then in my late sicknesse wherewith thou didst visit mee Lord grant that I be not in the number of those who are forward to aske in time of trouble and affliction but slacke and carelesse to acknowledge their thankfulnes when mercy is bestowed like those Lepers that when they were cleansed returned not to giue God thanks for his mercy O Lord thou hast chastened me and corrected me but herein appeares thy mercy that thou hast not giuen mee ouer to death I confesse thou mightst iustly haue cut mee off depriued mee of the rest of my yeares but it was thy good pleasure to deliuer my soul from the pit of corruption Imprint in my mind I beséech thée the vowes promises which I made in my sicknesse of better obedience and seruice to thy maiestie then heretofore and grant that I may make conscience to performe them and let me know that howsoeuer thou hast now giuen me some little respite and prolonged my daies yet I must not deâ—eiue my selfe in putting farre from my remembrance the day of my death but that I may make a holy vse of this thy fatherly correcting me and to expresse my thankefulnes in my life and conuersation in walking godly before thee and in preparing my selfe for my end that I may finish my course with ioy and bee ready to meete my Sauiour in the clouds and to rest with him and his holy Angels for euer and in his euerlasting kingdom of glorie Ameâ— A Prayer for a Sick man MOst gracious God and in Christ Iesus our mercifull Father wée poore wretches gathered here before thee doe truely and most freely confesse that wee are most vile and miserable vtterly vnworthy to speake vnto thee or to receiue the least fauour from thee by reason of our many and grieuous sinnes our blindnes of minde ignorances negligences peruersenes of heart and vnseruiceablenesse in our liues but with all we doe remember thy great loue and mercifull promises made vnto them that with â—enitent and humble spirits do sue vnto thée wherfore wee are enboldned to approch vnto thy throne of grace in the name of thy Son Christ Iesus beseeching thée for his sake to forgiue vs all our sinnes originall and actuall wash vs we pray thée in his bloud and cloth vs with his righteousnes giue vs grace to turne vnto thée with our hearts from all our sinnes and inable vs by thy grace to serue thee in righteousnes holines all the dayes of our liues Take care we beséech thée of this thy Seruant whom thou hast afflicted before our eyes O Lord receiue him to thy grace and assure him of thy glory grant vnto him faith in thy promises patience vnder thine hand and hope of thy mercy restore him if it be thy blessed will to his perfect health againe and blesse all good meanes vnto it if not prepare him for death and for thy kingdome comfort him with an assured hope of a ioyfull resurrection and whensoeuer his soule shall depart from his body grant that it may be presented without all sinne to thée through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for a Woman with child BLessed God and gracious Father I thy poore Handmaide doe héere humbly present my selfe before thy throne of Grace beseeching thee to forgiue me all my manifold sins committed against thee burie them in the death of my Sauiour thy Son Christ Iesus O Lord I beseech thee for his sake to accept of me and this poore worme inclosed in my wombe vouchsafe to giue vs thy Sonne and to sanctifie vs with thy Holy Spirit grant me strength and patience I humbly intreat thee to indure and ouercome those paines which for my sinnes are worthily imposed on me Asswage them O Lord I pray thee and vouchsafe mee a safe deliuerance with safetie to this child within me if it may please thy Maiestie so will I dedicate my selfe and that which thou shalt giue me to the glorie of thine holy Name O Lord heare O Lord help be thou my God and my guide my saluation and my succour not for my merites but for the honour of thy mercie and the all sufficient merites of Iesus Christ to whome with thee and thy Holy Spirit three persons but one euer-liuing and euerlouing God bee all honour and glorie for euer and for euer Amen A Prayer for a Midwife by her selfe alone O Lord my God I beseech thee forgiue me my manifold sins and wickednes accept of me I beseech thée in thy Sonne Iesus Christ honour mee with all the graces of thy spirit grant me wisedoms modesty temperance and a religious heart
holy Ghost and that there is a Catholick church a Communion of Saints the forgiuenes of sins and the resurrection of the body and life euerlasting that so I may be truely perswaded of thy fatherly prouidence ouer me what Christ hath done that is for my deliuerance the holy ghost to be my comfort assistance being a member of the church and making me effectually partaker of all the priuileges thereof to my endlesse ioy happines which O father giue vnto me I beséech thée for Christs sake Amen A Prayer vpon the ten Commandements O Eternal Lord God I thy humble seruant that do owe all dutifuâ—l obedience to thée and am made partaker of manifold benefits both for body soule which then by the bloud of Christ thy only son hast deliuered from that euerlasting bondage which by corruption of nature I was held in from euerlasting death which I was subiect vnto by daily breaking of thy coÌ„mandements I beséech thée giue me grace now and euer hereafter to haue none other Gods but thée neither to make to my selfe any grauen Image nor the likenes of any thing in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath nor in y â— waters vnder the earth to bow down to them to worship them Nor that I take the name of thée my Lord God in vaine Remembring to kéep holy the Sabath day and to labour six daies doing all that I haue to do but in the seuenth day which is the Sabath of thée O Lord my God giue me grace to do no maner of work And that I may honour my father and mother Neuer to commit any murther neither Adulterie Nor to steale Nor to beare false witnesse against my neighbor Nor to couet my neighbours house nor his wife nor his seruant nor his maide nor his Oxe nor his Asse not any thing that is his that so I may do alwaies my duty to thee O God al the daies of my life beléeuing fearing worshipping giuing thankes louing thée with all my heart with all my mind with all my soul with al my streÌ„gth and louing my neighbour friend or foe euen as my selfe to doe to all men euen as I would they should doe to me to loue honour succour my father mother to honour and obey the King Quéene Prince their ministers to submit my selfe to all my gouernors spirituall temporall to order my selfe to all my betters lowly reuerently to hurt no body by word nor déede to be true and â—ust in all my dealings to beare no malice in my heart to behaue my selfe in the whole course of my life as thou maist be glorified my duty discharged my conscience comforted my brethren woone or confirmed and thye mouths of all the wicked stopped which O father vouchsafe to grant me for thy great goodnes sake thy beloued sonnes â—ake Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thée and the holy spirit bee all praise and honour giuen by me all thy Saints this time for euermore Amen A Prayer containing the doctrine of the sacraments O Most merciful father thou hast giuen met not onely thy holy word to teach me faith obedience but also two Sacraments outward signes and seales of inward graces Christ all his benefites Giue mee wiledome O Lord to acknowledge the benefite and thankfully vse the same beséeching thée that as by baptisme I am receiued into the church by water outwardly am washed so let it scale the assurance of the purging of my soule from sin by Christs bloud and appeare outwardly by thy holy spirit killing in mee corruption and stirring me vp to holines of life reioysing in my new-birth and growing more more therin dayly that so I may prepare my self in knowledge in true repentance hartie loue and a sound faith to come bee partaker of the Lords supper which is the other sacrament to nourish me vp in the same where by the signes of bread broken and wine poured out taken and giuen Christ my sauiour with his benefits is offered that gaue his body shed his blood for me Now O Lord as by my hand I take the bread wine and with eating and digestion receiue also the strength to nourish my body so I pray thee giue me faith to apply Christ with his merites that I may féele the vertue therof to nourish my soule that I may not come vnprepared least I eate drinke 〈◊〉 owne damnation in â—andling such holy mysteries neither let mee conteiâ—â—e or neglect to be partaker when by the Church thou doest call me but obediently thankefully communicat with my breathren to strengthen my faith encrease mutuall loue shewing obedience Gods mercy in Christs death till hee come to iudge vs all at that great day that for Christs sake our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Prayer before meate MOst gracious God and mercifull father from whom all good gifts procéed we poore wretches beséech thée to sanctifie to our vses these thy good creatures which we shal receiue now of thy mercy giue vs grace wee pray thee to vse them soberly purely according to thy will grant y â— by these blessings which thou so largely bestowest vpon vs wee may see thy loue towards vs seeking likewise for that spirituall bread of thy word which is the foode of our soules that by the same we may be nourished to eternal life throgh Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Thanksgiuing after meat VVE confesse O Lord it is of thy only goodnes mercy that wee liue moue and haue our beeing in this life and all things whereby our life is preserued comes from thy maiestie good Lord wee beséech thée make vs thankefull for these al other thy mercies both spirituall temporall and as thou hast now fed our bodies with corporall foode so good Lord we pray thée nourish our souls with that heauenly Manna the food of eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another before meate ALinightie God which hast created meates drinkes for mans sustenance sanctifie them to the vse of thy children without difference that they may vse them for their health hast giuen strength to nourish our bodies to thy pleasure make vs sober and thankfull partakers of theÌ„ graunt that the end of our eating drinking may tend to enable vs to serue thée in our seuerall places through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Another after meate VVE humbly pray thée most gracious God and mercifull to sanctifie these thy good creatures which now of thy mercy we haue receiued at thy hands that they may turne to the nourishment of our bodies where unto thou hast appointed them and teach vs to remember that it is thou which to vs and to all thy creatures giuest food in due season and therfore that we abuse not thy mercies but in some good measure endeuour to walke worthie of them in the course of our liues through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Iudgements and fatherly chastisements both vpon others and vpon my selfe and haue not profited therby to true repentance and reformation of life yea O Lord I haue liued in the proâ—anation of thy holy ordinances thy Word Sacraments and this exercise of Prayer neither preparing my selfe hereunto â—right nor being conuersent therin with that care diligence and conscience as I ought and therfore thou maist iustly depriue me of that fruit of edification I might haue reaped by the reuerent and religious vsing of these diuine Ordinances Many other sins O Lord I haue committed the least whereof if thou shouldest lay vnto my charge I were neuer able to appeare in thy sight or to answere thée one of a thousand I beseech thee deale fauourably with me as thou art wâ—nt to doe with thy children that call vpon thy name and séeke thee in the truth of their hearts In the midst of Iudgement I pray thée remember mercie open my blinde eyes that I may come to a particular knowledge of my sinnes touch my hard and stony heart that I may sigh and grone vnder the burthen of them beeing heartily displeased with my selfe because I haue dishonored thy name stirre vp my heart also that I may hunger and thirst after Christ and his righteausnes and after euery drop of his most precious bloud in him alone to bee well pleased with me and for his sake to pardon and forgiue me all my sinnes wash them all away in his bloud and my heart from the filthinesse and impuritie of them all say vnto my soule I am thy saluation and let me féele thy good spirit perswading my conscience by the inward testimonie of the same that my sinnes are pardoned that I stand discharged of them all before thy Iudgement seate and séeing it is the lot of thy children to be tryed sundry waies O Lord prepare mee to the dayes of tryall Arme mee with spirituall patience to endure thy hand that I may méekely and contentedly submit my will to thy good will and pleasure howsoeuer it shall please thée to deale with me onely teach mee to profit vnder thy rod of correction and grant that I may learne thereby to deny my selfe to forsake this world the pleasures profits and preferments of the same to make vile and base account of them in respect of the heauenly things destring to be dissolued and to be with Christ that sinne and the corruption thereof might bee abolished and I may â—aue neere coniunction â—ith thy Maiestie in thine â—wne Kingdome notwithstanding so long as â—hoâ— pleasest to hold mee in this earthly Tabernacle increase dayly more and more the graces of thy Holy Spirit in mee as namely Faith Repentance Feare Loue Humilitie and a good Conscience and all other graces whereby thine Image may be renued in me that the longer I liue in this world the neerer I may drawe to thy Kingdome indeauouring to serue and please thée in righteousnes and new obedience all the dayes of my life Be mercifull I beséech thée to all thine afflicted whether with sicknesse vpon their beds or distressed in conscience for sinnes relieue them I beséech thée accorcording to their seueral necessities strengthen them in their weakenes sanctifie all thy corrections vnto them and grant them a speedie issue in thine owne good time as shall seeme best to thy godly wisedome Be mercifull to all my friends in the flesh and acquaintance in the Spirit and all other for whom I am bound by any duty to pray for granting vnto vs all a supply of all graces néedefull for our present state and callings and eternall saluation of our â—oules these mercies I beg â—t thy hands for Iesus Christs sake in that prayer which he hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in heauen c. Morning Prayer for the Sabbath day before hearing of the Word O Most gracious God and mercifull Father wee thy vnworthy seruants do here prostrate our selues our bodies and selues to offer vp to thy maiestie this morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing for all thy mercies and blessings bestowed vpon vs we blesse thy name for the quiet rest and comfortable sléepe this night passed from all perils and dangers of the same wee confesse O Lord if thou shouldest deale with vs according to our deserts thou mightest haue made our beds our graues and our sléepe our death euen for the sins of this night past O Lord we haue done more against thée this wéeke past then wee haue done for thée all the dayes of our life yet notwithstanding O Lord manifold are thy mercies towards vs still and thy goodnes is infinite in euery particular which befalleth vs we haue exceeding experience of thyloue It is thy great mercy that wee which haue so many wayes prouoked thée should be suffered to liue to behold the light comfort of the day but herein thy mercie is much more manifest that hauing béene heretofore profaners of thy Sabbaths barren and hypocriticall professors of thy holy word yea fruitlesse and vnprofitable hearers of the same that-we should yet enioy the blessed opportunitie of another Sabbath O Lord wee confesse thou mightst iustly haue fatted vp our hearts and giuen vs ouer to a Reprobate sâ—nce and commanded the doores of thy Sanctuarie to be shutte vp against vs and not to suffer vs to tread within thy Courts O Lord grant that we may rate estéeme thy mercy towards vs in this kinde according to the true valew thereof and that wee may not carelessely forget this or any other of thy fauours and as thou hast of thy mercie brought vs to the beginning of this holy Sabbath so we humbly pray thée enable vs to sanctifie the same as thou requirest and our dutie bindes vs Lord make vs to remember that this is not any Commandement or Ordinance of man but that it is thine owne ordinance and one of those lawes which thou wrotest with thine owne hand namely that this day should after a more speciall manner be consecrated to thy seruice Lord giue vs grace that in this thy Sabbath wee may beware of doing our owne works or of séeking our own wils or of speaking vaine and idle words that wee may seriously binde our selues to the performing of such duties as doe belong to this day O Lord we know that herein wee shall méete with many corruptions in this holy seruice our own corrupt nature and affections will thinke it a taske that can not bee endured besides in the world wee shall haue many examples of the wicked to draw and entise vs froÌ„ our diligence and constancie in our godly course but wée beseech thée from the bottome of our hearts to strengthen vs that these things preuaile not against vs and grant that wee may more estéeme the performance of our duties to thy maiesty then either the contenting of our owne corrupt natures or wicked persons and séeing O Lord we are now to heare thy holy word we beséech thée poure downe thy blessings