that sin may no more prevail with me and that Satan mine old enemy may well perceive that he hath neither part nor fellowship in me but that I am both Body and Soul altogether thine to whom O my sweet Saviour with the Father and the Holy Ghost be ascribed all power glory and honour for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to the Holy Ghost O Holy Spirit worthy of all honour which makest up the Almighty Trinity which proceedest from the Father and the Son and art equal to either of them in glory but differing from them but only in property of person which of thy goodness forgivest the sins of them that amend which with thy holy breath cleansest mens minds comforting them when they be in sorrow cheering them up with pure gladness when they be in heaviness leading them into all truth when they be out of the way kindling in them the fire of charity when they be a cold knitting them together with the glue of peace when they are at variance and garnish them with sundry gifts which profess the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ by whose working all things live which live indeed whose delight is to dwell in the hearts of the simple which thou hast vouchsafed to consecrate for Temples to thy self wherefore I do beseech thee O dear Father to maintain those thy gifts in me and to increase them daily more and more that by thy Governance the lusts of the flesh may dye in me and the desire of the Heavenly Life may quicken and increase Let me so pass I beseech thee O my God through the misty desart of this world thy light go before me as I may never be desiled with Satans vices nor be intangled with any Errors disagreeing from thy Truth which the true Catholick Church hath delivered unto us by the instinct of thee which livest and raignest with the Father and the Son everlasting to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen A fruitful Prayer to God O My dear Lord and God what is this World it is evil it is a place of vain pleasure a cage of iniquity or rather lump of misery and what am I Lord what am I but a friend of this present evil World and an enemy to thee what am I but a child of wrath and son of darkness so glued to sin and lymed with iniquity that my body is a body of sin what then O Lord shall I do shall the mountain of sin oppress me or the world with the baits of vanity so choak me that I shall never like an Eagle fly to the carkass nor be able to cry for help to thee the only Morning Star which are wont to spread forth the beams of comfort unto the needy in time of extremity O Lord my God give me the wings of Faith to flee unto thee and pour upon me the dew of thy blessing that I may bud and bear the fruit of holiness through the operations of thy gracious beams Give me thy Grace that I fail not in my vocation that I may do good and eschew evil and so make good that vow which I made unto thee in my Baptism Save me from falling and stay my feet from slipping by thy holy Word which is the glass of thy Will that being guided over this misly desart I may arrive at the land of Promise and Palace of rest in a lively faith through thy dear Son Jesus Christ to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the Church and true worship of GOD. O Most gracious God and loving Father look in favour I do beseech thee upon the Church generally dispersed throughout the whole World and whom by the malice of Satan and tyranny of Antichrist thou seest continually assailed with many and great dangers Be thou therefore O Lord a castle of defence a buckler and rock strong and forcible to withstand the force and fury of all adversaries that rise up against it And for the better comfort endue it with faith unfeigned wherein it and every member thereof may safely run and repair under the shadow of thy sacred wings whensoever perils approach Graciously guide and govern it by taking the defence thereof into thine own hands to whom it specially and alone belongeth and let it hold on the true course of professing and practising of thy true Religion that the adversaries thereof may have no cause to condemn it through sin which howsoever it may seem to dwell in the most godly while we live here yet let us always have an eye and diligent watch over all our thoughts words and works that our light may shine to thy Glory our good and example to others in Peace and War in Comfort and Calamity and not to be dismayed at any noise and report of the greatest danger whatsoever Thou art O Lord my God my only comfort and riches what am I that I dare speak unto thee I am thy poor servant yea and much more poor and vile than I either know or dare shew forth and yet Lord I remember this one thing that I am nothing that I have nothing and that I am nothing worth Thou alone art Good thou alone art Righteous thou alone art Holy Thou knowest all thou dost all thou fillest all only the wicked thou sendest empty away remember O Lord thy tender mercies and fill me with thy favour Thou wilt that none of thy works should serve in vain for how can I stand upright in this wretched world unless thy mercy and favour hold me up turn not therefore thy cheerful countenance from thy servant defer not to help me from day to day withdraw not thy comfort that my Soul be not as the thirsty Land but teach me to do thy Will for that thou O my God art my wisdom and knowest what is meet and convenient for me to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all Glory for ever Amen Prayers for Sunday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy name for ever dispose my heart and open my lips c. A Psalm HOW long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever how long wilt thou hide thy Face from me How long shall I seek counsel in my soul and be so vexed in my heart how long shall mine enemies triumph over me Consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death For why my trust is in thy mercy and my heart is joyful in thy salvation Therefore will I sing of the Lord because he hath dealt so lovingly with me yea I will praise the Name of the Lord most Highest I will thank the Lord for giving me warning my reins also chasten me in the Night season I have set God always before me for he is on my right hand therefore I shall not fall Wherefore my heart was glad and my Glory rejoyced my flesh also shall rest in hope For why thou shalt not leave my soul in Hell neither
that but hast herein also fully exprest thy most holy and blessed Will whatsoever is necessary for the Salvation of Mankind to be known to bring him to life everlasting Give me grace most merciful Father that for so high a treasure left among us I may be thankful reverently embrace accept and esteem of the same as the most precious jewel in Earth and be therein confirmed most strongly that all things therein contained be most undoubtedly true not by any mortal Man but by the most Holy Spirit in Man penned and written to the comfort and behoof of Man And that I may most humbly lowly and with most high Reverence submit my self thereunto as becometh thy eternal Majesty and the Word proceeding from thy most blessed mouth that I may with reverence and obedience read hear and occupy my self in the same to the comfort of my soul and the increase of thy Glory Lighten my understanding most dear Father with thy most holy Spirit that I may learn clearly conceive and understand the things therein contained which no mortal man can conceive save those that have learned of thee and whom thou by thy holy Spirit dost lighten and instruct Guide me dear Father with thy most holy Spirit that having the true understanding of the mysteries therein contained I may be fully established and confirmed in the true knowledge of thee my dear Father and of thy beloved Son my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and in conscience throughly perswaded that I have my full perfect salvation and life everlasting in him and through his atonement made by his death and passion That I do not vainly abuse the knowledge of thy most sacred word to satisfie vain curiosity or brag of knowledge but only to the relieving of my hungry and wounded conscience to the loosing of my fettered soul and the appeasing of my sorrowful heart that I may to the end of my life walk in sincerity before thee my heavenly Father in the comforts of thy dear Son my Saviour upholden still by the merciful power of the holy Ghost to thine everlasting praise and glory for ever Amen A Confession to God the Father O Lord my God I confess unto Thee that my heart is unclean that I am of polluted lips wallowing in the dung and stinking in the rottenness of mine own sin so that I may justly tremble to appear before thy glorious presence much more to present unto thee thy pure praises out of my defiled mouth but who except thou O Lord can make me clean and what is pure which thou hast not purged Therefore O Father of life O Lord of Light with all the Forces of my Soul I do beseech thee to help me thy servant whom of thy mercy thou hast created cleanse my filthiness lighten my darkness inflame my coldness quicken my dulness awake my drowsiness revive my deadness repair the ruins of my Soul enlarge the frame of the understanding thereof cleanse it from all earthly corruption garnish it with thy heavenly graces that it may be conveniently both sit and furnished to receive Thee that thou maist make thine entry possess that which is thine own both by Creation and also by Redemption and that as thou art exalted above all Creatures so above all creatures I may honour thee and praise thee not with that affection wherewith my weakness is able either to do or to desire but with that perfection wherewith in duty I should and wherewith thy Saints and Angels indeed do for what worthy praise can I give unto thee by whose goodness I was created by whose mercy I was redeemed by whose power I am preserved and by whose grace I look to be glorified when I was not thou didst make me when I was lost and forlorn thou camest down and tookest mortality upon thee to redeem me these and many other benefits have I received some in hand and some in hope although through my own sinful demeanour I have almost both let go my hold and lost my hope therefore O Lord I most humbly beseech thee save thy servant save one of thy Members though poor and feeble save I say a part of thy self be as great in pardoning those that are submitted unto thee as in punishing those that are rebellious pour upon my heart the sweet streams of thy mercies confirm my life settle my faith settle me in a right and upright course and continue me in the same even unto the end grant this O Father through thy dear Son Jesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever and ever Amen A Devout Prayer to Jesus Christ O Most sweet Saviour and merciful Redeemer Jesus Christ the Son of God who although thou art High yet art thou most humble and as thou art Omnipotent so art thou most meek and as thou art most Mighty so art thou most merciful to thee O Christ the giver of all Felicity the Father of Heaven hath given all Power both in Heaven and in Earth Thou art the true Pastor of our Souls thou art our Messias thou casteth off none that sue unto thee but as thou hast taken away the hand-writing that was against us and hast fastned it to the Cross so art thou ready to impart the merits of thy Passion to all such as write true repentance of their sins call upon thee faithfully wherefore my sweet Saviour I most faithfully unfeignedly acknowledge the benefits that thou hast bestow'd upon me stedfastly believe that thou being an immaculate Lamb in whose mouth was never found guile didst suffer most cruel torments at the hands of sinners for the love of us most wretched sinners for the which cause I most heartily beseech thee and most humbly pray thee to accept me into the number of them whom thou wilt receive to mercy and favour and although I of my self be most unworthy thereof yet thy merits can make me worthy to them I fly craving that I may be so armed and defended by them that I may subdue the World the Flesh the Devil even as thou hast gloriously conquered Sin Death and Hell Thou seest O my Saviour how I am daily and hourly beset with these three enemies and so hardly besieged of them that without thy help I can by no means escape but that I must needs be a prey unto one of them strengthen me therefore O Lord that neither the one with carnal Lust neither the other with delectable pleasures nor Satan with all his craft and subtil devices get the dominion over me thou hast bought me thou hast paid for me save keep and defend me be always ready at the voice of my crying pour into me thy grace patiently to abide thy divine pleasure in all things make me both at this present and all the days of my life to have in my mind and profoundly to root in my heart the mysteries of thy painful passion and so to be filled with remembrance thereof
it obedient unto thee From suddain and unprovided death good Lord deliver me by the virtue of thy most excellent and glorious Divinity by the virtue of thine incarnation and by the merits of thy passion and resurrection grant me these supplications which I have made to thee And by thy own and only mediation purchase for me a gracious life and a blessed ending and after my bodily death give me everlasting life with endless bliss that I may reign with thee for ever and ever in the world to come Amen A Prayer for the attaining of a free and quiet mind O Most gracious merciful God keep me I beseech thee from the cares of â—his world that I be never too much inâ—angled therein by reason of the manifold â—hings which this body needeth nor taken with the vain delight of that which doth hurt the soul nor finally broken and overthrown with sorrow I say not from those things which the vain world doth greedily hunt after but from those miseries which suppress the mind of thy servant by a common and penal course of mortality and so withdraw me that I cannot enter into by the freedom of thy Spirit O my God which art sweetness unspeakable make all fleshly joy which withdraweth me from the love of eternal things to be grievous and odious unto me Let not flesh and blood O my God let not flesh and blood overcome me Let not the World and the vain glory thereof deceive me nor Satan with his subtilty supplant me Give me strength to resist patience to endure and constancy to persevere unto the end Grant me for the comfort of thy Word the most comfortable Oyntment of the Holy Ghost And for the lust of the flesh pour on me the love of thy Name The very meat drink and apparel with other things necessary for the nourishment of the body are even burthensome to a fervent spirit But grant O Lord that I may use those things moderately and never be snared with an over-greedy desire of them All things are now to be rejected for their nature would decay Again to covet superfluous and every pleasing thing thy sacred Commandments do forbid for the flesh would insult over the spirit Wherefore between those things let thy hand direct me O Lord and teach me to do nothing out of measure Grant this O most merciful Father to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory Amen A Prayer for Hope O Eternal Father the author and giver of all Hope and Comfort I beseech thee to fill me with all joy and peace in believing that I may abound in hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost â—nd above hope in hope believing â—ay never doubt of thy Promises but in sure confidence of heart apply to my self â—he remission of my sins and believe veriâ—y that I please thee in Jesus Christ and â—oking in a certain and strong hope for â—e salvation of my soul in the life to â—â—me And albeit the helps and happiâ—ess of this present world appear not unâ— me yet I beseech thee O Lord let me â—â—â—â—tain a stedfast hope among all the terâ—rs of conscience and never suffer the same to be taken away from me by any snare of Satan O thou only begotten Son of God which hast loved me and given me everlasting comfort in hope through grace Comfort my heart and establish my heart in every word and good work that I stick not uncertain neither be tossed between hope and fear but may hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope unto the end And assist me O my God and Father I beseeh thee that in all the ways of temptation and troubles in this world I may patiently depend on thee looking for corporal deliverance according to thy will And though the same come not as I wish but be kept from me for a season yet let me never doubt of thine aid and deliverance but hope that coming it will come And I beseech thee O Lord to grant me thy grace that having this hope I may purge my self from all offensive things to thee and serve thee my loving God through Jesus Christ mâ— Lord and Saviour for ever Amen A Prayer against the Power of Satan O Lord my GOD how do we daily pass the limits of thy will We sin at least seven times a day and pledge Mother Eva in the dregs of nature This is the frailty of the flesh and this is the weakness of all Adam's issue A miserable case O Lord unless in thy mercy thou wilt wrap us and cover us with the white rayment of thy Grace that we being thine may never despair for any brunt of stormâ—ng Satan be it never so perillous O â—ord save me in thy mercy behold me â—ave pity and compassion upon me and â—ark not my steps that are crooked but â—ast the eye of thy favour upon thy Son Christ who was content to suffer the â—leeding pains of the Cross to satisfie thy â—rath and to deliver us from the sting of â—hellish conscience Wherefore I beseech â—ee O Lord and most dear Saviour not 〈◊〉 observe mine iniquities but to wash â—e from the guiltiness of sin in the â—â—ood 〈◊〉 thy mercies and so to save me that â—â—ing dead in iniquity and yet saved 〈◊〉 thine infinite pity I may give 〈◊〉 glory unto thee and sing with Our â—other the Church that Salvation belongeth unto thee O Lord to whom be praise and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for the desire of a Godly Life O My Lord God how happy were I if I might never hereafter in thought word or deed commit the thing that should displease thy Divine Majesty That life is the longing of my soul and the substance of my wish and the effect of my desire my heart coveteth to see that blessed time and my joys then should be such as no mortal man can tell Truly Lord to know thee with the Son and the Holy Ghost is the true perfection of eternal life the end of all blessedness and the summ of all delights No eye hath seen nor ear hath heard nor hath it pressed into the depth of any mans understanding to value the inestimable charity delectation and pleasure of the same felicity when we shall behold the Majesty of God face to face And verily most glorious God I have reposed this hope in my heart and do assure my self through faith in thee that these eyes wherewith I read these lines shall see that Glory and this flesh wherewith I am cloathed in corruption and nouâ—led in mortality shall be a member of that immortal Kingdom Unto the which Lord at thy appointed pleasure bring me to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all Power and Glory for ever and for ever Amen An Evening Prayer O Omnipotent and eternal God Father Son and Holy Ghost three in Persons and one in Substance and from everlasting I extol thy sacred Majesty I praise thy unspeakable
GOD. WE are all Publicans O LORD open the ears of thy favour unto our cry and have mercy upon us have mercy upon us we sin dayly but yet save us of pity save us O shew thy compassion upon me and let me not dye a Judas death let me never tune the doleful song of Cain but ingrave in my heart a full and lively faith in thee that never doubting of thy bounteous mercy I may with a free conscience set Satan at defiance and all his hellish band O merciful Lord hear this my cry and defend me with thy Grace against the power of Satan who roareth of cruelty and lurketh in every corner of malicious subtilty to tear me with the claws of his fury and merciless envy Defend me with faith against him O Lord lay the plaister of comfort to my wounded conscience and cover me with the wings of thy favour that I may live and die in thee and so be blessed for ever to whom O Father with thy dear Son and the Holy Ghost be all power for ever A Prayer to Jesus Christ O My Lord God and sweet Saviour Jesus Christ grant unto me most frail sinner and miserable wretch thy grace and mercy and that I may ever have present before the eyes of my soul thy most holy life and behaviour and that for my possibility and power I may in living and manners follow the same And grant me good Lord to profit grow and increase therein to such perfections as may be acceptable unto thee for the salvation of my soul lighten Lord and make clear and bright my heart with the glorious light of thy Grace that it may ever go before me follow me in all my acts so that by thy conduct and guiding I may accomplish fulfil all that may please thy goodness and utterly eschew and avoid the contrary and vouchsafe sweet Saviour so to order and direct all my cogitations and thoughts all my speech and words all my acts and deeds in thy Law and Commandments and in thy Monitions and Counsel and so take me good Lord unto thee that here in all things doing thy will I may by grace become one of thy saved souls to live with thee my Redeemer for ever Amen Prayers for Tuesday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy Name for ever Dispose my heart and open my lips c. A Psalm MY GOD my GOD look upon me Why hast thou forsaken me and art so far from my health and from the words of my complaint O My GOD I cry unto thee in the day time but thou hearest not and in the night-season also I take no rest And yet thou continuest holy O Thou Worship of Israel Wherefore unto thee O LORD will I lift up my soul my GOD I have put my trust in thee O let me not be confounded neither let mine enemies triumph over me O remember not the sins and offences of my Youth but according to thy mercy think thou on me Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse me from my secret faults Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get the dominion over me so shall I be undesiled and innocent from the great offence Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer For thy Name sake O Lord be merciful unto my sin for it is great Look upon mine adversity and misery and forgive me all my sins Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me O hide not thy face from me nor cast thy servant away in displeasure Thou hast been my succour leave me not neither forsake me O God of my Salvation I should utterly have fainted but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing O my God and I will give thanks unto thee for ever Glory c. A Prayer for the remission of sins O Most loving bountiful Father forasmuch as it is most meet right just and requisite that all flesh should praise magnifie and worship thee should without ceasing give thanks unto thee who only art the Creator and Maker of all things who of thine own mercy and goodness didst send down thine only begotten Son to take our nature upon him and to suffer death for our sins thereby to make a recompence for the offences which Man had committed against thee And all this thou didst of thine exceeding bounty and kindness without any desert of Mankind not being so much as by any one Prayer or yet treaty thereunto incited I being therefore O dear Father imboldened with such an inestimable benefit so freely given and bestowed do without any fear at this time appear before thy Divine Majesty prostrating my self before the seat of thy Mercy and with all humbleness of heart and mind do make this my Prayer unto thee despise me not O Lord being defiled with sin and iniquity be â—merciful unto me a sinner lighten the evil-sighted eyes of my mind open the stopped stopped ears of my heart that I may both see and hear understand that which thou teachest do always that thou commandest and that I be not only a hearer of thy Word but a practiser of the same in my life and conversation Save and defend me from all shame and reproach be thou my shield and buckler against all temptations cleanse my mind and thoughts from all uncleanness keep and preserve me from all danger both in body and soul and guide me with thy grace so to spend this my small short and transitory time in this world that I may be a member of Christ and partaker of thy eternal felicity to the which seeing that by mine own weakness I shall never be able to aspire I do here O Lord take hold of that promise of thine where thou hast said Come unto me all ye that labour and I will refresh you this is my hold-fast this is my anchor and sure stay for verily sweet Saviour when I look upon mine own frailness and behold how ready I am to offend then I quake for fear but as soon as I call to mind thy great love and Kindness and thou wilt not the death of a sinner and that in what day soever he doth heartily repent and call unto thee then thou wilt hear him then I am relieved then I am not a little comforted knowing surely that Thou wilt perform that which thou hast promised in faithful assurance whereof I now say unto thee Turn thou me O my GOD and I shall be turned be favourable unto me O Lord be favourable unto me thy servant and heal my soul which is wounded with sin for I do acknowledge mine iniquity and am heartily sorry for mine offences through which I have either in word or deed thought or any other
adversity I run not headlong into such means as are ungodly neither in prosperity wax the prouder but wait thy good pleasure in them both with thankfulness and evermore live in thee and by thee and in the end raign with thee in Heaven where thou â—ittest as author and giver of all thy Blessings Grant this O most merciful Father to whom with thy Son and the Holy Ghost be all power and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to subdue our affections O Lord Mighty and Merciful who didst create Man in the beginning simple sincere and without spot of sin In which his integrity and innocency he then presented thine own Image which was pure and without spot of sin and yet such was man that he fell from thee by disobedience whereby he corrupted his ways and became â—ar unlike unto thee being defiled with all vanities wherein alas we all of us wallow the most with greediness wherefore most dear Father in JESUS Christ create in me new thoughts new affections shape in me true obedience that I may mortifie and kill all sin and vain inclinations which rise up against Thee let sin no longer bear rule in me O Lord but let thy grace more and more abound that all that I do think speak or do may bâ— favouring more of the desire of Heaven and Heavenly things than of earthly and carnal desires that so I may be approved not only before men to be as ought but to thee to be as Thou requirest to whom O Lord be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the Kings Majesty O Lord Almighty the Governour Preserver and continual Protector of Princes to whose beck and will all Kingdoms of the Earth are subject look in mercy and favour O Lord I beseech thee upon the state of thy servant our dear Soverign Lord King Charles and his Royal issue be thou unto him and them a safe refuge in all time of danger and let thy holy Spirt be unto him a continual guide in all his acts and procedings direct him to comfort defend and support us and either to bring our enemies to a perfect peace in embracing the Truth with us or confound their power and devices for ever An Evening Prayer O Heavenly Father and eternal GOD I honour thee I praise thee I yield thee most hearty thanks for all thy benefits and at this time especially O Lord because thou hast patiently and attentively heard my petitions and hast given me soberness and humbleness of mind to utter the same without any interruption I bless Thee my everlasting GOD and with all my heart give thee thanks for that not only thou hast saved me this day from death from hurts and from all perils from my cradle but hast defended both my soul and body from all Misfortunes and Dangers Therefore my soul magnifieth the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour for he hath looked upon the afflictions of his servants and now among all other thy goodness O Lord hear O Lord forgive hearken O God for thy Name sake for it is called upon by me O GOD of Heaven and earth in the evening do I call upon thee that remitting my sins Thou wouldst receive me into thy Protection keep me this Night that the Devil have no power over me for Thou O Lord art my everlasting Protector for behold whether I sleep or wake whether I live or die I am always thine let thy mercy follow me O Lord all the days of my life that I may dwell in thy house and praise thee and that I may in acknowledging thy greatness confess my sinful and wretched weakness And visit me O Lord and drive from me all the assaults of mine enemies both bodily and ghostly and let thy holy Angel be with me and keep me this night and evermore by thy grace and ever let thy blessing be upon me this night and for evermore Amen Prayers for Wednesday Morning O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy name for ever dispose my heart and open my lips c. A Psalm IN thee O LORD have I put my trust let me never be put to confusion deliver me in thy Righteousness Bow down thine Ear unto me make hast to deliver me Into thy hands I commend my Spirt for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth I have hated them that hold superstitious vanities and my trust hath been in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and hast known my soul in adversity Shew thy servant the light of thy countenance and save me for thy mercies sake O how plentiful is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee Wherefore I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sin I will take heed unto my ways that I offend not in my tongue Therefore withdraw not thou thy mercy from me O Lord but let thy loving kindness and thy truth always preserve me For my soul is a-thirst for God yea God yea even for the living God when shall I come to appear before the presence of God Yea as the Hart desireth the water-brooks so longeth my soul after thee O God Wherefore send out thy light and thy truth that they may lead me and bring me to thy holy hill and to thy dwelling Why art thou so heavy O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me O put thy trust in God for I will yet give Him thanks who is the help of my countenance and my God Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. A Morning Prayer O Most merciful and loving Father I thank thee for the sweet sleep and comfortable rest that thou hast given me this night and forasmuch as thou hast commanded by thy holy Word that no man should be idle but always occupied in godly and virtuous exercises every man according to his calling I most humbly beseech thee O Lord that thine eyes may attend upon me that thy grace may daily defend me in danger succour cherish and comfort me in all my needs and distress and govern all my counsels studies and labours in such wise that I may spend this day according to thy blessed will and the discharge of mine own conscience in thee that warily avoiding all things that may displease thee and setting always before mine eyes thy fear I may thy grace assisting me and thy holy spirit guiding me work that which is acceptable before thy divine Majesty unto thy praise and glory for ever Amen A fruitful Confession to GOD for sins commited O Gracious GOD have mercy upon me have mercy upon me look favourably upon me incline thine ears towards me and hide not thy Face now my soul is troubled O Almighty GOD from whose Sight there is no covert and against whose power there is neither resistance
down from Heaven where it attendeth about thy fear and replenish my heart with the knowledge of it that I may perfectly know what thy divine will and pleasure is in all things and that I may always direct my ways by rule thereof loving thee and above all things continuing most thankful for all thy Fatherly benefits bestowed and conferred upon me and that prosperity overcome not nor in adversity I be foolishly moved to seek remedy elsewhere than at thy hands only who art my God and who hast promised to give wisdom to all them that unfeignedly ask it O Lord hear my prayer and let my cry come unto thee give perfect wisdom whereby I may truly discern the difference between the Heavenly revelation which is wisdom from above and vain cogitations of worldly wits considering that the one in all things as well in adversity as prosperity continueth most constant stable patient and firm whereas contrariwise the other seeketh with more diligence to avoid the afflictions troubles and calamities which thou Iayest upon thy children but most sweet LORD and Heavenly Comforter grant that it may be far from my heart to think that any thing cometh to pass otherwise than by thy Almighty providence who willeth nothing nor doest any thing but what is most expedient and necessary for the use of the bodies and souls of thy servants which we cannot rightly conceive without this especial gift of thine wherewith for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake endue me that I be not led by fond conceit or deceive my self with worldly experience but governing my self according to thy will and measuring all my actions words and thoughts by the right rule of knowledge in the end I may be found in the number of those discreet Virgins who had their Lamps continually burning and not in the number of those that were taken unprovided that the coming of thy Son Jesus Christ be not terrible unto me but most acceptable and joyful that in the end I may have free entrance into that most glorious Kingdom which thy Son JESUS Christ hath purchased with his blood for all true Believers in him to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the true Worship of GOD. O Most gracious God and loving Father establish my heart and mind in the true Worship of thy divine Majesty Make me to believe thy Holy and Sacred Gospel wherein I am daily and hourly instructed to love fear honour and obey thee to renounce all superstitious ceremonies whereby thy Worship is defaced thy Glory prophaned and thine Honour greatly diminished give me thy grace to hate sin and iniquity and to renounce and forsake the vanities and wanton pleasures of this wicked and sinful world Arm me I beseech thee to mortifie and bring under the rebellious appetites and strange lusts of the flesh and finally give me power from above to withstand Satan the Prince of darkness and all his damnable ministers who by divers temptations provokes and allures us from Godly purity and perfect integrity which passeth only from Christ Jesus to us who is the fulness of our perfection and holiness to all kind of evil impiety and uncleanness by means whereof thy Worship is greatly prophaned and of a set purpose contemned make me O LORD I beseech thee by the power of a fruitful faith to resist and bridle the concupiscnce of my flesh in such sort that my soul may triumph with victory and continue constant in worshipping thee prepare my heart and mind to spread forth the glory of thy Name keep my tongue from all filthy talk and uncomely gestures lest by the exercise of sin I contemn thy Worship and provoke thee to displeasure against me set thou a watch before the gates of my mouth that my lips by grace may be always made open to sound forth thy praise be merciful to mine offences think thou not on mine unrighteousness but of thy clemency forgive thou freely and pardon graciously all my sins make me faithful in Christ JESUS shorten these dangerous days of iniquity increase the number of thy chosen and peculiar Saints hasten thy coming O Saviour Christ that I with the fellowship of thy Saints heavenly Angels and the blessed company of Martyrs may celebrate thy praise and worship thee in thy glorious Kingdom before thy Father my GOD and the holy Ghost to whom be praise and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for Charity O Infinite Charity thou Son of GOD to whom the Father hath surrendred all power in Heaven and earth I have offended thee and endangered my soul desperately for Charity O Charity thou shalt judge the world in equity and I have not Charity abiding within me I love for gain I hate mine enemies I pray not for them that curse me and speak evil of me I have of thy benefits and yet I spare nothing for them that have need O eternal Charity I have hereby incurred the peril of thy just judgment Whereof O heavenly Charity have mercy upon me and quit me from a replying conscience and the court of the Devil for else will mine own life exclaim against me and crave damnation of my uncharitable conversion O Lord my sweet Saviour I beseech thee for thy bloody sweat in the bottomless pit of thy mercy to drown all my transgressions adopt me thy Brother and give me thy holy Spirits testimony as a gage and earnest of mine adoption and election that being free from sin I may serve thee with a free conscience in hope of an unwavering faith in mercy Amen A Prayer for the feeling of GOD's Favour and Grace O My LORD GOD and dear Father I here crave thy assistance and grace that feel all things to work in me contrary to thy will for blind is my mind crooked is my will and perverse concupiscence is in me as a spring and stinking puddle faint is my faith my sinful life increasing and my sins still abounding so as from offending thee O Lord I cannot cease neither day nor night and my sins are heavy upon me pressing me down even to Hell such is the weight thereof moreover when I prepare my self to amendment of life and think stedfastly to serve and please thee even soon after doth my corrupt nature offend and displease thy divine Majesty so that I am prone and ready to run headlong into all kind of sin and wickedness such is my strength such is my force and weakness in performing those things which thou requirest at my hands by reason whereof I am moved to doubt of thy goodness towards me unless thou of thy mercy and pity send thine aid from above and pour into me thy most healthful grace that I may most assuredly and faithfully trust in the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ which is of far greater force vertue and effect in preserving me than all my sins and offences are in condemning and casting me away wherefore O Father as thou requirest thus
strictly that I should believe without doubting so wouldst thou in all my needs I should come unto thee as a Father and make my moan without mistrust of being heard in thy good time as most shall make for thy glory and my comfort Lo therefore to thee dear Father do I come in thy Son Jesus Christ praying thee of thy great mercy and goodness to be merciful unto me that I may love thee with all my heart for ever that my works may be ever found holy in thy sight and that I may always not only strive against sin but also overcome the same dayly more and more as thy children do and above all things desire the sanctifying of thy Name the coming of thy Kingdom the doing of thy Will here on earth as it is in Heaven and that only through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom be all honour and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to GOD to bless our endeavours O My Celestial Father be favourable unto me thy repentant servant fled from mine enemies to thy help and succour Impute not my sins unto me for Christs sake for I have heard thy fatherly voice and it soundeth daily in mine ears out of Heaven promising me and affirming constantly thy self to be appeased with me for thy Sons sake whom thou commandest me to hear and believe who is made of thee my righteousness my salvation my Peace my Mediator and intercessor my fulfiller of the Law my deliverer and my whole holy accomplisher of all my just desires and my Saviour Christ Jesus God and man in whose Name at this time I attempt and take in hand all my just doings according to my calling desiring thy gracious goodness O Lord God and Father to prosper it further it and give it happy increase that whatsoever I take in hand justly to finish the same O holy Father bless all my endeavours with thy blessed increase and let me not seek mine own will but ever to pray that thy will be fulfilled and let me not be led into temptation but deliver me from all evil for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to live uprightly in our Calling O GOD of all comfort and giver of all consolation forgive my sins cleanse and wash me from all iniquities which disable me to perform my calling in such sort as becometh me and through the blood of thy Son purifie my heart and my imperfections and sanctifie me with thy grace that my sins being forgiven I may rest in thy favour and continual comfort and be daily blessed with new gifts that I may be found perfect in my calling seasoned so with a lively faith in thee that thy holy Spirit may continually dwell and bear rule in me and lead me to the due performance of those things which thou requirest to be done in my calling that all unnatural affection being truly mortified I may only rest in thee and rely on thee and be ruled by thee in all things Good Father grant that I may take the direct and right course in my vocation to eternal life in which course consisteth the inward peace of the Soul which is only delighted in thy inviolable truth revealed by thy Son and is left unto us in His Word and last Will in which his last Will and Testament are comprehended all necessary Rules and the sacred discipline whereby thy children are to guide themselves in their several callings which directions are comprehended in three principal virtues by thee bestowed on them that seek them at thy hand in the Name of thy Son as Faith Hope and Love which three are so united and knit together in one in thine elect children that they through thy grace go not awry in their calling I therefore dear Father being of my self ignorant and of mine own power unable to comprehend the height of my calling instantly beseech thee in mercy to behold me an unperfect creature without these Virtues and so adorn me with them that I may be made perfect in all good works of the Spirit that my labours and endeavours be not in vain in thee and grant that I may joyn with all my travils desires and endeavors faith with â—aith knowledge with knowledge temperance with temperance patience with patience godliness with godliness brotherly kindness with brotherly kindness and with brotherly kindness that I be not unfruitful in my calling but may acknowledge thy Son Jesus Christ and in him have peace of conscience that I may be patient in troubles long-suffering in wrongs faithful in expecting hope in distress rejoycing in heart quieted in mind in hope to enjoy at thy hands and in thy good time whatsoever maketh for the true comfort of my soul and the relief of my body that in all true and inward feeling of thine aid my calling may be made perfect and sealed with the seal of thine own Spiritual Probation so shall I thy unworthy servant be directed in the true knowledge of Thee O blessed Lord and loving Father except thou thus direct me I cannot stand but shall fall into many miseries for no Estate no Degree no Calling Office Function or Trade of life can prosper or be rightly performed without thy continual aid direction and providence therefore good Lord guide me by thy Spirit increase my faith give me wisdom and ableness in all things to execute my calling as I ought and to the execution thereof bless all my members make them apt and ready instruments to perform their duties that in no point I fail in a Christain proceeding therein and bridle me in the nature of flesh and blood which unless thou season my affections by thy Spirit will so much the more glory by how much that thou hast exalted me and inabled me to live in this world in higher reputation than other men whereunto flesh and blood is ready to attribute chiefest hearts ease and by that subtil shift Stan many times moveth us to rely upon vain things Wherefore O good Father vouchsafe I beseech thee to ground all my affections upon thy fear that I be not miscarried in my calling from the true obedience of thee without which neither honour profit wealth wisdom or any other blessing of thine can stand relieve or comfort me be pleased therefore dear Father with me and grant that all things that I take in hand may begin in knowledge proceed in fear and end in love that the whole course of my life may be blessed with good effect in all mine enterprises that neither mine enemies rejoyce at my miseries the Godly be offended at my rashness nor my estate hindred by my foolishness grant this good Lord for thy dear Sons sake Jesus Christ to whom be all honour and glory for even Amen Prayers for Thursday Night O Lord my God and Heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy Holy Spirit c. A Psalm GRacious is the LORD and righteous yea our GOD is
how I shall think of thee teach me with what words I shall call upon thee and the works wherewith I may please thee O most mighty God that art blessed for evermore I commit into thy hands at this time and at all other times else my Soul my Body and all my thoughts affections words and works my memory my faith my belief and continuance in the same that thou maiest defend them with thy most mighty power that thou maist keep them day and night and every moment of time hear me O Holy Trinity and keep me from all evil from all offences from all deceits and despites of the Devil and from all mine Enemies visible and invisible give me O Lord perfect sense and understanding that I may be able to perceive thine exceeding and great mercies teach me what I shall ask and grant that thou wilt hear that which I require give me tears from the bottom of my heart that may unloose the bands of my sins If thou regard me not I perish if thou look upon me I live if thou examine my righteousness I stink and am corrupt being dead but if thou look on me with mercy thou raisest me out of my grave spare my Soul spare my sin visit me that am weak heal me that am diseased give me a heart to fear thee a mind to love thee Ears to hear thee and Eyes that I may always see thee I ask Lord remission of all my sins have mercy on me and hear me O Lord my Salvation I have asked some things which 〈◊〉 need I have remembred those things which I fear wherefore vouchsafe me thy grace O Lord to live in thy true fear to my lives end through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for Faith and ableness to pray O Most gracious God and dear Father I thy unworthy servant ignorant oâ— all good things unprofitable and unfit to serve thee by reason of my corruption do yield thee all humble thanks that thou dost vouchsafe me access to the throne oâ— thy mercy in Christ where all wisdom aid consolation and comfort do abound and from whom all good gifts and graces do most frankly flow unto thy Children 〈◊〉 I here a Sinner in regard there is in me no strength to stand nor wisdom to walk nor faith to frame my affections accord ing to thy will do heartily crave supply of the good gifts at thy hands where fore dear Father grant me thy holy Spirit which being inspired into mâ— by thy divine power may work iâ— me such effects as are fit for the strengthning of my weak understanding and for the increase of faith and renewing the inner man I may become a fit member of thy Church good Father sanctifie me within and without purifie mine affections and let me be made holy in all my proceedings direct me to call upon thee aright and shape in me a sound course of life and let faith unfeignedly be the ground of all my desires that I may be thereby renewed daily in lively hope of thy gratious deliverance whensoever I am touched with any calamity dear Father banish all unbelief in me and make me thereby faithful that by thy divine working I may be able to conceive aright speak aright and walk aright O learn me and I shall be learned teach me and I shall understand and do thy will then shall neither prosperity puff me up nor calamities cast me down nor any evil make me afraid O happy man that is so far in thy favour that obtaineth this blessing at thy hands therefore I â—â—y unto thee my Allsufficient and truly helping God and Father be pitiful to thy perplexed children to thee I fly and will not faint for I believe thy promises Lord help my unbelief thou art the cause and absolute perfection of my soul the Preserver of life the everlasting and only good that I seek from whom as from a lively spring floweth whatsoever is good either for soul or body make perfect therefore in me this good gift O Lord increase it in me more and more daily that I applying the same in humble manner with reverent prayer to thy divine Majesty both for corporal and spiritual relief may be continually heard and so resting herein under the shadow of thy sacred wings may be safe and secure in all my miseries good Lord I here commend mine estate unto thee in all patience humbly beseeching thee that in thy good time I may reap the fruit of a lively confidence in thee namely what in this life is expedient for the preservation and maintenance thereof and after this life the absolute end thereof that is eternal salvation in Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all glory for ever Amen A Prayer to be defended against our enemies O Lord strengthen my faith and arm me with continual hope in thee whereby I may be able to withstand all the cruelties of mine adversaries in such sort that they may know it to be thy self who fightest for me and defendest my cause against their fury behold O Lord my trust is in thee thy rod and thy staff comfort me and stay me up that I fall not into their hands by trusting unto mine own policy or wisdom which is but a foolishness before thee nor to the help or friendship of man which is but vain but lead thou me O Lord guide me in all my doings cogitations and words lest I erring from thy Commandements incline my heart to vanity and vice mine enemies take just occasion to say ah we saw it with our eyes and bring up an evil report of me and that deservedly O Lord guide me in all truth establish my heart with true desire and ableness to walk uprightly in all thy ways vouchsafe to keep me from the dangerous desires of fleshly lusts and from haunting the place suspected or polluted with uncleanness lest mine enemies taking just occasion by my lewd behaviour speak that indeed which may redound to my shame and deserved infamy Finally O Lord keep me from all evil and though by reason of my corruption I be naturally inclined to wantonness and excess thou wilt give me sobriety lowliness love even to mine enemies chastity wisdom and discreet understanding both of their wills and mine own weakness that so through thy grace leading the whole course of my life in sincerity and godly behaviour I may magnifie thy holy Name who so regardeth the prosperity of thy servant that thou sufferest him not to fall into the hands of all such as should eat him up and let not the adversaries of thy truth O Lord unjustly rejoyce over me I am in thy hand and they are within the compass of thy power stay their fury let them not take effect in their devices against me I refer all things to thy heavenly providence and wholly commit my self into thy hands humbly praying thee
as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Eph. 5. 1 2. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Children and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour Eph. 5. Ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord. See then ye walk circumspectly redeeming time because the daies are evill Jude 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen Prayers for the Sick REmember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our Forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sins but spare us good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood and be not angry with us for ever Spare us good Lord. O Lord I beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy servant that I which am rightly punished for my offences may by thy goodness be mercifully delivered for the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth world without end Amen ALmighty and everlasting God in whose hand consists the life of all mankind which correctest those whom thou receivest mercifully I beseech thee to hear my complaint and despise not the prayer that I make now in the time of my trouble in the vexation of my spirit and the anguish of my soul I remember thee and cry unto thee for mercy O thou that hast created and made me of nothing and redeemed me from the bondage of sin death and everlasting destruction by the most precious blood of Jesus Christ shed upon the Cross for the ransom of all my sins Have mercy upon me O Lord have mercy upon me bow down thine ear unto my cry and cast me not away in thine anger though for my wickedness I have deserved thy wrath and heavy displeasure against me And now for my transgressions in thy indignation thou hast stricken me with grievous sickness and I begin to fall as leaves beaten with a vehement wind yet are thy punishments less than my deservings But of thy mercy and goodness O Lord correct me not to death but to amendment of life for thine own sake for thy holy Names sake for Christ Jesus sake be merciful unto my sin for it is very great and there is no rest in my bones by reason of my transgression Spare thy Servant O God which confesseth his sins pour thy sanctifying Grace into my heart and work thereby true and immediate repentance and restore me again to thy favour according to thy gracious promise in Jesus Christ Let thy merciful providence so govern all this sickness that I never fall into utter dakness ignorance of thee or inconsideration of my self let the faintness of my spirit and the condemnation of my self be overcome with thy irresistable light thou God of all consolation grant that I may be mindful of the great account that I have to make at the day of Judgment and that I may bear in mind the image of that which is to be faithful the end of misery and the beginning of all happiness but to the secure and careless the beginning of eternal pain Strengthen my faith accept my repentant tears speak peace to my soul and conscience and say thou art my salvation My grace is sufficient for thee then shall my heart rejoyce and my soul shall be right glad desiring to be dissolved and be at peace that after this my bodily death I may enjoy the eternal fruition of thy heavenly presence Let me not O Father in this my trial be stricken with fear of condemnation or distrust thy promises but in sure confidence of heart apply to my self the remission of my sins that at the last gasp by faith in Jesus Christ I may have a taste of eternal salvation let not death if thou please to send it be terrible or bitter unto me but when it cometh I may with joy receive the same and having escaped the hardness of temptation and the peril of Satan I may triumph like a Conqueror and behold the power and presence of thy holy spirit let my last words be those which thy Son did utter upon the Cross saying Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and when my speech is taken from me hear the groanings of my heart and the desire of my soul that thy servant may depart in peace through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom be all Praise Power Might Majesty and Dominion now and for ever Amen The Sick saith Job 14. 1. MAn that is born of a Woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery he cometh up and is cut down like a flower He fleeth as it were a shadow and never continueth in one state In midst of life we are dying of whom shall we seek for succour and comfort but of thee O Lord God our Maker A Psalm 1. IN thee O Lord have I trusted let me never be confounded but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness incline thine ear to me and save me 2. O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure 3. Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord â—eal me for my bones are vexed 4. Turn thee O Lord and deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake for in death no man remembreth thee and who shall give thee thanks in the pit 5. Consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death shew me thy marvellous loving kindness thou art the Saviour of them that put their trust in thee 6. Thou hast been my succour leave me not neither forsake me O God of my salvation look upon my affliction and pain and forgive all my sins 7. O remember not my old sins but have mercy upon me and that soon for I am come to great misery 8. Preserve thou my soul therefore O my God and save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee 9. O comfort the soul of thy servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul 10. O turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant and help the son of thy handmaid 11. Shew some good token upon me for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast holpen me and comforted me 12. O satisfie me with thy mercy and that soon so shall I rejoyce and be glad all the days of my life 13. I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joynt my heart is like wax it melteth in the midst of my bowels 14. Help me O God of my salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sin for
true Religion is not in the wearing of the habit but with a clear mind in very deed to execute the rules of true Religion and the ordinances thereof If thou be lay and unmarried keep thee clean unto the time thou be married and remember the sore and terrible punishment of Noahs flood and of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha done to man for mis rising flesh and if thou intend to marry or to be married and hast a good Wife thank God therefore for she is of his sending and remember that there be three things pleasing to the Spirit of God that is to say concord between brethren love and charity between Neighbours and a man and wife well agreeing together and having in remembrance that the intent of marriage is not in the beastly appetite of the flesh but to eschew the evil thereof or to have children And if thou have children as much as thou maist bring them up in virtue to be the servants of God for it were better for them and thee not to be born than otherwise In thine Authority busie thee rather to be beloved of thine inferiours than to be dreaded Let thy subjects and servants rather serve and obey thee for love than for dread or need With such a Sovereign goodness govern thy Subjects that they may be glad to serve thee both in punishment and in cherishing Keep a measurable mean be not too streight forget not to keep a convenient measure in all thy works go not to meat but as a reasonable man with thanks to GOD for his gifts and then remember that more be sick and die by superfluities of meats and drinks than otherwise Wherefore eat with measure to live in health at thy meat have no other but honest communication and such as is according to thy knowledge backbite no man be merry in honesty for sorrow and care hath killed many and no profit is therein In no wise swear without compulsion of the Law for where 〈◊〉 great swearing from thence is never the â—â—ague of GOD. In no wise brawl nor chide for Solomon saith Better is a little with joy than much with brawl and contention And he saith An evil person is ever chiding and therefore the Angel of God shall be set against him Be content at all times to give part of that which God hath sent thee for he that will not hear the cry of the poor shall cry to God and not be heard With good providence and discretion see the time where when how why and wherefore thou speakest dost or biddest any thing to be done when thou deemest or judgest any thing to be done in poor or rich behold and consider the cause and not the person be as meek in other mens cause and offences as in thine own sit never in doom and judgment without pity and mercy for while thou hast pity and mercy on other mens offences thou hast mercy on thine own for in what measure thou measurest to others it shall be measured to thee again yet thou must execute judgment for to do mercy and justice is more pleasant to God than to pray or do sacrifice unto him Judge no man by light suspicion prove first and then judge in doubts refer the Judgment and Sentence to Gods might and what thou knowest not commit it to God might have little or none affection of these earthly and transitory things for blessed iâ— the Rich man that trusteth not in mony or treasure remember as as man loveth so he is for the lover is in the thing loved more properly than in himself wherefore if a man love earthly things he may be called an earthly man but if he love properly Heavenly things or God he may be called an Heavenly or a Godly man therefore love God and heavenly things for undoubtedly that is the best and most assured love for they be and ever shall be permanent all earthly things be soon vanished and ended and so the love of them is in vain Also it is high wisdom to fear God for that he saith himself Fear not him that can kill the body and cannot hurt the Soul but fear him that can kill the body and also the Soul and commit them to everlasting pain Wherefore every evening before thou go to bed call to thy remembrance as much as thou canst thy thoughts words and deeds said and done that day and if any have been to thine own profit and to the pleasure of God heartily thank him for by his grace it was done and if any have been contrary to his will and pleaâ—â—re ask heartily mercy and reconcile thy 〈◊〉 shortly to Him by repentance to eschew the everlasting destruction of thy soul For as S. Augustine saith there is not a greater madness than for a little temporal delectation which is soon done to lose the eternal Joy and to be bound to everlasting pain From the which the Almighty Father by his infinite power and mercy bitter passion and infinite wisdom of Jesus Christ and by the infinite goodness and charity of the Holy Ghost keep us now and for ever Amen Jam. 5. 20. Let him know that he which hath converted a sinner from going astray out of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins What Prayer is PRayer is an humble Request either of the heart or tongue or both unto God proceeding from our belief and acknowledgment of his power as God and of his goodness as our Father in Jesus Christ to supply all our necessities with thanksgiving unto him for any blessing received The parts of a Prayer are usually three 1. Humble Confession 2. Petition or Supplication 3. Hearty Thanksgiving 1. Confession Which is an humble and penitent repetition of our sins and wickedness with an acknowledgment of punishments and miseries thereby deserved and with an earnest desire and prayer for absolution and that for JESUS Christ alone He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy Prov. 28. 13. I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Psal 32. 5. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1. 19. My misdeeds prevail against me O be thou merciful to my sins Psal 67. 3. 2. Petition Petition or Supplication is that part of Prayer in which we beseech God the Author of all good and punisher of all ill for all the Mercies Comforts Graces and Blessings of this Life and the Life to come and for deliverance from all fears ills dangers and punishments of this Life and the Life to come for our selves and others and all for the merits of Christ Jesus alone and his mediation Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me Psal 27. 8. Hear me O GOD in the multitude of thy mercies
shalt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption Thou shalt shew me the paths of life in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore O hold thou up my goings in thy paths that my foot-steps slip not So shall he hear me out of his holy Temple and my complaint shall come before him it shall enter even into his ears He shall send down from the height to fetch me and shall take me out of many waters Thou shalt also light my candle the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be light The Lord liveth and blessed be my strong helper and blessed be the God of my Salvation Glory be to the Father c. A Confession to God O Lord my God and everlasting Father I do acknowledge and confess before thy High and Glorious Majesty that I was bred and born in sin and corruption and that since my birth I have not ceased nor do cease daily to transgress thy holy commandments in respect whereof I cannot escape ruine and destruction according to thy rightful justice yet notwithstanding forasmuch as I am sorry that I have offended thee my Lord and God and do condemn both my self and my sin receive me to mercy and as it hath pleased thee to love us even when we were thine enemies and for assurance thereof to give unto us thine only and well-beloved Son to be a Mediator and Advocate between thee and us promising us to obtain whatsoever we shall ask of thee in his Name vouchsafe O most loving God and dear Father to pardon and forgive me in his Name and for his sake and not only to cleanse my heart from all vanity and uncleanness but also to govern and guide me by thy holy Spirit in all my ways that I may live according to thy holy heavenly Will all the days of my life to the glory of thy Name through the same thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be praise and glory for ever Amen A Prayer against the temptations and malice of Satan O Heavenly Father and eternal God unto thee do we cry Protect and strengthen us O Lord against the temptations of Satan which is the sworn and extream enemy to our Salvation a slanderer and our accuser who rageth and rangeth in a deadly hatred against thy Flock and by all means seeketh the destruction of all mankind divers and sundry ways laying snares to intrap us and our Souls preying for any occasion whereby he may allure us unto shameful offending for as many corporal affections as be in man so many occasions doth he take to tempt us and thereby to wound us He layeth snares to take us in wealth in poverty in pleasure and in the inticements of the flesh in anguish of mind in ambition and desire of glory in the wearisomness of our calling and inferiour condition in cares both for the back and the belly and in lust of revenge night and day whether we sleep or wake he is always about to devour us that our senses may be corrupted from the simplicity that we owe unto Christ even as the Serpent deceived Eve by his subtilty Therefore O thou Son of God which art the blessed seed bruising the head of the Serpent bring and bruise this mine enemy Satan under thy feet Thou my chief Champion which of thine own accord enteredst into temptation that so thou mightest as it were hand to hand wrestle with this mine enemy and purchase a triumph for me by thy victory hold him fast bound that he exercise not his cruelty upon me as he desireth but make me partaker of thy victory that even as thou hast in thy body overcome Satan so utterly suppress him in me thy unworthy servant And I beseech thee O Lord to give unto me thy whole Armour that I may like a right good Souldier resist in the evil day and vanquish this my strong enemy gird me with the truth put upon me the breast-plate of Righteousness and let me be shod and prepared for the Gospel of peace and above all things give me the shield of Faith which can extinguish all the fiery darts of wicked spirits bestow upon me the Helmet of salvation with the sword of the Spirit and the Word of God that through thee I may encounter valiantly and gloriously attain the Victory And Holy Spirit Almighty GOD comfort thou and strengthen my mind against so divers conflicts of Satan which beset me by many snares and especially then most of all when I seek deliverance by other means than by thy word revealed and grant that leaving thy Word delivered unto me I look not after new revelations or violent ravishings but may resist the Devil by thy word and power during my whole life O dear Father to whom it is more easie to do all things than for me to think any good thing Do thou but speak a word and thy deadly sick servant my soul shalâ— be made whole Help O Lord for thâ— great mercies sake for thy truth sake and for thy dear Son Jesus Christs sake and let thy strength suffice against my weakness and thy holy Spirit against my sinful Flesh and old man Thou art faithful O Father who hast promised that I shall not be tempted further than thou wilt make me a ble to bear Give now therefore thy gracâ— and strength unto thy servant that I maâ— with a strong faith in thine infallible Trutâ— and promised mercy vanquish and subdâ—â—â— whatsoever rebelleth against thy most blessed will preserve and keep holy my soul and body and let them not be defiled and made a dungeon of wicked Spirits through delectation in sin Shall now alas the Devil the World or the Flesh pluck from thee that thing that presently cryeth to thee with assured trust in thy promised help Nay Father but grant that I may by thy mighty Power turn all their crafts deceits and raging assaults unto the increase of my faith and that by experience of thy fatherly assistance in this my present temptation I may with assured hope and trust in thy ready help and comfort overcome my sad enemies hereafter in like assaults and praise thy holy Name for the Victory through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all power praise and glory for ever World without end Amen A Prayer for grace to do the will of GOD. O Most bountiful Father extend thy favour towards me and let it be with me and labour with me unto the end and give me thy grace to wish to covet such things as may be grateful to thee and acceptable in thy sight let thy will be mine and let me always follow thine and agree therewith Grant that I may like that which thou dost and never like or mislike any thing but that which thou dost like or mislike Assist me O Lord to crucifie my self to all worldly things set me free from wicked affections of the
mind and heal my soul of all unbridled desires and sins that being inwardly healed and purged throughly I may be made fit to love strong to suffer and constantly to continue And above all things grant that I may have rest and peace in Thee for thou art the true peace thou art alone the quietness of mind and without thee all things are hard and troublesome In this peace that is in thee alone which art the chiefest and everlasting felicity I will repose my self both now and for ever and constantly persevere and continue in the same through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer not to distrust the mercy of God THY mercy O Lord my God endureth for ever and thy loving kindness towards thy Children is not able to be uttered the truth of thy promise never faileth thine Elect Thou hast made calm the troubled waves of wavering thoughts which overwhelm my soul and brought me to the quiet Haven of thy merciful protection and defence and hast delivered mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling and my heart from distrust O Lord my God and loving Father let this thy great mercy and loving kindness shewed upon me never depart out of my mind and heart but that I may be thereof continually mindful all the days of my life And for these thy unseparable mercies towards me grant good Lord that I may have a thankful heart to render due honour praise and thanksgiving unto thy Majesty acknowledging from the bottom of my heart thy wonderful works in me And that I may hereof be more assured I beseech thee good Lord that as thou hast begun to deliver me so I may feel more and more daily thy good will and mercy towards me increase in me true understanding of thy heavenly Will and thy blessed Word strengthen my faith in thy loving promises that I may be assured of thy protection and mine election and salvation Make me daily more and more to love Thee my dear Father and God unâ—eignedly for all thy goodness shewed unto me to have my full delight and joy in thee and walk before thee in sincerity of heart and godly conversation that I may here on earth glorifie thy Name and after this life with all thy faithful flock possess that everlasting inheritance which thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord hath purchased to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to be always bent to Heavenly things O I would to God that that day might once Shine in the which I might see my Redeemer and all these temporal days would end for the days of this world are few short full of evil and sorrow where man is defiled with many sins oppress'd with griefs and cares disturbed with thoughts wrap'd in vanities compassed with errours molested with temptation drowned in sensuality and crucified with Poverty O when shall there be an end of these manifold and miserable labours when shall I be delivered from the miserable bondage of wickedness when shall I only remember thee O Lord when shall I fully and perfectly rejoyce in thee when shall I be out of all danger and delivered from all grief of Body and Soul and come to true liberty when shall I rest in that quiet secure and undisturbed peace where peace is both within and without in all things O Lord Jesus when shall I see thee behold the Glory of thy Kingdom which thou hast prepared for thine Elect from the beginning I do wish to be joyned to Heavenly things but temporal Pleasure and mortal passions keep me back from them In mind I would fain vanquish all wickedness and vice but yet I am constrained to be subject to the froward flesh and I unhappy wretch am at controversie with my self for whilst my soul aspireth upward my flesh draweth downward O what passions do I inwardly suffer For when my soul beginneth to contemplate of Heavenly things then presently heaps oâ— carnal thoughts withdraw me from Prayer O my God do not linger from me depart not in anger from thy servant Thunder forth thy Lightening-bolt and disperse my worldly thoughts abroad and drive away all the temptations of mine enemy Turn my senses unto thee O my dear Father and make me to forget all earthly things Grant that I may cast of all sinful thoughts and fantasies O eternal verity succour me to the end that no vanity do tempt or remove me from thee O heavenly Father help me for all vanity and impureness melteth before thy face which livest and raignest ever one God in Power and Glory world without end Amen An Evening Prayer O Eternal God and merciful Father hear my voice and listen to my Prayers and forgive all my sins which this day I have done in the sight of thee and be not angry with thy servant for ever but listen unto thine only begotten Son which maketh intercession to thee for me for his sake hear me and have mercy upon me defend me this night of thy merciful goodness from unclean and troublesome spirits and from the snares and illusions of the Devil preserve me from all dangers and save my Body and Soul from destruction and grant that this night I may sleep quietly without grief or trouble that in darkness I may behold with the eyes of my heart the light of thy countenance shineing upon me for in thee alone do I trust Thou art my Lord and God into thy hands I commend my soul and body now and ever Therefore O Lord let thy unspeakable mercy preserve me thy endless sweetness rejoyce me thy heavenly truth strengthen me thy knowledge embrace me and thy goodness keep me now and evermore Amen Prayers for Munday Morning O Lord my God and Heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy Holy Spirit c. A Psalm HElp me O God of my Salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sin for thy Names sake O remember not mine old sins but have mercy upon me and that soon for I am come to great misery My Soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh rejoyceth in the Living God Blessed are they that dwell in thy House they will be always praising thee Preserve thou my soul therefore O my God and save thy servant that puts his trust in thee O comfort the soul of thy servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul For thou Lord art good and gracious and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee And blessed is the man whose strength is in thee and in whose heart are thy ways O Lord I have cryed day and night before thee O let my Prayer enter into thy presence incline thine ear to my calling And be merciful unto me O Lord for I will call daily upon thee for thou dost wondrous
thou wilt vouchsafe to grant me my petitions which at this time I have asked at thy hands so shall I serve thee here in the Kingdom of Grace and hereafter in thy Kingdom of Glory where I beseech thee O Lord that I may have a place to dwell with thee eternally which livest with God the Father and the Holy Ghost everlastingly to whom be praise and Glory for ever and ever Amen Prayers for Munday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my heart and open my lips c. A Psalm MY Song shall be of mercy and judgment Unto thee O Lord will I sing O let me have understanding in the way of Godliness When wilt thou come unto me I will walk in my house with a perfect heart I will take no wicked thing in hand I hate the sins of unfaithfulness there shall no such cleave unto me Hear my Prayer O Lord and let my crying come unto thee Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble incline thine Ears unto me when I call O hear me and that right soon My days are gone like a shadow and I am withered like grass But thou O Lord endurest for ever and thy remembrance throughout all Generations And I said O my God take me not away in the midst of mine age As for thy years they endure throughout all Generations Praise the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his Holy Name Praise the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his benefits Which forgiveth all thy sin and healeth all thine infirmity Which saveth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness He will not always be chiding neither keepeth he his anger for ever For look how high the Heaven is in comparison of the earth so great is his mercy also towards them that fear him Glory be to the Father c. Confession to God the Father O Lord Almighty the God of our Father and Lord of Mercy which hast made Heaven and Earth with all their Ornaments which hast bound the Sea by the word of thy Commandment which hast shut up the deep and seal'd it by thy terrible and Glorious Name whom all do â—ear and tremble before thy Power for the Majesty of thy Glory cannot be born and thy angry threatnings towards sinners is â—mportable but thy merciful promises are unmeasurable and unsearchable for Thou art the Lord God most High above all the Earth long suffering and most merciful and sorry for the malice of men and thou O Lord according to thy great Goodness and of thine infinite Mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners that they might be saved Therefore thou O Lord that art the God of the just hast not appointed repentance to those which stand to justify themselves in thy sight but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner for I have sinned O Lord I have sinned above the number of the sands of the Sea my transgressions O Lord my transgressions are multiplied and are exceeding many so as I am not worthy to behold or lift up mine eyes unto the Heavens for the multitude of my unrighteousness I have provoked thine anger O Lord and done evil before thee in committing abominations and multiplying of offences Now therefore I bow the knees of my heart beseeching thee for Grace I have sinned O Lord I have sinned and I acknowledge my wickedness desiring thee by Prayer to forgive me O Lord forgive me destroy me not with mine iniquities neither do thou always remember mine evils to punish them but save me that am unworthy according to thy great mercies And I most humbly beseech thee O Lord not to suffer my soul to perish which Thou hast bought so dearly with thy most precious Blood make me poor in Spirit and low of Heart submitting me wholly into thy hands so as my desire and my delight may be always to thy will and pleasure which is always good and godly and grant my poor soul rest in thee for thou hast said They shall never be confounded that put their trust in thee which trust good Lord grant me never to forsake for any vain trust temptation or tribulation that may happen to vex my soul but grant me thy holy Spirit to comfort and defend me from all things that should procure thy displeasure Thou that art in Trinity one God and Lord over all give ear to my Prayer and pardon all my sins so shall I praise thee for ever and ever all the days of my life through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be glory for ever Amen A Prayer to Jesus Christ O Jesus thou Son of God have mercy upon me and forgive the great offences which I have done in the sight of thee this day and give me grace O Lord for the love of thee to despise sin and worldly vanity O Jesus help me to overcome the temptations of sin and the maâ—ice of my spiritual enemy and strengthen my soul and body to exercise the works of virtue whereby I may come to thy everlasting joy and felicity Grant me a â—ast purpose O merciful Jesus to amend my life and to remove the sins of my youth far from me Jesus lighten me with Ghostly Wisdom for to know thy goodness and those things which are most acceptable unto thee and give me grace to give good and profitable example that none may be hurt by me make me to proceed from virtue to virtue until I be grown a perfect man in thee Let me not return to those sins which by my confession have accused me and with sorrow have oppressed me The horrible sentence of endless death the terrible judgment of damnation thy wrath ire and indignation merciful Lord let never fall upon me Jesus give me grace to fly evil company and when I come among them I beseech thee to preserve me that no occasion of sin overcome me keep my mouth O Lord from slanderous speaking lying false witness bearing cursing swearing uncharitable chiding dissolute laughing and words of vanity O sweet Jesus make me perseverant in the blessed service of Thee in holy Exercises and vertuous Meditations Lord keep my Soul and Body and make me to slay all sinful delectation and patiently to suffer injuries and rebukes in following thine own most Holy and blessed Example Provide good Lord that life for me which thou knowest most for thine honour and my comfortable stay in thee Jesus grant me specially in the time of Prayer to fix my mind on thee and thou to remember my wretchedness The blood that ran from thy blessed heart wash my soul from all sin and iniquity and purchase to me thy grace faithfaithfully to serve thee O my Lord God my might my life my light lead me and feed me in this mortality and at the hour of death when I shall be accused before thee have mercy upon me break my froward heart and make
nor flight I beseech thee to cast off the blind burthen of fleshly affections subdue my reason regenerate my will and purifie my nature lead my desire that I may seek thee lighten my understanding that I may see thee for I can neither seek thee without thou direct me nor see thee except thou reveal thy self LORD forgive mine ignorance forget my presumption Pardon mine iniquities relieve my necessities Let my sins no longer be a cloud between my Prayers and thy pity between thy goodness and my distress most gracious GOD who art merciful towards all suffer me not to be destitute of thy Mercy for although I have committed that whereby I may be destroyed yet hast thou neither forgone nor forgotten that whereby thou art wont to save O wretch that I am how coldly do I cry how weakly do I crave how senseless is my unclean soul alas I am nothing but vanity a rotten root without any life or virtue a barren ground bringing forth nothing but sin shame and damnation I am unable either to give thee any thing but of thine own goods or do any thing for my self but by thy free gift Wherefore O my sweet Saviour by the tender love and by all thy mercies reach thy helping hand draw my soul out of the mire of sin wherein it is fast set that I perish not in the presence of thy pity deliver me from the snares that the enemy hath laid to take the soul of sinners either wilful or secure Put away occasions of evil before me guide me unto thee the streightest course and so long as I am to continue in this vile vale of misery settle me in that state of life wherein I may best please thee Give me grace O gracious God although I have hitherto had no care to live well yet I may now wholly and holily bend my care to dye well and that from henceforth I may live in thy fear and dy in thy favour rest in thy peace and remain in thy joy for ever Amen A Prayer for Patience O Most gracious and omnipotent Father whose mercy is everlasting and power infinite bow down thine ear and hearken unto my Prayer which I make before thee beseeching thee of thy accustomed goodness to endue me with the works of Mercy and deeds of charity and above all things to give me patience in adversity meekly to suffer and patiently to take whatsoever it shall please thee to lay upon me and never to murmur or to grudge thereat but always to think thy loving and gentle correction to be much less than the deserts of my great and manifold offences And again if I be not under correction then am I not thy child for what father is he that correcteth not his children whom he most entirely loveth this then is a most evident token that thou lovest us when as thou correctest us for as the Scripture saith Whom God loveth him He chasteneth Thou â—eest all things Thou understandest and knowest all things so that not so much as one little sparrow lighteth upon the ground without thy knowledge yea and our very thoughts are fore-known unto thee Thou disposest and orderest all things as seemeth best to thy holy will and pleasure By thy help I may do all things but without thee I can do nothing When thou pourest upon us thy creatures thy good gifts and benefits Thou dost it to this end that we acknowledging the same should thereby be encouraged to serve honour and obey thee and contrary wise when thou strikest us with thy rod of correction thou dost it to put us in mind that we have transgressed thy Commandments that we have not hearkened unto thee but willingly fallen into the puddle of sin and following our own appetites have provoked thy just wrath and indignation against us Thus thou dealest with us O Lord to the intent that we suffering bodily punishment and feeling the smart of the same may thereby be admonished of our duties and with true compunction of heart desire to be released from the scourge that we have deserved This O heavely Father I acknowledge to be our duty but alas I for my part have not performed the same as I ought yet I beseech thy goodness not to execute the rigour of thy Justice upon me but to stay thy hand and before thou give me any greater wound to behold my humility and repentance and here I do offer thee O Lord according as the poor widow did all which I am able to give that is a sorrowful contrition of heart for my former offences done and past wherefore I beseech thee to give me grace that what way soever it shall please thee to punish me 〈◊〉 may take it patiently and say Naked I came into this World and naked I shall return to the Earth again The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away even as it pleaseth the Lord so be it Suffer me not O Lord to despair or to think that thou dealest unjustly with me but say Shall I receive Prosperity at the LORD's hands and not be conâ—ent with adversity and always to think upon this Happy are they whom thou â—ost punish for though thou makest a wound Thou also givest a plaster though Thou smitest thy hand maketh whole again Mine iniquities are great be thou merciful unto my wickedness O deliver me from thine anger and press me not further than I shall be able to bear but now 〈◊〉 acknowledge that whatsoever trouble thou hast sent me or wilt lay upon me is either for the punishment of mine iniquities or for the tryal of my Constancy I may with repentant David find remission of my sins and with patient Job release of mine adversity and obtain such favour in thy sight that I may so pass this life that I may afterwards live with thee in thy eternal Glory grant this Oâ— most loving Father for thy dear Son's sake Jesus Christ to whom with the holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for Humility O My sweet Saviour Jesus it is thine own Lesson Be humble and meek as I am it is thy Word also My sheep hear my Voice but Lord what shall I do the flesh is proud I daily rebel against thy holy will I envy my superiours I love not my equals I despise mine inferiours This is the fruit of the â—lesh O Lord but thou art love and life O loving Jesus and therefore I beseech thee of thy tender love to pity me and to endue me with the spirit of humbleness that being poor iâ— in spirit I may with the little ones of thy Kingdome be blessed and live for ever O Lord for the avoidance of pride give me thy grace to consider that by it an Angel became a devil and Man was excommunicated from the Paradise of pleasure desire of Soveraignty begat the devil sin death and damnation so that out of it as a most filthy puddle issu'd a whole Sea of mischief and misery
JESUS Saviour of the world whose mercy cometh unto us like a stream who art my eternal happiness I do from the botto mof my heart beseech thee to increase establish hope and strengthen patience within me for this certainly is true that one little drop of thy sacred Blood shed for us is of more power to save us than all our enormous sins to condemn us wherefore O sweet Saviour look upon me with the eyes of mercy as thou lookedst back upon Peter in the Hall of the High-Priests Palace after he had both renounced thee and cursed himself O God the holy Ghost be thou present with me in mine extream need when the Devill will accuse me and my conscience bear witness against me when I shall be environed with horrible danger and temptations and all things set themselves against me Strengthen my heart at that time O comfortable Spirit with the Zeal of thy Testimony that undoubtedly I may believe the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the flesh and everlasting life which shall be given to all believers O blessed Trinity and eternal God of one essence give grace that in every combate especilly at the point of death being mindful of thy Covenant made with me in Baptism and of thy most comfortable promise annexed which is that all that believe and are baptised shall be saved I may never doubt either of thy merciful good will towards me or of the free remission and forgiveness of my sins but by often remembrance of this Sign and Covenant I may daily more and more be confirmed in faith and hope of eternal happiness and here O holy Trinity lift up my sorrowful heart and pour upon me the wholsome comfort of thy Heavenly bliss and at the point of death refresh me with the sweet light of thy chearful countenance that with exceeding joy I may desire to depart and come to thy heavenly house where Thou livest and reignest as my eternal GOD and Father for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for the Power of GOD's Spirit to abide in us O Omnipotent and eternal GOD and Father which comfortest such as be sorrowful and who givest all good gifts thou of thy free favour and love hast willed us in all our affairs and necessities and as often as we stand in need of any of thy blessings or feel our selves burdened with any kind of tribulation or affliction either of body or mind to call upon thee in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ and thou wilt grant what we want most humbly I beseech thee to send down upon my dark understanding the bright beams of thy most holy Spirit to lighten me and to direct me in all my supplications and prayers and especially at this time O Lord for that thou knowest my weakness and ignorance to be such as I am altogether unable to frame my requests according to thy will or to seek that which is for mine own souls health wherefore I most humbly beseech thee O Lord in the Name of him thy Son to address and prepare my heart to the true understanding and unfeigned calling on thy Name for such things as thy wisdom shall think most expedient for me both to the obtaining of thy heavenly Kingdom which is before all things to be sought for and for temporal blessings best known to thee which in respect of my ignorance my dulness my corruption my weakness and the guilt of mine own conscience I cannot crave in such due and faithful manner as I ought and therefore most dear Father I here beseech thee in the Name of thy Son Christ that thou wilt aiâ— me with thy holy Spirit in my prayers that being of my self dull I may be made Zealous and whereas I am of my self cold I may be thereby made fervent and faithful that my Prayers be not as a smoke which vanisheth or as the wind which passeth away being only in the lips and not firm in the heart let it be effectual and an acceptable sacrifice sweet and pleasing in thy sight and that nothing pass the bounds of thy unfeigned lips that which may beseem a single heart always sounding thine honour and setting forth of thy most glorious praise let thy holy Spirit O Lord come unto me let it continue with me work and prevail effectually in me unto the end that I may both at this time begin and for evermore continue as thou will est I should namely in Faith that I fall not into any temptation in hope that I may constantly look for and faithfully attain unto perfect understanding of thy will and ableness in all things to fulfil the same make me also good Lord fervent in love that I may freely and unfeignedly even from my very heart forgive and forgot all injuries wrongs and evil doings of such as by any means have offended me with hearty prayer for their amendment that I approaching unto the Throne of thy mercy in a pure and single heart may heartily as well for all others as for my self for things necessary both for my soul and body make my humble petitions unto thee and in thy good time tast that most sweet fruit of my humble desires according unto thy will so shall I shew forth thy praise and give glory to thy Name for ever and ever world without end Amen A Prayer for the victory against sin O LORD there is no Victory without Fighting nor any Crown without Victory give me therefore power O Lord that fighting valiantly I may be crowned gloriously in Heaven with thee to live for ever minister strength unto me that I may over-master mine enemies and give me the spirit of patience that continuing unto the end I may be found and taken as a faithful Souldier of thy Son Jesus Christ and so be blessed let me not faint in fear but let me fight in a lively saith which over-matcheth all the whole world plant me a natural branch by the power of thy holy Word in the Vine Jesus and make me able to endure every crack let no canker of sin eat me let no worm of a guilty conscience gnaw me let no blast of the world overcome me but stay me up with thy mighty hand and be ever at my elbow that I may be crowned though I be crossed and saved though now soused in extream misery in this is all my hope for surely of my self I am but a vapour a worm I am born of a woman in sin a sinful child by nature and to my power wage battel with Satan against my self to my utter undoing O Lord unless thou regenerate me and assist me with thy Spirit always to resist him which do O gracious God I beseech thee for thy great mercy to whom be all power and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to be mindful of death O GOD in whose hands consisteth the life of all mankind for thy Son Christ's sake vouchsafe to give me grace to set before mine eyes as a most certain mark whereto
charity with thee and my Heavenly Bridegroom Christ Jesus to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be ascribed all power and glory for ever and ever Amen Prayers for Thursday Morning O Lord my God and Heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my Heart open my Lips and give me thy Holy Spirit c. A Psalm SAve me O GOD for thy Names sake and avenge me in thy strength Hear my Prayer O God and hearken to the words of my mouth An offering of a free heart will I give thee and praise thy Name O Lord because it is so comfortable I will praise God because of his Word I have put my trust in God and will not fear what flesh can do unto me In Gods word will I rejoyce in the Lords word will I comfort me For thou hast delivered my soul from death and my feet from falling that I might walk before thee in the light of the Living Therefore will I call unto the most High God even unto the God that shall perform the cause which I have in hand He shall send from Heaven and save me from the reproof of him that would eat me up He verily is my strength and my Salvation he is my defence so that I shall not greatly fall For the greatness of his mercy reacheth to the Heavens and his truth unto the Clouds Wherefore my soul thirsteth for him my flesh also longeth after him in a dry and barren land where no water is Thus have I looked for thee in holiness that I might behold thy power and glory For thy loving kindness is better than the life it self my lips shall praise thee My soul shall be satisfied even as it were with marrow and fatness when my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips Because thou hast been mine helper therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce Glory be c. A Morning Prayer O Heavenly Father which like a diligent Watchman attendest always upon thy children whether they wake or sleep and mightily defendest them not only from Satan that old enemy of mankind but also from all other their adversaries so that through thy Godly power they be harmless preserved I most humbly thank thee that it hath pleased thy goodness so to take care of me thy unprofitable servant this night past that thou hast both safely kept me from all mine enemies and hast given me sweet sleep unto the comfort of my body I most entirely beseech thee merciful Father to shew the like goodness towards me this day in preâ—erving my body and Soul that mine enemies may have no power over me and that so likewise I may neither breath â—peak or do any thing that may be displeaâ—ing to thy Fatherly goodness dangerous â—o my soul or hurtful to my neighbour â—ut that all my enterprises may be agreeâ—ble to thy most blessed will which is always good and godly doing that that may always advance thy glory and â—nswer to my vocation that whensoâ—ver Thou shalt call me from this vale of misery I may be found the child not of darkness but of light and so for ever to reign with thee in glory who art the true and everlasting Light to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all power and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for true sorrow of heart for sin O Most merciful God and dear Father vouchsafe I beseech thee to look down with thy fatherly eyes of pity upon me most vile and wretched sinner which lye here prostrate in heart before the feet of thy bottomless mercy for I have sinned against the throne of thy glory and before thee O Father yet nevertheless forasmuch as thou art the God of all comfort and again desirest not the death of a sinner make me I pray thee by infusing thy precious oyl of comfort into my wounds that I may joyfully run with the lost son into the lap of thy pity for loâ— thou art my hope and trust in whom 〈◊〉 repose my self having in thee full confidence in faith yea and I most vile wretch do here accuse my self unto thee O Father in that I have so sore and grievously offended thy Almighty goodness in the committing of so many grievous and manifold offences I have not kept the least of thy most holy Commandments like as thy righteousness may require the same of me but in what manner soever I have offended against thy eternal Majesty whether it hath been by day or by night secretly or openly O merciful GOD I am sorry for it even from the bottom of my heart yea my soul mourneth that I am not a thousand times more sorry than I am and here in token of true repentance I do knock and strike my heart and say in bitterness of my heart and soul Lord GOD the Father have mercy Lord GOD the Son have mercy Lord GOD the Holy Ghost have mercy and spare me of thy infinite goodness now and for ever and let my heart have part of thy abundant grace so as I may change my sinful life and put off the old man with all concupiscence and that I may die unto the world and the world to me give my soul grace O my GOD to desire in thee only to rejoyce and repose my self and that I may utterly renounce and forsake the vain assistance of this World so that thou mayst find me ready with the good servant in the midnight of death which shall suddenly steal upon me like a thief ere I be aware wherefore be thou to me at that time O Lord a tower of strength a place of refuge and a defensible GOD namely against the face of the Devil who then will be ready to devour me and against desperation which then will be ready to grieve me let then thy comfort cleave fast to me thy mercy keep me and thy grace guide me fetch then again Lord GOD the Father that which thy puissant might hath shapen fetch then again Lord GOD the Son that which thou hast so wisely governed and bought with thy precious Blood take again thou Lord GOD the Holy Ghost that which thou hast kept and preserved so lovingly in this region of sin and vale of misery three persons and one GOD to whom be all glory and power for ever Amen A Prayer for Wisdom O Almighty and everlasting GOD it is thy gift that babes and men of base degree have the knowledge and understanding of thy will and men of profound learning deep study and worldly appearance often want the same It is thou which expellest darkness and givest light which takest away ignorance and plantest knowledge and wisdom denying the same to none that unfeignedly ask it at thy hands without the which nothing can be obtained which good is nor nothing avoided with the evil and that did Solomon very well consider who had a promise at thy hands that whatsoever he asked he should obtain vouchsafe therefore O Lord to send it
of thee joyntly both with trembling and trust settle the love of thee in me and the care of me in thee let my prayer come unto thee and thy mercy unto me let the joy of thy happiness remain with me and the compassion of my miseries with thee let my heart love thee let my flesh fear thee and let my whole substance in this world joy wholly in thee that I may enjoy thee wholly in the world to come by thee O Christ who art my Saviour and Deliverer to whom belongeth all power and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer in heart to feel spiritual comforts O Lord GOD and most dear Father now I fully know the heart of man is not in his own power for thou hast taught me by thy dâ—minishing the Spirit of comfort in my heart that it is thou only which makest joyful the heart of man and which diminishest the same joy according to thy good pleasure and will therefore O dear Father I beseech thee to send me thy most blessed comfort and strength of Faith into my heart to fill the same with spiritual joy and that by the working of thy holy Spirit in me the comfortable promises of thy merciful Protection may be sealed in my heart and sink deep into my soul that I may be fully assured that thou art my strong rock and house of defence that thou dost keep me as the apple of thine eye and that thou wilt not lay more upon me than thou wilt give me strength to abide but that thou wilt assuredly at thy appointed time renew my heart and the whole power of my mind that I may fully glorifie thy Name Thy Holy Spirit O Lord in me which is the assurance of my Salvation doth continually send forth unspeakable sighs and longings for thy full and joyful presence I beseech thee therefore O dear Father for thy Son JESUS's sake hearken to my prayers and grant my requests make tender my hard and stony heart by thy holy Spirit that I may from the bottom of my heart acknowledge thee to be my most merciful God and Father and all things in thy holy Word to be most certain and true and reverently embrace the same and in my soul to take comfort and joy of the same that I may even to my lives end walk before thee in sincerity of heart being assured of my salvation through that one alone sacrifice for my sins made by thy dear Son Jesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever Amen A fruitful petition to GOD. O LORD GOD of infinite wisdom inspire my heart and direct my voice that I may not think nor utter any thing before thy Maiesty but that which thou knowest to be expedient for me to ask and glorious for thee to give Turn not my prayer Good Lord into perdition nor my suit into sin for thou art the God of my Fathers on whom I wholly depend save me for thy mercies sake O save me as I have always put my trust in thee and when through the perverseness and froward inclination of my nature I fall into any wickedness and sin leave me not good Lord unto them acquit me from the inordinate lust of the body let no desire of uncleanness take hold upon me and give me not over to an unshamefast and obstinate mind Lord here I stand vile wretch before the throne of thy dreadful presence hoping that I shall be heard not in the faintness of my faith but in the power of thy promises O weigh my weakness and grant my desires as thou knowest most meet for me then can I want nothing and my conscience shall be comforted with all spiritual consolation in Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be ascribed all power and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to be ingrafted into Christ O LORD it is mercy without merit that I am a branch of the Vine Jesus that I am the house and Temple of the Holy Ghost It is of Justice that thou hast appointed thy house to be a place of prayer and of duty therefore that we should pray unto thee For this O Lord I thank thee that thou hast made me thy child to lodge me and I acknowledge that of duty I am bound to serve thee but give me O Lord the grace of thy Spirit to conduct me in the way of thy will cleanse or create a new heart within me that I may be a fit lodging for thee and yield up the savoury sacrifice unto thee which thou requirest of every Christian I mean the sacrifice of prayer the sacrifice of the heart which savoureth sweetly unto thee And at this time in hope of the assistance of thy holy Spirit I desire thee that as thou hast of mercy covered me under thy wings of safety so thou wilt defend and keep me from all the storming rages of Satan who is wont not only by day but also and that especially by night to undermine man when his senses are fettered in bands of rest but I hope O good Lord that as I am then most unable and at all times else to withstand the buffets and assaults of Satan so thou wilt be most ready to succour me and partly because thereby thou shalt unlock the riches of thine infinite mercy and pity and partly because thou lovest every thing which thy hands have made For which and for all other thy blessings I yield thee all honour power and glory which is due only to thy blessed Majesty for ever world without end Amen A Prayer against evil imaginations O Lord cleanse my heart I do beseech thee from all impure and wicked cogitations and thoughts give me a clear conscience shame-fac'd eyes modest hands and a tongue to tell the truth and seeing there is nothing hid that shall not be discovered good Lord I beseech thee to search my thoughts and renew in me thy holy Spirit direct my feet in thy ways that walking after thee in the path of the righteous I may pass through this vail of misery bearing thy banner stoutly in my warfare and in the end obtain everlasting joy the promised hire of such as have born thy Cross and valiantly fought with the armour of faith against temptations and all evil vouchsafe O Lord to grant all these my supplications and petitions for thy dear Sons sake Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be ascribed all power and glory for ever Amen An Evening Prayer O Heavenly Father the giver of all good things and the protector of all those that love thee I yield thee most humble and hearty thanks not only for keeping and preserving me this day but all my life that neither my enemies have prevailed against me as they sought nor any other danger which in this world is incident unto mankind hath overcome me but hast like a loving Father and careful purveyor given and
shall this snake of conscience sting me to death What good Lord is the stream of thy mercy stopped are the rivers of thy grace dryed up dost thou not call me saying Come unto me Yea good Lord and therefore despair I will not it is not thy will that any sinner should perish and thou hast not only said but sworn it that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather his conversion and life Behold therefore dear Father I come unto thee being a grievous offender in hope of pardon in the Name of thy Son who by his own testimony came into this world to save sinners he was content to blot out that obligation which Satan had against me by the floud of his most precious blood which issued out of his glorious side In this pool he hath washed away the leprosie of sin were it never so desperate O Lord and gracious God I have wasted my days in vanity I have from time to time trodden under my feet the pearls of Christian profession even from the womb have I been a rebellious traitor to thy Majesty a friend to this world to godliness an enemy But now O Lord I cry unto thee forgive me forgive me Now I come unto thee therefore cover me with the wings of thy mercy that I perish not good Lord accept thy Sons merits for a satisfaction for my sins drown them in the stream of thy mercy and cast them behind thee for ever good Lord I beseech thee Oh sweet Lord look upon me with thy most precious and piteous eye lest that be destroyed which thou of thy great goodness hast made and Christ thy Son of inestimable love and infinite charity hath redeemed through his bitter passion This is the total sum unto thee of all my suit O Lord mercy mercy O Father of mercy mercy is the thing that I beg have mercy and pity upon me be thou my shepherd to defend me my Castle of defence to save me against the power of the Devil thou hast store of mercy for them that ask it Therefore O Lord for the wounds of thy dear Son have mercy upon me let not sin sting me to death but lay to my fore soul the salve of thy mercy grant this O dear Father of thy merciful compassion to whom be all glory for ever and for ever world without end Amen A fruitful Prayer to God the Father O Lord my God wherein is my hope fixed in this life or what is my greatest comfort of all things that are any where under the cope of heaven but only thou my Lord and God whose mercy is infinite when was it with me well if thou wert absent or ill if thou wert present doubtless I would rather chuse to be poor for thee than rich without thee and rather to be with thee a pilgrim on earth than without thee to possess Heaven where thou art there is joy and peace of conscience where thou art not there is woe and destruction thou alone art the thing I desire and there is none can assist me in my troubles but thou alone O God thou art my hope thou art my confidence thou art my comforter in all things most faithfully all men seek their own but thou desirest nought but my welfare and turnest all things for me to good therefore in thee my Lord and God I place all my confidence on thee I do lay all my calamities and troubles for without thee whatsoever I behold is as frail and transitory For neither can friends profit nor strong men help nor wise men counsel well nor learned books comfort nor riches save nor secret place hide unless thou be present to help strengthen comfort instruct and keep for whatsoever seems to belong to the attainment of peace and felicity without thee is nothing and bringeth indeed no felicity at all so that thou art the chiefest end and perfection of life and that in thee to trust above all things is the chiefest comfort of thy servant O my God and Father of mercy bless make my soul holy with celestial happiness that it may be thy sacred habitation and temple purged from all filthiness O Lord according to the greatness of thy mercy look upon me and hear the supplications of thy poor servant living far off a banished man in a savage country Protect and keep the soul of thy servant among so many dangers of this mortal life and bring me by the conduction of thy savour into the country of eternal glory through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all honour power and glory for ever and ever Amen Prayers for Friday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy Name for ever Dispose my heart open my lips and give c. A Psalm WIth my whole heart have I sought thee O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments Make me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me O give me the comfort of thy help again and stablish me with thy free Spirit Stablish thy word in thy servant that I may fear thee and turn away mine eyes lest they behold vanity and quicken thou me in thy way So shall I always keep thy law yea for ever and ever Yea at midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort according to thy word unto thy servant And let thy loving mercies come unto me that I may live for thy law is my delight My soul hath longed for thy salvation and I have a good hope because of thy word O how sweet are thy words unto my throat yea sweeter than honey unto my mouth Through thy commandments I get understanding therefore I hate all wicked ways Order my steps in thy word so shall no wickedness have dominion over me O let my soul live and it shall praise thee and thy judgments shall help me I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost O seek thy servant that I do not forget thy commandments Glory be to the Father c. A Prayer for the suppressing of corrupt affections O My God and most loving Father I do acknowledge that I have most highly offended thy sacred Majesty by my gross and most filthy life and have provoked thee to anger by my abominable wickedness wherefore O Lord be merciful unto me and pardon me this great wickedness look not upon me good Father with the eyes of Justice neither do thou draw against me the sword of Judgment for then how shall I that am but dust and ashes stand in thy sight when thy wrathful indignation cometh forth as a whirlwind and thy heavy displeasure as a mighty tempest seeing the earth trembleth the depths are discovered and the very Heavens are shaken when thou art angry Exercise not therefore good Lord thy fury against me that am but as chaff before
vexed with any kind of sickness or disease which is another of thy calling of us and an especial warning that we must die yea and when I am at my daily business or when I eat or drink when I am in my best temperature and health at all times and in all places give me grace to think that Death standeth at my Elbows always ready to strike me and that I sleep not in sin and security and the time suddenly come of my departure and so be taken unprovided and perish without repentance O Lord such is the blindness of our nature that we think this World a continual being for us covet even with greediness to see many days where we heap sin upon sin to the over-burdening of our poor Souls seldom or not at all thinking to die but grant my most sweet Lord that as I desire to live so I may have a greater desire to live well that I may make a happy end abandoning the fear of death that the cogitation thereof may dwell in peace within the mansion of my heart and when it shall approach near unto me I fly not from it but that I may go forth with joy to meet it considering that it is a means to end my woes and to begin my joys it is the finishing of sorrow and the entrance into bliss where is nothing but joys unspeakable and contrary here on Earth nothing but care and woe which moved thy servant Job to call his life a warfare where is nothing but conflicts between the flesh and the spirit daily increase of sin and continual care of vanity O God give me a careful heart to love thee whilst I live here give me continual fear unfeigned zeal perfect faith and godly care to do good unto all men and earnest desire to come unto thee who art the end of all trouble and labour the beginning of bliss the end of death and the beginning of life whereunto sweet Lord grant that with unfeigned desire I may faithfully endeavour my self to come where thy Son is gone before to direct us the way and making all those that thou findest with the lamp of true faith burning in their hearts partakers of the Everlasting joys thereof in number of whom O sweet Lord accept me here and cleanse me from all my sins that I may appear among them in the World to come through the same thy Son Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all praise and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to Jesus Christ for Heavenly Comfort O Jesus grant I beseech thee I may rest and repose my self in thee before any Creature before all honour power dignity and consolation over and above all hope and promise yea and above all the hoast of Heaven O when shall it be fully granted unto me that I shall for sake my self and see how sweet and pleasant thou art O Lord my God! O Jesus the brightness of Eternal glory the comfort of the wandring Soul my mouth is bent towards thee without speaking and silently speaketh unto thee How long will my Lord my God withdraw himself from coming unto me come unto me thy servant comfort me O Lord thrust forth thy helping hand O God and deliver me for without thee there can be no restful day nor quiet hour thou art my joy thou art my comfort and without thee I am comfortless O Jesus infinite in pity infinite in power infinite also both in thy rewards and in thy revenge I am weak but willing with my Soul to love thee with my flesh to fear thee with my mind to honour thee with my mouth to praise thee and with my whole heart to serve thee but alas I am so clogged with corruption I am so drowned in flesh and blood that I scarce either dare or can list up my head and look unto thee and yet why should I be ashamed when thou dost invite me Why should I be faint when thou dost not only encourage but also inable me or at the least accept my weak endeavours Strive then O thou very bowels of my Soul strive with all your strength to raise up your thoughts out of this mire of mortality wherein they stick and out of these waves of fleshly affections wherein they float advance thy self O my Soul towards thy Oreator frame thy affections to love him for his goodness to honour him for his greatness to rejoice in him for his merits to pray unto him for his mercies which daily thou dost need and by needing dost crave and by craving dost obtain if not according to thy desires yet very far above thy deserts wherefore blessed be thou O Lord my God which hast done this goodness unto me thy Servant What can I say more unto thee O Lord but humble my self in thy sight and be always mindful of mine iniquity and unworthiness for of all the wonderful things in Heaven and Earth there is none like unto thee O Lord. Thy works are excellent thy judgments are upright and by thy providence all things are grounded O Father of wisdom laud and praise be unto thee my mouth my Soul and all the powers of my heart shall praise thee without ceasing O my God both now and for ever Amen A fruitful Prayer at the end of Prayer O Most righteous God for thy great mercies sake hearken to these my Prayers which I have now made unto thee and consider Lord the desires and thoughts of my heart in thy mercy and let mine unfeigned Prayers enter into thine Ears hear O Lord for I am destitute of thy help take care for my Soul save me thy unworthy servant which wholly trusteth in thee have mercy O Lord have mercy upon me for I will never cease crying unto thee for thy help and mercy In the day time will I call on thee and in the night my cry shall not be hid from thee O thou God of the Heavens and maker of all Creatures hear me a most wretched Creature calling on thee and take away from me all my sins and make stedfast my faith and confidence in thee and in thy promises that I putting my trust in them may have as thou hast promised Everlasting Life through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all praise and glory for ever and ever World without end Amen An Evening Prayer O Eternal God Omnipotent and merciful Father I prostrate my self before thy Throne beseeching thee in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ to blot out all my transgressions by which I have offended thy Divine Majesty this Day forgive Lord all the sins which from my youth I have done and be merciful unto me guide me with thy wisdom that when I walk I may go with me when I sleep it may keep me and when I awake I may talk thereof O Lord be thou my Watchman and protector this night that troubles and vain cogitations do not invade me neither the fear of