in some vaine obiect or other in my silent and solitary trauailes and iourneys laying before the eyes of my corrupt minde infinite bayts to allure mee to sin against thee that so I may offend thee that by offending thee thou in thy displeasure mayest inflict some crosse or hinderance vnto my trauels and so to preuent the good successe of mine endeauors But grant good Father in Iesus Christ that neither sin Sathan nor mine owne corrupt desires hinder thy blessings vpon my trauels but that I may constantly continue in thine obedience and thy loue towards mee not onely in these my trauailes but vnto my liues end Amen Lord increase my faith and prosper my Iourney A motiue to a Prayer for patience in godly Parents that are afflicted in minde for the disobedience and vngodly liues of their children whom if good counsell cannot reforme prayer is to bee made to God for them if that will not preuaile to leaue them to God and the Lawes IT is not the least crosse that can befall godly and religious parents to see and obserue their owne flesh blood their owne dearest children to bee disobedient rebellious and by their lewd liues to become scandalous in themselues and a shame and slander vnto their parents and friends A griefe it is of all griefes especially vnto such parents as haue had not onely a fatherly but a religious care of their holy education And their griefe cannot but bee so much the more by how much the world condemnes the parents censuring them euill by obseruing the vngodly liues of their children A great temptation to a carefull father that hath done his vttermost godly endeauor to educate his children in the feare of God wherin the wise indifferent and impartiall obseruer cannot but spare his condemnation finding this corrupt world so fraught with multitudes of wicked youth whose examples abroad doe worke more euill in children then the wisest and most godly father can worke good in them at home by their best counsell It is no maruel then that a good man may haue euill children who though hee propagate their bodies cannot infuse grace and goodnes into their hearts he can not frame their inclinations to vertue further theâ— God by his diuine Spirit doth second his good endeauors The Husbandman may soyle his land with the best Marle he may be carefull in plowing circumspect in sowing painefull in harrowing as much as in him lieth preuent the vermin that might deuoure the seed sowen Yet it is not his labour diligence or best skil that can forme the blade nor infuse the graine in the eare A good and godly father may infuse his best couÌ„sell into the eares of a refractory sonne and harrowe him with sharp threats to preuent venemous vices that deuoure best counsell But hee cannot imprint grace in his heart nor work the practise of godlinesse in him he cannot driue away Sathan and his wicked instruments from deuouring the good seed sowne in his sonne Euill examples and wicked counsell preuaile more with corrupt flesh then most diuine perswasions or disswasions It is a vaine thing to sowe good corne vpon a stony rocke it will take no root so to giue best counsell to a stubburne and an obdurate heart can not fructifie yet must not parents therfore giue ouer but againe and againe early and late endeauor to encourage his children in veâ—tue and goodnesse and to reclaime them from sin according to the counsell of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes Jn the morning sow thy seed and in the euening let not thine hand rest for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that or whether both shall bee a like good So should parents bee alike instant at all times to instruct their children with holy counsell for they know not whether God haue appointed this or that time or this or that aduice to conuert them from euill to good for as one drop often falling descends at last to moisten the root of the tree So time and timely counsell may mollifie the hardest heart and reforme the peruersest mind for as the wind bloweth when and where it listeth and no man knoweth from whence it commeth so may the Spirit of God come into the heart when man thinketh least of it therfore ought parents to pray earnestly and often for godly liues of their Children in whom then if God haue any share it will in time preuaile The reason why the world is so ful of loose lasciuious vnbrideled youth is much in the euill examples of Parents the want of the feare neglect of the seruice of God for the example of a father may something alter the nature of a son in good or euill For there is a kinde of ineuitable imitation in the son of the fathers qualities If they be good nature rebelleth against them in the son because it is corrupt if they be euill nature it selfe teacheth the son without further documeÌ„t how to resemble the father in euill And nothing can help the one or bridle the other but grace which cannot be obtayned but by prayer Another maine cause of Childrens lewdnesse is too much lenitie in Parents and too much libertie in Children wherein idle doting and foolish mothers are commonly most guilty who because they haue giuen their Children suck of their breasts when thâ—y were young they giue them leaue when they become able to sinne to suck their puâ—ses to feede them fat in vices in haunting Tauernes idle and vngodly companies drinking gaming and which is not the least pampering them in pride the beginning of their fall wherein many silly fathers are as guilty in winking at the mothers folly or not hauing the wit or spirit to redresse it vntill their children become so farre plunged in impieties as when they would they cannot not reclaime them and so in fine are inforced to see them to their vnspeakeable griefe come either to publike shame and obloquie or to vntimely and fearefull ends which may befall the vngodly Children of most godly Parents What then Shall the Parents beare the shame of their Children that kick against all good counsell and will obstinately run to their owne ruine No. But if Parents be totally remisse in wholesome counsell erre in their example in the eye of their Children no maruell if they taste of the shame and griefe of and for their Children But least good men men fearing God hauing vngodly Children to whom they haue done their best duties in their youth to teach them the way of godlinesse and they depart from it should be too much deiected and cast downe through griefe conceiued for the wickednesse of their Children let them consider that as they cannot make one haire black that is white no more can they make him good that is euill neither can they keepe them in awe that are wilfully rebellious nor preuent them of confusion that voluntarily seeke it Foolishly vnaduised then are they that will taxe a good Father
and by sinne I offend and displease thee and in thy displeasure is death O preuent me Lord therfore from sinfull feeding my foolish mind with false felicitie as to repose my happinesse in the things of this life in health riches honour beautie carnall friends worldly wisdome pleasures delights ease which are not worthy in respect of true happinesse in deed to bee the least esteemed Giue me therefore here O Lord euen in this life an entrance into true happinesse send foorth thy Spirit and breath life into my dead soule transforme me into thine own image from glory to glory by thy Spirit withdraw me from delight in the vanities of this life for as long as I delight in the pleasing things of this world I am farre from happinesse and it lies not in my power to restrain my heart from that which naturally I affect I cannot subdue the corruption of mine owne nature but that which is impossible to mee is possible with thee declare therefore thy great power in mercy vpon me I am by nature wretched miserable and poore and naked a most vnhappy man yet such is my blindnesse that I see it not I feele not mine owne vnhappinesse Lord remooue that darknesse from me and graunt that seeing I may see mine owne errour and in hearing I may vnderstand and take the right way to felicitie work faith in my heart that I may taste how gracious thou art in working in me a new heart a new mind and new affections holy and heauenly the beginning here of happinesse to come Make mee to feele the peace of a good conscience let my faith be seen through obedience vnto thee let me feele in my soule through faith the merits of thy Son working the assurance of the remission of my sinnes and assured hope of the enioying of my finall felicity and endlesse happinesse in heauen None are truly happy or blessed but such as thou dost chuse cause to come vnto thee for none can come vnto thee but whom thou callest and they onely are iustified whom thou iustifiest them wilt thou glorifie and whom thou glorifiest are and none else truly happy Carry me therefore gracious Lord carry me by the wings of thy mercy and by the strength of thy fauour in Christ my Sauiour into that heauenly Canaan the inheritance of them that are in Christ Iesus elected to saluation Let me euen here in this base outward forme of an vnhappy man behold thee through faith in thy word let mee behold thy face in righteousnesse for in the liuely beholding of thee is the fulnes of ioy and highest happinesse in this life O that the time would therefore speedily come wherein I being dissolued may see thee my Sauiour face to face when this my mortall body shall be quickened and made like vnto thy glorious body for I know thou wilt keepe vnto the end that which I haue committed vnto thee both my soule and body to bee glorified and made happie though I yet see not what I shall be and therfore when thou wilt I will willingly lay down my life and commit my soule vnto thee my God through Iesus Christ as vnto my most faithfull Creator and louing Redeemer to whom with the holy Ghost bee all glory for euer Amen The consummation and full perfection of our happinesse shall be When wee shall bee made partakers of the diuine Nature 2. Pet. â— v. 4. When Christ shall tranâ—forme our base bodies that they may bee like the glorious body of Christ Phil. 3. v. 21. When she shall perfectly enioy those things which eye hath not seen nor the eare heard nor euer entred into the heart of man to coâ—ceiue which God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Cor. 2 11.9 Who then or what shall seperate vs from the loue of Christ in and by whom wee haue firme hope to attaine vnto this so great happinesse neither tribulation nor anguish nor persecution nor famine nor nakednesse nor perill nor the sword Romanes 8. verse 35. Which God for his Christes sake graunt to whome with the Holy Ghost be ascribed all glory for euer Amen The principall things contained in this Booke A Meditation or Consultation what are the best things that men in this life should principally ayme at to attaine vnto highest happinesse c. Fol. 1. A motiue to Prayer against the temptations of Sathan c. 18 A Prayer for Gods holy assistance against Sathan 23. A Meditation to stirre vs vp when wee are vnapt to pray 29. A Prayer to God for the helpe of his holy Spirit and other blessings spirituall and corporall c. 35. A motiue to begin the day with Prayer 54. A Prayer fit to bee vsed euery morning 57. A motiue to Prayer before a man 〈…〉 65. A Prayer for a man before hee goes to hiâ—â—â—ghtly rest 70. A most comfortable incouragement to all poore and distressed men to vndergoe whatsoeuer trouble with patience c. and may serue as a motiue to some prayers that follow viz. 77. A generall Prayer in whatsoeuer troubles and affections with a confâ—ssion that sinne is the cause of them 103 A Prayer for a man hindred by 〈…〉 kind of 〈…〉 lawfull takings c. 114 A consideration or consultation touching the estates and conditions of seuerall men c. necessary for all men that hope of any blessing vpon their labors Trauels Professions Artes Trades or Jmployments 124 A Prayer that God will blesse and prosper our labours and endeauors in whatsoeuer calling 139 A Prayer for a man whose Calling requireth Journeyes by land or sea 149 A motiue to a Prayer for patience in godly Parents that are affâ—icted in minde for the disobedience and vngodly liues of their children c. 150 A Prayer for the reformation of vngodly and disobedient children and for patience in Parents c. 166 A Christian incouragement to all that feare God act to bee 〈◊〉 at the threats 〈◊〉 and policies of whatsoeuer enemies c. To which is added a Prayer for Gods holy protection and defence of his in whatsoeuer danger 173 A Prayer to God that hee will defend vs from our strongest enemies with Thankesgiuing to God for our former deliuerances 189 A necessary motiue to stirre vs vp to a holy desire to resort to the Temple of God to pray vnto him with the Congregation and to heare his VVord c. 198 A Prayer to God that hee will prepare our hearts to the visiting of his holy Temple to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to praise him 219 A Prayer for true happinesse which shall be consummate only in heauen 226 FINIS
of an euill Childe comming into shame and deepest danger with the error of his sonne when as good Children are the gifts God in mercie to the Parents and wicked ones a punishment not so much to the Parents as to themselues Though euery man would willingly haue good Children yet the best men haue had and oft haue wicked Children Adam the first man had wicked Caine. Abraham had an Ismael Izaake an Esau Dauid a rebellious Absolom and an incestious Ammon good Eli had two wicked sonnes Hophnie and Phineas Infinite are the examples yet no doubt these good men gaue good instructions to these their erronious issues whereby it appeareth that it is not in good men to beget good Children neither doth it follow that wicked men alwayes propagate wicked Children God frames both in the wombe giues them life and frames their hearts wills and affections It resteth onely then for Parents of vngodly Children to pray for their reformation and to leaue them to God in whose counsell it is determined what shall be the ends of such as feare not him nor reuerence man A Prayer for the reformation of vngodly and disobedient Children and for patience in Parents not ouermuch to afflict themselues for their irreconciliable stubbornenesse and disobedience HEare the words of my mouth O Lord and consider the meditations and sorrowes of my heart for my spirit is full of heauinesse I am vexed and sore greeued for that they whom thou gauest mee for a blessing are turned to my griefe sorrow and shame I confesse that mine owne sinnes haue prouoked thee to anger against mee and thy displeasure appeareth in that they whom I receiued as a comfort from thee are become not onely disobedient to mee but as it were rebellious against thee and thy counsell Thou art a God that louest not wickednesse and thou hatest iniquity and it cannot be hid from thee what I haue done my neglect in trayning my Children in thy feare thou mayst lay vnto my charge yet thou knowest I haue laboured to winne them vnto thee if it haue beene in vaine thou hast wisdome and power to supply in them what is defectiue in me to giue them I haue endeuoured to make them to know thee and to walke in thy wayes but they haue contemned mine instructions and cast my counsells behinde their backs they will not bee reclaymed from their vanities They forget thee the God of power to punish them and the God of mercie to receiue comfort such as returne from their sinnes to thee Lord it is onely in thee to reclaime them as thou diddest the prodigall son whom thou vouchsafest to receiue vnto mercie after his long going astray no man erreth so farre whom thou canst not recall Oh recall these that erre reduce them back to the sheepe-fold of thy Saints They are the worke of thine owne hands though I wretched man begate them in corruption and their mother conceiued them in sinne and bare them in misery these are no hindrance vnto the worke of thy Grace in them for what is or hath beene the man that hath not had the like beginning thine owne begotten Sonne excepted Enoch that walked vprightly before thee Abraham the Father of the faithfull Eliah and Iohn Baptist and all thine elect vessels came by nature of the same corrupt seed yet thou wert pleased to sanctifie them haddest thou left them vnto their owne original nature they had bin as one of these that lift vp their heeles against not me but thee Lord giue them Grace Wisdome and Vnderstanding Faith and Obedience they are onely thine to giue I may bee as the hand to giue them as from thee food for their bodies wherby by thy blessing they grow and I may sow the seeds of my best knowledge of thy worke in their outward eares but vnlesse thou plow vp the fallow ground of their hearts that it may take roote it cannot fructifie Consider gracious Father that they are of the polluted seede of Adam yet be thou pleased to accept them as thine admit them into thy fauour and guide them by thy Grace in a religious conuersation that they may cease to doe euill cleaue vnto that which is good and walke before thee be vpright TheÌ„ shal they serue thee I shall prayse thee for their reformation and saluation Let neither their sinnes nor mine any more prouoke thee to anger lest thy seuere iudgements should fall vpon them shame grief vpon vs their parents But their repentance Lord shall bee our comfort and wee shall reioyce in their conuersion and not onely wee but all the godly shall reioyce at their returne into the Spirituall societie of thy Saints Grant it gracious Lord for thy Christs sake whose righteousnes make theirs and his merrits a sufficient satisfaction for theirs and for the sins of all that haue erred as they haue done Amen Lord increase in them the holy feare of thy Name Faith Obedience vnto thee giue me grace with patience to waite their holy reformation A Christian incouragement to all that feare God not to bee daunted at the threats power and policies of whatsoeuer enemies be they neuer so many in multitude or seeming strong in armes fit vpon occasion to be taken into consideration to which is added a prayer for Gods holy protection and defence of his in whatsoeuer danger THey that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion that can neuer be mooued but remaine fast for euer And as the mountaines are about Ierusalem so is the Lord about them that trust in him from generation to generation Wherof holy Dauid had good experience who through the assurance of Gods presence with him his loue towards him and power ouer him could say with a bould and vndaunted spirit If an Host pitched against mee my heart should not be affrayd He alwayes found the redie helpe wherewith God euer assisted him and the true performance of Gods promises at all times in all his dangers and therefore assured himselfe that if tenne thousand of the people did rise against him and beseâ— him round about he would not be affrayde He was in many dangers and wonderfull his deliuerances were as appeareth by diuine History God is not the God of Dauid onely because hee was a King and a man chosen after Gods owne heart but the God of all them that faâ—thfully trust in him of good kings godly subiects through all generations to the end of the world whereof no nation hath had more manifest proofe though vnworthy then wee And therefore bee our dangers neuer so great or many God sheweth himselfe to haue euer as many meanes to deliuer vs. Saluation belongeth to him alone and his blessings are vpon them that call faithfully vpon him Hezekiah sore terrified at the threats blasphemies of Tartan Rabsaries and Rabsakeh the seruants of Senacherib who by his blasphemous letters reuiled not Hezekiah onely but high Iehouah himselfe Hezekiah therefore prayed vnto the
of thy blessed Spirit testifying vnto my spirit that thou art the whole and sole disposer of all these and that all things worke together for the comfort of all that loue thee knowing and being assured of thy presence and prouidence I will not feare whatsoeuer befall mee for all troubles crosses and miseries I finde to bee but holesome medecines tempered and gently prepared by thine owne hand for the cure and preseruation of my sicke and sinnefull soule from eternall death I humbly therfore deare Father pray thee so to moderate my troubles and afflictions as by the helpe and aide of thy holy Spirit I may with patience and an heauenly kinde of alacrity vndergoe them And according to thy good pleasure continue the health of my body the vse of my senses limbs peace with thee my God and with all men as becommeth mee still guided by thy Spirit that I abuse none of thy blessings through 〈◊〉 corruptions And while I liue here in this earthly pilgrimage as a stranger vouchsafe me with thy heauenly Spirit to giue mee a competent portion to sustaine me and those whom thou hast coÌ„mitted vnto my charge both in spirituall and corporall sustinance Let not too heauie tentations ouer-presse me let too much want and too heauy crosses ouer-afflict me but lay vpon mee what thou wilt and neuer take from me thy holy spirit so shal I be able to beare what soeuer thou thinkest fit to be laid vpon me for by the strength of thy preuayling spirit I shall vndergo what thou in loue as indeed it is shalt lay vpon me By promise thou carest for me and hast willed mee to cast my care vpon thee which I haue done euer since it pleased thee to reueale thy selfe vnto mee in thy beloued Son and thou hast not deceiued me for I haue euer found thee true in performing whatsoeuer thou hast promised euen in sending that Comforter who hath euer assisted mee in reuealing thy Son in whoÌ„ thy continual fauour I haue euer found most certaine secret sweet so enabling me to speake vnto thee as when I haue offended thee by my sinnes I haue felt the pardon of them in my conscience by the blood of that Lambe testified vnto mee by thy blessing and sanctifying Spirit When I haue been sicke thou hast healed me I haue been in mortall danger and thou hast preserued me I haue had enemies and thou hast defended mee and often haue I been in distresse and want and thou hast without my desire or desert plentifully releeued mee yea Lord thou hast giuen when and what I haue not asked thou camest and soughtest mee first Lord I sought not thee thou aboue all shewedst thy selfe most louing vnto me in sending me thy heauenly spirit without whose ayd I could neither aske nor receiue I could neither seeke nor find comfort neither could I knock or deserue to enter into thy fauour By his presence I haue felt the fulnes of ioy and gladnesse And therefore as thou hast graciously begun Lord so continue thy grace in mee and thy loue towards me alwayes in all places among al men in all my labours iournies and lawfull and godly endeauors for thou hast commaunded mee while I liue â—eere not to rest idle but to bee doing that which is good Thou hast giuen mee a calling wherin without thy blessing I may labour and yet lacke I may ayme by good intent and yet erre without the gracious direction of thy Spirit I am ignorant of and dull to performe that which may bee either well pleasing vnto thee or truly profitable to my self But by the blessing of thy holy spirit I shall please thee in Christ who pleaseth thee for mee and then whatsoeuer I thinke speak or doe shall prosper and yeeld mee supply in all my wants both spirituall and corporal and that from day to day which by thine owne promise shall be sufficient for the day O holy and heauenly Father hold me euer in thine â—bedience shelter me vnder â—he shaddow of thy protecting wings stop the whole course of sinne in mee and continue thine holy spirit euermore in me that he being my guide in all mine actions I may finish the course of this my pilgrimage in all sinceritie sanctitie and safetie and in the end obtain the glory which thy Sonne my Sauiour hath purchased for mee by the shedding of his blood vpon the Crosse and that euermore while I liue I may hunger and thirst for righteousnesse vntill I become a perfect man in Christ Iesus that leauing this mortall life I may ioyfully enter into that euerlasting rest Amen Amen in Christ my hope my strength and my assured and faithfull Redeemer Lord euermore increase and confirme my faith and continue that holy spirit in mee A motiue to begin the day with Prayer IT is a dutie not so much required by God for his owne sake of vs as necessary and profitable for our selues to begin the morning with Thanksgiuing and Prayer The first God requireth of vs as due vnto him for preseruing vs and giuing vs rest and sleepe and safetie the night past The second namely Prayer most necessary for our selues for without the helpe fauour power protection and prouidence of God wee can expect no comfort or safetie or good successe the day following wherein doe lye hidden many dangers of our bodies many bayts allurements and tentations of Sathan the world and our owne corruption for our soules much weaknesse and ignorance in our selues to performe the works of our owne callings besides ill successe in our labours without his blessing And shall we think that God will giue a blessing to our labours safetie to our persons or defence from these spirituall enemies vnlesse we recommend our selues to him in the name of his sonne No no we may not flatter our selues that because we are lustie and strong our senses good our wit and vnderstanding quick we may goe from bed to businesse and walke in our owne wayes vntill the euening either forgetting or neglecting God who with-holding his help and hand infinite are the dangers wee are subiect vnto both spirituall and corporall Therefore looke vp powre out thy pâ—ayers as a sweet morning sacrifice to God in the name of Christ and then goe on thy lawfull occasions and prosper And for want of thine own abilitie to discouer thine owne necessities and to craue Gods blessings and to declare thy thankefulnesse vse the helpe of the labours of such as haue framed prayer for this holy purpose Or this howsoeuer weake prayer following wherein thou mayst finde comfort and so with inward ioy thou maist from day to day the more cheerefully follow thy vocation A Prayer fit to be vsed euery morning O My God my God and my most louing Father in thy best beloued Christ Iesus I yeeld thee vnfained thankes for thy wonderfull mercies and vndeserued fauors vouchsafed vnto mee all my life and especially for electing creating and redeeming mee and for all
prosper in outward shew by callings or rather trades vnlawfull whereunto there can bee no lawfull calling neither is the vse lawfull as common professed Gamesters combined Cheaters and the like But leauing such to their owne wicked practises wherby they often deceiue the innocent and simple but most of all themselues I wish that other men that haue lawfull callings would consider the necessitie of Prayer to God for a blessing vpon their labours and endeauors not onely Mechanicks and such as liue by their handy-labours but from the highest to the lowest in Church or Common-wealth It is by God that Kings gouerne therefore in imitation of Dauid and Salomon they pray for and obtain wisdome rightly to gouerne their people and where good godly wise and religious Kings reigne there the people in imitation of them pray for their peace and safety and that God would furnish them with wise and religious Counsellors and that no Achitophell lurke wayting for mischiefe Counsellors of State haue an high and weighty calling so haue Iudges of the Land and other chiefe and eminent Magistrates deriued mediatly from God for as the King is called of none but immediatly by God to take chaâ—ge of his people So he imparts the power of the sword vnto his sub-ordinate Magistrats for the execution of Iustice functions of greater weight and moment then is vulgarly esteemed And therefore though I neither presume not neede to mooue them when or how to pray I only may remember them that as they haue highest functions they and we in their behalfes for them may pray for the due execution of them because their office and place is to correct the euill and to protect the good and that they mistake not as by sinister information they may and so erre vnwittingly Men in authoritie and in eminent places are chosen for their Vertues Wisdome Integritie and Iustice yet are they subiect to censure not onely of their Superiours and equals but often of most inferiours wherein happie are the innocent for GOD preserueth them who sitteth in the Throne that iudgeth right to whom whosoeuer prayeth as Dauid did shall finde that he will be a buckler vnto him his glorie and the lifter vp of his head the greatest honour that man in this life can receiue It may seeme needlesse to put such in minde of this holy dutie of prayer who haue the charge and ouersight of the Lords flocke for their calling is so diuine as they may not bee but diuinely indued with heauenly gifts abounding alwayes in the worke of the Lord whose labours are not in vaine blessed be God whom we ought to reuerence as the Ministers of God labouring our saluation and to pray for them Yet may it not bee superfluous to intimate to such as enter rashly into this holy function that it is fit for them to examine their owne inward hearts whether they came with a sincere Spirituall deuotion to edifie Gods Church or to make onely a carnall liuing vnder the name of a workeman in Gods haruest If he came in regard of the first Let him pray that God will blesse his labours if onely of the second Let him pray that God will enable him to discharge it and withall that GOD remit the euill thoughts of his heart for he entred not aright Such as liue by their labours bee they neuer so ingenious neuer so labourious neuer so cunning in their profession art or trade they must know and acknowledge that what they know or howsoeuer they may performe it it is but in part and weake in comparison of the perfection And that the knowledge and skill they haue is not theirs but giuen them by God as hee gaue to Tubalkaine the art of working in yron and to Iubal skill in musicke Yet some and they not of best perfection will attribute their knowledge to their owne naturall wit and inuention making an idol as it were of their owne braine neuer giuing the prayse to the true Giuer and that and the want of prayer is the cause that many Artists and others faile often-times of good successe of what they vndertake to performe Nothing can truely prosper without Gods blessing which cannot bee obtayned but by faithfull prayer Neither will God heare their prayers that deale vniustly in their callings taking neuer so great paynes rising early taking rest late sparing euen their food to increase their store it is all in vaine Howsoeuer some may doe waxe rich by dealing vniustly in weights measures false and counterfeit wares by swearing forswearing and lying the gaines they get are but froth and silth scraped out of the deuils dunghill that will quickly returne from whence it came and hee that so gets without repentance shall haue his portion with his like the Rich man not with Lazarus Happy therefore is he that labouâ—s in his calling diligently deales truely craues Gods blessing faithfully hee and onely he and his like haue rest and peace and plenty in their little truely gotten Such are they that eate the labours of their hands and art blessed Hee therefore that will bee happie and prosper in his calling let him often and faithfully call vpon the Name of the Lord to which purpose he may vse the prayer following or any other to the like purpose A Prayer that God will blesse and prosper our labours and indeuours in whatsoeuer calling O Heauenly Father great in Maiesty wise of Counsell absolute in Power and vnsearchable in Prouidence who of nothing hast made all things and in thy greatest Wisdome hast created man whom thou guidest gouernest and disposest according to thine owne Will and to whom thou hast appointed labour and trauaile whereby to get their reliefe yet not all in one manner of calling Gracious Father as I haue receiued life and being of thee and in thy prouidence a calling therein whereby to maintaine my being So giue a blessing vnto mee that I may haue true iudgement and an vpright heart to performe my dutie therein according to thy Will that my calling may prosper vnder my hands as thou blessedst Iaakob vnder Laban and Ioseph in Potiphers house So blesse me and my vocation that whatsoeuer I doe it may prosper I confesse louing Father that neither the most absolute art greatest naturall knowledge corporall or mentall diligence can auaile any thing without thy blessing By my naturall vnderstanding I can neither apprehend in my minde nor performe with my hands or wit the things that properly belong vnto my calling But it is thy onely Wisdome and of thine owne Fatherly fauour that I haue beene made in some measure capeable of that reason and iudgement to which I haue attained it is not in me as of mine owne power to performe the least part of that which necessarily belongeth vnto my vocation It is thine owne worke in me If thou shouldest deale with mee according to my deseruings thou mightest iustly depriue mee of that meane measure of knowledge that by thy fauour and aide