Meditations and Desires may be heavenly and that I may serve thee in holy Sunday Morning Duties with sincere Devotion grant that by a pious Celebration of this religious Rest on Earth I may be the better prepar'd for keeping an eternal Sabbath in thine heavenly Kingdom These things I humbly beg in the name of thy beloved Son my blessed Saviour concluding as he hath taught me Our Father c. Thy grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with me this day and for evermore Amen PRAYERS FOR Particular Persons IN THE EVENING A Prayer before Reading the Scripture O Lord my God blessed be Evening thy Name for this great priviledge of waiting upon thee and that thou hast given me a willing heart to make use of the same 't is of thy Mercy that I am alive this Evening and not numbred among those many who have the day past perished from the Land of the Living I do acknowledge thy long-suffering and goodness and I will not give sleep to mine Eys nor slumber to mine Eyelids till I have render'd unto thee my bounden Duty of Worship and Praise be thou pleas'd to assist and accept my present Devotions teach me by thy holy Word to live according to thy Will and lead me by it in the way to everlasting Life through Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer Amen A Prayer for the Evening LOrd I cry unto thee make hast unto me give ear unto my Voyce when I cry unto thee Let my Prayer be set before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the Evening Sacrifice O Eternal God thy property it is that thou hearest Prayer and though thou art the high and lofty One yet art thou nigh unto all that call upon thee be thou pleas'd to bow down thine ear at this time to the Supplications of me thine unworthy Servant and let me find Grace and acceptance with thee while I Worship at thy Footstool I do here offer up my self a living Sacrifice and do humbly adore thy divine Majesty as the great Creatour and Governour of the whole World as the Authour of all that I am and of all that I do enjoy unto thee O Lord belong Honour and Service and Praise but unto me nothing but shame and punishment for I have offended the pure Eyes of thy holiness from day to day by repeated transgressions and as thou hast not ceased to do me good so have I been constant in the unhappy returns of unthankfulness and disobedience I have neither lov'd nor fear'd nor serv'd thee as I ought to have done and my sins are more then I am able to number I do therefore humble my self before thee with hearty repentance imploring thy gracious pardon through the Son of thy Love whom thou hast set forth to be a Propitiation for sin Be thou reconcil'd unto me for his sake and make me partaker of all those benefits which are the purchase of his redemption Impute not unto me the iniquities of the day past but forgive whatever I have therein thought or said or done amiss either against God or against man O Lord grant me thy favour speak peace to my Conscience and that I may no more return to folly be thou pleas'd to work in me both to will and to do the things by thee requir'd give me an hatred of sin and a love of holiness that I may abhor what is evil and cleave to that which is good incline mine heart unto thy Statutes and let not any iniquity have dominion over me O thou who knowest my sinful frailty and to how many Temptations my life is expos'd assist me by thine own Grace and strengthen me with all might in the inward man help me to crucisie the Flesh with the affections and lusts thereof to reject all the allurements of Sin and so to resist the Devil that he may flee from me Whatever temporal blessings I receive at thine hands grant me to use them aright with all thankfulness and sobriety and also to undergo with Christian patience any chastisement or affliction thou shalt please to lay upon me let every dispensation of thy Providence be sanctify'd to my spiritual good that nothing may ever separate me from thy love and favour for as much as this World passeth away and all the enjoyments of it are of short continuance suffer me not to set my heart or affections on any thing here below but raise them up to the things above to that glorious inheritance reserv'd in heaven which fadeth not away and since my days come to an end and I am still hastening on toward my great change help me to be alwaies preparing for it by doing good and working out my Salvation with fear and trembling that so death may not be terrible but a welcom passage to a life of glory Bless the Land of my Nativity grant us peace and plenty and let the truth and purity of Religion still continue and prevail among us Be thou a Friend and Patron to all my Friends and near Relations make them holy and prosperous in this World and for ever happy in the next Send thy consolation and succour to all who are in sorrow want sickness or any other affliction but especially to such as do suffer for the sake of righteousness and a good conscience Accept I pray thee my humble thanks for all thy Mercies for thy holy Scriptures and the means of Grace for all the good things pertaining to this life I bless thee for thy great kindness toward me the day past that I have escaped dangers that my life is continued to me together with thy wonted benefits both for the necessities and comfort of my present condition And since thou who hast made the Day for action and business hast also ordain'd the Night for a time of rest and repose be thou pleas'd to watch over me in lying down and to grant me the comfortable refreshment of a quiet sleep O Lord let thy Grace and Goodness never forsake me till I shall enter into thine everlasting rest in the highest Heavens through thy rich Mercy in Jesus Christ To whom with thy self and the holy Ghost be ascrib'd all Honour and Glory Worship and Praise World without End Amen Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy comfortable Communion O holy Spirit of Grace be with me and thy whole Church henceforth and for ever Another Prayer for the Evening THe Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day time and in the night his Song shall be with me and my prayer unto the God of my life I will both lay me down in peace and sleep for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safety MOst gracious God the Maker of all things and the Giver of every good and perfect Gift thou deservest to be worshipp'd and serv'd to receive Thanksgiving and Praise from thee I have derived my life
to walk as becomes the Gospel having a Conscience void of offence both towards God and towards Men that as he who hath called me is holy so I may be holy in all manner of conversation Take off my affections from earthly things which are vain and perishing and set them on the things above in which alone my true happiness doth consist fit me by suitable grace for every dispensation of thy Providence that I may know how to want and how to abound how to mourn or rejoyce how to be in sickness or in health and in every condition to be therewith content let thy Fatherly wisdom cause all things to work together for good unto me and that the several occurrences of the present life may help me forward in my Christian course towards the attainment of eternal Salvation And because my nature is frail my life uncertain and I know not how soon I shall be taken from the land of the living help me seriously to consider my latter end to be still preparing for death and by numbring my dayes to apply mine heart to sound wisdom that when I shall put off this earthly Tabernacle I may be admitted into an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens O God who art the Creatour of mankind and didst send thine own Son that the World through him might be saved extend thy goodness to all the kindreds of the earth causing the light of thy glorious Gospel to shine upon them that their feet may be guided into the way of peace and everlasting happiness let all Nations become subject to the Kingdom of thy Christ and the number of thine Elect be filled up that the glory of thy Salvation may be revealed Accept O Lord my evening oblation of Praise and Thanksgiving for all thy rich Mercies vouchsafed to me I bless thee for my being since by thee I have been fearfully and wonderfully made for thy preservation of me to this moment and for all the accommodations and comforts of the present life But above all I magnifie and adore thine inestimable goodness in making known unto me the way of salvation and happiness by Jesus Christ in continuing to me the seasons of Grace and of waiting upon thee in thine holy Ordinances help me to make such a good and pious use of all thy benefits as may be for thy glory and for mine own eternal welfare And since thy wise Providence hath ordain'd that the Night should succeed the Day as a time of rest and refreshment I pray thee that this Night may be so to me thy Servant grant me to be safe and secure under thy protection from all the terrours and perils of darkness and to awake the next morning in health and safety O Lord hear my Prayer and let thy presence and loving-kindness alwaies be with me to the end of my life for the sake of thine only begotten Son my alone Saviour to whom with thy divine Majesty and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory World without End Amen Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O Heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with me henceforth and for evermore Amen A Psalm and Prayer to be us'd by a Person who is under Sickness O Lord rebuke me not in thy In sickness wrath neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed My soul is also sore vexed but thou Lord how long Return O Lord deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake For in death there is no remembrance of thee in the grave who shall give thee thanks Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions Wash me throughly from mine inquity and cleanse me from my sin Why art thou cast down ô my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Yea though I walk thorow the Valley of the shadow of death yet will I fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff comfort me O Lord my times are in thy hand deliver me from the hand of mine enemies Let my soul live and it shall praise thee and let thy judgments help me Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart faileth me but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever ALmighty God and most merciful Father thou art the Author of my being and as my life my health and strength are from thee so they are and ought to be at thy dispose and I do humbly confess that because of my sinfulness and disobedience 't is just with thee to afflict me with sickness and pain yea and to cut me off from the Land of the Living O Lord I bear about me a body of Sin and Death and am liable to the penalties of that first transgression for by one man Sin entered into the World and Death by Sin Likewise the practice of my life hath been very evil and my sins still repeated from day to day I have not made it my chief business to serve and glorifie thee which is the end of my Creation nor hath the time of my life and health been employ'd as it ought in doing and receiving good The faculties of my Soul and Members of my Body have been made the instruments of Sin I have not been duly thankful for thy manifold Mercies nor made a right use of them and I have too much despis'd thy goodness and forbearance which should have lead me to repentance I do therefore acknowledg the justice of thy dealings for why should a man complain of the punishment of his sins But O thou Father of Mercies who delightest not in the death of a sinner be favourable unto me Enter not into judgment with thy servant neither let thine anger wax hot against me but forgive my Sin and deliver me for in thee do I trust I know O Lord that afflictions rise not from the Dust but are of thy sending and I do desire to hear the voice of thy Rod and to turn to him that smiteth I do with hearty repentance humble my self at thy footstool lamenting all the errours of my former life and I do give up my Soul and Body to thy Will and Governance resolving and promising by thy Grace to live and act hereafter in all holy obedience to thee and thy righteous commands O deal not with me after mine iniquities nor punish me as I have deserved but remember the sufferings of thy Son who himself bore our sicknesses and the punishment due to us in his own death I believe in him as my alone Saviour my trust is in his Merits and I do humbly beg for his sake that thou wouldst be reconcil'd unto me that thou wouldest heal my Body and comfort my Soul O God who art the preserver of men who hast declared in thy word that thou art nigh unto such as pray unto thee and hast promised to deliver when call'd upon in the day of trouble be thou pleas'd to bow down thine ear and extend thy compassion in removing the distemper under which I now labour do thou who art the great Physitian prescribe and bless the means that may be for my recovery and restore me again if it be thy blessed Will to a state of health and strength then will I praise thee with a thankful heart and will serve thee faithfully all my daies But I do humbly submit my self to thy good pleasure and not my will but thine be done Though thou visit with thy Rod yet take not thy loving kindness from me and while my body shall be afflicted be thou pleas'd to strengthen and support my Soul with thy Grace and inward consolation help me with chearfulness and Christian patience to bear thy chastisement with a firm and constant faith to trust in thee and thy pretious promises Grant that this present visitation may be sanctifi'd to my spiritual benefit and through thy wise ordering in the issue turn to my real advantage and that I may by experience know that in very faithfulness thou hast afflicted me Let this thy fatherly correction teach me to be more dutiful and obedient and grant that by considering the vanity and uncertainty of health of life and worldly enjoyments I may be the more careful to set my affections on things above and to breath after that immortal life of perfect bliss which thy Gospel hath promis'd And grant O Lord that whether in health or sickness in prosperity or affliction I may still honour and serve thee that whether I live I may live unto thee and whether I die I may die unto thee that whether I live or die I may be thine And so an entrance may be ministred to me into the everlasting Kingdom of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ In whose Name and Merits I do earnestly recommend unto thee my present condition and all my Concern both of Soul and Body praying further in his Words Our Father c. Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ my Redeemer thy Love O Heavenly Father thy Consolation O blessed Spirit of Grace be with me and all thy People henceforth and for evermore Amen FINIS
the Spirit t Eph. 6. 17. who doth make use of it in slaying the Lusts and Vices of men and subduing them to the Kingdom of Christ but the Divine Grace is never wanting to them who make a diligent use of this written Word which is the outward means by God appointed and he is ready to assist the same with his own concurrence and blessing Since therefore the goodness and condescention of Almighty God have been so great in vouchsafing the holy Scripture which is his kind Epistle from Heaven imparting his mind to us for our own good what a rude and ungrateful indignity will it be if we care not to read it Since he hath given this light shining in a dark place as 't is called by St. Peter u 1 Pet. 1. 19. that we might not stumble and perish how great is the madness if hiding it under a Bushel w Mat. 5. 15. or shutting our Eyes against it we love darkness more than light x Joh. 3. 19. It is our singular happiness above most other Nations of the Christian world that this Heavenly treasure doth lie open to us in a Language which the unlearned can understand 't is not Heresie with us if a Laick read the Bible nor a Capital crime if he keep one in his house that is in his own Vulgar tongue but the Guilt and Condemnation will be much greater if having this advantage any shall refuse to make use of it It may further recommend to Christian Families the constant use of Prayer and the sacred Scriptures as very necessary to an holy Conversation if we mention what St. Austine hath said to this purpose to whom a great regard is due not only for his Eminent knowledge of Divine things but also for his own great experience in the Practice of Piety by him it is declar'd that the best of men have need of Prayer every day as that by which they secure themselves against the assaults of Sin and Satan By Prayer saith he they strive with the more vigilance and stoutness against the Devil the Prince and King of all Vices that so his deadly suggestions may nothing prevail y Lib. De Continent cap. 8. and elsewhere The daily reading of the Scriptures doth purifie all things it strikes into us the fear of Hell and stirs up the heart of the Reader to the joys of Heaven Whoever would be always with God ought always to Pray and Read for when we pray we are speaking with God and when we read God is speaking with us z De Temp. Serm. 112. likewise hitherto belongs what Tertullian hath said in this very case of domestick Piety when upbraiding the Heathen with their unprofitable Devotion to the Lares excluding that of the true Religion which would be of real benefit to them Quae dei mentio quae Christi invocatio Vbi fomenta fidei ex Scripturarum interlectione a Tert. ad Vxor l. 2. â— 6. he taxeth their Folly as well as Impiety that while in their several Families they were very punctual and solemn in performing superstitious Rites to the Houshold Gods they took no notice of him who was God indeed wholly neglecting the Christian Devotion of Prayer and Reading the holy Scriptures which should nourish in them the saving Faith and Religion of the Gospel VIII It may be another inforcement of Family Devotion to mention how well it hath been practis'd by the Ancient Christians for it ought to have the Authority of an Argument and should demand our Imitation to have before us the good examples of those who were in the first and purer Ages of Christianity now of them it doth appear that they were exceeding careful and zealous in the daily performance of Religious Duties within their Houses in the Morning and Evening of each day all of the same Family did joyn in their Devotion as may be Collected from what we find to this purpose in the Fathers of those times b Clem. Alex paed l. 2. c. 9. Cypr. de Orat. dom Basil in Ascit Chrysost Hom. l. De precat They would not begin the day without desiring the blessing of God on themselves and their undertakings throughout the same nor did they lie down to rest without returning him thanks and imploring his watchful care over them After Supper ended saith Clemens Alexandrinus having render'd our Thanks and Praise to God for that he had supply'd us in the day with the good things necessary for our use and granted us to pass the same prosperously we betake our selves to our sleep c Ibid. Nor did they think it enough to worship God in their Families at the beginning and end of the day but so intent were they on this Duty as to break off their natural rest and leave their Beds in the night time that they might then exercise their Devotions for under the Heathen Emperours while the open practice of religious Duties was so much persecuted it was generally the Custom of Christians to arise from sleep about Midnight for worshiping God with Prayers and Singing of Psalms and the same continu'd in use even after the Pagan Persecutions were over Of these nocturnal Devotions we do often read as in the Father last nam'd when he speaks of Prayers to be put up not only before going to bed but also again in the time of night d Strom. 7. and afterward in the same place Wherefore we must also rise from our beds in the night and God is then to be praised for blessed are they that watch for him per noctem exurgebant oratum they arose by night to Pray e Tert. ad Vxor lib. 2. and again Ita Saturantur ut meminerint etiam per noctem orandum deum sibi esse They so feed at Supper as remembring they are to awake and worship God in the night f Apol. c. 39. thus doth Tertullian testifie of them and to this refers that exhortation of St. Cyprian let us think that we always walk in the light nor should darkness which we have escaped hinder us there should be no prejudice to our Prayers from the hours of night nor our Devotion suffer any dammage through sloth and laziness g De Orat. Domin Likewise these Prayers of the night are recommended by St. Chrysostom in one of his Sermons h In Act. Apost Homil 36. Beside the times of more solemn Devotion from day to day which we have already mention'd they did moreover invoke God as often as they receiv'd their natural food Before we eat saith Basil let Prayers be made suitable to the gifts of God both of the good things he doth bestow at present and also for those he hath provided for the future likewise let Prayers follow after meat and in them let our thankfulness be express'd i Epist 1 ad Gregor Theol. And St. Chrysostom doth prescribe as a necessary Duty that Christians begin and end their Meals with
Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth for the living God One day in thy Courts is better than a thousand I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the Tents of wickedness For the Lord God is a Sun and a shield the Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly O come let us worship and bow down before the Lord our Maker For he is our God and we are the People of his Pasture and the sheep of his hand To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts ALmighty God who art great and glorious infinite in all perfections and of incomprehensible Majesty in comparison of whom the Princes of the earth are but vile Worms and all the Nations of the World less than nothing and vanity Thou deservest to be feared and magnified to be adored and praised and 't is our greatest honour to wait upon thee thy service is the most perfect freedom and we cannot but think it very meet and reasonable that a good part of our time should be devoted to thee and thine honour yea our whole life is too little to celebrate as we ought the excellence of thy divine Nature and of thy great Works O Lord this admirable Fabrick of the World is of thy making for in six days were all things Created by thee and the Seventh day in which thou didst cease from thy Work thou didst set apart for an holy Sabbath in which the Sons of men might remember thy Creation and honour thee for it Wherefore on this day of our religious rest we desire to meditate and admire that wonderful workmanship which doth appear in thy Creatures By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made with all that glorious Host of Sun Moon and Stars thou hast founded the earth beneath and given life and breath to all things living We acknowledge thy signal kindness to our selves above the rest of thy Creatures in that thou didst Create man after thine own Image making him little lower than the Angels that thou hast given him dominion over the works of thine hands and made him capable of eternal happiness in the service and enjoyment of thy self O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches and what is man that thou shouldest magnifie him That thou shouldest set thine heart upon him We do likewise extol thy love to mankind which hath been further shewn in the great work of our Redemption That after we had broken the Laws of our Creation by sinning against thee had faln short of the glory of God and were become liable to Death and Hell thou wert pleas'd to send thine only begotten Son out of thine own bosom to save us from destruction and restore us again to thy love and favour who took on him the form of a Servant liv'd a persecuted life dy'd a painful and ignominious death for us men and for our Salvation he did alone thy justice by the Sacrifice of himself overcame Death and the Grave and finished our Redemption by rising to life the third day when he was declar'd to be the Son of God with power by his wonderful Resurrection which we and all thy Church do this day commemorate O God thine acts of favour have been thus great and admirable to us-ward we do therefore offer up our hearty praise and thanksgiving for the discoveries of thy Wisdom Power and Goodness in the Creation of us and the whole World for thy compassion and rich grace in and through our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ And we do here with deep Repentance humble our selves for that our lives have not better answered such obligations of thine to duty and obedience for we have sinn'd against thee as thou art our Creatour by not loving and fearing thee as thou hast deserv'd by neglecting thy service and employing our souls and bodies which thou hast made in actions displeasing to thee and which thou hast forbidden We have offended thee as the Author of our Redemption by not receiving the Gospel with a due love and esteem thereof nor conforming our lives to its holy precepts nor walking suitably to that abundant grace which hath therein appeared teaching us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts But O thou Father of Mercies who delightest not in the death of sinners be thou pleas'd to pardon and justifie to do away our iniquities and receive us graciously bless unto us all the means of grace and the opportunities of receiving instruction from thine holy Word When we appear before thee in the Congregation of thy people help us to be serious and devout as in thy presence to join in Prayer with an intent and fervent mind and to hear thy Word with reverence and submission that by an attendance on thine holy Ordinances we may encrease in Piety and all the Graces of Christian Holiness for the righteousness and merits of that holy One who died for our sins and rose again for our Justification And we do also humbly beg for his sake that thou wouldest grant unto us thine holy Spirit and Heavenly Grace whereby thine Image may be renewed in us that we may from henceforth honour and serve thee from whom we have received our being and help us more and more to conform our selves to the death of Christ by dying to sin and to his Resurrection by rising to holiness and newness of life To this good end we pray thee to grant that on this thine holy Day we may sanctifie thine holy Name that our thoughts may be heavenly and our affections set on things above that we may take delight in the exercises of religion and may be in thy fear all the day long Bless thy Church and be thou graciously present in all Christian Assemblies throughout the World to hear the Prayers they shall this day put up and to prosper thy Word which shall be Preached that it may become effectual for pulling down the Kingdom of Satan and for edifying the body of Christ in sound Faith and real Godliness Let the light of thy glorious Gospel be spread abroad and the borders of thy Sons kingdom daily enlarg'd Call home thine ancient people the Jews and bring in the fulness of the Gentiles that all the Nations of the earth may be one sheepfold under the one great shepherd of Souls We implore thy particular kindness for this Church and Kingdom and more especially for the Kings Majesty that he may have Wisdom Justice Piety and all princely vertues to govern according to thy Will for thy glory and the good of thy people And let thy true religion be continued to us for all generations We present unto thee our hearty thanks for thy many and great benefits vouchsafed to us for our excellent being our preservation hitherto and all temporal enjoyments for our birth and education in a
place where the truth and purity of thy Gospel is profess'd and taught where we have the freedom of worshipping thee according to thy Will and do enjoy the precious means of Grace and Salvation Good Lord help us to make a wise and Christian use of all thy blessings to improve all spiritual advantages for the good and happiness of our souls that having well employed the Talents committed to us we may at length be approved by thee as good and faithful servants and may enter into the joy of our Lord to which blessedness do thou in thy good time bring us all through thy mercy in Jesus Christ in whose name and mediation we beg thy gracious acceptance of our Persons and Prayers which we further recommend unto thee in his words Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Thy grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us all evermore FAMILY DEVOTIONS FOR THE EVENING A short Prayer before Reading the Scripture ALmighty Creator and Evening most wise Governour of all the World thou art God and there is none beside thee and thou only art to be worshipp'd 't is of thy mercy and happy forbearance that we are yet alive and 't is the greatest happiness of our life that we can thus attend upon thee to hear thee speaking to us in thy written Word and to speak unto thee our selves by our Prayers and Supplications O Lord draw near to us with thy favourable mercies while we approach to thee in our humble duty have a gracious regard to this our evening Sacrifice and let thy good Spirit help our Infirmities since thou hast appointed the holy Scripture for a Rule of our Faith and a Law to all our actions grant that we may attend thereunto with godly reverence let thy word dwell richly in us and have a powerful influence on our hearts and lives that having obeyed thy Will here on earth we may receive the promise of eternal life in thine heavenly Kingdom through our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with thy self and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen A Psalm and Prayer for the Evening O Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever To him that made great lights for his mercy endureth for ever The Sun to rule by day the Moon and Stars to rule by night for his mercy endureth for ever O Lord thou hast searched me and known me Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways If I say surely the darkness shall cover me even the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to thee I will say of the Lord he is my refuge my God in him will I trust He shall cover thee with his Feathers and under his Wings shalt thou trust his truth shall be thy shield and buckler Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrour by night and the arrow that flyeth by day Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness nor the destruction that walketh at noon day Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee O Almighty and most glorious God Creator of Heaven and Earth we acknowledge our dependance on thee for we are the work of thine hands and in thee we live move and have our being wherefore our souls and bodies which thou hast made and hitherto preserv'd we do humbly prostrate at thy Footstool ascribing unto thee honour and worship adoration and praise and with lowly subjection submitting our selves to thy most great and excellent Majesty 'T is thy wonderful condescension that thou doest permit vile dust and ashes to have freedome of access to thy Throne of grace that thou art pleased to invite and command us to present our supplications We are altogether unworthy to speak unto thee and by reason of our manifold sins do justly deserve thou shouldest reject both our persons and prayers for the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts the course and practice of our life have been exceeding evil and that continually We have obeyed the lusts of our depraved nature more than the precepts of thy sacred Word and have compli'd with the temptations of Satan rather then the motions of thy blessed Spirit thy Law which is holy just and good we have broken from day to day and also slighted and abus'd the riches of thy grace discover'd in the Gospel wherefore to us belongs nothing but shame and punishment but with thee there is mercy and with thy Son plenteous redemption we beseech thee therefore for thy mercies sake and for thy Sons sake whom thou hast made a Sacrifice for sin that thou wouldest blot out all our transgressions and remember our iniquities no more deal not with us after the strictness of thy Law but according to the gracious terms of the new Covenant in which thou doest promise pardon and reconciliation to all repenting Sinners We do here profess our deep sorrow and humiliation for all our sins past and our serious resolution to lead the future part of our life in holy obedience to thy Will and Commands But for as much as our sufficiency is of thee and of our selves alone we can do nothing that shall be good and acceptable in thy sight be thou pleas'd to supply our defects and strengthen our weakness let thine holy Spirit lead us into truth and assist us in every good Duty Write thy Law in our inward parts and put thy fear into our hearts that we may never depart from thee Prepare us O Lord for all events of thy providence that in every condition we may be therewith content and grant whatever things shall befal us in this World they may work together for good and be a furtherance to us in our service of thee and in our passage to eternal happiness And because thou hast commanded that Prayers and Intercessions be made for all men we beg thy mercy for the whole race of Mankind that the light of thy Gospel may shine upon all the Earth and every Nation thereof may partake of Christ and the benefits of his Redemption Bless thy Church Universal that it may flourish more and more in purity of truth and holiness and that the Gates of Hell may never prevail against it Vouchsafe thy special care and kindness to this Church and Kingdom to which we belong preserve the religion profess'd among us from errour and corruption let piety justice and sobriety encrease and abound that thou mayest delight in us to do us good for
those happy ends bless him whom thou hast anointed King over us fill him with sound wisdom and all princely vertues that so he may rule for thee here and be rewarded by thee in thy Kingdom of Glory We crave thy choicest blessings for all to whom we have any particular obligation be thou a friend to our friends to all who have done us good or do wish us well Extend thy fatherly compassion to such as be in any affliction or distress whether of body or mind comfort the sorrowful relieve those that are in want send ease to all that are under any sickness or pain relieve the oppressed give thy consolation and support to all who are persecuted for righteousness sake and in thy due time redeem thine Israel out of all his troubles We do likewise present unto thee our humble thanks for all thy mercies and benefits so plentifully conferr'd upon us for our being and the preservation thereof for all the good things appertaining to the present life But above all we bless thee for giving thy Son to be our Redeemer for revealing to us the way of Life and Salvation by the holy Scriptures for thine Ordinances and all the means of Grace and for any measure of Faith and Holiness thou hast wrought in us We thank thee for thy good providence over us the day past that thou hast suppli'd our necessities preserv'd us from dangers and prolong'd our life hitherto And prais'd be thy wisdom and goodness for appointing the constant successions of day and night that man may go forth to his work until the Evening and then return to his place of rest and sleep O thou Keeper of Israel who doest neither slumber nor sleep watch over us in our lying down and let thine Angels guard our Habitations grant us to be refreshed with quiet and comfortable repose and that we may awake in health and safety the next morning let thy goodness O Lord continually follow us through all the parts and passages of our life till thou shalt bring us to thine everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our blessed Saviour in whose Words we continue to pray unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Thy grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us and abide with us henceforth and for evermore Another Psalm and Prayer for the Evening BLess the Lord ô my soul O Lord thou art become exceeding glorious thou art cloathed with Honor and Majesty Thou hast appointed the Moon for seasons and the Sun knoweth his going down Thou makest darkness and it is night wherein all the beasts of the Forest do creep forth Man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches The Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time and in the night his Song shall be with me and my Prayer unto the God of my life My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise him with joyful lips When I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it except the Lord keep the City the watchman waketh but in vain It is vain to rise early and sit up late to eat the bread of carefulness for so he giveth his beloved sleep Consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten mine eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death ALmighty God our heavenly Father who hast commanded us by Prayers and Supplication to make known our requests unto thee and doest promise thy gracious presence where two or three are gathered together in thy Name we vile Creatures do here present our selves and our Prayers to thy divine Majesty humbly confessing that we are unworthy to lift up our eyes to Heaven the place of thine holy Habitation because we have sinned against Heaven and before thee and do not deserve to be owned for thy Children the inward thoughts and affections of our heart the words and actions of our outward life have been very evil and that continually We have been exceeding careless and defective in our Devotion and Piety towards God in the acts of charity and brotherly kindness we owe to men and in that mortification and self-denial which thy Gospel doth require the inclinations of our own corrupt nature we have more readily obeyed than the righteous commands of thine excellent Laws and our care hath been much greater about the things of this present life which are earthly and perishing then about things heavenly and spiritual belonging to the life immortal We do therefore with shame and repentance humble our selves beseeching thee for the Merits and Mediation of thy blessed Son to pardon all our offences and to receive us into thy love and favour as perfectly reconcil'd let not our former unthankfulness or abuse of mercies withhold from us the gifts of thy bounty but be thou pleas'd to bestow and continue to us all the good things that may be requisite and convenient for our comfortable subsistence in this World and for our eternal happiness in the life to come O Lord our Governour who orderest all things both in Heaven and earth guide and dispose all the affairs and occurrences of our present condition as may be most for thy glory and our real benefit preserve to us the health of our bodies the use of our reason of our senses and other necessary faculties and let thy good providence still watch over us to defend us from evil and to do us good More especially we beg the blessings of thy divine Grace for the sanctification of our hearts and lives enlighten our minds with the saving knowledg of thy self and of Jesus Christ whom to know is life eternal regulate our wills and affections that we may chuse what thou doest approve and refuse whatever thou hast forbidden that our love may be to thy Law and our chief delight in doing thy Commandements and that we may hate every evil work Enrich our souls with all Christian Vertues whereby we may be qualified to honour and serve thee to lead a sober righteous and godly life with a Conscience void of offence both towards thee and towards all men Amidst all the dangers and temptations of this mortal state let thine Almighty power be our shield and support give us minds suitable and prepar'd for every dispensation of thy providence that no events whether prosperous or afflicting may do us any
thy private prayers which God may see in secret and reward thee for them openly c Basil in Asc Tom. 2 p. 181. Under this private Devotion in its full notion are comprized Prayer Meditation reading of the holy Scriptures and other pious Books and though we shall proceed with respect to the first of these especially yet we would not be thought to divide such good company but while recommending private Prayer to intend Meditation and Reading too they do indeed mutually assist each other and we cannot be without either of them Now to enforce this excellent Duty in which both the reality and comfort of a Christian do so very much consist we shall briefly propose some perswasive considerations which may easily prevail on all who are truly dispos'd to the Practice of Religion or the prosecution of their own interest I. It doth appear out of holy Scripture that we are not only to worship God and call upon him in company with others but that he expects moreover to be honour'd by the devout service of every man singly and apart and that each person in his own behalf should seek unto him for his benefits this is manifestly contain'd in those Texts where it is given in charge that every one address himself to God on his own particular occasions as to call upon him in the day of trouble c Psal 50. 15. and if any man be afflicted let him pray d Jam. 5. 13. In which places it cannot only be meant that the party afflicted is to crave the Prayers of the Congregation or of the Minister where he lives but chiefly at least that he is himself alone to call upon God and supplicate for his help and deliverance and this must be done in many sad cases which afford no opportunity of having the Prayers of others again when we are bid in every thing to make known our requests e Phil. 4. 6. it must needs intend that we are to do it in particular cases and matters of private concern though they fall not under the publick or ordinary Prayers And when 't is commanded that in all places we lift up holy hands f 1 Tim. 2. 8. it doth certainly include the places of our privacy and retirement and this Text Mr. Mede will have peculiarly understood of private Prayer g Conc. Lat. De Vener Sac. But the precept of our Saviour is very express Enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut the door pray to thy Father which is in secret h Mat. 6. 6. the words are plain and to neglect the duty enjoin'd in them is to live in a known sin which we are highly concern'd to beware of as we tender the safety of our souls II. Let us set before us the examples of eminent and renowned persons by whose practice this Duty of private Devotion is recommended to us That it was in use with the holy Patriarks of old doth appear on sacred Record of Abraham Gen. 15. 2. and Chap. 17. 18. of Isaac Gen. 25. 21. and of Jacob Gen. 32. 9. Concerning Isaac that other Text Gen. 24. 63. might also be added where it is in our translation that he went out to meditate in the Eventide but the original word doth signifie submissa voce loqui labio tenùs murmurare to speak just moving the lips without any audible sound as is wont to be in private prayer more than in meditation and thus it was in the supplication of Hannah i 1 Sam. 1. 13. but that the Verb in that place may signifie to pray doth appear from hence that the Substantive coming from it is used for Prayer in other Texts of Scripture as Psal 5. 1. and 19. 14. and therefore both in the Caldee Paraphrase and the Arabick version it is And Isaac went out to pray likewise it is thus understood by Munster Vatablus and the same is approv'd by Grotius we are also told by the first of these that the Jews themselves have generally taken the Text in this sense but whether it be meant of Prayer or Meditation 't is much indifferent to the present purpose since the latter as well as the former is an act of Devotion 〈…〉 the resolv'd custom 〈…〉 devout Prince 〈…〉 â—â—â—self to God three times every day At Evening saith he and Morning and at Noon will I pray k Psal 55. 17. and the same was done by the Prophet Daniel nor could any danger affright him from it for notwithstanding a Royal decree to the contrary which made it Capital in his Chamber he kneeled on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks unto his God l Dan. 6. 10. That the Apostle St. Peter was wont to retire for his Devotion may be seen Act. 10. 9. where 't is said that about the sixth hour one of the usual times for that Duty he went up upon the house to pray chusing that place as most distant from all noise and disturbance likewise St. Paul as we often read had his private Prayers they were such in which he be sought the Lord thrice that the Thorn in the Flesh might depart from him m 2 Cor. 12. 8. and those wherein he did earnestly intercede for the Churches himself had planted whereof there is mention in his Epistle to them n Eph. 1. 16. 3. 14. Phil. 1. 9. Col. 1. 9. It is in Ecclesiastick History concerning James the brother of our Lord who for his eminent sanctity was sirnamed The Just that by frequency of praying his Knees became void of sense being harden'd like those of a Camel o Eus Hist Eccles l. 2. cap. 23. And the learned Origen as from his childhood he had been accustom'd to religious Duties under the education of his good Father So he was most strict in the Practice of his Devotion throughout his whole Life all his time almost both by day and night was divided between Prayer and Reading the Scriptures nor would he take the natural refreshments of the body without those others of the soul for whenever he sate down to meat somewhat of the Bible was still read and the same was done at his lying down to sleep p Hieron ad Marcel Epist 18. The Emperour Constantine thought it his greatest honour to have access to God in private Devotion for it is reported of him that notwithstanding all the affairs of his vast Empire Every day at stated hours shutting himself up he alone conversed with his God q Euseb de vit Const l. 4. c. 21. And we read of our King Alfred who wore the Crown of this Realm about nine hundred years ago that as he allotted the one half of his Revenue to pious uses so he devoted the like proportion of his time to the exercise of Religion they who speak least say that dividing the twenty four hours of each natural day into three parts one eight hours he allow'd himself for eating sleeping and recreation another
he consign'd to hearing causes doing justice and other transactions of his Government and all the rest he spent in Prayer reading the Scriptures and holy Meditation he had usual times of Devotion by night as well as by day which he constantly observ'd and he would often leave all company and go to the Church by himself alone that he might there worship God he had a manual of devotion which he always carry'd about with him and on some leaves of Paper that were bound up with it for that purpose he wrote down several pious sentences out of the holy Scriptures which he us'd to read over for exciting his devotion and to promote piety in all his Subjects he began a translation of Davids Psalms into the English tongue though he did not live to finish the same r In vit Aelf per Aelf Coll. Alumn l. 3. p. 161. Bal. de Script Cen. 2. n. 26. Speed Hist. book 7. ch 36. But behold a greater than these for our Saviour himself was very frequent in this retir'd exercise of Devotion it was usual with him as we read in the Evangelists to withdraw himself from Company that he might pray alone ſ Mat. 14. 23. Mar. 1. 35. Luk. 5. 16. he did so thrice within a short space a little before the Jews laid hands on him t Mat. 29. 36 39 42 44. and he was one whole night at Prayer in the solitude of a Mountain u Luk. 6 12. this Practice of Christ is well enforc'd by St. Cyprian Neither hath our Lord by words only taught us to pray but also by his own deeds while praying frequently himself and making evident what we are to do by the testimony of his own example as it is written And he withdrew himself into the Wilderness and prayed and again he went out into a Mountain to pray who was without sin how much more doth it concern us to pray if he watching throughout a whole night prayed with continued supplications how much more ought we to watch by night in often repeating over our prayers * Cypr. de Orat. Dom. Nor may any pretend that these examples are above their imitation or that it may not be expected the ordinary sort of Christians should come up to this pitch of piety for we have further to add that to worship God in private Prayer hath been a common practice and that in all Religions Among the Jews there were composed forms for every mans private use and in these they did call upon God at certain hours every day which they were careful to observe wherever they happen'd to be or in what business soever they might be engag'd Architectus vel in culmine arboris insidens asino illicò descendat recitet When any usual time of Devotion should come If a man were working on the house or were in the top of a tree or on the back of his Ass in the way he was immediately to come down and rehearse his prayers and they had beside Ejaculations Prayers and Benedictions to be used on several occurrences When any one did behold a place where some Miracle had been shewn for the people of Israel or where Idolatry had been rooted out or a place in which there was then an Idol he was to put up a short prayer when any did see an Aethiopian a Dwarf one that was crooked or any way maimed he was to use a thanksgiving when seeing a fair tree or a beautiful face he was to give thanks saying blessed be God who is the author of all beauty in the Creature c. w See Dr. Lightfoot Hor. Heb. in cap. 6. Mat. Cornelius was but a Jewish Proselyte and not one of them neither who were Proselytes of Justice so as to be admitted a Member of that Church and to joyn with them in the holy place of the Temple but he was only a Proselyte of the Gates uncircumcis'd and not conforming save to the seven Precepts of Noah so that he was still reputed as a Gentile and had no enterance into the Temple nearer then the atrium Gentium immundorum the outer Court of the Gentiles and of the unclean and yet of him it is said that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a devout man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 constant in his prayers to God x Act. 10. 2 3 4. it was at the ninth hour one of the ordinary times of Prayer when being at his private Devotion the Angel from God appeared to him directing him unto the way of Salvation by Christ It will not seem much that this pious Duty hath been thus regarded by men of the true Religion when we consider that even Mahometans and Heathens have practis'd the same The Turks profess great strictness in Devotion as injoin'd them by Mahomet their pretended Prophet who in his Alcoran calleth Prayer The Pillar of Religion and the Key of Paradice and hath requir'd it to be perform'd five times every twenty four hours the first time allotted for it is between day breaking and the rising of the Sun the second at noon the third between Noon and the going down of the Sun the fourth at Sun-setting the fifth at an hour and half in the Night they allow nothing to hinder their observance of these no not the decree of the Sultan should he command them any thing to be done when 't is a time of Prayer and they think they may not be diverted or break off abruptly though an armed Enemy should be at their Camp or Gates nor if a fire should happen in the very Chamber where a person is praying how fixed and intent they would be thought to be in the acts of Devotion we learn from one who knew them well and doth thus relate of them The Turks with devout Ceremony and profound attention perform their holy Duties supposing that prayer is become fruitless which is interrupted by scratching of the Head rubbing the Hands or any other gesture not essential to Prayer y Busbeq Epist 3. They have indeed an ambitious affectation of being esteem'd devout and do betray their own hypocrisie and vain Glory in that they often chuse to recite their private Prayers in places where they may be seen and especially they love to do it where there are any Christians to take notice of them And as for the Heathen though benighted as they were in the darkness of ignorance and superstition yet they could see it to be both their duty and interest to make their particular addresses to those whom they esteem'd as Gods that this was customary among them doth appear by that of Plato where he saith The Gods did sometimes grant and at other times deny the petitions presented to them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both privately and in publick z Plat. Alceb 2. and again in the same Dialogue using the same words he mentions one petition which the Lacedemonians did still offer up as well in their private as publick prayers
will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee To see thy Power and thy Glory so as I have seen thee in thy Sanctuary Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy Courts we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house even of thy holy Temple The Heavens are thine the Earth also is thine as for the World and the fulness thereof thou hast founded them I will praise thee for I am fearfully and and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth Thy Eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect and in thy book all my Members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the Assembly of the upright and in the Congregation The works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein His Work is honourable and glorious and his righteousness endureth for ever He hath made his wonderful Works to be remembred the Lord is gracious and full of compassion I praise the Lord for thou art become my Salvation The Stone which the builders refused is become the head Stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing it is marvellous in our Eyes This is the day which the Lord hath made I will rejoice and be glad in it MOst gracious God blessed be thy name that thou hast brought me to a new day and to another Christian Sabbath That thou doest not only lengthen out my natural life but also the means and opportunities of Grace for obtaining the life eternal Thou alone art worthy to receive adoration and Praise from Men and Angels and 't is the greatest honour I am capable of to be employed in thy Service But I do acknowledge my self very unworthy to approach thy presence or to receive any token of thy favour for I am a polluted Sinner and my whole life hath been a continued disobedience against thee and thy righteous Laws I have neglected the good Duties by thee requir'd but have been very forward to do those evil things which thy Law hath forbidden And my sins are much the more hainous and provoking because committed against the light of thy Gospel the great obligations of thy Mercies and after Vows and Promises of better Obedience Wherefore I do here humble my self at thy Footstool lamenting all the Offences of my former life and earnestly begging thy gracious pardone O Lord I do condemn my self but be thou pleas'd to acquit me for the Merits and Mediation of thine own Son who hath fulfill'd all righteousness and made a perfect Atonement by the Sacrifice of himself And as I pray to be freed from the guilt of sin by Justification so I desire to be deliver'd from the Power and Dominion of it by thy sanctifying Grace Be thou pleas'd to mortifie in me all corrupt lusts and sinful affections and to renew me after thine own Image in righteousness and true holiness To this end bless unto me thine holy Ordinances make them effectual for my spiritual benefit and grant that in the religious Duties of this holy day I may sanctifie thee in my heart and make thee my fear and dread O Lord this is a day set apart for thine honour in remembrance of the Worlds Creation which thou didst complete in six days and of our redemption by Christ which was finished by his Resurrection I do therefore ascribe unto thee Praise Thanksgiving and Worship for this glorious Fabrick of Heaven and Earth and the whole variety of Creatures contain'd in them more especially for that excellent being thou hast given to man whom thou didst make after thine own likeness and advance to an eminence and dominion over the Works of thine hands I do with all humble reverence own and adore thee as the Author of mine own life and being yielding thee due thanks that thou hast placed me in the highest rank of thy Creatures that thou hast endow'd me with a reasonable soul and such noble faculties as do fit me for the Knowledge and Service of thy self and the happy enjoyment of thee for ever And prais'd be thy Name for thy great Mercy and rich Grace in sending thine only begotten Son from thine own bosom to redeem Mankind from Sin and Misery and to direct the World in the right way of Life and Salvation I bless thee for the manifestation of the Gospel by him Preached and for the great confirmation of it by his Resurrection from the dead let the light of this Heavenly Doctrine shine over all the Earth that so all the Kingdoms thereof may become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ Be propitious to that part of the World where thy Gospel is already planted let thy Church be reformed more and more from all corruptions both of Doctrine and Practice remove all the unhappy causes of discord and division that all who profess thy Name may agree in thy Truth and live in Unity and Godly Love More especially be thou gracious to this Church and Kingdom whereof I am a Member pardon our abuse of thy great Mercies and all other our provocations grant that the Inhabitants of the Land may turn from the evil of their ways unto the Lord their God that thou mayest rejoice over us to do us good give us outward peace and prosperity and continue thy Gospel and true Religion to us and the Posterities that shall come after us I beg thy kindness for all who are my particular friends or more nearly related to me that thou wouldest bless them in their persons and in all their concernments both of this life and of that which is to come And ô thou who art the Father of Mercy and God of all consolation shew thy tender pity to all who are under pain sickness want sorrow or any other calamity and wherever there be any that suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness or in defence of thy Truth and Gospel be thou near to them for their comfort and happy deliverance Have respect O God to the Prayers and Supplications of thy people which shall this day be offer'd up in the Christian Assemblies throughout the World assist and bless thy holy Word which shall be preached that men may be edified by it in sound Faith and real Godliness Be merciful O Lord to me thy Servant lift thou upon me the light of thy Countenance and let thy Grace be alwaies present with me grant that on this thy day I may not only abstain from worldly employments but also from all the works of Sin give me a spiritual temper of mind that my