a better life therefore we do here from our very souls render unto thee most humble and hearty thanks from our very souls for all thy blessings and benefits bestowed upon our souls and our bodies acknowledging thee to be that Father of Light from whom we have received all those good and perfect gifts and unto thee alone for them we ascribe to be due all glory honour might majesty and praise both now and for ever more But more especially we praise thy Divine Majesty for that thou hast defended us this day past from all perils and dangers so that none of those Judgments which our sins have deserved have fallen upon any one of us Good Lord forgive us the sins which this day we have committed against thy Divine Majesty or our Brethren and for Christ his sake be reconciled unto us for them and we humbly beseech thee likewise of thine infinite goodness to defend and protect us this night and all that belong unto us from all perils and dangers of fire robbery terrours of evil Angels or any other fear which for our sins might justly have fallen upon us and that we may be safe under the shadow of thy wings and to this end and purpose we here recommend our bodies and souls and all that we have unto thine Almighty Protection Lord bless and defend both us and them from all evil whilst we sleep do thou O Father who never slumberest nor sleepest watch over thy children and give a charge to thy holy Angels to pitch their tents round about our houses and dwellings this night to guard us from all dangers that sleeping with thee we may the next morning be awakened by thee and so being refreshed with moderate sleep we may be the fitter to set forth thy glory in the conscionable duties of our callings and we beseech thee O Lord to be merciful likewise to thy whole Church and to continue the tranquility of these Kingdoms wherein we live turning from us those plagues which the crying sins of this Nation do cry aloud for O Lord preserve the principal member thereof our most gracious King Charles endue his Royal heart with grace wisdom and understanding and grant that his daies may be many prosperous vertuous and happy cloath his enemies with shame but upon his head let his Crown flourish Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and the rest of the Royal Family endow them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless all our Magistrates and Ministers with all those graces and gifts necessary for their places govern thou them that they may govern us in peace godliness and true Religion Bless all that fear thee and call upon thy Name all our Christian Brethren and Sisters that suffer sickness or any other affliction or misery especially those who do any where suffer persecution for the testimony of thy holy Gospel grant them patience to bear thy Cross and deliverance when and which way it shall seem best to thy Divine Wisdom and Lord suffer us never to forget our last end and those reckonings which then we must render unto thee in health and prosperity make us mindful of sickness and of the evil day that is behind that these things may not overtake us as a snare but that we may in some good measure like wise Virgins be found prepared for the coming of Christ the sweet Bridegroom of our souls And now O Lord most holy and just we confess there is no cause why thou who art so much displeased with sin shouldest hear the prayers of sinners but for his sake who suffered for sin and sinned not in the only mediation therefore of thine eternal Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour we humbly beg these and all other graces which thou knowest to be needful for us and for thy whole Church shutting up these our imperfect requests in that most holy prayer which Christ himself hath taught us to say unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Morning Prayer for the Sabbath Day O Most High O Eternal God all whose works are glorious all whose thoughts are very deep there can be no better thing than to praise thy Name and declare thy loving kindness in the morning on thy holy and blessed Sabbath day for it is thy Will and Commandment that we should sanctifie this day in thy service and praise him and in the thankful remembrance of the Creation of the world by the power of thy Word so of the Redemption of mankind by the death of thy Son thine O Lord I confess is greatness and power and glory and victory and praise for all that is in Heaven and Earth is thine thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou excellest as head over all both riches and honour come of thee and thou raignest over all and in thine hand is power and strength and in thine hand it is to make great and to give grace unto all now therefore O my God I praise thy glorious Name that whereas I wretched sinner having so many waies provoked thy Majesty to anger and displeasure thou notwithstanding of thy favour and goodness passing by prophaneness and infirmities hast vouchsafed O heavenly Father to add this Sabbath again to the number of my daies and vouchsafe O heavenly Father for the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son whose glorious Resurrection thy whole Church celebrateth this day to pardon and forgive me all my sins and misdeeds especially O Lord cleanse my soul from those filthy sins which my corrupt nature is most prone unto with the blood of thy most pure and undefiled Lamb and let thy Holy Spirit more and more subdue my corruptions that I may be renewed after thine own Image to serve thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of our life and as of thy mercy thou hast brought me safe to the beginning of this day so I beseech thee to make it a day of Reconciliation betwixt my sinful soul and thy Divine Majesty give me grace to make it a day of Repentance unto thee that thy goodness may seal it to be a day of pardon unto me and that I may remember that the keeping holy of this is a commandment which thine own finger hath written that on this day I might meditate on thy glorious works of our Creation and Redemption and learn how to keep all the rest of thy holy Laws and Commandments and when anon I shall with the rest of the holy Assembly appear before thy presence to offer unto thee our morning Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and to hear what thy Spirit by the preaching of thy Word shall speak unto thy servant oh let not my sins stand as a cloud to stop my prayers from ascending unto thee or keep back thy grace from descending by thy Word into my heart I know O Lord and tremble to think that three parts of the good seed falls upon bad ground O let not my heart be
Israel O God out of all his troubles be thou my Judge O Lord for I have walked innocently my trust hath been also in the Lord therefore shall I not fall examine me O Lord and prove me try out my Reins and Heart for thy loving kindness is always before mine eyes and I will walk in thy Truth But as for me I will walk innocently O Lord deliver me and be merciful unto me hearken unto my voice O Lord when I call unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me my heart hath talked of thee seek ye my face thy face Lord will I seek O hide not thou thy face from me nor cast away thy Servant in displeasure thou hast been my succour leave me not nor forsake me O God of my Salvation teach me thy way O Lord and lead me in the right way because of mine enemies Hear the voice of mine humble petitions when I cry unto thee when I hold up mine hand towards thy mercy Seat of thy Holy Temple O pluck me not away neither destroy me with the ungodly and wicked doers which speak friendly to their Neighbours but imagine mischief in their hearts Save thy people and give thy blessing to thine Inheritance feed them and set them up for ever I will magnifie thee O Lord for thou hast set me up and made my foes to triumph over me O Lord my God I cry unto thee and thou hast healed me Hear O Lord and have mercy upon me Lord be thou my helper O most merciful God whose property is always to have Mercy and to forgive behold with the eyes of thy pity and compassion the state of thy humble Servant made most miserable by reason of my sins hear the voice of my weeping pity my groaning strengthen me for I am weak for my bones are vexed and deliver my Soul from Death that being saved from the bottomless pit I may give thanks to thy Holy Name O turn from the severity of thy displeasure and visit me with thy mercy and salvation for all my sins procure great sorrow and contrition and in my sickness let thy comfort sustain me through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen The Collect. O God who knowest me to be set in so many great dangers that by reason of the Frailty of Man I cannot always stand upright grant to me such strength and protection that may support me in all dangers and carry me through all Temptations through Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour Amen Another ALmighty and Everlasting God who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that be penitent create and make in me a new and contrite Heart that I may worthily lamenting my sins and acknowledging my wretchedness obtain of thee the God of all mercy perfect remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Confession of sins and a Prayer for pardon IN thee O Lord have I put my trust let me never be put to confusion deliver me in thy Righteousness bow down thine Ear to hear me make haste to deliver me be thou my strong Rock and the house of Defence that thou mayest save me for thou art my strong Rock and Castle be thou also my guide and hear me for thy mercy sake draw me out of the Net that they have privily laid for me for thou art my strength into thy hand I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth have mercy upon me O Lord for I am in trouble mine eyes are consumed for very heaviness yea my soul and my body for my life waxeth old with heaviness and my years with mourning my strength failed me because of mine iniquity and my bones but my hope hath been in thee O Lord I have said thou art my God shew thy Servant the light of thy countenance and save me for thy mercies sake I will give thanks unto thee O Lord his Prayers shall ever be in my Mouth O continue forth thy loving kindness unto them that fear thee and thy Righteousness unto them that are true of Heart put me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure for thine Arrows stick fast in me and thine hand presseth me sore forsake me not O Lord my God be not thou far from me haste thee to help me O Lord God of my Salvation take away thy Plague from me for I am consumed by the means of pain Hear my Prayers O Lord and with thine Ears consider my calling hold not thy peace at my tears O Lord spare me for thy mercy sake that I may recover my strength before I go hence and be no more seen withhold not thou thy mercy from me save me for thy Mercy sake let thy loving kindness and thy truth alway preserve me O Lord let it be thy pleasure to deliver me make haste O Lord to help me let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my Soul to destroy it let them be driven backward and put to rebuke that wish me evil let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee and let such as love thy Salvation say alway the Lord be praised thou art my helper and my Redeemer make no long tarrying O my God O Lord be merciful unto me heal my Soul for I have sinned against thee be merciful unto me O Lord raise thou me again because my trust is in thy mercy by this I know thou favourest me that my enemies do not triumph over me like as the Hart desireth the Water-brooks so longeth my Soul after thee O God my Soul is a thirst for God yea even for the living God when I shall come and appear before the presence of God God is my hope and my strength a very present help in trouble the Lord of Hosts is with me the God of Jacob is my refuge call upon me in time of trouble so will I hear and thou shalt praise me O Lord open thou my Lips that my Mouth may set forth thy praise Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercy do away mine offences wash me throughly from my wickedness and make me clean from my sins for I acknowledge my fault and my sin is ever before me against thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight that thou mightest be justified in thy saying and clear when thou judgest thou shalt purge me with Hysop and I shall be clean thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce O give me the comfort of thy help again and establish me with thy free Spirit make me a clean Heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me O be favourable and gracious unto Sion and build thou the
help me Forsake me not O my God when I am gray-headed until I have shewn thy strength unto this generation and thy power to all them that are yet for to come What great trouble and adversity hast thou shewed me and yet didst thou turn and refresh me yea and broughtest me from the depth of the Earth again O let not the simple go away ashamed but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy name O remember not my old sins but have mercy upon me and that right soon for I am come to great misery help me O God of my salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sins for thy Names sake Turn us O God of our salvation Shew the light of thy countenance and we shall be whole O God of Hosts how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that pray O most merciful God who art great and the multitudes of thy mercies are innumerable Have mercy upon me for my sins are before me presented by the continual accusations of a troubled conscience I have sinned against thee and done evil in thy sight and yet because thou art the God of mercy and fountain of eternal life delighting in the conversion and salvation of a sinner I present unto thee the sacrifice of a troubled spirit of a broken and a contrite heart beseeching thee to let the dew of thy favour and the fire of thy love wash away my sins and purifie my soul. Make me a clean heart O God and pure hands though my sins be as scarlet yet make them like wooll though they be as purple yet make them as white as snow Restore the voice of joy and gladness unto me Let me not be ever separated from the sweet refreshings of thy favour and presence but give me the comforts of thy help again and let thy free Spirit loose me from the bondage of sin and stablish me in the freedom and liberty of the Sons of God so shall I sing of thy Righteousness and my Lips shall give thee praise in the Congregations of thy Redeemed ones now henceforth and for ever-more Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who hatest nothing that thou hast made and doest forgive the Sins of all them that be penitent create and make in me a new and contrite Heart that I may worthily lament my Sins and acknowledge my Wickedness that I may obtain of thee the God of all comfort perfect Remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen Another Collect. ALmighty God who through thy only Son Jesus Christ hast overcome Death and opened unto us the Gate of Everlasting Life I humbly beseech thee that as by thy special grace preventing us thou doest put in our Minds good desires so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect through Jesus Christ our Lord who Liveth and Reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever one God world without end Amen A Prayer that we may trust in God only in all our trouble TUrn again thou God of Hosts look down from Heaven behold and visit thy Servant O Lord God of Hosts hear my Prayers hearken O God of Jacob behold O God my defender and look upon the face of thine Anointed O Lord God of Hosts blessed is the Man that putteth his Trust in thee Turn thou me O God of my Saviour and let thine Anger cease from me Shew me thy mercy O Lord and grant me thy Salvation Bow down thine ear O Lord and hear me for I am poor and in misery Preserve thou my Soul for I am thy Servant my God save him that putteth his trust in thee Be merciful unto me O Lord for I will daily call upon thee comfort the Soul of thy Servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul for thou O Lord art my Defender and thou art good and gracious and of great mercy to all them that Call upon thee give ear O Lord unto my Prayer and ponder the voice of my humble desires in the time of trouble will I call upon thee for thou hearest me for thou art good and doest wonderful things thou art God alone teach me thy way O Lord for I will walk in thy Truth O knit my Heart unto thee that I may fear thy Name I will thank thee O Lord my God with my whole heart and will praise thy Name for evermore for great is thy Mercy towards me for thou hast delivered my Soul from the neathermost Hell and thou Lord God art full of mercy and compassion long-suffering and of great goodness and Truth O turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy Servant and help the Son of thine Handmaid Shew some good Token upon me for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast helpen and confirmed me O Lord God of my Salvation I have lamented Day and Night before thee O let my Prayer enter into thy presence Encline thine Ear unto my Calling for my soul is full of Trouble and my Life draweth nigh unto Hell thine Indignation lyeth hard upon me and thy hand presseth me sore Unto thee O Lord do I cry and early shall my Prayer come before thee O Lord why oppressest thou my Soul and hidest thy face from me I am in misery like unto him that is at the point of Death Even from my youth up thy Terrours have I suffered with a troubled Mind O Lord God of Hosts who is like unto thee Thy Truth most mighty God is on every side for the Lord is on my side The Lord God of Israel is my Defence the holy One of Israel is my King O Lord where is thy old loving kindness which thou swarest unto David thy Servant in thy Truth Remember Lord the Rebuke that I thy Servant have and how I do bear in my bosom the Rebuke of many People O Lord thou hast been our Refuge from one Generation to another O teach me to number my daies that I may apply my Heart unto Wisdom O turn thee again O Lord at the last and be gracious unto thy Servant Satisfie me with thy mercy that soon so shall I rejoyce at thy mercy and be glad all the days of my Life O comfort thou me again after the time wherein thou hast plagued me and for the years wherein I have suffered Adversity Shew thy Servants thy Work and their Children thy Glory for the Lord promised his Blessing and Life for ever more When I called upon thee thou holdest me and enduest my Soul with much strength O Lord thou hast searched me out and known me thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising thou understandest my thoughts long before thou art about my path and about my bed and espiest out all my waies for loe there is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogether Look well O Lord if there be any waies of
through thy bountiful goodness we may be delivered from the bondage of those sins which by our frailty we have committed grant this O heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake our blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving to God for all his benefits and mercies O Most merciful God whose mercies are as high as the Heavens as many as the moments of eternity thou hast opened thy hand wide to me with thy blessing and the sweet effects of thy loving kindness Thou art pitiful as a Father tender as a Mother careful as a Guardian and exceeding merciful to all them that fear thee I pray thee to fill my soul with apprehension and impresses of thy unspeakable mercy that my thankfulness may be as great as my need of mercy is and let thy merciful loving-kindness endure for ever and ever upon thy poor servant that putteth his trust in thee Keep no anger in store for me Chide me not in thy displeasure Satisfie my mouth with good things Remove all my sins from me as far as the East is from the West Heal all my infirmities and save my life from destruction for all these are mercies that thou delightest it and because I cannot praise thee according to thy excellencies take my soul in thy due time into the land of everlasting praises that I may spend a whole Eternity in ascribing to thy name praise and honour and dominion grant this for Jesus Christ his sake my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God absolve thy people from their offences that through thy bountiful goodness we may be delivered from the bonds of those sins which by our frailty we have committed grant this heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake our blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving for deliverance from misery and danger O Lord God gracious and good whose mercy endureth for ever in my trouble I cry unto thee for when my heart is brought down through heaviness there is none to help me up or to deliver me out of my distress but only thou O Lord I have sinned I have rebelled against thee and lightly regarded thy counsel I have walked and sate in darkness and in the shadow of death being fast bound in the captivity and misery of sin O bring thou me out of darkness and break my bonds in sunder Guide me through the desert of the world in which grows nothing but sadness and discontent still the tempest and smooth the floods of misery which are ready to overwhelm me and in thy due time bring me to eternal rest and to the Haven where I would fain be that in the Congregation of thy holy people I may praise thee for thy goodness and declare thy wonders that thou hast done for me in delivering me from sins misery and death and bringing me to a City to dwell in where there is life and light and joy eternal in the beholding the face of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The Collect. GRant I beseech thee O merciful Lord to thy faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and fear thee with a quiet mind through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of Thanksgiving for all the mercies and salvation which are given us in Christ Jesus O Most gracious God and most merciful Father my strength and my salvation for thy mercy endureth for ever be thou on my side take part with them that help me and forsake me not in time of need let the voice of joy and health be in my dwelling and when thou chastenest and correctest me for my sins give me not over unto death but fix my faith and hopes upon the head stone in the corner even my Lord Jesus Christ that in all the assaults made against me by my ghostly enemies the right hand of the Lord may have the preheminence and bring mighty things to pass even victory and deliverance unto thy servants that I putting no confidence in the best of men may trust in thee O Lord till at last when thou openest the everlasting gates of righteousness I may enter in and give thee praise and thanks through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. O God my Refuge and Strength who art the Author of all godliness be ready to hear the devout prayer of thy Church and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer that God would be pleased to pardon my many and great sins and direct me in the waies of Righteousness O Lord my Judge and my Redeemer hearken unto me for thy Truth and Righteousness sake and deliver me from the guilt of all my sins and from those great punishments which are due unto me for the same enter not into judgment with me for in thy sight no man can be justified by any worthiness of his own Endue my soul with a righteousness of a holy life living and working by charity Shew me the way that I should walk in Teach me to do whatsoever pleaseth thee Quicken my soul in the path of life and so continue the conduct of thy Spirit in me that it may never leave me till I be brought forth of this world into the Land of Righteousness to dwell with thee eternally through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen The Collect. O God my Refuge and Strength who art the Author of all godliness be ready I beseech thee to hear the devout prayer of thy Church and grant that those things which I ask faithfully I may obtain effectually through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen A Thanksgiving for the benefit of the holy Gospel particularly of the blessed Sacrament O Blessed Jesu whose Righteousness endureth for ever thy work is worthy to be praised and had in honour for that thou hast been merciful to us and hast given meat even the fruit of a blessed Sacrament unto them that fear thee that by the participation of thy holy Communion we should have thee in remembrance and ever be mindfull of thy Covenant plant in our hearts the fear of thy Name give us wisdom and good understanding make us to have pleasure in thee and all thy works that we obeying the precepts of thy holy Gospel and performing the conditions of thy Covenant which thou hast established for ever in truth and equity in verity and judgment we may worthily praise and adore thy reverend and holy Name among the faithful in this life and in the Congregation of thy Saints in the life to come through thy mercies O blessed Jesu to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory now and for ever more Amen The Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who dost govern all things both in Heaven and in Earth mercifully hear the supplications of thy people and grant us thy grace all the daies of our life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a barren and dry ground I remember thy loving kindness of old time I can but wish at least to see thy power and thy glory as I have known thee in thy Sanctuary There is none in Heaven that I desire but thee nor on Earth besides thee My soul followeth hard after thee O when wilt thou come unto me O hide not thy face from thy servant lest I come to misery Hear me speedily for I am poor and needy Make haste unto me O my God thou art my helper and deliverer O Lord make no long tarrying I am come a great way from my friends and kindred and here is none to pity me O my God be not thou far from me Draw nigh unto my soul and redeem it I am poor and sorrowful let thy salvation set me up on high for thou who searchest the heart knowest that I set my heart only to seek thee I desire to leave all the world that I may find my happiness only in thee O heavenly Father with my whole heart I desire to do thy blessed will in all things yea thus far I acknowledge thou hast most gratefully conducted me Hitherto I have been highly favoured and wonderfully helped and preserved by thee and wilt thou now at last abandon me who desire at last to have abandoned all things else for thy sake Hast thou called me from mine own Country and from my Fathers house and now to be forsaken by thee O my God give me leave to plead for a soul that I thought was once dear unto thee Pity O pity an heart which thou hast made too great for all the world and cannot be satisfied with less than thee Canst thou see it die for want of one smile from thee yea canst thou let it die of love to thee for that hath brought me thus far to seek thee and wilt thou suffer it to die at thy feet canst thou endure to behold it in thine arms into which it now throws it self with all the force it hath shall it miscarry full of prayers and longings after thee shall it expire in cries and tears when it calls for mercy O where are thy bowels what is become of thine ancient loving kindness are they all forfeited by one offence against thee O my God I cannot think so hardly of thee I begin to live methinks because thou permittest these addresses to thee it inspires me with some hopes to find these holy breathings in me it rejoyces me much that I feel thee drawing my very heart after thee O take it I beseech thee take it quite away from me unto thy self shape it after thine own heart make it such as thou canst embrace it create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit and all this for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Ejaculations to be used at the Lord's Supper LOrd I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou preserver of men Here recollect some of thy greatest sins If thou Lord shouldest be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it but with the Lord there is mercy and with him there is plentious redemption Behold O Lord thy Beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased Hearken to the cry of his blood which speaketh better things than that of Abel by his Agony and bloody Sweat by his Cross and Passion good Lord deliver us O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world grant us thy peace O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon me O Lord for thy mercy sake Amen Devotions for the Help and assistance of all Christian People in all occasions and necessities A Prayer against wandring Thoughts to be said at the beginning of our Devotions ALmighty God who hast commanded us to pray unto thee without ceasing and hast added many glorious promises for our encouragement let thy holy Spirit teach me how to pray Give me just apprehension of my want zeal of thy glory great resentments of thy mercies love of all spiritual employments that are pleasing unto thee and do thou help mine infirmities that the Devil may not abuse my fancy with illusions nor distract my mind with cares nor alienate my thoughts with impertinencies but give me a perfect mind great devotion a heart fixed upon thy Divine Beauties and an actual intention and perseverance in prayer that I may glorifie thy Name do unto thee true and laudable service and obtain relief for all my necessities hear me O King of Heaven when I call upon thee for thou hast promised mercy to them that pray in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen A Penitential Prayer a Form of Confession of sins to God to be said upon daies of publick or private Humiliation O Lord God of mercy and pardon give me a just remembrance and sad apprehension of my many and great sins Teach me to bewail them with as great indignation and bitterness as I have committed them with complacency and delight Let my prayers and my confession come unto thy presence and obtain a mercy for me and a pardon Let not thy Justice and thy severity so remember my sins as to forget thine own mercy and though I have committed that for which I have deserved to be condemned yet thou canst not lose that glorious Attribute whence flows comfort to us and hopes to be saved Spare me therefore O merciful God for to give pardon to a sinner that confesseth his sins and begs Remission it is not impossible to thy Power nor disproportionate to thy Justice nor unusual to thy Mercy and sweetest Clemency Blessed Jesu acknowledge in me whatsoever is thine and cleanse me from whatsoever is amiss Have pity on me now in the time of mercy and condemn me not when thou comest to judgment For what profit is there in my blood Thou delightest not in the death of a sinner but in his conversion there is joy in Heaven And when thou hast delivered me from my sins and saved my soul I shall praise and magnifie thy Name to all eternity mercy sweet Jesus mercy Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in Heaven c. I Am not worthy O Lord to look up to Heaven which is the Throne of thy Purity for my sins are more in number than the hairs of my head and my heart hath failed me Lord be merciful unto me a sinner I have not lived according to thy will but in the vanity of my own thoughts in idle sinful and impertinent language in foolish actions in blindness of heart in contempt of thy holy Word and Commandments I
my mind that I may know thee and let me not be barren or unfruitful in that knowledge Lord work in my heart a true faith a purifying hope and an unfeigned love towards thee Give me a full trust in thee zeal for thee reverence in all things that relate to thee Make me fearfull to offend thee thankful for thy mercies humble under thy corrections devout in thy service sorrowful for my sins grant that in all things I may behave my self so as befits a creature to his Creator a servant to his Lord enable me likewise to perform that duty I owe to my self Give me that meekness humility and contentedness whereby I may alwaies possess my soul in patience and thankfulness Make me diligent in all my duties watchful in all temptations perfect pure and temperate and so moderate in all my most lawful enjoyments that they never may become a snare to me Make me also O Lord to be so affected towards my neighbour that I never transgress that Royal Law of thine of loving him as my self Grant me exactly to perform to all a part of Justice yielding to all whatsoever by any kind of right is their due Give me such bowels of mercy and compassion that I may never fail to do all acts of charity to all men whether friends or enemies according to thy command and example Finally I beseech thee O Lord to sanctifie me within and without that my whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever Amen Intercession O Blessed Lord whose mercy is over all thy works I beseech thee to have mercy upon all men and grant that the precious Ransom which was paid by thy Son for all may be effectual for the saving of all Give thy enlightening grace to those that are in darkness and thy converting grace to those that are in sin Look with thy tenderest compassion upon the Universal Church O be favourable and gracious unto Sion build thou the walls of Jerusalem unite all those that profess thy Name to thee by purity and holiness and to each other by brotherly kindness Have mercy on this desolate Church and sinful Nation Thou movedst the Land and divided it heal the sores thereof for it shaketh make us so truly to repent of those sins which have provoked thy Judgments that thou also mayest turn and repent and leave a blessing behind thee Bless those whom thou hast appointed our Governours whether in Church or State so rule their hearts and strengthen their hands that they may want neither will nor power to punish wickedness and vice and to maintain God's true Religion and Verity Have pity O Lord on all that are in affliction be a Father to the Fatherless and plead the Cause of the Widow comfort the feeble minded support the weak relieve the needy defend the oppressed and administer to every one according to their several necessities Let thy blessing rest upon all that are near and dear unto me and grant them whatsoever is needful and necessary both for their souls and for their bodies here name thy dearest Relations Reward all those that have done me or them good pardon all those that have done or wish us evil work in me and them all that good which may make us acceptable in thy sight Jesus Christ. Amen For Preservation O Merciful God by whose bounty and love it is that I have this day added to my life I beseech thee so to guide me in it by thy grace that I may do nothing which may dishonour thee or wound my own soul but that I may diligently apply my own soul to do all such good works as thou hast prepared for me And Lord I beseech thee give thy Angels charge over me to keep me in all my waies that no evil happen unto nor any plague come nigh my dwelling but that I and mine may be safe under thy protection through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen O Lord pardon the wandrings and coldness of these Petitions and deal with me not according either to my prayers or deserts but according to my needs and thine own rich mercy in Jesus Christ in whose blessed Name and words I conclude these my imperfect prayers saying Our Father c. Prayers for Night O Holy blessed and glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God have mercy upon me a miserable sinner Lord I know not what to pray for as I ought O let thy holy Spirit help mine infirmities and enable me to offer up a spiritual Sacrifice acceptable unto thee by Jesus Christ. A Confession O Most holy Lord God who art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity how shall I an abominable wretch appear before thee who am nothing but pollution I am defiled in my very nature have a backwardness to all good and a readiness to all evil but I have defiled my self much worse by my own actual sins and wicked customs I have transgressed my duty to thee my neighbour and my self and that both in thought word and deed by doing those things thou hast expresly forbidden and neglecting to do those things thou hast commanded me and this not onely through ignorance and frailty but knowingly and wilfully against the motion of thy Spirit and the checks of mine own conscience to the contrary and to make all these out of measure sinful I have gone on in a daily course of repeating these provocations against thee notwithstanding all thy calls to and my own purposes and endeavours of amendment yea this very day I have not ceased to add new sins to my former guilt here name the particulars and now O Lord what shall I say or how shall I open my mouth seeing I have done these things I know that the wages of sin is death but O thou who willest not the death of a sinner have mercy upon me work in me I beseech thee a sincere contrition and perfect hatred of all my sins let me daily confess them but yet not as duly renew them and grant O Lord that from this instant I may give a bill of divorce to all my most beloved lusts and then be thou pleased to marry me to thy self in Truth in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life and for all my sins past O Lord receive a Reconciliation accept of that Ransom thy blessed Son hath paid for me and for his sake whom thou hast set forth as a propitiation pardon all my offences and receive me to thy favour and when thou hast thus spoken peace to my soul Lord keep me that I turn not any more to folly but stablish me with thy grace that no temptation of the World the Devil or my own Flesh may ever draw me to offend thee that being made free from sin and becoming a Servant unto God I may have my fruit unto holiness and in the
apart to thy self And O Lord since thou art a God that wilt not clear the guilty let the dread of thy Justice make me tremble to provoke thee in any thing O let me not so mis-place my fear as to be afraid of a man that shall die and of the Son of Man who shall be made as grass and forget the Lord my Maker but replenish my soul with the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom which may be as a bridle to all my brutish appetites and keep me in a constant conformity to thy holy Will Hear me O Lord I beseech thee and put this fear in my heart that I may not depart from thee but may with fear and trembling work out my own salvation through Jesus Christ. Amen For Thankfulness O Most gracious and bountiful Lord who fillest all things with goodness and expectest no other return but praise and thanksgiving let me O Lord never defraud thee of that so easie tribute but let my heart be ever filled with a sense and my mouth with the acknowledgment of thy mercies It is a joyful and pleasant thing to be thankful O suffer me not I beseech thee to lose my part in that Divine pleasure but grant that as I daily receive blessings from thee so I may daily from an affectionate and devout heart offer up thanks to thee and grant that not only my lips but my life may shew forth thy praise by consecrating my self to thy service and walking in holiness and righteousness before thee all the daies of my life through Jesus Christ my Lord and blessed Saviour Amen For Chastity O Holy and Immortal Jesus whose first descent was into the Virgins Womb and who didst love to inhabit only in pure and Virgins hearts I beseech thee send thy Spirit of purity to cleanse me from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit My body O Lord is the Temple of the Holy Ghost O let me never pollute that Temple with any uncleanness and because out of the heart proceed the things that defile the man Lord grant me to keep my heart with all diligence that no impure or foul thoughts be harboured there but enable me I beseech thee to keep both soul and body pure and undefiled that so I may glorifie thee here both in body and soul and spirit and be glorified in both with Christ hereafter Amen For Contentedness O Merciful God thy Wisdom is infinite to chuse and thy Love forward to dispence good things to us O let me alwaies fully and entirely resign my self to thy disposals have no desire of my own but a perfect satisfaction in thy chusings for me that so in whatsoever state I am I may be therein content Lord grant I may never look with murmuring on my own condition nor with envy on other mens and to that end I beseech thee purge my heart of all covetous desires and affections O let me never yield any corner of my soul to Mammon but give me such a contempt of these fading riches that whether they decrease or increase I may never set my heart upon them but that all my care may be to be rich towards God to lay up my treasure in Heaven that I may so set my affections on things above that when Christ who is my life shall appear I may also appear with him in glory grant this O Lord for the merit of the same Jesus Christ. Amen For Perseverance O Eternal and unchangeable Lord God who art the same yesterday to day and for ever be thou pleased to communicate some rayes of that excellency some degree of that stability to me thy wretched creature who am light and unconstant turned about with every blast My understanding is very deceivable O stablish it with thy truth keep it from the snares of seducing spirits that I may not be lead away with the errours of the wicked and fall from mine own stedfastness My will also O Lord is irresolute and wavering and doth not cleave stedfastly unto God My goodness is but as a morning cloud and as the early dew it passeth away O strengthen and confirm me and whatsoever good thou hast wrought in me be pleased to accomplish it and perform it until the day of Christ. Lord thou seest my weakness and knowest the number and strength of those temptations I am to struggle with O leave me not to my self but cover thou my head in the day of battel and in all spiritual combats make me more than Conquerour through him that loved me O let no terrours or flatteries either of the world or my own flesh ever draw me from my obedience to thee but grant that I may continue stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord by patient continuance in well doing seeking and at last obtain glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer before the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament O Most merciful God who hast in thy great goodness prepared this Spiritual Feast for sick and famished souls make my desires and longings after it answerable to my needs of it I have with the Prodigal wasted that portion of grace thou bestowedst upon me therefore do infinitely want a supply out of this Treasury but O Lord how shall such a wretch as I dare to approach this holy Table I am a Dog how shall I presume to take the Childrens bread or how shall this spiritual Manna this food of Angels be given to one who hath chosen to feed on husks with Swine nay to one who hath already so often trampled these precious things under foot either carelesly neglecting or unworthily refusing those holy precious Mysteries O Lord my horrible guiltiness makes me tremble to come and makes me not dare to keep away for where O Lord shall my polluted soul be washed if not in this fountain which thou hast opened for sin and for uncleanness hitherto therefore I come and thou hast promised that him that cometh to thee thou wilt in no wise cast out This is O Lord the Blood of the New Testament grant to me so to receive it that it may be to me for remission of sins and though I have so often and so wickedly broken my part of that Covenant whereof this Sacrament is a seal yet be thou graciously pleased to make thine good to be merciful to my unrighteousness and to remember my sins and my iniquities no more and not only so but to put thy Laws in my heart and to write them in my mind and by the power of thy grace dispose my soul to such a sincere and constant obedience that I may never again provoke thee Lord grant that in these holy Mysteries I may not only commemorate but effectually receive my blessed Saviour and all the benefits of his passion and to that end give me such a preparation of soul as may qualifie me for it Give me a deep sense of my sins and unworthiness that being weary and heavy laden I
ingenious and free from sordid ends or servile flattery a modest gravity in my deportment affability a fair courteous demeanour towards all men austerity in condemning my own sins sweetness in fraternal correction and reprehending others mature judgment a chast body and a clean soul patience in suffering deliberation in my words and actions good counsels in all my purposes make me just in performing promises and in all my duties sedulous in my calling profitable to the Commonwealth a true Son of the Church and of a disposition meek and charitable towards all men Amen O Lord let thy grace be so present with me that though my body sleep yet my soul may for ever be watchful that I sleep not in sin or pretermit any opportunity of doing thee service Let the remembrance of thy goodness and glory be first and last with me and so unite my heart unto thee with habitual charity that all my actions and sayings may be directed to thy glory and every motion and inclination either of soul or body may in some capacity or other receive a blessing from thee and do thee service that whether I sleep or wake travel or rest eat or drink live or die I may alwaies feel the light of thy countenance shining so upon me that my labours may be easie my rest blessed my food sanctified and my whole life spent with so much sanctity and peace that scaping from the darkness of this world I may at last come to the land of everlasting rest in thy light to behold light and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and ever more Another Prayer for the Evening VIsit we beseech thee O Lord this habitation with thy mercy and us thy servants with thy salvation and repel far from us all the snares of the enemy Let thy holy Angels dwell here to keep us in peace and safety and thy blessing be upon us for ever through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Lord Jesus Christ the lively Image of thy Fathers mercy and glory the Saviour of all them that put their trust in thee we offer and present to thee all our strength and powers of our souls and body and whatsoever we are or have to be preserved governed and possest by thee preserve us from all vitious vain and proud cogitations unchast affections from all those things which thou hatest grant us thy holy charity that we may love thee above all the world that we may with all sincerity of intention and zealous affections seek thee alone and in thee alone take our rest inseparably joyning our selves unto thee who art worthy to be beloved and adored of all thy creatures with lowest prostration and highest affection now and for ever more Amen O Father of mercies and God of all comfort let thy blessing be upon us and upon all the members of thy holy Church all health and safety both of body and soul assist us against all our enemies visible and invisible now and for ever more send us a quiet night and a holy death in the actual communion of the Catholick Church and in thy charity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father which art in Heaven c. Now and in all dangers and afflictions of soul and body in the hour of death and in the day of Judgment save and deliver us O sweet Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Amen Short Prayers for several Occasions for the King O Lord our heavenly Father high and mighty King of Kings who in thy hands hast the heart of Kings and canst turn them as the Rivers of water send the light of thy countenance and abundance of blessings upon thy servant our Soveraign Lord King Charles make him as holy valiant and prosperous as King David wise and rich like Solomon zealous for the honour of thy Law and Temple as Josiah and give him all sorts of great assistances to enable him to serve thee to glorifie thy holy Name to protect thy Church to promote true Religion to overcome all his enemies to make glad all his people that he serving thee with all diligence and utmost of his endeavours his people may serve him with honour and obedience in thee and for thee according to thy blessed Word and Ordinance through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For the Queen O God of Heaven Father of all mercies have mercy upon our most gracious Queen unite her unto thee with the hands of faith and love preserve her to her lives end in thy favour and make her instrumental of glory to thy Name of refreshment to the Church of Joy to the all faithful people of this Kingdom and crown her with an eternal weight of glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For our Children O Father of Heaven God of all the creatures by whose providence mankind is increased I bless thy Name for bestowing on me that blessing of the righteous man the blessing of children Lord bless them with health with life and good understanding with fair opportunities and advantages of education society tutors and governours and above all with the graces of thy holy Spirit that they may live and be blessed under thy protection grow in grace and be in favour with God and man and at last make up the number of thine elect Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of a Wife for her Husband O My God who hast graciously been pleased to call me to the holy state of Matrimony bless me in it with the grace of chastity with loyalty obedience and complacency to my husband and bless him with long life with healthful body with an understanding soul with abundance of thy graces which may make him to be and continue thy servant a true Son of the Church and a supporter and guide to his Wife a blessing and a comfort to his Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Of a Husband for his Wife O Merciful God who art a Father to us thy Children espouse to thy holy Church a Saviour and a Redeemer to all mankind have mercy upon thy Handmaid my Wife endow her with all the ornaments of thy heavenly grace make her to be holy and devout as Hester loving and amiable as Rachel fruitful as Leah that being filled with grace and benediction here she may be partaker of thy glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For safety in Childbirth O Blessed Jesu Son of the Eternal God who according to thy humility wert born of a holy Maid who conceived thee without sin and brought thee forth without pain have mercy upon me thy humble servant and as by thy blessing I have conceived so grant that by thy favourable assistance I may be safely delivered Lord grant me patience and strength and confidence in thee and send thy holy Angel to be my Guardian in the hour of my travel O shut not up my soul with sinners nor my life with them that go down to the
Pit I humbly also beg mercy for my Child grant a comely body and an understanding soul life and an opportunity of Baptism and thy grace from the cradle to his grave that it may increase the number of Saints in that holy fellowship of Saints and Angels where thou raignest and livest Eternal God world without end Amen Before a Journey O Lord who didst lead thy servants Abraham and Jacob thy people Israel thy servant Tobias and wise men of the East in their several Journies by thy providence by thy Ministry of Angels by a Pillar of Fire and by the guidance of a Star vouchsafe to preserve us thy servants in the way that we are now to go be O Lord a guide unto us in our preparation a shadow in the day and covering by night a rest to our weariness and a staff to our weakness a portion in adversity a protection from danger that by thy assistance we may perform our Journey safely to thy honour to our own comfort and last bring us to the everlasting Rest of our heavenly Country through him who is the way the truth and the life our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen For Afflicted persons O Lord God merciful and gracious Father whose compassion extends to all that are in misery and need that takest delight in relieving the distresses of the afflicted give refreshment to all the comfortless provide for the poor give ease to all them that are tormented with sharp pains health to the diseased liberty and redemption to the captives chearfulness of spirit to all them that are in great desolation Lord let thy Spirit confirm all them that are strong strengthen all them that are weak and speak peace to the afflicted conscience that the light of thy countenance being restored to them they may rejoyce in thy salvation and sing praises unto thy Name who hast delivered their souls from death their eyes from tears and their feet from falling grant this for the honour of thy mercy and the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer against Temptations O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ thy Name is great thy Essence infinite thy Goodness is Eternal and thy Power hath no limit thou art the God and Father of all blessed for ever more look down in mercy and compassion from thy dwelling hear my prayers and supplications and deliver me from all temptations of the world the flesh and the Devil take not thy grace from me let me never want thy help in my need nor thy comfort in the day of my danger or calamity never try me beyond my strength nor afflict me beyond my patience nor smite me but with a fatherly Rod I have no strength of my own thou art my confidence my Rock and my strong salvation save me O God from the miseries of this world and never let me suffer the calamities of the next rescue me from the evils I have deserved and preserve me from the punishment of this world that living before thee with a clean heart and undefiled body and a sanctified spirit I may at the day of Judgment be presented pure and spotless by the blood of the Lamb that I may sing eternal Hallelujahs in heavenly places to the honour of God our Saviour who hath redeemed our souls from death our eyes from tears and our feet from falling grant this in the riches of thy mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A General Confesson ALmighty God I a miserable sinner do humbly confess that I am truly sorrowful for my many and great my innumerable and intollerable crimes of which my conscience does accuse me by night and by day and by which I have provoked thy severest wrath and indignation against me I have broken all thy Righteous Laws and Commandments by word or deed by vain thoughts or sinful desires I have sinned against thee in all my Relations and capacities in all places and at all times I can neither reckon their number nor bear their burden nor suffer thine anger which I have deserved but thou O Lord God art merciful and gracious have mercy upon me pardon me for all the evil I have done judge me not for all the good I have omitted take not thy favour from me but delight thou to sanctifie and save me and work in me to will and to do of thy good pleasure all my duty which thou O Lord requirest of me that being sanctified by thy Spirit delivered from my sins I may serve thee in a religious and holy conversation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer used by His late Majesty in the time of his trouble and restraint O Most glorious Lord God Father Son and Holy Ghost I here humbly adore thy most sacred Majesty and I bless and magnifie thy Name for that thou hast been pleased so often and strangely to deliver me from the striving of my people Father forgive them who have thus risen up against me and do thou yet turn their hearts both unto thee and unto me and do thou afford me help that I being firmly established in the Throne thou hast placed me in may defend thy Church committed to my care and keep all this thine and my people in truth and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for pardon of Sin ALmighty and most merciful Father look down upon me thy unworthy servant who here prostrate my self at the footstool of thy Throne of Grace yea look upon me O Father through the mediation and in the merits of Jesus Christ in whom only thou art well pleased for of my self I am not worthy to stand before thee or to speak with my unclean lips unto thee most holy and eternal God for as in sin I was conceived and born so likewise I have broken all thy holy Laws and Commandments by my sinful motions unclean thoughts evil words and wicked works omitting my duties I ought to do and committing many vices which thou hast forbidden under pain of death of thy heavy displeasure As for my sins O Lord they are innumerable wherefore I stand here liable to all the miseries of this life and everlasting torment in that to come if thou shouldest deal with me according to my deserts I confess Lord that it is thy mercy which endureth for ever and thy compassion which never fails which is the cause I have not been long ago consumed but with thee there is mercy and plenteous redemption in the multitude therefore of thy mercies and by the merits of Jesus Christ I intreat thy Divine Majesty that thou wilt not enter into judgment with thy servant nor be extream to mark what is done amiss but be thou merciful unto me and wash away all my sins and transgressions with that precious blood that my Saviour shed for me and I beseech thee O Lord not only to wash away all my sins but also to purge my heart by thy holy Spirit from the dross