reserued for hell Graunt vs to liue in all things as thy obedient subiects that wee may passe frō this kingdom of grace into thy glorious kingdome Make vs to feare the occasiōs of backsliding that wee neuer so much as once look back vnto the world but hie fast towards heauē where our Sauiour keeps possession for vs. Destroy in vs all our corruption wherby Satan preuailes against vs. Hastē that day when the differēce shall appeare between vs and thē that feare thee not whē we shal raigne with thee for euer And because wee now liue by faith and not by sight the wicked oft flourishing whē thy children are afflicted Oh Lord increase our faith in all thy sweete promises y t through the comfort of it power of godlinesse we may grow vp to a full assurance that wee are the true heires of thy kingdome and ouercome all hinderances that being faithful to the death we may haue the crown of life Fill our hearts with such peace ioy with all the fruits of righteousnes that all may see to what kingdome wee belong and wee feeling y e beginning of it here may enter into thy heauenly ioy Thy wil be c. And that our childlike affectiōs with our zeale thākfulnesse may more appeare to all y e world quicken vs to do thy heauēly will chiefelie wherein thou hast shewed vs how thou wilt haue vs walk that wee may do it cheerefullie as the Angels Accept our will for the deede Let it be our chiefe desire to stād in thy presence to enquire by all holy meanes what thy diuine pleasure is and euer so soone as thou hast made it knowne vnto vs giue vs Dauids Eccho to say I am heere Lord to doe thy will thy law is within my heart And whereas it is thy decree that thorow many troubles wee must enter into thy kingdome good Father subdue our corrupt wils to thy holy will that hūbling our selues vnder thy hand we may trie reforme our waies immediately without once whispering against thee knowing y t in loue thou so workest our good in all our trials and wilt giue vs a happy issue in thy due time And if it shall bee thy good pleasure to cal vs to suffer for thy name keepe vs that we may suffer as thine owne children for righteousnes and then to take vp our crosses with thankfulnes reioicing that thou countest vs worthy that honour looking stedfastly at our Lord Sauiour who hauing first troden y t way before vs sits for euer in glorie at thy right hand But keepe vs that we neuer do any thing against thy reuealed will to procure therby neuer so great a good seeing thou canst and wilt effect whatsoeuer is best without our sin That wee may euer truly pray Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day c. And thou oh deare Father when wee are such that y e world may see thy tēder care ouer vs and how thou fulfillest thy promises vnto vs that wee may the better attend the seeking of thy glorie and good pleasure vouchsafe vs the cōforts of this present life Shew vs thy loue in prouiding for vs in due time Direct vs to vse all painfulnes and holy wisdom chiefely in our particular calling with all the meanes to serue thy prouidence auoiding whatsoeuer may hinder our comfort or hurt our estate Graunt vs to hide our selus vnder thy watchful protection knowing that our times are in thy hand to continue as pleaseth thee and to consider that of our selues we cannot prolong our liues one minute nor haue any power to get one morsell of bread vnlesse thou both shew vs the meanes assist vs to vse thē giue a blessing to them Hūble vs here in that wee are not worthie the least crumme of bread which we are taught to beg daily and that wee are but vsurpers of it and of whatsoeuer else we haue vnlesse we be in Christ because wee hauing lost all can haue no right to anie thing vntill it bee restored vnto vs in him who is Lord of all Increase our assurance that thou hast giuen him vnto vs y t we may haue a true title to whatsoeuer wee enioy Blesse thy good creaturs to nourish comfort vs. Giue vs contented hearts though wee haue but bread acknowledging thy fatherlie prouidēce as wel in want as plentie and that thou wilt make euen bread sufficient when other means faile And if we shal come to haue no more but for the present day nor any meanes of succour then strengthen vs to cast our selues vpon thee without fainting and to shew that we liue not by bread onelie but by thy power tender care and blessing Certifie our consciences that though wicked men may bee hunger-starued yet thou wilt neuer let any of vs that serue thee being heires of thy kingdome to wāt any thing that is good for vs but wilt work extraordinarilie causing our enemies to feede vs or the fouls to bring vs meate rather then we shall want Keep vs therfore from carking cares aforehand for prouision for vs or ours much more from murmuring whereby thou art dishonored prouoked Make vs able to sanctifie thee vsing only the means for thy protection prouidēce cōmending our selues wholly vnto thee being certainlie assured that thou canst not faile vs. And whē thou dost bestow thy gifts vpon vs make vs to behold thy good nesse in them vsing thē holily neuer abusing them to satisfie our lustes or to puffe vs vp or set our confidence loue vpon thē but that wee may imploy them to maintaine thy worship seruice and performe all holie duties especially for the reliefe of thy children for whom we are to praie daily and to whom thou hast giuen an interest in the vse of them that so we may shew our thākfulnesse to thy heauenly Maiestie loue to thy childrē and chiefelie the most excellent and therein the true practise of the Communion of Saints wayting for the ioyfull sentence Come ye blessed of my Father receiue the kingdome prepared for you c. Forgiue vs our trespasses And whereas our sins onely doe hinder turne from vs all these blessings which we haue begged and bring innumerable euils vpon vs insteede of thē so make vs most vnhappie wherupō thou hast taught vs to crie euerie day forgiue vs our sinnes Pardon good Lord and remoue all our sinnes out of thy sight And to y e end that we may neuer giue thee rest vntill we haue gotten this assurance teach vs that herein is all true happines and without it we are most miserable without all hope of comfort Shew vs also the haynousnesse of sinne declared in the fearefull punishment of thy most glorious Angels the excellentest of all thy works whom for one sinne thou diddest throw downe vnto hel to be reserued in chaines of darkenesse to the iudgemēt of the great day And after wards in
after inable vs to vse the same and giue a blessing to them Humble vs in the sense of our vilenesse that wee are so farre off from deseruing eternal life that we are not worthy of the least crumme of bread which thou hast taught vs to beg daily and grant vs grace to knowe that when we haue it wee are but theeues and vsurpers of it and of whatsoeuer else we possesse to make a dreadful account for it vnlesse thou giue it vs in Iesus Christ because we hauing lost al through Adams transgression can haue no right vnto it againe vntill it be restored vnto vs in our Lord and Sauiour Vouchsafe therefore to increase our assurance that thou hast giuen vs thy Sonne who is Lord of all that in him we may be certaine that we haue a true title to whatsoeuer we inioy Giue withall both power and strength to thy good creatures to norish and comfort vs. Bread Bestow vpon vs contented harts with the estate wherein thou settest vs though we haue but bread grace to see and acknowledge thy wise and tender prouidence aswell in want as pleÌ„â—y being vndoubtedly assured that thou canst wilt make bread alone to satisfie vs abundantly when other meanes faile This day And if thou shalt euer bring vs into that strait that we shall haue no more but for the preseÌ„t day nor any means of succor in the world theÌ„ strengthen vs to giue thee glory by casting our selus wholy vpon thee without impatience or fainting that we may be able euen then to shewe our confidence in thee how we liue not by bread onely but by euery word proceeding out of thy mouth Certifie our consciences aforehand that howsoeuer wicked men be they neuer so rich may starue with hunger before they die yet thou wilt neuer let vs thine owne obedient children and heires of thy Kingdome to want any thing that shall be good for vs but that thou wilt rather worke extraordinarily when ordinarie meanes faile causing our enemies to feede vs if our bretheren forget vs the very foules to bring vs bread and the heauens to poure vs downe a blessing And therefore good Father let vs alwaies bee reuereÌ„tly afraid of dishonoring or grieuing thee by carcking cares aforehand for prouision for vs or ours and much more of murmuring or impatience in any such trials whereunto our sinfull natures are extreamly inclined Make vs able to sanctifie thy great name in vsing onely the meanes for thy protection and prouidence referring the worke whole successe vnto thy heauenly Maiestie alone being certaine that thou wilt doe that that shall be best and that thou canst not faile vs nor forsake vs. And when thou doest bestowe thy gifts vpon vs giue vs a holy vse of them that both they may further our saluation and that wee may see thy goodnes in them and neuer abuse them to satisfie our sinfull desires or puffe vp our proud harts or make theÌ„ our gods putting our confidence or felicitie in them but that wee may imploy them to the maintenance of thy religion with all the holy ends which thou hast ordained them for and especially for the reliefe comfort of our poore brethren for whoÌ„ thou hast taught vs to pray daily as for our selues and to whom thou hast giuen an interest in the vse of our goods Giue vs bowels of compassion towards the poore and needy that we may take off euery heauie burden relieue the oppressed deale our breade to the hungry soules that their backes and bellies may blesse vs and that thou mayest remember vs in the day of our aduersitie and we lay vp a sure foundation against the time to come that therin also we may shewe forth our homage to thy diuine Maiestie that we hold all of thy goodnesse and declare the loue we beare to thy children for thy sake and chiefely to them that most excell in thy graces and so the true practise of the CoÌ„munion of Saints waiting for that ioyfull sentence Come yee blessed of my Father receiue the Kingdome prepared for you for when I was hungry you gaue me meate Forgiue vs our trespasses And wheras our sinnes onely do hinder our assurance that we are thy children and cause vs that we can neither behold thy glory nor feele the power and happinesse of thy Kingdome neither yet haue that full securitie for thy fatherly prouidence and protection from all euill which otherwise we should find and do moreouer bring all contrary euils vpon vs and therefore thou hast taught vs to cry euery day forgiue vs our trespasses Pardon good Lord and remoue all our sinnes that keepe away these good things from vs. And that we may cry more earnestly for forgiuenesse neuer giuing thee rest vntill wee haue attained it teach vs that heerein alone stands all true peace and blessednes when we haue this full assurance sealed in our harts that our sinnes are pardoned and that all they whose sinnes are not remitted are most accursed and vnhappy And to this end shewe vs good Father first the hainousnesse of sinne by making vs to consider aright thy wrath declared against it from heauen in the fearefull punishment of thy most excellent creatures the Angels whom for that one sinne euen because they were not coÌ„tent with their estate thou hast cast down into hel to be reserued in chaines of darknes vnto the iudgemeÌ„t of the great day then to be damned to endlesse torments afterwards in our first parents cast froÌ„ their happy estate for eating y e forbidden fruit for whose sin alone all the curses of this life that to come fel not only vpoÌ„ theÌ„selues but also all their posterity euen all of vs being wrapped vnder the same condemnatioÌ„ vntill we be deliuered by Iesus Christ. Open our eies to see this thy wrath against sinne yet more fully not only vpon the wicked in the generall destruction of the old world and in turning the filthy Cities of Sodome Gomorrah into ashes to remaine as eternal monuments to all posteritie in preparing the lake burning with fire and brimstone for an euerlasting punishment to all vnbeleeuers and impenitent persons but euen against the sinnes of thine owne dearest childreÌ„ as in y â— heauy punishmeÌ„t vpon thine own faithful seruant Moses for so smal a sin in our account as not honoring thee before the people in beleeuing and auouching thy power and truth that thou didst cut him off for entring into Canaan which of al earthly things he must needes most desire being the land of promise the type of heauen and also after that he had led the people fortie yeares towards it And besides the punishment of Dauid and his house for that one sinne that thy hand did so pursue him and his all his life long
so thy sharpe corrections laid vpon all other thy dearest seruants registred in thy booke Lord teach vs yet more rightly to cōceaue the vilenesse of sin by this one thing chiefely that the least sinne of thine elect could neuer haue bin ransommed but by the vnspeakeable torments of thine owne beloued Sonne the Lord of glory taking our nature to become a sacrifice to appease thy wrath and to satisfie thy Iustice how thou didst poure out vpon him the full viols of thy wrath to cause him to sweate drops of blood to cry out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Giue vs thy children some true sense heereof and withal this grace to keepe a cōtinuall remembrance of the innumerable euils which euery sinne brings euen vpon vs thine owne children in our soules or bodies goods name or friends vnlesse wee preuent them by speedy and vnfained repētance especially how thereby we are left wholly destitute of thy protection prouidence and depriued of all comfort and power in prayer so long as we remaine therein and also of many extraordinary experiments of thy bounty which otherwise wee should find Make vs able in some sort to comprehend the greatnesse of sin by the infinitnesse of thy glorious Maiestie against whom each sinne is committed how our sinnes are increased heereby also that they are committed against our high calling to be Christians and heires of thy Kingdome with such abundant mercies both ordinarie and extraordinarie and so many and strong meanes to restraine vs besides sundry vowes and couenants renewed and that after mercy obtained and pardon formerly sealed vpon our promise of amendment Open our blind eies to haue some sight also of the multitude of our sinnes how they are more in number then the starres of heauen seeing they are euery breach of thy diuine will reuealed vnto vs in thy law and Gospell and that not only in thought word or deede but euen in omitting of any part thereof or doing it without all our hart and all our strength besides the sinne of our first parents whereby we are all the children of wrath and vnder thy curse and also besides the corruption of our sinfull natures receiued from thence whereupon wee are so wholy inclined vnto euill that all the thoughts of our harts are onely euill continually so as we cannot of our selues so much as thinke much lesse will any thing but that which is sinfull and hence also the hardnesse of our harts that we are so little moued either at the hearing of so many iudgements or the inioying of so many mercies to make any right vse of them Vouchsafe vs such a liuely and continuall sense heereof together with a feeling of our daily slips wants frailties infirmities imperfections noisome lustes issuing from this filthy puddle of originall corruption in vs that we may bee wearie of this body of sinne groning vnder the bondage of this our corruption sighing to bee deliuered from it Shewe vs also our most grieuous sinnes not onely of our youth and ignorāce but those much more which we haue committed since thou hast called vs by thy grace vnto so high a dignitie conuinced our consciences chiefely our open and scandalous sinnes whereby wee haue most dishonored thee causing thy Gospell to bee euill spoken of grieued thy children or any way hindred the saluation of others that by all these we may see vvhat debters we are how vnable to pay the least part but to lie in hell for euermore that we may crie continually with Dauid Lord forgiue vs our sinnes and blot out all our offences wash vs thorowly purge and clense vs thus running euery moment to the fountaine of thy Sons blood which is open to all the house of Israel for all sinnes vncleannesse And yet withal that we may not be vtterly ouerwhelmed by the vgly view of the multitud or lothsomenesse of our sinnes as though they could not bee pardoned nor we purged from thē comfort vs in this that thy Sonnes blood is of infinite merit and all sufficient to wash vs from all our sinnes though they were the most haynous sinnes that euer were cōmitted yea although we had all the sinnes of the world vpon vs so long as in a true feeling of them we cā desire to be washed therein But because wee are all very ready to deceiue our selues imagining that we are washen when we remaine still in our filthines seeing thou neither callest nor admitst of any to this fountaine but them that come in true repentance for all their sinnes fully purposing amendment and in a liuely faith in thy sweete promises desiring to grow therein Oh grant vs grace truely to see our particular sinnes and the vilenesse of them and make vs able in the sight of them and the sense of our estate and danger by them to mourne bitterly for them looking at thy Sonne whom wee haue pierced thereby and so to hate and abhorre them that being once purged in this Lauer we may bee euer afraid of defiling our selues againe or of sinning against that pretious blood Helpe vs to trie both our repentance and faith by the holy rule which thou hast giuen vs in thy law and Gospell that we may know them to be such as will abide the triall and not hypocriticall and which also haue bin first wrought in vs by the powerfull preaching of thy Gospell and doe continually increase and grow which are the infallible euidences y t they are sound and sincere Giue vs harts to be daily examining and iudging our selues that we may escape thy iudgement We intreate thee also againe for our sinfull Realmes to pardon all the fearefull prouocations thereof and to be pacified at the instant prayers of thy faithfull seruants crying vnto thee in all places by the blood of thy Sonne which speakes better things then the blood of Abel Let that cry still preuaile against the cry of the sinnes that thy mercie may bee magnified in all the world As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And whereas thou oh holy and gratious Father hast taught vs euer to pray to be forgiuen as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs telling vs plainely that if wee forgiue others for thy cause thou wilt also forgiue vs and contrarily that if we will not forgiue others we shall neuer bee forgiuen Change good Lord the wickednesse of our sinfull hearts which are most strongly bent to malice and reuenge that howsoeuer wee hate the sins and company of the wicked and whatsoeuer else is in them whereby they dishonour thee or shew themselues to bee thine enemies and although we also reioyce in the execution of thy righteous iudgements whereby thou gettest thy selfe glory vpon the proud enemies of thy Church and do also pray daily for
the tokens of his wrath and despise him to the face scorning and hating nothing so much as a holy care to serue him according to his wil. Or what followes amongst men euē the most equal merciful after the third admonitiō at most but the due execution final expulsiō And whether we haue not iust cause to feare and seeke to pacifie his wrath Or whether hee may not most righteouslie cause his owne children to crie in feeling the miseries which haue not cried out in seeing the abominatiōs seeking to pacifie him and also whether hee may not iustly pluck the world frō vs which hath so bewitched plucked vs frō him And to conclude whether it be not much better that we each awake and meet him in time with intreaty of peace because he is so merciful thē to be awaked of him and crie day and night as his people in the Captiuitie when it is too late and he will shew no mercy vntill his work be accōplished vpō vs. Thus hauing presumed this second time to testifie my heart to al and my earnest desire of a heauēly vnion and all happines to Gods Church this our nation I take my leaue with my instant praiers that al Gods seruants may haue their eies open to see the necessitie of this work aboue al other their harts prepared to set thēselues forthwith hereunto which hath made me the longer in perswading vnto it The whole successe I leaue to his heauenly Maiestie whose this work is who hath long called vs al vnto the practise of it looking wondring that so few haue come to help and whose only arme hath helped vs hitherto wil for euer if we but only cry to him THREE PRINCIPALL points to be first learned and felt of euery poore Christian that intends to helpe in this worke of prayer the summe where of being in our hearts will bee as a continuall spurre and preparatiue to prayer and as the life and soule thereof 1. The necessitie of prayer 2. The speciall properties of them that can pray 3. The power of prayer rightly performed The necessitie of prayer 1 WE can neuer come to any assurance that we are in the fauour of God or his children before wee make conscience to practise this dutie daily for the spirit of prayer which makes vs to pray with sighes grones is the earnest and seale of our adoption and is giuen vnto vs so soone as euer Christ is made ours by faith and therefore in the meane time we stand in state of damnation and are theeues and vsurpers of that which we haue 2 We can haue no comfort that the things which we enioy shal be to our saluation but to increase and seale vp our condemnation seeing they are only sanctified by the word and prayer and for that we receiue them without giuing the Lord his due glory 3 We cannot looke to obtaine any one thing as a blessing of al those things which our Sauiour hath taught vs to pray for nor to turne away any one euil but by prayer for God hath ordained this to be the onely hand hereunto saying Aske and ye shall haue 4 Seeing euery worldling can speake to his friend for worldly things and euery child can and vseth to run to his louing father making his mone requests for whatsoeuer he would haue how can we imagin that God is our heauenly and tēder Father or we any thing but merely earth-wormes and worldlings vntill wee vse to run vnto him daily to beg of him heauenly things which wee continually and principally stand in need of 5 If we will be saued we must pray seeing our Lord and Sauiour who will saue only those that obey him and destroy all the rest hath so oft charged vs to pray and to pray continually as the importunate widow teaching vs also so plainly how to pray leading vs by the hand if we will be guided by him and made vs such gracious promises if we wil pray and contrarily describing the accursed Atheists to be such as call not vpon his name 6 Lastly the Lord our merciful God at this time especially cals vs all that are in any fauour with his Maiestie to steppe vp into the breach to stay his hand for being auenged for the generall ouerflow of iniquitie in all estates concerning which all naturall men could say long agoe that God must needes bring some terrible plague vpon our nation without speedie repentance which indeed hee had done sundrie times since but thrice aboue all other neuer to be forgotten had not his hand been wonderfully stayed and we notwithstanding since insteed of repenting haue growne much worse in euery kind of iniquitie being now become not only secure but also hardned in all our euill courses to make but a sport of sin and a scorne of al those who make any conscience to walk in the waies of the Lord so that hereby our sin must needs be increased to the vttermost and much more considering the Lords most miraculous deliuerances of vs his continuall threatnings and admonitions by his seruants proclayming his wrath warnings from heauen and earth a continued pestilence for so many yeeres together visiting euery corner of our Land the raging of the winds and waters to such a terror and desolation the sword set to our very hearts the graue prepared for vs by our enemies yet wee deliuered and sundrie of them throwne in as our ransome Now after al this and that in the cleare light of the Gospell with innumerable mercies besides sundry promises of our amendment wee waxing still worse and worse and now without all hope of recouerie how can it be but the Lord must needes waxe wearie with forbearing or what comfort can bee left vs but onely the instant prayers of Gods faithfull seruants either to stay his hand still or to secure vs to bee hid in the euill day If all this cannot awake vs yet this one thing well considered will vndoubtedly rouse vs as the certainest euidence of vengeance approching that those enemies by whō he hath so oft threatned vs to auenge his quarrell and whom we al know by long experience to thirst most greedily after our blood are againe increased in number pride and malice after the time that we had thought them quashed for euer rising or once daring to shew their faces againe that knowing their holie father the bloodie positions Machiauellian plots and practises of their cursed religion in all countries we must needes see our selues in imminent danger of vtter destruction euerie houre more then that mightie arme shal still protect vs which wee see to bee iustly stretched out against vs for our sinnes and the power of praier which hitherto hath staied it to be fearfully abated THE SPECIALL PROperties of them that can pray for as Iosuah told the
people they could not serue the Lord so euery one cannot pray and these euidently grounded out of the Lords Prayer 1 WE must bee the children of GOD borne anew by his Word and Spirit hauing some assurance of his fauour and a desire to grow therein carrying alwaies childlike affections to his Maiestie for we must come to him as to our deare Father and be able by the Spirit of adoption to call him Abba oh Father 2 Wee must euer come vnto our Father only through his beloued Sonne by whom we are reconciled made his children and kept in his fauour and withall in a true sense of our vnworthines to bee called his children or make any request vnto him and so we must make our petitions only in the name of this our Lord and Sauiour in whom alone our Father is well pleased begging in faith that is in full assurance to be heard for Christs merit in whatsoeuer wee request of our tender Father 3 We must come in all humilitie before his heauenly Maiestie remembring we are but dust and ashes yet full of heauenly affections able to lift vp our harts vnto him and to bee onely conuersant with him in the heauens for the time of prayer principally hauing all our thoughts separated from the earth and all earthly cogitations because we speak to our Father which is in heauen 4 We must be brethren of brotherly and tender hearts towards all the children of our heauenly father that is all those who soundly professe the Gospell of Christ in word and conuersation because our heauenly Father will haue vs hereby both to declare and increase our loue praying all one for another and in the name of all as deare brethren and feeling members crying earnestly for all Our Father 5 We must be such as are zealous for the glory of our heauenly Father desirous both to behold his glory shining brightly in all his workes and chiefely in his heauenly word and labouring to draw all others to a like reuerend admiration thereof making this the end of all our indeuours that our heauenly Father may bee honoured and casting all our thoughts which way we may gaine him any glorie more afraid of dishonoring him any way or offending him but euen in our thoughts then any euill that can befall vs in the world and such as vse to mourne for all the dishonors done vnto God his heauenly Maiestie that we may euer both truly begin and end our prayers with this feruent desire That his great name may be glorified because all kingdome power and glorie are only his for euer 6 Such as first seek his kingdome and the righteousnes of it that is the inlargemēt of the Church wherin Christ raignes and is magnified and so the spreading of his true religion and of all the meanes belonging to the conuersion and sauing of his elect with the vtter ouerthrow of all false religion and vngodlines whereby Satan and Antichrist do raigne vsing all diligence for sauing ourselues and others that being heere partakers of his kingdome of grace wee may euer after raigne with him in glorie and also such as long and waite for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Otherwise how can wee pray in truth Let thy kingdome come 7 We must bee of an holy conuersation as the loyal subiects of this heauenly kingdome striuing to know the will of our heauēly Father in al things which concerne vs and such as make conscience of euery tittle of his word as Noah and Moses who in all things as the Lord bad them so did they able to say as Dauid I am heere Lord to do thy will I am desirous to do it as cheerefully as the Angels in heauen readie with Abraham to leaue all at the Lords commandement and offer vp whatsoeuer is dearest vnto vs in the world and to receiue any triall with patience and thankfulnes and with Paul not onely ready to bee bound but to die at Ierusalem for the name of Iesus Or else we can neuer pray in sinceritie Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen 8 Such also as labor to depend whollie vpon the Lords fatherly prouidence and watchfull protection for this life and all the comforts of it in a feeling of our owne naturall frailtie that if hee but take away our breath wee are gone and cannot of our selues continue one minute and withall that wee are neither worthie of nor able of our selues to get the least crumme of bread much lesse to cause it to do vs any good and therfore such as vse to beg it euery day from our heauenly Father and that as well for the poore as for our selues being liuely touched with their miseries desirous to imploy that which he bestowes vpon vs to his glory and the good of his children labouring as Iacob and Paul if we haue but bread to be therewith content such as neither trust in the abundance of meanes nor faint in the want of them but onely vse all meanes appointed to serue his diuine and fatherly prouidence casting all the care for the successe vpon him alone being assured that he cannot faile vs nor forsake vs of that that shall be best for vs so far as may stand with his owne glorie and the good of vs his people at least so long as we endeuour to honor him walking as his obedient children without this we can neuer pray aright Giue vs this day our daily bread 9 We must bee such as vse to trauell vnder the burden of all our sins especially presumptuous and scandalous in the sense both of the multitude haynousnes of them also our misery by them vntill we be throughly washed from thē in the blood of Iesus Christ as hauing no other meanes of deliuery or satisfaction feeling with Paul the corruption of our nature and our daily infirmities to be as a death vnto vs and hereupon vsing to crie instantly in the eares of the Lord Forgiue vs our trespasses neuer giuing him ouer vntil we obtaine this assurance 10 We must be voide of malice and such as vse to pray for our very enemies and are readie to doe them any kindnes wherby to gaine them to Christ or leaue them more without excuse because then wee haue this assurance to bee forgiuen and not else neither can we say in truth Forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs but pray for a curse vpon our selues 11 Hauing a continuall sense of the danger we stand in of falling into some sinne euery houre to the dishonor of our heauenly Father and prouoking his displeasure with innumerable euils following thereupon through the deadly malice and subtiltie of Satan who hath the aduantage of our corrupt nature and all things in the world to beguile vs fearing alwaies lest for our sinnes the Lord should leaue vs in his hand and thereupon such as
are carefull to keepe our rankes and the watch of the Lord. That wee may continually pray in feeling Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill 12 Carrying alwaies a reuerent and thankfull acknowledgement of his absolute kingdome power and soueraigntie ouer all creatures that hee ouerrules both the rage of men and diuels and all other things in heauen and earth disposing all to his owne glorie and the saluation of his obedient subiects and children that we may be euer able to sound forth with thankfulnes For thine is the kingdome power and glory for euer and euer 13 Lastly wee must bee such true beleeuers as being assured that hee will graunt all that we beg as shall bee most for his own glory and the greatest good of his elect do rest our selues wholly vpon his fatherly loue being able in thankfulnesse euer to say Amen Lord let it be so as we doe assure our hearts it shal bee THE POWER OF true Prayer 1 WHen we are such sound Christians and vse to pray in this manner wee shall haue a certaine assurance that we are Gods children and in his fauour and such as shall be saued vndoubtedly for this is the Lords seale and the earnest of our inheritance 2 We shall haue a comfortable and sanctified vse of all things wee enioy 1. Tim. 4. 5. 3 We shall bee sure to obtaine whatsoeuer he hath taught vs to pray for so far as shal be for his owne glory and our good for the very forme of prayer containes a most gratious promise that so asking we shall obtaine otherwise our Sauiour would neuer haue taught vs to pray so assuring vs that if wee aske in faith we shall haue and that according to our faith it shall bee done vnto vs. 4 The seruent prayers of a few of vs being such as are described shall doe more for turning away any iudgement from the Church discouering and ouerthrowing the deepest plots of Gods enemies or for procuring any blessing to our Land then many of our valiantest souldiers and wisest polititians or then many thousands of our enemies hundred thousands of the wicked ioyning with them to prouoke the Lord by their sins can doe to bring a iudgement vpon vs. For wee know how many times that one Moses staied the Lords hand that he could not destroy his people and also that Eliah was the Chariots and horsemen of Israel yet were they men subiect to like passions that we are for our God is still the same of infinite compassion and therefore looke what Gods seruants haue been formerly able to doe by their praiers the same shall wee doe still so farre as shall be necessarie if we striue to walke in their steps So that we haue no cause to feare sith one of them alone could so farre preuaile with the Lord but that many of vs ioyning as an a mie to compasse the Lord about with our prayers and teares may much more ouercome his heauenly Maiestie if our hearts and hands be steadie with Moses especially he hauing shewed such tokens of his compassion and loue towards his chosen flocke amongst vs as neuer in any age more and now calling vs also to stand vp in the breach hauing assured vs that the innocent shall deliuer the Iland Therefore all of vs that feare the Lord must cheerfully each incourage one another to this dutie confirming the weaâ—â—e hands and wearie knees being certainly assured of this at least that though the Lords decree should bee gone forth against vs for all our exceeding prouocations and that hee would not spare the whole at our prayers whereof notwithstanding we may haue gratious hope to the contrarie if we can but find our harts feruently set to this dutie of prayer yet we shall saue our owne soules and the Lord will bee vnto vs as a sanctuarie whereas otherwise if such a iudgement come vpon vs as hath been so oft almost fully executed which the Lord in mercie still saue vs from we are all accessary to it who haue not sought in time to turne it away and accursed with Meroz because we came not to helpe the Lord against the mightie and so shall find nothing but feare and an euill conscience to chase vs whereas on the contrarie wee shall be strong and couragious as Lions whatsoeuer come to passe knowing that euen in the midst of the fire there he will bee with vs that the flame shall not so much as kindle on vs more then he wil dispose to his own exceeding glorie and our endlesse comfort and also in the flouds that they do not ouerwhelme vs. A MOST HEAVENlie and sure rule according to the whole Lords Prayer in order whereby wee may grow to strong assurance and much power in Prayer LIue alwaies as an obedieÌ„t child in the eye of thy heauenly Father humbled in the reuerence of his most holy and glorious Maiestie and in the sense of thine owne vilenesse and vnworthines to be called his childe longing vntill he take thee vnto himselfe into the heauens studying what way thou mayest honor him most in the meane time and that first by yeelding all obedience to the lawes of his kingdome and gayning moe thereunto attending continually what his diuine will and pleasure is concerning thee chiefely in thy particular calling and the charge committed vnto thee and then thou shalt surely find him God all-sufficient vnto thee more tender ouer thee then euer was father or mother performing vnto thee all his promises according to all thy petitions for this and for the better life and sealing vnto thee a plentifull assurance of the free pardon of all thy sinnes in the blood of his Sonne Iesus Christ and that he will saue thee from the tempter and all euill that they shall not hurt thee That thou shall be able with all ioy and thankfulnes to acknowledge vpon happie experience his absolute kingdome and power and so to giue him continually with all his holy Angels all glory praise and dominion resting thy selfe most fully satisfied in his onely loue and fauour for euer and euer THE SVMME OF all in other words most plainly for the vnderstanding of the simplest OBserue diligently the Watch of the Lord growing daily in the practise of euery CommaÌ„dement and faith in all his promises and keepe in thy heart a Catalogue or short summe of thine owne chiefe sins wants and infirmities together with the maine sins and wants of the Land and tokens of the Lords wrath due therunto gathered by wise obseruation according to the rule of the Watch and withall set before thee the infinitnesse of the Lords loue and compassion towards his with his speciall fauours towards thy selfe and then pray feruently in faith to thy heauenly Father looking stedfastlie at Iesus Christ thy Sauiour crying onely in zeale for his glorie and kingdome and thou shalt bee able to pierce the heauens
to preuaile with God as Iacob and much more with men and finde by good experience the truth of that promise that before thou callest God will answere and whilest thou speakest hee will heare THE PERFECT RVLE AND SVMME of Prayer Our Father Oh Lord most holy and glorious terrible to all the wicked but most gratious and ful of compassion towards all that desire to obey al thy Commaundements we that are but dust and ashes children of wrath by nature and most rebellious of all thy creaturs dare not of our selues once lift vp our eies to heauen Father Yet neuerthelesse seeing it hath pleased thee to receiue vs for thine own children by grace thorow thy Son Iesus Christ by whō thou hast purchased ordained vs to eternal glory and giuē him to be our mediatour wee come before thee oh Father in his name magnifying thee for this fauour beeing the greatest happines that euer could befall vs. Increase in vs daily this assurāce by making vs to grow in repētance faith framing vs to the image of thy Son in al knowledge loue obedience wholly changing and renewing vs that wee may bee no longer strāgers from thee but may delight to be euer in thy presēce hearing thy voice or speaking to thee in prayer crying Oh Father Our And that it may bee more euident that thou art our Father indeede giue vs grace to loue thy childrē aboue all other for thy sake and each so much more as they more excell in vertue and are more deare vnto thee that we may daily remember them in al our prayers saying Our Father And delight in their companies onely as those with whom we shal liue for euer Knit our harts in brotherlie loue that wee may tenderlie comfort edifie one another afraide of grieuing or hindering much more of turning anie one out of the way of life Let our holie agreemēt in al the substance of thy truth with our ioint profession to walk together in the path of life bee of more force to vnite vs then all the trash of the world or cunning of Satan to diuide vs. Are we not all that so walke thine owne children and coheires of thy kingdom notwithstanding all our imperfections and some lesse diuersities which must accōpanie vs while wee are in the earth Cōfoūd therfore all deuices working this diuision to thy dishonor reioycing to our enemies who thus conspire to worke our shame ruin if it were possible Let vs neuer rest vntill wee finde these hartie affections towards al thy childrē that heereby we may know certainly that we are trāslated frō death to life whē we can pray Our father VVhich art in heauen And whereas thou raignest in the heauens where thou hast prouided throns for vs humble vs stil more in the sense of thy greatnes seeing we are but poore wormes crawling in sin And yet so lift vp our hearts vnto thee y t wee may bee with thee esspecially in all our prayers lōging to behold thee face to face let our cōuersation be so heauēly that the world may see that wee are thy heauenlie children trauelling towards thee our selues may grow vp to a full assurance that heauē is ours reserued by our Lord Sauiour for vs all creatures euer to do vs good Hallowed And seeing thou hast vouchsafed vs onelie this honor to be the heires of thy kingdom whereas thou mightest iustlie haue lefte vs with the wicked to euerlasting perdition Giue vs grace euer to testifie our thankfulnesse seeking in and aboue al things to honor thee Opē our eyes to behold thy power wisedom goodnes shining in all thy works much more in thy heauēly word chieflie in all thy iudgmēts vpon thine enemies mercies towards thy children still shewed euery day Make vs able to cōsider of and set forth the prayses belonging to thee therein both in word deed y t by vs thy great name may be knowne in all the world Aboue all in that wherein thou hast bin magnified before our eyes in shewing thy fatherly care for vs wrath against our enemies how for dishonoring thee in abusing thy Gospel and al thy blessings bestowed on vs aboue all people thou hast not onely corrected vs tenderly with thy milder rods but hast also sundrie times raysed vp most cruell enemies threatning not onely to take away the Gospell but our vtter destruction also and brought them to the very executiō of it because we would not hearken and turne vnto thee according to thy mercies yet euer when we haue cried vnto thee thou hast plucked thē backe in the instant and taken vēgeance for vs so as we haue oft thought y t they durst neuer haue attēpted the like againe so as if the most barbarous nations had receiued but the least of our deliuerances with our meanes they would haue repēted long agoe as wee haue oft promised Oh gracious Father make vs euer to acknowledge this to see that thy anger is againe more fearfully kindled for that these our enemies as our sinnes do stil increase in number and malice without hope of leauing off their practises vntil they haue wrought either ours or their owne endlesse ruin Good Father let this token of thy wrath together with the arming of the dumbe creatures both windes and waters so oft threatning our destruction for the ouerflow of all iniquitie in euerie place preuaile so mightily with vs that wee may all presently seek to appease thine anger Diddest thou not before y e bloodie and fiery conspiracie warne vs all from heauen as thou didst Ierusalem inclosing vs in a fiery tent with pillers of darknesse of fire blood foreshewing vs as by y t which followed we may iustlie deeme y t bloodie destructiō which was towards vs Did not many of our hearts trēble at that sight causing vs to seeke more earnestly to turne away the future euils And feared wee without cause Had it not bin effected indeed and we all inclosed in the most dark fiery and bloody tent that euer y e world heard of if y u hadst not heard the prayers of thy poore children in the verie instant and remembred vs in mercie And shall wee remain senselesse still in the middest of the tokens of thy wrath making the whole land to trēble at the report of thē Saue vs from that the heauiest iudgmēt that euer fell vpon the hart of man wherby not onely the Egyptiās but also thine owne people were prepared for their final desolatiō so oft threatned by our Sauiour that by seeing wee should see not perceiue but haue our harts more ful by al y e means vsed for our repentance lest we should conuert be spared Opē our eyes to see our fearful estate and how farre this iudgemēt hath seased on vs already Conuert vs we shal be cōuerted not harden our selues against the tokens of thy wrath thy word and seruants Oh leaue vs not vnto
our first parents cast out of their happie estate accursed in themselues and all their posteritie euen al vs vntill wee obtaine deliuerance by laying hold of our Lord and Sauiour Make vs able yet more plainely to behold the same not only in the generall destruction of the olde world turning Sodom into ashes preparing hell for an euerlasting punishment to all vnbeleeuers and impenitent sinners but also in thy seueritie against thine owne children as in cutting off Moses onelie for that hee did not sanctifie thee at the waters of strif that he could not enter into Canaan after hee had led thy people forty yeers and now brought them to the borders of it And besides the heauy punishmeÌ„t of Dauid and his house all his life long and the fearefull iudgemeÌ„ts on many of thine owne faithful seruaÌ„ts Teach vs to coÌ„ceiue aright of the vilenesse and danger of sin hereby that the least sinne of thine elect could neuer haue bin ransomed but by the sacrifice of thine owne deare Sonne and how thou diddest powre out vpon him the ful viols of thy wrath to cause him to crie my God vvhy hast thou forsaken mee Giue vs a continuall meditation hereof and of the innumerable euils which euerie sinne brings on thine owne children vnlesse they bee preuented by speedy repentance especially depriuing vs of all true comfort and power in praier so long as wee remaine therein without repeÌ„taÌ„ce besides y e losse of many extraordinary fauours Shew vs withal how our sinnes increased being committed not onely against thy glorious Maiestie but also against our high calling and all thine abuÌ„dant mercies with so strong means to restrain vs besides so many vowes and promises of amendment that after pardon formerly obtained and sealed vnto vs. Grants vs some sight also of the multitude of our sins not onely in breaking thy Commandements in thought word or deed but euen in omitting anie part therof or doing it without all our heart besides the sin of our first parents whereof wee are all guiltie and the corruption of our sinful natures whereby wee are so infected with sin that wee are inclined vnto euil coÌ„tinaully vnable to thinke anie thing but that which is sinfull so little moued by thy iudgemeÌ„ts or mercies to make anie right vse therof Giue vs such a liuelie sense hereof of our daily frailties inâ—rmities noysome lustes flowing from this lothsome sinke that in the feeling of this bondage of our corruption wee may euer sigh desiring to be deliuered therefrom Set before our faces also the grieuous sins of our youth much more those which we haue committed since our high calling contrarie to our consciences and whereby wee haue dishonored thee to the reproach of thy Gospel griefe of thy seruants or hindering the saluation of any soule that by al these we beholding the infinitenes of our debt and our great misery therby that we may runne continually to the fountaine of thy Sonnes blood which is open to all the house of Israel for sin vncleannesse crying Wash me thorowlie from my sin purge and purifie me And yet that the vgelie view of them may not vtterly dismay vs as though we could not be purged froÌ„ them comfort vs in the infinite worth merit of thy Sonnes blood which is al-sufficient to cleanse vs thorowly although wee had al the sins of the world vpon vs so long as wee can crie to be washed therin But yet seing thou admittest none to this fountaine but only them that come in true fainth and vnfaied repentance for all their sins resoluing to liue a new life and crying after this fountain Make vs able in the sense of our vilenes by nature and our particular sins to mourn bitterly when wee looke at thy Son whoÌ„ we haue pearced thereby and so to hate sinne that we may be afraid of euer defiling our selues againe sinning against that precious blood Helpe vs to trie our repeÌ„tance faith to bee such as are sound haue beene wrought in vs by the preaching of the Gospel do coÌ„tinually increase which are the certaine euidences thereof GraÌ„t vs grace to iudge our selues daily y t we may not be iudged of thee Remember vs also we intreate thee againe for our sinfull Land though euen the earth bee corrupt the crie of the sinnes exceeding great yet let the cry of vs thy childreÌ„ in euery corner preuaile against y e crie of the sinnes that thy mercie may bee magnified in all the world As vvee for giue c. And as thou hast taught vs to pray onely so to be forgiueÌ„ as we forgiue others assuring vs that if we do forgiue wee shall bee forgiuen and otherwise we shall neuer bee forgiuen Change our malicious and proud hearts that although we hate y e sins and company of the wicked and reioice in the execution of thy righteous iudgmeÌ„ts and pray daily for the confounding of al the wicked practises and deuises of the enemies of thy Church that yet wee may seeke the saluation of al sorts and for them that are our enemies but vpon priuate respects giue vs grace to pray earnestly for theÌ„ that they may repent obtaine mercie And that wee may seeke to pacifie them by offering them full satisfaction and doing them any good so far as may staÌ„d with their saluation the credit of the Gospell to heape coales vpon their heads either to gaine them or leaue them more without excuse and to seale vp to our selues a ful remission of all our sins therby Leade vs not into temptation And seing our deadly enemy seekes hourely to tempt vs to sin to dishonour thee and become his vassals y t thou mightest leaue vs in his hand to execute his malice vpon vs and bring vpon vs al the euils which follow sinne wherupon our Sauiour hath taught vs to pray Leade vs not into temptation Open our eies good Father to see our continual danger and first for the multitude of damned spirits ranging vp and downe as roaring Lions to deuour vs. Teach vs to know that they are able to bring vs to as fearful sins as euer were committed to destroy vs vtterlie in a moment with all that wee haue if thou giue them leaue Acquaint vs with their subtâ—lties in fitting their temptations to our particular estates and dispositioÌ„s which they know by dogging vs euer taking their aduantages to solicite vs to those sinnes whereby they haue most preuailed against vs formerly or against other thy seruants and how they are wont also to draw vs on by degrees as first to yeelde to some smaller matters which are accounted no sinnes or to thrust our selues carelessely or with our warrant into the danger and occasions of temptation neglecting the calling laid vpon vs as Dauid to lie on his bed in the afternoones insteede of looking to the affaires of his kingdome Make vs able to consider how they haue all the baites of the world both the
credit riches pleasures thereof which they euer hold forth vnto vs if wee will follow their counsel and otherwise threaten not only the losse of all these but also of all comforts with hatred disgrace and many other euils which wee must suffer froÌ„ malicious meÌ„ if we wil make such a strict conscience of all our waies to the verie least duty that thou hast coÌ„manded And whereas wee are ordinarilie secure in ouerweening of our own strength Shew vs oh Lord the vilenesse of our corrupt natures which are euer readie to conspire with Satan to our vtter perdition to swallow euery baite which he layeth for vs without anie feare of danger so that wee haue no streÌ„gth more then thou reachest forth thine hand to helpe vs. Reueale vnto vs also the danger wee stand in froÌ„ thy glorious Maiesty lest y u shouldest leaue vs vp vnto the power of the tempter and our owne corruption to awake vs from our security for our neglect of thy watch carelesse vsing the meanes of grace or at least for teÌ„pting thee in not auoiding each occasion of temptatioÌ„ And seing the tempter in all his temptations hideth the danger vglines of sin shewing only the faire side of it that is the goâ—d that wee shall get thereby and chuseth the subtillest and fittest instrumeÌ„ts to serue his purpose as the counsel or example of men of chiefest reputatioÌ„ somtimes chaÌ„ging himselfe into an Angel of light neuer comming like himself wherby hee deceiues all the world and oft preuailes with vs thine owne children at least to presume to sinne because thou art so mercifull Good Father set before vs a coÌ„tinual view hereof and of the sundry euils which by euery sin wee haâ—e vpoÌ„ our heads especially the wouÌ„d of conscience which wil certainely come on vs vnlesse it be preuented which none can beare Make vs to know that howsoeuer reprobats may wallow in their filth and scape vnpunished here being reserued for hell and fatted for destruction yet thou wilt not suffer any of vs thy childreÌ„ who haue begunne to make a profession of thee according to thy word to commit the very least sin but wilt make vs feele the smart of it vnlesse wee preueÌ„t thee speedily by repentance because thou wilt not bee dishonored by vs nor haue vs condemned with the world that the wicked may see thy hatred against sin and what plagues remaine for theÌ„selues for euermore Yea oh holie Father let vs feare alwaies lest thou shouldest leaue vs neuer so little suspect all our waies in as much as Satan more maliceth vs theÌ„ any other of the world and therefore seeks hourely to prouoke thee to leaue vs in his hand and for that our sins will cause moto blaspheme hardening theÌ„ to perdition than the sins of any other wherupon verie few of thy worthiest seruants haue escaped to the end without some grieuous wounds the scarres wherof they haue carried to their graues to the blemishing their professioÌ„ the griefe of theÌ„selues and all the godlie And therfore as thou hast giuen vs this only remedie to watch and pray that wee enter not into temptation so make vs able to keepe this thy watch and by it to bee better acquainted with our selues our particular infirmities that wee may alwaies weare the compleat armour chieflie the shield of faith thy Word euer in readinesse against each temptation which wâ—l put SataÌ„ to flight that being streÌ„gthned by thy Spirit we may stand fast in the euill day get the coÌ„quest without anie grieuous wounds to thy greater glorie our owne greater honor in the heauens Wee do not pray against temptations altogether knowing the profit that wee reape thereby but that wee may indure fighting valiantly and conquering vntill thou set the crowne vpon our heads For thine is the c. We haue been bold to beg all these things of thee oh holy Father because all kingdome power glorie are onelie thine acknowledging that we haue receiued all from thy heauenly bounty and being assured th thou wilt graÌ„t vs all these things for thy Sonnes sake and whatsoeuer else is good for vs so far as shall bee for thine owne glorie seeing thou art absolute Lord King in heaueÌ„ and in earth and doest dispose guide and ouerrule all things as shal make most for thine owne glorie and the greatest good of vs thine obedient subiects and children That we may set foorth the glorie of thy dominioÌ„ and happinesse of thy Kingdom liuing as thy loyal subiects to which wee hereby binde our selues for euer and so returne all possible thaÌ„ks and praise to thy heauenly Maiestie saying euer AmeÌ„ Be it so oh Lord holy true as wee fully beleeue it shall bee Euen so Amen Come Lord Iesus come quicklie OVr Father which art in heauen Oh Lord most holy and most glorious whose brightnes the Angels are not able to behold so terrible to all the vngodly as they shall wish the mountaines to couer them that they may neuer appeare in thy presence and yet a most gratious and tender Father to all thy children that desire to obey all thy CoÌ„mandements we that are but dust and ashes and by nature through the fal of our first parents children of wrath in state of damnatioÌ„ bond-slaues of Satan and most rebellious of all thy creatures dare not presume of our selues once to lift vp our eies to heauen yet neuertheles seeing it hath pleased thee of thy free mercie to adopt vs to be thy childreÌ„ by grace through thy Son Iesus Christ and hast chosen vs hereunto bought vs with his precious blood called vs by thy Gospel sealed vs with thy Spirit and giuen him to bee our perpetuall mediator at thy right hand bidden vs to come to thee as to our teÌ„der father and call thee father through him oh deare Father wee present our selues before thy diuine Maiestie onely in his name magnifying thy mercie that thou hast vouchsafed vs this blessed estate to be thy children and to haue thy fauor being the greatest happines that euer can befal mortal creatures Giue vs hearts most gratious Father to seek daily to increase this assurance by growing in repentance for all our sins and faith in thy sweet promises frame vs euery day more more to the image of thy Sonne in all knowledge of thy heaueÌ„ly Maiesty being affectioned to reuerence loue and obey thee as our most deare Father wholly chaÌ„ged in all the parts qualities both of our soules and bodies that we may be no longer strangers froÌ„ thee as all the wicked are who bidde thee to depart from them but may take our chiefest delight to be euer in thy presence to heare thee to speak to vs in thy heaueÌ„ly word to vtter all our wants and our whole heart to thee in our praiers crying Oh Father Our And that it may be more euident not only to
our selues but to all the world that wee are thine own children indeed giue vs hearts to loue all thy children being our brethren and sisters aboue all other for thy sake alone and euery one so much the more as they more liuely carry thy image in all holines excelling in vertue and so are more deare vnto thy heauenly Maiestie that we may euery day in all our prayers remember them as our selues begging alike for them all saying Our Father And that wee may delight in their companies onely as those with whom we shall coÌ„uerse together for euer in the heauens Knit all our hearts in this firme bond of brotherly loue that we may tenderly exhort releeue helpe comfort support the weakenesses one of another seeking by all meanes the edifying of others afraid of giuing the least offence to grieue and much more to hinder the saluation or turne any one out of the way of life Let this happie brotherhood and holy agreemeÌ„t in all the substance of thy truth which is able vndoubtedlie to saue our soules together with our ioynt profession to walke hand in hand in all the narrow way of life haue more power firmely to vnite vs then all the trash pompe or pleasure of the world with all the cunning of Satan or Antichrist can haue to diuide vs. Are wee not all that so walke thine owne children hauing thy Son our Sauiour thy Spirit our coÌ„forter and earnest for our ioint inheritance and glorie notwithstanding all our infirmitie and imperfections with some lesse diuersities in iudgement which must accompanie vs vntill we bee perfect in the heauens Confound therefore all the deuices of thine enemies that worke this euill among thine owne children to so great dishonor to thy heauenly Maiestie whereby our enemies insult ouer vs who haue conspired thus to worke our shame and to prouoke thee against vs to leaue vs into their haÌ„ds to our vtter ruin if it were possible Deare Father let vs neuer thinke our state to be good vntill vve carrie these hartie affections to al thy children studying to knit this bond of loue being able truly thus to pray Our father For hereby we know that wee are translated from death vnto life because we loue the brethren and vntill this time we abide still in death Which art in heaueÌ„ And whereas thou our Father art highly exalted in the heauen of heauens and there also hast prouided thrones for vs thy childreÌ„ after wee haue suffered a little humble vs euermore in the sense of thy greatnesse together with our owne basenes and vnworthinesse beeing but poore wormes crawling vpon the earth loaden with innumerable sinnes And yet withall lift vp our hearts alwaies vnto the heauens there to be conuersant with thee our heaueÌ„ly Father minding heauenly things especially in all our prayers longing there to behold thee face to face and that in the meane time while wee abide heere below we may be of such heauenly conuersatioÌ„s so vsing y e world as if wee vsed it not that the world may see that wee are not of it but pilgrims and strangers here and thy heauenly childreÌ„ and that our selues also may hereby grow vp to a strong assurance that heauen is ours all the ioyes thereof reserued for vs by our Lord Sauiour and all the creatures in heauen and earth at a league with vs to do vs good so far as shall stand with thine honor and our saluation euer readie to helpe in time of need Hallowed be thy name And seeing thou oh tender Father hast vouchsafed vs this honour aboue the greatest part of the word to bee thine owne children and heires of thy glorious kingdom wheras thou mightest iustlie haue left vs in our sinnes with all the wicked to euerlasting shame and perditioÌ„ Giue vs grace good Father to testifie our loue and thankfulnesse all the dayes of our life in studying in and aboue al things which way to honor thee Open our blinde eyes to this end to behold the glory of thy wisedome power goodnes and righteousnes shining in al thy workes euen in the basest creature in heaueÌ„ or earth and much more in thy heauenly word chiefely in all thy terrible iudgements executed vpon the enemies of thy Church therin reueiled with mercies towards thy children and which thou still shewest euery day especiallie towards our selues Make vs abâ—e to take euery occasion to consider of aright and set foorth the praises belonging to thee therein and haue a holie vse of them both in word deed y t by vs thy great name may be knowne magnified in al the world Aboue all set euer before our faces good Lord that wonderfull glory wherein thou hast been magnified in these our daies and before our daies in the euident declaration both of thy displeasure against vs of this sinfull nation and withall of thy mercy and tender care for vs and wrath against our enemies how for dishonoring thee by abusing thy Gospell which thou hast giuen vs with such peace and prosperitie as neuer nation knowne before thou hast not only corrected our grieuous transgressions and securitie as a tender Father with thy milder rods of dearth pestilence sundrie the like to bring vs to amendmeÌ„t and cause vs with more cheerefulnes to embrace thy Gospell and bring foorth the fruits of it but also raised vp against vs sundrie times most cruell enemies threatning not only the taking away thy Gospell but our vtter destruction also brought the enemies to the verie execution thereof because we would not serue thee with good hearts according to all thy mercies bestowed vpon vs and yet euer when we haue cried vnto thee thou hast heard vs as thou diddest thy people Israel and as thou diddest heare Iehosaphat against the Moabits and Ezechiah and Esay against the proud Assyrian and plucking them back in the instant hast taken vengeance for vs that we haue oft thought that they durst neuer haue risen against vs any more so as if the most barbarous nations of the earth had receiued but the least of our deliuerances with our meanes they vndoubtedly had repented long ago in sack-cloath and ashes as we for the present haue promised vnto thee Oh gratious Father inable vs alwaies to remember and acknowledge this and to see moreouer that thine anger is not yet turned away but more fearefully kindled against vs for that as our sins and prouocations are multiplied so these our bloody enemies insteede of decreasing or ioyning themselues vnto vs do still increase daily and their malice is become much more deadly against vs thy poore children without hope of leauing off vntill they haue wrought either ours or at least their own vtter ruine which in time they must needs effect Good Father cause this principal token of
the confounding of all their wicked practises and deuises yet Lord graunt vs hearts to seeke the saluation of all sorts because we know not whether they belong to thine eternall election and for them that are but our enemies vpō priuate respects giue vs grace that insteede of seeking reuenge we may pray earnestly for them that they may see their sins and haue their hearts changed and so obtaine pardon for it And moreouer that we may seeke to pacifie them by offering them reconciliation or ful satisfaction doing them good or gratifying them by any kindnesse so far as may stand with their saluation and credit of thy Gospell euen when they hunger to feed them and when they thirst to giue them drinke to heape coales vpon their heads as thou hast commanded either to gaine them by our Christian kindnesse or to leaue them more without excuse and to seale vp to our selues a most plentiful assurance of a full remission of all our sins thereby Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill And seeing oh tender Father that our deadly enemie seekes hourely by his temptations to draw vs to sin against thy heauenly Maiestie to dishonor thee making vs his vassals to do his will so to strippe vs vtterly both of thy protection and prouidence and to cause thee to leaue vs in his hand to bring vpō vs thy wrath with all the euils following vpon sin whereupon our Sauiour hath taught vs to pray alwaies Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Good Lord open our eies to see the danger wherein wee stand continually first for the multitude of those damned spirits that range vp and downe day and night with a deadly malice seeking to deuour vs. Teach vs to know oh holy Father what their power is against vs if thou do not restraine it that they are able to bring vs to as fearefull sins as euer they brought any of thy seruants vnto and to destroy vs vtterly in a moment both soules and bodies with al y ◠euer thou hast giuē vnto vs if thou preserue vs not Acquaint vs with their deep subtilties both in fitting their temptations to our particular natures and dispositions to our conditions callings and occasions which they know perfectly alwaies dogging vs at the heeles and watching vs their meetest opportunities whereby they take their fittest aduantage to ouercome vs as against Eue and Dauid chiefely by soliciting vs to those sinnes wherein we haue bin formerly ouertaken or wherby they haue most preuailed against thy dearest seruants that also in drawing vs on by degrees as first either to yeelde to some smaller matters which the world accounts no sins but trifles or too much precisenes as Eue to eie the forbidden fruit and to reason with the Serpent about the temptation or else not to auoid the danger and occasions of the temptations but thrust our selues into them carelessely without any warrant neglecting the calling laid vpon vs as Dauid to lie idlely on his bed in the afternoones insteede of looking to the great affaires of his kingdome Make vs able yet more fully to conceiue of our perpetuall danger through their innumerable allurements and baits to deceiue vs both of the credit and estimation of the world with the riches and pleasures thereof which they euer hold forth proffer vnto vs if we will follow their perswasions and otherwise threatning not onely the losse or at least the hazarding of all these but more also the hatred disgrace and reproch of the world with depriuing vs of all comforts the losse of our goods with many other euils which we must bee sure to looke for daily at the hands of malicious men if we will be so strict as to make conscience of euery one of thy commādements so as we wil not do the least thing forbidden nor omit the least dutie commanded vs. And whereas we are ordinarily secure in an ouerweening of our owne strength and abilitie to resist Satan Shew vs oh Lord euen in our hearts the vilenesse of our corrupt nature which is euer ready as a bond slaue of Satans and a traitor against our soules to conspire with him presently to our vtter perdition and as readie to run after swallow euery one of his deadly temptatiōs as euer fish the baite so as we haue no strength in the world to help our selues but all against our selues more then that thou gratiously reachest foorth thine hand vnto vs strengthening deliuering vs. And heerein we pray thee also to reueale vnto vs that great danger which wee stand in continually from thy glorious Maiestie seeing wee haue no warrant of protection or any aide from thee but rathe iust cause of feare that thou shouldest giue vs vp wholly into the power of the tempter and our own corruption longer then that we make cōscience to obserue thy watch walking carefully in euery one of thy Commandements vsing diligently euery meanes of grace auoiding as warilie each least occasion of temptation And moreouer seeing the subtill tēpter in all his temptations vseth all his cunning to hide all this danger with the vglines of sin and the misery that he knoweth it will bring vpon vs shewing onely the faire side of it as the safetie credit pleasure or gaine which we shall get by it and also vseth the fittest instrumēts to perswade vs hereunto as the counsell or example of the wisest learnedst or wealthiest of chiefest reputation sometimes of those who haue a name for godlines so changing himselfe into an Angel of light and neuer comming like himselfe vnlesse to driue poore soules into vtter dispaire whereby he not onely deceiues the world but euen vs thy children either to make vs to thinke sin to bee no sin or at least to presume to sin because thou art so mercifull or for that thou doest not punish presently Cause vs good Father to keepe a continuall and fresh remembrance hereof and withal of that fearfull misery which we hale vpon our heads by euerie sin especially the wound of conscience which no creature was euer able to beare and which will certainly come vpon vs vnlesse it bee preuented by speedie repentance And howsoeuer the reprobate and the vngodly may wallow in their filthines and yet seeme to be more free from punishment thē any other because thou reseruest them for hel and therefore fattest them for the day of slaughter yet make vs to know that thou wilt not let any of vs thy children who haue specially giuen vp our names to thee to make a more sincere profession of thy Gospell to commit the very least sin but that thou wilt surely make vs feel the smart of it vnlesse we preuent it presently by vnfained repentance and that thou wilt doe openly when our sins
able to cal him Father Rom. 8. 15. Comming in faith only in Christ in a true sense of our owne vnworthines In all humilitie being but dust and ashes yet with our hearts lift vp to heauen Wee must be brethreÌ„ tenderly affected towards all the childreÌ„ of our heauenly Father Zealous of our Fathers glorie aboue all things in the woâ—ld Seeking first the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnes therof Making coÌ„science of euery tittle of the will word of the Lord. Labouring to depend wholly vpoÌ„ the Lords prouideÌ„ce and protection Trauelling vnder the burden of our sinnes Voide of malice vsing to pray for our enemies Fearing alwaies and watching lest wee should fall into temptation so suspecting all our waies Acknowledging euer his soueraigntie and how he disposeth al for his own glorie and the good of his elect Able in true faith with thaÌ„kfulnes to say Amen To giue vs assurance of Gods fauour Rom. 10. 12. Rom. 8. 15. 16. 26. 2 Cor. 1. 22. To haue all things sanctified vnto vs. To obtaine whatsoeuer we so pray for For the turning away any iudgement from our Land or procuring any blessing Ezech. 22. 30. Iob 22. 30. Deut. 20. 1. 3. 4. Heb. 12. 12. Ezek. 14. 14. Iudg. 5. 23. Prou. 28. 1. Esay 43. 1. 2. 3. * Let the desire of the two first petitions be euer in thy hart beg al other things for them only as being the end of all then shalt thou bee each way most blessed and aske what thou wilt so thou shall receiue it Esay 65. 24. 1. We must come trembling because of Gods glorious Maiesty And our ovvne vilenesse by nature 2. Yet in coÌ„fident boldnes as to our Father in Christ. 3. Onely in the name of Christ our Mediator 4. With thankfulnes for our happiestate in him Watch. ed. 2. p. 1. l. 1. 2. 5. Begging an increase of our assurance By more conformitie to Christ in knowledge Watch. pag. 88 lin 6. And al child-like affections Delighting in the presence of our Father 6. And an increase of our loue to al Gods children Chiefely as they more excell in vertue By praying for them as for our selues and delighting in their companies Begging most instantly our heauenly vnion to bee shevved in al duties Confirmed by all bonds of agreement And common interest And all contrarie deuices of our enemies confounded Which by our diâ—isioâ— seeke our ruine That we may neuer thinke our state good Vntill vve loue the brethren 1. Iohn 3. 14. 7. To grow in reuerence to our heauenly Father 8. And in heauenly affections And conuersations To declare our selues his children Watch. pag. 90. lin 9. And heaueÌ„ ours and all creatures at a league vvith vs for our good For this honour that God hath vouchsafed to vs to be his children 1. To seeke his honor in and aboue al things VVatch. p. 78. lin 17. 2. To haue our eies open to behold his glory shining in all his workes as his Creatures VVord Iudgement Mercie Watch. pag. 31. lin 17. 3. To be able to set foorth his praises belonging to him therein and haue a holy vse of them 4. Chiefely his glory manifested in our daies for vs and against our enemies First for vs in abâ—ndant mercies And then correcting vs faâ—herly for abusing his mercies to his dishonor So to bring vs to amendment After threatning vs by cruell enemies to take avvay all Bringing them to the execution Yet euer deliuering and auenging vs vvhen vve haue cried vnto him So as it had been enough to haue conuerted the most barbarous nation 5. To pray for grace euer to remember and acknowledge this And to see moreouer his anger kindled againe by increase of our sins with these bloodie enemies and their malice Without hope of leauing off vntill they haue their vvils And also witnessed by many fearefull signes Arming windes and vvaters against vs Threatning to sweepe vs avvay For our ouerflovv of iniquitie that we may be awaked and seeke to appease his wrath in in time That remembring our former vvarnings from heaueÌ„ and vvhat follovved the fierie tent spred ouer our heads VVee may not be senselesse in these tokens of his wrath seazing vpon vs as fearefully as any of the piagues of Egypt Chiefely to be saued froÌ„ that heauiest iudgement VVhereby both Egypt and Israel vvere prepared for â—estruction That we should be worse for all the meanes sent to call vs to repentance vntill the iudgement come that we may sâ—e our estate and turne And not harden our selues against the Lord. That vvee may neuer fall into the bloody enemies hands But still into the Lords Because hee pitieth vs vvhen hee smiteth vs. 6. To pray instantly that the crie of his seruants may preuaile As hitherto according to his promise Sith he cals vs novv to stand in the breach as Moses to stay his haÌ„d to declare the riches of his mercie sauing vs still at the prayers of a fevv And seeing he is still the same to vs as to Moses and Abraham And vve so deare to him that he can deny vs nothing Which may make for his glorie and our good To intreate him to magnify his mercie in pardoning and turning our hearts to meete him But to make his enemies to feele his hand who haue bin the causes of our sinne by their wiles To get himselfe glory vpon them as vpon Pharaoh As he hath begunne promised to accomplish to his euerlasting praise 7. That we may be afraid of obscuring his glory Seeking our owne glory or taking his honour to our selues 8. That we may not dishonour him by our sins But account it our greatest honour to honour him and contrarily 9. To honour him by our holy ensample To stop the mouthes of the wicked 10. To haue the zeale of Lot against the abominations of our age 11. VVith a bold acknowledgement of the Lord and euery part of his truth As being our glory That vvee may be acknowledged of him before all the vvorld to our ovvne euerlasting honor Seeing Gods glorie is in the inlarging his kingdome and doing his vvill 1. To pray for a free course to the Gospell which is the scepter of his kingdome and that it may be powerfull euery where 2. For Kings and Queens to be nursing fathers and mothers to the Church Chiefely to preserue is against the rage of all cruell enemies and to account this their chiefest dignitie 3. Especially to pray for our soueraigne raised vp for vs in place of our tender mother That hee may haue an abundant portion of Gods Spirit According to his high dignitie and charge And the deliuerances of the Church by him he may set himselfe to aduance Christs kingdome and Gospell Watch. pag. 43. lin 2. Procure the good of Gods seruants repressing the vvicked That vve may liue in al peace and godlinesse without feare affected towards him as the good people were towards Dauid Sound forth his praises And pray for him and his to