the wind and as stubble against a flaming fire Though I have sinned grievously in thy sight preferring my wicked desires before thy holy Commandments esteeming the pleasure of a moment before eternal and everlasting joys yet am I bold O merciful Father to prostrate my self before the Throne of thy Majesty heartily to beseech and humbly to intreat thee that thou wilt not deal with me according to my deserts for I have none in heaven to fly unto but thee nor in the earth of whom I may receive any comfort but at thy fatherly hands which are stretched out day and night to receive all that by earnest repentance turn unto thee and to refresh their distressed consciences wherefore O Lord in the multitude of thy mercies I approach unto thee desiring thee to look down from the height of thy sanctuary upon me poor and wretched sinner and to wipe away mine offences and to blot out my misdeeds especially all those my ungracious unclean and ungodly acts that they may not come up in remembrance with thee nor be imputed to me for ever For thy Sons sake O Lord in whom thou art well pleased and in whom thou wast fully satisfied upon the Cross for my sins grant me free pardon and remission in that I have so foolishly by my exceeding frailty committed against thee but quicken thou me O Lord that art the fountain of life and call thou out of heaven thy dwelling place that my wandring soul may hear the voice of her shepherd and follow thee wheresoever thou leadest O give me thy helping hand and by thy Spirit cast down subdue and mortifie my raging â—usts and affections let me not any longer be occupied in ungodliness lest mine enemies triumph over me pluck up O my good Father these roots of bitterness that no unsavoury fruit may come of the Tree which thou of thine own hand hast planted I desire I look I call I cry for thy assistance that I may conquer and subdue all the sinful and unruly motions of my heart O blessed Saviour that hast granted so many petitions upon earth to them that were careful for the body fulfil 〈◊〉 pray thee this my desire mortifie good Father in me the old body of sin and give unto me a new body purged from these works to serve thee the living God â—enew my spirit daily that I may cast away these works of darkness why should my body made by thy hands and my soul framed according to thy Image be given over as a prey into the hands of Satan Deliver me O Lord from the snare of the hunter and preserve me from the hand of mine enemy who lieth in wait for my spiritual life and laboureth for my everlasting destruction To thee I fly O Lord for succour hide me therefore under the shadow of thy hand that none of the fiery darts of Satan take hold on me And so good Lord to conclude for the love thou bearest unto mankind for thy Sons sake Jesus Christ who hath taken our nature upon him grant that I may not be tempted above my strength but that in all temptations I may fly unto thee as mine only comfort and salvation and that thou wilt of thy mercy and goodness give me grace and desire to withstand all the motions of my sinful flesh and affections which word of thine I beseech thee O Lord to perfect and fully accomplish in me that I may do all things pleasing in thy sight for ever Amen A Prayer for redress of a sinful life O Most merciful God and dear Father grant that with heart I desire thee with desiring seek thee in seeking find thee in finding that I love thee and by loving thee that I turn not again to my former sins which thou hast redeemed give me O Lord a repentant heart and a contrite spirit quench in me O King of glory the lust of my flesh and kindle in me the â—ire of thy love O my Redeemer take from me the spirit of pride and most favourably enrich me with the measure of humility remove from me O my Saviour the fury of anger and graciously arm me with the shield of patience O my Creator root out of me all rancour and endue me with a chearful and meek heart and bestow upon me a perfect faith right hope and constant love preserve me from all vanity inconstancy of mind wavering of heart scoffing of tongue wicked slandering from the vice of hypocrisie the poyson of flattery contempt of the poor oppression of the weak from greedy avarice cankered envy and deadly blasphemy root out of me O my Lord and Maker rash boldness contumacy frowardness negligence idleness blindness of heart obstinacy of mind savage conditions contempt of that good is rigour towards my neighbour O my God and merciful Father I beseech thee in Jesus Christ to bless me with the works of mercy and zeal of godliness to suffer with the afflicted to minister to the needy to counsel them that go astray to comfort the sorrowful to pardon them that trespass against me to love them that hate me to render good for evil to imitate the good to beware of the evil and to embrace vertue to guard the door of my mouth to watch the enemies that compass my lips to despise worldly things and earnestly to thirst after the Heavenly through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for continual remembrance of our end O God the only giver of life and the maintainer and preserver thereof and the life after death grant me true consideration that this body of mine is builded upon an earthly foundation and framed of the substance of dust and clay which is not durable the glory whereof vanisheth like the flower of the field which is soon cut down and withered the body is the mansion or rather the prison of the soul and the same so frail weak and feeble subiect to so many causes that procure the dissolution of body and soul that death often happeneth when we think least thereon wherefore grant O God of my life that I may have such continual care foresight and diligent respect unto the direction of my doings cogitation and words as I load not my poor Soul so much with the burthen of sensless security sin and iniquity that the body being suddenly intangled with the snares of death be carried where there is no rest nor joy but continual mourning and anguish of mind O my most loving Father lighten mine Eyes that I sleep not in sin nor wander in darkness according to the will of the flesh but make me always willing to come unto thee even with desire when it pleaseth thee to call me let not me as it were draw backward when thou invitest me to the sweet banquet of thy Heavenly Kingdom as by thy Word and Gospel preached and revealed unto us which is an especial calling of us and when I feel my self grieved or
Worship of Israel 5. Call to remembrance O Lord thâ— tender mercy and thy loving kindneâ—â— which have been ever of old 6. Shew thy servant the light of thâ— countenance and save me for thy mercâ—â— sake 7. Thou hast been my succor leave mâ— not neither forsake me O God of my salvation 8. My time is in thy hand deliver me from the hand of mine enemies 9. O keep my soul and deliver me leâ— me not be confounded for I have put my trust in thee 10. O my soul thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my God my goods are nothing unto thee 11. The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance I have set God always before me for he is on the right hand therefore I shall not fall 12. Wherefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiced my flesh also shall rest in hope 13. For why thou wilt not leave my soul in hell neither shalt thou suffer me to see corruption 14. Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for ever more Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. O spare me a little and suffer me to recover my strength O Lord before I go from hence and be no more seen Now O my soul look upon Christ Jesus the Righteous thy Advocate and Redeemer who is ready to receive thee therefore be glad in him and give thanks rejoycing in the visitation of the Lord by which he hath prepared thee for the heavenly Jerusalem and everlasting bliss 〈◊〉 acknowledge O Lord I have deserved to die and the desire I have to live is for the amendment of my life and in some better measure to set forth thy glory therefore good Father if it be thy pleasure restore me to health again and grant me long life But if thou hast in thy eternal decree appointed this sickness to be a preparation to my immediate dissolution and by it to call me out of this transitory life I resign commit and willingly commend my spirit into thy hands and holy pleasure beseeching thee to bless me from the second death the everlasting destruction both of body and soul Let my soul throughly consider of the account I have to make to thee my God and how few minutes soever it hath to remain in my body let the power of thy Spirit recompence the shortness of time and perfect my account before I pass away Be pleased O Lord in the reconciliation of thy Son for my sins Let the infiniteness of my offences rely upon the infiniteness of thy mercy by his sufferings breath inward comfort to my heart and confidence in thy gratious promises that though my body be going the way of all flesh yet my soul may go the way of all Saints Lord hear me and help me stand by me and save me and if it be thy determination to lay my body in the grave to receive my soul into thy Kingdom to rest in joy and peace for evermore through Jesus Christ Amen The Sick saith O My soul thou which art endued with the image of God redeemed with the blood of Jesus Christ enlightened by the Holy Ghost adorned with vertue and accounted with Angels Love thou him who loveth thee trust in him who careth for thee seek thou him who seeketh thee My soul O Lord heartily desireth to attain to that supernatural City whereof such things are spoken My heart longeth my soul thirsteth till I enter into my Masters Joy To which everlasting joy O Lord receive my soul where all thy Saints rejoyce in eternal joy and thanksgiving singing praises and Allelujas to thee the Lord our God Eye hath not seen nor ear hath heard neither entered into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for those that love him Glory be to the Father c. Directions for the SICK MAN for the violation of that great Command which God his Creator gave him in the beginning hath exposed him and his posterity to a certain and sure doom in these words Thou shalt dye the death For the wages of sin is death the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. Variable and therefore miserable is the condition of man this hour this minute in health in the next by a sudden change and alteration at the point of death In the morning flourishing like a Palm like a green Bay-Tree in the evening cut down dryed up and withered for we consume away in thy displeasure and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation Psalm 90. All flesh is grass and the glory thereof as the flower of the field Psal 40. The glory of man is as the flower of the field which withereth and falleth away 2 Pet. 2. 4. He considereth we are but flesh and as the wind that passeth away Psal 78. Our life is but of a short continuance and full of trouble man cometh up like a flower vanisheth like a shadow falls sick and dyeth sleepeth and riseth not until the heavens be no more Job 14. As soon as thou scatterest us we are even as asleep and sade away suddenly and in thy anger all our days are gone and ended as a tale that is told And what man living shall not see Death Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return Gen. 3. 19. Thy body shall return to earth the center of the body and thy soul to Heaven to God which gave it to everlasting glory who at the last day the day of the Resurrection will re-collect re-unite thy Body though turned to Atoms to thy soul at the voice of the Angels Trumpet Arise ye dead and come to Judgment the Righteous to receive everlasting happiness and the wicked eternal torment Wonderful and great hath the love of God been unto mankind in our Creation Redemption Preservation and giving us assured hopes of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord for being fallen from blessedness by the sins of our first parents into the snares of Satan and thereby become his bondslaves and servants overcome by sin Job 8. and being servants of sin we are freed from Righteousness Rom. 6. God so loved us that he sent his only Son to be reconciliation for our sin Joh. 4. 10. Rich is his mercy whereby he loved us Eph. 1. Christ suffered for our sin to bring us unto God being put to death in the flesh but quickned in the spirit 1 Pet. 3. He sent redemption to his People Holy and Reverend is his Name Psa 111. He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity Tit. 2. Therefore blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he raised up a mighty Salvation for us in the House of his servant David Luke 1. 68. Our Life here on Earth is a warfare full of trouble misery and vexation of spirit a daily tempest and continual strugling between the mind and the flesh the Law
adversity I run not headlong into such means as are ungodly neither in prosperity wax the prouder but wait thy good pleasure in them both with thankfulness and evermore live in thee and by thee and in the end raign with thee in Heaven where thou â—ittest as author and giver of all thy Blessings Grant this O most merciful Father to whom with thy Son and the Holy Ghost be all power and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to subdue our affections O Lord Mighty and Merciful who didst create Man in the beginning simple sincere and without spot of sin In which his integrity and innocency he then presented thine own Image which was pure and without spot of sin and yet such was man that he fell from thee by disobedience whereby he corrupted his ways and became â—ar unlike unto thee being defiled with all vanities wherein alas we all of us wallow the most with greediness wherefore most dear Father in JESUS Christ create in me new thoughts new affections shape in me true obedience that I may mortifie and kill all sin and vain inclinations which rise up against Thee let sin no longer bear rule in me O Lord but let thy grace more and more abound that all that I do think speak or do may bâ— favouring more of the desire of Heaven and Heavenly things than of earthly and carnal desires that so I may be approved not only before men to be as ought but to thee to be as Thou requirest to whom O Lord be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the Kings Majesty O Lord Almighty the Governour Preserver and continual Protector of Princes to whose beck and will all Kingdoms of the Earth are subject look in mercy and favour O Lord I beseech thee upon the state of thy servant our dear Soverign Lord King Charles and his Royal issue be thou unto him and them a safe refuge in all time of danger and let thy holy Spirt be unto him a continual guide in all his acts and procedings direct him to comfort defend and support us and either to bring our enemies to a perfect peace in embracing the Truth with us or confound their power and devices for ever An Evening Prayer O Heavenly Father and eternal GOD I honour thee I praise thee I yield thee most hearty thanks for all thy benefits and at this time especially O Lord because thou hast patiently and attentively heard my petitions and hast given me soberness and humbleness of mind to utter the same without any interruption I bless Thee my everlasting GOD and with all my heart give thee thanks for that not only thou hast saved me this day from death from hurts and from all perils from my cradle but hast defended both my soul and body from all Misfortunes and Dangers Therefore my soul magnifieth the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour for he hath looked upon the afflictions of his servants and now among all other thy goodness O Lord hear O Lord forgive hearken O God for thy Name sake for it is called upon by me O GOD of Heaven and earth in the evening do I call upon thee that remitting my sins Thou wouldst receive me into thy Protection keep me this Night that the Devil have no power over me for Thou O Lord art my everlasting Protector for behold whether I sleep or wake whether I live or die I am always thine let thy mercy follow me O Lord all the days of my life that I may dwell in thy house and praise thee and that I may in acknowledging thy greatness confess my sinful and wretched weakness And visit me O Lord and drive from me all the assaults of mine enemies both bodily and ghostly and let thy holy Angel be with me and keep me this night and evermore by thy grace and ever let thy blessing be upon me this night and for evermore Amen Prayers for Wednesday Morning O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy name for ever dispose my heart and open my lips c. A Psalm IN thee O LORD have I put my trust let me never be put to confusion deliver me in thy Righteousness Bow down thine Ear unto me make hast to deliver me Into thy hands I commend my Spirt for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth I have hated them that hold superstitious vanities and my trust hath been in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and hast known my soul in adversity Shew thy servant the light of thy countenance and save me for thy mercies sake O how plentiful is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee Wherefore I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sin I will take heed unto my ways that I offend not in my tongue Therefore withdraw not thou thy mercy from me O Lord but let thy loving kindness and thy truth always preserve me For my soul is a-thirst for God yea God yea even for the living God when shall I come to appear before the presence of God Yea as the Hart desireth the water-brooks so longeth my soul after thee O God Wherefore send out thy light and thy truth that they may lead me and bring me to thy holy hill and to thy dwelling Why art thou so heavy O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me O put thy trust in God for I will yet give Him thanks who is the help of my countenance and my God Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. A Morning Prayer O Most merciful and loving Father I thank thee for the sweet sleep and comfortable rest that thou hast given me this night and forasmuch as thou hast commanded by thy holy Word that no man should be idle but always occupied in godly and virtuous exercises every man according to his calling I most humbly beseech thee O Lord that thine eyes may attend upon me that thy grace may daily defend me in danger succour cherish and comfort me in all my needs and distress and govern all my counsels studies and labours in such wise that I may spend this day according to thy blessed will and the discharge of mine own conscience in thee that warily avoiding all things that may displease thee and setting always before mine eyes thy fear I may thy grace assisting me and thy holy spirit guiding me work that which is acceptable before thy divine Majesty unto thy praise and glory for ever Amen A fruitful Confession to GOD for sins commited O Gracious GOD have mercy upon me have mercy upon me look favourably upon me incline thine ears towards me and hide not thy Face now my soul is troubled O Almighty GOD from whose Sight there is no covert and against whose power there is neither resistance
this frail body of mine must tend it self the Image of that which is to the faithful the end of pain and the begining of pleasure the end of misery and the beginning of bliss but to the secure and careless the end of their pleasures and beginning of eternal pains And vouchsafe good LORD that I may have an earnest desire of serving thee and leading my life according unto thy will that whensoever it shall please thee to call me out of this life I be not through fear stricken with doubt of condemnation but even at the last gasp through unfeigned Faith in Jesus Christ may take and have taste of eternal Salvation that death be not bitter or terrible unto me but rather when it cometh I with joy receive the same in the Name of thy Son JESUS Christ Bless me good Lord from the second death the everlasting destruction both of body and soul and justifie me in the death of thy Son that my Name may be registred in the Book of Life O Lord comfort my guilty conscience with the everlasting light of thy bountiful savour and let me have place among thy Saints in thy Heavenly Kingdom LORD for thy mercies sake after this my bodily death give me the fruition of thy presence in the rich Palace of endless bliss to whose merciful Protection I commend with all humility and reverence my soul and body Lord Jesus preserve me Lord Jesus comfort me Lord Jesus pray for me for only into thy hands that hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth I commend my soul both now and for ever Amen A Prayer for a happy departure out of this life O Most gracious and eternal GOD thy years endure throughout all generations and thy days are without end or beginning but the days of Man are determined which he cannot overpass and the number of his Months are foreknown unto thee wherefore instruct me O LORD that being always mindful of my mortality I never promise unto my self many years nor long life in this pilgrimage of mine so shall I not live securely deferring my conversion to thee from day to day nor yet put confidence in this frail and uncertain life as that rich man spoken of in the Gospel but give me grace that in thy fear I may dayly prepare my self to depart out of this prison for nothing is more certain than death though nothing more uncertain than the hour thereof therefore I beseech thee O Lord to let me have always before mine eyes an image and mediation of my departure the better to know the fleeting and vanity of this srail and cumbersome life that I may live to thee my God being sound in faith and strong in hope looking with cheerfulness for the day of my departure and the joyful appearing of thy Son Jesus Christ my Redeemer and make me I beseech thee O LORD a faithful and wise servant looking for the coming of my Lord for that I know not when he will come lest by a sudden hour of death being overtook I being found unready but contrariwise by prudent watching in true conversion and repentance I may covet to be dissolved and to be with CHRIST my Redeemer and grant also O LORD that at the point of death having escaped all hardness and temptations I may triumph like a Conquereor and behold the power and presence of thy holy Spirit and let my last word be that which thy Son did utter upon the Altar of the Cross saying Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and when my speech is taken from me hear O God the groanings of my heart and the hour of death being come let thy servant depart in peace through JESUS Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all praise and glory for ever and ever Amen A Petition to GOD the Father O Omnipotent GOD and Father I have asked here at this time many things of thee and yet not deserved any I confess alas that not only those things which I require be not due unto me but in stead of them most grievous punishments yet O LORD lay not my sins to my charge for if thou shouldest I were not able to abide or stand in thy sight but O LORD I most humbly beseech thee that thou wilt forgive me all that is past and grant that I may never hereafter offend in the same again and vouchsafe I beseech thee of thy goodness O Lord to direct sanctifie and keep my heart and body my senses and doings my talk and communication in thy most holy Laws and Commandments and that thy holy Angel may be with me to direct my feet unto the way of peace truth and health that I may be whole safe and free in thee and by thee both here and in the world to come O Christ hear me and save me which livest and reignest with the Father and the holy Spirit God in perfect unity to whom be praise for ever world without end Amen An Evening Prayer O Heavenly Father I with all humility and reverence of heart and mind beseech thee this night which thou hast ordained for man to rest in that thou wilt guard and protect me with thy good guiding Spirit and albeit my sinful flesh shall slumber and sleep yet grant that my soul may continually keep watch and ward let not the enemy find me slumbering and sleeping as careless in the cradle of sinful security lest that whilst I am unarmed that is naked and destitute of thy help and favour he enter in and break up the house of my sinful body and make such havock and spoil and that my infected leprous soul deformed by means of mine iniquity and wounded with the dangerous darts of transgression be thrown with the body of sin unto the lake of destruction make me still O good Lord to consider that the bed is the plain pattern of the grave make me to understand that when I am laid of my self without thy Heavenly Providence I cannot be able to rise again make me also to acknowledge that sleep is the very Figure of death to whose stroke at thy appointed pleasure I must submit my self endue me with love and charity to all men let my lamp O Lord be garnished with oyl that whensoever thy messenger death shall draw nigh and knock at the gate of my body I may at his summons in the day of the Resurrection of the dead be ready to attend on thee my Bride with my burning lamp that is with a stedfast faith when as by Faith I shall be cloathed with a new for my mortal body shall be then covered with immortality and the corruption of my sinful and rebellious flesh then changed to incorruption and perfect purity thy righteousness shall be mine thy merits shall make me perfect and holy by vertue whereof hell shall lose his victory death shall lose his sting my faith and hope shall have its end and reward and I with thy Saints continually dwell in love and
Death overwhelm me nor my sleep in the night alter my thoughts and understanding when I should take rest but grant me a good and quiet sleep going unto my Bed which representeth my Grave that rising in the Morning to render due praise and thanks unto thee my Protector I may likewise at the Day of Judgment rise as one of thy chosen Children upon thy right hand into Heaven where I may sing praises unto thy holy and blessed Name for ever Prayers for Saturday Morning O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy Name for ever Dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy holy Spirit c. A Psalm WHom have 〈◊〉 in Heaven but thee O Lord and there is none upon Earth that I desire in comparison of thee My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever For 〈◊〉 they that forsake thee shall perish and thou wilt destroy them that commit fornication against thee But it is good for me to hold me fast by God and to put my trust in my Lord God and to speak of all his works For God is King of old the help that is done upon Earth he doth it himself Wherefore I will cry unto God with my Voice even unto God will I cry with my voice and he shall hearken unto me When I am in heaviness I will think upon God when my heart is vexed I will complain I have considered the days of old and the years that are past I call to remembrance my Song and in the night I commune with mine own heart and search out my spirits Will the Lord absent himself for ever and will he be no more intreated Is his mercy clean gone for ever and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious and will he shut up his loving kindness in displeasure And I sald it is mine own infirmity but I will remember the years of the most High I will remember the works of the Lord and call to mind the wonders of old time I will think of all thy works and my thinking shall be of thy doings Glory c. A Morning Prayer O Almighty Protector and Keeper both of the Souls and Bodies of the faithful I yield thee humble and hearty thanks for defending me and saving me this night past and all the rest of my life hitherto from sudden death and from all other perils and dangers whereunto my Soul and weak Body are subject to fall and wherewith I am so beset that had I not been preserved by thee it could not otherwise have been but my body had perished and my Soul been carried into everlasting perdition But most sweet Lord my succour and defence who hath continual regard of the safety of thy servants and never suffer est them to be overcome with any kind of danger vouchsafe to forgive me whatsoever I have committed and done against thy Divine Majesty either sleeping or waking this night or at any time secretly or openly heretofore by reason of the corruption which remaineth in me and grant that as I have by thy protection passed this night so I may enjoy at thy merciful hands whatsoever thy Fatherly Providence shall think meet and convenient for me and so in hope of thy loving kindness and mercy go forward this day and all my life in perfect love unfeigned zeal and continual obedience to thy most blessed will that so continuing unto the end I may receive the reward of thy Coelestial Kingdom which thy Son Jesus hath purchased for all true Believers in thee in number of whom sweet Lord for the mercies of him thy Son make me that I with them and they with me may continually sing laud and praise unto the Trinity eternally Amen A Confession to God for sin MOst gracious God and loving Father in Jesus Christ I confess mine unrighteousness which maketh me unworthy to come before thee not only in regard of mine original corruption which I traduced from disobedient Adam but in regard of my continual sins and actual evils which I daily commit against thee whereby I cannot but be offensive unto thee and ever loathsome in thy sacred Eyes but alas such is mine estate that being considered as it is in and of my self that I can bring forth no better fruits than the Tree of Adam's disobedience whose roots as they are sin so bear they sin in me and consequently procure death and destruction but dear Father as by Adam sin entred and took hold of himself and of all his Posterity so by thy Son Jesus Christ we are all justified by our adoption into his righteousness of thy free love if we take hold of thy promises in him and become obedient unto thee and therefore dear Father howsoever our corruptions as they are in us of our selves have bewrapped us in bondage to sin and death so let thy Sons merits be unto us a sufficient ransom for our Everlasting liberty not only to come freely to the Throne of grace but in the end to obtain the joys eternally with him in Heaven who liveth and raigneth with thee and the holy Spirit for ever World without end Amen A Prayer for the true worship of God O Most gracious God and loving Father establish my heart and mind in the true Worship of thy Divine Majesty make me to believe thy holy and sacred Gospel wherein I am daily and hourly instructed to love fear honour and obey thee to hate sin and iniquity to renounce all superstitious Ceremonies whereby thy worship is defaced thy glory prophaned and thy honour greatly diminished Give me grace to hate sin and to renounce the vanities and wanton pleasures of this wicked World and finally give me power from above to withstand Satan the Prince of darkness and all his damnable Ministers who by divers temptations provokes and allures us from godly purity and perfect integrity which passeth only from Christ Jesus to us who is the fulness of our perfection and holiness to all kind of evil impiety and uncleanness by means whereof thy glory is greatly prophaned and of a set purpose contemned make me O Lord I beseech thee by the power of a fruitful faith to resist and bridle the conconcupiscence of my flesh in such sort that my Soul may triumph with Victory and continue constant in worshiping thee from whom passeth the fulness of my joy prepare my heart and mind to spread forth the glory of thy Name keep my tongue from all filthy talk and uncomely gesture lest by the exercises of such sin I contemn thy worship and provoke thee to displeasure against me set thou a watch before the gates of my mouth that my lips may by grace be made open to sound forth thy praise and glory be merciful to mine offences think thou not on my unrighteousness but open thy clemency forgive thou freely and pardon graciously all my sins make me faithful in Christ Jesus
11. Thou shalt purge me with Hyssop and I shall be clean thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than snow 12. Make me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me 13. O remember not the sins and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy think thou upon me O Lord for thy goodness 14. For thy Name sake O Lord be merciful unto my sin for it is great 15. Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am destitute and in misery 16. Remember not O Lord mine iniquities nor the iniquities of my fore-fathers neither take thou vengeance of my sins but spare me good Lord whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood and be not angry with me for ever 17. Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven and whose sin is covered 18. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin and in whose spirit there is no guile 19. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart and will save such as be of an humble Spirit 20. O taste and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that putteth his trust in him 21. O Lord thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant according to thy word Glory be to c. O Most gracious Lord God I beseech thee help thy servant whom of thy mercy thou hast created repair the ruins of my soul inlarge the frame of my understanding thereof cleanse it from all filthy corruption and garnish it with all heavenly graces that it may be both conveniently fit and furnished to receive thee that thou mayst make thy entry and possess that which is thy own both by creation and redemption and merits of thy passion through Jesus Christ Amen Before the receiving Ex Liturg. GRant O most merciful Father I beseech thee that I receiving these thy Creatures of Bread and Wine according to the holy institution of our Saviour Jesus Christ in remembrance of his death and passion may be partaker of his blessed Body and Blood and that my sinful body may be made clean by his Body and my sinful soul washt through his most precious Blood which was shed for the remission of all my sins through the same Jesus Christ Amen Immediately before the Receiving Matth. 8. 8. Lord I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed II. O Lamb of God let me eat thy Flesh and drink thy Blood that I may live everlastingly by thee and cloath me with the wool of thy mercy that no winter or storm of sin do pinch my silly soul III. O blessed Jesus let the Blood that ran from thy blessed Heart wash my soul from all sin and iniquity and purchase me thy heavenly grace and benediction Amen Immediately after Receiving PRaise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name and forget not all his benefits which saveth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness Psal 103. I will give thanks unto the Lord for he is gratious and his mercy endureth for ever Psal 106. Alleluja Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power be unto the Lord our God Amen Revel 19. 1. Thanksgiving after the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament Ex. Liturg. O Almighty and everlasting Lord God I thy most humble servant according to my bounden duty and service do render unto thy Fatherly goodness all possible praise and thanksgiving for that thou hast vouchsafed to feed me with the holy mystery and spiritual food of the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ thy Son and my Saviour assuring me thereby of thy grace and favour towards me and that I am a member incorporate in thy mystical body the blessed company of faithful people and also heir through hope of thy everlasting Kingdom by the merits of his most precious death and passion and grant me O Lord for the time to come the assistance of thy grace and heavenly benediction that I may continue in all such good works as thou hast prepared for me to walk in to the glory of thy Name and my everlasting comfort through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen A Psalm 1. PRaise the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his holy name which saveth thy self from destruction and feedeth thee with the Bread of Heaven 2. I will always give thanks unto the Lord his praises shall ever be in my mouth 3. Thy merciful kindness is evermore towards us and thy truth O Lord is everlasting 4. Great is the Lord and marvellous to be praised there is no end of his greatness 5. He loveth Righteousness and Judgment the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 6. Be glad O ye Righteous and rejoice in the Lord and be joyful all ye that are true of heart 7. I will give thanks unto thee with my whole heart I will speak of thy marvellous works 8. O praise the Lord with me and let us magnifie his holy name 9. Let my heart be filled with gladness and my mouth with praise that I may sing of thy glory and with the rest of thy Saints give honour to thy Majesty in the eternal fruition of thy presence through Christ 10. My mouth shall speak of the praise of the Lord and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy name for ever and ever Amen Vers Praise the Lord. Resp The Lord's name be praised O Almighty and eternal God what worthy praise can I give unto thee by whose goodness I was created by whose mercy I was redeemed by whose power I am preserved and by whose grace I hope to be glorified and for all other thy blessings and benefits which I enjoy both in soul and body and especially for feeding me this day with the precious body and blood of Jesus Christ I will therefore offer unto thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and always praise thy holy Name beseeching thee to pour upon my heart the sweet streams of thy mercy conform my life confirm my faith and guide me by thy grace that thy servant may with strong assurance of thine infallible truth and promised mercy vanquish and subdue whatsoever rebelleth against thy blessed will keep holy my soul and body and let them not be defiled through delectation of sin but that my full delight and joy may be in thee and walk before thee in sincerity of heart and godly conversation that I may here on earth glorifie thy name and after this life with all thy faithful flock possess that everlasting inheritance which thy Son Christ Jesus hath purchased to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen John 5. 14. Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee 1 John 1. 17. If we walk in the light
beseech thee to have compassion on this thy servant who by thy visitation hath been sorely afflicted and by the same even brought to the termination of his days and end of his life be pleased good Lord to have mercy upon him acept of him as the work of thine own hand a Lamb of thy fold thy servant redeemed by Jesus Christ who is willing by thy appointment to leave this miserable World in full assurance of thy mercy in Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins guide him good Lord in this his last journey that he being quit of all the troubles of this transitory World may safely by thy power be conducted to the Haven of eternal happiness into the arms of thy unspeakable mercy to everlasting peace to perpetual joy and there to reign with all the company of Saints and Angels in eternal Bliss for evermore Good Lord we beseech thee by the abundance of thy goodness by the multitude of thy Mercies by the merits of thy Death and Passion by the glorious Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ have mercy upon him deliver him from the burthen of his sins the fear of Death and the power of Hell and give him a quiet and joyful departure and receive him in thy favour to the fulness of Joy in thine everlasting Kingdom to reign with thee world without end Amen Thanksgiving after Recovery O Lord my God and heavenly Father seeing it hath pleased thee of thy infinite mercies to with-hold my life from the pit of corruption and in good measure restored me again to my former health crowning me with mercy and loving kindness my soul and all that is within me shall praise thy holy Name I will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart and sing praise unto thy Name O thou most High for the health of my body I bless thee for it with my soul And good Lord give me also the health of my soul then shall I magnifie and praise thee for thy goodness with soul and body This gentle correction hath brought me nigher unto thee and upon thy forbearance I have promised amendment of life and that I may so do assist me with thy grace give me constancy and perseverance in good works and keep me from relapsing into those sins which induced thy former judgments and though the custom of sin take away the sense of sin and my infirmities being many yet good Lord forsake not my soul in any temptation neither suffer me to fall into such notorious sins again which I have truly repented me of but so guide me by thy grace in the small remainder of my days that I have to live in this World that my life may be ordered by thy governance and always do that which is righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psal 116. I Am well pleased that the Lord hath heard the voice of my Prayer 2. That he hath inclined his ear unto me Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live 3. The snares of Death compassed me round about And the pains of Hell gat hold upon me 4. I shall find trouble and heaviness and I shall call upon the Name of the Lord O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul 5. Gracious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is merciful 6. The Lord preserve the simple I was in misery and he helped me 7. Turn again then unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath rewarded thee 8. And why thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling 9. I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the living 10. I believed and therefore will I speak but I was sore troubled I said in my hast All men are lyers 11. What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me 12. I will receive the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. 13. I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints 14. Behold O Lord how that I am thy servant I am thy servant and the Son of thy handmaid thou hast broken my bonds in sunder 15. I will offer unto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord. 16. I will pay my vows unto the Lord in the sight of all his people in the Courts of the Lords house even in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Praise the Lord. A Morning Prayer for a private Family O God the Father Creator and Maker of all things in Heaven and Earth O Christ the Redeemer of all Mankind and thou O blessed Spirit the Sanctisier of all the Elect have mercy upon us spare us most miserable sinners whom thou hast redeemed and be not angry with us for ever but hearken unto our Prayers receive our petitions and grant our requests for Jesus Christ his sake our only Lord and blessed Saviour We thy poor and unworthy servants in all humility of Soul and Body unfeigned acknowledgment of our bounden duty prostrate our selves before the Throne of thy mercy seat praising and magnifying thy Fatherly goodness for the abundance of thy blessings for the multitude of thy mercies continually heaped upon us beseeching thee for Christ his sake to be merciful to all our sins committed against thy divine Majesty upon the consideration of which we confess we are not worthy to appear in thy sight much less to ask a blessing at thy hands for by reason of our corrupt Nature in us derived from our first parents our inclination hath been prone to commit all manner of sin and wickedness against thy goodness thy Laws and Precepts we have broken both in thought word and deed out of our hearts proceed evil and wicked imaginations which defile the soul and the whole man is altogether abominable the eyes that now look up to thee for mercy have beheld vanity our tongues that now call upon thee have blasphemed thee our hands now lifted up to heaven have been lifted up against thee our feet have been willing to run to commit any mischief by the temptation of Satan our wills being continually averse to thy commandments the Law of sin is in our members repugnant to the Law of our mind making us altogether unworthy of the least of thy mercies and miserable that we are the numberless number of our sins have been multiplyed as the number of our sinful days have increased these things O Lord we have done to our shame and if thy mercy prevent not judgment to our utter destruction of soul and body we must acknowledge thou who art our Creator who hast made us by the precious death of Jesus Christ redeemed us and by thy holy Spirit sanctified us and many are the blessings and benefits which we enjoy both in soul and body therefore by the contrition of ouâ— hearts by the testimony of
DAILY DEVOTIONS OR THE Christians Morning and Evening SACRIFICE Digested into Prayers and Meditations for every day in the week and other occasions With some short Directions for a Godly Life By JOHN COLET D. D. Dean of St Pauls London and Founder of that Famous School near adjoyning The Nineteenth Edition with a brief Account of the Authors Life by Dr. Fuller LONDON Printed for Nath. Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultrey and Edw. Evets at the Green Dragon in St Paul's Church-Yard 1684. The Effigies of IOHN COLLETT Dr of Divinitie and Some time Dean of St Paules Church London who departed this Life Ano Dom 1519 Aged 53 years The Life of that Reverend Divine Dr. Colet sometimes Dean of S. Pauls JOhn Colet Son of Sir Henry Colet Mercer and twice Lord Mayor of London was the only surviving Child his Parents had of two and Twenty Thus GOD though He breaks the Ring left them the Diamond in preserving him alive In his Youth he visited Foreign â—arts and the scattered Perfections â—f several Nations he collected and â—istilled into himself returning home in Oxford he publickly expounded all Saint Paul ' s Epistles with no less profit to others than Applause to himself He taught the Learned there to beat their Swords into Mattocks and their Spears into Pruning-hooks to turn disputes into Doctrines Controversies into positive Divinity Then began the beams of his worth to shine in the Court and King HENRY the Seventh a knowing Prince who generally grounded His favour on Desert for his well Expounding Saint Paul ' s Epistles made him Dean of Saint Pauls in London Here Colet read his former Lectures over again preferring rather to set on the Table wholsome cold meat which had been there once before than to feed his Auditors with flesh half raw though hot from the spit But day shall as soon be without Night as a grand merit without envy attending it Some accused him as not thorow paced in his Religion and confining on Heresie in some Opinions as denying due reverence to Images and Saints c. But as our Colet preferred the immediate going to GOD before mediation of Saints so GOD gave him the happiness to have direct access to his Earthly King without applying himself to the favour of Courtiers King Henry the Eighth had the hearing of his Cause and dismiss'd him with this worthy Testimony Let other men chuse what Doctor they please this Man shall be my Doctor He was as I may say a Luther before Luther for his Doctrine A strict shunner of vice in himself and punisher of it in those that were under him Look in this Treatise to behold his Faith and on Saint Pauls School which he Founded to see his Charity By T. F. D. D. A fruitful Direction and Order of a good Christian Life very profitable to be regarded of all people With sundry fruitful Precepts to be followed made by that worthy man Dr. Colet sometime Dean of S. Pauls REmember first of all virtuous Reader that it is high wisdom and great perfection thy self to know and then thy self to despise thou must know that thou hast nothing that good is of thy self but of GOD for the gifts of GOD's nature and all other temporal gifts of this world which be lawfully and truly obtained well considered are come to thee by the infinite goodness and grace of God and not thy self Wherefore and in especial it is necessary for thee to know that GOD of his great Grace hath made thee his Image having regard to thy memory understanding and will and that GOD is thy Maker and thou his wretched Creature and thou art redeemed of God by the passion of Jesus Christ and is thy helper thy refuge and thy deliverer from all evil and to consider and know the Goodly order which GOD of his infinite wisdom hath ordained thee to be ordered by as to have these temporal goods for the necessity of the body the body and sensual apperites to be ordered by the Soul the Soul to be ordered by reason and grace to know thy duty to GOD and to thy Neighbour and by all common reason if thou do keep this convenient order to GOD and his Creatures they shall keep their order to thee but if thou do break thy order to thee of likelihood they shall break their ordeâ— to thee for how should thy Wife Children Servants and other Creatures with thee which thou hast doing do their duty and keep their order to thee if thou dost not so to GOD and to them And also think thou of a surety that if thy sensual appetite be not ordered by reason and grace thou art worse ordered than a beast for thou then livest out of order and so doth not a Beast which is a great shame and rebuke to thee being a reasonable creature and without the great mercy of GOD it shall be thine eternal destruction wherefore I say consider what thy sin is in the ignorance of God of thy self and of thine own evil and of his holiness and search thine impenitency in this that thou makest too light account of GOD's justice and therefore thy heart waxeth hard it is far without feeling of faith either toward God or love towards thy Neighbour so that thou likest and lovest sin and hast no grief nor hatred for it examine further whether thou hast not neglected GOD's Word either not in diligent hearing of it preached or read or when thou hast heard it in not regarding it nay whether thou hast not had more delight to read unprofitable blessings savouring altogether of the flesh such as thou shouldest â—e afraid once to think of as it would have beseemed thy holy profession and whether thou hast not rebelled against it whilst thou hast withstood the working of it that thou shouldest mortifie the old man changing it and gaining upon it daily till it be framed to Gods most holy will and if thou shalt find these things in thee then judge thy self of sin that thou be not judged of the Lord for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Moreover judge thy self for putting no difference between Gods will and thy corrupt will through which thou hast neglected Gods will and love thine own to fly from his and follow thine own which then hath plainly shewed it self when his was plainly taught to be contrary to thine and yet thou didst yield to it in breathing forth unseemly and ungodly pangs rageings and murmurings against it and therefore judge thy self of this intolerable pride of mind and stubbornness of heart and of those unbridled affections rebelling and murmuring against God and mis-judging of him that reproveth thee Further see whether thou hast judged thy self for neglect of Prayer when thou hast omitted many days never regarding it but as a prophane person hast not once thought of tâ—â— duty therein and when thou hast prayed hast done it in the ceremony without tast or
true Religion is not in the wearing of the habit but with a clear mind in very deed to execute the rules of true Religion and the ordinances thereof If thou be lay and unmarried keep thee clean unto the time thou be married and remember the sore and terrible punishment of Noahs flood and of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha done to man for mis rising flesh and if thou intend to marry or to be married and hast a good Wife thank God therefore for she is of his sending and remember that there be three things pleasing to the Spirit of God that is to say concord between brethren love and charity between Neighbours and a man and wife well agreeing together and having in remembrance that the intent of marriage is not in the beastly appetite of the flesh but to eschew the evil thereof or to have children And if thou have children as much as thou maist bring them up in virtue to be the servants of God for it were better for them and thee not to be born than otherwise In thine Authority busie thee rather to be beloved of thine inferiours than to be dreaded Let thy subjects and servants rather serve and obey thee for love than for dread or need With such a Sovereign goodness govern thy Subjects that they may be glad to serve thee both in punishment and in cherishing Keep a measurable mean be not too streight forget not to keep a convenient measure in all thy works go not to meat but as a reasonable man with thanks to GOD for his gifts and then remember that more be sick and die by superfluities of meats and drinks than otherwise Wherefore eat with measure to live in health at thy meat have no other but honest communication and such as is according to thy knowledge backbite no man be merry in honesty for sorrow and care hath killed many and no profit is therein In no wise swear without compulsion of the Law for where 〈◊〉 great swearing from thence is never the â—â—ague of GOD. In no wise brawl nor chide for Solomon saith Better is a little with joy than much with brawl and contention And he saith An evil person is ever chiding and therefore the Angel of God shall be set against him Be content at all times to give part of that which God hath sent thee for he that will not hear the cry of the poor shall cry to God and not be heard With good providence and discretion see the time where when how why and wherefore thou speakest dost or biddest any thing to be done when thou deemest or judgest any thing to be done in poor or rich behold and consider the cause and not the person be as meek in other mens cause and offences as in thine own sit never in doom and judgment without pity and mercy for while thou hast pity and mercy on other mens offences thou hast mercy on thine own for in what measure thou measurest to others it shall be measured to thee again yet thou must execute judgment for to do mercy and justice is more pleasant to God than to pray or do sacrifice unto him Judge no man by light suspicion prove first and then judge in doubts refer the Judgment and Sentence to Gods might and what thou knowest not commit it to God might have little or none affection of these earthly and transitory things for blessed iâ— the Rich man that trusteth not in mony or treasure remember as as man loveth so he is for the lover is in the thing loved more properly than in himself wherefore if a man love earthly things he may be called an earthly man but if he love properly Heavenly things or God he may be called an Heavenly or a Godly man therefore love God and heavenly things for undoubtedly that is the best and most assured love for they be and ever shall be permanent all earthly things be soon vanished and ended and so the love of them is in vain Also it is high wisdom to fear God for that he saith himself Fear not him that can kill the body and cannot hurt the Soul but fear him that can kill the body and also the Soul and commit them to everlasting pain Wherefore every evening before thou go to bed call to thy remembrance as much as thou canst thy thoughts words and deeds said and done that day and if any have been to thine own profit and to the pleasure of God heartily thank him for by his grace it was done and if any have been contrary to his will and pleaâ—â—re ask heartily mercy and reconcile thy 〈◊〉 shortly to Him by repentance to eschew the everlasting destruction of thy soul For as S. Augustine saith there is not a greater madness than for a little temporal delectation which is soon done to lose the eternal Joy and to be bound to everlasting pain From the which the Almighty Father by his infinite power and mercy bitter passion and infinite wisdom of Jesus Christ and by the infinite goodness and charity of the Holy Ghost keep us now and for ever Amen Jam. 5. 20. Let him know that he which hath converted a sinner from going astray out of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins What Prayer is PRayer is an humble Request either of the heart or tongue or both unto God proceeding from our belief and acknowledgment of his power as God and of his goodness as our Father in Jesus Christ to supply all our necessities with thanksgiving unto him for any blessing received The parts of a Prayer are usually three 1. Humble Confession 2. Petition or Supplication 3. Hearty Thanksgiving 1. Confession Which is an humble and penitent repetition of our sins and wickedness with an acknowledgment of punishments and miseries thereby deserved and with an earnest desire and prayer for absolution and that for JESUS Christ alone He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy Prov. 28. 13. I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Psal 32. 5. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1. 19. My misdeeds prevail against me O be thou merciful to my sins Psal 67. 3. 2. Petition Petition or Supplication is that part of Prayer in which we beseech God the Author of all good and punisher of all ill for all the Mercies Comforts Graces and Blessings of this Life and the Life to come and for deliverance from all fears ills dangers and punishments of this Life and the Life to come for our selves and others and all for the merits of Christ Jesus alone and his mediation Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me Psal 27. 8. Hear me O GOD in the multitude of thy mercies
even in the truth of thy Salvation Psal 69. 14. Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse me from my secret faults Psal 19. Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences Psal 51. Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10. 3. Hearty Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is an humble joyful acknowledgment and expression of our thanks unto Almighty God for any mercy or blessing received or promised and for preservation and deliverance from any calamity danger or distress with denial of our own merits of the least of these and a magnifying of the greatness and goodness of GOD unto us in and through Jesus Christ Give thanks unto the Lord and call upon his Name Psal 105. Whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord JESUS giving thanks to God the Father and by him Col. 3. 17. My mouth shall daily speak of thy Righteousness and Salvation for I know no end thereof Psal 71. 13. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders he doth for the children of men that they would offer unto him the Sacrifice of thanksgiving Psal 107. O Lord thou art my God I will exalt thee I will praise thy Name for thou hast done wonderful things Isa 25. 1. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits he hath done unto me I will take the cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the LORD Psal 116. MOST Comfortable Prayers FOR Sunday Morning O Lord my God and heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy Holy Spirit to a true acknowledgment of all my sins that my prayers may be heard of thee in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Psalm HEar me when I call O God of my Righteousness for thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble Have mercy upon me and hearken unto my Prayer My voice shalt thou hear betimes O Lord early in the Morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness neither shall any evil dwell with thee Therefore O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed Turn thee O Lord and deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake For in death no man remembreth thee and who will give thee thanks in the pit Wherefore away from me all ye thâ—â— work vanity for the Lord hath heard thâ— voice of my complaint The Lord hath heard my petition the Lord will receive my prayer For why my righteous God tryeth tâ—â— very heart and reins And my help cometh of God which preserveth them that are true of heart Therefore will I give thanks unto theâ— O Lord with my whole heart and I wâ—â—â— speak of all thy marvellous works I will be glad and rejoyce in thee yâ—â— my Songs and praise will I make of thâ—â— O thou most Highest For God is a Righteous Judge strong and patient and God is provoked every day If a man will not turn he hath bent his Bow and will whet his Sword and make it ready Morning Prayer MOst mighty and gracious God which hast brought me out of the Nights darkness into the light of thy Truth to see the light of thy Love that I may rejoyce in the day of my visitation and Salvation whereby the day spring from on high hath visited me and in the day of Salvation thou wilt succour me This day make me hear thy voice and not harden my heart through unbelief or deceitfulness of sin but that by Faith I may enter into thy promised rest give grace unto me O Lord and to all thy people to walk warily diligently and dutifully in my vocation to do such good works wherewithal thou mayest be well pleased and that walking in thy ways I may work out my salvation with fear and trembling and that all my meditations thoughts words and works may tend to the edifying of my Christian Brethren the discharge of my duty the consolation of my conscience and the glorifying of thy most holy Name which art my God my guide my saviour and defender to whom be all Praise and Glory Power Might Dominion and Majesty now and for ever Amen Morning Prayer I Yield thee humble and hearty thanks O heavenly Father in thy Son Jesus Christ for thy innumerable benefits poured upon my Soul and Body and that thou hast kept me this night past from many evils both Spiritual and Corporal and of thy great mercy dost offer and give unto me time and space to repent and amend my life so as I might live henceforth not as I will but as thou wilt and as my body doth draw continually nearer and nearer to the end the grave I mean so my soul might approach unto his end that is Heaven and not Hell for in one state we stand not still but either we are nearer the happy state of Life or else the unhappy condition of Death Eternal Wherefore O my dear Father I beseech thee to be merciful unto me and as of thy goodness thou givest me time to repent so of the same thy goodness in Christ I humbly beseech thee to give me thy gracious gift of true holy perfect and perpetual repentance that I may more and more lament my former sinful life trusting unseignedly in the rich mercies of thee my God through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ for the pardon of all my sins And grant O Lord I beseech thee that I may unseignedly purpose and effectually labour to amend my life this day and so long as I have to live to the praise of thy Name and the good example of others And forasmuch as thou knowest my weakness my ignorance and great untowardness to carry any cross or affliction that Thou wilt of thy merciful goodness so temper and order all things towards me this day and ever that I be never tempted or proved further than I shall be able to bear but so to help me in the same as may be most for thy Glory and my comfort And although O God thy Goodness Mercy and Truth to Mankind in all thy Works doth abundantly appear yet herein chiefly Thou declarest thy self to be most favourable merciful and gracious that not suffering us to walk in darkness ignorance and blindness Thou hast given us thy most holy and blessed Word to be a lanthorn to our feet to lighten our steps in the path-way of everlasting Life lest we should walk in the shadow of death In which thy most blessed and sacred Word thou hast finally and perfectly set forth unto mankind so much of thy glorious Majesty as was expedient for us to know and not only
that sin may no more prevail with me and that Satan mine old enemy may well perceive that he hath neither part nor fellowship in me but that I am both Body and Soul altogether thine to whom O my sweet Saviour with the Father and the Holy Ghost be ascribed all power glory and honour for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to the Holy Ghost O Holy Spirit worthy of all honour which makest up the Almighty Trinity which proceedest from the Father and the Son and art equal to either of them in glory but differing from them but only in property of person which of thy goodness forgivest the sins of them that amend which with thy holy breath cleansest mens minds comforting them when they be in sorrow cheering them up with pure gladness when they be in heaviness leading them into all truth when they be out of the way kindling in them the fire of charity when they be a cold knitting them together with the glue of peace when they are at variance and garnish them with sundry gifts which profess the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ by whose working all things live which live indeed whose delight is to dwell in the hearts of the simple which thou hast vouchsafed to consecrate for Temples to thy self wherefore I do beseech thee O dear Father to maintain those thy gifts in me and to increase them daily more and more that by thy Governance the lusts of the flesh may dye in me and the desire of the Heavenly Life may quicken and increase Let me so pass I beseech thee O my God through the misty desart of this world thy light go before me as I may never be desiled with Satans vices nor be intangled with any Errors disagreeing from thy Truth which the true Catholick Church hath delivered unto us by the instinct of thee which livest and raignest with the Father and the Son everlasting to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen A fruitful Prayer to God O My dear Lord and God what is this World it is evil it is a place of vain pleasure a cage of iniquity or rather lump of misery and what am I Lord what am I but a friend of this present evil World and an enemy to thee what am I but a child of wrath and son of darkness so glued to sin and lymed with iniquity that my body is a body of sin what then O Lord shall I do shall the mountain of sin oppress me or the world with the baits of vanity so choak me that I shall never like an Eagle fly to the carkass nor be able to cry for help to thee the only Morning Star which are wont to spread forth the beams of comfort unto the needy in time of extremity O Lord my God give me the wings of Faith to flee unto thee and pour upon me the dew of thy blessing that I may bud and bear the fruit of holiness through the operations of thy gracious beams Give me thy Grace that I fail not in my vocation that I may do good and eschew evil and so make good that vow which I made unto thee in my Baptism Save me from falling and stay my feet from slipping by thy holy Word which is the glass of thy Will that being guided over this misly desart I may arrive at the land of Promise and Palace of rest in a lively faith through thy dear Son Jesus Christ to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the Church and true worship of GOD. O Most gracious God and loving Father look in favour I do beseech thee upon the Church generally dispersed throughout the whole World and whom by the malice of Satan and tyranny of Antichrist thou seest continually assailed with many and great dangers Be thou therefore O Lord a castle of defence a buckler and rock strong and forcible to withstand the force and fury of all adversaries that rise up against it And for the better comfort endue it with faith unfeigned wherein it and every member thereof may safely run and repair under the shadow of thy sacred wings whensoever perils approach Graciously guide and govern it by taking the defence thereof into thine own hands to whom it specially and alone belongeth and let it hold on the true course of professing and practising of thy true Religion that the adversaries thereof may have no cause to condemn it through sin which howsoever it may seem to dwell in the most godly while we live here yet let us always have an eye and diligent watch over all our thoughts words and works that our light may shine to thy Glory our good and example to others in Peace and War in Comfort and Calamity and not to be dismayed at any noise and report of the greatest danger whatsoever Thou art O Lord my God my only comfort and riches what am I that I dare speak unto thee I am thy poor servant yea and much more poor and vile than I either know or dare shew forth and yet Lord I remember this one thing that I am nothing that I have nothing and that I am nothing worth Thou alone art Good thou alone art Righteous thou alone art Holy Thou knowest all thou dost all thou fillest all only the wicked thou sendest empty away remember O Lord thy tender mercies and fill me with thy favour Thou wilt that none of thy works should serve in vain for how can I stand upright in this wretched world unless thy mercy and favour hold me up turn not therefore thy cheerful countenance from thy servant defer not to help me from day to day withdraw not thy comfort that my Soul be not as the thirsty Land but teach me to do thy Will for that thou O my God art my wisdom and knowest what is meet and convenient for me to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all Glory for ever Amen Prayers for Sunday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy name for ever dispose my heart and open my lips c. A Psalm HOW long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever how long wilt thou hide thy Face from me How long shall I seek counsel in my soul and be so vexed in my heart how long shall mine enemies triumph over me Consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death For why my trust is in thy mercy and my heart is joyful in thy salvation Therefore will I sing of the Lord because he hath dealt so lovingly with me yea I will praise the Name of the Lord most Highest I will thank the Lord for giving me warning my reins also chasten me in the Night season I have set God always before me for he is on my right hand therefore I shall not fall Wherefore my heart was glad and my Glory rejoyced my flesh also shall rest in hope For why thou shalt not leave my soul in Hell neither
mind and heal my soul of all unbridled desires and sins that being inwardly healed and purged throughly I may be made fit to love strong to suffer and constantly to continue And above all things grant that I may have rest and peace in Thee for thou art the true peace thou art alone the quietness of mind and without thee all things are hard and troublesome In this peace that is in thee alone which art the chiefest and everlasting felicity I will repose my self both now and for ever and constantly persevere and continue in the same through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer not to distrust the mercy of God THY mercy O Lord my God endureth for ever and thy loving kindness towards thy Children is not able to be uttered the truth of thy promise never faileth thine Elect Thou hast made calm the troubled waves of wavering thoughts which overwhelm my soul and brought me to the quiet Haven of thy merciful protection and defence and hast delivered mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling and my heart from distrust O Lord my God and loving Father let this thy great mercy and loving kindness shewed upon me never depart out of my mind and heart but that I may be thereof continually mindful all the days of my life And for these thy unseparable mercies towards me grant good Lord that I may have a thankful heart to render due honour praise and thanksgiving unto thy Majesty acknowledging from the bottom of my heart thy wonderful works in me And that I may hereof be more assured I beseech thee good Lord that as thou hast begun to deliver me so I may feel more and more daily thy good will and mercy towards me increase in me true understanding of thy heavenly Will and thy blessed Word strengthen my faith in thy loving promises that I may be assured of thy protection and mine election and salvation Make me daily more and more to love Thee my dear Father and God unâ—eignedly for all thy goodness shewed unto me to have my full delight and joy in thee and walk before thee in sincerity of heart and godly conversation that I may here on earth glorifie thy Name and after this life with all thy faithful flock possess that everlasting inheritance which thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord hath purchased to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to be always bent to Heavenly things O I would to God that that day might once Shine in the which I might see my Redeemer and all these temporal days would end for the days of this world are few short full of evil and sorrow where man is defiled with many sins oppress'd with griefs and cares disturbed with thoughts wrap'd in vanities compassed with errours molested with temptation drowned in sensuality and crucified with Poverty O when shall there be an end of these manifold and miserable labours when shall I be delivered from the miserable bondage of wickedness when shall I only remember thee O Lord when shall I fully and perfectly rejoyce in thee when shall I be out of all danger and delivered from all grief of Body and Soul and come to true liberty when shall I rest in that quiet secure and undisturbed peace where peace is both within and without in all things O Lord Jesus when shall I see thee behold the Glory of thy Kingdom which thou hast prepared for thine Elect from the beginning I do wish to be joyned to Heavenly things but temporal Pleasure and mortal passions keep me back from them In mind I would fain vanquish all wickedness and vice but yet I am constrained to be subject to the froward flesh and I unhappy wretch am at controversie with my self for whilst my soul aspireth upward my flesh draweth downward O what passions do I inwardly suffer For when my soul beginneth to contemplate of Heavenly things then presently heaps oâ— carnal thoughts withdraw me from Prayer O my God do not linger from me depart not in anger from thy servant Thunder forth thy Lightening-bolt and disperse my worldly thoughts abroad and drive away all the temptations of mine enemy Turn my senses unto thee O my dear Father and make me to forget all earthly things Grant that I may cast of all sinful thoughts and fantasies O eternal verity succour me to the end that no vanity do tempt or remove me from thee O heavenly Father help me for all vanity and impureness melteth before thy face which livest and raignest ever one God in Power and Glory world without end Amen An Evening Prayer O Eternal God and merciful Father hear my voice and listen to my Prayers and forgive all my sins which this day I have done in the sight of thee and be not angry with thy servant for ever but listen unto thine only begotten Son which maketh intercession to thee for me for his sake hear me and have mercy upon me defend me this night of thy merciful goodness from unclean and troublesome spirits and from the snares and illusions of the Devil preserve me from all dangers and save my Body and Soul from destruction and grant that this night I may sleep quietly without grief or trouble that in darkness I may behold with the eyes of my heart the light of thy countenance shineing upon me for in thee alone do I trust Thou art my Lord and God into thy hands I commend my soul and body now and ever Therefore O Lord let thy unspeakable mercy preserve me thy endless sweetness rejoyce me thy heavenly truth strengthen me thy knowledge embrace me and thy goodness keep me now and evermore Amen Prayers for Munday Morning O Lord my God and Heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy Holy Spirit c. A Psalm HElp me O God of my Salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sin for thy Names sake O remember not mine old sins but have mercy upon me and that soon for I am come to great misery My Soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh rejoyceth in the Living God Blessed are they that dwell in thy House they will be always praising thee Preserve thou my soul therefore O my God and save thy servant that puts his trust in thee O comfort the soul of thy servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul For thou Lord art good and gracious and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee And blessed is the man whose strength is in thee and in whose heart are thy ways O Lord I have cryed day and night before thee O let my Prayer enter into thy presence incline thine ear to my calling And be merciful unto me O Lord for I will call daily upon thee for thou dost wondrous
it obedient unto thee From suddain and unprovided death good Lord deliver me by the virtue of thy most excellent and glorious Divinity by the virtue of thine incarnation and by the merits of thy passion and resurrection grant me these supplications which I have made to thee And by thy own and only mediation purchase for me a gracious life and a blessed ending and after my bodily death give me everlasting life with endless bliss that I may reign with thee for ever and ever in the world to come Amen A Prayer for the attaining of a free and quiet mind O Most gracious merciful God keep me I beseech thee from the cares of â—his world that I be never too much inâ—angled therein by reason of the manifold â—hings which this body needeth nor taken with the vain delight of that which doth hurt the soul nor finally broken and overthrown with sorrow I say not from those things which the vain world doth greedily hunt after but from those miseries which suppress the mind of thy servant by a common and penal course of mortality and so withdraw me that I cannot enter into by the freedom of thy Spirit O my God which art sweetness unspeakable make all fleshly joy which withdraweth me from the love of eternal things to be grievous and odious unto me Let not flesh and blood O my God let not flesh and blood overcome me Let not the World and the vain glory thereof deceive me nor Satan with his subtilty supplant me Give me strength to resist patience to endure and constancy to persevere unto the end Grant me for the comfort of thy Word the most comfortable Oyntment of the Holy Ghost And for the lust of the flesh pour on me the love of thy Name The very meat drink and apparel with other things necessary for the nourishment of the body are even burthensome to a fervent spirit But grant O Lord that I may use those things moderately and never be snared with an over-greedy desire of them All things are now to be rejected for their nature would decay Again to covet superfluous and every pleasing thing thy sacred Commandments do forbid for the flesh would insult over the spirit Wherefore between those things let thy hand direct me O Lord and teach me to do nothing out of measure Grant this O most merciful Father to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory Amen A Prayer for Hope O Eternal Father the author and giver of all Hope and Comfort I beseech thee to fill me with all joy and peace in believing that I may abound in hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost â—nd above hope in hope believing â—ay never doubt of thy Promises but in sure confidence of heart apply to my self â—he remission of my sins and believe veriâ—y that I please thee in Jesus Christ and â—oking in a certain and strong hope for â—e salvation of my soul in the life to â—â—me And albeit the helps and happiâ—ess of this present world appear not unâ— me yet I beseech thee O Lord let me â—â—â—â—tain a stedfast hope among all the terâ—rs of conscience and never suffer the same to be taken away from me by any snare of Satan O thou only begotten Son of God which hast loved me and given me everlasting comfort in hope through grace Comfort my heart and establish my heart in every word and good work that I stick not uncertain neither be tossed between hope and fear but may hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope unto the end And assist me O my God and Father I beseeh thee that in all the ways of temptation and troubles in this world I may patiently depend on thee looking for corporal deliverance according to thy will And though the same come not as I wish but be kept from me for a season yet let me never doubt of thine aid and deliverance but hope that coming it will come And I beseech thee O Lord to grant me thy grace that having this hope I may purge my self from all offensive things to thee and serve thee my loving God through Jesus Christ mâ— Lord and Saviour for ever Amen A Prayer against the Power of Satan O Lord my GOD how do we daily pass the limits of thy will We sin at least seven times a day and pledge Mother Eva in the dregs of nature This is the frailty of the flesh and this is the weakness of all Adam's issue A miserable case O Lord unless in thy mercy thou wilt wrap us and cover us with the white rayment of thy Grace that we being thine may never despair for any brunt of stormâ—ng Satan be it never so perillous O â—ord save me in thy mercy behold me â—ave pity and compassion upon me and â—ark not my steps that are crooked but â—ast the eye of thy favour upon thy Son Christ who was content to suffer the â—leeding pains of the Cross to satisfie thy â—rath and to deliver us from the sting of â—hellish conscience Wherefore I beseech â—ee O Lord and most dear Saviour not 〈◊〉 observe mine iniquities but to wash â—e from the guiltiness of sin in the â—â—ood 〈◊〉 thy mercies and so to save me that â—â—ing dead in iniquity and yet saved 〈◊〉 thine infinite pity I may give 〈◊〉 glory unto thee and sing with Our â—other the Church that Salvation belongeth unto thee O Lord to whom be praise and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for the desire of a Godly Life O My Lord God how happy were I if I might never hereafter in thought word or deed commit the thing that should displease thy Divine Majesty That life is the longing of my soul and the substance of my wish and the effect of my desire my heart coveteth to see that blessed time and my joys then should be such as no mortal man can tell Truly Lord to know thee with the Son and the Holy Ghost is the true perfection of eternal life the end of all blessedness and the summ of all delights No eye hath seen nor ear hath heard nor hath it pressed into the depth of any mans understanding to value the inestimable charity delectation and pleasure of the same felicity when we shall behold the Majesty of God face to face And verily most glorious God I have reposed this hope in my heart and do assure my self through faith in thee that these eyes wherewith I read these lines shall see that Glory and this flesh wherewith I am cloathed in corruption and nouâ—led in mortality shall be a member of that immortal Kingdom Unto the which Lord at thy appointed pleasure bring me to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all Power and Glory for ever and for ever Amen An Evening Prayer O Omnipotent and eternal God Father Son and Holy Ghost three in Persons and one in Substance and from everlasting I extol thy sacred Majesty I praise thy unspeakable
of vanity what is my heart but a filthy prison of corrupt thoughts What is my mouth but a stinking chanel of vain words what are my feet but chariots to bloodshed what are my hands but battlers with charity what is my head but a castle of wicked devices and what is my life but a fardel of iniquity I am nothing better than a dead tree the root is perished the bough wither'd being good for nothing but for the fury of the flame what then good Lord shall it be so what shall I burn sweet Jesus O save me for thy Names sake and quicken â—me create a new heart within me that I may bring forth much fruit and for ever flourish like a Tree planted by a river side O pour the Oyl of Grace into my defiled heart and season it with the salt of thy mercy lest the fume of mine iniquities ascend up to thy nostrils and provoke thy fury against me Pour down some drops of thy precious blood from the clouds of thy Mercy to quench out the angry flame of sin which of my self I am not able to put out by the virtuous water of any merit O Lamb of God let me eat thy flesh and drink thy blood that I may live by thee and cloath me in the wooll of thy mercy that no winter or storm of sin do pinch my silly soul Thou O God art full of compassion and long-suffering which continuest thy mercy for thousands taking away iniquities sins and offences Thou callest us after thy wonted mercy by thy Word to repentance and hearty conversion for unto all and every one is repentance and forgiveness of sins preached in thy Name therefore unto thee O most merciful Father do I cry desiring thee to look back upon me thy unworthy servant with the eyes of pity even as thou looked'st back upon the sinful woman in the banquet likewise favour thou me O Lord as thou didst the Publican who standing afar off smote his breast and said Lord be merciful unto me a sinner And grant O Lord that among the fears and terrours of conscience I may take hold of thee by a lively Faith and never in the sight of conscience do yield my self and despair but upholden by the voice of the Gospel I may flee unto thee my Redeemer and have by faith peace with God And thou my Saviour which hast suffered for me in the flesh give me grace that likewise in the same mind I may be arm'd for the mortifying of my flesh that henceforth I may live not after the lusts of men but after the will of God and keep the Devil under O LORD that he compel not my troubled conscience to despair either by heaping or ripping up mine offences or extenuating thy mercy and grant that I may come unto thee by hearing thy word unto Repentance that thereby the Angels in Heaven may continually have occasion to rejoyce before thee which livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen A Prayer for the Aid of GOD's Holy Spirit O Dear Father forasmuch as every man living is of himself before thee but as a beast neither knowing thee nor the things concerning their duties unto thee I as one of the most perverse filthy and corrupt do here humble my self before thee begging at thy hands that thou hast promised to give unto as many as ask it of thee thy holy Spirit that heavenly Comforter which revealeth thee and thy will to the simple and ignorant which also stireth up the minds and inward affections of thy children to call upon thee by preparing their hearts and opening their mouths to celebrate thy Name bestow it good Father bestow it upon me thy unworthy servant and upon all thy children and grant that although all of us are of corrupt affections and polluted lips yet we may be sprinkled with that Heavenly Hyssop that we may have our hearts cleansed of the corrupt affections of this World and the eyes of our understanding opened that we may see the good things we should ask and our feet that are fettered with the cares of vain things may be set at liberty that we may walk the right way unto the Kingdom of Heaven and that the hands of our souls may apprehend take hold of the Righteousness of thy Son Jesus Christ that by the aid of the same Spirit we may cast off all impediments letts and incumbrances that detain us from coming unto thee Sanctifie me within without wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow let thy truth and thy spirit meet together in my soul that my prayers may enter into thy presence and that thine ears may incline unto my humble petition so shall I declare thy loving kindness in the morning and thy truth in the night season Thou knowest whereof we be made thou forgettest not that we are but dust and unprofitable children not fit apt nor able of our selves to pray unto thee and praise thy Name therefore good Lord allure me unto thee to seek thee and grant that with my whole heart and mind I may always rejoyce and be comforted by thee for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to acknowledg God in his Works O Most mighty and eternal God thou by the creation of the world and all that therein is hast sufficiently declared thy self to be the everlasting and Almighty God for that these things do far pass the reach of mans wisdom and not herein only hast thou declared thy self to be God but in that also that thou dost continually guide and govern the same and all things of thee created Seeing therefore O most merciful Father that we have both in our selves and also in thy creatures so manifest Testimonies that thou only O Lord art that eternal and loving God which dost reign in all thy creatures guiding and governing them by thy Heavenly Providence Grant I do beseech thee that my heart may be hereof fully assured to acknowledge thee not only to be God eternal who hast created all things but also that I may in heart be fully perswaded that thou O Lord dost govern all things according to thy most blessed will so that nothing can be done in the whole world without thine appointment and that thou hast such a singular care over thine Elect so that not so much as an hair of their heads shall fall without thy Providence Grant therefore O Lord I beseech thee that I may hereof be fully assured in my Heart and Soul and that I may in all my doings set thee before mine eyes acknowledging thee to be my only Lord and Father and by the working of thy holy Spirit in me I may be confirmed in Faith comforted in Soul and lightned in Understanding that always here on Earth I may glorifie thy holy Name and after the dissolution of this my mortal body I may attain thy everlasting joy with thy Elect in thy glorious Kingdom for ever and ever Amen A very fruitful Prayer to
GOD. WE are all Publicans O LORD open the ears of thy favour unto our cry and have mercy upon us have mercy upon us we sin dayly but yet save us of pity save us O shew thy compassion upon me and let me not dye a Judas death let me never tune the doleful song of Cain but ingrave in my heart a full and lively faith in thee that never doubting of thy bounteous mercy I may with a free conscience set Satan at defiance and all his hellish band O merciful Lord hear this my cry and defend me with thy Grace against the power of Satan who roareth of cruelty and lurketh in every corner of malicious subtilty to tear me with the claws of his fury and merciless envy Defend me with faith against him O Lord lay the plaister of comfort to my wounded conscience and cover me with the wings of thy favour that I may live and die in thee and so be blessed for ever to whom O Father with thy dear Son and the Holy Ghost be all power for ever A Prayer to Jesus Christ O My Lord God and sweet Saviour Jesus Christ grant unto me most frail sinner and miserable wretch thy grace and mercy and that I may ever have present before the eyes of my soul thy most holy life and behaviour and that for my possibility and power I may in living and manners follow the same And grant me good Lord to profit grow and increase therein to such perfections as may be acceptable unto thee for the salvation of my soul lighten Lord and make clear and bright my heart with the glorious light of thy Grace that it may ever go before me follow me in all my acts so that by thy conduct and guiding I may accomplish fulfil all that may please thy goodness and utterly eschew and avoid the contrary and vouchsafe sweet Saviour so to order and direct all my cogitations and thoughts all my speech and words all my acts and deeds in thy Law and Commandments and in thy Monitions and Counsel and so take me good Lord unto thee that here in all things doing thy will I may by grace become one of thy saved souls to live with thee my Redeemer for ever Amen Prayers for Tuesday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy Name for ever Dispose my heart and open my lips c. A Psalm MY GOD my GOD look upon me Why hast thou forsaken me and art so far from my health and from the words of my complaint O My GOD I cry unto thee in the day time but thou hearest not and in the night-season also I take no rest And yet thou continuest holy O Thou Worship of Israel Wherefore unto thee O LORD will I lift up my soul my GOD I have put my trust in thee O let me not be confounded neither let mine enemies triumph over me O remember not the sins and offences of my Youth but according to thy mercy think thou on me Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse me from my secret faults Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get the dominion over me so shall I be undesiled and innocent from the great offence Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer For thy Name sake O Lord be merciful unto my sin for it is great Look upon mine adversity and misery and forgive me all my sins Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me O hide not thy face from me nor cast thy servant away in displeasure Thou hast been my succour leave me not neither forsake me O God of my Salvation I should utterly have fainted but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing O my God and I will give thanks unto thee for ever Glory c. A Prayer for the remission of sins O Most loving bountiful Father forasmuch as it is most meet right just and requisite that all flesh should praise magnifie and worship thee should without ceasing give thanks unto thee who only art the Creator and Maker of all things who of thine own mercy and goodness didst send down thine only begotten Son to take our nature upon him and to suffer death for our sins thereby to make a recompence for the offences which Man had committed against thee And all this thou didst of thine exceeding bounty and kindness without any desert of Mankind not being so much as by any one Prayer or yet treaty thereunto incited I being therefore O dear Father imboldened with such an inestimable benefit so freely given and bestowed do without any fear at this time appear before thy Divine Majesty prostrating my self before the seat of thy Mercy and with all humbleness of heart and mind do make this my Prayer unto thee despise me not O Lord being defiled with sin and iniquity be â—merciful unto me a sinner lighten the evil-sighted eyes of my mind open the stopped stopped ears of my heart that I may both see and hear understand that which thou teachest do always that thou commandest and that I be not only a hearer of thy Word but a practiser of the same in my life and conversation Save and defend me from all shame and reproach be thou my shield and buckler against all temptations cleanse my mind and thoughts from all uncleanness keep and preserve me from all danger both in body and soul and guide me with thy grace so to spend this my small short and transitory time in this world that I may be a member of Christ and partaker of thy eternal felicity to the which seeing that by mine own weakness I shall never be able to aspire I do here O Lord take hold of that promise of thine where thou hast said Come unto me all ye that labour and I will refresh you this is my hold-fast this is my anchor and sure stay for verily sweet Saviour when I look upon mine own frailness and behold how ready I am to offend then I quake for fear but as soon as I call to mind thy great love and Kindness and thou wilt not the death of a sinner and that in what day soever he doth heartily repent and call unto thee then thou wilt hear him then I am relieved then I am not a little comforted knowing surely that Thou wilt perform that which thou hast promised in faithful assurance whereof I now say unto thee Turn thou me O my GOD and I shall be turned be favourable unto me O Lord be favourable unto me thy servant and heal my soul which is wounded with sin for I do acknowledge mine iniquity and am heartily sorry for mine offences through which I have either in word or deed thought or any other
Of this cup of pride father Adam drank when by his disobediâ—nce he lost thy favour and by the taste of â—n Apple thought to be thy Co-mate in knowing of good and evil Give me thy Grace not only to consider this but also fulâ—y to digest it that detesting it as a venemous Viper I may in humbleness of heart â—erve thee holily and soundly without hyâ—ocrisie who art the pattern of low liness â—nd a mirror of humility continually to â—e looked upon and truly to be followed 〈◊〉 life and lover of Souls give me grace â—lways to hear and hearing thy word to â—ollow thee my Lord and God both now â—nd for ever Amen A Prayer for Gods fear O Almighty and eternal God thy Holy Word teacheth us that thou art not â—nly a Father but also a LORD not only 〈◊〉 Forgiver but also a revenger not only 〈◊〉 Saviour but also a Judge and as thou beâ—â—g a Father a Saviour and Forgiver dost â—ardon and shew Mercy so thou being a â—ord a revenger and a Judge punishest â—nd condemnest Neither doth thy Holy Word set forth unto us a Gospel which comâ—orteth us quickneth us sheweth us Joy ful tidings quieteth our Consciences bringeth us unto everlasting life but also a Law which reproveth accuseth condemneth woundeth and slayeth our Consciences yeâ— and throweth us down head-long into everlasting perdition so that by this we may see that we may not only love thee as Father Saviour and forgiver but also fear thee as a Lord a revenger and a Judge for asmuch therefore O most gentle Saviour and most righteous Judge as nothing doth so mightily put away sin and make us to walk in the way of thy Commandments as reverently to fear thee and to stand in awe of thy Judgments and heavy despleasure I most entirely pray and beseech thee to give me that fear which thou requirest of us in thy holy Word and whereunto thou hast promised so many large and bounteous benefits that I may not only love thee as a Father and honour thee as a Saviour but reverence thee as a Lord and fear thee as 〈◊〉 Judge O Lord all things are open to thine eyes neither is any thing hid froâ— Thee which seest the most inward thought and secrets of our hearts Give me grace O Lord I beseech thee that in all my enterprises I may ever set thy fear before mine eyes and so stand in aw of thee and of thy Righteous judgments thaâ— I attempt nothing whereby I should provoke thy heavenly displeasure against me but so walk in thy fear and in thy holy Ordinance that I may at all times love thee as a Father honour thee as a Saviour reverence thee as a Lord and fear thee as a Judge So shall it come pass that I reverently loving thee as a child doth his Father shall not only avoid all such evils as might make thee my heavy Lord and fearful Judge but also imbrace those virtues which shall both evidently declare my faithful love true honour unfeigned reverence and humble fear towards thee and also thee my Lord and loving Father and most merciful Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the desire of Heavenly things O My GOD O the sweet life of my soul what other thing besides thee ought I to look after what have I not all things if I do possess thee who hast created all things There is nothing of any estimation but only such things as thou hast made for whatsoever grace of â—omliness pleasantness fineness sweetness virtue dignity or riches consisteth in any creature the same proceedeth from thee O God and all things abundantly slow without any lack O Creator most excellent thou art the pleasure of all things thou art the abundant fulness of perfect joy and the unmeasurable Sea of all holy delight Thou art that light and incredible clearness and passing brightness which they do hear see taste and feel that are inwardly joyned unto thee through exceeding pureness of heart while they yet remain in this present exile The loving embracements nor the dainty kisses of the Mother appeaseth the weeping of her tender child nor the pleasant countenance of the husband towards his loving wife are but as shadows and of no value in respect and consideration of the sweet embracements wherewith thou O Lord dost allure the souls of those that love thee But if poor banished men can be so blessed and happy and that they can see such incomparable goodness who see thee but in a dark shadowed glass how much more happie ought we then to judge of thy holy Citizens who see thee face to face those thy beloved children do now most manifestly know and in themselves do feel how much thou dost favour and love them and from the beginning hast loved them thou O Lord it is that doth qualifie gladden refresh and satisfie with a delicate desire of enjoying thy company the hearts and wills of all men and to say all O eternal GOD thou art all in all in that most holy City of New Jerusalem That is the happy day and the singular day whereof thou O Lord Jesus hast spoken to thy Disciples In that day you shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you O day so much wished-for with most hearty desire wherein the holy souls shall be united unto thee O GOD and shall be inspired with a marvellous light of wisdom and transformed into the brightness of eternal Glory O Jesus grant I beseech thee that so long as I am in the darkness of this misty desart that the eyes of my mind may behold and contemplate the most shining light and brightness of thee O God and that I may always praise thee for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to God for zeal in Prayer O My GOD and Father I beseech thee that if at any time I feel in my self any faintness or failing of fervency in calling upon Thee that Thou wilt kindle within my heart the Heavenly heat of thy most holy Spirit that I may burn in the Zeal of thee and thy holy house and grant me thy Grace O LORD to cry with thy holy Apostle for the increase of Faith that being awakned and stirred up by thy most tender and Fatherly affection and instigation I may enjoy the effect of all my godly and necessary desires which thou hast promised to give unto me in thy Son JESUS Christ for whose sake I expect all good things at thy hands make my heart the undefiled instrument of peace and perfect thoughts and my tongue the Trumpet of thine eternal Praise my body the habitation of the Holy Ghost mine eyes the windows to behold the worthy way that leads to Thee my legs the supporters of my body and Soul towards the attaining of thy heavenly Kingdom O LORD thou knowest my hearty desire is always to serve thee and evermore to abide in thy love and favour Grant unto
me LORD of thy gracious goodness that I may live in thy Law walk in thy way and die in thy Faith and that I may clearly be delivered of the bondage of sin and be wholly out of death and damnation give me the peace which the world cannot give grant me the joy which thine Elect do possess sustain me with the comfort that never shall be void erect me with the hope that always shall persist instruct me with thy Word that ever shall endure and advance me to thy Kingdom that never shall have end then shall thy Glory still live in me and I shall never die but Raign with thee for ever to whom O Father be all honour and glory world without end Amen Prayers for Wednesday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy name for ever dispose my heart and â—pen my lips c. A Psalm O LORD my GOD thou hast searched me out and known me thou knowest my downsitting and â—y uprising thou understandest my thoughts long before Thou art about my path and about my â—ed and spyest out all my ways For lo there is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogether My reins are thine thou hast cover'd me in my mothers womb I will give thanks unto thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well My bones are not hid from thee though I be made secretly and fashioned beneath in the earth Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book were all my members written Which day by day were fashioned when as yet there was none of them O how dear are thy counsels unto me O God O how great is the summ of them O enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Keep me O Lord from the hands of the ungodly preserve me from wicked men which are purposed to overthrow my goings Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense and the lifting up of my hands be an evening Sacrifice Set a watch O LORD before my mouth and keep the door of my lips O let not my heart be inclined to any evil thing let me not be occupied in ungodliness with the men that work wickedness lest I do such things as please them But teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness A Prayer for mortification O Righteous God and merciful Father who art so pure and clean that no corruption resteth in thy sight and â—ith there is required in all men the sincere and inward zeal of the soul and an absolute killing of the motions of the flesh and mortifying of all carnal affection look favourably upon me O LORD in whom doth dwell an innumerable troop of foolish fantasies and an heap of sinful affections I find and feel O LORD that though many times to will be present with me yet to perform is not in my power sin doth prevail and death through sin swalloweth me up so that I rest in darkness of sin by giving scope unto mine own perverse will and such is my miserable estate that being thus of my self flesh and blood slattereth it self and concludeth that whatsoever I purpose in an evil desire so that it break not forth into open gross wickedness that I am holy enough that I am as sincere as is requisite and that I stand too fearful of thy judgment When thou knowest O Lord that all and every the least conceit of sin breaking into action in what covert measure or mean degree soever it by and by endangereth my soul and deserveth sudden judgment and therefore let it please thee O Father that as thy dear Son through thy surpassing love hath reconciled all such unto thy favour again that are truly penitent so let thy holy Spirit continually work to the taming of my unbridled flesh and let me by the same Spirit come to a true mortification of all the evils that rise up in me So shall I deny and forsake my self and follow thee so shall I leave my self and come to thee hate my self and love thee conquer my self and serve thee And here thou â—eest O my dear Father that I am most weak and without the continual working of thy grace I cannot in any measure suppress my desires but that they rather the more strongly rise in me I cannot deny my self but I rather deny the working of thy grace in me I do not only not mortifie my sins but sin rather reviveth and becometh strong in me in as much as it bringth forth fruit not unto life but unto death therefore I beseech thee O heavenly Father to sanctifie me that I defile not my self with the filthiness of the flesh nor fleshly things howsoever they may seem to please me let me not be deceived with the pleasing judgments of worldly men who affirm sin to be no sin darkness to be light and light to be darkness Atheism to be Religion and sanctity to be sin O dear Father many are the Enormities that rise up in us and defended not only as things tolerable but as things laudable wherefore I beseech thee to mortifie these evils and let me no longer be sotted with the filthy fashions of this world extinguish the flames of carnal desires repress the rageing lusts of the flesh and grant that I may with shame and with due watchfulness avoid all things that have but the appearance of evil but being thus inwardly subdued I may make outward profession that whatsoever I do it may be simply grounded upon a good conscience and let me still retain this in memory O Lord that I cannot follow mine own will and thy word that I cannot impart my affections to the deed of the flesh and the works of the Spirit that I cannot walk in darkness and light in the way of death and in the way of life wherefore O most dear Father direct me in my whole life and separate me from the World and worldly things and let me dwell with thee in all Godly meditations and contemplations and let me use the things of this world as I used them not and being thus truly mortified in the body and quickned in the spirit I may look in continual watchfulness for the dissolution of this my mortal body that my soul may ascend and in the end both soul and body may for ever more enjoy the eternal joys of Heaven Amen A Prayer against desperation O Most merciful GOD greatly have I sinned and alas am guilty of many crimes therefore unto thee do I cry O most holy Father and eternal God keep me in thy Name that in Temptations and extremities I never faint in courage Moderate and mitigate my vexations let them come to a joyful end that I fall not into the most heinous sin of incredulity and despair O Christ
charity with thee and my Heavenly Bridegroom Christ Jesus to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be ascribed all power and glory for ever and ever Amen Prayers for Thursday Morning O Lord my God and Heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my Heart open my Lips and give me thy Holy Spirit c. A Psalm SAve me O GOD for thy Names sake and avenge me in thy strength Hear my Prayer O God and hearken to the words of my mouth An offering of a free heart will I give thee and praise thy Name O Lord because it is so comfortable I will praise God because of his Word I have put my trust in God and will not fear what flesh can do unto me In Gods word will I rejoyce in the Lords word will I comfort me For thou hast delivered my soul from death and my feet from falling that I might walk before thee in the light of the Living Therefore will I call unto the most High God even unto the God that shall perform the cause which I have in hand He shall send from Heaven and save me from the reproof of him that would eat me up He verily is my strength and my Salvation he is my defence so that I shall not greatly fall For the greatness of his mercy reacheth to the Heavens and his truth unto the Clouds Wherefore my soul thirsteth for him my flesh also longeth after him in a dry and barren land where no water is Thus have I looked for thee in holiness that I might behold thy power and glory For thy loving kindness is better than the life it self my lips shall praise thee My soul shall be satisfied even as it were with marrow and fatness when my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips Because thou hast been mine helper therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce Glory be c. A Morning Prayer O Heavenly Father which like a diligent Watchman attendest always upon thy children whether they wake or sleep and mightily defendest them not only from Satan that old enemy of mankind but also from all other their adversaries so that through thy Godly power they be harmless preserved I most humbly thank thee that it hath pleased thy goodness so to take care of me thy unprofitable servant this night past that thou hast both safely kept me from all mine enemies and hast given me sweet sleep unto the comfort of my body I most entirely beseech thee merciful Father to shew the like goodness towards me this day in preâ—erving my body and Soul that mine enemies may have no power over me and that so likewise I may neither breath â—peak or do any thing that may be displeaâ—ing to thy Fatherly goodness dangerous â—o my soul or hurtful to my neighbour â—ut that all my enterprises may be agreeâ—ble to thy most blessed will which is always good and godly doing that that may always advance thy glory and â—nswer to my vocation that whensoâ—ver Thou shalt call me from this vale of misery I may be found the child not of darkness but of light and so for ever to reign with thee in glory who art the true and everlasting Light to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all power and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for true sorrow of heart for sin O Most merciful God and dear Father vouchsafe I beseech thee to look down with thy fatherly eyes of pity upon me most vile and wretched sinner which lye here prostrate in heart before the feet of thy bottomless mercy for I have sinned against the throne of thy glory and before thee O Father yet nevertheless forasmuch as thou art the God of all comfort and again desirest not the death of a sinner make me I pray thee by infusing thy precious oyl of comfort into my wounds that I may joyfully run with the lost son into the lap of thy pity for loâ— thou art my hope and trust in whom 〈◊〉 repose my self having in thee full confidence in faith yea and I most vile wretch do here accuse my self unto thee O Father in that I have so sore and grievously offended thy Almighty goodness in the committing of so many grievous and manifold offences I have not kept the least of thy most holy Commandments like as thy righteousness may require the same of me but in what manner soever I have offended against thy eternal Majesty whether it hath been by day or by night secretly or openly O merciful GOD I am sorry for it even from the bottom of my heart yea my soul mourneth that I am not a thousand times more sorry than I am and here in token of true repentance I do knock and strike my heart and say in bitterness of my heart and soul Lord GOD the Father have mercy Lord GOD the Son have mercy Lord GOD the Holy Ghost have mercy and spare me of thy infinite goodness now and for ever and let my heart have part of thy abundant grace so as I may change my sinful life and put off the old man with all concupiscence and that I may die unto the world and the world to me give my soul grace O my GOD to desire in thee only to rejoyce and repose my self and that I may utterly renounce and forsake the vain assistance of this World so that thou mayst find me ready with the good servant in the midnight of death which shall suddenly steal upon me like a thief ere I be aware wherefore be thou to me at that time O Lord a tower of strength a place of refuge and a defensible GOD namely against the face of the Devil who then will be ready to devour me and against desperation which then will be ready to grieve me let then thy comfort cleave fast to me thy mercy keep me and thy grace guide me fetch then again Lord GOD the Father that which thy puissant might hath shapen fetch then again Lord GOD the Son that which thou hast so wisely governed and bought with thy precious Blood take again thou Lord GOD the Holy Ghost that which thou hast kept and preserved so lovingly in this region of sin and vale of misery three persons and one GOD to whom be all glory and power for ever Amen A Prayer for Wisdom O Almighty and everlasting GOD it is thy gift that babes and men of base degree have the knowledge and understanding of thy will and men of profound learning deep study and worldly appearance often want the same It is thou which expellest darkness and givest light which takest away ignorance and plantest knowledge and wisdom denying the same to none that unfeignedly ask it at thy hands without the which nothing can be obtained which good is nor nothing avoided with the evil and that did Solomon very well consider who had a promise at thy hands that whatsoever he asked he should obtain vouchsafe therefore O Lord to send it
down from Heaven where it attendeth about thy fear and replenish my heart with the knowledge of it that I may perfectly know what thy divine will and pleasure is in all things and that I may always direct my ways by rule thereof loving thee and above all things continuing most thankful for all thy Fatherly benefits bestowed and conferred upon me and that prosperity overcome not nor in adversity I be foolishly moved to seek remedy elsewhere than at thy hands only who art my God and who hast promised to give wisdom to all them that unfeignedly ask it O Lord hear my prayer and let my cry come unto thee give perfect wisdom whereby I may truly discern the difference between the Heavenly revelation which is wisdom from above and vain cogitations of worldly wits considering that the one in all things as well in adversity as prosperity continueth most constant stable patient and firm whereas contrariwise the other seeketh with more diligence to avoid the afflictions troubles and calamities which thou Iayest upon thy children but most sweet LORD and Heavenly Comforter grant that it may be far from my heart to think that any thing cometh to pass otherwise than by thy Almighty providence who willeth nothing nor doest any thing but what is most expedient and necessary for the use of the bodies and souls of thy servants which we cannot rightly conceive without this especial gift of thine wherewith for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake endue me that I be not led by fond conceit or deceive my self with worldly experience but governing my self according to thy will and measuring all my actions words and thoughts by the right rule of knowledge in the end I may be found in the number of those discreet Virgins who had their Lamps continually burning and not in the number of those that were taken unprovided that the coming of thy Son Jesus Christ be not terrible unto me but most acceptable and joyful that in the end I may have free entrance into that most glorious Kingdom which thy Son JESUS Christ hath purchased with his blood for all true Believers in him to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the true Worship of GOD. O Most gracious God and loving Father establish my heart and mind in the true Worship of thy divine Majesty Make me to believe thy Holy and Sacred Gospel wherein I am daily and hourly instructed to love fear honour and obey thee to renounce all superstitious ceremonies whereby thy Worship is defaced thy Glory prophaned and thine Honour greatly diminished give me thy grace to hate sin and iniquity and to renounce and forsake the vanities and wanton pleasures of this wicked and sinful world Arm me I beseech thee to mortifie and bring under the rebellious appetites and strange lusts of the flesh and finally give me power from above to withstand Satan the Prince of darkness and all his damnable ministers who by divers temptations provokes and allures us from Godly purity and perfect integrity which passeth only from Christ Jesus to us who is the fulness of our perfection and holiness to all kind of evil impiety and uncleanness by means whereof thy Worship is greatly prophaned and of a set purpose contemned make me O LORD I beseech thee by the power of a fruitful faith to resist and bridle the concupiscnce of my flesh in such sort that my soul may triumph with victory and continue constant in worshipping thee prepare my heart and mind to spread forth the glory of thy Name keep my tongue from all filthy talk and uncomely gestures lest by the exercise of sin I contemn thy Worship and provoke thee to displeasure against me set thou a watch before the gates of my mouth that my lips by grace may be always made open to sound forth thy praise be merciful to mine offences think thou not on mine unrighteousness but of thy clemency forgive thou freely and pardon graciously all my sins make me faithful in Christ JESUS shorten these dangerous days of iniquity increase the number of thy chosen and peculiar Saints hasten thy coming O Saviour Christ that I with the fellowship of thy Saints heavenly Angels and the blessed company of Martyrs may celebrate thy praise and worship thee in thy glorious Kingdom before thy Father my GOD and the holy Ghost to whom be praise and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for Charity O Infinite Charity thou Son of GOD to whom the Father hath surrendred all power in Heaven and earth I have offended thee and endangered my soul desperately for Charity O Charity thou shalt judge the world in equity and I have not Charity abiding within me I love for gain I hate mine enemies I pray not for them that curse me and speak evil of me I have of thy benefits and yet I spare nothing for them that have need O eternal Charity I have hereby incurred the peril of thy just judgment Whereof O heavenly Charity have mercy upon me and quit me from a replying conscience and the court of the Devil for else will mine own life exclaim against me and crave damnation of my uncharitable conversion O Lord my sweet Saviour I beseech thee for thy bloody sweat in the bottomless pit of thy mercy to drown all my transgressions adopt me thy Brother and give me thy holy Spirits testimony as a gage and earnest of mine adoption and election that being free from sin I may serve thee with a free conscience in hope of an unwavering faith in mercy Amen A Prayer for the feeling of GOD's Favour and Grace O My LORD GOD and dear Father I here crave thy assistance and grace that feel all things to work in me contrary to thy will for blind is my mind crooked is my will and perverse concupiscence is in me as a spring and stinking puddle faint is my faith my sinful life increasing and my sins still abounding so as from offending thee O Lord I cannot cease neither day nor night and my sins are heavy upon me pressing me down even to Hell such is the weight thereof moreover when I prepare my self to amendment of life and think stedfastly to serve and please thee even soon after doth my corrupt nature offend and displease thy divine Majesty so that I am prone and ready to run headlong into all kind of sin and wickedness such is my strength such is my force and weakness in performing those things which thou requirest at my hands by reason whereof I am moved to doubt of thy goodness towards me unless thou of thy mercy and pity send thine aid from above and pour into me thy most healthful grace that I may most assuredly and faithfully trust in the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ which is of far greater force vertue and effect in preserving me than all my sins and offences are in condemning and casting me away wherefore O Father as thou requirest thus
Merciful The Lord preserveth the simple I was in misery and He helped me Turn thou again unto my rest O my soul for the Lord hath rewarded thee And why thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me I will offer unto Him the Sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon his Name For why the Lord is on my side therefore I will not fear what man can do unto me The Lord taketh my part with them that help me Therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies It is better to trust in the Lord than to put any confidence in man it is better to trust in the Lord than to put any confidence in Princes The Lord is my strength and my song and is become my salvation The right hand of the Lord hath the preeminence the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass I will not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastned and corrected me but he hath not given me over to death Thou art my God and I will thank thee thou art my God and I will praise thee O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious and his mercy endureth for ever Glory be to the Father c. A devout Prayer to GOD the Father O Most blessed LORD and loving Father I wretched sinner do here ask at thy hands mercy and grace who am in thy sight most weak to stand in thy truth and most frail to fall and to break thy holy commandments by the keeping of which we are known to be thy true servants and by nothing else O most merciful LORD GOD I acknowledge my self daily to break the same but where I have thus offended I humbly ask of thee mercy and forgiveness and Lord for the true performance of the same I humbly ask of thee strength to make me stand strong in faith knowledge to work thy blessed will the power to resist all errour and wicked imagination thy wisdom to know the truth for I confess and know O LORD that all the worldly wit policy knowledge and strength is but foolishness in thy sight Therefore I ask and continually crave O Lord that thy holy Spirit may guide all the imaginations thoughts and desires of my heart so that it may be my spiritual heart and not my fleshly heart for the most perfect among the children of men lacking the wisdom shall not be regarded for the thoughts of mortal men are miserable and our forecastings are uncertain and why this corruptible body is so heavy to my soul that it keepeth down my understanding that it museth most on vain things wherefore good Lord I beseech thee comfort my sick soul that it may walk in thy wayes and work thy will and like as thou knowest the secrets of my heart and the desires of the same and how I would walk in thy truth and work in the works of the same truth so Lord I beseech thee refresh my soul according to thy merciful calling that I may be sted fast in the true faith and that I may never swerve from the holy and most blessed Ordinances of the Church but that I may use them receive them and honour thee in them according to thy most holy will as in things which thou hast left to declare thy love unto us and to assure our hope and exercise our faith that it should not be idle or wavering for all things are possible unto thee though they seem never so impossible unto us O most loving Father I know that by my sins I am not worthy thy blessed comfort and help in this troublesome time of temptation and trying of our faith for that I am as one laden with ignorance not knowing the height of thy high mysteries nor the deceitfulness or subtil arguments of my Ghostly enemy which daily doth assault my sinful soul that I can find no rest therefore O LORD like as thou knowest my will and hearts desire is to serve thee and live and die in thy perfect faith so I beseech thee never to suffer the subtil perswasions contrary to thy truth to take place or root in my heart but like as thou hast created my heart and given me a will to order the same so Lord I most humbly yield the same again into thy hands desiring thee by thy holy Spirit so to direct my ways that they may be acceptable in thy sight now and for ever through Jesus Christ my Saviour to whom with the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to obtain the true love of GOD. O Lord my God teach me thy humble servant teach my heart I beseech thee with what reverence it should think of thee tell my Soul with what delight it should love thee give my tongue some power to pour forth praises unto thee correct my weakness recreate my hope direct my desires finish the work thou hast begun and bring me to the fulness of thy mercy O LORD my GOD I bow the neck of my soul under the feet of thy Majesty and in the lowest degree of reverence do give thee most humble hearty thanks I yield thee praises O LORD although base and bare far unanswerable to thy deserts yet something my weakness is bound to perform namely to settle my mind to be hold and love thee O that my heart did so languish with thy love that it might melt the moisture of my body into tears that the bowels of my soul were so inflamed with thy love that it might consume all drossie desires dry up the very marrow of my bones O that I were sick for the love of Him who dyed for the Love of me LORD although I be not worthy so to love thee yet art thou much more to be loved than I can express therefore do not so deny me of that whereof I acknowledge my self unworthy that thy self be deprived of that thou art most worthy and grant O Lord I beseech thee for thy mercies sake to my soul that it may love thee as thou hast deserved that I may be worthy to give that which thou art worthy to receive so shall I then be worthy of that whereof now I am most unworthy O most dear Lord I feel in my heart a weak warmness of thy love but my prayer is that the coals were throughly kindled with desire and blown with delight into a full flame O sacred fire how comfortably dost thou burn O heavenly Light how sweetly dost thou shine how desirous are they more and more to burn whom thou dost inflame how are they delighted whom thou dost enlighten hear O my God hear O light of mine eyes increase my desire and grant my request stop not thine ears against me because of my sins endue my soul with thy love subdue my flesh with thy fear that I may always think
for Jesus Christ's sake to deal with me and them according to thy mercy and loving kindness and not after our deserts be thou merciful unto me and evermore mightily defend me unto my lives end conducting me uprightly in all my ways for the glory of thy holy Name to whom with thy Son and the Holy Ghost be all honour power and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for the opening of the eyes of our understanding O Sweet Jesus lighten me with the brightness of eternal light and drive all darkness as it were from the mansion house of my soul suppress the wandring thoughts and break in pieces these violent temptations fight thou my God for my defence and vanquish those evil beasts to wit the intieing desires of the flesh that by thy power I may get peace and sing out thy praises in the holy Court of my soul send thy light and truth which may lighten the earth for I am rude earth good for nought until thou enlighten me pour out thy favour from above and replenish my soul with thy heavenly grace O Lord lift up my mind which is pressed down through the weight of sin and stir up the same wholly to the desire of heavenly and celestial things that having tasted the sweetness of supernatural happiness it may greatly grieve me even to think of this world take me O Lord or rather pluck me from all momentany pleasures of earthly and vain things and joyn me unto thee by an indissoluble band of good will for thou alone dost suffice thy friend and without thee all things are vain and of no price in my heart to whom O my Lord God be all glory for ever Amen A Godly Meditation or Prayer O Lord my God I altogether unhappy and comfortless have grievously offended thee how often have I trespassed against thee and how often have I deserved thy displeasure and yet how seldom hast thou punished me how often hast thou been good and merciful unto me how often have I promised and vowed amendment and how little and seldom have I performed it I dare not lift up mine eyes towards heaven because I have sinned against it and in earth I cannot look for refuge because I have been a slanderer and a shame unto it what then shall I despair no for God is merciful and a good Saviour he doth visit them that live in darkness and is a chearful light to them that sit in the shadow of death he willeth us to forgive our brother though he offend seven times yea and infinitely and is more merciful than any man can be return thee therefore unto thy Lord God pray unto him humbly for grace and continue thee to bewail thy sins past because he that loveth thee provoketh thee daily with his gifts to love him and will not leave till he have made perfect his work begun and brought his mercy to full effect in thee what natural cause beginneth his work and leaveth it in the half way imperfect and as by natural order and right course things do proced and increase by little and little from the less to the more even so doth God first dispose us to his mercy and then increasing his goodness daily bestoweth on us in the end the treasure of his grace the inheritance of everlasting joys yea very love worketh in natural causes to bring forth their effects to perfection which if it be so in creatures what will the Creator do which is love it self and infinite goodness he will withdraw thee from thy sins and make thee clean and pure and finally bless thee with eternal life O Lord I come unto thee humbly waiting for thy mercy thou art my hope and help according to thy great goodness and mercy in Jesus Christ have mercy on me now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for perseverance in Prayer O Lord my God according to thy Commandment in mine afflictions and necessities I seek to thee for succour by continual Prayer and calling upon thy Name therefore most dear Father strengthen me by thy holy spirit that I may still persevere in Prayer and with longing desires patiently wait for thee O Lord being assured that although it appear not as yet thou art always present with me and heardest my complaint and wilt when thou seest thy time declare thy self manifestly in renewing my heart with spiritual joy stir up O Lord I beseech thee my sluggish nature to call upon thee continually appointing thee neither the time nor the means of my deliverance but leaving all to thy good will and pleasure I may in the mean time never cease by continual Prayer to call for thy merciful deliverance and when thou shalt mercifully take upon thee to deliver me I may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge thy goodness towards me and that it never slip out of my heart but that I may continue thankful for the same all the days of my life whereby thy glory in me may be declared and my soul relieved though Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen An Evening Prayer O My Lord God and merciful Father I humbly beseech thee in Jesus Christ that thou wilt vouchsafe to hide and bury all my sins and transgressions whatsoever from my infancy unto this present time I have committed and done against thy divine Majesty O Lord be thou my light in darkness then shall my light be as clear as the day O heavenly Father bless me O blessed Son keep me O Holy Ghost three Persons and one God deliver me this night from all sin and evill that may be hurtful to my soul and body that so with confidence to thee I may lay me down to rest and none make me afraid because thou art my Protector O holy Spirit at my last gasp be thou my light yea when my strength faileth my sight departeth mine ears wax deaf and my mouth dumb and when all my senses for sake me then give me some sense of eternal life that I may taste in this mortal body the beginning of thine everlasting comfort and at my departure out of this world I may behold by faith thy divine presence and so sleep quietly to eternal life through Jesus Christ thine only Son my Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen Short Directions before the Receiving of Christ's Holy Sacrament His Blessed Body and Blood SAcraments should of all men be admired and honoured not so much respecting the service which we do unto God in receiving them as the dignity of the sacred and secret gift we thereby receive from God They are the visible signs of invisible graces which indeed is the very end these heavenly Mysteries were instituted for They are the powerful instruments of God to eternal life for as our natural life consisteth of the union of the body and soul so our life supernatural in the union of the soul with God His flesh is meat his blood is drink not by surmised imagination but truly
even so truly through faith we perceive in the body and blood Sacramentally presented the very taste of eternal life For the worthy receiving of this Sacrament these four things are very considerable 1. Preparation or Examination 2. Faith 3. Repentance 4. Thanksgiving 1. Preparation consisteth in self-examination and in an act of the soul reflecting upon it self in a general survey of our spiritual state in grace comparing our present condition which we find in our selves with the word of God by which will quickly appear what good we should have done and the evil we should not have done S. Paul's admonition is that before the receiving of this holy Sacrament there should be a strict examination Let a man examine himself and so let him eat and drink of this Cup. 1 Cor. 11. For he that drinketh unworthily drinketh his own damnation Therefore certainly great is the danger to us if premeditation precedes not this great undertaking Thus saith the Lord Consider your ways Hag. 1. 5. Consider well what you go about for this duty is no perfunctory imployment no exercise by the bye but such a work as ought to be done exactly seriously with deep meditation and study recollecting in privacy and calling to question all thy actions past the omission of good duties and the doing of evil sweeping as it were all the corners of thy heart and view thy self in the glass of God's Law by which quickly will appear thy great and many sins of all kinds whatsoever as want of love and fear of God abusing his mercies and blessings neglect of works of charity piety and justice offending thy God by blaspheming cursing and customary passion Intemperance by gluttony and drunkenness lust and uncharitable desires hatred malice back-biting and all manner of evil imaginations these are they that defile thy soul and except we do as the Prophet commands us Isaia 1. 16. Wash us make us clean put away the evil of our doings before the Lord's eyes and cease to do evil we shall at the last be rewarded with them that had not on the wedding garment Therefore laying aside all carnal security and self-dissimulation Commune with thy self and be still Psal 4. Search thy soul enquire of thy conscience and rip up thy bosome sins and confess them to the Lord in deep sorrow and contrition of heart imploring his mercy stedfastly purposing by his blessed assistance to lead a new life Accuse thy self and say with the Prodigal in the Gospel Good Father I have sinned I am not worthy of the least of thy mercies it is thy mercy I am not consumed And with Mary Magdalene cast thy self down at the feet of Jesus and wash them with tears in tokens of thy sorrow and signs of thy love and be truly sorrowful for so often offending so precious so merciful a God as our God the greatness of whose love can't be measured whose mercy hath no bounds Therefore O my soul contemplate of the great goodness of our good God which hath this day sent salvation to thy soul and calleth thee to this great feast to be partaker of the precious body and blood of Jesus Christ being prepared by humble repentance to receive in faith and joy thy blessed Redeemer giving thanks always to God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ whose mercy is everlasting whose truth endureth from generation to generation 2. Faith which is a certain knowledge with an assured confidence kindled in our heart by the Holy Ghost being assuredly resolved that the free remission of all our sins everlasting righteousness and life eternal is given unto us through the mercies and goodness of Almighty God for the alone merits of Jesus Christ For by Grace are ye saved through Faith and not of your selves it is the gift of God Ephes 2. 8. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Jesus Christ Rom. 13. 24. For as by one man's disobedience all were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Rom. 5. 3. Repentance which is a godly sorrow for sin wrought in the heart by the supernatural grace of the Holy Ghost turning from all our evil ways unto God is meekness and humility of spirit Circumcise therefore the fore-skin of your hearts and be no more stiff-necked Deut. 10. 16. Wash thy heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Jer. 4. 14. Return ye now every one from his evil ways and make your doings good Jer. 18. 11. Let us search and try our ways and turn again unto the Lord Lam. 3. 4. Return again unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine own iniquities Hos 14. 1. Draw nigh to God clanse your hands ye sinners and purifie your hearts ye double-minded Jam. 4. 8. 4. Thanksgiving praising God the Lord for all his benefits and mercies especially for sending his only Son Jesus Christ to die for the remission of all our sins and always to be mindful of the greatness of his goodness and the unworthiness of our deserts Worthy is the Lamb that was stain to receive power riches wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing Rev. 5. 12. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live I will sing praises unto my God while I have a being Psal 104. Accept I beseech thee the free-will-offering of my mouth O Lord Psal 11. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his Name Heb. 13. 15. An humble confession before the Sacrament O Most mighty God and merciful Father which according to the multitude of thy mercies dost put away the sins of those which truly repent and remembrest them no more open O Lord I beseech thee the eyes of thy mercy upon me thy most unworthy servant who in heart earnestly desireth pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and offences the number of which exceeds the ordinary expectation of mercy and such they are as cannot bear any conformity with excuse the total sum whereof is the breach of all thy Commandments both in thought word and deed thy blessings and benefits I have abused thy judgments and punishments not feared the means of my own salvation utterly neglected and most grievously by my wickedness have I provoked thy wrath and indignation against me my life that was appointed for the service of thee the living God hath been for the most part spent in the service of the Devil in the desires and sinful lusts of the flesh my doings have been evil my desires and thoughts wicked and so detestable hath the whole course of my life been that my soul trembleth to look up to Heaven for fear of thy displeasure shouldest thou therefore O Lord be extream to mark what is done amiss and take vengeance for my sins I were as dust before the face of the wind and in justice might be swept away
into the place of everlasting torment But O Lord with thee there is mercy that thou mightest be feared thou art a God of all comfort and consolation a merciful loving and gracious Father ready and willing to hear all penitent sinners that in heart are sorrowful for their sins In the Name therefore of Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer I humbly prostrate my self before the Throne of thy Mercy seat accompanied with no other hope than such as proceeds from the richness of thy mercy that for his only sake thou wilt have compassion upon me for in humility of spirit and contrition of heart I submit my self to thy goodness beseeching thee not to let my sins be a cloud between my Prayer and thy pity thy goodness and my distress but forgive and forget all my transgressions all my mis-doings let them be sins of what condition soever whether sins of my youth or sins of my age sins of my body or sins of my soul secret and open sins notorious and presumptuous sins sins of pride envy hatred malice c. Good Lord remit them all and of thy great goodness grant me perfect remission and absolution for the same for which the Prophet David Out of the depth of my misery I cry unto thee for the depth of thy mercy O Lord hear my petitions and consider my tears the contrition of my heart and the sorrow of my soul and in the merits of his blood that was so plentifully shed on the Cross for penitent sinners wash away the multitude of my transgressions that my soul by thy mercy being cleansed from the stain of sin I may be found a worthy partaker of this great mystery And now O Lord that I am about to receive the blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of Jesus Christ how shall I that am so great a sinner dust and ashes dare to presume to approach thy Table The Heavens in thy sight being not clear and the pillars of the Earth shake at thy presence What then shall become of me miserable that I am Yea Lord thou hast provided a special means and in thy Gospel left us a command Come unto me all ye c. Which command I obey and in confident assurance of thy promise in Christ Jesus I trust thou wilt have mercy upon me in the easing and refreshing of my soul that is wearied with the burthen of my intolerable sins Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin and renew a right spirit within me And of thy gracious goodness direct me in this great action with a reverend and awful fear of thy Majesty that all the faculties of my soul and body may be intent rightly to apprehend and joyfully to receive this eternal food this bread of life this heavenly and wonderful mystery and that by thy grace I may obtain the vertue fruit and benefits of the death and passion of my Saviour and by the same the remission of all my sins and everlasting salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer before the receiving of the Communion O Most holy and heavenly God and Father which by the immortal seed of thy Word hast begotten us to be thy children and with the same as with milk dost nourish us purely as new born babes as also with the divine mysteries of thy holy Sacraments as by a visible word dost confirm and strengthen us in faith righteousness and having so adopted us into thy family continually feedest and nourishest us unto eternal life we humbly beseech thee so to prepare our souls to the due receiving thereof worthily that we may thereby effectually feel taste and feed on thy Son Jesus Christ the true Manna and Bread that came down from Heaven that we may by him have eternal life pardon O Lord pardon our unpreparedness in coming to the participation of so holy and divine Mysteries Make thy Word and Sacraments always so powerful and effectual in our ears and hearts that we may thereby be sanctified and renewed unto all holy obedience unto thy will in the mortification of our sinful corruptions and renewing of thy perfect Image in us unto holiness righteousness sobriety truth knowledge faith and temperance through his most power ful and glorious Resurrection Stablish our Conscience in the assurance of our salvation by the remission of our sins in the blood of thy Son which was shed for us on the Altar of the Cross as a Sacrifice of expiation to cleanse away all sin O Lord seal and confirm this Covenant of Grace in our hearts by these holy Sacraments pledges of thy grace and love towards us that at no time we may stagger at thy promises nor fall away from hope and confidence in thee but being hereby incorporated into one Body we may partake of one Spirit and grow in love one towards another as members of the same mystical Body that we may forgive one another as thou hast forgiven us O Lord make us ever thankful for thy manifold and great mercies in providing unto us such means and helps of our salvation and grant that we may not put any confidence in external actions and exercises thereof in any hope to be justified thereby but that we may thereby exalt our minds to heavenly and spiritual contemplations and by faith be firmly united to thee our Head in Heaven to be made one with thee and thou with us and howsoever heretofore we have transgressed and defiled our selves as well with our natural impurities and actual impieties henceforth being now wash'd and purified in the blood of the Lamb which was sacrificed for us we may have our conversation in Heaven and being new creatures in Christ may have new thoughts desires and delights far from the lusts of our former ignorance and may live ever unto him and with him who sitteth at thy right hand our Redeemer and Advocate and shall return to be our Judge to justifie and acquit us before thee to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all praise c. A Psalm 1. AS the Hart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God 2. O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort according to thy Word unto thy Servant 3. Help me O God of my salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sin for thy Name 's sake 4. O remember not my old sins but have mercy upon me and that soon for I am come to great misery 5. Consider and hear me O Lord my God for my trust is in thy mercy 6. Turn thy face from my sins and put out all my mis-deeds 7. Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies do away my offences 8. Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin For I acknowledge my faults and my sin is ever before me 10. Behold I was shapen in wickedness and in sin hath my mother conceived me