and soule to seek after thee and thy Kingdome with the righteousnesse thereof and then I shall obtain the end of my faith and hope even thy glory and my owne salvation through thee only dear Jesus my blessed Lord and alone Saviour To whom with God the Father and the Holy Ghost three Persons one eternall God and glorious Trinity be rendred as is due all praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen 20. The conclusion to this booke A short Prayer so to performe our duties here towards God that we may obtaine heaven hereafter OH most mercifull Lord God thou knowest my unaptnesse to any good I humbly pray thee to give me thy poor unworthy servant grace so truly to feare thee as not to offend thee so constantly to beleeve in thee and confidently to relye upon all thy gracious promises in all my troubles and necessities and so entirely and sincerely to love and honour thee above all things that nothing in this world may withdraw my minde from thee nor any vaine hopes or earthly desires make mee neglect my service to thee but that I may daily study and strive rightly and carefully to obey thee my Lord at all times diligently to seek thee and know thy will and faithfully to serve and please thee as I ought to doe as long as I live For thou O God the Father lovedst us first and sent thy deare Son out of thy bosome to redeeme us and our sweet Saviour Jesus in his love gave himselfe and laid downe his owne life to save us from eternall death greater love cannot bee found then for one to dye for a friend but thou Lord diedst for thine enemies much more having now reconciled us to the father and to thy selfe I trust being united to thee also by the Holy Ghost by sanctification and true faith wrought in me by that blessed Spirit I shall obtaine mercy through the merits and sufferings of my deare Jesus to live with thee in heaven hereafter to glorifie the great Name of God the eternall Father Son and Holy Ghost to whom bee all praise and honour for ever and let heaven and earth Saints and Angells and all creatures give glory to him for evermore Amen Here is one Prayer more which I joyne to these because it concerned one of my daughters to whom this Booke belonged though it was lately penned upon a very strange accident 21. A thanksgiving to Almighty God for his most mercifull preservation of my noble kinswoman the Lady Eliz. Feelding and of my owne daughter the Lady Eliz. Cornwalleis from drowning under the Bridge and was long under water and one worthy Gentlewoman in the company could not bee recovered This may serve upon any such fearfull accident MOst Mighty God Creator of heaven and earth and the only disposer of all things therein thou art the defender and protecter of all thy children and servants and the gracious preserver of all those that depend upon thee thy power ruleth both by sea and land and thy all-guiding providence directeth all things in the world according to thy own high will and good pleasure and for the good of all them that trust in thee Whereof thou hast given many and mee the unworthiest of thy servants an especiall testimony of thy infinite mercy towards my deare daughter and kinswoman in that great and miraculous deliverance lately of them in the dreadfull danger of sudden death by drowning in the Thames for thou didst mercifully provide and take care to save their lives when they were past sense to take care of themselves or to call upon thee for helpe yet beyond all hope thou didst bring them backe from the gates of death praised for ever be thy most glorious Name and let neither us nor any of our generation forget this thy great mercy Now Lord make us duly to acknowledge all thy benefits and let us not passe them out of our mindes without true thankfulnesse for all thy favours continually vouchsafed unto us undeserved for all which we poor creatures have nothing to returne to thee but devout love faithfull service and carefull obedience with the humble sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving which by thy assistance I will performe towards thee with a gratefull heart so long as I live and for ever Amen 22. A Petition of the Author for herselfe O Lord as Paul said he would readily performe the duty in his charge that lay upon him lest while he preached to save others himself should become a cast-away so dearest Lord I having taken pains to compose many Prayers for the use of others under my care to further them in the constant performance of this duty of prayer which being rightly used will draw many blessings from thee Almighty God I most humbly beseech thee to heare and receive their supplications that call upon thee by these Prayers So Gracious Lord suffer not me to neglect my duty and daily service herein towards thy Majesty but make me carefully rightly and reverently to offer up due praises and prayers daily unto thee in a faithfull and acceptable manner all the daies of my life And give me thy poor servant the assistance of thy grace and holy Spirit to reform all my waies before thee to suppresse and overcome the corruption of my heart the vanity of my mind and to forsake and abandon the love of this vile world with all the deceitfull vanities thereof and to cast off those great superfluous cares and desires after the things of this mutable life which passe away like a shadow or dream Wise Solomon that had the plenty and triall of all things under the Sun tells us what it will prove only vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit Wherefore let me learne with Paul in what estate soever I am therewith to be content and to submit with humble patience to thy pleasure in all things thou sendest who knowest what is best and fittest for me and keep me for repining and despairing in thy chastisements for thou canst heale as well as wound when thou pleasest Therefore I will dedicate my heart and soule and all my endeavours unto thy faithfull service striving to make my calling and election sure by looking after thee my God thy Kingdome and thy righteousnesse which is the only thing needfull This grace grant unto mee O God for Jesus Christs sake Amen The end of the first Book BOOK II. THis Book I began to write at my house at Barking in Essex where I retired my selfe in solitarinesse after the death of my worthy and dear husband Sir Thomas Richardson Knight Lord chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench who dyed at Candlemas 1634. Where shortly after I finished these Prayers following for my owne private use being the fittest imployment for my time who was then in so much heavinesse I call this Book a weekly exercise of Prayer either for a private person or in their owne family To which there are added some other necessary Prayers very
and with all my minde setting my affections not on things that are below but upon heavenly treasures that are above which are permanent and fade not where my sweet Saviour who dyed for mee on earth now liveth and reigneth with thee in heaven for ever and maketh intercession for mee there that by thy assistance I may continually study and strive carefully and willingly to performe all duties towards thee in obeying thy Commandements with an upright and perfect heart before thee and in all true charity being ready to doe good to others as thou commandest and to love my neighbour as my selfe even my enemies for thy sake Most mercifull Lord who knowest our fraile and wretched natures and desirest the conversion not the confusion of poor miserable sinners thou sweet Jesus camest to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance such as I am and to save that which was lost Oh let not my poore soule be lost which cost thee thy deare pretious bloud to save but Lord make mee by true faith lay hold of my redemption by thee and all other thy workes of mercy and though I have grievously offended in thy sight yet I beseech thee with-hold not thy favour from me thy poor sinfull servant but give me the grace of unfeigned sorrow and repentance with a true contrite spirit and a broken heart for all my sinnes committed before thee from the greatest to the least wherein I have displeased thee by thought desire word or deed hating judging and condemning my selfe for so offending thee my Lord God and most earnestly and humbly crave thy assistance that I may now happily returne to thee with a penitent and grieved heart from whom I have so unhappily gone astray by a vaine corrupt mind and sinfull soule whereby I hope in thy great mercy to escape thy just wrath and condemnation due to my grievous offences and may also obtaine thy gracious pardon for all my passed misdeeds with the assistance of thy holy Spirit which I most humbly crave to amend my former faults and to reforme my wayes the rest of my life in all things according to thy blessed will Now lastly O gracious Lord our righteousnesse my sure hope and heavenly Father the fountaine of all goodnesse in whom is all mercy and compassion from thee only we receive all good gifts and graces for thou hearest the prayers and to thee shall all flesh come who understandest our wants before we aske and knowest our wretched natures and disabilities to all goodnesse so that thy grace only must worke both the will and the deed of all that is good in us and then of thine owne mercie accept the same through the merits and mediation of our Saviour Jesus so doubling thy favours towards us miserable mortall creatures whose hearts are vile and false unto our selves and to thee also and our thoughts are only evill continually Therefore sweet Jesus the mirrour of mercie vouchsafe to heare and helpe me to call and draw me to thy selfe and knit fast my heart and soule unto thy true feare devout love and faithfull service for ever that so by thy selfe I may be inabled to run willingly and joyfully after thee rightly and readily to performe all duties towards thee and keep all thy Commandements constantly Oh gracious Lord Holy Ghost our blessed preserver comforter and sanctifier soften thou my hardened heart by thy grace and inlighten my dull and sinfull soule with all the powers thereof my understanding memory will and affection with all saving graces especially as the chiefe means to gaine the rest vouchsafe to inspire me with thy true spirit of grace and prayer rightly humbly fervently and faithfully to call daily on thy sacred Name and to worship thee in spirit and truth even as thou requirest to be served that so by thy favour I may obtaine grace power and strength to banish all wandring thoughts and to vanquish and resist all wicked hindrances cast in by the divell or his agents the world and mine owne corruptions which distract and disturbe my serious and devout attendance of both soule and body in rightly performing this duâ—y of prayer unto my Lord God whereby I may be duly thankfull for all thy benefits and mercies already bestowed on me and mine and also to begge and obtaine the gracious countenance of all thy blessings spirituall and temporall in whatsoever thou seest necessary for this present life and that which is to come but more especially in giving me all saving graces which may fit prepare and further me here for thy heavenly Kingdome hereafter To which my Saviour and Redeemer bring me by all the merits and sufferings and in the fulnesse of thy mercies I humbly beseech thee dear Jesus Amen Amen 1. A sorrowfull widowes prayer and petition unto the gracious protector and defender of widowes and father of the fatherlesse which I composed shortly after the death of my dear husband And this may also serve any other upon the like occasion ALmighty God and most gracious Lord who art full of pity and goodnesse vouchsafe to heare assist and accept the humble devotion and supplication of me thy poore unworthy servant in Jesus Christ thy deare Son Most mighty God whose mercies are above all thy great works and whose power and divine providence directeth and disposeth all things to the best for those that doe love and depend upon thee Thou hast ever been pleased to shew mercie unto me thy poore handmaid the most sinfull of all thy servants and hast taken care of mee even from my mothers wombe and vouchsafed me many benefits and blessings and delivering mee out of very great crosses and troubles still holding me up by thy gracious hand from sinking in the midst of a sea of sorrowes and like a most loving Father in my divers change of fortunes hast at all times provided for me and mine beyond our deserts or the worlds expectation having in thy mercifull goodnesse made me see with comfort all my children who were left destitute now by thy provident provision and blessing well setled for this life All which by thy infinite favours Lord make me ever thankfully to acknowledge and grant that I and all mine may serve obey praise and glorifie thy great and blessed Name for ever and ever And as thou Lord hast stretched forth thy hand of bounty to supply all my worldly wants so dear God vouchsafe more especially to extend thy gracious care over my soule to prevent and keep me from sin and indue me with all spirituall graces so that my whole life and waies may ever be serviceable and acceptable to thy heavenly Majesty And now O Lord since it hath been thy will and pleasure to take away and call to thy selfe my deare husband out of this transitory life before me and to bereave me of him who was my chiefe comfort in this world I humbly beseech thee vouchsafe to take me into thy care and give me grace to choose with
them publicke but have beene lately over perswaded by some that much desired to have them Therefore I have adventured to beare all censures and desire their patience and pardon whose exquisite judgements may finde many blameworthy faults justly to condemne my boldnesse which I thus excuse the matter is but devotions or prayers which surely concernes and belongs to women as well as to the best learned men And therefore I hope herein I neither wrong nor give offence to any which I should be very loath to doe This Booke was written at Chelsey in the yeare 1625. by E. A. at the Duke of Buckinghams house a part whereof was lent me by the good Dutches my most honoured Lady when the great sicknesse was in London A Letter to my foure Daughters Elizabeth Frances Anne and Katherine Ashbournham of whom three were then unmarried only Anne was married to Sir Edward Deering Knight and Baronet My deare Children I Have long and much grieved for your misfortunes and want of preferments in the world but now I have learned in what estate soever I am therewith to be content and to account these vile and transitorie things to be but vaine and losse so I may win Christ the fountaine of all blisse wishing you with me to condemne that which neglecteth you and set your hearts and affections on better subjects such as are above more certain and permanent and feare not but what is needfull for this present life shall bee supplyed by him who best knows our wants and had it not been for your sakes whose advancements love and nature bindeth me to seeke I had prevented the spite of my enemies and forsaken the World before it despised me But though I am so unhappy as to be left destitute not able to raise you portions of wealth yet shall I joy as much to adde unto the portion of Grace which I trust and pray that God will give to each of you to whose mercy I daily commit you nothing doubting but that he will receive you into the number of those fatherlesse he graciously taketh care of if you omit not to serve and depend upon him faithfully for he never faileth them that trust in him God is as free and ready to give as we to aske and contrary to the World he grows not weary of importunate suters but often deferreth his blessings to make us the more earnest for them Neither hath the Lord withdrawn his favour so from us as to leave us utterly desolate to despair but hath graciously raised us comfort by honourable friends to be carefull and deare parents unto us whom God preserve and shew mercy to them and theirs as they have done to us And here I send you a motherly remembrance and commend this my labour into your loving acceptance that in remembring your poor mother you may be also put in minde to performe your humble duty and service to our heavenly Father who hath created us to his owne glory and service and all we can performe comes far short of what we owe unto him yet is he well pleased if we returne for all his mercies but obedience and the sacrifice of praise and calling upon his holy Name Now prayer being the winged messenger to carry our requests and wants into the ears of the Lord as David saith he will praise the Lord seven times a day and prevent the light to give thanks unto God and indeed who can awake to enjoy the light and pleasure of the day and not begin the same with intreaty of the Lords gracious direction in all things and desire of his blessing upon us and all that we have or doe Or how can we possesse or hourely receive so many favours and benefits from God and not offer unto him an evening sacrifice of thanksgiving Or who dares adventure to passe the dreadfull night the time of terror and yeeld themselves to sleep the image of death before they are at peace with God by begging pardon for their sins and craving his protection and care over them in the night I know you may have many better instructers then my self yet can you have no true mother but me who not only with great paine brought you into the world but do now still travell in care for the new birth of your soules to bring you to eternall life which is my chiefest desire and the height of my hopes And howsoever this my endeavour may be contemptible to many because a womans which makes me not to joyne my sons with you lest being men they misconstrue my well-meaning yet I presume that you my daughters will not refuse your Mothers teaching which I wish may be your ornament and a crown of glory to you who I hope will take in the best part my carefull industrie for your present and future happinesse towards which I have not failed to give you the best breeding in my power to bring you to vertue and piety which I esteem the greatest treasure and sure I am it leads you to him that is the giver of all good things both spirituall and temporall to whose infinite mercy I most humbly commend you who I trust will fulfill all your necessities through the riches of his grace and make you perfect in all good workes to doe his will And the God of peace sanctifie you throughout that your whole spirits soules and bodies may bee kept blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ which shall bee the endlesse 1 Thess 5. 23. joy of your most loving Mother Eliz. Ashbournham A Preface or inducement to Prayer THe great God and Lord of Heaven Acts 17. 2â— 27. 8. Cap. 23. 14. 17. Rom 1. 19 20. and Earth whose wee are and whom only we ought to serve hath not left himselfe without witnesse For as much as that which may be knowne of God is made manifest unto us for the invisible things of him that is his eternall power and Godhead are seen by His power Godhead Rom. 5. 5. 8 9. the creation of the world being considered in his workes to the intent wee should bee without excuse Also the infinite love of God is shed abroad in His love Redemption Jo. 3. 16. Jo. 4 9. 10 3. 16. Jo. 15 23. 10. 15. our hearts and set out towards us in the most gracious worke of our redemption in that Christ died for us being sinners and when we were enemies God reconciled us unto himself by the death of his only begotten Son whom God sent into the world that wee might live through him and be saved by his life Christs love greater love then this can none have to lay downe his owne life for us Now there are three speciall things amongst many that doe alwaies binde and urge us to the acknowledgement of God to the love of his Majesty and the often His benefits Of our sins calling upon his holy Name viz. First the multitude and greatnesse of his benefits towards us for
which we ought to give him continuall thanks Secondly the infinitenesse of our grievous sins Our mâ—â—◠◠〈…〉 neâ—â—ssiâ—iâ—â— for which we must of necessity daily aske mercy and pardon from him Thirdly our owne manifold miseries and infirmities for which we are constrained to seek reliefe and remedy The first of thâ—se David considered saying What shall I render unto the Lord for all Psal 116. 12 13. his benefits towards me I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name 9. 1. of the Lord I will praise him with my whole heart all the daies of my life All his Psalmes are full of thanksgiving To the second Christ inviteth us saying Come unto me all ye that are weary and Matth. 11. 28. heavy laden and I will ease you If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the just He is the 1 Jo. 2. 1. 2. 1. reconciliation for the sins of the whole 9. world And if wee acknowledge our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse For the third wee are incouraged by God himselfe saying Call upon me in the day of trouble so will I deliver Psal 50. 15. Isay Matth. 8. 17. thee and thou shalt glorifie me for he will have mercy upon us and heal all our infirmities and when wee are in misery he saveth and delivereth us Now for the performance of our duty in thanksgiving the blotting out of all our offences and the release of our miseries with the continuance of Gods grace and favour in all things the chiefe and only way to find and obtain all is rightly to seek and truly to serve the Lord by prayer who is the author and fountain of all goodnes grace and mercy Every good gift comming from above even from him that freely saith Aske and yee shall receive seek and yee shall finde knock and it shall be opened unto you for hee that is Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him in truth and the prayer of the faithfull avails much if it be fervent for faithfull and devout prayer is a continuall intercourse and communion betwixt the Lord and us and it is like Jacobs ladder by which our prayers make our wants ascend unto God and his mercie descend downe upon us for with the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse and with the mouth we confesse unto salvation but take heed in sending up thy desires prefer the good of the Col. 3. 2. soule before the pleasures or content of thy body and set thy affections on things that are above First seeke the Kingdome Mat. 6. 33. of God and his righteousnesse and all other wants shall be supplied by his mercie according to his will and our necessities And when thou enterest into the house of God take heed thou offer not unto him the sacrifice of fooles but before thou prayest prepare thy self Col. 3. 2. Eccles 4. 17. 18. 22. thy heart and tongue as David did lest thou tempt God to displeasure Be not rash with thy mouth nor let thy heart be hasty to utter a thing before God But ere thou presume to present thy self Psal 108. 1. or service unto the Lord meditate upon these three things First of the reverence we owe to the great Majesty of God Psal 104. in whose presence we are and to whom we must speake this brings humility and lowlinesse of spirit which makes us acceptable unto him Secondly of our knowledge and beliefe of the Lords Esay 65. 24. Job 15. 16 sweet and gracious promises which causeth boldnesse to come unto him with sure confidence of being heard Thirdly of our unworthinesse and what apprehension we have of our owne wants and miseries and the great necessity of Gods helpe and mercy to relieve us This makes us to know and hate our selves and to love and honour God in whom is all our help hope and happinesse therefore with devout reverence zeal humility and true faith flye unto his mercy and cease not to call often as David did seven times a day upon the holy Name of the Lord Psal 119. 164. by whom we shall bee saved Rom. 10. 13. 1. A preparation to Prayer O Everlasting fountaine of all goodnesse and well-spring of grace without whose speciall assistance we are altogether unapt and unable to performe any duty or service that may be acceptable unto thee Vouchsafe therefore deare Lord to helpe mine infirmities who cannot of my selfe pray as I ought but let thy holy Spirit direct and teach me truly to call upon thy divine Name with a penitent and faithfull heart an humble contrite and lowly spirit a quiet observant and recollected minde freed from the vanities and cares of this vilde world or the love of this present life so as I may dedicate my selfe wholly unto thee a living sacrifice faithfully and devoutly to serve thee now and all the daies of my life O Lord make mee to lift up innocent hands with a pure heart and guide thou my lips with wisdome and set a watch of grace before my mouth that my tongue may not offend thee at any time but duly praise thy glorious Name now and for ever Amen 2. A Prayer to the Holy Ghost O Gracious Lord Holy Ghost I humbly beseech thee to fit and prepare my heart and to direct and assist me in the right and true performance of this duty and service now of prayer towards my God Thou understandest my disability of my selfe to any goodnesse neither know I how to pray as I ought except thy holy Spirit teach me Therefore I earnestly and humbly pray thee to give mee thy grace and true spirit of prayer that so I may now and at all times offer up my petitions and praises in calling upon thy great and glorious Name in a right faithfull and acceptable manner to the glory of God and the good and comfort of me thy poor servant in soul and body with the furtherance of my salvation through Jesus Christ my blessed and only Saviour Amen 3. A Preface to any Prayer O My Lord in all humility I come unto thee the giver of all grace thou knowest my unaptnesse to any goodnesse thou hast given me an earnest desire to please thee make perfect thine owne good worke and grant me a ready will and ability to performe my humble duty herein aright that so I may sincerely and intirely love fear and honour thee above all and most carefully obey thy blessed will in all things Good Father let thy manifold mercies cover my infinite offences from thy All-seeing eyes and by thy grace cast all vaine thoughts and sinfull hindrances out of my soule that thy sacred Spirit may direct my spirit to pray with due reverence to thy Majesty confidence in thy mercy with sure trust in thy promises and feare of thy judgements And that I may offer up all my supplications unto thee with unfeigned
Christ THat he will draw near by grace unto Knowledge of God and our selves thy soul to strengthen thee with knowledge true faith unfeigned repentance and perfect charity that thou maiest rightly reverently and faithfully receive this holy Sacrament to Gods Ps 14. 22. 1 Jo 1. 8. glory and thine owne comfort and salvation Now when thou commest to communicate and receive this blessed Col. 3. 2. Rom. 12. 1. 2. 1. 15. Sacrament of the Lords Supper First banish all vaine and earthly thoughts and recollect thy heart to the serious meditations of that which is the life of the 1 Tim. 2. 4 Humility 1 Pet. 5. 6. 1 Jo. 2. 2. 4. 14. Sacrament even the death of thy Saviour and humbly and devoutly present thy selfe and service to the Redeemer of thy soule and Lord of the feast the only saviour of mankinde Jesus Christ our righteous Lord. Then apply thy minde to these contemplations First remember with great reverence the infinite Majesty of God his mercy True repentance 1 Jo. 9. Prov. 28. 13. goodnesse and justice in whose presence we are Secondly consider thine owne vilenesse misery and unworthinesse being wholly corrupt both in soul and body Thirdly confesse all thy sins True faith 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19 21. 2. 14. 1. 3. 21. plainly for in hiding our sins this work will not prosper but with most hearty and unfeigned sorrow in all humility cast thy self at Jesus feet earnestly begging for pardon with hatred to all sin and purpose of amendment For who 1 Pet. 3. 22 Heb. 12. 24. 1 Jo. 2. 3. so confesseth and forsaketh their sins shall finde mercy Fourthly trie and acknowledge thy faith and stedfast beliefe in Christ Jesus the blessed Son of God the Creator to be the only Saviour 1 Tim. 21 5. Jam. 1. 17. and Redeemer of the world who dyed for thy sins and rose againe for thy justification and is ascended up to heaven for thy salvation where sitting at Gods right hand he maketh intercession for 1 Tim. 21 5. thee and powreth downe all graces and blessings upon thee who giveth himself with all his merits unto thee in this Sacrament covering all thy offences with Jam. 1. 17. his perfect obedience So making thee righteous and leaving thee a pledge and Sanctification 1 Jo. 17. 19. Heb. 13. 12. seale of thy future and eternall happinesse this his holy institution which the divine word hath sanctified to that end and purpose Now call to minde the exceeding love of God and Christ towards thee the one in sending his only deare Sonne to become man and suffer death The fifth in giving his most pretious body and bloud to bee crucified Gods love to us and shed upon the crosse to satisfie the just wrath of God due for thy sins of which this bread broken wine powred out that we see is a remembrance which we ought often to celebrate and set our hearts and soules duly and truly Our love to God to love and honour this gracious God and Lord who hath loved us first and done such great things as to give himself for us 6. Ponder well in thine heart 1 Ja. 4. 9. 10. all the divine mysteries of this holy Sacrament to which heavenly banquet Jesus thy Saviour now inviteth thee taking away thine hatefull iniquities and Jam. 2. 8. cloathing thee with his innocencie so Jo. 15. 12. Charity to our neighbours 1 Jo. 4. 21. to make thee acceptable in the sight of God the Father and by the gracious operation of the Holy Ghost joyning thee unto himselfe as thy head and all of us in true love one to another as members of one body to walke in newnesse of life the rest of our dayes 7. And Amendment 1 Jo. 33. 10. 1 Pet. 4. 2. lastly forget not to be ever truly thankfull for these inestimable benefits of God the Father of the blessed Trinity and of Jesus Christ our Lord towards us who hath laid downe his own life to redeem us such vile and miserable sinners all which the Holy Ghost applieth unto us Thankfulnesse 1 Jo. 5. 7. Eph. 5. 20. 1 Thess 5. 18. Infinite mercies we are never able sufficiently to acknowledge and admire Prepare not thy belly but thy soule believe and thou hast eaten this saith St. Augustine 14. A thanksgiving after the holy communion of the Lords Supper OH blessed and praised for ever be the Name of the Lord my God who hath done great and many things for me and holy is thy gracious and glorious name and let thy mercy and thy truth O Lord never forsake me but vouchsafe to continue thy goodnesse and loving kindnesse towards me for ever and say unto my soule thou art my God my helpe and my salvation for evermore And now especially O Lord as I am infinitely bound I render unto thy divine Majesty all humble and possible praise and thanks for this present and particular favour shewed unto me thy unworthy servant in feeding my soule to eternall lfe with the most pretious food of thine owne sacred body and bloud blotting out all my sinnes and sanctifying mee by thy holy Spirit imputing to me thy righteousnesse and admitting mee so unworthy to be a happy partaker of this blessed Sacrament The benefit whereof is unspeakable and the mercy therein unexpressable only I admire thy goodnesse towards mankind and magnifie thy great mercy beseeching thee my God as thou hast vouchsafed to accept mee at this holy Table so good Lord let mee not depart without a blessing but be pleased to receive me into thy gracious care and favour that I may live and die therein and give mee grace to spend the rest of my time in a carefull reformation of all evills past a diligent performance of thy most holy will in all things and true obedience to all thy Commandements with a faithfull and right application of all thy mercies and merits so that I may feele thy bitter passion O Lord sweet unto my soule and by the assistance of thy Spirit bring forth the fruits of amendment of life and most hearty thankfulnesse all my daies that at the end of this life I may obtaine a blessed roome in the Kingdome of glory there to praise thy holy name for evermore Amen 15. A short Prayer for conclusion to any prayer O God the Father blesse and governe my soule and body in all things to thy service O Lord the Sonne my Saviour Jesus protect me and direct me at all times to doe thy will O holy Ghost blessed Spirit preserve mee from falling into any sinne or evill but instruct sanctifie and lead me into the waies of truth and righteousnesse that I may live in thy feare and dye in thy favour and may continue in thy right Church and true faith unto my end So that in the houre of my death and in the dreadfull day of judgement I may finde grace in thy sight that thou
maiest pardon and passe by my sins and receive me to mercy through Jesus Christ that I may live with thee my God for evermore Amen 16. A Prayer for the Lords day in the afternoone when you are from Church being seven humble petitions from a poor sinner to our Saviour Jesus Christ the Lord and fountain of mercy prescribed and allowed by sacred Scripture MOst great and gracious Lord and 1. Remission of sins and amendment of life Luke 18. 13. Rom. 6. 6. my only Saviour Jesus Christ whom the Angels doe admire all the Saints doe magnifie and at thy name O Jesus doth every knee bow in heaven and earth I most humbly beseech thee to have mercy on me that presume to speake unto thee who am but dust and ashes yet Lord I beg of thee to forgive all my grievous and manifold offences and cast all my sins out of thy sight and not only to pardon all my past misdeeds but also by thy mighty power and spirit to slay all sin in me for the time to come And of thy gracious favour vouchsafe while I live in this world to make mee a blessed partaker in the first resurrection 2. To rise from sin Rev. 20. in this life to arise here from remaining or lying dead in sin and so the second death shall have no power to hurt me but by thy 3. In death Rev. 14. 13 21. 3. 4. Luke 22. 32. 36. grace and assistance I may become a new creature in all holinesse of life before thee that I may daily bee raised from sin by thy holy Spirit to a new life of grace in Christ But when the appointed time of my death doth approach sweet Jesus leave me not but keep and deliver mee from that great houre of temptation when Sathan will sift mee and seeke my destruction then deare Lord pray for me that my faith may never faile neither let my soules enemies prevaile over mee but make thy poore servant one of those blessed that shall die in thee O Lord whose tears God will wipe from their eyes and they shall rest from their labours and their workes follow them Now good Iesus grant also in the last day and houre of death 4 The first judgemēt Mat. 25. 34. 41. when I shall come to my first account before the Throne of God and the dreadfull Majesty of the Father O my Saviour appeare with mee that by thy gracious mediation I may finde favour in his sight and through thee obtaine to bee received into the society of thy Saints and servants and also by thy infinite mercy and bitter passion that I may in and through thee have my sins covered and pardoned and may be accounted worthy to escape thy just and great wrath which my iniquities have deserved and say alwaies unto my soule thou art my God and my salvation for ever And so I miserable sinner through thy merits sufferings and unspeakable mercy may be made able to stand before thee the blessed Son of God and man at my appearance in thy glorious and awfull presence when thou commest to judge the world and hast full power to save or to condemne us then looke Saviour on me as one of thine And sweet 5. At the last judgement 6. Is after death Rev. 8. 20. 15. Saviour I further beseech thee by thine owne former and free election and meer grace towards me vouchsafe in the dreadfull time of thy great visitation that my poore name may be found written in heaven in the booke of life so as sin nor Sathan may not bee able to blot mee out but that thou gracious Iesus wilt be pleased to acknowledge me thy most unworthy servant to be thine before God and all his holy Angells Now lastly Lord by thy great goodnesse and The 7th For eternall life John 17. 22. 24. Ps 16. 11. Conclusion mercy that I may be received into thy grace and favour and so accepted as to injoy that most happy place and heavenly inheritance of everlasting glory which thou our Iesus hast dearly purchased for us that where he my blessed Saviour is I may live with him who loved me so much as to die for me and through him being admitted into the glorious presence of God which is the fulnesse of joy at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore I shall there eternally serve praise and magnifie his most holy name who liveth for ever and ever Amen 17. A Prayer to the Trinity for direction and acceptance from God of all our prayers MOst glorious God and our heavenly Father in Christ I most humbly pray thee for his sake to heare and accept mee and my supplications that I offer up unto thy Majesty in the name of thy beloved Son And I beseech thee sweet Iesus in thy love and mercie which made thee become our Redeemer vouchsafe also to be my gracious advocate and to direct and receive my petitions and present them to the Father for by and through thee only I must obtaine acceptance Now further I beg of thee Lord Holy Ghost who best can teach us to pray as we ought to take compassion on my frailties and infirmities to heale and helpe them and be pleased to sanctifie and assist my heart and soule to performe this duty and service at all times rightly faithfully and constantly to Gods glory and mine owne comfort and furtherance of my eternall salvation in Christ my Saviour Amen 18. Another Prayer for the afternoon for many severall blessings OH most dear Lord who knowest my manifold infirmities and innumerable miseries In mercy let thy gracious care and holy hand bee over me now and ever to guide me into thy right paths that I may walke in the wayes of thy Commandements and keepe them with my whole heart unto my end And vouchsafe good God to clense and change the thoughts of my corrup heart from vaine and idle imaginations to good and godly meditations which may produce ◠me by thy assistance holy actions agreeable to thy most blessed will and by thy spirit let my affections be reformed and my love withdrawne from the vanities of this vile world and may bee fixed on heavenly things above that there may be my heart and only joy where my Lord Christ sits in glory at the right hand of his Father and so I may with blessed Mary chuse the better part to forsake all the world and my selfe also to follow and heare Iesus and first and chiefly so to seek as to obtaine that which is most needfull even thy glory O God thy Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof and leave all other things to be bestowed on me as shall seem best unto thee And Lord grant that my understanding may be inlightned to discerne imbrace and practice the holy workes of thy blessed Spirit and that my memory may be strengthned to retaine and make right use of all the good instruction that I heare or read according to thy will and make
my heart the store-house of all thy divine precepts that by thy grace I may bring forth good fruit in my life and make mee able rightly and reverently to read and heare thy holy word and heavenly will daily as I ought to doe and by thy grace to frame my life thereafter and direct thou me thy poor servant in all I goe about to doe that which is best and most to thy glory that howsoever all the powers and â—â—culties of my soule or the members or senses of â—â—y body may be decayed or lost by age griefe or â—â—cknesse for the occasions of this life yet so Lord all that is needfull for thy constant service I beseech thee continue to my last breath And also be pleased to grant that my death be neither sudden nor unexpected nor my pains violent whereby to be made unable earnestly and faithfully to pray and call upon thy holy name but if it be thy will give mee knowledge of my death when thy time is come to call mee out of this world and assist me fervently to crie unto thee for grace and mercie in the needfull time of dread and danger then deare Lord fit and prepare me for thy selfe and give me a blessed departure hence to dye in thee my Lord and so I shall remaine safe and ever happy and sweet Iesus make me pray unto thee with my last breath and yeeld up my spirit to God that gave it with praises in my mouth unto my gracious God the Father Son and Holy Ghost Now vouchsafe good Lord while I live to indue me thy most unworthy servant with thy grace and holy Spirit whereby devout love and feare of thy Majesty with true faith stedfast hope perfect charity and unfained repentance with all other saving graces may be daily renued and increased in mee towards thee to thy glory and the furtherance of my salvation through Christ O sweet Saviour who hast performed and suffered great and many things for mee deare Jesus continue thy infinite favour and finish thy worke of mercy towards me the least of thy servants still to call and draw me daily unto thee and make me faithfull constantly and wholly thine in all humble obedience and true humility to serve thee in uprightnesse of life and a holy conversation towards all so long as I live and wilt assure my soule that thou art my mercifull God and after death make me a happy partaker of thy everlasting Kingdome of glory So be it Amen 19. A Prayer of three petitions to the blessed Trinity the Father Son and Holy Ghost for the spirit of prayer for repentance and remission of sins and grace to amend and lead a new life O My Lord Holy Ghost our sanctifier and comforter and preserver the giver of all heavenly gifts and graces and the directer and assister of us to all goodnesse I most humbly pray thee to indue me thy poore sinfull servant with thy true spirit of grace and prayer to helpe and teach me how to pray as I ought and to drive away and banish from me in the performance of this my duty all evill temptations and wicked hindrances that seek to pervert and withdraw my heart and soule from the true service of my God and suffer not the world the divell nor any his agents to have power over me or part in mee to prevaile against me and to cause God to turn his eare and face of mercy from hearing and receiving my prayers and supplications but Lord by thy grace make my petitions now and alwaies right faithfull and acceptable to Almighty God through Iesus Christ my blessed Saviour But O my God heavenly Father the originall of all goodnesse and mercy who graciously commandest us to call upon thee in the time of trouble that thou delivering us we may glorifie thee what greater misery and danger then a heavy load of sins that will not easily be cast off and a wounded spirit who can beare it for I confesse I have most grievously sinned against thee and my iniquities are multiplied before thee as the starres which cannot be numbred O Lord whose compassion never faileth those that seek and trust in thee as thy mercy exceedeth all thy great workes so let that through thy deare Son move thee to release mee of this intolerable burthen which else will throw mee out of thy presence and favour wherein is the fulnesse of joy and presse me down to hell into everlasting torments amongst the enemies of God and man Now mercifull God who hast pity on thy poore creatures and delightest not in the death of a sinner Lord turne me from all my evill waies that I may be converted unto thee to feare love and obey thee unto my end And vouchsafe to pardon all my transgressions past and remove my sins from me as farre as the East is from the West and bury them in oblivion that they may not be able to separate my God from mee as far as heaven from hell but Gracious Lord be pleased to give me thy unworthy servant the blessed gift of true sorrow and repentance to salvation to fit me for thy mercy and prepare me with grace by the amendment of all my misdeeds for thy loving acceptance of me in thy favour againe and say to my lost soule I am thy God and thy salvation for ever and so thou working in me both the will and the deed the praise honour and glory be only thine for evermore Now swet Jesus the fountaine of mercy and Saviour of all that trust and believe in thee who graciously callest all heavy laden and penitent sinners to come to thee that thou maiest ease them have mercy on me and heale my sinfull soul with thy most pretious bloud and thy righteousnesse I know is alsufficient to cover a world of sinnes if thou please to impute it unto mee O shrowd mee under thy innocent wing that the great wrath I have deserved may never fall upon mee but vouchsafe dear Lord to receive mee sinfull creature into thy favour as thou didst Mary to become wholly thine and be thy faithfull disciple so long as I live and stretch forth thy hand of mercy as thou didst to Peter from sinking in the sea so Lord save me thy unworthy servant from perishing in my sins and by thy assistance according to thy blessed advice that I may make my peace here where I have transgressed before I goe where the utmost farthing must bee paid O Lord by thy grace make me a new creature daily to worke out my salvation with sorrow for my time lost feare to offend again and trembling at the heavy judgements due unto me and striving to make my calling and election sure by a holy life and godly conversation both towards God and man all the rest of my dayes And make mee cast utterly off all love of this deceitfull world which is but lost and my owne vaine desires that hang so fast on and only apply my heart
usefull for those particular occasions whereto they are directed which I shall be very glad and joyfull if my children grand-children kindred friends or any good Christian that shall peruse them may make a good and right use of them to Gods glory And I doe most heartily and humbly pray that God will vouchsafe to heare in heaven and to receive accept and grant their just requests to his owne honour their comfort and my great happinesse who am a wel-wisher and true lover of their soules in the Lord. Eliz. Richardson THese Prâ—â—â—â—â— I composed for the instructions of my children grand-children after the example of my dear parents Sir Thomas Beaumont and his Lady of Stoughton in the County of Leicester who I thinke were as carefull and industrious to breed up their children which were living in the instruction and information of the Lord to serve and obey God as any parents could possibly be which made them take much paines with us more then is usuall by their endeavours to bring us to know and feare God and to keep his Commandements Which Solomon saith is the whole duty of man But when parents have done the best and all we can it is Gods grace and blessing that must perfect the worke which I humbly pray him to adde to accomplish my desire to their eternall happinesse An Exhortation concerning Prayer BEfore thou goest to pray consider seriously of these three things which are very necessary to fit and prepare thee the better for that holy and blessed exercise First ponder with thy selfe into whose presence wee come and to whom we presume to speak being before the great Majesty of God Almighty Secondly in what manner we pray and to what end our prayers tend which must chiefly respect the glory of God and his service and then out owne desires and necessities both for soule and body Thirdly weigh well what good or hurt what benefit or danger may ensue by the performing of this duty carefully or negligently 1. A short Petition to precede any other Prayers O Lord Holy Ghost who knowest my corrupt heart and the frailty of my soule which can performe no good but by thy grace Vouchsafe my Lord to sanctifie assist and teach me the unworthiest of thy servants by thy holy Spirit so to pray now and alwayes that my supplications may be faithfull and acceptable to my God to his glory and the comfort and good of my selfe both in soul and body for ever Amen 2. A Prayer to God the Holy Ghost for the true spirit of grace in prayer O God Holy Ghost the giver of all good gifts and graces give mee thy true Spirit Lord who art the comforter and sanctifier of thine Elect thou knowest my great and manifold infirmities and frailties all which I humbly pray thee in thy love and mercie to heale and helpe And Lord give me power strength and grace by thy assistance to resist and overcome all wicked assaults and temptations of the divell that seeke to draw me from God and goodnesse and lead mee to all evill but vouchsafe Lord I beseech thee still to be present with me in this holy exercise and indue thy poore servant with thy blessed Spirit and gift of prayer to call upon thy glorious Name faithfully and sincerely whereby my unworthy petitions though full of imperfections may be received and accepted by thee And Lord banish all wandring thoughts and wicked hindrances from my soule in the performance of this my bounden duty and service that I owe unto thee my God Father Son and Holy Ghost And be pleased Lord to assist mee now and ever with thy grace to worship thee at all times in spirit and truth as thou requirest and not to present a dead dull and corrupt offering unto my Lord of the lips without the heart or by joyning in my thoughts God and the world or mammon together which thou hatest and so make my prayers abominable to thy Majesty for thou hast made the heart who ought and must be served and honoured with it Therefore I humbly pray thee to inable me by thy assistance to offer unto thee my God a holy and living sacrifice of my selfe my prayers and praises daily in a right and acceptable manner not looking so much to the benefit and recompence of reward that shall bee received thereby from thy mercifull hands to my owne good but chiefly for the honour and glory of thy great Name whose I am and whom I am bound to serve and from whom I have already received so many great blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall for which I render most humble and hearty thanks unto thy Majesty Now lastly deare Lord Holy Ghost I earnestly beg of thee daily to unite mee unto thy glorious head and only Saviour Jesus Christ that so I may performe with true faith good devotion humility and sincerity this and all other holy duties and services according to thy blessed will and word to thy glory and my great comfort now and for ever So be it 3. A short preface before any other Prayers for the Lords day ALmighty Lord God in whose glorious presence I am presuming to take thy sacred name into my sinfull mouth before thee Lord I most humbly prostrate my selfe thou seest the heart and knowest our wants before we aske yet hast thou commanded us to ask in thy Sons name promising for his sake to grant us all needfull blessings both for soule and body O Lord thou understandest my great weaknesse and disability who can doe no good but by thy assistance I now most humbly pray thee to keep all evill interruptions from my heart and soule and so to indue mee with thy true Spirit of grace and prayer in performing this duty and service to thy glorious Majesty that so all my supplications may now and at all times be right faithfull acceptable and pleasing unto thee and by thy great mercy also prevailing for my good and furtherance of my salvation through my only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen 4. A Prayer for the Lords day at first awaking O Most glorious Lord God the high and gracious Creator of heaven and earth with all things therein Thou didst finish that mighty workin six dayes and rested the seventh commanding thy Church and people of the Jewes to keep holy the seventh day to thy due service and praise But our Lord Jesus having finished the redemption of mankinde by his crosse and passion and bitter sufferings didst bury that Sabbath in his grave upon that day and by thy Spirit didst guide thy Apostles and Christian Church to sanctifie and keep holy this first day of the weeke in perpetuall memory of his glorious resurrection and eternall rest from that labour and suffering for our redemption to thy due service and praise blessed be thy holy name therefore And now dear Lord for all my former neglects of my duty herein for Jesus his sake pardon my sinfull breaches of this and all
for thee before thou hadst being to understand thine owne wretched estate Oh my Lord God! how good and gracious hast thou ever been in all thy mercies both spirituall and temporall towards me the least and unworthiest of thy servants before I was borne and ever since from time to time Now Lord I humbly pray thee in the same love and favour from which I have hitherto received so many and great benefits vouchsafe thou alwaies to continue thy blessings unto me especially in daily renewing all spirituall graces in my soule for the true performance of all holy duties and service in a right and acceptable manner towards thy Majesty and Lord make my humble thankfulnesse unto thee appeare in my true obedience of thee in all things that I may duly praise and glorifie thy name for ever Now deare God let not thy mercy in prolonging my daies encrease the number of my sinnes and so to heap up wrath unto my selfe against the day of wrath by drawing upon me due punishments for my offences but mercifull God adde thou grace unto my daies and for Jesus sake forgive all my sinnes past that I have done before thee in my whole life time especially in my many breaches of this holy and blessed Lords day which we keep in remembrance of our Saviours resurrection with all my neglects and defects in the performance of my duties towards thee this present day and heretofore according to thy Commandements And grant O God through thy mercies and my Saviours merits that my iniquities may never bee imputed unto mee but Lord let thy goodnesse patience and long sufferings lead me to daily and unfaigned repentance and give me true faith in all thy gracious promises and by the assistance of thy holy Spirit to bring forth amendment of all my former faults with true obedience unto thy blessed will and holinesse of living all my life to come That so I may obtaine grace and favour in thy sight to prevent and keep mee hereafter from all sin and evil or offending thee my God in thought word and deed and direct thou my waies right before thee in all godlinesse and uprightnesse of heart that I may be enabled through my Lord Jesus Christ to doe every good worke and by thy grace to live here according to all thy Commandements and when thou pleasest to call for mee â—ut of this wicked world unto thy selfe Lord assist me with thy spirit and grace to make a blessed end and to die in thee my Lord and so I shall finde mercie through the merits of my Saviour Jesus after death to be accepted and received into the Kingdome of heaven and through Christ my Saviour may bee admitted into thy glorious presence O God where is the fulnesse of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore of which Lord make me a happy partaker when this life is ended Amen Amen 10. A Prayer for Munday to God the Father at first awaking I Will praise thee with my whole heart for thou hast dealt lovingly with mee Blessed and praised now and ever be thy most glorious Name O my God heavenly Father for all thy great and manifold mercies and blessings both spirituall and temporall in soule and body vouchsafed unto mee thy most unworthy and sinfull servant before I was borne and hitherto this last night and all my life past for thy favours have ever been right good and gracious towards mee having done great and many things for mee praysed be thy most holy Name who hast been my only stay succour helpe and comfort in this world and thy infinite mercy in Ghrist is all my hope and confidence for the life to come Now Gracious Lord who hast been my good God and guide from my youth have pity upon my infirmities and for Jesus sake forgive all my sinnes that I have committed before thee in my whole life past and let thy mercy and truth never leave me nor forsake me neither in life in death nor in the last judgement but be pleased by thy Spirit to say alwaies unto my soule especially at my death thou art my God and my salvation for in thee will I trust so long as I live and for ever So be it A short supplication before the weekly Prayers 11. A morning Prayer for Munday to God the Father HEare me when I call upon thee O God of my righteousnesse have mercy upon mee and hearken unto my prayer Most Gracious Lord God and my heavenly Father in Christ Jesus my Saviour thou knowest my great and grievous infirmities that I can of my selfe neither will nor performe any good nor think a good thought but by thy grace therefore I most humbly pray thee to indue mee thy poore unworthy servant with thy holy Spirit whereby these and all other my prayers and petitions that I presume to offer unto thy Majesty may by thy assistance be made in a right manner and in an acceptable time when thou wilt please to be found of me and graciously to heare and receive me and my supplications And now vouchsafe dear God to sanctifie prepare and assist my heart and soule with thy true Spirit of grace and prayer to drive away all vaine and wandring thoughts sluggish dulnesse and all evill temptations out of my minde and knit my heart and soule to the true feare of thy great Name and to the devout love of thy divine Majesty and teach mee with all due reverence and such true humility and devotion as is fit to appear in thy sacred presence that I may rightly faithfully and humbly now and at all times call upon thy holy Name as I ought to doe and daily pray unto thee O my blessed Lord God who hast awaked mee in health and safety to this daies light which I most thankfully acknowledge with all other thy blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall bestowed on me thy sinfull servant from time to time beseeching thee of thy infinite mercy alwaies to continue them unto me And as thy gracious providence hath brought me to begin this new day so Lord by thy power defend me therein from falling into any sin or evill to offend thee but give me grace at this present to performe and ever continue to lead a new a holy and an upright life in thy sight all the rest of my daies to come to frame my heart and reforme my waies in all true obedience hereafter to thy most holy will and Commandements And further I humbly praise thy glorious Name for thy gracious preservation of me and mine and all other thy benefits vouchsafed me the last night and all my life past unto this instant houre having hitherto given me health maintenance and safety which I pray thee whilst I live still to vouchsafe me and make me truly thankfull to thee for all thy mercies and let thy benefits never slip out of my minde but that I may daily and duly acknowledge them to the true praise of thy
most holy Name And grant me grace to spend the rest of my time to come more carefully and faithfully then I have formerly done to seeke serve feare love obey and please thee my Lord in all things as I ought to doe so that it may bee more then meat and drinke unto me to doe the will of thee my heavenly Father And I most humbly beseech thee O God the fountaine of mercy to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and offences past that I have committed against thee either in soule or body throughout my whole life Lord blot them out of thy remembrance with the most pretious bloud of thy deare Son my only Saviour Jesus Christ and grant through thy mercies and his merits and sufferings that my iniquities may never be imputed unto me But vouchsafe O God now and ever to keepe me thy poore servant as the apple of thine own eie from all sin and shame and hide mee under the shadow of thy wings from falling into any evill or danger this day especially O Lord preserve mee alwaies from the great wickednesse of committing any presumptuous sin before thee and from the fearfull sinne against the Holy Ghost which is unpardonable and from the dangerous sins of neglect towards thee hardnesse of heart senselesse security or falling into wicked despaire whereby I may prevent my soule of thy mercy in Christ for my salvation But good God direct thou my thoughts desires words and deeds to be ever agreeable to thy most holy will and obedient to all thy Commandements that I may henceforth live before thee with an upright heart daily studying and striving to serve and please thee in all things so long as I live that after death I may praise and magnifie thy Name in heaven among thy Saints and servants for ever and ever These great mercies O gracious God with all other thou knowest needfull for me either for this life or the life to come I further beg of thee in the name merits and mediation of thy deare Son and my sweet Jesus concluding in that perfect forme of prayer which hee hath taught us saying Our Father c. 12. A Prayer to God the Father for Munday night O Lord my God how excellent is thy name in all the world who hast done great workes and brought mighty things to passe ALmighty Lord and my heavenly Father in Christ most high and mighty God Creator possessor preserver and disposer of heaven and earth and all that is therein the fountaine of grace and mercy and Father of light from whom commeth all good and perfect gifts I most humbly pray thee of thy great goodnesse to give mee thy poore sinfull servant thy grace and holy Spirit to direct my heart and all my waies aright in thy sight and to guide me in the paths of truth and righteousnesse and Lord lead mee into that streight way and through that narrow gate which bringeth unto life eternall that so of thy infinite mercie through Christ I may enter in though most unworthy with them that obtaine grace to finde it and there to live with thee my God in joy and blisse for evermore And further I yeeld and render unto thee my Lord all humble and possible praise honour and thankes for all thy great and manifold mercies and benefits spirituall and temporall vouchsafed unto me thy most unworthy servant in soule and body from time to time and also for thy gracious preservation of me and mine and all other thy blessings bestowed upon me this day past and all my life hitherto Now good God for Christs sake I humbly pray thee to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and trespasses that I have committed before thee inwardly or outwardly in soul or body by thought desire word or deed this present day or any time of my life heretofore Mercifull Father wash away all my sinnes out of thy sight with the most pretious bloud of that All-sufficient sacrifice the innocent Lamb of God Jesus who was slaine for our transgressions hide all my sins in his wounds and bury them in his grave so as they may never bee able to rise in judgement against me either to accuse or to condemne mee But Lord make me of that blessed number whose sinnes thou wilt cover and whose iniquities thou wilt pardon And vouchsafe also to forgive my omission of all those good deeds I ought to have done and my sinfull neglect in the true performance of all duty and service that I owe unto thee especially my wicked negligence in calling upon thy holy Name and daily praising thee for all thy mercies and likewise I beg pardon for my often omitting or slightly performing this duty of praying unto thee as I ought now and at all times which Lord give me grace more carefully faithfully and devoutly to perform towards thee by the assistance of thy holy Spirit ever hereafter that so of thine infinite mercy thou maiest bâ—ing mee to that eternall Kingdome which thou hall prepared O God the Father before the world began for all that truly love and beleeve in thee to thy great praise and honour and my salvation iâ— Christ through thy mercy O blessed Lord God to whom be glory now and ever Amen 13. The conclusion for Munday to be said last or in bed O My God I most humbly commmend and commit my selfe both body and soule my children and grand-children my kindred friends and family and all that doth belong unto me here or else where with all my fellow members in thy whole Church into thy most gracious protection and preservation this night and alwaies Good God I beseech thee vouchsafe to blesse sanctifie and keep our soules and bodies in thy true faith feare and favour with safety this night and to our lives end Amen 14. A Prayer at first awaking for Tuesday to our Saviour Jesus Christ MY soule shall magnifie thee O Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour who hath done and suffered great and many things for me blessed be thy most holy Name for thy infinite benefits and blessings both spirituall and temporall bestowed upon mee thy unworthy sinfull servant from time to time And chiefly Gracious Lord for thy accomplishment of my redemption before I had any being who didst vouchsafe to come into the world amongst evill men and to be borne of a Virgin to take the shape and nature of man upon thee and in our flesh didst work and performe all righteousnesse to bee imputed unto us and also submitted thy selfe to suffer the most bitter and ignominious death of the Crosse to free us from that eternall death which our sinnes have deserved and also rose againe from the grave the third day to overcome sin death the grave hell and Sathan with all other things for us And so thou sweet Jesus art become our reconciliation redemption righteousnesse and justification with hope also through thee of salvation and glorification hereafter Of all which thy inestimable benefits I
Will praise the Lord because he is good for his mercy endureth for ever by whom we live move and have our being our maintenance safety and preservation Now glorious Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost I humbly pray thee vouchsafe unto mee thy most unworthy servant such grace and favour to knit my heart and soule fast to theee so that my sinnes nor my soules enemies the wicked world my owne corrupt flesh nor the malice of the Divell may not be able to pluck mee out of thy mercifull and powerfull hands but Lord assist me with thine owne blessed Spirit that I may daily continue and increase in all sincere and perfect love and obedience towards thy Majesty and in thy feare and favour and all other saving graces to have a good conscience before thee with true faith stedfast hope and perfect charity unto my lifes end Amen 31. A Prayer unto the Trinity for Saturday morning O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in all the world for thou hast laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the workes of thy hands and thou didst create and dost governe dispose and rule the whole world with all things therein according to thy good pleasure O most divine and adored Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost three persons but one true eternall and everliving God to whom be all praise honour and glory as is right and due for ever Thou only by thy word and power didst make all things for thine owne glory especially mankinde after thine image in purity and holinesse to thine own service for by thy ptovidence and mercy commeth all good gifts and blessings unto us and also deliverances only from thee of those evills and dangers which sinne hath made us subject unto in falling from thee and our first integrity by the subtillty and malice of Sathan and our owne frailty yet of thine owne free grace thou didst elect a number by thee selected of thy chosen servants to inherit an eternall Kingdome with and through thy beloved Son whom thou didst ordain and send into the world at thine appointed time to be the redemption of all that beleeve in thee O God the Son our blessed Lord Jesus Christ it is written of thee that thou shouldest doe the will of God the Father who ordained thee to be our Redeemer and wert made of God unto us wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and salvation with glorification hereafter Now deare Jesus who hast paid our ransome even the all-sufficient and acceptable sacrifice of thine own pretious bloud to wash away our sins who was lifted upon the crosse between heaven and earth to make an attonement betwixt God and man his heavy wrath and our grievous offences and so thou art become our Priest to offer up thy innocent selfe to cleanse us from our sinnes who art our Prophet to instruct and teach us and direct our waies aright to shew us the path of life and make the way plaine before our faces and by thy example to beare our crosse patiently and follow thee that art the way the truth and the life to lead us to eternall salvation also thou art our King to protect defend and reigne over us in mercy truth and righteousnesse till thine enemies be made thy footstoole and all that hate thee be destroyed before thee for God hath put all things in subjection under his feet then shalt thou judge the whole world in righteousnesse and equity and wilt bring thy servants to that eternall inheritance which thou hast by thy merits and sufferings so dearly purchased for us who wert borne unto us to be the joy and comfort of all people and the glory and salvation of all that truly beleeve and trust in thee our Saviour O God Holy Ghost the giver worker and sealer of all graces unto us by thee we are called to the knowledge of God and his saving truth sanctified to the performance of his will and Commandements certified by the holy Spirit of our salvation in Christ Jesus and by thee applied unto us to bee regenerated and borne againe by thy holy operation from sin to grace to thy glory and our endlesse felicity And thy Spirit also witnesseth to our spirits that we are the children of God and heires with Christ of the Kingdome of heaven to the eternall comfort of all thy servants being by thee also united to our blessed Christ and sealed to the day of redemption and continually assisting us to all goodnesse Now great and glorious Lord God Father Son and Holy Ghost thou hast plentifully powred downe thy manifold mercies and favours upon us and multiplied exceedingly thy blessings and benefits spirituall and temporall towards us before we had being in the world since we were borne and after death thou hast laid up an eternall weight of glory for all those to possesse that truly beleeve in thee which give me grace to doe for none hath or ever can deserve them Oh the abundant mercy bounty and goodnesse of our gracious God towards mortall mankinde who can declare the height and depth of Gods unspeakable love or be sufficiently thankfull to him for such unexpressible benefits but with David we may say Lord What is man that thou art mindefull of him Or what shall we render to thee for all thy mercies having in us no good at all but what we receive from thy selfe therefore Lord adde this further grace unto thy former favours by the assistance of thine owne Spirit to make us thy unworthy servants able rightly faithfully and constantly to feare love honour serve obey and praise thy most glorious Name while we live and for ever and ever Amen 32. A Prayer to God the Holy Ghost for Saturday night O God Holy Ghost the giver of all graces and and my gracious sanctifier comforter and preserver thou knowest my infirmities my inclination to all evill and backwardnesse to any goodnesse vouchsafe Lord to sanctifie mee thy poore sinfull servant in soule body and spirit throughout to thy true feare intire love and right faithfull and constant service all my time to come And be pleased Lord by thy grace to enlighten my dull soule and understanding with the sound knowledge sincere love and stedfast beleefe of thy saving truth and keepe me ever constant therein And vouchsafe deare Lord to inrich me thy poore unworthy servant with the infinite treasure of that heavenly wisdome from above which waiteth about thy Throne that may teach me thy holy will and what is good and acceptable unto thee and inable me with grace to doe it that so I may discerne between good and evill and make me shunne and hate that which is evill and follow and cleave unto that which is good and to withdraw my love from this vaine world and fix my affections upon thee my God and on heavenly things that are above that my chiefe treasure may be settled there in heaven and my heart also and so I shall first seek to obtaine that
and banish thou Lord all wicked hindrances and temptations away from thy poore servant in performing all my duties towards thee Now deare God have mercy upon me most miserable sinner and in thy infinite mercy drive away this subtill enemy of my poore soule with his pernitious agents the vaine world and the corruptions of our owne nature let them not prevaile over me at any time for these are very ready to assault tempt and draw my minde from thee in all my devotions and services that I endeavour to offer unto thy Majesty and to make my prayers vaine and void and drive me to fall into wicked neglect towards my God whereby to prevent destroy and divert all my comforts and hopes in thee O Lord which is the whole life of my soule But Gracious God Almighty whose power and strength is above all vouchsafe to overcome and banish all from mee never to returne againe and let thy blessed Spirit rest constantly in me to withstand all disturbances in the performance of my duty before thee and deare Lord make new cleane and upright my heart and frame it to thy holy will that so by thy gracious assistance I may faithfully serve and honour thee please and praise thee my God now and at all times in this life and for ever to thy glory and my eternall comfort Amen The afternoone prayers at foure a clock for each day in the week Munday 1. A thanks giving to the blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost O My good and gracious God great and many are thy mercies and blessings I have received from thee both spirituall and temporall from time to time and now what shall I render unto thee having no good to returne but the poore fruit of my lips which is nothing unto thee but the performance of our duties to praise thy great Name and to acknowledge all thy benefits therefore now I will give thanks to God the Father our gracious Creator who so loved us when we were his enemies and had lost our selves by sinne that he ordained and after sent his only begotten and beloved Son into the world that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Christ being the propitiation for our sinnes that we may live by faith through him And also I yeeld all possible praise unto my blessed Saviour who became man and in his infinite love willingly laid downe his life for us and washed away our sinnes with his owne pretious bloud and made us by his merits and sufferings Kings and Priests unto God and adopted children to his Father and heires with himselfe of an eternall Kingdome by whose resurrection we have a lively hope of an inheritance that cannot be shaken and withereth not reserved in heaven for us Now to thee Lord Holy Ghost the preserver sanctifier and comforter of mankinde by whom we are sealed unto the day of redemption and by whose holy working wee are united unto Jesus our blessed head and are certified by thy Spirit witnessing to our spirits that wee are the children of God to our great comfort and further by thy assistance and grace our weake prayers are rightly and effectually offered up unto the Lord our God Now to thee Almighty God three Persons and glorious Trinity but one true and everliving God from whose mercifull hands we daily receive all the good we doe injoy in this present world with further and full assurance of far greater happinesse by thy infinite mercies in the life to come be all praise and glory Amen Tuesday 2. A Prayer to the Trinity for grace and true faith O Sweet Jesus Christ Son of God who art the divine word without whom nothing was made and being made had been utterly lost hadst thou not been our powerfull and mercifull Redeemer thou art the way the truth and the life and thou who hast said that no man can come unto the Father but by thee who camest into the world and didst willingly lay down thine owne life only to save sinners by thy grace of whom I am chiefe have mercy upon me miserable sinner who can of my selfe neither will nor performe any good worke towards God as I ought to doe but vouchsafe Lord to indue mee with grace to serve and obey thee to learne thy will and to doe it and through faith to lay hold of thy mercies that so thou my Saviour maiest in thy righteousnesse present me to thy heavenly Father that hee may looke upon me poor sinfull creature through thee his deare Son and for thy sake to receive and accept me into his gracious favour to pardon all my sinnes and save my soule through thy perfect righteousnesse and manifold sufferings all performed for me Now thou Lord hast further said that none can come unto thee except the Father draw him therefore I most humbly pray thee O God the Father by that infinite love to wards mankind which caused thee to send downe thy beloved Son out of thine owne bosome into this wicked world that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life I earnestly pray thee O God the Father to draw me to thy Son Jesus that I may lay fast hold by faith on him to be my Saviour and to be his faithfull and constant servant and to be made through him and by thy mercie a happy member of him our blessed head then I shall be sure never to fall into condemnation but by stedfast faith in him obtaine eternall salvation And deare Lord Holy Ghost the giver of grace by whom we are joyned to our Lord and head Christ and sanctified to a new and holy life Lord cleanse and frame my heart and soule by the holy working and assistance of thy Spirit and grace unto the right faithfull and constant service of my Lord God my Saviour Jesus with thee O Holy Ghost so long as I live Lord daily increase my faith and all saving graces in me for my salvation and may by thee be directed and lead into the waies of righteousnesse untill thou hast brought me unto endlesse happinesse through Jesus Christ Amen Wednesday 3. A prayer to God for charity O Mercifull Lord God the giver of all graces I humbly beseech thee to frame my heart will and affections in all ready obedience to thy most holy will and Commandements in all things especially in the workes of mercy and charity they being a sweet smelling sacrifice wherewith thou art well pleased and wherein we may imitate thee and shall thereby gaine the honour to be made like unto thy selfe and be knowne to bee one of thy disciples if we love our brethren as our selves O God as thou hast blessed mee of thy meer goodnesse with an estate above some others to give me the grace of compassion and charity and inlarge my heart towards thy service to shew mercy unto them that want as thou hast been mercifull unto me that I may willingly distribute communicate to those that are
presented to thy great Majesty lowly and meekly on the knees of my heart body they may by thy mercifull assistance be lifted up and ascend by the wings of faith and devotion unto the highest heavens and there with confidence through my Saviour Jesus enter into the glorious eares and presence of Almighty God where all mercy grace and goodnesse aboundeth And then my supplications by thy favour may be heard and accepted by thee my God to prevaile and draw downe from thy mercifull hand all graces and blessings needfull upon me thy poore creature both in soule and body and so my unworthy sacrifice of due praise and thanks that I offer unto thee may be received and accepted by thee the Lord of all mercies who doth often take in good part even the will for the deed from thy fraile unworthy servants and then my poore prayers shall bring much joy and comfort to me and give glory to thee my Lord. To whom as of right belongs be all honour and praise for evermore Amen A short Prayer to our blessed Saviour Jesus to be joyned to the former prayers OH my deare Lord Jesus who didst in thy infinite mercy give thy innocent selfe to death for me a poore miserable sinner Lord by thy grace make me to dedicate and offer up my selfe a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto thee in daily striving rightly and faithfully to serve and obey thee that I may be wholly thine and as thou hast bought me with an unvaluable treasure even thine owne most pretious bloud so sweet Jesus by thy holy Spirit unite me unseparably unto thee my blessed head and by thy assistance that I may become a new creature to hate and forsake all sinnes the vaine world and my wicked selfe and to be a true carefull and constant servant unto thee to feare love honour and glorifie thy great and heavenly Name who art the comfort and salvation of all that beleeve and trust in thee which Lord let me unfaignedly doe so long as I live 7. A Prayer to God the Lord of all grace and mercie containing seven humble petitions from a penitent sinner 1. For true faith 2. For the Holy Ghost 3. For wisdome 4. For the feare of God 5. For the love of God and charity to our neighbours 6. For repentance and true contrition of heart 7. And for the grace and right spirit of prayer O Most bountifull Lord God which giveth to all men liberally and reproacheth none if we aske in faith and waver not and our blessed Saviour maketh us a large promise saying Aske and yee shall receive seeke and you shall finde knock and it shall bee opened unto you And whatsoever you shall aske in my Name I will doe it if you beleeve when you pray that you shall have it for your heavenly Father if you aske in my name will give the Holy Ghost to them that desire him and wisdome to such as aske it of God and no good thing shall be wanting or with-held from them which feare the Lord and walke uprightly in his sight so that we may well say with David What is man that thou Lord art mindefull of him and dost visit him with thy mercie and crownest him with glory and honour Most mercifull Lord these thy gracious promises and great goodnesse towards mortall man imboldneth mee though a miserable sinner and most unworthy of thy favours now to offer up my supplications and become an humble suter to thy Majesty to begge these great blessings at thy hands who have justly deserved grievous punishments from thee for my offences But of thine owne meer mercie deare God who desirest not the death of a sinner but our repentance conversion and salvation and for thy best beloved Sons sake in whom thou wilt deny us nothing vouchsafe to incline thine ear to receive the humble petitions of me thy poore servant who presumeth to crave of thee the Father of mercie and the originall of all goodnesse from whom only commeth all good and perfect gifts the seven spirituall and heavenly graces wherewith to vanquish and banishus from the seven dangerous deadly sinnes which like Serpents slay and destroy so many soules the least sinne we commit being sufficient to condemne us for ever And now first Good God I humbly pray thee to bestow upon mee the blessed and most needfull gift of true faith without which it is impossible to please thee whereby I may stedfastly believe and trust in thy goodnesse and lay fast hold of all thy mercies and gracious promises especially upon the merits and sufferings of thy dear Son and my Saviour Jesus for my redemption and by thy grace rightly to apply them all to my salvation And grant I may with thy assistance bring forth such fruits of true holinesse and righteousnesse as may be most to thy glory and the peace and comfort of mine owne conscience And since I have begun to speake to thee O Lord who am but dust and ashes vouchsafe for Jesus sake further to give me the most excellent gift of the Holy Ghost to unite me inseparably to my blessed head and Saviour Christ and inspire my soule with all saving graces which may change all the evill in me to goodnesse darknesse to light vices to vertues and so wholy to cleanse and sanctifie my soule body and spirit throughout that I may be made perfect to every good worke and renewed and inabled to all obedience godlinesse and holinesse of life before thee and I also most humbly beseech thee O gracious God to inrich me thy poore unworthy servant with the unvaluable treasure of that heavenly wisdome from above which abideth about thy Throne to direct and reforme my heart and all my wayes aright in thy sight and to teach me thy holy will and what is good and acceptable unto thee and inable me with grace to doe it and likewise Lord indue me with the true understanding of thy holy Lawes that I may keepe them with my whole heart unto my end Now O my Lord we are taught by Solomon That the beginning of wisdome is the feare of the Lord and the knowledge of divine things true understanding therefore I doe most humbly intreat thee to knit my rebellious heart to the holy feare of thy glorious Name who only art to be feared with the due consideration of thy righteous and terrible judgements who canst cast both body and soul into hel let this detaine me from falling into any evill or offence towards thee and thereby also draw my sinfull soule unto thy faithfull service with true contrition for all my past transgressions against thee But especially good God be pleased to indue my poore soule with the infinite gift and blessing of thy sincere and perfect love of thy divine and heavenly Majesty who art the true and only good And O God grant that I may love and honour thee above and beyond all other things with all my heart all my soule all my strength
let thy right hand uphold and sustaine me to preserve me from all my spirituall enemies that wait to destroy my soule But thou my Lord art sufficient for me O Lord vouchsafe me thy grace to direct my heart and words towards thee and by thy ready helpe to assist me in all things and at all times that in thy mercie at the last thou maiest finish all thy favour in mee which is the accomplishment of my faith and hope in thee And Lord grant that I may willingly and readily come unto thee when thou callest and vouchsafe O blessed Spirit Holy Ghost to fit and prepare me by unfeigned repentance to obtaine remission of all my sinnes that I have done before thee with true faith to lay hold of all the mercies of my God in Christ and with stedfast hope to rest on all thy gracious promises O Lord who never failest those that trust in thee Now Lord give me strength and patience to wait thy good leasure and pleasure untill thou have pity and compassion on me either to recover and restore my health here if it be thy will that I may live and glorifie thee longer in this life or else that thou wilt please to receive and prepare me for thy selfe and give me all saving graces for thine own mercifull acceptance when thou pleasest to call and take me to thee out of this wretched world that so my faith and sure trust in thee may never faile unto my last breath Now lastly Lord grant that as the outward man the body decayeth and groweth weaker so the inward part the soule may by thy gracious assistance grow together in faith and confidence towards thee with full assurance of thy Spirit within me of thy favour to me for my eternall salvation Then come Lord Iesus when thou pleasest for into thy hands I humbly commend my spirit that when this life shall leave me thy grace and mercy may receive mee into that endlesse happinesse in heaven which my Lord and only Saviour hath purchased for me that I may praise God everlastingly Amen 6. My Prayer of thanksgiving after my long and great fit of sicknesse which begun on Twelfth day at night and held me till Whitsontide This may serve upon any other occasion MOst gracious Lord God I blesse and praise thy great and holy Name for all thy blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall vouchsafed to my soule and body but especially I magnifie thy glorious Majesty for all those spirituall graces thou hast bestowed upon my soule before I was borne and hitherto which I beseech thee of thy mercie daily to continue and increase towards me Now deare Lord make me thy unworthy servant ever truly thankfull to thee for all thy goodnesse extended towards me and grant me grace to make such right use of all thy mercies as may be most to thy glory and my salvation in Christ But now O Lord that art my God I must at this time render thee humble thanks in particular and not forget to acknowledge thy benefits and to praise thy holy Name for all thy mercies shewed unto me for in my late and long sicknes thou hast heard my groanes and taken pity on me and released me from all my paine and griefs for thou dost visit my transgressions with favour not in wrath and hast alwaies been my stay and comfort from my youth and thou art my deliverance and ready helpe in all my adversities thou didst bring me downe for my sinnes almost to the grave and hast in mercy lifted me up again from the gates of death and restored me to health who healest all my infirmities pardonest all my iniquities and givest me present supply in all my necessities blessed be thy glorious Name for ever Now O God as thou art pleased to prolong my dayes on earth so especially I humbly pray thee daily to increase all saving graces in mee for thy true and faithfull service and vouchsafe alwaies to continue all thy goodnesse and mercies towards me that I may truly feare perfectly love and carefully obey thee in all things and by the assistance of thy holy Spirit make me to become and ever to continue to bee more and more thy unfeigned servant And now I am aged and fit to leave the world when thou pleasest yet while I am in it Lord make me continually to grow from grace to grace unto the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ with faith in him rightly to please and praise thee so long as I live And gracious Lord vouchsafe never to withdraw thy grace and favour from me untill thou hast finished thy greatest worke of mercy and the height of my hopes and happinesse which is the salvation of my poor soule through thine owne deare Sonne and my only Saviour Jesus Christ and when it shall please thee to call me away to thy selfe out of this vaine world be pleased to give me a happy and blessed departure to dye in my Lord Jesus and in thy true faith and favour that thou having pardoned all my sins and passing by my unworthinesse in Christ thou maiest after death receive and accept mee poore sinner into thy grace and favour though thy dearly beloved Sonne in whom only thou art pleased who is my righteousnesse Lord and my Redeemer and so when I have left this life I shall rest in peace and safety sleep in Christ and bee raised by him hereafter to great glory amongst his servants and may obtaine favour to be accepted into the society of holy Angels and blessed Saints and admitted into the glorious presence of Almighty God there to praise and magnifie his Name for ever and ever Amen 7. My conclusion A Prayer to my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ OH my deare Lord Jesus I most humbly begge for thy love and mercies sake to pardon all my sinnes past that thou maiest looke downe in pity and compassion on me to heare the prayer of thy unworthy sinfull servant who doth earnesty intreat thee to vouchsafe me thy gracious and continuall helpe protection and direction in all my weake endeavours wants and troubles that so all my desires wayes and actions being begun continued and ended in thee I may bee able rightly and faithfully to serve and please thee at all times really to love and honour thee above all things truly and carefully to feare and obey thee according to thine owne will confidently to relye upon thee and willingly to submit to thy pleasure in all my crosses and calamities and constantly to praise and magnifie thy most worthy and holy Name for thy great and manifold blessings and benefits bestowed upon me of thy meer grace and mercy O my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who art the author and finisher of my good and finally of my eternall salvation to thee be all praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen 8. Another short Prayer O Lord my God have pity upon me that am a most miserable sinner and full of frailty unapt and unable to doe any good I earnestly desire rightly to serve thee but without thy grace and help I cannot doe it a fit subject for thy great mercy Dear Iesus pardon all my sinnes past and give me grace henceforth to become a new creature in thee daily to attend thy service constantly and to performe all holy duties which Iowe unto thee faithfully and to shun and resist all sinfull neglects towards thee carefully that so while I live I may duly feare and obey thee rightly and truly to love and praise thee here and for ever Amen FINIS
in need and be liberall of my earthly vanishing wealth to relieve thy childrens necessities for thy sake that are dear unto thee who wert free of thy very bloud and sparedst not thine owne life to ransome them and me from utter destruction and so the loynes and bellies of the poore shall praise thee and blesse me in their comforts and thou maiest vouchsafe to receive and accept at my poore hands that small miâ—e of thankfulnesse and obedience towards thee my God from whose most gracious hand I have received many bountifull blessings and benefits throughout my whole life which let mee never forget gratefully to acknowledge while â— have breath and to praise thy holy Name 〈◊〉 â—ll thy mercies now and for evermore Amen dâ—â—re God Amen Thursday 4. A Prayer to the Trinity for spirituall graces MOst gracious Lord God who didst create man of the dust of the earth and knowest we are by nature the children of wrath and wholy inclined to evill for thou best understandest how unapt and unable I sinfull creature am to doe any good before thee much lesse to call upon thy great and glorious Name as I ought to doe yet thou in mercy hast appointed prayer to bee the chiefe meanes betwixt thy great Majesty and the unworthinesse of us thy poore sinfull servants wherby to declare our wants griefes and desires unto thee who art our only hope and helpe Therefore deare Lord indue me thy unworthy servant with thy true spirit of grace and prayer to teach mee how to pray as I ought that thereby I may have power and strength to withstand all evill temptations that seek to draw me from thy service and by thy assistance that I may be able so to resist the Divell that hee may flye from me in the performance of all duties towards thee and give mee grace with faith and fervency humility and true devotion to cry and pray daily and constantly unto thee for relief and distresse in all my troubles and wants and faithfully to call and relye upon thee for all thy blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall to be bestowed on my soule and body as thou shalt thinke fittest that so I may render all thanks and magnifie thy Name as I am right bound to doe for all thy mercies and favours vouchsafed unto me the most unworthiest of all thy servants from time to time And I humbly pray thee O Lord to give me the blessed gift of true faith without which it is impossible for me to please thee my God but thereby I may lay hold and rightly apply unto my owne soule all the infinite benefits purchased by the bitter death and passion and precious bloud-shedding of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that I may bring forth the fruits of righteousnesse and true holinesse before thee as becommeth that Saints and servants whereby I may glorifie thee and have assurance to my owne conscience that I am thine by constantly obeying thy will And also Lord grant me hearty and unfaigned repentance and true sorrow for all my sinnes originall and actuall in omitting the good I ought to do and committing the evill I should not doe against thee that so I may obtaine pardon of all my trespasses through the merits of Jesus Christ the righteous and let thy blessed Spirit produce in me amendment of my life all my time to come and assist mee with thy grace to shun and hate all approaches of evil and Lord shew me the way of life and turne my steps into the right paths that I may wallke in true obedience to all thy holy Commandements Now deare God of thy mercy give me the true feare of thy holy Name with assurance of thy gracious favour towards me and continuall joy and comfort in the Holy Ghost that I may strive alwaies to keep faith and a good conscience before thee towards all and indue me with grace will understanding and ability to do good workes to thy glory and bring comfort and profit to my soule in praying reading and hearing of thy most holy word at all times and most devout love towards thy Majesty with affection to all my brethren thy children servants and all the daies of my life to come by thy gracious assistance dear God Amen Friday 5. A Prayer for defence against our soules enemies in all temptations GOod Lord God who knowest the power and great malice of our spirituall enemies from whoÌ„ none can defend or deliver us but only thou O Lord whose power and strength is over and above all and if thou please to receive me into thy gracious protection who can hurt or plucke mee out of thy mercifull hands Therefore I most humbly beseech thee O God to defend me both in soule and body in life and death from all the temptations of my owne wretched nature within me the wicked inticements of this vaine world round about me with the malicious snares and evill temptations of the Divell that are ever at my backe ready to intrap me and draw my soul from thee my God and all goodnesse and to lead mee captive into all wickednesse sinne and evill to seperate me from thee all which like roaring Lions seeke to devoure and destroy me everlastingly But I most humbly pray unto thee O Lord who understandest my frailties to preserve and deliver me from all their assaults that they may never be able to prevaile over me to draw mee to sin against thee my God in any thing neither suffer them to prevent hinder disturbe or carry away my minde or possesse my vaine heart with wandring thoughts in the performance of any holy duty or service towards thy Majesty nor give them power to bring those harmes dangers or mischiefes upon me either in soule or body which they desire to doe But let thy blessed Spirit so fully possesse me and ever direct and assist mee in all my waies to doe all things in a right faithfull and acceptable manner before thee that so at all times thy Spirit may witnesse unto my spirit that I am thy childe and servant and of thy infinite mercy good Lord vouchsafe thou alwaies to say unto my soule especially at my death that thou art my God my helpe and my salvation for ever and by thy grace make my heart and soule to answer and performe unto thee againe that I am and will bee thy true faithfull and obedient servant unto my last breath for ever Amen Saturday 6. A Prayer for the true spirit of prayer or a meditation With a short prayer to Jesus our Saviour DEare Lord Holy Ghost the helper of our infirmities the preserver and sanctifier of mankinde I most humbly begge of thee to indue mee thy unworthy sinfull servant with thy true Spirit of grace and prayer that I may rightly performe that duty towards thee of calling upon thy holy Name and all other thy service this day and at all times with true and right devotion that so my petitions being humbly