and wayes are full of hidden dangers which without thy protection could not but haue faln vpoÌ„ me so is not this place whereinto I am safely retired by thy prouidence free from perils and therefore as thou hast hitherunto kept me keepe me now in this place wherein if thou dwel not by thy power and louing fauor there cannot but abide Sathan sinne and vanities powerfull enemies and able to surprise the strongest naturall man Strengthen me Lord aboue nature and helpe the parts of most infirmitie that my soule body being strengthened I may be able to giue thâ—â— the more sound prayses and haue spirituall power to resist whatsoeuer shall spiritually seeke to seducâ— me and in thy prouidence preseruâ— me in body safe giue me whatsoeuer is needfull for me in this place and continue thy louing fauour towards me that all things at all times in all places may prosperously succeed vnto me depart not from me good Father but blesse me first that I may be euer blessed So shall all things goe well with me both going foorth and comming in and all things worke together for my continuall consolation wherefore giue me grace euer to loue thee in Christ mine euerlasting Redeemer Amen O Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said before a Sermon MAn by nature being a sincke of corruption and a gulfe of hidden hypocrisie his conscience naturally oppressed with a slauish feare lest his inward and secret euill thoughts should be reueiled and his hidden iniquities discouered as much as in him lyeth coueteth to shun the light of the word of God which comprehendeth both the killing Law and the sauing glad tidings of the Gospel by the one he is condemned and therefore hateth the sentence which pronounceth that whosoeuer sinneth shall die yet apprehendeth he not either the grieuousnesse of his sinnes nor the miserie of the Gospel which is the preaching of repentance and the forgiuenesse of sinnes but lying securely in his sinnes thinketh not of any account and therfore regardeth not much the word preached But wheÌ„ shame or authoritie presseth the carnall man to heare the word he thâ—â— heareth sinne reproued and the sinfull condemned which is so vâ—sauâ—ry vnto him as he wisheth himselfe out of the hearing Herod could not endure the preaching of Iohn Baptiâ—â— reprouing him for his brothers wife be it the Law or the Gospel that such men heare it is as harsh vnto them as the words of Michaiah to Ahab yet we must vnderstand that though maâ— deliuer the word it is not his but the word of God and therefore no man but such a one as is yet in the state of reprobation wil refuse to he are God who is mercifull and louing speake vnto him if it be but the threatning Law which teacheth what is sinne and what is the reward of sinne wherby being cast downe with sorrow that he hath committed things so contrary to the will of his Creator he may seeke atonement and reconciliation with his offended God by the Gospel the testimonie of his loue Are not my words saith God good vnto him that walkes vprightly Therefore none but the obstinately wicked will shun the word preached which aswell offereth remission of sinnes committed as it threatneth death to the impenitent The Scriptures in many places command vs to seeke the Lord which argueth that we by nature are strangers from God separated by sinne and to remaine so is the most miserable condition that can befall the sonnes of men And where is the Lord to be sought but in his word which is the life of the soule As the soule body are knit together and conserued by breath So are our soules connexed and conioyned vnto God by the word of truth preached by Gods minister apprehended by faith and practised in spirit and truth The naturall man couets and delights to refresh himselfe in his griefes and crosses by musicke by merry company and by reading prophane bookes or hearing pleasant conceited songs or comedies which doe not onely not comfort but rather increase their griefes Contrarily Dauid protested that hee sought and found the onely true comfort in the word of God So doe all that are truely qualified in the rules of right religion though worldlings account it a melancholike wearinesse to sit an houâ—e to heare God speake vnto them But let them thinke that this wearinesse shall be a witnesse against them that they belong not to the Lord. Euery man desires to see his image in a glasse for two ends the one to see his feature the other to correct his deformities And Saint Iames compares the word of God to a glasse wherein are two sorts of Images discouered namely of Nature and Grace The first sheweth what we our selues are the second what we ought to seeke to be namely to be like vnto our head Christ Iesus in all sanctitie and holinesse in suffering patiently and obeying God truely This is by no other meanes learned but by the word of God preiched But some that haue made the least progresse in the loue to godlinesse of life thinke it sufficient to read the word of God or the workes of good and godly men at home an exercise not to bee in it selfe condemned but in respect of it to neglect the word preached is the contempt of Gods ordinance who hath in greatest fauour instituted his ministers to teach by the powerfull preaching of the word which worketh a more deepe impression in the heart of the hearer then of the reader For if wee consider the authoritie of the word preached it is from God the ministery from the mouth of man who is the mouth of God he therefore that neglects or contemnes the word preached neglectes the meanes of his saluation which is faith in Christ Iesus For faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God preached It is not yet sufficient to heare the word but as Marie laid vp the word in her heart so must euery profitable hearer retaine the word in their mindes permit it to rule in their affections and to bring foorth the fruits thereof in their actions reioycing when they doe the commandements of God and grieuing when they transgresse the same And because there be many things that hinder the growing of this sauing seede and many grounds receiue it but onely one namely good ground can bring forth the fruit It behooueth to pray that our hearts may be made fit to heare our affections fit to loue and our whole man apt to cherish this seede by continuall holy practise Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said before the hearing of a Sermon THou Lord hast commanded vs or rather louingly inuited vs to seeke thy face and yet thou art in the highest heauens among thine Angels Seraphims and Cherubims and wee dust and ashes are in the earth full of infirmities not able to looke vnto much lesse into the heauens to behold thee there no the very Angels hide
their better part the soule should so little regard the meanes by whom they receiue it the Ministers of the word of Saluation the Gospell of Christ Many will protest they loue Christ and yet the contrary appeareth when they not only regard not but despise his Ministers whom hee hath sent as Embassadors of his will We beseech you brethren saith Saint Paul to the Thessalonians that yee haue the Ministers of God in singular loue for their workes sake We should loue all men and pray for all men how much more for them that leade vs to the well of life The same Saint Paul willeth the Ephesians not only to pray in an ordinarie maner but in the Spirit with perseuerance and watchfulnes euen for him that vtterance might be giuen vnto him and that he might open his mouth boldly to publish the secret of the Gospell And are we lesse bound to pray for them that haue the Spirituall charge ouer vs the care and cure of our soules that they may be able to deliuer the Word sincerely to open their mouths boldly to our edification and consolation in Christ And that they namely the Ministers may be deliuered from vnreasonable and euill men for we know that Christ Antichrist Truth and Falsehood Christ and Satan cannot stand together And he that preacheth the word truely is the means to bring men out of darknesse to light from sinne to sanctitie from Satan to Christ. And therefore Satan will euer oppose himselfe and instigate euill men to encounter scandalize and persecute such as are truest and most painefull labourers in Gods Spirituall haruest whereby it commeth to passe that the word of God is oftentimes hindered the Church of Christ diminished Ignorance increased Religion despised Vice aduanced Faith decreased Obedience to God neglected and Truth among men meerely abandoned and cōtemned And al this where Prophecying Preaching faile God giueth not to man a more speciall blessing in earth then the preaching of the word which is as the net to catch men there were three thousand men so catcht at the first preaching of Peter and by his continuance in that spirituall fishing there were caught fiue thousand persons out of the snare of Satan Let all men therefore loue pray for them that thus fish to saue the soules of mē that haue the ouersight and rule ouer them they are the watch men of Christ and whoso loues Christ the Master and Lord cannot but loue his Ministers and pray for them not only as brethren but as men appointed by Corist to direct them the way of saluation And let no man thinke it is not their duetie to pray for them because they are appointed and ought to pray for others and not others for them as some prophanely affirme It is a needfull and required duetie to pray one for another especially for the Ministers who are or ought to be as Gods mouth vnto vs to teach vs his will as Gods hand to support vs by spirituall counsell as Gods eye to obserue our wayes and as Gods Ministers to reproue vs of sinne and to pronounce pardon in Christ to the truely penitent Pray therefore for them that the gifts of the holy Ghost may abound in them that men seeing their good workes may glorifie God our their Father which is in heauē A Prayer to be said for the Ministers of Gods word GRacious and mercifull O Lord our God art thou in all thy wayes and workes towards men and in nothing more gracious then in thy word preached vnto vs whereby thou doest open and reueile vnto vs the mystery of our saluation according to thy good pleasure in Christ our Lord. Thou teachest vs heauenly wisedome in earth by thy holy Spirit giuen vnto men whom thou doest set apart to that holy function as men chosen to winne men to thee And for as much as neither thy beloued Saints Peter nor Iohn nor Paul could preach or prophecie before they were sent neither were they sent before they were sanctified Sanctifie and send foorth Lord worthy Labourers into thine haruest and sanctifie and blesse them whom thou hast sent with such spirituall gifts and graces as may enable them to be instant in season and out of season that they may winue many vnto thee Inlighten their hearts with the light of true knowledge Touch their tongues with the coale from thine Altar that their lips may preserue knowledge and in their hearts may bee true zeale that they may still call vpon thy children to walk in the light of thy truth And as thou diddest send downe vpon thine Apostles the holy Ghost in fiery tongues to teach thē so instill into the hearts of all thy Ministers Preachers of thy word the fire of true zeale a godly boldnes to speake thy truth without respect of persons not to flatter the wicked nor to spare the rebuking of sin and let them comfort the weake harted let thē be able to bring them that erre into the right way that they may conuert liue that they may beleeue liue for Faith cōmeth by hearing and hearing by the preaching of thy word Let therefore the beautiful fruit of thē plentifully appeare amongst vs that bring glad tidings of peace which thē the glad tidings of our saluation And let thē speak nothing but as thy word teacheth thē that they may be foūd good disposers of thy graces Let their conuersatiōs be vpright before thee let thē be as lights set on a hill that they may teach as well by the example of their owne liues as by preaching thy Word that thou in all things mayest be glorified through Iesus Christ to whom is praise and dominion for euer and euer Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer for the Church Uniuersall THe Church which S. Paul calleth the House of God 1. Tim. 3. 15. is the Congregation of the faithfull dispersed throughout the world and in regard of the vniuersalitie thereof is called the Church Catholike Of which Vniuersalitie are many and seuerall societies distinct by place vnited by faith And euery seuerall company professing one and the same truth confessing one and the same faith and holding one and the same forme of administration of the Sacramēts are one intire bodie which bodie is the vniuersall Church wherof Christ is the head one Spouse whereof Christ is the husband He hath begotten this dispersed congregation by vertue of his word and made them one by the vnity of his Spirit By which Spirit the Fathers belieued in Christ before the came in the flesh and were of the same mysticall bodie whereof we that beleeue his word being come are also members and whereof Christ Iesus hath bin is and shall be the euerlasting head The parable of the Sower which Christ propounded Matth. 13. 24. sheweth by the euill seede mixed with the good that this Church shall neuer be free from offences both in doctrine and manners vntill the day of the fina 〈…〉
many yet forget not to bee good vnto thy chosen leaue not thy Saints vnto the spoyler rather shorten these dayes of sinne lest that the increase of vngodlinesse seduce euen the righteous and they perish also by straying from the way of life Lord increase our faith Another Prayer for the Uniuersall Church in the time of affliction or persecution MOst gracious Father as thou hast shewed thy selfe in former times a most powerfull protector of thy Church euer since the propagation thereof and by thy holy spirit hast conserued it in the vnitie of thy spirit in a constant true profession of thy word in a bolde and sincere confessing of Christ the head of that sanctified body euen when persecution vnto death raged and tyrannized most Bee still mindfull of the same thy little flocke feede it still with thy word defend it still with thy mightie hand guide it euer with thy holy spirit and euermore preserue it as the vine which thine own right hand hath planted Gather together thy sheepe scattered vpon so many mountaines let not the wolues seaze vpon thy tender lambes to teare them in peeces while there is none to helpe Let not the subtill foxes bewitch them with a false religion Let not the wild Boâ—e of Antichristian persecution deuoure them Let not Sathan nor sinne preuaile against them But as thou hast promised let thy Church and euery member of the same be as Mount Sion that shall neuer bee mooued let them stand fast for euer Let them florish in all faith and obedience as trees planted by the riuers and bring forth fruits of religion true pittie aboundantly compasse them with armies of thine Angels as thou diddest compasse Elisha with horses and chariots of fire and as the mountains compasse Ierusalem So let thy preuayling power compasse them about Suffer none O Lord to doe them violence but if in thy wisedome thou thinkest meet to make any member of thy Church a witnesse of thy trueth giue him the spirit of true vnderstanding of thy word faith and constancie to imbrace what measure of affliction or persecution thou shalt thinke fit to lay vpon him for the same forsake him not O Lord in his trials nor lay no more vpon him then it may please thee to giue him power to indure Make thy children O Lord strong and then cannot the threats of the cruellest Tyrants dismay thy outwardly weakest witnesses from vndergoing the extremest passion of martyrdome O fortifie all them whom thou hast appointed to any kind of torment for the testimony of the truth of the Gospel of Iesus Christ. Season them so with the assurance of their future glory that they flie not nor start backe for feare of whatsoeuer torture thine enemies may threaten or execute The least of which not being assisted and made easie by thy all-shining countenance vpon the soule of the persecuted cannot but dismay him and dismaying make him faint and fainting make him fall and so to denie thee Looke downe therefore O Lord vpon and visite all thine afflicted members protect them from secret conspiracies open practises and violent incursions plotted by Sathan and Antichrist and attempted by their bewitched instruments by whom thy Church and the members thereof and dayly afflicted and indangered Take thou wee humbly beseech thee our defence into thine owne hands Stop the breach which the enemie hath made Maintaine Lord thine owne word protect and keepe thine owne people conuert reuert or confound them that fight against thee by word or sword and fight against them that fight against thee in thy members that thou maiest be glorified thy Church increased and euery member of the same euerlastingly comforted in Christ their head Be it so good Father Amen Lord increase our faith Another short Prayer for the prosperitie of the Church and gouernment thereof GOd Father in Iesus Christ looke downe from heauen vpon and visite the viâ—e which thy right hand hath planted Send labourers into thy vineyard that they may so prune it and dresse it that it may branch and beare plentifully good fruit Suffer nâ— loyterers or idle persons in steade of labourers to enter into or vndertake to husband this vine Let no prophane person haue any superintendencie within the same But let the holy the faithfull the diligent industrious and such 〈◊〉 haue care to aduance thy Gospel and glory to instruct to exhort to improue rebuke and to bee instant in season and out of season be established ouerseers in this vineyard By whose watching and worke all the branches may be so succoured and carried vpward as they may not cease growing vntill they mount vp vnto the perfection of spirituall knowledge and practise of all pietie and fiâ—â—all obedience and consequently became members of that celestiall Ierusalem Send Lord such watchmen to keepe thy vine as by the sword of the spirit may be able to incounter and keepe out expulse abandon and driue away all hurtfull and prophane beasts all Swinelike drunkards all Lyonlike furious and Wolfelike denouring and rauening persons all Camelionlike Hypocrites all Leopardlike spotted Professors and all Foxelike crafty deuisors of and inâ—iâ—â—rs to new and false doctrines which the Gospel of thy Sonne Christ Iesus warranteth not Let onely the meeke sheepe and humble lambes the truly religious and holy be euermore gouernours and the gouerned in this heauenly Vineyard thy Church And although no visible Congregation can bee without these hidden and dangerous members knowne onely to thy selfe confirme the faith of euery childe of thine that they may be more and more inlightened confirmed in their hope through a sound and sincere profession of thy truth neuer to be remoued vnto the end Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be sayd for the Kings Maiestie WHen God had caused to be diuided the land of Canaan into parts according to the Twelue tribes of Israel he substituted as vnder and in the name of himselfe first Judges and after Kings to gouerne theâ— whereof some were vertuous religious and fearing God and they defended the truth of God protecteâ— his Church vnder them Some weroâ— dolaters perturbers of the Church 〈◊〉 God and Tyrants The first respecting the lawes of God and good of his Church made the lawes of God the paterne of their gouernments The second either not knowing God or knowing him did not honour him as God but fell from the liuing God themselues and caused the people to fall likewise from God to Idols therby highly incensing God to indignation against them who grieuously punished them with their Kings Dauid Iosiah Hezekiah Asa and Ieboshaphat were Kings that feared God 1. King 15. 12. 2. Chron. 17. 3. These did God aduance to comfort his children by the free vse of his word and to defend them from the aduersaries hand 2. Chron. 1. 11. Contrarily he setteth vp tyrants for the punishment of a rebellious people as Nehemiah complaineth Nehem. 9. 37. Manasses made the streets of Ierusalem
would seeme holy And so instead of a blessing procure a curse vnto themselues for their hypocrisie Wee must consider that God is a iealous God holdeth none guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine as they manifestly doe that come neere him with their lips when their hearts are farre from him It is a kind of spirituall adultery outwardly to seeme wholy to be gods and yet inwardly to be meere worldlings Before we open our mouthes therefore to God we must cast out of the Temple of God which is our heart all buyers and sellers as Christ did out of the Temple of Ierusalem for as long as our hearts doe harbour the desires of worldly profits and carnall pleasures aboue the sincere seruice of God our heart the Temple of the liuing God becommeth a den of theeues that steales away all our godly affections to settle them on Belial Let vs looke vnto the man Christ Iesus crucified by whose blood wee are redeemed by whose mediation wee are sure to haue our prayers heard of God and granted especially if for our further and more perfect preparation we can truely obserue the rule of Christ to forgiue our enemies knowing that if we forgiue not our brother that offendeth vs God will not forgiue vs that farre more grieuously offend him And therefore Christ counselleth vs that if we bring our sacrifice to the Altar namely if we intend to pray and there remember that a brother hath ought against vs we ought to leaue our offering before the Altar that is forbear for the time to pray yet to continue our holy intention to pray and to goe first and bee reconciled to our brother and then to come to offer our gift namely our prayers freely vnto God in Christ for before we be vnburthened of all rancor malice enuie hatred and all other prophane desires it is not only not auaileable but lamentable that so many will as doe presume to come before God with hearts so fearefully fraught with these vnholy affections and stagger no more to presse into Gods presence nay not so much as some that come vnto God with most prepared peacefull and most sanctified consciences Let such cast-out the bond woman with her sonne namely the old man the works and lusts of the flesh and giue entertainment vnto the free-woman and her sonne the new man which after God is created vnto righteousnes and true holines And so recommend our prayers vnto God the obiect of our prayers in Christ the Mediator of our prayers by the holy Ghost the Author of all holy prayers Attention in Prayer Being thus prepared let vs endeuour to yeeld due and true attention in our prayers that is to giue â—eed to what we pray to whom we pray for what we pray and with what zeale we pray which are the truest tokens and greatest arguments that our prayers are liuely powerfull effectuall and of faith which properties can neuer be in lip-labour for there cannot be a more apparent discouery of a rancke Hypocrite then to make outward showes of Deuotion with the gesture and lippes and yet the heart to be busied in the cogitation of idle â—arthly and prophane things And nothing more discouereth an idle heart outwardly then the wandering of the eye in the time of diuine prayer for it is probable and often found by experience that the eye withdraweth the heart and if the eye be inconstant the prayer hath not nor can haue the due attention of the heart yet it doth not follow that although the eye bee fixed on any certaine obiect or be shut that therefore the heart is rightly set on God for oftentimes the eye followes the heart the cogitation of the heart making the eye to forget it obiect as when the heart is wandring in the fields of corne viewing the herdes of cattle and flockes of sheepe when it is in the ware-house in the shoppe in the chest minding bands payments ouercome with pride plotting reuenge oppressed with feare besotted with pleasure iâ—tangled with cares or otherwise peruerted by any prophane and vngodly cogitations Prayers made witls such an extraâ—agant heart be they in words neuer so holy they are imputed vnto vs as sin for shall wee thinke that God will heare our prayers to our profit or comfort when the thoughts of our hearts in the meane time dishonor him Many pray in their owne familiar language and yet consider no more what they speake for want of attention then if they spake in an vnknowne tongue and yet such men will hold themselues very deuout and to haue power in themselues to pray when they list as if true prayer werâ— of that facilitie and ease to vtter as is an idle tale and as it seemes by beggers that tumble out the Lords prayer with one breath at a doore and yet minde nothing but their almes Such men are to be pitied and to be wished better to aduise themselues before they attempt this seruice of God most holy for Prayer is not an easie worke it is of a deeper straine then a tale that is but from the tongue to the teeth from the teeth to the lips and so into the ayre True prayer is cordiall and of that force and efficacie as it constraineth the heart to sighes groanes and teares with such inward â—eâ—uencie of holy zeale as tenters the heart with such internall gripes as may bee truly said the râ—ting of the hart And the more we feele our hearts thus inwardly sharply touched so much the more comfort it yeeldeth to the soule of the faithfull petitioner yea such and so great consolation as he that feeles it cannot expresse it with his tongue be he neuer so eloquent neither can any conceiue or apprehend the sweetnes of it that is not exercised and experienced in the same for nature apprehendeth it not No man can say that Iesus is Christ but by the holy Ghost and none can desire the Spirit of God but by the Spirit of God Flesh and bloud cannot as much as desire spirituall things spiritually for spirituall things are to be compared with spirituall things and spirituall gifts are obtained by spirituall meanes And therefore are words without the spirit as naked and bare incense without fire but being inkindled in the heart and sanctified by the holy spirit of God who is promised to assist our spirits they are as a liuely and acceptable sacrifice to God working so powerfully with him through Christs mediâ—tion as they neuer returne empty of what soeuer blessing we desire Prayer can neuer be effectuall 〈◊〉 there be sâ—me certaine spirituall obiect of the mind to moue the attention of the heart which obiect is God and we must consider that when we pray vnto him or yeeld him any other worship that we are not to conceiue him in the forme of any earthly or heauenly bodily or spirituall creature whatsoeuer for in that maner not to conceiue him is a degree of coÌ„ceiuing him a right according to Master Perkins
diuers manner And therefore though a man say he hath this â—nflicted vpon him vpon an vniust complaint or for a cause surmised and vntrue yet doth God bring it so to passe by such instruments as are fitte in his prouidence to be though against their wils the Phisitians of his children for among many medicines that God vseth to cure our spirituall leproâ—â—â— this Imprisonment be it in respect of the purpose of the instrument right or wrong is one of the principall and the more auaileable by howmuch it is capitall for when a man is bodily fettered and gyued that he cannot walke at his former desired libertie and is in feare of the censure of the law then is the minde set at large not restrained as before with the dâ—sires of forbidden vanities but making vse of the time recapitulateâ— the course of his former libertie 〈◊〉 loosenesse which then appeareâ— most when the body is lest at liber 〈…〉 he recommendeth himselfe to Gâ—â— mercy Therefore for what cause soeuer a man is in this manner restrained if he haue the wisedome of the spirit to make true vse of the same it is profitable though ignominious and disgracefull And though such as are in a spirituall capâ—iuitie themselues and neuer in possibilitie to redeeme their libertie through all eternities will scoâ—â—e at poore men 〈…〉 strained and bee the cruell executioners of their restraint which is but for a moment in respect of theirs and nothing grieuousin respect of the perpetuall torments they shall indure in the infernall dungeon with the reprobate spirits Therefore take in good part thy captiuity whatsoeuer thou'be and for whatsoeuer cause it be make vse of it in redeeming of thine abused libertie aske mercy seeke the fauour of God by true repentance submit thy selfe to the Lords will in well doing in repentance and prayer make Iesus Christ thine aduocate to worke th 〈…〉 atonement with God the father and remember what holy men haue gone before thee in this affliction Muâ—aiaâ— the Lords Prophet Ioseph a chosen of God Paul Peter and other the Saints of God in the olde and new Testaments and since many worthy sonnes and seruants of God aswell as many prophane men who by their imprisonment haue become holy and sanctified It is a furnace to refine the gold to euaporat the sulphur and to consume the drosse And such as haue no spirituall puritie it makes to 〈…〉 eare the dregs of confusion and reprobation and the pure gold to shine as the sunne A Prayer to be said of one in prison for what cause soeuer changing the wordâ— according to the occasion here set down GRacious Lord God the most iust most wise thou disposest all things for all men according to thine own will in mercy and iudgement In both which the wisest caruall man is most ignorant censuring thy waies according to his weake vnderstanding taking and imagining thy fauour and loue towards men to consist it thy plentifully furnishing them with the fulnes of worldly carnal comforts thy hatred anger to appeare by leauing them naked of corporall consolation imprisonment to be the highest argument of thy heauiest displeasure But thou Lord knowest thine owne ends in restrayning men of their libertie wherin they haue scope to run into all forbidden vngodly actions delighting themselues in vanities in wantonnes sinful security and therfore thou restrainest theÌ„ whom thou louest lest their liberty should so admit carnall delights as thy feare being farre off there should be neither time place or occasion to call vpon thee but thy Iudgements are secret therfore mistakeÌ„ of the seeming wisest men of the world who looke not wherunto their own liberty tendeth as to occasion them to run into forbidden lustes consequently into a reprobate sence wherein yet they dreame of highest happinesse And thy mercies are also misconceiued of such as want the light of thy sauing truth as all men doe by nature who thinke euery affliction or crosse bitter and vnpleasant but imprisonment the sharpest tryal that can befall them Flesh and blood Lord cannot conceiue but as thou hast made all thy creatures at their beginnings free So should man thy most excellent creature be euer free and liue at libertie But thou knowest man better then man knoweth himself and seest and considerest whether libertie or imprisonment is most profitable vnto him and forasmuch as I am of the number of them whom thou pleasest to trie with this kind of affliction and of the number also of such as are by nature ignorant whether this thy tryall be in mercy and iudgement Teach me Lord the right rule of diuine knowledge that I may truly find this thy correction to bee in mercy that thou hast found me out in mine offending course of life and that my liberty rather tended to thy dishonour and mine owne danger then to the true seruice of thee and mine owne true comfort And therefore assist me with thy sweet and truly comforting grace that I may make a godly vse of my restraint namely Lord to abandon all the remembrance of former carnall delights vulesse to repent them and wholy and altogether to dedicate my selfe to the meditation of diuine and heauenly things to earnest zealous and faithfull continuall prayer for the increase of thy mercies towards me and mine obedience towards thee And that it may please thee Lord so to season this thy medicine of Imprisonment vnto me with the gift of true patience that it may make meÌ„e to abhorre from hence forth the vanities wherein I delighted in my libertie that if thy pleasure bee to restore me to my former freedome I may liue as if I were still really restrained Thou Lord knowest the harts of those by whose means in thy prouidence I suffer this restraint and the cause on my part If for debt say thus WHich I confesse to bee iust in that I am-indebted and not able to make present and full satisfaction vnto my creditors But I appeale vnto thy mercy and prouidence beseeching thee to mitigate the extremitie and rigour of their desires that thus oppresse me or else raise vp some comfortable preuailing meanes to inable me to pay all that I owe vnto al men that I owe nothing to any man but loue Thou didst incrense the oyle and meâ—â—e of the istressed widow of Sareptha so as she was inabled to pay what she ought thy power is still the same thy loue is not lessened towards them that loue thee giue me that loue Lord So shall my want and mine imprisonment and all other crosses worke together for my greater consolatioÌ„ through Christ. Amen If for matter for which life or member is in danger say thus WHich I cannot but acknowledge to be deseruedly inflicted vpon me for I haue not onely transgressed thy lawes but broken the precepts of thine anointed and stand worthy of the censure of corporall punishment But thou art a merciful God and disposest the hearte
he shal recouer and liue with them which kinde of comfort is rather iniurious then friendly for what if the partie thus idlely secured perish without repentance These kindes of comforters haue little cause to imagine they haue performed a Christian dutie in this their visitation of their sick friend whom they seemed to loue much bewailing his sicknes and yet content to send him away with the heauie burden of his sinnes A second Christian duty is to pray for the sicke either in priuate or in publike assemblies of and with such as are present with the sick person wherein also the sicke person may conioyne either in the whole prayer by an inward lifting vp of his repenting and faithful heart to God in a holy meditation of what they pray or to conclude with them all Amen The prayer of the faithfull auaileth much if it be feruent The Lord by this meanes will strengthen him vpon his bed raise him to health or translate him in his good time To visite the sicke is an action most acceptable to God Yee haue visited me saith Christ when I was sicke therefore c 〈…〉 yee blessed c. Them that comfort the afflicted God will comfort He is the Father of mercies and comforteth vs 〈◊〉 all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort them which are in any aff 〈…〉 by the comfort wherewith we our selues are comforted of God O Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said for a sicke man or woman of his or her friendes that visite them O Most gracious Lord God who hast made all things preseruest euen the meanest of them by thy prouidence a sparrow lighteth not on the ground without thee Much lesse can any thing befall man but by thy will and determinate counsell So that we doe acknowledge that thou visitest this thy seruant here at this present languishing and that the present infirmity wherewith he is afflicted is of theesent to humble him for his sinnes Let it please thee O Lord to behold him in mercy and lay not vpon him too great a weight of thy dispeasure knowing that man in his greatest strength is weake how much more feeble being crushed as it were in â—eeces by the violence of thy visitation mitigate if it please thee the extremitie of his sicknesse and giue him patience to beare this thy light and louing correction And for that sinne is the cause of all troubles and tribulations Remoue Lord the guilt of all his offences through the merits of Iesus Christ and moderate his punishmeÌ„t though in iustice the most iust man is worthy of more stripes then he is able to beare yet thou refusest no truely repenting sinner bee his sins as reâ— as scarlet thou hast promised to make them as white as snow through the blood of Iesus Christ the sauing Lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world Touch the hart of this thy seruant with a liuely feeling of his sinnes and a full assurance of thy mercy in forgiuing them That hee being really reunited vnto thee through an â—ufained faith in Christ may â—ouze vp his fainting soule vnto thee and by thee that howsoeuer his corporall weakenesse may argue the heauy displeasure towards him thy holy Spirit may yet work such peace in his conscienc through the assurance that his sins are freely forgiuen him that hee may take this thy visitation as a fatherly correction and louing chastisement for his former offences And that if thou be pleased to restore him to health it may worke in him a true renouation reformation of the rest of his life heare haue mercy vpon him O Lord haue mercy vpon him and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away all his offences Looke fauourably vpon him cure him if it please thee restore him to health if it may stand with thy glory and his good But thou knowest Lord whether sickenesse or health bee most expedient for him whereof both he and wee are ignorant And therefore wee recommend him vnto thy fatherly disposition beseeching thee to confirme his hope assure him so of thy mercie that hee may imbrace life or death at thy pleasure and willingly to vndergoe this affliction knowing that all the tribulations which man can beare in this life are not worthy of the glory which thou hast prepared for them that loue thy second comming whâ—â— thou wilt giue to euery man according to his workes And therfore Lord turne his heart from the loue and vanities of this life vnto thâ— loue of the ioyes to come And 〈◊〉 him no longer set his heart and affections vpon this world or thâ— things in the world but onely and altogether vpon heauen and heauenly things That when the moment of time shall be wherein thâ—â— shalt determine the separation 〈◊〉 his soule from the bodie let 〈◊〉 the common enemie of our saluâ—tion preuent him But let thy sanctifying spirit possesse all thâ— powers of his soule that with holy alacritie and cheerefulnesse he may commend his spirit into thy hands and be thou pleased to reâ—â—iue him as one of thine adopted children into that celestial inheritance by the merits of Christ And in the meane time while hee shall rest here either in health or sickenesse be euer present with him for whose bodily recouery and hiâ— soules saluation O Lord hearâ— our prayers and let our cry come vnto thee Amen O Lord increase his and our faith for euermore A MOTIVE TO A Prayer before a man bâ—gin his Iourney HEe that well considereth the casualties of this life and hath but the least measure of vnderstanding and of the feare of God cannot attempt the least enterprise of the body but will forecast diuers daÌ„gers incident in euery action much more taking a Iourney on horse or foot being subiect to so many misfortunes and crosses as he maketh steppes in his wayes It is not rare to heare of one breaking his legge another his arme a third bruzing his body a fourth comming to vntimely death by falling off or from his horse nay the slip of the foote hath many wayes occasioned death besides hazard of meeting with and suffâ—ring danger by the ministers of Sathan and by malignant men laying wait to doe mischiefe Our bodies being thuâ— daily and vniuersally beset with perill requireth watchfulnesse in our wayes and walkings But it is not in our power wisdome to preuent the least crosse much lesse able are we to defend our selues as of our selues froÌ„ the hidden and sudden misfortunes of this lifes casualties And therefore had we neede to leaue our owne selfe wisedome and prouidence though not our Christian care and betake vâ— to the holy protection of the Holy one of Israel who guided Iacob in his Iourney towards Laban and the seruant of Abraham iourneying for a wife for Isack But they prayed for good successe So must euery faithfull man if he hope of the like Otherwise as the Lyon mette the Prophet and sâ—ue him So can God rayse
keepe vnlesse we lay it vp in our hearts for the enemie goeth about to steale it out of our hearts by many carnall delights and vanities It is the seed sowne to bring forth good fruit we must beware that we admit no tares cockle or darnâ—l to grow vp therewith sinne and iniquity let it fructifie in goodnesse and pray that the grace of God watering our hearts may keepe downe the weeds of sinne and fructifie the good fruits of righteousnes to make vs holy and of vpright conuersation before God and men God hath made a promise to the faithfully praying to send his holy Spirit to helpe our infirmities And to this end vse this Prayer following or some to the like purpose whensoeuer thou hearest the Word preached it shall much confirme thee in a godly desire to heare and practise and thou thereby shalt finde comfort in all thy wayes A Prayer to be said after the hearing of a Sermon MOst bountifull and most louing Lord God the giuer of all good things feeder releeuer preseruer of our soules and bodies I yeeld thee most humble and most hartie thankes for that thou at this time hast so louingly and Fatherly reuealed vnto vs thy will out of thy word and haâ—â— made our fainting soules partakers of that celestiall and blessed Manna thy sauing word Good Father as thou hast plentifully now fed vs with the milke of thy sacred word giue it Lord a relieuing and nourishing power to refresh and strengthen our soules to walke before thee in liuely and acceptable obedience and a sanctified conuersation Grant that the word now sowne in our eares may take deepe roote in our hearts and bring forth fruit manifold Let not the enuious man preuaile in casting in amongst thy good seed the cockle tares and weeds of sinne and iniquitie to the peruerting or preuenting of our new obedience Let not the thorny cares of this world trouble and choake nor the vanities of our corrupt mindes vinder the growth of this sauing seed in our hearts Let not the scorching Sun of ouer heauiâ— afflictions cause this fruit of saluation to wither but water it Lord with the continuall dew of thy holy Spirit as our vnfruitful and harren harts shall grow weak wanting this liuely foode supply it Lord from time to time by the preaching of thy word and giue vs diligent eares and obseruing hearts at all times and grant that wee bee not hearers only but doers of thy will And for that our hearts are hard to conceiue open our vnderstandings and for that our memories are short and vnable to retaine the sauing word giue vs hearts of continuall holy meditation that we may be euer chewing the cudde of that heauenly food and so digest the same that it may more more strengthen our faith vnto saluation And let the words O Lord which we haue now and formerly heard neuer returne in vaine but worke that holy effect for which thou hast appointed it namely the increase and confirmation of our faith in thee obedience repentance and newnes of life that we euer more and more hungring and thirsting for this sweete and sauing food may at length bee made able to liue in all holy and spotlesse conuersation before thee our heauenly Father and indeuour with all holy alacritie and ioyfulnes to take the aduantage of all oportunities to heare thee to speake vnto vs to follow and performe what thou commandest and to shun and with carefulnes to auoid what thou forbiddest Let nothing hinder vs Lord from a louing desire to repaire vnto thy house to refresh our soules with the bread of heauen and let vs not couet to bee seene of men onely hearers but found and allowed of thee doers of thy will Grant this Lord for thy Christs sake Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said against malicious aduersaries FOr as much as the holy Ghost testifieth that our Sauiour Christ Iesus had his enemies he liuing in all holines integritie and innocencie should we mortall sinners corrupt and many wayes transgressing wretches thinke much to be hated maligned enuied and persecuted of men or doth any man thinke that if he do as his Master hath commanded hee shall not finde the same measure that his Master found who himselfe did what he would we should do and was only enuied for his well-doing Happie is that man that procureth enemies by his godly conuersation for it is certaine they that hate him for his sinceritie are not his but Gods enemies also But to draw men to hate vs for our vices their hatred is rather 〈◊〉 vertue commendable then a fault reproueable for it tendeth not vnto the hurt of our bodies but the reformation of our liues and as we shall begin to incline to godlines so will the hatred of the godly turn into loue And though Satan then step in to incouÌ„ter vs with his malignant ministers there is no cause to feare for thought thousands compasse vs about to deuour vs there shall be more with vs then with them fiue shal chase an huÌ„dred and an huÌ„dred put ten thousand to flight The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise against thee to fall before thy face 〈◊〉 he made the enemies of Iacob to feare him for he feared God! God sometimes punisheth the enemies of his children by other meanes then by them to whom they are enemies as he gaue the enemies of Lot into Abrahams hands if we obey the Lord he will persecute them that couet to persecute vs though we be silent and desire no reuenge Vengeance is the Lords and he will reward There is no greater reuenge to be offered against an enemie then to leaue him to Gods reuenge and to liue in the presence of the enemy so as he can take no exceptions against our coÌ„uerâ—ation vpright before God and men it breeds a terror in a tyraâ—nous aduersarie to see him whom he hateth to liue in the feare of God furious Saul was aâ—â—aid of Dauid because he saw the Lord was with him If we could truely iudge of Gods purpose in sending vs enemies we should neuer be so disquiâ—ted at their practises against vs whether they threaten to kill vs as Saul did Dauid and the souldiers Paul and Iesabel â—liah or whether they vexe vs at the Law vniustly or slander vs maliciously or work any other mischiefe against vs treacherously if we feare God and rest vpon his prouidence he shall turne all their deuices to our good as he did the enuie of Iosephâ— brethren Ioseph was condemned for an Adulterer Daniel for a Rebell Iob for an Hypocrite and Christ our Sauiour for a Malefactor And how did God worke for these Ioseph was freed and exalted Daniel cleared and iustified Iob restored approued though Christ were condemned for vs he was glorified and shall glorifie vs. Enemies are most necessarie euils as a man may terme them euill in themselues yet necessarie for vs we know that an
gouernest all thy creatures by the power and prouidence making many and great differences in the estates of humane creatures as some to gouerne as Kings som◠to obey as subiects some masters and some seruants I acknowledge thy great goodnes in that thou hast made me though a subiect to thine Anointed as a King to command in 〈…〉 ine owne family and hast giuen mee seruants to whom I say Goe and they goe Come and they attend Giue me wisedome to command nothing but what may be◠lawfull expedient and necessarie tending euermore to thy glorie and giue vnto all that are vnder my command obedience vnto knowledge of and willingnes to accomplish all things that shall concerne their duties and my necessarie seruice Let thy holy Spirit be vpon them to teach them and to direct them in all their endeuours Let them striue in a godly emulation one to exceed another in wel doing that they may truely and religiously performe whatsoeuer is fit and consonant to their places functions for it is neither the skill nor the desire nor the seruice done can succeed either to my priuate profit to the good of others or to thy glorie without thy speciall direction and blessing Blesse me therefore in right commanding and blesse my seruants in rightly performing what in thy feare and reuerence to thy Maiestie they shall attempt Giue vs all vnderstanding hearts not according to the high points of humane knowledge only But especially according to the right rules of Christian religion Make mee apt able and willing to instruct and direct them in the principles of diuine knowledge that a spirituall blessing may euer accompany their corporall callings and giue me patience to forbeare their infirmities in committing offences against me for I cannot but confesse that thou art to me a Master whome I haue and doe more often and more egregiously offen◠by my many sinnes then any or all my seruants can trespasse against me Giue mee therefore a feeling heart O Lord that I may make vse of my seruāts offences against me in recounting mine own transgressions against thee And as thou hast euer bin patient towards mee in forbearing to punish me according to my disobedience so I may beare with my seruants weaknes not maliciously offēding me Guide thē by thy holy Spirit in all truth make them though my seruants in respect of their corporall seruice to me thy sonnes and daughters by their spirituall seruing of thee and grant that we all may conioyne in one true obedience to serue thee hearing thy word attentiuely and praying vnto thee continually and faithfully that both thy spirituall blessings and corporall comforts in Jesus Christ may alwaies abound amongst vs and that we may prosper together in all truth peace plentie godly loue and happines making no spirituall though there seeme some worldly difference betweene the gouernor the gouerned knowing that thou hast no respect of persons but the Lord seruant the bond and free the outwardly glorious and base fearing thee are equally accepted with thee Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO stirre vp seruants to obey and pray for ablenes to serue their Masters and gouernours truely and to profit in their callings ALthough it seeme a harsh and vnsauourie seruitude and a base condition to be a seruant it is not as it is commonly taken vnlesse to be the seruants of Sinne and of Satan but to be a Christian seruant to a Christian master according to the flesh is to be Gods free-man according to the Spirit all creatures are seruants and seruiceable vnto man Why then should not one man be seruiceable vnto another We cannot be all masters but seruants we are all either vnto God in well doing and in a holy execution and performance of his commandements to the world or to Satan A seruant is nothing else but an agent or instrument to bee commanded by a more eminent person one whom he obeyeth whether it be to God as vnto our Father and preseruer vnto sinne and Satan our seducers to the world as our deceiuer to our vaine affections our betrayers or vnto man our fellow member of that bodie the Church whereof Christ is the head A Christian and beleeuing seruāt may be in the house and doe seruice to an Infidell and an Idolater as Iacob to Laban and Ioseph to Potipher who in their corporall seruice to man performed spirituall seruice to God who requireth obedience in seruants to their masters in all things not with eye-seruice as men-pleasers but in singlenesse of heart cheerefully and hartily fearing God as doing their seruice to God not vnto men so shall they that are bond seruants vnto men be made the Lords free-men and this freedome the Lord doth not onely not preuent but further their submission and obedience vnto their masters according to the flesh Saint Peter commandeth seruants to obey their masters with all feare not in a seruile slauish feare but a feare accompanied with godly loue which loue bindeth the conseience of all godly seruants to deale in all things honestly and carefully for their masters best aduantage not only when he is present but when he is absent to be true and faithfull diligent and vigilant imbracing direction and accepting reproofe with patience And because these vertues are not of nature but of grace It behoueth seruants to bee humble petitioners vnto God that he wil blesse their labours and endeuours to giue them vnderstanding hearts and abilitie of bodie and dexteritie of wit to apprehend and performe their duties both towards God the high and heauenly Master of all to their masters in the earth and for their owne good in learning apprehending and performing the trade mysterie and function whereunto they are called And for their better instruction it behoueth them to giue heede to the word of truth to frequent the place where the Word is preached and to indeuour to practise the same in all sinceritie And to this effect the Prayer following serueth A Prayer fit to be vsed of seruants GRacious Lord louing Father I acknowledge my selfe vnworthy to bee called thy seruant much lesse thy childe by reason of my great weaknes and manifold sinnes turne thy louing countenance towards mee againe O Lord and although I bee a seruant and subiect to the command and authoritie of another according to the flesh as deseruing bondage by reason of my too much seruing of Satan Make me yet free in thee and of the seruant of man make me thy sonne Let thy grace so gouerne mine affections that I be not seduced by the suggestion of Satan nor by my carnall and corrupt affections from that subiection and sincere seruice which I owe vnto my corporall master and commander in thee In thee gracious Lord without whose mercies and grace no seruice can be performed nor any true dutie done I am dull I am ignorant I am vnapt of my selfe to euery good worke but from thee proceedeth the perfection both of
canst thou with things meane in qualitie Daniel and his fellowes liued by pulse and water and were more strong and in better liking then they that had the ful measure of the Kings choice dainties Great and wonderfull art thou in thy power vnsearchable in thy prouidence and thou art one and the same for euer thy loue is not diminished towards them that loue thee neither is thy power weakened neither can thy prouidence be hindred but whatsoeuer thou willest commeth to passe in Mercie and lustice Will thou therfore good Father will thou and worke our comfort and reliefe and whatsoeuer we then need shall bee supplied vnto vs. Mollify the harts of such as haue reliefe in abuÌ„dance that detain it to inrich themselues when the poore perish Sâ—ffer vs not Lord to fall into greaâ—â—â— miserie and want then wee can bea rt Our flesh is weake and vnable to vndergo the want of necessary food giue vs Lord competent reliefe that we faint not nor perish altogether for thy Christs sake our only Redeemer and Aduocate for whose sake thou hast promised to deliuer the soules of thine from death and to preserue them in the time of famine Therefore Lord heare and grant our requests Amen Lord increase our faith and blesse vnto vs competent reliefe A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee said in the time of the Pestilence THe Pestilence of all other pâ—â—gues is the most lothsome grieuous especially to the parties infected for that their dearest friends commonly flie them and forsake them none are readily willing to visite them and yet of all the three ineuitable plagues that God tendred to Dauids election hee made choice of this as willing rather to fall into the hands of God then of meÌ„ To flie before furious enemies in the warres is a fearefull thing and to pine and perish for want of food more grieuous then Death Therefore is the Pestilence rather to be vndergone then either the Sword or Famine but that we are not at our choice as Dauid was But as touching sinne in the same danger Sinne was the cause of his and sinne is the cause of our visitation And therefore to preuent the danger we are to make peace with our offended God by true repentance humble submission faithfull and vnfained prayer It was the remedie that Dauid vsed whereby the Lord was appeased with the Land and the plague ceased 2. Sam. 24. 25. Gods anger is easily appeased towards them that are truely penitent and humâ—â—y seeke him in faithfull prayer It appeareth that we haue prouoked the Lord by our sinnes to wrath and in his displeasure be visiteth vs with this heauie correction Let vs offer the sweet and acceptable sacrifice of prayer vnto him in vnfained sorrow for our sinnes It may be God will recall his destroying Angell out of our coasts But if he wil not be appeased pleased to stay his hand from punishing Let vs submit vs to his will in all Christian patience auoiding as much as in vs lieth the wilfull running into the danger and then if God haue numbred vs among them that he hath marked out vnto death let vs not bee dismayed or discouraged let vs not only not thinke vs the more vnhappie but far the more in the fauor of God in that he vouchsafeth vnto vs such a fatherly premonition to prepare vs that which by the course of nature in few yeares cannot be auoided death which seemeth far more terrible then indeed it is for though it hath the name of bitternes yet it is indeed the end coÌ„summatioÌ„ of al the vnpleasing things which our deceiued affections are miscaried by it is the end of sin and sorrow of dangers feares and miseries and is terrible to none but to such as only consider the dissolution of the soule from the bodie and doe not looke to the immediate coniunction of the soule with God we leaue indeed our corporall friends behinde vs whom wee loue But we ought to know that we go to a more blessed fellowship in the heauens to Christ our elder brother whom wee yet neuer saw but if wee loue him as he loued vs first we cannot but desire to see him which we cannot doe in our mortall flesh Let vs therefore with Saint Paul desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ with the Angels and with the spirits of iust and perfect men And let vs be of good courage in this danger of the body which if we caÌ„not flie let vs not feare knowing that whether we liue or die we are the Lords in Christ in whom we are assured that all things shall worke together for the best and to the consolation of them that loue God in life and death Weeping may indure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning A Praier to be said in the time of any mortalitie Pestilence or infectious sicknes O Lord our God who of the dust hast created all mankind for a time to breathe in this mortall life and at their appointed times thou sayest Returne againe into your dust yee children of men Looke wee humbly beseech thee vpon vs vnder thy hand visited with great mortalitie so besâ—t on euery side with the terrors of death as we cannot but deeme out selues neere vnto the graue Our festered corruptions haue brought forth stineking sins that haue deâ—â—â—ed our bodies and infected the verie aire wherein we liue whereby wee haue deseruedly drawne vpon vs in thy iustice this fearefull visitation Giue vs Lord repenting hearts renue right spirits wiâ—iâ— vs that we recounting our manifold and grosse sins may truly bewaile them in the bitternes of our hearts fill our heads with water make our eyes a fountain of teares that both inwardly and outwardly our sorrowes for our sinnes may be vnfainedly expressed and by our constant obedience and sincere seruice of thee our renued conuersations may be approued Make vs we beseech thee alwayes watchfull ouer our wayes that we erre not from thy Commandements in this time wherin many are striken with thy hand many are finally fallen asleepe Blesse vs wee beseech thee with that blessed prerogatiue to be thy truly adopted children in Christ so shall we be safe according to thy promise and this thy visitation shall not come neere our dwellings a thousand shall fall on our rig 〈…〉 hand and ten thousand on our left hand and yet not touch vs. But what are we Lord that we should presume vpon this freedome hauing deserued as heauie a weight of punishment as any whom thy hand hath visited Let not thy patience and long forbearing of vs perswade vs that either thou seest vs not or that for our owne worthines or desert thou passest by vs but rather to thinke that we are also of the number of them whom thou hast ordained to partake of this visitation that wee may apply our selues to a serious calling to mind of our offences and vnfained repentance for them before thy decree come forth against
sobrietie modesty patience and true magnanimitie and boldnes Preuent in me wantonnesse ryoting drunkennes swearing blasphemy whoredome and such a profane and vngodly course as commonly too much accompanieth this militarie life And seeing Lord that I in duty am inforced to vse the sword against those that rise vp against vs blesse the vse of it to me as thou didst the sling of Dauid and the sword of Gideon teach my hands to war my fingers to fight Giue me a couragious heart vndaunted spirit to incounter the enemy as ofteÌ„ as need requireth make strong my loynes and fortifie my armes let good successe befall our armies daunt our enemies hearts Teach our Leaders and Commanders wisedome and Christian policie to direct vs and giue vs courage strength and obedience to performe our dutie with good conscience And if in thy wisedome peace be more to our profit and comfort and to thy glory then warre send vs peace in thy name and let both peace and warre life and death bee to our aduantage in Christ in whom al things are blessed to them that truly serue thee Let vs want no maner of thing Lord that is good vouchsafe vs all things necessary for our warfare Stand euer on our side and let thy sauing and protecting Angel preserue vs in all danger Remamber thy louing promises and thy mercies of old bee vnto vs a shield and buckler of defence and a sword of offence against our enemies accept vs into thy blessed protection neuer faile nor forsake vs O God of hostes Goe euermore foorth with our armies keepe euery one of vs free from the excommunicate thing sin and iniquity And sanctifie vs with thy holy spirit that in thoughts words and deeds we may be approued not souldiers carnally valiant or desperately bold but truly and religiously couragious both in our outward and inward warfare through Christ to whom with thee and the holy Ghost beâ— ascribed all â—ouor and power for euer Amen Lord increase our faith and euermore mightily defend vs. A MOTIVE TO a prayer to be said of such as trauaile by sea SVch as vse the seas as Dauid obserueth and haue occasion to passe the great waters by ship see the wonderfull workes of the Lord. Wonderfull in deed in the creation of so huge a heape of waters wonderfull in containing them within appointed limits wonderful in ebbing and flowing wonderfull in violence and rage wherein sometimes it swelleth and worketh wonderfull in respect of Iehouah at whose word the most furious waues therof are appeased And lastly wonderfull in respect of man whom God hath indued with the vnderstanding to frame a vessell wherein as in a house he may safely fly as it were through the furious furrowes of so mercilesse waters But all these wonders may be knitte vp in one namely in the wonderfull power and prouidence of Iehouah who by his word hath made the seas and gathered the great waters into one place and commandeth them not to passe their bounds and they obey hee hath giuen man iudgement and art to frame the hull to place the Roder to stretch out the Tacklings and to spread the sailes to descend into the deepe But if God should there leaue him to his owne will wit power or art though he haue his card and compasse to guide him he should neuer attaine his wished port when the winds blow the tempests rise the seas rage the waues lift them vp as vpon mountaines and hurle them downe againe as into deepe gulfes What then can art or force do Doe not their hearts then melt for feare vntill the winds cease the tempests appease the seas calme and the waues be still And who worketh this wished and most comfortable change only that mightie Jehouah hee that made the seas he commandeth them to rage to shew his power and againe willeth them to bee quiet to shew his mercie Are not these the wonderful workes of God who but he commandeth and the seas obey Ye therefore that are occupied in this dangerous trade of life bee not vnmindfull to serue the liuing God for ye see by experience how suddenly hee commandeth and calleth for a tempest and then ye thinke your selues neere vnto the doore of death Yet as saith Dauid When they cried vnto the Lord he deliuered them out of their distresse and brought them to the hauen where they would bee There is none that vseth the seas but hath seene and felt this If then they confesse not the power prouidence and louing kindnesse of Iehouah and acknowledge the wonderfull workes that he hath done for them euen before the sonnes of men Let them bee assured that a thousand perils futurely attend them But the most of them that exercise this kind of trauell shew themselues temporizers when dangers appeare they seeme much humbled promising reformation of their finfull liues they pray and are cast downe with importable feare and sorrow but the danger past they forget it and God that deliuered them from it especially wheÌ„ they approch the hauen where they would bee in safetie where in stead of giuing of thanks to God for his mercies in leading and conducting them the first thing they doe is to shew they owe him no duty by presently falling to transgresse his will by drunkennesse wantonnesse whoredome swearing and blaspheming him as though the danger past were the last they need to feare or could befall them But they deceiue themselues for God is patient and long suffering but neuer forgetteth them in iudgement that so forget and neglect his mercies Hee followeth them when they thinke dangers farthest off Shipwracke Pirats Famine or some other Iudgement seazeth vpon all carelesse Sea-faring men Wherefore yee that occupie the Seas remember that as in discretion you prepare all needfull things fit for your Sea voyage so are there things most materiall to bee prouided toÌ„wards your heauenly peregrination Godlinesse Faith Obedience true Feare and sincere Loue and seruice of God which if you omit let your corporall prouision bee neuer so plentifull let your ship bee neuer so strong neuer so swift of sayle neuer so well manned and munited the least breath of the Lords mouth is able to coÌ„found you No men haue more interims and times of leasure to serue God then Seafaring men Why then spend yee not those times in searching the word of God in prayer and in holy exercises that God may be your guide your defence preseruer and protector so shall all things goe well with you and whatsoeuer ye doe it shall prosper A Prayer to be said of such as haue occasion to vse trauell at sea GRacious Lord God mightie mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ who hast made all things by thy word And by thy power and prouidence dost gouerne all and all obey thee in their kinds the heauens the earth and the seas but man only is disobedient only rebellious therefore doe thy creatures whom thou madest to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 become aduersaries vnto man