behold the divine Presence IV. Open my Eyes more and more that I may discern the wonderous works of thy Law and open thou O Lord likewise my Lips that my Mouth and Tongue may shew forth thy Praise and extol thy great and glorious Name Prepare my Heart O Lord I beseech thee for thy divine Service this next day following It is thy holy-day O fit me for the sanctifying of the same that I may not spend it on my Lusts and the pleasures of Sin but dedicate it wholly to thy Honour and Glory V. Let my chief delight be to cease from the works of Sin as well as from my worldly Employment that I may through thy Blessing feel in my Heart the beginning of that eternal Sabbath which is Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Govern O Lord my heart in thy Fear and guide and steer all the whole course of my Life in thy Favour Fit and prepare me against the hour of Death and day of Dissolution that if thou shouldest this Night make my Bed in the Grave of Silence I may live and die unto thee who livest for ever to whom be ascribed all Power and Glory Adoration and Subjection now and for evermore Amen An humble Confession of Sins before the most holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper O Most holy Lord God who according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies dost put away the Sins of all those that truly repent and remembrest them no more Open O Lord I beseech thee the Eyes of thy boundless Mercy and fatherly Compassion upon me the most unworthy of all thy Servants from the very bottom of my heart I earnestly implore thy pardon and forgiveness for all my past Sins and Offences the number of them exceeds the ordinary expectation of thy Mercy and are so heinous that they can plead no excuse the sad Account being cast up is no less than the breach of all thy holy Commandments both in Thought Word and Deed thy Mercy and Goodness which should have led me to Repentance I have abused I have slighted thy Judgments and thy Punishments have I not feared I have utterly neglected the means of my own Salvation and by my Wickedness have most grievously provoked thy Wrath and Indignation against me my Life which should have been wholly devoted to thy Service I have mispent in the desire and sinful Lusts of the Flesh my ways have been evil and that continually the secret cogitations of my heart most wicked and so detestable hath the whole course of my Life been that my heart is vexed within me and my soul trembleth to look up to heaven for Mercy for fear of thy displeasure If therefore thou O Lord shouldst be extream to mark what I have done amiss and take Vengeance for my Sins I should be as Chaff before the face of the Wind and in Justice might be swept away into the place of everlasting Torment II. But O Lord from thy ever flowing Fountain there is Mercy that thou may'st be feared thou art a God of all Comfort and Consolation a merciful loving and gracious Father ready and willing to hear all penitent Sinners that with hearty Repentance and true Faith come unto thee I come unto thee therefore in the name of Jesus Christ the Righteous thy beloved Son and my blessed Redeemer I humbly prostrate my self before the Throne of thy Mercy-seat provided with no other hope but what proceeds from the greatness of thy Clemency for his sake only have Mercy upon me III. In all humility of Spirit and with hearty Contrition I submit my Soul and Body to thy Goodness beseeching thee not to let my Sins be as a Cloud to intercept between my Prayers and thy Pity thy Goodness and my necessities blot all my Transgressions out of thy remembrance the Sins of my Youth or Sins of my Age Sins of my Body or Sins of my Soul the Sins that I know and the Sins that I know not Sins of Remissness Omission and Commission all notorious and presumptuous Sins Sins of Pride Envy Hatred Malice and all Uncharitableness here mention thy particular Sins from all which good Lord deliver me and grant me a full and a free Pardon perfect Remission and Absolution for the same IV. As one deep calleth upon another with the prophet David out of the Depth of my Misery I cry unto thee for the depth of thy Mercy O Lord hear my Petitions and hold not thy peace at my Tears consider the Contrition of my Heart and the Sorrow of my Soul and by the Merits of his most precious Blood that was so plentifully shed upon the Cross for all Penitent Sinners and True Believers wash away the multitude of my Transgressions that my Soul by thy Mercy being cleansed from the guilt of Sin I may be found a worthy partaker and receiver of this holy and divine Mystery V. And now O holy Lord that I am about to receive the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ how shall I that am so great a Sinner Dust and Ashes dare to presume and come into thy Sanctuary or to approach thy holy Table Thou in whose sight the very Heavens are not clear and the Pillars of the Earth shake at thy Presence What then shall become of me poor wretched and miserable that I am but O thou that art the true Balm of Gilead hast left us a command in thy holy Gospel Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laiden and I will give you rest Matth. 11. 28. VI. Upon which Command I come O Lord unto thee at this time in a confident Assurance of thy Promise in Christ Jesus thou wilt have Mercy upon me ease and refresh my Soul that is wearied with the burthen of my Sins wash me and cleanse me throughly from all my Wickedness and renew a right Spirit within me Direct me in this great Mystery with a reverend and awful dread of thy Majesty that all the faculties of my Soul and Body may rightly apprehend and joyfully receive this eternal Food this Bread of Life And grant me thy heavenly Grace that I may obtain the virtue fruit and benefits of my Saviour's Death and Passion with a full remission of all my Sins and everlasting Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer before the Sacrament O Most gracious God I humbly beseech thee help thy Servant whom of thy great Mercy thou hast created out of nothing repair the ruins of my Soul and enlarge the frame of my Understanding cleanse it from all filthy Corruptions and supply it with all heavenly Graces that it may be both conveniently fit and furnished to receive thee who art a God of all Purity O Make an entry into my Heart and take thy residence there for ever possess that which is thine own both by Creation Redemption and Merits of that bitter Death and Passion through Jesus Christ Amen A Thanksgiving after Receiving of the blessed Sacrament O Almighty God
when I go down to the Pit Shall the dust give thanks unto thee or shall it declare thy truth Hear O Lord and have mercy upon me Lord be thou my helper Shew thy Servant the light of thy Countenance and save me for thy mercies sake Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer in time of Sickness O Almighty and ever-living God in whose hands consists the life of all Mankind and who correctest every Son whom thou receivest mercifully I humble beseech thee to hear my voice and despise not the Prayer I make now unto thee in the time of trouble In the vexation of my Spirit and in the very anguish of my Soul I cry unto thee for mercy II. O thou that hast created and made me of nothing and hast redeemed me from the slavery of Sin Death and Hell by the most precious Blood of thy dear Son Jesus Christ which was spilt upon the Cross for my Sins Have mercy upon me Bow down thine all-hearing Ear unto my complaint and cast me not away in thy fierce anger III. My Sins cry aloud to Heaven for Vengeance and I have deserved thy wrath and heavy displeasure against me Thou hast cast me down upon the Bed of Sickness and I begin to fall as leaves beaten with a vehement wind yet thy Chastisments are less than my deservings but of thy mercy and goodness O Lord correct me not to death but to amendment of Life for thine own sake for thy holy Name 's sake for thy Son Christ Jesus sâ—ke be merciful unto my Sins for they are great IV. Spare thy Servant good Lord which confesseth his Sins unto thee pour the Oil of thy sanctifying Grace into my Heart and work thereby in me a true and immediate Repentance and restore me again to thy favour according to thy gracious Promise to humble Penitents let thy merciful Providence so guide and govern me in this affliction thou hast been pleased to lay upon me that I may never fall into utter darkness ignorance of thee or inconsideration of my self V. Let the faintness of my Spirit and the Condemnation of my self be overcome by thy irresistable Light thou that art the God of all consolation grant that I may be mindful of the great account I have to make at the day of Judgment and that I may bear in mind the reward which is due to the faithful the end of misery and the beginning of all happiness but to the secure and careless the beginning of eternal punishment VI. Strengthen my Faith accept my penitential Tears speak peace to my Soul and Conscience and say Thou art my Salvation then let thy holy Spirit descend into my Heart with this express My Grace is sufficient for thee then shall my Heart leap for joy and my Soul shall be exceeding glad desiring to be dissolved and be at peace that after this frail mortal Life is ended I may enjoy the eternal fruition of they heavenly Presence VII Suffer me not O Lord in this my trial to be possess'd with a fear of Condemnation or to despond of thy Promises but in sure considence of heart apply to my self the remission of all my Sins that at the last hour by Faith in Jesus Christ I may enjoy a tast of eternal Salvation Let not Death if thou art pleased to send it be terrible or bitter unto me but when it cometh I may rejoicingly receive the fame and having escaped the storm of Temptation and the dangers of Satan I may triumph like a Conqueror and behold the Power and Presence of thy holy Spirit VIII Let my last words be the same which thy Son did utter upon the Cross saying Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit and when my Speech is departed from me hear the groanings and sighs of my Heart and the desire of my Soul that at the last thy Servant may depart in Peace and reach those heavenly Mansions prepared for him My Soul O Lord heartily desireth to attain to that supernatural City whereof such glorious things are spoken IX Breathe inward Comforts to my Heart tho' my Body be going the way of all Flesh yet let my Soul go the way of all Saints Lord hear me and help me stand by me and save me and if thou hast determined to lay my Body into the Grave receive my Soul into thy Kingdom to rest in joy and peace for evermore through Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer to be said by those that visit the Sick O Most gracious God who hast Compassion upon all Men and hatest nothing that thou hast made mercifully we beseech thee to have Compassion on this thy Servant who by thy Visitation hath been sorely afflicted and by the same even brought to the end of his Days and period of his Life be pleased therefore good Lord to have Mercy upon him accept of him as the work of thine own Hands a Lamb of thy Fold thy Servant redeemed by Jesus Christ who is willing by thy appointment to leave this miserable World in full assurance of thy Mercy in Jesus Christ for the remission of his Sins II. Guide him good Lord in this his last Journey that he being quit of all the troubles of this transitory Life he may be safely conducted by thy power to the Heaven of Eternal Happiness into the Arms of boundless Mercy to everlasting Peace and perpetual Joys there to reign with all the Company of blessed Saints and Angels with thee in continual Bliss for evermore III. And gracious God we beseech thee by thy abundant Goodness by the multitude of thy tender Mercies and Compassions by the Merits of thy bitter Death and bloody Passion by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension and by the Coming of thy holy blessed Spirit have mercy upon him deliver him from the burthen and guilt of his Sins from the fears and terrors of Death and from the fury and power of Hell IV. Lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon him that in all the pains of his Body in all the agonies of his Spirit let thy Comforts refresh his Soul and enable him patiently to wait till his Change shall come And grant O Lord that when this earthly House and Tabernacle of his Body shall be dissolv'd he may have a Building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens and that for his sake who by his most precious Blood hath purchased Salvation for all those who truly believe in him even Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour Amen Meditations after Recovery Psal 116. 1. I Am well pleased that the Lord hath heard the voice of my Prayer 2. That he hath enclined his Ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live 3. The Snares of Death compassed me round about and the Pains of Hell got hold upon me 4. I shall find trouble and heaviness and I shall call upon the Name of the Lord O Lord I
Friday Morning A Confession of Sins O Most mighty and merciful God I presume to present my self this Morning before thy Divine Majesty to offer up unto thee this my early sacrifice but in the performance of it I make known my unworthiness and disclose my Weakness and exceedingly discover my imperfections and wretchedness II. For alas I draw near unto thee with my lips but my heart is far from thee I call upon thee with my tongue but my soul at the same time commits wickedness against thee My righteousness comes short of the Scribes and Pharisees and are but as filthy Rags my holiness but as a morning Dew yea all my actions of Devotion if weighed in thy Balance are but abomination in thy sight From the soal of the Foot unto the crown of the Head I am altogether polluted and unclean yea nothing to be found in me but wounds and putrefied sores imprinted and stamped into my soul and flesh by the custom of my Sin â— My Eyes are full of Vanity my Ears full of â—niquity my Hands of Impurity my Will perverse to that which is Good my Remembrance affable â—nd pleasing to that which is Evil my Understanding is darkned my Conscience seared my Head full of mischief my feet swift to shed blood Destruction and Wickedness are in all my ways and the way of Peace have I not known IV. Since then O Lord that my Sins are so great and grievous against thy Law and against thy Gospel if thou shouldest be so extream as to mark against me what I have done amiss who is able to abide it If thou shouldst call me suddenly to a strict account how should I shew my Face If I deny waht is laid to my charge my Conscience will accuse me If I forswear the dumb and senseless Creatures will bear witness against me V. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is no Friend in the Earth beneath which I have in comparison of thee no other Mediator amongst Men and Angels but even thine only begotten Son Christ Jesus in whom only thou art well pleased by the virtue of whose Death and Passion and the remembrance of whose precious blood which trickled down from his side wash me from my sins and besprinkle my polluted Heart from an evil Conscience VI. And I beseech thee O Lord not only to wash away my sins with the blood of thine immaculate Lamb but also to purge my heart by thine only Spirit from the dross of my natural Corruptions that I may feel thy Spirit more and more killing Sin in the power practice thereof so that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee the ever living God in Righteousness and Holiness this Day and all the days of my Life for evermore Amen A Prayer for Friday Noon For God's Direction O Lord most holy I beseech thee to direct all my ways correct my wanderings and erect my wild and worldly Thoughts unto thee the God of my Salvation Learn me that divine Art of living in thy Fear to labour in thy Service and evermore run swiftly in the ways of thy Commandments Direct my Thoughts Words and Works preserve and bless me in my going out and coming in and grant that whatsoever my heart shall think my tongue utter or my hands exercise this day may tend to the glory of thy holy Name the good of others and the comfort of my own Conscience II. End these sinful days O blessed Redeemer and hasten thy coming and give me Grace to stand ready prepared to meet thee who art the sweet Bridegroom of my Soul that at thy coming whether it be by the hour of Death or at the day of Judgment I may joyfully pronounce those blessed words of Come Lord Jesus come quickly III. Deliver me O Lord from all those heavy Judgments which hang over my head as due unto me for my Transgressions separate them as far from thy presence in distance as the East is from the West bury them all in thy Grave that they neither rise to shame me in this Life nor condemn me in the World to come To whom be ascribed for thine infinite Mercy all Honour Praise and Glory from this time forth and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Friday Night Against carnal Security O Merciful Father I here prostrate my self in all humility and reverence of heart and mind beseeching thee to guide and protect me this Night with thy blessed Spirit and though my sinful flesh shall slumber and sleep yet grant that my Soul may continually â—e vigilant II. Let not the Enemy come upon me unawares and find me slumbering or sleeping as rocked in the Cradle of carnal Security lest I being unarm'd and destitute of thy favour and help he enter into the House of my sinful Body and their takes possession of my leprous Soul and endanger both to be thrown into the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone III. Make me to consider that my Bed is but a pattern of the Grave and that when I lay my self down in it I cannot rise up unless thy heavenly Providence enables me Teach me to acknowledge that sleep is the very Figure and Image of Death to whose stroak at thy appointed time I must submit and resign my self endue me with Love and Charity to all Men let my Lamp O Lord be filled with fresh Oil that whensoever thy Messenger Death approaches and knocks at the Gate of this mortal Body I may at his Summons in the day of the Resurrection of the Dead be ready to attend on thee my Bride with my Lamp burning IV. Let me be ever mindful of the great and last day wherein I must render an account of every idle thought word and work and grant I may be prepared with Faith and Repentance as with a Wedding-Garment against the time that thou O Lord shalt call for me out of this sinful World In the mean time let me fly from Sin as from a Serpent and from unrighteousness as from a Cockatrice and above all things seek thy Glory and when this mortal Life is ended I may be made partaker of Immortality and Life Eternal in thy most blessed and glorious Kingdom V. Let thy Mercy and Loving-kindness follow me O Lord all the days of my Life that I may dwell in thy House and evermore praise thy holy Name grant that I may in the acknowledgment of thy greatness confess my own unworthiness and visit me O Lord by driving from me all the Assaults of my Enemies both ghostly and bodily VI. Let thy holy Angel be with me to keep me this Night and evermore fit me for the duties of the next day if it be thy heavenly will to spare me this Night this O Lord I beg at thy merciful Hands through the Merits and Mediation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost now and for ever Amen Meditations for Saturday I Will cry
unto God with my voice even unto God will I cry with my voice and he shall hearken unto me In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord my sore ran and ceased not in the night season my Soul refused comfort When I am in heaviness I wiâ—l think upon God when my heart is vexed I will complain Thou holdest mine eyes waking I am so feeble that I cannot speak I have considered the days of old and the years that are past I call to remembrance my Song and in the night I commune with mine own heart and search out my Spirits Will the Lord absent himself for ever and will he be no more intreated Is his mercy clean gone for ever and his Promise come utterly to an end for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious and will he shut up his loving kindness in displeasure And I said it is mine own infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most highest I will remember the works of the Lord and call to mind thy wonders of old time I will think also of all thy works and my talking shall be of thy doings Thy way O God is holy who is so great a God as our God Thou art the God that dost wonders and hast declared thy power among the people Thou hast mightily delivered thy people even the Sons of Jacob and Joseph The Waters saw thee O God the Waters saw thee and were afraid the Depths were troubled The Clouds also poured out Water the Air thundred and thine Arrows went abroad The voice of thy Thunder was heard round about the Lightning shone upon the Ground the Earth was moved and shook withal Thy way is in the Sea and thy paths in the great Waters and thy footsteps are not known Thou leadest thy People like Sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for Saturday Morning For God's Providence MOst gracious God I yield thee humble and hearty thanks for preserving and defending me this night past from all those Perils and Dangers which poor Dust and Ashes are subject to fall into Had I not been preserved by thy almighty Providence I had long since both Body and Soul been carried into everlasting Perdition but thou art a God infinite in Mercy and whose compassions fail not towards poor Sinners by supporting them in their several necessities II. Vouchsafe O Lord to forgive whatsoever I have committed against thy divine Majesty this Night either sleeping or waking or at any other time secretly or openly Grant unto me unfeigned Repentance and newness of Life open unto me O Lord that ever-streaming Fountain which thou hast opened for Sinners even the Blood of thy dear Son Christ Jesus and which thou hast promised under the New Testament to open to the penitent of the House of David III. Give unto me thy holy Spirit which thou hast promised to give to the World's end unto all thine elect People and let the same thine holy Comforter purge my heart heal my Corruptions sanctifie my Nature and consecrate my Soul and Body that they may become lively Temples to serve thee in Righteousness and Holiness all the days of my Life Give me I earnestly beseech thee a supply of all those Graces I stand in need of with an increase of all those good Gifts thou hast endowed me with IV. As thou hast now wakened my Body from Sleep so I beseech thee rouse my Soul from the sleep of Sin and carnal Security give me Grace as a Child of Light to walk in all holy Obedience before thee this day and grant me to endeavour to keep Faith and a good Conscience towards Thee and towards all Men. V. To this end I recommend my self with all my ways thoughts words and actions together with all that belongs to me unto thy divine Protection praying thee to keep both them and me from all Evil and to give a Blessing to all my undertakings this Day and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Saturday Noon For Tranquility of Spirit O Most merciful God and loving Father who beholdest all the dwellers upon Earth and none can live without thy arm of Providence supports him No sooner do I enter upon the Affairs of this World but I am surrounded about with a cloud of Miseries the Flesh provokes me to Lust the World allures me to Pleasures and the Devil tempts me to commit all manner of Wickedness II. Fears of Enemies abroad afright me Wrongs of ill Neighbours do oppress me Cares for the things of this Life do consume me and even all the day long something or other doth afflict and torment me Adversity on the one hand frets me and Prosperity on the other hand flatters me Over my head Heaven's Vengeance due to my Sins is ready to fall heavy upon me and under my feet Hell gapes ready to devour me III. Amidst those many toils and perplexities where to find rest I know not or to fly for succour but to thee O Lord most holy and mighty direct me and guide me in these difficulties protect me from these Perils and dangers settle me in a course of Godliness and let me walk soberly and circumspectly as becometh a Good Christian spending and ending that small remnant of days which thou hast allotted me in this World in thy Fear and Service IV. Teach me so to number my days that I may apply my heart unto true Wisdom Make me wise unto Salvation simple to that which is Evil and prone to that which is Good Fructifie me unto good works and grant that I may be Charitable Peaceable and Conscionable towards all men now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Saturday Night For Remission of Sins O Almighty God I humbly beseech thee to bury all my Sins and Transgressions in thy Grave which I have committed from my Infancy unto this present against thy divine Majesty Be thou O Lord my light in darkness then shall my light shine clear as the day II. O God the Father of Heaven have mercy upon me and bless me O God the Son Redeemer of all the World preserve and keep me O holy and blessed Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son deliver me this Night from all Sin and Evil O holy blessed and glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God direct guide and sanctifie me III. Be thou my protector and defender amidst all dangers that when I lay me down to rest I may fear no Evil And grant O Lord at my last hour thy spiritual illumination that when my strength faileth and the light of my Eyes is departed from me mine Ears wax deaf and my Mouth dumb and all my senses have forsaken me then infuse some sense into me of eternal Life that I may taste and relish in this mortal Body the beginning of thy everlasting Comfort that at my departure out of this World I may by the Eye of Faith
beseech thee deliver my Soul 5. Gracious is the Lord Righteous yea our God is merciful 6. The Lord preserveth the Simple I was in misery and he helped me 7. Turn again then unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath rewarded thee 8. And why thou hast delivered my Soul from Death mine Eyes from Tears and my Feet from falling 9. I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living 10. I believed and therefore will I speak but I was sore troubled I said in my hast all Men are Lyars 11. What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the Benefits that he hath done unto me 12. I will receive the Cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. 13. I will pay my Vows now in the presence of all his People right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints 14. Behold O Lord how that I am thy Servant I am thy Servant and the Son of thine Handmaid thou hast broken my Bonds in sunder 15. I will offer to thee the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord. 16. I will pay my Vows unto the Lord in the sight of all his People in the Courts of the Lord's House even in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Praise the Lord. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Thanksgiving after Recovery O Holy and immortal God I Laud and Praise thy holy Name that thou hast been pleased to deliver me from the Jaws of Death and the Pit of Corruption and in some measure restored me again to my former Health crowning me with thy mercy and loving kindness my Soul and all that is within me shall magnifie thee I will praise thee O Lord with my whole Heart and will extol thee O thou that dwellest in the Heavens II. It is thou alone that hast preserved my life from destruction thou didst cast me down upon my Bed of Sickness and hast raised me up again by thy Almighty Power thou hast chastened and corrected me but not given me over unto Death My time is in thy hand O God thou art the God of the Spirits of all Flesh grant that this remnant of Life that thou hast thus graciously spared may be wholly dedicated to thy Service that I may walk before thee in newness and amendment of Life III. O thou that art the only Physician of Soul and Body thou hast once more permitted me to take up my Bed and walk O make me strictly careful as the watches of the Night to be vigilant over all my Thoughts Words and Actions that I may sin no more lest a worse thing happen unto me Let not this great mercy thou hast now given me make me supine and negligent and entertain those Thoughts that my Lord delayeth his coming but grant I beseech thee that I may make a right use of this thy Fatherly Chastisement and employ the remainder of my Life to thy Glory IV. I have found by experience of thine afflicting hand what a dreadful thing it is to be snatched away by the hands of Death without our accompts and unprepared O let it be a perpetual admonition to me to stand upon my Guard and to watch for my Master 's coming and whenever the Pleasures of Sin which endure but for a Season shall present themselves to entice and allure me make me to remember the bitterness of them at last Lord hear me and grant me grace to work out my own Salvation for thy dear Son's sake Amen A Prayer fit to be said at any time O Most glorious and powerful Lord God who createdst all things out of nothing and support'st the whole Universe by thy Providence I confess O Lord I was conceived in Original Sin now full of actual transgressions I was in the Womb a loathsome Substance I am in the World a Lump of Corruption and I shall be in the Grave a prey for Vermin II. But I know blessed Jesus thy Grace is sufficient for me thy Mercy can express it self in my Misery I know and confess O Lord that my Sins are exceeding many mighty and heinous yet thy Mercy is far greater for thou art infinite in mercy but I cannot be infinite in sinning and the Righteousness of Christ Jesus the Righteous is more prevalent for me than my own Unrighteousness can be against my self III. The Fountain of thy Mercy O God hath quenched the fire of thy Justice and graceless Man falling from Goodness is by thee repossessed of Greatness Wherefore I humbly beseech thee O Lord give me the Grace of continual Thankfulness strengthen my Weakness correct my Sinfulness direct my future Frailty and protect me against the Adversary kindle my Zeal enlighten my Understanding soften my stony Heart and save for ever my immortal Soul IV. And though my whole Life O Lord hath been impure and undefiled in thy sight yet through thy precious Blood and Passion by thine all-sufficient Sacrifice Obligation and Satisfaction revert my deserved Punishment and convert my passed Evils to present good and future joys in thine eternal and most glorious Kingdom V. Pardon good Lord my loss of Time my abuse of thy good Creatures my negligence in my lawful Employment my unthankfulness for thy Loving-kindness and whatsoever is wanting in my Person Practice Prayer or Thanksgiving make a supply of it in the Merits of thy Son Christ Jesus to whom with thee and thy blessed Spirit be all Praise and Glory now and evermore Amen Prayers for all Persons and Occasions A Prayer for the Church ALmighty and everlasting God who hast revealed thy Glory both to Jews and Gentiles in our Lord Jesus Christ extend thy hand of Providence and Mercy over all the World that thy Church may spread like a flourishing Vine and enlarge her Borders to the uttermost Parts of the Earth that all Nations partaking of the sweet refreshments of thy Gospel thy Name may be glorified the honour of our Lord Jesus advanced his Prophecies fulfilled and his Coming hastned II. Bless O Lord thy holy Catholick and Apostolick Church with all Blessings of Comfort Assistance and Preservation extirpate Heresies unite her Divisions give her Patience and Perseverance in the Faith and Confession of thy Name in despite of all Enmities Temptations and Disadvantages destroy all wicked Counsels intended or levied against her or any of her Children by the Devil or any of his accursed Instruments let the hands of thy Grace and Mercy lead her from this Vale of Misery to the triumphant Throne of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer for the King WE beseech thee O Lord to bless and preserve thy Servant William our most gracious King and Governour with the richest Blessings of thy Grace and Favour make him valiant and prosperous as King David wise and rich like Solomon be unto him a Helmet of Salvation against the Face of his Enemies and a strong Tower
Office to be a help and comfort to all those which are in Extremity and near the time of their Travail do in all humility prostrate my self before thee beseeching thee to vouchsafe me thy divine Assistance in these Performances II. Have Mercy upon me and bless me guide me and govern me in all my Actions prosper all my Undertakings grant that I may be as careful of the Poor as of the Rich that I may do good and not hurt save Life and not destroy it by my negligence help my Infirmities and Imperfections that I may neither be too timorious nor too rash in the performance of my Duty but grant me art and judgment in the happy finishing all my Operations III. Work in me an understanding and a tender Heart and whatsoever else is necessary in my undertakings and mercifully grant O Lord that whensoever my Duty calls me either by Night or Day I may be always prepared preserve and defend me from the infection of all contagious Diseases by thy most gracious Favour grant me a prosperous success that whatsoever I do may tend to thy Glory the comfort and help of all good Women committed to my charge and my own credit through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer to be said by those that are present with a Woman in Travail O Almighty God we are here assembled for the comfort of this Woman who travaileth in pain to be delivered of a Child Through the transgression of our first Parents she cannot be delivered but with great sorrow for thou hast laid thine heavy displeasure upon us sinful Women that in much sorrow shall we bring forth Children yet since thou hast given us Faith in thy Son give us all especially to this Woman thy Servant now in this Extremity patience mitigate her Pains prosper our Work bless our undertakings that by our help she may be delivered and forget her pains because a Child is born into the World IV. We pray unto thee for this Child in her Womb thou hast inrolled it in thy Book thou hast made it in thy Frame the Bones thereof are not hid from thee all the Members of it are written in thy Volume Thou didst visit it at the time of Life visit it now at the hour of Birth that thou maist receive glory by thy works and the Mother gladness in beholding her Infant after all her Sorrows Give her we beseech thee neither a monstrous a maimed nor a dead Birth but as thou hast blessed the Conception of this Infant so bring it with Perfection into the World Hear us O Lord and help this thy weak Servant visit her as thou didst Sarah comfort her as thou didst Rebecca and chear her as thou didst Leah forgive her all her sins and whether she be sure to live or die let her trust in thee and let thine Angels pitch their Tents about her now and for evermore Amen A Thanksgiving by those that are present after Delivery O Eternal God infinite in Mercies towards all thy Sons and Daughters in affliction we desire to praise and magnifie thy holy Name acknowledging thy Goodness to us and thy special favour to this Woman thy Servant We called upon thee and thou heard'st us we petitioned for thy Favour to thine Hand-maid and thou regardedst her we begg'd a Blessing for her Child thou hast blessed it and hast made her a joyful Mother We offer unto thee the Sacrifice of our Lips let our thankfulness ascend up unto thee like a sweet-smelling savour II. Continue thy loving kindness to this thy Servant keep her from all further peril and danger of Child-Bed give her strength to recover her weakness joy to forget her late sorrow and thankfulness that such a Child is come out of her Loins as one day shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Give thy Blessing to the Infant now born that it may in due time increase in Wisdom Stature and Favour with God and Man Baptize iâ— with Water and the Holy Ghost endue it with all heavenly Graces defend it against all Dangers provide for it in this mortal Life and crown it in the end with Life everlasting III. Bless us O Lord that are here met together to behold the glory of our Creation and the wonders of our Creator in this little Infant Let us in all Sobriety Chastity and Godliness walk before thee all the Days of our Lives Make us like fruitful Vines and our Children like Olive Branches round about our Tables Let our Husbands rejoice in us and make us careful to love them as thou hast commanded us that thy Kingdom may be increased the Bed undefiled and our Saviour Jesus Christ glorified to whom be praise for evermore Amen A Thanksgiving by the Woman after Delivery BLessed Lord God I yield thee all Honour Glory and Praise who hast now delivered me from the great pain and peril of Child-Birth who hast taken away my reproach and made me an Instrument to encrease thy Kingdom It is in thy power to strike death into my womb but thou hast given me a double life all mine anguishes thou hast sweetened with gladness Continue thy Mercies and Favours to me thy Servant that my lips may render thee hearty thanks II. Look upon this my Infant which thou hast given me preserve it in Health quicken it with Grace crown it with long Life that it may grow up to be a Servant in thine houshold Send the Father of it and me much Comfort by it that it may be a Staff to our Old Age Bless it with store of Friends in this World and be thou a chief Friend to it for evermore III. And for the better growth in Grace feed it with the Milk of thy holy Word defend it from all dangers ghostly and bodily Guard me and regard this my Birth that Satan rule not nor reign within us but deliver us still out of his Jaws as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowler let thy blessing O Lord be upon me and my Children and evermore keep and defend us Amen A Thanksgiving after a deliverance from any Calamity ALmighty and everlasting God who hast suffered thy Church so to be tempted with Afflictions that it is never free either from the Sword of Ishmael which is a reviling tongue or the Sword of Esau a persecuting hand having taught us all to drink of the same Cup our Master did so strengthen me with Patience direct me by thy Spirit and uphold me by Faith that all trouble may be as welcome to my Soul as afflicted Ruth was to the Field of Boaz. Though troubles are many and increase daily yet thou O Lord knowest how to deliver us out of all Heaviness may endure for a Night but joy will come in the Morning Doubtless there is a Reward for the Righteous and a Rod for the Wicked Let one Plague follow another as one Quail sings to another yet as the Viper leaped on St. Paul's Hand and immediately leaped off again so
one trouble shall leap upon the Righteous and in an Instant shall as soon vanish though he fall he shall rise again for the righteous shall not be forsaken for ever II. I have lately tasted of thy goodness O Lord I have now been sensible of thy Mercy in a great Measure by this great deliverance I have had experience many times of thy loving-kindness but never more than in thy late Favours I chattered like a Swallow I mourned like a Dove I panted like a Hart but thou hast put life again into my Soul thou hast not dealt with me according to my Sins nor rewarded me according to mine Iniquities As high as the Heaven is above the Earth so great is thy Mercy towards them that fear thee since thy Mercy O Lord hath been so great towards me grant that I may love thee more zealously fear thee more reverently and obey thee more carefully all the days of my Life For as Elkanah was to Hannah instead of many Sons so be thou still to me â— God instead of many Comforters Gâ—ve me therefore patience in trouble a constancy in hope rooted and grounded in love and so bring me O Lord from this valley of tears to life everlasting Amen A Prayer before taking of Physick or any outward means for restoring of Health MOst mighty God the great Physician both of Soul and Body who by thy blessing on a lump of dry figgs didst heal Hezekiah's Boil that he recovered and by laying thy hand upon the head of Peter's Wife's Mother didst cure her of her Fever and anointing the Eyes with Clay and Spittle didst restore the Man that was blind even from his Birth unto perfect Sight and by seven times washing in the River Jordan didst cleanse Naaman the Syrian of his Leprosie and by thine appointment hast provided means for thy Children for the curing of their Sickness and recovery of their Health II. I dare not O Lord without injury to my Soul and indignity to thine Omnipotency despair of thy sufficiency and power for the restoring me to health or not use that help and expect a blessing upon those means which are requisite I should choose and use for the repairing of my Body and the restitution of my Strength I dare not send unto Sorcerers Wizards Charmers or Inchanters for help nor with Ahaziah go to Baalzebub the God of Ekron for relief and leave thee the God of Israel But I renounce and reject all other help but from thee alone and upon the bended knees of an humble heart I come unto thee beseeching thee to sanctifie what I am now to receive or apply to my ease and good and to give such a blessing thereunto that it may remove such pain sickness as doth afflict my Body III. O Lord grant me in all my Sickness patience and not to murmur or repine at thy afflicting hand and in health give me a provident care to prevent all such maladies as by reason of my manifold Sins thou maist justly inflict upon me And as David's Troubles made him pray Hezekiah's Sickness to lament the Prodigal return home and Israel under Aegypt's burthens cry unto thee so I beseech thee that every Chastisement of thine may compel me the rather to sue unto thee for thy saving Health Pity Compassion and Grace And as Christ told his Disciples that Lazarus's sickness was not unto Death but for the glory of God so I beseech thee that none of my afflictions may be unto the death of my Soul but rather for the good both of Body and Soul And as Noah's Ark the higher it was tossed with the Flood the nearer it mounted towards Heaven so my Soul being sanctified by Grace the more it is exercised with the water of affliction the nearer let it be lifted up towards thee O God grant this O holy Father for thy dear Son's sake to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory both now and evermore Amen A Prayer before a Journey or Voyage ALmighty God who preservest thy Servants in all their ways and didst protect and direct Jacob in his way to Laban Jonah in his Voyage and the Children of Israel in the Wilderness and Travels over Jordan Guide me thine unworthy Servant in the Journey that I am now to undertake Lord walk with me be about my Bed and about my Paths keep me from all dangers both of Body Soul refresh me when I am weary comfort me when I am solitary and send me health and strength of Body to perform it Deliver me from Thieves Robbers and savage Beasts furnish me with all necessaries and send me home again in safety II. Send me I beseech thee good success in all my undertakings and grant that I may undertake nothing but what shall be pleasing in thy sight If I meet with Company grant they may be such as I may receive good by rather than harm if I am alone let thy Law be my delight grant that I may then meditate such things as shall be for the benefit and salvation of my Soul and grant that after my business is fully accomplished when I return home I may find my Friends Wife Children and Family in perfect Health and though my whole Life be but a continual Travel here yet send me everlasting peace with thee and thy Son Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer upon return from a Journey or Voyage MOst merciful and gracious Lord God keeper of Israel the well-spring of Life and the alone preserver of all Mankind I render unto thee all hearty Thanks and Praise for thy provident care and gracious protection of me in this my Journey whereas I might have perished e're I had seen again this my Habitation but that thou hast walked before me by day as a pillar of a Cloud to guide me in the way and by night in a pillar of Fire to give me light Thou directest me in all my paths O lead me into the way of Life II. Give me an humble and thankful heart let me not bury this and other thy Favours in forgetfulness but let my Soul still praise thee and thy good Spirit lead me into the Land of Righteousness As thou hast brought me O Lord through this Journey and Voyage and kept this Tabernacle of my Body unsplit So in thy good time bring my Soul home to the Land of Promise the Everlasting Haven of eternal Rest and that for thy Son's sake Jesus Christ Amen The Mariner's Prayer O Eternal God who rebukest the Winds and stillest the raging of the Sea and the noise of the Tempest whose way is in the Waters and thy wonders in the Deep we are in danger every moment of perishing unless by thy miraculous Power thou deliver us from death when with thy Servant Peter we cry out Help Lord we perish let thy hand be stretched forth to command the Waters to be still Fill our Sails with gentle and also prosperous Gales save us from Shipwrack defend us from