come vnto thee in my need giue me a will to worke truely and daily in my vocation and to order my skill by the rule of thy wisdome that I be not vnfruitfull Blesse my body and soule that no euill or harme come vnto them and keepe my memory and senses that they passe not the limits of reason and vnderstanding wherewith thou hast endewed me O Lord lighten my minde to looke vpon good things only inflame my heart with the loue of them and conduct mee with thy grace that as thou hast awaked my body from sleepe so my soule may daily be raised from sinne and soule and body and spirit may be renued in righteousnes to serue thee the liuing God to the praise and glory of thy great Name the credit of the Gospell of grace and finally to the saluation of my poore soule in the day of the glorious appearing of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen Thursday An Euening Prayer O Lord God my most louing and mercifull Father great in mercie and constant in truth I doe acknowledge my bounden duty of thankefullnes vnto thee for thy manifold graces and benefits imparted vnto mee and although I bee vnable to recount them and farre more vnworthy to be partaker of them neuertheles in full assurance and confidence of thy loue to mee in Iesus Christ I presume to come vnto thee and now againe commit into thy hands this night my soule and body withall my senses and faculties thoughts and affections words and deeds my heart and soule and all that is within mee and without mee my Faith and the continuance of the same beseeching thee to keepe me and them day and night blameles and vndefiled against the day of thy comming O Lord pardon and forgiue me all the sins which I haue either wretchedly effected oâ— wickedly imagined against thine honour and the good of my neighbour Lay not the faults and frailties of my younger yeares vnto my charge forget them Lord and forgiue them and for the better confirmation of thy gracious pardon I humbly intreat thee O Lord to annex vnto thy grant the power of thy grace to attend vpon me that I may not doe mine owne will but thine and eschewing euill and doing good strike mine heart with thy feare O Lord that in fearing thee I may labour to escape those things which thou threatnest and giue me the comfort of thy saluatition that in louing thee I may bee thought worthy to obtaine those things which thou promisest Be fauourable vnto me O Lord that I may this night quietly take my rest vnder the shadow of thy wings voide of all feare spirituall darkenesse dangers bodily or ghostly finall despaire and the like and when the darke end of this mortall life like the shutting in of this day shall come grant mee O Lord a watchfull heart willingly disposed and thereby inabled with thy grace to abandon these transitory nights and dayes and depart hence in the peace of a good conscience into thine euerlasting rest through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour In whose name and words I conclude these my imperfect prayers saying as he himselfe hath taught me in the Lords prayer Our Father c. Fryday A Morning Prayer O Holy Lord God maker and gouernour of all things both in heauen aboue and the earth beneath vnto thee doe I come with a broken and contrite heart sorrowing for my sinnes seeking to find comfort at thy hands Thou O Lord my God knowest my griefe mine anxiety and care oh let me feele and finde thy comforts to refresh my soule and reioyce my heart Bee with me this day in all my worldly businesse and affaires and let thy grace and holy Spirit euermore defend me and preserue my innocency and integrity that I may bee knowne and acknowledged for thine owne at the last day I thanke thee gracious Father for keeping me this night past and for that thou hast safely brought me to see the glistering light of the day O Lord stirre me vp that I may expresse my thankfulnesse by my serviceable obedience preserue and keepe me from sinne and all annoyances of both soule and body Make mee this day as abstinent from flesh prohibited and forbidden by the Church so from all filthinesse of both soule and Spirit that perfecting my beginnings of holinesse in the feare of God I may bee assured of an inheritance with the Saints in light Strengthen me against the vanityes of the world the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life and renue whatsoeuer is decayed in mee through the malice of Satan or mine owne corruptions and that approuing what is thy good and acceptable will I may endeauour to doe the same and so worke out my owne saluation with feare and trembling Giue me grace to spend this day and the remainder of my dayes in all peace and purity sanctity and sobriety to thy glory the good example of others and finally the salvation of my owne soule for Iesus Christ his sake the Son of thy loue to whom with thee O Father and thy holy Spirit one God in vnity and three persons in trinity be ascribed of me and thy whole Church all honour and glory world without end Amen Fryday An Euening Prayer MErcifull Lord God and my gracious Father in Iesus Christ I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy handmaid O leaue me not nor forsake mee but euer bee thou my God and my guide leade me into all truth and in the end let me see thy saluation Wash away all my sinnes in the bloud of thy Sonne sanctifie my nature abolish my corruptions guide mee here by thy councell and after that receiue mee to glory Keepe mee now and euer send mee this night quiet rest and grant that lying downe to sleepe I may rise againe in thy peace walke in thy feare the day following and for euer glorifie thee Infuse into mee O Lord the Spirit of sweet consolation and although my sleepe be a death and my bed as the graue yet suffer me not to perish suddenly or vnprepared but watch ouer me for good guide me now and euermore let no affrightments fall vpon me keepe me from fire storms tempests theeues sudden death and danger and be vnto me a gracious protector and director Cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about me my house and habitation Remember thy Church and euery member thereof to preserue and keepe it especially the poore afflicted protestants in all parts beyond the seas and at home in our owne land send them helpe from thy holy place and euermore mightily defend them Be vnto them a sun and a shield a sun to comfort and a shield to safeguard and protect them in all assaults dangers and difficulties trialls temptations and tribulations Put an end and period vnto all their griefes and afflictions and in thy good time vouchsafe them a happy deliuerance out of all their troubles for thou neuer failest in thy compassions towards such
according to thy good pleasure and shewest thy selfe in nothing more omnipotent then in the conceiuing forming and bringing forth of mankinde into this world which alâ—â—ough it was in the beginning ordayned most easily yet by the subtilty of our continuall enemy Satan in causing our first parents to transgresse thy commandement and breake thy will by tasting the forbidden fruit it is now most painefull and dangerous grieuous and perillous insomuch O sweet Lord as without thine especiall grace and assistance fauour and mercy it is altogether impossible for vs fraile women a weake sex to beare and abide the same our imperfection and feeblenesse is such as of our selues we are not able to indure the least of all the sorrowes and sufferings that accompany this kinde of trauaile wherefore sweet Lord and louing Father my humble desire vnto thy maiesty is for Iesus Christ his sake that thou wouldest vouchsafe to extend vnto me and to all women thy mercy and louing fauour to mitigate the paines thereof that we may be able patiently to indure the paines of our trauaile at the howre appointed and make that easie and light vnto vs which our defects haue made heauy and burdensome sweeten that which our deserts haue made sowre that the burden wherewith I am now laden may graciously be deliuered from my weake body Send vs all good Lord happy and gracious deliuerance that wee may bee made ioyfull and happy mothers And vouchsafe vnto me to al that haue conceued and be with childe strength to bring forth that which thine omnipotency hath so wonderfully wrought within vs. In our troubles O Lord helpe vs thou most mighty and mercifull God mightily deliuer vs. Let thy power might and loue be no lesse manifest in the deliuery then in the forming of thy creature that being through thy goodnesse made a ioyfull mother I may obtaine my perfect strength againe and liue to praise and please thee for euermore Amen Another short and most necessary prayer to be said of one with Childe O Lord whose goodnesse wee haue offended and by our sins deserued infinite paines looke with the eye of pitty and compassion vpon me lay aside thy Iustice and shew me thy mercifull fauour and louing kindnesse Let me inioy the benefit of thy helping hand and not feele the weight of thy heauy displeasure fauourably lighten me of this heauy burden in thy good and gracious time and in the howre and instant of my deliuery be present with me O Lord and tender my safety through Iesus Christ. Amen A thanksgiuing after the woman is deliuered of the Childe FOrasmuch as it hath pleased thee Almighty God of thy gracious goodnesse to ease me of my paines and deliuer me of my burden and from the pangs and throwes of Child-bearing I doe here humbly prostrate my soule and body before thy sacred maiesty to be vnto thee a reasonable liuely and liuing sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight giuing thine omnipotent maiesty infinite and vnfained thanks for this thy gracious preseruation of me and deliuering me out of this great danger of death wherein I was and vnder which I might soon haue perished had not thy mercy sustained me and thy goodnesse imbraced me on euery side To thee therefore O holy and heauenly Father be giuen and ascribed all possible praise and thanksgiuing from this time forth for euermore As thou hast beene gracious vnto me in giuing me a childe so Lord giue me grace to deuote and consecrate it vnto thee and thy seruice To this end worke mightily in it by thy holy Spirit sanctifie it from the wombe that it may bee thine not only whil'st it hangs vpon the mothers brests but so long as it shall breath in the land of the liuing and vntill thou translate it hence to raigne with thee in glory Amen A short Prayer for Wisdome O Lord most great and glorious I confesse that whilst I beare about with me this body of sinne imprisoning the soule my nature corrupted and depraued with sinnes originall and actuall seekes by all meanes possible to oppose the spirit and doe those things which are dissonant and contrary to the motions inspirations and gracious influence and working thereof My flesh lusteth against the spirit so that the things which I would doe I cannot and the things which I suppose to be done in much knowledge and wisdome will bee found not only ignorances and errors but sinnefull wickednesse in thy fight Wherefore I humbly beseech thee O Holy Father to send out thy light and truth thy Spirit of wisdome and reuelation to teach and instruct mee to bee my God and guide to leade mee into all truth Lord send downe that wisdome which waiteth about thy throne and plant the same in my heart that all my sayings doings and devises being alwayes ordered by this wisdome from on high I may intend and doe that which is pleasing in thy sight and profitable for mine owne saluation and shun the contrary in all things through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A short Prayer for defence against our Enemies O Lord my God bee not farre from me in trouble and in all dangers bodily or ghostly draw neere and make haste to helpe me I am I confesse a most sinfull creature and haue iustly deserued thy wrath and indignation against me the sorest and seuerest of thy punishments yea that all thy blessings should become curses vnto me and that I should either be destroyed by thine and the churches enemies or that I should bee ruinated by mine owne prosperity Yet Lord for thy mercy sake turne thee vnto me and haue compassion on me let not mine enimies preuaile in their mischieuous devises lest they be to proud in thy mercy conuert them or in thy iustice confound them make them as the stubble before the winde and thine Angell scattering of them Lord I am in thine hand and they are within the compasse of thy power stay and allay their fury let them not take effect in their mischieuous Imaginations and attempts against me but put them to confusion rid me and deliuer me in thy righteousnesse Be thou a son and a shield vnto me to comfort and protect me To this end cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about mee that being defended vnder the shadow of thy wings and armed with the power of thy might I may not feare what man can doe vnto me Lord regard me with the eye of thy grace and guard me with the hand of thy power that being preserued in both soule and body I may liue in piety peace and godlinesse vnto my liues end Amen A Prayer to be said before the receiving of the Lords Supper O Lord Iesus the Sonne of the liuing God who freely and of thine owne accord offeredst thy most sacred Body to bee broken and thy blood to bee shed for my sinnes that thou mightest ransome me from hell and deliver me from wrath eternal condemnation O sweet
deare Father I confesse my weakenesse is such that I want patience to endure thy tryall take from me thy heauy hand or lay no more vpon mee then I can beare giue an issue vnto all temptations and make a way for mee to escape and in the end grant me a finall deliuerance As thou madest me of dust so thou canst take from me my breath againe and cause me soone to returne vnto my originall earth againe yet spare mee a little that I may recouer my health and strength before I goe hence and be no more seene There is I confesse no soundnesse in my flesh because of thine anger nor rest in my bones because of my sinnes my heart panteth my strength faileth my beauty and liuely-hood consumeth like a moth-eater-garment O Lord if it be thy will remoue thy stroake away from mee and consume mee not by the blow of thy hand Ease mine agonies mittigate mine extremities be mindfull of my sorrowes and mercifull vnto my sinnes redeeme my life from destruction strengthen my weakenes heale my disease and cause mee againe to walke before thee in the land of the liuing But if thou hast otherwise determined of me to translate mee hence thy will be done grant me patience vnder thy correcting hand and a liuely faith in the all sufficient and efficacious merit of Christ my Sauiour If thou wilt not heale my disease yet forgiue me mine iniquity seale vnto mee a free pardon of all my sinnes in the bloud of thy Sonne say vnto my soule that thou wilt be my saluation In affiance of thy mercifull absolution cause me to declare mine iniquities and be filled with godly sorrow which may worke repentance vnto saluation neuer to be repented of Sprinkle mee with the bloud of Christ and puriâ—â—e me from my dayly pollutions that being washed iustified and sanctified I may be presented vnto thee without spot or wrinkle Let nothing separate mee from thy loue but giue me perseveing grâ—ce to hold out vnto the end that dying thine Angels may conuey my soule into Abrahams bosome there to raigne with thee world without end Amen A Prayer to bee vsed by the friends of the sicke c. O Lord our God and most gracious Creator thou madest vs immortall creatures but by sinne we haue brought death and destruction vpon our selues for we haue profaned thy Sabbaths contemned thine ordinances cast thy word behinde our backs liued in all sinne and sensuality spirituall slumber and security so that thou mightest iustly cut vs off from the land of the liuing and giue vs our portion which hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth But Lord for thy mercy sake and for the merits of thy Sonne spare vs a little and giue vs space of amendment before we goe hence and bee no more seene and grace whereby we may draw neare vnto thee to seeke thy fauour in Iesus Christ. Correct vs in thy mercy and not in thy Iustice lest wee should be consumed and brought to nothing If thou giue ouer our bodies vnto sickenesse let it be to the destruction of the body of sin that being aliue vnto God through Iesus Christ we may grow in grace and bee more fruitfull in all good workes And whilest wee liue teach vs to dye dayly mortifying the deeds of the flesh contemning the world with the vanities thereof Weane vs from inordinate selfe-loue that wee may not endeare our selues too much to these transitory liues of ours but may bee ready to depart when it shall please thee to call for vs knowing that we cannot liue euer with thee vnlesse we be willing to dye and be with thee Wherefore we pray thee take away the bitternesse of death and sweeten by the wood of Christs Crosse these waters of Marah that we may sigh and groane in our selues desiring to be deliue-from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Worke in vs a willingnesse to depart but yet we humbly intreat thee let our liues and the life of this thy sicke seruant bee now and euer precious in thy sight looke mercifully vpon him that is grieued with sicknesse Lord if thou wilt thou canst make him whole Send him therefore helpe and health from thy holy place and euermore mightily defend him Let the enemy haue no aduantage against him nor the wicked approach to hurt him but bee thou present with him and strengthen his faith increase his patience vnder thy correcting hand Lift vp by the hand of thy mercy and Fatherly indulgence this thy seruant from the bedde of his sorrowes If thou wilt longer exercise him lend him strength to endure thy tryall and in the end bee bettered by it If thou hast determined to take him hence certify him how long he hath to liue make him to know his end and the measure of his daies that by prayer and repentance of faith hee may prouide wisely for his last end and bee found of thee in peace and inioy euerlasting happinesse dispose his â—editations aright for death and in the howre of death and alwayes make him to deny himselfe in renouncing iustification by any inherent worth or righteousnesse In all sorrowes and sufferings let thy comforts reioyce his soule To this end mortifie in him the corruption of nature quicken him with the soule of new life and establish him with thy free Spirit purge his heart from worldly thoughts and his minde from carnall desires motions and affections Wash his soule and body with the blood of Christ and sanctifie him throughout both in Spirit soule and body with the grace of thy Holy Spirit that departing in the true faith not casting away his confidence nor hope of reioycing in full assurance of a blessed resurrection he may haue boldnesse in the day of Christ and passe from death to life and bee euer with thee to behold thy glory grant this for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Another Prayer to be vsed by those that are about the sicke O Lord our God great and glorious thou that art the Iudge of all the earth we dust and ashes vile and miserable sinners doe here most humbly cast downe our selues before thee for our sinnes which are the causers of all the euils of punishment which thou inflictest on the sonnes and daughters of men Deare Father heare vs and forgiue whatsoeuer is past and grant that wee may euer hereafter serue and please thee through newnesse of life walking before thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all our dayes And because the dayes are evill giue vs grace to redeeme the time and numbring our dayes aright apply our hearts vnto wisdome Cause vs constantly to eschew euill and doe good to seeke peace and ensue it Looke mercifully on this thy seruant grieued with sickenesse and sanctifie this visitation vnto him that those graces which thou hast begun to worke in him may be strengthened increased and by degrees perfected Restore vnto him the voice of ioy and health that the
bones which thou hast broken may reioyce and seeing we haue neede of patience send this our brother or sister such competency of patience and constancy that he may continue thy faithfull souldier and seruant vnto his liues end worke in him a sense and feeling of sinne and true sorrow for the same which may cause repentance vnto saluation neuer to bee repented of If it be not thy good pleasure to raise him from his bed of languishing and set him vpon his feet againe prepare his heart for death and his soule for heauen washing away his sinnes in the bloud of Christ and imputing vnto him the righteousnesse of Christ that he appearing before thee without either spot or wrinkle may haue confidence of seeing his euer-liuing and euer-louing redeemer not with other but with â—hese his eyes weane his affections from the loue of this world and set them on those things which are aboue that being absent from the body hee may inioy thy presence of glory for euer Repaire in this thy seruant thine owne Image and renue it in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse that thou maiest know and acknowledge him for thine owne and raise him vp from the graue vnto the resurrection of life and for euer satisfie him with thine Image and change him into the same from glory to glory Amen A thanksgiuing for recouery from sicknesse OMnipotent Lord God the author of life who bringest downe vnto the graue and raisest vp againe I doe here confesse to the glory of thine infinite mercy that if thou haddest not blessâ—d and sustained mee in my sickenesse I should haue gone the way of all flesh but it was thy goodnesse to spare mee and deliuer mee from dangers thy name bee glorified for this thine vnualuable fauour and mercifull kindnesse And I humbly beseech thee to giue me grace to expresse my reall thankfullnesse by my sincere obedience and to serue thee more carefully and conscionably then heretofore I haue done and the shorter my dayes are the more â—o redeeme the time that by repenting me truely of my sinnes and calling on thee for grace by eschewing euill and doing good more especially vnto the household of faith I may haue the testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordayned mee vnto wrath but to obtaine eternall life and saluation through Iesus Christ my Lord and only Sauiour Amen A morning prayer for a family O Eternall and all-seeing God who art iust in thy iudgements true in thy promises wonderfull in thy maiesty and infinite in thy mercy who hast the heauens for thy throne and the earth for thy foot-stoole and the creatures of both at thy becke The heauens are full of the maiesty of thy glory and cannot containe the same looke downe therefore from thence vpon vs thy seruants who now prostrate our selues before the footstoole of thy throne of grace humbly beseeching thee for Iesus Christ his sake to be mercifull vnto vs miserable sinners One deepe calleth vnto another the depth of misery vnto the depth of mercy haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lord and in the multitude of thy mercies doe away all our offences Wee confesse that we are not worthy to speake of thee much lesse to speake vnto thee wee being so vile and miserable thou so glorious and admirable yet being assured that in forgiuing sinnes and helping poore afflicted soules the neuer drawne dry fountaine of thy mercy doth appeare we thine vnprofitable seruants are emboldened to present our selues this morning before thee to offer vp vnto thee a liuely sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the Crosse to be a propitiation for our sinnes O let this lifting vp of our hearts and hands bee a morning sacrifice pure and acceptable in thy sight Let not the greatnesse of our sinnes with-hold thy implored mercy but wash vs from all vncleannesse and remoue thy iudgements due vnto vs for them as farre from thy presence as is the East from the West Bury them in the graue with Christ raise vs vp by the power of thy Spirit vnto newnesse of life that we may walke in all holy obedience before thee this day and that endeuouring to keepe our faith and a good conscience voide of offence wee may now and in the houre of death be and remaine alwaies thine Defend vs from all euill and sense vs against the assaults of Satan watch ouer vs by the eye of thy good prouidence and cause thy Angels to pitch their tents about vs for our safety and continuall preseruation Into thy hands we here commit our soules and bodies our cogitations and actions to be guided by thee forgetting thee at any time doe thou in mercy remember vs and forgiue our trespasses make vs to see our sinnes in the glasse of thy Law to mourne for them in the closets of our hearts and confesse them in the bitternesse of our soules Teach vs to cast off the ragges of iniquity and by faith to put on the robes of righteousnesse helpe vs to manage the sword of the Spirit the shield of faith the helmet of saluation that wee may bee able to fight against the wiles of the deuill the vanities of the world the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life Be fauourable to Sion build vp the walls of Ierusalem more particularly preserue and enlarge these Churches of great Britaine France and Ireland feed them as thy flocke foster them as thy family dresse them as thy vineyard and decke them as thy spouse Defend the Kings maiesty from all enemies preserue his body in health his soule in soundnesse his heart in truth his life in honour his honour from vnderminers Blesse our gracious Queene Mary and grant that with Mary shee may chuse the better part which can neuer be taken from her Let thy good Spirit be with our hopefull Prince Charles and the Lady Mary sanctifie and season them with grace and make them thy darlings and beloued ones Blesse the Lady Elizabeth and her children and for the daies wherein they haue suffered aduersity send them abundance of peace and prosperity Blesse the counsellors of state all schooles of good Learning all thy ministers and maiestrates with all our kindsfolke in the flesh and friends in the Spirit to whom thou hast any wayes made vs bounden O Lord enable vs to requite them or lay it on thine owne account to restore it vnto them and their posterities And here we yeeld thee from the Altar of our hearts all possible thanks for that thou hast created vs when we were nothing predestinated vs vnto the Adoption and chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world and hast called vs by the working of thy spirit in the preaching of the Gospel hast freely iustified vs by Faith in Christ we thanke thee likewise for our preseruation this night past and for bringing of vs this day to see the light Now Lord awake our soules from sinne and carnall security that we
names or of ought more neere and deare vnto vs if it may stand with thy good pleasure preserue vs euermore in thy faith and holy feare guide vs constantly by thy counsaile and after that receiue vs to glory A Collect for the Night O Lord our God which art the keeper of Israell which neuer slumbrest nor sleepest into thy hands O Father we commend our spirits for thou hast redeemed vs. O thou God of truth Into thy most mercifull tuition and gracious preseruation doe we commend our selues our soules and bodies our kinsfolkes in the flesh and friends in the spirit our goods our good names all ours and all that call vpon thy name from this time forth and foreuermore Amen Lord we pray thee be thou present with them and vs and about our beds vnto our liues end· Let not our fantasies bee troubled with vaine imaginations nor the dreames and visions of our heads like Nebuchadnezzars make vs afraid But giue vs quiet and comfortable rest that our soules being cheered vp our bodies refreshed 〈◊〉 may when we awake laud and â—â—aise thee and goe and pray vnto thee and ioyfully set our selves about the businesse of the next day and performe the duties of our particular callings Let our whole life be a seruing and glorifying of thee that we may liue in thy feare die in thy fauour and rest from all our labours and be blessed with thy glorious vision inioying the presence of our blessed Sauiour and the comfort of thy holy Spirit and the communion of thy most holy Saints and Angels that we together with them may ascribe vnto thee the glory of our redemption from sinne Satan hell and death and the Deuill world without end Amen A Grace before meaâ—â— O God who art the giuâ—r of euery good and perfect gift sanctifie wee beseech thee these thy Creatures now prepared for vs make them wholesome for our bodies and our soules and bodies seruiceable unto thee for them through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Grace after meate THe Lords most holy Name be now and euer blessed and praised for all his mercies and for his blessings at this time bestowed vpon vs Lord as thou hast fed our bodies with corporall food so feed our soules likewise with spirituall food vnto life eternall Saue thy Church the Kings maiesty Queene Princes and the Realmes prosper the word blesse thine ordinances vnto vs increase our faith send vs grace and truth prosperity peace with life euerlasting Amen A Grace before meat MErcifull Father which openest thy hands and fillest all things liuing with plenteousnesse we pray thee sanctifie these thy good creatures vnto vs that we may eat to liue and â—iuing serue thee our Lord God through thine only Son our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen A Grace after meat THe God of all grace and goodnesse who at this time hath fed and plenteously refreshed vs his most holy name be blessed and praised from this time forth and for euermore Amen A Grace before meat O Lord our God by whose prouidence it is that we liue moue and haue our being send thy blessing vpon vs and our meats and grant that whether we eat or drinke or whatsoeuer else we doe we may doe all to the glory of thy name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Grace before meat WEE laud and praise thy Name for al thy blessings and fauours and for feeding vs so plentifully at this time desiring thee of thy grace that our thankefulnes may not be in word and in tongue but expressed by our carefull study to glorifie thee our God in al our words and works through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS
seruice of God from thy selfe the head to thy meanest seruant be moderate in attiring thy wife she will accept it if she be modest educate thy children in obedience to God so shall they not offend thee couer the naked The poore are the bests guests a rich man can entertaine LEt the poorest children of God be some times as the fruitfull vines about thy house and as oliue branches round about thy table Thou shalt find them in the end most beneficiall guests that thou shalt entertaine either to meate or â—arbor for thou dost not so much feed and clothe and lodge them as Christ himselfe in them who is heere amongst vs poore naked sick hungry in prison thirsty harborlesse and miserable and woe be to the rich that see him and shew him no compassion The rich ought to haue respect to the poore HOw can they that haue riches in abundance food plentifull apparell superfluous gold and siluer and all that their hearts can desire and more if religious reason were ruler passe by and see a poore naked hungry and as it were a starued Christian and not to be moued with compassion especially yong forsaken children and old and impotent men and women As for the sturdy counterfeits and idle striplings able for seruice let their reward be the whip And vntil thou begin to sauour of this righteous course to guide thy house aright doe else what thou wilt in giuing and bequeathing thy house will not be set in order when thou dyest which will be a fearefull end Thus much concerning the setting of thy domestike estate in order it may not be vnnecessary to examine the house of thy soule the body and the members thereof Touching thy body the house of thy soule I Haue before spoken of thy setting of thy worldly estate and domestike family lands and goods in order before thou dye The chiefe care ought to be to set and keep the house of the soule the body in order IT is fit to consider how to set thy corporall house which is the habitatioâ— of thy sâ—uâ—e the senses and members of the sâ—mâ— in order And that aboue and before the disposing of thy worldly estate For as the boâ—â— is mâ—re worth thâ—n raiment of more value than possessions siluer or gold so is the well ordering of the same to be preferred before all that thou enioyest or canst enioy in the world Wherein the well-being of the soule consisteth THe well-being of the soule which is the principall part of thee consisteth in the right gouernment of thy body and bodily members for if thy carnall members and corporall senses haue been or are defiled with the vanities whereunto they are particularly inclined thy soule which lodgeth in it cannot be but also infected and polluted and therefore oughtest thou to hâ—ue an especiall regard to the well-ordering of thy corporall parts Many dwell in faire houses that haue fowle bodies and soules THou dwellest it may be in a house of ingenious architect adorned within and without with sundry varieties to delight thine eye thine eare and all the senses of thy body as many in deed or in desire it may be as Salomon had superfluous to name more superfluous to couet when yet it may be the house wherein thy soule liueth and without whom thou canst not liue though it be outwardly adorned with most costly attire like a painted sepulcher is of it selfe and through thine abusing it and the members of it a poore weake and tottering building seeming outwardly beautifull yet alas vnder most glorious and rich couerings most ragged rent and rotten wether beaten and deformed through the tempests of thy blusterous tongue the extrauagancy of thy polluted eyes and the vnrulinesse of the rest of thy senses beating vpon thy poore soule that dwelleth in this fraile body of thine with restles vngodly stormes of forbidden vaulties that bring the whole house out of order We must examine how we haue vsed or abused our senses and members of our bodies ANd for as much as the head the principall part of this weake building is the place wherin the chiefe organs and instruments of speaking hearing seeing smelling tasting and eating doe consist examine first how thou hast kept these in order and whether thou haue formerly giuen them the reines of licentious liberty to follow the vanities whereunto naturally they are seuerally inclined If so then is this thy whole house vtterly out of order and meerly deformed being by creation free from any actuall pollution or corporall blemish or defect a most comely and beautifull building complete and vniforme in euery part from the meanest to the most eminent member Our bodies are compleat and beautifull houses OBserue from the sole of thy foote to the very haire of thy head and see whether thou couldest imagine to place any member in better order than God hath placed them for in a perfect body there is no defect in any part though many times blemished by abuse of the members and senses How our bodies are blemished THe head it selfe the guide and gouernour of all the rest is oftentimes disordered and euen infatuated by drunkenesse the face disfigured the eyes bleared and blinded the feete gouted and many times the whole body dropsied through the abuse of the senses and brought all out of order being the very temple of God and wherein the soule dwelleth thy most precious part bought with no lesse a price than the very bloud of the Sonne of God Iesus Christ. A man can neuer dye in hope that hath to the end defiled his body HOw then can a man whose body and members are thus defiled and made as it were a den of detestable vncleanesse grieuing the spirit that dwelleth in it without reformation dye in any hope of future happinesse though he doe set a faire formall face vpon the setting of his domestike estate in some order by a silly will before he dyes and to leaue the body the house of his soule and his soule it selfe in so manifest a danger For the superficial disposing and bequeathing of his domesticke estate and to leaue his better part out of order is but as a pharisaicall washing of the outside of the cup leauing it filthy and foule within It is a manifest argument that the partie who hath the sore breaking out in his body as Hezekiah had and the tokens appeare as they commonly doe hath the plague and is vnlike to escape death Signes that a mans house body and soule are out of order SO manifest it is that he that aboundeth in corruption and the filth of his heart breaketh forth and sheweth it selfe by his disorderly and dissolute conuersation by his inordinate walking by the prophanesse of his speech by the wantonesse of his eyes by lending his eares with delight to vngodly discourses by the pollution of his hands and by the swiftnesse of his feete to follow vanities that he is full of spirituall pestilence and carnall contagion Altogether vnfit
as are thine as feare thy name walking before thee and labouring to be vpright Lord send comfort vnto them and lift vp the light of thy gracious countenance vpon them And Lord receiue them and me and all that belong vnto me this night and euer vnto thy gracious protection through the mediation of Iesus Christ In whose name and words I finish these my imperfect prayers and meditations saying as he himselfe hath taught mee in the Gospell c. Our Father which art c. Saturday A Morning Prayer O Lord most great and gracious louing Father in Iesus Christ sanctifie I humbly beseech thee this day vnto me and my selfe now and euer vnto thy seruice And here O Lord I giue thee thanks for that thou hast kept me this night past vnto this present houre and moment and hast brought mee vnto the last day of the weeke grant that I may spend the same soberly righteously and holily Bring me to the knowledge of thy righteous will in all things that knowing it I may endeauour to doe the same to thy glory the peace of mine owne conscience and the safety of my soule Purge my soule from sinfull lusts and affections and cleanse my conscience from all pollutions and defilements thereof that I may euer with boldnesse of Spirit and affiance in thy mercy behold thy face and grace in Iesus Christ. Roote out of my minde all couetous malitious and lustfull thoughts keepe me from sinne and from vncleanenesse bee thou my guide in all my wayes my stay and succour in all my necessities Put an end and period vnto the motions of the flesh enlarge mine heart for all holy duties and habituall graces of thy Spirit that I may nourish them as my life In these my prayers I am not mindfull of my selfe alone but of thy whole Church howsoeuer distressed or wheresoeuer dispersed ouer the face of the earth I pray vnto thee likewise for thy seruant and our dread soueraigne Charles our king and gouernour O Lord as thou hast graced him with a crowne so crowne him with thy grace and as thou hast giuen him a glorious kingdome here so giue him heareafter part of thy kingdome of glory Be mercifull vnto our most gracious Queene Mary the young Prince Charles the Lady Mary the Lady Elizabeth her royall issue Blesse preserue and prosper all those that trauaile in an honest way whether by sea or land and likewise all women in trauaile with child and sicke persons troubled both in body or minde or howsoeuer diseased O Lord speake peace vnto their consciences and as thou hast laide them down with the one hand so raise them vp with the other if not to this life to life eternall and that not for any merits of mine Lord I disclaime them all but for the precious merits of thy Son our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen Saturday An Euening Prayer O Lord God Almighty mercifull Father maker and preseruer of all things looke downe I beseech thee with the eye of pitty and compassion vpon me miserable and sinfull wretch prostrating my selfe soule and body vpon my benknees before thy diuine maiesty humbly beseeching thee to looke vpon me in much mercy pardon my sins enrich me with thy graces sanctifie mee with thy grace and bring mee to thy glory and there refresh my soule with such things as eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither hath entred into the heart of man to conceiue Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing be iustified Examine not my wayes this weeke past by the strict rule of thy Law neither reward me in the rigour of thy iustice but for Iesus Christ his sake haue mercy vpon me miserable sinner that haue deserued the seuerest of thy punishments As the heauens are higher then the earth so extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Satisfie my soule with thy mercy and that right soone so shall I reioyce and bee glad in thee and learne to praise thee euermore And now O Lord as this weeke is at an end so let my sins haue end and neuer bee reiterated or done any more Lord call me not to an exact account for them for Lord I confesse I am worthy of death and eternall damnation yet seeing there is mercy with thee that thou mightest bee feared and loued for euermore spare mee I humbly beseech and haue mercy vpon me according to the multitude of thy mercies And being graciously reconciled vnto thee be thou pleased to be my mercifull protector and preseruer from all perils and dangers this night blesse me with quiet rest that being refreshed in my body I may bee cheered vp in my minde and made the more fit to serue thee in the duties of my calling and sanctifie thy Sabbath and keepe it as a glorious day vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before Sermon VOuchsafe O most mercifull God to open the closet of my dark vnderstanding that thy word may enter thereinto and be so receiued of me as that Ignorance the mother of disobedience being excluded heauenly knowledge may enter in and that growing daily in knowledge I may bee more and more renued in the spirit of my minde and doe all such good works as thou commandest and commendest vnto me in thy word Giue me grace that the seed of thy word being sowen in my heart it may take deepe roote downeward and bring forth fruit vpward to the credit of the Gospell the comfort of my poore soule and aboue all to the glory of thy most holy name So let thy Spirit rule and guide the lips of thy seruant and minister as that he vtter nothing but the word of Truth with such boldnesse that neither feare nor affection stop not the passage of the same Make mee to attend and waite vpon thine ordinance desiring to be satisfied with the crums that fall from this thy table And because the haruest is great the faithfull labourers but a few I pray thee who art Lord of the haruest to send forth such as may be industrious And conscionable in the discharge of their ministeriall duties Let thy Vrim and Thummim bee vpon them as vpon thine holy ones that sincerity of doctrine and integrity of conuersation may adorne their persons and beautifie their function and calling Banish from this sacred work al such as are not sent from thee let them haue no exhibition from thy church running without commission from thee Lord guide the heart and tongue of him whom I shall heare this day that he may speake home vnto my conscience and leaue no corruption vnbowelled but that his words may separate all sinfull affections from me and stir me vp to bee a follower of it in all holy vertues and gracious acts Blesse all the hearers of thy word make them doers of the same not deceiuing of their owne soules Grant that thy messengers diuiding the word aright and thy people keeping it carefully and
Iesu my sins originall and actuall of weaknes wickednesse haue deserued thy wrath and frowning ire yea that thou shouldest with-hold the eye of thy grace far from me and punish me with everlasting destruction from the presence of thy glory Yet Lord seeing thou hast shed thy blood for me O Lord I beseech thee to wash away all my sinnes in the streames that issued from thy precious wounds As thou hast loued mee in laying downe thy life for me and hast left vnto thy Church this holy Sacrament as a pledge and assurance that through thy death all that truely partake of this sacred and heauenly institution apprehending the mysteries therein contained and applying the merits of Christ Iesus crucified they may haue comfort and peace in beleeuing those mercifull promises which thou hast made vnto vs in thy Word and bee partakers of the benefits of thy Sonnes Passion and haue fruition of thy sauing vertue here and life and glory hereafter Accept mee good Lord in Iesus Christ as washed iustified and sanctified and by thy Spirit O my God cleanse and purifie my heart daily more and more sanctifie mine affections and enlarge my heart for holy and heauenly things that mortifying the deeds of the flesh I may grow and increase in grace perfecting my holinesse in the feare of God At this time I intreat thee of thy gracious goodnesse O most holy and heauenly Father by thy Spirit of confirmation to helpe and strengthen me against my weakenesse and grant that through a stedfast lively and constant faith I may receiue and eate this sanctified bread and hallowed Cup or blessed drinke in a holy and reuerend remembrance that thy body O Lord Iesus was crucified and thy blood was shed for the remission of my sinnes and grant that it may so effectually worke in my soule that I may ever hereafter liue in all holy obedience according to thy heauenly will through Iesus Christ my Lord and onely Sauiour Amen At the receiuing of the Bread say thus O Sweet Iesus as thou hast giuen thy flesh to bee the bread of eternall saluation so vouchsafe to worke in mee by a liuely faith that I receiuing the same may euermore continue in thee and thou in me Amen At the receiuing of the Cup say thus O Lord vouchsafe that as thy bloud was shed to wash mee a sinner from the corruption of old Adam so grant that it may through a liuely faith take effect in me washing me from the filth of Sinne and renue in me the fruits of righteousnesse that I may become a fitte member of thine liue in thee and dye in thee Amen A prayer after the receiuing of the most holy Communion of the body and bloud of Christ. O God Father euerlasting great and glorious I thy poore and vnworthy Creature being not able to yeeld thee thanks sufficiently praise the for thine vnspeakeable fauour and louing kindnesses in feeding mee at this time with the spirituall foode of the body and bloud of thy Sonne Iesus Christ whom thou vouchsafest to send for our redemption into this miserable world and to giue him euen vnto the death for me In remembrance whereof he hath willed me to eate his body and drinke his bloud to the end that by Faith I should bee knit and vnited vnto him and made a liuely member of his mysticall body and being washed from all my sinnes in his bloud I should leade a new life in all obedience holinesse and righteousnesse Vouchsafe I humbly intreate thee for his sake to indue me with thy holy Spirit whereby hereafter casting away the workes of darkenesse I may walke in the true light of thy holy Spirit and euer remaine in the number of thy holy and elect children waiting faithfully when hee shall come againe for my deliuerance out of this mortall life and whilest I liue here vouchsafe me an vnfained desire to pertake of that his holy Institution and through thy holy Spirit to leade my life according to thy holy will in all things keeping my body and soule vnspotted and vndefiled as fit receptacles of so heauenly food that my soule may bee pertaker of the misteries thereof by faith in Iesus Christ. Amen A prayer to be vsed by the tempted against the assaults of Satans temptations MOst gracious mercifull and louing Father which exercisest thy children with sundry and manifold trialls temptations and tribulations leauing hem vnto themselues as thou dâ—dâ—st Hezekiah to the end hee might discouer and see in himselfe his owne vaine-glory imbecility and much frailty Some like Peter thou exposest to the boisterous windes of Satan winnowings and others like Paul to the blowes of the aduersaries vehement buffetings Thine owne and only Sonne thou diddest not exempt from Satans sharpest and stoutest trials when thou diddest conduct him into the wildernesse to bee tempted of the devill If thou O Lord leade me in like manner to be tried and tempted suffer me not at any time to be ouercome hold thou me vp by thy mighty hand and power animate me by the presence of thy Spirit and holy Angels and let thy grace be euer sufficient for mee that I may giue mine aduersary the foile and in the end get the victory In his departure from me for a season let not Satan bee aduantaged or get strength but detect his policies discouer his subtilties vnto me and defeate his doings and dealings which are against mâ— To this end worke such wisdome in me as may make me to foresee his stratagems such vigilancy as that I may beware his pitfalls which hee prepareth for our soules destruction Let no temptation take me but such as is common to man In thy faithfulnesse O Father try me not aboue my strength and ability but with the temptation make a way to escape that I may be able to beare it Let me neuer yeeld to the devilish motions of Satan suggesting vnto me death or desperation but grant me patience to expect the howre of my departure my soules separation and the dissolution of my body and deliuerance from the misery of this wretched world My trouble let it be without distresse my perplexity without despaire my persecution without forsaking my casting downe without destruction If teare befall me in thy good time wipe them from mine eyes preserue them in thy bottle make them precious in thy sight and my selfe with thee Leauing mee for a little while draw nigh againe vnto me in great compassion and gather me vnto thy selfe that I may euer reioyce in thee and with thee Couer my head in the daies of my spirituall conflicts let thy loue be my bannor thy faithfulnesse and truth my shield and buckler Give mee faith and a sure confidence in thee make me perfectly to trust in thy grace looking for Iustification and saluation through thy mercy and my blessed Sauiours merits Let not any kinde of triall bee irkesome and grieuous vnto me but giue me a right iudgement as in all other things so