Mr. EDWARD DERING HIS Godly priuate Prayers for Christian Families Whereunto is annexed his briefe and necessary Catechisme for Housholders Marke 11.24 Whatsoeuer you desire when you pray beleeue thâ—t ye shall haue it and it shall be giuen vnto you â—om 10.13 Whosoeuâ—r shall call vpon the Name of the Lord shall be saued LONDON Printed by Isaac Iaggard 1624. A PREFACE describing the Glorious estate of the Saints on earth and the true Nature and Right vse of Prayer To the excellent that are on earth all things pertaining to life and glory through the spirit of Grace and Supplication Beloued in the Lord Iesus AS the loue of God hath heerein exceedingly abounded vnto vs that we are called the Sons of God so there is not a more pregnant Embleme of our Adoption to be his Children then that wee cry Abba Father nor a more liuely pledge of our loue vnto God then that we doe cast our selues into the armes of his mercy by faithfull prayer Oh how much better is it to bee a doore-keeper in the House of God then to sit on the Throne with Princes How exceeding were the riches of Gods mercie towards vs that spared not his onely Sonne vnto death to restore vs from death to life That the Lord of Glory became a Seruant vnto all that hee might redeeme vs from the bondage of sinne into tbe glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God That life it selfe became death that hee might deliuer vs from death vnto life That he that knew no sinne but was perfect holinesse it selfe yet became sinne for our sakes that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Surely if Dauid thought it an high aduancement to bee the sonne in law to an earthly wicked King How much more glorious is our aduancement that we are become the adopted sons of the Almighty and Holyest God who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords And if the Queene of Saba counted the seruants of Salomon happie because they enioyed his presence and were partakers of the worldly and fading Comforts as abounded in his Court Oh how much more happie is the condition of the Saints of God that do not only enioy the gracious presence of God with open face in whose fauour is Eternall life but are thereby translated into the same image froÌ„ glory to glory as by the Spirit of GOD that so they may bee made meete partakers of that glorious inheritance with the Saints in light euen that light which is immortall and vndefiled which fadeth not If to be rich in faith good workes be the true and dureable treasure which fayleth not If the ioy of the Spirit be that which none can take away from vs If all earthly honor be as dung in comparison of that inward glory wherewith the Kinges daughter is adorned If theyr safety be impregnable which haue a wall of fire to beguirt them therein walking most secure that haue the Lord of Hosts to protect guide them then happy surely and thrice happy is the condition of Gods Children who haue God to bee their Portion and may enioy durable riches pure and euerlasting Comfort honor that neuer fadeth and security without securitie For as our security in God makes vs watchful ouer our owne waies and iealous of our owne inability so heereby are we daily cast vpon the riches of Christ and from him encrease and grow in grace And as we grow in grace so do we attaine to and prosper more and more in peace of conscience and thereby abound with ioy in the holy Ghost And the more we are filled with ioy and peace in beleeuing the more do we glorify our God in cheerfull obedience and so as members are more intirely interessed in the glorie of our head approaching heereby neerer to the life of Glory the more wee triumph ouer all our oppositions and are more throughly abased and excluded of all glorying in our selues that so dooing all things to the glory of our God we may be aduanced by him in abasing our selâ—es and weaned from all carnall fading glorie that we may bee fitted for the glory of the life to come And what can now hinder vs heerefrom whereto all things shall further No trouble can do it seeing it prepares thereto No not sinne shall hinder because it is not imputed but rather auailes to the imputation of righteousnesse that so the sting of sinne may be remoued It is not life can doe it because we are dead vnto sinne neither shall death auaile hereunto seeing we are aliue vnto GOD. Much lesse may Angels hinder because they are ministring spirits for our good to keepe vs in all our waies Nor Principalities can preuaile because the Kingdomes are the Lords and so ouerseers to the Saints It is not powers shall hinder seeing all power is giuen to our Head and so in him we are able to doe all things Neither things present should ought auaile hereto because we liue by Faith not by sight and so can lay vp a good Foundation by them agâ—inst the life to come Neither shall things to come hinder vs which are alreadie ours by Faith whereby wee apprehend them though yet we enioy them not and so in patience wait for them and so by continuance in wel-doing make ready for theÌ„ And how shal height hinder vs who haue the Highest to bee our hope whom lowlinesse aduanceth and highnesse abaseth Can depth preuent vs vvhen our Head is aboue water nay aboue the highest Heauens whether he will draw vs vp all after him out of the deepest snares No no it is not hell can hinder vs seeing it is destroyed nor Satan shall preuaile for seeing we haue the shield of Faith to resist him hee will flye from vs Behold the wonderfull and glorious priuiledges of the sons of God! And by this wee know that we haue this glorious vnion and fellowship with God euen by his Spirit that hee hath giuen vs. And hereby we know effectually that the Spirit dwelleth in vs euen by this blessed libertie and boldnes in pressing to the throne of Grace crying Abba Father with all Son-like importunity and challenging his promise in Christ Iesus Thus by the Spirit wee know our Adoption and by the Spirit of Prayer we pleade the same And can we be denied when the Spirite helpes our Infirmities and knovves our Wants Shall wee not preuaile aboue whatsoeuer wee can aske or thinke seeing our Sauiour is our Aduocate to make intercession for vs who knowes what is best for vs who heares before we aske and askes that we may be heard Behold here the ground and necessitie of Prayer If the Spirit be in vs we shall pray in the Spirit and if we pray in the libertie of the Spirit wee are set at liberty thereby euen the libertie of the Sonnes of GOD. Onely be we wise to try the Spirit by the Spirit that so vvee may not offer the sacrifice of Fooles 1. It is
so to keepe vs vnder that wee more effectually may giue our selues to serue thee Or if it bee thy will and pleasure more abundantly to blesse vs and our trauaile to send vs abundance of all things wee beseech thee deare Father giue vs a thankfull heart to acknowledge them to bee thy good giftes and frame our hearts with such liberality that wee may be contented to distribute them according to the necesity of thy children being assured that thou hast to this ende made vs Stewards ouer them that maist at his hands require much on whome thou hast bestowed much so that we hauing the due estimation of thy benefits which we ought to haue may both reuerence thy goodnesse in thy benefits and supply the want of our bretheren to the releefe of their necessity and furtherance of thy glory The fift petition Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. AND whereas most mercifull Father thy Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ hath in our nature paide the ransome and debt of all our sinnes which wee haue from the beginning of our life committed and do dayly commit wee beseech thy gracious gooodesse that thou wilt by thy holy spirit in our hearts assure our soules and consciences with a liuely faith that by that same one onely sufficient sacrifice the punishment of our sinnes is paide thy wrath appeased and thy Iustice satisfied whereby our consciences may be quieted set at peace with thee our mercifull Father and God Let vs deare Father feele in our soules and consciences that wee are vnited to thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and made one body with him and heires with him of euerlasting glory so coupled and ioyned with him that wee are members of his body so that whatsoeuer hee hath done in his body wee may bee assured that it is ours that his righteousnesse is our righteousnesse his sanctification and holinesse is ours the curse condemnation and death which hee suffered is the same curse condemnation and death due for our sinns that wee know that our sins bee done away and cleane forgotten and forgiuen by thy mercifull loue goodnesse declared in offeâ—ing vp thy Sonne to death for vs wee may be driuen to loue thee vnfainedly from the bottome of our hearts for this thine vnspeakable loue And considering that thou hast in mercy pardoned so many our haynous offences we may gladly bee moued to forgiue one another their offences and put out of our heart all rancour malice hatred toward ouâ— Bretheren knowing that we are all members of one body Christ our Sauiour that so surely as we haue forgiuen them that offend vs we may be so certainely assured that our mercifull Father hath forgiuen vs like as we haue forgiuen our Bretheren The sixt petition Lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill ANd for as much most heauenly Father as we of our selues bee feeble and fraile and weak and haue a strong and subtile Aduersarie Sathan the Diuell who goeth about continually like a roaring Lyon seeking whome hee may deuoure we beseech thee strengthen vs by thy holy Spirit that wee may withstand his subtle suggestions and motions hold thou vs by thy mercifull hand and keepe vs alwaies in thy safegard and protection that wee be not ouercome in the mighty assaults of our aduersary And forasmuch as he often vseth euer our owne flesh armed against vs to conquer vs we beseech thee deare Father mortifie subdue and kill in our flesh all subtle suggestions and sinfull motions of Sathan that we yeeld not our selues as slaues thereunto but continually fight against them and bring them into subiection of the Spirit Grant vnto vs deare Father that we may not be drawne through the subtile and sliely torments of Sathan to haue our delight pleasure in the vanities of this world but by thy grace might and power may so in the prosperity of this life bee vpholden that our minds with full ioy and comfort may be lifted vp to our perfect consolation in our Lord and Sauiour Christ and in him take our full and perfect ioy and consolation so that no vaine delight of this world put vs from the same neyther any sharpe aduersaty as pouerty misery or calamity through the malice of the diuell driue vs to dispaire of thy mercifull goodnesse towards vs but alwaies being through thy grace and assistance defended we may be fully perfectly armed against all the subtile intrappings of Sathan and rest wholy in thy mercifull defence and aide For thou hast O Lord and eternall God in thy gouernment all things in heauen and earth all power dominion ouer all creatures Angels and diuels to rule them according to thy good pleasure and will to the profit and commoditie of thy Church and euery faithfull member thereof and to thine incomprehensible glorie that in all things in all ages for euer and euer thy glorious Name may be exalted and thy faithful flocke edified thâ—ough Christ our Lord Amen A Confession of sinnes with Faith and Repentance O Mercifull and heauenly Father we thy Seruants doe humbly pâ—ostrate our selues before thy Maiesty acknowledging here in thy sight our haynous offences committed against thy Maiesty seeing and beholding thy heauie wrath against them wee feele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge company of horrible sins whereof the very least beeing but conceiued in thought is sufficient in iudgment to throw vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake Our owne consciences O Lord do beare witnesse against vs of our manifold transgressions of thy blessed Law of our security sencelesse blindnesse running headlong to destruction committing sinne after sin although not notorious to the world yet horrible before thine eyes The thoughts of our harts rise vp in iudgement against vs the vanity of our talke before thy Maiesty condeÌ„neth vs the wickednesse of our deeds from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughts words and deeds with the inward corruption of our nature doe altogether as it were a whole lumpe loade of sinne lye heauy vpon vs and with their intollerable waight doe euen presse vs downe to Hell Wee doe daily groane vnder the burthen of them inwardly lamenting our owne folly too greedily running into them In heauen earth or hell wee see none able to sustaine the waight of them but euen thy dearely beloed Sonne Iesus Christ who in mercy infinite and compassion endlesse hath sustained and ouercome that endlesse punishment due vnto them in him therfore in him most mercifull Father and through him we come to thee being fully assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept take that full recompence which hee thy deare Sonne hath made for vs as a iust ransome for the sinne of all those who with a true Faith take hold on him In him therfore we see thine anger towardes vs appeased thy wrath satisfied and our debts paide Increase in vs good Lord wee beseech thee this liuely
and causeth vs to detest hate loathe and abhorre sinne in all men but especially in our selues and maketh vs to haue our whole delight and ioy in those things which be agreeable vnto Gods Will and causeth vs likewise to shew and expresse the same in our life and conuersation or else it is no true Faith but a dead Faith Que. Rehearse the summe of this faith An. I beleeue in God the Father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord which was conceyued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie He suffered vnder Pentius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hell and the third day he rose againe from death He ascended into Heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie From thence shall he come to iudge both the quick and the dead I beleeue in the holy Ghost The holie Catholike Church The Communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie and the life euerlasting So be it Que. What is the effect of this Creed An. This Creed contayneth foure especiall pointes First what we ought to beleeue concerning God the Father Secondly concerning God the Son Thirdly concerning God the holie Ghost Fourthly concerning Gods people called the Church Que. What beleeuest thou in the first part concerning God the Father An. First I beleeue that God the Father thorough Christ into whose bodie I am grafted by faith is not only a Father of other faithfull but euen my Father therefore loueth mee Secondly that hee is Almighty that is that hee hath all power in his hand guiding and ruling all things so that nothing can be done in heauen earth or hell without his prouidence Que. What beleeuest thou in the second part concerning God the Sonne An. I beleeue that Iesus Christ one God in substance with the Father and the holy Ghost tooke flesh of the Virgin and is become perfect man as I am in al things sinne onely excepted and in my Nature hath wrought for mee whatsoeuer was needfull for my saluation Que. What meanest thou when thou sayest Hee suffered vnder Pontius Pilate Ans Because that manner of death which men do suffer by the sentence of the Iudge and vnder the Title of Iustice is more shameful slanderous and terrible then if a man should dye naturally in his bedde Therefore Christ took on him our person to shew himselfe before an earthly Iudge and to bee condemned by the mouth of Pilate hee being then Iudge that therby we might be cleared before the iudgement seat of God Que. What meanest thou when thou sayest Christ was crucified dead and buried An. First I meane in that he was crucified that he suffered the death of the crosse which was an abhominable and cursed death to deliuer mee from the curse vvhich was due for my sinnes Secondly forasmuch as death was a punishment due vnto man for sinne therfore our Sauiour did suffer death and by suffering ouercame death For in his death doth lye the principall point of our saluation for if he had not beene truely dead wee should be yet subiect to eternall death and damnation Thirdly he was buried for the more greater confirmation of his death and Resurrection And in the intent to make it more certainely knowne vnto vs it pleased him also to bee buried after the common maner of men and that by two notable persons Nicodemus and Ioseph of Aramathia which was done also by the wil consent of Pilate who caused the body to be deliuered to them Que. What meanest thou concerning this that Christ descended into hell An. Where it is said that Christ descended into Hell therby I beleeue that Christ did not onely suffer in his body the punishment due to my body but also in his soul the punishment due to my soule which was the Torments of hell second death sorrowes of death and abiection from God as it doeth appeare by the anguish of his soule in the garden when drops of blood yssued out of his body and also vppon the Crosse by his lamentable crie to his Father For in miserable case had we beene if he had suffered onely the punishment due to our bodies and not to our soules Que. What fruite hast thou by the death of Christ Ans First I beleeue that this death and punishment which Christ suffered is the appeasing of Gods wrath a full satisfaction to God for all my sinnes Secondly that as he is dead for sinne so he will cause sinne to die in my mortall body Que. What profit hast thou by the rising againe of Christ An. First I am assured by his rising from death that he hath ouercome death hel and sinne and hath finished my iustification Secondly that as he is risen from death so he causeth mee as a member of him to rise from sin and delight in righteousnes Thirdly his rising againe is a sure pledge to me that my body shal in like manner rise againe Que. What is the meaning of this that Christ ascended into heauen An. Christ as touching his manhead is onely in Heauen but in his Godhead and comfort of his holy Spirite hee is with vs to the end of the world Que. What good gettest thou by the ascending of Christ into heauen An. First Christ his ascending into heauen is a sure pledge vnto mee that I shal in like maner as a member of him by his power be receyued into heauen in that same nature wherein he is ascended Secondly Christ hauing ascended into Heauen maketh continuall intercession for me Que. What is the meaning of this that Christ sitteth on the right hand of God the Father An. Christ sitteth on the right hand of the father that is hath all power giuen him of the Father ouer all things whatsoeuer Que. What fruite dost thou receiue by this that Christ shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead Ans To mee that am a member of Christ it is a singular comfort vvhen I know assuredly that none shal be my Iudge but he that is my Sauiour But terrible it will be to those that flee from Christ when they shall see him come to iudg them whom they in their life time refused Que. What beleeuest thou in the third part concerning God the holy Ghost An. I beleeue that GOD the holy Ghost sealeth into my heart all Christes benefites to be mine and maketh sinne to dye in me and stirreth me vp to righteousnes and holinesse of life Que. Seeing there is but one onely God why namest thou the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost An. Because God hath so opened himselfe in his Word that these three sundry persons are in substance but one true and euerlasting God Que. Now let vs come to the fourth part What callest thou the Catholicke Church Answer The Catholicke Church is the whole company of faithful people that euer were since the beginning of the world in all places which also
good in our owne fantasie but onely that which God commandeth vs to aske of him All which things be contained in the Lords prayer Quest Rehearse the Lords prayer Answere OVr Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Qu. What dost thou desire of God in this prayer An. First I desire of our heauenly Father that his name may be hallowed First in his excellent works which is when we acknowledge his mercy wisedom iustice and prouidence that he alone worketh ell things and that only the Lord God be had in honour all other set aside Secondly that his name may bee glorifyed in our godly liuing and conuersation 2 In the 2. petition wee desire that God his Kingdome may come that is that he will declare himself to be King ouer his Church in guiding and defending it in encreasing the number of the faithfull in thrusting forth Laborers into the haruest and blessing their Labours and suppressing the rage of the wicked Tyrants Secondly that he will exercise his kingdome seuerally in euery one of his killing sinne in vs and all worldlie care and renewing of vs to righteousnesse of life 3 In the third petition wee desire that Gods will may bee done that is that wee may willingly in euerie thing resigne our selues vnto Gods will without murmuring or grudging 4 In the fourth petition we pray that he wil giue vnto vs walking faithfully in our calling our daily bread that is all things needful for our liuing in this present life 5 In the fift petition we pray that our sinnes may bee forgiuen vs that he will not lay to our charge our sinnes nor the punishment due vnto them but that he will accept the death and passion of Christ as the full satisfaction for our sins and that we may hereof haue iust assurance in our Conscience that the punishment of our sinnes is fully discharged in Christ and therefore freely forgiuen vnto vs as surely as we do forgiue others and that we may loue one another from the bottom of our hearts all desire of reuenge set aside 6. In the sixt and last petition we doe pray God that he wil not lead vs into temptation but deliuer vs that is that he will not bring vs further into that battell with our spirituall Enemies then we by his holy spirit shall be able to preuaile and ouercome Que. And why is this added For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen An. Not onely to kindle in our hearts to desire the glory of God but also to teach vs that this Prayer is grounded vpon none other then God onely and that we should not thinke the kingdome of God to bee weake and voyd of force might Also that he is not onely to be honored praised and gloryfied and that his power is infinite perpetuall and euerlasting And in this word Amen is expressed the feruent desire to obtaine those things which wee aske of God and our hope is confirmed that those things which we aske bee granted vnto vs by which our consciences are pacified and so we end our prayers Qu. Tell mee now briefely the effect of all thou hast said An. By the tenne Comdements I see my miserable estate that I deserue death damnation and the curse of God which must needs bee paid because God is iust whereas I my selfe am not able to pay it the holy ghost through the preaching of the Gospell worketh in me Faith which assureth mee that the Sonne of God being made man for me hath euen in my nature suffered whatsoeuer my sinnes deserued and hath made me with him the childe of God and heire of euerlasting Life Whereof least I should doubt or wauer he hath appointed two Sacraments as outward signes and Tokens to be seene and felt of mee that as surely as I see my self made partaker of them outwardly so the holie Ghost inwardly bee partaker of Christ himselfe with all his benefits his ransome righteousnesse and holinesse to be mine that in him through him I shall haue life euerlasting And thus being borne anew into this liuely hope by the holy ghost my waies should be directed guided by the same Spirit to walke in holinesse and righteousnes all the daies of my life So be it A prayer containing the effect of this Catechisme O Mercifull and heauenly Father for so much as at euerie light occasion I am withdrawn from thy holy lawes to the vanities of this life vnto all sinne and wickednesse I beseech thee in mercy set before mine eyes alwaies the remembrance of thy iudgement seate and my last end whereby I may be daily stirred to consider in what great danger I stand through the horrible punishment due for my sinnes that daily groaning vnder the burthen of them I may flye for succour to thy beloued Son Iesus Christ who hath fully paid suffred and ouercome the punishment due to them and through the working of thy holy Spirite in me I may be fully assured in my soule and Conscience that the curse condemnation and death which these my sinnes deserue is fully paid suffered and ouercome in Christ that his righteousnesse obedience holines is mine and whatsoeuer he hath wrought for mans saluation is wholly mine Strengthen this faith in mee dayly more and more that I may inwardly feele comfort and consolation in this that I feele thy holye Spirit beare record vnto my spirit that I am thy Childe grafted into the body of thy Sonne and made with him fellow heire of thine euerlasting kingdome So worke in me by thy holy spirit that daily more and more I may feele sinne die in mee that I do not delight therein but daily may groane vnder the burthen therof vtterly hate detest and loath sinne set my selfe and all the powers of my soule and body against sinne and haue full delight ioy comfort and pleasure in those things which be agreeable to thy will that I may walke as becommeth the child of light looking still for that good time when it shal please thee to call mee vnto thine euerlasting kingdome for Iesus Christ his sake Amen FINIS GODLY PRIVATE Prayers for Householders to Meditate vpon and to say in their particular Families Made by Mr. Edw. Dering sometime Reader of the Diuinitie Lecture in Paules Marke 11.24 Whatsoeuer ye desire when ye pray beleeue that yee shall haue it and it shall be done vnto you LONDON Printed by Isaac Iaggard 1624. Godly priuat Prayers to bee saide at all times in Christian Families A prayer containing the effect of the Housholders Catechisme ALmighty God and most mercifull Father I see in thy
blessed Lawes and Commandments the greatnesse of my sinnes and wickednesse yea I see O Lord my God the whole course of my life to be almost nothing else but a continuall breaking of thy holy Lawes and Commandements The thoughts of my heart eyther in vanitie or else open wickednesse are in number infinite daily in the aboundance of them causing my mouth to speake and my bodie to execute and doe contrarie to thy holie will And againe O Lord I see thy heauie wrath vengeance and iudgement against sin to be intollerable that euen the least wicked thoughtes and most secret cogitations of my heart procureth thy heauy wrath and euerlasting curse the torments of hell and euerlasting fire euen although I had but once in all my life broken any of thy Commandements so much as once in thought And I know O Lord GOD that thou art true and iust and canst not abide sinne and wickednesse but will iustly punish euerie sinne euen with the selfesame torments of hell which thy iustice hath appointed This O Lord my God throweth me downe and euen amazeth me so that I know not what to doe I looke into my selfe viewing mine owne power whether I am able to ouercome this punishment of my sinne or no and I see that all euen the most exquisite punishment which I can deuise of my selfe in whipping of my body as long as I liue wearing Hair-cloth pining my selfe with fasting or any other paine I see I see O Lord that all this punishment is not sufficient for one of my least sinnes because it deserueth euen the euerlasting paines of hell I looke to Heauen I see there is no Saint nor Angell able to abide and ouercome this punishment of sinne I looke to men in this woâ—ld euen to the Popes Treasure that wicked man of sin and I see that neyther his Masse nor Purgatory Pilgrimage Pardons Pennance Satisfactions nor any of such like wicked stuffe alas I see they are nothing for the satisfying for one of my least wicked thoughts seeing the punishment is due by the iust decree and sentence of thy euerlasting cursse Wherefore I am driuen out from my selfe and all that I can doe to seeke this punishment dischargd other wher or els to quaile vnder the burden I see there is no help for me in Angels Saints nor Mortall men but onely in that perfecte man Christ Iesus thy deare Sonne in whom I see the full punishment of my sinne wholy paide satisfied discharged and ouercome death vanquished the paines of hell in victory swalowed vp the cursse satisfied and the eternity of the punishment thorough his euerlasting power ouer-reached This I see O Lord by the eyes of faith being through thy holy spirit wholy assured that all the whole punishment of sinne payd by my Sauiour Christ is not onely paide for other men but euen also for mee and my sinne This assurance of faith beeing thine onely worke in me I beseech thee in mercy to strengthen and increase for I feele it often full of wauering and doubting Grant that I may dayly more and more in my soule and conscience feele my selfe knit and ingrafted into the body of thy Sonne whereby I may be assured that whatsoeuer hee hath done pertaineth to me and is fully and wholy mine that I may through the power of his death feele sinne dayly dye in mee and thorough the power of his resurrection feele my selfe risen from sinne to haue my full ioy and comfort in those things which bee agreeable to thy holy will onely detesting hating and abhorring from my heart all things which be contrary to thy will and pleasure that euen in this life I may still looke for his endlesse ioy felicity vsing the things of this world as though I vsed them not till that good time that it shall please thee to call me to thine euerlasting kingdome of glory there to raigne with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for euer and euer Amen A Prayer vpon the Lords prayer The first petition Our Father which art in heauen O Most mighty Lord and eternall God who hast by thy deere sonne Chrtst Iesu our Lord and Sauiour reconciled vnto thy selfe all things in Heauen and earth and in him hast made an euerlasting bonde and Couenant with vs thy faithfull Children that thou wilt not onely be our God but also our most louing and mercyfull Father whereof as a pledge uhou hast giuen vs thy holy spirit of adoption wherby we may with boldnesse and full trust and confidence come to thee by hearty prayer as vnto our most louing and mercyfull Father being assured that thou wilt not deny ought which thou knowest shall be expedient for vs grant wee beseech thee deere Father that being fully perswaded in our hearts of this thy Fatherly loue and affection toward vs we may be stird vp to make our petitions with such an affection ardent desire loue and reuerence to thy Maiesty that our minds be not carried away with by-thoughts creeping in but without all wandring may be fully bent and attentiue to the things we aske and fully staid vppon thy mercifull and iust protection Hallowed be thy name WE then beseech thee deere Father that thou wilt strenghen our hearts with thy holy spirit that considering thou hast made al things for the glory of thy name so we may in all our doings enterprises counsels and purposes cheifely aboue all things seeke thy glory that wee may fully acknowledge thee not onely the Auther of all things but the Ruler Guider and Gouernor of all things both in heauen and earth that we neuer diminish thy incomprehensible glory by attributing vnto our selues any power strength or ability to doe will or thinke that which is good but from our hearts we may acknowledge all our goodnes to come from thee yeelding for the same continuall praise thankesgiuing to thy glorious Name that we neuer by distrusting thy mercyfuâ—l prouidence dishonour thy Name but that euen in our greatest desires we may put our full confidence in thee not looking vpon our weaknes but staying vppon thy power promises by harty prayer flying vnto thee our onely refuge that our whole life may be framed according to thy holy will in all pointes that thy glorious name in vs may be sanctified and that we be not an occasion that thy holy Name be any way blasphemed throgh our wicked life and conuersation The Second Petition Thy kingdome come LEt thy Kingdome most mercifull Father appeare and manifestly be declared in all the world but especially amongst thy Church faithfull Flocke declare thy selfe Lord and King ouer them ruling them by the scepter of thy holy word force of thy holy spirit Encrease the number of faithfull Pastors and Preachers among the people blesse their labours to the increase of this kingdome of thy deere sonne Iesus Christ and to the destruction of the kingdome of Sathan and Antichrist Suppresse the rage of the Enemies that they mâ—y
and feeling faith for we feel it oftentimes in vs very weake and troubled with many doubtes Increase it in vs O Lord that wee may through thy holy spirit bee assured that the punishment of our sinne is fully in thy Sonne discharged Make vs O Lord our God to feele the same in our soules and consciences that Iâ—sus Christ is ours and all that hee hath done that we are ingrafted into his body and made one with him and therefore fellow-heires with him of euerlasting life Let vs not onely haue these words in our mouths good Lord but through thy holy Spirit let vs feele the comfort of them in our hearts fully sealed setled in vs that we feeling our selues inwardly before thy Iudgement seate discharged and our consciences towards thee appeased may bee swallowed vp with an vnfained loue towards thy heauenly Maiesty and towards our Bretheren for thy sake Make sinne to die in vs daily more and more that wee may hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and wickednesse in all men but especially in our selues that wee mâ—y strongly through thy holy Spirit sette our selues in open defiance against all sin and wickednesse that wee please not our selues in our sins but straightly examining sin by the iust rule of thy holy Lawes wee may vtterly from the bottome of our hearts condemne euen the least sinne in our selues hauing our whole ioy comfort and consolation vpon those things which bee agreeable to thy blessed will alwaies being afraide to doe any thing contrary to the same that wee may euen from the bottome of our hearts examine and try our thoughts before thy presence that they bee vpright vnfained not hypocritical in outward shew only appearance but that euen all the corners of our hearts being opned and disclosed before thee we may euen as though it were openly before the face of the whole world bring them in shew knowing that a double heart is destitute in thine eyes and that wee may walke alwayes as before thine eyes not onely before the eyes of man being more carefull to walk circumspectly in this respect that we haue thee to be a viewer of our doings a thousand fold more then the eyes of man That thus wee may walke as becommeth thy Children not onely in outward shew but also in sincerity of hart abhorring euen the least sinne in our selues striuing resisting and fighting against sinne not nourishing the same in our breast but earnestly embracing and studiously seeking after those things which bee pleasant in thine eyes that neyther the feare of man nor losse of goods life landes possessions or friends draw vs away from thee to doe anie least thing contrary vnto thy will and pleasure neither the fauour and friendship of man nor yet the flattering enticements of this World nor the vaine promotions of the same do mooue vs â—ny whit from the true and endlesse ioy delight pleasure which we ought to haue in those things which be agreeable to thy will and the constant performance of the same but that alwayes to the end of our life wee may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength till at length we shall come to thine euerlasting rest Amen ¶ A Prayer for the prosperous estate of the whole Church O Lord our God and heauenly Father forasmuch as by thy holy word we are commanded in our Prayers not onely to be mindefull of our selues but also of all other thy children yea euen of our enemies wee commend vnto thy diuine Maiestie all thy whole true and Catholicke Church and euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the bright beames of thy holy word to shine ouer the whole world whereby thou hast expelled driuen away caused to vanish the darke and misty cloudes of ignorance and superstition so thou wouldest vouchsafe by thy holy Spirit to touch the hearts of men that they may ioyfully imbrace that thine so high a Treasure sent amongst vs that through our vnthankefulnesse wee prouoke not thy Maiesty in anger to take it from vs. Crush bruise and destroy with the breth of thy mouth the mightie power of that man of sin which so proudly exalteth himselfe aboue al that is called God Let not thy simple flocke deere Father in whose consciences he so long time hath yet doth sit as God bee any longer poisoned with his sweet inticing poisons but so lighten their harts that they may perceiue his iuglings embrace the sweet and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting reuealed in thy glorious Gospell And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue all Nations of the earth to powâ—e down the sweet showers of thy heauenly graces vpon this our English Nation aboundantly in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of thy holy Spirite in promoting thy Gospell and ouerthrowing Idolatrie we beseech thee continue thy fauour towards the same and vttery roote out all Remnants Reliques and Monâ—ments of Idolatrie that thy glorious name may be throughly exalted in sincere pure and holy worship And as thou hast in mercie from amongst vs in this thy Church vtterly banished all false venomous and poisonfull doctrine wherewith the soules of thy Children heretofore haue beene wounded â—o death and in place thereof hast placed the true and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy children may be fedde and norished to euerlasting ioy so in like mercie and fauour we beseech thee deare Father establish in the same thy Church a true perfect and sincere regiment therof according to the prescript rule of thy blessed Word all fantasies of mans brains and dreames of humane policie vtterly abolished that thy glorious Maiesty onely may be exalted in the light of thy glorious Gospel and that thy Church may flourish increase being through thy protection aided supported maintained and defended we beseech thee â—â—thy holy Spirit guide and rule euery part and member thereof especially thy seruant Iames our King whome thy gracious fauor and mercifull prouidence hath appointed a cheefe member of the same vnder whose winges next vnto thy protection it hath a cheefe succour and support Grant vnto him O Lord a pure and perfect zeale aboue all things to promote thy glorie first cheeflie in labouring and endeuoring of himselfe earnestlie in wiping away and purging out of the Church all blots and deformities to reduce the same to a pure sincere forme of worshippe agreeing to thy blessed word vtterly to remooue all stumbling blockes which stay and hinder the course of thy Gospell Giue in like manner O Lord GOD the spitit of wisedome discretion gouerment that with equitie and iustice he may see this whole Realme which thou hast committed to his charge peaceably quietly gouerned that hee may studiouslie labour that as well through the whole Realme vertue be exalted vice abandoned as especially in his owne house and Court that all wicked
to study to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life Wee doe not onely pray for our selues but also for all thy whole Church especially such as bee persecuted for thy word grant vnto them that whether it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues end Be mercifull to this Church of England Scotland Ireland we beseech thee good Lord preserue euery part and menber of the same especially thy seruant Iames our King grant him all such giftes as bee needfull for so high a calling to the aduancement of thy glorie and benefit of this Common wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouerment of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition and reliques of Antichrist to the gouerning of his subiects in all peace and tranquilitie Defend him O Lord from all conspiracies treasons rebellions and so worke in the hearts of all his subiects that knowing his authoritie doth come from thy heauenly Maiesty they may with obedient hearts humbly obey them in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Councell and the Magistrates of the Realme that being lightened through thy holy Spirit they may defend the truth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Behold all the Pastours and Preachers of thy word blesse their labours increase the number of them place ouer euery Church a painefull watchman remoue all idle lubbers and confound the power of Antichrist and turne the hearts of the people that they may be obedient to thy truth Blesse the two famous Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxford all the students of the same with all Schooles of Learening Behold all those that bee afflicted with any kind of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of life Lastly for our selues here gathered wee humbly O Lord craue at thy handes that it would please thee to make vs thankefull vnto thy Maiestie for all thy louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs euen from our infancie especially that thou hast this present night deliuered vs from all dangers both of body and soule whereinto many haue fallen as wee in the like manner should haue done if we had not beene staied with thy mercifull hand that thou hast aâ—so granted vnto vs so sweete comfortable rest and hast now presently brought vs to the beginning of this day For these things good Lord wee yeeld thee most hearty thankes beseeching thee to make vs more more daily thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for them and pardon our vnthankfulnesse And as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this present houre from all the dangers of this life so we beseech thee continue thy fauour towardes vs this day and the whole course of our life Defend vs O Lord that we now entring into the affaires of this day bee not drawne away with the vaine allurements of this world to sinne and wickednesse that wee walke not in the shadow of death that wee be not intangled in the snares of sinne that wee stumble not at the blockes of iniquitie that we finally fall not into the pit of death and destruction but beeing shadowed vnder thy wings we may cheerefully constantlie goe on forward to the end of our course Grant vnto vs O Lord our God that this good time which thou grantest vnto vs in this life be not idlely or vainly of vs consumed but that euery one of vs may be diligently exercised in his calling this day and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeeld an account of our Stewardship Indue vs we beseech thee with those gifts and graces which bee needfull for vs in our calling that with a pure heart sincere conscience wee may vse them to the benefit of our bretheren and discharge of our owne conscience before thy Maiestie We beseech thee O Lord that in all our consultations words and workes this day and the whole course of our life we may alwayes haue thee presnet before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughts of our hearts which alwaies may bee as a bridle to pull vs backe that wee neither do nor yet consent to any sinne or wickednesse but that alwaies wee may bee so exercised in the affaires of this life that wee looke still to the end of our course when it shall please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting rest with thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour In whose Name for these mercies and whatsoeuer thou knowest to bee needfull for vs for thy whole Church wee pray vnto thee as hee himselfe hath taught vs in his holy word saying Our Father c. The Lord blesse vs saue vs the Lord make his face shine vppon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauorable countenance towards vs grant vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable fâ—llowshippe of the holy Ghost bee with vs preserue vs this day and euermore Amen Euening Prayer for priuate Houses and Families O Gracious God and louing Father according to thy Commandement we do heere present our selues againe before thy Maiestie humbly prostrating our sinfull selues before the Throne of thy mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that wee are miserable sinners daylie breaking thy Commaundements both in thoght word and deede wherein we iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence Yet O Lord wee see thy goodnesse againe towardes vs who not sâ—ffering vs thus to perish in our sinnes hast set thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due â—o reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him theâ—efore good Lord and through him doe wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the greeuousnesse of our sins and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ Iesus our Lord hath borne the burden of them euen for vs. Graunt O Lord that wee being assured heereof in our Consciences may thorough thy most holy and blessed Spirit be renewed in the inner man to hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and that wee may studie to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life And now O Lord God we pray not onely for our selues but likewise for all thy whole Church especiallie for such as be persecuted for the testimony of a good conscience Grant vnto them O Lord that whether it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues end Blesse these Churches good Father wherein wee liue and therein our gracious Soueraigne and thy seruant Iames King of Great-Britaine France and Ireland Keepe him O Lord from all Conspiracies Treasons and Rebellions Preserue the Noble and hopefull Prince Charles the
and vsed the same that together with them wee may haue thy Spirit to instruct vs as well in the wants as in the true lawfull vse of them that wee may more earnestly and seriously study and labour in these vocations wherein thou hast set vs through thy great mercy to the promoting and increasing of thy Kingdome to the benefite and comfort of thy Children And wee pray not onely for our selues but beseech thee make vs earnest and feruent in prayer vnto thy Maiesty euen for others also yea for all men that as thou art the Creator of all so thou wouldest mercifully regard them and continue thy gracious goodnesse mercy in adminstring ordering the world so that by no Tyrants nor wicked men that order which thou hast established be ouerthrown but the spring and haruest the raine fruitefull times and the ioy which thou shewest and giuest by them may prouoke all men continually to feare and loue thee yea to seeke thee and finde thee That not in those outward blessings alone but much more in thy Spirit they whâ—me thou hast there-unto ordayned may reioyce in thy Fatherly goodnesse by Iesus Christ And that to this end it may please thee to poure out thy graces vppon men that they may bee instructed and framed meete instrtments for the calling of all such as thou hast appointed to bee of thy Church That these builders may be cunning and expert That these Gardiners may bee wise to plant water with iudgement and discretion that these Stewards of thy mysteries may so behaue themselues in thy Church that they knowing how and wherewith to feede thy house the glory beauty thereof may appeare in the eies of all the world which thou hast before so long time promised and which to see the eyes dazell faint with looking for And although wee know well O Lord that the cause of all miserable disorders deformities and breaches nowe adaies is in our selues which shutte vp thine hand as it were bind thine armes from reaching them out vnto vs for our saluation and comfort yet let the Lord arise and be mercifull vnto Sion haue pitty on the ruines thereof For the time is come our owne Country and people are before our eies continually whose sinne and disorder whose Ignorance and stubbrnoesse whose negligence and contempt of thy word thou hast now long time punished withdrawing thy hand from doing them good For by thy iust iudgment now many yeares thou hast plagued them and vs with idle prophane vnlearned and vnskilfull Pastors Guiders thou hast giuen them but to their ruine Feeders but of themselues not of thy flocke Teachers and Doctors who haue mouthes but speake not eyes but see not neither haue they Iudgement to instruct thy people nor wisedome how to goe out and in before them and that which is most fearefull thy good hand is not wiâ—h those Prophets which are amongest them who do sowe indeed but the earth giueth not her encrease They water but thy plants rise not in any number They feede but thy flocke is poore not fat nor beautifull O let the Lord forget the sinnes of his people Why hath hee bound them vppon his hand to looke vppon them for euer Why hath he set them day and night in the sight of his countenance Wee confesse and acknowledge against our selues O Lord all our sinnes we iudge and condemne our selues yea wee testifie against our selues that we haue deserued that euen those sparkes of thy fire and heauenly light which are amongst vs shold bee quenched and put out that the smoake of thy glory which is still in thy Church amongst vs should rise vp and vanish away from amongst vs as the dew of the morning that the same building which as yet standeth were to bee throwne downe that the Lord shold mount vppon his Chariot and flee from vs. But shall the Lord deale with his people by waight and measure shall hee vse iudgement and not mercy shall our Father forget his Children although we prouoke him shall not the sighes grones of them that bewayle Syon come before him enter into his eares O Lord let the iudgement â—nd seuerity which we haue deserued bee stayed let Chariots and Horses bee loosed let the Armies of the Lord bee discharged and let the Lord vngird himselfe and forgette his counsell and turne and bee mercifull gracious vnto them acknowledge and confesse their sinnes Let the Angels that bee the destroyers goe from before thy face to ouerthrow and cast downe all that standeth to hinder thy glory and to maintaine sinne and Ignorance Pride and Vanity That thy good Angels may follow to mete out and describe all thinges that pertayne to the building of thy Temple Let them lay to it the square and plummet and let all thy people stand and showte and sing glory at the laying of this foundation Let thy Spirit guide all those good Lord that in feare and reuerence before thee walke in their vocation In the Vniuersities and in all parts of the Realme yea of the earth looking labouring for this worke encrease the little mumber as the thousands of Ephraim the tenne thousands of Manasses and those that laugh at and hinder drawe backe this worke let them bee ashamed and confounded and all thy maruelous blessiings be shewed in the successe thereof But let them haue no force nor strength to hinder it so shall Iacob reioyce in thy mercy and Israel in thy euerlasting truth So shall our eies see thy glory O Lord and wee sing perpetually to thy prayse So shall Iesus Christ delight in the beauty of his Church and his people bee a people meete to serue him decked and adorned with his guifts labouring and studying to please him that in them his loue may rest To this end good Lord shew thy mercy vppon all Princes and Magistrates of the earth that belong to thy election turning the hearts of all those that hitherto haue not knowne thy truth but lent their power and might to Sathan and Antichrist to persecute thy people to the great dishonor of thy name That yet now at the last they may bâ—e brought home into thy sheepfold and in stead of persecutors become Nurse-fathers and Nurse-mothers to thy Church But especially wee most humbly beseech thee for all such Princes and Magistrates as haue receiued thy truth And namely for our deare Soueraigne Lord the Kings Maiesty whome thou hast placed ouer vs in this Realme for his most honorable Counsel and all Magistrates therein that thou wouldst augment the graces of thy holy Spirite in him and in them especially the spirit of wisedome counsel and power that hee and they may goe forwarde in the worke of the building vp of thy Church in all obedience to thy will speedily and constantly and perseuerantly that thy people the Sheepe of thy pastours whome thou hast committed to him and their gouernment may godly and peaceably liue
my selfe and all mine into thy speciall tuition beseeching thee to giue mee my full acquitance before I meete thee in publike that I may approach thy presence with comfort and pertake thine owne ordinances as my appointed food make such benefite by them as may satisfie mee with thy fulnesse to the reioycing of my soule in the light of thy Countenance and to prouoke mee to long for thine euerlasting presence and fit mee daily to meete my Sauiour in the Clouds in whose worthynesse I humbly pray thee to accept thine vnworthy seruant and his weake prayers to whome with thine owne Maiesty and God the blessed Spirit three glorious Persons one God in vnitie might and Maiesty be ascribed as most due all glory and Power and Maiesty Dominion with all feare hearty obedience of vs and the whole Church of God now and for euer Amen A Prayer for the Sabbath Euening ALmighty and euerliuing Lord God Fâ—ther of our Lord Iesus Christ in him our most louing and gracious Father whose faithfulnes is euerlasting louing kindnes past finding out it is thy good prouidence holy Father that wee thine vnworthy Seruants haue had this opportunity to commerse with thy glorious Maiesty this day in thy holy ordinances and now are to make vp our reckoning for our imployment therein in the shuting vp thereof and it is thine infinite mercy tender compassion towards vs that thou hast yet respited vs to the end of this thine holy Sabbath to make our peace with thee that so wee may lye downe in thy fauour and so bee sealed vp herebâ— vnto thine eternall Sabbath For wee vnfainedly here confesse before thee O thou thee searcher of our hearts that though thou hast offered thy selfe most graciously vnto vs this day in all thine ordinances to the reclayming of vs from our vaine and peruerse waies as also to allure vs to constant and cheerefull obedience yet Lord thou knowest what little power wee haue found to subdue the rebellions of our proud spirits how little comfort wee haue reaped from thence to arme vs against temptation and stay vs from sinking therein Nay our wisedome hath the more opposed thy Spirit by how much the more it hath bene conuinced there by and our wounds haue more stunke and putrified the more thou hast laboured to lance and cure them How slightly did wee prepare our selues to thy publike worship being only formall and customarie in the priuate rather standing vppon the adorning of our stinking carcasses to please men then to humble our soules that wee may bee accepted of thee How carelesse haue wee bene in exhorting and preaâ—iâ—g thy Familie that they together with vs might go vp with confidence to the house of God and so bee there refreshed with the fatnes of thy house And as we tooke not heâ—d to our feet when wee should come before thee so when we came our footing deceiued vs and though we saw our face in thy glasse and were iustly abased at the foule spots therein yet wee forgate presently the true hue thereof and so lose our selues at home euen when wee sought to find thee abroad departing alwaies without sound comfort from thy presence because we could not endure to be thorowly abased in our selues before thee And thus hath it befalne vs holy Lord euen while we haue endeauoured to honor thee in thine Ordinances that while wee haue rather sought therein our own glorie then thine and desired rather the outward credite of Profession then the power of Conuersion and renuing of our inward spirits Thogh thou gauest vs our desire to be seene of men yet thou didst send leannesse into our soule denying vs iustly the true comfort which wee did not cheefely desire or indeed were not fit for For alas what leaue could we expect from thee or at all in thee who while we tendred with the Harlot offrings of peace and made glorious shewes of loyaltie vnto thee yet did no better then vsurpe vpon thy honour by our hypocrisie vaineglory and as much as lay in vs challenge most blasphemously thine omniscienced righteousnesse as if either thou didst not discern our inward rottennesse or didst approue of our outside and bodily worship And did euer any fight against God and prosper Euen so Lord hath it fared with me this day Mine owne proud heart hath fought against thee in the vse and sence of all thy Blessings seeking to serue my selfe by them and not thy glorie and so to harden my heart therewith that though thou fillest the hungrie with good things yet diddest thou send mee away empty of true comfort because my proud and swolne heart vtterly excluded the same And so it iustly befell me according to thy word that it carried mee from the presence of thy grace While I stood in the presence of thy Ordinances Lord how my minde wandered from thee while my bodie was before thee Nay my disharted mind peruerted my body also that euen with much deadnesse of the outward man much drowsinesse and irreuerence I behaued my selfe so before thee as I durst not before my Friend as I might giue iust aduantage to mine Enemie rather thinking the time too long because my mind was on my belly yea sometimes wishing mine cares shorter and more slow to heare that so I might not conceiue what was contrarie vnto my corruption that I might as it were blesse my soul in my shallow and counterfet holinesse And what I yet conceiued how quickely either did I lose it that I might not finde my selfe or how foolishly did I turn it to the puffing vp of my flesh with a conceit of knowledge or to the adoring of the vessel that yeelded the Treasure that so he also might cloake magnifie me O Lord how my deceitfull heart couzened it selfe heerein Either in applying what I heard to others as if my selfe were not aymed at that so I might hereby commit two Euils both to condemne others and iustify my selfe Or else in misapplying what I heard vnto my selfe fastening on such Comforts as did not belong vnto mee or slighting such Terrors as specially aymed at my sore What should I say vnto thee O thou more inward with me then mine inmost parts Though mine eare was somtime tickled yet mine heart was not moued at al or more hardned by its contrarie motion Though mine heart was stricken for the present and shaken by thy Terrours yet it was calmed againe by the enchantments of Hypocrisie and Securitie And although I saw my true face in thy glasse yet I stopt mine eares from the hearing of thy Law and therefore thou diddest also hide thine eares from my Prayers which I afterward made before thee in priuate and deniedst thy gracious blessing to my endeauours in the informing of my Family and conferring of what I had heard for their further building vp in knowledge and obedience and because I had beene so carelesse in attending thee therefore thou diddest iustly leaue mee to the neglect
vnnecessary luggage and fretting cares nor setting vp my rest in any present Inne of outward happinesse or inward means therto but still casting away euery thing that presseth down and the sinne that hangeth so fast vpon me I may run with ioy the race that is set before looking vnto Christ Iesus the Authour and finisher of my Faith and so by him seeing within the rule into the glory that is set before mee I may despise the shame and waite with patience the great recompence of Reward That so neither riches may daunt my Faith by presuming too farre nor depth may quayle it by stooping too low That Principalities may not shake it by force of tentation nor Powers ouercome it by their violent impressions that neither things present may abase it by groueling thereon nor things to come may deiect it by doubtings or false feares That neither life may corrupt it by doting thereon nor death may confound it by vnpreparednesse thereto That nothing may separate me from the loue of God in Iesus Christ in whom by Faith I am more then Conqueror ouer all things Thus grant mee gracious God to walke by Faith and not by sight And that I may receiue the end of my Faith euen the saluation of my soule Oh keepe me by thy mighty power through faith vnto saluation and guide me by the word of Faith in all my wayes that I may not leane to mine owne wisdom bur to thy sure Word as to a Light shining in a dark place that so I may daily grow in knowledge and in the grace of Iesus Christ from Faith to Faith filled with all ioy and peace in beleeuing abounding in all fruits of righteousnesse and perfect holines that so I may be perfect and intyre wanting nothing waiting for the appearance of Iesus Christ that so my Conuersation being in heauen an entrance may bee thereby made vnto me into the euerlasting kingdom of thy deare Sonne euen to take possession by faith in this life therof and to see a farre off by faith into the fulnesse of that glory that so I may fight the good fight of Faith and lay hold of eternall life in full assurance of what I haue alreadie the earnest of by Faith and so in that hâ—pe daily purging my selfe of all wickednesse of the Spirit and of the Flesh that I mâ—y grow vp to perfect holinesse in thâ— fauor of GOD waiting daily by Faith the adoption of the sonnes of God and laboring to attaine the resurrection of the dead that so I may bee kept blamelesse in Soule Body and Spirit vnto the comming of my Sauiour Iesus Christ Grant these things gracious Father euen for his sake in whome thou art well pleased Iesus Christ the righteous To whome with thine owne blessed Spirite one glorious Vnitiue Trinity be glory and prayse Dominion now and for euer Amen A Prayer to feele in heart Spirituall comfort and the liuely sence of our Adoption by Faith O Lord God most mercifull Father now I fully perceiue know that the heart of man is not in his owne hand for thou hast taught mee by diminishing thy Spirit of comfort in my heart that it resteth wholie in thy power to make ioyfull the heart of man and to diminish the same ioy according to thy good pleasure and will For if O God it had beene in mine owne power and will to haue receiued comfort in thy holie word or to haue beleeued thy promises from my hart I would long since haue enioyed comfort and beene confirmed in faith but I cannot most mercifull Father it is thy meere worke I looke therefore O gracious God for thy blessed comfort strength of faith which I beseech thee O Lord send into my heart to fill the same with spirituall ioy that by the working of thy holy Spirit in mee the comfortable promises of thy mercifull protection may be throughly sealed in mine heart and sinke downe deep into my soule that I may be fully assured that thou art my strong rocke and house of defence that thou dost keepe mee as the apple of thine eye as thou hast promised in thy blessed word that thou wilt not lay more vppon mee then thou wilt giue mee strength to abide and that thou wilt assuredly at thine appointed time renew my heart the whole powers of my mind that I may fully glorifie thy holy name But in the meane time O Lord alas my heart is cleane voyde of spirituall ioy yea euen as hard as a stone so that the louing promises of thy holy word although I know them to bee true yet they cannot sinke into my hard stony heart vntill such time as thou by encreasing of thy holy Spirit to me shalt mollifie and make tender my hard heart that it may bee meete to receiue the sweet comfort of thy Spirit Thy holy Spirit O Lord in mee which is the assurance of my saluation doth continually send forth vnspeakable sighs and longings for thy full ioyfull presence I beseech thee therefore deere Father for thy Sonne Christ Iesus sake harken vnto my prayers and grant my requests make tender my hard and stony heart by thy holy Spirit that I may from the bottome of my heart acknowledge thee to bee my most mercifull God and Father and all things in thy holy word contained to be most certaine and true reuerently embrace the same and into my soule take comfort and ioy in the same that I may deere Father euen vnto my liues end walke before thy face in sinceritie of heart being assured of my saluation through that one alone sufficient sacrifice for my sinnes made by thy deere Sonne Christ Iesu to whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honor and glory world without end Amen A Prayer against doubting to strengthen a weake Faith and to perseuere therin GLorious and mightie Lord who by â—hy Soueraigne All-sufficient power as thou madest al things of nothing so thou callest those things which are not as if they were and dost command light to shine out of darkenesse that so wee might bee translated out of darknesse into this maruelous light Holy Father it is thine vnspeakable mercy that I thy most vnworthy seruant being once the child of hell yea darknesse it selfe am now through thy free grace illightning mine heart by Faith enabled to behold thy face in Iesus Christ and so through this light am become light in the Lord being enabled by faith to discerne the great Mystery of Christ and so by faith to lay hold thereon as to bee freely thereby discharged from the guilt of my sinne and to be inuested with the perfect righteousnesse of my Sauiour that so I might bee found acceptable vnto thee Holy Father how vnspeakable herein haue beene thy mercies to me a vilde sinner that passing by the wise and noble of the world it hath pleased thee of thy free grace to visite mee a very reprobate branch with thy sauing health and to
send the Spirit of thy Sonne into my dead heart whereby thou hast quickned mee by faith in the merits of my Sauiour enabled mee with boldnesse to draw neere vnto thee and to crie with confidence Abba Father O how hast thou shed thy loue abroad in my heart by the holy Ghost which thou hast giuen me whereby though I haue beene in great heauines through many temptations especially with the sense and horror of my sins yet hast thou wonderfully refreshed my fainting spirit and caused mee to reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious O how haue these holy rauishments taken me vp into the third heauens How hath my soule now longed to put off this corruption and to be taken vp for euer to enioy thy glorious presence How gladly would I now haue obtained the marke before I had run my race How willingly would I haue the crowne before I had finished my course O the vnspeakable riches of the wisedome and mercy of my God toward me Didst thou not put this precious treasure of faith into an earthen vessel that the glorie might bee of God and not of man didst thou not Redeeme mee out of the hands of our enemies that so I might passe the time of my pilgrimage in feare and magnifie thy power daily in mine infirmities daily denying mine owne righteousnesse that still I may be found of thee in Christ that still I might liue by faith in the Sonne of God and grow vp in him to perfect holinesse Surely blessed Lord when I consider mine owne corruption daily more and more appearing in me and rebelling against thy righteous will and casting vp daily mists to dimme the eie of my Faith that I cannot so clearly discerne the light of thy countenance yea somtimes so leading me captiue into sinne that I am many times to seeke of the sence of thy Loue I am many times put to question the truth of my faith and to distrust my selfe whether I haue any faith or no. For alas Lord I must needs confesse to thy glory that although thou commandest mee to beleeue perfectly in thy Sonne and to be strong in faith yet I find on the other side such strength of corruption preuailing ouer mee and commanding mee forcibly to giue way thereunto and so not onely interrupting the sense of thy loue vnto me but also challenging my loue vnto thee that I am forced many times to feare whether I am led by the Spirit truly of faith or no whether euer thy loue were shed abroad in my heart if euer I loued thee in truth seeing it seemes vnto me that my loue vnto sinne is not altogether quenched nay I feele the power of corruption carrying mee so violently after the lusts of my heart that as I find my selfe lesse cheerfull and constant in thy seruice so on the other side I sometimes find my selfe lesse able to resist temptations more apt and inclinable to such lusts which heretofore I haue subdued yea often more fouly ouercome and foiled by them What shall I say vnto thee O thou searcher of my heart and preseruer of my soule dost thou not see how cold somtimes I am in prayer How dull in the hearing of the word How carelesse of thy Sabbaths How vnconscionable and negligent in my calling How rebellious and inordinate in my affections O how often haue I greeued thine holy Spirit by neglecting the good motions thereof yea many times willingly crossing the same and entertaining contrary suggestions of my cruell enemie How carelesse haue I beene to examaine my heart and renew my couenant with thee How deceitfull or carelesse in breaking often my vowes which I haue made vnto thee against speciall corruptions for renuwing of decayed graces O How often haue I beene ready to giue way to such curssed thoughts of blasphemie and fearefull impietie which might euen quench thy Spirit lead to the dispighting thereof How haue I sometimes bin readie to violate my Conscience by rushing on desperate euils yea how fearfully haue I wounded the same by committing grosse sinnes and to make vp the measure of my misery How haue I hardned my heart by sleeping in sinne and neglecting the sauing meanes of deepe humiliation to awaken me to repentance Alas Lord thou knowest ful wel that though thou hast followed mee with many secret and open afflictions to rouse me out of this sleepe of Security yet either it hath proued but a dreame and so I haue falne asleepe againe or if my heart hath bin awake yet it hath not bin vnto thee to make my sound peace but rather vnto my Enemie to cease his violence yea somtimes to the World to procure some temporary lenity rather to ease my present paine then to heale me thoroughly And surely righteous Lord euen thus it hath befalne that such as I haue sown I haue often reaped euen more hardnesse of heart lesse sense and remorse for sinne more boldnesse thereto and more ease therin lesse delight in holy duties lesse life in prayer lesse coÌ„science in the word more slights in my calling more distraction in my recknings and more confusion in my Spirit Yet still O Lord I heare a voice behinde me saying This is the way walke in it Yet still I finde thy hand ouer me to stay me from sinking still my better aduised heart tels me it was better with mee formerly then now when I had comfort in thy presence and conscience in thine Ordinances Still thy Spirit is readie to reuiue me with hope that I may recouer againe and my hope is confirmed heereby that the meanes are still offered me and I am capeable of them But alas Lord insted of comfort by them I reape nothing but further confusion because as I am vnable to apply them to my selfe so indeed I am not now fit for that comfort which I seeke for in thee For what peace can there be to mee while my corruptions stink before thee Or how can I look for comfort bâ—fore I be soundly healed O the vnspeakeable Riches of the wisedom and mercie of my God! how insearchable are thy Councels and thy waies past finding out As thou diddest bring light out of darkenesse in calling mee from darknes vnto light so doest thou cause thy light to shine in darkenesse that thy glorie may bee perfected in my infirmities And therefore though I am now thy Creature renewed after thine owne image yet seeing thou wilt haue the onely glory of thy worke therefore as the light of the righteous must shine more and more vnto the perfect day so the darknesse of corruptions must not bee dispelled vtterly at once but daily be banished more and more vnto the coming of Christ Therefore is it blessed Lord that though thou hast cancelled the guilt of my sin at once by faith in Christ yet hast thou wisely left the corruption of sinne to be abolished by degrees that so I might still liue by Faith in the death of Christ for the mortifying thereof that I
might dayly grow vp in Christ to perfect holines therfore though corruption remaine in mee yet seeing it doth not raigne in mee here is my comfort that I am not vnder the Law but vnder Grace though I am sometimes as no better then lost in my selfe yet this is that I may still deny mine owne righteousnesse that I may be found of thee in Christ for the concerning of present corruption for the auesting of my person in him to bee enabled thereby to perfect holinesse Onely gracious God grant mee heere I pray thee still to iustifie thy wisedome in condemning mine owne folly and to aduance thy free and constant grace in the acknowledging of mine owne corruptions True it is holie Father that as thou madest man righteous at the first but he sought many inuentions to his owne ouerthrow so didst thou so restore me againe by thy power of Christ vnto a more durable state of holinesse that neither shall I euer fall away from thee finally neither though thou hast left corruption in mee yet seeing thy end heerein was to make mee still deny my selfe that I might stand fast in Christ in whom thou hast ingrafted mee therfore neither might I haue falne at al into such feareful distraction if I had kept me close vnto my hold neither though I haue fallen by letting goe my hold yet shall not my falling make thy truth without effect nay rather shall proue a meanes to make good the same And therefore I doe heere vnfainedly acknowledge before thee blessed Lord mine owne folly in letting goe my hold thou hast not beene wanting with all meanes to preserue me vpright but I haue beene wanting to the meanes and so I haue beene wanting vnto thee and to my selfe thou hast willed mee to liue by faith euen when I haue feeling of thy loue and my inward pride hath peruerted thy gracious feeling to make mee liue by sence and behold the Sunne when it shineth and so by peruerting the comfort of thy Spirit as an occasion to the flesh I haue iustly greiued thy Spirit and so thou with drewest thy face from mee and I haue beene troubled Troubled in my soule for the losse of thy fauour troubled of the world by seeking false remedies there from troubled in my Spiâ—it by the confusion of those remedies as breeding some times hardnesse of heart and so bringing forth troubles by exposing to outward euils and hindering in the vse of spirituall remedies sometimes herevpon breeding further trouble and inward horror and anguish of spirit many times laying the axe to the very roote challenging the maine And yet in all this farre lesse then I haue deserued that so I might haue hope in thy free grace for my recouerie And in all this aduancing thy righteousnesse in abasing my folly that so I might still renounce mine owne righteousnesse and labour to bee found in Christ for my recouery and perfection Onely keepe me here holy Father from presumptuous sinne that it may not haue dominion ouer me to turne thy grace into wantonnesse and then lead mee into thy priuy Chamber stay me with thy flaggons that I may not onely not sleepe in death but also awake and sing out of the dust and out of the deepe to admire thine infinite wisdome and to see thee who art inuisible that I may bee raised vp againe O giue me therefore most mighty Lord to condemme mine owne folly for being wise in mine owne eies in turning thy fauour as an occasion to the flesh grant mee to thanke my selfe that of the flesh I haue reaped such confusion and giue thee thankes the more thou hast sustained mee in the graue Grant me out of experience of mine owne foolishnesse to giue thee the glory of thy free goodnesse and out of the experience of thy power in my weaknesse to comfort my selfe that thou wilt returne againe And that thou maist vndoubtedly returne with speed O strengthen my weake faith I humbly pray thee with thy precious promises that thy foundation stands sure whatsoeuer my building may be thou knowest who are thine O let it comfort my fainting spirit that all things shall worke together for the best to those whome thou hast chosen that so I may wisely compare one thing with another things past with things present by those things to come that so I may liue by faith in the iudging of my present estate by looking behind and before and not be cast off my hold either by present temptations or future feares O establish me with thy precious promise that thou wilt keepe me to the end that so I may liue by faith in casting my selfe vppon thy mighty power and committing my selfe in weldoing into thine holy hands Teach mee to deny mine owne wisedome that I may trust perfectly in thy mercy and grant me in things to rely vppon the wisedome of thy word which is able to make mee wise and perfect to saluation Let thy word keepe me in all my waies that I may not decline to the right hand or to the left and let my supplications be alwaies manifest at the throne of grace that so I may be carefull for nothing O let me not in any case greiue thine holy Spirit any more but grant mee to entertaine and cherrish the motions therof by turning them into feruent prayers and conscioaÌ„ble practices seasonable to the occasion weane mee from the loue of the world that I may haue fellowship in thy loue and purge my heart from secret wickednesse that it bee not stolne away from thee keepe mee alwaies close vnto thee that I may not fall into open wickednesse and giue mee grace alwaies to remember my end that I may be still prepared against the comming of my Maister Sauiour Iesus Christ And so still accept me gracious Father as I am in him and not in my selfe as I would be in thee and not what I am in corruption as I shall be with thee not what I am in this present world enabling me still to desire aboue what I can do and to beleeue aboue what I can thinke or desire and so lead mee forward by thy power through the vally of teares that though I somtimes slippe yet I may vp againe though I stray a while yet I may thereby mend my pace follow close after the marke not looking on my selfe mine owne worth or inability but still looking vnto Iesus the Authour and finisher of my faith that so I may in him bee more then Conqueorr and so fighting still the good fight of faith I may finish my course with ioy and lay hold of eternall life in due season And so fil me O God of grace with all ioy in beleeuing that so I may liue by faith that I may bee readier to die in faith and to giue vp my soule by faith into thy holy hands apprehending by faith the Resurrection from the dead that so I may bee translated from death to life
and enioy for euer thy glorious presence Grant these things O Gracious Lord according to thy goodnesse in Iesus Christ my Sauiour and blessed Redeemer Amen A Prayer for obtaining Triall and cherishing of the holy Spirit of God GLorious and euerlasting Lord God Father of all Spirits and soules of the righteous who hast reuealed thy selfe in thy sacred word to be a Spirit holy and incomprehensible eternall infinite immortall all-sufficient and therefore wilt be worshipped in Spirit and truth And hast in the riches of thy mercy promised to send thy holy Spirit the Comforter into our hearts to lead vs into all truth and to comfort vs in all our tribulations and so to seale vs vp to the day of Redemption Looke downe graciously vppon mee thy poore and forlorne seruant whose poâ—tion is in this valley of miserie to wander in darknesse and walke many times in the valley of the shadow of death altogether ignorant of my way and so subiect to continuall error and wholy destitute of all direction therein and so necessarily exposed to continuall danger For mine owne heart within me is no better then a guide to betray me to error and the glory of the world is nought else then a baite to deceiue me either by clogging mee in the way that I may faint in my iourney or diuerting mee from my right home that I may set vp my rest in mine Inne or build my foundation vpon the sands And mine old aduersarie still compasseth and watcheth all opportunities from both either to sinke mee with dispaire that I may perish in the way or to swell me with presumption that I may not enter into the straight gate And euen so did it fare with me Blessed Lord all the daies of my vanity before I knew thee in Christ As mine owne heart misled mee into all error through my wilfull ignorance so it betrayed mee hereby to all occasions of sinne without which I swallowed more greedily then my appointed food and blessed my soule therein as my cheefest happines and so was faster bound in the chaynes of Sathan as being led captiue at his will to euery lust and reioycing therin as my greatest liberty And so also hath it in part befalne mee since my liberty in Christ by whome though I receiued the free Spirit to lead mee in the way of thy statutes and so haue somtimes obeyed the motions thereof to the euidencing of my glorious libertie yet such hath beene the power of my corruption preuailing ouer mee that I haue many times greeued thy good Spirit by my manifold back-slidings and to my sense and apprehension seemed vtterly to haue quenched the same so strong haue I found my corruption to lead mee captiue into many desperate euils so little life and comfort haue I found in prayer hearing thy word especially in my endeauour to repentance either to resist temptations or release my selfe out of the snares thereof And yet thou hast promised that thy Spirit shall abide with mee for euer and still methought in my greatest wandrings on the right hand and on the left methought I heard the voyce of thy Spirit behind me saying This is the way walke in it Me thouhgt I haue heard the voyce of my beloued many times knocking at the doore of my heart when I haue beene asleepe in the bed of my securitie saying Open vnto mee my Loue my Doue my vndefiled yea I haue felt him puting in his finger at the hole of the doore to open it for mee that so I might arise and let him in And haue I not many times arose to entertaine him and loe he was gone Did I not follow after him to seeke him and yet found him not Haue I not many times smarted soundly for my folly because I would not open betimes Haue not the watch-men that should haue cherished mee wounded me iustly for my carelesnesse Haue they not pluckt away my vaile to discouer my nakednesse the more that so my face being couered with shame I might seeke thy face more humbly And yet O my God I am still to seeke of thee though thou still callest on mee to seeke thy face and my heart in some poore measure answereth Thy face Lord will I seeke Yet what fellowship can there be betweene light and darknesse what hope haue I to find thee seeing I want my guide vnto thee yet thou art not wanting vnto mee to tender this holy guide and my guide is not farre from me though I know it not yea thou art euer with me to keepe mee from vtter fainting and thine holy Spirit is within mee helping me to crie vnto thee O harken therefore I humbly pray thee vnto the groanes of thine owne Spirit and haue mercy vppon thine owne seruant for greeuing the same Restore to mee the ioy of thy saluation that I may discerne the seale of thy Spirit and establish mee with thy free Spirit that I may euer bee with thee O make mee wise to trie the Spirits whether they bee of God or no that neither I may be deluded by a Spirit of error and withall may be able to discerne the worke and euidence of thine holy Spirit from the motions and testimonie of mine owne ignorant and dâ—ceitfull heart Grant me therefore Gracious Father to plead mine interest in thy Spirit by such true meanes and endeauors as may vndoubtedly auouch it to proceed from thee and may apparantly conuince that it dwelleth in me Giue mee to discerne the means wherby thy Spirit is conuayed vnto mee that after I haue heard thy word and beleeued therein then I haue beene sealed with the Spirit of promise grant mee to discerne the maner how it tooke possession of mine heart that to make way for it fit habittation it cast downe euery Imagination that enabled it selfe against thy wisedome that it onely might rule and gouerne mee Spiritually and that withall thereby my house was swept and cleansed from the Dominion of sinne that Iesus Christ thereby might wholy gouerne mee And grant mee to auouch the truth of thy Spirit dwelling in me not somuch by my entertainment and apprehension thereof because it bloweth where it lifteth and though I may heare the sound thereof yet I know not whence it comes nor whether it goes but rather by the nature and qualitie of thy Spirit which will leaue it true stampe in my receiued Spirit in euery qualitie thereof for the assuring my possession thereof by resemblance therto though yet surely and absolutely according to the Nature of the Spirit neither working it at all times alike nor at any time in full measure but still working according to the capacitie of the vessell and the maine end the glorie of God that still it power may bee seene in my weaknesse that the glorie may be of God and not of Man And therefore as I may not challenge a right in thy Spirit vnlesse I find some liuely resemblance and effects of it holy nature in mee as to be
Holy Meeke Peaceable Sincere and the like so I may not challenge the truth thereof in me though I find not at all times a like measure of it working nor at any time in this life may expresse the full Image therof seeing it worketh freely and so cannot alwaies be apprehended alike and it worketh freely that it onely may haue the glory of the worke and therefore so still worketh that it power may bee in weaknesse and it glorie perfected by infirmitie And therefore as I may at all times find the like working of thy holy Spirit so if I feele in regard of this different working thereof a different apprehension of the seale as sometimes not to feele it at all sometimes more or lesse to apprehend the same yet grant me holy Father not to challenge the working of thy Spirit because it is free and wise working according to what is best for my present state which is not sometimes fit for comfort and yet absolutely in it good pleasure euen then suspending comfort when I haue long fitted my selfe thereto But rather specially to condemme mine owne folly in depriuing my selfe of such effect of it working aboue all to adore the infinit wisedome and power of thy Spirit working yet in these greatest desertions so with me as to keepe mee from vtter fainting and further my cheefe good to raise mee vp againe by repentance that I may bee fit for comfort and yet when I haue done my best to suspend what I most desire that so in the best I may acknowledge my selfe an vnprofitable seruant and so still labour to bee found in Christ to bee lead along to perfection Thus grant me gracious Father to make triall of Spirits and when I haue found by some such liuely euidences that thine holy Spirit dwelleth in mee O make mee I humbly pray thee wise to cherish and retaine this blessed guest that I may neuer breake through by greeuing the same that not departing from it guidance it may neuer depart from me and therfore giue me still to harken to the call of thy Spirit shewing mee the right way and enable me to submit my selfe to the yoake of thy Spirit howsoeuer irksome and vnsauourie to my rebellious corruptions Let mee not consult at any hand with flesh and blood in the motions of thy Spirit neither let mee turne the comforts of thy Spirit as an occasion to the flesh keepe mee I beseech thee from Spirituall wickednes that I may not abuse thy blessed Spirit and enable mee to avoyd grosse offences least I offer violence to thy Spirit and driue it from mee Aboue all keepe me I pray thee fâ—om wisedome in sinne either to commit it vppon carnall grounds or ends which thy word alloweth not or to lye in it by presumption or security least I waste my conscience and so quench thy Spirit O make mee still iealous of my selfe and best abilitie that I may not challenge the power of thy Spirit and giue mee conscience euen of secret thoughis that I may tremble at and abhominate them least I greeue thy Spirit make mee to startle at the motion of such sinnes as the world makes a sport of least I startle thy good Spirit and grant me to be humbled in my best endeauors that so the Spirit of Christ may helpe me for the acceptance thereof O giue me to make my requests manifest daily vnto the throne of grace least I be distracted in all things and so greeue thy holy Spirit and in all things grant mee to resigne vp my selfe to the guiding and tuition of thy blessed Spirit that so in all occasions it may go well with me Thus grant me gracious Father to retaine thâ— comfort of thy Spirit by entertaining all good occasions to cherish the same And seeing I must needs acknowledge that by my neglect of these duties I haue much greeued thy Spirit and haue done what lies in me euen to quench the same O grant me blessed Lord to recouer thy Spirit againe and so to enioy the most powerfull presence thereof And therefore giue wisedome heerein seriously to enter into mine owne hart and to iudge my selfe for greeuing thy Spirit Enable me with strong cries to cause the returne of thy Spirit and giue me patience to endure such afflictions as my wantonnesse hath procured mee Make mee wise to remember the times of old when thy face did shine vpon me and giue me comfort in the present that it is farre better with mee then I haue deserued It is thine infinite mercies that I am not swallowed vp of despaire that hence I may gather hope of the returne thereof againe Grant me to stirre vp thy Spirit in me by communing with mine owne heart and submitting the same wiselie to the search and censure thereof and make mee more vile in my selfe because I haue so abased thy Spirit that thou mayest haue the glory in the deniall of my selfe O let mee neuer giue ouer vntill thou hast spoken peace to my soule and thy good Spirit hath answered me That thou art my saluation and grant me to esteem highly and so make vse of the least glimpse of thy fauour euen in the meanest vnlikeliest occasions as vndoubted Emblems of a greater supply in thy good time And so teach me to wait thy good leysure in healing my soule of that stinking rottennesse that hath greeued thy Spirit yet to be led meekly by thy word that so I may be fit for comfort and then to waite thy good pleasure when thou wilt refresh me Yea though I finde not haply such returne all my life long which formerly I haue had yet grant me to wait all the daies of my mourning vppon thy holy hand who knowest what is best for me and to liue still by Faith in the Sonne of God that although thou kill mee yet I I will trust in thee that thou which art comming wilte come and the iust must liue by Faith Euen so O Father keepe me by thy mighty power when I seeme lost in my selfe and that through Faith in thy Son Iesus that I may still be found in him not hauing mine owne righteousnesse and that I may be kept vnto saluation by the power of his merit Vnto whom with thine own glorious Maiesty and God the blessed Spirit be ascribed as is most due all honour and power and praise and obedience in all the Churches Amen A Prayer for the obtaining of a liuely Hope O God of hope who art the hope of all the ends of the earth and in thy speciall wisedome as thou hast commanded vs to beleeue in thy Sonne that so wee might haue euerlasting saluation so hast thou enioyned vs to worke out our saluation with feare and trembling and that we may not faint in our endeauours nor be to seeke of what wee yet enioy not hast promised an Anchor of hope both to giue vs some securitie amidst the manifold troubles of this life and to giue assurance also vnto vs that
we shall at length attaine the hauen Haue mercy vpon me thy poore seruant and vouchsafe mee this grace of hope to establish my wauering spirit that neither things present may discourage me from the hope of a good issue nor things to come may confound mee in the pursuit thereof as being so farre aboue my capacitie so exceeding my desart For I confesse O Lord vnfeignedly before thee by reason of this body of sinne which I carrie about mee I am a stranger from thee as all my Fathers were and in regard of my inward blindnesse cannot see afarre off to the price of the high calling that is set before mee and therefore am subiect to many distractions slauish feares both to diuert or stay mee in my iourney and to disappoint me of the marke which I should hasten too so that I manytimes misse of my way and manytimes am ready to giue ouer in the midst of my race O grant me the refore holy Father to liue by hope in what thou hast promised that I neither may be confounded in any present distresse nor yet may rest in any present comfort whatsoeuer that I may not bee deceiued with the counterfeite thereof nor yet may settle my selfe in any true measure of the same O grant me a liuely hope that I may not feare in death and giue me to apprehend that blessed hope of the appearance of Iesus Christ that I may attaine to the resurrection of the dead And that I may improue my vnfeigned hope in thee alone O strengthen my weake Faith to see more clearly within the vaile that so I may be strong in hope to enioy what yet I see not make me more acquainted with the secrets of thy speciall prouidence that by mine owne experience of thy wonderfull dealing in bringing contraries out of contraries euen light out of darknesse I may hope for the accomplishment of thy promises though neuer so impossible to humaine capacitie Aboue all make more expert the riches of the glorie of that great mystrie euen Christ in mee the hope of glory that so I may not bee weary nor faint in my mind let the ayme of my hope be to see thee who art inuisible and in thee those vnspeakable mercies which as yet I doe not see And grant me blessed Lord an vndaunted and inuincible hope euen to hope aboue hope that no oppositions may confound me Let my hope be patient that I may waite for that I yet enioy not and purifie my hope daily in the expectation of what I shall be that so I may be purged and fitted to the enioying therof season my hope with ioy that I may not quaile in any present troubles and quicken my weake fainting hope with the strong cries and groanes of thy blessed Spirit that I may fasten on the inestimable glory which is laid vpp for mee let the hope of the life to come stablish mee in thy blessed feare and so make mee liuely and diligent in all present occasions enableing me to hold fast the profession of my hope without wauering and to sanctifie my God in giuing a reason of my hope with meeknesse and feare to those which may demaund it And that I may not be disappointed of my hope comfort me O Lord with the sweet and glorious fruits thereof that seeing it is the hope of saluation and eternall life which is surely laid vp for me in the highest heauens grant mee in all occasions to lay hold vpon eternall life that I may not bee ashamed of my hope O let me haue hope euen in death because I haue hope in the resurrection from the dead And let the hope of what I enioy not humble mee daily in the sense of my imperfections which are the cause thereof that so I may daily feare and depart from euill And seeing I am a prisoner of hope O grant mee daily to groane vnder this body of sinne which I carry about me that so I may long for my glorious deliuerance from this body of death and in the hope of this deliuerance cause mee in all my troubles to commit my selfe in well doing into the hands of thee my faithfull Creator that so I may bee keept by thy mighty power through Faith Grant mee these things O God of my hope euen for thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ his sake the hope of mine endlesse glory to whome with thee O righteous Father with God the blessed Spirit the Comforter be ascribed all glory power dominion and thankesgiuing for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for the obtaining and encrease of Loue. HOly Father who out of the boundlesse riches of thy free Grace didst so loue me that thou gauest thine onely Sonne to death for me that being redeemed from the bondage of sinne and snares of destruction I might bee translated from death to life and therefore didst loue me first that I might serue thee in loue and offer vp my self a Free-will Offering gracious and acceptable before thee in all holy obedience and hast hereby assured me that I am beloued of thee if all my workes bee done in loue louing thee for thy selfe and all other things for thy sake Looke graciously vpon me thine vnworthy seruant and shedde thy loue into my heart by thy blessed Spirit that I may loue thee aboue all things and all things in for thee And that I may so loue thee that I may be more vnited vnto thee and fully at the length enioy thee O grant me first to know thee in Iesus Christ the Sonne of thy Loue that so I may know what loue in him thou hast shewed me that when I was dead in sinne thou diddest raise me vppe in him from dead workes that I might serue thee the liuing God in the newnesse of Spirit that so discerning in this liuely Mirrour of thy Loue vnto me mine owne vnworthinesse of thy loue and inability to loue thee againe I may wholly deny my selfe that I may be found of thee in Christ and by his power be enabled to loue thee againe Grant me therefore gracious God to trust perfectly in Iesus Christ that I may feele my selfe to be beloued of thee in him and inflame my hart with the loue of Christ that so in him I may loue thee againe And seeing nothing in me was able to hinder this thy loue in him to me Oh grant me that nothing within me or without me may hinder or separate my Loue from thee And seeing of thine owne free grace thou diddst loue me in him oh grant me for his sake onely to loue thee seeing hee thought nothing no not his precious blood too deere to expres his loue vnto me oh let mee thinke all things base in comparison of my loue vnto him Seing he loued me in deeds not only in words both doing for me what I could not do and suffring for me what I could neuer haue endured oh grant me to loue thee againe not in words but in deeds both dooing
increase and renew their strength giue them victorie and turne their aduersaries hearts if they pertaine to thy holy election otherwise O Lord bring vpon them the confusion that they would bring vpon others into the pit that they haue digged let them fall and neuer rise vp againe O Lord heare vs in these suites pardon our dull spirits in praier and giue vs these and all other graces needfull for vs and the Church to thy glorie for our Lord Iesus Christ in whose name wee pray as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the feeling of the sinne of hyprocrisie that wee may direct our life according to the perscript rule of the word RIghteous Lord God and heauenly Father which art a iust â—udge to punish all them that doe continue to offend thee as thou art a Father most pittifull to receiue to mercie all those which giue ouer themselues to please thee shew mee thy grace and fauour To that I may be truely touched with inward displeasure of my sinnes and that in the place of flattering my selfe to sleepe in sinne I may be so cast downe in heart that the rather I may truely with mouth confesse most humbly to giue thee the honour glorie and prayse due vnto thy holy name and that as thou of thy great mercy dost instruct thereunto by thy holy word so for thy mercies sake make that the same may so lighten and cleere our conscience that in due examination of our life wee may truely learne to be angry and displeased with all our former and corruptible liuing O that it may please thee to draw neere vnto vs in addressing and guiding our footsteps in the true and perfect way of obedience to thy holy Lawes and Commandements Send thy holy Angell to pitch his Tents round about vs that Sathan and his infernall army neuer preuaile against vs but that alwaies with strong faith we may through Iesus Christ withstand all his crafty engines and snares knowing vndoubtedly that thou neuer forsakest them that put their trust in thee O let vs not bee led by the infirmity of our outward flesh but strengthen vs by the vertue of thy holy Spirit Suffer vs not to lie vnder thy heauy wrath and vengeance through hypocrisie but rather touch vs so inwardly that we may without ceasing sigh and grone vnto thee by true and vnfeigned repentance And although we be not alwaies so well disposed to aske and pray as we ought to doe yet good Lord for thy glorious Names sake stretch out thy mighty hand that by the gracious working of thy holy Spirit our mindes and hearts may be drawne from all earthly and corruptible things so that our prayers vnto thee may proceede of an inward earnest vehement affection so that wee neuer presume to come before the throne of thy Maiesty with a double heart knowing that whosoeuer asketh and prayeth for any thing of thee not asking in faith cannot obtaine Increase therefore sweet Lord our faith that we presently may liuely feele the benefite of remission and pardon all our sins through the merits and death of Christ Iesus our Sauiour and so worke in vs for euer heereafter to liue in thy feare and to stand in awe of thy displeasure that thou mayest continue our mercifull Father world without end Amen O Shepheard of sheepe seeke out mee thy wandring sheepe And being found lay mee vpon thy blessed shoulders and bring mee home to the very folde of thy flocke heale my sicke soule feede my hungry soule yea almost dying through hunger watch ouer the same O sweete Lord least the rauening Wolfe do inuade my soule and so slay it to vtter destruction Wherefore O most deere GOD be mercifull to mee a wretched sinner and grant pardon to him that repenteth giue not foorth the voice of thy sentence according to my demerits but like as thy mercy before hath done in the beginning of my life so let it conclude the end thereof to remaine with thee world without end Amen deere God Amen Forasmuch as in this life holy Scriptures doeth promise trouble penuries oppressions increase of griefe and aboundance of temptations vouchsafe O most louing Lord GOD to prepare my heart to all possible patience least I doe faint in thy foote-path compell my sweete Lord this stubborne and rebellious flesh of mine to bee subiect to thy holy Spirite beyond all expectation so that I may possesse my soule in patience and keepe the same continually in thy euerlasting seruice to the which purpose thou of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie hast created the same Wherefore O Lord GOD shew thine almighty power vnto mee most wretched sinner that so long as I fight in this wretched life I may obtaine victorie against mine enemies thou being my defence for there is none other that fighteth for mee but onely thou O God Now I say represse the violence of mine enemies and vouchsafe with great effect to bring into bondage my miserable flesh that tormenteth my soule So that obtaining victory I may giue praise to thee my onely deliuerer in perpetuall eternity Amen A prayer against tbe secret venim and great danger of prosperity O Lord prepare my heart to wisedom prepare it to prayer and teach my soule to feele all the dangers wherewith it is beset on euery side and grant good Father that I mâ—y not pray in wordes or in sound of speech but in Spirite and Faith I acknowledge to thee O Lord thy great mercies toward mee at this time for beside the vnspeakable graces of my redemption and of my holy calling in the Gospell which are euermore good thou hast giuen me a large measure of earthly blessings my table is richly and daintily furnished my Cup ouer-floweth mine enemies are chased away and I feele no want no affliction no sorrow My prosperitie leadeth mee as by the hand from one delight to another and from one pleasure to another In the morning peace is at my right hand and at night quietnesse at my left O Lord are not these thy blessings Hast not thou opened thy mercifull hand and filled me with all these comforts True it is O Lord that they came all from thee and for them I am indebted vnto thee and giue thee hearty thanks But alas O Lord I finde by experience that prosperitie such is our infirmitie carrieth vs too too farre away it feedeth vs from day to day and from time to time with new delights it ingendereth also secretly such peace and confidence in these things which are but as a reede to leane vpon that we are carried away wee forget not thee onely but our selues also But the day of aduersitie the day of sicknesse the day of trouble that layeth open our weakenesse it causeth much care to bee released it prouoketh many praiers for releefe O it is a happy day a day of returning to the Lord a day of repentance as in Sackcloath and Ashes O how may my soule praise the
day of affliction wherein I called vpon the name of the Lord and hee heard mee and I found that his rod comforted me Neuerthelesse O good Lord consider and helpe two dayes of health take away the fruite of many dayes of sicknesse wee are as men Sea-sicke that comming on the shore presently returne to ioy and mirth and forget both dangers on the Sea and dangers on the Land So came it to passe from age to age in thy people of Israel being tied fast in miserie and iron they called vpon thee and receiued mercie being deliuered they soone turned backe like a bow and became drunken with prosperitie Then thy face was against them thy anger was kindled and they cast into affliction againe but in their miseries they renewed their prayers and thou diddest renew thy grace but new prosperitie brought new rebellion and new rebellion new punishments and new punishments new conuersation The house of mirth was to them and is to all a baite to wantonnesse but in the house of sorrow a prouocation of humilitie and prayer Prosperitie is as a Cup of wine mingled with poyson as a bed of securitie and a way to destruction Therefore O Lord with the fulnesse of earthly things giue mee also the fulnesse of spiâ—ituall thinges that I forget thee not in vanity of life or in the false delights of sinfull flesh O keepe my heart that it bee not made drunken with prosperity but grant mee in sobernesse to vse thy blessings to thy glory and to the releefe of my Brethren and when I reioyce not to reioyce in these base things for that reioycing is euill but to reioyce in thee turning my mirth from wanton Daunces from vaine Songs from other carnall delights to exercises of Religion to helpes of knowledge singing of Psalmes with melodie to thee in my heart Finally O Lord seeing that in this earthly prosperity there is so great abuse and so present danger for want of grace to abuse them O Lord teach mee the true vse of them that I may not set my heart thereon but in thee giuing thee thanks for them and labouring with all diligence through thy grace in Iesus Christ that they bee not through my wickednesse turned into curses As Salomon teacheth wisedome to take heede of an Harlot so teach mee to take heed of vaine pleasures in worldly matters that I be not bewitched with prosperity and forget thee bathing my selfe in pleasures and neuer setting thee before mine eyes O mercifull Father for thy deerely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ worke this in mee that I may bee rich in good workes that I may haue as not hauing that I may vse the world as not abusing it but vsing it to thy glory and praise through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons and one God bee all praise honor and glory both now and for euer Amen A Prayer against Whoredome and vncleannesse O God which by thy holy word hast commanded that for the auoyding of the filthy sinne of fornication eueâ—y man should haue his lawfull wife and euery woman enioy her lawfull husband threatning death and damnation to all such as seek to liue contrary to thy commandement herein I humbly beseech thee for Christs sake that thou wilt mortifie and kill in me all carnall concupiscence filthy motions and fleshly desires by the operation of thy holy Spirit in me that I neuer defile either my body or soule in this loathsome and stinking sinne of whoredome adultery fornication Incest or other vncleannesse of body whatsoeuer but liuing purely vnpolluted therewith all the dayes of my life I may practise to please thee in all my proceedings I know O Lord that flesh and blood the filthy vncleane workes of flesh and blood cannot enter into thy habitation nor yet possesse any portion in thine euerlasting kingdome of glory therefore whensoeuer the diuell his wicked members the world or the flesh shall tempt and prouoke mee to preparation hereto giue me power and strength to withstand their assaults and put into my minde to consider that thine eyes doe behold me and thine holy Angels looke vpon me also that the horrible company of diuels compasse me about ready to register my filthy fact in a booke of memoâ—ials against the great day of the Lord. And so by thy gracious assistance and thâ—se good considerations I may beâ— partly terrified and partly ashamed for euer to commit the same knowing that thou who sparedst not the former world but destroyedst Sodom and Gomorrha with fire brimstone from heauen the whole world with water the Citty of the Sichemites with the edge of the sword and the children of Israel at sundry times slaying infinite Millions of them for this horrible vice wilt not spare me a most wicked and abhominable sinner if I commit the like offence Wherefore blessed Father suffer mee not thy deere Child in Iesus Christ bought with thy most precious blood to bee once spotted stained or blemished either in body or mind with this filthy stinking sinne of whoredome fornication that I appearing cleane in thy sight may after this life ended liue with thee thy Sonne Iesus Christ and the holy Ghost one true and euer liuing God world without end Amen A Prayer against Couetousnes and ambition ALmighty God and most mercifull Father who hast commanded euery man to labour and trauaile in his vocation and calling thereby to releeue his necessities and to maintaine his estate and hast promised thereto thy blessing Blesse I beseech thee all my actions and laboures which I shall at any time take in hand in thy name and thereby I receiuing sufficent sustentation maintenance for mine estate and calling may be free from the insatiable desires of couetousnes ambition auarice and all desire of vnlawfull gaine knowing that those that desire to bee rich fall into diuers temâ—ptations and snares of the diuel From which coÌ„tagious infection I beseech thee so much more warily to keepe mee by how much more I finde the same forbidden in thy holy word The holy Apostle calleth it idolatry worshipping of Idols and the roote of all euill excluding them out of the kingdome of heauen that be infected therewith And thy deere Son Iesus Christ telleth vs that it shall be easier for the Camell to goe through the eye of a needle then for a rich man that is a couetous rich man whose affiance is in his riches to enter into the kingdome of heauen Wherefore good Father keepe me farre from this filthy vice of couetousnesse and ambition grant that I hauing food for my body and cloathes for my backe with all other necessaries incident to this life may bee well contented therewith not coueting or desiring any more and all the daies of my life in true simplicity of heart may giue thee praise for the same Finally grant that I seeking the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnesse thereof as thou hast