heauen by the conduct of thy holy spirit through Iesus Christ my onely aduocate and mediatour Amen Godly petitions to be vsed of euery Christian O My God accept thy most vnworthie seruant here humbly falling downe before thee I acknowledge thy great mercies and in sundry sort thy extended goodnesse towards me yet in feare of mine owne frailety I eftsoones present my selfe before thy maiestie to looke fauourably on me alwaies and to open mine eyes more clearely to see thy maiestie for the little tast that thou hast giuen me hath perswaded me alreadie that thou art sweet yea and the more that I discerne thy sweetnesse the more I see also my vncleannesse the knowledge of thee therefore I confesse is the leader to saluation for the consideration of thy greatnesse maketh me despise my basenesse and thy puritie my filthinesse and thy wonderfull goodnesse my monstrous vnworthinesse Forgiue me then O Lord my sinnes and let them not hold backe thy bounteous hand now begunne to be opened towards mee I say begun my Lord because my selfe hath but now begun to see it giue me a wise vnderstanding heart and send me knowledge from aboue driue from my mind the mistes of fleshly darkenesse and make me capable of thy heauenly riches fill my mouth with good things for I will open it to receiue of thy blessings Let me not die but liue and declare the praises of my Lord. Why hast thou made me but to glorifie thee Why hast thou enlightned me but to loue thee yea why hast thou redeemed me but to saue me And for what cause hast thou sanctified my heart but to make me fit for those good things that thou purposest to bestow vpon me O sweete Father thy loue is not to be expressed Now therefore goe forward and cease not with thy poore seruant performe that good building which thy spirit hath begun in me thou hast made me thirst for thy righteousnesse replenish now therefore my heart with gladnesse make my flesh to vanish and the new Adam to rise vp in strength thaâ— I may be discreet in my waies and stand in the continuall search of thy iudgements And when thy mercie thus ha h enlarged me as a full cloud so shall I declare thy kindnesse and as the sauour of Myrrhe so shall my lippes send vp thy praises Blessed be the Lord who haâ—h hiddeÌ„ these things from the wise of the world and reuealed the way of righteousnesse vnto the simple Lord I thy handmaid or sonne of thy handmaid will attend vpon thy will and repose myselfe vnder the shadow of thy wings both day and night Thou art my wisdome my power my beautie my strength my riches my glory my king my God and my saluation The grace of God the Father the peace of Christ Iesus our sauiour through the comfortable fellowship of the holy Spirit be with me preserue keepe me this day this night and euermore Amen A godly prayer to be said at all times O Eternall God and most mightie King of maiestie how can I hide my selfe froÌ„ thy presence or with what cloake or pretence might I couer my shame from the piercing fight of thine eye since I haue nothing O Lord but a guiltie conscience intollerably oppressed with the heauie but then of sinne by which I am almost driuen to the dore of despaire if thy mightie hand stay me not I fall and if thy wisdome prouide not for me I am alwaies in daunger The sorrowes of my heart are enlarged for my daies consume in sinne and the graue gapeth to receiue me before I gaine the gift of loue Vnrighteousnesse raigneth as a king in this my corruptible body and concupiscence deceiueth my sight till I be entraped verily when I come to fight I wonder that thou diddest not destroy me saying O Lord who is able to number his sinnes or what soule is righteous in thy sight shall man striue with God who can say I will be saued fith thou art iust Why diddest not thou cut my thred whilest I prouoked thee why diddest not thou send me to the inheritance of the wicked but thus thou vsest to comfort thy children in their great necessitie and my soule had perished but for this reliefe long agoe therefore crie I vnto thee from the depth of my heart take me not away O God in my sinnes neither let me reape the portion of the wicked thou hast shewed me the dayes of comfort and often deliuered my soule from the Lion And because thou in thy great mercie hast let me see this goodnesse and also made me to reioyce therin increasing light after a darkenesse and doubling ioy to my paine I will neuer cease O deare father to call vpon thee in my afflictions and to looke for the good houre in my daunger increase my faith and settle me in the knowledge of thy will Plenteously blesse me with thy grace and let thy spirit be my protectour for misery O Lord is threatened vnto thy children and ruine to the faith of the younglings no place is safe from the rage of thy aduersaries but thou art the God of might and hast power to preserue our peace Oh if I might aske the death of this old Adam so that all concupiscence might vanish as a smoake then sure say I I would wholly be exercised in the law of my God and at all times would I sing praises vnto his name but I will not presume about thy seruant Paul whom thy wisdome thus answered My grace is sufficient for thee thus will I beseech thee whiâ—e I liue that this balme of thy grace may alwaies be poured fresh into my wounds that euen in my infirmities I may euer gaine a double reioycing and that the most subtill assaults of the aduersarie may alwaies fall out to be his soulest faile and my weakenesse my wisedome by the renuing of thy grace and enlightning my spirit with the sweete balme of thy louâ—ng countenance through thy most tender mercie in the purchase of thy beloued sonne our deare Sauiour Christ Iesu vnto whom with thee and the holy spirit be all power and dominion for euermore Amen A prayer for women with child O Eternall God and most mercifull father who notwithstanding my manifold and grieuous offences hast of thy gratious goodnesse in marriage made me fruitfull which I take as thy great blessings and benefits bestowed vpon me beseeching thee now most humbly to helpe me thy poore handmaiden in these grieuous paines of trauaile and childbirth Thou hast willed vs to call vpon thee in all our needs and necessities and hast promised in thy great mercies neuer to faile them that call vpon thee helpe me now wretched sinner in these intollerable pains that I may ouercome them with patience and euermore praise thy maiestie Comfort me with thy holy spirit that I sinke not vnder this heauie burthen And as gratiously thou hast blessed me hitherto from time to time in giuing me children so mercifully sanctifie them
from me because I thy humble seruant doe put my trust in thee let my mind heart be euermore occupied in meditating on thy statutes for therein is my delight 4. A prayer in affliction GOod God of thy infinite mercie I beseeche thee poure vpon me the oyle of thy grace whose soule is grieuously tormented with daily afflictions for I am like one without life and fastened to the sepulchre but my trust is in thee O my good God that thou wilt assist me in my necessitie and restore me thy poore seouant vnto life againe that I may laud and praise thy holy name euen in the middest of the congregation for euer and euer Quicken mee I say according to thy word I will open vnto thee my complaints giue eare therefore vnto me and still encourage me in the way of thy truth and teach me thy statutes Enflame my heart with the loue of thy wisedome raise me vp that am now fallen for my soule melteth away for very heauinesse Exempt from me whatsoeuer may withdraw me from thy lawes and graunt that I may continue in that good way which thou hast imprinted in my heart Giue vnto me I beseech thee a willing and zealous mind to cleaue fast vnto those thinges which are approoued by thy testimonies and that I neuer shrink from thee so shall I not be confounded drawe me out of the straights of sin into the euident and broad place of righteousnes that I may finish the whole course of my life by the instinct direction of thy holy spirit and this life being ended I may foreuer enioy thy eternall saluation through my Lord and sauior Christ Iesus 5. A prayer against the assaults of Sathan GVide me O Lord in the way of thy statutes that I may euer order my life aâ—cording to the rule thereof by the prouident direction of thy holy spirit without the which my insufficiencie shall not be once able to performe the same in thy sight and euermore assist mee with the knowledge oâ— thy word that I may fully with vnderstanding obserue and keepe the same with my whole heart Instruct me daily O God that am now entred into the way of thy precepts quench in my minde the desire of filthie sucre couetousnes vsurie which would draw me to all sinne and iniquitie and incline my heart to those things that may please thee best that I imbracing the same sincerly may fructesie in good workes newnesse of life to thy glorie O my good God keepe backe mine eies that they bee not deceiued with the enticing shewes of lewd vanities that would withdraw me from the bright beames of thy incomparable maiestie â—leade me O Lord into the true life that I may zealously followe thee my guide confirme me in thy truth as thou hast promised turne away reproche and shame from me because I feare and loue thy iudgements I desire nothing more then the encrease of thy grace and the keeping of thy commaundements saue me therfore O Lord and keepe me both now and euermore that I neuer haue occasion to sin against thee but that I may still trust and euermore depend vpon thy mercies to be defended from all dangers 6. A praier for perseuerance in the right way of godlinesse GVard me on euery side O Lord with thy louing kindnes and omnipotent power and graunt mee thy saluation wherby I may be defended from al my enemies and be able to answere them in thee my sauior for I doe wholy depend vpon thy wordes let me not be assaulted with deadly iniuries neither let me in my afflictions be vnpatient let not the truth of thy holy worde be taken or estranged from me but let my mouth still set forth thy glorie quicken mee therefore in thy lawe for I doe wait for thy iudgements vpon the vngodly and I will keepe the doctrine which thou hast giuen mee for euer and euer and walke at liberty with a quiet minde because thou hast indued me with a desire to thy commandements graunt that I neuer shrinke from thy truth but with all boldenes of spirit endeuor my selfe to dispute of those thinges that concerne thy law euen before the mighty princes of the earth let my whole delight be in thy precepts O Lord which are most deare vnto me and encrease my zeale in thy worde for I haue loued it with my whole heart aboue all earthly felicity I will lift vp my hands vnto thee and before thy face will I present my selfe beseeching thée to endue me with thy grace and holy spirit that I may walke in thy fight according to the prescribed rule of thy precepts that thou hast shewed me and fiâ—e my whole delight comfort for euer in meditating vpon thy statutes O God that liuest for euer 7. A prayer for pacient abiding Gods good pleasure GRaunt that I by experience may perceiue that thou art mindeful O God of those thinges which thou hast spoken vnto me thy seruant and doest command me to trust in for in al my miseries this is my stedfast comfort that thou wilt in thy good time both helpe and succour thy seruant that trusteth in thee for though the prowd and vngodly person haue me in derision for thy names sake yet will I euer depend vpon thy holy word for thy promises haue quickned mee and when I think vpon the mercies which thou hast shewed vnto me in punishing them according to their deserts I am indued with great comfort thou knowest O God what feare incloseth me when I heare the wicked blâ—spheme thy holy name and forsake thy diuine precepts being by thy spirit enformed of the euils that hang ouer their heads Let thy statutes Lord be my delight that during the time of my wearie pilgrimage in this earthly tabernacle I may neuer cease to sound thy praises with zealous harmonie but set my whole care in the commemoration and calling vpon thy holy name and watchfully thinke how I may behaue my selfe to keepe thy lawes for at midnight haue I erected my minde vnto thee and haue not ceased at all times to poure out my praiers before thee the which thy spirit had motioned me vnto because I haue alwaies had an especiall care to keepe the precepts which thou hast appointed me 8 A consolation that God hath holpen vs and a prayer for his grace so to continue GOod God thou art my portion and the expected land of my inheritance graunt therefore that I may haue thy word to direct me and when I poure foorth my praiers before thee with speed I beseech thee giue eare vnto me vouchsafe to assist mee with thy holie spirit and according to thy promises vowed vnto thy seruants haue mercie vpon me let me not be enclined at any time to forget thy goodnes but continually quicken mee in thy truth and graunt mee O Lord God such an vnderstanding hart that I neuer swarue from thy testimonies but endeuour my selfe with all speede to the keeping of thy
of hope graunt speedie release vnto me least I fall into the net that the wicked haue laid for me that I being gouerned and directed by thy mighty power may for euer henceforth extoll thy glorious name whilest the wicked are together entangled in their owne mallice graunt this O father for thy deare sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ A prayer to perceiue his owne fraile estate TEach me O Lord to ordâ—r my steppes according to the rule of thy holy word that the wicked entrap me not in my dealings Let the number of my daies be knowne vnto me and make me I beseech thee more and more seriously to consider how transitory this life is that I may apply my heart continually to the contemplation of thy hidden secrets and deuine mysteries for the length of my yeares is but as a spanne and all earthly things are nothing but meere vanitie in thy sight therefore as the chased Hart desireth to be refreshed by the aid of the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God therefore let not thy graces and holy spirit O God be taken from me but extend thy hand to deliuer me from all inconueniences that I become not an open rebuke vnto mine enemies take those plagues and seuere punishments from me that my sinnes do deserue and let thy mercie be an eternall comfort vnto mee graunt me vnderstanding and send me knowledge from aboue that I may see into the cause of my afflictions and neuer murmure at thy fatherly chastisements heare my praier and in thy mercy take pittie and compassion vpon me asswage the great heate of thine anger towards me and release the troubles of my heauy heart and grant me a space of repentance before the time of thy fatherly calling that I may rest with thee for euer A prayer for iourneying I Commit this my iourney and corporall trauell most merciful father vnto thy heauenly direction to guide and gouerne me therein as shall seeme best to thy onely goodnesse and godly wisedome and as this my troublesome and weary life is nothing els but a pilgrimes passage and onely a span from birth to graue so graunt that I may alwaies consider of it And I beseech thee O my God that as to Iacob iourneying into the East praying reuerently for thy gratious protection thou diddest fauourably and of thine infinite mercie minister all thinges necessary to his safety so thou wilt now mercifully beholde me a member of thy little Israel and safely keepe and preserue me in my iourney that the same may tend to the honour of thy name and to the comfort of my conscience both now and euer that like as Iacob saide thou shouldest be his God so we knowing that in all thinges thou art more good and plentiful vnto vs a thousand fold then we can deserue may for thy heauenly graces and continuall goodnesse sing laud praises vnto thy holy name o God that for euer liuest one in trinitie thrée in vnitie Amen A prayer out of the Cxlv. Psalme FRom the bottome of my heart O my God will I ertoll thy name and render thankes vnto thee for euer and euer I will consecrate all the daies of my life to set forth thy glory and to yéeld praises vnto thee continually for thou art great O Lord and there is no praise sufficient for thee yea the memoriall of thy name will I cause to endure from one generation to another neither shall I alone labour to doe this my dutie for verily there will be alwaies some assembly which will by all meanes testifie the remembrance of my deeds and peculiar goodnes and openly declare thy vndoubted promises remaining vnto all ages namely that thou art most mercifull and gratious vnto such as trust in thee and thy louing kindnesse endureth for euer neither is it manifest whether thou art either more slowe vnto wrath or more proue to pardon for thou O Lord I knowe art good to all men and thy mercies are aboue thy workes yet is thy name O God extolled in thy workes and the praise of thy glorie appeareth in all thy creatures thou staiest vp euery one which els should fall and grauntest releefe vnto such as are already fallen yea thou giuest help continually vnto those that loue thee but destroiest the wicked and therefore by good right O Lord will I sound foorth thy praises for euer and euer A prayer to be said before the receiuing of the Lords Supper LOuing Lord and my most merifull father in wonderfull mercy I acknowledge it hath plesed thée to purge me silly wretch by the death bloody passion of thy sonne from al my sins and iniquities to haue adopted me thy childe and giuen me the earnest of my saluation touching my heart with an infallible sence and feeling of thy mercies and setled confidence in thy promises so that euen now in the commemoration of thy vnspeakeable blessings my soule is newly entred into thy house to take the holesome cup of eternall saluation and to call vpon thy holy name assist me therfore with thy spirit O Lord giue me a wise and vnderstanding heart that I may conceiue rightly of thy sacred mysteries and deuine precepts discerne them secretly and receiue them effectually not with rashnes of minde but with sobriety in righteousnes and holinesse of life vnto the perfect consummation and finishing of that happy building which thy worthy goodnesse in mercy hath prouidently begunne in me yea vntill I be come to the measure of the eternall age and fulnesse of my Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A godly prayer for such things as be needefull both for soule and bodie Extend thy fauourable pitie towards me O Lord and in thy mercie doe away my iniquities take from me al hardnes of heart and indue me with thy grace and holy spirit that my delight may be in thy lawes blesse and prosper I beseech thee my bodily labours and send mee such necessarie reliefe both for my soule and bodie as shall seeme most expedient to thy deuine wisedome O God keepe me vnder the shadowe of thy winges from all the afflictions of this wretched life and defend me from the naughtie dealing of lying lippes and slandering tongues let me not doe any thing contrary to thy will O Lord but keepe me in such good order of life that I be not defamed of the wicked and vngodly person Confirme me in the knowledge of thy law and send me spéedie reliefe in al my troubles giue me good God a feeling of my sinnes with earnest repentance and that I may perseuer in newnesse of life to thy honor and glorie let me auoid the company of such as be euill and let my whole delight consist in the secrets of thy sacred mysteries that I may openly set forth thy praises and yeelde vncessant thankes vnto thee graunt that I may escape the net that the wicked haue priuily laid to intrap me for my hope consisteth in thy saluation and
heauenly direction to guide and gouerne me as shall seeme most expedient to thy godly wisdome and as this my troublesome and wearie life is but a pilgrims passage and a spanne from birth to graue so graunt that I may alwaies consider of it and I beseech thee O my God that as to Iacob iourneying into the East praying for thy gratious protection thou didst minister all things necessarie to his safetie so thou wilt mercifully behold me a member of thy little Israell and prosper me so in my iourney that all things according to thy heauēly wil may go well with me to the honor and aduancement of thy holy name that like as Iacob said thou shouldest be his God so we knowing that in all things thou art more rich and plentiful vnto vs a thousand fold thā we can deserue may for thy continuall goodnesse sing land and praise vnto thy holy name O God that for euer liuest one in trinitie and three in vnitie Amen A godly prayer to be vsed at all times O Most mercifull father from thy holy sanctuarie looke downe I beseech thee vpon me and behold me poore wretch that am oppressed with the burthen of daily sinne and be wrapped in the bonds of mortall misery prisoned in the fetters of originall wickednesse and hauing in mine owne body the traiterous affections of concupiscence alway conspiring to betray my soule into the hands of the aduersarie behold me I say in the bright beames of thy louing countenance with thy eye of mercy see into the troubles of my spirit and lay thine eare vnto the mournefull grones of the same my soule howleth out vnto thee euen from the gulph of deepe calamities pressed with the prouision of temporall things vrged with the spightfull watching of the hatefull pricked with the presumptuous pride of worldly benefites and wounded with the venomous dart of Adams transgression my battailes are full of difficulties my victories compassed with treason and my dwellings in the dores of death O my God what felicitie can the poore seruant find in this irkesome life Or what comfort can bring sufficient reliefe to the afflicted spirit but the true platforme of our pathes and the sweete scope of our pilgrimage euen Iesus Christ thy dearely beloued sonne our sauiour Wherfore I poore sinner humbly beseech thee not to carry long or deferre my deliuerance from this wearie iourney Let not my soule alway be clad with mourning and my bones witherwith anguish thou Lord hast created me of nothing and thou gauest me life in my mothers wombe Thou hast chosen me to be of thine and thou hast giuen me thy holy spirit the testimony O deare father let not thy graces be in me in vaine let me not be ouerwhelmed with the iniquities of this troublesome world but preuent me with the extended force of thy right hand and saue my soule O God my rocke of strength Behold not that which is amisse in me neither let my sinnes and infirmities make separation betweene thy mercy and me driue out or at the least wise hold downe in me the cruell sting of raging concupiscence by the increasing might of thy holy spirit impresse in my heart a feare of thy lawes and instruct me so to number my daies that I may applie my selfe wholly to thy statutes Also O most mercifull father as the dore of thy mercy is alwaies open and as thou wilt neuer refuse humble sutes of thy seruants heare me O Lord in my earnest petition for thy little Church of England let me neuer see it gouerned againe with the mistie cloud of deepe ignorance suffer me neuer to see thy holy temple and sanctuary defiled with the beastily superstition and blasphemous idolatrie of Antichrist strike not the lampe out of our hands in thy wrath and so make vs go groping in palpable darkenesse I must needs confesse O deare father that the multitude of our sinnes which are growne in such ripenesse due worthily deserue thy grieuous plagues euen from the highest to the lowest we haue all gone astray and prowdly breaking our allegiance haue disol eyed thy precepts But yet O mightie Iehouah who admittest dust and ashes to speake vnto thee heare thy poore seruant I beseech thee euen with the teares of a sorrowfull heart appease thine anger hold thy heauie rod shed not the violl of wrath vpon vs in thy surie let not thy spirit be mooued with man because he is but flesh correct vs not in thine anger least we be consumed and brought to nothing but conuert vs O Lord and we shall be conuerted change vs and we shall be changed for thine elects sake O father spare this Realme of England Deferre the day of reuenge and so much more plenteously poure thy pretious spirit into the hearts of thy children which now alreadie feele thy fatherly calling that they with all speede making hast into thy vineyard may painefully sweate in dunging earthing and priming the trees to the increase of thy vintage to the glory of thy holy name Lord heare me I beseech theé and so kindle in the hearts of thy children the loue of thy law and zeale of true profession that we may walke together in all brotherly admonition and Christian exhortation that we all striue to goe before others in godly zeale and flourish in the fruits of perfect faith That we vse not our liberty to the infirming of the weake but euery one burne in desire to winne a soule vnto thee Finally that our stedfast going forward and continuall increase may be to the strengthening of the weake and comfort of the strong to the sifting out of Wolues defence of the Lambs to the shining credite of thy Church and finall confusion of Antechrist that so turning from vs thy heauy displeasure and vnbending the bowe of thy wrath thou maiest imbrace vs in thy armes of mercie where gaining the fruition of thy fauour in all patience and thanksgiuing we may expect the day of our liberty which we shall one day obtaine by the dissolution of this life and entrance into that vnspeakable rest that Christ our sauiour hath purchased and entred into by his pretious blood to whom with the father and the holy spirit be all praise and thankesgiuing for euer Amen Godly meditations to be vsed at all times O Eternall God and heauenly father whose wisdome and power is infinit and yet whose mercie surmounteth all in whome all creatures haue their being and from whom all goodnesse floweth as from a fountaine I humbly beseech thee giue eare vnto the groning requests of my spirit and pittie the salt streames that for the sight and sence of mine owne infirmities flow from the inwards of my consuming heart And also I aske nothing but that which soundeth to the glory of thy holy name and to the credit of thy Church shew thy selfe O father as willing as able that my spirit being refreshed and my heart receiuing comfort I may boldfast the reioysing of my hope with
prayer GOod God the creator and maker of all mankind seéing it hath pleased thee of thy deuine prouidence to ordaine the night as a meane to deliuer vs from the trauailes of the day and to minister ease and gladnes to the wearied lims of our bodies to the great comfort and refreshing of the same by the fruition of quiet sleep and rest according to humane nature wee beseech thee therfore O Lord of thy vnspeakeable goodnes and mercy to be our watchman and defender this night that we be not ouercome by fantasies dreames or other illusions but that through thy permission we may take such quiet rest and voluntarie sleepe as nature requireth and though our grosse sences are at such times stopped yet vouchsafe euer to graunt vs the assistance of thy grace and holy spirit that our soules may respect the comming of thy sonne our sauiour Iesus Christ that at what time soeuer he calleth wee may bee found watchfull and continually ready to performe his will that after this life ended we may eternally rest in glorie and as the brightnesse of the sunne doth in the morning disperse the darke cloudes and thicke mistes from the face of the earth whereby the same was before couered with darkenesse so wee humbly beseech thee vouchsafe to disperse and burie our sinnes in the blend and obedience of thy deare sonne which doe as it were shadow vs from the bright beames of thy fauourable countenance and euermore assist vs with thy gratious goodnesse that our sleepe may be so healthfull vnto vs that we with willing minds arising in the morning may vtterly shake off al maner of drowsinesse and make hast to exercise our selues in such Christian labours as thy deuine prouidence hath ordained vs vnto to the aduancement and renowne of thy holy name credit of thy Church comfort reliefe of our Christian bretheren and our euerlasting saluation In mercy graunt this O Lord we beseech thee for Iesus Christ his sake our onely redeemer and sauiour vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all power and dominion for euer Amen Twentie and one godly and necessary praiers gathered out of the Cxix Psalme wherein are contained petitions crauing aid of Gods spirit against Sathan and al wickednesse complaints against the rage of the vngodly thanksgiuing f r our deliuerance and consolation in aduersitie for that God both can and will assist his people 1. A Prayer for the assistance of Gods holy spirit for to direct our mindes after his holy lawes GRatious God so blesse me I beseech thee thy poore seruant that out of the hidden treasures of thy word I may gather such fruitful delights that I may walk vprightly and lead a blamelesse life in thy sight in keeping those precepts which thou O Lord God hast therein appointed Oh how blessed are those which obserue thy statutes vnto the end seeking thee with a pure heart and carefully obeying thy eternall maiestie may it please thee therefore so to guide my waies that I quaile not in my course neither bend my selfe to follow after vnrighteousnesse but faithfully perseuer in that perfect path which thou hast enclined me vnto out of thy holy word and thou being a righteous and euerlasting God doest not command me to followe any thing which is not lawfull in thy sight nor redounding to my saluation Erect my heart continually to the contemplation of thy blessed lawes whereby my dealings may be ordered through thy gouernance that I may immitate and carefully keepe the same all the daies of my life with zeale and obedience towards thy diuine maiestie then shall all things according â—o thy will goe well with me and I shall turne mine eies to beholde that thing which is good and laudable in thy fight yea and euermore worship thee with an vpright minde in spirit and truth as becommeth thy child without all dissimulation and hipocrisie Lord I am fully purposed to keepe thy statutes euen by the direction of thy spirit for my trust resteth in thee 2. A prayer to withstand the frailty of flesh cleaue vnto the Lord. GOuerne and direct mee O Lord according to thy worde that I may order my life by the rule therof and by the direction of thy holy spirit dilligently obserue those thinges which thou hast commanded me I haue sought thee O God with my whole heart let me not therfore goe astray from thee And though by frailety of my flesh I haue vnaduisedly heretofore falleÌ„ from thee yet I beseech thée of thy endlesse mercy slay me that I be not cast downe for euer and quicken me that I wander not any longer from thy precepts vnite my minde to thy sacred misteries that I may lay vp thine euerlasting promises in my hart least through the vaine entisements of my ghostly enemies I be enforced to forget negligently for want thereof to offend thy diuine maiestie for except thou O Lord which art altogether mercy dost guide and teach mee to leade my life aright truely my weakenesse would not permit mee to ioy or preuaile in that which is good teach me therefore O Lord zealously to keepe thy statutes that I may boldly speake to the land praise of thy name and openly shewe foorth thy holy word and blessed will graunt that I may take more delight in the keeping of thy exhortations and commandments then in al maner of earthly treasures and may meditate continually in thy precepts endue me with heauenly wisedome that I may vnderstand thy lawes aright and be euermore occupied therin vnto my liues end Amen 3. A prayer to be guided in all puritie and godlinesse GIue eare I most humbly beseech thee O Lord vnto the prayers that I offer heere vnto thy deuine maiestie Continue thy fauour towards me in directing me with thy holy spirit that I may ouercome that which sauoureth of euil and imbrace those things which thou hast commanded Abandon from the eies of my soule the vale of darknesse that I may view and beholde the true light and see the wonderfull secrets which euermore shine out of thy heauenly doctrine and lead my life in quietnesse to thy honor and glorie Thou knowest that I am a stranger and vnacquainted on the earth and that I desire to be brought to another place euen to thy heauenly habitation wherfore I beseech thée O God encline thine eare towards me hide not from me thy statutes neither yet take thy holy spirit from me that should leade me to imbrace thy righteousnesse I am desirous with great care to liue acording to thy lawes and to keepe thine ordinance both in prosperitie aduersity wherfore O Lord I beseech thee let this zeale consume me Thou rebukest and destroyest the proud persons and such as stubbornely striue against thee and appointest destruction and bitternesse vnto those that refuse to keepe thy precepts Though all men enuie me and haue me in despight for the truthes sake yet thou in thy good time wilt remoue them far
a sound and setled conscience to the end Against temptation O Thou maker of heauen and earth deliuer me from the continuall and most dangerous assaults of Sathan who priuily layeth baites and secretly diggeth pittes for my soule leauing nothing vnattempted that might worke my destruction and I feeling my selfe nothing but a masse of infirmities and ready to decline at euery stroke that he giueth cannot but mistrust my selfe altogether and wholly flying vnto the sea of thy mercie power and wisedome doe beseech the vncessant supplie of thy gifts in the continuall accesse of thy holy spirit that in the throng of temptations I may be deliuered and stand victorer in Iesus Christ For patience O Most louing Lord suffer me not to be tempted aboue my might neither by affliction of bodie or soule neither by whatsoeuer earthly penurie the enemie would presse me with but euen in the middest graunt me patience to suffer thy fatherly tryals thankefully and without all grudging as worthily may beseeme the childe of so louing and mercifull a father For increase of faith O God thou creator of al maÌ„kind increase my faith and purge me of vnbeliefe that I alway calling to mind thy wonderfull louing worke of our redemption may with all boldnesse of spirit in the blood of Iesus Christ so apply thy comfortable promises to the saluing of my sores as that in vsing of the same pretious oyle of thy grace I may alwayes feare to make wast thereof For sanctification O Thou mightie God of Israell graunt me such an vnderstanding heart and so instruct my sences to be studious and capable of thy heauenly mysteries that according to the right rulâ— and perfect platforme of thy prouident direction I may loue in all singlenesse and humilitie of heart as a feeling member of Christ Iesus suffer in him mutually and fructifie in all aboundance of godly life to thy honor For temporall benefits O Father of all mercies so moderate thy mercifull hand in blessing me with the benefits of this temporall maintenance that neither through aboundance old Adam may set vp his feather nor yet thy vertues be in me through scarcity obscured For thankfulnesse O Thou comforter of the comfortlesse rend out of my heart all fleshly thornes and impediments that would at any time incline me to forget thy goodnesse or neglect to serue thee and giue me a heart alwaies affected to honour thee a minde euer meditating vpon thy mercy and a spirit burning with zeale of thy worship that daily I may pay my vowes vnto thee and speake to thy praise in the midst of the congregation For mortification and resolution O Most bounteous God so mortifie old Adam in my members and redouble the strength of the inner man that despising this momentanous life I may not sticke in the ioy of any earthly pleasure or yeeld my selfe to the delight of this present life but alway refusing to endeuour my selfe in an vncertaine hospidge and knowing that I am here but as a pilgrim I may shun my acquaintance with all things of fickle stay and fixe my heart my solace and delight vpon the hope of beholding the maiestie and beautie of thy glorie euen as it is where my ioy shall be full and nothing wanting for euer which ioyes as my spirit groneth to see so O Lord I beseech thee with expedition finish thy good workes in me and shortly bring to an end my sorrowfull daies that my soule as a doue may once take her flight from this earthly tabernacle and being receiued in to the bosome of thy deare sonne may be placed in that most happy rest which he hath purchased for the same with the price of his most pretious blood to whom with thee O father and the euerlasting comforter be all praise dominion and power euermore ascribed Amen A prayer against the feare of death O Eternall God my most louing and mercifull father I praise and glorifie thee euen from the depth of my infirme heart for all the benefites and riches of thy goodnesse bestowed vpon me from the beginning of my life vnto this present time but especially for the blessings of my election redemption vocation iustification and sanctification in Iesus Christ in all which thou hast in part taken me out of this world and giuen me the pledge of thy holy spirit which witnesseth vnto my spirit that I am thy childe thou hast I say giuen me the earnest peny of my saluation and whilest I was yet thine enemie hast reconciled me in Christ yea thou tookest me out of the blinde dungeon of carelesse ignorance to serue thee in simplicity to feare thee in loue and to call vpon thee in spirit and truth and in all these most louing father hast then made me proceed and profit vnto this present day wherein happily thy good pleasure seemeth to incline me towards the greatest benefiâ— that I euer yet tasted that is wholly to free me from all the miseries of this present life and to bring me to that heauenly liberty where my ioy shall be full and no tâ—st of mixture with bitternesse Now therefore deare father for Iesus Christ his sake I beseech thee respect me thy vnworthy seruant as all times of my life thou hast fatherly fedde nourished preserued and defended me so now in my last need visit and regard me that as the enemy will now with all rage bend his force agâ—inst me so thou with thy fatherly and mighty protection by thy holy spirit wilt comfort me and with the comfortable presence of thy maiestie strengthen me that my â—â—â—th still increasinâ— with armed patience I may despise the feâ—re of this bodies death knowing that it is the vnauoidable way that thy good pleasure hath appointed to doe away our mortalitie and to bring vs those ioyes which thy vnspeakable prouidence hath ordeined vs vnto without all deseruing on our parts teach me new therefore so to number my daies that I may apply my heart vnto thy wisdome teach me sweet Lord as heretofore to liue so now to frame to die to thy glory whereunto I poore wretch doe with a sighing heart beseech thee neuer â—o forsake me with thy holy spirit but that mine vnderstanding may alway be lightened with the feeling of mine owne infirmities so that in all perfect humilitie I may flie from the mind of all earthly stay and cleauing inseparably to thy promises and apprehending my saluation with sure hope I may expect the dissolution so beholding thy maiestie with the cleare eyes of my faith I may grow as by degrees weaker in body so fuller and stronger in the spirituall body or inner man so that when the last breath hath passed my soule may ioyfully respire the triumphant odours of an endlesse life in the bosome of Abraham withall thy saints whereto hasten me O deare louing father euen for Iesus Christ his sake our sauiour to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be all power glory and dominion now and for euer
Amen A prayer to be said in affliction O Thou onely wise God and most louing and mercifull father I thy vnworthy seruant doe humbly beseech thee to look down from heauen and beholde the wounded heart of him whome thou hast stricken and visited according to the good pleasure of thy will and because man in his owne nature is nothing but blindnesse and folly before thee and therefore cannot possâ—bly conceiue rightly of the thinges that are aboue it may therefore please thee according to thy wonted mercy towards me to renew and refresh thy spirit in thy seruant that the same instructing my heart in true wisdome and feare of thee whereby I may willingly and obediently studie thy commaundements and exrecise my selfe in thy Statutes I may come to the vnderstanding of mine owne euils and feele the cause of thy scourge that so my wound being laid open to mine eyes I may deferre no time to seeke the salue to heale it My good God heare the voice of thy seruant that crieth vnto thee consider my complaints and weigh mine inward wo conceiued through hate of mine owne infirmities for I flie from my selfe as from an vnwalled castle and I feare all my footings as though I walked on thornes O Lord therefore deale not with me in thy displeasure neither let my sinnes separate thy fauour from me but quicken me in my afflictions and make me waxe wiser by thy punishments giue me such a feeling of my infirmities and so perfect a perseuerance of my great negligences in seruing of thee as that I may wholly dispose my selfe to a contrary order and thereunto so ioyne the encrease of thy grace and strengthning spirit as I may be able thereby to perfourme my race in that good way which thy goodnesse hath mooued me to And that I may not be a vaine beholder of thy workes a momentaneous â—iewer of thy graces but diligently noting the effectuall working of thy wisdome and making due obseruations of thy profitable exercises in thy children I may locke them in the closet of my heart and make store of them for mine owne vses in the time of my triall in which times also O mercifull father be neere vnto me with thy ioyfull countenance and open my eies of faith to behold thy loue so that I be not too much shaken by the enemies assaults but may be furnished from thee both with abilitie constancie and patience to giue him both his daily and finall repulse and ouerthrow which that I may doe to the greater credit of thy Church and increase of thy kingdome make O sweete Lord now and the rather for that I haue had triall of my enemy his sleights already me thy seruant to arise out of all the fathers of sloth and neuer to trust hereafter to the the trecherie of the enemy but to stand warily vpon my guard and neuer to discend from the watch tower of my health but there night and day to vse the counsell of thy spirit and to exercise my selfe in the spirituall weapons of my saluation that when I haue spent my youthfull daies in the vigilant watch of my charge as thy mercy and louing kindnes shall inable me when thy sonne our Generall shall come to take account I may be indued with the daies of rest which he hath purchased for me with the price of his most pretious blood receiue at his hands the priuiledged rod of liberty for euer The loue of our good God that created vs the grace of our Lord Iesus who hath redeemed vs and the assistant fellowship of the Holy Ghost who hath sanctified vs gouerne and continue with vs euen all thy Israel for euer Before we receiue the Lords supper it shall be profitable thus to meditate ALl the righteousnesse that may rise vnto man or can be in vs we haue it neither from the East nor from the West but from the body of Christ neither is therein the world any other sanctification so that all we that be here this day and all people els of the world except we know perfect manhood and our owne nature to be really vnited to the person of the sonne of God who hath sanctified himse fe for vs there is no sanctification for vs vnder heaueÌ„ Euen as our hands and armes and other members are not nourished but onely by the meat receiued by the head so our spirituall meate of righteousnesse and life is not giuen vs but from our head Iesus Christ And as the veines are meanes by which nourishment is conueighed to euery part so faith is the meanes by which we reteine from Christ all that is healthfull vnto vs. And as by ioynts and sinewes our members are really knit and made a body vnto the head so really truly and indeede by one spirit we be knit vnto Christ as perfectly and substantially made one with him as our members are one with our head A praier before the receiuing of the Lords supper O Almighty God and my most mercifull father in wonderfull mercy I acknowledge it hath pleased thee to purge me vnworthy wretch by the bloody passion of thy sonne from all my sinnes to haue adopted me thy child and gâ—uen me the earnest of my saluation touching my heart with an infallible feeling of thy mercies and setled confidence in thy promises in the ioyfull commemoration of which thy vnspeakeable blessings my soule is now thirstingly entred into thine house to take the wholesome cup of saluation and to call vpon thy holy name giue me now therefore O Lord a wise and vnderstanding heart that I may coÌ„ceiue rightly of thy sacred mysteries discerne them secretly receiue them effectually to the perfect consummation and finishing of that happy building which thy worthy goodnes haâ—h begun in me yea vntill I become to the measure of the age and fulnesse of my Loâ—d and Sauiour Iesus Christ vnto whom with thee O father and the Holy Ghost be all power and doâ—inion for euer Amen of my health in this life O sweete Lord I take no care so that thy good pleasure be therein fulfilled for if thou wilt I liue and recouer of this my bodely infirmitie I haue iust cause to be thankefull vnto thee therefore and if thy wisdome hath now determined to finish in me these daies of sinne I haue double cause to poure forth the teares of a melting heart for ioy not because I would leaue these daies of paine and sorrow which my sinne ten thousand times double deserueth but that I would cease to displease so deare a Lord and louing a father and that being transported into that heauenly life of thy immortall children I may praise and serue thee in that sweet societie of Angels where the burthen of this flesh shall find no place to encumber me for euer Thither therefore O Father if thy wisdome haue so determined speedily conduct me in the meane time make that this my bodily affliction may conduce to thy glory on earth and my saluation in