when I go down to the Pit Shall the dust give thanks unto thee or shall it declare thy truth Hear O Lord and have mercy upon me Lord be thou my helper Shew thy Servant the light of thy Countenance and save me for thy mercies sake Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer in time of Sickness O Almighty and ever-living God in whose hands consists the life of all Mankind and who correctest every Son whom thou receivest mercifully I humble beseech thee to hear my voice and despise not the Prayer I make now unto thee in the time of trouble In the vexation of my Spirit and in the very anguish of my Soul I cry unto thee for mercy II. O thou that hast created and made me of nothing and hast redeemed me from the slavery of Sin Death and Hell by the most precious Blood of thy dear Son Jesus Christ which was spilt upon the Cross for my Sins Have mercy upon me Bow down thine all-hearing Ear unto my complaint and cast me not away in thy fierce anger III. My Sins cry aloud to Heaven for Vengeance and I have deserved thy wrath and heavy displeasure against me Thou hast cast me down upon the Bed of Sickness and I begin to fall as leaves beaten with a vehement wind yet thy Chastisments are less than my deservings but of thy mercy and goodness O Lord correct me not to death but to amendment of Life for thine own sake for thy holy Name 's sake for thy Son Christ Jesus sâ—ke be merciful unto my Sins for they are great IV. Spare thy Servant good Lord which confesseth his Sins unto thee pour the Oil of thy sanctifying Grace into my Heart and work thereby in me a true and immediate Repentance and restore me again to thy favour according to thy gracious Promise to humble Penitents let thy merciful Providence so guide and govern me in this affliction thou hast been pleased to lay upon me that I may never fall into utter darkness ignorance of thee or inconsideration of my self V. Let the faintness of my Spirit and the Condemnation of my self be overcome by thy irresistable Light thou that art the God of all consolation grant that I may be mindful of the great account I have to make at the day of Judgment and that I may bear in mind the reward which is due to the faithful the end of misery and the beginning of all happiness but to the secure and careless the beginning of eternal punishment VI. Strengthen my Faith accept my penitential Tears speak peace to my Soul and Conscience and say Thou art my Salvation then let thy holy Spirit descend into my Heart with this express My Grace is sufficient for thee then shall my Heart leap for joy and my Soul shall be exceeding glad desiring to be dissolved and be at peace that after this frail mortal Life is ended I may enjoy the eternal fruition of they heavenly Presence VII Suffer me not O Lord in this my trial to be possess'd with a fear of Condemnation or to despond of thy Promises but in sure considence of heart apply to my self the remission of all my Sins that at the last hour by Faith in Jesus Christ I may enjoy a tast of eternal Salvation Let not Death if thou art pleased to send it be terrible or bitter unto me but when it cometh I may rejoicingly receive the fame and having escaped the storm of Temptation and the dangers of Satan I may triumph like a Conqueror and behold the Power and Presence of thy holy Spirit VIII Let my last words be the same which thy Son did utter upon the Cross saying Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit and when my Speech is departed from me hear the groanings and sighs of my Heart and the desire of my Soul that at the last thy Servant may depart in Peace and reach those heavenly Mansions prepared for him My Soul O Lord heartily desireth to attain to that supernatural City whereof such glorious things are spoken IX Breathe inward Comforts to my Heart tho' my Body be going the way of all Flesh yet let my Soul go the way of all Saints Lord hear me and help me stand by me and save me and if thou hast determined to lay my Body into the Grave receive my Soul into thy Kingdom to rest in joy and peace for evermore through Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer to be said by those that visit the Sick O Most gracious God who hast Compassion upon all Men and hatest nothing that thou hast made mercifully we beseech thee to have Compassion on this thy Servant who by thy Visitation hath been sorely afflicted and by the same even brought to the end of his Days and period of his Life be pleased therefore good Lord to have Mercy upon him accept of him as the work of thine own Hands a Lamb of thy Fold thy Servant redeemed by Jesus Christ who is willing by thy appointment to leave this miserable World in full assurance of thy Mercy in Jesus Christ for the remission of his Sins II. Guide him good Lord in this his last Journey that he being quit of all the troubles of this transitory Life he may be safely conducted by thy power to the Heaven of Eternal Happiness into the Arms of boundless Mercy to everlasting Peace and perpetual Joys there to reign with all the Company of blessed Saints and Angels with thee in continual Bliss for evermore III. And gracious God we beseech thee by thy abundant Goodness by the multitude of thy tender Mercies and Compassions by the Merits of thy bitter Death and bloody Passion by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension and by the Coming of thy holy blessed Spirit have mercy upon him deliver him from the burthen and guilt of his Sins from the fears and terrors of Death and from the fury and power of Hell IV. Lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon him that in all the pains of his Body in all the agonies of his Spirit let thy Comforts refresh his Soul and enable him patiently to wait till his Change shall come And grant O Lord that when this earthly House and Tabernacle of his Body shall be dissolv'd he may have a Building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens and that for his sake who by his most precious Blood hath purchased Salvation for all those who truly believe in him even Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour Amen Meditations after Recovery Psal 116. 1. I Am well pleased that the Lord hath heard the voice of my Prayer 2. That he hath enclined his Ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live 3. The Snares of Death compassed me round about and the Pains of Hell got hold upon me 4. I shall find trouble and heaviness and I shall call upon the Name of the Lord O Lord I
I praise thee for my Creation Redemption and Preservation and by whose Grace and Mercy I hope to be glorified more-especially for feeding me this Day with the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ I will therefore offer unto thee the Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving and always praise thy holy Name beseeching thee to pour upon my Heart the sweet Streams of thy Mercy Conform my Life confirm my Faith and let thy Grace evermore guide me that I may with a strong assurance of thine infallible Truth and promised Mercy vanquish and subdue whatsoever rebelleth against thy blessed will II. Keep holy my Soul and Body and suffer them not to be defiled through delectation of Sin but that my full delight and joy may be in thee and walk before thee in sincerity of Heart and godly Conversation that I may here on Earth glorifie thy Name and after this Life with all thy falthful flock possess that everlasting Inheritance which thy Son Christ Jesus hath purchased with his most precious blood To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen John 5. 14. Behold thou art made whole sin no more least a worse thing come unto thee Jude 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen A Morning Prayer for a Private Person O Eternal God and most merciful Father I thine unworthy Servant do in all humility prostrate my self before thy divine Majesty acknowledging my own Vileness natural Corruptions and abominable Sins which from time to time have been committed against thee I am unworthy O Lord to appear in thy holy Temple or approach the remotest limits of the Place where thine Honour dwelleth II. But I beseech thee for the sake of thy dearly beloved Son accept of this my morning Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving for thy manifold Mercies extended towards me this Night past and heretofore till this moment For my Rest Food Raiment Health Peace and Liberty with the hopes of a better Life when this is ended Continue thy all supplying mercies unto me this day Govern me with thy Fear and compass me about with thy Favour set all my Sins to that accompt which thy Son Jesus Christ my only Saviour hath made up for them upon the Cross and never lay any of them to my charge but freely forgive and forget them all III. Prosper O Lord all that I shall take in hand this Day let my directions proceed from thy holy Will and the success from thy merciful Hand Give me a Competency for maintenance in this mortal Life that I may with quietness of mind and thankfulness of heart pass my time in this vale of misery in doing good to all men according to my ability without disparagement to my self or harm to others IV. Grant these things O Heavenly Father and whatever else thou seest most necessary for me and all other thy Servants in the World for the good of our Souls and Bodies guide and conduct me in the doing and performing diligently those things that thou hast required of me and that the end of all my labours may tend to the Praise of thy holy Name and the benefit of my poor Brethren Grant this good Lord I humbly beseech thee for Jesus Christ his sake Amen An Evening Prayer for a Private Person O Almighty and everlasting God I do confess I am unworthy of the least of all thy Mercies yet being bound in duty for thy preservation of me this day past and all the time of my whole Life I offer up unto thee Praise and Thanksgiving for my Election Creation Redemption Vocation and Sanctification with all other Gifts and Graces appertaining to this Life or that which is to come II. O thou that sittest above the Cherubims my tongue and lips shall praise and glorifie thee for preserving me by thy Providence this Day past from so many Miseries and Casualties which I might justly have fallen into hadst thou entred into Judgment with me But thou art a God full of Mercy and Compassion and passest by Offences to win me the more by thy patience and long-suffering make me truly thankful for thy Mercies ready and willing to make a good improvement of thy most gracious Forbearance and careful to obey thy Will with Conscience Diligence and Constancy III. Strengthen me from above with thy mighty hand to walk in every good way without fearfulness and to bring forth the Fruits of a true and lively Faith in my Life and Conversation all the days of my sojourning here Arm me with thy Grace and holy Spirit against the Corruptions and Vanities of the World and Wiles and Temptations of the Devil and the Allurements of the Flesh and so settle and frame my mind to the continual exercise of devout Prayer hearing of thy sacred Word and watching for thy coming both in publick and private IV. Keep me O Lord this night from all Evils which may happen either to my Body or my Soul Extend thy Goodness towards all those that have any dependance upon me give me sweet and comfortable rest that when I shall awake all my Thoughts Meditations may be on thee and thy Law Bless me O Lord all the nights and days of my Life and at the end thereof send me a blessed departure and afterwards a joyful Resurrection both of Soul and Body unto Life eternal grant these things O heavenly Father for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake my only Saviour Amen A Morning Prayer for a Private Family O Almighty and most merciful Father thou hast promised That where Two or Three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt be in the midst of them we poor sinful Creatures dust and ashes here in all humility do prostrate our Bodies and Souls before thee as living Monuments of thy Mercy We are unworthy of the least of thy mercies yet hast thou from time to time made us partakers of many for which we praise and magnifie thy holy Name beseeching thee to give us understanding Hearts to be sensible of our Evils with direction and assistance from thy holy Spirit to avoid the same II. And as thou hast O Lord kept us this Night in the time of darkness and dangers so we beseech thee to preserve us this Day that the Sun of Righteousness may rule in our Hearts and all the darkness that lurketh in them may be scattered to the comfort of our own Souls in the day of our Lord Jesus Endue us with those Gifts and Graces thou seest to be most needful for us and grant that with sincere Hearts pure Consciences we may wholly employ them in thy service to thy honour and glory III. Continue to us we earnestly beseech thee thy blessing of Health Peace and Maintenance so far as thou seest them convenient for us chase away from us all Rancour and Malice Covetousness Uncharitableness and Unkindness and whatsoever is contrary to thy Law take
of Defence in the Time of Adversity as for his Enemies let them be cloathed with Shame but upon himself let his Crown for ever flourish Grant him a long and a prosperous Reign let Peace and Unity Holiness and Justice Truth and all Christian Vertues flourish in his time Let all his Subjects faithfully serve him with Honour and due Obedience and let him so truly serve thee his God here on Earth that he may hereafter everlastingly reign with thee in Heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for the Royal Family O God the Father of all Mercies bless and preserve Catherine the Queen Dowager the Princess Anne of Denmark with all the rest of the Royal Family unite them unto thee with the Bands of Faith and Love preserve them to their Lives end in thy Favour make them Instruments of Glory to thy Name of refreshment to the Church of joy to all faithful People of this Kingdom prosper them with all Happiness here on Earth and crown them at last with an Eternal Weight of Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for our Parents ALmighty God who from the Loins of our First Parents Adam and Eve didst produce Mankind and hast commanded us to Honour and Obey our Parents in pursuance of thy holy Will and Commandment and of our Duty to thee our God and in thee to them we do with all humility beg a Blessing of thee for our Parents who from thy Mercy and Plenty have conveyed many to us pardon and forgive all their Sins and Infirmities encrease in them all Goodness give them Blessings of the Right Hand and Blessings of the Left bless them in their Persons and Posterity in their Goods and good Name in the Comforts of thy Holy Spirit in a persevering Goodness and at last in an eternal Weight of Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of Parents for their Children O God the Creator of all the World by whose Providence Mankind is propagated I bless thy holy Name for bestowing on me the Blessing of Children Lord bless them with Life and Health with good Understanding fair Opportunities and Advantages of good Education but above all with the Gifts and Graces of thy Holy Spirit that they may live and be blessed under thy Protection grow in Grace and be in favour with God and Man and at last may make up the number of thine Elect Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for our Friends and Benefactors O Thou Fountain of all Goodness from whom proceeds all Excellency both to Men and Angels extend thy favour and loving-kindness to all my Friends and Benefactors Reward them and make them plentiful Compensation for all the Benefits which from thy merciful Hand of Providence they have conveyed to me Let the Light of thy Countenance so shine upon them as they may never enter into any Desolation or Affliction but such as may be instrumental to thy Glory and their Eternal Comfort through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer of a Wife for her Husband BLessed Lord who hast been graciously pleased to call me to the holy State of Matrimony bless me in it with the Grace of Chastity Loyalty Obedience and a dutiful Complacency to my Husband Bless him with a long Life a healthful Body and an understanding Heart and furnish him with all those Gifts and Graces which may enable him to be and continue thy Servant that he may be a Supporter and a Guide to me his Wife a Blessing and a Comfort to his Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of a Husband for his Wife O Most gracious God who art a Father to us thy Children a Spouse to thy holy Church a Saviour and Redeemer to all Mankind have Mercy upon thy Handmaid my Wife endue her with all the Ornaments of thy heavenly Grace make her to be as Religious as Hester Loving as Rachel Fruitful as Leah Wise as Rebecca and Obedient as Sarah that being filled with Grace and Benediction here she may be partaker of thy Glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of an Orphan O God gracious and merciful who art ready to succour all those that are distressed and hast promised to be a Father to the Fatherless Have Mercy upon me O Lord I humbly beseech thee who am left a poor Orphan and by thy heavenly will and pleasure deprived of my earthly Parents Supply O Lord all my Wants and Necessities guide govern and comfort me with thy good Spirit that in all my Words Works and Actions I may glorifie thee my heavenly Father Let thy heavenly Grace sustain me and work in me Obedience to my Superiors and those which have the charge and care over me that they discharging a good Conscience towards me I may by thy ready help improve my time to the Praise and Glory of thy holy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Widow's Prayer O Most holy Lord God the Comforter of all those who are in any affliction sorrow or trouble The Bands of Death by thy appointment have made a separation between me and him whom thou gavest to be my Husband who was my Head and supreme Governour and the only Guide I had in this World next under thee Grant me grace to bear this cross and loss patiently and to put my whole Trust and Confidence in thee let thy tender Care go along with me in preserving me from all Oppression and Wrong and deliver me from the Hands of those who will devour Widows Houses Bless me O Lord as thou didst the poor Widow of Sarepta let not the Barrel of Meal wast but grant me a competency fit for my Estate neither let the Cruise of Oil fail but assist me with thy Grace that I may walk worthily towards thee and all the World Let my continual Prayers and Supplications ascend up to thee and hear O Lord and have mercy when I cry unto thee for the alone sake of thy dear Son my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen The Servant's Prayer O Most mighty God and the great Lord and Master of all the World who beholdest with thine all-seeing Eye thy great Houshold and Family here on Earth look upon me thine unworthy Servant I humbly beseech thee with thine Eye of Providence grant me a contented Mind in that state thou hast placed me in so shall I enjoy a continual Feast Assist me O Lord with thy heavenly Grace that I may perform Obedience and be subject to my earthly Masters whom thou hast been pleased to set over me whether they be Good or Evil Courteous or Froward Prosper all the Designs I shall take in hand in this my Servitude which are not in opposition to thy Commands Preserve and keep me from all Evil that no Enticements may allure me either to embezel away any thing committed to my Custody or have Society with such who are Enemies to my Master's House let me chearfully