can deliuer vs but thy out-stretched arme we rely not vpon our selues nor continuing therein forsake thee so long till at last thou forsake vs and we perish vtterly but Lord preuenting it so rend our harts that they may bleed in sorrow for the same that thou maist forgiue vs our great vnthankefullness end all the rest â—â— our sins our ignorances willfullnesse necligences presumptions and all other our transgressions and rebellions o Lord forgiue them all vnto vs for Iesus Christ his sake wash them all away in his bloud nayle them fast vnto his Crosse and bury them in his graue where let them consume to nothing hauing not that resurrection that our bodies shall haue from thence least thy should come to iudgement with vs cloath vs we pray thee with his robes and honour vs with his spirit worke in vs godly sorrow and remorsfull minds mortifie our sinful lusts and adorne vs withall thy graces open our eyes that we may see thy will and incline our harts to follow it direct vs in thy wayes and keepe vs from declining from thee teach vs so to frame our liues before thee in this world that we may liue for euer with thee in the world to come and to that end we besech thee be mercifull vnto vs at this time and receiue vs into thy fatherly protection pardon the weakenesse of our prayers watch thou ouer vs to our good and giue vs such rest and sleepe that we may be fitter inabled to serue thée the next day in our exercises studyes and callings heare holy father from heauen and graunt vs all these our requests and whatsoeuer else thou knowest may be for our good for Iesus Christ his sake thine only sonne and our only sauious to whom with thee and thine holy spirit one most wise glorious and eternall God be rendered all power praise and glory this night and for euermore Amen A morning Prayer for a priuate famely It is in vaine to rise early and to lye downe late except the Lord be with vs so vaine a thing is man therefore we will not attempt any thing before we haue taken counsell and strength from the Lord that he may deliuer vs from euery euill worke if we aske that thing which is euill deny our ignorance if we aske that thing which is good Remember thy promise IN peace and safety we layed vs downe and rose againe for thy gratious eye watched ouer vs that we might take our rest The heauens declare thy glory and the earth is full of thy goodnesse yet thou hast not so respected all nations and thou hast loued Syon thy little hill a nooke and corner of the world far seperated from the serpent and fenced from the wild beast yet who considereth the euill we haue deserued is gone into other landes because their Gods be not like vnto our God we haue had much experience of thy goodnesse yet we trye thee still we proue thee still and yet we see thy workes thou hast seperated vs from schisme heresy that we should be ioyned vnto thee euen a new creature come out of darkenesse to light according to the working of knowledge in vs. O bind our harts with thy feare that we part not from thy loue for our selues and for our brethren we here prostrate our soules before thee O Prince most excellent for the name of thy onely Sonne one drop of mercy to coole this â—ire of sinne nothing good Lord â—o change thy mercy yet the whelâ—es doe eate the crummes that fall from their maisters Table first wee yeeld thee harty thankes for all at once next wee humbly beseech thee for the generall quittance which thy Sonne hath sealed for our sinnes then for all graces we pray thee let vs not want the thing without which wee cannot serue thee plant in our hearts true feare of thy name obedience â—oâ— our Prince and loue to our neighbour giue power good Father to our prayers that they may be effectual sollicitors for thy grace and fauour in all occasions and seasons grant vs true humility in prosperity perfect patience in aduersity peace in Christ and ioy in the holy Ghost This is our desire to liue godly righteously and soberly so blesse vs and keepe vs good Father to the end of our liues Turne vs O God of our saluation grant that we may grow froÌ„ strength to strength that thy Church militant may be like thy triumphant in heauenly charity and al communion of Saints write thy Lawes on the Table of our hearts with the finger of thy good Spirit that by vs they may be often euidently read practised in our liues and conuersations Blesse them which blesse vs looke vpon this realme in thy mercy preserue our King let not the eye of Great Brittaine become dim or loose his sight be gratious and mercifull vnto our friends and parents according to the flesh comfort thy afflicted Saints and members confound the power of Antichrist send thy feare amongst them make their time short and defend thine owne cause and as thou art sanctified in vs before them so bee thou magnified in them before vs yâ— all the world may conuert say En Deus Christianorum Great art thou O God of the Christians and there is none omnipotent besides thee iust and mercifull recompensing righteousnesse and reuenging iniquitie transgressions yesterday and to day and the same for euer and euery where Grant these things O heauenly Father with thy blessing vpon this family O Lord leade them out and bring them in bee at the beginning the middle and end of all their businesses that thou maiest see them accomplished to their best aduantage and for because the world is a forrest of briers many dangers therein that may intangle vs so that when wee part and go out wee are not sure to méet and come in againe vnlesse thou guide vs by thy hand and protect vs vnder the wings of thy safe-guard Therefore bee present and assistant vnto vs and euery one of vs then happy shall wee be and all things shall prosper that wee take in hand which Lord fulfill vnto vs and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure shall better foresee for our good euen for his sake who died for sinne and sinned not in whose name we further pray vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our Father c. God the Father which hath made vs blesse vs God the Sonne which hath redeemed vs preserue vs God the Holy-ghost which hath sanctified vs confirme our faith to the end and in the end Oh God Father Sonne and holy Ghost saue vs. AMEN An Euening prayer for a priuate Family Our transgressions are more in number then the hairs of our head wee repent vs of them all from the bottome of our hearts O Father be mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs them O Lord God our most mercifull Father vnto thy diuine Maiesty what might wee render as an Oblation acceptable vnto thee which hast
thereof but delight in contention and strife therefore I beseech thee because I would not bee as one out of thy fauour giue vnto me that minde that a peacefull man should haue and let thy spirit assure my spirit that my sinnes are washt away in the bloud of thy sonne Christ Iesus that my conscience within me may haue peace and rest without which all ioy will turne into bitternesse and I shall mourne in the middest thereof as the Pellican in the wildernesse The body will beare the infirmity therof but an aking and wounded Conscience who can sustaine O Lord settle this assurance in me that I haue peace with thee and I shal haue peace with all men with whom to haue peace and to be at warres with thee to be at peace with the world and at enmity with thee is to make vnto my selfe a dangerous truce a league of peace against the king of peace the very breath of whose nostrils is able at once to destroy a thousand worlds and all the Creatures therein and therefore vaine is the combination that is plotted against thee Giue mee patience O Lord to digest and passe ouer the iniury and malice of those that contentiously and causlessely by the malice and instigation of Sathan séeke to stir vp strife and disturbe my quyet wherein in the mediation of thee and thy mercies towards me I might meditate day and night free from this troublesome and intangled world with her thousand snares whereby by righting my wrong a little I wrong my selfe a great deale and the remembrance whereof as my means with her so many branches to the vexâ—tion and expence of my mind and body substance endlesly eate me vp yâ— I forget what I liue but to remember woe to him that goes to law for that which yâ— Gospell hath taken order for Therefore good father giue me such a patient disgesting mind that I desire not to iniury others to molest my selfe but rather by yâ— example of thee the true patterne of all imitation that to thy accusers didst not open thy mouth but wast dumbe like a sheep before yâ— shearer wast so far from reuenging the iniuries of man that thou diddest not defend thy selfe And if at any time I bee forced to vse the meanes to take this sword into my hands that I do it not with delight but vnwillingly and with such moderation and clemency that it bee to defend my selfe and not offend others that I offend not in the true vse therof but that I labour to haue peace with thee peace with all men which grant thou that art the God of peace for thy Sonne Christ Iesus sake our Sauiour A prayer for seasonable weather a punishment the Lord hath lately inflicted vpon vs and our whole land for our sinnes ETernall Almighty and Euerlasting God forasmuch as by thy holy word wee are taught that wheÌ„ thine anger is incensed against vs for our sins amongst other thy punishments thou doest shut vp the heauens yâ— there may â—â—no rain that the earth thereby may deny her fruites vnto vs and now thou doest iustly manifest this thy displeasure vnto vs in shutting vp the heauen which was wont to drop downe her wholsome showers in due season vpon the fruits of the earth hardening them as Iron or brasse in dispersing yâ— clouds so that they drop not vpon the dry and parched soyle burnt vp and withering in the heat of thine indignation O Lord though wee are sensible of this thy displeâ—sure kindled so heauily aginst vs at this time yet groaning vnder the weight of our manifold sins and transgressions so great and so innumerable we are afraid in our selues to approach vnto thy Tribunall to craue a release of this thy punishment or to begge any other mercy at thy hands yet because such is thy gracious goodnesse towards mankinde that by thy Prophet Zachary thou hast mercifully promised vs the first and the latter raine to make white clouds and giue showers to euery one grasse in the field Therefore we acknowledging our owne vnworthinesse relying onely vpon thy mercies with lowly contrite broken harts do presume to powre out our humble supplicatioÌ„s before thée beséeching thee yâ— thou wouldst heare our prayers as thou didst sometimes the earnest supplications of Helias who prayed the heauens gaue raine the earth brought forth her fruit And as it hath pleased thee most gracious God likewise to promise by the mouth of Moses thy seruant vnto Israell And in another place by thy Prophet Hosea that if that people would forsake their sinnes turne wholly vnto thee the Lord their God thou wouldst giue raine vnto the land in due time the first raine and the latter that they might gather in the wheate the oyle and yâ— thou wouldest send grasse in their fields for cattle that they might eate inough and yâ— if they would turne vnto thee with vnfeyned repentance thou wouldst heare the heauens they shold heare the earth the earth shold heare the grasse the corn the oyle thou wouldest haue mercy vpon them that were not pittied Mercifull Father with an humble confession of our great ingratitude a hatred loathing of our former transgressions committed with a high and presumptuous hand against thy sacred maiesty and with a serious purpose to walke in the wayes which thou hast commanded so in the griefe and agony of spirit for our former sins we turne vnto thee turne then vnto vs most mercifull father and extend thy great goodnesse and compassion towards vs that we may tast and see how gratious thou art in hearing of these our prayers answearing them gratiously in the seasonable supply of this our necessity to the honour of thy great name and the comfortable refreshing of thy seruantes for the merits of thy sonne Iesus Christ our only Lord and Sauiour A meditation of Gods loue and mercy towards vs and our vnthankefullnesse towards him alluding to the phrase of S. Augustine Miserere mei Domine indigna facientis Digna Patientis ETernall Almighty most mercifull God vpon the knees of our harts we prostrate our selues our soules and bodies at the throne of thy grace being altogether wretched and vnworthy sinners vnworthy of the least of those benefittes that haue not fallen vnto vs seldome now and than and that in a weake and restrayned measure but in bundles and shewes of a large allowance dayly and howerly throwne vpon vs from thy royall and plentifull hand as though we had alwayes performed thy will and our delight and been to walke wholy in the pathes of thy commandements which we haue been so far from witnesse deare God our owne consciences that we haue derided them and set them at light trod them vnder foot vpon the least aduantage or occation nay in sport and merriment and to shew vs men of resolutions presumptuously we haue taken them in vaine and that in so carelesse and high ameasure
sinne my reputation name to perish vpon earth as salt that hath lost his sauour my temporal estate to be ruind by casualties and losse For why should any thing prosper that I take in hand being thus ouergrowne in wickednesse and wherefore shouldst thou giue good successe to that which I attribute not vnto thee how euer it fall out buâ— to the worke of mine owne hands and the pollicy of my contriuing robbing thee of thy honour and due to whom it belongs O Lord as thy mercy hath thus long preserued me sound in all these so let it worke in me that at last I may â—ee my errour and amend it see my wound and labour to cure it my finnes and repent mee of them from the bottome of my heart that thou mayst forgiue me them Turne me O Lord and I shall be turned wash me cleane with water and I shall be cleansed renue me as the Eagle her dayes and I shall bee renued gather thy thosen Flocke from thâ— mountains and desarts wherein they stray to fulfill thy fold I shall be gathered sweep thy house and find thy greate and I shall be found be gratious vnto me heareafter as thou hast bene good vnto me heretofore let not my vnworthynesse weary out thy goodnesse but continue it vnto me to the end now O Lord I giue thee harty thankes and praise for that thou hast this day preserued mée from all harmes and perilles notwithstanding all my sins and ill deserts so I beseech thee likewayes defend mee this night from all the dangers and assaults that may accompany this vncomfortable season and to this end I commend into thine hands my selfe my soule and body beseching thee my Lord and God not to suffer sathan nor any of his ministers to haue power to doe me any hurt or violence this night graunt good Lord that whether I sleep or wake liue or dye it may be vnto thee the saluation of my soule which grant Lord for thy mercies sake Thy grace o Lord Iesus Christ thy loue o heauenly father thy comfort and consolation o holy and blessed spirit be with me and dwell in mee both in hart and mind in soule and body this night and all the nights and dayes of my life Amen Another mornings Prayer Eyther priuate or publicke changing but the number MOst gratious God in the name of Christ Iesus our most mercifull Sauiour and redeemer we giue thee most humble and harty thankes for the quiet rest and repose this night thou hast bestowed vpon our weary and tyred bodies to the refreshing and norishing of the same and for thy gratious prouidence and vigilancy ouer vs all the dayes and nights past euer since we were borne and came into the world for our creation redemption for thy most sacred word a lanshorue to our feet and a light vnto our steppes for thy long and vnwearied patience so long expecting our repentance and turning vnto thee that day by day haue put thee off till we haue heaped vp many yeares of iniquity by greiuous sins in tedious times ouer and vpon our owne heads able and waightie enough to pull vs downe to the pit of perdition where long since we haue deserued to haue layne in endlesse wo and mysery but that thy mercy and louing kindnesse hath preuented vs o Lord giue vs grace to be mindfull of these mercies that our tongues may speake and harts may meditate theron in exultation and ioy and Lord giue vs grace to consider and make vse thereof that as the night is past wherein our spirit and vigor is renued which brought vs into sleepe the true image of death and layd vs in our beds the representation of our graues for vt somnus mortis sic lectus imago sepulcri and that the day hath taken vs vp againe to begin our toyle with his which suddainly finds a period and conclusion and sets it selfe againe in darkenesse which afterwards must giue place to the light and that these two consumers of the world the day and night which with there easy lenghts there spannes and fadomes since the commandement was first giuen let there be day and night haue brought age and maturity the sithes and sickles that haue reaped downe whole haruestes of flesh and layd the groth of nature in the dust teach vs o Lord with this remembrance to way the instability transmutation of time and nature the incertainty of all worldly things our vnwarranted liues that hange vpon a brittle third a dials point that with the sun in the morne with strength and splendor addresse our selues like giantes to runne our course when many times we are taken vp within few minuts after and caried into the bowels of the earth in the begining of our race becomming wormes and not men guestes for the solitary tabernacles of silence and forgetfulnesse and to frame our liues and actions thereafter that whensoeuer thy good will and pleasure is to take vs out of this world of misery to bind vp our bones in peace and rest we may yeild vp our soules and bodiâ—s into thy hands with full confidence and assurance that our sins and offences are washt away in the bloud of that pure and immaculate lambe Christ Iesus and shall not condemne vs prosper vs o Lord in all our actions giue good successe to our true indeauors and graunt that this day and all the dayes of our life may be so spent by thy councell fauour and direction that we may so beare our selues through this dale of mysery that at the last we may raigne with thee in eternity and glory Amen An euening Prayer to the same MOst gratious God and mercifull father in Christ Iesus we doe heare how downe the knees of our soules and bodies in thy presence offering vp our prayer and prayse vnto thee with all possible thankes for all thy fauours towards vs namely for electing vs vnto eternall life for creating vs vnto thine owne image for redeeming vs by the bloud of thy sonne for sanctifying â—s by thy holy spirit for our health peace and liberty and all thy blessings that we reioyce in for the which we can giue no reasoÌ„ for but thy mercy and if thou shouldest withdraw them all backe againe we cannot accuse thee of iniustice not deseruing the least of them by reason of our sins which are so greuous and infinite that we cannot reckon them able to make a perpetual seperation betweene thee and vs but that thou art a mercifull patient long suffering God thou desirest not the confusion of sinners but that they should turne from there wickednesse liue and to that end thou hast forborne vs hetherto with a heauye and greeued aspect and hast not raigned downe thy punishments vpon vs therefore now o Lord giue vs a time of grace as thou hast giuen vs time of mercy that we may take a suruaye of our estate that perceiuing the danger we are in from the which none
inioyng of these that seme what they are not as we haue allready examined that make thee to desire life that thou mayst reioyce therein the forsaking whereof maketh it death vnto thee to thinke of death yet know they are all but vanity thou must die aut sero aut setius eyther soner or later for there is no preuention no resistance can hinder it therefore that which must be imbrace willingly make a vertue of necessity and though thou mightest escape it yet it were but a madnes because if we peruert not the true nature of it it is the end of all misery and sorrow and labour and trauayle the gate that opens the may vnto all true pleasure happines whereof all in this world are but counterfets and shadowes so resolue thy selfe hereof prepare thy selfe hereto that the remembrance of thy passed dayes augment not the bitternes therof at the last hower and then thy paines shall not dismay thee because thou trauellest to bring forth eternall life which for the merry-madnesse of one hower take heed that thou lose not for euer But vse thy pleasures with such moderation euer remembring they are momentary he that hath most hath not all and he that least hath some that for a moments ioy thou reap not eternity of sorrow that thou loue them not so much y◠you forget God in whose presence is fullnesse of ioy at his right hand pleasures for euermore psal 16. and who giueth vs drinke out of a whole riuer of pleasures psal 36. contemne therefore these transitory pleasures and reserue your selues for pleasures there eternally compleat where neyther enuy nor iealousy nor sickenes nor taint shall alter or distast your happinesse where your ioy shall be euer present yet you cannot be filled rather you shall be filled but cannot be satisfied or if not satisfied then there is hunger or that you may then there is a loathing I know not how to expresse it Deus habet quod exhibeat God hath somthing there to bestow which I know not but ibi beata vita in fonte there is blessednes at the head of the spring not in cisternes that thou may be sure of and could you drinke vp the pleasures of the whole world at a draught as Cleopatra drunke the valew of 5. thousand pound yet remember it is but a draught quickly downe the throat and there hath an end and therefore I say againe vse them with moderation to sweeten and allay the many anguishes that if euer perdominant would vntimely waigh vs downe to our graues and we should faint in the middest of our race euer looking vp from these to that eternall rest and peace of mind which hereafter wee shall inioy and then when death shall approach neare vnto thee his aspect shall not be fearfull which shall end all our miseries heale all our infirmities wipe away all discontents in it we shall there finde an end of sinning an end of all vncleanesse an end of all wandering thoughts and cogitations by it we be freed from this wicked and exemplary world when the soule cannot looke out at the eye as her window but a whole army of vanity is ready to sease vpon her nor vse any of her seruants whereby treason is not offered vnto her by death the soule shall bee deliuered from this thraldome and bondage and as the Apostle speaketh this corruptible body shall put on incorruption and this mortall immortality 1. Cor. 15. 53. O blessed thrise blessed bee that death that ends in the Lord which deliuers vs out of so euill a world and freeth vs from such corruption and bondage Why then should we feare that wee would not escape because our chiefest happinesse is behinde where wee cannot come but we must passe through this doore of death and if euery houre of our life we should dye a death were too little to keepe vs from thence And but that our portion and felicity is behinde and when this our shadow of life ends our true life begins and the graue shall not euer inclose vs in her wombe which if it should then woe were man aboue any other creature liuing when sencelesse and irrationall creatures as the Stagge the Rauen and the Daw Rockes and Trees and such like haue an ages date beyond man for whose vse they were all created and made but that he hath an euerlasting inheritance in heauen with that great God that created made both him and them when so we shall raine euerlastingly whil'st they vpon earth in distance of time shall moulder and rot and drop downe to nothing O let vs not then dote so much vpon these vnprofitable and fading vanities vpon our wodden cottages our tottering buildings of painted clay such as our bodies are which are but y◠tents of vngodlinesse and habitation of sinners but let vs looke and long after this heauenly Citty whose builder and maker is God whither that we may the sooner come let vs with the Apostle desire to bee dissolued and to be with Christ The Sicke-mans Prayer O Gracious God look down from heauen with y◠eyes of mercy vpon me a most miserable wretched sinner grieuously afflicted in body and in minde a worme no man if a man such a one that neuer any with more need lifted vp eyes nor heart to the throane of thy mercy from whence all comfort commeth looke vpon mee O Lord with y◠eyes of thy mercy giue me patience to endure this my affliction tryall and giue mee grace O Lord to make such vse thereof that it may bee to thy glory and my good put into my minde all the precepts comforts instructions I haue heard or read of al my life before as strōg meditations to comfort mee in this my extremity Be not farre from me O Lord lest Sathan preuaile ouer me make thou my bed and I shall rest in peace visite me O Lord as thou didest visite Peters wiues mother and the Captaines seruant for vnto thee belongeth health and saluation thou bringest to the doore of death and to the brinke of the graue and yet if thy good will pleasure be thou restorest to health and perfection againe And gracious and louing father seale in my heart by thy holy spirit the forgiuenesse of all my sins throughout the whole course of my life that what I haue done or said amisse may bee buried in the wounds of thy sonne so that they be neuer layd vnto my charge nor imputed against me in his bloud purge my body and soule from all their corruptions and if this my visitation bee not vnto the death may it please thee to helpe me vpon the bed of my sorrowes speake but the word and it shall bee done renue my former health vnto me that I may take vp my bed and walk and by a happy transmutation turne my whole heap of sorrow into a bundle of ioy Heale me and I shall be whole saue me
shall come it shall the lesse affright mee in that before I haue set my house in order and disposed my selfe thereto which preparation that I may make and successe that I may find graunt me Lord though so many neclect it for thy mercies sake AmeÌ„ A prayer and meditation for a strong faith and against that dangerous sinne of desperation THough our sinnes were as red as scarlet thy bloud O Lord will wash them as white as snow though in sin we haue bene borne and in iniquity our mothers haue conceyued vs yet will we trust in thy louing kindnesse all the dayes of our life if wee should trust in our owne merits desperatioÌ„ would inuiron vs on euery side yet Lord when we consider the multitude of our sinnes and that euery day of our life we adde to there number so that all the water in the Ocean-sea cannot rince vs from them for the least of which in thy iustice thou mâ—yst throw vs downe to the bottomlesse pit of hell our faith faultereth and we begin to dispayre but that we trust in the merits of his suffering who in the bundle of his afliction hath gert vp ours and will eyther nayle them to his crosse or cast them into the bottome of the sea and hang millstones about there neckes yâ— they shal neuer rise vp in iudgement to condemne vs yâ— else would neuer suffer vs to rise vp to be saued Lord giue vs grace to be wary to our steps vigilant to our pathes to haue an eye to our soules for Sathan compasseth the earth watcheth and roreth and walketh transformeth himselfe into all shapes that he may win vs in all sins into an Angell of light being but a fiend of darkenesse to sift and winnowe vs as wheat graine after graine that if it were possible he might surprise vs good God what need haue we of thy assistance and grace to beare vâ— out that haue such enemies without such enemies within the weakest whereof is stronger then we so that we need the prayers of our owne spirits and the spirit of God that groâ—eth with gronings not to be expressed and of the sonne of God himselfe who sitteth at his fathers right hand and maketh intercession for vs that our faith fayle not and that we fall not into desperation for alasse what ability haue we of our selues or what strength haue wee in our sinnâ—wes who are not as pillers of brasse or the deafe rockes of the sea against the which there waues dash themselues and they are not shaken being substances so firme vâ—alterable that cannot be remoued but dust and ashes crackt with euery flaw and blast of affliction and vnlesse thou support vs we are not able to stand and there is no safty but vnder the winges of thy mercy we haue sinned against heauen and against thee the father of our spirits the father of our flesh against him yâ— gaue vs his law and he that gaue our nature birth and being by our misdeedes and abominations both the tables haue we broken and done very wickedly in thy sight all the creatures in the world haue in there kind and degree bene more dutifull and seruiceable vnto thee then man so much beloued of thee made according to thine owne image indued with reason directed by thy law and thy preceptes auering thus offended men and bretheren what shall we doe all the creatures in heauen earth accusing and condemning vs the Lord himselfe complayning against vs I haue norished and brought forth children and they haue rebelled against mee what shall wee say that our sins are greater then can be forgiuen no let vs with Dauid though our faith haue almost failed and our feet slided with his yet let vs with him recouer out-selues againe by laying hold vpon thy promises support vs O Lord where thy Angels fell Caine Iudas Achitophell for they dispayred in thy mercies and there fall was iâ— recouerable euen to the bottomlesse pit of hell from whence there is no deliuery but we will trust in thy mercies and louing kindnes all the days we liue in and kisse the son least he be angry and o turne away the fauour light of his countenance from vs and least his wrath be kindled against vs his fierce and furious wrath which O Lord who is able to abide the extent and copiousnesse whereof is as his mercies are vnexplicable and therein sueth an abundance of misery with a traine and coniunction of all plagues and punishments out of the ready stâ—re-house of the restrayned inundations of his wrath that let at liberty range in an open feild and there is none to resist them we are all by nature the children of wrath borne to the inheritance thereof as to our fathers landes for nothing remayneth so hereditary to vs as sinne and confusion but yâ— the bloud of Christ hath purchased fauour for vs Lord giue vs grace to continue it in keeping a wary conscience to offend and walking carefully in thy feare but for such O Lord that are allready condemned that runne on in an endlesse labyrâ—nth of sinne the race to distruction without turning vnto thee drawing the vnhappy breath which if it had neuer ben breathed into there nostrills whereby they were made liuing creatures it had bene wel with them without repenting heaping vp anger against the day of wrath not caring to blunt the edge thereof there end is the end of the sentence and they are sure to perish not in the life of the body alone but in the life and eternity of there soules not for an age and a period of time but whilst God raigneth in heauen able to doe iustice to auoid which greuious plagues and punishments giue vs grace O Lord suddainly to turne vnto the whilst the time of grace remayneth least the graue open her mouth and shâ—t it againe vpon vs and close vs vp in our sinnes and deliuer vs guilty into the hands of perdition from the which wee shall neuer bee freed Let vs quench this wrath in time with the bloud of the Lambe staine from the beginning of the world and through the streame of his mercy and the riches of his merits seeke acceptance acquaintance and friendship with our God that wee perish not let vs not despaire in our sins nor presume on his merits too much but lay hold theron by faith so applying the benefite of thy passion and merites to our selues and our soules that wee may finde fauour and bee acceptable in thy sight Thy mercy O Lord is the crowne of all thy workes and my sinnes though they were more then I can commit are not more then thou canst forgiue the assurance of this promise and the probation of thy goodnes euermore shall be the rocke whereupon my faith shall anker I will sayle my brittle barke throughout this sea of vncertainty temptation and danger thou being the starre of my direction throughout yâ— waues and surges thereof that sometimes lift mee vp
right hand is of more puissance then the whole arme either of flesh or any spirit besides yea then the whole loines whole substances whole bodies of Angels or of Men siluer gold silke purple all other creatures so it shall walke through life and death without controulement if it find Angels Principallities powers things present things to come or any other creature in the world stopping her passage and rebuking her forwardnesse shee shall cleare her way notwithstanding and clime into the presence of her God and in his eares deliuer her message Bee we in sickenesse to him the true Phâ—sition that knowes both the cause and the cure shee comes for health bee wee in imprisonment there shee sollicites a release from him the Lord of liberty bee we opprest with pouerty or want The earth is the Lords and all that dwell therein to him shee comes for the blessing of the Lord maketh rich are we afflicted aboue measure beyond the strength of man insomuch that we doubt whether we liue or no receiuing the sentence of death within our selues so as in our opinion we comprehend no deliuery no euasion but lie open to the direct accomplishment thereof yet in this exigent and extremity wee come to God in this meanes euen almost beyond hope without expectation and by his good pleasure we are deliuered therefore heerein let vs receiue comfort hee hath hee doth and will deliuer vs not onely from the death of our bodies when wormes and rottennesse haue made their long and last prey vpon them but from the death of our mindes too when the spirit is buried vnder sorrowes there is no creature found in heauen or earth to giue it comfort Therfore be our misery bee our affliction neuer so great and though in our weake immagination wee can imagine no deliuery no release when all earthly meanes and comforts forsake vs let vs not yet forsake this refuge let vs not despaire in his helpe no more then Ionas did who in the bottome of the sea within a prison within that bottome in such an affliction so great so strange as greater nor stranger could not bee nor to humane reason more without hope yet saith hee Ionas 2. 2. I cryed in mine affliction vnto the Lord and hee heard mee out of the belly of hell cryed I and thou heardest my voyce Therefore I say againe in aduersity let vs not despaire but pray with hope In aduersity be it neuer so great let vs pray with confidence In our prosperity let vs pray in our prosperity neuer so flourishing let vs pray let vs pray continually In our health and prosperity let vs pray to continue it in our sickenesse and aduersity let vs pray to release it And if we consider our estate rightly we shall perceiue many reasons that may moue vs to this exercise daily to seeke his fauour and louing countenance without whose protection and care ouer vs wee are ready to fall into a thousand dangers to perish continually let vs therefore in time and season with wordes sutable to our purpose and intention either thankes-giuings for benefites receiued or with petitions and intreaties for necessities implored in the time of sickenesse in the time of our health in the time of our aduersity in the time of our prosperity let vs come before him suting our wordes in the habite of our occasions with such fitnesse and decency that they sal not harshly and from the purpose in the eares of the Almighty And to that end good Reader I haue heere compiled and set downe many formes and moulds of prayer fitting for seuerall persons occasions and times after the example of our Sauiour Christ the true patterne of all wisedome and goodnesse who hath giuen vs the first and best forme thereof himselfe who hath both taught vs to pray and taught vs how to pray and that will both heare our prayers and grant our requests as farre as seemes expedient to his vnsearchable wisedome that knowes our wants before hee heares our coÌ„plaints our necessities better then we our selues for because Prayer is so excellent a thing so ready so swift so powerful so vnseperated from vs that it cleaues vnto vs when all other meanes forsak vs therfore that wee should the more earnestly imbrace it more zealously imply it more deerely esteeme it there is great reason that it finds vs ofteÌ„times out coÌ„fort in greatest extremities that wheÌ„ we find our selues in misety our waies hedged vp as with thornes that wee cannot stirre to deliuer our selues there hence when wee are ouerflowne with the deluge of sinne as with a floud and iudgements inuiron vs on euery side this is the Doue that brings vnto our soules the Oliue branch of comfort yet because for the most part we kill the life therein through the coldnesse of our deuotion and carelesnesse of our deliuery and vnfit preparation thereunto and finde not the sweetenesse and successe that else we might expect and obtaine at the hands of God thereby Therefore I haue here drawne them out to life shewed both the excellency thereof and preparation thereunto befitting that these formes hereafter following and all other whatsoeuer in this kind may be the more powerfull blessed and comfortable to all that shall vse them without the which it is impossible that they should please God or any good successe follow thereupon The Embassadour betweene Heauen and Earth A morning Prayer for the Sabaoth day MOST mercifull God and eternall father what may we render vnto thee for all thy louing kindnesse for the which blessings and thankes-giuings for euermore be heaped vpon thy holy name in whom the treasures of mercy and louing kindnesse dwell bodily who of thine owne good will and pleasure hast bene pleased to communicat vnto vs so many of thy fauours so many seuerall ways without any manner of desert of ours to the which may it please thee to ad stil to the number by taking away those iniquities of ours that take away thy fauours and blessings from vs or as a stranger that knoweth them not passe by our transgressions retaine not thine anger against vs foreuer though wâ— retaine our sins the cause of thine anger but returne to vs by grace who returne not to thee by repentance and haue compassion vpon vs who haue not compassion on ouer owne soules subdue our raigning and raging vnrighteousnesse and drowne our offences in the bottome of the sea which else will drowne vs in the bottome of destruction raise vp our soules from the dead sleepe of sinne as thou hast raised vp our bodies from this night of darkenesse protect vs from all dangers from the which no minute we are secured of our selues but in thee brought vs to the begining of this thy blessed sabaoth of rest which good father so sanctifie vnto vs through thy blessed spirit that thy name may be hallowed thy power admired thy mercy magnified and thy loue manifested to thy glory and our euerlasting
Endlesse spring and endlesse peace Here is musicke heauen filling Sweetnesse euermore distilling Here is neither spot nor taint No defect nor no complaint No man crooked great nor small But to Christ conformed all Blessed towne diuinely graced On a Rocke so strongly placed Seated sure from feare of warre I salute thy walles from farre Thee I see and thee I long for Thee I seeke and thee I groane for O what Ioy thy dwellers tast All in pleasure first and last What full enioying blisse diuine What Iewels on thy walles do shine Ruby Iacinth Chalcedon Knowne to them within alone In this glorious Company In these streets of Syon I With Iob Moses and Eliah Will sing the heauenly Heluiah An Euery-dayes-Sacrifice or a Morning prayer for any day in the weeke or euery day in the Weeke TO thee the God of Heauen and Earth that by thy wisdome â—ast ordained all things by thy power created all things and by thy bounty and mercy as the two breasts of thy neuer dryed goodnesse preseruest and sustainest all things all the Creatures in the world that thy hands haue fashioned both man and beast both plant and flower whatsoeuer and wheresoeuer To thee alone most mercifull Father and into thy protection do I render my soule and body and the whole gouernement thereof as an vnworthy sacrifice beseeching theâ— that it may bee acceptable vnto thée preserue me O Lord this day without sinne this weeke following and all the dayes of my life and as thou hast renued this day vnto me and brought me safely to the beginning therof so giue me grace to renue my life from my former sinnes that I may now amend whatsoeuer heretofore hath beene amisse that I may be more carefull to walke in thy wayes then euer I was carelesse to run out of them I confesse O Lord that it is thy mercy that indureth for euer and thy compassion which neuer failes that is the cause that I haue not bene long ago consumed for with thee ô Lord there is mercy plenteous redemption Psal 130. 4. In the multitude therefore of thy mercyes and confidence in thy merits I intreat thee that thou wouldest not enter into iudgement with thy seruant neither be extreme to marke what hitherto I haue done amisse for if thou doest then no flesh can be iustified in thy sight I haue beene borne in sinne and in iniquity hath my mother conceiued me and in thought word and deed I haue broken all thy Commaundements and there remaines nothing for mee but shame and confusion I haue done more against thee this weeke then I haue done for thee since I was borne following the desires of mine owne will and the lusts and concupiscences of mine owne flesh not caring to be gouerned by thy holy word and Spirit and which is worse yet haue I not resolued to amend what father but thou would suffer this contempt and bee neglected still O where is my feare O where is my loue yet when I thinke vpon thy Son all my griefe is turned into ioy because his righteousnesse for me is more then my vnrighteousnesse against my selfe settle my faith in thy beloued that I may truly meditate what hee hath done for me that that sin that launced his side may also launce my soule with such effect that I may neuer againe commit that with delight that thou hast sustained with such passion and heauinesse And here O Lord from the bottome of mine heart I render vnto thee thanks for all the blessings and benefites thou hast bestowed vpon me both in my soule and body for my election redemption sanctification and preseruation from my youth vntill this present day howre by thy most gratious loue and prouidence And so good Lord I further beseech thee protect me this day and all the dayes of my life from all euill that may hurt me and from falling into any grosse sinne that should offend thee be thou present and assistant to all my good indeuours and blesse thou my purposes and intentions and let thy good spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall doe thinke or speake may be to thy glory and the good of others and the peace of mine owne conscience And for the better successe therein into thine hands I commend my selfe my soule and body my wayes and actions and all that appertaine vnto me to thy gratious protection and direction bee fauourable vnto me therefore O Lord and vnto all them that feare thee be neere vnto all such as faithfully call vpon thy name and comfort all such as be sicke or comfortlesse or by any crosse or affliction that thou hast layd vpon them either outwardly in body or inwardly in minde and by daily and howerly presidences of death and mortality before mine eyes teach me to be mindfull of mine owne end to set it alwayes in my view to make my preparation by faith and repentance thereafter that I may be ready whensoeuer thou shalt call me out of this wretched life and that whether I liue or dye I may rest in thée to thy eternall glory my euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ my only Sauiour Redeemer in the mediation of whose blessed name I conclude this my vnperfect praier in that forme modell of prayer which he that must heare our prayers haue mercy vpon vs or we perish euerlastingly hath prescribed in forme sanctified with his own lips saying Our father c. An Euening prayer for any day in the week or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person O Eternal God most mercifull Father the faithfull guardian both of our bodies and soules who art about my bed knowest my down-lying mine vprising and art neâ—e vnto all such that call vpon thee in truth and sincerity bee present therefore O Lord I wretchâ—d sinner do beseech thee and with thy mercy couer the multitude of my sins which like a leprosie haue run ouer my whole body and so defiled both the outward and inward man that but for thy word promise sake and the examples of thy mercy and forgiuenesse so frequent and vsuall to sinners of so high a degree in offending such as were Peter Mary Magdalen the Publicane the Prodigall childe the Thiefe on the Crosse and others thy praying for thine enemies thy torments thy crucifiers many such examples of my comfort thy compassion that else with Iudas in the bitternesse of heart and desperation of mercy I should cry out My sinnes are greater then can be forgiuen so bee vtterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardnesse of mine heart and the vnrulinesse of mine affection and the vncleanesse of my conuersation by meanes whereof I haue transgressed all thy lawes and broken thy Commandements and deserued thereby thy heauy displeasure which in iustice might draw from thy hand some fearefull punishment vpon this wretched body of mine and my soule to languish the death of
that it is thy vncomprehended mercy that before this thou hast not abridged our dayes cut vs off and cast vs into the bottomlesse pitte of hell from wheÌ„ce there is no redemption or thought of mercy but in vayne wherefore bouldened by this one mercy of thine thy patience and long suffering more then all our deserts can euer recompence we will presume to begge another which is that thou wilt touch our harts with a godly sorrow for our sinnes not small but greuious not a handful but innumerable not past but present not secret but exemplary and open in the face of God and man so that if thou shouldest deale with vs according to our deserts Sathan would reioyce but we should mourne neuer to see thy face againe the sun nor the moone the day nor the night although a perpetuall darkenesse the heauen nor the earth nor any other of the blessed workes of thine hands that of thine infinit goodnes thou hast prepared for man what shall wée then doe but vnder the wings of thy mercy séeke our refuge beseching thee to extend thy goodnesse and compassion towards vs which thy dearly beloued sonne our Sauiour and redemer with a loue aboue all loue hath so dearly purchased for vs by his innocent and pretious bloud the least drop whereof is sufficient to heale all our wounds and to wash away all our iniquities to releiue all our wantes and blot out all our transgressions but without thy grace a light vnto our feet and a lanthorne vnto our pathes we are able to do nothing but sinne losing our selues in the thicke mists of iniquity Therefore good father as thou hast appointed all the creatures in the world to serue man and hast ordayned him only to serue thee so giue vs grace that we considering the largenesse of our priuiledge and the honour thou hast indued vs withall with changed affections our willes and natures regenerate and purified by thy gratious spirit we may serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life vntill we be renued to the image of thy sonne in whom thou art well pleased and in vs wilt be well pleased if we displease not thee to please our selues if we be angry with our sinnes the deuil our vanities and all that would seperate vs from thee and with harty repentance for our former misdeedes and a zealous indignation against our selues that euer wee haue fallen into so beastly corruption taking héed that wee fall not againe into the same relapse vpon paine of thy heauy displeasure and yet there is no cause O God most iust why thou shouldest bee pleased with sinners which art displeased with sinne but for his sake that dearly payd therefore in the heat and burthen thereof and sinned not the bosome of whose merry in this desert of his if it be not open with Abrahams to receiue vs poore and impotent Lazars with the rich glutton we goe downe into hell from the which deliuer vs for thy mercies sake sweet Sauiour Christ Amen A meditation against the feare of death written in french by the learned P. M s du Plessis THe Crowne and end of all wretchednesse and mysery the key to let vs out of this world of sorrow the doore and the passage to all eternity why should we feare why should we thinke of with so leaden an appetite why should we feare to find that we liue to seeke why should we not harken to the summons therof with ioy as the sicke man harkeneth to the clocke which to the godly brings an end both of sinne and sorrow and all the miseries which are due vnto eyther being so many and so great that they passe the explication or comprehension of man for the best of this life what euer was it but as a bed of flowers ouergrowne with a feild of weedes but as a calme of the sea disquieted with the breath of euery wind the temper of what mans brest was euer so seasoned that it was not subiect to a thousand passions wrested and wrung with so many discontentes that the waight and burthen thereof hath ouer-borne the patience of suffering In beauty honour riches wealth or in any other sensual pleasure who euer found contentmeâ—t that hath wisedome to way them and esteme them truly as the were for the first who euer possest it in the greatest desire with the largest extension that found not saciety or discontent in the fruition and possession that was not tormented with enuy or iealousy the one lancing within or the other reuelling without in honour or riches or any other corporall or mentall guift the fayrest and most admired flowers that the earth brings forth to the delight and pleasure of man-kinde from the which preheminence or prayse or pleasure may be deriued or nature something soothed vp which itches after ambition and admiration that found not vnder these flowers weedes ' nay serpentes to poyson and sting the very life bloud of that felicity if any there were in them from the fullest fountaine of worldly ioy floweth some bitternesse there was neuer pleasure so absolute were it as short as the flash of lightning that before a man hath power to say behould inlightneth the world then dies in obscurity that was not alayed with some abatement and if it were absolute for the time the time is so short that there is a griefe therein what are all pleasures but as a vapor that appeare for a little time and afterwards vanish away sometimes pleasure asswageth paine but most commonly paine killeth pleasure and if our dayes were distinguished the good with white and the euill with blacke stones at the end of our liues we should find more blacke then white the pleasures in the dayes of Noah there eating drinking marying and giuing in mariage thy gaue there content for a time till the flood came and tooke them all away the yongman hath is pleasure to reioyce in the dayes of his youth the chearfullnesse of his hart and the lustes of his owne eyes but in all these there lies a bitternesse the richman hath his pleasure Luke 16. Purple and fine linnen delitious fare euery day and he knoweth not what the griefe of Lazarus meaneth and yet there liâ—s a worme vnder the root of all these goodly branches and surfets and sacieties with these creep in vpon him and if he set his hart therupon let him know with the yongman and all that are caried away with any pleasure in the world that there is a heauy reâ—conning to be rendered for these things the thought wâ—ereof in the middest of all â—ollities shall be stroken dead therwith and to these the thought of death will be greuous Be not therefore drunke with these sensuall delights and pleasures as with new wines which are not pleasures absolute but limited allayed with a thousand discontents and if they were absolute yet of no continuance and therefore greuous since there is nothing else but the