thy Servant and Hand-maid may find help in time of trouble and need Let the Midwives Skill and Care be blessed by thee when she shall be called to do her Office thou that art the God of all Grace and Consolation strengthen the faith of thine Hand-maid in the hope of thy mercy Shew thy Servant a token for good for his sake alone who is worthy Jesus Christ the Righteous to whom be Glory for ever Amen The Midwives Prayer before Delivery GRacious Lord look in mercy upon thine Hand-maid now in extream pain strengthen her faith against all her fears and bless me thine unworthy Servant and make me an instrument of help and comfort to thine Hand-maid in the hour of trial in thine hand are the issues of Life and Death preserve both Mother and Child let it be a time of joy that a Child is Born and a Woman Delivered through thy great mercy so shall we thy poor Creatures rejoyce in thy Salvation shewed to thy Hand-maid and the fruit of her Womb. Hear and help for the sake of our Lord Jesus to whom be praises for ever Amen The Midwives Prayer after Delivery MOst Holy and most Gracious Lord praises wait for thee for those exceeding abundant favours vouchsafed to thine Hand-maid in the hour of her Distress for ever blessed be thy glorious Name thou alone wast a present help O perfect thine own work in her weakness Blessed be the Lord for the fruit of the Womb that no Member was left out of thy Book that in all parts it is perfected without blemish or deformity Make thine Hand-maid a joyful Mother and continue her in her place and enable her to discharge her duty to the comfort of her Relations and the glory of thy great Name and the everlasting joy of her own Soul when she shall have finished her course and that alone upon the account of Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever Amen The Pained Womans Prayer in the time of her Travail O Righteous Lord thou art just in all thy ways thy righteous sentence is past the time of sin was the time of punishment the Woman to bring forth in sorrow and the Man to cat his Bread in the sweat of his Brow Have mercy Lord upon thy distressed Hand-maid in great Pain and Anguish Fears and Sorrows as thou hast blessed me with the fruit of the Womb to conceive and nourish until the time of birth O Lord now give strength to bring forth and let this fruit of my Womb be to thy praise Thou art a present help in time of trouble O blessed Lord let my life be precious in thy sight and the fruit of my Womb let it live before thee and let both be vessels of mercy through the sanctification of thy Spirit so shall thine Hand-maid devote her self to thy fear and the fruit of her Womb to thy service Let me find thy love in Jesus Christ to support me for whom O my Soul praise his Holy Name Amen The Womans Prayer after her Delivery O Most glorious Lord thou art good and doest good thou hast remembered mercy to thy Hand-maid in the time of her distress to thy Name be praise for strength given to bring forth my life was and is in thine hand yet thou hast spared it in the depth of my anguish thy help was at hand Thou also hast given life to the fruit of my Womb to thy Name be praises Give me wisdom to dispose of thy mercy to thy glory that I may be useful to thy service and as touching the fruit of my Womb sanctifie it and let it be for the bearing up of the Name of God in its Generation let it grow in grace as in years These and what things thou knowest convenient grant in the Name of Christ to whom be praise for ever Amen Graces Before and After Meat Grace before Meat MOst Holy Lord the staff of Bread is in thine hand it is of thy bounty that we are daily provided for let these thy Creatures ordained for our nourishment be received by us with thankful hearts expressing it in our lives that we receiving strength may return praises to thy self for all through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen Grace After Meat HOly and blessed Lord let thy continued mercies and refreshments from time to time ingage us to return to thy blessed Majesty the glory due to thy self for them and all other creature comforts wherewith we are supplied help us to express our thankfulness in discharging our Callings and Consciences through our Lord Jesus Christ Amen An other Grace Before Meat HOly and gracious Lord blessed be thy gracious good providence for all thy favours daily renewed O give thy blessing on these thy good Creatures at this time that we are about to receive that they may nourish and strengthen us that we may be bettered by them and that we may return praise to thy Name through Christ Jesus our Lord Amen An other Grace After Meat HOly Lord let thy refreshing mercies be an obligation to engage us to a more holy life to live to thee who art the fountain of all our enjoyments thou givest and refreshest us with the blessings of the upper and neather springs both spiritual and temporal help us to improve all so that thou mayst have glory and we may have comfort in and through Jesus Christ the purchaser of all Amen A Prayer in time of Affliction HOly and for ever blessed Lord God thou alone art acquainted with the condition of thy poor sinful weak Creature thou that art the Father of Spirits and their great Creator who alone art a present help in time of trouble and the God of all consolation thy poor sinful dust and ashes desires to look to thee even to thee alone seeing thou art alone able to deliver from trouble sanctifie my trouble and affliction and support me in and under affliction and make all work together for the best Thou canst bring comfort out of trouble joy out of sorrow mirth out of malady and can make thy Sion Saints to wait and to look for help even from the most improbable means O let thy grace be sufficient for me and help me to trust thy promises when I cannot have thy providences I have sinned greatly which is the cause of all my misery if it were not for sin I need fear nothing O let sin die in me that grace may abound and let this chastisement which at present is grievous be and work for good unto me that I may say with thy Servant David It is good that I have been afflicted Give me a patient and submissive frame of Spirit that I may say with my blessed Saviour Not as I will but thy will O Father of mercy be done Let pains temporal prevent pains eternal Let the inner man be strengthened by the weakness of the outward man Help me in patience to possess my Soul with the thoughts of that endless and unspeakable Glory and with a sense
regular in thy course and withal be mindful who it is that must be thy Judge 4. Be much in the attendance of the Word read and preached for that is the only way that God has appointed for himself to be found in moreover it is that that will discover unto thee what is thy Duty 5. And lastly Be much in Prayer for this is that that will give success to all other this is the Conduit-pipe to convay or discover all our wants to God and mercies from God to us FORMS OF PRAYERS For Particular Persons For every Day in the Week A Prayer for the Sabbath-day Morning MOst Holy and Glorious Lord God I sinful dust and ashes presuming to approach thy presence desire that thou wilt please to fit my heart for the approaching so holy a Presence as thine is that on this day I may be so sitted according to the preparations of thy Sanctuary as that I may meet with thy self that thou mayest communicate something that may be of refreshment unto my Soul by thy Word and Spirit yea that I may be found in the Spirit on the Lord's day O Lord pardon my sins that I have been guilty of this week past and all my life past and let them not stand as a flood to stop my Prayers from ascending unto thee or to keep back the influences of thy holy Spirit from my Soul O Lord looking upon them and upon my nature polluted by them it makes me afraid to look up unto Heaven Nay indeed I durst not only thou hast commanded me to come unto thee by the vertue of the precious Blood of thy Son Christ that is my strong consolation hope and comfort Moreover Lord thou hast prescribed a comfortable promise that thou wilt pardon the sins of thy People for thy own Names sake O therefore for thy own Names sake do away all my sins in the Blood of Jesus Christ that I may appear before thee in the Robes of Christ's Righteousness and and not in mine own seeing all mine is but as menstruous cloth and filthy rags Lord prepare me for this thy days work help me in it and keep me after it that thy Spirit may seal up Divine Truths in the closet of my heart that laying them up in my heart I may practise them in my life and bring forth fruit with patience meet for repentance Lord let neither the cares of the World nor the deceitful thoughts of riches choak thy Seed sown nor let Satan steal it out of my heart but let it be as good seed sown in a good and honest heart that taking root downward it may bring forth fruit upward being watered with the bedewings of thy Spirit O come in this day with fresh reviving Grace that thereby I may be so quickned and qualified as that I may meet with thy self Let this day be so sanctified to me as that I may say in the close thereof 't is not in vain but good to draw nigh to thy self that I am drawn a step nigher this day to thy self by the Blood of Christ Lord pardon the want of a reverent frame of spirit the unworthy obtrusion into thy presence at this time and look upon my unworthiness in the worthiness of Christ my imperfection in his perfection my sinfulness in his righteousness and my weakness in his strength that I may appear righteous in thy sight in his righteousness and that for his own sake Amen A Prayer for the Sabbath-day Evening GRacious God notwithstanding the much imperfection my Soul has been clogged with this day thou hast given me cause this day to say from a grounded experience that it is not in vain to draw nigh unto thee Lord I heartily thank thee for the refreshing smiles of thy countenance this day in thy Ordinances O how good is it to draw nigh to God in his own way Blessed be thy Name holy God That never saidst to the Seed of Jacob seek ye my face in vain Lord thou hast been so good in communicating thy self unto me by thy Word and Spirit that I may say with thy Servant David What shall I render unto the Lord for all his Mercies Lord it is matter of wonder and admiration to me that thou shouldest deal so with me seeing thou hast been provoked by my coldness and deadness in such a manner I beseech thee O Lord pass by all my miscarriages that I have been guilty of this day let not them be a prevention of a future supply of my wants and necessities Nay let not them be the cause of thy withdrawing thy self in future attendances on thee nor the cause of removing thy Ordinances thy Gospel thy faithful Ministers and Messengers O Lord thou hast declared thy self a God of mercy and indeed I may as it were set to my Seal seeing my provocations have been so many and so great Lord thou hast not dealt after the manner of men with me Let thy manifold Mercies be an engagement to stir me up to a more watchful frame of spirit that by my negligence I incur not thy displeasure Lord pardon sins past and humble me for sins present and keep me from sins â—o come that thereby I may be rendred meet for every good word and work Accept my willing ness and overlook my weakness in thy only Son Jesus Christ in whom thou art well pleased In whose Name I thank thee for all my enjoyments and through whose Blood I desire to receive all my Mercies and for whom I desire to bless thee To him and thee the onely wise God be praise for ever Amen A Prayer for Monday Morning BLessed God all thy dealings with the Sons of men attest thy liberality â—y and bounty thou renewest thy merâ—ies every morning Lord renew my â—eart that I may be capacitated to serve thee and to sing new Songs of praises â—o thee every morning Blessed God thank thee that thou hast made my life â—recious in thy sight that thou hast chained up Satan that roaring Lyon that goes about night and day seeking whom be may devour that would have devoured me Soul and Bâ—dy unless prevented by thy power and goodness O help me so long as I have a being to praise thee Lord how mightest thou have made my â—ed my grave my sleep my death and have cut me off from the Land of the living yet thou hast been pleased to preserve me and keep me from the rage of cruel Enemies both spiritual and corporal Seeing Lord thou hast dealt thus with me let this day be of great use to to me that I may learn some things in it that may be of special use for my Souls advantage and that seeing all time was given for the Service of God that I may in my employment meditate either on the word that I have heard thy day past or thy works in which are many wonderful mysterious things to be seen worthy taking notice of and contemplating upon Help me so to begin the week
only true in the Moral Law 't is denied in the Ceremonial These Types before Moses shewing the bounty of the Messiah were abolisht at his comming as Circumcision given to Abraham In like manner the Sacrifices either commanded to our first Parents or practised by them Object 5. The Laws given by God before the Fall were not Types of the Bounties of Christ all grant the promise of the Messiah being not as then given although the condition of the whole humane race was one and the same The Seventh days Sabbath was instituted before the Fall of Mankind therefore it is universal and perpetual Resp Per distinctionem materiis which is true concerning the Moral Law whose natural knowledge was imprinted in the mind of man in the Creation but not concerning the Seventh day Sabbaths Ceremony which after the fall in the Mosaical Law is made a type of the benefits of the Messiah And besides all this other Ceremonies whether instituted before or after by the Messias were made obnoctious to change for God will not let them remain under the shaddows the things themselves being exhibited 3. What are the causes of the institution of the Sabbath 1. For the Publick Worship of God in his Church 2. For the preservation of the Ecclesiastical Ministry which teacheth what we are to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of us 3. That the type in the Old might denote or represent the spiritual in the New Testament Ezek. 20.12 4. That there might be an ordinary exercise of Prayer of Confession and of Obedience toward God 5. By reason of the Seventh days circumstance to wit that it might put us in mind both of our great Creation and Redemption Work 6. That on that day the greatest Works of Liberality and Benignity might be exercised toward our Neighbour 7. Because of that Corporal Rest of both Man and Beast of Bruits indeed because of Man 8. That the Israelites might be known by this mark from other Countries 4. What are the Works of the Sabbath commanded or forbidden Or how the Sabbath is kept or violated 1. The Sabbath is sanctified when Works are done and holily observed which God has commanded 2. The Sabbath is profaned when Works are either neglected or abused in the use of them or hindred by a profane violence The Works whereby the Sabbath is either sanctified or profaned are these 1. First Rightly to instruct the Church concerning God viz. What he is and What his Will is viz. What Duties either Negative or Affirmative he requires of man On the contrary 1. Neglect of Publick or Private Instruction Isa 56.10 2. Depravation or Diminution of the Doctrine that ought to be taught Ezek. 34.2 2 Cor. 2.17 3. Secondly Administring the Sacraments according to Divine Institution Unto which we ought to come being lawfully called by the Ministers of the Church as the Vice-gerents of God and that especially on the Lords Day On the contrary Omitting or neglecting instructing the Church to use the Sacraments and an illegal Administration of the same viz. By a detracting from or adding to the Essentials of Worship appointed of God or any thing in them or excluding any that ought to come to receive or pertake or to encourage those that ought not or not to teach the lawful use of them 3. Thirdly Diligently to learn the True Doctrine That is to attend on and hear the Doctrine of God 1 Tim. 4.16 and daily to meditate in the same The Contraries 1. Contempt or neglect of the Doctrine by either being absent at Assemblies or not regarding the Ministers or not meditating on or inquiring into the Doctrine of Christ 2. Neglect of knowing the Doctrine either by Ministers or people 3. Curiosities either by prying into Gods secrets or unnecessary things or novelties Luke 12 48. Prov. 25.27 1 Tim. 4.7 2 Tim. 4.3 Tit. 3.9 4. Fourthly To use the Sacraments according to Divine instruction Acts 20.7 Repugnants to this 1. The omission or contempt of the Sacraments 2. Profanation of the Sacraments when they are either used not after the same way or not by them whom God hath instituted 3. Asuperstitious use of them 5. Fifthly Invocation of God publickly Wherein we adjoyn confession or giving of thanks and our desires with the Church Repugnants 1. Neglect of Prayers of the Church 2. Hypocrisie in Prayers of the Church without attention or affection 3. A recitation of Prayers that edifie not 1 Cor. 14.17 6. Sixthly Charity and Bounty towards the Poor that is giving Alms or doing works of Mercy towards the Needy with delight and singleness of heart Repugnants 1. Neglect or contempt of the Poor 2. Ostentation and shew in giving which Christ condemns 7. Seventhly Honour of the Ecclesiastical Ministry which comprehends 1. Reverence 2. Love 3. Obediencee 4. Gratitude 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Equity in bearing with the infirmities of Ministers Family Prayers For every day in the WEEK A Prayer for the Sabbath Omost holy great and glorious God thou that art the rest of thy poor Creatures the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whom thou hast instituted Lord of the Sabbath in whose strength we desire to approach thy holy presence this thy holy Sabbath-day a day of thy own appointment wherein thou wilt be found in an especial manner and as it is to be a day of rest for all flesh after thine own institution Lord help us not only to rest from our ordinary Labours and Imployments but from any thing that may be disconsonant to thy Will and Word not doing our own actions nor speaking our own words nor thinking our own thoughts that thereby we being prepared according to the preparation of thy Sanctuary may be in the Spirit on the Lords Day to meet with thee and by meeting with thee we may hear thee communicate some sweet truth to us whereby we may be drawn nigher to thy self by the blood of Christ And seeing thou wast pleased Lord to honour this day by the Resurrection of our blessed Redeemer let us have more evidence from thy self this day that we are risen with him having conquered by him Death Grave Hell and Sin O let us see him whom our sins have pierced that we by faith may mortifie that that crucified him and let us have a glimpse of our beloved in his glory and let us this day hearken to his voice that we may know to love what he loves and hate what he hates to be in love with sanctity and holiness and to be at enmity with every similitude of sin which will hinder our services this day in his name to be as a sweet smell in Gods Nostrils Help us to hold fast our hope and confidence in God unto the end and let that considence be a perfect assurance that we have an interest in Jesus Let the word preached be mixed with saith let it be quick and powerful and piercing that it may accomplish that end for which it was sent Let not
Satan come and catch away the Seed but O that it may be as seed sown in good and honest hearts bringing forth fruit with patience meet for repentance and let it be for the weakning of sin but for the strengthening of faith and grace Let thy Word be as Manna for our poor Souls to feed upon for the week to come that thereby we may grow up in grace as we grow in years Let thy word be a sutable word unto every one of our conditions and come thou into our Souls with it with the freest influence of thy Spirit that we may of a truth meet with God communicating of himself unto us by his Word and Spirit And as the Soul is separated from the Body by Death so let sin be separated from our Souls by thy Word and Spirit O let it be separate from our Souls or else it will separate the Souls of us poor Creatures from God Let thy Minister who is thy Messenger be strengthened and touch his tongue with a coal from thine Altar that he may preach experimental truth to the hearts of us poor Creatures that desire to attend on thine Ordinances O let us taste and see how gracious the Lord is and let us have cause to say It is good to draw nigh to God in his own Ordinances on his own Day And let this day of rest be a certain pledge of an eternal rest purchased by our great high Priest who is preparing a place for his select ones O that this thy day may be spent in the performances of holy duties in praise and thanksgiving the work of thine appointment Unvail some secret this day let us be drawn nigher every day unto thy self Let us be so enlightened that sin may decay and grace may be renewed in us Let us come hungering and thursting after Spiritual Food for our Souls so that in the close of this day we by a grounded experience may say that God has satisfied our hungring Souls with refreshing influences from Heaven thorow the Blood of Jesus Christ in whose words we conclude our imperfect requests as he himself has taught us saying Our Father c. An Evening Prayer for the Sabbath MOst Holy and ever Blessed Lord God who fillest Heaven and Earth with thy presence fill the Souls of thy poor empty Creatures with the presence of thy Grace and let thy good Spirit bring to our remembrance the truths that we by thy providence have heard this thy day that we may lay it up in our hearts and practice it in our lives that we may be of those blessed ones that hear thy word and keep it and bring forth fruit in abundance and let it take root in our hearts downward and bring forth fruit upward Establish our Souls in the practice of Holiness without which we can never come to see thy self and let the power of sin be weakened but let Grace be strengthened every day Pardon that unpreparedness that we have intruded into thy presence with and that irreverence whilst under thy Ordinances and that carelesness after that we all have been guilty of Pardon our forgetfulness and pardon our imperfection in the perfection of Christ our weakness in the strength of Christ that thereby we may find acceptance with thee who art all fulness and in whose hands is all perfection Fill our Souls with the fulness of God and let the bedewings of thy Spirit and Word cause us to grow in our spiritual stature Help us to prize the priviledge of the Gospel at an inestimable rate and give us repentance from dead works that we may be changed from darkness unto light and from the power of sin unto God And help us to manifest in our lives and conversation what is the hope of our calling that we may be in Heaven whilst on Earth Pardon the sins of our holy things sins of omission and commission sins against thy Law and sins against thy Gospel Give us Wisdom to direct and teach us Righteousness to establish us Redemption to deliver us from the jaws of Sin and Hell Strengthen our weak Faith enlarge our shallow Capacities quiet our disturbed Consciences tread down Satan under our feet and subjugate our Necks under thy Yoak and help us to resign our selves to thy Will and fit us for Eternity at last that after these Sabbaths be ended here we may begin an everlasting Sabbath with the God of Sabbaths where we shall admire thy self in Christ in whose Name we conclude our imperfect requests in his own words as he hath taught us saying Our Father c. A Prayer for Monday Morning BLessed Lord thou renewest thy mercies every Morning it is of thy mercy that one day more is added to us poor Creatures Thou art he on whom depends our being rest life and all thou has been pleased to cause us to acquiesce in and under thy protection for our refreshment O Lord preserve us this day under the shadow of thy wing and keep us in thy ways and let thy watchful providence be an instigation to an holy walking and to redeem the time seeing the days are evil and to live as ever before the Eye of thy All-seeing Providence Keep us from sin and enable us to live with thankful hearts bearing in mind the acts of thy Spirit and the daily Mercies we enjoy help us to shew a thankfulness for Mercies received and humility for and under Afflictions Let the bitterness of Sin and the loveliness of Holiness make deep impression on the hearts of thy poor Creatures Let the great work of Salvation be much meditated upon that that work daily may be propagated by us with fear and trembling Let union and communion with Christ be our great design Let our Natures be changed Deliver us from a dark understanding and hardness of heart stupid consciences together with unmortisied wills Help us to be wise for the future wherein we have done foolishly and help us wisely to improve our Talents in every opportunity Let thy mercies constrain us to love fear and obey thee Subdue us wholly to thy self that our affections may be elevated from the Earth and transplanted into Heaven Help us in every transaction in our lives to consider that with thee every action is poised and thoughts words and works reviewed and taken notice of O that the affairs of this day and all the week to come may be no obstruction to the work of our immortal Souls And grant that every day that passes over our heads we may be a step nearer to thy self Preserve us by thy Grace and Spirit until it shall be thy will to translate us into that Glory that is prepared for them that wait for the coming of Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer for Monday Evening MOst Holy Eternal and ever Blessed Lord God in whom all our springs are it is good to draw nigh to thy self Thou that never slumberest nor sleepest suffer us not to sleep the sleep of Death The Day thou hast
Eternity on which felicity or eternal misery attends O Lord increase our Faith and settle us in that Faith that is precious and pure that by it we may be able to resist the Devil and overcome and conquer the World and the Flesh that it may be the substance of things not seen and that thereby we may be like Noah to prepare an Ark against a Deluge condemning the World O give us the trying Faith of Abraham the living Faith of dying Jacob and the living Faith of Moses to chuse affliction rather than sin that we may esteem the reproach of Christ the greatest riches that we may by that Faith obtain Promises work Righteousness Now the God of Peace that brought again our Lord Jesus Christ the great Shepherd through the everlasting Covenant keep us Amen A Prayer for Fryday Evening GReat and glorious Lord in Jesus Christ a tender Father to humble and penitent sinners let conscience of duty and not custom attend our approaches unto thee the Lord of Life and Glory thy mercies of this day are more than we can conceive but the requitals we have made how inequivolent are they How seldom did we look up to thee that always seest us at what a low ebb are our thoughts of thee O lay our hearts as low and much lower in reference to our selves Let us not O our God find our return of mercies according to our miscarriages let us not thereby be disappointed of our rest and refreshment this approaching night Blessed be thy Name that thou hast laid help on one that is able to save O save us by him let his Blood plead and his Person satisfie and let him prevail for us and his offering up of himself clear us Lord we believe help our unbelief O that our hearts were more heavenly and more removed from this drossie earth that we might in nothing be careful O help us to be good and do good in our Generation Help us to chuse affliction rather than sin that we may follow the great high Priest of our Profession by the Cross to the Crown and by the Grave to Glory Mind us of our end and give us wisdom to consider in this day of ours the things that belong to our peace before they be hid from our eyes and seeing our time is but short let our zeal be the greater Let the blessing pronounced in the Mount be our portion Let us both be pure and poor in spirit Give us to mourn for sin that we may be comforted Let us be armed with meekness and hungering and thirsting after righteousness and satisfie us Let mercifulness peace and sufferings for righteousness sake comfort us here and hereafter in and through Jesus Christ in whose Name we farther call on thee in his own words Our Father c. A Prayer for Saturday Morning MOst holy most glorious Lord the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for whose sake alone we beg pardon for all our sins secret and known of ignorance or knowledge of youth or riper years against thy Law or Gospel Deliver thy poor Creatures from all those curses denounced against sin and sinners None ever confessed and forsook sin but found mercy O sanctifie us throughout with thy holy Spirit that we may live the life of faith and not of sin being assured that it shall go well with the righteous they shall eat the fruit of their doings Blessed Lord give us grace to walk worthy the mercies of the last nights refreshments Let thy good providence be over us this day preserve us in our concerns Deliver us both Souls and Bodies that desire to fear thy holy Name that we may be praising the riches of thy free grace Let us be blessed in our goings out and comings in Let thy glory be our greatest design in whatsoever we undertake Prepare us for our later end and our great account and let Eternity be always eyed by us Let our thoughts words and actions be considered and poised Let every day put us in mind of the great day that in every day we may be drawn a step nigher unto Christ our Redeemer in whom and for whom we bless thee for ever Amen A Prayer for Saturday Evening O Most blessed Lord thou art acquainted with our down-lying and uprising and art near to all them that call on thee in truth and sincerity Let not iniquity prevail over us Let thy grace be sufficient for us against sin and Sathans wiles and help us to be thankful both in heart and life for what thou art pleased to bestow upon us by way of providence Help us in time of health to prepare for sickness and death in time of plenty to prepare for want and to lay up a store of never sading treasure Sanctifie both days labour and nights rest and pardon the sins of the whole week past and help us in thy day following to be so sitted and qualified that we may be as diligent for thee as we have been for our selves that it may be a day of rejoycing Let it be such a Sabbath as that it may be an earnest of an eternal Sabbath where we shall rejoyce and praise thee for ever Grant that by practising holiness we may enjoy happiness seeing that it must and shall go well with the Godly their great evils shall be removed and sin pardoned the mercy of mercies he cannot be miserable who has a God so merciful as to pardon his sin O grant us this mercy what ever else thou deny thy will be done for outward comforts so that we by the riches of this thy free grace have such pardon of sin as we be not disturbed in inward comforts Grant that by living to thee here we may enjoy thee hereafter Let us be content with tossings so that we may enjoy the desired Haven nay though our Ship viz. this Body breaks let us that is our Souls be secured in the Lord Châ—â—â—â— Let our crosses end in comforts our miseries in matchless joyes our tears in true tunes for Heaven and let our conquest over all end in the praise of our great Captain All these and what thou knowest may better fit us for thy self grant for thy promise and for thy Sons sake to whom be Eternal Glory Amen A Prayer for a Woman with-child before her time of Delivery MOst Holy Lord Blessed be thy great Name for thy mercy shewed to thine Hand-maid thou hast given her good hopes through grace to become a joyful Mother thou art Righteous in all thy ways thy threat for sin is just that in sorrow the Woman should bring forth yet thou of thy great mercy hast taken off from me the reproach of Woman and hast given me strength to conceive and to nourish it hitherto O preserve both me and it at the time of Travel Let me bring forth and let the work be compleated by thee by whom Creatures are wonderfully made Prepare thy poor Creature by Faith and Prayer for that hour that
we find manifested all along in the Scripture He carries on his design in the Old World in the incestuous Sodom by Pharaoh towards the Children of Israel nay even by the Patriarks David and Solomon as far as he can and thus he assaults and prevails in a great measure Nay no wonder if he assaults these poor Creatures when he attempts to set upon Christ himself Having prevailed so against the first Adam he 'll see what he can do to the second but blessed be God The Seed of the Woman has bruised the Serpents Head Thus we see how this Roaring Lyon goes about seeking whom he may devour what Souls he can ensnare and entrap He environs and surrounds the Earth to the intent he may devour Moreover He has two Attendants viz. 1. The World 2. The Flesh to carry on his hellish designs and plots against poor Saints and the destruction of every Christian that endeavours to build up the Kingdom of Christ And first he makes use of the World that is 1. The World it self the love whereof chokes that vigor and liveliness that is or ought to be in a Christian 2. Wicked Men in the World in whom he acts and soments all the venom he can both for the hindrance of the Gospels propagation and the destruction of those that seek to be enlightened by it to bring them to the true knowledge of God and his way Dismal is it to think how far he hath and at this very day doth prevail by them But blessed be God that hath set his King upon his Holy Hill of Sion Psal 2.6 Secondly Our inbred Corruptions that is that that is called the Flesh out of which proceeds an innumerable multitudâ— of destructive lusts that keep a constanâ— hostility against a poor Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 and these he makes his baits to catch Souls He suits his baits 1. According to our constitutions and natural inclinations 2. To our conditions First To our constitutions If they be inclining to Melancholy he tempts to Despair if to Sanguine he tempts to Anger If our Constitutions be Chearful he tempts to Lasciviousness And so look what our Constitutions and Natural Inclinations are accordingly he suits his Baits and Temptations Secondly To our Conditions If a â—ans Estate increase so that he hath a competent portion of the things of this World he tempts him either to that destructive sin viz. Covetousness which is tâ—â— root of Evils and this he shrowds undâ—â— the Name of Good-husbandry or tâ— Luxurious Prodigality and Pride and this he covers with the Name of Good-fellow-ship Nay in a word No Time Place Degree Age Constitution Condition wherein and against and according to whom he doth not suit his poisonous baits and exerciseth his utmost policy and endeavours to ruin poor Souls Blessed be God that he hath not left us ignorant of his Devices but thrice blessed be his Name that he has not left us Naked but has left us his own Armory Eph. 6. and that of proof which is able to defend us from all the siery darts of this so potent an enemy The parts whereof are 1. The Helmet of Salvation 2. The Breast-plate of Righteousness 3. The Shield of Faith 4. The Girdle of Truth 5. The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word 6. The Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace 7. And lastly The Engine of Prayer Now let us see of what use all theâ— are to a Christian 1. The Helmet of Salvation That iâ— a constant expectation and desire of â—ernal Happiness This is of great â—se unto us to support us and beaâ— up our fainting Spirits under all Trial and Temptations without the hope of which a Christian would utterly despond This is that that made so many Martyrs endure the most exquisite Torments from the hands of Bloody Tyrants Heb. 11. 2. The Breast-plate of Righteousness This is walking in Holiness and Blamelesness this is that Proof-piece that bears a Christian out and keeps off all the false Imputations and Slanders that the Devil and Wicked Men his Agents can forge or invent against a Christian 4. The Shield of Faith That is A firm believing and trusting of God for the accomplishment of his Promises This keeps off the Fire-balls and Darts of Sathan viz. Carnal Confidence Presumption Security Insidelity and Despair c. 5. The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God This wounds Sathan and cuts in sunder the concatenating knots of his various Temptations by which he seeks to entangle Souls This discovers all his Devices With this Sword our Saviour â—oil'd this Champion he oppos'd him with a Scriptum est It is written 6. The Shoes of the Preparation of the Goâ—pel of Peace This is assurance of Acceptation and Peace with God through Jesuâ— Christ according to that Holy Doctrine held forth in the Gospel He that is shod with these Shoes is sit for his Journey to Canaan thorow all his Oppugnants knowing that God who is at peace with him is both able and willing to be his conduct and deliverer from them all 7. Prayer This is that brings success to and a blessing upon all the rest and enables a Christian through Gods Free Grace and Mercy to make use of all other the pieces of the Armory Thus we see how Christ our Captain has fortified us he has not left us to fight without Weapons without Armour and that of Proof nay he himself has led the Van he underwent all the hardship in this Warfare and has as it were given the Devil his deaths wound He has conquer'd Hell also and the Grave he 's the Triumphant King and Captain He has unstinged Death he has only left us some small work to do and that he has promised to help us in Christian therefore be of good courage let nonâ— make thee afraid thy foes may environ thee and enemies rage against theâ— yet be not dismayed thy Cause is good thy Captain is Victorious and what thou art not able to do he 'll do iâ— for thee But it may be thou l't say Thou canst not tell whether Christ will be willing to accept thee for his Soldier or not Willing yes if thou art willing but 't is rather to be feared thou art not willing because thou makest this objection If he were not willing to what end would he call and invite thee O Christian do not doubt but come make no delay Go to this Magazine and invest thy self herewith and thy Captain will maintain thee if thou art willing though thou art weak he 'll fight for thee only take notice that if ever thou look backward thou art but a dead man Press forward towards the Mark for thou hast no Armour to defend thy back-parts O Christian be valiant and take notice of this that if thou resist the Devil he is not able to with-stand thee he 'll flee from thee Be upon thy watch for thy enemy is subtil and will watch his opportunity if
how long thou shalt live thou canst not tell therefore make use of the first occasion whilest time and strength do last whilest thy Senses are quick thy Nerves limber thy Understanding good thy Judgment sound thy Sight clear and all thy Faculties in a fit posture to serve thy Captain and Master See what an Heathen says to this purpose Ovid. Dum vires annique sinunt tolerate labores Jam veniet taceto curva senecta pede Which may be thus Englished Take pains to grow in Grace whilst young and strong For age will numb thy Joynts e're it be long Abandon all idleness that canker and rust of the Soul the Devil's pillow and chief repose his very Tide-time of temptation Beware that it be not said by you when you come to look death in the face as it was by a Cardinal that being sensible of death's approach cried out in the horrour of his Conscience He had a long Journey to go but had been so idle and negligent that he knew not one foot of the way What more hateful to God than this destroyer of Souls See what God says to that Servant that had the one Talent Matth. 25.26 30. Tertullian well saith Quid prodest esse quod esse non prodest What doth it profit that a man be and being doth not profit He that is slothful is brother to a great waster Prov. 18.9 as Mr. Flavell well saith Besides all this it must be understood That of an idle hand there comes no good And well it may be so said if we look but what befel David for want of Employment 2 Sam. 11.2 And it came to pass in the evening-tide when he arose from off his bed and walked upon the Kings house and looked from the roof he saw a woman c. So that we see that idleness may well be called the Mother of Lust and on the contrary how doth diligence keep all the Affections from idle and vain thoughts and is very profitable for both Body and Soul It puts the Devil out of his path-way of temptation and as it were puts him beside himself O therefore be sure to put away all idleness And to stir thee up to this duty Consider what is like to be the portion of those lazy drones whose sloth the very Insects condemn The little Ant and the Bee how do they busie themselves to lay up against Winter against a Storm only being led by the Instinct of Nature Well then may these careless Sots be termed to that slothful Butter-fly that takes care for nothing but painting her wings so that when winter comes puts her head into a hole and dies The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold therefore he shall beg in harvest and have nothing When others come with their shocks rejoycing he shall starve for want Keep thy Spirits and all the Faculties of thy Soul at work in thy solitary Cessations lest that like two Mill-stones wanting Grift they grind one another to pieces and the best thing to keep thy self imployed in will be to be much in the heart-searching work to see how thy heart stands affected with God for that either sweetens or empoysons all the rest the heart is the Inlet of Vertues and Vices An Host it is that entertains all sorts of Guests and needs to be eyed Moreover Purity in the inward parts is the most unerring and infallible testimony and evidence of a good and sound state therefore search it try it by the Word of Light and Life that true Touchstone 2. See how thy Will stands for God the Will being the Seat of the Graces it is very requisite that it be purified See how its Pulse beats question it What art thou willing to do to suffer to under-go to forsake for God Art thou willing to stand to Gods Cause in all tryals and endure all tempests and storms Art thou willing to be imployed in what Office Christ shall put upon thee and that to the hazard of thy Estate thy Houses thy Lands Goods Wife Children Life and all I say if thy Will be brought to this height thy state is good then thou art fit for communion with God Try therefore thy Will and 't will be a good imployment in times of cessation Shun evil company as much as in thee liest when occurred with In all company have a care of thy tongue For Cato doth say that in old and young The first step to Vertue is to bridle thy tongue Have a care of thy tongue in all company wicked men will be ready to carp and reach and good men will be also censorious when they hear evil idle and frothy discourse because the Word saith Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Matth. 12.34 Moreover Evil communication corrupts good manners such as the heart is such is the discourse a worldly man will be talking of the world an ambitious man of honour a debauched man's discourse will be frothy and light but a pious man 's of the things that appertain to God None can gather grapes of thorns nor figs of thistles such as the tree is such is its fruit Be sure therefore to avoid lewd persons company for familiarity with such steal away the Affections with sensuality and flesh-pleasing delights by little and little stealing away thy heart from God and so intangle it in the contagious and destructive Labyrinth of Phantasie-pleasing delights by becoming remiss first in one duty and than in another and so instead of becoming graduate in the School of Christ becomes graduate in the School of Satan till at length commenses Master of Arts and a debauched life becomes habituate O beware of this How many even a cloud of Witnesses have we every day that assume these diabolica practices Tyburn testifying which to relate time it self would be almost too arct and narrow Survey accurately and circumspectly every action thou undertakest with the Candle of the Word of Light and Life Lay to the Line and Plummet see whether it be consonant to the Will and Word of God or no. Many Trees at a distance seem to be streight until the Line be applied to them and then how crooked do they appear Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way but by taking heed thereunto Take heed and poize all your actions and that with serious consideration before enacted 13. Have a care of being lulled asleep on the lap of sensual delights and pleasures O how many split upon this Rock How many are drowned in the sleep of carnal security and are settled upon their Lees O! how direful a mistake will this be to be carried from a Bed of Down to a Bed of scorching hot Iron To be bound in everlasting chains down the stream of the delights of these last days of ours And that hoise up their sail before the fair gale of Prosperity Pleasure and Delights against the secret blasts of a reclaiming Conscience that would stand as a mark to warn
of the victory over Death and Hell and all the incumbrances this side Heaven with a sanctified expectation after him who is the procurer of all my happiness in whom my Soul desires to acquisece both here and hereafter O help me Lord to sing a new song of praise to that spotless Lamb that hath not spared to pour out that precious Blood to reconcile an angry God to despicable Dust and Clay to make known an invisible God to poor blind stupid Creatures and that mortality might be swallowed up of life he was holy harmless and undefiled seperate from sinners to the end he might fulfil all righteousness that he might be a meet high Priest a sufficient Saviour of sinners who by his own example left us a pattern of humility to be submissive to the will of our Father and to contemn the World and to subjugate our selves to his Cross Oh! holy Father thou that hast said them that come unto thee in thy Sons Name thou wilt not cast out that gavest life to poor worthless dying Creatures ready to drop into Hell and that life is thine own Son that is able to save to the uttermost all that come to him O give ability to a poor drooping Creature that he may recover his strength before he go hence and be no more that I may yet praise thee in the Land of the living and that I may regain that precious time that I have been so lavish of Redeem my strength that I may work out my Salvation with fear and trembling O sanctifie me throughout and change me and let me have the New Creation wrought upon me and in me that I may yet acknowledge thy great power in and through thy Son in whose Name I farther call on thee in the words of his own institution saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Prayer in time of War O Holy Great and Glorious Lord God of Hosts thou that hast of old appeared for thy Churches and Servants and that art for ever worthy to be praised that hast wrought great deliverances for the relieving of them that were in straits to the admiration of thy very enemies by whose power thy Servants have run through Troops having thy shield of Salvation by thy power one hath chased a thousand and thine enemies hearts have melted away yea even of the most valiant If thou appear for us Lord we shall prevail O be gracious unto us and shew thy self for us Give courage and wisdom to all our Commanders and Souldiers Gird them with strength and teach their hands to fight Direct their Consultations prosper their Enterprises suffer not deserved vengeance to break out upon us deliver us not to a merciless enemy Say unto our Armies Let no mans heart fail for fear of neither number nor power of the enemy Let all our trust of Victory be in the Lord of Hosts thou that art Lord of Lords and King of Kings Get thy self Honour in the Destruction of those that are Peace-Disturbers let thy hand become glorious to dash in pieces the most potent enemies and in the greatness of thine excellency overthrow those that are instigated against us and let it be known that there is none like unto thee that art glorious in Holiness fearful in Praises doing Wonders so shall we record thy righteous Acts. O help and deliver us that we may tell thy Deeds among the Nations and let not our enemy escape least they say our own hands hath saved us Thou the God of Peace grant us Peace here and everlasting Peace hereafter through Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer for Children O Most glorious Lord God insinite in Wisdom and Goodness thou art the great Creator Redeemer and Preserver of Man I thy poor Servant bewail my Youth and time of Vanity Notwithstanding my Parents care in Education Instruction and Correction I have sinned greatly against thy self O pardon also Lord my unthankfulness toward them for all their Care Cost Pains Crys and Tears with respect to my everlasting welfare O cause me with thankfulness to fear love honour and obey them in order to the obedience due to thy self Lord keep me from snares of evil company and temptations of the same and from youthful lust and let me be a delight to those that fear thee Let me be furnished with treasures of Wisdom and Holiness and pardon all the sins of my corrupt heart and life and be a reconciled Father unto me and let me be able to know thee as a God in Covenant and renew me in the inner Man in the Spirit of my Mind Enlighten my dark understanding quicken my dead heart purifie my impure conscience mortifie and rectifie my will Let all my sinful carnal Love or rather Lust be quenched and vain Pleasures turned into sweet Delights for God Hear me in every respect as thou knowest mâ— condition requires in the Name of thy dear Son in whose words I farther call on thee Our Father c. A Prayer for Servants O Most gracious Lord God thou art the great preserver of those that truly trust in thy mercy deliver us from sin and the bondage of Sathan help us to obey our Master according to the flesh with fear and trembling in singleness of heart as unto Christ not with eye-service as men pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of our God with good will from the heart Make us submissive and obedient to our Governors keep us from Self-will and Pride from Murmurings and unreverent Speeches from Falshod Slothfulness and all Deceit and help us cheerfully and willinglly to do our Duty as believing that thou O Lord art the avenger of all unfaithful Dealers O pardon the neglect of our immortal Souls and of the great work for which we were Created and Redeemed Help us with all our hearts and strength that we may attain to the reward of that Glory prepared for all those that look and long for the appearance of Christ and to enjoy his presence with the Angels and Saints in Glory and all this we humbly beg and hope for on the accompt and merits of Jesus in whose own words we farther call on thee as he hath taught us saying Our Father c. A Prayer for a Virgin BLessed and Holy Lord preserve me thy Servant and give me grace with those Wise Virgins to make ready my Lamp and Oyl in my Vessel that at what hour the Bride-groom shall come I may be found ready prepared with those undefiled Virgins that follow the Lamb. Deliver me from the sins of Pride that common sin far different from that Plainness Simplicity and Modesty of old O help me thy Servant to walk circumspectly O cleanse and purge me keep me blameless cause me to hate the Garment spotted by the Flesh let the Pride of the Daughters of Jerusalem so severely threatned awake those that tread in their steps they were haughty and walked with stretched-out Necks and wandring Eyes and mincing as they went whose
inconceivable delight to all Eternity in another World with St. Chrysostom chuse rather the punishments of Hell than offend Christ Of the pains of Sense 1. COnsider the horror anxiousness heart-corroding and too late vain repentance that will torment thy Soul for thy so sinful transacted life when thou thinkest how many precious opportunities thou mightest have improved for thy Souls eternal good but hast wilfully cast them away how many a good Sermon and Soul-market thou didst negligently go through How many dreadful things thou hast committed How many necessary duties thou hast omitted How thou hast dishonoured God grieved Friends and Relations and when thou wast call'd upon to repent thou wouldst not turn and live Ah! I say such considerations as these will then tear thy Soul to pieces and be a great part of thy Hell 2. And as to the things thou doest at present feel they will be unexpressible There is no tongue can express or heart conceive the extremity and exquisiteness of it all that the angry Arm of an Almighty power can inflict upon thee O sinner shall be inflicted upon thee to the full In a word If the several pains of Discases and Maladies incident to our Nature nay and add to it all the most exquisite and unheard of Tortures c. be collected all into one extream anguish yet it will be nothing to the Torment which shall ever possess and plague the least part of a damned Body And as for the Soul let all the griefs horrors and dispairs that ever rent in pieces any heavy heart and vexed consciences c. be heapt together into one extream Terror it would all fall infinitely short of that desperate rage and restless anguish which shall eternally torture the least and lowest faculty of the Soul Oh what rational man that hath Understanding Affections and Senses would not tremble at such thoughts as these and seriously project how to evade all this 3. As to the everlastingness of these Tortures consider that that will be another Hell to thee O Eternity Eternity upon which depends the height length breadth and depth of immortality in the World to come even two Eternities the one infinitely Blessed and the other infinitely Cursed the loss of everlasting joys and lying in eternal flames and never ending pleasures or pains follow the well or mispending this moment upon Earth With what unwearied Care and Watchfulness ought we to watch all the days of our appointed time to make our Calling and Election sure With what industry and diligence to ply this Moment to fit us for that Eternity Of the Joys of Heaven THe excellency of Heaven no mortal Heart no finite Head can possibly Conceive or Comprehend The Eye of Man hath seen Wonderful Things and the Ear heard most Delicious and Ravishing Melody the Heart can Conceive and Imagine strange Felicities yet cannot Apprehend this Our Gracious God in his Holy and unsearchable Wisdom doth detain from the Eye of our Understanding a full comprehension of the most Glorious state above to Exercise in the mean time our Faith Love Obedience Patience c. Heaven is caled a great City a Place most Glorious above all Comparison and Conceit Wherein many Mansions are Prepared for many thousands of glorified bodies after the last day besides the numberless numbers of blessed Angels Oh with what infinite sweet Delight may glorious Souls be Drowned in the Imaginations of these Felicities whilst in this vale of Tears Heaven is called the Kingdom of God of his own making who doth all things like himself It is called an Inheritance a rich and glorious Inheritance an Inheritance of the Saints in Light an Inheritance incorruptible a Crown of Righteousness a Crown of Life a Crown of Glory an exceeding Eternal weight of Glory fulness of Joys Everlasting Pleasures Who would not be ravisht with the very thoughts of this eternal and matchless Glory to which all other things are but as loss and dung and in comparison of whom are not worthy mentioning Of the Beauty and Blessedness of Glorfied Bodies THey shall be made like the Glorious Body of Christ and that is Honour enough and Happiness too besides their freedom from all Defects and Imperfections they shall be like the Angels of God in Heaven Pains Miseries and all Evils they shall have an Everlasting Redemption from and shall be Crowned Gloriously with many possitive Prerogatives c. 1. Imortality Glorified bodies cannot possibly die 2. Incorruptibleness never more to be obnoxious to the least Corruption or Putrefaction or Dissolution They shall be Spiritual and Heavenly as the Angels in Heaven and in all things subject to the Spirit of God Of the Happiness of the Soul WE shall know as we are known our Memory shall be perfected we shall be beatifically enlightned with a clear and glorious sight of God himself which Divines call a Beatifical Vision It is sufficient that in Heaven we shall see him face to face whose very Countenance to behold is the life of the Soul It ravisheth the Soul and fills it yea as full as ever it can hold or contain insomuch as some that have had but a glimpse of it whilest in this lower Orb have cryed out Enough enough Lord I can hold no more And if so full by one glance here what shall it be when immerg'd in the middest of that boundless Ocean of Immortality and Glory that for its Immensity can never be defined Paul when taken up in the Third Heaven saw things unutterable not to be express'd by any mortal man as if he should have said If any one should ask me what I saw I saw things a thousand times beyond what I or any montal man can express or imagine O the heighth breadth length and depth of that glory that is prepared for the Saints before the foundation of the the World Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive what great things are laid up for them that love God O happy Soul that shall be drowned in this boundless happiness No wonder if the sense of this makes Martyrs to rejoyce in their sufferings Paul desired to be dissolved A Consolatary Discourse OR A DIALOGUE between CHRIST and a Disquiet SOVL Christ MY Beloved why fearest thou and art so disquieted within thy self do'st thou well to be angry with my Chastisement And why art thou offended that I should make thee like unto my self causing thee to walk in that way of inward and outward griefs which I did tread before thee Why refusest thou to take up my Cross and follow me and to taste of that Cup that I drank before thee Soul O Lord give me of that Spirit of thine and that trouble with thee and for thee shall be sweet unto me Whatsoever thou didst bear it was for me and if I were so disposed as I should then would I be content to bear all that thou my God shouldst lay upon me But ah