unto God with my voice even unto God will I cry with my voice and he shall hearken unto me In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord my sore ran and ceased not in the night season my Soul refused comfort When I am in heaviness I wiâ—l think upon God when my heart is vexed I will complain Thou holdest mine eyes waking I am so feeble that I cannot speak I have considered the days of old and the years that are past I call to remembrance my Song and in the night I commune with mine own heart and search out my Spirits Will the Lord absent himself for ever and will he be no more intreated Is his mercy clean gone for ever and his Promise come utterly to an end for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious and will he shut up his loving kindness in displeasure And I said it is mine own infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most highest I will remember the works of the Lord and call to mind thy wonders of old time I will think also of all thy works and my talking shall be of thy doings Thy way O God is holy who is so great a God as our God Thou art the God that dost wonders and hast declared thy power among the people Thou hast mightily delivered thy people even the Sons of Jacob and Joseph The Waters saw thee O God the Waters saw thee and were afraid the Depths were troubled The Clouds also poured out Water the Air thundred and thine Arrows went abroad The voice of thy Thunder was heard round about the Lightning shone upon the Ground the Earth was moved and shook withal Thy way is in the Sea and thy paths in the great Waters and thy footsteps are not known Thou leadest thy People like Sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for Saturday Morning For God's Providence MOst gracious God I yield thee humble and hearty thanks for preserving and defending me this night past from all those Perils and Dangers which poor Dust and Ashes are subject to fall into Had I not been preserved by thy almighty Providence I had long since both Body and Soul been carried into everlasting Perdition but thou art a God infinite in Mercy and whose compassions fail not towards poor Sinners by supporting them in their several necessities II. Vouchsafe O Lord to forgive whatsoever I have committed against thy divine Majesty this Night either sleeping or waking or at any other time secretly or openly Grant unto me unfeigned Repentance and newness of Life open unto me O Lord that ever-streaming Fountain which thou hast opened for Sinners even the Blood of thy dear Son Christ Jesus and which thou hast promised under the New Testament to open to the penitent of the House of David III. Give unto me thy holy Spirit which thou hast promised to give to the World's end unto all thine elect People and let the same thine holy Comforter purge my heart heal my Corruptions sanctifie my Nature and consecrate my Soul and Body that they may become lively Temples to serve thee in Righteousness and Holiness all the days of my Life Give me I earnestly beseech thee a supply of all those Graces I stand in need of with an increase of all those good Gifts thou hast endowed me with IV. As thou hast now wakened my Body from Sleep so I beseech thee rouse my Soul from the sleep of Sin and carnal Security give me Grace as a Child of Light to walk in all holy Obedience before thee this day and grant me to endeavour to keep Faith and a good Conscience towards Thee and towards all Men. V. To this end I recommend my self with all my ways thoughts words and actions together with all that belongs to me unto thy divine Protection praying thee to keep both them and me from all Evil and to give a Blessing to all my undertakings this Day and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Saturday Noon For Tranquility of Spirit O Most merciful God and loving Father who beholdest all the dwellers upon Earth and none can live without thy arm of Providence supports him No sooner do I enter upon the Affairs of this World but I am surrounded about with a cloud of Miseries the Flesh provokes me to Lust the World allures me to Pleasures and the Devil tempts me to commit all manner of Wickedness II. Fears of Enemies abroad afright me Wrongs of ill Neighbours do oppress me Cares for the things of this Life do consume me and even all the day long something or other doth afflict and torment me Adversity on the one hand frets me and Prosperity on the other hand flatters me Over my head Heaven's Vengeance due to my Sins is ready to fall heavy upon me and under my feet Hell gapes ready to devour me III. Amidst those many toils and perplexities where to find rest I know not or to fly for succour but to thee O Lord most holy and mighty direct me and guide me in these difficulties protect me from these Perils and dangers settle me in a course of Godliness and let me walk soberly and circumspectly as becometh a Good Christian spending and ending that small remnant of days which thou hast allotted me in this World in thy Fear and Service IV. Teach me so to number my days that I may apply my heart unto true Wisdom Make me wise unto Salvation simple to that which is Evil and prone to that which is Good Fructifie me unto good works and grant that I may be Charitable Peaceable and Conscionable towards all men now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Saturday Night For Remission of Sins O Almighty God I humbly beseech thee to bury all my Sins and Transgressions in thy Grave which I have committed from my Infancy unto this present against thy divine Majesty Be thou O Lord my light in darkness then shall my light shine clear as the day II. O God the Father of Heaven have mercy upon me and bless me O God the Son Redeemer of all the World preserve and keep me O holy and blessed Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son deliver me this Night from all Sin and Evil O holy blessed and glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God direct guide and sanctifie me III. Be thou my protector and defender amidst all dangers that when I lay me down to rest I may fear no Evil And grant O Lord at my last hour thy spiritual illumination that when my strength faileth and the light of my Eyes is departed from me mine Ears wax deaf and my Mouth dumb and all my senses have forsaken me then infuse some sense into me of eternal Life that I may taste and relish in this mortal Body the beginning of thy everlasting Comfort that at my departure out of this World I may by the Eye of Faith
when I go down to the Pit Shall the dust give thanks unto thee or shall it declare thy truth Hear O Lord and have mercy upon me Lord be thou my helper Shew thy Servant the light of thy Countenance and save me for thy mercies sake Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer in time of Sickness O Almighty and ever-living God in whose hands consists the life of all Mankind and who correctest every Son whom thou receivest mercifully I humble beseech thee to hear my voice and despise not the Prayer I make now unto thee in the time of trouble In the vexation of my Spirit and in the very anguish of my Soul I cry unto thee for mercy II. O thou that hast created and made me of nothing and hast redeemed me from the slavery of Sin Death and Hell by the most precious Blood of thy dear Son Jesus Christ which was spilt upon the Cross for my Sins Have mercy upon me Bow down thine all-hearing Ear unto my complaint and cast me not away in thy fierce anger III. My Sins cry aloud to Heaven for Vengeance and I have deserved thy wrath and heavy displeasure against me Thou hast cast me down upon the Bed of Sickness and I begin to fall as leaves beaten with a vehement wind yet thy Chastisments are less than my deservings but of thy mercy and goodness O Lord correct me not to death but to amendment of Life for thine own sake for thy holy Name 's sake for thy Son Christ Jesus sâ—ke be merciful unto my Sins for they are great IV. Spare thy Servant good Lord which confesseth his Sins unto thee pour the Oil of thy sanctifying Grace into my Heart and work thereby in me a true and immediate Repentance and restore me again to thy favour according to thy gracious Promise to humble Penitents let thy merciful Providence so guide and govern me in this affliction thou hast been pleased to lay upon me that I may never fall into utter darkness ignorance of thee or inconsideration of my self V. Let the faintness of my Spirit and the Condemnation of my self be overcome by thy irresistable Light thou that art the God of all consolation grant that I may be mindful of the great account I have to make at the day of Judgment and that I may bear in mind the reward which is due to the faithful the end of misery and the beginning of all happiness but to the secure and careless the beginning of eternal punishment VI. Strengthen my Faith accept my penitential Tears speak peace to my Soul and Conscience and say Thou art my Salvation then let thy holy Spirit descend into my Heart with this express My Grace is sufficient for thee then shall my Heart leap for joy and my Soul shall be exceeding glad desiring to be dissolved and be at peace that after this frail mortal Life is ended I may enjoy the eternal fruition of they heavenly Presence VII Suffer me not O Lord in this my trial to be possess'd with a fear of Condemnation or to despond of thy Promises but in sure considence of heart apply to my self the remission of all my Sins that at the last hour by Faith in Jesus Christ I may enjoy a tast of eternal Salvation Let not Death if thou art pleased to send it be terrible or bitter unto me but when it cometh I may rejoicingly receive the fame and having escaped the storm of Temptation and the dangers of Satan I may triumph like a Conqueror and behold the Power and Presence of thy holy Spirit VIII Let my last words be the same which thy Son did utter upon the Cross saying Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit and when my Speech is departed from me hear the groanings and sighs of my Heart and the desire of my Soul that at the last thy Servant may depart in Peace and reach those heavenly Mansions prepared for him My Soul O Lord heartily desireth to attain to that supernatural City whereof such glorious things are spoken IX Breathe inward Comforts to my Heart tho' my Body be going the way of all Flesh yet let my Soul go the way of all Saints Lord hear me and help me stand by me and save me and if thou hast determined to lay my Body into the Grave receive my Soul into thy Kingdom to rest in joy and peace for evermore through Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer to be said by those that visit the Sick O Most gracious God who hast Compassion upon all Men and hatest nothing that thou hast made mercifully we beseech thee to have Compassion on this thy Servant who by thy Visitation hath been sorely afflicted and by the same even brought to the end of his Days and period of his Life be pleased therefore good Lord to have Mercy upon him accept of him as the work of thine own Hands a Lamb of thy Fold thy Servant redeemed by Jesus Christ who is willing by thy appointment to leave this miserable World in full assurance of thy Mercy in Jesus Christ for the remission of his Sins II. Guide him good Lord in this his last Journey that he being quit of all the troubles of this transitory Life he may be safely conducted by thy power to the Heaven of Eternal Happiness into the Arms of boundless Mercy to everlasting Peace and perpetual Joys there to reign with all the Company of blessed Saints and Angels with thee in continual Bliss for evermore III. And gracious God we beseech thee by thy abundant Goodness by the multitude of thy tender Mercies and Compassions by the Merits of thy bitter Death and bloody Passion by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension and by the Coming of thy holy blessed Spirit have mercy upon him deliver him from the burthen and guilt of his Sins from the fears and terrors of Death and from the fury and power of Hell IV. Lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon him that in all the pains of his Body in all the agonies of his Spirit let thy Comforts refresh his Soul and enable him patiently to wait till his Change shall come And grant O Lord that when this earthly House and Tabernacle of his Body shall be dissolv'd he may have a Building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens and that for his sake who by his most precious Blood hath purchased Salvation for all those who truly believe in him even Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour Amen Meditations after Recovery Psal 116. 1. I Am well pleased that the Lord hath heard the voice of my Prayer 2. That he hath enclined his Ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live 3. The Snares of Death compassed me round about and the Pains of Hell got hold upon me 4. I shall find trouble and heaviness and I shall call upon the Name of the Lord O Lord I
hungry with good things and none of thy Servants dost thou send empty away from thy holy Sanctuary Plant thy Fear in my Heart give me Wisdom and good Understanding and make me to have pleasure in thee and all thy works that â—beying the Precepts of thy hoâ—y Gospel and performing the Conditions of thy Covenant which thou hast established for â—ver in Truth and Equity in Verity and Judgment I may â—orthily praise and adore thy â—oly Name among the Faithful â— this Life and in the Congreâ—ation of Saints in the Life to â—ome through thy Mercies O â—lessed Jesu to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be â—ll Honour and Glory now and or ever Amen A Prayer for Sunday Evening For Pardon of Sin O Almighty God I acknowledge and confess those many weaknesses and imperâ—ections I am guilty of in my performance of the Dutiâ— of this Day I have called up on thee for the pardon and foâ—giveness of my Sins I havâ— heard thy holy Word but yâ— find my self a very unprofitâ—ble Servant So that O Lord though I have done thy Worâ— I have done it so negligently that I may rather expect thâ— fire of thy Anger than a Bleâ—sing from thee II. But if thou O God should be extream to mark what done amiss O Lord who caâ— abide it or stand before thâ— when thou art angry Remember that I am but dust and asheâ— and the work of thine owâ— hands Pardon I beseech theâ— and pass by all my Sins Neglâ—gences and Ignorances looâ— not upon the weakness of mâ— Flesh but upon the willingness â—f my Spirit and so cover all â—y imperfections with the â—erfect and absolute obedience â—f thy dear Son that those Saâ—rifices offered up by me this day â—ay be by thee accepted in â—nd for that Sacrifice which Christ Jesus offered upon the Cross once for me III. And as I earnestly desire that my Sacrifices may be pleasing and acceptable to thee so let thine Ordinances be profitable to me And as thou hast this day sown â—n my heart the precious seed of thy Word so let neither the Fowls of the Air devour it nor the Cares of the World choak â—it but let the former and the â—atter Rain of thy blessing come often upon it that it may bring forth in me the Fruits of true Repentance and hearty amenâ—ment of Life Pardon my mâ—nifold Sins by which I havâ— provoked thee this very day IV. Be thou unto me a mercifuâ— God in despite of the Snare and Delusions which Sin lays iâ— the way for my Destruction and keep me under the shadow of thy Wings in perpetuaâ— Peace and Safety Bless me thiâ— Night sleeping or waking givâ— thine Angels charge over me that at whatsoever hour thou callest me I may like a faithful Soldier stand ready prepared to encounter Death and to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth Grant these things O blessed Father for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen Meditations for Monday Out of the Psalms For a holy Life MY song shall be of mercy and judgment unto thee O â—ord will I sing Let me have unâ—erstanding in the way of godliness When wilt thou come unto me â— will walk iâ— my house with a perâ—ect heart I will take no wicked â—hing I hate the Sins of unfaithâ—ulness there shall no such cleave â—nto me A froward heart shall depart â—rom me I will not know a wickâ—d Person Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour him will I destroy Whoso hath also a proud look and high stomach I will not suffer him There shâ—ll no deceitful person dwell in my house he that telleth â—yes shall not tarry in my sight I shall sâ—on destroy all the ungodly that are in the Land that may root out all wicked doe from the City of the Lord. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for Monday Morning For a Holy Life O God most Holy and Righteous who shewest Mercy unto thousands and hatesâ— nothing thy own hands havâ— made who fillest me with thy loving kindness every Morning and keepest me in Peace and Safety in the Night season II. I confess O Lord that I am altogether Vanity a shadow of Death a dark Dungeon a barren and empty Ground where no Water is but deluges of Wrath and Confusion But O Lord I abhor my self and repent before thee in dust and ashes and as Sins of Infirmity have thrown me down raise me up again I beseech thee by the Gift of Penitence that I may lead a holy Life with all Humility Truth and Justice Godliness and Honesty in this present World III. I bless thy holy Name for thy Care and Protection over me this Night that thou hast safely brought me to the beginning of this day delivering me from the shadow of Death O Lord continue thy wonted goodness towards me this Day and grant that all my Prayers Words Works and Actions may begin and end in thy Glory IV. Keep me O Lord I beseech thee this day without sin and so replenish me with thy Favour and Grace that my heart may rejoyce and delight in thy praises Deliver me O Lord from lying Lips and from a deceitful Tongue keep me from the Snare of the Hunter and from the noisom and infectious Pestilence from deadly Vexation mortal Sickness and sudden Death V. Protect me in the day of my Trouble give me a contented Mind which may remain unto me a continual Feast in whatsoever changes or chances may befall me in this transitory Life Grant that I may yield up my self to thy good Pleasure in all things and be obedient unto those holy Commandments which thou hast appointed for my Rule and Guide So that at the last I may find that in keeping thy Holy Laws there is great Reward Grant this O heavenly Father for thy Son's sake my only Redeemer Amen A Prayer for Monday Noon For Forgiveness of Sins O God the searcher of all hearts and from whom no secrets are hid but are laid open to thine all-seeing Eye I here acknowledge my Sins unto thee and mine Iniquities which are many in number I come unto thee O Lord who art the fountain of all goodness and forgivest all those that with hearty Repentance come unto thee Pardon and remit all those Sins which this day I have committed against thy Divine Majesty Purge me with Hyssop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow Let the dew of thy Favour and the fire of thy Love blot out all my Sins and purifie my Soul II. Create in me a clean Heart and renew a right Spirit within me Let me not be for ever separated from the sweet refreshings of thy Favourand presence but give me the comfort of thy help again and let thy free Spirit loose me from the bondage of Sin and establish me in the freedom and liberty of the Sons of God So shall I praise thy Name
Friday Morning A Confession of Sins O Most mighty and merciful God I presume to present my self this Morning before thy Divine Majesty to offer up unto thee this my early sacrifice but in the performance of it I make known my unworthiness and disclose my Weakness and exceedingly discover my imperfections and wretchedness II. For alas I draw near unto thee with my lips but my heart is far from thee I call upon thee with my tongue but my soul at the same time commits wickedness against thee My righteousness comes short of the Scribes and Pharisees and are but as filthy Rags my holiness but as a morning Dew yea all my actions of Devotion if weighed in thy Balance are but abomination in thy sight From the soal of the Foot unto the crown of the Head I am altogether polluted and unclean yea nothing to be found in me but wounds and putrefied sores imprinted and stamped into my soul and flesh by the custom of my Sin â— My Eyes are full of Vanity my Ears full of â—niquity my Hands of Impurity my Will perverse to that which is Good my Remembrance affable â—nd pleasing to that which is Evil my Understanding is darkned my Conscience seared my Head full of mischief my feet swift to shed blood Destruction and Wickedness are in all my ways and the way of Peace have I not known IV. Since then O Lord that my Sins are so great and grievous against thy Law and against thy Gospel if thou shouldest be so extream as to mark against me what I have done amiss who is able to abide it If thou shouldst call me suddenly to a strict account how should I shew my Face If I deny waht is laid to my charge my Conscience will accuse me If I forswear the dumb and senseless Creatures will bear witness against me V. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is no Friend in the Earth beneath which I have in comparison of thee no other Mediator amongst Men and Angels but even thine only begotten Son Christ Jesus in whom only thou art well pleased by the virtue of whose Death and Passion and the remembrance of whose precious blood which trickled down from his side wash me from my sins and besprinkle my polluted Heart from an evil Conscience VI. And I beseech thee O Lord not only to wash away my sins with the blood of thine immaculate Lamb but also to purge my heart by thine only Spirit from the dross of my natural Corruptions that I may feel thy Spirit more and more killing Sin in the power practice thereof so that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee the ever living God in Righteousness and Holiness this Day and all the days of my Life for evermore Amen A Prayer for Friday Noon For God's Direction O Lord most holy I beseech thee to direct all my ways correct my wanderings and erect my wild and worldly Thoughts unto thee the God of my Salvation Learn me that divine Art of living in thy Fear to labour in thy Service and evermore run swiftly in the ways of thy Commandments Direct my Thoughts Words and Works preserve and bless me in my going out and coming in and grant that whatsoever my heart shall think my tongue utter or my hands exercise this day may tend to the glory of thy holy Name the good of others and the comfort of my own Conscience II. End these sinful days O blessed Redeemer and hasten thy coming and give me Grace to stand ready prepared to meet thee who art the sweet Bridegroom of my Soul that at thy coming whether it be by the hour of Death or at the day of Judgment I may joyfully pronounce those blessed words of Come Lord Jesus come quickly III. Deliver me O Lord from all those heavy Judgments which hang over my head as due unto me for my Transgressions separate them as far from thy presence in distance as the East is from the West bury them all in thy Grave that they neither rise to shame me in this Life nor condemn me in the World to come To whom be ascribed for thine infinite Mercy all Honour Praise and Glory from this time forth and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Friday Night Against carnal Security O Merciful Father I here prostrate my self in all humility and reverence of heart and mind beseeching thee to guide and protect me this Night with thy blessed Spirit and though my sinful flesh shall slumber and sleep yet grant that my Soul may continually â—e vigilant II. Let not the Enemy come upon me unawares and find me slumbering or sleeping as rocked in the Cradle of carnal Security lest I being unarm'd and destitute of thy favour and help he enter into the House of my sinful Body and their takes possession of my leprous Soul and endanger both to be thrown into the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone III. Make me to consider that my Bed is but a pattern of the Grave and that when I lay my self down in it I cannot rise up unless thy heavenly Providence enables me Teach me to acknowledge that sleep is the very Figure and Image of Death to whose stroak at thy appointed time I must submit and resign my self endue me with Love and Charity to all Men let my Lamp O Lord be filled with fresh Oil that whensoever thy Messenger Death approaches and knocks at the Gate of this mortal Body I may at his Summons in the day of the Resurrection of the Dead be ready to attend on thee my Bride with my Lamp burning IV. Let me be ever mindful of the great and last day wherein I must render an account of every idle thought word and work and grant I may be prepared with Faith and Repentance as with a Wedding-Garment against the time that thou O Lord shalt call for me out of this sinful World In the mean time let me fly from Sin as from a Serpent and from unrighteousness as from a Cockatrice and above all things seek thy Glory and when this mortal Life is ended I may be made partaker of Immortality and Life Eternal in thy most blessed and glorious Kingdom V. Let thy Mercy and Loving-kindness follow me O Lord all the days of my Life that I may dwell in thy House and evermore praise thy holy Name grant that I may in the acknowledgment of thy greatness confess my own unworthiness and visit me O Lord by driving from me all the Assaults of my Enemies both ghostly and bodily VI. Let thy holy Angel be with me to keep me this Night and evermore fit me for the duties of the next day if it be thy heavenly will to spare me this Night this O Lord I beg at thy merciful Hands through the Merits and Mediation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost now and for ever Amen Meditations for Saturday I Will cry
of Defence in the Time of Adversity as for his Enemies let them be cloathed with Shame but upon himself let his Crown for ever flourish Grant him a long and a prosperous Reign let Peace and Unity Holiness and Justice Truth and all Christian Vertues flourish in his time Let all his Subjects faithfully serve him with Honour and due Obedience and let him so truly serve thee his God here on Earth that he may hereafter everlastingly reign with thee in Heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for the Royal Family O God the Father of all Mercies bless and preserve Catherine the Queen Dowager the Princess Anne of Denmark with all the rest of the Royal Family unite them unto thee with the Bands of Faith and Love preserve them to their Lives end in thy Favour make them Instruments of Glory to thy Name of refreshment to the Church of joy to all faithful People of this Kingdom prosper them with all Happiness here on Earth and crown them at last with an Eternal Weight of Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for our Parents ALmighty God who from the Loins of our First Parents Adam and Eve didst produce Mankind and hast commanded us to Honour and Obey our Parents in pursuance of thy holy Will and Commandment and of our Duty to thee our God and in thee to them we do with all humility beg a Blessing of thee for our Parents who from thy Mercy and Plenty have conveyed many to us pardon and forgive all their Sins and Infirmities encrease in them all Goodness give them Blessings of the Right Hand and Blessings of the Left bless them in their Persons and Posterity in their Goods and good Name in the Comforts of thy Holy Spirit in a persevering Goodness and at last in an eternal Weight of Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of Parents for their Children O God the Creator of all the World by whose Providence Mankind is propagated I bless thy holy Name for bestowing on me the Blessing of Children Lord bless them with Life and Health with good Understanding fair Opportunities and Advantages of good Education but above all with the Gifts and Graces of thy Holy Spirit that they may live and be blessed under thy Protection grow in Grace and be in favour with God and Man and at last may make up the number of thine Elect Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for our Friends and Benefactors O Thou Fountain of all Goodness from whom proceeds all Excellency both to Men and Angels extend thy favour and loving-kindness to all my Friends and Benefactors Reward them and make them plentiful Compensation for all the Benefits which from thy merciful Hand of Providence they have conveyed to me Let the Light of thy Countenance so shine upon them as they may never enter into any Desolation or Affliction but such as may be instrumental to thy Glory and their Eternal Comfort through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer of a Wife for her Husband BLessed Lord who hast been graciously pleased to call me to the holy State of Matrimony bless me in it with the Grace of Chastity Loyalty Obedience and a dutiful Complacency to my Husband Bless him with a long Life a healthful Body and an understanding Heart and furnish him with all those Gifts and Graces which may enable him to be and continue thy Servant that he may be a Supporter and a Guide to me his Wife a Blessing and a Comfort to his Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of a Husband for his Wife O Most gracious God who art a Father to us thy Children a Spouse to thy holy Church a Saviour and Redeemer to all Mankind have Mercy upon thy Handmaid my Wife endue her with all the Ornaments of thy heavenly Grace make her to be as Religious as Hester Loving as Rachel Fruitful as Leah Wise as Rebecca and Obedient as Sarah that being filled with Grace and Benediction here she may be partaker of thy Glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of an Orphan O God gracious and merciful who art ready to succour all those that are distressed and hast promised to be a Father to the Fatherless Have Mercy upon me O Lord I humbly beseech thee who am left a poor Orphan and by thy heavenly will and pleasure deprived of my earthly Parents Supply O Lord all my Wants and Necessities guide govern and comfort me with thy good Spirit that in all my Words Works and Actions I may glorifie thee my heavenly Father Let thy heavenly Grace sustain me and work in me Obedience to my Superiors and those which have the charge and care over me that they discharging a good Conscience towards me I may by thy ready help improve my time to the Praise and Glory of thy holy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Widow's Prayer O Most holy Lord God the Comforter of all those who are in any affliction sorrow or trouble The Bands of Death by thy appointment have made a separation between me and him whom thou gavest to be my Husband who was my Head and supreme Governour and the only Guide I had in this World next under thee Grant me grace to bear this cross and loss patiently and to put my whole Trust and Confidence in thee let thy tender Care go along with me in preserving me from all Oppression and Wrong and deliver me from the Hands of those who will devour Widows Houses Bless me O Lord as thou didst the poor Widow of Sarepta let not the Barrel of Meal wast but grant me a competency fit for my Estate neither let the Cruise of Oil fail but assist me with thy Grace that I may walk worthily towards thee and all the World Let my continual Prayers and Supplications ascend up to thee and hear O Lord and have mercy when I cry unto thee for the alone sake of thy dear Son my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen The Servant's Prayer O Most mighty God and the great Lord and Master of all the World who beholdest with thine all-seeing Eye thy great Houshold and Family here on Earth look upon me thine unworthy Servant I humbly beseech thee with thine Eye of Providence grant me a contented Mind in that state thou hast placed me in so shall I enjoy a continual Feast Assist me O Lord with thy heavenly Grace that I may perform Obedience and be subject to my earthly Masters whom thou hast been pleased to set over me whether they be Good or Evil Courteous or Froward Prosper all the Designs I shall take in hand in this my Servitude which are not in opposition to thy Commands Preserve and keep me from all Evil that no Enticements may allure me either to embezel away any thing committed to my Custody or have Society with such who are Enemies to my Master's House let me chearfully
proceed in my Service that the Glass of my Time may run out with Pleasure and I in the end shall be made Free of that City of thine the New Jerusalem where I may rest for evermore Amen The Maid's Prayer O Holy Lord God let thine Handmaid speak in thine Audience and hearken unto her when she calleth upon thee though I know not how to ask aright yet teach me the knowledge of thee and how to beg those things that are requisite and necessary for me Inlighten my Soul with thy divine Inspiration that I may see and do those things that appertain unto Godliness Let me keep my honest Reputation in the Eye of the World knowing that a good Name is better than precious Ointment But especially in thy sight let me be pure honest and undefiled so shall I not be ashamed in the great Day of Account Defend me from Sin Satan and the Poison of evil Tongues assist me with thy directing hand that the labours which this day I am to undertake may prosper grant me Grace to love honour and serve thee in Holiness and Righteousness all my days that I may glorifie thy holy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for one afflicted in Mind O Eternal Lord God who art fearful in Praises doing Wonders I tremble and am even at Death's Door for alas I am the vilest of all Sinners my Conscience is so clogged with Evil that I cannot look up my Wickednesses have gone over my Head and are as a burthen too heavy for me to bear my Spirit is sorrowful my Heart is heavy my words are stopp'd with Sighs and my Plaints watred with Tears O Lord what shall I desire of thee that deserve nothing at thy Hand What can I hope for that am even hopeless My Conscience is restless and my Ungodliness fettereth me and even all my unrighteous Actions cry out for Vengeance against me my Spirit is overwhelmed and weary of this Bondage and I have bid my life farewell II. O but let thy Majesty O Lord yet appear in thy Mercy forgive my Sin the unhappy ground of all this woe Where my misery hath thus abounded there let thy Mercy much more abound I dare not add this grievous Sin unto my other Sins to despair of thy Mercy What were more Sacrilegious for thou art a skilful Physician and canst cure all my Infirmities thou art a merciful God and canst forgive all my Sins To thee do I fly for refuge which art the Land of Safety to thee do I lift up my Hands and my Heart and to thee do I pray desiring thy Mercy Let the power of thy Son's Death and Passion defeat all the Devices of the Devil against me III. Instruct me in thy heavenly Wisdom lead me in thy Truth in this dangerous Sea of Discontentment and Affliction keep me from shipwrack and bring me safe to the Land of Peace-Strengthen my Faith sanctifie all those good means unto me wherein I seek relief as Prayer Conference Reading and hearing thy holy Word Mitigate my Perplexities grant me Patience heal my Imperfections Thou that wilt not break a bruised Reed spare and have Mercy upon me Thou that delightest not in the death of a Sinner receive me Though my Heart condemns me yet do thou release me O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord defer not but even now speak peace unto me say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation to whom be ascribed all Honour and Glory World without end Amen A Thanksgiving for God's sending his Son to save Mankind O Almighty and most merciful Lord God we might utterly despair and be cast down considering our manifold Sins and infinite Offences had not thy Word been made Flesh and dwelt among us but now we dare not despair for if when we were Enemies we were reconciled unto thee by the Death of thy Son how much more being reconciled are we saved by his Life All our hope and all our confidence is reposed in that precious Blood which was shed for us and for our Salvation II. O how greatly are we wretches bound to fear thee to love thee to bless and praise thee to honour thee and to glorifie thee seeing we are redeemed at such a price saved with such a gift cherished with so many promises and blessings of the same even thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ Stablish O God that which thou hast wrought in us finish what thou hast begun that we may be able to come into the fulness of thy Mercy make us through thy holy Spirit to understand and through thy Son to discern and with due honour and reverence this high Mystery of Godliness which is how God was manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World and received up into Glory where we doubt not but we shall Reign with him for evermore Amen The Prayer of a Woman with Child O God the Creator and Redeemer of all Mankind Comforter of all that call upon thee and the only deliverer of such as are in danger be merciful I beseech thee and look down in mercy from thy throne upon me thine Handmaid and upon the Fruit of my Womb behold I seek and sue unto thee for a Blessing at this time my Sin is great my Danger at hand not small my Pains to come will be grievous and my Life is now most uncertain II. Assure me I beseech thee of the forgiveness of all my Sins mitigate my Fear and asswage my Sorrows strengthen me with the refreshing of thy Spirit confirm me in the Faith of my Saviour and bless all good means appointed for my Comfort that in due time I may be a joyful Mother and see the Fruit of my Body safe sound and perfect without blemish or deformity III. O Lord I know not how soon my Travail will overtake me when I must encounter with Life or Death one drop of thy Mercy hath sovereign power to cure all the Wounds of those Sorrows Shed therefore O holy Father that drop of Grace upon me in that minute when I am to encounter with so stern an Adversary Strengthen me with Patience preserve me that I perish not and bless the work of my Midwife IV. Let not the Child yet unborn the Babe in my Womb be punished for mine Offences but give it growth form and what thou seest in thy good pleasure to be fit and necessary for it and when the time is come that thou wilt call it out of this close house of flesh where it now inhabiteth to dwell in the open World sanctifie thy Creature make it by Baptism a Member of thy Church a Lamb of thy Flock and direct it in the ways of thy Commandments to its Life's End Amen The Midwife's Prayer MOst gracious God who alone hast the power to produce Children from the Womb and bring them into the light of this World I thy most unworthy Servant whom thou hast appointed for this
one trouble shall leap upon the Righteous and in an Instant shall as soon vanish though he fall he shall rise again for the righteous shall not be forsaken for ever II. I have lately tasted of thy goodness O Lord I have now been sensible of thy Mercy in a great Measure by this great deliverance I have had experience many times of thy loving-kindness but never more than in thy late Favours I chattered like a Swallow I mourned like a Dove I panted like a Hart but thou hast put life again into my Soul thou hast not dealt with me according to my Sins nor rewarded me according to mine Iniquities As high as the Heaven is above the Earth so great is thy Mercy towards them that fear thee since thy Mercy O Lord hath been so great towards me grant that I may love thee more zealously fear thee more reverently and obey thee more carefully all the days of my Life For as Elkanah was to Hannah instead of many Sons so be thou still to me â— God instead of many Comforters Gâ—ve me therefore patience in trouble a constancy in hope rooted and grounded in love and so bring me O Lord from this valley of tears to life everlasting Amen A Prayer before taking of Physick or any outward means for restoring of Health MOst mighty God the great Physician both of Soul and Body who by thy blessing on a lump of dry figgs didst heal Hezekiah's Boil that he recovered and by laying thy hand upon the head of Peter's Wife's Mother didst cure her of her Fever and anointing the Eyes with Clay and Spittle didst restore the Man that was blind even from his Birth unto perfect Sight and by seven times washing in the River Jordan didst cleanse Naaman the Syrian of his Leprosie and by thine appointment hast provided means for thy Children for the curing of their Sickness and recovery of their Health II. I dare not O Lord without injury to my Soul and indignity to thine Omnipotency despair of thy sufficiency and power for the restoring me to health or not use that help and expect a blessing upon those means which are requisite I should choose and use for the repairing of my Body and the restitution of my Strength I dare not send unto Sorcerers Wizards Charmers or Inchanters for help nor with Ahaziah go to Baalzebub the God of Ekron for relief and leave thee the God of Israel But I renounce and reject all other help but from thee alone and upon the bended knees of an humble heart I come unto thee beseeching thee to sanctifie what I am now to receive or apply to my ease and good and to give such a blessing thereunto that it may remove such pain sickness as doth afflict my Body III. O Lord grant me in all my Sickness patience and not to murmur or repine at thy afflicting hand and in health give me a provident care to prevent all such maladies as by reason of my manifold Sins thou maist justly inflict upon me And as David's Troubles made him pray Hezekiah's Sickness to lament the Prodigal return home and Israel under Aegypt's burthens cry unto thee so I beseech thee that every Chastisement of thine may compel me the rather to sue unto thee for thy saving Health Pity Compassion and Grace And as Christ told his Disciples that Lazarus's sickness was not unto Death but for the glory of God so I beseech thee that none of my afflictions may be unto the death of my Soul but rather for the good both of Body and Soul And as Noah's Ark the higher it was tossed with the Flood the nearer it mounted towards Heaven so my Soul being sanctified by Grace the more it is exercised with the water of affliction the nearer let it be lifted up towards thee O God grant this O holy Father for thy dear Son's sake to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory both now and evermore Amen A Prayer before a Journey or Voyage ALmighty God who preservest thy Servants in all their ways and didst protect and direct Jacob in his way to Laban Jonah in his Voyage and the Children of Israel in the Wilderness and Travels over Jordan Guide me thine unworthy Servant in the Journey that I am now to undertake Lord walk with me be about my Bed and about my Paths keep me from all dangers both of Body Soul refresh me when I am weary comfort me when I am solitary and send me health and strength of Body to perform it Deliver me from Thieves Robbers and savage Beasts furnish me with all necessaries and send me home again in safety II. Send me I beseech thee good success in all my undertakings and grant that I may undertake nothing but what shall be pleasing in thy sight If I meet with Company grant they may be such as I may receive good by rather than harm if I am alone let thy Law be my delight grant that I may then meditate such things as shall be for the benefit and salvation of my Soul and grant that after my business is fully accomplished when I return home I may find my Friends Wife Children and Family in perfect Health and though my whole Life be but a continual Travel here yet send me everlasting peace with thee and thy Son Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer upon return from a Journey or Voyage MOst merciful and gracious Lord God keeper of Israel the well-spring of Life and the alone preserver of all Mankind I render unto thee all hearty Thanks and Praise for thy provident care and gracious protection of me in this my Journey whereas I might have perished e're I had seen again this my Habitation but that thou hast walked before me by day as a pillar of a Cloud to guide me in the way and by night in a pillar of Fire to give me light Thou directest me in all my paths O lead me into the way of Life II. Give me an humble and thankful heart let me not bury this and other thy Favours in forgetfulness but let my Soul still praise thee and thy good Spirit lead me into the Land of Righteousness As thou hast brought me O Lord through this Journey and Voyage and kept this Tabernacle of my Body unsplit So in thy good time bring my Soul home to the Land of Promise the Everlasting Haven of eternal Rest and that for thy Son's sake Jesus Christ Amen The Mariner's Prayer O Eternal God who rebukest the Winds and stillest the raging of the Sea and the noise of the Tempest whose way is in the Waters and thy wonders in the Deep we are in danger every moment of perishing unless by thy miraculous Power thou deliver us from death when with thy Servant Peter we cry out Help Lord we perish let thy hand be stretched forth to command the Waters to be still Fill our Sails with gentle and also prosperous Gales save us from Shipwrack defend us from