God must be conceiued of vs in our prayers as subsisting in the whole three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost The vnitie in Trinitie and Tâ—initie in vnitie is to be worshipped retaining in mind the distinction and order of all the three persons without seuering or sundring them for as they are conioyned in nature so are they to be conioyned in worship And therefore he that prayeth vnto God the Father for the forgiuenesse of his sinnes must aske it of him for the merits of the Sonne and by the assurance of the holy Ghost and he that prayeth for the remission of sinnes to God the Sonne must pray that he would procure the Father to graunt him pardon and to assure it by his Spirit He also that prayeth for the same to God the holy Ghost must pray that he would assure vnto him the remission of his sinnes from the Father for and by the merits of his Sonne Thus must we apprehend the Trinitie in our prayers so shall we auoide that idolatrous conceiuing of him imbraced of some who cannot pray vnlesse they haue the figure of a humane creature to represent vnto their bodily eyes the shape of God the Father in likenesse of an olde man and a crucifixe figuring Christ suffring on the Crosse and the holy Ghost by a Doue whose worship cannot bee reputed spirituall but carnall and their prayers not heauenly but prophane Prayer is a spirituall action proper onely to the children of God who are Saints by calling sanctified in Christ And they and none other truely call vpon the name of the Lord Iesus prophane persons pray not though they seeme to pray But most happie is that man that commeth vnto God Father Sonne and holy Ghost truely prepared and duely attentiue he may boldly aske and confidently assure himselfe to receiue grace for grace and all blessings spirituall without limitation and all benefits corporall needfull If our prayers bee made in vs by him who hath promised and hath power to giue what we aske shall wee thinke hee will faile to performe The hope of hypocrites in deed shall perish and their prayers vanish as the smoake because they wait vpon lying vanities and desire carnall pleasures and worldly profits But the Lord will surely fulfill the desires of them that feare him because their prayers tend to the setting foorth of Gods glory to the good of the Church to the remission of their owne sinnes and other mens to the obtaining of Gods graces to the increase of the vnderstanding of heauenly things that they may walke before God and be vpright that they may doe the workes and bring sorth the fruits of the spirit These are the prayers that are the PENSIVE SOVLES DELIGHT These are the prayers that wound the Serpent that please God bringing peace to the conscience afflicted But which is to bee lamented all men are dull by nature And the very elect sometimes weakely disposed to pray And therefore is euery godly man to vse all holy meanes to inkindle their hearts to the right performance of this heauenly dutie And nothing more preuaileth therein then Meditation whereunto wee are also very vnapt by nature and know not how nor vpon what ground to lay the foundation therof yet if we can truly frame our hearts to a holy Meditation wee shal find that it is the very key that openeth our dull hearts lockt vp vnder griefe vnder feare vnder trouble vnder persecutioÌ„ misery and sendeth forth by litle and litle the fire of true zeale which at length becommeth a great flame of preuailing prayers which thing they easily find that are conuersant in this sacred exercise of Meditation and Prayer who yet many times finde themselues most dull and most vnapt to pray hauing yet an inward desire thereunto which desire they cannot containe but labouring a while in silence speaking inwardly to God in sighes and groanes at length they speake effectually with their tongues Seeing therefore that all men need motiues to stirre them vp to prayer let euery man addresse himselfe to the word of God or peruse some godly worke of religious men And although vocally he cannot reade by reason of his naturall dulnes yet if his heart can be but conuersant and duely attend the sence as the eye obserues the letter his minde by little and little shall mount it selfe from earth to heauen fixed on the Trinitie whence shall arise such spirituall fruits of faith and feruencie of spirit as shall fill the soule with more sweet consolation byinkindled praier then the tongue can vtter And to this end gentle Reader according to the small measure of mine vnderstanding I haue prefixed before euery prayer a Motiue or Meditation touching the substance and matter of the Prayer following Thankesgiuing after Prayer The third and last duty in this holy exercise is Thankesgiuing which cannot but follow sanctified praiers that with such ioy in the holy Ghost as it cannot but break forth into most vnspeakeable inward thaÌ„kfulnes to God who hath beene so graciously pleased not only to forgiue our sins but to helpe our infirmities by his holy spirit by whom wee haue had accesse vnto the throne of grace found such fauour with God in Christ as we haue obtained by the holy Ghost both the will and the power to pray Also we ought in all things to giue thankes to God for euery blessing and benefit wee receiue at his hands according to the counsell and precept of the Apostle who commands vs to giue thankes alwayes for all things vnto God euen the Father in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ Ephes. 5. 20. Thus much touching the admonition Great Britaines happines in regard of the free vse of the Gospell in respect of other Nations FInally I thinke it not impertinent altogether by way of comparison to consider of our happines in being partakers of the free vse of the Gospell in respect of the most vnhappie condition of many Nations and infinite people that either know not God at all or knowing him honour him not as God The Old and New Testaments haue beene freely opened vnto vs neere threescore yeares without Persecution and so it hath not been in any one Kingdom we reade of Some Kingdomes and Free States in their Iurisdictions haue and doe in a sort permit the Gospell but with the same tolerate contrary religions professions Where doth the freedome of the Gospell appeare as in Great Britaine In what Kingdome is it so publikely receiued so plentifully preached and so freely professed without danger or contradiction We haue heard and seene the troubles of the Netherlands and the Massacres of France and the persecutioÌ„s in other territories for the profession of the Gospell and we all this while haue quietly enioyed that for the profession wherof many haue perished May wee not therefore truely say with Dauid The Lord hath not dealt so with euery Nation Queene ELIZABETH restored Religion almost smothered by Queen
haruest wheÌ„ this holy Congregation as good corne shall be gathered into the celestiall garner and the wicked and vncleane shall be cast off into vtter darknesse And therefore are the faithfull to arme themselues with patience and to vndergo with constancie the offences of the contrarily minded for therfore is the Church of Christ called a Church Militant because it is still exercised with enemies whom we are to resist and incounter with the weapons of the Spirit The contrary also are called a Church but a malignant Church a Church full of vanitie and prophanenesse sin Schismes Hypocrites and Reprobates Who also incounter and exercise the Church Militant with spirituall weapons the weapons of iniquitie whose head is Satan the Red Dragon the man of sinne the sonne of perdition Antichrist So that Bethel the house of God hath continuall warre with Bethauen the house of the Diuell Sanctitie with Sin Truth with Falshood Light with darknesse Christ in his members with Satan and his adherents heauenly holines with spirituall wickednes Ephes. 6. 12. Zechar. 3. 1. 2. The Church of Christ being thus continually assailed hath only refuge in danger to her head Christ Iesus who hath promised not only to send the Comforter to teach vs all things but to defend vs and to be with vs to the end of the world Matth. 28. 20. And as he hath thus promised vnto the body so is he euer with euery member where two or three be gathered together in the name of that one head he will be there in the midst of them and therefore it doth not onely behoue euery Christian to be continually watchfull against these many and malignant aduersaries spirituall enemies but to powre foorth coÌ„tinuall supplicatioÌ„s to God the Father in his Son by the Spirit not for himself only but for the whole euery part of this Catholike congregatioÌ„ that he will defend vs aswell from enemies threatning outward persecution as working inward tentation And it much importeth the Church in generall and euery member of the same to seeke and dayly to pray for the reformation of the corruptions cast into the field of the Gospel by that wicked one which doth not onely spring vp among but choaketh and hindereth the growth of the good seede of sinceritie by the errors of doctrine and workes of wickednesse And therfore doth the heauenly husbandman threaten the extirpation euen of the good seede that hee hath sowen and to leaue the ground vnto the weeds of sin and vanitie wherunto it is especially inclined to depriue it altogether of the manurance of his word and neuer againe to water it with the dewe of his holy Spirit lest therefore that he suffer strangers Sathan and his ministers to breake downe the hedges of our religious profession and holy practise of obedience the wild beasts of the field sinnes of all sorts to roote vp and deuoure the fruits of our holy conuersations and lest he should take away or breake the staâ—â—e of our spirituall strength the foode of our soules Let vs be stirred vp to pray vnto our head Christ Iesus for grace and that he will still preserue mainetaine and defend what his right hand hath planted A Prayer for the Uniuersall Church and for euery member of the same fit to be often said of euery Christian. ALmighty Lord God the fountaine of all goodnes the creator of all men who in Iesus Christ thy Sonne hast redeemed them that were captiues recalled brought home them that estrayed receiued and imbraced them again that were run from thee and saued them that were lost Looke now vpon them whom thou hast chosen and behold in mercy whom thou hast redeemed and as thou hast in thine owne free mercy fauour and loue gathered vnto thy selfe and set apart for thy seruice a remnant out of the whole number of mankinde a peculiar companie and hast vouchsafed to make them of many one sanctified body all by the merits of thy sonne in whom they are adopted and made heires of heauen in whom they liue moue and haue their spirituall and heauenly being So Lord be thou still their succour their shield buckler and euerlasting defence thou hast vouchsafed good Father to set apart this elected and small company for thine owne sacred seruice in this mortall life calling them by the voyce of thy word sounding through all partes of the vniuersall world and by the inspiration of that holy comforter left vnto thy children by promise hast taught them that wisedome that is farre about the wisedome of the wisest mortall man endowed theÌ„ with that sanctified integritie that farre exceedeth the sinceritie of the best qualified carnall man and hast thy selfe promised to continue with them by thy spirit to the end of the world lest they should through ouermuch heauinesse and affliction perish in the way of their pilgrimage Some thou hast released of their warfare some the more to testifie vnto the world their faith and constant assurance of thine eternall loue and prouidence ouer them suffrest to fall into the hands of them that could but kill their bodies their soules being safe in thy protection and haue in part receiued their reward in heauen hauing escaped the presentors hands Some thou hast called by a naturall dissolution elected redeemed sanctified and in part glorified And as yet good Father there is a small dispersed remnant which haue not finished their warfare but are still incountred with Sathan with sinne and with their owne corruptions and still afflicted persecuted and distressed be neere vnto them according to thy word assist them by thy grace enlighten them teach them and be euermore their defence and as successiuely from age to age the end of dayes there shall be an increase of people So let thy Gospel continually propagate and beget new children vnto thy selfe and let not the light of thy word decline but rather shine dayly more and more cleerely Let not the power thereof diminish nor the sound thereof cease vntill it haue gained and compleated the number of all that shall be saued Send foorth godly and painefull labourers that they may be instant in season and out of season giue them power to bent downe the power of sinne to stay the violent currant of backessiding and Apostacie Send foorth thy word into all lands let all nations heare it and al tongues professe it where thou hast planted it alreadie water it with the continuall showers of thy grace where it is not yet sowne let it fall fructifie where it hath bene sowne and is withered renew the liuely spring thereof continue increase beget more more children vnto thy selfe through all parts of the world through thy word And although we bee falne into the last most declining age and as it were into the period of time wherin as thou hast foreshewed sinne increaseth godlinesse diminisheth holy zeale waxeth weake loue becomes colde and counterfeit and thy sauing word become of none effect among
many yet forget not to bee good vnto thy chosen leaue not thy Saints vnto the spoyler rather shorten these dayes of sinne lest that the increase of vngodlinesse seduce euen the righteous and they perish also by straying from the way of life Lord increase our faith Another Prayer for the Uniuersall Church in the time of affliction or persecution MOst gracious Father as thou hast shewed thy selfe in former times a most powerfull protector of thy Church euer since the propagation thereof and by thy holy spirit hast conserued it in the vnitie of thy spirit in a constant true profession of thy word in a bolde and sincere confessing of Christ the head of that sanctified body euen when persecution vnto death raged and tyrannized most Bee still mindfull of the same thy little flocke feede it still with thy word defend it still with thy mightie hand guide it euer with thy holy spirit and euermore preserue it as the vine which thine own right hand hath planted Gather together thy sheepe scattered vpon so many mountaines let not the wolues seaze vpon thy tender lambes to teare them in peeces while there is none to helpe Let not the subtill foxes bewitch them with a false religion Let not the wild Boâ—e of Antichristian persecution deuoure them Let not Sathan nor sinne preuaile against them But as thou hast promised let thy Church and euery member of the same be as Mount Sion that shall neuer bee mooued let them stand fast for euer Let them florish in all faith and obedience as trees planted by the riuers and bring forth fruits of religion true pittie aboundantly compasse them with armies of thine Angels as thou diddest compasse Elisha with horses and chariots of fire and as the mountains compasse Ierusalem So let thy preuayling power compasse them about Suffer none O Lord to doe them violence but if in thy wisedome thou thinkest meet to make any member of thy Church a witnesse of thy trueth giue him the spirit of true vnderstanding of thy word faith and constancie to imbrace what measure of affliction or persecution thou shalt thinke fit to lay vpon him for the same forsake him not O Lord in his trials nor lay no more vpon him then it may please thee to giue him power to indure Make thy children O Lord strong and then cannot the threats of the cruellest Tyrants dismay thy outwardly weakest witnesses from vndergoing the extremest passion of martyrdome O fortifie all them whom thou hast appointed to any kind of torment for the testimony of the truth of the Gospel of Iesus Christ. Season them so with the assurance of their future glory that they flie not nor start backe for feare of whatsoeuer torture thine enemies may threaten or execute The least of which not being assisted and made easie by thy all-shining countenance vpon the soule of the persecuted cannot but dismay him and dismaying make him faint and fainting make him fall and so to denie thee Looke downe therefore O Lord vpon and visite all thine afflicted members protect them from secret conspiracies open practises and violent incursions plotted by Sathan and Antichrist and attempted by their bewitched instruments by whom thy Church and the members thereof and dayly afflicted and indangered Take thou wee humbly beseech thee our defence into thine owne hands Stop the breach which the enemie hath made Maintaine Lord thine owne word protect and keepe thine owne people conuert reuert or confound them that fight against thee by word or sword and fight against them that fight against thee in thy members that thou maiest be glorified thy Church increased and euery member of the same euerlastingly comforted in Christ their head Be it so good Father Amen Lord increase our faith Another short Prayer for the prosperitie of the Church and gouernment thereof GOd Father in Iesus Christ looke downe from heauen vpon and visite the viâ—e which thy right hand hath planted Send labourers into thy vineyard that they may so prune it and dresse it that it may branch and beare plentifully good fruit Suffer nâ— loyterers or idle persons in steade of labourers to enter into or vndertake to husband this vine Let no prophane person haue any superintendencie within the same But let the holy the faithfull the diligent industrious and such 〈◊〉 haue care to aduance thy Gospel and glory to instruct to exhort to improue rebuke and to bee instant in season and out of season be established ouerseers in this vineyard By whose watching and worke all the branches may be so succoured and carried vpward as they may not cease growing vntill they mount vp vnto the perfection of spirituall knowledge and practise of all pietie and fiâ—â—all obedience and consequently became members of that celestiall Ierusalem Send Lord such watchmen to keepe thy vine as by the sword of the spirit may be able to incounter and keepe out expulse abandon and driue away all hurtfull and prophane beasts all Swinelike drunkards all Lyonlike furious and Wolfelike denouring and rauening persons all Camelionlike Hypocrites all Leopardlike spotted Professors and all Foxelike crafty deuisors of and inâ—iâ—â—rs to new and false doctrines which the Gospel of thy Sonne Christ Iesus warranteth not Let onely the meeke sheepe and humble lambes the truly religious and holy be euermore gouernours and the gouerned in this heauenly Vineyard thy Church And although no visible Congregation can bee without these hidden and dangerous members knowne onely to thy selfe confirme the faith of euery childe of thine that they may be more and more inlightened confirmed in their hope through a sound and sincere profession of thy truth neuer to be remoued vnto the end Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be sayd for the Kings Maiestie WHen God had caused to be diuided the land of Canaan into parts according to the Twelue tribes of Israel he substituted as vnder and in the name of himselfe first Judges and after Kings to gouerne theâ— whereof some were vertuous religious and fearing God and they defended the truth of God protecteâ— his Church vnder them Some weroâ— dolaters perturbers of the Church 〈◊〉 God and Tyrants The first respecting the lawes of God and good of his Church made the lawes of God the paterne of their gouernments The second either not knowing God or knowing him did not honour him as God but fell from the liuing God themselues and caused the people to fall likewise from God to Idols therby highly incensing God to indignation against them who grieuously punished them with their Kings Dauid Iosiah Hezekiah Asa and Ieboshaphat were Kings that feared God 1. King 15. 12. 2. Chron. 17. 3. These did God aduance to comfort his children by the free vse of his word and to defend them from the aduersaries hand 2. Chron. 1. 11. Contrarily he setteth vp tyrants for the punishment of a rebellious people as Nehemiah complaineth Nehem. 9. 37. Manasses made the streets of Ierusalem
often and fearefully threatned vs and yet he hath still put vp his rodde againe in mercie But did hee not see manie thinges amisse in vs he would forbeare to threaten as he hath done And who so seeth not manie things out of course in the carriage of men in their vngodly actions wilfully shuts the eyes of reason and seeth nothing aâ— all with the eyes of Religion Let vs therefore be continually watchfull in prayer that when the Lord commeth to Iudgement we may be so prepared with our Lamps in our hands to attend his comming as becommeth the children of God Thine in Christian goodwill IO. NORDEN A PENSIVE SOVLES Delight A Motiue to Prayer IN our preparation to prayer we must first consider that hee to whome wee speake is the Father of light and we are by nature the children of darknesse we must therefore call vpon him in the sinceritie and vprightnes of our harts for he loues truth in the inward affections Secondly he is the Father of glory we must therefore come before him with feare and reuerence for we are but dust and ashes Thirdly he is the Father of mercie therefore we must repent of our sins and then being thus prepared let vs draw neere vnto him with a pure heart in assurance and faith So will he heare vs and grant better things vnto vs then we know how to aske A prayer for the assistance of Gods holy Spirit in any spirituall or godly corporall action or endeuour fit to be vsed before euery lawfull enterprise especially before euery diuine exercise O Gracious Lord God most merciful louing and helping Father the supporter of the weake the light of the blinde the teacher of the ignorant the directer of all that call vpon thee in their godly endeuors I humbly beseech thy Maiestie in the name of thy Sonne Christ Iesus to heare me in whom thou hast promised to giue vnto thy children what they aske to finde what they seeke and to open vnto them when they knocke I come vnto thee good Father not in mine owne but in his name intreating thee not for mine owne but for his sake to accept me into thy presence to giue me thy holy Spirit of wisedome that I may receiue mercie and finde grace Open vnto mee the gate of true knowledge and assist me in mine intended enterprise for of my selfe I am of a dull and weake vnderstanding of a corrupt conuersation of a polluted heart and of prophane lips vnworthy of my selfe to attempt any worldly or corporall enterprise much lesse worthy to take thy blessed name into my mouth or to intermeddle with any diuine office function or calling But touch my hart Lord and inkindle it with a coale from thine Altar so shal my heart be renued reformed and enlarged the words of my mouth sanctified and the workes of my hands blessed According therefore vnto thy promise Lord open my mouth and fill it strengthen my hands and confirme the powers and senses both of my soule and bodie to euery good and godly action It is not in my power without thy power to open my naturall lippes much lesse able yeâ— altogether vnable to open the dore of my heart and to prepare mine owne affections to any diuine and holy action or to frame the powers of my body rightly in any comfortable enterprise without thy meere working in me both the will and the deed Only my confidence is Lord that thou wilt be pleased to assist me to inlighten my heart to increase my knowledge and to giue me vnderstanding according to thy word That by thee I may be enabled in all mine actions enterprises and inâ—euours to set forth thine owne glory Sanctifâ—e my inward desires blesse the will and the worke in me and accept my weake will for the effectuall deed And so season me in both that I may be sanctified throughout And grant that the fruits of all mine endeuours may so effectually appeare that my selfe in them and by them may be comforted and thy children to whose vse also as to mine owne I truly intend them may bee benefited and stirred vp to a more liuely feeling of their owne wants and a more serious desire to pray to thee for thy blessings and to praise thee for thy relieuing fauours That we thy weake children feeling the Comforter to assist our weaknesse we may in our seueral callings offer vp such daily sacrifices vnto thee as being for Christ accepted of thee thou mayeâ—â— be more and more glorified and euery one of vs comforted and kept in thy fauour for euer through Jesus Christ our Sauiour O Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be vsed in the Morning in priuate Families IT is a common course and an ordinarie care of worldly meÌ„ before they enterprise any thing that concerns their corporal estats to fore-cast how and by what meanes they may doe it to their best aduantage and most safetie which prouidence is not onely not to be condemned but commended yet so farre as it may iustly reproue themselues for being so carefull for their bodies necessaries and so remisse and carelesse of their soules safety which being truly prouided for first there followes a blessing to the second by diuine promise Seeke first the kingdome of God saith Christ and the righteousnes thereof and then all other things necessary shall be administred vnto you How grossely then doe they erre from a Christian course of life that are neuer but conuersant and carefull about corporall things that rise vp earely to seek their profits and pleasures and seeke not God the giuer of goodnesse without whose mercy and prouidence we neither can enioy our sleepe nor safetie in sleepe we cannot worke in our callings nor profit by our labours health of bodie wealth peace plentie friends and all whatsoeuer wee enioy in this life or hope for in the life to come do all proceed of his free mercie who requireth nothing for recompence but our thankefulnesse for them and our prayers vnto him for the continuance of his fauours towards vs in them All which will rise in iudgement against them that vsurpe theÌ„ without acknowledging them to be his gifts and that in Christ blessed vnto them What differs the carnall man that riseth in the morning leauing behind him the print as it were of his pollutions in the bed whence he riseth and neither praiseth God for his sleepe nor safety neither craueth pardon for his sinnes But from his bed betakes him either to his worldly profit or carnall pleasures What differs he I say from the brute beast who riseth in the morning from his den or rest and betakes him to his'prey or pasture looking vnto no other giuer then his own brutish care No more do they that eat and drink and labour or delite them in their vaine pleasures without seeking first in the morning a new blessing for the day following by their hartie thanksgiuing for their rest and preseruation the night past
sinne sinfull sinne sins of all sorts committing things forbidden and omitting things commanded So that I cannot but confesse against my selfe I am wholly not only sinfull but a lump of sin it selfe a puddle of putrifaction a sinke of vncleannes a gulfe of grosse impieties and a carcasse of most filthie leprosie full of spirituall rottennesse vnworthy the light of the Sunne to lighten my corporall eyes to see to do euill not worthy to breathe in the ayre to speake euill nor worthie to partake of the ordinary food of men to strengthen my flesh the more to sinne nor worthie to consort with humane societie to make them sinfull by my sin Oh wretch that I am how haue I plunged my selfe into thy heauie displeasure how haue I lost thy loue who louest righteousnes and hatest iniquitie Oh wretch that I am how haue I runne without right reason to my ruine rashly Lord I am vnfainedly sorie for my sinnes and I long to be reconciled vnto thee lest I goe to my graue with griefe lest from the graue I should come into iudgement with horror and be inforced to heare that fearefull and finall sentence of reprobatiō pronounced against 〈◊〉 neuer to be reuoked indure torments neuer to be eased Oh Lor 〈…〉 mercifull and louing remember I am but dust forget not how orignall sinne seazed vpon me before I had sence or power to commit actuall sin call to minde that I was conceiued and borne in sinne and brought corruption in my flesh frō my mothers wombe which I could not preuent And although it be the rule of thy seuere Justice to lay the guilt of parents vpō their children yet let thy mercies which are aboue thy Judgemēts shew themselues now when else there is no hope Amen Lord increase my faith and forgiue my sinnes Another shorter prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes O Heauenly father thy promises are many faithfull and comfortable Thou wilt not the death of a sinner but desirest rather that he should repent and liue If thou then desirest rather that I liue then perish giue me a repenting hart renue a right spirit within me reforme me and I shall be reformed for in me Lord there is no goodnes no power and as little will to doe good but a will and power to do euill only Let therefore thy grace worke effectually in me a new heart a new minde new affections holy and sanctified So shall sin become lothsome vnto me which I haue loued and holines of life shal be sweet vnto me which I haue neglected thy Commandements that I haue transgressed I shall indeuour to fulfill thy patience which I haue abused I wil answere with more filiall obediēce The curses then that I haue deserued shal be turnd into blessings and I shall frame the residue of my life in better actions I shall abandon as deceiuing vanities those sinnes wherin I haue delited and shal shun the baits wherwith Satan hath allured me to sin and whereunto I consented by the vanity of mine vnregenerate affections Oh pardon pardon my sins good Father in Iesus Christ fill my hart with the liuely apprehension of thy mercies speake peace vnto my sad and sorrowfull soule reuiue my dead distracted thoughts plunged in despaire cast thine ey◠vpon Christ thy beloued in him 〈◊〉 louing eye vpon me who without him am a cast-away Heare him 〈◊〉 mediator for me heare me a sinner for his sake and pardon me for thy mercies sake Take me now Lord out of the dungeon of feare wherin I haue bin long a captiue sold vnder sin Set me now free from the danger of death and hell Let Satan flie and fall before my face Let sin haue no more power ouer me receiue me into thy fauour assure me of full and free remission of my sinnes in Christ worke true peace in my conscience The sting of death being broken the feare of the iudgement to come may be turned into a liuely assurance of saluation that white I liue here I may euermore feele the liuely worke of thy holy Spirit in me Make the residue of my dayes the dayes of vnfained mourning for my former offences and of a most vpright and righteous conuersation to come and let faith euermore preuaile against all future temptations that I may finish the course of my life in that peace which proceedeth of perfect loue which loue bringeth forth filiall obedience vnto thee which obedience is more acceptable in thy fight then the sacrifices of bullocks and goates Accept me now good Father in Iesus Christ into thy fauour remit my sinnes number me amongst thine elect and seale me vp in thy mercies against the day of my finall visitation Heare me O Lord and let thy holy Spirit guide mee euer vnto that day through Christ my Sauiour my Mediator my Strength and my redeemer Amen O Lord increase my faith and pardon my sinnes A MOTIVE TO A Prayer for a godly and holy life and for power of resisting Satan and sinne THe course of euery mans life declar's what kind of man he is whether carnal or spiritual for as the tree is knowne by his fruit so is euery man known of men by his life conuersation And it is much to be lamented that men though carnally minded will iustifie themselues and make protestation of their hope that they shall be saued as well as he that walketh most sincerely before God and men And this out of a voluntarie ignorance and blindnesse in not knowing and truly distinguishing betweene the wayes of sanctitie and sinne the first leading to heauen and eternall life through grace and faith in Christ the other to hell and reprobation through our owne corruption by the obeying the will of Satan It is more then wonderfull to obserue the courses of carnall men who pretend that they are trauelling to that blessed New Ierusalem and yet take the direct way to Cursed Ierico they couet in conceit to ascend the holy hill of Sion and yet will not leaue that wicked Babylon They professe to liue after the Spirit but doe the workes of the Flesh. They would seeme to liue in Light but behold they are in Darknes not considering that he that liues after the flesh shall die yet how loth are carnall men to leaue the way that leadeth to destruction and how vnapt and vnwilling to walke in the way of life which is Christ in whom if we truely beleeue we walke in him if we truly walke in him we truely liue in him and that life is the summe and end of all our hope it is the marke whereat we ayme all our holy endeuours Let vs therefore determine with our selues and constantly resolue to walke before God and to be vpright Let vs make our supplications in his presence with our whole hearts And let vs duely consider our wayes what they haue beene And let vs now turne our feete vnto his testimonies Let vs strengthen and confirme our resolutions of a godly life by
meane to obtaine saluation But how farre we wretched sinners heere gathered together are short of feeling our own wants of power to cast off our sinnes and how far from true sanctification thou knowest And therfore louing Father in Iesus Christ clense thou vs and wee shall bee cleane sanctifie vs and we shall be holy and though our imperfections be great though our faith be weak we shall be made perfect and our obedience confirmed by the sincerity of the obedience of Christ our Sauiour whose righteousnes and merits are made ours by thy fatherly and free imputation requiring of vs mortall men only to beleeue I beleeue Lord help mine vnbeliefe that I may lift vp a pure heart vnto thee begge faithfully of thee and receiue plentifully from thee all spirituall graces that I comming vnto this holy table hauing fully cast off the habite of sinne may be clothed with the sacred Robe of Christs Innocencie and be found among the rest of thy Saints hauing on that heauenly wedding garment that I be not taken from this holy Table thrust out with shame and horror into the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth Remember not our offences Lord burie them in the graue of euerlasting forgetfulnesse forget not whereof we are made and be not vnmindefull what an armie of spirituall enemies doe continually assayle vs and how in our most deuotest and most religious actions and exercises they are most busie to seduce and circumuent vs. Assist vs therefore Lord and be thou on our side grace vs now with thy blessed presence that we may heere offer vp vnto thee our soules and bodies a holy liuely and acceptable sacrifice and become worthie Receiuers of this holy Mysterie that as we eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup we may truly find an effectual mortification of our sinning part and a liuely viâ—ification and regeneration of our spirituall part and may be more and more changes in our liues that we may walk before thee and be vpright from hencefoorth all the dayes of our earthly pilgrimage and teach vs euer more and more to obey and loue him who so infinitly loued vs that he contented himselfe to giue his bodie to be crucified and his bloud to be shed for vs which great loue of his being heere represented vnto vs by these thy visible creatures of bread and wine giue vs truely and faithfully beleeuing hearts that we may worthily receiue them and rightly retaine the reuerend memorie of his death and be euer the better enabled to resist and abandon sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnes al the dayes of our liues that at his comming againe we may be raised and ascend with him as members sanctified and heires adopted into that inheritance which he purchased with his bloud in heauen Graciously grant this O Father for his sake that suffered that ignominious death and seale vp in our consciences by thy holy Spirit a full and liuely assurance that wee are truly ingrafted into him our head and in and by and with him shall liue eternally glorified in heauen Amen Lord increase our faith and prepare our hearts to a faithfull and reuerend receiuing of this holy Sacrament to our soules comfort A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Lords Supper IT is a dangerous thing vpon the recouerie of health after sicknes to suffer a relapse and falling downe againe but much more dangerous to fall into new sinnes after repentance and reconciliation with God A man hauing polluted himselfe with pitch and being clensed is worthy to suffer shame if he wallow in it againe How much more shamefull is it for a man that hath vowed reformation of his corrupt life and to forsake his sins and hath thereupon receiued in token of forgiuenesse the seale of Gods promise the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of Christ to binde him vpon paine of condemnation to new obedience if he wilfully fall backe againe Thou therefore whatsoeuer thou be that hast beene partaker of this holy and most sacred mysterie remember what thou hast done how thou hast eaten thy saluation or damnation for there is not a meane betweene this if therefore thou hauing beene a guest at this heauenly Feast feele in thy selfe a heart not so well formerly prepared as the holy Ghost commandeth retaining still the froth and filth of thy sinnes begin now to cast them off and put on instantly the wedding garment of true regeneration that thou mayest be found worthie to sit at this holy Table and to partake of the sauing food of thy soule by chewing the cudde of continuing repentance and newnesse of life heere that hereafter thou mayest enioy the fruits of thy new birth with Christ in heauen And for as much as no man hath power of himselfe to performe that obedience in the inner man which he may promise by outward words there is no surer or more preuailing meanes then prayer And therefore it behoueth thee to continue and end this heauenly exercise with hartie prayer to God in the same Christ that he would be pleased for that his Sons sake to accept thee into the inseperable societie of his Elect Saints And let not this desire be as a pusse of winde or as a flame suddenly quenched but let it be a daily exercise to meditate of this thy holy vnion with Christ that thy backe sliding to sinne heap not vp a more heauie weight of condemnation against thee in the time of thine account when it will be demanded how thou presumest to come to that holy Table without the habite of true faith and obedience it will not boote thee to say thou camest for feare of the law or for company with the congregation for who so commeth not for and apprehendeth not inward and spirituall comfort commeth vnworthily and he that falleth to his old sins againe hath eaten this Spirituall bread and drunke of that Spirituall rocke which is Christ to his owne damnation O Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the holy Communion GReat good and most gracious Lord God the Author and finisher of our faith who of thy free fauour hast now vouchsafed me to be a guest at this thy heauenly banquet where I haue beene refreshed not so much with the visible creatures of bread and wine for the strengthening of my weake bodie which without thy corporall nutriment cannot long indure But with the heauenly Manna the food of the soules of thy Saints the blessed body and bloud of that immaculate Lambe who sealed our attonement with thee with his bloud vpon the ignominious and grieuous crosse and there cancelled the hand-writing which was against vs and of the bond-â—â—aues of Satan made vs the free men of the new Jerusalem and in our nature and for vs and in our behalfes triumphed ouer Satan Death and Hell and now Lord as it hath pleased thee to accept me into this holy communion and to make me partaker of that
disposeth of all the estates of men in mercy and iudgement thou liftest out of the dunghill the humbled poore and hurlest downe the mightie thou giuest takest when what from whom and wherefore it pleaseth thee All thy wayes O God are mercie and truth to them that feare thee Thou Lord art righteous in all thy workes and holy in all thy wayes Howsoeuer thou correctest thy children it is for their purgation to clense them from the rust and drosse of their corruptions And makest pouerty sickenesse enemies and all crosses not onely not burdensome or irkesome vnto thine but sweete and easse to be borne though the naturall man seeme to kicke against them the man regenerate and borne a new of the holy Ghost imbraceth them as the true tokens of thy fatherly affection towards him who hauing learned out of thy sacred word that through many troubles thy Saints must enter into ioy and through disgrace into glory Hee feareth most when he is most free from crosses left that he should not be of the number of them that shal be saued whose saluation is the more certaine by how much thou correctest him by thy fatherly visitations All flesh is corrupt and all men sinners Thou therefore who art iust cleane and pure in all thy wayes and workes canst not but vse thy rod of gentle corrections vpon them whom thou louest in Iesus Christ But lettest the wicked either to lie securely in a reprobate sence or to lay thy heauy iudgement vpon them euen in this life where they begin their condemnation But good Father Enter not into iudgement with mee Let not thy corrections become curses vnto me but rather Lord let them be meerely medicines to cure the disease of sinne in me So shall I by the working of thy holy spirit become more and more mortifâ—ed in the affections of my heart which are then most offending thy Maiestie when I am in greatest securitie And therefore louing father take from me all grudging discontent of mind and murmuring against thy corrections of what kind or qualitie soeuer they be for thou hast testified vnto vs by thy word that thou scourgest euery sonne thou receiuest And therefore he that wanteth thy fatherly chastisements seemeth to be a bastard and no sonne And forasmuch Lord as the causes of mens troubles in this life be many and hidden some to correct for sinnes alreadie committed some to preuent sinnes whereunto we are inclinable and some to manifest thy power by way of iudgement against the impeniteÌ„t wicked Take Lord away from the eyes of my darke vnderstanding the vayle of ignorance that I may see and feele in my conscience a sure testimonie of thy sauing spirit that thy corrections light not vpon me in iudgement but in mercy not to condemn me but to approue me to be one of thy Church militant whose members haue their continuing afflictions which howsoeuer outwardly they seeme to blemish them yet doe they make them beautifull within and most amiable vnto thee howsoeuer wee seeme vnto the world outcastes castawayes yet are we thereby made the more like vnto our Sauiour who procured out saluation through affliction And thereby thou Lord knowing our weakenesse to vndergoe his crosses lay no more vpon me then withall thou mayest be pleased to giue mee grace and strength to beare it according to thy promise and then lay vpon me what thou wilt pouertie sicknesse enemies and whatsoeuer crosses may make me likest vnto thy sonne in his patient sufferings although I haue learned Lord that all the afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory that shal be shewed in the life that is to come And therefore Lord assist me with thy grace that I with patience and godly reioycing may vndergoe whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vpon me As did Saint Paul Silas Saint Peter and other thine Apostles who imbraced all thy corrections and their troubles for thy names sake with heauenly alacritie and spirituall consolation O Lord increase my faitli A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said in pouerty and want of this lifes necessaries OF all the miseries that can befall a man in this mortall life none is more bitter and burdensome then pouertie and want of this lifes necessaries And therefore we may obserue how all men generally striue to auoyd it by meanes lawfull or vnlawfull It made Iacob to pray for sufficiencie left want should constraine him to vniust meanes to supply his necessities namely to clothe and feed himselfe and them that he hath committed to his eare for there is no other reall want to bee complained of but the want of food and rayment if a man haue to sustaine nature in the meanest measure and to couer his nakednesse in the basest manner and be free from danger of debt and be not an idle but a diligeÌ„t man in some lawfull calling he hauing the feare of God cannot be said a poore man for the feare of God maketh him wise and wisdome maketh him patient patieÌ„ce coÌ„tent he that is coÌ„teÌ„t in this mean estate is rich He that treasures vp the word of God in his soule though he haue neither Siluer nor Gold he may be rich as Peter who waÌ„ting these was yet rich in all Christian vertues and much beloued of the Lord and vpon such poore men doth the Lord cast his fatherly and louing countenance he watcheth ouer them and feedeth them Harken my beloued brethren saith Saint Iames hath not God chosen the poore of this world that they should be rich in faith and heires of the Kingdom which he promised to them that loue him God preferreth the poor in worldly goods being faithfull and iust before the vnfaithfull rich howsoeuer carnal iudgement maketh great differeÌ„ce between the worldly rich whom it reuerenceth and the corporall poore whom it scorneth But let the bodily poore whome the Lord hath inriched with spirituall graces reioyce in their tribulations for God hath prouided for them a Citie a Crowne glorie and immortalitie where they shall neither want siluer gold rayment food or any necessaries for the Lord Christ shal be vnto them all in all things But it is to be vnderstood that it is not the pouertie of any that can deserue these future fauours but they are the free gifts of God in Christ to the godly poore not prouided for the idle prophane wicked and dissolute that assume vnto themselues voluntary beggerie or consume their corporall meanes lewdly and so become poore vsing no lawfull calling to maintaine and support their estates when they shall pleade their pouertie and miseâ—iâ— in time to come it shall be said vâ—â—o them Goâ— ye vnthrifâ—ie seruants into euerlasting pouertie perpetuall nakedâ—â—sse and endlesse hunger thirst Whosoeuer therfore thou be that art pressed with pouertie seeke the riches that shal neuer diminish Diuine Knowledge 〈◊〉 Faith and pray vnto the God of Lazarus that if it be his pleasure he will remoue thy pouerty and renue thy
of all then If thou wilt thou canst deliuer me or moderate the sentence against me or else giue mee patience to vndergoe whatsoeuer shall be laid vpon me and as I acknowledge 〈…〉 t my sinne is the cause of my restraint of my corporall feare and am truely sorry for mine offences So Lord I beseech thee pardon thou mee in Christ that whatsoeuer become of my bodily punishment I may be yet assured of thy fauour in the kingdome of glory through Jesus Christ Amen If vpon vniust occasion say thus For thou Lord knowest although I cannot but confesse that I haue many wayes offended thy high Maiestie yet in this whereof I am accused and for which my libertie is restrained I am innocent And therfore good father in lesus Christ giue me patience worke in the hearts of mine oppressors some remorce that they may recal repent of their iniustice Thou knowest how innoceÌ„t Ioseph was falsly accused And thou yet were pleased to permit him to be restrained long but in the meane time diddest giue him fauour with thâ— Gâ—olor and in the end diddest aduance him to honor Be pleased I beseech thee to deliuer me if it may be for my good or make the prison easie the â—â—olor louing giue me wisedome to make right vse of my present restraint and to acknowledge it to be for my sinnes and for my reformation And when I shall in thy prouidence receiue my former liberty let me not be ashamed of my restraint but rather glory in thy mercy that I suffer vpon an vniust accusation though I stand guilty before thee of infinite sinnes for which I am sorry and humbly craue pardon and thy diuine direction that I may lead a holy life in a godly and sincere conuersation before men and to walke before thee in vprightnes of heart through Christ my Sauiour and Redeemer If for the testimonie of thy faith in Iesus say thus THe witnessing of thy truth the profession of thy name which my persecutors persecute in me more then me for they aime more to suppresse the confession of thy glorious name then them that professe it they more seeke to abandon the publike practise religious vse of thy word and Gospel then the abuse And therefore good Father as thou hast in some measure inlightned mine vnderstanding of thy will and by thy spirit taught me how to professe thy name according to thy truth So confirme my faith therin and mine obedience to thee that neither this lothsome prison the furie of my persecutors nor the feare of death terrifie me from the constant profession of Iesus Christ whom these men seeke to persecute in his members And therfore Lord gracious in him in him looke vpon me here at this time restrained for his sake and either in thy mercy workâ— my deliuery out of their hands and out of this place of restraint by some ordinarie meanes as thou diddest extraordinarily deliuer thy seruants Paul Silos Peter and other thine Apostles out of their cruell captiuities or els giue me constant patience to indure thy tryal to vndergoe whatsoeuer shal seeme good vnâ—â— thee to lay vpon me And graciously consider the weakenesse of flesh blood which if thou suffer to preuaile in me I cannot stand And therefore assist me with thy holy spirit that as I haue begun so I may preseuere in thee and be sustained by thee vnto the end Let neither the vnsauory prison nor the bitternes of death remoue my heart nor let my tongue from professing thy name vnto the end if thou think me worthy of the glory of martyrdome and to crowne me with the honour of being a witnes of thy truth giue me an obedient heart and a thankefull minde willingly to lay down this earthly Tabernacle to whatsoeuer kind of death it shall please thee to giue mine and thine owne aduersaries power to inflict vpon me That after this life ended I may be really crowned with the merits not of my suffering but with the merits of him who suffered for me and for whose sake graunt Lord I may constantly suffer what thou pleasest to lay vpon me Amen Lord encrease my faith giue me patience and comfort in Iesus Christ. A MOTIVE TO A Prayer that wee may be alwayes readie to die and to be so prepared as wee may not feare death THough it had neuer bin writteÌ„ that it is appointed by God that all men must once die yet common experience and the continuall practise of death could not but assure all men that they must die If any man had bin priuiledged from the power of death since the creation men might haue beene perswaded that they might haue the like immunitie and freedome But seeing death hath not spared the strong the wise the rich nor the persons of mightiest potentates but all the godly and the wicked haue tasted of the cup of death What man is he that is so soâ—â—ed as to thinke he shall not die Nay to thinke that by reason of the strength of his bodie he shall liue many yeares Yet so foolishly perswaded are many men and assume vnto themselues a kinde of desperate boldnes to commit many grosse and grieuous sinnes promising vnto themselues a time of repentance in their decrepite age A preposterous rule of godlesse men who though they know that as sure as they liue they shall die and as sure as they liue and shall die so surely they shall liue or die eternally yet being deluded by the opinion of their strength and health and bewitched by their vaine idle and forbidden lusts of the flesh and the minde they delay their preparation to die wel vntill the time they haue no power to reforme their wicked liues past So that their present liuely carnall life is a begun spirituall death And the time of their foolishly prefixed repentance is the beginning of their endlesse condemnation But the truely wise indeed guided by grace haue the time of their dissolution continually before their eyes and in a holy meditation of death prepare themselues to die daily thinking euery day they rise that that is the day of their dissolution and when they betake them to their nightly rest they recommend them to their beds as to their graues and perswade themselues that that night may be the day-spring of their spirituall and neuer ending life Such as thus prepare themselues haue neuer any feare to die but in their hearts wish to be dissolued and to be with Christ And because that this holy preparation is not wrought neither can a man desire to leaue and remoue out of this earthly tabernacle by nature they cannot but naturally feare to die And therefore when the messengers of death begin to summon men vnprepared to their graues they cannot but entertaine horror in stead of hope and despaire in stead of assurance of the life to come How much then doth it concerne all men to abandon sinne betimes and to seek attonement with God
by well doing to walke before God and to be vpright Thus whosoeuer prepareth himselfe in a sanctified life in earth he cannot feare death which is an entrance into a glorious life in heauen where God before whom he sincerely walketh hath prouided him a Citie a Kingdome a Crowne He then that longeth to see good dayes while he liueth will be euer studious to please him by whom he is assured he shall receiue that endlesse inheritance when he dies Let euery man therefore while it is to day pray that God will vouchsafe him his grace not to prolong his godly preparation to die but to teach him wisdome in the inner parts that he may so rectifie his conuersation as he may be acceptable to God through Christ in his life vpon earth and wishedly surrender vp his spirit to him that gaue it when he requires the same And to this holy purpose serueth this prayer following Remember euer that thou must die and thou shalt neuer doe amisse nor die eternally A Prayer to be often vsed that we may so liue as we neuer need feare to die fit to be often vsed of all men especially in sicknesse GOod and gracious Father who formedst me of dust and breathedst life into a lumpe of earth wher of I am made and hast made mee partaker of thy Spirit and so a liuing soule of an eternall being beyond that which thou hast done for any other earthly creature who dying perish turne wholly to dust whereof they are wholly and only made As for mee thou hast taught mee to know thy more then wonderfull work-manship and thy more then apprehensible fauour and loue in that thou hast not only made me a liuing creature as are the beasts of the field the fowles of the aite and creeping things of the earth but little inferiour to thine heauenly Angels giuing me a soule diuine and immortal which liueth eternally And of thy further and more free grace hast vouchsafed me a seed of the light of diuine vnderstanding and thy word of glad tidings to teach me thy will to direct and encourage me in the way of saluation lest hauing receiued the testimonie of thy louâ— here in this life and the earnest of thy Spirit I should yet liue to die and not die to liue Thou Lord knowest whereof I am made thou canst not forget that I am but dust giue me grace to remember alwayes my mortalitie and that I am borne to die and that then commeth iudgement Lord we are all the children of ssinning Adam elected and reiected according to thy will vessels of honor or dishonor as thou pleasest to make vs we are the clay thou the Potter thou giuest life and againe thou sayest Returne yee children of men to dust Oh what is man that thou so regardest him or the son of Man that thou so fatherly visâ—test him Thou hast clothed him with glorie And he hath brought shame vpon himselfe thou off reâ—â—st life vnto him but he hath embraced death And he shall die thou hast so decreed yet hast conceiled from him the time when the place where and the maner how to the end that none should presume vpon his strength health wisedome or wealth to become secure and in their securitie to forget thee sinne against thee our Creator whâ— as with the breath of thy mouth thou madest vs liuing soules so by the breath of thy mouth canst thou confouÌ„d our bodies soules yea Lord our dearest soules deare in respect of thee who gauest them deare in respect of him that shed his dearest bloud for them but most deare vnto vs wretches if for our mindes vanities and our bodies pleasures we should lose our bodies make shipwracke of our soules Precious in thy sight is the death of thy Saints but most feareful to the wicked in the death of their bodies that sleeping in the graue send their soules before them to be mutually tormented when they shall meet in Judgement This fearefull separation Lord amazeth mee when I consider it in my naturall vnderstanding not looking into the course of thy loue wherein thou didst send thy dearest Soune to die for sinners penitent Oh teach me thy waies instruct me in thy Commandements Giue me a repenting heart and sanctified conuersation that before I goe hence and be no more seene I may assure my selfe that I am of the number of them to whome thou imputest no sinne Let thy word worke fruitfully in mee the sauour of life vnto life Teach me and guide me in the true course of holy obedience in righteousnesse and true holinesse that I may euer walke before thee and be vpright giue me a prepared heart constantly and faithfully to desire to be dissolued to be with Christ. Take away the frailty of my fainting flesh increase and confirme my faith in thee and my hope of the glory promised in Christ after this mortall life Let me alwayes wait the time of my deliuery and be willingly content to lay downe this my earthly tabernacle and to giue vp my soule into thy hands giue me a continuall watchfull heart that death come not vpon me vnawares a prepared heart that I may be still readie when or where or how thou hast determined my dissolution Let nothing be so deare vnto me as Christ my Sauiour Let me esteeme all things as dung in respect of the glorie to come Let nothing bewitch or intice me to the loue of this sinfull life nor dismay or terrifie me froÌ„ embracing death But that I may vse this life as if I vsed it not and feare death as if I feared it not That when my life shall be swallowed vp of death I may then enter into that new life and treade downe death and the power thereof vnder my feete by Christ that triumphed ouer Satan death and Hell vpon the Crosse for me grant it for me my Lord my God my life my light my strength and my Redeemer Amen Lord increase my faith and grant that I may liue in thy feare and die in thy fauour Amen A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee said of one in his sicknes or in any disease or defect of his sences or limbes fit to be read of or vnto the sick and diseased person SIcknes of the bodie is the gentlest and most fauourable crosse that God layeth vpoÌ„ his children and yet it is grieuous to flesh and bloud which delite altogether in Ease in Health in Strength of the body to which griefe sicknesse and weaknesse are contraries and therefore vnwelcome to carnall men who thinke nothing more to bee wished then power to sinne which power is diminished by sicknes and consequently in most salutarie and healthful for the soule And therefore doth the Wise-man counsell vs to humble our selues before we be sicke and while wee yet haue power to sinne to shew our conuersion whose counsell whoso truly and carefully followeth preuenteth the feare of death for he that before sicknes seaze vpon him duely
considereth that death is the end of all flesh and that sicknesse is the fore-runner of death cannot bee suddenly surprised because he stil expecteth the comming of that which whether it tarrie long or come quickly come it will and finding vs secure and wanton and carelesse and deliting our selues in the strength of our sinning parts it wil be so much the more grieuous and irkesome by how much we affect the strength to sinne which is thereby weakened And to that end doth God euen in loue punish his own children with sicknes and maladies of the bodie to kill sinne presently possessing vs and to preuent the power of future sinning and threatneth the stifnecked and rebellious with many infirmities as to smite them in the knees and in the thighes with a fore botch that they shall not be healed euen from the sole of the â—â—ore to the top of their head The Lord will make the plagues of the disobedient wonderfull and of long continuance and their diseases cruell and of long durance For as much then as Sicknesse is both the reward of sinne as also the physicke for sinne It implieth both the mercie of God towards his and his iudgements against the impenitent And therefore whosoeuer thou be that art visited with whatsoeuer bodily disease or infirmitie think that God hath sent it as a cure or a curse A cure to them that enter into the examination of their sinnes and truely repent them and a curse vnto them that make no vse of it as too many worldlings doe who in their sicknesse are as inclinable in desire to sinne as in their health And nothing preuenreth the acte of sinne but weaknes to effect it or oportunitie to attempt it If therfore the will to do euill be not mortified by the sicknes of the bodie it is an argument that that man or woman hath his or her conscience seared vp which is a fearefull estate and full of horror howsoeuer it be for the time hidden euen from his or her feeling and sence in fine it will work in the accusing conscience and bring forth the fruit of despaire of recouery of bodily health and plunge the soule into the pit of ineuitable perdition It is therefore a most dangerous negligence in men so little to consider the inconstancy of corporal health which is long in decaying yet sodaine in surprising men of greatest strength and when men are taken and cast downe be he as strong as Samson he is inforced to yeeld vnto weaknes and if he haue any sparke of grace he will then indeuour to turne his heart vnto God as Hezekiah did but then cannot his petitions be so powerfull as when he enioyed his health neither can his repentance be so well manifested being as it were wrested from him by this kinde of extremitie as when it is wrought in bodily strength for whatsoeuer commeth by compulsion is not so acceptable as what is voluntarie yet is repentance truely begun in sicknesse and effectually continued though weakly in respect of the bodies infirmity yet may it be most true through the strength of faith without repentance there is no cure comfortable to the soule or bodie Though God may permit a wicked man to be cased or cured of his bodily disease by humane physicke yet the soule lieth still in almost deadly sicknesse The truest ground of preuailing physicke is to make peace first with God the good and great Physitian according to the counsell of the Wiseman who thus aduiseth My sonne faile not in thy sicknesse to pray vnto the Lord and hee will make thee whole yet he addeth a condition That he leaue off from sinne that he order his hands aright and that he clense his heart from all wickednesse and if hw be able truely to say as Hezekiah in his sicknes did I beseech thee Lord remember now how I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and haue done that which is good in thy sight Then he may bee assured that his sicknesse shall be turned from a curse to a blessing and God that hath made the wound will binde it vp and cure it he will raise him againe or giue him patience in a liuely hope to change this mortall for an immortall estate and for his patient suffering this medicinable crosse will giue him a glorious crowne of eternitie Whosoeuer therfore thou be that art visited turne vnto the Lord pray vnto him trust in him and recommend thy life death vnto his free disposition who worketh all things for the best to them that loue him A Prayer to be said of one that is sick or diseased LOrd God almightie Father louing in thy Son Iesus Christ cast thine eye of compassion â—n me thy creature whom thou hast at this time touched with sicknesse and brought low by thy present visitation Thou createdst me in the beginning not to liue euer in this â—abernacle of dust but that my liuing bodie of dust should be againe dissolued into dust without life at â—hine appointed time for all â—lesh is grasse and as the flower of the 〈◊〉 it withereth decayeth with 〈◊〉 sicknes or griefe of minde we are all but as â—arthen vessels whome thou canâ—â— make and confound with the breath of thy mouth and howsoeuer and whensoeuer the most Iustie and strong stand conceited of their health and permanent securitie of their bodies agilitie and the â—imbleâ—es of their limbes and sences suddenly thou touchest them and they become feeble in strength their beautie changed their sences dulled their hearts fainting and all the parts and powers of their bodies altered and the whole man turned as it were into the very image of pale death it selfe Thou hast appointed that all men shall once die but thou conceilest from al men the time when the place where the manner how they shall die and therefore it behâ—ueth all men to be euer watchful in well doing that when thou shalt send thy Messenger Sicknes of bodie to put them in mind that their day is comming they be not found vnprepared and great happinesse it is to him whom when he is suniâ—â—oneâ— he may chearefully say I am heereÌ„ Lord ready to attend thy will Oh make me thus ready deare father that now thou callest me I may not only not flie from thee for feare of death but hartily willingly and faithfully crie Come Lord Iesu come quickly for I am no better then my Fathers who are fallen asleepe therfore if this my sicknes be vnto death fortifie me against the feare thereof The spirit Lord is willing but flesh and bloud weake and fearefull But assist my spirit by thy sauing Spirit So shall 〈◊〉 heart within me reioyce that thou remembrest me and my weake 〈◊〉 feeble body shal sing forth thy goodnes in this sad and sicke estate all the powers of my bodie and faculties of my soule shall conioyne in the heauenly harmonie of thy sauing truth in the peace of mine owne conscience
especially the seas which oftentimes rage and roare vnder the burden of their sinnes that passe in them much daunting dismaying and threatning the dry land and the inhabitants thereof much more such as in thy prouidence are appointed to haue their trauell and trafficke therein we therefore in al humblenesse come vnto thee O Iehouah who art the God and gouernour of the immensible and vnfadomable sea Thou callest for and commandest the tempests to arise thou liftest vs the waues thereof and wee are mounted vp to the clouds and suddenly descend into the deepe againe So that we are euen at the doore of death yet such is thy might and thy mercie that at thy rebuke they are still and at thy word the tempest ceaseth Receiue vs therefore into thy blessed protection for we recommend our selues vnto the seas in thy name confessing that it is neither the strength or swiftnes of our ship that can saue vs neither can our power or policy preuent the dangers of the merciles waues It is not the Card nor CoÌ„passe that can direct or bring vs to the hauen where wee would be It is only thy power prouidence and conduction whereupon we doe depend In thee is our hope and help for thou commandest and the Seas obey at thy word the Red Sea â—laue in sunder it stood still in heaps to giue way to Israel a worke against the ordinarie course of nature and therefore much more easie may it seeme to vs for thee to giue way to vs through the Seaâ— by naturall and ordinarie meanes And the rather for that wee know that at thy rebuke the Sea of Ienazeret being in violent rage was suddenly appeased Speake the word and the Seas shall giue vs comfortable free passe without any impediment The winds and Seas obey thee thou art omniâ—â—tent thou canst doe what thou will in mercy and iudgement Go with vs O Iehouah and be our guide as thou wert neere vnto thy Disciples when they were like to perish iâ— the mercilesse waters Prosper 〈◊〉 voyage blesse our meanes let thy holy Angels accompanie vs as assisting and preuailing ministers for our safetie and good successe Rebuke and quiet the winds and tempests when they arise Defend vs from mercilesse and tyrannous â—â—rates when they assaile vs keepe vs from ship wracke when wee are in perill Supply vs with all necessaries for our corporall sustinance and safetie â—ouchsafe vnto vs health and strength of body wisdome and power to manage our affaires to thy glory and our comfort Take from vs and euery one of vs all impietie sinne and vncleannes furnish vs with heauenly knowledge increase and strengthen our â—aith in thee confirme our hope of happie successe make vs intirely to loue thee giue vs true zeale to serue thee and to call vpon thee â—â—tonely in all our calamities and â—angers as of necessitie but contiâ—ually as of a Christian duty That thou maist bee pleased euermore to guide vs and by thy mighty hand in thy mercy to direct our course and bring vs to the hauen where we would be and leaue vs not vnto the mercilesse waters for without thee there is none that can deliuer vs. O giue vs hearts neuer to forget thy goodnesse watchfull and obedient hearts that wee neuer fall from thee to our naturall vanities and corruptions giue vs not ouer to our owne hearts lusts to sweariâ—â— swaggering drunkenuesse whoredome and to the prophane course of life whereunto by nature we are inclined But assist vs euer with thy grace that wee we may liue orderly honestly religiously and â—olily before thee to deale faithfully and truly with all men at land and sea euer depending on thy prouidence who neuer failest nor forsakest them that call vpon thee in spirit and truth Blesse our going foorth blesse 〈◊〉 voyage blesse our indeuours bless our calling and trafficke and 〈◊〉 vs a comfortable prosperous and happy returne Make vs thankfull in holy obedience which is the sacrifice wherewith thou art 〈◊〉 pleased Grant vs gracious Father these and all other blessingâ— corporall and spirituall for thâ— Christs sake in whose blessâ—â— name we augment these our 〈…〉 prayers with that heauenly 〈◊〉 which he hath taught vs. Our Fâ—ther which art in heauen c. Lord increase our faith A Prayer before meate PArdon we beseech thee O mercifull Lord God our manifold sins which we haue done and do continually commit against thy Maiestie and thereby haue deserued to bee depriued of al thy blessings and of these which now thou plentifully tendrest vnto vs for our nourishment Thou in Iesus Christ hast promised to blesse thy creatures vnto our vse Blesse these vnto vs we beseech thee and grant that they may be vnto vs the comfortable meanes to strengthen our mortall bodies Let vs not abuse them by excesse but vse them soberly to thy glory and our nourishment through Christ our Lord. A thankesgiuing after meate WE acknowledge good Father louing in Iesus Christ that of thy free mercie and bountie we haue at this time aâ— all the daies of our liues been plentifully nourished with corporall foode Inlarge the gifts of thy sanctifying spirit in vs and in all the members of thy Church Preserue euermore our King giue vs peace plentie health and happines through Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS A briefe Table of all the Mottues and Prayers contained in this Booke Prayers A Motiue to Prayer 1 A Prayer for the assistance of God holy Spirit in any spirituall or godly corporall action or indeuour fit to be vsed before euery lawfull enterprise especially before euery diuine exercise 2 A Motiue to a Prayer to bee vsed in the Morning in priuate Families 5 A Prayer for the Morning for priuate Families 8 A short Prayer for the Morning to be said of one in priuate or in a Family vsing the plurall instead of the singular number 17 A Motiue to a Prayer to bee said in the Euening in priuate Families 21 A Prayer to be said in priuate Families in Euening before they goe to rest 24 A short Prayer for the Euening to be vsed of one man in priuate 32 A Motiue to a Prayer for the members of Christ to be vsed after priuate Prayers in Families 37 A Prayer for the members of Christ whersoeuer dispersed fit to be vsed after our ordinary Prayers of Morning and Euening 39 A Motiue to the confession of our sinnes to God and to stirre vs vp to pray for the remission of the same 43 A Confession of sinnes with a Prayer for pardon for the same 47 Another short Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes 51 A Motiue to a Prayer for a godly and holy life and for power of resisting Satan and sinne 54 A Prayer for a godly life and to resist sinne and Satan 57 A Motiue to a Prayer before the receiuing of the holy Communion or the Lords Supper 63 A Prayer to be said before the receiuing of the Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ. 67 A