the ends of the world In them hath he set a Tabernacle for the Sun which cometh forth as a Bridegroom out of his Chamber and rejoiceth as a giant to run his course It goeth forth from the uttermost part of the Heaven and runneth about unto the end of it again and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof The Law of the Lord is an undefiled Law converting the Soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure and giveth wisdom unto the simple The Statutes of the Lord are right and rejoice the heart the Commandment of the Lord is pure and giveth light unto the Eyes The fear of the Lord is clean and endureth for ever the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether More to be desired are they than gold yea than much fine gold sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb Moreover by them is thy servant taught and in keeping of them there is great reward Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou me from my secret faults Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get the dominion over me so shall I be undefiled and innocent from the great offence Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be always acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for Wednesday Morning For Repentance O Eternal God before whom all Creatures both in Heaven and Earth do bow fear and tremble I a most wretched and miserable Creature dejected with the weighty burthen of my Sins fly unto thee for Succour Plant in my heart the Fear of thy Name and in my body the purity and cleanness of Charity and let them abide there for ever Cleanse me from all my secret Sins and preserve me from presumptuous and great Offences Touch my heart O God with true Repentance that thy Judgments present and imminent may be prevented and removed and the overflowing silver stream and current of thy Mercies be never at an end II. Be gracious to my Relations in the flesh my Friends in the spirit with all those to whom I am any way bounden or desire to be commended unto thee in my Prayers and Supplications Expel O Lord and cast out of my heart all evil Imagination Hatred Malice and all Uncharitableness and whatsoever is contrary to thy holy Commandments III. I praise thy holy Name for thy preservation of me this Night past for the Gifts and Graces of thy Blessed Spirit as Faith in thy Promises Hope of a better Life when this is ended and strength against all the temptations of Satan all which have proceeded from the Fountain of thy Mercy As thou hast of thy Providence kept me ever since I was born and in Mercy preserved me the beginning of this Week so to my Comfort grant me the continuance of the same through Jesus Christ my only Redeemer and Advocate Amen A Prayer for Wednesday Noon For God's particular Care of us O Almighty God I cry unto thee for Mercy by reason my Sins cry against me for Justice all the day long will I lift up my Heart unto thee shut not thine Ear O Lord but hear my complaint and that right soon Let me in all things see that I am upheld by thee Let me perceive it is thy Work by the Health of my Body and Peace of my Conscience in the Gift of my Mind the Credit of my Name and the Work of my Calling II. But alas can there be greater Mercies O Lord than thou hast already expressed towards me for whilst I have enjoyed all thy Mercies others have lived in penury and want in ignorance profaneness and without thee in the World III. What can I render unto the Lord for all his Mercies towards me Let me not pledge Joseph's Botler in his Cup of Oblivion but David rather in his Cup of Salvation and if my single heart be too barren of thankfulness let me borrow a magnificat O my Soul to magnifie Thee O Lord and let my Spirit rejoyce in thee O God my Saviour What shall I say unto thee O thou Redeemer of all Mankind I will praise thy holy Name For evermore inspire me with thy Spirit convert me from Evil confirm me in all Goodness and bring me at last unto thy heavenly Kingdom Amen A Prayer for Wednesday Night For deliverance from Sin MOST merciful God I beseech thee to open the Eyes of my understanding that I may come to a particular knowledge of my secret Sins especially those I am most inclined to Soften my hard and flinty heart that I may sigh and groan under tâ—â— weight of my most pressing sins and acknowledge them a Burthen too heavy for me to bear II. Stir up in me all dull and dead Affections that I may hunger and thirst after thee the well-spring of Life Forgive me all my misdemeanours of this day past make me to remember that Sin is filthy and loathsome even in the greatest pleasure and act thereof teach me to keep a continual watch over my inward and outward Man whereby I may be afraid to commit the least Sin that so I may walk according to thy holy will in all things III. Give me this Night sweet and comfortable rest and fit me O Lord for the duties and service of the next day Turn from me O Lord those judgments which my sins have justly deserved and renew those hopes which thou hast been pleased to frustrate crown me with those blessings which thou hast promised to all these that fear thy Name so that at the last I may attain everlasting Happiness and live with thee in perpetual peace and safety for evermore Amen Meditations for Thursday O Sing unto the Lord a new song for he hath done marvellous things With his own right hand and with his holy arm hath he gotten himself the victory The Lord declared his Salvation his Râ—ghteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the Heathen He hath remembred his Mercy and Truth towards the House of Israel and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God Shew your selves joyful unto the Lord all ye lands sing rejoice and give thanks Praise the Lord upon the harp sing to the harp with a Psalm of Thanksgiving With trumpets also and shawms O shew your selves joyful before the Lord the King Let the Sea make a noise and all that therein is the round world and they that dwell therein Let the floods clap their hands and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord for he is come to judge the earth With righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equity Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for Thursday Morning A Sacrifice of Praise O Most glorious and powerful Lord God who with thy holy arm hath gotten for me the Victory over Sin Hell and
the Grave I praise thee O Lord from the very bottom of my heart for all thy love and boundless mercy and kindness for thy holy Incarnation Passion Resurrection and Ascention into Heaven and sitting at the right hand of God the Father where thou makest Intercession for me II. In thy merits I beseech thee to look upon me thou art that living Sacrifice that was offered up for me and in thy Name do I offer up unto thee this my morning Sacrifice evermore praising thee and magnifying thy holy Name Mortifie in me all fleshly Corruptions quicken me in the inner Man By the power of thy death let me die unto Sin and by the power of thy Resurrection let me rise to Righteousness and newness of Life Let the one as an antidote expel the poison of Ungodlyness and the other as a restorative excite me to Holiness III. Enlighten my Understanding that I may know thy Will reform my Life that I may do all things aright and to discern Good and Evil. Teach me to fear thy Name to neglect all things in regard of thee to be grieved at my own and others Sins but rejoyce exceedingly whensoever I can please thee Let me this Day labour that whatsoever I do may be pleasing in thy sight as I am thy Servant let me depend upon thee and as I am a Christian walk worthy of my Vocation and Calling IV. Be gracious and favourable unto the whole Church and bless every particular Member thereof be good to the light of our Eyes the breath of our Nostrils thy Solomon our gracious King bless thine own Tribe the Tribe of Levi the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty and let thy Peace rest upon those that pray for our Peace wheresoever dispersed over the Face of the whole Earth Lord keep me the remaining part of this Day in thy Truth and give me Peace and true Faith in thee now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Thursday Noon For God's Blessing on our Endeavours O Eternal and most gracious God who though thou art ever infinite yet enlargest thy self by the number of our Prayers and takest our often Petitions to thee to be an addition to thy Glory so great is thy Humility toward poor Mortals I most humbly beseech thee O Lord that thine Eyes may continually attend upon me and thy Grace daily defend me from all danger succour cherish and comfort me in my Necessities and govern all my counsels Studies and Labours so that I may spend this Day according to thy blessed Will and the discharge of my own Conscience that warily avoiding all things that may displease thee and setting always before my Eyes thy Fear I may by the assistance of thy heavenly Grace and the guidance of thy holy Spirit work that which is acceptable and pleasing unto thee unto thy Praise and Glory for ever Amen A Prayer for Thursday Night For Deliverance from Sudden Death O Lord most holy the giver of all good things and the protector of all those that love thee I give thee most humble and hearty thanks nor only for thy preservation of me this day but all my life O Lord forgive me the Offences I have committed against thee this Day blot out all my sins with the blood of thy dear Son â—esus Christ and I beseech thee for his sake remember them no more II. Vouchsafe O Lord to extend thine accustomed goodness and protection over me this Night that I may peaceably and quietly take my rest which thou hast appointed for the refreshing of my wearied and weak body and I beseech thee to defend me that nothing hurt me keep me also good Lord from sudden and unprovided Death and preserve me by the guard of thy holy Angels that I may enjoy my rest this Night in thee until the Morning and then give my self to the fulfilling of my Duty the discharge of my Employment and the working of thy will unto my life's end III. In whose Name I referr my self wholly to the Almighty Protection even in the Name of thy blessed Son Jesus Christ the Righteous beseeching thee that when this Life shall have an end and my last sleep being come I may take my everlasting Rest with thee in thy heavenly Kingdom for the which Kingdom I do heartily beseech thee of thine inestimable goodness to fit and prepare me and all other thy Servants to the attainment of the same for the glory of thy holy Name and the everlasting comfort of our own Souls Amen Meditations for Friday THe Lord even the most mighty God hath spoken and called the world from the rising up of the Sun unto the going down thereof Out of Sâ—on hath God appeared in perfect beauty Our God shall comâ— and shall not keep silence there shâ—ll go before him a consuming firâ— and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him He shall call the Heaven from above and the Earth that he mâ—y judge his People Gather my Saints together unto me those that have made a Covenant with me with Sacrifice And the Heavens shâ—ll declare his Righteousness for God is Judge himself Hear O my People and I will speak I my self will testifie against thee O Israel for I am God even thy God I will not reprove thee because of thy Sacrifices or for thy Burnt-offerings because they were not always before me I will take no Bullock out of thine house nor He-goats out of thy fold For all the Beasts of the Forest are mine and so are the Cattle upon a thousand hills I know all the Fowls upon the mountains and the wild Beasts of the field are in my sight If I be hungry I will not tell thee for the whole world is mine and all that is therein Thinkest thou that I will eat Bulls flesh and drink the blood of Goats Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most highest And call upon me in the time of trouble so will I hear thee and thou shalt praise me But unto the ungodly said God why dost thou preach my Laws and takest my Covenant in thy mouth Whereas thou hatest to be reformed and hast cast my Words behind thee When thou sawest a thief thou consentedst unto him and hâ—st been partaker with the Adulterers Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit Thou satest and spakest against thy Brother yea and hast slandered thine own Mother's Son These things hast thou done and I held my tongue and thou thoughtest wickedly that I am even such a one as they self but I will reprove thee and set before thee the things that thou hast done O consider this ye that forgâ—t God lest I pluck you away and there be none to deliver you Whoso offereth me thanks and praise he honoureth me and to him that ordereth his conversatition aright will I shew the salvation of God Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for
I praise thee for my Creation Redemption and Preservation and by whose Grace and Mercy I hope to be glorified more-especially for feeding me this Day with the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ I will therefore offer unto thee the Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving and always praise thy holy Name beseeching thee to pour upon my Heart the sweet Streams of thy Mercy Conform my Life confirm my Faith and let thy Grace evermore guide me that I may with a strong assurance of thine infallible Truth and promised Mercy vanquish and subdue whatsoever rebelleth against thy blessed will II. Keep holy my Soul and Body and suffer them not to be defiled through delectation of Sin but that my full delight and joy may be in thee and walk before thee in sincerity of Heart and godly Conversation that I may here on Earth glorifie thy Name and after this Life with all thy falthful flock possess that everlasting Inheritance which thy Son Christ Jesus hath purchased with his most precious blood To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen John 5. 14. Behold thou art made whole sin no more least a worse thing come unto thee Jude 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen A Morning Prayer for a Private Person O Eternal God and most merciful Father I thine unworthy Servant do in all humility prostrate my self before thy divine Majesty acknowledging my own Vileness natural Corruptions and abominable Sins which from time to time have been committed against thee I am unworthy O Lord to appear in thy holy Temple or approach the remotest limits of the Place where thine Honour dwelleth II. But I beseech thee for the sake of thy dearly beloved Son accept of this my morning Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving for thy manifold Mercies extended towards me this Night past and heretofore till this moment For my Rest Food Raiment Health Peace and Liberty with the hopes of a better Life when this is ended Continue thy all supplying mercies unto me this day Govern me with thy Fear and compass me about with thy Favour set all my Sins to that accompt which thy Son Jesus Christ my only Saviour hath made up for them upon the Cross and never lay any of them to my charge but freely forgive and forget them all III. Prosper O Lord all that I shall take in hand this Day let my directions proceed from thy holy Will and the success from thy merciful Hand Give me a Competency for maintenance in this mortal Life that I may with quietness of mind and thankfulness of heart pass my time in this vale of misery in doing good to all men according to my ability without disparagement to my self or harm to others IV. Grant these things O Heavenly Father and whatever else thou seest most necessary for me and all other thy Servants in the World for the good of our Souls and Bodies guide and conduct me in the doing and performing diligently those things that thou hast required of me and that the end of all my labours may tend to the Praise of thy holy Name and the benefit of my poor Brethren Grant this good Lord I humbly beseech thee for Jesus Christ his sake Amen An Evening Prayer for a Private Person O Almighty and everlasting God I do confess I am unworthy of the least of all thy Mercies yet being bound in duty for thy preservation of me this day past and all the time of my whole Life I offer up unto thee Praise and Thanksgiving for my Election Creation Redemption Vocation and Sanctification with all other Gifts and Graces appertaining to this Life or that which is to come II. O thou that sittest above the Cherubims my tongue and lips shall praise and glorifie thee for preserving me by thy Providence this Day past from so many Miseries and Casualties which I might justly have fallen into hadst thou entred into Judgment with me But thou art a God full of Mercy and Compassion and passest by Offences to win me the more by thy patience and long-suffering make me truly thankful for thy Mercies ready and willing to make a good improvement of thy most gracious Forbearance and careful to obey thy Will with Conscience Diligence and Constancy III. Strengthen me from above with thy mighty hand to walk in every good way without fearfulness and to bring forth the Fruits of a true and lively Faith in my Life and Conversation all the days of my sojourning here Arm me with thy Grace and holy Spirit against the Corruptions and Vanities of the World and Wiles and Temptations of the Devil and the Allurements of the Flesh and so settle and frame my mind to the continual exercise of devout Prayer hearing of thy sacred Word and watching for thy coming both in publick and private IV. Keep me O Lord this night from all Evils which may happen either to my Body or my Soul Extend thy Goodness towards all those that have any dependance upon me give me sweet and comfortable rest that when I shall awake all my Thoughts Meditations may be on thee and thy Law Bless me O Lord all the nights and days of my Life and at the end thereof send me a blessed departure and afterwards a joyful Resurrection both of Soul and Body unto Life eternal grant these things O heavenly Father for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake my only Saviour Amen A Morning Prayer for a Private Family O Almighty and most merciful Father thou hast promised That where Two or Three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt be in the midst of them we poor sinful Creatures dust and ashes here in all humility do prostrate our Bodies and Souls before thee as living Monuments of thy Mercy We are unworthy of the least of thy mercies yet hast thou from time to time made us partakers of many for which we praise and magnifie thy holy Name beseeching thee to give us understanding Hearts to be sensible of our Evils with direction and assistance from thy holy Spirit to avoid the same II. And as thou hast O Lord kept us this Night in the time of darkness and dangers so we beseech thee to preserve us this Day that the Sun of Righteousness may rule in our Hearts and all the darkness that lurketh in them may be scattered to the comfort of our own Souls in the day of our Lord Jesus Endue us with those Gifts and Graces thou seest to be most needful for us and grant that with sincere Hearts pure Consciences we may wholly employ them in thy service to thy honour and glory III. Continue to us we earnestly beseech thee thy blessing of Health Peace and Maintenance so far as thou seest them convenient for us chase away from us all Rancour and Malice Covetousness Uncharitableness and Unkindness and whatsoever is contrary to thy Law take
from us all Ignorance and Negligence and prevent all those things that thou knowest may hinder us in our Christian Calling or Employment Encrease our Faith Patience and Obedience and let thy Blessing be upon this whole Family guide us in thy Truth protect us in our Ways and all those whom thou hast made dear unto us whether they be present or absent IV. Give us Grace by thy Chastisements to fear thee more carefully and to grieve for our sins more heartily let our minds be set upon thee and give us such hearts as we may learn something of every thing and make a Spiritual use of all our Earthly Affairs here till we come to dwell with thee in the Kingdom of Glory V. Bless O Lord the universal Church with Truth Peace and Unity Soundness of Doctrine and holy Discipline Preserve our gracious Sovereign and all the Royal Family Bless his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council and all others in Authority with necessary Graces VI. Bless all Schools of Learning and good Education especially the two Universities of this Land Bless this City and Place wherein we live remove the Punishment due for the Sins thereof and give them a double portion of thy Grace to repent in time before the Destroyer enters again amongst them VII Bless all our Friends Relations or others for whom thou hast appointed us to make Prayers and Supplications strengthen them that lie upon their Beds of Sickness send them the comfort and help of thy Spirit that lie in anguish of Conscience for remorse of Sin and convert all those that go astray from thy Commandments teach us by their Examples to view our own Weakness and to walk more circumspectly for the time to come VIII Bless this Family with Grace and Peace that all of them from the highest to the lowest may know their several Duties and may rightly and duly practise the same in thy fear and unto thy glory through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour Amen An Evening Prayer for a Private Family OEternal God the Father of Mercies and great Creator of Heaven and Earth we render thee humble and hearty Thanks for thy merciful Preservation of us this Day and all the whole course of our Lives that thou hast brought us safe through so many Dangers and Difficulties we might justly have fallen into had not thy Arm of Providence been stretched out to support us II. Morning and Evening thou takest care of us and heapest upon us so many Blessings and Benefits both Spiritual and Temporal yet we neither fear thee nor serve thee as we ought to do but thou art a God slow to anger and of great pity and art ready to forgive our manifold Sins which we from time to time have committed against thee III. Good Lord we beseech thee keep us evermore from day to day as thou hast done and make us constant in the profession of thy holy Name and the practise of thy Law that neither the Malice of Man nor Subtilty of Satan be able to make us turn away from thee Lord turn thy Face from our Sins even from those Sins wherein we have so much delighted take from us those hearts of Stone and give us hearts of Flesh and wash and cleanse our poluted Souls in the Blood of the Lord Jesus IV. Forgive us all that is past and grant us the assurance of that Forgiveness sealed up by the holy Spirit in our Consciences Oh kindle thy love more and more in our hearts that we may never depart from thee but attain unto a due thankfulness for thy benefits and a most unfeigned and earnest Repentance for all our Sins and Tranfgressions V. Suffer us not to close our Eyes till our Souls have reckoned and made even for all the Offences which not only this day but all the former minutes of our lives we have committed against thy divine Majesty Give thine Angels charge over us that at what hour soever thou callest us out of this Vale of Tears where we do but travail and toil all the day long we may not be found to be idle Loiterers in thy Harvest but good and acceptable Servants having Oil in our Lamps and on us the Robe of Righteousness and Wedding-Garment of Regeneration that we may be able to encounter Death the King of Terrors to meet our blessed Lord in the Clouds when he cometh to Judgment and to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth VI. Expel and remove far away from us all wicked Spirits and graciously protect us from our Persecutors which lay Snares to subdue us do thou O God assist us that we may peaceably sleep and rest in thee hide us in thy Tabernacle from the strife of all Men and keep us that we may fear no Evil. O thou that neither slumberest nor sleepest let thy Rod and Staff evermore comfort and defend us VII Let thy mighty Hand and stretched out Arm O Lord be still our Defence thy Mercy and Loving-kindness in thy beloved Son our Salvation thy true and holy Word our Instruction thy Grace and holy Spirit our Comfort and Consolation Let thy Mercy O God prevent and follow us all the days of our Lives that we may dwell in thy House of Defence in length of days praising thee evermore VIII Let thy Blessing be upon all of us within this Houshold guide us in our Ways and lead us into thy Truth Bless our Parents Kindred and Friends wheresoever dispersed and howsoever linked unto us Be a merciful Judge unto us and continually protect us from the snares of Satan the Old Serpent and finally conduct us into the society of Angels and of all Saints in thy holy Paradise to whom be ascribed as is most due to thee the Father Son and Holy Ghost one true gracious and everlasting God all Honour Power and Glory Might Majesty and Dominion now and for evermore Amen Meditations for the Sick O Lord rebuke me not in thine Indignation neither chasten me in thy heavy Displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my Bones are vexed My Soul is also sore troubled But Lord how long wilt thou punish me Turn thee O Lord and deliver my Soul O save me for thy mercies sake For in death no Man remembreth thee and who will give thee thanks in the Pit I am weary of my groaning every night wash I my Bed and water my Couch with my Tears My Beauty is gone for very trouble and worn away because of all mine Enemies Away from me all ye that work Vanity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping The Lord hath heard my Petition the Lord will receive my Prayer Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me O hide not thou thy face from me nor cast thy Servant away in Displeasure Thou hast been my succour leave me not neither forsake me O God of my Salvation What profit is there in my blood
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
THE Devout Companion Containing PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS FOR Every Day in the Week AND FOR Several Occasions Ordinary and Extraordinary Psal 55. 17. Evening and Morning and at Noon will I pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my Voice The Twelfth Edition LONDON 〈…〉 Henry Rhodes at the 〈…〉 he corner of Brile 〈…〉 1699. TO THE Truly Honoured The LADY J. C. MADAM AT Your Request these ensuing Prayers and Meditations were composed which I here present to Your view not that You want my weak Instructions for You are known to be so good a Proficient in God's School and have more of this Heavenly Language by Heart than I can instruct you by Precept The Meditations I have taken from the Psalms of that sweet singer of Israel the Royal Prophet and this Key opens not only the Kingdom of Grace but the Kingdom of Heaven too it being an exact Composure of all Christian Vertues No Worshipping can be more true or more spiritual than the Psalter said with a pure Mind and a hearty Devotion For David was God's Instrumeâ—t to the Church teaching and admonishing as our Duty is to each other in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs making melody to the Lord. In your Voyage to the Almighty You might have I doubt not a better Card or Compass to sail by than this Form of Prayer which I prescribe yet I beseech You encourage others by Your pious Example to feed upon this Milk for Babes those which are weak by tasting of it your Self So recommending it to Your Pious Acceptation wishing You all Happiness that this Earthly Paradise can afford whist You remain upon Earth and at the last a Crown of Immorral Glory in the highest Heavens is the earnest desire of Madam Your humble and faithful Servant in Christ Jesus E. S. THE Devout Companion Containing MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS For every Day in the Week c. A Preparatory Prayer against wandring Thoughts and vain Imaginations Thrice Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God have mercy upon me a miserable Sinner O Almighty God the only Giver and Bestower of all good things and without whose special Favour and Grace no Man hath Power to perform any spiritual Duty as he ought to do O Lord I know not what to pray for as I ought O let thy Spirit help my Infirmities and enable me to offer up a spiritual Sacrifice acceptable to thee by Jesus Christ II. Make me to remember into whose Presence I am come and with whom I have to do even with a God of infinâ—te Majesty before whom the Cherubims veil their Faces as being astonished at the Presence of so great a God as thou art How dare I then a moâ—t vile and sinful Creature who am but Dust and Ashes presume to appear at this time before thee who have drunk Iniquity like Water breaking so often thy holy Laws and Commandments by committing those things thou forbiddest and leaving undone those good things thou commandest III. But I come unto thee O Lord in the name of thy dear Son Jesus Christ the Righteous who hath redeemed me with his most precious Blood O then look upon me in him and for the merits of his Sufferings pardon all my Sins and blot out my Offences Strike an awful reverence in my Soul that I may continually keep a watch over my Thoughts Words and Actions least my Presumption and want of due Reverence unto thy Deity should turn my Prayers into Sin IV. Give me a lively apprehension of all my wants and necessities and a right Understanding both of those Blessings which I have received from thee and of those great Mercies which thou hast promised to bestow on them that ask thee that so I may be endued with Expressions both for Prayer and Thankfulness and may become able by the assistance of thy Grace to pour out my Soul continually before thee Support me with Faith that I may come with a good assurance to thy Throne of Grace to offer up my earnest Supplications unto thee and let me not go away from thy presence without a Blessing V. Grant Lord that this holy Exercise of Prayer may prove a delight to me O make me constant and diligent in the use of it remembring the speedy access the Prayers of the Faithful have in thy Presence and what a great Privilege it is for poor Mortals to unfold their Wants and lay open their Desires and Griefs before thee VI. Ever O Lord let the end of my Prayers be to thy Glory always exercising a Conscience void of Offence by offering up my Thanksgivings for Mercies received as I shall be earnest in suing for those Gifts and Graces I stand in need of Grant this O heavenly Father for the sake of thy dear Son my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen Meditations for Sunday THis is the Day which the Lord hath made a Day of Rest to our Bodies and for the Benefit of our Souls O let us rejoice and be glad in it all the Days of our L 〈…〉 leaving off our worldly Thoughts and Employments and be â—eeking after our future Happiness II. Great iâ— the Lord and great is the Honour of this day above all others The Jews kept Holy the Seventh Day and we Christians the Sunday or Lord's Day They in their Sabbath were especially to remember the Creation of the World but we in ours the Resurrection of Christ who hath made a way for us into that better worâ—d which we expect hereafter III. This convinceth the Folly of the Jews who are so superstitious in observing the Ceremony of Rest as that they think they ought not to prepare any Food for their bodily sustenance on the Sabbath-Day neither do any work tho' it be for the Resection of Life it self But God in the Institution of the Sâ—bbath so rested whose Example we ought to imitate as that he ce 〈…〉 not in â—â—sting from doing good but in câ—â—sing to Create he continued to Preserve of which our Saviour saith My Father worketh hitherto and I work IV. This Day is set apart to be employed in the Worship and Service of God First more solemnly and publickly in the House of God from whence none ought to absent himself unless sickness or some extraordinary occasion prevent him Secondly at home privately praying with your Family or in your Closet exercising those other Duties of Reading and Meditation V. O Praise the Lord then O my Soul and enter into Contemplation with thy self upon all his Mercies Consider what a great Benefit it is to thee that there is such a set time weekly for thy spiritual Relief and Comfort cast off all worldly Business then and freely embrace this joyful Day of harvest whereby we may lay up in store for the whole Week nay even for our whole Lives VI. This day furnishes us with that Golden Rule by which we may square all our Actions and at last attain to the perfection of him whom the Royal Psalmist makes
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
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