and that godly sorrow for them which worketh Repentance not to be repented of Give us therefore to repent and turn to God and do Works meet for repentance and by repentance fit us for remission and pardon of sin Lord help our Unbelief and enable us by Faith to receive Christ as Prophet Priest and King Make us willing to be taught by him and to obey him in all things Enable us by Faith to embrace the Promises and obey the Precepts of the Gospel Bless us O Lord with all spiritual Blessings in Christ Bless us in forgiving our Iniquities and bless us in turning every one of us from our Iniquities Wash us in the Blood of Jesus Christ that Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World and purge our Consciences from dead Works to serve thee the living God V. AND let thy Holy Spirit sanctifie us wholly and throughout in Spirit Soul and Body Let our Minds and Hearts be renewed more and more that being transformed by the renewing of our Minds we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God that we may be enabled to know it as we ought to know and delight to do thy Will O our God And let thy Law be within our Hearts Give us so to know Christ and his Life that he may be formed in our Hearts and that he may live in us that the same Mind may be in us which was in Christ and that we may be in the World as he was in the World Give us so to know Christ and his Death and Sufferings that we may be made conformable to his Death that we may feel the Virtue and Power of the Cross of Christ within us in being crucified to the World and having the World crucified unto us in crucifying the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts thereof that the Body of Sin may be destroy'd and that henceforth we may not serve Sin nor obey it in the Lusts thereof Give us so to know Christ and the Power of his Resurrection that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father so we also may walk in newness of life and may mind and seek those things that are above where Christ sitteth at the right-hand of God Let the Love of Christ constrain us his Love in dying for us and let us not live unto our selves but unto him which died for us and rose again Enable us to walk worthy of the Gospel and the Grace of God and as we are taught thereby to deny all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live soberly righteously and godlily in this present World Help us O Lord to consider our selves to be but Strangers and Pilgrims here on Earth and to behave our selves as those that seek and desire a better Country that is an Heavenly Let our Affections and Conversations be in Heaven and make us meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in light Give us O Lord to consider our latter end and to prepare for it and to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling So teach us to number our Days that we may apply our Hearts unto Wisdom VI. KEEP and deliver us O Lord from the Lusts of the Flesh the Lusts of the Eye and the Pride of Life that no Temptation of worldly Pleasure Profit or Honour may prevail over us And enable us by thy Grace to live a Life of Purity and Chastity a Life of Temperance and Sobriety a Life of Humility and Self-denial help us to deny our selves and to take up our Cross and follow Christ Keep and deliver us O Lord from all worldly Cares and Fears from all discontent with our own estate from all distrust of Providence And help us to sanctify thee in our Hearts to make thee our fear and our dread help us to cast our Care and Burden upon thee to commit our selves unto thee in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator Prepare us for all disposals of thy Providence and make all Things work together for good unto us Keep and deliver us from the temptations either of Prosperity or Adversity that in fulness and prosperity our Hearts may not be lifted up and forget the Lord our God that in Adversity and time of Trial we may not forsake thee nor murmur and repine against thee But enable us to possess our Souls in Patience and to endure unto the end Make us to know both how to be abased and how to abound to do all Things or to suffer all Things through Christ strengthening us Deliver us from all coveting envying and grieving at the Good of others or from rejoicing at their Evils and Sufferings And enable us to be content with our own Estate and Condition and to love our Neighbour as our selves and to do to others as we would they should do to us Deliver us from all bitterness wrath and anger from all hatred and malice and desire of revenge And give us to put on Bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of Mind meekness long-suffering not rendring evil for evil unto any but over-coming evil with good Keep and deliver us O Lord from the wrath and craft of Satan and his wicked Instruments Make us sober and watchful against temptations Make us strong in the Power of thy might that we putting on the whole Armour of God may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil Thy Grace is sufficient for us give us the victory over Satan the World and the Flesh and all those Lusts that would war against our Souls Deliver us from all Blindness of Mind and from all Hardness of Heart And give us a right Understanding in all things Enlighten thou the Eyes of our Mind and give us an Heart of Flesh Put thy Laws into our Hearts and write them in our Minds and put thy Fear into our Hearts that we may not depart from thee VII AND now O Lord who hast brought us to see the Light of another Day lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon us and watch over us for good keep and preserve us this Day from all Evil from all Sin and Danger Thou hast been our Helper leave us not nor forsake us O God of our Salvation Preserve our going out and our coming in from this time forth and for evermore Direct our Thoughts our Words and Ways that we may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing Give us Grace to walk circumspectly redeeming the time because the Days are evil Enable us to keep our selves unspotted from the World and herein to exercise our selves to have always a Conscience void of offence
precious Blood of Christ O let us therefore glorifie God in our Bodies and in our Spirits which are God's V. FIT and prepare us also O Lord for the Influences of thy Light and Love Make us meet to be living Habitations and Temples of thy Holy Spirit and do thou delight to dwell in us and make thine abode with us and manifest thy self unto us Fit us for the guidance and the powerful assistances of thy Spirit and fit us for the comforts of thy Spirit Let us not grieve nor resist the Holy Ghost but always follow thy good Spirit as our Guide that we may enjoy thy Spirit as our Comforter Let thy Grace always prevent us and accompany us and enable us to persevere unto the end Make us O Lord perfect in every good Work to do thy Will working in us that which is well-pleasing in thy sight through Jesus Christ Father of Mercies O God the God of our Strength and of our Salvation never leave us nor forsake us Our Eyes are unto thee O God the Lord in thee is our Trust leave not our Souls destitute Let thy presence be with us while we are here in this Wilderness and lead us through it to the heavenly Canaan Let us take heed of grieving or provoking thee through Disobedience or Unbelief but enable us by Faith in thy Goodness and Power to resist and overcome our spiritual Enemies Sin and Satan enable us to follow the Lord fully and to continue patiently in well-doing that through Faith and Patience we may inherit the Promises and enter into thy Rest Guide us O Lord with thy Counsel and afterwards receive us to thy Glory VI. AND now O Heavenly Father we recommend our Souls and Bodies unto thy Fatherly Care and Keeping this Night Thou that neither slumberest nor sleepest watch thou over us for good Preserve us from the Dangers and Fears of this Night hide us under the safe shadow of thy Wings Refresh us with quiet Rest and Sleep Let us lie down in peace in thy Love and Favour and raise us up in health of Body and ability of Mind to serve thee faithfully the next Day Cause us to hear thy loving-kindness in the Morning for in thee do we trust VII MERCIFUL Father preserve all our Relations and Friends Withhold not thou thy tender Mercies from them O Lord let thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually preserve them Bless them with all spiritual Blessings in Christ Bless them with Health and Peace with all the Necessaries of this life and with Contentment and give them all things that pertain to life and godliness VIII BE merciful O Lord unto all the Nations of the World that are without Christ Send unto them able and faithful Ministers of the New Testament to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Make thy Son to be a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy People Israel and let him be thy Salvation to the ends of the Earth Let the Earth be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as Waters cover the Sea and let all the Kingdoms of the World become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Let those that enjoy the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ walk as Children of Light and shew forth the Vertues and Praises of him who hath called them out of Darkness into his marvellous Light Preserve thy little flock and deliver the afflicted Churches of Christ out of all their troubles Weaken the Power and disappoint the Devices of their Enemies Bless thy People with Peace and let all those that love thy Name be joyful in thee IX HAVE mercy upon these Realms and Dominions Turn thou us unto thee O Lord and we shall be turned Give us Grace throughly to amend our ways and our doings and to bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance and do thou rejoyce over us to do us good Establish us in Truth Righteousness and Peace Be merciful to all Orders and Degrees amongst us from the King who is Supreme to all subordinate Magistrates and Rulers that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty Let Judgment run down as Waters and Righteousness as a mighty Stream Let the Word of God run and be glorified and let it appear to be the Power of God unto Salvation in the turning of many Souls from Sin to Righteousness and true Holiness X. IN mercy remember all the Children of affliction Be unto them the Father of Mercies the God of Comfort and the God of their Salvation Let Patience have its perfect work in them and make all things even afflictions work together for good unto them XI O LORD hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and do abundantly for us above all that we can ask or think Answer us and accept us in the beloved thy dear Son Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all Praise and Love and Obedience this Night and for evermore Amen XII OUR Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this Day our daily Bread And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen PRAYERS To be said Before the reading of the Holy Scriptures I. BLESSED Lord God who alone canst teach us to profit enlighten our Minds and give us a good understanding in all things Open our Hearts that we may receive the love of the Truth Enable us O Lord to receive the Word with meekness and with all readiness of mind and to mingle it with Faith Let thy Holy Spirit which thou hast promised to give to them that ask enable us to know as we ought to know the Holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise unto Salvation that we may thereby be throughly furnished unto all good Works Give us as new born Babes to desire the sincere Milk of the Word that we may grow thereby that we may grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom be Glory both now and for ever Amen II. O GOD the Father of Lights from whom comes every good and perfect Gift Give us the Spirit of Wisdom and Knowledge that the Eyes of our understanding being enlightened we may know the Great Things of thy Law and the Mysteries of the Gospel Make us O Lord to see and taste how gracious thou art
FORMS OF PRAYER FOR A FAMILY COMPOSED By the Late Pious and Learned John Worthington D. D. PUBLISHED By the Right Reverend Father in God Edward Lord Bishop of Gloucester LONDON Printed for Luke Meredith at the Star in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1693. TO THE READER THE following Prayers for a Family being hereafter to accompany the Scripture-Catechism which I published soon after the Author's Decease It was thereupon desired by some Friends that I would recommend these additional Prayers to you And I could not but comply with their Request though the Author's Name is sufficient to bespeak their Acceptance I gave a brief Character of that Excellent Person in a Preface to the Catechism And the little that is there said which I need not tell those that knew him he highly deserved and a great deal more is abundantly enough to invite all good People to the perusing of any of his Writings And as to these Prayers Whoever reads them must needs judge them well fitted for the Vse of Families The more so for their being for Substance penned in the Words and Sentences of the divinely-inspir'd Writers which are the aptest of any to excite Devotion and in this Respect they have the Advantage of all the Prayers that I have seen This and other Instances of their Excellency and Usefulness I might here insist upon but I think it wholly needless they being easily to be discerned by a serious Reader I will add a few Words concerning the daily worshipping of God in our Families which I cannot forbear having this Opportunity This is a Duty very shamefully neglected in this loose Age. And no wonder it is so by such as are irreligious and can be content to live in gross Ignorance and the disacknowledgment of him in whom they live move and have their Being But that so many of those who are well instructed in Religon and keep themselves from the more scandalous Pollutions of the World and make Conscience of attending on the Publick Worship of God and of Secret Prayer should be able to satisfy themselves constantly to Neglect Family-Worship is very unaccountable Especially since not only pious People in all Ages have so commended it by their Practice but also that nothing seems more clearly discoverable by Natural Light than that it is the paying of a most Reasonable Service and nothing doth more plainly tend to the begetting keeping up and encreasing a sense of Religion in Families than this doth In a Word since the Divine Providence watcheth over Families as such what serious Christian can doubt whether the Governours of them are strictly obliged to call them every Day together thankfully to acknowledge the daily care God takes of them and the great Obligations he continually heaps upon them to make a penitent Confession of their daily Offences against him and to deprecate the Punishment deserved by them and to put up humble Petitions to the Throne of Grace for the Continuance of those Spiritual and Temporal Blessings they enjoy and a Supply of those they want And that we may be more generally awakened to a Sense of this great Duty as also that the following and all other good Helps for the better Performance thereof which pious Persons have given those who stand in need of them may have the Divine Blessing accompanying them is the Hearty Prayer of Your Faithful Servant Edw. Gloucestr Morning-Prayer FOR A FAMILY I. EVER-Blessed Lord God the God that hearest Prayers and therefore should all Flesh come unto thee Thou who hast promised that where two or three are met together in thy Name there thou wilt be in the midst of them We thy poor and unworthy Servants who are less than the least of all thy Mercies desire in all Humility to offer up unto thee this our Morning-Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving we acknowledge O Lord that it is of thy Mercies that we are not consumed because thy Compassions fail not they are new every Morning Thou hast not dealt with us after our Sins nor rewarded us according to our Iniquities But thou hast spared us according to the greatness of thy Mercy and kept us unto this present Moment In thee we live and move and have our Being with all the comforts thereof Thou O Lord hast preserved us from the dangers of the Night past whereas we might have slept the Sleep of Death and thou hast raised us up to the Light of another Day to walk before thee in the Land of the Living What have we O Lord which we have not receiv'd of thee The Mercies of this Life the means of Grace and the Helps and Advantages for that better Life which is to come they are all from thee And by these Mercies we should have been perswaded to offer up our selves a Living Sacrifice holy and acceptable unto thee O God which is our reasonable Service II. BUT we confess O Lord that we have not rendered unto thee according to what we have received from thee We have been unthankful and have not glorified thee as God We confess O Lord we have sinned against thy Law written in our Hearts and against the Light shining in our Consciences We have sinned against thy righteous Law declared in thy Holy Word whereas thy Word should have been a Lamp unto our Feet and a Light unto our Paths We have sinned against the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ against the Precepts and Promises of the Gospel nor have we walked agreeably to that excellent Pattern of Holiness shining out therein even the Life of Christ who left us an Example that we should follow his Steps We have sinned O Lord against thy Mercies and against thy Judgments and Corrections against the Motions of thy Holy Spirit against Purposes and Promises of better Service and Obedience Father we have sinned against Heaven and in thy Sight and have made our selves unworthy to be called thy Children And therefore to us belongeth nothing but shame and confusion of Face and the Wrath to come III. BUT there is forgiveness with thee O Lord To the Lord our God belong Mercies and Forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him Thou hast declared thy self in thy Word to be the Lord the Lord God merciful gracious and long-suffering forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance Thou willest not the Death of Sinners but hadst rather they should turn from their evil Ways and live Thou didst so love the World that thou gavest thine onely-begotten Son Jesus Christ that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life Thou didst send thy Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins that we might live through him IV. GOOD Lord give us such a sight and sense of our Sins as may beget in us an holy hatred of them