thy holy spirit from mee make mee one with Christ my head flesh of his flesh bone of his bone make mee one with the mysticall body of thine Elect that I may have my part in the prayers of the Church in the Communion of Saints here on earth in the kingdome of grace and may enjoy thee and them face to face and sit downe and eat and drinke with thee in thy kingdome of glory Amen For the Sacrament of Baptisme O Lord our God the great the mighty and the terrible God who keepest covenant and mercy with all them that feare thy name and trust upon thee even to a thousand generations thou hast promised to bee our God and the God of our seed to enter into covenant with us that wee should bee thine O Lord I come to thy throne of grace at this time to lay claime to my interest in that new covenant sealed unto thy Church in the blood of Iesus that thou wouldst performe the same unto mee and mine also hast not thou said thou wilt circumcise mine heart and the heart of my seed to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soule that thou wilt put thy Law in our inward parts and write it in our hearts and that thou wilt bee our God and wee shall bee thy people that thou wilt forgive our injquity and wilt remember our sinne no more O Lord hast thou said it and wilt not thou also doe it By faith I plead my interest thereunto not for my selfe alone but for mine also with whom I beseech thee to make an everlasting covenant of life and peace that being baptized into Iesus Christ they may bee sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word O Lord wee are all borne the children of wrath and there is no way for us to escape the damnation of hell except wee bee borne againe of water and of the Spirit O Lord doe thou sprinkle cleane water upon us wash away the filth of Zion and purge the blood of Ierusalem from the midst thereof Baptize us with the Holy Ghost that having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water wee may bee new creatures fit to bee an habitation of God through the spirit O blessed be thy goodnesse for ever which hast given us this seale of thy rich promise this is that Arke in and through which thou savest thine Elect thou dalliest not with us herein it is no idle ceremonie thou art present in thy own ordinance to fulfill that which thou hast promised O wash our soules with the baptisme of Repentance as thou doest our bodies with the outward element of water Let the vertue of Christs death kill sinne in us for how shall wee that are buried with Christ by baptisme and thereby dead to sinne live yet therein Doe not wee herein vow to forsake the Devill the Pomps and vanities of this wicked world and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh and shal we break our vow transgresse the covenant O let this be far from us teach us therefore to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts deliver us from every evill worke that we may serve the living God Sprinkle cleane water upon us that we may bee cleane from our naturall filthinesse and from all our uncleannesses Wash us O wash us throughly from our iniquities and cleanse us from our sinnes Make our hearts to be stedfast in thy love and never to forget this covenant of our God thy mercie doe thou keepe for us and ours for evermore and let thy covenant stand fast with us and bee established for ever as the Moone and as a faithfull witnesse in heaven And as thou hast thus brought us into the bond of the covenant so let us never depart from thee Bee thou unto us a God and let us be thy people for evermore even till thou bringest us unto Mount Sion and to the Citie of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem and to an inumerable company of Angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Iesus the Mediatour of the new covenant and to the bloud of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel Make me to be thine my self be thou my Father and make me to be thy Sonne for if the first fruit be holy the lumpe also shall be holy and if the roote be holy so also shall the branches bee This mercie I beg of thee in his name merits and mediation out of whose pierced side issued forth water and bloud for the sanctifying and justifying of thine Elect. To whom with thee and the Holy Spirit be all glory service thanksgiving and dominion through all the Churches of the Saints for ever Amen For Regeneration Sanctification and grace to serve God O Lord thou God of truth who hast sworne in thy faithfulnesse that as thou livest thou hast no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that hee should turne from his way and live and therefore commandest thy people saying Turne ye turne ye from your evill wayes for why will ye dye O house of Israel and hast enjoyned that I should wash me and make me cleane put away the evill of my doings from before thine eyes promising moreover that though my sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they bee red like crimson they shall be as wooll I that am a wicked and miserable caitiffe a sinner before the Lord exceedingly even as the men of Sodome that have done abominable workes and denied the God that is above wilfully sinning after I had received the knowledge of the truth and treading under foote the Sonne of God counting the bloud of the covenant wherewith I was sanctified an unholy thing and having done deâ—piâ—e to the spirit of grace O Lord even out of the deepes doe I call unto thee for helpe yea out of the belly of hell doe I earnestly cry for thy mercie O cast not out my prayer Though mine iniquities be more than the haires of my head my transgressions heavier than the sand yet is there forgivenesse with thee and although my sinnes have reached up to heaven yet thy mercie is above the heavens mine are at the most but the sinnes of a man but thine at the least are the mercies of an infinite God yea thou hast the relenting bowells of a most tender Father O spread the robe of thy Sonnes righteousnesse over me that so thou mayest not behold my nakednesse cloath me with the garments of his salvation say unto my soule Live cause breath to enter into my dry bones lay sinewes upon them and bring flesh upon them and cover them with skinne that I may know that thou art the Lord. And albeit I be dead in trespasses and sinnes yet open my grave and cause me
and try my wayes to looke backe upon all the ungodly actions and aberrations of my fore-past life to view my sinne-deformed soule in the cleare glasse of thy undefiled â—aw that so I may judge and abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and bee still more vile in mine owne esteeme make me to examine my selfe and so eate of that bread and drinke of that cup knowing that if I eate and drinke thereof unworthily I eate and drinke damnation to my selfe because I discerne not the Lords body Teach mee to try my selfe whether I be in the faith or no for without faith it is impossible to please thee in any service T is my faith in the death of my Saviour that is the hand and mouth by which I must apply him and make him mine in this Sacrament Assure me by these broad seales annexed to the covenant of grace and letters patents of thy holy word that thou wilt make good what thou hast promised that as thou hast called Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters so thou wilt refresh this my gasping and thirsting soule as thou callest all that be weary and heavie laden to come unto thee so thou wilt in no wise send mee empty away that cast my selfe into the bleeding armes of my dying Saviour Perswade my unbeleeving and doubting heart that as thy Minister taketh and blesseth and breaketh and poureth out and giveth and saith Take and eate the bread take and drinke the wine of the Sacrament so thou from everlasting hast separated consecrated and ordained Iesus Christ to be a Sacrifice for my sinnes hast poured out his blood to be a satisfaction to thy offended justice for my sinfull soule and that hereby I shall continue in communion with him my head and his mysticall body my fellow members Thy flesh O sweet Saviour is meate indeed and thy blood is drinke indeed O let me I beseeth thee find it so in my fainting soule that I may bee ravished with thy love that I may taste and see how gracious the Lord is and find thy free promises and pledges of thy grace to bee better than wine sweeter also than the honey and the honey combe Let thy holy spirit set to his privie seale on my heart inwardly by the secret and sweet refreshment of his blessed testimonie that I am my well beloveds and my well beloved is mine establishing my heart in thy love and knitting my soule unto thee for ever O draw me and I shall run after thee shew me the light of thy countenance and I shall bee saved And Lord make mee to love my brethren as thou hast loved me yea to love my very enemies for thy names sake reconciling my selfe to those whom I have offended following peace with all men and forgiving them their hundred pence as thou hast freely forgiven me my ten thousand talents Vouchsafe me this aud all other graces which may fit mee for thy service in thy kingdome of grace and prepare mee for the enjoyment of everlasting glory through my Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Amen After the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper O Lord what shall I render unto thee for all the benefits which thou hast bestowed upon mee and daily ladest mee withall a most unworthy sinner how shall I bee sufficiently thankefull unto thee for them when they bee more than I can reckon up unto thee more then my heart is able to conceive or comprehend Should I offer up unto thee thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oyle they all would come farre short of thy most free eternall undeserved infinite love Lebanon it selfe is not sufficient for wood nor the beasts upon a thousand hils for a burnt offering What shall I then doe unto thee O thou Preserver of men or what recompence shall I make thee I will even take the cup of salvation and give thankes to thy name O Lord. I will offer up my soule and body for a holy living and acceptable sacrifice unto thee this will please thee better than bullocke that hath hornes and hoofes Thou O Lord in the beginning didst make mee to bee when I was not before and when I had lost my selfe and forfeited my being and life and happinesse didst in Christ restore mee to a more blessed estate than at my Primitive integrity Thou thy selfe art become my Father thy sonne my Saviour thy holy Spirit my Sanctifier thy word my Instructor thy Sacraments the food to refresh satisfie and feed my poore hungry soule to everlasting life This day thou hast called me to thy holy Mountaine and made me joyfull in thy house of prayer this day hast thou invited me to sit downe at thy table and made unto mee a feast of fat things full of marrow a feast of wines on the lees well refined thou hast abundantly satisfied me with the fâ—â—nesse of thy house and hast made mee to drinke of the river of thy pleasures Blessed bee thy glorious name for ever and ever which is above all thankesgiving and prayse of mine O that I could bee indeed thankefull unto thee as thou art gracious unto me If I should open my mouth never so wide thou wouldest fill it thy favours to my poore soule are more than all tongues of men and Angels can worthily magnifie And now O Lord accept I beseech thee the free will-offering of thy servant that desires to feare thy name and to make a covenant with thee never to bee broken that my soule shall cleave close unto thee and avouch thee this day to bee my God and Saviour for ever more Here I doe resigne myselfe soule and body all that is in me and all that belongs unto me to bee wholly thine and that I will never wickedly depart from thee my God as I have done O that my wayes were so directed that I might keepe thy commandements alway Never let mee with the disgorged dog returne any more to my former vomit nor with the washed sow to wallow in the mire but as I have now washed my feete so suffer mee no more againe to defile them as I have put off the filthy rags of my old conversation so I may never againe put them on but become a new creature That seeing the expiation of my sins cost my Saviour so deare as the shedding of his precious blood and that thy wrath lay so heavie upon him who was our suretie onely being innocent in himselfe I may hence conceive how heinous a thing sinne is how abhorred by thee and so hate it in my selfe with a perfect hatred and resist it even to blood and not crucifie againe hereby the Lord of life and glory O make mee thankefully to remember that bitter passion of his and thy love O Father unto mee in that thou hast accepted mee to life in him and hast brought salvation this day home to my house to my heart Lord enter in abide with and dwell in my soule for ever Take not
Vngodly whose spirit is not stedfast with our God therefore Scripture Dan. 9. 14. hath the Lord watched upon the evill and brought it upon Scripture Psal 106. 29. us therefore the Head Plague Plague breakes in upon us thou Scripture Isai 14. 23. sweepest us away with the beesome Scripture Deut. 28. 21. of destruction the noysome Pestilence cleaveth unto us and we dye of grievous Scripture Ier. 16. 4. Scripture Deut. 32. 23. deaths thus thou heapest mischeifes upon us and spendest thine arrowes upon us for surely destruction Scripture Iob. 31. 4. is to the wicked and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie O that we would Scripture 1 Kin. 8. 28 know every mā the plague of his owne Head Sinne. heart then the Scripture 1 Chr. 21. 12. sword of the Lord even the Pestilence Head Pestilence which thou bringest Scripture Lev. 26. 25. upon us to avenge the quarrell of thy covenant should no more goe Scripture 6. through our land to cut off from us Scripture Ier. 44. 7. man and woman Head Slay child and suckling thou wouldst then Scripture Mic. 6. 13. no longer make us Head Afflict sicke in smiting us thou wouldst then Scripture Isai 57. 18. heale us and leade us also and restore comforts untous and to our mourners Head Comfort O Lord though our Scripture Ier. 14. 7. iniquities testifie against us doe thou it for thy names sake for our backe-slidings are many wee have sinned against thee Amen Wouldst thou pray against Hypocrisie and for Sinceritie turne to those Heads Hypocrite Sincere c. SO for any other request resolve it briefely into a Proposition as thus Lord blesse unto mee thy Holy Word Here looke but compellations and titles of God 2 Blesse Sanctifie Prosper c. the ministry of thy Gospell Scriptures c So Lord grant me Pardon of my Sins Looke Grant Pardon Sinne c there thou shalt find words and matter Good Lord preserve me this day or night c See God Protect Day Night prosper my labours Blesse Success Labour Paines And thus even any meane Christian of ordinary parts and invention may be able soone to spinne and draw out from many of those Heads which Hee occasionally shall have neede to use much heavenly matter and words sweet Metaphors Allegories c. delightfull and of good use in Prayer Conference Meditation Thanksgiving Writing c. and on any Subject whatsoever I have here ranked into severall heads some choyse phrases and passages of Scripture to which thou mayest adde many like and contrive them into prayers or meditations c as thy occasion shall require O Lord every man that is borne of a woman is of few dayes and full of trouble thou hast caught us that wee must take up our crosse daily many are the troubles of the righteous wee have the Prophets an ensample of suffering adversity the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren which are in the world there hath nothing befalne us but what is common to man O Lord all my desires are before thee my groaning is not hid from thee thou doest not willingly afflict nor punish the children of men yea in all our affliction thou art afflicted should we then refuse thy chaftning dost thou not offer thy selfe to us as to sonnes what sonne is there whom the father chasteneth not As our afflictions abound shall not our consolation much more abound Light is sowne for the righteous heavinesse may endure in the night but joy commeth in the morning in thy favour is life thou wilt not cast off for ever though for a small moment thou mayest seeme to forsake us yet with great mercie thou wilt gather us in a little wrath thou maist hide thy face thou wilt lay no more upon us than wee are able to beare but wilt give an issue out of every temptation thou wilt correct us in measure and doest waite that thou may est be gracious we may be troubled on every side but not distressed perplexed yet not in dispaire Doe not all things worke together for the best to them that feare God Make these like fire to purge out our drosse and tinne thou dost now refine us in the furnesse of affliction this is the fruit of our trouble the taking away of our sinne should wee not then count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations knowing that the triall of our faith is much more precious than that of gold therefore let us in nothing bee carefull but in all things make our requests known to God Give thou us helpe against trouble for vaine is the helpe of man See Afflict Deliver Sinne. c. in the Scripture-phrases Aged O Lord the almond tree now begins to flourish grey-heires are here and there upon me they begin to be darke that looke out at the windowes thou hast filled mee with wrinkles O leave me not in the time of old age forsake mee not when my strength fayleth me Even to my old age doe thou preserve mee and even to hoarie haires doe thou carry me let mee bring forth more fruit in my age that it may bee a crowne of glory to me I walking before thee in the way of righteousnesse And seeing all these are monitours from thee to tell mee of my approaching end and that the time drawes neere in which I must die grant that as my outward man decayes so my inward man may bee renewed daily Amen Against Anger O Lord thou hast taught me in thy holy word that He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty man and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a Citie Among all those fleshly lusts that warre in my members and too often alas leade mee captive unto Sinne there is hardly one that more tyrannizeth over my poore soule than this of hastinesse of spirit and pronenesse to be rashly and unadvisedly angry this is that reigning lust that eates out the heart of all grace that maketh me that I cannot doe that good to the soules and bodies of my Christian brethren as my place and calling binde mee neither doe I receive that good from others as I might by their wholesome counsell and admonitions towards me yea Lord I cannot lift up pure hands without wrath unto thee but my prayers are quelled quenched and interrupted hereby O Lord helpe me I beseech thee against this masterfull Sin suffer me not to bee hasty in my spirit to bee angry because anger resteth in the bosome of fooles and if I be sometimes provoked to speake unadvisedly with my lips or to doe things that are not comely yet never let me suffer the Sunne to goe downe upon my wrath or so farre to give place to the Devill that my countenance should fall as Cains that it should not be towards my brethren as before that I cannot speake peaceably unto them Let me take thy Saints to bee an ensample unto me
HOLY INCENSE FOR THE CENSERS of the SAINTS OR A method of Prayer with matter and formes in selected Sentences of sacred Scripture ALSO A PRAXIS upon the HOLY OYLE shewing the VSE of SCRIPTURE-PHRASES And Choyse Places taken out of the singing PSALMES digested into a Method of Prayer and Praises Pray alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints Ephes 6. 18. LONDON Printed for Robert Milbourne at the signe of the Greyhound in Pauls Church-yard 1634. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Sir EDVVARD AYSCOVGH Knight and to his religious and noble Lady the best blessings of this and the blessednesse of a better life through IESVS CHRIST Right Worshipfull IT was the Farewell-clause of HER Letter who is the Honour of this Country the Praise of her owne Sexe and the Glory of your Noble family Mistresse ANNE AYSCOVGH Martyr Pray Pray Pray and in another Letter written to IOHN LACELS Sacrificed with her in the same fire for the Word of God and for the Testimonie which they held Farewell Pray This hath beene the practice of all the Saints Bishop Latimer is famous to Posteritie for his three Grand-petitions which God most graciously granted Master Luther not lesse powerfull with God by Praying than prevailing with Men by his Preaching daily breathed his soule herein like Iacob wrastling with God and not letting him goe without a Blessing and thus the Captaine of our salvation our blessed Saviour continued all night in Prayer to God and in the dayes of his flesh offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and teares unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard as the Apostle tells us Heb 5. 7. PRAYER doubtlesse is the very element in which the Soule liveth the very aliment by which it subsisteth Saint Paul as soone as converted Behold hee Prayeth O Lord by these men live As well may a fish live out of Water or a bird without Ayre as the Christian without Prayer 'T is the vitall breath of Faith stop it and take away Spirituall life And though at sometimes hee breathes short and hardly and insensibly in his deliquium animae fits of Spirituall desertion and temptation yet his life is still in him as in Epilepticks the man possessed with the dum be Spirit Mark 9. 26. who was as one dead yet when Christ takes him by the hand he ariseth Sinne prevailing may tongue-tie him a while that hee chatters not with Hezekiah yet when his lips move not nor his voyce is heard his desires will beate strongly upward his heart works and pants and grones and sighes and breathes and breakes in its longing and looking towards Heaven O thinks hee that my sinnes such and such were Pardoned ô that I had more grace to serve my God! O that I could master such and such a prevailing Lust O that I could more abound in fruits of righteousnesse in my conversation thus his heart is fired alway thus fixed And who can marvell that the children of God are so much herein seeing all the blessings of this and the hopes of a better life are assured and conveyed unto them hereby yea and that the whole service and worship of God is in Scripture stiled a calling upon the name of the Lord the Church a house of Prayer and God himselfe a God that heareth Prayers O thou that hearest Prayer unto thee shall all flesh come Psal 65. 2. Vpon this sacred subject is the ensuing treatise which though but now presented to you Right Worshipfull long since was intended in that mournefull and praying time when Gods chastening was upon the City of my habitation the space of almost two whole yeares together Your noble house was then the Zoar whither I was invited whereto I fled where I was above my deserts freely entertained Those and many other your favours before and since challenge my Prayers and best services Accept of this I intreate you as a testimonie of my thankefull observance towards you yet not as mine but as it hath received spirit and life from the word of life 'T is Holy Incense for the Censers of the Saints dropping from the Tree of Life smelling sweetely in the coales of the Altar hearts enkindled with true devotion flaming and blazing upward Prayer will make the face to shine as Moses talking with God in the Mount The more time we spend herein the more heavenly is our life on earth Godlinesse hath the promises 't will make your names to live and flourish when other Magnifico's whose portion is in the huskey profits frothie pleasures windie honours c emptie shadowes of this life shall bee written in the * earth and rot And though now it bee undervalued and the price beaten downe as a merchandize not worth the owning much lesse of buying at any low rate yet it will quite for cost and be of high esteeme in another world a pearl of price that good part and that one thing necessary You are happy Right Worshipfull above many in that God hath given you a mind to know him a heart to love him Presse on still toward the marke study which way to honour God most and to live to him this will bring you peace at the last 'T is not a forme of godlinesse which even the civill gentry affect hereby gilding over their baser courses rotten practises but the power of it in a sanctified life which before God is much set by Goe on in that good way you have begun count all things but dung that yee may winne Christ and bee found in him Take up the crosse which lies in the waies of God Deny your selves This doe and you shall cause the blessing to rest on your house and posteritie after you and those Olive plants about your table shall become trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord for so long as you hold you fast by him you shall you cannot but prosper and grow as the Lilie as the Olive-tree as the Vine and spread out your branches as the Cedars in Lebanon Thus praying to God for a blessing on these my prayers and on you both I commend my selfe and them to you you and yours to God and to the word of his grace ◠which is able to build you up further and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus In whom he resteth that is Lincolne May 6. 1634. Your Worships in all Christian services to be commanded IOHN CLARKE TO THE READER TO gratifie the expectation of friends and to satisfie some to whom I have long beene much obliged rather than for any conceited worth of any thing that is mine in these formes and method of Prayer are they thus now presented to thy view Christian Reader There be many blessed be God in manifold respects farre beyond these of mine Excellent moulds
and formes of prayer That which I here undertake is but to gather into heapes and heads some graines of sweet gummes myrrh aloes cassia and frankincense more precious than all the perfumes and pouders of the Merchant out of the Spouses garden of spices which thou maist scatter on the burning coals of thy zâ—alous Devotions If any even the meanest that calleth God Father can make use hereof in framing his petitions to bee put up and presented to the high Court of Heaven I have my ends and desires how ever they shall be taken or take others I prescribe no man a way the spirit of God is not limited by me Private prayers may bee framed as the holy spirit gives us utterance and it is a vaine thing when the heart is full and boyles upward to quench and restraine its free operations No poure out thy heart in prayer as thou feelest enlargement Publike prayers would bee more composed and set to that exact and heavenly platforme and prayer of our Saviour that others who pray with us may perceive the orderly passing from one part to another and so bee helped edified and affected thereby For the Common-prayers in our Church Liturgie it were to be wished that in great and noble families which are more than a modell of a little Church they would use the Common-prayer-booke there they may have most excellent prayers for almost-any occasion incident and imaginable such as both Martyrs and all other peaceable and sober-minded Christians have ever honoured extolled vindicated and practised Pitie it is to see some out of I know not what humour to cavill carpe at and cry downe not onely formes of private Devotion such as these but that which all antiquitie hath so much magnified and hath under so gracious and pious Princes a by publike authority so long beene established in the Church Certes Publike Prayers of the people of God in Churches throughly setled did never use to be voluntary Dictates proceeding from any mans private spirit gift or extemporall wit God himselfe framed to his Priests the very speech wherewith they were charged to blesse the people And our Lord even of purpose to prevent this fancie of extemporall and voluntary Prayers hath left us of his owne framing one which might both remaine as a part of the Church-Liturgie and serve as a paterne whereby to frame all other Prayers with efficacie yet without superfluitie of words Prayers doubtlesse are accepted of God otherwise than being coÌ„ceived alwayes anew according to the exigent of present occasions being not actions which ought to waste away themselves in the making they may bee resumed and used againe as Prayers and yet no instruments of superstition Moses hath left a prayer for that admirable victorie given them against Pharaoh cast into a Poeticall mould which grew afterward to be a part of the ordinary Iewish Liturgie c. The Lord grant unitie and concord to all that call upon his name that they may agree in the truth of his holy Word and live in Godly love one with another that all unhappy differences in opinion may bee composed and those swellings and great thoughts of heart layed downe That wee may all mind one thing to serve our God out of a pure heart without evill surmisings or making things worse by jealous and suspicious censurings which exasperate rather than heale our breach Let us pray and labour hereunto The prayers of the Christian Souldiers brought raine to the fainting armies of the heathen Emperours Elias a man subject to passions as others bee by Prayer shut opened heaven Est quaedam precum omnipotentia one calls it the wonder-working power of Prayer able to beate backe the very Ord'nance of Hell a spirituall Engine able to batter downe all the Bull warks of the Devill the most precious and almost if not altogether omnipotent Grace and great Master of miracles wrought both in heaven and earth Beleeve it if then wert in a state more dangerous than Death in a place worse than Hell yet if thou couldst but thence pray truly thou shouldst find comfort Out of the belly of hell cried I Iona. 2. Hereby thou mayst have accesse to God on all occasions for Prayer beares about the privie Keyes of heaven yea forceth entrance when all is locked Be in love with this so heavenly a grace f and that time breath and spirits which others spend in prating of and censuring the actions of superiours doe thou in praying to God for thy selfe for the Church for our gracious King and all in authority under him that wee may still lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie which is the Prayer of thy fellow servant in Christ Iesus Promises made to Prayer EXceeding great and precious Promises are made by God to his Elect and yet how often doth the poore soule lag and droope for not Knowing or not Vsing them as need requires living like some Misers besides their hopes besides their meanes They deserve to want who lack supply for want of fetching 'T is not the having of wealth meate or cloathing but the Vsing applying digesting and putting on that does us good Spirits and life may bee in the heart and blood may bee in the liver yet unlesse these flow kindly to every part the body is not healthfull beautifull or vigorous The Promises therefore should be often chewed sucked and meditared on God must be humbly and holily remembred of them not as if he were not faithfull and just but because we are distrustfull he cannot lye and though we be weak in Faith our unbeliefe cannot make his promise of none effect He will not falsifie his covenant nor alter the thing that is gone out of his lips hath he said and shall he not doe it hath he spoken and will hee not bring it to passe Now as wee would receive of his fulnesse so the promises must enlarge our hearts Promises made to Prayer in Generall Before they call I vvill answer and whilst they are yet speaking I will heare Aske and it shall be given seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall be opened unto you And yee shall bee unto mee a kingdome of Priests In every place incense shall be offered in my name and a pure offering Wee know not what to pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groning which cannot be uttered Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine eare to heare Whatsoever things ye desire when ye pray beleeve that ye receive them ye shal have them Secondly the Parts of Prayer 1. Confession of Sinne. Hee that covereth his sinnes shall not prosper but who so Confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercie If we Confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sinnes and to cleanse us from
acted with a high hand against Knowledge and the cries of a convinced conscience which makes sinne rebellion to know God yet not to glorifie him as God not in the dayes of our ignorance onely but since the light of the glorious Gospell hath shone into our hearts 3 Without any or with small temptation resolving to sinne selling themselves with Ahab even in cold bloud to doe wickedly Heb. 10. 26. as in sinnes in which there is neither pleasure or profit c. As to sweare prophane the Sabbath refuse preaching praying scorning Gods wayes 4 Against frequent purposes faire promises of more holy obedience reiterated vowes and covenants generall in Baptisme Lords Supper particular on such and such an occasion 5 Against meanes 1 Blessings coards of love 2 Corrections thou hast striken us but wee have not sorrowed Ier. 5. 3. 3 Word early and late all the day long 2 Actuall sinnes against the Gospell 1 Not thirsting after Christ Iesus nor prizing nor loving and cleaving unto him with our dearest affection 2 denying him in our lives 2 Not repenting us of our sinnes though God in mercie vouchsafe space and means but hiding excusing not mourning for nor forsaking sinne 3 Not believing the promises of salvation nor relying upon Iesus Christ for justification sanctification and salvation c. not stirring up our selves to take hold of him but forsaking our owne mercies 4 Sâ—â—ning against the holâ— Ghost by tempting grieving or quenching the holy spirit of God receiving the grace of God in vaine turning it into wantonnes growing cold in religion losing our first love Thus bringing our iniquities to remembrance 1 wee must acknowledge and bewayle them not onely generally but individually also one by one fetching and ferreting them out as so many Achans by the poll especially those which are naturalized and habituated in us our beloved and darling sinnes our dearest Dalilahs And that from a 1 Trobled broken bleeding melting spirit beleeving heart clasping the promises Ezr. 10. 2. yet now there is hope in Israel c. 2 Honest heart wishing the confusion as wel as making the confessioÌ„ of sin meaning to leave every wicked way and with purpose of heart cleaving to the Lord 2 Confession of the evill of punishment acknowledging our selves in regard of these our so many and grievous sinnes not onely to bee lesse than the least of all Gods mercies but most justly worthy of his most dreadfull plagues lyable and obnoxious to all evills of punishment in Iudgements Corporall Spirituall Temporall Eternall vid. Ezr. 9. Dan 9. Thus of the first part of Prayer viz. CONFESSION The Second followes which is PETITION PEtition is either for Our selves Others 1 Our selves and is called Supplication consisting of two branches viz. Apprecation Deprecation 1 Apprecation or collation of good which also consists in desiring 1 Supply of all wants Spirituall Corporall 2 Continuance and encrease of all blessings both Eternall Spirituall Corporall 1 Apprecation for bestowing of all good blessings viz. 1 Supplying all our wants of things 1 Spirituall viz. Grace Encrease of Grace Meanes of Grace 1 For the grace of free Pardon for our sinnes that God for his mercies promise Christs sake even the abundant merits of our Lord Iesus his bloudy passion who hath satisfyed for them to the utmost farthing by pouring out his soule for an oblation for the sinnes of the whole world would be pleased freely to forgive and blot them out of his booke never laying them to our charge beforemen to shame us in this world or to our everlasting confusion before men and Angels in the world to come Of which that we may more fully bee assured wee pray for a lively and apprehensive Faith by which we may be inabled to lay hold on and apply the generall and free Promises of Salvation to our selves in particular that God would seale up the assurance hereof to our consciences by the gracious testimony of his holy spirit giving unto us the spirit of adoption whereby we may with comfort and confidence cry ABEA father that so being justifyed and freed from the guilt and punishment of all our sinnes wee may have peace of conscience being reconciled to him in his Sonne 2 Repentance unto life whereby our stony hearts may be softned broken w th godly sorrow our eyes run down w th rivers of teares for our falls and faylings heretofore and we quickned to new obedience to serve the living God in holinesse and righteousnesse all our remaining dayes 3 All other sanctifying graces accompanying furthering our everlasting happinesse 1. as saving knowledge that we may understand what the holy and acceptable will of the Lord is 2 Fervent love to God our brethren yea our very enemies for his sake that loved us when wee were enemies 3 Ardent zeale 4 Lively hope 5 Son-like feare of God 6 True humility and contrition of spirit 7 Sincerity and boldnesse in the profession of the truth Perseverance patience and strength under the crosse Contentation in all estates either of weale or woe want or abundance 2 Encrease and growth of all these graces that the bruised reed may not be broken nor the smoking Flaxe quenched but that our graces like the light may shine more and more to the perfect day and our works be more at last than at the first 3 The meanes of grace continued and sanctifyed unto us as 1 Gods Word preached at Church 2 Read in private that the holy Ghost blessing it from heaven may bring it close home unto and savingly worke it upon our hearts that thus the heavenly spirit breathing on his own ordinances they may quicken us and become effectuall to our salvation 2 Sacraments 3 Sabbaths 4 Prayer 5 Fasting c. 2 Supply of wants temporall our owne personall concernements and all outward blessings appertayning to this present life Health Liberty Friends Rayment Food giving and preserving to our use the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time wee may enjoy them preservation in our persons and estates Direction in all our courses thoughts words actions the blessing of God upon all our labours a right and sanctifyed use of all Gods blessings and chastisements 2 Deprecation of Evills personall nationall both of sinne and punishment either before or after it comes Before it comes aversion prevention After it comes ablation or removall 1 Wee pray against the evill of sinne that we may be 1 Delivered freed and acquitted of the guilt and danger of all our sinnes 2 Endued with watchfulnesse power and dominion over them all in our judgements to dislike them in affections to hate them in heart to bewaile them and in life to forsake them 1 From the guilt and danger that our sinne may not shame us before men and torture our consciences here in this life nor condemne us body and soule in the world to com that our doing evil
omitting good particular failings frailties distractions indisposednes to serve God our ignorance Atheism infidelitie hypocrisie inconstancie pride vaine-glory envy uncharitablenesse putting off our repentance forgetfulnesse distrustfulnesse unthankefulnesse dulnesse unchearfulnesse felfe-love strife wrath flattery idlenesse gluttony uncleannesse covetousnesse all inordinate desires and all the evill of our good workes c. may never bee imputed or layd to our charge As likewise the Nationall unthankfulnesse heresies schismes swearing oppression security which crye open mouth'd against us may not enter into the eares of the Lord of hosts Secondly That we may from on high be indued with power over those corruptions and lusts to which pleasure allures profit provokes sinfull custome most of all swayes us the plague of our own heart that the lusts of our flesh may be crucifyed and the whole body of sinne abolished and we leade our captivity captive 2 Victory over all the deceits of the whole world which lieth in wickednesse and all the temptations thereof that neither the persons nor things therein may become our suare 3 Over the Devill that arch-enemy of our salvation and his fiercest and eraftiest assaults that he may never finally prevaile over us that the God of peace would tread downe Satan under our feete and so make us more than conquerors through our Lord Iesus who hath loved us Secondly Deprecation of the evill of Punishment 1. All those dreadfull curses due to our sinnes that they may not be inflicted on us 2 Deliverance from all plagues which we now feele or hereafter may feare viz. 1 Iudgements nationall which the whole Land mournes under Plague of the pestilence famine warre sedition conspiracie 2 Afflictions personall that lie on our selves either in soule body or in estate troubles and terrours of conscience griefe of minde scandalls and offences imprisonment banishment sicknesse poverty disgrace losse of friends or any other afflictions of what kinde soever preservation from and in all dangers Death it selfe the king of terrours the day of judgement from Hell and chaines of darknesse from Gods wrath and everlasting damnation c. Secondly We petition for others which is Intercession and thus here wee pray for the Catholike Church of Iesus Christ militant every where on earth which is either 1 Uncalled yet belonging to the election of grace that they may be converted as 1. Iews our elder sister which was in the covenant before us 2 Pagans and Infidels that they may heare the glad tidings of salvation and that the Sunne of righteousnesse may arise on them with healing in his wings that they may enjoy Gods Word Sacraments Sabbaths that God would bring home them that goe astray instruct the ignorant and forgive them that rebelliously transgresse Heretickes yea the Enemies and Persecutours of the Church that they all may bee converted or if implacable confounded beseeching God to forgive our Enemies Persecutors and Slanderers and to turne their hearts 2 Already called that the Lord would purge it from Schisme and Heresie and appease all unhappy differences in the Church making all Christians keepe the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace and that he would warme and enliven the setling and cooled affections of these secure and earthly-minded times To watch over it for good whether in the transmarine parts and forraigne countries abroad or our owne nation at home herein especially our gracious soveraigne King Charles and his Highnes Dominions with all his sacred Stocke and Lineage the Queene young Prince Princesse Duke the Lady Elizabeth the Kings onely sister and her Progenie The Lords spirituall and temporall those of his Majesties most honourable Privie Councell the Nobility Majestraâ—ie Ministrie the two Universities the Gentry and Commonalty our Parents Kindred Friends Benefactours all such as we stand obliged unto by nature desert duty or any speciall relation Thirdly Afflicted in soule body or in estate being oppressed and persecuted under Popish tyranny or Mahumetan cruelty those that bee destitute of all comforts of this life that want foode rayment harbour liberty peace health that grone under poverty famine nakednesse c. that all the Israel of God may bee delivered from all their troubles 3. THANKSGIVING THe third and last Part of our Prayers is Thankesgiving that God would give us thankefull hearts for all his Blessings First Positive Secondly Privative in Temporall spirituall and eternall good things towards his whole Church 1 Triumphant for providing for it Heaven a place of rest and happinesse for the glorious Martyrs godly Bishops Preachers and Confessors that out of their ashes he hath wondrously raysed up beleevers 2 Militant for giving â—â—â—m 1 Christ to be their Saviour captaine and leader 2 Holy spirit to bee their comforter 3 God himself to be their father 4 His Gospell Sacraments c. Secondly For his blessings to our selves for that eternall unchangeable infinite everlasting undeserved love of his to us in our Election in and Redemption by Iesus Christ our vocation our Adoption Iustification Sanctification inchoate with assured hope of future Glorification That we were borne of Christian and beleeving Parents in a land of righteousnesse in a time of knowledge planted in religious families towns undergodly and painfull Ministers and gracious Governours that we enjoy Gods word and Sacraments in the power and purity of them for the many great and precious promises made to us therein Which are either performed already towards us or shall be hereafter in due time accomplished For all the Graces of the holy spirit for the gracious and free pardon of our many sinnes Faith Repentance some care of sincere obedience and tender hearts desiring to feare God for power against and prevailing over any sinne that we are not given over to Heresies and Errours in opinion nor to those base and fleshly Lusts that some others are in our lives nor to a hard heart reprobate minde benummed conscience and finall Apostasie for victory in any temptation over subtle Satan the alluring world and our own selfe-deceiving selves Secondly Temporall Blessings viz. of Creation Providence 1 Creation after Gods own image not being made a Beast Toad Foole c. 2 Gods providence Nationall Personall in those wonderfull Deliverances of the nation Preservation peace plenty towards us and fatherly care over us in our birth and infancie ever since we hung upon the â—rests in our childe-hood youth mans estate unto old age and gray haires for our health continued so long or restored of late for understanding judgement and discretion peace liberty prosperity food raiment same and good esteeme among Gods people for wealth friends Godly parents carefull â—utours masters and governours good education quietnesse of minde contentment c. Daily preservation manifold deliverances from imminent and apparent yea unseene and unfeared dangers For his fatherly chastisements and corrections for sanctifying to our everlasting good our afflictions
iniquity of our sinne Thou hast stricken us but we have not grieved thou hast consumed us but wee have refused to receive correction wee have made our faces harder than a rocke and have refused to returne We have received the grace of God in vaine and have neglected the great Salvation which thou tendrest unto us in Iesus Christ Wee have grieved the holy Spirit of God whereby wee are sealed to the day of redemption and have turned the grace of God into lasciviousnesse We have left our first love our soule thirsteth not for God for the living God We have even sinned wilfully since we received the knowledge of the truth so that we may justly feare there remayneth now no more sacrifice for our sinnes but a certaine fearefull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation For if he that despised Moses law died without mercy Of how much sorer punishment shall wee be thought worthy who have troden under foote the Sonne of God and have counted the blood of the covenant wherewith we were sanctified an unholy thing and have done despite to the Spirit of Grace Many scarlet and crimsin sins have wee committed whereby great occasion hath beene given by us to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme Yea we overpasse the deeds of the wicked Wherefore I abhorre my selfe and repent in dust and ashes For innumerable evils have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to looke up they are moe then the haires of my head therefore my heart faileth me For thou art the God of my strength why dost thou cast me off why goe I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy Thou hast set our iniquitles before thee our secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance When yee come to appeare before me who hath required this at your hand to tread my courts For Ierusalem is ruined and Iudah is fâ—llen because their tongues and their doings are against the Lord to provoke the eyes of his glory Woe unto them that draw injquity with cords of vanity and sinne as it were with a Cart rope But your injquities have separated between you and your God and your sinnes have hid his face from you that hee will nor heare As a Fountaine casteth out her waters so shee casteth out her wickednesse violence and spoyle is heard in her before mee continually is griefe and wounds Yet I had planted thee a noble vine wholly a right seed How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me For though thou wash thee with niter and take thee much sope yet thine injquities is marked before mee saith the Lord God The sinne of Iudah is written with a pen of jron and with the point of a diamond it is graven upon the table of their heart and upon the hornes of your altars Behold I am pressed under you as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sinnes For wee know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall sold under sinne But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sinne which is in my members O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death 2. EVILL of punishment And for all these thou our God hast punished us lesse than our injquities deserve It is of the Lords mercies that wee are not consumed because his compassions faile not If thou shouldst lay judgement to the line and righteousnesse to the plummet thou mightest make thy anger and jealousie to smoke against us and all the curses that are written in thy booke thou mightest lay upon us and blot out our name from under heaven Thou mightest give us our portion with the wicked that are turned into hell and all the nations that forget God See the heads Plague Punish c. in the Seripture Phrases 2. PETITION for FORGIVENES But with thee Lord is mercy and with thee is plenteous redemption O therefore pardon our injquities and our sinne and take us for thine inheritance Put away our transgressions as a cloud and our sinnes as a mist O Lord though our injquities testifie against us doe thou it for thy names sake for our back-slidings are many we have sinned against thee O that I might have my request and that God would grant mee the thing that I long for even that it would please him to cover mine injquity and cause my sinne to be blotted out from before him Remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my transgressions according to thy mercie remember thou mee for thy goodnesse sake O Lord. For thy names sake O Lord pardon mine injquity for it is great O remember not against us former iniquities let thy mercies speedily prevent us Take away our injquitie and receive us graciously so will we render the calues of our lips Turne againe and have compassion upon us subdue our injquities and cast all our sinnes into the depthes of the Sea Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world To this end was hee borne and for this cause came hee into the world that hee might save sinners of whom wee are the chiefe Hee was wounded for our transgressions hee was bruised for our injquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes are we healed For his sake and in his blood wash me throughly from mine injquities and cleanse me from my sinne Purge me with Hysope and I shall be cleane wash mee and I shall bee whiter than snow Hide thy face from my sinnes and blot out all mine injquities I have sinned greatly in that I have done and now I beseech thee O Lord take away the injquitie of thy servant for I have done very foolishly Looke thou upon me and bee mercifull unto me as thou usest to doe unto those that love thy name Though your sinnes bee as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like câ—imson they shall be as wooll Behold thou art the Lord the God of all flesh there is nothing too hard for the. For FAITH O we are of little faith therefore O Lord encrease our faith though it be yet but as a graine of mustard seed that being justified by faith wee may have peace with thee Worke in us not a dead faith but that which may bee rich in good workes following after peace with all men and holinesse without which none shall see God Create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of