and have our being The morning is a fit time wherein to worship and praise God by whom we have been preserv'd and refreshed the night foregoing as also for desiring the guidance and protection of his Grace and Providence and his Blessings both on our selves and our undertakings the day following St. Cyprian doth exhort Christians to pray in the morning that the resurrection of Christ which was at that time may be then celebrated by them l Cypr. de erat Dom. The evening is a time no less convenient wherein to return our Adoration and Thanksgiving for the mercies of the day past to humble our selves for the Sins therein committed as likewise wherein to beg a comfortable sleep and security from all the perils of darkness in the night ensuing And the same holy Martyr doth recommend evening Prayer that so the Sun and Light of this World being withdrawn from us we may then desire the Spiritual Light and the coming of Christ whom he calls the true Sun m Ibid. We may also add that at these periods of our time we are most at liberty from worldly business and therefore the better dispos'd for Religious Duty For in the morning we are not as yet engag'd in the employments of the day and when even is come they are commonly over and laid aside So that our Devotion as thus timed is like to be performed in a manner more pleasing to God and without hindrance to us in respect of ordinary affairs And that we may be persuaded to the daily practice of this so great and necessary Duty we now proceed to alledge some Arguments which if duly considered will not fail of success I. We are oblig'd to it by God's command who hath always required that men should in this way of humble address honour him and seek his goodness It was impos'd on the Jews when they were bid To worship the Lord n Deut. 26. 10. and to serve him o Deut. 6. 13. 10. 20. and that Prayer was hereby enjoyn'd we have the authority of a great Jewish Doctor It is an affirmative Precept saith Maimonides that men pray to God every day for it is said Ye shall serve the Lord your God p Apud Lud. Cappel in c. 3. Act. Apost Likewise God calls for the same from all people Look unto me and be ye saved all ye ends of the earth Isa 45. 22. And the punishment of their neglect herein is expressed by Jeremiah Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the Families that call not upon thy name Jer. 10. 25. But in the Gospel Prayer is more often and earnestly commanded Our Saviour enjoyn'd his Disciples to watch and pray q Mar. 13. 33. to watch and pray always r Luke 21. 36. He teacheth them that men ought always to pray and not to faint Å¿ Luke 18. 1. And for our direction and assistance in it he hath pleas'd to prescribe us a form compos'd by himself In the Apostolical Writings the same duty is very much urg'd We are exhorted to betake our selves to God in Prayer on all occasions In every thing by prayer and supplication let your Requests bee made known unto God Phil. 4. 6. To call upon him in every place wherever we happen to be I will therefore that men pray every where 1. Tim. 2. 8. To be constant and unwearied in the same for we must continue in Prayer t Col. 4. 2. and pray without ceasing u 1 Thes 5. 17. We must pray always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watch thereunto with all perseverance w Eph. 6. 18. Now Almighty God having thus clearly and so often declared his Royal will and command there is no room for debate whether we are to conform to it or no His just authority over us is so great that we cannot but own our selves oblig'd to obey in cases most difficult and troublesom And how then can we be excus'd should we refuse to do it where the duty requir'd is both easie in it self and also that on which our own interest doth very much depend For II. 'T is no small enforcement of this Divine Command that Prayer is also declared in Scripture as a condition on our part by which we become capable of receiving those good things whereof we stand in need Though God be infinitely good in himself and delights in being so to others yet we cannot think he will force his Blessings on such as care not to beg them at his hands No we often read it is quite otherwise for when God giveth good things 't is to them that ask him x Mat. 7. 11. To such only our Saviour hath given assurance that they shall receive y Luke 11. 10. John 16. 24. And he himself would not engage to effect any kindness for his Disciples by his own intercession unless they should also petition for it If saith he ye shall ask any thing in my name I will do it z John 14. 14. When God is said to be nigh unto his people 't is but In all things that they call upon him for a Deut. 4. 7. and if they seek him then he will be found b 2 Chron. 15. 2. Nor shall they find him neither unless they seek him with all their heart c Deut. 4. 29. Jer. 29. 13. If he promise to deliver in the time of trouble he requires to be first call'd upon d Psal 50. 15. If he deliver the Righteous 't is after they cry unto him e Psal 34. 17. That God doth suspend his giving forth his mercies to men on their Prayers for them is clearly express'd in that of St. James where he assigns their not praying for a cause or reason of their not receiving Ye have not because ye ask not f Jam. 4. 2. And this holy Duty is so indispensable in order to our obtaining the favours of Heaven that though God pass his word and make an express promise of bestowing any particular Mercies yet there is no actual performance until he be sought unto for the same Of this we find an instance in the Prophet by whom God had in absolute terms declared of many and good things he purposed to do for his people Israel and had confirm'd their belief thereof with this I the Lord have spoken it I will do it However after all it is subjoyn'd I will yet for this be enquir'd of by the house of Israel g Ezech. 36. 37. So that plainly Prayer is still one condition on which the promises of God are made and his beneficence to be expected by us If we fail in it there is little reason to hope he will bestow his benefits or send us any relief in our time of need III. The duty doth appear highly reasonable and expedient from the consideration of God who is the object of our Prayer as that he is infinitely
remain safe without the supplications of good men he gave charge to those of his Clergy that they should intercede for him in their devotions p Euseb de vit Const lib. 4. cap. 14. likewise that his military forces might be still victorious he injoyn'd his Souldiers to be exercis'd in Prayer and prescrib'd a suitable Form wherein they were thus to invoke the Giver of all Victory We acknowledge thee the only God we confess thee to be the King we call upon thee as our helper by thee we have obtained Victories and have overcome our enemies we do acknowledge that from thee we have our present happiness and from thee we hope for that which is future we are therefore thy supplyants and do beg of thee that thou wouldest long preserve Constantine our Emperour in health and victory together with his religious off-spring q Ibid. cap. 20. 'T is related of the Athenians that having been worsted by the Lacedemonians in several Battles and much wondring at their repeated Misfortune especially for that they knew they exceeded all the other Grecians in the Veneration of their Temples and Images in the number of their Sacrifices and the many Pompous Solemnities of their Religion whereas the Lacedemonians did appear more sparing in the Sacrifices and in all the Ceremonies of their Worship they did therefore resolve to send and consult Jupiter Ammon what the cause might be and to their enquiry receiv'd this answer from the Oracle that the Prayers of the Lacedemonians were more pleasing to the Gods than the sacred Rites of all Greece beside r Plat. Alceb 2. Which doth serve to let us know that those of the Gentile Religion would have it believ'd that devout Prayer was of much greater success in procuring the favours of Heaven then any other part of Worship and surely to any that doth consult our own Oracles of holy Scripture it doth well appear that the People of God have affected far more and greater things by their Prayers then ever by Sacrifices or Oblations how many and sumptuous soever 5. Although of our selves we know not how to pray as we ought nor are we able to serve God in any acceptable manner yet we have this encouragement that he who requires the duty is ready to enable us for it for according to his ancient promise he doth pour out his spirit of prayer and supplication ſ Zech. 12. 10. to dispose the minds of his servants for praying to him as he will approve and accept and by him we have access unto the Father t Eph. 2. 18. This holy Spirit as he doth by his preventing influence excite men to pray begetting in them pious thoughts and devout affections so he doth also direct and assist them as to the matter of their Petitions For herein is the great difficulty of Prayer that men are so apt to err in the things they pray for as when their requests are in themselves displeasing to God such was the uncharitable one of James and John when they would have fire from Heaven to consume the Samaritans u Luc. 9. 54. and that other of so great ambition presented by the Mother of Zebedee's Children for her two Sons that one of them might sit on the right hand the other on the left of Christ in his Kingdom w Mat. 20 21. or when the things ask'd though they seem desireable yet are such as would prove really hurtful if granted as if a man should wish for such a Promotion or so great an Estate not thinking what mischief they may occasion to him this the Satyrist could understand Nos animi impulsu caecâque cupi dine ducti conjugium petimus partumque Vxoris at illis notum qui pueri qualisque futura sit Vxor A man in the heat of blind love prayes that he may obtain such a Woman to be his Wife but God only knows what a shrew she will be or else he begs to have Children but knows not how untoward they will prove We may also err while deprecating evils which yet have a tendency to our greater good as did St. Paul who be sought the Lord thrice that the Messenger of Satan by which he was buffetted might depart from him but was not granted because it was for preserving his humility after the abundance of Revelation y 2 Cor. 12. 7 8 9. That we pray aright 't is requisite that our Petitions be no other than what may have their due subordination to God's glory and our own Salvation to this there is need of great Holiness as well as Skill and it was the reason of that saying of St. Austine Verè novit rectè vivere qui rectè novit orare Whosoever knows how to pray as he ought doth know indeed how to live so z August in Psal 3. Now the Holy Ghost whereof all are partakers that really belong to Christ a Rom. 8. 9. doth guide the minds and affections of pious Christians and help them to avoid in great measure such errours in Prayer though very incident to the best of men of this the holy Apostle is very plain Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our Infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us b Rom. 8. 26. and in the next Verse He maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God his interceding according to the Will of God is in that he doth assist them in preferring such Petitions as are pleasing to him in this sense he is our Paraclete or Advocate and do plead our Cause within us while enabling us to do it as Christ is our Advocate without us by his Mediatory Intercession in Heaven And on this doth depend the good success of our Prayers for God cannot but be ready to grant such requests as himself hath suggested to us according to that of the Psalmist Thou wilt prepare their heart and cause thine ear to hear c Psal 10. 17. Praevenis eos ut petant quae tibi grata sunt precibus eorum aurem tuam facilem praebes so Vatablus doth explain the Text and hitherto doth belong that of St. John This is the confidence we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us d 1 Joh. 5. 14. Moreover this blessed Spirit is ready to assist us as to the manner of performance that it may be with humility faith fervency and that we beg not temporal good things with more earnestness than spiritual nor desire the benefits of Heaven for ill purposes as did those whom St. James doth thus rebuke Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lusts e Jam. 4. 3. Likewise 't is through the same Spirit that we come to God as our loving Father for he beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God f Rom. 8.
perfect and glorious the Creator of us and the whole World and Governour of all things both in Heaven and Earth our great Law-giver and most just Judge who will reward or punish according to our actions That he can save or destroy us make us miserable or happy h Jam. 4. 12. That he is the Author of all good and having all things at his dispose can do for us whatever we can need or desire I say considering the Almighty in all these several respects we cannot but be satisfied that he is to be honour'd and worship'd by us and doth highly deserve our service and adoration That we are greatly concern'd to humble our selves at his Footstool imploring his mercy to submit our persons to him and placing our whole trust in his power and goodness to beg at his hands a supply of all our wants IV. This holy performance will be thought very congruous and necessary on a due consideration of our selves for we are Beings entirely dependent on God we have been created by him and 't is by his power and providence that we daily subsist Whatever good things we enjoy whatever do administer to our life either as to the necessities or conveniencies thereof they are all his Creatures and by him provided for our use and benefit We are weak and frail exposed to dangers of all kinds in every place and every hour of our life nor have we foresight or power enough of our own to secure our selves Moreover we are guilty Sinners before God and so have forfeited his kindness and made our selves obnoxious to his wrath and severity There are in us corrupt inclinations to sin We are still encompassed with Temptations and the Devil is our malicious and subtile Adversary So that if left to our selves we cannot hope to be holy in this life nor happy in the next Now when we thus reflect 't is easie to understand how much we are oblig'd to honour and worship the Divine Majesty and to render to him our daily thanks and praise for all that we are or have how much it doth behove us to desire his constant care and protection recommending our selves to his watchful Providence We may quickly apprehend of what importance it is that with humiliation and hearty repentance we beg the pardon of our sins lest we fall under condemnation and eternal punishment and that we earnestly crave the assistance of Divine Grace whereby we may be able to overcome sin and all spiritual enemies and may be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation V. There is in Prayer it self enough to make it desirable and much valued by us 1. It is highly honourable for what greater honour then to be taken into an immediate attendance about the Almighty and to have converse with the supream Monarch of the world the great King of Kings and Lord of Lords in respect of whom the Potentates on Earth are of an account infinitely meaner then the vilest Begger if compar'd to them And what an high priviledge is it that poor mortals made up of Clay can be admitted to the Throne of this Glorious Majesty there to present their Petitions and to have his ear on all occasions Holy David was so apprehensive what an advancement it was to wait on God in his Worship that though he were a King he esteemed the meanest Office in the Temple well worth his ambition and would be content to be a Door keeper in Gods house i Psal 84. 10. rather then live in a state of distance and alienation from him The famous Constantine first Christian Emperour thought it much for his honour to be openly represented as in the posture of one at Prayer And therefore gave order that his own Effigies in the the Impresses of the publick Coyn should be so fashion'd As it was also over the Gates of his Palace in several places k Euseb Vit. Const lib. 4. c. 15. Certainly whosoever hath understanding enough to know God and himself and to compare the one with the other will see abundant reason for saying as the pious Father that he cannot but admire and wonder at the great love of God towards man for vouchsafing him so high an Honour as familiarly to speak unto himself by Prayers l Chrys de Orand Deum lib. 1. 2. It is a duty so material and comprehensive that it doth in a manner take in the Whole of our Religion our piety to God is largely contain'd in it since by Prayer we acknowledge and honour him as our Creator and Lord offering up our Souls and Bodies to his service We profess our subjection and rely upon him for all the good we desire We do hereby give particular honour to his Divine Attributes to his Omni-presence and infinite Knowledge in that we suppose him near at hand to take notice and hear our Petitions wheresoever we are to his Holiness and Justice by lamenting our sins and deprecating his deserved punishments To his Mercy and Goodness while we beg forgiveness and all the Blessings we stand in need of To his Power and Soveraignty in that we think him able to do for us in all the things we request of him and do commit our selves to his Care and Providence We ascribe to him the Glory of all the great and good things he hath done for us and all Mankind by our praise and thanksgiving Likewise we do herein perform our duty with respect to Christ as our blessed Redeemer in that renouncing all our own Righteousness we plead his alone merits for our pardon and acceptance and present all our supplications in his name and through his intercession There is moreover in Prayer an happy concurrence of our Christian Graces and a fruitful exercise of them Of Faith for whosoever cometh unto God believeth that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him m Heb. 11. 6. Rom. 10. 14. He is perswaded of his power and readiness to help and doth confide in the truth of his word and promises Of Repentance in our humble confession of sin our profess'd sorrow for what we have done amiss and our petition for Grace to amend our lives Of Hope for t is by it we are encourag'd to pray and have a comfortable expectation of receiving the good things we pray for and our charity shews it self while we pray for others as well as our selves and do profess to forgive men their trespasses against us as we desire God to forgive ours And it belongs to our holy obedience that we implore the divine assistance and Gods holy Spirit for enabling us tomortify sin and to lead a sober righteous and Godly life And because the substance of Religion is thus compriz'd in Prayer hence it is sometimes us'd to signify a mans duty to God in general as when it is said Whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved n Joel 2. 32. Act. 2. 21. Rom. 10. 13. and in
Refuge in the day of Trouble Vnto thee have I cry'd O Lord in the Morning shall my Prayer prevent thee The Lord is thy Keeper the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand The Sun shall not smile by day nor the Moon by night The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and for ever Blessed is the man whose Delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth Meditate day and night And he shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of Waters that bringeth forth his fruit in his Season his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doth shall prosper Lead me O Lord in thy righteousness because of mine Enemies make thy way straight before me O hold thou up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not O Almighty God who art infinitely great and glorious the Creatour and Governour of the whole World thou deservest to be feared and Worshipp'd we desire therefore with humble Reverence to Adore thy Divine Majesty presenting our Souls and Bodies as a Morning Sacrifice and earnestly imploring thy favour and blessing without which we cannot be in safety for one day or moment of our Life O lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon us which is much more desireable than that of the Sun and of greater value than all the Riches this World can afford We confess O Lord that we are guilty Sinners and so justly obnoxious to the frowns of thy displeasure and the severity of thy Justice In Sin we were conceived and brought forth in iniquity there are corrupt inclinations within us to Rebellion and Disobedience against thee and thy holy Commands and these have very much prevailed in the whole course of our Lives for from our Nativity to this present hour we have been still offending the pure Eyes of thy holiness by evil thoughts and inordinate desires by vain Words and irregular Actions We have neglected the Duties by thee enjoined and committed the sins which thou hast strictly forbidden But thou art a God gracious and merciful who delighteth not in the death of a sinner and thy Son is a Mediatour of Atonement and Reconciliation for all who come unto thee through him we do beseech thee therefore for his sake in whom thou art well pleased to pardon all our offences and justifie our persons and to receive us into thy love and favour as thine adopted Children That we may be capable of these great benefits be thou pleased to work in us an unfeigned repentance of all our sins past a lively Faith in the merits of thy Son and serious resolutions of leading a sober righteous and godly life let the power of thy Grace subdue and mortifie all corrupt lusts and the Principles of sin and do thou endue us with all the Vertues of Christian holiness that being sanctified throughout all the Faculties of our Souls and Members of our Bodies may become instruments of righteousness unto holiness in thy Service and for thy Honour Accept O Lord our humble thanks for all thy manifold Mercies both spiritual and temporal for thy care and protection of us the Night past that thou hast refreshed us with sleep and preserved us to the beginning of another day as thou dost lengthen out our life so continue to us thy loving kindness which is better than life it self let thy kind providence Watch over us this day to secure us from those many dangers and evil accidents to which we are always expos'd and grant us thy blessing and furtherance in our lawful Imployments But above all we beg the presence and assistance of thy special Grace to preserve us from sin and all the temptations to it that neither inbred corruption nor the snares of the World nor the suggestions of Satan may draw us aside from the way of righteousness but let a pious fear of thy great and holy name always possess our Souls And that we may be the more careful and circumspect in all our doings help us to bear in mind that we are still under thine all-seeing Eye to which all things are naked and open and that we must one day appear before thy just Tribunal to receive according to the things done in the Body whether good or evil let the consideration of the future punishments which thou hast threatned deter us from sin and the prospect of that glorious happiness which the Gospel doth promise encourage our obedience that having a fixed eye on the eternal recompence of reward we may despise the pleasures of sin which are but for a season O Lord bless thy Church purge it from all corruptions and cause thy Gosple to be known and embraced by all the Nations of the Earth more especially be favourable to thy Church and People of this Kingdome pardon our many and great provocations withold the Judgments we have deserved guide and protect our Soveraign Lord the King and prosper his Government that it may be happy both to himself and his Subjects Comfort and relieve all that labour under any affliction of body and mind give them patient submission to thy good pleasure and an happy deliverance out of all their troubles We implore thy special love and kindness to all who are our friends or more nearly related to us bless them in all their concernments both of body and soul make them good and prosperous here and eternally happy hereafter O Lord pardon the infirmities of this our devotion and grant thy favourable acceptance through the Merits and Intercession of thy blessed Son our alone Saviour Jesus Christ who hath taught us thus further to pray unto thee Our Father c. Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O Heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Comunion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us and remain with us this day thenceforth and for ever Another Psalm and Prayer for the Morning MY heart is fixed O God my heart is fix'd I will sing and give praise Awake up my glory awake Psaltery and Harp I my self will awake right early I will praise thee O Lord among the people I will sing unto thee among the Nations For thy Mercy is great unto the Heavens and thy truth unto the Clouds The Lord is good unto all and his tender Mercies are over all his Works He holdeth our soul in life and suffereth not our foot to be moved I will extol thee my God O my King I will bless thy name for ever and ever Every day will I bless thee and I will praise thy name for ever and ever The day is thine the night also is thine thou hast prepared the light and the Sun Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice O Lord thou art my God early will I seek thee There be many that say who will shew us any good Lord Lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon us And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us
and all other perfections and thy Works have been wonderful and gracious towards the Sons of Men. But what is Man that thou art mindful of him and what am I vile Creature that I should be admitted to thy Throne of Grace O Lord I am but Dust and Ashes and therefore unworthy thou shouldst have any regard unto me I am a polluted Sinner and therefore unfit for thy presence or any testimony of thy favour the frame and disposition of my heart is to sin and folly and the practice of my life have been always disobedient and provoking to this very day I desire therefore with shame and hearty repentance to humble my self begging thy merciful pardon of all my sins past through the Merits of Christ and the assistance of thy special Grace for the future whereby I may be enabled to lead a sober righteous and godly life Since I am thy Creature who hast made all things for thy self and thine own glory let it be my chief care to serve thee and whether I eat or drink or whatever I do to do all in thy fear and to the honour of thy great Name as I have been bought with a price even the precious blood of thy dear Son so grant I may glorifie thee both in my body and soul which are thine and whatever power or opportunities thou dost vouchsafe unto me help me to employ the same in doing good and discharging my Duty both toward thee and toward men that I may not be barren or unfruitful but always abounding in the Work of the Lord and for the greater usefulness and comfort of my life be thou pleas'd to continue to me my understanding and senses together with health and soundness of body and let my Members and Faculties be always instruments of righteousness unto holiness O stablish my heart by thy Grace that I may be constant in thy Faith and Fear in sincere obedience to thy holy commands and so after a patient continuance in well-doing may receive the promis'd reward of eternal life O Lord I do thankfully acknowledge the continual Mercies of thy good Providence by which I have been preserv'd and cherish'd hitherto I bless thee for the protection and refreshment of the night past and that thou hast prolonged my life to another day be thou pleas'd to guide and defend me throughout the same bless and prosper my endeavours in every lawful undertaking and suffer me not to fall into any danger or unhappy accident Above all do thou preserve me from sin and the temptations to it and let neither the World the Flesh nor the Devil draw me aside from thee into any wicked practice but grant that I may still walk on in the way of righteousness without turning from it into those sinful paths that lead down to the Chambers of death Bless thy people throughout the World and send thy comfort and deliverance to all who are in any distress or affliction of body or mind Preserve this Church and Kingdom to which I belong and make us happy in Truth Righteousness and Peace do good to all my friends and if I have any Enemies forgive them and turn their hearts O Lord pardon the defects of this my devotion accept my person and hear my Prayer through the Righteousness and Intercession of thy blessed Son my alone Saviour In whose own Words I further call upon thee Our Father c. Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Communion O blessed Spirit be with me this day and for evermore Amer. Another Prayer for the Morning CAuse me O Lord to hear thy loving kindness in the Morning for in thee do I trust Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my soul unto thee Order my steps in thy Word and let not any iniquity have dominion over me O Lord my God who art the Author of my being and the giver of all the good things which I have at any time receiv'd I do here offer up my bounden Duty of Worship and Praise and I do present my Soul and Body to be consecreated unto thee and thy Service despise not I pray thee the Work of thine own hands but though I am vile and unworthy by reason of Sin yet according to thy rich Mercy and for the worthiness of thy beloved Son be thou pleas'd to overlook whatever is amiss in me and to receive me graciously as one of thine adopted Children That I may be qualify'd for thy love and favour make me conformable to thy divine Image in righteousness and true holiness do thou govern my will and affections that I may chuse the good and refuse the evil that I may love what thou doest command and hate whatever thou hast forbidden O Lord who knowest my ignorance and folly instruct me how to demean my self in all the affairs and passages of my life thou who seest my weakness strengthen me by thy Grace that I may be able to resist all evil motions and temptations to Sin and to perform all the Duties of my Christian obedience suffer me not to err from thy Commandements but let the direction of thy Word and Spirit be as a voice behind me shewing the way wherein I should walk when I am turning to the right hand or to the left confirm my Soul in thy true Religion and the holy fear of thy great Name make me steadfast and immoveable in thy Service that being faithful unto the death I may at length receive that Crown of everlasting Life which thou hast promis'd Be thou pleas'd to bless me in my body with health and strength in my Soul with encrease of divine Knowledg of true Piety and all saving Vertues and give me such a measure of temporal good things as may best contribute to my real happiness I yield thee humble thanks that I have been preserv'd and refresh'd the Night past that I am kept alive to this Morning as thou hast brought me out of the shades of Night so help me to cast off the sinful works of darkness and to walk as becometh a Child of Light let thy presence be with me and thy blessing upon me in the day following give thine Angels charge to keep me in all my ways that I fall not into any disaster and let thy Grace be sufficient for me that I be not exercis'd in any evil work but grant me to abide in perfect safety and to be still holy and upright before thee to the end of this day and of my whole life through my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ in whose holy Name and Words I continue to pray unto thee Our Father c. Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O Heavenly Father thy Communion O blessed Spirit be with me this Day and for evermore Amen A Psalm and Prayer for the Morning on the Lords day I Laid me down and slept I awaked Sunday Morning for the Lord sustained me O God thou art my God early
to walk as becomes the Gospel having a Conscience void of offence both towards God and towards Men that as he who hath called me is holy so I may be holy in all manner of conversation Take off my affections from earthly things which are vain and perishing and set them on the things above in which alone my true happiness doth consist fit me by suitable grace for every dispensation of thy Providence that I may know how to want and how to abound how to mourn or rejoyce how to be in sickness or in health and in every condition to be therewith content let thy Fatherly wisdom cause all things to work together for good unto me and that the several occurrences of the present life may help me forward in my Christian course towards the attainment of eternal Salvation And because my nature is frail my life uncertain and I know not how soon I shall be taken from the land of the living help me seriously to consider my latter end to be still preparing for death and by numbring my dayes to apply mine heart to sound wisdom that when I shall put off this earthly Tabernacle I may be admitted into an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens O God who art the Creatour of mankind and didst send thine own Son that the World through him might be saved extend thy goodness to all the kindreds of the earth causing the light of thy glorious Gospel to shine upon them that their feet may be guided into the way of peace and everlasting happiness let all Nations become subject to the Kingdom of thy Christ and the number of thine Elect be filled up that the glory of thy Salvation may be revealed Accept O Lord my evening oblation of Praise and Thanksgiving for all thy rich Mercies vouchsafed to me I bless thee for my being since by thee I have been fearfully and wonderfully made for thy preservation of me to this moment and for all the accommodations and comforts of the present life But above all I magnifie and adore thine inestimable goodness in making known unto me the way of salvation and happiness by Jesus Christ in continuing to me the seasons of Grace and of waiting upon thee in thine holy Ordinances help me to make such a good and pious use of all thy benefits as may be for thy glory and for mine own eternal welfare And since thy wise Providence hath ordain'd that the Night should succeed the Day as a time of rest and refreshment I pray thee that this Night may be so to me thy Servant grant me to be safe and secure under thy protection from all the terrours and perils of darkness and to awake the next morning in health and safety O Lord hear my Prayer and let thy presence and loving-kindness alwaies be with me to the end of my life for the sake of thine only begotten Son my alone Saviour to whom with thy divine Majesty and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory World without End Amen Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O Heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with me henceforth and for evermore Amen A Psalm and Prayer to be us'd by a Person who is under Sickness O Lord rebuke me not in thy In sickness wrath neither chasten me in thy hot 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 vexed but thou Lord how long Return O Lord deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake For in death there is no remembrance of thee in the grave who shall give thee thanks Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions Wash me throughly from mine inquity and cleanse me from my sin Why art thou cast down ô my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Yea though I walk thorow the Valley of the shadow of death yet will I fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff comfort me O Lord my times are in thy hand deliver me from the hand of mine enemies Let my soul live and it shall praise thee and let thy judgments help me Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart faileth me but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever ALmighty God and most merciful Father thou art the Author of my being and as my life my health and strength are from thee so they are and ought to be at thy dispose and I do humbly confess that because of my sinfulness and disobedience 't is just with thee to afflict me with sickness and pain yea and to cut me off from the Land of the Living O Lord I bear about me a body of Sin and Death and am liable to the penalties of that first transgression for by one man Sin entered into the World and Death by Sin Likewise the practice of my life hath been very evil and my sins still repeated from day to day I have not made it my chief business to serve and glorifie thee which is the end of my Creation nor hath the time of my life and health been employ'd as it ought in doing and receiving good The faculties of my Soul and Members of my Body have been made the instruments of Sin I have not been duly thankful for thy manifold Mercies nor made a right use of them and I have too much despis'd thy goodness and forbearance which should have lead me to repentance I do therefore acknowledg the justice of thy dealings for why should a man complain of the punishment of his sins But O thou Father of Mercies who delightest not in the death of a sinner be favourable unto me Enter not into judgment with thy servant neither let thine anger wax hot against me but forgive my Sin and deliver me for in thee do I trust I know O Lord that afflictions rise not from the Dust but are of thy sending and I do desire to hear the voice of thy Rod and to turn to him that smiteth I do with hearty repentance humble my self at thy footstool lamenting all the errours of my former life and I do give up my Soul and Body to thy Will and Governance resolving and promising by thy Grace to live and act hereafter in all holy obedience to thee and thy righteous commands O deal not with me after mine iniquities nor punish me as I have deserved but remember the sufferings of thy Son who himself bore our sicknesses and the punishment due to us in his own death I believe in him as my alone Saviour my trust is in his Merits and I do humbly beg for his sake that thou wouldst be reconcil'd unto me that thou wouldest heal my Body and comfort my Soul O God who art the preserver of men who hast declared in thy word that thou art nigh unto such as pray unto thee and hast promised to deliver when call'd upon in the day of trouble be thou pleas'd to bow down thine ear and extend thy compassion in removing the distemper under which I now labour do thou who art the great Physitian prescribe and bless the means that may be for my recovery and restore me again if it be thy blessed Will to a state of health and strength then will I praise thee with a thankful heart and will serve thee faithfully all my daies But I do humbly submit my self to thy good pleasure and not my will but thine be done Though thou visit with thy Rod yet take not thy loving kindness from me and while my body shall be afflicted be thou pleas'd to strengthen and support my Soul with thy Grace and inward consolation help me with chearfulness and Christian patience to bear thy chastisement with a firm and constant faith to trust in thee and thy pretious promises Grant that this present visitation may be sanctifi'd to my spiritual benefit and through thy wise ordering in the issue turn to my real advantage and that I may by experience know that in very faithfulness thou hast afflicted me Let this thy fatherly correction teach me to be more dutiful and obedient and grant that by considering the vanity and uncertainty of health of life and worldly enjoyments I may be the more careful to set my affections on things above and to breath after that immortal life of perfect bliss which thy Gospel hath promis'd And grant O Lord that whether in health or sickness in prosperity or affliction I may still honour and serve thee that whether I live I may live unto thee and whether I die I may die unto thee that whether I live or die I may be thine And so an entrance may be ministred to me into the everlasting Kingdom of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ In whose Name and Merits I do earnestly recommend unto thee my present condition and all my Concern both of Soul and Body praying further in his Words Our Father c. Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ my Redeemer thy Love O Heavenly Father thy Consolation O blessed Spirit of Grace be with me and all thy People henceforth and for evermore Amen FINIS
prefer a solitary life and of Plato it is observ'd that avoiding the City he fixed his Academy at some distance in the Country But retirement hath been most of all approved as a good help to Piety and the duties of it by some Christian Writers much hath been spoken in the praise thereof on this account q Basil in Epist ad Chilonem Hieron ad Heliodor l. 2. cont Jovin August ad frat in Eremo especially by St. Basil and Hierom who were themselves addicted to that course of life in the constitutions of Justinian it is said A solitary life with the contemplation that doth accompany it is a sacred thing which of its own nature doth lead the soul to God nor is it only advantageous to those who practise it but is also of known benefit to others by reason of its holiness and devotion toward God r Novel Const 133. By Eusebius out of Philo's book de vitâ contemplativâ it is reported of certain Asceticks so have they been call'd who professed a more strict and sedulous exercise of Piety living in several parts of Aegypt that forsaking worldly employments and the ordinary places of habitation they abode solitary practising abstinence divine contemplation and devotion ſ Euseb Eccle. Hist l. 2. c. 17. these he would have to be Christians but is therein corrected by Scaliger who thinks they were of that Sect among the Jews called Essenes and for that he is himself reprov'd by Valesius who doth suppose them of the Jewish religion though some passages in the account given of them will not allow them to be Essenes But however it is sufficiently known that Christians too have us'd retirement to the same religious purpose in the times of Persecution under the Heathen Emperours great multitudes of them being forc'd to quit their Dwellings made the Desarts their refuge where they improv'd Necessity into a Vertue by employing their solitudes in Fasting Prayer Meditation and Reading the Scriptures so that in some time this way of living became a matter of choice and was advanc'd into an holy institution Paul of Thebais was the first example of note that recommended the same of whom 't is related that he lived solitary for near an hundred years likewise one Anthony an Aegyptian did set it up in his own Country and Hilarion did the like in Syria and Palestine It must be granted that this at length corrupted into Superstition Idleness and an empty name and we cannot think it any real service to religion to persuade men as some have done wholly to abandon humane Society since they cannot do it without laying aside many important duties both for the service of God and the good of Mankind yet for some time and on some special occasion of a mans life it may be of necessary use to retire from the World and the affairs of it it was so thought by a great and wise Prince in the last Age. I mean Charles the fifth who having taken up an apprehension of his own death approaching from the appearance of a Comet soon after resign'd his Empire and Kingdoms and retir'd into a small Village that he might without interruption attend the great business of Religion in order to another World t Hen. Spondan Anno 1556. But by some it is said that this serious temper of mind in the Emperour was occasion'd partly by the unfortunate turn and ill success of his affairs after so much of Victory and Glory formerly enjoy'd by him and partly by the prevalence and growth of the Protestant interest after all his endeavours to suppress it from the former he had a deep conviction concerning the vanity of sublunary things and therefore resolv'd to take off his affections and himself from the World and to provide for his lasting security elsewhere and the latter suggested to him that the Religion he had hitherto so much oppos'd was own'd and assisted from Heaven and therefore it was not safe to be any longer concern'd against it and it is suppos'd that in his latter days * See Dr. Burnet Hist Refor r. 21. part p. 214. of retirement when he had leasure throughly to consider and no worldly interest to be a wrong biass he fell into a good liking of the Reformation and dy'd a real Convert to it Now whatever there is in privacy by which it doth contribute to Piety and our better service of God may alwaies be found in the close retirement of secret devotion a man is then separate from the World from all company and business may freely converse with God and his own Soul may for his spiritual benefit contemplate the Word of God and all his wondrous Works the things that have been that are and which shall be hereafter and while thus taken up it may be truly said of him That he is never less alone then when alone 'T is almost peculiar to single devotion that it doth admit the useful Duty of holy Meditation which cannot so well be exercis'd when we join in publick and whatever the Duty be wherein we are privately engag'd we can more easily be serious and intent in it then amidst the usual occasions of diverting the mind which are in places where many assemble And as privacy is thus helpful to our being more heavenly and devout so in the single exercise of Piety there is this other advantage that whereas in publick devotion we are confin'd to such Prayers as are intended for general use and therefore cannot reach every particular case the Christian when praying alone can with freedom lay open his wants and desires he is not then bound up to words nor things but may chuse the matter of Prayer and speak for himself as his own heart shall suggest and his present condition require for though Forms of private devotion are very expedient and indeed necessary for the greatest part of Christians yet as a late reverend Divine of our Church hath said u Dr. Tully in Precat Domin Expos None is so oblig d to them but that if able to do it he may supplicate to God from his own present conceptions And before him the learned Hammond to the same purpose In the Closet saith he it is not suggested by our Church but that every one may ask his own wants in what form of words he shall think fit w Dr. Ham. Pract. Cat. and truly all who know how to express their minds to men may be suppos'd capable of doing the like in private to God too wherever there shall be need so as to be accepted by him for he doth not so much regard the Artifice of our words as the disposition of our hearts when we speak to him We have before observ'd that holy men in Scripture did use to pray pro re natâ according to their present occasion and to the instances already given we may add that of St. Paul 2 Cor. 12. 8. and also that of our Saviour himself
Mat. 26. 39. When we read the holy Spirit doth help our infirmities directing us to things we ought to pray for * Rom. 8. 26. and when our own Church doth teach us to desire of God that he would make us to ask such things as shall please him y Collect for 10th Sund. aft Trin. it doth suppose our chusing Petitions in Prayer and that we may not err in that choice which will not be understood of stated Prayers and must therefore refer to the private and occasional supplications of which we now speak and unless we sometimes make use of such we shall be extremely defective in our devotion both as to our duty toward God and our regard to the good of our selves and others for how else can we in a suitable manner offer up praise and thanksgiving or deprecate evils and beg mercies according to our own and the needs of other Christians as on many particular occasions we ought to do it being impossible that these should be fully provided for by any forms composed for private use and much less will the publick Prayers descend to them V. If a man serve God in private it is one good evidence of his being sound and sincere in Religion for those who are void of all true Piety who are but Hypocrites or Atheists may and often do outwardly join with others in the acts of publick Worship though from no better inducements than that they may comply with the custom of the place or to please others on whom they depend or that they may gain to themselves a good reputation as some in our Saviour's time who were not real in their Piety for he calls them Hypocrites and yet would pray standing in the Synagogues and in the corner of the Streets to be the more observ'd by others and from this occasion that his own followers might not rest in an outward shew of religion but be sincere and truly pious in the duties of it he injoin'd them the practice of private devotion as it follows in the same place z Mat. 6. 5 6. for acts of Piety when in secret cannot likely proceed from Worldly Motives but do rather suppose a Soul really affected with a sense of God and Religion That a true Christian Faith is more eminently impli'd in secret Prayer the holy Father St. Cyprian hath intimated in these words He hath commanded us to pray privately in secret and retir'd Places in our very Chambers because it is more agreeable to Faith that we apprehend God to be every where present to hear all men and by the fulness of his divine Majesty to penetrate into all secret and hidden things a Cypr. lib. de Orat. Domin Though it be accountable enough why bad men may frequent the devotions of Christian Assemblies yet why any should adore and supplicate by himself alone when none else can take notice of it 't is not easie to assign any other reason than that he hath an inward reverence of an infinite God as of one who ought to be served and who is able in all things to do him good after St. Paul had been stricken blind by that light from heaven which shone on him in the way when he was first call'd to the Christian Faith he having in devout Prayer evidenc'd a true conversion Ananias is immediately commission'd by God to go to him that by the laying on of his hands he might receive his sight and also the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost to qualifie him for the office of an Apostle b Act 9. 11 17. Arise saith God and go into the street which is called strait and enquire in the house of Judas for one Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth If therefore we would avoid the sin and danger of being formal Professours and Hypocrites and would approve our selves to God and our own Conscience as real and sincere in the Religion to which we pretend we are concern'd not to acquiesce in outward and visible Duties but to be also conversant in those others of private Devotion which as it is an evidence of true Holiness so will it be a very good means to cherish and preserve it in us For VI. By the constant exercise of Religious Duties in private the life and power of Godliness is very much maintain'd and 't is of excellent use to secure men in the fear of God and a steddy obedience to him for since the acts of Piety whereof none but God is Witness must be thought to proceed from Conscience and to be a compliance with its Dictates it may easily be presum'd that while men are conscientious in performing this so pious a Duty they will be alike dispos'd as to other parts of Christian holiness and not venture on any gross and deliberate sins but carefully avoid all temptations to them beside a frequent exercise of private Devotion must needs beget a serious and heavenly temper of mind and leave such holy impressions as will restrain corrupt motions and fortifie the Soul against the daily assaults of Sin and Satan Moreover it being a part of this private Devotion to read the holy Scriptures the Christian will thereby be still put in mind both of the Duties which God requires and the Sins which he hath forbidden as also of the great and precious promises belonging to the former and the severe threatnings denounc'd against the latter And it must needs have the like effect as including holy Meditation of God as Creatour Lord and Judge of Mankind as infinite in Holiness Knowledg Justice Power and the Author of all the good we have or do hope to enjoy of our selves as Beings dependent sinful frail and as having immortal Souls which shall be for ever happy or miserable in another World according to our good or ill conversation in this these and such like thoughts are apt to beget good resolutions and make men circumspect and holy in all their ways And there is this further that by such attendance on God and Prayer to him we engage him to have a particular care of us to give us his Spirit for our guide and support and to strengthen us with all might in the inner man that we may be preserved holy and blameless unto his heavenly Kingdom * 1. Thes 5. 23. 2 Tim. 4. 18. On these accounts St. Chrysostome hath pronounc'd it impossible that the man who is constant in his Devotion should lead a sinful life * Ad Pop. Antioch Hom. 89. VII This Duty of private Devotion is the greatest comfort and surest refuge of a Christian amidst all the fears and hazards all the troubles and calamities of this present state and he can by no means subsist without it 't is a remedy still at hand on all occasions and whenever he finds himself oppress'd either by passions within or sufferings from without he can ease his Soul by pouring out his complaints as David was wont to do c Psa 55.