Mr. EDWARD DERING HIS Godly priuate Prayers for Christian Families Whereunto is annexed his briefe and necessary Catechisme for Housholders Marke 11.24 Whatsoeuer you desire when you pray beleeue thâ—t ye shall haue it and it shall be giuen vnto you â—om 10.13 Whosoeuâ—r shall call vpon the Name of the Lord shall be saued LONDON Printed by Isaac Iaggard 1624. A PREFACE describing the Glorious estate of the Saints on earth and the true Nature and Right vse of Prayer To the excellent that are on earth all things pertaining to life and glory through the spirit of Grace and Supplication Beloued in the Lord Iesus AS the loue of God hath heerein exceedingly abounded vnto vs that we are called the Sons of God so there is not a more pregnant Embleme of our Adoption to be his Children then that wee cry Abba Father nor a more liuely pledge of our loue vnto God then that we doe cast our selues into the armes of his mercy by faithfull prayer Oh how much better is it to bee a doore-keeper in the House of God then to sit on the Throne with Princes How exceeding were the riches of Gods mercie towards vs that spared not his onely Sonne vnto death to restore vs from death to life That the Lord of Glory became a Seruant vnto all that hee might redeeme vs from the bondage of sinne into tbe glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God That life it selfe became death that hee might deliuer vs from death vnto life That he that knew no sinne but was perfect holinesse it selfe yet became sinne for our sakes that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Surely if Dauid thought it an high aduancement to bee the sonne in law to an earthly wicked King How much more glorious is our aduancement that we are become the adopted sons of the Almighty and Holyest God who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords And if the Queene of Saba counted the seruants of Salomon happie because they enioyed his presence and were partakers of the worldly and fading Comforts as abounded in his Court Oh how much more happie is the condition of the Saints of God that do not only enioy the gracious presence of God with open face in whose fauour is Eternall life but are thereby translated into the same image froÌ„ glory to glory as by the Spirit of GOD that so they may bee made meete partakers of that glorious inheritance with the Saints in light euen that light which is immortall and vndefiled which fadeth not If to be rich in faith good workes be the true and dureable treasure which fayleth not If the ioy of the Spirit be that which none can take away from vs If all earthly honor be as dung in comparison of that inward glory wherewith the Kinges daughter is adorned If theyr safety be impregnable which haue a wall of fire to beguirt them therein walking most secure that haue the Lord of Hosts to protect guide them then happy surely and thrice happy is the condition of Gods Children who haue God to bee their Portion and may enioy durable riches pure and euerlasting Comfort honor that neuer fadeth and security without securitie For as our security in God makes vs watchful ouer our owne waies and iealous of our owne inability so heereby are we daily cast vpon the riches of Christ and from him encrease and grow in grace And as we grow in grace so do we attaine to and prosper more and more in peace of conscience and thereby abound with ioy in the holy Ghost And the more we are filled with ioy and peace in beleeuing the more do we glorify our God in cheerfull obedience and so as members are more intirely interessed in the glorie of our head approaching heereby neerer to the life of Glory the more wee triumph ouer all our oppositions and are more throughly abased and excluded of all glorying in our selues that so dooing all things to the glory of our God we may be aduanced by him in abasing our selâ—es and weaned from all carnall fading glorie that we may bee fitted for the glory of the life to come And what can now hinder vs heerefrom whereto all things shall further No trouble can do it seeing it prepares thereto No not sinne shall hinder because it is not imputed but rather auailes to the imputation of righteousnesse that so the sting of sinne may be remoued It is not life can doe it because we are dead vnto sinne neither shall death auaile hereunto seeing we are aliue vnto GOD. Much lesse may Angels hinder because they are ministring spirits for our good to keepe vs in all our waies Nor Principalities can preuaile because the Kingdomes are the Lords and so ouerseers to the Saints It is not powers shall hinder seeing all power is giuen to our Head and so in him we are able to doe all things Neither things present should ought auaile hereto because we liue by Faith not by sight and so can lay vp a good Foundation by them agâ—inst the life to come Neither shall things to come hinder vs which are alreadie ours by Faith whereby wee apprehend them though yet we enioy them not and so in patience wait for them and so by continuance in wel-doing make ready for theÌ„ And how shal height hinder vs who haue the Highest to bee our hope whom lowlinesse aduanceth and highnesse abaseth Can depth preuent vs vvhen our Head is aboue water nay aboue the highest Heauens whether he will draw vs vp all after him out of the deepest snares No no it is not hell can hinder vs seeing it is destroyed nor Satan shall preuaile for seeing we haue the shield of Faith to resist him hee will flye from vs Behold the wonderfull and glorious priuiledges of the sons of God! And by this wee know that we haue this glorious vnion and fellowship with God euen by his Spirit that hee hath giuen vs. And hereby we know effectually that the Spirit dwelleth in vs euen by this blessed libertie and boldnes in pressing to the throne of Grace crying Abba Father with all Son-like importunity and challenging his promise in Christ Iesus Thus by the Spirit wee know our Adoption and by the Spirit of Prayer we pleade the same And can we be denied when the Spirite helpes our Infirmities and knovves our Wants Shall wee not preuaile aboue whatsoeuer wee can aske or thinke seeing our Sauiour is our Aduocate to make intercession for vs who knowes what is best for vs who heares before we aske and askes that we may be heard Behold here the ground and necessitie of Prayer If the Spirit be in vs we shall pray in the Spirit and if we pray in the libertie of the Spirit wee are set at liberty thereby euen the libertie of the Sonnes of GOD. Onely be we wise to try the Spirit by the Spirit that so vvee may not offer the sacrifice of Fooles 1. It is
the Spirit of knowledge and so wee must pray in knowledge 2. It is the Spirit of Christ that is in vs and so wee must pray in the Name of Christ by the Spirit 3. It is the Spirit of Faith and so wee must pray in Faith without doubting 4. And it is the Spirit of Patience and so we must waite in Prayer 5. It is the Spirit of Wisedome teaching vs what to pray for so we must pray in wisedom for such things as be most soueraigne and necessary For spirituall graces absolutely for temporall with condition 6 It is the Spirit of Humility teaching vs to denie our owne wisedome and not rest in our owne righteousnesse and so to submit to the will of God as not to faint in our labour although we faile in our particular desire 7 It is the Spirit of Perseuerance and so we must pray continually and perseuere therein with all thankfulnesse 8 It is a quickning powrfull Spirit working mightily in vs and so wee must pray in all zeale and feruency of the Spirit because if they bee feruent they shall preuaile 9. It is the holy and blessed Spirit and therefore whosoeuer calleth on the name of the Lord must depart from Iniquity if we regard iniquity in our harts the Lord will not heare our prayers Thus may we pray in the Spirit Neither may such prescript forme of Prayer preiudice or stint the same But we must be carefull of the sense of our particular wants and apprehension of Gods fauour in Iesus Christ to powre out our hearts vnto our GOD who is onely priuy hereunto and loueth trueth in the inward parts so shall the words of our mouths be acceptable vnto him whether wee speake by the mediate direction of holy men who are inspired by the holy Ghost or immediately by the inspiration of the holie and blessed Spirit 1 Being wise in either to auoyd formality customaries superstition as if the thing how soeuer done would preuaile 2 Labouring still to quicken vppe our hearts in the loue of Christ that so we may continue with all patience and perseuerance therein 3 Vsing carefully to search and prepare our hearts vvhen we come before the Lord. 4 Preparing our hearts by holy Meditation of the Maiesty power and goodnes of God to quicken our faith and confound carnall Wisedome 5 Renewing our Vowes and Couenants with the Lord when soeuer wee looke to speede well from him 6 And yet not building any further in the issue vppon our God then may stand vvith his good pleasure for our cheefest good in his Time and Manner which shall be fittest for vs. 7 Comforting our selues rather in the sense of that diuine assistance quickening our requests and continuing powrefully therein then in any present sensible issue concerning our selues that still wee may haue to reioyce in our God and not in our selues 8 And so quieting our harts that we haue done the vvill of our GOD that the vvill of God may bee done in vs to the satisfying of our best desires in that manner and measure as best pleaseth him for our maine and principall good Thus may we preuaile in Prayer And to this end mayest thou make vse of these helpes rather as Directions to informe thee aright in the matter and order of Prayer theÌ„ any strict bounds to confine thee to the letter therof Wishing thee in the feare of God so to make vse thereof as to make them rather meanes to stir vp the Spirit in thee then to stint or prescribe the same Which thou shalt do if that thou dost seriously meditate on each particular Model before thou vse the same to informe thine vnderstanding kindle thine affections to the loue therof then so vse the Forme as not to rest heerein but rather to propound it as a patterne for thy better direction in the like and so to sample it as neere as thou maist or rather euen to put life vnto it and better the same And so the Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things in whom I rest Tho Cooper ¶ A Table of all the seuerall Prayers contained in this Booke A Briefe Prayer vpon the Lords prayer 64 Another Prayer more at large vpon the Lords prayer 76 A Confession of sins with Faith and repentance 101 A prayer for the prosperous estate of the whole Church 110 Morning prayer for priuate houses and Families 125 Euening prayer for the same 135 A forme of prayer daily to bee vsed of all faithfull Christians in their houses or elsewhere 144 A speciall Morning Prayer for the Sabbath 184 Euening prayer for the Sabath 205 A Prayer to be said before the hearing or reading of the holy Scriptures 222 A Thankesgiuing after the hearing or reading of the word of God 230 A Prayer before the receiuing of the Sacrament 236 A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Sacrament 238 A Prayer for constant perseuerance in praying when wee are dull to prayer 240 A Prayer for all times 245 A prayer for all estates 250 A Prayer to bee confirmed in the knowledge of God 255 A Prayer for the obtaining of sauing Faith 258 A Prayer to feele in heart spirituall comfort and the liuely sence of our Adoption by Faith 274 A Prayer against doubting whereby to strengthen a weake Faith and to perseuere therein 278 〈◊〉 Prayer for obtaining of Triall and cherishing of the holy Spirit of God 302 A Prayer for obtaining of a liuely Hope 322 A prayer for the obtaining and encrease of Loue. 330 A prayer to obtaine and preseruâ— the feare of God that we may bâ— kept constant thereby in holinessâ— to the end 3â—â— A prayer for the obtaining of gracâ— and wisedome 34â— A prayer to walke faithfully anâ— fruitfully in our Ciuill and personal Callings 35â— A prayer before the taking of Iourney 36â— A Thankesgiuing for good succeâ—â— therein 3â—â— A Prayer for a Woman in Trâ—uaile 3â—â— A Thankesgiuing after safe Deâ—uerance 3â—â— A prayer for those that assist a trâ—uailing woman 3â—â— A Thankesgiuing for their gâ—â— successe 3â—â— A prayer for such as in this wâ—â— bee very rich 391 A prayer for such as be poore and needy 395 A prayer to obtaine grace of God against the assaults of the world the flesh and the diuell 397 A Thankesgiuing after blessings obtained to acknowledge them as from God 409 A prayer for patience in Tribulation and that God may be glorified thereby 412 A prayer for Mortification holinesse 417 A prayer for the feeling of the sinne of Hypocrisie that we may direct our life according to the prescript rule of the Word 424 A prayer against the secret venim and great daunger of prosperitie 431 A prayer against Whoredome and Vncleannesse 439 A prayer against Couetousnesse and Ambition 443 A prayer against vsuall and common Swearing 446 A Prayer against Pride 449 A prayer against Gluttonie and Drunkennesse 455 A prayer against Idlenesse and Sloth 460 A prayer against Infidelity dispaire necessarie
my selfe and all mine into thy speciall tuition beseeching thee to giue mee my full acquitance before I meete thee in publike that I may approach thy presence with comfort and pertake thine owne ordinances as my appointed food make such benefite by them as may satisfie mee with thy fulnesse to the reioycing of my soule in the light of thy Countenance and to prouoke mee to long for thine euerlasting presence and fit mee daily to meete my Sauiour in the Clouds in whose worthynesse I humbly pray thee to accept thine vnworthy seruant and his weake prayers to whome with thine owne Maiesty and God the blessed Spirit three glorious Persons one God in vnitie might and Maiesty be ascribed as most due all glory and Power and Maiesty Dominion with all feare hearty obedience of vs and the whole Church of God now and for euer Amen A Prayer for the Sabbath Euening ALmighty and euerliuing Lord God Fâ—ther of our Lord Iesus Christ in him our most louing and gracious Father whose faithfulnes is euerlasting louing kindnes past finding out it is thy good prouidence holy Father that wee thine vnworthy Seruants haue had this opportunity to commerse with thy glorious Maiesty this day in thy holy ordinances and now are to make vp our reckoning for our imployment therein in the shuting vp thereof and it is thine infinite mercy tender compassion towards vs that thou hast yet respited vs to the end of this thine holy Sabbath to make our peace with thee that so wee may lye downe in thy fauour and so bee sealed vp herebâ— vnto thine eternall Sabbath For wee vnfainedly here confesse before thee O thou thee searcher of our hearts that though thou hast offered thy selfe most graciously vnto vs this day in all thine ordinances to the reclayming of vs from our vaine and peruerse waies as also to allure vs to constant and cheerefull obedience yet Lord thou knowest what little power wee haue found to subdue the rebellions of our proud spirits how little comfort wee haue reaped from thence to arme vs against temptation and stay vs from sinking therein Nay our wisedome hath the more opposed thy Spirit by how much the more it hath bene conuinced there by and our wounds haue more stunke and putrified the more thou hast laboured to lance and cure them How slightly did wee prepare our selues to thy publike worship being only formall and customarie in the priuate rather standing vppon the adorning of our stinking carcasses to please men then to humble our soules that wee may bee accepted of thee How carelesse haue wee bene in exhorting and preaâ—iâ—g thy Familie that they together with vs might go vp with confidence to the house of God and so bee there refreshed with the fatnes of thy house And as we tooke not heâ—d to our feet when wee should come before thee so when we came our footing deceiued vs and though we saw our face in thy glasse and were iustly abased at the foule spots therein yet wee forgate presently the true hue thereof and so lose our selues at home euen when wee sought to find thee abroad departing alwaies without sound comfort from thy presence because we could not endure to be thorowly abased in our selues before thee And thus hath it befalne vs holy Lord euen while we haue endeauoured to honor thee in thine Ordinances that while wee haue rather sought therein our own glorie then thine and desired rather the outward credite of Profession then the power of Conuersion and renuing of our inward spirits Thogh thou gauest vs our desire to be seene of men yet thou didst send leannesse into our soule denying vs iustly the true comfort which wee did not cheefely desire or indeed were not fit for For alas what leaue could we expect from thee or at all in thee who while we tendred with the Harlot offrings of peace and made glorious shewes of loyaltie vnto thee yet did no better then vsurpe vpon thy honour by our hypocrisie vaineglory and as much as lay in vs challenge most blasphemously thine omniscienced righteousnesse as if either thou didst not discern our inward rottennesse or didst approue of our outside and bodily worship And did euer any fight against God and prosper Euen so Lord hath it fared with me this day Mine owne proud heart hath fought against thee in the vse and sence of all thy Blessings seeking to serue my selfe by them and not thy glorie and so to harden my heart therewith that though thou fillest the hungrie with good things yet diddest thou send mee away empty of true comfort because my proud and swolne heart vtterly excluded the same And so it iustly befell me according to thy word that it carried mee from the presence of thy grace While I stood in the presence of thy Ordinances Lord how my minde wandered from thee while my bodie was before thee Nay my disharted mind peruerted my body also that euen with much deadnesse of the outward man much drowsinesse and irreuerence I behaued my selfe so before thee as I durst not before my Friend as I might giue iust aduantage to mine Enemie rather thinking the time too long because my mind was on my belly yea sometimes wishing mine cares shorter and more slow to heare that so I might not conceiue what was contrarie vnto my corruption that I might as it were blesse my soul in my shallow and counterfet holinesse And what I yet conceiued how quickely either did I lose it that I might not finde my selfe or how foolishly did I turn it to the puffing vp of my flesh with a conceit of knowledge or to the adoring of the vessel that yeelded the Treasure that so he also might cloake magnifie me O Lord how my deceitfull heart couzened it selfe heerein Either in applying what I heard to others as if my selfe were not aymed at that so I might hereby commit two Euils both to condemne others and iustify my selfe Or else in misapplying what I heard vnto my selfe fastening on such Comforts as did not belong vnto mee or slighting such Terrors as specially aymed at my sore What should I say vnto thee O thou more inward with me then mine inmost parts Though mine eare was somtime tickled yet mine heart was not moued at al or more hardned by its contrarie motion Though mine heart was stricken for the present and shaken by thy Terrours yet it was calmed againe by the enchantments of Hypocrisie and Securitie And although I saw my true face in thy glasse yet I stopt mine eares from the hearing of thy Law and therefore thou diddest also hide thine eares from my Prayers which I afterward made before thee in priuate and deniedst thy gracious blessing to my endeauours in the informing of my Family and conferring of what I had heard for their further building vp in knowledge and obedience and because I had beene so carelesse in attending thee therefore thou diddest iustly leaue mee to the neglect
not worthy to entertaine and receiue thee into my sinfull vncleane house Neuerthelesse most louing Lord which hast said that who so eateth thy flesh drinketh thy blood shall dwell in thee and thou in him haue mercy vppon mee O haue mercy vpon mee most mercifull Sauiour and behold mee most miserable sinner prepared at this present not only to let thee in vnder the roofe of my mouth but also to lodge thee in the house of my heart O bountifull Iesu be my gracious Redeemer and grant that I receiue not the Sacrament of thy body and blood vnworthily purchasing thereby vnto my selfe death and damnation but rather be made through faith in thee a worthy receiuer a meete member of thy blessed body and so by the strength of this heauenly foode may not onely bee enabled to cast away all my former sinnes and most beloued corruptions but may also walke before thee in all constant holines to the making sure of mine election Grant this I beseech thee for thine owne mercy sake Amen A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Sacrament O Sweete Sauiour which with thy precious salue of compassion curest the foule and filthy sores of our sinnes and prouidest for vs all necessarie preseruatiues against the poyson of the soule-infecting maliciousnes heare I beseech thee the humble supplications of me thy poore seruant which heere present my selfe before thee at this present and grant that this my receiuing of the Sacrament of thy blessed body and blood may be a true testimony vnto my conscience that I haue through faith in thee receiued full remission of all my sinnes and offences past and am now become as it were a new Creature in thy sight I beseech thee likewise grant that casting away all my former workes of wickednesse I may henceforth walke in newnesse of life and godly conuersation bringing forth such fruits of true conuersion as may mooue others by my example to honor praise thy holy name And that running the whole race of my life in dutifull obedience toward thee I may when it shall please thee to thinke meete receiued among the number of thine elect into that euerlasting happinesse where wee shall bee perfect in holinesse Amen A Prayer for Constant perseuerance in praying when wee are dull to prayer O Lord God most mercifull Father according to thy commandement in mine afflictions and necessities I seeke to thee for succor by continuall prayer calling vppon thy Name I call vppon thee in the day time and in the night season doe I poure out my prayers vnto thee and yet for all that I feele mee nothing released but oftentimes worse and worse which maketh me many times deare Father almost to doubt of thy goodnesse that thou dost reiect my Prayers and giuest no heed vnto them whereby I doe almost thinke that it is no boot for me to pray seeing I feele no release but O Lord this is but weaknesse in me and the frailty of flesh which will not willingly bee subdued vnto thy Spirit which my frailty I beseech thee O Lord forgiue me For thou dost O Lord God see my conflicts and lookest vppon my continuall sighes and petitions but thou dost deferre prolong thy helpe the longer dost not at first helpe me to this end that I may see fully mine owne weaknes learne by little and little to subdue my rebellious will to thy good will who knoweth better what is meet for mee then I my selfe Therefore O most deare Father strengthen mee by thy holy Spirit that I may still perseuere and continue in prayer and with longing desires patiently waite for thee O Lord being assured that although it appeare not yet thou art alwaies present with mee and hearest my sighes and complaints and wilt when thou seest thy time declare thy selfe manifestly in the renewing my heart with spirituall ioy stirre vp O Lord my dull sluggish nature to call vpon thee continually appointing thee neyther time nor the meanes of my deliuerance but leauing all to thy good will and pleasure I may in the meane time neuer cease my continuall prayer to call for thy mercifull helpe vntill such time as it shall please thy goodnesse to send mee full deliuerance I feele my selfe O Lord oftentimes very vnwilling to pray for that I doe not fully perceiue my prayers to be heard but doe go on still languishing in my sorrowes as though thou hadst no care of mee But this my dulnesse I beseech thee O mercifull Father pardon in me and grant that I may be raised vppe to pray for aide and releefe of thee continually although I should see no signe of fauour yet that I may continue still with the faithfull Woman of Canaan and neuer cease in heart mind and mouth till thou grant my requests at thine appointed time when thou knowest it shall be most for my behoofe and for thy glory And that when thou shalt mercifully looke vpon mee to deliuer mee I may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge thy goodnesse toward me and let it neuer stirre out of my heart but continue thankfull for the same all the daies of my life whereby thy glorie in mee may be declared and my soule releeued thorough Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for all times O Lord God Father of mercy and God of all consolation without whom wee haue neither hope nor comfort we poore wretched sinners beseech thee of thy Fatherly goodnesse to looke vpon vs and to make vs partakers of thy gracious goodnesse so that euermore wee may set foorth thy honor and glory let our conuersation bee such that a great many beholding our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father and so direct our waies that we may hold forth the profession of thy Gospell as a Lanterne to lighten the steps of a great many that they may turne to the and prayse thy name in their visitation Thus O Lord wee beseech thee to deale with vs that in deed wee may be vessels of honor vnto thee now to set forth the glory of thy name and after this transitorie life to behold thy glory who hast immortallitie alone and dwellest in light that no man hath approched vnto remoue farre from vs our sinnes and iniquities that they may not separate betweene vs and thee blotte out of vs our offences and make our prayers righteous that thou mayest fauourably grant our requests looke vppon vs with thy fauourable mercy that thou mayest haue pittie vppon vs and behold vs in the righteousnesse of thy beloued Sonne Christ Iesus and that wee may be presented faultlesse in thy sight and thou accepting vs as holy we may haue the grace euermore to set forth thine honor and glory and to speake of thy praises in the midst of all thy people Let vs loue O Lord the things that are good and hate the things that are euil let vs delight in all things that may please thee and let vs
increase and renew their strength giue them victorie and turne their aduersaries hearts if they pertaine to thy holy election otherwise O Lord bring vpon them the confusion that they would bring vpon others into the pit that they haue digged let them fall and neuer rise vp againe O Lord heare vs in these suites pardon our dull spirits in praier and giue vs these and all other graces needfull for vs and the Church to thy glorie for our Lord Iesus Christ in whose name wee pray as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the feeling of the sinne of hyprocrisie that wee may direct our life according to the perscript rule of the word RIghteous Lord God and heauenly Father which art a iust â—udge to punish all them that doe continue to offend thee as thou art a Father most pittifull to receiue to mercie all those which giue ouer themselues to please thee shew mee thy grace and fauour To that I may be truely touched with inward displeasure of my sinnes and that in the place of flattering my selfe to sleepe in sinne I may be so cast downe in heart that the rather I may truely with mouth confesse most humbly to giue thee the honour glorie and prayse due vnto thy holy name and that as thou of thy great mercy dost instruct thereunto by thy holy word so for thy mercies sake make that the same may so lighten and cleere our conscience that in due examination of our life wee may truely learne to be angry and displeased with all our former and corruptible liuing O that it may please thee to draw neere vnto vs in addressing and guiding our footsteps in the true and perfect way of obedience to thy holy Lawes and Commandements Send thy holy Angell to pitch his Tents round about vs that Sathan and his infernall army neuer preuaile against vs but that alwaies with strong faith we may through Iesus Christ withstand all his crafty engines and snares knowing vndoubtedly that thou neuer forsakest them that put their trust in thee O let vs not bee led by the infirmity of our outward flesh but strengthen vs by the vertue of thy holy Spirit Suffer vs not to lie vnder thy heauy wrath and vengeance through hypocrisie but rather touch vs so inwardly that we may without ceasing sigh and grone vnto thee by true and vnfeigned repentance And although we be not alwaies so well disposed to aske and pray as we ought to doe yet good Lord for thy glorious Names sake stretch out thy mighty hand that by the gracious working of thy holy Spirit our mindes and hearts may be drawne from all earthly and corruptible things so that our prayers vnto thee may proceede of an inward earnest vehement affection so that wee neuer presume to come before the throne of thy Maiesty with a double heart knowing that whosoeuer asketh and prayeth for any thing of thee not asking in faith cannot obtaine Increase therefore sweet Lord our faith that we presently may liuely feele the benefite of remission and pardon all our sins through the merits and death of Christ Iesus our Sauiour and so worke in vs for euer heereafter to liue in thy feare and to stand in awe of thy displeasure that thou mayest continue our mercifull Father world without end Amen O Shepheard of sheepe seeke out mee thy wandring sheepe And being found lay mee vpon thy blessed shoulders and bring mee home to the very folde of thy flocke heale my sicke soule feede my hungry soule yea almost dying through hunger watch ouer the same O sweete Lord least the rauening Wolfe do inuade my soule and so slay it to vtter destruction Wherefore O most deere GOD be mercifull to mee a wretched sinner and grant pardon to him that repenteth giue not foorth the voice of thy sentence according to my demerits but like as thy mercy before hath done in the beginning of my life so let it conclude the end thereof to remaine with thee world without end Amen deere God Amen Forasmuch as in this life holy Scriptures doeth promise trouble penuries oppressions increase of griefe and aboundance of temptations vouchsafe O most louing Lord GOD to prepare my heart to all possible patience least I doe faint in thy foote-path compell my sweete Lord this stubborne and rebellious flesh of mine to bee subiect to thy holy Spirite beyond all expectation so that I may possesse my soule in patience and keepe the same continually in thy euerlasting seruice to the which purpose thou of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie hast created the same Wherefore O Lord GOD shew thine almighty power vnto mee most wretched sinner that so long as I fight in this wretched life I may obtaine victorie against mine enemies thou being my defence for there is none other that fighteth for mee but onely thou O God Now I say represse the violence of mine enemies and vouchsafe with great effect to bring into bondage my miserable flesh that tormenteth my soule So that obtaining victory I may giue praise to thee my onely deliuerer in perpetuall eternity Amen A prayer against tbe secret venim and great danger of prosperity O Lord prepare my heart to wisedom prepare it to prayer and teach my soule to feele all the dangers wherewith it is beset on euery side and grant good Father that I mâ—y not pray in wordes or in sound of speech but in Spirite and Faith I acknowledge to thee O Lord thy great mercies toward mee at this time for beside the vnspeakable graces of my redemption and of my holy calling in the Gospell which are euermore good thou hast giuen me a large measure of earthly blessings my table is richly and daintily furnished my Cup ouer-floweth mine enemies are chased away and I feele no want no affliction no sorrow My prosperitie leadeth mee as by the hand from one delight to another and from one pleasure to another In the morning peace is at my right hand and at night quietnesse at my left O Lord are not these thy blessings Hast not thou opened thy mercifull hand and filled me with all these comforts True it is O Lord that they came all from thee and for them I am indebted vnto thee and giue thee hearty thanks But alas O Lord I finde by experience that prosperitie such is our infirmitie carrieth vs too too farre away it feedeth vs from day to day and from time to time with new delights it ingendereth also secretly such peace and confidence in these things which are but as a reede to leane vpon that we are carried away wee forget not thee onely but our selues also But the day of aduersitie the day of sicknesse the day of trouble that layeth open our weakenesse it causeth much care to bee released it prouoketh many praiers for releefe O it is a happy day a day of returning to the Lord a day of repentance as in Sackcloath and Ashes O how may my soule praise the
for a troubled and wounded Conscience 464 The END of the Table A briefe and necessarie Catechisme Very meet to be knowne of euery one before they bee admitted vnto the Supper of the Lord. Question WHat is the cheefest thing which euery one ought to bee most carefull of as long as they liue An. Euery one ought to be most careful of these two points First and chiefely â—ow we can be saued in the day of iudgement before Gods iudgement seate and so come to life euerlasting Secondly how to liue according to Gods holie will during our life In which two points wholly standeth the glory of God so much as of man ought to bee sought for Que. How can we know this how wee are discharged before Gods iudgement seate An. We can neuer know how we bee discharged before the iudgement seate of God vntill such time as we know our owne miserable estate by reason of the greatnesse of our sinnes and the horrible punishment which we deserue for them Que. How doest thou know the greatnesse of thy sinne and the horrible punishment due to the same An. The greatnes of my sinne and the horrible punnishment thereof I knowe â—y the Law of God rightly vnderstood the sum whereof is contained in the tenne Commandements Quest Rehearse the tenne Commandements An. God spake all these wordes and saide I am the Lord thy God which brought â—hee out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of â—ondage 1 THou shalt haue none other but Gods me 2 Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor the likenesse of any thing that â—s in Heauen aboue nor in the â—arth beneath nor in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a iealous God and visit the sinnes of the Fathers vpon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercie vnto thousands in them that loue mee and keepe my Commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy GOD in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day six daies shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to do But the seuenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of worke thou thy sonne and thy daughter thy manseruant and thy maidseruant try cattle and the stranger that is within thy gates For in sixe dayes the LORD made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seuenth day wherfore the Lord blessed the seauenth day and hallowed it 5 Honor thy Father thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt do no murder 7 Thou shalt not committe Adultery 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbor 10 Thou shalt not couet thy Neighbours house thou shalt not couet thy Neighbours wife nor his manseruant nor his maide nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is his Qu. What is the first Commandement An. Thou shalt haue no other Gods but me Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement A. The Lord God straitly chargeth vs in this first commandement that wee worship God alone which worshippe standeth in three points First that wee loue God aboue all SecoÌ„dly that we make our praiers to none but to God Thirdly that we acknowledge God alone to be the guider and gouernour of all things of whom wee receiue all the benefites we haue and therefore that we trust and stay vpon him alone Que. What is the second Commandement An. Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image or the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue c. Qu. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. In this second Commandement bee contained three things First that wee should not think God to be like either man or woman or any other thing therefore that we make no image of God in any case Secondly that we make no image of any other thing either to worship the image it selfe either God Saint or Angell by the image neyther yet to this end to bee the better put in minde of God by the Image Thirdly that we worship not God in any other outward worship according to our owne fantasies but as God commandeth vs in his word Que. What is the 3. Commandement An. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement Ans God chargeth vs in this third Commandement these three things First that we vse with a most high reuerence the name of GOD whensoeuer we either speak or thinke vpon him Secondly that wee neuer blaspheme the name of God in our common talke although the matter bee neuer so true but only where the glory of God is sought or the saluation of our Bretheren or else before a Magistrate in witnessing the truth when we are thereunto lawfully called In which causes we must onely sweare by the name of God But as for Saints Angels Rood Book Crosse Masse or any other thing wee ought in no case by them to sweare Que. What is the 4 Commandement An. Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabbath day Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. The hallowing of the Sabbath day is to rest from our labours in our Calling and in one place to assemble our selues together and with feare and reuerence to hear marke and lay vppe in our hearts the word of GOD preached vnto vs to pray all together that which we vnderstand with one consent And at the times appointed to vse the Sacraments in Faith and Repentance and all our life long to rest from wickednesse that the Lord by his holy Spirit may work in vs his good worke and so begin in this life the euerlasting rest Que. What is the fift Commandement An. Honor thy Father thy Mother Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. The meaning of the fift Commandement is that we should honour that is to say loue feare obey and releeue our Parents or any other that are vnto vs in their stead As our Princes Rulers and Magistrates our Pastours and Teachers our Masters and all other which are aboue vs in any calling placed by God the Aged and â—ray headed and that all Superiors do shew themselues indeed Parents in defending and guiding their Inferiours Qu. What is the sixt Commandement Ans Thou shalt doe no murther Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. First the Lord God forbiddeth vs in this Commandement all killing fighting and quarrelling all reproaches mocks and taunts Secondly he forbiddeth all killing in heart that is al anger and malice all desire of reuenge Thirdly on the other side he commandeth vs to preserue life by exercising the workes of
good in our owne fantasie but onely that which God commandeth vs to aske of him All which things be contained in the Lords prayer Quest Rehearse the Lords prayer Answere OVr Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Qu. What dost thou desire of God in this prayer An. First I desire of our heauenly Father that his name may be hallowed First in his excellent works which is when we acknowledge his mercy wisedom iustice and prouidence that he alone worketh ell things and that only the Lord God be had in honour all other set aside Secondly that his name may bee glorifyed in our godly liuing and conuersation 2 In the 2. petition wee desire that God his Kingdome may come that is that he will declare himself to be King ouer his Church in guiding and defending it in encreasing the number of the faithfull in thrusting forth Laborers into the haruest and blessing their Labours and suppressing the rage of the wicked Tyrants Secondly that he will exercise his kingdome seuerally in euery one of his killing sinne in vs and all worldlie care and renewing of vs to righteousnesse of life 3 In the third petition wee desire that Gods will may bee done that is that wee may willingly in euerie thing resigne our selues vnto Gods will without murmuring or grudging 4 In the fourth petition we pray that he wil giue vnto vs walking faithfully in our calling our daily bread that is all things needful for our liuing in this present life 5 In the fift petition we pray that our sinnes may bee forgiuen vs that he will not lay to our charge our sinnes nor the punishment due vnto them but that he will accept the death and passion of Christ as the full satisfaction for our sins and that we may hereof haue iust assurance in our Conscience that the punishment of our sinnes is fully discharged in Christ and therefore freely forgiuen vnto vs as surely as we do forgiue others and that we may loue one another from the bottom of our hearts all desire of reuenge set aside 6. In the sixt and last petition we doe pray God that he wil not lead vs into temptation but deliuer vs that is that he will not bring vs further into that battell with our spirituall Enemies then we by his holy spirit shall be able to preuaile and ouercome Que. And why is this added For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen An. Not onely to kindle in our hearts to desire the glory of God but also to teach vs that this Prayer is grounded vpon none other then God onely and that we should not thinke the kingdome of God to bee weake and voyd of force might Also that he is not onely to be honored praised and gloryfied and that his power is infinite perpetuall and euerlasting And in this word Amen is expressed the feruent desire to obtaine those things which wee aske of God and our hope is confirmed that those things which we aske bee granted vnto vs by which our consciences are pacified and so we end our prayers Qu. Tell mee now briefely the effect of all thou hast said An. By the tenne Comdements I see my miserable estate that I deserue death damnation and the curse of God which must needs bee paid because God is iust whereas I my selfe am not able to pay it the holy ghost through the preaching of the Gospell worketh in me Faith which assureth mee that the Sonne of God being made man for me hath euen in my nature suffered whatsoeuer my sinnes deserued and hath made me with him the childe of God and heire of euerlasting Life Whereof least I should doubt or wauer he hath appointed two Sacraments as outward signes and Tokens to be seene and felt of mee that as surely as I see my self made partaker of them outwardly so the holie Ghost inwardly bee partaker of Christ himselfe with all his benefits his ransome righteousnesse and holinesse to be mine that in him through him I shall haue life euerlasting And thus being borne anew into this liuely hope by the holy ghost my waies should be directed guided by the same Spirit to walke in holinesse and righteousnes all the daies of my life So be it A prayer containing the effect of this Catechisme O Mercifull and heauenly Father for so much as at euerie light occasion I am withdrawn from thy holy lawes to the vanities of this life vnto all sinne and wickednesse I beseech thee in mercy set before mine eyes alwaies the remembrance of thy iudgement seate and my last end whereby I may be daily stirred to consider in what great danger I stand through the horrible punishment due for my sinnes that daily groaning vnder the burthen of them I may flye for succour to thy beloued Son Iesus Christ who hath fully paid suffred and ouercome the punishment due to them and through the working of thy holy Spirite in me I may be fully assured in my soule and Conscience that the curse condemnation and death which these my sinnes deserue is fully paid suffered and ouercome in Christ that his righteousnesse obedience holines is mine and whatsoeuer he hath wrought for mans saluation is wholly mine Strengthen this faith in mee dayly more and more that I may inwardly feele comfort and consolation in this that I feele thy holye Spirit beare record vnto my spirit that I am thy Childe grafted into the body of thy Sonne and made with him fellow heire of thine euerlasting kingdome So worke in me by thy holy spirit that daily more and more I may feele sinne die in mee that I do not delight therein but daily may groane vnder the burthen therof vtterly hate detest and loath sinne set my selfe and all the powers of my soule and body against sinne and haue full delight ioy comfort and pleasure in those things which be agreeable to thy will that I may walke as becommeth the child of light looking still for that good time when it shal please thee to call mee vnto thine euerlasting kingdome for Iesus Christ his sake Amen FINIS GODLY PRIVATE Prayers for Householders to Meditate vpon and to say in their particular Families Made by Mr. Edw. Dering sometime Reader of the Diuinitie Lecture in Paules Marke 11.24 Whatsoeuer ye desire when ye pray beleeue that yee shall haue it and it shall be done vnto you LONDON Printed by Isaac Iaggard 1624. Godly priuat Prayers to bee saide at all times in Christian Families A prayer containing the effect of the Housholders Catechisme ALmighty God and most mercifull Father I see in thy
know that thou O Lord dost raigne in al ages to the behoofe of thy Church and terror of thinâ— enemies Grant these mercies good Lord not onely to a whole Church in generall but especially to euery one of vs thy Children particularly grant that we may affectually feele the force of this thy kingdome in our hearts Beat downe in vs our old Adam with all sinfull delights thoughts motions and desires and renew in vs day by day our spirituall and inward Man that we may be wholly bent to delight thinke desire doe those things which bee acceptable in thy sight The third petition Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen FRame our hearts good Lord with such humble obedience to thy holy will that we may be hartily well content with whatsoeuer it pleaseth thy goodnes to lay vpon vs that we neuer cease in our miseries but continually call on thee by harty prayres athough wee feele no release at all yet that still patiently we may abide and quietly wait for thy good leysure and appointed time of deliuerance when thou knowest it shall be most expedient for vs. The fourth petition Giue vs this day our dayly bread GRant vs deare Father that all our Counsels studies labours and endeauors being by thy holy spirit guided and framed we may euery one in that vocation in which thou hast placed him so fairhfully trauaile to the discharging of our Consciences and edyfying of thy Church that our account may be found acceptable before thy Throne Iudgement seate So blesse our labours and trauailes that we may haue sufficient for the preseruing of this present life and be content with those benefits which thou shalt bestow vppon vs whether they be many or few acknowledging them to be receiued of thee not greedily to care for them or vainely to delight in them and thankefully esteeme of them as thy benifits bestowed vpon vs and as faithfull Stewards moderately to vse them to the releefe of our bretheren and discharge of our consciences The fift petition Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse aginst vs. ENcrease in vs O Lord the gifte of Faith that we may daily more more in our Soules and consciences be assured that our sins be defaced cleane blotted out and couered with the full perfect and sufficient sacrifice of thy deare sonne Christ Iesu our Lord and Sauiour once made for vs that we are vnited knit and made one body with him partakers of his righteousncs iustification and holynesse and euen fellow-heirs with him of euerlasting life that wee may vnfainedly from the bottome of our hearts loue thee for this thine vnspeakeable goodnes and mercy forgetting from our hearts our Bretheren that do offend vs pray for them loue cherish and comfort them as fellow members all of one body with perfect naturall loue and compassion linked together vnto our head Christ Iesus The sixt petition Lead vs not into temptation STrengthen vs good Lord with thy holy Spirit that we be not ouercom with the subtle suggestions and sinfull motions of Sathan the diuel hold vs vp with thy merciful hand that we sleepe not in sinne that we be not drawne away with the wicked world nor the enticâ—ments of the flesh to delight in Wickednesse but so arme vs vvith thy mightie power that wee may strongly abide all the assaults and subtile sliâ—hteâ— of our ghostly enemy and sincerely to walke befoâ—â—â—â—ces both in prosperity and aduersity to thy honour and glory the health of our souls and profite of thy Church through Iesus Christ our only Lord and Sauiour Amen The Lords Prayer more at large The first Petition Our Father which art in Heauen MOst mighty and eternall Lord God who of thine infinit loue to mankinde hast giuen vs thine owne eternal Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord to be made man for vs in the similitude of sinnefull flesh to become flesh of our flesh bone of our bones in all things like vnto vs sin onely excepted who beeing thy true and naturall Sonne hath made vs with him sons children and heyres to thee our most merciful Father giuing vs by thy grace that which is his by Nature And by his due alone once suffered sufficient Sacrifice hath payde the ransome of our sins before thy diuine Maiestie to satisfie thy iustice vppon sinfull flesh Which debt being paide for vs he hath brought vs in fauor with thee so that we may now with boldnesse and trust come to thee as vnto our most mercifull and louing Father with full assurance that as thy soule is so much greater and more excellent towards vs then all loue of eatthly Parents toward their Children as thou passest all men in goodnesse and mercie so thou wilt deny vs nothing which shall be expedient for vs. So that although all the Fathers that are in earth hauing shaken off all seeing of Fatherly naturalnesse would forsake their children yet wouldest thou neuer forsake vs beecause thou canst not deny thy selfe Who promisest that if earthly Fathers being euill can giue good giftes to their Children how much more wilt thou our heauenly Father being altogether goodnes it selfe giue good things to them that aske in thy Sons name And that although a Mother should forsake her Children yet wilt thou not forsake vs thy children whoÌ„ thou hast before the beginning of the World in thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ chosen to be thy children heires with him of thine immortall Kingdome Whereof that we our selues might bee sure and certaine and out of al doubt that we are the children â—nd heyrs of euerlasting life thou hast giuen into our hearts thy holy Spirite as a true pledge and earnest of our inheritance which Spirit doth assure our spirites that we are thy children and thou therefore crieth in our hearts Abba Father Graunt this for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauior Amen The Second Petition Hallowed bee thy Name WEe therefore as thy deere Children ransommed and bought by thy deere Sonne flye to thee our most louing â—nd merciful Father who in goodnes art infinite in mercie abundant in substance incomprehensible in immortality euerlasting who by thy mightie power and singulare prouidence rulest all things according to thy heauenly Wisedome beseeching thee for thy deere Sonne Christ Iesus his sake that as thou hast sufficiently set forth thy glorious name in making and framing the whole world heauen earth and all the things therin contained so we may in beholding viewing thy Creatures the works of thine hands may be lifted vppe to thee our Lord God the Creator and maker and in them glorifie thy holy name acknowledging in them thy singular goodnesse and loue towards man for whose vse thou hast created all thinges both in heauen and earth that we may for the same euen from the bottome of our harts yeeld due honor praise and thankesgiuing vnto thee deere Father all the daies of our life Grant most mercifull Father that wee may in
Eternall God and mercifull Father who in the riches of thy mercy hast ordained thine onely Sonne Iesus Christ to bee the propitiation for the sinnes of thine elect that whosoeuer beleeues in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life that so many as receiue him and beleeue in his Name may haue power from him to bee the Sonnes of God and heires with him of eternall glory And in thine infinite wisedome hast so disposed of me thy Creature that being first estated by thee in a condition of holinesse and falling willingly from the same by mine owne rebellion into a most fearfull desprate estate of sinne and damnation I might bee restored againe to a better condition of life and immortalitie by the death passion of thy deere Sonne Looke downe I humbly pray thee with the â—ies of thy mercy vppon mee thy most vnwoâ—thy seruant who doth vnfainedly here confesse before thee that though I am by Nature most sinfull and miserable yet such herein is my desperate case that through the blindnes of my minde and hardnes of heart which cannot repent I am so farre from knowing my misery much lesse how to helpe my selfe out of this wofull estate that the very wisedome of my flesh is emnity against thee And my selfe not onely rebelling against the meanes which might discouer vnto mee my miserie but most desperatly peruerting those meanes to the further hardning of my heart and so to the more desperate enwrapping me in the bonds of damnation by heaping vp wrath against the day of wrath And therefore First I humbly pray thee Blessed Lord who hast the key of Dauid that openest and no man shuts that shuts and no man openest to open the blind eies of my mind that I descerne the wonderous things of thy law that so in the true glasse of thy holy law I may clearly discerne mine owne miserable estate and by the hammer of thy Law my hard heart may be throughly broken with the sence of my sinnes that so feeling my sinne a burthen which I am not able to beare I may be wholy confounded in my selfe as discerning my selfe to bee an vtter cast-a-way and reprobate branch fit for nothing but for the vnquenchable fire of thy Ielousie O make me Lord to see the inward vildnesse of mine heart and that all the thoughts and imaginations thereof are onely euill continually that though I may be happily free from grosse euils and seeme to shew forth some ciuill goodnesse yet those may bee coÌ„uinced to be most abhominable because they proceed from the filthy sink of my heart and the lesse I discerne the euill of my waies the more I may acknowledg the deceitfulnesse of mine heart the more I may conuince the obliquitie thereof that howsoeuer I seemed to be aliue as being ignorant of my misery yet now discerning my selfe in thy righteous Law I may not only acknowledge my selfe dead in sinnes and trespasses and so vtterly senselesse and vnable to helpe my selfe but also may renounce vtterly mine owne wit and wisedome to any good as being no better then desperate Rebellion against thee Thus beeing confounded and wholly cast out of my selfe and finding my case to be out of measure sinfull and so altogether desperate in regard of any ability as of my selfe to my recouery O let mee not sinke vtterly vnder this insupportable burthen but put thine holy hand vnder me to preuent vtter dispaire and sustaine mee secretly by thy mighty Power that I bee not swallowed vp in death Oh raise mee vp I humbly pray thee with the hope of thy mercie and leade me by the hand of thy grace to seeke it where it may bee found Bring me into the secret Chamber of thy gracious Presence where I may behold thy face in my Sauiour and grant me to admire thine infinite wisedome and mercie in prouiding so soueraigne a remedie for my distresse O giue me to be rauished with thy loue in the exceeding riches of my Redeemer and make me so to valew the worth of his Merit as for the obtaining thereof to resolue on vtter renouncing and parting with whatsoeuer I haue to obtaine the same And so finding now by thy Grace what neede I haue thereof oh worke in me a secret hope that thou maist be reconciled if I can fasten on the meanes thereto and grant me aboue all to hunger after his righteousnes that so mine iniquities being thereby couered I may draw neere with confidence vnto the Throane of Grace to begge vnfeignedly euen with strong cries the pardon of my sinnes And though I receiue not a present answer to my desire yet sustaine me I pray thee with thy gracious Spirit that so I may with patience waite thy good leysure and neuer giue ouer till thou hast saide vnto my Soule I am thy Saluation And though I do not presently feele this testimony of thy Spirit sealing me vp to the day of Redemption yet grant me I pray thee to be strong in Faith beleeuing what I feele not as I would and hoping for what I do not yet enioy that so thereby being knit vnto Christ my Sauiour and made one with him I may therby draw vertue from his death to the mortifying of my corrupt Nature and killing of those speciall lustes that do hindeâ— this sense of thy loue in him towards me that so feeling in me a dying to corruption I may also therby apprehend more fully the discharge of the guilt of my sinnes in the merites of my Sauiour and so therby renewing my peace with thee my gracious God I may reioyce in the hope of that glory which hee hath purchased for me And so in the hope of that Glory grant mee I humbly pray thee to draw vertue from the Resurrection of my Sauiour that so I may be raised vp with him to newnesse of life whereby I may render thanks vnto thee for this vnspeakeable gift and to bee made meete for the same in the acceptable time And that I may not be disappointed of my Hope Oh grant me still to liue by faith in the Sonne of God dayly denying mine owne righteousnesse that still I may bee found acceptable with thee in him aboue all worthinesse in my selfe of my imperfect endeauours only in his righteousnesse and so therby may be prepared to the hope of Glorie And seeing I am like to meete with many hinderances in pursuite of this Glory both from the World without either detaining mee in the way or drawing me from the marke as also from mine owne deceitful heart within as discouraging mee in my course and laggering mee in my pace and sometimes also blinding me either not to discerne or mistake the gole Oh grant me to walk by faith and not by sight as to rest on the foundation which stands sure the Lord knoweth who are his though sometimes in the building I may misse of it so to walke as a stranger Pilgrime in the world not clogging my selfe in my iourney with
might dayly grow vp in Christ to perfect holines therfore though corruption remaine in mee yet seeing it doth not raigne in mee here is my comfort that I am not vnder the Law but vnder Grace though I am sometimes as no better then lost in my selfe yet this is that I may still deny mine owne righteousnesse that I may be found of thee in Christ for the concerning of present corruption for the auesting of my person in him to bee enabled thereby to perfect holinesse Onely gracious God grant mee heere I pray thee still to iustifie thy wisedome in condemning mine owne folly and to aduance thy free and constant grace in the acknowledging of mine owne corruptions True it is holie Father that as thou madest man righteous at the first but he sought many inuentions to his owne ouerthrow so didst thou so restore me againe by thy power of Christ vnto a more durable state of holinesse that neither shall I euer fall away from thee finally neither though thou hast left corruption in mee yet seeing thy end heerein was to make mee still deny my selfe that I might stand fast in Christ in whom thou hast ingrafted mee therfore neither might I haue falne at al into such feareful distraction if I had kept me close vnto my hold neither though I haue fallen by letting goe my hold yet shall not my falling make thy truth without effect nay rather shall proue a meanes to make good the same And therefore I doe heere vnfainedly acknowledge before thee blessed Lord mine owne folly in letting goe my hold thou hast not beene wanting with all meanes to preserue me vpright but I haue beene wanting to the meanes and so I haue beene wanting vnto thee and to my selfe thou hast willed mee to liue by faith euen when I haue feeling of thy loue and my inward pride hath peruerted thy gracious feeling to make mee liue by sence and behold the Sunne when it shineth and so by peruerting the comfort of thy Spirit as an occasion to the flesh I haue iustly greiued thy Spirit and so thou with drewest thy face from mee and I haue beene troubled Troubled in my soule for the losse of thy fauour troubled of the world by seeking false remedies there from troubled in my Spiâ—it by the confusion of those remedies as breeding some times hardnesse of heart and so bringing forth troubles by exposing to outward euils and hindering in the vse of spirituall remedies sometimes herevpon breeding further trouble and inward horror and anguish of spirit many times laying the axe to the very roote challenging the maine And yet in all this farre lesse then I haue deserued that so I might haue hope in thy free grace for my recouerie And in all this aduancing thy righteousnesse in abasing my folly that so I might still renounce mine owne righteousnesse and labour to bee found in Christ for my recouery and perfection Onely keepe me here holy Father from presumptuous sinne that it may not haue dominion ouer me to turne thy grace into wantonnesse and then lead mee into thy priuy Chamber stay me with thy flaggons that I may not onely not sleepe in death but also awake and sing out of the dust and out of the deepe to admire thine infinite wisdome and to see thee who art inuisible that I may bee raised vp againe O giue me therefore most mighty Lord to condemme mine owne folly for being wise in mine owne eies in turning thy fauour as an occasion to the flesh grant mee to thanke my selfe that of the flesh I haue reaped such confusion and giue thee thankes the more thou hast sustained mee in the graue Grant me out of experience of mine owne foolishnesse to giue thee the glory of thy free goodnesse and out of the experience of thy power in my weaknesse to comfort my selfe that thou wilt returne againe And that thou maist vndoubtedly returne with speed O strengthen my weake faith I humbly pray thee with thy precious promises that thy foundation stands sure whatsoeuer my building may be thou knowest who are thine O let it comfort my fainting spirit that all things shall worke together for the best to those whome thou hast chosen that so I may wisely compare one thing with another things past with things present by those things to come that so I may liue by faith in the iudging of my present estate by looking behind and before and not be cast off my hold either by present temptations or future feares O establish me with thy precious promise that thou wilt keepe me to the end that so I may liue by faith in casting my selfe vppon thy mighty power and committing my selfe in weldoing into thine holy hands Teach mee to deny mine owne wisedome that I may trust perfectly in thy mercy and grant me in things to rely vppon the wisedome of thy word which is able to make mee wise and perfect to saluation Let thy word keepe me in all my waies that I may not decline to the right hand or to the left and let my supplications be alwaies manifest at the throne of grace that so I may be carefull for nothing O let me not in any case greiue thine holy Spirit any more but grant mee to entertaine and cherrish the motions therof by turning them into feruent prayers and conscioaÌ„ble practices seasonable to the occasion weane mee from the loue of the world that I may haue fellowship in thy loue and purge my heart from secret wickednesse that it bee not stolne away from thee keepe mee alwaies close vnto thee that I may not fall into open wickednesse and giue mee grace alwaies to remember my end that I may be still prepared against the comming of my Maister Sauiour Iesus Christ And so still accept me gracious Father as I am in him and not in my selfe as I would be in thee and not what I am in corruption as I shall be with thee not what I am in this present world enabling me still to desire aboue what I can do and to beleeue aboue what I can thinke or desire and so lead mee forward by thy power through the vally of teares that though I somtimes slippe yet I may vp againe though I stray a while yet I may thereby mend my pace follow close after the marke not looking on my selfe mine owne worth or inability but still looking vnto Iesus the Authour and finisher of my faith that so I may in him bee more then Conqueorr and so fighting still the good fight of faith I may finish my course with ioy and lay hold of eternall life in due season And so fil me O God of grace with all ioy in beleeuing that so I may liue by faith that I may bee readier to die in faith and to giue vp my soule by faith into thy holy hands apprehending by faith the Resurrection from the dead that so I may bee translated from death to life
and enioy for euer thy glorious presence Grant these things O Gracious Lord according to thy goodnesse in Iesus Christ my Sauiour and blessed Redeemer Amen A Prayer for obtaining Triall and cherishing of the holy Spirit of God GLorious and euerlasting Lord God Father of all Spirits and soules of the righteous who hast reuealed thy selfe in thy sacred word to be a Spirit holy and incomprehensible eternall infinite immortall all-sufficient and therefore wilt be worshipped in Spirit and truth And hast in the riches of thy mercy promised to send thy holy Spirit the Comforter into our hearts to lead vs into all truth and to comfort vs in all our tribulations and so to seale vs vp to the day of Redemption Looke downe graciously vppon mee thy poore and forlorne seruant whose poâ—tion is in this valley of miserie to wander in darknesse and walke many times in the valley of the shadow of death altogether ignorant of my way and so subiect to continuall error and wholy destitute of all direction therein and so necessarily exposed to continuall danger For mine owne heart within me is no better then a guide to betray me to error and the glory of the world is nought else then a baite to deceiue me either by clogging mee in the way that I may faint in my iourney or diuerting mee from my right home that I may set vp my rest in mine Inne or build my foundation vpon the sands And mine old aduersarie still compasseth and watcheth all opportunities from both either to sinke mee with dispaire that I may perish in the way or to swell me with presumption that I may not enter into the straight gate And euen so did it fare with me Blessed Lord all the daies of my vanity before I knew thee in Christ As mine owne heart misled mee into all error through my wilfull ignorance so it betrayed mee hereby to all occasions of sinne without which I swallowed more greedily then my appointed food and blessed my soule therein as my cheefest happines and so was faster bound in the chaynes of Sathan as being led captiue at his will to euery lust and reioycing therin as my greatest liberty And so also hath it in part befalne mee since my liberty in Christ by whome though I receiued the free Spirit to lead mee in the way of thy statutes and so haue somtimes obeyed the motions thereof to the euidencing of my glorious libertie yet such hath beene the power of my corruption preuailing ouer mee that I haue many times greeued thy good Spirit by my manifold back-slidings and to my sense and apprehension seemed vtterly to haue quenched the same so strong haue I found my corruption to lead mee captiue into many desperate euils so little life and comfort haue I found in prayer hearing thy word especially in my endeauour to repentance either to resist temptations or release my selfe out of the snares thereof And yet thou hast promised that thy Spirit shall abide with mee for euer and still methought in my greatest wandrings on the right hand and on the left methought I heard the voyce of thy Spirit behind me saying This is the way walke in it Me thouhgt I haue heard the voyce of my beloued many times knocking at the doore of my heart when I haue beene asleepe in the bed of my securitie saying Open vnto mee my Loue my Doue my vndefiled yea I haue felt him puting in his finger at the hole of the doore to open it for mee that so I might arise and let him in And haue I not many times arose to entertaine him and loe he was gone Did I not follow after him to seeke him and yet found him not Haue I not many times smarted soundly for my folly because I would not open betimes Haue not the watch-men that should haue cherished mee wounded me iustly for my carelesnesse Haue they not pluckt away my vaile to discouer my nakednesse the more that so my face being couered with shame I might seeke thy face more humbly And yet O my God I am still to seeke of thee though thou still callest on mee to seeke thy face and my heart in some poore measure answereth Thy face Lord will I seeke Yet what fellowship can there be betweene light and darknesse what hope haue I to find thee seeing I want my guide vnto thee yet thou art not wanting vnto mee to tender this holy guide and my guide is not farre from me though I know it not yea thou art euer with me to keepe mee from vtter fainting and thine holy Spirit is within mee helping me to crie vnto thee O harken therefore I humbly pray thee vnto the groanes of thine owne Spirit and haue mercy vppon thine owne seruant for greeuing the same Restore to mee the ioy of thy saluation that I may discerne the seale of thy Spirit and establish mee with thy free Spirit that I may euer bee with thee O make mee wise to trie the Spirits whether they bee of God or no that neither I may be deluded by a Spirit of error and withall may be able to discerne the worke and euidence of thine holy Spirit from the motions and testimonie of mine owne ignorant and dâ—ceitfull heart Grant me therefore Gracious Father to plead mine interest in thy Spirit by such true meanes and endeauors as may vndoubtedly auouch it to proceed from thee and may apparantly conuince that it dwelleth in me Giue mee to discerne the means wherby thy Spirit is conuayed vnto mee that after I haue heard thy word and beleeued therein then I haue beene sealed with the Spirit of promise grant mee to discerne the maner how it tooke possession of mine heart that to make way for it fit habittation it cast downe euery Imagination that enabled it selfe against thy wisedome that it onely might rule and gouerne mee Spiritually and that withall thereby my house was swept and cleansed from the Dominion of sinne that Iesus Christ thereby might wholy gouerne mee And grant mee to auouch the truth of thy Spirit dwelling in me not somuch by my entertainment and apprehension thereof because it bloweth where it lifteth and though I may heare the sound thereof yet I know not whence it comes nor whether it goes but rather by the nature and qualitie of thy Spirit which will leaue it true stampe in my receiued Spirit in euery qualitie thereof for the assuring my possession thereof by resemblance therto though yet surely and absolutely according to the Nature of the Spirit neither working it at all times alike nor at any time in full measure but still working according to the capacitie of the vessell and the maine end the glorie of God that still it power may bee seene in my weaknesse that the glorie may be of God and not of Man And therefore as I may not challenge a right in thy Spirit vnlesse I find some liuely resemblance and effects of it holy nature in mee as to be
Holy Meeke Peaceable Sincere and the like so I may not challenge the truth thereof in me though I find not at all times a like measure of it working nor at any time in this life may expresse the full Image therof seeing it worketh freely and so cannot alwaies be apprehended alike and it worketh freely that it onely may haue the glory of the worke and therefore so still worketh that it power may bee in weaknesse and it glorie perfected by infirmitie And therefore as I may at all times find the like working of thy holy Spirit so if I feele in regard of this different working thereof a different apprehension of the seale as sometimes not to feele it at all sometimes more or lesse to apprehend the same yet grant me holy Father not to challenge the working of thy Spirit because it is free and wise working according to what is best for my present state which is not sometimes fit for comfort and yet absolutely in it good pleasure euen then suspending comfort when I haue long fitted my selfe thereto But rather specially to condemme mine owne folly in depriuing my selfe of such effect of it working aboue all to adore the infinit wisedome and power of thy Spirit working yet in these greatest desertions so with me as to keepe mee from vtter fainting and further my cheefe good to raise mee vp againe by repentance that I may bee fit for comfort and yet when I haue done my best to suspend what I most desire that so in the best I may acknowledge my selfe an vnprofitable seruant and so still labour to bee found in Christ to bee lead along to perfection Thus grant me gracious Father to make triall of Spirits and when I haue found by some such liuely euidences that thine holy Spirit dwelleth in mee O make mee I humbly pray thee wise to cherish and retaine this blessed guest that I may neuer breake through by greeuing the same that not departing from it guidance it may neuer depart from me and therfore giue me still to harken to the call of thy Spirit shewing mee the right way and enable me to submit my selfe to the yoake of thy Spirit howsoeuer irksome and vnsauourie to my rebellious corruptions Let mee not consult at any hand with flesh and blood in the motions of thy Spirit neither let mee turne the comforts of thy Spirit as an occasion to the flesh keepe mee I beseech thee from Spirituall wickednes that I may not abuse thy blessed Spirit and enable mee to avoyd grosse offences least I offer violence to thy Spirit and driue it from mee Aboue all keepe me I pray thee fâ—om wisedome in sinne either to commit it vppon carnall grounds or ends which thy word alloweth not or to lye in it by presumption or security least I waste my conscience and so quench thy Spirit O make mee still iealous of my selfe and best abilitie that I may not challenge the power of thy Spirit and giue mee conscience euen of secret thoughis that I may tremble at and abhominate them least I greeue thy Spirit make mee to startle at the motion of such sinnes as the world makes a sport of least I startle thy good Spirit and grant me to be humbled in my best endeauors that so the Spirit of Christ may helpe me for the acceptance thereof O giue me to make my requests manifest daily vnto the throne of grace least I be distracted in all things and so greeue thy holy Spirit and in all things grant mee to resigne vp my selfe to the guiding and tuition of thy blessed Spirit that so in all occasions it may go well with me Thus grant me gracious Father to retaine thâ— comfort of thy Spirit by entertaining all good occasions to cherish the same And seeing I must needs acknowledge that by my neglect of these duties I haue much greeued thy Spirit and haue done what lies in me euen to quench the same O grant me blessed Lord to recouer thy Spirit againe and so to enioy the most powerfull presence thereof And therefore giue wisedome heerein seriously to enter into mine owne hart and to iudge my selfe for greeuing thy Spirit Enable me with strong cries to cause the returne of thy Spirit and giue me patience to endure such afflictions as my wantonnesse hath procured mee Make mee wise to remember the times of old when thy face did shine vpon me and giue me comfort in the present that it is farre better with mee then I haue deserued It is thine infinite mercies that I am not swallowed vp of despaire that hence I may gather hope of the returne thereof againe Grant me to stirre vp thy Spirit in me by communing with mine owne heart and submitting the same wiselie to the search and censure thereof and make mee more vile in my selfe because I haue so abased thy Spirit that thou mayest haue the glory in the deniall of my selfe O let mee neuer giue ouer vntill thou hast spoken peace to my soule and thy good Spirit hath answered me That thou art my saluation and grant me to esteem highly and so make vse of the least glimpse of thy fauour euen in the meanest vnlikeliest occasions as vndoubted Emblems of a greater supply in thy good time And so teach me to wait thy good leysure in healing my soule of that stinking rottennesse that hath greeued thy Spirit yet to be led meekly by thy word that so I may be fit for comfort and then to waite thy good pleasure when thou wilt refresh me Yea though I finde not haply such returne all my life long which formerly I haue had yet grant me to wait all the daies of my mourning vppon thy holy hand who knowest what is best for me and to liue still by Faith in the Sonne of God that although thou kill mee yet I I will trust in thee that thou which art comming wilte come and the iust must liue by Faith Euen so O Father keepe me by thy mighty power when I seeme lost in my selfe and that through Faith in thy Son Iesus that I may still be found in him not hauing mine owne righteousnesse and that I may be kept vnto saluation by the power of his merit Vnto whom with thine own glorious Maiesty and God the blessed Spirit be ascribed as is most due all honour and power and praise and obedience in all the Churches Amen A Prayer for the obtaining of a liuely Hope O God of hope who art the hope of all the ends of the earth and in thy speciall wisedome as thou hast commanded vs to beleeue in thy Sonne that so wee might haue euerlasting saluation so hast thou enioyned vs to worke out our saluation with feare and trembling and that we may not faint in our endeauours nor be to seeke of what wee yet enioy not hast promised an Anchor of hope both to giue vs some securitie amidst the manifold troubles of this life and to giue assurance also vnto vs that
preuailed against my vnworthynesse Thou mightest for my sinnes haue left me to perish in mine extremities but thou hast compassed mee about with ioyfull deliuerance thou mightest haue made my wombe a graue to burie the dead or in affoording life to another thou mightest haue procured my death but yet thou hast not onely made my wombe a wel-spring of life but restored life vnto me also for the cherishing thereof Marueilous O Lord are thy workes infinite are thy mercies my soule by present experience knoweth it well O my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy Name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits Thou hast heard my prayers and looked vppon my sorrow thou hast redeemed my life from death and healed mine infirmities and crowned mee with thine euerlasting compassions O giue me I humbly pray thee a thankfull heart not onely now while the memorie and sense of thy fauour is fresh before mee but continually euen so long as I haue any being Grant that I may learne by this liuely euidence of thy power and mercy for euer heereafter to depend onely on thee Quicken mee also to all holy duties that my thankfulnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian carriage Make mee a kind and carefull mother willing to vndergoe the paine and trouble of education Let no nicenesse or curiositie hinder mee from those seruices to which both nature and religion hath appointed me let me also be carefull when time requireth to season the fruite thou hast giuen mee with the sauing knowledge of thee and thy deere Sonne that my desire may manifestly appeare to be set for the encrease of thy Kingdome Vouchsafe so to order my affections and to bring them in obedience vnder thee that if it should be thy pleasure either now or heerafter to take this Infant from me I may as willingly part with it as thou freely gaue it me And now O God perfect in mee that strength which thou hast begunne make me to grow in care to serue thee faithfully both in the duties of pietie and in other businesse of my place and calling that I may bee a comfort to my husband and example to my neighbours a grace to my profession and a meanes of glorie to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for those who are employed in the assistance of a trauailing woman HOly Father who hast commanded vs to serue one another in loue and hast made this the triall of our true loue vnto thee and our neighbour that wee helpe them in the time of need Be present we pray with vs â—y thy gracious Spirit to seale vp the pardon of our sinnes that they hinder vs not in this businesse and to assist vs with such conscience and diligence that our labour may not bee in vaine Wee confesse O Lord that wee are not worthy of â—ny gâ—â—d for our selues much lesse that wee should smother the good of others neither that any labour of ours can further thy good without thy speciall Grace enabling vs therein and accepting the same Accept vs therefore wee pray thee in the blood of thy Son shed thy loue into our hearts by thine holy Spirit that all our labour may be done in loue In loue to thy Maiesty who enablest vs to all good and in loue to our Christian Sister especially to her soule And therefore keepe vs wee pray thee from all idle sauours and superstitious conceits as auaileable heereunto from all rotten and vnsauoury speech which may interrupt the worke and teach vs to seeke helpe onely from thy Grace vsing al gracious communication both among our selues and to the comfort of the distressed that shee may only depend vpon thy mighty power applying all diligence and wisedome in affoording seasonable helpe for the easing of the paine or furthering of the birth Furnish vs with skill and her with strength patiently to awaite the appointed time of her deliuerance and knit all our hearts vnto thee that wee may feare thy Name obseruing the passages of thy prouidence in this and all other thy great workes and studying to giue thee praise and glory for the same in Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A thankesgiuing vpon the blessing of their labour in the Deliuerance HOly Father who hast reuealed thy selfe in thy word to bee a God that hearest prayer and hast now made good this promise vnto vs thine vnworthy seruants in hearing our prayers in the behalfe of this distressed woman Giue vs hearts we humbly pray thee to conceiue wisely of this thy great kindnesse and open our mouths we beseech thee that wee declare this thy goodnesse for the comfort of others that by this liuely example we may beleeue in thy great Name What hast thou not done heerein O Lord euen aboundantly aboue what wee could thinke or aske And what can we repay vnto thee worthy of so great saluation Wee confesse our selues vnworthy to aske much lesse to obtain for our selues yet behold thou hast heard our cries and releeued this thy desolate seruant It is not enough that thou hast giuen ease and deliuerance to the Mother vnlesse also thou didst liue to her Babe that so in it her life might bee againe receiued yea thou hast made our cup to run ouer with ioy and gladnesse who were almost ouerwhelmed with sorrow and dispaire Thine O Lord bee the onely glorie and praise heereof O fill our hearts with thankefulnesse that our reioycing may bee in trueth and humble vs vnfeignedly in the consciences of our owne vnworthinesse that we may giue thee the onely glory of all thy mercies Let our humility appeare in seruing each other in loue and let our loue bee manifest in prouoking each other to trust in thee alone for the time to come let our confidence in this prepare vs to this or the like occasion that so we may finde a gracious issue in our greatest extremities And let our experience of thy good hand heerein weane vs from the loue of the world wherin wee are like continually to meet with what will oppose or ensnare vs and prouoke vs to long for our dissolution when all teares shall be wiped from our eyes And let our desire to bee with thee make vs alwaies ready for thee in all sobriety modesty humility patience and perseuerance that so wee may bee found faithfull when our Maister commeth And that wee may bee found in peace at his glorious appearance O grant vs daily to deny our selues that still wee may bee found of thee in the righteousnes of our Sauiour may by the power thereof be daily accepted of thee by the efficacie of the same may bee more and more conformed to thine holy Image and so may at length be fully satisfied therewith And as thou hast now added one vnto the number of mankinde shewing thy wisedome and power in the framing of him in the wombe in bringing him
Thus am I bceome O Lord as one forlorne and out of minde free among the dead no better in mine owne account then a meere abiect and cast a-way whose hope is not onely perished from the earth but without hope or helpe from thee my God And all this is iustly come vpon me by reason of mine owne foolishnes who haue neglected my watch and so haue fallen from thee and haue bene carelesse of the means to restore me speedily againe whereby my wounds haue festered and seeme to be incureable and so my anguish is greater then I can expresse my sinnes are become a burthen that I am not able to beare my heart within wasteth with continuall sorrow and I daily receiue a sentence of death And yet though all this bee come vpon me yet thy foundation standeth sure thou knowest who are thine though thou hast chasticed mee sore for my folly yet thou hast not giuen mee ouer vnto death and therefore yet there is hope though I haue receiued a sentence of death yet it is that I might dye to mine owne confidence and trust in thee the liuing God who raiseth vp from the dead the more I feele my sinnes a burthen which I am not able to beare the more dost thou inuite me to come vnto thee that I may be raised and therefore I must finde my selfe daily lost in my selfe that I may bee found of thee in Christ not hauing mine owne righteousnes Though thy law doth thunder nothing but vengeance against me yet thou commandest mee still to beleeue in thy name and therefore though thou kill mee yet I will trust in thee For thou O my God wilt be found in the issues of death thou louedst me euen when I was thine enemie and therefore canst not reiect mee now I seâ—ke thee in truth Thou hast embraced mee with euerlasting compassions and therefore canst not neither wilt forsake me in my great extremitie and thou hast many times heretofore deliuered me from the Lyon and the Beare from many desperate snares thou hast many times rescued mee and wilt thou not deliuer me from euery euill worke and preserue mee constantly vnto thy glorious appearance yea certainely blessed Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe I beleeue that thou art able to do wonderfully aboue what I can thinke or desire and therefore that thou wilt not deny mee what I aske in thy name I beleeue that thou canst bring light out of darknesse and therefore thou wilt turne my darknes into light I beleeue that all things shall worke together to the best to those which are called according to thy purpose and therefore that thou wilt turne this my greatest abasement to my greatest comfort Onely I humbly pray thee giue mee patience to waite vpon thee vntill thou come and comfort me submit mee to thy wise physick whereby thou maiest heale mee that so being healed I may bee fit for comfort O heale me therefore I humbly pray thee by the blood of thy sonne wash me throughly from all my sinnes and clense mee from all mine iniquities Create in mee O Lord a cleane heart that I may appeare all faire before thee and renew a right spirit within mee that I may worship thee in spirit and truth Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation that I may be perswaded of thy loue vnto me and stablish me with thy free spirit that I may vnfeignedly loue thee againe and neuer depart from thy holy couenant grant me to renew my couenant daily with thee that thou maiest be for euer with me to keepe me in thy feare and keepe mee daily lowly in mine owne eyes that still I may bee accepted of thee in thy beloued Giue mee trust in thee by distrusting mine owne deceitfull heart especially in time of temptation and teach mee to rely on thy mighty power by faith euen when powers and principalities doe most oppose mee O strengthen mee with the strong cries of thy blessed Spirit that I may be feruent in prayer to wrestle with thy Maiesty that so thou maist hasten thy worke to comfort me And though I finde not that comfort I haue had or desire yet let this comfort me that I haue done thy will and let it humble mee still that I am not fit for the comfort I doe desire that so with patience I may waite for the same comforting my selfe that seeing this is the time of my warfare and not of my crowning therefore if I waite for what I am not fit for yet there is enough before mee to satisfie me aboundantly and therefore grant mee still to forget what is behind and to hasten to what is before to waite for the comming of my Lord and Sauiour and so prepare my selfe daily to his glorious appearance And euen so come Lord Iesus come quickly Amen FINIS