prayer GOod God the creator and maker of all mankind seéing it hath pleased thee of thy deuine prouidence to ordaine the night as a meane to deliuer vs from the trauailes of the day and to minister ease and gladnes to the wearied lims of our bodies to the great comfort and refreshing of the same by the fruition of quiet sleep and rest according to humane nature wee beseech thee therfore O Lord of thy vnspeakeable goodnes and mercy to be our watchman and defender this night that we be not ouercome by fantasies dreames or other illusions but that through thy permission we may take such quiet rest and voluntarie sleepe as nature requireth and though our grosse sences are at such times stopped yet vouchsafe euer to graunt vs the assistance of thy grace and holy spirit that our soules may respect the comming of thy sonne our sauiour Iesus Christ that at what time soeuer he calleth wee may bee found watchfull and continually ready to performe his will that after this life ended we may eternally rest in glorie and as the brightnesse of the sunne doth in the morning disperse the darke cloudes and thicke mistes from the face of the earth whereby the same was before couered with darkenesse so wee humbly beseech thee vouchsafe to disperse and burie our sinnes in the blend and obedience of thy deare sonne which doe as it were shadow vs from the bright beames of thy fauourable countenance and euermore assist vs with thy gratious goodnesse that our sleepe may be so healthfull vnto vs that we with willing minds arising in the morning may vtterly shake off al maner of drowsinesse and make hast to exercise our selues in such Christian labours as thy deuine prouidence hath ordained vs vnto to the aduancement and renowne of thy holy name credit of thy Church comfort reliefe of our Christian bretheren and our euerlasting saluation In mercy graunt this O Lord we beseech thee for Iesus Christ his sake our onely redeemer and sauiour vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all power and dominion for euer Amen Twentie and one godly and necessary praiers gathered out of the Cxix Psalme wherein are contained petitions crauing aid of Gods spirit against Sathan and al wickednesse complaints against the rage of the vngodly thanksgiuing f r our deliuerance and consolation in aduersitie for that God both can and will assist his people 1. A Prayer for the assistance of Gods holy spirit for to direct our mindes after his holy lawes GRatious God so blesse me I beseech thee thy poore seruant that out of the hidden treasures of thy word I may gather such fruitful delights that I may walk vprightly and lead a blamelesse life in thy sight in keeping those precepts which thou O Lord God hast therein appointed Oh how blessed are those which obserue thy statutes vnto the end seeking thee with a pure heart and carefully obeying thy eternall maiestie may it please thee therefore so to guide my waies that I quaile not in my course neither bend my selfe to follow after vnrighteousnesse but faithfully perseuer in that perfect path which thou hast enclined me vnto out of thy holy word and thou being a righteous and euerlasting God doest not command me to followe any thing which is not lawfull in thy sight nor redounding to my saluation Erect my heart continually to the contemplation of thy blessed lawes whereby my dealings may be ordered through thy gouernance that I may immitate and carefully keepe the same all the daies of my life with zeale and obedience towards thy diuine maiestie then shall all things according â—o thy will goe well with me and I shall turne mine eies to beholde that thing which is good and laudable in thy fight yea and euermore worship thee with an vpright minde in spirit and truth as becommeth thy child without all dissimulation and hipocrisie Lord I am fully purposed to keepe thy statutes euen by the direction of thy spirit for my trust resteth in thee 2. A prayer to withstand the frailty of flesh cleaue vnto the Lord. GOuerne and direct mee O Lord according to thy worde that I may order my life by the rule therof and by the direction of thy holy spirit dilligently obserue those thinges which thou hast commanded me I haue sought thee O God with my whole heart let me not therfore goe astray from thee And though by frailety of my flesh I haue vnaduisedly heretofore falleÌ„ from thee yet I beseech thée of thy endlesse mercy slay me that I be not cast downe for euer and quicken me that I wander not any longer from thy precepts vnite my minde to thy sacred misteries that I may lay vp thine euerlasting promises in my hart least through the vaine entisements of my ghostly enemies I be enforced to forget negligently for want thereof to offend thy diuine maiestie for except thou O Lord which art altogether mercy dost guide and teach mee to leade my life aright truely my weakenesse would not permit mee to ioy or preuaile in that which is good teach me therefore O Lord zealously to keepe thy statutes that I may boldly speake to the land praise of thy name and openly shewe foorth thy holy word and blessed will graunt that I may take more delight in the keeping of thy exhortations and commandments then in al maner of earthly treasures and may meditate continually in thy precepts endue me with heauenly wisedome that I may vnderstand thy lawes aright and be euermore occupied therin vnto my liues end Amen 3. A prayer to be guided in all puritie and godlinesse GIue eare I most humbly beseech thee O Lord vnto the prayers that I offer heere vnto thy deuine maiestie Continue thy fauour towards me in directing me with thy holy spirit that I may ouercome that which sauoureth of euil and imbrace those things which thou hast commanded Abandon from the eies of my soule the vale of darknesse that I may view and beholde the true light and see the wonderfull secrets which euermore shine out of thy heauenly doctrine and lead my life in quietnesse to thy honor and glorie Thou knowest that I am a stranger and vnacquainted on the earth and that I desire to be brought to another place euen to thy heauenly habitation wherfore I beseech thée O God encline thine eare towards me hide not from me thy statutes neither yet take thy holy spirit from me that should leade me to imbrace thy righteousnesse I am desirous with great care to liue acording to thy lawes and to keepe thine ordinance both in prosperitie aduersity wherfore O Lord I beseech thee let this zeale consume me Thou rebukest and destroyest the proud persons and such as stubbornely striue against thee and appointest destruction and bitternesse vnto those that refuse to keepe thy precepts Though all men enuie me and haue me in despight for the truthes sake yet thou in thy good time wilt remoue them far
from me because I thy humble seruant doe put my trust in thee let my mind heart be euermore occupied in meditating on thy statutes for therein is my delight 4. A prayer in affliction GOod God of thy infinite mercie I beseeche thee poure vpon me the oyle of thy grace whose soule is grieuously tormented with daily afflictions for I am like one without life and fastened to the sepulchre but my trust is in thee O my good God that thou wilt assist me in my necessitie and restore me thy poore seouant vnto life againe that I may laud and praise thy holy name euen in the middest of the congregation for euer and euer Quicken mee I say according to thy word I will open vnto thee my complaints giue eare therefore vnto me and still encourage me in the way of thy truth and teach me thy statutes Enflame my heart with the loue of thy wisedome raise me vp that am now fallen for my soule melteth away for very heauinesse Exempt from me whatsoeuer may withdraw me from thy lawes and graunt that I may continue in that good way which thou hast imprinted in my heart Giue vnto me I beseech thee a willing and zealous mind to cleaue fast vnto those thinges which are approoued by thy testimonies and that I neuer shrink from thee so shall I not be confounded drawe me out of the straights of sin into the euident and broad place of righteousnes that I may finish the whole course of my life by the instinct direction of thy holy spirit and this life being ended I may foreuer enioy thy eternall saluation through my Lord and sauior Christ Iesus 5. A prayer against the assaults of Sathan GVide me O Lord in the way of thy statutes that I may euer order my life aâ—cording to the rule thereof by the prouident direction of thy holy spirit without the which my insufficiencie shall not be once able to performe the same in thy sight and euermore assist mee with the knowledge oâ— thy word that I may fully with vnderstanding obserue and keepe the same with my whole heart Instruct me daily O God that am now entred into the way of thy precepts quench in my minde the desire of filthie sucre couetousnes vsurie which would draw me to all sinne and iniquitie and incline my heart to those things that may please thee best that I imbracing the same sincerly may fructesie in good workes newnesse of life to thy glorie O my good God keepe backe mine eies that they bee not deceiued with the enticing shewes of lewd vanities that would withdraw me from the bright beames of thy incomparable maiestie â—leade me O Lord into the true life that I may zealously followe thee my guide confirme me in thy truth as thou hast promised turne away reproche and shame from me because I feare and loue thy iudgements I desire nothing more then the encrease of thy grace and the keeping of thy commaundements saue me therfore O Lord and keepe me both now and euermore that I neuer haue occasion to sin against thee but that I may still trust and euermore depend vpon thy mercies to be defended from all dangers 6. A praier for perseuerance in the right way of godlinesse GVard me on euery side O Lord with thy louing kindnes and omnipotent power and graunt mee thy saluation wherby I may be defended from al my enemies and be able to answere them in thee my sauior for I doe wholy depend vpon thy wordes let me not be assaulted with deadly iniuries neither let me in my afflictions be vnpatient let not the truth of thy holy worde be taken or estranged from me but let my mouth still set forth thy glorie quicken mee therefore in thy lawe for I doe wait for thy iudgements vpon the vngodly and I will keepe the doctrine which thou hast giuen mee for euer and euer and walke at liberty with a quiet minde because thou hast indued me with a desire to thy commandements graunt that I neuer shrinke from thy truth but with all boldenes of spirit endeuor my selfe to dispute of those thinges that concerne thy law euen before the mighty princes of the earth let my whole delight be in thy precepts O Lord which are most deare vnto me and encrease my zeale in thy worde for I haue loued it with my whole heart aboue all earthly felicity I will lift vp my hands vnto thee and before thy face will I present my selfe beseeching thée to endue me with thy grace and holy spirit that I may walke in thy fight according to the prescribed rule of thy precepts that thou hast shewed me and fiâ—e my whole delight comfort for euer in meditating vpon thy statutes O God that liuest for euer 7. A prayer for pacient abiding Gods good pleasure GRaunt that I by experience may perceiue that thou art mindeful O God of those thinges which thou hast spoken vnto me thy seruant and doest command me to trust in for in al my miseries this is my stedfast comfort that thou wilt in thy good time both helpe and succour thy seruant that trusteth in thee for though the prowd and vngodly person haue me in derision for thy names sake yet will I euer depend vpon thy holy word for thy promises haue quickned mee and when I think vpon the mercies which thou hast shewed vnto me in punishing them according to their deserts I am indued with great comfort thou knowest O God what feare incloseth me when I heare the wicked blâ—spheme thy holy name and forsake thy diuine precepts being by thy spirit enformed of the euils that hang ouer their heads Let thy statutes Lord be my delight that during the time of my wearie pilgrimage in this earthly tabernacle I may neuer cease to sound thy praises with zealous harmonie but set my whole care in the commemoration and calling vpon thy holy name and watchfully thinke how I may behaue my selfe to keepe thy lawes for at midnight haue I erected my minde vnto thee and haue not ceased at all times to poure out my praiers before thee the which thy spirit had motioned me vnto because I haue alwaies had an especiall care to keepe the precepts which thou hast appointed me 8 A consolation that God hath holpen vs and a prayer for his grace so to continue GOod God thou art my portion and the expected land of my inheritance graunt therefore that I may haue thy word to direct me and when I poure foorth my praiers before thee with speed I beseech thee giue eare vnto me vouchsafe to assist mee with thy holie spirit and according to thy promises vowed vnto thy seruants haue mercie vpon me let me not be enclined at any time to forget thy goodnes but continually quicken mee in thy truth and graunt mee O Lord God such an vnderstanding hart that I neuer swarue from thy testimonies but endeuour my selfe with all speede to the keeping of thy
prayer to be said at all times I Most heartily beseech thee O thou God of al mercy power to make strong my soule against all the troublesome and most dangerous assaults and temptations of the world the flesh and the deuill confirme my beliefe and faith in thee and make me good Lord one of the number of thy elect and graunt that all my sinnes may be cleansed in the blood of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ O deare Father let thy graces and blessings be continually poured vpon me and shine on me with the comfortable beautie of thy cheerefull countenance and graunt me in this life the perpetuall direction of thy holy spirit and in the life to come eternall rest with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A charitable prayer to be vsed at any time for the benefit of such as liue amisse O Lord thou hast euer bene our safe hauen and habitation and thy louing kindenesse hath beene plentifully shewed vnto vs and our elders from one generation to another thou art a God that raignest and rulest for euer without beginning or ending yea thou didst create vs of dust and slime of the earth and we being most miserable cretures so soone as thou takest thy spirit from vs are euen then immediatly dissolued into dust againe for as a watch in the night so doth our life passe away and as a tale that is told so do we vanish we grow vp like the hearb which at the rising of the sunne doth flourish but in the euening is cut downe and withereth graunt therefore O God that we neglecting all idle imaginations may account the dayes of our earthly pennance how short they are that our mindes by this cogitation beeing brought from the troublesome care and vaine hope of earthly felicitie as also called away from all those entisements whereby we wander out of the right path of thy truth may aspire to true wisedome in applying our hearts wholly vnto thy eternall testimonies be mercifull vnto vs O Lord and â—aâ—e vs from all the assaults and temptations of our ghostly enemies conduct vs with thy mighty hand we beséech thée in all our dealings that we may walke vprightly in our estate and vocation without fraud or deceit grant that after so long and innumerable troubles as we haue sustâ—ined thy goodnesse may shine vnto vs like a most pleasant light that we being satisfied with the comfortable nourishment thereof may enioy thy true and eternall consolation and like as with many miseries thou hast corrected vs so we beseech thee of thy eternall goodnesse to comfort vs againe and in the middest of all our troubles restore vs to ioy and gladnesse that from the bottome of our hearts we may yeeld continuall praises vnto thee accept vs amongst the number of thy heaâ—enly armie and let the voice of our humble petitions O God ascend vp vnto thee make vs continually thankfull for our election and let vs neuer forget that thou hast taken vs into thy family to be cared for of thee yea let this thy glory shine forth to our posteritie and let thy exceeding goodnes beautifie adorne vs gouerne thou our counsels from thy sanctuary and let our enterprises be acceptable in thy fight O God that liuest for euer Amen A prayer for the assistance of Gods power and holy spirit against our enemies and the dangers of this world ETernall God I most humbly beseech thee giue eare vnto the prayers and dolefull cries which I heere poure foorth before thee strengthen me that I may walke in thy waies and carefully auoid the path that the oppressors tread Accept the requests of thy seruants vouchsafe O Lord in mercie to relieue them that trust in thee against such as resist thy doctrine keepe me as the apple of thy eye and euermore defend me from my enemies euen vnder the shadow of thy winges for they are full of enuy and their cruelty cannot be satisfied but with my death neuerthelesse my hope dependeth only vpon thy assistance that thou wilt stand on my side whereby I may vtterly vanquish and ouerthrow their force for thou art my fortresse and strength in whome is no variety in thee will I trust O God of my saluation yea I will call vpon thee and praise thy name for euermore preserue me therefore and assist me in the day of my daunger let not the vngodly man preuaile against me but preuent their wicked deuises that intend my destruction indue me plentifully with thy graces that I may take delight in those things that may please thee and bestow such good gifts as thou hast lent me to the vse of my Christian bretheren that stand in need therof let thy spirit scale the assurance of thy election in my heart that I neuer decline from the true seruice of thee but with all constancie giue my selfe wholly to the loue of thy law and perseuere therin vnto the end for thou art my portion and the lot of mine inheritance let me not be oppressed by any earthly penury least through frailety of my flesh I be enforced to fall from thee but teach me continually by secret inspirations the right way to attaine to the fruition of thy blessings that I may at all times sing praises vnto thee be thou alwaies at my right haÌ„d O Lord that my course may be directed by thy godly assistance and deliuer me out of all troublsome daungers that I may reioyce both in body and soule for thy gratious protection shâ—w me thy fauour O God in all things that I take in hand and let the successe of my trauels fail out as my hope expecteth to the great comfort of thine elect and the exceeding ioy of all that put their trust in thee let not the cruelty of the enemy preuaile against me least he say that he hath ouercome me and they that oppresse me reioice in my fal for my trust is wholy in the truth of thy promises neither shall my heart dissent from the hope of thy mercy and defence in all my enterprises but being at the length deliuered by thee from the dreadfull daungers of earthly casualties I will not cease to land and praise thy holy name in the midest of the congregation for euer and euer Graunt this most mercifull Father I humbly beseech thee for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Sauiour and redeemer Amen A prayer to be said at all times WIth the eie of mercy most louing father beholde my care and inward griefe and hearken I humbly beseech thee to my complaint and lamentable sute my soule cryeth out to thee for mercie extend therefore thy louing countenance and fauour vnto me that am sore plunged in the gulph of calamities yet do I confesse acknowledge that I haue and doe deserue most extreame punishment for so grieuously offending thee my louing Lord but if thou shalt euer marke what is amisse in me how am I able to abide thy frowning countenance but with thee is alwaies mercy