Another before meate VVE magnifie thygreat name most gracious God for all thy mercies bestowed vpon vs from our cradles to this present especially that thou hast giuen vs Christ Iesus with him al the blessings belonging to this life and to that which is a far better wee thank thée for all temporall blessings these which wee are now about to receiue grant that our weak bodies being by them refreshed we may much more séek for the foode of our soules which abideth vnto eternall life that so we labouring to do thy will commanded in thy word here in this life wee may hereafter enioy y â— ioies of thy kingdome in thy presence there to abide for euer and euer Amen Another after meate IT is thou O Lord who hast elected created redéemed iustified sanctified preserued and now at this present fed vs thy name be blessed praised both now and for euer God saue his church vniuersal the Kings Maiestie the Quéen their royall progeny forgiue vs all our sins comfort the afflicted remoue thy iudgements farre from vs send thy Gospell a frée passage and grant vs al the Israel of God grace mercy faith truth peace in thy Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen Another before meate ETernall God which hast commanded vs in thy holy word that whether we eate or drinke or whatsoeuer we do al should be done to the praise of thy name and whereas any of thy creatures which we receiue can not be auaileable to the nourishment of our bodies except they bee sanctified by thy word prayer wee beséech thée blesse these thy good gifts which now wee are about to receiue of thy bounteous liberalitie that wee being by them strengthened may be better enabled to procéed in the discharge of our seueral Callings to thy glorie and our owne comfort through Iesus Christ Amen Another after meate HUmble and hartie thanks be rendred vnto thée most gracious God for all thy mercies for the coÌ„fortable refreshing which thou hast now vouchsafed vnto vs we beséech thée forgiue vs our sinnes which makes vs vnworthy of the least of thy mercies pardon wee beséech thée our great vn thankfulnes and let thy mercy to our bodies stir vp thankfulnes in our soules God preserue his Church the Kings Maiesty the Quéen their progeny these Realms increase our faith prosoer thy word Gospell among vs confound Satan and all the euemies of thy truth and grant vs mercie and peace in Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen Grace before meate MOst gracious father wee beséech thée forgiue vs all our sinnes blesse these creatures vnto our vse that they may be to our health strength comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Grace after meate VVE giue thée thankes most merciful father for féeding vs at this time and for al thy fauors of this life and of the life to come we beséech thée continue thy louing kindnesse still vnto vs. Lord saue thy Church our King and his Realines and giue thy Gospel an happy passage amongst vs to thy glory and our comfort through Iesus Christ out Lord and Sauiour Amen Godly Directions for the right Receiuing of the Lords Supper 1 THere is required preparation as the commandement of the Apostle plainely shewes which pertaines to al communicants without exception Let euery man examine himself 1 Cor. 11. 28. 2 Knowledge of y â— grounds of religion especially of the vse of both Sacraments 1. Cor. 11. 26. 3 Faith for al sacraments are seales of righteousnesse of Faith Rom 4. 11. 4 Repentance which stands in a heartie sorrow for sinnes committed in hatred and detestation of the same a resolued purpose of amendment and obedience for the time to come 5 Charitie towards men for this Sacramentis a Communion wherby all the receiuers iointly vnited together in loue do participate of one and the same Christ 6 When wee see two signes to be receiued bread and wine wee must call to minde that Christ is our perfect Sauior both bread water of life Heb. 7. 25. 7 When we beheld the bread and wine set apart by the Minister and consecrated by repeating the promise and prayers made for that end wee must call to minde that Christ was ordained by God to bee our Mediatour and Sauiour Ioh. 6. 27. Acts 2. 23 36. 8 When we sée the bread broken and the wine powred out we are to meditate of Christ seriously who was crucified for vs broken by his sufferings wherby life and righteousnesse was performed vnto vs Zach. 12. 10. 9 The giuing of Elements into the receiuers hands signifies vnto vs that God doth truely and really giue Christ with his merites to euery beléeuing receiuer which should put vs in mind of the vnspeakable loue of God towards vs. Rules to know true faith by the fruits thereof Tâ—iue and sauing faith is a supernaturall gift of God and a speciall perswasion wrought by the holy Ghost in the hearts of those that are effectually called concerning there reconciliation and saluation by Christ this saith in whomsoeuer it is it hath these effects 1 To beléeue that the Scriptures contained in the old new Tèstament are the very word of God and so much as is néedfull to be beléeued vnto saluation is contained therein Iohn 5. 39. 2 There will bee an vnfained desire to be taught and instructed in the word of God and to haue the vnderstanding thereof and most to affect those meanes which are most effectual to that end and purpose 3 There will be a continuall sorrow and griefe for thy ignorance and defectiue vnderstanding of the word of God and no marnell for what can be more greiuous to the children of God then not to know or vnderstand or not to remember the euidence of his owne euerlasting estate the will of his Master 4 He will examine himselfe whether his reading or hearing the word read or preached his meditating conference and studie in it do norish his loue and delight and beléefe in it Ps 119. 92. 97. 5 Where true faith is there will be a credite authority giuen to the word of God aboue al traditions whatsoeuer and a reiection of whatsoeuer he knoweth to bee opposite to the same word of God Ps 119. 92. 113. 6 There will be a lightnesse cheerefulnesse in the conscience when any thing is done agréeable to the word of God and a trouble and heauinesse in the same when any thing is done contrary to the same word Psal 119. 92. 7 There will be a hoping in the promises of God an awfull feare of his threatnings a desiring of the blessings and an endeuour to avoid the curses contained in the word and an equall beléeuing the one as well as the other 8 There will be a continuall thankes giuing vnto God for his inestimable blessings in reuealing his word vnto him and vouch safing liberty and meanes to come to knowledge and vnderstanding of the same whereby wée may see what a
you haue receiued your selfe for the more you struggle vnder his hand the worse it will be for you 34 In all your actions remember that God takes notice not onely what you do but whatsoeuer is done directly or indirectly all is done and gouerned by him 35 In health prepare for death for no man can assure himselfe to liue one houre 36 Omit no opportunitie to heare the word bse all the meanes of your saluation though you feele your selfe most vnwilling there vnto for you knowe not when God will giue a blessing 37 The more godly thou art and the more graces and blessings are vpon thée the more néed thou hast to pray because Satan is then busiest against thée and because thou art easily puffed vp with a conceited holines 38 In prayer desire God to giue thée grace to remember the bedroll of thy sinnes to humble thée and the Catalogue of his mercies truly to make thee thankefull 39 Consent not to the least sin for that is the way to fall in to many sins and if you make no conscience of one sinne you will not make conscience of many and great sinnes 40 When thou prayest for any grace God granteth not thy desire but often giues thée the contrarie yet consider God euer heares his children for their good though not according to there desires 41 Register vp thy sins especially those that haue most dishonoured God and wounded thine owne conscience set them often in thy sight chiefely them when thou hast occasion to renew thy repentance that thy heart may be thereby humbled 42 Labour to sée feele thy spirituall pouerty the want of grace in thy selfe especially those inward corruptions of vnbeliefe pride selfe-loue c. 43 Endeuour to shewe thy self a member of Christ and a seruant of God not only in the generall calling of a Christian but also in thy particular calling in which thou art placed 44 Eramine the Scriptures diligently to sée what is sin and what is not sin in euery action and so carrie in thy heart a constant purpose not to sinne in any thing for faith and the purpose of sinning can not stand together 45 Striue to obey God in al his commandements and let thine endeuour bee sutable to thy purpose to doe nothing at any time against thy conscience rightly enformed by the word of God 46 When thou fallest into any sinne a great or little against thy purpose and resolution restnot in it but spéedily recouer thy selfe by repentance humble thy selfe confesse thine offence and by prayer intreat the Lord to pardon the same 47 Make conscience of idle vaine vnhonest and vngodly thoughts for these are the séedes and beginnings of actuall sinne in word and déede the want of this care is oftentimes fearefully punished 48 Whatsoeuer good thing thou goest about doe it not in a conceite of thine own worthines but in humilitie ascribing the power and praise thereof to God lest hee curse thy best doings 49 Use outward things as meate drinke apparell in that manner and measure that they may further godlines and may be as it were signes in which thou maist exprsse the hidden grace of thy heart 50 Labour not to goe beyond any vnlesse it be in good things make conscience of thy word and let it bee as a bond deale iustly with all men and in all companies either do good or take good Signes of Saluation in whomsoeuer they appeare LOue to the children of God 1. Iohn 3. 14. Delight in y â— word of God Psal 119. 111. Often and feruent prayer Psal 45. 18. To bee zealous of Gods glorie Rom. 12. 11. Deniall of any â—uffiâ—â—â—â—cy in our selues 2. Cor. 3. 5. Patient bearing the crosse with profit and comfort Maâ— 16. 24. Faithfulnes in our â—â—â— liâ—gs which God hath placed vs in 1. Cor. 7. 20. Honest iust and conâ—â—â—onable dealing in â—â—â— our actions amongst mâ—n 1. Cor. 10. 33. Assured faith in the promises of God Acts 16. 31. Sinceritie of heart Pro. 11. 20. The Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8. 25. Sound regeneration and â—anctification Rom. 8. 14. Inward peace Rom. 5. â— Groundednesse in the truth Col. 1. 23. Continuance to the end Mar. 24. 13. If these graces be in vs and abound they wil make vs neither idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ that is they will make vs sound and sincere professors of the Gospell 2. Per. â— 8. 7. Obseruations needfull to the reuerent reading and hearing of the Word of GOD. 1 PReparation for the manner of reading it Eccles 4. 17. 2 Wisedome to vnderstand it Iam. 1. 5. 1. Kin. 3. 9. 2. Chro. 1. 10. 3 Diligence to continue in it 2. Ti. 3. 14. Act. 14. 22. 4 Meditation and conference for the better kéeping of the matter Deu. 6. 6. Ioshua 1. 8. Psa 1. 2. 5 Faith to beléeue tt Heb. 4. 2. Iud. 20. 6 Obedience to practise it 1. Sa. 15. 22. 23. Ier. 7. 23. Math. 7. 21. 7 Prayer for a bleâ—â—ing vpon it Mat. 21. 22. Marke 11. 24. Iam. 1. 5. FINIS THE CONTENTS of this Booke AN Introduction to Prayer page 1 2 Certaine Rules concerning Prayer pa. 49 3 Briefe notes shewing the necessitie of prayer page 53 4 A godly and necessarie Prayer to be said at all times pa. 59 5 A Morning prayer for priuate Families pa. 68 6 Euening Prayer for priuate families pa. 73 7 Another morning pray pag. 81 8 Another Euening prayer for priuate families pa. 87 9 Another morning prayer page 93 10 Another Euening Prayer pag. 98 11 Morning prayer for a priuate person pa. 104 12 Euening Prayer for a priuate person pa. 110 13 A Prayer for a priuate person necessary at all times pa. 118 14 Morning Prayer for the Sabbath day before the hearing of the Word pa. 127 15 Euening Prayer for the Sabbaoth day pa. 136 16 A Prayer before the Receiuing of the Lords Supper pa. 144 17 A Prayer after the Receiuing of the Lords Supper pa. 149 18 A Prayer before a man begins the workes of his calling pa. 135 19 A Prayer containing humble confession of sinne and desire of pardon page 159 20 A godly Prayer in time of sicknes or at the point of death pa. 167 21 A Prayer of Thanksgiuing vnto God for Deliuerance out of any sicknes pa. 173 22 A Prayer for a sicke man pag. 176 23 A Prayer for a woman with Childe pa. 180 24 A Prayer for a Midwife by her selfe alone page 182 25 A Thanksgiuing priuate for the safe deliuerance of a woman to be said by the Midwife or some woman present at her Deliuerie page 184 26 A Prayer in time of Pestilence or any other contagious sicknes page 186 27 A Prayer for the Kings Maiestie the whole state page 192 28 A Prayer containing the summe of the Lords Prayer pa. 199 29 A Prayer vpon the Articles of the Creed page 204 30 A Prayer vpon the ten commandements page 206 31 A Prayer containing the doctrine of the Sacraments page 210 32 Prayer before meate page 213 33 Thanksgiuing after meate page 214 34 Another before meat page 215 35 Another after meate page 216 36 Another before meat page 217 37 Another after meate page 218 38 Another before meat page 219 39 Another after meate page 220 40 Another before meat page 221 41 Another after meate pag. 222 42 Godly Directions for the right Receiuing of the Lords Supper page 22â— 43 Rules to know true Faith by the fruites thereof pag. 226 44 Christian exercises necessary to be practised in the course of our liues page 231 45 Signes of saluation in whomsoeuer they appeare page 247 46 7. Obseruations needfull to the Reuerent reading and hearing of the word of God page 249 FINIS Faults escaped IN the Epistle Dedicatorie reade period of your timee And pag. 31. l. 17. read I wil fast to pray and pray to fast Pro. 28. â— 4. Reu. 20 Psal 〈◊〉 â—al 26. â— â—al 14. â—â— 21. â— 15 Psal 105 Psal 150. 1. Thes 5.
into the affaires of this day I beséech thée blesse me in the duties of my calling this day and euer for idlenesse and godlynesse can not stand together and it is thy pleasure that in the sweat of my face I should eat my bread O Lord preserue me from all fraudulent and deâ—eitfull courses draw my affections more and more from the loue of the World fix my heart vpon those things which are aboue if things succéed according to my mind by thy blessing vpon my labours make me thankefull vnto thée if any crosse come make me patient and carefull to profit by euerie chastisement that it shall please thée to lay vpon me knowing that howsoeuer they are greiuous for the present yet in the end they will bring the quiet fruit of righteousnesse to al them that are thereby exercised which God grant for his Christs sake to whom with the holy spirit bee all praise now and euer Amen Euening Praier for a priuate Person O Eternall God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and in him my most mercifull father I humbly confesse before thy glorious presence that I am altogether a lump of sinne a masse of corruption and therfore haue for feited thy fauour and incurred thy high displeasure both in thought word and deede My sins O Lord are more in number than the haires of my head yea farre more than I can possibly féele or know and if I should goe about to reckon vp my particular offences I know not where to begin or where to make an end It is thou O Lord who knowest my sins to whom the secrets of my heart are manifest and nothing can be hid from thy sight besides my consciense doth accuse me of many greiuous euils and I daily feele by ful experience how fraile I am how prone to euel and backward to all goodnesse my minde my heart and affections and all the faculties both of soule and body are ful of vanitie profanenesse dulnesse deadnesse drowâ—inesse in matters of thy worship and seruice But O déere father I haue learned from thy mouth that thou art a God full of mercie slow to wrath and of great compassion and kindnesse towards all such as are heauy laden groan vnder the burthen of their sinnes O Lord extend thy great mercy towards mée poore sinner and giue me a general pardon for al mine offences whatsoeuer seale it to my conscience in the blood of thy déere son Christ Iesus assuring me more and more of thy loue an fauour towards me and that thou art a reconciled father vnto me in the same christ O Lord I beséech thée principally giue me victorie ouer those sins thou knowest my nature most prone to commit Mortific in me whatsoeuer is carnall and sanctiffe me by thy good spirit and knit my heart vnthée for euer Lord grant that I may take delight in the reading and hearing of thy holy word that I may loue and reuerence all the faithfull Ministers of the gospell giue O Lord a melting heart that I may tremble at thy worde let not my sinnes holde backe thy mercies from me nor mine vnworthines stop the passage of thy grace I most humbly thank thee for all thy blessings bestowed vpon me necessarie for this life as food raiment health peace liberty c. which many of thy déere children doe want being notwithstanding bought with the pretious blood of Christ Iesus as well as I. Biâ—t aboue all deere Father I praise thy name for the blessings of a better life especially for thy holy worde and sacraments and all the good I enioy therby for the continuance of thy gospell the worde of truth the means of our saluation for the death of thy son and all that happinesse I receiue thereby O Lord open my blinde eies euery day more and more to sée and consider of thy great and meruelous loue towards me in all these things that by the dew consideration therof my heart may be drawne néerer vnto thee to loue thée much because thou hast giuen much and as thou dost abound towards me in goodnesse so grant that I may abound towards thée in obedience and thankfulnesse and in these my weak and imperfect praiers O Lord I am not mindeful of my selfe alone but of the whole estate of thy Church wheresoeuer blesse all christian Kings and Princes calling vpon thy name especially our dread Soueraigne the Kings Maiestie the Quéene and their roial Progonie Blesse all the nobilitie the magistrates and ministers of the Land that all their Councels and labours may begin at thy feare and may be referred thy glory Succour and comfort all those that are comfortlesse sanctifie all their afflictions and troubles vnto them that they may tend to thy glory and their owne good Finally O Lord according to my bounden dutie I commend vnto thy Maiestie all my friends and acquaintance beséeching thée for them as for my selfe to blesse vs all in our particular places and grant that we may do those things which may bée to thy glorie and our comforts through Iesus Christ our Lord. In whose name I end as he hath taught me saying Our father which art in heauen hallowed bee thy name Thy kingdome come Thy-will be done in earth as it is in heauen c. A Prayer for a priuate person necessarie at all times ALmightie God and in Iesus Christ my most mercifull and louing Father I doe here in thy presence acknowledge that I am of my selfe a most wretched and miserable sinner both in respect of the corruptions of my heart as also the transgression of my life more particularly I doe acknowledge the infidelitie of my heart wherby I haue not yet learned to depend vpon thy prouidence for the things of this life nor vpon thy mercie for the saluation of my soule I confesse O Lord the Atheisme and profanenesse both of my mind and heart whereby all my thoughts and affections are estranged from thée and so glewed to the things of this life that I can take more ioy and delight in doing mine owne will and in seruing mine owne lusts then euer I would â—â— in seruing and obeying thée I acknowledge likewise the pride of mine own heart whereby I doe eralt my selfe in the vanity of my own conceit aboue thy maiestie and aboue my Brethren whom thou hast made farre more excellent then my selfe as also the security of the flesh whereby I put away the day of wrath farre from mee promising to me selfe fréedome from all thy curses and plagues notwithstanding I walke in sinne and in the stubbornnes of mine owne heart my hypocrisie wherby I am content my selfe onely with an outward name and profession of religion and holinesse before men not regarding the truth and power of godlinesse besides O Lord my life abounds in all Actuall transgressions against euery one of thy commandements I haue liued in the abuse of thy mercies and haue not béene drawne néerer vnto thee In neglect of thy