according to thy good pleasure and shewest thy selfe in nothing more omnipotent then in the conceiuing forming and bringing forth of mankinde into this world which alâ—â—ough it was in the beginning ordayned most easily yet by the subtilty of our continuall enemy Satan in causing our first parents to transgresse thy commandement and breake thy will by tasting the forbidden fruit it is now most painefull and dangerous grieuous and perillous insomuch O sweet Lord as without thine especiall grace and assistance fauour and mercy it is altogether impossible for vs fraile women a weake sex to beare and abide the same our imperfection and feeblenesse is such as of our selues we are not able to indure the least of all the sorrowes and sufferings that accompany this kinde of trauaile wherefore sweet Lord and louing Father my humble desire vnto thy maiesty is for Iesus Christ his sake that thou wouldest vouchsafe to extend vnto me and to all women thy mercy and louing fauour to mitigate the paines thereof that we may be able patiently to indure the paines of our trauaile at the howre appointed and make that easie and light vnto vs which our defects haue made heauy and burdensome sweeten that which our deserts haue made sowre that the burden wherewith I am now laden may graciously be deliuered from my weake body Send vs all good Lord happy and gracious deliuerance that wee may bee made ioyfull and happy mothers And vouchsafe vnto me to al that haue conceued and be with childe strength to bring forth that which thine omnipotency hath so wonderfully wrought within vs. In our troubles O Lord helpe vs thou most mighty and mercifull God mightily deliuer vs. Let thy power might and loue be no lesse manifest in the deliuery then in the forming of thy creature that being through thy goodnesse made a ioyfull mother I may obtaine my perfect strength againe and liue to praise and please thee for euermore Amen Another short and most necessary prayer to be said of one with Childe O Lord whose goodnesse wee haue offended and by our sins deserued infinite paines looke with the eye of pitty and compassion vpon me lay aside thy Iustice and shew me thy mercifull fauour and louing kindnesse Let me inioy the benefit of thy helping hand and not feele the weight of thy heauy displeasure fauourably lighten me of this heauy burden in thy good and gracious time and in the howre and instant of my deliuery be present with me O Lord and tender my safety through Iesus Christ. Amen A thanksgiuing after the woman is deliuered of the Childe FOrasmuch as it hath pleased thee Almighty God of thy gracious goodnesse to ease me of my paines and deliuer me of my burden and from the pangs and throwes of Child-bearing I doe here humbly prostrate my soule and body before thy sacred maiesty to be vnto thee a reasonable liuely and liuing sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight giuing thine omnipotent maiesty infinite and vnfained thanks for this thy gracious preseruation of me and deliuering me out of this great danger of death wherein I was and vnder which I might soon haue perished had not thy mercy sustained me and thy goodnesse imbraced me on euery side To thee therefore O holy and heauenly Father be giuen and ascribed all possible praise and thanksgiuing from this time forth for euermore As thou hast beene gracious vnto me in giuing me a childe so Lord giue me grace to deuote and consecrate it vnto thee and thy seruice To this end worke mightily in it by thy holy Spirit sanctifie it from the wombe that it may bee thine not only whil'st it hangs vpon the mothers brests but so long as it shall breath in the land of the liuing and vntill thou translate it hence to raigne with thee in glory Amen A short Prayer for Wisdome O Lord most great and glorious I confesse that whilst I beare about with me this body of sinne imprisoning the soule my nature corrupted and depraued with sinnes originall and actuall seekes by all meanes possible to oppose the spirit and doe those things which are dissonant and contrary to the motions inspirations and gracious influence and working thereof My flesh lusteth against the spirit so that the things which I would doe I cannot and the things which I suppose to be done in much knowledge and wisdome will bee found not only ignorances and errors but sinnefull wickednesse in thy fight Wherefore I humbly beseech thee O Holy Father to send out thy light and truth thy Spirit of wisdome and reuelation to teach and instruct mee to bee my God and guide to leade mee into all truth Lord send downe that wisdome which waiteth about thy throne and plant the same in my heart that all my sayings doings and devises being alwayes ordered by this wisdome from on high I may intend and doe that which is pleasing in thy sight and profitable for mine owne saluation and shun the contrary in all things through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A short Prayer for defence against our Enemies O Lord my God bee not farre from me in trouble and in all dangers bodily or ghostly draw neere and make haste to helpe me I am I confesse a most sinfull creature and haue iustly deserued thy wrath and indignation against me the sorest and seuerest of thy punishments yea that all thy blessings should become curses vnto me and that I should either be destroyed by thine and the churches enemies or that I should bee ruinated by mine owne prosperity Yet Lord for thy mercy sake turne thee vnto me and haue compassion on me let not mine enimies preuaile in their mischieuous devises lest they be to proud in thy mercy conuert them or in thy iustice confound them make them as the stubble before the winde and thine Angell scattering of them Lord I am in thine hand and they are within the compasse of thy power stay and allay their fury let them not take effect in their mischieuous Imaginations and attempts against me but put them to confusion rid me and deliuer me in thy righteousnesse Be thou a son and a shield vnto me to comfort and protect me To this end cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about mee that being defended vnder the shadow of thy wings and armed with the power of thy might I may not feare what man can doe vnto me Lord regard me with the eye of thy grace and guard me with the hand of thy power that being preserued in both soule and body I may liue in piety peace and godlinesse vnto my liues end Amen A Prayer to be said before the receiving of the Lords Supper O Lord Iesus the Sonne of the liuing God who freely and of thine owne accord offeredst thy most sacred Body to bee broken and thy blood to bee shed for my sinnes that thou mightest ransome me from hell and deliver me from wrath eternal condemnation O sweet
names or of ought more neere and deare vnto vs if it may stand with thy good pleasure preserue vs euermore in thy faith and holy feare guide vs constantly by thy counsaile and after that receiue vs to glory A Collect for the Night O Lord our God which art the keeper of Israell which neuer slumbrest nor sleepest into thy hands O Father we commend our spirits for thou hast redeemed vs. O thou God of truth Into thy most mercifull tuition and gracious preseruation doe we commend our selues our soules and bodies our kinsfolkes in the flesh and friends in the spirit our goods our good names all ours and all that call vpon thy name from this time forth and foreuermore Amen Lord we pray thee be thou present with them and vs and about our beds vnto our liues end· Let not our fantasies bee troubled with vaine imaginations nor the dreames and visions of our heads like Nebuchadnezzars make vs afraid But giue vs quiet and comfortable rest that our soules being cheered vp our bodies refreshed 〈◊〉 may when we awake laud and â—â—aise thee and goe and pray vnto thee and ioyfully set our selves about the businesse of the next day and performe the duties of our particular callings Let our whole life be a seruing and glorifying of thee that we may liue in thy feare die in thy fauour and rest from all our labours and be blessed with thy glorious vision inioying the presence of our blessed Sauiour and the comfort of thy holy Spirit and the communion of thy most holy Saints and Angels that we together with them may ascribe vnto thee the glory of our redemption from sinne Satan hell and death and the Deuill world without end Amen A Grace before meaâ—â— O God who art the giuâ—r of euery good and perfect gift sanctifie wee beseech thee these thy Creatures now prepared for vs make them wholesome for our bodies and our soules and bodies seruiceable unto thee for them through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Grace after meate THe Lords most holy Name be now and euer blessed and praised for all his mercies and for his blessings at this time bestowed vpon vs Lord as thou hast fed our bodies with corporall food so feed our soules likewise with spirituall food vnto life eternall Saue thy Church the Kings maiesty Queene Princes and the Realmes prosper the word blesse thine ordinances vnto vs increase our faith send vs grace and truth prosperity peace with life euerlasting Amen A Grace before meat MErcifull Father which openest thy hands and fillest all things liuing with plenteousnesse we pray thee sanctifie these thy good creatures vnto vs that we may eat to liue and â—iuing serue thee our Lord God through thine only Son our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen A Grace after meat THe God of all grace and goodnesse who at this time hath fed and plenteously refreshed vs his most holy name be blessed and praised from this time forth and for euermore Amen A Grace before meat O Lord our God by whose prouidence it is that we liue moue and haue our being send thy blessing vpon vs and our meats and grant that whether we eat or drinke or whatsoeuer else we doe we may doe all to the glory of thy name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Grace before meat WEE laud and praise thy Name for al thy blessings and fauours and for feeding vs so plentifully at this time desiring thee of thy grace that our thankefulnes may not be in word and in tongue but expressed by our carefull study to glorifie thee our God in al our words and works through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS
bee burning lights burning as being zealous in feruency and lights also as being conspicuous and eminent for charity sanctity and all holy graces of thy spirit Thy Vrim and Thummim being on them as vpon thy holy ones let them be sound for doctrine and holy for life and conuersation preaching let them practice and by practice let them preach and teach the things which concerne thy kingdome Open and let open vnto them the dore of vtterance that they may teach thy word freely and boldly Take away all differences contentions from amongst them make them examples to those that beleeue in soundnesse of doctrine and integrity of conuersation And because the rule of my life depends vpon thy word in their mouthes blesse them with all graces fit for their calling that I may giue thanks vnto thee for them finding thy blessing vpon mee through their labours and may praise thy name for euermore Amen A Prayer for Sunday Night O Euerlasting and euerlouing Father mercifull Lord God creator guider and preseruer of all men and all things who creating man after thâ—ne Image in wisdome knowledge and vnderstanding enriching him with all gracious abilities helpes and fâ—rtherances for the working out of his owne saluation with feare and trembling giue me a reuerence of thy maiesty and a feare of thy most holy name which is so dreadfull and terrible that being by thy grace forewarned I may fly from thy wrath to come and at this present come before thee in all confidence of thy goodnesse to implore thy grace and the manifestation of thy fauour Looke downe from heauen thine holy habitation and behold with the eye of thy loue and tender compassion mee poore soule that distrusting mine owne righteousnesse goe out of my selfe calling vpon thee in the words of the Publican and saying O God bee mercifull to me a sinner Write not bitter things against mee neither suffer me to possesse the sins of my youth Forgiue and forget all my transgressions and cast mine iniquities as farre from thy presence as is the east from the west And pardon good Lord I humbly beseech thee the faults and frailties which haue escaped this day in the sanctifying of thy Sabbath whether they bee sinnes of omission or commission wash them all away in the blood of thy Sonne sanctifie me by the Word thy word of truth that this day hath sounded in my eares grant that like good seed sowne in good ground it may take root downeward and bring forth fruite vpwards to the glory of thy great name the praise of thy grace and credit of the Gospell O let thy word be euer in my minde to meditate of it in my mouth to speake of it and in my life and conuersation to practice it By it worke in my heart Faith Hope Charity and al other supernaturall graces which accompany saluation open mine eyes that I may see thy Law and incline mine heart that I may loue the truth and louing the same may yeeld obeâ—ience vnto it doing thy will on earth or at least endeauouring to doe it as the Angels in heauen willingly without murmuring speedily without delaying constantly without ceasâ—ng and vniuersally without omitting what thou commandest and commendest in thy word So shall I not be distracted with foolish feares nor dispaire of thy mercy but euer hope and trust in thee and finde grace to helpe mee at a time of neede Grant this O Father for thy Christ my Iesus thy Sonne my Sauiours sake who euer liueth and raigneth with thee one true immortall euerlasting God to whom with thy blessed Spirit and thee O holy and heauenly Father be ascribed of me and all thine all honour and glory world without end Amen Monday A morning Prayer O God my God and Father of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ whom no man knoweth but by thine especiall gift grant that to the rest of thine exceeding benefits towards me this which is the greatest that can be bestowed vpon mankinde may be added also namely that as thou hast raised vp my body from sound and sweet sleepe the image of a corporall death so also thou wouldest deliuer my minde and affections from the sleep of sinne and from the darkenesse of this world and after death restore the same body to life as well as thou hast called it from naturall sleepe And seeing thou hast brought mee to the beginning of this day which is the first day of the weeke bee thou as this night past and euer heretofore present with me and president in me Lèt thy holy Spirit be my counsellour and instructor my God and my guide to lead mee into all truth Helpe me by the assistance of the same Spirit to watch ouer my thoughts words and works that I may neither think speak nor do any thing which is not warranted by thy word but that setting thee and thy law before my eyes I may come to the knowledge of thy will in all reuerence and humility of soule submit my selfe thereunto that ordering my life and conuersation thereby and walking according to this rule peace may be upon me as vpon the Israel of God Let mee neither oppresse nor defraud my brother in bargaining buying and selling false weights and ballances or the like dishonest meanes but guide me so by thy grace that my conscience may euer cheere mee vp through a delightfull apprehension of thy blessefull fauour To this end order thou my paths and establish my goings in the way of peace grace and saluation Cause thou mee to walke before thee and be vpright make me to provide things honest before thee and men behaue my selfe as in thy sight and doe vnto others as I would bee dealt withall my selfe Let no sin inordinate lust or vnruly passion haue dominion ouer me but helpe thou mee to leade captiuity captiue to kill and crucifie my lusts and sinfull affections and wage warre with my corruptions vntill through Christ which strengtheneth mee I shall proue more then conqueror Grant this vnto mee for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Monday night O Lord my God and gracious Father in Iesus Christ I doe here in all humility prostrate and cast downe my selfe before the foot-stoole of thy throne of grace to offer vnto thee this mine euening sacrifice of prayer praise and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the crosse to be a propitiation and meritorious sacrifice for the sinnes of the world Lord heare me and helpe me and be mercifull unto mee my sinnes are great but thy mercies are greater my trespasses finite but thy compassions infinite neuer faile though I faile of my duty towards thee yet thou art good and gracious vnto such as seeke thy face and fauour humbling themselues and powring out their soules before thee Wherefore I humbly beseech thee that as the heavens are higher then the earth so thou wouldest extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Indue me with faith sanctify me with all other
difference betweene a filthy tongue and an eare attentiue with delight to heare it It is no indifferent thing to heare or not to heare the Word of God AND thinke it not indifferent whether thou desire to heare or not to heare the Word of God for if thou turne away thine eare from hearing the Law of the Lord euen thine owne prayers shall bee abominable If thou therefore hast eares to heare hearken to the voyce of the Lord who daily openeth his mouth to teach them that lend their eares to heare him And if thine eare be as ready to heare as he is to speake happy then art thou in hearing for practice cannot but follow Therefore saith Dauid I will hearken what the Lord will say Hee opened his eares and spiritually heard the counsell of the Lord namely what the Spirit of the Lord spake vnto the eares of his soule for if the Spirit of God dwell in thee hee speaketh in thee and thou hearest him euen in silence yea though thy corporall eares were deafe yet thine inward eares being sanctified to the hearing of the spirit within Thou art clean faith Christ through the word that he hath spoken vnto thee The inward eares of the soule are opened by hearing with the outward THerefore art thou not to withdraw thy corporall eares from the outward hearing of the Word preached for as the sound of the voyce pierceth the outward So by vertue and operation of that Word the inward eares of the soule are opened to apprehend and apply the same word to the spirituall working of righteousnesse faith and obedience in the enabling thee to speake vnto thy selfe as it were in secret in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melody to the LORD in thine heart giuing him thankes for all things worshipping him in spirit and truth for as God is a Spirit so they that worship him are to worship him in spirit and truth So that by the eare commeth hearing of the Word preached And by the Word commeth faith and by faith wee apprehend all the mercies and blessings of God in Iesus Christ. Many lend more diligent eare to heare of earthly than the heauenly purchase THou art required to set thy house in order before thou dye consider with thy selfe whether it concerneth more thine owne good or the benefit of them that shall enioy the Lands and goods thou shalt leaue behinde thee This consideratiō may befit such as have in their life time shewed a greater care to make their posterity great than themselues good as hath appeared in many by lending their eares more eagerly to heare of purchases bargaines and worldly profits than by hearing the promises of that heauenly inheritance by applying the promises of GOD by faith vnto themselues And therefore the setting of their houses in order as touching giuing and disposing of their Lands and goods benefits themselues little for whether they dispose them or not they must leaue them and others will haue them the ordering of them indeed is necessary for the continuance of peace betweene them that may pretend any succeeding interest in their goods when they are dead While thou art then liuing and in health apply thine eare to that purchase that may make thee a Free-man of heauen Hearken what thy conscience will tell thee IN setting of thy house in order begin at thy selfe at home in thine owne conscience examine it and hearken what that wil tell thee for that is the witnesse that must excuse or accuse thee iustify thee or condemne thee If it approue that thou hast beene attentiue to heare and to follow the counsell of God declared in his Word and hast walked before him as he hath commanded if thou hast vsed no sinister meanes vnlawfull or forbidden practices for the getting of that which thou meanest to dispose and set in order before thou dye then in happy case art thou and happy shalt thou bee in setting thy house in order before thou dye If thou haue neglected these holy duties make speedy reformation make conscience thy friend by thy new obedience and a more sanctified conuersation and bee not so friendly to thy children as to proue foe vnto thy selfe Apply not thine eare to heare their forged flatteries onely to gaine what thou hast when thou art dead but heare the counsell of thine heauenly Father who willeth thee aboue all things to addresse thine eares to heare his promises to make thee great in his Kingdome if thou wilt heare his voyce and follow it Let it bee to day delay not the time to seeke that Kingdome of Heauen and the righteousnesse of it which being obtained then giue bequeath dispose in the feare of GOD and make thy will for if thou thy selfe be in order it is easie for thee rightly to dispose of the rest It followeth to speake of the Taste another of the senses The examination of the TASTE THE Taste is conceiued commonly little offensiue and neither much to abuse nor easily to be abused to the offence of any needing not any great businesse to keepe it in order The Taste hath deuoured many BVt take heed thou pleasest not thy taste too much for if thou giue way vnto it it will ouermaster thee and exact from thee that will make thee a poore man bee thy to feed it neuer so great Be what thou art rich or poore if thou flatter it and giue it what it will require thou shalt finde it in the end like a fawning Lion which thou hast long fed from a whelpe without danger but at length it will grow strong and ouermatch thee and make thee seruile and slauish vnto it and in the end deuoure thee Great disorder in eating and drinking IF thou please thy taste or satisfie thy vnruly appetite and giue way to thine insatiable desire of eating and drinking thou canst not but fall into all disorder as is daily obserued not onely in the rich and men of greatest meanes but in many yea meanest Mechaniks Trades-men and very Rusticks that according and beyond their abilities rise vp early to drink Wine and strong drinke exceeding in surfeiting and drunkennesse like the Glutton in the Gospell two vices of equall intemperance and equally imbraced of poore and rich and so excessiuely common as the stincke euen of their vomits doe infect the very ayre not onely of the principall Cities and Townes but in manner euery Village and many priuate houses in the Kingdome The lawfull and necessary vse of eating and drinking often turned into sinne by excesse TO eate and to drinke is lawful especially with thankesgiuing for without the good creatures of God the body cannot subsist The vse of the Taste is also to distinguish good from vnsauoury food And the pallat for drinkes yet both for nourishment not for gluttony and drunkennesse But to the common shame of men it is obserued that there bee more that eate for gluttony and drink for delight than doe moderatly eate to sustaine the
in flaxe soone inkindled and soone extinct soone hot and as soone cold And no other foundation haue those affections that are set vpon carnall and vanishing things A man may as is often obserued affect and hate as it were in one breath things variable and interchangeable for as all naturall things are inconstant so is mans heart Saul seemed so highly to affect Dauid as he was content to giue him his daughter in marriage yet how soone was his loue turned to deadly hatred It was not grounded vpon that loue that proceeds from the Spirit of God But Ionathans loue and affection to Dauid was grounded vpon a more diuine and setled opinion hee saw that God was with Dauid And vpon this ground whosoeuer foundeth his affection towards any man namely as hee findes him to be a man beloued of God his affection is approued of God O that wee could rectifie our loue in this point and learne to affect the best things and not to set our affections on things of the world which when wee haue them they steed vs nothing beyond necessity how superfluous soeuer they bee And when wee seeme to haue them in best assurance either they leaue us before the time or wee must leaue them in time Let us make choice therefore as Mary did of the better part namely to affect things permanent which are aboue and they most excellent Then need wee not to feare bee wee poore or rich high or low noble or base wee shall be able to set our houses both domestick of our soules in such compleate order as shall witnesse our godly care in our liues when wee are dead A preparatiue to Prayer LEt the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be now and alwayes acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Let my prayer come before thee as Incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be as an Euening sacrifice like a morning obligation a sweet smelling sauour in thy nostrils Heare my prayers and answer me graciously for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Sunday Morning O Lord God Almighty euer-liuing and euer-louing Father in thy well-beloued sonne Iesus Christ who art father of all and rich vnto all that call vpon thy name in truth and sincerity to thee I call and cry together with thy forme and holy spirit three distinct persons in the vnity of essence who hauing made all things of nothing sustainest them in thy good prouidence by the word of thy power that thy name by all men and by all meanes might bee glorified Lord I acknowledge this day to be thine as consecrated and set a part for thy worship and service and to be obserued not only as a holy day but a glorious day vnto thee wherein I ought to pay my vowes vnto thee present my person and my prayers before thee heare thy word and meditate vpon the same to thy glory and mine owne good To this end remoue farre from me all wandring thoughts and worldly affections and worke in me a desire of studying thy Law and of walking in the truth that thy word may not bee vnto mee the sauour of death vnto death but of life vnto life I present not these my supplications trusting to my owne righteousnesse but in thy manifold mercies grant me therefore I beseech thee gratious audience and mercifull acceptaâ—ce euen for my redeemers and sanctifiers sake And as duty obligeth mee principally and aboue all other things and primarily in the first place and before all other things I extoll thine infinite goodnesse together with thine eternall wisdome and truth that thou hast protected mee all this night past and made me to rest and sleepe so quietly vnder the shadow of thy wings And I beseech thee from the bottome of mine heart to protect me this day with thy mighty hand from all dangers both of body and soule giue thine holy Angels charge ouer mee to guide me in all my waies to keepe mee from euils both bodily and ghostly that keeping my faith and a good conscience I may haue thy witnesse and testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordained me to wrath but to obtain eternall life and saluation To this end remoue farre from me the offences of this present euill world mortify and kill in me the concupiscense of the flesh crucifie all carnall lusts and affections that vice being supplanted vertue and grace may bee established liue and grow in mee Let not since haue dominion ouer mee reigne and beare rule in my mortall body to ouer-sway my soule and incline it unto euills but let thy loue possesse my soule that grace may incite and stirre vp the same vnto all holy duties which may be soe pleasing vnto thy maiesty as may procure thy fauourable kindnesse blessing and protection Giue mee a contrite heart to bewayle my former life and let mee finde comfort in thy mercy for the remission of my sinnes Sanctifie me O blessed and holy trinity this holy day with thine especiall grace that I may honour thee as a Creator loue thee as a redeemer and expect thee as a Sauiour that I may haue a modest carriage in my behauiour true deuotion in my prayers and reuerent attention in thy presence to heare thy word Vnlocke the cares of my body that I may heare those things which thou shalt teach me that hearing I may vnderstand them vnderstanding I may remember them remembring I may practice them to adorne that profession which I haue made in thy name and confirme mee in the faith of thy sonne Iesus Christ whereto I was baptized Raise mee O Father by the power of my sauiours resurrection from sinne and iniquity and giue me spirituall rest peace of conscience ioy in the holy ghost and fellowship in the communion of Saints that when I shall leaue this world I may keepe an euerlasting Sabbath with thee in the kingdome of heauen Behold O Lord I knock at the dore of thy mercy withall the power of my soule and strength of my minde for all these graces and fauours beseeching thee to continue vnto mee the right vse of the same that thy spirit may witnesse vnto my spirit that I am thy sonne and shall bee heire of thy kingdome of glory and that I may be partaker of the inheritance with thy Saints in light where are pleasures that last for euermore Grant this O Father for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Sunday Noone O Lord my God great in maiesty and infinite in mercy wonderfull in thy goodnesse vnto thy Church and children who hast commanded mee to make prayers and supplications for those that shall enter into the ministery and stand before thee to waite at thine Altar the harâ—est being great and the painefull and conscionable labourers but few I beseech thee that thou wouldest bee pleased to send able ministers into thy Church and set such ouer particular congregatiâ—ns as like Iohn the Baptist may
as are thine as feare thy name walking before thee and labouring to be vpright Lord send comfort vnto them and lift vp the light of thy gracious countenance vpon them And Lord receiue them and me and all that belong vnto me this night and euer vnto thy gracious protection through the mediation of Iesus Christ In whose name and words I finish these my imperfect prayers and meditations saying as he himselfe hath taught mee in the Gospell c. Our Father which art c. Saturday A Morning Prayer O Lord most great and gracious louing Father in Iesus Christ sanctifie I humbly beseech thee this day vnto me and my selfe now and euer vnto thy seruice And here O Lord I giue thee thanks for that thou hast kept me this night past vnto this present houre and moment and hast brought mee vnto the last day of the weeke grant that I may spend the same soberly righteously and holily Bring me to the knowledge of thy righteous will in all things that knowing it I may endeauour to doe the same to thy glory the peace of mine owne conscience and the safety of my soule Purge my soule from sinfull lusts and affections and cleanse my conscience from all pollutions and defilements thereof that I may euer with boldnesse of Spirit and affiance in thy mercy behold thy face and grace in Iesus Christ. Roote out of my minde all couetous malitious and lustfull thoughts keepe me from sinne and from vncleanenesse bee thou my guide in all my wayes my stay and succour in all my necessities Put an end and period vnto the motions of the flesh enlarge mine heart for all holy duties and habituall graces of thy Spirit that I may nourish them as my life In these my prayers I am not mindfull of my selfe alone but of thy whole Church howsoeuer distressed or wheresoeuer dispersed ouer the face of the earth I pray vnto thee likewise for thy seruant and our dread soueraigne Charles our king and gouernour O Lord as thou hast graced him with a crowne so crowne him with thy grace and as thou hast giuen him a glorious kingdome here so giue him heareafter part of thy kingdome of glory Be mercifull vnto our most gracious Queene Mary the young Prince Charles the Lady Mary the Lady Elizabeth her royall issue Blesse preserue and prosper all those that trauaile in an honest way whether by sea or land and likewise all women in trauaile with child and sicke persons troubled both in body or minde or howsoeuer diseased O Lord speake peace vnto their consciences and as thou hast laide them down with the one hand so raise them vp with the other if not to this life to life eternall and that not for any merits of mine Lord I disclaime them all but for the precious merits of thy Son our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen Saturday An Euening Prayer O Lord God Almighty mercifull Father maker and preseruer of all things looke downe I beseech thee with the eye of pitty and compassion vpon me miserable and sinfull wretch prostrating my selfe soule and body vpon my benknees before thy diuine maiesty humbly beseeching thee to looke vpon me in much mercy pardon my sins enrich me with thy graces sanctifie mee with thy grace and bring mee to thy glory and there refresh my soule with such things as eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither hath entred into the heart of man to conceiue Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing be iustified Examine not my wayes this weeke past by the strict rule of thy Law neither reward me in the rigour of thy iustice but for Iesus Christ his sake haue mercy vpon me miserable sinner that haue deserued the seuerest of thy punishments As the heauens are higher then the earth so extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Satisfie my soule with thy mercy and that right soone so shall I reioyce and bee glad in thee and learne to praise thee euermore And now O Lord as this weeke is at an end so let my sins haue end and neuer bee reiterated or done any more Lord call me not to an exact account for them for Lord I confesse I am worthy of death and eternall damnation yet seeing there is mercy with thee that thou mightest bee feared and loued for euermore spare mee I humbly beseech and haue mercy vpon me according to the multitude of thy mercies And being graciously reconciled vnto thee be thou pleased to be my mercifull protector and preseruer from all perils and dangers this night blesse me with quiet rest that being refreshed in my body I may bee cheered vp in my minde and made the more fit to serue thee in the duties of my calling and sanctifie thy Sabbath and keepe it as a glorious day vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before Sermon VOuchsafe O most mercifull God to open the closet of my dark vnderstanding that thy word may enter thereinto and be so receiued of me as that Ignorance the mother of disobedience being excluded heauenly knowledge may enter in and that growing daily in knowledge I may bee more and more renued in the spirit of my minde and doe all such good works as thou commandest and commendest vnto me in thy word Giue me grace that the seed of thy word being sowen in my heart it may take deepe roote downeward and bring forth fruit vpward to the credit of the Gospell the comfort of my poore soule and aboue all to the glory of thy most holy name So let thy Spirit rule and guide the lips of thy seruant and minister as that he vtter nothing but the word of Truth with such boldnesse that neither feare nor affection stop not the passage of the same Make mee to attend and waite vpon thine ordinance desiring to be satisfied with the crums that fall from this thy table And because the haruest is great the faithfull labourers but a few I pray thee who art Lord of the haruest to send forth such as may be industrious And conscionable in the discharge of their ministeriall duties Let thy Vrim and Thummim bee vpon them as vpon thine holy ones that sincerity of doctrine and integrity of conuersation may adorne their persons and beautifie their function and calling Banish from this sacred work al such as are not sent from thee let them haue no exhibition from thy church running without commission from thee Lord guide the heart and tongue of him whom I shall heare this day that he may speake home vnto my conscience and leaue no corruption vnbowelled but that his words may separate all sinfull affections from me and stir me vp to bee a follower of it in all holy vertues and gracious acts Blesse all the hearers of thy word make them doers of the same not deceiuing of their owne soules Grant that thy messengers diuiding the word aright and thy people keeping it carefully and
bones which thou hast broken may reioyce and seeing we haue neede of patience send this our brother or sister such competency of patience and constancy that he may continue thy faithfull souldier and seruant vnto his liues end worke in him a sense and feeling of sinne and true sorrow for the same which may cause repentance vnto saluation neuer to bee repented of If it be not thy good pleasure to raise him from his bed of languishing and set him vpon his feet againe prepare his heart for death and his soule for heauen washing away his sinnes in the bloud of Christ and imputing vnto him the righteousnesse of Christ that he appearing before thee without either spot or wrinkle may haue confidence of seeing his euer-liuing and euer-louing redeemer not with other but with â—hese his eyes weane his affections from the loue of this world and set them on those things which are aboue that being absent from the body hee may inioy thy presence of glory for euer Repaire in this thy seruant thine owne Image and renue it in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse that thou maiest know and acknowledge him for thine owne and raise him vp from the graue vnto the resurrection of life and for euer satisfie him with thine Image and change him into the same from glory to glory Amen A thanksgiuing for recouery from sicknesse OMnipotent Lord God the author of life who bringest downe vnto the graue and raisest vp againe I doe here confesse to the glory of thine infinite mercy that if thou haddest not blessâ—d and sustained mee in my sickenesse I should haue gone the way of all flesh but it was thy goodnesse to spare mee and deliuer mee from dangers thy name bee glorified for this thine vnualuable fauour and mercifull kindnesse And I humbly beseech thee to giue me grace to expresse my reall thankfullnesse by my sincere obedience and to serue thee more carefully and conscionably then heretofore I haue done and the shorter my dayes are the more â—o redeeme the time that by repenting me truely of my sinnes and calling on thee for grace by eschewing euill and doing good more especially vnto the household of faith I may haue the testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordayned mee vnto wrath but to obtaine eternall life and saluation through Iesus Christ my Lord and only Sauiour Amen A morning prayer for a family O Eternall and all-seeing God who art iust in thy iudgements true in thy promises wonderfull in thy maiesty and infinite in thy mercy who hast the heauens for thy throne and the earth for thy foot-stoole and the creatures of both at thy becke The heauens are full of the maiesty of thy glory and cannot containe the same looke downe therefore from thence vpon vs thy seruants who now prostrate our selues before the footstoole of thy throne of grace humbly beseeching thee for Iesus Christ his sake to be mercifull vnto vs miserable sinners One deepe calleth vnto another the depth of misery vnto the depth of mercy haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lord and in the multitude of thy mercies doe away all our offences Wee confesse that we are not worthy to speake of thee much lesse to speake vnto thee wee being so vile and miserable thou so glorious and admirable yet being assured that in forgiuing sinnes and helping poore afflicted soules the neuer drawne dry fountaine of thy mercy doth appeare we thine vnprofitable seruants are emboldened to present our selues this morning before thee to offer vp vnto thee a liuely sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the Crosse to be a propitiation for our sinnes O let this lifting vp of our hearts and hands bee a morning sacrifice pure and acceptable in thy sight Let not the greatnesse of our sinnes with-hold thy implored mercy but wash vs from all vncleannesse and remoue thy iudgements due vnto vs for them as farre from thy presence as is the East from the West Bury them in the graue with Christ raise vs vp by the power of thy Spirit vnto newnesse of life that we may walke in all holy obedience before thee this day and that endeuouring to keepe our faith and a good conscience voide of offence wee may now and in the houre of death be and remaine alwaies thine Defend vs from all euill and sense vs against the assaults of Satan watch ouer vs by the eye of thy good prouidence and cause thy Angels to pitch their tents about vs for our safety and continuall preseruation Into thy hands we here commit our soules and bodies our cogitations and actions to be guided by thee forgetting thee at any time doe thou in mercy remember vs and forgiue our trespasses make vs to see our sinnes in the glasse of thy Law to mourne for them in the closets of our hearts and confesse them in the bitternesse of our soules Teach vs to cast off the ragges of iniquity and by faith to put on the robes of righteousnesse helpe vs to manage the sword of the Spirit the shield of faith the helmet of saluation that wee may bee able to fight against the wiles of the deuill the vanities of the world the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life Be fauourable to Sion build vp the walls of Ierusalem more particularly preserue and enlarge these Churches of great Britaine France and Ireland feed them as thy flocke foster them as thy family dresse them as thy vineyard and decke them as thy spouse Defend the Kings maiesty from all enemies preserue his body in health his soule in soundnesse his heart in truth his life in honour his honour from vnderminers Blesse our gracious Queene Mary and grant that with Mary shee may chuse the better part which can neuer be taken from her Let thy good Spirit be with our hopefull Prince Charles and the Lady Mary sanctifie and season them with grace and make them thy darlings and beloued ones Blesse the Lady Elizabeth and her children and for the daies wherein they haue suffered aduersity send them abundance of peace and prosperity Blesse the counsellors of state all schooles of good Learning all thy ministers and maiestrates with all our kindsfolke in the flesh and friends in the Spirit to whom thou hast any wayes made vs bounden O Lord enable vs to requite them or lay it on thine owne account to restore it vnto them and their posterities And here we yeeld thee from the Altar of our hearts all possible thanks for that thou hast created vs when we were nothing predestinated vs vnto the Adoption and chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world and hast called vs by the working of thy spirit in the preaching of the Gospel hast freely iustified vs by Faith in Christ we thanke thee likewise for our preseruation this night past and for bringing of vs this day to see the light Now Lord awake our soules from sinne and carnall security that we