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
life depend vpon thee for euer and let me seeke comfort at thine onely doctrine let my life be prolonged and couered vnder the shadow of thy wings that I being deliuered by thee may render continual thankes vnto thee and zealously imbrace thy testimonies ah alas how haue I gone astray and wandred too and fro like a lost sheepe from his shepheard being readie to fall into all daungers and to be deuoured of the enemie but of thy mercie O Lord thou hast called me home vnto thy sheepefold and restored me againe to the knowledge of thy heauenly doctrine wherefore O God so guide me with thy grace and instruct me with thy holy spirit that I may continue therein for euer A prayer that we may only delight in Gods lawes WIth thy grace and holy spirit assist me O God that I walke not in the steppes of the vngodly neither followe after their wicked and licentious counsell Let me not stand in the waies of impudent sinners neither yet sit or kéepe company with such as deride thee and blaspheme thy holy name but graunt O God that my whole delight may be fixed in the keeping of thy sacred lawes and that my mind may meditate therein night and day Make me O God as a fruitfull tree planted by the water side that being alwaies refreshed with thy grace I may bring forth the fruits of repentance and daily proceed in newnesse of life to thy honour and glory so that what businesse or affaires soeuer I take in hand it may prosper but scatter thou the vngodly like chaffe before the wind and let them tremble at thy righteous iudgements that they stand not in the assembly of the iust for thou like a mercifull God wilt allow and maintaine the life of thy children but the euill life of the wicked shall vtterly perish in thy presence yea and in the end they shall go to destruction therfore will I trust in thee for euermore A praier for boldnes and courage in standing to the truth FAile me not most mercifull God for there are many that rise vp against me vexing my soule continually yea they assault me with diuers temptations saying there is no helpe nor victorie for him in his God but yet in thy good time thou wilt send nourishment and succour vnto thy seruant and defend me on euery side from them that cruelly seeke my destruction yea thou art my glory and thou in mercy wilt lift mee vp when I am fallen therefore will I still call vpon thée o Lord for I know thou wilt heare me out of thy eternall tabernacle and seeing thou art my good God I will lay me downe and rest in peace and arise again because thou defendest me the remembrance of thy promises and trial thereof haue so increased my loue and faith to thée that though many thousands pretend my vtter ouerthrow yet will I not be affraid for thou art the God of my force come forth therefore O Lord and helpe me and in thy good time beate downe my enemies and strike them vpon the iawes that seeke to do me euill break thou the teeth of the vngodly and confound all such as daily go about to slaunder me without a cause it is in thee O Lord to free me from distresse and to deliuer me from the snares of my oppressours for thy blessing is vpon thy people and thou wilt relieue them in their necessitie wherefore extend thy mercie towards me and defend me both now and euer that I may yéeld continuall praise for euer A praier to be deliuered from Gods wrath ASsist me O Lord with thy grace and holy spirit and rebuke me not in thine anger neither chasten me in thy displeasure but haue mercie vpon me that am vtterly destitute of strength and reliefe heale me O God for my soule is grieuously vexed because of my sinne and sore shaken through mine iniquities my heart sigheth being now touched with the feare of thy iudgements wherefore incline thee to helpe me and saue me for thy mercies sake for they that are in the graue cannot praise thee O Lord in mourning I faint and in remorse my sorrow increaseth I weare away because of the lewdnes of my aduersaries and am sore vexed by reason of the miseries wherewith I poore sinner am oppressed but away from me yee wicked for the Lord hath heard my voice and wofull crye yea the Lord hath heard my praier and humble sute and he in his great mercie will confound my enemies and send me reliefe in my greatest necessitie and will put to flight all such as worke my decay or séeke to doe me euill Increase thy loue in me O Lord that I may render due thankes vnto thée for thy continuall assistance and praise thy name because of thy louing kindenesse shewed vnto me in depending wholly vpon thy merites for euer and euer A prayer not to be ouercome of the wicked REgard I most heartily beseech thée O God the humble petitions and praiers of thy seruant for vnto thee alone do I lift vp my hart and soule beséeching thee to extend thy mercy and pitie towards me that haue euermore put my trust confidence in thee let not mine enemies reioice ouer me neither suffer me thy seruant to be put to confusion because my hope resteth onely on thy saluation but euermore retaine me in the faith of thy promises that I swerne not on any side guide my steps in thy truth and instruct me in the rule of thy will for thou art the God from whom I expect and looke for my deliuerance be mindefull of thy mercies which thou hast often shewed vnto thy seruants and of thy manifold benefits which thou from time to time hast declared vnto all ages Remember not the lewdnesse of my youth but in thy mercies think vpon thy seruant instruct me in thy laws and teach me to be humble be merciful to mine iniquities for they are great and by the direction of thy holy spirit conduct me in the right way that my soule may dwell at ease and inherite the land which thou hast prepared for them that serue thee reueale vnto me O God the secrets of thy holy word that I may be endued with vnderstanding turne thy face vnto me and extend thy mercie towards me looke vpon my afflictions and release me of my sinnes and deliuer Israel out of all his troubles A praier for reliefe in sicknes and anguish of spirit HEarken vnto my humble suit O Lord in thy mercy giue eare vnto my praiers I doe not here plead for my selfe neither do I refuse to be reprooued of thee but beseeching thee not to rebuke and chastise me in the heat of thy wrath for thy hand and heauie yoake oppresseth me and the sense of thine ire worthily kidnled against me endureth so grieuous vpon me that my whole bodie consumeth for the aboundance of my wicked offences yea my wounded conscience is ready to putrifie through sin and I dare not but
thy mercy be fauourable vnto me as thou hast euer beene for though I were driuen to seeke the farthest parts of the earth yet will I call for thy direction yea when I am tormented with cares I haue no other refuge to flie vnto but onely to thee O my God wherefore in mercy looke on me and in thy good time take me vp into the place of ioy prepared for thy elect where I may praise thee for euer for how hast thou in great mercy dealt with me in being vnto me an euerlasting tower of defence against mine enemies and though by reason of the retchlesnesse and frailty of my corrupt nature I haue eftsoones swarued from thy holy word yet I beseech thee O deare father deale fauourably with me and lay not my offences vnto my charge but shew thy selfe a louing and mercyfull God towards me and pour on me thy gifts of grace that I may be holy vnto thee and accepted in thy fight so shall my life be prolonged yea so happy indeed as it shall neuer decay and I shall resort to thy tabernacle in peace where I shall be satisfied with the fruition of thy fauour and be sustained with mercy and truth for euer direct me continually with thy holy spirit and teach me good Lord to hate the waies of the wicked erect my minde to the contemplation of thy heauenly mysteries and receiue me both now and euer into thy gratious protection for my aduocat Iesus Christ his sake Amen A prayer against the feare of death O Eternall God and mercifull father from the depth of my weake heart doe I laud and glorifie thee for all the benefits bestowed on me from the beginning of my life vnto this present especially for the blessings of my election redemption vocation iustification and sanctification in Christ Iesus Thou hast deliuered me from the cruelty of my aduersaries and made me an inheritour of thy kingdome and thy childe by adoption yet thou hast giuen me notwithstanding my vnthankfulnesse the earnest penny of my saluation and in mercie hast reconciled me in Christ whilst I was yet a grieuous enemie vnto thee thou tookest me out of the blinde dungeon of carelesse ignorance to render thankes vnto thee and to call vpon thy name in all which thou hast caused me to proceed and profit vnto this day wherein thy pleasure seemeth to incline me towards the greatest benefit that euer I yet tasted that is to free me from the extremities of this life and to bring me to that heauenly liberty where shall be no bitternesse Now therefore O deare Father for Iesus Christ his sake erect my mind towards thee and as at all times of my life hitherto thou hast nourished and preserued me so now in my last need visit and regard me O God that as the enemie will now bend his force against me so thou with thy louing protection and holy spirit wilt comfort me and with thy presence defend me that my faith still increasing with armed patience I may dispise the feare of this bodies death knowing that it is the vnauoidable way that thou hast appointed to doe away my mortalitie and to bring my soule to rest to yelde praises vnto thee in ioyes euerlasting which thy prouidence hath ordained me vnto so instruct me therefore to number my daies that I may apply my heart to thy eternall wisdome teach me sweet Lord as heretofore to liue so now to frame my end that it may redound to thy glory whereunto with a fighting heart I humbly beseech thee that my vnderstanding may alway be lightned with the feeling of my owne infirmitie and that in all perfect humilitie I may flie from the mind of all earthly stay and so not fainting in my farewell but cleaning to thy promises and apprehending thy saluation with sure hope I may expect the dissolution so beholding thee with the eyes of my faith I may grow as by degrees weaker in bodie so fuller and stronger in spirit so that when the last breath is passed my soule in the bosome of Abraham may ioyfully respire the triumphant odors of an endlesse life Amen A prayer for Chirurgians O Most merâ—ifull God and louing father we most earnestly beseech thee let the eye of thy mercie behold vs and harken to the humble sutes of thy poore seruants that with penitent hearts doe appeale before thee requiring pardon for our iniquities committed daily against thy diuine maiestie vouchsafe O Lord of thy wonted goodnesse to extend and shew thy fauourable pittie and compassion towards vs and lay not our sinnes vnto our charge but put them quite out of thy memory for Christ his sake thy dearely beloued sonne our sauiour and graunt that we may render vnto theé coÌ„tinual thanks for thy manifold benefits and eternall mercies that thou of thy tender loue dost daily bestow vpon vs. Assist vs also with thy grace that we may neuer cease to sing praises vnto thee for our election creation and redemption we beesech thee O Lord to giue vs the true knowledge of that Art whereunto thou hast called vs thereby to maintaine our selues and our families from the extremities of this sinnefull world and momentaneous life for we doe not onely depend vpon thy fatherly prouidence but doe confesse O Lord that euery good and perfect gift commeth from thee therefore be mindfull wee beseech thee of thy seruants and indue vs with thy blessings of wisdome and vnderstanding fith that thou alone hast elected and ordained vs as instruments to minister those thy rich and plentifull gifts which thou hast appointed for the health and reliefe of mankind vouchsafe to giue vs the gift of healâ—ng that we may frame our selues to doe thy will therein and be a comfort to such as lie in miserie and cruell paine by occation of bodily sicknes and externall casualties and hereunto so ioine the increase of thy grace holy spirit that all our actions may be guided according to the rule of thy deuine precepts and commaundements that our consciences be not spotted in thy sight but may remaine pure and holy euen as thou O Lord art holy alwaies reuoking to memorie our duties and necessarie vocation whereby our hearts may be continually stirred vp to call for thy assistance remooue from vs all hatefull and euill thoughts with the couetous desire of filthie lucre and incite in vs a consideration of the wofull estate of the poore and needie that we may relieue their necessitie with such good things as thy fatherly goodnesse and vnspeakeable prou dence in greater measure hath blessed vs withall Respect vs O Lord in thy mercie that those things which we goe about may prosper with us and that all our labours which we shall take in hand may be blessed and brought to good successe by thy assistance and fatherly protection to the honour and glorie of thy holy name credit of thy church comfort of our Christian brethren and our owne saluation graunt vs this O Lord