in righteousnesse Pro. 25. 5. VVE render and yéelde vnto thée all possible thanks O Lord of mercy King of all Kings and Kingdomes of the Earth for as a great blessing vnto vs thou hast placed ouer vs in this Realme so â—ure a guide of true Religion IAMES by thy heauenly prouidence our gracious King vnder whom enioying frée liberty of the true seruice of thée wée rest in a quiet estate both of body and minde wée humbly beséech thée to behold with thy eyes of mercy the same thy Seruant our Soueraigne Lord and Gouernour to replenish his heart with the grace of thy holy Spirit that hee by the working thereof being inclined to the setting forth of thy Word may walke according to the truth of the same sincerely that wée thy Seruants and vnder thée his Subiects séeing his godly examples may be ashamed to fall from that true forme of honoring thy Name which for thy glory through thy grace by the rule of thy holy Word is prescribed vnto vs and vouchsafe to stir vp in him zeale of thy glory a desire to establish whatsoeuer wanteth in this Church of England for the increase of true and sincere Discipline Let no ignorance abide in his Royall heart but inrich him with diuine and heauenly Knowledge giue him an obedient minde abounding with all humility towards thy diuine Maiestie saue and defend him from the tyranny of forraigne Powrr and Authoritie and from all such as professe not inwardly vnfaigned zeale of thy Gospell giue him godly Counsellors and such zealous and true hearted Ministers of thy Will that hee and wée may sincerely serue thée in this life and in the end for euermore raigne with thée in thy heauenly Kingdome for Jesus Christ his sake our onely Aduocate Amen A Prayer for obedience vnto God Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as when his voyâ—e is obayed Behold to obay is better then sacrifice to harken is better then the fat of Rams 1 Sam. 15. 22. Paul commendeth the obedience of the Romans Rom. 16. 19. Obay my voyce saith God and I will be your God and ye shall be my people Ier. 7. 23. O God the Gouernour of Heauen and Earth thou that rulest in the highest that only canst doe all things and raignest for euer at whose becke the Pillers of Heauen shake and all Creatures tremble I miserable creature framed of the earth do with great feare and trembling prostrate my selfe before the â—hrone of thy Maiesty acknowledging and confessing my wickednesse and wayes abhominable in thy sight Without thée I thinke not a good thought without thée I doe no good worke without thée I am worse then a worme of the earth yea a beast in thy sight I render vnto thée thanks O God that thou hast vouchsafed mée that knowledge that I may sée and know that I am nothing and vnable to doe any thing without thée Thou art the Potter I the Clay such as thou pleasest to haue me be such canst thou form and fashion me if thou makest me blessed thou shewest thy mercy and grace if thou cast me into hell thou shewest thy iustice executest thy iudgement neither is it my duty to contradict thée why or for what reason thou doest it for thou hast mercy vpon him whom thou louest These things I consider with my selfe O Lord and I feare thy iudgmeÌ„ts depend only on thy mercy Forasmuch therefore as all my safetie and saluation relieth wholy on thee and consisteth in thy hand and power and thou hast shewed thy selfe a mercifull long-suffering God to the whole world hast testified the same indéede in that thou wouldest thy onely Sonne Christ Jesus the innocent should die for our offences should wipe away our sins with his bloud on the Crosse and since thou hast taught vs in al our perturbations and afflictions to call vpon thée craue thy grace and mercy for that thou wilt giue vs althings which we shall aske in the name of thy Sonne I come vnto thée being drosse and clay O mercifull and celestial Father humbly beséeching thée that thou wilt in thy mercy make of this vnworthy carkasse of mine an habitation for thy holy spirit that though I line in the earth I may haue my conuersation holy as in the Heauens O mercifull and most louing Father grant me forgiuenesse of all my sinnes through the death of thy beloued Sâ—n Jesus Christ make me to please thée increase in mee all heauenly vertues and grant that I may perseuere in the same to the end increase in mee that faith and loue towards thée which thou hast begun in me kindle my affections towards thée more and more in liuely obedience that by thy helpe and presence of thy grace I may obtaine euerlasting life which thou hast promised vs of thy méere goodnesse to the end I may praise thée and giue thée thanks in thy celestiall Kingdome for euer and euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be confirmed in the way of Righteousnesse God is the fountaine of righteousnesse and he that giueth himselfe to righteousnesse is knowne to be borne of him 1 Iohn 2. 29. O Gracious Lord God louing in Jesus Christ Redéemer of mankinde who is the Way the Truth and the Life I humbly begge at thy hands that I may neuer wander nor goe astray from thée who art the way neither at any time to distrust thy promises who art the truth performest whatsoeuer thou dost promise thou art eternall Life more to be destred then any thing in heauen or in earth by thée wée haue learned the true and direct way to eternall saluation thou diddest instruct and teach vs readily how to beléeue what to doe what to hope and in whom we ought to trust by thée we haue learned how vnhappy wée were borne through our first Father Adam by thée we are taught that there is no hope of saluation except by faith in thée we take hold of our frée redemption and adoption in Christ. Thou art the onely light that shâ—nest to all Creatures in the Desert of this World conduding them through the ignorance of their minds from the Egyptian darknes to that blessed Land which thou promisest vnto the méeke and such as follow thée in humility For in vs was nothing but vtter darknesse who neither could discerne our calamitie neither knew from whence to séek the remedy of our misery Thou didst enter into the World in the shape of a Seruant and didst take vpon thée our nature that thy brightnesse might disperse the cloud of our ignorance that by thy precepts thou mightst directour féet in the way of peace by the examples of thy life in thy humility thou didst limit out a path for vs to immortality making it easie for vs to tread in by thy heauenly way so becamest thou vnto vs a way that leadeth to Life in which lest we should be wearied thou hast assured vs by
oflife with such sincerity and bolduesse as neither feare nor affection may hinder the same that we thy flocke may fructifie and increase our knowledge in Faith thereby and more and more desire to féede at that the Table of thy Word and be filled open my heart as thou didst Lidyacs that I may attend with diligence to the preaching of thy Word Send forth store of Labourers O good Lord into thy Haruest which by their carefull paines and faithfull endeuours may gather the dispersed sheaues of thy Church into thy celestiall Barne and banish from this wholesome worke all such as are not sent from thée and come not truly to edifie but rather to reape their owne gaine making as it were maâ—… chandise of thy holy Word teaching in stead of truth the tradition of men Lord vouchsafe grace into the lips of those that are now prepared to declare thy will grace into our hearts that are present to heare it that they by teaching truely and we by following effectually may through Christ obtaine of thée remission of our sinnes past light instead of darkenesse peace for trouble and heauenly happinesse in stead of worldly felicitie that tasting the swéetnesse of celestiall comfort we may despise terrestriall and after this life ended enioy the perfect ioyes of eternall felicity through Jesus Christ our Sauiour and Redéemer O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer after the Preaching of the holy Word Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it Luke 11. 28. The hearers of the Lavv are not righteous but the doers of the Lavv shall be iustified Rom. 2. 13. Be ye doers of the word not hearers onely deceiuing your selues Rom. 1. 22. O Heauenly Father and most mercifull God séeing that wee haue now receiued the benefit of the hearing of thy heauenly and holy word by the mouth of thy Minister the fruits whereof doetend to the perfection of a godly life and a godly life is the way to eternall life in Christ our Lord vouchsafe O good Father we humbly beséech thée to imprint in our hearts the gladsome and most comfortable tidings which wée haue heard and receiued this day of thée by the mouth of thy Minister and grant that in faith vnfained â—t may lay vp the same in our vnderstanding and remembrance lest that forgetting the same and neglecting the exercise of a godly life wée be taken away as trées that beare no truit and so be cast into the fire therefore we most humbly pray and beséech thée that thou wouldest send vs thy holy Spirit the Comforter which may retaine the good tidings of the Gospell in our hearts wherby we may appeare as trées bearing good fruits and so be preserued vntill the comming of our Lord Jesus who will then receiue vs and giue vs the inheritance which he hath purchased for as many as beléeue in his most holy Word Amen O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer for the Sabbath day at night O euerlasting and mercifull God I giue thée thankes from the bottome of my heart that of thy mercy thou hast nourished and preserued me by thy diuine power and gouerned me by thy Word holy Spirit this day and all this wéeke yea and at all other times of my life protected me by thy power and prouidence and I most humbly beséech thée for the merits of Christ Jesus to couer and bury all my misdéedes which heretofore I haue committed in thought word and déede against thy diuine Maiestie in the death of thy Sonne Forgiue O Lord the euill that I haue committed supply the good which I haue omitted restore what I haue lost heale my sores cleanse my filthinesse lighten my darkenesse and alter the whole state of my minde that nothing may be wanting to good purposes in me nor any thing lurke in mee which may offend thée Water O Lord the séede of thy holy Word which I haue receiued this day with the dew of thy grace that with sound iudgement and godly deuotion I may practise such things as are pleasing to thy diuine Maiestie and that my heart being alwayes obedient to thy Commandements I may passe my time in peace through thy protection O Lord stretch out thy hand ouer me and of thy accustomed goodnes defend me this night Kéepe me from searefull and wicked dreames vnprofitable cares idle cogitations and outward violence Compasse me about on euery side with thy grace that when I shall either take care for things of this life or carefully séeke for those things which appertaine vnto the Kingdome of heauen I may heare the voyce of thy holy Spirit sounding in my heart from the mouth of the Apostie The Lord shall relieue thee in all thy necessities and yeelde thee a Crowne of eternall glory with Christ his beloued in the heauens Grant O Lord this and all other graces méete for me euen for Jesus Christs sake my onely Lord and Sauiour Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be said before a man begins his Labour or enter into the execution of any profession OMnipotent God and most mercifull Father since thou hast commanded that all humane creatures shall labour and eate their bread in the sweat of their browes while they abide in this life and yet séeing no man can prosper without thy blessing or receiue any good successe in his affaires we humbly beséech thée that thou wouldest blesse our labours in such sort as therby we may haue iust occasion to confesse thy goodnesse assistance and fatherly care which thou takest of vs. Let thy holy Spirit O Lord be our guide to the end we may faithfully exercise the workes of our estate and vocation without any fraud or deceit giue vs grace rather to regard the following of thine ordinance then to satisfie the appetite of our owne sinfull flesh which couets to enrich it selfe by any meanes whatsoeuer Neuerthelesse if it be thy pleasure to blesse and prosper our endeuours grant vs also chéerefull dispositions to helpe and relieue such as are in distresse according to thy talents best owed vpon vs. And let vs kéepe within the bounds of humility not puffing our selues vp aboue the poore and needy by that which we enioy by thy bounty and goodnes But if thy good pleasure be so to deale with vs as to abase and impouerish vs farre beyond that which our weake nature can beare yet vouchsafe to enrich vs with cleauing faithfully to thy promises whereby we shall no way fall into distrust but rather be more certainely assured that thou wilt neuer forsake vs in the extremity of our wants and calamities inable vs to performe truely the duties of our callings giue vs the vse of all our limmes and senses with an holy endeuour to performe our callings and patience to attend thy leasure to replenish vs both with temperall and spirituall comforts receiuing thereby daily new occasion to giue thée praise and thankes and to expect all things from thée Heare vs
thy promise ease my burden giue me quiet and comfortable sléepe and refreshment to my restlesse body and to blesse all those good meanes which shall be prescribed vnto mée that they may tend to my cure and amendment for without thy blessing they are of no force and vertue that I with thy blessed Seruants Iob Lazarus Dauid and others hauing experience of thy might truth and mercy in my reliefe and amendment may with all ioy and loue praise thée truely serue thée and more confidently relye vpon thée all the dayes of my life yea and for the instruction and incouragement of the afflicted publish and declare the infinite and excéeding Power of thy might and compassion Uouchsafe O most gracious Father to incline thine eares to this mine humble Petition and to grant me all other things néedfull and necessary for my soule and body for thy deare Sonne Christ â—esus sake my onely Sauiour and Redéemer to whom with thy Maiesty and thy blessed Spirit thrée persons and one God al-powerfull and sufficient be ascribed and giuen all honour praise and glory now and alwayes Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be said at the point of Death O Lord God Almighty I assuring my selfe my time is come my soule waxeth heauy euen vnto death vouchsafe therefore O Lord to cast downe thine eyes vpon mée bedew my heart with the Oyle of thy grace forgiue mée my sinnes confirme my faith shorten my pangs of Death expell Sathan for thine infinite mercy helpe mée in this my last conflict looke vpon Jesus Christ thy Sonne my Sauiour and Redéemer into thy most blessed and gracious hands I commit my soule refuse it not O God but accept me for it is thy owne workemanship and let me depart in thy feare and rise againe in thy mercifull fauour that I may attaine and come to thy eternall and most wished ioyes of heauen for and through the merits of my blessed Sauiour Christ Jesus to whom with thée and the holy Ghost be all glory honour and praise for euermore Amen O Lord increase my Faith and receiue my soule A Confession of sinnes with a very necessary Prayer to be said of poore distressed men Morning and Euening and at all times else as they shall be thereunto moued O Father ful of mercy I yéeld vnto thée all praise and thanks for thy continual most swéet fauors and especiall graces bestowed frankely on me thy vnworthy Creature for Electing me to saluation for Creating me for Redéeming mée for Relieuing mee and for Preseruing me euermore Great is thy loue in Christ my Sauiour infinite thy Power vnspeakeable thy Mercies Relieue me alwayes and direct nice in all things let thy will be a Law vnto my will that my corrupt affections draw me not to consent againe to the vnsauoury lusts of my carnall will which to this day haâ—h ouer-much miscarryed mée into the vaine destres of this wicked Worlds pleasures the baits of that mortall aduersary deceiuing Sathan the defiled fruits of my sinnefull flesh and the cords whereby I haue beene drawne from vertue to vice from sanctity to sinne from light to darkenesse from Heauen to dreadfull Hell My sinnes O Lord haue beene many and continuall my seruing of thee cold and seldome O forgiue mee and let not my yeeres consume any longer in vanity let mine hands hate to handle vnholy things let my heart harbour no more the hatefull thoughts of vnrighteousnesse and let my soule be so seasoned with the spirituall dew of thy blessed Word that my Soule and Body being sanctified to euery good work I may cast off the vnprofitable works of darkenesse and onely cleaue to the true seruice of thée who art ful of grace and truth Be vnto me the sweet sauour of life vnto life be vnto me the light of truth that my life be not vnprofitable in good things nor my soule depriued of thy sacred spirit without which man is poore possessing all worldly riches base in most high worldly honour and dead liue he neuer so strongly in the flesh Therefore Father full of mercy be mercifull vnto mée full of power protect mée prouident relieue mee most sacred sanctifie me Let the eyes of thy fauour be alwayes on mée let the relieuing hand of thy helpe be alwayes toward mée be vnto mée a strong Castle a Restfull refuge a Fountaine of reliefe the Supply of my wants my Protector my Sauiour my Guide and my wisedome my will and my zeale Be vnto me my Jesus my Christ my Father my Physition my lot and my portion be vnto me all in all that nothing want in mée which thou likest nor any thing dwell in mée which thou mislâ—kest that I being a sanctified vessell of heauen may be a fit Mansion for thy sacred Maiesty to abide in by thy blessed Spirit Yéelde me O Lord yéelde me continuall shelter vnder thy relieuing wings foster mée with the hid treasures of thy loue and learne mée so to liue that I may euer liue in thée and thou in me make that vnion betwéene my will and thy Word that I will nothing but as thou hast willed and blot out all mine vnworthinesse and in stead thereof imprint the merits of thy Sonne in whom Lord Almighty let me be also partaker of the good things of this life let not pouerty vtterly depriue me of a competent estate here but blesse thou the workes of my hands prosper thou my endeuours and raise vp gracious meanes for me that I may liue not lack things necessary Thou art all sufficient and in thy gifts manifold thy loue is without limitation and thy will without contradiction what thou decréest shal stand and what thou willest shall come to passe Will thou therefore will thou thy creatures which thou hast ordained for the good and seruice of thy children â—o serue my vse that I and mine may be sustained by thy prouidence for what am I Lord that I should stand vpon mine owne power wit or policy which are weaknesse and foolishnesse before thée Thy Word preuaileth speake and all things in heauen and earth shall obey thée yea thine heauenly Angels shall be ministring Spirits for my good and all the fruits of the earth shall adde comfort to my wretched estate Good Father sanctifie mée within and without and fructifie my calling blesse my endeuours and teach me to vse my function iustly and as I ought that I may so prosper in this present life that I may truly pay all men their due and owe nothing to any man but good will a thing to mee impossible but to thee easie to bring to passe To thee therefore I referre mée wholly blesse me that being blessed I may prosper that prospering I may praise thée and in praising thée please thée and be here comforted of thée and liue righteously in thee through the merits of thy beloued Sonne Christ Jesus who hauing purchased all things for this life and in the life to come for me be with thée and
not when thou art visited of the Lord thou shalt be merry when others mourne and thou shalt sing when others lament And therfore learne of Paul in what estate soeuer thou be to be content Infinite are the comforâ—â— in the Bible search and yee shall adde more and more rest vnto your soules For this little trifle which I here offer thee peruse it and vse it It may moue thee to meditate and procure thee to pray which preuaileth much if it be feruent The eyes of the Lord are ouer the Righteous and his eares are open vnto their cryes 1 Pet. 3. 12. And therefore cast your care vpon him for he careth for you he will not faile you nor forsake you that hath conquered and hath prouided for you a Crowne therfore fight the good fight and feare not what man can doe to you Yours in Christian good will Io. NORDEN A familiar Admonition to the CHRISTIAN READER touching the most comfortable exercise of Diuine Prayer ESAY 55. 6. Seeke the Lord while he may be found call vpon him while he is neere THere are three things especially to be considered in the true seeking and calling vpon God The first is Preparation before we call vpon God in Prayer The second is Attention in Prayer The third and last is Thanksgiuing after Prayer A PREPARATION to PRAYER AS touching the first namely Preparation we may obserue vse a kinde of imitation of men occasioned to communicate with mortal Princes who are obserued to preponder with themselues first how to shape their behauiour and externall gesture Secondly how to frame their speech to gaine Attention of him to whom they speake and how to auoide the censure of indiscretion in the deliuery of what they affirme or defend If such curiosity and carefulnesse be necessarily obserued in our communication with men whose breath is in their nostrils how much more obseruant and carefull ought we to be when we addresse our selues to speake vnto the Maiesty of the immortall God To intrude abruptly into the presence of this great God and vnaduisedly to speake vnto him becommeth not a Petitioner but bewrayeth an vnsanctified and an vnprepared heart rather tempting and dishonouring then glorifying of the name of God And therefore before we presume to present our petitions to God in hope to be heard we must prepare our selues not in our outward gesture onely in eloquence of words and Pharisaicall outward holines But in rightly ordering disposing the affections of the inner man which if they be set on carnal or earthly vanities if our harts delight in the fruits of the flesh and the vnprofitable works of darknes though our words be neuer so good of themselues we may feare the reward of Ananias and Saphira his wife who brought a part of their substance hypocritically Concealing therest laid that part at the Apostles feet So if we come vnto God giuing him good words keeping back our harts to serue our own carnal and prophane appetites Shal we thinke that God wil be content with the leaues of our good words when we giue the fruits of our hearts to the world will God take such hypocrites by the haÌ„d we must know that vnlesse we can truly and vnfainedly cast off our carnall thoughts corrupt desires and sinfull affections it cannot be that God who loueth holinesse and truth in the inward affections can looke vpon vs as vpon his children who speake vnto him as to a father with counterfeit words proceeding from vnsanctified hearts When we come therefore vnto God in prayer we must depart from all iniquity knowing that hee heareth not sinners such as the promises of God cannot win to obedience nor his threats inforce to forsake their sinnes who yet will aduenture to rush rashly into the presence of God in a formall kinde of praying with the lips without any premeditation preparation or reformation of the heart at all These offer words for deeds leaues for fruits Wolues for Lambes and all manner halt lame blinde and blemished sacrifices and yet would seeme holy And so in stead of a blessing procure a curse vnto themselues for their hypocrisie We must consider that God is a iealous God and holdeth none guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine as they manifestly doe that come neere him with their lips when their hearts are far from him It is a kinde of spirituall adultery outwardly to seeme wholy to be Gods and yet inwardly to be meere worldlings Before we open our mouthes therefore to God we must cast out of the Temple of God which is our heart all buyers and sellers as Christ did out of the Temple of Ierusalem for as long as our hearts doe harbour the desires of worldly profits and carnall pleasures aboue the sincere seruice of God our heart the Temple of the liuing God becommeth a den of theeues that steales away all our godly affections to settle them on Belial Let vs looke vnto the man Christ Iesus crucified by whose bloud we are redeemed by whose mediation we are sure to haue our prayers heard of God and granted especially if for our further and more perfect preparation we can truly obserue the rule of Christ to forgiue our Enemies knowing that if we forgiue not our brother that offendeth vs God wil not forgiuevs that farre more grieuously offend him And therefore Christ counselleth vs that if we bring our sacrifice to the Altar namely if we intend to pray and there remember that a brother hath ought against vs we ought to leaue our offering before the Altar that is forbeare for the time to pray yet to continue our holy intention to pray and to goe first and be reconciled to our brother then to come to offer our gift namely our praiers freely vnto God in Christ for before we be vnburthened of all Rancor Malice Enuy Hatred and all other prophane desires it is not onely not auaileable but lamentable that so many will as doe presume to come before God with hearts so fearefully fraught with these vnholy affections and stagger no more to presse into Gods presence nay not so much as some that come vnto God with most prepared peacefull and most sanctified consciences Let such cast out the bondwoman with her sonneâ— namely the old man the works and lusts of the flesh and giue entertainment vnto the free-woman and her son the new man which after God is created vnto righteousnes true holinesse And so recommend our prayers vnto God the obiect of our prayers in Christ the Mediator of our prayers by the holy Ghost the Author of all holy prayers ATTENTION IN PRAYER BEing thus prepared let vs indeuor to yeelde due and true Attention in our Prayers that is to giue heede to what we pray to whom we pray for what we pray and with what zeale we pray which are the truest tokens and greatest arguments that our prayers are liuely powerfull effectuall and of faith which properties can neuer be in lip-labour
so to walke before thée in this present life as becommeth thy Saints O continue thy word of truth amongst vs euer to our comfort Let the séede thereof now sowne in our hearts take such déepe roote that neither the burning heate of persecntion cause it to wither nor the thorny cares of this world riches or voluptuous liuing choake it but as séede sowne in good ground it may bring forth fruit according to thy pleasure O Father giue vs grace that when we heare or â—â—nde by thy word any sinne that is in vs we may striue and study without delay willingly to reforme it Kéepe vs good God that wée neuer swarue for the feare of man from our owne true knowledge becomming seruers of time and deuiers of thée Kéepe vs from all hardnesse of heart contempt of thy word and from all dissembling of sinceritie Increase true loue amongst vs more and more Blesse thy whole Church O God with graces necessary this parcell of it our natiue Land and Country deare Father blesse it still with continuance of thy truth Iessen in it daily the number of blinde and ignorant Papists prophane Atheists and increase the number of thy true children Preserue vnto vs long aliue good Lord if it please thée our gracious King and Gouernour multiply thy Spirit vpon him and all his that still more and more he and they may séeke and set forth thy glory in maintaining Christian religion in all purity suppressing all vice superstition and Idolatry with all seuerity Giue vnto him an honourable Counsell giue them graces necessary for such a calling Blesse all other Nobles Magistrates and the whole body of this Realme with true hearts to thée and to this Countrey Increase in this our Israel the number of true Watchmen whose hearts may séeke thée and thy people and not their owne glory and commodity Bring to thy fold by them such wandring remnants as are thine And O Lord be gracious to our kindred and friends in the flesh lighten their hearts with the Sunne of vnderstanding that they and wée acknowledgeing one truth may glorifie thée in the true and constant profession of the same all the dayes of our life Comfort O Christ thy afflicted members wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled and grant vs peace in our dayes if it be thy pleasure Finally because the night is now vpon vs and we ready to take our rest let the bed O Lord strike into our hearts a consideration that the graue is almost ready for vs. Which of vs can tell whether these eies of ours once closed vp shall euer open any more againe or no Lord therefore receiue vs into thy hands we all here now commend our selues bodies soules vnto thy holy protection and prouidence kéepe vs this night and euermore ready for thée when thou shalt call vs. Heare vs O Lord O God and Father mercifull in these our petitions for thy Sonne Jesus Christ his sake our Sauiour in whose name we altogether begge these mercies saying as Christ our Sauiour hath taught vs Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs and make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs this night and euermore Amen A Prayer to be vsed in priuate Families Morning and Euening Leuit. 26. 6. If yee truely serue God yee shall sleepe and none shall make you afraid Lord prepare our hearts open our lips sanctifie our prayers and increase our Faith O Most mighty Lord God and our most mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ we thy poore creatures and vnworthy children humbly present our selues in his name before thy glorious maiesty acknowledging that we be most vnworthy to appeare in thy presence by reason not onely of our originall but also of our continuall actuall sinnes and déepe disobedienee being originally borne the children of wrath and the least of our actuall transgressions is sufficient to cast vs into hell and vtter perdition if thou shouldest deale with vs according to the measure of our manifold iniquities We therefore doe humbly beséech thée O mercifull Father in the merits of Jesus Christ fréely to pardon and forgiue our manifold offences both in that wée haue committed and done those things thou hast forbidden and left vndone the things thou hast commanded Lord forgiue vs and remember our sinnes no more let them neuer good and gracious Father rise vp in Judgement to our condemnation Giue vs a full assurance of thy mercies and frée forgiuenesse in Jesus Christ and let thy holy Spirit from henceforth euermore so sanctifie our hearts minds and bodies that wée neuer hereafter giue consent to the corrupt motions of our fleshly affections and vnclean desires and let the liuely light of thy continuall presence so illuminate our dark vnderstandings that we may still search for thy will in thy word reuealed and giue vs will and power to practise and performe all godly seruice duties and obedience to thée giue vs féeling hearts that we may finde out our own weakenesse and confesse vnto thée our infirmities and that we may boldly in the Name of thy Sonne Christ Jesus fall downe before thée calling faithfully and sincerely vpon thy holy name for pardon for our former euils for grace to reforme so the rest of our wicked liues that thou maist be pleased to accept vs anew into thy fauour and fatherly protection Grant that we may continually féele in our hearts and consciences more and more the virtue and power of the death resurrection of our Lord and Sauior Jesus Christ that we may continually striue against and mortifie our grosse sins and foule corruptions and grow more strong against all euill motions and temptations in thought word and déede and be more and more renewed in the spirit of our mind and féele a continuall increase of ioy and comfort in the reading hearing and meditating of thy holy and heauenly word and a feruency of true zeale to séekethy glory by encreasing more and more in knowledge and in the hatred of sinne in our selues rebuking it in others especially in those of whom we haue charge and in a happy and faithfull going forward in all godly obedience vnto thy will all the dayes of our liues Direct and strengthen vs that we may with all faithfulnesse labour to
thy promises that in following thy foot-steps there is an inheritance of eternity prepared for vs therefore whilest we are in this iourney be thou a staffe to vs whereby we may be sustained in all our wayes And by the comfort of thy holy Spirit repaire our strengths to the end wée may more willingly come vnto thée and as thou art made a way vnto vs seclude all errour become our â—â—uth take away all distrust and confirme our Faith in thée And as thou art made life vnto vs reuiue vs that were dead in sinne by a liuely knowledge of thée For it is eternall life to know thée Father Son and holy Ghost to be one true God Wherefore I humbly beséech thée O most mercifull Father to increase Faith in mee who am thy vnworthy seruant lest at any time I wauer in thy Celestiall doctrine increase obedience in me lest I swerue from thy precepts increase constancy that walking in thy wayes I neuer be allured by the inticements of Satan nor seduced by his terrours but that I may perseuere in thée who art the true way to life eternall increase my Faith that being partaker of thy Promises I may neuer waâ—e slow or dull in the study and practise of godâ—inesse and that I may alwayes striue and endeuour for more and more perfection Increase thy Grace in me that being mortified vnto my selfe I may liue and haue my conuersation with thée in Heauen and be encouraged by thy holy Spirit fearing nothing but thee then whom there is nothing more to be loued or feared glorified or more to be reioyced in who art the true glory of all Saints in whom there is nothing but full and perfect Felicitie A Prayer for the assistance of the holy Ghost No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 3. 4. If ye that be euill can giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly father giue the holy Ghost to them that desire him Luke 11. 13. O Gracious Lord God who didst send vpon thy Apostles and others thy holy Spirit filling their hearts with grace and wisedome I humbly beséech thee by thy vnspeakable mercy that thou wilt vouchsafe to fill my soule with thy grace and water my heart with the vnspeakable swéetnesse of thy Loue in the loue of Jesus Christ thy most dearely beloued Send down Lord thy holy Spirit to guide me being ignorant banish by his light the blacknes of sinne through Christ Jesus by him refresh my sad and sorrowfull soule there is neither wisedome nor strength without thée aide me therefore by that holy Spirit and I shall be able to shunne the deceits of Sathan and to withstand his power Thou art not ignorant that I can doe nothing of my selfe extend thy fauourable hand ouer me therefore and grant that I may forsake and vtterly relinquish my selfe and flie vnto thée Mortifie in me whatsoeuer is displeasant vnto thy Maiestie that in all things thou maiest conforme mée vnto thy will by thy holy Spirit that my life may be euer hereafter perfect in thy sight O Lord my God looke vpon me thy miserable Creature whose soule sigheth after thée day and night when shall I come and appeare before thy presence when shall I enter into that admirable place of thy Tabernacle the house of my God O comfort me with thy presence that I may taste here in this my mortall pilgrimage the swéetnesse of thy glory which shall continue for euer O my God I long to be deliuered from all temptations O eternall fountaine of light bring me backe againe to that eternall goodnesse by whom I am created that I may know thine omnipotencie euen as I am knowne of thée and may so loue thée as I am loued by thée that I may sée and inioy thée in the society of all the Elect who liuest and raignest together with the Father and the Sonne a Trinity in Unitie for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Sunday-Morning Thus saith the Lord take heede to your soules and beare no burdens on the Sabbath day nor bring it into the gates of Ierusalem Neither carry forth burdens out of your houses on the Sabbath day ney doe ye any worke but sanctifie the Sabbath as I commanded your Fathers Ier. 17. 21. 22. He that gathered stickes on the Sabbath day was stoned to death Numb 15. 32 35. 36. O Eternal God and heaùenly Father I extol thine infinite goodnesse and mercy together with thine eternall wisdome and truth who hast protected me this night made me to rest quietly and securely by thy most holy and diuine prouidence I humbly beséech thée of thine infinite goodnesse to protect and gouerne mée this day by thy mighty hand from all dangers both of Body and Soule Giue thy holy Angels charge ouer mee to direct me in all my wayes driue away the deadly enemy remoue all offences of this World mortifie and kill in me all carnall lusts and euill affections that they may haue no dominion ouer mée giue me a sorrowfull heart to bewaile my wicked life and comfort my soule by a liuely assurance that thou hast fréely forgiuen my sinnes Sanctifie me O Father this day I humbly beséech thée with thine especiall grace that I may haue decent carriage in my behauiour true deuotion in prayer and reuerent attention to heare thy heauenly and holy Word and that thou wilt please to giue mee vnderstanding ioyned with true deuotion to obserue learne and imbrace such things as are necessary to me for the confirming of my faith in Christ Jesus raise me O Lord by the power of thy resurrection from sin and giue me spirituall rest in the Communion et Saints that afterward I may kéep the euerlasting Sabbath with thée in the Kingdome of Heauen behold O Lord I knock at the dore of thy mercy with all my power and strength beséeching thée to continue vnto me the right vse of all my senses and limmes and send thy holy Spirit to beare witnesse to my spirit that I am thy childe and shall be heire of thy glorious kingdome through the mirits of Christ Jesus our Lord for whose sake I humbly pray thee to grant all those things that I haue prayed for and haue neede of Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer before the hearing of Gods Word O Eternall most high and mighty God vouchsafe I humbly beséech thée to inlighten my dark dul vnderstanding that thy word may enter into my soule and be so receiued of me as that Ignorance the mother of disobedience being put away heauenly knowledge may enter in and haue perfect rest and abiding in me Giue power O Lord to the séede of Truth that being sowne in my heart it may take deepe root and bringforth to the comfort of my soule sixty an hundred yea a thousand-fold and let thy Spirit so guide the lips of this thy Minister and Preacher as that he deliuer nothing but the Word
O Father of mercy for thy deare Sonne Christ Jesus sake our Lord and Sauiour Amen O Lord increase our Faith and blesse our labours A Thankes-giuing or Prayer to be vsed after a mans labour is finished O My gracious Lord God I yéeld vnto thée harty thankes because thou hast preserued me from imminent and infinite dangers which might otherwise haue happened to oppresse and vtterly ouerthrowne me if thou Lord hadst not carefully regarded and kept me from many inconueniences Therefore now O most louing Father I humbly intreate and beseech thée for Jesus Christs sake to pardon all the faults wherein I haue offended thée in the time of my labour or otherwise correct me not in thine anger nor punish me in thy heauy displeasure worke in me so by the power of thy holy Spirit that hence forth I may walke in greater integrity and carefully performe those duties which are required in my vocation and calling to the end that though I labour with my body yet in spirit I may be led by thy spirit to loue serue and glorifie thy name in all my doings words and thoughts Direct and guide me by thy holy Word in all truth and honest conuersation among men neuer swaruing from thy commandements that in the end I may attaine euerlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Lord euermore increase and confirme my Faith in thee A generall Confession of sins and of the vanities of carnall delights If we acknowledge our sinnes God is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sins and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse If we say we haue not sinned we make him a lyer and his word is not in vs 1 Iohn 1. 9. 10. O God Almighty and al-knowing Father the fountaine of all comfort and consolation I confesse against my selfe as euermore I haue done that I haue grieuously offended thée by my manifold transgressions and haue thereby drawne downe a most heauy waight of thine importable iudgements vpon me vnder the burthen whereof I cannot but faint and fall vnlesse thou set to thy helping hand of mercy in Jesus Christ to support mée for good Father I am weake and cannot beare thy displeasure I am ignorant and know not which way to turne mée vnlesse thou point out the way vnto me by thy holy Spirit directing mée within as thy Word teacheth me without For it is not euery one that heareth that vnderstandeth not euery one that vnderstandeth that can practise and performe what thou commandest for who so is not guided by a better line then that of flesh and bloud mistaketh the right path and treadeth the way of vanitie whose end is death yet for the time it is most swéete and pleasing to the outward man the man vnsanctified and vnregenerate because hee loueth to be sed with the dainties of this life as with honor preferment riches health friends and worldly delights estéeming these the earnest-penny here of Heauen to come and that wants and pouerty and sicknesse and enemies and imprisonments and crosses are euen here the entrance into Hell it selfe So foolish are they O Lord and ignorant whom thou guidest not in thy way And this hath béene my foolishnesse and my misconceit of the seuerall estates of men in this life euen vnto this day But hauing now found by due triall and experience the foolishnesse of such as put their delight in these transttory fickle and vncertaine vanities doe disclaime all confidence in them and doe heartily and most vnfainedly abhorre and detest the deceiuing baits of temporall and carnall delights and doe wholly betake me vnto the swéet sauing sanctuarie of thy wisedome and prouidence wherein howsoeuer the worldly minded doe contrarily iudge is truest safety happinesse and securitie for therein beare Father is the true feéling and founded hope of future eternall felicitie thy wisedome O Father is the wisedome of the Spirit the Spirit the sanctifier of the Soule the minde and affections which being sanctified begetteth true feare of thée and that feare is the beginning of that sacred wisedome which guideth and gouerneth the whole man in the blessed way the way to life euen vnto Christ himselfe who is the Way the Truth and the Life O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer for humiliation and sorrow after sinne committed O Lord my God and most louing Father in Jesus Christ I confesse and acknowledge that mine offences are increased and my sinnes are growne vp vnto the heauens that I am ashamed to lift vp mine eyes to thée admiring at thy influite mercy in forbearing to punish me knowing that I am worthy to be swallowed vp or swept away with some extraordinary and sudden iudgement And now O Lord especially hauing so grosely sinned against thée and done so great euill in thy sight how haue I vile wretch that I am wounded mine owne conscience how hâ—ue I laid my selfe open to the malice and enuy of the Diuell what a disgrace and slander haue I brought vpon my Profession what an offence and scandall haue I giuen vnto others what a toy will this be to the wicked that they haue now by meÌ„ gotten something to speake euill of But aboue al O Lord how haue I dishonoured thée whose fauours haue béene so many and so innumerable towards me I know not how to expresse my detestable sinnes and the hainous and hideous natures of them when I thinke vpon thy patience vpon the meanes of grace which thou hast afforded mee vpon the light of knowledge which thou hast giuen mee vpon the good motions which thou hast from time to time stirred vp in mee vpon the profession which I make vpon the sundry vowes and promises of better obedience with which I haue linked my selfe vnto thy Maiestie vpon the diuers admonitions which by thy prouidence I know haue béene vsed to mée by thy Seruants purposely to preuent and stop this euill in mée mée thinketh I may call it rebellion which is as the sinne of witchcraft or presumption in the highest degrée O Lord I sée my sinnes and know them to bée exceeding great neuerthelesse I cannot so lament them so grieue for them so detest and abhorre them as I should Striue O gracious God strike I beséech thée my flinty heart make it euen to melt within mée at the sight of mine owne transgression Settle in it that godly sorrow which causeth Repentance vnto saluation Humble my soule vnder thy mighty hand and suffer me not to fréeze in the dregges of mine owne corruptions make my head full of water and mine eyes a fountaine of teares which may runne downe like a Riuer day and night O let me take no rest nor suffer the apple of mine eye to cease cause me to powre out my heart like water before thy face that I may by all meanes testifie the vnfained griefe of my Soule that I haue so displeased thée And grant O Lord that I may not sorrow so much because of hell condemnation which J haue
and horrible tentations would entrap me when the whole World forsakes mée and all things set themselues against mée then strengthen mée I beséech thée that I forsake not thée my Sauiour and fall from hope of thy frée mercy O comfort my heart with an inward assurance and seale of mine Adoption in thy Sonne in whom the forgiuenesse of sinnes is promised vnto all Beléeuers Call to memory thy holy Couenant entered into with vs at our Baptisme and the promise thereunto annexed Hee which beleeueth and is baptized shall be saued and grant that wée may euermore consider the same to our perpetuall comfort Amen A comfortable Prayer against back-sliding in Religion and for increase of Faith most worthy often to be said of euery Christian. O Almighty Eternall God which hast in thy Word commanded that we should beware of falling from thy grace and hast also witnessed that the end of those which goe backe from thy Word after they haue once knowne the way of righteousnesse will be excéeding fearefull Haue mercy therefore on mee O Lord I most humbly pray thée for I finde in my selfe great weakenesse no power haue I of my selfe to perseuere in goodnesse I beginne to wauer in my iudgement and to grow doubtfull euen of those things which I heretofore haue embraced with fulnesse of perswasion The exercises of godlinesse are not so pleasant vnto me as they haue béen a strange kinde of dulnesse stealeth vpon me and I haue no such life and spirit in matters of Religion as in times past I haue had and to what a wofull passe these things may come though I haue much hope when I thinke vpon thy mercy yet well may I feare when I looke into my selfe I confesse that thy goodnes is great in that thou makest my heart within mee to smart for these things and doest not suffer me to run on without stay into that hellish and infernall Pit in which I should be soone plunged if thou shouldest once leaue mée to my owne weakenesse Therefore O Lord I beséech thée to quicken my dull heart kindle those sparkes which are euen vpon quenching and like vtterly to goe out vnlesse it shall please thée to reuiue them make strong my thoughts and conscience make mée able more and more to sée the Truth in cases of Religion and to discerne things that differ from the same Giue mée vnderstanding to know both good and euill giue mée also increase of zeale that I may spring vp in grace and thriue in godlines vntil I come to that measure to which thou hast appointed mee to come in Christ Jesus let â—eé not in these key-colde and decaying times be carried away with euery blast of doctrine through the subtiltie and wilâ—nesse of those which lie in waite to beguile mée suffer neither the cares of this vaine world to wither and dry vp thy graces in mée nor transitory pleasures to entrap mée nor euill examples to misguide me nor mine owne sloathfull and heauy nature to make mée grow weary of well-doing but make mée so to burne in loue with heauenly things that I may not satisfle myselfe with any measure either of knowledge or practice but may rather still be ashamed of my selfe that I make no better procéedings and so may euer desire and striue to more perfection To this end enkindle in mee affection more and more by the hearing and reading of thy heauenly and holy Word earnest praying intentiue and feruent meditation carefull watching ouer mine owne soule following the example of godly men and imitating their gracious and holy conuersation As thy promises O Lord and most mercifull Father haue encouraged mée thus to pray so I he séech thée let it be thy gracious will to accept of these my humble petitions which procéede from a contrite a sorrowfull heart so shall my soule magnifie thée and my tongue set forth thy praises with ioyfull lips and that in Jesus Christ thy Sonne and my Sauiour Amen A most Christian and comfortable Consultation and sweete resolution what course in time of deepest distresse men ought to take worthy of all men to be considered to their vnspeakable comfort Read and Regard IT is a general complaint among the distressed children of men that great and dangerous is the triall to be long visited with the punishing hand of our high and powerful God especially notwithstanding the many instant cries and humble petitions of the afflicted soule who finding no ease nor feeling any comfort but contrariwise troubles miseries crosses griefes to increase daily thinking himselfe vtterly forgotten of God or méerely to be hated of him the silly afflicted soule thus bewrapped with feare féeling of his miseries many times fainteth and so falleth from faith in God to séek succour at the hands of mortall men and finding that to be a course of cold comfort with whom neither prayers take place nor endeauours preuaile he then pressed downe as vnder the burden of vtter despaire of any succour is moued oftentimes to frame his affections to contriue vnlawfull meanes by his naturall and corrupt conceit that his owne will and wit may shape some course to a hauen of more secure rest and so hoysing the sayles of his owne peruerse imaginations betaketh himselfe to the main sea of his vngodly deuices tâ—l at the length instead of a happy hoped harbour he suddenly sinketh and is swallowed vp of the ougly deuouring gulfe of irrecuperable confusion For the world as a sea tossing the weake ones that saile therein trieth the inclinations of all and approueth and condemneth but not according to the right rule of Christian reason and godly wisedome but after a sensuall manner of false iudgement affirmeth such as saile with a full fore-winde of prosperity here to be onely blessed happy and beloued of God and such as are becalmed with distresse and miseries with crosses and calamities and kéepe not the glorious way with the worldly-minded to be hated and accursed of him And this wretched and false censure of carnall men driues many weake soules vpon the rocks of bitter ruine euen when they dreame of a course of swéetest happinesse For as Dauid found Psalme 49. 18. much more this age affoordeth the experience that men doe praise them that make much of themselues namely such as wallow in the delights and pleasures of the flesh But them they estéeme mad men and fooles and cast-awayes and accursed that liue in a base and low and poore and ignominious estate though neuer so contented the foolishnesse of worldly men is wisedome and the true wisdome of the poore is foolishnesse with the worlds flatterers And this is that dangerous rocke vpon which oftentimes euen the godly make shipwracke when they consult with flesh and bloud which argueth it the safest course to become licentious to imbrace vanity and to studie the profitable and praised arts of flattery and dissimulation to walke the broad way to preferment to scale the wals of wealth and estimation
therefore speake O shape in mée a new Spirit giue me a renewed heart and a tongue that may speake acceptable things vnto theé that thine eares may be opened at my cries and thy mercies O Lord ready to receiue my humble complaints Thine eyes O Lord are open vnto the cries of all that feare thée and relicuest al that trust truly in thée thou deliuerest their soules from death and comfortest their hearts in the time of sorrow And therefore doth euery man that is godly make his prayer vnto thée and holdeth not his tongue hée may â—use and meditate for a time at his miseries but at the length the fire of zeale will enkindle and he cannot but speake with his tongue and cry vnto thée to shew his hope that hée hath an helper in heauen he cryeth and thou considerest he desireth and thou relieuest he beléeueth and at the last thy mercy and goodnes appeareth and thou imbracest him with ioyfull and timely deliuerance And how commeth it to passe O mercifull Lord that I so long haue sought thée and thou séemest to hide thée from me How long haue I prayed vnto thée and thou séemest to giue no â—are vnto mée which maketh mée weary and almost ready to faint and to giue ouer my suite which I haue so long sought and made vnto thée O God my Strength and my Redéemer But loe O Lord God thy promises and louing kindnesse do only â—éede and nourish me with a continuall and neuer dying hope that the time expected will come at the last when thou forgetting my sinnes wilt both heare me and fully deliuer me Thou art God and therefore good thou art the Father of all and therefore onely thou knowest the wants of all thy children and the things most fit to giue vnto them and the time when to bestow it on them And therefore Father all-sufficient and full of loue I presume not to say vnto thée Come now or Doe this but for the time when and the thing what thou wilt work for me I refer to thée yet be not ouerelong away for thou knowest my séeblenesse and my miseries and how néere I am brought to an vnrecouerable fall what shall I doe Lord but hope onely in thée Thy Prophet witnesseth vnto vs wretched men that when the righteous cry thou hearest them and deliuerest them out of all their troubles But who is righteous O Lord who is cleane he also witnesseth that none is righteous none is cleane but all are sinners yea our most holy fathers were impute in thy sight and yet they receiued the Promise and obtained grace and mercy and reliefe and strength and saluation at thy hands But Lord they were thus comforted and thus blessed and thus relieued onely of thy frée â—auour wherein thou acceptedst them righteous and imputedst not sinne vnto them and not of their deseruings Thou art loue and in loue thou imbracest them that deserue to be hated for their sinnes and therefore sith thou art so full of compassion and so infinite in thy mercies beare with mine imperfections and couer my sins accept me righteous and I am righteous accept mée worthy and I am worthy to receiue the good things of thy loue which is without all limitation Hold me righteous in the righteousnesse of thy beloued that I also may be heard when I cry as my righteous Fathers were and let me be deliuered out of my distresses as the righteous haue béene deliuered out of all their troubles For what can it profit thée O Father to forsake me vtterly and to suffer me to be forsaken of all as if thou haddest no respect vnto mine offering I cry daily and yet my trouble continueth I séeke thée and am depriued of all earthly blessings O wretch that I am what shall be the end of my complaint I will cry yet if thou wilt heare I will séeke thée still till thou maiest be found be it as thou wilt into thy hands I commend mée and to thy prouidence I commit mine estate most grieuous and best knowne vnto thy selfe O Lord increase my Faith The Motiue to the second Prayer to be said of distressed men WHerein the poore man desireth God to consider in mercy his temptations which are so much the more heauy and grieuous because the worldly minded doe taunt at him for his afflictions affirming that God hath forsaken him for that hee punisheth him so deepely And the poore man hauing no other refuge but to flye vnto God iâ— encouraged through Gods promises and perswaded through faith that these men speake so hardly of him for that they sauour not of the true knowledge of Gods louing corrections whereby hee visiteth his dearest Children here for a time that they perish not eternally and resolueth himselfe to holde fast by God and therefore prayeth for strength and withall he desireth the assistance of Gods directions in the gouernment of his life and actions lest that such as see his pouerty and afflictions should see him fall from God by grosse sinnes and so take the stronger occasion to censure him iustly punished for his wickednesse Yet withall hee confesseth vnto God that hee is indeede a sinner and for his sinnes iustly touched with crosses by the meere prouidence of God in loue and taketh comfort by examining his waies his will which although they be not so right as they ought yet in respect he erreth through frailty not by a full consent rather as a sufferer by Satans oppressions then a wilful doer against the will of his Maker hee desireth God to looke vpon him in the merite of Christ and in him prepare his dull heart to repentance and his whole man to a more sincere course of life that his wayes being reformed by the word of Truth his hard afflictions may be in the end and by little and little mitigated and that God will breake the fetters of griefe and sorrow and according to his diuine Promises by his deliuery giue him occasion to sing a new song a song of ioyfull deliuerance both from the tyranny of Sathan and also from the heauy burthen of his afflictions The second Prayer for Constancy in affliction and to endure malicious slanders patiently LOrd how are my troubles increased how many and how grieuous miseries haue seized taken hold vpon mée insomuch as the world argueth me forsaken of thee affâ—rming that there is no helpe for me in thée But Lord are they not such as haue a carnall eye and doe not spiritually discerne thy secret purposes in chastifing them whom thou louest They looke onely vpon the outward meanes that the world worketh and comprehend not thy mercy and prouidence wherein thou workest by means without meanes and against meanes euen as thou wilt Therefore let not their malice moue me nor their taunts dismay me I will hold me by thy promises and endeuour to kéepe thy Statutes and performe what thou hast commanded O Father leade me in thy righteousnesse that I sinne not in their sight
the Lord will not regard it O Lord thou séest and beholdest thou findest out and considerest all mens wayes mischiefe and wrong equity and iustice are before thée and thou takest the causes of men into thy hands and thou giuest iust iudgement because thou onely knowest the truth of euery mans cause The poore commit themselues to this God that knoweth them to this God that séeth them and to this God that pittieth them and prouideth for them The Lord looketh downe from heauen vpon all men such is the force of his knowledge that hée knoweth in man more then the heart of man it selfe for he fashioneth the heart and vnderstandeth all my thoughts long before they be conceiued within me And therefore my soule prepare thée to patience addresse thée to praise God and continue in prayer be not idle to meditate good things that the Lords goodnes may be thy goodnesse that his loue may be thy life and his prouidence thy protection for as hée knoweth thy going and marketh well thy wandring when thy féele follow value things and fatherly correcteth thée for them so doth hée behold thy teares and heareth thy groanes which thou makest for sinne committed against him and healeth thée and comforteth thée Yet all things are so hidden in the treasure-house of his prouidence that the naturall man séeth not the meanes how to be cured when hée is sicke how to be raised againe being brought low how to be defended hauing many mighty enemies But the Spirit of God discerneth and as he is God knowing all things done so he is a God fore-séeing al things to be done hereafter And hée séeing mée in my mothers wombe before I was any thing or dained for me then what I receiue now therefore my hope must not faile but take hold of his ancient loue wherein hée first created me to liue in him and by him and therfore Oh that I might be able truely to serue him that hée might louingly relieue me still that I might faithfully obey him that hee might fatherly helpe me still He is the good shepheard Oh that I were a good shéepe of his pasture hee féedeth and guideth and holdeth vp and comforteth and maintaineth all that are his hée looseth none that are his he confoundeth none that are his neither doth he forsake any of his vnto the end Within his fold is his fauour and in his fauour is life and in that life is liberty and in that liberty is reliefe and in that reliefe true peace and in that peace the assurance of saluation and in that assurance the ioy and comfort of the Spirit whereby euery outward vnsauory thing is made inwardly swéet euery crosse hath his comfort and euery tryall and temptation and sorrow and griefe is turned to the vnspeakable good of the shéepe of his pasture Therefore O my soule sigh no more sorrow no more be no more pensiue at outward pouerty fret no more at the worlds miseries dismay no more for thy many sinnes but striue to stand in the fauour of this God and he will set thée frée and banish thy feare and fill thy Cup and féede thée with the hid treasures of his neuer-failing loue O Lord increase my Faith God knoweth the hearts of all men Acts 1. 24. 15. 8. The foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his and let euery one that calleth on the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. vers 19. Thou hast counted my wandrings and put my teares into thy bottle Psal. 56. 8. A Godly Meditation of the Word of God whereby men distressed may be strongly resolued to cast off all feare and to cast all their care on God that careth for them according to his promise in his Word OH what am I that I should conceiue of any happinesse or glory or ioy or comfort to be giuen mee either in this earth below or in the heauens aboue for I am a man of corrupt conuersation my heart is fraught within mée with corruption my soule is defiled and my whole man polluted Is it not therefore my iust portion to haue here misery and calamity and crosses and enemies and euils innumerable to follow me for my sinne and to vexe me for mine iniquities so hath the Lord threatned in his word Most true it is that right it were that I should receiue these vnsauoury things of this life and to be depriued of the Land of them that liue for euer if I should receiue according to my deseruings for death is due for sinne O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this danger of death that shall neuer haue end Surely when I looke into this book of mine owne wayes and workes and wantonnes and wicked life I sée nothing but danger and feare and sorrow and death it selfe written therein how then my poore soule vnhappy soule wretched soule how canst thou escape oh tremble and feare for i◠thou finde not fauour thou are fallen for euer and for euer forlorne Where then wilt thou séeke for succour to whom wilt thou flye for grace to the weake and wicked and wofull World or wanton worldlings No my Soule flye from these feeble friends and looke into and consider and beléeue and imbrace the Word of God taste that Bread of life drinke of that Fountaine that floweth from the liuely Spirit of truth thou shalt liue It is a pure Word and will purifie thée it is a liuely Word and will reuiue thée the Word of truth and will teach thée the Word of comfort and will recomfort thée O my soule what thing is so precious as this Word that bringeth the glad tidings of thy saluation thou deseruing damnation of Life thou deseruing death of Comfort thou deseruing confusion and of mercy endlesse thou deseruing miseries infinite It is a Word full of consolation to such as are sorry for their sinnes and séeke after righteousnesse a Word of terror to the obstinate it is a killing sword vnto the wicked and sauing shield vnto Gods children the sauour of Life vnto life to them that are his and the sauour of Death vnto death to the wicked It is more to be desired then the purest gold or swéetest hony Come vnto me saith this Word and I will refresh you Seeke saith this Word and you shall finde rest for your soules O my Soule here then to thy rest here is thy safety and here is thy saciety and here is thy life and liberty and here shalt thou dwell as vpon the Mountaine of Peace vpon the Rocke of Reliefe and Hill of continuall Helpe This is the Staffe to stay thée by this is the Weapon to defend thee with this is the Way to walke in and this is the Foode to relieue thée withall Oh reioyce therefore in the Lord O my soule because of his Word by which he assureth thée of health if thou be sicke of comfort when thou art sad of defence
when thou art in danger and of his presence when thou séemest to be left alone forsaken of all By his Word hée saith Come by thine obedience say Lord I come delay not to cast away the superfluous eare of carnall things and séeke things spirituall and heauenly By his Word he saith Seeke first the Kingdome of God answere thou by a detestation of the World and worldly vanitie Lord thy Kingdome I seeke séeke then this heauenly Inheritance more to be wished then the Land and Reuenewes and Riches and glory of the greatest earthly subiect who hath but the casuall and vaine and slippery things of this World that leaue him and wée leaue them but loe a Kingdome is prouided in Heauen for the poorest Childe of God Séeke this Kingdome O my Soule euen while thou art here in this vast Wildernesse of this Worlds miseries for when thou hast suffered thou shalt receiue glory and when thou hast fought that good fight thou shalt be crowned and when thou leauest these things so vile and vaine and loathsome below thou shalt enioy things glorious and swéet and full of ioy and consolation aboue when thou hast left the society and fellowship of men below thou shalt accompany Angels aboue and when thou hast made an end of sighing and grieuing and groning vnder the burthen of tyrannous men here thou shalt sing praise and glory to this glorious God aboue who hath sent thée his Wordhere in thy mortality to comfort thée with the swéet contemplation of thine immortality Oh then let this be thy daily meditation let this be thy continuall exercise that in want and weaknesse in sorrow and ignominy and misery and crosses and temptations and in al trials whatsoeuer thou mayest duely weigh how thou maiest be assured that none of these shall hurt thée for loe euen this glorious and swéet and most ioyfull word telleth thée from thy louing Redéemer My grace is sufficient for thee O swéet word of truth yea of truth for hée speaketh and performeth his grace is sufficient what then shall I feare If his fauour be not further off but alwaies at hand what shal I scare if it be sufficient what can resist it nothing but sinne nay his grace is sufficient to kill sinne then nothing can stand betwéene me and this Kingdome of God if I flye vnto this Word if I kéepe this Word and meditate this Word bring forth the fruits of this Word then this Word will further assure me that this good God this powerfull prouident and louing God will neuer faile me nor forsake me O Lord increase my Faith The word of God is liuely and mighty in operation and sharper then any two-edged Sword and entreth thorow euen vnto the diuiding a sunder of the Soule and the Spirit and of the ioynts and the marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. The word of God is our delight in affliction And giueth wisdome to the simple Psal. 119. 130. As new borne Babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. Let not the booke of the Law depart out of thy moâ—th but meditate therein day and night that thou maist obserue and doe according to all that is written therein for then shalt thou make thy wayes prosperous and haue good successe Ioshua 1. 8. A Meditation concerning the â—enefit of Faith in God and how it holdeth the Children of God from falling from him in their deepest miseries OWretch that I am where is my hope where is my helpe where is my rest where is my assurance of saluation or helpe in my troubles I haue a forcible and strong Law in mine owne carnall wisedome that to trust in Man to put confidence in Wealth and to flye vnto the reliefe of mine owne deuices mine owne waies and workes auaile mee more then all other meanes that else-where I may séeke O Foole that I am O silly Sot and wretch most féeble what can I do or speake or worke or deuise to bring to passe the least good thing to comfort me withall Mine heart is corrupt my conuersation euill my tongue vnholy and all parts of my body vnpâ—… can I then hope of any helpe or worke any good or deuise any course to comfort 〈◊〉 No I disdaine all mine own â—aies and workes and wisedome and inclâ—me wholy vnto the counsell of the most high and hée will instruct mée I will trust in him and hée will helpe mée I will flie to him and he will receiue me I will pray to him and hée will heare me I will fall downe yet againe yea againe and againe before him and he will take me vp Shrinke not therefore O my soule nor be ouer-sad at these my miseries be not afraid at the Worlds iniuries saint not at the furie of the euâ—il and malicious men for thou hast an helper in heauen in whom whosoeuer trusteth shall reioyce whom whosoeuer feareth shall stand fast whom whosoeuer truely séeketh shall preuatle in his desires shall triumph euermore O my soule set the Lord alwaies before thée for hée alwayes is néere thée Let me not thinke that he séeth not my wayes and my walkings as if he were a God that considered not the actions of men Hée is at my right hand and on my left hand hée is before me and behinde me he compasseth me about on al sides and findeth me out in my secret intentions his wayes are onely perfect and 〈◊〉 his Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 capacity of wisest men In this God I trust in this Word I beléeue in this Wisdome I repose my hope and as he hath promised it shall come to passe and as is fittest I shall receiue And therefore I will not dismay I wil not be discouraged at my miseries no if I should passe through the â—alley of the shadow of Death I will not feare for my God attendeth mée and is in all things at all places and at all times with mée and though he correct me with his rod he vpholdeth me and comforteth mée with his preuayling hand None that trusteth in God shall be put to shame not one that putteth his confidence in him and embraceth his Word obeyeth his Will and walketh in his Wayes shall be confounded for euer He is my light and he directeth me he is my helpe and he sustaineth mée he is my rest and mysaluation whom then or what néede I to feare O my soule I should haue fainted in â—â—se importable miseries and contisée the goodneâ—… did not beléeue to life if I were not assured to taste of his blessings before I goe hence and bâ— no more séene And I finde his fauour and his mercy and his power and his prouidence and his infinite blessings both within me and without me daily yea he is my strength and my shield hee is my defence in trouble and my portion and my saluation O my soule trust in him and thou
rich in godly zeale And be not grieued though by this alteration you become poore for a messe of portage to one fearing God is better then all the riches of the wicked Hée is not poore who loueth God for God loueth him and in his loue is life and liberty and liuely reliese But who so feareth not God haue be neuer so great abundance is a begger a cast-away and a reprobate from the ioyes of heauen the least of which cannot be purchased with millions of kingdomes the least of them more worth then all your gold and siluer and lands and possessions and offices and honour and what else the whole world which deceiueth you can afford The Booke of God is full of terrible and sharpe threates against mercilesse rich men and many woes the Lord that loueth the lowly pronounceth against the proud And what a iudgement it is that their hearts are shut vp that they cannot consider their end to be as the Oxe that is fattened for the slaughter who delighteth in the déepe féedings while the Butcher determineth his death as the couetous and wanton and wicked ones take pleasure in their vanities while their death and destruction commeth without redemption But if these men will not heare nor conceiue nor consider the perill of their estate if they will not while the Lord may be found séeke to returne that they may be saued their iudgement and destruction and reprobation will be the more iust O Lord increase my Faith Why boastest thou thy selfe in thy wickednesse O man of power Psalme 52. 1. The Lord shall destroy thee for euer he shall take thee and plucke thee out of thy tabernacle and roote thee out of the land of the liuing Verse 5. An exhortatiue Conclusion wherein the afflicted are stirred vp to patience and not to be ashamed of their miseries and base estate so long as they endeuour to doe their duties in their seuerall callings and stay themselues vpon Gods prouidence AS the man that is borne blinde cannot iudge of colours nor the dease man distinguish of sounds no more can a man that hath béene kept blinde and muffled with the mask of this worlds pleasures and become dumbe with his secure estate here discerne the things of God hée cannot distinguish betwéene Woe be vnto you rich because you haue your consolation here And Blessed are the poore for they shall receiue comfort These things are not so heard nor so regarded of Worldlings as might bring them to a true and liuely consideration that there is a woe and a blessing pronounced that there is fire and water set before them and life and death offered them But as Children that haue no more discretion then Moses being an Infant who refused a Crowne and tooke burning coales doe reiect the better things as drosse and imbrace the worst as most dâ—are and precious and therefore preferre their Oxen and their Farmes and their heapes of transitorie vanities before the swéete banquet of a contented estate And so farre they are from the true conceit of Gods purpose in punishing man that they censure crosses that light vpon other men as curses and the glory and riches and mucke and pelfe of their owne to be giuen them because they and none else are blessed whereby many times the deare Children of God are put to a déepe agony when they heare and perceiue the taunts and reproofes that the world and worldlings cast at them for their pouerty and base estates sake They stand before the worlds Gallant-ones as Dauids men that had the shirts of their garments cut to their buttocks as men derided and scoffed and as cast-awayes and men forlorne and forsaken of all men and cast downe and confounded by God himselfe in regard whereof many times the poore though indéede the very Children of God are so ashamed of their estate as they be forced not onely to auoide the familiarity of the wealthy but euen to be séene of them a farre off nay rather they hide themselues as men cast off or drosse from the gold where indéede the Word of Truth findeth them out and approueth them the refined gold and the worldly-minded straw and stubble prouided withall that hée that is cast downe must not so iustifie himselfe as to argue himselfe the childe of God because hée is cast downe because hée is made poore or because hée hath enemies or sicknesse or want or persecution for all these things may happen also vnto the reprobate for as sin is the ground of all our afflictions and our offences the cause of Gods displeasure and Gods displeasure powreth forth crosses and curses too vpon sinners So must euery man carefully consider how hee standeth in his troubles whether hee haue fallen into the same by his own riot or lasciuious and wanton life by his vngodly conuersation and neglect of the feare of God for which things sake the wrath of God commeth vpon the children of disobedience and he powreth out of the cup of his indignation vpon them either in iudgement because their condemnation shall here begin and so be perpetuall or else to reclaime them from their wicked waies that they may be saued And he that findeth himselfe in his conceit lest deseruing afflictions because he either féeleth not or findeth or will not acknowledge that he is such a sinner that deserueth so great punishment as many times lighteth vpon other men let him think that he in thus iustifying of his owne wayes is in a dangerous state It is the pride of the heart which God that searcheth it well séeth and considereth that such a one is in a perillous way if hée be not humbled And surely godly Dauid himselfe was gone a little that way and God saw that hée must pull downe this chosen vesell of his before hée would tread his steps as he should for as he confesseth himselfe Before I vvas corrected I vvent avvry So that our troubles and miseries and all the aduerse things that may befall vs are Gods corrections to his children to reforme them but his iudgements are messengers of his vtter renunciation to the obstinate who by his punishments waxe worse and worse and who murmure and grudge at the course that hée taketh with them to amend them as did the rebellious Israelites whom hée often visited in mercy before hée entred into iudgement against them So that none that standeth may say hée cannot fall none that are high may say they cannot be brought low for all haue sinned and all haue néede of correction all are sicke and all haue néede of Physicke all haue gone astray and therefore all haue néede to be reclaimed Who then will be ashamed of Gods visitation who will be impatient when afflictions come Surely none but the man that knoweth not God none but hée that loueth this world more then heauen and the pleasures of this life more then the ioyes of the life to come Dauid was not ashamed of Gods corrections for hée praised
euery godly man to vse all holy meanes to inkindle their hearts to the right performance of this heauenly duty And nothing more preuaileth thâ—… in then Meditation whereunto we are also very vnapt by nature know not how nor vpon what grouÌ„d to lay the foundation thereof yet if we can truly frame our hearts to a holy Meditation we shall finde that it is the very key that openeth our dull hearts lookt vp vnder griefe vnder feare vnder trouble vnder persecution misery and sendeth forth by little little the fire of true zeale which at length becommeth a great flame of preuailing prayers which thing they easily finde that are conuersant in this sacred exercise of Meditation and Prayer who yet many times finde themselues most dull most vnapt to pray hauing yet an inward desire thereunto which desire they cannot containe but labouring a while in silence speaking inwardly to God in sighes and groanes at length they speake effectually with their tongues Seeing therefore that all men neede motiues to stir them vp to payer let eueryman addresse himself to the word of God or peruse some godly worke of religious men And although vocally he cannot read by reason of his naturall dulnes yet if his heart can be but conuersant duly attend the sence as the eye obserues the letter his mind by little and little shall mount it selfe from earth to heauen fixed on the Trinity whence shall arise such spirituall fruits of faith feruency of Spirit as shall fill the soule with more sweet consolation by inkindled prayer then the tongue can vtter And to this end gentle Reader according to the small measure of mine vnderstanding I haue prefixed before euery prayer a Motiue or Meditation touching the substance and matter of the Prayer following THANKS-GIVING after PRAYER THe third and last duty in this holy exercise is Thanksgiuing which cannot but follow sanctified praiers and that with such ioy in the holy Ghost as it cannot but breake forth into most vnspeakable inward thankefulnesse to God who hath been so graciously pleased not onely to forgiue our sinnes but to help our infirmities by his holy Spirit by whom we haue had accesse vnto the Throne of grace and found such fauour with God in Christ as we haue obtayned by the holy Ghost both the will and the power to pray Also we ought in all things to giue thanks to God for euery blessing and benefit we receiue at his hands according to the counsell and precept of the Apostle who commands vs to giue thanks alwaies for all things vnto God euen the Father in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ Ephes. 5. 20. Thus much touching the admonition A PRIVATE PRAYER for the Morning The MOTIVE I Laid me downâ— and slept and rose againe for the Lord sustained me Psal. 3. 5. This Confession did holy Dauid make to the glory of God in the morning and hath left it to vs to moue vs likewise to glorifie God by whom we liue and labor and by whose loue and prouidence we lay vs downe to rest after our wearinesse and daily trauell and doe enioy the comfortable benefit of sweet sleepe which he hath afforded to refresh all Creatures And man the most excellent of all other Creatures receiuing this sweet blessing and rising from his bed without thanksgiuing to him that can giue it or depriue him of it cannot assure himselfe whether his sleepe shall turne to his good or euill for the greatest good thing that we receiue at the hands of God turneth to our hurt if we be vnthankfull But vnto the godly to such as feare him and giue him praise he turneth euen euill things to good Therefore as Dauid saith I will giue thanks vnto the Lord his praise shall be in my mouth continually Morning and Night and at all times and for all things Psal 34. 1. Wherby it commeth to passe that no danger can annoy vs for why The Angell of the Lord pitcheth round about vs to preserue vs sleeping and waking if we feare him and call vpon his Name Pâ—al 34. 7. The poore man therefore cryeth vnto the Lord Lord here my voyce in the morning for in the morning will I direct my prayer vnto thee and will waite till thou heare me and helpe me Psal. 5. 3. O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer for the Morning to be said in priuate OH Father full of power mercy and loue how dare I looke vp vnto heauen where thou sittest in Maiesty and glory How can I thinke or hope to receiue any good thing here in the earth where thou art in thy power and knowledge for thou Lord séest my wayes and my vanities and my corruptions and my sinnes yea my thoughts idle and euil are before thée yea my pollutions and imperfections are such and so great as I am afraid of thy iudgements if thou shouldest note all that I haue done amisse yet like a louing Father thou hast mercifully preserued mée this night and vouch safed me swéet rest and sléepe and hast raised me by thy hand for it is thou onely that preseruest me and defendest me whether I wake or sléepe walke or worke eate or drinke yea thou blessest all these things vnto me or else they would easily destroy mée For I a weake Creature am subiect to the infinite dangers that lurke in the pathes of this euil and corrupt life In the night and darkenesse I sléepe and haue no watch and therefore easily may I be ouer-taken with the dangers of the wicked that hate the light and practise euill in the darke but that thou the watch-man of Israel thou sléepest not but hast a fatherly care and vigilant eye and louing regard to thy weakest ones when they slumber beset with dangers thou appointest thine Angeâ—s and they pitch about them and they are late O good Father I thank thée for thy infinite blessings beare with my weaknesse and wash me from my sins and forgiue mine offences and direct me in the â—ight way of obedience of thankfulnesse of repentance and reformation of my life which is still subiect to vanity still ready to slide into one sinne or other I am neuer frée Oh Father from temptations neuer at true peace but beset with continuall enemies within me my own corruptions fight against faith and obedience wresting my will and mine affections from sincerity to sin from a desire of good things to euill from obedience to rebellion from trust in thée to despaire or to depend on the vain things of this deceiuing world which being full of subtil baits euery where beset with snares to catch my souâ—e and to seduce me with dangerous vanitâ—es I flye onely to the sanctuary of thy loue to the castle of thy prouidence and to the harbour of thy sauing promises Kéepe me therefore kéepe me deare Father as the apple of thine Eye shrowde me vnder the shadow of thy sauing wings this day and teach mée truth giue me knowledge
wisdome and humblenesse and obedience and mortification and zeale and faith and hope and all graces that may change me from sinne to sanctity from darkenesse to light and from coldnesse to a more perfect zeale to serue thée in all things Teach me O Lord teach mée to execute my vocation truely and perfectly and giue such issue and blessed successe to all my endeauours labours purposes and procéedings as I may discharge my duety in obedience to thy diuine Maiestie to my brethren in loue and equity and to my selfe and mine in godly care and true piety And let thy holy Spirit so guide and gouerne mée this day and for euer that I may more and more fructifie increase in all godlinesse vntil thou shalt cut off this corruptible life After which good Father in the merits of thy Son let me inhabite euermore inherite that heauenly City new Ierusalem where thou sittest and raignest one God with whom shall liue all thine elect in ioyes vnspeakable for euer Amen O Lord increase our Faith A Morning Prayer where the FAMILY assembles O Almighty God full of loue and pitty the chiefest comfort that any sinfull soule can haue when wée miserable sinners here met together doe consider of thy great mercy and goodnesse which we haue euer since our births and before found and daily doe finde at the hands of thy diuine Maiesty together with our great vnthankfulnesse euery way to thée againe for the same we must néedes confesse and euen from the bottom of our hearts doe acknowledge that most vnspeakeable is thy mercy in sparing vs to liue vntill this morning before which time thou mightest iustly haue consumed vs. But O deare God of thy frée mercies before the foundation of the World was laid thou hast chosen and elected vs for thy Children and hast to our endlesse comfort certified and made knowne the same vnto our spirits by thy spirit by whom and not of our selues wee now cry vnto thée Abba father and for our Redemption hast sent thine owne Sonne to shed his most precious bloud vpon the Crosse no other meanes being whereby wée could be saued Thou hast by thy holy Spirit wrought Faith in our hearts to beléeue by him and in him to be iustified before thée and in some measure begunne the death of sinne in vs and wrought our sanctification and of thy frée fauour we enioy the benefit of thy Word the freedome of conscience great peace and plenty in outward things with many and infinite other benefits waking and sléeping at home and abroad in our selues and our friends for all which instead of thankefulnesse wee become the more disobedient not doing that wée ought to doe but with pleasure and profit with vanity and selfe-loue wée are carried away spending our daies in iniquity carelesnesse and vnféeling of our sinne and there is no goodnesse in vs yet is there mercy with thée O Lord and pardon vpon repentance Wherefore we here this Morning met together before thy Maiesty humbly confesse our wants and most entirely beséech thée for Jesus Christs sake to haue mercy vpon vs Haue mercy vpon vs most mercifull Father and forgiue vs all that is past strengthen vs hereafter that daily both in bodies and soules we may glorifie thée more then we haue done yéelding thankes for daily benefits and striuing in holinesse and righteousnes to please thée all the dayes of our life But because we cannot but offend and fall diuers wayes and euery day good Lord for thy mercy sake pierce our hearts with a féeling of the same and neuer suffer vs to goe on with dull and dead soules not séeing nor sighing for our offences As a speciall meanes to kéepe vs in obedience before thée O deare Father worke in vs a continuall remembrance and an effectuall consideration that wée shall not alwayes liue here in this wretched world that doth much please vs now but that a day wil come when the trumpe shall sound the Dead shall arise and all wée shall appeare before the Tribunall seat of Judgement there to receiue according to our déedes without respect of Persons oh good Lord giue vs a remembrance and a féeling of that vnspeakeable comfort and eternall waight of glory which in that day shall be giuen vnto vs if in this day wée serue and please thée and contrariwise euen terrifle our cousciences and let vs as it were see before our faces the dreadfull Judgements and the fearefull Torments that both in Body and Soule they shall be sure to haue for euermore which in this life doe not serue and please thée but follow their owne fancies and wicked delights giue vs an hatred of sinne and a true loue of righteousnesse blesse thy Word euermore with fruit vnto our soules when we heare it giue vs a desire to heare it often and to practise it faithfully and obediently and keepe our hearts euer free from disūmulation and counterfeit holinesse prepare our hearts diligently to watch for the comming of thy Sonne make vs ready fit and willing to meete him in the clouds if thou wilt that we liue to his comming if it please thee in the meane time to call vs let vs with ioy yeeld our bodies to the earth and receiue our soules vnto thy selfe vntill the day when both our bodies and soules shall be remitted and bee totally glorified with thee in Heauen And let this day be a day of our true reformation and repentance that we becomming new creatures may serue thee in holinesse all the dayes of our liues yeelding thee most humble and hearty thankes for thy goodnesse to vs this night let thy mercifull eye looke vpon vs this day and so keep vs bodies and soules that being occupied in our seuerall callings we may be safe by thee from all our Enemies and liue to thee in feare that we may die in thy fauour and liue hereafter with thee in glory which grant and all things in the meane time necessary for soules and bodies for Christ his sake in whose name we ask them saying as he hath taught vs Our Father vvhich art in heauen hallovved be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as vve forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the povver and the glory for euer and euer Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy vvord our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs and make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance tovvards vs this day and euermore Amen A priuate Prayer for the EVENING The Motiue I Will lay