difference betweene a filthy tongue and an eare attentiue with delight to heare it It is no indifferent thing to heare or not to heare the Word of God AND thinke it not indifferent whether thou desire to heare or not to heare the Word of God for if thou turne away thine eare from hearing the Law of the Lord euen thine owne prayers shall bee abominable If thou therefore hast eares to heare hearken to the voyce of the Lord who daily openeth his mouth to teach them that lend their eares to heare him And if thine eare be as ready to heare as he is to speake happy then art thou in hearing for practice cannot but follow Therefore saith Dauid I will hearken what the Lord will say Hee opened his eares and spiritually heard the counsell of the Lord namely what the Spirit of the Lord spake vnto the eares of his soule for if the Spirit of God dwell in thee hee speaketh in thee and thou hearest him euen in silence yea though thy corporall eares were deafe yet thine inward eares being sanctified to the hearing of the spirit within Thou art clean faith Christ through the word that he hath spoken vnto thee The inward eares of the soule are opened by hearing with the outward THerefore art thou not to withdraw thy corporall eares from the outward hearing of the Word preached for as the sound of the voyce pierceth the outward So by vertue and operation of that Word the inward eares of the soule are opened to apprehend and apply the same word to the spirituall working of righteousnesse faith and obedience in the enabling thee to speake vnto thy selfe as it were in secret in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melody to the LORD in thine heart giuing him thankes for all things worshipping him in spirit and truth for as God is a Spirit so they that worship him are to worship him in spirit and truth So that by the eare commeth hearing of the Word preached And by the Word commeth faith and by faith wee apprehend all the mercies and blessings of God in Iesus Christ. Many lend more diligent eare to heare of earthly than the heauenly purchase THou art required to set thy house in order before thou dye consider with thy selfe whether it concerneth more thine owne good or the benefit of them that shall enioy the Lands and goods thou shalt leaue behinde thee This consideratiō may befit such as have in their life time shewed a greater care to make their posterity great than themselues good as hath appeared in many by lending their eares more eagerly to heare of purchases bargaines and worldly profits than by hearing the promises of that heauenly inheritance by applying the promises of GOD by faith vnto themselues And therefore the setting of their houses in order as touching giuing and disposing of their Lands and goods benefits themselues little for whether they dispose them or not they must leaue them and others will haue them the ordering of them indeed is necessary for the continuance of peace betweene them that may pretend any succeeding interest in their goods when they are dead While thou art then liuing and in health apply thine eare to that purchase that may make thee a Free-man of heauen Hearken what thy conscience will tell thee IN setting of thy house in order begin at thy selfe at home in thine owne conscience examine it and hearken what that wil tell thee for that is the witnesse that must excuse or accuse thee iustify thee or condemne thee If it approue that thou hast beene attentiue to heare and to follow the counsell of God declared in his Word and hast walked before him as he hath commanded if thou hast vsed no sinister meanes vnlawfull or forbidden practices for the getting of that which thou meanest to dispose and set in order before thou dye then in happy case art thou and happy shalt thou bee in setting thy house in order before thou dye If thou haue neglected these holy duties make speedy reformation make conscience thy friend by thy new obedience and a more sanctified conuersation and bee not so friendly to thy children as to proue foe vnto thy selfe Apply not thine eare to heare their forged flatteries onely to gaine what thou hast when thou art dead but heare the counsell of thine heauenly Father who willeth thee aboue all things to addresse thine eares to heare his promises to make thee great in his Kingdome if thou wilt heare his voyce and follow it Let it bee to day delay not the time to seeke that Kingdome of Heauen and the righteousnesse of it which being obtained then giue bequeath dispose in the feare of GOD and make thy will for if thou thy selfe be in order it is easie for thee rightly to dispose of the rest It followeth to speake of the Taste another of the senses The examination of the TASTE THE Taste is conceiued commonly little offensiue and neither much to abuse nor easily to be abused to the offence of any needing not any great businesse to keepe it in order The Taste hath deuoured many BVt take heed thou pleasest not thy taste too much for if thou giue way vnto it it will ouermaster thee and exact from thee that will make thee a poore man bee thy to feed it neuer so great Be what thou art rich or poore if thou flatter it and giue it what it will require thou shalt finde it in the end like a fawning Lion which thou hast long fed from a whelpe without danger but at length it will grow strong and ouermatch thee and make thee seruile and slauish vnto it and in the end deuoure thee Great disorder in eating and drinking IF thou please thy taste or satisfie thy vnruly appetite and giue way to thine insatiable desire of eating and drinking thou canst not but fall into all disorder as is daily obserued not onely in the rich and men of greatest meanes but in many yea meanest Mechaniks Trades-men and very Rusticks that according and beyond their abilities rise vp early to drink Wine and strong drinke exceeding in surfeiting and drunkennesse like the Glutton in the Gospell two vices of equall intemperance and equally imbraced of poore and rich and so excessiuely common as the stincke euen of their vomits doe infect the very ayre not onely of the principall Cities and Townes but in manner euery Village and many priuate houses in the Kingdome The lawfull and necessary vse of eating and drinking often turned into sinne by excesse TO eate and to drinke is lawful especially with thankesgiuing for without the good creatures of God the body cannot subsist The vse of the Taste is also to distinguish good from vnsauoury food And the pallat for drinkes yet both for nourishment not for gluttony and drunkennesse But to the common shame of men it is obserued that there bee more that eate for gluttony and drink for delight than doe moderatly eate to sustaine the
bee burning lights burning as being zealous in feruency and lights also as being conspicuous and eminent for charity sanctity and all holy graces of thy spirit Thy Vrim and Thummim being on them as vpon thy holy ones let them be sound for doctrine and holy for life and conuersation preaching let them practice and by practice let them preach and teach the things which concerne thy kingdome Open and let open vnto them the dore of vtterance that they may teach thy word freely and boldly Take away all differences contentions from amongst them make them examples to those that beleeue in soundnesse of doctrine and integrity of conuersation And because the rule of my life depends vpon thy word in their mouthes blesse them with all graces fit for their calling that I may giue thanks vnto thee for them finding thy blessing vpon mee through their labours and may praise thy name for euermore Amen A Prayer for Sunday Night O Euerlasting and euerlouing Father mercifull Lord God creator guider and preseruer of all men and all things who creating man after thâ—ne Image in wisdome knowledge and vnderstanding enriching him with all gracious abilities helpes and fâ—rtherances for the working out of his owne saluation with feare and trembling giue me a reuerence of thy maiesty and a feare of thy most holy name which is so dreadfull and terrible that being by thy grace forewarned I may fly from thy wrath to come and at this present come before thee in all confidence of thy goodnesse to implore thy grace and the manifestation of thy fauour Looke downe from heauen thine holy habitation and behold with the eye of thy loue and tender compassion mee poore soule that distrusting mine owne righteousnesse goe out of my selfe calling vpon thee in the words of the Publican and saying O God bee mercifull to me a sinner Write not bitter things against mee neither suffer me to possesse the sins of my youth Forgiue and forget all my transgressions and cast mine iniquities as farre from thy presence as is the east from the west And pardon good Lord I humbly beseech thee the faults and frailties which haue escaped this day in the sanctifying of thy Sabbath whether they bee sinnes of omission or commission wash them all away in the blood of thy Sonne sanctifie me by the Word thy word of truth that this day hath sounded in my eares grant that like good seed sowne in good ground it may take root downeward and bring forth fruite vpwards to the glory of thy great name the praise of thy grace and credit of the Gospell O let thy word be euer in my minde to meditate of it in my mouth to speake of it and in my life and conuersation to practice it By it worke in my heart Faith Hope Charity and al other supernaturall graces which accompany saluation open mine eyes that I may see thy Law and incline mine heart that I may loue the truth and louing the same may yeeld obeâ—ience vnto it doing thy will on earth or at least endeauouring to doe it as the Angels in heauen willingly without murmuring speedily without delaying constantly without ceasâ—ng and vniuersally without omitting what thou commandest and commendest in thy word So shall I not be distracted with foolish feares nor dispaire of thy mercy but euer hope and trust in thee and finde grace to helpe mee at a time of neede Grant this O Father for thy Christ my Iesus thy Sonne my Sauiours sake who euer liueth and raigneth with thee one true immortall euerlasting God to whom with thy blessed Spirit and thee O holy and heauenly Father be ascribed of me and all thine all honour and glory world without end Amen Monday A morning Prayer O God my God and Father of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ whom no man knoweth but by thine especiall gift grant that to the rest of thine exceeding benefits towards me this which is the greatest that can be bestowed vpon mankinde may be added also namely that as thou hast raised vp my body from sound and sweet sleepe the image of a corporall death so also thou wouldest deliuer my minde and affections from the sleep of sinne and from the darkenesse of this world and after death restore the same body to life as well as thou hast called it from naturall sleepe And seeing thou hast brought mee to the beginning of this day which is the first day of the weeke bee thou as this night past and euer heretofore present with me and president in me Lèt thy holy Spirit be my counsellour and instructor my God and my guide to lead mee into all truth Helpe me by the assistance of the same Spirit to watch ouer my thoughts words and works that I may neither think speak nor do any thing which is not warranted by thy word but that setting thee and thy law before my eyes I may come to the knowledge of thy will in all reuerence and humility of soule submit my selfe thereunto that ordering my life and conuersation thereby and walking according to this rule peace may be upon me as vpon the Israel of God Let mee neither oppresse nor defraud my brother in bargaining buying and selling false weights and ballances or the like dishonest meanes but guide me so by thy grace that my conscience may euer cheere mee vp through a delightfull apprehension of thy blessefull fauour To this end order thou my paths and establish my goings in the way of peace grace and saluation Cause thou mee to walke before thee and be vpright make me to provide things honest before thee and men behaue my selfe as in thy sight and doe vnto others as I would bee dealt withall my selfe Let no sin inordinate lust or vnruly passion haue dominion ouer me but helpe thou mee to leade captiuity captiue to kill and crucifie my lusts and sinfull affections and wage warre with my corruptions vntill through Christ which strengtheneth mee I shall proue more then conqueror Grant this vnto mee for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Monday night O Lord my God and gracious Father in Iesus Christ I doe here in all humility prostrate and cast downe my selfe before the foot-stoole of thy throne of grace to offer vnto thee this mine euening sacrifice of prayer praise and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the crosse to be a propitiation and meritorious sacrifice for the sinnes of the world Lord heare me and helpe me and be mercifull unto mee my sinnes are great but thy mercies are greater my trespasses finite but thy compassions infinite neuer faile though I faile of my duty towards thee yet thou art good and gracious vnto such as seeke thy face and fauour humbling themselues and powring out their soules before thee Wherefore I humbly beseech thee that as the heavens are higher then the earth so thou wouldest extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Indue me with faith sanctify me with all other
to spend nor giue and when her louers haue as they thinke been much beholden to her for her bounty in fulfilling their corrupt desires then she begins to shew herselfe in her likenesse picking their pockets and rifles them of al that she gaue them dispossessing theÌ„ of their great reuenewes disrobes them and deplumes them of their peacocks attire and brings not a few of them to pouerty and shame and casts them off as the harlots did the prodigall sonne And if she be so kind to some as to suffer them to be seene to ruffle and florish long dandling them in her lap of lasciuiousnesse yet at last she sends them to their graues stript of all and turnes them away as poore men naked as they came to her only with a silly sheet to couer their nakednesse vnseemely to be seene of men O shut thine eyes therefore make scorne to bestow the time of casting one looke with delight vpon the best things she offers thee necessaries excepted being so vncertaine and so certainly dangerous How to imploy our inward sight BEtter it is for thee and to thy more solide comfort and true content through faith to be assured to see thy Redeemer in his glory hereafter for euer than to be here as it were bewitched with the inchantments of the deceiuing things thine eyes doe here see which doe so fasten carnall affections to earthly things that thou canst haue no time to looke vp from whence thy redemption if thou be one chosen of God comes and where are hid the vnspeakable treasures that the Lord reserueth purchased by Christ for them that haue their eyes fixed on him by faith The carnall eye a hinderance to the spirituall CLose vp then thy greedy eye that is so pragmaticke a promotor of all deceiuable obiects to the heart that ingrosseth all that is offered vnto it that delighteth it And commonly shutteth out the most excellent inuisible things because the naturall eye sees only things visible in the world and hinders the spirituall eye from beholding the things of heauen Mischiefes proceeding from the carnall eye THis carnall eye makes the heart an Idolater by coueting a murtherer by enuying a theefe by desiring an adulterer by lusting a glutton by longing And this by the abuse of the eye and consent of the heart abusing and disordering the whole body the house of the soule and the soule it selfe Aboue all seeke the illumination of the inward eye LEaue then the fulfilling of the lusts of thy corporall eye which only seeth by the light of nature and seeke by faithfull prayer the illumination of thine inward eye whereby thou maist apprehend spirituall and heauenly things The sight of the spirituall eye THis internall eye is inlightened through the spirit by the word preached and vnderstood whereby we see God our Creatour as we see his works by our naturall eye we see Christ Jesus his Sonne proceeded froÌ„ God the Father we see him suffering not onely many grieuous abuses iniuries lying in his humanity among the Iewes but his bitter ignominious death vpon the Crosse But also our Redemption and Saluation in and by him By the same eye of a liuely faith we see and apprehend his merits we see him stand a mediator for vs at the right hand of his Father interceding betweene vs sinners and our offended God and in whom we are imputed righteous Things only seene by a spirituall eye through faith LAbor to see and apprehend this great mystery of our Redemption and Saluation which none can see by his quickest eye of naturall wisedome no it is foolishnesse to the naturall man to thinke that God could haue a Sonne made flesh to be conceiued in the wombe of a Virgin without man to bee borne into the world according to the course of men to dye and within three dayes to rise againe by his owne power being God and immediately after to appeare in the same humane shape and to eate bread and in the same body to ascend into the heauens and there to remaine a glorified body and that in the same body hee shall come againe accompanied with Millions of Angels to iudge aswell them that remaine aliue at his comming as them that are already turned into dust in their graues burned to ashes perished in the seas and deuoured by beasts And that their bodies that haue dyed fiue thousand yeeres since euen Abel and all that haue dyed since being vtterly consumed that euen their bodies now dust shall rise againe and be re-united to the soules of the righteous to be eternally glorified with Christ and his Elect And of the wicked to be eternally tormented with the Diuell and his angels The cause why men couet not that spirituall illumination THese things are hid from the eye of nature and naturall reason and apprehension and that is the cause that many wanting that spirituall eye of heauenly illumination doe apply their carnall eyes to the things here below that doe not onely not profit them but grieuously endanger him They haue neither the will nor the knowledge how to seeke as they are commanded The Kingdome of Christ and the righteousnesse thereof wherein consisteth the assurance of all them that shall be partakers of that Heauenly Kingdome with Christ found of them that seeke it in the word of truth and apprehended by the eye of a liuely faith which is 〈…〉 of the same Ieâ—us Christ. Hearing of the Word the meanes of spirituall illumination VSe therefore the meanes to attaine vnto this celestiall illumination heare the Word attentiuely pray feruently lifting vp thine eyes to heauen seeke holinesse and purity for the pure in heart haue onely the promise to see God here by the eye of faith and hereafter euen with these eies by which we now behold his creatures Striue with a continuall holy violence to bee enlightned from heauen Then shalt thou see to set not onely this outward sense of seeing in order and thy domestick family and goods but the rest of thy senses thy whole body and soule in order perfectly and religiously before thou dye Touching the examination and ordering of thine eares HAuing considered briefly the reformation and ordering of thy tongue eyes it behoueth thee likewise to examine how thou hast formerly vsed or abused thine eares Organs and instruments of hearing likewise placed neere the intellectiue part of thy head the chiefe outward part of thy body The eare is not so apt to heare as the eye to see ANd although the eare be not so actiue in motion to heare as the eye is to see that can in a moment turne it selfe to many and seuerall obiects nor so fluent as the tongue that moues it selfe in what and in what diuers discourses the minde moues it vnto yet the eares through their passiue and penetrable quality are apt to entertaine things which may moue the heart to conceiue and stirre vp the will to affect as euill things as the eye or tongue The eare
vnpleasant and so at length refuseth necessary nourishment to sustaine and maintaine the body as is seen in sicke folkes when their Appetite decayes the Taste is out of order best meates and drinkes seeme vnto them of vnsauoury relish And this distemperature commonly proceeds by ouermuch oppressing the body by pleasing the Taste and ouer-charging the Appetite with surfeiting and drunkennesse whence doe spring all the infirmities and diseases of the body numberlesse as a punishment inflicted vpon such as abuse the good creatures of GOD to please their inordinate Tastes and Appetites Gods good creatures are abused by surfeiting and drunkennesse MANY are the varieties of Gods good creatures of both kindes both of meates and drinkes which he hath prouided for our vse not to bee abused but to bee receiued with thankesgiuing as wee are commanded that whether wee eate or drinke if wee receiue but a morsell of bread to sustaine vs or a cup of cold water to refresh vs we ought to receiue it and vse it to the honour and glory of God that giues it But how can hee eate to GODS glory or his owne good that eates to surfeit And how can he drinke to the praise of God that drinkes himselfe or others drunke Hee eates and drinkes to his owne shame beyond the measure of beasts which cannot be compelled to eate or drinke more than is sufficient vnlesse it be the Dogge the Wolfe and such vncleane creatures as eate to vomit and presently returne to their feeding and the swine that will drink drunke and wallow in the vncleane puddle To which Beasts Gluttons and Drunkards are fitly resembled Not to oppresse thy heart with ouer-eating and drinking TAke heed therefore lest at any time thy heart which is the principall part and life of thy body be ouercome with surfeiting and drunkennesse and so death seize vpon thee through thine excesse and thou dye suddenly as many haue done before thou canst either set thy domesticke estate thy soule or thy body againe in order and so be reputed author of thine owne death and descend suddenly to the pit of eternall perdition a fearefull farewell froÌ„ thy friends and family Eat not the bread of oppression BEware also thou eate not the bread of oppression nor drinke the wine of extortion rather let thy poore oppressed brother and sister be partakers with thee of thy bread and other the good creatures that God hath plentifully lent thee for to eate and drink alone of thine abundance when Lazarus lyeth lyeth crying at thy gates for meate is dangerous as appeareth by the example of the rich Glutton in the Gospell being in hell cryed for but could not get the drop of a finger of water to refresh him It is not ouer-feeding preserues life but brings diseases and shortens life THinke not that it is the fulnesse of delicate meates and most delitious wines and strongest drinks that continues thy life or maketh thee lusty and strong for the fattest and fullest fed bodies neyther liue longest nor proue strongest but are more subiect to sicknesses and infirmities and to many kindes of Maladies than are they that feed sparingly and temperately euen of meanest food and weakest drinkes receiued with thankefulnesse As Daniel who refused the daintiest fare that came from the Kings Table and chose rather in faith and the feare of God to feed on pulse or pease and became of better liking more fat and faire than his fellowes that fared and fed on the Kings dainties dilitiously euery day Thankefulnesse to God the sauce that seasons our meates and drinkes THe sweetest sauce that sauours and seasons all sorts of our meates and drinkes is thankfulnesse to GOD for giuing them faithfull prayer for a blessing vpon them And then let them bee neuer so meane bee it pulse pease roots or hearbs instead of daintiest foule or fish and a dish of cold water instead of wine shall sustaine poore men women and children and make them as fat faire and strong as such as fare farre more daintily as appeareth by many that haue very meane fare and yet liue by the blessing of God but if God send his creatures in a more ample manner they may not be abused nor the meanest contemned Meane fare through prayer sustaines the poore aswell as dainty faire the rich THey that eate and drink more for delight than they doe for their necessity of hunger and thirst may liue and looke as leane and meagre as the poorest and the poorest that eate and drinke with prayer and thankes shall bee sufficiently satisfied The rich many times turne the good gifts of God into wantonnesse through excesse and the poore doe often turne their penury and want of corporall food into the fulnesse of spirituall satiety and are sufficiently releiued their bodies well ordered and their health preserued Daintiest and meanest fare turne to like excrement THere is great difference indeed of the furniture of Tables all but for nutriment and did such as feed of the fairest and finest cates consider whether their delicate food turne not to like lothsome excremeÌ„t as doth meanest fare they might rather seeme to bee ashamed to thinke vpon the matter whereon they so much delight to feed that so soone turneth to that which lotheth them to looke vpon when it comes from them againe Then in regard of their dainties to despise meaner fare and such as feed on it Euery creature hath its proper food and appetite TASTE is common to man and beasts as are hearing seeing and the rest but are diuerse in appetite euery creature hath it's proper food and can by it's taste distinguish the proper from the improper nourishment and seldome exceeds in the vse so the temperate man the man knowing and fearing God findeth in himselfe a taste of another and of a more high nature a spirituall appetite and hungreth and thristeth as much for heauenly and permanent as doth the corporall appetite for vanishing and perishing food Spirituall taste and appetite BY this spirituall Taste he sauoureth the sweetnesse of the Lord how comfortable his mercies are and how operatiue his graces working in him an heauenly appetite Longing as Salomon did for Wisedom and Knowledge to governe his kingdome for spirituall and heauenly vnderstanding to gouerne his house the house of his soule and aboue all his soule it selfe which being out of order none of the rest can be in good order But when hee hath by this inward and spirituall taste discerned the bitternesse of Sinne and the sweetnesse of Sanctitie and brought his Affectionâ— his Minde and Will to effect minde and desire heavenly things then his Appetite begins to hunger and thirst for the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof distasting all such Carnall Corporall and Worldly things as sauour not his renewed taste Then is faithfull prayer his onely exercise and the Word of Truth his onely delight What food pleaseth the spirituall taste His food is holy Meditation his practice Hâ—militie Meekenesse Temperance and
harlots to allure thee to follow them and the multitude to the pit of perdition Follow not the multitude though they scorne thee BEware thou bee not seduced and drawne backe by them let not thy feete follow their steps though they flourish waxe rich and great glorious and thou be scorned derided and scoffed at for being so austere and earnest in the good way regard it not for it will not be long ere thou shalt come to thy iournies end the citie of the liuing God new Jerusalem where after thy tedious iourney thou shalt haue rest glory and peace for euer more Nothing ought to moue us out of the narrow way IN the meane time bee of good comfort ponder all thy paths and order thy wayes aright and let not the prosperitie of them that walke the broad way there pleasures or delights any whit moue thee to turne thy feet out of the way of righteousnesse truth and obedience The right guiding of the feet REsort often to the temple of God bee a diligent and an attentiue hearer of the word of God it shall bee a Lanterne to thy feet and a light vnto thy pathes so that thou shalt not slide The lord will keepe thy feet from falling and guide thee in the way of peace and happinesse to the workes of mercy to goe to the sicke to visite them to the prisoners to releeue and comfort them hee will make thee to bee as it were feet to the lame and eyes to the blinde as was holy Iob. Seeing wee are of our selues corrupt wee must seeke to bee guided by the Spirit of God TO this end hath God especially giuen thee thy feete to carry thy body not to places of iniquity but where thou mayst either doe good or receiue good But trust not thine owne wit or thine owne will for the direction of thy feet aright for they are corrupt and will misguide thee But â—raue daily the assistance of the holy Ghost to leade thee for as a blind man though hee haue legs and feet to beare him can he auoyd danger in his going without a guide And what is euery man but blind And therefore without that spirituall guide cannot man but goe in danger pray therefore the Father in his Sonne to send that holy Spirit which proceedeth from them both all three persons but one God to teach thee how to guide thy feet in the way of a godly and holy conuersation that thou mayst say with holy Iob My feet haue followed the steps of the Lord and not declined And lincke not thy selfe with those prophane and lewd wretches that doe not only not refrain but apply their feet to euery euill and licentious way whom God in the end will binde hand and foote and cast into vtter darnesse for euer The feete of the wicked are fettered with sinne PRay therefore continually vnto the Lord that hee will keepe thy feete from the snares of Satan and sinne the common high way that such men walke in as feare not the Lord. Their feete are fettered they can goe no further than the chaine of their naturall inclination will permit them and that is onely to euill euermore running as it were with greedinesse to their owne ruine and fall at length head and foot into the pit of eternall darkenesse whereunto they were led in the broad way from whence no counsell could reclaime by the Prince of that infernall kingdome with whom shall bee onely and euermore tormented all such as have abused their bodies their senses and members the house of their soules in all vngodlinesse without repentance or care to set keepe them in order as becommeth the elect of God here in this life He that gouerneth his senses and members of his body rightly is well prepared to dye COntrariwise if thou canst now so order thy senses thy hands and feet and all the members of thy body as thou art bound to doe and abuse them not to the hinderance of a godly life thou needst not to feare but that thou art well prepared to set thy house in order before thou dye for the outward good gouernment of the body is a good argument that thy heart within thee is in good order thy will and affections not much out of order and therefore not amisse in few words to examine the inward estate of thy soule as thou hast done thine outward body namely how thy heart standeth An examination of the heart No man knowes truely his owne heart WHen a man goes about to examine euen his owne heart hee enters into a Laberinth of difficulties into a bottomlesse deepe of subtilties deceites and frauds It is indeed vnsearchable and no man can truely finde what is in his owne heart although a man may thinke hee knowes the thoughts purposes and desires which hee concealeth in his heart and may determine in himselfe to put them in execution And yet when it comes euen to the very doing of what he intended another conceit crosseth it and turnes the first determination out of doores and so one thought thrusts out another infinitely for the heart is a store house of variable imaginations and vnstable purposes for when a man is most priuie to the thoughts of his owne heart as hee thinketh hee is commonly deceiued hee may purpose this or that and deliberate vpon the manner of the performance and as it were assure himselfe of a happy and wished end and yet succeed cleane contrary to his intention The heart is a closet full of deceitfulnesse THe heart is as a secret closset lockt vp as it were and euery man thinkes hee hath his owne true key to vnlocke it and so no doubt euery man seemeth to doe when hee deliuers his minde to another by word or writing But such is the deceitfulnesse of the heart that either it ouer-ruleth the tongue that speaketh or the pen that writeth from the meaning of the heart that he vttereth and writeth false-hood for truth or some truth mixed with deceit The dore of his heart are the lips and so subtile is the heart that it cannot open it selfe by nature but to euill for the heart of it self is corrupt aboue all things and corrupts euery action both of the body and mind and whatsoeuer proceeds from it is either euill or mixed with euill And therefore is the wisest naturall man ignorant of the euils of his owne heart The heart pondereth all kinds of wickednesses IF a man duely and throughly examine the wickednesse of his owne heart and be not partiall hee shall finde it inclinable to the most egregious euils that the most wicked reprobate that euer liued committed yea hee shall finde among infinite other greeuous sinnes motions tending euen to murther nay to reason as it were within himselfe against the very essence of God and against the deity of Christ. There is no thing so wicked and impious but mans heart by nature is or one time or other hath beene inclined to perpetrate
in flaxe soone inkindled and soone extinct soone hot and as soone cold And no other foundation haue those affections that are set vpon carnall and vanishing things A man may as is often obserued affect and hate as it were in one breath things variable and interchangeable for as all naturall things are inconstant so is mans heart Saul seemed so highly to affect Dauid as he was content to giue him his daughter in marriage yet how soone was his loue turned to deadly hatred It was not grounded vpon that loue that proceeds from the Spirit of God But Ionathans loue and affection to Dauid was grounded vpon a more diuine and setled opinion hee saw that God was with Dauid And vpon this ground whosoeuer foundeth his affection towards any man namely as hee findes him to be a man beloued of God his affection is approued of God O that wee could rectifie our loue in this point and learne to affect the best things and not to set our affections on things of the world which when wee haue them they steed vs nothing beyond necessity how superfluous soeuer they bee And when wee seeme to haue them in best assurance either they leaue us before the time or wee must leaue them in time Let us make choice therefore as Mary did of the better part namely to affect things permanent which are aboue and they most excellent Then need wee not to feare bee wee poore or rich high or low noble or base wee shall be able to set our houses both domestick of our soules in such compleate order as shall witnesse our godly care in our liues when wee are dead A preparatiue to Prayer LEt the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be now and alwayes acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Let my prayer come before thee as Incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be as an Euening sacrifice like a morning obligation a sweet smelling sauour in thy nostrils Heare my prayers and answer me graciously for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Sunday Morning O Lord God Almighty euer-liuing and euer-louing Father in thy well-beloued sonne Iesus Christ who art father of all and rich vnto all that call vpon thy name in truth and sincerity to thee I call and cry together with thy forme and holy spirit three distinct persons in the vnity of essence who hauing made all things of nothing sustainest them in thy good prouidence by the word of thy power that thy name by all men and by all meanes might bee glorified Lord I acknowledge this day to be thine as consecrated and set a part for thy worship and service and to be obserued not only as a holy day but a glorious day vnto thee wherein I ought to pay my vowes vnto thee present my person and my prayers before thee heare thy word and meditate vpon the same to thy glory and mine owne good To this end remoue farre from me all wandring thoughts and worldly affections and worke in me a desire of studying thy Law and of walking in the truth that thy word may not bee vnto mee the sauour of death vnto death but of life vnto life I present not these my supplications trusting to my owne righteousnesse but in thy manifold mercies grant me therefore I beseech thee gratious audience and mercifull acceptaâ—ce euen for my redeemers and sanctifiers sake And as duty obligeth mee principally and aboue all other things and primarily in the first place and before all other things I extoll thine infinite goodnesse together with thine eternall wisdome and truth that thou hast protected mee all this night past and made me to rest and sleepe so quietly vnder the shadow of thy wings And I beseech thee from the bottome of mine heart to protect me this day with thy mighty hand from all dangers both of body and soule giue thine holy Angels charge ouer mee to guide me in all my waies to keepe mee from euils both bodily and ghostly that keeping my faith and a good conscience I may haue thy witnesse and testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordained me to wrath but to obtain eternall life and saluation To this end remoue farre from me the offences of this present euill world mortify and kill in me the concupiscense of the flesh crucifie all carnall lusts and affections that vice being supplanted vertue and grace may bee established liue and grow in mee Let not since haue dominion ouer mee reigne and beare rule in my mortall body to ouer-sway my soule and incline it unto euills but let thy loue possesse my soule that grace may incite and stirre vp the same vnto all holy duties which may be soe pleasing vnto thy maiesty as may procure thy fauourable kindnesse blessing and protection Giue mee a contrite heart to bewayle my former life and let mee finde comfort in thy mercy for the remission of my sinnes Sanctifie me O blessed and holy trinity this holy day with thine especiall grace that I may honour thee as a Creator loue thee as a redeemer and expect thee as a Sauiour that I may haue a modest carriage in my behauiour true deuotion in my prayers and reuerent attention in thy presence to heare thy word Vnlocke the cares of my body that I may heare those things which thou shalt teach me that hearing I may vnderstand them vnderstanding I may remember them remembring I may practice them to adorne that profession which I haue made in thy name and confirme mee in the faith of thy sonne Iesus Christ whereto I was baptized Raise mee O Father by the power of my sauiours resurrection from sinne and iniquity and giue me spirituall rest peace of conscience ioy in the holy ghost and fellowship in the communion of Saints that when I shall leaue this world I may keepe an euerlasting Sabbath with thee in the kingdome of heauen Behold O Lord I knock at the dore of thy mercy withall the power of my soule and strength of my minde for all these graces and fauours beseeching thee to continue vnto mee the right vse of the same that thy spirit may witnesse vnto my spirit that I am thy sonne and shall bee heire of thy kingdome of glory and that I may be partaker of the inheritance with thy Saints in light where are pleasures that last for euermore Grant this O Father for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Sunday Noone O Lord my God great in maiesty and infinite in mercy wonderfull in thy goodnesse vnto thy Church and children who hast commanded mee to make prayers and supplications for those that shall enter into the ministery and stand before thee to waite at thine Altar the harâ—est being great and the painefull and conscionable labourers but few I beseech thee that thou wouldest bee pleased to send able ministers into thy Church and set such ouer particular congregatiâ—ns as like Iohn the Baptist may
graces of thy Spirit that appearing in thine Image thou mayst know mee and acknowledge me for thine owne-Lord heare my prayers and let my praises be acceptable in thine eyes For vnto thee O Lord vpon the altar of mine heart doe I offer vp all possible praise and thanksgiuing for all thy blessings both spirituall and temporall heauenly and earthly in great abundance coÌ„ferâ—ed vpon mee and aboue all for Iesus Christ the fountaine of them all by whom I haue redemption through his bloud and accesse through his life I thanke thee likewise for the sweet influence of thy gracious well guiding holy Spirit for the manifestation of thy selfe and sacred will by thy word read and preached for the confirmation and strengthening of my faith by those sacred signes and pledges of thy loue which thou exhibitest and giuest to mee and vnto euery beleeuing soule in the Sacraments I thanke thee for my life liberty food and rayment health wealth peace and plenty which thou in much mercy hast afforded vnto me from time to time for keeping mee now and euer from sudden death and sundry dangers whereinto I might haue fallen by reason of my manifold sinnes And I beseech thee to continue this thy prouidence ouer me and mine and thy whole church as thou hast hitherto beene a Sâ—nne to comfort me so bee thou now a shield to protect me keepe me in soule and body goods and good name vouchsafe mee this night peace vnto my soule rest and quietnesse to my body that therein being refreshed I may bee cheared vp in my minde and made the more prompt and ready to doe thee laudable seruice the day following and all the dayes of my life and that for Christ Iesus sake the Sonne of thy loue Amen Tuesday A Morning Prayer MOst gracious God and mercifull Father thou that art glorious in power and holinesse I thy poore and miserable creature being but dust and ashes doe here humbly present my selfe soule and body before the throne of thy maiesty confessing and acknowledging from the bottome of my heart that I am a most vile sinner conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquity and am by nature backward vnto that which is good and prone vnto all manner of euill By meanes of this originaâ—l corruption drawne from the loynes of my first parents mine vnderstanding is full of all blindnesse and darkenesse my memory of forgetfulnesse my will of perversnesse mine affections of disorderlinesse my heart of hardnesse yea there is within mee a distemperature of all parts so that from the crowne of the head vnto the soule of the foote there is no soundnesse within mee wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse mee from my sinnes enrich my barren heart with the sanctifying graces of thy spirit that growing in knowledge fructifying in faith loue charity and abounding with all other holy vertues and heauenly qualities I may be washed iustified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of my God and haue the witnes and euidence within my selfe that there remaineth no condemnation to me being in Christ Iesus walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit Lord I confesse I am vtterly lost and haue no hope of saluation left vnto me having walked after the vanity of my mind and liued in al lust lewdnes riot reuelling vncleannes sinfulnes so that if thou shouldest be extreame to marke what is done amisse O Lord who may abide it Enter not therefore into Iudgement with 〈◊〉 seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing bee iustistified Though my sinnes haue magnified themselues in infinite length breadth depth and height yet let thy mercy which passeth all vnderstanding farre exceed them And howsoeuer by reason of my sinnes I haue iustly deserued to be not only depriued of thy blessings but for euer deserted forsaken yet for his sake in whom thou art well pleased cast me not away from thy presence of grace here or glory hereafter but by the one lead me to the other by holinesse bring me to happinesse Behold O Lord how I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy hand-maid O grant mee grace that I may liue with thee for euer Thou hast redeemed me oh let me not fall into captiuity and bondage vnto sin and Satan because I weare thy cognizance liuery but so confirme and strengthen me that both in life and death I may continue thine that I may neuer draw back vnto perdition or forsake thee the euer-liuing God or renounce my Christ who hath the words of eternall life yea who is the Way the Truth and the Life but that both in prosperity and aduersity abiding by thee I may liue in thy feare dye in thy fauour rest in thy peace rise in thy power and raigne with thee in thy glory Amen Tuesday An Euening Prayer O Lord God euerlasting and full of pitty I am a sinner yet thy seruant not hauing transgressed through wickednes but much weaknesse and infirmity spare me therefore good Lord according to thy usuall dealing with those which in prayer haue had recourse vnto thee and according to thine old vnchangeable nature of thy kindnesse and long suffering Thou mightest haue taken me away in my sinnes but thou hast giuen me space of amendment and grace to returne vnto thee to seeke thee whilst thou maist be found and call vpon thee whilst thou art neare O Lord be not farre from me but draw neere vnto my soule make haste to deliuer me and helpe me Nay Lord thou art euer with and neuer failest those who seeke after thee and call vpon thee with words of deuotion and contrition to such thou art a present helpe in trouble their shield and buckler their rocke and strong hold their castle and fortresse the horne also of their saluation Instantly doe I knocke at the gate of thy mercy Lord open vnto me and receiue me to thy protection this night as thou hast safe-garded and guided me this day past so keepe me now and euer because I trust in thee Lord preserue mee in health wealth and godlinesse if it be thy gracious pleasure voâ—chsafe mee peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost guide me here by thy counsell and after that receiue me to glory And now seeing thou hast brought the night vpon mee wherein thou hast ordained man to take his rest keepe me O Lord as the apple of thine eye saue and defend mee from all annoyances fond dreames strong fantasies and delusions Cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about mee and keepe watch ouer my soule and body that I may not if it bee possible sinne in either word or deede but may persist and goe forward in mine innocency and integrity vntill the appearing of my Lord and Sauiour vnto iudgement Good Lord deliuer mee from suddaine death feares and affrightments casualties by fire water or tempestuous weather disturbance by theeues or any other danger whatsoeuer Let my lying downe
as are thine as feare thy name walking before thee and labouring to be vpright Lord send comfort vnto them and lift vp the light of thy gracious countenance vpon them And Lord receiue them and me and all that belong vnto me this night and euer vnto thy gracious protection through the mediation of Iesus Christ In whose name and words I finish these my imperfect prayers and meditations saying as he himselfe hath taught mee in the Gospell c. Our Father which art c. Saturday A Morning Prayer O Lord most great and gracious louing Father in Iesus Christ sanctifie I humbly beseech thee this day vnto me and my selfe now and euer vnto thy seruice And here O Lord I giue thee thanks for that thou hast kept me this night past vnto this present houre and moment and hast brought mee vnto the last day of the weeke grant that I may spend the same soberly righteously and holily Bring me to the knowledge of thy righteous will in all things that knowing it I may endeauour to doe the same to thy glory the peace of mine owne conscience and the safety of my soule Purge my soule from sinfull lusts and affections and cleanse my conscience from all pollutions and defilements thereof that I may euer with boldnesse of Spirit and affiance in thy mercy behold thy face and grace in Iesus Christ. Roote out of my minde all couetous malitious and lustfull thoughts keepe me from sinne and from vncleanenesse bee thou my guide in all my wayes my stay and succour in all my necessities Put an end and period vnto the motions of the flesh enlarge mine heart for all holy duties and habituall graces of thy Spirit that I may nourish them as my life In these my prayers I am not mindfull of my selfe alone but of thy whole Church howsoeuer distressed or wheresoeuer dispersed ouer the face of the earth I pray vnto thee likewise for thy seruant and our dread soueraigne Charles our king and gouernour O Lord as thou hast graced him with a crowne so crowne him with thy grace and as thou hast giuen him a glorious kingdome here so giue him heareafter part of thy kingdome of glory Be mercifull vnto our most gracious Queene Mary the young Prince Charles the Lady Mary the Lady Elizabeth her royall issue Blesse preserue and prosper all those that trauaile in an honest way whether by sea or land and likewise all women in trauaile with child and sicke persons troubled both in body or minde or howsoeuer diseased O Lord speake peace vnto their consciences and as thou hast laide them down with the one hand so raise them vp with the other if not to this life to life eternall and that not for any merits of mine Lord I disclaime them all but for the precious merits of thy Son our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen Saturday An Euening Prayer O Lord God Almighty mercifull Father maker and preseruer of all things looke downe I beseech thee with the eye of pitty and compassion vpon me miserable and sinfull wretch prostrating my selfe soule and body vpon my benknees before thy diuine maiesty humbly beseeching thee to looke vpon me in much mercy pardon my sins enrich me with thy graces sanctifie mee with thy grace and bring mee to thy glory and there refresh my soule with such things as eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither hath entred into the heart of man to conceiue Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing be iustified Examine not my wayes this weeke past by the strict rule of thy Law neither reward me in the rigour of thy iustice but for Iesus Christ his sake haue mercy vpon me miserable sinner that haue deserued the seuerest of thy punishments As the heauens are higher then the earth so extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Satisfie my soule with thy mercy and that right soone so shall I reioyce and bee glad in thee and learne to praise thee euermore And now O Lord as this weeke is at an end so let my sins haue end and neuer bee reiterated or done any more Lord call me not to an exact account for them for Lord I confesse I am worthy of death and eternall damnation yet seeing there is mercy with thee that thou mightest bee feared and loued for euermore spare mee I humbly beseech and haue mercy vpon me according to the multitude of thy mercies And being graciously reconciled vnto thee be thou pleased to be my mercifull protector and preseruer from all perils and dangers this night blesse me with quiet rest that being refreshed in my body I may bee cheered vp in my minde and made the more fit to serue thee in the duties of my calling and sanctifie thy Sabbath and keepe it as a glorious day vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before Sermon VOuchsafe O most mercifull God to open the closet of my dark vnderstanding that thy word may enter thereinto and be so receiued of me as that Ignorance the mother of disobedience being excluded heauenly knowledge may enter in and that growing daily in knowledge I may bee more and more renued in the spirit of my minde and doe all such good works as thou commandest and commendest vnto me in thy word Giue me grace that the seed of thy word being sowen in my heart it may take deepe roote downeward and bring forth fruit vpward to the credit of the Gospell the comfort of my poore soule and aboue all to the glory of thy most holy name So let thy Spirit rule and guide the lips of thy seruant and minister as that he vtter nothing but the word of Truth with such boldnesse that neither feare nor affection stop not the passage of the same Make mee to attend and waite vpon thine ordinance desiring to be satisfied with the crums that fall from this thy table And because the haruest is great the faithfull labourers but a few I pray thee who art Lord of the haruest to send forth such as may be industrious And conscionable in the discharge of their ministeriall duties Let thy Vrim and Thummim bee vpon them as vpon thine holy ones that sincerity of doctrine and integrity of conuersation may adorne their persons and beautifie their function and calling Banish from this sacred work al such as are not sent from thee let them haue no exhibition from thy church running without commission from thee Lord guide the heart and tongue of him whom I shall heare this day that he may speake home vnto my conscience and leaue no corruption vnbowelled but that his words may separate all sinfull affections from me and stir me vp to bee a follower of it in all holy vertues and gracious acts Blesse all the hearers of thy word make them doers of the same not deceiuing of their owne soules Grant that thy messengers diuiding the word aright and thy people keeping it carefully and
practising it conscionably they may at thy hands through Christ Iesus obtaine the remission of their sins past and receiue from thy diuine Maiesty confirming and comforting grace for the time to come power to preseuer and continue thy seruants vnto their dying daies Giue them light instead of darkenesse peace for trouble and eternall happinesse instead of worldly felicitie that tasting the sweetnesse of celestiall comfort they may despise terrestriall and after this life ended in ioy inioy the perfect ioyes of eternall glory through Iesus Christ my Lord and blessed Sauiour Amen A Prayer after the Word heard O Gracious Lord of thy bountifull goodnesse thou hast through thy Sonne Iesus Christ sent for my learning and vnspeakeable comfort thy word of truth the Gospell which none can learne but by hearing and none can heare but by preaching and none can preach except they be sent I humbly beseech thee therefore to giue me thy grace that as I haue heard thy word at this time by thy minister and messenger so I and all that haue heard may know and vnderstand the same retaine and practice it according to thy heauenly will that I may thereby grow in knowledge increase in grace and bee a liuely instrument of thy glory vnto my liues end Amen A short prayer for willingnesse to dye and a preparation vnto Death O God in whose hands consisteth the life of all mankind for thy Sonne Iesus Christ his sake vouchsafe to giue me grace to set before mine eyes as a most certaine marke whereto this fraile body of mine must tend by death this being to the faithfull the end of paine and the beginning of pleasure but to the secure and gracelesse the ending of temporall blisse and felicity and the in-let or entrance vnto eternall torments weeping wayling and gnashing of teeth Giue mee therefore good Lord an earnest desire of seruing thee and leading my life agreeable to thy will that whensoeuer it shall please thee to call for me by death I be not through feare stricken with any horror of damnation and doubt of saluation that at my last gaspe I may neuer cast away my confidence nor my hope of reioycing but through a liuely faith in Iesus Christ I may rest vpon him the corner stone and sure rocke of my saluation and so depart this life in peace and in a ioyfull expectation of a blessed resurrection and be content to lay downe this mortality of mine to receiue it in the day of Christ a spirituall and glorified body that then being euer with my Lord I may with all thy saints sing a continuall Alleluiah to the praise and glory of my redeemer and Sauiour Amen A short prayer for competency of maintenance O Lord my God the maker and preseruer of Angels men and all creatures infinite in thy power and wonderfull in thy loue vnto all the sonnes of men Thou hast promised neuer to faile those that attend and depend vpon thee Thou openest thine hands and fillest all things liuing with plenteousnesse neuer suffering any of thine to perish for want that carefully seeke reliefe and comfort from the disposition of thy most gracious bounty and beneficent goodnesse suffer mee not to want necessaries for this present life nor those things without the which I cannot comfortably serue thee in the duties of christian calling enable me to liue without distracting cares to this end blesse my labours and endeauours that I may haue sufficient for me and mine and not be chargable vnto any but rather able to doe good vnto others that may stand in need of refreshing from me Giue mee neither pouerty nor riches feed me with food conuenient for me lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord or lest I be poore and steale and take the name of my God in vaine Afford me that portion of temporall blessings health wealth maintenance as thou in thy wisdome shalt think conuenient and behoofefull for me not so much for delectation and satisfying of the flesh with the concupiscences thereof as for sustentation of this mortall life of mine and consolation of my heart and spirits and making of them more ioyous and chearefull in thy worship and seruice Let neither ouermuch pouerty oppresse mee that I be driuen to vse meanes contrary to thy Law nor too great a saturity fulnesse and plenty so pâ—ste me vp that I forget the goodnesse of thee my God or fall into any the least riotous excesse as if thou hadest hired mee by thine abundant blessing to grow the more wanton and vicious O God as thou art of ability and power so thou art willing to succour such as bee in want to relieue the oppressed to comfort the afflicted to raise the lowly and to aid the needy and therefore sweet Lord I humbly craue thy fauourable assistance towards me to blesse my store and replenish my basket with thy blessings that I may be able to liue in thy Faith Feare and Loue and out of the depth of misery and danger of all men through Iesus Christ Amen A short prayer to vse wealth as we ought O God almighty the giuer of all good things thou art my stay my comfort and only guide direct me I pray thee to imploy that talent which thou hast bestowd upon me for the aduantage and aduancement of thine owne glory Lord thou hast beene abundantly gracious and bountifull vnto me and hast blest my store and increase with wealth insomuch that I haue not only that which sufficeth mine owne necessity but haue also sufficient to releeue others in time of their neede Giue mee therefore a will to disperse a broad and giue vnto the poore according to the aboundance of my wealth to feede the hungry to clothe the naked and minister vnto thy distressed Saints that I may not liue vnto my selfe but for the helpe of all those that want my furtherance that I may lay vp in store a good foundation against the time to come and bee found of thee in peace inioying life and saluation through Iesus Christ Amen A prayer for a woman with childe O Mercifull God and omnipotent Father and creator of all things who in the beginning diddest place mankind in most unspeakeable happinesse where they should haue continued had not our first parents broke thy diuine precept and charge giuen them in paradise and thereby procured most iustly thy wrath and indignation against themselues and their posterity for euer so that the earth for their sakes was accursed denying things necessary for their vse without great labour paines and industry And vnto vs the daughters of Eue for our transgression thou hast adiudged most grieuous paines and torments of body in the trauaile of child-birth saying that in sorrow and great paines we shall bring forth our fruit A heauy sentence thou knowest it is O Lord and we feele it to take sharpe effect in vs but sweet Lord for as much as thou art mercifull bringest all things to passe
may be prepared like wise virgins with oyle in our lamps to meet the sweet bride-groome of our soules whether at the day of our death or Iudgement These and all other graces which for blindnesse we cannot and for our vnworthynesse we dare not aske we beseech thee to giue vnto vs for the worthinesse of thy deare Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Our Father c. An Euening Prayer for a Family O God the God of the spirits of all flesh the high and lofty one that inhabitest eternity who hast made the earth by thy power established the world by thy wisdome and stretched out the heauens by thy discretion the Father of eternity and fountaine of mercy the giuer of all good things the forgiuer of all sinnes and the comforter of all such as fly vnto thee Seeing we are here present before thee be thou present with vs and president in vs and appealing from the seate of thy iustice to the throne of thy mercy we pray thee giue vs a sense of our owne miseries and an assurance of thy mercies that we may not be daunted with ouermuch feare but confident of thy goodnesse may with ioy appeare in thy presence in an humble acknowledgement of our sins To this end we confâ—sse that we haue sinned against heauen and before thee and are no more worthy to be called thy children for we haue transgressed thy holy lawes and commandements not only by our thoughts and words but by our deeds and continuall actions our iniquities are more then the haires of our heads and doe make vs seeme vile in our owne eies how much more in thy sight Lord vnto thee doe wee confesse our sinnes O grant vs pardon and absolution for the same open vnto vs penitents that euer streaming fountaine of thy Sonnes bloud that my sinnes being bathed therein we may appeare without blemish in thy fight by his death mortifie our sinfull corruptions hide them in his wounds and bury them in his graue that they may neither rise in this life to shame vs nor in the world to come to condemne vs. Giue vs thy holy Spirit let him purge our consciences heale our corruptions illuminate our vnderstandings confirme our memories consecrate our soules and bodies that they may be the temples of the holy Ghost to dwell in Bee mercifull to thy Church enlarge the borders thereof Blesse our gracious Soueraigne Lord King Charles with long life and abundance of grace here and his royall consort Queene Mary with a zealous and religious affection that she may follow after that which will bring her to euerlasting ioy and peace hereafter Bee with our hopefull Prince Charles and the Lady Mary put thy feare into their hearts that they may neuer depart from thee Prosper the most illustrious Princesse the Lady Elizabeth with her hopefull issue Blesse the Nobility Gentry Ministry Magistracy and Commonalty our kind folkes in the flesh and friends in the Spirit Protect all those that stand vp for thy truth but as for thy foes let them be ashamed and confounded And now seeing thou hast brought the night vpon vs wherein thou hadst ordayned man to take his rest we humbly beseech thee who art the keeper of thy Israell who neuer slumbrest nor sleepest to watch ouer vs by thy good prouidence Cause thine holy Angels to pitch their tents round about vs that being freed from the terrors of the night and refreshed with moderate rest and sleepe we may the better be inabled to praise thy name and to walke before thee in all good workes and holinesse of conuersation all the daies of our liues Let our bed O Lord put vs in minde of our graue and our rising from thence of our resurrection that whether we wake or sleepe we may be alwayes thine And knowing that thy name O Lord is a strong towre of defence wee here commend our selues this night vnto thy most holy protection If it be thy will to call for any of vs in our sleepe O Lord for Christ his sake haue mercy vpon vs and receiue our soules into thy most blessed kingdome but if it be thy heauenly pleasure to adde more daies unto our liues adde more amendment vnto our dayes that liuing we may liue in thy feare and dying may dye in thy fauour and in the end raigne with thee in Glory Amen A forme of Thanksgiuing WEE blesse and magnifie thy great and glorious name for all thy mercies both spirituall and temporall concerning this life and that which is to come for our creation after thine Image redemption by thy Sonne sanctifitation by thy Spirit for our preseruation by thy prouidence for our life health wealth peace and prosperity for sparing vs so long and giâ—ing vs so large a time of repentance for deliuering our King and state from that horrible plot of the gunne-powder treason we thanke thee for that thou hast giuen vs thy messengers to be admonishers thy word to bee our instructor thy Spirit to bee our counsellour our God and guide to leade vs into all truth Blessed bee God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of merciâ—s and God of all consolation who when we were sometimes alienes and enemies in our mindes by wicked works and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others out of his rich mercy for the great loue where with he loued vs euen when wee were dead in trespasses and sins and the vncircumcision of our flesh hath quickned vs together with Christ hauing forgiuen vs all our trespasses blotting out the hand writing of ordinances that was against vs taking it out of the way nailing it vnto the Crosse. Wee thanke and praise thy glorious Name for blessing vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenly places in Christ for deliuering vs from the power of darkenesse and translating vs into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne making vs meet to bee pertakers of the inheritance with thy Saints in light Thy hands haue made and fashioned vs. Thou hast deliuered our soules from death our eyes from teares and our feete from falling Thou hast deliuered vs from dangers extended peace vnto vs like a riuer and prosperity like a flowing streame we drinke waters out of our own wels Thou hast strengthned the bars of our gates and blessed our children within vs. Thou hast giuen vs bread to eate and raiment to put on yea our bread like Ashurs is fat and we haue pleasures which euen kings doe want Thou hast not dealt so with any nation oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare the wonders that he hath done for the children of men Wherefore blessing honour glory and power bee vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne and vnto the lambe for euer and euer Amen A Collect for the Day LOrd blesse vs and make thy face to shine vpon vs keepe vs from sinne and Satan and from sickenesse and sorrow shame and seruitude losse of goods and good
names or of ought more neere and deare vnto vs if it may stand with thy good pleasure preserue vs euermore in thy faith and holy feare guide vs constantly by thy counsaile and after that receiue vs to glory A Collect for the Night O Lord our God which art the keeper of Israell which neuer slumbrest nor sleepest into thy hands O Father we commend our spirits for thou hast redeemed vs. O thou God of truth Into thy most mercifull tuition and gracious preseruation doe we commend our selues our soules and bodies our kinsfolkes in the flesh and friends in the spirit our goods our good names all ours and all that call vpon thy name from this time forth and foreuermore Amen Lord we pray thee be thou present with them and vs and about our beds vnto our liues end· Let not our fantasies bee troubled with vaine imaginations nor the dreames and visions of our heads like Nebuchadnezzars make vs afraid But giue vs quiet and comfortable rest that our soules being cheered vp our bodies refreshed 〈◊〉 may when we awake laud and â—â—aise thee and goe and pray vnto thee and ioyfully set our selves about the businesse of the next day and performe the duties of our particular callings Let our whole life be a seruing and glorifying of thee that we may liue in thy feare die in thy fauour and rest from all our labours and be blessed with thy glorious vision inioying the presence of our blessed Sauiour and the comfort of thy holy Spirit and the communion of thy most holy Saints and Angels that we together with them may ascribe vnto thee the glory of our redemption from sinne Satan hell and death and the Deuill world without end Amen A Grace before meaâ—â— O God who art the giuâ—r of euery good and perfect gift sanctifie wee beseech thee these thy Creatures now prepared for vs make them wholesome for our bodies and our soules and bodies seruiceable unto thee for them through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Grace after meate THe Lords most holy Name be now and euer blessed and praised for all his mercies and for his blessings at this time bestowed vpon vs Lord as thou hast fed our bodies with corporall food so feed our soules likewise with spirituall food vnto life eternall Saue thy Church the Kings maiesty Queene Princes and the Realmes prosper the word blesse thine ordinances vnto vs increase our faith send vs grace and truth prosperity peace with life euerlasting Amen A Grace before meat MErcifull Father which openest thy hands and fillest all things liuing with plenteousnesse we pray thee sanctifie these thy good creatures vnto vs that we may eat to liue and â—iuing serue thee our Lord God through thine only Son our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen A Grace after meat THe God of all grace and goodnesse who at this time hath fed and plenteously refreshed vs his most holy name be blessed and praised from this time forth and for euermore Amen A Grace before meat O Lord our God by whose prouidence it is that we liue moue and haue our being send thy blessing vpon vs and our meats and grant that whether we eat or drinke or whatsoeuer else we doe we may doe all to the glory of thy name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Grace before meat WEE laud and praise thy Name for al thy blessings and fauours and for feeding vs so plentifully at this time desiring thee of thy grace that our thankefulnes may not be in word and in tongue but expressed by our carefull study to glorifie thee our God in al our words and works through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS