owne Designs under pretence for Religion Liberty Restitution of Laws Reformation of Cabals and evil Counsellors Ministers of State c. If the Supremacy be invaded the lapses of the Former Magistrate must be inculcated with the greatest advantage What is wanting in reality must be supply'd with Calumny He must hire mercenary Jesuits or other Divines to cry up his ayms in the Churches that so the Poison may insinuate more generally into all the parts If success awaits his enterprises he must urge it to Authenticate his Cause He ought to change with the times If he find reason to impose Oaths let them be of such ambiguity as may furnish with a Sense obliging to the Design and yet so soft as the People may not feel the smart Necessity of State is a very competent Apology for the worst of Actions He must wave all Relations both Sacred and Civil and Swim to his Design tho' in a Sea of Blood A general Innovation contributes much to the growth and security of Usurpation He supposes that men are not rightly and safely to be wrought upon and bow'd to the Bent of his will otherwise than by Fear and therefore he indeavours by all means possible to have every man obnoxious low and in streights His Maximes are Cadant amici dummodo inimici intercidant as the Triumviri sold the lives of their Friends for the death of their Enemies If once a Fire seize upon his Fortune he will extinguish it not with Water but with Ruin Men are to be deceiv'd with Oaths With such corrupt and pernicious Arts and Positions as these and others of the same Impression whereof as in all other things the evil are more in number than the good and sound a man may be more speedy and compendious in the promoting his Fortune But it is in Life as in Ways the shortest way is commonly the foulest and surely the fairest way is not much about Men ought therefore in the pursuit of Fortune to set before their Eyes not only that general Map of the whole World That All things are Vanity and Vexation of Spirit But also that more particular Card and Description That Being without Well being is a Curse and that all Virtue is most rewarded and all Wickedness is most Punish'd in its self Of Recreation and Pleasure IT is one chief point of Wisdom to know how to temper our Pleasures and Sorrows Events will Vary if We continue the same it matters not Let us learn then by a just survey to know the due and lawful bounds of Pleasure and then neither to go beyond nor remove them Be acquainted with the Quality of Pleasure and the Measure many have lost themselves in a Lawful delight through excess Could we settle in our selves a right estimation of that wherein we delight and resolve every thing into it's first matter there would be more danger of contempt than overjoy What is the Human Body whose beauty we so admire but the same Earth we tread upon What those precious Mettals we Worship but Veins of the Earth better colour'd and if we look to their end we shall see Laughter end in Tears and Death and Conscience scourging with a long smart for a short pleasure In Recreations we are to observe all due Circumstances they must be Decent becoming our Person Place and Calling They must be seasonable at such times as are allotted and allow'd by God unto them Pleasures must ever give place to Duties and none of our Business must be lost for Sport They ought to be taken as Physick or at least as Wine our Love and Affections must not fix and fasten upon them for then they will not only consume too much of our time but our Hearts will be unsetled and our Affections wean'd from Religious Exercises When our sports come to that excess that we tempt others and hunt and long for Opportunities when we sit up till midnight and spend half days then we have spoil'd the sport 'T is no longer a Recreation but a Sin All our Recreations must be without Scandal neither using such before others at which they have any Scruple or any unseemly lightness Vanity or Passion in them Our Recreations ought not to be too costly not only considering how many empty Bowels and naked Backs how many distressed Members of the same Body cry to us even with tears of Blood for Relief and compassion from our abundance but the great and exact Account we must e're long give of every Farthing how we got it how we spent it with what Warrant we kept it A good man ought not for Recreation sake to consort himself with evil Company Epheâ— 5. Nothing causes more Friendly acquaintance and Familiarity nothing sooner breeds likeness of Manners and conditions than agreement and communion in the same Delights From liking the Pleasure we come to like our Companion in it and from affecting the Man we come at last to affect his Manners Recreation is to be used as a Liberal Exercise and not as a sordid Trade Gameing is an inordinate Course which God never appointed nor blest to get Wealth and so is no better nay rather worse than common Theft in that being committed by mutual agreement the loser becomes accessory to the Theft of the Winner and is as well as he not only a Robber of himself but of his Family making both sad and poor because the Dice turn up an unlucky Chance In all our Recreations we must take care that we forget not God and be not lovers of Pleasure more than lovers of Him Isa 5.12 2 Tim. 3.4 And then when our Pleasures exclude not the presence of God nor the fruition of him when we have his Blessing on them and use them without dotage as in God from God and to God we are safe Evening Exercises HAving thus walk'd with God from Morning untill Night it remains that we conclude the Day with him Evening therefore being now come no Tradesman should be more careful to clear his Shop-board and shut up his Windows than we should be to shut up our Thoughts and clear our Minds That man shall live miserably who like a Camel lies down under his burden Before therefore thou goest to thy rest retire thy self a little and having finish'd thy course of Reading sit down and take a strict view of thy whole carriage the day past look back and call Orderly to thy mind the several places and companies thou hast been in the day past and how thou hast carry'd thy self in each examining thy self by thy Thoughts and Affections by thy Words and Actions For instance calling thy self to account say Thus much time was spent this day in such a place Did any Lie drop from me there Any corrupt unsavory rash and unsuitable Discourse Did no unruly Passion break out Were my Affections holy and humble and my heart chast and pure My Behaviour Wise and Courteous becoming my Place and Person while I was there Thus thou
from my Mother's Womb and thy long-suffering Patience and Compassion that never fail that I have not been long ago consumed swallowed up or swept away with some extraordinary Judgment for those many gross and heinous Sins of my Life my whole Nature is deformed with Original corruption my whole Life my whole Life abounding with the fruits thereof all manner of actual Transgressions My Vnderstanding is full of Blindness Vanity and Infidelity my Conscience Dead and Remorsless my Heart Hard and Impenitent my Affections Disorderly and Violent Vnruly and Masterless my Appetite Sensual and Brutish I have no ability to any good Duty no restraint or moderation in Sinning against thee Yea if I do any Good I am apt to blemish it with Self-love and Hypocrisie if I abstain from any Evil it is many times rather from the Act than from the Love of it I ought to have lived as under covenant with thee but wretch that I am I have broken my Vow falsified my Faith and violated the everlasting Covenant What Commandment of thine is there O Lord I have not transgressed What Grace I have not abused What Curse I have not deserved When I view the wretched course of my Life and consider my weighty and crying Sins what Lord can I say And what confusion should cover me Here confess to God thy secret Sins with the Circumstances of Time Place Person and Manner c. In how many things have I Sinned against Knowledge against Conscience against Light and against many Vows and Promises of better Obedience I have no colour of excuse nothing to plead with thee in defence of my many and heinous Sins if I dispute I must lay my hand upon my mouth and learn to abhor my self in Dust and Ashes for Lord for these my Sins I stand here guilty of thy Curse with all the Miseries of this Life and that to come But O blessed Lord thou art he that Justifies the ungodly and hast sent thy Son to die for Sinners and hast made a general Offer and invited all to come unto Christ that they may be sav'd whosoever will every very one that thirsteth yea and hast most graciously promised John 6.37 That him that cometh shall not in any wise be repulsed or cast out John 3.16,17 Luke 2.10 and that whosoever believeth shall not perish that thou wilt not despise a broken heart Rev. 22.17 John 7.37 John 6.40 2 Cor. 5.20 John 3.23 Nay Lord it is thy Will Desire and Command that I should believe on the Name of thy Son that so I may be saved 1 John 5.10 And thy Word of Truth saith That whosoever believeth not maketh thee a Lyar. O Father of Mercies I am bold in the name of Christ to come unto thee and by the hand of Faith to lay hold upon thy Promises yet feeling my own weakness I beseech thee strengthen my unbelief and what assurance I cannot have by my Faith weakly embracing thee let me have from thy self embracing me who art mighty to save Thou did'st inable thy Servant Jacob to lay hold on thee and not let thee go till thou had'st blessed him Lord give me the same Strength the same Courage and the same Success I beseech thee O Lord who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor desirest the death of a penitent Sinner but delightest by thy Goodness to Reign where Sins have most abounded to pardon and forgive me all my Sins and to wash away the unâ—…leanness of them by that precious Blood of Sprinkling which Christ Jesus my Saviour hath shed I hope for me And seeing he has born the burden of the Curse due for my Transgressions deliver me O Lord both from my Sins and those Judgments which hang over my head as due unto me for the same bury them in the Burial of Christ that they may never have power to rise up against me to shame me in this life or condemn me in that to come And I beseech thee O Lord not only to pardon the Guilt of my Sins but to purge my heart by thy holy Spirit from the Dross of my natural Corruptions that I may feel thy Spirit more and more killing my sins in the power and practise thereof especially my special Sins and Corruptions Let my Flesh be Crucified with its Affections and Lusts And let me find the power of Christ's death mortifying my corruptions and the power of his Resurrection raising me up to newness of life Arm me O Lord with the Furniture of thy Grace and write thy Laws in my inward parts that I may not only be thy Soldier but thy Servant and Subject Set up the Scepter of thy Kingdom in my Conscience subdue my heart to the obedience of thy Commands win my Affections to the Love of thy Statutes conform my Life to the Rule of thy Righteousness and transform me daily more and more into thy Image Bless all the Means of Grace unto me and me with a heart sanctified and set upon the Means for the increase of Grace let thy holy Word be my chief Treasure thy Statutes my Counsellors thy Promises my Comforters thy Sacraments my Delicates thy Sabbaths my best Daies and thy Servants my dearest Companions Renew daily with me the Covenant of thy Peace and now this morning let thy Spirit from Heaven Seal me a new Patent of Mercy that being to meet with thee in the ways and works of this day I may be sure to find thee as a reconciled Father not as an offended Judge As thou do'st add Days unto my Life so good Lord add Repentance and amendment unto my Days and bestow a supply upon me of all those Graces which thou knowest to be wanting in me and necessary for me with an increase of all those Gifts wherewith thou hast already indowed me Give unto me such Spiritual Eye-sight that I may see thee in thy Word and Works Let me live in thy sight and not without thee as the Gentiles do O let me not be cast out of thy presence as Cain nor run against thee as Balaam but walk with thee as Enoch Noah and Abraham in all my ways taking knowledge of thy Presence Promises and Providences Bless me O Lord this day in the Duties of my Calling preserve me from all fraudulent oppressing greedy Courses Draw my Affections from the Love of this World fix my heart upon things above if things succeed according to my mind make me thankful to thee which hast given the Blessing if any Cross comes make me patient and careful to profit by the Chastisement good Lord do thou bless me with such a portion of Health Peace Prosperity and every good thing as may inable and make me Chearful in Duty And because the daily occasions of danger to my Soul are infinite teach me to keep my Heart with all diligence to make a Covenant with my Eyes to keep my mouth as with a Bridle for the avoiding all filthy communication to use
bestow'd Christ does not present any Man's Case and Duties without a sense of his wants and shall we our selves have none of our own Affect thy Heart with what supplies thou hast had in former Worship The Israelites would not have been at leisure for Idolatry had they preserv'd the Sense of the Majesty of God discovered in his late Thunders at Sinai If any thing intrudes that may choke thy Worship cast it speedily out We cannot hinder the Gnats from buzzing about us when we are in our Business but we may prevent them from setling upon us Lay hold on the most melting opportunities when thou findest thy Heart in a more than ordinary Spiritual Frame look upon it as a call from God to attend him Such Impressions and Motions are God's voice inviting us into Communion with him in some particular act of Worship and promising Success in it Psal 27.8 Be not always pouring out Words in Prayer Pause reflect upon and indeavour to affect thy Heart with all thou sayest in silence wait for the elapses of the Spiriti Examine thy self at the end of Worship and chide thy self for any Carnality thou perceivest review thy Duty and examine the reason why thou wert so low and Carnal If any unworthy Frames have surprised thee in Worship seek them out afterwards call them to the Bar make an exact Scrutiny into the Causes of them and let thine Anger and Indignation be raised against them that thou mayest prevent their incursion another time Apply the Blood of Christ by Faith for thy Cure and draw strength from his Death for the Conquest of them Also be humble for them for God will lift up the humble Daily examination is an Antidote against the Temptations of the following day and constant examination of our selves after Duty is a Preservative against vain incroachments in following Duties Labour especially after these two things To see the wants and imperfections that are in thy best Prayers and abhor them and in thy greatest defects see if thou canst not find somewhat of Gods Spirit that so thou mayest be truly persuaded in both That God will through the Merits of Christ pardon thy Wants and accept the Work of his own Spirit 'T is a dangerous thing to think that God likes our Prayers well when we do so seeing they have unseen defilements which pollute them or on the other hand to be perswaded that God rejects them when we dislike them In short Diligently watch and keep thy self from all Sin especially Surfeiting and Drunkenness Luk. 21.34 and 53. Which make the Heart dull and heavy Indeavour to grow in all God's Commands and Faith in all his Promises Keep in thy heart a Catalogue of thy own Sins Wants and Infirmities together with the sins and wants of the Land with the Tokens of God's wrath due thereto Look at God's Holiness and what Holiness he requires in Thee and then at thy own unworthiness of those things thou beggest of him thy Necessity and Danger For sins that thou art in danger of because strongly inclined to them ask the overcoming of them using all the means thereto and avoiding the occasion so for any Grace you want Importune God after the same manner Never trust so much to thy Prayers as to neglect any other means ordain'd by God for the obtaining of what thou desirest But use them still more conscionably neither ever trust so much to other means as to neglect Prayer And thus having offer'd up thy Prayers to God and committed thy self and Cause to him quietly rest in his good pleasure according to the Example of Hannah 1 Sam. 1.18 and David 2 Sam 12.20 Doubt not but God hath heard thy Prayer and in due time will grant what shall be most for his Glory and thy Good This is the meaning of the word Amen Look after thy comings in and gettings by Prayer I will direct my Prayer saith David and look up How we are to conceive of God in our Devotions HOw to conceive of the Deity in our Prayers and Meditations is both the deepest Point of all Christianity and the most necessary So deep that if we wade into it we may easily drown but can never find bottom So necessary that without it both our Persons and services are Profane and Irreligious We are all born Idolaters naturally prone to fashion God to some Form of our awn whether of a Humane Body or of an admirable Light or if our mind have any other more likely and pleasing Image There are as many carved Images of God as there are Minds of men and as Monstrous shapâ—s as those corruptious into which they would Transform him Hence all Idolatry sprang Men set up vain Images of him in ther Fancy before they set up Idolatrous Representations of him in their Temples The likening of him to Idols of Wood and Stone and various Metals was the fruit of an Idea erected in their own minds Hence also all Superstition receiv'd both its Rise and Growth When we Mint a God according to our own complexion like to us in mutable and various Passions soon angry soon appeas'd 't is no wonder we invent ways of pleasing him after we have offended him and think to expiate the Sin of out Soul by some Melancholy Devotions and self-Chastisements Superstition is nothing else but an unscriptural and unrevealed dread of God When men imagin'd him a rigorous and severe Master they cast about for ways to Mitigate him whom they thought so hard to be pleas'd All the Superstition this day living in the World is built upon this Foundation So natural it is for men to pull down God to their Imagination rather than raise their Imaginations up to God Hence arises all the diffidence of his Mercy tho' they Repent measuring God by the contracted Models of their own Spirit as tho' his Nature were as difficult to pardon their Offences against him as they are to remit wrongs done to themselves And hence also all Presumption the too common Disease of the World springs All the Wickedness that is in the World is nothing else but a presuming upon God arising from the ill interpretation of his Goodness breaking out upon them in the Works of Creation and Providence God's Patience is apprehended to be an approbation of their Vices and from the consideration of his Forbearance they fashion a God that they believe will smile upon their Crimes Psal 50.20 A God they Fancy like themselves that would do as they would do not be angry for what they count a light Offence How does the unclean person represent him to his own thoughts but as a Goat the Murderer as a Tiger the sensual Person as a Swine while they Fancy a God indulgent to their Crimes without Repentance First then away with all these wicked thoughts these gross Devotions and without any mental Reservation conceive of God Purely Humbly Spiritually as of an absolute Being without Form without Matter without Composition yea as
13.14 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all The Apostles begin their Epistles thus Grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 7.59 Stephen pray'd Lord Jesus receive my Spirit If we exclude the other while we fix our heart upon one our Prayer is Sin if we retain all and mention but one we offend not Lastly we may name the Spirit before the Son and the Son before the Father Revel 1.4.5 and Saint Paul more than once names the Son before the Father Now our Lord Jesus Christ and God even the Father comfort your hearts 2. Cor. 13.14 2 Thes 2.16 Here we may add the Rules we are to observe in calling upon God As first that we call upon him by those Titles by which he has been pleas'd to make himself known unto us in his holy Word That we consider of him in Prayer as an All-sufficient God and see in him the things we desire Ephes 1.17 The Saints still set God before them as having that in him for which they pray Acts. 4.24 We must call upon God by such Names Titles and Descriptions Psal 86.15,16 as are most apt to inflame Desire stir up Reverence confirm Faith or incourage the Heart according as our necessity and disposition do require If many and general requests be to be put up then such Titles and Names must be used as may perswade us we shall be heard in all If particular requests be presented then choice is to be made of such Titles and Names as may help the heart in that particular Gen. 24.12 Acts. 1.24 Ps 94.1 2 Ch. 20 6 Dan. 9.4 Isa 64.8 It is necessary for one that would make a good entrance into Prayer to acquaint himself with the true understanding of the manifold Names and Descriptions of God recorded in Scripture and then to make choice of such to name him by as are specially to be exercis'd in granting his request and most fit to incite Reverence and confirm Faith Lastly the express Command of God forbids to Worship him by any Image or Similitude Deut. 4.16,17 Exod. 10.4 And he himself in many places of Scripture shews how severely he will punish them that give his Glory to dumb Idols Of Family Government I If thou art Master of a Family be watchful over thy Charge with all diligence and faithfulness Instruct thy Children and Servants in the knowledge of God Pray with them and for them Bring them to Gods Ordinances Prevent and remove all occasions of their hearing seeing or doing Evil. But above all be sure to go before them in a good Example If a Master be a Swearer Drunkard or the like 't is madness for himever to expect a Sober Family his House shall be a Den of Swearers Drunkards and Whoremasters c. Augustus his Court is fill'd with Scholars Tiberius's with Dissemblers and Julian's with Apostates Duties relating to our Calling YOur Closet-Devotions and Family-duties being perform'd we are in the next place to set about the work of our Calling The Law impos'd upon Adam binds all his Posterity In the sweat of thy Face thou shalt eat Bread till thou return unto the Ground First then adventure not on any course without good assurance that it be in it self Lawful Acts. 9.25 Ephes 4.20 Make not a Calling of that which was never made to be one There are many things Lawful to do which are not Lawful to Live by Lawful as Delights and Recreations which are not Lawful as Callings Resolve not upon that for thy Calling which is rather hurtful than profitable to the Common-wealth Chuse that Calling which is fittest for thee when thy Inclination Education and Gifts concur in one and the same Calling that is ever so If thou art altogether averse to that Calling for which thou hast been bred up and design'd choose then the nearest of kin to it that thou canst like that so thy education and time may not be lost Thus one bred up for the Ministry may make choice of some other Profession that hath to do with Learning as Law Physick or the like Ever begin and end all thy Works with Prayer begging God's blessing on thy Labours and commending all thy indeavours to him that must either wither or prosper them Likewise upon any unexpected accident or when thou doubtest what to do go to God for direction make known and commit thy Case to him he hath not only wisdom for thy Salvation but for thy outward direction too Carefully avoid all Covetousness whereby men design no farther end than the meer gathering of Wealth and Riches This is the root of all evil Would'st thou remedy it Restrain thy Affections from the World keep thy desires within Compass and as the Scripture terms it without â—…ousness being contented with what thou hast Heb. 13.5 Labour to see a particular Providence of God in all things that come to pass and befall thee Health or Sickness Riches or Poverty Liberty or Bondage He raiseth up and pulleth down he only giveth Power to get Wealth and taketh it away again at his pleasure He Ruleth the Kingdoms of the Earth and giveth them to whom he pleaseth Assure thy Conscience that God is thy Father and Portion and that all things befall thee by his holy Will and Fatherly Providence and Appointment Seek no more than the things which are necessary and sufficient even Food convenient And lastly raise your Affections from the World to better things As carefully shun all Injustice whereby men abuse their Calling to the hurt and hindrance of others Luk. 19.8 For prevention consider this Sin is against the express Word of God 1 Thessal 4.6 Let no man oppress or defraud his Brother in any matter For the Lord is the avenger of all such things * Tit. 2.11 That it makes all our Worship and Service abomination Esay 1.13 to the 17. That the Curse of God it the practice of it Deut. 25.16 Thou shalt not have in thy Bag two manner of Weights a great and a small nor in thy House divers Measures But thou shalt have a right and a just Weight a perfect and just Measure shalt thou have For all that do such things and all that do unrighteously are an abomination to the Lord. Beware of Ambition whereby men think better of themselves than there is just cause become malecontent with their Condition and seek for themselves greater and better Things and Places Examples of this we have in Adam and Absalom c. One of the best Remedies in World for this Disease of the Mind is the serious consideration of our selves what we are in respect of our Bodies but Dust in respect of our dispositions altogether set on Sin and in our Places and Callings at best but weak and worthless Instruments in the hand of God the meanest of ten Thousand Be not evercome with Envy let not thy
such words as may administer Grace unto the hearers to be sober in Diet wary in Disports moderate in Apparel choice in my Company and ever to practice that continual Fear which has a promise of Blessing especially watching against those Sins I am most inclined to and those Temptations that are most likely to assault me Plant in me Faith without Presumption Love without Dissimulation Fear without Infidelity Zeal without Hypocrisy Knowledge without Pride Purity without Judging Wisdom joyn'd with Simplicity Courage accompany'd with Meekness Cheerfulness with Sobriety and let every Grace be graced with Humility And be thou pleased so to bless all my Studies and Actions that they may tend to thy Glory the good of others and comfort of my own Soul in that day when I shall make my final Accompt unto thee for them O my God keep thy Servant that I do no Evil unto any man this Day and suffer neither the Devil nor his wicked Angels nor any of his evil Members or my malicious Enemies to have any Power to do me any hurt or violence But defend me from the Power Malice and Multitude of them all both in my going out and coming in with the impregnable defence of thy Providence and Guard of thy holy Angels whom thou hast said should to this end pitch their Tents about those that fear thy Name For into thy Hands I do here O Father commend my Soul Body and all that I have to be guided and protected by thee being assured That whatsoever thou takest into thy Custody cannot suffer any harm seeing thou Rulest all things to thine own Glory and the greatest good of thy Children and because thou hast assured me that thus begging I shall receive that I may set forth thy Glory whereunto I do here bind my self And if at any time I shall this day forget thee my God I beseeh thee do thou in mercy remember me and suffer not Sin to swallow me up or grow strong upon me lest I perish And now may it please thee to receive at the hands of me thy unworthy Servant this my Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving for all thy Mercies both for my Being and Well-being for the Means of Grace and Hopes of Glory c. By thee at first I was fearfully and wonderfully made thou did'st cover me in my Mothers Womb and gavest me the shape of a Man when it was free for thee to have equalled me with the basest Creatures Thou hast made me Perfect in shape and not a Monster Sensible and of understanding not a Fool Thou didst preserve me in the Womb nourish'd me when I hung upon the Breasts provided means of Education fitted me for an honest Employment and compassed me with many particular Mercies which others want That I am now alive that Satan has not had his will upon me that I know the way and the means unto a better Life that I have been protected and refreshed the night past when for the Sins of the Day thou mightest justly in the dead of sleep have called for my Soul and that I have daily access unto thy glorious Presence Whence are all these but from the freedom of thy Grace If thou shouldest have given me my desert I should have perished long ago Father I defire to remember with a thankful heart all thy Mercies at any time bestowed upon me or continued to me My Health Peace Liberty Maintenance Credit Fellowship Success in my Affairs Preservation from Dangers delivery from Troubles Recovery out of Sickness Consolation in Afflictions c. But above all for the magnifying thy Mercy to me in the great work of Redemption and Salvation by Jesus Christ for thy Christ thy Spirit thy Word thy Sacraments thy Sabbaths and the Assemblies of thy Saints with all the helps of Example Instruction Admonition and Fatherly Correction by which thou hast indeavour'd to farther me in the way of my Salvation yea tho' my provocations have been so many and so grievous yet thy Compassions fail not but are renew'd every Morning For all those Testimonies of thy Bounty thy Pity thy Patience towards me I do according to my poverty offer up unto thee the Calves of my Lips confessing thy Goodness and the Due Service of my Soul and Body as a Living and reasonable Sacrifice And now O Lord I come unto thee in behalf of thy whole Church and chosen People and of all my Brethren wheresoever they live upon the Face of the whole Earth Defend them from the rage and Tyranny of the Devil the World and Antichrist give thy Gospel a free and a joyful Passage through the World for the Conversion of those that belong unto thy Kingdom Judge Babylon and Redeem Sion in thy appointed time Call the uncalled and perfect the called raise up the Fallen strengthen the Weak heal the Sick relieve the Needy and Distressed release such as are in Restraint comfort them that are Comfortless either in Body or Mind especially such as mourn for Sin Strengthen the Hands and Hearts of them that stand in the just defence of Religion and Right and confound every Adversary and Antichristian Power and Policy Especially be favourable to all such a suffer any Trouble or Persecution for the Testimony of thy Truth and holy Gospel support them under and give them a gracious deliverance out of all their Troubles which way it shall seem best to thy Wisdom for the Glory of thy Name the further inlarging of thy Truth and the increase of their Comfort and Consolation Give me a compassionate fellow feeling of the Miseries others suffer and prepare me for the day of Trial. Bless with all sutable Mercies this particular Church forgive the publick Sins heal the publick Calamities and Diseases Bless thy Servant Charles our Sovereign adorn him with all Princely Graces answerable to his high Estate especially with a Spirit of Government Prosper the work of the Gospel and make thy Word to grow by the labours of those thou hast appointed to the Service of the Church give them Sufficiency Fidelity and Success in thy Business Increase Wisdom in our Counsellors and stir up Magistrates and men in Authority to seek the advancement of thy Glory and good of thy People contain the Subjects in their due obedience to Authority bring to naught all Tumultuous and Rebellious Practices Visit all my Kindred Relations and acquaintances and all that are committed to my charge and whosoever may claim an interest in this Duty at my hands with such Blessings as they need Reward a thousand fold all who have shown any kindness to thy Servant forgive and have mercy upon all my Enemies and let not one of them ever fare the worse for any wrong done unto me Finally both to my self and all that desire to fear thy Name grant all the Blessings of Mercy and Peace in Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the Eternal Spirit be all Honor Obedience and Thanksgiving throughout all Generations Amen Our