from that curse and judgment which is due unto me for them Thou that didst justifie the contrite Publican for four words of confession and receivedst the prodigal Child when he had spent all the stock of grace into favour upon his repentance pardon all my sins likewise O Lord and suffer me not to perish for my transgressions O spare me for thy mercy sake and receive me unto favour again Wilt thou O Lord reject me who hast received all Publicans and sinners that upon repentance sued unto thee for grace Shall I alone be excluded from thy mercy far be it from me to think so for thou art the same God of mercy unto me that thou wast unto them and thy compassion never fails wherefore O Lord deal not with me after my merits but according to thy great mercy execute not thy severe justice against me a sinner but execute thy long-sufferance in forbearing thine own creature I have nothing to present unto thee for a satisfaction but only those bloody wounds bitter death and passion which thy blessed Son my only Saviour hath suffered for me him in whom only thou art well pleased I offer up unto thee for all my sins wherewith thou art displeased he my Mediator the request of whose blood speaking better things than that of Abel thy mercy can never gainsay illuminate my understanding and sanctifie my heart with thy holy Spirit that it may bring to my remembrance all those good and profitable lessons which this day or at any other time hath been taught unto me out of thy holy Word that I may remember them thy Commandments to keep them thy Judgments to avoid them and thy sweet promises to rely upon them in time of misery and distress and now O Lord I resign my self to thy most holy Will O receive me into thy favour and so draw me by thy grace unto thy self that I may as well be thine by Love and Implantation as by Calling and Creation and give me grace so to keep holy thy Sabbath in this life as that when this life is ended I may with all thy Saints and Angels celebrate an eternal rest of joy and praise to the honour of thy most holy Name in thy heavenly Kingdom for ever more Amen Devotions for several Occasions In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Morning Prayer O Eternal Son of Righteousness who camest from the bosom of the Father to enlighten the darkness of the world I praise thy Name that thou hast preserved me from the danger of this night and hast continued to me still the opportunities of serving thee and advancing my hopes of a blessed eternity let thy mercies shine brightly upon me and dissipate the clouds and darknesses of my spirit and understanding rectifie my affections and purifie my will and all my actions that whatsoever I shall do or suffer this day or in my whole life my words and purposes my thoughts and all my intentions may be sanctified and be acceptable to thy Divine Majesty Amen Grant that my understanding may know thee my heart may love thee and all my faculties and powers may give thee due obedience and serve thee preserve me this day from all sin and danger from all violences and snares of mine enemies visible or invisible let thy holy fear be as a bridle to my distemperatures and thy love so enkindle and actuate all my endeavours that no pleasures or allurements of the world may draw me from thy service nor any difficulty or temptation may be my hinderance let the profound humility and innocence of my blessed Saviour keep from me all pride and haughtiness of mind all self-love and vain-glory all obstinacy and disobedience all fraudulency and hurtful dissimulation and let the graces of the Holy Ghost take such absolute possession and seisure of my soul and all his faculties that I may bring down and east out the spirit of uncleanness and intemperance of malice and envy idleness and disdain that I may never despise any of thy creatures but my self that so being little in my own fight I may be great in thine Amen An Evening Prayer In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Father which art in Heaven c. O Lord God who art the light and splendor of souls in the brightness of thy countenance is eternal day that knows no night in thy arms and in thy protection is all quietness tranquility and everlasting repose while the darkness covers the face of the earth receive my body and soul into thy custody let not the spirits of darkness come near my dwelling neither suffer my fancy to be abused with the illusions of the night Lord I am thy servant and the sheep of thy pasture let not the Devil who goeth up and down seeking whom he may devour abuse my body or make a prey of my soul but defend me from all those calamities which I have deserved and protect my soul that it consent not to any work of darkness lest mine enemy say he hath prevailed over me or do mischief to a soul redeemed with thy most precious blood Amen Pardon and forgive me all the sins and offences of my youth and age the errours of mine understanding the inordination of mine affections the irregularity of all my actions and particularly of whatsoever I have transgressed this day in thought word or deed Lord let not thy wrath arise for although I have deserved the extremest pressure of thine indignation yet remember my infirmity and how thou hast sent thy Son to reveal thy infinite mercy to us and convey pardon and salvation to the penitent I beseech thee also to accept the heartiest devotion and humble acknowledgment of a thankful heart for all thy blessings and preservation of me this day for unless thy providence and grace had been my defence and guide I had committed more and more grievous sins against thee and had been swallowed up by thy just wrath and severest judgments mercy sweet Jesus Amen Grant unto thy servant true humility great contrition a tender conscience and obedient heart an understanding alwaies busied in honest and pious thoughts a wiling tractable heart and ever prone to do good affections even and moderate a watchful custody over my senses that by those windows sin may never enter in nor death by sin make me to watch over my tongue and keep the door of my lips that no corrupt or unseemly communication proceed out of my mouth that I may never slander calumniate or detract from the reputation of my neighbour that I be not busie in the faults of others but careful to correct my own being gentle and merciful to others severe towards my self that I may speak much of thy praises and what I can for the edification of my Brethren Amen Give me a soul watchful in the service of Religion constant in holy purposes
happiness in thy heavenly Kingdom In the mean time O Lord whilst it is thy blessed will and pleasure that I may continue to spend and end that small number and remnant of my daies that I may apply my heart to wisdom and as thou dost add daies to my life so I beseech thee to add repentance and amendment to my sinful daies that as I grow in years I may grow in grace and favour with thee and all thy people and to this end give unto me a supply of all those graces which thou knowest to be wanting in me and necessary for me with an increase of all those good gifts wherewith thou hast already endowed me that so I may be the better enabled to lead such a godly life and an honest conversation as that thy Name may thereby be glorified others may take good example by me and my soul may cheerfully feed on the peace of a good conscience and be more replenished with the Joy of the Holy Ghost And here O Lord according to my bounden duty I give the most humble and hearty thanks for all those blessings which of thy goodness thou hast bestowed upon me and namely for that thou hast of thy free grace and love according to thine eternal purpose elected me before the foundation of the world was laid unto salvation in Jesus Christ For that thou hast created me in thine own Image and hast begun to restore that in me which was lost in our First Parents For that thou hast effectually called me by the working of thy Holy Spirit in the Preaching of the Gospel and the Receiving of thy Sacrament to the knowledge of thy saving grace and obedience to thy blessed Will For that thou hast bought and redeemed me with the blood of thy only begotten Son from the torment of Hell and thraldom of Satan For that thou hast by Faith in Christ freely justified me who am by nature the child of wrath For that thou hast in good measure justified me by thy Holy Spirit and given me so large a time to repent together with the means of Repentance I thank thee likewise good Lord for my life health wealth liberty food rayment peace prosperity and plenty and for that thou hast preserved me this night from all perils and dangers of soul and body and hast brought me safe to the beginning of this day and as thou hast now awakened my body from sleep so I beseech thee to awaken my body from sin and carnal security and as thou hast caused the light of the day to shine in our bodily eyes so good Lord cause the light of thy Word and Holy Spirit to illuminate my understanding and give me grace as one of thy children of light to walk in all holy obedience before thy face this day and all the daies and time of my whole life and that I may endeavour to keep faith and a good conscience towards God and towards all men in all my thoughts words and dealings and so good Lord bless all studies and actions which I shall take in hand this day as that they may tend to thy glory the good of others and the comfort of my own soul and conscience in that day when I shall make my final request unto thee for them O my God keep thy servant that I do not evil unto any man this day and let it be thy blessed will not to suffer 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 harm this day but let the eyes of thy holy providence watch over me for good and not for evil and command thy holy Angels to pitch their tents round about me for my defence and safety in my going out and my coming in as thou hast promised they should do about them that fear thy Name for into thy hands O Father I do here commend my soul and body my actions and all that ever I have to be guided and protected by thee being assured that whatsoever thou takest into thy custody cannot suffer or take any hurt or harm and if I at any time this day shall through frailty forget thee yet Lord I beseech thee do thou in mercy remember me And I pray not alone for my self unto thee O Father but I beseech thee also be merciful unto thy whole Church and chosen people 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 who belong to thine Election and Kingdom Bless the Church and Kingdoms wherein we live with the continuance of peace and true Religion and Justice Defend our gracious King Charles from all his enemies and grant him a long life in health and all happiness to raign over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the rest of the Royal Family increase in them all heroical and spiritual graces which may make them fit for those places for which thou ordainedst them direct all the Nobility Bishops and Magistrates of this Kingdom and Commonwealth govern thou them that they may govern the Commons in true Religion Justice Obedience and Tranquility Be merciful unto all the people that fear thee and call upon thy Name and comfort as many among them as lie sick or are comfortless in body or mind especially be favourable to all such as suffer any trouble or persecution for the testimony of the Truth and holy Gospel 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 farther inlarging of the Truth and the more ample increase of their comfort and consolation Hasten thy coming O blessed Saviour and end these sinful daies and give me grace that like a wise Virgin I may be prepared with Oil in my Lamp to meet thee the sweetest Bridegroom of my soul at thy coming whether it be by the day of death or the day of judgment and then Lord Jesus come quickly even Lord Jesus come when thou wilt these and all other graces which thou knowest to be needful and necessary both for my soul and my body this day and for ever I humbly beg and crave at thy hands O Father giving thee thy praise and glory in that absolute form of prayer which Christ himself hath taught me to say unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name c. Another Shorter Morning Prayer O Most gracious God and merciful Father I thine unworthy servant do acknowledge that as I have been born in sin so I have lived in iniquity and broken every one of thy commandments in thought word and deed following the desires of my own will and lusts of my flesh not caring to be governed by thy holy Word and Spirit therefore I have
a better life therefore we do here from our very souls render unto thee most humble and hearty thanks from our very souls for all thy blessings and benefits bestowed upon our souls and our bodies acknowledging thee to be that Father of Light from whom we have received all those good and perfect gifts and unto thee alone for them we ascribe to be due all glory honour might majesty and praise both now and for ever more But more especially we praise thy Divine Majesty for that thou hast defended us this day past from all perils and dangers so that none of those Judgments which our sins have deserved have fallen upon any one of us Good Lord forgive us the sins which this day we have committed against thy Divine Majesty or our Brethren and for Christ his sake be reconciled unto us for them and we humbly beseech thee likewise of thine infinite goodness to defend and protect us this night and all that belong unto us from all perils and dangers of fire robbery terrours of evil Angels or any other fear which for our sins might justly have fallen upon us and that we may be safe under the shadow of thy wings and to this end and purpose we here recommend our bodies and souls and all that we have unto thine Almighty Protection Lord bless and defend both us and them from all evil whilst we sleep do thou O Father who never slumberest nor sleepest watch over thy children and give a charge to thy holy Angels to pitch their tents round about our houses and dwellings this night to guard us from all dangers that sleeping with thee we may the next morning be awakened by thee and so being refreshed with moderate sleep we may be the fitter to set forth thy glory in the conscionable duties of our callings and we beseech thee O Lord to be merciful likewise to thy whole Church and to continue the tranquility of these Kingdoms wherein we live turning from us those plagues which the crying sins of this Nation do cry aloud for O Lord preserve the principal member thereof our most gracious King Charles endue his Royal heart with grace wisdom and understanding and grant that his daies may be many prosperous vertuous and happy cloath his enemies with shame but upon his head let his Crown flourish Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and the rest of the Royal Family endow them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless all our Magistrates and Ministers with all those graces and gifts necessary for their places govern thou them that they may govern us in peace godliness and true Religion Bless all that fear thee and call upon thy Name all our Christian Brethren and Sisters that suffer sickness or any other affliction or misery especially those who do any where suffer persecution for the testimony of thy holy Gospel grant them patience to bear thy Cross and deliverance when and which way it shall seem best to thy Divine Wisdom and Lord suffer us never to forget our last end and those reckonings which then we must render unto thee in health and prosperity make us mindful of sickness and of the evil day that is behind that these things may not overtake us as a snare but that we may in some good measure like wise Virgins be found prepared for the coming of Christ the sweet Bridegroom of our souls And now O Lord most holy and just we confess there is no cause why thou who art so much displeased with sin shouldest hear the prayers of sinners but for his sake who suffered for sin and sinned not in the only mediation therefore of thine eternal Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour we humbly beg these and all other graces which thou knowest to be needful for us and for thy whole Church shutting up these our imperfect requests in that most holy prayer which Christ himself hath taught us to say unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Morning Prayer for the Sabbath Day O Most High O Eternal God all whose works are glorious all whose thoughts are very deep there can be no better thing than to praise thy Name and declare thy loving kindness in the morning on thy holy and blessed Sabbath day for it is thy Will and Commandment that we should sanctifie this day in thy service and praise him and in the thankful remembrance of the Creation of the world by the power of thy Word so of the Redemption of mankind by the death of thy Son thine O Lord I confess is greatness and power and glory and victory and praise for all that is in Heaven and Earth is thine thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou excellest as head over all both riches and honour come of thee and thou raignest over all and in thine hand is power and strength and in thine hand it is to make great and to give grace unto all now therefore O my God I praise thy glorious Name that whereas I wretched sinner having so many waies provoked thy Majesty to anger and displeasure thou notwithstanding of thy favour and goodness passing by prophaneness and infirmities hast vouchsafed O heavenly Father to add this Sabbath again to the number of my daies and vouchsafe O heavenly Father for the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son whose glorious Resurrection thy whole Church celebrateth this day to pardon and forgive me all my sins and misdeeds especially O Lord cleanse my soul from those filthy sins which my corrupt nature is most prone unto with the blood of thy most pure and undefiled Lamb and let thy Holy Spirit more and more subdue my corruptions that I may be renewed after thine own Image to serve thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of our life and as of thy mercy thou hast brought me safe to the beginning of this day so I beseech thee to make it a day of Reconciliation betwixt my sinful soul and thy Divine Majesty give me grace to make it a day of Repentance unto thee that thy goodness may seal it to be a day of pardon unto me and that I may remember that the keeping holy of this is a commandment which thine own finger hath written that on this day I might meditate on thy glorious works of our Creation and Redemption and learn how to keep all the rest of thy holy Laws and Commandments and when anon I shall with the rest of the holy Assembly appear before thy presence to offer unto thee our morning Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and to hear what thy Spirit by the preaching of thy Word shall speak unto thy servant oh let not my sins stand as a cloud to stop my prayers from ascending unto thee or keep back thy grace from descending by thy Word into my heart I know O Lord and tremble to think that three parts of the good seed falls upon bad ground O let not my heart be
like the high way which through hardness and want of true understanding receives not the seed till the evil one cometh and catcheth it away nor the stony ground which heareth with joy for a time but falleth away as soon as persecution ariseth for the Gospels sake nor like the thorny ground which by the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches choaketh the Word which it heareth and maketh it altogether unfruitful but that like unto the good ground I may hear thy Word with an honest and a good heart understand it and keep it and bring forth fruit with patience in that measure that thy Divine Wisdom shall think meet for thy glory and mine everlasting comfort Open likewise I beseech thee O Lord the door of utterance unto thy faithful servant whom thou hast sent unto us to open our eyes that we may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that we may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith in Christ and give me grace to submit my self to his Ministry as well when he terrifieth me with judgments as when he comforteth me with thy mercies and that I may have him in a singular love for his works sake because he watcheth for my soul as he that must give an account for the same unto his Master and give me grace to behave my self in the holy Congregation with comeliness and reverence as in thy presence and in the sight of thy holy Angels Keep me from drowsiness and sleepiness and from all wandring thoughts and worldly imaginations sanctifie my memory that it may be apt to receive and firm to remember those good and profitable doctrines which shall be taught unto us out of thy Word and that through the assistance of thy holy Spirit I may put the same lessons in practice for my directions in prosperity for my consolation in misery for the amendment of my life and the glory of thy Name and that this day which godless and prophane persons spend in their own lusts and pleasures I as an obedient servant of thine may make my chief delight to consecrate it to thy honour and glory not doing my own waies nor seeking mine own will nor speaking a vain word but that ceasing from the works of sin as well as from the work of my ordinary calling I may through thy blessing feel in my heart the beginning of that eternal Sabbath which with unspeakable joy glory I shall celebrate with thy Saints and Angels to thy praise and worship in thy heavenly Kingdom for evermore all which I humbly beg and crave at thy hands in the Name and Mediation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in that form of prayer which he hath taught me Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Private Evening Prayer for the Sabbath Day O Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbath suffer me who am but dust and ashes to speak unto thy glorious Majesty I know that thou art a consuming fire I acknowledge that I am but wretched stubble my sins are in thy sight and Satan stands at my right hand to accuse me for them I come not to excuse but to judge my self worthy of all those judgments which thy justice might most justly inflict upon me a wretched creature for my sins and my transgressions the number of them is so great and the nature of them is so grievous that they make me seem vile in mine own eyes how much more loathsom in thy sight I confess they make me so far from being worthy to be called thy Son that I am altogether unworthy to have the name of thy meanest servant and if thou shouldest but recompence me according to my deserts the Earth as weary of such a sinful burden should open her mouth and swallow me up like one of Dathans Family into the bottomless pit of Hell for if thou didst not spare the natural branches those Angels of glorious excellency but hurledst them down from thy heavenly habitation in the pains of hellish darkness to be kept unto damnation when they sinned but once against thy Majesty and didst expel our first Parents out of Paradise when they did but transgress one of thy Laws Alas what a vengeance may I expect who have not offended in one sin only but heaping sin upon sin without any true Repentance drinking in iniquity as it were water ever pouring in but never pouring out any filthiness and transgressed all thy Laws and Commandments yea this present day thou hast straightly commanded me to keep holy to thy praise and worship I have not so religiously kept and observed nor prepared my soul in that holiness and chastity of heart as was fit to meet thy blessed Majesty in the holy Assembly of thy Saints I have not attended to the Preaching of thy Word nor to the administration of thy Sacrament with that humility reverence and devotion that I should for though I was present at those exercises in my body yet Lord I was overtaken with much drowsiness that when I was awake my mind was so distracted and carried away with vain and worldly thoughts that my soul seemed to be absent and out of the Church I have not so duly as I should meditated with my self nor conferred with my Family upon those good instructions which I have heard and received out of thy holy Word by the publick Minister for default whereof Satan hath stollen the most part of those instructions out of my heart and I wretched creature have forgotten them as though they had never been heard and my family doth not thrive in knowledge and satisfaction under my government as they should though I know that many of my poor Brethren live in want and necessity some in pain and comfortless yet I have not remembred to relieve the one with my alms nor the other with my consolations but have feasted my self and satisfied mine own lust I have spent most part of the day in idle talk vain sports and exercises yea Lord I have c. here confess what faults thou hast done that day by omission or commission and then fetching a deep sigh from thy heart and for all these my sins my conscience cries guilty thy Laws condemns me and I am in thy hand to receive the sentence and curse that is due to the wilful breach of so holy a Commandment but what if I am by the Law condemned yet Lord thy Gospel assures me that thy mercy is above all thy works and that thy grace transcends thy Law and thy goodness delights there to raign where sinners do most abound In the multitude of the mercies and merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour I beseech thee O Lord who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor desirest the death of a penitent sinner to pardon and forgive unto me all these my sins and all the errours of that day and of my whole life and free my soul
Wicked and save them because they put their trust in him 37.1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 15 16 21 22 23 24 25 26 34 35 36 37 39 40. For in thee O Lord do I hope thou wilt hear O Lord my God 38.15 I said I will take heed to my ways that I offend not with my Tongue I will keep my mouth with a Bridle while the Wicked is before me Behold thou hast made my daies as an hand breath and my daies are as nothing before thee verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity Selah When thou with rebuke doth chasten man for Sin thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth fretting a Garment surely every man is vanity Selah 39.1 5 11. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his Trust and respecteth not the proud nor such as go about with lies 40.4 The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed upon the Earth and thou wilt not deliver him to the will of his Enemies 41.2 As the Hart panteth after the Water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O my God Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou so disquieted within me hope thou in God for I will yet praise him for the light of his countenance 42.5 God is my refuge and my strength a very present help in trouble Therefore will I not fear though the Earth be moved and the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea 46.1 2. For the Lord most high is terrible he is a great King over all the Earth 47.2 Hear this all ye People give ear all ye Inhabitants of the Earth 49.1 The mighty God even the Lord hath spoken and called the Earth from the rising of the Sun unto the going down of the same For every Beast of the Forest is mine and the Cattel upon a thousand Hills I know all the Fowls upon the Mountains and the wild Beasts of the Fields are mine If I were hungry I would not tell thee for the World is mine and the fulness thereof Call upon me in time of trouble I will hear thee and thou shalt glorifie me Thou givest thy mouth to evil and thy tongue frameth deceit 50.10 11 12 15 19. Thy Tongue deviseth mischief like a sharp Rasor thou lovest evil more than good and Lying rather than to speak Righteousness Selah But I am like a green Olive-tree in the House of my God I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever 52.2 3 8. It was thou mine own familiar Friend my guide and my acquaintance that hath done me this dishonour Cast thy burthen upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the Righteous to be moved But thou O Lord shalt bring them down into the pit of Destruction bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their daies but I will trust in thee O Lord 55.13 22 23. In God I will praise his Word in God I have put my trust I will not fear what flesh can do unto me Cast thy burthen upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the Righteous to be moved But O Lord thou shalt bring them to the pit of Destruction bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their daies but I will trust in thee In God will I praise his Word in God I have put my Trust I will not fear what Flesh can do unto me When I cry unto thee then shall mine Enemies turn their Back this I know for God is for me in God have I put my trust I will not be afraid what man can do unto me 56.4 9 11. Truly my Soul waiteth upon God for of him cometh my Salvation He only is my Rock and my Salvation he is my defence so that I shall not greatly be moved Trust not in oppression and in Robbery if Riches encrease set not your heart upon them God hath spoken once twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God Also unto thee O Lord belongeth mercy for thou rendrest to every man according to his Works 62.1 2 10 11 12. He Ruleth by his Power for ever his eyes behold the Nations let not the rebellious exalt themselves Selah O bless our God ye People and make the voice of his praise to be heard For thou O God hast proved thou hast tryed us even as Silver is tryed Sing forth the honour of his Name make his praise glorious 66.2 7 8 10. He is a Father of the Fatherless and Judge of the Widows God is in his holy Habitation He that is our God is the God of our Salvation and unto God belongeth the issues from Death 68.5 20. The humble shall see this and be glad and your Soul shall live that seek God For the Lord heareth the poor and despiseth not his Prisoners 69.32 33. He shall spare the poor and needy and shall save the Souls of the needy He shall redeem their Souls from deceit and violence and precious shall their Blood be in his sight 72.13 14. The Prosperity of the Wicked they are not in trouble as other men neither are they plagued like other Men therefore pride compasseth them about as a Chain violence covereth them as a Garment Their Eyes stand out with fatness they have more than heart can wish My Flesh and my Heart faileth but God is the strength of my Heart and my portion for ever Surely thou didst set them in slippery places thou castest them down into Destruction How are they brought into Desolation as in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrours But it is good for me to draw neer unto God I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works 37.6 18 19 26 28. All the horns of the wicked will I cut off but the horns of the Righteous shall be exalted 5.10 Is his mercy clean gone for ever doth his promise fail for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious hath he in anger shut up his tender mercy Selah 77.8 9. Therefore the Lord heard this and was wroth so fire was kindled against Jacob and his anger also came up against Israel Because they believed not in God and trusted not in his Salvation Give ear O my people to my Laws incline your Ears to the words of my Mouth That they might set their hope in God and not forget the work of God but to keep his Commandments 78.1 7 21 22. The Wrath of God came upon them and slew the fattest of them and smote down the chosen men of Israel For all this they sinned still and believed not for all his wondrous Works But he being full of compassion forgave all their Iniquities and destroyed them not yea many a time turned he his anger away and did not stir up all his Wrath. For he remembred that they were but flesh a wind that passed and cometh not again 78.31 32 38 39. God standeth in the Congregation
call O God of my Salvation for thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble have mercy upon me and hearken to my Prayers Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me ponder my Words O Lord O Lord consider my Meditations O hearken thou unto the words of my calling my King and my God for unto thee will I make my Prayer my Voice shalt thou hear betimes in the Morning O Lord early in the morning will I direct my Prayer unto thee and will look up for thou art the God that hast no pleasure in Wickedness neither shall any evil dwell with thee Lead me O Lord in thy Righteousness because of my Enemies make my way plain before my face Let all them that put their trust in thee rejoyce they shall ever be giving of thanks because thou defendest them they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee O Lord rebuke me not in thine Indignation neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed my soul also is sore troubled how long wilt thou punish me turn thee O Lord and deliver my Soul and save me for thy mercies sake my Beauty is gone for very trouble and worn away because of all mine Enemies The Lord hath heard my Petition the Lord will receive my Prayer O let the wickedness of the Ungodly come to an end but guide thou the Just my help cometh of God which preserveth them that are true of heart I will give thanks unto the Lord according to his Righteousness and will pray in the Name of the Lord the most High have mercy upon me O Lord consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate me thou that liftest me up from the gates of death Why standest thou so far off O Lord and hidest thy face in the needful time of trouble Arise O Lord God lift up thine head forget not the poor How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever How long wilt thou hide thy face from me Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me O hide not thou thy face from me nor cast thy Servant away in displeasure thou hast been my succour leave me nor neither forsake me O God of my Salvation O Son of Righteousness who comest from the bosom of thy Father the Fountain of Glory and Light to enlighten the darkness of the World I praise thy Name for that thou hast preserved me from the dangers of this Night and continued still the opportunities of serving thee and advanceing my hopes of a blessed Eternity Let thy mercy shine brightly and dissipate the Clouds and Darkness of my Spirit and Understanding rectifie my Affections and purifie my Will and all my Actions that whatsoever I shall do or suffer this day or in my whole Life my Word and purposes and thoughts may be Sanctified and acceptable to thy Divine Majesty And all this I beg for thy mercies sake Amen A Collect. ALmighty and everlasting God who dost govern all things both in Heaven and in Earth mercifully hear the Supplications of thy Servant and grant me thy Grace all the days of my Life and Peace through Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour Amen The Second Collect. ALmighty and Everlasting God mercifully look upon mine Infirmities and in all my dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend me through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen A Prayer for a penitent Person for Remission of his sins HOw long shall I seek Counsel in my Soul and be so vexed in my heart how long shall my Enemies triumph over me consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten my eyes that I sleep not in Death least mine Enemies say we have prevailed against him If I be cast down they that trouble me will rejoyce at me but my trust is in thy Mercy and my Heart is joyful in thy Salvation I will sing of the Lord because he hath dealt so lovingly with me yea I will praise the Lord most high Preserve me O God for in thee have I put my trust O hold up my going in thy path that my footstep slides not I have called upon thee O God for thou shalt hear me incline thine Ears unto me and hearken unto my words shew thy marvellous loving kindness unto me thou that art the Saviour of them that put their trust in thee from such that resist thy right hand keep me as the Apple of thy Eye hide me under the shadow of thy wing from the ungodly that trouble me mine enemies compass me round about to take away my Soul disappoint him and cast him down deliver my Soul from the ungodly which is a Sword of thine I will call upon the Lord which is worthy to be praised so shall I be safe from mine enemies in my trouble I will call upon the Lord and complain unto my God so shall he hear my voice out of his holy Temple my complaint shall come before him it shall enter even into his Ear the Lord shall reward me after my Righteous dealing and according to the cleanness of my hand shall he recompence me but Lord deal not with me according to my sins neither reward me after mine Iniquities who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou me from my secret sins keep thy Servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get the Dominion over me so shall I be undefiled and innocent from the great offence save Lord and hear me O King of Heaven when I call upon thee the Lord is my Shepherd therefore shall I lack nothing but be not thou far from me O Lord thou art my succour haste thee to help me unto thee O Lord will I lift up my Soul my God I have put my trust in thee let me not be confounded neither let mine enemies triumph over me shew me thy ways O Lord and teach me thy paths lead me forth in thy Truth and learn me for thou art the God of my Salvation in thee hath been my hope all the day long call to remembrance O Lord thy tender mercy and thy loving kindness which hath been ever of old O remember not the sins and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy think upon me O Lord for thy goodness for thy Name sake O Lord be merciful to my sin for it is great turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and in misery the sorrows of my heart is enlarged O bring thou me out of my trouble look upon my adversity and misery and forgive me all my sins consider mine enemies how many they are that bear a tyrannous heart against me O keep my Soul and deliver me let me not be surrounded for I have put my trust in thee let perfect and righteous dealing wait upon me for my hope hath been in thee deliver
A Prayer for a Penitent Sinner O Lord withdraw not thou thy loving mercies from me Let thy loving kindness O Lord and thy truth alway preserve me O Lord let it be thy pleasure to deliver me from all my fear Make haste O Lord to help me As for me I am poor and needy but the Lord careth for me Thou art my Helper and Redeemer make no long tarrying O my God Hearken to my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me O hide not thou thy face from me and cast not away thy servant in displeasure Thou hast been my succour leave me not neither forsake me O God of my salvation Consider my complaint O Lord for I am brought very low O deliver me from my persecutors for they are too strong for me Hear my prayer O Lord consider my desire hearken unto me for thy Truth and Righteousness sake and enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight no man living can be justified Hear me O Lord and that soon for my spirit waxeth faint Hide not thy face from me lest I be like to them that go down to the pit O let me hear thy loving kindness betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust Shew thou me the way that I should walk in for I lift up my heart unto thee Deliver me O Lord from mine enemies for I fly unto thee to hide me Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God O let thy Spirit lead me forth into the Land of Righteousness Quicken me O Lord for thy Names sake and for thy Righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble O my God and all for Jesus Christ his sake my blessed Lord and Saviour Amen A Commemoration of God's frequent pardons and mercies to the penitent O Lord God full of mercy and pity who didst many times deliver thy people from their adversity when thou for their rebellion against thee and their inventions hadst given them into the hands of the Heathen Remember me O Lord according to the favour thou bearest unto thy people and visit me with thy salvation And though I have done amiss and dealt wickedly against thee and thy Covenant yet be pleased to help me for thy Name sake Make thy power to be known in the mighty deliverance and redemption of me from so many dangers and miseries wherewith thou hast delivered me Give me grace to believe thy word to obey thy counsel and to walk in thy Laws to relinquish my own sinful and vain desire to obey my Governours Ecclesiastical and Civil that I may not have the lot of Dathan and Abyram but at last may receive my portion in thine inheritance which thou hast prepared for thy chosen people giving thee thanks with thine inheritance for that thou hast turned from me thy wrathful indignation pittying me and saving me according to the multitude of thy mercies thy Name be blessed O Lord God everlastingly and world without end through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen A Prayer for Victory against our Enemies O Lord God whose mercy is greater than the Heavens and thy glory above all the Earth be thou exalted in thine own strength and magnify thy power and thy mercy in defending me and thy holy Church against all our enemies temporal and spiritual Forsake me not O God my strength and my defence for vain is the help of man Do thou strengthen me and go along with me and stand by me in the day of battel that I being defended and armed by thee may do acts great and good fighting thy battel and putting my confidence in thy Righteousness only and thy salvation through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer for the Fear of the Lord for Gravity and the blessing of the Righteous O Lord God who art to be feared in the generations of the world teach me the fear of thy Name that I may fear to offend thee and that delighting in thy Commandments I may serve thee without fear of my enemies in holiness and righteousness all my daies Let thy Light arise upon the darkness of my understanding Let thy mercies and gentleness turn all the thoughts of unmercifulness in me and make me charitable of tender bowels earning with pity over the need of the poor Teach me to guide my words with discretion Make me never to be moved from my purposes of holy living Stablish my heart in thy love that in the day of restitution of all things thou mayest give the portion of the charitable the rewards of thy Right hand and when the wicked shall gnash with their teeth and consume away in a sad Eternity I may be satisfied with the Riches and plentiousness of thy house for ever through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer against my Adversaries and for Confidence in the True God O Lord God at whose presence the Earth trembles who worketh salvation and deliverance for thy Church in Ages thou hast done whatsoever pleaseth thee in Heaven and in Earth give me thy grace that in all my troubles I make thee my succour and defence and put my whole trust in thee only that I receiving thy mercies and the satisfaction of all my hopes from thy plentiousness and loving kindness I may give praise unto thy Name never ascribing unto my self any honour or the glory or thanks of any good action or prosperous success but to thee who art the Author and giver of all good things preserve me from all evil of soul and body from vain imaginations and making any thing to be my confidence besides thee my God that so thou mayest be mindful of me and bless me in all my waies and actions and when I die and go down into silence I may have my portion among the blessed of the Lord in the inheritance of thy Kingdom through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer O Thou Almighty Goodness the Father of the Fatherless the portion of the poor and protector of strangers cast thy gracious eyes upon a miserable sinner who with humility implores thy mercy When I look on my self I dare scarce be so bold as to lift up mine eyes unto thee When I think in what condition I am and what I have done it so confounds me that I can hardly think of any thing else it is the greatness of my misery alone that constrains me to the presumption of prostrating my self at thy feet the weight of which presseth me so much that it hath left me no more power than to expose my self before thee as an admirer of thy wondrous charity O my sins are wondrous great in which all comfort forsakes my soul. O thy terrours have consumed me how dreadful are they O the affliction and torment I endure what tongue can express it my soul is parch'd and dried up my spirits are consumed by the heat of thy displeasure may I not now beg one drop of comfort from thee O my God my
Pit I humbly also beg mercy for my Child grant a comely body and an understanding soul life and an opportunity of Baptism and thy grace from the cradle to his grave that it may increase the number of Saints in that holy fellowship of Saints and Angels where thou raignest and livest Eternal God world without end Amen Before a Journey O Lord who didst lead thy servants Abraham and Jacob thy people Israel thy servant Tobias and wise men of the East in their several Journies by thy providence by thy Ministry of Angels by a Pillar of Fire and by the guidance of a Star vouchsafe to preserve us thy servants in the way that we are now to go be O Lord a guide unto us in our preparation a shadow in the day and covering by night a rest to our weariness and a staff to our weakness a portion in adversity a protection from danger that by thy assistance we may perform our Journey safely to thy honour to our own comfort and last bring us to the everlasting Rest of our heavenly Country through him who is the way the truth and the life our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen For Afflicted persons O Lord God merciful and gracious Father whose compassion extends to all that are in misery and need that takest delight in relieving the distresses of the afflicted give refreshment to all the comfortless provide for the poor give ease to all them that are tormented with sharp pains health to the diseased liberty and redemption to the captives chearfulness of spirit to all them that are in great desolation Lord let thy Spirit confirm all them that are strong strengthen all them that are weak and speak peace to the afflicted conscience that the light of thy countenance being restored to them they may rejoyce in thy salvation and sing praises unto thy Name who hast delivered their souls from death their eyes from tears and their feet from falling grant this for the honour of thy mercy and the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer against Temptations O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ thy Name is great thy Essence infinite thy Goodness is Eternal and thy Power hath no limit thou art the God and Father of all blessed for ever more look down in mercy and compassion from thy dwelling hear my prayers and supplications and deliver me from all temptations of the world the flesh and the Devil take not thy grace from me let me never want thy help in my need nor thy comfort in the day of my danger or calamity never try me beyond my strength nor afflict me beyond my patience nor smite me but with a fatherly Rod I have no strength of my own thou art my confidence my Rock and my strong salvation save me O God from the miseries of this world and never let me suffer the calamities of the next rescue me from the evils I have deserved and preserve me from the punishment of this world that living before thee with a clean heart and undefiled body and a sanctified spirit I may at the day of Judgment be presented pure and spotless by the blood of the Lamb that I may sing eternal Hallelujahs in heavenly places to the honour of God our Saviour who hath redeemed our souls from death our eyes from tears and our feet from falling grant this in the riches of thy mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A General Confesson ALmighty God I a miserable sinner do humbly confess that I am truly sorrowful for my many and great my innumerable and intollerable crimes of which my conscience does accuse me by night and by day and by which I have provoked thy severest wrath and indignation against me I have broken all thy Righteous Laws and Commandments by word or deed by vain thoughts or sinful desires I have sinned against thee in all my Relations and capacities in all places and at all times I can neither reckon their number nor bear their burden nor suffer thine anger which I have deserved but thou O Lord God art merciful and gracious have mercy upon me pardon me for all the evil I have done judge me not for all the good I have omitted take not thy favour from me but delight thou to sanctifie and save me and work in me to will and to do of thy good pleasure all my duty which thou O Lord requirest of me that being sanctified by thy Spirit delivered from my sins I may serve thee in a religious and holy conversation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer used by His late Majesty in the time of his trouble and restraint O Most glorious Lord God Father Son and Holy Ghost I here humbly adore thy most sacred Majesty and I bless and magnifie thy Name for that thou hast been pleased so often and strangely to deliver me from the striving of my people Father forgive them who have thus risen up against me and do thou yet turn their hearts both unto thee and unto me and do thou afford me help that I being firmly established in the Throne thou hast placed me in may defend thy Church committed to my care and keep all this thine and my people in truth and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for pardon of Sin ALmighty and most merciful Father look down upon me thy unworthy servant who here prostrate my self at the footstool of thy Throne of Grace yea look upon me O Father through the mediation and in the merits of Jesus Christ in whom only thou art well pleased for of my self I am not worthy to stand before thee or to speak with my unclean lips unto thee most holy and eternal God for as in sin I was conceived and born so likewise I have broken all thy holy Laws and Commandments by my sinful motions unclean thoughts evil words and wicked works omitting my duties I ought to do and committing many vices which thou hast forbidden under pain of death of thy heavy displeasure As for my sins O Lord they are innumerable wherefore I stand here liable to all the miseries of this life and everlasting torment in that to come if thou shouldest deal with me according to my deserts I confess Lord that it is thy mercy which endureth for ever and thy compassion which never fails which is the cause I have not been long ago consumed but with thee there is mercy and plenteous redemption in the multitude therefore of thy mercies and by the merits of Jesus Christ I intreat thy Divine Majesty that thou wilt not enter into judgment with thy servant nor be extream to mark what is done amiss but be thou merciful unto me and wash away all my sins and transgressions with that precious blood that my Saviour shed for me and I beseech thee O Lord not only to wash away all my sins but also to purge my heart by thy holy Spirit from the dross
of my natural corruption and as thou dost add daies to my life so good Lord I beseech thee to add repentance to my daies that when I have past this mortal life I may be partaker of thy heavenly Kingdom through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer and Confession in and for the time of Affliction ALmighty and most merciful Father it is only thy goodness that admits of my imperfect prayers and the knowledge that thy mercies are infinite which can give me any hope of thy acceptance or granting them for it is my bounden and necessary duty to confess my sins freely unto thee and of all men living I have need of and most reason so to do no man living hath been so much obliged by thee for that degree of knowledge which thou hast given me adding likewise the guilt of my transgression for it is through failing and imperfection that I have so many waies provoked thy gracious Majesty to wrath and indignation against me but with shame and grief I confess that I have done amiss and dealt wickedly that therein I followed the perswasion of worldly wisdom forsaking the dictates of a right informed conscience wherefore O Lord I have no excuse to make no hope left but in the multitude of thy mercies for I know my repentance is weak and my prayers are faulty grant therefore O most merciful Father so to strengthen my repentance and amend my prayers that thou mayest clear the way for thine own mercies to which O let thy Justice at last give place putting a speedy end to my deserved afflictions In the mean time give me patience to endure constancy against temptations and a discerning spirit to chuse what is best for thy glory and my comfort and the good of others grant this O most merciful Father for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake our only Saviour Amen A Prayer in time of Captivity O Powerful and Eternal God to whom nothing is so great that it may resist or so small that it is contemned look upon my miseries with the eye of mercy and let thy infinite power vouchsafe to limit out some proportion of deliverance unto me as to thee shall seem most convenient let not injury O Lord triumph over me and let my falls by thy hand be corrected and make not my unjust enemies the Ministers of thy Justice but yet my God if in thy wisdom this be the aptest castisement for my inexcusable transgressions if this ungrateful bondage be fittest for my over high desires if the pride of my not enough humble heart be to be thus broken O Lord I yield to thy Will chearfully embracing what sorrow thou wilt have me suffer only thus much let me crave of thee Let my craving O Lord be acceptable unto thee since it even proceeds from thee that by goodness which is thy self thou will suffer some beam of thy Majesty so to shine in my heart that I who acknowledge it my noblest title to be thy creature may still in my greatest affliction depend confidently on thee let calamity be the exercise but not the overthrow of my vertue O let not their prevailing power be to my destruction and if it be thy will that they more and more vex me with punishment yet O Lord never let their wickedness have such a hand but that I may still carry a pure mind and a stedfast resolution ever to serve thee without fear or presumption yet with that humble confidence which may best please thee so that at the last I may come to thy eternal Kingdom through the merits of thy Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen A Prayer to be said for the Sick by them that visit him O Merciful Father who art the Lord and giver of life to whom belongeth the issues of death we thy children here assembled do acknowledge that in respect of our manifold sins we are not worthy to ask any blessing for our selves at thy hands much less to become suiters to thy Divine Majesty in the behalf of others yet because thou hast promised that the prayers of the righteous shall avail much with thee in the obedience therefore of thy commandment and in confidence of thy gracious promise we are bold to become humble suiters to thy Divine Majesty in the behalf of this our dear Brother or Sister whom thou hast visited with the chastisement of thy own fatherly hand we could gladly wish the restauration of his health and a longer continuance of his life and Christian-fellowship amongst us but for as much as it appeareth as far as we can discern that thou hast appointed by this visitation to call for him out of this mortal life we submit our wills to thy blessed will and humbly entreat thee for Jesus Christ his sake and the merits of his bitter death and passion which he hath suffered for him that thou wouldest pardon and forgive unto him all his sins as well that wherein he was conceived and born as also the offences and transgressions which ever since to this day and hour he hath committed in thought word and deed against thy Divine Majesty cast them behind thy back remove them as far from thy presence as the East is from the West blot them out of the book of thy remembrance lay them not to his charge wash them away with the blood of Christ that they may never be more seen and deliver him from all the Judgments which are due unto him for all his sins that they may never trouble his conscience nor rise in judgment against his soul and impute unto him the Righteousness of Jesus Christ whereby he may appear righteous in thy sight and in his extremity at this time we beseech thee look down from Heaven upon him with those eyes of grace and compassion wherewith thou art wont to look upon thy children in their affliction and misery pity thy wounded servant like the good Samaritan for here is a sick soul that needeth the help of such a heavenly Physician O Lord increase his faith that he may believe that Christ died for him and that his blood cleanseth all his sins and either asswage his pain or else increase his patience to endure thy blessed will and pleasure in all things And good Lord lay no more upon him than thou wilt enable him to bear heave him up unto thy self with those sighs and groans that cannot be expressed make him now to see what is the hope of his calling and what is the exceeding greatness of thy mercy and power towards them that believe in thee and in his weakness O Lord shew thou thy strength defend him against the suggestions and temptations of the Devil who as in all his life-time will now in his weakness seek to assail him and to devour him oh save his soul and reprove Satan and command thy holy Angels to be about him and aid him and chase away all evil and malignant spirits far from him make him