my mind that I may know thee and let me not be barren or unfruitful in that knowledge Lord work in my heart a true faith a purifying hope and an unfeigned love towards thee Give me a full trust in thee zeal for thee reverence in all things that relate to thee Make me fearfull to offend thee thankful for thy mercies humble under thy corrections devout in thy service sorrowful for my sins grant that in all things I may behave my self so as befits a creature to his Creator a servant to his Lord enable me likewise to perform that duty I owe to my self Give me that meekness humility and contentedness whereby I may alwaies possess my soul in patience and thankfulness Make me diligent in all my duties watchful in all temptations perfect pure and temperate and so moderate in all my most lawful enjoyments that they never may become a snare to me Make me also O Lord to be so affected towards my neighbour that I never transgress that Royal Law of thine of loving him as my self Grant me exactly to perform to all a part of Justice yielding to all whatsoever by any kind of right is their due Give me such bowels of mercy and compassion that I may never fail to do all acts of charity to all men whether friends or enemies according to thy command and example Finally I beseech thee O Lord to sanctifie me within and without that my whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever Amen Intercession O Blessed Lord whose mercy is over all thy works I beseech thee to have mercy upon all men and grant that the precious Ransom which was paid by thy Son for all may be effectual for the saving of all Give thy enlightening grace to those that are in darkness and thy converting grace to those that are in sin Look with thy tenderest compassion upon the Universal Church O be favourable and gracious unto Sion build thou the walls of Jerusalem unite all those that profess thy Name to thee by purity and holiness and to each other by brotherly kindness Have mercy on this desolate Church and sinful Nation Thou movedst the Land and divided it heal the sores thereof for it shaketh make us so truly to repent of those sins which have provoked thy Judgments that thou also mayest turn and repent and leave a blessing behind thee Bless those whom thou hast appointed our Governours whether in Church or State so rule their hearts and strengthen their hands that they may want neither will nor power to punish wickedness and vice and to maintain God's true Religion and Verity Have pity O Lord on all that are in affliction be a Father to the Fatherless and plead the Cause of the Widow comfort the feeble minded support the weak relieve the needy defend the oppressed and administer to every one according to their several necessities Let thy blessing rest upon all that are near and dear unto me and grant them whatsoever is needful and necessary both for their souls and for their bodies here name thy dearest Relations Reward all those that have done me or them good pardon all those that have done or wish us evil work in me and them all that good which may make us acceptable in thy sight Jesus Christ. Amen For Preservation O Merciful God by whose bounty and love it is that I have this day added to my life I beseech thee so to guide me in it by thy grace that I may do nothing which may dishonour thee or wound my own soul but that I may diligently apply my own soul to do all such good works as thou hast prepared for me And Lord I beseech thee give thy Angels charge over me to keep me in all my waies that no evil happen unto nor any plague come nigh my dwelling but that I and mine may be safe under thy protection through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen O Lord pardon the wandrings and coldness of these Petitions and deal with me not according either to my prayers or deserts but according to my needs and thine own rich mercy in Jesus Christ in whose blessed Name and words I conclude these my imperfect prayers saying Our Father c. Prayers for Night O Holy blessed and glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God have mercy upon me a miserable sinner Lord I know not what to pray for as I ought O let thy holy Spirit help mine infirmities and enable me to offer up a spiritual Sacrifice acceptable unto thee by Jesus Christ. A Confession O Most holy Lord God who art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity how shall I an abominable wretch appear before thee who am nothing but pollution I am defiled in my very nature have a backwardness to all good and a readiness to all evil but I have defiled my self much worse by my own actual sins and wicked customs I have transgressed my duty to thee my neighbour and my self and that both in thought word and deed by doing those things thou hast expresly forbidden and neglecting to do those things thou hast commanded me and this not onely through ignorance and frailty but knowingly and wilfully against the motion of thy Spirit and the checks of mine own conscience to the contrary and to make all these out of measure sinful I have gone on in a daily course of repeating these provocations against thee notwithstanding all thy calls to and my own purposes and endeavours of amendment yea this very day I have not ceased to add new sins to my former guilt here name the particulars and now O Lord what shall I say or how shall I open my mouth seeing I have done these things I know that the wages of sin is death but O thou who willest not the death of a sinner have mercy upon me work in me I beseech thee a sincere contrition and perfect hatred of all my sins let me daily confess them but yet not as duly renew them and grant O Lord that from this instant I may give a bill of divorce to all my most beloved lusts and then be thou pleased to marry me to thy self in Truth in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life and for all my sins past O Lord receive a Reconciliation accept of that Ransom thy blessed Son hath paid for me and for his sake whom thou hast set forth as a propitiation pardon all my offences and receive me to thy favour and when thou hast thus spoken peace to my soul Lord keep me that I turn not any more to folly but stablish me with thy grace that no temptation of the World the Devil or my own Flesh may ever draw me to offend thee that being made free from sin and becoming a Servant unto God I may have my fruit unto holiness and in the
Israel O God out of all his troubles be thou my Judge O Lord for I have walked innocently my trust hath been also in the Lord therefore shall I not fall examine me O Lord and prove me try out my Reins and Heart for thy loving kindness is always before mine eyes and I will walk in thy Truth But as for me I will walk innocently O Lord deliver me and be merciful unto me hearken unto my voice O Lord when I call unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me my heart hath talked of thee seek ye my face thy face Lord will I seek O hide not thou thy face from me nor cast away thy Servant in displeasure thou hast been my succour leave me not nor forsake me O God of my Salvation teach me thy way O Lord and lead me in the right way because of mine enemies Hear the voice of mine humble petitions when I cry unto thee when I hold up mine hand towards thy mercy Seat of thy Holy Temple O pluck me not away neither destroy me with the ungodly and wicked doers which speak friendly to their Neighbours but imagine mischief in their hearts Save thy people and give thy blessing to thine Inheritance feed them and set them up for ever I will magnifie thee O Lord for thou hast set me up and made my foes to triumph over me O Lord my God I cry unto thee and thou hast healed me Hear O Lord and have mercy upon me Lord be thou my helper O most merciful God whose property is always to have Mercy and to forgive behold with the eyes of thy pity and compassion the state of thy humble Servant made most miserable by reason of my sins hear the voice of my weeping pity my groaning strengthen me for I am weak for my bones are vexed and deliver my Soul from Death that being saved from the bottomless pit I may give thanks to thy Holy Name O turn from the severity of thy displeasure and visit me with thy mercy and salvation for all my sins procure great sorrow and contrition and in my sickness let thy comfort sustain me through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen The Collect. O God who knowest me to be set in so many great dangers that by reason of the Frailty of Man I cannot always stand upright grant to me such strength and protection that may support me in all dangers and carry me through all Temptations through Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour Amen Another ALmighty and Everlasting God who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that be penitent create and make in me a new and contrite Heart that I may worthily lamenting my sins and acknowledging my wretchedness obtain of thee the God of all mercy perfect remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Confession of sins and a Prayer for pardon IN thee O Lord have I put my trust let me never be put to confusion deliver me in thy Righteousness bow down thine Ear to hear me make haste to deliver me be thou my strong Rock and the house of Defence that thou mayest save me for thou art my strong Rock and Castle be thou also my guide and hear me for thy mercy sake draw me out of the Net that they have privily laid for me for thou art my strength into thy hand I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth have mercy upon me O Lord for I am in trouble mine eyes are consumed for very heaviness yea my soul and my body for my life waxeth old with heaviness and my years with mourning my strength failed me because of mine iniquity and my bones but my hope hath been in thee O Lord I have said thou art my God shew thy Servant the light of thy countenance and save me for thy mercies sake I will give thanks unto thee O Lord his Prayers shall ever be in my Mouth O continue forth thy loving kindness unto them that fear thee and thy Righteousness unto them that are true of Heart put me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure for thine Arrows stick fast in me and thine hand presseth me sore forsake me not O Lord my God be not thou far from me haste thee to help me O Lord God of my Salvation take away thy Plague from me for I am consumed by the means of pain Hear my Prayers O Lord and with thine Ears consider my calling hold not thy peace at my tears O Lord spare me for thy mercy sake that I may recover my strength before I go hence and be no more seen withhold not thou thy mercy from me save me for thy Mercy sake let thy loving kindness and thy truth alway preserve me O Lord let it be thy pleasure to deliver me make haste O Lord to help me let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my Soul to destroy it let them be driven backward and put to rebuke that wish me evil let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee and let such as love thy Salvation say alway the Lord be praised thou art my helper and my Redeemer make no long tarrying O my God O Lord be merciful unto me heal my Soul for I have sinned against thee be merciful unto me O Lord raise thou me again because my trust is in thy mercy by this I know thou favourest me that my enemies do not triumph over me like as the Hart desireth the Water-brooks so longeth my Soul after thee O God my Soul is a thirst for God yea even for the living God when I shall come and appear before the presence of God God is my hope and my strength a very present help in trouble the Lord of Hosts is with me the God of Jacob is my refuge call upon me in time of trouble so will I hear and thou shalt praise me O Lord open thou my Lips that my Mouth may set forth thy praise Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercy do away mine offences wash me throughly from my wickedness and make me clean from my sins for I acknowledge my fault and my sin is ever before me against thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight that thou mightest be justified in thy saying and clear when thou judgest thou shalt purge me with Hysop and I shall be clean thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce O give me the comfort of thy help again and establish me with thy free Spirit make me a clean Heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me O be favourable and gracious unto Sion and build thou the Walls of Jerusalem Save me O God for thy Name sake and avenge me in thy strength hear my Prayers O God and hearken unto the words of
command what thou wilt and thou shalt find me willing to do what thou commandest and to observe thy blessed Will in all things to this end give unto me thy Holy Spirit which thou hast promised to give to the worlds end unto all thine elect people and let the same Holy Spirit purge my heart from the dross of my natural corruption heal my soul and body that they may become the Temple of the Holy Ghost to serve thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the daies of my life that when by the direction and assistance of thy Holy Spirit I shall finish my course in this short and transitory life I may cheerfully leave this world and resign my soul into thy fatherly hands in assured confidence of enjoying everlasting life with thee in thy heavenly Kingdom which thou hast prepared for thine Elect Saints who love the Lord Jesus and expect his appearing In the mean while O Father I beseech thee let thy Holy Spirit work in me such a serious repentance as that I may with tears lament my sins past with grief of heart be humbled for my sins present and with all my endeavours resist the like filthy sins for the time to come and let the same Holy Spirit keep me in the Unity of the Church lead me in the Truth of thy Word and preserve me that I may never swerve from the same to Popery or any other error or false Worship and let thy Spirit open mine eyes more and more to see the wondrous things of thy Law and open my lips that my mouth may set forth thy praise increase in me those good gifts with which thou hast already endowed me of thy mercy and give unto me a penitent spirit and a chaste heart a contented mind pure affections a wise behaviour and all other graces which thou seest necessary for me to govern my heart in thy fear and to guide all my life in thy favour that whether I live or die I may live and die unto thee who art my God and my Redeemer And here O Lord according as I am bound I render unto thee from the Altar of my humblest heart all possible thanks and praise for all those blessings and benefits which graciously and plentifully thou hast bestowed upon my soul and body for this life and that which is to come namely for my Election Creation Redemption Justification Sanctification and Preservation from my childhood until this present day and hour and for the firm hope which thou hast given me of my Glorification Likewise for my Life Liberty Food and Rayment a competent estate for the maintenance of this present life and prosperity more especially for that thou hast defended me this day now past from all peril and dangers both of body and soul furnishing me with all necessary good things that I stand in need of and as thou hast ordained the day for man to travel in and the night for him to take his rest so I beseech thee to sanctifie unto me this nights rest and sleep that I may be the better disposed to serve thee in all honesty and godliness and that I may enjoy the same as thy sweet blessing and benefit that so dull and wearied a body of mine being refreshed with moderate rest and sleep I may be the better enabled to work before thee doing all such good works as thou hast provided for me and when it shall please thee by thy divine providence to awaken me the next morning do thou O Lord who art the keeper of Israel who never slumberest nor sleepest watch over me in thy holy providence to protect me from all dangers so that neither the evil Angels of Satan nor any wicked enemy may have any power to do me any harm or evil and to this end give a charge unto thy holy Angels that they at thy appointment may pitch their tents round about me for my defence and safety as thou hast promised they should do about them that fear thy Name and knowing that thy Name is a strong Tower of defence unto all those that trust therein I here recommend my self and all that belongs unto me unto thy holy protection and custody if it be thy blessed will to call for me in my sleep O Lord for Christ his sake have mercy upon me and receive my soul unto thy heavenly Kingdom and if it be thy blessed pleasure to add more daies to my life add more amendment unto my daies and wean my mind from the love of the world and the vanity thereof and cause me more and more to settle my conversation on Heaven and heavenly things and perfect daily in me that good work which thou hast begun to the glory of thy Name and the salvation of my sinful soul. O Lord I beseech thee likewise save and defend from all evil and danger thy whole Church our gracious King Charles and grant him a long and prosperous Raign over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the Royal Family endue them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless the Nobility Magistrates and Ministers of these Churches and Kingdoms each of them with those graces and benefits which are expedient for their places and callings and be thou O Lord a comfort and a consolation to all thy people whom thou hast thought meet to visit with any kind of sickness cross or poverty or calamity Hasten O Father the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ make me ever mindful of my last end and of the reckoning that I am to make unto thee therein and in the mean while carefully so to follow Christ in the generation during this life as that with Christ I may have a portion in the resurrection of Christ when this mortal life is ended These graces and all other blessings which thou O Father knowest to be required and necessary for me I humbly beg and crave at thy hands in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son and in that form of Prayer which he himself hath taught me to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. Another Short Evening Prayer O Eternal God and heavenly Father if I were not taught and assured by the promises of thy Gospel and the example of Peter Mary Magdalen the Publican the Prodigal Child and many other penitent sinners that thou art so full of compassion and so ready to forgive the greatest sinners who are heaviest laden with sin at what time soever they return unto thee with penitent hearts lamenting their sins and imploring thy grace I should despair for my own sins and be utterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardness of my heart and the unruliness of my affection and the uncleanness of my conversation by means whereof I have transgressed all thy holy Laws and Commandments and deserved thy Curse which might cause my body to be smitten with some fearful disease my soul to languish with the
death of sin my good name to be traduced with some scandalous reproaches and make my self liable to all manner of crosses and casualties And I confess Lord that thy mercy is the cause I have not been long ago consumed and confounded But O my God as thy mercy only stayed thy judgments from falling upon me hitherto so I humbly beseech thee in the bowels of thy mercy in Jesus Christ in whom only thou art well pleased that thou wilt not deal with me according to my deserts but that thou wouldest freely and fully remit unto me all my sins and my transgressions and that thou wouldest wash them clean from me with the vertue of that precious blood which thy Son Jesus Christ hath shed for me for he alone is my Physician and his blood only is the medicine that can heal my sickness and is the true brazen Serpent that can cure that poison wherewith the fiery serpents of my sins have stung and poisoned my sick and wounded soul and give me I beseech thee thine holy Spirit which may assure me of mine Adoption and that may confirm my Faith increase my Repentance inlighten my Understanding purifie my Heart and rectifie my Will and Affection and so sanctifie me throughout that my whole Body and Soul and Spirit may be kept unblamable until the glorious coming of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And now O Lord I give unto thee most humble and hearty thanks and praise for that thou hast this day preserved me from all harm and dangers notwithstanding all my sins and evil deserts and I beseech thee likewise to defend me this night from the roaring Lion which night and day seeketh to devour me Watch thou O Lord over me this night to keep me from his temptations and tyranny and let thy mercy shield me from his unspeakable rage and malice and to this end I commit my self into thy hands and almighty protection beseeching thee O my Lord and my God not to suffer Satan or any of his evil members to have power to do me any hurt or harm this night and grant good Lord that whether I sleep or wake live or die I may sleep wake live or die unto thee and to the glory of thy Name and the salvation of my soul. Lord bless and defend all thy chosen people every where Grant our gracious Soveraign long life and a happy Raign over us Bless our gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and all the Royal Family together with all our Magistrates and Ministers comfort them who are in misery need or sickness or under any kind of Cross or Calamity give me grace to be one of those wise Virgins which may have my heart prepared like a Lamp furnished with the Oil of Faith and Light of good works to meet the Lord Jesus the sweet Bridegroom of my soul at his second and sudden coming in glory grant this good Father for Jesus Christ his sake my only Saviour Redeedeemer and Mediator in whose blessed Name and in whose own words I call upon thee as he hath taught me Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Morning Prayer for a Family O Lord our God and heavenly Father who art the only Creator of Heaven and of Earth and all therein contained we confess that we are unworthy to appear in thy sight and presence considering our manifold sins and offences which we have committed against Heaven and before thee and how that we have been born in sin and do daily break thy holy Laws and Commandments contrary to our knowledge and consciences albeit we know thou art our Creator who hast made us our Redeemer who hast bought us with the blood of thy only begotten Son and our Comforter who bestowest upon us all the good and holy graces which we enjoy in our souls and in our bodies and if thou shouldest but deal with us as our wickedness and unthankfulness have deserved what other thing might we O Lord expect from thee but shame and confusion in this life and in the world to come wrath and everlasting condemnation yet O Lord in the obedience of thy Commandments and in the confidence which we have in thy unspeakable and endless mercy in thy Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ the Righteous we thy poor servants appealing from thy Throne of Justice to thy Throne of Crace whose mercy reigneth to pardon abounding sin do from the bottom of our hearts most humbly beseech thee to remit and forgive unto us all our sins and our offences and misdeeds that by the vertue of the precious blood of Jesus Christ thy innocent Lamb which he so abundantly shed upon the Cross to take away the sins of the world all our sins both original and actual may be so cleansed and washed from us that they may never be laid to our charge nor ever have power to rise up in judgment against us and we beseech thee good Father for Christ his death and passion sake that thou wilt not suffer to fall upon us that fearful curse and vengeance which thy Law hath threatned and our sins have justly deserved And for as much O Lord as we are taught by thy Word that no Idolaters Adulterers covetous men contentious persons drunkards gluttons and such inordinate livers shall inherit the Kingdom of God pour the grace of thy Holy Spirit into our hearts whereby we may see the filthiness of our sins and abhor them and may be more and more stirred up to live in newness of life and love of thy Majesty so we may daily increase in the obedience of thy words and in conscionable care of keeping thy Commandments And now O Lord I render unto thee most hearty thanks for that thou hast elected redeemed called justified us in good measure in this life and given us an assured hope that thou wilt glorifie us in thy heavenly Kingdom when this mortal life is ended Likewise we thank thee for our life health wealth liberty prosperity and peace especially O Lord for the continuance of thy holy Gospel amongst us and for sparing us so long and granting us so gracious a time of repentance Also we praise thee for all other thy mercies bestowed upon us more especially for preserving us this night past and from all dangers that might have befallen our souls or bodies and seeing thou hast now brought us safe to the beginning of this day we beseech thee protect and direct us in the same Bless and defend us in our going out and in our coming in this day and ever more shield us O Lord from the temptations of the Devil and grant us the custody of thy holy Angels to defend and direct us in all our waies and to this end we recommend our selves and all those that belong unto us and are abroad from us unto thy hands and almighty tuition Lord defend them from all evil prosper them with all graces and fill them with thy goodness Preserve us likewise this day from falling
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
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
Lord and Saviour Amen The Collect. Keep I beseech thee O Lord thy Church with thy perpetual mercy and because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall keep me and all thy people ever by thy help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for the Protection of the godly and a Meditation of the great Works of God in the destruction of the wicked I Will lift up mine eyes unto the Hills from whence cometh my help my help cometh even from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep The Lord himself is my defence upon my right hand The Lord shall preserve me from all evil yea it is even he that shall keep my soul. The Lord shall preserve my going out and my coming 〈◊〉 from this time forth and for ever more unto thee I lift up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens have mercy upon me for I am utterly despised yet my help standeth in the Name of the Lord which hath made Heaven and Earth They that put their trust in the Lord shall be even as the Mount Sion which may not be removed but standeth fast for ever Do well O Lord unto those that be good and true of heart and reform what is amiss in me for thy mercy sake O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint If thou Lord wilt be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it for there is mercy with thee therefore thou shalt be feared O Lord God thou art the highest for evermore thy works are glorious and thy thoughts are very deep make my heart and tongue loud instruments of thy praises that I may tell of thy mercy in the morning and of thy truth in the night season that I may rejoyce in giving thee thanks for the operations of thy hand all the daies and nights of my whole life Let thy merciful kindness descend evermore upon the righteous that they may flourish like a Palm Tree being continually watered with the dew of temporal and spiritual blessings and may bring forth fruit of a holy conversation and grant that thy servant being planted in the house of God and firmly fixt in the blessed communion of Saints may flourish in the Courts of thy house and in thy Ecclesiastical Temple to all Eternity O let not my portion be amongst the ungodly and unrighteous Make me not to communicate in their wickedness so much as by consent or approbation that I may never perish and be destroyed in the furiousness of thine anger which thou treasurest up against the day of vengeance and righteous Judgment even the day of the appearing of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The Collect. ALmighty and merciful God of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do give unto thee all true and laudable service grant I beseech thee that I may faithfully serve thee in this life that I fail not faithfully to attain thy heavenly promise through the merits of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen A Prayer that God would preserve his Church against the storm and flood of Persecution I Looked for the Lord my soul doth wait for him in his Word is my trust therefore keep me O Lord and thy whole Church from the hands of the ungodly Preserve me from the wicked men which are purposed to overthrow my going sure I am that the Lord will avenge the poor and innocent and maintain the cause of the helpless Lord I call upon thee haste thee to help me and consider my voice when I cry unto thee Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense and the lifting up of my hands be as an evening Sacrifice Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keep the door of my lips O let me hear thy loving kindness in the morning for in thee is my trust Shew me the way that I should walk in for I lift my soul unto thee Deliver me O Lord from the evil man and preserve me from the wicked man that seeketh to overthrow my going O Lord God Judge of all the World to whom vengeance belongeth and execution of Righteous Judgment have mercy upon us Chasten us with thy gentleness and fatherly correction when we sin against thee Teach us thy Law Be our refuge and confidence in trouble and give patience in time of adversity that in the multitude of sorrows thy comforts may refresh us thy mercies may relieve us thy grace may pardon and confirm us that our feet slip not and our souls be not put to silence have pity upon all distressed and miserable people Do justice upon all that murther the Widow that put the fatherless to death that grind the face of the poor Fail not thy people O Lord and forsake not thine inheritance but destroy the devises of all them that imagine evil as a Law and are confederate against the Righteous to condemn the innocent to discountenance Religion to disadvantage thy worship and service that in the day of eternal vengeance when thou shalt reward the proud after their deserving and the pit be digged by the ungodly we may have the lot of thine inheritance and raign in the fellowship of Saints who give honour and praise to thee O Lord God Almighty world without end Amen The Collect. Keep I beseech thee O Lord thy Church with thy perpetual mercy and because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable for our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Invitation to the Worship of God and a Prayer for Obedience to his Will O Great God the Lord our Maker who art a King above all Gods give me the graces of humility and holy Religion that I may worthily praise and worship thy glories and perfections infinitely I am the Sheep of thy Pasture let thy mercies lead me and feed me and refresh my soul with the Divine nutriment of thy Word and Sacraments I am the sheep of thy hands do thou guide me that I may never go astray or if I do bring me home into the Sheepfold of the great Shepherd that I hearing his voice may not harden my heart neither tempting thy mercies nor provoking thy wrath but my heart being preserved from errors and my waies from obliquity and crookedness I may at last enter into thy eternal rest through the merits and guidance of my great Shepherd Jesus Christ my Mediatour and Redeemer Amen The Collect. O Lord I beseech thee let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church and because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour preserve it ever more by thy help and goodness through Jesus Christ. Amen Adoration and magnifying the Glories of God O Lord God in whose Sanctuary is power and honour before whose
soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a barren and dry ground I remember thy loving kindness of old time I can but wish at least to see thy power and thy glory as I have known thee in thy Sanctuary There is none in Heaven that I desire but thee nor on Earth besides thee My soul followeth hard after thee O when wilt thou come unto me O hide not thy face from thy servant lest I come to misery Hear me speedily for I am poor and needy Make haste unto me O my God thou art my helper and deliverer O Lord make no long tarrying I am come a great way from my friends and kindred and here is none to pity me O my God be not thou far from me Draw nigh unto my soul and redeem it I am poor and sorrowful let thy salvation set me up on high for thou who searchest the heart knowest that I set my heart only to seek thee I desire to leave all the world that I may find my happiness only in thee O heavenly Father with my whole heart I desire to do thy blessed will in all things yea thus far I acknowledge thou hast most gratefully conducted me Hitherto I have been highly favoured and wonderfully helped and preserved by thee and wilt thou now at last abandon me who desire at last to have abandoned all things else for thy sake Hast thou called me from mine own Country and from my Fathers house and now to be forsaken by thee O my God give me leave to plead for a soul that I thought was once dear unto thee Pity O pity an heart which thou hast made too great for all the world and cannot be satisfied with less than thee Canst thou see it die for want of one smile from thee yea canst thou let it die of love to thee for that hath brought me thus far to seek thee and wilt thou suffer it to die at thy feet canst thou endure to behold it in thine arms into which it now throws it self with all the force it hath shall it miscarry full of prayers and longings after thee shall it expire in cries and tears when it calls for mercy O where are thy bowels what is become of thine ancient loving kindness are they all forfeited by one offence against thee O my God I cannot think so hardly of thee I begin to live methinks because thou permittest these addresses to thee it inspires me with some hopes to find these holy breathings in me it rejoyces me much that I feel thee drawing my very heart after thee O take it I beseech thee take it quite away from me unto thy self shape it after thine own heart make it such as thou canst embrace it create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit and all this for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Ejaculations to be used at the Lord's Supper LOrd I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou preserver of men Here recollect some of thy greatest sins If thou Lord shouldest be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it but with the Lord there is mercy and with him there is plentious redemption Behold O Lord thy Beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased Hearken to the cry of his blood which speaketh better things than that of Abel by his Agony and bloody Sweat by his Cross and Passion good Lord deliver us O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world grant us thy peace O Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon me O Lord for thy mercy sake Amen Devotions for the Help and assistance of all Christian People in all occasions and necessities A Prayer against wandring Thoughts to be said at the beginning of our Devotions ALmighty God who hast commanded us to pray unto thee without ceasing and hast added many glorious promises for our encouragement let thy holy Spirit teach me how to pray Give me just apprehension of my want zeal of thy glory great resentments of thy mercies love of all spiritual employments that are pleasing unto thee and do thou help mine infirmities that the Devil may not abuse my fancy with illusions nor distract my mind with cares nor alienate my thoughts with impertinencies but give me a perfect mind great devotion a heart fixed upon thy Divine Beauties and an actual intention and perseverance in prayer that I may glorifie thy Name do unto thee true and laudable service and obtain relief for all my necessities hear me O King of Heaven when I call upon thee for thou hast promised mercy to them that pray in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen A Penitential Prayer a Form of Confession of sins to God to be said upon daies of publick or private Humiliation O Lord God of mercy and pardon give me a just remembrance and sad apprehension of my many and great sins Teach me to bewail them with as great indignation and bitterness as I have committed them with complacency and delight Let my prayers and my confession come unto thy presence and obtain a mercy for me and a pardon Let not thy Justice and thy severity so remember my sins as to forget thine own mercy and though I have committed that for which I have deserved to be condemned yet thou canst not lose that glorious Attribute whence flows comfort to us and hopes to be saved Spare me therefore O merciful God for to give pardon to a sinner that confesseth his sins and begs Remission it is not impossible to thy Power nor disproportionate to thy Justice nor unusual to thy Mercy and sweetest Clemency Blessed Jesu acknowledge in me whatsoever is thine and cleanse me from whatsoever is amiss Have pity on me now in the time of mercy and condemn me not when thou comest to judgment For what profit is there in my blood Thou delightest not in the death of a sinner but in his conversion there is joy in Heaven And when thou hast delivered me from my sins and saved my soul I shall praise and magnifie thy Name to all eternity mercy sweet Jesus mercy Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in Heaven c. I Am not worthy O Lord to look up to Heaven which is the Throne of thy Purity for my sins are more in number than the hairs of my head and my heart hath failed me Lord be merciful unto me a sinner I have not lived according to thy will but in the vanity of my own thoughts in idle sinful and impertinent language in foolish actions in blindness of heart in contempt of thy holy Word and Commandments I
of thy blood to perish O Spirit of grace I have by my horrid impieties done despight unto thee yet O blessed Comforter though I have offended thee and often grieved thy Holy Spirit be thou pleased to succour and relieve me and say unto my soul I am thy salvation Mine eyes look unto thee O Lord in thee is my trust O cast not out my soul. O Lord in thee have I trusted let me never be confounded O blessed Lord who scourgest every Son whom thou receivest let me not be weary of thy correction but give me such a perfect submission to thee the Father of spirits that this chastisement may be for my profit that I may thereby be partaker of thy holiness O thou Captain of my salvation who wert made perfect by sufferings sanctifie to me all the pains of body all the terrours of mind which thou shalt permit to fall upon me Lord my sins have deserved eternal torments make me cheerfully and thankfully to bear my present pains chasten me as thou pleasest here that I may not be condemned with the world Lord the waters are come in even unto my soul O let thy Spirit move upon the waters and make them like the Pool of Bethesda that they may cure whatsoever spiritual disease thou discernest in me O Christ who first sufferedst many and grievous things and then enteredst into thy grave make me so to suffer with thee that I may also be glorified with thee O dear Jesus who humblest thy self to the death of the Cross for me let that death of thine sweeten the bitterness of mine When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers I believe that thou shalt come to be my Judge I pray thee therefore help thy servant whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood make me to be numbred with Saints in glory everlasting Thou art the Resurrection and the Life he that believeth in thee though he were dead yet shall he live Lord I believe help thou my unbelief My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is far better Lord I groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with that house from Heaven I desire to put off this Tabernacle O be pleased to receive me into everlasting habitations bring my soul out of prison that I may give thanks unto thy Name Lord I am here to wrestle not only with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness O take me from these tents of Kedar into the heavenly Jerusalem where Satan shall be utterly trodden under foot I cannot here attend one minute to thy service without distractions O take me up to stand before thy Throne where I shall serve thee day and night I am in heaviness through many tribulations O receive me into that place of rest where all tears shall be wiped away from my eyes where there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying nor pain I am here in the state of banishment and absence from the Lord. O take me where I shall for ever behold thy face and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of glory O blessed Jesu who hast loved me and washed me from my sins in thine own blood receive my soul. Into thine hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of Truth come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen A Prayer for the Morning O Most mighty and gracious God full of incomprehensible Power and Majesty whose glory the very Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain look down from Heaven upon me thy unworthy servant who here prostrate my self at the footstool of thy Throne of grace not as I am in my self but look upon me O Father through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ thy beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased for of my self I am not able to stand in thy presence or to speak with my unclean lips to so holy a God as thou art for thou knowest that in sin I was conceived and born and that I have lived ever since in iniquity so that I have broken all thy holy Laws and Commandments by sinful motions unclean thoughts evil words and wicked works omitting many of those duties of piety which thou requirest for thy service and committing many of those vices which thou under the penalty of thy displeasure hast forbidden here thou mayest confess to God thy secret sins which most burden thy conscience with the circumstances of the time place person and the manner how it is committed saying but more especially I do here with grief of heart confess unto thee for these my sins O Lord I stand guilty of thy curse with all the miseries of this life and the life to come namely everlasting torment in Hell fire when this wretched life is ended If thou shouldest deal with me according to my deserts yea Lord I confess thy goodness which endureth for ever is the cause I have not been long ago consumed and confounded but with thee O Lord there is mercy and plenteous redemption in the multitude therefore of thy mercies and confidence in Christs merits I intreat thy Divine Majesty that thou wouldest not enter into judgment with thy servant neither be extream to mark what I have hitherto done amiss for if thou dost then no flesh can be justified in thy sight nor any living stand in thy presence but be thou merciful unto me and wash away all the uncleanness of my sins in the merits of that precious blood which Jesus Christ hath shed for me and seeing that he hath born the burden of that curse which was due for my transgression O Lord deliver me from my sins and from all those Judgments which hang over my head as due unto me for them and separate them as far from thy presence as the East is from the West bury them in the burial of Christ that they may never rise up in this world to shame me nor in the world to come to condemn me And I beseech thee O Lord not only to wash away my sins with the blood of thy Immaculate Lamb but also 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 practice thereof so that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee the ever living God in Righteousness and true Holiness this day and give me grace that by the direction and assistance of thy Holy Spirit I may persevere to be thy faithful and unfeigned servant unto my lifes end and when this mortal life is ended I may be made partaker of immortality and everlasting
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
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
ingenious and free from sordid ends or servile flattery a modest gravity in my deportment affability a fair courteous demeanour towards all men austerity in condemning my own sins sweetness in fraternal correction and reprehending others mature judgment a chast body and a clean soul patience in suffering deliberation in my words and actions good counsels in all my purposes make me just in performing promises and in all my duties sedulous in my calling profitable to the Commonwealth a true Son of the Church and of a disposition meek and charitable towards all men Amen O Lord let thy grace be so present with me that though my body sleep yet my soul may for ever be watchful that I sleep not in sin or pretermit any opportunity of doing thee service Let the remembrance of thy goodness and glory be first and last with me and so unite my heart unto thee with habitual charity that all my actions and sayings may be directed to thy glory and every motion and inclination either of soul or body may in some capacity or other receive a blessing from thee and do thee service that whether I sleep or wake travel or rest eat or drink live or die I may alwaies feel the light of thy countenance shining so upon me that my labours may be easie my rest blessed my food sanctified and my whole life spent with so much sanctity and peace that scaping from the darkness of this world I may at last come to the land of everlasting rest in thy light to behold light and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and ever more Another Prayer for the Evening VIsit we beseech thee O Lord this habitation with thy mercy and us thy servants with thy salvation and repel far from us all the snares of the enemy Let thy holy Angels dwell here to keep us in peace and safety and thy blessing be upon us for ever through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Lord Jesus Christ the lively Image of thy Fathers mercy and glory the Saviour of all them that put their trust in thee we offer and present to thee all our strength and powers of our souls and body and whatsoever we are or have to be preserved governed and possest by thee preserve us from all vitious vain and proud cogitations unchast affections from all those things which thou hatest grant us thy holy charity that we may love thee above all the world that we may with all sincerity of intention and zealous affections seek thee alone and in thee alone take our rest inseparably joyning our selves unto thee who art worthy to be beloved and adored of all thy creatures with lowest prostration and highest affection now and for ever more Amen O Father of mercies and God of all comfort let thy blessing be upon us and upon all the members of thy holy Church all health and safety both of body and soul assist us against all our enemies visible and invisible now and for ever more send us a quiet night and a holy death in the actual communion of the Catholick Church and in thy charity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father which art in Heaven c. Now and in all dangers and afflictions of soul and body in the hour of death and in the day of Judgment save and deliver us O sweet Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Amen Short Prayers for several Occasions for the King O Lord our heavenly Father high and mighty King of Kings who in thy hands hast the heart of Kings and canst turn them as the Rivers of water send the light of thy countenance and abundance of blessings upon thy servant our Soveraign Lord King Charles make him as holy valiant and prosperous as King David wise and rich like Solomon zealous for the honour of thy Law and Temple as Josiah and give him all sorts of great assistances to enable him to serve thee to glorifie thy holy Name to protect thy Church to promote true Religion to overcome all his enemies to make glad all his people that he serving thee with all diligence and utmost of his endeavours his people may serve him with honour and obedience in thee and for thee according to thy blessed Word and Ordinance through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For the Queen O God of Heaven Father of all mercies have mercy upon our most gracious Queen unite her unto thee with the hands of faith and love preserve her to her lives end in thy favour and make her instrumental of glory to thy Name of refreshment to the Church of Joy to the all faithful people of this Kingdom and crown her with an eternal weight of glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For our Children O Father of Heaven God of all the creatures by whose providence mankind is increased I bless thy Name for bestowing on me that blessing of the righteous man the blessing of children Lord bless them with health with life and good understanding with fair opportunities and advantages of education society tutors and governours and above all with the graces of thy holy Spirit that they may live and be blessed under thy protection grow in grace and be in favour with God and man and at last make up the number of thine elect Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of a Wife for her Husband O My God who hast graciously been pleased to call me to the holy state of Matrimony bless me in it with the grace of chastity with loyalty obedience and complacency to my husband and bless him with long life with healthful body with an understanding soul with abundance of thy graces which may make him to be and continue thy servant a true Son of the Church and a supporter and guide to his Wife a blessing and a comfort to his Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Of a Husband for his Wife O Merciful God who art a Father to us thy Children espouse to thy holy Church a Saviour and a Redeemer to all mankind have mercy upon thy Handmaid my Wife endow her with all the ornaments of thy heavenly grace make her to be holy and devout as Hester loving and amiable as Rachel fruitful as Leah that being filled with grace and benediction here she may be partaker of thy glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen For safety in Childbirth O Blessed Jesu Son of the Eternal God who according to thy humility wert born of a holy Maid who conceived thee without sin and brought thee forth without pain have mercy upon me thy humble servant and as by thy blessing I have conceived so grant that by thy favourable assistance I may be safely delivered Lord grant me patience and strength and confidence in thee and send thy holy Angel to be my Guardian in the hour of my travel O shut not up my soul with sinners nor my life with them that go down to the
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