that but hast herein also fully exprest thy most holy and blessed Will whatsoever is necessary for the Salvation of Mankind to be known to bring him to life everlasting Give me grace most merciful Father that for so high a treasure left among us I may be thankful reverently embrace accept and esteem of the same as the most precious jewel in Earth and be therein confirmed most strongly that all things therein contained be most undoubtedly true not by any mortal Man but by the most Holy Spirit in Man penned and written to the comfort and behoof of Man And that I may most humbly lowly and with most high Reverence submit my self thereunto as becometh thy eternal Majesty and the Word proceeding from thy most blessed mouth that I may with reverence and obedience read hear and occupy my self in the same to the comfort of my soul and the increase of thy Glory Lighten my understanding most dear Father with thy most holy Spirit that I may learn clearly conceive and understand the things therein contained which no mortal man can conceive save those that have learned of thee and whom thou by thy holy Spirit dost lighten and instruct Guide me dear Father with thy most holy Spirit that having the true understanding of the mysteries therein contained I may be fully established and confirmed in the true knowledge of thee my dear Father and of thy beloved Son my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and in conscience throughly perswaded that I have my full perfect salvation and life everlasting in him and through his atonement made by his death and passion That I do not vainly abuse the knowledge of thy most sacred word to satisfie vain curiosity or brag of knowledge but only to the relieving of my hungry and wounded conscience to the loosing of my fettered soul and the appeasing of my sorrowful heart that I may to the end of my life walk in sincerity before thee my heavenly Father in the comforts of thy dear Son my Saviour upholden still by the merciful power of the holy Ghost to thine everlasting praise and glory for ever Amen A Confession to God the Father O Lord my God I confess unto Thee that my heart is unclean that I am of polluted lips wallowing in the dung and stinking in the rottenness of mine own sin so that I may justly tremble to appear before thy glorious presence much more to present unto thee thy pure praises out of my defiled mouth but who except thou O Lord can make me clean and what is pure which thou hast not purged Therefore O Father of life O Lord of Light with all the Forces of my Soul I do beseech thee to help me thy servant whom of thy mercy thou hast created cleanse my filthiness lighten my darkness inflame my coldness quicken my dulness awake my drowsiness revive my deadness repair the ruins of my Soul enlarge the frame of the understanding thereof cleanse it from all earthly corruption garnish it with thy heavenly graces that it may be conveniently both sit and furnished to receive Thee that thou maist make thine entry possess that which is thine own both by Creation and also by Redemption and that as thou art exalted above all Creatures so above all creatures I may honour thee and praise thee not with that affection wherewith my weakness is able either to do or to desire but with that perfection wherewith in duty I should and wherewith thy Saints and Angels indeed do for what worthy praise can I give unto thee by whose goodness I was created by whose mercy I was redeemed by whose power I am preserved and by whose grace I look to be glorified when I was not thou didst make me when I was lost and forlorn thou camest down and tookest mortality upon thee to redeem me these and many other benefits have I received some in hand and some in hope although through my own sinful demeanour I have almost both let go my hold and lost my hope therefore O Lord I most humbly beseech thee save thy servant save one of thy Members though poor and feeble save I say a part of thy self be as great in pardoning those that are submitted unto thee as in punishing those that are rebellious pour upon my heart the sweet streams of thy mercies confirm my life settle my faith settle me in a right and upright course and continue me in the same even unto the end grant this O Father through thy dear Son Jesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever and ever Amen A Devout Prayer to Jesus Christ O Most sweet Saviour and merciful Redeemer Jesus Christ the Son of God who although thou art High yet art thou most humble and as thou art Omnipotent so art thou most meek and as thou art most Mighty so art thou most merciful to thee O Christ the giver of all Felicity the Father of Heaven hath given all Power both in Heaven and in Earth Thou art the true Pastor of our Souls thou art our Messias thou casteth off none that sue unto thee but as thou hast taken away the hand-writing that was against us and hast fastned it to the Cross so art thou ready to impart the merits of thy Passion to all such as write true repentance of their sins call upon thee faithfully wherefore my sweet Saviour I most faithfully unfeignedly acknowledge the benefits that thou hast bestow'd upon me stedfastly believe that thou being an immaculate Lamb in whose mouth was never found guile didst suffer most cruel torments at the hands of sinners for the love of us most wretched sinners for the which cause I most heartily beseech thee and most humbly pray thee to accept me into the number of them whom thou wilt receive to mercy and favour and although I of my self be most unworthy thereof yet thy merits can make me worthy to them I fly craving that I may be so armed and defended by them that I may subdue the World the Flesh the Devil even as thou hast gloriously conquered Sin Death and Hell Thou seest O my Saviour how I am daily and hourly beset with these three enemies and so hardly besieged of them that without thy help I can by no means escape but that I must needs be a prey unto one of them strengthen me therefore O Lord that neither the one with carnal Lust neither the other with delectable pleasures nor Satan with all his craft and subtil devices get the dominion over me thou hast bought me thou hast paid for me save keep and defend me be always ready at the voice of my crying pour into me thy grace patiently to abide thy divine pleasure in all things make me both at this present and all the days of my life to have in my mind and profoundly to root in my heart the mysteries of thy painful passion and so to be filled with remembrance thereof
shalt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption Thou shalt shew me the paths of life in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore O hold thou up my goings in thy paths that my foot-steps slip not So shall he hear me out of his holy Temple and my complaint shall come before him it shall enter even into his ears He shall send down from the height to fetch me and shall take me out of many waters Thou shalt also light my candle the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be light The Lord liveth and blessed be my strong helper and blessed be the God of my Salvation Glory be to the Father c. A Confession to God O Lord my God and everlasting Father I do acknowledge and confess before thy High and Glorious Majesty that I was bred and born in sin and corruption and that since my birth I have not ceased nor do cease daily to transgress thy holy commandments in respect whereof I cannot escape ruine and destruction according to thy rightful justice yet notwithstanding forasmuch as I am sorry that I have offended thee my Lord and God and do condemn both my self and my sin receive me to mercy and as it hath pleased thee to love us even when we were thine enemies and for assurance thereof to give unto us thine only and well-beloved Son to be a Mediator and Advocate between thee and us promising us to obtain whatsoever we shall ask of thee in his Name vouchsafe O most loving God and dear Father to pardon and forgive me in his Name and for his sake and not only to cleanse my heart from all vanity and uncleanness but also to govern and guide me by thy holy Spirit in all my ways that I may live according to thy holy heavenly Will all the days of my life to the glory of thy Name through the same thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be praise and glory for ever Amen A Prayer against the temptations and malice of Satan O Heavenly Father and eternal God unto thee do we cry Protect and strengthen us O Lord against the temptations of Satan which is the sworn and extream enemy to our Salvation a slanderer and our accuser who rageth and rangeth in a deadly hatred against thy Flock and by all means seeketh the destruction of all mankind divers and sundry ways laying snares to intrap us and our Souls preying for any occasion whereby he may allure us unto shameful offending for as many corporal affections as be in man so many occasions doth he take to tempt us and thereby to wound us He layeth snares to take us in wealth in poverty in pleasure and in the inticements of the flesh in anguish of mind in ambition and desire of glory in the wearisomness of our calling and inferiour condition in cares both for the back and the belly and in lust of revenge night and day whether we sleep or wake he is always about to devour us that our senses may be corrupted from the simplicity that we owe unto Christ even as the Serpent deceived Eve by his subtilty Therefore O thou Son of God which art the blessed seed bruising the head of the Serpent bring and bruise this mine enemy Satan under thy feet Thou my chief Champion which of thine own accord enteredst into temptation that so thou mightest as it were hand to hand wrestle with this mine enemy and purchase a triumph for me by thy victory hold him fast bound that he exercise not his cruelty upon me as he desireth but make me partaker of thy victory that even as thou hast in thy body overcome Satan so utterly suppress him in me thy unworthy servant And I beseech thee O Lord to give unto me thy whole Armour that I may like a right good Souldier resist in the evil day and vanquish this my strong enemy gird me with the truth put upon me the breast-plate of Righteousness and let me be shod and prepared for the Gospel of peace and above all things give me the shield of Faith which can extinguish all the fiery darts of wicked spirits bestow upon me the Helmet of salvation with the sword of the Spirit and the Word of God that through thee I may encounter valiantly and gloriously attain the Victory And Holy Spirit Almighty GOD comfort thou and strengthen my mind against so divers conflicts of Satan which beset me by many snares and especially then most of all when I seek deliverance by other means than by thy word revealed and grant that leaving thy Word delivered unto me I look not after new revelations or violent ravishings but may resist the Devil by thy word and power during my whole life O dear Father to whom it is more easie to do all things than for me to think any good thing Do thou but speak a word and thy deadly sick servant my soul shalâ— be made whole Help O Lord for thâ— great mercies sake for thy truth sake and for thy dear Son Jesus Christs sake and let thy strength suffice against my weakness and thy holy Spirit against my sinful Flesh and old man Thou art faithful O Father who hast promised that I shall not be tempted further than thou wilt make me a ble to bear Give now therefore thy gracâ— and strength unto thy servant that I maâ— with a strong faith in thine infallible Trutâ— and promised mercy vanquish and subdâ—â—â— whatsoever rebelleth against thy most blessed will preserve and keep holy my soul and body and let them not be defiled and made a dungeon of wicked Spirits through delectation in sin Shall now alas the Devil the World or the Flesh pluck from thee that thing that presently cryeth to thee with assured trust in thy promised help Nay Father but grant that I may by thy mighty Power turn all their crafts deceits and raging assaults unto the increase of my faith and that by experience of thy fatherly assistance in this my present temptation I may with assured hope and trust in thy ready help and comfort overcome my sad enemies hereafter in like assaults and praise thy holy Name for the Victory through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all power praise and glory for ever World without end Amen A Prayer for grace to do the will of GOD. O Most bountiful Father extend thy favour towards me and let it be with me and labour with me unto the end and give me thy grace to wish to covet such things as may be grateful to thee and acceptable in thy sight let thy will be mine and let me always follow thine and agree therewith Grant that I may like that which thou dost and never like or mislike any thing but that which thou dost like or mislike Assist me O Lord to crucifie my self to all worldly things set me free from wicked affections of the
this frail body of mine must tend it self the Image of that which is to the faithful the end of pain and the begining of pleasure the end of misery and the beginning of bliss but to the secure and careless the end of their pleasures and beginning of eternal pains And vouchsafe good LORD that I may have an earnest desire of serving thee and leading my life according unto thy will that whensoever it shall please thee to call me out of this life I be not through fear stricken with doubt of condemnation but even at the last gasp through unfeigned Faith in Jesus Christ may take and have taste of eternal Salvation that death be not bitter or terrible unto me but rather when it cometh I with joy receive the same in the Name of thy Son JESUS Christ Bless me good Lord from the second death the everlasting destruction both of body and soul and justifie me in the death of thy Son that my Name may be registred in the Book of Life O Lord comfort my guilty conscience with the everlasting light of thy bountiful savour and let me have place among thy Saints in thy Heavenly Kingdom LORD for thy mercies sake after this my bodily death give me the fruition of thy presence in the rich Palace of endless bliss to whose merciful Protection I commend with all humility and reverence my soul and body Lord Jesus preserve me Lord Jesus comfort me Lord Jesus pray for me for only into thy hands that hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth I commend my soul both now and for ever Amen A Prayer for a happy departure out of this life O Most gracious and eternal GOD thy years endure throughout all generations and thy days are without end or beginning but the days of Man are determined which he cannot overpass and the number of his Months are foreknown unto thee wherefore instruct me O LORD that being always mindful of my mortality I never promise unto my self many years nor long life in this pilgrimage of mine so shall I not live securely deferring my conversion to thee from day to day nor yet put confidence in this frail and uncertain life as that rich man spoken of in the Gospel but give me grace that in thy fear I may dayly prepare my self to depart out of this prison for nothing is more certain than death though nothing more uncertain than the hour thereof therefore I beseech thee O Lord to let me have always before mine eyes an image and mediation of my departure the better to know the fleeting and vanity of this srail and cumbersome life that I may live to thee my God being sound in faith and strong in hope looking with cheerfulness for the day of my departure and the joyful appearing of thy Son Jesus Christ my Redeemer and make me I beseech thee O LORD a faithful and wise servant looking for the coming of my Lord for that I know not when he will come lest by a sudden hour of death being overtook I being found unready but contrariwise by prudent watching in true conversion and repentance I may covet to be dissolved and to be with CHRIST my Redeemer and grant also O LORD that at the point of death having escaped all hardness and temptations I may triumph like a Conquereor and behold the power and presence of thy holy Spirit and let my last word be that which thy Son did utter upon the Altar of the Cross saying Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and when my speech is taken from me hear O God the groanings of my heart and the hour of death being come let thy servant depart in peace through JESUS Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all praise and glory for ever and ever Amen A Petition to GOD the Father O Omnipotent GOD and Father I have asked here at this time many things of thee and yet not deserved any I confess alas that not only those things which I require be not due unto me but in stead of them most grievous punishments yet O LORD lay not my sins to my charge for if thou shouldest I were not able to abide or stand in thy sight but O LORD I most humbly beseech thee that thou wilt forgive me all that is past and grant that I may never hereafter offend in the same again and vouchsafe I beseech thee of thy goodness O Lord to direct sanctifie and keep my heart and body my senses and doings my talk and communication in thy most holy Laws and Commandments and that thy holy Angel may be with me to direct my feet unto the way of peace truth and health that I may be whole safe and free in thee and by thee both here and in the world to come O Christ hear me and save me which livest and reignest with the Father and the holy Spirit God in perfect unity to whom be praise for ever world without end Amen An Evening Prayer O Heavenly Father I with all humility and reverence of heart and mind beseech thee this night which thou hast ordained for man to rest in that thou wilt guard and protect me with thy good guiding Spirit and albeit my sinful flesh shall slumber and sleep yet grant that my soul may continually keep watch and ward let not the enemy find me slumbering and sleeping as careless in the cradle of sinful security lest that whilst I am unarmed that is naked and destitute of thy help and favour he enter in and break up the house of my sinful body and make such havock and spoil and that my infected leprous soul deformed by means of mine iniquity and wounded with the dangerous darts of transgression be thrown with the body of sin unto the lake of destruction make me still O good Lord to consider that the bed is the plain pattern of the grave make me to understand that when I am laid of my self without thy Heavenly Providence I cannot be able to rise again make me also to acknowledge that sleep is the very Figure of death to whose stroke at thy appointed pleasure I must submit my self endue me with love and charity to all men let my lamp O Lord be garnished with oyl that whensoever thy messenger death shall draw nigh and knock at the gate of my body I may at his summons in the day of the Resurrection of the dead be ready to attend on thee my Bride with my burning lamp that is with a stedfast faith when as by Faith I shall be cloathed with a new for my mortal body shall be then covered with immortality and the corruption of my sinful and rebellious flesh then changed to incorruption and perfect purity thy righteousness shall be mine thy merits shall make me perfect and holy by vertue whereof hell shall lose his victory death shall lose his sting my faith and hope shall have its end and reward and I with thy Saints continually dwell in love and
charity with thee and my Heavenly Bridegroom Christ Jesus to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be ascribed all power and glory for ever and ever Amen Prayers for Thursday Morning O Lord my God and Heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my Heart open my Lips and give me thy Holy Spirit c. A Psalm SAve me O GOD for thy Names sake and avenge me in thy strength Hear my Prayer O God and hearken to the words of my mouth An offering of a free heart will I give thee and praise thy Name O Lord because it is so comfortable I will praise God because of his Word I have put my trust in God and will not fear what flesh can do unto me In Gods word will I rejoyce in the Lords word will I comfort me For thou hast delivered my soul from death and my feet from falling that I might walk before thee in the light of the Living Therefore will I call unto the most High God even unto the God that shall perform the cause which I have in hand He shall send from Heaven and save me from the reproof of him that would eat me up He verily is my strength and my Salvation he is my defence so that I shall not greatly fall For the greatness of his mercy reacheth to the Heavens and his truth unto the Clouds Wherefore my soul thirsteth for him my flesh also longeth after him in a dry and barren land where no water is Thus have I looked for thee in holiness that I might behold thy power and glory For thy loving kindness is better than the life it self my lips shall praise thee My soul shall be satisfied even as it were with marrow and fatness when my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips Because thou hast been mine helper therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce Glory be c. A Morning Prayer O Heavenly Father which like a diligent Watchman attendest always upon thy children whether they wake or sleep and mightily defendest them not only from Satan that old enemy of mankind but also from all other their adversaries so that through thy Godly power they be harmless preserved I most humbly thank thee that it hath pleased thy goodness so to take care of me thy unprofitable servant this night past that thou hast both safely kept me from all mine enemies and hast given me sweet sleep unto the comfort of my body I most entirely beseech thee merciful Father to shew the like goodness towards me this day in preâ—erving my body and Soul that mine enemies may have no power over me and that so likewise I may neither breath â—peak or do any thing that may be displeaâ—ing to thy Fatherly goodness dangerous â—o my soul or hurtful to my neighbour â—ut that all my enterprises may be agreeâ—ble to thy most blessed will which is always good and godly doing that that may always advance thy glory and â—nswer to my vocation that whensoâ—ver Thou shalt call me from this vale of misery I may be found the child not of darkness but of light and so for ever to reign with thee in glory who art the true and everlasting Light to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all power and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for true sorrow of heart for sin O Most merciful God and dear Father vouchsafe I beseech thee to look down with thy fatherly eyes of pity upon me most vile and wretched sinner which lye here prostrate in heart before the feet of thy bottomless mercy for I have sinned against the throne of thy glory and before thee O Father yet nevertheless forasmuch as thou art the God of all comfort and again desirest not the death of a sinner make me I pray thee by infusing thy precious oyl of comfort into my wounds that I may joyfully run with the lost son into the lap of thy pity for loâ— thou art my hope and trust in whom 〈◊〉 repose my self having in thee full confidence in faith yea and I most vile wretch do here accuse my self unto thee O Father in that I have so sore and grievously offended thy Almighty goodness in the committing of so many grievous and manifold offences I have not kept the least of thy most holy Commandments like as thy righteousness may require the same of me but in what manner soever I have offended against thy eternal Majesty whether it hath been by day or by night secretly or openly O merciful GOD I am sorry for it even from the bottom of my heart yea my soul mourneth that I am not a thousand times more sorry than I am and here in token of true repentance I do knock and strike my heart and say in bitterness of my heart and soul Lord GOD the Father have mercy Lord GOD the Son have mercy Lord GOD the Holy Ghost have mercy and spare me of thy infinite goodness now and for ever and let my heart have part of thy abundant grace so as I may change my sinful life and put off the old man with all concupiscence and that I may die unto the world and the world to me give my soul grace O my GOD to desire in thee only to rejoyce and repose my self and that I may utterly renounce and forsake the vain assistance of this World so that thou mayst find me ready with the good servant in the midnight of death which shall suddenly steal upon me like a thief ere I be aware wherefore be thou to me at that time O Lord a tower of strength a place of refuge and a defensible GOD namely against the face of the Devil who then will be ready to devour me and against desperation which then will be ready to grieve me let then thy comfort cleave fast to me thy mercy keep me and thy grace guide me fetch then again Lord GOD the Father that which thy puissant might hath shapen fetch then again Lord GOD the Son that which thou hast so wisely governed and bought with thy precious Blood take again thou Lord GOD the Holy Ghost that which thou hast kept and preserved so lovingly in this region of sin and vale of misery three persons and one GOD to whom be all glory and power for ever Amen A Prayer for Wisdom O Almighty and everlasting GOD it is thy gift that babes and men of base degree have the knowledge and understanding of thy will and men of profound learning deep study and worldly appearance often want the same It is thou which expellest darkness and givest light which takest away ignorance and plantest knowledge and wisdom denying the same to none that unfeignedly ask it at thy hands without the which nothing can be obtained which good is nor nothing avoided with the evil and that did Solomon very well consider who had a promise at thy hands that whatsoever he asked he should obtain vouchsafe therefore O Lord to send it
of thee joyntly both with trembling and trust settle the love of thee in me and the care of me in thee let my prayer come unto thee and thy mercy unto me let the joy of thy happiness remain with me and the compassion of my miseries with thee let my heart love thee let my flesh fear thee and let my whole substance in this world joy wholly in thee that I may enjoy thee wholly in the world to come by thee O Christ who art my Saviour and Deliverer to whom belongeth all power and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer in heart to feel spiritual comforts O Lord GOD and most dear Father now I fully know the heart of man is not in his own power for thou hast taught me by thy dâ—minishing the Spirit of comfort in my heart that it is thou only which makest joyful the heart of man and which diminishest the same joy according to thy good pleasure and will therefore O dear Father I beseech thee to send me thy most blessed comfort and strength of Faith into my heart to fill the same with spiritual joy and that by the working of thy holy Spirit in me the comfortable promises of thy merciful Protection may be sealed in my heart and sink deep into my soul that I may be fully assured that thou art my strong rock and house of defence that thou dost keep me as the apple of thine eye and that thou wilt not lay more upon me than thou wilt give me strength to abide but that thou wilt assuredly at thy appointed time renew my heart and the whole power of my mind that I may fully glorifie thy Name Thy Holy Spirit O Lord in me which is the assurance of my Salvation doth continually send forth unspeakable sighs and longings for thy full and joyful presence I beseech thee therefore O dear Father for thy Son JESUS's sake hearken to my prayers and grant my requests make tender my hard and stony heart by thy holy Spirit that I may from the bottom of my heart acknowledge thee to be my most merciful God and Father and all things in thy holy Word to be most certain and true and reverently embrace the same and in my soul to take comfort and joy of the same that I may even to my lives end walk before thee in sincerity of heart being assured of my salvation through that one alone sacrifice for my sins made by thy dear Son Jesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever Amen A fruitful petition to GOD. O LORD GOD of infinite wisdom inspire my heart and direct my voice that I may not think nor utter any thing before thy Maiesty but that which thou knowest to be expedient for me to ask and glorious for thee to give Turn not my prayer Good Lord into perdition nor my suit into sin for thou art the God of my Fathers on whom I wholly depend save me for thy mercies sake O save me as I have always put my trust in thee and when through the perverseness and froward inclination of my nature I fall into any wickedness and sin leave me not good Lord unto them acquit me from the inordinate lust of the body let no desire of uncleanness take hold upon me and give me not over to an unshamefast and obstinate mind Lord here I stand vile wretch before the throne of thy dreadful presence hoping that I shall be heard not in the faintness of my faith but in the power of thy promises O weigh my weakness and grant my desires as thou knowest most meet for me then can I want nothing and my conscience shall be comforted with all spiritual consolation in Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be ascribed all power and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to be ingrafted into Christ O LORD it is mercy without merit that I am a branch of the Vine Jesus that I am the house and Temple of the Holy Ghost It is of Justice that thou hast appointed thy house to be a place of prayer and of duty therefore that we should pray unto thee For this O Lord I thank thee that thou hast made me thy child to lodge me and I acknowledge that of duty I am bound to serve thee but give me O Lord the grace of thy Spirit to conduct me in the way of thy will cleanse or create a new heart within me that I may be a fit lodging for thee and yield up the savoury sacrifice unto thee which thou requirest of every Christian I mean the sacrifice of prayer the sacrifice of the heart which savoureth sweetly unto thee And at this time in hope of the assistance of thy holy Spirit I desire thee that as thou hast of mercy covered me under thy wings of safety so thou wilt defend and keep me from all the storming rages of Satan who is wont not only by day but also and that especially by night to undermine man when his senses are fettered in bands of rest but I hope O good Lord that as I am then most unable and at all times else to withstand the buffets and assaults of Satan so thou wilt be most ready to succour me and partly because thereby thou shalt unlock the riches of thine infinite mercy and pity and partly because thou lovest every thing which thy hands have made For which and for all other thy blessings I yield thee all honour power and glory which is due only to thy blessed Majesty for ever world without end Amen A Prayer against evil imaginations O Lord cleanse my heart I do beseech thee from all impure and wicked cogitations and thoughts give me a clear conscience shame-fac'd eyes modest hands and a tongue to tell the truth and seeing there is nothing hid that shall not be discovered good Lord I beseech thee to search my thoughts and renew in me thy holy Spirit direct my feet in thy ways that walking after thee in the path of the righteous I may pass through this vail of misery bearing thy banner stoutly in my warfare and in the end obtain everlasting joy the promised hire of such as have born thy Cross and valiantly fought with the armour of faith against temptations and all evil vouchsafe O Lord to grant all these my supplications and petitions for thy dear Sons sake Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be ascribed all power and glory for ever Amen An Evening Prayer O Heavenly Father the giver of all good things and the protector of all those that love thee I yield thee most humble and hearty thanks not only for keeping and preserving me this day but all my life that neither my enemies have prevailed against me as they sought nor any other danger which in this world is incident unto mankind hath overcome me but hast like a loving Father and careful purveyor given and
shall this snake of conscience sting me to death What good Lord is the stream of thy mercy stopped are the rivers of thy grace dryed up dost thou not call me saying Come unto me Yea good Lord and therefore despair I will not it is not thy will that any sinner should perish and thou hast not only said but sworn it that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather his conversion and life Behold therefore dear Father I come unto thee being a grievous offender in hope of pardon in the Name of thy Son who by his own testimony came into this world to save sinners he was content to blot out that obligation which Satan had against me by the floud of his most precious blood which issued out of his glorious side In this pool he hath washed away the leprosie of sin were it never so desperate O Lord and gracious God I have wasted my days in vanity I have from time to time trodden under my feet the pearls of Christian profession even from the womb have I been a rebellious traitor to thy Majesty a friend to this world to godliness an enemy But now O Lord I cry unto thee forgive me forgive me Now I come unto thee therefore cover me with the wings of thy mercy that I perish not good Lord accept thy Sons merits for a satisfaction for my sins drown them in the stream of thy mercy and cast them behind thee for ever good Lord I beseech thee Oh sweet Lord look upon me with thy most precious and piteous eye lest that be destroyed which thou of thy great goodness hast made and Christ thy Son of inestimable love and infinite charity hath redeemed through his bitter passion This is the total sum unto thee of all my suit O Lord mercy mercy O Father of mercy mercy is the thing that I beg have mercy and pity upon me be thou my shepherd to defend me my Castle of defence to save me against the power of the Devil thou hast store of mercy for them that ask it Therefore O Lord for the wounds of thy dear Son have mercy upon me let not sin sting me to death but lay to my fore soul the salve of thy mercy grant this O dear Father of thy merciful compassion to whom be all glory for ever and for ever world without end Amen A fruitful Prayer to God the Father O Lord my God wherein is my hope fixed in this life or what is my greatest comfort of all things that are any where under the cope of heaven but only thou my Lord and God whose mercy is infinite when was it with me well if thou wert absent or ill if thou wert present doubtless I would rather chuse to be poor for thee than rich without thee and rather to be with thee a pilgrim on earth than without thee to possess Heaven where thou art there is joy and peace of conscience where thou art not there is woe and destruction thou alone art the thing I desire and there is none can assist me in my troubles but thou alone O God thou art my hope thou art my confidence thou art my comforter in all things most faithfully all men seek their own but thou desirest nought but my welfare and turnest all things for me to good therefore in thee my Lord and God I place all my confidence on thee I do lay all my calamities and troubles for without thee whatsoever I behold is as frail and transitory For neither can friends profit nor strong men help nor wise men counsel well nor learned books comfort nor riches save nor secret place hide unless thou be present to help strengthen comfort instruct and keep for whatsoever seems to belong to the attainment of peace and felicity without thee is nothing and bringeth indeed no felicity at all so that thou art the chiefest end and perfection of life and that in thee to trust above all things is the chiefest comfort of thy servant O my God and Father of mercy bless make my soul holy with celestial happiness that it may be thy sacred habitation and temple purged from all filthiness O Lord according to the greatness of thy mercy look upon me and hear the supplications of thy poor servant living far off a banished man in a savage country Protect and keep the soul of thy servant among so many dangers of this mortal life and bring me by the conduction of thy savour into the country of eternal glory through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all honour power and glory for ever and ever Amen Prayers for Friday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy Name for ever Dispose my heart open my lips and give c. A Psalm WIth my whole heart have I sought thee O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments 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 give me the comfort of thy help again and stablish me with thy free Spirit Stablish thy word in thy servant that I may fear thee and turn away mine eyes lest they behold vanity and quicken thou me in thy way So shall I always keep thy law yea for ever and ever Yea at midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort according to thy word unto thy servant And let thy loving mercies come unto me that I may live for thy law is my delight My soul hath longed for thy salvation and I have a good hope because of thy word O how sweet are thy words unto my throat yea sweeter than honey unto my mouth Through thy commandments I get understanding therefore I hate all wicked ways Order my steps in thy word so shall no wickedness have dominion over me O let my soul live and it shall praise thee and thy judgments shall help me I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost O seek thy servant that I do not forget thy commandments Glory be to the Father c. A Prayer for the suppressing of corrupt affections O My God and most loving Father I do acknowledge that I have most highly offended thy sacred Majesty by my gross and most filthy life and have provoked thee to anger by my abominable wickedness wherefore O Lord be merciful unto me and pardon me this great wickedness look not upon me good Father with the eyes of Justice neither do thou draw against me the sword of Judgment for then how shall I that am but dust and ashes stand in thy sight when thy wrathful indignation cometh forth as a whirlwind and thy heavy displeasure as a mighty tempest seeing the earth trembleth the depths are discovered and the very Heavens are shaken when thou art angry Exercise not therefore good Lord thy fury against me that am but as chaff before
as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Eph. 5. 1 2. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Children and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour Eph. 5. Ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord. See then ye walk circumspectly redeeming time because the daies are evill Jude 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen Prayers for the Sick REmember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our Forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sins but spare us good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood and be not angry with us for ever Spare us good Lord. O Lord I beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy servant that I which am rightly punished for my offences may by thy goodness be mercifully delivered for the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth world without end Amen ALmighty and everlasting God in whose hand consists the life of all mankind which correctest those whom thou receivest mercifully I beseech thee to hear my complaint and despise not the prayer that I make now in the time of my trouble in the vexation of my spirit and the anguish of my soul I remember thee and cry unto thee for mercy O thou that hast created and made me of nothing and redeemed me from the bondage of sin death and everlasting destruction by the most precious blood of Jesus Christ shed upon the Cross for the ransom of all my sins Have mercy upon me O Lord have mercy upon me bow down thine ear unto my cry and cast me not away in thine anger though for my wickedness I have deserved thy wrath and heavy displeasure against me And now for my transgressions in thy indignation thou hast stricken me with grievous sickness and I begin to fall as leaves beaten with a vehement wind yet are thy punishments less than my deservings But of thy mercy and goodness O Lord correct me not to death but to amendment of life for thine own sake for thy holy Names sake for Christ Jesus sake be merciful unto my sin for it is very great and there is no rest in my bones by reason of my transgression Spare thy Servant O God which confesseth his sins pour thy sanctifying Grace into my heart and work thereby true and immediate repentance and restore me again to thy favour according to thy gracious promise in Jesus Christ Let thy merciful providence so govern all this sickness that I never fall into utter dakness ignorance of thee or inconsideration of my self let the faintness of my spirit and the condemnation of my self be overcome with thy irresistable light thou God of all consolation grant that I may be mindful of the great account that I have to make at the day of Judgment and that I may bear in mind the image of that which is to be faithful the end of misery and the beginning of all happiness but to the secure and careless the beginning of eternal pain Strengthen my faith accept my repentant tears speak peace to my soul and conscience and say thou art my salvation My grace is sufficient for thee then shall my heart rejoyce and my soul shall be right glad desiring to be dissolved and be at peace that after this my bodily death I may enjoy the eternal fruition of thy heavenly presence Let me not O Father in this my trial be stricken with fear of condemnation or distrust thy promises but in sure confidence of heart apply to my self the remission of my sins that at the last gasp by faith in Jesus Christ I may have a taste of eternal salvation let not death if thou please to send it be terrible or bitter unto me but when it cometh I may with joy receive the same and having escaped the hardness of temptation and the peril of Satan I may triumph like a Conqueror and behold the power and presence of thy holy spirit let my last words be those which thy Son did utter upon the Cross saying Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and when my speech is taken from me hear the groanings of my heart and the desire of my soul that thy servant may depart in peace through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom be all Praise Power Might Majesty and Dominion now and for ever Amen The Sick saith Job 14. 1. MAn that is born of a Woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery he cometh up and is cut down like a flower He fleeth as it were a shadow and never continueth in one state In midst of life we are dying of whom shall we seek for succour and comfort but of thee O Lord God our Maker A Psalm 1. IN thee O Lord have I trusted let me never be confounded but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness incline thine ear to me and save me 2. O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure 3. Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord â—eal me for my bones are vexed 4. Turn thee O Lord and deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake for in death no man remembreth thee and who shall give thee thanks in the pit 5. Consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death shew me thy marvellous loving kindness thou art the Saviour of them that put their trust in thee 6. Thou hast been my succour leave me not neither forsake me O God of my salvation look upon my affliction and pain and forgive all my sins 7. O remember not my old sins but have mercy upon me and that soon for I am come to great misery 8. Preserve thou my soul therefore O my God and save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee 9. O comfort the soul of thy servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul 10. O turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant and help the son of thy handmaid 11. Shew some good token upon me for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast holpen me and comforted me 12. O satisfie me with thy mercy and that soon so shall I rejoyce and be glad all the days of my life 13. I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joynt my heart is like wax it melteth in the midst of my bowels 14. Help me O God of my salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sin for
even in the truth of thy Salvation Psal 69. 14. Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse me from my secret faults Psal 19. Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences Psal 51. Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10. 3. Hearty Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is an humble joyful acknowledgment and expression of our thanks unto Almighty God for any mercy or blessing received or promised and for preservation and deliverance from any calamity danger or distress with denial of our own merits of the least of these and a magnifying of the greatness and goodness of GOD unto us in and through Jesus Christ Give thanks unto the Lord and call upon his Name Psal 105. Whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord JESUS giving thanks to God the Father and by him Col. 3. 17. My mouth shall daily speak of thy Righteousness and Salvation for I know no end thereof Psal 71. 13. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders he doth for the children of men that they would offer unto him the Sacrifice of thanksgiving Psal 107. O Lord thou art my God I will exalt thee I will praise thy Name for thou hast done wonderful things Isa 25. 1. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits he hath done unto me I will take the cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the LORD Psal 116. MOST Comfortable Prayers FOR Sunday Morning O Lord my God and heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy Holy Spirit to a true acknowledgment of all my sins that my prayers may be heard of thee in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Psalm HEar me when I call O God of my Righteousness for thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble Have mercy upon me and hearken unto my Prayer My voice shalt thou hear betimes 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 Therefore O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed Turn thee O Lord and deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake For in death no man remembreth thee and who will give thee thanks in the pit Wherefore away from me all ye thâ—â— work vanity for the Lord hath heard thâ— voice of my complaint The Lord hath heard my petition the Lord will receive my prayer For why my righteous God tryeth tâ—â— very heart and reins And my help cometh of God which preserveth them that are true of heart Therefore will I give thanks unto theâ— O Lord with my whole heart and I wâ—â—â— speak of all thy marvellous works I will be glad and rejoyce in thee yâ—â— my Songs and praise will I make of thâ—â— O thou most Highest For God is a Righteous Judge strong and patient and God is provoked every day If a man will not turn he hath bent his Bow and will whet his Sword and make it ready Morning Prayer MOst mighty and gracious God which hast brought me out of the Nights darkness into the light of thy Truth to see the light of thy Love that I may rejoyce in the day of my visitation and Salvation whereby the day spring from on high hath visited me and in the day of Salvation thou wilt succour me This day make me hear thy voice and not harden my heart through unbelief or deceitfulness of sin but that by Faith I may enter into thy promised rest give grace unto me O Lord and to all thy people to walk warily diligently and dutifully in my vocation to do such good works wherewithal thou mayest be well pleased and that walking in thy ways I may work out my salvation with fear and trembling and that all my meditations thoughts words and works may tend to the edifying of my Christian Brethren the discharge of my duty the consolation of my conscience and the glorifying of thy most holy Name which art my God my guide my saviour and defender to whom be all Praise and Glory Power Might Dominion and Majesty now and for ever Amen Morning Prayer I Yield thee humble and hearty thanks O heavenly Father in thy Son Jesus Christ for thy innumerable benefits poured upon my Soul and Body and that thou hast kept me this night past from many evils both Spiritual and Corporal and of thy great mercy dost offer and give unto me time and space to repent and amend my life so as I might live henceforth not as I will but as thou wilt and as my body doth draw continually nearer and nearer to the end the grave I mean so my soul might approach unto his end that is Heaven and not Hell for in one state we stand not still but either we are nearer the happy state of Life or else the unhappy condition of Death Eternal Wherefore O my dear Father I beseech thee to be merciful unto me and as of thy goodness thou givest me time to repent so of the same thy goodness in Christ I humbly beseech thee to give me thy gracious gift of true holy perfect and perpetual repentance that I may more and more lament my former sinful life trusting unseignedly in the rich mercies of thee my God through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ for the pardon of all my sins And grant O Lord I beseech thee that I may unseignedly purpose and effectually labour to amend my life this day and so long as I have to live to the praise of thy Name and the good example of others And forasmuch as thou knowest my weakness my ignorance and great untowardness to carry any cross or affliction that Thou wilt of thy merciful goodness so temper and order all things towards me this day and ever that I be never tempted or proved further than I shall be able to bear but so to help me in the same as may be most for thy Glory and my comfort And although O God thy Goodness Mercy and Truth to Mankind in all thy Works doth abundantly appear yet herein chiefly Thou declarest thy self to be most favourable merciful and gracious that not suffering us to walk in darkness ignorance and blindness Thou hast given us thy most holy and blessed Word to be a lanthorn to our feet to lighten our steps in the path-way of everlasting Life lest we should walk in the shadow of death In which thy most blessed and sacred Word thou hast finally and perfectly set forth unto mankind so much of thy glorious Majesty as was expedient for us to know and not only
that sin may no more prevail with me and that Satan mine old enemy may well perceive that he hath neither part nor fellowship in me but that I am both Body and Soul altogether thine to whom O my sweet Saviour with the Father and the Holy Ghost be ascribed all power glory and honour for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to the Holy Ghost O Holy Spirit worthy of all honour which makest up the Almighty Trinity which proceedest from the Father and the Son and art equal to either of them in glory but differing from them but only in property of person which of thy goodness forgivest the sins of them that amend which with thy holy breath cleansest mens minds comforting them when they be in sorrow cheering them up with pure gladness when they be in heaviness leading them into all truth when they be out of the way kindling in them the fire of charity when they be a cold knitting them together with the glue of peace when they are at variance and garnish them with sundry gifts which profess the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ by whose working all things live which live indeed whose delight is to dwell in the hearts of the simple which thou hast vouchsafed to consecrate for Temples to thy self wherefore I do beseech thee O dear Father to maintain those thy gifts in me and to increase them daily more and more that by thy Governance the lusts of the flesh may dye in me and the desire of the Heavenly Life may quicken and increase Let me so pass I beseech thee O my God through the misty desart of this world thy light go before me as I may never be desiled with Satans vices nor be intangled with any Errors disagreeing from thy Truth which the true Catholick Church hath delivered unto us by the instinct of thee which livest and raignest with the Father and the Son everlasting to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen A fruitful Prayer to God O My dear Lord and God what is this World it is evil it is a place of vain pleasure a cage of iniquity or rather lump of misery and what am I Lord what am I but a friend of this present evil World and an enemy to thee what am I but a child of wrath and son of darkness so glued to sin and lymed with iniquity that my body is a body of sin what then O Lord shall I do shall the mountain of sin oppress me or the world with the baits of vanity so choak me that I shall never like an Eagle fly to the carkass nor be able to cry for help to thee the only Morning Star which are wont to spread forth the beams of comfort unto the needy in time of extremity O Lord my God give me the wings of Faith to flee unto thee and pour upon me the dew of thy blessing that I may bud and bear the fruit of holiness through the operations of thy gracious beams Give me thy Grace that I fail not in my vocation that I may do good and eschew evil and so make good that vow which I made unto thee in my Baptism Save me from falling and stay my feet from slipping by thy holy Word which is the glass of thy Will that being guided over this misly desart I may arrive at the land of Promise and Palace of rest in a lively faith through thy dear Son Jesus Christ to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the Church and true worship of GOD. O Most gracious God and loving Father look in favour I do beseech thee upon the Church generally dispersed throughout the whole World and whom by the malice of Satan and tyranny of Antichrist thou seest continually assailed with many and great dangers Be thou therefore O Lord a castle of defence a buckler and rock strong and forcible to withstand the force and fury of all adversaries that rise up against it And for the better comfort endue it with faith unfeigned wherein it and every member thereof may safely run and repair under the shadow of thy sacred wings whensoever perils approach Graciously guide and govern it by taking the defence thereof into thine own hands to whom it specially and alone belongeth and let it hold on the true course of professing and practising of thy true Religion that the adversaries thereof may have no cause to condemn it through sin which howsoever it may seem to dwell in the most godly while we live here yet let us always have an eye and diligent watch over all our thoughts words and works that our light may shine to thy Glory our good and example to others in Peace and War in Comfort and Calamity and not to be dismayed at any noise and report of the greatest danger whatsoever Thou art O Lord my God my only comfort and riches what am I that I dare speak unto thee I am thy poor servant yea and much more poor and vile than I either know or dare shew forth and yet Lord I remember this one thing that I am nothing that I have nothing and that I am nothing worth Thou alone art Good thou alone art Righteous thou alone art Holy Thou knowest all thou dost all thou fillest all only the wicked thou sendest empty away remember O Lord thy tender mercies and fill me with thy favour Thou wilt that none of thy works should serve in vain for how can I stand upright in this wretched world unless thy mercy and favour hold me up turn not therefore thy cheerful countenance from thy servant defer not to help me from day to day withdraw not thy comfort that my Soul be not as the thirsty Land but teach me to do thy Will for that thou O my God art my wisdom and knowest what is meet and convenient for me to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all Glory for ever Amen Prayers for Sunday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy name for ever dispose my heart and open my lips c. A Psalm HOW long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever how long wilt thou hide thy Face from me How long shall I seek counsel in my soul and be so vexed in my heart how long shall mine enemies triumph over me Consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death For why my trust is in thy mercy and my heart is joyful in thy salvation Therefore will I sing of the Lord because he hath dealt so lovingly with me yea I will praise the Name of the Lord most Highest I will thank the Lord for giving me warning my reins also chasten me in the Night season I have set God always before me for he is on my right hand therefore I shall not fall Wherefore my heart was glad and my Glory rejoyced my flesh also shall rest in hope For why thou shalt not leave my soul in Hell neither
adversity I run not headlong into such means as are ungodly neither in prosperity wax the prouder but wait thy good pleasure in them both with thankfulness and evermore live in thee and by thee and in the end raign with thee in Heaven where thou â—ittest as author and giver of all thy Blessings Grant this O most merciful Father to whom with thy Son and the Holy Ghost be all power and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to subdue our affections O Lord Mighty and Merciful who didst create Man in the beginning simple sincere and without spot of sin In which his integrity and innocency he then presented thine own Image which was pure and without spot of sin and yet such was man that he fell from thee by disobedience whereby he corrupted his ways and became â—ar unlike unto thee being defiled with all vanities wherein alas we all of us wallow the most with greediness wherefore most dear Father in JESUS Christ create in me new thoughts new affections shape in me true obedience that I may mortifie and kill all sin and vain inclinations which rise up against Thee let sin no longer bear rule in me O Lord but let thy grace more and more abound that all that I do think speak or do may bâ— favouring more of the desire of Heaven and Heavenly things than of earthly and carnal desires that so I may be approved not only before men to be as ought but to thee to be as Thou requirest to whom O Lord be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the Kings Majesty O Lord Almighty the Governour Preserver and continual Protector of Princes to whose beck and will all Kingdoms of the Earth are subject look in mercy and favour O Lord I beseech thee upon the state of thy servant our dear Soverign Lord King Charles and his Royal issue be thou unto him and them a safe refuge in all time of danger and let thy holy Spirt be unto him a continual guide in all his acts and procedings direct him to comfort defend and support us and either to bring our enemies to a perfect peace in embracing the Truth with us or confound their power and devices for ever An Evening Prayer O Heavenly Father and eternal GOD I honour thee I praise thee I yield thee most hearty thanks for all thy benefits and at this time especially O Lord because thou hast patiently and attentively heard my petitions and hast given me soberness and humbleness of mind to utter the same without any interruption I bless Thee my everlasting GOD and with all my heart give thee thanks for that not only thou hast saved me this day from death from hurts and from all perils from my cradle but hast defended both my soul and body from all Misfortunes and Dangers Therefore my soul magnifieth the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour for he hath looked upon the afflictions of his servants and now among all other thy goodness O Lord hear O Lord forgive hearken O God for thy Name sake for it is called upon by me O GOD of Heaven and earth in the evening do I call upon thee that remitting my sins Thou wouldst receive me into thy Protection keep me this Night that the Devil have no power over me for Thou O Lord art my everlasting Protector for behold whether I sleep or wake whether I live or die I am always thine let thy mercy follow me O Lord all the days of my life that I may dwell in thy house and praise thee and that I may in acknowledging thy greatness confess my sinful and wretched weakness And visit me O Lord and drive from me all the assaults of mine enemies both bodily and ghostly and let thy holy Angel be with me and keep me this night and evermore by thy grace and ever let thy blessing be upon me this night and for evermore Amen Prayers for Wednesday Morning O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy name for ever dispose my heart and open my lips c. A Psalm 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 unto me make hast to deliver me Into thy hands I commend my Spirt for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth I have hated them that hold superstitious vanities and my trust hath been in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and hast known my soul in adversity Shew thy servant the light of thy countenance and save me for thy mercies sake O how plentiful is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee Wherefore I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sin I will take heed unto my ways that I offend not in my tongue Therefore withdraw not thou thy mercy from me O Lord but let thy loving kindness and thy truth always preserve me For my soul is a-thirst for God yea God yea even for the living God when shall I come to appear before the presence of God Yea as the Hart desireth the water-brooks so longeth my soul after thee O God Wherefore send out thy light and thy truth that they may lead me and bring me to thy holy hill and to thy dwelling Why art thou so heavy O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me O put thy trust in God for I will yet give Him thanks who is the help of my countenance and my God Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. A Morning Prayer O Most merciful and loving Father I thank thee for the sweet sleep and comfortable rest that thou hast given me this night and forasmuch as thou hast commanded by thy holy Word that no man should be idle but always occupied in godly and virtuous exercises every man according to his calling I most humbly beseech thee O Lord that thine eyes may attend upon me that thy grace may daily defend me in danger succour cherish and comfort me in all my needs and distress and govern all my counsels studies and labours in such wise that I may spend this day according to thy blessed will and the discharge of mine own conscience in thee that warily avoiding all things that may displease thee and setting always before mine eyes thy fear I may thy grace assisting me and thy holy spirit guiding me work that which is acceptable before thy divine Majesty unto thy praise and glory for ever Amen A fruitful Confession to GOD for sins commited O Gracious GOD have mercy upon me have mercy upon me look favourably upon me incline thine ears towards me and hide not thy Face now my soul is troubled O Almighty GOD from whose Sight there is no covert and against whose power there is neither resistance
nor flight I beseech thee to cast off the blind burthen of fleshly affections subdue my reason regenerate my will and purifie my nature lead my desire that I may seek thee lighten my understanding that I may see thee for I can neither seek thee without thou direct me nor see thee except thou reveal thy self LORD forgive mine ignorance forget my presumption Pardon mine iniquities relieve my necessities Let my sins no longer be a cloud between my Prayers and thy pity between thy goodness and my distress most gracious GOD who art merciful towards all suffer me not to be destitute of thy Mercy for although I have committed that whereby I may be destroyed yet hast thou neither forgone nor forgotten that whereby thou art wont to save O wretch that I am how coldly do I cry how weakly do I crave how senseless is my unclean soul alas I am nothing but vanity a rotten root without any life or virtue a barren ground bringing forth nothing but sin shame and damnation I am unable either to give thee any thing but of thine own goods or do any thing for my self but by thy free gift Wherefore O my sweet Saviour by the tender love and by all thy mercies reach thy helping hand draw my soul out of the mire of sin wherein it is fast set that I perish not in the presence of thy pity deliver me from the snares that the enemy hath laid to take the soul of sinners either wilful or secure Put away occasions of evil before me guide me unto thee the streightest course and so long as I am to continue in this vile vale of misery settle me in that state of life wherein I may best please thee Give me grace O gracious God although I have hitherto had no care to live well yet I may now wholly and holily bend my care to dye well and that from henceforth I may live in thy fear and dy in thy favour rest in thy peace and remain in thy joy for ever Amen A Prayer for Patience O Most gracious and omnipotent Father whose mercy is everlasting and power infinite bow down thine ear and hearken unto my Prayer which I make before thee beseeching thee of thy accustomed goodness to endue me with the works of Mercy and deeds of charity and above all things to give me patience in adversity meekly to suffer and patiently to take whatsoever it shall please thee to lay upon me and never to murmur or to grudge thereat but always to think thy loving and gentle correction to be much less than the deserts of my great and manifold offences And again if I be not under correction then am I not thy child for what father is he that correcteth not his children whom he most entirely loveth this then is a most evident token that thou lovest us when as thou correctest us for as the Scripture saith Whom God loveth him He chasteneth Thou â—eest all things Thou understandest and knowest all things so that not so much as one little sparrow lighteth upon the ground without thy knowledge yea and our very thoughts are fore-known unto thee Thou disposest and orderest all things as seemeth best to thy holy will and pleasure By thy help I may do all things but without thee I can do nothing When thou pourest upon us thy creatures thy good gifts and benefits Thou dost it to this end that we acknowledging the same should thereby be encouraged to serve honour and obey thee and contrary wise when thou strikest us with thy rod of correction thou dost it to put us in mind that we have transgressed thy Commandments that we have not hearkened unto thee but willingly fallen into the puddle of sin and following our own appetites have provoked thy just wrath and indignation against us Thus thou dealest with us O Lord to the intent that we suffering bodily punishment and feeling the smart of the same may thereby be admonished of our duties and with true compunction of heart desire to be released from the scourge that we have deserved This O heavely Father I acknowledge to be our duty but alas I for my part have not performed the same as I ought yet I beseech thy goodness not to execute the rigour of thy Justice upon me but to stay thy hand and before thou give me any greater wound to behold my humility and repentance and here I do offer thee O Lord according as the poor widow did all which I am able to give that is a sorrowful contrition of heart for my former offences done and past wherefore I beseech thee to give me grace that what way soever it shall please thee to punish me 〈◊〉 may take it patiently and say Naked I came into this World and naked I shall return to the Earth again The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away even as it pleaseth the Lord so be it Suffer me not O Lord to despair or to think that thou dealest unjustly with me but say Shall I receive Prosperity at the LORD's hands and not be conâ—ent with adversity and always to think upon this Happy are they whom thou â—ost punish for though thou makest a wound Thou also givest a plaster though Thou smitest thy hand maketh whole again Mine iniquities are great be thou merciful unto my wickedness O deliver me from thine anger and press me not further than I shall be able to bear but now 〈◊〉 acknowledge that whatsoever trouble thou hast sent me or wilt lay upon me is either for the punishment of mine iniquities or for the tryal of my Constancy I may with repentant David find remission of my sins and with patient Job release of mine adversity and obtain such favour in thy sight that I may so pass this life that I may afterwards live with thee in thy eternal Glory grant this Oâ— most loving Father for thy dear Son's sake Jesus Christ to whom with the holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for Humility O My sweet Saviour Jesus it is thine own Lesson Be humble and meek as I am it is thy Word also My sheep hear my Voice but Lord what shall I do the flesh is proud I daily rebel against thy holy will I envy my superiours I love not my equals I despise mine inferiours This is the fruit of the â—lesh O Lord but thou art love and life O loving Jesus and therefore I beseech thee of thy tender love to pity me and to endue me with the spirit of humbleness that being poor iâ— in spirit I may with the little ones of thy Kingdome be blessed and live for ever O Lord for the avoidance of pride give me thy grace to consider that by it an Angel became a devil and Man was excommunicated from the Paradise of pleasure desire of Soveraignty begat the devil sin death and damnation so that out of it as a most filthy puddle issu'd a whole Sea of mischief and misery
Of this cup of pride father Adam drank when by his disobediâ—nce he lost thy favour and by the taste of â—n Apple thought to be thy Co-mate in knowing of good and evil Give me thy Grace not only to consider this but also fulâ—y to digest it that detesting it as a venemous Viper I may in humbleness of heart â—erve thee holily and soundly without hyâ—ocrisie who art the pattern of low liness â—nd a mirror of humility continually to â—e looked upon and truly to be followed 〈◊〉 life and lover of Souls give me grace â—lways to hear and hearing thy word to â—ollow thee my Lord and God both now â—nd for ever Amen A Prayer for Gods fear O Almighty and eternal God thy Holy Word teacheth us that thou art not â—nly a Father but also a LORD not only 〈◊〉 Forgiver but also a revenger not only 〈◊〉 Saviour but also a Judge and as thou beâ—â—g a Father a Saviour and Forgiver dost â—ardon and shew Mercy so thou being a â—ord a revenger and a Judge punishest â—nd condemnest Neither doth thy Holy Word set forth unto us a Gospel which comâ—orteth us quickneth us sheweth us Joy ful tidings quieteth our Consciences bringeth us unto everlasting life but also a Law which reproveth accuseth condemneth woundeth and slayeth our Consciences yeâ— and throweth us down head-long into everlasting perdition so that by this we may see that we may not only love thee as Father Saviour and forgiver but also fear thee as a Lord a revenger and a Judge for asmuch therefore O most gentle Saviour and most righteous Judge as nothing doth so mightily put away sin and make us to walk in the way of thy Commandments as reverently to fear thee and to stand in awe of thy Judgments and heavy despleasure I most entirely pray and beseech thee to give me that fear which thou requirest of us in thy holy Word and whereunto thou hast promised so many large and bounteous benefits that I may not only love thee as a Father and honour thee as a Saviour but reverence thee as a Lord and fear thee as 〈◊〉 Judge O Lord all things are open to thine eyes neither is any thing hid froâ— Thee which seest the most inward thought and secrets of our hearts Give me grace O Lord I beseech thee that in all my enterprises I may ever set thy fear before mine eyes and so stand in aw of thee and of thy Righteous judgments thaâ— I attempt nothing whereby I should provoke thy heavenly displeasure against me but so walk in thy fear and in thy holy Ordinance that I may at all times love thee as a Father honour thee as a Saviour reverence thee as a Lord and fear thee as a Judge So shall it come pass that I reverently loving thee as a child doth his Father shall not only avoid all such evils as might make thee my heavy Lord and fearful Judge but also imbrace those virtues which shall both evidently declare my faithful love true honour unfeigned reverence and humble fear towards thee and also thee my Lord and loving Father and most merciful Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the desire of Heavenly things O My GOD O the sweet life of my soul what other thing besides thee ought I to look after what have I not all things if I do possess thee who hast created all things There is nothing of any estimation but only such things as thou hast made for whatsoever grace of â—omliness pleasantness fineness sweetness virtue dignity or riches consisteth in any creature the same proceedeth from thee O God and all things abundantly slow without any lack O Creator most excellent thou art the pleasure of all things thou art the abundant fulness of perfect joy and the unmeasurable Sea of all holy delight Thou art that light and incredible clearness and passing brightness which they do hear see taste and feel that are inwardly joyned unto thee through exceeding pureness of heart while they yet remain in this present exile The loving embracements nor the dainty kisses of the Mother appeaseth the weeping of her tender child nor the pleasant countenance of the husband towards his loving wife are but as shadows and of no value in respect and consideration of the sweet embracements wherewith thou O Lord dost allure the souls of those that love thee But if poor banished men can be so blessed and happy and that they can see such incomparable goodness who see thee but in a dark shadowed glass how much more happie ought we then to judge of thy holy Citizens who see thee face to face those thy beloved children do now most manifestly know and in themselves do feel how much thou dost favour and love them and from the beginning hast loved them thou O Lord it is that doth qualifie gladden refresh and satisfie with a delicate desire of enjoying thy company the hearts and wills of all men and to say all O eternal GOD thou art all in all in that most holy City of New Jerusalem That is the happy day and the singular day whereof thou O Lord Jesus hast spoken to thy Disciples In that day you shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you O day so much wished-for with most hearty desire wherein the holy souls shall be united unto thee O GOD and shall be inspired with a marvellous light of wisdom and transformed into the brightness of eternal Glory O Jesus grant I beseech thee that so long as I am in the darkness of this misty desart that the eyes of my mind may behold and contemplate the most shining light and brightness of thee O God and that I may always praise thee for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to God for zeal in Prayer O My GOD and Father I beseech thee that if at any time I feel in my self any faintness or failing of fervency in calling upon Thee that Thou wilt kindle within my heart the Heavenly heat of thy most holy Spirit that I may burn in the Zeal of thee and thy holy house and grant me thy Grace O LORD to cry with thy holy Apostle for the increase of Faith that being awakned and stirred up by thy most tender and Fatherly affection and instigation I may enjoy the effect of all my godly and necessary desires which thou hast promised to give unto me in thy Son JESUS Christ for whose sake I expect all good things at thy hands make my heart the undefiled instrument of peace and perfect thoughts and my tongue the Trumpet of thine eternal Praise my body the habitation of the Holy Ghost mine eyes the windows to behold the worthy way that leads to Thee my legs the supporters of my body and Soul towards the attaining of thy heavenly Kingdom O LORD thou knowest my hearty desire is always to serve thee and evermore to abide in thy love and favour Grant unto
JESUS Saviour of the world whose mercy cometh unto us like a stream who art my eternal happiness I do from the botto mof my heart beseech thee to increase establish hope and strengthen patience within me for this certainly is true that one little drop of thy sacred Blood shed for us is of more power to save us than all our enormous sins to condemn us wherefore O sweet Saviour look upon me with the eyes of mercy as thou lookedst back upon Peter in the Hall of the High-Priests Palace after he had both renounced thee and cursed himself O God the holy Ghost be thou present with me in mine extream need when the Devill will accuse me and my conscience bear witness against me when I shall be environed with horrible danger and temptations and all things set themselves against me Strengthen my heart at that time O comfortable Spirit with the Zeal of thy Testimony that undoubtedly I may believe the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the flesh and everlasting life which shall be given to all believers O blessed Trinity and eternal God of one essence give grace that in every combate especilly at the point of death being mindful of thy Covenant made with me in Baptism and of thy most comfortable promise annexed which is that all that believe and are baptised shall be saved I may never doubt either of thy merciful good will towards me or of the free remission and forgiveness of my sins but by often remembrance of this Sign and Covenant I may daily more and more be confirmed in faith and hope of eternal happiness and here O holy Trinity lift up my sorrowful heart and pour upon me the wholsome comfort of thy Heavenly bliss and at the point of death refresh me with the sweet light of thy chearful countenance that with exceeding joy I may desire to depart and come to thy heavenly house where Thou livest and reignest as my eternal GOD and Father for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for the Power of GOD's Spirit to abide in us O Omnipotent and eternal GOD and Father which comfortest such as be sorrowful and who givest all good gifts thou of thy free favour and love hast willed us in all our affairs and necessities and as often as we stand in need of any of thy blessings or feel our selves burdened with any kind of tribulation or affliction either of body or mind to call upon thee in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ and thou wilt grant what we want most humbly I beseech thee to send down upon my dark understanding the bright beams of thy most holy Spirit to lighten me and to direct me in all my supplications and prayers and especially at this time O Lord for that thou knowest my weakness and ignorance to be such as I am altogether unable to frame my requests according to thy will or to seek that which is for mine own souls health wherefore I most humbly beseech thee O Lord in the Name of him thy Son to address and prepare my heart to the true understanding and unfeigned calling on thy Name for such things as thy wisdom shall think most expedient for me both to the obtaining of thy heavenly Kingdom which is before all things to be sought for and for temporal blessings best known to thee which in respect of my ignorance my dulness my corruption my weakness and the guilt of mine own conscience I cannot crave in such due and faithful manner as I ought and therefore most dear Father I here beseech thee in the Name of thy Son Christ that thou wilt aiâ— me with thy holy Spirit in my prayers that being of my self dull I may be made Zealous and whereas I am of my self cold I may be thereby made fervent and faithful that my Prayers be not as a smoke which vanisheth or as the wind which passeth away being only in the lips and not firm in the heart let it be effectual and an acceptable sacrifice sweet and pleasing in thy sight and that nothing pass the bounds of thy unfeigned lips that which may beseem a single heart always sounding thine honour and setting forth of thy most glorious praise let thy holy Spirit O Lord come unto me let it continue with me work and prevail effectually in me unto the end that I may both at this time begin and for evermore continue as thou will est I should namely in Faith that I fall not into any temptation in hope that I may constantly look for and faithfully attain unto perfect understanding of thy will and ableness in all things to fulfil the same make me also good Lord fervent in love that I may freely and unfeignedly even from my very heart forgive and forgot all injuries wrongs and evil doings of such as by any means have offended me with hearty prayer for their amendment that I approaching unto the Throne of thy mercy in a pure and single heart may heartily as well for all others as for my self for things necessary both for my soul and body make my humble petitions unto thee and in thy good time tast that most sweet fruit of my humble desires according unto thy will so shall I shew forth thy praise and give glory to thy Name for ever and ever world without end Amen A Prayer for the victory against sin O LORD there is no Victory without Fighting nor any Crown without Victory give me therefore power O Lord that fighting valiantly I may be crowned gloriously in Heaven with thee to live for ever minister strength unto me that I may over-master mine enemies and give me the spirit of patience that continuing unto the end I may be found and taken as a faithful Souldier of thy Son Jesus Christ and so be blessed let me not faint in fear but let me fight in a lively saith which over-matcheth all the whole world plant me a natural branch by the power of thy holy Word in the Vine Jesus and make me able to endure every crack let no canker of sin eat me let no worm of a guilty conscience gnaw me let no blast of the world overcome me but stay me up with thy mighty hand and be ever at my elbow that I may be crowned though I be crossed and saved though now soused in extream misery in this is all my hope for surely of my self I am but a vapour a worm I am born of a woman in sin a sinful child by nature and to my power wage battel with Satan against my self to my utter undoing O Lord unless thou regenerate me and assist me with thy Spirit always to resist him which do O gracious God I beseech thee for thy great mercy to whom be all power and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to be mindful of death O GOD in whose hands consisteth the life of all mankind for thy Son Christ's sake vouchsafe to give me grace to set before mine eyes as a most certain mark whereto
how I shall think of thee teach me with what words I shall call upon thee and the works wherewith I may please thee O most mighty God that art blessed for evermore I commit into thy hands at this time and at all other times else my Soul my Body and all my thoughts affections words and works my memory my faith my belief and continuance in the same that thou maiest defend them with thy most mighty power that thou maist keep them day and night and every moment of time hear me O Holy Trinity and keep me from all evil from all offences from all deceits and despites of the Devil and from all mine Enemies visible and invisible give me O Lord perfect sense and understanding that I may be able to perceive thine exceeding and great mercies teach me what I shall ask and grant that thou wilt hear that which I require give me tears from the bottom of my heart that may unloose the bands of my sins If thou regard me not I perish if thou look upon me I live if thou examine my righteousness I stink and am corrupt being dead but if thou look on me with mercy thou raisest me out of my grave spare my Soul spare my sin visit me that am weak heal me that am diseased give me a heart to fear thee a mind to love thee Ears to hear thee and Eyes that I may always see thee I ask Lord remission of all my sins have mercy on me and hear me O Lord my Salvation I have asked some things which 〈◊〉 need I have remembred those things which I fear wherefore vouchsafe me thy grace O Lord to live in thy true fear to my lives end through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for Faith and ableness to pray O Most gracious God and dear Father I thy unworthy servant ignorant oâ— all good things unprofitable and unfit to serve thee by reason of my corruption do yield thee all humble thanks that thou dost vouchsafe me access to the throne oâ— thy mercy in Christ where all wisdom aid consolation and comfort do abound and from whom all good gifts and graces do most frankly flow unto thy Children 〈◊〉 I here a Sinner in regard there is in me no strength to stand nor wisdom to walk nor faith to frame my affections accord ing to thy will do heartily crave supply of the good gifts at thy hands where fore dear Father grant me thy holy Spirit which being inspired into mâ— by thy divine power may work iâ— me such effects as are fit for the strengthning of my weak understanding and for the increase of faith and renewing the inner man I may become a fit member of thy Church good Father sanctifie me within and without purifie mine affections and let me be made holy in all my proceedings direct me to call upon thee aright and shape in me a sound course of life and let faith unfeignedly be the ground of all my desires that I may be thereby renewed daily in lively hope of thy gratious deliverance whensoever I am touched with any calamity dear Father banish all unbelief in me and make me thereby faithful that by thy divine working I may be able to conceive aright speak aright and walk aright O learn me and I shall be learned teach me and I shall understand and do thy will then shall neither prosperity puff me up nor calamities cast me down nor any evil make me afraid O happy man that is so far in thy favour that obtaineth this blessing at thy hands therefore I â—â—y unto thee my Allsufficient and truly helping God and Father be pitiful to thy perplexed children to thee I fly and will not faint for I believe thy promises Lord help my unbelief thou art the cause and absolute perfection of my soul the Preserver of life the everlasting and only good that I seek from whom as from a lively spring floweth whatsoever is good either for soul or body make perfect therefore in me this good gift O Lord increase it in me more and more daily that I applying the same in humble manner with reverent prayer to thy divine Majesty both for corporal and spiritual relief may be continually heard and so resting herein under the shadow of thy sacred wings may be safe and secure in all my miseries good Lord I here commend mine estate unto thee in all patience humbly beseeching thee that in thy good time I may reap the fruit of a lively confidence in thee namely what in this life is expedient for the preservation and maintenance thereof and after this life the absolute end thereof that is eternal salvation in Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all glory for ever Amen A Prayer to be defended against our enemies O Lord strengthen my faith and arm me with continual hope in thee whereby I may be able to withstand all the cruelties of mine adversaries in such sort that they may know it to be thy self who fightest for me and defendest my cause against their fury behold O Lord my trust is in thee thy rod and thy staff comfort me and stay me up that I fall not into their hands by trusting unto mine own policy or wisdom which is but a foolishness before thee nor to the help or friendship of man which is but vain but lead thou me O Lord guide me in all my doings cogitations and words lest I erring from thy Commandements incline my heart to vanity and vice mine enemies take just occasion to say ah we saw it with our eyes and bring up an evil report of me and that deservedly O Lord guide me in all truth establish my heart with true desire and ableness to walk uprightly in all thy ways vouchsafe to keep me from the dangerous desires of fleshly lusts and from haunting the place suspected or polluted with uncleanness lest mine enemies taking just occasion by my lewd behaviour speak that indeed which may redound to my shame and deserved infamy Finally O Lord keep me from all evil and though by reason of my corruption I be naturally inclined to wantonness and excess thou wilt give me sobriety lowliness love even to mine enemies chastity wisdom and discreet understanding both of their wills and mine own weakness that so through thy grace leading the whole course of my life in sincerity and godly behaviour I may magnifie thy holy Name who so regardeth the prosperity of thy servant that thou sufferest him not to fall into the hands of all such as should eat him up and let not the adversaries of thy truth O Lord unjustly rejoyce over me I am in thy hand and they are within the compass of thy power stay their fury let them not take effect in their devices against me I refer all things to thy heavenly providence and wholly commit my self into thy hands humbly praying thee
into the place of everlasting torment But O Lord with thee there is mercy that thou mightest be feared thou art a God of all comfort and consolation a merciful loving and gracious Father ready and willing to hear all penitent sinners that in heart are sorrowful for their sins In the Name therefore of Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer I humbly prostrate my self before the Throne of thy Mercy seat accompanied with no other hope than such as proceeds from the richness of thy mercy that for his only sake thou wilt have compassion upon me for in humility of spirit and contrition of heart I submit my self to thy goodness beseeching thee not to let my sins be a cloud between my Prayer and thy pity thy goodness and my distress but forgive and forget all my transgressions all my mis-doings let them be sins of what condition soever whether sins of my youth or sins of my age sins of my body or sins of my soul secret and open sins notorious and presumptuous sins sins of pride envy hatred malice c. Good Lord remit them all and of thy great goodness grant me perfect remission and absolution for the same for which the Prophet David Out of the depth of my misery I cry unto thee for the depth of thy mercy O Lord hear my petitions and consider my tears the contrition of my heart and the sorrow of my soul and in the merits of his blood that was so plentifully shed on the Cross for penitent sinners wash away the multitude of my transgressions that my soul by thy mercy being cleansed from the stain of sin I may be found a worthy partaker of this great mystery And now O Lord that I am about to receive the blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of Jesus Christ how shall I that am so great a sinner dust and ashes dare to presume to approach thy Table The Heavens in thy sight being not clear and the pillars of the Earth shake at thy presence What then shall become of me miserable that I am Yea Lord thou hast provided a special means and in thy Gospel left us a command Come unto me all ye c. Which command I obey and in confident assurance of thy promise in Christ Jesus I trust thou wilt have mercy upon me in the easing and refreshing of my soul that is wearied with the burthen of my intolerable sins Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin and renew a right spirit within me And of thy gracious goodness direct me in this great action with a reverend and awful fear of thy Majesty that all the faculties of my soul and body may be intent rightly to apprehend and joyfully to receive this eternal food this bread of life this heavenly and wonderful mystery and that by thy grace I may obtain the vertue fruit and benefits of the death and passion of my Saviour and by the same the remission of all my sins and everlasting salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer before the receiving of the Communion O Most holy and heavenly God and Father which by the immortal seed of thy Word hast begotten us to be thy children and with the same as with milk dost nourish us purely as new born babes as also with the divine mysteries of thy holy Sacraments as by a visible word dost confirm and strengthen us in faith righteousness and having so adopted us into thy family continually feedest and nourishest us unto eternal life we humbly beseech thee so to prepare our souls to the due receiving thereof worthily that we may thereby effectually feel taste and feed on thy Son Jesus Christ the true Manna and Bread that came down from Heaven that we may by him have eternal life pardon O Lord pardon our unpreparedness in coming to the participation of so holy and divine Mysteries Make thy Word and Sacraments always so powerful and effectual in our ears and hearts that we may thereby be sanctified and renewed unto all holy obedience unto thy will in the mortification of our sinful corruptions and renewing of thy perfect Image in us unto holiness righteousness sobriety truth knowledge faith and temperance through his most power ful and glorious Resurrection Stablish our Conscience in the assurance of our salvation by the remission of our sins in the blood of thy Son which was shed for us on the Altar of the Cross as a Sacrifice of expiation to cleanse away all sin O Lord seal and confirm this Covenant of Grace in our hearts by these holy Sacraments pledges of thy grace and love towards us that at no time we may stagger at thy promises nor fall away from hope and confidence in thee but being hereby incorporated into one Body we may partake of one Spirit and grow in love one towards another as members of the same mystical Body that we may forgive one another as thou hast forgiven us O Lord make us ever thankful for thy manifold and great mercies in providing unto us such means and helps of our salvation and grant that we may not put any confidence in external actions and exercises thereof in any hope to be justified thereby but that we may thereby exalt our minds to heavenly and spiritual contemplations and by faith be firmly united to thee our Head in Heaven to be made one with thee and thou with us and howsoever heretofore we have transgressed and defiled our selves as well with our natural impurities and actual impieties henceforth being now wash'd and purified in the blood of the Lamb which was sacrificed for us we may have our conversation in Heaven and being new creatures in Christ may have new thoughts desires and delights far from the lusts of our former ignorance and may live ever unto him and with him who sitteth at thy right hand our Redeemer and Advocate and shall return to be our Judge to justifie and acquit us before thee to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all praise c. A Psalm 1. AS the Hart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God 2. O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort according to thy Word unto thy Servant 3. Help me O God of my salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sin for thy Name 's sake 4. O remember not my old sins but have mercy upon me and that soon for I am come to great misery 5. Consider and hear me O Lord my God for my trust is in thy mercy 6. Turn thy face from my sins and put out all my mis-deeds 7. Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies do away my offences 8. Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin For I acknowledge my faults and my sin is ever before me 10. Behold I was shapen in wickedness and in sin hath my mother conceived me
into us the breath of life and assigned times and length of our life in this world which thou continuest according to thy good pleasure and if thou withdrawest thy hand we soon perish and are returned to dust whence we were taken we will therefore shew forth thy power in the Evening and magnifie thy goodness for saving us this day from dangers and from our birth in the whole course of our lives hitherto preserving us for thou art a God of patience pity and much forgiveness shewing mercy unto thousands and blotting out all our offences O Lord we pray thee set not before thine eyes the horrible confusion uncleanness and wickedness of our hearts being replenished with loathsome darkness of ignorance errours doubtings and distrust yea our vile hearts have been turned away from thee and all the powers of our souls and bodies are filthily defiled and weakened with wickedness only we cry aloud unto thee favourably to consider the troubles and sorrows of our hearts to strengthen our infirmities and to pardon our most horrible offences for we are wounded and weak and cannot be holpen but only through thy exceeding great mercy There is no health in our flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any peace or rest in our souls by reason of our sin yet hear thou us O Lord for thy Holy name-sake for Jesus Christ his sake pardon and forgive us all our sins that we have committed against thee this day and grant us thy grace that we may amend our lives and unseignedly serve thee in the several duties of our Callings to thy glory and the comfort of our own Souls remit our punishments restore us to thy wonted favour and receive us into thy most gratious protection and keep us this night and evermore that the Devil may have no power over us nor the sin of wickedness may be able to hurt us Whether we sleep or wake live or die we are always thine thou art our Creator and Redeemer guard us about with the Armies of thy Holy Angels in our habitations expel and remove far away from us wicked Spirits our mortal enemies and graciously protect us from our persecutors which lay snares to subdue us Do thou O God assist us that we may peaceably sleep and rest in thee hide us in thy Tabernacle from the strife of all men and we will fear no evil for thou that keepest us dost neither slumber nor sleep thy rod and thy staff do always comfort and defend us Let thy mercy O God prevent and follow us all the days of our lives that we may dwell in thy House of defence in longness of daies praising thee evermore Father Son and Holy Ghost one true gratious and everlasting God ruling and reigning world without end Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed c. Lighten our darkness we beseech thee O Lord and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night for the love of thy only Son our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched Arm O Lord be still our defence thy mercy and loving kindness in Jesus Christ thy dear Son our Salvation thy true and holy word our instruction thy Grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation to the end and in the end So be it Amen The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ c. A TABLE OF THE PRAYERS Contained in this BOOK VIZ. COmfortable Prayers for Sunday Morning pag. 1. A Confession to God 8. A devout Prayer to Jesus Christ 10. A Prayer to the Holy Ghost 12. A Prayer for Sunday Night 17. A Prayer for Grace 23. A Prayer not to distrust the Mercies of God 25. An Evening Prayer 28. Prayers for Monday Morning 30. A Prayer for forgiveness of sin 34. A Prayer to be restored to God's favour 40. Prayers for Monday Night 43. A Prayer against the power of Satan 53. A Prayer for the desire of a godly life 54. An Evening Prayer 55. Prayers for Tuesday Morning 57. A Prayer of true Repentance and to be purged of sin 62. A Prayer for the aid of God's Holy Spirit 64. A Prayer to acknowledge God in his works 66. Prayers for Tuesday Night 70. A Prayer for the remission of Sins 72. A Prayer setting out the power of God's Grace 75. A Prayer for a competent Living 78. An Evening Prayer 82. Prayers for Wednesday Morning 84. A Morning Prayer 86. A Prayer for Patience 89. A Prayer for Humility 92. A Prayer for God's fear 93. A Prayer for Wednesday Night 99. A Prayer for Mortification 101. A Prayer against desperation 104. A Prayer for the power of God's Spirit to abide in us 106. A Prayer to be mindful of Death 110. A Prayer for an happy departure out of this Life 112. An Evening Prayer 115. Prayers for Thursday Morning 117. A Prayer for Wisdom 122. A Prayer for Charity 127. A Prayer to God to bless our Endeavours 130. A Prayer to live uprightly in our Calling 131. Prayers for Thursday Night 135. A Prayer against evil Imaginations 146. An Evening Prayer 147. Prayers for Friday Morning 149. A Prayer of thanksgiving for the passion of Christ 156. A Prayer for mercy for our offences 159. Prayers for Friday Night 163. A Prayer for redress of a sinful Life 168. A Prayer for continual remembrance of our end 170. A Prayer to Jesuss Christ for Heavenly Comfort 173. An Evening Prayer 177. Prayers for Saturday Morning 178. A Prayer to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven 186. A Prayer for Saturday Night 188. A Prayer for a Blessed and Godly Life 190. A Prayer for defence against our Enemies 194. A Prayer for the opening the Eyes of our Understanding 197. A Prayer for perseverance in Prayer 200. An Evening Prayer 201. Short directions for Receiving the Blessed Sacrament of Christs Blessed Body and Blood 202. An humble Confession before the Receiving of the Sacrament 208. A Prayer before the Receiving of the Sacrament 211. A Psalm before the Sacrament 214. A Thanksgiving after the Receiving the Sacrament 218. A Psalm of thanksgiving 219. A Prayer for the Sick 223. Directions for the Sick 240. A Morning Prayer for a private Family 258. An Evening Prayer for a private Family 266. FINIS