hungry with good things and none of thy Servants dost thou send empty away from thy holy Sanctuary Plant thy Fear in my Heart give me Wisdom and good Understanding and make me to have pleasure in thee and all thy works that â—beying the Precepts of thy hoâ—y Gospel and performing the Conditions of thy Covenant which thou hast established for â—ver in Truth and Equity in Verity and Judgment I may â—orthily praise and adore thy â—oly Name among the Faithful â— this Life and in the Congreâ—ation of Saints in the Life to â—ome through thy Mercies O â—lessed Jesu to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be â—ll Honour and Glory now and or ever Amen A Prayer for Sunday Evening For Pardon of Sin O Almighty God I acknowledge and confess those many weaknesses and imperâ—ections I am guilty of in my performance of the Dutiâ— of this Day I have called up on thee for the pardon and foâ—giveness of my Sins I havâ— heard thy holy Word but yâ— find my self a very unprofitâ—ble Servant So that O Lord though I have done thy Worâ— I have done it so negligently that I may rather expect thâ— fire of thy Anger than a Bleâ—sing from thee II. But if thou O God should be extream to mark what done amiss O Lord who caâ— abide it or stand before thâ— when thou art angry Remember that I am but dust and asheâ— and the work of thine owâ— hands Pardon I beseech theâ— and pass by all my Sins Neglâ—gences and Ignorances looâ— not upon the weakness of mâ— Flesh but upon the willingness â—f my Spirit and so cover all â—y imperfections with the â—erfect and absolute obedience â—f thy dear Son that those Saâ—rifices offered up by me this day â—ay be by thee accepted in â—nd for that Sacrifice which Christ Jesus offered upon the Cross once for me III. And as I earnestly desire that my Sacrifices may be pleasing and acceptable to thee so let thine Ordinances be profitable to me And as thou hast this day sown â—n my heart the precious seed of thy Word so let neither the Fowls of the Air devour it nor the Cares of the World choak â—it but let the former and the â—atter Rain of thy blessing come often upon it that it may bring forth in me the Fruits of true Repentance and hearty amenâ—ment of Life Pardon my mâ—nifold Sins by which I havâ— provoked thee this very day IV. Be thou unto me a mercifuâ— God in despite of the Snare and Delusions which Sin lays iâ— the way for my Destruction and keep me under the shadow of thy Wings in perpetuaâ— Peace and Safety Bless me thiâ— Night sleeping or waking givâ— thine Angels charge over me that at whatsoever hour thou callest me I may like a faithful Soldier stand ready prepared to encounter Death and to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth Grant these things O blessed Father for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen Meditations for Monday Out of the Psalms For a holy Life MY song shall be of mercy and judgment unto thee O â—ord will I sing Let me have unâ—erstanding in the way of godliness When wilt thou come unto me â— will walk iâ— my house with a perâ—ect heart I will take no wicked â—hing I hate the Sins of unfaithâ—ulness there shall no such cleave â—nto me A froward heart shall depart â—rom me I will not know a wickâ—d Person Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour him will I destroy Whoso hath also a proud look and high stomach I will not suffer him There shâ—ll no deceitful person dwell in my house he that telleth â—yes shall not tarry in my sight I shall sâ—on destroy all the ungodly that are in the Land that may root out all wicked doe from the City of the Lord. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for Monday Morning For a Holy Life O God most Holy and Righteous who shewest Mercy unto thousands and hatesâ— nothing thy own hands havâ— made who fillest me with thy loving kindness every Morning and keepest me in Peace and Safety in the Night season II. I confess O Lord that I am altogether Vanity a shadow of Death a dark Dungeon a barren and empty Ground where no Water is but deluges of Wrath and Confusion But O Lord I abhor my self and repent before thee in dust and ashes and as Sins of Infirmity have thrown me down raise me up again I beseech thee by the Gift of Penitence that I may lead a holy Life with all Humility Truth and Justice Godliness and Honesty in this present World III. I bless thy holy Name for thy Care and Protection over me this Night that thou hast safely brought me to the beginning of this day delivering me from the shadow of Death O Lord continue thy wonted goodness towards me this Day and grant that all my Prayers Words Works and Actions may begin and end in thy Glory IV. Keep me O Lord I beseech thee this day without sin and so replenish me with thy Favour and Grace that my heart may rejoyce and delight in thy praises Deliver me O Lord from lying Lips and from a deceitful Tongue keep me from the Snare of the Hunter and from the noisom and infectious Pestilence from deadly Vexation mortal Sickness and sudden Death V. Protect me in the day of my Trouble give me a contented Mind which may remain unto me a continual Feast in whatsoever changes or chances may befall me in this transitory Life Grant that I may yield up my self to thy good Pleasure in all things and be obedient unto those holy Commandments which thou hast appointed for my Rule and Guide So that at the last I may find that in keeping thy Holy Laws there is great Reward Grant this O heavenly Father for thy Son's sake my only Redeemer Amen A Prayer for Monday Noon For Forgiveness of Sins O God the searcher of all hearts and from whom no secrets are hid but are laid open to thine all-seeing Eye I here acknowledge my Sins unto thee and mine Iniquities which are many in number I come unto thee O Lord who art the fountain of all goodness and forgivest all those that with hearty Repentance come unto thee Pardon and remit all those Sins which this day I have committed against thy Divine Majesty Purge me with Hyssop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow Let the dew of thy Favour and the fire of thy Love blot out all my Sins and purifie my Soul II. Create in me a clean Heart and renew a right Spirit within me Let me not be for ever separated from the sweet refreshings of thy Favourand presence but give me the comfort of thy help again and let thy free Spirit loose me from the bondage of Sin and establish me in the freedom and liberty of the Sons of God So shall I praise thy Name
the Grave I praise thee O Lord from the very bottom of my heart for all thy love and boundless mercy and kindness for thy holy Incarnation Passion Resurrection and Ascention into Heaven and sitting at the right hand of God the Father where thou makest Intercession for me II. In thy merits I beseech thee to look upon me thou art that living Sacrifice that was offered up for me and in thy Name do I offer up unto thee this my morning Sacrifice evermore praising thee and magnifying thy holy Name Mortifie in me all fleshly Corruptions quicken me in the inner Man By the power of thy death let me die unto Sin and by the power of thy Resurrection let me rise to Righteousness and newness of Life Let the one as an antidote expel the poison of Ungodlyness and the other as a restorative excite me to Holiness III. Enlighten my Understanding that I may know thy Will reform my Life that I may do all things aright and to discern Good and Evil. Teach me to fear thy Name to neglect all things in regard of thee to be grieved at my own and others Sins but rejoyce exceedingly whensoever I can please thee Let me this Day labour that whatsoever I do may be pleasing in thy sight as I am thy Servant let me depend upon thee and as I am a Christian walk worthy of my Vocation and Calling IV. Be gracious and favourable unto the whole Church and bless every particular Member thereof be good to the light of our Eyes the breath of our Nostrils thy Solomon our gracious King bless thine own Tribe the Tribe of Levi the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty and let thy Peace rest upon those that pray for our Peace wheresoever dispersed over the Face of the whole Earth Lord keep me the remaining part of this Day in thy Truth and give me Peace and true Faith in thee now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Thursday Noon For God's Blessing on our Endeavours O Eternal and most gracious God who though thou art ever infinite yet enlargest thy self by the number of our Prayers and takest our often Petitions to thee to be an addition to thy Glory so great is thy Humility toward poor Mortals I most humbly beseech thee O Lord that thine Eyes may continually attend upon me and thy Grace daily defend me from all danger succour cherish and comfort me in my Necessities and govern all my counsels Studies and Labours so that I may spend this Day according to thy blessed Will and the discharge of my own Conscience that warily avoiding all things that may displease thee and setting always before my Eyes thy Fear I may by the assistance of thy heavenly Grace and the guidance of thy holy Spirit work that which is acceptable and pleasing unto thee unto thy Praise and Glory for ever Amen A Prayer for Thursday Night For Deliverance from Sudden Death O Lord most holy the giver of all good things and the protector of all those that love thee I give thee most humble and hearty thanks nor only for thy preservation of me this day but all my life O Lord forgive me the Offences I have committed against thee this Day blot out all my sins with the blood of thy dear Son â—esus Christ and I beseech thee for his sake remember them no more II. Vouchsafe O Lord to extend thine accustomed goodness and protection over me this Night that I may peaceably and quietly take my rest which thou hast appointed for the refreshing of my wearied and weak body and I beseech thee to defend me that nothing hurt me keep me also good Lord from sudden and unprovided Death and preserve me by the guard of thy holy Angels that I may enjoy my rest this Night in thee until the Morning and then give my self to the fulfilling of my Duty the discharge of my Employment and the working of thy will unto my life's end III. In whose Name I referr my self wholly to the Almighty Protection even in the Name of thy blessed Son Jesus Christ the Righteous beseeching thee that when this Life shall have an end and my last sleep being come I may take my everlasting Rest with thee in thy heavenly Kingdom for the which Kingdom I do heartily beseech thee of thine inestimable goodness to fit and prepare me and all other thy Servants to the attainment of the same for the glory of thy holy Name and the everlasting comfort of our own Souls Amen Meditations for Friday THe Lord even the most mighty God hath spoken and called the world from the rising up of the Sun unto the going down thereof Out of Sâ—on hath God appeared in perfect beauty Our God shall comâ— and shall not keep silence there shâ—ll go before him a consuming firâ— and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him He shall call the Heaven from above and the Earth that he mâ—y judge his People Gather my Saints together unto me those that have made a Covenant with me with Sacrifice And the Heavens shâ—ll declare his Righteousness for God is Judge himself Hear O my People and I will speak I my self will testifie against thee O Israel for I am God even thy God I will not reprove thee because of thy Sacrifices or for thy Burnt-offerings because they were not always before me I will take no Bullock out of thine house nor He-goats out of thy fold For all the Beasts of the Forest are mine and so are the Cattle upon a thousand hills I know all the Fowls upon the mountains and the wild Beasts of the field are in my sight If I be hungry I will not tell thee for the whole world is mine and all that is therein Thinkest thou that I will eat Bulls flesh and drink the blood of Goats Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most highest And call upon me in the time of trouble so will I hear thee and thou shalt praise me But unto the ungodly said God why dost thou preach my Laws and takest my Covenant in thy mouth Whereas thou hatest to be reformed and hast cast my Words behind thee When thou sawest a thief thou consentedst unto him and hâ—st been partaker with the Adulterers Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit Thou satest and spakest against thy Brother yea and hast slandered thine own Mother's Son These things hast thou done and I held my tongue and thou thoughtest wickedly that I am even such a one as they self but I will reprove thee and set before thee the things that thou hast done O consider this ye that forgâ—t God lest I pluck you away and there be none to deliver you Whoso offereth me thanks and praise he honoureth me and to him that ordereth his conversatition aright will I shew the salvation of God Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for
behold the divine Presence IV. Open my Eyes more and more that I may discern the wonderous works of thy Law and open thou O Lord likewise my Lips that my Mouth and Tongue may shew forth thy Praise and extol thy great and glorious Name Prepare my Heart O Lord I beseech thee for thy divine Service this next day following It is thy holy-day O fit me for the sanctifying of the same that I may not spend it on my Lusts and the pleasures of Sin but dedicate it wholly to thy Honour and Glory V. Let my chief delight be to cease from the works of Sin as well as from my worldly Employment that I may through thy Blessing feel in my Heart the beginning of that eternal Sabbath which is Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Govern O Lord my heart in thy Fear and guide and steer all the whole course of my Life in thy Favour Fit and prepare me against the hour of Death and day of Dissolution that if thou shouldest this Night make my Bed in the Grave of Silence I may live and die unto thee who livest for ever to whom be ascribed all Power and Glory Adoration and Subjection now and for evermore Amen An humble Confession of Sins before the most holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper O Most holy Lord God who according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies dost put away the Sins of all those that truly repent and remembrest them no more Open O Lord I beseech thee the Eyes of thy boundless Mercy and fatherly Compassion upon me the most unworthy of all thy Servants from the very bottom of my heart I earnestly implore thy pardon and forgiveness for all my past Sins and Offences the number of them exceeds the ordinary expectation of thy Mercy and are so heinous that they can plead no excuse the sad Account being cast up is no less than the breach of all thy holy Commandments both in Thought Word and Deed thy Mercy and Goodness which should have led me to Repentance I have abused I have slighted thy Judgments and thy Punishments have I not feared I have utterly neglected the means of my own Salvation and by my Wickedness have most grievously provoked thy Wrath and Indignation against me my Life which should have been wholly devoted to thy Service I have mispent in the desire and sinful Lusts of the Flesh my ways have been evil and that continually the secret cogitations of my heart most wicked and so detestable hath the whole course of my Life been that my heart is vexed within me and my soul trembleth to look up to heaven for Mercy for fear of thy displeasure If therefore thou O Lord shouldst be extream to mark what I have done amiss and take Vengeance for my Sins I should be as Chaff before the face of the Wind and in Justice might be swept away into the place of everlasting Torment II. But O Lord from thy ever flowing Fountain there is Mercy that thou may'st 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 with hearty Repentance and true Faith come unto thee I come unto thee therefore in the name of Jesus Christ the Righteous thy beloved Son and my blessed Redeemer I humbly prostrate my self before the Throne of thy Mercy-seat provided with no other hope but what proceeds from the greatness of thy Clemency for his sake only have Mercy upon me III. In all humility of Spirit and with hearty Contrition I submit my Soul and Body to thy Goodness beseeching thee not to let my Sins be as a Cloud to intercept between my Prayers and thy Pity thy Goodness and my necessities blot all my Transgressions out of thy remembrance the Sins of my Youth or Sins of my Age Sins of my Body or Sins of my Soul the Sins that I know and the Sins that I know not Sins of Remissness Omission and Commission all notorious and presumptuous Sins Sins of Pride Envy Hatred Malice and all Uncharitableness here mention thy particular Sins from all which good Lord deliver me and grant me a full and a free Pardon perfect Remission and Absolution for the same IV. As one deep calleth upon another with 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 hold not thy peace at my Tears consider the Contrition of my Heart and the Sorrow of my Soul and by the Merits of his most precious Blood that was so plentifully shed upon the Cross for all Penitent Sinners and True Believers wash away the multitude of my Transgressions that my Soul by thy Mercy being cleansed from the guilt of Sin I may be found a worthy partaker and receiver of this holy and divine Mystery V. And now O holy 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 and come into thy Sanctuary or to approach thy holy Table Thou in whose sight the very Heavens are not clear and the Pillars of the Earth shake at thy Presence What then shall become of me poor wretched and miserable that I am but O thou that art the true Balm of Gilead hast left us a command in thy holy Gospel Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laiden and I will give you rest Matth. 11. 28. VI. Upon which Command I come O Lord unto thee at this time in a confident Assurance of thy Promise in Christ Jesus thou wilt have Mercy upon me ease and refresh my Soul that is wearied with the burthen of my Sins wash me and cleanse me throughly from all my Wickedness and renew a right Spirit within me Direct me in this great Mystery with a reverend and awful dread of thy Majesty that all the faculties of my Soul and Body may rightly apprehend and joyfully receive this eternal Food this Bread of Life And grant me thy heavenly Grace that I may obtain the virtue fruit and benefits of my Saviour's Death and Passion with a full remission of all my Sins and everlasting Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer before the Sacrament O Most gracious God I humbly beseech thee help thy Servant whom of thy great Mercy thou hast created out of nothing repair the ruins of my Soul and enlarge the frame of my Understanding cleanse it from all filthy Corruptions and supply it with all heavenly Graces that it may be both conveniently fit and furnished to receive thee who art a God of all Purity O Make an entry into my Heart and take thy residence there for ever possess that which is thine own both by Creation Redemption and Merits of that bitter Death and Passion through Jesus Christ Amen A Thanksgiving after Receiving of the blessed Sacrament O Almighty God
THE Devout Companion Containing PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS FOR Every Day in the Week AND FOR Several Occasions Ordinary and Extraordinary Psal 55. 17. Evening and Morning and at Noon will I pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my Voice The Twelfth Edition LONDON 〈…〉 Henry Rhodes at the 〈…〉 he corner of Brile 〈…〉 1699. TO THE Truly Honoured The LADY J. C. MADAM AT Your Request these ensuing Prayers and Meditations were composed which I here present to Your view not that You want my weak Instructions for You are known to be so good a Proficient in God's School and have more of this Heavenly Language by Heart than I can instruct you by Precept The Meditations I have taken from the Psalms of that sweet singer of Israel the Royal Prophet and this Key opens not only the Kingdom of Grace but the Kingdom of Heaven too it being an exact Composure of all Christian Vertues No Worshipping can be more true or more spiritual than the Psalter said with a pure Mind and a hearty Devotion For David was God's Instrumeâ—t to the Church teaching and admonishing as our Duty is to each other in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs making melody to the Lord. In your Voyage to the Almighty You might have I doubt not a better Card or Compass to sail by than this Form of Prayer which I prescribe yet I beseech You encourage others by Your pious Example to feed upon this Milk for Babes those which are weak by tasting of it your Self So recommending it to Your Pious Acceptation wishing You all Happiness that this Earthly Paradise can afford whist You remain upon Earth and at the last a Crown of Immorral Glory in the highest Heavens is the earnest desire of Madam Your humble and faithful Servant in Christ Jesus E. S. THE Devout Companion Containing MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS For every Day in the Week c. A Preparatory Prayer against wandring Thoughts and vain Imaginations Thrice Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God have mercy upon me a miserable Sinner O Almighty God the only Giver and Bestower of all good things and without whose special Favour and Grace no Man hath Power to perform any spiritual Duty as he ought to do O Lord I know not what to pray for as I ought O let thy Spirit help my Infirmities and enable me to offer up a spiritual Sacrifice acceptable to thee by Jesus Christ II. Make me to remember into whose Presence I am come and with whom I have to do even with a God of infinâ—te Majesty before whom the Cherubims veil their Faces as being astonished at the Presence of so great a God as thou art How dare I then a moâ—t vile and sinful Creature who am but Dust and Ashes presume to appear at this time before thee who have drunk Iniquity like Water breaking so often thy holy Laws and Commandments by committing those things thou forbiddest and leaving undone those good things thou commandest III. But I come unto thee O Lord in the name of thy dear Son Jesus Christ the Righteous who hath redeemed me with his most precious Blood O then look upon me in him and for the merits of his Sufferings pardon all my Sins and blot out my Offences Strike an awful reverence in my Soul that I may continually keep a watch over my Thoughts Words and Actions least my Presumption and want of due Reverence unto thy Deity should turn my Prayers into Sin IV. Give me a lively apprehension of all my wants and necessities and a right Understanding both of those Blessings which I have received from thee and of those great Mercies which thou hast promised to bestow on them that ask thee that so I may be endued with Expressions both for Prayer and Thankfulness and may become able by the assistance of thy Grace to pour out my Soul continually before thee Support me with Faith that I may come with a good assurance to thy Throne of Grace to offer up my earnest Supplications unto thee and let me not go away from thy presence without a Blessing V. Grant Lord that this holy Exercise of Prayer may prove a delight to me O make me constant and diligent in the use of it remembring the speedy access the Prayers of the Faithful have in thy Presence and what a great Privilege it is for poor Mortals to unfold their Wants and lay open their Desires and Griefs before thee VI. Ever O Lord let the end of my Prayers be to thy Glory always exercising a Conscience void of Offence by offering up my Thanksgivings for Mercies received as I shall be earnest in suing for those Gifts and Graces I stand in need of Grant this O heavenly Father for the sake of thy dear Son my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen Meditations for Sunday THis is the Day which the Lord hath made a Day of Rest to our Bodies and for the Benefit of our Souls O let us rejoice and be glad in it all the Days of our L 〈…〉 leaving off our worldly Thoughts and Employments and be â—eeking after our future Happiness II. Great iâ— the Lord and great is the Honour of this day above all others The Jews kept Holy the Seventh Day and we Christians the Sunday or Lord's Day They in their Sabbath were especially to remember the Creation of the World but we in ours the Resurrection of Christ who hath made a way for us into that better worâ—d which we expect hereafter III. This convinceth the Folly of the Jews who are so superstitious in observing the Ceremony of Rest as that they think they ought not to prepare any Food for their bodily sustenance on the Sabbath-Day neither do any work tho' it be for the Resection of Life it self But God in the Institution of the Sâ—bbath so rested whose Example we ought to imitate as that he ce 〈…〉 not in â—â—sting from doing good but in câ—â—sing to Create he continued to Preserve of which our Saviour saith My Father worketh hitherto and I work IV. This Day is set apart to be employed in the Worship and Service of God First more solemnly and publickly in the House of God from whence none ought to absent himself unless sickness or some extraordinary occasion prevent him Secondly at home privately praying with your Family or in your Closet exercising those other Duties of Reading and Meditation V. O Praise the Lord then O my Soul and enter into Contemplation with thy self upon all his Mercies Consider what a great Benefit it is to thee that there is such a set time weekly for thy spiritual Relief and Comfort cast off all worldly Business then and freely embrace this joyful Day of harvest whereby we may lay up in store for the whole Week nay even for our whole Lives VI. This day furnishes us with that Golden Rule by which we may square all our Actions and at last attain to the perfection of him whom the Royal Psalmist makes
proceed in my Service that the Glass of my Time may run out with Pleasure and I in the end shall be made Free of that City of thine the New Jerusalem where I may rest for evermore Amen The Maid's Prayer O Holy Lord God let thine Handmaid speak in thine Audience and hearken unto her when she calleth upon thee though I know not how to ask aright yet teach me the knowledge of thee and how to beg those things that are requisite and necessary for me Inlighten my Soul with thy divine Inspiration that I may see and do those things that appertain unto Godliness Let me keep my honest Reputation in the Eye of the World knowing that a good Name is better than precious Ointment But especially in thy sight let me be pure honest and undefiled so shall I not be ashamed in the great Day of Account Defend me from Sin Satan and the Poison of evil Tongues assist me with thy directing hand that the labours which this day I am to undertake may prosper grant me Grace to love honour and serve thee in Holiness and Righteousness all my days that I may glorifie thy holy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for one afflicted in Mind O Eternal Lord God who art fearful in Praises doing Wonders I tremble and am even at Death's Door for alas I am the vilest of all Sinners my Conscience is so clogged with Evil that I cannot look up my Wickednesses have gone over my Head and are as a burthen too heavy for me to bear my Spirit is sorrowful my Heart is heavy my words are stopp'd with Sighs and my Plaints watred with Tears O Lord what shall I desire of thee that deserve nothing at thy Hand What can I hope for that am even hopeless My Conscience is restless and my Ungodliness fettereth me and even all my unrighteous Actions cry out for Vengeance against me my Spirit is overwhelmed and weary of this Bondage and I have bid my life farewell II. O but let thy Majesty O Lord yet appear in thy Mercy forgive my Sin the unhappy ground of all this woe Where my misery hath thus abounded there let thy Mercy much more abound I dare not add this grievous Sin unto my other Sins to despair of thy Mercy What were more Sacrilegious for thou art a skilful Physician and canst cure all my Infirmities thou art a merciful God and canst forgive all my Sins To thee do I fly for refuge which art the Land of Safety to thee do I lift up my Hands and my Heart and to thee do I pray desiring thy Mercy Let the power of thy Son's Death and Passion defeat all the Devices of the Devil against me III. Instruct me in thy heavenly Wisdom lead me in thy Truth in this dangerous Sea of Discontentment and Affliction keep me from shipwrack and bring me safe to the Land of Peace-Strengthen my Faith sanctifie all those good means unto me wherein I seek relief as Prayer Conference Reading and hearing thy holy Word Mitigate my Perplexities grant me Patience heal my Imperfections Thou that wilt not break a bruised Reed spare and have Mercy upon me Thou that delightest not in the death of a Sinner receive me Though my Heart condemns me yet do thou release me O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord defer not but even now speak peace unto me say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation to whom be ascribed all Honour and Glory World without end Amen A Thanksgiving for God's sending his Son to save Mankind O Almighty and most merciful Lord God we might utterly despair and be cast down considering our manifold Sins and infinite Offences had not thy Word been made Flesh and dwelt among us but now we dare not despair for if when we were Enemies we were reconciled unto thee by the Death of thy Son how much more being reconciled are we saved by his Life All our hope and all our confidence is reposed in that precious Blood which was shed for us and for our Salvation II. O how greatly are we wretches bound to fear thee to love thee to bless and praise thee to honour thee and to glorifie thee seeing we are redeemed at such a price saved with such a gift cherished with so many promises and blessings of the same even thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ Stablish O God that which thou hast wrought in us finish what thou hast begun that we may be able to come into the fulness of thy Mercy make us through thy holy Spirit to understand and through thy Son to discern and with due honour and reverence this high Mystery of Godliness which is how God was manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World and received up into Glory where we doubt not but we shall Reign with him for evermore Amen The Prayer of a Woman with Child O God the Creator and Redeemer of all Mankind Comforter of all that call upon thee and the only deliverer of such as are in danger be merciful I beseech thee and look down in mercy from thy throne upon me thine Handmaid and upon the Fruit of my Womb behold I seek and sue unto thee for a Blessing at this time my Sin is great my Danger at hand not small my Pains to come will be grievous and my Life is now most uncertain II. Assure me I beseech thee of the forgiveness of all my Sins mitigate my Fear and asswage my Sorrows strengthen me with the refreshing of thy Spirit confirm me in the Faith of my Saviour and bless all good means appointed for my Comfort that in due time I may be a joyful Mother and see the Fruit of my Body safe sound and perfect without blemish or deformity III. O Lord I know not how soon my Travail will overtake me when I must encounter with Life or Death one drop of thy Mercy hath sovereign power to cure all the Wounds of those Sorrows Shed therefore O holy Father that drop of Grace upon me in that minute when I am to encounter with so stern an Adversary Strengthen me with Patience preserve me that I perish not and bless the work of my Midwife IV. Let not the Child yet unborn the Babe in my Womb be punished for mine Offences but give it growth form and what thou seest in thy good pleasure to be fit and necessary for it and when the time is come that thou wilt call it out of this close house of flesh where it now inhabiteth to dwell in the open World sanctifie thy Creature make it by Baptism a Member of thy Church a Lamb of thy Flock and direct it in the ways of thy Commandments to its Life's End Amen The Midwife's Prayer MOst gracious God who alone hast the power to produce Children from the Womb and bring them into the light of this World I thy most unworthy Servant whom thou hast appointed for this