place where the truth and purity of thy Gospel is profess'd and taught where we have the freedom of worshipping thee according to thy Will and do enjoy the precious means of Grace and Salvation Good Lord help us to make a wise and Christian use of all thy blessings to improve all spiritual advantages for the good and happiness of our souls that having well employed the Talents committed to us we may at length be approved by thee as good and faithful servants and may enter into the joy of our Lord to which blessedness do thou in thy good time bring us all through thy mercy in Jesus Christ in whose name and mediation we beg thy gracious acceptance of our Persons and Prayers which we further recommend unto thee in his words Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Thy grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us all evermore FAMILY DEVOTIONS FOR THE EVENING A short Prayer before Reading the Scripture ALmighty Creator and Evening most wise Governour of all the World thou art God and there is none beside thee and thou only art to be worshipp'd 't is of thy mercy and happy forbearance that we are yet alive and 't is the greatest happiness of our life that we can thus attend upon thee to hear thee speaking to us in thy written Word and to speak unto thee our selves by our Prayers and Supplications O Lord draw near to us with thy favourable mercies while we approach to thee in our humble duty have a gracious regard to this our evening Sacrifice and let thy good Spirit help our Infirmities since thou hast appointed the holy Scripture for a Rule of our Faith and a Law to all our actions grant that we may attend thereunto with godly reverence let thy word dwell richly in us and have a powerful influence on our hearts and lives that having obeyed thy Will here on earth we may receive the promise of eternal life in thine heavenly Kingdom through our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with thy self and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen A Psalm and Prayer for the Evening O Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever To him that made great lights for his mercy endureth for ever The Sun to rule by day the Moon and Stars to rule by night for his mercy endureth for ever O Lord thou hast searched me and known me Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways If I say surely the darkness shall cover me even the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to thee I will say of the Lord he is my refuge my God in him will I trust He shall cover thee with his Feathers and under his Wings shalt thou trust his truth shall be thy shield and buckler Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrour by night and the arrow that flyeth by day Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness nor the destruction that walketh at noon day Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee O Almighty and most glorious God Creator of Heaven and Earth we acknowledge our dependance on thee for we are the work of thine hands and in thee we live move and have our being wherefore our souls and bodies which thou hast made and hitherto preserv'd we do humbly prostrate at thy Footstool ascribing unto thee honour and worship adoration and praise and with lowly subjection submitting our selves to thy most great and excellent Majesty 'T is thy wonderful condescension that thou doest permit vile dust and ashes to have freedome of access to thy Throne of grace that thou art pleased to invite and command us to present our supplications We are altogether unworthy to speak unto thee and by reason of our manifold sins do justly deserve thou shouldest reject both our persons and prayers for the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts the course and practice of our life have been exceeding evil and that continually We have obeyed the lusts of our depraved nature more than the precepts of thy sacred Word and have compli'd with the temptations of Satan rather then the motions of thy blessed Spirit thy Law which is holy just and good we have broken from day to day and also slighted and abus'd the riches of thy grace discover'd in the Gospel wherefore to us belongs nothing but shame and punishment but with thee there is mercy and with thy Son plenteous redemption we beseech thee therefore for thy mercies sake and for thy Sons sake whom thou hast made a Sacrifice for sin that thou wouldest blot out all our transgressions and remember our iniquities no more deal not with us after the strictness of thy Law but according to the gracious terms of the new Covenant in which thou doest promise pardon and reconciliation to all repenting Sinners We do here profess our deep sorrow and humiliation for all our sins past and our serious resolution to lead the future part of our life in holy obedience to thy Will and Commands But for as much as our sufficiency is of thee and of our selves alone we can do nothing that shall be good and acceptable in thy sight be thou pleas'd to supply our defects and strengthen our weakness let thine holy Spirit lead us into truth and assist us in every good Duty Write thy Law in our inward parts and put thy fear into our hearts that we may never depart from thee Prepare us O Lord for all events of thy providence that in every condition we may be therewith content and grant whatever things shall befal us in this World they may work together for good and be a furtherance to us in our service of thee and in our passage to eternal happiness And because thou hast commanded that Prayers and Intercessions be made for all men we beg thy mercy for the whole race of Mankind that the light of thy Gospel may shine upon all the Earth and every Nation thereof may partake of Christ and the benefits of his Redemption Bless thy Church Universal that it may flourish more and more in purity of truth and holiness and that the Gates of Hell may never prevail against it Vouchsafe thy special care and kindness to this Church and Kingdom to which we belong preserve the religion profess'd among us from errour and corruption let piety justice and sobriety encrease and abound that thou mayest delight in us to do us good for
and being and 't is of thy great Mercy I am not consumed thy goodness hath been my support and comfort ever since I was born I do therefore prostrate my self with humble adoration submitting my soul and body to thy divine Majesty and offering up my thankful acknowledgments of all thy Mercies and Benefits conferr'd upon me I bless thee for my redemption by Christ and all the means of Grace and Salvation for the comforts of this present life and all my temporal enjoyments I thank thee for that kind Providence which hath watched over me this day that thou hast continued my life and preserv'd my person from those many evils to which I am alwaies expos'd O Lord I am less than the least of all the Mercies I have received at thine hands for my sins have been very many and exceeding great I have broken thy righteous Laws both by neglecting what thou hast commanded and by doing what thou hast strictly forbidden and my practice hath been very unsuitable to the rich Grace and holy Precepts of thy excellent Gospel so that I have justly deserv'd thy wrathful displeasure and the severities of thy justice But thou art a God plenteous in Mercy ready to forgive and thou hast given thine own Son to be a propitiation for Sin O Lord I come unto thee in his Name most humbly beseeching thee that through his Merits the Transgressions of my life may be all blotted out and my person freely justifi'd from all unrighteousness More particularly I beg the pardon of whatever Sins I have fallen into the day past whether in thought word or deed O merciful Father be thou perfectly reconcil'd unto me this Evening And be thou pleas'd to deliver me more and more from the power and dominion of sin that I may be the servant of righteousness and live in constant obedience to thee and thy commands strengthen me by thy Grace against the corruptions within me and all temptations from without and keep me by thy mighty power through Faith unto Salvation Bless thy Church and People throughout the World and let the Kingdom of thy Son be daily enlarg'd Be propitious to this Church and Nation pardon our great sins and avert the judgments we have deserv'd keep us in peace and safety and let truth and holiness still flourish among us Shew thy favour to all my friends to such as have done me any good or do wish me well bestowing on them all the blessings that pertain both to life and godliness Have pity on all who are in any distress or tribulation giving to them thy speedy comfort and relief and be thou a present help in the needful time of trouble to all who cry unto thee finally I commend my self to thy Fatherly care this Night humbly praying that thy watchful Providence may be my guard and defence grant unto me a quiet and comfortable rest that my frail nature being refresh'd thereby I may awake the next Morning the better fitted for the Duties of another day Hear me O Father of Mercies and do for me above what I can ask or think through the Merits of my blessed Redeemer To whom with thy self and the holy Ghost be all Glory Dominion and Praise World without End Amen Sunday Evening Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with me all thine and mine henceforth for evermore Amen A Psalm and Prayer for the Evening of the Lords day IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord to sing praises unto thy name O most high To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night The earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof the World and they that dwell therein Thy hands have made me and fashion'd me give me understanding that I may learn thy commandements All thy works shall praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall bless thee They shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy Power My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee and my soul which thou hast redeemed I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord. One day in thy Courts is better than a thousand How sweet is thy Word unto my tast yea sweeter then hony to my mouth Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee I will delight my self in thy Statutes and I will not forget thy Word I will bless the Lord who hath given me Counsel my Reins also shall instruct me in the night season Into thine hands I commit my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth O Most glorious God the mighty Creatour and wise Governour of all things the heaven is thine the earth also is thine with all that in them is and thou canst do whatsoever thou pleasest in all places of thy dominion wherefore unto thee alone it doth appertain to receive honour and worship and service from the Sons of men I do thankfully acknowledge it is a very great favour and priviledge that I am so often admitted into thy presence and have this liberty granted of presenting my supplications unto thee who art a God hearing Prayer for what am I vile Dust and Ashes that I should take upon me to speak unto the Lord or how can I expect to find any acceptance with thee who have so greatly offended thine holy Majesty by my repeated transgressions O Lord my very righteousness is as filthy rags and my best performances are sinful and poluted I have waited upon thee this day in the duties of thy Worship but it hath been with much weakness and distraction my thoughts and affections have not been heavenly and devout nor have I honour'd thee as I ought on the day consecrated to thee and thy service But O God who art gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness be thou pleas'd to overlook whatever hath been amiss in my life and actions from my Nativity to this moment grant me an interest in the Merits and Redemption of the Lord Christ and let his precious blood cleanse me from all unrighteousness pardon the defects of my obedience and of all my religious duties through his most perfect Sacrifice who hath taken away Sin by the Oblation of himself once for all Add thy blessing to all the opportunities and means of Grace vouchsaf'd to me and cause thy Word to abide in me that it may be as good seed taking deep root and bringing forth abundantly the fruits of righteousness Grant O Lord that as I have been created by thee so I may make it my chief business to honor and serve thee both in soul and body and as Christ died for my Sins and rose again for my Justification so I may crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof and rise daily from the death of sin to a life of holiness Enable me
perfect and glorious the Creator of us and the whole World and Governour of all things both in Heaven and Earth our great Law-giver and most just Judge who will reward or punish according to our actions That he can save or destroy us make us miserable or happy h Jam. 4. 12. That he is the Author of all good and having all things at his dispose can do for us whatever we can need or desire I say considering the Almighty in all these several respects we cannot but be satisfied that he is to be honour'd and worship'd by us and doth highly deserve our service and adoration That we are greatly concern'd to humble our selves at his Footstool imploring his mercy to submit our persons to him and placing our whole trust in his power and goodness to beg at his hands a supply of all our wants IV. This holy performance will be thought very congruous and necessary on a due consideration of our selves for we are Beings entirely dependent on God we have been created by him and 't is by his power and providence that we daily subsist Whatever good things we enjoy whatever do administer to our life either as to the necessities or conveniencies thereof they are all his Creatures and by him provided for our use and benefit We are weak and frail exposed to dangers of all kinds in every place and every hour of our life nor have we foresight or power enough of our own to secure our selves Moreover we are guilty Sinners before God and so have forfeited his kindness and made our selves obnoxious to his wrath and severity There are in us corrupt inclinations to sin We are still encompassed with Temptations and the Devil is our malicious and subtile Adversary So that if left to our selves we cannot hope to be holy in this life nor happy in the next Now when we thus reflect 't is easie to understand how much we are oblig'd to honour and worship the Divine Majesty and to render to him our daily thanks and praise for all that we are or have how much it doth behove us to desire his constant care and protection recommending our selves to his watchful Providence We may quickly apprehend of what importance it is that with humiliation and hearty repentance we beg the pardon of our sins lest we fall under condemnation and eternal punishment and that we earnestly crave the assistance of Divine Grace whereby we may be able to overcome sin and all spiritual enemies and may be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation V. There is in Prayer it self enough to make it desirable and much valued by us 1. It is highly honourable for what greater honour then to be taken into an immediate attendance about the Almighty and to have converse with the supream Monarch of the world the great King of Kings and Lord of Lords in respect of whom the Potentates on Earth are of an account infinitely meaner then the vilest Begger if compar'd to them And what an high priviledge is it that poor mortals made up of Clay can be admitted to the Throne of this Glorious Majesty there to present their Petitions and to have his ear on all occasions Holy David was so apprehensive what an advancement it was to wait on God in his Worship that though he were a King he esteemed the meanest Office in the Temple well worth his ambition and would be content to be a Door keeper in Gods house i Psal 84. 10. rather then live in a state of distance and alienation from him The famous Constantine first Christian Emperour thought it much for his honour to be openly represented as in the posture of one at Prayer And therefore gave order that his own Effigies in the the Impresses of the publick Coyn should be so fashion'd As it was also over the Gates of his Palace in several places k Euseb Vit. Const lib. 4. c. 15. Certainly whosoever hath understanding enough to know God and himself and to compare the one with the other will see abundant reason for saying as the pious Father that he cannot but admire and wonder at the great love of God towards man for vouchsafing him so high an Honour as familiarly to speak unto himself by Prayers l Chrys de Orand Deum lib. 1. 2. It is a duty so material and comprehensive that it doth in a manner take in the Whole of our Religion our piety to God is largely contain'd in it since by Prayer we acknowledge and honour him as our Creator and Lord offering up our Souls and Bodies to his service We profess our subjection and rely upon him for all the good we desire We do hereby give particular honour to his Divine Attributes to his Omni-presence and infinite Knowledge in that we suppose him near at hand to take notice and hear our Petitions wheresoever we are to his Holiness and Justice by lamenting our sins and deprecating his deserved punishments To his Mercy and Goodness while we beg forgiveness and all the Blessings we stand in need of To his Power and Soveraignty in that we think him able to do for us in all the things we request of him and do commit our selves to his Care and Providence We ascribe to him the Glory of all the great and good things he hath done for us and all Mankind by our praise and thanksgiving Likewise we do herein perform our duty with respect to Christ as our blessed Redeemer in that renouncing all our own Righteousness we plead his alone merits for our pardon and acceptance and present all our supplications in his name and through his intercession There is moreover in Prayer an happy concurrence of our Christian Graces and a fruitful exercise of them Of Faith for whosoever cometh unto God believeth that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him m Heb. 11. 6. Rom. 10. 14. He is perswaded of his power and readiness to help and doth confide in the truth of his word and promises Of Repentance in our humble confession of sin our profess'd sorrow for what we have done amiss and our petition for Grace to amend our lives Of Hope for t is by it we are encourag'd to pray and have a comfortable expectation of receiving the good things we pray for and our charity shews it self while we pray for others as well as our selves and do profess to forgive men their trespasses against us as we desire God to forgive ours And it belongs to our holy obedience that we implore the divine assistance and Gods holy Spirit for enabling us tomortify sin and to lead a sober righteous and Godly life And because the substance of Religion is thus compriz'd in Prayer hence it is sometimes us'd to signify a mans duty to God in general as when it is said Whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved n Joel 2. 32. Act. 2. 21. Rom. 10. 13. and in
cannot but bring it with a wicked mind k Prov. 21. 27. beside whereas a domestick Minister should by his good example and converse promote holiness and sobriety in those of the Houshold if he be himself vitious and disorderly they will be the more embolden'd to be such too or at least the Duties of Religion wherein he is concern'd will be the less regarded on his account It must therefore be remembred by all Heads of Families that having a spiritual as well as secular Government and the charge of their Houshold as consisting of Christians as well as Men it behoveth them to acquit themselves herein by taking care for Religion and Divine Worship and also that God may be so serv'd as shall be best to his honour and good liking and for the Spiritual benefit of their Families which doth mind us to add in the next place that VII The practice of Devotion in the houses of Christians as it is highly becoming their holy profession so it is a very great furtherance to their leading lives agreeable thereunto Our Religion is that general and high Calling in Christ Jesus * Phil. 3. 14. which all profess and they will grant 't is their chief business to serve God and that it ought to be their greatest care to obey and honour him by a sober righteous and godly life but if Religion be our chief Calling can it suffice to exercise the same one day in the Week Is it not rather reasonable that they be daily employ'd in it and not that their whole time should be ingross'd by worldly Callings if the Service of God be indeed their greatest business shall it not be minded every day as well as their others which are about the things of this World and is it not fit that God should be constantly serv'd by them in their houses at home and not only in the Church now and then when they cannot easily avoid it for fear of publick censure since men cannot chuse but own it should be their principal care to lead a good life well-pleasing to God without whose favour it can never be well with them they must thence think it needful that they be often exercis'd in those religious Duties which are the proper and likely means for the begetting and encrease of holiness That Family Devotions including Prayer and the Reading of the holy Scriptures are really such there needs little trouble to evince To be much conversant in Prayer doth greatly conduce to make men good because hereby there are renewed impressions made of that great and holy God to whom we pray and it leaves in the Soul awful apprehensions of him beside that it is one necessary part of Prayer to beg the Grace of God which he is ready to bestow on all who ask it of him But the holy Scripture is the most apt and efficacious means of promoting holiness being written by Gods special direction for that very purpose For it is given by inspiration and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness l 2 Tim. 3. 15 16. it is a sanctifying word as is imply'd in that Petition of our Saviour for them by whom the New Testament was to be set forth to the World Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth m Joh. 17. 17. and it is able to make a man wise unto Salvation as saith the blessed Apostle n 2 Tim. 3. 15. how these sacred Writings have their happy energy it is not hard to assign One account of it is that they make known unto us those Principles of Faith which are the fundamental reasons of practical Religion and strong enforcements to it as the being of a God and his glorious Attributes of Holiness Goodness Omniscience Power Justice the Creation of the World by him and his Providential Government of it our Redemption by Christ the immortality of our souls and the future retribution in the World to come likewise in the Scripture is the Law of God which doth plainly declare both the Duties we are to perform whether toward God our Brethren or our Selves as also the sins of all sorts to be avoided by us which is done so fully that it is thereby a complete rule of action For the Law of God is perfect o Psal 19. 7. and the Apostle teacheth that the holy Scriptures are sufficient to make the man of God perfect throughly furnish'd to every good work p 2 Tim 3. 17. also because in the word of God 't is so clearly shewn what we are to do and what not hence it follows that by it men are reproved and convinc'd of sin and thereby dispos'd to repentance and amendment of life it's convincing power is with much Emphasis thus express'd by the Apostle For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the hearts q Heb. 4. 12. and by means hereof it reduceth men from the errours of their ways For the Law of God converteth the soul Psal 19. 7. and 't is prescribed to the young man as that which would be most effectual to reclaim him from the disorders of that vain Age. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way even by taking heed thereto according to thy word Psal 119. 9. How St. Austine that eminent Father was rescu'd from his former ill course of life on his reading the last Verses of the thirteenth to the Romans himself hath attested to the World r Confes l. 8. c. 12. Again the Scriptures do make known those severe punishments both temporal and eternal which shall be the portion of evil doers and they do also represent the many and great rewards of a good Conversation some whereof to be enjoy'd in this life but the greatest of all which is set forth with highest expressions is a Kingdom of endless Glory prepared in Heaven Now the Principle of Self-love and a desire of happiness being natural to all men it cannot be but these divine Writings should on this account have a potent influence for delivering men from sin and engaging them to Vertue and Holiness Of such admirable use are the sacred Books for rectifying the minds and governing the Lives of men and so well fitted are they for this excellent purpose and we wonder that the good Father lately nam'd did esteem them so highly and so much delight in the reading of them for after his Conversion Cicero of whom he had been extremely fond before became vile to him and he could think no Book comparable to the Bible as he hath Written of himself f Ibid. l. 3. cap. 5. lib. 7. cap. 20. 21. But it must be still understood that whatever efficacy the Scripture hath 't is but in subordination to the Grace of God It being the Sword of
2. 47. 3. 142. 2. and lighten himself by casting his burden upon the Lord as the Scripture doth direct d Psal 55. 22. when all means do fail us God is a very present help in trouble e 1 Pet. 5. 7. and is nigh unto all that call upon him f Psal 46. 7. he alone can succour us in cases of greatest moment and when we are most in need if thou art under grief or inquietude of mind thou mayest apply thy self to him as the Father of Mercies and God of all comfort g 2 Cor. 1. 3. in a time of present affliction or threatning dangers thou mayest fly to him as Governour of the World and one who can provide for thy deliverance or else turn the most troublesom events to thy real advantage when thou art perplexed with the guilt and power of Sin whither canst thou go but to him whose property and prerogative it is to forgive who is the God of all Grace h 1 Pet. 5. 10. and able to succour them who are temptedi if thou art under sickness or any fear of approaching death what canst thou do better then seek to him who alone hath the power of Life and Death can direct to and bless the means of recovery or else translate thee to a more happy life in Heaven At all times and in all places when in solitude and confinement when wanting the opportunity of publick Prayers and the society of other Christians the comfort and benefit of private Devotion will still remain with thee and be thine inseparable support when all others fail and whether thou art alone or no thou mayest in a moment of time ascend up to Heaven in divine ejaculations to him who is Cordis non Vocis auditor * Cypr. de Orat. Dom. and by the help hereof thou canst drive on thy great concerns above amidst the ordinary affairs of this life for we find it urg'd on Christians by the antient Fathers that they would mix the acts of Devotion with all their secular employments by one of them it is put into the Character of the pious Christian that In his walking in his discourse in his taking rest in reading and in all his humane affairs he doth still offer up Prayers to God k Clem. Alex Strom. Any time saith another is convenient for Prayer and Singing of Psalms so that while the hands are employed at work the tongue may be also sometimes if possible which is indeed more useful for edification of Faith if not with the heart at least let God be praised in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs as it is written and let Prayers be perform'd at the time of working l Basil in Ascetic Again A man when he goes to market or is walking by himself may make long Prayers he may while sitting in his Shop or Working at his Trade give up his Soul to God thus St. Chrysostome m Ad pop Antioch Hom. 89. And in those days Christians did practise accordingly We read in St. Jerome that in his time the labourers might every where be heard sounding forth godly Songs The Countryman at the Plough had his Hallelujahs the Mower his Hymns and the Vinedresser would be singing Davids Psalms n Ad Marc. Epist 17. But above all there is from private Devotion this most desirable advantage that whatever shall happen the man who hath the testimony of his own conscience for his sincere Piety in the closest privacies of his life will have reason to be chearful in the worst of times and under the greatest disasters he is still safe though the earth be removed and the Mountains carried into the midst of the Sea though the waters roar and be troubled and the Mountains shake through the swelling thereof * Psal 46. 2 3. yea should he be brought to the most dismal extremity even the Valley of the shadow of death yet he need not be afraid l Psa 23. 4. while he can say with Hezekiah that he hath walked before God in truth and with a perfect heart m 2 Kings 20. 3. and there is an example more near to the purpose in the Prophet Daniel who when by the contrivance of his implacable enemies condemned to the Den to be devour'd by Lions was yet nothing terrified for that his Devotion thrice a day in his Chamber the very thing by which they had design'd his ruin was his ground of confidence and the Heathen King could thence encourage him saying Thy God whom thou servest continually he will deliver thee n Dan. 6. 16. and he really did so as it follows in the relation It is most certain that every person whatever will find himself oblig'd sometime or other to have recourse to God in prayer on his own particular account as in a time of personal affliction or threatning danger especially when the terrours of death draw near In such cases to which all are subject nature and the principle of self preservation will set men a praying so that they who had us'd to forget God and his service yet in their affliction will seek him early o Hos 5. 15. and the very Heathen when tossed in a tempest will every one cry unto his God p Jon. 1. 5. Now as we desire God shall hear us in our need and distress we are concern'd to own and worship him at other times for if in our prosperity he be slighted by us and never call'd upon how can we expect he shall give ear or take any notice of us in our time of necessity the Prayers we then put up will be reckon'd to proceed not from any piety to God but wholly from self-love and servile fear We see how God is represented by Solomon as to his carriage towards such ill men as had lived in contempt of him and his service in spight of all persuasions to the contrary for it is threatned that as God had called and they had refused so there would be a time of fear and distress And then saith he shall they call upon me but I will not answer them they they shall seek me early but they shall not find me q Prov. 1. 28. hitherto doth belong what is reported of Bias one of the Grecian wise men that happening to be at Sea with some whom he knew to be of impious lives when these the Ship being in great danger by a storm cried out to the Gods he said to them Hold your peace that they may not take notice ye are here on board r Diog. Laert. in vit Biant meaning that their Prayers could do no good but would rather endanger the Ship the more by letting the Gods know there were such as they in it we must not deny but that God may indeed in the needful time hear the supplications of such as had not us'd to make their particular addresses to him but there is little reason to expect it and 't is a