our contrition and repentance In affliction saith the Lord they will hear me Davids troubles made him pray Hezekiah's sickness made him weep and misery drew the Prodigal child home We have the Prophets examples and patterns of bearing afflictions patiently which though the punishment and shame is of sin God turns to be the subject of his honour and glory in saving a sinner that calls upon him in faith and true repentance to Heaven His chastisements are signs of his Fatherly love which though for the present seem grievous unto us afterward it bringeth quiet fruit of righteousness to those whom the Lord giveth grace to make a sanctified use of it for which he hath inflicted this sickness on you And know you certainly though your sins are many and grievous which you have committed by the temptation of the Devil yet upon your true repentance God hath promised to forgive the benefits of which are the escaping eternal death God's everlasting punishments and the attaining eternal salvation where sin abounds there grace much more abounds God calls all those that are heavy laden to refresh and ease them of all their trouble the Lord forsaketh no man till man forsaketh him Look not so much upon the greatness of thy sins as to the riches of his mercy and let thy soul be comforted in the All-sufficient atonement of the blood of Jesus Christ Let the wicked saith the Lord forsake his way the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto me and I will have mercy upon him and I will pardon him abundantly Let not your conscience be terrified at the remembrance of your transgressions for there is no sin bars a man from salvation but incredulity and impenitency Therefore lift up your hearts unto the Lord call unto him for mercy repent earnestly of your sins and have a lively considence in Christ's merits and doubt not but upon your humble contrition and sorrow for sin with sighs and tears the blood of a wounded soul God will receive your soul into everlasting happiness to live in eternal glory which he of his infinite mercy grant through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The sick saith O God the Father of Heaven have mercy upon me miserable sinner O God the Son Redeemer of the world have mercy upon me miserable sinner O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son have mercy upon me miserable sinner c. By thine Agony and bloody sweat By thy Cross and Passion By thy precious Death and Burial By thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension and by the coming of the Holy Ghost Good Lord deliver us In all time of our tribulation In all time of our wealth in the hour of death and in the day of Judgment Good Lord deliver us I Humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to look upon mine infirmities and for the glory of thy Names sake turn from me all those evils that I most righteously have deserved grant that in all my troubles I may put my whole trust and considence in thy mercy evermore serve thee if I live in holiness and pureness of living to thy honor glory through Jesus Christ our only Mediator and Advocate Amen The friends of the sick party shall exhort him to examine himself of his estate both towards God and towards man that so by the condemning of himself he may find mercy at the hands of God for Christ Jesus sake 1. Of the confession of his faith 2. Of his sins and offences both against God Almighty either publick or private or his Neighbor in word or deed 3. Of his considence and faith in Jesus Christ for the death and passion he suffered for all sinners 4 Advise the party to send for the Minister that he may pray with him for the Lord hath promised to hear the prayers of the Faithful for us and to forgive us our trespasses And that he may give him the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ the living Bread that came down from Heaven If any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever the Bread that I give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the World for whosoever eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal life and I will raise him at the last day Joh. 6. 51. 5. Advise him to call to mind what injury or wrong he hath done to any man in word or deed that he may like good Zacheus make satisfaction where he hath injuriously fraudulently taken and detained from any man by oppression or deceit his goods or money for without restitution there can be no Repentance and if no Repentance no expectation of salvation 6. Advise him also to set his house in order for death will not be long in coming and that the covenant of the grace is not revealed to any And to make a judicious distribution of his estate not forgetting the poor The sick saith 1. I believe in God the Father Almighty c. 2. I am fully perswaded and undoubtedly in my conscience believe and do confess and acknowledge before God and you here present that every Point and Article of this my belief is true and necessary to Salvation 3. I acknowledge that I have been a grievous sinner offending my God many ways both in thought word and deed and am guilty of the breach of all his Commandments deserving for the same his heavy wrath and indignation against me I am sorrowful and mourn in my soul for them trusting that the Lord for Jesus Christ his sake who sitteth at the right hand of God making intercession for my sin will have mercy upon me and grant me forgiveness for the same and after this life ended receive me to his eternal habitation 4. I confidently believe that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator and Saviour of all mankind and that I shall be saved by the only merits of his precious Death and Passion which he suffered on the Cross for my Salvation denying all meritorious works of my own and that there is no name under Heaven whereby I may be saved but in the name of Jesus Christ 5. I do from my heart freely forgive all the World all those that have any way wronged injured or offended me by word or deed as I desire to be forgiven of God And I desire likewise all men whom I have often offended by committing any unjust unconscionable or uncharitable act or deed to forgive me being sorry for what I did to their prejudice or hurt O Lord I beseech thee hear my Prayer and spare me which do confess my sins that I whose conscience by sin is accused by thy merciful pardon may be absolved through Jesus Christ Amen O Lord my Redeemer have mercy upon me and receive my Spirit A Prayer to be said by those that visit the Sick O most mighty and eternal God which hast compassion on all men and hatest nothing that thou hast made mercifully we
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
mind and heal my soul of all unbridled desires and sins that being inwardly healed and purged throughly I may be made fit to love strong to suffer and constantly to continue And above all things grant that I may have rest and peace in Thee for thou art the true peace thou art alone the quietness of mind and without thee all things are hard and troublesome In this peace that is in thee alone which art the chiefest and everlasting felicity I will repose my self both now and for ever and constantly persevere and continue in the same through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer not to distrust the mercy of God THY mercy O Lord my God endureth for ever and thy loving kindness towards thy Children is not able to be uttered the truth of thy promise never faileth thine Elect Thou hast made calm the troubled waves of wavering thoughts which overwhelm my soul and brought me to the quiet Haven of thy merciful protection and defence and hast delivered mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling and my heart from distrust O Lord my God and loving Father let this thy great mercy and loving kindness shewed upon me never depart out of my mind and heart but that I may be thereof continually mindful all the days of my life And for these thy unseparable mercies towards me grant good Lord that I may have a thankful heart to render due honour praise and thanksgiving unto thy Majesty acknowledging from the bottom of my heart thy wonderful works in me And that I may hereof be more assured I beseech thee good Lord that as thou hast begun to deliver me so I may feel more and more daily thy good will and mercy towards me increase in me true understanding of thy heavenly Will and thy blessed Word strengthen my faith in thy loving promises that I may be assured of thy protection and mine election and salvation Make me daily more and more to love Thee my dear Father and God unâ—eignedly for all thy goodness shewed unto me to have my full delight and joy in thee and walk before thee in sincerity of heart and godly conversation that I may here on earth glorifie thy Name and after this life with all thy faithful flock possess that everlasting inheritance which thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord hath purchased to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever Amen A Prayer to be always bent to Heavenly things O I would to God that that day might once Shine in the which I might see my Redeemer and all these temporal days would end for the days of this world are few short full of evil and sorrow where man is defiled with many sins oppress'd with griefs and cares disturbed with thoughts wrap'd in vanities compassed with errours molested with temptation drowned in sensuality and crucified with Poverty O when shall there be an end of these manifold and miserable labours when shall I be delivered from the miserable bondage of wickedness when shall I only remember thee O Lord when shall I fully and perfectly rejoyce in thee when shall I be out of all danger and delivered from all grief of Body and Soul and come to true liberty when shall I rest in that quiet secure and undisturbed peace where peace is both within and without in all things O Lord Jesus when shall I see thee behold the Glory of thy Kingdom which thou hast prepared for thine Elect from the beginning I do wish to be joyned to Heavenly things but temporal Pleasure and mortal passions keep me back from them In mind I would fain vanquish all wickedness and vice but yet I am constrained to be subject to the froward flesh and I unhappy wretch am at controversie with my self for whilst my soul aspireth upward my flesh draweth downward O what passions do I inwardly suffer For when my soul beginneth to contemplate of Heavenly things then presently heaps oâ— carnal thoughts withdraw me from Prayer O my God do not linger from me depart not in anger from thy servant Thunder forth thy Lightening-bolt and disperse my worldly thoughts abroad and drive away all the temptations of mine enemy Turn my senses unto thee O my dear Father and make me to forget all earthly things Grant that I may cast of all sinful thoughts and fantasies O eternal verity succour me to the end that no vanity do tempt or remove me from thee O heavenly Father help me for all vanity and impureness melteth before thy face which livest and raignest ever one God in Power and Glory world without end Amen An Evening Prayer O Eternal God and merciful Father hear my voice and listen to my Prayers and forgive all my sins which this day I have done in the sight of thee and be not angry with thy servant for ever but listen unto thine only begotten Son which maketh intercession to thee for me for his sake hear me and have mercy upon me defend me this night of thy merciful goodness from unclean and troublesome spirits and from the snares and illusions of the Devil preserve me from all dangers and save my Body and Soul from destruction and grant that this night I may sleep quietly without grief or trouble that in darkness I may behold with the eyes of my heart the light of thy countenance shineing upon me for in thee alone do I trust Thou art my Lord and God into thy hands I commend my soul and body now and ever Therefore O Lord let thy unspeakable mercy preserve me thy endless sweetness rejoyce me thy heavenly truth strengthen me thy knowledge embrace me and thy goodness keep me now and evermore Amen Prayers for Munday 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 HElp me O God of my Salvation for the glory of thy Name O deliver me and be merciful unto my sin for thy Names sake O remember not mine old sins but have mercy upon me and that soon for I am come to great misery My Soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh rejoyceth in the Living God Blessed are they that dwell in thy House they will be always praising thee Preserve thou my soul therefore O my God and save thy servant that puts his trust in thee O comfort the soul of thy servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul For thou Lord art good and gracious and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee And blessed is the man whose strength is in thee and in whose heart are thy ways O Lord I have cryed day and night before thee O let my Prayer enter into thy presence incline thine ear to my calling And be merciful unto me O Lord for I will call daily upon thee for thou dost wondrous
it obedient unto thee From suddain and unprovided death good Lord deliver me by the virtue of thy most excellent and glorious Divinity by the virtue of thine incarnation and by the merits of thy passion and resurrection grant me these supplications which I have made to thee And by thy own and only mediation purchase for me a gracious life and a blessed ending and after my bodily death give me everlasting life with endless bliss that I may reign with thee for ever and ever in the world to come Amen A Prayer for the attaining of a free and quiet mind O Most gracious merciful God keep me I beseech thee from the cares of â—his world that I be never too much inâ—angled therein by reason of the manifold â—hings which this body needeth nor taken with the vain delight of that which doth hurt the soul nor finally broken and overthrown with sorrow I say not from those things which the vain world doth greedily hunt after but from those miseries which suppress the mind of thy servant by a common and penal course of mortality and so withdraw me that I cannot enter into by the freedom of thy Spirit O my God which art sweetness unspeakable make all fleshly joy which withdraweth me from the love of eternal things to be grievous and odious unto me Let not flesh and blood O my God let not flesh and blood overcome me Let not the World and the vain glory thereof deceive me nor Satan with his subtilty supplant me Give me strength to resist patience to endure and constancy to persevere unto the end Grant me for the comfort of thy Word the most comfortable Oyntment of the Holy Ghost And for the lust of the flesh pour on me the love of thy Name The very meat drink and apparel with other things necessary for the nourishment of the body are even burthensome to a fervent spirit But grant O Lord that I may use those things moderately and never be snared with an over-greedy desire of them All things are now to be rejected for their nature would decay Again to covet superfluous and every pleasing thing thy sacred Commandments do forbid for the flesh would insult over the spirit Wherefore between those things let thy hand direct me O Lord and teach me to do nothing out of measure Grant this O most merciful Father to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory Amen A Prayer for Hope O Eternal Father the author and giver of all Hope and Comfort I beseech thee to fill me with all joy and peace in believing that I may abound in hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost â—nd above hope in hope believing â—ay never doubt of thy Promises but in sure confidence of heart apply to my self â—he remission of my sins and believe veriâ—y that I please thee in Jesus Christ and â—oking in a certain and strong hope for â—e salvation of my soul in the life to â—â—me And albeit the helps and happiâ—ess of this present world appear not unâ— me yet I beseech thee O Lord let me â—â—â—â—tain a stedfast hope among all the terâ—rs of conscience and never suffer the same to be taken away from me by any snare of Satan O thou only begotten Son of God which hast loved me and given me everlasting comfort in hope through grace Comfort my heart and establish my heart in every word and good work that I stick not uncertain neither be tossed between hope and fear but may hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope unto the end And assist me O my God and Father I beseeh thee that in all the ways of temptation and troubles in this world I may patiently depend on thee looking for corporal deliverance according to thy will And though the same come not as I wish but be kept from me for a season yet let me never doubt of thine aid and deliverance but hope that coming it will come And I beseech thee O Lord to grant me thy grace that having this hope I may purge my self from all offensive things to thee and serve thee my loving God through Jesus Christ mâ— Lord and Saviour for ever Amen A Prayer against the Power of Satan O Lord my GOD how do we daily pass the limits of thy will We sin at least seven times a day and pledge Mother Eva in the dregs of nature This is the frailty of the flesh and this is the weakness of all Adam's issue A miserable case O Lord unless in thy mercy thou wilt wrap us and cover us with the white rayment of thy Grace that we being thine may never despair for any brunt of stormâ—ng Satan be it never so perillous O â—ord save me in thy mercy behold me â—ave pity and compassion upon me and â—ark not my steps that are crooked but â—ast the eye of thy favour upon thy Son Christ who was content to suffer the â—leeding pains of the Cross to satisfie thy â—rath and to deliver us from the sting of â—hellish conscience Wherefore I beseech â—ee O Lord and most dear Saviour not 〈◊〉 observe mine iniquities but to wash â—e from the guiltiness of sin in the â—â—ood 〈◊〉 thy mercies and so to save me that â—â—ing dead in iniquity and yet saved 〈◊〉 thine infinite pity I may give 〈◊〉 glory unto thee and sing with Our â—other the Church that Salvation belongeth unto thee O Lord to whom be praise and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for the desire of a Godly Life O My Lord God how happy were I if I might never hereafter in thought word or deed commit the thing that should displease thy Divine Majesty That life is the longing of my soul and the substance of my wish and the effect of my desire my heart coveteth to see that blessed time and my joys then should be such as no mortal man can tell Truly Lord to know thee with the Son and the Holy Ghost is the true perfection of eternal life the end of all blessedness and the summ of all delights No eye hath seen nor ear hath heard nor hath it pressed into the depth of any mans understanding to value the inestimable charity delectation and pleasure of the same felicity when we shall behold the Majesty of God face to face And verily most glorious God I have reposed this hope in my heart and do assure my self through faith in thee that these eyes wherewith I read these lines shall see that Glory and this flesh wherewith I am cloathed in corruption and nouâ—led in mortality shall be a member of that immortal Kingdom Unto the which Lord at thy appointed pleasure bring me to whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost be all Power and Glory for ever and for ever Amen An Evening Prayer O Omnipotent and eternal God Father Son and Holy Ghost three in Persons and one in Substance and from everlasting I extol thy sacred Majesty I praise thy unspeakable
of vanity what is my heart but a filthy prison of corrupt thoughts What is my mouth but a stinking chanel of vain words what are my feet but chariots to bloodshed what are my hands but battlers with charity what is my head but a castle of wicked devices and what is my life but a fardel of iniquity I am nothing better than a dead tree the root is perished the bough wither'd being good for nothing but for the fury of the flame what then good Lord shall it be so what shall I burn sweet Jesus O save me for thy Names sake and quicken â—me create a new heart within me that I may bring forth much fruit and for ever flourish like a Tree planted by a river side O pour the Oyl of Grace into my defiled heart and season it with the salt of thy mercy lest the fume of mine iniquities ascend up to thy nostrils and provoke thy fury against me Pour down some drops of thy precious blood from the clouds of thy Mercy to quench out the angry flame of sin which of my self I am not able to put out by the virtuous water of any merit O Lamb of God let me eat thy flesh and drink thy blood that I may live by thee and cloath me in the wooll of thy mercy that no winter or storm of sin do pinch my silly soul Thou O God art full of compassion and long-suffering which continuest thy mercy for thousands taking away iniquities sins and offences Thou callest us after thy wonted mercy by thy Word to repentance and hearty conversion for unto all and every one is repentance and forgiveness of sins preached in thy Name therefore unto thee O most merciful Father do I cry desiring thee to look back upon me thy unworthy servant with the eyes of pity even as thou looked'st back upon the sinful woman in the banquet likewise favour thou me O Lord as thou didst the Publican who standing afar off smote his breast and said Lord be merciful unto me a sinner And grant O Lord that among the fears and terrours of conscience I may take hold of thee by a lively Faith and never in the sight of conscience do yield my self and despair but upholden by the voice of the Gospel I may flee unto thee my Redeemer and have by faith peace with God And thou my Saviour which hast suffered for me in the flesh give me grace that likewise in the same mind I may be arm'd for the mortifying of my flesh that henceforth I may live not after the lusts of men but after the will of God and keep the Devil under O LORD that he compel not my troubled conscience to despair either by heaping or ripping up mine offences or extenuating thy mercy and grant that I may come unto thee by hearing thy word unto Repentance that thereby the Angels in Heaven may continually have occasion to rejoyce before thee which livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen A Prayer for the Aid of GOD's Holy Spirit O Dear Father forasmuch as every man living is of himself before thee but as a beast neither knowing thee nor the things concerning their duties unto thee I as one of the most perverse filthy and corrupt do here humble my self before thee begging at thy hands that thou hast promised to give unto as many as ask it of thee thy holy Spirit that heavenly Comforter which revealeth thee and thy will to the simple and ignorant which also stireth up the minds and inward affections of thy children to call upon thee by preparing their hearts and opening their mouths to celebrate thy Name bestow it good Father bestow it upon me thy unworthy servant and upon all thy children and grant that although all of us are of corrupt affections and polluted lips yet we may be sprinkled with that Heavenly Hyssop that we may have our hearts cleansed of the corrupt affections of this World and the eyes of our understanding opened that we may see the good things we should ask and our feet that are fettered with the cares of vain things may be set at liberty that we may walk the right way unto the Kingdom of Heaven and that the hands of our souls may apprehend take hold of the Righteousness of thy Son Jesus Christ that by the aid of the same Spirit we may cast off all impediments letts and incumbrances that detain us from coming unto thee Sanctifie me within without wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow let thy truth and thy spirit meet together in my soul that my prayers may enter into thy presence and that thine ears may incline unto my humble petition so shall I declare thy loving kindness in the morning and thy truth in the night season Thou knowest whereof we be made thou forgettest not that we are but dust and unprofitable children not fit apt nor able of our selves to pray unto thee and praise thy Name therefore good Lord allure me unto thee to seek thee and grant that with my whole heart and mind I may always rejoyce and be comforted by thee for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to acknowledg God in his Works O Most mighty and eternal God thou by the creation of the world and all that therein is hast sufficiently declared thy self to be the everlasting and Almighty God for that these things do far pass the reach of mans wisdom and not herein only hast thou declared thy self to be God but in that also that thou dost continually guide and govern the same and all things of thee created Seeing therefore O most merciful Father that we have both in our selves and also in thy creatures so manifest Testimonies that thou only O Lord art that eternal and loving God which dost reign in all thy creatures guiding and governing them by thy Heavenly Providence Grant I do beseech thee that my heart may be hereof fully assured to acknowledge thee not only to be God eternal who hast created all things but also that I may in heart be fully perswaded that thou O Lord dost govern all things according to thy most blessed will so that nothing can be done in the whole world without thine appointment and that thou hast such a singular care over thine Elect so that not so much as an hair of their heads shall fall without thy Providence Grant therefore O Lord I beseech thee that I may hereof be fully assured in my Heart and Soul and that I may in all my doings set thee before mine eyes acknowledging thee to be my only Lord and Father and by the working of thy holy Spirit in me I may be confirmed in Faith comforted in Soul and lightned in Understanding that always here on Earth I may glorifie thy holy Name and after the dissolution of this my mortal body I may attain thy everlasting joy with thy Elect in thy glorious Kingdom for ever and ever Amen A very fruitful Prayer to
me LORD of thy gracious goodness that I may live in thy Law walk in thy way and die in thy Faith and that I may clearly be delivered of the bondage of sin and be wholly out of death and damnation give me the peace which the world cannot give grant me the joy which thine Elect do possess sustain me with the comfort that never shall be void erect me with the hope that always shall persist instruct me with thy Word that ever shall endure and advance me to thy Kingdom that never shall have end then shall thy Glory still live in me and I shall never die but Raign with thee for ever to whom O Father be all honour and glory world without end Amen Prayers for Wednesday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy name for ever dispose my heart and â—pen my lips c. A Psalm O LORD my GOD thou hast searched me out and known me thou knowest my downsitting and â—y uprising thou understandest my thoughts long before Thou art about my path and about my â—ed and spyest out all my ways For lo there is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogether My reins are thine thou hast cover'd me in my mothers womb I will give thanks unto thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well My bones are not hid from thee though I be made secretly and fashioned beneath in the earth Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book were all my members written Which day by day were fashioned when as yet there was none of them O how dear are thy counsels unto me O God O how great is the summ of them O enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Keep me O Lord from the hands of the ungodly preserve me from wicked men which are purposed to overthrow my goings Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense and the lifting up of my hands be an evening Sacrifice Set a watch O LORD before my mouth and keep the door of my lips O let not my heart be inclined to any evil thing let me not be occupied in ungodliness with the men that work wickedness lest I do such things as please them But teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness A Prayer for mortification O Righteous God and merciful Father who art so pure and clean that no corruption resteth in thy sight and â—ith there is required in all men the sincere and inward zeal of the soul and an absolute killing of the motions of the flesh and mortifying of all carnal affection look favourably upon me O LORD in whom doth dwell an innumerable troop of foolish fantasies and an heap of sinful affections I find and feel O LORD that though many times to will be present with me yet to perform is not in my power sin doth prevail and death through sin swalloweth me up so that I rest in darkness of sin by giving scope unto mine own perverse will and such is my miserable estate that being thus of my self flesh and blood slattereth it self and concludeth that whatsoever I purpose in an evil desire so that it break not forth into open gross wickedness that I am holy enough that I am as sincere as is requisite and that I stand too fearful of thy judgment When thou knowest O Lord that all and every the least conceit of sin breaking into action in what covert measure or mean degree soever it by and by endangereth my soul and deserveth sudden judgment and therefore let it please thee O Father that as thy dear Son through thy surpassing love hath reconciled all such unto thy favour again that are truly penitent so let thy holy Spirit continually work to the taming of my unbridled flesh and let me by the same Spirit come to a true mortification of all the evils that rise up in me So shall I deny and forsake my self and follow thee so shall I leave my self and come to thee hate my self and love thee conquer my self and serve thee And here thou â—eest O my dear Father that I am most weak and without the continual working of thy grace I cannot in any measure suppress my desires but that they rather the more strongly rise in me I cannot deny my self but I rather deny the working of thy grace in me I do not only not mortifie my sins but sin rather reviveth and becometh strong in me in as much as it bringth forth fruit not unto life but unto death therefore I beseech thee O heavenly Father to sanctifie me that I defile not my self with the filthiness of the flesh nor fleshly things howsoever they may seem to please me let me not be deceived with the pleasing judgments of worldly men who affirm sin to be no sin darkness to be light and light to be darkness Atheism to be Religion and sanctity to be sin O dear Father many are the Enormities that rise up in us and defended not only as things tolerable but as things laudable wherefore I beseech thee to mortifie these evils and let me no longer be sotted with the filthy fashions of this world extinguish the flames of carnal desires repress the rageing lusts of the flesh and grant that I may with shame and with due watchfulness avoid all things that have but the appearance of evil but being thus inwardly subdued I may make outward profession that whatsoever I do it may be simply grounded upon a good conscience and let me still retain this in memory O Lord that I cannot follow mine own will and thy word that I cannot impart my affections to the deed of the flesh and the works of the Spirit that I cannot walk in darkness and light in the way of death and in the way of life wherefore O most dear Father direct me in my whole life and separate me from the World and worldly things and let me dwell with thee in all Godly meditations and contemplations and let me use the things of this world as I used them not and being thus truly mortified in the body and quickned in the spirit I may look in continual watchfulness for the dissolution of this my mortal body that my soul may ascend and in the end both soul and body may for ever more enjoy the eternal joys of Heaven Amen A Prayer against desperation O Most merciful GOD greatly have I sinned and alas am guilty of many crimes therefore unto thee do I cry O most holy Father and eternal God keep me in thy Name that in Temptations and extremities I never faint in courage Moderate and mitigate my vexations let them come to a joyful end that I fall not into the most heinous sin of incredulity and despair O Christ
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
down from Heaven where it attendeth about thy fear and replenish my heart with the knowledge of it that I may perfectly know what thy divine will and pleasure is in all things and that I may always direct my ways by rule thereof loving thee and above all things continuing most thankful for all thy Fatherly benefits bestowed and conferred upon me and that prosperity overcome not nor in adversity I be foolishly moved to seek remedy elsewhere than at thy hands only who art my God and who hast promised to give wisdom to all them that unfeignedly ask it O Lord hear my prayer and let my cry come unto thee give perfect wisdom whereby I may truly discern the difference between the Heavenly revelation which is wisdom from above and vain cogitations of worldly wits considering that the one in all things as well in adversity as prosperity continueth most constant stable patient and firm whereas contrariwise the other seeketh with more diligence to avoid the afflictions troubles and calamities which thou Iayest upon thy children but most sweet LORD and Heavenly Comforter grant that it may be far from my heart to think that any thing cometh to pass otherwise than by thy Almighty providence who willeth nothing nor doest any thing but what is most expedient and necessary for the use of the bodies and souls of thy servants which we cannot rightly conceive without this especial gift of thine wherewith for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake endue me that I be not led by fond conceit or deceive my self with worldly experience but governing my self according to thy will and measuring all my actions words and thoughts by the right rule of knowledge in the end I may be found in the number of those discreet Virgins who had their Lamps continually burning and not in the number of those that were taken unprovided that the coming of thy Son Jesus Christ be not terrible unto me but most acceptable and joyful that in the end I may have free entrance into that most glorious Kingdom which thy Son JESUS Christ hath purchased with his blood for all true Believers in him to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the true Worship of GOD. O Most gracious God and loving Father establish my heart and mind in the true Worship of thy divine Majesty Make me to believe thy Holy and Sacred Gospel wherein I am daily and hourly instructed to love fear honour and obey thee to renounce all superstitious ceremonies whereby thy Worship is defaced thy Glory prophaned and thine Honour greatly diminished give me thy grace to hate sin and iniquity and to renounce and forsake the vanities and wanton pleasures of this wicked and sinful world Arm me I beseech thee to mortifie and bring under the rebellious appetites and strange lusts of the flesh and finally give me power from above to withstand Satan the Prince of darkness and all his damnable ministers who by divers temptations provokes and allures us from Godly purity and perfect integrity which passeth only from Christ Jesus to us who is the fulness of our perfection and holiness to all kind of evil impiety and uncleanness by means whereof thy Worship is greatly prophaned and of a set purpose contemned make me O LORD I beseech thee by the power of a fruitful faith to resist and bridle the concupiscnce of my flesh in such sort that my soul may triumph with victory and continue constant in worshipping thee prepare my heart and mind to spread forth the glory of thy Name keep my tongue from all filthy talk and uncomely gestures lest by the exercise of sin I contemn thy Worship and provoke thee to displeasure against me set thou a watch before the gates of my mouth that my lips by grace may be always made open to sound forth thy praise be merciful to mine offences think thou not on mine unrighteousness but of thy clemency forgive thou freely and pardon graciously all my sins make me faithful in Christ JESUS shorten these dangerous days of iniquity increase the number of thy chosen and peculiar Saints hasten thy coming O Saviour Christ that I with the fellowship of thy Saints heavenly Angels and the blessed company of Martyrs may celebrate thy praise and worship thee in thy glorious Kingdom before thy Father my GOD and the holy Ghost to whom be praise and glory for ever Amen A Prayer for Charity O Infinite Charity thou Son of GOD to whom the Father hath surrendred all power in Heaven and earth I have offended thee and endangered my soul desperately for Charity O Charity thou shalt judge the world in equity and I have not Charity abiding within me I love for gain I hate mine enemies I pray not for them that curse me and speak evil of me I have of thy benefits and yet I spare nothing for them that have need O eternal Charity I have hereby incurred the peril of thy just judgment Whereof O heavenly Charity have mercy upon me and quit me from a replying conscience and the court of the Devil for else will mine own life exclaim against me and crave damnation of my uncharitable conversion O Lord my sweet Saviour I beseech thee for thy bloody sweat in the bottomless pit of thy mercy to drown all my transgressions adopt me thy Brother and give me thy holy Spirits testimony as a gage and earnest of mine adoption and election that being free from sin I may serve thee with a free conscience in hope of an unwavering faith in mercy Amen A Prayer for the feeling of GOD's Favour and Grace O My LORD GOD and dear Father I here crave thy assistance and grace that feel all things to work in me contrary to thy will for blind is my mind crooked is my will and perverse concupiscence is in me as a spring and stinking puddle faint is my faith my sinful life increasing and my sins still abounding so as from offending thee O Lord I cannot cease neither day nor night and my sins are heavy upon me pressing me down even to Hell such is the weight thereof moreover when I prepare my self to amendment of life and think stedfastly to serve and please thee even soon after doth my corrupt nature offend and displease thy divine Majesty so that I am prone and ready to run headlong into all kind of sin and wickedness such is my strength such is my force and weakness in performing those things which thou requirest at my hands by reason whereof I am moved to doubt of thy goodness towards me unless thou of thy mercy and pity send thine aid from above and pour into me thy most healthful grace that I may most assuredly and faithfully trust in the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ which is of far greater force vertue and effect in preserving me than all my sins and offences are in condemning and casting me away wherefore O Father as thou requirest thus
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
of God and the Law of sin and so numerous are the calamities and troubles of our days that were it not for the hope of Heaven it would be little better than Hell it self crosses and afflictions troubles and molestations unavoidably rush in upon us as fast as Jobs Messengers hourly and daily for men as they are all the Sons of their Mothers are subject to all misery born to live few dayes in many dangers whose glory may well be compared to the shadow in the Sun which in the morning of our greatness is in a goodly luster at noon at the full beside us at night in the wain quite behind us There is nothing in this Vale of misery permanent or certain prosperity and adversity not long asunder Health and sickness often at variance no joy no happiness no felicity no tranquillity for continuance can be expected here in this World The only ease and consolation to our distresses the blessedness of content and rest to our wearisome Souls is to be looked for in the World to come What honour glory pleasure of earthly delight soever but is subject to instability possible and uncertain which made the wise-man upon his experience cry out Vanity of Vanity all is Vanity And the singular motive to a man in any affliction for the sufferance of sorrow need sickness or any adversity whatsoever is that by the sweet united blessings patience and content at the last by paying an inexcusable debt to Death which who so liveth of what state or condition soever cannot but think he must die will bring us to that eternal rest to the blessed enjoyment of everlasting felicity to dwell in glory for evermore For blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Rev. 14. 13. Death is a sleep a departed breath from dead earth inlivened at first by breath cast upon it to die is to be no more unhappy it is true to those over-swayed by nature death is accounted a misery but to men refined by the light of Judgment it is esteemed the only remedy against misery as it is the wages of sin it is due to us and as it is the end of all grief and sickness it belongs unto us It delivers us from all cares and troubles and bringeth us to all joys unspeakable by it we shall receive fulness of grace perfect and accomplished regeneration and perfect glory which while we are on earth we have but in part here we see darkly as in a glass then shall we see face to face the heavens you behold shall be superinvested with new endowments made everlasting habitations for the Saints prepared by death we pass to immortality nor can we attain eternal life but by leaving this life yet corporal death is no period of life but a passage to eternity though our body sleep a while in dust it shall rise again after thy likeness As for me saith the Prophet David I will bebold thy face in righteousness and shall be satisfied when I awake Holy Job saith Though all my flesh be consumed to bones yet thy Spirit blowing upon dead bones can revive them and couple them again with sinews and cloath them with flesh The dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead Isa 26. 19. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God if the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved we have a building of God an House not made with hands eternal in Heaven 1 Cor. 5. Christ is risen from the dead and made the first of them that slept 1 Cor. 15. Though in Adam we all die yet in Christ shall all be made alive That body that was sown a natural body shall rise a spiritual body 1 Cor. 15 Therefore let us be comforted and not fear the pains of death the approach of which suddenly makes a man to know himself he tells the proud and insolent they are but dust and in an instant makes them to repent and hate their fore-past happiness he takes an account of the rich and proves him a beggaâ— having interest in nothing but in the earth that fills his mouth shews the beautiful their desormity and they hate it he draws together the far stretch'd greatness all the Pride Cruelty Vain-glory and ambition of man and covers it all over with dust in the narrow limits of a grave And though for some years the body lies mouldred in the grave it shall at the last be raised in honour and glory purified perfected and immortalized from a dungeon of misery to a place of all felicity to our own Country into Paradise where we shall meet with Abraham Isaac and Jacob the Patriarchs and Prophets Saints and Angels our Friends and Kindred gone before us which we shall see and behold in Mount Sion the City of the everliving God in the company of innumerable Angels praising and magnifying the Lord of Heaven in white Robes and Palms in their hands following the Lamb wheresoever he goeth I will wait till my changing cometh then shalt thou call me and then shall I answer thee O Lord I come and appear before thee Job 14. 14. As the hart panteth for the water brooks so longeth my soul for thee O Lord â—s 42. 1. And for as much as all mortal men are subject to many sudden perils diseases and sicknesses and ever uncertain what time we shall depart out of this life there should no day pass without consideration for our last end which meditation is very requisite both for them that are in perfect health those that feel the hand of God by sickness that death will come is certain but when how or where is very uncertain It is appointed for all men once to die Heb. 9. 27. but the day when God hath not revealed because we should be ready every day it comes as soon to the young man that glorieth in his strength as to some in a good old age to the rich fool in a night as to the poor in the anguish of his soul to some violently to others untimely by accident to some by sudden and unexpected death without warning to all some one way or other And being Almighty God hath pleased to lay this sickness upon you and therein time to repent assure your self it is his visitation sent to you to try your faith patience or else to correct and amend what is amiss in you or whatsoever hath offended your heavenly Father for every child whom the Lord loveth he correcteth to prepare for a better world affliction seals us up to adoption by it he exercises his Children and the graces he bestows upon them it is special means to further
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
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
our Consciences we stand convicted and at the horrid thought of our sins we are mightily astonished what shall we say or wherein shall we open our mouths who shall deliver us from the misery due to us for our transgressions nothing can be expected in this life but misery and confusion and in the world to come eternal condemnation But yet O Lord in obedience of thy command and in confident assurance of thy endless and unspeakable mercy promised in Jesus Christ to all sinners with sorrow in our hearts with shame in our face in humility of spirit we appeal from thee to thee from thee a just Judge to thee a merciful Father from the Throne of thy justice to the seat of thy mercy beseeching thee to have mercy upon us O Lord to have mercy upon us and turn thy face away from all our sins and blot out all our transgressions for the only meritorious death and passion of Jesus Christ thy innocent Lamb who so abundantly shed his blood on the Cross to take away the sins of the world accept we intreat thee that inestimable price of his suffering for a full ransom for all our sins remit them unto us and divert thy Judgments and punishments from us and assure us of thy love and favour in Christ and for the time to come work in us by the graces of thy holy Spirit true and unfeigned Repentance and faith with strength against sin and grace in some better measure to do thy will reform our affections transform us out of sin into the glorious liberty of thy own children to live in newness of life in holy conversation and continual obedience to thy divine Majesty And seeing O Lord it hath pleased thee of thy goodness to deliver us from the power of darkness and all dangers of the night past affording us quiet and comfortable rest bringing us safe to the beginning of this day our souls and all that is within us shall praise thy holy Name desiring continually to render unto thee all possible praise and thanksgiving for the incarnation of our Blessed Saviour for our Redemption by passion for our Creation Election Justification and Sanctification in some good measure and assured hope of Glorification in the World to come we likewise bless thee for our lives health liberty peace and prosperity for our preservation and deliverance from evil since we were born for the freedom of thy Gospel for the comfort we enjoy under His Majesties happy Reign for delivering our Church and Kingdom from Foreign Invasion for sparing and giving us so long a time of Repentance for these thy blessings and benefits our Souls shall praise the Lord of Heaven whose mercy endureth from generation to generation Bless and defend us O Lord this day direct and protect us in the same bless our going out and coming in let thy Spirit guide us in all our Actions deliver us from the temptation and malice of the Devil and keep us both in Soul and Body from all his devices and let thy grace preserve and guide us in all our wayes that we may walk circumspectly and strive to avoid all occasions of committing or running into such sins which by nature we are apt to fall into set a watch before the door of our lips that we may not offend thy Majesty by ill words or blasphemous Oaths keep us we beseech thee from violent passions which provoke thy wrath and indignation against us and guide our feet in the way of peace which leads us to Everlasting Salvation Let the dew of thy blessing descend upon our labours and prosper thou the work of our hands O prosper thou our handy-work make us diligent and dutiful in our calling and that we may have a good Conscience in all our dealings not any way to defraud any man knowing one day we must give an account for all our words and deeds And good Lord we beseech thee so to bless our endeavours that we may raise such a competency and convenient sufficiency void of wretched care for the supportation of our lives in a modest and civil manner and especially give us hearts and minds contented with what thou shalt be pleased to lay upon us strength and patience in all afflictions and temptations troubles and adversities which seal thy Children to Salvation give us meekness and humility in prosperity and constancy in well doing and for the small remainder of our lives that we have to live here on Earth give us grace to consecrate it to thy service and live in thy fear not setting our hearts on transitory things but carefully labour to redeem the time not deferring our repentance but endeavour to make our calling and election sure working our salvation in fear trembling before we go hence and be no more seen And grant us O Lord that when the race and course of our natural life here on Earth is finished we may at the last receive a crown of righteousness which thou from the beginning hast laid up for them that fear thy Name In these our Prayers we further intreat thee O Lord for a blessing upon thy Church universal more especially we beseech thee to continue the peace and prosperity of these Churches wherein we live and every member thereof more especially ever mightily protect and defend from all evil and danger and bless with the chiefest of thy blessings thine Anointed our dread Soveraign Lord King Charles the Queens Majesty James Duke of York and the rest of the Royal Progeny Bless the Lords of his Majesties honourable Privy Council the Reverend Clergy and all Civil Magistrates bless all our Friends and Kindred and acquaintance bless us all good Lord from the highest to the lowest help and comfort all our brethren that in this transitory life be in trouble sorrow need sickness or any other adversity Comfort the comfortless help the distressed and defend all that travel by Land or Water and work in all and every one of us true fear of thy holy Name and constant resolution to serve thee to our lives end Good Lord hear Lord hearken unto us we beseech thee and accept of this our Morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving hear our prayers and grant our petitions that we have asked and all other blessings which thou in thine infinite wisdom knowest most necessary for us and thy whole Church we ask and crave at thy merciful hands in the Name and through the Mediation of thy dear Son our blessed Redeemer our only Lord and blessed Saviour Jesus Christ in that most excellent form of Prayer which he in his holy Gospel hath taught us saying Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come c. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us all for evermore Amen An Evening Prayer for a private Family O Eternal God and Heavenly Father which hast made of one blood all mankind and breathed