and euery part of my soule and bodie in all holinesse and sanctity that in all my life I may truely walke before thee in â—iâ—â—all feare and obedience and be of an vpright conuersation before the sonnes men Grant this for Christ thy Sonne Amen O Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer before the receiuing of the holy Communion or the Lords Supper THis holy Sacrament is called the Lords Supper because Christ Iesus did institute the same at his last Supper with his Disciples It is called the holy Communion because many faithfull communicate together at this holy Table as common partakers together of the body and blood of Christ. It is left vnto vs to be receiued of vs as a seale of our adoption into the inheritance of that newe Ierusalem purchased by Christ. It is a mysterie and therefore not vnderstood according to the spirituall end by the outward and carnall eating and drinking of the bread and wine which are onely visible signes of an inuisible vertue which maketh the worthy and truely faithfull receiuers liuely members of Christes mysticall bodie And yet not euery one that partaketh of this holy Table is therefore a member of Christ for the outward communicating not only auayleth nothing to the vnworthy Receiuer but turneth to his greater condemnation as appeareth in Iudas And therefore a most fearefull thing it is to presume to come to this holy Table with an vnprepared heart though aswell the vnworthy as the worthy Receiuers vnderstand by the letter of the word that the Body of Christ crucified vpon the Crosse is signified by the Bread his blood shed signified by the powring out of the wine yet how the Receiuer doth eate the flesh and drinke the blood of Christ euery Receiuer vnderstandeth not And therefore a dangerous presumption it is lightly and rashly to presse to this holy Table as if the bread and wine were of ordinary vse the taste and verdure of either differing nothing to the carnall sence from ordinary bread and wine But such is the spirituall vse as it worketh either to the saluation or damnation of euery one that receiueth Euery man receiueth as he is prepared in his heart The godly affected and sanctified that haue truely tasted and do retaine the grace of Gods holy Spirit bringing forth fruits worthy amendment of life partake worthy of this holy mystery But they that remaine in their sinnes carnally minded such as delite in the workes of darkenesse worldly and fleshly vanities what shew soeuer they make of the outward reuerent receiuing of this blessed Sacrament they doe but eat and drinke their owne damnation because they make no distinction or difference betweene this holy Table and the ordinary table of carnall meates They onely feele and feede on the visible signes but the spirituall and inuisible grace they taste not of Therefore it behooueth all that purpose to communicate at this holy Table first to examine how they stand prepared or vnprepared if they find themselues fit to partake of this heauenly mysterie it will appeare in their regeneration and renewed life by truely belieuing in the name of Christ Jesus by vnfeinedly louing one another as Christ commanded by well weighing and duely considering their wayes and turning themselues in faith and obedience to the commandements of God by truely repenting their sinnes and applying their hearts to righteousnesse and true holinesse He that is not thus prepared but continueth in his sinnes in infidelitie and disobedience ought to forbeare this holy Sacrament and to imploy his heart to search all his imperfections to seeke the meanes of reformation by the ministerie of the word and prayer left he come to this holy Table thinking to please God with a bare shew of Religion hauing neither faith nor repentance offering the sacrifice of fooles And so in stead of remission of sinnes promised to the worthy Receiuer hee increase his owne condemnation by vnworthy receiuing A Prayer to bee said before the receiuing of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. O Gracious Lord God Father of our Sauiour Christ Iesus and in him ours I thy poore creature wretched and ful of sinne doe here humbly fall downe in thy presence to be partaker of that holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of that Lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world Iesus Christ who tooke vpon him the burden of thy heauy indignation inkindled against all the sonnes of sinning Adam and refused not the ignominious death of the crosse to take away the curse which lay vpon all mankind pressing vs all downe euen to the hels hath redeemed againe into thy fauour and reconciled to thy grace as many as truly beleeue in his death satisfaction Thy mercy Lord did it wonderfull in our eyes yea a worke beyond the apprehension of humane wisedome a mystery incomprehensible Open therefore the eyes of our spirituall vnderstandings that we may comprehend and take holde by a liuely faith of the free remission of our sinnes and consequently of our reall and perfect adoption into the right of inheritance of eternall glory with Christ in the heauens Reueale Lord God euer louing this most hidde and heauenly mysterie vnto euery one here gathered together to partake of this holy Table and giue vs vnderstanding hearts truly to know what a high and heauenly mystery we here are to communicate for we cannot but acknowledge that although the creatures whereof we desire corporally to partake be visible and our eating the bread and drinking the wine be vnto vs in taste and verdure as are other like bread wine yet there is an inuisible and spirituall operation in the worthy and vnworthy receiuing namely saluation or damnation as appeareth in that vnworthy and most wicked Judas But good Father as he was marked from among the rest of thy Disciples to reprobation let this thine holy ordinance be a sure seale vnto vs of our saluation howsoeuer vnable we are to comprehend the height depth of thy great mercie and wisedome which in this most holy Communion thou offerest for the saluation of all worthy receiuers But who Lord can account himselfe worthy who dare presume to approch vnto this holy and heauenly Banquet of the Lambe as of his owne merit to partake worthily How can sinfull man by eating the bread and drinking the wine assure himselfe of remission of his sinnes not being spiritually instructed in this heauenly mystery Sinne and sanctitie truth and error light and darknesse agree not and therefore man as he is in himselfe by nature corrupt ignorant and in the shadow of death cannot worthily partake of this mystical banquet of the body and bloud of thy Sonne our Sauiour without the inward working of thy grace in his heart whereby it may please thee to giue him a liuely feeling of his imperfections a desire and power to cast off the lothsome clogge of sin and to be truely sanctified to the participation of so effectuall a
meane to obtaine saluation But how farre we wretched sinners heere gathered together are short of feeling our own wants of power to cast off our sinnes and how far from true sanctification thou knowest And therfore louing Father in Iesus Christ clense thou vs and wee shall bee cleane sanctifie vs and we shall be holy and though our imperfections be great though our faith be weak we shall be made perfect and our obedience confirmed by the sincerity of the obedience of Christ our Sauiour whose righteousnes and merits are made ours by thy fatherly and free imputation requiring of vs mortall men only to beleeue I beleeue Lord help mine vnbeliefe that I may lift vp a pure heart vnto thee begge faithfully of thee and receiue plentifully from thee all spirituall graces that I comming vnto this holy table hauing fully cast off the habite of sinne may be clothed with the sacred Robe of Christs Innocencie and be found among the rest of thy Saints hauing on that heauenly wedding garment that I be not taken from this holy Table thrust out with shame and horror into the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth Remember not our offences Lord burie them in the graue of euerlasting forgetfulnesse forget not whereof we are made and be not vnmindefull what an armie of spirituall enemies doe continually assayle vs and how in our most deuotest and most religious actions and exercises they are most busie to seduce and circumuent vs. Assist vs therefore Lord and be thou on our side grace vs now with thy blessed presence that we may heere offer vp vnto thee our soules and bodies a holy liuely and acceptable sacrifice and become worthie Receiuers of this holy Mysterie that as we eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup we may truly find an effectual mortification of our sinning part and a liuely viâ—ification and regeneration of our spirituall part and may be more and more changes in our liues that we may walk before thee and be vpright from hencefoorth all the dayes of our earthly pilgrimage and teach vs euer more and more to obey and loue him who so infinitly loued vs that he contented himselfe to giue his bodie to be crucified and his bloud to be shed for vs which great loue of his being heere represented vnto vs by these thy visible creatures of bread and wine giue vs truely and faithfully beleeuing hearts that we may worthily receiue them and rightly retaine the reuerend memorie of his death and be euer the better enabled to resist and abandon sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnes al the dayes of our liues that at his comming againe we may be raised and ascend with him as members sanctified and heires adopted into that inheritance which he purchased with his bloud in heauen Graciously grant this O Father for his sake that suffered that ignominious death and seale vp in our consciences by thy holy Spirit a full and liuely assurance that wee are truly ingrafted into him our head and in and by and with him shall liue eternally glorified in heauen Amen Lord increase our faith and prepare our hearts to a faithfull and reuerend receiuing of this holy Sacrament to our soules comfort A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Lords Supper IT is a dangerous thing vpon the recouerie of health after sicknes to suffer a relapse and falling downe againe but much more dangerous to fall into new sinnes after repentance and reconciliation with God A man hauing polluted himselfe with pitch and being clensed is worthy to suffer shame if he wallow in it againe How much more shamefull is it for a man that hath vowed reformation of his corrupt life and to forsake his sins and hath thereupon receiued in token of forgiuenesse the seale of Gods promise the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of Christ to binde him vpon paine of condemnation to new obedience if he wilfully fall backe againe Thou therefore whatsoeuer thou be that hast beene partaker of this holy and most sacred mysterie remember what thou hast done how thou hast eaten thy saluation or damnation for there is not a meane betweene this if therefore thou hauing beene a guest at this heauenly Feast feele in thy selfe a heart not so well formerly prepared as the holy Ghost commandeth retaining still the froth and filth of thy sinnes begin now to cast them off and put on instantly the wedding garment of true regeneration that thou mayest be found worthie to sit at this holy Table and to partake of the sauing food of thy soule by chewing the cudde of continuing repentance and newnesse of life heere that hereafter thou mayest enioy the fruits of thy new birth with Christ in heauen And for as much as no man hath power of himselfe to performe that obedience in the inner man which he may promise by outward words there is no surer or more preuailing meanes then prayer And therefore it behoueth thee to continue and end this heauenly exercise with hartie prayer to God in the same Christ that he would be pleased for that his Sons sake to accept thee into the inseperable societie of his Elect Saints And let not this desire be as a pusse of winde or as a flame suddenly quenched but let it be a daily exercise to meditate of this thy holy vnion with Christ that thy backe sliding to sinne heap not vp a more heauie weight of condemnation against thee in the time of thine account when it will be demanded how thou presumest to come to that holy Table without the habite of true faith and obedience it will not boote thee to say thou camest for feare of the law or for company with the congregation for who so commeth not for and apprehendeth not inward and spirituall comfort commeth vnworthily and he that falleth to his old sins againe hath eaten this Spirituall bread and drunke of that Spirituall rocke which is Christ to his owne damnation O Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the holy Communion GReat good and most gracious Lord God the Author and finisher of our faith who of thy free fauour hast now vouchsafed me to be a guest at this thy heauenly banquet where I haue beene refreshed not so much with the visible creatures of bread and wine for the strengthening of my weake bodie which without thy corporall nutriment cannot long indure But with the heauenly Manna the food of the soules of thy Saints the blessed body and bloud of that immaculate Lambe who sealed our attonement with thee with his bloud vpon the ignominious and grieuous crosse and there cancelled the hand-writing which was against vs and of the bond-â—â—aues of Satan made vs the free men of the new Jerusalem and in our nature and for vs and in our behalfes triumphed ouer Satan Death and Hell and now Lord as it hath pleased thee to accept me into this holy communion and to make me partaker of that
most holy mystery by the outward receiuing of visible bread wine worke gracious Lord in me a true liuely and spiritual feeling of the grace which thou hast promised vnto all worthy Receiuers And for as much as our assurance dependeth vpon thy promise and thy promise confirmed vnto vs by a liuely faith and that faith is thine owne free gift also by the operation of thy holy Spirit worke in me Lord this faith that may confirme vnto mee the effect of thy promise the free forgiuenesse of my sinues newnes of life a holy and sanctified conuersation a right reuerend vse of all thy creatures a religious feare to offend thee and vnfained loue of thee in Christ that as I haue bin now a partaker of the outward elemēts I may also and absolutely partake of the inuisible grace that my soule may be liuely and continually fed with that heauenly bread which maketh our soules strong in and by him whose bodie and bloud I haue here sacramentally eaten drunke and thereby through faith am vnited euen of thy free mercie vnto and made one with thee in him in whom whosoeuer is truly ingrafted shall liue for euer in the glorious heauens with him as coheires of that endlesse Kingdome of glory which he purchased by his obedience to the death of the Crosse. Good father let the remembrance of that his death be so imprinted in my hart this day that I neuer forget it but couet to renue and continually retaine the remembrance thereof by often communicating at this holy Table which though it be as a snare vnto the vnworthy partakers it is a sure seale of saluation to the faithfull truly penitent And therefore good Father confirme my repentace renue mine obedience strengthen my faith Make me a liuely member of Christ that as I haue this day promised to become a new creature and thou hast renued againe to me thy promise of remission of my sins and of my reconciliation with thee through the bloud of the Lambe Let this holy and heauenly condition be truely performed in my behalfe for euer So shall I be assured that thou wilt neuer faile in thy sacred couenant of grace to me being euer the same yea and Amen Thou Lord knowest my strong corruptions and the feeblenesse of my naturall power to resist sinne and what strong and powerfull aduersaries there lie in wayte for my soule laying continuall snares to entangle mee anew to make if it were possible this my reuniting into thee in Christ of none effect and to seduce me again into the wayes of vngodlines But good Father preuent me with thy grace that as I haue promised this day to forsake sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnesse so I may performe and perseuere in a sanctified life vnto my liues end through Christour Lord. Lord increase and confirme my faith euermore A MOTIVE TO a Prayer to be sayd of a man in any kind of trouble ALthough the word of God do approue Afflictiō to be necessary for them that shall be saued yet is it otherwise thought and helde of the carnall man who can hardly beleeue that it is a token of the loue of God towards him hee rather perswades himselfe that when God sends him great increase of Cattell Corne Oyle Wine Health Worldly prosperitie and the pleasures of this life that then God loues him But how farre hee is deceiued the holy Ghost declareth by the Prophet Dauid who confessed that it was good for him that he was afflicted And Christ himselfe affirmeth that through many troubles his Saint◠must enter into the kingdome of heauen Not by pleasures delites of the flesh and vanities of the mind If we did remember the sentence pronounced for Lazarus and against the Rich man and did duely consider it we could not but thinke prosperitie rather dangerous then delightfull and that a meane estate is more profitable then painefull Thou hast receiued thy pleasure saith Abraham but contrarily Lazarus indured paine Therefore art thou tormented and he is comforted No other reason is alleadged of either sentence yet neither of them is said to be punished or preserued for the ill or good that the one or other did Onely fulnesse and want plenty and penurie pleasure and paine are said to be the causes of either condition Not that the ones riches in themselues deserued damnation but the abuse or that the others pouertie deserued saluation but his patience which yet was not the cause but the effect of Gods election And the others abuse of the blessings of God an argument of his reprobatiō But God to preuent the grosse fruits of corruption in vs maketh our powers weake and our willes thereby the more conformable to his will As Physicke often preuenteth a disease that begins to seaze on the bodie and for the time is harsh lothsome bitter and much vnsauorie yet salutary in the end So is Affliction of whatsoeuer kinde medicinable to such as can brooke and digest it through faith patience and prayer and bringeth the affections into a sanctified temper That the vnholy humours of pride arrogancie auarice lust and other corporall and earthly vanities oppresse not the soule which is carried by the violence of superfluous vanities into many noysome desires and consequently into infinite hazards of making shipwracke of saluation Take it not therefore heauily whatsoeuer thou art that art visited with whatsoeuer crosse or triall although in it own nature it be euill being a punishment of sinne for he that made the bitter waters of Mara sweet and changed the nature thereof for his Israels sake hath changed the nature of the crosse to them that are his insomuch as they not onely find comfort in it But many sweet effects it bringeth foorth making them glorious in their basenesse rich in their pouertie strong in their weakenesse and liuely in their seeming death Moreouer it causeth vs to see how iust how prouident and how mercifull the Lord is how weake and miserable all mankind is And how fickle how inconstant and false the world is It beates downe the pride of nature and humbles vs that we are not so prone and apt to sinne as when wee haue prosperitie at will As our sins and transgressions are the fruits of our corruptions So are afflictions and crosses necessarie to mortifie them and to preuent their increase To speake of the kindes of trouble they are many yet may be reduced vnder these three heads pouertie sicknesse enemies vnder the first are comprehended the want of al necessaries vnder the second the griefes of body and mind and vnder the third whatsoeuer is aduersarie vnto vs. And therefore the prayer following is fit to be vsed in any of these that the Lord will be either pleased to remoue them to moderate their extremitie or to giue patience to vndergoe it A generall meditation or prayer in whatsoeuer trouble or crosse GRacious and most mercifull Lord God whose wisedome is past finding out and whose prouidence
by well doing to walke before God and to be vpright Thus whosoeuer prepareth himselfe in a sanctified life in earth he cannot feare death which is an entrance into a glorious life in heauen where God before whom he sincerely walketh hath prouided him a Citie a Kingdome a Crowne He then that longeth to see good dayes while he liueth will be euer studious to please him by whom he is assured he shall receiue that endlesse inheritance when he dies Let euery man therefore while it is to day pray that God will vouchsafe him his grace not to prolong his godly preparation to die but to teach him wisdome in the inner parts that he may so rectifie his conuersation as he may be acceptable to God through Christ in his life vpon earth and wishedly surrender vp his spirit to him that gaue it when he requires the same And to this holy purpose serueth this prayer following Remember euer that thou must die and thou shalt neuer doe amisse nor die eternally A Prayer to be often vsed that we may so liue as we neuer need feare to die fit to be often vsed of all men especially in sicknesse GOod and gracious Father who formedst me of dust and breathedst life into a lumpe of earth wher of I am made and hast made mee partaker of thy Spirit and so a liuing soule of an eternall being beyond that which thou hast done for any other earthly creature who dying perish turne wholly to dust whereof they are wholly and only made As for mee thou hast taught mee to know thy more then wonderfull work-manship and thy more then apprehensible fauour and loue in that thou hast not only made me a liuing creature as are the beasts of the field the fowles of the aite and creeping things of the earth but little inferiour to thine heauenly Angels giuing me a soule diuine and immortal which liueth eternally And of thy further and more free grace hast vouchsafed me a seed of the light of diuine vnderstanding and thy word of glad tidings to teach me thy will to direct and encourage me in the way of saluation lest hauing receiued the testimonie of thy louâ— here in this life and the earnest of thy Spirit I should yet liue to die and not die to liue Thou Lord knowest whereof I am made thou canst not forget that I am but dust giue me grace to remember alwayes my mortalitie and that I am borne to die and that then commeth iudgement Lord we are all the children of ssinning Adam elected and reiected according to thy will vessels of honor or dishonor as thou pleasest to make vs we are the clay thou the Potter thou giuest life and againe thou sayest Returne yee children of men to dust Oh what is man that thou so regardest him or the son of Man that thou so fatherly visâ—test him Thou hast clothed him with glorie And he hath brought shame vpon himselfe thou off reâ—â—st life vnto him but he hath embraced death And he shall die thou hast so decreed yet hast conceiled from him the time when the place where and the maner how to the end that none should presume vpon his strength health wisedome or wealth to become secure and in their securitie to forget thee sinne against thee our Creator whâ— as with the breath of thy mouth thou madest vs liuing soules so by the breath of thy mouth canst thou confouÌ„d our bodies soules yea Lord our dearest soules deare in respect of thee who gauest them deare in respect of him that shed his dearest bloud for them but most deare vnto vs wretches if for our mindes vanities and our bodies pleasures we should lose our bodies make shipwracke of our soules Precious in thy sight is the death of thy Saints but most feareful to the wicked in the death of their bodies that sleeping in the graue send their soules before them to be mutually tormented when they shall meet in Judgement This fearefull separation Lord amazeth mee when I consider it in my naturall vnderstanding not looking into the course of thy loue wherein thou didst send thy dearest Soune to die for sinners penitent Oh teach me thy waies instruct me in thy Commandements Giue me a repenting heart and sanctified conuersation that before I goe hence and be no more seene I may assure my selfe that I am of the number of them to whome thou imputest no sinne Let thy word worke fruitfully in mee the sauour of life vnto life Teach me and guide me in the true course of holy obedience in righteousnesse and true holinesse that I may euer walke before thee and be vpright giue me a prepared heart constantly and faithfully to desire to be dissolued to be with Christ. Take away the frailty of my fainting flesh increase and confirme my faith in thee and my hope of the glory promised in Christ after this mortall life Let me alwayes wait the time of my deliuery and be willingly content to lay downe this my earthly tabernacle and to giue vp my soule into thy hands giue me a continuall watchfull heart that death come not vpon me vnawares a prepared heart that I may be still readie when or where or how thou hast determined my dissolution Let nothing be so deare vnto me as Christ my Sauiour Let me esteeme all things as dung in respect of the glorie to come Let nothing bewitch or intice me to the loue of this sinfull life nor dismay or terrifie me froÌ„ embracing death But that I may vse this life as if I vsed it not and feare death as if I feared it not That when my life shall be swallowed vp of death I may then enter into that new life and treade downe death and the power thereof vnder my feete by Christ that triumphed ouer Satan death and Hell vpon the Crosse for me grant it for me my Lord my God my life my light my strength and my Redeemer Amen Lord increase my faith and grant that I may liue in thy feare and die in thy fauour Amen A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee said of one in his sicknes or in any disease or defect of his sences or limbes fit to be read of or vnto the sick and diseased person SIcknes of the bodie is the gentlest and most fauourable crosse that God layeth vpoÌ„ his children and yet it is grieuous to flesh and bloud which delite altogether in Ease in Health in Strength of the body to which griefe sicknesse and weaknesse are contraries and therefore vnwelcome to carnall men who thinke nothing more to bee wished then power to sinne which power is diminished by sicknes and consequently in most salutarie and healthful for the soule And therefore doth the Wise-man counsell vs to humble our selues before we be sicke and while wee yet haue power to sinne to shew our conuersion whose counsell whoso truly and carefully followeth preuenteth the feare of death for he that before sicknes seaze vpon him duely
in Iesus Christ iâ— hope that thou wilt either restore me to happie health or in thy good time take me to thy more happ 〈…〉 kingdome and howsoeuer the will shall be make me patient in my greatest fits of paine and 〈◊〉 mitigate the extremitie of my disease that I be not driuen to bee sencelesse of my sinnes or forgetfull of thy promises through the violennce thereof nor lay more vpon me Lord then I shall be able to beare Another prayer to be said of a sicke man I Doâ— confesse vnto thee Oh father my sinnes for which I do acknowledge thou doest deseruedly afflict me I cannot beare nor vndergoe the stripes that I haue deserued at thy hands who knowing thy will haue not done according vnto the same but haue cast thy holy CommaÌ„dements and mine obedience vnto them behinde my backe what I should not haue done that I haue done and what I should haue done I haue not done O vnprofitable seruant that I haue bin yet cast me not away good father for I am the worke of thine owne hands as touching the framing of this my earthly tabernacle as for sinne it is of myselfe therein was I begotten and borne and thereby doe I daily offend thee and so much the more haue I sinned by how much I haue enioyed the health and strength of my bodie and the vse of my sences and I cannot but acknowledge Lord that it is good for-me thaâ— thou hast afflicted mee with this thy fatherly visitation giue me grace to accept it as a fauour of thine and the fruit of thy mercie for my renouation and reformatiâ—on and let not Satan suggest or perswade mee that it is in iudgement as the fruit of thine indignation to driue me to despaire of the sauing health The health of my bodie is a sweet blessing vnto me yet thou knowest Lord what a spurre it is to forbidden vanities And sicknes as it is in it selfe is most grieuous and lothsome yet being seasoned with thy inward grace a sweet remedie against the killing disease of sinne Oh show it downe Lord into my distressed soule the sweet showres of thy sanctifying Spirit that I may hee sanctified throughout so shall my sicke and weake bodie bee richly and sweetly comforted in this comfortlesse condition which were it not supported by thy fauour loue could not but faint al the powers both of my soule bodie faile within me Oh speak coÌ„fortable things Lord vnto thy diseased seruant extend a fatherly helping hand to make my bed in my sicknes Thou art the Physitian of our soules bodies I am sicke in both cure me Lord in both my sicke soule hath need of the bloud of the Lambe to refresh it and to clense it from spirituall leprosse and my body Lord lieth at the foot-stoole of thy mercy and as thou by thy word didst make me in the beginning so by thy word canst thou reuiue me that am neere both spiritually corporally dead If thou in thy wisedome thinke that this my infirmity be more profitable vnto me then health or death more coÌ„uenient for me theÌ„ life performe thine owne good pleasure towards me only make me inwardly and outwardly ready that I setting both the houses of my soule and bodie in order through Christ I may recommend both into thy most sacred and sauing disposition Grant this Oh Father for Iesus Christ thy beare Sonnes sake who liueth and raigneth with thee in the heauens with whome and in whom grant Lord that I may liue and after this life raigne for euermore Amen O Lord increase my faith euermore Meditations vpon the sicke mans recouerie of his health I Will prayse thee O Lord with all my heart and I will magnifie thy name for euer for many are thy mercies towards me for thou hast deliuered my soule from the lowest graue Therefore now as thâ—â— hast renued my outward health renue my inward obedience Rectifie my iudgement make true peace in my conscience blesse my sences purifie my affections order my memorie increase and con 〈…〉 e my loue of thee who hast shewâ—â— me more mercies and fauours then my tongue can expresse O my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within thee praise his holy name my soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits which forgiueth all thy sinnes and healeth all thine infirmities which hath redeemed thy life from the graue crowned thee with mercie and louing kindnesse which filleth thy mouth with good things and renueth thine age as an Eagle Thou Lord are full of compassion and mercie slow to anger and of great goodnesse thou wilt not alway childe neither keepest thou thine anger for euer Thou hast not dealt with mee according to my sinnes nor rewarded mee according to mine iniquities As a father hath compassion on his sonne so hast thou compassion on them that feare thee I will praise thee O Lord among the people I will sing vnto thee in the congregation of the Saints for thy mercie is great aboue the Heauens and thy truth reacheth vnto the cloudes Thou knowâ—st whereof I am made Thou remembrest that I am but dust Let my soule therefore liue and it shall prayse thee Lord increase my faith and confirme it ouermore in Christ Iesus Amen A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said of such as visite a sicke friend or brother MAn that is borne of a â—â—man hath but a short time to liue and is full of miserie Therefore is euery man subiect to sicknes and death To bewaile therefore the sickenesse or death of our dearest friends beyond that which is â—it is much to be reproued because it argueth a kinde of discontent that God should visite vs in the visitation of our friends children or dearest parents We must therefore auoid two extreameâ— â—â—â—st that we sorrow not as doe the Heathen that haue no hope of a future better life Secondly wee must beware wee follow not the steps of Ieroboam who â—ought help at the hands of Baal-zebuâ— for his sonne And as did Ahaziah in his owne sicknesse we must rather enter into an holy consideration that God in whatsoeuer he layeth vpon our selues or vpon them we loue as our selues it is for his owne glory and therefore to be praised of vs both for ours the good of those our friends whom he afflicteth if we beleeue his promises that all things shall worke together for the good of them that loue him The best office then and the most Christian duety that a Father can performe for and in the behalfe of his sicke childe or one deare friend or brother for another is first to admonish him that sinnes cause sicknesse and to moue him to repent them that euery man is borne to die and therefore to perswade him to prepare himselfe for another condition not to flatter him as too many doe as that they seenâ— cause why he should feare death at this time they seeme rather to assure him
he shal recouer and liue with them which kinde of comfort is rather iniurious then friendly for what if the partie thus idlely secured perish without repentance These kindes of comforters haue little cause to imagine they haue performed a Christian dutie in this their visitation of their sick friend whom they seemed to loue much bewailing his sicknes and yet content to send him away with the heauie burden of his sinnes A second Christian duty is to pray for the sicke either in priuate or in publike assemblies of and with such as are present with the sick person wherein also the sicke person may conioyne either in the whole prayer by an inward lifting vp of his repenting and faithful heart to God in a holy meditation of what they pray or to conclude with them all Amen The prayer of the faithfull auaileth much if it be feruent The Lord by this meanes will strengthen him vpon his bed raise him to health or translate him in his good time To visite the sicke is an action most acceptable to God Yee haue visited me saith Christ when I was sicke therefore c 〈…〉 yee blessed c. Them that comfort the afflicted God will comfort He is the Father of mercies and comforteth vs 〈◊〉 all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort them which are in any aff 〈…〉 by the comfort wherewith we our selues are comforted of God O Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said for a sicke man or woman of his or her friendes that visite them O Most gracious Lord God who hast made all things preseruest euen the meanest of them by thy prouidence a sparrow lighteth not on the ground without thee Much lesse can any thing befall man but by thy will and determinate counsell So that we doe acknowledge that thou visitest this thy seruant here at this present languishing and that the present infirmity wherewith he is afflicted is of theesent to humble him for his sinnes Let it please thee O Lord to behold him in mercy and lay not vpon him too great a weight of thy dispeasure knowing that man in his greatest strength is weake how much more feeble being crushed as it were in â—eeces by the violence of thy visitation mitigate if it please thee the extremitie of his sicknesse and giue him patience to beare this thy light and louing correction And for that sinne is the cause of all troubles and tribulations Remoue Lord the guilt of all his offences through the merits of Iesus Christ and moderate his punishmeÌ„t though in iustice the most iust man is worthy of more stripes then he is able to beare yet thou refusest no truely repenting sinner bee his sins as reâ— as scarlet thou hast promised to make them as white as snow through the blood of Iesus Christ the sauing Lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world Touch the hart of this thy seruant with a liuely feeling of his sinnes and a full assurance of thy mercy in forgiuing them That hee being really reunited vnto thee through an â—ufained faith in Christ may â—ouze vp his fainting soule vnto thee and by thee that howsoeuer his corporall weakenesse may argue the heauy displeasure towards him thy holy Spirit may yet work such peace in his conscienc through the assurance that his sins are freely forgiuen him that hee may take this thy visitation as a fatherly correction and louing chastisement for his former offences And that if thou be pleased to restore him to health it may worke in him a true renouation reformation of the rest of his life heare haue mercy vpon him O Lord haue mercy vpon him and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away all his offences Looke fauourably vpon him cure him if it please thee restore him to health if it may stand with thy glory and his good But thou knowest Lord whether sickenesse or health bee most expedient for him whereof both he and wee are ignorant And therefore wee recommend him vnto thy fatherly disposition beseeching thee to confirme his hope assure him so of thy mercie that hee may imbrace life or death at thy pleasure and willingly to vndergoe this affliction knowing that all the tribulations which man can beare in this life are not worthy of the glory which thou hast prepared for them that loue thy second comming whâ—â— thou wilt giue to euery man according to his workes And therfore Lord turne his heart from the loue and vanities of this life vnto thâ— loue of the ioyes to come And 〈◊〉 him no longer set his heart and affections vpon this world or thâ— things in the world but onely and altogether vpon heauen and heauenly things That when the moment of time shall be wherein thâ—â— shalt determine the separation 〈◊〉 his soule from the bodie let 〈◊〉 the common enemie of our saluâ—tion preuent him But let thy sanctifying spirit possesse all thâ— powers of his soule that with holy alacritie and cheerefulnesse he may commend his spirit into thy hands and be thou pleased to reâ—â—iue him as one of thine adopted children into that celestial inheritance by the merits of Christ And in the meane time while hee shall rest here either in health or sickenesse be euer present with him for whose bodily recouery and hiâ— soules saluation O Lord hearâ— our prayers and let our cry come vnto thee Amen O Lord increase his and our faith for euermore A MOTIVE TO A Prayer before a man bâ—gin his Iourney HEe that well considereth the casualties of this life and hath but the least measure of vnderstanding and of the feare of God cannot attempt the least enterprise of the body but will forecast diuers daÌ„gers incident in euery action much more taking a Iourney on horse or foot being subiect to so many misfortunes and crosses as he maketh steppes in his wayes It is not rare to heare of one breaking his legge another his arme a third bruzing his body a fourth comming to vntimely death by falling off or from his horse nay the slip of the foote hath many wayes occasioned death besides hazard of meeting with and suffâ—ring danger by the ministers of Sathan and by malignant men laying wait to doe mischiefe Our bodies being thuâ— daily and vniuersally beset with perill requireth watchfulnesse in our wayes and walkings But it is not in our power wisdome to preuent the least crosse much lesse able are we to defend our selues as of our selues froÌ„ the hidden and sudden misfortunes of this lifes casualties And therefore had we neede to leaue our owne selfe wisedome and prouidence though not our Christian care and betake vâ— to the holy protection of the Holy one of Israel who guided Iacob in his Iourney towards Laban and the seruant of Abraham iourneying for a wife for Isack But they prayed for good successe So must euery faithfull man if he hope of the like Otherwise as the Lyon mette the Prophet and sâ—ue him So can God rayse
especially the seas which oftentimes rage and roare vnder the burden of their sinnes that passe in them much daunting dismaying and threatning the dry land and the inhabitants thereof much more such as in thy prouidence are appointed to haue their trauell and trafficke therein we therefore in al humblenesse come vnto thee O Iehouah who art the God and gouernour of the immensible and vnfadomable sea Thou callest for and commandest the tempests to arise thou liftest vs the waues thereof and wee are mounted vp to the clouds and suddenly descend into the deepe againe So that we are euen at the doore of death yet such is thy might and thy mercie that at thy rebuke they are still and at thy word the tempest ceaseth Receiue vs therefore into thy blessed protection for we recommend our selues vnto the seas in thy name confessing that it is neither the strength or swiftnes of our ship that can saue vs neither can our power or policy preuent the dangers of the merciles waues It is not the Card nor CoÌ„passe that can direct or bring vs to the hauen where wee would be It is only thy power prouidence and conduction whereupon we doe depend In thee is our hope and help for thou commandest and the Seas obey at thy word the Red Sea â—laue in sunder it stood still in heaps to giue way to Israel a worke against the ordinarie course of nature and therefore much more easie may it seeme to vs for thee to giue way to vs through the Seaâ— by naturall and ordinarie meanes And the rather for that wee know that at thy rebuke the Sea of Ienazeret being in violent rage was suddenly appeased Speake the word and the Seas shall giue vs comfortable free passe without any impediment The winds and Seas obey thee thou art omniâ—â—tent thou canst doe what thou will in mercy and iudgement Go with vs O Iehouah and be our guide as thou wert neere vnto thy Disciples when they were like to perish iâ— the mercilesse waters Prosper 〈◊〉 voyage blesse our meanes let thy holy Angels accompanie vs as assisting and preuailing ministers for our safetie and good successe Rebuke and quiet the winds and tempests when they arise Defend vs from mercilesse and tyrannous â—â—rates when they assaile vs keepe vs from ship wracke when wee are in perill Supply vs with all necessaries for our corporall sustinance and safetie â—ouchsafe vnto vs health and strength of body wisdome and power to manage our affaires to thy glory and our comfort Take from vs and euery one of vs all impietie sinne and vncleannes furnish vs with heauenly knowledge increase and strengthen our â—aith in thee confirme our hope of happie successe make vs intirely to loue thee giue vs true zeale to serue thee and to call vpon thee â—â—tonely in all our calamities and â—angers as of necessitie but contiâ—ually as of a Christian duty That thou maist bee pleased euermore to guide vs and by thy mighty hand in thy mercy to direct our course and bring vs to the hauen where we would be and leaue vs not vnto the mercilesse waters for without thee there is none that can deliuer vs. O giue vs hearts neuer to forget thy goodnesse watchfull and obedient hearts that wee neuer fall from thee to our naturall vanities and corruptions giue vs not ouer to our owne hearts lusts to sweariâ—â— swaggering drunkenuesse whoredome and to the prophane course of life whereunto by nature we are inclined But assist vs euer with thy grace that wee we may liue orderly honestly religiously and â—olily before thee to deale faithfully and truly with all men at land and sea euer depending on thy prouidence who neuer failest nor forsakest them that call vpon thee in spirit and truth Blesse our going foorth blesse 〈◊〉 voyage blesse our indeuours bless our calling and trafficke and 〈◊〉 vs a comfortable prosperous and happy returne Make vs thankfull in holy obedience which is the sacrifice wherewith thou art 〈◊〉 pleased Grant vs gracious Father these and all other blessingâ— corporall and spirituall for thâ— Christs sake in whose blessâ—â— name we augment these our 〈…〉 prayers with that heauenly 〈◊〉 which he hath taught vs. Our Fâ—ther which art in heauen c. Lord increase our faith A Prayer before meate PArdon we beseech thee O mercifull Lord God our manifold sins which we haue done and do continually commit against thy Maiestie and thereby haue deserued to bee depriued of al thy blessings and of these which now thou plentifully tendrest vnto vs for our nourishment Thou in Iesus Christ hast promised to blesse thy creatures vnto our vse Blesse these vnto vs we beseech thee and grant that they may be vnto vs the comfortable meanes to strengthen our mortall bodies Let vs not abuse them by excesse but vse them soberly to thy glory and our nourishment through Christ our Lord. A thankesgiuing after meate WE acknowledge good Father louing in Iesus Christ that of thy free mercie and bountie we haue at this time aâ— all the daies of our liues been plentifully nourished with corporall foode Inlarge the gifts of thy sanctifying spirit in vs and in all the members of thy Church Preserue euermore our King giue vs peace plentie health and happines through Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS A briefe Table of all the Mottues and Prayers contained in this Booke Prayers A Motiue to Prayer 1 A Prayer for the assistance of God holy Spirit in any spirituall or godly corporall action or indeuour fit to be vsed before euery lawfull enterprise especially before euery diuine exercise 2 A Motiue to a Prayer to bee vsed in the Morning in priuate Families 5 A Prayer for the Morning for priuate Families 8 A short Prayer for the Morning to be said of one in priuate or in a Family vsing the plurall instead of the singular number 17 A Motiue to a Prayer to bee said in the Euening in priuate Families 21 A Prayer to be said in priuate Families in Euening before they goe to rest 24 A short Prayer for the Euening to be vsed of one man in priuate 32 A Motiue to a Prayer for the members of Christ to be vsed after priuate Prayers in Families 37 A Prayer for the members of Christ whersoeuer dispersed fit to be vsed after our ordinary Prayers of Morning and Euening 39 A Motiue to the confession of our sinnes to God and to stirre vs vp to pray for the remission of the same 43 A Confession of sinnes with a Prayer for pardon for the same 47 Another short Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes 51 A Motiue to a Prayer for a godly and holy life and for power of resisting Satan and sinne 54 A Prayer for a godly life and to resist sinne and Satan 57 A Motiue to a Prayer before the receiuing of the holy Communion or the Lords Supper 63 A Prayer to be said before the receiuing of the Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ. 67 A