to the present purpose that beside his extraordinary learning especially in his own profession and his admirable care and integrity in the Administration of his great Office he was a most pious and devout Christian and particularly was eminently so in his domestick relation he used constantly to worship God in his Family and the Duties of Religion there were always perform'd by himself if there were no Clergy-man present p Dr. Burnet in the life of Sr. Mat. Hale he took great care and omitted no endeavours toward the forming of his Children to the love and practice of Religion following them with repeated instructions which he not only deliver'd to them by word of thy mouth but that they might abide with them and still occur to their thoughts he did use to leave them in Writing giving charge that they should take Copies of them Some of his Written directions to his Children have come abroad into the World in which he did excellently prescribe concerning their due observation of the Lords day and how they were to demean themselves in the publick Duties of the Church also he doth therein enjoin them the Devotion of Prayer and reading the Scriptures in private and we find him there putting them in mind how It had been his practice to give them Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept for enabling them to steer and order their course of life through an evil and dangerous World Now the example of this wise and good man whose transcendent worth is yet fresh in our memory and his reputation so great throughout the Nation may I hope have some good influence to engage others in the same relation to a pious imitation of him as being really convinc'd like as he was of how great concern it is in reference to the future welfare of those under their care and government But if notwithstanding all Obligations to the contrary any Governors of Families should be so stupid and uncharitable as to have little regard for the spiritual good and safety of others related to them yet the love they bear toward themselves cannot suffer them to live in neglect of the important Duty we have been urging upon them for they must also consider that the state and welfare of their own souls are herein most of all concern'd Beside that the omission of Prayer and Reading the Scriptures must needs be prejudicial and of ill consequence to themselves as well as to the rest in their houses nor can they think well of their own condition to God-ward while they so much disregard his Worship and Service I say beside all this they cannot but think that the whole Sin and Guilt of this domestick Irreligion will be justly chargeable on them and they must expect that the impiety of those who are of their Families will be laid to their account as the Persons who might and ought to have prevented the same and if through want of pious Discipline and the exercises of Devotion their Children or others belonging to their charge shall become profane and wicked how will they be able to answer for it at the great and terrible day That they are so bound to consult and endeavour their good in the things which concern their future state as to be accountable to God the Judge of all for the neglect hereof they may understand from the pious and earnest advice in a Tract which goeth under St. Austin's name Written to a Friend and let each Master of a Family suppose it spoken to himself I beseech my Brother I beseech thee that thou teach in thy house to all under thy Government from the greatest to the least the Love of Holiness the Delights of the Heavenly Kingdom the Bitterness and Terrour of Hell that thou be solicitous and very careful for their Salvation because of all who are Subject to thee in thy Family thou shalt render an account do thou Teach Command Charge Perswade them that they beware of Pride Back-biting Drunkenness Fornication of Luxury Anger Perjury and Covetousness which is the Root of all Evils q De Salutar Docum c. 20. And whoever are Faithful and Conscientious herein being Zealous for Religion and for keeping up the Duties of it in their Houses implying their vigilant care that all under their domestick Authority may serve God and live like Christians they do truly approve themselves as good Servants to their great Lord and Master to him of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named r Eph. 3 15. and they shall not fail of being well rewarded by him for his kind favour shall be toward them his blessing on their Persons their Families and Estates and after they have a while devoutly serv'd him in these their Earthly dwellings he will Translate them to his own glorious Habitation they shall be admitted to be of his own Royal Houshold that they may adore and praise him for ever together with the glorifi'd Saints and blessed Angels in Heaven Where it will be some addition to their Joy to meet their Wives their Children and others of their Families whom by their good Example and pious Government they had helped forward in the way to that happy Place DEVOTIONS FOR THE USE OF FAMILIES FAMILY DEVOTIONS FOR THE MORNING A short Prayer before Reading the Scripture Oeternal God who art Morning the Lord of Heaven and Earth infinite in Holiness and of terrible Majesty to be honoured and had in reverence by all them that draw near unto thee We pray thee to beget in us awful thoughts and a pious temper of mind suitable to that great and holy God with whom we have to do that so our religious performance this Morning may find acceptance with thee help us O Lord to understand thy Will revealed in the Scripture and to receive the same with ready subjection as thou doest cause the Light of the day to arise upon us without so let thine Holy Word shine into our Souls that it may be a Light to our Feet and the guide of all our Actions till we shall come to the end of our Race and to the blessed Reward of all our holy Duties in thy Kingdom of Glory through thy Mercy in Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour A Psalm and Prayer for the Morning THe Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work Day unto Day uttereth Speech and Night unto Night sheweth Knowledge Their line is gone out thorow all the Earth and their words to the end of the World in them hath he set a Tabernacle for the Sun Which is as a Bridegroom coming out of his Chamber and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a Race His going forth is from the end of Heaven and his Circuit unto the end of it and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof I will sing O God of thy Power yea I will sing aloud of thy Mercy in the Morning for thou hast been my Defence and
and establish thou the work of our hands upon us yea the work of our hands establish thou it Forsake me not O Lord O my God be not far from me Teach me to do thy Will for thou art my God thy Spirit is good lead me into the Land of uprightness O Most great and glorious God the whole World is the work of thine hands and thou governest all things both in Heaven and Earth We do here admire and adore thy Wisdom Power and Goodness which are so visible and illustrious in all the great Works of Creation and Providence and we do humbly acknowledge our dependence upon thee who art the Author of our Life and the support of our Being by thee we have have been preserved and nourished ever since we were born and 't is of thy care and kindness that we are still sustained from morning to evening and from evening to morning When we consider the frailty of our nature and the many provocations of our life we see great reason to confess that 't is of thy mercy we are not consumed Grant O Lord that thy long suffering and goodness may lead us to repentance and as thy mercies are new to us every morning so we may renew our serious purposes of walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our dayes Remember not against us the errours of our former life neither punish us as we have deserved but through the redemption of thy beloved Son grant us pardon and reconciliation and make us partakers of all those rich benefits which he hath purchased And let the grace of God which hath brought Salvation teach us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts to live in the pious fear of thee and in faithful obedience to thy holy Laws But because of our selves we cannot stand upright let thy Grace be always sufficient for us strengthen us with all Spiritual Might in the inner man that neither our own corrupt affections nor yet the snares and temptations of the World may ever cause us to depart from thee but grant that the Principles of faith and holiness being firmly rooted in us we may be always stedfast and immoveable in our Christian Practice suffer us not to be too much in love with the things of this World nor to lay up our treasure here on Earth but grant that our affections may be chiefly set on things above and our treasure laid up in Heaven where it will never perish nor be taken from us while we are busie about many things that concern this present life help us still to remember the one thing necessary making it our greatest care to provide for our eternal State in the life hereafter As long as thou shalt continue our abode in this World let thy good Providence watch over our persons and supply all our wants help us to be thankful in prosperity patient in affliction and in every condition to be therewith content and do thou so order and govern the several events and passages of our life that they may all help us forward in our way to Heaven O Lord defend and preserve thy Church Universal enlarge its borders and purge it more and more from all Errour and Corruption bless this Land of our Nativity with Peace and Unity with the continuance of thy Truth and Gospel the encrease of righteousness and all Christian vertues Bless the King's Majesty with sound wisdom and all princely endowments that his Reign may be prosperous and the People happy under him be favourable to all our Friends and Relations bestowing upon them all those good things that may be for their comfort in this life and their eternal happiness in that to come Extend thy pity to such as labour under any trouble or distress give them strength to bear their affliction and in thy due time an happy deliverance We do also present unto thee our sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving for thy care over us the night past that our bodies have been refreshed with sleep and our life continued to another day as thou doest afford us a longer time in the land of the living so lengthen out thy favour and loving kindness by which alone our life can be safe and comfortable to us and teach us so to number our daies that we may apply our hearts to heavenly wisdom to make a right use of our time by doing good works while it is day because the night is coming in which none can work O Lord let thy good Providence and heavenly Grace be present with us and watching over us throughout this day to secure us from dangers and every unhappy accident to preserve us from evil actions and to assist us in those that be good make our way prosperous in every business and undertaking and guide us always by thy Counsels till we shall come to thine everlasting Kingdom Through thy rich mercy in our blessed Sunday Morning Saviour Jesus Christ in whose name and merits we offer up these our Petitions and conclude them in his own words Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Thy grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us all this day and for ever A Psalm and Prayer for the Morning on the Lords day BY the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the Host of them by the breath of his mouth He gathereth all the waters of the Sea together as a heap he layeth up the deep in Storehouses Let all the earth fear the Lord and all the Inhabitants of the World stand in awe of him For he spoke and it was done he commanded and it stood fast Know ye that the Lord he is good it is he that hath made us and not we our selves we are his People and the Sheep of his Pasture Enter into his Gates with Thanksgiving and into his Courts with Praise be thankful unto him and bless his Name They that trust in their Wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches None of them can by any means redeem his brother nor give to God a ransom for him But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave for he shall receive me I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth my flesh also shall rest in hope For thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption O how amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts My soul longeth even fainteth for the
Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth for the living God One day in thy Courts is better than a thousand I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the Tents of wickedness For the Lord God is a Sun and a shield the Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly O come let us worship and bow down before the Lord our Maker For he is our God and we are the People of his Pasture and the sheep of his hand To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts ALmighty God who art great and glorious infinite in all perfections and of incomprehensible Majesty in comparison of whom the Princes of the earth are but vile Worms and all the Nations of the World less than nothing and vanity Thou deservest to be feared and magnified to be adored and praised and 't is our greatest honour to wait upon thee thy service is the most perfect freedom and we cannot but think it very meet and reasonable that a good part of our time should be devoted to thee and thine honour yea our whole life is too little to celebrate as we ought the excellence of thy divine Nature and of thy great Works O Lord this admirable Fabrick of the World is of thy making for in six days were all things Created by thee and the Seventh day in which thou didst cease from thy Work thou didst set apart for an holy Sabbath in which the Sons of men might remember thy Creation and honour thee for it Wherefore on this day of our religious rest we desire to meditate and admire that wonderful workmanship which doth appear in thy Creatures By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made with all that glorious Host of Sun Moon and Stars thou hast founded the earth beneath and given life and breath to all things living We acknowledge thy signal kindness to our selves above the rest of thy Creatures in that thou didst Create man after thine own Image making him little lower than the Angels that thou hast given him dominion over the works of thine hands and made him capable of eternal happiness in the service and enjoyment of thy self O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches and what is man that thou shouldest magnifie him That thou shouldest set thine heart upon him We do likewise extol thy love to mankind which hath been further shewn in the great work of our Redemption That after we had broken the Laws of our Creation by sinning against thee had faln short of the glory of God and were become liable to Death and Hell thou wert pleas'd to send thine only begotten Son out of thine own bosom to save us from destruction and restore us again to thy love and favour who took on him the form of a Servant liv'd a persecuted life dy'd a painful and ignominious death for us men and for our Salvation he did alone thy justice by the Sacrifice of himself overcame Death and the Grave and finished our Redemption by rising to life the third day when he was declar'd to be the Son of God with power by his wonderful Resurrection which we and all thy Church do this day commemorate O God thine acts of favour have been thus great and admirable to us-ward we do therefore offer up our hearty praise and thanksgiving for the discoveries of thy Wisdom Power and Goodness in the Creation of us and the whole World for thy compassion and rich grace in and through our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ And we do here with deep Repentance humble our selves for that our lives have not better answered such obligations of thine to duty and obedience for we have sinn'd against thee as thou art our Creatour by not loving and fearing thee as thou hast deserv'd by neglecting thy service and employing our souls and bodies which thou hast made in actions displeasing to thee and which thou hast forbidden We have offended thee as the Author of our Redemption by not receiving the Gospel with a due love and esteem thereof nor conforming our lives to its holy precepts nor walking suitably to that abundant grace which hath therein appeared teaching us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts But O thou Father of Mercies who delightest not in the death of sinners be thou pleas'd to pardon and justifie to do away our iniquities and receive us graciously bless unto us all the means of grace and the opportunities of receiving instruction from thine holy Word When we appear before thee in the Congregation of thy people help us to be serious and devout as in thy presence to join in Prayer with an intent and fervent mind and to hear thy Word with reverence and submission that by an attendance on thine holy Ordinances we may encrease in Piety and all the Graces of Christian Holiness for the righteousness and merits of that holy One who died for our sins and rose again for our Justification And we do also humbly beg for his sake that thou wouldest grant unto us thine holy Spirit and Heavenly Grace whereby thine Image may be renewed in us that we may from henceforth honour and serve thee from whom we have received our being and help us more and more to conform our selves to the death of Christ by dying to sin and to his Resurrection by rising to holiness and newness of life To this good end we pray thee to grant that on this thine holy Day we may sanctifie thine holy Name that our thoughts may be heavenly and our affections set on things above that we may take delight in the exercises of religion and may be in thy fear all the day long Bless thy Church and be thou graciously present in all Christian Assemblies throughout the World to hear the Prayers they shall this day put up and to prosper thy Word which shall be Preached that it may become effectual for pulling down the Kingdom of Satan and for edifying the body of Christ in sound Faith and real Godliness Let the light of thy glorious Gospel be spread abroad and the borders of thy Sons kingdom daily enlarg'd Call home thine ancient people the Jews and bring in the fulness of the Gentiles that all the Nations of the earth may be one sheepfold under the one great shepherd of Souls We implore thy particular kindness for this Church and Kingdom and more especially for the Kings Majesty that he may have Wisdom Justice Piety and all princely vertues to govern according to thy Will for thy glory and the good of thy people And let thy true religion be continued to us for all generations We present unto thee our hearty thanks for thy many and great benefits vouchsafed to us for our excellent being our preservation hitherto and all temporal enjoyments for our birth and education in a
harm but that we may be constant and steddy in our Faith and Duty and by a continuance of well doing may attain that life Eternal and Crown of Glory which thou hast promis'd Bless thy Church throughout the World that it may flourish in truth and holiness and remain safe from all persecuting Powers Be thou favourable to this Church and Kingdom to which we belong continue thy Gospel to us and grant that Piety Justice and whatever is is requisite to make us a good and happy people may encrease and abound We implore thy pity for all in any trouble or calamity whether of Soul or Body that thou wouldst please to afford them thy comfort and seasonable relief And we likewise beg thy favour and special kindness for all our friends that thou wouldst bestow thy blessings upon them both for life and godliness Accept O Lord our return of thanks for thy goodness continued to us the day past that thou doest still supply us with accommodations for the support and comfort of our lives that thou hast preserved us from many evils which if left to our selves we should have fallen into and that we are still alive whereas so many others have been this day cut off from the land of the living we bless thee for sparing us so long and granting us so large a time for making our calling and election sure help us to improve thy long-suffering and the day of Grace by working out our own salvation That when ever thou shalt call us hence we may be ready and prepar'd to enter into the joy of our Lord. We commend our persons and all belonging to us to thy care and protection this night defend us from our ghostly enemies and let no evil come nigh our dwelling grant us a quiet and comfortable repose and that we may awake in safety the next morning dispos'd both in body and mind for thy service Hear us O merciful Father and fulfil our desires for the sake of our blessed Saviour who sitteth at thy right hand in whose words we continue to pray unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us and abide with us henceforth and for ever A Psalm and Prayer for the Evening Sunday Evening on the Lords day O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches When I consider thy Heavens the work of thy fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained What is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of man that thou visitest him For thou hast made him little lower than the Angels and hast crowned him with glory and honor Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thine hands thou hast put all things under his feet Why do the heathen rage and the people imagin a vain thing The Kings of the earth set themselves and the Princes take Counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed Let us break his bands asunder and cast away their cords from us He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure Yea I have set my King upon my holy hill of Sion I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost part of the earth for thy possession The Lord hath sent redemption unto his people he hath commanded his covenant for ever holy and reverend is his name He hath shewed his word unto Jacob his Statutes and his judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any nation and for his judgments they have not known them praise ye the Lord. ALmighty and most glorious God we acknowledge thy great grace and favour in permitting us to wait upon thee from time to time with our devotion and supplications thou art most perfect and happy in thy self not needing any service of ours and yet thou art pleased to invite and command us to come unto thee thou art the high and lofty one the Maker and Governour of all the World and yet doest condescend to receive the addresses of us thy Creatures who are vile dust and ashes We must confess O Lord that our righteousness doth not extend to thee nor can our religious performances deserve thine acceptance for there is iniquity in our most holy things we do not attend upon thee with that humility and reverence with that faith and servency which thou mayest justly require When we draw near unto thee with our lips our hearts are often far from thee we present our bodies before thee when the thoughts and affections of our souls are running after vanity And since our best Duties are so liable to thy displeasure how much more the ordinary and common actions of our life and how can we stand before thy justice if thou shouldst call us to a strict account for all our careless omissions of Duties by thee required and our many commissions of what thy Law hath expresly forbidden If thou shouldst be extreme to mark what is done amiss O Lord who could abide it but thou art a God full of compassion and plenteous in mercy and thou hast given thine own Son to be our Mediator though we have no righteousness or oblation of our own that can procure thy favour yet be thou gracious to us for the sake of him who is the Lord our righteousness and for the merit of his most perfect Sacrifice which he made for us when he offered up himself a Lamb without spot or blemish let the blood of Christ cleanse us from all unrighteousness and purge our conscience from dead works to serve the living God And that we may from henceforth walk as the redeemed of the Lord unto all well-pleasing give unto us thy grace and holy Spirit for the mortification of sin and the sanctifying of us throughout in Soul Spirit and in Body grant that our hearts and lives may be conform'd to thy heavenly Will and the Precepts of thine holy Gospel that we may fear thee at all times and love thee above all things and serve thee with our chiefest care and endeavour let not the love of any worldly good or the fear of any temporal evil cause us to turn aside from thee into any sinful practice but grant that we may still account it our
low Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord for he shall pluck my feet out of the Net Hear me speedily O Lord my spirit faileth me hide not thy face from me lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit And enter not into judgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified For thy name sake O Lord pardon mine iniquity for it is great Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted The troubles of mine heart are enlarged ô bring thou me out of my distresses Look upon mine affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins Forsake me not O Lord O my God be not far from me Make hast to help me O Lord my Salvation The Prayer O Lord our heavenly Father who art a God full of compassion and hast promised that if we call upon thee in trouble thou wilt deliver us bow down thine ear to our supplications and let us find mercy to help in this time of need Our life is in thine hand for in thee we live and move and have our being from day to day and when thou hidest thy face we are troubled at the breath of thy displeasure we wither as Grass and fade away as the flower of the Field but thy Mercy is over all thy Works thou doest not willingly afflict nor grieve the Children of men thine anger endureth but for a moment but in thy favour is life O Lord be favourable at this time and extend thy wonted pity to thy Servant now labouring under thy visitation who is there in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth on whom we can relie for succour but thy self alone Thou canst send ease and recovery when humane skill and natural means do quite fail and thou hast declared in thy Word that the Prayer of Faith shall save the sick O Lord strengthen our faith and fulfil thy gracious promise our trust is only in thee for on thee do we depend for life and health and all things 'T is thy property that thou doest kill and make alive thou doest wound and also heal that thou turnest man to destruction and sayest return ye Children of men We do therefore most heartily beseech thee O merciful Father that as thou hast laid thine affliction on the person of thy Servant so thou wouldest of thy tender compassion remove it from him her bless the means that may be used for his her recovery rebuke the distemper and if it be thy blessed Will restore him her again to perfect health O blessed Jesus who when thou wast on earth hadst compassion on the sick and didst go about healing all manner of diseases shew now thy pity speak but the word and thy Servant shall be whole Thou Lord our Redeemer who hast taken our frail nature and didst become like unto us in all things Sin only excepted have a fellow feeling we pray thee of our infirmities Thou who art the mystical head of all the Faithful afford thy present kindness to this afflicted member of thine own body which is the Church Grant O merciful Father that while his her bodily weakness or pain shall continue he she may have inward strength and comfort in the soul Vouchsafe unto him her the constant use of his her reason and understanding and a pious exercise of all Christian graces Enable him her with unfeigned repentance to lament the errours of his her whole life and by a lively Faith to lay hold on the Merits of Christ for Pardon and Salvation help him her with submission and godly patience to bear thy chastisement resigning himself herself to thy good pleasure and let his her whole trust and considence be in thee and thy gracious promises Grant him her a full remission of all his her sins and a comfortable assurance of thy love and favour which is more desireable than life it self O most wise and powerful God who canst make all things work together for good sanctifie this thy fatherly correction that it may turn to his her spiritual benefit and let the issue thereof be comfortable and happy grant that the affliction which at present doth seem grievous may afterward yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness and that it may make him her more fit and prepar'd for that happy state in which there shall be no more sickness nor â—orrow but all fulness of joy and pleasure for evermore And help us all seriously to consider our own frailty and the great uncertainty of our present life to live in expectation of death and by a constant practice of holiness to lay up for our selves a good foundation against the time to come that when this earthly Tabernacle shall be dissolv'd we may be received into an eternal habitation in the highest Heavens Good Lord hear our prayer and let our supplications find a gracious acceptance through the worthiness of him who is our Intercessour at thy right hand In whose holy words we further call upon thee Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us and abide with us henceforth and for ever Amen A PERSUASIVE TO Private Devotion A PERSUASIVE TO Private Devotion ALTHOUGH it be the more eminent part of our Christian Devotion when we join with others in the Service of God who is thereby openly own'd and honour'd by us and we do by our concurrence both encourage and assist the Piety of others whether it be in the greater Assemblies of the Church or the lesser of Families at home yet however it must be said that this alone doth by no means fulfil our duty to God nor yet sufficiently answer the needs and exigencies of our own State and therefore private and single Devotion ought also to be minded by all who would please the Almighty and enjoy his favour by all who would consult their safety amidst the many particular circumstances and emergencies of their life and every Christian should think of religious Worship as one of the Ancients doth teach him That it must not only be perform'd in the Church but also in the Family and in his private Chamber that he have God always hallowed in his heart for that he himself is the Temple of God a Lact. l. 6. de ver Cult cap. 25. And by another before him it is given for a note of a good Christian that he will pray in every place but so as not to appear openly to others to do it b Clem. Alex Strom. 7. Thou must have saith a third
St. Pauls account to be they who call upon the name of Christ and to be Christians are one and the same o 1 Cor. 1. 2. There being so much of piety and holiness in this one duty therefore 't is that God is so pleas'd with it for the Prayer of the righteous is his delight p Prov. 15. 8. And we may observe that when he had erected a Temple for his honour among the Jews though Sacrifices and other religious Offices were perform'd in it yet he was pleased to give it a name with respect to Prayer as the most eminent part of his service My house shall be called an house of Prayer for all people q Isa 56. 7. 3. Prayer is an excellent remedy to which we may have recourse in all the ills of our life and 't is a means proper and suitable whatever our condition or distress may be when encompass'd with dangers or overwhelm'd with grief persecuted by men or tempted by Satan When under disappointment losses or want When distemper'd in body or diseased in mind I say in these and other like cases we may by Prayer betake our selves to God who hath a Salve for every Sore who doth know how to deliver and is able to do it When the righteous do Cry unto him he heareth them and delivereth them out of all their troubles r Psal 34. 17. He will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in times of trouble and they who know his name will trust in him Å¿ Psal 9. 9 10. The name of the Lord is a strong Tower the righteous runneth into it and is safe t Prov. 18. 10. And therefore we are directed in Scripture to the use of Prayer when we are in any distress Call upon me in the day of trouble Psal 50. 15. Is any man among you afflicted Let him pray Jam. 5. 13. And it is prescrib'd in the Verse following as the best receipt for a sick man that the Elders of the City be sent for to pray over him 4. This exercise of Devotion is exceeding pleasant and delightsom It was so to David and therefore he said O how amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of hosts My Soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord u Psal 84. 1 2. And 't is the welcom which God doth promise to them who shall come to his worship that he will make them joyfull in his house of prayer w Isa 56. 7. It must be confess'd that this holy duty is not so pleasing to all persons there being some to whom the service of God is an irksom drudgery and they quickly say What a weariness is it x M. l. 1. 13. But the minds of such men are earthly and sensual whence it is they savour nothing that is spiritual and while they continue no better dispos'd the entertainments of Heaven it self would not relish to them To other whose souls are purified and by the practices of Religion wrought into an heavenly and devout temper the Worship of God is not a burden but pleasure and they can experimentally say with the Psalmist One day in thy Courts is better than a thousand for it must needs delight any man of a right understanding to wait on the great Lord and Governour of the World to be imployed in the service of his Creator which is the very end of his being the chief business of his life and that which will be sure to turn to a good account it cannot chuse but be a great comfort and satisfaction to disburden our breasts and make our wants known to one who is so well able to relieve and it may well afford delight and contentment to be exercised in adoring and praising God since 't is the work and happiness of the blessed Angels and Saints above 5. The Duty of Prayer is greatly beneficial and if perform'd aright is a plentiful reward to it self for our God is not like the Idols of the Heathen which have ears and hear not z Psal 115. 6. But 't is his property that he heareth Prayer a Psa 65. 2. and when he heareth he sheweth mercy and giveth forth his benefits By the constant exercise of Devotion men hold an intercourse and holy commerce with Heaven and may thence enrich themselves with returns of blessings for all their needs they do engage him for their friend Who is the giver of every good and perfect gift b Jam 1. 1. 17. By this Key of Prayer they open to themselves the rich treasury of his goodness for it's prevalence with Almighty God is exceeding great we are assur'd by the Apostle that the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much c Jam. 5. 16. There is an authority attributed to it by which it sways with God so in these words by the Prophet Ask me of things to come and concerning the works of mine hands command you me Isa 45. 11. and it is elsewhere intimated as if it did lay a kind of force on Heaven and over-power the hands of Omnipotence as when God speaketh thus to Moses Let me alone that mine anger may wax hot against them that I may consume them d Exod. 32. 10. and though God were so incens'd and dispos'd to take vengeance yet on the earnest intercession of that good man the people were spared These expressions must be understood indeed after the manner of men but however they do really import the great interest and efficacy of Prayer Which how it comes to be a duty of so great success and advantage as it is we may better understand when 6. We shall consider the particular encouragements we have for addressing ourselves to God in this holy duty as 1. That he is so able to help us in all things that we call upon him for being the Lord Almighty who doth whatsoever he pleaseth in the heaven above in the earth and waters beneath e Psal 135. 6. To whom all things are possible f Mat. 19. 26. And he can do for us exceeding abundantly above what we can ask or think g Eph. 3. 20. Wherefore he is a sure refuge and let our case seem never so difficult or desperate we may animate our devotion with that of the Angel to Sarah Is there any thing too hard for the Lord h Gen. 18. 34. and from hence we may also learn how much safer it is to seek unto God and relie on him then to place our confidence in any worldly succours which by daily experience are found insufficient and do especially fail us in our greatest concerns and when we most stand in need 2. The God to whom we pray hath a Goodness equal to his Power and is kindly dispos'd to shew mercy and do good the Scripture assures us that he is gracious and full of Compassion i Psal 111. â— 4. He is good ready to forgive plenteous in mercy unto all them that
place where the truth and purity of thy Gospel is profess'd and taught where we have the freedom of worshipping thee according to thy Will and do enjoy the precious means of Grace and Salvation Good Lord help us to make a wise and Christian use of all thy blessings to improve all spiritual advantages for the good and happiness of our souls that having well employed the Talents committed to us we may at length be approved by thee as good and faithful servants and may enter into the joy of our Lord to which blessedness do thou in thy good time bring us all through thy mercy in Jesus Christ in whose name and mediation we beg thy gracious acceptance of our Persons and Prayers which we further recommend unto thee in his words Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Thy grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us all evermore FAMILY DEVOTIONS FOR THE EVENING A short Prayer before Reading the Scripture ALmighty Creator and Evening most wise Governour of all the World thou art God and there is none beside thee and thou only art to be worshipp'd 't is of thy mercy and happy forbearance that we are yet alive and 't is the greatest happiness of our life that we can thus attend upon thee to hear thee speaking to us in thy written Word and to speak unto thee our selves by our Prayers and Supplications O Lord draw near to us with thy favourable mercies while we approach to thee in our humble duty have a gracious regard to this our evening Sacrifice and let thy good Spirit help our Infirmities since thou hast appointed the holy Scripture for a Rule of our Faith and a Law to all our actions grant that we may attend thereunto with godly reverence let thy word dwell richly in us and have a powerful influence on our hearts and lives that having obeyed thy Will here on earth we may receive the promise of eternal life in thine heavenly Kingdom through our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with thy self and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen A Psalm and Prayer for the Evening O Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever To him that made great lights for his mercy endureth for ever The Sun to rule by day the Moon and Stars to rule by night for his mercy endureth for ever O Lord thou hast searched me and known me Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways If I say surely the darkness shall cover me even the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to thee I will say of the Lord he is my refuge my God in him will I trust He shall cover thee with his Feathers and under his Wings shalt thou trust his truth shall be thy shield and buckler Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrour by night and the arrow that flyeth by day Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness nor the destruction that walketh at noon day Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee O Almighty and most glorious God Creator of Heaven and Earth we acknowledge our dependance on thee for we are the work of thine hands and in thee we live move and have our being wherefore our souls and bodies which thou hast made and hitherto preserv'd we do humbly prostrate at thy Footstool ascribing unto thee honour and worship adoration and praise and with lowly subjection submitting our selves to thy most great and excellent Majesty 'T is thy wonderful condescension that thou doest permit vile dust and ashes to have freedome of access to thy Throne of grace that thou art pleased to invite and command us to present our supplications We are altogether unworthy to speak unto thee and by reason of our manifold sins do justly deserve thou shouldest reject both our persons and prayers for the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts the course and practice of our life have been exceeding evil and that continually We have obeyed the lusts of our depraved nature more than the precepts of thy sacred Word and have compli'd with the temptations of Satan rather then the motions of thy blessed Spirit thy Law which is holy just and good we have broken from day to day and also slighted and abus'd the riches of thy grace discover'd in the Gospel wherefore to us belongs nothing but shame and punishment but with thee there is mercy and with thy Son plenteous redemption we beseech thee therefore for thy mercies sake and for thy Sons sake whom thou hast made a Sacrifice for sin that thou wouldest blot out all our transgressions and remember our iniquities no more deal not with us after the strictness of thy Law but according to the gracious terms of the new Covenant in which thou doest promise pardon and reconciliation to all repenting Sinners We do here profess our deep sorrow and humiliation for all our sins past and our serious resolution to lead the future part of our life in holy obedience to thy Will and Commands But for as much as our sufficiency is of thee and of our selves alone we can do nothing that shall be good and acceptable in thy sight be thou pleas'd to supply our defects and strengthen our weakness let thine holy Spirit lead us into truth and assist us in every good Duty Write thy Law in our inward parts and put thy fear into our hearts that we may never depart from thee Prepare us O Lord for all events of thy providence that in every condition we may be therewith content and grant whatever things shall befal us in this World they may work together for good and be a furtherance to us in our service of thee and in our passage to eternal happiness And because thou hast commanded that Prayers and Intercessions be made for all men we beg thy mercy for the whole race of Mankind that the light of thy Gospel may shine upon all the Earth and every Nation thereof may partake of Christ and the benefits of his Redemption Bless thy Church Universal that it may flourish more and more in purity of truth and holiness and that the Gates of Hell may never prevail against it Vouchsafe thy special care and kindness to this Church and Kingdom to which we belong preserve the religion profess'd among us from errour and corruption let piety justice and sobriety encrease and abound that thou mayest delight in us to do us good for
those happy ends bless him whom thou hast anointed King over us fill him with sound wisdom and all princely vertues that so he may rule for thee here and be rewarded by thee in thy Kingdom of Glory We crave thy choicest blessings for all to whom we have any particular obligation be thou a friend to our friends to all who have done us good or do wish us well Extend thy fatherly compassion to such as be in any affliction or distress whether of body or mind comfort the sorrowful relieve those that are in want send ease to all that are under any sickness or pain relieve the oppressed give thy consolation and support to all who are persecuted for righteousness sake and in thy due time redeem thine Israel out of all his troubles We do likewise present unto thee our humble thanks for all thy mercies and benefits so plentifully conferr'd upon us for our being and the preservation thereof for all the good things appertaining to the present life But above all we bless thee for giving thy Son to be our Redeemer for revealing to us the way of Life and Salvation by the holy Scriptures for thine Ordinances and all the means of Grace and for any measure of Faith and Holiness thou hast wrought in us We thank thee for thy good providence over us the day past that thou hast suppli'd our necessities preserv'd us from dangers and prolong'd our life hitherto And prais'd be thy wisdom and goodness for appointing the constant successions of day and night that man may go forth to his work until the Evening and then return to his place of rest and sleep O thou Keeper of Israel who doest neither slumber nor sleep watch over us in our lying down and let thine Angels guard our Habitations grant us to be refreshed with quiet and comfortable repose and that we may awake in health and safety the next morning let thy goodness O Lord continually follow us through all the parts and passages of our life till thou shalt bring us to thine everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our blessed Saviour in whose Words we continue to pray unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Thy grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us and abide with us henceforth and for evermore Another Psalm and Prayer for the Evening BLess the Lord ô my soul O Lord thou art become exceeding glorious thou art cloathed with Honor and Majesty Thou hast appointed the Moon for seasons and the Sun knoweth his going down Thou makest darkness and it is night wherein all the beasts of the Forest do creep forth Man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches The Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time and in the night his Song shall be with me and my Prayer unto the God of my life My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise him with joyful lips When I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it except the Lord keep the City the watchman waketh but in vain It is vain to rise early and sit up late to eat the bread of carefulness for so he giveth his beloved sleep Consider and hear me O Lord my God lighten mine eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death ALmighty God our heavenly Father who hast commanded us by Prayers and Supplication to make known our requests unto thee and doest promise thy gracious presence where two or three are gathered together in thy Name we vile Creatures do here present our selves and our Prayers to thy divine Majesty humbly confessing that we are unworthy to lift up our eyes to Heaven the place of thine holy Habitation because we have sinned against Heaven and before thee and do not deserve to be owned for thy Children the inward thoughts and affections of our heart the words and actions of our outward life have been very evil and that continually We have been exceeding careless and defective in our Devotion and Piety towards God in the acts of charity and brotherly kindness we owe to men and in that mortification and self-denial which thy Gospel doth require the inclinations of our own corrupt nature we have more readily obeyed than the righteous commands of thine excellent Laws and our care hath been much greater about the things of this present life which are earthly and perishing then about things heavenly and spiritual belonging to the life immortal We do therefore with shame and repentance humble our selves beseeching thee for the Merits and Mediation of thy blessed Son to pardon all our offences and to receive us into thy love and favour as perfectly reconcil'd let not our former unthankfulness or abuse of mercies withhold from us the gifts of thy bounty but be thou pleas'd to bestow and continue to us all the good things that may be requisite and convenient for our comfortable subsistence in this World and for our eternal happiness in the life to come O Lord our Governour who orderest all things both in Heaven and earth guide and dispose all the affairs and occurrences of our present condition as may be most for thy glory and our real benefit preserve to us the health of our bodies the use of our reason of our senses and other necessary faculties and let thy good providence still watch over us to defend us from evil and to do us good More especially we beg the blessings of thy divine Grace for the sanctification of our hearts and lives enlighten our minds with the saving knowledg of thy self and of Jesus Christ whom to know is life eternal regulate our wills and affections that we may chuse what thou doest approve and refuse whatever thou hast forbidden that our love may be to thy Law and our chief delight in doing thy Commandements and that we may hate every evil work Enrich our souls with all Christian Vertues whereby we may be qualified to honour and serve thee to lead a sober righteous and godly life with a Conscience void of offence both towards thee and towards all men Amidst all the dangers and temptations of this mortal state let thine Almighty power be our shield and support give us minds suitable and prepar'd for every dispensation of thy providence that no events whether prosperous or afflicting may do us any
will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee To see thy Power and thy Glory so as I have seen thee in thy Sanctuary Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy Courts we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house even of thy holy Temple The Heavens are thine the Earth also is thine as for the World and the fulness thereof thou hast founded them I will praise thee for I am fearfully and and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth Thy Eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect and in thy book all my Members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the Assembly of the upright and in the Congregation The works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein His Work is honourable and glorious and his righteousness endureth for ever He hath made his wonderful Works to be remembred the Lord is gracious and full of compassion I praise the Lord for thou art become my Salvation The Stone which the builders refused is become the head Stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing it is marvellous in our Eyes This is the day which the Lord hath made I will rejoice and be glad in it MOst gracious God blessed be thy name that thou hast brought me to a new day and to another Christian Sabbath That thou doest not only lengthen out my natural life but also the means and opportunities of Grace for obtaining the life eternal Thou alone art worthy to receive adoration and Praise from Men and Angels and 't is the greatest honour I am capable of to be employed in thy Service But I do acknowledge my self very unworthy to approach thy presence or to receive any token of thy favour for I am a polluted Sinner and my whole life hath been a continued disobedience against thee and thy righteous Laws I have neglected the good Duties by thee requir'd but have been very forward to do those evil things which thy Law hath forbidden And my sins are much the more hainous and provoking because committed against the light of thy Gospel the great obligations of thy Mercies and after Vows and Promises of better Obedience Wherefore I do here humble my self at thy Footstool lamenting all the Offences of my former life and earnestly begging thy gracious pardone O Lord I do condemn my self but be thou pleas'd to acquit me for the Merits and Mediation of thine own Son who hath fulfill'd all righteousness and made a perfect Atonement by the Sacrifice of himself And as I pray to be freed from the guilt of sin by Justification so I desire to be deliver'd from the Power and Dominion of it by thy sanctifying Grace Be thou pleas'd to mortifie in me all corrupt lusts and sinful affections and to renew me after thine own Image in righteousness and true holiness To this end bless unto me thine holy Ordinances make them effectual for my spiritual benefit and grant that in the religious Duties of this holy day I may sanctifie thee in my heart and make thee my fear and dread O Lord this is a day set apart for thine honour in remembrance of the Worlds Creation which thou didst complete in six days and of our redemption by Christ which was finished by his Resurrection I do therefore ascribe unto thee Praise Thanksgiving and Worship for this glorious Fabrick of Heaven and Earth and the whole variety of Creatures contain'd in them more especially for that excellent being thou hast given to man whom thou didst make after thine own likeness and advance to an eminence and dominion over the Works of thine hands I do with all humble reverence own and adore thee as the Author of mine own life and being yielding thee due thanks that thou hast placed me in the highest rank of thy Creatures that thou hast endow'd me with a reasonable soul and such noble faculties as do fit me for the Knowledge and Service of thy self and the happy enjoyment of thee for ever And prais'd be thy Name for thy great Mercy and rich Grace in sending thine only begotten Son from thine own bosom to redeem Mankind from Sin and Misery and to direct the World in the right way of Life and Salvation I bless thee for the manifestation of the Gospel by him Preached and for the great confirmation of it by his Resurrection from the dead let the light of this Heavenly Doctrine shine over all the Earth that so all the Kingdoms thereof may become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ Be propitious to that part of the World where thy Gospel is already planted let thy Church be reformed more and more from all corruptions both of Doctrine and Practice remove all the unhappy causes of discord and division that all who profess thy Name may agree in thy Truth and live in Unity and Godly Love More especially be thou gracious to this Church and Kingdom whereof I am a Member pardon our abuse of thy great Mercies and all other our provocations grant that the Inhabitants of the Land may turn from the evil of their ways unto the Lord their God that thou mayest rejoice over us to do us good give us outward peace and prosperity and continue thy Gospel and true Religion to us and the Posterities that shall come after us I beg thy kindness for all who are my particular friends or more nearly related to me that thou wouldest bless them in their persons and in all their concernments both of this life and of that which is to come And ô thou who art the Father of Mercy and God of all consolation shew thy tender pity to all who are under pain sickness want sorrow or any other calamity and wherever there be any that suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness or in defence of thy Truth and Gospel be thou near to them for their comfort and happy deliverance Have respect O God to the Prayers and Supplications of thy people which shall this day be offer'd up in the Christian Assemblies throughout the World assist and bless thy holy Word which shall be preached that men may be edified by it in sound Faith and real Godliness Be merciful O Lord to me thy Servant lift thou upon me the light of thy Countenance and let thy Grace be alwaies present with me grant that on this thy day I may not only abstain from worldly employments but also from all the works of Sin give me a spiritual temper of mind that my
and being and 't is of thy great Mercy I am not consumed thy goodness hath been my support and comfort ever since I was born I do therefore prostrate my self with humble adoration submitting my soul and body to thy divine Majesty and offering up my thankful acknowledgments of all thy Mercies and Benefits conferr'd upon me I bless thee for my redemption by Christ and all the means of Grace and Salvation for the comforts of this present life and all my temporal enjoyments I thank thee for that kind Providence which hath watched over me this day that thou hast continued my life and preserv'd my person from those many evils to which I am alwaies expos'd O Lord I am less than the least of all the Mercies I have received at thine hands for my sins have been very many and exceeding great I have broken thy righteous Laws both by neglecting what thou hast commanded and by doing what thou hast strictly forbidden and my practice hath been very unsuitable to the rich Grace and holy Precepts of thy excellent Gospel so that I have justly deserv'd thy wrathful displeasure and the severities of thy justice But thou art a God plenteous in Mercy ready to forgive and thou hast given thine own Son to be a propitiation for Sin O Lord I come unto thee in his Name most humbly beseeching thee that through his Merits the Transgressions of my life may be all blotted out and my person freely justifi'd from all unrighteousness More particularly I beg the pardon of whatever Sins I have fallen into the day past whether in thought word or deed O merciful Father be thou perfectly reconcil'd unto me this Evening And be thou pleas'd to deliver me more and more from the power and dominion of sin that I may be the servant of righteousness and live in constant obedience to thee and thy commands strengthen me by thy Grace against the corruptions within me and all temptations from without and keep me by thy mighty power through Faith unto Salvation Bless thy Church and People throughout the World and let the Kingdom of thy Son be daily enlarg'd Be propitious to this Church and Nation pardon our great sins and avert the judgments we have deserv'd keep us in peace and safety and let truth and holiness still flourish among us Shew thy favour to all my friends to such as have done me any good or do wish me well bestowing on them all the blessings that pertain both to life and godliness Have pity on all who are in any distress or tribulation giving to them thy speedy comfort and relief and be thou a present help in the needful time of trouble to all who cry unto thee finally I commend my self to thy Fatherly care this Night humbly praying that thy watchful Providence may be my guard and defence grant unto me a quiet and comfortable rest that my frail nature being refresh'd thereby I may awake the next Morning the better fitted for the Duties of another day Hear me O Father of Mercies and do for me above what I can ask or think through the Merits of my blessed Redeemer To whom with thy self and the holy Ghost be all Glory Dominion and Praise World without End Amen Sunday Evening Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with me all thine and mine henceforth for evermore Amen A Psalm and Prayer for the Evening of the Lords day IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord to sing praises unto thy name O most high To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night The earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof the World and they that dwell therein Thy hands have made me and fashion'd me give me understanding that I may learn thy commandements All thy works shall praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall bless thee They shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy Power My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee and my soul which thou hast redeemed I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord. One day in thy Courts is better than a thousand How sweet is thy Word unto my tast yea sweeter then hony to my mouth Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee I will delight my self in thy Statutes and I will not forget thy Word I will bless the Lord who hath given me Counsel my Reins also shall instruct me in the night season Into thine hands I commit my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth O Most glorious God the mighty Creatour and wise Governour of all things the heaven is thine the earth also is thine with all that in them is and thou canst do whatsoever thou pleasest in all places of thy dominion wherefore unto thee alone it doth appertain to receive honour and worship and service from the Sons of men I do thankfully acknowledge it is a very great favour and priviledge that I am so often admitted into thy presence and have this liberty granted of presenting my supplications unto thee who art a God hearing Prayer for what am I vile Dust and Ashes that I should take upon me to speak unto the Lord or how can I expect to find any acceptance with thee who have so greatly offended thine holy Majesty by my repeated transgressions O Lord my very righteousness is as filthy rags and my best performances are sinful and poluted I have waited upon thee this day in the duties of thy Worship but it hath been with much weakness and distraction my thoughts and affections have not been heavenly and devout nor have I honour'd thee as I ought on the day consecrated to thee and thy service But O God who art gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness be thou pleas'd to overlook whatever hath been amiss in my life and actions from my Nativity to this moment grant me an interest in the Merits and Redemption of the Lord Christ and let his precious blood cleanse me from all unrighteousness pardon the defects of my obedience and of all my religious duties through his most perfect Sacrifice who hath taken away Sin by the Oblation of himself once for all Add thy blessing to all the opportunities and means of Grace vouchsaf'd to me and cause thy Word to abide in me that it may be as good seed taking deep root and bringing forth abundantly the fruits of righteousness Grant O Lord that as I have been created by thee so I may make it my chief business to honor and serve thee both in soul and body and as Christ died for my Sins and rose again for my Justification so I may crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof and rise daily from the death of sin to a life of holiness Enable me
to walk as becomes the Gospel having a Conscience void of offence both towards God and towards Men that as he who hath called me is holy so I may be holy in all manner of conversation Take off my affections from earthly things which are vain and perishing and set them on the things above in which alone my true happiness doth consist fit me by suitable grace for every dispensation of thy Providence that I may know how to want and how to abound how to mourn or rejoyce how to be in sickness or in health and in every condition to be therewith content let thy Fatherly wisdom cause all things to work together for good unto me and that the several occurrences of the present life may help me forward in my Christian course towards the attainment of eternal Salvation And because my nature is frail my life uncertain and I know not how soon I shall be taken from the land of the living help me seriously to consider my latter end to be still preparing for death and by numbring my dayes to apply mine heart to sound wisdom that when I shall put off this earthly Tabernacle I may be admitted into an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens O God who art the Creatour of mankind and didst send thine own Son that the World through him might be saved extend thy goodness to all the kindreds of the earth causing the light of thy glorious Gospel to shine upon them that their feet may be guided into the way of peace and everlasting happiness let all Nations become subject to the Kingdom of thy Christ and the number of thine Elect be filled up that the glory of thy Salvation may be revealed Accept O Lord my evening oblation of Praise and Thanksgiving for all thy rich Mercies vouchsafed to me I bless thee for my being since by thee I have been fearfully and wonderfully made for thy preservation of me to this moment and for all the accommodations and comforts of the present life But above all I magnifie and adore thine inestimable goodness in making known unto me the way of salvation and happiness by Jesus Christ in continuing to me the seasons of Grace and of waiting upon thee in thine holy Ordinances help me to make such a good and pious use of all thy benefits as may be for thy glory and for mine own eternal welfare And since thy wise Providence hath ordain'd that the Night should succeed the Day as a time of rest and refreshment I pray thee that this Night may be so to me thy Servant grant me to be safe and secure under thy protection from all the terrours and perils of darkness and to awake the next morning in health and safety O Lord hear my Prayer and let thy presence and loving-kindness alwaies be with me to the end of my life for the sake of thine only begotten Son my alone Saviour to whom with thy divine Majesty and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory World without End Amen Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O Heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with me henceforth and for evermore Amen A Psalm and Prayer to be us'd by a Person who is under Sickness O Lord rebuke me not in thy In sickness wrath neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed My soul is also sore vexed but thou Lord how long Return O Lord deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake For in death there is no remembrance of thee in the grave who shall give thee thanks Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions Wash me throughly from mine inquity and cleanse me from my sin Why art thou cast down ô my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Yea though I walk thorow the Valley of the shadow of death yet will I fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff comfort me O Lord my times are in thy hand deliver me from the hand of mine enemies Let my soul live and it shall praise thee and let thy judgments help me Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart faileth me but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever ALmighty God and most merciful Father thou art the Author of my being and as my life my health and strength are from thee so they are and ought to be at thy dispose and I do humbly confess that because of my sinfulness and disobedience 't is just with thee to afflict me with sickness and pain yea and to cut me off from the Land of the Living O Lord I bear about me a body of Sin and Death and am liable to the penalties of that first transgression for by one man Sin entered into the World and Death by Sin Likewise the practice of my life hath been very evil and my sins still repeated from day to day I have not made it my chief business to serve and glorifie thee which is the end of my Creation nor hath the time of my life and health been employ'd as it ought in doing and receiving good The faculties of my Soul and Members of my Body have been made the instruments of Sin I have not been duly thankful for thy manifold Mercies nor made a right use of them and I have too much despis'd thy goodness and forbearance which should have lead me to repentance I do therefore acknowledg the justice of thy dealings for why should a man complain of the punishment of his sins But O thou Father of Mercies who delightest not in the death of a sinner be favourable unto me Enter not into judgment with thy servant neither let thine anger wax hot against me but forgive my Sin and deliver me for in thee do I trust I know O Lord that afflictions rise not from the Dust but are of thy sending and I do desire to hear the voice of thy Rod and to turn to him that smiteth I do with hearty repentance humble my self at thy footstool lamenting all the errours of my former life and I do give up my Soul and Body to thy Will and Governance resolving and promising by thy Grace to live and act hereafter in all holy obedience to thee and thy righteous commands O deal not with me after mine iniquities nor punish me as I have deserved but remember the sufferings of thy Son who himself bore our sicknesses and the punishment due to us in his own death I believe in him as my alone Saviour my trust is in his Merits and I do humbly beg for his sake that thou wouldst be reconcil'd unto me that thou wouldest heal my Body and comfort my Soul O God who art the preserver of men who hast declared in thy word that thou art nigh unto such as pray unto thee and hast promised to deliver when call'd upon in the day of trouble be thou pleas'd to bow down thine ear and extend thy compassion in removing the distemper under which I now labour do thou who art the great Physitian prescribe and bless the means that may be for my recovery and restore me again if it be thy blessed Will to a state of health and strength then will I praise thee with a thankful heart and will serve thee faithfully all my daies But I do humbly submit my self to thy good pleasure and not my will but thine be done Though thou visit with thy Rod yet take not thy loving kindness from me and while my body shall be afflicted be thou pleas'd to strengthen and support my Soul with thy Grace and inward consolation help me with chearfulness and Christian patience to bear thy chastisement with a firm and constant faith to trust in thee and thy pretious promises Grant that this present visitation may be sanctifi'd to my spiritual benefit and through thy wise ordering in the issue turn to my real advantage and that I may by experience know that in very faithfulness thou hast afflicted me Let this thy fatherly correction teach me to be more dutiful and obedient and grant that by considering the vanity and uncertainty of health of life and worldly enjoyments I may be the more careful to set my affections on things above and to breath after that immortal life of perfect bliss which thy Gospel hath promis'd And grant O Lord that whether in health or sickness in prosperity or affliction I may still honour and serve thee that whether I live I may live unto thee and whether I die I may die unto thee that whether I live or die I may be thine And so an entrance may be ministred to me into the everlasting Kingdom of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ In whose Name and Merits I do earnestly recommend unto thee my present condition and all my Concern both of Soul and Body praying further in his Words Our Father c. Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ my Redeemer thy Love O Heavenly Father thy Consolation O blessed Spirit of Grace be with me and all thy People henceforth and for evermore Amen FINIS
perfect and glorious the Creator of us and the whole World and Governour of all things both in Heaven and Earth our great Law-giver and most just Judge who will reward or punish according to our actions That he can save or destroy us make us miserable or happy h Jam. 4. 12. That he is the Author of all good and having all things at his dispose can do for us whatever we can need or desire I say considering the Almighty in all these several respects we cannot but be satisfied that he is to be honour'd and worship'd by us and doth highly deserve our service and adoration That we are greatly concern'd to humble our selves at his Footstool imploring his mercy to submit our persons to him and placing our whole trust in his power and goodness to beg at his hands a supply of all our wants IV. This holy performance will be thought very congruous and necessary on a due consideration of our selves for we are Beings entirely dependent on God we have been created by him and 't is by his power and providence that we daily subsist Whatever good things we enjoy whatever do administer to our life either as to the necessities or conveniencies thereof they are all his Creatures and by him provided for our use and benefit We are weak and frail exposed to dangers of all kinds in every place and every hour of our life nor have we foresight or power enough of our own to secure our selves Moreover we are guilty Sinners before God and so have forfeited his kindness and made our selves obnoxious to his wrath and severity There are in us corrupt inclinations to sin We are still encompassed with Temptations and the Devil is our malicious and subtile Adversary So that if left to our selves we cannot hope to be holy in this life nor happy in the next Now when we thus reflect 't is easie to understand how much we are oblig'd to honour and worship the Divine Majesty and to render to him our daily thanks and praise for all that we are or have how much it doth behove us to desire his constant care and protection recommending our selves to his watchful Providence We may quickly apprehend of what importance it is that with humiliation and hearty repentance we beg the pardon of our sins lest we fall under condemnation and eternal punishment and that we earnestly crave the assistance of Divine Grace whereby we may be able to overcome sin and all spiritual enemies and may be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation V. There is in Prayer it self enough to make it desirable and much valued by us 1. It is highly honourable for what greater honour then to be taken into an immediate attendance about the Almighty and to have converse with the supream Monarch of the world the great King of Kings and Lord of Lords in respect of whom the Potentates on Earth are of an account infinitely meaner then the vilest Begger if compar'd to them And what an high priviledge is it that poor mortals made up of Clay can be admitted to the Throne of this Glorious Majesty there to present their Petitions and to have his ear on all occasions Holy David was so apprehensive what an advancement it was to wait on God in his Worship that though he were a King he esteemed the meanest Office in the Temple well worth his ambition and would be content to be a Door keeper in Gods house i Psal 84. 10. rather then live in a state of distance and alienation from him The famous Constantine first Christian Emperour thought it much for his honour to be openly represented as in the posture of one at Prayer And therefore gave order that his own Effigies in the the Impresses of the publick Coyn should be so fashion'd As it was also over the Gates of his Palace in several places k Euseb Vit. Const lib. 4. c. 15. Certainly whosoever hath understanding enough to know God and himself and to compare the one with the other will see abundant reason for saying as the pious Father that he cannot but admire and wonder at the great love of God towards man for vouchsafing him so high an Honour as familiarly to speak unto himself by Prayers l Chrys de Orand Deum lib. 1. 2. It is a duty so material and comprehensive that it doth in a manner take in the Whole of our Religion our piety to God is largely contain'd in it since by Prayer we acknowledge and honour him as our Creator and Lord offering up our Souls and Bodies to his service We profess our subjection and rely upon him for all the good we desire We do hereby give particular honour to his Divine Attributes to his Omni-presence and infinite Knowledge in that we suppose him near at hand to take notice and hear our Petitions wheresoever we are to his Holiness and Justice by lamenting our sins and deprecating his deserved punishments To his Mercy and Goodness while we beg forgiveness and all the Blessings we stand in need of To his Power and Soveraignty in that we think him able to do for us in all the things we request of him and do commit our selves to his Care and Providence We ascribe to him the Glory of all the great and good things he hath done for us and all Mankind by our praise and thanksgiving Likewise we do herein perform our duty with respect to Christ as our blessed Redeemer in that renouncing all our own Righteousness we plead his alone merits for our pardon and acceptance and present all our supplications in his name and through his intercession There is moreover in Prayer an happy concurrence of our Christian Graces and a fruitful exercise of them Of Faith for whosoever cometh unto God believeth that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him m Heb. 11. 6. Rom. 10. 14. He is perswaded of his power and readiness to help and doth confide in the truth of his word and promises Of Repentance in our humble confession of sin our profess'd sorrow for what we have done amiss and our petition for Grace to amend our lives Of Hope for t is by it we are encourag'd to pray and have a comfortable expectation of receiving the good things we pray for and our charity shews it self while we pray for others as well as our selves and do profess to forgive men their trespasses against us as we desire God to forgive ours And it belongs to our holy obedience that we implore the divine assistance and Gods holy Spirit for enabling us tomortify sin and to lead a sober righteous and Godly life And because the substance of Religion is thus compriz'd in Prayer hence it is sometimes us'd to signify a mans duty to God in general as when it is said Whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved n Joel 2. 32. Act. 2. 21. Rom. 10. 13. and in
call upon him k Psal 86. 5. Like as a father pittieth his Children so the Lord pittieth them that fear him l Psal 103. 13. He doth exercise loving kindness m Jer. 9. 24. and delighteth in mercy n Mic. 7. 18. The Lord indeed is good unto all and his tender mercies are over all his works but he hath a more especial kindness for the Sons of men who bear his own Image and having given us so excellent a being we may not doubt but that he doth affectionately tender the good and welfare thereof and will therefore be ready to relieve our necessities and bestow good things on us if we seek unto him he beareth towards us the relation of a Father and he hath a readiness to do us good agreeable thereunto yea his paternal kindness may much more be confided in than that of earthly parents who are but sinful men and may fail their own Children or at least mistake as to the things wherein they intend them good but if they however know how to give good gifts unto their Children how much more shall our father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him o Mat. 7. 11. Which is our Saviours argument when exhorting his Hearers to the Duty of Prayero. 3. We are encouraged to pray by those many and plain promises in which he hath engaged to encline his ear and reach forth his hand when men present their requests for 't is declared in his word that He is nigh unto all them that call upon him to fulfill their desire to hear their cry and save them p Psa 147. 18 19. When two or three are gathered together in his name he is in the midst of them q Mat. 18. 20. If we call upon him in the day of trouble he will deliver r Psal 50. 15. He will regard the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their prayer Å¿ Psa 102. 17. Ask and it shall be given seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you t Mat. 7 7. Yea so very forward is God to grant the requests of those who seek to him that as soon as they first set themselves to pray and before their Petitions are gone out of their mouths he doth send a gracious answer as doth appear from that promise of his by the Prophet And it shall come to pass that before they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear u Isa 65. 24. Now these things are said on purpose to incite our devotion by letting us know that if we attend on Gods service 't will not be labour lost and that he hath not said to the seed of Jacob seek ye my face in vain w Isa 45. 19. So that from the divine promises we may be certain that if we endeavour to please God in our life and actions x 1 Joh. 3. 22. and our Petitions be agreeable to his Will y 1 Joh. 5. 14. if they be presented in a due manner z Jam. 4. 3. and the things desir'd be such as would be for our real good and advantage a Mat. 7. 11. we shall be heard and answer'd for in all our supplications we must still remember to beg with submission to the wisdom and good pleasure of God who knows how to give good things better than we do to ask him and we are to mind the example of our Saviour who when praying in a case of greatest extremity did say Nevertheless not my will but thine be done b Luc. 22. 42. 4. We may consider the good success that Prayer formerly hath had For there are infinite examples in which it may be seen how the devout supplicant hath been Victorious like Jacob in his wrestling with God c Gen. 32. 28. As a Prince he hath had power with him and hath prevailed I cried unto the Lord saith David with my voice even unto God with my voice and he gave ear unto me d Psal 77. 1. And again I sought the Lord and he heard me he delivered me from my fears e Psal 34. 4 and 8. From which his own experience he doth bespeak others to make the like trial O tast and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him Jonah on his calling upon God was delivered safe out of the depth of the Sea I cried saith he by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord and he heard me out of the belly of hell cried I and thou heardst my voice f Jon. 2. 2. And there are many other Instances of a wonderful efficacy from the Prayer of holy men It hath conquer'd whole armies so did that of Moses in the battel with Amalek g Exod. 17. 11 13. and that of Hezekiah when in danger from the Host of the Assyrians h 2 Kirgs 19 19 35. It hath shut up and opened the Clouds of Heaven as when Elias prayed in the days of Ahab i 1 Kin. 17. 1. Prayer hath reprieved life even after a sentence of Death pronounc'd of God himself as in the case of Hezekiah k 2 Kin. 20. 5. Yea which is more than all it hath restored the dead to life again for on the supplication of Elias the Widows Son rivived l 1 Kin. 17. 22. And so did Dorcas upon the Prayer of Peter m Act. 9. 40. Now while we hear how successful Prayer hath been to others it should with good reason encourage us to practise the same duty And therefore St. James when exhorting to it doth mention how the Prophet already nam'd though a man of like passions with others yet obtained by his prayer that it should not rain for three years and an half and when he prayed again the Heavens gave rain to refresh the earth n Jam. 5. 17 18. Which brings to our thoughts another Instance not unlike It is that when Antoninus and his Army being incompass'd by their Enemies in a place where there was want of water were ready to perish for thirst the Christian Soldiers then among them having with fervent Prayer call'd upon the name of Christ and desired Rain there soon after fell such plentiful showers as answered their necessity nor were their lives only preserved but also a glorious Victory obtain'd by them all which was attested by that Emperour himself in his own letter to the Senate of Rome the Copy whereof is inserted by Justin Martyr in an Apology of his for the Christians o Justin Mart. Apol 2. and we cannot imagine he should have the confidence to alledge it openly so near the time of the supposed fact were it not a real thing The renowned Constantine had happily experimented by the success of his Arms against his and the Churches enemies how great efficacy there was in the Prayers of Christians and therefore not thinking himself or his Empire could
Apol. c. 13. who doth more than once reflect on the superstitious honour given them as doth also St. Hierom in the words following And there was no place which was not polluted with filthy Idolatry insomuch as behind their doors they placed Idols which they called domestick Lares l Hieron in Esa c. 57. To these were carefully perform'd the Rites of their vain Worship they offer'd to them Wine Frankincense Flowers and the first Fruits of their Ground m Nat. Com. l. 4 c. 2 4. and how solemn they were in the service of them is intimated by that of the Poet Quinquaginta intus familae quibus ordine longo Cura penum struere flammis adolere Penates * Virg. Aeneid lib. 1. no less than fifty servants in one house were employed about oblations to the houshold Gods And all this for that they were accounted by them as Tectorum domuumque custodes n Arnob. lib. 3. the Guardians of their houses and dwellings whence they had the name of Praestites Quòd praestant oculis omnia tuta suis because by their watchful care they did perform or effect that all things belonging to the house should be in safety or rather because they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Presidents having the oversight of places we find by one of their Writers that they thought their very life and the state both of their body and soul did depend on the care of the Gods they thus honour'd * Macrob. Saturn l. 3. c. 4. Such was the domestick Piety of these deluded Votaries to their fictitious Deities on a fond imagination they had of their being benefited by them How shameful then is it if Christian Governours of houses shew not their zealous care for having as much devotion exercised toward the living and true God who is really and indeed the watchful Keeper of their habitations o Psal 121. 3 4 5 6. he on whom their life and being do truly depend and without whose kind Providence neither themselves nor their Families can be safe or prosperous And this leads us to add III. That this great duty of Family-Devotion if conscionably perform'd will not fail to procure to them the favour of Almighty God and draw down his blessings on themselves their families and all appertaining to them it will be the most likely means for making them prosperous in their Affairs Vocations and Estates When Micah had taken a Levite into his house to Minister there in sacred offices he then concludes that the Lord would do him good p Judg. 17. 12. and had his worship been true he might well expect it The wise man tells us 'T is the blessing of God that maketh rich q Prov. 17 12. and when men are careful to serve the Almighty they may hope according to his own promise to be Blessed in the City and in the Field in the fruit of their Body and of their Ground in the increase of their Cattel in their Basket and Store in their coming in and going out r Deut. 28. 3 4 5 6. likewise the royal Psalmist is very particular in reckoning up the domestick blessings which shall be to the man that feareth the Lord and walketh in his ways ſ Psal 128. he doth promise to him that he shall receive the fruit of his labour and happily enjoy the same For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee that he shall be blessed in Wife and Children Thy Wife shall be a fruitful Vine in the sides of thy house and thy Children like Olive Plants about thy Table that he shall prolong his life to a good old age so as to see his off-spring to the third Generation and have withal the comfort of peaceable and happy days Yea thou shalt see thy Children's Children and peace upon Israel and his Son Solomon who had been very Studious in making observations doth also affirm that the houses of good men where God is feared and served are usually replenished with riches In the house of the righteous is much treasure t Prov. 15. 6. The Gospel indeed is not so frequent in making temporal proposals for engaging men to be religious but doth insist on spiritual and future rewards and yet there also Piety is intitled to worldly blessings For our Saviour hath given assurance that to such as discharge their duty in pursuit of things Heavenly and Spiritual those others of present use shall be superadded u Mat. 6. 33. Likewise St. Paul doth affirm that godliness hath the promise of the life that now is as well as of that which is to come w 1 Tim. 4. 8. the original word there used in it's primary and more proper signification doth denote the worship of God But the Scripture is very severe in the Commination of Temporal Evils against the contemners of God and Religion as Deut. 28. from the 15 Verse to the end of that Chapter they are there threatned with Curses in their Persons and their Children in their Cattle and the Fruit of their Land that the Heaven shall be to them as Brass and the Earth as Iron And by the Prophet it is denounc'd against them who neglect their religious addresses to God that they shall be unfortunate For the Pastors are become bruitish they have not sought the Lord therefore they shall not prosper and all their flocks shall be scattered Jer. 10. 21. Nor can men expect to have their Families rais'd as long as they mind not to have Religion and the Duties thereof practised in them For except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it 't will be in vain to rise up early to sit up late and eat the bread of carefulness x Psa 127. 1 2. Though some despisers of God and his worship may perhaps get themselves riches yet either they shall not abide but be as mony put into a bag with holes as 't is express'd in Haggai y Hagg 1. 6. or at least there shall be no real content in the possession of them for temporal enjoyments are then only blessings indeed and truly good to us when sanctified by the Word and Prayer z 1 Tim. 4. 4 5. Wherefore if Masters of Families would consult their own Prosperity as to the things of this Life if they would be happy in what they have and successful in what they undertake they must needs account it expedient and of great consequence to them that God be piously serv'd in their Families and his favour implor'd by their constant Prayers IV. 'T is very desireable and of much concern to them that those belonging to their Domestick government should be truly good and vertuous for then they will have delight and contentment in the love and fidelity of their Wives in the dutifulness and good carriage of their Children and 't will be for their satisfaction and advantage
highest interest to please thee and enjoy thy favour and that we may be more careful and diligent in securing our eternal happiness hereafter then for the momentary things of this present life help us often to consider the vanity of this World the approach of death and the certainty of a future judgment and to fix our thoughts on the recompence of reward that so we may be stedfast and immoveable in the Duties of our Christian profession as well knowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. And because our life is but a vapour which doth quickly vanish and we know not how soon thou wilt bring us to the dust of death give us daily to prepare for our great change and to be doing good while we have time and opportunity because there is no work nor understanding in the Grave whither we are going We render our due thanks for thy great mercy and long suffering in the continuance of our life hitherto and lengthening out unto us the day of Grace and Salvation whereas so many others who might have lived to this time as well as we have been removed from the land of the living And we bless thy great name both in behalf of our selves and this whole Nation for the free use of the holy Scriptures the truth of thy heavenly Doctrine and the purity of thy Worship That thou hast so long preserved the religion profess'd among us notwithstanding the many attempts that have been made against it help us all to value and improve these inestimable blessings and be thou pleas'd still to continue them to us for all generations We thank thee in particular for the opportunities of waiting upon thee this day in the Duties of thy solemn Worship pardon all the defects and infirmities of our religious service accept our Devotions at the hands of our great high Priest and let the Prayers of us and thy whole Church obtain thy gracious acceptance as presented to thee with the incense of his Merits Let thy word abide in us taking root in our hearts and bringing forth good fruit in our life and actions and grant that all the pious instructions we at any time receive may prove effectual for building us up in our holy Faith and helping us forward in the way of holiness which leadeth to eternal life We beg thy mercy for all those Nations which yet sit in darkness and in the shadow of death that the Sun of Righteousness may arise upon them to guide their feet into the way of peace And be thou pleas'd to extend thy fatherly piety to all the distressed Members of thy Church giving them seasonable relief in all their afflictions and necessities more especially be thou near at hand to the comfort and deliverance of all those who are any where oppressed or persecuted for the sake of thy Truth and Gospel and grant that the rage of thine and thy peoples enemies may be at length restrained cause the wickedness of the wicked to come to a perpetual end but let the just be established We recommend to thy special care our own particular friends and all more nearly related to us that thou wouldest bless them in their souls and bodies and give them all the good things that may be for their prosperity here and their eternal happiness hereafter Finally we desire for our selves thy favourable kindness this ensuing night grant us to lie down in peace with thee and under thy protection let thy watchful providence secure us from all the perils of darkness and command thine holy Angels to be our defence against that evil one who like a roaring Lion seeketh day and night whom he may devour give us a sweet repose and bring us in safety to another day And grant that all the days of our life we may honour and serve thee and at length receive the glorious reward of everlasting life through Jesus Christ in whose blessed Name and Words we further pray unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trepasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy Love O Heavenly Father thy Fellowship and Communion O holy and blessed Spirit be with us this Night and for evermore DEVOTIONS When any Person is sick A short Prayer with which to begin ALmighty God who hearest In sickness Prayer and art near unto all that call upon thee thou art our only refuge in trouble and hast commanded us in the time of sickness to Pray one for another that we may be healed O let our cry come unto thee and be thou intreated for thy Servant who is afflicted in body We do confess we are altogether unworthy to intercede with thee by reason of our manifold sins for which we do here humble our selves with hearty repentance most earnestly begging thy gracious pardon for the sake of our blessed Redeemer who is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World through him be thou reconcil'd unto us and with Fatherly compassion receive our Prayers which we do not presume to offer up but in his Name and Mediation who suffered for us and is ready to pity the sufferings of others To him with thy self and the holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory world without end Amen These Portions of Scripture may be suitable to the condition of the Sick Psalms 6. 25. 27. 31. 32. 34. 38. 42. 73. 88. 103. Job 1. 2. 5. 7. Isa 38. Lament 3. Mat. 8. Rom. 8. 2 Cor. 4. and 5. Heb. 12. A Psalm LIke as a Father pitieth his Children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are dust As for man his days are as Grass as a Flower of the Field so he flourisheth For the wind passeth over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him and his righteousness unto Childrens Children Blessed is he that considereth the poor the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed upon earth The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all I looked on my right hand and beheld but there was no man that would know me refuge failed me and no man cared for my soul I cried unto the Lord I said thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living Attend unto my cry for I am brought very
dangerous folly to live in neglect of the Duty on the presumption it will so be Be persuaded therefore O Christian to seek the Lord while he may be found to honour him with thy constant devotion that thou mayst have comfortable assurance of his ready help when in any case of extremity thou shalt call upon him he is thy best friend whom alone thou canst relie upon and if thou wouldst maintain that friendship with him which thou art to prize above all things in the World it must be by converse and intimacy in this heavenly Duty And consider with thy self what an honour and priviledg it is that thou who art but a clod of earth art allowed the freedom of access to the great God of heaven and to present thy Petitions to him as often as thou shalt please If thou hadst the like liberty with thy Prince on earth thou wouldst certainly value it very highly and think it a great weakness not to make use of it for thine own advantage how then canst thou excuse thy self if notwithstanding the leave and encouragement given thee thou neglect thine approaches to him who is the great Lord of the whole Universe and having all things at command is able to do for thee whatever thou canst request of him If thou desirest the good things of this World the God whom thou art to wait upon is he who giveth Riches and Wealth Å¿ Eccles 5. 19. and his blessing maketh men to thrive t Prov. 10. 22. wouldst thou ascend to honour he is the highest fountain of it for promotion cometh not from the East nor from the West but God setteth up one and pulleth down another u Psal 75. 6. and them that honour him he will honour w 1 Sam 2. 30. dost thou wish to enjoy health of body consider that he to whom thy Prayers should be presented and he alone doth keep off diseases x Deut. 7. 15. and to confide in other Physitians is to hazard thy life y 2 Cbron. 16. 12 13. if thou hast a mind to be wise and knowing thou art directed to ask wisdom of him who giveth liberally z Jam. 1. 5. and take for a great truth that saying of the famous Luther Bene orasse est bene studuisse to pray devoutly t is the same as to study hard For confirmation whereof hear the experience of Aquinas the Angelical Doctor of the Schools who himself profess'd That his knowledg and learning he had acquir'd more by praying then by study a Corn. a Lap. in Zach. c. 12. If thou art real in Religion thou believest a divine providence that thy self and all thy concerns are in Gods power and at his dispose and how canst thou rest satisfy'd if thou seek not his favour by doing him service and without imploring to thy self his particular care and kindness thou knowest that in him thou doest live and move that without him thou canst not be prosperous in any undertaking nor avoid the many evil occurrences to which thou art still expos'd every hour of the day and how then wilt thou presume to set forth in the morning without begging his gracious presence his blessing and safe-guard thou canst not be ignorant what unhappy Casualties may attend the night what Dangers there are from the Prince of darkness and the violence of ill men And wilt thou venture to lie down without committing thy self and what is thine by earnest Prayer to that Keeper of Israel who never sleepeth b Psa 121. 4. and who saveth them that trust in him e Psal 37. 40. thou art convinc'd that thy being and the continual preservation of it together with all the good things thou doest partake of whether pertaining to this life or the next are from God as the sole Author of them and canst thou find in thine heart to be so base and unworthy as to deny him thy poor homage and the cheap returns of Thanksgiving and Praise thy nature is frail thy life uncertain and there are many ways by which death may at unawares break in upon thee so that in the morning it is doubtful to thee whether thou shalt out-live the day and in the Evening whether thou mayst survive the night and therefore of what mighty consequence is it that each Morning and Evening thou make thy peace with God by a Penitent Confession of thy Sins and an humble supplication for the Pardon of them through the Merits of thy Redeemer In short thy unspeakable obligations to Almighty God the constant dependance and necessities of thy being the notices and convictions of thine own mind do all inforce upon thee this great Duty and by it thou art wisely to consult both the security and prosperous state of thy present life and also thine eternal happiness in that to come And remember the day is coming in which God will Judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ d Rom. 2. 16. in which he will discern between those who served him in private and those who served him not then shall our Saviours promise be faithfully perform'd who hath said that if thou make it thy Religious practice to enter into thy closet and there pray to thy Father which is in secret thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly e Mat. 6. 6. and at the general retribution for thy private Acts of Piety thou shalt be publickly own'd before the great assembly of Men and Angels and be advanc'd to a Kingdom of everlasting Glory DEVOTIONS FOR THE USE OF Particular Persons PRAYERS FOR Particular Persons IN THE MORNING A Prayer before Reading the Scripture Oeternal God thy goodness Morning is exceeding great and thy Mercies are renewed to me every Morning I come now to acknowledge my dependance on thee presenting my religious service and imploring thy blessing although I am altogether unworthy to draw near unto thee and unable to perform any Duty that shall deserve thine acceptance yet be thou pleas'd to receive me with thy wonted Mercy and let thy Spirit help mine infirmities grant me rightly to understand and readily to embrace thy blessed Word that it may be for direction and comfort to me through the whole course of my life cause it to abide in me that I may be throughly furnish'd unto all good Works through Jesus Christ to whom with thy self and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end A Prayer for the Morning HEarken unto the voice of my cry my King and my God for unto thee will I pray My voice shalt thou hear in the Morning O Lord in the Morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up ALmighty God the Maker and Preserver of all things from whom I have my life and subsistance I do with humble prostration admire and adore thine infinite Majesty for thou art God and there is none beside thee thy Nature is most Excellent and Glorious in Wisdome Power Goodness