may make me uncapable of thy future favours I desire to praise and glorifie thy holy name for all thy Temporal and Spiritual Blessings for the particular preservations of thy good Providence that thou hast defended my life hitherto from the violence of the Enemy and be thou pleased to continue still watchful over me help me O God of my Salvation for the glory of thy name and let me not be delivered over into the Hands of merciless and cruel Men and since I know not what sudden dangers may encompass me give me serious thoughts to prepare for the Hour of Death and the Day of Judgment that I may not be surprized at any sudden change or accident of mortality but may patiently submit to thy Holy Will and whether I live or die chearfully resign both my Soul and Body into the Protection of thy good Providence for the sake of Christ Jesus who is the God of my hope and Salvation and in whom I will trust for my deliverance from the Enemy and therefore devoutly pray as he hath taught me in his Holy Gospel saying Our Father c. A Private Prayer for the Evening O Lord God merciful and gracious Father who bearest the most tender love and compassion to the Children of Men who hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that he should turn from his way and live Be graciously pleased to accept of the hearty Contrition and repentance of thy humble Servant who meekly confess my sins and acknowledge my vileness * Hear mention the sins of the day I have sinned against thee O what shall I do unto thee O thou preserver of Men I have indeed sinned against thy Mercies and thy Judgments against the checks of my own Conscience and the deliberate Vows and Purposes of Holy amendment But now O Father I come unto thee in the mercies of the Holy Jesus and pray thee That thou wilt accept of the Sacrifice of his Blood to be a Propitiation for my sins O let the sprinkling of that everlasting Covenant wash and purifie my Soul clean and undefiled from all the Pollutions of Vice and Wickedness and do thou fill me with such a Measure and Portion of thy Grace that I may resist all future Temptations and diligently apply my heart to fulfil all thy Commandments by serving thee in true Holiness and Righteousness all the days of my life remember with me the sorrowful State and Condition of Mankind shew thy mercy and compassion to the manifold fins and Provocations of this Land and Nation and punish us not according to our iniquities for then how shall we escape O God if thou be extreme to mark what we have done amiss O remember not against us our former iniquities but let thy tender mercies speedily help and prevent us heal all our Divisions and Differences in Opinion and unite us all by the bands of Brotherly Love and Charity that we may become a chosen Generation and a peculiar People zealous of Good Works Let us not continue unthankful for thy late Mercies but let us all O Lord consider thy Work and the power of thy Providence and so repent of this our backsliding wickedness that iniquity may not be out Ruine And that Truth and Peace may flourish in our daies bless the Supream Power and Government of Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary prosper thou the Great Work of Their Hands O prosper thou Their handywork that They may become Victorious over all Their Enemies And to this end give a blessing of strength and courage to Their Forces both by Land and Sea particularly I pray for the chief Commanders the Officers and Soldiers of this * As occasion requires Camp or Garison Give us all the Spirit of Christian Fortitude and Resolution that we may be strong and of good courage to stand before the Enemy in the day of Battel O preserve thou the Life of thy Servant who now calls upon thee let the Enemy have no advantage over me nor the wicked approach to hurt me but let me be continually guarded by the Protection of thy good Providence until these Calamities be over-past And as thou hast been pleased to defend me this day and all the days of my Life for which my Soul does praise and magnifie thy Holy Name for this and all other thy mercies so let no evil happen unto me this Night nor any Destruction come nigh my Tent or Dwelling but O blessed Lord the keeper of Israel who never slumberest nor sleepest watch over me and all the Camp of our Israel that we may be secure from all dangers both of Soul and Body Give me serious Apprehensions of Death that I may consider the few and uncertain days of my Pilgrimage here and since I know not how short my time is to live make me sensible of all the sudden accidents and dangers of War that I may never live in such a state as I shall be afraid to die but may be always ready with chearfulness and joy to resign my self into the Hands of my merciful Redeemer and grant O Lord that whether I sleep or wake live or die I may always continue thy faithful Servant even unto the end of my life for the sake of Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour in whose Name I further call upon thee saying 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 Amen Repeat the Apostles Creed which is the right Confession of your Christian Faith I Believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary Suffered under Pontius Pilate Was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell The third day he rose again from the dead He ascended into Heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe in the holy Ghost The holy Catholick Church The Communion of saints The forgiveness of sins The resurrection of the body And the life everlasting Amen And this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith 1 John 5.4 That is the word of faith which we preach that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thy heart that God hat raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 10.8 9. Repeat often the Decalogue or the Ten Commandments which is the Rule of your Obedience GOD spake these words and said I am the Lord thy God Thou shalt have none other Gods but me Lord have mercy upon me and incline my heart to keep this law Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven
righteous for we remain yet escaped as it is this day behold we are before thee in our trespasses for we cannot stand before thee because of this Ezra 9. v. 15. I looked on my right hand and beheld but there was no man that would know me refuge failed me no man cared for my soul Psal 142. v. 4. Attend unto my cry for I am brought very low deliver me from my persecutors for they are stronger than I Psal 142. v. 6. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us for thou hast done right but we have done wickedly Neh. 9. v. 33. Neither have our kings our princes our priests nor our fathers kept thy law nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies wherewith thou didst testifie against them Neh. 9. v. 34. For they have not served thee in their kingdom and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them and in the large and far land which thou gavest before them neither turned they from their wicked works Neh. 9. v. 35. Help us O God of our salvation for the glory of thy name Psal 79. v. 9. O Lord be gracious unto us we have waited for thee be thou their arm every morning our salvation also in the time of trouble Isal 33. v. 2. Be not far from me for trouble is near for there is none to help Psal 22. v. 11. Deliver my soul from the sword Psal 22. v. 20. O our God wilt thou not judge them for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us neither know we what to do but our eyes are upon thee 2 Chron. 20. v. 12. Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time 1 Pet. 5.6 The God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you 1 Pet. 5. v. 10. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great trespass seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve and hast given us such deliverance as this Ezza 9. v. 13. Should we again break thy commandments and joyn in affinity with the people of these abominations wouldest thou not be angry with us till thou hast consumed us so that there should be no remnant nor escaping Err. 9. v. 14. EXERCISE XII But if it please God to bless our Forces with happy Victory and Success then let all the Officers and Soldiers of the Army and all the People of the Land ascribe the Power and Glory to the Lord and devoutly say HAppy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thine excellency and thine enemies shall be found liers unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their high places Deut. 33. v. 29. Thy right hand is become glorious in power thy right hand hath dashed in pieces the enemy Exod. 15. v. 6. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee Exod. 15. v. 7. Who is like unto thee O Lord amongst the Gods who is like thee glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders Exod. 15. v. 11. Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truths sake Psal 115.1 He arose and smote the Philistins until his hand was weary and his hand clave unto the sword and the Lord wrought a great victory that day 2 Sam. 23. v. 10. Rejoice O ye nations with his people for he will avenge the blood of his servants and will render vengeance to his adversaries and will be merciful to his land and to his people Deut. 32.43 The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee and shall say Destroy them Deut. 32. v. 27. Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.57 O sing unto the Lord a new song for he hath done marvellous things his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory Psal 98. v. 1. Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation and David said Blessed be thou Lord God of Israel our father for ever and ever 1 Chron. 29. v. 10. Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine thine is the kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as head above all 1 Chron. 29. v. 11. Both riches and honour come of thee and thou reignest over all and in thine hand is power and might and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all 1 Chron. 29. v. 12. Now therefore our God we thank thee and praise thy glorious name 1 Chron. 29.13 For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever Amen Matth. 6.13 Some COLLECTS proper for the Exercise of the Soldier 's Morning and Evening Service of Private Devotion in the Camp or Garison COLLECT I. For God's assistance in Prayer LET thy merciful ears O Lord be open to the Prayers of thy humble servant and that I may obtain my Petitions make me to ask such things as shall please thee through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen COLLECT II. Of Contrition and Confession ALmighty and Everlasting God who hatest nothing that thou hast made and doest forgive the sins of all them that are truly penitent create and make in me a new and contrite heart that I worthily lamenting my sins and acknowledging my wretchedness may obtain of thee the God of all mercy perfect remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen COLLECT III. For God's free Pardon and Absolution ALmighty God our heavenly Father who of thy great goodness hast promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true Faith turn unto thee have mercy upon me pardon and deliver me from all my sins confirm and strengthen me in all grace and holiness and bring me unto everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Another for the same ALmighty and everlasting God I beseech thee to absolve me from all mine offences that through thy mercy in Christ Jesus I may be delivered from the bonds of those sins which by my frailty I have committed Grant this O heavenly Father for Jesus Christ his sake our blessed Lord and Saviour Amen COLLECT IV. For Grace Note That this Collect is for the Morning O Lord our heavenly Father Almighty and everlasting God who hast safely brought me to the beginning of this day defend me in the same with thy mighty power and grant that I may fall into no sin neither run into any kind of danger but that all my thoughts words and actions may be ordered
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom Ps 90.12 All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come For now thou numberest my steps dost thou not watch over my sin Job 14.14 16. God will not cast away a perfect man Job 8.20 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Ps 37.37 Rejoice not against me O mine enemy when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me Mich. 7.8 Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted in me Psal 42.5 I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. v. 8 11. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4.16 18. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5. v. 1 2. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also which love his appearing 2 Tim. 4.7 8. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Rev 14.13 Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing Matth. 24.46 EXERCISE V. A Christian Soldier must give all due submission and obedience to the Commands of his chief Officer or Leader and the Officer must be no less faithful and diligent in his Trust AND Moses said unto them If ye will do this thing if ye will go armed before the Lord to war Numb 32.20 And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord until he hath driven out his enemies from before him Numb 32. v. 20. And the land be subdued before the Lord then afterwards ye shall return and be guiltless before the Lord and before Israel and this land shall be your possession before the Lord Numb 32.22 But if ye will not do so behold ye have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out Numb 32.23 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses saying Thy servants will do as my Lord commandeth Numb 32. â—5 Thy servants will pass over every man armed for war before the Lord to battle as my lord saith Numb 32. v. 27. And they answered Joshua saying All that thou commandest us we will do and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go Josh 1. v 16. According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things so will we hearken unto thee only the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses Josh 1. v. 17. Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him he shall be put to death only be strong and of good courage Josh 1. v. 18. And the officers which were over thousands of the host the captains of thousands and capâ—ains of hundreds came near unto Moses Numb 31.48 And they said unto Moses Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge and there lacketh not one man of us Numb 31.49 And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the Hold unto David 1 Chron. 12.16 And David went out to meet them and answered and said unto them If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me mine heart shall be kind unto you but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies seeing there is no wrong in mine hands the God of our fathers look thereon and rebuke it 1 Chron. 12.17 Then the spirit came upon Amasai who was chief of the captains and he said Thine are we David and on thy side thou son of Jesse peace peace be unto thee and peace be to thine helpers for thy God helpeth thee Then David received them and made them captains of the band 1 Chron. 12.18 And they helped David against the band of the rovers for they were all mighty men of valour and were captains in the host 1 Chron. 12.21 All these men of war that could keep rank came with a perfect heart to Hebron to make David king over all Israel and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king 1 Chron. 12.38 For I also am a man set under authority having under me soldiers and I say unto one Go and he goeth and to another Come and he cometh and to my servant Do this and he doth it Luk. 7.8 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters and to please them well in all things not answering again Tit. 2.9 Not purloyning but shewing all good fidelity that they may adorn the doctrine of God our saviour in all things Tit. 2.10 EXERCISE VI. A Soldier must exercise his Valour and Courage for the Cause of God and fight for the Defence of his Religion and Country BE thou valiant and fight the Lord's battles 1 Sam. 18.17 Be of good courage and let us play the men for our people and for the cities of our God and the Lord do that which seemeth him good 2 Sam. 10.12 And Joab drew nigh and the people that were with him unto the battle against the Syrians and they fled before him 2 Sam. 10.13 For the battel is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands 1 Sam 17.47 For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you Deut. 20. v. 4 When thou goest out to battel against thine enemies and seest horses and chariots and a people more than thou be not afraid of them for the Lord thy God is with thee Deut. 20.1 Through God we shall do valiantly for he it is that shall tread down our enemies Ps 60.12 The right hand of the Lord is exalted the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly Ps 118.16 Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Ephes 6. v. 10. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day Ephes 6.13 Fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6.12 Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of