dwellings vnto health and safetie Keep those which are well and release those vpon whom thou hast laid the rod of thy afflictions Thou hast promised O Lord that if at any time thou sendest the Pestilence among the people 2. Chro. 7.13 14. If that people doe humble themselues 1. Kings 8. and pray and seeke thy presence and turne from their wicked waies thou wilt heare in Heauen and be mercifull to their sinne and heale their Land wee humbly pray thee O Lord to make good thy promise and ease vs of our afflictions For behold O Lord wee humble our selues vnder thy mighty hand we bewaile and lament our sinfull liues past and humbly beseech thee to giue vs thy assisting Grace that we may henceforth order our waies to please thee Then shall no Contagion hurt vs Dan. 9.18 but we shall liue to praise thy Name and all the world shall know that thou art our God and that thy Name is called vpon by vs. Heare vs O Lord and be mercifull to vs euen for Iesus Christs sake the Righteous To whom with thee and the Blessed Spirit be ascribed all honour and zpraise now and for euer Amen Confession of Faith Mar. 9.24 Lord I beleeue Helpe thou my vnbeleife In God The father Almightie Maker of heauen and earth In which words I consider his naturall affection his sauing power his Prouidence in disposing preseruing gouerning all things Eph. 1.10 Who in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times will gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heauen and earth In Iesus Our Sauiour Christ The Anoynted His onely Son Euen of God the Father Our Lord By creating and redeeming vs. 1. Who was conceiued by the holy Ghost To purge the vncleanesse of our conception 2. Borne of the Virgin MARY To purge the vncleanenesse of our Birth 3. Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate Those thinges which wee should haue suffered that we might not suffer them 4. Was crucified To take away the Curse of the Law 5. Dead To take away the Sharpenesse of death 6. Buried To take away the corruptiō of the Graue 7. Descended into Hell Whither wee ought to haue gone that we might not goe thither at all 8. The third day he rose againe from the dead That hee might raise with him our nature being made the first fruites of them which sleepe 1. Cor. 15.20 9. He ascended into Heauen To prepare vs a place whereto we had no right 10. Hee sitteth at the right hand of the father Incessantly to intercede for vs. 11. From thence he shall come To receiue vs 12. To iudge both the quicke and the dead Euen to the consummation of all things In the Holy Ghost In whom I consider a power sanctifying frō aboue and quickening to immortalitie working powerfully and inuisibly in vs. By the Illumination of knowledge Luc. 12.12 And Infusion of grace 1. Ioh. 2.27 b Io. 16.8 In reprehending things euill in vs c Io. 14.26 Teaching vs things we know not Suffering and forbearing vs. d Gen. 20.6 Preuenting vs from doing euill Ro. 8.26 Encouraging vs vs to doe good Assisting vs in our Prayers Striuing for our good Ioh. 14.16 Comforting vs in our necessities  All these being Graces and fruits of the Holy Spirit 4. The Holy Catholique Church Which is the mysticall body of the head Christ Iesus composed of all people throughout the World which are called by the Spirit to the Beleife of Diuine Truth and holinesse of Conuersation And of all these members of his body there is a reciprocall participation to the Communion of Saints and Forgiuenesse of Sinnes For the present To the hope of The resurrectiō of the body and Life euerlasting hereafter Lord I beleeue Helpe the defects of my faith That I may loue thee as a Father Reuerence thee as Almighty Commend my selfe to thee as to a faithfull Creator That I may be mindefull to giue thankes to Thy only Sonne As to the purger of our nature In his Conception and Birth As to our deliuerer In his Passion Crosse and Death As to the triumpher ouer Hell In his Descension Ouer death In his Resurrection As to our fore runner In his Ascension As to our Aduocate In his Session As to the establisher of our faith In his Second Comming That he may be fashioned in me That I may be made conformable to him To his Conception To his Natiuitie In Workes In Faith In Humility That for his Passions 1. I may Sympathize with him as with one that suffered for me and be ready to suffer of him and for him when it shall be his good pleasure 2. I may haue an Antipathie with sinne as being the cause of his Sufferings and bee Reuenged of Crucifie Mortifie Bury Sinne in my selfe 3 I may conforme my selfe 1. To his descension into Hell By often descending thither in meditation 2 To his Resurrection By rising to newnesse of life 3. To his Ascension By sauouring and seeking those things which are aboue and neerer to my Saluation 4. To his Iudgement By Iudging my selfe least I bee condemned with the World That when I am cold in Prayer and want any Spirituall grace or comfort I may remember thy Session and Intercession And when I am feruent in any euill affection or concupiscence I may not forget thy fearefull and terrible Iudgement Seat and the sound of the last Trump That for thy only Son Christs sake I may also receiue thy Vnction euen thy sauing grace the vnspeakeable guift of the Holy Ghost and neuer a 1. Thess 5.19 extinguish b Eph. 4.30 grieue c Act. 7.51 resist or d Mat. 12.32 reproach it That so I may bee called into thy Catholique Church where I may be partaker of the Persons Actions prayers and Examples of Saints To the assured beliefe of Remission of sinnes To the hope of Resurrection and Translation to Life euerlasting Lord increase my Faith Luc. 17.6 Mat. 17.20 as a graine of mustard seed Not Dead Temporary or Hypocriticall But a 1. Tim. 1.5 Pure and vnfeigned most b Holy c Eph. 3.11 Liuely and d Ia. 2.26 working by Charity Confession of Faith O Almighty and Eternall Lord God I poore vnworthy and wretched sinner and bold to renew that couenant of Faith which in my Baptisme I made vnto thee I beleeue and confesse that all those things which thy most beloued Sonne Christ Iesus did suffered and taught while he was conuersant in the Flesh here vpon the Earth are most most true and certaine I professe that I beleeue all the Articles of the Apostles Creed and the Holy Gospell of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ which is preached through all the World To this Faith I binde my selfe and purpose Gods grace assisting mee neuer to depart from it and acknowledge that without beleeuing thus I cannot be saued I am heartily glad O Heauenly Father euen in my
whose mercy is ouer all thy workes Psal 145.9 All things are vnder thy Power and Rule both in Heauen and Earth Thou shewest mercy on whom thou wilt and art pitifull to whom thou pleasest and wouldest not the death of a sinner neither delightest in the destruction of any O God rich in mercy who Eph. 2.4 out of thy extraordinary Loue to mankinde euen when wee were thine enemies Rom. 5.10 didst send thine onely Sonne into the VVorld that euery one that beleeued on him might not perish but haue life euerlasting Haue mercy vpon me haue mercy vpon me according to thy mercy and according to the multitude of thy mercies Psal 51. doe away my offences Holy Father I haue sinned against heauen and before thee Luc. 15.18 and am no more worthy to be called thy Sonne I haue turned from thee and haue broken all thy Commandements I haue not walked aright but haue gone after mine owne lusts Esa 65.2 choosing those waies which thou hast forbidden me to tread in Neither O Lord haue I feared thine anger but haue beene in all things disobedient vnto thee and haue hardned my heart against thee I haue hated Instruction and cast thy sayings behinde me Truth hath found no place in mee and my hands haue been the workers of much wickednesse I haue spoken vainly idly and wickedly haue brought forth deceit and meditated the way of vntruth I haue prouoked thy wrath against me by accustoming my selfe to doe the workes of the flesh and reiecting the good motions of the Spirit Woe vnto mee rebellious wretch Esa 30.1 that I haue committed these wicked acts against thee so louing so good so gratious a God to the vtter destruction of my soule without thy mercy in Christ Iesus In remembrance and confidence whereof O Lord I come to thee and humbly intreat thee that thou wouldest not reiect a contrite humble miserable and repentant sinner who at this time earnestly inuocateth thy Name Psal 7.9 Returne a little O Lord and bee intreated for my manifold sinnes doe not vnto me according to the multitude of them neither reward me according to my transgressions Let my humble prayers sighes and groanes come into thy presence and according to thy promises receiue me againe into thy fauour For O Father I am one of those whom thy only Sonne redeemed with his most pretious bloud O Lord my soule doth loath my life by reason of my manifold sinnes and I humble my selfe vnder thy mighty hand 1. Pet. 5.6 because I know that in thine anger thou shewest mercy Abac. 3.2 and in time of trouble thou dost forgiue offences And behold O Lord that I confesse my sinnes beseeching thee for thy goodnesse to doe vnto me according to thy wonted mercy I am confounded and ashamed to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee because my sinnes haue preuented my prayers and haue ascended vp to thee before them Against thee O Lord haue I sinned Psal 51. and done much euill in thy sight yet wherefore should I dye in my sinnes seeing it is not thy pleasure that any sinner should dye Ezech. 18. but turne vnto thee and liue For thou art good and gracious and sauest those who are altogether vnworthy out of the abundance of thy mercy in Christ Iesus the Righteous For although thine anger against sinners is vnsufferable and who may abide it yet thy mercy towards offendors is vnsearchable and who can finde out the depth thereof or describe it Psal 22. Our Fathers in their troubles cried vnto thee and thou diddest deliuer them they put their trust in thee and were not confounded And though they by their offences had iustly prouoked thine anger yet vpon their humiliation thou diddest remember thy couenant and ease them of their afflictions O Lord be mercifull also vnto me for I am miserable and wretched Heale my soule Psal 41.4 for I haue sinned against thee Psal 6.3 My soule is very much disquieted within me how long Lord will it be Psal 13. ere thou looke vpon mee and deliuer it Lighten mine eyes Psal 13.3 for I haue too long slept in death and my sinnes haue too long had domminion ouer me Returne O Lord at the last and be gratious vnto me O deliuer my soule and haue mercy vpon me And all my bones shall say Lord who is like vnto thee To thee be all Honour Praise and Glory world without end Amen Another O Lord Iesus Christ the only Phisition of sicke soules who in the fulnesse of time came into this World not to call the Iust but sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 Behold me the most wretched of all sinners who with as much humility as I am able in the confidence of thy great goodnesse cast my self before the footestoole of thy Maiestie confessing my great and grieuous offences And if the Publican in the Gospell durst not lift vp his eyes to Heauen Luc. 18. but stood a farre of and smote his brest saying Lord be mercifull to me a sinner what shall I doe whose sinnes surpasse the greatest sinners offences For all my inward and outward parts are wholly depraued and nothing that is good remaineth in mee And when I looke into the booke of my conscience I finde that I haue abominablie polluted that garment of innocency which I receiued at my Baptisme I haue put all my strength to offend thee with all the members I haue For my feete Rom. 13.15 haue beene swift to euill and slow to good mine eyes open to Vanity and shut to that which is truely amiable My hands stretched to couetousnesse and closed from the workes of mercy mine eares ready to heare euill and stopped to the good motions of the Spirit and my Soule the noblest part in mee which hath eyes to contemplate the Glory of thy Maiestie I haue turned away from the consideration of thy Excellency to vaine and transitory things of this life I haue giuen liberty to whatsoeuer mine eyes haue desired and haue not resisted the vncleane passions of my heart so that the whole course of my life hath beene a continuall warfare against thee How often haue I returned as a dogge to the vomite and as a Sow washed 2. Pet. 2.22 to the myre I am that Foote which hath said in his heart Psal 14. there is no God For I haue liued so dissolutely that I haue made plaine demonstration by my behauiour that I beleeued Thou either wert not at all or else couldest doe nothing at all Thou O Lord hast often called me and I haue neglected thy voice Thou hast expected me and I haue abused thy patience Thou hast giuen me the treasure of a long time to repent and I haue consumed it wastefully Thou hast stricken me and I haue not beene sensible of thy hand Thou hast afflicted me and I haue made no vse of thy correction Thou didst sweate to make me cleane and I
Christ himselfe to encourage this holy duty of publique prayer hath promised his presence amongst those that shall bee assembled and gathered together after this manner Therefore whosoeuer shall neglect these publique assemblies sheweth and discouereth thereby how little he regardeth Christs cōpany or presence These prayers are also distinguished into these parts 1. Inuocation 2. Confession 3. Thankesgiuing part 1 Inuocation consisteth of 1. Petitions for the good of our owne Soules in Spirituall things Bodies in Temporall things 2. Intercessions either in praying for the good or against the euill of others 3. Deprecations against euill Spirituall Temporall part 2 Confession is threefold 1. Of our Faith 2. Of the Glory of God 3. Of our owne sinnes part 3 Thankesgiuing is either 1. For deliuerance from euill 2. For Benefits receiued To these may be added part 4 Imprecation either 1. Against the enemies of God 2. against the enemies of our soules incorrigible and irrecōcileable So that these rules bee obserued 1. That it be not vsed for priuate hate or reuenge 2. That we reioyce not in any mans destruction 3. That we ayme at their correction The vse of the Lords Prayer BEcause that our SAVIOVR CHRIST hath taught vs how to pray and hath put the very wordes as it were into our mouthes which wee should vse in praying I thinke it necessary to begin with the same which he hath so left vnto vs. 1. In respect of the Excellency of the Author of it who was no lesse then God 2. In respect of the perfection of the worke it selfe the praier for it comprehendeth in it petitions for all things which we stand in need of 3. In respect of the Efficacy of this prayer in working for it cannot choose but preuaile and work much with God for none knew the minde and disposition of God better then hee which composed it which was God And let it not loose any part of the due praise which belongeth to it in regard of the compendiousnesse or shortnesse of it for it deserueth the more henour because though it be short yet is also copious and plentifull in matter and therefore the more absolute and perfect It is not therefore without cause that the Ancients haue giuen so many excellent Attributes to it As the Abridgement of the Gospell and our Faith The Interpretation of our desires and hope The very Bond of Charity And an inexhaustible Treasury Yet let not any man thinke that our Sauiour prescribed vs this prayer as that we should vse no other but be tyed to the very words contayned in it but this we must conceiue that hee made it to bridle our desires that though wee make our petitions and frame them according to our seuerall necessities yet to keepe vs in compasse that wee exceede not the limits nor vary from the extent and bounds of this prayer The vse of it is two fold 1. That we might be instructed by it what is necessary in generall to require of God and not without neede seeing wee being naturally blinde in spirituall things know not what is fit to aske and many times we craue those things as Zebedees children did which are vnworthy both of God and our selues Mat. 20.21 and might proue hurtfull also to vs if they should bee granted And therefore vnder certaine generall heads he hath bounded the desires of the flesh and taught vs after what man◅ and rule wee should square all our petitions For whatsoeuer wee shall desire against the directions therein contained disagreeth from the will of God and therefore is neither good holy not profitable 2. That wee may bee able thereby to conceiue frame and make all our prayers according to our seuerall necessities and after that petition which fitteth vs as our occasions shall alter The Lords Prayer analysed Our father 1. Chr. 29.10 A Father not a Iudge One beeing a name of goodnesse Comfortable The other of Power Terrible Who durst bee so bold as to call thee Father but that Christ did commaund it For exceeding great is thy Maiestie And exceeding great is our Pouertie But wee are bold to doe it for we come not of our selues thy Sonne Christ hath taught vs the Forme Take notice of the words they are thy Sonnes Father Luc. 3.38 1. Of all Creatures In Creation Preseruation Gouerning 2. Of Mankinde which he formed after his owne Image Gen. 1.26 9.6 3. Of Christians more especially by Grace Regeneration Eph. 1.4,5 Iam. 1.18 1. Pet. 1.23 and adoption by Iesus Christ who was the Sonne of God by Nature Father There is no Father like vnto thee When my Father and mother forsake me Psa 27.10 then the Lord will take mee vp Thou art our Father Esa 63.16 though Abraham bee ignorant of vs. 49.15 Though a woman forget the Fraite of her wombe yet will not I forget thee A most indulgent Father To whom the prodigall sonne arose and went Luc. 15.18 whom the insoluant seruant besought Mat. 18.27 Though thou bee an angry Father yet a Father thou art Though I be a wastfull and disobedient sonne yet a sonne I am Though I haue lost the duty of a sonne yet hast not Thou lost the compassion and Loue of a Father Father Whom we finde so to be By his inciting vs to good Confirming vs in it Deliuering vs from tentations Reclaiming vs from sinne Crowning vs with blessings 1. If thou our Father Then are we sonnes How great what manner of Loue hast thou bestowed vpon vs 1. Ioh. 3.1 that we should be called the sonnes of God 2. If thou our Father and we the sonnes of God How great is the Honour that wee are as it were Gods 3. If thou our Father Then are we brethren to Angels as also to Men. Heb. 2.12 Saints as also to Meane men Christ himselfe as also to Poore men How great ought our Charity be Let no man therefore extoll himselfe aboue his Brethren nor be ashamed to call any man Brother whom God hath vouchsafed to call sonne 4 If thou our Father How great is our Hope What are wee to expect from thee Euen all things which a Father giueth to his Children Mat. 7.11 What are wee to render vnto thee Euen all Dutie and Obedience belonging to Children Malach. 1.6 1. Pet. 1.17 Our father In no part of this prayer is found either the word Mine or J. Our is a word of Charitie and Vnitie Let euery one therefore not only pray for himselfe but for others also considering that in so doing hee prayeth for him whom Charitie hath made as himselfe Christ bore vs all in his body let vs do the like to one another in word and deed For our selues Necessity compelleth vs to pray My Father For our brethren Charity inuiteth vs to pray Our Father In these two words Our and Father is comprehended the Law and Prophets In Father the Loue of God In Our the Loue of
be repelled for want of a wedding garment Mat. 22.22 euen the garment of a Sanctified soule For my whole life hath beene so wretchedly and lewdly spent and my dayes haue been so wickedly wasted that I hourely seemed to renew thy passion Many a time Mat. 26.14 I haue with Iudas sold thee for a small summe of pleasure or profit and now in comming to receiue thee vnworthily what doe I else but with him betray thee with a kisse How then shall I dare to receiue thee Mat. 26.26 in so desperate and wicked estate How canst thou abide or dwell in so loathsome a Dungeon wherein there is no part roome or corner cleane O Lord I acknowledge mine vnworthinesse and yet with all thy mercies are not hid from me and by them I am encouraged to come with confidence vnto thee for by how much the vnworthier I come vnto thee by so much the more will thy mercy bee glorified if thou doe not reiect mee Lord thou art not wont to put sinners backe but to call and set them forward to repentance Wherefore O Lord animated by thy calling and inuitation I come vnto thee ouerburdned with the waight of my sinnes hoping to finde ease and releife of thee Thy custome while thou wert vpon earth was to receiue sinners Luc. 15.2 and to eate with them and thy delight was to be with the Sonnes of men If thou O Lord bee still pleased with such guests behold one heere at this time of that kinde a notorious sinner I verely beleeue that thou tookest more pleasure in the teares of the sinfull woman then in the great feast of the proud Pharisee Luc. 7.38 and for a few teares of hers didst forgiue many sinnes vnto her Luc. 7.47 Behold O Lord new matter offered for thy great mercy to worke vpon Here lyeth a sinner who hath many more sinnes then shee but fewer teares by many who though he hath more grieuously offended yet doth more carelesly bewaile his offences then shee did She was neither the first nor the last who thou in thy mercy didst receiue to fauour O Lord let me also be one of the Subiects of thy mercy and although I haue not teares sufficient to wash thy feet yet thou hast shed droppes of blood more then sufficient to cleanse my sinnes I read O Lord in the Gospell that all that were diseased flocked to thee Luc. 16.17.18 and by that Vertue which came out of thee were healed and I verily perswade my selfe that thy Nature is not changed for in thee is and will be to the end of the world health and remedy for all griefes and thou art readier to make vs whole then wee are to aske health of thee I know O Lord that this Sacrament which I so earnestly looke after is not only meate for those that are in health but Physique also for the sicke and doth not only refresh the Righteous but cleanseth those that are Sinners also If I bee weake by it I shall be strengthned if in health in health by it I shall be preserued and if dead in sinne by it I shall bee reuiued I humblie therefore intreat thee O Father that as Dauid did admit Mephibosheth to his table 2. Sam. 9. for his Fathers sake so thou wouldst suffer mee to bee partaker of thy Heauenly Table for thy Sonnes sake who with so great labour and sorrow did regenerate vs by his death on the Crosse who liueth and raigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit for euer Prayers before the Communion O Almighty Lord God Father of all mercies and consolation I humbly beseech thee to behold with the eye of pitie my poore and wretched soule which though thou didst create after thine owne Image and washedst with the blood of thy deare Sonne yet I haue so abominably defiled and defaced with the staine of sinne that it can hardly be knowne O Father I was thy Sonne whom thou didst so louingly imbrace and loade with blessings and who was in thy house in great honour and dignity In the Sacrament of Baptisme thou didst adopt me and gauest me the inheritance of a Sonne and heire but I vnthankefully and prodigally by my euill life haue wasted my Patrimony I haue wickedly abused the flower and prime of my youth and the good parts and faculties of my soule and body with the pleasures of the flesh pride surfetting enuy lust couetousnesse idlenesse rebellion and disobedience and now at the last I finde that all the temporall delights of the flesh and the World are altogether vaine and vanish like smoke For all flesh is grasse Esa 1. Pet. 1.24 and all the Glory of man is but like the flower of the field and is suddenly gone He that is rich to day to morrow becommeth poore and miserable hee that walketh in health and strength of body to day to morrow is by sickenesse made feeble and weake hee that liueth to day the next day dieth and he which to day glorieth in the greatest pompe to morrow is laid in his Coffin and carried to his Graue Therefore O Lord consider the weaknesse and frailtie of man and turne away I pray thee thy face from my sinnes and remember not them so in thine anger that thou forget either thine owne mercy or my weakenesse By mine owne fault I confesse O Lord and by my euill couersation I haue made my selfe vnworthy of thy fauour and by my euill concupiscences I haue grieuously wounded my conscience I haue often grieued thy Holy Spirit by not hearkning to the good motions thereof but yeelding to my sensuall lust and beastly appetite Yet O mercifull Father cast me not vtterly from thy sight for from the beginning of the world it was not heard that thou didst reiect any sinner that with a contrite heart came vnto thee Behold I come vnto thee in great necessity and cast my selfe at thy feete confessing thy greatnesse and multitude of my sinnes They haue brought me into that euill state and condition that I am not worthy to be called thy Sonne Lue. 15.21 yet I pray thee receiue me into the number of thy hired seruants Giue mee grace heartily to repent me of my sins feede and cherish mee with the bread and drinke of the body and blood of thy Sonne Christ Iesus that by thy mercy I may be receiued to grace and restored to the former dignity from which I am worthily cast and to the inheritance of thy euerlasting kingdome through the same our Sauiour Iesus Christ Another O Blessed Sauiour I poore vnworthy sinner haue a great desire and earnest longing to come to thy Table but considering my many and grieuous sinnes tremble and feare to approach vnto it For when I consider thy words to thy Disciples Except ye eate the flesh of the Son of man Ioh. 6.53 and drinke his bloud ye haue no life in you And on the other side the words of the Apostle Whosoeuer shall eate
towards God then presently God will withdraw his hand of mercy and bounty from vs. Thankesgiuing I Thanke thee O mercifull Father Lord of heauen and earth for all thy mercies and fauours continually heaped vpon me for that thou hast not onely created me after thine owne Image and likenesse Gen. 9.6 and giuen to me a body with all the parts and members thereof and a soule with all the powers and faculties thereof that with them and by them I might know loue and serue thee but that thou hast so gratiously preserued both body and soule from time to time from all dangers Thou hast alwayes beene my refuge in tribulations and my defence and succour in aduersities When I went astray thou didst reduce me into the right way when I offended thee thou didst gently correct me when I was sad thou didst comfort me and when for the grieuousnesse of my sinnes I was ready to despaire thou of thy mercy and compassion didst strengthen me and keepe me from vtter ruine I acknowledge O Lord thy more then fatherly indulgence toward me from my birth to this present time for volesse thou of thy goodnesse hadst vpheld me I had long ere this time beene drowned and ouerwhelmed in the bottomlesse gulfe of my sinnes But thou hast deliuered me from the iawes of the roaring Lyon who hath daily sought to deuoure me 1. Pet. 5.8 and hast defended me from al his snares and assaults And as thou hast of thy mercy preserued my soule from destruction so thou hast oftentimes deliuered my body from the gates of death when many sickenesses and infirmities tooke hold of me I thanke thee also O Lord for all other thy temporall blessings which thou in plentifull manner hast heaped vpon me as foode rayment wealth possessions and children For my health and liberty for the prerogatiue which thou hast giuen mee ouer all thy creatures in their subiection to my seruice and vse I thanke thee also O Sweete Sauiour for the infinite worke of my Redemption and for thy exceeding great loue in accomplishing that great worke that thou wouldest suffer so many torments sorrowes labours and griefes yea so bitter and disgracefull a death euen the death of malefactors to Redeeme me from a most desperate and certaine state of damantion which I must iustly haue fallen into to a state of Glory and Immortality which I by no meanes could haue deserued I thanke thee also O Lord most holy for all other thy Spirituall graces and blessings as my Regeneration Vocation Sanctification for thy blessed Sacraments for my preseruation and hope of glorification O Lord I am not sufficient to render vnto thee condigne thankes and praises for all these thy mercies yet accept I humbly pray thee these poore and weake thankes which I offer vnto thee according to my bounden duty and Seruice For as there is no houre of my life wherein I doe not enioy thy fauours and taste of thy goodnesse so if my frailty would permit I should spend no time of my life without remembring them and praising and blessing thee for the same Glory bee therefore to thee O Lord my Creator Glory be to thee O Iesus my Redeemer Glory be to thee O Holy Ghost my Sanctifier Glory to the high and vndiuided Trinitie whose workes are inseparable and whose dominion endureth world without end Another ALmightie and euer-liuing God I humbly thanke thy heauenly Maiestie for all thy blessings which thou hast vouchsafed to mee poore and sinfull creature that thou hast created me and giuen to me a body the worke-manship and excellency whereof when I behold and well consider I finde so many seuerall benefits receiued as I haue members veines ioynts sinewes and nerues all which discouer and manifest the wisedome and power of the Maker of them The benefit of which seuerall parts none can so well know as they which want any of them or are grieued with the infirmitie or weakenesse of them I therefore blesse thee that thou hast not created me blinde lame deafe or dumbe euill-shaped or weake in my sences but hast giuen me a sound and right minde in a healthfull body I further praise thy name O Lord for that thou hast infused a soule into this my body a worke so glorious and transcendent that if I were not altogether stupid and void of all Iudgement I would not by my actions account so basely of it as I seeme to doe nor defile it with such impure contemptible and vucleane workes as I daily commit I thanke thee O Lord that I was not borne among Infidels and amongst those who doe not truely call vpon thy Name but in that part of the world where thy Gospell is truely preached and thy Sacraments duely administred I thanke thee also for thy gratious preseruation of me from my birth to this present houre I confesse O Lord that it is of thy mercy and goodnesse that I am thus preserued for if thou shouldest but with-draw thy hand of preseruation from me it could not be but that in the twinckling of an eye I should miserably perish and returne to nothing I thanke thee that thou hast of thy prouidence appointed all thy Creatures for my sustenance and seruice some for health and some for delight Grant O Lord that I may vse them to those ends for which thou hast created them and that by them I may be mooued truely to meditate on thy goodnesse and seriously praise thee for them I further thanke thee O Father that when as by our first parents fall all mankinde was in the state of damnation it pleased thee not to deale with vs as thou diddest with Lucifer whom thou vtterly expelledst thy presence but to send thy onely Sonne from thy bosome into this world that by his bitter death we might be restored to our former estate I acknowledge O Lord that I owe much vnto thee for my Creation but much more for my Redemption For what would it haue profited me nay what misery should I not haue suffered to haue beene borne and afterward to be condemned for euer I thanke thee O Lord that thou hast also vouchsafed to call me out of the depth of darkenesse and shadow of death wherein I lay by the admirable light of thy Iustifying Grace to the true knowledge and loue of thee It is not the least of thy benefits O Lord it sheweth not the least part of thy power that thou hast called me from so vile an estate whereinto I had cast my selfe after Baptisme and in the same had continued many yeeres rebelliously to the estate of Saluation For it must needs be acknowledged that thy mercy is great in pardoning sinners their offences but withall it cannot be denied but that thy power is greater in making sinners righteous and iust Great was the benefit of my Creation but by that act I was only made the Son of man but greater is the benefit of Iustification for thereby in Christ I am made the
Sonne of God Great is the benefit of Redemption and indeed the greatest of all others but without Vocation and Iustification it had auailed me nothing Great is the benefit which ariseth by the Expectation of Glory and no lesse is this of Iustification for it is a worke of no lesse power to make a Iust man a sinner then to make a Iust man happy and blessed for as much as the difference betweene Sinne and Grace is more then betweene Grace and Glory I acknowledge therefore O Lord that the benefits which arise by these Heauenly guifts and graces are so great that my toung faileth and my heart wanteth ability wherewith sufficiently to praise thee for them I praise thee also O Lord for thy Blessed Sacraments for that of Baptisme whereby I was cleansed from the guilt of originall sinnes and regenerated and adopted into the number of thy Children and for the other of the Blessed body and Blood of our Sauiour Iesus Christ the Sacrament of Grace Vnitie Charity and Remission of sinnes the foode of our Soules in this Pilgrimage and the Conduit through which all graces are conueighed to our fainting Soules Lastly I thanke thee for thy preseruation of me in thy Grace by which I am restrained from returning to the mire with the washed Sowe 2. Pet. 2.22 and to the Vomit with the Dogge and by which I am strengthned to doe something acceptable and pleasing vnto thee I confesse O Lord that whatsoeuer good I haue done is wrought in mee by thee and whatsoeuer tentation or euill I escape is meerely by thy prouidence O Lord continue and keepe me still in this Grace that I may so vse all thy blessings and so keepe them in minde that they may stirre vp in mee a more ardent desire to magnifie thy Blessed Name and a great care of ordering my waies hereafter that I may no more grieue thy Holy Spirit who with thee Eph. 4.30 and thy Blessed Sonne our alone Sauiour liueth and raigneth one God world without end Another ALL praise honour and glory be giuen to thee O Lord God Father almightie for all thy inestimable benefits bestowed vpon me and all mankinde whether priuate or publique generall or particular spirituall or temporall Who is able to reckon vp or declare the seuerall kindes or parts of them for creating the world for beautifying enriching and making it fruitfull for the vse of man for giuing vnto vs soules and bodies and adorning them with infinite faculties and gifts and which exceedes the rest of thy blessings for deliuering vs from the power and seruitude of sinne and the Deuill for forbearing and expecting our repentance so long preseruing vs from all dangers and furnishing vs with all things necessary for this life What praise shall we render to thee O Sweet Iesus for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs we praise and blesse thee for thy Incarnation and Birth for all the labours paines sorrowes wounds and disgraces together with the vile and ignominious death which thou didst suffer to reconcile vs to thy Fathers fauour from which our sinnes had iustly excluded vs for which thy great loue to the Sonnes of Men Blessed be thy holy Name O Holy and Blessed Spirit who in the beginning of time didst moue vpon the face of the Waters Gen. 1.2 at our Sauiours Baptisme Mat. 3.16 in the shape of a Doue Act. 2.3 and on the Apostles in the shape of fiery tongues we praise and worship thee for inlightning our vnderstandings for fitting and making vs apt to conceiue the mysteries of life eternall for conuerting vs from euill conuersation to newnesse of life and for Sanctifying vs to life euerlasting for directing vs in the works of truth and gouerning vs in our temporall affaires O Glorious and Sacred Trinity infuse into vs we beseech thee such measure of thy Grace that we may bee dayly mindefull of all these thy Blessings Pardon all our former ingratitude and negligence in that we haue beene no more zealous to loue thee nor more carefull to serue thee and so forgetfull to thanke thee for all thy benefits and mercies Illuminate our hearts that wee may firmely beleeue in thee deuoutly call vpon thee and obediently execute thy Holy Will that at the last wee may by the merits and passion of thee O Sauiour attaine to that heauenly Mansion where thou O blessed Trinitie in Vnitie and Vnity in Trinity abidest world without end I thanke thee O Lord For my Creation my Being my well being That I am endued with Reason That I am A Ciuill man A Christian. Free borne Ingenious Of honest Parents That I am sound in minde Senses Body That I am well brought vp taught I thanke thee For thy guifts of Nature Grace Estate For deliuering me from Danger Infamy Trouble For the health of my Body A Competencie of Estate Friends Children Kindred I thanke thee O Lord For my Redemption Regeneration Instruction Vocation Consolation Illumination Iustification Hope of Glorification For thy Patience toward me Grace preuenting me Gouerning me Continuall care ouer me Strengthning me in tentation Reprouing me in ill Assisting me in good For the Compunction of my heart The hope of pardon for my sinnes For the Benefits I haue receiued For any good done by me For all those that haue done me good by their Writings Sermons Conferences Prayers Examples Reproofes Iniuries For all and euery of these and for all other knowne or vnknowne remembred or forgotten I confesse and will confesse thee I blesse and will blesse thee I thanke and will thanke thee as the Author and Giuer of them all SEVEN PSALMES OF THANKESGIVING analysed 1 Psalme 8. 1 O Lord our God Creator and Preseruer of all things how excellent glorious and reuerend is thy great and holy Name not in one particular nation onely but in all the Kingdomes of the earth who as thou hast magnified thy Name in the earth so hast thou set and extolled thy glory aboue the heauens also 2 Out of the mouthes and tongues of babes and sucklings euen very infants hast thou because men of riper yeeres and vnderstanding neglect thy Glory ordained strength and giuen little children abilitie to praise thee because of the malice of thine enemies the principalities of this world that thou mightest by this thy great wisedome and power still the tongues and suppresse the blasphemous speeches of the enemie and auenger when he shall see that by such weake meanes thou canst effect so great matters 3 When I consider and duly weigh thy Heauens and the Glorious frame thereof the worke of thy fingers made and created only by thee togither with the Moone and the Starres and other beautifull lights of Heauen which thou at the beginning of time hast ordained of nothing I cannot but in the depth of admiration say 4 What is man for whose vse and seruice thou hast made them and all things in this world and him to serue thee That thou so
and the poore importunate widow intimating thereby vnto vs that of necessity if wee hope to receiue any good or auoid any euill wee must keepe our selues to this holy Duty of earnest Prayer The Dignity And if there were no necessity imposed on vs to pray yet the Dignitie and Honour wee receiue by prayer is sufficient to incite vs to it For Prayer as a father well saith is a familiar conference with God Ep◅ By it wee talke with him as it were face to face By other of his Graces as in the Word and Sacraments hee vouchsafeth to speake to vs by this wee haue accesse and speake to him for what we stand in neede of And what greater Dignity what greater priuiledge can be affoorded to poore sinfull creatures Dust and Ashes as we are then familiarly to talke with so great and powerfull a God and to haue dayly so free and easie admittance to his presence to manifest our necessities to him and to craue his supply and succour Then The Benefit if wee consider the profit which ariseth by the due performance of this Dutie wee shal be the easilier drawne to performe it for if nothing else quicken vs yet matter of Benefit doth vsually worke with vs. And assuredly the benefit which ariseth by it is and euer hath beene great For by prayer we doe not only obtaine of God all good things pertaining to this life as the necessaries thereof and to the life to come as the gifts and graces of his Holy Spirit but also we auoide preuent and remoue by it all the dangers and euils of both liues as the losses and dangers incident to this life and the punishment due to our sinnes hereafter If you please you may take a short view of the wonderfull effects which haue been wrought and the benefits which haue been obtained and the punishments which haue beene auerted in former times when recourse was had to God by Prayer By it The Iewes ouercame The Amalekites Exo. 17. Samuel ouercame The Philistims 1. Sam. 7. Iudith ouercame Holofernes Iudeth 13. The Reubenites ouercame The Agarens 1. Chr. 5.20 Asa ouercame The Ethiopians 2. Chro. 14. Iosaphat ouercame The Ammonites 2. Chro. 20. Ezechias ouercame Sēnacherib 2. King 19.15 Manasses was restored to his kingdome 2. Chr. 33.15 By it Hanna became fruitfull 1. Sam. 1.9 Elias obtained fire from Heauen 1. King 18. as also raine and faire weather Iames 5. By it The rebellious Iewes escaped Punishment Exod. 32. Num. 21.7 The Niniuites escaped Destruction Ion. 3. Ezechias escaped Death 2. Kings 20. The 3 Children escaped The fierie Fornace Dan. 3. Daniel escaped The Lions Daniel 6. Ionas escaped The Whale Ion. 2. The Disciples escaped Drowning Mat. 8.25 Peter escaped Bonds Acts 12. Paul and Silas escaped Imprisonment Acts 16. Dauid stayed the Pestilence 2. Sam. 24. The Lepers were cleansed Luc. 12. The Centurions seruant was healed Mat. 8. The blinde receiued sight Mat. 9.20 Luc. 18. The womās daughter The mans son were deliuerd frō the deuill Mat. 15.17 By it The sicke were made whole Act. 28. The widow of Sarepthas son 1. King 18. The Shunamites son 2. King 14. The Rulers daughter Mat. 9. Dorcas Act. 7. were reuiued The Publican obtayned Remission of sinnes Luc. 18. The Theife obtayned Paradice Luc. 23. St. Stephen obtayned Heauen Act. 7. Directions how to pray Now seing that for these respects Pray we must in the next place we are to consider How prayer is to be made that it turne not to sinne 1. To God only First prayer must be made to God and to none other 1. Because God hath so commanded a Deut. 6.13 For prayer is a part of his Seruice and Worship And his Seruice and Glory he will impart to none else b Mat. 4.10 Him onely shalt thou serue And c Io. 19.23 Io. 4.21 whatsoeuer you shall aske of my Father not of Angels Saints or the like 2 In regard of his Glory and Maiesty Psal 24.8 96,6 99,2 104.1 wherein he excelleth all others and ought therefore aboue all to be prayed vnto 3 In regard of his Singular Knowledge Lue. 11.13 for he knoweth our necessities better then wee our selues 4 In regard of his Power and Ability to helpe vs. Esa 40.10.12 Psal 66.2 Psal 17.6 18,6 103. Esa 46.4 5 In regard of his willingnesse and readinesse to relieue vs. 6 In respect of the practise of all the Saints and of Christ himselfe Of a 1. Sam. 1 15. Hanna b Psal 25,1 73,25 5.1 77,1 Dauid c Psal 22.4 of the Saints d Mat. 14.23 of Christ 7 In regard of the absurditie in praying to those which cannot helpe themselues much lesse vs. For to which of the Saints or Angels can be properly said Our Father which art in Heauen or hallowed bee thy Name c. But to God alone Esa 43.11 45.5 is this seruice to be done for he onely saueth vs and besides him is no Sauiour 2. In Faith Secondly our prayers ought to be made in Faith for whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne and whosoeuer desireth to haue good successe in his prayers ought to beleeue and not to pray waueringly Our Sauiour said to the petitioner for his deafe and dumb son If thou canst beleeue al things are possible to him that beleeueth Mat. 9.23 And to his Disciples 21.22 All things whatsoeuer ye shall aske in prayer beleeuing ye shall receiue which lesson also Saint Iames teacheth in his first Chapter Ia. 1.5.6 If any man lacke Wisedome let him aske of God c. But let him aske in faith 3. In Hope Thirdly as faith is the foundation and first vertue required in prayer So Hope certaine and assured is to bee fixed and setled in vs when we Pray that God wil performe the promises which he hath made Psal 22.4.121 and that hee will heare and grant those things which we shall desire according to his Will 4. In Charity And that our prayers may the better ascend they are to put on the wings of Charity which is one of the fruits of the holy Spirit Gal. 5.21 For without this quality our prayers will proue cold heauie and lumpish and will returne empty vnto vs. This Charity is two fold First towards God Secondly towards our Neighbour 1. Towards God in keeping his commandements for our Sauiour saith Io. 14.21,23 Hee that keepeth my commandements is he that loueth me and the Apostle saith 1. Ioh. 3.22 Wee receiue of him because wee keepe his commandements that is we loue him so that wee are loth to offend him 2. Towards our Neighbour which Charitie is also manifested two waies 1. In forgiuing all iniuries receiued from him or by his meanes after our Sauiours rule
our Neighbour And in these two words is the Summe of the Gospell contained In Father our Faith In Our our Charity Which art in Heauen There are Earthly Fathers These leaue and forsake vs Their hands bee shortned Wee call not to them but to thee which art in Heauen Esa 66.1 Mat. 5.34 Psal 19.1 Heauen is thy Throne The Heauens declare the Glory of God Not that thou art only included in the Heauens for as Solomon said the Heauen of Heauens cannot containe thee 1. King 8.27 but as if that were thy Royall Palace where the Elect shall enioy thy Blessed presence Thou art euery where By thy presence Ier. 23.23 Esa 66.1 In Heauē By thy excellence Jn Heauen A word of Hope For if thou be our Father and Lord and King of Heauen then our hope is that our Inheritance is there also That thou wilt not denie vs an Inheritance that hast vouchsafed to vs the Title of Sonnes Let vs therefore take the wings of the Eagle and bee lifted vp in our meditations to Heauen being made heires thereof Let vs looke vp to Heauen while we are on Earth By Hope By Meditation Psal 25.1 Vnto thee O Lord doe I lift vp my Soule Psal 121.1 123.1 I will lift vp mine Eyes to the hills whence cōmeth my helpe Psal 130.1 Out of the deepe haue I called to thee O Lord. A word of Power Jn Heauen For thou art in that place from whence at all times Thou canst send vs helpe in danger good things in our need plagues for our offences Let vs therefore be respectiue of his awfull Maiestie and make our petitions to him in feare and trembling in all humilitie and reuerence And let vs not beerash with our mouthes Eccles. 5. nor our hearts hastie to vtter any thing before him for God is in Heauen and we poore creatures vpon earth which is but his footestoole Hollowed be thy Name Being thus intituled and dignified with the Honour of Sonnes wee ought presently to consider our Duties what we should render backe And what can a Son desire more then the Honour of his Father Blessed bee thou our Lord who hast giuen this power to men To Hallow To Magnifie To Glorifie Thy Name which in it selfe is Holy Which all thy workes in generall doe sanctifie Psal 103.22 104.31 145.10 Esa 43.20 Psal 97,5,6 Which all the vnreasonable Creatures doe hallow and praise Which all reasonable Creatures as Angells and Men doe glorifie The Angels and hosts of heauen Esa 6.2,3 Psa 103.20,21 Men. In Heauen already In Earth By their works Mat. 5.16 In the Congregations In Afflictions Iob 1.20 Let vs therefore doe it And that not contemptibly or sleightly but Holily and Carefully in Thought Word and Profession Thine And Lord Ezech. 36.23 let thy Name bee sanctified by others beside vs dilate this Power of Sanctifying thee communicate thy Name more and more to the Gentiles Exod. 9.16 make thy Gospell to spread to the ends of the earth from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same let thy Name be great among the Gentiles Psal 115.1 Not to vs Lord not to vs but to thy Name be the Glory Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue Honor and Glory Reuel 4.11 And thy Name ought to bee sanctified by vs aboue all things for all other things are for vs and we for thy Glory only Not that God shall get any thing thereby or that hee hath neede of our sanctifying But in regard of the Benefit which will accrew to vs by it for this honour will be an honour to him that giueth it Them that honour me I will honour 1. Sam. 2.30 saith God 2. Thes 1.12 Thy Kingdome come In this Petition wee pray First for the comming of Gods Kingdome That hee only may rule ouer vs. Secondly for the destruction and euersion of the kingdome of Sathan The Kingdome of God is threefold First of Glory Secondly of Grace Thirdly of Power 1. Of Glory hereafter which indeede should bee the scope of our desires for wee ought so to liue here that we may desire without feare the comming of this Kingdome So to be affected at our death that we may say Lord now lettest thou thy Seruant depart in peace Luc. 2.29 So to bee affected in our life that we may often say when shall I appeare before the Lord I desire to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ Phil. 1.23 Come Lord Iesus come quickly Reuel 22.20 2. Of Grace in this life in vs. Luc. 19.11 That wee be not of their mindes who said wee will not haue this man raigne ouer vs. But subiect vs O Lord to this Kingdome that easie yoake of thine that in all things wee may be obedient to thee Gouerne vs and raigne in vs that Sathan or sinne raigne not in our members If thou be pleased so to rule in vs here wee shall raigne with thee hereafter 3. Of Power for there are many Rulers in this world which oppose thy Kingdome Arise O Lord and take the Rule into thine owne hand Raigne thou ouer vs. Gouerne vs within and without Let thy Kingdome come and that it may come in vs let it come into our Rulers Make them like to thee in their gouernment Let them rule to thee not to themselues Let thy Kingdome be in them And because when this earthly Gouernment is at the best it is laborious and vnperfect Hasten thy Kingdome of Glory wee beseech thee in which will bee no cause of complaint but all things will be absolute and perfect To which all the Creatures together with vs Rom. 8.18 earnestly waite euen with groanes For all the votes and desires of the a Esa 64.1 Luc. 10.24.2.19 Old Testament were pitched vpon the first comming of Christ and all of the b 2. Tit. 13. New vpon the second looking for that blessed Hope 2. Tim. 4.8 and Glorious appearing of the great God Reuel 22.20 and our Saniour Iesus Christ Come Come to vs but not vpon vs. Certainely it will come will we nill we Let it come to vs not against vs. Let vs feele the happinesse of it O Father in comming not the violence of it in rushing vpon vs. In the meane time let it come to vs here though not in the full fruition yet in the certaine hope and expectation say vnto each of our soules Psal 35.3 I am thy saluation Thy will be done Thy absolute and Eternall Will which none can oppose or withstand Esa 14.24,27 Thy reuealed Will which wee may contradict Let both be done Let vs shew our obedience to thee here Psal 103.20 as the Angells doe in Heauen All other Creatures obey thy Will Mat. 18.10 only Man is disobedient to it Thy Reuealed Will which commandeth vs to be humble in conuersation firme in faith
wee omit and leaue vndone those things which thou commandest vs to doe and commit those things which thou forbiddest And of these some are done Ignorantly others Of our own knowledge Vnwillingly others Wittingly greedily Before our calling others Being called Against God others Against our neighbours and our selues In heart others In word deed By our selues others By others as authors or prouokers Of Commission others Omission Secretly others Of which our heart reprooueth vs. Forgiue them O Lord retaine not the offence exact not the punishment Be reconciled vnto vs By laying aside thy displeasure By receiuing vs to Grace Forgiue Acts 7.60 2. Tim. 4.16 And as thou forgiuest vs. So also forgiue our enemies As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Not to prescribe an example to God to imitate vs nor that we merit in forgiuing others but to testifie how great a matter it seemeth to vs to forgiue offences Blessed bee thou O Lord for propounding to vs so easie a condition To forgiue a mite and be forgiuen a Talent Oh happy exchange to receiue gold for drosse Herein O Lord thou dealest wonderfully and mercifully with vs that we daily praying thus are daily to forgiue and to be forgiuen And thou dost binde vs by this condition of mutuall forgiuenes For he that forgiueth not doth pray against himselfe and in effect doth pray thus Lord forgiue not me for I doe not forgiue Graunt vs therefore grace to follow thy Example fully and freely to forgiue the offence and not retaine the punishment or any malice against those whom we seeme to forgiue As we Not so much in quantitie but the like in qualitie For wee forgiue imperfectly thou absolutely and perfectly And lead vs not into temptation There are two sorts of Tentation 1. Of Triall 2. Of Deceit or Seducing 1. That of Tryall is when God doth any thing to proue the constancy and affections of his Seruants and this is good As of a Gen. 22.1 Abraham of b Iob 1. Iob of his c Exo. 15.25.16.4.20.20 people 2. That of seducing is when we are tempted by the Deuill his ministers or our owne flesh Deut. 8.2.16.13.3 to forsake God and his Commandements and this temptation we pray against For what Benefit will redound to vs in forgiuing our old sinnes if wee contract new O Lord not only pardon that which is past but preuent vs from committing the like Let vs not be encouraged to sinne because of thy bounty in blotting out our former offences but rather to Thankefulnesse and care to offend thee no more Deliuer vs from that which is past Subuention Keepe vs frō that which is to come Preuention Let vs not turne with the dog to the vomite or the Sow to the mire 2. Pet. 2.22 It is enough 1. Pet. 4.3 that we haue spent the time past in the workes of the flesh For the enemie is neuer readier or neerer to vs then when the house is cleane swept Mat. 12.44 Therefore the danger being so neere vs giue vs grace to be the more wary of him For behold O Lord hee is at hand to ensnare vs either with his owne Malice the delights of the World or the pleasures of the flesh If he cannot preuaile by faire meanes yet by force to compell vs. If he cannot puffe vs vp with delight yet to deiect vs with sorrow Wherefore O Lord forsake vs not and by forsaking vs Lead vs into tentation For of our selues without thee we haue no power to resist Sathan neither hath Sathan without thee any power to Tempt vs. Let no Tentation but such as is common to man 1. Cor. 10.13 take hold on vs. Giue vs a happy issue with our Tentation let it bee to the Triall of our faith and the Confusion of Sathan Lead vs no further in then thou wilt bring vs out againe Thou O Lord leadest none in but who first leadeth in himselfe nor hardnest any but those who first harden themselues Ecclus. 3.26 Let not vs bee rebellious and prouoke the Tempter nor loue danger lest we perish therein It is a dangerous thing to bee tempted for the vncertainty of the victory It is Presumption to desire it but Humilitie to decline it It is ioyfully to be endured but by no meanes to be desired But deliuer vs from euil Not only Lead vs not That is not sufficient except thou deliuer vs also If we cannot be free from Tentation yet deliuer vs from the Euill of it From Tentation that is Euill From euill All things are Euill which diuert vs from Thee but especially That Euill enemie of thine and for Thy sake our Enemie for he is not our enemie in respect of our selues for we are not of such strength as that he should desire to oppose vs but he is our Enemy because we are thy children and belong to Thee Deliuer vs O Lord from his bondage Psal 68.1 Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered Psal 89.23 Let not the enemy be able to doe vs violence nor the sonne of wickednesse hurt vs. Psal 86.13 Deliuer our Soules O Lord From the nethermost Hell Psal 22.20 From the power of the dogge Psal 22.21 From the Lyons mouth and the hornes of the Vnicornes Psal 69.15 Out of the myre that wee sinke not Psal 69.16 From the deepe and let not the pit shut her mouth vpon vs. And not only deliuer vs from Him but from his Malice also From whatsoeuer poysou he hath breathed on the Creatures From the Enmity of the World From whatsoeuer is ill in our flesh Deliuer vs also O Lord from the Euill of Punishment from the Euils and miseries of this life Especially of the life to come Amen Behold O Father we haue according to thy Sonnes Directions and forme presumed to craue those things which wee want we haue made our neede knowne vnto thee We desire of thee O Father that thou wouldest graunt vs those things which wee haue craued of thee Wee sigh and groane to thee and pray thee to confirme our votes and wishes with thy Seale So be it Grant vs our petitions for his sake that is a true and faithfull witnesse and in whom all thy promises are Yea and Amen Honour him in vs who deserue of our selues without him no good but much euill at thy hands And say to our petitions Amen So be it Our Father which art in heauen O Almightie Lord and our Heauenly Father whose Fatherly power and goodnesse is seene in the Creation preseruation and gouerning of all things and vpon whom as a Father we waite and depend for all that is good who art in all places by thy presence but especially in Heauen by thy Excellence We thy poore children whom thou hast preferred before the rest of thy creatures Psal 8. doe from the bottome of our hearts Hallowed bee thy Name wish and
prescribe vnto his Disciples a forme of Prayer to be offered vp to thee and hast deriued the same from them to vs. Behold me most wretched sinner wholly depraued and corrupt intreating thee by the same Sonne that for his sake thou wouldest infuse thy holy Spirit into mee which may adopt me into the number of thine Elect that it may teach me how I ought to pray according to thy Holy Will that it may allay all troublesome and wandering thoughts in me while I offer vp my prayers and praises vnto thee Suffer me not to serue thee with my lippes and be absent in heart from thee but create a right spirit within me that I being sensible of all thy graces and comforts may with ioyfull and holy zeale performe my dutie to thee that so my prayers and desires may appeare before thee and in thy Sonnes Name I may effectually be heard and my petitions may bee granted to the glory and honour of thy most Holy Name and the endlesse comfort of mine owne Soule through the same our only Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Before a Sermon O Most louing SAVIOVR I most humbly intreat thee that rhou wouldest be pleased at this time to enlighten my vnderstanding and to open my inward eares with the grace of thy holy Spirit that I may heare the Sacred VVord with an humble heart and reioyce in it in the obedience of the Spirit that I may be fully instructed thereby how to doe good and auoid euill and bring forth the fruite thereof in my life and conuersation that thy Honour and Glory may bee thereby increased the Deuill and all other the enemies of my soule may bee vanquished my Soule may bee saued and at the last I may appeare with boldnesse before thy Tribunall and receiue the reward of a good and faithfull seruant euen his Masters ioy euerlasting Blessednesse and that by thy merits onely O Blessed Sauiour Petitions for Temporall Blessings In which we are to desire of God THat he would be pleased to continue vnto vs The Blessing of a good King iust and religious To giue vnto vs Magistrates and Iustices vpright and carefull to see good Lawes duely executed Teachers to direct vs in the Truth That he would blesse vs with Length and goodnesse of Dayes Health of Body Contentednesse of Minde Competencie of Estate Foode and Rayment Conueniencie of Dwelling Wholesomenesse of Ayre Fruitefulnesse of Cattell That he would make vs happy In Wedlocke In Children In Faithfull friends In Peaceable louing neighbors In Honest Seruants In Skilfull Phisicians That hee would preserue Our Goods Good Name Our Senses and vnderstanding That he would protect vs From Trouble From Enemies From Dangers From Losses From Sicknesses That he would giue Peace To all Nations To our Land In our priuate dwellings Rules to be obserued in the Morning WHen thou awakest in the Morning shut and close vp the entrance to thy heart from all vncleane prophane and euill thoughts and let the consideration of God and goodnesse enter in When thou art arisen and art ready retire thy selfe to thy Closet or other priuate place and offer to God the first fruits of the Day and in praying to him and praysing him remember 1. To giue him thankes for thy quiet rest receiued for deliuering thee from all dangers ghostly and bodily and for all other his benefits to thee 2. Offer vnto him thy selfe and all things that thou dost possesse and desire him to dispose of thee and them according to his good pleasure 3. Craue his Grace to guide thee and to strengthen thee from and against all Tentations that so thou mayest doe nothing the day following contrary to his will 4. And lastly beg of him according to the Rules before prescribed all things needfull for the Soule and Body To which purpose pray as followeth Morning Prayer I Thanke thee O Heauenly Father LORD of Heauen and Earth for all thy Blessings which I vndeseruedly haue receiued from thee that thou gauest me a being from honest Parents and in that part of the world where thy Sonne Christ Iesus is purely professed that thou didst endue me with reason and vnderstanding and didst also giue mee perfect members and sences that thou hast preserued me since my birth and vouchsafed me health and liberty and a competencie of meanes to maintaine me and those whom thou hast placed vnder me that thou hast Elected me in thy Loue Redeemed me by thy Sonne Sanctified me by thy Spirit and kept me this night past from all perills of body and Soule and giuen me a sweete and comfortable rest O Lord I commend into thy hands my soule and body thoughts words and actions and humblie beseech thee that thou wouldest guide and order them all to thy honour and glory and my endlesse and eternall happinesse Enlighten my minde that the Darkenesse and cloudy mists of mine offences being dispelled I may walke before thee in my vocation without offence as in the day cleane vnspotted and vnblameable Giue vnto me thy Holy Spirit which may bridle my vaine cogitations and head-strong desires and order thou I beseech thee my words and rectifie all my actions O Lord as thou hast of thy bounty raised vp my body from sleepe so stirre vp my drowzie soule from the sleepe of sinne and carnall securitie Let my body be euer assistant to my soule in all good actions in this life that they may both be partakers of life euerlasting Thou O Lord hast promised to those which shall faithfully aske all things necessary for this life giue I beseech thee vnto mee if it seeme good vnto thee such a competent estate as shall be expedient to support my life in a ciuill modest and religious manner Giue vnto me that which shall be conuenient but especially O Lord 1. Tim. 6.8 a heart and minde contented with whatsoeuer thou shalt be pleased to allot vnto me Grant O Lord that in thy Name I may cast forth my net into the Sea of this world and diligently carefully and with an vpright conscience follow that vocation in which thou hast placed me that by thine aid and assistance I may prosper and haue good successe in all my affaires Blesse O Lord the Kings Maiesty gouerne his heart in thy feare and guide his vnderstanding to doe those things which shall be acceptable to thee and profitable to his kingdomes Giue him louing and loyall Subiects and suppresse his open and secret enemies And together with him blesse his Queene make her as the fruitfull Vine on the house top Psal 128.3 Blesse all the estate Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill from the highest to the lowest Comfort the comfortlesse and helplesse Bring all Trauellers to their owne beings in safety and direct all vpon the Seas to their safe Ports Shew the light of thy Truth to those which wander out of the right way Giue to all sinners true and hearty repentance strengthen those which haue begun well and giue them thy
assisting grace that they may perseuere in goodnesse To all my friends kindred and enemies and to those which pray for me giue all thy good blessings Keepe vs all from all euill and make vs to continue in thy Seruice to our liues end and after the course of this miserable life ended bring vs to thine euerlasting Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. Or thus ALmighty and Euerlasting GOD I praise and blesse thee from the bottome of my heart that of thy infinite goodnesse thou hast preserued me this night past and hast with the impregnable defence of thy Prouidence defended mee from the power and malice of the Deuill and kept me both in soule and body from all his deuices and snares and raised me from sleepe the Image of death and not left me to be stifled in the darknesse of my sinnes but hast giuen me a longer space to repent me of them I humbly intreat thee that thou wouldest not withdraw thy hand of Protection from me but take mee into thy Tuition Watch ouer me with the eyes of thy mercy and direct me in the way of thy Commandements Endue me with those graces of thy Holy Spirit which may assist me to passe this day and the rest of my life to the praise and glory of thy holy Name the benefit of my Neighbour and the saluation of my sinfull soule Keepe me O Lord from all sinne bridle and mortifie my flesh that I offend not nor fall into any transgressions which may prouoke thy wrath against mee Direct my soule and body my words and actions according to the rule of thy Will Diuert my heart from fastning too much on transitory pleasures and conuert it to the delight of eternall ioyes And because I am not worthy O Lord that thou shouldest heare me poore wretched sinner behold I set before thee the merits of thy only Sonne who is the propitiation of our sinnes looke vpon him and for his Righteousnesse pardon the offences of thy Seruant and grant to me Those things by thy mercy which by the strict Rule of thy Iustice are not due to me Defend me O Lord from all mine enemies Arme me with thy Spirituall weapons put on me the Clothing of wisedome and strength Ephes 6. the Brestplate of Righteousnesse the Helmet of Saluation the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit that in this earthly Pilgrimage I may manfully oppose the enemies of my Soule the Concupiscence of the Flesh Tentations of the World and Malice of the Deuill that so hauing finished valiantly the course of this Terrestriall warfare I may hereafter praise thee in thy Celestiall Kingdome And thou O Lord who giuest food to euery liuing Creature Psal 147.9 and feedest the young Rauens which call vpon thee be mercifull vnto me in the supply of those necessaries which I dayly want Preserue mee in health 1. Tim. 6.8 giue mee foode and rayment and sufficient to maintaine me in that course of life to which it hath pleased thee to call mee that hauing sufficient in all things I may abound in good workes And grant that I may leade a quiet life in all Godly conuersation that hauing and vsing thy blessings worthily I may passe this life with ioy and comfort till it please thee to call me to a better Giue thy blessings to the Kings Maiestie the Queene and the whole estate of this Kingdome and grant that we all may bend our thoughts and studies to please thee that at the last by the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ we may bee receiued to thy Heauenly Kingdome Amen Or thus O Almighty Lord God which day after day dost minister to sinfull man infinite occasions whereby hee may be stirred vp to praise thy holy Name and art most plentifull in pittie and fauourable to those which with pure hearts and vnfained faith call vpon thee behold me thy poore vnworthy seruant with the eyes of compassion that at this time aâ—… bold to offer vp vnto thee a morning Sacrifice of praise and thankes for all thy blessings and amongst the rest for that thou hast vouchsafed after a sufficient and quiet sleepe to raise me safe from my bed againe which fauour thou hast not affoorded to many others who in farre greater measure haue deserued it then my selfe for which mercy of thine I am not able through my insufficiencie and weakenesse to giue vnto thee due praise and thankesgiuing I pray thee therefore in thy deare Sounes Name In whom thou art well pleased to accept these poore and weake thankes and for his sake also to be further aiding and assisting vnto me this day following in whatsoeuer I shall take in hand For thou knowest O Lord how feeble mans nature is insomuch that if he trust to his owne strength of necessitie he must fall into many miseries errors and dangers Haue mercy therefore vpon mine infirmities and be propitious and helping to me that by thine Illumination I may discerne and perceiue good from euill and by thy leading and direction may follow the one and auoid the other Lord so guide me with thy Holy Spirit that I may neither doe speake nor thinke any thing this day contrary to thy holy Will Behold O Lord I offer my selfe a Liuing Sacrifice to thee and humbly pray thee to aceept it Good God direct my soule in the way of thy Commandements increase my faith strengthen my Hope enlarge my Charitie and infuse all the good graces of thy Holy Spirit into me Giue me grace so to remember my sinnes as that thou mayest forget them and so to forsake them as that thou mayest forgiue them Instruct me in all goodnesse and giue me the grace of Perseuerance that I flye not backe from any good courses in this life but that I may goe forward and continue in them to the end of my dayes O Lord who hast promised the necessaries of this life to those which shall first seeke thy Kingdome I humbly intreat thee to giue vnto me this day all things necessary for my sustentation as foode rayment health of body ioy of heart peace of conscience and a blessing to all my endeauours giue me a minde contented with that which shal be sufficient and not desirous of that which is superfluous that I may passe the rest of my dayes on earth religiously honestly and soberly as becommeth thy seruant to thy honour and my endlesse comfort Bee gratious to the Kings most excellent Maiestie his Royall Queene the whole Estate Cleargie Nobility Gentry Magistrates and Commons giue vs all grace in our seuerall places to doe our Duties as in thy sight that at the last by the merits of Iesus Christ our Sauiour we may receiue the reward thereof in thy Eternall Kingdome where thou raignest together with the same our Lord Iesus Christ and the Holy Spirit World without end Morning Prayer for a Family O Almighty Lord God heauenly Father we giue thee most humble and heartie thankes in that thou
hast not only of nothing created vs after thine owne Image Gen. 1.9.6 but also hast from time to time most gratiously preserued vs euen to this present Morning from all dangers and terrors and hast giuen vs this night past sweet sleepe comfortable rest whereby we are refreshed and fitted to our bodily labour We thanke thee O Lord for all thy spirituall blessings for our Regeneration Iustification Sanctification in some measure and our Redemption by Iesus Christ We praise thy Name for thy bountifull supply of all things necessary for this life as also for thy patient and long expectance of vs in our Conuersion O Lord we confesse that wee haue beene so farre from the serious consideration of thy fauours to vs and from rendring due thankes vnto thee for them that in stead thereof we haue continually grieuously offended thy Maiestie with most abominable and vile sinnes notwithstanding thou hast sought to reduce vs to thy obedience by the good motions of thy Holy Spirit As often O Lord as we looke about vs either with the eyes of our bodies or mindes so often doe thy fatherly and innumerable benefits appeare vnto vs. For all which wee render againe and againe from the bottome of our hearts infiuite thankes vnto thee and humbly desire thee for thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus to pardon all our ingratitude and rebellions Englighten vs we pray thee with thy holy Spirit that we may see our imperfections kindle our zeale towards thee rule and gouerne our mindes wils affections and actions that we may not willingly offend thee any more And giue vs Grace that we may alwayes thinke speake and doe whatsoeuer shall be pleasing vnto thee and abstaine from all things which shall displease or offend thee It is more then enough O Lord that we haue beene hitherto so rebellious against thee It is too much that we haue beene so negligent to serue thee and so ingratefull to thee for all thy blessings Let all euill and wickednesse now depart from vs and let new manners new affections and new hearts be renewed in vs. We commit our selues O Lord wholly into thy protection this day and the rest of our liues and most humbly desire thee of thy infinite goodnesse that as now thou hast put good thoughts into vs thou wilt bee pleased to perfect them in vs so that being led by thy holy Spirit we may do that which is acceptable to thee and loue serue honour and praise thy holy Name all the dayes of our liues And for as much O Lord as thou hast promised to those that loue thee all things necessary for this life wee call and cry to thee O our Father which art in heauen to Giue vs this day our daily bread euen whatsoeuer is needfull and expedient for our sustentation Giue vs O Lord sufficient for our maintenance lest wee take euill and indirect courses or blaspheme or murmure against thee and not too much lest we forget from whose hands wee receiue it Giue not only that which shall be necessary but contented mindes also with it Blesse O Lord the labor and worke of our hands blesse vs at home and abroad and grant that euery one of vs may truely as in thy sight walke in our seuerall vocations and diligently and carefully intend the same making a conscience of all our waies that by thy gracious fauour and our owne endeuours wee may haue prosperous successe in all things which we shal vndertake Continue O Lord thy Gospell among vs. Blesse our gratious King with the Queene the Prince Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth with their Princely Issue the whole Land and all sorts and conditions of people in it Blesse all that trauell by Sea or Land and take into thy protection all Orphans Widdowes and all that suffer wrong Giue health and strength to the sicke and weake and ioy and comfort to the sorrowfull and afflicted Blesse vs O Lord with healthfull and sound bodies keepe our good names vnspotted and vnblemished Blesse the fruites of the earth and giue vs wholsome peaceable and seasonable times These and all other thy blessings which thou knowest better to giue then we to aske vouchsafe if it seeme good to thy Maiestie to giue vs for the worthinesse of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord in whose blessed Name and absolute prayer wee close vp our imperfect prayers and say as he hath taught vs. Our Father c. Rules for Euening and Night As we vsually twice a day at the least take our bodily sustenance so should wee be no lesse carefull for the refreshing of our Soules but twise a day likewise Morning and Euening if not oftner dispose our selues to Deuotion and Prayer When thou therefore retirest thy selfe as in the Morning remember 1. To giue God thankes that hee hath deliuered thee from the dangers of the day past prospered thee in thy affaires and giuen thee necessaries for thy sustentation 2. Examine thy Conscience narrowly and consider wherein thou hast the day past offended God either in thought word or deed and hauing set thine offences before thee confesse them to him and in the bitterenesse of thy Soule repent thee bee sory for them and craue Pardon for them and Grace that thou offend no more in the like 3. Pray to God to continue his care ouer thee the night following and to defend thee from all perills and dangers So that going to thy rest with these good actions and thoughts thou shalt doe the like to those which rake vp fire in the Embers ouer night that they may the more readily find it in the morning In the Night WHen thou awakest in the night call vpon God likewise for the night was not made wholly for sleepe praise him contemplate and meditate vpon his workes Sometimes weepe for thy sinnes according to the practize of Dauid For as the nightly Dew refresheth and tempereth the Earth Psal 6.6 so doe our nightly teares asswage our concupiscences And sometimes reioyce in the Lord according to that of the Psalmist for the great benefits thou hast receiued from him Psal 149.5 By these meanes keeping thy selfe to one holy exercise or other thou shalt be sure to auoide the Deuils tentations whose chiefe time of setting vpon vs fitteth best with his works which are vsually stiled the works of Darkenesse Euening Prayer Psal 42.10 The Lord hath granted his louing kindnesse in the day therefore in the Night will I sing of him and make my Prayer to the God of my Life O Lord God Father euerlasting I yeeld thee most humble and hearty thankes that thou hast not onely auerted thy punishments from me which my grieuous sinnes haue deserued but instead thereof hast preserued me from all dangers and supplied me with all necessaries of this life O Lord I confesse that I haue so highly offended thee this day that all the punishmēts which may be inflicted vpon vile and miserable sinners are due to me I confesse
that I might come safe into this World and receiue the Marke and Badge of all thine euen the Sacrament of Baptisme whereby I was cleansed from the guilt of originall sinne Amongst a multitude of Infidels dispersed ouer the face of the Earth thou wouldst haue me in the number of the faithfull euen of those to whom so happie a lot hath fallen to be thine regenerated with the water of Baptisme from which time I was taken to be Thine and that admirable and happie contract was made betweene vs that thou shouldest be my Lord and I thy Seruant thou my Father and I thy Sonne that thou shouldst performe and shew to me the Loue of a Father and I to thee the Duty of a Son Further O Lord thou didst descend from heauen to earth for my sake seeking me in all the wayes wherein I had lost my selfe With thy Humanity thou didst enoble my nature and by thy bonds didst deliuer me from bondage Thou didst chalenge me frō the power of the Deuill by deliuering thy selfe into the hands of sinners and didst destroy sinne by taking vpon thee the forme of a sinner With what reuerence shall I speake of that other Blessed Sacrament which Thou also O Lord hast instituted and ordained for a remedy of all the miseries which haue befallen me and the many sinnes I haue committed since my Baptisme and for a Salue and cure for all my spirituall diseases euen the Sacrament of thy most pretious Body and Bloud And as thou hast bestowed on me all these diuine and heauenly blessings so likewise in plentifull manner hast thou heaped on me temporall fauours Thou hast from my birth to this houre preserued nourished cloathed fed me in most abundant manner giuing to me the vse of all thy creatures for my sustentation Nay what couldst thou haue done more for mee then thou hast done Or what couldst thou haue giuen me more then thou hast bestowed vpon me either of Blessings of this World or of the World to come Now hauing receiued all these mercies and fauours from thee how haue I on my part behaued my selfe in thankefulnesse to thee for them Haue I returned due praise vnto thy Maiestie for them or carried my selfe and ordered my life like to one that might any way deserue them O Lord I confesse that I haue not for such hath beene the malice and corruption of my heart that in stead of shewing my selfe conformable to thy will I dayly adde sinne to sinne and iniquitie to iniquity Rom. 2.5 heaping vp wrath for my selfe against the day wrath How can I without teares remember how often thou mightst iustly haue slaine mee and yet notwithstanding my sins which call for vengeance no euill hath happened vnto me How many soules burne in Hell fire which haue sinned farre lesse then I and yet I remaine aliue What had become of me if thou hadst taken me away with those at the same time How strict had my Iudgement beene if thy Iustice had laid hold on me laden with so many sinnes Who then O Lord hath bound the hands of thy Iustice who hath deprecated for me when I lay thus lulled a sleepe in the securitie of my sinnes What hath pleased thee in me that thou shouldest deale more mercifully with me then with those who in the midst of their dayes in the heate of their youth are taken away from amongst vs My sinnes cryed out against me and thou stoppedst thine eares my offences daily encreased against thee yet thy mercy dayly abounded towards me I sinned thou didst expect me I fled from thee and thou followedst me I was weary in offending thee and thou not weary in expecting me And in the midst of all my sinnes I euer receiued many good inspirations and godly reproofes from thy holy Spirit which checked me in the dissolute course of my life How often hast thou called me with the voyce of Loue How often hast thou terrified me with threates and feares laying before me the perill of death and the rigor of thy diuine Iustice How often hast thou followed me with thy Word preached inuited me with thy Blessings chastened me with thy Scourges compassing me about that I could by no meanes flie from thee And lastly which is not the least of thy mercies with what patience hast thou wayted for my serious repentance Psal 116.13 What then O Lord shall I render backe to thee for all that thou hast done vnto me In that thou hast created me I owe thee all that I am created In that thou hast preserued me and thus long expected my returne to thee I owe thee life and all that I am But in that thou hast regenerated sanctified and redeemed me and left those excellent pledges for my Saluation I know not what to render vnto thee For if the liues of all men and Angels were in my power and that I could offer them vnto thee for a Sacrifice of praise and thankes yet were it nothing being compared to the least of all thy Spirituall blessings bestowed on me Who therefore will giue a floud of teares to mine eyes that I may lament my great Ingratitude and vniust retribution for for all these thy manifold blessings heaped vpon me Helpe me thou O Lord helpe me and giue me grace that I may heartily confesse and grieuously bewaile my hainous offences and transgressions against thee that thou mayest be reconciled to me and in thy abundant Mercies shew some pitie to me for them I am thy Creature O Lord made after after thine owne Likenesse and Image acknowledge thy workmanship for it is thine owne In taking away the soyle and filth wherewith it is defiled and stained thou shalt soone perceiue it to be thine owne handy-worke Art not thou a Father of mercies 2. Cor. 1.3 which haue neither number end nor measure Although I haue shaken off the dutie and obedience of a childe towards thee yet cast not thou off the Loue of a Father toward mee I beseech thee Although I haue done many things whereby thou mightst iustly condemne me yet thou hast not lost the meanes whereby thou mayest mercifully saue me If thou forsake me to whom shall I flie who is there to helpe me besides thy selfe Acknowledge O Lord a straying Sheepe Behold I come to thee all wounded thou canst heale me blinde thou canst enlighten me full of leprosie thou canst cleanse me and am wholly dead yet thou canst reuiue me Thy mercy is greater then my sinne thy clemensie more then my wickednesse and thou canst remit more then I can commit Doe not then O Lord put me backe from thee looke not so much vpon my sinnes as vpon thy infinite mercies who liuest and raignest God of all mercies world without end Another O Almighty Lord God great in thy Power Exo. 34. and terrible in thy Iudgements who madest the Heauen the Earth the Sea and all things in them by thy Word whose Power cannot bee resisted and
still remaine in my pollution I am hardned as well with thy punishments as with thy blessings being rebellious to the one and vnthankefull for the other And what shall I further say but that my heart soule thoughts and body are all impure and defiled and that of all sinners I am the chiefe 1. Tim. 1.15 vnworthy that the Earth should any longer sustaine me or that I should expect any thing from thee but thy seuerest Iudgements For it thou sparedst not Lucifer and his Angels for one only sinne of Pride but didst cast them from Heauen Iude. 6. to bee reserued for euerlasting chaines of darknesse vnto the Iudgement of the great day what can I hope or looke for that haue offended thee not in one offence alone but in all kinde of transgressions For my sinnes are in number numberlesse in so much that I hate my selfe for my madnesse that from so noble a liberty I am fallen into so base a seruitude and finde my selfe ouerwhelmed with the horrible dread of thy fearefull Iudgements Psal 55.5 Yet when I behold and consider that infinite mercy of thine which surpasseth all the rest of thy workes Psal 145.9 I am a little refreshed and my soule is a little comforted and reuiued for as by the examination of the haynousnesse of my sinnes and the strictnesse of thy Iustice I did almost despaire so considering and weighing the testimonies of thy Seruants left vpon record Ezech. 18. Ioel 2. for the cōfort of poore distressed soules I am some-what againe cheered and raised vp For besides those places of consolation and many more I finde by diuerse Parables and similitude of thine owne how ready and propense thou art to receiue and pardon the penitent As Luc. 15. by the lost peny the lost sheepe and by the Prodigall Son whose Image I finde in my selfe and whose life mine doth fully paralell Wherefore O Lord I humbly intreat thee to restore me thy lost Sonne to thy fauour and withall to giue mee true sence and knowledge of the Innocency I haue lost I doe not desire that thou shouldest deale so kindly with mee as that Father did with his Son but I shall be happy and glad if thou wilt entertaine me as one of the meanest of thy hired Seruants My hope and confidence is that thou wilt pitie mee because thou art the fountaine of pittie and compassion Behold mee therefore with the eyes of pitie looke on me and ease me who come vnto thee laden with the heauy burden of my sinnes pardon them Mat. 11.28 and saue mee for thy infinite mercie and remember not my sinnes but thine owne sufferings thinke not on me as a proud and rebellious malefactor but as an humble and penitent conuert Looke on mee with those eyes of compassion wherewith thou didst sometime behold a Luc. 7.48 Mary Magdalen b Luc. 22.62 Peter and c Luc. 23.43 the good Theefe giue mee true knowledge of my sinnes with the first true contrition with the second and receiue mee with the third into thy Heauenly Paradice Let thy obedience satisfie for my rebellions thy innocency for my guilt thy humility for my arrogancy thy fasting for my intemperance and thy Iustice for my iniquity Mat. 26.39 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me whole and rerestore mee to thy former grace Purifie purge and cleanse mee from my offences opē mine eies that I may clearely see mine own pollution and make me to grieue that I haue not grieued for my sinnes as I ought to haue done And as thou hast by thy long suffering hitherto expected my repentance so of thy infinite mercy and goodnesse pardon mee repenting and grant mee grace that I may bee affraid to offend thee hereafter Heare me O sweet Sauiour and make intercession for me to the Father with whom and the Holy Spirit thou dost liue and raigne coequall and coeternall Lord God World without end Amen Confession of sinnes I confesse O Lord That Iob 14.4 I was borne in vncleannesse That Psal 51.5 I was shaped in wickednesse and in sinne my mother conceiued me Deut. 29.18 That I am a roote of bitternesse Deut. 32.32 A wilde Vine of Sodome Rom. 11.24 A branch of the wilde Oliue Eph. 2.3 The childe of wrath A Vessell of dishonour and perdition That Osee 7.16 my heart is rebellious like a starting Bow That Psal 5.10 my throat is an opē sepulchre venting all folly That Esa 6.5 I am of polluted lippes That Psal 144.11 my tongue talketh nothing but vanity That Mat. 7.22 mine eyes are euill proue to lust That Psal 58.4 mine eares are vncircumcised and like to the deafe Adder That Ier. 3.3 I haue a Forehead of brasse and a necke of yron That Heb. 12.12 my hands are slow to good That Rom. 3.15 my feete are swift to euill I haue sinned against thee O Lord and in thy sight not fearing thy Maiestie My sinnes are In quantitie Esa 57.8 Psal 25.11 Large and of a great size Of long continuance From my mothers breasts Hos 9.9 Deepe Heauy Like a Psal 38.4 Burthen Like Zach. 5.7 Lead Stretching to heauen with their cry Ier. 30.14.15 Many in number Like the Starres Psal 40.12 More then the hayres of my head Esa 57.20 Oftentimes reiterated Ier. 6.7 As a Fountaine casting out water Till they become as a habite Esa 1.18 As red as Scarlet and Crimson Rom. 7.14 1. King 21.25 I am sold vnder sinne Till they become naturall to me Ier. 13.23 Like the Aethiopians skin The Leopards spots In qualitie The worst of sinnes Strong Esa 5.18 like Cords Cart-ropes Rom. 6.21 Gaining nothing thereby For Ezech. 13.19 a handfull of Barley a little bread Committing Eph. 4.19 sinne with greedinesse sinne vpon sinne Ier. 3.3 with impudence 6.15 not being ashamed Gal. 2.18 Ia. 4.17 knowing it to be sinne Mat. 18.7 giuing offence thereby Rom. 1.21 vnthankefully 2. Pet. 2.22 like the Dog to his vomit the Sow to the mire Psal 119.137 Therefore O Lord because thou art Iust and thy iudgements true I reape the fruit of my foolishnesse Rom. 6.21 For what fruite haue I in those things whereof I am ashamed My dayes are consumed in vanity and my yeeres in the bitternesse of my Soule Psal 38 3. And now there is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne My heart trembleth also with remembrance of thy Iudgements I feele bitternesse aboue the bitternesse of death in that I haue forsaken thee O God and that thou hast forsaken me Woe vnto me rebellious wretch for thus doing See and consider O Lord how vile I am become for my soule abhorreth to liue Psal 38.8 I haue roared for the
in darknesse 11 My Louers and those which I tooke for friends because they see me goe about to forsake my euill courses stand aloofe of from my sore in stead of giuing me comfort become mine aduersaries and my kinsmen who in my prosperitie fawned on mee now stand a farre of and leaue me comfortlesse 12 They also of mine enemies that seeke after the ouerthrow of my life and eternall happinesse lay snares and tentations for me and they that seeke my hurt in bereauing me of my good name speake mischieuous and false things to my reproach and imagine deceit how to diuert me from the right way all the day long 13 But I being resolued to persist in the way of repentance and to trust wholly in the mercy of God behaued my selfe to them as a deafe man giuing no eare to their allurements and made as though I heard them not and I was in my behauiour to them as a dumbe man that knew not how to speake and that opened not his mouth 14 Thus carefull was I least mine enemies should entrap me and I continued still as a man that heareth not nor is moued with their tentations and in whose mouth notwithstanding their euill deedes to me are no reproofes 15 For in thee O Lord let them doe what they can doe I hope and put my confidence that thou wilt keepe thy promise and heare me when I call vpon thee O Lord my God and Sauiour 16 For I said in my prayer to thee heare mee O Lord least if thou forsake me they should reioyce and triumph ouer mee for when and as soone as my foote of faith slippeth neuer so little by infirmitie they presently imagine that thou hast forsaken mee and magnifie themselues as though they had obtained a great victory against me 17 For I cannot maruell that they should so doe considering that when I feele the waight of my sinnes I my selfe am ready to halt and despaire and the reason of my sorrow is because thy Iudgements are euer before mee and in my thoughts 18 For remedy whereof I wil declare and confesse to thee O Lord in the bitternesse of my soule my iniquitie and take reuenge of my selfe for it yea I will be as long as I liue heartily sory and much grieued for my sinne past though it be forgiuen 19 But mine enemies thinke not of forsaking their waies they are liuely and merry and crie peace peace to their soules and they are strong to doe euill and they also that hate mee because they see my conuersion wrongfully and without cause are multiplied and excedingly increased 20 They also that vnthankefully render euill to me for the good which I haue done vnto them are also become mine aduersaries and doe vnto mee all the mischiefe they can and why because they perceiue my conuersion and that I follow and loue the thing that good is which they hate 21 Forsake mee not either in tentation or tribulation though they persecute mee O Lord the author of my saluation O my God whom I desire to serue be not farre from me by withdrawing thy grace from me 22 Make hast least I faint vnder the burden of my sinnes to helpe me against my enemies O Lord who art my only stay in this life and my Saluation in the life to come Glory be to the Father c. 4 Psalme 51. 1 HAue mercy vpon me miserable sinner O God full of mercy and compassion according to thy louing and infinite kindnesse to the sonnes of men and as my sinnes are infinite so according to the multitude of thy tender mercies which thou hast euer shewed to penitent sinners blot out of the booke of thy remembrance my innumerable transgressions 2 Wash mee throughly with the blood of thy deare Sonne from mine iniquitie whereby I haue so often offended thy Maiestie and cleanse me in the fountaine of thy mercies from my sinne whereby I haue also offended my neighbour 3 For behold O Lord I hide not nor excuse but in the bitter teares of repentance acknowledge and confesse my horrible transgressions against thee and my grieuous sinne in which I did for a time take delight is growne odious to mee and is euer before me in remorse of conscience 4 Against thee most mercifull Father only haue I sinned and though I were ashamed to commit sinne in the sight of men yet I haue done this great euill in thy alseeing sight yet O Lord be mercifull to mee and pardon it that thou mightst be iustified and found true and faithfull when thou speakest as thou hast often done of mercy and forgiuenesse to the penitent and bee cleare from the imputation of iniustice when thou art arrogantly and falsely Iudged for seueritie thy punishments being iust though the eyes of our vnderstanding be not so cleare as to perceiue the iustice of them 5 Behold O Lord that I as all mankinde was shapen in the iniquity of originall sinne from which fountaine springeth my misery and in sinne and concupiscence did my mother conceiue me from whence groweth the infirmitie of my flesh 6 Behold also O LORD I know that thou desirest Truth Faith and Integrity in the inward parts of my conscience and in the hidden parts of mee my Soule thou shalt make me by the illumination of thy Holy Spirit to know Wisedome to eternall life 7 Purge mee leprous sinner with spirituall Hyssope the blood of thy Sonne in stead of the Hyssope which was wont to cleanse the leprous in the lawe and by that blood I shall be cleane and purified from the leprosie of sinne Wash me in the fountaine of Grace and then by the teares of repentance and the merits of my Sauiour I shall bee whiter in thy sight then Snow 8 Make mee poore wretch to heare and sensiblie feele the ioy and comfort of remission of my sinnes and let me finde gladnesse in the promise of life eternall that the Spirituall bones of my soule which thou hast broken with tentations and afflictions may reioice and giue thee thankes and praise 9 Hide and turne away thy face and wrathfull countenance from my sinnes lay them not to my charge and blot out of thy Register all mine iniquities that they neuer appeare to condemne me 10 Create an new forme in me polluted sinner a cleane and pure heart O God the Creator of all things and renew by thy Grace aright and sanctified Spirit within me 11 Cast me not away into the pit of desperation by debarring me from thy presence where only is fulnesse of ioy and take not for euer thy Holy Spirit of comfort from me 12 Restore vnto me rather the vnspeakeable ioy of thy Saluation in Christ Iesus which they feele in their consciences to whom thou remittest their sinnes and when I am re-instated in thy fauour vphold and keepe me from falling againe with thy free powerfull and sauing Spirit 13 Then euen when I shall be so restored I will by word of exhortation and example
of conuersation teach transgressors how they shall keepe thy waies and commandements and by that meanes thy Grace assisting they which now are sinners shall forsake their wickednesse and shall bee truely conuerted to thee 14 Deliuer me and quit me from my former bloody offences and keepe mee henceforth from blood guiltinesse and carnall corruptions O God my protector Thou God which art my Redeemer and Author of my Saluation and all the dayes of my life my tongue for ioy thereof shall sing vnto thee and that aloud and cheerefully and praise thy Name by extolling of thy righteousnesse who dost iustifie sinners and art mercifull to the penitent 15 O Lord who giuest wisedome to the simple Open thou my lippes which are closed by sinne from doing any seruice vnto thee and then with boldnesse my mouth shall vtter and shew forth thy praise for to thee alone belongeth all Honour and Glory 16 For thou O God desirest not that I should offer the Sacrifice of Goates and Calues to expiate my offences else would I willingly giue it and lay it on thy Altar but thou hauing by sending thy Sonne Christ Iesus abrogated the ceremonies of the Law delightest not any longer in burnt offerings but in obedience to thy Commandements 11 The Sacrifices accepted of God and whereby wee are in Christ reconciled to him are a broken and humble Spirit deiected with the sight of sinne a broken and contrite heart truly mortified and repentant O God thou hast promised that thou wilt not despise but louingly accept 18 Doe good O God in thy good pleasure and be fauourable and gratious vnto Sion thy Catholique Church Build thou vpon a sure foundation of religion and establish the hearts of thy Saints and Seruants the walles of thy Church Ierusalem 19 Then shalt thou in Christ Iesus be pleased with vs and with the Sacrifices of Righteousnesse in thy Congregation And with burnt Offerings and Oblations of our hearts Then shall they thy Seruants thus established offer bullockes the Sacrifice of praise vpon thine Altar in thy presence to the honour of thy most holy Name Glory be to the Father c. 5 Psalme 102. 1 HEare my prayer which in the bitternesse of my soule I make to thee O Lord whose mercy is the Sanctuary of distressed sinners and let nothing stand betweene that mercy and me which may hinder my cry to come to thee 2 Hide not thy face turne not away thy countenance from me as if thou wert offended at me but rather in the day of aduersity when I am in trouble and sorrow encline thine eare of pitie vnto me and that right soone and speedily 3 For my daies which I haue mis-spent are cōsumed away like smoke which for want of substance resolueth to nothing and my bones which by my broken spirit are dried vp are burnt vp as a firebrand 4 My heart is deiected and smitten with the thought of thy Iustice and it is withered with remembrance of thy Iudgements like grasse without iuyce or sap so that in this anguish of soule I forget and loath to eate my bread 5 By reason of the grieuous voyce of my groaning sighes and teares I am so consumed away that my bones for want of flesh cleaue to my skinne and I am nothing but skin and bone 6 I am for shame that I haue offended thee become in condition like a Pellican that liueth solitarily in the Wildernesse and I am like an Owle not daring to be seen but that auoideth the light and is continually in the desert shunning the company of other birds 7 I watch and sleepe not for the thought of my sinnes and am as a sparrow that caring for no company sitteth alone making grieuous lamentation in a mournfull note vpon the house top 8 Mine enemies seeing mee thus penitent reproach mee with opprobrious speeches all the day continually deriding mee and they that while I was their companion in sinne applauded mee are vpon my conuersion mad against me and doe combine and are sworne to doe me mischiefe and to that end set themselues against me 9 For this cause taking no pleasure in this world I haue eaten ashes and fed vpon course meate like as if it were fine bread and dainty fare and I haue mingled my drinke with teares weeping and lamenting for my sinnes 10 Because of thine indignation at me for them and thy wrath against my life past all this euill and more hath befallen me for thou hast lifted mee vp very high and from thence hast cast mee downe that my fall might be the greater 11 My dayes few and euill are passed like a shadow vpon a Sun-diall that declineth toward the euening and I that lately seemed to flourish am withered and dryed vp like grasse without sap for want of thy comfort 12 But thou O Lord which wert and art shalt continue immutable and shalt endure for euer while all transitory things passe and come to nothing and thy glorious workes shall be had in remembrance vnto all generations euen vnto the end of the world 13 Thou O Lord who seemest to men to sleepe shalt arise in thy strength and haue mercy and compassion vpon Sion thy Church militant now oppressed with the tyranny of Antichrist for the time to looke vpon her and fauour her is at hand yea the set time which thou hast decreed for her deliuerance is or will not be long ere it come 14 For they which bee thy true and faithfull Seruants take pleasure and delight in her stones their fellow Seruants and are glad when they see them prosper and fauour and pitie the very dust and ruines thereof when they see them vnder persecution 15 So that when they shall be deliuered from their misery the very heathen shall feare and tremble at the Name of the Lord and be conuerted to him and all the Kings and Potentates of the earth which now oppose the Truth shall acknowledge thee O Lord to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords and be afraid at the greatnesse of thy Glory and Maiestie 16 When the Lord by his almighty power shall build vp Sion and repaire the ruines of his Church he shall then to the confusion of his enemies appeare in his glory which they shall not be able to endure 17 He will then in mercy regard and hearken to the prayer of his poore seruants and the destitute of his helpe and not any longer seeme to turne away his face from them nor despise their prayer and earnest supplications 18 This mercy of his shall then be recorded and written as a remembrance for the generations to come euen to the end of the world which shall attempt the like against his Church and the people yet vnborne that shall succeed and be created in ages to come shall praise and magnifie the Lord which only doth marueilous things 19 For hee hath in mercy by sending his Sonne Christ Iesus looked downe from the height of his Sanctuary his holy place euen from
Heauen his Fathers bosome did the Lord Iesus behold the earth and had compassion vpon all the Sonnes of men 20 To heare and pitie the groaning of the prisoners such as did groane vnder the burden of the law and to loose and set at liberty by his passion and intercession those of the posterity of Adam that are appointed to suffer death for not fulfilling the same 21 To the end that they being so deliuered may declare and shew the power and the Name of the Lord which is Iesus the Sauiour in Sion his Church and magnifie and extoll his praise in Ierusalem his holy habitation 22 When the faithfull people which are yet dispersed ouer the face of the earth are gathered together and made one congregation and the Kingdomes of the earth which are yet in darknesse are instructed to serue thee the only Lord of Heauen and earth 23 He euen the Lord in the time of this expectation hath weakened and abated my strength so that I can doe no good of my selfe in the way of this my earthly pilgrimage he hath shortned and cut off my dayes by afflicting me for my sinne 24 I said yet in this weakenesse and anguish of my soule O my God withdraw not now thy mercy from me and take me not away out of this world in the midst of my dayes in the chiefe time of my strength as for thy yeeres as they are from all eternity so shall they endure throughout all generations euen for euer 25 Of old at the beginning of time hast thou of thine owne power layd and created the foundations of the earth the visible world anwd all things in it and the heauens and firmament thereof are the onely worke of thy almighty hands and power 26 They euen heauen and earth and all things in them shall passe away and perish from the forme they now haue but thou O Lord the creator of them shalt endure immutable Yea without all doubt all of them as thou hast decreed shall waxe old and consume with age like a garment long worne and as a vesture or garment shalt thou by the sound of the last trump change and dissolue them and they shall yeeld to thy power and be changed 27 But thou O Lord art the same alwayes vnchangeable and thy yeeres being from all eternity shall haue no end but continue for euer 28 The children and posterity of thy faithfull Seruants begotten by the seedes-men of thy Word shall continue in grace in this life and their righteous seed shall stand fast and be established for euer together with them in glory hereafter and enioy euerlasting happinesse before thee in thy blessed presence Glory be to the father c. 6 Psalme 130. 1 OVt of the depth of tentations dangers and sorrowes for my sinnes wherein my Spirit is almost ouerwhelmed haue I by feruent prayer cryed and called vnto thee O Lord who onely art able to giue me reliefe 2. Lord of thy mercy haste thee and heare my voyce and petition and deliuer me from my misery O my God Let thine eares of pitie and compassion be attentiue to consider and well weigh the lamentable voyce of my humble supplications and let not my prayer returne vnpitied or vnheard of thee 3 If thou Lord contrary to thy disposition shouldest be so exact and extreame as in the rigour of thy Iustice to marke the iniquities which we by our naturall corruption dayly fall into and punish vs accordingly O good Lord who none not the most vpright shall be able to answere one for a thousand or stand before thee without much horror at thy Iudgement seate 4 But for the comfort of poore wretched sinners and to keepe vs from vtter desperation we finde it recorded by the holy Spirit that There is forgiuenesse of sinnes and mercy towards sinners repenting with thee by Iesus Christ who came to saue sinners and yet this mercy of thine is tyed with such conditions that thou who also art Iust mayest be also feared lest thy lenity be abused 5 I for my part wait and confidently expect for the Lord to receiue mercy from him My sinfull but repentant soule doth wait to receiue consolation and in his Word whereby he promiseth mercy to repentant sinners doe I hope and place my whole confidence because I know that he which hath promised is Iust 6 My sinfull Soule in this expectation waiteth for the Lord and tarieth his good pleasure to comfort it more earnestly then they that in a disconsolate long night watch for the morning yea I say it againe more zealously then they that are weary of the night and watch for the light of the morning 7 Let Israel and all Gods faithfull people hope still and put their trust in the goodnesse of the Lord and not without cause For with the Lord though hee iustly take vengeance on vs for our sinnes yet there is euer was and will bee found Mercy towards penitent sinners and with him by Iesus Christ is not onely forgiuenesse for a few sinnes but plenteous redemption from the captiuity of the Deuill and sinne 8 And he euen Iesus Christ by his merits and intercession shall redeeme and saue Israel and each of his faithfull seruants from all his iniquities and the punishment due for them Glory be to the Father c. 7 Psalme 134. 1. HEare my earnest and humble Prayer O Lord which in misery I make vnto thee Giue eare and be not deafe to my supplications in the time of my distresse but in thy faithfulnesse and truth which endureth for euer answer me and grant my petition which I make not trusting in any merits of mine owne but in thy righteousnesse 2 And my further petition to thee is that thou enter not into the throne of thy Iudgement by strictly examining my misdeeds and dealing rigorously with me thy poore Seruant who hath misspent his talent for in thy all-seeing sight shall no man liuing in this vale of misery be iustified or found innocent 3 For the old enemie of mankinde the Deuill hath by his malice persecuted and sought to entrap my soule to separate it from the loue of thee he hath smitten and cast my life and soule downe to the ground and filled me full of earthly desires he hath made and caused me to dwell and take pleasure in the darkenesse of my sinnes as those that are without sence and haue beene long dead 4 Therefore O Lord considering my desperate estate is my spirit ouerwhelmed with griefe within me and my heart is disquieted within me and is also desolate and sore troubled 5 I yet in the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart doe remember what I haue read and heard what thou hast done in the dayes of old how that thou hast beene gratious to the penitent and seuere against the vnrepentant sinner I meditate also on all thy workes but especially on that of thy mercy and I muse and exercise my selfe in contemplating on the worke
the humble and they which are any way deiected when they shall heare thereof how gratious God hath beene to me shall in hope of the like mercy to them reioyce and be glad also 3 O ye whosoeuer haue felt Gods fauour as I haue magnifie and extoll the mercies of the Lord with me for his goodnesse and let vs ioyfully with one accord exalt and praise his Name together 4 I my selfe when I was in trouble sought the Lord by praier and humiliation and hee reiected not my petition but graciously heard me and granted it yea and he not only deliuered me from the danger I was in but from all my feares also which I conceiued at it 5 They also that liued in former Ages our Fore-fathers whensoeuer they were distressed looked vp and cryed vnto him and were releeued by his mercy and lightned by his grace and their faces were not any whit ashamed because they did put their trust in him 6 This poore man euen my selfe cryed by their example in my distresse and the Lord plentifull in compassion gratiously heard him and caused and deliuered him immediately out of all his troubles and calamity 7 The good Angell of the Lord deputed by him for each mans protection encampeth and fortifieth round about them that with an vnfeined heart feare and serue him which Angell preserueth them in all their wayes and deliuereth them from all the machinations of the Deuill and his Angels 8 O taste ye therefore and see make experience and you shall soone finde that the Lord is good and louing to those that faithfully call vpon him and you will also confesse with me and say Blessed and happy is the man that layeth aside all confidence in himselfe and that in all his necessities trusteth in him and his protection 9 O feare reuerence and loue the Lord all ye that by truely beleeuing in him become his Saints and obserue his Commandements for take this as an infallible truth that There is no want to them they shall lacke nothing that is needfull for them that with an vpright heart feare and serue him 10 The young Lyons and mightie men of this world although they thinke themselues happy yet doe they lacke true peace of conscience and suffer hunger and want that which is truely good but they which with a pure heart and humble spirit seeke the Lord and desire to please him shall not want any good thing when the Lord in his Wisedome shall thinke it needfull for them 11 Come therefore O ye children that desire to be informed and with attentiue mindes hearken and giue good eare vnto me that am experienced in the mercies of the Lord and I will teach and instruct you in the feare of the Lord which is the beginning of wisedome 12 What man is he among the sonnes of men that desireth to liue a good life and loueth to spend many dayes so in this life that he may see and enioy good and happy dayes hereafter 13 Keepe first of all thy tongue from speaking euill let that member doe no man wrong and preserue thy lippes from speaking guile or that which is false though it be to thine owne preiudice for the Lord abhorreth lying lippes 14 Depart from euill auoid all things which thou knowest displeasing to God and yet thinke not that sufficient except thou also apply thy selfe to doe that which is good and acceptable to him Seeke peace betweene God and thy selfe thy selfe and thy conscience thy selfe and thy neighbour and if thou shalt finde that peace in any of these particulars shall fly from thee pursue it with all thy might that thou mayst recouer it 15 The prouident eyes of the Lord for thy comfort in taking this course are euer fixed vpon the righteous to preserue them from all euill and to confirme them in all good and his eares of compassion are alwayes open vnto their cry to deliuer them from all distresse 16 The face of displeasure and the angry countenance of the Lord on the contrary is set and bent against them that forsake good and doe euill without remorse of conscience to cut off and root out not only such wicked persons themselues but the very remembrance of them from the face of the earth that there shall remaine no memoriall of them 17 The righteous in their affliction crye and flie vnto God for succour and the Lord in mercy heareth their prayer yea and in his good time deliuereth them out of all their troubles either by aiding them with spirituall comfort that they faint not vnder them or by remouing their afflictions from them or them from their afflictions by taking them into Heauenly ioyes 18 The Lord who hath a continuall care ouer his elect is euer nigh vnto them in comfort that are of a broken and humble heart and alwaies saueth such and no other as are of a contrite and bruised Spirit that they fall not into desperation 19 Many in number and great in waight are the afflictions and troubles of the righteous for they that will liue godly in Christ must suffer persecution but the Lord of his infinite goodnesse forsaketh him not but deliuereth him in due time out of them all that they shall not bee able to doe him harme 20 He euen the Lord keepeth and preserueth all his bones which though the wicked goe about to breake yet notwithstanding all their attempts not so much as one of them is or shall bee broken by them and not only so but the haires of his head are numbred also 21 Euill on the other side shall slay the wicked and turne them to destruction and they whosoeuer they be that hate the righteous whom the Lord loueth shall be desolate and depriued of the comfort of Gods Holy Spirit 22 The Lord by his power and goodnesse redeemeth and saueth the Soule of euery one of his Seruants from all euill and none of them that put their trust and confidence in him and his mercy shall bee left desolate or without consolation Glory be to the Father c. 4 Psalme 103. 1 BLesseâ— and magnifie the Lord thy Creator O my soule for all his mercies and fauours extended to thee and all that is within me holy and pure giue praise vnto and blesse his holy and great Name 2 Blesse the Lord O my Soule I say againe as well for thy creation as for all his other great and glorious workes and at any hand take heed that thou be not ingratefull to him and forget not nor let slip out of thy remembrance all or any of his benefits not only in forming thee after his owne Image as in his continuall care and preseruing thee from many dangers 3 Who only by his power can and of his meere mercy and goodnesse forgiueth all thine iniquities pardoneth all thy sinnes as well actuall as originall how great so euer how many so euer as often as with a pure heart and humble spirit thou repentest thee of them Who like a good Phisitian
Seruants to whom in particular thou extendest thy mercy shall blesse and continually praise thee for the same 11 They especially shall not bee silent but speake of and declare vnto those that haue not knowne thy Name the Glory and Maiestie of thy Kingdome which is aboue all the kingdomes of the earth and shall wheresoeuer they come talke of and set forth thy mightie power which no potentate is able to resist 12 To make knowne and to make manifest thereby to the sonnes of men euen all the gratiousnesse to come his mightie and wonderfull acts which he hath done in our time and in the ages foregoing and also the glorious Maiestie and super-excellency of his Kingdome and power 13 Thy kingdome O Lord is not temporary or of short continuance but it is an euerlasting Kingdome was without beginning and neuer shall haue end and this thy dominion and rule endureth firme stable throughout all generations to the end of the world 14 The Lord in his mercy vpholdeth and lifteth vp all those that fall by frailty and weakenesse and raiseth vp by the grace of his holy Spirit all those that be deiected bowed and cast downe with the thought of their sinnes 15 The eyes of all creatures waite and are fixed vpon thee as vpon their carefull father for sustenance and helpe and they no sooner call vnto thee but thou of thy prouidence suppliest their wants and giuest them their meate and all things necessary for them not onely in due proportion but in due season and time also 16 Thou openest thy hand of bounty and satisfiest the insatiable desire of men which nothing but thy selfe can satisfie and of euery other liuing thing besides 17 The Lord is only righteous iust and vnreproueable in all his wayes and actions and it is hee only that is holy and pure in all his workes 18 The Lord is nigh and ready at hand vnto all them that in distresse call vpon him and seeke vnto him for helpe Yea to all without respect of persons that call vpon him in truth faith and vprightnesse of heart 19 He is so gratious that he will not only heare them but grant their petitions and fulfill and satisfie the desire and request of them that feare and serue him he also will heare their cry in time of affliction and will saue and deliuer them out of all their trouble 20 The Lord by his omnipotent power preserueth and keepeth all them that loue him sincerely and obey his Commandements but as for all the wicked and vnrepentant obstinate sinners those will he destroy from the face of the earth 21 My mouth shall as long as I haue any being speake of and declare the praise and Maiestie of the Lord most mightie and as I doe so Let all flesh people nations and kindreds from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe thereof blesse land and magnifie together with me his holy and great Name euen for euer and euer from this time forth for euermore Glory be to the father ' c. Imprecation THis part of Deuotion or of zeale as I may call it although it seeme harsh and not well to stand with the Charitie of a Christian yet in these Cases it hath beene and may be lawfully vsed 1 When the Church of God in any part of the World lyeth as it were at the stake and groaneth vnder the burden of Persecution and the enemies thereof are incorrigeable and not to be reconciled in this case not onely a priuate man in his Deuotions but the Church also in generall may vse these Imprecations to the end that the Church may by these kind of Prayers and Gods assistance recouer its former peace and quiet 2 When as a Christian man shall perceiue that his enemies ayme altogether against the Rules of Charitie at his vtter subuersion both in Body and Soule in this case also a man may without breach of Charitie vse these Imprecations And in either of these Cases if the children either of Gods or our owne enemies shall ioyne assist or persist maliciously in the steps of their Parents they are in our estimation to be accounted of no better nay not so well as the very Heathen who haue not knowne the name of God at all And to this end I haue onely giuen you a taste of some of the zealous wishes and earnest desires or Imprecations of some Holy men Prophets and Apostles which are set downe in sacred Scripture and left no doubt for our imitation in the seuerall Cases before named Imprecations against the enemies of God and his Church REspect not thou their offering Num. 16.15 The Lord shall trouble thee Ios 7.25 Destroy them Psal 5.10 let them fall by their owne counsels Breake the arme of the wicked Psal 10.15 Breake their teeth O God Psal 58.6 Let them be scattered Psal 68.1.2 Let them flee Driue them as Smoake melt them as waxe Powre out thy wrath vpon them Psal 79.6 Make them like a wheele Psal 83.13 and as the stubble before the winde Burne them as the fire burneth the wood Psal 83.14 Persecute them with thy tempest Psal 83.15 Fill their faces with shame Psal 83.16 Let them be confounded and troubled for euer Psal 83.17 Let them be as grasse on the house top Psal 129.6 Grant not their desires Psa 140.8 Let the mischiefe of their owne lips couer them Psa 140.9 Let burning coales fall vpon them Psa 140.10 Let them not be established vpon the earth Psa 140.11 Let euill hunt them If any man loue not the Lord Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 16.22 let him be Anathema Maranatha If any man preach any other Gospell Gal. 1.9 c. Let him be accursed I would they were euen cut off Gal. 5.12 Against the enemies of our Soules Let them be confounded and put to shame Psal 35.4 that seeke after my soule Let them be as chaffe before the winde Psal 35.5 Let the Angell of the Lord chase them Let their way be darke and slipery Psal 35.6 Let the Angell of the Lord persecute them Let Destruction come vpon them Psal 35.8 Let them be confounded and ashamed Psal 40.14 Let them bee driuen backward Let them be desolate Psal 40.15 Let death seize vpon them Psal 55.15 Let them go downe quicke to Hell Let them be couered with reproach and dishonour Psal 71.13 Set a wicked man ouer him Psal 109.6 Let Satan stand at his right hand Let his prayer become sinne Psal 109.7 Let his daies be few Psal 109.8 Let his children bee fatherlesse Psal 109.9 and his wife a widdow Let his children be vagabonds and beggers Psal 109.10 Let the extortioner catch all he hath Psal 109.11 Let there be none to extend mercy to him or his children Psal 109.12 Let his posteritie be cut of Psal