these withdrawments Grant that I may more estéeme obedience to thee then either the coÌ„tenting of mine own sensual affections or the auoyding of reproche amoÌ„g profane persons or the satisfying of men be their pretenses what they may be I am taught O Lord I do belieue it that thy yoke is easie that thy coÌ„mandements are not grieuous I know that by a holy vse in these religious seruices I shall make them so familiar vnto me shall also find that excéeding swéetnes in them that I shal euen long for thy Sabaoth before it comes the time will séeme short vnto me that is so bestowed And for this day most louing Father I pray thee blesse vnto me the particular businesses thereof In praying giue me reuereÌ„ce to thy Maiestie sense of my own waÌ„ts fayth in thy promises fresh remembrance of thy former kindnesses charitable compassionate yéelding affections towards others In hearing vouchsafe mee an vnlocked an vnderstaÌ„ding heart a right iudgement meekenes of spirit liuelines of affectioÌ„ fastnes of memory In coÌ„municating at thy table bestow on me an huÌ„bled soule a hungring heart a coÌ„science purged from dead workes power of sweet meditation vpon the death of Christ In looking vpon the administration of Baptisme afforde mee mindfulnesse of mine owne vowe remorse for my often fayling in that solemne promise earnestnesse of desire for the good of the baptized ioy for the encrease of thy Church In singing take froÌ„ me all both dulnes and vanity make me to sing with a grace in my heart still striuing to lift vp my soule vnto thee Enlarge my heart towards others as occasion shall be offered that I may bee ready to giue to those that want forward in euery good work comfortable to the sicke tender hearted to those whom thou hast humbled apt to make peace where discord is Let all workes of mercy bee a delight vnto me and make mee carefulll not to stay till I am prouoked but to séeke occasions to doe good And when I am priuate O Lord sanctifie my thoughts that I may meditate in good things and may hide thy worde in my secret parts and may loue it and especially that I may shewe the fruite of it in all my conuersation Finally I humbly pray thee so to guide me both in publique and priuate dutyes that when it commeth to euening I may féele my knowledge to be encreased my fayth strengthened my soule conscience abundantly refreshed and all this for Christ Iesus his sake for thine owne Names sake Amen 6. Another Prayer something more speciall respecting the hearing of Gods word ETernall God most gratious and mercifull in Iesus Christ euery good giuing euery perfect gift coÌ„meth down from thee thou hast coÌ„manded that if any man lacke wisedome hee should aske of thee thou hast promised to deny nothing that is asked of thee in thy Sons name In obedience vnto this thy commaundement in assurance of thy readines to make good thy promise I doe héere cast downe my selfe before thee praying thee as at all other times so now especially to be good vnto mee I am now O Lord by thy gratious prouidence to bee a partaker of thy holy word the preaching whereof is the ordinary meanes appointed by thee to saue my Soule to draw me out of the power of sathaÌ„ vnto thine own selfe I for my part am vnworthy of so great a fauour as to bee admitted to heare it and I am euery way vnfit vnable to heare it with profit My heart is ful of blindnes ignorance my affections are froward and vntractable I am euen reprobate by nature vnto euery good duty I am dul of hearing slow of coÌ„ceit backward to entertaine but apt to let slippe any good instruction I beseech thee in Iesus Christ by the working of thy spirit to reforme within mee these corruptions Make me as a new borne babe to desire the sincere milke of thy most sacred word graunt that I may reioyce at it as one that findeth a great spoyle let it bee better vnto me theÌ„ thousands of gold and siluer Open my heart as thou didst the heart of Lydia that I may euen with a kinde of hunger and gréedinesse attend vnto the things which are deliuered cleare the eyes of my mind anoint them with that pretious salue of thy spirit that the scales of ignorance may fall from them and that I may sée the wonders of thy Law euen thy hid wisedome which my nature of it selfe is not able to discerne And because thou hast promised to guide the humble in thy way and to reueale thy secret to the méeke take from mee I pray thee a proud heart teach mée to become a foole in my selfe that I may bee wise in thee Suffer me not to measure the mysteries of thy kingdome by mine owne blind reason and corrupt affection but giue me grace to deny my selfe and to labour to bring mine owne thoughts into captiuity vnder Christ that I may not dare to oppose mine owne conceipts and fancies vnto the maiestie of thy trueth reuealed in thy word Giue vnto the Preacher a doore of vtterance that he may open his mouth boldly to publish the secret of thy Gospel Direct his tongue that he may speak vnto my coÌ„science that if there bee any close corruptioÌ„ lurking in me as Lord who can vnderstaÌ„d his faults the searching power of thy word may discouer it and rip it vp euen to the very bottome And vouchsafe vnto me that meeknesse of spirit and such calme and yéelding affections that I may not repine nor murmure at reproofe but may loue him rather that rebuketh and may take it as a speciall fauour froÌ„ thee that I am not suffered to go on in sin nor giuen ouer to mine own corruptions In euery point of holy doctrine taught me make me to remember who it is the speaketh by the mouth of man that I may receiue the worde as a message from thee whether it be comfort or reproofe or instructioÌ„ so may giue it the reuereÌ„ce that awful respect which is due vnto thy holy Oracâ—â—s And because O Lord as I am naturally forgetfull so the deuill watcheth to catch away the worde as soone as it is deliuered therefore I pray thee to stablish my memorie that I may hold fast thy blessed trueth and may alwayes haue it in store against the time of néed To this end make mée carefull in the vse of all good priuate meanes such as are Prayer meditation conference with others as occasion shall require Beget in mée a godly discretion that I may diligently search the Scriptures whether the things I heare are so and may try all things neither rashly reiecting nor suddenly belieuing whatsoeuer is deliuered And when I haue found thy trueth so stablish my heart that I may not wauer nor be caryed about with euery wind of doctrine but may continue in the things which I haue learned
haue I these things but from thee The safety of this night the quiet rest wherwith I haue béene refreshed to whom can I ascribe it but onely vnto thee That I haue liued hitherto that I haue not béene swallowed vp with some suddaine iudgement that Sathan had not had his will vpon me that I know the way and the meanes vnto a better life that I am deliuered from the power of darknesse and translated into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne that I haue daily accesse into thy glorious presence whence are all these but from the freedome of thy grace If thou hadst giuen mée my desert I should haue perished long agoe it is from thy mercy alone that I am not consumed O Lord make mee ashamed of mine vnthankefulnesse wound my hart with the consideration of my owne dulnesse whom so many kindnesses haue not wrought vnto more obedience And vouchsafe I pray thee notwithstanding the smalnesse of my deseruing yet to looke graciously vpon this my morning sacrifice of prayse which I do here tender vnto thy Maiesty let not I beséech thée the scantnes and barrennes of my seruice make thee to turne away thine eyes and to haue no regarde vnto mine offering But as thou art wont to spare thy seruants euen as a man spareth his owne sonne that serueth him and in them to accept the will for the ful performance so be pleased to looke vpon mée in Iesus Christ and for his sake to remit my former vngratefulnesse and to strengthen me by thy grace for the time to come in some good measure to reforme the same And to the end O God that I may manifest the trueth of my desire to be thankefull I beséech thee to beget in me a holy care both this day and for euer to walke worthy of that calling wherevnto I am called to study to please thee with reuerence and with feare by a blamelesse pure and vnrebukeable conuersation to shine as a light amongst men I cannot I confesse doe this of my selfe I haue in mee the same corruption of nature which the most wicked hath I entreat thée therefore to worke in mee that which is pleasant in thy sight Giue me a cleane heart and a right spirit make mee to vnderstand aright the way of thy precepts direct me in the path of thy commandements knit my soule vnto thee and make it to cleaue vnto thy testimonies stay mee and stablish me that my foot-steps may not slide Crucifie my flesh with the affections and lustes mortifie my members which are on earth suppresse and subdue that law in my members which leades mee captiue vnto the law of sinne Graunt that I may sensibly féele the power of Christes death killing corruption in mee and the power of his resurrection raising mee vppe vnto newnesse of life Make mee to resolue to renounce euen my swéetest and best-pleasing sinnes and not to take libertie to my selfe to continue in any knowne vngodlinesse Let it bée inough that I haue hitherto giuen the raynes vnto mine owne lusts graunt that heereafter I may take no thought for the flesh to content it but may striue rather to curbe and to subdue it and to bring it vnder the yoke of due obedience And good Lorde encrease my fayth and better my féeling and apprehension of thy loue that I may with courage and chearefulnesse runne the race which is set before me Blesse mee also this day in the dutyes of my calling Idlenesse and godlinesse cannot agrée and it is thy will that in the sweate of my face I should eate my bread Preserue me from all fraudulent guilefull oppressing gréedy courses draw my affections from the loue of the world fixe my heart vpō the things which are aboue If things succéede according to my minde make mee thankefull to thée which hast giuen the blessing If any crosse come make mee patient and carefull to profit by euery chastizement And because the daily occasions of danger to my soule are infinite teach me to put on thy whole armor and to kéepe my heart with all diligence to furnish my selfe with holy meditations to make a couenant with mine eyes to kéepe my mouth with a bridle for the auoyding of all filthy communication to vse such words as may minister grace vnto the hearers to bée sober in diet wary in disports moderate in apparell choise in my company and euer to practise that cōtinuall feare which hath a promise of blessednesse Finally Lord so guide mee through the course of this whole day both in my priuate and more publique imployments that if I liue by thy sufferance vntill night I may haue much comfort in the taking notice of thy grace and goodnesse towards me and all this for Christ Iesus sake thy onely Sonne and my alone Sauiour Amen 4. An Euening Prayer for a priuate Person MOst mercifull God and gratious Father in Iesus Christ were it not that thou hast made a gratious promise in thy word that whatsoeuer is asked of thee in the name of thy Sonne shall bée bestowed I should not dare to presse into thy presence being guilty to my selfe of so many sinnes which I haue heaped vp in thy sight from the beginning of my dayes vntill this present I am by nature O Lorde the child of wrath a vassall of Sathan no better then a very firebrand of hell It is thy great mercy that I escaped the fury of thy wrath due vnto mée at the very instant of my birth in respect of that masse of corruptiō which I brought with mée from my my mothers wombe Neither haue I since I came to vnderstanding any whit amended or bettered my first estate but I haue added to it a numberlesse number of transgressions breaking euery of thy commandements by thought word and déede sinning in many things against knowledge against conscience and against that light which thou hast giuen me yea cleane against many vowes and promises of better obedience I haue no colour of excuse nothing haue I to plead in the defence of my many slips If I dispute with thée I must néedes lay my hand vpon my mouth and learne to abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes And Lord giue me I beséech thee a fleshy and melting heart that nothing may more affect mée or touch me more deepely then to sée my owne vilenesse and how disobedient and stubborne I haue béene towardes thee which hast euen heaped vpon mee so many fauours Make me ashamed of my barrennesse and vnfruitfulnesse in my profession who haue giuen thee iust cause to range mée among those hypocrites which make a shew of godlinesse but yet deny the power thereof Beget in me that godly sorow which causeth true repentāce neuer to be repented of that I may bee grieued in my very soule for my sins not so much because of the danger of hell that followeth as because I haue offended thee the loue of whose maiestie ought to bee a sufficient motiue to obedience And for the
furtherance of my humiliation sorow cause me O Lord to search to try my wayes to call my selfe to a straite account that I may sée my sins in particular the vanitie of my heart my extreame deadnes securitie my pride hautines of spirit my backwardnesse to all good seruices my worldly-mindednesse my ambitious rising and crauing thoughts my want of charity mercy to others my miscariage in my place calling my idle vnbeséeming speaches my offensiue scandalous behauiour thus O Lord make me carefull to rip vp my heart and life that so I may set my sins in order before me may thereby become the more humble the more forward to cast down my selfe before thee to iudge my selfe that I may not be iudged of thee Yet withall most gratious God make me able in the middest of all this to reach out the hand of faith to lay hold vpō Iesus Christ whō thou hast ordained to be the recōciliatiō for my sins I know O Lord the vertue of his blood that it can make my sins though they were as crimsm yet to become as white as snowe O then I beséech thee couer my filthy nakednesse with his glorious righteousnesse cloth me with the garments of his Saluatiō that so therby I may be holy and vnblameable without fault in thy sight Speake peace vnto my Conscience by thy holy Spirit Say vnto my soule I am thy Saluation My fayth O Lorde is but weake and poore strengthen it I beséech thée and bring it forward by thy mighty working vnto more perfection Thou hast promised not to quench the smoking flaxe nor to breake the bruised réede beare then I pray thee with my scantnesse and helpe my vnbeliefe perfite the worke of thy owne hands performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ My fayth is that I must liue by it is my victorie thou O Lord in mercy hast begun it cherish it I beséech thée together with all those graces which accompany saluation that they may bee in mee as a well of water springing vppe into euerlasting life And graunt that I may not be presumingly secure touching mine owne estate but may euer and anone bee proouing and examining my selfe whether I am in the fayth or no and that I may also study and striue to giue euidence of my fayth by shewing forth good works and by bringing foorth good fruite euen fruite worthy amendement of life I am compassed about with many weakenesses and as I haue found by the experience of this one day Sathan is full of malicious cunning to worke vpon all aduantages O Lorde strengthen mee to resist him giue mee holy wisedome to to discouer his sleights and grace to withstand his most sharpe assaults Arme mee also against the reproches and obloquies of the worlde I haue learned in thy word that if I serue thee in sinceritie my name shall bée put out as euill amongst men giue mée both care to cary my selfe out of the reach of iust exception and resolution also to sacrifice my credit estimation yea euen my life it selfe if néed be to thy glory Teach mee to learne of the author and finisher of my fayth to despise the shame and to endure the speaking against of sinners in respect of that eternall waight of ioy and glorie which is set before me And now Lorde with the bowing of my Soule I blesse thy name for this daies preseruation How many euils haue I escaped to which I was subiect by nature and to which I had made my selfe subiect through sin It is thou Lord onely which makest mee to dwell in safety Stretch out the wings of thy grace protectiō ouer me this night though sléepe seize vpon the eyes of my body yet let not securitie oppresse my soule kéepe mée from idle fancies from vaine dreames giue me a sober and sanctified vse of al outward refreshings that I may alwayes in all things ayme at this one thing namely how I may be the better fitted to serue thee faythfully in my place and calling and that for Christ Iesus his sake thy onely Sonne and through thy mercy my louing Sauiour Amen 5. A more particular Morning Prayer on the beginning of a Sabbath day MAnifold O Lorde are thy mercies thy goodnesse is infinite In euery particular which befalleth mee I haue aboundant experience of thy loue It is much most gratious God that I which haue so many wayes prouoked thee should bee let to liue to behold the light and comfort of the day But much more is it that hauing béene heretofore a profaner of thy holy day a barren and an hypocriticall professor of thy word a fruitlesse and an vnprofitable hearer I should yet enioy the blessed opportunitie of another Sabaoth How iustly mightst thou long since haue fatted vp my heart and giuen mee ouer vnto a reprobate mind taking from me the comfortable and happie freedome of going into thy house and of giuing attendance vpon the postes of thy doores O teach mee I pray theée to value thy mercy in this behalfe according to the true worth thereof Suffer me not slightly to entertaine either this or any other of thy fauours And as thou hast brought mee to the beginning of this holy rest so enable me I beséech thee to thee sanctifying it and to such a kind of spending the same as thou requirest Teach mee to remember that it is thine owne ordinance euen one of those vnchangeable lawes which thou wrotest with thine owne finger that this day should after a more speciall manner be diuerted deuoted to thy seruice that thou hast not therefore restrained outward imployments in our callings because idelenes pleaseth thee or because ease giuen vnto the flesh is a part of thy worship but that thou hast in thy infinite wisedome so appointed it that being fréed from all other encombrances we might wholy apply our selues eyther to the publique or priuate exercises of godlinesse Giue mee therefore grace I most humbly entreat thee that I may call thy Sabbaoth a delight to consecrate it as glorious vnto thee and that I may beware of doing mine owne waies or of séeking mine own will or of speaking vaine words and may euen bind my selfe to a serious and continued course of seruing thée in the practise of such dueties as belong to the hallowing of this day I know O Lord that herein I shall méet with many lets mine owne corrupt nature will repine thinke this a yoke and a burden that cannot be endured abroad in the world I shall sée many vaine fashions followed by great troupes making thy day a day of carnal pleasure I shall be derided and scorned if I refuse to doe as others doe I shal méet also with many cunning perswaders which will séeke by plausible reasons to draw mee from diligence and constancy in this course O Lorde I beséech thée euen with the bowing of my heart to make me strong against all
commend my selfe and my poore Prayers vnto thee in Christ Iesus thy beloued Sonne and my belieued sauiour Amen 11. A Prayer fitted to the losse of an especiall friend as a Father or Husband c. O Almightie Lord God whose glory is aboue the heauens and which hast thy dwelling on high but yet abasest thy selfe to behold the things in the earth be pleased euen for thy dearest Sonnes sake to cast down thy compassionate eye vpon my afflicted grieued case Comfort Lorde comfort I pray thee thy seruants soule suffer me not to be swallowed vp of discouragement Thou hast taken from mee the very staffe of mine estate one vpon whō in the ey of flesh blood al my cōfort did depend He is now gone the way of all flesh hath made his bed in the darke yet thou O Lord still liuest thou art alwayes the same thy yeares shal not fayle O rayse vp I beséech thée my languishing discouraged heart my drowping thoughts make mee to looke towards thee frō whom alone all comfort commeth Hast thou done this shall I controule it Is death thy messenger and shal I murmure at his comming Is my dearest friend whom I loued as mine own hart gathered vnto thee his appointed moneths being now expired shall I lament his happines Doest thou still hold me with thy hand euen cōpasse me about with thy gracious prouidence shall I distrust Is thy purpose and promise power to be my God the same yet that it was shall I be doubtfull as though I had made flesh mine arme or as if thou O alsufficient God wert tyed vnto outward meanes Must not I also ere it bee long make the graue my house lye down with others in the dust Is there not an assured hope that all the liue dye in the Lord Iesus shall bee ioyned together after death and at the last day bée caught vppe in the cloudes to méet the Iudge in the ayre and after that to bee euer with the Lord I most earnestly beséech the therefore O my most gratious God to moderate my passionate and vnrulely thoughts to bring my violent affections into a holy cōpasse Let me not be sorrowfull like those which haue no hope make me to reioyce on his behalfe whose pilgrimage is at end and whose Christian and holy cause doeth euen assure mee that thou hast receiued him into euerlasting habitations Teach me to haue a holy and prepared longing for the day of my dissolution And graunt me that grace and wisdome so to loue those whome both Nature and Religion bind me to respect that I may alwayes conforme and submit my affections to thy most wise and soueraigne disposings To bee without apprehension of such losses I know by thy word that it is impious to bée extreame without measure in passion is desperate Kéepe me I beséech thée in the meane that my sorrowes may bée tempered with comfort my heart may alwayes bee fixed surely vpon thee Afford mée both this and all other néedfull fauours in and for the merites of my alone Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen 12. A Prayer applyed to the state of a man inwardly perplext with the horror of sin with doubtings of Gods fauour with the tentations of sathan tending to despaire O Thou most pitifull God to those whō thou louest in Iesus Christ most tender Father neuer did there any poore chased Hart bray after the riuers of water so as my distressed and amazed Soule panteth after thee Oh that I had fayth to lay holde vpon that most swéet promise by which thou callest all that are weary and laden to come vnto thee Faine I would O Lord approche into thy gratious presence and happy séeme I to my selfe if I might taste though but as it were some crummes of thy rich mercy Mee thinketh that all thinges which I sée in the world and which the sonnes of men doe dote vpon so exceedingly are but dung and drosse in comparison of thy fauour Oh that I might be but one of the lowest of saints or as it were a seruitor or doore kéeper among thy holy ones Thus I sée thy mercy I admire it I prefer it in my choyse before the greatest treasure but whē I would apply it to my own particular case Oh what a world of discouragemēts do I méet with My sinnes doe take such holde vpon me that I am not able to looke vppe they are so many yea more in number then the hayres of my head that my heart doth euen fayle mee to consider them When I think how my Soule and Spirit is fraughted defiled euen with whole millions of profane hardened secure vicious worldly vnsanctified thoghts how many offers of grace I haue neglected how thy forbearance hath béene abused by mee how I haue béene a reproach and slaunder to thy Gospel how dead and lumpish and false-hearted I haue béene in thy seruice how barren in good workes and what little procéedings I haue made going rather backward then striuing vnto more perfection how I haue cōtented my selfe with shewes of godlinesse when I say I thinke vpon these and other my grosse and palpable enormities I cannot but vtterly condemne my self neither can I belieue that it is possible for so vile a wretch as I to bee admitted into thy fauour Sometimes I conceiue some litle hope and I séeme to my selfe to haue some taste of thy fauour and some kinde of assurance that I am deare vnto thée in thy Sonne but suddenly my comfort vanisheth my hope is ouerclouded with perplexed doubtings and I am well-neere swallowed vp with meere despaire Can any mortal man think I know the mind of God or if some holy person may be so farre graced as to vnderstand Gods purpose touching himselfe is it possible that so vile a creature as I shoulde come to such a high prerogatiue Can the Spirit of the Lord dwell in such a stinking and polluted soule as mine will hee vouchsafe to giue mee an assurance of Gods fauour Or if I might knowe nowe that I am in the state of grace what assuraunce can I haue that I shall so continue being beset with manie imperfections Thus O Lord mine owne thoughts oppresse mee and mine own soule doth plead the case against it selfe Neither is Sathan the auncient enemy of thine Elect wanting to adde affliction to my miserie Heeretofore his manner hath beene to incite and to prouoke mee vnto sinne by hyding and couering the vgly and most loathesome face thereof and to beare mee in hand that it was a verie easie thing to repent and that also thy fauour O Lorde might be procured by and by Now hee enlargeth my euils makes my sins to appeare before my conscience in most terrible and hideous shapes he telleth me that my hypocrisie is apparant that the guile of my heart is written in great letters and cannot bee denyed that it is now in vaine for mee to sue for grace
there being no hope of mercy left for such offendours that it is to no purpose for mee to pray for as I can not pray as I should otherwise then in hypocrisie so neither if I could pray aright can there bee any accesse vnto the throne of grace for the requests of such a trespasser Notwithstanding O most gracious God euen in despite of his suggestions and amidst all those discouragements which mine own heart mustereth against mee I doe héere aduenture my selfe into thy most glorious presence If I shall find fauour in thine eyes shew me the light of thy countenance and I shall bee safe If thou say I haue no delight in thee behold héere I am do to me as séemeth good in thine owne eyes I knowe what thou hast spoken in thy worde namely that if I draw néere vnto thee thou wilt drawe néere vnto mee and that thou wilt fulfill the desires and accept the vnexpresseable grones and sighings of thy seruants Trueth it is O Lord I dare not say that I draw néere vnto thee as I should or that my desires are such as they ought to be or that I groane vnder my sinnes with such an effectuall and pearcing féeling as is fit All that I am able to doe and that in much weakenesse is to cry fayntly vnto thee Oh draw mee and I will runne after thee make mee to desire thy mercy in sinceritie bruise my heart that it may yeeld out many vndissembled sighings after thee Yet O Lorde though there bee in mee but such poor beginnings of grace suffer me not I beséech thee to cast away my confidence I am well assured that thou hast not forgotten the promise of not breaking the bruised réede nor putting out the smoking flaxe and of giuing a blessing vnto those which hunger after righteousnesse Is it possible O Lorde that thou shouldest leaue off to bee gracious and shut vppe thy tender mercies in displeasure Didst not thou send thy sonne into the world to dye euen for chiefe sinners Is it not true that wheÌ„ sinne abounds there thy grace abouÌ„deth much more Could I euer so much as trulie desire reconciliation with thâ—e vnlesse thou didst worke it in me Is not this request Lord helpe my vnbeliefe the very voyce of thy spirit within me Could I complaine of the hardnesse of my heart or sincerely lothe mine owne corruptions as being displeasing to thy maiestie if thine owne finger had not effected it Should I féele such a combate in my Soule such a tumult within me if thou hadst not truely begun to draw mee to thy selfe Would sathan so continually molest me and so egerly pursue me with variety of most malicious and sharpe assaults if I were still held captiue by him at his will Rayse me vppe therefore O Lord I pray thee refresh my deiected and cast downe soule perfit the work of grace which thou hast begun within mee make mee to heare of ioy and gladnes that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce Thou hast set me as a marke vnto thy selfe thou hast written bitter things against mee and made mee to possesse my former iniquities thou hast hidden thy face from me and taken me for thine enemy coÌ„fort me now according to the dayes that thou hast afflicted me let mee behold thy face in righteousnesse and restore vnto me the ioy of thy saluation Rebuke sathan I most humbly beséech thee though thou please to buffet mee with his messengers yet let thy grace be sufficient for me and make thine owne power in reuiuing mee perfect and manifest by my weakenes which of it sell is ready to bee pressed downe with euery tentation Giue mee that holy wisedome not to belieue sathan no though he speake the trueth inasmuch as he is the father of lyes and neuer speaketh trueth but for a wicked purpose And O Lorde as thou encreasest my comfort so withall encrease my care that I may not fall from perplexitie to securitie but that I may alwayes keep my heart with all diligence proouing my fayth and searching my wayes and exercising my selfe vnto godlinesse Make mee a carefull and an vnderstanding hearer of thy word sith it is the word of life a quickening word a worde which doeth reioyce the heart and because except that be my delight I shall vtterly perish in mine afflictions Make mee circumspect to preuent sinne and fearefull ouer my selfe that sinne may not grow strong vpon me and graunt that I may study to preserue the peace of my conscience aboue all things taking héed of wounding it with presumptuous sinnes And O Lord stablish me with thy frée spirit that albeit sathan séeke to sift me to winnow me as wheat yet my faith may neuer fayle but may be as mouÌ„t ZioÌ„ which caÌ„not be remooued but remaineth for euermore Thus O my gracious God hauing through thy mercy peace in belieuing and ioy in thy holy spirit I shal finish my course in comfort which I pray thee graunt mee for his sake who is the Prince of peace euen Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holy Ghost bée all honour and glory now and for euer Amen 13. A Prayer then needfull when a man hath some speciall combate with some one or moe special sinnes against which hee desireth victory O Louing Father in Iesus Christ it hath pleased thee of thine abundant mercie to giue leaue to euery humbled distressed sinner to pour out his Soule before thee and thou hast bound thy selfe by a promise both to heare and to helpe all those which séeke thée with an vnfained heart The confident assuraÌ„ce hereof hath giueÌ„ me courage albeit most vnworthy to present my self here before thee to conceiue hope that thou wilt not send me empty away Wounded O Lord I am with mine owne hainous sins my vntamed flesh doth alwayes rebel lust against my spirit some good motions and purposes I sometimes haue but alas they are quickely quenched the law of my members so preuaileth that I cannot do the good which I would I haue in me I confesse the séed of euery sin my nature is apt to be wrought vnto any kind of euill But O God there are some principall corruptioÌ„s which do beare in me the greatest sway they do so euen raign in my mortal body that I am forced to obey them in the lusts therof The deuil also is ful of most malicious policie he still worketh vpoÌ„ all aduaÌ„tages out of al things almost taketh occasion to adde fuel to my wicked desires by pleasing delightful baites to lead them on vnto a hellish perfection The more I striue the stronger mee thinketh these corruptions grow which maketh me to feare the vtter quenching of thy gracrs the grieuing of thy holy spirit Hereby my Prayers are interrupted my meditations perplexed and robbed of their wonted swéetnesse my hearing and reading of thy word is made vnprofitable My fayth is encountred with grieuous doubtings because I cannot
Hereupon I thought with my selfe that as familiar Catechismes and plaine Treatises haue their vse being ioyned to the publique ministry to bring those which are yet but babes in Christ 1. Cor. 3.1 vnto knowledge so also some helpe in this kind might bee good to beget feeling and to be a guide to those which haue as yet but stammering and lisping tongues vntill they shall be able hauing tongues as fined siluer Pro. 10.20 plainly and distinctly to speake the lāguage of Canaan Isa 19.18 For this cause I gaue my booke no greater title thē A HELP to DEVOTION because I would not bee mistaken or thought to intend any thing els but onely to further their religious purpose who would faine learn to pray orderly and effectually vnto God And in this course I am sure that I am not without Examples Worthy Diuines haue in these latter times bestowed their paines this way M. Iohn Bradford M. Edw. Deering M. H. Smith M. R. Rogers pag. 421. of his 7. Treatises M. Brinsly in the second part of the True Watch and others whome I need not name I might mention others of other countreyes as M. Caluin in the end of his Cathechisme c. But the warrant of the Scripture is aboue all I will say nothing of those formes which wee finde appointed for publique vse in the Temple that which I endeauour to iustifie is the lawfulnesse of formes for priuate helpe I might tell thee of the words of Prayer which the Prophet bade the people to take vnto them and to say vnto the Lord Hos 14.3 of the forme which Habakkuk was wont to vse for the ignorances of the people Chap. 3.1 of the many Psalmes which are stiled Psalmes of instruction not onely because the matter was of vse to instruct Christians but also because the very mould it selfe might remaine as a helpe in Prayer for those who should at any time fall into the like occasion which the enditer of the particular Psalmes was exercised with These other things might I insist vpō But I finde a title giuen to one Psalme which shall be to mee in stead of many proofes Psal 102. It is this A Prayer of the afflicted when he shall bee in distresse and powre foorth his meditation before the Lord. Which Psalme thogh ayming perhaps at some more speciall afflictiō in which the seruants of God then were yet inasmuch as it is reported in the title to be for the general vse of an afflicted person as indeede it is excellent for such an occasion it seemeth to mee abundantly to satisfie all those who shall doubt of the conueniencie of such set directions Thus hauing acquainted thee with my whole intent and laboured least thou shouldest be forestalled by any mis-opinion to shew warrant for my doing I commend my endeauours to thee and thee to the Lord praying him to furnish thee with the spirit of supplication Zech. 12.10 that thou mayest bee so full of holy matter Iob 32.18 and so aboūding with gratious speach Col. 4.6 that thine ability to vtter thine owne feeling vnto God may bring much sweetnesse to thy Soule and no lesse comfort to others if thou bee at any time occasioned to speake in the name of others vnto his Maiestie Adding this withall that if thou ayme not at this grace but content thy selfe still to speake no other wordes but such as are put into thy mouth thou wrongest thy selfe greatly and all those who haue laboured to bring thee vnto more perfection Farewell Thine in the Lord Sam. Hieron A short Aduertisment touching Preparation before Praier In which is shewed 1. The necessitie of it 2. The manner of it THe necessitie of Preparation may appeare manie waies 1 By our sauiours platform in which the Petitions are not set downe abruptlie but a solemne preface is prefixed like a faire porch to a beautifull house to teach vs to frame our affections and set them in due order before we draw neere to speak vnto the Lord. 2 By expresse commandement Bee not rash with thy mouth nor let thine heart be hastie to vtter a thing before God Eccles 5.1 It is a dangerous thing to babble out vndigested vnaduised words in his eares 3 By example O GOD sayth Dauid mine heart is prepared so is my tongue c. Psal 108.1 It was the difference betwixt him and hypocrites that he washed his hands in innocencie before he would compasse the Altar Psal 26.6 4 By due proportion from outward things If a man goe before a Prince or man of authority he will thinke vpon his cariage he will set his tale in order and meditate what to say how much more then should we prepare when we come to speake to God who is higher then the Kinges of the Earth 2 The manner of Preparation stands in Praying Meditating 1 PRaying Meruaile not that I make Praying a preparatiue to praier A little eating prepareth a weake stomacke and setteth an edge vppon the appetite to eate more so in prayer Therefore Dauid before prayer praied Let my prayer be directed in thy sight as incense c. Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lips Ps 141.2.3 A lifting vp of the soule to heauen with a desire of direction is a good preparatiue 2 Meditating vpon three things 1 GODS maiestie 2 GODS promises 3 Our owne vilenes The reason is this There are 3 thinges chiefelie requisite in prayer which are helped by this threefold meditation 1 Humilitie and lowlines of spirit begotten by the due consideration of Gods Maiestie 2 Confidence and assurance to be heard bredde by the knowledge of Gods promises 3 Feruencie of affection springing from the apprehension of our owne vileness That the maiestie of God must bee thought vpon is proued Eccles 5.1 Hee that speaks to God is bidden to remēber that God is in heauen That the promises must be muzed vppon appeares 2. Sam. 7.27 Thou hast reueiled vnto thy seruant c. Therefore hath thy seruant beene bold to pray c. Genesis 32.11.12 I pray thee deliuer me c. for thou sayedst I will surelie dooe thee good What courage can we haue to goe to the throne of grace without the warrant of promise That our owne vilenesse must bee remembred it is euident Gen. 32.10 I am lesse then the least of thy mercies Ezra 9.6 O my God I am ashamed and confounded to lift vp mine eyes c. for our iniquities are increased c. Thus then prepare thy self to pray Exercise thy thoughts before hand vpon these three things 1 what a presence full of maiestie thou must come into 2 what sweete promises he hath made to encourage thee 3 what neede thou hast to fly to his mercie This will furnish thee with humilitie tempered with cheerefulnes both whetted on quickened by the feeling of thy owne necessitie To helpe thy meditations of Gods maiesty remember Psal 104.1 O Lord my God thou art exceeding great thou art clothed
with glorie and honor c. 1. Tim. 6.16 who only hath immortality and dwelleth in a light that none can attaine to c. and such like places To supply thee with words of promise consider Psa 50.15 Call vpon me c. so wil I deliuer thee c. Is 65.24 yea before they call I will answer and whiles they speake I will heare Iohn 14.13 Whatsoeuer you aske in my name that will I do and many such testimonies To bring thee to see thy own vilenesse ponder Iob 5.14 Man drinks iniquitie like water cha 25.4 Hee cannot bee cleane that is borne of a woman Psalme 51.5 I was borne in Iniquitie c. Romanes 7.18 I knowe that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing Gather account of thy particular sinnes as Iob did Chapter 9.3 View thy selfe often in the glass of the Law 1. A Morning Prayer for priuate Families MOst gratious GOD and louing FATHER in all humilitie of soule and vnfained acknowledgement of our bounden duty we present our selues heere before thy throne of maiestie and glory desiring in some measure to shew our thankfulnesse for the multitude of thy mercies heaped vpon vs thy most vnworthy seruants By thee at the first we were fearefully and wonderfully made thou coueredst vs in our mothers wombes thou gauest vs the shape of men women when it was free for thee to haue equalled vs vs vnto thy basest creatures since it hath pleased thée to preserue vs to watch ouer vs and to guard vs by thy prouidence to open thy hand and to replenish vs with good things to giue vs foode and rayment health libertie peace O Lord thy compassions faile not but they are renued euerie morning euen in this night past we haue receiued an apparant euidence of thy loue For whereas for the sinnes committed the day before thou mightest euen in the deade of sleepe haue taken our soules from vs and so suddenly haue brought vs to our account it hath been thy pleasure yet to spare vs and not onlie so but to refresh vs with quiet rest and to bring vs in safetie to the beginning of this day Grant O Lord wee pray thee that the ordinarie vse of these thy kindnesses may not make vs the lesse to esteem them but so affect our hearts with the apprehension of them that we may learne to admire thy mercy which dealest so gratiously with such vnthankfull persons as wee haue alwayes béene and may euen bind our selues to striue to shew all obedience duty to thee which dost so enlarge thy goodnes vnto vs. But chiefelie O Lord raise vp we beseech thee our hearts and our affections from these outward fauours the least of which notwithstanding is greater then the best of our deseruings and drawe vs to the serious consideration of those blessings which doe more directlie concerne a better life Make vs thankefully mindfull of the grace of election by which thou fréely chosest vs in Christ to be vessels of mercie before we were of thy sending thy sonne out of thine owne bosome being in thine owne forme to take on him the forme of a seruant and to become obedient vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse for our sakes of thy calling vs out of the kingdome of darknes by the power of the gospel preached of thy shining into our hearts by the enlightening of thy spirit of quickening vs when we were dead in trespasses and sinnes of thy begetting vs againe vnto a liuelie hope of the first fruites of the spirit and of that earnest of our inheritance which thou hast giuen vs of the dailie free vse and libertie of thy worde whereby that great mysterie of godlines yea euen thy whole counsell is cléerelie reuealed to vs. O Lord teach vs to consider what miserable creatures wee were in our selues what a fearefull case we had yet beene in if thou hadst left vs to our selues that so the veiw of these vnspeakable and vndeserued fauours may euen rauish our spirits and so possesse our hearts that we may constantly resolue henceforth to giue vppe our selues as a liuing sacrifice holie and acceptable vnto thee and to deuote all our powers both of soule and body to the glorie and honor of thy name And Lord enable vs hereunto we pray thée for we are not suffcient of our selues to thinke anie thing as of our selues we are naturally reprobate to euerie good worke Open therefore the eies of our mind that we may see what is good and what thou requirest of vs teach vs to make thy word our delight counsellor that by it we may be informed in thy paths put thy spirit within vs and cause vs to walke in thy statutes let our eares continually hear a word behind vs saying This is the way giue vs hearts of flesh yéelding pliable affections subdue the crookednes of our nature and bring it vnder the obedience of Christ And when thou hast entred vs into a good course vphold vs therein by thy alsufficient grace stablish vs in euerie worde and good worke fill vs with the fruites of righteousnesse let vs not be idle nor vnfruitfull-in our profession but graunt that wee may bee euen rich in good workes and so may adorne the doctrine of thée our Sauiour in all thinges making the aduersaries of thy truth ashamed when they shall haue nothing concerning vs to speake euill of And shield vs O Lord we earnestlie intreate thee against the malice and rage and fury of the diuel giue vs wisedome to discerne his policies and courage to resist euen his most fiery assaults make vs wise against the beguiling entisements of this sinfull world let vs not be caried awaie with the streame of these corrupt times harden our faces against the reproches enmities of euill men suffer vs not to bee wearyed nor to faint in our minds for any tribulations sanctifie vnto vs euerie affliction that it maie bee a meanes to purge out our corruptions Draw our mindes from the loue of this present world teach vs to vse it as if wee vsed it not graunt that wee may euer remember that wee haue heere no continuing citty that so we may séeke for that kingdome that cannot be shaken but is eternall in the heauens Cause vs to depend vpon thy prouidence and to cast our care and burden vpon thee assuring our selues that thou which hast giuen vs Christ canst not but with him giue vs all thinges also And Lord if at any time we fall by occasion into a fault as who are we that we should presume put vnder thy hand we beséech thée deliuer vs out of the mire that we sinke not let not sinne swallow vs vppe let it not grow strong vpon vs least wee perish Enable vs vnto diligence and faithfulnes in our seuerall callings teach vs to lift vppe our heartes to thee for a blessing vpon our indeuours and to remember that we are alwayes in thy presence that so we may studie to walke
with thee and to approue our very thoughts vnto thee Giue vs a sober vse of thy creatures make vs readie to reach out our hands vnto the wants of others beget in vs a godlie iealousie ouer our selues that we may walke circumspectly taking heede to our selues in our eatings in our apparell in our companie in our recreations often considering our wayes and labouring quicklie after euerie error to turne our féete into thy testimonies And Lord cause vs to be earnestlie mindfull of the estate of thy whole Church blesse all kingdomes and states professing thy truth bee gratious especiallie to this our kingdome forgiue the crying sins of the times continue thy gospel disappoint the hope and expectation of all Papists let them perish as manie as haue euill will at Sion discouer Antichrist more and more enlarge the territories of thy church stablish thy kingdome of grace hasten the kingdome of glorie Heape thy blessings vppon our gratious King make him a further instrument of much good vnto thy chosen blesse his Quéen prosper the worke of thine owne handes begun in the young Prince shew mercy to the rest of the royall progenie Be gracious to the Councell to the Court the Nobles the Gentry of the Realme graunt that they may all ayme at the honouring of thee by whom they haue receiued honor amongst men Bee with the Magistracy Ministrie of the Realme make thy word to grow by the labours of those whome thou hast appointed to the seruice of thy church Containe the subiects in their due obedience to authority bring to nought all tumultuous rebellious practises comfort al thine afflicted seruants refresh them with a sweete feeling of thy fauour Giue vs compassionate harts and a fellow feeling of others miseries prepare vs vnto the daie of triall and keepe vs by thy mightie power through faith vnto saluation Graunt vs these good thinges for Christs sake in whose name wee commend our selues and our sutes vnto thee saying as he hath taught vs Our Father c. 2. An Euening Prayer for priuate Families O Lord our GOD most mercifull and gratious in Iesus christ among other thy mercies with which thou doest euen follow vs thy most vnthankfull seruants we acknowledge this to be none of the least that we haue this comfortable freedom of comming into thy presence there to poure out our soules before thee and to laie open our necessities vnto thee We praie thee teach vs to value this priuiledge according to the true worth thereof that wee may come together to the performance of this duty with glad hearts and cheerefull spirits reioycing in it that wee haue opportunitie giuen vs to testifie some part of that great dutie which in manie respects wee owe vnto thy maiestie And now Lorde being come before thee wee cannot but confesse the vilenesse of our estate wee were conceiued in sinne and in sin wee haue continued all our dayes wee haue euen drunke iniquitie like water wee haue drawne it after vs and tyed it vnto vs as with cartropes wickednesse hath beene swéet in our mouth we haue fauoured it and would not forsake it we haue euen made a mocke of sinne and it hath beene a pastime to vs to doe wickedly Thou hast often called vs but we haue still refused thou hast againe and againe stretched out thine hand but wee haue not regarded thou hast sought to reclayme vs but wee haue hardned our neckes as it were yron sinewes and haue hated to be reformed Thou hast waited to haue mercie vppon vs thy spirit hath striuen with vs thy verie bowels haue beene troubled for vs and how graciouslie hast thou called vpon vs by thy word saying Returne yee sonnes of Adam why will ye die Come vnto me and ye shall finde rest for your soules Yet we notwithstanding haue despised thy patience wee haue abused thy goodnes we haue turned thy graces into wantonnesse and haue giuen thee cause to heape vppon vs all those fearefull plagues and punishmentes which in the extreamitie of thy law are belonging to the wicked When we looke into our hearts we see nothing but a confused heape of grosse corruptions vanitie ignorance frowardnes vnteachablenes dulnes vnwillingnes and vnaptnes vnto good pronenesse readines to any manner of euill secure irreligious profane vncleane enuious couetous and gréedy thoughts peruerse and disordred affections all these as it were marching together to rebell against thee and leading vs captiue vnto sinne The verie wisedome of our flesh is death and the spirits of our minds are defiled when we look forth into our liues wee behold sinnes more in number then the haires of our head when wee take view of our selues in the glasse of thy Law we can see in our bodies and soules in our outward and inward man nothing but vglines and deformitie Yea the sinnes of this one daie are sufficient to bring downe vppon vs the eternall weight of thy displeasur How negligent haue we béen in our callings how haue we yeelded to our own vnbridled lusts in the vse of thy creatures how haue we cherished in our selues worldlie carnall and voluptuous thoughts howe many blessings haue we vnthankefully enioyed neuer thinking vpon thee which didst bestow them how haue wee misspent this pretious time which thou vouchsafest vs how manie good opportunities haue we let slip by which wee might haue edified our selues done good to others howe negligentlie haue wee kept our heartes by meanes whereof sathan hath got great vantage against vs how slenderlie haue wee bewailed the iniquities of the times howe poorelie haue wee striuen against our owne corruptions O LORD if thou shouldest straightlie marke our iniquities O Lord how shall wee stand where shall we appeare what shal become of vs what answere shall wee bee able to make thée to one of a thousand And yet most gratious God which is worst of all custome in euill hath bred such a hardnesse in vs and hath brought such a crust vpon our consciences that wee cannot be perswaded that thy wrath is so terrible or our sinne so greeuous or our estate so wofull as indeede it is Hence it commeth that we do not stand in such awe of thy maiestie as we should we doe not so tremble at thy iustice nor esteeme thy promises and mercies as we ought to doe wee beseech thée therefore to take the stony hearts out of our bodies and to put newe spirites into our bowels that wee maie with feeling and with a liuelie and sensible apprehension confesse our selues to bee as we are poore and wretched and miserable and blind naked such as in whom there is no goodnes such as to whom there is nothing due but shame and confusion of face for euer And héere Lord according to that measure of spirituall féeling which by thy grace wee haue attayned to wée doe vtterlie renounce our selues wee doe whollie disclaime all hope of help by our selues we account all that is in vs but as drosse and dung and
labouring daily to bee led forward vnto more perfection And séeing hearing and knowing without practise doe but encrease vnto more condemnation therefore O Lord do thou so water that which I heare with thy heauēly deaw that it may bring foorth much fruit in my life that I maybe a credite to my profession and no disgrace nor slander to thy trueth Grant all these things for thy deare Sons sake Iesus Christ to whom with thee thy blessed Spirit I desire to ascribe all honour and glory now and for euer Amen 7. Another of the like nature respecting the Sacrament of the Lordes Supper I Am taught O Lorde that without thee I can doe nothing and that all mine endeauours are in vaine without thy blessing In due regard whereof I am become an humble suter vnto thy maiestie that thou wouldest bée pleased to prosper and to direct my present purpose of communicating at thy table It is thy will that I should often come vnto this holy banquet for the strengthening my fayth for the preseruation of the memory of Christes death O Lord strike my heart with reuerence vnto it as vnto thy ordinance and as to a feast to which thou hast tyed thy more especiall presence that I may not dare to presse in before thee vnprepared Before I come teach me to grow into a very strict examinatiō of mine own Soule that I may sée how I haue liued in what measure I am furnished for so waighty a seruice And because I know that the more I looke into my selfe the more I shall sée mine owne nakednesse and deformity therefore I pray thee to supply mee from thy infinite fulnesse Giue mee a through vnderstanding of the miserie of my estate who am by nature a childe of wrath as well as others Make me to sée the hainousnesse of those innumerable euils and grosse sinnes which I haue multiplyed before thee from time to time nay which I haue runne into since my last presenting my selfe before thee at thy board when I promised better obedience O cause my stony heart to bléede within mee when I thinke vpon mine owne scantnesse in good dutyes and vpon my delight and forwardnesse to transgresse Make me to be ashamed and euen confounded in my self for those many enormities which frō my corrupt and vnreformed heart doe continually breake foorth into my outward man euery member being a very weapon of vnrighteousnesse to doe seruice vnto sathan Thus O Lord shall thy mercyes in Christ be swéet vnto me I shall come with an hungring and thirsting soule vnto thy table And I pray thee to encrease in mée that gift of fayth that I may both come to this thine ordinance with a desire to enlarge it and may also féele it to receiue strength and growth of assurance of mine owne personall and particular interest into the death of Christ Remooue farre from mee all swelling disdainefull and vncharitable affections O Lorde this is a feast of loue and to it a malicious and a reuengeful heart can be no welcome guest And when I haue presented my selfe at thy table I beséech thee to restraine my idle and gadding thoughts drawe them to the earnest serious meditation of that which is the life of the Sacrament the death of my Sauiour Rauish my Soule with the admiratiō of his loue that should giue himselfe to dy for me a most vile vnworthy and sinfull creature Stirre mee vppe euen to vowe and consecrate my selfe for euer vnto him that hath vouchsafed himselfe to bée a sacrifice for mée And after I haue receiued these pledges of thy loue and seales of thy fauour in thy dearest Sonne O make me truely thankefull to thy maiestie and carefull both at the present and euer after to shew foorth the fruits of thankfulnesse in an holy and religious conuersation to thy glorie the good of others and mine owne eternall comfort in Iesus Christ my Sauiour Amen 8. Presently after Receiuing before the Thankesgiuing by the whole Congregation a man may secretly lift vp his soule on this fashion AFfect my heart O Lorde with this euidence of thy loue teach me in it to sée the riches of thy grace who art pleased for my weakenes sake by such familiar meanes to figure out before me and to seale vp vnto my soule a treasure of that infinite worth as is thy fauour in Iesus Christ O that I may as sensibly féele his death to be swéet vnto my Soule as I do these creatures of bread and wine to afford a pleasing taste and refreshing to my body O Lord euermore giue mee such a féeling And now O heauenly Father suffer mee not to depart hence forgetfull of thy kindnesse but graunt that I may now at this instant euen couenant with mine own soule to walke in a better course of holy obedience then heretofore respecting all thy commandements and endeauouring alwayes to haue a cleare conscience before thee before all men that so glorifying thee in this life I may be glorified with thee in thy kingdom through Iesus Christ Amen 9. A Prayer for the afflicted in what kind soeuer O Gratious God how happy am I who haue such a strōg tower as thy great name to run vnto especially now in this sad heauy day of tribulation I sée O Lord by continuall experience that the help of man is vaine and that all earthly cōtentments notwithstanding the flattering shewe they make yet are but as a staffe of réede vpon which if a man leane it will runne into his hand and pearce it If I turne mee to my auncient louers and friendes it may bee they will stand aside from my plague mine olde acquaintance wil hide themselues and I shal be euen as a stranger in the sight of my familiars If I séeke to my neighbours alas what refreshing shall I finde Trueth it is O God thou hast so ordayned that he which is in misery should be cōforted by his neighbor but men haue forsaken the feare of the Almightie so that hee which is ready to fall is as a despised lampe and few are apt to wéepe with him that is in trouble Besides the greatest part are so ouercome with grosse ignorāce that they are miserable cōforters physiciās of no value not able to minister a worde in time to him that is weary Whither then or to whom shall I goe but vnto thee O most gratious tender Father Thou art a pitifull God thy compassions are great thou art the Father of mercies the God of all comfort thou makest the wound and bindest it vp thou smitest thy hands doe make whole thou hast commaunded to call vpō thee in the day of trouble and thou art a helpe ready to be found To thee therefore do I lift vp my soule Encline thine eare O Lord and heare open thine eyes O Lord and sée look mercifully vpon thine afflicted seruant the dayes of sorow are come vpon me euen changes armies
of miseries are against me If my griefe were waighed it would bee heauier then the sand of the sea I am broken with one breaking vpon another Make me I pray thee to consider seriously that it is eueÌ„ thou which hast done all this that these things come not by chaunce but by thy prouidence and certaine appointment that so I may be dumme and not open my mouth to murmure or repine Open mine eyes that I may sée mine owne deseruings and what cause I haue giuen thee euen to crush me to pieces with thy heauy iudgements yea to cause the pit of thy eternall vengeance to shut her mouth vpon me What cause haue I left vnto mee to complaine when I am lesse then thy smallest mercy and my sins greater then the greatest sorrow thou hast layd vpoÌ„ me It is thy loue O Lorde from whence this proceedeth In this course thou doest offer thy self vnto me as to a sonne thou knowest my corruptioÌ„s the rebellion of my heart the crookednesse vnreformednes of my nature thou séest before some great euill that I am like to fall into if I bee left vnto mine owne course thou findest me to be forgetfull of my duety to thee cold in Prayer backward and lumpish in holy seruices well-néere lulled asléepe in the common security of the times It is thy wisedome to rouse me vp to put thy hooke of affliction into my nostrils to bring mee backe into that good way from which I am falling I knowe thou doest therfore chasten me that I may not be condemned with the world O teach me I pray thee to learne to iudge my selfe to search to try my wayes to pry into my course by-past that I may finde out those euils which beare in mée the greatest sway and may in some measure vnderstande what it is which thou aymest at in afflicting mee And enable mee withall to reforme mine errors to recouer my wandring to get a happie victorie ouer my rebellious flesh that I may be able to say hereafter It is good for mee that I was in trouble blessed be the time that the Lorde afflicted me and how sweet is the quiet fruite of righteousnesse which springeth foorth from the bitter roote of tribulation In the meane space O Lord vntill it shall please thée to put an ende to my present grieuaunces teach me not to make haste or to séeke by vile and vnwarrantable courses to wind my self out of thy hands but graunt that I may tarry thy leasure with patience not daring to prescribe vnto thee what to doe And when this storme is ouer and the sorrowe past O kéepe me from securitie make me to remember the vowes and promises of obedience which I now make vnto â—hee prepare mee to a fresh triall that my care may be to bée prouided for whatsoeuer thy pleasure shall bee to lay vpon me Heare mee in this and in all other my suites for his sake in whom thou art best pleased euen Iesus Christ the righteous Amen 13. A Prayer in respect of some losse receiued as of honour or goods c. O Eternall God the God of prouidence the orderer and the disposer of all things both in heauen and in earth Be ready I beséech thee to heare the Praier of thy distressed seruaunt Helpe my weakenes I entreat thée and quicken mee to the performance of this duety of calling vpon thy Name I am eueÌ„ ashamed of my self to sée mine owne faintnes how soone I am cast downe vpon euery occasion O rayse me vp I pray thee and make me to lift my heart towards thee according to whose good pleasure all things come to passe Is it not thou O Lord which hast laid these things vpon me art not thou he who both giuest takest at thy will art not thou the iudge which makest low which makest high shall I murmure against thee which hast such an absolute vncontroulable soueraingty ouer al shal I receiue good at thy hand and not euill O kéepe downe my repining mutinous and discontented thoughts allay the height and hautinesse of my spirit teach me how to be abased to haue want make mée to sée the vanitie of that which I was wont euen to admire and to set my heart vpon Let this abridgement be a schoole master vnto mee that I may learne by it to draw mine affections from these fading and transitorie commodities O Lord what is honour Is it not a blast or as smoke which quickely vanisheth What is wealth Is it not lighter then vanitie it selfe doth it not take her to her wings as an Eagle and flye into the heauen O knit my heart henceforth vnto thee O blessed Father fasten my affections on the things which are aboue where Christ sitteth at thy right hand make mée to lay vp treasure in heauen to seeke after that kingdome of thine which cannot be shaken frame my heart to the choyce of the better part of which I can neuer bee depriued Let mee affect the true honour which standes in the faythfull seruice of my sauior Let me labor for that enduring and durable riches which consistes in the knowledge of thee and in the féeling of thy gratious sauour Suffer me not I pray thee so to limit thy power as to thinke that thou art not now able to supply mée sith the meanes which I was wont to enioy is taken from mée but make mee faythfully to consider that thy hand is not shortened but that thou hast inough in store for those that loue thee Thou art able to giue me a great deale more after thou hast exercised mée awhile to blesse my last dayes with more abundance then the first thou canst make the little meale in the barrell not to waste and the small quantitie of oyle not to diminish thou canst cause a small thing to bée better vnto mee then great riches to the mightie and a dinner of greene hearbes to bée more sauory to me then a stalled Oxe to them O therefore I beséech thee restrayne my desires make me willinglie to submit my selfe to thy wisedom Let thy prouidence promise bee my store-house and the stocke that I rely vnto let this satisfy mée that though I lose all that I haue yet inasmuch as thou hast once loued mée in Christ I shall neuer lose thy fauour And let not the beholding of my children family disharten mee or make mee to cast perils and to say Wherewith shall I feed them How shall I clothe them O Lord they are better then many sparrowes and dearer vnto thee then the lylies of the fielde thy promise of mercy is entayled to my posterity O let my faith rest vpon this foundation Prepare me I pray thee to further trials make mée ready by degrées to lose euen my life it selfe if it may be for thy glory And thus O Lord desiring to reckoÌ„ euen this crosse though my vnreformed nature doeth gainesay it among thy chiefest fauours I
to shine euen vpon chiefe sinners vouchsafe to cast thy cōpassionate ey vpon thine afflicted creature whō thou hast laid vpon his bed of sicknes Iust O Lord it is with thee thus to chasten me nay if thou shouldest crush my body into many pieces and suddenly plunge mee into hell it were no more then my due desert What a stayned sinner am I by nature stript of al goodnes and easie to be wrought vnto any euen the vilest euill What a world of trespasses haue béene since committed by mee notwithstanding the greatnes of thy patience and the varietie of good meanes which thou hast vsed both to informe and to guide me vnto godlinesse I will not therefore O Lorde I dare not I cannot plead against thée It is my duety rather to magnifie thy mercy who art pleased so mildly so fatherly to correct me it being free to thy iustice to cut me off as an eare of Corne and to giue mée ouer to the prince of darknesse to leaue me for euer to that woefull kingdome of eternall miserie Vnworthy I am I most willingly confesse because of my former slackenes and coldnes in this duety of calling vpon thy Name to haue any small accesse into thy presence Yet seeing thou art wont euer more to respect the trueth of thine owne promise then the desert of those which pray vnto thee therefore I beseech thee which art pleased to call thy selfe The hearer of Prayers to hearken vnto the hearty and vnfained desire of my soule Sanctifie vnto mee O Lord this present sicknesse let it bee as thy schoole in which I may truely learne to know my selfe more effectually then heretofore Make me to consider seriously that al paine and griefe is but the fruite of sinne and that as all sicknesse naturally makes way for death so death in it self is the fore-runner of eternall condemnation Blesse this thought and this meditation so vnto mee that I may make it my first care now in this visitation to séeke peace and assurance of reconcilement with thy Maiestie To this ende giue mee a deepe touch and a sensible vnderstanding of my sinnes by past take from mee all guile of spirit all disposition to flatter or to sooth vppe my selfe or to lessen eyther the number or qualitie of mine iniquities Cause mee euen to breake and plough vppe my heart to search and to try my wayes that so out of the abundance of my féeling I may powre out a most plentifull and sincere confession before thee Let mee remember it to bée in vaine to séeke to hide that from thée which thou before whom all things are naked and open doest know more fully and more directly then my selfe and that the discouery and laying open of my sins is the next way to finde thy mercy in forgiuing them Adde withall that strength vnto my scant and smoking fayth that I may amidde the sight of mine owne transgressions lay holde vpon the merite and fulnes of my Sauior Make me hartily to disclaime all hope of help by my selfe or any other creature in Heauen or Earth whomsoeuer and to cast all my burthen vpon him who by himselfe hath purged sinne and whose death is an absolute and an alsufficient sacrifice for the guilt of all belieuers Oh that I may féele my selfe knit and vnited vnto him so shall I in and by him be presented blameles to thy Maiestie And because O Lord I am full of imperfections and there is in my nature much weaknes and a great deale of frowardnes and readines to repine and rebell against thy ordinance therefore furnish mee with necessary graces with all such giftes as thou knowest to be fitte for my present case Endue mée with patience to beare whatsoeuer it shall bee thy pleasure to lay vpon me and méekly to submit my selfe to thy most wise appointments Assure mee that thou which knowest whereof I am made and that I am but dust wilt not oppresse me with more then thou shalt giue me strength power to endure Let mee not desire life otherwise then for the further aduancement of thy glory Subdue in me all loue liking of this present world grant that the hope of the glorie which shal be shewed hereafter may be so strong within me that all things may seeme vile vnto mee in comparison thereof Make me comfortably capable of the aduise and counsell of my Christian friends which in their loue shall goe about to refresh my Soule Make mee able also to speake profitably and for good to those that belong vnto mee Put vpon mée and in mee charitable affections and thoughts to and concerning others being ready to satisfie where I haue fayled and to remit euen where I haue receiued the greatest wrong Prepare mee to my last conflict and strengthen me against sathans assaults that in despite of his malice yet I may still holde mee fast by thee and resolue though thou slay me yet to trust vpon thee And because such is thy great goodnesse to vs thy poore creatures sickenesse doth not alwayes exercise his full strength vpō our bodies therefore giue me I beséech thee that wisedome to make vse of euery breathing and of euery little time of ease which thou doest afforde mee that in it I may gather strength against the times of greater anguish Bring still into my minde those things which I haue frō time to time learned by thy word that thereby I may bée quickned and find comfort in my greatest neede And alwayes O Lorde as the time of departure shall approache so let my soule draw neerer vnto thee my heart powerfully crying when sicknesse shall take away the vse of my tongue Into thy hands I commend my Spirit Come Lord Iesu come quickly And when death hath parted my Soule from my body let thy Angels which do alwayes by thy appointment pitch their tents about thy seruants conuey it into that place of rest which the blood of thy Sonne hath prouided and purchased for thy chosen To which thy Sonne with thy selfe and thy blessed Spirit be prayse and thankesgiuing now euermore Amē 17. A direction for those who desire to performe the Christian duety of prayer on the behalfe of a sick friend or neighbor whom they come to visite WEe are vnworthy O Lorde to speake vnto thy Maiestie either for our selues or others yet this duty lying vpon vs by commaund hauing a promise of hearing annexed thereunto wee are bold in Iesus Christ to commend vnto thee the weake estate of this thy seruant All sicknes is from thee to thee belong the issues of death Thou killest and thou makest aliue thou bringest downe to the graue thou raysest vp to whom shall we go in this and other our necessities but onely vnto thee Wee could wish O gracious God the continuance of his Christian fellowship the lengthening and enlarging of his dayes but wee willingly subiect our wils to thy determining Thou Lord knowest what is the best
our forgetting thee in the dayes of our plenty but chiefly our loathing of that spirituall Mannah that heauenly diet of thy sacred Word prouided in thy abundant mercy for our Soules O make vs ashamed for these and other our monstrous sins besides those personall euils wherewith we are each of vs iustly to be charged Beget in vs a care to renounce and forsake our sinnes equall to our desire for the putting away of thy iudgements Forgiue vs in Iesus Christ and vouchsafe vs as a pledge of thy loue strength and grace to walke in a greater measure of obedience then heretofore And now O Lord teach vs to rely vpon thy prouiding and to know that when all things faile yet thy mercies are the same and thy power to help is not diminished Thou canst suddenly by meanes to mā vnknowen turne the greatest penury into plenty thou canst make a little to stretch farre and canst proportion our appetites to our store O make vs to depend on thee and to study more how to profite by thy hand then to haue thy rod remooued from vs. And when thou shalt shew thy selfe to haue heard our Prayers by sending greater plenty let vs not forget our present want but graunt that we may labour to bee thankefull and endeauour after a more sober vse of thy blessings then heretofore Heare vs in this and in all other our requests for Christes sake and for thine owne promise sake Amen * ⎠* 29. Another like applyed to the time of some great contagion WHither shall wee goe O Lorde in the day of our affliction but onely vnto thee Thou alone canst saue and out of thy hands none is able to giue deliuerāce Heauy at this time is thy hand vpon vs and fearefull is the disease with which thou hast afflicted vs Wee are afrayde one friend and neighbour of another and nothing is before vs but present death Scarsely can we looke foorth but we sée some one or other amongst vs caried away to the graue the mourners going about the streets Wée must needes confesse that though this he grieuous yet it is the smallest part of our desert It is iust with thee to smite vs with botches and scabs that cannot bee healed and to make the pestilence euen to cleaue vnto our loines and to swéep vs away from off the earth euen as a man swéepeth away doung till all bee gone For how haue we multiplied our iniquities before thee and to what a shamelesse and intolerable measure are our sinnes encreased Many warnings haue béene giuen by thy Ministers thou hast risen early and late and sent vnto vs by them yet wee haue made our hearts as an Adamant stone and haue put farre from vs the euill day perswading our selues that their sermons were but wind and that they did but commend vnto vs their own fancies Thus haue we encouraged our selues in euill and haue set thy iudgements at nought euery one turning to his owne course as the horse rusheth to the battell adding drunkennesse to thirst and falling away from thee more and more But O Lorde giue vs now at the last remorsefull and repentant hearts make vs as it were to smite vpon our thigh as a signe that wee see our wandrings and that we are ashamed of our sinnes Embolden vs in the name of Christ to come into thy presence and in all earnestnesse of spirit to cry vnto thee Take away our iniquities and receiue vs graciously Teach vs as well to feare sinne the cause of this wasting sickenesse as we doe the sicknesse it selfe which is the fruite of sinne Comfort vs according to the dayes that thou hast afflicted vs and let the swéet feeling of the gracious testimony of thy Spirit speaking peace vnto our soules preuaile against all other sadnes or cause of griefe or sorrow whatsoeuer Say O Lord vnto thy destroying Angel It is sufficient holde thy hand Or if it be thy pleasure to stretch thine hand yet further and to take vs away also O prepare vs to thine owne purpose endue vs with a holy patience to endure the vtmost triall and graunt that whatsoeuer befall our earthly tabernacles yet our soules may bee alwayes acceptable vnto thee and al for Christ Iesus sake who hath loued vs giuen himselfe to be a sacrifice of a swéet smelling sauor vnto thee Amen 30. A Meditation or Prayer necessary for a poore man TRueth it is O Lorde that to my mutinous repining nature want is of all things most distastful and pouertie is a burden euen intolerable Sometimes I am ready to call thy iustice in question who measurest out so large ouerflowing a portion vnto some and yet art so strait and sparing towards mee Sometimes do almost condemne Religion to be méerely vanity the louers whereof lye open to so great extremitie Otherwhiles my owne heart chargeth me with hypocrisie telling me that no man euer perished being an innocent and that if I did so feare thee as I should thou couldest not thus forsake mee And much adoe haue I to master my owne affections and to restraine my selfe from putting foorth my hand to wickednesse and from taking some strāge course for my own supply Thus O Lorde I am straitened thus I am euen haunted with whole troupes of vnquiet thoughtes all which by the continuance and enlargement of my owne scarcitie and by the vncompassionatenesse which I finde among the men of this yron age are rather multiplyed and encreased in mee then any way slaked or diminished But eternally blessed bee thy great Name which hast opened the gates of thy mercy giuen hope of hearing and of help to the basest and poorest amongst men Thou acceptest not the persons no not of Princes thou regardest not the rich sooner then the poore Behold therefore O louing Father in Iesus Christ to thee doe I cry to thy Mercy-seat doe I stretch out my féeble hands I haue learned O Lorde that miserie commeth not foorth of the dust neither doeth affliction spring out of the earth the pillars of the world are thine thou openest or shuttest thy hand at thine owne pleasure Thy wisedom also is infinite and thy iudgements are vnsearcheable who shall pleade with thee to aske thee a reason of thy wayes Let it bee inough for mee that it is thy pleasure thus to debase mee Am I not in thy hand as the clay in the potters If thou doe giue me a larger portion it is thy bounty if thou doe abridge me what haue I to complain or what challenge can I make to that which thou keepest from mée Teach mee I beséech thee not to look so much vpon this what others haue as to consider well how little I for my part doe deserue to haue If I doe but breath vpon the face of the earth if I had no house but the open ayre no garments but ragges no food but the bread and the water of affliction or the crummes that fal from some rich mans
table it were infinitely more then then my best desert A sinfull and vnthankefull wretch as I haue alwayes béene what can I say is due vnto mee but perpetuall shame When I iudge rightly of all things so farre am I from being able to say that thou hast wronged me or dealt too straightly with mee that I must rather stirre vp my selfe to magnifie thy mercie which hast not layde vpon mee the vtmost of thy wrath but hast giuen mee a time and an opportunity to repent Let these things I pray thée the soueraintie of thy power the depth of thy wisedome the foulenes of mine owne desert the kindnesse which notwithstanding some outward hardshippe thou hast vouchsafed to my soule moderate my violent affections curbe my raging and discontented thoughts bring my ranging passions into order that I may alwayes say It is the Lorde let him doe what seemeth him good This is my sorrow and I wil beare it Open my eyes withall that I may sée thy power who canst raise the needy from the dust and lift the poore out of the doung and make him families like a flocke of shéepe who canst commaund euen the very rauens to bring bread and flesh vnto thy seruaunts the Heauens to droppe downe foode the rocke of stone to yéeld streames of waters to refresh those whom thou art pleased to prouide for Shall I thinke thy power to be abated or is thy mercy lesse then it was wont to be Hast thou not made a promise neuer to forsake me Am I not alwayes with thée and doest thou not holde mee by my right hand Shal I imagine thee to be like the bird whom thou hast depriued of wisedom to whom thou hast giuen no part of vnderstanding who sheweth himselfe cruel vnto his young ones as they were not his or as if he had trauailed in vain No I am assured that though a woman should forget her child forbeare to haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe yet thou canst not forget those whom thou louest in thy sonne Thou knowest my wants thou art able to supply my wants thy loue will not suffer thee to leaue me destitute in that which thy wisedome knowes to bee conuenient for me Encrease my faith that I may depend yet more vpon thee make mee diligent in the place calling in which thou hast set mee frame my mind and my desires to that rate which thou hast allotted me kéep mee from vniust and vnlawfull courses from enuying the abundance which others doe enioy possesse mee with this perswasion that this my present state is the fittest for mee and that when it shall be good for mee to haue more thy hand shall instantly be enlarged toward me Stirre me vp to seeke thy kingdome and labour for the meat which endureth vnto life eternall Enrich my soule with spirituall blessings in heauenly things perswade my conscience of thy loue in Christ Iesus that the féeling thereof may make all things swéete vnto mee Cause me both to trust and to waite for thy saluation and in all things to striue to giue thee thy deserued glory and all this in and for thy Sonnes sake my onely Mediatour and Redeemer Amen * ⎠* 31. Another of like nature fit for one whom God hath enriched vvith outvvard things IT hath pleased thee O Lord out of the freedome of thy bountie to deale more largely with mee then with many of thy seruants and to furnish me with store of those outward blessings which others euery way as good by nature as my selfe doe not enioy My heart is fraughted with much corruption and though riches be in themselues a blessing yet without thy especiall grace they will bee vnto me an occasion of many euils Apt I shall be to lift vp my heart to pride my selfe in my own conceipt to trust vnto my welth to despise others to grow in loue with this present world to become cold and remisse in the best seruices to conclude that I am highly in thy fauour because thou hast enriched me These be the diseases which through the poison of our nature do rise by these outward hauings neither can I say that my heart is cleane from these corruptions Purge them out of mée I beseech thee by the fierie power of thy spirit Giue me pouertie of spirit and humblenesse of minde amid this outward fulnesse with which thou hast endued me Make mee to remember that the more I haue the greater shall bee mine account and the harder for me to be saued that by that meanes my wealth may be so far from puffing mee vp with secure presumtion that it may moue me the rather euen with fear and trembling to work out my saluation Cause me to think often vpon the wordes of my Sauiour that riches are deceitful and of a thorny nature choking the good séed of the word and making it to become vnfruitfull that so I may learne carefully to handle them and to vse them with great héedinesse and circumspection lest I should by them gal wound my conscience or bee pearced through with many sorrowes It is said O Lord that these high places of the world are slipperie places in which it is hard to go with a right foote to kéepe strait and euen steps Oh stir me vp to so much the more care to ponder my paths and to take diligent héed vnto my waies suffer me not to iustify my self to mine own soule or to make my self beléeue that I am as I ought to be because waters of a full cuppe are wrung vnto mee but teach me seriously to cōsider that as many of thy beloued seruants do feele the smart of pouerty so euen the most wicked and those which do rebelliously trangresse haue a large portion in this life liuing waxing olde and growing in wealth their goods oftentimes excéeding the very desires of their hearts Grant therefore that I may labour for some better more certain assurāce of thy grace not grounding my hope vpon my wealth but reioycing in this if the due consideration of the daunger and vanitie of abundance may worke by thy blessing to the abasing and humbling of my heart Oh let not mine eyes be dazled nor my hart bewitched with the glory and swéetnesse of these worldly treasures which may bée taken frō me or I from them euen in the twinkling of an eye drawe my affections to the loue of that durable riches and to that fruite of heauenly wisedome which is better then gold and the reuenues whereof do surpasse the siluer that my chiefe care may bee to haue a soule enriched and furnished with thy grace fulfilled with the knowledge of thy will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding And because O Lord in hauing much I am but a steward vnder thee and a disposer of thy gifts enlarge my bowels towardes others make me rich fruitfull in good workes being a father to the poore and causing the hart of the widow to reioyce warming
seldome and so slightly meditate vpon thy kindnesse Let not our vnthankefulnesse turn away thy intended blessings from vs stablish his throne we beséech thée let his soule be bound in the būdle of life with thee cast out the soule of his enemies as out of the middle of a sling As thou hast preuented him with liberal blessings and set a crowne of pure gold vpon his head so let his glorie be great in thy saluation and make him glad with the ioy of thy countenance Go on to giue him thy iudgments that the righteous may flourish in his dayes and that hee may iudge the poore of the people and saue the children of the néedy subdue the oppressor Let him not wāt a man of his own line to sit vpon his seat but continue the kingdom in his posteritie vntil the time in which al earthly kingdomes must be determined And as thou hast made his Quéen like a fruitful vine on the sides of his house a ioyful mother of many royall plāts so we pray thée lay vpon her much dignitie and honor blesse thē both out of Zion so that they may see the wealth of Ierusalem all their dayes Let their children bee as chosen shafts in thy quiuer make thē as the plants growing vp in their youth and as the corner stones grauen after the similitude of a palace Chiefely we beseech thee to poure out a large measure of thy blessings vpon the young Prince Henrie enrich him with all princely vertues water him so with thy heauenly dew that knowledge of thy truth zeale for thy glorie loue to thy Church perfite hatred of Popish Idolatrie may in him growe vp with his years that so he may also in his appointed time become another Instrument vnder thee for the further enlargement of thy Gospel and the prosperitie and happinesse of these Realmes Alwayes afford thy gratious presence to those honorable Lords of his Maiesties Councill be◠thou the President at their Table direct their consultations sanctifie their policies order their purposes and guide all their courses to such conclusions as may bee most for thy glorie the honour of the King the peace of the State and the comfort of thy chosen Blesse all the Iudges Sages and Magistrates of the State make thē as hiding places frō the wind as a refuge for the tempest for the oppressed cause them euer to remember that they are thy Ministers for the peoples wealth that they execute not the iudgements of man but of the Lord that although thou hast honored them with thine own name calling them gods yet they shal die as men fall like others that so iudgement may not be turned into gal nor the fruite of righteousnes into wormewood but the iustice may be executed truly vprightly in the gates al things may be to the praise of them that do wel to the punishment of those that are workers of iniquitie Neither may we O Lord forget those whō thou hast put in the seruice of thy church to féed the flock which dependeth on them to rule thē to go in out before them to labour in the worde and in doctrine Thou O Christ art the chief shepheard bishop of our soules thou art the Lorde of the haruest build vp wee beséech thée the breaches of thy Church make the righteousnes thereof to breake foorth yet more as the light the saluation thereof as a burning lampe Continue the standing and encrease the number of those seeing watchmen whom thou hast placed vpon the walls of Ierusalem stirre them vp that they cease not day nor nor night working the worke with which thou hast entrusted them and faithfully dispensing that word of reconciliation which thou hast committed to them Kindle in thē the zeale of Samuel that they may say God forbid that we should sin against the Lorde cease praying for the people and shewing them the good the right way Make them with Paul to say Woe vnto vs if wee preach not the Gospell And be pleased also so to blesse their endeuours to prosper their labours by giuing them a doore of vtterance and by preseruing them from vnreasonable and euill men that they may from euery part of the Land bring many sheaues into thy barne and that dayly those that are ordained vnto life eternall may belieue And for a continuall supply and nurserie to thy Churches amongst vs blesse the Vniuersities and Schooles of learning let not those fountaines O Lord bee poysoned with any popish leauen but grant that the doctrine which is according to godlinesse being taught professed in them in sinceritie by the yong plāts there springing vp the decais of congregations abroad may be renued and euerie place may be furnished with a Pastor after thy owne heart which may féed the people with knowledge and with vnderstanding And Lorde restraine and reforme the gréedinesse of those which muzzle their mouthes which should tread out the corne and bring foorth the foode of life vnto thy people which respect not the Leuite but abridge the hire of the labourer and say one to another Let vs take to our possessiō the habitatiōs of God Throughout the Land and among all the inhabitants therof plant the true knowledge feare of thee loyalty to their soueraine obedience to all subordinate authoritie loue reuerence to their spiritual guides vnitie of affection mercie and compassion either to other And inasmuch as O Lorde wee haue continuall experience of the malice of the diuell in sowing the séedes of sedition and treason in mens hearts and in raysing vp the sonnes of Behal to ouercast if it might be the faire day of our peace with a cloud of hellish cōfusiō we pray thée without whom no enterprises canne bee established to make voyd their hopes to discouer their practises and as thou hast hitherto euen miraculously done to turne their deuises vpon their owne heads for their own confusion There come dayly out of that Pit of Rome many Locusts and frō that Sea there is sent among vs a continual spawne of new conspirators these encourage themselues in wicked purposes they commune together to lay snares mischiefe they imagine against the quiet of the Land It vexeth them to sée the thriuing of the Gospell and the grouth of thy truth and they do euen breath out threatnings and slaughters against the professors thereof Let not O Lord their imaginations prosper let their eyes fall out with looking for that day which they haue long desired Let thy hand euen thy right hand find thē out if they belong not vnto thée make them like a fierie ouen in the time of thine anger destroy their fruit from the earth and their séed frō the children of men put them apart and make ready the strings of thy bowe against their faces And as for vs O Lord suffer vs not to were wanton with the blessings of peace nor to forget to render to thée according to thy rewardes bestowed but grant that thy kindnesses may bind vs more strongly vnto thee that wee may resolue by thy grace to serue thee faithfully who with vs dealst so graciously that in for Christ Iesus sake thy son our Sauiour Amen FINIS A Table of the Prayers contained in this Booke A Morning prayer for priuate families pag. 1. An Euening praier for priuate families p. 15 A Morning prayer for a priuate person p. 35 An Euening prayer for a priuate person p. 44 A more particular Morning prayer for the sabaoth day p. 55 A prayer before the hearing of the word p. 64 A praier before the receiuing the Sacrament of the Lords Supper p. 72 A thankesgiuing after p. 78 A prayer for the afflicted in what kind soeuer p. 80 A prayer in respect of some losse as of Honor Goods c. p. 88 A prayer fitted to the losse of an especiall friend as Father Husband c. p. 95 A prayer applyed to the state of a man inwardly perplexed with the horror of sinne with doubtings of Gods fauour and with the tentations of satan tending to despaire p. 100 A prayer then needfull when a man hath some speciall combate with some one or moe speciall sins against which he desireth victorie p. 115 A prayer of humiliation and sorrow after some speciall sinne committed p. 120 A prayer in respect of death needfull at all times but especially in sickenesse p. 131 A prayer more specially fitted to the state and occasions of a sicke man p. 141 A direction for those who denie to perform the Christian dutie of praier for their sake whome they come to visite p. 152 A thanksgiuing for a sick man after recouerie p. 157 A prayer for a woman in her trauaile p. 161 A thāksgiuing after deliuerie p. 164 A prayer for those which are employed in the assistance of a trauailing womā p. 168 A thankesgiuing when God hath blessed their paines in the womans deliuerie p. 170 A prayer for a souldier fighting for his Countrey or the confederates thereof p. 173 A prayer for a man trauailing by Sea about his lawful businesse p. 178 A Prayer applyed to the state of a Malefactor condemned by law to die drawing to the time of executiō p. 184 A prayer rising out of the serious meditation of the last Iudgement p. 193 A prayer fitted to the time of warre p. 202 Another of like nature respecting the time of Dearth and Famine p. 207 Another like applyed to the time of some great contagion p. 215 A meditation or prayer for a poore man p. 220 Another of like nature for one whom God hath enriched with outward things p. 230 A prayer for the whole State 239