holy life And no action produceth more solide comfort in all occasions of the hearts heauines then doth the practise of true prayer and supplication in the spirit to God who is more moued therby then with any other whatsoeuer sacrifice of man and the neglect of this most holy duetie is more inexcusable then any other diuine action whatsoeuer Euery man cannot giue almes by reason he wanteth the meanes yet may he Pray many godly duties may be omitted by necessitie but Prayer neuer nothing pleaseth God more nor appeaseth him sooner then Prayer And nothing more woundeth and resisteth that spiritual enemie then it And that maketh him seeke and execute all meanes to preuent peruert hinder it As long as a maÌ„liueth carelessely carnally and sencelesse of the necessitie of this diuine duty SataÌ„ neuer trobles him he is at peace with him but let him begin to addresse himselfe to God in Prayer then wil that subtile Serpent thrust in a thousand opposite thoughts to crosse his holy intention Prayer is a most irâ—some exercise to Satan he neuer hath or wil permit a man truely to serue God but hee will peruert his will and holy affections as much as in him lieth and therefore must euery man that wil liue in this sacred seruice of God arme himselfe to the combate as euery true childe of God well knoweth by experience The reading of prophâ—ne bookes gaming surfeting drunkennesse whoredome corporall and carnall delights and worldly affaires passe without breach of league with Satan neyther troubleth it the minde of the secure man But Prayer so farre troubles and disquiets the Serpent that he roares like a Lion against it which argueth Prayer to bee the onely and safest defence against Satan and Hel and the vanities of this life to be the weapons which mortal men beare and vse to fight for Sâ—tan against God A fearefull condition it is to bee bewitched with these corporall carnal and worldly inchantments which so possesse the hearts and soules of such as neglect Prayer as they are alreadie dead in their soules being yet aliue in their bodies they are alreadie partakers of that blacke and infernall darknesse heere onely weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth futurely attend them Happie therefore is that man and happie is that family that haue the holy exercise of prayer in continuall vse though in continuall warre with Satan and his Angels and instruments It is frequent in your family let no worldly occasion discontinue it It seasoneth all your actions and maketh them acceptable to God helpfull to men profitable to your selfe God hath giuen you a rich taste of his blessings let him still smell that sweete sauour of your continuall supplications and thankfulnes which you haue begun you runne well continue to the end Looke not back lest you lose the rich prize you first aimed at for a vanishing shadow that will flie from you and faile you when you come to your race end I need not aduertise you that there are in euery man two coÌ„trarie substances the Soule and the Bodie and that euerie man is euen so capable of two contrary and incompatible pleasures the spirituall and the carnall and so farre as doth the substance so far doth the pleasure of the soule exceed that of the bodie which being but a painted and temporarie pleasure is neuer desired of those that are truely acquainted with the delights of the soule which are eternall Thus I write Right worshipfull not to teach you but as a louing Prompter to put you in minde of your first loue to him that loued you first loue him and serue him still and hee will blesse you still and so I wish in him whom he loueth best Christ our common Sauiour and Redeemer Hendon this 6. of May 1615. Your Worships euer to be commanded IOHN NORDEN A FAMILIAR Admonition to the Christian Reader touching the most comfortable exercise of Diuine Prayer Seeke the Lord while hee may bee found call vpon him while he is neere Esai 55. 6. THere are three things especially to be considered in the true seeking calling vpon God The first is Preparation before we call vpon God in prayer The second is Attention in Prayer The third and last is Thanksgiuing after prayer Preparation to Prayer As touching the first namely preparation we may obserue and vse a kinde of imitation of men occasioned to comunicate with mortall Princes who are obserued to to preponder with themselues first how to shape their behauiour and externall gesture Secondly how toâ— frame their speech to gaine Attention of him to whom they speake and how to auoide the censure of indiscretion in the deliuery of what they affirme or defend If such curiositie and carefulnesse be necessarily obserued in our communication with men whose breath is in their nosthrels how much more obseruant and carefull ought we to bee when wee addresse our selues to speake vnto the Maiestie of the immortal God To intrude abruptly into the presence of this great God vnaduisedly to speake vnto him becommeth not a petitioner but bewrayeth an vnsanctified and an vnprepared heart rather tempting and dishonouring then glorifying of the name of God And therefore before we presume to present our petitions to God in hope to be heard we must prepare ourselues not in our outwardgesture onely in eloquence of words and Pharisaicall outward holines But in rightly ordering and disposing the affections of the inner man which if they be set on carnall or earthly vanities if our hearts delight in the fruits of the flesh and the vnprofitable works of darknesse though our words be neuer so good of themselues we may feare the reward of Ananias and Saphira his wife who brought a part of their substance hypocritically conceiling the rest and layd that part at the Apostles feet So if we come vnto God giuing him good words keeping backe our hearts to serue our owne carnall and prophane appetites Shall we thinke that God will be content with the leaues of our good words when we giue the fruits of our hearts to the world will God take such hypocrites by the hand we must know that vnlesse we can truely and vnfeinedly cast off our carnall thoughts corrupt desires and sinnefull affections it cannot be that God who loueth holinesse and truth in the inward affections can looke vpon vs as vpon his children who speake vnto him as to a father with counterfeit words proceeding from vnsanctified hearts When wee come therefore vnto God in prayer we must depart from all iniquitie knowing that he heareth not sinners such as the promises of God cannot win to obedience nor his threates inforce to forsake their sinnes who yet will aduenture to rush rashly into the presence of God in a formall kind of praying with the lips without any premeditation preparation or reformation of the heart at all These offer wordes for deedes Leaues for Fruit Wolues for Lambes and all maner halt lame blinde and blemished sacrifices and yet
would seeme holy And so instead of a blessing procure a curse vnto themselues for their hypocrisie Wee must consider that God is a iealous God holdeth none guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine as they manifestly doe that come neere him with their lips when their hearts are farre from him It is a kind of spirituall adultery outwardly to seeme wholy to be gods and yet inwardly to be meere worldlings Before we open our mouthes therefore to God we must cast out of the Temple of God which is our heart all buyers and sellers as Christ did out of the Temple of Ierusalem for as long as our hearts doe harbour the desires of worldly profits and carnall pleasures aboue the sincere seruice of God our heart the Temple of the liuing God becommeth a den of theeues that steales away all our godly affections to settle them on Belial Let vs looke vnto the man Christ Iesus crucified by whose blood wee are redeemed by whose mediation wee are sure to haue our prayers heard of God and granted especially if for our further and more perfect preparation we can truely obserue the rule of Christ to forgiue our enemies knowing that if we forgiue not our brother that offendeth vs God will not forgiue vs that farre more grieuously offend him And therefore Christ counselleth vs that if we bring our sacrifice to the Altar namely if we intend to pray and there remember that a brother hath ought against vs we ought to leaue our offering before the Altar that is forbear for the time to pray yet to continue our holy intention to pray and to goe first and bee reconciled to our brother and then to come to offer our gift namely our prayers freely vnto God in Christ for before we be vnburthened of all rancor malice enuie hatred and all other prophane desires it is not only not auaileable but lamentable that so many will as doe presume to come before God with hearts so fearefully fraught with these vnholy affections and stagger no more to presse into Gods presence nay not so much as some that come vnto God with most prepared peacefull and most sanctified consciences Let such cast-out the bond woman with her sonne namely the old man the works and lusts of the flesh and giue entertainment vnto the free-woman and her sonne the new man which after God is created vnto righteousnes and true holines And so recommend our prayers vnto God the obiect of our prayers in Christ the Mediator of our prayers by the holy Ghost the Author of all holy prayers Attention in Prayer Being thus prepared let vs endeuour to yeeld due and true attention in our prayers that is to giue â—eed to what we pray to whom we pray for what we pray and with what zeale we pray which are the truest tokens and greatest arguments that our prayers are liuely powerfull effectuall and of faith which properties can neuer be in lip-labour for there cannot be a more apparent discouery of a rancke Hypocrite then to make outward showes of Deuotion with the gesture and lippes and yet the heart to be busied in the cogitation of idle â—arthly and prophane things And nothing more discouereth an idle heart outwardly then the wandering of the eye in the time of diuine prayer for it is probable and often found by experience that the eye withdraweth the heart and if the eye be inconstant the prayer hath not nor can haue the due attention of the heart yet it doth not follow that although the eye bee fixed on any certaine obiect or be shut that therefore the heart is rightly set on God for oftentimes the eye followes the heart the cogitation of the heart making the eye to forget it obiect as when the heart is wandring in the fields of corne viewing the herdes of cattle and flockes of sheepe when it is in the ware-house in the shoppe in the chest minding bands payments ouercome with pride plotting reuenge oppressed with feare besotted with pleasure iâ—tangled with cares or otherwise peruerted by any prophane and vngodly cogitations Prayers made witls such an extraâ—agant heart be they in words neuer so holy they are imputed vnto vs as sin for shall wee thinke that God will heare our prayers to our profit or comfort when the thoughts of our hearts in the meane time dishonor him Many pray in their owne familiar language and yet consider no more what they speake for want of attention then if they spake in an vnknowne tongue and yet such men will hold themselues very deuout and to haue power in themselues to pray when they list as if true prayer werâ— of that facilitie and ease to vtter as is an idle tale and as it seemes by beggers that tumble out the Lords prayer with one breath at a doore and yet minde nothing but their almes Such men are to be pitied and to be wished better to aduise themselues before they attempt this seruice of God most holy for Prayer is not an easie worke it is of a deeper straine then a tale that is but from the tongue to the teeth from the teeth to the lips and so into the ayre True prayer is cordiall and of that force and efficacie as it constraineth the heart to sighes groanes and teares with such inward â—eâ—uencie of holy zeale as tenters the heart with such internall gripes as may bee truly said the râ—ting of the hart And the more we feele our hearts thus inwardly sharply touched so much the more comfort it yeeldeth to the soule of the faithfull petitioner yea such and so great consolation as he that feeles it cannot expresse it with his tongue be he neuer so eloquent neither can any conceiue or apprehend the sweetnes of it that is not exercised and experienced in the same for nature apprehendeth it not No man can say that Iesus is Christ but by the holy Ghost and none can desire the Spirit of God but by the Spirit of God Flesh and bloud cannot as much as desire spirituall things spiritually for spirituall things are to be compared with spirituall things and spirituall gifts are obtained by spirituall meanes And therefore are words without the spirit as naked and bare incense without fire but being inkindled in the heart and sanctified by the holy spirit of God who is promised to assist our spirits they are as a liuely and acceptable sacrifice to God working so powerfully with him through Christs mediâ—tion as they neuer returne empty of what soeuer blessing we desire Prayer can neuer be effectuall 〈◊〉 there be sâ—me certaine spirituall obiect of the mind to moue the attention of the heart which obiect is God and we must consider that when we pray vnto him or yeeld him any other worship that we are not to conceiue him in the forme of any earthly or heauenly bodily or spirituall creature whatsoeuer for in that maner not to conceiue him is a degree of coÌ„ceiuing him a right according to Master Perkins
often and fearefully threatned vs and yet he hath still put vp his rodde againe in mercie But did hee not see manie thinges amisse in vs he would forbeare to threaten as he hath done And who so seeth not manie things out of course in the carriage of men in their vngodly actions wilfully shuts the eyes of reason and seeth nothing aâ— all with the eyes of Religion Let vs therefore be continually watchfull in prayer that when the Lord commeth to Iudgement we may be so prepared with our Lamps in our hands to attend his comming as becommeth the children of God Thine in Christian goodwill IO. NORDEN A PENSIVE SOVLES Delight A Motiue to Prayer IN our preparation to prayer we must first consider that hee to whome wee speake is the Father of light and we are by nature the children of darknesse we must therefore call vpon him in the sinceritie and vprightnes of our harts for he loues truth in the inward affections Secondly he is the Father of glory we must therefore come before him with feare and reuerence for we are but dust and ashes Thirdly he is the Father of mercie therefore we must repent of our sins and then being thus prepared let vs draw neere vnto him with a pure heart in assurance and faith So will he heare vs and grant better things vnto vs then we know how to aske A prayer for the assistance of Gods holy Spirit in any spirituall or godly corporall action or endeuour fit to be vsed before euery lawfull enterprise especially before euery diuine exercise O Gracious Lord God most merciful louing and helping Father the supporter of the weake the light of the blinde the teacher of the ignorant the directer of all that call vpon thee in their godly endeuors I humbly beseech thy Maiestie in the name of thy Sonne Christ Iesus to heare me in whom thou hast promised to giue vnto thy children what they aske to finde what they seeke and to open vnto them when they knocke I come vnto thee good Father not in mine owne but in his name intreating thee not for mine owne but for his sake to accept me into thy presence to giue me thy holy Spirit of wisedome that I may receiue mercie and finde grace Open vnto mee the gate of true knowledge and assist me in mine intended enterprise for of my selfe I am of a dull and weake vnderstanding of a corrupt conuersation of a polluted heart and of prophane lips vnworthy of my selfe to attempt any worldly or corporall enterprise much lesse worthy to take thy blessed name into my mouth or to intermeddle with any diuine office function or calling But touch my hart Lord and inkindle it with a coale from thine Altar so shal my heart be renued reformed and enlarged the words of my mouth sanctified and the workes of my hands blessed According therefore vnto thy promise Lord open my mouth and fill it strengthen my hands and confirme the powers and senses both of my soule and bodie to euery good and godly action It is not in my power without thy power to open my naturall lippes much lesse able yeâ— altogether vnable to open the dore of my heart and to prepare mine owne affections to any diuine and holy action or to frame the powers of my body rightly in any comfortable enterprise without thy meere working in me both the will and the deed Only my confidence is Lord that thou wilt be pleased to assist me to inlighten my heart to increase my knowledge and to giue me vnderstanding according to thy word That by thee I may be enabled in all mine actions enterprises and inâ—euours to set forth thine owne glory Sanctifâ—e my inward desires blesse the will and the worke in me and accept my weake will for the effectuall deed And so season me in both that I may be sanctified throughout And grant that the fruits of all mine endeuours may so effectually appeare that my selfe in them and by them may be comforted and thy children to whose vse also as to mine owne I truly intend them may bee benefited and stirred vp to a more liuely feeling of their owne wants and a more serious desire to pray to thee for thy blessings and to praise thee for thy relieuing fauours That we thy weake children feeling the Comforter to assist our weaknesse we may in our seueral callings offer vp such daily sacrifices vnto thee as being for Christ accepted of thee thou mayeâ—â— be more and more glorified and euery one of vs comforted and kept in thy fauour for euer through Jesus Christ our Sauiour O Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be vsed in the Morning in priuate Families IT is a common course and an ordinarie care of worldly meÌ„ before they enterprise any thing that concerns their corporal estats to fore-cast how and by what meanes they may doe it to their best aduantage and most safetie which prouidence is not onely not to be condemned but commended yet so farre as it may iustly reproue themselues for being so carefull for their bodies necessaries and so remisse and carelesse of their soules safety which being truly prouided for first there followes a blessing to the second by diuine promise Seeke first the kingdome of God saith Christ and the righteousnes thereof and then all other things necessary shall be administred vnto you How grossely then doe they erre from a Christian course of life that are neuer but conuersant and carefull about corporall things that rise vp earely to seek their profits and pleasures and seeke not God the giuer of goodnesse without whose mercy and prouidence we neither can enioy our sleepe nor safetie in sleepe we cannot worke in our callings nor profit by our labours health of bodie wealth peace plentie friends and all whatsoeuer wee enioy in this life or hope for in the life to come do all proceed of his free mercie who requireth nothing for recompence but our thankefulnesse for them and our prayers vnto him for the continuance of his fauours towards vs in them All which will rise in iudgement against them that vsurpe theÌ„ without acknowledging them to be his gifts and that in Christ blessed vnto them What differs the carnall man that riseth in the morning leauing behind him the print as it were of his pollutions in the bed whence he riseth and neither praiseth God for his sleepe nor safety neither craueth pardon for his sinnes But from his bed betakes him either to his worldly profit or carnall pleasures What differs he I say from the brute beast who riseth in the morning from his den or rest and betakes him to his'prey or pasture looking vnto no other giuer then his own brutish care No more do they that eat and drink and labour or delite them in their vaine pleasures without seeking first in the morning a new blessing for the day following by their hartie thanksgiuing for their rest and preseruation the night past
continuall prayer otherwise what good we determine to day will be repented to morrow and we through our weaknes shall fall againe contrarie to our godly resolutions Our supplications to God for his assistance and strengthening of our resolued reformation must be continuall because our spirituall aduersaries are continually working to seduce vs out of the way of a sanctified life A ship as soone as her sailes are hoised feeles the winde and begins to make way if then there be no skilfull pilote at the helme to steere shee either rusheth vpon some rocke or driues the contrarie course So are mens affections swayed with the good or euill spirit Needs there not therefore a wise consultation of all the sences of the inner and outer man how to steere the affections aright which as the sailes are to the ship so are they vnto the minde for being once hoised they carrie the desires as the sailes the hull and if it want right reason to steere it it neuer can shape the course of godlines Let vs therefore pray that we may be able to manage the ship of our affections to the port of true obedience in a sincere course of life And happie is that man that truly determines constantly continues faithfully prayeth and wisely considers the course of his life and euer remembreth his end A Prayer for a godly life and to resist sinne and Sathan O God my God in Iesus Christ maker and creator of all things gouernour of heauen and earth preseruer of our soules and bodies the giuer of life light The framer disposer of all right and religious hearts The perfecter and finisher of our faith In by whom are all things and without whom nothing can haue any being Much lesse corrupt man haue any existence in life though be seeme to liue in the body except thou liue in him for our life which is our saluation and our glory and our crowne is hidde with thee in Christ. Such is thy mercy towards vs as thou vouchsafest to shew vs our blessed being with thee in the heauens in this our mortalitie in part as in a glasse lest wee should faint in our trials powre downâ— O Lord a full and large measure of thy sauing grace into my heart that I apprehending in part the sweetnesse of the life to come may frame my selfe to that course of life heere as may assure me of that which is to come Abandon and abolish the darkenes of mine vnderstanding and giue me the light of true iudgement that I may warily watchfully wisely foresee obserue shun the subtill baytes and allurements of sinne and Sathan giue me grace to walk in the way of life leaue not the powerfull power of Satan nor the poysoning sting of death in me Settle mine affections vpon the hid treasures of thy loue guide garde me with thy sauing power instruct me in the way of true wisedome Adorne me with all thy spirituall graces and diuine vertues sow in me the seedes of sanctity water me with the dew of thy holy Spirit purifie and cleanse my heart rectifie mine affections blesse my godly enterprises and holy endeauours frame all the parts powers faculties and sences of my soule and bodie that they may all meete in the loue of thee and euery one performe his office according to the greatnesse of thy name Let my heart harbour holy thoughts let my will euer be framed after thy word let mine vnderstanding bee manifested by righteousnesse and a sanctified life let my memorie neuer let â—â—ipthe good things thou hast done for my soule Let my handes be purely clensed from pollution my tongue from prophanation mine eyes from the gilt of concupiscence my feer from following vanitie and all the parts of my body from the least appearance of 〈◊〉 That I being thus clensed and reformed I may walke euer in thy faith liue euer in thy feare and at the last yeeld my body to the graue in thy fauour where the power and sting of death shall faile of further pursuing me and there shall I leaue that sinning part vntill it shall bee made a shining part with my soule by the brightnesse glory of thy presence in the heauens Thy goodnesse and mercy shewed vnto sinners in this life leadeth the seriously penitent and truely faithfull to the consideration of their present weakenesse wants and imperfections and to the contemplation of their future fulnesse of ioy comfort and euer-continuing consolation O stirre vp in me a liuely hunger and thirst for spirituall graces in this life where we are pressed downe with a mighty masse of corruption and compassed about with a darke cloud of errors Insomuch as I a man begotten conceiued and borne in sinne can neuer be able to stand vnder the burden of the one or to comprehend thee my Light and my saluation through the other How then Lord shall I be able to walke in thee who art the true way vnderstand thee the sauing trueth or attaine vnto thee being eternall life Therefore Lord vouchsafe to inlarge my heart in all godly forwardnesse to proceede from knowledge to knowledge from faith to faith from one diuine grace to another vntill I attaine to full perfection in Christ in whom all our holy indenours be euermore blessed sinne euermore weakened and all goodnesse euermore increased But many are the blockes which Sathan layeth and couereth them with the vayle of pleasure and profite which make many to stumble and fall Many ministers hee vseth to snare vs and many miseries and mischiefes hee plotreth and practiseth against vs to dismay vs from following of thee but hee hath not so many agents to allure or terrifie vs as thou Lord hast meanes to preuent the one and to defend vs in the other Plead thou therefore my cause and defend me against that spirituall enemie that fighteth against me leaue me not in his power shorten the extent of his chaine breake his teeth that he may haue no power to seize vpon me weaken the poyson of his inchantments that he pollute in me neither the will nor the deede That I may leade my life vnspotted in the world and that all mine actions and indeauours may prosper that sinne that hangeth on so fast may be cast off And giue me a sound knowledge of thy good pleasure that I may truely determine to shake cleane off the vnprofitable workes of darkenesse and be truly clothed with the holy robes of righteousnesse and sanctity That I may be euer able and ready to pray vnto thee obtaine at thy hands the direction to liue vprightly in thy sight and that I may euer consider mine owne weakenesse and imperfections to the end I may indeauour to keepe a good conscience in all mine actions for as our sences and the members of our bodie are many and euery one subiect to sundry infirmities and temptations and euery of our actions open to diuers infections and pollutions So Lord I beseech thee to blesse all
he shal recouer and liue with them which kinde of comfort is rather iniurious then friendly for what if the partie thus idlely secured perish without repentance These kindes of comforters haue little cause to imagine they haue performed a Christian dutie in this their visitation of their sick friend whom they seemed to loue much bewailing his sicknes and yet content to send him away with the heauie burden of his sinnes A second Christian duty is to pray for the sicke either in priuate or in publike assemblies of and with such as are present with the sick person wherein also the sicke person may conioyne either in the whole prayer by an inward lifting vp of his repenting and faithful heart to God in a holy meditation of what they pray or to conclude with them all Amen The prayer of the faithfull auaileth much if it be feruent The Lord by this meanes will strengthen him vpon his bed raise him to health or translate him in his good time To visite the sicke is an action most acceptable to God Yee haue visited me saith Christ when I was sicke therefore c 〈…〉 yee blessed c. Them that comfort the afflicted God will comfort He is the Father of mercies and comforteth vs 〈◊〉 all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort them which are in any aff 〈…〉 by the comfort wherewith we our selues are comforted of God O Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said for a sicke man or woman of his or her friendes that visite them O Most gracious Lord God who hast made all things preseruest euen the meanest of them by thy prouidence a sparrow lighteth not on the ground without thee Much lesse can any thing befall man but by thy will and determinate counsell So that we doe acknowledge that thou visitest this thy seruant here at this present languishing and that the present infirmity wherewith he is afflicted is of theesent to humble him for his sinnes Let it please thee O Lord to behold him in mercy and lay not vpon him too great a weight of thy dispeasure knowing that man in his greatest strength is weake how much more feeble being crushed as it were in â—eeces by the violence of thy visitation mitigate if it please thee the extremitie of his sicknesse and giue him patience to beare this thy light and louing correction And for that sinne is the cause of all troubles and tribulations Remoue Lord the guilt of all his offences through the merits of Iesus Christ and moderate his punishmeÌ„t though in iustice the most iust man is worthy of more stripes then he is able to beare yet thou refusest no truely repenting sinner bee his sins as reâ— as scarlet thou hast promised to make them as white as snow through the blood of Iesus Christ the sauing Lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world Touch the hart of this thy seruant with a liuely feeling of his sinnes and a full assurance of thy mercy in forgiuing them That hee being really reunited vnto thee through an â—ufained faith in Christ may â—ouze vp his fainting soule vnto thee and by thee that howsoeuer his corporall weakenesse may argue the heauy displeasure towards him thy holy Spirit may yet work such peace in his conscienc through the assurance that his sins are freely forgiuen him that hee may take this thy visitation as a fatherly correction and louing chastisement for his former offences And that if thou be pleased to restore him to health it may worke in him a true renouation reformation of the rest of his life heare haue mercy vpon him O Lord haue mercy vpon him and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away all his offences Looke fauourably vpon him cure him if it please thee restore him to health if it may stand with thy glory and his good But thou knowest Lord whether sickenesse or health bee most expedient for him whereof both he and wee are ignorant And therefore wee recommend him vnto thy fatherly disposition beseeching thee to confirme his hope assure him so of thy mercie that hee may imbrace life or death at thy pleasure and willingly to vndergoe this affliction knowing that all the tribulations which man can beare in this life are not worthy of the glory which thou hast prepared for them that loue thy second comming whâ—â— thou wilt giue to euery man according to his workes And therfore Lord turne his heart from the loue and vanities of this life vnto thâ— loue of the ioyes to come And 〈◊〉 him no longer set his heart and affections vpon this world or thâ— things in the world but onely and altogether vpon heauen and heauenly things That when the moment of time shall be wherein thâ—â— shalt determine the separation 〈◊〉 his soule from the bodie let 〈◊〉 the common enemie of our saluâ—tion preuent him But let thy sanctifying spirit possesse all thâ— powers of his soule that with holy alacritie and cheerefulnesse he may commend his spirit into thy hands and be thou pleased to reâ—â—iue him as one of thine adopted children into that celestial inheritance by the merits of Christ And in the meane time while hee shall rest here either in health or sickenesse be euer present with him for whose bodily recouery and hiâ— soules saluation O Lord hearâ— our prayers and let our cry come vnto thee Amen O Lord increase his and our faith for euermore A MOTIVE TO A Prayer before a man bâ—gin his Iourney HEe that well considereth the casualties of this life and hath but the least measure of vnderstanding and of the feare of God cannot attempt the least enterprise of the body but will forecast diuers daÌ„gers incident in euery action much more taking a Iourney on horse or foot being subiect to so many misfortunes and crosses as he maketh steppes in his wayes It is not rare to heare of one breaking his legge another his arme a third bruzing his body a fourth comming to vntimely death by falling off or from his horse nay the slip of the foote hath many wayes occasioned death besides hazard of meeting with and suffâ—ring danger by the ministers of Sathan and by malignant men laying wait to doe mischiefe Our bodies being thuâ— daily and vniuersally beset with perill requireth watchfulnesse in our wayes and walkings But it is not in our power wisdome to preuent the least crosse much lesse able are we to defend our selues as of our selues froÌ„ the hidden and sudden misfortunes of this lifes casualties And therefore had we neede to leaue our owne selfe wisedome and prouidence though not our Christian care and betake vâ— to the holy protection of the Holy one of Israel who guided Iacob in his Iourney towards Laban and the seruant of Abraham iourneying for a wife for Isack But they prayed for good successe So must euery faithfull man if he hope of the like Otherwise as the Lyon mette the Prophet and sâ—ue him So can God rayse
keepe vnlesse we lay it vp in our hearts for the enemie goeth about to steale it out of our hearts by many carnall delights and vanities It is the seed sowne to bring forth good fruit we must beware that we admit no tares cockle or darnâ—l to grow vp therewith sinne and iniquity let it fructifie in goodnesse and pray that the grace of God watering our hearts may keepe downe the weeds of sinne and fructifie the good fruits of righteousnes to make vs holy and of vpright conuersation before God and men God hath made a promise to the faithfully praying to send his holy Spirit to helpe our infirmities And to this end vse this Prayer following or some to the like purpose whensoeuer thou hearest the Word preached it shall much confirme thee in a godly desire to heare and practise and thou thereby shalt finde comfort in all thy wayes A Prayer to be said after the hearing of a Sermon MOst bountifull and most louing Lord God the giuer of all good things feeder releeuer preseruer of our soules and bodies I yeeld thee most humble and most hartie thankes for that thou at this time hast so louingly and Fatherly reuealed vnto vs thy will out of thy word and haâ—â— made our fainting soules partakers of that celestiall and blessed Manna thy sauing word Good Father as thou hast plentifully now fed vs with the milke of thy sacred word giue it Lord a relieuing and nourishing power to refresh and strengthen our soules to walke before thee in liuely and acceptable obedience and a sanctified conuersation Grant that the word now sowne in our eares may take deepe roote in our hearts and bring forth fruit manifold Let not the enuious man preuaile in casting in amongst thy good seed the cockle tares and weeds of sinne and iniquitie to the peruerting or preuenting of our new obedience Let not the thorny cares of this world trouble and choake nor the vanities of our corrupt mindes vinder the growth of this sauing seed in our hearts Let not the scorching Sun of ouer heauiâ— afflictions cause this fruit of saluation to wither but water it Lord with the continuall dew of thy holy Spirit as our vnfruitful and harren harts shall grow weak wanting this liuely foode supply it Lord from time to time by the preaching of thy word and giue vs diligent eares and obseruing hearts at all times and grant that wee bee not hearers only but doers of thy will And for that our hearts are hard to conceiue open our vnderstandings and for that our memories are short and vnable to retaine the sauing word giue vs hearts of continuall holy meditation that we may be euer chewing the cudde of that heauenly food and so digest the same that it may more more strengthen our faith vnto saluation And let the words O Lord which we haue now and formerly heard neuer returne in vaine but worke that holy effect for which thou hast appointed it namely the increase and confirmation of our faith in thee obedience repentance and newnes of life that we euer more and more hungring and thirsting for this sweete and sauing food may at length bee made able to liue in all holy and spotlesse conuersation before thee our heauenly Father and indeuour with all holy alacritie and ioyfulnes to take the aduantage of all oportunities to heare thee to speake vnto vs to follow and performe what thou commandest and to shun and with carefulnes to auoid what thou forbiddest Let nothing hinder vs Lord from a louing desire to repaire vnto thy house to refresh our soules with the bread of heauen and let vs not couet to bee seene of men onely hearers but found and allowed of thee doers of thy will Grant this Lord for thy Christs sake Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said against malicious aduersaries FOr as much as the holy Ghost testifieth that our Sauiour Christ Iesus had his enemies he liuing in all holines integritie and innocencie should we mortall sinners corrupt and many wayes transgressing wretches thinke much to be hated maligned enuied and persecuted of men or doth any man thinke that if he do as his Master hath commanded hee shall not finde the same measure that his Master found who himselfe did what he would we should do and was only enuied for his well-doing Happie is that man that procureth enemies by his godly conuersation for it is certaine they that hate him for his sinceritie are not his but Gods enemies also But to draw men to hate vs for our vices their hatred is rather 〈◊〉 vertue commendable then a fault reproueable for it tendeth not vnto the hurt of our bodies but the reformation of our liues and as we shall begin to incline to godlines so will the hatred of the godly turn into loue And though Satan then step in to incouÌ„ter vs with his malignant ministers there is no cause to feare for thought thousands compasse vs about to deuour vs there shall be more with vs then with them fiue shal chase an huÌ„dred and an huÌ„dred put ten thousand to flight The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise against thee to fall before thy face 〈◊〉 he made the enemies of Iacob to feare him for he feared God! God sometimes punisheth the enemies of his children by other meanes then by them to whom they are enemies as he gaue the enemies of Lot into Abrahams hands if we obey the Lord he will persecute them that couet to persecute vs though we be silent and desire no reuenge Vengeance is the Lords and he will reward There is no greater reuenge to be offered against an enemie then to leaue him to Gods reuenge and to liue in the presence of the enemy so as he can take no exceptions against our coÌ„uerâ—ation vpright before God and men it breeds a terror in a tyraâ—nous aduersarie to see him whom he hateth to liue in the feare of God furious Saul was aâ—â—aid of Dauid because he saw the Lord was with him If we could truely iudge of Gods purpose in sending vs enemies we should neuer be so disquiâ—ted at their practises against vs whether they threaten to kill vs as Saul did Dauid and the souldiers Paul and Iesabel â—liah or whether they vexe vs at the Law vniustly or slander vs maliciously or work any other mischiefe against vs treacherously if we feare God and rest vpon his prouidence he shall turne all their deuices to our good as he did the enuie of Iosephâ— brethren Ioseph was condemned for an Adulterer Daniel for a Rebell Iob for an Hypocrite and Christ our Sauiour for a Malefactor And how did God worke for these Ioseph was freed and exalted Daniel cleared and iustified Iob restored approued though Christ were condemned for vs he was glorified and shall glorifie vs. Enemies are most necessarie euils as a man may terme them euill in themselues yet necessarie for vs we know that an
And graunt that I may duely consider that two thus conioyned shall be made one flesh And therefore not vnaduisedly to be attempted lest of a member of Christ my Sauiour I should make my selfe the member of some prophane and wicked person which is not in my power or policie but in thy prouidence to preuent Preuent it Lord and whomsoeuer thou pleasest that I imbrace we may bee both made one intire bodie sanctified throughout in Christ Iesus that our vnion being thus made holy it may resemble that heauenly vnion which is betweene Christ and the Church his spowse And let our hearts and affections bee so truely and intirely knit together in thee that after the consummating of this sacred mysterie betweene vs there may succeede no cause of disparadgement no breach of thy sacred ordinance nor any offence iâ— thy Church But that comming together in thy fauour we may liue in thy feare prosper by thy prouidence be blessed in the fruit of our bodies gouerne our selues and our families religiously liue in thy Church sincerely deale with all meÌ„ iustly and obtaine of thee necessaries plentifully That wee and for all things may giue glory and prayse vnto thee ioyfully and 〈◊〉 our liues in thee faithfully and aâ—ter reigne with thee in glory etâ—â—nally through Christ our Sauiour and euerlasting red 〈…〉 Amen Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee sayd of married folkes NAture teacheth euery man and woman to loue themselues what then but the peruersenesse and crookednes of our natures maketh that a man and his wife being of two made one flesh should not loue nourish and cherish one another as the Lord loueth and comforteth his Church Neuer man yet bated his owne flesh saith Saint Paul And therefore Euery man ought to loue his wife as himselfe and let the wife see that she feare her husband Ephe. 5. 33. Whereby it appeareth that vnder loue and feare are comprehended the speciall dueties of man and wife one towards another Loue importeth all desire of ayding and helping and feare implyeth all care and diligence to preuent occasions of offending one the other To this kind of mutuall loue and feare if it bee in the Lord are promised many blessings peace plentie fruitfulnesse and sweetest contentment But if it be counterfeit and vsurped contrary to the holy ordinance of God namely for carnall respects onely there will follow in stead of comfort crosses contentions and many discontentments And therefore it much behooueth men and women thus of two made one to consider the endes of their vniting whether they asked first counsell of the Lord by prayer had the consent of parents and approbation of the word of God If so then to bee vnfeinedly thankefull to God by whose prouidence they became man and wife If they find any impediment or defect in their first insinuation communication or consummation of this high and holy mysterie they are speedily to appeale vnto God for pardon for their not crauing his ayde in so weightie an action and to redeeme their rashnesse by vnfained repentance and prayer Such is the frailtie of our natures as the most men and women erre in this point from the rule of right religion hauing their affections either naturally blinde and miscarried or by the meanes of parents sinisterly wrested Lust and Lucre are two mayne cords to draw the affections of men and women from making conuenient choice according to the rule of Gods word following their owne idle and vaine fantasies comming together not as Christians in the feare of the Lord and in sincere loue but many after a beastiall and brutish manner heaping vpon themselues shame and miserie Their dissembled loue proues hatred their vowes falsified the promise of each to other plighted wilfully and perfidiously broken It behooueth therefore all men and women thus coupled together in marriage to be especially mindfull of their dueties to God for without the sauour of God no true duetie can bee performed by either to other to their children or families Tokens of a good husband are to be louing to his wife to be wise in his words to be milde in his conuersation to be faithfull in his promises to bee circumspect in his gouernment to bee carefull for the education of his children to bee discreete in disposing of his goods to bee patient in troubles and to order his family religiously Tokens of a good wife to be no common gadder abroad to be modest and graue in companie to be neat and alwayes well busied in her house carefully to saue what the husband gets to attend and tender her children motherly to bee modestly silent patiently to suffer constantly to loue her husband prouidently to care for her household And the husband and the wife to bee religiously carefull to please God together So shall God bee pleased to blesse them in all things in their going out and comming in in their house and in the fieldes in their goods and good name in their children and families and whatsoeuer shall concerne their comfort in this life and the life to come A Prayer to be sayd of married folkes either priuatly or mutually together O Heauenly Father that madest in the beginning all things of nothing man of the dust of the earth and woman of the man that as she came of the substance of the bodie flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones So to be reunited vnto man and in a mysticall manner became one body with him by the holy institution of marriage which we hauing by thy prouidence in thy presence solemnized by our mutuall coniunction wee pray thee in Iesus Christ to blesse vs according to thy promise in all things And although through our naturall and originall weakenesse we cannot but confesse that we haue erred from the right and religious rules of thy holy ordinance in yeelding too much vnto our owne carnall desires foolish fantasies and fraile affections Pardon vs we humbly pray thee knowing and wee confessing that flesh and blood cannot so precisely containe but that it will fall into many noysome desires offending thy Maiestie Clense therfore O mercifull Lord God clense our hearts and conforme our conuersations to thy will giue vs power to abandon all lightnesse wantonnesse and vanities that we may become truely and religiously affected one towards another keeping our selues cleane without incastitie without any violating of thy holy ordinance in thought word or deede and our hearts and bodies vndefiled That with the more integritie of loue and heartie obedience towards thee we may passe our limited course of this life And forasmuch as thou knowest Lord that many crosses commonly accompany the estate of wedlocke and many both domesticall and forraigne troubles distract our affections especially while wee remaine in our naturall vanities season them gracious Lord whatsoeuer they be or shall be with thy fauour and loue So shall they not proue the fruits of thy displeasure but of thy meere goodnes to
gracious Father with vnderstanding and apprehending hearts that we in teaching neglect not our dueties nor our children in learning and obeying thee be fouÌ„d vnwilling Teach vs all thy word O Lord that wee may direct our duties and frame our conuersations thereby that wee and they may walke before thee and bee vpright Incline their hearts and their affections vnto such course of life as in thy prouidence may best stand with their ingenious inclinations for their honest reliefe in this life knowing that all are bound to betake them to some vocation or calling in Church or Common-weale Direct them therefore by thy prouidence good Father in Christ Iesus that they may imbrace such callings as may best staÌ„d with thy glory and their comfort adde blessing vpon blessing vnto their honest endeuours giue them religious hearts and holy mindes that in sinceritie of conuersation they may walke before thee and euermore discharge a holy and Christian dutie before and among men and neuer leaue them Lord vnto their owne naturall corruptions which are strong cordes to draw them from good to euill from obedience to rebellion Let thy grace beare chiefe sway in them that they may euer and in all things prosper in this life not as worldlings in fulnesse of forbidden pleasures and carnall contentments but in a competent estate of this lifes necessaries as able rather to giue vnto thy needie members then to be inforced through penurie to want or begge their bread I recommend them Lord into thine owne Fatherly disposition and protection they are thine left vnto me by thee and therefore good Father take a fatherly care ouer them that in this life they may so liue as after this life they may be made partakers with thee of the heauenly inheritance in Christ our Sauiour Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be vsed by children for their Parents THere is or ought to bee such a sympathy or mutuall passion of affection betweene children and parents as one grieueth not but the other soroweth the one reioyceth not but the other is glad what measure of good or euill the one enioyeth or suffereth the other partaketh But the burden of care lieth vpon the parents feares griefes sorrowes paines and expences in fostering protecting educating and instructing their children Therefore ought children to endeuor with al diligence diligent carefulnes to loue reuereÌ„ce obey performe whatsoeuer may work to the coÌ„fort of their parents not only in outward obedience but in inward and a sincere affection of the heart neuer forgetting their parents paines patience perplexities which for their childrens sake they vndergo and endure Loue them therefore yee children hartily without flattery feare them truly without hypocrisie reuerence theÌ„ vnfainedly without dissimulation pray for them zealously without wearinesse and do them good cheerefully without grudging And when yee haue done all the good offices that ye can yet shal ye be continuall debters vnto your parents especially to such parents as striue religiously to educate you godly for it is not the wealth parents leaue you but the wisdome they teach you not the pleasures they permit you but the practise of honestie they learne you that shal steed you most and help you best in life and death Good and gracious children are an ornament to their parents more then their wealth or beautie but irreligious wicked wanton riotous and rebellious children the shame and sorrow of them more then their wits weaknes or their bodies deformities But where there is a religious and a holy mutuall affection betweene parents and children and loue and obedience of both to God infinite blessings corporall and spirituall cannot but follow Dauid was olde and had beene yong yet neuer saw hee godly parents forsaken nor their godly children to want And where this sweete harmonie is betweene parents and children there cannot faithfull and mutuall prayer but bee on all sides frequent and blessings on all sides shall follow both vpon parents who haue a promise that they shall see their childrens children and peace vpon Israel and children shall haue their daies prolonged in peace plentie and all happinesse Therefore I counsell all children of discretion to bee euermore louing and obedient to their parents and be euermore conuersant in praier to God for them And because it is no ordinarie thing for youth to bee able to pray by nature let them inwardly hunger and desire with inward sighes to God the good of their parents and the increase of Gods blessings and benefits vpon them and themselues and endeuour by little and little to vtter words as God shal enable them in secret to God who knoweth their desires and will grant what they in heart require tending to the obtaining of spirituall graces for themselues and others And for their better furtherance I haue set downe this weake Motiue and a forme of Prayer fit to be vsed of all good children or the like for their parents according to the flesh as also for such as are any way helpers in their vertuous and religious educations A Prayer fit for children to vse for their parents GRacious Lord God and louing father in thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ as thou hast brought me into this world by the carnall propagation of naturall parents and hast giuen mee a life and being heere in the earth and afforded me of thy great goodnes some measure of naturall and spirituall vnderstanding whereby I apprehend a dutie which I owe vnto my parents according to the flesh So giue me grace I humbly pray thée to performe all dutifull obedience vnto them in thee and grant that their godly care and religious endeuours tending to my education instruction in the true knowledge and feare of thee may take such roote and worke such effect inwardly in my heart as may approue mee to belong vnto thee by whome I am begotten anew in Christ Iesus Accept my hartie thankfulnes O gracious Lord God for thy spirituall blessings and for thy goodnes towards me in not only taking me out of my mothers womb wherin I had perished and she with me hadst not thou beene the Author of her strength and my deliuery but also in preseruing me from many both spirituall and corporall dangers whereby I could not but haue vin many times confounded without thy goodnesse and prouidence in giuing me carefull and louing parents who vnder thee haue beene the meanes of my often preseruation What recompence Lord shall I giue vnto thee for thy great goodnes and manifold mercies towards me Thou requirest no sacrifice but obedience which with thee is more precious then the offering of many Bullocks and Goats Giue me therefore a faithfull heart that I may search to know and endeuour to 〈◊〉 thy will So shall I be the better able to yeeld vnto my parents condigne honor for by nature I am as â—n vntamed Heyâ—er or vnbridled Colt prone to disobedience wantonnes and all forbidden vanities vnable of my selfe
to auoid the danger when the blow is giuen The very terror of the miseries present will so astonish and perplexe our harts as we shal run as men amazed for succor and shal find none for reliefe and none will giue it and for safetie and none shall bee able to preserue vs from the destroying angels hand Our faith will faile vs our prayer will bee cold and not steed vs when we shall runne here and there as at our wits end for feare of the dangers before our eyes O let vs therefore delay no time to flie vnto God not with our old polluted ragges of sinne and iniquitie but with renewed hearts and heartie repentance Let vs meete the Lord as the Niniuites did so shall wee recouer our spirituall strength and if any of these calamities fall vpon vs wee shall bee hardie in Christ our Sauiour and with courage meete the enemie in the gap namely the sword vndergoe famine with constancie and in pestilence rest boldly on the prouidence of him that hath promised to keepe his faithfull ones in whatsoeuer danger And therefore let vs bee mooued to some consideration that as our fathers haue been visited with these calamities for their sinnes wee cannot dreame of greater immunitie considering our sins are as ripe and as rotten as were theirs and Gods power is not diminished but his heauie and punishing and destroying hand is readie to bee stretched out still A Prayer to God to be vsed in the time of peace to preuent warre in plentie to preuent famine and in the time of health to preuent the pestilence fit also to be vsed in the time of warre famine and the pestilence also GReat and terrible art thou O God and in thy furie takest vengeance against a rebellious stubborne stifenecked and a wicked people Bee patient with vs O Lord be patient with vs and although we be of vnholy coÌ„uersations spare vs and be merciful vnto vs. Shoote not the arrowes of thy displeasure against vs for the least of them is able to wound the hayrie scalpe of thy mightiest enemies and to crush them in peeces like a Potters vessell O stay stay thine anger against vs preuent warres draw not thy sword vpon vs take not the staffe of bread from vs send not the pestilence among vs for we are not able to stand in thy fight when thou art angrie Be appeased towards vs good Father in Christ our Mediatour free vs of the dangers which wee haue deserued and which as wee cannot but feare doe houer ouer our heads for our sins Our sinnes are many monstrous horrible and as it seemeth incorrigible Thou hast shaken thy sword ouer vs wee saw it and were for the time afraid thou hast punished vs with pestilence we haue felt it and were indangered Thou hast weakened the staffe of bread amongst vs wee haue tasted it And yet we continue in our wonted disobedience we goe on still in our wickednesse like vnto those rebellious Iewes that put to death the Lord of life who are giuen vp vnto a reprobate sence We also haue eies to see and yet see not our dangers eares to heare and yet we heare not with sense thy fearefull threats for sinne and thy seuere iudgements vpon them that transgresse thy commandements wittingly we haue hearts to perceiue and yet we seeme not to vnderstand those things that belong vnto our peace and punishment we are not sensible of thy displeasure but we lull our selues asleepe with the sweet deceiuing delights of our fleshly affections and harden our hearts as Adamants against thy word O gracious Father giue vs repentant hearts for our sins vnderstanding harts of thy will giue vs obedient hearts to practise true pietie and holinesse in faith vnfained that we may appease thy wrath inkindled against vs through Christ the Mediatour of all that returne to thee in a holy submission Turne vs therefore Lord and wee shall returne from our euill wayes and obtaine mercy in him that is our aduocate with thee Iesus Christ the righteous by whose intercession it may please thee to spare vs thy people spare vs let neither the sword that deuoureth without mercie come neere vs let not famine too much afflict vs that hath no measure in pinching and let not the pestilence steale vpon vs that secretly flieth and striketh without respect of person sere or age Lord giue vs repentance and accept thine owne gift our repentance and our atonement with thee that if it please thee these euils fall not vpon vs as wee haue deserued but being made one againe with thee thine eye may bee vpon vs euer in mercie to deliuer our soules in death and to preserue vs in faâ—ine Thou art God a strong hold in the day of trouble let vs not esteeme our selues strong in our own might nor leane vpon our own wisdome to defend our selues when any of these calamities shall bee inflicted vpon vs. Make vs righteous so shalt thou preserue vs thou art the strength and hope of Israel of al that are of a holy conuersation faithfull Bee vnto vs a strong rocke whereunto wee may alwaies resort in warre in famine in pestilence and in all the calamities that accompanie or follow them Make vs constant in all goodnesse giue vs helpe against trouble for vaine is the helpe of man Harken therefore vnto the prayer of thy seruants and deliuer vs in Christ. Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A short prayer to be vsed in the time of warre THe children of Israel continuing to commit wickednesse in the sight of the Lord the Lord raised the Philistims against theÌ„ who made war vpon them and made them their seruants for fortie yeeres Iudg. 13 1. he raised likewise the Ammonites against them who vexed them 18. yeeres Iudg. 10. 7. and gaue them into the hands of the Midianites for 7. yeeres Iudg. 6. 1. As men fal from God so he sendeth them enemies as it were to inforce their reformation and if these kinds of afflictions cannot win them hee giues them ouer to more sharper calamities as he did the children of Israel whom he deliuered into the hands of meere spoilers and sold them into the hands of their enemies round about them which way soeuer they went his hand was stil against them Iudg. 2. 14. 15. yet when they repented cried vnto him he raised vp meanes to release them and deliuered them Iudg. 3. 9. 10. whereby we may be mooued to seeke the Lord before the Lord send foorth his persecuring ministers as the children of Israel intreated Samuel to pray vnto God for them before their danger fell vpon them that God might bee pleased to preuent that which they feared and at Samuels intercession they were preserued and their enemies scattered and confounded 1. â—am 7 8. 9. This is the course that Christians ought to take first to clense themselues from sinne and then to repaire vnto God in humble supplication for defence and preseruation and by
God must be conceiued of vs in our prayers as subsisting in the whole three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost The vnitie in Trinitie and Tâ—initie in vnitie is to be worshipped retaining in mind the distinction and order of all the three persons without seuering or sundring them for as they are conioyned in nature so are they to be conioyned in worship And therefore he that prayeth vnto God the Father for the forgiuenesse of his sinnes must aske it of him for the merits of the Sonne and by the assurance of the holy Ghost and he that prayeth for the remission of sinnes to God the Sonne must pray that he would procure the Father to graunt him pardon and to assure it by his Spirit He also that prayeth for the same to God the holy Ghost must pray that he would assure vnto him the remission of his sinnes from the Father for and by the merits of his Sonne Thus must we apprehend the Trinitie in our prayers so shall we auoide that idolatrous conceiuing of him imbraced of some who cannot pray vnlesse they haue the figure of a humane creature to represent vnto their bodily eyes the shape of God the Father in likenesse of an olde man and a crucifixe figuring Christ suffring on the Crosse and the holy Ghost by a Doue whose worship cannot bee reputed spirituall but carnall and their prayers not heauenly but prophane Prayer is a spirituall action proper onely to the children of God who are Saints by calling sanctified in Christ And they and none other truely call vpon the name of the Lord Iesus prophane persons pray not though they seeme to pray But most happie is that man that commeth vnto God Father Sonne and holy Ghost truely prepared and duely attentiue he may boldly aske and confidently assure himselfe to receiue grace for grace and all blessings spirituall without limitation and all benefits corporall needfull If our prayers bee made in vs by him who hath promised and hath power to giue what we aske shall wee thinke hee will faile to performe The hope of hypocrites in deed shall perish and their prayers vanish as the smoake because they wait vpon lying vanities and desire carnall pleasures and worldly profits But the Lord will surely fulfill the desires of them that feare him because their prayers tend to the setting foorth of Gods glory to the good of the Church to the remission of their owne sinnes and other mens to the obtaining of Gods graces to the increase of the vnderstanding of heauenly things that they may walke before God and be vpright that they may doe the workes and bring sorth the fruits of the spirit These are the prayers that are the PENSIVE SOVLES DELIGHT These are the prayers that wound the Serpent that please God bringing peace to the conscience afflicted But which is to bee lamented all men are dull by nature And the very elect sometimes weakely disposed to pray And therefore is euery godly man to vse all holy meanes to inkindle their hearts to the right performance of this heauenly dutie And nothing more preuaileth therein then Meditation whereunto wee are also very vnapt by nature and know not how nor vpon what ground to lay the foundation therof yet if we can truly frame our hearts to a holy Meditation wee shal find that it is the very key that openeth our dull hearts lockt vp vnder griefe vnder feare vnder trouble vnder persecutioÌ„ misery and sendeth forth by litle and litle the fire of true zeale which at length becommeth a great flame of preuailing prayers which thing they easily find that are conuersant in this sacred exercise of Meditation and Prayer who yet many times finde themselues most dull and most vnapt to pray hauing yet an inward desire thereunto which desire they cannot containe but labouring a while in silence speaking inwardly to God in sighes and groanes at length they speake effectually with their tongues Seeing therefore that all men need motiues to stirre them vp to prayer let euery man addresse himselfe to the word of God or peruse some godly worke of religious men And although vocally he cannot reade by reason of his naturall dulnes yet if his heart can be but conuersant and duely attend the sence as the eye obserues the letter his minde by little and little shall mount it selfe from earth to heauen fixed on the Trinitie whence shall arise such spirituall fruits of faith and feruencie of spirit as shall fill the soule with more sweet consolation byinkindled praier then the tongue can vtter And to this end gentle Reader according to the small measure of mine vnderstanding I haue prefixed before euery prayer a Motiue or Meditation touching the substance and matter of the Prayer following Thankesgiuing after Prayer The third and last duty in this holy exercise is Thankesgiuing which cannot but follow sanctified praiers that with such ioy in the holy Ghost as it cannot but break forth into most vnspeakeable inward thaÌ„kfulnes to God who hath beene so graciously pleased not only to forgiue our sins but to helpe our infirmities by his holy spirit by whom wee haue had accesse vnto the throne of grace found such fauour with God in Christ as we haue obtained by the holy Ghost both the will and the power to pray Also we ought in all things to giue thankes to God for euery blessing and benefit wee receiue at his hands according to the counsell and precept of the Apostle who commands vs to giue thankes alwayes for all things vnto God euen the Father in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ Ephes. 5. 20. Thus much touching the admonition Great Britaines happines in regard of the free vse of the Gospell in respect of other Nations FInally I thinke it not impertinent altogether by way of comparison to consider of our happines in being partakers of the free vse of the Gospell in respect of the most vnhappie condition of many Nations and infinite people that either know not God at all or knowing him honour him not as God The Old and New Testaments haue beene freely opened vnto vs neere threescore yeares without Persecution and so it hath not been in any one Kingdom we reade of Some Kingdomes and Free States in their Iurisdictions haue and doe in a sort permit the Gospell but with the same tolerate contrary religions professions Where doth the freedome of the Gospell appeare as in Great Britaine In what Kingdome is it so publikely receiued so plentifully preached and so freely professed without danger or contradiction We haue heard and seene the troubles of the Netherlands and the Massacres of France and the persecutioÌ„s in other territories for the profession of the Gospell and we all this while haue quietly enioyed that for the profession wherof many haue perished May wee not therefore truely say with Dauid The Lord hath not dealt so with euery Nation Queene ELIZABETH restored Religion almost smothered by Queen
and by crauing pardon for their sinnes Howsoeuer things may seeme to succeed to their great contentment they doe but deceiue themselues for there is no blessing promised to such carelesse meÌ„ though they haue the names and receiue the seales of Christians And therefore let euery man that feareth God and desireth to see a good day to follow the morning let him begin the day with the seruice of God in prayer if hee haue a family let him conuent them and conioyne with them in prayer If he haue none or be absent from it let him serue the Lord in priuate The faithful herein findeth such liuely comfort and assurance of Gods prouidence as he feareth not whatsoeuer the day following can cast vpon him all things shall worke together for his consolation And whatsoeuer hee doth it shall prosper A Prayer for the Morning for priuate families Lord increase our faith prepare our hearts to prayer and open our lippes O Mercifull Lord God louing father in Iesus Christ wee thine vnworthy people fall heere downe before the footstoole of thy Maiestie and with vnfayned hearts giue thankes vnto thee for thy mercies in number more then can be numbred for they are more then our sinnes and our sins more then the sea sands which are without number Thou hast bene our watchman this night thou hast not onely kept vs from bodily daungers and harmes but hast giuen vs rest when our weake bodies were infeebled with wearinesse and labours and hast brought vs to the beginning of this day in safety whereas many haue perished this night in their beds and haue not risen to prayse thee How vnthankefull should wee shew our selues Lord if we should enter into our worldly affaires without remembring thy mercies and our owne sinnes in asking pardon for them Receiue therefore wee humbly pray thee good father at our vnworthy hands the sacrifice of our humble prayers and prayses which we offer vnto thee this morning in the name of thine owne dearest Sonne in whom thou hast acknowledged thy selfe so well pleased as thou deniest nothing to any faithfully asking for his sake Jn him and by him and for him we come Lord vnto thee humbly and heartily praying pardon for our sinnes wherby we haue transgressed thy lawes offended thy great Maiestie in whose displeasure is death Pardon vs mercifull Lord God pardon vs remoue our sinnes farre from vs and wiâ—e them out of the booke of thy remembrance Remember the merits of Christ our Redeemer leaue vs not in our owne miserable estates lest we should forget to be mindfull or to be ignorant how to prayse thy Name for thy goodnes past and enter into our worldly occasions without being reconciled vnto thee in Christ for thy wrath being inkindled towards vs neuer so little nothing can truely prosper that we take in hand we may labour and yet without thy blessing it shall not profite vs 〈◊〉 may eat and drinke but it shall not nourish vs we may follow our vocations with great diligence rysing earely and taking rest late yet shall it not feede vs. Oh gracious Lord let thy blessings accompany all our labours And grace vs euer with thy presence according to thy promise not to obserue our imperfections but to direct our heartes in prayer to prepare vs to obedience to season vs with thy holy spirit and to blesse and prosper all our actions That whatsoeuer wee thinke speake or doe this day may be acceptable in thy fight So shall all things goe well with vs and prosper vnder our hands we shall prayse thy name and extoll thy mercies and goodnesse which haue bene are and shall be towards vs for euer And as thou hast taken away the vale of the darkenesse of night which resembleth death And hast opened vnto vs the windowes of heauen to giue vs the light of the Sunne which resembleth life So abandon thou the workes of darkenesse and ignorance put away our faintnesse and dulnesse in prayer And let the light of thy sauing truth shine vnto vs and the Sunne of righteousnesse extend his beames of heauenly vnderstanding into our heartes That we all may walk this day in the way which is Christ the Lord imbrace the truth which is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world And euer inioy that life which is eternall in him which was and which is and which is to come So shall our rysing from our naturall rest this morning by thy power as out of our graues of mortalitie assure vs of our finall rysing out of the graue of our sins to immortality And as thou hast blessed vnto vs our temporal sleepe this night So vouchsafe to blesse vnto vs this day the vse of thy creatures that they may all serue to our comfortable vse in Christ Iesus according to our necessities And graunt that wee abuse them not to ryot or wantonnesse but may carefully and religiously watch and be sober that when our finall sleepe shall ouertake vs we may lay downe our mortall bodies not vnto the resurrection of death vnto death but of the resurrection of life vnto life eternall And during the time of our mortalitie remember vs O Lord in the abundance of thy mercies lest that wee who are but dust and ashes should so fasten the eyes of our desires vpon the base things of this life that we should forget the life to come Graunt rather Lord that we may vse the things of this life at thy hands so as we may not be seduced by them but rather led by the consideration whence and from whom we receiue them vnto the authour and giuer of them So shal they not onely not be vnto vs vaine or base but worthy to be had in reuerence for thy sake that giuest them freely and blessest them graciously vnto our vse comfort which great mercy of thine cannot but aduance the eies of our dul vnderstandings to the contemplation of thy spirituall and heauenly blessings As how we were freely from all beginnings elected to saluation by thee how we were created when wee were not by thee how we were redeemed when wee were captiues vnto Sathan by thee How wee were sauctified when we were most prophane by thee How we are iustified being guiltie of iudgement by thee How we haue taken hold of the hope future glorification of our corrupt vile bodies in the life to come by thee These thy super-abounding mercies O Lord who hath a heart to conceiue or a tongue sufficiently to expresse The Angels that attend thee in the heauens beholding thee face to face and minister thy will in heauen and earth are not yet able to declare the good things themselues inioy by the glory of thy presence Much lesse are we Lord who lodge in houses of clay able to comprehend thee and the height and depth of thine incomprehensible goodnes shewed to them in earth whom thou hast made heires with thy Sonne of the glory in heauen How much lesse able
are wee to conceiue the glory prepared for thine elect in the heauens Giue vs therefore good father hearts of loue vnto thy Maiestie that we may striue with a godly egernesse rather to abandon all lets impediments which may hinder vs from that promised glory then curiously to seeke to knâ—w in this mortalitie that the secrets whereof thou hast reserued vntil our immortalitie And let not the cares of this transitory life and the blind affections which we naturally beare vnto the pleasures thereof choake the good seede of grace in vs. Make the way of our saluation familiar vnto vs as thou hast made it plaine for vs. And let not our bodily labours hinder our hearts from continuall meditation of thy goodnesse towards vs. Let vs lift vp pure mindes vnto the heauens with a longing desire to with thee where is no labour or sweate or feare or care or hunger or thirst or nakednesse or enemies or strife or paine or griefe But all comfort all ioy all peace and blessednes and glory vnspeakable Giue vs therefore longing hearts to remoue out of this body of miseries yet so as we omit not our callings vntill thine appointed time but that we may labour accordingly in the world not as we so loued the world as we should imbrace it as our home but vse it as our Tabernacle or lodging place for the time of our pilgrimage And let thy blessing bee so vpon our labours this day as wee may liue thereby haue sufficient of all necessaries as food rayment friendship peace plentie health of bodie preseruation of our limbes and sences and a blessing vpon all that belongeth vnto vs. That we be not constrained to vse vnlawfull meanes for our reliefe Then as we by thy blessing haue entred into this morning shall passe the day with comfort and end the same in peace of conscience and consolation of the holy Ghost and so continue from day to day vntill the last of our dayes when we shall surrender againe vnto thee to be disposed both our soules and bodies for euer to liue with thee in the glory purchased by Christ our mediator our hope our strength and our euerlasting redeemer to whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee all power maiestie and dominion ascribed for euer Amen O Lord euermore increase and confirme our faith A short prayer for the morning to be said of one in priuate or in a Family vsing the plurall instead of the singular number ALmightie Lord God whose presence is alwaies light vnto thy Saints vouchsafe as thou hast banished the darknesse of the night past and made the light to shine vnto our corporal eyes So let the sauing Sunne of thy holy Spirit lighten the darkenesse of mine vnderstanding this morning And as the Sun of the firmament cleareth cheereth and comforteth all thy creatures in earth with the beames thereof so let thy sacred and sauing countenance recomfort my sad and dulled heart and as it hath pleased thee to giue me power and ablenesse to rise out of my bed of corporall rest and by the sleepe which I haue this night enioyed haue in some measure shaken off the heauie sluggishnes of my fleshly part So I beseech thee to giue me power to rise out of the bed of sinne and securitie and with cheerefull alacritie to cast off the dulnes and drowsines of my corrupt heart that with full affection and entire loue I may praise thee for thy loue wherein thou hast preserued mee this night from perils and dangers of the darknes wherein the secret arrowes of Satan and sin are sent forth to wound euen the vpright in heart wherein diuers casualties befall them that are dead in their sleepe not able to preuent the least danger incident to soule or bodie and hast now graciously brought me to the beginning of this day in safety the end whereof nor the least remaining part what it shall afford me thou only knowest from whose all-seeing eyeâ— nothing is hid but as well the times to come as the seasons past and present are alike manifest As thou therefore knowest what shal succeed me this day turne those things from me Lord in thy prouidence which thou knowest dangerous and blesse vnto me all things for my comfort and whatsoeuer befalleth me contrary to my health wealth or peace make me wise to make vse thereof to the confirmation of my further faith in thee knowing Lord that all things shall worke together for the best to them that loue thee And therefore giue me patience to vndergoe al thy corrections and trials and to be vnfainedly thankfull for all thy benefits And for asmuch as nothing can prosper vnto vs without thy blessing blesse Lord I beseech thee vnto me all such thy creatures as I shall haue cause to vse this day giue a blessing vnto all that appertaineth vnto me whomsoeuer or whatsoeuer and let the meditations of my hart the words of my mouth and the labours both of my bodie and minde be sanctified vnto me this day that whatsoeuer I doe it may prosper I recommend my selfe my soule and bodie all that I haue charge of vnder thee into thy fatherly tuition and defence this day for I know Lord and am assured that thou to whom I commit me arâ— able and willing to keepe me Let not my sinnes gracious Father which I haue no power to resist preuent thy mercies but in thy mercie preuent my sinnes for Satan the World and mine owne corruptions are euer ready to draw me into forbiddeÌ„ vanities But strengthen thou the armes of my faith teach my spirituall fingers to fight valiantly against their enemies giue me the sword of the Spirit the brest-plate of righteousnes the helmet of saluation that I feare not their assaults this day that fighting the good fight of faith I may preuaile and receiue the crowne of victorie through Christ that triumphant Lion of the Tribe of Iudah Remember thy promises made vnto all that beleeue in him I beleeue Lord helpe mine vnbeliefe Let the fruits of that loue that is greater then faith and hope appeare in mine actions this day the chiefe wherof is obedience vnto thee So shall I passe this day in thy faith feare due reuerence of thy great and glorious name and daily more and more prepare my selfe in a holy readines to attend thy calling mee out of this mortall to an immortall condition And for my greater comfort in this my pilgrimage giue me a true feeling of the ioyes promised in the Kingdome of glorie euen here in the Kingdom of grace that hauing heere receiued the earnest of thy holy Spirit I may daily looke for the principall in the Kingdom purchased by Iesus Christ in whose name I humbly recommend my selfe and all my labours this day vnto thy blessed prouidence and direction yeelding vnto thee all praise in Iesus Christ by the holy Ghost blessed for euer and euer Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said
in me diuine meditations and prayers that my heart being truly and zealously exercised therein in my wakings I may admit no idle thought to possesse the same nor giue Sathan or mine owne corrupt affections oportunity to snare me and to seduce me from the works of the spirit to the deeds of the flesh but that sleeping and waking I may euer rest vnder the shadow of thy powerfull protection out of the â—each of all my corporall and spirituall enemies who are euer restlesse in their practises and deuices Be thou therefore Lord on my â—â—dâ— preuent them of their purposes garde 〈…〉 ee with thy holy Angels this night keepe me whom and whatsoeuer belongeth vnto me let all things prosper vnder my hands O Lord let neither the darkenesse of the night the distemperature of the ayre the sterilitâ—e and barrennesse of nature hinder the prosperitie of the creatures ordained to my vse Neither let my sinnes make breach of thy fauours towards me let the health of my body be at thy good pleasure continued my limbes sences preserued my sleepe blessed and all my thoughtes words and deeds sanâ—tiâ—â—ed vnto me in Christ my Sauiour and Redeemer this night and euer Amen Lord increase my faith and watch ouer me this night A MOTIVE TO A Prayer for the members of Christ to be vsed after priuate praiers in families IT were a matter much to be wondred at that any member of a body should be so little carefull of it fellow members of the same bodie as that it should not extend it vttermost power to support and aide them all As if the one hand should suffer violence and the other should disdaine to assist it or that the foote or any other part should be annoyd and the eye should scorne to looke vnto it or the hand to helpe it How much more lamentable were it if the members of our spirituall bodie whereof Christ our common Redeemer is the head should not pray one for another What can a man doe lesse for an ordinary friend then to speake for him to him that may steede him being at no further charge or trouble then to vse the breath of his mouth for him And shall wee thinke it too tedious a labor to vse our petitions to God in the behalfe of such as are our fellow members and our dearest brethren in Christ being professors of his name with vs and of the same fellowship and communion together with vs hauing the selfe same seales of adoption that we haue God forbid The neglect of which spirituall duetie implyeth our want of loue vnto our head Christ wherein we also breake the law of Christian Religion which commands vs to loue our neighbours as our selues If we then thinke it our dueties to pray for our selues we ought to pray also for them which Christ intendeth in teaching vs how to pray not as in our owne names my Father But in the name of all the Church Our Father though vpon some particular occasions a priuat maÌ„ may vse it in the name of himselfe But in generall supplications to God it is a duetie inseparable in Christian Charitie to pray one for another yea and for all men Let vs therefore in all our priuate prayers either with our families or by ourselues adde this consequent prayer or to the like purpose that wee discharging that Christian duetie for others God may the more esteeme our prayers for our selues and stirre vp other faithfull members to do the like for vs which may be much comfortable to all for the prayer of the faithfull auaileth much if it bee feruent Iam. 5. 16. A Prayer for the members of Christ whersoeuer dispersed fit to bee vsed after our ordinarie prayers of Morning and Euening GRacious Lord God merciful and louing Father the keeper and protector of all that truly professe the name of Christ thy Sonne we the poore and weake members of that mysticall bodie whereof he is the head as feeling the wantes of our brethren as our own do here humblie present our petitions vnto thee for thy whole Church and the members thereof howsoeuer or whersoeuer distracted dispersed and estranged by nation tongue or place from vs. That it may please thee who knowest who are thine to haue a fatherly care ouer them and whom thou hast already called to the knowledge of thy trueth graunt them Lord mercifull louing and constant hearts to stand in the profession thereof without wauering or starting backe call and incorporate such as are contrarily minded and whom thou hast in thy fore-election appointed to saluation That they also may be made of the same holy Communion with vs. And such as yet sit in darkenesse in the shadow of ignorance by the seducements of the ministers of Antichrist or of any other aduersaris inlighten and bring home by thy word vnto the sheepefold of the great Shepheard of our soules Multiply thy sauing spirit vpon vs and vpon all that belong vnto the kingdome of thy Sonne Aâ—â— vouchsafe good Father to inlarge the harts increase the knowledge confirme the faith more and more of all those that haue any chiefe place in Church or Commonwealth Kings Priests and People About the rest Lord open the heart of our King giue him a complete measure of true wisedome not only in gouerning his subiects in due obedience to his owne lawes but in a religious course of obeying seruing of thee in holinesse and trueth Protect and deliuer him from all plots complotments and conspiracies of whatsoeuer aduersaries domesticall or forraine Suffer not Lord the peace of thy Church or Common-weale to suffer violence by ciuill tumults treasons or rebellions Preserue his health increase his strength weaken his enemies and confirme his crowne to his sonne and his sonnes sonnes to the end of time Blesse and prosper in vertue and trueth his Queene and all that truly loue him in and for thee loue thou them and comfort them for thou hast made him a true maintainer of thy truth an enemie of all thine enemies Blesse vnto him a godly religious and wise counsell learned zealous and painefull ministers faithfull religious and truely loyall subiects comfort helpe ayde assist and relieue all and euery true member of thy Sonne Those that are persecuted for thy truth comfort confirme that they may constantly endure vnto the end Them that are weak strengthen Them that are poore and distressed relieue Cure or comfort those that are sicke Many are the troubles of thine own children Lord and according to thy promise deliuer them out of all make them able to indure and laâ— no more vpon any of them theâ— they shall be able to beare Touch the hearts of all thy children that they may be watching in prayer considering the dayes wherein we liue are euill And as thou hast promised to be present with vs and with all thy children in their meetings before thee in prayer Stir vs all vp we beseech thee to a more holy desire
and euery part of my soule and bodie in all holinesse and sanctity that in all my life I may truely walke before thee in â—iâ—â—all feare and obedience and be of an vpright conuersation before the sonnes men Grant this for Christ thy Sonne Amen O Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer before the receiuing of the holy Communion or the Lords Supper THis holy Sacrament is called the Lords Supper because Christ Iesus did institute the same at his last Supper with his Disciples It is called the holy Communion because many faithfull communicate together at this holy Table as common partakers together of the body and blood of Christ. It is left vnto vs to be receiued of vs as a seale of our adoption into the inheritance of that newe Ierusalem purchased by Christ. It is a mysterie and therefore not vnderstood according to the spirituall end by the outward and carnall eating and drinking of the bread and wine which are onely visible signes of an inuisible vertue which maketh the worthy and truely faithfull receiuers liuely members of Christes mysticall bodie And yet not euery one that partaketh of this holy Table is therefore a member of Christ for the outward communicating not only auayleth nothing to the vnworthy Receiuer but turneth to his greater condemnation as appeareth in Iudas And therefore a most fearefull thing it is to presume to come to this holy Table with an vnprepared heart though aswell the vnworthy as the worthy Receiuers vnderstand by the letter of the word that the Body of Christ crucified vpon the Crosse is signified by the Bread his blood shed signified by the powring out of the wine yet how the Receiuer doth eate the flesh and drinke the blood of Christ euery Receiuer vnderstandeth not And therefore a dangerous presumption it is lightly and rashly to presse to this holy Table as if the bread and wine were of ordinary vse the taste and verdure of either differing nothing to the carnall sence from ordinary bread and wine But such is the spirituall vse as it worketh either to the saluation or damnation of euery one that receiueth Euery man receiueth as he is prepared in his heart The godly affected and sanctified that haue truely tasted and do retaine the grace of Gods holy Spirit bringing forth fruits worthy amendment of life partake worthy of this holy mystery But they that remaine in their sinnes carnally minded such as delite in the workes of darkenesse worldly and fleshly vanities what shew soeuer they make of the outward reuerent receiuing of this blessed Sacrament they doe but eat and drinke their owne damnation because they make no distinction or difference betweene this holy Table and the ordinary table of carnall meates They onely feele and feede on the visible signes but the spirituall and inuisible grace they taste not of Therefore it behooueth all that purpose to communicate at this holy Table first to examine how they stand prepared or vnprepared if they find themselues fit to partake of this heauenly mysterie it will appeare in their regeneration and renewed life by truely belieuing in the name of Christ Jesus by vnfeinedly louing one another as Christ commanded by well weighing and duely considering their wayes and turning themselues in faith and obedience to the commandements of God by truely repenting their sinnes and applying their hearts to righteousnesse and true holinesse He that is not thus prepared but continueth in his sinnes in infidelitie and disobedience ought to forbeare this holy Sacrament and to imploy his heart to search all his imperfections to seeke the meanes of reformation by the ministerie of the word and prayer left he come to this holy Table thinking to please God with a bare shew of Religion hauing neither faith nor repentance offering the sacrifice of fooles And so in stead of remission of sinnes promised to the worthy Receiuer hee increase his owne condemnation by vnworthy receiuing A Prayer to bee said before the receiuing of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. O Gracious Lord God Father of our Sauiour Christ Iesus and in him ours I thy poore creature wretched and ful of sinne doe here humbly fall downe in thy presence to be partaker of that holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of that Lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world Iesus Christ who tooke vpon him the burden of thy heauy indignation inkindled against all the sonnes of sinning Adam and refused not the ignominious death of the crosse to take away the curse which lay vpon all mankind pressing vs all downe euen to the hels hath redeemed againe into thy fauour and reconciled to thy grace as many as truly beleeue in his death satisfaction Thy mercy Lord did it wonderfull in our eyes yea a worke beyond the apprehension of humane wisedome a mystery incomprehensible Open therefore the eyes of our spirituall vnderstandings that we may comprehend and take holde by a liuely faith of the free remission of our sinnes and consequently of our reall and perfect adoption into the right of inheritance of eternall glory with Christ in the heauens Reueale Lord God euer louing this most hidde and heauenly mysterie vnto euery one here gathered together to partake of this holy Table and giue vs vnderstanding hearts truly to know what a high and heauenly mystery we here are to communicate for we cannot but acknowledge that although the creatures whereof we desire corporally to partake be visible and our eating the bread and drinking the wine be vnto vs in taste and verdure as are other like bread wine yet there is an inuisible and spirituall operation in the worthy and vnworthy receiuing namely saluation or damnation as appeareth in that vnworthy and most wicked Judas But good Father as he was marked from among the rest of thy Disciples to reprobation let this thine holy ordinance be a sure seale vnto vs of our saluation howsoeuer vnable we are to comprehend the height depth of thy great mercie and wisedome which in this most holy Communion thou offerest for the saluation of all worthy receiuers But who Lord can account himselfe worthy who dare presume to approch vnto this holy and heauenly Banquet of the Lambe as of his owne merit to partake worthily How can sinfull man by eating the bread and drinking the wine assure himselfe of remission of his sinnes not being spiritually instructed in this heauenly mystery Sinne and sanctitie truth and error light and darknesse agree not and therefore man as he is in himselfe by nature corrupt ignorant and in the shadow of death cannot worthily partake of this mystical banquet of the body and bloud of thy Sonne our Sauiour without the inward working of thy grace in his heart whereby it may please thee to giue him a liuely feeling of his imperfections a desire and power to cast off the lothsome clogge of sin and to be truely sanctified to the participation of so effectuall a
meane to obtaine saluation But how farre we wretched sinners heere gathered together are short of feeling our own wants of power to cast off our sinnes and how far from true sanctification thou knowest And therfore louing Father in Iesus Christ clense thou vs and wee shall bee cleane sanctifie vs and we shall be holy and though our imperfections be great though our faith be weak we shall be made perfect and our obedience confirmed by the sincerity of the obedience of Christ our Sauiour whose righteousnes and merits are made ours by thy fatherly and free imputation requiring of vs mortall men only to beleeue I beleeue Lord help mine vnbeliefe that I may lift vp a pure heart vnto thee begge faithfully of thee and receiue plentifully from thee all spirituall graces that I comming vnto this holy table hauing fully cast off the habite of sinne may be clothed with the sacred Robe of Christs Innocencie and be found among the rest of thy Saints hauing on that heauenly wedding garment that I be not taken from this holy Table thrust out with shame and horror into the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth Remember not our offences Lord burie them in the graue of euerlasting forgetfulnesse forget not whereof we are made and be not vnmindefull what an armie of spirituall enemies doe continually assayle vs and how in our most deuotest and most religious actions and exercises they are most busie to seduce and circumuent vs. Assist vs therefore Lord and be thou on our side grace vs now with thy blessed presence that we may heere offer vp vnto thee our soules and bodies a holy liuely and acceptable sacrifice and become worthie Receiuers of this holy Mysterie that as we eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup we may truly find an effectual mortification of our sinning part and a liuely viâ—ification and regeneration of our spirituall part and may be more and more changes in our liues that we may walk before thee and be vpright from hencefoorth all the dayes of our earthly pilgrimage and teach vs euer more and more to obey and loue him who so infinitly loued vs that he contented himselfe to giue his bodie to be crucified and his bloud to be shed for vs which great loue of his being heere represented vnto vs by these thy visible creatures of bread and wine giue vs truely and faithfully beleeuing hearts that we may worthily receiue them and rightly retaine the reuerend memorie of his death and be euer the better enabled to resist and abandon sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnes al the dayes of our liues that at his comming againe we may be raised and ascend with him as members sanctified and heires adopted into that inheritance which he purchased with his bloud in heauen Graciously grant this O Father for his sake that suffered that ignominious death and seale vp in our consciences by thy holy Spirit a full and liuely assurance that wee are truly ingrafted into him our head and in and by and with him shall liue eternally glorified in heauen Amen Lord increase our faith and prepare our hearts to a faithfull and reuerend receiuing of this holy Sacrament to our soules comfort A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Lords Supper IT is a dangerous thing vpon the recouerie of health after sicknes to suffer a relapse and falling downe againe but much more dangerous to fall into new sinnes after repentance and reconciliation with God A man hauing polluted himselfe with pitch and being clensed is worthy to suffer shame if he wallow in it againe How much more shamefull is it for a man that hath vowed reformation of his corrupt life and to forsake his sins and hath thereupon receiued in token of forgiuenesse the seale of Gods promise the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of Christ to binde him vpon paine of condemnation to new obedience if he wilfully fall backe againe Thou therefore whatsoeuer thou be that hast beene partaker of this holy and most sacred mysterie remember what thou hast done how thou hast eaten thy saluation or damnation for there is not a meane betweene this if therefore thou hauing beene a guest at this heauenly Feast feele in thy selfe a heart not so well formerly prepared as the holy Ghost commandeth retaining still the froth and filth of thy sinnes begin now to cast them off and put on instantly the wedding garment of true regeneration that thou mayest be found worthie to sit at this holy Table and to partake of the sauing food of thy soule by chewing the cudde of continuing repentance and newnesse of life heere that hereafter thou mayest enioy the fruits of thy new birth with Christ in heauen And for as much as no man hath power of himselfe to performe that obedience in the inner man which he may promise by outward words there is no surer or more preuailing meanes then prayer And therefore it behoueth thee to continue and end this heauenly exercise with hartie prayer to God in the same Christ that he would be pleased for that his Sons sake to accept thee into the inseperable societie of his Elect Saints And let not this desire be as a pusse of winde or as a flame suddenly quenched but let it be a daily exercise to meditate of this thy holy vnion with Christ that thy backe sliding to sinne heap not vp a more heauie weight of condemnation against thee in the time of thine account when it will be demanded how thou presumest to come to that holy Table without the habite of true faith and obedience it will not boote thee to say thou camest for feare of the law or for company with the congregation for who so commeth not for and apprehendeth not inward and spirituall comfort commeth vnworthily and he that falleth to his old sins againe hath eaten this Spirituall bread and drunke of that Spirituall rocke which is Christ to his owne damnation O Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the holy Communion GReat good and most gracious Lord God the Author and finisher of our faith who of thy free fauour hast now vouchsafed me to be a guest at this thy heauenly banquet where I haue beene refreshed not so much with the visible creatures of bread and wine for the strengthening of my weake bodie which without thy corporall nutriment cannot long indure But with the heauenly Manna the food of the soules of thy Saints the blessed body and bloud of that immaculate Lambe who sealed our attonement with thee with his bloud vpon the ignominious and grieuous crosse and there cancelled the hand-writing which was against vs and of the bond-â—â—aues of Satan made vs the free men of the new Jerusalem and in our nature and for vs and in our behalfes triumphed ouer Satan Death and Hell and now Lord as it hath pleased thee to accept me into this holy communion and to make me partaker of that
disposeth of all the estates of men in mercy and iudgement thou liftest out of the dunghill the humbled poore and hurlest downe the mightie thou giuest takest when what from whom and wherefore it pleaseth thee All thy wayes O God are mercie and truth to them that feare thee Thou Lord art righteous in all thy workes and holy in all thy wayes Howsoeuer thou correctest thy children it is for their purgation to clense them from the rust and drosse of their corruptions And makest pouerty sickenesse enemies and all crosses not onely not burdensome or irkesome vnto thine but sweete and easse to be borne though the naturall man seeme to kicke against them the man regenerate and borne a new of the holy Ghost imbraceth them as the true tokens of thy fatherly affection towards him who hauing learned out of thy sacred word that through many troubles thy Saints must enter into ioy and through disgrace into glory Hee feareth most when he is most free from crosses left that he should not be of the number of them that shal be saued whose saluation is the more certaine by how much thou correctest him by thy fatherly visitations All flesh is corrupt and all men sinners Thou therefore who art iust cleane and pure in all thy wayes and workes canst not but vse thy rod of gentle corrections vpon them whom thou louest in Iesus Christ But lettest the wicked either to lie securely in a reprobate sence or to lay thy heauy iudgement vpon them euen in this life where they begin their condemnation But good Father Enter not into iudgement with mee Let not thy corrections become curses vnto me but rather Lord let them be meerely medicines to cure the disease of sinne in me So shall I by the working of thy holy spirit become more and more mortifâ—ed in the affections of my heart which are then most offending thy Maiestie when I am in greatest securitie And therefore louing father take from me all grudging discontent of mind and murmuring against thy corrections of what kind or qualitie soeuer they be for thou hast testified vnto vs by thy word that thou scourgest euery sonne thou receiuest And therefore he that wanteth thy fatherly chastisements seemeth to be a bastard and no sonne And forasmuch Lord as the causes of mens troubles in this life be many and hidden some to correct for sinnes alreadie committed some to preuent sinnes whereunto we are inclinable and some to manifest thy power by way of iudgement against the impeniteÌ„t wicked Take Lord away from the eyes of my darke vnderstanding the vayle of ignorance that I may see and feele in my conscience a sure testimonie of thy sauing spirit that thy corrections light not vpon me in iudgement but in mercy not to condemn me but to approue me to be one of thy Church militant whose members haue their continuing afflictions which howsoeuer outwardly they seeme to blemish them yet doe they make them beautifull within and most amiable vnto thee howsoeuer wee seeme vnto the world outcastes castawayes yet are we thereby made the more like vnto our Sauiour who procured out saluation through affliction And thereby thou Lord knowing our weakenesse to vndergoe his crosses lay no more vpon me then withall thou mayest be pleased to giue mee grace and strength to beare it according to thy promise and then lay vpon me what thou wilt pouertie sicknesse enemies and whatsoeuer crosses may make me likest vnto thy sonne in his patient sufferings although I haue learned Lord that all the afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory that shal be shewed in the life that is to come And therefore Lord assist me with thy grace that I with patience and godly reioycing may vndergoe whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vpon me As did Saint Paul Silas Saint Peter and other thine Apostles who imbraced all thy corrections and their troubles for thy names sake with heauenly alacritie and spirituall consolation O Lord increase my faitli A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said in pouerty and want of this lifes necessaries OF all the miseries that can befall a man in this mortall life none is more bitter and burdensome then pouertie and want of this lifes necessaries And therefore we may obserue how all men generally striue to auoyd it by meanes lawfull or vnlawfull It made Iacob to pray for sufficiencie left want should constraine him to vniust meanes to supply his necessities namely to clothe and feed himselfe and them that he hath committed to his eare for there is no other reall want to bee complained of but the want of food and rayment if a man haue to sustaine nature in the meanest measure and to couer his nakednesse in the basest manner and be free from danger of debt and be not an idle but a diligeÌ„t man in some lawfull calling he hauing the feare of God cannot be said a poore man for the feare of God maketh him wise and wisdome maketh him patient patieÌ„ce coÌ„tent he that is coÌ„teÌ„t in this mean estate is rich He that treasures vp the word of God in his soule though he haue neither Siluer nor Gold he may be rich as Peter who waÌ„ting these was yet rich in all Christian vertues and much beloued of the Lord and vpon such poore men doth the Lord cast his fatherly and louing countenance he watcheth ouer them and feedeth them Harken my beloued brethren saith Saint Iames hath not God chosen the poore of this world that they should be rich in faith and heires of the Kingdom which he promised to them that loue him God preferreth the poor in worldly goods being faithfull and iust before the vnfaithfull rich howsoeuer carnal iudgement maketh great differeÌ„ce between the worldly rich whom it reuerenceth and the corporall poore whom it scorneth But let the bodily poore whome the Lord hath inriched with spirituall graces reioyce in their tribulations for God hath prouided for them a Citie a Crowne glorie and immortalitie where they shall neither want siluer gold rayment food or any necessaries for the Lord Christ shal be vnto them all in all things But it is to be vnderstood that it is not the pouertie of any that can deserue these future fauours but they are the free gifts of God in Christ to the godly poore not prouided for the idle prophane wicked and dissolute that assume vnto themselues voluntary beggerie or consume their corporall meanes lewdly and so become poore vsing no lawfull calling to maintaine and support their estates when they shall pleade their pouertie and miseâ—iâ— in time to come it shall be said vâ—â—o them Goâ— ye vnthrifâ—ie seruants into euerlasting pouertie perpetuall nakedâ—â—sse and endlesse hunger thirst Whosoeuer therfore thou be that art pressed with pouertie seeke the riches that shal neuer diminish Diuine Knowledge 〈◊〉 Faith and pray vnto the God of Lazarus that if it be his pleasure he will remoue thy pouerty and renue thy
many if not the wilde beasts of the field other vnsuspected meanes to hurt vs or destroy vs. Moreouer as no man taketh a Iourney in hand but it tendeth to some profitable or nâ—cessary end So â—e wisheth the good successe of his intentions and he that standeth vpon his owne wit or iudgement onely or vpon his owne strength dependeth but on a broken reede and often meerely misseth of his purpose to his apparant hinderance whereas if hee truely and sincerely recommendeth himselfe and his occasions to diuine direction in a liuely faith in Christ Iesus in whom all things are blessed vnto vs he may then assure himselfe that all things shall succeede vnto him for the best So shall he trauaile in assurance rest in safety as when Dauid had recommended himselfe to God though he were in danger yet he lay downe in peace assuring himselfe that it was God that had taken charge of him and would make him dwell in safetie It is a sweet contentment to a faithfull man to rest assured of Gods presence in all his wayes and of the ayde of his holy Angels whom he sendeth ministring spirits for the good of his nothing can hurt them of whom God hath taken charge neither can any thing but prosper which he blesseth vnto vs. And therefore he that wilfully omitteth this holy dutie of seruing the liuing God cannot assure him of any good successe of whatsoeuer he attempteth Lord encrease my Faith A Prayer before a man begin his Lo 〈…〉 〈◊〉 attempt any weighty corporall 〈◊〉 MOst gracious Lord Goâ— most wise louing and prouident who in thy wisedome disposest all things in the loue preseruest them that see 〈…〉 thine aide in thy prouidence 〈◊〉 uentest all dangers prouidest 〈◊〉 necessaries for them that as 〈…〉 them at thy hands Let it pleast thee good father in Iesus Christ to guide me this day in my Journey and giue me good successe of 〈◊〉 occassons for I doe acknowledge mine owne weakenesse and 〈◊〉 blenesse to performe my trau 〈…〉 being but dust ashes not able to endure without the strength of thy grace working strength in my members Many dangers and casualties also lurke in the way where thou art not pleased to be a guide in number and varietie so many as cannot be numbred And therefore gracious Father fauour me so much this day as to accompany me in my wayes send thine â—uly Angels to administer comfort vnto me direction protectioÌ„ that 〈◊〉 going forth comining in may the prosperous and in safetie and leaue me not to my self who am as a beast of my selfe neither knowing what dangers lie in my wayes nor how to auoide them But thou knowest all things takest charge of them that recommend themselues into thy hands thou defendest them and deliuerest them take me Lord into thy defence let no euill happen vnto me be vnto me a strong towre and a place of safetie for nothing can hurt them whom thou keepest keepe mee Lord and I shall bee safe giue ablenesse vnto the creatures which necessitie inforceth mee to vse that they may serue to my vse giue mee all necessaries for my Journey and blesse them vnto mee and as thou Lord knowest whereof I haue neede giue mee dayly and continuall supply according to thy will Thou knowest also mine occasions and the end of my present intended 〈◊〉 nailes let it please thee to worthe for me all things for the best giue me wisedome to manage it and to performe it to the discharge of my godly duetie according to a goâ—â— conscience I commend mee 〈◊〉 thy hands Lord Lord receiue 〈◊〉 keepe me hold me vp that I 〈◊〉 into no perill of soule or 〈◊〉 keepe my cogitations euer holy 〈◊〉 hands cleane my heart pure 〈◊〉 all the parts and powers of my 〈◊〉 by euer prepared with a 〈◊〉 affection to serue thee in a sanctified conuersation to thine own glory and mine euerlasting consolation and send me a comfortable returne Amen Lord encrease my faith and blesse my Iourney A MOTIVE TO Prayer to be said after the returne from a Iourney or comming to the Inne or place of rest ALl men in their Iourneyes wish for good successe but not according to true zeale and that is the reason when they returne safe they doe not giue the glory to God they asked not his presence to be with them and therefore giue they the glory to their owne abilities to trauaile to the goodnesse of the horse and to the good companie they had If euill happen vnto them or hurt befall them they lay it vpon the creature or vpon some suddaine accident neither giuing thanks to God by whose prouidence indeed they returned or came safe to their place of rest nor their crosses to proceed of their sinnes and neglect of the seruice of God If euery man would truely and without partiality enter into the examination of his owne heart how many would finde in themselues a true desire to haue theâ— iourneyes or enterprises blessed 〈◊〉 God by their zealous prayers made vnto him before they attempt them And how many would there be found so thankefull as to prayse God seriously when they returne or come to their place of rest in safetie It is the last worke in euery action And therfore God although he permit forgetfull men to succeed wishedly in their affaires yet retaineth hee their vnthankefulnesse in memorie and often turneth their glory to shame their ioy into sorrow and the things wherunto they ascribe their greatest preseruation into their suddaine destruction It is a matter too common to receiue good at the hands of God and to reward him euilly as doe all men that begin their trauailes without him and seeke not his fauour and direction in their occasions which maketh many to forget their religious thankefulnesse and to be 〈…〉 them to wantonnesse and vanities 〈◊〉 soone as they enter their place of â—bode if but for a night whereas â—deed it behooueth them that professe a diuine prouidence to seeke safety preseruation and direction at the hands of God and hauing receiued the successe be it according or against their desires they may assure themselues it falleth out for the best because God doth all for the good of true beleeuers whatsoeuer is done and therefore requireth thankefulnesse in the conclusion of euery Iourney action or enterprise for true thankefulnesse for a benefite receiued standeth in place of a preuailing petition for and obtaining a newe blessing Lord increase my faith A thankesgiuing after the returne from a Journey or comming safe to a place of rest MOst gracious and louing Lord God I giue thee most humble vnfained thanks that thou so mercifully hast blessed me this day in my Journey and trauailes preseruing me froÌ„ many perils that I haue escaped euen by thine owne power and prouidence and hast in safety brought me vnto this place of rest which yet without thy blessing may becom a place of trouble for as the fields
and wayes are full of hidden dangers which without thy protection could not but haue faln vpoÌ„ me so is not this place whereinto I am safely retired by thy prouidence free from perils and therefore as thou hast hitherunto kept me keepe me now in this place wherein if thou dwel not by thy power and louing fauor there cannot but abide Sathan sinne and vanities powerfull enemies and able to surprise the strongest naturall man Strengthen me Lord aboue nature and helpe the parts of most infirmitie that my soule body being strengthened I may be able to giue thâ—â— the more sound prayses and haue spirituall power to resist whatsoeuer shall spiritually seeke to seducâ— me and in thy prouidence preseruâ— me in body safe giue me whatsoeuer is needfull for me in this place and continue thy louing fauour towards me that all things at all times in all places may prosperously succeed vnto me depart not from me good Father but blesse me first that I may be euer blessed So shall all things goe well with me both going foorth and comming in and all things worke together for my continuall consolation wherefore giue me grace euer to loue thee in Christ mine euerlasting Redeemer Amen O Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said before a Sermon MAn by nature being a sincke of corruption and a gulfe of hidden hypocrisie his conscience naturally oppressed with a slauish feare lest his inward and secret euill thoughts should be reueiled and his hidden iniquities discouered as much as in him lyeth coueteth to shun the light of the word of God which comprehendeth both the killing Law and the sauing glad tidings of the Gospel by the one he is condemned and therefore hateth the sentence which pronounceth that whosoeuer sinneth shall die yet apprehendeth he not either the grieuousnesse of his sinnes nor the miserie of the Gospel which is the preaching of repentance and the forgiuenesse of sinnes but lying securely in his sinnes thinketh not of any account and therfore regardeth not much the word preached But wheÌ„ shame or authoritie presseth the carnall man to heare the word he thâ—â— heareth sinne reproued and the sinfull condemned which is so vâ—sauâ—ry vnto him as he wisheth himselfe out of the hearing Herod could not endure the preaching of Iohn Baptiâ—â— reprouing him for his brothers wife be it the Law or the Gospel that such men heare it is as harsh vnto them as the words of Michaiah to Ahab yet we must vnderstand that though maâ— deliuer the word it is not his but the word of God and therefore no man but such a one as is yet in the state of reprobation wil refuse to he are God who is mercifull and louing speake vnto him if it be but the threatning Law which teacheth what is sinne and what is the reward of sinne wherby being cast downe with sorrow that he hath committed things so contrary to the will of his Creator he may seeke atonement and reconciliation with his offended God by the Gospel the testimonie of his loue Are not my words saith God good vnto him that walkes vprightly Therefore none but the obstinately wicked will shun the word preached which aswell offereth remission of sinnes committed as it threatneth death to the impenitent The Scriptures in many places command vs to seeke the Lord which argueth that we by nature are strangers from God separated by sinne and to remaine so is the most miserable condition that can befall the sonnes of men And where is the Lord to be sought but in his word which is the life of the soule As the soule body are knit together and conserued by breath So are our soules connexed and conioyned vnto God by the word of truth preached by Gods minister apprehended by faith and practised in spirit and truth The naturall man couets and delights to refresh himselfe in his griefes and crosses by musicke by merry company and by reading prophane bookes or hearing pleasant conceited songs or comedies which doe not onely not comfort but rather increase their griefes Contrarily Dauid protested that hee sought and found the onely true comfort in the word of God So doe all that are truely qualified in the rules of right religion though worldlings account it a melancholike wearinesse to sit an houâ—e to heare God speake vnto them But let them thinke that this wearinesse shall be a witnesse against them that they belong not to the Lord. Euery man desires to see his image in a glasse for two ends the one to see his feature the other to correct his deformities And Saint Iames compares the word of God to a glasse wherein are two sorts of Images discouered namely of Nature and Grace The first sheweth what we our selues are the second what we ought to seeke to be namely to be like vnto our head Christ Iesus in all sanctitie and holinesse in suffering patiently and obeying God truely This is by no other meanes learned but by the word of God preiched But some that haue made the least progresse in the loue to godlinesse of life thinke it sufficient to read the word of God or the workes of good and godly men at home an exercise not to bee in it selfe condemned but in respect of it to neglect the word preached is the contempt of Gods ordinance who hath in greatest fauour instituted his ministers to teach by the powerfull preaching of the word which worketh a more deepe impression in the heart of the hearer then of the reader For if wee consider the authoritie of the word preached it is from God the ministery from the mouth of man who is the mouth of God he therefore that neglects or contemnes the word preached neglectes the meanes of his saluation which is faith in Christ Iesus For faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God preached It is not yet sufficient to heare the word but as Marie laid vp the word in her heart so must euery profitable hearer retaine the word in their mindes permit it to rule in their affections and to bring foorth the fruits thereof in their actions reioycing when they doe the commandements of God and grieuing when they transgresse the same And because there be many things that hinder the growing of this sauing seede and many grounds receiue it but onely one namely good ground can bring forth the fruit It behooueth to pray that our hearts may be made fit to heare our affections fit to loue and our whole man apt to cherish this seede by continuall holy practise Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said before the hearing of a Sermon THou Lord hast commanded vs or rather louingly inuited vs to seeke thy face and yet thou art in the highest heauens among thine Angels Seraphims and Cherubims and wee dust and ashes are in the earth full of infirmities not able to looke vnto much lesse into the heauens to behold thee there no the very Angels hide
to wish well vnto them that haue done much good for me much more vnable to performe that good towards them that I would and ought Forasmuch therefore as I haue no power of my selfe giue mee at least a will that my inward destres may work with thee by the mediation of thy welbeloued Sonne to the obtaining of inward loue and filiall affection towards them and be able to expresse it in my coÌ„tinual faithfull prayers for them Deale with them mercifully O Lord heape vpon them thy blessings the peace of a good conscience plentie of diuine knowledge holy and religious hearts towards thee the continuall abundant supply of all necessaries health of bodie the strength and vse of their limbes ayde in whatsoeuer their neede defence from enemies and prosperity in all things Blesse them with all spirituall blessings and graces in heauenly things Let them heare thy word attentiuely let them beleeue it faithfully let them embrace it cheerefully let them practise it religiously and in a good conscience and let them taste of thy fauours and loue continually and seeke to please thee in all things truely giue them comfort I beseech thee in my well doing and of thâ— vertuous and religious conuersations of al their children friends â—llies and seruants Let not 〈◊〉 misbehauiour or vnseemely course of life procure their griefe or shame but grant that they liâ—iâ—â— long according to thy good pleasure in thy faith feare fauour 〈◊〉 loue they may so giue vp the 〈…〉 soules in peace into thy hands thâ—â— gauest them through Christ Jesâ—â— our Lord and our euerlasting Redeemer Amen Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO stirre vp Masters to a godly gouernment of their seruants and to pray for them AS there is areciprocal dutie between the husband the wife between the parents their children so is there likewise betweene masters and seruants In euery of these there is a superioritie and a power to command and Subiection mouing inferiours to obey It is a great priuiledge that masters haue ouer their seruants yet not such as some masters doe impose vpon their seruants for although they haue a libertie to gouerne and to command it is not so absolute but it hath it limitations and bounds for now as well seruants as masters beleeuing the promise are equally within the couenant And therefore seruants although bound to corporall masters as touching their bodily seruice are yet the Lords free men and so fellow-members of Christ with their beleeuing masters which maketh them brethren in the Lord whose feare should preuent too much seueritie in the master moue the seruant to the more obedience and faithfull seruice The strength of Israel said vnto me saith Samuel Thou shalt beare rule ouer men being iust and ruling in the feare of God Heere is the bound and limit of mans authoritie ouer them whom they gouerne Iustice and the feare of God whereby we are taught that masters are not to quarell with and threaten their seruants or afflict them without good cause they may not vniustly taxe them or correct them neither ought masters to conceile but teach them their trades and mysteries The feare of God imports a diuine office which the Masters owe vnto their seruants and that is to indeuour to make them the true members of the Church of Christ by godly education and counsell to vse the authoritie they haue ouer their seruants modestly and holily seeing that they in another respect haue a common Master which is in heauen who will iudge both the bond and the free the master the seruant without respect of the ones glory and the others basenes of the ones authoritie to command or the others seruitude and bondage and it is not commendable for masters too much to insult ouer their seruants or mistresses and sterne dames to tyrannize ouer their maydes who were begotten borne and brought forth in as glorious a maner as the proudest richest and most vaine-glorious master or dame whâ— haue but gotten as it were the start of their seruants by Gods permission who as we daily may see and obserue hurleth downe and confoundeth the most imperious and insolent masters and exalteth the humble and obedient seruants yee masters and dames threaten not nor abuse your seruaÌ„ts they are but lent you for your ease and seruice by their and your Father and Master for a time who will take an account of you how you haue gouerned them and of them how they haue serued and obeyed you and if you take astrict account of euery offence committed by your seruaÌ„t how think you that your Master which is in heauen should winck at or passe by your many transgressions against him as if there were a priuiledge for you to offend the God that made you men and women and made you masters and gouernours ouer men and women your gouernmeÌ„t being but only carnall and their seruice but corporall whereas your Master which is in heauen gouerneth spiritually and your seruice towards him ought to be holy and truely spirituall And thinke that if your seruants disobedience be offensiue vnto you what are your sins and rebellious courses of life vnto God your great Master which seeth your sinnes in secret and will reward them openly Make the case of your corporall seruants disobedience vnto you your case of disobedieÌ„ce to God and consider whether you could be content that euery sinne you haue committed should haue it due reward would it not be a terror vnto you and make you lesse furious and lesse bitter vnto your seruants for euery trifle in committing of a fault or omitting some small dutie to be done I mooue not this to defend or incourage euill and disobedient seruants but to aduise masters and women commanders to vse Christian counsell to their seruants and to gouerne them in the feare of God according to the rule of religion and let none of them thinke it a needlesse a superfluous or a base dutie for masters and gouernours to pray for their seruants and such as are vnder their commaund But let them know it is a duety required of and performed by all godly masters and dames that God may be pleased to make them honest religious and fit for the businesse wherein they vse them to make them dutifull and obedient fearing God so shall such masters and gouernours be blessed for such godly religious seruants sakes vnder whose hands all that they doe shall prosper And to this purpose I haue framed a forme of prayer which or some other to the like purpose such Masters and Dames may vse as desire the meanes to haue good and gracious seruants and whosoeuer scorneth or neglecteth the means is worthy to be crossed by their crooked behauiour and a more excellent meane there is not then godly counsell and diuine prayer to keepe them in obedience A prayer to be said of masters for their seruants not vnfit to bee vsed of all that haue command ouer others GRacious Father who
vs. Giue a holy preparation vnto our hearts willingly to submit our selues to thy good pleasure for life or death whether of theÌ„ thou shalt be pleased to worke for vs worke in vs for the one such thankfulnes as thou deseruest for so great a blessing as the prolonging of life and patience in the other knowing that it is appointed to euery man once to die Lord let not death which is but the dissol 〈…〉 ion of the soule from the bodie be ouer terrible vnto vs But rather make vs so to consider the benefit of our coniunction which through the mercie in Christ wee are assured shall follow our dissolution that we may reioyce that the meanes of our dissolution is foreshewed vnto vs which yet if thou in mercie mayest be pleased for a time to forbeare it may be vnto vs a liuely preuailing Motiue to stirre vs vp to a more religious faithfull and holy course of life before thee that with patience and hope we may waite the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ and appeare blamelesse in that day and in the meane time walke worthie of thee pleasing thee in all things strengthened with all might through thy glorious power to all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnes And grant that our soules may euermore depend on thee our God for of thee commeth our health and our saluation haue mercie vpon vs haue mercie vpon vs O God for our soules trust in thee and in the shadow of thy wings will wee trust vntill this thy visitation bee ouerpast Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to stirre vp Souldiers to liue in the feare and seruice of God AMong all other professions in the world none is more dangerous then the militarie for Souldiers are euer neerest vnto casuall and vntimely death yet which is to be admired and lamented no sort of people are more loosely lasciuiously and barbarously giuen then they Whoredome Drunkennesse Rapine Blasphemie Oppression Tyranny and all kindes of vngodlines are frequent among them Much to be wondred at that men abandoned as it were to the mercilesse bullet and sword should walke so inordinately as if there were not a God in mercy to preserue them or in iudgement to confound them Aboue all men Souldiers ought to be most watchfull ouer their wayes and most mindefull of their vncertaine condition knowing that Captiuitie Wounds and Death are ineuitable companions of their profession The verie title of a Souldier importeth two kindes of warfare externall with corporall internall with spirituall enemies If a professed Souldier faint or faile in the first he is censured cowardly and not brauely minded which for outward disgrace hee will seeke to auoide If he be foiled in the second men and Angels will condemne his weaknesse if he preuaile in both how great is his commendation If therefore you that be or desire to bee Souldiers perfect and complete subdue and conquer first your owne inward and priuate enemies then incounter the common enemie with courage for before you haue manfully fought against and conquered Sinne and Satan and your owne carnal affections luâ—king within your hearts you can neuer with Christian courage confront the visible enemie marching furiously towards you for he that feareth not nor serueth God how valiant so euer hee seemeth outwardly yet feareth hee death and consequently feareth the ministers and instruments of death but whoso feareth and serueth God aright needes not feare the furie of mortall man who can kill but the bodie but the inuisible enemies kill the inward and better part the soule with the bodie Therefore seeke you peace and bee reconciled to God before you vndertake warreâ— with man for if God be against you if the strength of Goliah the policie of Achitophel the power of Senacherib the hoast of Pharaoh were all conioyned on your side you should come to like end as these vaine men did that thought themselues inuincible But if God bee on your side you neede not feare One shall bee able to incounter ten ten shall chase an hundred an hundred shall put ten thousand to flight It much importeth you that would bee accounted martiall men therefore to walke before God and to bee vpright pray vnto him for courage and good successe but before you pray you must striue with a godly resolution to abandon all your vngodly behauiour for God heareth nor nor respecteth the prayers of hypocrites such as draw nigh him with their lippes and intreate him in their words vtterly denying him in their workes Cast off the common course of prophane souldiours too well knowne to bee too impious follow the counsell of Christ who willeth you to doe violence to none to accuse no man falsely and to bee content with your wages Luke 3. 10. Being thus qualified repaire vnto God in a liuely faith vsing all meanes to encrease in diuine knowledge which begetteth all holy vertues wherewith being furnished whether you liue or die yee shall bee the Lords O Lord increase our faith A Prayer to be vsed of souldiers OH God of hoasts look downe vpon me thy vnworthy seruant who in this life labour both in a corporall and spirituall warfare fighting within and without Assist me first with thy grace faithfully to incounter strongly to resist and truly to triumph ouer sin and Satan who lie in ambush with armies of infernall souldiers seeking to surprize my inward and better part my soule and to depriue me of al godly affections that so I being conquered within may not be able rightly to performe my outward calling wherin thou Lord knowest I walke in coutinuall danger of my mortall life hauing of my selfe neither power nor policie to auoid the ordinarie perils and calamities that accompany 〈◊〉 in this course of life I am much sinfull and therefore I may the more feare that thou who hearest not sinners wilt refuse to goe with me to battell which euery where and at all times threatneth mee with captiuitie wounds or death as one abandoned in humane opinion to the mercilesse bullet and sword Giue me therefore Lord a repenting heart and a truly reformed conuersation that seeing by so many meanes death houereth ouer my head I may be euer readie and prepared in a holy and sanctified life to meet the same without feare knowing that death is but the issue out of a wildernesse of miseries troubles calamities and dangers and an entrance into that most sweet pleasant and Paradise plentifull of all good and most wished things wherein is no warre but peace no care but comfort no feare but ioy no miserie but mirth no hunger nor thirst no want but aboundance of all good things for the soule to enioy Make me therefore O gracious Lord God an vpright and faithfull souldier in this mortall warfare that I seeke not nor sinisterly take the goods or shâ—â—â— the blood of any man Take 〈◊〉 me al desire of vniust reuenge 〈…〉 pine and doing wrong to any Conforme mine hart and mine affections to
watch for the euening of our dayes and so labour while it is to day that when the night of our last and finall sleepe shall ouertake vs our workes may follow vs not to condemne vs nor as able to iustifie vs but to witnes with vs and for vs that we haue not laboured altogether in thee in vaine but according to that measure of grace which thou art pleased to bestow vpon vs we may worke out our saluation with feare and trembling Looke Lord vpon vs heere gathered together before thee in a reuerend humiliation of our hearts And because naturally we are obdurate and our affections hardly brought vnder or subdued subdue Lord all the rebellious imaginations that intrude now or at any time into our thoughts And let vs giue no entertainment vnto those desires which tende to vanities whether of the minde of the will or the pride of life Let no euill accompany vs vnto our corporall rest much lesse Lord vnto our finall sleepe Let vs now begin to cast off the dregges of sinne while we haue time Let vs nâ—t put off our repentance vntill to morrow Rather as the day is past that gaue vs corporall light and the night come threatning darknesse let vs liue this night in thy spirituall light and let the darknesse of sinne vanish as the light of the day neuer to rise againe vnto vs That we beginning euen now to liue in that light which lighteneth the hearts of thy Saints we may neuer adâ—it the darknesse of vngodlines to ouershadow vs againe But let vs make vse of the night not for sleepe only but rather meditating of the resemblance the night hath with the state of impenitent sinners who liuing out of thy fauour are still in darknesse And as our sleepe resembleth our bodies rest in the graue So giue vs grace Lord to consider that we are euen at the end of our finall day wherein we shall vntill the day of our resurrection commend our dust to dust as we now for a night betake our bodies to our beds And as we hope and humbly desire thee that our sleepe this night may be vnto vs more for the relieuing our wearinesse then for wanton delight So we likewise hope and desire that when we shall lay downe our bodies in the graue it may not bee as of the sauour of death vnto â—eath but of life vnto euerlasting life Grant gracious Lord God that thy power and prouidence may preserue vs safe in bodie and soule vntill the morning that we may then betake vs againe vnto our lawfull callings and that when our bodies shall rest in our graues our soules may be preserued vnder thine Altar among the rest of thy Saints vntill the most wished and glorious morning of our resurrection when wee shall no more returne vnto our labour no more feare dangers no more hunger thirst nor care for bodies necessaries but for euermore enioy the most blessed Crowne of eternall glorie which graunt gracious Lord God in and for thy Christ in whom all things for this life and the life to come are blessed vnto vs to whome with thee and the holy Ghost bee ascribed all honour power Maiestie and dominion for euermore Amen O Lord encrease our faith blesse vs and preserue vs this night and for euermore So be it A short Prayer for the Euening to be vsed of one man in priuate O Lord my God mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ I yceld thee humble thankes for thy mercies and louing fauours shewed towards me this day past wherein thou hast bountifully testified thy fatherly care of me and hast largely dealt with me in the vse of thy good creatures And as I haue found grace fauor at thy hands this day shorten not thy hand of comforts now the night is come wherein we are beset with many dangers the more in regard of the darkenesse of the night wherein all that worke wickednesse take their fittest oportunities to worke their deuices I haue no defence thou knowest no protection no refuge no meanes of safetie of my selfe but all my helpe standeth in thy Name Thy power and prouidence Lord is my sure defence and the least measure of thy fauour is sufficient to deliuer me from an hoast of enemies much more from all the power practice deuices of Sathan and his ministers who howsoeuer subtilly they lay waite and furiously assaile me yet are they limited by thy power and beyond the bounds of thy permission they cannot goe onely my owne corrupt nature and mine owne sinful inclination make readiest way for their attempts I am a sinner not worthy to approch into thy presence but as the poore Publicane crying Lord be mercifull vnto mee a sinner Clense mee from my faults committed this day wash me in the blood of the Lambe that I bee not bard from thy presence who refusest to heare sinners among whom I am the greatest therfore in forgiuing me the greater shall thy mercies appeare and the more bound shall I bee vnto thee who hast forgiuen much and I shall loue thee much in him whom thou louest most In him heare me for him forgiue me and let not the faults that I haue done this day be registred against me in the heauens nor reserued to be witnesses against me at the day of mine account Blot out of the booke of thy remembrance my sinnes done yesterday and to day and henceforth guide me in so sincere and perfect obedience that I sinne not though darkenesse ouershadow my body Let the light of thy loue shine in my soule that although my bodie sleepe and bee senceles of many dangers thy prouidence may watch ouer me and in my deadest slumbers preserue me and the more the darkenesse of the night doth blind my corporal eyes so much the more let me couet and obtaine the light of thy sauing countenance That howsoeuer I haue through weakenesse falne this day I may be now raysed againe to newnesse of life that I carry not the burden of my sinnes vnto my bed but cast them off as the rotten ragges of my naturall corruption and being clensed I may become more watchfull and constant that the errors of darkenesse seize not vpon me That the enemies of my present happinesse in thee and of my future glory with thee take not oportunitie in the time of my sleepe or night wakings either to plot or practise my hurt or my soules trouble by vaine dreames or feareful visions which grow partly by the distemperature of our corrupt humors but especially by Sathans temptations And because Lord the night is as a closet of wandring fantasies by reason of the darkenes thereof wherin many vaine and idle imaginations arise to prouoke vs to euill when sleepe ceaseth let thy holy Spirit O Lord rule in my heart and keepe the house of my soule as the strong man that the workes of darkenes creepe not into myheart but as an holy prompter vnto my soule he may stirre vp
sinne sinfull sinne sins of all sorts committing things forbidden and omitting things commanded So that I cannot but confesse against my selfe I am wholly not only sinfull but a lump of sin it selfe a puddle of putrifaction a sinke of vncleannes a gulfe of grosse impieties and a carcasse of most filthie leprosie full of spirituall rottennesse vnworthy the light of the Sunne to lighten my corporall eyes to see to do euill not worthy to breathe in the ayre to speake euill nor worthie to partake of the ordinary food of men to strengthen my flesh the more to sinne nor worthie to consort with humane societie to make them sinfull by my sin Oh wretch that I am how haue I plunged my selfe into thy heauie displeasure how haue I lost thy loue who louest righteousnes and hatest iniquitie Oh wretch that I am how haue I runne without right reason to my ruine rashly Lord I am vnfainedly sorie for my sinnes and I long to be reconciled vnto thee lest I goe to my graue with griefe lest from the graue I should come into iudgement with horror and be inforced to heare that fearefull and finall sentence of reprobatiō pronounced against 〈◊〉 neuer to be reuoked indure torments neuer to be eased Oh Lor 〈…〉 mercifull and louing remember I am but dust forget not how orignall sinne seazed vpon me before I had sence or power to commit actuall sin call to minde that I was conceiued and borne in sinne and brought corruption in my flesh frō my mothers wombe which I could not preuent And although it be the rule of thy seuere Justice to lay the guilt of parents vpō their children yet let thy mercies which are aboue thy Judgemēts shew themselues now when else there is no hope Amen Lord increase my faith and forgiue my sinnes Another shorter prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes O Heauenly father thy promises are many faithfull and comfortable Thou wilt not the death of a sinner but desirest rather that he should repent and liue If thou then desirest rather that I liue then perish giue me a repenting hart renue a right spirit within me reforme me and I shall be reformed for in me Lord there is no goodnes no power and as little will to doe good but a will and power to do euill only Let therefore thy grace worke effectually in me a new heart a new minde new affections holy and sanctified So shall sin become lothsome vnto me which I haue loued and holines of life shal be sweet vnto me which I haue neglected thy Commandements that I haue transgressed I shall indeuour to fulfill thy patience which I haue abused I wil answere with more filiall obediēce The curses then that I haue deserued shal be turnd into blessings and I shall frame the residue of my life in better actions I shall abandon as deceiuing vanities those sinnes wherin I haue delited and shal shun the baits wherwith Satan hath allured me to sin and whereunto I consented by the vanity of mine vnregenerate affections Oh pardon pardon my sins good Father in Iesus Christ fill my hart with the liuely apprehension of thy mercies speake peace vnto my sad and sorrowfull soule reuiue my dead distracted thoughts plunged in despaire cast thine ey◠vpon Christ thy beloued in him 〈◊〉 louing eye vpon me who without him am a cast-away Heare him 〈◊〉 mediator for me heare me a sinner for his sake and pardon me for thy mercies sake Take me now Lord out of the dungeon of feare wherin I haue bin long a captiue sold vnder sin Set me now free from the danger of death and hell Let Satan flie and fall before my face Let sin haue no more power ouer me receiue me into thy fauour assure me of full and free remission of my sinnes in Christ worke true peace in my conscience The sting of death being broken the feare of the iudgement to come may be turned into a liuely assurance of saluation that white I liue here I may euermore feele the liuely worke of thy holy Spirit in me Make the residue of my dayes the dayes of vnfained mourning for my former offences and of a most vpright and righteous conuersation to come and let faith euermore preuaile against all future temptations that I may finish the course of my life in that peace which proceedeth of perfect loue which loue bringeth forth filiall obedience vnto thee which obedience is more acceptable in thy fight then the sacrifices of bullocks and goates Accept me now good Father in Iesus Christ into thy fauour remit my sinnes number me amongst thine elect and seale me vp in thy mercies against the day of my finall visitation Heare me O Lord and let thy holy Spirit guide mee euer vnto that day through Christ my Sauiour my Mediator my Strength and my redeemer Amen O Lord increase my faith and pardon my sinnes A MOTIVE TO A Prayer for a godly and holy life and for power of resisting Satan and sinne THe course of euery mans life declar's what kind of man he is whether carnal or spiritual for as the tree is knowne by his fruit so is euery man known of men by his life conuersation And it is much to be lamented that men though carnally minded will iustifie themselues and make protestation of their hope that they shall be saued as well as he that walketh most sincerely before God and men And this out of a voluntarie ignorance and blindnesse in not knowing and truly distinguishing betweene the wayes of sanctitie and sinne the first leading to heauen and eternall life through grace and faith in Christ the other to hell and reprobation through our owne corruption by the obeying the will of Satan It is more then wonderfull to obserue the courses of carnall men who pretend that they are trauelling to that blessed New Ierusalem and yet take the direct way to Cursed Ierico they couet in conceit to ascend the holy hill of Sion and yet will not leaue that wicked Babylon They professe to liue after the Spirit but doe the workes of the Flesh. They would seeme to liue in Light but behold they are in Darknes not considering that he that liues after the flesh shall die yet how loth are carnall men to leaue the way that leadeth to destruction and how vnapt and vnwilling to walke in the way of life which is Christ in whom if we truely beleeue we walke in him if we truly walke in him we truely liue in him and that life is the summe and end of all our hope it is the marke whereat we ayme all our holy endeuours Let vs therefore determine with our selues and constantly resolue to walke before God and to be vpright Let vs make our supplications in his presence with our whole hearts And let vs duely consider our wayes what they haue beene And let vs now turne our feete vnto his testimonies Let vs strengthen and confirme our resolutions of a godly life by