distrust diffidence of thy power or mercy that so through thy onely and all-able assistance I may bee made of a sinfull soule though not a perfect yet an acceptable worshipper of thee my Soueraigne Lord and onely Sauiour Short Admonitions concerning the premises I Shall desire the charitable viewer of these imperfect rules concerning prayer to conceiue that they are not set downe either to informe the learned or any that are well exercised in prayer But to giue some light vnto such as are young simple ignorant or not much vsed to prayer Neither should any of them bee tied onely to these words or formes heere set downe but it is in their choise to take the sence of the same so farre as they shall finde it to further their good and godly indeauours in prayer And if GOD shall indue them with better abilities they may vse them ought to be thankfull for that heauenly talent they haue and not to hide or to abuse it A prayer for deuotion in prayer SInce all good gifts comes from thee our gracious God the author of all goodnes grant vs thy speciall sauing grace of sanctified feruent prayer in frequent and zealous supplications Wee haue it not of our selues we seeke it of thee nether can wee seeke it without thou first send the motions thereof into our hearts and mindes prepare vs therefore for this holy duty grant vs the practice and power of it before we come to it touch our hearts with the remembrance of our sinnes and repentance for the same Call to our memorie and meditations how slowe wee haue beene to present our selues to thy presence by prayer how cold wee are in deuotion how distracted in our thoughts and how full of fantasies and of fond imaginations which draw our zeale and deuotion from thee even in the time of praier when our thoughts should bee pure and our hearts onely setled vpon thy seruice so that in stead of bringing a blessing we bring iust curses to our selues by these our more formall then faithfull praiers O Lord therefore infuse grace into our hearts kindle zeale fortifie our faith let not our secure and sensuall seruice of thee increase more of our abounding sinnes nor adde more to thy deserued anger but be thou in the middest of vs by thy assisting holy Spirit When wee lift vp our hands lift thou vppe our hearts vnto thee when we speake vnto thee speake thou peace vnto our Consciences giue vs words to vtter faith to beleeue feruencie in our prayers an earnest desire to abandon all euil affections and loose carriage of our cogitations and so closely to settle our soules vnto thy seruice When we come to make our supplications before thy Maiesty let this instant time of prayer whilest we now speake bee the beginning of our better seruice and so continuing in the same with humility constancy and fauour thou maiest haue the honour and wee the benefit To thee bee giuen all honour and glory now and all times Amen Morning prayer in a familie O Lord God light of lights thou that giuest light vnto our soules and to our bodies thou that hast brought vs from the darknesse of this night to see the comfortable light of this day bring vs from the darknesse of ignorance and of sinne and from the corrupting of our soules wherein wee haue liued both day and night As thou hast raised vs from our rests to follow our callings so raise vs from security sloath dulnesse distraction lust couetousnes selfe-conceites pride and all other corrupt affections which carry vs headlong after the vaine imaginations of our owne harts and euill affections Good Lord when we go abroad about our worldly affaires let not our mindes bee led altogether from heauenly meditations but let thy blessed Spirit be our motioner to put vs in minde of the shortnesse and vncertainty of our liues let vs haue before our thoughts often the sinnes wee haue committed the good wee might haue done and haue omitted the time wee haue mispent either in doing no good at all or in doing that is euill And this good Lord teach vs to tell our selues and our owne soules not with wordes onely comming from the lippes but with inward sighs and groanes from the heart and when through the assistance of thy holy Spirit thou hast made vs to search our sins and to smite our hearts then blesse thou the works of our hands in all our good endeauours and as by the same our store doth encrease our thankfulnes to thee may encrease As thy blessings are bestowed so our prayers praises may bee rendred and redoubled At our going out in our rest trauaile and returne bee thou with vs by the blessing and assistance of thy holy Spirit let this day good Lord bee a beginning and a new birth day of faith repentance for our sinnes and of reconciliation to thy Maiesty that so thou mayest receiue vs to mercy Let al the rest of our dayes be an amendment of our sinfull liues past Blesse good Lord thy Church our King his Realmes with faith truth peace and prosperitie guide the rest of the States of this land in their seuerall conditions callings that both they and we may maintaine thy truth set forth thy glory keepe a good conscience to our selues shew charity one vnto another So wee may liue in thy feare dye in thy fauour and after this mortall life is ended we may enioy an immortall life with thee in heauen there to magnifie praise and glorifie thy most glorious Name world without end Amen A Morning Prayer to be vsed in priuate THis day our good God appearing and thy mercies appearing by our deliuerance from dangers this night past and in the ordaining of dayes and of all thy other workes what praises shall we render for thy workes of Creation and of preseruation If we should not praise thee yet one day telleth another and one night certifieth another but I most sinnefull soule haue neyther expressed nor felte what belongs to the visible workes of thy inuisible Maiesty neither can I comprehend it in thy workes and made known by thy reuealed word for thy Maiesty is so great thy Wisedom so vnserchable and thy Word so deepe that I am not able to conceiue them It sufficeth great God vnto thee that art al-sufficient in thy selfe to expresse thy self vnto vs sinners in such sort as we are able to apprehend thee And I one of the least and vnworthiest seruants doe confesse my selfe to be a most greeuous sinner in thought word and deede I haue followed mine owne wicked fantasies I haue broken thy commandements and betrayed mine owne soule yet my hope is in thy mercie and therefore in the beginning of this day I beginne my prayers vnto thee teach me therefore to pray that I may this day and the rest of my life call vpon thee and praise thee through the assistance of thy power which graunt vs good Lord. A Prayer
and in the life to come Amen A prayer to be kept from all vncleannesse of our Lustes O Most eternall and gracious GOD thou art pure and perfect but we are most impure and polluted all the faculties of our soules are full of corruptions and our bodyes are fraught with infirmities those parts of our bodies and of our mindes which should be the seruants of our soules doe draw vs to be slaues to euil affections Our eyes which are ordained to behold contemplate the wonderful workmanship of the world and of all the creatures therein contained do commonly become like vnto sluces and flood-gates to carrie and conuey lust and Concupiscence vnto our harts and our harts which shold be as Clossets to keep thy Commandements are for the most part made the members and instruments of sinne and of Satan This O Lord we confesse is our wofull and wretched condition Yet thou O most mercifull God art able to cleanse vs from these contagions of our vncleane lusts purge vs we beseech thee and we shall be pure keepe vs from inward infections of our owne euill imaginations from outward temptations which lasciuious sights and dallianceâ— and fleshly prouocations pull vpon vs and that by the assistance of thy holy Spirite when these temptations assalt vs pray vnto thee beseeching thee to be our buckler and our strength in the time of our weaknesse our stay when we are ready to fall and that by thy power wee may resist and repel all the sensuall and fleshly lustes which are in vs and fight against vs. Wee haue no helpe nor no hope but in thee defend vs giue vs the victory and take the glory vnto thy selfe deliuer vs from these noysome lusts and giue vs grace to giue thee praise to whom all honor belongeth So be it good Lord Amen A Prayer before the hearing of the Word preached THy Word O Lord is a light vnto our feete and a Lanterne vnto our paths Thy word preached is the propagation of thy glorious Gospell it is the seed that fructifies knowledge conscience Let it not therefore be as good seede sowen in barren soyle but first clense the weedes and corruptions which growe in the vnfallowed fields of my heart And then most gracious God when thou hast remoued those impediments of faith and feruency make my heart by hearing thy holy word a harbour of sanctitie and sincerity And in this O Lord prepare me to hear to beleeue to receyue retaine and to remember the lessons that shall bee taught out of thy Sacred Word take away in the hearing thereof all drowsinesse distraction and coldnesse of zeale In this I pray not onely for my selfe but for the people in all places professing thy trueth for their profit and for thy glorie Send forth Labourers into thy Vineyard teach them to plant make vs to be plyant in hearing learning and following So shall wee haue sustenance vnto our soules reape the fruites of those fields that thou hast giuen vs and we shall giue vnto thee nothing but what is thine and belongs to thy Maiestie which is all honour glory praise and dominion thorow Iesus Christ our onely Lord Sauiour Amen A Prayer after the hearing of a Sermon MOST mercifull and mighty gouerner of heauen of earth amongst all thy blessings multiplied vpon mankind there is nothing doeth more magnifie thy Maiesty or helpe the infirmities of vs miserable Creatures then the manifestation of our weakenes and wickednesse in the reuelation of both and reconciliation of thy selfe after all our infinite transgressions thorow the suffering of thy Sonne his mediation and the Ministerie of the word preached Of this O Lord we haue bin vnprofitable hearers and learners We haue heard with our eares but yet we haue beene vnprofitable hearers We haue not felt and followed that we haue heard we haue bene told and plainely taught our sinnes but wee haue not amended them nor truly repented for our misdeeds We haue learned somewhat though but little haue performed and practised lesse the fault is ours yet let it not good Lord stand in the way of thy grace to stop from vs good things but as thou hast prouided for vs the word of life and hast conueied it by thy conducter men like our selues the Ministers and Preachers of thy Gospell so graunt that we go not from this exercise of preaching and publishing thy holy word like vnto empty vesselles which whilst they are moued and strucken vpon yeeld some sound but afterwards lying still afford neyther sweetnes sauour nor good liquor O Lord blesse fructifie our hearing make vs not onely hearers but dooers of thy word make it a sauour of life vnto life and not of death vnto death teach vs thereby to amend our liues to increase knowledge and conscience to yeelde comfort in afflictions strength and support in temptations and when we shall depart the world we may carry with vs a testimony of good Consciences that we haue profited by the word haue thereby learned to loue our Brethren to forsake sinne to imbrace righteousnesse to liue and to die well and that by faith in Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before the receiuing of the Lords Supper BLessed Lord wee do not presume to present our selues before thee in the receyuing of this Sacrament celebration of thy Sonnes last Supper as beleeuing we are of our selues worthy to be partakers of thy heauenly banquet For we acknowledge our great greeuous sinnes our manifold mistakings our vnbeleefe vncharitablenesse hardnesse of heart selfe-loue pride and presumption with many other transgressions wherby we are made most vnworthie to come vnto thy heauenly Table Yet O Lord as it is thy holy Ordinance instruct and help vs to do that which may make vs more meete partakers of this spirituall Manna To this end take from vs our corruptions and carelesnesse in thy seruice graunt vs true repentance for our sinnes past for the trespasses that we haue committed against thee and those that professe thy trueth Lord euen now giue mee thy vnworthy seruant being so vnable of my selfe to doe this or any other spirituall duty a right and regenerated heart a sanctified soule purged from former pollutions by thy power and the grace of thy holy Spirite a desire to forgiue all men and to be forgiuen of all men to forsake sinne to follow thy holy Lawes Suffer not Sathan to worke in me his will any more but that as I now come to receyue this Sacrament so I may be a partaker of the benefites of our Sauiours death and suffering wherof this is a symbole that thorow his death sinne may dye in me and thorow his resurrection I may rise to newnesse of life A Prayer after the receiuing of the holy Communion WEE blesse and praise thy holie name O heauenly Father that amongst all thy innumerable benefits thou hast bestowed this is not the least but greatest mercie vppon mankinde to send thy Sonne our Sauiour
capacitie can affoord according to the sense and feeling of his sinnes the longing of his soule and the necessitie of his present estate Next vnto the time the place and words for vs to vse in prayers there followeth to bee considered the Faith and feruencie that should accompany our prayers with a most principall essentiall part thereof this ought to be in feruency of spirit without fainting for to pray without zeale is but to tempt and mocke God And God will not bee worshipped in words onely without the inward affection of the hart which is as well knowne to God the searcher of reines and heart as the words that are vttered in prayer Therefore they which pray without faith without feruency performe no more then plants which growe without feeling Nay they do not so much for the one doth performe the workes of nature which it is not taught to doe but the others do forsake not follow the rules of Religion which by reason and instruction they are informed and required to doe It is not then sufficient to say many prayers and to continue long in prayer for as one saith the true effect of prayer consisteth not in bare words nor in the multitude of wordes that wee speake but in the cogitations and faithfull desires of the heart And it is not our words but our desires that enters into the secret eares of the All-hearing Al-giuing and Al-seeing God How much then doe they wrong the Maiesty of God and the saluation of their soules which runne to prayers as vnto a stage play without any preparation without any Faith or without any zeale but heaping vp prayers yet scarce thinking what they say or to whom they do pray The Astronomers affirme that the Moone is Eclipsed when the earth is interposed betwixt her and the Sunne so may it be auerred that the meditations which we deliuer in praier are much eclipsed and darkned when earthly cogitations doe interpose betwixt the mind of man his diuine Meditation which is the Sun shine clearest light of his soule Prayer vnto Gody is iâ— secret conferrence with God therefore Augustine calleth the booke of his prayers and meditations his Soliloquium that is the alone talke or secret conference of his soule with God How carefull zealous and humble then ought wee to be in our conferre with so great a Lord and our onely God For when any men doth conserue with his better especially with one that is farre his superiour as a Nobleman a Prince or any great personage how circumspect will hee be to shewe all the signes of reuerence and duty in word in gesture and countenance and if he doe not vse all these obseruations which may testifie his humility and obeisance vnto his superiour he may feare to bee noted of presumption and to incurre the displeasure of him with whom hee conferreth If then such ceremony and reuerence bee vsed and required in conference betwxit man and man how much more careful watchfull and fearefull ought euery man to bee in prayer which is his conference with God Therefore hee that will pray vnto God effectually ought in the time of prayer wholly to exercise his mind and his senses in the constant faithfull deuout and feruent calling vpon his Creator hauing mind on no other matter then on his meditations which he doth present nor on any other person then his God to whom hee doth deliuer them CAP. V. A preparation to prayer HAuing considered and discussed somewhat the property of prayer to God and what it is the necessity manner and profit thereof it will not be amisse or vnnecessary to shew something of the preparation that should be made before we do enter into this holy exercise For as before wee fâ—ll into any actiuity of the body exercise of the mind or other action of accompt which wee desire should bee acceptable vnto them before whom wee present the same there is alwayes some time of preparation taken to the end the same may be the more exquisitely managed so is it much more needfull that before this spirituall exercise of prayer a sound preparation of the mind and soule should still be premised otherwise it may fall out in this holy exercise as it doth in matters of far losse moment that 〈◊〉 that is not well prepared may bee soone intrapped distracted The best rules therefore that my simple iudgement can affoord for preparation to prayer are these 1 First before wee begin our prayers we should fall into some strict examination of our selues touching our sinne and the estate of our life wherein wee may best consider what we had most need to craue at Gods hands 2 Next we must call to remembance the mercies of God his iustice his iudgments and his wonderfull workes whereby in our prayers we may learne and vse aswell as in the rest of our life to loue him for his mercies to feare him for his iustice and iudgements aswell as to magnifie him for his wonderfull workes which cogitations conioyned may make our following meditations more perfect and profitable 3 Thirdly before wee fall vnto prayer wee ought to sequester our senses from all wandering idle vaine cogitations and to cast away all euill thoughts as Helias did cast his Mantle to the earth when he ascended to heauen resoluing fully with the fauour of God whom we purpose then to serue not to entertaine any worldly thoghts that may with-drawe our deuotions from his diuine Maiesty but to banish all passions pleasures and perturbations of the mind and to recall vnto memorie our last and most pressing sins by an inward feeling of them ioyned with repentance a purpose to pray for pardon and amendment Then being thus christianly resolued we must yet before wee begin to pray labour to bring with vs by faith a liuely and a longing apprehension of Gods promises and mercies and an vndoubted beleefe of his most iust heauenly performance of that which he hath graciously promised and we doe faithfully pray for Afterwards when by meditation we haue made this passage for prayer which requires faithfull watchfull progresse if yet wee finde as vsually wee may finde that any euill or vaine thoughts doe assalt vs when we are comming on to this holy exercise we must seeke euen at the first feeling thereof to resist and reiect it without giuing any kinde of small entertainement thereto considering that euill cogitations are of two kinds either immitted or permitted they are immitted by the frailty of the flesh the temptations of Sathan the weaknesse of the inner senses being deluded by the obiects which the exterior senses especially the sight doth conuey vnto them and these immitted euill cogitations doe hurt the heauenly Meditations of our prayers especially when they are permitted to harbour and to remaine within vs. Therefore as soone as any such temptations come towards vs in our prayers we must presently pray vnto God to strengthen our Faith forgiue
for the Euening in the Family MOst gracious God we thanke thee for our safe deliuerance this day the rest of our life from all daungers That thou hast giuen vs food health rayment with other things necessarie for our sustenance and sustentation That thou hast not suffered vs to bee ouerwhelmed with cares crosses and calamities whereto wee are subiect whilst we lead this transitory life That thou hast granted vs liberty to trauel in those affaires to which our estates and necessities do call vs. These and many other blessings hast thou bestowed on vs this day and from day to day vntill this present time O Lord as thou hast powred downe thy mercies vppon vs in great measure so showre downe into our hearts those thy heauenly graces of thankefulnesse faithfulnesse fauour and praises that they may bee like vnto Dewe comming downe from Heauen which ascending vp thither againe and so returning thence with retribution of encrease may moisten our dry hard stony hearts and so bring forth fruits of Faith and Repentance which may grow vp to the setting forth of thy glory and the sauing of our owne poore sinnefull soules To this end good Lord settle our hearts this Euening before and when we go to bed as we cary with vs our corruptions still plucking vnto our fraile bodies flesh and blood so yet with the assistance and strength by which we must walke or else wee can neuer stand we may bee led to the consideration of our owne mortality miserable condition that we are now aliue and may die ere the next day that though we haue fedde plentifully this day yet it may be we shall eate no more that some of vs who heare and see one another now shall neuer heare or see one another hereafter For neyther of vs haue assurance to liue vntill the next day to deliuer what wee haue done this night Blessed God therfore we beseech thee euen at this instant time begin to infuse grace into vs to looke vpon our selues as corruptible and to looke into our soules as they are ful of corruption to make a true account at the least of this daies trespasses committed against thy holy heauenly Maiestie to mourne for it as much as we may before sleepe the fore-shewer of death doth seize vpon vs to pray vnto thee feruently to aske thee forgiuenes to giue thee thanks for thy mercies to lift vppe our hands and harts vnto thee and at the least to say Lord be mercifull vnto me a miserable sinner This repentance and this continuall practice of prayer of praises and of thankesgiuing grant vs good Lord and to all thy chosen children for thy Sonne our Sauiour Christ Iesus sake A priuate Prayer for one going to bed THis day good Lord is spent so doe our liues spend as our time doth decrease so do our sinnes encrease We seeke riches and know not who shall enioy them Wee couet children wealth and preferments and are not assured to possesse them And I that should know thus much doe not consider what I know nor weigh mine owne infirmities I haue good Lord this day acted my part with much frailty and many faylings I haue forgotten to call vppon thee my Soueraigne Lord this day and most of the dayes of my life my faith is weake my vnderstanding is dull in diuine things my memorie failes to retayne good things though they bee taught me my affections depriued and wandering after vaine worldly and wicked imaginations the which carry mee from the keeping of thy Commandements This O Lord I confesse and better I am not able to do without thy assistance yet keepe mee gracious God this night and from henceforth from further contagion of bodie and of soule let not my polutions in the works of darkenesse this night be added to my former transgressions but cleanse mee from that is past and keep me from the like sins from time to time change the Old man in me by repentance and renouation saue my soule and teach me to set forth thy praise both day and night Certaine Meditations and short eiaculations of Praiers to bee vsed in the night A Waking out of sleepe let vs begin with some short prayers in this or the like sort My God I am awaked againe awake mee out of sinne as thou hast done me out of sleepe Let my sleepe wherein I had not the vse of my senses teach mee not to driue out my daies in slumber security and impiety When I arise out of my bed raise me vp to newnesse of life repentaunce for my sinnes and amendment of what I haue done amisse When mine eyes shall close againe keepe mee in thy protection safegard by thy power Now Lord defend me this night and euer preserue me from danger sin and death Keepe me from concupiscence lust and vaine imaginations Knit my hart vnto thee Let my sleep be moderate and safe so that I may rise better prepared for thy seruice A Prayer for deliuerance from temptations OVR fraile Natures and our pronenesse to fall into all kind of sins forceth vs O Lord if we would doe as wee should to flye vnto thee for our safety and saluation and to call vpon thee who art our stay and our strength and who onely hast power to preserue vs beseeching thee that thou wilt be pleased either to put vs from those temptations which of our selues wee are not able to withstand Teach vs O Lord to wrestle with sinne and with Sathan by prayers reparations framed and fitted by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit and when these temptations are offered offer vnto vs thy â—elping hand to stand stedfast in faith with feare to offend thee Let vs then when these temptations come say vnto our selues Lord thou seest all and thou wilt punish vs Lord help and Lord deliuer vs and for my sinfull weake selfe saue mee from these violent assaults of Sathan I cannot defend my selfe he thou therfore my shield and buckler my corrupt nature is ready to yeelde the contagions of others the allurements of the world and wicked persons are ready to enthrall me yet if thou my mercifull God strengthen me I shall be able by thy assistance to stand If thou my Sauior stretch out thy shield and speare of defence I shall with Peter being almost sunke walke safe on the waters of strife Helpe therefore Lord for vaine is the helpe of man Put from vs Pride Presumption Luxury Lust Selfe-conceite Couetousnesse want of deuotion Malice Mischief Vnbeleefe hardnesse of heart such like sinnes which are the subiects subiects of our temptations or if any such assault vs or come neere vs let them not take such holde on vs to throw vs downe that we be not able to rise any more but in the comming or before the preuailing of our temptations support deliuer and saue vs. So shall we giue thee laud for euer and euer Amen ¶ A Prayer for patience in time of wants and
disgraces IT is iust with thee O Lord and I haue iustly deserued that thou shouldest send me some wants and small disgraces after thou hast giuen me prosperitie plenty and sufficiencie when not vsing thy blessings well and neglecting the meanes thou hast affoorded for my maintainance I am faln from that I had which was sufficient to want some things for my necessary vse And yet my wants are not so great as my sinnes are or as they haue deserued Since then howsoeuer my estate or my estimation is in this world I do beseech thee graunt me patience to beare this or whatsoeuer crosse it pleaseth thee to lay vpon mee and to acknowledge that I my selfe am the cause of it And so when thou hast brought me home vnto thy self by the acknowledgement of my selfe and of my sinnes comfort me againe according to thy eternall wisedome that I bee neyther dismaide with aduersitie or puffed vp with prosperity but if it be thy good pleasure that pouerty shall still pursue mee prepare me with patience to beare this crosse though hard for flesh and blood yet once obtaining the victorie by thy sole strength ouer this inward enemy my infirmities sticking closest vnto me I may possesse my soul in peace and whatsoeuer becomes of my worldly estate the spiritual state of my soul may be safe I saued thorow thy abundant mercies Amen A Prayer in time of sicknesse MOst gracious Father we confesse and wee are driuen to confesse wee haue deserued plagues pestilence and other sicknesses whereto we are subiect of our selues aswell by the naturall infection of our bodies whereby one taketh contagion from another as by our spirituall pollutions whereby our sinnes being the inward festring sores doe ascend vnto the Tribunall in heauen calling and crying for vengeance on the earth on the sonnes of men the inhabitants and Rulers of the earth The effects of this good Lord we haue often and visibly seene though wee doe not well consider the cause Wee feele the stroke but do not see the hand that strikes neither do we well weigh what moues that hand to bee stretched out agaynst vs. Now the sicknesse thou hast sent vs makes vs to looke somewhat about vs and to feel that which our flesh can easily find paine anguish aches torments comming from the body to the mind But O Lord we are not so sensible of that which concernes the sicknesse of the soule Yet in this time of our visitation whilest paine and perill doth oppresse vs teach vs to take this as an information of our infirmities heale vs good Lord inwardly in the diseases of our soules and keepe vs from those corruptions of our naturall affections which draws vs vnto fond desires with false and foolish appetites the procurers of these our bodily diseases O Lord yet cleanse vs within from our sins and then we shal be cured from our corporall sicknes but if it be thy blessed will to continue this Contagion yet comfort and support vs during the time of sicknesse Make thou good Lord our beddes and bodies such as may make vs able to vndergo our sickenesse comfort vs with the inward consolation of thy holy Spirit when cold heat coniunction or succession of either comes then O Lord in the time of extremity whilest Naâ—uâ—e is distempred our bodiâ—s disâ—ased our minds distracted betwixt feare of death danger of our estate care of our children friends kindrâ—d and family wee may yâ—t receyue a sweet repose from the influence of thy holy Spirit to rest content with thy good will and pleasure with a reference and relying on the same for resolution of life or of death So may wee by thy assistance say still and peaceably vnto thee in the sincerity of our owne soules We are heere now good Lord at thy disposing do with vs what thou wilt Only make vs able to bear our owne infirmities and thy visitations with faith help vs in the time of this weaâ—nesse and danger of this disease if thou giue life graunt amendment of life If thou appoint death grant vs preparation for our dissolution Repentance for our sinnes and a ioyfull assurance of thy mercies the bodie is weake the flesh tremâ—les the Spirit is troubled O thou the giuer of life and the disposer of death wheÌ„ sense is dull or distracted infuse thy Spirit to temper it and to turne vs vnto thee dispose our harts so that whither life or death do come they may bee alike welcome vnto vs and we may entertaine either according to thy good wil and pleasure Arme vs against the feare of death if life be graunted graunt wee may leade a new life setting forth thy glory If death be designed let the period of this life bee finished in thy praises lift vp our hearts at the last gaspe And now at this instant plant in my heart faith to beleeue in thy sauing health feruencie to pray for it courage to endure the conflicts of sickenesse and of sinne and in the end a blessed death and a ioyfull resurrection thorow Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer for knowledge THou O great and gracious God who art the light of our liues and the Conseruer of all sauing knowledge enlighten our vnderstanding with the true knowledge of thee of our selues and of the wayes wherein we should walke And although we can neuer in this world knowe thee as thou art being inuisible infinit in goodnesse and in greatnes yet giue vs such and so much knowledge of thee as our capacities can comprehend and thy will is to reueale Let vs attaine to so much knowledge as to see thy wonders in thy works and thy good pleasure reuealed in thy word if that which thou hast not reuealed of thy selfe let vs bee satisfied with what thou hast reuealed in thy word Of the first let our naturall inquisition of thy supernaturall power weaken or preiudice our faith And in that knowledge which thy word deliuereth let vs not be content with a weake and meane measure but couet to come vnto that knowledg which may strengthen our faith informe our consciences and reforme our liues In the knowledge of our selues teach vs to consider and know our owne weaknesse and wickednesse our frailtie and manifold infirmities our sinnes and transgressions against thy holy and heauenly Maiesty For the knowledge of our owne wayes grant vs warinesse and watchfulnes to see and finde out our faylings in the keeping of thy Commandements our feare plainly to professe thy truth thorow doubt of danger scoffe or losse the smal account we make of thy good things wee leaue vndone or do amis of the euill wee haue committed And when good Lord thou hast rightly instructed vs in the knowledg of thee by thy works and word of our selues in finding and confessing our sinnes and of our owne wayes by acknowledging them to be wandering by-paths then bring vs home vnto thee to pray vnto thee and praise thee in this life