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
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
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
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
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
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
corporall portion or that hee will giue thee patience that may inure hope that may euer hold fast the assurance of the glory to come To which purpose the prayer following or the like may much stead thee and comfort thee A Prayer to be sayd in pouerty and want of this lifes necessaries ALmightie Lord God most powerfull and most louing I humbly recommend my selfe into thy holy protection and to thy fatherly prouidence who madestine and createdst me of nothing and I came into this world poore and wretched bringing nothing with me but nakednes and original miserie more hardly bested of mine owne power then the beast that perisheth And in this manner all men came and daily come into the world from Adam to the last that shall be borne into the earth yet in thy great and vnsearchable wisedome thou disposest of men in diuers maners according vnto thine owne will Some Lord thou makest Princes of the world some abiects in the world and yet neither the greatest nor the meanest by their high or low estate can bee iudged by humane reason happy or vnhappy Teach me therefore true wisedome Lord that I may rightly conceiue and iudge of mine owne â—enury and pouerty not as a iudgement inflicted but as a fauourable and fatherly portion giuen me lest I should presume vpon and rest the more secure consequently become the more proud of a more rich and more glorious worldly estate for thou Lord best knowest whether pouerty or riches be most agreeable to my condition and therefore I humbly accept and embrace that portion which thou hast giuen me though it be to flesh and bloud harâ— and vnpleasant make it yet good father spiritually sweet vnto 〈◊〉 by thy grace because it is thy will that I should be poore in worldly make me so much the more rich in heauenly things So shall I boâ— my portion Lord great and glorious howsoeuer I seeme outwardly base and abiect It is manifest that thou causest the Sun to shine and the raine to fall vpon the good and the wicked So giuest thou and distributest riches and pouertie to the iust and vniust but to diuers ends and they likewise receiue and vse them diuersly the first both riches and pouertie to one only end namely to thy glory and their own true comfort being rich as if they were poore being poore as if they possessed all things and this by the working of thy holy Spirit on their sanctified hearts Sanctiste my heart therefore Lord and giue mee patience and a truely contented minde in my greatest wants and vnfained thankfulnesse for the least supplie or encrease of thy bountie towards me and let not my poore estate direct me as it doth the hypocrites who in prosperitie waxe proud and in pouertie grudge and murmure and so offend thy Maiestie who workest all for the best to them that are thine my weakenesse by Nature I confesse to bee such as I am prone to fall both in fulnes and in want And were I not vpholden by thy grace I should in the one run headlong into many noysome iustes and forbidden vauities and by the other into vniust dealing to supplie mâ— necessities And therefore good and gracious father I humbly pray thee for Christ thy Sonues sake either to inlarge my portion in a competent measure that I be not driuen through too much penurie to repine as of mine owne nature I am apt or els giue me that true patience through a liuely faith in thy prouidence and mercie that may worke in me that hope that may neuer make me ashamed The world thou knowest Lord loueth her owne on whom she fawâ—es But thy base ones are hatefull vnto worldlings disdained and abhorred which is a sharpe tryall and made thine owne dearest Dauid to stagger in his troubles and welnere made he shipwraâ—h of his faith and constancie but when hee considered thy purpose in afflicting him when he had consulted with thy word he then found and confessed that it was good for him that thou haddest afflicted him Lord lend an eare vnto my petition and remember thy promise in Christ thy beloued that thou wilt lay no more vpon thine then they shall be able to beare Lord thou knowest my weakenesse to beare this heauy burden of pouertie and disgrace among the sonnes of men therefore let it please thee to make it more light or giue me sufficient strength and then lay what thou wilt vpon me more onely Lord be mindfull of me who knowest what I neede before I aske And therefore giue me grace to auoyde that presumption which offereth to limite thee the holy one of Israel either in the time the manner or matter of my helpe I will rest me only vpon thy prouidence and mercy make hast to helpe O Lord my God my strength and my Redeemer Amen O Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said of such as are in prison AS libertie is a great blessing of God and much pleasing vnto all creatures reasonable and vnreasonable So is imprisonment and restraint most vnsauorie to man and beast Although some men rather make choice to liue in that kind of captiuitie then to tedeeme their freedom by discharging a sound sincere conscience by paying their debts being able or yeelding vnto some honest lawful condition for refusing whereof they indure wilfully vndergoing that which with more sincerity they might auoid which kind of voluntarie imprisonment implyeth a most vnchristian disposition For how can he that knoweth he doth ill and perseuereth therein thinke that the prayers which he maketh can be acceptable to God admit his resolutioÌ„ be grounded on will not to giue way to his aduersaries iust demaund it is erronious and dangerous yea though it arise in regard of a fatherly care and affection he hath to his children and posteritie If hee shew not himselfe willing to make satisfaction according to his abilitie If then the Creditor obdurate wil not accept his honest offer his helpe is then in God to whom he must repaire in faithfull prayer that he will be pleased either to moderate the extremitie of the Creditors demand or to inable him to satisfie the debt But as mens occasions of dealing and their mutuall commerce are many and diuers so are there diuers causes of mens restraint and imprisonment and all are or ought to be lawfull and iust The lawful restraint ought to be the more grieuous because it is alwayes for breach of the law the vniust festraint needs not much presse the conscience for that he is innocent of the accusation or crime suggested for it is farre better to be falsly then truely accused But for asmuch as there are diuers occasions of this affliction it behoueth euery man thus restrained to consider with himselfe that whether it be iustly or vniustly layd vpon him it is not yet by chance for God obserueth in vs what we our selues conceiue not of our selues and punisheth sinne after a
considereth that death is the end of all flesh and that sicknesse is the fore-runner of death cannot bee suddenly surprised because he stil expecteth the comming of that which whether it tarrie long or come quickly come it will and finding vs secure and wanton and carelesse and deliting our selues in the strength of our sinning parts it wil be so much the more grieuous and irkesome by how much we affect the strength to sinne which is thereby weakened And to that end doth God euen in loue punish his own children with sicknes and maladies of the bodie to kill sinne presently possessing vs and to preuent the power of future sinning and threatneth the stifnecked and rebellious with many infirmities as to smite them in the knees and in the thighes with a fore botch that they shall not be healed euen from the sole of the â—â—ore to the top of their head The Lord will make the plagues of the disobedient wonderfull and of long continuance and their diseases cruell and of long durance For as much then as Sicknesse is both the reward of sinne as also the physicke for sinne It implieth both the mercie of God towards his and his iudgements against the impenitent And therefore whosoeuer thou be that art visited with whatsoeuer bodily disease or infirmitie think that God hath sent it as a cure or a curse A cure to them that enter into the examination of their sinnes and truely repent them and a curse vnto them that make no vse of it as too many worldlings doe who in their sicknesse are as inclinable in desire to sinne as in their health And nothing preuenreth the acte of sinne but weaknes to effect it or oportunitie to attempt it If therfore the will to do euill be not mortified by the sicknes of the bodie it is an argument that that man or woman hath his or her conscience seared vp which is a fearefull estate and full of horror howsoeuer it be for the time hidden euen from his or her feeling and sence in fine it will work in the accusing conscience and bring forth the fruit of despaire of recouery of bodily health and plunge the soule into the pit of ineuitable perdition It is therefore a most dangerous negligence in men so little to consider the inconstancy of corporal health which is long in decaying yet sodaine in surprising men of greatest strength and when men are taken and cast downe be he as strong as Samson he is inforced to yeeld vnto weaknes and if he haue any sparke of grace he will then indeuour to turne his heart vnto God as Hezekiah did but then cannot his petitions be so powerfull as when he enioyed his health neither can his repentance be so well manifested being as it were wrested from him by this kinde of extremitie as when it is wrought in bodily strength for whatsoeuer commeth by compulsion is not so acceptable as what is voluntarie yet is repentance truely begun in sicknesse and effectually continued though weakly in respect of the bodies infirmity yet may it be most true through the strength of faith without repentance there is no cure comfortable to the soule or bodie Though God may permit a wicked man to be cased or cured of his bodily disease by humane physicke yet the soule lieth still in almost deadly sicknesse The truest ground of preuailing physicke is to make peace first with God the good and great Physitian according to the counsell of the Wiseman who thus aduiseth My sonne faile not in thy sicknesse to pray vnto the Lord and hee will make thee whole yet he addeth a condition That he leaue off from sinne that he order his hands aright and that he clense his heart from all wickednesse and if hw be able truely to say as Hezekiah in his sicknes did I beseech thee Lord remember now how I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and haue done that which is good in thy sight Then he may bee assured that his sicknesse shall be turned from a curse to a blessing and God that hath made the wound will binde it vp and cure it he will raise him againe or giue him patience in a liuely hope to change this mortall for an immortall estate and for his patient suffering this medicinable crosse will giue him a glorious crowne of eternitie Whosoeuer therfore thou be that art visited turne vnto the Lord pray vnto him trust in him and recommend thy life death vnto his free disposition who worketh all things for the best to them that loue him A Prayer to be said of one that is sick or diseased LOrd God almightie Father louing in thy Son Iesus Christ cast thine eye of compassion â—n me thy creature whom thou hast at this time touched with sicknesse and brought low by thy present visitation Thou createdst me in the beginning not to liue euer in this â—abernacle of dust but that my liuing bodie of dust should be againe dissolued into dust without life at â—hine appointed time for all â—lesh is grasse and as the flower of the 〈◊〉 it withereth decayeth with 〈◊〉 sicknes or griefe of minde we are all but as â—arthen vessels whome thou canâ—â— make and confound with the breath of thy mouth and howsoeuer and whensoeuer the most Iustie and strong stand conceited of their health and permanent securitie of their bodies agilitie and the â—imbleâ—es of their limbes and sences suddenly thou touchest them and they become feeble in strength their beautie changed their sences dulled their hearts fainting and all the parts and powers of their bodies altered and the whole man turned as it were into the very image of pale death it selfe Thou hast appointed that all men shall once die but thou conceilest from al men the time when the place where the manner how they shall die and therefore it behâ—ueth all men to be euer watchful in well doing that when thou shalt send thy Messenger Sicknes of bodie to put them in mind that their day is comming they be not found vnprepared and great happinesse it is to him whom when he is suniâ—â—oneâ— he may chearefully say I am heereÌ„ Lord ready to attend thy will Oh make me thus ready deare father that now thou callest me I may not only not flie from thee for feare of death but hartily willingly and faithfully crie Come Lord Iesu come quickly for I am no better then my Fathers who are fallen asleepe therfore if this my sicknes be vnto death fortifie me against the feare thereof The spirit Lord is willing but flesh and bloud weake and fearefull But assist my spirit by thy sauing Spirit So shall 〈◊〉 heart within me reioyce that thou remembrest me and my weake 〈◊〉 feeble body shal sing forth thy goodnes in this sad and sicke estate all the powers of my bodie and faculties of my soule shall conioyne in the heauenly harmonie of thy sauing truth in the peace of mine owne conscience
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
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
their faces at the glory of thy great Maiestie And as for man clothed with mortality thou affirmest cannot see thy face and liue And yet thou sayest Seeke my face Lord what is it to seeke thy face but to seeke thy truth and to search thy word to couet to know thy will and to bee truely instructed and faithfully and sincerely inclined to keepe thy commaundements Thy word is a light vnto our pathes and a lanthorne vnto our feet It is the life of our soules the heauenly Manna without it there is no light no hope no spirituall comfort no assurance of saluation O how deare ought this word then be vnto vs Farre more sweet then the hony or the hony combe more precious then golde yea then the finest gold therein Lord see wee thy face therein beholde wee thy louing countenance there finde we the hidde pearle which to purchase the wisest will sell all worldly vanities yet is it to the foolish foolishnesse and a stumbling blocke vnto the carnally minded Jt is a mysterie Lord and a secret hidden from the wise of the world and reuealed onely vnto the humble to such as acknowledge themselues ignorant and hunger and thirst for the knowledge of the truth Such hast thou promised to teach and to instruct in the way of true wisedome by reuealing thy word which howsoeuer it seeme in the outward letter easie to be vnderstood it hath a spirituall and diuine sense which requireth a spirituall and diuine interpretation which commeth not neither can it be apprehended by nature And therefore in thy great mercy and loue thou hast ordained meanes whereby they whom thou hast appointed to saluation may bee made able to vnderstand the same namely the outward ministrie of men and the iuward elumination of thy holy spirit for without the second the first auayleth nothing neither in the minister that speaketh nor they to whom he speaketh vnlesse hee be sent of thee and the hearers eares opened and their hearts prepared by thee hee preacheth and they heare in vaine To the one a woe is pronounced as not preaching the Gospel sincerely to the other a curse for not receiuing the good word of truth as into good and fruitfull ground bringing foorth the liuely fruits of a life answerable to that word which is either the sauour of life vnto life or the sauor of death vnto death O Lord I am now come into thy presence to heare thee speake vnto vs here assembled by the mouth of thy seruant whom thou hast sent to preach thy word open therefore mine eares prepare my heart sanctifie mine Attention inlighten mine Vnderstanding strengthen my memorie rectifie my will that I may diligently heare attentiuely harken retentiuely remember and willingly imbrace and practice what shall bee truely and sincerely deliuered by thy minister And let not thy word Lord that shall fall from his mouth bee either choaked in mee with the thorny cares of the world nor be cast into so corrupt a heart as the vaine delights of my minde should deuoure it nor into so â—arraine a heart as should not bring foorth fruit at the least twentie fold to the glory and prayse of thy most blessed name to the beâ—â—ering and better direction of my conuersation before men to the assurance and sure sealing vp of my saluation in Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 prayse for euer Amen Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee said after a Sermon heard AS the body of a man 〈◊〉 beast neither groweth to strength nor co 〈…〉 nueth in health without naturall foodâ— no more can the soule of man liue without Spirituall food the word of God And as man by art helpeth nature to concoct and digest his food to make it nutratiue to his body So the spiritual man hauing heard the sauing word of God vseth the means to make it profitable to the soule for as natural food takeÌ„ into the mouth and instantly spet out againe though it be a while detained and chawed and not taken into the bodie relieueth not the body So the Word heard with the care and not conueyed into and retained in the heart yeeldeth no comfort vnto the soule but rather worketh a kinde of contempt by custome and a kinde of lothing of the Word as a matter without the which his soule may liue for as that meate wherein the pallet hath no feeling of a pleasing taste delighteth not the appetiâ—â— no more can that Word which is not sauourie and delightfull to the soule be pleasing or profitable to the outward eare and consequently nothing comfortable to the vnfeeling soule But it is not in the power of man by nature profitably or with comfort to heare much lesse to make true vse of the word of God It is the gift of God to open the eare which is common to the good and bad hearers but a worke of the holy Ghost to open and prepare the heart to receiue the Word and to bring forth the fruit thereof without the which it is not only not an idle sound but a killing letter for it neuer falleth into the ears of any but it is either the sauour of life vnto life by the operation of faith and repentance or the sauour of death vnto death by the hardnes of the impenetrable and impenitent heart Therfore it much behoueth Christians not only to be carefull to heare but to be diligent and considerate how they heare to lay it vp in their hearts to make vse of it vpon all occasions in prosperity and aduersitie in sicknes and health and in what estate soeuer he is for it is as a treasure to purchase in euery calamitie comfort through patience and in all consolation inward or outward liuely and true thankfulnes Whatsoeuer or whosoeuer therefore thou be that hast at any time tasted of the good word of God forget not that although it be pronounced by man it is the word of the most Highest who will take an account of thee how and what thou hast heard and if thou fold it vp in the napking of forgetfulnes and put it not forth to the vse of thy soule it shall be taken from thee euen that thou hast and thou cast out of his presence whose word and counsaile thou hast so neglected Be not therefore forgetfull to ruminate and as it were often to â—hew the cud of that word thou hearest as at the mouth of God and because we are naturally al flow to heare what we should heare and our mindes very hard to retaine the good things proceeding out of the mouth of God we are to pray and humbly to petition the Lord of life to turne the word heard to the sauour of life vnto our eternally life it ought to be our continuall studie yea aboue al our worldly cares and occasions to meditate of the word we haue heard that it slippe not out of our mindes it is a Iewell which we shall hardly
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
enemie desires to heare or see or finde some reprochfull blemish in him whom he loueth not and to that end will obserue and marke our conuersations and will solicite others to prie into our wayes to the end he may bring vs into slander But the man that is wise as a Serpent will seeke also to be innocent as a Doue knowing that he walkes in the light and his enemies are euer attending on his wayes in couert It therefore concernes vs much to consider how we walk before men much more how we stray before our enemies and because it is not in our power to walke before God or men to be vpright the first and principal thing for which we ought to pray is for the grace of God to liue an vpright life that our enemie the diuell haue no aduantage against vs. So shall our corporall enemies be inforced to be silent and hauing clensed and conformed our conuersation to a righteous course then our prayers to God for deliuerie against our enemies will be truely auaileable for then will hee take our cause into his owne hand and he will be our buckler sword and defence and we shall be safe vnder the shadow of his wings especially if we seeke according to the rule of Christ to doe them good that seeke to doe vs hurt for it is the part of a true Christian to seeke atonement euen with his enemies And as the Wise-man counselleth If he that hateth thee be hungry giue him bread Christ commands the same So mayest thou ouercome him and so winne him that his owne conscience shall moue him to turne his hatred into loue or else shalt thou heap coales of wrath on his head and God shall haue respect to thine offering and accept thy prayers Vse therefore this prayer following or some to 〈◊〉 purpose and God shal worke for thee and turne all enmitie of men and Satan to thy good A Prayer against enemies LOrd looke downe in merciâ— from heauen vpon me marke and consider mine enemies what they are and how many that lay wayt to doe me hurt Many 〈◊〉 there is no helpe for me in thee So proud and malicious are they th 〈…〉 they forget that thou art God who defendest the poore and oppressed that call vpon thee They remember that thou â—ittest a righteous Judge to iudge thy people with equitie how thou crushest the enemies of thy people as an earthen pot with a rod of iron Lord let them know that thâ—â— art God 〈◊〉 thy deliuery of me out of th 〈…〉 〈◊〉 They are too strong for 〈◊〉 too wise and politicke toâ— too malicious for Lord thou knowest I would gladly be at peace with them but when I seeke it they 〈◊〉 the more insolent and the read 〈…〉 to oppresse me And therefore I appeale vnto thee for succour to whom saluation belougeth Leade me and direct my wayes aright O Lord because of mine enemies deliuer me from them and saue mee for thy mercies sake O Lord my God I trust in thee saue me from mine enemies and deliuer me lest they deuour me lift vp thy selfe on my side against their malicious furiâ— let their malice come to an end let their snares be broken let their deuices come to nought and their policies wherby they plot my hurt become foolishnes and turne to their own shame Maintaine thou Lord my right and my cause for thou art set in the throne and iudgest right yet deale not with me according to my sinnes But to mine aduersaries what offeÌ„ce haue I committed I know not yet would I be reconciled and liue at peace But if thou haue raised them vp to trie me Lord giue me streÌ„gth and patience and then let them rage and swell for I know thou hast limited their power they cannot doe what they list and therefore J will not feare what they can doe vnto mee they may raile as Shem did on Dauid they may seeke my life as Iesabel did the life of Eliah and as Saul did the life of Dauid they may vow not to eat nor drink vntil they haue done me some mischiefe but thou hast a ring in their nosthrills thou hast bound them within the compasse of thine 〈◊〉 will and power keepe them 〈◊〉 lest they preuaile against me and say thou art not able to deliuer 〈◊〉 out of their hands as they said reprochfully of thee touching thâ— dearest Sonne Let him deliuer him if he will haue him Oh saue me 〈◊〉 deliuer me in that thy Sonne from the power of this malicious generation Thou hast euer beene 〈◊〉 yet art my strength my defence and my saluation therefore shall 〈◊〉 not much be moued at their contentions but vnder the shadow of the wings will I reioyce Teach 〈◊〉 thy way O Lord and I shal walke in thy truth knit my heart 〈◊〉 thee and I will feare thy 〈◊〉 So shal mine enemies 〈◊〉 put to 〈◊〉 lence they watch ouer my way 〈…〉 and couet to catch me in my sinnes and lay baites to allure me to the breach of a good conscience that they may colour their hatred with the seeming desire of sincerity But thou knowest me and them I cannot iustifie mine integritie before thee for I am a man ful of infirmities but these men I haue not offended therefore iudge betweene me and them and leaue me not in their power nor in me a reuenging spirit but rather that I may couet to doe them good that if they will not be hartily reconciled the coales of thy displeasure fall on their 〈◊〉 â—ates And my soule shall reioyce in thee yea I shall reioyce in thy saluation I shall praise thy name who hast deliuered me from him that is too mighty for me And let not mine enemies Lord vuiustly reioyce ouer me let them neuer say in their hearts nor see the day wherein they may truely imagine or say that they haue preuailed against me So shall my tongue vtter thy righteousnes and praise thy goodnes thy prouidence mercies while I haue any being Which grant Lord for thy deare Sonnes sake my only Mediator Amen Lord increase my faith and defend me from mine enemies A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said of euery true Christian for the Ministers and Preachers of the word of God IF men did duely and religiously consider what a blessing it is to haue the word of God sincerely preached vnto them they would be more thankfull to God for them who are as the conduite pipes to bring and conuey the water of life vnto them the glad tidings of peace and reconciliation with God in Christ. Men naturally loue them that giue them corporall food and necessaries they dearely esteeme and reuerence the Nurses and Eoster-fathers that yeeld them but things to strengthen and maintaine their naturall liues and the Physitians by whose art and industrie they perswade themselues to haue receiued health for their bodies And is it not much to be admired that men receiuing the nourishment and vitall streÌ„gth of
by the latter but that Antichrist would haue reinuested himselfe where now Christ Iesus is vnto vs all in all Blessed bee thy name O Lord whose eye beheld and whose prouidence preuented them and whose arme as with a rod of yron brake the actors in pieces like a potters vessell To thee therefore most louing Lord God to thy Sonne Christ and to the holy Ghost be prayse for euer Amen Lord increase our faith and euermore preserue thy seruant our King A short thankesgiuing and prayer for the Kings preseruation DEare Father infinite in power towards vs giue vs hearts to remember with thankefulnes thy too much forgotten goodnes in so mercifully defending our King and vs thy people from many dangers And forget not Lord how the wicked still study the meanes to effect that which thou in mercy diddest then preuent CoÌ„sider how they secretly thirst for the blood of thine Anointed and of his most worthy branches likely to proue powerfull protectors of thy truth and consequently long for the confusion of thy people It suffiseth that thou seest it but it suffiseth not for vs to haue the words and not to vse the workes of assurance of thy protection And therfore we humbly pray thee gracious Lord God most louing father to pardon our sinnes which are the greatest aduersaries that can rise vp against vs. Thou sendest good and religious kings to a people from whom thou expectest the fruits of holy obedience But if they waxe cold in profession and slacke in practizing thy reueiled will thou takest their godly 〈◊〉 religious and louing kings from them and in stead sendest them Tyrants mercilesse and irreligious princes neither the wisedome nor power of man can preuaile where thou art a partie in the iudgement Wherefore louing Father as thâ—â— hast furnished the heart of Iames thy seruant our King with heauenly wisedome furnish our hearts with true obedience to follow thy will reueiled in thy word that so our obedience beginning towards thy Maiestie may appeare and worke more and more in our continuall thankefulnesse vnto thee 〈◊〉 him and our loue and true loyalty to him that thy word may still preuaile with vs remaine amongst vs and wee euermore abide constant in thee that howsoeuer enemies rage whatsoeuer euill counsaile they take we may be either still free in thee protected by thy hand or may with patience vndergoe thy fatherly tryall knowing that all things worke together for the best to them that loue thee and are chosen of thy purpose in him by whose merits both hee our king and we thine and his people haue receiued the promise that thou wilt neuer faile vs nor forsake vs. Lord increase our faith A most piâ—â—ie and patheticall Prayer for the King and ouerthrow of Antichristian religion and enemies of the truth BLesse LORD and graciously defend and preserue our King looke vâ—n him as thou didst vpon Dauid chosen after thine owne heart Leade him by thine owne right hand in all his wayes that hee may leade vs thy people vnto thy holy Sanctuarie Giue him a reioycing heart to see his subiects readie to resort vnto thy holy Temple receiuing thy blessed Sacraments and faithfully seruing thy sacred Maiestie by his religious example Let him euer be instant to call vpon stirre vp and incite the Ministers of thy word that they be instant in sounding the trumpet of thy word vnto thy people that sin may bee weakned obedience to thee increased that mercie and truth may meet together and righteousnes and peace may kisse each other Giue him euermore a preuailing power to bring to nought or weaken the power of Idolatry and superstition within his Kingdomes and to further construie the sincere seruice of thee let him neuer cease O Lord vntill hee haue banished or fully reformed the Fauorites of Antichrist namely such as haue the marke of that Beast in their foreheads or in their hands whose names are not written in the booke of Life Giue him Lord an eye to finde them out and a right resolution to abandon them without respect of persons together with all flatterers and Hypocrites And blesse vnto him godly wise religious and faithfull Counsellers and as thou hast giuen him a sword and Scepter let him truly and valorously vse them to the cutting off of all the daungerous branches of sinne and impietie and all the inormities of thy Church and Common weale and to the defence of the godly and innocent Let his person Lord be euer in thy protection keep him as the apple of thine eye preuent all secret practises and open violence preteÌ„ded against him Stand betweene him and the enemie and let the hailestones of thy seuere iudgements fall vpon the heads of them that hate him wouÌ„d the hayrie scalpe of all that rise vp against him And in all his occasioned incounters with Antichrist or any of his adherents giue him Ioshuahs prosperous victories Dauids zeale and Elishacs faith Discouer vnto him largely the counsell of thine owne will giue him a forward willing and constant heart to effect what thou commandest and grant that he dismay not more in the ouerthrow of Antichrist then Ioshuah did at the confusion of Ierico Be thou his buckler whet his sword bend thou his bow make ready his arrowes vpon the string and let them all and alwayes be directed by thy prouidence to the destruction of his thine irreconciliable enemies as was the Sliâ—â— of Dauid against Goliah so let the. Judgements be against the wicked in the day of battell Let his Subiects loue him let his enemies feare and flie him let all Nations admire his righteous iudgements Princely gouernment and religious constancie let them all bee moued to follow him as he deliteth Lord to follow thee in truth and equitie to the glorie of thy vniuersally admired name through Christ in whom let him euer bee blessed And so blesse vs Lord that we may blesse thee for him Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee vsed of such as are of the Kings Maiesties priuie Counsell IF men of meanest professions bee moued by common reason to seek vnderstanding to manage their own priuate occasions how much more ought men of most eminent places especially Counsellors to Kings craue wisedome and fitnes of God for so high a calling How can they consult deuise deliberate direct and determine matters of weightiest consequence without extraordinarie gifts of prudence How can they marshall the care and carriage of him that hath the care and charge of the gouernment and defence of Kingdomes and people in peace and warre not onely in matters Ciuill but Ecclesiasticall Spirituall and Temporall Is it a small matter saith Dauid to be sonne in law to a King So may a man say Is it a small preferment to be thought a fit man to be of the secret counsell of a King Many thirst no doubt and desire this highest honor who haue not first truely examined their gifts of
ablenes to discharge the office according to iudgement it is not enough to be a deepe Politician a profound Naturalist but to be a religious Christian well seene in the booke of God especially and in the Lawes and ordinances of the Kingdome to be of an vpright heart of a godly conuersation qualified in the vertues diuino the first whereof is to respect Gods glory secondly the honor of the King the good of the Church and Weale publike to shine before men in godlines for that ministreth ioy consolation to the good and terror to the wicked It is impossible for him to giue good counsell to men that hath not taken counsell before of God Psal. 33. 10. And therefore hee that seeketh not wisdome where Salomon found it let hiâ— be as wise in humane affaires 〈◊〉 was Achitophel it will either come to nought or redound to his owne disgrace to the dishonor of the King and hurt of the Church or Common-weale Great happines then it is to that King and Kingdome where men of worthie not for their Religion Prudence and Integritie are inuested in that most honorable societie and therefore much behoueth it all honorable persons of that most worthy rancke to commence in humilitie and in the feare of God from whence cannot but proceed that true wisedome and sinceritie which are the truest arguments of the Kings and Subiects happinesse and safetie And for that these supernaturall gifts no man attaineth vnto by chance arte or carnall means they are to be sought for by prayer at the hands of him that freely giues them without remuneration Iam. 1. 5. He then that loueth righteousnes and is in this eminent place cannot but desire true Wisdome and that instantly in regard of the vertues that accompanie her As Sobernes Prudence Righteousnesse and Fortitude Wisd. 8. 7. ornaments of highest honor to such as are of the secrets of Princes But fearing lest I should seeme to lightâ— candle to giue light to the Sunne I craue pardon and patience onely I aduenture to insert this among other Motiues not to teach but by way of well-wishing vnto all of that most high and most honorable association whose wisdome and iudgement is a light in the Court and life of the Kingdome A Prayer not vnfit to be sometimes vsed of a Counsellour of Estate as he hath oportunitie O Gracious Lord God most wise prouident and louing Father I acknowledge my selfe farre vnworthy of the plâ—câ— and dignitie whereunto thou iâ— great mercie hast aduanced me a man of meanest vnderstanding What am I O Lord that thâ—â— shouldest respect me so That thoâ— shouldest associate mee with the grauest and most prudent to m 〈…〉 me partaker of the secret counsel of thine Anointed I know that witâ— thee is wisedom and counsell mercie and iudgement but I am ignorant only thou art the Author and fountaine of true wisedom giuest prudence knowledge abundaÌ„tly to them that truly faithfully aske it of thee to the end to do good to execute Justice to aduante thy word 〈◊〉 loue countenance and defend the true professors of the same not to seeme the more singular in Naturall and Humane policies But indeed to be the more able to preuent the euils which the enemies of thy sacred and sauing truth plot and practise against thy Church and thine Anointed And therefore Father Al-sufficient seeing it is thy good pleasure to put into the heart of thine Anointed to call me vnworthy to his Counsell make 〈◊〉 more worthy by infussing into mee wisedome to aduise iudgement to determine and strength to performe all the godly duties required in my high calling Make me especially studious in thy worâ— giue 〈◊〉 vnderstanding according vnto the same lest I through ignorance or rashnesse should propose deliberat or censure any thing to thy dishonor to the danger or damage of our Soueraigne Lord to the distaste or disturbance of thy Church or against the peace or profit of the â—â—â—eale publike of the Dominious vnder the charge of thine Anointed And aboue all things Lord giue mee a religious heart that in a godly and right constant resolution I may more and more seeke the propagation increase continuance and aduancement of the Gospell of Iesus Christ and more and more seeke to weaken and bring to nought all Idolatrie and superstition Take from me a parciall eye that in respect of persons I seeke not to free the faulty or to discountenance or condemne the innocent Giue me a loyal hart to my Soueraigne season my loue towards him with thy loue that as much as in mee lieth I may euer defend his person though to the losse of whatsoeuer is dearest unto me and that I may seeke to discouer those that hate him and endeuour to bring them to their deserued shame and punishment Lord increase my faith and mine vnderstaÌ„ding according to thy word Another short effectuall Prayer to be said of a priuie Counseller fit to bee said before consultation FRuctifie my heart O gracious Lord God with righteousnesse and sincere iudgement that I may wisely consult sincerely censure and iudge iustly all things that at any time shall be propounded to mine opinion for of my self Lord I doe acknowledge that I am a man of weake vnderstanding of a corrupt heart and ignorant of perfect equitie and therefore I humbly beg knowledge and wisedome of thee Keepe my feet aright in all my wayes free my hands and keepe them euer cleane from gifts that they cause me not to peruert iustice and wrest sound counsell Indue mee with a mercifull heart and let mine affections be euer such as may in all things administer true tokens of mine integrity And for as much as things may diuersly fall out to be debated and determined by vs of this high calling of so worthy and weighty consequence as may concerne the life and state of Church Common-weale and we being but men not able to fadome by our wisedomes the end of thy secret purposes nor to sound the depth of thine vnsearchable iudgements bee pleased to reueale vnto vs thy will for the good of thine Anointed vnder whom thou hast placed vs that we may accordingly consult and determine for nothing succedeth wiâ—â— without thee and against thee there is neither wisedome vnderstanding or counsell that can preuaile Thy Judgements are vnsearchable and thy wayes past finding out Furnish vs therfore O louing Father with all graces and vertues necessarie to the performance of out bound duties to thy selfe thine Anointed thy Church and the Common-weales vnder the gouernment of our Soueraigne Lord thy seruant through Christ our wisedome our Strength and ou◠〈◊〉 â—eeiner Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said of euery good subiect for the good successe of the Counsell Royall SAint Paul in the first to Timothie cap. 1. 2. exhorteth all men to make prayers and supplications for kings and men in authoritie and yeeldeth such a reason to moue thereunto as
whosoeuer wilfully neglecteth the performance of it cannot bee guiltlesse of a suspition that he wisheth not well to the state of the weale publike in seeming indifferent whether it goe well or ill with the people whose prosperitie comfort and securitie consisteth in the right rule of magistrates gouernment And therefore is euery Christian bound by the rule of religious obedience to pray especially for the King wherein they cannot omit to pray for his Counsellors of estate who are in that they part ake of his secrets and are of his counsel a part of the head of that politicke bodie whereof themselues are members and he that refuseth to wish well vnto and to pray for the good of the head whereof himselfe is a member is not worthie to partake of the blessings which good members doe enioy neither peace nor plentie But as an vnprofitable droane to be expulst the Hyue that the rest according to their godly desires may liue and inioy in by with the head true peace religion and mutuall loue the end of all our prayers for vnlesse men in most eminent places be religious and vertuously qualified which is the gift of God it is impossible for King or Kingdome Church or Common-weale to stand sound or secure and among all that are in authoritie vnder the King none are of so eminet place as are Counsellers of Estate none haue a more heauie burden none need more wisdome and integritie then they for they sway matters of greatest ciuil importance And therefore none are more obserued none in deeper danger by the enemies of the King and Kingdome Who then will shew himselfe so base barbarous or irreligious as not to afford among other exercises some moment of time to seeke at the hands of God the good of these most honorable persons namely that their qualities may correspond their high callings godlines and honestie the first implying sinceritie in Religion the secoÌ„d ciuil cariage in their place and iustice towards men the first for the good of the Church the second for the Weale publike with these vertues hath God promised to indue them for his Churches sake Eccle. 10. 4. And therfore ought euer member of the Common wealth to pray for them that Wisdome and Prudence Faith and Iudgement Godlinesse and Honesty may be giuen them for it falleth often that for the wickednes of a people good Magistrates become euill and at the instance of the godly the euil are made good for their hearts their counsels consultations and determinations are in Gods disposing for the good or euill of a King and people examples whereof are many in the Scripture 2. Chron. 12. 3. 4. 5. and 2. Sam. 10. Therfore to auoid Gods Iudgements and indignation which may befall vs for contemning the counsell of the Apostle let vs pray not onely in publike assemblies but euery man in his priuat closset in sincere affection among and aboue other ordinary Magistrates vnder his Maiestie for the Counsellers of Estate that God will blesse them with wisdome counsell from aboue Rom. 11. 33. 34. So shall the King bee rightly aduised the Church of Christ rightly ordered and the Common-weale peaceably gouerned and all the people shall giue glory to God that giues it A Prayer to be vsed of euery good Subiect for the Kings Counsell of Estate ETernall and al-knowing God the fountaine of true wisedome and holy counsell who not only gouernest the hearts of kings but doest raise vp and prouide for them that obey thee graâ—â— wise and religious Counsellours by whom they consult determine all things for the maintenaÌ„ce of thy Gospel the godly gouernmeÌ„t of 〈◊〉 people coÌ„mitted to their charge Blesse them O Lord whom thou hast set in that high place grant that they may be truely religious religiously prudent and prudently graue Meâ— fearing thee in their hearts And 〈◊〉 but the rightly wise in thee whose 〈◊〉 thou hast touched and 〈◊〉 vp with the 〈◊〉 of thy hoholy Spirit to 〈◊〉 forth all holy af 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 professors an◠〈◊〉 of thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of true wisdome and the â—and of Christian obedience 〈◊〉 them with watchfull hearts to foresee prouidence to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strength and courage to suppresse all dangers proposed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or practised against thine Anointed thy Church or any superiour power Minister or member of the same 〈◊〉 yeâ— leaue them not vnto their 〈◊〉 humane policies but reach them by thy word holy and heauenly wisedome to determine and dispose a true and religious course for the safetie of Prince and people whensoeuer any vnaccu 〈◊〉 occasion or danger shall bee any way offered For thou knowest the hidden deuices and couert practices of the enemies of thy truth who are wiser and more politike in their generations then the children of light by transforming themselues into the likenes of Angels being yet inwardly Satanical seeking vnder the colour of religious obedience to vndermine and supplant if it were possible the verie word of truth it selfe the principall defender of the same and the very elect in Christ professing it Make them therfore good Father whom thou hast conioined in counsel vnto thine Auâ—inted watchful and prudent in their places wisely to consult religiously to deliberate and rightly to determine all things to thy glory to the preseruatioÌ„ of thine Anoiuted the comfort of thy children good of the CoÌ„mon-weale knowing that the prosperity of all vnder thine vnsearchable prouidence dependeth vpon their integrity prudence and Christian policies Be thou therefore vnto them good Father a guide lay before theÌ„ and learne them the booke of thy lawes season their vnderstanding with the salt of thy grace adorne their hearts with righteousnes and true holines make the way of their consultations plaine remoue al difficulties needlesse impediments froÌ„ their godly resolutions tending to thy glory for nothing pleasing vnto thee can be dishonorable to the King distasteful to thy Church disprofitable to the kingdom or displeasing to thy people And whatsoeuer is contrary to thy will beare it in humane opinion neuer so faire a pretence of conueniencie vtility or safetie it worketh nothing lesse Therefore Lord be thou alwayes present and president in all their consultations Amen Lord increase our faith A short prayer for the Counsell Royall THou knowest O Lord that al humane creatures what office or title soeuer they beare in Church or CoÌ„mon-weale are of theÌ„selues but of natural vnderstaÌ„ding only able to coÌ„preheÌ„d carnal things carnally can comprehend things of no higher or lower momeÌ„t then may be fadomed by natural reason So that their collectioÌ„s of the causes of thine vnsearchable purposes in sending aduerse accidents amongst a people and their prouidence to preuent danger and to establish the security of the people coÌ„mitted to their gouernment caÌ„not but ofteÌ„ faile of that wished successe they ayme at And therefore in all humblenes we 〈◊〉 that good Father to assist direct them whom
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
gouernest all thy creatures by the power and prouidence making many and great differences in the estates of humane creatures as some to gouerne as Kings som◠to obey as subiects some masters and some seruants I acknowledge thy great goodnes in that thou hast made me though a subiect to thine Anointed as a King to command in 〈…〉 ine owne family and hast giuen mee seruants to whom I say Goe and they goe Come and they attend Giue me wisedome to command nothing but what may be◠lawfull expedient and necessarie tending euermore to thy glorie and giue vnto all that are vnder my command obedience vnto knowledge of and willingnes to accomplish all things that shall concerne their duties and my necessarie seruice Let thy holy Spirit be vpon them to teach them and to direct them in all their endeuours Let them striue in a godly emulation one to exceed another in wel doing that they may truely and religiously performe whatsoeuer is fit and consonant to their places functions for it is neither the skill nor the desire nor the seruice done can succeed either to my priuate profit to the good of others or to thy glorie without thy speciall direction and blessing Blesse me therefore in right commanding and blesse my seruants in rightly performing what in thy feare and reuerence to thy Maiestie they shall attempt Giue vs all vnderstanding hearts not according to the high points of humane knowledge only But especially according to the right rules of Christian religion Make mee apt able and willing to instruct and direct them in the principles of diuine knowledge that a spirituall blessing may euer accompany their corporall callings and giue me patience to forbeare their infirmities in committing offences against me for I cannot but confesse that thou art to me a Master whome I haue and doe more often and more egregiously offen◠by my many sinnes then any or all my seruants can trespasse against me Giue mee therefore a feeling heart O Lord that I may make vse of my seruāts offences against me in recounting mine own transgressions against thee And as thou hast euer bin patient towards mee in forbearing to punish me according to my disobedience so I may beare with my seruants weaknes not maliciously offēding me Guide thē by thy holy Spirit in all truth make them though my seruants in respect of their corporall seruice to me thy sonnes and daughters by their spirituall seruing of thee and grant that we all may conioyne in one true obedience to serue thee hearing thy word attentiuely and praying vnto thee continually and faithfully that both thy spirituall blessings and corporall comforts in Jesus Christ may alwaies abound amongst vs and that we may prosper together in all truth peace plentie godly loue and happines making no spirituall though there seeme some worldly difference betweene the gouernor the gouerned knowing that thou hast no respect of persons but the Lord seruant the bond and free the outwardly glorious and base fearing thee are equally accepted with thee Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO stirre vp seruants to obey and pray for ablenes to serue their Masters and gouernours truely and to profit in their callings ALthough it seeme a harsh and vnsauourie seruitude and a base condition to be a seruant it is not as it is commonly taken vnlesse to be the seruants of Sinne and of Satan but to be a Christian seruant to a Christian master according to the flesh is to be Gods free-man according to the Spirit all creatures are seruants and seruiceable vnto man Why then should not one man be seruiceable vnto another We cannot be all masters but seruants we are all either vnto God in well doing and in a holy execution and performance of his commandements to the world or to Satan A seruant is nothing else but an agent or instrument to bee commanded by a more eminent person one whom he obeyeth whether it be to God as vnto our Father and preseruer vnto sinne and Satan our seducers to the world as our deceiuer to our vaine affections our betrayers or vnto man our fellow member of that bodie the Church whereof Christ is the head A Christian and beleeuing seruāt may be in the house and doe seruice to an Infidell and an Idolater as Iacob to Laban and Ioseph to Potipher who in their corporall seruice to man performed spirituall seruice to God who requireth obedience in seruants to their masters in all things not with eye-seruice as men-pleasers but in singlenesse of heart cheerefully and hartily fearing God as doing their seruice to God not vnto men so shall they that are bond seruants vnto men be made the Lords free-men and this freedome the Lord doth not onely not preuent but further their submission and obedience vnto their masters according to the flesh Saint Peter commandeth seruants to obey their masters with all feare not in a seruile slauish feare but a feare accompanied with godly loue which loue bindeth the conseience of all godly seruants to deale in all things honestly and carefully for their masters best aduantage not only when he is present but when he is absent to be true and faithfull diligent and vigilant imbracing direction and accepting reproofe with patience And because these vertues are not of nature but of grace It behoueth seruants to bee humble petitioners vnto God that he wil blesse their labours and endeuours to giue them vnderstanding hearts and abilitie of bodie and dexteritie of wit to apprehend and performe their duties both towards God the high and heauenly Master of all to their masters in the earth and for their owne good in learning apprehending and performing the trade mysterie and function whereunto they are called And for their better instruction it behoueth them to giue heede to the word of truth to frequent the place where the Word is preached and to indeuour to practise the same in all sinceritie And to this effect the Prayer following serueth A Prayer fit to be vsed of seruants GRacious Lord louing Father I acknowledge my selfe vnworthy to bee called thy seruant much lesse thy childe by reason of my great weaknes and manifold sinnes turne thy louing countenance towards mee againe O Lord and although I bee a seruant and subiect to the command and authoritie of another according to the flesh as deseruing bondage by reason of my too much seruing of Satan Make me yet free in thee and of the seruant of man make me thy sonne Let thy grace so gouerne mine affections that I be not seduced by the suggestion of Satan nor by my carnall and corrupt affections from that subiection and sincere seruice which I owe vnto my corporall master and commander in thee In thee gracious Lord without whose mercies and grace no seruice can be performed nor any true dutie done I am dull I am ignorant I am vnapt of my selfe to euery good worke but from thee proceedeth the perfection both of
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
canst thou with things meane in qualitie Daniel and his fellowes liued by pulse and water and were more strong and in better liking then they that had the ful measure of the Kings choice dainties Great and wonderfull art thou in thy power vnsearchable in thy prouidence and thou art one and the same for euer thy loue is not diminished towards them that loue thee neither is thy power weakened neither can thy prouidence be hindred but whatsoeuer thou willest commeth to passe in Mercie and lustice Will thou therfore good Father will thou and worke our comfort and reliefe and whatsoeuer we then need shall bee supplied vnto vs. Mollify the harts of such as haue reliefe in abuÌ„dance that detain it to inrich themselues when the poore perish Sâ—ffer vs not Lord to fall into greaâ—â—â— miserie and want then wee can bea rt Our flesh is weake and vnable to vndergo the want of necessary food giue vs Lord competent reliefe that we faint not nor perish altogether for thy Christs sake our only Redeemer and Aduocate for whose sake thou hast promised to deliuer the soules of thine from death and to preserue them in the time of famine Therefore Lord heare and grant our requests Amen Lord increase our faith and blesse vnto vs competent reliefe A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee said in the time of the Pestilence THe Pestilence of all other pâ—â—gues is the most lothsome grieuous especially to the parties infected for that their dearest friends commonly flie them and forsake them none are readily willing to visite them and yet of all the three ineuitable plagues that God tendred to Dauids election hee made choice of this as willing rather to fall into the hands of God then of meÌ„ To flie before furious enemies in the warres is a fearefull thing and to pine and perish for want of food more grieuous then Death Therefore is the Pestilence rather to be vndergone then either the Sword or Famine but that we are not at our choice as Dauid was But as touching sinne in the same danger Sinne was the cause of his and sinne is the cause of our visitation And therefore to preuent the danger we are to make peace with our offended God by true repentance humble submission faithfull and vnfained prayer It was the remedie that Dauid vsed whereby the Lord was appeased with the Land and the plague ceased 2. Sam. 24. 25. Gods anger is easily appeased towards them that are truely penitent and humâ—â—y seeke him in faithfull prayer It appeareth that we haue prouoked the Lord by our sinnes to wrath and in his displeasure be visiteth vs with this heauie correction Let vs offer the sweet and acceptable sacrifice of prayer vnto him in vnfained sorrow for our sinnes It may be God will recall his destroying Angell out of our coasts But if he wil not be appeased pleased to stay his hand from punishing Let vs submit vs to his will in all Christian patience auoiding as much as in vs lieth the wilfull running into the danger and then if God haue numbred vs among them that he hath marked out vnto death let vs not bee dismayed or discouraged let vs not only not thinke vs the more vnhappie but far the more in the fauor of God in that he vouchsafeth vnto vs such a fatherly premonition to prepare vs that which by the course of nature in few yeares cannot be auoided death which seemeth far more terrible then indeed it is for though it hath the name of bitternes yet it is indeed the end coÌ„summatioÌ„ of al the vnpleasing things which our deceiued affections are miscaried by it is the end of sin and sorrow of dangers feares and miseries and is terrible to none but to such as only consider the dissolution of the soule from the bodie and doe not looke to the immediate coniunction of the soule with God we leaue indeed our corporall friends behinde vs whom wee loue But we ought to know that we go to a more blessed fellowship in the heauens to Christ our elder brother whom wee yet neuer saw but if wee loue him as he loued vs first we cannot but desire to see him which we cannot doe in our mortall flesh Let vs therefore with Saint Paul desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ with the Angels and with the spirits of iust and perfect men And let vs be of good courage in this danger of the body which if we caÌ„not flie let vs not feare knowing that whether we liue or die we are the Lords in Christ in whom we are assured that all things shall worke together for the best and to the consolation of them that loue God in life and death Weeping may indure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning A Praier to be said in the time of any mortalitie Pestilence or infectious sicknes O Lord our God who of the dust hast created all mankind for a time to breathe in this mortall life and at their appointed times thou sayest Returne againe into your dust yee children of men Looke wee humbly beseech thee vpon vs vnder thy hand visited with great mortalitie so besâ—t on euery side with the terrors of death as we cannot but deeme out selues neere vnto the graue Our festered corruptions haue brought forth stineking sins that haue deâ—â—â—ed our bodies and infected the verie aire wherein we liue whereby wee haue deseruedly drawne vpon vs in thy iustice this fearefull visitation Giue vs Lord repenting hearts renue right spirits wiâ—iâ— vs that we recounting our manifold and grosse sins may truly bewaile them in the bitternes of our hearts fill our heads with water make our eyes a fountain of teares that both inwardly and outwardly our sorrowes for our sinnes may be vnfainedly expressed and by our constant obedience and sincere seruice of thee our renued conuersations may be approued Make vs we beseech thee alwayes watchfull ouer our wayes that we erre not from thy Commandements in this time wherin many are striken with thy hand many are finally fallen asleepe Blesse vs wee beseech thee with that blessed prerogatiue to be thy truly adopted children in Christ so shall we be safe according to thy promise and this thy visitation shall not come neere our dwellings a thousand shall fall on our rig 〈…〉 hand and ten thousand on our left hand and yet not touch vs. But what are we Lord that we should presume vpon this freedome hauing deserued as heauie a weight of punishment as any whom thy hand hath visited Let not thy patience and long forbearing of vs perswade vs that either thou seest vs not or that for our owne worthines or desert thou passest by vs but rather to thinke that we are also of the number of them whom thou hast ordained to partake of this visitation that wee may apply our selues to a serious calling to mind of our offences and vnfained repentance for them before thy decree come forth against