our selues but to all the world that wee are thine own children indeed giue vs hearts to loue all thy children being our brethren and sisters aboue all other for thy sake alone and euery one so much the more as they more liuely carry thy image in all holines excelling in vertue and so are more deare vnto thy heauenly Maiestie that we may euery day in all our prayers remember them as our selues begging alike for them all saying Our Father And that wee may delight in their companies onely as those with whom we shall coÌ„uerse together for euer in the heauens Knit all our hearts in this firme bond of brotherly loue that we may tenderly exhort releeue helpe comfort support the weakenesses one of another seeking by all meanes the edifying of others afraid of giuing the least offence to grieue and much more to hinder the saluation or turne any one out of the way of life Let this happie brotherhood and holy agreemeÌ„t in all the substance of thy truth which is able vndoubtedlie to saue our soules together with our ioynt profession to walke hand in hand in all the narrow way of life haue more power firmely to vnite vs then all the trash pompe or pleasure of the world with all the cunning of Satan or Antichrist can haue to diuide vs. Are wee not all that so walke thine owne children hauing thy Son our Sauiour thy Spirit our coÌ„forter and earnest for our ioint inheritance and glorie notwithstanding all our infirmitie and imperfections with some lesse diuersities in iudgement which must accompanie vs vntill we bee perfect in the heauens Confound therefore all the deuices of thine enemies that worke this euill among thine owne children to so great dishonor to thy heauenly Maiestie whereby our enemies insult ouer vs who haue conspired thus to worke our shame and to prouoke thee against vs to leaue vs into their haÌ„ds to our vtter ruin if it were possible Deare Father let vs neuer thinke our state to be good vntill vve carrie these hartie affections to al thy children studying to knit this bond of loue being able truly thus to pray Our father For hereby we know that wee are translated from death vnto life because we loue the brethren and vntill this time we abide still in death Which art in heaueÌ„ And whereas thou our Father art highly exalted in the heauen of heauens and there also hast prouided thrones for vs thy childreÌ„ after wee haue suffered a little humble vs euermore in the sense of thy greatnesse together with our owne basenes and vnworthinesse beeing but poore wormes crawling vpon the earth loaden with innumerable sinnes And yet withall lift vp our hearts alwaies vnto the heauens there to be conuersant with thee our heaueÌ„ly Father minding heauenly things especially in all our prayers longing there to behold thee face to face and that in the meane time while wee abide heere below we may be of such heauenly conuersatioÌ„s so vsing y e world as if wee vsed it not that the world may see that wee are not of it but pilgrims and strangers here and thy heauenly childreÌ„ and that our selues also may hereby grow vp to a strong assurance that heauen is ours all the ioyes thereof reserued for vs by our Lord Sauiour and all the creatures in heauen and earth at a league with vs to do vs good so far as shall stand with thine honor and our saluation euer readie to helpe in time of need Hallowed be thy name And seeing thou oh tender Father hast vouchsafed vs this honour aboue the greatest part of the word to bee thine owne children and heires of thy glorious kingdom wheras thou mightest iustlie haue left vs in our sinnes with all the wicked to euerlasting shame and perditioÌ„ Giue vs grace good Father to testifie our loue and thankfulnesse all the dayes of our life in studying in and aboue al things which way to honor thee Open our blinde eyes to this end to behold the glory of thy wisedome power goodnes and righteousnes shining in al thy workes euen in the basest creature in heaueÌ„ or earth and much more in thy heauenly word chiefely in all thy terrible iudgements executed vpon the enemies of thy Church therin reueiled with mercies towards thy children and which thou still shewest euery day especiallie towards our selues Make vs abâ—e to take euery occasion to consider of aright and set foorth the praises belonging to thee therein and haue a holie vse of them both in word deed y t by vs thy great name may be knowne magnified in al the world Aboue all set euer before our faces good Lord that wonderfull glory wherein thou hast been magnified in these our daies and before our daies in the euident declaration both of thy displeasure against vs of this sinfull nation and withall of thy mercy and tender care for vs and wrath against our enemies how for dishonoring thee by abusing thy Gospell which thou hast giuen vs with such peace and prosperitie as neuer nation knowne before thou hast not only corrected our grieuous transgressions and securitie as a tender Father with thy milder rods of dearth pestilence sundrie the like to bring vs to amendmeÌ„t and cause vs with more cheerefulnes to embrace thy Gospell and bring foorth the fruits of it but also raised vp against vs sundrie times most cruell enemies threatning not only the taking away thy Gospell but our vtter destruction also brought the enemies to the verie execution thereof because we would not serue thee with good hearts according to all thy mercies bestowed vpon vs and yet euer when we haue cried vnto thee thou hast heard vs as thou diddest thy people Israel and as thou diddest heare Iehosaphat against the Moabits and Ezechiah and Esay against the proud Assyrian and plucking them back in the instant hast taken vengeance for vs that we haue oft thought that they durst neuer haue risen against vs any more so as if the most barbarous nations of the earth had receiued but the least of our deliuerances with our meanes they vndoubtedly had repented long ago in sack-cloath and ashes as we for the present haue promised vnto thee Oh gratious Father inable vs alwaies to remember and acknowledge this and to see moreouer that thine anger is not yet turned away but more fearefully kindled against vs for that as our sins and prouocations are multiplied so these our bloody enemies insteede of decreasing or ioyning themselues vnto vs do still increase daily and their malice is become much more deadly against vs thy poore children without hope of leauing off vntill they haue wrought either ours or at least their own vtter ruine which in time they must needs effect Good Father cause this principal token of
thereunto that they may be saued giue vs harts to haue a speciall regard not only of all those committed to our charge to bring them in obedience to the lawes of thy Kingdome but euen all who are tyed vnto vs by any speciall bond that we may take euery first occasion which thou offerest for procuring or furthering their saluation and so gayning them vnto thee by all good admonitions exhortations and examples Let vs be as the Angels vnto Lot neuer resting before we haue gotten them safe into Zoar. And that we may be able to perswade others more effectually Lord giue euery one of vs a sweete feeling what a blessed thing it is to bee the subiects of this thy Kingdome to haue all the priuiledges thereof and to be partakers of thy glory euen Kings and Priests vnto thee and what reward and happines there is in liuing such a holy conuersation and how wretched vnhappie the state of all other people is seeme they neuer so happy in this world being but bondslaues of Sathan reserued for the chaines of eternall darknesse Oh heauenly King grant vs to liue in all things as the subiects of thy Kingdome that so we may passe from this Kingdome of grace into that thy Kingdome of glory Make vs to feare the causes of backsliding that we may neuer so much as looke backe with Lots wife towards this euill world but euer hie fast towards thine heauenly Kingdome hauing our eie at our Lord and Sauiour who fitteth at thy right hand keeping there possession for vs. Destroy in vs euery corruption whereby Satan keepes vs any way in his slauerie or at any time gets the dominion ouer vs. Hasten that glorious day when the difference shall appeare betwene vs thy subiects and those who serue thee not when we shall wholly raigne in glory with thee free from al our enemies and from euer offending thee any more And because in the meane time we thy subiects liue by faith and not by sight in this world where all things vsually seeme to go out of order the wicked florishing in their vngodlinesse when wee oft weepe and mourne Oh Lord increase our faith in all thy gracious promises that through the comfort and power of godlinesse wrought in vs thereby we may grow vp to such a ful assurance that we are the true heires of thy kingdome that we may easily ouercome al the hindrances of the world and hauing the patiēce of Saints we may be faithfull to the death vntill thou set the crowne vpon our heads Fill our harts with such peace of conscience and ioy in thee with all the fruits of righteousnesse incoraged by thy sweete promises that all others may see to what Kingdome we belong and we our selues may feele daily the beginning of it in our selues so entring into thy heauenly ioy Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauē And that our childlike affections towards thy heauenly Maiestie our zeale for thy glory and thankfulnes for thy Kingdome may bee more manifest to all the world quicken vs to doe thy heauenly will commandements chiefely those with which thou hast fully acquainted vs how thou wilt haue vs to walke and keepe thy watch and that with as much readinesse as thy Angels in heauen and wherein we are too short accept good Father our will for the deede Let it be our delight to stand euer in thy presence to inquire thy diuine pleasure both by reading and hearing thy heauenly word and asking of others and euer so soone as thou hast by any meanes made knowne vnto vs what thy good wil is giue vs forthwith Dauids Eccho that without consulting with flesh and blood we may say forthwith I am heere Lord to doe thy will yea thy law is within my hart that so all our seruice may be freevvill offrings vnto thee And whereas it is thy decree that thorowe many troubles wee must enter into thy heauenly Kingdome good Father frame our corrupt wils vnto thy heauenly will giue vs grace both to look for them euer to humble our selues vnder thy hand as thy obedient children seeking alwaies to pacifie thee searching immediately and amending whatsoeuer is amiste without once whispering against thy diuine Maiestie being assured that thou still louest vs euen when thou correctest vs most sharply and art working our good wilt in thy due time giue a happy end to all our troubles and cause thy louing countenance to shine on vs againe And if it shall be thy good pleasure to call vs to suffer for thy name keepe vs that we may not suffer as euill doers or busie bodies for medling in things without our calling so to bring crosses on our selus but as thine owne childrē for righteousnesse and then make vs to take vp our crosses with al ioyfulnesse and thankfulnesse that thou accountest vs worthy that honor looking stedfastly at the great reward holden forth vnto vs in y e hand of our Lord sauior who hauing troden that way before vs is there highly exalted to raigne for euer But keepe vs that we neuer goe against thy reuealed will whereby thou hast conuinced our consciences vnder pretence either to honour thee or doe any seruice vnto thy Church or for neuer so great a good seeing thou canst and wilt maintaine thine owne honour saue thy Church effecting whatsoeuer is best without our sinne That we may euer truly pray Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread And then oh deare Father when thou hast giuen vs such harts thus to seeke thy will that the world may see the tender care that thou hast for vs and how thou dost fulfill vnto vs all thy promises and that we likewise may wholy attend the seeking of thy glory in the inlargement of thy Kingdome and doing thy will vouchsafe vs gratiouslie all things meete for the comfort of this present life Shew vs thy fatherly loue prouiding sufficiently for all our necessities in thy due time Direct vs to vse all the holy means which thou hast appointed to serue thy diuine prouidence both painfulnesse thrift and godly wisdome chiefely in our particular calling auoyding as warily whatsoeuer may any way indanger vs make our liues vncomfortable or hurt our estate Grant vs grace also euermore in all humility to commit our selues vnto thy Fatherly protection not fearing what man can do vnto vs remembring that our times are in thy hāds to continue so long as it pleaseth thee that likwise vnlesse thou who hast giuen vs our liues do preserue them wee cannot continue one moment Make vs to know that of our selues wee haue no power to get one morsell of bread vnlesse thou both shew vs the meanes and
people they could not serue the Lord so euery one cannot pray and these euidently grounded out of the Lords Prayer 1 WE must bee the children of GOD borne anew by his Word and Spirit hauing some assurance of his fauour and a desire to grow therein carrying alwaies childlike affections to his Maiestie for we must come to him as to our deare Father and be able by the Spirit of adoption to call him Abba oh Father 2 Wee must euer come vnto our Father only through his beloued Sonne by whom we are reconciled made his children and kept in his fauour and withall in a true sense of our vnworthines to bee called his children or make any request vnto him and so we must make our petitions only in the name of this our Lord and Sauiour in whom alone our Father is well pleased begging in faith that is in full assurance to be heard for Christs merit in whatsoeuer wee request of our tender Father 3 We must come in all humilitie before his heauenly Maiestie remembring we are but dust and ashes yet full of heauenly affections able to lift vp our harts vnto him and to bee onely conuersant with him in the heauens for the time of prayer principally hauing all our thoughts separated from the earth and all earthly cogitations because we speak to our Father which is in heauen 4 We must be brethren of brotherly and tender hearts towards all the children of our heauenly father that is all those who soundly professe the Gospell of Christ in word and conuersation because our heauenly Father will haue vs hereby both to declare and increase our loue praying all one for another and in the name of all as deare brethren and feeling members crying earnestly for all Our Father 5 We must be such as are zealous for the glory of our heauenly Father desirous both to behold his glory shining brightly in all his workes and chiefely in his heauenly word and labouring to draw all others to a like reuerend admiration thereof making this the end of all our indeuours that our heauenly Father may bee honoured and casting all our thoughts which way we may gaine him any glorie more afraid of dishonoring him any way or offending him but euen in our thoughts then any euill that can befall vs in the world and such as vse to mourne for all the dishonors done vnto God his heauenly Maiestie that we may euer both truly begin and end our prayers with this feruent desire That his great name may be glorified because all kingdome power and glorie are only his for euer 6 Such as first seek his kingdome and the righteousnes of it that is the inlargemēt of the Church wherin Christ raignes and is magnified and so the spreading of his true religion and of all the meanes belonging to the conuersion and sauing of his elect with the vtter ouerthrow of all false religion and vngodlines whereby Satan and Antichrist do raigne vsing all diligence for sauing ourselues and others that being heere partakers of his kingdome of grace wee may euer after raigne with him in glorie and also such as long and waite for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Otherwise how can wee pray in truth Let thy kingdome come 7 We must bee of an holy conuersation as the loyal subiects of this heauenly kingdome striuing to know the will of our heauēly Father in al things which concerne vs and such as make conscience of euery tittle of his word as Noah and Moses who in all things as the Lord bad them so did they able to say as Dauid I am heere Lord to do thy will I am desirous to do it as cheerefully as the Angels in heauen readie with Abraham to leaue all at the Lords commandement and offer vp whatsoeuer is dearest vnto vs in the world and to receiue any triall with patience and thankfulnes and with Paul not onely ready to bee bound but to die at Ierusalem for the name of Iesus Or else we can neuer pray in sinceritie Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen 8 Such also as labor to depend whollie vpon the Lords fatherly prouidence and watchfull protection for this life and all the comforts of it in a feeling of our owne naturall frailtie that if hee but take away our breath wee are gone and cannot of our selues continue one minute and withall that wee are neither worthie of nor able of our selues to get the least crumme of bread much lesse to cause it to do vs any good and therfore such as vse to beg it euery day from our heauenly Father and that as well for the poore as for our selues being liuely touched with their miseries desirous to imploy that which he bestowes vpon vs to his glory and the good of his children labouring as Iacob and Paul if we haue but bread to be therewith content such as neither trust in the abundance of meanes nor faint in the want of them but onely vse all meanes appointed to serue his diuine and fatherly prouidence casting all the care for the successe vpon him alone being assured that he cannot faile vs nor forsake vs of that that shall be best for vs so far as may stand with his owne glorie and the good of vs his people at least so long as we endeuour to honor him walking as his obedient children without this we can neuer pray aright Giue vs this day our daily bread 9 We must bee such as vse to trauell vnder the burden of all our sins especially presumptuous and scandalous in the sense both of the multitude haynousnes of them also our misery by them vntill we be throughly washed from thē in the blood of Iesus Christ as hauing no other meanes of deliuery or satisfaction feeling with Paul the corruption of our nature and our daily infirmities to be as a death vnto vs and hereupon vsing to crie instantly in the eares of the Lord Forgiue vs our trespasses neuer giuing him ouer vntil we obtaine this assurance 10 We must be voide of malice and such as vse to pray for our very enemies and are readie to doe them any kindnes wherby to gaine them to Christ or leaue them more without excuse because then wee haue this assurance to bee forgiuen and not else neither can we say in truth Forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs but pray for a curse vpon our selues 11 Hauing a continuall sense of the danger we stand in of falling into some sinne euery houre to the dishonor of our heauenly Father and prouoking his displeasure with innumerable euils following thereupon through the deadly malice and subtiltie of Satan who hath the aduantage of our corrupt nature and all things in the world to beguile vs fearing alwaies lest for our sinnes the Lord should leaue vs in his hand and thereupon such as
reserued for hell Graunt vs to liue in all things as thy obedient subiects that wee may passe frō this kingdom of grace into thy glorious kingdome Make vs to feare the occasiōs of backsliding that wee neuer so much as once look back vnto the world but hie fast towards heauē where our Sauiour keeps possession for vs. Destroy in vs all our corruption wherby Satan preuailes against vs. Hastē that day when the differēce shall appeare between vs and thē that feare thee not whē we shal raigne with thee for euer And because wee now liue by faith and not by sight the wicked oft flourishing whē thy children are afflicted Oh Lord increase our faith in all thy sweete promises y t through the comfort of it power of godlinesse we may grow vp to a full assurance that wee are the true heires of thy kingdome and ouercome all hinderances that being faithful to the death we may haue the crown of life Fill our hearts with such peace ioy with all the fruits of righteousnes that all may see to what kingdome wee belong and wee feeling y e beginning of it here may enter into thy heauenly ioy Thy wil be c. And that our childlike affectiōs with our zeale thākfulnesse may more appeare to all y e world quicken vs to do thy heauēly will chiefelie wherein thou hast shewed vs how thou wilt haue vs walk that wee may do it cheerefullie as the Angels Accept our will for the deede Let it be our chiefe desire to stād in thy presence to enquire by all holy meanes what thy diuine pleasure is and euer so soone as thou hast made it knowne vnto vs giue vs Dauids Eccho to say I am heere Lord to doe thy will thy law is within my heart And whereas it is thy decree that thorow many troubles wee must enter into thy kingdome good Father subdue our corrupt wils to thy holy will that hūbling our selues vnder thy hand we may trie reforme our waies immediately without once whispering against thee knowing y t in loue thou so workest our good in all our trials and wilt giue vs a happy issue in thy due time And if it shall bee thy good pleasure to cal vs to suffer for thy name keepe vs that we may suffer as thine owne children for righteousnes and then to take vp our crosses with thankfulnes reioicing that thou countest vs worthy that honour looking stedfastly at our Lord Sauiour who hauing first troden y t way before vs sits for euer in glorie at thy right hand But keepe vs that we neuer do any thing against thy reuealed will to procure therby neuer so great a good seeing thou canst and wilt effect whatsoeuer is best without our sin That wee may euer truly pray Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day c. And thou oh deare Father when wee are such that y e world may see thy tēder care ouer vs and how thou fulfillest thy promises vnto vs that wee may the better attend the seeking of thy glorie and good pleasure vouchsafe vs the cōforts of this present life Shew vs thy loue in prouiding for vs in due time Direct vs to vse all painfulnes and holy wisdom chiefely in our particular calling with all the meanes to serue thy prouidence auoiding whatsoeuer may hinder our comfort or hurt our estate Graunt vs to hide our selus vnder thy watchful protection knowing that our times are in thy hand to continue as pleaseth thee and to consider that of our selues we cannot prolong our liues one minute nor haue any power to get one morsell of bread vnlesse thou both shew vs the meanes assist vs to vse thē giue a blessing to them Hūble vs here in that wee are not worthie the least crumme of bread which we are taught to beg daily and that wee are but vsurpers of it and of whatsoeuer else we haue vnlesse we be in Christ because wee hauing lost all can haue no right to anie thing vntill it bee restored vnto vs in him who is Lord of all Increase our assurance that thou hast giuen him vnto vs y t we may haue a true title to whatsoeuer wee enioy Blesse thy good creaturs to nourish comfort vs. Giue vs contented hearts though wee haue but bread acknowledging thy fatherlie prouidēce as wel in want as plentie and that thou wilt make euen bread sufficient when other means faile And if we shal come to haue no more but for the present day nor any meanes of succour then strengthen vs to cast our selues vpon thee without fainting and to shew that we liue not by bread onelie but by thy power tender care and blessing Certifie our consciences that though wicked men may bee hunger-starued yet thou wilt neuer let any of vs that serue thee being heires of thy kingdome to wāt any thing that is good for vs but wilt work extraordinarilie causing our enemies to feede vs or the fouls to bring vs meate rather then we shall want Keep vs therfore from carking cares aforehand for prouision for vs or ours much more from murmuring whereby thou art dishonored prouoked Make vs able to sanctifie thee vsing only the means for thy protection prouidēce cōmending our selues wholly vnto thee being certainlie assured that thou canst not faile vs. And whē thou dost bestow thy gifts vpon vs make vs to behold thy good nesse in them vsing thē holily neuer abusing them to satisfie our lustes or to puffe vs vp or set our confidence loue vpon thē but that wee may imploy them to maintaine thy worship seruice and performe all holie duties especially for the reliefe of thy children for whom we are to praie daily and to whom thou hast giuen an interest in the vse of them that so we may shew our thākfulnesse to thy heauenly Maiestie loue to thy childrē and chiefelie the most excellent and therein the true practise of the Communion of Saints wayting for the ioyfull sentence Come ye blessed of my Father receiue the kingdome prepared for you c. Forgiue vs our trespasses And whereas our sins onely doe hinder turne from vs all these blessings which we haue begged and bring innumerable euils vpon vs insteede of thē so make vs most vnhappie wherupō thou hast taught vs to crie euerie day forgiue vs our sinnes Pardon good Lord and remoue all our sinnes out of thy sight And to y e end that we may neuer giue thee rest vntill we haue gotten this assurance teach vs that herein is all true happines and without it we are most miserable without all hope of comfort Shew vs also the haynousnesse of sinne declared in the fearefull punishment of thy most glorious Angels the excellentest of all thy works whom for one sinne thou diddest throw downe vnto hel to be reserued in chaines of darkenesse to the iudgemēt of the great day And after wards in
THE SECOND PART of the true watch CONTAINING THE perfect rule and summe of Prayer So plainelie set downe that the weakest Christian taking but the least paines may in a very short space learne to pray of himselfe with much assurance and comfort both to get strength to obserue the Lords watch and to helpe to turne away or at least finde comfort in the euils that are to come Luk. 21. 36. Watch and pray continually that you may be accounted worthie to escape al these things that shall come to passe and that yee may stand before the Sonne of Man Esay 62. 6. 7. Yee that are the Lords remembrancers giue him no rest AT LONDON Printed F. K. for Samuel Macham and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church yard at the signe of the Bul-head 1607. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY singular good Ladie L. ELIZABETH Countesse of Huntingdon OVR Sauiour hath not without good cause Right Honorable so oft called on vs to watch and pray ioyning these two together and warning his Disciples in their greatest dangers to watch and pray that they might not fall into temptation and also charging vs al to watch and pray continually that wee may bee accounted worthy to escape all the euils that shal come to passe and to stand before the Sonne of man because wee can neither watch vnlesse we pray to obtaine strength from the Lord by it nor pray with any comfort or power vnlesse we watch nor euer get assurance to escape the euils that shall come on the world much lesse the temptations of Satan and damnation of hell and appeare with boldnes before our Sauiour vnlesse we both watch and pray In regard whereof first my dutie to the Maiestie of God who prepared the watch against so needfull a time and after so graciously caused my poore desire therein to be accepted in his church hath encouraged me to endeuour to adioine vnto the watch this short directioÌ„ for praier as a secoÌ„d part vnseparable coÌ„panioÌ„ for the further good of his seruaÌ„ts of whoÌ„ sundry haue desired it at my hands And secoÌ„dly your Ladiships most fauourable acceptance of it being dedicated vnto my Honorable Lord perswading mee of your Honors vnfained desire both to obserue the same and walke in al the waies of the Lord haue imboldened mee to presume to offer this vnto your Honorable Ladiship both to testifie my dutifull thankfull affection to your Honor also and withall my feruent desire that you may both walke hand in hand all your daies in the selfesame narrow way of eternall life as being of the same heart and holy accord inabled thereunto by the spirit of the Lord obtained by continuall and instant prayer That so ye may shine as glorious lights together in the earth and after in the heauens aboue the brightnes of the Sunne for euermore This shall bee in the meane time your key into the palace of the Almightie and to the presence chamber of his glorious Maiestie whereby you may be admitted at al times to most familiar conference receiue immediate answers from his Highnes obtaine the riches and pleasures of his house with the most pretious iewels of his treasurie to adorne you farre more gloriouslie then al the pearle pretious stones of all the Princes of the earth all which shall vtterly vanish as the dimmest star when the brightnesse of your glory shall appeare You shall as Israel preuaile with your God haue his Angels and all the hoasts of heauen at your desire all being at a perpetuall league with you vanquish the diuels and put them to slight ouerthrow the plots of the wickedest and bee accepted for the Church subdue in your selfe each corruption bring euery thought into an holy obedience finde the Comforter at hand in all your trials the sweete voice of the Spirit making you with coÌ„fidence to call him Abba oh Father and giuing you most strong assurance of a kingdome and the life of the Angels in the very terrours of death And in a word you shall thus most happilie redeeme the daies of our vanitie and treasure vp in heauen abundantly against the time of the perfect accomplishment of your eternall triumph and felicitie Wherunto according to my perpetuall bounden dutie I shall alwaies striue during my life both by my incessant prayer and all other holy meanes which the Lord shall in mercie vouchsafe vnto mee his poore and vnworthie seruant And in this studie towards your eternall glory and happines I rest my selfe nothing doubting of your like honorable acceptation of this my poore endeuour howsoeuer penned in a most plaine and familiar stile not to delight the curious with an houres reading which I leaue to others but to helpe the honest heart that is desirous to learne of our Sauiour how to pray and conâ—inue therin in this life without fainting to reioyce and sing with the Angels for euer after when all others shall weepe and mourne and neuer find any comfort or release Your Honors in the Lord euer to be commanded IOHN BRINSLEY THE PREFACE TO THE CHRISTIan Reader containing a large and plaine direction to all the simpler sort how to vse this aright and an earnest exhortation to all sorts to giue themselues instantly to watching and prayer IT hath bin wished Christian and louing Reader that as I haue gone briefly thorow the Commandements and Articles of the faith to set downe the true watch so I would take some paines in like manner to go thorow the Lords Prayer to set downe the rule and summe of prayer for the further perfecting and our better performing the same watch Whereupon notwithstanding my great inabilitie in respect of many of my brethren yet considering the Lords former mercie who shewes his power in weakenes and that by this motion of diuers he seemes to require my poore labour in this also I haue attempted likewise to make triall herein the better to inable the simpler sort and to stir vp all sorts to this holy dutie of prayer that wee may obtaine strength from the Lord to keepe his watch more faithfully with innumerable other benefits procured by the same And the rather waying well into what dangerous times we are fallen wherein the greatest part as it is much to be feared in such a declining to Atheisme and generally to extreame coldnes or luke-warmenes do seldome or neuer pray priuately vnlesse perhaps they vse the Lords Prayer without vnderstanding And of those who vse to pray some although they pray much yet they do it verie superstitiously to the prouoking of the Lord and hurt of their owne soules insteed of receiuing any true comfort therein as all our popish sort doe Others haue a desire to pray but want abilitie or leasure as all our young and weak Christians A third sort droope in their troubles temptations and feares are at their wits end as Iacobs sons not knowing what way
praiers and thankesgiuing accordingly for each of our particular and principall sins are as Satan that stood at Iehosuahs right hand that our praiers cannot go vp vnto the Lord. And of all others that euery one whose conscience doe accuse them of crueltie towards their brethren would take away that crying sin of oppression crying louder for vengeance then al the sins of the earth besides which brought the floud of waters when the earth was filled with crueltie and brought in the fierce Babylonian to oppresse and spoile the great men in Iudea and to make those goodlie houses desolate which had formerly been built by the oppressions and spoiling of the poore which makes the poore to sigh being wearie of their liues whose sighes the Lord must needes heare and auenge when man regardeth them not which will so shut vp the bowels of the Lords mercie and compassion that hee will shew vs no more mercie but reiect all our praiers because we would haue no mercie of the poore no though Noah Iob and Daniel were amongst vs that they should but saue their owne soules and so must needs bring a fearefull desolation vpon our sinfull nation vnlesse it be speedilie redressed besides the blasphemies of the Idolatrous enemies of the Church of God and their braggs of their workes of mercie and pitie thereby mouing the people to a discontentednes to dislike of the religion of the Lord as being the breeder and nourisher of all such cruel and vnmercifull dealing though euen in this same bloodie sin they be as deepe as any other Secondly that all would learne of our Sauiour to pray as he hath commanded I haue this consident hope that the weakest Christian amongst vs hauing a good heart although he haue neuer been able to vtter his requests to God for himselfe or Gods Church would in few weekes but following this poore direction learne to pray in feeling with much comfort those who want good hearts would by this practise obtaine them Thirdly that wee would all ioyne to pray according to the two first petitions for the Church of God our Prince and Realmes with true vnitie therein and against all the enemies of them for then vndoubtedly we should neither neede to feare the practises of the Popes Seminaries nor diuels nor yet all the enemies of the world but only stand still with Moses and see what the Lord would still do for vs. Happie shall they be whom the Lord singles out vnto this worke to be if it were but as one of Gedeons three hundred for the perpetuall preseruation of the Church of God and their countrey But for the rest although they scape the Beare yet a Lion shall teare them in peeces for being deliuered with Gods sâ—ruants from the temporal iudgement the eternall wrath of God doth certainly remaine for them Wherefore giue me leaue to speake a little further vnto your soules in this important businesse if I may awake but some of you You that spend your liues in pleasures will you not be perswaded to spend some houres in this heaueÌ„ly work to talke with God for the sauing your owne soules and the people of the Lord Oh that you knew the vnspeakable sweetenesse that heerein you should find whereas in your vaine pleasures what can you looke for but intolerable bitternes in the end will not all these increase the wrath against vs whereas the changing them into prayers with fasting and teares would be as the sacrifice of Noah wherein the Lord would certainly smell a sauor of rest and as the repentance of Niniuie that hee that had compassion on the poore ignorant heathen would much more cause his face to shine still more bright vpon vs whom he hath vouchsafed so long the profession of his name Know it for certaine as the Lord hath giuen any of you mo of his outward blessings with them more time meanes to serue him so hee lookes for so much more time at your hands to be spent in instant prayer then of any other of the earth and so must your account be Do not the popish sort that liue in your bosoms obserue besides your extreame irreligiousnes how you neuer vse to pray priuately or with any deuotion and are they not hereby hardened to like far better of their owne blind superstition wherein they spend so much time in praier How will you answere your God for the blood of so many soules as hereby perish If you could bee perswaded which you will one day feele either in this life or when it is vtterlie too late that these all other your sins wherein now is your felicitie will bee as so many swords to peirce your poore soules and so many diuels to torment you eternally and your repentance death altogether vncertaine you durst not let one minute passe but would fall into bitter mourning for all your sinnes and for your time so ill spent and bee warned by our Sauiour to begin to watch and pray that you might escape all these miseries that will certainly come vpon you You also that haue filled your houses with the spoiles of the poore the earth with their cries the crie of your sinnes is gone vp into the heauens that the Lord threatneth to be auenged forthwith Let the counsell of Daniel to Nabuchadnezar be acceptable vnto you if you will escape the decree that is comming forth against you Breake off your sins by righteousnes and your iniquities by mercie towards the poore Repent and make restitution while you may Cease to do euil learne to doe well seeke iudgement releeue the oppressed iudge the fatherlesse and defend the widow as the Lord bids you by his Prophet Then you may pray and your praiers shall be heard though your sins were as crimson that is most bloodie sins yet they shall be made white as snow If yee consent and obey yee shall eate the good things of the Land but if yee refuse and be rebellious ye shall be deuoured with the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Your oppressioÌ„s which haue pressed downe the poore vnto the ground will one day crush you into the bottome of hell and will be a loade heauier then the whole earth vpon you that you would giue all the world if you had it to be disburdened of them and at your death the iudgement threatned vnto Iehoiakim shall surely light vpon you that none shall lament or mourne for you to say ah Lord ah his glorie but all shall reioyce that the earth is eased of you and your remembrance shall remaine most vile and loathsome to all posteritie as the memorie of other oppressors doth before And for you that would neuer spare so much as one houre from your worldly businesses to priuate praier when God opens your eyes to discerne the true profit hereof aboue the other that hitherto you haue been meerely of
so thy sharpe corrections laid vpon all other thy dearest seruants registred in thy booke Lord teach vs yet more rightly to cōceaue the vilenesse of sin by this one thing chiefely that the least sinne of thine elect could neuer haue bin ransommed but by the vnspeakeable torments of thine owne beloued Sonne the Lord of glory taking our nature to become a sacrifice to appease thy wrath and to satisfie thy Iustice how thou didst poure out vpon him the full viols of thy wrath to cause him to sweate drops of blood to cry out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Giue vs thy children some true sense heereof and withal this grace to keepe a cōtinuall remembrance of the innumerable euils which euery sinne brings euen vpon vs thine owne children in our soules or bodies goods name or friends vnlesse wee preuent them by speedy and vnfained repētance especially how thereby we are left wholly destitute of thy protection prouidence and depriued of all comfort and power in prayer so long as we remaine therein and also of many extraordinary experiments of thy bounty which otherwise wee should find Make vs able in some sort to comprehend the greatnesse of sin by the infinitnesse of thy glorious Maiestie against whom each sinne is committed how our sinnes are increased heereby also that they are committed against our high calling to be Christians and heires of thy Kingdome with such abundant mercies both ordinarie and extraordinarie and so many and strong meanes to restraine vs besides sundry vowes and couenants renewed and that after mercy obtained and pardon formerly sealed vpon our promise of amendment Open our blind eies to haue some sight also of the multitude of our sinnes how they are more in number then the starres of heauen seeing they are euery breach of thy diuine will reuealed vnto vs in thy law and Gospell and that not only in thought word or deede but euen in omitting of any part thereof or doing it without all our hart and all our strength besides the sinne of our first parents whereby we are all the children of wrath and vnder thy curse and also besides the corruption of our sinfull natures receiued from thence whereupon wee are so wholy inclined vnto euill that all the thoughts of our harts are onely euill continually so as we cannot of our selues so much as thinke much lesse will any thing but that which is sinfull and hence also the hardnesse of our harts that we are so little moued either at the hearing of so many iudgements or the inioying of so many mercies to make any right vse of them Vouchsafe vs such a liuely and continuall sense heereof together with a feeling of our daily slips wants frailties infirmities imperfections noisome lustes issuing from this filthy puddle of originall corruption in vs that we may bee wearie of this body of sinne groning vnder the bondage of this our corruption sighing to bee deliuered from it Shewe vs also our most grieuous sinnes not onely of our youth and ignorāce but those much more which we haue committed since thou hast called vs by thy grace vnto so high a dignitie conuinced our consciences chiefely our open and scandalous sinnes whereby wee haue most dishonored thee causing thy Gospell to bee euill spoken of grieued thy children or any way hindred the saluation of others that by all these we may see vvhat debters we are how vnable to pay the least part but to lie in hell for euermore that we may crie continually with Dauid Lord forgiue vs our sinnes and blot out all our offences wash vs thorowly purge and clense vs thus running euery moment to the fountaine of thy Sons blood which is open to all the house of Israel for all sinnes vncleannesse And yet withal that we may not be vtterly ouerwhelmed by the vgly view of the multitud or lothsomenesse of our sinnes as though they could not bee pardoned nor we purged from thē comfort vs in this that thy Sonnes blood is of infinite merit and all sufficient to wash vs from all our sinnes though they were the most haynous sinnes that euer were cōmitted yea although we had all the sinnes of the world vpon vs so long as in a true feeling of them we cā desire to be washed therein But because wee are all very ready to deceiue our selues imagining that we are washen when we remaine still in our filthines seeing thou neither callest nor admitst of any to this fountaine but them that come in true repentance for all their sinnes fully purposing amendment and in a liuely faith in thy sweete promises desiring to grow therein Oh grant vs grace truely to see our particular sinnes and the vilenesse of them and make vs able in the sight of them and the sense of our estate and danger by them to mourne bitterly for them looking at thy Sonne whom wee haue pierced thereby and so to hate and abhorre them that being once purged in this Lauer we may bee euer afraid of defiling our selues againe or of sinning against that pretious blood Helpe vs to trie both our repentance and faith by the holy rule which thou hast giuen vs in thy law and Gospell that we may know them to be such as will abide the triall and not hypocriticall and which also haue bin first wrought in vs by the powerfull preaching of thy Gospell and doe continually increase and grow which are the infallible euidences y t they are sound and sincere Giue vs harts to be daily examining and iudging our selues that we may escape thy iudgement We intreate thee also againe for our sinfull Realmes to pardon all the fearefull prouocations thereof and to be pacified at the instant prayers of thy faithfull seruants crying vnto thee in all places by the blood of thy Sonne which speakes better things then the blood of Abel Let that cry still preuaile against the cry of the sinnes that thy mercie may bee magnified in all the world As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And whereas thou oh holy and gratious Father hast taught vs euer to pray to be forgiuen as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs telling vs plainely that if wee forgiue others for thy cause thou wilt also forgiue vs and contrarily that if we will not forgiue others we shall neuer bee forgiuen Change good Lord the wickednesse of our sinfull hearts which are most strongly bent to malice and reuenge that howsoeuer wee hate the sins and company of the wicked and whatsoeuer else is in them whereby they dishonour thee or shew themselues to bee thine enemies and although we also reioyce in the execution of thy righteous iudgements whereby thou gettest thy selfe glory vpon the proud enemies of thy Church and do also pray daily for
able to cal him Father Rom. 8. 15. Comming in faith only in Christ in a true sense of our owne vnworthines In all humilitie being but dust and ashes yet with our hearts lift vp to heauen Wee must be brethreÌ„ tenderly affected towards all the childreÌ„ of our heauenly Father Zealous of our Fathers glorie aboue all things in the woâ—ld Seeking first the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnes therof Making coÌ„science of euery tittle of the will word of the Lord. Labouring to depend wholly vpoÌ„ the Lords prouideÌ„ce and protection Trauelling vnder the burden of our sinnes Voide of malice vsing to pray for our enemies Fearing alwaies and watching lest wee should fall into temptation so suspecting all our waies Acknowledging euer his soueraigntie and how he disposeth al for his own glorie and the good of his elect Able in true faith with thaÌ„kfulnes to say Amen To giue vs assurance of Gods fauour Rom. 10. 12. Rom. 8. 15. 16. 26. 2 Cor. 1. 22. To haue all things sanctified vnto vs. To obtaine whatsoeuer we so pray for For the turning away any iudgement from our Land or procuring any blessing Ezech. 22. 30. Iob 22. 30. Deut. 20. 1. 3. 4. Heb. 12. 12. Ezek. 14. 14. Iudg. 5. 23. Prou. 28. 1. Esay 43. 1. 2. 3. * Let the desire of the two first petitions be euer in thy hart beg al other things for them only as being the end of all then shalt thou bee each way most blessed and aske what thou wilt so thou shall receiue it Esay 65. 24. 1. We must come trembling because of Gods glorious Maiesty And our ovvne vilenesse by nature 2. Yet in coÌ„fident boldnes as to our Father in Christ. 3. Onely in the name of Christ our Mediator 4. With thankfulnes for our happiestate in him Watch. ed. 2. p. 1. l. 1. 2. 5. Begging an increase of our assurance By more conformitie to Christ in knowledge Watch. pag. 88 lin 6. And al child-like affections Delighting in the presence of our Father 6. And an increase of our loue to al Gods children Chiefely as they more excell in vertue By praying for them as for our selues and delighting in their companies Begging most instantly our heauenly vnion to bee shevved in al duties Confirmed by all bonds of agreement And common interest And all contrarie deuices of our enemies confounded Which by our diâ—isioâ— seeke our ruine That we may neuer thinke our state good Vntill vve loue the brethren 1. Iohn 3. 14. 7. To grow in reuerence to our heauenly Father 8. And in heauenly affections And conuersations To declare our selues his children Watch. pag. 90. lin 9. And heaueÌ„ ours and all creatures at a league vvith vs for our good For this honour that God hath vouchsafed to vs to be his children 1. To seeke his honor in and aboue al things VVatch. p. 78. lin 17. 2. To haue our eies open to behold his glory shining in all his workes as his Creatures VVord Iudgement Mercie Watch. pag. 31. lin 17. 3. To be able to set foorth his praises belonging to him therein and haue a holy vse of them 4. Chiefely his glory manifested in our daies for vs and against our enemies First for vs in abâ—ndant mercies And then correcting vs faâ—herly for abusing his mercies to his dishonor So to bring vs to amendment After threatning vs by cruell enemies to take avvay all Bringing them to the execution Yet euer deliuering and auenging vs vvhen vve haue cried vnto him So as it had been enough to haue conuerted the most barbarous nation 5. To pray for grace euer to remember and acknowledge this And to see moreouer his anger kindled againe by increase of our sins with these bloodie enemies and their malice Without hope of leauing off vntill they haue their vvils And also witnessed by many fearefull signes Arming windes and vvaters against vs Threatning to sweepe vs avvay For our ouerflovv of iniquitie that we may be awaked and seeke to appease his wrath in in time That remembring our former vvarnings from heaueÌ„ and vvhat follovved the fierie tent spred ouer our heads VVee may not be senselesse in these tokens of his wrath seazing vpon vs as fearefully as any of the piagues of Egypt Chiefely to be saued froÌ„ that heauiest iudgement VVhereby both Egypt and Israel vvere prepared for â—estruction That we should be worse for all the meanes sent to call vs to repentance vntill the iudgement come that we may sâ—e our estate and turne And not harden our selues against the Lord. That vvee may neuer fall into the bloody enemies hands But still into the Lords Because hee pitieth vs vvhen hee smiteth vs. 6. To pray instantly that the crie of his seruants may preuaile As hitherto according to his promise Sith he cals vs novv to stand in the breach as Moses to stay his haÌ„d to declare the riches of his mercie sauing vs still at the prayers of a fevv And seeing he is still the same to vs as to Moses and Abraham And vve so deare to him that he can deny vs nothing Which may make for his glorie and our good To intreate him to magnify his mercie in pardoning and turning our hearts to meete him But to make his enemies to feele his hand who haue bin the causes of our sinne by their wiles To get himselfe glory vpon them as vpon Pharaoh As he hath begunne promised to accomplish to his euerlasting praise 7. That we may be afraid of obscuring his glory Seeking our owne glory or taking his honour to our selues 8. That we may not dishonour him by our sins But account it our greatest honour to honour him and contrarily 9. To honour him by our holy ensample To stop the mouthes of the wicked 10. To haue the zeale of Lot against the abominations of our age 11. VVith a bold acknowledgement of the Lord and euery part of his truth As being our glory That vvee may be acknowledged of him before all the vvorld to our ovvne euerlasting honor Seeing Gods glorie is in the inlarging his kingdome and doing his vvill 1. To pray for a free course to the Gospell which is the scepter of his kingdome and that it may be powerfull euery where 2. For Kings and Queens to be nursing fathers and mothers to the Church Chiefely to preserue is against the rage of all cruell enemies and to account this their chiefest dignitie 3. Especially to pray for our soueraigne raised vp for vs in place of our tender mother That hee may haue an abundant portion of Gods Spirit According to his high dignitie and charge And the deliuerances of the Church by him he may set himselfe to aduance Christs kingdome and Gospell Watch. pag. 43. lin 2. Procure the good of Gods seruants repressing the vvicked That vve may liue in al peace and godlinesse without feare affected towards him as the good people were towards Dauid Sound forth his praises And pray for him and his to