of thy Gospell is not heard Let thy way be knowne upon earth and thy saving health among all nations cause the Sunne of righteousnesse to arise with healing in his wings upon all those that sit in darkenesse and the shadow of death to guide their feete into the way of peace Give thy sonne Iesus the heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession Make all the Kings of the earth to fall downe before him and all nations to doe him reverence That his dominion may bee from Sea even to Sea and from the rivers even to the ends of the earth That Tarshish Pul and Lud that draw the bow Tuball and Iavan and the Iles afarre off that have not heard thy â—ame neither have seene thy glory may be brought into the houshold of faith and be joyned to the people of the God of Abraham and so bee made one folde under that great shepheard and Bishop of their soules Those sinners of the Gentiles O Lord draw them out of the darkenesse of Paganisme Idolatrie ignorance and superstition and though they now bee wallowing in their blood yet let it bee the time of love with thee and say unto them live spread thy skirt over them Let the light of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ shine unto them that they may turne from the service of dumb Idols yea of very Devils to thee the living God Teach them to know thee the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ open the doore of faith unto them that they may beleeve in the name of thy Sonne grant them repentance unto life that they may be saved light up among them some burning and shining lamps to beare thy name among them that the grace of God which bringeth salvation may appeare unto all men that so they which are without Christ being aliens from the Common wealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of Promise that have no hope and are without God in the world may heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and live To this end plant thy grace and feare in their hearts who are of that Colonie and Plantation make them wise to win those poore soules by their unblameable conversation being zealous for thee gentle towards them apt to teach them patient in meeknesse instructing them if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill who are taken captive by him at his will O Lord this is a worthy worke and who is sufficient for these things therefore doe thou make bare thine owne almighty arme bring in the fulnesse of the Gentiles give them where Satans throne is an heart to perceive and eyes to see and eares to heare the word of thy grace that the ends of the earth may see the salvation of God and they that dwell in the uttermost parts thereof may be converted unto thee then shall the earth bee filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea and they shall feare the name of the Lord from the West and his glory from the rising of the Sunne Amen A Prayer to bee prepared against Death c. O Thou eternall immortall invisible and onely wise God who stretchedst forth the heavens and laidst the foundations of the earth and formedst the spirit of man within him thou art the former of al things thy spirit did at the first make mee and the breath of the Almighty hath given mee life thou hast clothed mee with skin and flesh and fenced mee with bones and sâ—â—ewes my substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth thine eyes did see mee when I was yet unperfect and in thy booke all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them before And thou Lord tookest me out of the wombe thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mothers breasts thou hast fed me and led me all my life long unto this day when I have passed through the waters thou hast beene with me and through the rivers they have not overflowed me thou hast carryed mee on Eagles wings and in the time of trouble hast preserved me safely under thy feathers and there hath not one haire of mine head fallen to the ground without thy Providence But what man is hee that liveth and shall not see death our dayes on the earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding we spend our yeares as a tale that is told our life is even as a Vapour that appeares for a little time thâ—n vanisheth away wee build our house as a moth and as a booth that the Keeper maketh We have here no continuing Citie all flesh is grasse and all the goodlinesse thereof as the flower of grasse Man that is borne of a woman is of few dayes and full of trouble he commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe hee fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not O Lord my times are in thy hand all my dayes are determined the number of my months are with thee thou hast appointed my bounds which I cannot passe I must one day returne to the ground for dust I am and to dust I must returne thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appoynted for all living where I shall make my bed in darkenesse and must say to corruption thou art my father and to the wormes thou art my mother and my sisters O that I were wise and did understand this that I could consider my latter end that whether I live I might live unto the Lord or whether I dye I might dye unto the Lord that both living and dying I might bee the Lords then should I use the world as if I used it not then would I not bee conformed to the men of this world who have their portion in this life whose God is their belly who make pleasures and honour and riches their God and mind only earthly things But by that irreversible sentence of thine In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death it is appoynted unto all men once to dye our fathers where are they and the Prophets doe they live for ever they all are gone downe into the chambers of death there they rest together in their beds till the heavens be no more they shall not wake nor bee raysed out of their sleepe and I my selfe also who am a sonne of Adam and formed out of the same clay I must when my dayes be fulfilled sleepe with my fathers and goe the way whence I shall not returne Truly the light is sweete and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the Sunne and yet thy favour presence and light of thy countenance is better than life whilest I am in the flesh I am absent from thee and thou hast taught
bee removed neither shall any of the cords thereof bee broken O Scripture Psal 63. 1. how my soule thirsteth for thee how Head Desire my flesh longeth after thee in a dry and thirstie land where no water is But now O blessed day thrice welcome newes the Head Die messengers of death Scripture Pro. 16. 14. tell mee that the Scripture Gen. 47. 29. time drawes neere that I must dye 1. And shall I so Head Death Scripture Math. 25. 23. soone enter into the joy of my Lord is the time of my DEPARTING so Scripture 2 Tim. 4. 6. neere at hand then blesse the Lord O Scripture Psal 103. 1. my soule and all that is within mee bless his holy name I have long lyen Head World Scripture Dan. 7. 2. upon this great SEA the world looking longly for this happy day when one sweet gale of wind my last breath should wast me over Scripture Hebr. 11. 10. unto a better countrey that is an heavenly where Scripture 3. 11. I shall enter into REST and bee Scripture Col. 1. 12. partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light 2. Alas I am but a Stranger on this earth and woe is Scripture Psal 120. 5. Head Wicked me that I Sojourne in Mesech that I dwell in the tents of Kedar my soule Scripture 6. hath too long dwelt Scripture Mal. 3. 15. with such as tempt Scripture Ephe. 2. 2. Head Profane God children of disobedience that Scripture Pro. 30. 12. are not washed from their filthynesse I have beene long Head Vngodly absent from the Lord But now Scripture Eccle. 12. 5. I am going to my long HOME to Head Death my Fathers House Head Heaven Scripture Ioh. 14. 2. 3. where are many mansions whither my Saviour is gone before to provide me a place there Scripture 1 Sam 20. 3 is now but a step betwixt me and life everlasting Head Glorified I shall Scripture 2 Cor. 5. 8. now shortly be present with the Lordbeing Scripture Hebr. 7 26. seperate from sinners and made higher than the heavens 3. I dwell now Scripture Iob 4. 19. in a house of clay whose foundation is in the dust an Head Body Scripture 2 Cor. 5. 1. earthly Tabernacle which may bee crushed before the moaths But blessed bee God now I am â—â—itting to an House Head Heaven not made with hands but eternall in the Heavens whose builder and Scripture Heb. 11. 10. maker is God 4. Why should I then feare death Head Death though a King of terrours to ungodly Scripture Iob 18. 14. men â—aâ— with holy â—oâ— All the dayes of Scripture 14. 14 my appointed time I will waite till my CHANGE comefâ—r death is but a-Change yea and a Head Glorifie Change also for the better for thereby Scripture Phil. 3. 21. Christ shall Change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Scripture 2 Co 5. 4. mortalitie shall bee swallowed up of life then I shall hunger no more neither thirst any more nor sinne any more O blessed Change for my sinning against my God hath grieved me sore hath even Scripture Psal 69. 20. made me weary of my life and broken my heart but I shall then follow Scripture Rev 14 4. the Lambe whither soever hee goeth 5 What is Death Head Die but a putting off the rags of mortalitie Scripture 2 Cor. 5. 4. and why should I feare to be uâ—cloathed or be loath to put off this corruptible yea rather why should I not be glaâ— when I can find the grave For 6 Now I shall Scripture Iob 3 22. Scripture Iob 7. 21. -14. 12. Head Die Sleepe in the dust I shall lye downe and not rise againe till the heavens bee no more I shall make Scripture 17. 13. my bed in darkenesse I shall fall Scripture 1 Thess 4. 14. Scripture Acts 13. 36. asleepe in IESVS and bee laid to my Fathers where though wormes be spread under mee and wormes cover me and though after this skin they Scripture Iob 19. 26. shall destroy this body Head Resurrecti ¦ on yet in my flesh I shall see God Therefore as the Scripture Psal 42. 1. Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth Scripture 2 for God for the living God when shall I come and appeare Head Life before God My times Lord Scripture Psa 31. 15. are in thy hand-thou breathedst into me Scripture Gen. 2. 7. at first the breath of life command Head Die Scripture Tobit 3. 6. now therefore my Spirit to bee taken from me that I may be dissolved and become earth and my soule returne to God that gave it Father into thy hands I commend Scripture Psal 31. 5. my spirit for thou hast redeemed mee O Lord thou God of truth Amen An humble Soule bemoaning it selfe under its many Sins may thus pray O My God I am ashamed and Scripture Ezr. 9. 6. Head Ashamed blush to lift up my face to thee my God for mine inquities are increased over mine head and my trespasse is growne up unto the heavens yet suffer me O thou Holy Scripture 2 King 19. 22. Head God One of Israel suffer me who am Scripture Dan. 4. 17. Scripture Iob. 30. 8. Head Base the basest of men viler than earth Scripture 1 Tim. 1. 15 the chiefe of sinners to bring Scripture Numb 5. 15 mine iniquity to remembrance Head Repent to afflict Scripture 29 7. my soule in thy sight to abhorre Scripture Iob. 42. 6. Head Humble my selfe and repent in â—ust and â—shes Scripture Isai 57. 9. dâ—basing my selfe even unto hell because of my manifolde Scripture Amos 5. 12. transgressions Head Sinne. and my mightie sinnes Father I have sinned Scripture Luk. 15. 21. against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to bee called thy Sonne I have dealt treacherously Scripture Hos 5. 7. against thee and have gone a whoring Scripture 9. 1. from my God yea in the land of righteousness I have Head Sinne. done wickedly and thee the God Scripture Dan. 5. 23. in whose hands my life is and whose are all my wayes have I not glorified But have walked Scripture Lev. 26. 21. contrary unto 〈…〉 and to make Scripture Rom. 7. 13. 〈…〉 me become exceeding sinnefull I have added rebellion Scripture Iob. 34. 37. unto my sin Alas how often have I yeelded my Scripture Rom. 6. 13. members as instruments of unrighteousnesse unto sinne doing evill with Scripture Mic. 7. 3. both hands earnestly seeking after Scripture Numb 15. 39. mine owne heart and mine owne eyes making my Scripture Lev. 20. 25. soule abominable by those things which are forbidden to bee Scripture 5. 17. done by the commandements of the Lord. And as if it had Scripture 1 K. 16. 31. beene a light thing for me to commit those sinnes which men commit I Scripture 1 Kin. 16. 25. have done woorse than all that were before me drinking iniquity like water Scripture Iob 15. 16 and selling my selfe to doe eviâ—l in
omitting good particular failings frailties distractions indisposednes to serve God our ignorance Atheism infidelitie hypocrisie inconstancie pride vaine-glory envy uncharitablenesse putting off our repentance forgetfulnesse distrustfulnesse unthankefulnesse dulnesse unchearfulnesse felfe-love strife wrath flattery idlenesse gluttony uncleannesse covetousnesse all inordinate desires and all the evill of our good workes c. may never bee imputed or layd to our charge As likewise the Nationall unthankfulnesse heresies schismes swearing oppression security which crye open mouth'd against us may not enter into the eares of the Lord of hosts Secondly That we may from on high be indued with power over those corruptions and lusts to which pleasure allures profit provokes sinfull custome most of all swayes us the plague of our own heart that the lusts of our flesh may be crucifyed and the whole body of sinne abolished and we leade our captivity captive 2 Victory over all the deceits of the whole world which lieth in wickednesse and all the temptations thereof that neither the persons nor things therein may become our suare 3 Over the Devill that arch-enemy of our salvation and his fiercest and eraftiest assaults that he may never finally prevaile over us that the God of peace would tread downe Satan under our feete and so make us more than conquerors through our Lord Iesus who hath loved us Secondly Deprecation of the evill of Punishment 1. All those dreadfull curses due to our sinnes that they may not be inflicted on us 2 Deliverance from all plagues which we now feele or hereafter may feare viz. 1 Iudgements nationall which the whole Land mournes under Plague of the pestilence famine warre sedition conspiracie 2 Afflictions personall that lie on our selves either in soule body or in estate troubles and terrours of conscience griefe of minde scandalls and offences imprisonment banishment sicknesse poverty disgrace losse of friends or any other afflictions of what kinde soever preservation from and in all dangers Death it selfe the king of terrours the day of judgement from Hell and chaines of darknesse from Gods wrath and everlasting damnation c. Secondly We petition for others which is Intercession and thus here wee pray for the Catholike Church of Iesus Christ militant every where on earth which is either 1 Uncalled yet belonging to the election of grace that they may be converted as 1. Iews our elder sister which was in the covenant before us 2 Pagans and Infidels that they may heare the glad tidings of salvation and that the Sunne of righteousnesse may arise on them with healing in his wings that they may enjoy Gods Word Sacraments Sabbaths that God would bring home them that goe astray instruct the ignorant and forgive them that rebelliously transgresse Heretickes yea the Enemies and Persecutours of the Church that they all may bee converted or if implacable confounded beseeching God to forgive our Enemies Persecutors and Slanderers and to turne their hearts 2 Already called that the Lord would purge it from Schisme and Heresie and appease all unhappy differences in the Church making all Christians keepe the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace and that he would warme and enliven the setling and cooled affections of these secure and earthly-minded times To watch over it for good whether in the transmarine parts and forraigne countries abroad or our owne nation at home herein especially our gracious soveraigne King Charles and his Highnes Dominions with all his sacred Stocke and Lineage the Queene young Prince Princesse Duke the Lady Elizabeth the Kings onely sister and her Progenie The Lords spirituall and temporall those of his Majesties most honourable Privie Councell the Nobility Majestraâ—ie Ministrie the two Universities the Gentry and Commonalty our Parents Kindred Friends Benefactours all such as we stand obliged unto by nature desert duty or any speciall relation Thirdly Afflicted in soule body or in estate being oppressed and persecuted under Popish tyranny or Mahumetan cruelty those that bee destitute of all comforts of this life that want foode rayment harbour liberty peace health that grone under poverty famine nakednesse c. that all the Israel of God may bee delivered from all their troubles 3. THANKSGIVING THe third and last Part of our Prayers is Thankesgiving that God would give us thankefull hearts for all his Blessings First Positive Secondly Privative in Temporall spirituall and eternall good things towards his whole Church 1 Triumphant for providing for it Heaven a place of rest and happinesse for the glorious Martyrs godly Bishops Preachers and Confessors that out of their ashes he hath wondrously raysed up beleevers 2 Militant for giving â—â—â—m 1 Christ to be their Saviour captaine and leader 2 Holy spirit to bee their comforter 3 God himself to be their father 4 His Gospell Sacraments c. Secondly For his blessings to our selves for that eternall unchangeable infinite everlasting undeserved love of his to us in our Election in and Redemption by Iesus Christ our vocation our Adoption Iustification Sanctification inchoate with assured hope of future Glorification That we were borne of Christian and beleeving Parents in a land of righteousnesse in a time of knowledge planted in religious families towns undergodly and painfull Ministers and gracious Governours that we enjoy Gods word and Sacraments in the power and purity of them for the many great and precious promises made to us therein Which are either performed already towards us or shall be hereafter in due time accomplished For all the Graces of the holy spirit for the gracious and free pardon of our many sinnes Faith Repentance some care of sincere obedience and tender hearts desiring to feare God for power against and prevailing over any sinne that we are not given over to Heresies and Errours in opinion nor to those base and fleshly Lusts that some others are in our lives nor to a hard heart reprobate minde benummed conscience and finall Apostasie for victory in any temptation over subtle Satan the alluring world and our own selfe-deceiving selves Secondly Temporall Blessings viz. of Creation Providence 1 Creation after Gods own image not being made a Beast Toad Foole c. 2 Gods providence Nationall Personall in those wonderfull Deliverances of the nation Preservation peace plenty towards us and fatherly care over us in our birth and infancie ever since we hung upon the â—rests in our childe-hood youth mans estate unto old age and gray haires for our health continued so long or restored of late for understanding judgement and discretion peace liberty prosperity food raiment same and good esteeme among Gods people for wealth friends Godly parents carefull â—utours masters and governours good education quietnesse of minde contentment c. Daily preservation manifold deliverances from imminent and apparent yea unseene and unfeared dangers For his fatherly chastisements and corrections for sanctifying to our everlasting good our afflictions
15. Psal 103 3. 9. Psal 30. 5. Psal 126. 5. Isay 1 18. Isay 54 8. Ezec. 18 21. 23. Ezech. 33. 11. Math. 12. 20. Math. 11. 28. Rom. 8. 1. Omnipotent goodnes Eph. 3. 20. Gen. 17. 1. 2 Cor. 9. 8. Rom. 10. 12. Craving of AVDIENCE ASSISTANCE and ACCEPTANCE Looke downe from thy holy habitation from heaven have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant and to my supplication O Lord my God to hearken to the cry and to the praier which thy servant prayeth before thee this day Thou hast commanded that we should call upon thee in the day of trouble and hast promised also that thou wilt deliver us Lord bow downe thine eare and heare open Lord thine eyes and see and heare the words Let my prayer bee set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice Thou hast promised that if wee shall aske any thing in thy Sonnes name thou wilt doe it Now therefore O our God heare the prayer of thy servants and their supplication and cause thy face to shine upon us for the Lords sake for wee doe not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesse but for thy great mercies Wee know not what wee should pray for as we ought therefore let thy Spirit it selfe helpe our infirmities and make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered It shall come to passe when he cryeth unto me that I will heare for I am gracious Hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant and of thy people Israel when they shall pray towards this place heare thou in heaveÌ„ thy dwelling place and when thou hearest forgive Heare thou in heaven and forgive the sinne of thy servants and of thy people Israel that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walke and give raine upon thy land which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance Heare thou in hâ—eaven thy dwelling place and doe according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for that all people of the earth may know thy name to feare thee as doe thy people Israel Heare thou in heaven thy dwelling place and forgive and doe and give to every man according to his wayes Let thine eare now be attentive and thine eyes open that thou may est heare the prayer of thy servants Hearken unto the voyce of my cry my King and my God for unto thee will I pray Heare the voyce of my supplication when I cry unto thee when I lift up my hands toward thy holy Oracle Give eare O Lord unto my prayer and attend to the voyce of my supplication Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Unto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the heavens Heare my prayer O Lord give eare to my supplications in thy faithfullnesse answer me and in thy righteousnesse Heare me speedily O Lord my spirit faileth hide not thy face from me lest I be like unto them that goe downe into the pit Looke downe from heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holinesse and of thy glory O Lord how long shall I cry and thou wilt not heare I even cry out unto thee of violence and thou wilt not save CONFESSION of Sinne. O my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee my God for our iniquities are increased over our heads and our trespasse is growne up unto the heavens Thou createdst our first Parents in thine owne image and breathedst into their nostrils the breath of life but the Serpent beguiled them and they did eate of the forbidden Fruit whereby all mankind being then in their loines also sinned and now come short of the glory of God thou madest man upright but they sought out many inventions We are risen up in our fathers steed an increase of sinfull men to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord toward us Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in Sinne did my mother conceive me We know Lord that in us that is in our flesh dwelleth no good thing for though to will be present with us yet how to performe that which is good we finde not Thou Lord seest that the wickednesse of man is great upon earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart is onely evill continually If I justifie my selfe mine owne mouth shall condemne me the heaven shall reveale our iniquity and the earth shall rise up against us What is man that he should bee cleane and hee which is borne of a woman that hee should be righteous abominable and filthy is man which drinketh iniquity like water for mine iniquityes are growne over mine head and as a heavy burden they are too heavie for me Who can say I have made my heart cleane I am pure from my sinnes Wee are all as an uncleane thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy ragges and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away and there is none of us that calleth upon thy Name that stirreth up himselfe to take hold on thee We have made thee to serve with our sinnes we have wearied thee with ouâ— iniquities The shew of our countenance doth witnesse against us and we declare our sinne as Sodome and hide it not woe unto our soule for we have rewarded evill to our selves If thou Lord shouldest marke iniquities O Lord who shall stand But â—hâ—re is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared If we should be weighed by thee in the balances we should be found wanting And that which makes our sin become exceeding sinfull in the land of uprightnes have we dealt unjustly would not behold the majestie of the Lord. We are ashamed of the Gospell of Christ though it be the power of God unto salvation to every one that beleeveth Thou hast spread out thy hands all the day unto a rebellious people which have walked in a way that was not good after their owne thoughts Ah Lord God! we love not the Lord Iesus in sincerity We hide as it were our faces from him and will not have him to raigne over us Alas wee count not all things losse and doung for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christ Iesus our Lord. That we might bee found in him not having our owne righteousnesse We take no paines to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings or to bee made conformable to his death Thou hast given us space to repent of all our abominations that wee have committed but we repented not Wee confesse not our transgressions unto thee Lord that thou mightest forgive the
thy feare in our hearts that we may not depart from thee Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering CONTENTATION that we may learne in whatsoever state we are there with to be content knowing both how to be abased and to abound every where and in all things being instructed both to bee full and to bee hungry both to abound and to suffer need Because godlinesse with contentment is great gaine for we brought nothing into this world and it is certaine wee can carry nothing ouâ— Having therefore food and rayment let us bee therewith content That our conversation may bee without covetousnesse being content with such things as wee have For thou hast sayd thou wilt never leave us nor forsake us Casting all our care upon thee for thou carest for us What shall we receive good the hands of the Lord and not evill Take no thought for your life what ye shall eate or what ye shall drinke nor yet for your body what you shall put on the foules of the ayre they sow not neither doe they reape nor gather into barnes yet your heavenly father feedeth them Which of you by taking thought can adde one cubite unto his stature Consider the Lillies of the field how they grow they toyle not neither doe they spin If God so cloathe the grasse of the field which to day is and to morrow is cast into the oven shall he not much more cloathe you O ye of little faith take no thought saying what shall we eate or what shall we drinke or where withall shall we be cloathed Your heavenly father knoweth that you have neede of all these things give me neither poverty nor riches feed me with food convenient for me Lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord or lest I be poore and steale and take the name of my God in vaine PATIENCE under the CROSSE Helpe us to deny our selves and to take up our Crosse daily and follow our Saviour Thou hast fore-told us that in the world we shall have tribulation And that through much tribulation we must enter into the Kingdome of God Let us therefore reckon with our selves that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall bee revealed in us That it may be given unto us in the behalfe of Christ not only to beleeve on him but also to suffer for his sake Let us run with patience the way that is set before us Looking unto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himselfe lest you be wearied and faint in your mindes Thinke it not strange concerning the fiery triall which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you Rejoyce in as much as yee are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy If ye be reproched for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you GODS VVORD Let thy word be a lampe unto my feet and a light unto our path O make it unto us a word of power converting the soule quicke and powerfull and sharper than any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soule and spirit and of the joynts and marrow Give us the hearing eare and the seeing eye make thy word like fire and like a hammer that breaketh the rockes in pieces and as the raine commeth downe and the snow from heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eaâ—er so let thy word bee that goeth forth out of thy mouth let it not returne unto thee void but accomplish that which thou pleasest and prosper in the thing whither thou sendest it Lord give the Preacher the tongue of the learned that hee may know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary and create the fruit of his lips peace and let the worke of the Lord prosper in his hand They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thy house and thou shalt make them drinke of thy pleasures For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light We will goe into his tabernacles we will worship at his foot stoole Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law In the way of thy judgements O Lord have I waited for thee the desire of our soule is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee Come let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and hee will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his paths thine eares shall heare a word behind thee saying this is the way walke in it Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approch unto thee that hee may dwell in thy courts we shall be satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house euen of thy holy Temple And in this mountaine shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined Vid. vers 7. 8. Even them will I bring to my holy mountaine and make them joyfull in my house of prayer their burnt offrings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine Altar for mine house shall bee called a house of prayer unto all people SACRAMENTS in Speciall 〈…〉 let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that bread and drinke of that cup my father giveth you the true bread from heaven for the bread of God is he which commeth downe from heaven and giveth life unto the world As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God O God thou art my God early will I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirstie land where no water is what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord Personall Concernments and speciall employments in our particular calling Lord be thou with mee and keepe mee in this way that I goe and give me bread to eate and rayment to put on so that I may come againe to my fathers house in peace O Lord God I pray thee send mee good speed this day and shew kindnesse unto God Almighty give you mercie before the man that
and of thy glory where is thy zeale and thy strength the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies towards me are they restrayned Doubelesse thou art our father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledgeth us not thou O Lord art our father our Redeemer thy name is from everlasting Awake awake put on strength O arme of the Lord awake as in the ancient dayes in the generations of old Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab and wounded the Dragon thou art King of Kings and Lord of Lords Shew thy marveilous loving kindnesse O thou that savest by thy right hand those which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them c Awake why sleepest thou O Lord arise cast us not off for ever Wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our affliction and oppression Let them all be confounded and turned backe that hate Zion c. Let their flesh consume away while they stand upon their feete and their eyes consume away in their holes and their tongues consume away in their mouth Ezek. 11. 16. Isay 40. 11. Blesse every member of the Catholike Church in what place in what case soever women with child blesse them with safe deliverie make them joyfull mothers of children young children blesse them with religious education Seafarring men blesse them with prosperous navigation Husbandmen blesse thou them with plentifull harvests and encrease Captives blesse thou with enlargement Prisoners with repentance and amendment M. Valent. VNCALLED Raise up the Tabernacle of David that is falne and close up the breaches thereof and bee gracious to the remnant of Ioseph that the Day-spring from on high may visite and give light to them that sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death to guide their feete into the way of peace Those other sheepe which thou hast which are not yet of thy folde them also doe thou bring in and make them to heare thy voyce A a shepherd seeketh out his flocke in the day that hee is among his sheepe that are scattered so will I seeke out my sheepe and will deliver them out of all places where they have beene scattered in the cloudy and darke day And I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the countries and I will bring them to their own land and feed them upon the mountaines of Israell by the rivers and in all the inhabited places of the countrey vid. Ezek. 37. 21. 22. I will surely assemble O Iacob all of thee I will surely gather the remnant of Israell I will put them together as the sheepe of Bozrah as the flocke in the middest of their fold they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men CALLED Keepe them as the apple of an eye though Satan like a roaring Lyon goe about seeking whom hee may devoure yet give them not over unto the will of their enemie but upon all the glory let there bee thy defence Lord blesse this land compasse it with thy favour as with a shield Lord doe thou keep it and water it every moment lest any hurt it keepe thou it night and day The KINGS most excellent Majestie Let the soule of my Lord be bound in the bundle of life with thee and the soules of his enemies them cast out as from the middle of a sling Make his seed to endure for ever and his throne as the daies of heaven Prolong the Kings life and his yeares as many generations and that hee may abide with thee for ever O prepare mercy and truth which may preserve him Our renowned and gracious Soveraigne the breath of our nostrils the annoynted of the Lord let his house and throne be established for ever and set him as blessings unto his people Keepe him as the apple of thine eye hide him under theÌ„ shadow of thy wings From the wicked that oppresse him from his deadly enemies that compasse him about His seed doe thou establish for ever and build up his throne to aâ—â— generations Let his seed endure for ever and his throane as the Sunne before thee give him a long life a prosperous raigne that none of all the Kings may bee like him His enemies cloath with shame but on himselfe let his Crowne flourish Let his glory bee great in thy salvation crowne him with outward blessings with inward graces with long life satisfie thou him and shew him thy salvation give him riches and glory that none of the Kings may be like him As thou hast annoynted him to bee ruler of thy people so give him a wise and understanding heart to goe out and come in before this great people that he may governe over them inthy feare serving thee with a willing mind Bee thou unto him a father and make him unto theâ—â— thy sonne Blesse also thy servants house and let it be established before thee make a covenant with him as thou didst with David let the Angell of the Lord pitch round about him let not the sonnes of wickednesse approach neere to hurt him Blesse his Counsell with wisedome his Iudges with integrity his Magistrates with courage his people with obedience his Armies with victorie his raigne with peace M. Val. The LORDS of the Privie Councell Enforme thon his Councellers after thy will and teach his Senators wisedome that judgement may runne downe as waters and righteousnesse as a mighty streame that they may aske at thy mouth that counsell which they shall mister unto their Soveraigne that they may bee to us in stead of eyes filled with the spirit of God in wisedome As they be famous in the congregation and men of renowne so they may be as Gods knowing good and evill that all the counsell which they counsell may bee as if a man should enquire at the Oracle of God MAGISTRACIE And that judgement may not be turned into gall nor the fruit of righteousnesse into hemlocke give courage to our rulers that they may execute justice truely in the gates that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty MINISTERIE And thou who art the Lord of the harvest send our labourers into thy harvest that those which are ordained to eternall life may be saved and let the worke of the Lord prosper in their hand The Chariots of Israel and the horse-men thereof Let thy Thummim and thy Urime be with thy holy one who observe thy word and keepe thy Covenant that they may teach Iaeob thy judgements and Israel thy Law they shall put incense before thee and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine Altar Blesse Lord their substance and accept the worke of their hands smite through the loines of them that rise against them and of them that hate them that they
to come out of it yea though with Lazarus I stinke already yet roll away the stone and speake thou by thy all-powerfull word and I shall come forth and live O purge my conscience from dead workes redeeme mee from death ransome me from power of the grave and though I be lesse than the least of all Saints lesse than the least of all thy mercies yet make me a prisoner of hope and by the bloud of thy covenant send forth my soule out of the pit wherein is no water Wash my robes and make them white in the bloud of the Lambe Create in me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Make thy word to be unto me like a refiners fire and like fullers sope cleansing me from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit that so I may be meete to be a partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but holy and without blemish the sonne of thy love through Christ Thou hast promised that if I returne unto thee thou wilt receive me and that if I seek thee early I shall finde thee that thou wilt have mercie upon me and wilt abundantly pardon all my sinnes heale my backeslidings and love me freely O Lord it is not sinne in the highest degree when it is out of measure sinfull and is come to the full that can hinder the Sunne of righteousnesse from arising with healing in his wings on any humbled soule no for where Sinne abounded Grace doth much more superabound and where shall or can the skill of thee our heavenly Physician be so much seene so much adored and magnified as in healing a poore soule weltring and wallowing in its bloud and desperately wounded unto everlasting death O speake thou the word and my soule shall live Subdue mine iniquities and cast all my sinnes into the depths of the Sea O redeeme me from my former vaine conversation that I may renounce the hidden things of dishonesty turne thou mee and I shall be turned betroth my soule unto thee in faithfulnesse make with me a covenant of peace And because no man can come to thee except the father which sent thee draw him O draw me and I will run after thee open my blinde eyes say Epphata to my deafe eares touch my lips with a coale from thy Altar that my iniquity may bee taken away and my sinne purged then shall my lame feet leape as an Hart and my dumbe tongue shall sing forth thy praise A new heart doe thou also give me and a new spirit doe thou put within me and take away the stony heart out of the midst of me and bestow upon me an heart of flesh and put thy spirit within mee as thou hast promised and cause me to walke in thy statutes and to keepe thy judgements and doe them And for the time to come Lord make me more zealous of thy glory more profitable in wayes of my calling more carefull to doe and receive all possible good that I can Alas I have beene a barren tree thou hast planted mee neere the rivers of water hast digged about me and taken much paines with me but I am still unfruitfull thy glory is not so deare unto me as it ought to be nor is my owne salvation or the edification of others so sincerely indevoured by me as was meet O turne me into another man circumcise the foreskinne of my heart let the time past of my life suffice to have served and live in sinne Give mee grace now in this my day to know the things that belong to my peace to make use of this time of my visitation to lay hold on eternall life to take the kingdome of heaven by violence now thou standest at the doore and knockest O let me open unto thee that thou mayest enter in and sup with me Give mee grace to worke out my salvation with feare and trembling to bee often in calling upon thee in prayer and lifting mine eyes up to the hills from whence both pardon of sinne and power over sinne must bee expected Make mee often search and trye my wayes and examine my selfe whether I be in the faith or no. Now I beseech thee to heare me and helpe me doe away the iniquity of thy servant cover my transgressions and let my sinnes bee blotted out from before thee for the Lord Iesus Christs sake Amen Amen Some particular formes of PRAYER For the English Colonies and Plantations in New-England Virginia c. O Most high God Possessor of heaven and earth the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the habitation of thy holinesse and of thy glory by thee the Mountaines were brought forth and thou hast formed the earth and the would and hast given it to the children of men for a possession And by thy word of blessing hast commanded man to encrease and multiply and replenish the face of the earth We in this nation have found thy gracious Providence over us in thy continuall protection and preservation for thou hast strengthned the bars of our gates and blessed our children within us thou hast set peace in our borders and hast abundantly given us blessings of the brest and of the wombe insomuch that wee are exceedingly multiplyed so that the place where wee dwell is too narrow for us for our seed is become as the sand and the offspring of our bowels as the gravell thereof And now O Lord thou of thy good providence hast espied out for us an exceeding good land watred with the dew of heaven from above blessed with the farnesse of the earth from beneath and hast made roome for us to bee planted therein that wee who are growne into so great a nation and are thronged at home may swarme out and bee gathered thither for the glory of thy great name the honour of this Kingdome and the further enlargement of our Kings dominions O let their designe be holinesse to the Lord honour and wealth to our nation and enlargement also to the kingdome of thy Christ who are transplanted into those remoter parts of the world Build a place of rest for thy tabernacle among them that the heathen that have not knowne thee and the families that have not called on thy name may by this meanes bee delivered from the power of darkenesse and translated into the kingdome of thy deare sonne Bee thou a wall of fire round about our people and a little Sanctuary unto them Let no sonne of wickednesse approach neere to hurt them build them up into a nation there plant them and make them to dwell in safety Let no seditious Sheba be author of faction or schisme among them And as thou causest the Sun to arise upon all the earth so that nothing is hid from the heate thereof so leâ— there bee no speech nor language where the voyce
mee that the day of death is better than the day when I was borne Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them And that I may dye in thee O make me to live to thee O teach mee so to number my dayes that I may apply my heart unto wisedome that all the while my breath is in me and the spirit of God is in my nostrills I may glorifie thee on earth and finish that worke thou givest me to doe because there is no worke nor device nor knowledge in the grave whither I am going O make mee to passe the time of my Sojourning heere in thy feare because the night commeth in which I cannot worke So long as this my day lasteth let me live as a child of the light let my behaviour be as becommeth holinesse adorning the doctrine of God my Saviour in all things that I may praise thee my God whilest I have my being and my conversation may be in heaven even whilest I Sojourne heere on earth and the life which I now live in the flesh I may live by the faith of the Sonne of God that the world may be crucified unto me and I unto the world For to this end our Saviour Iesus once tasted death for every man and humbled himselfe and became obedient even to the death of the crosse that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which dyed for them and rose againe When therefore my race is finished and I have served out my time O let mee dye the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his Let my soule be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord my God shew me the path of life In thy presence is fulnesse of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Pardon all my Sinnes heale my backe-slidings love me freely subdue mine iniquities and cast all my Sinnes into the depths of the Sea Give me peace of conscience and joy in thee that when dust shall returne againe to the earth as it was my spirit may returne to God who gave it Amen A Prayer for a Scholler O Lord thou art the Father of lights every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and commeth downe from thee thou hast commanded that if any lacke wisedome he should aske it of thee thou it is that givest to the simple sharpnesse of wit and to the child knowledge and understanding O give unto me thy servant a wise and understanding heart and make learning delightfull unto my soule that I giving attendance unto reading may meditate upon the things that shall be taught me and give my selfe wholly thereunto that so my profiting may appeare unto all O make mee also to learne Christ in whom are hid al the treasures of wisedome and knowledge that I may grow up before thee as a plant of righteousnesse And because Paul may plant and Appollos water but it is thou alone that canst give the increase command thy blessing from heaven that it may rest upon my studies It will be in vaine for me to rise early and to sit up late unlesse it please thee to prosper mine endeavours O doe thou bestowe on mee knowledge and skill in all learning and wisedome as thou didst on Daniel and his three companions And as Moses was learned in all the wisedome of the Aegyptians so also incline mine eare to wisedome and apply mine heart unto understanding that I may say unto wisedome thou art my Sister and call understanding my Kinswoman make me to seeke her as silver and to search for her as hidden treasures to be instant in season and out of season in labours more abundant in watchings often applying my heart to know to search and seeke out wisedome and the reason of things O make me in the morning to sow my seed and in the evening not to withhold mine hand that I may take hold of instruction and not let her goe but keepe her for shee is my life Make me swift to heare carefull to redeeme the time wisely husbanding those opportunities I have to learne that with all my getting I may get understanding and may not onely learne the wisedome of heathen and prophane Authors but that wisedome also which is from above and heavenly which may give me an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Lord set thy stampe on this my pliable and waxie youth that it may bee holinesse unto thee season my heart with thy feare betimes let me set thee alwayes before mine eyes that as Samuel Iosiah and Solomon I may learne to know thee the Lord God of my Fathers and serve thee with a willing mind make me to give to thee the first fruits of my yeares and to remember thee my creatour in the dayes of my youth whilest the evill dayes come not thus laying up a good foundation for the time to come Thou hast promised that if I seeke thee thou wilt be found of me but if I forsake thee thou wilt cast me off for ever make me therefore diligent to know the Scriptures of a child which are able to make me wise unto salvation let thy glory be the end thy word the rule thy spirit the guide thy will the law thy promises the comforts of my life that thus acquainting my selfe with thee betimes and abhorring all prophane and Atheisticall conceits of thee thy wayes worship I may by thy grace suppresse all filthy and unholy thoughts fancies and desires so fly the lusts of youth Thou hast made me to bee borne into thy Church and hast even from my infancie received me into thy covenant O that there were such an heart in me that I might serve thee alwayes Give me patient obedient humble dutifull and discreet carriage to all my Supiriours to him especially at whose feet as Saint Paul at Gamaliels I now sit make me painfull and industrious carefull to please him reverencing his authority Make mee affable loving courteous harmlesse and of winning behaviour towards my Equalls and Inferiours being gentle and easie to be intreated by them all Pardon and heale the frailties follies and infirmities of my youth give me understanding to conceive largenesse of heart and capacity to apprehend confirme my memorie to retaine my invention to finde out and attaine to humane literature Prosper all my labours and make me wise to understand mine owne wayes to save mine owne soule that I may bee a comfort to my Parents and honour to thy Gospell an example of Learning Pietie and vertue to all my Equalls that so I may heereafter become a profitable instrument of thy glory either in the church or common wealth as thou shalt see it best in thine heavenly wisedome and most agreeable to mine owne disposition that thus glorifying thee in my life I may be blessed of thee in my death and glorified for ever with thee in the world
idlenesse nor brawling nor quarrelling with my fellow servants but make me to be peaceable gentle easie to bee intreated Let me not be sloathfull in businesse or indammage my master by my neglect but desirous to promote his good and to please him in all things not answering againe not purloyning but shewing all good fidelity that I may adorne the doctrine of God my Saviour in all things And though my master should become a hard man and should make my life bitter with sore bondage making me serve with rigor yea though he make me a hewer of wood or drawer of water or imploy me even to the basest offices yet let not my proud heart swell and repine hereat Grant that I may submit my selfe under his hand not onely when hee is good and gentle but also when he is froward even when I am buâ—feted for my faults remembring my blessed Saviour that tooke on him the forme of a servant who though he was our Lord and Master yet willingly gave himselfe an example and patterne of all patience and humility And although with One simus I have beene sometimes unfaithfull and unprofitable heretofore yet make me profitable to my master for the time to come that he may receive me not now as a servant but above a servant never suffer me like Iudas in a religious family to be ungodly to betray my master or bewray his secrets nor a lying covetous and dissembling servant as Gehezi nor as Ziba slandering my master but counting him worthy of all honour that he being a beleever I may not despise him because he is a brother but rather doe him service because he is faithfull and beloved pertaker of the benefit of thy Sons redemption Let my behaviour be as becommeth holinesse grant that with patience I may beare his threatnings chidings revilings because thou hast taught mee that a soft tongue breaketh the bones Make mee wisely to forbeare and in my patience to possesse my soule referring all my wrongs and injuries to thee though he should not doe unto mee that which is just and equall knowing that even hee also hath a Master in heaven neither is there respect of persons with thee O Lord I beseech thee let now thy eare bee attentive to the prayer of mee thy servant who desires to feare thy name and prosper I pray thee thy servant this day and grant me grace instantly to serve thee that so thou who hast the hearts of all men in thy hands as the rivers of water maist give me favour in the sight of my master that my worke and labour may bee accepted O Lord I beseech thee free me from sinne that I may become a servant of righteousnesse â— alasse I have made thee too long to serve with my sinnes I have wearied thee with mine iniquities pardon I pray thee all my transgressions and enter not into judgement with thy servant for in thy sight no flesh living shall bee justified let mee not henceforth serve sinne any longer but grant that I may serve thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life Amen Lord Iesus Amen A thankesgiving to our Saviour Iesus Christ MOst loving Lord and blessed Saviour the mighty God everlasting Father Prince of peace and life the rocke of my salvation the fountaine opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem for sinne and for uncleannesse the Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world who now art set downe at the right hand of the Majestie on high and yet hast respect unto thy poore members here on earth O Lord heare O Lord forgive O Lord accept the groanings of my humbled soule which followeth â—aâ—d after thee which thirsteth longeth for thee in a dry and barren land where no water is O my sweet Saviour very loving hast thou beene to me thy love to me was wonderfull passing the love of women at the which so infinit so unconceivable unchangable everlasting and undeserved love of thine to me a miserable sinner the very Angels stand amazed desiring to prie into the mysterie of thy incarnation and admire to see thee the brightnesse of thy Fathers glory and the expresse image of his person assuming a nature inferiour to theirs who though thou wert Lord of Lords King of Kings the image of the invisible God the first borne of every creature heire appointed of all things by whom also the worlds were made yet tookest upon thee the forme of a servant and wast made in the likenesse of men being delivered to death for my sinnes and made a curse for mee Was there ever love like this love of thine that one should dy for his enemies from the beginning of the world was it ever heard before that God should become man to save man from the wrath of God due to mans sinne But thou art that good Shepherd that givest thy life for thy Sheepe and thou hast loved me and washed me from my sinnes in thy owne bloud and delivered me from the wrath to come O Lord Iesus Christ thou thou onely art the hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee without thee and out of thee there is nothing amiable worthy the setting my heart upon Let the world love it selfe let men be Idolaters of their owne concupiscences of their goods lives wisedome reputation c but cause thou me to forsake and to hate all things for thee and to count them dung that I may winne Christ Let my heart take no greater pleasure than to see thee glorified in the world and enthronized in my owne soule Thou art my portion for ever hee whom my soule loveth whose love to mee is better than wine the Lord my righteousnesse Who shall now lay any thing to the charge of thine Elect seeing thou dost justifie who can condemne I desire to know nothing but thee crucified to love nothing more than thy sacred selfe I desire onely to be found in thee not having mine owne righteousnesse which indeed is none but to bee clad with the garments of thy salvation O sweet Iesus spread thy skirt over me for thou art my neere kinsman true Immanuel God with us God for us Never I beseech thee suffer me to bee unmindfull of unthankfull for that wonder of all thy wondrous workes my eternall redemption and salvation by thy precious bloud Order my conversation aright to the pleasing of thee in all my desires thoughts words actions that I may not henceforth live to my selfe but unto thee which hast dyed for mee and rose againe Guide mee Lord with thy counsell whiles I live on earth and afterward receive me to thy glory Amen A thankesgiving to God for his wonderfull deliverance of our King and state from the Gun-powder Treason Novem. 5. 1605. LOrd God Almighty glorious in holinesse working wonders alway for thy poore Church and in
for the morning O God be mercifull unto me and blesse me and cause thy upon face to shine upon me O fill me with thy mercie this morning so shall I rejoyce and bee glad all my dayes O God thou art my God earwill I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no wattr is O Sunne of righteousnesse shine upon me My voyce shalt thou heare in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will looke up Unto thee have I cryed O Lord and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light The night is past the day is at hand worke while it is called day the night commeth when no man can worke MEDITATIONS for the Evening Thou knowest my downe sitting and mine up rising thou understandest my thought a farre off Thou compassest my path and my lying downe and art acquainted with all my wayes Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening Sacrifice Let teares run downe like a river day and night give thy selfe no rest let not the Apple of thine eye cease Arise cry out in the night in the beginning of the watches powre out thy heart like water before the face of the Lord lift up thy hands towards him Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in death He that keepeth Israel neither slumbreth nor sleepeth the day is thine the night also is thine the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darknesse and the light to thee are both alike I will lay me downe in peace take my rest c. when thou liest downe thou shalt not bee afraid yea thou shalt lie c. MEDITATIONS for thee as thou goest into Bed Think with thy selfe that 1 Thou art one day neerer end than thou wert in the morning 2 Consider what thou hast seene heard or read that day worth the remembring and make use thereof 3 Seriously examine thy selfe what Sinne thou hast committed what duty thou hast omitted how thou hast failed and lament them on thy knees begging pardon in thy Saviours Name 4 Consider that many goe well to bed and never rise againe till the day of Iudgement therefore say Father into thy hands I commend my spirit 5 Let thy stripping thee naked put thee in mind of thy death thy bed of thy grave thy coverings of the moulds and wormes of the earth thy sheets of thy winding sheete thy sleepe of thy death thy waking of thy resurrection In the night when thou awakest say With my soule have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me will I seek thee early Thus will I blesse thee while I live I will lift up my hands in thy name my soule shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with joyfull lips when I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches MEDITATIONS for the Lords day in the Morning It is a good thing to give thankes unto thee O Lord and to sing praises to thy name O thou most high to shew forth thy loving kindnesse in the morning and thy faithfulnesse every night This is the day which the Lord hath made wee will rejoyce and be glad in it Blessed is the man that doth thiâ— and the Sonne of man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and keepeth his hands from doing any evill they that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God they shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall bee fat and flourishing As thou goest to the Church meditate thus One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seeke after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God At the Church thinke with thy selfe that The place where thou standest is Holy ground none other but the house of God How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hoasts Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will bee still praysing thee For a day in thy court is better than a thousand I had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of my God then dwell in the tents of wickednesse They that joyne themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the name of the Lord to bee his servants every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my covenant Even them will I bring to my holy mountaine and make them joyfull in my house of prayer the like course thou mayest take in other places of Scripture which thou mayest make use of for all kinde of meditations at home abroad in field towne journeyes c Matter for Graces before meat O Lord our God the onely giver of all good gifts thou feedest the young ravens when they cry they have their meat of God the eyes of all waite upon thee thou openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing every living thing thou lovedst us before we were thou hast kept us from our birth supply all our wants sanctifie all thy dealings towards us and let thy blessing be on the food which we are now to receive Speake a word of blessing to it from heaven that it may nourish and strengthen us comfort and do us good let us taste and see how gracious the Lord is let us feele the sweetnesse of that love with which thou hast loved us in Christ man liveth not by bread alone 't is by thy word of blessing not our meates alone that wee are nourished and preserved which satisfiest our mouth with good things thou shalt eate and blesse the name of the Lord thy God Let not these creatures turne to the hurt of our souls which thou hast given us for good of our bodies I am not worthy of the least morsell of thy good creatures unworthy of the crums which fall under thy table Let not our table become a snare unto us breake not the staffe of our bread curse not unto us any blessing Good Lord forgive us all our sinnes and blesse at this time these good creatures to our nourishment through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen O Lord it is not by bread alone that man lives it is thy blessing upon the creatures that they sustaine us O draw up our hearts and eyes to heaven to acknowledge thy providence in them to praise thy goodnesse for them that we
may receive them as pledges of thy favour and gracious assurances of thine everlasting love through Iesus c Matter for Graces after meate Blessed bee thy name for health life strength and for all the blessings of this and the blessed hopes of a better life make it our meate and drinke to doe the will of thee our heauenly father make us to hunger after that bread which endureth to everlasting life Provide dayly bread for all thy poore servants till thou bring us to that place where we shall never hunger nor thirst any more thy loving kindnesse is better than life that I may labour not so much for this meat that perisheth but for that meate which endureth to everlasting life the body and bloud of our Saviour which is meate indeed and drinke indeed Keepe us in thy feare while we live on earth and afterward receive us to glory in thy kingdome We thanke thee O Lord for the comfortable use of these good blessings we beseech thee also feed our soules to everlasting life with the meate that perisheth not through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Blessed bee thy name O Lord God for thus opening thy hand and filling us at this time with thy good creatures vouchsafe still to be our God with-hold no good thing from our soule or body Save all thy Church protect our King Queene Prince Royall Progeny and Realme Grant free passage to to thy Gospel comfort to thy Servants and peace of conscience to us all through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen An EPITOME of a Christians Conversation and Religious course of life gathered out of some Godly Practicall Divines c. Every day bestow halfe an houre in reading the Scriptures and Prayer Gods word will not onely shew thee what to do what to pray but will worke a secret power to accomplish the same Appoint and set a part some time once every day seriously and solemnely to cast up the eye of thy Faith on that never-fading crowne of life which after an inch of time shall for ever rest upon thy head The comforts hereof will make a man live almost without a soule and sweeten all the troubles of this life Set one houre in the weeke a part Saturday in the afternone is more fit by reason of the approching day to consider of search and try thy wayes this will snub and keepe downe the weeds of corruptions from overspreading thy soule Thou bestowed an houre on thy body every day in dressing it and lookest thy selfe in a glasse to attire thy outward sheath and wilt thou not once a weeke doe as much for thy soule thy body must one day rot and turne to dust perhaps to morrow thy soule must live ever either in weale or woe Life and death are now in thy choyse chuse then that good part Give God the honour of thy thoughts as well as of thy words and actions often thinke how all the glistering shewes of this whole world must and doe vanish and moulder into vanity and nothing very smoke As soone as thou hast broken of sleepe set God before thee and thinke What shall I doe what course shall I take that I may bring glory to God that I may not sinne this day O that my wayes were so directed Never speake the evill which thou too certainely knowest by others but with fearefulnesse as it were and some kinde of enforcement being sure thou hast a calling to it and then doe it seasonably charitably discreetly and not in humour spleene imperiousnesse T is the humor of Hypocritts to be supercilious and censorious but for Gods glory thy owne discharge use no moe wordes against mâ—ns sinnes than thou wilt make prayers for their soules in secret Be bold yet wise in speaking for Christ and with height of resolution goe through all the disgraces that the sinfull times lay in the wayes of God In Actions civil Doe as thou wouldst be done to religious Strive to live by faith because faith is the soule of all our actions our prayers will bee cold unlesse this warme them Take heed of falling from thy first love Serve not God for by-respects but onely for himselfe So long as thou art unfeinedly displeased with and sorry for all thy sinnes and dost mortifie the deedes of thy body by the spirit thy cafe is the state of salvation Let thy whole conversation favour of the Lord. Bee alwayes bemoaning thy spirituall pride knowne hypocrisie covetousnesse perfâ—â—ctorinesse and formality in Gods service Give not way to a heartlesse neglect of the use of Gods holy ordinances reading prayer fasting private humiliation for this is the fore-runner to some fearefull sinne or fiery temptation to some heavie judgement or dangerous apostasie Seeke not thy selfe in any of thy actions Looke to thy repentance that it bee sincere universall constant from the heart root for all sinne Incorporate thy selfe into the Communion of Saints be intimate onely with them such an holy and humble majesty is in their carriage such a deale of heaven is in their countenances such spirituall ravishments is in their hearts such grace and powerful piercings in their speeches such zeale and hearty melting is in their prayers that they cannot but worke upon thy heart if thou converse with them Looke well to thy carriage that thou leave not an ill savour behinde thee in any company Wait for occasions to doe good Act. 26. 28. In bad company give them apparent signes of thy dislike Unlesse you give some kinde of reall or verball reproofe they will be hardned Often withdraw your selfe apart imparting unto God your griefes wants desires Walke with God on the top of Mount Tabor once a day Prayer in secret will bee unto thee an unspeakeable comfort a testimony that thou art not left to thy selfe if words will not come sigh God heares the sighing of his servants if thou canst not sigh breath God hath an care for that thou hast heard my voyce hide not thine eare at my breathing at my cry yea speake with thy countenance be humbled for thy unfitnesse dulnesse c. Then wee pray most happily when wee arise from prayer most humbled After prayer thou shalt carry thy selfe in thy vocation with much more zeale and standing thus upright with God thou wilt not feare the world thou shalt have rest and peace within what ever stirres bee without Have a speciall eve to a sincere constant and fruitfull performance of holy duties take heed of customarinesse and Formality which cuts out the heart and drawes the very life-blood from them Strive by all meanes for attainment of what thou prayest for by all occasions helpes and heavenly offers Be diligent in thy personall employments and take heed of idlenesse 2 Have an eye to Gods glory in all thy undertakings 3 Goe about earthly busines with an heavenly mind 4 Let not any unrighteous gaine entice thee to sinne or belime thee 5 Set not thy delight