and soule to seek after thee and thy Kingdome with the righteousnesse thereof and then I shall obtain the end of my faith and hope even thy glory and my owne salvation through thee only dear Jesus my blessed Lord and alone Saviour To whom with God the Father and the Holy Ghost three Persons one eternall God and glorious Trinity be rendred as is due all praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen 20. The conclusion to this booke A short Prayer so to performe our duties here towards God that we may obtaine heaven hereafter OH most mercifull Lord God thou knowest my unaptnesse to any good I humbly pray thee to give me thy poor unworthy servant grace so truly to feare thee as not to offend thee so constantly to beleeve in thee and confidently to relye upon all thy gracious promises in all my troubles and necessities and so entirely and sincerely to love and honour thee above all things that nothing in this world may withdraw my minde from thee nor any vaine hopes or earthly desires make mee neglect my service to thee but that I may daily study and strive rightly and carefully to obey thee my Lord at all times diligently to seek thee and know thy will and faithfully to serve and please thee as I ought to doe as long as I live For thou O God the Father lovedst us first and sent thy deare Son out of thy bosome to redeeme us and our sweet Saviour Jesus in his love gave himselfe and laid downe his owne life to save us from eternall death greater love cannot bee found then for one to dye for a friend but thou Lord diedst for thine enemies much more having now reconciled us to the father and to thy selfe I trust being united to thee also by the Holy Ghost by sanctification and true faith wrought in me by that blessed Spirit I shall obtaine mercy through the merits and sufferings of my deare Jesus to live with thee in heaven hereafter to glorifie the great Name of God the eternall Father Son and Holy Ghost to whom bee all praise and honour for ever and let heaven and earth Saints and Angells and all creatures give glory to him for evermore Amen Here is one Prayer more which I joyne to these because it concerned one of my daughters to whom this Booke belonged though it was lately penned upon a very strange accident 21. A thanksgiving to Almighty God for his most mercifull preservation of my noble kinswoman the Lady Eliz. Feelding and of my owne daughter the Lady Eliz. Cornwalleis from drowning under the Bridge and was long under water and one worthy Gentlewoman in the company could not bee recovered This may serve upon any such fearfull accident MOst Mighty God Creator of heaven and earth and the only disposer of all things therein thou art the defender and protecter of all thy children and servants and the gracious preserver of all those that depend upon thee thy power ruleth both by sea and land and thy all-guiding providence directeth all things in the world according to thy own high will and good pleasure and for the good of all them that trust in thee Whereof thou hast given many and mee the unworthiest of thy servants an especiall testimony of thy infinite mercy towards my deare daughter and kinswoman in that great and miraculous deliverance lately of them in the dreadfull danger of sudden death by drowning in the Thames for thou didst mercifully provide and take care to save their lives when they were past sense to take care of themselves or to call upon thee for helpe yet beyond all hope thou didst bring them backe from the gates of death praised for ever be thy most glorious Name and let neither us nor any of our generation forget this thy great mercy Now Lord make us duly to acknowledge all thy benefits and let us not passe them out of our mindes without true thankfulnesse for all thy favours continually vouchsafed unto us undeserved for all which we poor creatures have nothing to returne to thee but devout love faithfull service and carefull obedience with the humble sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving which by thy assistance I will performe towards thee with a gratefull heart so long as I live and for ever Amen 22. A Petition of the Author for herselfe O Lord as Paul said he would readily performe the duty in his charge that lay upon him lest while he preached to save others himself should become a cast-away so dearest Lord I having taken pains to compose many Prayers for the use of others under my care to further them in the constant performance of this duty of prayer which being rightly used will draw many blessings from thee Almighty God I most humbly beseech thee to heare and receive their supplications that call upon thee by these Prayers So Gracious Lord suffer not me to neglect my duty and daily service herein towards thy Majesty but make me carefully rightly and reverently to offer up due praises and prayers daily unto thee in a faithfull and acceptable manner all the daies of my life And give me thy poor servant the assistance of thy grace and holy Spirit to reform all my waies before thee to suppresse and overcome the corruption of my heart the vanity of my mind and to forsake and abandon the love of this vile world with all the deceitfull vanities thereof and to cast off those great superfluous cares and desires after the things of this mutable life which passe away like a shadow or dream Wise Solomon that had the plenty and triall of all things under the Sun tells us what it will prove only vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit Wherefore let me learne with Paul in what estate soever I am therewith to be content and to submit with humble patience to thy pleasure in all things thou sendest who knowest what is best and fittest for me and keep me for repining and despairing in thy chastisements for thou canst heale as well as wound when thou pleasest Therefore I will dedicate my heart and soule and all my endeavours unto thy faithfull service striving to make my calling and election sure by looking after thee my God thy Kingdome and thy righteousnesse which is the only thing needfull This grace grant unto mee O God for Jesus Christs sake Amen The end of the first Book BOOK II. THis Book I began to write at my house at Barking in Essex where I retired my selfe in solitarinesse after the death of my worthy and dear husband Sir Thomas Richardson Knight Lord chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench who dyed at Candlemas 1634. Where shortly after I finished these Prayers following for my owne private use being the fittest imployment for my time who was then in so much heavinesse I call this Book a weekly exercise of Prayer either for a private person or in their owne family To which there are added some other necessary Prayers very
the grave hell and Sathan and didst willingly lay down thine owne life for us which no man could take from thee that wee might live by faith through thee and also thou hadst power to take it up againe and didst rise from the grave the third day for our justification and to vanish all our spirituall enemies and lastly thou our Lord didst gloriously ascend into heaven there to take possession and make intercession for us unto thy heavenly Father with whom thou dost reigne in heaven for ever whither thou dost graciously and daily draw to thee all those that truly beleeve in thee there to live hereafter with thee of which number deare Lord in the fulnesse of thy mercies make me one Now I further humbly pray thee sweet Jesus the Saviour of all that trust in thee that thou wilt have mercy on mee to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and offences past and present both originall and actuall of omission and commission of infirmity or presumption whatsoever I stand guilty of before theee and even those secret sinnes that none but thy All-seeing eyes and my owne conscience can testifie against mee which is more then a thousand witnesses I humbly pray thee to cast them all behinde thy backe into the pit of oblivion never to come in remembrance with thee and wash all my faults out of thy sight with that blessed streame of thine owne most pretious bloud which thou didst so plentifully shed for us in thy most bitter passion O blessed Lord let not all these thy mercies and benefits which thou hast done and purchased for mankinde be fruitlesse or in vaine towards mee thy poore unworthy servant whose confidence is only in thee that thou wilt make mee a happy partaker of all thy great benefits and favours And sweet Iesus grant through thy mercies merits and infinit sufferings that my transgressions may never bee laid to my charge for there is no other name under heaven but thine only blessed Iesus our righteous Lord by which we can be saved To thee bee rendred as is due all honour praise thanks and glory for ever and ever Concluding my petition with that perfect Prayer which thy selfe hast taught us saying Our Father which art in heaven c. 28. A Prayer for Friday night to God the Sonne our blessed Saviour I Will love thee dearly O Lord my strength for thou art my helper my refuge and the lifter up of my head and I will praise thy name so long as I have breath O Lord Christ by whom was fulfilled the Law and the Prophets and in thee all the promises of God are Yea and Amen to the glory of God the Father and the comfort of all thy servants thou art that pure and innocent Lambe of God that was killed and is alive to thee was given all power honour and glory who liveth and raigneth for ever in heaven and earth of whose Kingdome there is no end to thee Lord bee all possible praise and thanks for ever This is my only Lord and blessed Saviour Jesus Christ the righteous who died for our sinnes and rose againe for our justification and art our Advocate in heaven so that whatsoever we shall ask the Father in thy name according to thy will if we beleeve we shall obtaine it for thy sake who art the beloved Son of God in whom only hee is well pleased My deare God have mercy upon me a most grievous sinner to pardon all my offences past in soule or body of ignorance or wilfulnesse of frailty neglect contempt or wicked stubbornesse bury them all sweet Jesus in thy grave and cleanse them from before thine eyes with thy most pretious bloud which thou didst of thine owne accord and infinite love shed for us to free us from eternall death which by our sinnes are due therefore gracious Lord grant through thy merits and manifold sufferings that my iniquities may never be able to appeare before thee against me either to accuse or condemne me neither in this life at my death nor in the great and last judgement but in that dreadfull day Lord by all thy mercies I beseech thee shew thy self my loving Saviour to passe by cover all my misdeeds with thy righteousnesse that so I may escape thy just wrath which my transgressions have deserved Now deare Iesus while I live here make me thy unworthy servant wholly thine to be thy faithfull and constant disciple and so to love thee as to keep thy Commandements which are not grievous but in obeying them there is great reward and let me so follow thee here as to bee lowly and meek to forsake my selfe and the world and to take up all my crosses with patience and strive to goe after thy steps though I be farre unable to drinke of that heavy and bitter cup of Gods wrath of which thou so deeply tastedst who art the propitiation for our sinnes to deliver us from that fearfull condemnation due unto us my offences Lord I confesse did adde unto that weighty burden of Gods heavy displeasure and our grievous sinnes which thou didst beare upon the crosse for all true beleevers who shall passe from death to life eternall which thy sufferings O Christ hath purchased for us whereby I the unworthiest of thy servants doe also hope to follow thee hereafter from the grave to heaven at the resurrection of the just that according to thy will declared before thy death all that are thine shall bee with thee even where thou art to enjoy all blisse and happinesse in thine owne love by thy unmerited mercies we shall bee made partakers with thee of thy heavenly Kingdome of glory there to serve and praise thy glorious Name who art most worthy world without end Amen 29. The conclusion for Friday night LOrd Iesus vouchsafe to receive me this night into thy gracious protection both in life and death And deare Lord I humbly pray thee to inlighten me with thy grace rightly and faithfully to serve and obey thee in all true devotion and with due submission to thy holy will in all things so long as I live and now Lord I am in health laid downe in my bed by thy loving permission hoping to take quiet rest and sleep which I beseech thee to give me and also I trust by thy mercie to a wake in thy grace and favour to the morning light againe because thou gracious Lord dost only me sustaine and wilt in safety thy poore servant keep who doe most humbly commend and commit my selfe my soule and body my children and grand-children and all I have to thee from whom I have received all the good I doe enjoy for thou hast shewed great mercies unto me for which I blesse and praise thy holy Name beseeching thee to give me grace never to forget thy benefits but to continue Lord thy true and faithfull servant unto my death and for ever Amen 30. A Prayer to the blessed Trinity at first waking for Saturday morning I
other thy holy Commandements heretofore and vouchsafe O God alwaies to knit my straying heart to the true feare of thy great name to keep me from offending thee and fill my soul with the infinite love of thy divine Majesty that I may daily strive to lead the rest of my life in all obedience to thy holy will And Lord vouchsafe to inspire me thy most unworthy servant I humbly pray thee with thy blessed Spirit that I may withdraw my minde this blessed day from all worldly cogitations thinking my owne thoughts speaking my owne words doing my daily works or going my owne waies but assist me with thy grace that I may apply my heart and soule wholly to meditate of thy wonderfull works and manifold mercies with thankfulnesse and to attend thy service either publique or private with care and faithfulnesse and to obey all thy Commandements henceforth with diligence and constantly serving thee all my life to come that so I may praise and glorifie thee and thou maiest pardon my sins and save my poore soule through thy great and unmerited mercie in Jesus Christ my Lord and only Redeemer Amen 5. A Prayer for the Lords day in the morning before going to Church My soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy name who is most worthy of all honour and glory ALmighty God our heavenly Father in Jesus Christ thy beloved Son who of thy infinite goodnesse by thy great power and divine word didst in six dayes create heaven and earth the sea and the whole world with all things therein and resting the seventh day didst blesse and hallow it commanding all thy people in purity after thine owne image to keep the same holy to thy due honour and praise having also given us six dayes for our owne occasions and after this great and unexpressible worke thou didst also in thy appointed time accomplish by thy beloved Son Jesus that happy redemption of mankinde who were lost by sin and fallen from thee which unspeakable mercie and benefit was as upon this first day of the week consummated by the miraculous blessed resurrection of our Saviour which wee Christians now keep in commemoration of these thy infinite benefits that according to thine appointment thy servants may rest this holy Lords day from all worldly affaires to thy honour and glory blessed and praised now and for ever bee thy glorious Name for these thy marvellous workes Therefore I most humbly beseech thee O Lord of thy great mercie by thy Spirit of grace to sanctifie mee thy most unworthy servant both in soule and body that I may at all times but especially this Lords day and upon all other daies consecrated by thy Church to the memory of any of thy blessings benefits and deliverances wholly devote my selfe to thy true feare holy devotion and faithfull service in performance of thy blessed will and commandement And so thy worthy name may be glorified my salvation furthered and thy favour and blessing rest alwaies upon me and mine And likewise I most humbly pray thee O God for thy Son Jesus sake to forgive all my sins done in my whole life past in breaking this and all other thy divine Laws that through the death and bitter passion of my deare and innocent Saviour which hee suffered to redeem us thou wilt vouchsafe to be reconciled unto me thy guilty and sinfull creature that as this is a day of rest to thy due praise so by thy marcy it may bee a happy day of joy and peace to my poore soule and conscience through my only Lord and blessed Saviour Jesus Christ Amen Amen 6. A Prayer to be said at the Church as soone as we are come into our seat O Lord our God who art here present amongst us thou seest and understandest all things and knowest my heart prepare sanctifie and assist my heart and soule with thy grace so to behave my selfe both outwardly and inwardly as in the presence of thy glorious Majesty in this thy blessed house of prayer and hearing thy word with such due reverence feare humility true faith and devotion as may be best pleasing and acceptable unto thee and most profitable and available for the good of mine owne soule O God indue thy servant the Preacher with thy holy Spirit to teach thy saving truth rightly and sincerely that it may be powerfull to our edification and effectuall to the beating downe and banishing of all sins from our soules and the encrease of faith and grace in us that heare him to thy glory and the furthering of our salvations through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen 7. Another shorter Prayer to the same purpose GOod Lord that knowest my infirmities prevent and remove all sin and evill hindrances and impediments of drousâ—nesse and wandring thoughts from me fraile sinfull creature and open my ears and heart like Lidiees to attend and marke diligently what is taught out of thy most sacred word Inlighten Lord my understanding to conceive rightly what I heare and keep my mind wholly intentive upon thy faithfull service in hearing thy holy word with true devotion before thee and make my memory retentive of all the good instructions that I learne and give me grace carefully and conscionably to practice them throughout my whole life to the honour of thy great name the performance of thy most holy will the amendment of all my faults and finally the salvation of mee thy poore servant through my Saviour Jesus Christs merits and mercies Amen 8. A Prayer after the Sermon is ended before we go out of the Church MOst Gracious Lord God I humbly beseech thee to pardon all my sinfull neglects defects and want of due preparation or any infirmities that have overtaken mee in the performance of my duty towards thee in this thy house and blessed exercise of Prayer and hearing of thy divine Word And let me not depart out of this holy place without thy blessing whereby my knowledge faith holinesse and comfort in thee may be daily increased in me And Lord adde thy grace to what I have now heard that by thy gracious assistance it may bring forth plentifull fruit in me to the reformation of my life and conversation in avoiding all evill and doing all good which may be serviceable and acceptable to thy Majesty and best pleasing in thy sight through Jesus Christ my only Saviour Amen A Prayer for the Lords day at night of three Petitions FIrst thankfulnesse for benefits already received with prayer for the continuance of all Gods mercies Secondly for repentance true faith remission of sins and amendment of life Lastly so to live and dye unto God here that after death we may live with him in heaven for ever 9. The Prayer MY soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits which forgiveth all thine iniquities and healeth all thine infirmities which redeemeth thy life from death and crowneth thee in mercy and compassion who provided a ransome
humbly pray thee O Lord my Saviour of thy infinite mercy both in this world and after this life is ended to make me thy poor unworthy servant a happy partaker amongst thy Saints and servants that I may live hereafter with thee and them to praise and glorifie thy Name my deare Jesus for ever Amen 15. A Prayer for Tuesday morning to God the Son our Redeemer I Know that my Redeemer liveth and shall stand the last day upon the earth to judge the world in righteousnesse and all the people with equity O sweet Iesus Christ who art my Lord and perfect Saviour the beloved Son of God the blessed Redeemer of the world the only searcher of mans heart before whom all things are manifest all desires knowne and from thee no secrets can be hid Lord cleanse and reforme the thoughts of my wicked corrupt heart by the inspiration of thy most holy Spirit to purge my heart soul and conscience from all sin evill and dead works rightly and faithfully to feare and serve thee the true and living Lord that I may unfainedly love thee and constantly praise and magnifie thy holy and blessed Name all the daies of my life and for ever Now Gracious Iesus grant that the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of my heart in these and all other prayers and petitions that I make unto thy Majesty may bee alwaies guided by thy blessed Spirit and that all my waies and actions be directed according to thy holy word and so by thy merciful assistance all things I goe about shall be ever right and acceptable in thy sight O Lord God of truth that art my strength and my Redeemer And deare Saviour who knowest the infinite corruption of my wretched nature and my unaptnesse to all goodnesse vouchsafe to draw and knit my heart and soule to thy true feare and faithfull service and suffer no worldly respects regard of persons nor any pleasures to withdraw my minde or hinder my soule from the true performance of my daily duties and service towards thee my God with due observance of thy great Majestie faithfully devoutly and constantly serving thee and calling on thy holy name now and at all times and daily worshipping thee in spirit and truth as thy selfe hast commanded And be thou pleased dear Lord by thy grace to guide and direct my heart soule and body with all my desires waies and workes according to thy owne good will and pleasure for I humbly commend and commit my selfe my children and grand-children with all belonging to mee and all things that any way concerneth me to thy most gracious protection direction and disposing now and ever And I humbly pray thee O my sweet Iesus so to prevent me with thy holy Spirit that I bee led into no temptation this day by the divell or his evill agents the vaine world or my owne corrupt flesh neither suffer any sinfull thoughts to possesse my soule but assist me I beseech thee to set a watch over my heart and waies and before my mouth and set a seale of grace and wisdome over my soul and upon my lips that I offend not with my tongue or in my actions either against thee my God my neighbour or my owne soule but Lord make my heart cleane and upright before thee and keep me from falling into my former sins againe but indue me with grace so to number my daies that I may apply my heart to wisdome and goodnesse and daily endeavour and strive to lead a new and godly life in thy sight and make me firme stedfast and constant in thy right Church saving truth and true faith unto my lives end to live and die therein but if I hold any errors contrary to thy will and word O Lord speedily convert my soule unto thee and shew me the paths of life and teach me thy truth and suffer me not to slide from it but so long as I live here constantly to set my whole heart soule and delight to seek to serve to love and to fear thee my Lord in all true obedience humility repentance and purity with stedfast faith in thee and true holinesse of living as is required of thy children and servants through the assistance of thy blessed Spirit and the blessing of thy heavenly Father who liveth and reigneth with thee three Persons and one true eternall God blessed for ever Amen Concluding my humble petition with that perfect prayer which Christ our advocate hath sanctified and taught us saying Our Father c. 16. A Prayer for Tuesday at night to our blessed Saviour for my selfe and children O Sweet Iesus Christ that art both God and man my blessed Saviour Redeemer and Mediator who understandest all things and seest what we want before we aske and knowest best what is in miserable mortall man that is made of earth how corrupt my nature and substance is how many and great my frailties and infirmities are and how subject I am to fall into all manner of evill both in soule and body if thy grace uphold me not therefore I most humbly beseech thee O Lord to receive me and mine now and ever into thy provident and gracious care to protect and direct us in all our waies to doe thy blessed will and to live in all thy holy feare to save and guide us waking from all sinne and shame and to keep and defend us sleeping from all perills and dangers either of soule or body that so by thy mercie we may rest in peace and safety this night and also awake in thy grace and favour and doe all things to thy honour and glory and may live and dye thy true and faithfull servants and after death vouchsafe dear Lord by thy merits and sufferings to give us eternall life with thee in heaven which thou hast dearly purchased for us Now sweet Jesus vouchsafe to indue and assist mee with thy grace and holy Spirit that I may be able rightly faithfully and confidently as I ought to doe to cry and pray unto thee my God for grace and mercie that I may finde favour in thy sight and that my trust in thee may never cease that so I may obtaine true contrition for all my offences and pardon for my sins past with all saving graces for my salvation both in life and death and assured hope of everlasting life when this is ended through thy pretious death and bitter passion sweet Iesus my Saviour Now good Lord indue me with grace to fit and prepare my soule as I ought before my day of death approacheth that I be not taken unprovided but assist me with thy blessed Spirit to worke in my heart a true and lively faith to lay fast hold upon all thy mercies merits and gracious promises and rightly to apply them to my owne soule And further give mee I humbly pray thee unfaigned repentance and remission of all my sinnes with other needfull graces for the performing of all holy duties to thy Majestie
zeale true faith humility and repentance Sweet Lord make me heartily thankfull unto thee for all thy blessings and let all my petitions tend to thy glory so as I may finde favour with thee that thou wilt be graciously pleased to heare and accept of me and my prayers that they may enter into thy presence and obtaine pardon of all my sins past with grace to frame my life in true obedience to all thy Commandements the rest of my daies to come that so my last end may be happy and after death I may enjoy the felicity to live with thee my Lord for evermore through the merits and passion of my only Saviour Jesus Christ So be it 4. A confession of sins with a prayer for remission taken partly out of the prayer of Manasses ALmighty Lord God of our fathers who hast made heaven and earth with all the ornaments thereof who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandement whose terrible and glorious Name all men doe feare and tremble before thy powerfull judgements for the displeasure of thy great Majesty cannot be borne and thy angry threatnings against sinners is importable and who can stand in thy presence when thou art offended But yet O Lord thy mercifull promises to penitent sinners are unmeasureable and unspeakable for thou art the most gracious Lord full of mercy and great compassion and of long suffering that desires not the death of a sinner but that he should repent and live who of thy great goodnesse hast promised to give repentance and forgivenesse to them that sinne against thee that they may be saved Now thou therefore most dear Lord who camest not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance of whom I am the chiefe thou of thy infinite mercy I trust hast appointed repentance and remission unto me whose sins are in number above the sands of the sea or the haires of my head I have committed much evill and have omitted to doe the good I ought for I have neglected all my duty and service towards thee and am not worthy to be called thy servant nor to behold the height of heaven or to looke up unto the place where thine honour dwelleth for the multitude of mine iniquities have bowed me downe and as a weighty burden are too heavy for me I am depressed with the load of my sinnes and oppressed with the feare of due punishment for them for I have justly provoked thy wrath O God and multiplied my transgressions before thee I have not done thy will neither thy holy Commandements have I obeyed Now therefore O my Redeemer to thee I humbly bow the knee of my heart imploring thy mercy and beseeching thee of grace I will confesse my sins against my selfe and will not hide my unrighteousnesse from thee I have sinned O Lord I have grievously sinned I acknowledge my manifold offences for which I have nothing to answer but like the Publican Lord be mercifull unto me a miserable sinner Wherefore I most humbly intreat thee to forgive me my sweet Saviour forgive me and destroy me not with mine iniquities be not angry with me for ever neither condemne me in thy displeasure to the lower part of the earth and reserve not evill for me hereafter But deare Father make me of that blessed number to whom thou imputest not their faults and whose sinnes by my Saviours righteousnesse are covered for thou art the God of the just and the God of them that will repent and in poore me thou wilt shew all thy goodnesse and pity for thou wilt pardon and save me that am so vilde and unworthy even of thine owne great grace and mercy Therefore I will turn my steps into thy waies and will seeke thy will and obey thee with my whole heart I will praise thee all the daies of my life and for ever And let the heavens and the earth praise thy eternall Majesty for thine is all glory for ever Amen 5. A Prayer for the Lords day before we goe to Church O Eternall God most high Creator preserver and disposer of all things to thee is due all praise honour and worship for thou art our gracious Lord the only author of all our good by whom we live move and have our being O with what humble reverence and devotion ought we to prepare our ears and hearts to hear receive and performe any thing which concerneth thy most sacred Majesty and even to take heed unto our feet when we enter into the house of God that our waies may not offend thee Neither ought we to presume to take thy holy Name into our mouths except we endeavoured our selves to be reformed by thy lawes Thou O God art Lord God of Sabbath and hast inobled this day by the glorious resurrection of thy Son our Lord Jesus and by the guidance of the Holy Ghost in thy blessed Apostles and Catholicke Church hast ordained it for thy publicke service honour and worship so make me to serve thee therein with due feare and reverence I most humbly beseech thee to sanctifie my heart and soule to the true performance of thy blessed will in rightly observing the same and leave me not unto my owne weaknesse and disability who can of my selfe neither thinke well nor doe any thing that is good for all my strength and righteousnesse is in Christ my Redeemer Assist me therefore sweet Saviour with thy Spirit of grace to cease from sin and all worldly workes or earthly cogitations this day that may withdraw me from thy fear and service And give me an attentive eare to hearken diligently to thy divine word Open my heart as thou didst the heart of Lydia that with true understanding I may receive and faithfully keep the same with a conscionable care to practise what I shall learne thereby devoutly calling upon thy most holy Name and using due reverence in all my actions before thee And good Lord blesse thy servant whom thou hast appointed this day to instruct and direct us in thy word and will open to him the doore of utterance and give him the true understanding of thy holy word that according to thy gracious pleasure all may be saved that come unto the knowledge of thy truth and that he may be faithfull in thy service rightly to dispose thy divine mysteries and to teach in faith and verity And grant that I may heare with due attention and resolve to follow and practice all good instructions with true intention to thy glory and the furtherance of my salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen 6. An entrance to Prayer O God of mercy thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turne from his wicked waies and live Vouchsafe to knit deare Lord my soule unto thee that I may truly fear thee and unfeignedly love thee dedicating my selfe unto thy service and setting mine affections and desires in all true obedience to seeke above all things thy glory thy Kingdome and thy
deserved but convert thou me and I shall be changed make me turne unto thee in true contrition that thou maiest returne unto me in gracious compassion to forgive all mine iniquities remit my ungratefulnesse and remember my offences no more O wash and cleanse my sinfull soule in the pure bloud of that innocent Lambe that I may feele the vertue of his death to slay all sin in me and the power of his resurrection to raise me to newnesse of life in true obedience to all thy Commandements and with a child-like love feare to offend thee striving to please thee in all things that so I may obtaine favour and mercy in thy sight both for thy blessing in this life and eternall salvation after death through thy dear Son and my only Saviour Jesus Christ Amen 11. A short Prayer for night O God the fountaine of all goodnesse I humbly and thankfully acknowledge although I am altogether unworthy of the least of thy manifold mercies yet have I great experience of thy infinite goodnesse bounty and favour both towards my soule and body all my time past this day and alwaies preserving me from all the evills which sin and nature have made me subject unto with a gracious supply daily ever since I was born of all things needfull for this present life For all which I humbly bow the knee of my heart and soule unto thy glorious Majesty but especially for all thy graces furthering my salvation by Jesus Christ I blesse and praise thy most holy name yeelding all possible and hearty thanks for all thy benefits vouchsafed to mee the continuance whereof I humbly beg at thy gracious hands commending and committing my soule and body into thy mercifull protection this night and ever praying thee to preserve me therein from all perills sin or evill for thou Lord only keepest mee in safety now stretch out thy wings of grace and mercy over me that while sleep seizeth upon my body let not security oppresse my soule but so sanctifie all outward refreshings unto me as thereby I may bee the more fit and able to serve thee faithfully all my life to come that taking quiet rest because thou Lord sustainest me I may also when this life ceaseth lay downe my head in thy peace and be made partaker of thy glory through thy mercies and Christs merits with the assistance of the blessed Spirit To whom O Father Son and Holy Ghost be all praise power dominion and glory now and for ever Amen Continuing my prayers further as Christ hath taught us saying Our Father c. 12. A short Prayer in bed before sleep DEare Lord receive me this night and alwaies into thy gracious protection to give mee now health safety and rest if it be thy will And dear God when I shall enter into my long sleep of death vouchsafe to sanctifie and prepare my soule for eternall life by the assistance of thy grace and holy Spirit before thou call me away hence and grant me a happy and blessed departure out of this world that thou maiest receive me into thy favour and mercy to be with mee in my death that I may dye in the Lord and rest in peace and obtaine a blessed resurrection that so I may be accepted to live with thee to praise thy great and holy name for ever Amen 13. A Prayer before the receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper O Most sweet Saviour Jesus Christ and my deare Lord who art the author and finisher of my faith redemption and salvation the life and food of my soule I most miserable sinner presuming nothing at all on mine owne merits or worthinesse but trusting wholly in thy infinite mercy and goodnesse doe feare and tremble to appeare before thy Majesty or to come unto the table of this heavenly banquet But thou Lord Jesus who graciously callest me and all heavy laden sinners accept in mercy the will for the deed in that I am unworthy and ill prepared to presume into thy presence and vouchsafe me the assistance of thy divine Spirit I humbly beseech thee in this holy action that my duty and service therein may bee acceptable in thy sight And powre down thy heavenly blessing upon this thy holy Ordinance of thy Word and Sacraments that they may be effectuall to revive strengthen and supply in me all sanctifying and saving graces needfull to the due and right performance of this sacred duty in an acceptable manner whereby to enlighten my understanding with thy grace to the right knowledge of thee and thy truth and work in me a lively true faith wherewith I may lay hold and apply unto my sicke soule all the sweet and comfortable promises and benefits purchased by the bitter death of my sweet Saviour Indue me also with most unfeigned and hearty sorrow and repentance for all my great and grievous sins and offences committed against thee for all which I most humbly beg thy gracious pardon and grant me such perfect love and charity that I may sincerely with all due reverence and devotion love thee my God with all my heart soul and strength and may love my neighbour as my selfe yea my very enemies for Christs sake that so I may rightly receive this blessed Sacrament being prepared by thy grace as I ought to bee And let O Lord thy pretious bloud shed for me cleanse and wash away all my sins and the breaking of thy pretious body heale all the wounds of my corrupt soule that by the gracious operation of the Holy Ghost I may be inwardly and inseparably joyned to thee my head Christ that thou maiest supply all my weaknesse and defects in soule or body out of thy infinite fulnesse of grace and mercy that being cloathed with thy righteousnesse I may be accepted by thee and through thee and so be accounted worthy to be partaker of all thy merits that with the outward signe of bread and wine I may blessedly receive the true signified Christ with all his benefits and may have grace to hunger and thirst after the spirituall food of Christs body and bloud to nourish my soule unto eternall life and to make me become a new creature in holinesse of living with all true and humble thankfulnesse to thy glory and my everlasting salvation beseeching thee to accept my poor endeavours for perfect performance and reach forth thy helping hand from heaven to save me thy unworthy servant pardoning my sins and covering my imperfections with the pure innocencie of that immaculate Lambe Jesus my Saviour And so I humbly commend my selfe unto thy mercy who art able to doe abundantly above all that I can aske or thinke to thee be all honour power and praise for evermore Amen A short meditation direction or preparation before you presume to enter into the presence and sight of God to approach unto the heavenly banquet humbly desiring this or the like by prayer As thou drawest near unto the holy table pray earnestly in thy heart unto
usefull for those particular occasions whereto they are directed which I shall be very glad and joyfull if my children grand-children kindred friends or any good Christian that shall peruse them may make a good and right use of them to Gods glory And I doe most heartily and humbly pray that God will vouchsafe to heare in heaven and to receive accept and grant their just requests to his owne honour their comfort and my great happinesse who am a wel-wisher and true lover of their soules in the Lord. Eliz. Richardson THese Prâ—â—â—â—â— I composed for the instructions of my children grand-children after the example of my dear parents Sir Thomas Beaumont and his Lady of Stoughton in the County of Leicester who I thinke were as carefull and industrious to breed up their children which were living in the instruction and information of the Lord to serve and obey God as any parents could possibly be which made them take much paines with us more then is usuall by their endeavours to bring us to know and feare God and to keep his Commandements Which Solomon saith is the whole duty of man But when parents have done the best and all we can it is Gods grace and blessing that must perfect the worke which I humbly pray him to adde to accomplish my desire to their eternall happinesse An Exhortation concerning Prayer BEfore thou goest to pray consider seriously of these three things which are very necessary to fit and prepare thee the better for that holy and blessed exercise First ponder with thy selfe into whose presence wee come and to whom we presume to speak being before the great Majesty of God Almighty Secondly in what manner we pray and to what end our prayers tend which must chiefly respect the glory of God and his service and then out owne desires and necessities both for soule and body Thirdly weigh well what good or hurt what benefit or danger may ensue by the performing of this duty carefully or negligently 1. A short Petition to precede any other Prayers O Lord Holy Ghost who knowest my corrupt heart and the frailty of my soule which can performe no good but by thy grace Vouchsafe my Lord to sanctifie assist and teach me the unworthiest of thy servants by thy holy Spirit so to pray now and alwayes that my supplications may be faithfull and acceptable to my God to his glory and the comfort and good of my selfe both in soul and body for ever Amen 2. A Prayer to God the Holy Ghost for the true spirit of grace in prayer O God Holy Ghost the giver of all good gifts and graces give mee thy true Spirit Lord who art the comforter and sanctifier of thine Elect thou knowest my great and manifold infirmities and frailties all which I humbly pray thee in thy love and mercie to heale and helpe And Lord give me power strength and grace by thy assistance to resist and overcome all wicked assaults and temptations of the divell that seeke to draw me from God and goodnesse and lead mee to all evill but vouchsafe Lord I beseech thee still to be present with me in this holy exercise and indue thy poore servant with thy blessed Spirit and gift of prayer to call upon thy glorious Name faithfully and sincerely whereby my unworthy petitions though full of imperfections may be received and accepted by thee And Lord banish all wandring thoughts and wicked hindrances from my soule in the performance of this my bounden duty and service that I owe unto thee my God Father Son and Holy Ghost And be pleased Lord to assist mee now and ever with thy grace to worship thee at all times in spirit and truth as thou requirest and not to present a dead dull and corrupt offering unto my Lord of the lips without the heart or by joyning in my thoughts God and the world or mammon together which thou hatest and so make my prayers abominable to thy Majesty for thou hast made the heart who ought and must be served and honoured with it Therefore I humbly pray thee to inable me by thy assistance to offer unto thee my God a holy and living sacrifice of my selfe my prayers and praises daily in a right and acceptable manner not looking so much to the benefit and recompence of reward that shall bee received thereby from thy mercifull hands to my owne good but chiefly for the honour and glory of thy great Name whose I am and whom I am bound to serve and from whom I have already received so many great blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall for which I render most humble and hearty thanks unto thy Majesty Now lastly deare Lord Holy Ghost I earnestly beg of thee daily to unite mee unto thy glorious head and only Saviour Jesus Christ that so I may performe with true faith good devotion humility and sincerity this and all other holy duties and services according to thy blessed will and word to thy glory and my great comfort now and for ever So be it 3. A short preface before any other Prayers for the Lords day ALmighty Lord God in whose glorious presence I am presuming to take thy sacred name into my sinfull mouth before thee Lord I most humbly prostrate my selfe thou seest the heart and knowest our wants before we aske yet hast thou commanded us to ask in thy Sons name promising for his sake to grant us all needfull blessings both for soule and body O Lord thou understandest my great weaknesse and disability who can doe no good but by thy assistance I now most humbly pray thee to keep all evill interruptions from my heart and soule and so to indue mee with thy true Spirit of grace and prayer in performing this duty and service to thy glorious Majesty that so all my supplications may now and at all times be right faithfull acceptable and pleasing unto thee and by thy great mercy also prevailing for my good and furtherance of my salvation through my only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen 4. A Prayer for the Lords day at first awaking O Most glorious Lord God the high and gracious Creator of heaven and earth with all things therein Thou didst finish that mighty workin six dayes and rested the seventh commanding thy Church and people of the Jewes to keep holy the seventh day to thy due service and praise But our Lord Jesus having finished the redemption of mankinde by his crosse and passion and bitter sufferings didst bury that Sabbath in his grave upon that day and by thy Spirit didst guide thy Apostles and Christian Church to sanctifie and keep holy this first day of the weeke in perpetuall memory of his glorious resurrection and eternall rest from that labour and suffering for our redemption to thy due service and praise blessed be thy holy name therefore And now dear Lord for all my former neglects of my duty herein for Jesus his sake pardon my sinfull breaches of this and all
most holy Name And grant me grace to spend the rest of my time to come more carefully and faithfully then I have formerly done to seeke serve feare love obey and please thee my Lord in all things as I ought to doe so that it may bee more then meat and drinke unto me to doe the will of thee my heavenly Father And I most humbly beseech thee O God the fountaine of mercy to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and offences past that I have committed against thee either in soule or body throughout my whole life Lord blot them out of thy remembrance with the most pretious bloud of thy deare Son my only Saviour Jesus Christ and grant through thy mercies and his merits and sufferings that my iniquities may never be imputed unto me But vouchsafe O God now and ever to keepe me thy poore servant as the apple of thine own eie from all sin and shame and hide mee under the shadow of thy wings from falling into any evill or danger this day especially O Lord preserve mee alwaies from the great wickednesse of committing any presumptuous sin before thee and from the fearfull sinne against the Holy Ghost which is unpardonable and from the dangerous sins of neglect towards thee hardnesse of heart senselesse security or falling into wicked despaire whereby I may prevent my soule of thy mercy in Christ for my salvation But good God direct thou my thoughts desires words and deeds to be ever agreeable to thy most holy will and obedient to all thy Commandements that I may henceforth live before thee with an upright heart daily studying and striving to serve and please thee in all things so long as I live that after death I may praise and magnifie thy Name in heaven among thy Saints and servants for ever and ever These great mercies O gracious God with all other thou knowest needfull for me either for this life or the life to come I further beg of thee in the name merits and mediation of thy deare Son and my sweet Jesus concluding in that perfect forme of prayer which hee hath taught us saying Our Father c. 12. A Prayer to God the Father for Munday night O Lord my God how excellent is thy name in all the world who hast done great workes and brought mighty things to passe ALmighty Lord and my heavenly Father in Christ most high and mighty God Creator possessor preserver and disposer of heaven and earth and all that is therein the fountaine of grace and mercy and Father of light from whom commeth all good and perfect gifts I most humbly pray thee of thy great goodnesse to give mee thy poore sinfull servant thy grace and holy Spirit to direct my heart and all my waies aright in thy sight and to guide me in the paths of truth and righteousnesse and Lord lead mee into that streight way and through that narrow gate which bringeth unto life eternall that so of thy infinite mercie through Christ I may enter in though most unworthy with them that obtaine grace to finde it and there to live with thee my God in joy and blisse for evermore And further I yeeld and render unto thee my Lord all humble and possible praise honour and thankes for all thy great and manifold mercies and benefits spirituall and temporall vouchsafed unto me thy most unworthy servant in soule and body from time to time and also for thy gracious preservation of me and mine and all other thy blessings bestowed upon me this day past and all my life hitherto Now good God for Christs sake I humbly pray thee to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and trespasses that I have committed before thee inwardly or outwardly in soul or body by thought desire word or deed this present day or any time of my life heretofore Mercifull Father wash away all my sinnes out of thy sight with the most pretious bloud of that All-sufficient sacrifice the innocent Lamb of God Jesus who was slaine for our transgressions hide all my sins in his wounds and bury them in his grave so as they may never bee able to rise in judgement against me either to accuse or to condemne mee But Lord make me of that blessed number whose sinnes thou wilt cover and whose iniquities thou wilt pardon And vouchsafe also to forgive my omission of all those good deeds I ought to have done and my sinfull neglect in the true performance of all duty and service that I owe unto thee especially my wicked negligence in calling upon thy holy Name and daily praising thee for all thy mercies and likewise I beg pardon for my often omitting or slightly performing this duty of praying unto thee as I ought now and at all times which Lord give me grace more carefully faithfully and devoutly to perform towards thee by the assistance of thy holy Spirit ever hereafter that so of thine infinite mercy thou maiest bâ—ing mee to that eternall Kingdome which thou hall prepared O God the Father before the world began for all that truly love and beleeve in thee to thy great praise and honour and my salvation iâ— Christ through thy mercy O blessed Lord God to whom be glory now and ever Amen 13. The conclusion for Munday to be said last or in bed O My God I most humbly commmend and commit my selfe both body and soule my children and grand-children my kindred friends and family and all that doth belong unto me here or else where with all my fellow members in thy whole Church into thy most gracious protection and preservation this night and alwaies Good God I beseech thee vouchsafe to blesse sanctifie and keep our soules and bodies in thy true faith feare and favour with safety this night and to our lives end Amen 14. A Prayer at first awaking for Tuesday to our Saviour Jesus Christ MY soule shall magnifie thee O Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour who hath done and suffered great and many things for me blessed be thy most holy Name for thy infinite benefits and blessings both spirituall and temporall bestowed upon mee thy unworthy sinfull servant from time to time And chiefly Gracious Lord for thy accomplishment of my redemption before I had any being who didst vouchsafe to come into the world amongst evill men and to be borne of a Virgin to take the shape and nature of man upon thee and in our flesh didst work and performe all righteousnesse to bee imputed unto us and also submitted thy selfe to suffer the most bitter and ignominious death of the Crosse to free us from that eternall death which our sinnes have deserved and also rose againe from the grave the third day to overcome sin death the grave hell and Sathan with all other things for us And so thou sweet Jesus art become our reconciliation redemption righteousnesse and justification with hope also through thee of salvation and glorification hereafter Of all which thy inestimable benefits I
that so I may be inabled rightly and faithfully to serve and please thee while I live here and also make me carefully to fit and prepare my soule for thy mercifull acceptance before thou call me to thy selfe out of this vale of misery and give mee grace daily to die unto this world and forsake it while I am in it that I may live more and more in true holinesse and righteousnesse before thee and so I shall obtain blessednesse here to be directed by thee in all things and to have thy protection over me to die happily in thee and live eternally with thee who art my only Saviour and Redeemer Iesus Christ the righteous to whom be all glory for ever and ever So be it 17. The conclusion for Tuesday to be said at night or in bed to the Son for my selfe and children MY sweet Iesus by thy grace and holy Name keep mee thy poore servant and all mine from all sinne and shame and by thy bitter death and passion save us from thy great wrath and endlesse damnation and by thy powerfull resurrection raise us daily from sin to grace and newnesse of life and by thy glorious ascention draw me thy unworthy servant continually to heaven after thee by a holy life and godly conversation and of thy great mercie after death reserve me to be where thou art and make me partaker of thy everlasting salvation and in all my troubles sorrows and distresse doe thou my griefes redresse and be my blessed consolation and vouchsafe to receive me this night and alwaies into thy mercifull preservation for now I will lay me downe in peace and also rest and sleep because thou Lord dost only mee sustaine and wilt in safety keep for on thee alone I wholly doe depend who art all my hope helpe comfort and confidence sweet Iesus my Saviour Amen 18. A Prayer for Wednesday to the glorious Trinity at first awaking GReat is our God and worthy to be praised I will speake of all thy marvellous workes for thou hast done great things and holy is thy Name To thee O God heavenly Father our gracious Creator of all things with God the Son that blessed Redeemer of mankinde and God the Holy Ghost the sanctifier of thine elect unto thee O Lord three Persons one true and everliving God be given and rendred as is due by mee and all other thy children and servants all humble and possible praise and thanks now and ever For I thy most unworthy servant doe humbly and thankfully acknowledge that I finde thy blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall sleeping and waking daily and howrely to be renued towards me for which I blesse and magnifie thy holy Name especially for those spirituall graces thou hast vouchsafed unto my soule from time to time before I had any being for my election by the whole Trinity and my creation by God the Father which thou didst fully performe in thine owne innocent person but chiefly in that infinite love token unto mankinde of God the Father in ordaining and sending thy deare Son out of thy bosome into the world and thou O Christ in comming amongst wicked men to put thy selfe into their cruell hands for our redemption and so become our righteousnesse justification and salvation which thou hast dearly purchased for us with thy own bloud And since I was borne O blessed Spirit for my continuall preservation and daily supply of all needfull blessings for my soule and body especially for my vocation and calling to the right knowledge of God and his saving truth with some measure of true faith sanctification and regeneration from sinne to grace all wrought in mee by the holy operation of thee Lord Holy Ghost by whom also we are united unto our Lord and head Christ Jesus from whom Lord let me never be separated Now vouchsafe O God still to continue all thy mercies towards me and chiefly in giving me daily a supply and increase of all heavenly gifts and spirituall graces whereby I may be able rightly faithfully and constantly to feare and love to seek serve and please thee my God in all things as I ought to doe that so I may obtaine thy grace and favour by thy assistance to live a holy life here according to thy will that thou of thy infinite mercie Almighty God and glorious Trinity maiest make me partaker of thy heavenly Kingdome of glory hereafter Amen 19. A Prayer to the Trinity for Wednesday morning O God the Father of heaven the gracious Creator of all things the righteous judge that searcheth the heart and trieth the children of men and beholdeth all our waies and knowest my substance is but dust flesh and bloud and my nature as it is corrupted by sin is of it selfe earthly sensuall and divelish and can merit nothing from thee O Lord but condemnation Deare God the originall of all goodnesse I most humbly beseech thee to have mercy upon mee miserable sinner and enter not into judgement with thy poore servant for no flesh living is righteous before thee neither reward me after my wickednesse for I am a wretched and most sinfull creature and have done exceeding much evill in thy sight but I humbly pray thee O God for thy dear Son and my Saviours sake to withdraw thy great wrath and heavy displeasure from mee which my sinnes have justly deserved and if it be thy will Lord release my present afflictions which now and long have lain upon me and vouchsafe also to prevent and remove those weighty judgements that hang over my head for my iniquities that by thy unspeakable mercies I may escape them yet if thou please further to visit mee with fatherly chastisements for the amendment of my faults Lord give me wisdome and patience to beare all things as I ought to doe without offence towards thee and by thy grace to make the best and rightest use of all thou sendest so as in the end they may turne to thy glory and the furtherance of my salvation in Christ my Lord. O God the Son Redeemer of mankinde who didst vouchsafe to bee borne of a woman to become man for our redemption and camest into the world to seek and save all those that were lost by sin that they might live by faith in thee which Lord grant unto me sweet Jesus my Saviour and have mercie upon me a wicked sinner to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and offences that I have done before thee all my life past in thought word and deed and impute not my iniquities unto me neither destroy mee with my transgressions nor let thy heavy displeasure reserve evill for me hereafter but deare Lord of thy great goodnesse grant me thy poore servant true faith and unfeigned repentance with thy gracious remission of all my trespasses and wash my sinnes out of thy sight with thine owne most pretious and innocent bloud which thou didst so freely shed for our redemption naile all my offences upon thy crosse and
Will praise the Lord because he is good for his mercy endureth for ever by whom we live move and have our being our maintenance safety and preservation Now glorious Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost I humbly pray thee vouchsafe unto mee thy most unworthy servant such grace and favour to knit my heart and soule fast to theee so that my sinnes nor my soules enemies the wicked world my owne corrupt flesh nor the malice of the Divell may not be able to pluck mee out of thy mercifull and powerfull hands but Lord assist me with thine owne blessed Spirit that I may daily continue and increase in all sincere and perfect love and obedience towards thy Majesty and in thy feare and favour and all other saving graces to have a good conscience before thee with true faith stedfast hope and perfect charity unto my lifes end Amen 31. A Prayer unto the Trinity for Saturday morning O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in all the world for thou hast laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the workes of thy hands and thou didst create and dost governe dispose and rule the whole world with all things therein according to thy good pleasure O most divine and adored Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost three persons but one true eternall and everliving God to whom be all praise honour and glory as is right and due for ever Thou only by thy word and power didst make all things for thine owne glory especially mankinde after thine image in purity and holinesse to thine own service for by thy ptovidence and mercy commeth all good gifts and blessings unto us and also deliverances only from thee of those evills and dangers which sinne hath made us subject unto in falling from thee and our first integrity by the subtillty and malice of Sathan and our owne frailty yet of thine owne free grace thou didst elect a number by thee selected of thy chosen servants to inherit an eternall Kingdome with and through thy beloved Son whom thou didst ordain and send into the world at thine appointed time to be the redemption of all that beleeve in thee O God the Son our blessed Lord Jesus Christ it is written of thee that thou shouldest doe the will of God the Father who ordained thee to be our Redeemer and wert made of God unto us wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and salvation with glorification hereafter Now deare Jesus who hast paid our ransome even the all-sufficient and acceptable sacrifice of thine own pretious bloud to wash away our sins who was lifted upon the crosse between heaven and earth to make an attonement betwixt God and man his heavy wrath and our grievous offences and so thou art become our Priest to offer up thy innocent selfe to cleanse us from our sinnes who art our Prophet to instruct and teach us and direct our waies aright to shew us the path of life and make the way plaine before our faces and by thy example to beare our crosse patiently and follow thee that art the way the truth and the life to lead us to eternall salvation also thou art our King to protect defend and reigne over us in mercy truth and righteousnesse till thine enemies be made thy footstoole and all that hate thee be destroyed before thee for God hath put all things in subjection under his feet then shalt thou judge the whole world in righteousnesse and equity and wilt bring thy servants to that eternall inheritance which thou hast by thy merits and sufferings so dearly purchased for us who wert borne unto us to be the joy and comfort of all people and the glory and salvation of all that truly beleeve and trust in thee our Saviour O God Holy Ghost the giver worker and sealer of all graces unto us by thee we are called to the knowledge of God and his saving truth sanctified to the performance of his will and Commandements certified by the holy Spirit of our salvation in Christ Jesus and by thee applied unto us to bee regenerated and borne againe by thy holy operation from sin to grace to thy glory and our endlesse felicity And thy Spirit also witnesseth to our spirits that we are the children of God and heires with Christ of the Kingdome of heaven to the eternall comfort of all thy servants being by thee also united to our blessed Christ and sealed to the day of redemption and continually assisting us to all goodnesse Now great and glorious Lord God Father Son and Holy Ghost thou hast plentifully powred downe thy manifold mercies and favours upon us and multiplied exceedingly thy blessings and benefits spirituall and temporall towards us before we had being in the world since we were borne and after death thou hast laid up an eternall weight of glory for all those to possesse that truly beleeve in thee which give me grace to doe for none hath or ever can deserve them Oh the abundant mercy bounty and goodnesse of our gracious God towards mortall mankinde who can declare the height and depth of Gods unspeakable love or be sufficiently thankfull to him for such unexpressible benefits but with David we may say Lord What is man that thou art mindefull of him Or what shall we render to thee for all thy mercies having in us no good at all but what we receive from thy selfe therefore Lord adde this further grace unto thy former favours by the assistance of thine owne Spirit to make us thy unworthy servants able rightly faithfully and constantly to feare love honour serve obey and praise thy most glorious Name while we live and for ever and ever Amen 32. A Prayer to God the Holy Ghost for Saturday night O God Holy Ghost the giver of all graces and and my gracious sanctifier comforter and preserver thou knowest my infirmities my inclination to all evill and backwardnesse to any goodnesse vouchsafe Lord to sanctifie mee thy poore sinfull servant in soule body and spirit throughout to thy true feare intire love and right faithfull and constant service all my time to come And be pleased Lord by thy grace to enlighten my dull soule and understanding with the sound knowledge sincere love and stedfast beleefe of thy saving truth and keepe me ever constant therein And vouchsafe deare Lord to inrich me thy poore unworthy servant with the infinite treasure of that heavenly wisdome from above which waiteth about thy Throne that may teach me thy holy will and what is good and acceptable unto thee and inable me with grace to doe it that so I may discerne between good and evill and make me shunne and hate that which is evill and follow and cleave unto that which is good and to withdraw my love from this vaine world and fix my affections upon thee my God and on heavenly things that are above that my chiefe treasure may be settled there in heaven and my heart also and so I shall first seek to obtaine that
Sacrament joyne me an unworthy member unseparably unto thy blessed head Christ Jesus especially at this time grant that through thy holy working and assistance I may bee a happy partaker not only of the outward signes but also of the inward and inestimable graces bestowed upon our soules by the reall body broken and pretious bloud shed of our deare Saviour Jesus which was crucified for us to be the pretious food of our soules all which Lord rightly apply unto my soule with all other benefits thereby signified and assured unto us and through his righteousnesse and merits that I may be reconciled and accepted by God our heavenly Father to my eternall comfort and happinesse that so I may devoutly and everlastingly love and honour magnifie and admire the infinite mercy love and favour of God the Father our deare Saviour Jesus and of the Holy Ghost to whom be all praise and glory for ever Now Almighty God grant me thy poore servant grace to live in true faith ready obedience and continuall thankfullnesse all the rest of my daies here that I may live hereafter in heaven with thee in joy and blisse for evermore Amen 4. An humble thanksgiving after the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper I Yeeld unto thee my mercifull Lord God Father Son and Holy Ghost all humble and possible praise and thanks for all thy great benefits and loving favours vouchsafed unto me thy poor sinfull creature both spirituall and temporall all my life hitherto and deare Lord the fountaine of all mercie thou hast been exceeding good and gracious towards mee which I humbly acknowledge especially in vouchsafing so great and manifold blessings to me thy most unworthy servant in this thy present favour which thou hast been pleased to make me partaker of amongst thy children Now deare Lord make me ever truly thankfull with all my heart and soule unto thee for all thy mercies bestowed on mee who with shame and sorrow doe confesse I have deserved no good but all evill at thy hands by my manifold offences committed against thee therefore in all humility I doe beseech thee to cast all my sinnes and wickednesse out of thy sight and let them be no hindrance to thy grace and mercy towards me but Lord still continue and increase thy fatherly care and loving kindnesse both to my soule and body to prevent and preserve me from falling into any sin or evill and vouchsafe to bestow all spirituall graces on mee that may inable me to live a more holy and acceptable life before thee ever hereafter and seale thou my pardon for all my sinnes past for Christ Jesus sake who dyed for me and with his owne unvaluable bloud paid my ransome and fully satisfied thy great and just wrath against me But gracious God how unspeakable is thy goodnesse and infinite favour towards mankinde that instead of powring down punishments upon us for our great offences against thee thou didst thy selfe in thy tender love ordaine the meanes for our redemption justification and eternall salvation through Christ thine owne deare Son praised be thy glorious Name for ever and chiefly at this time I magnifie thee sweet Jesus the mirrour of mercy who before thou hadst finished the great worke of our redemption didst also institute the blessed Sacrament of thy holy Supper that inestimable benefit to all thy servants which rightly receive the same it being a pledge of thy love a remembrance of thy mercy a renuing of grace in us a testimony of thy favours a confirmation of our faith a uniting of us by thy Holy Ghost to our blessed Lord and head Christ Jesus and all our fellow members in perfect charity one towards another with assurance thereby of the pardon of all our sinnes and eternall salvation to our soules the great benefit thereof is beyond my expression of which this day thou hast graciously vouchsafed to make mee though unworthy of my selfe yet by thy favour a happy partaker Now deare Lord enlarge thy goodnesse further toward me thy poor servant to give me daily the spirituall gifts of sound repentance encrease of true faith to beleeve all thy gracious promises with grace rightly to apply them to my owne soule and all the infinite benefits which thou my deare Saviour hast purchased for me that so this Sacrament may worke those good effects in me which thou hast therein offered unto us and that I may by thy assistance bring forth the fruits of righteousnesse obedience and true holinesse of life all the rest of my daies and to make such thankfull and constant acknowledgement and right use of all thy mercies as I may glorifie thy blessed Name reforme my waies and frame my heart in all things to be faithfully and constantly thine and then I know that thou wilt ever be my gracious God to thy honour and my endlesse felicity through my Lord Jesus Christ the righteous Amen 1. A meditation concerning death O Lord God Holy Ghost our sanctifier preserver and comforter who best knowes my corrupt nature that cannot of my selfe performe any true service towards God being inclined to all evill and unapt to any goodnesse I humbly beseecb thee that understandest my manifold infirmities be pleased to indue me with all saving graces in the performance of all holy duties towards God And I humbly pray thee sweet Jesus to call and draw me daily unto thee and vouchsafe Lord by thy holy Spirit to possesse my heart and soule to make mee wholly and constantly thine truly to feare and love thee to serve and obey thee in all things that so thou in thy infinite mercy maiest never leave me but be my gracious Lord and mercifull God for ever And I humbly pray thee Lord Holy Ghost to sanctifie and assist me thy poore sinfull servant with all spirituall graces for my salvation in Christ both living and dying that I may strive to become what I ought to be and to doe thy holy will in all things while I live Now O good God Father Son and Holy Ghost thou knowest that many and evill have been my daies in this world and by thy providence I have attained to a great age but have not performed the ends for which I came into the world who being made only to serve God in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our lives to his glory and our salvation which is the chief thing needfull but alas for the most part it is the least regarded or thought upon where I confesse with sorrow that I have been too much neglectfull having sometimes been drawne by the cares and troubles of this life which necessity brought upon me to set my heart ever carefully upon earthly things and likewise too often have I been carried away with the vanity of my owne heart in following after the preferments or vanity of my owne heart in following after the preferments or delighting in the pleasures of this vile world all which perish in the using by which delusions