us we beseech thee let the eye of thy providence which never slumbereth nor sleepeth watch over us and let the hand of thy power Protect and defend us Cover us this Night under the Shadow of thy Wings that no evil happen unto us Grant that our bodies may be refreshed this night with such moderate rest that we may be the fitter for the works of our vocation and thy service the next morning Hear us we beseech thee for Jesus Christ his sake our Lord and only Saviour in whose Name and Words we call upon thee further Praying Our Father c. A Prayer for a Family for Thursday Morning GLorious Lord God and in Jesus Christ our merciful and loving Father we thine unworthy creatures sinful dust and ashes are here in all humility of souls and bodies prostrate as the lowest footstool of thy glorious Majesty beseeching thee to bow down thine ears unto our prayers to open thine eyes to our Supplications who from the very bottom of our hearts do acknowledg and confess that we have been unprofitable servants prodigal Children and bad stewards of that time which thou hast afforded us for repentance and good works and of those tallents which thou hast committed to our improvement we are Children of rebellious and disobedient parents our hearts are cages of unclean birds of noisome lusts and the thoughts thereof have been evil and only evil and that continually And if we look O Lord unto the actions of our lives there are few sins we have not committed no Commandement which we have not broken These eyes which now look up unto heaven have beheld vanity these tongues which now call upon thee have dishonoured thee and these hands which we now lift up unto thee have been many times lifted up against thee and thy statutes so that we have made our selves unworthy of the east of thy mercies but worthy of the greatest of thy Judgments but deal not with us after our sins neiâ—her reward us according to our â—niquities Spare us O Lord Spare thy people whom thou hast creatâ—d after thine own Image and redeemed with thy own blood And â—ccording to the multitude of thy tender compassions which have ever been of old to us blot out the multitude of our transgressions pardon our sins and receive us again into thy favour for his sake and Suffering who hath Satisfied thy Justice to the utmost farthing And for the short residue and remainder of our days give us grace O Lord to consecrate the remainder of them to thy service to redeem that time which we cannot recall and to make our calling and election sure before we go home and be seen no more And bâ—cause the corruption of our nature are too many and too strong for us and the Devil like a roaring Lyon goes about continually to devour us leave us not to our selves but assist us by thy grace perfed thy strength in our weakness and preserve both our bodies and souls blameless and spotless that wheâ— we shall have finished our course and run the race of our natural Pilâ—grimage we may receive that crown of righteousness which thou the righteous and just Judge hast laid up for all them that love and expect the day of thy appearing And together with us we intreat thee for a blessing upon our King Queen Duke and the rest of the Royal Family upon our Counsellours Ministers and Magistrates upon our friends Kindred and acquaintance upon the whole Church and every afflicted member of it Eccept of our Morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for all the mercies and favours comforts and deliverances which from time to time thou hast afforded and continued to us we thank thee for thy last mercy in preserving us from the dangers of this night past for refreshing our bodies with seasonable rest and bringing us safe to the beginning of this day Lord what is man that thou art so mindful of him and the son of man that thou shouldest thus visit and remember him give us grace O Lord to remember thee and to be mindful of thy mercies that we may praise thee for all thee truth and faithfulness which thou shewest to us in the land of the living that as thou hast brought us to the comforts of this day so thou mayst go along with us in the same to enable us for the Duties of those callings wherein we are placed and to deliver us from those dangers to which we are exposed ever for Jesus Christ his sake in whose most blessed name and words we conclude these our weak and imperfect prayers saying as he himself hath taught us in his holy Gospel Our Father c. A Prayer for a Family for Thursday Evening O Eternal God and most merciful Father in Jesus Christ in whom thou hast made a Covenant of Grace and Mercy with all those that come unto thee in him in his Name and Mediation we humbly prostrate our selves before the throne of thy mercy-seat acknowledging that by the breach of all thy holy Laws and Commandements we are become wild Olive Branches strangers to thy Covenant of Grace we have defaced in our selves thy sacred Image imprinted in us by Creation we have sinned against Heaven and before thee and are no more worthy to be called thy children O admit us into the place of hired servants Lord thou hast formed us in ouâ— Mothers Wombs thy Providence hath hitherto watched over us and preserved us to this present time O stay not the course of thy Mercies and loving kindness toward us Have mercy upon us O Lord for thy dear Son Jesus Christ his sake who is the way the truth and the Life In him O Lord we appeal from thy Justice to thy Mercy beseeching thee in his Name and for his sake only that thou wilt be graciously pleased freely to pardon us all our sins and disobedience whether in thought word or deed committed against thy divine Majesty and in his precious Bloodsheding Death and perfect obedience free us from all the guilt the stain the punishment and dominion of all our sins and cloth us with his perfect Righteousness there is mercy with thee O Lord that thou mayest be feared yea thy mercyes swallow up the greatness of our sins speak peace to our souls and consciences make us happy in the free Remission of all our sins and be reconciled to thy poor servants in Jesus Christ in whom thou art well pleased Suffer not the works of thine own Hands to Perish thou art not delighted in the death of sinners but in their Conversion turn our hearts and we shall be turned convert us and we shall be converted Illuminate the eyes of our minds and understandings with the bright beams of thy holy Spirit that we may dayly grow in the saving knowledg of the heavenly mystery of our Redemption wrought by our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ sanctifie our wills and affections by the same Spirit the most sacred fountain of all
grace and goodness reduce them to the obedience of thy most holy will in the practise of all piety toward thee and charity towards all men And with us be gracious to thy whole Church bless thy servant Charles our gracious King and Governour bless our gracious Queen James Duke of York and all the Royal Family bless the Nobility the Magistracy and Ministery of this land of what quality or degree soever Be merciful to all that are under any affliction or tryal whatsoever be a Father to the fatherless a husband to the Widdow and a Comforter to the Comfortless in what streight or necessity soever they are support them and bring them out of it to thy Glory and their comfort Be merciful to all that we are bound to pray for bless our Relations Kindred and Friends and let them serve thee and live to thy Glory And now we desire to return all humble and hearty thanks to thy heavenly Majesty for all thy blessings continually showred down upon us In Creating us and Preserving us to this day in keeping us the day past from all dangers and casualties that we are continually subject to Continue O Lord we beseech thee this favour to us and let thy Angels pitch their Tents round about us this night to guard and defend us from all perils both of soul and body let our weak and wearied bodies be refreshed with seasonable and convenient rest and sleep that so we may be the more fit to discharge our duties both toward God and man the day following Grant these our weak Petitions and give us all other blessings that thou knowest we stand in need of and all we ask of thee in the blessed Name and Words of our dear Saviour and Redeemer further Praying Our Father c. A Prayer for a Family for Fryday Morning MOst Holy most Glorious and Eternal Lord God we thy poor and unworthy servants in all humility of soul and body and unfeigned acknowledgment of our duty prostrate our selves before the Throne of thy Mercy praising and magnifying thy fatherly goodness for the abundance of thy blessings and for the multitude of thy mercies heaped upon us beseeching thee for Christ his sake to be merciful to all our sins committed against thy divine Majesty upon the consideration of which we confess we are not worthy to appear in thy presence much less to ask a Blessing at thy hands for by reason of our corrupt nature in us derived from our first Parents our inclinations have been proâ—e to commit all manner of sin and wickedness against thy goodness thy laws and precepts we have broken both in thought word and deed out of our hearts proceed evil and wicked imaginations which defile the soul and the whole man is altogether abominable these things O Lord we confess to our shame and if thy mercy prevent not it will be our utter destruction of soul and body Yet O Lord thou aâ—t our Creator thou hast made us and thou hast sent thy dear Son Jesus Christ to die for us and thy holy Spirit to sanctifie us and many are the benefits and blessings which thou hast bestowed upon us and which by thy goodness we enjoy both of soul and body and therefore by the testimony of our own consciences we stand convicted and the thoughts of our great sins and transgressions do much astonish us what shall we say therefore or wherein shall we open ouâ— mouths who shall deliver us from the misery due unto us for our transgressions nothing can be expected in this life but mercy and confusion and in the world to come eternal condemnation But yet O Lord in obedience to thy command and in confident assurance of thy endless and unspeakable mercy promised in Jesus Christ to all sinners which come unto thee with sorrow in our hearts shame in our faces and in all humility of Spirit And we would appeal from thee a just Judg to thee a merciful Father from the throne of thy Justice to the seat of thy Mercy beseeching thee O Lord to have mercy upon us and to turn away thy face from all our sins and to blot out all our transgressions for the only Meritorious Death and Passion of Jesus Christ who so abundantly shed his Blood on the Cross to take away the sin of the World and be pleased now to reform our affections transform us out of sin into the glorious liberty of thy own children to live in newness of life in a holy conversation and continual obedience to thy divine Majesty And now we further intreat thee O Lord for a blessing upon thy Church Universal more especially we beseech thee to continue the peace and prosperity of these Churches wherein we live and every member thereof and in a more especial manner bless with the cheifest of thy blessings thine Annointed and our Soveraign Lord King Charles the Queens Majesty James Duke of York and the rest of the Royal Family bless the Lords of his Majesties most honourable privy Council the Reverend Clergy and all civil Magistrates bless all our kindred friends and acquaintance bless all O Lord from the highest to the lowest And since it hath pleased thee O Lord of thy Goodness to deliver us from the power of darkness and all dangers of the night past affording us quiet and comfortable rest bring us safe to the beginning of this day our souls and all that is within us shall praise thy holy Name We beseech thee to bless and defend us O Lord this day direct and protect us in it bless our going out and comming in let thy Spirit guide us in all our actions prosper all our labours and endeavours this day make us diligent and dutiful in our Callings that we may keep a good Conscience in all our dealings not any way to defraud any one knowing that one day we must give an account of all our words and deeds Lord hear us we beseech thee and accept of this our morning Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving hear our prayers and grant our petitions that we have asked and all other blessings which thou in thy infinite wisdom knowest most necessary for us we ask at thy merciful hands in the Name and through the mediation of thy dear Son our blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ our Lord in whose most excellent form of Prayer we conclude our imperfect Petitions saying Our Father c. A Prayer for a Family for Fryday Evening MOst glorious and everlasting Lord God which inhabitest eternity and dwellest in that light which no mortal eye can attain unto the God in whom we live and move and have our being we thine unworthy servants do here in all lowliness and humility present our persons and Prayers before thy divine Majesty confessing and acknowledging that we were conceived in sins and brought forth in iniquity and as if that had been but a small matter we have heaped up our Actuall transgressions as the sand upon the sea-shore and as the stars
Jacobs Ladder A MANVAL of DEVOTIONS By Jo. Hall B. D. London Printed for N. Crouch Jacobs Ladder OR THE DEVOUT SOULS Ascention to HEAVEN IN Prayers Thanksgivings and Praises In Four Parts viz. 1. Private Devotions for every day in the Week 2. Family Devotions for every day in the Week 3. Occasional Devotions 4. Sacred Poems Upon Select Subjects With Graces and Thanksgivings Illustrated with Sculptures By Jo. Hall B. D. The second Edition Enlarged London Printed for N. Crouch in Exchange-Ally in Cornhil 1676. To the Virtuous and Religious Gentlewoman Mrs. M. P. IT is not the excellency of the Gift but your Goodness that must render this small Manual acceptable to you of which having had so great experience I cannot doubt its continuance And knowing your devout Inclinations towards books of this nature I could not think of a more pleasing return for your many Favours than this Jacobs Ladder whereby your Soul may Ascend to Heaven and make known all your wants and by Faith accompanying your Prayers may receive answers to all your holy Desires and Petitions I doubt not but many have done Worthily yea much excelled in this kind but I have found though there are many Manuals of private Devotion yet there are very few for Families which Want I have heard complained of and therefore though I could not better employ my vacant hours than to make a Collection of some dayly Prayers that might be both plain and pertinent and indeed the Family-Devotions were my first design only I thought that to make it compleat and conformable to others of this nature it will be convenient to add some Private and Occasional Devotions together with some brief Meditations of the vanity of mans life and certainty of his death which we can never too much think of nor too soon prepare for If you or any other reap any benefit by it I have my desire If it be not well it is because I could not help it however I doubt not but you will accept the will for the deed because it is from Your devoted Servant Jo. Hall Preparations to Devotion PRemeditation is the preparation to Private Prayer Private to Publick Private and Publick to the hearing of the Word to Private and Publick Prayer together with the hearing of the Word to the worthy participation of the holy Sacrament For the Sacrament receives strength and vigour from the Word the Word preached from publick Prayer publick Prayer from private devotion and that from Premeditation and Pre-consideration of the nature of Devotion and the necessity of preparation it self to all holy duties in the immediate worship of God What Devotion is DEvotion is the hearts warmth or rather the life-blood of Religion It is a sacred bond knitting the Soul unto God It is a Spiritual Muscle moving only upward and lifting the heart eyes and hands continually to Heaven Whosoever desires to make a Divine Prayer must by Premeditation frame in his mind First the Form which must be 1. Short or conceived in as few words as may be 2. Conformable in all things to the Pattern the Lords prayer Secondly The Matter which consists of three parts 1. Humble Confession 2. Confident Invocation Petition or Supplication 3. Hearty Thanksgiving 1. In humble Confession set before thee 1. God his terrible name glorious Majesty All-seeing-Eye Infinite Purity strict Justice Fierce wrath against Sin 2. Man his vileness wretchedness sinfulness wants and inability 2. In the second part Invocation and Petition fix thy thoughts 1. On God his love to man his mercy and long suffering his gracious promises and his omnipotent goodness 2. On Christ his perfect obedience his plenary satisfaction his perpetual Intercession In the third which is hearty Thanksgiving recount Gods benefits 1. Spiritual as Election Creation Redemption Vocation Justification Sanctification and hope of Glorification 2. Temporal as Health Strength Wealth Liberty good Name Friends and Safety Some Texts of Scripture which may be orderly applyed to every one of the foregoing particulars When you pray use not vain Repetitions as the Heathen do for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking Matt. 6. 7. After this manner pray ye Mat. 6. 9. I said I will confess my Transgressions to the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Psal. 32. 5. Let them praise thy great and terrible Name for it is holy Psal. 99. 3. Who is the King of glory even the Lord of Hosts he is the King of glory Psal. 24. 10. Mine eyes are upon all their ways they are not hid from my face neither is their Iniquity hid from my eyes Jer. 16. 17. And one cryed to another and said Holy Holy holy is the Lord of Hosts Isai. 6. 3. Who will render to every man according to his works Rom. 2. 6. Thou even thou art to be feared and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry Psal. 76. 7. Surely every man is altogether vanity Psal. 39. 11. O wretched maâ— that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 7. 24. We are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousness is as filthy rags Isai. 64. 6. Without me ye can do nothing John 15. 5. All things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing you shall receive Mat. 21. 22. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed in him should not perish but should have everlasting life John 3. 16. The Lord is merciful and Gracious slow to anger and plentiful in mercy Psal. 103. 8 11. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest Mat. 11. 28. Though your sins are as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as wool Isai. 1. 18. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy Psal. 126. 5. To him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above that we ask or think be glory c. Eph. 3. 20. Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood Rev. 5. 9. Christ is entred into Heaven now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9. 24. Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father Eph. 5. 20. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits Psal. 116. 12. God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the spirit c. 2 Thes. 2. 13. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me Psal. 119. 73. Blessed be the Lord for he hath visited and redeemed his people Luke 1. 68. I am not come to call the Righteous but sinners to repentance Mat. 9. 13. Being justified by his grace we shall be made Heirs according to the hope of eternal life Tit. 3. 7. Such were some of you but ye are washed ye are sanctified 1 Cor. 6. 11. Thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel and afterward receive me to Glory Psal. 73. 24. Bless the Lord
hast said As surely as I live I desire not the death of a sinner but rather that he should Convert and Amend and Live Who hast also said Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee have mercy upon me for Jesus Christ his sake whom thou wouldest should be a peace-maker to the end that thou mightest shew thine exceeding great Wrath against sin and thine inestimable mercy towards Mankind sanctifie and illuminate my heart with thy holy Spirit O God the guide of my life forsake me not turn from me the filthiness of desire Turne mine Eyes away from beholding vanity strengthen me in thy wayes and grant that mine offences in this world overcome me not and I beseech thee O Lord with a most ardent affection that this day and ever thou wilt keep me and all mine and that thou wilt be unto me a Mighty Protector a firmament of strength a covering against heat a shadow at noon-tide a defence from falling an assister from offending a comforter of my soul an enlightner of my mind a giver of health and happiness in Christ Jesus my Lord and Saviour To whom be all glory honour and power for ever Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Tuesday-Evening MOst mighty and most merciful Lord God by whose goodness I was created by whose Justice I am punished and by whose mercy I am saved I cast my self down before thee and lift up my hands unto thee at this present as my Evening-sacrifice but alas my conscience accuseth me the secret cogitations of my heart reprove me my fear checketh me the infinite number of my sins oppress me yea my miscarriages this day witness against me and exceedingly condemn me O Lord what am I that thou shouldest yet favour me and shew thy self so loving and bountiful a Father unto me why should'st thou so nourish me who am so unworthy a wretch with thy mercy and loving-kindness I know that it is for His sake in whom there is no guile and in whom there was found no evil that thou regardest me and imbracest me Pardon I beseech thee through Jesus Christ all my sins faults vices and offences and indue me with all holy vertues make me to live a godly life and to continue to the end in good works Take away all darkness from my mind that I may see thee by understanding thee and love thee by knowing thee And grant O Lord that I may so keep and govern and end my life that I may sleep in peace and rest in thee and so into thy hands I commend my self both soul and body this night and for ever Hide me I beseech thee under the shaddow of thy Wings that I may rest quietly void of all fear spiritual darkness danger and despair comfort me in all those things wherein I have been any way discouraged this day Preserve me to the end that sleep with rest and rest with quietness and quietness with everlastingness may receive me that having run the race of this life I may be made partaker of a better that so I may live and reign with thee for ever through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Wednesday-Morning HOly Lord God the glorious face of the Sun which sheweth it self and casteth its beams over the whole World I take it for an argument and earnest of thy good will toward thy Children in the number of whom I account my self though the chief of Sinners and not worthy to loose the latchet of thy shooe for if we enjoy such benefits in this strange country together with thine Enemies then what joy and glory what excellent goodness shall we be made partakers of when we come to our heavenly country the blessed land of Canaan where we shall not see this earthly Sun but thou O Lord who art the Son of Righteousness will be continually before us And now O Lord I Praise thy blessed name for preserving me from the many dangers of the Night past and for bringing me safe to the beginning of this day As thou hast now wakened my Body from sleep so I beseech thee awaken my Soul from sin and carnal Security and as thou hast caused the Light of the day to shine in my bodily Eyes so good Lord cause the light of thy word and holy Spirit to illuminate my heart and give me grace as a Child of Light to walk in all holy obedience before thy face this day and grant me to endeavour to keep a good Conscience towards thee toward all men in all my thoughts words and dealings and to this end I commend my self and all my ways and actions together with all that do belong to me unto thy gracious direction and protection beseeching thee to keep both them and me from all evil and to give a blessing to my honest Labours and endeavours this day following and for evermore Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Wednesday Evening O Most Mighty Lord God and most mercifull and loving Father in thy Son Jesus Christ I sinful Creature am bold to return unto thee all possible Praise and thanks for all thy great and manifold favours which thou in thy mercy hast from time to time vouchsafed unto me a sinful wretch who am full of sin and iniquity I beseech thee favourably to hear my imperfect prayers and to grant my requests and needful suits which I make unto thee at this time Forgive me I intreat thee good Father all the sins that I have committed from day to day against thy divine Majesty and suffer me not O Lord to offend thee any more hereafter that neither sin nor Satan nor any unruly passions may have dominion nor reign any longer in my mortal body for I confess I have herein done wickedly and have broken all thy commandments for which thou mightest in thy severe Justice punish me both in Soul and Body to eternal Death besides those sins which I have this day committed Forgive me O Lord all my sins past and blessed be thy name that thou hast kept me this day in my going out and in my returning home O Lord watch over me this night and be thou my defence and protection from all dangers casualties and troubles grant that I be not overcome with any fantasies and dreams or other Temptations but that I may fully set my mind upon thee love thee fear thee and rest in thee and thou O Lord waken me again in due time that I may behold the light of the next day to my comfort still preparing my heart and mind to thy service every day and my whole life time in truth and sincerity that when I have run the short race of this mortal life thou mayest be pleased to call me to be partaker of a better and so I may live and die and ever remain with thee in thy Heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour in whose name I beg all these
And after strict search made under the Parliament house about midnight the very night before the Parliament was to set at the door of the entrance of the cellar was found one Guy Fauks clothed and booted he was apprehended and then removing some billets that were laid to prevent discovery they found the serpents nest stored with thirty six barrels of pouder and searching the Villain there was found about him a dark lanthorn three matches and other instruments for blowing up the pouder And thus was this horrible plot discovered and we saved and the Conspirators received their deserved punishment Those that were first in the Treat son were Robert Catesby Thomas Piercy Tho. Winter Robert Winter John Wright Chr. Wright Guy Fauks Gentlemen and Bates Catesbies Man Persons made acquainted with and promoters of it were Sr. Everard Digby Ambrose Roohwook Esq Francis Wesham Esq Robert Kegs John Grant Gent. A Thanksgiving for the fifth of November for Gods miraculous deliverance of this Land King and people from that horrid Gunpowder Treason 1605. O Our gracious Lord God who is like unto thee or who can strive beyond thy admittance hath any thing been done or attempted but what thou knowest of Yea thou seest all things savest all thine and wilt not let a hair of their heads perish O then who is like unto thee for thou art ever gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness O come then let us worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our maker for never any people had more occasion ministred unto them than this people of great Britain and Ireland yea all that belong to this Monarchy to praise the great God of Majesty Power Might and Dominion who did deliver us out of thraldome when nothing was wanting for making this Sacrilegious Parracide a pattern of mischief and a crime without example they would have joyned the destruction of the body to the head so as all at one Thunderclap should have been sent to Heaven together the King our Head the Queen our fertile Mother and those young and hopeful Olive plants yea not only theirs but also ours our honourable and worthy Senators yea the whole representative body of the Land without distinction of degree or Age yea even the stones and walls should have felt their fury and the Hall of Justice the house of Parliament the Church used for the Corronation of our Kings the Monuments of our former Princes the Crown and other Royalties all the Records as well of Parliaments as of every mans particular right with a great number of Charters and such like should all have been comprehended under that fearful Chaos and the remaining trophies of the eternal glory of our former Princes should have all been cousumed together and so not only we but the memory of us and ours should have been extinguished in an instant how can we therefore sufficiently magnify and praise thy great mercy who didst thus preserve us when we were so near destruction Therefore consider our dangerous estate we come unto thee O thou great and mighty Judge in trembling and in fear humbly beseeching thee not to heap upon us thy deserved vengeance but let thy tender kindness and love thou bearest to Christ thy dear Son our gracious Lord and Redeemer cover our iniquities for whose sake do thou pardon us and have compassion The Martyrdâ—me of King Charles on us to whom with thy self and thy blessed Spirit be given all prays honour and glory of us and all our posterity after us from this time forth and for evermore Amen Vpon the Martyrdome of King Charles the first January 30th 1648. An Epitaph STay Passenger Behold and see The widdowed grave of Majesty Why tremblest thou her 's that will make The most stupid Soul to shake Here lies entomb'd the Sacred dust Of Peace and Piety Right and Just The Blood O start thou not to hear Of a blest King 'twixt hope and fear Shed and hurried hence to be The miracle of Misery The Law-giver amongst his own Sentenc'd by a Law unknown Voted Monarchy to death By the course Plebian breath The Soveraign of all command Suffering by a common Hand A Prince to make the Odium more Matryr'd at his very Dore. â—â—The Head cut off Oh death to see 't In obedience to the Feet And that by Justice you may know If thou hast Faith to think it so Wee 'l stir no further then this Sacr'd Clay But let it slumber till the Judgment Day Of all the Kings on earth it s not denyed Here lies the first that for Religion Dyâ—d A Prayer for the 30th of January being the day of the Martyrdome of King Charles the First 1648. O Blessed Lord God who by thy wisdome not only guidest and orderest all things most sutable to thine own Justice but also performest thy pleasure in such manner that we cannot but acknowledg thee to be righteous in all thy ways and holy in all thy works We thy sinful people fall down before thee confessing that thy Judgments were right in permitting wicked men this day to Imbâ—ue their hands in the Blood of thine Anointed we having drawn down the same upon our selves by the great and long provocation of our sins against thee for which we do therefore here humble our selves before thee imploring thy mercy for the pardon of them all and that thou wouldest deliver this Nation from blood guiltiness that of this day especially and turn from us and our Posterity all those Judgments which we by our sins have deserved And now O Lord thou whose righteousness is like the strong mountains and thy Judgments like the great deep and who by the Martyrdom of thine Anointed our Soveraign this day hast taught us that neither the greatest Kings nor the best of men are more secure from violent then from natural death Teach us also hereby so to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom and grant that neither the splendour of any thing that is great nor the conceit of any thing that is good in us may any way withdraw our eyes from looking upon our selves as sinful dust and ashes but that according to the example of this thy blessed Martyr we may press forward toward the price of the high calling that is before us in faith and patience humility and meekness mortification and self-denial charity and constant perseverance unto the end and we desire to bless thee O Lord that thou didst not leave us for ever as sheep without a shephard but by thy gracious providence didst miraculously preserve the undoubted Heir of his Crown our most gracious Soveraign KING CHARLES the Second from his bloody enemies hiding him under the shadow of thy wings until their Tyranny was overpast and bringing him back in thy good appointed time to sit in peace upon the throne of his Father The Kings 〈◊〉 Returne and to excercise that authority over us which of thy Special grace thou hast committed unto