Friday Morning A Confession of Sins O Most mighty and merciful God I presume to present my self this Morning before thy Divine Majesty to offer up unto thee this my early sacrifice but in the performance of it I make known my unworthiness and disclose my Weakness and exceedingly discover my imperfections and wretchedness II. For alas I draw near unto thee with my lips but my heart is far from thee I call upon thee with my tongue but my soul at the same time commits wickedness against thee My righteousness comes short of the Scribes and Pharisees and are but as filthy Rags my holiness but as a morning Dew yea all my actions of Devotion if weighed in thy Balance are but abomination in thy sight From the soal of the Foot unto the crown of the Head I am altogether polluted and unclean yea nothing to be found in me but wounds and putrefied sores imprinted and stamped into my soul and flesh by the custom of my Sin â— My Eyes are full of Vanity my Ears full of â—niquity my Hands of Impurity my Will perverse to that which is Good my Remembrance affable â—nd pleasing to that which is Evil my Understanding is darkned my Conscience seared my Head full of mischief my feet swift to shed blood Destruction and Wickedness are in all my ways and the way of Peace have I not known IV. Since then O Lord that my Sins are so great and grievous against thy Law and against thy Gospel if thou shouldest be so extream as to mark against me what I have done amiss who is able to abide it If thou shouldst call me suddenly to a strict account how should I shew my Face If I deny waht is laid to my charge my Conscience will accuse me If I forswear the dumb and senseless Creatures will bear witness against me V. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is no Friend in the Earth beneath which I have in comparison of thee no other Mediator amongst Men and Angels but even thine only begotten Son Christ Jesus in whom only thou art well pleased by the virtue of whose Death and Passion and the remembrance of whose precious blood which trickled down from his side wash me from my sins and besprinkle my polluted Heart from an evil Conscience VI. And I beseech thee O Lord not only to wash away my sins with the blood of thine immaculate Lamb but also to purge my heart by thine only Spirit from the dross of my natural Corruptions that I may feel thy Spirit more and more killing Sin in the power practice thereof so that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee the ever living God in Righteousness and Holiness this Day and all the days of my Life for evermore Amen A Prayer for Friday Noon For God's Direction O Lord most holy I beseech thee to direct all my ways correct my wanderings and erect my wild and worldly Thoughts unto thee the God of my Salvation Learn me that divine Art of living in thy Fear to labour in thy Service and evermore run swiftly in the ways of thy Commandments Direct my Thoughts Words and Works preserve and bless me in my going out and coming in and grant that whatsoever my heart shall think my tongue utter or my hands exercise this day may tend to the glory of thy holy Name the good of others and the comfort of my own Conscience II. End these sinful days O blessed Redeemer and hasten thy coming and give me Grace to stand ready prepared to meet thee who art the sweet Bridegroom of my Soul that at thy coming whether it be by the hour of Death or at the day of Judgment I may joyfully pronounce those blessed words of Come Lord Jesus come quickly III. Deliver me O Lord from all those heavy Judgments which hang over my head as due unto me for my Transgressions separate them as far from thy presence in distance as the East is from the West bury them all in thy Grave that they neither rise to shame me in this Life nor condemn me in the World to come To whom be ascribed for thine infinite Mercy all Honour Praise and Glory from this time forth and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Friday Night Against carnal Security O Merciful Father I here prostrate my self in all humility and reverence of heart and mind beseeching thee to guide and protect me this Night with thy blessed Spirit and though my sinful flesh shall slumber and sleep yet grant that my Soul may continually â—e vigilant II. Let not the Enemy come upon me unawares and find me slumbering or sleeping as rocked in the Cradle of carnal Security lest I being unarm'd and destitute of thy favour and help he enter into the House of my sinful Body and their takes possession of my leprous Soul and endanger both to be thrown into the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone III. Make me to consider that my Bed is but a pattern of the Grave and that when I lay my self down in it I cannot rise up unless thy heavenly Providence enables me Teach me to acknowledge that sleep is the very Figure and Image of Death to whose stroak at thy appointed time I must submit and resign my self endue me with Love and Charity to all Men let my Lamp O Lord be filled with fresh Oil that whensoever thy Messenger Death approaches and knocks at the Gate of this mortal Body I may at his Summons in the day of the Resurrection of the Dead be ready to attend on thee my Bride with my Lamp burning IV. Let me be ever mindful of the great and last day wherein I must render an account of every idle thought word and work and grant I may be prepared with Faith and Repentance as with a Wedding-Garment against the time that thou O Lord shalt call for me out of this sinful World In the mean time let me fly from Sin as from a Serpent and from unrighteousness as from a Cockatrice and above all things seek thy Glory and when this mortal Life is ended I may be made partaker of Immortality and Life Eternal in thy most blessed and glorious Kingdom V. Let thy Mercy and Loving-kindness follow me O Lord all the days of my Life that I may dwell in thy House and evermore praise thy holy Name grant that I may in the acknowledgment of thy greatness confess my own unworthiness and visit me O Lord by driving from me all the Assaults of my Enemies both ghostly and bodily VI. Let thy holy Angel be with me to keep me this Night and evermore fit me for the duties of the next day if it be thy heavenly will to spare me this Night this O Lord I beg at thy merciful Hands through the Merits and Mediation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost now and for ever Amen Meditations for Saturday I Will cry
Office to be a help and comfort to all those which are in Extremity and near the time of their Travail do in all humility prostrate my self before thee beseeching thee to vouchsafe me thy divine Assistance in these Performances II. Have Mercy upon me and bless me guide me and govern me in all my Actions prosper all my Undertakings grant that I may be as careful of the Poor as of the Rich that I may do good and not hurt save Life and not destroy it by my negligence help my Infirmities and Imperfections that I may neither be too timorious nor too rash in the performance of my Duty but grant me art and judgment in the happy finishing all my Operations III. Work in me an understanding and a tender Heart and whatsoever else is necessary in my undertakings and mercifully grant O Lord that whensoever my Duty calls me either by Night or Day I may be always prepared preserve and defend me from the infection of all contagious Diseases by thy most gracious Favour grant me a prosperous success that whatsoever I do may tend to thy Glory the comfort and help of all good Women committed to my charge and my own credit through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer to be said by those that are present with a Woman in Travail O Almighty God we are here assembled for the comfort of this Woman who travaileth in pain to be delivered of a Child Through the transgression of our first Parents she cannot be delivered but with great sorrow for thou hast laid thine heavy displeasure upon us sinful Women that in much sorrow shall we bring forth Children yet since thou hast given us Faith in thy Son give us all especially to this Woman thy Servant now in this Extremity patience mitigate her Pains prosper our Work bless our undertakings that by our help she may be delivered and forget her pains because a Child is born into the World IV. We pray unto thee for this Child in her Womb thou hast inrolled it in thy Book thou hast made it in thy Frame the Bones thereof are not hid from thee all the Members of it are written in thy Volume Thou didst visit it at the time of Life visit it now at the hour of Birth that thou maist receive glory by thy works and the Mother gladness in beholding her Infant after all her Sorrows Give her we beseech thee neither a monstrous a maimed nor a dead Birth but as thou hast blessed the Conception of this Infant so bring it with Perfection into the World Hear us O Lord and help this thy weak Servant visit her as thou didst Sarah comfort her as thou didst Rebecca and chear her as thou didst Leah forgive her all her sins and whether she be sure to live or die let her trust in thee and let thine Angels pitch their Tents about her now and for evermore Amen A Thanksgiving by those that are present after Delivery O Eternal God infinite in Mercies towards all thy Sons and Daughters in affliction we desire to praise and magnifie thy holy Name acknowledging thy Goodness to us and thy special favour to this Woman thy Servant We called upon thee and thou heard'st us we petitioned for thy Favour to thine Hand-maid and thou regardedst her we begg'd a Blessing for her Child thou hast blessed it and hast made her a joyful Mother We offer unto thee the Sacrifice of our Lips let our thankfulness ascend up unto thee like a sweet-smelling savour II. Continue thy loving kindness to this thy Servant keep her from all further peril and danger of Child-Bed give her strength to recover her weakness joy to forget her late sorrow and thankfulness that such a Child is come out of her Loins as one day shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Give thy Blessing to the Infant now born that it may in due time increase in Wisdom Stature and Favour with God and Man Baptize iâ— with Water and the Holy Ghost endue it with all heavenly Graces defend it against all Dangers provide for it in this mortal Life and crown it in the end with Life everlasting III. Bless us O Lord that are here met together to behold the glory of our Creation and the wonders of our Creator in this little Infant Let us in all Sobriety Chastity and Godliness walk before thee all the Days of our Lives Make us like fruitful Vines and our Children like Olive Branches round about our Tables Let our Husbands rejoice in us and make us careful to love them as thou hast commanded us that thy Kingdom may be increased the Bed undefiled and our Saviour Jesus Christ glorified to whom be praise for evermore Amen A Thanksgiving by the Woman after Delivery BLessed Lord God I yield thee all Honour Glory and Praise who hast now delivered me from the great pain and peril of Child-Birth who hast taken away my reproach and made me an Instrument to encrease thy Kingdom It is in thy power to strike death into my womb but thou hast given me a double life all mine anguishes thou hast sweetened with gladness Continue thy Mercies and Favours to me thy Servant that my lips may render thee hearty thanks II. Look upon this my Infant which thou hast given me preserve it in Health quicken it with Grace crown it with long Life that it may grow up to be a Servant in thine houshold Send the Father of it and me much Comfort by it that it may be a Staff to our Old Age Bless it with store of Friends in this World and be thou a chief Friend to it for evermore III. And for the better growth in Grace feed it with the Milk of thy holy Word defend it from all dangers ghostly and bodily Guard me and regard this my Birth that Satan rule not nor reign within us but deliver us still out of his Jaws as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowler let thy blessing O Lord be upon me and my Children and evermore keep and defend us Amen A Thanksgiving after a deliverance from any Calamity ALmighty and everlasting God who hast suffered thy Church so to be tempted with Afflictions that it is never free either from the Sword of Ishmael which is a reviling tongue or the Sword of Esau a persecuting hand having taught us all to drink of the same Cup our Master did so strengthen me with Patience direct me by thy Spirit and uphold me by Faith that all trouble may be as welcome to my Soul as afflicted Ruth was to the Field of Boaz. Though troubles are many and increase daily yet thou O Lord knowest how to deliver us out of all Heaviness may endure for a Night but joy will come in the Morning Doubtless there is a Reward for the Righteous and a Rod for the Wicked Let one Plague follow another as one Quail sings to another yet as the Viper leaped on St. Paul's Hand and immediately leaped off again so
the Grave I praise thee O Lord from the very bottom of my heart for all thy love and boundless mercy and kindness for thy holy Incarnation Passion Resurrection and Ascention into Heaven and sitting at the right hand of God the Father where thou makest Intercession for me II. In thy merits I beseech thee to look upon me thou art that living Sacrifice that was offered up for me and in thy Name do I offer up unto thee this my morning Sacrifice evermore praising thee and magnifying thy holy Name Mortifie in me all fleshly Corruptions quicken me in the inner Man By the power of thy death let me die unto Sin and by the power of thy Resurrection let me rise to Righteousness and newness of Life Let the one as an antidote expel the poison of Ungodlyness and the other as a restorative excite me to Holiness III. Enlighten my Understanding that I may know thy Will reform my Life that I may do all things aright and to discern Good and Evil. Teach me to fear thy Name to neglect all things in regard of thee to be grieved at my own and others Sins but rejoyce exceedingly whensoever I can please thee Let me this Day labour that whatsoever I do may be pleasing in thy sight as I am thy Servant let me depend upon thee and as I am a Christian walk worthy of my Vocation and Calling IV. Be gracious and favourable unto the whole Church and bless every particular Member thereof be good to the light of our Eyes the breath of our Nostrils thy Solomon our gracious King bless thine own Tribe the Tribe of Levi the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty and let thy Peace rest upon those that pray for our Peace wheresoever dispersed over the Face of the whole Earth Lord keep me the remaining part of this Day in thy Truth and give me Peace and true Faith in thee now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Thursday Noon For God's Blessing on our Endeavours O Eternal and most gracious God who though thou art ever infinite yet enlargest thy self by the number of our Prayers and takest our often Petitions to thee to be an addition to thy Glory so great is thy Humility toward poor Mortals I most humbly beseech thee O Lord that thine Eyes may continually attend upon me and thy Grace daily defend me from all danger succour cherish and comfort me in my Necessities and govern all my counsels Studies and Labours so that I may spend this Day according to thy blessed Will and the discharge of my own Conscience that warily avoiding all things that may displease thee and setting always before my Eyes thy Fear I may by the assistance of thy heavenly Grace and the guidance of thy holy Spirit work that which is acceptable and pleasing unto thee unto thy Praise and Glory for ever Amen A Prayer for Thursday Night For Deliverance from Sudden Death O Lord most holy the giver of all good things and the protector of all those that love thee I give thee most humble and hearty thanks nor only for thy preservation of me this day but all my life O Lord forgive me the Offences I have committed against thee this Day blot out all my sins with the blood of thy dear Son â—esus Christ and I beseech thee for his sake remember them no more II. Vouchsafe O Lord to extend thine accustomed goodness and protection over me this Night that I may peaceably and quietly take my rest which thou hast appointed for the refreshing of my wearied and weak body and I beseech thee to defend me that nothing hurt me keep me also good Lord from sudden and unprovided Death and preserve me by the guard of thy holy Angels that I may enjoy my rest this Night in thee until the Morning and then give my self to the fulfilling of my Duty the discharge of my Employment and the working of thy will unto my life's end III. In whose Name I referr my self wholly to the Almighty Protection even in the Name of thy blessed Son Jesus Christ the Righteous beseeching thee that when this Life shall have an end and my last sleep being come I may take my everlasting Rest with thee in thy heavenly Kingdom for the which Kingdom I do heartily beseech thee of thine inestimable goodness to fit and prepare me and all other thy Servants to the attainment of the same for the glory of thy holy Name and the everlasting comfort of our own Souls Amen Meditations for Friday THe Lord even the most mighty God hath spoken and called the world from the rising up of the Sun unto the going down thereof Out of Sâ—on hath God appeared in perfect beauty Our God shall comâ— and shall not keep silence there shâ—ll go before him a consuming firâ— and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him He shall call the Heaven from above and the Earth that he mâ—y judge his People Gather my Saints together unto me those that have made a Covenant with me with Sacrifice And the Heavens shâ—ll declare his Righteousness for God is Judge himself Hear O my People and I will speak I my self will testifie against thee O Israel for I am God even thy God I will not reprove thee because of thy Sacrifices or for thy Burnt-offerings because they were not always before me I will take no Bullock out of thine house nor He-goats out of thy fold For all the Beasts of the Forest are mine and so are the Cattle upon a thousand hills I know all the Fowls upon the mountains and the wild Beasts of the field are in my sight If I be hungry I will not tell thee for the whole world is mine and all that is therein Thinkest thou that I will eat Bulls flesh and drink the blood of Goats Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most highest And call upon me in the time of trouble so will I hear thee and thou shalt praise me But unto the ungodly said God why dost thou preach my Laws and takest my Covenant in thy mouth Whereas thou hatest to be reformed and hast cast my Words behind thee When thou sawest a thief thou consentedst unto him and hâ—st been partaker with the Adulterers Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit Thou satest and spakest against thy Brother yea and hast slandered thine own Mother's Son These things hast thou done and I held my tongue and thou thoughtest wickedly that I am even such a one as they self but I will reprove thee and set before thee the things that thou hast done O consider this ye that forgâ—t God lest I pluck you away and there be none to deliver you Whoso offereth me thanks and praise he honoureth me and to him that ordereth his conversatition aright will I shew the salvation of God Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for
from us all Ignorance and Negligence and prevent all those things that thou knowest may hinder us in our Christian Calling or Employment Encrease our Faith Patience and Obedience and let thy Blessing be upon this whole Family guide us in thy Truth protect us in our Ways and all those whom thou hast made dear unto us whether they be present or absent IV. Give us Grace by thy Chastisements to fear thee more carefully and to grieve for our sins more heartily let our minds be set upon thee and give us such hearts as we may learn something of every thing and make a Spiritual use of all our Earthly Affairs here till we come to dwell with thee in the Kingdom of Glory V. Bless O Lord the universal Church with Truth Peace and Unity Soundness of Doctrine and holy Discipline Preserve our gracious Sovereign and all the Royal Family Bless his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council and all others in Authority with necessary Graces VI. Bless all Schools of Learning and good Education especially the two Universities of this Land Bless this City and Place wherein we live remove the Punishment due for the Sins thereof and give them a double portion of thy Grace to repent in time before the Destroyer enters again amongst them VII Bless all our Friends Relations or others for whom thou hast appointed us to make Prayers and Supplications strengthen them that lie upon their Beds of Sickness send them the comfort and help of thy Spirit that lie in anguish of Conscience for remorse of Sin and convert all those that go astray from thy Commandments teach us by their Examples to view our own Weakness and to walk more circumspectly for the time to come VIII Bless this Family with Grace and Peace that all of them from the highest to the lowest may know their several Duties and may rightly and duly practise the same in thy fear and unto thy glory through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour Amen An Evening Prayer for a Private Family OEternal God the Father of Mercies and great Creator of Heaven and Earth we render thee humble and hearty Thanks for thy merciful Preservation of us this Day and all the whole course of our Lives that thou hast brought us safe through so many Dangers and Difficulties we might justly have fallen into had not thy Arm of Providence been stretched out to support us II. Morning and Evening thou takest care of us and heapest upon us so many Blessings and Benefits both Spiritual and Temporal yet we neither fear thee nor serve thee as we ought to do but thou art a God slow to anger and of great pity and art ready to forgive our manifold Sins which we from time to time have committed against thee III. Good Lord we beseech thee keep us evermore from day to day as thou hast done and make us constant in the profession of thy holy Name and the practise of thy Law that neither the Malice of Man nor Subtilty of Satan be able to make us turn away from thee Lord turn thy Face from our Sins even from those Sins wherein we have so much delighted take from us those hearts of Stone and give us hearts of Flesh and wash and cleanse our poluted Souls in the Blood of the Lord Jesus IV. Forgive us all that is past and grant us the assurance of that Forgiveness sealed up by the holy Spirit in our Consciences Oh kindle thy love more and more in our hearts that we may never depart from thee but attain unto a due thankfulness for thy benefits and a most unfeigned and earnest Repentance for all our Sins and Tranfgressions V. Suffer us not to close our Eyes till our Souls have reckoned and made even for all the Offences which not only this day but all the former minutes of our lives we have committed against thy divine Majesty Give thine Angels charge over us that at what hour soever thou callest us out of this Vale of Tears where we do but travail and toil all the day long we may not be found to be idle Loiterers in thy Harvest but good and acceptable Servants having Oil in our Lamps and on us the Robe of Righteousness and Wedding-Garment of Regeneration that we may be able to encounter Death the King of Terrors to meet our blessed Lord in the Clouds when he cometh to Judgment and to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth VI. Expel and remove far away from us all wicked Spirits and graciously protect us from our Persecutors which lay Snares to subdue us do thou O God assist us that we may peaceably sleep and rest in thee hide us in thy Tabernacle from the strife of all Men and keep us that we may fear no Evil. O thou that neither slumberest nor sleepest let thy Rod and Staff evermore comfort and defend us VII Let thy mighty Hand and stretched out Arm O Lord be still our Defence thy Mercy and Loving-kindness in thy beloved Son our Salvation thy true and holy Word our Instruction thy Grace and holy Spirit our Comfort and Consolation Let thy Mercy O God prevent and follow us all the days of our Lives that we may dwell in thy House of Defence in length of days praising thee evermore VIII Let thy Blessing be upon all of us within this Houshold guide us in our Ways and lead us into thy Truth Bless our Parents Kindred and Friends wheresoever dispersed and howsoever linked unto us Be a merciful Judge unto us and continually protect us from the snares of Satan the Old Serpent and finally conduct us into the society of Angels and of all Saints in thy holy Paradise to whom be ascribed as is most due to thee the Father Son and Holy Ghost one true gracious and everlasting God all Honour Power and Glory Might Majesty and Dominion now and for evermore Amen Meditations for the Sick O Lord rebuke me not in thine Indignation neither chasten me in thy heavy Displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my Bones are vexed My Soul is also sore troubled But Lord how long wilt thou punish me Turn thee O Lord and deliver my Soul O save me for thy mercies sake For in death no Man remembreth thee and who will give thee thanks in the Pit I am weary of my groaning every night wash I my Bed and water my Couch with my Tears My Beauty is gone for very trouble and worn away because of all mine Enemies Away from me all ye that work Vanity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping The Lord hath heard my Petition the Lord will receive my Prayer Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me O hide not thou thy face from me nor cast thy Servant away in Displeasure Thou hast been my succour leave me not neither forsake me O God of my Salvation What profit is there in my blood
beseech thee deliver my Soul 5. Gracious is the Lord Righteous yea our God is merciful 6. The Lord preserveth the Simple I was in misery and he helped me 7. Turn again then unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath rewarded thee 8. And why thou hast delivered my Soul from Death mine Eyes from Tears and my Feet from falling 9. I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living 10. I believed and therefore will I speak but I was sore troubled I said in my hast all Men are Lyars 11. What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the Benefits that he hath done unto me 12. I will receive the Cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. 13. I will pay my Vows now in the presence of all his People right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints 14. Behold O Lord how that I am thy Servant I am thy Servant and the Son of thine Handmaid thou hast broken my Bonds in sunder 15. I will offer to thee the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord. 16. I will pay my Vows unto the Lord in the sight of all his People in the Courts of the Lord's House even in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Praise the Lord. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Thanksgiving after Recovery O Holy and immortal God I Laud and Praise thy holy Name that thou hast been pleased to deliver me from the Jaws of Death and the Pit of Corruption and in some measure restored me again to my former Health crowning me with thy mercy and loving kindness my Soul and all that is within me shall magnifie thee I will praise thee O Lord with my whole Heart and will extol thee O thou that dwellest in the Heavens II. It is thou alone that hast preserved my life from destruction thou didst cast me down upon my Bed of Sickness and hast raised me up again by thy Almighty Power thou hast chastened and corrected me but not given me over unto Death My time is in thy hand O God thou art the God of the Spirits of all Flesh grant that this remnant of Life that thou hast thus graciously spared may be wholly dedicated to thy Service that I may walk before thee in newness and amendment of Life III. O thou that art the only Physician of Soul and Body thou hast once more permitted me to take up my Bed and walk O make me strictly careful as the watches of the Night to be vigilant over all my Thoughts Words and Actions that I may sin no more lest a worse thing happen unto me Let not this great mercy thou hast now given me make me supine and negligent and entertain those Thoughts that my Lord delayeth his coming but grant I beseech thee that I may make a right use of this thy Fatherly Chastisement and employ the remainder of my Life to thy Glory IV. I have found by experience of thine afflicting hand what a dreadful thing it is to be snatched away by the hands of Death without our accompts and unprepared O let it be a perpetual admonition to me to stand upon my Guard and to watch for my Master 's coming and whenever the Pleasures of Sin which endure but for a Season shall present themselves to entice and allure me make me to remember the bitterness of them at last Lord hear me and grant me grace to work out my own Salvation for thy dear Son's sake Amen A Prayer fit to be said at any time O Most glorious and powerful Lord God who createdst all things out of nothing and support'st the whole Universe by thy Providence I confess O Lord I was conceived in Original Sin now full of actual transgressions I was in the Womb a loathsome Substance I am in the World a Lump of Corruption and I shall be in the Grave a prey for Vermin II. But I know blessed Jesus thy Grace is sufficient for me thy Mercy can express it self in my Misery I know and confess O Lord that my Sins are exceeding many mighty and heinous yet thy Mercy is far greater for thou art infinite in mercy but I cannot be infinite in sinning and the Righteousness of Christ Jesus the Righteous is more prevalent for me than my own Unrighteousness can be against my self III. The Fountain of thy Mercy O God hath quenched the fire of thy Justice and graceless Man falling from Goodness is by thee repossessed of Greatness Wherefore I humbly beseech thee O Lord give me the Grace of continual Thankfulness strengthen my Weakness correct my Sinfulness direct my future Frailty and protect me against the Adversary kindle my Zeal enlighten my Understanding soften my stony Heart and save for ever my immortal Soul IV. And though my whole Life O Lord hath been impure and undefiled in thy sight yet through thy precious Blood and Passion by thine all-sufficient Sacrifice Obligation and Satisfaction revert my deserved Punishment and convert my passed Evils to present good and future joys in thine eternal and most glorious Kingdom V. Pardon good Lord my loss of Time my abuse of thy good Creatures my negligence in my lawful Employment my unthankfulness for thy Loving-kindness and whatsoever is wanting in my Person Practice Prayer or Thanksgiving make a supply of it in the Merits of thy Son Christ Jesus to whom with thee and thy blessed Spirit be all Praise and Glory now and evermore Amen Prayers for all Persons and Occasions A Prayer for the Church ALmighty and everlasting God who hast revealed thy Glory both to Jews and Gentiles in our Lord Jesus Christ extend thy hand of Providence and Mercy over all the World that thy Church may spread like a flourishing Vine and enlarge her Borders to the uttermost Parts of the Earth that all Nations partaking of the sweet refreshments of thy Gospel thy Name may be glorified the honour of our Lord Jesus advanced his Prophecies fulfilled and his Coming hastned II. Bless O Lord thy holy Catholick and Apostolick Church with all Blessings of Comfort Assistance and Preservation extirpate Heresies unite her Divisions give her Patience and Perseverance in the Faith and Confession of thy Name in despite of all Enmities Temptations and Disadvantages destroy all wicked Counsels intended or levied against her or any of her Children by the Devil or any of his accursed Instruments let the hands of thy Grace and Mercy lead her from this Vale of Misery to the triumphant Throne of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer for the King WE beseech thee O Lord to bless and preserve thy Servant William our most gracious King and Governour with the richest Blessings of thy Grace and Favour make him valiant and prosperous as King David wise and rich like Solomon be unto him a Helmet of Salvation against the Face of his Enemies and a strong Tower
of Defence in the Time of Adversity as for his Enemies let them be cloathed with Shame but upon himself let his Crown for ever flourish Grant him a long and a prosperous Reign let Peace and Unity Holiness and Justice Truth and all Christian Vertues flourish in his time Let all his Subjects faithfully serve him with Honour and due Obedience and let him so truly serve thee his God here on Earth that he may hereafter everlastingly reign with thee in Heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for the Royal Family O God the Father of all Mercies bless and preserve Catherine the Queen Dowager the Princess Anne of Denmark with all the rest of the Royal Family unite them unto thee with the Bands of Faith and Love preserve them to their Lives end in thy Favour make them Instruments of Glory to thy Name of refreshment to the Church of joy to all faithful People of this Kingdom prosper them with all Happiness here on Earth and crown them at last with an Eternal Weight of Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for our Parents ALmighty God who from the Loins of our First Parents Adam and Eve didst produce Mankind and hast commanded us to Honour and Obey our Parents in pursuance of thy holy Will and Commandment and of our Duty to thee our God and in thee to them we do with all humility beg a Blessing of thee for our Parents who from thy Mercy and Plenty have conveyed many to us pardon and forgive all their Sins and Infirmities encrease in them all Goodness give them Blessings of the Right Hand and Blessings of the Left bless them in their Persons and Posterity in their Goods and good Name in the Comforts of thy Holy Spirit in a persevering Goodness and at last in an eternal Weight of Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of Parents for their Children O God the Creator of all the World by whose Providence Mankind is propagated I bless thy holy Name for bestowing on me the Blessing of Children Lord bless them with Life and Health with good Understanding fair Opportunities and Advantages of good Education but above all with the Gifts and Graces of thy Holy Spirit that they may live and be blessed under thy Protection grow in Grace and be in favour with God and Man and at last may make up the number of thine Elect Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for our Friends and Benefactors O Thou Fountain of all Goodness from whom proceeds all Excellency both to Men and Angels extend thy favour and loving-kindness to all my Friends and Benefactors Reward them and make them plentiful Compensation for all the Benefits which from thy merciful Hand of Providence they have conveyed to me Let the Light of thy Countenance so shine upon them as they may never enter into any Desolation or Affliction but such as may be instrumental to thy Glory and their Eternal Comfort through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer of a Wife for her Husband BLessed Lord who hast been graciously pleased to call me to the holy State of Matrimony bless me in it with the Grace of Chastity Loyalty Obedience and a dutiful Complacency to my Husband Bless him with a long Life a healthful Body and an understanding Heart and furnish him with all those Gifts and Graces which may enable him to be and continue thy Servant that he may be a Supporter and a Guide to me his Wife a Blessing and a Comfort to his Children through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of a Husband for his Wife O Most gracious God who art a Father to us thy Children a Spouse to thy holy Church a Saviour and Redeemer to all Mankind have Mercy upon thy Handmaid my Wife endue her with all the Ornaments of thy heavenly Grace make her to be as Religious as Hester Loving as Rachel Fruitful as Leah Wise as Rebecca and Obedient as Sarah that being filled with Grace and Benediction here she may be partaker of thy Glory hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer of an Orphan O God gracious and merciful who art ready to succour all those that are distressed and hast promised to be a Father to the Fatherless Have Mercy upon me O Lord I humbly beseech thee who am left a poor Orphan and by thy heavenly will and pleasure deprived of my earthly Parents Supply O Lord all my Wants and Necessities guide govern and comfort me with thy good Spirit that in all my Words Works and Actions I may glorifie thee my heavenly Father Let thy heavenly Grace sustain me and work in me Obedience to my Superiors and those which have the charge and care over me that they discharging a good Conscience towards me I may by thy ready help improve my time to the Praise and Glory of thy holy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Widow's Prayer O Most holy Lord God the Comforter of all those who are in any affliction sorrow or trouble The Bands of Death by thy appointment have made a separation between me and him whom thou gavest to be my Husband who was my Head and supreme Governour and the only Guide I had in this World next under thee Grant me grace to bear this cross and loss patiently and to put my whole Trust and Confidence in thee let thy tender Care go along with me in preserving me from all Oppression and Wrong and deliver me from the Hands of those who will devour Widows Houses Bless me O Lord as thou didst the poor Widow of Sarepta let not the Barrel of Meal wast but grant me a competency fit for my Estate neither let the Cruise of Oil fail but assist me with thy Grace that I may walk worthily towards thee and all the World Let my continual Prayers and Supplications ascend up to thee and hear O Lord and have mercy when I cry unto thee for the alone sake of thy dear Son my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen The Servant's Prayer O Most mighty God and the great Lord and Master of all the World who beholdest with thine all-seeing Eye thy great Houshold and Family here on Earth look upon me thine unworthy Servant I humbly beseech thee with thine Eye of Providence grant me a contented Mind in that state thou hast placed me in so shall I enjoy a continual Feast Assist me O Lord with thy heavenly Grace that I may perform Obedience and be subject to my earthly Masters whom thou hast been pleased to set over me whether they be Good or Evil Courteous or Froward Prosper all the Designs I shall take in hand in this my Servitude which are not in opposition to thy Commands Preserve and keep me from all Evil that no Enticements may allure me either to embezel away any thing committed to my Custody or have Society with such who are Enemies to my Master's House let me chearfully