are wee to conceiue the glory prepared for thine elect in the heauens Giue vs therefore good father hearts of loue vnto thy Maiestie that we may striue with a godly egernesse rather to abandon all lets impediments which may hinder vs from that promised glory then curiously to seeke to knâ—w in this mortalitie that the secrets whereof thou hast reserued vntil our immortalitie And let not the cares of this transitory life and the blind affections which we naturally beare vnto the pleasures thereof choake the good seede of grace in vs. Make the way of our saluation familiar vnto vs as thou hast made it plaine for vs. And let not our bodily labours hinder our hearts from continuall meditation of thy goodnesse towards vs. Let vs lift vp pure mindes vnto the heauens with a longing desire to with thee where is no labour or sweate or feare or care or hunger or thirst or nakednesse or enemies or strife or paine or griefe But all comfort all ioy all peace and blessednes and glory vnspeakable Giue vs therefore longing hearts to remoue out of this body of miseries yet so as we omit not our callings vntill thine appointed time but that we may labour accordingly in the world not as we so loued the world as we should imbrace it as our home but vse it as our Tabernacle or lodging place for the time of our pilgrimage And let thy blessing bee so vpon our labours this day as wee may liue thereby haue sufficient of all necessaries as food rayment friendship peace plentie health of bodie preseruation of our limbes and sences and a blessing vpon all that belongeth vnto vs. That we be not constrained to vse vnlawfull meanes for our reliefe Then as we by thy blessing haue entred into this morning shall passe the day with comfort and end the same in peace of conscience and consolation of the holy Ghost and so continue from day to day vntill the last of our dayes when we shall surrender againe vnto thee to be disposed both our soules and bodies for euer to liue with thee in the glory purchased by Christ our mediator our hope our strength and our euerlasting redeemer to whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee all power maiestie and dominion ascribed for euer Amen O Lord euermore increase and confirme our faith A short prayer for the morning to be said of one in priuate or in a Family vsing the plurall instead of the singular number ALmightie Lord God whose presence is alwaies light vnto thy Saints vouchsafe as thou hast banished the darknesse of the night past and made the light to shine vnto our corporal eyes So let the sauing Sunne of thy holy Spirit lighten the darkenesse of mine vnderstanding this morning And as the Sun of the firmament cleareth cheereth and comforteth all thy creatures in earth with the beames thereof so let thy sacred and sauing countenance recomfort my sad and dulled heart and as it hath pleased thee to giue me power and ablenesse to rise out of my bed of corporall rest and by the sleepe which I haue this night enioyed haue in some measure shaken off the heauie sluggishnes of my fleshly part So I beseech thee to giue me power to rise out of the bed of sinne and securitie and with cheerefull alacritie to cast off the dulnes and drowsines of my corrupt heart that with full affection and entire loue I may praise thee for thy loue wherein thou hast preserued mee this night from perils and dangers of the darknes wherein the secret arrowes of Satan and sin are sent forth to wound euen the vpright in heart wherein diuers casualties befall them that are dead in their sleepe not able to preuent the least danger incident to soule or bodie and hast now graciously brought me to the beginning of this day in safety the end whereof nor the least remaining part what it shall afford me thou only knowest from whose all-seeing eyeâ— nothing is hid but as well the times to come as the seasons past and present are alike manifest As thou therefore knowest what shal succeed me this day turne those things from me Lord in thy prouidence which thou knowest dangerous and blesse vnto me all things for my comfort and whatsoeuer befalleth me contrary to my health wealth or peace make me wise to make vse thereof to the confirmation of my further faith in thee knowing Lord that all things shall worke together for the best to them that loue thee And therefore giue me patience to vndergoe al thy corrections and trials and to be vnfainedly thankfull for all thy benefits And for asmuch as nothing can prosper vnto vs without thy blessing blesse Lord I beseech thee vnto me all such thy creatures as I shall haue cause to vse this day giue a blessing vnto all that appertaineth vnto me whomsoeuer or whatsoeuer and let the meditations of my hart the words of my mouth and the labours both of my bodie and minde be sanctified vnto me this day that whatsoeuer I doe it may prosper I recommend my selfe my soule and bodie all that I haue charge of vnder thee into thy fatherly tuition and defence this day for I know Lord and am assured that thou to whom I commit me arâ— able and willing to keepe me Let not my sinnes gracious Father which I haue no power to resist preuent thy mercies but in thy mercie preuent my sinnes for Satan the World and mine owne corruptions are euer ready to draw me into forbiddeÌ„ vanities But strengthen thou the armes of my faith teach my spirituall fingers to fight valiantly against their enemies giue me the sword of the Spirit the brest-plate of righteousnes the helmet of saluation that I feare not their assaults this day that fighting the good fight of faith I may preuaile and receiue the crowne of victorie through Christ that triumphant Lion of the Tribe of Iudah Remember thy promises made vnto all that beleeue in him I beleeue Lord helpe mine vnbeliefe Let the fruits of that loue that is greater then faith and hope appeare in mine actions this day the chiefe wherof is obedience vnto thee So shall I passe this day in thy faith feare due reuerence of thy great and glorious name and daily more and more prepare my selfe in a holy readines to attend thy calling mee out of this mortall to an immortall condition And for my greater comfort in this my pilgrimage giue me a true feeling of the ioyes promised in the Kingdome of glorie euen here in the Kingdom of grace that hauing heere receiued the earnest of thy holy Spirit I may daily looke for the principall in the Kingdom purchased by Iesus Christ in whose name I humbly recommend my selfe and all my labours this day vnto thy blessed prouidence and direction yeelding vnto thee all praise in Iesus Christ by the holy Ghost blessed for euer and euer Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said
in the Euening in priuate Families IT is a matter too common with many to passe the day in a kind of lawlesse vanitie and the night in carelesse securitie as if the day and night were only made for man to serue himselfe with the pleasures and profits he can make of either forgetting the true end for which either themselues or the day and night were made that themselues were made to glorifie their Maker in reason and religion The day to serue them for holy exercises and lawfull labours And the night for their corporall rest But contrarily themselues they prophane through many sinnes The day they abuse by idlenesse wantonnesse and vanities And the night they pollute with many forbidden euils And yet passe from day to night and from euening to the day light neuer calling to minde that holy duetie required of them thanksgiuing to God for blessings receiued their humble prayers for pardon of their sins committed and their continuall supplications for their safetie and prosperous successe in their labours and affaires Doth the profession of a Christian require no more then to eate and drink to labour or loyter to passe the time in gaming pleasure idlenes ease and slâ—â—pe Are not these the workes that worldlings wallow in Some are too great and glorious to labour and yet haue no leasure to pray Some are so busied in worldly affaireâ— as they can admit no time to serue God but the Sabbath day and then to come to the Church to see and be seene is the deuotion of many Is this to loue God aboue all things as all haue vowed to serue him before all things and to depend vpon him in all things It rather argueth that the Loue of God is not in them the Feare of God is farre from them and the Grace of God is not with them Remember yee that thus forget God that as the day is past that gaue light to the eyes and darkenesse come that shadoweth the Sunne So the day of Life passeth away and the night of Death approcheth wherein if we liue not in the light of grace while it is to day we shall neuer see the light of glorie to our comfort in the night of our bodies death Therefore before we betake vs to our rest let vs commend our selues and all that we haue in faithfull prayer to God calling together conioyning with our families if we haue any and in a holy and reuerent humiliation of bodies and mindes fall downe before him that seeth vs and who hath promised to be in the midst of two or three gathered together in holy prayer A prayer to be said in priuate Families in the Euening before they goe to rest ALmightie and most louing Lord God Father of compassion infinit in power iust in thy Judgements wonderfull in thy prouidence euer readie and neuer failing in mercie them that feare thy name we acknowledge thy great goodnes towards vs this day past and our owne vnworthines to partake of thy mercies by reason of our manifold and great sinnes which as it seemeth thou neither seest nor obseruest in that thou hast as it were passed by them so patiently this day as in stead of punishing them hast made vs rich partakers of many most acceptable blessings Yet Lord we doe not by this thy forbearance to punish vs either iustiâ—â—e our wayes wherein we haue walked this day or thinke our selues freed from thy displeasure for our sinnes but doâ— vtterly condemne our selues and wholly attribute our preseruation from punishment our health out peace our plenty and the good successe of our affairs vnto thine own free mercie and whatsoeuer crosse losse hurt or detriment hath be fallen vs this day in bodies goods credit or reputation among men we lay it and impute it wholly and altogether vnto our sinnes which haue worthily deserued much more then we feele or are able to beare what we or any of vs haue done against thee this day thou knowest what thou hast done for vs wet cannot expresse with our lips nor conceiue in our harts for thy mercies are so infinite and thy prouidence so high and so farre past finding out as the more we search and seek to know the hid treasures of thy loue towards vs so much the more ignorant we are of knowing what thou are we therefore acknowledge our selues stâ—ners and thy selfe the Father of incomprehensible mercies which as Dauid thy seruant confesseth are more then he could expresse Great and manifest haue bin thy fauours towards vs we haue found them felt them and enioyed them this day and all our dayes in thy keeping feeding cloathing and comforting our mortall bodies In giuing vnto vs preseruing for vs many things for our vse the beasts of the field the plants of the earth haue beene seruiceable vnto vs through thy blessing Giue vs we beseech thee vnderstanding and feeling hearts to acknowledge thy mercies Teach vs to know and to take knowledge of our own wants which are many grant that they may be supplied by thee Let vs looke into our owne corruptions that they may bee reformed and weakened by thee for Nature reuenleth not vnto vs our spirituall wants nor can cleanse vs from our sinnes which are many and yet we account them few great and yet we see them not weightie and yet they seeme light vnto vs we are spiritually poore and spirituall blinde yet not poore in spirit as we ought we are rather barren of spirituall knowledge and blinde to our owne imperfections which puffeth vs vp with a vaine conceiâ— of our owne worthines Our faith is feeble fraile and imperfect yet we thinke it strong our prayers are cold and weake our minds and affections wauering and inconstant in that diuine duty yet would we seem religiously zealous Thou findest in vs Lord these imperfections and we dote of our owne merit which is a meer forbidden presumption Open Lord the eyes of our vnderstandings that we may finde out and feele our own errors and looke into the working of thy grace wherein thou acceptest vs as poore in spirit by the imputation of Christs humblenes our faith perfect through the perfection of his obedience and our prayers auaileable through his preuailing mediation So that thy spirituall consolations in Christ are farre more abounding towards vs then we are able to comprehend Open therefore Lord the dore of thy diuine knowledge that we may become wise in thee and enter into that holy of holiest in puritie of spirit in faith sound with prayers feruent thanks vnfained Stirre vp in vs a greater measure of obedi 〈…〉 then hitherto we haue shewd vnto thee that we receiuing grace for grace may adde faith to faith wisedome to knowledge and finde how sweet a thing it is to serue thee truly to walke before thee in vprightnes of heart And as we are now come to the end of this day and consequently haue finished the trauaile thereof and now couet our rest so we may
by the latter but that Antichrist would haue reinuested himselfe where now Christ Iesus is vnto vs all in all Blessed bee thy name O Lord whose eye beheld and whose prouidence preuented them and whose arme as with a rod of yron brake the actors in pieces like a potters vessell To thee therefore most louing Lord God to thy Sonne Christ and to the holy Ghost be prayse for euer Amen Lord increase our faith and euermore preserue thy seruant our King A short thankesgiuing and prayer for the Kings preseruation DEare Father infinite in power towards vs giue vs hearts to remember with thankefulnes thy too much forgotten goodnes in so mercifully defending our King and vs thy people from many dangers And forget not Lord how the wicked still study the meanes to effect that which thou in mercy diddest then preuent CoÌ„sider how they secretly thirst for the blood of thine Anointed and of his most worthy branches likely to proue powerfull protectors of thy truth and consequently long for the confusion of thy people It suffiseth that thou seest it but it suffiseth not for vs to haue the words and not to vse the workes of assurance of thy protection And therfore we humbly pray thee gracious Lord God most louing father to pardon our sinnes which are the greatest aduersaries that can rise vp against vs. Thou sendest good and religious kings to a people from whom thou expectest the fruits of holy obedience But if they waxe cold in profession and slacke in practizing thy reueiled will thou takest their godly 〈◊〉 religious and louing kings from them and in stead sendest them Tyrants mercilesse and irreligious princes neither the wisedome nor power of man can preuaile where thou art a partie in the iudgement Wherefore louing Father as thâ—â— hast furnished the heart of Iames thy seruant our King with heauenly wisedome furnish our hearts with true obedience to follow thy will reueiled in thy word that so our obedience beginning towards thy Maiestie may appeare and worke more and more in our continuall thankefulnesse vnto thee 〈◊〉 him and our loue and true loyalty to him that thy word may still preuaile with vs remaine amongst vs and wee euermore abide constant in thee that howsoeuer enemies rage whatsoeuer euill counsaile they take we may be either still free in thee protected by thy hand or may with patience vndergoe thy fatherly tryall knowing that all things worke together for the best to them that loue thee and are chosen of thy purpose in him by whose merits both hee our king and we thine and his people haue receiued the promise that thou wilt neuer faile vs nor forsake vs. Lord increase our faith A most piâ—â—ie and patheticall Prayer for the King and ouerthrow of Antichristian religion and enemies of the truth BLesse LORD and graciously defend and preserue our King looke vâ—n him as thou didst vpon Dauid chosen after thine owne heart Leade him by thine owne right hand in all his wayes that hee may leade vs thy people vnto thy holy Sanctuarie Giue him a reioycing heart to see his subiects readie to resort vnto thy holy Temple receiuing thy blessed Sacraments and faithfully seruing thy sacred Maiestie by his religious example Let him euer be instant to call vpon stirre vp and incite the Ministers of thy word that they be instant in sounding the trumpet of thy word vnto thy people that sin may bee weakned obedience to thee increased that mercie and truth may meet together and righteousnes and peace may kisse each other Giue him euermore a preuailing power to bring to nought or weaken the power of Idolatry and superstition within his Kingdomes and to further construie the sincere seruice of thee let him neuer cease O Lord vntill hee haue banished or fully reformed the Fauorites of Antichrist namely such as haue the marke of that Beast in their foreheads or in their hands whose names are not written in the booke of Life Giue him Lord an eye to finde them out and a right resolution to abandon them without respect of persons together with all flatterers and Hypocrites And blesse vnto him godly wise religious and faithfull Counsellers and as thou hast giuen him a sword and Scepter let him truly and valorously vse them to the cutting off of all the daungerous branches of sinne and impietie and all the inormities of thy Church and Common weale and to the defence of the godly and innocent Let his person Lord be euer in thy protection keep him as the apple of thine eye preuent all secret practises and open violence preteÌ„ded against him Stand betweene him and the enemie and let the hailestones of thy seuere iudgements fall vpon the heads of them that hate him wouÌ„d the hayrie scalpe of all that rise vp against him And in all his occasioned incounters with Antichrist or any of his adherents giue him Ioshuahs prosperous victories Dauids zeale and Elishacs faith Discouer vnto him largely the counsell of thine owne will giue him a forward willing and constant heart to effect what thou commandest and grant that he dismay not more in the ouerthrow of Antichrist then Ioshuah did at the confusion of Ierico Be thou his buckler whet his sword bend thou his bow make ready his arrowes vpon the string and let them all and alwayes be directed by thy prouidence to the destruction of his thine irreconciliable enemies as was the Sliâ—â— of Dauid against Goliah so let the. Judgements be against the wicked in the day of battell Let his Subiects loue him let his enemies feare and flie him let all Nations admire his righteous iudgements Princely gouernment and religious constancie let them all bee moued to follow him as he deliteth Lord to follow thee in truth and equitie to the glorie of thy vniuersally admired name through Christ in whom let him euer bee blessed And so blesse vs Lord that we may blesse thee for him Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee vsed of such as are of the Kings Maiesties priuie Counsell IF men of meanest professions bee moued by common reason to seek vnderstanding to manage their own priuate occasions how much more ought men of most eminent places especially Counsellors to Kings craue wisedome and fitnes of God for so high a calling How can they consult deuise deliberate direct and determine matters of weightiest consequence without extraordinarie gifts of prudence How can they marshall the care and carriage of him that hath the care and charge of the gouernment and defence of Kingdomes and people in peace and warre not onely in matters Ciuill but Ecclesiasticall Spirituall and Temporall Is it a small matter saith Dauid to be sonne in law to a King So may a man say Is it a small preferment to be thought a fit man to be of the secret counsell of a King Many thirst no doubt and desire this highest honor who haue not first truely examined their gifts of
24 c Calends of Nouember 9  25 d Calends of Nouember 8  26 e Calends of Nouember 7  27 f Calends of Nouember 6  28 g Calends of Nouember 5  29 A Calends of Nouember 4  30 b Calends of Nouember 3  31 c Day before the Calends of Nouemb.  Festiuall daies in this moneth are 18. day S. Luke 28. Simon and Iude. 11. Nouember called of the Latins Nouember Graecians Anthesterion Hebrewes Marbesuam their 8. moneth hath 30. daies 1 d Calends  2 e Nones of Nouemb. 4  3 f Nones of Nouemb. 3 The third of this moneth Constantius the Emperour Sonne to Constantinus the great departed out of this world An. 364. Hist. tripart in the end of the fist booke 4 g Day before the N.  5 A Nones of Nouem  6 b Idus of Nouemb 8  7 c Idus of Nouemb 7  8 d Idus of Nouemb 6  9 e Idus of Nouemb 5  10 f Idus of Nouemb 4 The tenth of this moneth An. 1483. D. Martin Luther was borne in Islebia 11 g Idus of Nouemb 3  12 A Day before the Id.  13 b Idus of Nouemb.  14 c Calends of Decemb. 18  15 d Calends of Decemb. 17 The 15. of this moneth was made a new holiday by Ieroboam without the commandement of God whereupon hee committed most â—icked Idolatry in Dan and Bethel but he remained not long vnpunished nor his people vnplagued for the same as may appeare 1. Kin. 12. verse 32. 33. 1. King 13 1 2. c. 16 e Calends of Decemb. 16  17 f Calends of Decemb. 15 Queene Elizabeth began happily to raign for the aduancement of the Gospel of our Sauiour Christ the 17. of this moneth 1558. 18 g Calends of Decemb. 14 The 18. of this month Tâ—tu the Emperour most cruellie executed to death a great number of the Iewes Ioseph lib. 7. cap. 10. 19 A Calends of Decemb. 13  20 b Calends of Decemb. 12  21 c Calends of Decemb. 11  22 d Calends of Decemb. 10  23 e Calends of Decemb. 9  24 f Calends of Decemb. 8  25 g Calends of Decemb. 7  26 A Calends of Decemb. 6  27 b Calends of Decemb. 5  28 c Calends of Decemb. 4  29 d Calends of Decemb. 3  30 e Day before the Calends of Decemb.  Festiuall daies in this moneth are the first day The feast of All Saints The 30. and last day Saint Andrew the Apostle 12. December called of the Latins Decâ—mber Graecians Poseidon Hebrews Sisleu and is their 9. moneth hath 31 daies 1 f Calends  2 g Nones of December 4  3 A Nones of December 3  4 b Day before the No.  5 c Nones of Decemb.  6 d Idus of Decemb 8  7 e Idus of Decemb 7  8 f Idus of Decemb 6  9 g Idus of Decemb 5  10 A Idus of Decemb 4  1â— b Idus of Decemb 3  12 c Day before the Id.  13 d Idus of December  14 e Calends of Ianuarie 19  15 f Calends of Ianuarie 18 The 15. of this moneth Antiochus placed an abominable Idoll vpon the altar of the Lord. 1. Macc. 1. 57. 16 g Calends of Ianuarie 17  17 A Calends of Ianuarie 16  18 b Calends of Ianuarie 15  19 c Calends of Ianuarie 14  20 d Calends of Ianuarie 13 The 20 of this month Esdra exhorted the Israelites to put away their strange wiues 1. Esd 9. 5. 6. c. 21 e Calends of Ianuarie 12  22 f Calends of Ianuarie 11  23 g Calends of Ianuarie 10  24 A Calends of Ianuarie 9 The foundation of the second Temple was laid the 24. of this moneth Hagg. 2. vers 11. 19. 25 b Calends of Ianuarie 8 The 25. of this month our Sauior Christ was borne of the Virgin the yere after the worlds creation 40 18. On â—hich day also Antiochus Epiphaneâ— entâ—ed into Ierusalem with a mighty army 〈◊〉 spoiled the same Ios. lib 21 c 16. On this day he prophaned the altar of the Lord 1. Macc. 1. 6â— which day also the Iewes kept holy because thereon the Temple was purged from idolatry 1. Mac. 4. â—9 26 c Calends of Ianuarie 7  27 d Calends of Ianuarie 6  28 e Calends of Ianuarie 5 The 28. of this month Heâ—od caused the poore Innoâ—ents to be â—uâ—thered thinking thereby to haue slaâ—ne â—hrist Mat. 2. 16. c 29 f Calends of Ianuarie 4  30 g Calends of Ianuarie 3  31 A Day before the Calends of Ianuar.  Festiual daies in this moneth are the 21. Thomas Apost 25. The Natiuâ—ty of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Steuen 27. Iohn the Euang 28. Innocents called commonly Childermas day ¶ A rule to know how many daies be contained in euery moneth in the yeere Thirtie daies hath Nouember April Iune and September The rest haue thirtiâ— and one Except it be Februarie alone Which alâ—aies hath twenty eight meere VVhen it is no Bisextil or Leape yeere ¶ A note of the Moneths weekes daies and houres throughout the whole yeere The yeere containeth Moneths 12. VVeeks 52. Daies 365. Hours 69478 Day Naturall hath 24 houres Day Artificiall hath 12 houres ¶ An Almanacke for ten yeeres The yere of our Lord. The prime Sundaies letter Leape yeere Ash wednesday the first day of Lent Easter day Whitsunday 1615 1 A  Feb. 22. Apr. 9. May. 28 1616 2 G F Feb 14. Mar. 31. May. 19. 1617 3 E  Mar 7. Apr. 20 Iune 3. 1618 4 D  Feb. 18 Apr. 5. May 24. 1619 5 C  Feb. 10. Mar. 28. May. 16. 1620 6 B A Mar. 1. Apr. 16. Iune 4 1621 7 G  Feb. 14. Apr. 1. May 20. 1622 8 F  Mar. 6. Apr. 21 Iune 9. 1623 9 E  Feb. 16 Apr. 13. Iune 1. 1624 10 D C Feb. 11. Mar. 28. May. 16. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL IOHN DACKHAM ESQVIRE ONE OF the Masters of Requests to the most Mightie IAMES King of Great Britaine SIR EVER SINCE through your fauour I haue had accesse vpon occasions vnto your house And hauing seene the religious ordor which you obserue in the course of your diuine exercise of prayer with your people I haue studied to giue some testimony of my thaÌ„kfulnesse that you were pleased to admit me an often partaker of the same with you as also of your immerited fauours in many other kindes not being able to recompeÌ„ce the least of them Now to shew my selfe in some measure mindfull that I owe you thankfulnesse I am bold to leaue with you this silly pawne the Pensiue Soules Delight consisting of Motiues vnto and Prayers for diuine purposes to stirre vp such as haue any holy desire to that most sweet exercise for in nothing doth true godlines shew it selfe more then in faithful prayer with the sincere practise of a
and by crauing pardon for their sinnes Howsoeuer things may seeme to succeed to their great contentment they doe but deceiue themselues for there is no blessing promised to such carelesse meÌ„ though they haue the names and receiue the seales of Christians And therefore let euery man that feareth God and desireth to see a good day to follow the morning let him begin the day with the seruice of God in prayer if hee haue a family let him conuent them and conioyne with them in prayer If he haue none or be absent from it let him serue the Lord in priuate The faithful herein findeth such liuely comfort and assurance of Gods prouidence as he feareth not whatsoeuer the day following can cast vpon him all things shall worke together for his consolation And whatsoeuer hee doth it shall prosper A Prayer for the Morning for priuate families Lord increase our faith prepare our hearts to prayer and open our lippes O Mercifull Lord God louing father in Iesus Christ wee thine vnworthy people fall heere downe before the footstoole of thy Maiestie and with vnfayned hearts giue thankes vnto thee for thy mercies in number more then can be numbred for they are more then our sinnes and our sins more then the sea sands which are without number Thou hast bene our watchman this night thou hast not onely kept vs from bodily daungers and harmes but hast giuen vs rest when our weake bodies were infeebled with wearinesse and labours and hast brought vs to the beginning of this day in safety whereas many haue perished this night in their beds and haue not risen to prayse thee How vnthankefull should wee shew our selues Lord if we should enter into our worldly affaires without remembring thy mercies and our owne sinnes in asking pardon for them Receiue therefore wee humbly pray thee good father at our vnworthy hands the sacrifice of our humble prayers and prayses which we offer vnto thee this morning in the name of thine owne dearest Sonne in whom thou hast acknowledged thy selfe so well pleased as thou deniest nothing to any faithfully asking for his sake Jn him and by him and for him we come Lord vnto thee humbly and heartily praying pardon for our sinnes wherby we haue transgressed thy lawes offended thy great Maiestie in whose displeasure is death Pardon vs mercifull Lord God pardon vs remoue our sinnes farre from vs and wiâ—e them out of the booke of thy remembrance Remember the merits of Christ our Redeemer leaue vs not in our owne miserable estates lest we should forget to be mindfull or to be ignorant how to prayse thy Name for thy goodnes past and enter into our worldly occasions without being reconciled vnto thee in Christ for thy wrath being inkindled towards vs neuer so little nothing can truely prosper that we take in hand we may labour and yet without thy blessing it shall not profite vs 〈◊〉 may eat and drinke but it shall not nourish vs we may follow our vocations with great diligence rysing earely and taking rest late yet shall it not feede vs. Oh gracious Lord let thy blessings accompany all our labours And grace vs euer with thy presence according to thy promise not to obserue our imperfections but to direct our heartes in prayer to prepare vs to obedience to season vs with thy holy spirit and to blesse and prosper all our actions That whatsoeuer wee thinke speake or doe this day may be acceptable in thy fight So shall all things goe well with vs and prosper vnder our hands we shall prayse thy name and extoll thy mercies and goodnesse which haue bene are and shall be towards vs for euer And as thou hast taken away the vale of the darkenesse of night which resembleth death And hast opened vnto vs the windowes of heauen to giue vs the light of the Sunne which resembleth life So abandon thou the workes of darkenesse and ignorance put away our faintnesse and dulnesse in prayer And let the light of thy sauing truth shine vnto vs and the Sunne of righteousnesse extend his beames of heauenly vnderstanding into our heartes That we all may walk this day in the way which is Christ the Lord imbrace the truth which is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world And euer inioy that life which is eternall in him which was and which is and which is to come So shall our rysing from our naturall rest this morning by thy power as out of our graues of mortalitie assure vs of our finall rysing out of the graue of our sins to immortality And as thou hast blessed vnto vs our temporal sleepe this night So vouchsafe to blesse vnto vs this day the vse of thy creatures that they may all serue to our comfortable vse in Christ Iesus according to our necessities And graunt that wee abuse them not to ryot or wantonnesse but may carefully and religiously watch and be sober that when our finall sleepe shall ouertake vs we may lay downe our mortall bodies not vnto the resurrection of death vnto death but of the resurrection of life vnto life eternall And during the time of our mortalitie remember vs O Lord in the abundance of thy mercies lest that wee who are but dust and ashes should so fasten the eyes of our desires vpon the base things of this life that we should forget the life to come Graunt rather Lord that we may vse the things of this life at thy hands so as we may not be seduced by them but rather led by the consideration whence and from whom we receiue them vnto the authour and giuer of them So shal they not onely not be vnto vs vaine or base but worthy to be had in reuerence for thy sake that giuest them freely and blessest them graciously vnto our vse comfort which great mercy of thine cannot but aduance the eies of our dul vnderstandings to the contemplation of thy spirituall and heauenly blessings As how we were freely from all beginnings elected to saluation by thee how we were created when wee were not by thee how we were redeemed when wee were captiues vnto Sathan by thee How wee were sauctified when we were most prophane by thee How we are iustified being guiltie of iudgement by thee How we haue taken hold of the hope future glorification of our corrupt vile bodies in the life to come by thee These thy super-abounding mercies O Lord who hath a heart to conceiue or a tongue sufficiently to expresse The Angels that attend thee in the heauens beholding thee face to face and minister thy will in heauen and earth are not yet able to declare the good things themselues inioy by the glory of thy presence Much lesse are we Lord who lodge in houses of clay able to comprehend thee and the height and depth of thine incomprehensible goodnes shewed to them in earth whom thou hast made heires with thy Sonne of the glory in heauen How much lesse able
sinne sinfull sinne sins of all sorts committing things forbidden and omitting things commanded So that I cannot but confesse against my selfe I am wholly not only sinfull but a lump of sin it selfe a puddle of putrifaction a sinke of vncleannes a gulfe of grosse impieties and a carcasse of most filthie leprosie full of spirituall rottennesse vnworthy the light of the Sunne to lighten my corporall eyes to see to do euill not worthy to breathe in the ayre to speake euill nor worthie to partake of the ordinary food of men to strengthen my flesh the more to sinne nor worthie to consort with humane societie to make them sinfull by my sin Oh wretch that I am how haue I plunged my selfe into thy heauie displeasure how haue I lost thy loue who louest righteousnes and hatest iniquitie Oh wretch that I am how haue I runne without right reason to my ruine rashly Lord I am vnfainedly sorie for my sinnes and I long to be reconciled vnto thee lest I goe to my graue with griefe lest from the graue I should come into iudgement with horror and be inforced to heare that fearefull and finall sentence of reprobatiō pronounced against 〈◊〉 neuer to be reuoked indure torments neuer to be eased Oh Lor 〈…〉 mercifull and louing remember I am but dust forget not how orignall sinne seazed vpon me before I had sence or power to commit actuall sin call to minde that I was conceiued and borne in sinne and brought corruption in my flesh frō my mothers wombe which I could not preuent And although it be the rule of thy seuere Justice to lay the guilt of parents vpō their children yet let thy mercies which are aboue thy Judgemēts shew themselues now when else there is no hope Amen Lord increase my faith and forgiue my sinnes Another shorter prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes O Heauenly father thy promises are many faithfull and comfortable Thou wilt not the death of a sinner but desirest rather that he should repent and liue If thou then desirest rather that I liue then perish giue me a repenting hart renue a right spirit within me reforme me and I shall be reformed for in me Lord there is no goodnes no power and as little will to doe good but a will and power to do euill only Let therefore thy grace worke effectually in me a new heart a new minde new affections holy and sanctified So shall sin become lothsome vnto me which I haue loued and holines of life shal be sweet vnto me which I haue neglected thy Commandements that I haue transgressed I shall indeuour to fulfill thy patience which I haue abused I wil answere with more filiall obediēce The curses then that I haue deserued shal be turnd into blessings and I shall frame the residue of my life in better actions I shall abandon as deceiuing vanities those sinnes wherin I haue delited and shal shun the baits wherwith Satan hath allured me to sin and whereunto I consented by the vanity of mine vnregenerate affections Oh pardon pardon my sins good Father in Iesus Christ fill my hart with the liuely apprehension of thy mercies speake peace vnto my sad and sorrowfull soule reuiue my dead distracted thoughts plunged in despaire cast thine ey◠vpon Christ thy beloued in him 〈◊〉 louing eye vpon me who without him am a cast-away Heare him 〈◊〉 mediator for me heare me a sinner for his sake and pardon me for thy mercies sake Take me now Lord out of the dungeon of feare wherin I haue bin long a captiue sold vnder sin Set me now free from the danger of death and hell Let Satan flie and fall before my face Let sin haue no more power ouer me receiue me into thy fauour assure me of full and free remission of my sinnes in Christ worke true peace in my conscience The sting of death being broken the feare of the iudgement to come may be turned into a liuely assurance of saluation that white I liue here I may euermore feele the liuely worke of thy holy Spirit in me Make the residue of my dayes the dayes of vnfained mourning for my former offences and of a most vpright and righteous conuersation to come and let faith euermore preuaile against all future temptations that I may finish the course of my life in that peace which proceedeth of perfect loue which loue bringeth forth filiall obedience vnto thee which obedience is more acceptable in thy fight then the sacrifices of bullocks and goates Accept me now good Father in Iesus Christ into thy fauour remit my sinnes number me amongst thine elect and seale me vp in thy mercies against the day of my finall visitation Heare me O Lord and let thy holy Spirit guide mee euer vnto that day through Christ my Sauiour my Mediator my Strength and my redeemer Amen O Lord increase my faith and pardon my sinnes A MOTIVE TO A Prayer for a godly and holy life and for power of resisting Satan and sinne THe course of euery mans life declar's what kind of man he is whether carnal or spiritual for as the tree is knowne by his fruit so is euery man known of men by his life conuersation And it is much to be lamented that men though carnally minded will iustifie themselues and make protestation of their hope that they shall be saued as well as he that walketh most sincerely before God and men And this out of a voluntarie ignorance and blindnesse in not knowing and truly distinguishing betweene the wayes of sanctitie and sinne the first leading to heauen and eternall life through grace and faith in Christ the other to hell and reprobation through our owne corruption by the obeying the will of Satan It is more then wonderfull to obserue the courses of carnall men who pretend that they are trauelling to that blessed New Ierusalem and yet take the direct way to Cursed Ierico they couet in conceit to ascend the holy hill of Sion and yet will not leaue that wicked Babylon They professe to liue after the Spirit but doe the workes of the Flesh. They would seeme to liue in Light but behold they are in Darknes not considering that he that liues after the flesh shall die yet how loth are carnall men to leaue the way that leadeth to destruction and how vnapt and vnwilling to walke in the way of life which is Christ in whom if we truely beleeue we walke in him if we truly walke in him we truely liue in him and that life is the summe and end of all our hope it is the marke whereat we ayme all our holy endeuours Let vs therefore determine with our selues and constantly resolue to walke before God and to be vpright Let vs make our supplications in his presence with our whole hearts And let vs duely consider our wayes what they haue beene And let vs now turne our feete vnto his testimonies Let vs strengthen and confirme our resolutions of a godly life by
meane to obtaine saluation But how farre we wretched sinners heere gathered together are short of feeling our own wants of power to cast off our sinnes and how far from true sanctification thou knowest And therfore louing Father in Iesus Christ clense thou vs and wee shall bee cleane sanctifie vs and we shall be holy and though our imperfections be great though our faith be weak we shall be made perfect and our obedience confirmed by the sincerity of the obedience of Christ our Sauiour whose righteousnes and merits are made ours by thy fatherly and free imputation requiring of vs mortall men only to beleeue I beleeue Lord help mine vnbeliefe that I may lift vp a pure heart vnto thee begge faithfully of thee and receiue plentifully from thee all spirituall graces that I comming vnto this holy table hauing fully cast off the habite of sinne may be clothed with the sacred Robe of Christs Innocencie and be found among the rest of thy Saints hauing on that heauenly wedding garment that I be not taken from this holy Table thrust out with shame and horror into the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth Remember not our offences Lord burie them in the graue of euerlasting forgetfulnesse forget not whereof we are made and be not vnmindefull what an armie of spirituall enemies doe continually assayle vs and how in our most deuotest and most religious actions and exercises they are most busie to seduce and circumuent vs. Assist vs therefore Lord and be thou on our side grace vs now with thy blessed presence that we may heere offer vp vnto thee our soules and bodies a holy liuely and acceptable sacrifice and become worthie Receiuers of this holy Mysterie that as we eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup we may truly find an effectual mortification of our sinning part and a liuely viâ—ification and regeneration of our spirituall part and may be more and more changes in our liues that we may walk before thee and be vpright from hencefoorth all the dayes of our earthly pilgrimage and teach vs euer more and more to obey and loue him who so infinitly loued vs that he contented himselfe to giue his bodie to be crucified and his bloud to be shed for vs which great loue of his being heere represented vnto vs by these thy visible creatures of bread and wine giue vs truely and faithfully beleeuing hearts that we may worthily receiue them and rightly retaine the reuerend memorie of his death and be euer the better enabled to resist and abandon sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnes al the dayes of our liues that at his comming againe we may be raised and ascend with him as members sanctified and heires adopted into that inheritance which he purchased with his bloud in heauen Graciously grant this O Father for his sake that suffered that ignominious death and seale vp in our consciences by thy holy Spirit a full and liuely assurance that wee are truly ingrafted into him our head and in and by and with him shall liue eternally glorified in heauen Amen Lord increase our faith and prepare our hearts to a faithfull and reuerend receiuing of this holy Sacrament to our soules comfort A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Lords Supper IT is a dangerous thing vpon the recouerie of health after sicknes to suffer a relapse and falling downe againe but much more dangerous to fall into new sinnes after repentance and reconciliation with God A man hauing polluted himselfe with pitch and being clensed is worthy to suffer shame if he wallow in it againe How much more shamefull is it for a man that hath vowed reformation of his corrupt life and to forsake his sins and hath thereupon receiued in token of forgiuenesse the seale of Gods promise the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of Christ to binde him vpon paine of condemnation to new obedience if he wilfully fall backe againe Thou therefore whatsoeuer thou be that hast beene partaker of this holy and most sacred mysterie remember what thou hast done how thou hast eaten thy saluation or damnation for there is not a meane betweene this if therefore thou hauing beene a guest at this heauenly Feast feele in thy selfe a heart not so well formerly prepared as the holy Ghost commandeth retaining still the froth and filth of thy sinnes begin now to cast them off and put on instantly the wedding garment of true regeneration that thou mayest be found worthie to sit at this holy Table and to partake of the sauing food of thy soule by chewing the cudde of continuing repentance and newnesse of life heere that hereafter thou mayest enioy the fruits of thy new birth with Christ in heauen And for as much as no man hath power of himselfe to performe that obedience in the inner man which he may promise by outward words there is no surer or more preuailing meanes then prayer And therefore it behoueth thee to continue and end this heauenly exercise with hartie prayer to God in the same Christ that he would be pleased for that his Sons sake to accept thee into the inseperable societie of his Elect Saints And let not this desire be as a pusse of winde or as a flame suddenly quenched but let it be a daily exercise to meditate of this thy holy vnion with Christ that thy backe sliding to sinne heap not vp a more heauie weight of condemnation against thee in the time of thine account when it will be demanded how thou presumest to come to that holy Table without the habite of true faith and obedience it will not boote thee to say thou camest for feare of the law or for company with the congregation for who so commeth not for and apprehendeth not inward and spirituall comfort commeth vnworthily and he that falleth to his old sins againe hath eaten this Spirituall bread and drunke of that Spirituall rocke which is Christ to his owne damnation O Lord increase my faith A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the holy Communion GReat good and most gracious Lord God the Author and finisher of our faith who of thy free fauour hast now vouchsafed me to be a guest at this thy heauenly banquet where I haue beene refreshed not so much with the visible creatures of bread and wine for the strengthening of my weake bodie which without thy corporall nutriment cannot long indure But with the heauenly Manna the food of the soules of thy Saints the blessed body and bloud of that immaculate Lambe who sealed our attonement with thee with his bloud vpon the ignominious and grieuous crosse and there cancelled the hand-writing which was against vs and of the bond-â—â—aues of Satan made vs the free men of the new Jerusalem and in our nature and for vs and in our behalfes triumphed ouer Satan Death and Hell and now Lord as it hath pleased thee to accept me into this holy communion and to make me partaker of that
most holy mystery by the outward receiuing of visible bread wine worke gracious Lord in me a true liuely and spiritual feeling of the grace which thou hast promised vnto all worthy Receiuers And for as much as our assurance dependeth vpon thy promise and thy promise confirmed vnto vs by a liuely faith and that faith is thine owne free gift also by the operation of thy holy Spirit worke in me Lord this faith that may confirme vnto mee the effect of thy promise the free forgiuenesse of my sinues newnes of life a holy and sanctified conuersation a right reuerend vse of all thy creatures a religious feare to offend thee and vnfained loue of thee in Christ that as I haue bin now a partaker of the outward elemēts I may also and absolutely partake of the inuisible grace that my soule may be liuely and continually fed with that heauenly bread which maketh our soules strong in and by him whose bodie and bloud I haue here sacramentally eaten drunke and thereby through faith am vnited euen of thy free mercie vnto and made one with thee in him in whom whosoeuer is truly ingrafted shall liue for euer in the glorious heauens with him as coheires of that endlesse Kingdome of glory which he purchased by his obedience to the death of the Crosse. Good father let the remembrance of that his death be so imprinted in my hart this day that I neuer forget it but couet to renue and continually retaine the remembrance thereof by often communicating at this holy Table which though it be as a snare vnto the vnworthy partakers it is a sure seale of saluation to the faithfull truly penitent And therefore good Father confirme my repentace renue mine obedience strengthen my faith Make me a liuely member of Christ that as I haue this day promised to become a new creature and thou hast renued againe to me thy promise of remission of my sins and of my reconciliation with thee through the bloud of the Lambe Let this holy and heauenly condition be truely performed in my behalfe for euer So shall I be assured that thou wilt neuer faile in thy sacred couenant of grace to me being euer the same yea and Amen Thou Lord knowest my strong corruptions and the feeblenesse of my naturall power to resist sinne and what strong and powerfull aduersaries there lie in wayte for my soule laying continuall snares to entangle mee anew to make if it were possible this my reuniting into thee in Christ of none effect and to seduce me again into the wayes of vngodlines But good Father preuent me with thy grace that as I haue promised this day to forsake sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnesse so I may performe and perseuere in a sanctified life vnto my liues end through Christour Lord. Lord increase and confirme my faith euermore A MOTIVE TO a Prayer to be sayd of a man in any kind of trouble ALthough the word of God do approue Afflictiō to be necessary for them that shall be saued yet is it otherwise thought and helde of the carnall man who can hardly beleeue that it is a token of the loue of God towards him hee rather perswades himselfe that when God sends him great increase of Cattell Corne Oyle Wine Health Worldly prosperitie and the pleasures of this life that then God loues him But how farre hee is deceiued the holy Ghost declareth by the Prophet Dauid who confessed that it was good for him that he was afflicted And Christ himselfe affirmeth that through many troubles his Saint◠must enter into the kingdome of heauen Not by pleasures delites of the flesh and vanities of the mind If we did remember the sentence pronounced for Lazarus and against the Rich man and did duely consider it we could not but thinke prosperitie rather dangerous then delightfull and that a meane estate is more profitable then painefull Thou hast receiued thy pleasure saith Abraham but contrarily Lazarus indured paine Therefore art thou tormented and he is comforted No other reason is alleadged of either sentence yet neither of them is said to be punished or preserued for the ill or good that the one or other did Onely fulnesse and want plenty and penurie pleasure and paine are said to be the causes of either condition Not that the ones riches in themselues deserued damnation but the abuse or that the others pouertie deserued saluation but his patience which yet was not the cause but the effect of Gods election And the others abuse of the blessings of God an argument of his reprobatiō But God to preuent the grosse fruits of corruption in vs maketh our powers weake and our willes thereby the more conformable to his will As Physicke often preuenteth a disease that begins to seaze on the bodie and for the time is harsh lothsome bitter and much vnsauorie yet salutary in the end So is Affliction of whatsoeuer kinde medicinable to such as can brooke and digest it through faith patience and prayer and bringeth the affections into a sanctified temper That the vnholy humours of pride arrogancie auarice lust and other corporall and earthly vanities oppresse not the soule which is carried by the violence of superfluous vanities into many noysome desires and consequently into infinite hazards of making shipwracke of saluation Take it not therefore heauily whatsoeuer thou art that art visited with whatsoeuer crosse or triall although in it own nature it be euill being a punishment of sinne for he that made the bitter waters of Mara sweet and changed the nature thereof for his Israels sake hath changed the nature of the crosse to them that are his insomuch as they not onely find comfort in it But many sweet effects it bringeth foorth making them glorious in their basenesse rich in their pouertie strong in their weakenesse and liuely in their seeming death Moreouer it causeth vs to see how iust how prouident and how mercifull the Lord is how weake and miserable all mankind is And how fickle how inconstant and false the world is It beates downe the pride of nature and humbles vs that we are not so prone and apt to sinne as when wee haue prosperitie at will As our sins and transgressions are the fruits of our corruptions So are afflictions and crosses necessarie to mortifie them and to preuent their increase To speake of the kindes of trouble they are many yet may be reduced vnder these three heads pouertie sicknesse enemies vnder the first are comprehended the want of al necessaries vnder the second the griefes of body and mind and vnder the third whatsoeuer is aduersarie vnto vs. And therefore the prayer following is fit to be vsed in any of these that the Lord will be either pleased to remoue them to moderate their extremitie or to giue patience to vndergoe it A generall meditation or prayer in whatsoeuer trouble or crosse GRacious and most mercifull Lord God whose wisedome is past finding out and whose prouidence
disposeth of all the estates of men in mercy and iudgement thou liftest out of the dunghill the humbled poore and hurlest downe the mightie thou giuest takest when what from whom and wherefore it pleaseth thee All thy wayes O God are mercie and truth to them that feare thee Thou Lord art righteous in all thy workes and holy in all thy wayes Howsoeuer thou correctest thy children it is for their purgation to clense them from the rust and drosse of their corruptions And makest pouerty sickenesse enemies and all crosses not onely not burdensome or irkesome vnto thine but sweete and easse to be borne though the naturall man seeme to kicke against them the man regenerate and borne a new of the holy Ghost imbraceth them as the true tokens of thy fatherly affection towards him who hauing learned out of thy sacred word that through many troubles thy Saints must enter into ioy and through disgrace into glory Hee feareth most when he is most free from crosses left that he should not be of the number of them that shal be saued whose saluation is the more certaine by how much thou correctest him by thy fatherly visitations All flesh is corrupt and all men sinners Thou therefore who art iust cleane and pure in all thy wayes and workes canst not but vse thy rod of gentle corrections vpon them whom thou louest in Iesus Christ But lettest the wicked either to lie securely in a reprobate sence or to lay thy heauy iudgement vpon them euen in this life where they begin their condemnation But good Father Enter not into iudgement with mee Let not thy corrections become curses vnto me but rather Lord let them be meerely medicines to cure the disease of sinne in me So shall I by the working of thy holy spirit become more and more mortifâ—ed in the affections of my heart which are then most offending thy Maiestie when I am in greatest securitie And therefore louing father take from me all grudging discontent of mind and murmuring against thy corrections of what kind or qualitie soeuer they be for thou hast testified vnto vs by thy word that thou scourgest euery sonne thou receiuest And therefore he that wanteth thy fatherly chastisements seemeth to be a bastard and no sonne And forasmuch Lord as the causes of mens troubles in this life be many and hidden some to correct for sinnes alreadie committed some to preuent sinnes whereunto we are inclinable and some to manifest thy power by way of iudgement against the impeniteÌ„t wicked Take Lord away from the eyes of my darke vnderstanding the vayle of ignorance that I may see and feele in my conscience a sure testimonie of thy sauing spirit that thy corrections light not vpon me in iudgement but in mercy not to condemn me but to approue me to be one of thy Church militant whose members haue their continuing afflictions which howsoeuer outwardly they seeme to blemish them yet doe they make them beautifull within and most amiable vnto thee howsoeuer wee seeme vnto the world outcastes castawayes yet are we thereby made the more like vnto our Sauiour who procured out saluation through affliction And thereby thou Lord knowing our weakenesse to vndergoe his crosses lay no more vpon me then withall thou mayest be pleased to giue mee grace and strength to beare it according to thy promise and then lay vpon me what thou wilt pouertie sicknesse enemies and whatsoeuer crosses may make me likest vnto thy sonne in his patient sufferings although I haue learned Lord that all the afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory that shal be shewed in the life that is to come And therefore Lord assist me with thy grace that I with patience and godly reioycing may vndergoe whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vpon me As did Saint Paul Silas Saint Peter and other thine Apostles who imbraced all thy corrections and their troubles for thy names sake with heauenly alacritie and spirituall consolation O Lord increase my faitli A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said in pouerty and want of this lifes necessaries OF all the miseries that can befall a man in this mortall life none is more bitter and burdensome then pouertie and want of this lifes necessaries And therefore we may obserue how all men generally striue to auoyd it by meanes lawfull or vnlawfull It made Iacob to pray for sufficiencie left want should constraine him to vniust meanes to supply his necessities namely to clothe and feed himselfe and them that he hath committed to his eare for there is no other reall want to bee complained of but the want of food and rayment if a man haue to sustaine nature in the meanest measure and to couer his nakednesse in the basest manner and be free from danger of debt and be not an idle but a diligeÌ„t man in some lawfull calling he hauing the feare of God cannot be said a poore man for the feare of God maketh him wise and wisdome maketh him patient patieÌ„ce coÌ„tent he that is coÌ„teÌ„t in this mean estate is rich He that treasures vp the word of God in his soule though he haue neither Siluer nor Gold he may be rich as Peter who waÌ„ting these was yet rich in all Christian vertues and much beloued of the Lord and vpon such poore men doth the Lord cast his fatherly and louing countenance he watcheth ouer them and feedeth them Harken my beloued brethren saith Saint Iames hath not God chosen the poore of this world that they should be rich in faith and heires of the Kingdom which he promised to them that loue him God preferreth the poor in worldly goods being faithfull and iust before the vnfaithfull rich howsoeuer carnal iudgement maketh great differeÌ„ce between the worldly rich whom it reuerenceth and the corporall poore whom it scorneth But let the bodily poore whome the Lord hath inriched with spirituall graces reioyce in their tribulations for God hath prouided for them a Citie a Crowne glorie and immortalitie where they shall neither want siluer gold rayment food or any necessaries for the Lord Christ shal be vnto them all in all things But it is to be vnderstood that it is not the pouertie of any that can deserue these future fauours but they are the free gifts of God in Christ to the godly poore not prouided for the idle prophane wicked and dissolute that assume vnto themselues voluntary beggerie or consume their corporall meanes lewdly and so become poore vsing no lawfull calling to maintaine and support their estates when they shall pleade their pouertie and miseâ—iâ— in time to come it shall be said vâ—â—o them Goâ— ye vnthrifâ—ie seruants into euerlasting pouertie perpetuall nakedâ—â—sse and endlesse hunger thirst Whosoeuer therfore thou be that art pressed with pouertie seeke the riches that shal neuer diminish Diuine Knowledge 〈◊〉 Faith and pray vnto the God of Lazarus that if it be his pleasure he will remoue thy pouerty and renue thy
considereth that death is the end of all flesh and that sicknesse is the fore-runner of death cannot bee suddenly surprised because he stil expecteth the comming of that which whether it tarrie long or come quickly come it will and finding vs secure and wanton and carelesse and deliting our selues in the strength of our sinning parts it wil be so much the more grieuous and irkesome by how much we affect the strength to sinne which is thereby weakened And to that end doth God euen in loue punish his own children with sicknes and maladies of the bodie to kill sinne presently possessing vs and to preuent the power of future sinning and threatneth the stifnecked and rebellious with many infirmities as to smite them in the knees and in the thighes with a fore botch that they shall not be healed euen from the sole of the â—â—ore to the top of their head The Lord will make the plagues of the disobedient wonderfull and of long continuance and their diseases cruell and of long durance For as much then as Sicknesse is both the reward of sinne as also the physicke for sinne It implieth both the mercie of God towards his and his iudgements against the impenitent And therefore whosoeuer thou be that art visited with whatsoeuer bodily disease or infirmitie think that God hath sent it as a cure or a curse A cure to them that enter into the examination of their sinnes and truely repent them and a curse vnto them that make no vse of it as too many worldlings doe who in their sicknesse are as inclinable in desire to sinne as in their health And nothing preuenreth the acte of sinne but weaknes to effect it or oportunitie to attempt it If therfore the will to do euill be not mortified by the sicknes of the bodie it is an argument that that man or woman hath his or her conscience seared vp which is a fearefull estate and full of horror howsoeuer it be for the time hidden euen from his or her feeling and sence in fine it will work in the accusing conscience and bring forth the fruit of despaire of recouery of bodily health and plunge the soule into the pit of ineuitable perdition It is therefore a most dangerous negligence in men so little to consider the inconstancy of corporal health which is long in decaying yet sodaine in surprising men of greatest strength and when men are taken and cast downe be he as strong as Samson he is inforced to yeeld vnto weaknes and if he haue any sparke of grace he will then indeuour to turne his heart vnto God as Hezekiah did but then cannot his petitions be so powerfull as when he enioyed his health neither can his repentance be so well manifested being as it were wrested from him by this kinde of extremitie as when it is wrought in bodily strength for whatsoeuer commeth by compulsion is not so acceptable as what is voluntarie yet is repentance truely begun in sicknesse and effectually continued though weakly in respect of the bodies infirmity yet may it be most true through the strength of faith without repentance there is no cure comfortable to the soule or bodie Though God may permit a wicked man to be cased or cured of his bodily disease by humane physicke yet the soule lieth still in almost deadly sicknesse The truest ground of preuailing physicke is to make peace first with God the good and great Physitian according to the counsell of the Wiseman who thus aduiseth My sonne faile not in thy sicknesse to pray vnto the Lord and hee will make thee whole yet he addeth a condition That he leaue off from sinne that he order his hands aright and that he clense his heart from all wickednesse and if hw be able truely to say as Hezekiah in his sicknes did I beseech thee Lord remember now how I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and haue done that which is good in thy sight Then he may bee assured that his sicknesse shall be turned from a curse to a blessing and God that hath made the wound will binde it vp and cure it he will raise him againe or giue him patience in a liuely hope to change this mortall for an immortall estate and for his patient suffering this medicinable crosse will giue him a glorious crowne of eternitie Whosoeuer therfore thou be that art visited turne vnto the Lord pray vnto him trust in him and recommend thy life death vnto his free disposition who worketh all things for the best to them that loue him A Prayer to be said of one that is sick or diseased LOrd God almightie Father louing in thy Son Iesus Christ cast thine eye of compassion â—n me thy creature whom thou hast at this time touched with sicknesse and brought low by thy present visitation Thou createdst me in the beginning not to liue euer in this â—abernacle of dust but that my liuing bodie of dust should be againe dissolued into dust without life at â—hine appointed time for all â—lesh is grasse and as the flower of the 〈◊〉 it withereth decayeth with 〈◊〉 sicknes or griefe of minde we are all but as â—arthen vessels whome thou canâ—â— make and confound with the breath of thy mouth and howsoeuer and whensoeuer the most Iustie and strong stand conceited of their health and permanent securitie of their bodies agilitie and the â—imbleâ—es of their limbes and sences suddenly thou touchest them and they become feeble in strength their beautie changed their sences dulled their hearts fainting and all the parts and powers of their bodies altered and the whole man turned as it were into the very image of pale death it selfe Thou hast appointed that all men shall once die but thou conceilest from al men the time when the place where the manner how they shall die and therefore it behâ—ueth all men to be euer watchful in well doing that when thou shalt send thy Messenger Sicknes of bodie to put them in mind that their day is comming they be not found vnprepared and great happinesse it is to him whom when he is suniâ—â—oneâ— he may chearefully say I am heereÌ„ Lord ready to attend thy will Oh make me thus ready deare father that now thou callest me I may not only not flie from thee for feare of death but hartily willingly and faithfully crie Come Lord Iesu come quickly for I am no better then my Fathers who are fallen asleepe therfore if this my sicknes be vnto death fortifie me against the feare thereof The spirit Lord is willing but flesh and bloud weake and fearefull But assist my spirit by thy sauing Spirit So shall 〈◊〉 heart within me reioyce that thou remembrest me and my weake 〈◊〉 feeble body shal sing forth thy goodnes in this sad and sicke estate all the powers of my bodie and faculties of my soule shall conioyne in the heauenly harmonie of thy sauing truth in the peace of mine owne conscience
many yet forget not to bee good vnto thy chosen leaue not thy Saints vnto the spoyler rather shorten these dayes of sinne lest that the increase of vngodlinesse seduce euen the righteous and they perish also by straying from the way of life Lord increase our faith Another Prayer for the Uniuersall Church in the time of affliction or persecution MOst gracious Father as thou hast shewed thy selfe in former times a most powerfull protector of thy Church euer since the propagation thereof and by thy holy spirit hast conserued it in the vnitie of thy spirit in a constant true profession of thy word in a bolde and sincere confessing of Christ the head of that sanctified body euen when persecution vnto death raged and tyrannized most Bee still mindfull of the same thy little flocke feede it still with thy word defend it still with thy mightie hand guide it euer with thy holy spirit and euermore preserue it as the vine which thine own right hand hath planted Gather together thy sheepe scattered vpon so many mountaines let not the wolues seaze vpon thy tender lambes to teare them in peeces while there is none to helpe Let not the subtill foxes bewitch them with a false religion Let not the wild Boâ—e of Antichristian persecution deuoure them Let not Sathan nor sinne preuaile against them But as thou hast promised let thy Church and euery member of the same be as Mount Sion that shall neuer bee mooued let them stand fast for euer Let them florish in all faith and obedience as trees planted by the riuers and bring forth fruits of religion true pittie aboundantly compasse them with armies of thine Angels as thou diddest compasse Elisha with horses and chariots of fire and as the mountains compasse Ierusalem So let thy preuayling power compasse them about Suffer none O Lord to doe them violence but if in thy wisedome thou thinkest meet to make any member of thy Church a witnesse of thy trueth giue him the spirit of true vnderstanding of thy word faith and constancie to imbrace what measure of affliction or persecution thou shalt thinke fit to lay vpon him for the same forsake him not O Lord in his trials nor lay no more vpon him then it may please thee to giue him power to indure Make thy children O Lord strong and then cannot the threats of the cruellest Tyrants dismay thy outwardly weakest witnesses from vndergoing the extremest passion of martyrdome O fortifie all them whom thou hast appointed to any kind of torment for the testimony of the truth of the Gospel of Iesus Christ. Season them so with the assurance of their future glory that they flie not nor start backe for feare of whatsoeuer torture thine enemies may threaten or execute The least of which not being assisted and made easie by thy all-shining countenance vpon the soule of the persecuted cannot but dismay him and dismaying make him faint and fainting make him fall and so to denie thee Looke downe therefore O Lord vpon and visite all thine afflicted members protect them from secret conspiracies open practises and violent incursions plotted by Sathan and Antichrist and attempted by their bewitched instruments by whom thy Church and the members thereof and dayly afflicted and indangered Take thou wee humbly beseech thee our defence into thine owne hands Stop the breach which the enemie hath made Maintaine Lord thine owne word protect and keepe thine owne people conuert reuert or confound them that fight against thee by word or sword and fight against them that fight against thee in thy members that thou maiest be glorified thy Church increased and euery member of the same euerlastingly comforted in Christ their head Be it so good Father Amen Lord increase our faith Another short Prayer for the prosperitie of the Church and gouernment thereof GOd Father in Iesus Christ looke downe from heauen vpon and visite the viâ—e which thy right hand hath planted Send labourers into thy vineyard that they may so prune it and dresse it that it may branch and beare plentifully good fruit Suffer nâ— loyterers or idle persons in steade of labourers to enter into or vndertake to husband this vine Let no prophane person haue any superintendencie within the same But let the holy the faithfull the diligent industrious and such 〈◊〉 haue care to aduance thy Gospel and glory to instruct to exhort to improue rebuke and to bee instant in season and out of season be established ouerseers in this vineyard By whose watching and worke all the branches may be so succoured and carried vpward as they may not cease growing vntill they mount vp vnto the perfection of spirituall knowledge and practise of all pietie and fiâ—â—all obedience and consequently became members of that celestiall Ierusalem Send Lord such watchmen to keepe thy vine as by the sword of the spirit may be able to incounter and keepe out expulse abandon and driue away all hurtfull and prophane beasts all Swinelike drunkards all Lyonlike furious and Wolfelike denouring and rauening persons all Camelionlike Hypocrites all Leopardlike spotted Professors and all Foxelike crafty deuisors of and inâ—iâ—â—rs to new and false doctrines which the Gospel of thy Sonne Christ Iesus warranteth not Let onely the meeke sheepe and humble lambes the truly religious and holy be euermore gouernours and the gouerned in this heauenly Vineyard thy Church And although no visible Congregation can bee without these hidden and dangerous members knowne onely to thy selfe confirme the faith of euery childe of thine that they may be more and more inlightened confirmed in their hope through a sound and sincere profession of thy truth neuer to be remoued vnto the end Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be sayd for the Kings Maiestie WHen God had caused to be diuided the land of Canaan into parts according to the Twelue tribes of Israel he substituted as vnder and in the name of himselfe first Judges and after Kings to gouerne theâ— whereof some were vertuous religious and fearing God and they defended the truth of God protecteâ— his Church vnder them Some weroâ— dolaters perturbers of the Church 〈◊〉 God and Tyrants The first respecting the lawes of God and good of his Church made the lawes of God the paterne of their gouernments The second either not knowing God or knowing him did not honour him as God but fell from the liuing God themselues and caused the people to fall likewise from God to Idols therby highly incensing God to indignation against them who grieuously punished them with their Kings Dauid Iosiah Hezekiah Asa and Ieboshaphat were Kings that feared God 1. King 15. 12. 2. Chron. 17. 3. These did God aduance to comfort his children by the free vse of his word and to defend them from the aduersaries hand 2. Chron. 1. 11. Contrarily he setteth vp tyrants for the punishment of a rebellious people as Nehemiah complaineth Nehem. 9. 37. Manasses made the streets of Ierusalem
especially the seas which oftentimes rage and roare vnder the burden of their sinnes that passe in them much daunting dismaying and threatning the dry land and the inhabitants thereof much more such as in thy prouidence are appointed to haue their trauell and trafficke therein we therefore in al humblenesse come vnto thee O Iehouah who art the God and gouernour of the immensible and vnfadomable sea Thou callest for and commandest the tempests to arise thou liftest vs the waues thereof and wee are mounted vp to the clouds and suddenly descend into the deepe againe So that we are euen at the doore of death yet such is thy might and thy mercie that at thy rebuke they are still and at thy word the tempest ceaseth Receiue vs therefore into thy blessed protection for we recommend our selues vnto the seas in thy name confessing that it is neither the strength or swiftnes of our ship that can saue vs neither can our power or policy preuent the dangers of the merciles waues It is not the Card nor CoÌ„passe that can direct or bring vs to the hauen where wee would be It is only thy power prouidence and conduction whereupon we doe depend In thee is our hope and help for thou commandest and the Seas obey at thy word the Red Sea â—laue in sunder it stood still in heaps to giue way to Israel a worke against the ordinarie course of nature and therefore much more easie may it seeme to vs for thee to giue way to vs through the Seaâ— by naturall and ordinarie meanes And the rather for that wee know that at thy rebuke the Sea of Ienazeret being in violent rage was suddenly appeased Speake the word and the Seas shall giue vs comfortable free passe without any impediment The winds and Seas obey thee thou art omniâ—â—tent thou canst doe what thou will in mercy and iudgement Go with vs O Iehouah and be our guide as thou wert neere vnto thy Disciples when they were like to perish iâ— the mercilesse waters Prosper 〈◊〉 voyage blesse our meanes let thy holy Angels accompanie vs as assisting and preuailing ministers for our safetie and good successe Rebuke and quiet the winds and tempests when they arise Defend vs from mercilesse and tyrannous â—â—rates when they assaile vs keepe vs from ship wracke when wee are in perill Supply vs with all necessaries for our corporall sustinance and safetie â—ouchsafe vnto vs health and strength of body wisdome and power to manage our affaires to thy glory and our comfort Take from vs and euery one of vs all impietie sinne and vncleannes furnish vs with heauenly knowledge increase and strengthen our â—aith in thee confirme our hope of happie successe make vs intirely to loue thee giue vs true zeale to serue thee and to call vpon thee â—â—tonely in all our calamities and â—angers as of necessitie but contiâ—ually as of a Christian duty That thou maist bee pleased euermore to guide vs and by thy mighty hand in thy mercy to direct our course and bring vs to the hauen where we would be and leaue vs not vnto the mercilesse waters for without thee there is none that can deliuer vs. O giue vs hearts neuer to forget thy goodnesse watchfull and obedient hearts that wee neuer fall from thee to our naturall vanities and corruptions giue vs not ouer to our owne hearts lusts to sweariâ—â— swaggering drunkenuesse whoredome and to the prophane course of life whereunto by nature we are inclined But assist vs euer with thy grace that wee we may liue orderly honestly religiously and â—olily before thee to deale faithfully and truly with all men at land and sea euer depending on thy prouidence who neuer failest nor forsakest them that call vpon thee in spirit and truth Blesse our going foorth blesse 〈◊〉 voyage blesse our indeuours bless our calling and trafficke and 〈◊〉 vs a comfortable prosperous and happy returne Make vs thankfull in holy obedience which is the sacrifice wherewith thou art 〈◊〉 pleased Grant vs gracious Father these and all other blessingâ— corporall and spirituall for thâ— Christs sake in whose blessâ—â— name we augment these our 〈…〉 prayers with that heauenly 〈◊〉 which he hath taught vs. Our Fâ—ther which art in heauen c. Lord increase our faith A Prayer before meate PArdon we beseech thee O mercifull Lord God our manifold sins which we haue done and do continually commit against thy Maiestie and thereby haue deserued to bee depriued of al thy blessings and of these which now thou plentifully tendrest vnto vs for our nourishment Thou in Iesus Christ hast promised to blesse thy creatures vnto our vse Blesse these vnto vs we beseech thee and grant that they may be vnto vs the comfortable meanes to strengthen our mortall bodies Let vs not abuse them by excesse but vse them soberly to thy glory and our nourishment through Christ our Lord. A thankesgiuing after meate WE acknowledge good Father louing in Iesus Christ that of thy free mercie and bountie we haue at this time aâ— all the daies of our liues been plentifully nourished with corporall foode Inlarge the gifts of thy sanctifying spirit in vs and in all the members of thy Church Preserue euermore our King giue vs peace plentie health and happines through Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS A briefe Table of all the Mottues and Prayers contained in this Booke Prayers A Motiue to Prayer 1 A Prayer for the assistance of God holy Spirit in any spirituall or godly corporall action or indeuour fit to be vsed before euery lawfull enterprise especially before euery diuine exercise 2 A Motiue to a Prayer to bee vsed in the Morning in priuate Families 5 A Prayer for the Morning for priuate Families 8 A short Prayer for the Morning to be said of one in priuate or in a Family vsing the plurall instead of the singular number 17 A Motiue to a Prayer to bee said in the Euening in priuate Families 21 A Prayer to be said in priuate Families in Euening before they goe to rest 24 A short Prayer for the Euening to be vsed of one man in priuate 32 A Motiue to a Prayer for the members of Christ to be vsed after priuate Prayers in Families 37 A Prayer for the members of Christ whersoeuer dispersed fit to be vsed after our ordinary Prayers of Morning and Euening 39 A Motiue to the confession of our sinnes to God and to stirre vs vp to pray for the remission of the same 43 A Confession of sinnes with a Prayer for pardon for the same 47 Another short Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes 51 A Motiue to a Prayer for a godly and holy life and for power of resisting Satan and sinne 54 A Prayer for a godly life and to resist sinne and Satan 57 A Motiue to a Prayer before the receiuing of the holy Communion or the Lords Supper 63 A Prayer to be said before the receiuing of the Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ. 67 A
A PENSIVE Soules delight OR The Deuout mans helpe Consisting of Motiues Meditations and Prayers For all persons and purposes vpon what occasion so euer either priuate or publike By IOHN NORDEN PHILIP 〈…〉 Be nothing carefull but in all things 〈…〉 be shewed vnto God in prayer and supplication with giuing of thankes And the peace of God 〈◊〉 passeth all vnderstanding shall preserue your hearts and minds in Christ Iesus LONDON Printed by Will. Stansby for Iohn Busby and are to be sold at his shop in S. Dunstanes Churchyard in Fleetstreete 1615. 1. Ianuarie called of the Latins Ianuarius Graecians Gamelton Hebrewes Tebeth and is their 10. moneth hath 31. daies 1 A Calends The first day of this Moneth Christ was circumcised Luk. 1. 21. The tops of the mountaines appeared vnto Noah Gen 8. 5. The Israelites put away their wiues Ezra 10. 16. 2 b   3 c Nones of Ia. 4  4 d Nones of Ia. 3  5 e  The 5. of this moneth word was brought vnto Ezechiel the Prophet that the Citie Ierusalem was â—mitten Ezechiel 33. 21. 6 f Day before the N. The sixth of this moneth Christ was worshipped of the wise men Mat. 2. 1 c. baptized Mat. 3. 15. turned water into wine Ioh. 2. 1. c. as testifieth Epiphanius 7 g Nones of Ianuar.  8 A Idus of Ianuarie 8  9 b Idus of Ianuarie 7  10 c Idus of Ianuarie 6 The 10. of this Month Nabuchadnezzar King of Babel moued therunto by the rebellion of Zedechiah besieged IerusaleÌ„ most fiercely as may appeare 2. Kings 25. c. Ier. 52. 4. Also Ezechiel was willed to vtter his parable Ezech. 2. c. 11 d Idus of Ianuarie 5  12 e Idus of Ianuarie 4  13 f Idus of Ianuarie 3  14 g Day before the Id.  15 A Idus of Januarie  16 b Calends of Februarie 17  17 c Calends of Februarie 16  18 d Calends of Februarie 15  19 e Calends of Februarie 14  20 f Calends of Februarie 13  21 g Calends of Februarie 12  22 A Calends of Februarie 11  23 b Calends of Februarie 10  24 c Calends of Februarie 9  25 d Calends of Februarie 8 Paul called and conuerted the 25 of this moneth Acts 9. 3. 26 e Calends of Februarie 7  27 f Calends of Februarie 6  28 g Calends of Februarie 5  29 A Calends of Februarie 4  30 b Calends of Februarie 3  31 c Day before the Galends of Feb.  Festiual daies in this moneth be Circumcision the first Epiphanie the sixth day 2. Februarie called of the Latins Februarius GraeciaÌ„s Elâ—phebolioÌ„ Hebrews Shebat and is their 11. month hath 28. daies vnlesse it bee yere Bissâ—util and then 29. 1 d Calends The first of this moneth Moses repeated the Law vnto the children of Israel Deut. 1. 3. 2 e Nones of Februar 4 The second of this month our Sauiour was presented to the Lord and Marie purified Luke 2. 22. 3 f Nones of Februar 3  4 g Day before the N.  5 A Nones of Februa  6 b Idus of Februar 8  7 c Idus of Februar 7  8 d Idus of Februar 6  9 e Idus of Februar 5 The ninth of this month Noah 40. daies after he had seene the tops of the mountaines sent out of the Ark a Rauen afterward a Doue which returned Ge. 8. 6 c. 10 f Idus of Februar 4  11 g Idus of Februar 3  12 A Day before the Id.  13 b Idus of Februar  14 c Calends of March 17  15 d Calends of March 16 The 15. of this month the Iewes spend merily together for that the Spring of the yeare doth enter then as they thinke  16 e Calends of March 15 The 16. of this moneth Noah the second time sent out a Doue which returned with an Oliue branch in her bill Gen. 8. 10.  17 f Calends of March 14  18 g Calends of March 13  19 A Calends of March 12  20 b Calends of March 11  21 c Calends of March 10  22 d Calends of March 9  23 e Calends of March 8  24 f Calends of March 7 The 24. of this month Zechariah was commanded to prophecie Zechary 1. 7. Matthias was elected into the number of the Apostles Acts 1. 26. 25 g Calends of March 6  26 A Calends of March 5  27 b Calends of March 4  28 c Calends of March 3  29 d Day before the Calends of March.  Festiuall daies in this moneth be the 2. called the Purification of Saint Marie The 〈◊〉 which is Saint Mâ—thias day 3. March called of the Latinâ— Martius Graecians Mouuichyon Hebrewes Adar and is their 12. moneth hath â—1 daies 1 d Calends  2 e Nones of March 6  3 f Nones of March 5 The Temple of Ierusalem was finished the 3. day of this month Esra 6. 15. In the 1. of Esdr. 7. 5. it is said to be the 23. of this moneth 4 g Nones of March 4  5 A Nones of March 3  6 b Day before the N.  7 c Nones of March  8 d Idus of March 8  9 e Idus of March 7  10 f Idus of March 6 The tenth of this month Christ was aduertised that Lazarus was sicke Ioh. 11. 3. 11 g Idus of March 5  12 A Idus of March 4  13 b Idus of March 3 A feast was celebrated among the Iewes for the ouerthrow of Nicanor the 13. of this moneth 2. Mâ—â— 15. 37. Also vpoÌ„ the same day al the Iews vnder Ashuerosh were commanded to bee put to death Esth. 3. 13. vpon the same day the Iewes had a priuiledge giuen them to slay all their enemies Est. 8. 12. This day also the Iewes solemnized for their ioifull deliuerance Est. 8. 17. 14 c Day before the Id. The 14. day of this month was called of the Iews Mardocheus day 2. Macc. 15. 37 also Purim as may appeare Est 〈…〉 9. vers 21. 26. 15 d Idus of March The 15. also is another day of Purim Est. 9. 21. 16 e Calends of Aprill 17 The 16. of this Moneth Lazarus was raised from the dead Iohn 11. 43. 17 f Calends of Aprill 16  18 g Calends of Aprill 15  19 A Calends of Aprill 14  20 b Calends of Aprill 13  21 c Calends of Aprill 12  22 d Calends of Aprill 11  23 e Calends of Aprill 10  24 f Calends of Aprill 9  25 g Calends of Aprill 8  26 A Calends of Aprill 7  27 b Calends of Aprill 6  28 c Calends of Aprill 5  29 d Calends of Aprill 4  30 e Calends of Aprill 3  31 f Day before the Calends of April  This Moneth hath one testiual day called the
Annunciation of Saint Mariâ— celebrated the 25. of this moneth 4. April called of the Latins Aprilis Grecians Thargelion Hebrewes Abib or Nisan and is their 〈◊〉 moneth hath 30 daies 1 g Calends The first of this Moneth Noah vncouered the Arke saw earth Ge. 8. 13. Moses reared the Tabernacle Exo 40. 2. 17 the Temple began to be sanctified 〈◊〉 29. 17. 2 A Nones of April 4  3 b Nones of April 3  4 c Day before the N.  5 d Nones of April  6 e Idus of April 8  7 f Idus of April 7  8 g Idus of April 6  9 A Idus of April 5  10 b Idus of April 4 The 10. of this â—onth the childreÌ„ of Israel â—aised thorow the riuer IordaÌ„ on dry foote Iâ—su 4. 19. the Paschal Lamb was chosen Exo. 12. 3. 11 c Idus of April 3  12 d Day before the Id.  13 e Idus of April The 13. of this moneth the edict of King Ahashuerosh came out for the murthering of the Iewes Esth. 3. 12. 14 f Calends of May. 18 The 14. of this month the Passeouer was kept Exo. 12. 6. Leuit. 23. 5. Ios. 5. 10. 15 g Calends of May. 17 The 15. of this moneth the Israelites departed out of Egypt Numb 33. 3. 16 A Calends of May. 16 The 16. of this moneth Hezekiah made an end of sanctifying and purging the Temple 2 Chron. 20. 17. 17 b Calends of May. 15  18 c Calends of May. 14 The 18. of this month the childreÌ„ of Israel walked on drie land through the midst of the red sea Exod. 14. 19. 19 d Calends of May. 13  20 e Calends of May. 12  21 f Calends of May. 11  22 g Calends of May. 10  23 A Calends of May. 9  24 b Calends of May. 8 The 24 Daniel saw his vision Dan 10. 4. 25 c Calends of May. 7  26 d Calends of May. 6  27 e Calends of May. 5  28 f Calends of May. 4  29 g Calends of May. 3  30 A Day before the Calends of May.  The 25. of this moneth the feast of S. Marke is obserued 5. May called of the Latins Maius Graecians Scrirophorion Hebrevves Liar vvhich is their 2. moneth hath 31. daies 1 b Calends The first of this Moneth Moses vvas commanded to number the children of Israel Numb 11. c. 2 c Nones of May. 6  3 d Nones of May. 5  4 e Nones of May. 4  5 f Nones of May. 3 The 5. of this Moneth Christ is thought to haue ascended vp into heauen Mar. 16. 9. Luk. 24. 51. Act. 19. They which could not keep the Passeouer at the day appointed by the Lord vvere willed to celebrate the same the 14. of this month Nu. 3â— v. 10. 11. So did the Israelites at the commandement of King Hezekiah 2. Ch. 30. 15. 6 g Day before the N.  7 A Nones of May.  8 b Idus of May. 8  9 c Idus of May. 7  10 d Idus of May. 6  11 e Idus of May. 5  12 f Idus of May. 4  13 g Idus of May. 3  14 A Day before the Id  15 b Idus of May.  16 c Calâ—nds of Iune 17 The 16. day Manna rained from heauen Exod. 16. 14. 17 d Calâ—nds of Iune 16 The 17. day Noah entred the Arke and the floud began Gen. 7. 11. 13. 18 e Calâ—nds of Iune 15  19 f Calâ—nds of Iune 14  20 g Calâ—nds of Iune 13  21 A Calâ—nds of Iune 12  22 b Calâ—nds of Iune 11 The 22. fire from Heauen consumed such as murmured against the Lord. N 〈…〉 〈◊〉 23 c Calâ—nds of Iune 10 The 23. the Israelites with great ioy triumphingly entred into the Castle of Ierusalem 1 Mac. 13. 51. 24 d Calâ—nds of Iune 9  25 e Calâ—nds of Iune 8  26 f Calâ—nds of Iune 7  27 g Calâ—nds of Iune 6 Noah the 27. the water being dried vp came foorth of the Arke Gen. 8. 14 c. 28 A Calâ—nds of Iune 5  29 b Calâ—nds of Iune 4  30 c Calâ—nds of Iune 3  31 d Day before the Calends of Iune  The first of this Moneth is vsually celebrated for the feaâ—â— of Philip and Iacob 6. Iune called of the Latins Iunius Giaecians Ekatombaion Hebrewes Siuan which is their third moneth hath 30. daies 1 e Calends The first comming of the childreÌ„ of Israel vnto mouÌ„t Sinai was the 1. of this moneth where they abode 11. moneths and 20. daies in which time all those things were done recorded in Exod. cap. 19. 1. c. 2 f Nones of Iune 4  3 g Nones of Iune 3  4 A Day before the N.  5 b Nones of Iune  6 c Idus of Iune 8 The sixth of this moneth Alexander that mighty Monarch of the world was borne of whom Dan. c. 11. 3. doth prophesic Also on this day that famous temple of Diana in Ephesus numbred among the 7. wonders of the world was set on fire by Herostratus The Iewes likewise kept their feast of Pentecost on this day 7 d Idus of Iune 7  8 e Idus of Iune 6  9 f Idus of Iune 5  10 g Idus of Iune 4  11 â— Idus of Iune 3  12 b Day before the Id.  13 c Idus of Iune  14 d Calends of Iuly 18  15 e Calends of Iuly 17  16 f Calends of Iuly 16  17 g Calends of Iuly 15  18 A Calends of Iuly 14  19 b Calends of Iuly 13  20 c Calends of Iuly 12  21 d Calends of Iuly 11  22 e Calends of Iuly 10  23 f Calends of Iuly 9 The 23 of this month the first edict came out for the safetie of Gods people the Iewes against Haman and the rest of their enemies Esther 8. 9. 24 g Calends of Iuly 8  25 A Calends of Iuly 7  26 b Calends of Iuly 6  27 c Calends of Iuly 5  28 d Calends of Iuly 4  29 e Calends of Iuly 3 The 29. of this month the Arke of Noah throught the increase of waters was lifted vp from the earth Gen. 7. 12. 30 f Day before the Calends of Iuly  Festiuall daies in this moneth are the 24. which is the feast of S. Ioh. Baptist 29. which is S. Peters 7. Iulie called of the Lâ—â—ins Iullus Oraeciaâ—s Metag 〈…〉 Hâ—brewes Thamus being their 4. moneth hath 31. daies 1 g Cale 〈…〉 s.  2 A Nones of Iuly 6  3 b Nones of Iuly 5  4 c Nones of Iuly 4  5 d Nones of Iuly 3 The 5. of this moneth Exechiel saw his visions Ezeth 1. 1. 6 e Day before the N. The 6. of this moneth the Capitol of Rome counted one of the 7. wonders of the world was burned and the mirror
of Christian Princes King Edward the sixt died the sixt of this moneth Annâ—â—553 â—553 7 f Nones of Iuly  8 g Idus of Iuly 8  9 A Idus of Iuly 7 The 9. of this moneth Ierusalem after it had a long while been besieged by Nebuchadnezzar was taken Ier. 39 2. 10 b Idus of Iuly 6  11 c Idus of Iuly 5  12 d Idus of Iuly 4 The â—2 of this month Iulius Caesar the first Roman Emperor was borne Of him is this moneth called Iuly 13 e Idus of Iuly 3  14 f Day before the Id.  15 g Idus of Iuly  16 A Calâ—nds of August 17  17 b Calâ—nds of August 16  18 c Calâ—nds of August 15 The 18. of this month the Egyptians begin their yere Plin. lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 4â— 19 d Calâ—nds of August 14  20 e Calâ—nds of August 13  21 f Calâ—nds of August 12  22 g Calâ—nds of August 11  23 A Calâ—nds of August 10  24 b Calâ—nds of August 9  25 c Calâ—nds of August 8  26 d Calâ—nds of August 7  27 e Calâ—nds of August 6  28 f Calâ—nds of August 5  29 g Calâ—nds of August 4  30 A Calâ—nds of August 3  31 b Day before the Calâ—nds of August  The 25. of this moneth is the feast of S. Iames the Apostle and vpon this day K. James was crowned King of England 1603. 8. August called of the Latins Augustus Graecians Boedrâ—miâ—n Hebrewes Ab which is their 5. moneth hath 3â— daies 1 c Calend. The first of this moneth Aaron 40. yeeres after the childreÌ„ of Israel were come out of Egypt died on mo 〈…〉 Hor Num. 33. 38. Also on this day Ezra with his coÌ„pany came out of Babel vnto Ierusalem Ezra 7. 9. 2 d Nones of August 4  3 e Nones of August 3  4 f Day before the N.  5 g Nones of August  6 A Idus of August 8  7 b Idus of August 7 The 7. of this moneth Nabuchadnezzar burnt the house of the Lord and al Ierusalem 2. King 25. 〈◊〉 9. 8 c Idus of August 6  9 d Idus of August 5  10 e Idus of August 4 The 10. of this moneth some thinke Ierusalem to haue been burnt by the Babylonians Ierem. 52. 12. Iosephus lib. 5. cap. 26. said it was burned afterward by the Romans the same day Therefore doe the Iewes on this day obserue a most straight fait and goe bare-footed and sitting on the ground reade twice ouer the Lamentations of Ieremie 11 f Idus of August 3  12 g Day before the Id  13 A Idus of August  14 b Calends of Septemb. 18  15 c Calends of Septemb. 17  16 d Calends of Septemb. 16  17 e Calends of Septemb. 15  18 f Calends of Septemb. 14  19 g Calends of Septemb. 13  20 A Calends of Septemb. 12  21 b Calends of Septemb. 11  22 c Calends of Septemb. 10  23 d Calends of Septemb. 9  24 e Calends of Septemb. 8  25 f Calends of Septemb. 7  26 g Calends of Septemb. 6  27 A Calends of Septemb. 5  28 b Calends of Septemb. 4  29 c Calends of Septemb. 3  30 〈◊〉 Day before the Calends of Sep.  31 e   The 24. of this moneth is vsually called S. Barthelmewes day 9. September called of the Latins September Graecians Maimacterion Hebrewes Elul which is their 6. moneth hath 30. daies 1 f Calends The first of this Moneth Haggai the Prophet began to prophecie Hag. 1. 1. 2 g Nones of Septemb. 4  3 A Nones of Septemb. 3  4 b Day before the N.  5 c Nones of Septemb.  6 d Idus of Septemb. 8 The sixt of this month Ezechiel saw another vision Ezece 8. 1. 7 e Idus of Septemb. 7 The 7. of this moneth our late most noble Queene Elizabeth vvas borne at Greenevvich Anno 153â— 8 f Idus of Septemb. 6 The 8. of this Month Anno 73. Ierusalem vvas vtterly vvith fire and svvord destroied by Titus the Emperour Ioseph lib. 7. cap. â—6 9 g Idus of Septemb. 5  10 A Idus of Septemb. 4  11 b Idus of Septemb. 3  12 c Day before the Id.  13 d Idus of Septemb.  14 e Calends of October 18  15 f Calends of October 17  16 g Calends of October 16  17 A Calends of October 15  18 b Calends of October 14  19 c Calends of October 13  20 d Calends of October 12  21 e Calends of October 11  22 f Calends of October 10  23 g Calends of October 9  24 〈◊〉 Calends of October 8  25 b Calends of October 7 The 25. of this month Nehemiah finished the vvalleâ— of Ierusalem Nehem. 6. 15. 26 c Calends of October 6  27 d Calends of October 5  28 e Calends of October 4  29 f Calends of October 3  30 g Day before the Calends of October  Festiual daies in this moneth be the 21. S. Matthew 29. S. Michael 〈◊〉 Oâ—â—ob called of the Latins October Graeciaus Pianepsion Hebrewes Thisri and is their 7. moneth hath â—1 daies 1 A Calends The 1. of this moneth the Iews celebrated the feast of Trumpets Leuit. 23. 24. the later Iewes cal this day the beginning of the new yere Ierusalem after it had bin possessed of Christian Princes 88. yeeres through mortall dissension came into the hands of the Saracen Ann. 1187. 2 b Nones of October 6  3 c Nones of October 5 The 3 of this month some hinke the Iewes fasted for the death of Gedaliah wherby occasioÌ„ was offered to bring them againe into the miserable seruitude of the Egyptians 2. King 25. 25. Ierem. 4â— 1. 2 c. 4 d Nones of October 4  5 e Nones of October 3  6 f Day before the N.  7 g Nones of October  8 A Idus of October 8  9 b Idus of October 7  10 c Idus of October 6 The 10. of this month the feast of reconciliation was kept Leuit. 23. 27. So did the yeere of Iubilâ— euery fifty yeere begin as on the same day Leuit 25. 9. 11 d Idus of October 5  12 e Idus of October 4  13 f Idus of October 3  14 g Day before the Id.  15 A Idus of October The 15. of this moneth the Iewes obserued the feast of Tabernacles 7. daies together in memory of the â—ords protecting them in the desert Leuit. 23. 34. 16 〈◊〉 Calends of Nouember 17  17 c Calends of Nouember 16  18 d Calends of Nouember 15  19 〈◊〉 Calends of Nouember 14  20 f Calends of Nouember 13  21 g Calends of Nouember 12  22 A Calends of Nouember 11  23 b Calends of Nouember 10 Â
would seeme holy And so instead of a blessing procure a curse vnto themselues for their hypocrisie Wee must consider that God is a iealous God holdeth none guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine as they manifestly doe that come neere him with their lips when their hearts are farre from him It is a kind of spirituall adultery outwardly to seeme wholy to be gods and yet inwardly to be meere worldlings Before we open our mouthes therefore to God we must cast out of the Temple of God which is our heart all buyers and sellers as Christ did out of the Temple of Ierusalem for as long as our hearts doe harbour the desires of worldly profits and carnall pleasures aboue the sincere seruice of God our heart the Temple of the liuing God becommeth a den of theeues that steales away all our godly affections to settle them on Belial Let vs looke vnto the man Christ Iesus crucified by whose blood wee are redeemed by whose mediation wee are sure to haue our prayers heard of God and granted especially if for our further and more perfect preparation we can truely obserue the rule of Christ to forgiue our enemies knowing that if we forgiue not our brother that offendeth vs God will not forgiue vs that farre more grieuously offend him And therefore Christ counselleth vs that if we bring our sacrifice to the Altar namely if we intend to pray and there remember that a brother hath ought against vs we ought to leaue our offering before the Altar that is forbear for the time to pray yet to continue our holy intention to pray and to goe first and bee reconciled to our brother and then to come to offer our gift namely our prayers freely vnto God in Christ for before we be vnburthened of all rancor malice enuie hatred and all other prophane desires it is not only not auaileable but lamentable that so many will as doe presume to come before God with hearts so fearefully fraught with these vnholy affections and stagger no more to presse into Gods presence nay not so much as some that come vnto God with most prepared peacefull and most sanctified consciences Let such cast-out the bond woman with her sonne namely the old man the works and lusts of the flesh and giue entertainment vnto the free-woman and her sonne the new man which after God is created vnto righteousnes and true holines And so recommend our prayers vnto God the obiect of our prayers in Christ the Mediator of our prayers by the holy Ghost the Author of all holy prayers Attention in Prayer Being thus prepared let vs endeuour to yeeld due and true attention in our prayers that is to giue â—eed to what we pray to whom we pray for what we pray and with what zeale we pray which are the truest tokens and greatest arguments that our prayers are liuely powerfull effectuall and of faith which properties can neuer be in lip-labour for there cannot be a more apparent discouery of a rancke Hypocrite then to make outward showes of Deuotion with the gesture and lippes and yet the heart to be busied in the cogitation of idle â—arthly and prophane things And nothing more discouereth an idle heart outwardly then the wandering of the eye in the time of diuine prayer for it is probable and often found by experience that the eye withdraweth the heart and if the eye be inconstant the prayer hath not nor can haue the due attention of the heart yet it doth not follow that although the eye bee fixed on any certaine obiect or be shut that therefore the heart is rightly set on God for oftentimes the eye followes the heart the cogitation of the heart making the eye to forget it obiect as when the heart is wandring in the fields of corne viewing the herdes of cattle and flockes of sheepe when it is in the ware-house in the shoppe in the chest minding bands payments ouercome with pride plotting reuenge oppressed with feare besotted with pleasure iâ—tangled with cares or otherwise peruerted by any prophane and vngodly cogitations Prayers made witls such an extraâ—agant heart be they in words neuer so holy they are imputed vnto vs as sin for shall wee thinke that God will heare our prayers to our profit or comfort when the thoughts of our hearts in the meane time dishonor him Many pray in their owne familiar language and yet consider no more what they speake for want of attention then if they spake in an vnknowne tongue and yet such men will hold themselues very deuout and to haue power in themselues to pray when they list as if true prayer werâ— of that facilitie and ease to vtter as is an idle tale and as it seemes by beggers that tumble out the Lords prayer with one breath at a doore and yet minde nothing but their almes Such men are to be pitied and to be wished better to aduise themselues before they attempt this seruice of God most holy for Prayer is not an easie worke it is of a deeper straine then a tale that is but from the tongue to the teeth from the teeth to the lips and so into the ayre True prayer is cordiall and of that force and efficacie as it constraineth the heart to sighes groanes and teares with such inward â—eâ—uencie of holy zeale as tenters the heart with such internall gripes as may bee truly said the râ—ting of the hart And the more we feele our hearts thus inwardly sharply touched so much the more comfort it yeeldeth to the soule of the faithfull petitioner yea such and so great consolation as he that feeles it cannot expresse it with his tongue be he neuer so eloquent neither can any conceiue or apprehend the sweetnes of it that is not exercised and experienced in the same for nature apprehendeth it not No man can say that Iesus is Christ but by the holy Ghost and none can desire the Spirit of God but by the Spirit of God Flesh and bloud cannot as much as desire spirituall things spiritually for spirituall things are to be compared with spirituall things and spirituall gifts are obtained by spirituall meanes And therefore are words without the spirit as naked and bare incense without fire but being inkindled in the heart and sanctified by the holy spirit of God who is promised to assist our spirits they are as a liuely and acceptable sacrifice to God working so powerfully with him through Christs mediâ—tion as they neuer returne empty of what soeuer blessing we desire Prayer can neuer be effectuall 〈◊〉 there be sâ—me certaine spirituall obiect of the mind to moue the attention of the heart which obiect is God and we must consider that when we pray vnto him or yeeld him any other worship that we are not to conceiue him in the forme of any earthly or heauenly bodily or spirituall creature whatsoeuer for in that maner not to conceiue him is a degree of coÌ„ceiuing him a right according to Master Perkins
God must be conceiued of vs in our prayers as subsisting in the whole three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost The vnitie in Trinitie and Tâ—initie in vnitie is to be worshipped retaining in mind the distinction and order of all the three persons without seuering or sundring them for as they are conioyned in nature so are they to be conioyned in worship And therefore he that prayeth vnto God the Father for the forgiuenesse of his sinnes must aske it of him for the merits of the Sonne and by the assurance of the holy Ghost and he that prayeth for the remission of sinnes to God the Sonne must pray that he would procure the Father to graunt him pardon and to assure it by his Spirit He also that prayeth for the same to God the holy Ghost must pray that he would assure vnto him the remission of his sinnes from the Father for and by the merits of his Sonne Thus must we apprehend the Trinitie in our prayers so shall we auoide that idolatrous conceiuing of him imbraced of some who cannot pray vnlesse they haue the figure of a humane creature to represent vnto their bodily eyes the shape of God the Father in likenesse of an olde man and a crucifixe figuring Christ suffring on the Crosse and the holy Ghost by a Doue whose worship cannot bee reputed spirituall but carnall and their prayers not heauenly but prophane Prayer is a spirituall action proper onely to the children of God who are Saints by calling sanctified in Christ And they and none other truely call vpon the name of the Lord Iesus prophane persons pray not though they seeme to pray But most happie is that man that commeth vnto God Father Sonne and holy Ghost truely prepared and duely attentiue he may boldly aske and confidently assure himselfe to receiue grace for grace and all blessings spirituall without limitation and all benefits corporall needfull If our prayers bee made in vs by him who hath promised and hath power to giue what we aske shall wee thinke hee will faile to performe The hope of hypocrites in deed shall perish and their prayers vanish as the smoake because they wait vpon lying vanities and desire carnall pleasures and worldly profits But the Lord will surely fulfill the desires of them that feare him because their prayers tend to the setting foorth of Gods glory to the good of the Church to the remission of their owne sinnes and other mens to the obtaining of Gods graces to the increase of the vnderstanding of heauenly things that they may walke before God and be vpright that they may doe the workes and bring sorth the fruits of the spirit These are the prayers that are the PENSIVE SOVLES DELIGHT These are the prayers that wound the Serpent that please God bringing peace to the conscience afflicted But which is to bee lamented all men are dull by nature And the very elect sometimes weakely disposed to pray And therefore is euery godly man to vse all holy meanes to inkindle their hearts to the right performance of this heauenly dutie And nothing more preuaileth therein then Meditation whereunto wee are also very vnapt by nature and know not how nor vpon what ground to lay the foundation therof yet if we can truly frame our hearts to a holy Meditation wee shal find that it is the very key that openeth our dull hearts lockt vp vnder griefe vnder feare vnder trouble vnder persecutioÌ„ misery and sendeth forth by litle and litle the fire of true zeale which at length becommeth a great flame of preuailing prayers which thing they easily find that are conuersant in this sacred exercise of Meditation and Prayer who yet many times finde themselues most dull and most vnapt to pray hauing yet an inward desire thereunto which desire they cannot containe but labouring a while in silence speaking inwardly to God in sighes and groanes at length they speake effectually with their tongues Seeing therefore that all men need motiues to stirre them vp to prayer let euery man addresse himselfe to the word of God or peruse some godly worke of religious men And although vocally he cannot reade by reason of his naturall dulnes yet if his heart can be but conuersant and duely attend the sence as the eye obserues the letter his minde by little and little shall mount it selfe from earth to heauen fixed on the Trinitie whence shall arise such spirituall fruits of faith and feruencie of spirit as shall fill the soule with more sweet consolation byinkindled praier then the tongue can vtter And to this end gentle Reader according to the small measure of mine vnderstanding I haue prefixed before euery prayer a Motiue or Meditation touching the substance and matter of the Prayer following Thankesgiuing after Prayer The third and last duty in this holy exercise is Thankesgiuing which cannot but follow sanctified praiers that with such ioy in the holy Ghost as it cannot but break forth into most vnspeakeable inward thaÌ„kfulnes to God who hath beene so graciously pleased not only to forgiue our sins but to helpe our infirmities by his holy spirit by whom wee haue had accesse vnto the throne of grace found such fauour with God in Christ as we haue obtained by the holy Ghost both the will and the power to pray Also we ought in all things to giue thankes to God for euery blessing and benefit wee receiue at his hands according to the counsell and precept of the Apostle who commands vs to giue thankes alwayes for all things vnto God euen the Father in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ Ephes. 5. 20. Thus much touching the admonition Great Britaines happines in regard of the free vse of the Gospell in respect of other Nations FInally I thinke it not impertinent altogether by way of comparison to consider of our happines in being partakers of the free vse of the Gospell in respect of the most vnhappie condition of many Nations and infinite people that either know not God at all or knowing him honour him not as God The Old and New Testaments haue beene freely opened vnto vs neere threescore yeares without Persecution and so it hath not been in any one Kingdom we reade of Some Kingdomes and Free States in their Iurisdictions haue and doe in a sort permit the Gospell but with the same tolerate contrary religions professions Where doth the freedome of the Gospell appeare as in Great Britaine In what Kingdome is it so publikely receiued so plentifully preached and so freely professed without danger or contradiction We haue heard and seene the troubles of the Netherlands and the Massacres of France and the persecutioÌ„s in other territories for the profession of the Gospell and we all this while haue quietly enioyed that for the profession wherof many haue perished May wee not therefore truely say with Dauid The Lord hath not dealt so with euery Nation Queene ELIZABETH restored Religion almost smothered by Queen
watch for the euening of our dayes and so labour while it is to day that when the night of our last and finall sleepe shall ouertake vs our workes may follow vs not to condemne vs nor as able to iustifie vs but to witnes with vs and for vs that we haue not laboured altogether in thee in vaine but according to that measure of grace which thou art pleased to bestow vpon vs we may worke out our saluation with feare and trembling Looke Lord vpon vs heere gathered together before thee in a reuerend humiliation of our hearts And because naturally we are obdurate and our affections hardly brought vnder or subdued subdue Lord all the rebellious imaginations that intrude now or at any time into our thoughts And let vs giue no entertainment vnto those desires which tende to vanities whether of the minde of the will or the pride of life Let no euill accompany vs vnto our corporall rest much lesse Lord vnto our finall sleepe Let vs now begin to cast off the dregges of sinne while we haue time Let vs nâ—t put off our repentance vntill to morrow Rather as the day is past that gaue vs corporall light and the night come threatning darknesse let vs liue this night in thy spirituall light and let the darknesse of sinne vanish as the light of the day neuer to rise againe vnto vs That we beginning euen now to liue in that light which lighteneth the hearts of thy Saints we may neuer adâ—it the darknesse of vngodlines to ouershadow vs againe But let vs make vse of the night not for sleepe only but rather meditating of the resemblance the night hath with the state of impenitent sinners who liuing out of thy fauour are still in darknesse And as our sleepe resembleth our bodies rest in the graue So giue vs grace Lord to consider that we are euen at the end of our finall day wherein we shall vntill the day of our resurrection commend our dust to dust as we now for a night betake our bodies to our beds And as we hope and humbly desire thee that our sleepe this night may be vnto vs more for the relieuing our wearinesse then for wanton delight So we likewise hope and desire that when we shall lay downe our bodies in the graue it may not bee as of the sauour of death vnto â—eath but of life vnto euerlasting life Grant gracious Lord God that thy power and prouidence may preserue vs safe in bodie and soule vntill the morning that we may then betake vs againe vnto our lawfull callings and that when our bodies shall rest in our graues our soules may be preserued vnder thine Altar among the rest of thy Saints vntill the most wished and glorious morning of our resurrection when wee shall no more returne vnto our labour no more feare dangers no more hunger thirst nor care for bodies necessaries but for euermore enioy the most blessed Crowne of eternall glorie which graunt gracious Lord God in and for thy Christ in whom all things for this life and the life to come are blessed vnto vs to whome with thee and the holy Ghost bee ascribed all honour power Maiestie and dominion for euermore Amen O Lord encrease our faith blesse vs and preserue vs this night and for euermore So be it A short Prayer for the Euening to be vsed of one man in priuate O Lord my God mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ I yceld thee humble thankes for thy mercies and louing fauours shewed towards me this day past wherein thou hast bountifully testified thy fatherly care of me and hast largely dealt with me in the vse of thy good creatures And as I haue found grace fauor at thy hands this day shorten not thy hand of comforts now the night is come wherein we are beset with many dangers the more in regard of the darkenesse of the night wherein all that worke wickednesse take their fittest oportunities to worke their deuices I haue no defence thou knowest no protection no refuge no meanes of safetie of my selfe but all my helpe standeth in thy Name Thy power and prouidence Lord is my sure defence and the least measure of thy fauour is sufficient to deliuer me from an hoast of enemies much more from all the power practice deuices of Sathan and his ministers who howsoeuer subtilly they lay waite and furiously assaile me yet are they limited by thy power and beyond the bounds of thy permission they cannot goe onely my owne corrupt nature and mine owne sinful inclination make readiest way for their attempts I am a sinner not worthy to approch into thy presence but as the poore Publicane crying Lord be mercifull vnto mee a sinner Clense mee from my faults committed this day wash me in the blood of the Lambe that I bee not bard from thy presence who refusest to heare sinners among whom I am the greatest therfore in forgiuing me the greater shall thy mercies appeare and the more bound shall I bee vnto thee who hast forgiuen much and I shall loue thee much in him whom thou louest most In him heare me for him forgiue me and let not the faults that I haue done this day be registred against me in the heauens nor reserued to be witnesses against me at the day of mine account Blot out of the booke of thy remembrance my sinnes done yesterday and to day and henceforth guide me in so sincere and perfect obedience that I sinne not though darkenesse ouershadow my body Let the light of thy loue shine in my soule that although my bodie sleepe and bee senceles of many dangers thy prouidence may watch ouer me and in my deadest slumbers preserue me and the more the darkenesse of the night doth blind my corporal eyes so much the more let me couet and obtaine the light of thy sauing countenance That howsoeuer I haue through weakenesse falne this day I may be now raysed againe to newnesse of life that I carry not the burden of my sinnes vnto my bed but cast them off as the rotten ragges of my naturall corruption and being clensed I may become more watchfull and constant that the errors of darkenesse seize not vpon me That the enemies of my present happinesse in thee and of my future glory with thee take not oportunitie in the time of my sleepe or night wakings either to plot or practise my hurt or my soules trouble by vaine dreames or feareful visions which grow partly by the distemperature of our corrupt humors but especially by Sathans temptations And because Lord the night is as a closet of wandring fantasies by reason of the darkenes thereof wherin many vaine and idle imaginations arise to prouoke vs to euill when sleepe ceaseth let thy holy Spirit O Lord rule in my heart and keepe the house of my soule as the strong man that the workes of darkenes creepe not into myheart but as an holy prompter vnto my soule he may stirre vp
in me diuine meditations and prayers that my heart being truly and zealously exercised therein in my wakings I may admit no idle thought to possesse the same nor giue Sathan or mine owne corrupt affections oportunity to snare me and to seduce me from the works of the spirit to the deeds of the flesh but that sleeping and waking I may euer rest vnder the shadow of thy powerfull protection out of the â—each of all my corporall and spirituall enemies who are euer restlesse in their practises and deuices Be thou therefore Lord on my â—â—dâ— preuent them of their purposes garde 〈…〉 ee with thy holy Angels this night keepe me whom and whatsoeuer belongeth vnto me let all things prosper vnder my hands O Lord let neither the darkenesse of the night the distemperature of the ayre the sterilitâ—e and barrennesse of nature hinder the prosperitie of the creatures ordained to my vse Neither let my sinnes make breach of thy fauours towards me let the health of my body be at thy good pleasure continued my limbes sences preserued my sleepe blessed and all my thoughtes words and deeds sanâ—tiâ—â—ed vnto me in Christ my Sauiour and Redeemer this night and euer Amen Lord increase my faith and watch ouer me this night A MOTIVE TO A Prayer for the members of Christ to be vsed after priuate praiers in families IT were a matter much to be wondred at that any member of a body should be so little carefull of it fellow members of the same bodie as that it should not extend it vttermost power to support and aide them all As if the one hand should suffer violence and the other should disdaine to assist it or that the foote or any other part should be annoyd and the eye should scorne to looke vnto it or the hand to helpe it How much more lamentable were it if the members of our spirituall bodie whereof Christ our common Redeemer is the head should not pray one for another What can a man doe lesse for an ordinary friend then to speake for him to him that may steede him being at no further charge or trouble then to vse the breath of his mouth for him And shall wee thinke it too tedious a labor to vse our petitions to God in the behalfe of such as are our fellow members and our dearest brethren in Christ being professors of his name with vs and of the same fellowship and communion together with vs hauing the selfe same seales of adoption that we haue God forbid The neglect of which spirituall duetie implyeth our want of loue vnto our head Christ wherein we also breake the law of Christian Religion which commands vs to loue our neighbours as our selues If we then thinke it our dueties to pray for our selues we ought to pray also for them which Christ intendeth in teaching vs how to pray not as in our owne names my Father But in the name of all the Church Our Father though vpon some particular occasions a priuat maÌ„ may vse it in the name of himselfe But in generall supplications to God it is a duetie inseparable in Christian Charitie to pray one for another yea and for all men Let vs therefore in all our priuate prayers either with our families or by ourselues adde this consequent prayer or to the like purpose that wee discharging that Christian duetie for others God may the more esteeme our prayers for our selues and stirre vp other faithfull members to do the like for vs which may be much comfortable to all for the prayer of the faithfull auaileth much if it bee feruent Iam. 5. 16. A Prayer for the members of Christ whersoeuer dispersed fit to bee vsed after our ordinarie prayers of Morning and Euening GRacious Lord God merciful and louing Father the keeper and protector of all that truly professe the name of Christ thy Sonne we the poore and weake members of that mysticall bodie whereof he is the head as feeling the wantes of our brethren as our own do here humblie present our petitions vnto thee for thy whole Church and the members thereof howsoeuer or whersoeuer distracted dispersed and estranged by nation tongue or place from vs. That it may please thee who knowest who are thine to haue a fatherly care ouer them and whom thou hast already called to the knowledge of thy trueth graunt them Lord mercifull louing and constant hearts to stand in the profession thereof without wauering or starting backe call and incorporate such as are contrarily minded and whom thou hast in thy fore-election appointed to saluation That they also may be made of the same holy Communion with vs. And such as yet sit in darkenesse in the shadow of ignorance by the seducements of the ministers of Antichrist or of any other aduersaris inlighten and bring home by thy word vnto the sheepefold of the great Shepheard of our soules Multiply thy sauing spirit vpon vs and vpon all that belong vnto the kingdome of thy Sonne Aâ—â— vouchsafe good Father to inlarge the harts increase the knowledge confirme the faith more and more of all those that haue any chiefe place in Church or Commonwealth Kings Priests and People About the rest Lord open the heart of our King giue him a complete measure of true wisedome not only in gouerning his subiects in due obedience to his owne lawes but in a religious course of obeying seruing of thee in holinesse and trueth Protect and deliuer him from all plots complotments and conspiracies of whatsoeuer aduersaries domesticall or forraine Suffer not Lord the peace of thy Church or Common-weale to suffer violence by ciuill tumults treasons or rebellions Preserue his health increase his strength weaken his enemies and confirme his crowne to his sonne and his sonnes sonnes to the end of time Blesse and prosper in vertue and trueth his Queene and all that truly loue him in and for thee loue thou them and comfort them for thou hast made him a true maintainer of thy truth an enemie of all thine enemies Blesse vnto him a godly religious and wise counsell learned zealous and painefull ministers faithfull religious and truely loyall subiects comfort helpe ayde assist and relieue all and euery true member of thy Sonne Those that are persecuted for thy truth comfort confirme that they may constantly endure vnto the end Them that are weak strengthen Them that are poore and distressed relieue Cure or comfort those that are sicke Many are the troubles of thine own children Lord and according to thy promise deliuer them out of all make them able to indure and laâ— no more vpon any of them theâ— they shall be able to beare Touch the hearts of all thy children that they may be watching in prayer considering the dayes wherein we liue are euill And as thou hast promised to be present with vs and with all thy children in their meetings before thee in prayer Stir vs all vp we beseech thee to a more holy desire
continuall prayer otherwise what good we determine to day will be repented to morrow and we through our weaknes shall fall againe contrarie to our godly resolutions Our supplications to God for his assistance and strengthening of our resolued reformation must be continuall because our spirituall aduersaries are continually working to seduce vs out of the way of a sanctified life A ship as soone as her sailes are hoised feeles the winde and begins to make way if then there be no skilfull pilote at the helme to steere shee either rusheth vpon some rocke or driues the contrarie course So are mens affections swayed with the good or euill spirit Needs there not therefore a wise consultation of all the sences of the inner and outer man how to steere the affections aright which as the sailes are to the ship so are they vnto the minde for being once hoised they carrie the desires as the sailes the hull and if it want right reason to steere it it neuer can shape the course of godlines Let vs therefore pray that we may be able to manage the ship of our affections to the port of true obedience in a sincere course of life And happie is that man that truly determines constantly continues faithfully prayeth and wisely considers the course of his life and euer remembreth his end A Prayer for a godly life and to resist sinne and Sathan O God my God in Iesus Christ maker and creator of all things gouernour of heauen and earth preseruer of our soules and bodies the giuer of life light The framer disposer of all right and religious hearts The perfecter and finisher of our faith In by whom are all things and without whom nothing can haue any being Much lesse corrupt man haue any existence in life though be seeme to liue in the body except thou liue in him for our life which is our saluation and our glory and our crowne is hidde with thee in Christ. Such is thy mercy towards vs as thou vouchsafest to shew vs our blessed being with thee in the heauens in this our mortalitie in part as in a glasse lest wee should faint in our trials powre downâ— O Lord a full and large measure of thy sauing grace into my heart that I apprehending in part the sweetnesse of the life to come may frame my selfe to that course of life heere as may assure me of that which is to come Abandon and abolish the darkenes of mine vnderstanding and giue me the light of true iudgement that I may warily watchfully wisely foresee obserue shun the subtill baytes and allurements of sinne and Sathan giue me grace to walk in the way of life leaue not the powerfull power of Satan nor the poysoning sting of death in me Settle mine affections vpon the hid treasures of thy loue guide garde me with thy sauing power instruct me in the way of true wisedome Adorne me with all thy spirituall graces and diuine vertues sow in me the seedes of sanctity water me with the dew of thy holy Spirit purifie and cleanse my heart rectifie mine affections blesse my godly enterprises and holy endeauours frame all the parts powers faculties and sences of my soule and bodie that they may all meete in the loue of thee and euery one performe his office according to the greatnesse of thy name Let my heart harbour holy thoughts let my will euer be framed after thy word let mine vnderstanding bee manifested by righteousnesse and a sanctified life let my memorie neuer let â—â—ipthe good things thou hast done for my soule Let my handes be purely clensed from pollution my tongue from prophanation mine eyes from the gilt of concupiscence my feer from following vanitie and all the parts of my body from the least appearance of 〈◊〉 That I being thus clensed and reformed I may walke euer in thy faith liue euer in thy feare and at the last yeeld my body to the graue in thy fauour where the power and sting of death shall faile of further pursuing me and there shall I leaue that sinning part vntill it shall bee made a shining part with my soule by the brightnesse glory of thy presence in the heauens Thy goodnesse and mercy shewed vnto sinners in this life leadeth the seriously penitent and truely faithfull to the consideration of their present weakenesse wants and imperfections and to the contemplation of their future fulnesse of ioy comfort and euer-continuing consolation O stirre vp in me a liuely hunger and thirst for spirituall graces in this life where we are pressed downe with a mighty masse of corruption and compassed about with a darke cloud of errors Insomuch as I a man begotten conceiued and borne in sinne can neuer be able to stand vnder the burden of the one or to comprehend thee my Light and my saluation through the other How then Lord shall I be able to walke in thee who art the true way vnderstand thee the sauing trueth or attaine vnto thee being eternall life Therefore Lord vouchsafe to inlarge my heart in all godly forwardnesse to proceede from knowledge to knowledge from faith to faith from one diuine grace to another vntill I attaine to full perfection in Christ in whom all our holy indenours be euermore blessed sinne euermore weakened and all goodnesse euermore increased But many are the blockes which Sathan layeth and couereth them with the vayle of pleasure and profite which make many to stumble and fall Many ministers hee vseth to snare vs and many miseries and mischiefes hee plotreth and practiseth against vs to dismay vs from following of thee but hee hath not so many agents to allure or terrifie vs as thou Lord hast meanes to preuent the one and to defend vs in the other Plead thou therefore my cause and defend me against that spirituall enemie that fighteth against me leaue me not in his power shorten the extent of his chaine breake his teeth that he may haue no power to seize vpon me weaken the poyson of his inchantments that he pollute in me neither the will nor the deede That I may leade my life vnspotted in the world and that all mine actions and indeauours may prosper that sinne that hangeth on so fast may be cast off And giue me a sound knowledge of thy good pleasure that I may truely determine to shake cleane off the vnprofitable workes of darkenesse and be truly clothed with the holy robes of righteousnesse and sanctity That I may be euer able and ready to pray vnto thee obtaine at thy hands the direction to liue vprightly in thy sight and that I may euer consider mine owne weakenesse and imperfections to the end I may indeauour to keepe a good conscience in all mine actions for as our sences and the members of our bodie are many and euery one subiect to sundry infirmities and temptations and euery of our actions open to diuers infections and pollutions So Lord I beseech thee to blesse all
and euery part of my soule and bodie in all holinesse and sanctity that in all my life I may truely walke before thee in â—iâ—â—all feare and obedience and be of an vpright conuersation before the sonnes men Grant this for Christ thy Sonne Amen O Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer before the receiuing of the holy Communion or the Lords Supper THis holy Sacrament is called the Lords Supper because Christ Iesus did institute the same at his last Supper with his Disciples It is called the holy Communion because many faithfull communicate together at this holy Table as common partakers together of the body and blood of Christ. It is left vnto vs to be receiued of vs as a seale of our adoption into the inheritance of that newe Ierusalem purchased by Christ. It is a mysterie and therefore not vnderstood according to the spirituall end by the outward and carnall eating and drinking of the bread and wine which are onely visible signes of an inuisible vertue which maketh the worthy and truely faithfull receiuers liuely members of Christes mysticall bodie And yet not euery one that partaketh of this holy Table is therefore a member of Christ for the outward communicating not only auayleth nothing to the vnworthy Receiuer but turneth to his greater condemnation as appeareth in Iudas And therefore a most fearefull thing it is to presume to come to this holy Table with an vnprepared heart though aswell the vnworthy as the worthy Receiuers vnderstand by the letter of the word that the Body of Christ crucified vpon the Crosse is signified by the Bread his blood shed signified by the powring out of the wine yet how the Receiuer doth eate the flesh and drinke the blood of Christ euery Receiuer vnderstandeth not And therefore a dangerous presumption it is lightly and rashly to presse to this holy Table as if the bread and wine were of ordinary vse the taste and verdure of either differing nothing to the carnall sence from ordinary bread and wine But such is the spirituall vse as it worketh either to the saluation or damnation of euery one that receiueth Euery man receiueth as he is prepared in his heart The godly affected and sanctified that haue truely tasted and do retaine the grace of Gods holy Spirit bringing forth fruits worthy amendment of life partake worthy of this holy mystery But they that remaine in their sinnes carnally minded such as delite in the workes of darkenesse worldly and fleshly vanities what shew soeuer they make of the outward reuerent receiuing of this blessed Sacrament they doe but eat and drinke their owne damnation because they make no distinction or difference betweene this holy Table and the ordinary table of carnall meates They onely feele and feede on the visible signes but the spirituall and inuisible grace they taste not of Therefore it behooueth all that purpose to communicate at this holy Table first to examine how they stand prepared or vnprepared if they find themselues fit to partake of this heauenly mysterie it will appeare in their regeneration and renewed life by truely belieuing in the name of Christ Jesus by vnfeinedly louing one another as Christ commanded by well weighing and duely considering their wayes and turning themselues in faith and obedience to the commandements of God by truely repenting their sinnes and applying their hearts to righteousnesse and true holinesse He that is not thus prepared but continueth in his sinnes in infidelitie and disobedience ought to forbeare this holy Sacrament and to imploy his heart to search all his imperfections to seeke the meanes of reformation by the ministerie of the word and prayer left he come to this holy Table thinking to please God with a bare shew of Religion hauing neither faith nor repentance offering the sacrifice of fooles And so in stead of remission of sinnes promised to the worthy Receiuer hee increase his owne condemnation by vnworthy receiuing A Prayer to bee said before the receiuing of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. O Gracious Lord God Father of our Sauiour Christ Iesus and in him ours I thy poore creature wretched and ful of sinne doe here humbly fall downe in thy presence to be partaker of that holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of that Lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world Iesus Christ who tooke vpon him the burden of thy heauy indignation inkindled against all the sonnes of sinning Adam and refused not the ignominious death of the crosse to take away the curse which lay vpon all mankind pressing vs all downe euen to the hels hath redeemed againe into thy fauour and reconciled to thy grace as many as truly beleeue in his death satisfaction Thy mercy Lord did it wonderfull in our eyes yea a worke beyond the apprehension of humane wisedome a mystery incomprehensible Open therefore the eyes of our spirituall vnderstandings that we may comprehend and take holde by a liuely faith of the free remission of our sinnes and consequently of our reall and perfect adoption into the right of inheritance of eternall glory with Christ in the heauens Reueale Lord God euer louing this most hidde and heauenly mysterie vnto euery one here gathered together to partake of this holy Table and giue vs vnderstanding hearts truly to know what a high and heauenly mystery we here are to communicate for we cannot but acknowledge that although the creatures whereof we desire corporally to partake be visible and our eating the bread and drinking the wine be vnto vs in taste and verdure as are other like bread wine yet there is an inuisible and spirituall operation in the worthy and vnworthy receiuing namely saluation or damnation as appeareth in that vnworthy and most wicked Judas But good Father as he was marked from among the rest of thy Disciples to reprobation let this thine holy ordinance be a sure seale vnto vs of our saluation howsoeuer vnable we are to comprehend the height depth of thy great mercie and wisedome which in this most holy Communion thou offerest for the saluation of all worthy receiuers But who Lord can account himselfe worthy who dare presume to approch vnto this holy and heauenly Banquet of the Lambe as of his owne merit to partake worthily How can sinfull man by eating the bread and drinking the wine assure himselfe of remission of his sinnes not being spiritually instructed in this heauenly mystery Sinne and sanctitie truth and error light and darknesse agree not and therefore man as he is in himselfe by nature corrupt ignorant and in the shadow of death cannot worthily partake of this mystical banquet of the body and bloud of thy Sonne our Sauiour without the inward working of thy grace in his heart whereby it may please thee to giue him a liuely feeling of his imperfections a desire and power to cast off the lothsome clogge of sin and to be truely sanctified to the participation of so effectuall a
corporall portion or that hee will giue thee patience that may inure hope that may euer hold fast the assurance of the glory to come To which purpose the prayer following or the like may much stead thee and comfort thee A Prayer to be sayd in pouerty and want of this lifes necessaries ALmightie Lord God most powerfull and most louing I humbly recommend my selfe into thy holy protection and to thy fatherly prouidence who madestine and createdst me of nothing and I came into this world poore and wretched bringing nothing with me but nakednes and original miserie more hardly bested of mine owne power then the beast that perisheth And in this manner all men came and daily come into the world from Adam to the last that shall be borne into the earth yet in thy great and vnsearchable wisedome thou disposest of men in diuers maners according vnto thine owne will Some Lord thou makest Princes of the world some abiects in the world and yet neither the greatest nor the meanest by their high or low estate can bee iudged by humane reason happy or vnhappy Teach me therefore true wisedome Lord that I may rightly conceiue and iudge of mine owne â—enury and pouerty not as a iudgement inflicted but as a fauourable and fatherly portion giuen me lest I should presume vpon and rest the more secure consequently become the more proud of a more rich and more glorious worldly estate for thou Lord best knowest whether pouerty or riches be most agreeable to my condition and therefore I humbly accept and embrace that portion which thou hast giuen me though it be to flesh and bloud harâ— and vnpleasant make it yet good father spiritually sweet vnto 〈◊〉 by thy grace because it is thy will that I should be poore in worldly make me so much the more rich in heauenly things So shall I boâ— my portion Lord great and glorious howsoeuer I seeme outwardly base and abiect It is manifest that thou causest the Sun to shine and the raine to fall vpon the good and the wicked So giuest thou and distributest riches and pouertie to the iust and vniust but to diuers ends and they likewise receiue and vse them diuersly the first both riches and pouertie to one only end namely to thy glory and their own true comfort being rich as if they were poore being poore as if they possessed all things and this by the working of thy holy Spirit on their sanctified hearts Sanctiste my heart therefore Lord and giue mee patience and a truely contented minde in my greatest wants and vnfained thankfulnesse for the least supplie or encrease of thy bountie towards me and let not my poore estate direct me as it doth the hypocrites who in prosperitie waxe proud and in pouertie grudge and murmure and so offend thy Maiestie who workest all for the best to them that are thine my weakenesse by Nature I confesse to bee such as I am prone to fall both in fulnes and in want And were I not vpholden by thy grace I should in the one run headlong into many noysome iustes and forbidden vauities and by the other into vniust dealing to supplie mâ— necessities And therefore good and gracious father I humbly pray thee for Christ thy Sonues sake either to inlarge my portion in a competent measure that I be not driuen through too much penurie to repine as of mine owne nature I am apt or els giue me that true patience through a liuely faith in thy prouidence and mercie that may worke in me that hope that may neuer make me ashamed The world thou knowest Lord loueth her owne on whom she fawâ—es But thy base ones are hatefull vnto worldlings disdained and abhorred which is a sharpe tryall and made thine owne dearest Dauid to stagger in his troubles and welnere made he shipwraâ—h of his faith and constancie but when hee considered thy purpose in afflicting him when he had consulted with thy word he then found and confessed that it was good for him that thou haddest afflicted him Lord lend an eare vnto my petition and remember thy promise in Christ thy beloued that thou wilt lay no more vpon thine then they shall be able to beare Lord thou knowest my weakenesse to beare this heauy burden of pouertie and disgrace among the sonnes of men therefore let it please thee to make it more light or giue me sufficient strength and then lay what thou wilt vpon me more onely Lord be mindfull of me who knowest what I neede before I aske And therefore giue me grace to auoyde that presumption which offereth to limite thee the holy one of Israel either in the time the manner or matter of my helpe I will rest me only vpon thy prouidence and mercy make hast to helpe O Lord my God my strength and my Redeemer Amen O Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said of such as are in prison AS libertie is a great blessing of God and much pleasing vnto all creatures reasonable and vnreasonable So is imprisonment and restraint most vnsauorie to man and beast Although some men rather make choice to liue in that kind of captiuitie then to tedeeme their freedom by discharging a sound sincere conscience by paying their debts being able or yeelding vnto some honest lawful condition for refusing whereof they indure wilfully vndergoing that which with more sincerity they might auoid which kind of voluntarie imprisonment implyeth a most vnchristian disposition For how can he that knoweth he doth ill and perseuereth therein thinke that the prayers which he maketh can be acceptable to God admit his resolutioÌ„ be grounded on will not to giue way to his aduersaries iust demaund it is erronious and dangerous yea though it arise in regard of a fatherly care and affection he hath to his children and posteritie If hee shew not himselfe willing to make satisfaction according to his abilitie If then the Creditor obdurate wil not accept his honest offer his helpe is then in God to whom he must repaire in faithfull prayer that he will be pleased either to moderate the extremitie of the Creditors demand or to inable him to satisfie the debt But as mens occasions of dealing and their mutuall commerce are many and diuers so are there diuers causes of mens restraint and imprisonment and all are or ought to be lawfull and iust The lawful restraint ought to be the more grieuous because it is alwayes for breach of the law the vniust festraint needs not much presse the conscience for that he is innocent of the accusation or crime suggested for it is farre better to be falsly then truely accused But for asmuch as there are diuers occasions of this affliction it behoueth euery man thus restrained to consider with himselfe that whether it be iustly or vniustly layd vpon him it is not yet by chance for God obserueth in vs what we our selues conceiue not of our selues and punisheth sinne after a
diuers manner And therefore though a man say he hath this â—nflicted vpon him vpon an vniust complaint or for a cause surmised and vntrue yet doth God bring it so to passe by such instruments as are fitte in his prouidence to be though against their wils the Phisitians of his children for among many medicines that God vseth to cure our spirituall leproâ—â—â— this Imprisonment be it in respect of the purpose of the instrument right or wrong is one of the principall and the more auaileable by howmuch it is capitall for when a man is bodily fettered and gyued that he cannot walke at his former desired libertie and is in feare of the censure of the law then is the minde set at large not restrained as before with the dâ—sires of forbidden vanities but making vse of the time recapitulateâ— the course of his former libertie 〈◊〉 loosenesse which then appeareâ— most when the body is lest at liber 〈…〉 he recommendeth himselfe to Gâ—â— mercy Therefore for what cause soeuer a man is in this manner restrained if he haue the wisedome of the spirit to make true vse of the same it is profitable though ignominious and disgracefull And though such as are in a spirituall capâ—iuitie themselues and neuer in possibilitie to redeeme their libertie through all eternities will scoâ—â—e at poore men 〈…〉 strained and bee the cruell executioners of their restraint which is but for a moment in respect of theirs and nothing grieuousin respect of the perpetuall torments they shall indure in the infernall dungeon with the reprobate spirits Therefore take in good part thy captiuity whatsoeuer thou'be and for whatsoeuer cause it be make vse of it in redeeming of thine abused libertie aske mercy seeke the fauour of God by true repentance submit thy selfe to the Lords will in well doing in repentance and prayer make Iesus Christ thine aduocate to worke th 〈…〉 atonement with God the father and remember what holy men haue gone before thee in this affliction Muâ—aiaâ— the Lords Prophet Ioseph a chosen of God Paul Peter and other the Saints of God in the olde and new Testaments and since many worthy sonnes and seruants of God aswell as many prophane men who by their imprisonment haue become holy and sanctified It is a furnace to refine the gold to euaporat the sulphur and to consume the drosse And such as haue no spirituall puritie it makes to 〈…〉 eare the dregs of confusion and reprobation and the pure gold to shine as the sunne A Prayer to be said of one in prison for what cause soeuer changing the wordâ— according to the occasion here set down GRacious Lord God the most iust most wise thou disposest all things for all men according to thine own will in mercy and iudgement In both which the wisest caruall man is most ignorant censuring thy waies according to his weake vnderstanding taking and imagining thy fauour and loue towards men to consist it thy plentifully furnishing them with the fulnes of worldly carnal comforts thy hatred anger to appeare by leauing them naked of corporall consolation imprisonment to be the highest argument of thy heauiest displeasure But thou Lord knowest thine owne ends in restrayning men of their libertie wherin they haue scope to run into all forbidden vngodly actions delighting themselues in vanities in wantonnes sinful security and therfore thou restrainest theÌ„ whom thou louest lest their liberty should so admit carnall delights as thy feare being farre off there should be neither time place or occasion to call vpon thee but thy Iudgements are secret therfore mistakeÌ„ of the seeming wisest men of the world who looke not wherunto their own liberty tendeth as to occasion them to run into forbidden lustes consequently into a reprobate sence wherein yet they dreame of highest happinesse And thy mercies are also misconceiued of such as want the light of thy sauing truth as all men doe by nature who thinke euery affliction or crosse bitter and vnpleasant but imprisonment the sharpest tryal that can befall them Flesh and blood Lord cannot conceiue but as thou hast made all thy creatures at their beginnings free So should man thy most excellent creature be euer free and liue at libertie But thou knowest man better then man knoweth himself and seest and considerest whether libertie or imprisonment is most profitable vnto him and forasmuch as I am of the number of them whom thou pleasest to trie with this kind of affliction and of the number also of such as are by nature ignorant whether this thy tryall be in mercy and iudgement Teach me Lord the right rule of diuine knowledge that I may truly find this thy correction to bee in mercy that thou hast found me out in mine offending course of life and that my liberty rather tended to thy dishonour and mine owne danger then to the true seruice of thee and mine owne true comfort And therefore assist me with thy sweet and truly comforting grace that I may make a godly vse of my restraint namely Lord to abandon all the remembrance of former carnall delights vulesse to repent them and wholy and altogether to dedicate my selfe to the meditation of diuine and heauenly things to earnest zealous and faithfull continuall prayer for the increase of thy mercies towards me and mine obedience towards thee And that it may please thee Lord so to season this thy medicine of Imprisonment vnto me with the gift of true patience that it may make meÌ„e to abhorre from hence forth the vanities wherein I delighted in my libertie that if thy pleasure bee to restore me to my former freedome I may liue as if I were still really restrained Thou Lord knowest the harts of those by whose means in thy prouidence I suffer this restraint and the cause on my part If for debt say thus WHich I confesse to bee iust in that I am-indebted and not able to make present and full satisfaction vnto my creditors But I appeale vnto thy mercy and prouidence beseeching thee to mitigate the extremitie and rigour of their desires that thus oppresse me or else raise vp some comfortable preuailing meanes to inable me to pay all that I owe vnto al men that I owe nothing to any man but loue Thou didst incrense the oyle and meâ—â—e of the istressed widow of Sareptha so as she was inabled to pay what she ought thy power is still the same thy loue is not lessened towards them that loue thee giue me that loue Lord So shall my want and mine imprisonment and all other crosses worke together for my greater consolatioÌ„ through Christ. Amen If for matter for which life or member is in danger say thus WHich I cannot but acknowledge to be deseruedly inflicted vpon me for I haue not onely transgressed thy lawes but broken the precepts of thine anointed and stand worthy of the censure of corporall punishment But thou art a merciful God and disposest the hearte
in Iesus Christ iâ— hope that thou wilt either restore me to happie health or in thy good time take me to thy more happ 〈…〉 kingdome and howsoeuer the will shall be make me patient in my greatest fits of paine and 〈◊〉 mitigate the extremitie of my disease that I be not driuen to bee sencelesse of my sinnes or forgetfull of thy promises through the violennce thereof nor lay more vpon me Lord then I shall be able to beare Another prayer to be said of a sicke man I Doâ— confesse vnto thee Oh father my sinnes for which I do acknowledge thou doest deseruedly afflict me I cannot beare nor vndergoe the stripes that I haue deserued at thy hands who knowing thy will haue not done according vnto the same but haue cast thy holy CommaÌ„dements and mine obedience vnto them behinde my backe what I should not haue done that I haue done and what I should haue done I haue not done O vnprofitable seruant that I haue bin yet cast me not away good father for I am the worke of thine owne hands as touching the framing of this my earthly tabernacle as for sinne it is of myselfe therein was I begotten and borne and thereby doe I daily offend thee and so much the more haue I sinned by how much I haue enioyed the health and strength of my bodie and the vse of my sences and I cannot but acknowledge Lord that it is good for-me thaâ— thou hast afflicted mee with this thy fatherly visitation giue me grace to accept it as a fauour of thine and the fruit of thy mercie for my renouation and reformatiâ—on and let not Satan suggest or perswade mee that it is in iudgement as the fruit of thine indignation to driue me to despaire of the sauing health The health of my bodie is a sweet blessing vnto me yet thou knowest Lord what a spurre it is to forbidden vanities And sicknes as it is in it selfe is most grieuous and lothsome yet being seasoned with thy inward grace a sweet remedie against the killing disease of sinne Oh show it downe Lord into my distressed soule the sweet showres of thy sanctifying Spirit that I may hee sanctified throughout so shall my sicke and weake bodie bee richly and sweetly comforted in this comfortlesse condition which were it not supported by thy fauour loue could not but faint al the powers both of my soule bodie faile within me Oh speak coÌ„fortable things Lord vnto thy diseased seruant extend a fatherly helping hand to make my bed in my sicknes Thou art the Physitian of our soules bodies I am sicke in both cure me Lord in both my sicke soule hath need of the bloud of the Lambe to refresh it and to clense it from spirituall leprosse and my body Lord lieth at the foot-stoole of thy mercy and as thou by thy word didst make me in the beginning so by thy word canst thou reuiue me that am neere both spiritually corporally dead If thou in thy wisedome thinke that this my infirmity be more profitable vnto me then health or death more coÌ„uenient for me theÌ„ life performe thine owne good pleasure towards me only make me inwardly and outwardly ready that I setting both the houses of my soule and bodie in order through Christ I may recommend both into thy most sacred and sauing disposition Grant this Oh Father for Iesus Christ thy beare Sonnes sake who liueth and raigneth with thee in the heauens with whome and in whom grant Lord that I may liue and after this life raigne for euermore Amen O Lord increase my faith euermore Meditations vpon the sicke mans recouerie of his health I Will prayse thee O Lord with all my heart and I will magnifie thy name for euer for many are thy mercies towards me for thou hast deliuered my soule from the lowest graue Therefore now as thâ—â— hast renued my outward health renue my inward obedience Rectifie my iudgement make true peace in my conscience blesse my sences purifie my affections order my memorie increase and con 〈…〉 e my loue of thee who hast shewâ—â— me more mercies and fauours then my tongue can expresse O my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within thee praise his holy name my soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits which forgiueth all thy sinnes and healeth all thine infirmities which hath redeemed thy life from the graue crowned thee with mercie and louing kindnesse which filleth thy mouth with good things and renueth thine age as an Eagle Thou Lord are full of compassion and mercie slow to anger and of great goodnesse thou wilt not alway childe neither keepest thou thine anger for euer Thou hast not dealt with mee according to my sinnes nor rewarded mee according to mine iniquities As a father hath compassion on his sonne so hast thou compassion on them that feare thee I will praise thee O Lord among the people I will sing vnto thee in the congregation of the Saints for thy mercie is great aboue the Heauens and thy truth reacheth vnto the cloudes Thou knowâ—st whereof I am made Thou remembrest that I am but dust Let my soule therefore liue and it shall prayse thee Lord increase my faith and confirme it ouermore in Christ Iesus Amen A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said of such as visite a sicke friend or brother MAn that is borne of a â—â—man hath but a short time to liue and is full of miserie Therefore is euery man subiect to sicknes and death To bewaile therefore the sickenesse or death of our dearest friends beyond that which is â—it is much to be reproued because it argueth a kinde of discontent that God should visite vs in the visitation of our friends children or dearest parents We must therefore auoid two extreameâ— â—â—â—st that we sorrow not as doe the Heathen that haue no hope of a future better life Secondly wee must beware wee follow not the steps of Ieroboam who â—ought help at the hands of Baal-zebuâ— for his sonne And as did Ahaziah in his owne sicknesse we must rather enter into an holy consideration that God in whatsoeuer he layeth vpon our selues or vpon them we loue as our selues it is for his owne glory and therefore to be praised of vs both for ours the good of those our friends whom he afflicteth if we beleeue his promises that all things shall worke together for the good of them that loue him The best office then and the most Christian duety that a Father can performe for and in the behalfe of his sicke childe or one deare friend or brother for another is first to admonish him that sinnes cause sicknesse and to moue him to repent them that euery man is borne to die and therefore to perswade him to prepare himselfe for another condition not to flatter him as too many doe as that they seenâ— cause why he should feare death at this time they seeme rather to assure him
many if not the wilde beasts of the field other vnsuspected meanes to hurt vs or destroy vs. Moreouer as no man taketh a Iourney in hand but it tendeth to some profitable or nâ—cessary end So â—e wisheth the good successe of his intentions and he that standeth vpon his owne wit or iudgement onely or vpon his owne strength dependeth but on a broken reede and often meerely misseth of his purpose to his apparant hinderance whereas if hee truely and sincerely recommendeth himselfe and his occasions to diuine direction in a liuely faith in Christ Iesus in whom all things are blessed vnto vs he may then assure himselfe that all things shall succeede vnto him for the best So shall he trauaile in assurance rest in safety as when Dauid had recommended himselfe to God though he were in danger yet he lay downe in peace assuring himselfe that it was God that had taken charge of him and would make him dwell in safetie It is a sweet contentment to a faithfull man to rest assured of Gods presence in all his wayes and of the ayde of his holy Angels whom he sendeth ministring spirits for the good of his nothing can hurt them of whom God hath taken charge neither can any thing but prosper which he blesseth vnto vs. And therefore he that wilfully omitteth this holy dutie of seruing the liuing God cannot assure him of any good successe of whatsoeuer he attempteth Lord encrease my Faith A Prayer before a man begin his Lo 〈…〉 〈◊〉 attempt any weighty corporall 〈◊〉 MOst gracious Lord Goâ— most wise louing and prouident who in thy wisedome disposest all things in the loue preseruest them that see 〈…〉 thine aide in thy prouidence 〈◊〉 uentest all dangers prouidest 〈◊〉 necessaries for them that as 〈…〉 them at thy hands Let it pleast thee good father in Iesus Christ to guide me this day in my Journey and giue me good successe of 〈◊〉 occassons for I doe acknowledge mine owne weakenesse and 〈◊〉 blenesse to performe my trau 〈…〉 being but dust ashes not able to endure without the strength of thy grace working strength in my members Many dangers and casualties also lurke in the way where thou art not pleased to be a guide in number and varietie so many as cannot be numbred And therefore gracious Father fauour me so much this day as to accompany me in my wayes send thine â—uly Angels to administer comfort vnto me direction protectioÌ„ that 〈◊〉 going forth comining in may the prosperous and in safetie and leaue me not to my self who am as a beast of my selfe neither knowing what dangers lie in my wayes nor how to auoide them But thou knowest all things takest charge of them that recommend themselues into thy hands thou defendest them and deliuerest them take me Lord into thy defence let no euill happen vnto me be vnto me a strong towre and a place of safetie for nothing can hurt them whom thou keepest keepe mee Lord and I shall bee safe giue ablenesse vnto the creatures which necessitie inforceth mee to vse that they may serue to my vse giue mee all necessaries for my Journey and blesse them vnto mee and as thou Lord knowest whereof I haue neede giue mee dayly and continuall supply according to thy will Thou knowest also mine occasions and the end of my present intended 〈◊〉 nailes let it please thee to worthe for me all things for the best giue me wisedome to manage it and to performe it to the discharge of my godly duetie according to a goâ—â— conscience I commend mee 〈◊〉 thy hands Lord Lord receiue 〈◊〉 keepe me hold me vp that I 〈◊〉 into no perill of soule or 〈◊〉 keepe my cogitations euer holy 〈◊〉 hands cleane my heart pure 〈◊〉 all the parts and powers of my 〈◊〉 by euer prepared with a 〈◊〉 affection to serue thee in a sanctified conuersation to thine own glory and mine euerlasting consolation and send me a comfortable returne Amen Lord encrease my faith and blesse my Iourney A MOTIVE TO Prayer to be said after the returne from a Iourney or comming to the Inne or place of rest ALl men in their Iourneyes wish for good successe but not according to true zeale and that is the reason when they returne safe they doe not giue the glory to God they asked not his presence to be with them and therefore giue they the glory to their owne abilities to trauaile to the goodnesse of the horse and to the good companie they had If euill happen vnto them or hurt befall them they lay it vpon the creature or vpon some suddaine accident neither giuing thanks to God by whose prouidence indeed they returned or came safe to their place of rest nor their crosses to proceed of their sinnes and neglect of the seruice of God If euery man would truely and without partiality enter into the examination of his owne heart how many would finde in themselues a true desire to haue theâ— iourneyes or enterprises blessed 〈◊〉 God by their zealous prayers made vnto him before they attempt them And how many would there be found so thankefull as to prayse God seriously when they returne or come to their place of rest in safetie It is the last worke in euery action And therfore God although he permit forgetfull men to succeed wishedly in their affaires yet retaineth hee their vnthankefulnesse in memorie and often turneth their glory to shame their ioy into sorrow and the things wherunto they ascribe their greatest preseruation into their suddaine destruction It is a matter too common to receiue good at the hands of God and to reward him euilly as doe all men that begin their trauailes without him and seeke not his fauour and direction in their occasions which maketh many to forget their religious thankefulnesse and to be 〈…〉 them to wantonnesse and vanities 〈◊〉 soone as they enter their place of â—bode if but for a night whereas â—deed it behooueth them that professe a diuine prouidence to seeke safety preseruation and direction at the hands of God and hauing receiued the successe be it according or against their desires they may assure themselues it falleth out for the best because God doth all for the good of true beleeuers whatsoeuer is done and therefore requireth thankefulnesse in the conclusion of euery Iourney action or enterprise for true thankefulnesse for a benefite receiued standeth in place of a preuailing petition for and obtaining a newe blessing Lord increase my faith A thankesgiuing after the returne from a Journey or comming safe to a place of rest MOst gracious and louing Lord God I giue thee most humble vnfained thanks that thou so mercifully hast blessed me this day in my Journey and trauailes preseruing me froÌ„ many perils that I haue escaped euen by thine owne power and prouidence and hast in safety brought me vnto this place of rest which yet without thy blessing may becom a place of trouble for as the fields
keepe vnlesse we lay it vp in our hearts for the enemie goeth about to steale it out of our hearts by many carnall delights and vanities It is the seed sowne to bring forth good fruit we must beware that we admit no tares cockle or darnâ—l to grow vp therewith sinne and iniquity let it fructifie in goodnesse and pray that the grace of God watering our hearts may keepe downe the weeds of sinne and fructifie the good fruits of righteousnes to make vs holy and of vpright conuersation before God and men God hath made a promise to the faithfully praying to send his holy Spirit to helpe our infirmities And to this end vse this Prayer following or some to the like purpose whensoeuer thou hearest the Word preached it shall much confirme thee in a godly desire to heare and practise and thou thereby shalt finde comfort in all thy wayes A Prayer to be said after the hearing of a Sermon MOst bountifull and most louing Lord God the giuer of all good things feeder releeuer preseruer of our soules and bodies I yeeld thee most humble and most hartie thankes for that thou at this time hast so louingly and Fatherly reuealed vnto vs thy will out of thy word and haâ—â— made our fainting soules partakers of that celestiall and blessed Manna thy sauing word Good Father as thou hast plentifully now fed vs with the milke of thy sacred word giue it Lord a relieuing and nourishing power to refresh and strengthen our soules to walke before thee in liuely and acceptable obedience and a sanctified conuersation Grant that the word now sowne in our eares may take deepe roote in our hearts and bring forth fruit manifold Let not the enuious man preuaile in casting in amongst thy good seed the cockle tares and weeds of sinne and iniquitie to the peruerting or preuenting of our new obedience Let not the thorny cares of this world trouble and choake nor the vanities of our corrupt mindes vinder the growth of this sauing seed in our hearts Let not the scorching Sun of ouer heauiâ— afflictions cause this fruit of saluation to wither but water it Lord with the continuall dew of thy holy Spirit as our vnfruitful and harren harts shall grow weak wanting this liuely foode supply it Lord from time to time by the preaching of thy word and giue vs diligent eares and obseruing hearts at all times and grant that wee bee not hearers only but doers of thy will And for that our hearts are hard to conceiue open our vnderstandings and for that our memories are short and vnable to retaine the sauing word giue vs hearts of continuall holy meditation that we may be euer chewing the cudde of that heauenly food and so digest the same that it may more more strengthen our faith vnto saluation And let the words O Lord which we haue now and formerly heard neuer returne in vaine but worke that holy effect for which thou hast appointed it namely the increase and confirmation of our faith in thee obedience repentance and newnes of life that we euer more and more hungring and thirsting for this sweete and sauing food may at length bee made able to liue in all holy and spotlesse conuersation before thee our heauenly Father and indeuour with all holy alacritie and ioyfulnes to take the aduantage of all oportunities to heare thee to speake vnto vs to follow and performe what thou commandest and to shun and with carefulnes to auoid what thou forbiddest Let nothing hinder vs Lord from a louing desire to repaire vnto thy house to refresh our soules with the bread of heauen and let vs not couet to bee seene of men onely hearers but found and allowed of thee doers of thy will Grant this Lord for thy Christs sake Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said against malicious aduersaries FOr as much as the holy Ghost testifieth that our Sauiour Christ Iesus had his enemies he liuing in all holines integritie and innocencie should we mortall sinners corrupt and many wayes transgressing wretches thinke much to be hated maligned enuied and persecuted of men or doth any man thinke that if he do as his Master hath commanded hee shall not finde the same measure that his Master found who himselfe did what he would we should do and was only enuied for his well-doing Happie is that man that procureth enemies by his godly conuersation for it is certaine they that hate him for his sinceritie are not his but Gods enemies also But to draw men to hate vs for our vices their hatred is rather 〈◊〉 vertue commendable then a fault reproueable for it tendeth not vnto the hurt of our bodies but the reformation of our liues and as we shall begin to incline to godlines so will the hatred of the godly turn into loue And though Satan then step in to incouÌ„ter vs with his malignant ministers there is no cause to feare for thought thousands compasse vs about to deuour vs there shall be more with vs then with them fiue shal chase an huÌ„dred and an huÌ„dred put ten thousand to flight The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise against thee to fall before thy face 〈◊〉 he made the enemies of Iacob to feare him for he feared God! God sometimes punisheth the enemies of his children by other meanes then by them to whom they are enemies as he gaue the enemies of Lot into Abrahams hands if we obey the Lord he will persecute them that couet to persecute vs though we be silent and desire no reuenge Vengeance is the Lords and he will reward There is no greater reuenge to be offered against an enemie then to leaue him to Gods reuenge and to liue in the presence of the enemy so as he can take no exceptions against our coÌ„uerâ—ation vpright before God and men it breeds a terror in a tyraâ—nous aduersarie to see him whom he hateth to liue in the feare of God furious Saul was aâ—â—aid of Dauid because he saw the Lord was with him If we could truely iudge of Gods purpose in sending vs enemies we should neuer be so disquiâ—ted at their practises against vs whether they threaten to kill vs as Saul did Dauid and the souldiers Paul and Iesabel â—liah or whether they vexe vs at the Law vniustly or slander vs maliciously or work any other mischiefe against vs treacherously if we feare God and rest vpon his prouidence he shall turne all their deuices to our good as he did the enuie of Iosephâ— brethren Ioseph was condemned for an Adulterer Daniel for a Rebell Iob for an Hypocrite and Christ our Sauiour for a Malefactor And how did God worke for these Ioseph was freed and exalted Daniel cleared and iustified Iob restored approued though Christ were condemned for vs he was glorified and shall glorifie vs. Enemies are most necessarie euils as a man may terme them euill in themselues yet necessarie for vs we know that an
enemie desires to heare or see or finde some reprochfull blemish in him whom he loueth not and to that end will obserue and marke our conuersations and will solicite others to prie into our wayes to the end he may bring vs into slander But the man that is wise as a Serpent will seeke also to be innocent as a Doue knowing that he walkes in the light and his enemies are euer attending on his wayes in couert It therefore concernes vs much to consider how we walk before men much more how we stray before our enemies and because it is not in our power to walke before God or men to be vpright the first and principal thing for which we ought to pray is for the grace of God to liue an vpright life that our enemie the diuell haue no aduantage against vs. So shall our corporall enemies be inforced to be silent and hauing clensed and conformed our conuersation to a righteous course then our prayers to God for deliuerie against our enemies will be truely auaileable for then will hee take our cause into his owne hand and he will be our buckler sword and defence and we shall be safe vnder the shadow of his wings especially if we seeke according to the rule of Christ to doe them good that seeke to doe vs hurt for it is the part of a true Christian to seeke atonement euen with his enemies And as the Wise-man counselleth If he that hateth thee be hungry giue him bread Christ commands the same So mayest thou ouercome him and so winne him that his owne conscience shall moue him to turne his hatred into loue or else shalt thou heap coales of wrath on his head and God shall haue respect to thine offering and accept thy prayers Vse therefore this prayer following or some to 〈◊〉 purpose and God shal worke for thee and turne all enmitie of men and Satan to thy good A Prayer against enemies LOrd looke downe in merciâ— from heauen vpon me marke and consider mine enemies what they are and how many that lay wayt to doe me hurt Many 〈◊〉 there is no helpe for me in thee So proud and malicious are they th 〈…〉 they forget that thou art God who defendest the poore and oppressed that call vpon thee They remember that thou â—ittest a righteous Judge to iudge thy people with equitie how thou crushest the enemies of thy people as an earthen pot with a rod of iron Lord let them know that thâ—â— art God 〈◊〉 thy deliuery of me out of th 〈…〉 〈◊〉 They are too strong for 〈◊〉 too wise and politicke toâ— too malicious for Lord thou knowest I would gladly be at peace with them but when I seeke it they 〈◊〉 the more insolent and the read 〈…〉 to oppresse me And therefore I appeale vnto thee for succour to whom saluation belougeth Leade me and direct my wayes aright O Lord because of mine enemies deliuer me from them and saue mee for thy mercies sake O Lord my God I trust in thee saue me from mine enemies and deliuer me lest they deuour me lift vp thy selfe on my side against their malicious furiâ— let their malice come to an end let their snares be broken let their deuices come to nought and their policies wherby they plot my hurt become foolishnes and turne to their own shame Maintaine thou Lord my right and my cause for thou art set in the throne and iudgest right yet deale not with me according to my sinnes But to mine aduersaries what offeÌ„ce haue I committed I know not yet would I be reconciled and liue at peace But if thou haue raised them vp to trie me Lord giue me streÌ„gth and patience and then let them rage and swell for I know thou hast limited their power they cannot doe what they list and therefore J will not feare what they can doe vnto mee they may raile as Shem did on Dauid they may seeke my life as Iesabel did the life of Eliah and as Saul did the life of Dauid they may vow not to eat nor drink vntil they haue done me some mischiefe but thou hast a ring in their nosthrills thou hast bound them within the compasse of thine 〈◊〉 will and power keepe them 〈◊〉 lest they preuaile against me and say thou art not able to deliuer 〈◊〉 out of their hands as they said reprochfully of thee touching thâ— dearest Sonne Let him deliuer him if he will haue him Oh saue me 〈◊〉 deliuer me in that thy Sonne from the power of this malicious generation Thou hast euer beene 〈◊〉 yet art my strength my defence and my saluation therefore shall 〈◊〉 not much be moued at their contentions but vnder the shadow of the wings will I reioyce Teach 〈◊〉 thy way O Lord and I shal walke in thy truth knit my heart 〈◊〉 thee and I will feare thy 〈◊〉 So shal mine enemies 〈◊〉 put to 〈◊〉 lence they watch ouer my way 〈…〉 and couet to catch me in my sinnes and lay baites to allure me to the breach of a good conscience that they may colour their hatred with the seeming desire of sincerity But thou knowest me and them I cannot iustifie mine integritie before thee for I am a man ful of infirmities but these men I haue not offended therefore iudge betweene me and them and leaue me not in their power nor in me a reuenging spirit but rather that I may couet to doe them good that if they will not be hartily reconciled the coales of thy displeasure fall on their 〈◊〉 â—ates And my soule shall reioyce in thee yea I shall reioyce in thy saluation I shall praise thy name who hast deliuered me from him that is too mighty for me And let not mine enemies Lord vuiustly reioyce ouer me let them neuer say in their hearts nor see the day wherein they may truely imagine or say that they haue preuailed against me So shall my tongue vtter thy righteousnes and praise thy goodnes thy prouidence mercies while I haue any being Which grant Lord for thy deare Sonnes sake my only Mediator Amen Lord increase my faith and defend me from mine enemies A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said of euery true Christian for the Ministers and Preachers of the word of God IF men did duely and religiously consider what a blessing it is to haue the word of God sincerely preached vnto them they would be more thankfull to God for them who are as the conduite pipes to bring and conuey the water of life vnto them the glad tidings of peace and reconciliation with God in Christ. Men naturally loue them that giue them corporall food and necessaries they dearely esteeme and reuerence the Nurses and Eoster-fathers that yeeld them but things to strengthen and maintaine their naturall liues and the Physitians by whose art and industrie they perswade themselues to haue receiued health for their bodies And is it not much to be admired that men receiuing the nourishment and vitall streÌ„gth of
their better part the soule should so little regard the meanes by whom they receiue it the Ministers of the word of Saluation the Gospell of Christ Many will protest they loue Christ and yet the contrary appeareth when they not only regard not but despise his Ministers whom hee hath sent as Embassadors of his will We beseech you brethren saith Saint Paul to the Thessalonians that yee haue the Ministers of God in singular loue for their workes sake We should loue all men and pray for all men how much more for them that leade vs to the well of life The same Saint Paul willeth the Ephesians not only to pray in an ordinarie maner but in the Spirit with perseuerance and watchfulnes euen for him that vtterance might be giuen vnto him and that he might open his mouth boldly to publish the secret of the Gospell And are we lesse bound to pray for them that haue the Spirituall charge ouer vs the care and cure of our soules that they may be able to deliuer the Word sincerely to open their mouths boldly to our edification and consolation in Christ And that they namely the Ministers may be deliuered from vnreasonable and euill men for we know that Christ Antichrist Truth and Falsehood Christ and Satan cannot stand together And he that preacheth the word truely is the means to bring men out of darknesse to light from sinne to sanctitie from Satan to Christ. And therefore Satan will euer oppose himselfe and instigate euill men to encounter scandalize and persecute such as are truest and most painefull labourers in Gods Spirituall haruest whereby it commeth to passe that the word of God is oftentimes hindered the Church of Christ diminished Ignorance increased Religion despised Vice aduanced Faith decreased Obedience to God neglected and Truth among men meerely abandoned and cōtemned And al this where Prophecying Preaching faile God giueth not to man a more speciall blessing in earth then the preaching of the word which is as the net to catch men there were three thousand men so catcht at the first preaching of Peter and by his continuance in that spirituall fishing there were caught fiue thousand persons out of the snare of Satan Let all men therefore loue pray for them that thus fish to saue the soules of mē that haue the ouersight and rule ouer them they are the watch men of Christ and whoso loues Christ the Master and Lord cannot but loue his Ministers and pray for them not only as brethren but as men appointed by Corist to direct them the way of saluation And let no man thinke it is not their duetie to pray for them because they are appointed and ought to pray for others and not others for them as some prophanely affirme It is a needfull and required duetie to pray one for another especially for the Ministers who are or ought to be as Gods mouth vnto vs to teach vs his will as Gods hand to support vs by spirituall counsell as Gods eye to obserue our wayes and as Gods Ministers to reproue vs of sinne and to pronounce pardon in Christ to the truely penitent Pray therefore for them that the gifts of the holy Ghost may abound in them that men seeing their good workes may glorifie God our their Father which is in heauē A Prayer to be said for the Ministers of Gods word GRacious and mercifull O Lord our God art thou in all thy wayes and workes towards men and in nothing more gracious then in thy word preached vnto vs whereby thou doest open and reueile vnto vs the mystery of our saluation according to thy good pleasure in Christ our Lord. Thou teachest vs heauenly wisedome in earth by thy holy Spirit giuen vnto men whom thou doest set apart to that holy function as men chosen to winne men to thee And for as much as neither thy beloued Saints Peter nor Iohn nor Paul could preach or prophecie before they were sent neither were they sent before they were sanctified Sanctifie and send foorth Lord worthy Labourers into thine haruest and sanctifie and blesse them whom thou hast sent with such spirituall gifts and graces as may enable them to be instant in season and out of season that they may winue many vnto thee Inlighten their hearts with the light of true knowledge Touch their tongues with the coale from thine Altar that their lips may preserue knowledge and in their hearts may bee true zeale that they may still call vpon thy children to walk in the light of thy truth And as thou diddest send downe vpon thine Apostles the holy Ghost in fiery tongues to teach thē so instill into the hearts of all thy Ministers Preachers of thy word the fire of true zeale a godly boldnes to speake thy truth without respect of persons not to flatter the wicked nor to spare the rebuking of sin and let them comfort the weake harted let thē be able to bring them that erre into the right way that they may conuert liue that they may beleeue liue for Faith cōmeth by hearing and hearing by the preaching of thy word Let therefore the beautiful fruit of thē plentifully appeare amongst vs that bring glad tidings of peace which thē the glad tidings of our saluation And let thē speak nothing but as thy word teacheth thē that they may be foūd good disposers of thy graces Let their conuersatiōs be vpright before thee let thē be as lights set on a hill that they may teach as well by the example of their owne liues as by preaching thy Word that thou in all things mayest be glorified through Iesus Christ to whom is praise and dominion for euer and euer Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer for the Church Uniuersall THe Church which S. Paul calleth the House of God 1. Tim. 3. 15. is the Congregation of the faithfull dispersed throughout the world and in regard of the vniuersalitie thereof is called the Church Catholike Of which Vniuersalitie are many and seuerall societies distinct by place vnited by faith And euery seuerall company professing one and the same truth confessing one and the same faith and holding one and the same forme of administration of the Sacramēts are one intire bodie which bodie is the vniuersall Church wherof Christ is the head one Spouse whereof Christ is the husband He hath begotten this dispersed congregation by vertue of his word and made them one by the vnity of his Spirit By which Spirit the Fathers belieued in Christ before the came in the flesh and were of the same mysticall bodie whereof we that beleeue his word being come are also members and whereof Christ Iesus hath bin is and shall be the euerlasting head The parable of the Sower which Christ propounded Matth. 13. 24. sheweth by the euill seede mixed with the good that this Church shall neuer be free from offences both in doctrine and manners vntill the day of the fina 〈…〉
thâ—â— hast appointed Counsâ—llâ—rs of Estate vnder our King by the rule of right reason and diuine wisedome that all their consultations and determinations may tend vnto and come to a holy eâ—d being 〈◊〉 rated in thy feare and sanctified by prayer Heare our petitions for them heare them for themselues and vs and heare them and vs for the safetie of thiâ—â— Anointed for the good of thy Church pr 〈…〉 and peace of thy people in and for thy Christ our solâ— and only 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 to whom with 〈◊〉 and the holy â—â—â—st be praise 〈◊〉 nally Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee vsed of Iudges and Superiour Magistrates that haue power and authoritie to heare and determine causes betweene man and man which Motiue is fit to be often read and considered of â—hem ABoue all the men in the world Iudges superiour Magistrates and Ministers of Gods word haue greatest cause to seeke wisdome and iudgement at the hands of God by prayes for that Rule and gouernment is giuen them of the Lord and power by the most high who will trie their workes and search their imaginations Wisd. 6. 2. 〈◊〉 If they iudge iustly he will iustifie their Iudgements but if they perueit Iustice horrible and sudden will be â—ppâ—are vnto them a â—ard iudgemeÌ„t shall they haue that rule and rule not according to right Let them pray that God will giue them grace to keepe their hearts vpright and their hands cleane for nothing peruerâ—â—th the heart of a Iudge as do bribes they bewitch him they make him of a free maÌ„ a slaue for being once corrupted with reward he letteth slip the reines of Iustice and wresteth the cause to the Briber whose hireling he is whereby the iust man is oppressed and the oppressor freed the lawes of God neglected the lawes of Common-weales peruerted the King abused Subiects wronged the common peace indangered Gods iudgements threatned confusion feared God will be a seuere Iudge of all partial corrupt Iudges the people shal perish where bribery corruption ouerswayeth Iustice The Iudges of the house of Iacob the Gouernours of the house of Israel did abhor Iudgement and peruert equity they iudged for rewards thinking as corrupt Iudges doe that God saw them not in their priuate studies and therefore could there bee no accuser consequently no danger follow But the Iudges were punished the people oppressed Sion plowed as a field Ierusalem became a heape of stones Mich. 3. 9. 11. Such desolation followeth where Iudges are corrupt where the Priests teach for hire and the Prophets prophesie for mony These may be all set in the table of Iudges Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill Iudges were coupled together by Micah the Prophet and therefore may they heare one and the same admonition namely that they be diligent to seeke wisdome and learning together Ye are al Iudges of things in the earth and in earthly vessels of things Diuine I indeuour not to teach them but to moue them to seeke wisdome at the fountaine Iehouah of him to learne Iudgement for he shall be the Iudge of their Iudgements and he shall reward them that take reward against the innocent If therefore they would remember and ruminate the exhortatioÌ„ of Iehoshaphat which he gaue to the Iudges in his time that they should take heed what they did considering they executed not the iudgements of men but of God They would bee circumspect in iudging and the more if they considered what Iehu said vnto Iehoshaphat Wilt thou helpe the wicked and loue them that hate the Lord As all Iudges doe if for affection or bribes they suppresse a iust and preferre an vniust cause Iudges may bee compared to beautifull women in their places for as the deformed are seldom or neuer assailed or tempted to incoÌ„tineâ—â—ie but the beautifull eagerly often So coÌ„mon persons are seldom or not at al tempted with brib 〈…〉 but Iudges and Magistrates strongly and many times And happie is that Iudge that keepeth his hart free from parriall affection and his hands from gifts A Iudge first mounting into his chaire of Iudgement ought to prâ—meditate of the weighty taske hee hath vndertaken for hâ—â— is entred as into the seat of God himselfe in his â—â—ead to execute Iustice iustly If they fore he poruert Iudgement he doth what in him lieth to make God vniust It is an office not vashly to be desired not vnaduisedly to be vndertaken for if they runne before desert and finde not in themselues fitnes for experience and sinceritie and be there unto called as God commanded Moses to constitute such to be Iudges of the people as would administer righteous Iudgement fit it were to forbeare But being lawfully called and finding â—â—tnes inwardly for gifts let him theâ— pray that God will inable him with wisdome and 〈◊〉 Iudgement that he may discharge a good coÌ„science without respect of persons or bribes two strong enemies to Iustice and impossible it is to preuent them without the especiall grace of God who being instantly petitioned is readie to giue wisdome and to keep the hart cleane from vniust rewards pray therefore and be warned yee that bee Iudges of the earth for fire shall consume the houses of bribers Iob 15. 24. A Prayer to be vsed of Iudges and Magistrates O Gracious and merciful Lord God Father of mercie inst in Judgement absolute in wisdome pure and holy in all thy waies and works Lend thine eare of mercie vnto my petitions who am a man weak in vnderstanding ignorant in iudgement apt to erre in opinion vnworthy of the high calling whereunto thou hast aduanced me to execute Justice and JudgemeÌ„t as in thy stead in earth and in thy name to giue sentence according to equity But I am by nature of a corrupt heart of prâ—phane lips and of a deâ—â—led conuersation Therefore of mine own disposition and wisedome vnable to iudge iustly and consequently vnfit for so high a function But thou louing Father art the fountain of wisdome the directer of the hart the mouer of the tongue the giuer of true knowledge And therfore I do huÌ„bly beseech thee to fill my hart with wisedom from aboue my will with equity mine vnderstanding with iust iudgement that I laying aside all mine own wit policy pretended prudence which naturally is meerely carnall may only rely vpon thy holy heaueÌ„ly direction and obtaine it that I rightly coÌ„ceiuing the equity of all causes that shal be tendred vnto my censure I may iudge iustly between parties without respect of persons that I may truly imitate thee who art iust in thy iudgements acceptest no person for reward Giue me an vnderstaÌ„ding hare to distinguish between truth falshood between the wronged the wrong-doer that I punish not the iust let the wicked goe free Let no priuate respect Lord eyther of mine owne benefit or steeding a friend miscarry my iudgement but let thine owne glory and reueiled
Let thy lawes be alwayes before their eyes let them neuer swarue from thy statutes in condemning the innocent and instifying the wicked Blesse them Lord with true knowledge of the word direct them by thy holy Spirit so shall they not erre in Judgement and thy people be freed frâ—â— iniustice and wrongs thy Church shall be in peace and euery member receiue iustice the Common-weale shall flourish righteousnesse and peace shall meete together mercie and truth shall imbrace each other Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to be said of a man or woman vnmarried intending to marrie IT is the highest point of discretion in a man or woman to bee very carefull and circumspect in making choice of a husband or wife for rash and vnconsiderate mariages haue bred dangerous inconueniences not only betweene the man and wife in inferiour families but Cities and Kingdomes haue bene ruined by vnequall irreligious vnions of men and women of contrarie humors qualities and conditions Gods holy institution prophaned religion slaundered and the Church of God offended Mariage maketh two persons one before God but how can light and darknesse truth and falshood sinne and sanctitie good and euill agree can fire and water be at vnion in one vessell how then can a faithfull man marrying an Infidel a good woman knitting her selfe to a ribald a religious man or womaÌ„ vniting her self to a wicked and irreligious partie become one holy body How can it be but the euil wil rather peruert the good then the good reforme the euil For al men and women are by nature more apt to be ouercome with duill then to permit their euil to be ouercome 〈◊〉 goodnesse And therefore dis 〈…〉 premeditation holy consultation 〈◊〉 deepe deliberation ought to p 〈…〉 this kind of resolution Lawfull it is for euery man and woman to 〈…〉 ie yet in the Lord namely in his feare in a reuerend regard of his holy institution respecting the ends of that holy mysterie procreation of children mutuall societie and helpe one of another And how standeth the coniunction of the religious and prophane of the beleeuer and the infidell of the godly and the wicked with the former ends Can there be concordance or sweete societie betweene these contraries It may be said that the vnbeleeuing wife shall thâ— saued by the beleeuing husband and t 〈…〉 vnbeleeuing husbaÌ„d by the beleeuing wife but not without the beliefe of either for the vnbeleeuing wife must learne to beleeue of the beleeuing husband and the vnbeleeuing husband of the beleeuing wife and so bee saued otherwise he or she shall not be saued for euery man and woman shall be either saued by his or her owne faith or not at all But for a man or woman for any carnall respect to aduenture coniunction with the contrary minded and qualified tempteth God and consequently in steade of a promised blessing to them that marry in the feare of God a threatned curse followes them The godly wife of the religioâ—s husband shall be as a fruitfull vine vpon the walles of his house his children like oliue branches round about his table Thus shall the man and wife bee blessed that feare the Lord. This blessing yet consisteth not in the fruitfulnesse of the wife nor multitude of chlidren onely for so haue many heathens bene blessed that neither know God nor feare him But the substance of the blessing is in the vertues and religious carriage of the louing wife and in the obedience and goodnesse of the children wherewith God will blesse a godly man and vertuous wife for there cannot be in it self a greater burden or crosse to a vertuous father then to haue many and they vitious children It behooueth therefore these kindes of vnmarried persons to obserue in this weighty action some necessarie rules the first not to consummate the contract without approbation of their parents or gouernours secondly if either partie respect any priuate end more then the vertue and religious conuersation of the other that partie giues testimonie that it is not the feare of God that he or she standeth vpon but the satisfaction of his or her carnall affection which commonly is met withall in the iustice of God with many crosses and domesticall or forraigne afflictions wherefore it behoueth euery man or woman thus intending to couple him or her selfe in marriage with any to aske counsell of God in prayer So no doubt but God according to his promise will be the marriage maker and yeeld them mutuall continuing comfort one of another But if they rashly run into it without the approbation and allowance of the word of God it is seldome auoided but mischiefe or misery succeedeth A Prayer to be sayd of a man or woman vnmarried intending to marrie O Gracious euerliuing and most louing Lord God vouchsafe I humbly beseeth thee as thou in the beginning diddest create man and woman and diddest institute the holy order of marriage that the one of them might be a helper vnto the other and hast confirmed and approued this holy coniunction by many diuine examples of thy blessed presence As also by thy prouidence in ayding and assisting the vnmarried depending on thee to make their choice according to the rule of right religion Be pleased Lord that I feeling in my self a desire to enter into this sacred order may be directed by thee that I setting apart all carnall respects as chiefe motiues I may aime onely and altogether to make such a choice as aboue all things may please thee who art the authour and giuer of all goodnesse without whose prouidence and direction things of meanest importance cannot be effected without great affliction and danger And by whose fauour mercy things of weightiest consequence are easily and most comfortably brought to passe Forasmuch therefore gracious father as this mysterie of marriage is most high and honourable among all men the bed vndeâ—â—led Let mee not rashly runne into my choice as if mine owne wisedome or naturall policie could worke my contentment or comfort But aduise thou me and direct me O Lord and although I confesse it not expedient that I should expect from thee publike reuelatioÌ„ or visible Angels to leade me yet let thy holy Spirit so guide mine affections that I like not whom thou thinkest not meet to be conioyned vnto me in thy feare But let all things so succeede my proceedings as may argue and assure me of thy fatherly furtherance and diuine allowance as thou diddest in all things further with blessed successe the seruant of Abraham in choosing a wife for Isaac So let all things O Lord be blessed vnto me preuent mine owne desires if they concurre not with thy good pleasure and alter my will and intention if they answere not thy will and giue me an vnderstanding and feeling heart that I giue not way vnto my naturall motions and vaine inclination which in this single estate often ouerswayeth in me the rule of right reason
And graunt that I may duely consider that two thus conioyned shall be made one flesh And therefore not vnaduisedly to be attempted lest of a member of Christ my Sauiour I should make my selfe the member of some prophane and wicked person which is not in my power or policie but in thy prouidence to preuent Preuent it Lord and whomsoeuer thou pleasest that I imbrace we may bee both made one intire bodie sanctified throughout in Christ Iesus that our vnion being thus made holy it may resemble that heauenly vnion which is betweene Christ and the Church his spowse And let our hearts and affections bee so truely and intirely knit together in thee that after the consummating of this sacred mysterie betweene vs there may succeede no cause of disparadgement no breach of thy sacred ordinance nor any offence iâ— thy Church But that comming together in thy fauour we may liue in thy feare prosper by thy prouidence be blessed in the fruit of our bodies gouerne our selues and our families religiously liue in thy Church sincerely deale with all meÌ„ iustly and obtaine of thee necessaries plentifully That wee and for all things may giue glory and prayse vnto thee ioyfully and 〈◊〉 our liues in thee faithfully and aâ—ter reigne with thee in glory etâ—â—nally through Christ our Sauiour and euerlasting red 〈…〉 Amen Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to bee sayd of married folkes NAture teacheth euery man and woman to loue themselues what then but the peruersenesse and crookednes of our natures maketh that a man and his wife being of two made one flesh should not loue nourish and cherish one another as the Lord loueth and comforteth his Church Neuer man yet bated his owne flesh saith Saint Paul And therefore Euery man ought to loue his wife as himselfe and let the wife see that she feare her husband Ephe. 5. 33. Whereby it appeareth that vnder loue and feare are comprehended the speciall dueties of man and wife one towards another Loue importeth all desire of ayding and helping and feare implyeth all care and diligence to preuent occasions of offending one the other To this kind of mutuall loue and feare if it bee in the Lord are promised many blessings peace plentie fruitfulnesse and sweetest contentment But if it be counterfeit and vsurped contrary to the holy ordinance of God namely for carnall respects onely there will follow in stead of comfort crosses contentions and many discontentments And therefore it much behooueth men and women thus of two made one to consider the endes of their vniting whether they asked first counsell of the Lord by prayer had the consent of parents and approbation of the word of God If so then to bee vnfeinedly thankefull to God by whose prouidence they became man and wife If they find any impediment or defect in their first insinuation communication or consummation of this high and holy mysterie they are speedily to appeale vnto God for pardon for their not crauing his ayde in so weightie an action and to redeeme their rashnesse by vnfained repentance and prayer Such is the frailtie of our natures as the most men and women erre in this point from the rule of right religion hauing their affections either naturally blinde and miscarried or by the meanes of parents sinisterly wrested Lust and Lucre are two mayne cords to draw the affections of men and women from making conuenient choice according to the rule of Gods word following their owne idle and vaine fantasies comming together not as Christians in the feare of the Lord and in sincere loue but many after a beastiall and brutish manner heaping vpon themselues shame and miserie Their dissembled loue proues hatred their vowes falsified the promise of each to other plighted wilfully and perfidiously broken It behooueth therefore all men and women thus coupled together in marriage to be especially mindfull of their dueties to God for without the sauour of God no true duetie can bee performed by either to other to their children or families Tokens of a good husband are to be louing to his wife to be wise in his words to be milde in his conuersation to be faithfull in his promises to bee circumspect in his gouernment to bee carefull for the education of his children to bee discreete in disposing of his goods to bee patient in troubles and to order his family religiously Tokens of a good wife to be no common gadder abroad to be modest and graue in companie to be neat and alwayes well busied in her house carefully to saue what the husband gets to attend and tender her children motherly to bee modestly silent patiently to suffer constantly to loue her husband prouidently to care for her household And the husband and the wife to bee religiously carefull to please God together So shall God bee pleased to blesse them in all things in their going out and comming in in their house and in the fieldes in their goods and good name in their children and families and whatsoeuer shall concerne their comfort in this life and the life to come A Prayer to be sayd of married folkes either priuatly or mutually together O Heauenly Father that madest in the beginning all things of nothing man of the dust of the earth and woman of the man that as she came of the substance of the bodie flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones So to be reunited vnto man and in a mysticall manner became one body with him by the holy institution of marriage which we hauing by thy prouidence in thy presence solemnized by our mutuall coniunction wee pray thee in Iesus Christ to blesse vs according to thy promise in all things And although through our naturall and originall weakenesse we cannot but confesse that we haue erred from the right and religious rules of thy holy ordinance in yeelding too much vnto our owne carnall desires foolish fantasies and fraile affections Pardon vs we humbly pray thee knowing and wee confessing that flesh and blood cannot so precisely containe but that it will fall into many noysome desires offending thy Maiestie Clense therfore O mercifull Lord God clense our hearts and conforme our conuersations to thy will giue vs power to abandon all lightnesse wantonnesse and vanities that we may become truely and religiously affected one towards another keeping our selues cleane without incastitie without any violating of thy holy ordinance in thought word or deede and our hearts and bodies vndefiled That with the more integritie of loue and heartie obedience towards thee we may passe our limited course of this life And forasmuch as thou knowest Lord that many crosses commonly accompany the estate of wedlocke and many both domesticall and forraigne troubles distract our affections especially while wee remaine in our naturall vanities season them gracious Lord whatsoeuer they be or shall be with thy fauour and loue So shall they not proue the fruits of thy displeasure but of thy meere goodnes to
keepe vs vnderthine obedience Lest our continuing tranquility prosperity should cause vs to forget thee Giue vs we beseech thee holy conuersations that we may euer walke before thee in all vprightnes that we may prosper in all our wayes by thy blessing grant that our children may grow vp in all goodnes vertues honesty religion to means whereby they may passe this their pilgrimage with much spirituall comfort in Iesus Christ. Increase according to thy good pleasure our stocke store multiply thy many blessed benefits vnto vs performe thy promises vnto vs and vnto our seed as thou didst to Abraham Isaac Iaacob and to their seed make vs our seed faithfull that we may be blessed with faithfull Abraham and as the house of Obed edom was blessed for the Arkes sake so Lord blesse vs with thine own presence that we the house wherin we remaine may be euer blessed and all that belongeth vnto vs Through Iesus Christ our only mediatour Amen Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO Parents to stirre them vp to instruct and pray for their children THere can bee no stronger band of loue and mutuall affection betweene humane creatures then is or ought to bee betweene parents and their children being of one flesh blood But this loue appeareth in some by counterfeit markes as by their continual care carke toile in the world to get wealth to inrich their posterity Some in a doting maner pamper vp decke their children like peacocks making them admired guls for their vanities Some through a blind affection not only permit but incourage their children to take their vaine delights and pleasures in dycing carding company keeping drinking and in all kind of vnseemely riotous and irreligious courses and some Ignorants of the world commende such foolish and doting parents But not onely Religion but meere humane reason condemnes this kinde of loue and holds it rather madnesse then modestie rather wickednes then wisdome for Seneca saith It is impossible for that man to be of a vertuous disposition that is wantonly brought vp in rioting and pleasures Wise parents and religious care more how to bring vp their children in honestie vertue and in the feare of God then how to make them to liue wealthily pleasantly and gloriously in the world They consider that it is better for their children to be esteemed of the good for their vertues then to please the phantasies of their fond parents and others by their beautie brauery comlines and the liniaments of their bodies which are most graceful in their silly parents singular opinions yet is it a common course of worldlings to care more for the bodies then for the soules more for the wealth then for the wisdome more for the health then for the happines and more for the present prosperitie then for the future saluation of their dearest children A preposterous kinde of loue and contrarie to the counsell of the holy Ghost who teacheth parents to learne their children the lawes of God as Deut. 6. 7. Thou shalt rehearse them continually vnto thy children shalt talk of them when thou tariest in thine house as thou walkest in the way and when thou liest downe and when thou risest vp In all places at all times and by all meanes parents ought to instruct their children It is reputed a great glorie and a speciall blessing to haue many children but it is not the number but the vertues of them and the comfort parents take of their godly qualities that giueth the blessing Gideon or Ierubaal had 70. children and one of them Abimelech slew threescore and nine of them What comfort or consolation can parents looke for of prophane and irreligious children but griefe and vexation of spirit It behoueth parents therefore not only to take care of the instruction of their children and educating them in the feare of God but to pray for a blessing vpon them also For parents may teach and children may heare but without a blessing from God it little profiteth Paul may plant Apollos may water but it is God that giueth the increase Eli could say vnto his sonnes that were wicked Doe no more so my sonnes do no more so but they reformed not but were slaine by Gods iudgements and at the newes Eli their father fell backward from his seat and brake his necke Adramelech and Sharazer impious sonnes kild Senacherib their wicked father If euer there were a time of necessitie for parents to instruct exhort rebuke reprooue and pray for their children This corrupt age of necessitie requires it for there is none so ignorant but may obserue the irreligious vaine and vnbridled courses of children of both sexes who without the especial grace of God we see daily to fall into so grosse inormities as draw downe vpon them their swift confusion to the perpetuall shame intolerable griefe and deserued ignominie of their carelesse parents A prayer fit for parents to make vnto God in the behalfe of their children O Gracious Lord God father of mercy and louing kindnes I giue thee hearty thanks for thy goodnesse in blessing me with the gift of children Blesse me also with wisedom and vnderstanding to instruct them in the knowledge of thee to educate them in thy fear to confirme them in thy faith and to winne them to thy loue This dutie thou requirest at the hands of parents towards their children and punishest the neglect thereof as in Eli. Powre downe Lord therfore into the hearts of my children thy holy Spirit that they may become fit members of that mysticall bodie wherof Christ thy Sonne is the head leade them by thine own right hand in the way of knowledge faith and obedience that their obedience beginning at them it may extend vnto vs their parents and assist vs that we may teach them instruct them rebuke them reproue them and wish all goodnes vnto them which yet is altogether fruitlesse without thy blessing and grace fruitlesse in respect of our selues their parents vnlesse thou blesse vs with a holy and powerfull zeale to performe our parently duties towards them religiously faithfully in teaching them fruitlesse in respect of them vnlesse thou inable them by thy holy Spirit to learne and imbrace such religious wholesome documents as thou mayest be pleased to furnish vs with for their instruction Season my heart I humbly beseech thee with a holy desire to seeke their saluation and season their harts with an humble and holy inclination to obey thy truth All humane creatures are prone to sin against thee youth especially who are most apt to fall into many forbidden vanities and therefore need they not only continuall instruction in and to goodnes and debortation from sinne but continuall watchfulnes and careful diligence to obserue and follow the good and to preuent and auoid the euill which neither we their parents are able sufficiently to teach nor they our children to performe by nature furnish vs therfore most
to wish well vnto them that haue done much good for me much more vnable to performe that good towards them that I would and ought Forasmuch therefore as I haue no power of my selfe giue mee at least a will that my inward destres may work with thee by the mediation of thy welbeloued Sonne to the obtaining of inward loue and filiall affection towards them and be able to expresse it in my coÌ„tinual faithfull prayers for them Deale with them mercifully O Lord heape vpon them thy blessings the peace of a good conscience plentie of diuine knowledge holy and religious hearts towards thee the continuall abundant supply of all necessaries health of bodie the strength and vse of their limbes ayde in whatsoeuer their neede defence from enemies and prosperity in all things Blesse them with all spirituall blessings and graces in heauenly things Let them heare thy word attentiuely let them beleeue it faithfully let them embrace it cheerefully let them practise it religiously and in a good conscience and let them taste of thy fauours and loue continually and seeke to please thee in all things truely giue them comfort I beseech thee in my well doing and of thâ— vertuous and religious conuersations of al their children friends â—llies and seruants Let not 〈◊〉 misbehauiour or vnseemely course of life procure their griefe or shame but grant that they liâ—iâ—â— long according to thy good pleasure in thy faith feare fauour 〈◊〉 loue they may so giue vp the 〈…〉 soules in peace into thy hands thâ—â— gauest them through Christ Jesâ—â— our Lord and our euerlasting Redeemer Amen Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO stirre vp Masters to a godly gouernment of their seruants and to pray for them AS there is areciprocal dutie between the husband the wife between the parents their children so is there likewise betweene masters and seruants In euery of these there is a superioritie and a power to command and Subiection mouing inferiours to obey It is a great priuiledge that masters haue ouer their seruants yet not such as some masters doe impose vpon their seruants for although they haue a libertie to gouerne and to command it is not so absolute but it hath it limitations and bounds for now as well seruants as masters beleeuing the promise are equally within the couenant And therefore seruants although bound to corporall masters as touching their bodily seruice are yet the Lords free men and so fellow-members of Christ with their beleeuing masters which maketh them brethren in the Lord whose feare should preuent too much seueritie in the master moue the seruant to the more obedience and faithfull seruice The strength of Israel said vnto me saith Samuel Thou shalt beare rule ouer men being iust and ruling in the feare of God Heere is the bound and limit of mans authoritie ouer them whom they gouerne Iustice and the feare of God whereby we are taught that masters are not to quarell with and threaten their seruants or afflict them without good cause they may not vniustly taxe them or correct them neither ought masters to conceile but teach them their trades and mysteries The feare of God imports a diuine office which the Masters owe vnto their seruants and that is to indeuour to make them the true members of the Church of Christ by godly education and counsell to vse the authoritie they haue ouer their seruants modestly and holily seeing that they in another respect haue a common Master which is in heauen who will iudge both the bond and the free the master the seruant without respect of the ones glory and the others basenes of the ones authoritie to command or the others seruitude and bondage and it is not commendable for masters too much to insult ouer their seruants or mistresses and sterne dames to tyrannize ouer their maydes who were begotten borne and brought forth in as glorious a maner as the proudest richest and most vaine-glorious master or dame whâ— haue but gotten as it were the start of their seruants by Gods permission who as we daily may see and obserue hurleth downe and confoundeth the most imperious and insolent masters and exalteth the humble and obedient seruants yee masters and dames threaten not nor abuse your seruaÌ„ts they are but lent you for your ease and seruice by their and your Father and Master for a time who will take an account of you how you haue gouerned them and of them how they haue serued and obeyed you and if you take astrict account of euery offence committed by your seruaÌ„t how think you that your Master which is in heauen should winck at or passe by your many transgressions against him as if there were a priuiledge for you to offend the God that made you men and women and made you masters and gouernours ouer men and women your gouernmeÌ„t being but only carnall and their seruice but corporall whereas your Master which is in heauen gouerneth spiritually and your seruice towards him ought to be holy and truely spirituall And thinke that if your seruants disobedience be offensiue vnto you what are your sins and rebellious courses of life vnto God your great Master which seeth your sinnes in secret and will reward them openly Make the case of your corporall seruants disobedience vnto you your case of disobedieÌ„ce to God and consider whether you could be content that euery sinne you haue committed should haue it due reward would it not be a terror vnto you and make you lesse furious and lesse bitter vnto your seruants for euery trifle in committing of a fault or omitting some small dutie to be done I mooue not this to defend or incourage euill and disobedient seruants but to aduise masters and women commanders to vse Christian counsell to their seruants and to gouerne them in the feare of God according to the rule of religion and let none of them thinke it a needlesse a superfluous or a base dutie for masters and gouernours to pray for their seruants and such as are vnder their commaund But let them know it is a duety required of and performed by all godly masters and dames that God may be pleased to make them honest religious and fit for the businesse wherein they vse them to make them dutifull and obedient fearing God so shall such masters and gouernours be blessed for such godly religious seruants sakes vnder whose hands all that they doe shall prosper And to this purpose I haue framed a forme of prayer which or some other to the like purpose such Masters and Dames may vse as desire the meanes to haue good and gracious seruants and whosoeuer scorneth or neglecteth the means is worthy to be crossed by their crooked behauiour and a more excellent meane there is not then godly counsell and diuine prayer to keepe them in obedience A prayer to be said of masters for their seruants not vnfit to bee vsed of all that haue command ouer others GRacious Father who
promise they may be assured of timely deliueraÌ„ce in the instant of their greatest danger Some trust in chariots and some in horses but let vs remember the name of the Lord our God A Prayer to be vsed in the time of warre O God of hoasts wee beseeth thee looke downe vpon vs thy people oppressed and afflicted with the fearefull visitation of the sword wherwith thou threatnest to punish vs for our disobedience Thou art the God of peace send peace if it please thee and if they will not bee appeased breake the swords of thine and the Kings and thy Churches enemies shiuer their speares in sunder confound their counsels distract their league dissipate and disperse their companies stop their furie frustrate their hopes strike terror in their hearts weaken their armes take from them the staffe of bread and stand thou in the defence of thine Anointed incourage his heart and the hearts of all his subiects to shew themselues faithfull in thee girâ— thou their victorious swords vpon their loynes Manage thou their battels and giue them the victorie Giue them such successe as Iehosh aphat had against his enemies by thee Confound the enemie as thou didst Sennacheribs souldiers do vnto them as thou didst vnto Pharaoh and to his hoast Prosper them that fight for thy truth as thou didst Dauid against the Philistims and let thine Anointed take vp the triumphant song of Dauid The Lord hath diuided mine enemies asunder as water is diuided Goe out before our Captaines as thou didst before Deborah and Barak giue vs vi 〈…〉 ie as vnto them for it consisteth in thy power and prouidence not in Goliahs strength nor in Achitophels counsell nor in multitudes but in thee alone and therefore in thee do we trust let vs neuer be confounded It is sinne wee confesse that stirreth vp these calamities against vs giue vs repenting hearts and reformed spirits Let vs lift vp pure hands with vndefiled hearts as Moses did vnto thee and prosper Let our enemies fly before vs as before Iosuah and let their strong holâ—â— be as the wals of cursed Iericho hurle them downe and let them neuer bee built againe to trouble the peace of thy Church Thou art the author of peace extend thy peace ouer her like a floud Lord lift thou vp thy countenance vpon vs and giue vs thy peace in Christ. Amen Lord increase my faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer in the time of famine or dearth FAmine is the most grieuous plague that can befall man in this life for the want of foode causeth the bodie to pine and consume it pincheth the very entrails of al creatures brutish and humane without respect In so much as to appease this greedie monster as it may be termed men are inforced to feed on things most lothsome and vnwholesome instead of things salutarie and good There may be a Dearth without Famine but neuer Famine without a Dearth for to appease the violent furie of hunger men will giue their greatest Jewels and in the times of much necessitie hunger is of so homely a condition as where in the time of abuÌ„dance it scorned base and homely meats she scornes not now the basest nor the vilest things Famine is a Tyrant Dearth but a theefe the one fauours neither poore nor rich but oppresseth all without respect of person age or sexe the other is parciall stealeth from the poore and giueth to the rich it pineth the needie and filleth the wealthie and therefore is Dearth vncharitable vnreasonable and vnconscionable vncharitable in not giuing to the poore vnreasonable in not obseruing where most need is vnconscionable in withholding from the poore and giuing to the rich but they are both the instruments of Gods heauie displeasure for sinne and therefore not bee preuented or relieued without true repentance and faithfull prayer God hath promised that such as seekâ— him with a faithfull heart shall want no maner of thing that is good and in the time of dearth they shall haue enough Woâ— bee vnto them that in the time of dearth keepe in their corne and other victuals to inhaunce the prices that grinde the facts of the poore they shall be numbred among the wicked and their names shall be written among those that haue no loue but the faithfull shal feed and be satisfied and the little that the righteous hath shall be better more comfortable vnto him then the great abundance of the vngodly Therfore in the time of this kinde of visitation it behoueth all men to pray vnto God whose power is able to doe wonderfull things to make a cup of cold water and a morsell of bread to giue strength whereupon to walke fortie dayes as Eliah did and to increase the small portion that we haue and to make it powerfull to nourish vs as to the widow of Sarepthah Trust thou therefore in the Lord be doing good and thou shalt be fed assuredly They shall not bee confounded in the perillous time that trust in the Lord but in the dayes of famine they shall haue enough A Prayer in the time of Famine and Dearth O Great and powerfull mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ who hast made man to serue thee and all creatures to serue maÌ„ Look down wee beseech thee vpon vs now in the time of distresse want of necessaries to sustaine our mortal bodies Thou knowest whereof we are made remember that we are but dust and our liues are sustained by those thy creatures that thou hast created for our vse which thou hast now so diminished and decreased as the staffe of our sustinance is broken and we waxe faint vnder the burthen of thy heauie displeasure It is our sinnes Lord that haue drawne downe this fearefull visitation vpon vs which we are not able to beare And therefore as thou art gracious merciful powerfull and prouident forgiue vs our sinnes in thy mercie in Christ. Releeue vs by thy power for his sake and prouide for vs in thy prouidence call to minde thy mercies of old wherein thou relieuedst not only our faithfull Fathers but such as were strangers also vnto thy Couenant the Aegyptians to whom thou diddest send Ioseph to prouide for the Famine to come a speciall worke of thy wonderfull prouideÌ„ce Come now vnto vs Lord coâ—â— now vnto vs increase our small store and blesse it as thou diddest the oyle and meale of Eliahs h 〈…〉 faile vs not nor forsake vs in the 〈…〉 e of our greatest need leaue vs not in our distresse Thou haddest compassion Lord vpon foure thousand which were to depart from thee and diddest feede them when they had nothing to eate and thou gauest them sufficient with seuen loaâ—es â—as also fiue thousand with fiue loâ—â—es and a few fishes all men suffised and many fragments remained Why therefore should we feare or despaire of thy prouidence seeing thou canst feed so many with so little shew of outward meanes and as thou canst releeue with little in quantitie so
vs. Giue a holy preparation vnto our hearts willingly to submit our selues to thy good pleasure for life or death whether of theÌ„ thou shalt be pleased to worke for vs worke in vs for the one such thankfulnes as thou deseruest for so great a blessing as the prolonging of life and patience in the other knowing that it is appointed to euery man once to die Lord let not death which is but the dissol 〈…〉 ion of the soule from the bodie be ouer terrible vnto vs But rather make vs so to consider the benefit of our coniunction which through the mercie in Christ wee are assured shall follow our dissolution that we may reioyce that the meanes of our dissolution is foreshewed vnto vs which yet if thou in mercie mayest be pleased for a time to forbeare it may be vnto vs a liuely preuailing Motiue to stirre vs vp to a more religious faithfull and holy course of life before thee that with patience and hope we may waite the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ and appeare blamelesse in that day and in the meane time walke worthie of thee pleasing thee in all things strengthened with all might through thy glorious power to all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnes And grant that our soules may euermore depend on thee our God for of thee commeth our health and our saluation haue mercie vpon vs haue mercie vpon vs O God for our soules trust in thee and in the shadow of thy wings will wee trust vntill this thy visitation bee ouerpast Lord increase our faith A MOTIVE TO A Prayer to stirre vp Souldiers to liue in the feare and seruice of God AMong all other professions in the world none is more dangerous then the militarie for Souldiers are euer neerest vnto casuall and vntimely death yet which is to be admired and lamented no sort of people are more loosely lasciuiously and barbarously giuen then they Whoredome Drunkennesse Rapine Blasphemie Oppression Tyranny and all kindes of vngodlines are frequent among them Much to be wondred at that men abandoned as it were to the mercilesse bullet and sword should walke so inordinately as if there were not a God in mercy to preserue them or in iudgement to confound them Aboue all men Souldiers ought to be most watchfull ouer their wayes and most mindefull of their vncertaine condition knowing that Captiuitie Wounds and Death are ineuitable companions of their profession The verie title of a Souldier importeth two kindes of warfare externall with corporall internall with spirituall enemies If a professed Souldier faint or faile in the first he is censured cowardly and not brauely minded which for outward disgrace hee will seeke to auoide If he be foiled in the second men and Angels will condemne his weaknesse if he preuaile in both how great is his commendation If therefore you that be or desire to bee Souldiers perfect and complete subdue and conquer first your owne inward and priuate enemies then incounter the common enemie with courage for before you haue manfully fought against and conquered Sinne and Satan and your owne carnal affections luâ—king within your hearts you can neuer with Christian courage confront the visible enemie marching furiously towards you for he that feareth not nor serueth God how valiant so euer hee seemeth outwardly yet feareth hee death and consequently feareth the ministers and instruments of death but whoso feareth and serueth God aright needes not feare the furie of mortall man who can kill but the bodie but the inuisible enemies kill the inward and better part the soule with the bodie Therefore seeke you peace and bee reconciled to God before you vndertake warreâ— with man for if God be against you if the strength of Goliah the policie of Achitophel the power of Senacherib the hoast of Pharaoh were all conioyned on your side you should come to like end as these vaine men did that thought themselues inuincible But if God bee on your side you neede not feare One shall bee able to incounter ten ten shall chase an hundred an hundred shall put ten thousand to flight It much importeth you that would bee accounted martiall men therefore to walke before God and to bee vpright pray vnto him for courage and good successe but before you pray you must striue with a godly resolution to abandon all your vngodly behauiour for God heareth nor nor respecteth the prayers of hypocrites such as draw nigh him with their lippes and intreate him in their words vtterly denying him in their workes Cast off the common course of prophane souldiours too well knowne to bee too impious follow the counsell of Christ who willeth you to doe violence to none to accuse no man falsely and to bee content with your wages Luke 3. 10. Being thus qualified repaire vnto God in a liuely faith vsing all meanes to encrease in diuine knowledge which begetteth all holy vertues wherewith being furnished whether you liue or die yee shall bee the Lords O Lord increase our faith A Prayer to be vsed of souldiers OH God of hoasts look downe vpon me thy vnworthy seruant who in this life labour both in a corporall and spirituall warfare fighting within and without Assist me first with thy grace faithfully to incounter strongly to resist and truly to triumph ouer sin and Satan who lie in ambush with armies of infernall souldiers seeking to surprize my inward and better part my soule and to depriue me of al godly affections that so I being conquered within may not be able rightly to performe my outward calling wherin thou Lord knowest I walke in coutinuall danger of my mortall life hauing of my selfe neither power nor policie to auoid the ordinarie perils and calamities that accompany 〈◊〉 in this course of life I am much sinfull and therefore I may the more feare that thou who hearest not sinners wilt refuse to goe with me to battell which euery where and at all times threatneth mee with captiuitie wounds or death as one abandoned in humane opinion to the mercilesse bullet and sword Giue me therefore Lord a repenting heart and a truly reformed conuersation that seeing by so many meanes death houereth ouer my head I may be euer readie and prepared in a holy and sanctified life to meet the same without feare knowing that death is but the issue out of a wildernesse of miseries troubles calamities and dangers and an entrance into that most sweet pleasant and Paradise plentifull of all good and most wished things wherein is no warre but peace no care but comfort no feare but ioy no miserie but mirth no hunger nor thirst no want but aboundance of all good things for the soule to enioy Make me therefore O gracious Lord God an vpright and faithfull souldier in this mortall warfare that I seeke not nor sinisterly take the goods or shâ—â—â— the blood of any man Take 〈◊〉 me al desire of vniust reuenge 〈…〉 pine and doing wrong to any Conforme mine hart and mine affections to
sobrietie modesty patience and true magnanimitie and boldnes Preuent in me wantonnesse ryoting drunkennes swearing blasphemy whoredome and such a profane and vngodly course as commonly too much accompanieth this militarie life And seeing Lord that I in duty am inforced to vse the sword against those that rise vp against vs blesse the vse of it to me as thou didst the sling of Dauid and the sword of Gideon teach my hands to war my fingers to fight Giue me a couragious heart vndaunted spirit to incounter the enemy as ofteÌ„ as need requireth make strong my loynes and fortifie my armes let good successe befall our armies daunt our enemies hearts Teach our Leaders and Commanders wisedome and Christian policie to direct vs and giue vs courage strength and obedience to performe our dutie with good conscience And if in thy wisedome peace be more to our profit and comfort and to thy glory then warre send vs peace in thy name and let both peace and warre life and death bee to our aduantage in Christ in whom al things are blessed to them that truly serue thee Let vs want no maner of thing Lord that is good vouchsafe vs all things necessary for our warfare Stand euer on our side and let thy sauing and protecting Angel preserue vs in all danger Remamber thy louing promises and thy mercies of old bee vnto vs a shield and buckler of defence and a sword of offence against our enemies accept vs into thy blessed protection neuer faile nor forsake vs O God of hostes Goe euermore foorth with our armies keepe euery one of vs free from the excommunicate thing sin and iniquity And sanctifie vs with thy holy spirit that in thoughts words and deeds we may be approued not souldiers carnally valiant or desperately bold but truly and religiously couragious both in our outward and inward warfare through Christ to whom with thee and the holy Ghost beâ— ascribed all â—ouor and power for euer Amen Lord increase our faith and euermore mightily defend vs. A MOTIVE TO a prayer to be said of such as trauaile by sea SVch as vse the seas as Dauid obserueth and haue occasion to passe the great waters by ship see the wonderfull workes of the Lord. Wonderfull in deed in the creation of so huge a heape of waters wonderfull in containing them within appointed limits wonderful in ebbing and flowing wonderfull in violence and rage wherein sometimes it swelleth and worketh wonderfull in respect of Iehouah at whose word the most furious waues therof are appeased And lastly wonderfull in respect of man whom God hath indued with the vnderstanding to frame a vessell wherein as in a house he may safely fly as it were through the furious furrowes of so mercilesse waters But all these wonders may be knitte vp in one namely in the wonderfull power and prouidence of Iehouah who by his word hath made the seas and gathered the great waters into one place and commandeth them not to passe their bounds and they obey hee hath giuen man iudgement and art to frame the hull to place the Roder to stretch out the Tacklings and to spread the sailes to descend into the deepe But if God should there leaue him to his owne will wit power or art though he haue his card and compasse to guide him he should neuer attaine his wished port when the winds blow the tempests rise the seas rage the waues lift them vp as vpon mountaines and hurle them downe againe as into deepe gulfes What then can art or force do Doe not their hearts then melt for feare vntill the winds cease the tempests appease the seas calme and the waues be still And who worketh this wished and most comfortable change only that mightie Jehouah hee that made the seas he commandeth them to rage to shew his power and againe willeth them to bee quiet to shew his mercie Are not these the wonderful workes of God who but he commandeth and the seas obey Ye therefore that are occupied in this dangerous trade of life bee not vnmindfull to serue the liuing God for ye see by experience how suddenly hee commandeth and calleth for a tempest and then ye thinke your selues neere vnto the doore of death Yet as saith Dauid When they cried vnto the Lord he deliuered them out of their distresse and brought them to the hauen where they would bee There is none that vseth the seas but hath seene and felt this If then they confesse not the power prouidence and louing kindnesse of Iehouah and acknowledge the wonderfull workes that he hath done for them euen before the sonnes of men Let them bee assured that a thousand perils futurely attend them But the most of them that exercise this kind of trauell shew themselues temporizers when dangers appeare they seeme much humbled promising reformation of their finfull liues they pray and are cast downe with importable feare and sorrow but the danger past they forget it and God that deliuered them from it especially wheÌ„ they approch the hauen where they would bee in safetie where in stead of giuing of thanks to God for his mercies in leading and conducting them the first thing they doe is to shew they owe him no duty by presently falling to transgresse his will by drunkennesse wantonnesse whoredome swearing and blaspheming him as though the danger past were the last they need to feare or could befall them But they deceiue themselues for God is patient and long suffering but neuer forgetteth them in iudgement that so forget and neglect his mercies Hee followeth them when they thinke dangers farthest off Shipwracke Pirats Famine or some other Iudgement seazeth vpon all carelesse Sea-faring men Wherefore yee that occupie the Seas remember that as in discretion you prepare all needfull things fit for your Sea voyage so are there things most materiall to bee prouided toÌ„wards your heauenly peregrination Godlinesse Faith Obedience true Feare and sincere Loue and seruice of God which if you omit let your corporall prouision bee neuer so plentifull let your ship bee neuer so strong neuer so swift of sayle neuer so well manned and munited the least breath of the Lords mouth is able to coÌ„found you No men haue more interims and times of leasure to serue God then Seafaring men Why then spend yee not those times in searching the word of God in prayer and in holy exercises that God may be your guide your defence preseruer and protector so shall all things goe well with you and whatsoeuer ye doe it shall prosper A Prayer to be said of such as haue occasion to vse trauell at sea GRacious Lord God mightie mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ who hast made all things by thy word And by thy power and prouidence dost gouerne all and all obey thee in their kinds the heauens the earth and the seas but man only is disobedient only rebellious therefore doe thy creatures whom thou madest to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 become aduersaries vnto man
Motiue to a Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Lords Supper 73 A Prayer to bee said after the receiuing of the holy Communion 76 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said of any man in any kind of trouble 80 A generall Meditation or Prayer in whatsoeuer trouble or crosse 84 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said in pouerty and want of this lifes necessaries 88 A Prayer to bee said in pouertie and want of this lifes necessaries 91 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said of such as are in prison 96 A Prayer to be sayd of one in prison for what cause soeuer changing the words according to the occasion here set down 100 If for debt say thus 103 If for matter for which life or member is 〈◊〉 danger say thus 104 If vpon vniust occasion say thus 105 If for the testimony of thy faith in Jesus say thus 106 A Motiue to a Prayer that we may be alwayes ready to die and to be so prepared as we may not feare death 109 A Prayer to be often vsed that we may 〈◊〉 liue at we need neuer feare to die 〈◊〉 to be often vsed of all men especially iâ— sickenesse 111 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said of one in his sicknes or in any disease or defect of his sences or limbes fit to be read of or vnto the sick diseased person 117 A Prayer to be said of one that is sicke or diseased 122 Another Prayer to be said of a sicke man 125 Meditations vpon the sicke mans recouerie of his health 128 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said of such as visite a sicke friend or brother 130 A Prayer to be said for a sicke man or woman of his or her friends that visite them 133 A Motiue to a Prayer before a man begin his iourney 137 A Prayer before a man begin his iourney or attempt any waighty corporall action 140 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said after the returne from a Iourney or comming to the Inne or place of rest 143 A Thankesgiuing after the returne from a Iourney or comming safe to a place of rest 145 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said before a Sermon 147 A Prayer to be said before the hearing of Sermon 152 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said after a Sermon heard 156 A Prayer to be said after the hearing of a Sermon 160 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said against malicious aduersaries 163 A Prayer against enemies 168 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said of euery true Christian for the Ministers and Preachers of the word of God 172 A Prayer to bee said for the Ministers of Gods word 176 A Motiue to a Prayer for the Church Vniuersall 178. A Prayer for the Vniuersall Church and for euery member of the same â—it to be often said of euery true Christian. 182 Another Prayer for the Vniuersall Church in the time of affliction or persecution 186 Another short Prayer for the prosperity of the Church and gouernment thereof 190 A Motiue to a Prayer to bee said for the Kings Maiestie 192 A Prayer and Thanksgiuing for the Kings Maiestie to be often vsed of euery good subiect 196 A short Thanksgiuing and Prayer for the Kings preseruation 201 A most pithy and patheticall Prayer for the King and ouerthrow of Antichristian religion and enemies of the truth 203 A Motiue to a Prayer to be vsed of such as are of the Kings Maiesties priuy Counsell 207 A Prayer not vnfit to be sometimes vsed of a Counsellour of Estate as he hath opportunity 210 Another short effectuall Prayer to bee said of a priuy Counsellour fit to be said before consulation 213 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said of euery good subiect for the good successe of the Counsell Royall 215 A Prayer to be vsed of euery good subiect for the Kings Counsell of Estate 218 A short Prayer for the Counsell Royall 221 A Motiue to a Prayer to be vsed of â—udges and superiour Magistrates that haue power and authority to heare and determine causes between man and man which Motiue is fit to bee often read and considered of them 223 A Prayer to be vsed of Iudges and Magistrates 227 A Motiue to be vsed of Christians for Iudges and superiour Magistrates 230 A Prayer for Iudges and superiour Magistrates to be vsed of all good and Christian subiects and especially of them that haue causes depending before Iudges and Magistrates 233 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said of a man or woman vnmarried intending to marry 237 A Prayer to bee said of a man or woman vnmarried intending to marry 241 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said of married folkes 245 A Prayer to be said of married folkes either priuatly or mutually together 249 A Motiue to Parents to stirre them vp to instruct pray for their childreÌ„ 252 A Prayer fit for Parents to make vnto God in the behalfe of their childreÌ„ 255 A Motiue to a Prayer to be vsed by children for their Parents 260 A Prayer fit for children to vse for then Parents 263 A Motiue to stirre vp Masters to a godâ—y gouernment of their seruants and to pray for them 267 A Prayer to be said of Masters for their seruants not vnfit to be vsed of all that haue command ouer others 272 A Motiue to stirre vp seruants to obey and pray for ablenes to serue their Masters and Gouernours truely to profit in their callings 275 A Prayer fit to be vsed of seruants 278 A Motiue to a Prayer to be vsed of Artificers and Handicraftsmen 281 A Prayer for Tradesmen Handicraftsmen and Artificers 283 A Motiue to stirre vp Husbandmen and Plough-men to Prayer vnto God 286 A Prayer fit to bee vsed of Husbandmen not vnfit for all men whatsoeuer 290 A Motiue to a Prayer to bee vsed in time of and to preuent any of these three seuerall common calamities that may happen vpon a people namely of Warre of Famine and of the Pestilence 294. A Prayer to God to be vsed in the time of Peace to preuent warre in Plenty to preuent Famine and in the time of Health to preuent the Pestilence fit also to be vsed in the time of Warre Famine and the Pestilence also 301 A Motiue to a short Prayer to be vsed in the time of warre 305 A Prayer to be vsed in the time of War 306 A Motiue to a Prayer in the time of Famine or Dearth 309 A Prayer in the time of Famine and Dearth 311 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said in the time of the Pestilence 315 A Prayer to be said in the time of any mortality Pestilence or infectious sickenesse 318 A Motiue to a Prayer to stirre vp Souldiers to liue in the feare and seruice of God 322 A Prayer to be vsed of Souldiers 326 A Motiue to a Prayer to be said of such as trauaile by Sea 330 A Prayer to be said of such as haue occasion to trauaile by Sea 334 A Prayer before meat 339 A thanksgiuing after meat ibid. FINIS