idlenesse nor brawling nor quarrelling with my fellow servants but make me to be peaceable gentle easie to bee intreated Let me not be sloathfull in businesse or indammage my master by my neglect but desirous to promote his good and to please him in all things not answering againe not purloyning but shewing all good fidelity that I may adorne the doctrine of God my Saviour in all things And though my master should become a hard man and should make my life bitter with sore bondage making me serve with rigor yea though he make me a hewer of wood or drawer of water or imploy me even to the basest offices yet let not my proud heart swell and repine hereat Grant that I may submit my selfe under his hand not onely when hee is good and gentle but also when he is froward even when I am buâ—feted for my faults remembring my blessed Saviour that tooke on him the forme of a servant who though he was our Lord and Master yet willingly gave himselfe an example and patterne of all patience and humility And although with One simus I have beene sometimes unfaithfull and unprofitable heretofore yet make me profitable to my master for the time to come that he may receive me not now as a servant but above a servant never suffer me like Iudas in a religious family to be ungodly to betray my master or bewray his secrets nor a lying covetous and dissembling servant as Gehezi nor as Ziba slandering my master but counting him worthy of all honour that he being a beleever I may not despise him because he is a brother but rather doe him service because he is faithfull and beloved pertaker of the benefit of thy Sons redemption Let my behaviour be as becommeth holinesse grant that with patience I may beare his threatnings chidings revilings because thou hast taught mee that a soft tongue breaketh the bones Make mee wisely to forbeare and in my patience to possesse my soule referring all my wrongs and injuries to thee though he should not doe unto mee that which is just and equall knowing that even hee also hath a Master in heaven neither is there respect of persons with thee O Lord I beseech thee let now thy eare bee attentive to the prayer of mee thy servant who desires to feare thy name and prosper I pray thee thy servant this day and grant me grace instantly to serve thee that so thou who hast the hearts of all men in thy hands as the rivers of water maist give me favour in the sight of my master that my worke and labour may bee accepted O Lord I beseech thee free me from sinne that I may become a servant of righteousnesse â— alasse I have made thee too long to serve with my sinnes I have wearied thee with mine iniquities pardon I pray thee all my transgressions and enter not into judgement with thy servant for in thy sight no flesh living shall bee justified let mee not henceforth serve sinne any longer but grant that I may serve thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life Amen Lord Iesus Amen A thankesgiving to our Saviour Iesus Christ MOst loving Lord and blessed Saviour the mighty God everlasting Father Prince of peace and life the rocke of my salvation the fountaine opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem for sinne and for uncleannesse the Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world who now art set downe at the right hand of the Majestie on high and yet hast respect unto thy poore members here on earth O Lord heare O Lord forgive O Lord accept the groanings of my humbled soule which followeth â—aâ—d after thee which thirsteth longeth for thee in a dry and barren land where no water is O my sweet Saviour very loving hast thou beene to me thy love to me was wonderfull passing the love of women at the which so infinit so unconceivable unchangable everlasting and undeserved love of thine to me a miserable sinner the very Angels stand amazed desiring to prie into the mysterie of thy incarnation and admire to see thee the brightnesse of thy Fathers glory and the expresse image of his person assuming a nature inferiour to theirs who though thou wert Lord of Lords King of Kings the image of the invisible God the first borne of every creature heire appointed of all things by whom also the worlds were made yet tookest upon thee the forme of a servant and wast made in the likenesse of men being delivered to death for my sinnes and made a curse for mee Was there ever love like this love of thine that one should dy for his enemies from the beginning of the world was it ever heard before that God should become man to save man from the wrath of God due to mans sinne But thou art that good Shepherd that givest thy life for thy Sheepe and thou hast loved me and washed me from my sinnes in thy owne bloud and delivered me from the wrath to come O Lord Iesus Christ thou thou onely art the hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee without thee and out of thee there is nothing amiable worthy the setting my heart upon Let the world love it selfe let men be Idolaters of their owne concupiscences of their goods lives wisedome reputation c but cause thou me to forsake and to hate all things for thee and to count them dung that I may winne Christ Let my heart take no greater pleasure than to see thee glorified in the world and enthronized in my owne soule Thou art my portion for ever hee whom my soule loveth whose love to mee is better than wine the Lord my righteousnesse Who shall now lay any thing to the charge of thine Elect seeing thou dost justifie who can condemne I desire to know nothing but thee crucified to love nothing more than thy sacred selfe I desire onely to be found in thee not having mine owne righteousnesse which indeed is none but to bee clad with the garments of thy salvation O sweet Iesus spread thy skirt over me for thou art my neere kinsman true Immanuel God with us God for us Never I beseech thee suffer me to bee unmindfull of unthankfull for that wonder of all thy wondrous workes my eternall redemption and salvation by thy precious bloud Order my conversation aright to the pleasing of thee in all my desires thoughts words actions that I may not henceforth live to my selfe but unto thee which hast dyed for mee and rose againe Guide mee Lord with thy counsell whiles I live on earth and afterward receive me to thy glory Amen A thankesgiving to God for his wonderfull deliverance of our King and state from the Gun-powder Treason Novem. 5. 1605. LOrd God Almighty glorious in holinesse working wonders alway for thy poore Church and in
and try my wayes to looke backe upon all the ungodly actions and aberrations of my fore-past life to view my sinne-deformed soule in the cleare glasse of thy undefiled â—aw that so I may judge and abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and bee still more vile in mine owne esteeme make me to examine my selfe and so eate of that bread and drinke of that cup knowing that if I eate and drinke thereof unworthily I eate and drinke damnation to my selfe because I discerne not the Lords body Teach mee to try my selfe whether I be in the faith or no for without faith it is impossible to please thee in any service T is my faith in the death of my Saviour that is the hand and mouth by which I must apply him and make him mine in this Sacrament Assure me by these broad seales annexed to the covenant of grace and letters patents of thy holy word that thou wilt make good what thou hast promised that as thou hast called Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters so thou wilt refresh this my gasping and thirsting soule as thou callest all that be weary and heavie laden to come unto thee so thou wilt in no wise send mee empty away that cast my selfe into the bleeding armes of my dying Saviour Perswade my unbeleeving and doubting heart that as thy Minister taketh and blesseth and breaketh and poureth out and giveth and saith Take and eate the bread take and drinke the wine of the Sacrament so thou from everlasting hast separated consecrated and ordained Iesus Christ to be a Sacrifice for my sinnes hast poured out his blood to be a satisfaction to thy offended justice for my sinfull soule and that hereby I shall continue in communion with him my head and his mysticall body my fellow members Thy flesh O sweet Saviour is meate indeed and thy blood is drinke indeed O let me I beseeth thee find it so in my fainting soule that I may bee ravished with thy love that I may taste and see how gracious the Lord is and find thy free promises and pledges of thy grace to bee better than wine sweeter also than the honey and the honey combe Let thy holy spirit set to his privie seale on my heart inwardly by the secret and sweet refreshment of his blessed testimonie that I am my well beloveds and my well beloved is mine establishing my heart in thy love and knitting my soule unto thee for ever O draw me and I shall run after thee shew me the light of thy countenance and I shall bee saved And Lord make mee to love my brethren as thou hast loved me yea to love my very enemies for thy names sake reconciling my selfe to those whom I have offended following peace with all men and forgiving them their hundred pence as thou hast freely forgiven me my ten thousand talents Vouchsafe me this aud all other graces which may fit mee for thy service in thy kingdome of grace and prepare mee for the enjoyment of everlasting glory through my Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Amen After the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper O Lord what shall I render unto thee for all the benefits which thou hast bestowed upon mee and daily ladest mee withall a most unworthy sinner how shall I bee sufficiently thankefull unto thee for them when they bee more than I can reckon up unto thee more then my heart is able to conceive or comprehend Should I offer up unto thee thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oyle they all would come farre short of thy most free eternall undeserved infinite love Lebanon it selfe is not sufficient for wood nor the beasts upon a thousand hils for a burnt offering What shall I then doe unto thee O thou Preserver of men or what recompence shall I make thee I will even take the cup of salvation and give thankes to thy name O Lord. I will offer up my soule and body for a holy living and acceptable sacrifice unto thee this will please thee better than bullocke that hath hornes and hoofes Thou O Lord in the beginning didst make mee to bee when I was not before and when I had lost my selfe and forfeited my being and life and happinesse didst in Christ restore mee to a more blessed estate than at my Primitive integrity Thou thy selfe art become my Father thy sonne my Saviour thy holy Spirit my Sanctifier thy word my Instructor thy Sacraments the food to refresh satisfie and feed my poore hungry soule to everlasting life This day thou hast called me to thy holy Mountaine and made me joyfull in thy house of prayer this day hast thou invited me to sit downe at thy table and made unto mee a feast of fat things full of marrow a feast of wines on the lees well refined thou hast abundantly satisfied me with the fâ—â—nesse of thy house and hast made mee to drinke of the river of thy pleasures Blessed bee thy glorious name for ever and ever which is above all thankesgiving and prayse of mine O that I could bee indeed thankefull unto thee as thou art gracious unto me If I should open my mouth never so wide thou wouldest fill it thy favours to my poore soule are more than all tongues of men and Angels can worthily magnifie And now O Lord accept I beseech thee the free will-offering of thy servant that desires to feare thy name and to make a covenant with thee never to bee broken that my soule shall cleave close unto thee and avouch thee this day to bee my God and Saviour for ever more Here I doe resigne myselfe soule and body all that is in me and all that belongs unto me to bee wholly thine and that I will never wickedly depart from thee my God as I have done O that my wayes were so directed that I might keepe thy commandements alway Never let mee with the disgorged dog returne any more to my former vomit nor with the washed sow to wallow in the mire but as I have now washed my feete so suffer mee no more againe to defile them as I have put off the filthy rags of my old conversation so I may never againe put them on but become a new creature That seeing the expiation of my sins cost my Saviour so deare as the shedding of his precious blood and that thy wrath lay so heavie upon him who was our suretie onely being innocent in himselfe I may hence conceive how heinous a thing sinne is how abhorred by thee and so hate it in my selfe with a perfect hatred and resist it even to blood and not crucifie againe hereby the Lord of life and glory O make mee thankefully to remember that bitter passion of his and thy love O Father unto mee in that thou hast accepted mee to life in him and hast brought salvation this day home to my house to my heart Lord enter in abide with and dwell in my soule for ever Take not
the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith For REPENTANCE Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night for O that all the night I could make my bed to swim that I could water my couch with my teares that I might repent in sacke-cloth and ashes and grant us repentance unto life Thou hast in love to our soules vouchsafed unto us space and time to repent in O that thou wouldst also give us grace to repent O that there were such an heart in us that wee might repent and recover our selues out of the snare of the Devill who have beene hither to taken captive by him at his will Doe thou melt our stonie hearts into godly sorow which worketh repentance unto salvation not to bee repented of SANCTIFYING GRACE Sprinkle cleane water upon us that we may bee cleane from all our filthinesse and from all our a new heart also doe thou give us and a new spirit doe thou put within us and take away the stony heart out of the middest of us and give thou unto us an heart of flesh and put thy Spirit within us and cause thou us to walke in thy statutes and keepe thy judgements and doe them KNOWLEDGE That the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the father of glory would give unto us the spirit of wisedome and â—evelation in the knowledge of him The eyes of our understanding being inlightned that we may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints that the earth may bee filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea that all may know thee from the least to the greatest of us That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith that we being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that wee might be filled with all the fulnesse of God That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death And because it is not good that the soule bee without knowledge incline our eares to wisedome and apply our hearts to understanding that we may cry after knowledge and lift up our voice for understanding that wee may understand the feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God That wee may be enabled to cry unto thee Our God wee know thee Vid. Ier. 31. 33. 34. LOVE of GOD c. That wee may love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soule and with all our mind that because our sinnes which are many are forgiven us therefore we may love thee much That wee may love one another as Christ hath loved us that our love may abound yet more and more towards all men especially them that are of the houshold of faith That wee may love our enemies blesse them that curse us doe good unto them that hate us and pray for them that dispitefully use and persecute us ZEALE Make us to bee zealous of good workes that we may not rest contented with a luke-warme profession being neither cold nor hot but that our soule may breake for the longing that it hath to thy judgements at all times that the zeale of thine house may eate us up that so our zeale may provoke very many SINCERITIE Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts O therefore make us Israelites indeed in whom there is no guile That in simplicitie and godly purenesse wee may have our conversation in the world because thine eyes are upon all our wayes and thou understandest our thoughts a farre off and art acquainted with all our wayes for there is not a word in our tongue but loe O Lord thou knowest it altogether And thou wilt bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and wilt make manifest the counsels of the heart Though they dig into hell thence shall my hand take them though they climbe up to heaven thence will I bring them downe And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel I will search and take them out thence and though they be hid from my sight in the bottome of the Sea thence will I command the Serpent and hee shall bite them If thou sayest behold wee knew it not doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it and that keepeth thy soule doth not he know it and shall not he render to every man according to his workes God shall bring every worke into judgement with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evill the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart I beseech thee O Lord remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts Can any hide himselfe in secret places that I shall not see him sayeth the Lord doe not I fill heaven and earth sayeth the Lord. Shall not God know this for he knoweth the secrets of the heart The darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darknesse and the light are both alike to thee The Spirit of man is the candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the belly thou even thou knowest the hearts of all the children of men Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom they have to doe BOLDNES the Profession of the GOSPEL That we may not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that beleeveth Grant unto thy servants that with all boldnesse we may speak of and professe thy word Considering that if we shall bee ashamed of Our Lord Iesus Christ and of his words in this adulterous and sinfull generation the Sonne of man also will be ashamed of us when he commeth in the glory of his Father with the holy Angels PERSEVERANCE O that there were such an heart in us that we might feare thee and keepe thy commandements alway that it might be well with us and with our children after us for ever Give us our heart and our way that we may feare thee for ever and make thou an everlasting covenant with vs that thou wilt not turne away from us to doe us good and put
for the morning O God be mercifull unto me and blesse me and cause thy upon face to shine upon me O fill me with thy mercie this morning so shall I rejoyce and bee glad all my dayes O God thou art my God earwill I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no wattr is O Sunne of righteousnesse shine upon me My voyce shalt thou heare in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will looke up Unto thee have I cryed O Lord and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light The night is past the day is at hand worke while it is called day the night commeth when no man can worke MEDITATIONS for the Evening Thou knowest my downe sitting and mine up rising thou understandest my thought a farre off Thou compassest my path and my lying downe and art acquainted with all my wayes Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening Sacrifice Let teares run downe like a river day and night give thy selfe no rest let not the Apple of thine eye cease Arise cry out in the night in the beginning of the watches powre out thy heart like water before the face of the Lord lift up thy hands towards him Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in death He that keepeth Israel neither slumbreth nor sleepeth the day is thine the night also is thine the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darknesse and the light to thee are both alike I will lay me downe in peace take my rest c. when thou liest downe thou shalt not bee afraid yea thou shalt lie c. MEDITATIONS for thee as thou goest into Bed Think with thy selfe that 1 Thou art one day neerer end than thou wert in the morning 2 Consider what thou hast seene heard or read that day worth the remembring and make use thereof 3 Seriously examine thy selfe what Sinne thou hast committed what duty thou hast omitted how thou hast failed and lament them on thy knees begging pardon in thy Saviours Name 4 Consider that many goe well to bed and never rise againe till the day of Iudgement therefore say Father into thy hands I commend my spirit 5 Let thy stripping thee naked put thee in mind of thy death thy bed of thy grave thy coverings of the moulds and wormes of the earth thy sheets of thy winding sheete thy sleepe of thy death thy waking of thy resurrection In the night when thou awakest say With my soule have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me will I seek thee early Thus will I blesse thee while I live I will lift up my hands in thy name my soule shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with joyfull lips when I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches MEDITATIONS for the Lords day in the Morning It is a good thing to give thankes unto thee O Lord and to sing praises to thy name O thou most high to shew forth thy loving kindnesse in the morning and thy faithfulnesse every night This is the day which the Lord hath made wee will rejoyce and be glad in it Blessed is the man that doth thiâ— and the Sonne of man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and keepeth his hands from doing any evill they that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God they shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall bee fat and flourishing As thou goest to the Church meditate thus One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seeke after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God At the Church thinke with thy selfe that The place where thou standest is Holy ground none other but the house of God How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hoasts Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will bee still praysing thee For a day in thy court is better than a thousand I had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of my God then dwell in the tents of wickednesse They that joyne themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the name of the Lord to bee his servants every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my covenant Even them will I bring to my holy mountaine and make them joyfull in my house of prayer the like course thou mayest take in other places of Scripture which thou mayest make use of for all kinde of meditations at home abroad in field towne journeyes c Matter for Graces before meat O Lord our God the onely giver of all good gifts thou feedest the young ravens when they cry they have their meat of God the eyes of all waite upon thee thou openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing every living thing thou lovedst us before we were thou hast kept us from our birth supply all our wants sanctifie all thy dealings towards us and let thy blessing be on the food which we are now to receive Speake a word of blessing to it from heaven that it may nourish and strengthen us comfort and do us good let us taste and see how gracious the Lord is let us feele the sweetnesse of that love with which thou hast loved us in Christ man liveth not by bread alone 't is by thy word of blessing not our meates alone that wee are nourished and preserved which satisfiest our mouth with good things thou shalt eate and blesse the name of the Lord thy God Let not these creatures turne to the hurt of our souls which thou hast given us for good of our bodies I am not worthy of the least morsell of thy good creatures unworthy of the crums which fall under thy table Let not our table become a snare unto us breake not the staffe of our bread curse not unto us any blessing Good Lord forgive us all our sinnes and blesse at this time these good creatures to our nourishment through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen O Lord it is not by bread alone that man lives it is thy blessing upon the creatures that they sustaine us O draw up our hearts and eyes to heaven to acknowledge thy providence in them to praise thy goodnesse for them that we
may receive them as pledges of thy favour and gracious assurances of thine everlasting love through Iesus c Matter for Graces after meate Blessed bee thy name for health life strength and for all the blessings of this and the blessed hopes of a better life make it our meate and drinke to doe the will of thee our heauenly father make us to hunger after that bread which endureth to everlasting life Provide dayly bread for all thy poore servants till thou bring us to that place where we shall never hunger nor thirst any more thy loving kindnesse is better than life that I may labour not so much for this meat that perisheth but for that meate which endureth to everlasting life the body and bloud of our Saviour which is meate indeed and drinke indeed Keepe us in thy feare while we live on earth and afterward receive us to glory in thy kingdome We thanke thee O Lord for the comfortable use of these good blessings we beseech thee also feed our soules to everlasting life with the meate that perisheth not through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Blessed bee thy name O Lord God for thus opening thy hand and filling us at this time with thy good creatures vouchsafe still to be our God with-hold no good thing from our soule or body Save all thy Church protect our King Queene Prince Royall Progeny and Realme Grant free passage to to thy Gospel comfort to thy Servants and peace of conscience to us all through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen An EPITOME of a Christians Conversation and Religious course of life gathered out of some Godly Practicall Divines c. Every day bestow halfe an houre in reading the Scriptures and Prayer Gods word will not onely shew thee what to do what to pray but will worke a secret power to accomplish the same Appoint and set a part some time once every day seriously and solemnely to cast up the eye of thy Faith on that never-fading crowne of life which after an inch of time shall for ever rest upon thy head The comforts hereof will make a man live almost without a soule and sweeten all the troubles of this life Set one houre in the weeke a part Saturday in the afternone is more fit by reason of the approching day to consider of search and try thy wayes this will snub and keepe downe the weeds of corruptions from overspreading thy soule Thou bestowed an houre on thy body every day in dressing it and lookest thy selfe in a glasse to attire thy outward sheath and wilt thou not once a weeke doe as much for thy soule thy body must one day rot and turne to dust perhaps to morrow thy soule must live ever either in weale or woe Life and death are now in thy choyse chuse then that good part Give God the honour of thy thoughts as well as of thy words and actions often thinke how all the glistering shewes of this whole world must and doe vanish and moulder into vanity and nothing very smoke As soone as thou hast broken of sleepe set God before thee and thinke What shall I doe what course shall I take that I may bring glory to God that I may not sinne this day O that my wayes were so directed Never speake the evill which thou too certainely knowest by others but with fearefulnesse as it were and some kinde of enforcement being sure thou hast a calling to it and then doe it seasonably charitably discreetly and not in humour spleene imperiousnesse T is the humor of Hypocritts to be supercilious and censorious but for Gods glory thy owne discharge use no moe wordes against mâ—ns sinnes than thou wilt make prayers for their soules in secret Be bold yet wise in speaking for Christ and with height of resolution goe through all the disgraces that the sinfull times lay in the wayes of God In Actions civil Doe as thou wouldst be done to religious Strive to live by faith because faith is the soule of all our actions our prayers will bee cold unlesse this warme them Take heed of falling from thy first love Serve not God for by-respects but onely for himselfe So long as thou art unfeinedly displeased with and sorry for all thy sinnes and dost mortifie the deedes of thy body by the spirit thy cafe is the state of salvation Let thy whole conversation favour of the Lord. Bee alwayes bemoaning thy spirituall pride knowne hypocrisie covetousnesse perfâ—â—ctorinesse and formality in Gods service Give not way to a heartlesse neglect of the use of Gods holy ordinances reading prayer fasting private humiliation for this is the fore-runner to some fearefull sinne or fiery temptation to some heavie judgement or dangerous apostasie Seeke not thy selfe in any of thy actions Looke to thy repentance that it bee sincere universall constant from the heart root for all sinne Incorporate thy selfe into the Communion of Saints be intimate onely with them such an holy and humble majesty is in their carriage such a deale of heaven is in their countenances such spirituall ravishments is in their hearts such grace and powerful piercings in their speeches such zeale and hearty melting is in their prayers that they cannot but worke upon thy heart if thou converse with them Looke well to thy carriage that thou leave not an ill savour behinde thee in any company Wait for occasions to doe good Act. 26. 28. In bad company give them apparent signes of thy dislike Unlesse you give some kinde of reall or verball reproofe they will be hardned Often withdraw your selfe apart imparting unto God your griefes wants desires Walke with God on the top of Mount Tabor once a day Prayer in secret will bee unto thee an unspeakeable comfort a testimony that thou art not left to thy selfe if words will not come sigh God heares the sighing of his servants if thou canst not sigh breath God hath an care for that thou hast heard my voyce hide not thine eare at my breathing at my cry yea speake with thy countenance be humbled for thy unfitnesse dulnesse c. Then wee pray most happily when wee arise from prayer most humbled After prayer thou shalt carry thy selfe in thy vocation with much more zeale and standing thus upright with God thou wilt not feare the world thou shalt have rest and peace within what ever stirres bee without Have a speciall eve to a sincere constant and fruitfull performance of holy duties take heed of customarinesse and Formality which cuts out the heart and drawes the very life-blood from them Strive by all meanes for attainment of what thou prayest for by all occasions helpes and heavenly offers Be diligent in thy personall employments and take heed of idlenesse 2 Have an eye to Gods glory in all thy undertakings 3 Goe about earthly busines with an heavenly mind 4 Let not any unrighteous gaine entice thee to sinne or belime thee 5 Set not thy delight
to come out of it yea though with Lazarus I stinke already yet roll away the stone and speake thou by thy all-powerfull word and I shall come forth and live O purge my conscience from dead workes redeeme mee from death ransome me from power of the grave and though I be lesse than the least of all Saints lesse than the least of all thy mercies yet make me a prisoner of hope and by the bloud of thy covenant send forth my soule out of the pit wherein is no water Wash my robes and make them white in the bloud of the Lambe Create in me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Make thy word to be unto me like a refiners fire and like fullers sope cleansing me from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit that so I may be meete to be a partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but holy and without blemish the sonne of thy love through Christ Thou hast promised that if I returne unto thee thou wilt receive me and that if I seek thee early I shall finde thee that thou wilt have mercie upon me and wilt abundantly pardon all my sinnes heale my backeslidings and love me freely O Lord it is not sinne in the highest degree when it is out of measure sinfull and is come to the full that can hinder the Sunne of righteousnesse from arising with healing in his wings on any humbled soule no for where Sinne abounded Grace doth much more superabound and where shall or can the skill of thee our heavenly Physician be so much seene so much adored and magnified as in healing a poore soule weltring and wallowing in its bloud and desperately wounded unto everlasting death O speake thou the word and my soule shall live Subdue mine iniquities and cast all my sinnes into the depths of the Sea O redeeme me from my former vaine conversation that I may renounce the hidden things of dishonesty turne thou mee and I shall be turned betroth my soule unto thee in faithfulnesse make with me a covenant of peace And because no man can come to thee except the father which sent thee draw him O draw me and I will run after thee open my blinde eyes say Epphata to my deafe eares touch my lips with a coale from thy Altar that my iniquity may bee taken away and my sinne purged then shall my lame feet leape as an Hart and my dumbe tongue shall sing forth thy praise A new heart doe thou also give me and a new spirit doe thou put within me and take away the stony heart out of the midst of me and bestow upon me an heart of flesh and put thy spirit within mee as thou hast promised and cause me to walke in thy statutes and to keepe thy judgements and doe them And for the time to come Lord make me more zealous of thy glory more profitable in wayes of my calling more carefull to doe and receive all possible good that I can Alas I have beene a barren tree thou hast planted mee neere the rivers of water hast digged about me and taken much paines with me but I am still unfruitfull thy glory is not so deare unto me as it ought to be nor is my owne salvation or the edification of others so sincerely indevoured by me as was meet O turne me into another man circumcise the foreskinne of my heart let the time past of my life suffice to have served and live in sinne Give mee grace now in this my day to know the things that belong to my peace to make use of this time of my visitation to lay hold on eternall life to take the kingdome of heaven by violence now thou standest at the doore and knockest O let me open unto thee that thou mayest enter in and sup with me Give mee grace to worke out my salvation with feare and trembling to bee often in calling upon thee in prayer and lifting mine eyes up to the hills from whence both pardon of sinne and power over sinne must bee expected Make mee often search and trye my wayes and examine my selfe whether I be in the faith or no. Now I beseech thee to heare me and helpe me doe away the iniquity of thy servant cover my transgressions and let my sinnes bee blotted out from before thee for the Lord Iesus Christs sake Amen Amen Some particular formes of PRAYER For the English Colonies and Plantations in New-England Virginia c. O Most high God Possessor of heaven and earth the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the habitation of thy holinesse and of thy glory by thee the Mountaines were brought forth and thou hast formed the earth and the would and hast given it to the children of men for a possession And by thy word of blessing hast commanded man to encrease and multiply and replenish the face of the earth We in this nation have found thy gracious Providence over us in thy continuall protection and preservation for thou hast strengthned the bars of our gates and blessed our children within us thou hast set peace in our borders and hast abundantly given us blessings of the brest and of the wombe insomuch that wee are exceedingly multiplyed so that the place where wee dwell is too narrow for us for our seed is become as the sand and the offspring of our bowels as the gravell thereof And now O Lord thou of thy good providence hast espied out for us an exceeding good land watred with the dew of heaven from above blessed with the farnesse of the earth from beneath and hast made roome for us to bee planted therein that wee who are growne into so great a nation and are thronged at home may swarme out and bee gathered thither for the glory of thy great name the honour of this Kingdome and the further enlargement of our Kings dominions O let their designe be holinesse to the Lord honour and wealth to our nation and enlargement also to the kingdome of thy Christ who are transplanted into those remoter parts of the world Build a place of rest for thy tabernacle among them that the heathen that have not knowne thee and the families that have not called on thy name may by this meanes bee delivered from the power of darkenesse and translated into the kingdome of thy deare sonne Bee thou a wall of fire round about our people and a little Sanctuary unto them Let no sonne of wickednesse approach neere to hurt them build them up into a nation there plant them and make them to dwell in safety Let no seditious Sheba be author of faction or schisme among them And as thou causest the Sun to arise upon all the earth so that nothing is hid from the heate thereof so leâ— there bee no speech nor language where the voyce
Scripture 2 Ki. 17. 17. the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger Alas Head Excuse how shall I Scripture Gen. 44. 16. cleere my selfe concerning these my overspreading abominations Scripture Dan. 9. 27. how shall I lift up my face before thee my God for though I should Head Purge wash my selfe with Scripture Iob. 9. 30. snow-water and make my hands never so cleane yet Head Disclose Scripture Ier. 2. 22. mine iniquitie is marked before theeyea the heaven shall Scripture Iob 20. 27. reveale mine iniquitie and the earth shall rise up against me woe unto my Scripture Isay 3 9. soule for I have rewarded evill unto my selfe But if thou Lord be extreme to mark iniquities if thou enter into judgement with the servant Lord who who shall stand for so detestable and Scripture Ier. 16. 18. abominable are my doingâ— that for the â—einousnesse therof thou mightest let death seaze upon me Scripture Psal 55. 15. and make mee goe downe quicke into Head Damne hell where the Scripture Isai 66. 24. worme shall never dye and the fire shall never be quenched But thou hast in love to my soule Scripture 38. 17. delivered it from the pit of corruption for thou hast cast all my sinnes behind thy backe thou hast ransomed Scripture Hos 13. 14. me from the power of the grave thou hast redeemed mee from death by the mediatour betwixt Scripture 1 Tim. 2 5. God and man even Iesus who Scripture 1 Thess 1. 10. hath loved me and given himselfe for me and hath washed mee from my sinnes in his blood and delivered mee from the wrath to come O that I Head Repent Scripture Ezek. 36. 31 could loath my selfe in mine owne sight for all mine iniquities and abominations O that they might grieve me at the heart O that Scripture 21 6. I could sigh even with the breaking of my loines wailing Scripture Mic. 1. 8. as the dragons and mourning as the owles because I have sinned against the Lord and have Scripture Psal 18. 21. departed wickedly from my God Amen A Letter consolatorie to his friend perswading to patience in his afflictions Faithfull and beloved brother Scripture Col. 4. 9. GOd that comforteth Scripture 2 Cor. 7. 6. Head God those that are cast downe Scripture 1 Cor. 16. 18. 2 Scripture Thess 2. 16. refresh your spirit and give you everlasting consolation Head Comfort and good hope through grace for he hath torne and he Scripture Hosea 6. 1. will heale you hee hath smitten and he onely can bind you up I indeed faine Scripture Iob 16. 5. would strengthen you with my mouth and the moving of my lips should asswage your griefe But alas miserable Scripture 2. comforters are wee all if the comforter that should relieve your soule bee farre from you It grieveth mee Head Grieve Scripture Ruth 1. 13. much for your sake that the hand of the Lord is gone out against you that the Scripture 20. Almighty hath delt so very bitterly with you making Head Afflict Scripture Eze. 20. 37. you to passe under the rod and to Scripture Iob 13. 26. possesse the iniqui-quities of your youth you were at â—ase but hee hath broken you asunder hee hath also taken Scripture Iob 16 12. you by the necke and shaken you to pieces and set you up for his marke It is good for a man Scripture Lam 3. 27. saith Ieremy that he beare the yoke in his youth for whom the Lord loveth Scripture Hebr. 12. 6. he chasteneth and scourgeth every sonne whom he receiveth but if you be without chastisement Scripture 8. whereof all are partakers then are you a bastard and not a sonne Assure Scripture Isai 1 25. Head Purge yourselfe when God shall have purged away your drosse and taken away al your tin when he hath tryed you you Scripture Iob 23. 10. shall come forth as gold Therefore in your Head Murmure Scripture Luk. 21. 19. patience possess your soule looke unto Scripture Hebr. 12. 2 Iesus the author and finisher of your faith Hee was oppressed Scripture Isay 53. 7. and hee was Scripture 10. afflicted yet he opened not his mouth Behold and see if Scripture Lam. 1. 12 there were ever any sorrow like to his sorrow O then Scripture Mar. 10. 21 take up the crosse and follow him Be dumbe and open Scripture Psal 39. 9. not your mouth for it is his doing Bee you partaker of the Head Afflict Scripture 2 Tim. 1. 8. affliction of the Gospell Take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches Scripture 2 Cor. 12. 10. in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake for this light affliction Head Patient which is but for a Scripture 2 Cor. 4. 17. moment worketh for you a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory Though you Scripture 1 8. bee now pressed out of measure above strength insomuch that you dispaire even of life yet unto Scripture Psal 68. 20. God the Lord belong the issues from death Wherefore lift Scripture He. 12. 12. up the hands which hang downe and the feeble knees look Scripture Isa 17. 7. to thy Maker and let Head Rely thine eyes have respect unto the Holy one of Israel and Scripture Hos 12. 6. waite on thy God continually and he will turne for thee thy mourning into dauncing hee will Scripture Psal 30. 11 put off thy sackcloth and gird thee with gladnesse Amen The Lord doe Scripture Ier. 28. 6. so Farewell and Head Requite according to the Scripture Gen. 21. 23. kindnesse that I have done unto thee in this day of thy distresse thou shalt likewise doe unto me who also am Your Brother and Scripture Rev. 1. 9. Companion in tribulation and in the kingdome and patience of Iesus Christ L. M. If thou wert to disswade thy friend from keeping bad company thou mightst find here happily some prevailing arguments nay were I to preach on such a text as I might find sufficient footing to ground this point of Doctrine that A godly man must avoid the company of the wicked If I doe but turne to some of these heads Godly Regenerate Righteous Christian live Godly Sanctifie Hate Fly Abborre Wicked Vngodly Prophane live Wickedly Company c. I shall t is likely in â—t with good matter and savourie expressions suiting to my purpose for example suppose my text were Psal 26. 5. I have hated the congregation of evill doors It might bee confirmed by Pro. 1. 10. 15. Psal 97. 10. or 2 Cor. 6. 14. or Eph. 5. 7. 11. c. For what should a godly man doe in the wickeds company seeing 1 Vngodly men are Gods enemies Psal 92 9. for loe thine enemies O Lord God himselfe sayes of them Zech. 11. 8. my soule loathed them and their soule also abhorred me Now every Godly man is on the Lords side Exod. 32. 26. yea are the friends of God Ioh. 15. 15. Lam. 2 23. Shouldst thou then helpe the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord as Iehu the Seer reproved Iehoshaphat â— Chron. 19.
herein Was not thy servant Moses a very meeke man above all the men that were on the earth Doth not my blessed Saviour command mee to learne of â—iâ— who was meeke and lowly in heart he was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he was led as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a sheepe before her sherer he was dumb and can all the indignities offered to me be comparable to all those shamefull spittings and revilings that he for my sake was exposed unto alasse no. O teach me therefore to bring downe my swelling and proud heart to suffer patiently for his sake the servant of God must not strive but be patient toward all men why doe I not then rather take wrong and suffer injury why doe I not take up my Crosse daily and follow him that endured such contradiction of sinners Labouring for A meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price but hee that is soone angry dealeth foolishly O make mee therefore wise in watching over mine owne heart in keeping downe mine owne unmortified spirit to restraine my mouth with a bridle seeing the discretion of a man deferreth his anger and it is his glory to passe over a transgression vouchsafe mee thy grace for Iesus Christ his sake To whom with thee and c Against Apostacie and Backsliding in religion O Lord my God never I beseech thee let there be in me an evill heart of unbeliefe to depart from thee the living God let mee never be of the number of them that draw back unto perdition leaving my first love casting off my first faith to embrace this present world or to enjoy the pleasures of sin which are but for a season O Lord though some fall away and are already turned after Satan even denying the Lord that bought them and so bring upon themselves swift destruction yet doe thou please so to establish my heart with grace that I may continue to the end in that good way in which I have begun let mee not leave the pathes of righteousnesse to walke againe in the wayes of darkenesse or with the dog returne to my former vomit and with the sow that was washed to my wallowing in the mire O Lord there is in me by nature a revolting and rebellious heart I am bent to backsliding from thee unlesse thou doe draw me I shall settle and lag O teach mee to looke to my selfe to keepe my heart with all diligence that I lose not those things which I have wrought but that I may receive a full reward make mee to run with patience the race that is set before me and to be faithfull unto the death that thou maist give me a crowne of life As thou hast given mee a little strength to keepe thy word and not to deny thy name so establish O God the thing that thou hast wrought in me ' â— is he that continueth to the end that shall be saved not he that beginneth well that putteth his hand to the plough and looketh backe O let me hold Faith and a good conscience that my last workes may bee better moe than at first thou art able to keep mee from falling and to preserve me faultlesse before the presence of thy glory with exceeding joy O doe it I beseech thee for thy names sake Even so Lord Iesus Amen See Apostate Backslide Persevere c. in the Scripture phrases Against distrustfull Cares O Lord hast not thou commanded me to cast all my care upon thee because thou carest for me hast not thou said thou wilt never leave me nor for sake me art not thou God all-sufficient Thy Sonne my Saviour hath also bidden mee to take no thought for my life what I shall eate or what I shall drinke nor yet for my body what I should put on Doest not thou feed the fowles of the ayre which sow not neither reape nor gather into barnes By taking thought I cannot adde one cubit unto my stature and thou my heavenly father knowest what things I want what things are best for me and hast promised rather to starve the Lyons than to let thy children want any thing that is good for them O let me believe thy gracious promise to live by Faith to be content with those things that I have yea to receive evill at thy hands as well as good I am yet in better condition to the world-ward than many of thy dearest Saints and now-glorious Martyrs that wandered up and downe in sheepe-skins and goatâ—-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented of whom the world was not worthy yea I have more worldly riches than the Lord of the whole world my blessed Saviour who had not wheron to rest his head who when he was to pay tribute-money had never a penny but sent his Disciple Peter to the Sea to cast in a hooke and to take up the first Fish and there found to supply his present necessitie O let not me expect to be carved to in a better condition than my Lord and Master But to wait on thee my God continually Teach me first to seeke the Kingdome of heaven and the righneousnesse thereof then hast thou promised that all other things shall be added unto me Amen Vid. Care Providence c. For Marriners or Seafaring men c. O Lord the great and dreadfull God which hast placed the sand from the bound of the Sea by a perpetuall decree that it cannot passe it and though the waves thereof tosse themselves yet can they not prevaile though they roare yet can they not passe over it for thou shuttest up the Sea with doores and barres and sayest to the waves hither shall yee come and no further Thou art the hope of all the ends of the earth and of such as abide in the broad Sea wee O Lord whose imployment and calling is in the deepe in this heape of great waters in the midst of the Seas that go down to the Sea in ships and doe businesse in great waters we see thy works and wonders in the deep For thou commandest and raisest the stormie wind which lifteth up the waves thereof We mount up to the heaven we go downe againe to the depths our soule is melted because of trouble wee reele too and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at our wits end O teach us to cry unto thee in our trouble and doe thou bring us out of our distresses make thou we beseech thee the storme a calme that the waves therof may be still and so bring us to the desired haven then shall we praise thee Lord for thy goodnesse and for thy wonderfull works towards the children of men Thou art our refuge and strength a very present helpe in trouble therefore will wee not feare though the earth be removed and though the mountaines be carried into the midst
instructa officina remediorum omnium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coloss 3. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. A PRAYER gathered out of the PSALMES O Lord that Heaven docst possesse I lift mine eyes to thee Even as the servant lifteth his His masters hands to see Thou the foundations of the earth Before all times hast layde And Lord the heavens are the worke Which thine owne hand hath made Thou Lord I say whose seate is set On Cherâ—bins most bright Shew forth thy selfe and doe not let Send downe thy beames of light Incline thine eare unto my words O Lord my plaint consider And heare my voyce my King my God To thee I make my prayer As incenso let my prayers be Directed in thine eyes And the up-lifting of my hands As evening sacrifice FOr loe my wicked doings Lord Above my head are gone A greater load than I can beare They lye me sore upon O Lord our God if thou shalt weigh Our sinnes and them poruse What one shall then escape and say I can my selfe excuse Thou Lord dost know the thoughts of man His heart thou seest full plaine Thou Lord I say mans thoughts dost scan And find'st them all but vaine The wicked workes that we have wrought Thou seâ—'st before thine eye Our privy faults yea eke our thoughts Thy countenance doth spye Both wee and eke our fathers all Have sinned every one We have committed wickednesse And lewdly we have done Our wicked life so farre exceedes That we should fall therein But Lord forgive our great misdeeds And purge us from our sin IN judgement with thy servants Lord O enter not at all For justified be in thy sight Not one that liveth shall From the beholding of my sinne Lord turne away thy face And all my deedes of wickednesse Doe utterly deface Lord turne thee to thy wonted grace My â—illy soule up take O save me not for my deserts But for thy mercies sake Have mercy on me Lord after Thy great aboundant grace After thy mercies multitude Doe thou my sinnes deface Yea Lord remove our sinnes from us And our offences all As farre as is the Sun rising Full distant from his fall The man is blest whose wickednesse Thou Lord hast cleane remitted And he whose sinne and wickednesse His hid and also covered And blest is he to whom the Lord Imputeth not his sin Which in his heart hath hid no guile Nor fraud is found therein O Lord create in me a heart Vnspotted in thy sight And eke with in my bowels Lord Renew a stable spirit With Hysope Lord besprinkle me I shall be cleansed so Yea wash thou me and so I shall Be whiter than the Snow Of joy and gladnesse make thou me To heare the pleasant voyce That so the bruised bones which thou Hast broken may rejoyce For thy Names sake with quickning grace Alive doe thou me make And out of trouble bring my soule Even for thy justice sake O God my God I watch betime To come to thee in haste For why my soule and body both Doe thirst of thee to taste And in this barren wildernesse Where waters there are none My flesh is parcht for thought of thee For thee I wish alone Direct our hearts unto thy grace Convert us Lord to thee Shew us the brightnesse of thy face And then full safe are we Gods promise I doe minde and praise O Lord I sticke to thee I doe not care at all assayes What flesh can doe to me I still depend with all my heart On thee and thus will say My Father and my God thou art My rocke of health and stay O blest is he whose hope and heart Doth in thee Lord remaine That with the proud doth take no part Nor such as lye and faine My heart doth knowledge unto thee I sue to have thy grace Then seeke my face sayst thou to me Lord I will seeke thy face In wrath turne not thy face away Nor suffer me to slide Thou art my helpe still to this day Be still my God and guide SO grievous is my plaint and moane That I waxe wondrous â—aint All the night long I wash my bed With teares of my complaint Thou seest my sinnes that many be Thou on my teares dost looke Reserve them in a glasse by thee And write them in thy booke Burnt offrings thou delight'st not in I know thy whole desire With sacrifice to purge his sinne Thou dost no man require A troubled spirit is sacrifice Delightfull in Gods eyes A broken and an humble heart God thou wilt not despise Surely with ashes as with bread My hunger I have fill'd And mingled have my drinke with teares That from mine eyes have still'd The Lord is high and yet he doth Behold the lowly sp'rite But he contemning knowes afarre The proud and lofty wight O Would to God it might thee please My wayes so to addresse That I might both in heart and voyce Thy lawes keepe and confesse I have both sworne and will performe Most certainely doubtlesse That I will keepe thy judgements just And them in life expresse Prove me my God I thee desire My wayes to search and try As men doe prove their gold with fire My reines and heart espie O Lord thou hast me tride and knowne My sitting thou dost know And rising eke my thoughts a farre Thou understandst also My paths yea and my lying downe Thou compassest alwayes And by familiar custome art Acquainted with my wayes THen in thy paths that be most pure Stay me Lord and preserve That from thy way wherein I walke My steps may never swerve And whilest that breath within my brest Doth naturall life preserve Yea till this world shall be dissolv'd Thy law will I observe From such as thee desire to know Let not thy grace depart Thy tighteousnesse declare and shew To men of upright heart Thy tender mercies Lord from me Withdraw thou not away But let thy love and verity Preserve me still for aye And whiles I live I will not fayle To worship thee alway And in thy name I shall lift up My hands when I doe pray As thou hast giuen power to me So Lord make firme and sure The thing that thou hast wrought in me For ever to endure O Teach me Lord thy wayes and I Shall in thy truth proceede O joyne my heart to thee so nigh That I thy name may dreed WHat thing is there that I can wish But thee in heaven above And in the earth there is no thing Like thee that I can love HAte I not them that hate thee Lord And that in earnest