cōtinually euē so lōg as I haue my being Graunt that I may learne by this euidence of thy mercy and might for euer hereafter to depend vpon thee Quicken me vp to all holy dutyes that my thankefulnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian cariage Make me a kinde and carefull Mother willing to vnder-goe the paines and troubles of education let no nicenesse or curiositie hinder me frō those seruices to which both Nature Religion haue appointed mee Let mee also bee carefull heereafter when time shall require to season that which thou hast giuen mee with the knowledge of thee and of thy Sonne that my desire may manifestly appeare to bee set for the encreasing of thy kingdom Vouchsafe so to order my affections to bring them into obedience vnder thee that if it should bée thy pleasure either now or hereafter to take this infant from mee I may patiently submit my self to thy appointment And now O good God perfite in mee that strength which thou hast begun make me to growe in care to serue thée faithfully both in the duetyes of piety in other businesses of my place and calling that I may be a comfort to my husbād an example to my neighbours a grace to my profession a means of glory to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen 21. A Prayer for those which are employed in the assistance helpe of a trauailing woman IT is not our diligence O Lord or paines which can do any thing without thy blessing our sins are sufficient to bring thy curse vpon whatsoeuer we vndertake Be pleased we pray thée to be reconciled to vs in the blood of thy Sonne Make vs to remēber that we are here in thy presence that all our thoughts words actions are open to thy sight prosper the busines for which wee are come together put far frō vs all supersticious cōceits idle fancies teach vs to séek help only frō thy grace Enable vs to speak comfortably to this pained woman that we may further her dependance vpon thy holy Maiestie and may be a means vnder thee of her true refreshing in her sharpest fits Furnish vs with skill and her with strength patiently to awaite the appointed time of her deliuerance knit al our hearts vnto thee that we may feare thy Name noting obseruing thy mercy and power in all thy works studying to giue thee prayse and glory for the same through Iesus Christ our only Lord Sauiour Amen 22. A Thankesgiuing after when God hath blessed their paines in the womans deliuerie O Lorde wee haue séene thy goodnes and haue receiued an apparant token of thy readines to heare the Prayers of those which call vpon thée and to succour those which flye vnto thee for thy helpe Thou hast giuen ease and deliuerance to the woman light and life to the infant ioy and gladnesse to vs all The glory and prayse is thine alone Fill our hearts with thankefulnesse make vs forward both now hereafter to prouoke and stirre vp one another thereunto And And let not our thankefulnes stand in words onely or outward shewes but cause it to appeare in our whole course that the obedience the sobrietie the modestie the vertue of our liues may witnes the thankfull féeling of our hearts Goe on in thy mercy wee pray thee both to the Mother and her babe continue encrease their strength so as may serue best for thy glory And as thou hast added one vnto the number of mankind shewing thy wonderful wisedome power both in the framing of him in the wombe in bringing him foorth into this light so in thy time adde him also to thy Church and beget him again vnto a liuely hope by the immortall séed of thy holy word deliuering him from the power of darkenesse in which by nature we are al into the glorious libertie of thy chosen And if it shall so séeme good to thee to lay any further triall eyther of sickenes or death vpon this thy seruant or vpon the fruite of her wombe prepare vs all to a patient and quiet bearing of thy hand and to a contented cōfortable resting vpon thy gracious prouidence assuring our selues that all things shall turne to the good and benefit of thy chosen Heare vs O Lord and accept vs and forgiuing the weakenes of our Prayers graunt vs all néedfull graces out of the rich store-house of thy bottomlesse bounty and that for Iesus Christ our gracious Redéemer Amen 23. A Prayer for a Souldier fighting for his Countrey or the confederates thereof O Lord it is thy glorie to bee called The Lord of hostes and it is thou alone from whom when men haue made their most politicke and puissant preparations the victorie must be looked for Drawe my heart I beséech thee from all relying vpon my own valor or vpon the strength of the battaile in which I stand and teach me to looke vpward and to waite and trust onely vpon thee Thou giuest conquest and thou giuest courage thou deliuerest from the perill of the sword or else makest death a meanes of happinesse to thy seruants Forgiue my sinnes I pray thee and assure mee of pardon by the witnesse of thy spirit that the guilt thereof make not my heart to tremble in me and to behold death as a messenger to conuey me into hell If thou O Lord bée on my side peace being made betwixt thée and my Soule through Christ what can bee against mee what hazard can befall my Soule Nothing shall be able to depriue mee of thy loue Let not spoyle or blood or mine owne aduancement be the ends of mine attempts but make me to ayme onely at thy glory in the defence of thy trueth and in the good and safety of the State wherein I liue The issue of all things to thee O Lorde is knowen but to man it is hidden prepare me therefore indifferently to whatsoeuer shall befall me If I dye giue mee comfort in my last breathing and take my Soule into thy gracious hands If I bee taken captiue giue mee patience giue mee wisedome and godly courage to doe nothing contrary to the honour of my countrey or preiudiciall to the profession of a faithful Christian If I returne with life and victorie make me thankefull kéepe mee from taking frō thee any part of thy glory Preserue mee from those riotous lasciuious and blaspheming courses which are the vsuall fruits of good successe Let me not thinke deuotion to be an enemie to resolution or that a religious feare of thy Maiestie doeth abate the spirit that should bee in a Souldier but settle me in this that the assurance of a lawfull cause the hope and confidence of a better life by the merites of Christ the care to please thee and to depend vpō thy power are the onely true grounds of valour which can giue a man boldnesse and life in the day of battaile Vouchsafe me these
of miseries are against me If my griefe were waighed it would bee heauier then the sand of the sea I am broken with one breaking vpon another Make me I pray thee to consider seriously that it is eueÌ„ thou which hast done all this that these things come not by chaunce but by thy prouidence and certaine appointment that so I may be dumme and not open my mouth to murmure or repine Open mine eyes that I may sée mine owne deseruings and what cause I haue giuen thee euen to crush me to pieces with thy heauy iudgements yea to cause the pit of thy eternall vengeance to shut her mouth vpon me What cause haue I left vnto mee to complaine when I am lesse then thy smallest mercy and my sins greater then the greatest sorrow thou hast layd vpoÌ„ me It is thy loue O Lorde from whence this proceedeth In this course thou doest offer thy self vnto me as to a sonne thou knowest my corruptioÌ„s the rebellion of my heart the crookednesse vnreformednes of my nature thou séest before some great euill that I am like to fall into if I bee left vnto mine owne course thou findest me to be forgetfull of my duety to thee cold in Prayer backward and lumpish in holy seruices well-néere lulled asléepe in the common security of the times It is thy wisedome to rouse me vp to put thy hooke of affliction into my nostrils to bring mee backe into that good way from which I am falling I knowe thou doest therfore chasten me that I may not be condemned with the world O teach me I pray thee to learne to iudge my selfe to search to try my wayes to pry into my course by-past that I may finde out those euils which beare in mée the greatest sway and may in some measure vnderstande what it is which thou aymest at in afflicting mee And enable mee withall to reforme mine errors to recouer my wandring to get a happie victorie ouer my rebellious flesh that I may be able to say hereafter It is good for mee that I was in trouble blessed be the time that the Lorde afflicted me and how sweet is the quiet fruite of righteousnesse which springeth foorth from the bitter roote of tribulation In the meane space O Lord vntill it shall please thée to put an ende to my present grieuaunces teach me not to make haste or to séeke by vile and vnwarrantable courses to wind my self out of thy hands but graunt that I may tarry thy leasure with patience not daring to prescribe vnto thee what to doe And when this storme is ouer and the sorrowe past O kéepe me from securitie make me to remember the vowes and promises of obedience which I now make vnto â—hee prepare mee to a fresh triall that my care may be to bée prouided for whatsoeuer thy pleasure shall bee to lay vpon me Heare mee in this and in all other my suites for his sake in whom thou art best pleased euen Iesus Christ the righteous Amen 13. A Prayer in respect of some losse receiued as of honour or goods c. O Eternall God the God of prouidence the orderer and the disposer of all things both in heauen and in earth Be ready I beséech thee to heare the Praier of thy distressed seruaunt Helpe my weakenes I entreat thée and quicken mee to the performance of this duety of calling vpon thy Name I am eueÌ„ ashamed of my self to sée mine owne faintnes how soone I am cast downe vpon euery occasion O rayse me vp I pray thee and make me to lift my heart towards thee according to whose good pleasure all things come to passe Is it not thou O Lord which hast laid these things vpon me art not thou he who both giuest takest at thy will art not thou the iudge which makest low which makest high shall I murmure against thee which hast such an absolute vncontroulable soueraingty ouer al shal I receiue good at thy hand and not euill O kéepe downe my repining mutinous and discontented thoughts allay the height and hautinesse of my spirit teach me how to be abased to haue want make mée to sée the vanitie of that which I was wont euen to admire and to set my heart vpon Let this abridgement be a schoole master vnto mee that I may learne by it to draw mine affections from these fading and transitorie commodities O Lord what is honour Is it not a blast or as smoke which quickely vanisheth What is wealth Is it not lighter then vanitie it selfe doth it not take her to her wings as an Eagle and flye into the heauen O knit my heart henceforth vnto thee O blessed Father fasten my affections on the things which are aboue where Christ sitteth at thy right hand make mée to lay vp treasure in heauen to seeke after that kingdome of thine which cannot be shaken frame my heart to the choyce of the better part of which I can neuer bee depriued Let mee affect the true honour which standes in the faythfull seruice of my sauior Let me labor for that enduring and durable riches which consistes in the knowledge of thee and in the féeling of thy gratious sauour Suffer me not I pray thee so to limit thy power as to thinke that thou art not now able to supply mée sith the meanes which I was wont to enioy is taken from mée but make mee faythfully to consider that thy hand is not shortened but that thou hast inough in store for those that loue thee Thou art able to giue me a great deale more after thou hast exercised mée awhile to blesse my last dayes with more abundance then the first thou canst make the little meale in the barrell not to waste and the small quantitie of oyle not to diminish thou canst cause a small thing to bée better vnto mee then great riches to the mightie and a dinner of greene hearbes to bée more sauory to me then a stalled Oxe to them O therefore I beséech thee restrayne my desires make me willinglie to submit my selfe to thy wisedom Let thy prouidence promise bee my store-house and the stocke that I rely vnto let this satisfy mée that though I lose all that I haue yet inasmuch as thou hast once loued mée in Christ I shall neuer lose thy fauour And let not the beholding of my children family disharten mee or make mee to cast perils and to say Wherewith shall I feed them How shall I clothe them O Lord they are better then many sparrowes and dearer vnto thee then the lylies of the fielde thy promise of mercy is entayled to my posterity O let my faith rest vpon this foundation Prepare me I pray thee to further trials make mée ready by degrées to lose euen my life it selfe if it may be for thy glory And thus O Lord desiring to reckoÌ„ euen this crosse though my vnreformed nature doeth gainesay it among thy chiefest fauours I
our forgetting thee in the dayes of our plenty but chiefly our loathing of that spirituall Mannah that heauenly diet of thy sacred Word prouided in thy abundant mercy for our Soules O make vs ashamed for these and other our monstrous sins besides those personall euils wherewith we are each of vs iustly to be charged Beget in vs a care to renounce and forsake our sinnes equall to our desire for the putting away of thy iudgements Forgiue vs in Iesus Christ and vouchsafe vs as a pledge of thy loue strength and grace to walke in a greater measure of obedience then heretofore And now O Lord teach vs to rely vpon thy prouiding and to know that when all things faile yet thy mercies are the same and thy power to help is not diminished Thou canst suddenly by meanes to mā vnknowen turne the greatest penury into plenty thou canst make a little to stretch farre and canst proportion our appetites to our store O make vs to depend on thee and to study more how to profite by thy hand then to haue thy rod remooued from vs. And when thou shalt shew thy selfe to haue heard our Prayers by sending greater plenty let vs not forget our present want but graunt that we may labour to bee thankefull and endeauour after a more sober vse of thy blessings then heretofore Heare vs in this and in all other our requests for Christes sake and for thine owne promise sake Amen * ⎠* 29. Another like applyed to the time of some great contagion WHither shall wee goe O Lorde in the day of our affliction but onely vnto thee Thou alone canst saue and out of thy hands none is able to giue deliuerāce Heauy at this time is thy hand vpon vs and fearefull is the disease with which thou hast afflicted vs Wee are afrayde one friend and neighbour of another and nothing is before vs but present death Scarsely can we looke foorth but we sée some one or other amongst vs caried away to the graue the mourners going about the streets Wée must needes confesse that though this he grieuous yet it is the smallest part of our desert It is iust with thee to smite vs with botches and scabs that cannot bee healed and to make the pestilence euen to cleaue vnto our loines and to swéep vs away from off the earth euen as a man swéepeth away doung till all bee gone For how haue we multiplied our iniquities before thee and to what a shamelesse and intolerable measure are our sinnes encreased Many warnings haue béene giuen by thy Ministers thou hast risen early and late and sent vnto vs by them yet wee haue made our hearts as an Adamant stone and haue put farre from vs the euill day perswading our selues that their sermons were but wind and that they did but commend vnto vs their own fancies Thus haue we encouraged our selues in euill and haue set thy iudgements at nought euery one turning to his owne course as the horse rusheth to the battell adding drunkennesse to thirst and falling away from thee more and more But O Lorde giue vs now at the last remorsefull and repentant hearts make vs as it were to smite vpon our thigh as a signe that wee see our wandrings and that we are ashamed of our sinnes Embolden vs in the name of Christ to come into thy presence and in all earnestnesse of spirit to cry vnto thee Take away our iniquities and receiue vs graciously Teach vs as well to feare sinne the cause of this wasting sickenesse as we doe the sicknesse it selfe which is the fruite of sinne Comfort vs according to the dayes that thou hast afflicted vs and let the swéet feeling of the gracious testimony of thy Spirit speaking peace vnto our soules preuaile against all other sadnes or cause of griefe or sorrow whatsoeuer Say O Lord vnto thy destroying Angel It is sufficient holde thy hand Or if it be thy pleasure to stretch thine hand yet further and to take vs away also O prepare vs to thine owne purpose endue vs with a holy patience to endure the vtmost triall and graunt that whatsoeuer befall our earthly tabernacles yet our soules may bee alwayes acceptable vnto thee and al for Christ Iesus sake who hath loued vs giuen himselfe to be a sacrifice of a swéet smelling sauor vnto thee Amen 30. A Meditation or Prayer necessary for a poore man TRueth it is O Lorde that to my mutinous repining nature want is of all things most distastful and pouertie is a burden euen intolerable Sometimes I am ready to call thy iustice in question who measurest out so large ouerflowing a portion vnto some and yet art so strait and sparing towards mee Sometimes do almost condemne Religion to be méerely vanity the louers whereof lye open to so great extremitie Otherwhiles my owne heart chargeth me with hypocrisie telling me that no man euer perished being an innocent and that if I did so feare thee as I should thou couldest not thus forsake mee And much adoe haue I to master my owne affections and to restraine my selfe from putting foorth my hand to wickednesse and from taking some strāge course for my own supply Thus O Lorde I am straitened thus I am euen haunted with whole troupes of vnquiet thoughtes all which by the continuance and enlargement of my owne scarcitie and by the vncompassionatenesse which I finde among the men of this yron age are rather multiplyed and encreased in mee then any way slaked or diminished But eternally blessed bee thy great Name which hast opened the gates of thy mercy giuen hope of hearing and of help to the basest and poorest amongst men Thou acceptest not the persons no not of Princes thou regardest not the rich sooner then the poore Behold therefore O louing Father in Iesus Christ to thee doe I cry to thy Mercy-seat doe I stretch out my féeble hands I haue learned O Lorde that miserie commeth not foorth of the dust neither doeth affliction spring out of the earth the pillars of the world are thine thou openest or shuttest thy hand at thine owne pleasure Thy wisedom also is infinite and thy iudgements are vnsearcheable who shall pleade with thee to aske thee a reason of thy wayes Let it bee inough for mee that it is thy pleasure thus to debase mee Am I not in thy hand as the clay in the potters If thou doe giue me a larger portion it is thy bounty if thou doe abridge me what haue I to complain or what challenge can I make to that which thou keepest from mée Teach mee I beséech thee not to look so much vpon this what others haue as to consider well how little I for my part doe deserue to haue If I doe but breath vpon the face of the earth if I had no house but the open ayre no garments but ragges no food but the bread and the water of affliction or the crummes that fal from some rich mans
the loynes of the naked with the fleece of my shéep not eating my morsels alone but dealing my bread to the hungrie and neuer hiding my self from mine owne flesh For why should I make gold my hope or wherefore should I striue to lade my selfe with this thicke clay still plotting to set my neast on high when al that I haue or can haue is in a moment turned into vanitie Quicken mee vppe therefore to good duties that the hearts of thy Saints may bee comforted by mee and that in the place where I liue I may by my forwardnesse draw on and prouoke others to all the offices of necessarie beneuolence Let the bowels of the néedie bee my treasurie and let it bee my desire care there to lay vp in store a good foundation for my self against the time to come not trusting to be crowned for the worth of my liberalitie for what can that be to a Weight of glory but assuring my self the the mercy shewed by me vnto others is a beam of the loue which shines frō thee vpon my soule Thus O Lord shall I by thy goodnesse haue the true vse of thy blessings together with a daily encrease of much matter of thankesgiuing for thy great goodnes to mee so vile and vnworthie and all for Christ and in his most glorious and holie name to whom with thee and thy spirit one true euerlasting and only wise God bee all praise and power might maiestie and dominion now and euermore Amen 32. A Prayer for the whole State EXtraordinarie O Lord haue thy fauours beene vnto this Kingdom when we recount our long cōtinued peace our victories our plentie our comfort by religious and prudent gouernors especially the glorious light of thy Gospell which hath shined amongst vs our fréedome from the miserable bondage of Romish and Antichristian tyrannie wee must needes say that thou hast not dealt so with euerie Nation Indeede the crie of our sinnes is great the verie heauens may blush to looke vpon vs and the earth is wearie to beare our grosse our shameles our presumptuous euils Thou thy selfe O patient God art pressed vnder vs as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaues Long hast thou waited for our repentance and often hast thou vrged vs by the Ministers of thy word to break off our sins and euen besought vs by them to bee reconciled vnto thee But wee haue hated to be reformed wee haue cast thy word behind vs thou hast stretched out thy hand and wee would not regarde wee haue despised and mocked thy messengers our hearts within vs haue beene fully set to do euill Mercie hath beene offered wee haue not esteemed it iudgement hath beene threatned wee haue not feared it the very triall of our countenances testifieth against vs wee declare our sinnes as Sodom wee hide them not all manner of foule enormities do march openly and confidently and without feare in our streets How iustly mightest thou powre out euen the vials of thy wrath vpō vs making vs to be a detestation and a curse and an astonishment and a reproch to other Nations forcing vs to wring out and to drinke the very dregs of that mixt wine of thy fierce terrible indignation If thou shouldest bring an vtter dissolution and desolatiō vpon our State making our enemies to ride ouer ouer our heades to clime aboue vs vp on hie and vs to come downe beneath belowe If thou shouldest take away from vs the Iudge and the Prophet the honourable and the Counseller and appoint children to bee our Princes If thou shouldest make heaps of our Cities and leaue our Townes without inhabitants If thou shouldst at once quench the light of thy blessed word and giue vs ouer to the seruice of dumbe idols and our soules to be swallowed vp in the darkenesse of popish ignorance and superstition if thou shouldest make vs by thy iudgements a prouerb and a spectacle to the whole world it were no other then wée haue deserued nay it is thy great mercie that these things and more heauie then these haue not already ouertaken vs. But O Lord bee mercifull to our sinnes for thy names sake O thou which art the God of grace looke graciously vpon vs in the Mediator of grace Christ Iesus Wee haue nothing to plead but his merite nothing can wash away the foulenesse of our sinnes but his most precious bloud Make wee pray thee our hearts to mourne within vs both for our owne personall sinnes and for al the abominations which are done in the midst of the Land Oh that we might turne vnto thee with al our heart with fasting with weeping and with sorrowing Oh that we could sée the thinges that belong vnto our peace and might euerie man turne from his euill way and from the wickednesse that is in his hand and make his wayes his workes good Let it be thy holy pleasure we hūbly beseech thée to continue and to enlarge thy wonted fauours towardes vs Stablish this our peaceable gouernement by a perpetuall and vnchangeable decree Compasse-in this Ilād with thy fauor as with a shield Let neuer thine and our aduersaries roare in the midst of thy congregation or sette vppe their banners as signes of victorie and conquest ouer vs. Aboue all O Lord vouchsafe the comfort of thy Gospell and the libertie of thy blessed truth Grant that that may still be faithfully soundly preached in our Churches Oh remooue not our cādlestick though our falling frō our first loue the uniuersall slaking of our zeal hath deserued it Lengthen out the vse of it we entreat thee euen so long as the Sun and Moone endureth that by it those that are yet vnborn and shal come out of our Loynes may bee guided and directed in the way of peace And to this end wée are most humble and instant suters to thy Maiestie euen to thee by whom Kings raigne and whose dominion and soueraintie reacheth ouer all that thou wouldest multiplie thy blessings vpon thy King euen thine annointed King Iames whose head thou hast lifted vp aboue others and into whose hands thou hast committed the raines of these vnited Kingdomes O Lorde when we remember the dayes by-past euen the dayes of our feare how that after the death of our late renowned Queen we looked for nothing but cōfusiō supposing that the times of our peace must needs haue died with her and haue euen beene buried in her graue and consider withall how thou then without any so much as drawing of a sword or colour of commotion placedst in her throne a King of the same royall bloud and of the same loue and affection to thy holy truth vnder whose shadow wee enioy all the accustomed comforts of our ancient peace we are like to them that dream we are euen strokē with astonishment so far haue all thinges gone beyond our hopes exceeded our exspectations O pardon our great vngratefulnesse that passe ouer thy mercies so superficially and do so
with glorie and honor c. 1. Tim. 6.16 who only hath immortality and dwelleth in a light that none can attaine to c. and such like places To supply thee with words of promise consider Psa 50.15 Call vpon me c. so wil I deliuer thee c. Is 65.24 yea before they call I will answer and whiles they speake I will heare Iohn 14.13 Whatsoeuer you aske in my name that will I do and many such testimonies To bring thee to see thy own vilenesse ponder Iob 5.14 Man drinks iniquitie like water cha 25.4 Hee cannot bee cleane that is borne of a woman Psalme 51.5 I was borne in Iniquitie c. Romanes 7.18 I knowe that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing Gather account of thy particular sinnes as Iob did Chapter 9.3 View thy selfe often in the glass of the Law 1. A Morning Prayer for priuate Families MOst gratious GOD and louing FATHER in all humilitie of soule and vnfained acknowledgement of our bounden duty we present our selues heere before thy throne of maiestie and glory desiring in some measure to shew our thankfulnesse for the multitude of thy mercies heaped vpon vs thy most vnworthy seruants By thee at the first we were fearefully and wonderfully made thou coueredst vs in our mothers wombes thou gauest vs the shape of men women when it was free for thee to haue equalled vs vs vnto thy basest creatures since it hath pleased thée to preserue vs to watch ouer vs and to guard vs by thy prouidence to open thy hand and to replenish vs with good things to giue vs foode and rayment health libertie peace O Lord thy compassions faile not but they are renued euerie morning euen in this night past we haue receiued an apparant euidence of thy loue For whereas for the sinnes committed the day before thou mightest euen in the deade of sleepe haue taken our soules from vs and so suddenly haue brought vs to our account it hath been thy pleasure yet to spare vs and not onlie so but to refresh vs with quiet rest and to bring vs in safetie to the beginning of this day Grant O Lord wee pray thee that the ordinarie vse of these thy kindnesses may not make vs the lesse to esteem them but so affect our hearts with the apprehension of them that we may learne to admire thy mercy which dealest so gratiously with such vnthankfull persons as wee haue alwayes béene and may euen bind our selues to striue to shew all obedience duty to thee which dost so enlarge thy goodnes vnto vs. But chiefelie O Lord raise vp we beseech thee our hearts and our affections from these outward fauours the least of which notwithstanding is greater then the best of our deseruings and drawe vs to the serious consideration of those blessings which doe more directlie concerne a better life Make vs thankefully mindfull of the grace of election by which thou fréely chosest vs in Christ to be vessels of mercie before we were of thy sending thy sonne out of thine owne bosome being in thine owne forme to take on him the forme of a seruant and to become obedient vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse for our sakes of thy calling vs out of the kingdome of darknes by the power of the gospel preached of thy shining into our hearts by the enlightening of thy spirit of quickening vs when we were dead in trespasses and sinnes of thy begetting vs againe vnto a liuelie hope of the first fruites of the spirit and of that earnest of our inheritance which thou hast giuen vs of the dailie free vse and libertie of thy worde whereby that great mysterie of godlines yea euen thy whole counsell is cléerelie reuealed to vs. O Lord teach vs to consider what miserable creatures wee were in our selues what a fearefull case we had yet beene in if thou hadst left vs to our selues that so the veiw of these vnspeakable and vndeserued fauours may euen rauish our spirits and so possesse our hearts that we may constantly resolue henceforth to giue vppe our selues as a liuing sacrifice holie and acceptable vnto thee and to deuote all our powers both of soule and body to the glorie and honor of thy name And Lord enable vs hereunto we pray thée for we are not suffcient of our selues to thinke anie thing as of our selues we are naturally reprobate to euerie good worke Open therefore the eies of our mind that we may see what is good and what thou requirest of vs teach vs to make thy word our delight counsellor that by it we may be informed in thy paths put thy spirit within vs and cause vs to walke in thy statutes let our eares continually hear a word behind vs saying This is the way giue vs hearts of flesh yéelding pliable affections subdue the crookednes of our nature and bring it vnder the obedience of Christ And when thou hast entred vs into a good course vphold vs therein by thy alsufficient grace stablish vs in euerie worde and good worke fill vs with the fruites of righteousnesse let vs not be idle nor vnfruitfull-in our profession but graunt that wee may bee euen rich in good workes and so may adorne the doctrine of thée our Sauiour in all thinges making the aduersaries of thy truth ashamed when they shall haue nothing concerning vs to speake euill of And shield vs O Lord we earnestlie intreate thee against the malice and rage and fury of the diuel giue vs wisedome to discerne his policies and courage to resist euen his most fiery assaults make vs wise against the beguiling entisements of this sinfull world let vs not be caried awaie with the streame of these corrupt times harden our faces against the reproches enmities of euill men suffer vs not to bee wearyed nor to faint in our minds for any tribulations sanctifie vnto vs euerie affliction that it maie bee a meanes to purge out our corruptions Draw our mindes from the loue of this present world teach vs to vse it as if wee vsed it not graunt that wee may euer remember that wee haue heere no continuing citty that so we may séeke for that kingdome that cannot be shaken but is eternall in the heauens Cause vs to depend vpon thy prouidence and to cast our care and burden vpon thee assuring our selues that thou which hast giuen vs Christ canst not but with him giue vs all thinges also And Lord if at any time we fall by occasion into a fault as who are we that we should presume put vnder thy hand we beséech thée deliuer vs out of the mire that we sinke not let not sinne swallow vs vppe let it not grow strong vpon vs least wee perish Enable vs vnto diligence and faithfulnes in our seuerall callings teach vs to lift vppe our heartes to thee for a blessing vpon our indeuours and to remember that we are alwayes in thy presence that so we may studie to walke
haue I these things but from thee The safety of this night the quiet rest wherwith I haue béene refreshed to whom can I ascribe it but onely vnto thee That I haue liued hitherto that I haue not béene swallowed vp with some suddaine iudgement that Sathan had not had his will vpon me that I know the way and the meanes vnto a better life that I am deliuered from the power of darknesse and translated into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne that I haue daily accesse into thy glorious presence whence are all these but from the freedome of thy grace If thou hadst giuen mée my desert I should haue perished long agoe it is from thy mercy alone that I am not consumed O Lord make mee ashamed of mine vnthankefulnesse wound my hart with the consideration of my owne dulnesse whom so many kindnesses haue not wrought vnto more obedience And vouchsafe I pray thee notwithstanding the smalnesse of my deseruing yet to looke graciously vpon this my morning sacrifice of prayse which I do here tender vnto thy Maiesty let not I beséech thée the scantnes and barrennes of my seruice make thee to turne away thine eyes and to haue no regarde vnto mine offering But as thou art wont to spare thy seruants euen as a man spareth his owne sonne that serueth him and in them to accept the will for the ful performance so be pleased to looke vpon mée in Iesus Christ and for his sake to remit my former vngratefulnesse and to strengthen me by thy grace for the time to come in some good measure to reforme the same And to the end O God that I may manifest the trueth of my desire to be thankefull I beséech thee to beget in me a holy care both this day and for euer to walke worthy of that calling wherevnto I am called to study to please thee with reuerence and with feare by a blamelesse pure and vnrebukeable conuersation to shine as a light amongst men I cannot I confesse doe this of my selfe I haue in mee the same corruption of nature which the most wicked hath I entreat thée therefore to worke in mee that which is pleasant in thy sight Giue me a cleane heart and a right spirit make mee to vnderstand aright the way of thy precepts direct me in the path of thy commandements knit my soule vnto thee and make it to cleaue vnto thy testimonies stay mee and stablish me that my foot-steps may not slide Crucifie my flesh with the affections and lustes mortifie my members which are on earth suppresse and subdue that law in my members which leades mee captiue vnto the law of sinne Graunt that I may sensibly féele the power of Christes death killing corruption in mee and the power of his resurrection raising mee vppe vnto newnesse of life Make mee to resolue to renounce euen my swéetest and best-pleasing sinnes and not to take libertie to my selfe to continue in any knowne vngodlinesse Let it bée inough that I haue hitherto giuen the raynes vnto mine owne lusts graunt that heereafter I may take no thought for the flesh to content it but may striue rather to curbe and to subdue it and to bring it vnder the yoke of due obedience And good Lorde encrease my fayth and better my féeling and apprehension of thy loue that I may with courage and chearefulnesse runne the race which is set before me Blesse mee also this day in the dutyes of my calling Idlenesse and godlinesse cannot agrée and it is thy will that in the sweate of my face I should eate my bread Preserue me from all fraudulent guilefull oppressing gréedy courses draw my affections from the loue of the world fixe my heart vpō the things which are aboue If things succéede according to my minde make mee thankefull to thée which hast giuen the blessing If any crosse come make mee patient and carefull to profit by euery chastizement And because the daily occasions of danger to my soule are infinite teach me to put on thy whole armor and to kéepe my heart with all diligence to furnish my selfe with holy meditations to make a couenant with mine eyes to kéepe my mouth with a bridle for the auoyding of all filthy communication to vse such words as may minister grace vnto the hearers to bée sober in diet wary in disports moderate in apparell choise in my company and euer to practise that cōtinuall feare which hath a promise of blessednesse Finally Lord so guide mee through the course of this whole day both in my priuate and more publique imployments that if I liue by thy sufferance vntill night I may haue much comfort in the taking notice of thy grace and goodnesse towards me and all this for Christ Iesus sake thy onely Sonne and my alone Sauiour Amen 4. An Euening Prayer for a priuate Person MOst mercifull God and gratious Father in Iesus Christ were it not that thou hast made a gratious promise in thy word that whatsoeuer is asked of thee in the name of thy Sonne shall bée bestowed I should not dare to presse into thy presence being guilty to my selfe of so many sinnes which I haue heaped vp in thy sight from the beginning of my dayes vntill this present I am by nature O Lorde the child of wrath a vassall of Sathan no better then a very firebrand of hell It is thy great mercy that I escaped the fury of thy wrath due vnto mée at the very instant of my birth in respect of that masse of corruptiō which I brought with mée from my my mothers wombe Neither haue I since I came to vnderstanding any whit amended or bettered my first estate but I haue added to it a numberlesse number of transgressions breaking euery of thy commandements by thought word and déede sinning in many things against knowledge against conscience and against that light which thou hast giuen me yea cleane against many vowes and promises of better obedience I haue no colour of excuse nothing haue I to plead in the defence of my many slips If I dispute with thée I must néedes lay my hand vpon my mouth and learne to abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes And Lord giue me I beséech thee a fleshy and melting heart that nothing may more affect mée or touch me more deepely then to sée my owne vilenesse and how disobedient and stubborne I haue béene towardes thee which hast euen heaped vpon mee so many fauours Make me ashamed of my barrennesse and vnfruitfulnesse in my profession who haue giuen thee iust cause to range mée among those hypocrites which make a shew of godlinesse but yet deny the power thereof Beget in me that godly sorow which causeth true repentāce neuer to be repented of that I may bee grieued in my very soule for my sins not so much because of the danger of hell that followeth as because I haue offended thee the loue of whose maiestie ought to bee a sufficient motiue to obedience And for the
labouring daily to bee led forward vnto more perfection And séeing hearing and knowing without practise doe but encrease vnto more condemnation therefore O Lord do thou so water that which I heare with thy heauēly deaw that it may bring foorth much fruit in my life that I maybe a credite to my profession and no disgrace nor slander to thy trueth Grant all these things for thy deare Sons sake Iesus Christ to whom with thee thy blessed Spirit I desire to ascribe all honour and glory now and for euer Amen 7. Another of the like nature respecting the Sacrament of the Lordes Supper I Am taught O Lorde that without thee I can doe nothing and that all mine endeauours are in vaine without thy blessing In due regard whereof I am become an humble suter vnto thy maiestie that thou wouldest bée pleased to prosper and to direct my present purpose of communicating at thy table It is thy will that I should often come vnto this holy banquet for the strengthening my fayth for the preseruation of the memory of Christes death O Lord strike my heart with reuerence vnto it as vnto thy ordinance and as to a feast to which thou hast tyed thy more especiall presence that I may not dare to presse in before thee vnprepared Before I come teach me to grow into a very strict examinatiō of mine own Soule that I may sée how I haue liued in what measure I am furnished for so waighty a seruice And because I know that the more I looke into my selfe the more I shall sée mine owne nakednesse and deformity therefore I pray thee to supply mee from thy infinite fulnesse Giue mee a through vnderstanding of the miserie of my estate who am by nature a childe of wrath as well as others Make me to sée the hainousnesse of those innumerable euils and grosse sinnes which I haue multiplyed before thee from time to time nay which I haue runne into since my last presenting my selfe before thee at thy board when I promised better obedience O cause my stony heart to bléede within mee when I thinke vpon mine owne scantnesse in good dutyes and vpon my delight and forwardnesse to transgresse Make me to be ashamed and euen confounded in my self for those many enormities which frō my corrupt and vnreformed heart doe continually breake foorth into my outward man euery member being a very weapon of vnrighteousnesse to doe seruice vnto sathan Thus O Lord shall thy mercyes in Christ be swéet vnto me I shall come with an hungring and thirsting soule vnto thy table And I pray thee to encrease in mée that gift of fayth that I may both come to this thine ordinance with a desire to enlarge it and may also féele it to receiue strength and growth of assurance of mine owne personall and particular interest into the death of Christ Remooue farre from mee all swelling disdainefull and vncharitable affections O Lorde this is a feast of loue and to it a malicious and a reuengeful heart can be no welcome guest And when I haue presented my selfe at thy table I beséech thee to restraine my idle and gadding thoughts drawe them to the earnest serious meditation of that which is the life of the Sacrament the death of my Sauiour Rauish my Soule with the admiratiō of his loue that should giue himselfe to dy for me a most vile vnworthy and sinfull creature Stirre mee vppe euen to vowe and consecrate my selfe for euer vnto him that hath vouchsafed himselfe to bée a sacrifice for mée And after I haue receiued these pledges of thy loue and seales of thy fauour in thy dearest Sonne O make me truely thankefull to thy maiestie and carefull both at the present and euer after to shew foorth the fruits of thankfulnesse in an holy and religious conuersation to thy glorie the good of others and mine owne eternall comfort in Iesus Christ my Sauiour Amen 8. Presently after Receiuing before the Thankesgiuing by the whole Congregation a man may secretly lift vp his soule on this fashion AFfect my heart O Lorde with this euidence of thy loue teach me in it to sée the riches of thy grace who art pleased for my weakenes sake by such familiar meanes to figure out before me and to seale vp vnto my soule a treasure of that infinite worth as is thy fauour in Iesus Christ O that I may as sensibly féele his death to be swéet vnto my Soule as I do these creatures of bread and wine to afford a pleasing taste and refreshing to my body O Lord euermore giue mee such a féeling And now O heauenly Father suffer mee not to depart hence forgetfull of thy kindnesse but graunt that I may now at this instant euen couenant with mine own soule to walke in a better course of holy obedience then heretofore respecting all thy commandements and endeauouring alwayes to haue a cleare conscience before thee before all men that so glorifying thee in this life I may be glorified with thee in thy kingdom through Iesus Christ Amen 9. A Prayer for the afflicted in what kind soeuer O Gratious God how happy am I who haue such a strōg tower as thy great name to run vnto especially now in this sad heauy day of tribulation I sée O Lord by continuall experience that the help of man is vaine and that all earthly cōtentments notwithstanding the flattering shewe they make yet are but as a staffe of réede vpon which if a man leane it will runne into his hand and pearce it If I turne mee to my auncient louers and friendes it may bee they will stand aside from my plague mine olde acquaintance wil hide themselues and I shal be euen as a stranger in the sight of my familiars If I séeke to my neighbours alas what refreshing shall I finde Trueth it is O God thou hast so ordayned that he which is in misery should be cōforted by his neighbor but men haue forsaken the feare of the Almightie so that hee which is ready to fall is as a despised lampe and few are apt to wéepe with him that is in trouble Besides the greatest part are so ouercome with grosse ignorāce that they are miserable cōforters physiciās of no value not able to minister a worde in time to him that is weary Whither then or to whom shall I goe but vnto thee O most gratious tender Father Thou art a pitifull God thy compassions are great thou art the Father of mercies the God of all comfort thou makest the wound and bindest it vp thou smitest thy hands doe make whole thou hast commaunded to call vpō thee in the day of trouble and thou art a helpe ready to be found To thee therefore do I lift vp my soule Encline thine eare O Lord and heare open thine eyes O Lord and sée look mercifully vpon thine afflicted seruant the dayes of sorow are come vpon me euen changes armies
table it were infinitely more then then my best desert A sinfull and vnthankefull wretch as I haue alwayes béene what can I say is due vnto mee but perpetuall shame When I iudge rightly of all things so farre am I from being able to say that thou hast wronged me or dealt too straightly with mee that I must rather stirre vp my selfe to magnifie thy mercie which hast not layde vpon mee the vtmost of thy wrath but hast giuen mee a time and an opportunity to repent Let these things I pray thée the soueraintie of thy power the depth of thy wisedome the foulenes of mine owne desert the kindnesse which notwithstanding some outward hardshippe thou hast vouchsafed to my soule moderate my violent affections curbe my raging and discontented thoughts bring my ranging passions into order that I may alwayes say It is the Lorde let him doe what seemeth him good This is my sorrow and I wil beare it Open my eyes withall that I may sée thy power who canst raise the needy from the dust and lift the poore out of the doung and make him families like a flocke of shéepe who canst commaund euen the very rauens to bring bread and flesh vnto thy seruaunts the Heauens to droppe downe foode the rocke of stone to yéeld streames of waters to refresh those whom thou art pleased to prouide for Shall I thinke thy power to be abated or is thy mercy lesse then it was wont to be Hast thou not made a promise neuer to forsake me Am I not alwayes with thée and doest thou not holde mee by my right hand Shal I imagine thee to be like the bird whom thou hast depriued of wisedom to whom thou hast giuen no part of vnderstanding who sheweth himselfe cruel vnto his young ones as they were not his or as if he had trauailed in vain No I am assured that though a woman should forget her child forbeare to haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe yet thou canst not forget those whom thou louest in thy sonne Thou knowest my wants thou art able to supply my wants thy loue will not suffer thee to leaue me destitute in that which thy wisedome knowes to bee conuenient for me Encrease my faith that I may depend yet more vpon thee make mee diligent in the place calling in which thou hast set mee frame my mind and my desires to that rate which thou hast allotted me kéep mee from vniust and vnlawfull courses from enuying the abundance which others doe enioy possesse mee with this perswasion that this my present state is the fittest for mee and that when it shall be good for mee to haue more thy hand shall instantly be enlarged toward me Stirre me vp to seeke thy kingdome and labour for the meat which endureth vnto life eternall Enrich my soule with spirituall blessings in heauenly things perswade my conscience of thy loue in Christ Iesus that the féeling thereof may make all things swéete vnto mee Cause me both to trust and to waite for thy saluation and in all things to striue to giue thee thy deserued glory and all this in and for thy Sonnes sake my onely Mediatour and Redeemer Amen * ⎠* 31. Another of like nature fit for one whom God hath enriched vvith outvvard things IT hath pleased thee O Lord out of the freedome of thy bountie to deale more largely with mee then with many of thy seruants and to furnish me with store of those outward blessings which others euery way as good by nature as my selfe doe not enioy My heart is fraughted with much corruption and though riches be in themselues a blessing yet without thy especiall grace they will bee vnto me an occasion of many euils Apt I shall be to lift vp my heart to pride my selfe in my own conceipt to trust vnto my welth to despise others to grow in loue with this present world to become cold and remisse in the best seruices to conclude that I am highly in thy fauour because thou hast enriched me These be the diseases which through the poison of our nature do rise by these outward hauings neither can I say that my heart is cleane from these corruptions Purge them out of mée I beseech thee by the fierie power of thy spirit Giue me pouertie of spirit and humblenesse of minde amid this outward fulnesse with which thou hast endued me Make mee to remember that the more I haue the greater shall bee mine account and the harder for me to be saued that by that meanes my wealth may be so far from puffing mee vp with secure presumtion that it may moue me the rather euen with fear and trembling to work out my saluation Cause me to think often vpon the wordes of my Sauiour that riches are deceitful and of a thorny nature choking the good séed of the word and making it to become vnfruitfull that so I may learne carefully to handle them and to vse them with great héedinesse and circumspection lest I should by them gal wound my conscience or bee pearced through with many sorrowes It is said O Lord that these high places of the world are slipperie places in which it is hard to go with a right foote to kéepe strait and euen steps Oh stir me vp to so much the more care to ponder my paths and to take diligent héed vnto my waies suffer me not to iustify my self to mine own soule or to make my self beléeue that I am as I ought to be because waters of a full cuppe are wrung vnto mee but teach me seriously to cōsider that as many of thy beloued seruants do feele the smart of pouerty so euen the most wicked and those which do rebelliously trangresse haue a large portion in this life liuing waxing olde and growing in wealth their goods oftentimes excéeding the very desires of their hearts Grant therefore that I may labour for some better more certain assurāce of thy grace not grounding my hope vpon my wealth but reioycing in this if the due consideration of the daunger and vanitie of abundance may worke by thy blessing to the abasing and humbling of my heart Oh let not mine eyes be dazled nor my hart bewitched with the glory and swéetnesse of these worldly treasures which may bée taken frō me or I from them euen in the twinkling of an eye drawe my affections to the loue of that durable riches and to that fruite of heauenly wisedome which is better then gold and the reuenues whereof do surpasse the siluer that my chiefe care may bee to haue a soule enriched and furnished with thy grace fulfilled with the knowledge of thy will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding And because O Lord in hauing much I am but a steward vnder thee and a disposer of thy gifts enlarge my bowels towardes others make me rich fruitfull in good workes being a father to the poore and causing the hart of the widow to reioyce warming
seldome and so slightly meditate vpon thy kindnesse Let not our vnthankefulnesse turn away thy intended blessings from vs stablish his throne we beséech thée let his soule be bound in the būdle of life with thee cast out the soule of his enemies as out of the middle of a sling As thou hast preuented him with liberal blessings and set a crowne of pure gold vpon his head so let his glorie be great in thy saluation and make him glad with the ioy of thy countenance Go on to giue him thy iudgments that the righteous may flourish in his dayes and that hee may iudge the poore of the people and saue the children of the néedy subdue the oppressor Let him not wāt a man of his own line to sit vpon his seat but continue the kingdom in his posteritie vntil the time in which al earthly kingdomes must be determined And as thou hast made his Quéen like a fruitful vine on the sides of his house a ioyful mother of many royall plāts so we pray thée lay vpon her much dignitie and honor blesse thē both out of Zion so that they may see the wealth of Ierusalem all their dayes Let their children bee as chosen shafts in thy quiuer make thē as the plants growing vp in their youth and as the corner stones grauen after the similitude of a palace Chiefely we beseech thee to poure out a large measure of thy blessings vpon the young Prince Henrie enrich him with all princely vertues water him so with thy heauenly dew that knowledge of thy truth zeale for thy glorie loue to thy Church perfite hatred of Popish Idolatrie may in him growe vp with his years that so he may also in his appointed time become another Instrument vnder thee for the further enlargement of thy Gospel and the prosperitie and happinesse of these Realmes Alwayes afford thy gratious presence to those honorable Lords of his Maiesties Councill be◠thou the President at their Table direct their consultations sanctifie their policies order their purposes and guide all their courses to such conclusions as may bee most for thy glorie the honour of the King the peace of the State and the comfort of thy chosen Blesse all the Iudges Sages and Magistrates of the State make thē as hiding places frō the wind as a refuge for the tempest for the oppressed cause them euer to remember that they are thy Ministers for the peoples wealth that they execute not the iudgements of man but of the Lord that although thou hast honored them with thine own name calling them gods yet they shal die as men fall like others that so iudgement may not be turned into gal nor the fruite of righteousnes into wormewood but the iustice may be executed truly vprightly in the gates al things may be to the praise of them that do wel to the punishment of those that are workers of iniquitie Neither may we O Lord forget those whō thou hast put in the seruice of thy church to féed the flock which dependeth on them to rule thē to go in out before them to labour in the worde and in doctrine Thou O Christ art the chief shepheard bishop of our soules thou art the Lorde of the haruest build vp wee beséech thée the breaches of thy Church make the righteousnes thereof to breake foorth yet more as the light the saluation thereof as a burning lampe Continue the standing and encrease the number of those seeing watchmen whom thou hast placed vpon the walls of Ierusalem stirre them vp that they cease not day nor nor night working the worke with which thou hast entrusted them and faithfully dispensing that word of reconciliation which thou hast committed to them Kindle in thē the zeale of Samuel that they may say God forbid that we should sin against the Lorde cease praying for the people and shewing them the good the right way Make them with Paul to say Woe vnto vs if wee preach not the Gospell And be pleased also so to blesse their endeuours to prosper their labours by giuing them a doore of vtterance and by preseruing them from vnreasonable and euill men that they may from euery part of the Land bring many sheaues into thy barne and that dayly those that are ordained vnto life eternall may belieue And for a continuall supply and nurserie to thy Churches amongst vs blesse the Vniuersities and Schooles of learning let not those fountaines O Lord bee poysoned with any popish leauen but grant that the doctrine which is according to godlinesse being taught professed in them in sinceritie by the yong plāts there springing vp the decais of congregations abroad may be renued and euerie place may be furnished with a Pastor after thy owne heart which may féed the people with knowledge and with vnderstanding And Lorde restraine and reforme the gréedinesse of those which muzzle their mouthes which should tread out the corne and bring foorth the foode of life vnto thy people which respect not the Leuite but abridge the hire of the labourer and say one to another Let vs take to our possessiō the habitatiōs of God Throughout the Land and among all the inhabitants therof plant the true knowledge feare of thee loyalty to their soueraine obedience to all subordinate authoritie loue reuerence to their spiritual guides vnitie of affection mercie and compassion either to other And inasmuch as O Lorde wee haue continuall experience of the malice of the diuell in sowing the séedes of sedition and treason in mens hearts and in raysing vp the sonnes of Behal to ouercast if it might be the faire day of our peace with a cloud of hellish cōfusiō we pray thée without whom no enterprises canne bee established to make voyd their hopes to discouer their practises and as thou hast hitherto euen miraculously done to turne their deuises vpon their owne heads for their own confusion There come dayly out of that Pit of Rome many Locusts and frō that Sea there is sent among vs a continual spawne of new conspirators these encourage themselues in wicked purposes they commune together to lay snares mischiefe they imagine against the quiet of the Land It vexeth them to sée the thriuing of the Gospell and the grouth of thy truth and they do euen breath out threatnings and slaughters against the professors thereof Let not O Lord their imaginations prosper let their eyes fall out with looking for that day which they haue long desired Let thy hand euen thy right hand find thē out if they belong not vnto thée make them like a fierie ouen in the time of thine anger destroy their fruit from the earth and their séed frō the children of men put them apart and make ready the strings of thy bowe against their faces And as for vs O Lord suffer vs not to were wanton with the blessings of peace nor to forget to render to thée according to thy rewardes bestowed but grant that thy kindnesses may bind vs more strongly vnto thee that wee may resolue by thy grace to serue thee faithfully who with vs dealst so graciously that in for Christ Iesus sake thy son our Sauiour Amen FINIS A Table of the Prayers contained in this Booke A Morning prayer for priuate families pag. 1. An Euening praier for priuate families p. 15 A Morning prayer for a priuate person p. 35 An Euening prayer for a priuate person p. 44 A more particular Morning prayer for the sabaoth day p. 55 A prayer before the hearing of the word p. 64 A praier before the receiuing the Sacrament of the Lords Supper p. 72 A thankesgiuing after p. 78 A prayer for the afflicted in what kind soeuer p. 80 A prayer in respect of some losse as of Honor Goods c. p. 88 A prayer fitted to the losse of an especiall friend as Father Husband c. p. 95 A prayer applyed to the state of a man inwardly perplexed with the horror of sinne with doubtings of Gods fauour and with the tentations of satan tending to despaire p. 100 A prayer then needfull when a man hath some speciall combate with some one or moe speciall sins against which he desireth victorie p. 115 A prayer of humiliation and sorrow after some speciall sinne committed p. 120 A prayer in respect of death needfull at all times but especially in sickenesse p. 131 A prayer more specially fitted to the state and occasions of a sicke man p. 141 A direction for those who denie to perform the Christian dutie of praier for their sake whome they come to visite p. 152 A thanksgiuing for a sick man after recouerie p. 157 A prayer for a woman in her trauaile p. 161 A thāksgiuing after deliuerie p. 164 A prayer for those which are employed in the assistance of a trauailing womā p. 168 A thankesgiuing when God hath blessed their paines in the womans deliuerie p. 170 A prayer for a souldier fighting for his Countrey or the confederates thereof p. 173 A prayer for a man trauailing by Sea about his lawful businesse p. 178 A Prayer applyed to the state of a Malefactor condemned by law to die drawing to the time of executiō p. 184 A prayer rising out of the serious meditation of the last Iudgement p. 193 A prayer fitted to the time of warre p. 202 Another of like nature respecting the time of Dearth and Famine p. 207 Another like applyed to the time of some great contagion p. 215 A meditation or prayer for a poore man p. 220 Another of like nature for one whom God hath enriched with outward things p. 230 A prayer for the whole State 239
furtherance of my humiliation sorow cause me O Lord to search to try my wayes to call my selfe to a straite account that I may sée my sins in particular the vanitie of my heart my extreame deadnes securitie my pride hautines of spirit my backwardnesse to all good seruices my worldly-mindednesse my ambitious rising and crauing thoughts my want of charity mercy to others my miscariage in my place calling my idle vnbeséeming speaches my offensiue scandalous behauiour thus O Lord make me carefull to rip vp my heart and life that so I may set my sins in order before me may thereby become the more humble the more forward to cast down my selfe before thee to iudge my selfe that I may not be iudged of thee Yet withall most gratious God make me able in the middest of all this to reach out the hand of faith to lay hold vpō Iesus Christ whō thou hast ordained to be the recōciliatiō for my sins I know O Lord the vertue of his blood that it can make my sins though they were as crimsm yet to become as white as snowe O then I beséech thee couer my filthy nakednesse with his glorious righteousnesse cloth me with the garments of his Saluatiō that so therby I may be holy and vnblameable without fault in thy sight Speake peace vnto my Conscience by thy holy Spirit Say vnto my soule I am thy Saluation My fayth O Lorde is but weake and poore strengthen it I beséech thée and bring it forward by thy mighty working vnto more perfection Thou hast promised not to quench the smoking flaxe nor to breake the bruised réede beare then I pray thee with my scantnesse and helpe my vnbeliefe perfite the worke of thy owne hands performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ My fayth is that I must liue by it is my victorie thou O Lord in mercy hast begun it cherish it I beséech thée together with all those graces which accompany saluation that they may bee in mee as a well of water springing vppe into euerlasting life And graunt that I may not be presumingly secure touching mine owne estate but may euer and anone bee proouing and examining my selfe whether I am in the fayth or no and that I may also study and striue to giue euidence of my fayth by shewing forth good works and by bringing foorth good fruite euen fruite worthy amendement of life I am compassed about with many weakenesses and as I haue found by the experience of this one day Sathan is full of malicious cunning to worke vpon all aduantages O Lorde strengthen mee to resist him giue mee holy wisedome to to discouer his sleights and grace to withstand his most sharpe assaults Arme mee also against the reproches and obloquies of the worlde I haue learned in thy word that if I serue thee in sinceritie my name shall bée put out as euill amongst men giue mée both care to cary my selfe out of the reach of iust exception and resolution also to sacrifice my credit estimation yea euen my life it selfe if néed be to thy glory Teach mee to learne of the author and finisher of my fayth to despise the shame and to endure the speaking against of sinners in respect of that eternall waight of ioy and glorie which is set before me And now Lorde with the bowing of my Soule I blesse thy name for this daies preseruation How many euils haue I escaped to which I was subiect by nature and to which I had made my selfe subiect through sin It is thou Lord onely which makest mee to dwell in safety Stretch out the wings of thy grace protectiō ouer me this night though sléepe seize vpon the eyes of my body yet let not securitie oppresse my soule kéepe mée from idle fancies from vaine dreames giue me a sober and sanctified vse of al outward refreshings that I may alwayes in all things ayme at this one thing namely how I may be the better fitted to serue thee faythfully in my place and calling and that for Christ Iesus his sake thy onely Sonne and through thy mercy my louing Sauiour Amen 5. A more particular Morning Prayer on the beginning of a Sabbath day MAnifold O Lorde are thy mercies thy goodnesse is infinite In euery particular which befalleth mee I haue aboundant experience of thy loue It is much most gratious God that I which haue so many wayes prouoked thee should bee let to liue to behold the light and comfort of the day But much more is it that hauing béene heretofore a profaner of thy holy day a barren and an hypocriticall professor of thy word a fruitlesse and an vnprofitable hearer I should yet enioy the blessed opportunitie of another Sabaoth How iustly mightst thou long since haue fatted vp my heart and giuen mee ouer vnto a reprobate mind taking from me the comfortable and happie freedome of going into thy house and of giuing attendance vpon the postes of thy doores O teach mee I pray theée to value thy mercy in this behalfe according to the true worth thereof Suffer me not slightly to entertaine either this or any other of thy fauours And as thou hast brought mee to the beginning of this holy rest so enable me I beséech thee to thee sanctifying it and to such a kind of spending the same as thou requirest Teach mee to remember that it is thine owne ordinance euen one of those vnchangeable lawes which thou wrotest with thine owne finger that this day should after a more speciall manner be diuerted deuoted to thy seruice that thou hast not therefore restrained outward imployments in our callings because idelenes pleaseth thee or because ease giuen vnto the flesh is a part of thy worship but that thou hast in thy infinite wisedome so appointed it that being fréed from all other encombrances we might wholy apply our selues eyther to the publique or priuate exercises of godlinesse Giue mee therefore grace I most humbly entreat thee that I may call thy Sabbaoth a delight to consecrate it as glorious vnto thee and that I may beware of doing mine owne waies or of séeking mine own will or of speaking vaine words and may euen bind my selfe to a serious and continued course of seruing thée in the practise of such dueties as belong to the hallowing of this day I know O Lord that herein I shall méet with many lets mine owne corrupt nature will repine thinke this a yoke and a burden that cannot be endured abroad in the world I shall sée many vaine fashions followed by great troupes making thy day a day of carnal pleasure I shall be derided and scorned if I refuse to doe as others doe I shal méet also with many cunning perswaders which will séeke by plausible reasons to draw mee from diligence and constancy in this course O Lorde I beséech thée euen with the bowing of my heart to make me strong against all