vanities of this world all licentious and inordinate life all flattering and dissimulation being vtterly banishâ—d the fâ—are of thy glorious Maiesty may so reigne in the harts of all within his Highnesse Pallace and Court that their liues and conuersation may bee agreeable to thy blessed will in sinceritie and true holinesse and integritie of life that from them as from the head may shine purity of life and conuersation as an example and patterne of true godlinesse to the whole Realme Preserue him wee beseech thee good Lord from all conspiracies and Treasons that if it bee thy good will he may haue a long quiet raigne ouer vs to the benefite of thy Church and aduancement of thy glory Indue the whole Counsell good Lord with true and perfect wisedom that in all their consultations Counsels hauing thee present before their eies they may consult of those things which principally cheefly may bee for the aduancement of thy glory and the commodity of thy Church and next for the quiet peace and gracious gouernment of this his Realme So lighten all inferior Magistrates of this Realme good Lord with brightnesse of thy holy Spirit that vnderstanding thy will they may zealously defend maintaine and further the course of the Gospell with the sword of iustice cut off the wicked and cherish the godly Defend and gouerne by thy holy Spirit the Pastours of thy Church and labourâ—rs in thy vineyard that â—hey may zealously earnestly and diligently feed thy flocke committed vnto them with the food of life thy bl ssed word wherewith their soules may bee nourished to life euerlasting Increase the number of them deare Father place ouer euery flocke a godly learned and painfull Pastor who may painfully carefully trauell euery one in his charge to bring thy people which now alasse in many parts doe wander and goe astray like lost sheepe to the true knowledge of their Lord and God and of thy deare Son Iesus Christ their Sauiour And for thy mercy wee beseech thee to take pitty vppon thy poore and simple flocke roote out all rauening woolues which haue craftily crept into thy sheepfold and doe make hauocke of the soules of thy simple Flocke Câ—st out all hirelings time-seruers dumbe Dogges which to fill their bellies onely haue thrust themselues among thy sheepe and doe pittifully suffer the Flocke of Christ thy Sonne to be deuoured and scattered of the Woolfe Stirre vp good Lord and place in their roomes faithfull Sheepeheards which diligently painefully carefully and earnestly may labour in thy Vine-yard seeke to winne the soules of thy people out of the tyranny and power of Sathan to the freedome of thy deare Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord. And that thy Church may better be furnished with godly learned Pastors wee beseech thee good Lord to prosper and increase in all Godly knowledge all schooles of leaâ—ning especially the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxford Grant deare Father vnto all the students of the same that the chiefe end of all their studies may bee to the furtherance of thy Church and maintenance of the common-wealth Blesse their studies deare Father that al vaine studies set aside they may so fructifie in all profitable and godly Sciences that hereafter they may become profitable members of thy Church godly Vpholders of the Common-wealth Grant good Lord to all the whole Commons of this Realme that their hearts being touched with a sincere feare and reuerence of thy Heauenly Maiesty acknowledging thy mercy in placing ouer them a godly Religious Prince they may euery one in their callings walke in all true and humble obedience vnto him in thee and for thee without resistance tumults Insurrections conspiracies or rebellions knowâ— grâ—at to resist the higher Powers is to rebel against thy Maiesty Finally wee beseech thy goodnesse so to giude gouerne the hearts of all the whole Realme of euery degree that euery one in his calling being by thy holy wisedome supported may so occupy his Talent that thy glory in all things may be aduanced thy church inlarged this whole Realme into sincere godlines vertuously reduced Moreouer wee beseech thee O Lord our God in Mercy to behold all those which suffer persecution for thy glorious words sake whether it bee imprisonment death or banishment or whatsoeuer else strengthen them good Lord that they hauing thee alwaies before their eyes and the glory laide vp for them in the life to come may continue constant in defending thy truth without feare of man or vaine allurements of the world that whether it come by life or death they may glorifie thy holy Name in continuing in the truth to the end Preserue in like manner wee beseech thee all others thy Children whome it hath pleased thee with any kind of Crosse to chasten for their amendment whether by pestilence famine warre pouerty Imprisonment sicknesse or banishment trouble of conscience vexation of spirit vnquietnesse of minde want of spirituall comfort or whatsoeuer kinde of affliction of body or minde thou dost try them with that by thy holy spirit being fully assured that thou by this thy correction mindest to call them backe to a feeling of their sinne due consideration of their life conuersation they may patiently abide thy Fatherly tryall looking for aide helpe and comfort from thee when it seemeth most conuenient to thy holy wisedome and being by thy mercifull hand once deliuered may acknowledge thy singular power and worke giuing all laud and praise to thy glorious name and afterwards all the daies of their life study and liue before it hee in sincerity and perfect holinesse euen to their liues end This O Lord we beseech thee in Mercy to grant for thy beloued Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Morning prayer for priuate Houses and Families O Gracious God and louing Father according to thy commandement wee doe here present our selues before the throne of thy mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that we be miserable sinners daily breaking thy commandements both in thought word and deed wherein wee iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence yet O Lord wee see thy goodnesse againe toward vs who not suffering vs thus to perish in our sins hast sent thine owne deare Sonne Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him therfore good Lord and through him doe wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the grieuousnesse of our sinnes and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release ease of them in that we bee thorough thy holy Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ hath borne the burthen of them euen for vs. Grant likewise O most mercifull Lord heauenly Father that wee being assured hereof in our consciences may through thy holy Spirit be renued in the inner man to hate detest and abhorre sinne and
to study to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life Wee doe not onely pray for our selues but also for all thy whole Church especially such as bee persecuted for thy word grant vnto them that whether it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues end Be mercifull to this Church of England Scotland Ireland we beseech thee good Lord preserue euery part and menber of the same especially thy seruant Iames our King grant him all such giftes as bee needfull for so high a calling to the aduancement of thy glorie and benefit of this Common wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouerment of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition and reliques of Antichrist to the gouerning of his subiects in all peace and tranquilitie Defend him O Lord from all conspiracies treasons rebellions and so worke in the hearts of all his subiects that knowing his authoritie doth come from thy heauenly Maiesty they may with obedient hearts humbly obey them in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Councell and the Magistrates of the Realme that being lightened through thy holy Spirit they may defend the truth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Behold all the Pastours and Preachers of thy word blesse their labours increase the number of them place ouer euery Church a painefull watchman remoue all idle lubbers and confound the power of Antichrist and turne the hearts of the people that they may be obedient to thy truth Blesse the two famous Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxford all the students of the same with all Schooles of Learening Behold all those that bee afflicted with any kind of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of life Lastly for our selues here gathered wee humbly O Lord craue at thy handes that it would please thee to make vs thankefull vnto thy Maiestie for all thy louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs euen from our infancie especially that thou hast this present night deliuered vs from all dangers both of body and soule whereinto many haue fallen as wee in the like manner should haue done if we had not beene staied with thy mercifull hand that thou hast aâ—so granted vnto vs so sweete comfortable rest and hast now presently brought vs to the beginning of this day For these things good Lord wee yeeld thee most hearty thankes beseeching thee to make vs more more daily thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for them and pardon our vnthankfulnesse And as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this present houre from all the dangers of this life so we beseech thee continue thy fauour towardes vs this day and the whole course of our life Defend vs O Lord that we now entring into the affaires of this day bee not drawne away with the vaine allurements of this world to sinne and wickednesse that wee walke not in the shadow of death that wee be not intangled in the snares of sinne that wee stumble not at the blockes of iniquitie that we finally fall not into the pit of death and destruction but beeing shadowed vnder thy wings we may cheerefully constantlie goe on forward to the end of our course Grant vnto vs O Lord our God that this good time which thou grantest vnto vs in this life be not idlely or vainly of vs consumed but that euery one of vs may be diligently exercised in his calling this day and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeeld an account of our Stewardship Indue vs we beseech thee with those gifts and graces which bee needfull for vs in our calling that with a pure heart sincere conscience wee may vse them to the benefit of our bretheren and discharge of our owne conscience before thy Maiestie We beseech thee O Lord that in all our consultations words and workes this day and the whole course of our life we may alwayes haue thee presnet before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughts of our hearts which alwaies may bee as a bridle to pull vs backe that wee neither do nor yet consent to any sinne or wickednesse but that alwaies wee may bee so exercised in the affaires of this life that wee looke still to the end of our course when it shall please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting rest with thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour In whose Name for these mercies and whatsoeuer thou knowest to bee needfull for vs for thy whole Church wee pray vnto thee as hee himselfe hath taught vs in his holy word saying Our Father c. The Lord blesse vs saue vs the Lord make his face shine vppon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauorable countenance towards vs grant vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable fâ—llowshippe of the holy Ghost bee with vs preserue vs this day and euermore Amen Euening Prayer for priuate Houses and Families O Gracious God and louing Father according to thy Commandement we do heere present our selues againe before thy Maiestie humbly prostrating our sinfull selues before the Throne of thy mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that wee are miserable sinners daylie breaking thy Commaundements both in thoght word and deede wherein we iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence Yet O Lord wee see thy goodnesse againe towardes vs who not sâ—ffering vs thus to perish in our sinnes hast set thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due â—o reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him theâ—efore good Lord and through him doe wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the greeuousnesse of our sins and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ Iesus our Lord hath borne the burden of them euen for vs. Graunt O Lord that wee being assured heereof in our Consciences may thorough thy most holy and blessed Spirit be renewed in the inner man to hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and that wee may studie to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life And now O Lord God we pray not onely for our selues but likewise for all thy whole Church especiallie for such as be persecuted for the testimony of a good conscience Grant vnto them O Lord that whether it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues end Blesse these Churches good Father wherein wee liue and therein our gracious Soueraigne and thy seruant Iames King of Great-Britaine France and Ireland Keepe him O Lord from all Conspiracies Treasons and Rebellions Preserue the Noble and hopefull Prince Charles the
my life hid with Christ in God when Christ which is my life shal appeare I may also appeare with him in glorie Grant this gracious Father for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Aduocate and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for grace and wisedome O Most mighty God and mercifull Father poure into my heart thy heauenly grace wisedome Comfort my sinnefull soule with thy heauenly Manna molifie and make soft my hard heart with the sweete pleasant oyle of thy most holy word Suffer me not O mercifull Lord to swerue or slide from the waies of truth but grant helpe of thy holy Spirit that I may walke in the same vnto my liues end and let not thy heauenly wisedome depart from me at any time during this life According to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Preserue me from this my youth and infancy vnder thy fauourable protection Giue mee grace O Lord that I may euen to the graue continue a faithfull and manly Souldâ—er in defence of thy truth and that I may in all my life daily grow to the ripe perfection of godly wisedome and truly and iustly acknowledge thee mine onely God Deut. 6. That I may onely feare thee and honor thee That I may cleaue fast vnto thee Deut. 10. That I doe not after the abhomination of any idolatrous people worship stocks or stones Deut. 8. Nor let me not O Lord harken to any false Prophets that teach their owne imaginations and not the word of God Deut. 13. Now vouchsafe O Lord God to heare me and let thy wisedome gouerne mee I know my God that no creature can truly say I haue done my dutie in the seâ—uice of the Lord neither is it in the power of man who is so deeply subiect to sinne to escape all those stumbling blockes which haue made our waies dangerous and perillous through those innumerable practises wherewith Sathan our great enemie through his malice and craft hath deuised to intrap our sinfull soules to our vtter destruction Lord of thy great mercy roote and pull out of my heart all the workes of Sathan namely fornication adultery vncleannes wantonnesse pride enuie vnnaturall desires vnpure thoughts lewd behauiour idlenesse and all other vicious and naughty actions which being followed according to the pleasures and delights of the world in this life bring with them euerlasting damnation of body and soule in the world to come Encrease in me O Lord such aboundance of thy grace wisedome and heauenly blessing that through the operation of the same in me I may proue a true workman in thy haruest such a seruant as occupieth his Maisters Talent vnto gaine a witnesse that beareth testimony of Christ to all people at all times and in euery place continue constant in the truth during the whole course of this my mortall life In thy truth O God do I delight therefore make me perfect in the same In thee alone doe I repose my whole trust and confidence saue me O God of all mercy and defend mee against my enemies Establish and confirme me O Lord in faith towards thee Keepe thou my lips and gouerne my tongue Suffer not my heart to purpose any thing that may displease thee nor my tongue or lips to speake ought whereby I should purchase thy wrath Whosoeuer doth trust in thee O God shall vnderstand thy truth and the faithfull shall haue rest in thy fauour but the vngodly according to their owne wicked thoughts shall find corruptioÌ„ The soules of the iust are in the hand of God and the force of death shall not touch them All wisedome commeth from the Lord and hath beene with him alwaies and is with him from the beginning Eccle. 1. The feare of the Lord doth expell sin Lord of thy mercy grant me thy heauenly wisedome whereby I may truly learne to know thee rightly and be diligent to performe thy precepts effectually Lord leaue me not in my young daies let thy wisedome enter into my heart and make her habitation in my soule so shall I liue in thy fauour and perseuer in thy lawes through thy grace Let not them that trust in thee O Lord God of Hoastes bee ashamed let not those that seeke thee bee confounded O God of Israel Lord I make my prayers vnto thee in an acceptable time euen in the multitude of thy mercies O God heare mee in the truth of thy saluation In thee alone O heauenly Father are all things generally and what is not of thee is altogether naught Replenish and blesse me O Lord with all good giftes shew thy louing countenance towards me gouerne me by thy grace continue me in thy fauour and protect and defend me now and euermore vnder the winges of thy manifold mercies so shall no vile temptation haue power to preuaile against me Such is the force of thy heauenly wisdome O God that whosoeuer obtaineth the same and directeth his life accordingly shall prosper and see good daies Whosoeuer pleaseth thee O Lord from the beginning are made whole through wisedome Sapient 9. Which of thy mercy O my God vouchsafe to grant vnto me for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ his sake To whome with thee the holy Ghost be all glory honor and praise now and for euer Amen A Prayer to walke conscionably in our ciuil and personall Calling O Most glorious and wise God who in thine infinit wisedome hast ordayned that euery Sonne of Adam should eate his bread in the sweat of his face and so hast wisely fitted each man in his seuerall place with seuerall and particular gifts of nature experience and grace that so hee might glorifie thee in some speciall calling not willing that any should liue idlely like an vnprofitable burthen of the earth mispending his precious time and wasting away thy Creatures neither doing good to humaine society And herein hast giuen vs a patterne from thy selfe who euen workest hitherto and albeit that thy great businesse of Creating all things ended with those first six daies in which euery particular was brought forth by thee in his proper kind yet thy prouidence is neuer intermixed in it neither slumber nor sleepe ouer taketh thee And so also thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ whilst in the daies of his flesh hâ—e humbled himselfe to liue as man vpon the earth both in his priuate life attended vppon a painefull trade and when the time came of his manifesting himselfe to the world went about doing of good yea with that chearfulnes that it was his meate and drinke to doe thy will and to finish the worke of him that sent him And all thine holy actions also in continuall action obeying the voyce of thy word and ministring for their sakes that shall be heires of life nay doth not euery Creature in his place obey this thine ordinance the Sunne the Moone all those heauenly Orbes Do they not execute their operations faithfully and finish their Reuolutions in their seasons Do not these inferior things daily performe thy
preuailed against my vnworthynesse Thou mightest for my sinnes haue left me to perish in mine extremities but thou hast compassed mee about with ioyfull deliuerance thou mightest haue made my wombe a graue to burie the dead or in affoording life to another thou mightest haue procured my death but yet thou hast not onely made my wombe a wel-spring of life but restored life vnto me also for the cherishing thereof Marueilous O Lord are thy workes infinite are thy mercies my soule by present experience knoweth it well O my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy Name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits Thou hast heard my prayers and looked vppon my sorrow thou hast redeemed my life from death and healed mine infirmities and crowned mee with thine euerlasting compassions O giue me I humbly pray thee a thankfull heart not onely now while the memorie and sense of thy fauour is fresh before mee but continually euen so long as I haue any being Grant that I may learne by this liuely euidence of thy power and mercy for euer heereafter to depend onely on thee Quicken mee also to all holy duties that my thankfulnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian carriage Make mee a kind and carefull mother willing to vndergoe the paine and trouble of education Let no nicenesse or curiositie hinder mee from those seruices to which both nature and religion hath appointed me let me also be carefull when time requireth to season the fruite thou hast giuen mee with the sauing knowledge of thee and thy deere Sonne that my desire may manifestly appeare to be set for the encrease of thy Kingdome Vouchsafe so to order my affections and to bring them in obedience vnder thee that if it should be thy pleasure either now or heerafter to take this Infant from me I may as willingly part with it as thou freely gaue it me And now O God perfect in mee that strength which thou hast begunne make me to grow in care to serue thee faithfully both in the duties of pietie and in other businesse of my place and calling that I may bee a comfort to my husband and example to my neighbours a grace to my profession and a meanes of glorie to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for those who are employed in the assistance of a trauailing woman HOly Father who hast commanded vs to serue one another in loue and hast made this the triall of our true loue vnto thee and our neighbour that wee helpe them in the time of need Be present we pray with vs â—y thy gracious Spirit to seale vp the pardon of our sinnes that they hinder vs not in this businesse and to assist vs with such conscience and diligence that our labour may not bee in vaine Wee confesse O Lord that wee are not worthy of â—ny gâ—â—d for our selues much lesse that wee should smother the good of others neither that any labour of ours can further thy good without thy speciall Grace enabling vs therein and accepting the same Accept vs therefore wee pray thee in the blood of thy Son shed thy loue into our hearts by thine holy Spirit that all our labour may be done in loue In loue to thy Maiesty who enablest vs to all good and in loue to our Christian Sister especially to her soule And therefore keepe vs wee pray thee from all idle sauours and superstitious conceits as auaileable heereunto from all rotten and vnsauoury speech which may interrupt the worke and teach vs to seeke helpe onely from thy Grace vsing al gracious communication both among our selues and to the comfort of the distressed that shee may only depend vpon thy mighty power applying all diligence and wisedome in affoording seasonable helpe for the easing of the paine or furthering of the birth Furnish vs with skill and her with strength patiently to awaite the appointed time of her deliuerance and knit all our hearts vnto thee that wee may feare thy Name obseruing the passages of thy prouidence in this and all other thy great workes and studying to giue thee praise and glory for the same in Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A thankesgiuing vpon the blessing of their labour in the Deliuerance HOly Father who hast reuealed thy selfe in thy word to bee a God that hearest prayer and hast now made good this promise vnto vs thine vnworthy seruants in hearing our prayers in the behalfe of this distressed woman Giue vs hearts we humbly pray thee to conceiue wisely of this thy great kindnesse and open our mouths we beseech thee that wee declare this thy goodnesse for the comfort of others that by this liuely example we may beleeue in thy great Name What hast thou not done heerein O Lord euen aboundantly aboue what wee could thinke or aske And what can we repay vnto thee worthy of so great saluation Wee confesse our selues vnworthy to aske much lesse to obtain for our selues yet behold thou hast heard our cries and releeued this thy desolate seruant It is not enough that thou hast giuen ease and deliuerance to the Mother vnlesse also thou didst liue to her Babe that so in it her life might bee againe receiued yea thou hast made our cup to run ouer with ioy and gladnesse who were almost ouerwhelmed with sorrow and dispaire Thine O Lord bee the onely glorie and praise heereof O fill our hearts with thankefulnesse that our reioycing may bee in trueth and humble vs vnfeignedly in the consciences of our owne vnworthinesse that we may giue thee the onely glory of all thy mercies Let our humility appeare in seruing each other in loue and let our loue bee manifest in prouoking each other to trust in thee alone for the time to come let our confidence in this prepare vs to this or the like occasion that so we may finde a gracious issue in our greatest extremities And let our experience of thy good hand heerein weane vs from the loue of the world wherin wee are like continually to meet with what will oppose or ensnare vs and prouoke vs to long for our dissolution when all teares shall be wiped from our eyes And let our desire to bee with thee make vs alwaies ready for thee in all sobriety modesty humility patience and perseuerance that so wee may bee found faithfull when our Maister commeth And that wee may bee found in peace at his glorious appearance O grant vs daily to deny our selues that still wee may bee found of thee in the righteousnes of our Sauiour may by the power thereof be daily accepted of thee by the efficacie of the same may bee more and more conformed to thine holy Image and so may at length be fully satisfied therewith And as thou hast now added one vnto the number of mankinde shewing thy wisedome and power in the framing of him in the wombe in bringing him
increase and renew their strength giue them victorie and turne their aduersaries hearts if they pertaine to thy holy election otherwise O Lord bring vpon them the confusion that they would bring vpon others into the pit that they haue digged let them fall and neuer rise vp againe O Lord heare vs in these suites pardon our dull spirits in praier and giue vs these and all other graces needfull for vs and the Church to thy glorie for our Lord Iesus Christ in whose name wee pray as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the feeling of the sinne of hyprocrisie that wee may direct our life according to the perscript rule of the word RIghteous Lord God and heauenly Father which art a iust â—udge to punish all them that doe continue to offend thee as thou art a Father most pittifull to receiue to mercie all those which giue ouer themselues to please thee shew mee thy grace and fauour To that I may be truely touched with inward displeasure of my sinnes and that in the place of flattering my selfe to sleepe in sinne I may be so cast downe in heart that the rather I may truely with mouth confesse most humbly to giue thee the honour glorie and prayse due vnto thy holy name and that as thou of thy great mercy dost instruct thereunto by thy holy word so for thy mercies sake make that the same may so lighten and cleere our conscience that in due examination of our life wee may truely learne to be angry and displeased with all our former and corruptible liuing O that it may please thee to draw neere vnto vs in addressing and guiding our footsteps in the true and perfect way of obedience to thy holy Lawes and Commandements Send thy holy Angell to pitch his Tents round about vs that Sathan and his infernall army neuer preuaile against vs but that alwaies with strong faith we may through Iesus Christ withstand all his crafty engines and snares knowing vndoubtedly that thou neuer forsakest them that put their trust in thee O let vs not bee led by the infirmity of our outward flesh but strengthen vs by the vertue of thy holy Spirit Suffer vs not to lie vnder thy heauy wrath and vengeance through hypocrisie but rather touch vs so inwardly that we may without ceasing sigh and grone vnto thee by true and vnfeigned repentance And although we be not alwaies so well disposed to aske and pray as we ought to doe yet good Lord for thy glorious Names sake stretch out thy mighty hand that by the gracious working of thy holy Spirit our mindes and hearts may be drawne from all earthly and corruptible things so that our prayers vnto thee may proceede of an inward earnest vehement affection so that wee neuer presume to come before the throne of thy Maiesty with a double heart knowing that whosoeuer asketh and prayeth for any thing of thee not asking in faith cannot obtaine Increase therefore sweet Lord our faith that we presently may liuely feele the benefite of remission and pardon all our sins through the merits and death of Christ Iesus our Sauiour and so worke in vs for euer heereafter to liue in thy feare and to stand in awe of thy displeasure that thou mayest continue our mercifull Father world without end Amen O Shepheard of sheepe seeke out mee thy wandring sheepe And being found lay mee vpon thy blessed shoulders and bring mee home to the very folde of thy flocke heale my sicke soule feede my hungry soule yea almost dying through hunger watch ouer the same O sweete Lord least the rauening Wolfe do inuade my soule and so slay it to vtter destruction Wherefore O most deere GOD be mercifull to mee a wretched sinner and grant pardon to him that repenteth giue not foorth the voice of thy sentence according to my demerits but like as thy mercy before hath done in the beginning of my life so let it conclude the end thereof to remaine with thee world without end Amen deere God Amen Forasmuch as in this life holy Scriptures doeth promise trouble penuries oppressions increase of griefe and aboundance of temptations vouchsafe O most louing Lord GOD to prepare my heart to all possible patience least I doe faint in thy foote-path compell my sweete Lord this stubborne and rebellious flesh of mine to bee subiect to thy holy Spirite beyond all expectation so that I may possesse my soule in patience and keepe the same continually in thy euerlasting seruice to the which purpose thou of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie hast created the same Wherefore O Lord GOD shew thine almighty power vnto mee most wretched sinner that so long as I fight in this wretched life I may obtaine victorie against mine enemies thou being my defence for there is none other that fighteth for mee but onely thou O God Now I say represse the violence of mine enemies and vouchsafe with great effect to bring into bondage my miserable flesh that tormenteth my soule So that obtaining victory I may giue praise to thee my onely deliuerer in perpetuall eternity Amen A prayer against tbe secret venim and great danger of prosperity O Lord prepare my heart to wisedom prepare it to prayer and teach my soule to feele all the dangers wherewith it is beset on euery side and grant good Father that I mâ—y not pray in wordes or in sound of speech but in Spirite and Faith I acknowledge to thee O Lord thy great mercies toward mee at this time for beside the vnspeakable graces of my redemption and of my holy calling in the Gospell which are euermore good thou hast giuen me a large measure of earthly blessings my table is richly and daintily furnished my Cup ouer-floweth mine enemies are chased away and I feele no want no affliction no sorrow My prosperitie leadeth mee as by the hand from one delight to another and from one pleasure to another In the morning peace is at my right hand and at night quietnesse at my left O Lord are not these thy blessings Hast not thou opened thy mercifull hand and filled me with all these comforts True it is O Lord that they came all from thee and for them I am indebted vnto thee and giue thee hearty thanks But alas O Lord I finde by experience that prosperitie such is our infirmitie carrieth vs too too farre away it feedeth vs from day to day and from time to time with new delights it ingendereth also secretly such peace and confidence in these things which are but as a reede to leane vpon that we are carried away wee forget not thee onely but our selues also But the day of aduersitie the day of sicknesse the day of trouble that layeth open our weakenesse it causeth much care to bee released it prouoketh many praiers for releefe O it is a happy day a day of returning to the Lord a day of repentance as in Sackcloath and Ashes O how may my soule praise the
heart and minde bee fully assured thou by thy heauenly prouidence rulest and guidest all things in heauen and earth so that nothing in the vvhole world commeth to passe but according to thine appointment that thou guidest and framest the affâ—ires doings of men that thou hast euen their hearts and all their powers in thy mercifull hand to turn them which way soeuer it seemeth best vnto thy godly wisedome so that whether we be in prosperity or aduersity we may acknoledge both of them to be thy worke in vs and therefore be no lesse thankfull for sicknesse then for health for sorrow then for comfort for a troubled minde then for a quiet for imprisonment and banishment then for liberty especially seeing wee know that thou turnest them all seeme they neuer so sharp to the comfort and commodity of thy children which feare thee and that in all thinges which shall befall vnto vs whether they be grieuous or ioyous prosperity or aduersity life or death thy holy name may be sanctified in vs by yeilding due and continuall praise and thankesgiuing to thy eternall Maiâ—sty that we neuer cease to put our ful trust and confidence in thy mercie who hast promised to be our defender buckler and shield to keepe vs as the apple of thine eye to deliuer vs when we cal vpon thee to open when wee knocke to giue when we aske that we knowing our owne weaknes that of our selues wee haue no power or strength to do no not so much as to will that which is good we may acknowledge al our strength comfort ioy faith loue hope and confidence to be thine onely guift and worke in vs. And for the same and the increase of the same and for all thy benefites in vs whereof we feele our selues destitute we may constantly flee vnto thee by heartie prayer requiring the same at thy mercifull hand And hauing felt thy mercifull dealing towards vs we may alway to the end of our life continue thankfull vnto thy blessed name that wee neuer speake or thinke of thee O LORD GOD without high reuerence and an obedient fear vnto thy glorious Name The third Petition Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heauen ANd forasmuch O Lord God as of our selues wee bee nothing but stubbornesse and rebellion against thy holy Maiesty we beseech thee deere Father that as thine Angels in heauen doe willingly obey thy holy and most blessed will without any resistance so wee thy most vild and vnworthy Seruants and Children in earth all stubobrnesse rebellion peruesnes by thy holy Spirit in vs being vtterly extinguished and quenched we may willingly submit our selues resigne and yeeld our whole affections to thee O Lord to bee gouerned after thy blessed and heauenly will That wee may feele in our selues no other motion or desire then a meete consent to thy holy will that whatsoeuer affections in vs fight against thy holy will thou wilt vtterly make them voide That wee neuer will any thing of our selues but that thy holy Spirite in vs may gouerne our hearts by whom inwardly being taught wee may learne to loue embrace and take comfort in those things that please thee and to hate those thinges that displease thee That our hearrs minds and wills being wholy subdued to thy blessed will we may willingly bee content with that estate of life which it pleaseth thy goodnesse to excercise vs withall in this world whether it be in aduersity or prosperity in sicknes or health in ignominy or glory in quietnesse or trouble in sorrow or gladnesse Grant vs deare Father this willing and patient minde that euen in our greatest distresse wee may bee content with thy good will and not to murmure or grudge against thy Maiesty knowing that thou wilt lay nothing vppon vs but that which shall turne to our goodnâ—sse and profit And that wee may patiently abide whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vppon vs that we be assured in our hearts that thou wilt lay no more vnto vs then thou wilt giue vs strength to beare euen in our greatest afflictions wilt find a way for our deliuerance and that thy power and strength is more fully declared when wee feele our selues vtterly voyd of strength and see no way of deliuerance that we may in our most greeuous assaults conflicts and anguish or mind submit our selues wholy to thy blessed will and looke for our deliuerance at thy hand when thou knowest it most expedient for vs and most for thy glory leauing the time and meanes of our deliuerance to thy good will and pleasure and that in the meane time we neuer cease but call vpon thee by hearty prayers continually as thou hast commaunded vntill such time as thou shalt heare our petitions And although after many and sundry callings vpon thee thou seeme not to regard vs but rather deale more extreamly with vs yet notwithstanding strengthen vs so with perseuerance in prayer that wee faint not but still continue in prayer being assured that although we feele our selues nothing released yet we may quiet our selues herein that we as thy Children haue laide our complaints griefes and sorrows in the bosome of thee our heauenly Father who will as a louing Father when he seeth it most conuenient helpe vs. And although thou seeme nothing to grant our requests yet wee honor thee in calling vppon tâ—y name seeing thou dost accept it as a most cheefe honor to bee called vppon in the day of truble The fourth petition Giue vs this day our dayly Bread ANd forasmuch deare Father as thou dost by thy mighty power nourish feede sustaine preserue and maintaine all liuing Creatures yea euen the very young flocks and Beasts we beseech thee to send vnto vs thy Children ouer whom thou hast a more speciall care all things necessary for this our present life that we hauing sufficient may walke euery one in our calling in sincerity and pure holynes before thy face acknowledging all our benifits of riches health wealth meate drinke apparell and all our substance to be thy meere gifts bestowed vpon vs and deliuered vnto vs from thine hands that we be not drawne from thee through setting our mindes too much vppon them but so moderately vse them as thy benefits for a time bestowed vppon vs knowing that thou wilt at our hands require an account how we haue vsed them That wee doe not carefully gape or seeke after them but discreetly to thy glory vse them acknowledging in them thy goodnesse and liberality towards vs. And seeing most mercifull Father that it is not our trauell labour paines study or endeauour which is able to get vs our liuing but onely in so much as it pleaseth thy goodnesse to blesse and prosper them we beseech thee that yet through our great Trauaily and paines wee be yet still poore and in meane estate that thou wilt giue vs a contented heart knowing that thereby thou lettest vs vnderstand that it is thy good will and pleasure
so to keepe vs vnder that wee more effectually may giue our selues to serue thee Or if it bee thy will and pleasure more abundantly to blesse vs and our trauaile to send vs abundance of all things wee beseech thee deare Father giue vs a thankfull heart to acknowledge them to bee thy good giftes and frame our hearts with such liberality that wee may be contented to distribute them according to the necesity of thy children being assured that thou hast to this ende made vs Stewards ouer them that maist at his hands require much on whome thou hast bestowed much so that we hauing the due estimation of thy benefits which we ought to haue may both reuerence thy goodnesse in thy benefits and supply the want of our bretheren to the releefe of their necessity and furtherance of thy glory The fift petition Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. AND whereas most mercifull Father thy Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ hath in our nature paide the ransome and debt of all our sinnes which wee haue from the beginning of our life committed and do dayly commit wee beseech thy gracious gooodesse that thou wilt by thy holy spirit in our hearts assure our soules and consciences with a liuely faith that by that same one onely sufficient sacrifice the punishment of our sinnes is paide thy wrath appeased and thy Iustice satisfied whereby our consciences may be quieted set at peace with thee our mercifull Father and God Let vs deare Father feele in our soules and consciences that wee are vnited to thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and made one body with him and heires with him of euerlasting glory so coupled and ioyned with him that wee are members of his body so that whatsoeuer hee hath done in his body wee may bee assured that it is ours that his righteousnesse is our righteousnesse his sanctification and holinesse is ours the curse condemnation and death which hee suffered is the same curse condemnation and death due for our sinns that wee know that our sins bee done away and cleane forgotten and forgiuen by thy mercifull loue goodnesse declared in offeâ—ing vp thy Sonne to death for vs wee may be driuen to loue thee vnfainedly from the bottome of our hearts for this thine vnspeakable loue And considering that thou hast in mercy pardoned so many our haynous offences we may gladly bee moued to forgiue one another their offences and put out of our heart all rancour malice hatred toward ouâ— Bretheren knowing that we are all members of one body Christ our Sauiour that so surely as we haue forgiuen them that offend vs we may be so certainely assured that our mercifull Father hath forgiuen vs like as we haue forgiuen our Bretheren The sixt petition Lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill ANd for as much most heauenly Father as we of our selues bee feeble and fraile and weak and haue a strong and subtile Aduersarie Sathan the Diuell who goeth about continually like a roaring Lyon seeking whome hee may deuoure we beseech thee strengthen vs by thy holy Spirit that wee may withstand his subtle suggestions and motions hold thou vs by thy mercifull hand and keepe vs alwaies in thy safegard and protection that wee be not ouercome in the mighty assaults of our aduersary And forasmuch as he often vseth euer our owne flesh armed against vs to conquer vs we beseech thee deare Father mortifie subdue and kill in our flesh all subtle suggestions and sinfull motions of Sathan that we yeeld not our selues as slaues thereunto but continually fight against them and bring them into subiection of the Spirit Grant vnto vs deare Father that we may not be drawne through the subtile and sliely torments of Sathan to haue our delight pleasure in the vanities of this world but by thy grace might and power may so in the prosperity of this life bee vpholden that our minds with full ioy and comfort may be lifted vp to our perfect consolation in our Lord and Sauiour Christ and in him take our full and perfect ioy and consolation so that no vaine delight of this world put vs from the same neyther any sharpe aduersaty as pouerty misery or calamity through the malice of the diuell driue vs to dispaire of thy mercifull goodnesse towards vs but alwaies being through thy grace and assistance defended we may be fully perfectly armed against all the subtile intrappings of Sathan and rest wholy in thy mercifull defence and aide For thou hast O Lord and eternall God in thy gouernment all things in heauen and earth all power dominion ouer all creatures Angels and diuels to rule them according to thy good pleasure and will to the profit and commoditie of thy Church and euery faithfull member thereof and to thine incomprehensible glorie that in all things in all ages for euer and euer thy glorious Name may be exalted and thy faithful flocke edified thâ—ough Christ our Lord Amen A Confession of sinnes with Faith and Repentance O Mercifull and heauenly Father we thy Seruants doe humbly pâ—ostrate our selues before thy Maiesty acknowledging here in thy sight our haynous offences committed against thy Maiesty seeing and beholding thy heauie wrath against them wee feele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge company of horrible sins whereof the very least beeing but conceiued in thought is sufficient in iudgment to throw vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake Our owne consciences O Lord do beare witnesse against vs of our manifold transgressions of thy blessed Law of our security sencelesse blindnesse running headlong to destruction committing sinne after sin although not notorious to the world yet horrible before thine eyes The thoughts of our harts rise vp in iudgement against vs the vanity of our talke before thy Maiesty condeÌ„neth vs the wickednesse of our deeds from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughts words and deeds with the inward corruption of our nature doe altogether as it were a whole lumpe loade of sinne lye heauy vpon vs and with their intollerable waight doe euen presse vs downe to Hell Wee doe daily groane vnder the burthen of them inwardly lamenting our owne folly too greedily running into them In heauen earth or hell wee see none able to sustaine the waight of them but euen thy dearely beloed Sonne Iesus Christ who in mercy infinite and compassion endlesse hath sustained and ouercome that endlesse punishment due vnto them in him therfore in him most mercifull Father and through him we come to thee being fully assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept take that full recompence which hee thy deare Sonne hath made for vs as a iust ransome for the sinne of all those who with a true Faith take hold on him In him therfore we see thine anger towardes vs appeased thy wrath satisfied and our debts paide Increase in vs good Lord wee beseech thee this liuely
and feeling faith for we feel it oftentimes in vs very weake and troubled with many doubtes Increase it in vs O Lord that wee may through thy holy spirit bee assured that the punishment of our sinne is fully in thy Sonne discharged Make vs O Lord our God to feele the same in our soules and consciences that Iâ—sus Christ is ours and all that hee hath done that we are ingrafted into his body and made one with him and therefore fellow-heires with him of euerlasting life Let vs not onely haue these words in our mouths good Lord but through thy holy Spirit let vs feele the comfort of them in our hearts fully sealed setled in vs that we feeling our selues inwardly before thy Iudgement seate discharged and our consciences towards thee appeased may bee swallowed vp with an vnfained loue towards thy heauenly Maiesty and towards our Bretheren for thy sake Make sinne to die in vs daily more and more that wee may hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and wickednesse in all men but especially in our selues that wee mâ—y strongly through thy holy Spirit sette our selues in open defiance against all sin and wickednesse that wee please not our selues in our sins but straightly examining sin by the iust rule of thy holy Lawes wee may vtterly from the bottome of our hearts condemne euen the least sinne in our selues hauing our whole ioy comfort and consolation vpon those things which bee agreeable to thy blessed will alwaies being afraide to doe any thing contrary to the same that wee may euen from the bottome of our hearts examine and try our thoughts before thy presence that they bee vpright vnfained not hypocritical in outward shew only appearance but that euen all the corners of our hearts being opned and disclosed before thee we may euen as though it were openly before the face of the whole world bring them in shew knowing that a double heart is destitute in thine eyes and that wee may walke alwayes as before thine eyes not onely before the eyes of man being more carefull to walk circumspectly in this respect that we haue thee to be a viewer of our doings a thousand fold more then the eyes of man That thus wee may walke as becommeth thy Children not onely in outward shew but also in sincerity of hart abhorring euen the least sinne in our selues striuing resisting and fighting against sinne not nourishing the same in our breast but earnestly embracing and studiously seeking after those things which bee pleasant in thine eyes that neyther the feare of man nor losse of goods life landes possessions or friends draw vs away from thee to doe anie least thing contrary vnto thy will and pleasure neither the fauour and friendship of man nor yet the flattering enticements of this World nor the vaine promotions of the same do mooue vs â—ny whit from the true and endlesse ioy delight pleasure which we ought to haue in those things which be agreeable to thy will and the constant performance of the same but that alwayes to the end of our life wee may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength till at length we shall come to thine euerlasting rest Amen ¶ A Prayer for the prosperous estate of the whole Church O Lord our God and heauenly Father forasmuch as by thy holy word we are commanded in our Prayers not onely to be mindefull of our selues but also of all other thy children yea euen of our enemies wee commend vnto thy diuine Maiestie all thy whole true and Catholicke Church and euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the bright beames of thy holy word to shine ouer the whole world whereby thou hast expelled driuen away caused to vanish the darke and misty cloudes of ignorance and superstition so thou wouldest vouchsafe by thy holy Spirit to touch the hearts of men that they may ioyfully imbrace that thine so high a Treasure sent amongst vs that through our vnthankefulnesse wee prouoke not thy Maiesty in anger to take it from vs. Crush bruise and destroy with the breth of thy mouth the mightie power of that man of sin which so proudly exalteth himselfe aboue al that is called God Let not thy simple flocke deere Father in whose consciences he so long time hath yet doth sit as God bee any longer poisoned with his sweet inticing poisons but so lighten their harts that they may perceiue his iuglings embrace the sweet and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting reuealed in thy glorious Gospell And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue all Nations of the earth to powâ—e down the sweet showers of thy heauenly graces vpon this our English Nation aboundantly in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of thy holy Spirite in promoting thy Gospell and ouerthrowing Idolatrie we beseech thee continue thy fauour towards the same and vttery roote out all Remnants Reliques and Monâ—ments of Idolatrie that thy glorious name may be throughly exalted in sincere pure and holy worship And as thou hast in mercie from amongst vs in this thy Church vtterly banished all false venomous and poisonfull doctrine wherewith the soules of thy Children heretofore haue beene wounded â—o death and in place thereof hast placed the true and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy children may be fedde and norished to euerlasting ioy so in like mercie and fauour we beseech thee deare Father establish in the same thy Church a true perfect and sincere regiment therof according to the prescript rule of thy blessed Word all fantasies of mans brains and dreames of humane policie vtterly abolished that thy glorious Maiesty onely may be exalted in the light of thy glorious Gospel and that thy Church may flourish increase being through thy protection aided supported maintained and defended we beseech thee â—â—thy holy Spirit guide and rule euery part and member thereof especially thy seruant Iames our King whome thy gracious fauor and mercifull prouidence hath appointed a cheefe member of the same vnder whose winges next vnto thy protection it hath a cheefe succour and support Grant vnto him O Lord a pure and perfect zeale aboue all things to promote thy glorie first cheeflie in labouring and endeuoring of himselfe earnestlie in wiping away and purging out of the Church all blots and deformities to reduce the same to a pure sincere forme of worshippe agreeing to thy blessed word vtterly to remooue all stumbling blockes which stay and hinder the course of thy Gospell Giue in like manner O Lord GOD the spitit of wisedome discretion gouerment that with equitie and iustice he may see this whole Realme which thou hast committed to his charge peaceably quietly gouerned that hee may studiouslie labour that as well through the whole Realme vertue be exalted vice abandoned as especially in his owne house and Court that all wicked
not worthy to entertaine and receiue thee into my sinfull vncleane house Neuerthelesse most louing Lord which hast said that who so eateth thy flesh drinketh thy blood shall dwell in thee and thou in him haue mercy vppon mee O haue mercy vpon mee most mercifull Sauiour and behold mee most miserable sinner prepared at this present not only to let thee in vnder the roofe of my mouth but also to lodge thee in the house of my heart O bountifull Iesu be my gracious Redeemer and grant that I receiue not the Sacrament of thy body and blood vnworthily purchasing thereby vnto my selfe death and damnation but rather be made through faith in thee a worthy receiuer a meete member of thy blessed body and so by the strength of this heauenly foode may not onely bee enabled to cast away all my former sinnes and most beloued corruptions but may also walke before thee in all constant holines to the making sure of mine election Grant this I beseech thee for thine owne mercy sake Amen A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Sacrament O Sweete Sauiour which with thy precious salue of compassion curest the foule and filthy sores of our sinnes and prouidest for vs all necessarie preseruatiues against the poyson of the soule-infecting maliciousnes heare I beseech thee the humble supplications of me thy poore seruant which heere present my selfe before thee at this present and grant that this my receiuing of the Sacrament of thy blessed body and blood may be a true testimony vnto my conscience that I haue through faith in thee receiued full remission of all my sinnes and offences past and am now become as it were a new Creature in thy sight I beseech thee likewise grant that casting away all my former workes of wickednesse I may henceforth walke in newnesse of life and godly conuersation bringing forth such fruits of true conuersion as may mooue others by my example to honor praise thy holy name And that running the whole race of my life in dutifull obedience toward thee I may when it shall please thee to thinke meete receiued among the number of thine elect into that euerlasting happinesse where wee shall bee perfect in holinesse Amen A Prayer for Constant perseuerance in praying when wee are dull to prayer O Lord God most mercifull Father according to thy commandement in mine afflictions and necessities I seeke to thee for succor by continuall prayer calling vppon thy Name I call vppon thee in the day time and in the night season doe I poure out my prayers vnto thee and yet for all that I feele mee nothing released but oftentimes worse and worse which maketh me many times deare Father almost to doubt of thy goodnesse that thou dost reiect my Prayers and giuest no heed vnto them whereby I doe almost thinke that it is no boot for me to pray seeing I feele no release but O Lord this is but weaknesse in me and the frailty of flesh which will not willingly bee subdued vnto thy Spirit which my frailty I beseech thee O Lord forgiue me For thou dost O Lord God see my conflicts and lookest vppon my continuall sighes and petitions but thou dost deferre prolong thy helpe the longer dost not at first helpe me to this end that I may see fully mine owne weaknes learne by little and little to subdue my rebellious will to thy good will who knoweth better what is meet for mee then I my selfe Therefore O most deare Father strengthen mee by thy holy Spirit that I may still perseuere and continue in prayer and with longing desires patiently waite for thee O Lord being assured that although it appeare not yet thou art alwaies present with mee and hearest my sighes and complaints and wilt when thou seest thy time declare thy selfe manifestly in the renewing my heart with spirituall ioy stirre vp O Lord my dull sluggish nature to call vpon thee continually appointing thee neyther time nor the meanes of my deliuerance but leauing all to thy good will and pleasure I may in the meane time neuer cease my continuall prayer to call for thy mercifull helpe vntill such time as it shall please thy goodnesse to send mee full deliuerance I feele my selfe O Lord oftentimes very vnwilling to pray for that I doe not fully perceiue my prayers to be heard but doe go on still languishing in my sorrowes as though thou hadst no care of mee But this my dulnesse I beseech thee O mercifull Father pardon in me and grant that I may be raised vppe to pray for aide and releefe of thee continually although I should see no signe of fauour yet that I may continue still with the faithfull Woman of Canaan and neuer cease in heart mind and mouth till thou grant my requests at thine appointed time when thou knowest it shall be most for my behoofe and for thy glory And that when thou shalt mercifully looke vpon mee to deliuer mee I may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge thy goodnesse toward me and let it neuer stirre out of my heart but continue thankfull for the same all the daies of my life whereby thy glorie in mee may be declared and my soule releeued thorough Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for all times O Lord God Father of mercy and God of all consolation without whom wee haue neither hope nor comfort we poore wretched sinners beseech thee of thy Fatherly goodnesse to looke vpon vs and to make vs partakers of thy gracious goodnesse so that euermore wee may set foorth thy honor and glory let our conuersation bee such that a great many beholding our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father and so direct our waies that we may hold forth the profession of thy Gospell as a Lanterne to lighten the steps of a great many that they may turne to the and prayse thy name in their visitation Thus O Lord wee beseech thee to deale with vs that in deed wee may be vessels of honor vnto thee now to set forth the glory of thy name and after this transitorie life to behold thy glory who hast immortallitie alone and dwellest in light that no man hath approched vnto remoue farre from vs our sinnes and iniquities that they may not separate betweene vs and thee blotte out of vs our offences and make our prayers righteous that thou mayest fauourably grant our requests looke vppon vs with thy fauourable mercy that thou mayest haue pittie vppon vs and behold vs in the righteousnesse of thy beloued Sonne Christ Iesus and that wee may be presented faultlesse in thy sight and thou accepting vs as holy we may haue the grace euermore to set forth thine honor and glory and to speake of thy praises in the midst of all thy people Let vs loue O Lord the things that are good and hate the things that are euil let vs delight in all things that may please thee and let vs
Eternall God and mercifull Father who in the riches of thy mercy hast ordained thine onely Sonne Iesus Christ to bee the propitiation for the sinnes of thine elect that whosoeuer beleeues in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life that so many as receiue him and beleeue in his Name may haue power from him to bee the Sonnes of God and heires with him of eternall glory And in thine infinite wisedome hast so disposed of me thy Creature that being first estated by thee in a condition of holinesse and falling willingly from the same by mine owne rebellion into a most fearfull desprate estate of sinne and damnation I might bee restored againe to a better condition of life and immortalitie by the death passion of thy deere Sonne Looke downe I humbly pray thee with the â—ies of thy mercy vppon mee thy most vnwoâ—thy seruant who doth vnfainedly here confesse before thee that though I am by Nature most sinfull and miserable yet such herein is my desperate case that through the blindnes of my minde and hardnes of heart which cannot repent I am so farre from knowing my misery much lesse how to helpe my selfe out of this wofull estate that the very wisedome of my flesh is emnity against thee And my selfe not onely rebelling against the meanes which might discouer vnto mee my miserie but most desperatly peruerting those meanes to the further hardning of my heart and so to the more desperate enwrapping me in the bonds of damnation by heaping vp wrath against the day of wrath And therefore First I humbly pray thee Blessed Lord who hast the key of Dauid that openest and no man shuts that shuts and no man openest to open the blind eies of my mind that I descerne the wonderous things of thy law that so in the true glasse of thy holy law I may clearly discerne mine owne miserable estate and by the hammer of thy Law my hard heart may be throughly broken with the sence of my sinnes that so feeling my sinne a burthen which I am not able to beare I may be wholy confounded in my selfe as discerning my selfe to bee an vtter cast-a-way and reprobate branch fit for nothing but for the vnquenchable fire of thy Ielousie O make me Lord to see the inward vildnesse of mine heart and that all the thoughts and imaginations thereof are onely euill continually that though I may be happily free from grosse euils and seeme to shew forth some ciuill goodnesse yet those may bee coÌ„uinced to be most abhominable because they proceed from the filthy sink of my heart and the lesse I discerne the euill of my waies the more I may acknowledg the deceitfulnesse of mine heart the more I may conuince the obliquitie thereof that howsoeuer I seemed to be aliue as being ignorant of my misery yet now discerning my selfe in thy righteous Law I may not only acknowledge my selfe dead in sinnes and trespasses and so vtterly senselesse and vnable to helpe my selfe but also may renounce vtterly mine owne wit and wisedome to any good as being no better then desperate Rebellion against thee Thus beeing confounded and wholly cast out of my selfe and finding my case to be out of measure sinfull and so altogether desperate in regard of any ability as of my selfe to my recouery O let mee not sinke vtterly vnder this insupportable burthen but put thine holy hand vnder me to preuent vtter dispaire and sustaine mee secretly by thy mighty Power that I bee not swallowed vp in death Oh raise mee vp I humbly pray thee with the hope of thy mercie and leade me by the hand of thy grace to seeke it where it may bee found Bring me into the secret Chamber of thy gracious Presence where I may behold thy face in my Sauiour and grant me to admire thine infinite wisedome and mercie in prouiding so soueraigne a remedie for my distresse O giue me to be rauished with thy loue in the exceeding riches of my Redeemer and make me so to valew the worth of his Merit as for the obtaining thereof to resolue on vtter renouncing and parting with whatsoeuer I haue to obtaine the same And so finding now by thy Grace what neede I haue thereof oh worke in me a secret hope that thou maist be reconciled if I can fasten on the meanes thereto and grant me aboue all to hunger after his righteousnes that so mine iniquities being thereby couered I may draw neere with confidence vnto the Throane of Grace to begge vnfeignedly euen with strong cries the pardon of my sinnes And though I receiue not a present answer to my desire yet sustaine me I pray thee with thy gracious Spirit that so I may with patience waite thy good leysure and neuer giue ouer till thou hast saide vnto my Soule I am thy Saluation And though I do not presently feele this testimony of thy Spirit sealing me vp to the day of Redemption yet grant me I pray thee to be strong in Faith beleeuing what I feele not as I would and hoping for what I do not yet enioy that so thereby being knit vnto Christ my Sauiour and made one with him I may therby draw vertue from his death to the mortifying of my corrupt Nature and killing of those speciall lustes that do hindeâ— this sense of thy loue in him towards me that so feeling in me a dying to corruption I may also therby apprehend more fully the discharge of the guilt of my sinnes in the merites of my Sauiour and so therby renewing my peace with thee my gracious God I may reioyce in the hope of that glory which hee hath purchased for me And so in the hope of that Glory grant mee I humbly pray thee to draw vertue from the Resurrection of my Sauiour that so I may be raised vp with him to newnesse of life whereby I may render thanks vnto thee for this vnspeakeable gift and to bee made meete for the same in the acceptable time And that I may not be disappointed of my Hope Oh grant me still to liue by faith in the Sonne of God dayly denying mine owne righteousnesse that still I may bee found acceptable with thee in him aboue all worthinesse in my selfe of my imperfect endeauours only in his righteousnesse and so therby may be prepared to the hope of Glorie And seeing I am like to meete with many hinderances in pursuite of this Glory both from the World without either detaining mee in the way or drawing me from the marke as also from mine owne deceitful heart within as discouraging mee in my course and laggering mee in my pace and sometimes also blinding me either not to discerne or mistake the gole Oh grant me to walk by faith and not by sight as to rest on the foundation which stands sure the Lord knoweth who are his though sometimes in the building I may misse of it so to walke as a stranger Pilgrime in the world not clogging my selfe in my iourney with
vnnecessary luggage and fretting cares nor setting vp my rest in any present Inne of outward happinesse or inward means therto but still casting away euery thing that presseth down and the sinne that hangeth so fast vpon me I may run with ioy the race that is set before looking vnto Christ Iesus the Authour and finisher of my Faith and so by him seeing within the rule into the glory that is set before mee I may despise the shame and waite with patience the great recompence of Reward That so neither riches may daunt my Faith by presuming too farre nor depth may quayle it by stooping too low That Principalities may not shake it by force of tentation nor Powers ouercome it by their violent impressions that neither things present may abase it by groueling thereon nor things to come may deiect it by doubtings or false feares That neither life may corrupt it by doting thereon nor death may confound it by vnpreparednesse thereto That nothing may separate me from the loue of God in Iesus Christ in whom by Faith I am more then Conqueror ouer all things Thus grant mee gracious God to walke by Faith and not by sight And that I may receiue the end of my Faith euen the saluation of my soule Oh keepe me by thy mighty power through faith vnto saluation and guide me by the word of Faith in all my wayes that I may not leane to mine owne wisdom bur to thy sure Word as to a Light shining in a dark place that so I may daily grow in knowledge and in the grace of Iesus Christ from Faith to Faith filled with all ioy and peace in beleeuing abounding in all fruits of righteousnesse and perfect holines that so I may be perfect and intyre wanting nothing waiting for the appearance of Iesus Christ that so my Conuersation being in heauen an entrance may bee thereby made vnto me into the euerlasting kingdom of thy deare Sonne euen to take possession by faith in this life therof and to see a farre off by faith into the fulnesse of that glory that so I may fight the good fight of Faith and lay hold of eternall life in full assurance of what I haue alreadie the earnest of by Faith and so in that hâ—pe daily purging my selfe of all wickednesse of the Spirit and of the Flesh that I mâ—y grow vp to perfect holinesse in thâ— fauor of GOD waiting daily by Faith the adoption of the sonnes of God and laboring to attaine the resurrection of the dead that so I may bee kept blamelesse in Soule Body and Spirit vnto the comming of my Sauiour Iesus Christ Grant these things gracious Father euen for his sake in whome thou art well pleased Iesus Christ the righteous To whome with thine owne blessed Spirite one glorious Vnitiue Trinity be glory and prayse Dominion now and for euer Amen A Prayer to feele in heart Spirituall comfort and the liuely sence of our Adoption by Faith O Lord God most mercifull Father now I fully perceiue know that the heart of man is not in his owne hand for thou hast taught mee by diminishing thy Spirit of comfort in my heart that it resteth wholie in thy power to make ioyfull the heart of man and to diminish the same ioy according to thy good pleasure and will For if O God it had beene in mine owne power and will to haue receiued comfort in thy holie word or to haue beleeued thy promises from my hart I would long since haue enioyed comfort and beene confirmed in faith but I cannot most mercifull Father it is thy meere worke I looke therefore O gracious God for thy blessed comfort strength of faith which I beseech thee O Lord send into my heart to fill the same with spirituall ioy that by the working of thy holy Spirit in mee the comfortable promises of thy mercifull protection may be throughly sealed in mine heart and sinke downe deep into my soule that I may be fully assured that thou art my strong rocke and house of defence that thou dost keepe mee as the apple of thine eye as thou hast promised in thy blessed word that thou wilt not lay more vppon mee then thou wilt giue mee strength to abide and that thou wilt assuredly at thine appointed time renew my heart the whole powers of my mind that I may fully glorifie thy holy name But in the meane time O Lord alas my heart is cleane voyde of spirituall ioy yea euen as hard as a stone so that the louing promises of thy holy word although I know them to bee true yet they cannot sinke into my hard stony heart vntill such time as thou by encreasing of thy holy Spirit to me shalt mollifie and make tender my hard heart that it may bee meete to receiue the sweet comfort of thy Spirit Thy holy Spirit O Lord in mee which is the assurance of my saluation doth continually send forth vnspeakable sighs and longings for thy full ioyfull presence I beseech thee therefore deere Father for thy Sonne Christ Iesus sake harken vnto my prayers and grant my requests make tender my hard and stony heart by thy holy Spirit that I may from the bottome of my heart acknowledge thee to bee my most mercifull God and Father and all things in thy holy word contained to be most certaine and true reuerently embrace the same and into my soule take comfort and ioy in the same that I may deere Father euen vnto my liues end walke before thy face in sinceritie of heart being assured of my saluation through that one alone sufficient sacrifice for my sinnes made by thy deere Sonne Christ Iesu to whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honor and glory world without end Amen A Prayer against doubting to strengthen a weake Faith and to perseuere therin GLorious and mightie Lord who by â—hy Soueraigne All-sufficient power as thou madest al things of nothing so thou callest those things which are not as if they were and dost command light to shine out of darkenesse that so wee might bee translated out of darknesse into this maruelous light Holy Father it is thine vnspeakable mercy that I thy most vnworthy seruant being once the child of hell yea darknesse it selfe am now through thy free grace illightning mine heart by Faith enabled to behold thy face in Iesus Christ and so through this light am become light in the Lord being enabled by faith to discerne the great Mystery of Christ and so by faith to lay hold thereon as to bee freely thereby discharged from the guilt of my sinne and to be inuested with the perfect righteousnesse of my Sauiour that so I might bee found acceptable vnto thee Holy Father how vnspeakable herein haue beene thy mercies to me a vilde sinner that passing by the wise and noble of the world it hath pleased thee of thy free grace to visite mee a very reprobate branch with thy sauing health and to