true Religion is not in the wearing of the habit but with a clear mind in very deed to execute the rules of true Religion and the ordinances thereof If thou be lay and unmarried keep thee clean unto the time thou be married and remember the sore and terrible punishment of Noahs flood and of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha done to man for mis rising flesh and if thou intend to marry or to be married and hast a good Wife thank God therefore for she is of his sending and remember that there be three things pleasing to the Spirit of God that is to say concord between brethren love and charity between Neighbours and a man and wife well agreeing together and having in remembrance that the intent of marriage is not in the beastly appetite of the flesh but to eschew the evil thereof or to have children And if thou have children as much as thou maist bring them up in virtue to be the servants of God for it were better for them and thee not to be born than otherwise In thine Authority busie thee rather to be beloved of thine inferiours than to be dreaded Let thy subjects and servants rather serve and obey thee for love than for dread or need With such a Sovereign goodness govern thy Subjects that they may be glad to serve thee both in punishment and in cherishing Keep a measurable mean be not too streight forget not to keep a convenient measure in all thy works go not to meat but as a reasonable man with thanks to GOD for his gifts and then remember that more be sick and die by superfluities of meats and drinks than otherwise Wherefore eat with measure to live in health at thy meat have no other but honest communication and such as is according to thy knowledge backbite no man be merry in honesty for sorrow and care hath killed many and no profit is therein In no wise swear without compulsion of the Law for where 〈◊〉 great swearing from thence is never the â—â—ague of GOD. In no wise brawl nor chide for Solomon saith Better is a little with joy than much with brawl and contention And he saith An evil person is ever chiding and therefore the Angel of God shall be set against him Be content at all times to give part of that which God hath sent thee for he that will not hear the cry of the poor shall cry to God and not be heard With good providence and discretion see the time where when how why and wherefore thou speakest dost or biddest any thing to be done when thou deemest or judgest any thing to be done in poor or rich behold and consider the cause and not the person be as meek in other mens cause and offences as in thine own sit never in doom and judgment without pity and mercy for while thou hast pity and mercy on other mens offences thou hast mercy on thine own for in what measure thou measurest to others it shall be measured to thee again yet thou must execute judgment for to do mercy and justice is more pleasant to God than to pray or do sacrifice unto him Judge no man by light suspicion prove first and then judge in doubts refer the Judgment and Sentence to Gods might and what thou knowest not commit it to God might have little or none affection of these earthly and transitory things for blessed iâ— the Rich man that trusteth not in mony or treasure remember as as man loveth so he is for the lover is in the thing loved more properly than in himself wherefore if a man love earthly things he may be called an earthly man but if he love properly Heavenly things or God he may be called an Heavenly or a Godly man therefore love God and heavenly things for undoubtedly that is the best and most assured love for they be and ever shall be permanent all earthly things be soon vanished and ended and so the love of them is in vain Also it is high wisdom to fear God for that he saith himself Fear not him that can kill the body and cannot hurt the Soul but fear him that can kill the body and also the Soul and commit them to everlasting pain Wherefore every evening before thou go to bed call to thy remembrance as much as thou canst thy thoughts words and deeds said and done that day and if any have been to thine own profit and to the pleasure of God heartily thank him for by his grace it was done and if any have been contrary to his will and pleaâ—â—re ask heartily mercy and reconcile thy 〈◊〉 shortly to Him by repentance to eschew the everlasting destruction of thy soul For as S. Augustine saith there is not a greater madness than for a little temporal delectation which is soon done to lose the eternal Joy and to be bound to everlasting pain From the which the Almighty Father by his infinite power and mercy bitter passion and infinite wisdom of Jesus Christ and by the infinite goodness and charity of the Holy Ghost keep us now and for ever Amen Jam. 5. 20. Let him know that he which hath converted a sinner from going astray out of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins What Prayer is PRayer is an humble Request either of the heart or tongue or both unto God proceeding from our belief and acknowledgment of his power as God and of his goodness as our Father in Jesus Christ to supply all our necessities with thanksgiving unto him for any blessing received The parts of a Prayer are usually three 1. Humble Confession 2. Petition or Supplication 3. Hearty Thanksgiving 1. Confession Which is an humble and penitent repetition of our sins and wickedness with an acknowledgment of punishments and miseries thereby deserved and with an earnest desire and prayer for absolution and that for JESUS Christ alone He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy Prov. 28. 13. I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Psal 32. 5. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1. 19. My misdeeds prevail against me O be thou merciful to my sins Psal 67. 3. 2. Petition Petition or Supplication is that part of Prayer in which we beseech God the Author of all good and punisher of all ill for all the Mercies Comforts Graces and Blessings of this Life and the Life to come and for deliverance from all fears ills dangers and punishments of this Life and the Life to come for our selves and others and all for the merits of Christ Jesus alone and his mediation Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me Psal 27. 8. Hear me O GOD in the multitude of thy mercies
even in the truth of thy Salvation Psal 69. 14. Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse me from my secret faults Psal 19. Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences Psal 51. Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10. 3. Hearty Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is an humble joyful acknowledgment and expression of our thanks unto Almighty God for any mercy or blessing received or promised and for preservation and deliverance from any calamity danger or distress with denial of our own merits of the least of these and a magnifying of the greatness and goodness of GOD unto us in and through Jesus Christ Give thanks unto the Lord and call upon his Name Psal 105. Whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord JESUS giving thanks to God the Father and by him Col. 3. 17. My mouth shall daily speak of thy Righteousness and Salvation for I know no end thereof Psal 71. 13. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders he doth for the children of men that they would offer unto him the Sacrifice of thanksgiving Psal 107. O Lord thou art my God I will exalt thee I will praise thy Name for thou hast done wonderful things Isa 25. 1. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits he hath done unto me I will take the cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the LORD Psal 116. MOST Comfortable Prayers FOR Sunday Morning O Lord my God and heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy Holy Spirit to a true acknowledgment of all my sins that my prayers may be heard of thee in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Psalm HEar me when I call O God of my Righteousness for thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble Have mercy upon me and hearken unto my Prayer My voice shalt thou hear betimes O Lord early in the Morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness neither shall any evil dwell with thee Therefore O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy displeasure Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed Turn thee O Lord and deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake For in death no man remembreth thee and who will give thee thanks in the pit Wherefore away from me all ye thâ—â— work vanity for the Lord hath heard thâ— voice of my complaint The Lord hath heard my petition the Lord will receive my prayer For why my righteous God tryeth tâ—â— very heart and reins And my help cometh of God which preserveth them that are true of heart Therefore will I give thanks unto theâ— O Lord with my whole heart and I wâ—â—â— speak of all thy marvellous works I will be glad and rejoyce in thee yâ—â— my Songs and praise will I make of thâ—â— O thou most Highest For God is a Righteous Judge strong and patient and God is provoked every day If a man will not turn he hath bent his Bow and will whet his Sword and make it ready Morning Prayer MOst mighty and gracious God which hast brought me out of the Nights darkness into the light of thy Truth to see the light of thy Love that I may rejoyce in the day of my visitation and Salvation whereby the day spring from on high hath visited me and in the day of Salvation thou wilt succour me This day make me hear thy voice and not harden my heart through unbelief or deceitfulness of sin but that by Faith I may enter into thy promised rest give grace unto me O Lord and to all thy people to walk warily diligently and dutifully in my vocation to do such good works wherewithal thou mayest be well pleased and that walking in thy ways I may work out my salvation with fear and trembling and that all my meditations thoughts words and works may tend to the edifying of my Christian Brethren the discharge of my duty the consolation of my conscience and the glorifying of thy most holy Name which art my God my guide my saviour and defender to whom be all Praise and Glory Power Might Dominion and Majesty now and for ever Amen Morning Prayer I Yield thee humble and hearty thanks O heavenly Father in thy Son Jesus Christ for thy innumerable benefits poured upon my Soul and Body and that thou hast kept me this night past from many evils both Spiritual and Corporal and of thy great mercy dost offer and give unto me time and space to repent and amend my life so as I might live henceforth not as I will but as thou wilt and as my body doth draw continually nearer and nearer to the end the grave I mean so my soul might approach unto his end that is Heaven and not Hell for in one state we stand not still but either we are nearer the happy state of Life or else the unhappy condition of Death Eternal Wherefore O my dear Father I beseech thee to be merciful unto me and as of thy goodness thou givest me time to repent so of the same thy goodness in Christ I humbly beseech thee to give me thy gracious gift of true holy perfect and perpetual repentance that I may more and more lament my former sinful life trusting unseignedly in the rich mercies of thee my God through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ for the pardon of all my sins And grant O Lord I beseech thee that I may unseignedly purpose and effectually labour to amend my life this day and so long as I have to live to the praise of thy Name and the good example of others And forasmuch as thou knowest my weakness my ignorance and great untowardness to carry any cross or affliction that Thou wilt of thy merciful goodness so temper and order all things towards me this day and ever that I be never tempted or proved further than I shall be able to bear but so to help me in the same as may be most for thy Glory and my comfort And although O God thy Goodness Mercy and Truth to Mankind in all thy Works doth abundantly appear yet herein chiefly Thou declarest thy self to be most favourable merciful and gracious that not suffering us to walk in darkness ignorance and blindness Thou hast given us thy most holy and blessed Word to be a lanthorn to our feet to lighten our steps in the path-way of everlasting Life lest we should walk in the shadow of death In which thy most blessed and sacred Word thou hast finally and perfectly set forth unto mankind so much of thy glorious Majesty as was expedient for us to know and not only
things thou art God alone O turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant and help the son of thy handmaid Shew some good token upon me for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast holpen me and comforted me O satisfie me with thy mercy and that soon so shall I rejoyce and be glad all the days of my life Shew thy servants thy work and thy children thy Glory And the glorious Majesty of the Lord my God be upon me prosper thou the work of my hands upon me O prosper thou my handy work A Morning Prayer O Almighty God and merciful Father which gavest the children of Israel in charge to offer a daily Morning and Evening Sacrifice unto thee that thereby they may glorifie and thank thee for the benefit of their protection both night and day receive of me O Lord the calves of my lips which I lay upon thine Altar being my morning Sacrifice of thanksgiving unto thee I glorifie thee O eternal God for thou hast broken the bands wherewith I was tyed this night by reason of the midst of darkness and hast delivered me from the shadow of death by bringing me safe and sound to the beginning of this day wherefore I will praise thy Name and magnifie thee for ever O Lord continue thy goodness towards me this day and grant that all my Prayers and works may both begin and end in thee vouchsafe O Lord to keep me this day without sin and fill me in this present hour with thy favour and Grace that all this day and ever I may rejoyce and delight in thy Praises Grant merciful God that descending into my soul I may reprehend and condemn mine own spots and vices within me deliver me O Lord from lying lips and save me from a deceitful tongue keep me O Lord from the edge of the Sword from sudden death from the infectious pestilence from mortal sickness and deadly vexation O Almighty sanctifier both within and without keep me this day from danger of blood-thirsty men whose feet are swift to shed blood For into thy hands this day and ever I commend my spirit and that I may watch upon thee my Maker both night and day beseeching thee to protect me in the day of my trouble that the Enemy have no advantage of me and grant O Lord that if in thy justice for punishment of my sin or of thy gracious favour for trial of my Faith and exercise of my patience thou suffer me to fall into any distress or danger to give me I beseech thee a contented mind to yield to thy good pleasure and assured hope and belief as all things are wrought to thy Glory so they may work for the best unto me as one that loveth thee Grant this O most merciful Father To whom with thy Son and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for forgiveness of Sins O God the God of my Salvation I do here acknowledge my sins unto thee and mine iniquities I have not hid Wherefore O my God turn thy face towards me and let thy loving mercy ever more and more extend unto me for I am miserable sinful and poor and I come unto thee the fountain of all help Forgive my sins wash me and I shall be whiter than snow let me tast of thy old loving kindnesses that have been ever of old ready to forgive and to embrace them that turn from their evil ways as appeareth by David Peter and many others who repenting of their sins found favour Wherefore have mercy upon me O God have mercy upon me according to the multitude of thy compassions do away mine iniquities O cleanse me from my secret sins and cover my known sins with the Righteousness of thy Son Jesus Christ remove mine iniquities far away from thee and be not angry with thy servant for ever O enter not into judgment with thy servant for if no flesh before thee be justified what shall become of me who have so highly offended Lord my God full of mercy and pity I appeal unto thee I flee unto thee I rest upon thee leave thy displeasure against me and how weak soever and unable I am to stand in thy presence yet let thy spirit of strength hold me up and say unto me Fear not for my Grace is sufficient for thee I take upon thy love I rest upon thy favour in Christ reject me not though there be no good in me Pour down that absolute good thing even thy Grace and let it direct to amendment of life Thou hast said that thou art well-pleased in Christ thy Son in him be thou also pleased with me and receive me again into thy love through his merits by whom every sinner receiveth free access unto thee and although I for my part most loving Lord am a vessel full of many faults and enormities yet dear Father have mercy upon me and cast me not from thy presence but rather endue me again with a new Spirit and a lively feeling of thy Will and an ableness to do hereafter that I may fill up the residue of my days in sincerity holiness and righteousness and in the due service of thee that from henceforth instead of straying from thee I may dwell and be shrowded under the shadow of thy wings and that instead of sin which hath miscarried me I may embrace Piety Godliness and true Zeal and instead of ignorance whereby I have so long gone astray I may take hold of thy saving truth that it may be a lanthorn unto my seet and a light unto my paths that I may rest safe in thee through a lively faith that never decayeth and here I wait for thy loving kindness and mercy O Lord promised in Christ in whom I am bold with deep sighs of heart to cry and say Lord forgive mine offences cover my sins and lay not my former evils to my charge And for the better performance of this my duty unto thee from henceforth good Lord quench all the corrupt motions of my mind striving with thy divine pleasure that being thus inwardly renewed in my mind reformed in my conversation I may serve thee with gladness through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom be all glory and honour for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for knowledge to do the will of God O Lord God and Heavenly Father the God of all wisdom and understanding I acknowledge that by thy just sentence in that general corruption which I have drawn from Adams Ioins I am deprived of all spiritual wisdom and knowledge of thee and thy will and that there is nothing in man but blockish and beastly ignorance such as springeth from infidelity and is most contrary to thy will There is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh God O Lord have mercy upon me most miserable and vile wretch and open mine eyes that I
Mercy thy Divine Truth I magnifie for that of thy fatherly goodness thou hast graciously heard me at this time giving me a penitent heart modesty to utter the same Therefore will I praise thee for this and all other thy goodness this evening and going to rest I will give thee thanks because thou hast kept me this day of thine only Mercy without any merit of mine from all danger both in soul and body O Christ and King of Glory I beseech thee bless and defend me this night let my rest be in thee and grant me thy grace that neither much sleep overwhelm me nor Satan invade me nor the flesh betray me unto him Let mine eyes sleep but let my heart wake O Lord lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death lest the subtil tempter overtake me and I sleep a continual and perpetual sleep and awake no more For thou art my everlasting helper Keep me as the apple of thine eye hide me under the shadow of thy sacred wings O LORD that neither ugly visions nor horrible dreams nor sights nor monstrous apparitions trouble me in the dark In thy name O JESUS will I go to rest this night give sleep unto mine eyes and slumber to mine eye-lids compass me about and raise me again to the joyful sight of to-morrow light and after this my miserable life bring me to the beholding of eternal happiness that in thy light I may see light and evermore praise thee for ever Amen Prayers for Tuesday Morning O Lord my God and heavenly Father blessed be thy Name for ever Dispose my heart open my lips and give me thy holy Spirit c. A Psalm O God my heart is ready my heart is ready O Lord I will sing and give praise with the best member I have I will sing and give thanks unto thee Lord among the People and I will sing Praises unto thee among the Nations For thy Mercies are greater than the Heavens and thy truth reacheth unto the Clouds Set up thy self therefore O GOD above the Heavens and thy Glory above all the Earth That thy beloved may be delivered Let thy right hand save me and hear thou me O help me against mine enemy for vain is the help of man Through God I shall do great acts and it is he that shall tread down mine enemies And deal thou with me O Lord God according to thy Name for sweet is thy mercy Then will I give thanks unto thee O Lord with my whole heart secretly among the Faithful and in the Congregation The works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour and his righteousness endureth for ever The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works that they ought to be had in remembrance The works of his hands are verity and judgment all his Commandments are true He sent Redemption unto his people he hath commanded his Covenant for ever holy and reverent is his Name The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom a good understanding have all they that do thereafter the praise of it endureth for ever Glory be to c. A Morning Prayer BLessed be my Lord God which doth wondrous things and blessed be the Name of his Majesty for evermore which hath set the Sun to lighten the day and ordained the Moon and the Stars to govern the night O most high God which by thy unspeakable wisdom hast distinguished the day from the night and hast so decreed that while the World shall last this course of times and days shall never have end so that man in the night may rest and in the day labour until the evening for these and all other thy benefits I praise thy Name and give thanks unto thee for thy great Glory O God the guider of my life forsake me not turn from me the filthinâ—ss of desire remove from my heart all concupiscence and take from thy servant too over-bold a stomach suffer me not to run beadlong into riotousness let not unlawful love overcome me and give not thy servant over into an impudent mind Turn mine eyes that they behold no vanity strengthen me in thy way and grant that mine offences in this World overcome me not And I beseech thee O Lord with a most aâ—dent affection that this day and ever thou wilt keep me and all mine and that thou wilt be unto me a mighty Protector firmament of strength a covering against heat a shadow at Noon-tide a defence from falling an assister from offending a comforter of my Soul a lightner of my mind a giver of health and happiness in Christ JESUS my Lord and Saviour to whom be all glory honour and power for ever and ever Amen A Confession to GOD. O LORD I am unworthy thy Comfort or any spiritual consolation by reason of my sins that which I deserve is punishment because I have so often offended thee and in so many things so grievously sinned And yet O gracious and merciful GOD who wilt not that thy works should perish to declare the richness of thy goodness upon the vessels of thy mercy far beyond the manner of men But what have I done O Lord that thou shouldst impart upon me any spiritual comfort at all truly I have done no good but always have been prone unto sin and slow to repent and this is so true if I should deny it that thou wilt find me guilty and no man durst stand up to excuse me and therefore O most dear Father I do confess that I am worthy all reproach and contempt and most unworthy to live among thy Sons and Servants yea and because it is true I will yet confess against my wickedness that so the sooner I may obtain mercy at thy hands But what shall I wretch that I am say being full of all manner of shame and infamy What shall I say Nothing but this I have sinned Lord I have sinned take mercy upon me forgive me suffer me yet a while to bewail my wretchedness before I pass over into the Land of promise covered with the shadow of death for what dost thou else of a guilty and miserable man require but that he afflict and humble himself for his sins from a true repentance and humbling of the mind ariseth hope of Pardon the troubled conscience is relieved the favour of God which was lost is recovered and man is preserved from the vengeance to come and with a holy kiss both God and the sorrowful soul do meet together With the which work of true repentance endue me Good Lord that I may do thy sacred Will in this life and in the end enjoy everlasting happiness in the World to come through Jesus Christ my Saviour to whom be all glory power and might for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for true Repentance to be purged of sin O Lord my God what do I daily but wander in the field
11. Thou shalt purge me with Hyssop and I shall be clean thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than snow 12. Make me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me 13. O remember not the sins and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy think thou upon me O Lord for thy goodness 14. For thy Name sake O Lord be merciful unto my sin for it is great 15. Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am destitute and in misery 16. Remember not O Lord mine iniquities nor the iniquities of my fore-fathers neither take thou vengeance of my sins but spare me good Lord whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood and be not angry with me for ever 17. Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven and whose sin is covered 18. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin and in whose spirit there is no guile 19. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart and will save such as be of an humble Spirit 20. O taste and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that putteth his trust in him 21. O Lord thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant according to thy word Glory be to c. O Most gracious Lord God I beseech thee help thy servant whom of thy mercy thou hast created repair the ruins of my soul inlarge the frame of my understanding thereof cleanse it from all filthy corruption and garnish it with all heavenly graces that it may be both conveniently fit and furnished to receive thee that thou mayst make thy entry and possess that which is thy own both by creation and redemption and merits of thy passion through Jesus Christ Amen Before the receiving Ex Liturg. GRant O most merciful Father I beseech thee that I receiving these thy Creatures of Bread and Wine according to the holy institution of our Saviour Jesus Christ in remembrance of his death and passion may be partaker of his blessed Body and Blood and that my sinful body may be made clean by his Body and my sinful soul washt through his most precious Blood which was shed for the remission of all my sins through the same Jesus Christ Amen Immediately before the Receiving Matth. 8. 8. Lord I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed II. O Lamb of God let me eat thy Flesh and drink thy Blood that I may live everlastingly by thee and cloath me with the wool of thy mercy that no winter or storm of sin do pinch my silly soul III. O blessed Jesus let the Blood that ran from thy blessed Heart wash my soul from all sin and iniquity and purchase me thy heavenly grace and benediction Amen Immediately after Receiving PRaise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name and forget not all his benefits which saveth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness Psal 103. I will give thanks unto the Lord for he is gratious and his mercy endureth for ever Psal 106. Alleluja Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power be unto the Lord our God Amen Revel 19. 1. Thanksgiving after the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament Ex. Liturg. O Almighty and everlasting Lord God I thy most humble servant according to my bounden duty and service do render unto thy Fatherly goodness all possible praise and thanksgiving for that thou hast vouchsafed to feed me with the holy mystery and spiritual food of the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ thy Son and my Saviour assuring me thereby of thy grace and favour towards me and that I am a member incorporate in thy mystical body the blessed company of faithful people and also heir through hope of thy everlasting Kingdom by the merits of his most precious death and passion and grant me O Lord for the time to come the assistance of thy grace and heavenly benediction that I may continue in all such good works as thou hast prepared for me to walk in to the glory of thy Name and my everlasting comfort through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen A Psalm 1. PRaise the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his holy name which saveth thy self from destruction and feedeth thee with the Bread of Heaven 2. I will always give thanks unto the Lord his praises shall ever be in my mouth 3. Thy merciful kindness is evermore towards us and thy truth O Lord is everlasting 4. Great is the Lord and marvellous to be praised there is no end of his greatness 5. He loveth Righteousness and Judgment the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 6. Be glad O ye Righteous and rejoice in the Lord and be joyful all ye that are true of heart 7. I will give thanks unto thee with my whole heart I will speak of thy marvellous works 8. O praise the Lord with me and let us magnifie his holy name 9. Let my heart be filled with gladness and my mouth with praise that I may sing of thy glory and with the rest of thy Saints give honour to thy Majesty in the eternal fruition of thy presence through Christ 10. My mouth shall speak of the praise of the Lord and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy name for ever and ever Amen Vers Praise the Lord. Resp The Lord's name be praised O Almighty and eternal God what worthy praise can I give unto thee by whose goodness I was created by whose mercy I was redeemed by whose power I am preserved and by whose grace I hope to be glorified and for all other thy blessings and benefits which I enjoy both in soul and body and especially for feeding me this day with the precious body and blood of Jesus Christ I will therefore offer unto thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and always praise thy holy Name beseeching thee to pour upon my heart the sweet streams of thy mercy conform my life confirm my faith and guide me by thy grace that thy servant may with strong assurance of thine infallible truth and promised mercy vanquish and subdue whatsoever rebelleth against thy blessed will keep holy my soul and body and let them not be defiled through delectation of sin but that my full delight and joy may be in thee and walk before thee in sincerity of heart and godly conversation that I may here on earth glorifie thy name and after this life with all thy faithful flock possess that everlasting inheritance which thy Son Christ Jesus hath purchased to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen John 5. 14. Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee 1 John 1. 17. If we walk in the light
beseech thee to have compassion on this thy servant who by thy visitation hath been sorely afflicted and by the same even brought to the termination of his days and end of his life be pleased good Lord to have mercy upon him acept of him as the work of thine own hand a Lamb of thy fold thy servant redeemed by Jesus Christ who is willing by thy appointment to leave this miserable World in full assurance of thy mercy in Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins guide him good Lord in this his last journey that he being quit of all the troubles of this transitory World may safely by thy power be conducted to the Haven of eternal happiness into the arms of thy unspeakable mercy to everlasting peace to perpetual joy and there to reign with all the company of Saints and Angels in eternal Bliss for evermore Good Lord we beseech thee by the abundance of thy goodness by the multitude of thy Mercies by the merits of thy Death and Passion by the glorious Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ have mercy upon him deliver him from the burthen of his sins the fear of Death and the power of Hell and give him a quiet and joyful departure and receive him in thy favour to the fulness of Joy in thine everlasting Kingdom to reign with thee world without end Amen Thanksgiving after Recovery O Lord my God and heavenly Father seeing it hath pleased thee of thy infinite mercies to with-hold my life from the pit of corruption and in good measure restored me again to my former health crowning me with mercy and loving kindness my soul and all that is within me shall praise thy holy Name I will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart and sing praise unto thy Name O thou most High for the health of my body I bless thee for it with my soul And good Lord give me also the health of my soul then shall I magnifie and praise thee for thy goodness with soul and body This gentle correction hath brought me nigher unto thee and upon thy forbearance I have promised amendment of life and that I may so do assist me with thy grace give me constancy and perseverance in good works and keep me from relapsing into those sins which induced thy former judgments and though the custom of sin take away the sense of sin and my infirmities being many yet good Lord forsake not my soul in any temptation neither suffer me to fall into such notorious sins again which I have truly repented me of but so guide me by thy grace in the small remainder of my days that I have to live in this World that my life may be ordered by thy governance and always do that which is righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Psal 116. I Am well pleased that the Lord hath heard the voice of my Prayer 2. That he hath inclined his ear unto me Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live 3. The snares of Death compassed me round about And the pains of Hell gat hold upon me 4. I shall find trouble and heaviness and I shall call upon the Name of the Lord O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul 5. Gracious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is merciful 6. The Lord preserve the simple I was in misery and he helped me 7. Turn again then unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath rewarded thee 8. And why thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling 9. I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the living 10. I believed and therefore will I speak but I was sore troubled I said in my hast All men are lyers 11. What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me 12. I will receive the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. 13. I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints 14. Behold O Lord how that I am thy servant I am thy servant and the Son of thy handmaid thou hast broken my bonds in sunder 15. I will offer unto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord. 16. I will pay my vows unto the Lord in the sight of all his people in the Courts of the Lords house even in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Praise the Lord. A Morning Prayer for a private Family O God the Father Creator and Maker of all things in Heaven and Earth O Christ the Redeemer of all Mankind and thou O blessed Spirit the Sanctisier of all the Elect have mercy upon us spare us most miserable sinners whom thou hast redeemed and be not angry with us for ever but hearken unto our Prayers receive our petitions and grant our requests for Jesus Christ his sake our only Lord and blessed Saviour We thy poor and unworthy servants in all humility of Soul and Body unfeigned acknowledgment of our bounden duty prostrate our selves before the Throne of thy mercy seat praising and magnifying thy Fatherly goodness for the abundance of thy blessings for the multitude of thy mercies continually heaped upon us beseeching thee for Christ his sake to be merciful to all our sins committed against thy divine Majesty upon the consideration of which we confess we are not worthy to appear in thy sight much less to ask a blessing at thy hands for by reason of our corrupt Nature in us derived from our first parents our inclination hath been prone to commit all manner of sin and wickedness against thy goodness thy Laws and Precepts we have broken both in thought word and deed out of our hearts proceed evil and wicked imaginations which defile the soul and the whole man is altogether abominable the eyes that now look up to thee for mercy have beheld vanity our tongues that now call upon thee have blasphemed thee our hands now lifted up to heaven have been lifted up against thee our feet have been willing to run to commit any mischief by the temptation of Satan our wills being continually averse to thy commandments the Law of sin is in our members repugnant to the Law of our mind making us altogether unworthy of the least of thy mercies and miserable that we are the numberless number of our sins have been multiplyed as the number of our sinful days have increased these things O Lord we have done to our shame and if thy mercy prevent not judgment to our utter destruction of soul and body we must acknowledge thou who art our Creator who hast made us by the precious death of Jesus Christ redeemed us and by thy holy Spirit sanctified us and many are the blessings and benefits which we enjoy both in soul and body therefore by the contrition of ouâ— hearts by the testimony of
of vanity what is my heart but a filthy prison of corrupt thoughts What is my mouth but a stinking chanel of vain words what are my feet but chariots to bloodshed what are my hands but battlers with charity what is my head but a castle of wicked devices and what is my life but a fardel of iniquity I am nothing better than a dead tree the root is perished the bough wither'd being good for nothing but for the fury of the flame what then good Lord shall it be so what shall I burn sweet Jesus O save me for thy Names sake and quicken â—me create a new heart within me that I may bring forth much fruit and for ever flourish like a Tree planted by a river side O pour the Oyl of Grace into my defiled heart and season it with the salt of thy mercy lest the fume of mine iniquities ascend up to thy nostrils and provoke thy fury against me Pour down some drops of thy precious blood from the clouds of thy Mercy to quench out the angry flame of sin which of my self I am not able to put out by the virtuous water of any merit O Lamb of God let me eat thy flesh and drink thy blood that I may live by thee and cloath me in the wooll of thy mercy that no winter or storm of sin do pinch my silly soul Thou O God art full of compassion and long-suffering which continuest thy mercy for thousands taking away iniquities sins and offences Thou callest us after thy wonted mercy by thy Word to repentance and hearty conversion for unto all and every one is repentance and forgiveness of sins preached in thy Name therefore unto thee O most merciful Father do I cry desiring thee to look back upon me thy unworthy servant with the eyes of pity even as thou looked'st back upon the sinful woman in the banquet likewise favour thou me O Lord as thou didst the Publican who standing afar off smote his breast and said Lord be merciful unto me a sinner And grant O Lord that among the fears and terrours of conscience I may take hold of thee by a lively Faith and never in the sight of conscience do yield my self and despair but upholden by the voice of the Gospel I may flee unto thee my Redeemer and have by faith peace with God And thou my Saviour which hast suffered for me in the flesh give me grace that likewise in the same mind I may be arm'd for the mortifying of my flesh that henceforth I may live not after the lusts of men but after the will of God and keep the Devil under O LORD that he compel not my troubled conscience to despair either by heaping or ripping up mine offences or extenuating thy mercy and grant that I may come unto thee by hearing thy word unto Repentance that thereby the Angels in Heaven may continually have occasion to rejoyce before thee which livest and reignest ever one God world without end Amen A Prayer for the Aid of GOD's Holy Spirit O Dear Father forasmuch as every man living is of himself before thee but as a beast neither knowing thee nor the things concerning their duties unto thee I as one of the most perverse filthy and corrupt do here humble my self before thee begging at thy hands that thou hast promised to give unto as many as ask it of thee thy holy Spirit that heavenly Comforter which revealeth thee and thy will to the simple and ignorant which also stireth up the minds and inward affections of thy children to call upon thee by preparing their hearts and opening their mouths to celebrate thy Name bestow it good Father bestow it upon me thy unworthy servant and upon all thy children and grant that although all of us are of corrupt affections and polluted lips yet we may be sprinkled with that Heavenly Hyssop that we may have our hearts cleansed of the corrupt affections of this World and the eyes of our understanding opened that we may see the good things we should ask and our feet that are fettered with the cares of vain things may be set at liberty that we may walk the right way unto the Kingdom of Heaven and that the hands of our souls may apprehend take hold of the Righteousness of thy Son Jesus Christ that by the aid of the same Spirit we may cast off all impediments letts and incumbrances that detain us from coming unto thee Sanctifie me within without wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow let thy truth and thy spirit meet together in my soul that my prayers may enter into thy presence and that thine ears may incline unto my humble petition so shall I declare thy loving kindness in the morning and thy truth in the night season Thou knowest whereof we be made thou forgettest not that we are but dust and unprofitable children not fit apt nor able of our selves to pray unto thee and praise thy Name therefore good Lord allure me unto thee to seek thee and grant that with my whole heart and mind I may always rejoyce and be comforted by thee for ever and ever Amen A Prayer to acknowledg God in his Works O Most mighty and eternal God thou by the creation of the world and all that therein is hast sufficiently declared thy self to be the everlasting and Almighty God for that these things do far pass the reach of mans wisdom and not herein only hast thou declared thy self to be God but in that also that thou dost continually guide and govern the same and all things of thee created Seeing therefore O most merciful Father that we have both in our selves and also in thy creatures so manifest Testimonies that thou only O Lord art that eternal and loving God which dost reign in all thy creatures guiding and governing them by thy Heavenly Providence Grant I do beseech thee that my heart may be hereof fully assured to acknowledge thee not only to be God eternal who hast created all things but also that I may in heart be fully perswaded that thou O Lord dost govern all things according to thy most blessed will so that nothing can be done in the whole world without thine appointment and that thou hast such a singular care over thine Elect so that not so much as an hair of their heads shall fall without thy Providence Grant therefore O Lord I beseech thee that I may hereof be fully assured in my Heart and Soul and that I may in all my doings set thee before mine eyes acknowledging thee to be my only Lord and Father and by the working of thy holy Spirit in me I may be confirmed in Faith comforted in Soul and lightned in Understanding that always here on Earth I may glorifie thy holy Name and after the dissolution of this my mortal body I may attain thy everlasting joy with thy Elect in thy glorious Kingdom for ever and ever Amen A very fruitful Prayer to
GOD. WE are all Publicans O LORD open the ears of thy favour unto our cry and have mercy upon us have mercy upon us we sin dayly but yet save us of pity save us O shew thy compassion upon me and let me not dye a Judas death let me never tune the doleful song of Cain but ingrave in my heart a full and lively faith in thee that never doubting of thy bounteous mercy I may with a free conscience set Satan at defiance and all his hellish band O merciful Lord hear this my cry and defend me with thy Grace against the power of Satan who roareth of cruelty and lurketh in every corner of malicious subtilty to tear me with the claws of his fury and merciless envy Defend me with faith against him O Lord lay the plaister of comfort to my wounded conscience and cover me with the wings of thy favour that I may live and die in thee and so be blessed for ever to whom O Father with thy dear Son and the Holy Ghost be all power for ever A Prayer to Jesus Christ O My Lord God and sweet Saviour Jesus Christ grant unto me most frail sinner and miserable wretch thy grace and mercy and that I may ever have present before the eyes of my soul thy most holy life and behaviour and that for my possibility and power I may in living and manners follow the same And grant me good Lord to profit grow and increase therein to such perfections as may be acceptable unto thee for the salvation of my soul lighten Lord and make clear and bright my heart with the glorious light of thy Grace that it may ever go before me follow me in all my acts so that by thy conduct and guiding I may accomplish fulfil all that may please thy goodness and utterly eschew and avoid the contrary and vouchsafe sweet Saviour so to order and direct all my cogitations and thoughts all my speech and words all my acts and deeds in thy Law and Commandments and in thy Monitions and Counsel and so take me good Lord unto thee that here in all things doing thy will I may by grace become one of thy saved souls to live with thee my Redeemer for ever Amen Prayers for Tuesday Night O Lord my God and Father blessed be thy Name for ever Dispose my heart and open my lips c. A Psalm MY GOD my GOD look upon me Why hast thou forsaken me and art so far from my health and from the words of my complaint O My GOD I cry unto thee in the day time but thou hearest not and in the night-season also I take no rest And yet thou continuest holy O Thou Worship of Israel Wherefore unto thee O LORD will I lift up my soul my GOD I have put my trust in thee O let me not be confounded neither let mine enemies triumph over me O remember not the sins and offences of my Youth but according to thy mercy think thou on me Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse me from my secret faults Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get the dominion over me so shall I be undesiled and innocent from the great offence Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer For thy Name sake O Lord be merciful unto my sin for it is great Look upon mine adversity and misery and forgive me all my sins Hearken unto my voice O Lord when I cry unto thee have mercy upon me and hear me O hide not thy face from me nor cast thy servant away in displeasure Thou hast been my succour leave me not neither forsake me O God of my Salvation I should utterly have fainted but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing O my God and I will give thanks unto thee for ever Glory c. A Prayer for the remission of sins O Most loving bountiful Father forasmuch as it is most meet right just and requisite that all flesh should praise magnifie and worship thee should without ceasing give thanks unto thee who only art the Creator and Maker of all things who of thine own mercy and goodness didst send down thine only begotten Son to take our nature upon him and to suffer death for our sins thereby to make a recompence for the offences which Man had committed against thee And all this thou didst of thine exceeding bounty and kindness without any desert of Mankind not being so much as by any one Prayer or yet treaty thereunto incited I being therefore O dear Father imboldened with such an inestimable benefit so freely given and bestowed do without any fear at this time appear before thy Divine Majesty prostrating my self before the seat of thy Mercy and with all humbleness of heart and mind do make this my Prayer unto thee despise me not O Lord being defiled with sin and iniquity be â—merciful unto me a sinner lighten the evil-sighted eyes of my mind open the stopped stopped ears of my heart that I may both see and hear understand that which thou teachest do always that thou commandest and that I be not only a hearer of thy Word but a practiser of the same in my life and conversation Save and defend me from all shame and reproach be thou my shield and buckler against all temptations cleanse my mind and thoughts from all uncleanness keep and preserve me from all danger both in body and soul and guide me with thy grace so to spend this my small short and transitory time in this world that I may be a member of Christ and partaker of thy eternal felicity to the which seeing that by mine own weakness I shall never be able to aspire I do here O Lord take hold of that promise of thine where thou hast said Come unto me all ye that labour and I will refresh you this is my hold-fast this is my anchor and sure stay for verily sweet Saviour when I look upon mine own frailness and behold how ready I am to offend then I quake for fear but as soon as I call to mind thy great love and Kindness and thou wilt not the death of a sinner and that in what day soever he doth heartily repent and call unto thee then thou wilt hear him then I am relieved then I am not a little comforted knowing surely that Thou wilt perform that which thou hast promised in faithful assurance whereof I now say unto thee Turn thou me O my GOD and I shall be turned be favourable unto me O Lord be favourable unto me thy servant and heal my soul which is wounded with sin for I do acknowledge mine iniquity and am heartily sorry for mine offences through which I have either in word or deed thought or any other
for Jesus Christ's sake to deal with me and them according to thy mercy and loving kindness and not after our deserts be thou merciful unto me and evermore mightily defend me unto my lives end conducting me uprightly in all my ways for the glory of thy holy Name to whom with thy Son and the Holy Ghost be all honour power and glory for ever and ever Amen A Prayer for the opening of the eyes of our understanding O Sweet Jesus lighten me with the brightness of eternal light and drive all darkness as it were from the mansion house of my soul suppress the wandring thoughts and break in pieces these violent temptations fight thou my God for my defence and vanquish those evil beasts to wit the intieing desires of the flesh that by thy power I may get peace and sing out thy praises in the holy Court of my soul send thy light and truth which may lighten the earth for I am rude earth good for nought until thou enlighten me pour out thy favour from above and replenish my soul with thy heavenly grace O Lord lift up my mind which is pressed down through the weight of sin and stir up the same wholly to the desire of heavenly and celestial things that having tasted the sweetness of supernatural happiness it may greatly grieve me even to think of this world take me O Lord or rather pluck me from all momentany pleasures of earthly and vain things and joyn me unto thee by an indissoluble band of good will for thou alone dost suffice thy friend and without thee all things are vain and of no price in my heart to whom O my Lord God be all glory for ever Amen A Godly Meditation or Prayer O Lord my God I altogether unhappy and comfortless have grievously offended thee how often have I trespassed against thee and how often have I deserved thy displeasure and yet how seldom hast thou punished me how often hast thou been good and merciful unto me how often have I promised and vowed amendment and how little and seldom have I performed it I dare not lift up mine eyes towards heaven because I have sinned against it and in earth I cannot look for refuge because I have been a slanderer and a shame unto it what then shall I despair no for God is merciful and a good Saviour he doth visit them that live in darkness and is a chearful light to them that sit in the shadow of death he willeth us to forgive our brother though he offend seven times yea and infinitely and is more merciful than any man can be return thee therefore unto thy Lord God pray unto him humbly for grace and continue thee to bewail thy sins past because he that loveth thee provoketh thee daily with his gifts to love him and will not leave till he have made perfect his work begun and brought his mercy to full effect in thee what natural cause beginneth his work and leaveth it in the half way imperfect and as by natural order and right course things do proced and increase by little and little from the less to the more even so doth God first dispose us to his mercy and then increasing his goodness daily bestoweth on us in the end the treasure of his grace the inheritance of everlasting joys yea very love worketh in natural causes to bring forth their effects to perfection which if it be so in creatures what will the Creator do which is love it self and infinite goodness he will withdraw thee from thy sins and make thee clean and pure and finally bless thee with eternal life O Lord I come unto thee humbly waiting for thy mercy thou art my hope and help according to thy great goodness and mercy in Jesus Christ have mercy on me now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for perseverance in Prayer O Lord my God according to thy Commandment in mine afflictions and necessities I seek to thee for succour by continual Prayer and calling upon thy Name therefore most dear Father strengthen me by thy holy spirit that I may still persevere in Prayer and with longing desires patiently wait for thee O Lord being assured that although it appear not as yet thou art always present with me and heardest my complaint and wilt when thou seest thy time declare thy self manifestly in renewing my heart with spiritual joy stir up O Lord I beseech thee my sluggish nature to call upon thee continually appointing thee neither the time nor the means of my deliverance but leaving all to thy good will and pleasure I may in the mean time never cease by continual Prayer to call for thy merciful deliverance and when thou shalt mercifully take upon thee to deliver me I may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge thy goodness towards me and that it never slip out of my heart but that I may continue thankful for the same all the days of my life whereby thy glory in me may be declared and my soul relieved though Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen An Evening Prayer O My Lord God and merciful Father I humbly beseech thee in Jesus Christ that thou wilt vouchsafe to hide and bury all my sins and transgressions whatsoever from my infancy unto this present time I have committed and done against thy divine Majesty O Lord be thou my light in darkness then shall my light be as clear as the day O heavenly Father bless me O blessed Son keep me O Holy Ghost three Persons and one God deliver me this night from all sin and evill that may be hurtful to my soul and body that so with confidence to thee I may lay me down to rest and none make me afraid because thou art my Protector O holy Spirit at my last gasp be thou my light yea when my strength faileth my sight departeth mine ears wax deaf and my mouth dumb and when all my senses for sake me then give me some sense of eternal life that I may taste in this mortal body the beginning of thine everlasting comfort and at my departure out of this world I may behold by faith thy divine presence and so sleep quietly to eternal life through Jesus Christ thine only Son my Saviour to whom be all honour and glory for ever Amen Short Directions before the Receiving of Christ's Holy Sacrament His Blessed Body and Blood SAcraments should of all men be admired and honoured not so much respecting the service which we do unto God in receiving them as the dignity of the sacred and secret gift we thereby receive from God They are the visible signs of invisible graces which indeed is the very end these heavenly Mysteries were instituted for They are the powerful instruments of God to eternal life for as our natural life consisteth of the union of the body and soul so our life supernatural in the union of the soul with God His flesh is meat his blood is drink not by surmised imagination but truly