iust and charitable in workes true in words to loue thee with all our hearts as a Father to feare thee as a God to preferre nothing before Christ who preferred vs before all things and the like Thy Will and all thy Will without exception Thy Will and not our Will a Act. 21.14 The Lords Will be done b Iam. 4.15 If the Lord will Thy Will be done in all things as well in things pleasing as displeasing to vs but especially let it be done in vs. That our blinde and peruerse will may be led by thy most holy Will If our wills be refractory to thine roote out dissipate ours and establish thine Turne our Nill into thy Will Jn earth as it is in heauen In earth as in Heauen Hallowed bee thy Name In earth as in Heauen Thy Kingdome come In earth as in Heauen Thy Will bee done Let Heauen bee the paterne and Rule to Earth in all things Let vs begin to be on Earth as we would be in Heauen hereafter In earth In Earth in all the Earth But especially in this part of the earth where we liue Wee are of this Earth let thy Will be done in vs. As in heauen As in Heauen not as much or as well But let vs imitate though we cannot equall We beg thy grace to doe thy Will as thy Angels and Saints do it But because many things hinder vs wee say with Saint Aug. Aug. Giue vs power and ability to doe thy commands and then command vs what thou pleasest And if our condition in this life will not admit so much yet Lord accept our desires which crie to thee Thy Will be done And if our desires be also vnperfect yet heare our cry in the Prophets words Our soules haue longed to desire thy Lawes and Commandements alwaies Psal 119. Giue vs this day our daily Bread Here we may consider the excellent Order of this Prayer for what ought a Sonne before all things with more feruency desire then the Honour of his Father the prosperitie of his Kingdome and obedience to his Will And in the next place what is more proper to children then to aske Bread of their Father There is in vs a double nature or substance which requires two sorts of Bread 1. The Soule hath her viands to be prouided a Esa 55.2 The Bread of Angels b Ier. 15.16 Psal 65.4 Heb. 5.13.14 The Bread of heauen the Word c Ioh. 6.33.35.48 The Bread of Life Christ Iesus in the flesh Lord giue vs of this Bread euermore Ioh. 6.3.4 2. The Body also cryeth for her sustenance her Bread that is all the necessaries of this life Psal 132.15 for except it bee satisfied likewise it draweth our mindes from thee Thou hast promised O Father to adde all other things to vs Mat. 6.33 if we first seeke thy Kingdome Behold we haue sought it giue vs therefore Bread either fine middlesort or course which of them shall seeme good to thee And which may feed and not choake vs either with the care of them or neglect of thee With Bread giue vs O Lord a Leuit. 26.26 1. King 19.8 The staffe of Bread b Psal 6.2.91.16 Health of Body Wholesome Ayre c Pro. 15. Content in minde Conuenient dwelling Peace in our daies and the like Our Bread Ours gotten either by a Mat. 7.7 Prayer or b Gen. 3.19 Labour Ours 2. Thes 3.8 as first Thine Thine by Gift Ours by Vse Not due to vs but of thy mercy and bounty giuen to vs. Ours 1. Thes 5.14 So as if we haue more then we need we are to communicate it to those which want Ours that being contented with our owne we couet not other mens Daily Bread That we dayly wanting might dayly pray for it and that we daily receiuing might daily praise thee for it To put vs also in minde of the the vncertainty and shortnesse of this life that begging Bread but for a day it may bee perhaps enough for the time we haue to liue Bread For our necessity not for superfluity Which may profit the Soule and not hurt the Body Which may nourish the Soule and not destroy the Body If the Lord will bee with mee Gen. 28.20 and will keepe me in the way that I shall goe and will giue me bread to eate and rayment to put on so that I returne in peace then the Lord shall be my God Two things haue I required of thee Pro. 30.7,8,9 deny mee not them before I dye Remooue farre from me vanity and lyes giue me neither pouerty nor riches feed mee with food connenient for me lest I bee full and deny thee and say Who is the Lord or lest I bee poore and steale and take the Name of my God in vaine Giue Giue it thou Blesse the labours of our hands Breake it thou and giue it Let not vs take it for if thou giue it thou wilt giue it in time place and measure Whereas if we take it our selues wee obserue none of these rules but take it to the destruction of our owne soules and bodies To vs. Not only to mee and my family but to all thy seruants that need it This day That is this day of our life This time For we being vncertaine of our Dayes Heb. 3â—… why should wee begge bread for vncertaine times For we are not assured of an age a yeare or a day Our life is but a day and a day is the resemblance of our life Yet for all this Prouidence is not hereby forbidden or that none should lay vp with a Gen. 41. Ioseph or with the b Pro. 6.6 Ant. Giue vs O Lord Bread conuenient and meet to serue vs to day and to morrow also And forgiue vs our trespasses Esa 27.9 This is all the fruite to take away sinne Esa 59.2 Our iniquities haue separated betweene vs and our God and our sinnes haue hid his face from vs that he will not heare vs. Ier. 5.25 Our iniquities haue with-holden good things from vs. Lam. 3.44 Thou hast set our sinnes as a Cloud that our prayers might not passe through Ioh. 9.31 We know that God heareth not sinners As long as our sinnes stand vp against vs and are not forgiuen we are out of hope of receiuing any good at Gods hands Forgiue Therefore O Lord not only giue but forgiue also The Guilt The Punishment And in this thy mercy is manifested that thou giuest to those who after they haue receiued must craue forgiuenesse Giue vnto vs who are thine enemies and when thou hast giuen forgiue vs also Thou hast not dealt so with Angells Their sinnes are not Iude 6. will not be forgiuen ours may in thy good pleasure We are vnworthy Let vs not be vnthankefull Our trespasses or debts We become debtors or trespassers as often as
desire that thy Name may be Hallowed glorified and magnified from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe thereof euen through all parts of the world and that it may the better spread from one Nation to another giue vs grace who haue receiued the adoption of Children so to walke before thee Eph. 1.4 in holinesse and righteousnesse that the Heathen Mat. 5.16 who haue not knowne thy Name seeing our good workes may glorifie thy Name together with vs. Thou seest O Lord Thy Kingdome come that we haue many Tyrants amongst vs in this life as the Deuill malicious and cruell the World vaine and curious the flesh fraile and deceiptfull and our owne Will vile and corrupt all which doe impetuously tyrannize ouer vs and oppose themselues against thy Kingdome Arise therefore O Lord and suppresse these Tyrants and rule ouer thine and our enemies by thy power and in vs by thy Grace that we may hereafter be subiects in thy Kingdome of Glory Let thy Kingdome come and gouerne vs by thy Prouidence defend vs by thy Might lead vs by thy Spirit and teach vs by thy Word Driue farre from vs the Prince of this World and doe thou only Rule in vs. Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs grace to follow the example of thy Blessed Angels and all other thy Creatures who readily and ioyfully doe thy Will Let our wills follow thine in all things and let nothing be displeasing to vs which thy Will hath decreed either for our prosperitie or aduersitie Let vs doe nothing contrary to thy Will but let the performance and execution of thy Will be the whole scope and aime of our thoughts words and actions And to this end giue vnto vs thy holy Spirit which may direct our Wills enlighten our vnderstandings mollifie our hearts and make them obedient to thy Will Giue vs this day our daily Bread We further crie vnto thee O Lord who giuest foode to euery liuing Creature and feedest the young Rauens that call vpon thee and pray thee Psal 145.15.147.9 that thou wouldest likewise giue vnto vs this day our dayly bread First and aboue all the Bread of Life which may nourish vs spiritually and after that Bread for our bodies to sustaine nature Giue vs we beseech thee all things necessary not superfluous for this life and graunt that we vsing thy blessings as becommeth vs may be strengthned and enabled to passe this life quietlie and soberly and at the end of these our dayes by the merits and intercession of our Sauiour Iesus Christ obtaine life eternall And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And for as much O Lord as wee know that thou hearest not vnrepentant sinners and that our sinnes haue long since preuented our prayers and ascended into thy presence to stop the current of thy mercies and to call for vengeance against vs O Lord behold that we earnestly repent vs of them and are heartily sorrowfull for them Wherefore we humbly pray thee for thy great mercies to mankinde in thy Son Christ Iesus that thou wouldest be pleased to be reconciled vnto vs and to forgiue vs our trespasses Enter not into Iudgement with vs Psal 130. for if thou doe no man is able to abide the mildnesse of thy Iustice much lesse the seueritie of it Giue vs also grace to follow the Example of our blessed Sauiour who forgaue his enemies and prayed for them that wee may forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Lest when thou comest to Iudgement thou dealest as seuerely with vs as thou didst with him Mat. 18. who had much forgiuen and would not forgiue a little And lead vs not into temptation Thou knowest O Father how vnapt wee are of our selues to thinke a good thought much lesse to resist so great enemies as are hourely ready to assaile vs suffer vs not therefore to bee tempted aboue our abilities Neither by forsaking vs or withdrawing thy hand of protection from vs Lead thou vs into tentation but Lord so strengthen vs that although it be not good for vs to be altogther free from tentation yet by thy aide and Grace wee may haue a happy issue and ioyfull deliuerance from it But deliuer vs from euill And as wee haue humblie prayed thee not to leade vs in So we further desire thee to deliuer vs out of all euill For as long as we remaine in this flesh we shall haue continuall striuings wrestlings with diuerse euils but especially with the Euill spirit the enemie to Mankinde who omitteth no opportunitie to bring vs into his bondage But wee are comforted O Lord with the assurance of thy mercy which can effect worke more to our Saluation then his Malice to our Destruction Graunt therefore O Lord that wee may be deliuered from all euill and from all our enemies spirituall and temporall that so wee may serue thee euer hereafter in holinesse and righteousnesse Luc. 1.15 all the dayes of our life Amen Hauing thus discouered and laid open our necessities to thee O Lord in that forme and manner which thy Sonne directed vs wee humbly pray thee to say Amen to all our petitions In his Name and for his merits sake we pray thee to grant them For though wee haue no deserts to challenge them yet his Merits are numberlesse by which wee plead for them And with this Sacrifice and Oblation wee are bold to come vnto thee not only crauing pardon for our sinnes but supply of our necessities Wee come not to thee of our selues presuming of any thing in vs but wee are sent by thy Sonne Iesus Christ who hath commanded vs with confidence to presse vnto thy Throne and in his Name to aske whatsoeuer we shall need either for this life or the life to come And as hee hath sent vs so hath hee also put into our mouthes words meete for our requests O Lord take notice of the Stile it is his owne and for his sake say to what we haue required Amen So be it And thou O Blessed Sauiour God and Man intercead we beseech thee for vs for thou only art our Aduocate Mediator and Intercessor to the Father Couer our imperfections and nakednesse with the Robes of thy Righteousnesse and supply our pouerty with the Riches of thy Merits and cast not those from thy fauour and grace whome by Nature thou of thy goodnesse hast vouchsafed to make thy Brethren Who liuest and raignest with the Father and Holy Spirit now and for euer Amen Petitions for Spirituall Graces Psal 119.5 OH that my waies were directed to keepe thy Statutes O Lord. Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou teachest out of thy Law Psal 119.18 Open mine eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law Psal 143.10 Teach me to doe thy Will for thou art my God let thy good spirit lead me into the
assisting grace that they may perseuere in goodnesse To all my friends kindred and enemies and to those which pray for me giue all thy good blessings Keepe vs all from all euill and make vs to continue in thy Seruice to our liues end and after the course of this miserable life ended bring vs to thine euerlasting Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. Or thus ALmighty and Euerlasting GOD I praise and blesse thee from the bottome of my heart that of thy infinite goodnesse thou hast preserued me this night past and hast with the impregnable defence of thy Prouidence defended mee from the power and malice of the Deuill and kept me both in soule and body from all his deuices and snares and raised me from sleepe the Image of death and not left me to be stifled in the darknesse of my sinnes but hast giuen me a longer space to repent me of them I humbly intreat thee that thou wouldest not withdraw thy hand of Protection from me but take mee into thy Tuition Watch ouer me with the eyes of thy mercy and direct me in the way of thy Commandements Endue me with those graces of thy Holy Spirit which may assist me to passe this day and the rest of my life to the praise and glory of thy holy Name the benefit of my Neighbour and the saluation of my sinfull soule Keepe me O Lord from all sinne bridle and mortifie my flesh that I offend not nor fall into any transgressions which may prouoke thy wrath against mee Direct my soule and body my words and actions according to the rule of thy Will Diuert my heart from fastning too much on transitory pleasures and conuert it to the delight of eternall ioyes And because I am not worthy O Lord that thou shouldest heare me poore wretched sinner behold I set before thee the merits of thy only Sonne who is the propitiation of our sinnes looke vpon him and for his Righteousnesse pardon the offences of thy Seruant and grant to me Those things by thy mercy which by the strict Rule of thy Iustice are not due to me Defend me O Lord from all mine enemies Arme me with thy Spirituall weapons put on me the Clothing of wisedome and strength Ephes 6. the Brestplate of Righteousnesse the Helmet of Saluation the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit that in this earthly Pilgrimage I may manfully oppose the enemies of my Soule the Concupiscence of the Flesh Tentations of the World and Malice of the Deuill that so hauing finished valiantly the course of this Terrestriall warfare I may hereafter praise thee in thy Celestiall Kingdome And thou O Lord who giuest food to euery liuing Creature Psal 147.9 and feedest the young Rauens which call vpon thee be mercifull vnto me in the supply of those necessaries which I dayly want Preserue mee in health 1. Tim. 6.8 giue mee foode and rayment and sufficient to maintaine me in that course of life to which it hath pleased thee to call mee that hauing sufficient in all things I may abound in good workes And grant that I may leade a quiet life in all Godly conuersation that hauing and vsing thy blessings worthily I may passe this life with ioy and comfort till it please thee to call me to a better Giue thy blessings to the Kings Maiestie the Queene and the whole estate of this Kingdome and grant that we all may bend our thoughts and studies to please thee that at the last by the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ we may bee receiued to thy Heauenly Kingdome Amen Or thus O Almighty Lord God which day after day dost minister to sinfull man infinite occasions whereby hee may be stirred vp to praise thy holy Name and art most plentifull in pittie and fauourable to those which with pure hearts and vnfained faith call vpon thee behold me thy poore vnworthy seruant with the eyes of compassion that at this time aâ—… bold to offer vp vnto thee a morning Sacrifice of praise and thankes for all thy blessings and amongst the rest for that thou hast vouchsafed after a sufficient and quiet sleepe to raise me safe from my bed againe which fauour thou hast not affoorded to many others who in farre greater measure haue deserued it then my selfe for which mercy of thine I am not able through my insufficiencie and weakenesse to giue vnto thee due praise and thankesgiuing I pray thee therefore in thy deare Sounes Name In whom thou art well pleased to accept these poore and weake thankes and for his sake also to be further aiding and assisting vnto me this day following in whatsoeuer I shall take in hand For thou knowest O Lord how feeble mans nature is insomuch that if he trust to his owne strength of necessitie he must fall into many miseries errors and dangers Haue mercy therefore vpon mine infirmities and be propitious and helping to me that by thine Illumination I may discerne and perceiue good from euill and by thy leading and direction may follow the one and auoid the other Lord so guide me with thy Holy Spirit that I may neither doe speake nor thinke any thing this day contrary to thy holy Will Behold O Lord I offer my selfe a Liuing Sacrifice to thee and humbly pray thee to aceept it Good God direct my soule in the way of thy Commandements increase my faith strengthen my Hope enlarge my Charitie and infuse all the good graces of thy Holy Spirit into me Giue me grace so to remember my sinnes as that thou mayest forget them and so to forsake them as that thou mayest forgiue them Instruct me in all goodnesse and giue me the grace of Perseuerance that I flye not backe from any good courses in this life but that I may goe forward and continue in them to the end of my dayes O Lord who hast promised the necessaries of this life to those which shall first seeke thy Kingdome I humbly intreat thee to giue vnto me this day all things necessary for my sustentation as foode rayment health of body ioy of heart peace of conscience and a blessing to all my endeauours giue me a minde contented with that which shal be sufficient and not desirous of that which is superfluous that I may passe the rest of my dayes on earth religiously honestly and soberly as becommeth thy seruant to thy honour and my endlesse comfort Bee gratious to the Kings most excellent Maiestie his Royall Queene the whole Estate Cleargie Nobility Gentry Magistrates and Commons giue vs all grace in our seuerall places to doe our Duties as in thy sight that at the last by the merits of Iesus Christ our Sauiour we may receiue the reward thereof in thy Eternall Kingdome where thou raignest together with the same our Lord Iesus Christ and the Holy Spirit World without end Morning Prayer for a Family O Almighty Lord God heauenly Father we giue thee most humble and heartie thankes in that thou
disquietnesse of my heart And what shall I now say or wherein shall I open my mouth what what shall I answere seeing I haue done these things Iob. Iob. Miserable man that I am who shall deliuer me out of this body of death When I haue not what I can further say or doe this only remayneth this is my last refuge that I direct mine eyes to thee Psal 130. Out of the deepe haue I called to thee O Lord Lord heare my voyce If thou Lord shouldest be extreame to marke what is done amisse O Lord who may abide it Enter not into iudgement with thy Seruant O Lord for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified Wherefore O Lord I appeale from Thee to Thee From Thee a Iust Iudge To Thee a mercifull Father From the Throne of thy Iustice To the Seate of thy Mercy O Lord he pleased to admit of this appeale If thou doe not I perish Mat. 8.25 And O Lord carest thou not if I perish 1. Tim. 2.4 2. Pet. 3.9 Who wouldest haue all to be saued none to perish Psal 119.94 I am thine O saue me 138.8 Despise not the worke of thy hands Wisd 11.24 Who hatest nothing which thou hast made Psal 116.15 I am thy Seruant and sonne of thy handmaid Dan. 9.19 Thy Name is called on by vs. Heb. 11.16 Thou art not ashamed to be called our Lord. I am the price of thy Sons bloud O spare thy workemanship thy Childe thy Name the price of thy Sonnes bloud But I am a sinner and Ioh. 9.30 God heareth not sinners Yet I pray thee remember of what I am made that I am but Psal 78.40 flesh and a winde that passeth away and commeth not againe Take notice of the matter of which I am made Remember Psal 103.14 that I am but dust Frayle Flesh Light Wind. Loose Dust And wilt thou O Lord Iob 13.25 breake a leafe driuen with the winde to and fro and wilt thou pursue dry stubble Behold O Lord though I haue sinned yet 1. Pet. 5.6 I humble my selfe vnder thy mighty hand Spare the humble and contrite 2. Sam. 19.19 Dauid spared Shemei that railed on him And Dauid was a man according to thine owne heart Therefore doe thou spare mee Ahah King of Israel forgaue the King of Syria his offence 1. King 20.31 vpon his humiliation Was there euer King of Israel more mercifull then thou Thou forgauest the same Ahab 1. King 21.29 who had sold himselfe to sinne when he humbled himselfe Spare me also I beseech thee Psal 80.4 O Lord how long wilt thou bee angry with thy Seruant which praieth Surely Lord Iob 31.3 I hide not my sins like Adam but confesse them Behold 1. Cor. 11.31 2. Cor. 7.11 I Iudge my selfe Accept O Lord the Sacrifice Of a troubled Spirit A contrite heart A grieued soule A wounded Conscience Though I haue sinned against thee It hath euer been thy Practice to be mercifull Psal 22.4 Our father 's trusted in thee they trusted and were not confounded Thy mercies Psal 25.6 haue beene euer of old Psal 89.49 Lord where are thy former louing kindnesses Syr. 2.10 Looke at the Generations of old and see did euer any trust in the Lord and was confounded or whom did he euer despise that called vpon him It is due by thy promise Psal 119.49 Remember thy Word vnto thy Seruant vpon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119. 41. Let thy mercy come vnto mee O Lord euen thy Saluation according to thy Word Tit. 1.2 God hath promised which cannot lye Heb. 6.17 Rom. 3.3 And confirmed it with an Oath Which promise the vnbeliefe of men cannot make void 2. Tim. 2.13 If we beleeue not yet he abideth faithfull he cannot deny himselfe There will arise no benefit by my destruction Psal 30.9 For what profit is there in my blood if I goe downe into the Pit Psal 6.5 For in death is no remembrance of thee and in the Graue who shall giue thee thankes Psal 88.10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the Dead or shall the Dead arise and praise thee Psal 88.11 Shall thy Louing kindnesse bee declared in the Graue or thy faithfulnesse in destruction Esa 38.18 The Graue cannot praise thee Death cannot celebrate thee The liuing the liuing he shal praise thee Psal 118.17 I will not dye but liue and declare the workes of the Lord. Psal 34.8 1. Pet. 2.3 O taste and see how gratious the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Thy mercies O Lord are Psal 109.2 Sweete Psal 67.17 Comfortable Psal 63.4 Better then life Psal 5.7 51.1 Many A multitude of them Psal 130.6 Plentifull Luc. 1.78 Rom. 5.20 1. Tim. 1.14 Psal 17.7 Tender Superabundant Wonderfull Psal 71.13 86.1 119.156 103.12 Eph. 3.18 Infinite Great Broad From the East to the West Long. Eph. 3.19 Deepe Psal 36.5 High To the Heauens Aboue the Heauens Psal 108.4 Past Knowledge Psal 25.5 103.17 136. 89.2 Eternall Of old For euer Psal 79.9 Preuenting Psal 23.6 Following Psal 32.11 Compassing Psal 103.13 Pardoning Psal 103.4 Crowning Psal 145.9 Ouer all thy Workes Rom. 5.20 Our sinnes Ia. 2.13 Thy Iustice 2. Cor. 1.3 Thou art the Father of mercies Thou art our Patient and slow to anger Wisd 11.23 Thou winkest at the sinnes of men because they should repent Psal 95.10 Sparing thy people forty yeeres Psal 78.39 Many times thou didst turne thy wrath away and wouldst not suffer thy whole displeasure to arise Lam. 3.22 It is of thy mercy that we are not consumed Gentle in correcting insomuch as thy Iustice is not without mercy Psal 89.32.33 I will visit their offences with the rod and their sinne with scourges neuerthelesse my louing kindnesse will I not vtterly take from him Psal 103.10 He hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes Hos 11.8 How shall I smite thee O Ephraim Placable and easie to be pacified Psal 103.9 He will not alway he chiding neither keepeth he his anger for euer Psal 30.5 His wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye Esa 54.7 For a small moment haue I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee Abac. 3.2 In anger hee remembreth mercy 2 Sam. 12.13 Dauid said I haue sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to Dauid The Lord hath also put away thy sinne thou shalt not dye Esa 30.18 The Lord waiteth to be gracicious vnto vs. Compassionate Thy Compassions are called Luc. 1.78 bowels of mercy Psal 106.43 Mat. 15.32 When thou didst see the misery of thy people thou hadst compassion on them Mat. 18.27 Then the Lord of the Seruant moued with compassion loosed
him and forgaue him the debt Not only ready to forgiue but profuse in mercy Psal 130.7 With thee is plenteous Redemption Luc. 15.22 The father of the Prodigall not only pardoned him but put on him the best Robe and a Ring and killed the fat Calfe for him Luc. 15.7 He will haue ioy in Heauen for a sinner repenting Thy pardon extendeth not only to small but great sinnes and sinners Such as Peter Luc. 26.74 who forsware thee Paul â— Tim. 1.13 who blaspheamed thee The Luc. 23.43 Theefe on the Crosse The Ioh 8. Adultresse Luc. 7.36 Mary Magdalen Ier. 3.1 They say if a man put away his Wife and shee goe from him and become another mans shall he returne vnto her againe shall not the Land be greatly polluted But thou hast played the harlot with many Louers yet returne againe to me saith the Lord. Luc. 6.35 He is kinde to the vnthankefull and euill But all these are recapitulated and summed vp in Christ Iesus 1. Pet. 1.4 In whom he hath giuen vs great and precious promises 2. Cor. 1.19 And in whom all the promises of God are Yea and Amen In Ioh. 16.23 naming of whom it will bee sufficient Mat. 15.22 Iesu thou Sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me Mat. 1.21 Which name Iesus was giuen vnto him because he saueth vs from our sinnes Aug. Lord doe not so earnestly marke our sinnes as that thereby thou forget thine owne Name Thou Sonne of Dauid 2. Sam. 19. who forgaue Shemei his sworne enemie reuiling him Forgiue me O Christ heare me Intercede for me Make the Father propitious to me Say vnto my Soule Psal 35.3 I am thy Saluation Let not thy Apostle comfort me in vaine when he saith 1. Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Rom. 5.20 Where six hath abounded there grace hath super-abounded God hath concluded all vnder Rom. 11.32 sinne that he might haue mercy vpon all Rom. 5.10 When we were Gods enemies we were reconciled to him by the death of his Sonne Let not another of thy Apostles say in vaine 1. Pet. 3.18 Christ once suffered for sinne the iust for the vniust that hee might bring vs to God Let not the third Ia. 2.13 Mercy reioyceth aboue Iudgement Let not the fourth 1. Ioh. 2.1 If any man sinne wee haue an Aduocate with the Father Christ Iesus the Righteous 1. Ioh. 2.2 And hee is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours only but for the sinnes of the whole world Let not thine owne Words be spoken in vaine Mat. 11.28 Come vnto mee all yee that labour and are heauie laden and I will giue yee rest Luc. 5.32 I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Ioh. 12.47 I came not to Iudge the World but to saue it These things are not cannot be spoken in vaine Psal 94.19 Wherefore in the multitude of the sorrowes that are in my heart thy comforts O Lord haue refreshed my soule Heb. 4.16 Let vs therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtaine mercy and finde Grace to helpe in time of neede Which I beseech thee to grant me For thy great and many mercies Thy Names sake The Glory of thy Name Thy promise sake Thy practize sake My misery My infirmitie Euen for thy Sonne Iesus Christs sake The seuen penitentiall Psalmes analysed 1 Psalme 6. 1 O Lord my God rebuke me not I beseech thee in thy fierce indignation against my sinnes either in this life or at the day of Iudgement neither chasten or correct mee in thy hot displeasure by condemning mee to eternall death 2 Haue mercy and compassion vpon me according to thy accustomed goodnesse O Lord for I am weake and fraile by nature strengthen me therefore by thy Grace O Lord and heale me by curing the infirmities of my soule for they are multiplied so greatly vpon me that my bones and all my inward parts are vexed and disquieted with the remembrance of them 3 My sinfull Soule considering my manifold offences and trembling at the thought of thy iust anger against them is also like as is my flesh sore troubled and almost at the point of desperation but thou O Lord that desirest not the death of a sinner how long will it be ere thou looke vpon me and bring mee out of this misery 4 Returne from the rigour of thy Iustice O Lord to the sweetnesse of thy mercie and deliuer my soule from the bondage of sinne O Lord saue mee from the assaults of the Deuill not for any merits of mine but for thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus my Sauiour 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee to praise and glorifie thy Name and who surely none there is that shall giue thee thankes or celebrate thy goodnesse in the Graue of Hell where nothing is to be heard but weeping gnashing of teeth and blasphemies 6 I am weary and faint with my groaning and sighing for my transgressions euery night when I should take my rest I wash my bed weeping for them and I water my couch the place of my rest with my teares of vnfeined repentance 7 Mine eye of reason and vnderstanding is consumed and groweth weake because of the griefe I take fearing thy Iudgements yet it waxeth Old and I continue in sinne because of the vnited forces of all mine enemies the World the Flesh and the Deuill 8 Depart therefore farre from me all ye mine enemies which are and haue beene the workers and causers of mine iniquitie by your tentations and euill examples for henceforth I will haue no more to doe with you for my conscience assureth mee that the Lord of his infinite goodnesse hath heard and pittied the voyce of my weeping and therefore I should be vnthankefull to him to returne to those sinnes which he in his mercy hath forgiuen 9 The Lord I cannot repeat it too often hath gratiously heard my earnest supplication for the pardon of my sinnes and he The Lord plentifull in pittie hath not only now but will also hereafter receiue my prayer whensoeuer I call faithfully vpon him 10 Let all mine enemies therefore who haue sought my destruction be ashamed at my conuersion and bee sore vexed and troubled at the consideration of Gods Iudgements Let them no longer delay but repent and returne to the Lord and bee ashamed that they haue so long deferred their conuersion and suddenly without any longer delay make their peace with him by vnfeined repentance Glory be to the Father c. 2 Psalme 32. BLessed is he in this life in assured hope and thrice blessed in full and perfect fruition in the life to come Whose transgression by Gods mercy is forgiuen in respect of the offence and whose sinne by the imputation of Christs
of conuersation teach transgressors how they shall keepe thy waies and commandements and by that meanes thy Grace assisting they which now are sinners shall forsake their wickednesse and shall bee truely conuerted to thee 14 Deliuer me and quit me from my former bloody offences and keepe mee henceforth from blood guiltinesse and carnall corruptions O God my protector Thou God which art my Redeemer and Author of my Saluation and all the dayes of my life my tongue for ioy thereof shall sing vnto thee and that aloud and cheerefully and praise thy Name by extolling of thy righteousnesse who dost iustifie sinners and art mercifull to the penitent 15 O Lord who giuest wisedome to the simple Open thou my lippes which are closed by sinne from doing any seruice vnto thee and then with boldnesse my mouth shall vtter and shew forth thy praise for to thee alone belongeth all Honour and Glory 16 For thou O God desirest not that I should offer the Sacrifice of Goates and Calues to expiate my offences else would I willingly giue it and lay it on thy Altar but thou hauing by sending thy Sonne Christ Iesus abrogated the ceremonies of the Law delightest not any longer in burnt offerings but in obedience to thy Commandements 11 The Sacrifices accepted of God and whereby wee are in Christ reconciled to him are a broken and humble Spirit deiected with the sight of sinne a broken and contrite heart truly mortified and repentant O God thou hast promised that thou wilt not despise but louingly accept 18 Doe good O God in thy good pleasure and be fauourable and gratious vnto Sion thy Catholique Church Build thou vpon a sure foundation of religion and establish the hearts of thy Saints and Seruants the walles of thy Church Ierusalem 19 Then shalt thou in Christ Iesus be pleased with vs and with the Sacrifices of Righteousnesse in thy Congregation And with burnt Offerings and Oblations of our hearts Then shall they thy Seruants thus established offer bullockes the Sacrifice of praise vpon thine Altar in thy presence to the honour of thy most holy Name Glory be to the Father c. 5 Psalme 102. 1 HEare my prayer which in the bitternesse of my soule I make to thee O Lord whose mercy is the Sanctuary of distressed sinners and let nothing stand betweene that mercy and me which may hinder my cry to come to thee 2 Hide not thy face turne not away thy countenance from me as if thou wert offended at me but rather in the day of aduersity when I am in trouble and sorrow encline thine eare of pitie vnto me and that right soone and speedily 3 For my daies which I haue mis-spent are cōsumed away like smoke which for want of substance resolueth to nothing and my bones which by my broken spirit are dried vp are burnt vp as a firebrand 4 My heart is deiected and smitten with the thought of thy Iustice and it is withered with remembrance of thy Iudgements like grasse without iuyce or sap so that in this anguish of soule I forget and loath to eate my bread 5 By reason of the grieuous voyce of my groaning sighes and teares I am so consumed away that my bones for want of flesh cleaue to my skinne and I am nothing but skin and bone 6 I am for shame that I haue offended thee become in condition like a Pellican that liueth solitarily in the Wildernesse and I am like an Owle not daring to be seen but that auoideth the light and is continually in the desert shunning the company of other birds 7 I watch and sleepe not for the thought of my sinnes and am as a sparrow that caring for no company sitteth alone making grieuous lamentation in a mournfull note vpon the house top 8 Mine enemies seeing mee thus penitent reproach mee with opprobrious speeches all the day continually deriding mee and they that while I was their companion in sinne applauded mee are vpon my conuersion mad against me and doe combine and are sworne to doe me mischiefe and to that end set themselues against me 9 For this cause taking no pleasure in this world I haue eaten ashes and fed vpon course meate like as if it were fine bread and dainty fare and I haue mingled my drinke with teares weeping and lamenting for my sinnes 10 Because of thine indignation at me for them and thy wrath against my life past all this euill and more hath befallen me for thou hast lifted mee vp very high and from thence hast cast mee downe that my fall might be the greater 11 My dayes few and euill are passed like a shadow vpon a Sun-diall that declineth toward the euening and I that lately seemed to flourish am withered and dryed vp like grasse without sap for want of thy comfort 12 But thou O Lord which wert and art shalt continue immutable and shalt endure for euer while all transitory things passe and come to nothing and thy glorious workes shall be had in remembrance vnto all generations euen vnto the end of the world 13 Thou O Lord who seemest to men to sleepe shalt arise in thy strength and haue mercy and compassion vpon Sion thy Church militant now oppressed with the tyranny of Antichrist for the time to looke vpon her and fauour her is at hand yea the set time which thou hast decreed for her deliuerance is or will not be long ere it come 14 For they which bee thy true and faithfull Seruants take pleasure and delight in her stones their fellow Seruants and are glad when they see them prosper and fauour and pitie the very dust and ruines thereof when they see them vnder persecution 15 So that when they shall be deliuered from their misery the very heathen shall feare and tremble at the Name of the Lord and be conuerted to him and all the Kings and Potentates of the earth which now oppose the Truth shall acknowledge thee O Lord to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords and be afraid at the greatnesse of thy Glory and Maiestie 16 When the Lord by his almighty power shall build vp Sion and repaire the ruines of his Church he shall then to the confusion of his enemies appeare in his glory which they shall not be able to endure 17 He will then in mercy regard and hearken to the prayer of his poore seruants and the destitute of his helpe and not any longer seeme to turne away his face from them nor despise their prayer and earnest supplications 18 This mercy of his shall then be recorded and written as a remembrance for the generations to come euen to the end of the world which shall attempt the like against his Church and the people yet vnborne that shall succeed and be created in ages to come shall praise and magnifie the Lord which only doth marueilous things 19 For hee hath in mercy by sending his Sonne Christ Iesus looked downe from the height of his Sanctuary his holy place euen from
great and glorious a God art mindefull of him in so large a manner and what is the Sonne of man the posterity of sinfull Adam that thou in such measure of mercy visitest and regardest him 5 For if I looke vnto his creation and consider whose Image he beareth I finde that thou hast made him in all respects very little lower in degree then the pure Angells who are honoured with thy presence and hast of thy bounty and especiall fauour crowned him with Glory and Honour in making him so glorious a Creature 6 Thou madest and hast appointed him also the vicegerent on earth to haue dominion and command ouer thy Creatures the workes of thy hands and creation thou hast subiected and put all things which thou hast made vnder his feete to obey and serue him 7 All Sheepe and Oxen Beasts for his foode and sustentation yea and not those only but the vntamed beasts of the field also hast thou made pliable and seruiceable to him 8 The Foule of the Ayre some for foode and some for pleasure and delight and the fish of the vast Sea which is stored with variety and whatsoeuer else passeth swimmeth or liueth through the vnknowne pathes of the Sea are also created by thee to serue him 9 O Lord our Lord when I seriously consider thy power and wisedome in thy worke of creation and the especiall honour and fauour thou she west to mankinde in giuing him this large commission ouer the rest of thy Creatures I cannot but admire and say how excellent and great is thy Name and power in all the kingdomes of the World there is none O Lord worthy to bee compared to thee Glory be to the Father c. 2 Psalme 30. I Will extoll thee and praise thy Name O Lord as long as I liue and not without great cause for thou in thy mercy hast lifted me vp and endowed me with thy blessings and hast not made no nor suffered my foes who intended if thou hadst forsaken mee to reioyce and triumnh ouer me 2 O Lord my God and Sauiour I cried and made my humble supplication vnto thee in my trouble and aduersitie and thou of thy accustomed goodnesse didst gratiously heare mee and hast healed me of all mine infirmities 3 O Lord thou by the power of thy grace hast brought vp and restored to life my sinfull Soule from the Graue of perdition whereinto my sinnes had well nigh cast me Thou hast in thy loue to mee kept mee aliue and preserued mee from my dangerous sicknesses that I should not yet goe downe into the pit of death but liue and praise thy Holy Name 4 Sing and reioyce vnto the Lord our God O ye Saints and faithfull people of his who haue with me felt and tasted of his mercy and giue thankes togither with mee at the remembrance and consideration of his holinesse 5 For his anger and displeasure endureth towards sinners but a moment and short space if they truely turne vnto him and if we truely consider his mercies we shall finde that in his fauour is life to those that lie desperately sicke in their sinnes if he but touch them with his finger of Grace as for weeping heauinesse and affliction it may and of necessity must sometime befall his seruants but yet it shall endure and afflict them for a night a little while only but ioy and comfort commeth againe to refresh them in the morning by sending the light of his countenance vpon them 6 And before I fully vnderstood how God vsed to deale with his Seruants I was so confident of my selfe that in my prosperitie when I felt the grace of God abundantly in mee I said and presumed that I was so fully settled in Gods fauour that â— shall neuer fall or bee remooued from it 7 Lord by thy fauour and goodnesse thou hadst fixed and made my mountaine of Grace to stand so strong that I conceiâ—…d my selfe so secure that I could not slide backe or fall away yet after a while I found by expâ—… that I was in an error for thou didst but hide thy face and a little while obscured thy Grace from mee and being left to my selfe I found such an alteration and defect in mee to doe good that I was therewith sore troubled and disquieted 8 I thereupon presently recalled my selfe and cried earnestly by prayer to thee O Lord and betooke my selfe vnto the Lord who neuer vtterly forsaketh his Seruants and to him I made my earnest supplication neuer ceasing till I obtained his returne and thus I said in my prayer 9 What profit O Lord is there can there be in my blood or death when I goe downe into the pitt or if I die in my sinnes surely none to thee for thou delightest not in blood or in the death of a sinner Shall the dust or they which are resolued thereinto before repentance praise thee or shall it declare thy Truth and shew thy Glory nay verily they shall rather in the horror of punishment blaspheme thy Name Suffer me not therefore O Lord to bee of that reprobate number of which I must needs bee one if thou absent thy selfe or withdraw thy Grace any longer from me 10 Heare mee therefore O Lord and that right soone for my spirit waxeth faint for want of thy Gratious assistance and haue mercy vpon mee in this distresse O Lord I renounce all further confidence in mine owne strength bee thou my only stay and helper Vpon this petition The Lord heard my request and thereupon I turned my prayer into a song of praise and said 11 Thou O Lord art worthy of all honour and praise for thou hast turned for me and for my good my mourning for thy absence into dancing and ioy for thy gratious presence thou hast made mee to put of my sad habite of Sackecloth and sorrow and in stead thereof hast girded and apparrelled me with a vesture of gladnesse euen the peace of conscience And all these things hast thou done for me 12 To the end all my sorrow being remoued and I being deliuered from all feare my glory tongue and heart together may sing praise and thankes to thee who hast done so great things for me and that I should not bee silent in extolling thy mercy And therefore O Lord my God as thy goodnesse deserueth and my duty requireth I will with all the affections and faculties of soule and body giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy Maiestie for euer as the only author and finisher of my Salution Glory be to the Father c. 3 Psalme 34. 1 I Will blesse and praise the Lord for all that hee hath done vnto mee at all times as well in aduersitie as prosperitie and his praise as it shall euer bee in my minde and heart so shall it be continually without intercession in my mouth by declaring it to others 2 My Soule especially shall make her boast and glory in the Lord and not in any thing that is in me so
to me that haue confidence in nothing but thy meere mercy O Lord it griueth me that I haue offended thy Maiestie and it grieueth me much that I can grieue no more then I doe And I humbly pray thee by the Death Passion and Intercession of thy Sonne Christ Iesus to pardon my offences promising that if I recouer my former health thy grace assisting me to abstaine from displeasing thy Maiestie hereafter I willingly O Lord and freely from my heart for thy sake forgiue all offendors and offences against me and I heartily desire all those whom I haue any way offended to forgiue me O Lord though my naturall man trembleth at the thought of death yet I professe that I am willing to die if it be thy good pleasure I haue receiued life and all the blessings of this life from thee what shall I render backe to thee for them I will willingly receiue this Cup of death and praise thy Name Psal 31.6 I commend into thy hands my spirit and whither thou disposest of me to liue or die I resigne it to thy good will and disposition and humblie pray thee that if thou seest it good for mee to prolong my dayes on earth that thou wouldst renew my conuersation by the direction of thy holy Spirit that I may passe those dayes in thy feare if thou be otherwise pleased to dispose of me take mee I beseech thee into the armes of thy mercie for Iesus Christs sake my only Sauiour and Redeemer Or thus O GOD of all consolation who hast promised to heare all those that faithfully call vpon thee and not to reiect any that with a contrite heart and penitent soule shall humble himselfe before thee I humbly intreat thee in the name and mediation of thy Sonne Iesus Christ that thou wouldest bee pleased to bee mercifull to mee thy poore Seruant at this time afflicted with sicknesse O Lord pardon forget and blot out of thy remembrance whatsoeuer I haue committed against thee in the whole course of my life Seale and confirme vnto me by thy Spirit a pardon vnto me for all my offences that I may thereby receiue such comfort in my soule that I may with all ioy and willingnesse depart out of this life vnto thee Let me be certified that there is Rom. 8.1 no condemnation to those which are vnited and engraffed into Iesus Christ by Faith that I may be confident 32. that neither my sinnes death the Deuill nor ought else can draw me away or separate me from thee and that I may be assured that thy Throne will not be to me a Barre of seueritie but a Hauen of safety and a sure Sanctuary and refuge for mee to flie vnto Strengthen this Faith in me which may serue as a Buckler to defend me from all tentations and that forsaking the confidence or strength of all other things I may flie wholly to thy mercy in Christ Iesus whereby I may be protected from the Terrors of thy Iudgement Grant vnto mee distressed sinner these graces euen for the same Iesus Christ his sake who with thee and the Holy Spirit liueth and raigneth for euer Or thus ALmightie and euerlasting God whose yeares faile not and who hast determined the daies of man which he cannot passe yet thy selfe endurest for euer and thy Throne from generation to generation Remember that I am but dust like grasse and my dayes as the flower of the field which flourisheth in the morning and in the euening is dried vp and withered Psal 39.5 O let me know my end make me mindefull of my mortalitie Psal 39.14 I am a stranger with thee and a soiourner as all my fathers were and cannot promise my selfe one houre much lesse any dayes or yeares in this my Pilgrimage Psal 6.2.3 I am like a tottering wall and a broken fence giue mee grace therefore that I trust not in the vncertainty of this life like the rich foole in the Gospell but that I may euery houre Luc. 12. prepare my selfe in thy feare to passe out of this fraile mansion and to expect thee with a solid faith and firme hope waiting cheerefully for the day and time of my dissolution Tit. 2.13 And looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Saniour Iesus Christ Make me like the faithfull and wise seruant euer ready and prepared for the comming of my Lord lest being suddenly preuented I bee taken like a Bird in the snare of the Fowler O Lord thou hast by this gentle correction put me in minde of my mortalitie giue me also Grace that I may make good vse of it that I may cast of all the cares of this world and wholly betake my selfe to make my peace with thee And I humbly pray thee that thou wouldst not forget me in my paines and miseries in all my infirmities be not farre from me when by reason of the terrors of death and assaults of the enemie I shall haue most neede of thy helpe but strengthen my soule with thy holy grace against all tentation that my Faith faile mee not but that thy holy Spirit assisting me I may ouercome my spirituall enemies and at the houre of death Lord I beseech thee let thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word Luc. 2.29 Or thus BLessed Lord Iesus Christ the only comfort of the liuing and the eternall life of those which dye in thee I wholly submit my selfe to thy blessed Will whether it please thee to suffer my soule any longer to liue in this earthly Tabernacle to serue thee or to haue it depart out of this transitory world being certainely assured that it cannot perish being committed to thy keeping O Lord I put of this fraile flesh with a willing minde in the hope of the Resurrection of it at the last day togither with my soule when it will become much more glorious and happie then now it is I beseech thee O Lord Iesu strengthen mee with thy Grace against all temptations and defend mee with the shield of thy mercie against all the assaults of the Deuill I know that of my selfe I haue no strength wherefore my whole confidence is in thee I haue no merits of mine owne to alleadge for I see many yea too many of my sins to stand vp against me but by thy mercy I trust that thou wilt repute â—…e amongst the Iust Thou wert borne for me didst hunger thirst fast and pray for me thou didst many good workes and sufferedst many bitter things for my sake Let thy blood wash away the spots of my offences Let thy Iustice couer my vnrighteousnesse and thy Merits plead for me before the great and seuere Iudge And as my sicknesse encreaseth let thy Grace encrease that my faith faile not my hope wauer not nor my loue to thee waxe cold Let me not bee cast downe or deiected with the terror of death but when death shall seize on the eyes of my body let the eyes of my soule looke to thee and when the vse of my tongue shall faile me let my heart crie vnto thee Psal 31.6 I commend my spirit into thy hands O Lord who liuest and raignest c. Psal 23.4 Although thou kill me yet will I trust in thee and though I walke in the midst of the shadow of death yet will I not feare because thou Lord art with me A short Table of the chiefe Heads contained in this Booke A Generall Exhortation to Prayer page 1 In regard of Gods Precept 2 Promise 3 Christs example ibid. The Necessity ibid. The Dignitie 4 The Benefit 5 Directions how to Pray 1. To God only 8 2. In Faith 9 3. In Hope 10 4. In Charitie ibid. 5. In Humilitie of Spirit 12 13 Of Body 14 6. In Perseuerance 15 with feruency and attention 17 The Time for Prayer 20 The Place for Prayer 21 How to pray aright 22 Prayer diuided into Parts 25 The vse of the Lords Prayer 28 The Lords Prayer analysed 32 Petitions for spirituall Graces 68 A Prayer before Prayer 78 Before a Sermon 80 Petitions for temporall blessings 82 Rules for the Morning 84 Morning prayers priuate 85 For a Family 97 Rules for the Euening and Night 102 Euening prayers priuate 105 For a Family 116 Prayers For a married man 121 For a married woman 124 For a Childe 126 For a woman with Childe 128 For a young man or maid 129 For a Seruant 132 Before a Iourney 133 After a Iourney 135 Intercession 137 Deprecation 140 In affliction 145 In time of Pestilence 147 The Creed analysed 152 Confession of Gods Glory 164 Motiues to Repentance 169 The Dutie of Repentance 175 Confession of sinnes 179 Seuen Penitentiall Psalmes analysed 218 Direction before the Sacrament 259 Meditations and Prayers before the Sacrament 263 Meditations and Prayers after the Sacrament 276 Motiues to Thankesgiuing 285 Thankesgiuings 289 Seuen Psalmes of Thankesgiuing analysed 305 Imprecation 345 The Tenne Commandements analysed 350 Meditations of death 384 Meditations for the sicke 387 Prayers for the sicke 395 FINIS Faults escaped Page 38. line 16. in the margent reade Hallowed p. 80. l. â—… r. thou p. 97. in the mar r Gen. 1.26.9.6 p. 114. l. 7. r. seuenty times seuen p. 116. l. 9. r. sleep in peace p. 119 l. vlt. r. powre p. 130. l. 1. r. selfe be able to get p. 144. l. 13. r. sentence Depart p. 156. l. 9. put out vs. p. 164. l. vlt. r. bosome p. 169 l. 9. r. who p. 178. l. 5. r. Repentance p. 190. l. 6. r. I haue brought forth p. 211. l. 15. r. art patient p. 267. l. 16. r. long p. 271. l. 6. r. the greatnesse p. 291. 17. r. damnation p. 297. l. 16. r. Iust man of a sinner p. 307. l. 23. r. thy vicegerent p. 309. l. 15. r. triumph p. 314. l. 8. r. to the end that all p. 323. l. 17. for not onely r. as well p. 328. l. 23. r. felt p. 329 l. 7. r. with p. 340. l. 13. r. wherewith p. 341 l 26. r. generations p. 345. l. 14. r. incorrigible p. 374. l. 10. r. beatificall
INSTITVTIONES PIAE or Directions to Pray also A short exposition of The Lords Prayer The Creed The 10 Com̄andements Seauen Penitentiall Psalmes and Seauen Psalmes of thankesgiuing by HI O that men would praise the Lord for his goodnes And declare the wonders which he doth for the children of men Ps 107 8. LONDON Printed for Henry Seile 1630 To the Christian Reader COurteous and Christian Reader accept I pray thee these few obseruations and collections of Meditations and Deuotions which at the first I intended for my owne priuate vse but since considering with my selfe that Bonum quò communius eò melius Euery good thing is the better for being communicated I thought to publish it for the publique vse of them who shall affoord themselues so much time as to performe those Duties which are contained in it The Heathen man could say A Ioue principium to the shame of many I will not say of those who professe themselues and would be called Christians who are so farre from beginning all their actions with Gods seruice as that it is a rare thing to see them attend it at all It is no maruell then if God with-hold his hand of goodnesse from our Land or if according to the Prophet He hide his face from vs. Psal 88 14. when we are so remisse so dull either in seruing him with the Dutie of Praise and Thankesgiuing for his Benefits past or with the Seruice of Prayer for his Prouidence and Goodnesse to come Wee can talke of Comets and apparitions in the ayre and be stricken with wonder we can speake of vnseasonable and tempestuous times and bethinke our selues of what diseases famine and the like iudgements may ensue thereupon with griefe wee can discourse of warres rumors of warres and mightie preparations abroad with feare and yet wee are so stupid and sencelesse that wee cannot see or discerne the true cause of all these occasions of wonder griefe and feare namely our sinnes at least if we doe yet we set not our selues to take away the cause by that wholesome remedy which God himselfe hath prescribed to remooue it if wee would but apply and vse it We thinke it enough if wee can talke of the medicine and it is somewhat if we doe that and haue the speculation how to rid our selues of the disease but for the practise of it it fares with vs as with those who haue an infirmitie growing vpon them and know the remedy but either for wāt of leasure or for the queasinesse of the stomach or the bitter or vnpleasing taste of the medicine they forbeare the taking of it till the disease grow incurable We are content to heare what the Phisician of our soules prescribeth vs but wee neglect the Diet which hee enioyneth vs. All our Religion dependeth on the Eare and so it had pleased God to haue giuen vs but an Eare to heare hee might haue spared the tongue and lippes to praise him and all the other parts to worship and reuerence him wee could haue beene well enough contented with that member alone But beloued let vs not deceiue our selues for hee that hath made the Eare to heare what good hee hath done vnto vs hath made the tongue also to confesse his due praises for that which he hath so done And if wee neglect to giue him due thankes for his Mercie it will come to passe and that to bee feared very speedily that wee shall bee forced in bitternesse of soule to confesse his Iustice when we shall finde that hee iustly turneth his Blessings into Curses and plagues and be compelled to acknowledge and say Iust art thou O Lord and righteous and iust are thy Iudgements And therefore in time let euery one of vs recollect himselfe and in his priuate closset or chamber with himselfe and in the Church with the Congregation humbly confesse his sinnes to God desire pardon for them praise him for his blessings pray him to continue them and deprecate his iust anger from vs and then no doubt but he will be graciously pleased to bee mercifull to vs and heare vs and auert those Iudgements from vs which we most iustly haue deserued Which let vs all againe and againe beseech him to doe for the merits and intercession of his Blessed Sonne and our alone Sauiour Iesus Christ Institutiones piae OR DIRECTIONS to Pray c. A generall exhortation to Prayer FOr as much as the best of Gods Children are subiect to many infirmities and euen the iust man falleth seuen times a day Pro. 24.16 and that mans life by reason of sinne is exposed to many dangers troubles and afflictions Therefore it standeth vs much vpon and concerneth vs neerely to seeke out some remedy as well to strengthen out selues against the assaults of our spirituall enemies that as neere as may be we fall not as to raise vs againe when we are cast downe and deiected either by the sight of our sinnes or by the crosses and afflictions of this life And in this distresse what course shall we think vpon to relieue vs or what means shall we finde out to aid and succor vs Certainely no other then that which God himselfe of his goodnesse hath prescribed and commended to vs In regard of Gods Precept yea and hath commaunded vs to haue recourse vnto whensoeuer we shall be thus afflicted namely Prayer to him Call vpon me saith he in the day of trouble Psal 50.15 Come vnto me saith Christ all ye that labour and are heauy laden Mat. 11.28 Seeke yee the Lord saith he by the Prophet and call vpon him Esa 55.6 And is any afflicted Ia 5.13 by the Apostle Let him pray And the better to stirre vs vp to this duty God hath added to this Precept of his a promise also His promise that we shall not loose our labors or pray to him in vaine For no sooner shall we aske but he will giue Mat. 7.7 Io. 16.23 Psal 91.15 no sooner call but he will answere and deliuer Nay more for if God perceiue our inclination to pray vnto him he will preuent vs and before we call he will answere Esa 65.24 and while we are speaking he will heare Christs example And as we haue Gods precept and promise to prouoke vs to Pray vnto him so also haue we the Example not only of all the Saints of God but of Christ Iesus himselfe Mat. 14.23 26.39 Io. 11.47 Mar. 1.35 who while he was cōuersant in the flesh vpon Earth though he were wholly without spot or blemish wholly innocent and immaculate yet often and earnestly prayed The Necessity Among all the Euangelicall Precepts or Councells there is not any one Duty vpon which our Sauiour more earnestly beateth or to which he with more feruency inciteth his Apostles and Disciples then to this of Prayer The necessitie whereof hee enforceth amongst other places of Scripture in the parable of the vniust Iudge Luc. 18.
with Gods assistance and our owne endeauours that in the time of our prayers no extrauagant thought steale vpon vs least happily we haue one thing in our hearts and another in our tongues And to this purpose also speaketh Saint Basile Basil Serm. in Martyr Iulittam All our prayers ought to bee made not in sillables but in the hearty affection of the Soule For how doe or can we thinke that God will giue vs that for which wee pray when by our behauiour and gesture our faint and weake sollicitation we seeme to him that either we doe not want what we pray for or that he will vpon euery sleight and cold motion be perswaded to giue vs what wee desire Or how can we expect to be heard of God when we our selues not being serious in our deuotions but diuerted with other phantasies heare not nor know what we do petition for The wise man therefore giueth vs good and wholsome counsell in this matter Before thou prayest Ecclus. 18.23 prepare thy selfe and be not as one that tempteth the Lord. Of the Time and Place for Prayer 1. The Time TAke a little taste of the Time when and the Place where our prayers are to be offered vp to God For the Time in generall the places before named doe and may direct vs. a 1. Thess 5.17 Pray without ceasing b Colloss 4.3 Continue in Prayer And c Eph. 6.18 Luc. 11.18 Pray alwaies More particularly d Num. 28.3 Twice a day that is Morning and Euening The sacrifices were to be made Dauid prayed thrice e Psal 55.18 In the Euening Morning and at noone day And f 119.164 Seuen times in a day g Dan. 6.10 Daniel prayed thrice In the morning before day h Mar. 1.35 Christ prayed Dauid prayed i Psal 63.1 early k Act. 2.15 The Apostles at the third houre of the day l 10.9 At the Sixth houre m 3.1 The ninth houre And Dauid at n Psal 119.62 midnight 2. The Place For the Place In all places saith a Exo. 20.24 God Euery where saith b 1. Tim. 2.8 Saint Paul Christ prayed in c Mat. 1.35.35 the desert On a d Matth. 14.23 mountaine e Matth. 26.36 In the Garden f Gen. 24.63 Isaac in the field g Act. 10.9 Peter prayed on the house top or tarris h Psal 111.1 In the congregation saith Dauid To the Temple went i Act. 3.1 Saint Peter Saint Iohn and Saint k 22.17 Paul And Christ bids vs when wee would be priuate in prayer and not bee molested to goe to our l Matth. 6.6 Clossets So that it appeareth that there is no Time nor Place vnseasonable to offer vp our Prayers vnto God as occasion shal be offered though the chiefe place for publike prayer is the Temple and for Priuate our Clossets How to pray aright To pray aright BVt it may come to passe though we be prepared and fitted with all the former circumstances that we may pray and not be heard if in the last place we doe not carefully consider to pray for those things which are fit and requisite for God to giue and for vs to receiue For as Saint Iames saith many times we aske and receiue not Ia. 4.3 because we aske amisse For our better instruction therefore we are to consider that there be two sorts of blessings to be required of God First Spirituall Secondly Temporall Spirituall Blessings 1. The first part pertaine to Gods owne honour and the good of our owne soules as Faith Hope Charitie Thankefull hearts Remission of sinnes and other of the same kinde which are meerely Spirituall and Heauenly And these Blessings we may without doubt safely and confidently beg at Gods hands and hee will not deny them Temporall 2 The Second are Temporall and Indifferent as Riches Honour Health Peace Seasonable times Children and the like And these are not to bee prayed for but according to Christs patterne of prayer with thy Will bee done Matth. 6.10 or according to Christs practise with a not as I will 26.39 but as thou wilt or with the Leaper in the Gospell Mat. 8.2 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane Bern. Serm. 5. in quadrag Saint Bernard disposeth these into three heads Two for blessings of this life for the Body and Soule and the third for the life to come and in praying for these he giueth three Cautions with his Reasons First that our prayer for Temporall blessings which the Body wanteth bee restrained to things needfull because many times we pray for things superfluous to satisfie our pleasures Secondly that our petition for the Graces of the soule bee free from impuritie because we oftentimes desire to haue them for Ostentation Thirdly that our request for the blessing of eternall Life be in all Humility because many require it at Gods hands as presuming vpon their owne merits Our Prayers being thus qualified being preferred only to God in Faith Hope Charity with God and our Neighbour Humilitiy of body and soule perseuerance feruency of Spirit our soules and bodies attending to what we pray for and in due time and place praying aright both for temporall and Spirituall blessings wee shall no doubt by the mercy of God through the mediation intercession and merits of Iesus Christ obtaine in his good time all things which shall bee needfull and expedient for vs. Prayer diuided into Parts DEuotions and Prayers are either Priuate or Publique 1. Priuate Prayers are whereby euery particular man prayeth to God for those things which he wanteth In which kinde of deuotion we ought at all times to exercise our selues because at all times we stand in need of Gods particular assistance and therefore we are tyed or limited herein neither to time nor place for whether it bee in the night or morning midday or euening at home or abroad in the Citie or Countrie in our beds or at our worke if we call vpon him faith-fully he will heare vs. 2. Publique prayers are whereby the whole Congregation meet in a place dedicated to Gods honour aswell to praise his Name as to pray for those things which shall bee needfull For although Christians ought to pray priuately yet ought they not in the meane time to neglect the publike worship and seruice of God in the Church For from the beginning it was held and obserued as a Duty required and therefore before the erection and dedication of Temples and Churches the Patriarches and holy men erected Altars in certaine places where at set times of the day they might offer Sacrifices Exo. 29.39 and Publike Prayer to God In the 2. Ioel 2. of Ioel you shall finde a set and prescribed forme of prayer for the Minister to vse togither with the place and the Congregation that were to assist In the New-Testament also Mar. 18.10 our sauiour
hast not only of nothing created vs after thine owne Image Gen. 1.9.6 but also hast from time to time most gratiously preserued vs euen to this present Morning from all dangers and terrors and hast giuen vs this night past sweet sleepe comfortable rest whereby we are refreshed and fitted to our bodily labour We thanke thee O Lord for all thy spirituall blessings for our Regeneration Iustification Sanctification in some measure and our Redemption by Iesus Christ We praise thy Name for thy bountifull supply of all things necessary for this life as also for thy patient and long expectance of vs in our Conuersion O Lord we confesse that wee haue beene so farre from the serious consideration of thy fauours to vs and from rendring due thankes vnto thee for them that in stead thereof we haue continually grieuously offended thy Maiestie with most abominable and vile sinnes notwithstanding thou hast sought to reduce vs to thy obedience by the good motions of thy Holy Spirit As often O Lord as we looke about vs either with the eyes of our bodies or mindes so often doe thy fatherly and innumerable benefits appeare vnto vs. For all which wee render againe and againe from the bottome of our hearts infiuite thankes vnto thee and humbly desire thee for thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus to pardon all our ingratitude and rebellions Englighten vs we pray thee with thy holy Spirit that we may see our imperfections kindle our zeale towards thee rule and gouerne our mindes wils affections and actions that we may not willingly offend thee any more And giue vs Grace that we may alwayes thinke speake and doe whatsoeuer shall be pleasing vnto thee and abstaine from all things which shall displease or offend thee It is more then enough O Lord that we haue beene hitherto so rebellious against thee It is too much that we haue beene so negligent to serue thee and so ingratefull to thee for all thy blessings Let all euill and wickednesse now depart from vs and let new manners new affections and new hearts be renewed in vs. We commit our selues O Lord wholly into thy protection this day and the rest of our liues and most humbly desire thee of thy infinite goodnesse that as now thou hast put good thoughts into vs thou wilt bee pleased to perfect them in vs so that being led by thy holy Spirit we may do that which is acceptable to thee and loue serue honour and praise thy holy Name all the dayes of our liues And for as much O Lord as thou hast promised to those that loue thee all things necessary for this life wee call and cry to thee O our Father which art in heauen to Giue vs this day our daily bread euen whatsoeuer is needfull and expedient for our sustentation Giue vs O Lord sufficient for our maintenance lest wee take euill and indirect courses or blaspheme or murmure against thee and not too much lest we forget from whose hands wee receiue it Giue not only that which shall be necessary but contented mindes also with it Blesse O Lord the labor and worke of our hands blesse vs at home and abroad and grant that euery one of vs may truely as in thy sight walke in our seuerall vocations and diligently and carefully intend the same making a conscience of all our waies that by thy gracious fauour and our owne endeuours wee may haue prosperous successe in all things which we shal vndertake Continue O Lord thy Gospell among vs. Blesse our gratious King with the Queene the Prince Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth with their Princely Issue the whole Land and all sorts and conditions of people in it Blesse all that trauell by Sea or Land and take into thy protection all Orphans Widdowes and all that suffer wrong Giue health and strength to the sicke and weake and ioy and comfort to the sorrowfull and afflicted Blesse vs O Lord with healthfull and sound bodies keepe our good names vnspotted and vnblemished Blesse the fruites of the earth and giue vs wholsome peaceable and seasonable times These and all other thy blessings which thou knowest better to giue then we to aske vouchsafe if it seeme good to thy Maiestie to giue vs for the worthinesse of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord in whose blessed Name and absolute prayer wee close vp our imperfect prayers and say as he hath taught vs. Our Father c. Rules for Euening and Night As we vsually twice a day at the least take our bodily sustenance so should wee be no lesse carefull for the refreshing of our Soules but twise a day likewise Morning and Euening if not oftner dispose our selues to Deuotion and Prayer When thou therefore retirest thy selfe as in the Morning remember 1. To giue God thankes that hee hath deliuered thee from the dangers of the day past prospered thee in thy affaires and giuen thee necessaries for thy sustentation 2. Examine thy Conscience narrowly and consider wherein thou hast the day past offended God either in thought word or deed and hauing set thine offences before thee confesse them to him and in the bitterenesse of thy Soule repent thee bee sory for them and craue Pardon for them and Grace that thou offend no more in the like 3. Pray to God to continue his care ouer thee the night following and to defend thee from all perills and dangers So that going to thy rest with these good actions and thoughts thou shalt doe the like to those which rake vp fire in the Embers ouer night that they may the more readily find it in the morning In the Night WHen thou awakest in the night call vpon God likewise for the night was not made wholly for sleepe praise him contemplate and meditate vpon his workes Sometimes weepe for thy sinnes according to the practize of Dauid For as the nightly Dew refresheth and tempereth the Earth Psal 6.6 so doe our nightly teares asswage our concupiscences And sometimes reioyce in the Lord according to that of the Psalmist for the great benefits thou hast receiued from him Psal 149.5 By these meanes keeping thy selfe to one holy exercise or other thou shalt be sure to auoide the Deuils tentations whose chiefe time of setting vpon vs fitteth best with his works which are vsually stiled the works of Darkenesse Euening Prayer Psal 42.10 The Lord hath granted his louing kindnesse in the day therefore in the Night will I sing of him and make my Prayer to the God of my Life O Lord God Father euerlasting I yeeld thee most humble and hearty thankes that thou hast not onely auerted thy punishments from me which my grieuous sinnes haue deserued but instead thereof hast preserued me from all dangers and supplied me with all necessaries of this life O Lord I confesse that I haue so highly offended thee this day that all the punishmēts which may be inflicted vpon vile and miserable sinners are due to me I confesse
O Lord that I haue offended thy Maiestie in Repeat the sinnes thou canst call to minde And not onely these doe I acknowledge but all the rest which I haue committed from my Infancy to this present houre wittingly or ignorantly in thought word or deed against Thee my neighbour and my selfe O Lord I confesse my weaknesse I doe not that which I should Rom. 7.19 and would doe but that which I should not and am vnwilling to doe I doe not regarding or fearing thy incomprehensible glory venerable presence terrible power exquisite Iustice nor thy goodnesse vnspeakeable for which if thou shouldest enter into iudgement what would become of me But O Lord for as much as thou art a Father of mercies and dost not desire the death of a sinner if hee returne vnto thee by vnfeined repentance I most humbly in the Name and Mediation of our blessed Sauiour Christ Iesus craue pardon for them Lord I repent helpe my impenitencie and heare my request Be mercifull to mee a sinner and pardon all my offences whereof thou O Lord knowest me to be guilty And I beseech thee O Lord for the time to come to mollifie my heart water it with the dew of thy heauenly Grace that I may not alwaies bring forth Thornes and Weedes fit for nothing but the fire Conuert me O Lord I shall be conuerted open mine eyes direct my heart and wayes Draw me after thee and being conuerted suffer me not to returne againe with the Dogge to his vomit 2. Pet. 2.22 And for as much O Lord as thou hast appointed the Night to refresh our bodies I humbly pray thee to defend mee as well sleeping as waking from the snares of the Deuill Psal 31.5 O Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit which thou by thy pretious death and passion hast redeemed Suffer it not to sleepe in sinne and in it to lie languishing vnto death and so be buried in the graue of thy Iudgements but watch ouer it I beseech thee and defend it vnder the shadow of thy Wings Let me not be oppressed with vnnecessary sleepe but raise me in due time to thy Seruice and Praise Thou knowest O Lord that of my selfe I haue no strength waking much lesse when I sleepe I humbly therefore pray thee to defend my soule body goods and all things which thou hast bestowed vpon me this night from all euill and damage and so to dispose of me that I bee not troubled with any terrors terrified with any vaine phantasies weakned by any sicknesse or impouerished with any casualties or crosses Keepe me O Lord from all euill dreames and vncleane thoughts and compasse me with a wall of thy mercies that the Tempter approach not to my Bed so that being preserued by thy protection and refreshed with comfortable rest I may arise and offer vnto thee my daily bounden duty and seruice euen praise and thankes to thy most Holy Name Or thus O Blessed Lord Iesus Christ to whose inexhaustible bounty we owe all honour and praise I giue thee all possible thankes that thou hast vouchsafed to keepe me this day from all euill so that none of thy fearefull Iudgements to which I was iustly lyable haue fallen vpon me but of thy vnspeakeable mercy thou hast preserued mee from them and hast also liberally and with a bountifull hand supplyed me with the necessaries of this life notwithstanding my great and manifold sinnes committed against thee O Lord I confesse that I haue wasted the time which thou hast giuen mee for repentance altogether idely vainly and vnprofitably not so much as considering or taking notice that this day might haue beene the last of my life but haue added and heaped vp sinne vpon sinne in thy alseeing sight as if I had stood in no feare of thee at all dayly renewing as much as in me lay thy torments and passions for which I haue deserued that the earth should open vnto me and hell deuoure mee and which that it is not come to passe I ascribe withall thankefull acknowledgement to thy infinite mercy and goodnesse O Lord I acknowledge that it is of thy goodnesse alone that I am thus preserued from al thy iudgements seeing that many calamities haue befallen diuers others who haue lesse deserued them then my selfe That therefore some haue perished by water some by fire some by sword others by sudden and violent death and that I liue that some haue beene taken blinde some lame some distracted in their sences that others haue sustained much damage in their worldly estate and I haue escaped and not been punished in any of these kindes to what shall I ascribe and attribute the cause surely to thy mercy alone for which I cannot giue vnto thee sufficient thankes But O Sweete Sauiour as thy mercy exceedeth so doe our necessities increase thou canst not want matter for thy mercy to worke vpon by reason of our inabilities to helpe our selues wherefore I further pray thee that this night following may be also safe and prosperous vnto me that by a sweete sleepe and comfortable refreshing I may be fitted when I awake to serue thee with a thankefull and chearefull heart And because O Lord that this life hath not one certaine houre Psal 13.4 I beseech thee to enlighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death and grant that after I haue rested quietly I may by thy grace and mercy arise to serue thee in singlenesse of heart Lighten O Sauiour my darkenesse and mercifully keepe me from all dangers of this night Saue mee waking and keepe me sleeping that I may watch in thee and rest in peace There is nothing that more resembleth our life then the Day nor Death then the Night nor the Graue then our Beds O Lord therefore when I am laid downe and by sleepe made vnable to helpe my selfe being like vnto a dead man defend me then by thy power from the crafts and assaults of the enemy that he doe me no harme so that though my body sleepe my soule may watch vnto thee and contemplate of the life to come And graunt that hauing passed the night quietly I may arise as well from the sleepe of sinne as from my naturall sleepe and with all alacrity passe the day following in thy seruice and in the end of my pilgrimage by thy merits receiue the Crowne which thou hast promised to those that loue thee in that day which no night shall follow and in that heauenly Kingdome where thou raignest togither with the Father and the Blessed Spirit world without end Euening Prayer Psal 141.2 LEt my prayer O Lord be set forth in thy sight as the incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be an euening Sacrifice Psal 55.18 In the Euening Morning and at noone day will I pray and that instantly and thou Lord shalt heare my prayer Psal 91.5 Blessed be thou O Lord who hast preserued me from the arrow that flyeth by day and
from the sicknesse that destroyeth in the noone day Esa 38.12 Who hast not cut of my life like a weauer nor made an end of me O Lord I confesse that as my dayes haue increased so hath my sinne multiplied Pro. 24.16 The iust man falleth seuen times a day But I miserable sinner seuenty seuen times seuen times But I returne to thee O Lord and repent Luc. 17.4 Let not the Sunne goe downe in thy wrath O Lord whatsoeuer good I haue done this day I acknowledge that thou hast wrought it in me and desire thee gratiously to accept of me for it as thy Instrument only O Lord whatsoeuer euill I haue committed this day I confesse it to be the worke of mine owne hands and heartily pray thee to pardon it O Lord which giuest the sleep of health to them that loue thee and causest those that feare thee to sleepe confidently Psal 13.4 Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in death Keepe me from the terrors of the night and from the workes of darknesse Psal 91.5 Lord though I sleepe yet let my heart watch to thee and when I wake let me be presently before thee let my thoughts ascend to thee Grant that I may alwaies remember that the night is no night with thee and that the darkenesse and light are to thee alike Psal 139.12 Grant that I may alwaies meditate vpon the long and last sleepe the sleepe of death the bed of my Graue and the Couering of wormes and dust Let my sleepe be a cessation from sinne and let me not in my sleepe doe or thinke any thing that may offend thee or defile my selfe And grant that after the sleepe shall depart from mine eyes I may remember thee search my reynes and trye my heart O Lord I commend my selfe and all that of thy bounty is mine to thee In thee I put all my trust and confidence Thou seest in what dangers we are what snares the Deuill layeth for vs. I humbly therefore pray thee to defend me from him And grant me so to order and end my life that I may sleepe peace and take my rest with thee for the merits of Iesus Christ c. Psal 4.9 I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest me dwell in safety Euening Prayer for a Family O Almighty and euerlasting God who hath appointed all times and seasons to succeede in their due course and hast ordained the day for the workes of the day and bodily labour and the night to take our quiet rest and refreshing by whose prouidence and mercy we haue beene preserued this day from all dangers and haue beene furnished with all things necessary for this life wee humbly pray and beseech thee that now in this time of night and darkenesse wherein we poore and miserable sinners stand in most need of thy helpe and aide thou wouldest be pleased to keepe vs from all dangers spirituall and temporall O Lord we confesse that we haue not deserued the least of thy fauours nay if thou shouldest with strict eye examine our actions how we haue spent this day and the rest of our daies past we should not be able to stand in thy sight much lesse beg any further blessings of thee For notwithstanding thy manifold and daily fauours wee haue in all things beene rebellious and repugnant to thy blessed Will and obedient and comformable to the command of our enemies the Flesh the World and the Deuill in so much as wee haue lost our liberties and are become seruants and slaues vnto them For we haue wholly giuen our selues to serue the pleasures of the Flesh in concupiscences and other carnall Acts we haue hearkened too much to the delights of the World in couetous desiring that which is not our owne in abusing the Creatures thereof which were created for our necessary vse and not for our wanton and insatiable desires and wee are become the seruants of Sathan in not opposing and resisting his vncleane and wicked tentations Our sinnes are infinite and our iniquities are numberlesse so that wee cannot nor are any way able to recount them vnto thee We haue fled from thee seeking vs neglected thee Louing vs stopped our eares to thee speaking to vs turned our backes to thee reaching thy hand to vs forgotten thee doeing good to vs and despised thee correcting vs. Yet O Lord we humbly intreat thee to shew thy accustomed mercy to vs poore and miserable sinners who in griefe and anguish of soule confesse these our offences and earnestly and bitterly bewaile them Looke vpon vs with the eyes of compassion not for any thing in vs but for the loue and respect which thou bearest to thy Sonne Christ Iesus in whom we verily beleeue that thou art fully reconciled vnto vs. Take away our sinnes and the punishment due vnto vs for them Let thy wrath be turned from vs and destroy vs not together with our manifold transgressions Lord thou seest our wickednesse and withall how and in whose name we craue thy mercy Turne thee O Lord from thine anger which thou mightest iustly power vpon vs and bee gratious vnto vs according to thy wonted goodnesse who abhorrest nothing which thou hast made Create also we beseech thee in vs new hearts hearts fit to serue thee and write thy Law in them with the finger of thy Holy Spirit that all our desires and all our actions may bee conformable to thy blessed Will And now againe O Lord we desire thy Maiestie to take our soules and bodies into thy protection this night following suffer vs not to sleepe in sinne but watch ouer vs and defend vs vnder the shadow of thy wings Let not our sleepe bee excessiue or immoderate but raise vs againe in due time that after a quiet and moderate sleepe we may arise to serue and praise thee ioyfully beginne and perfect our workes iustly labour in our vocations truely and seeke thy Kingdome earnestly that at the last by thee with thee and in thee wee may come vnto the same Kingdome by the merits of our Sauiour Iesus Christ in whose Name and Prayer wee are bold to call further vpon thee saying Our Father c Prayers for seuerall Persons For a married man O Heauenly Father Maker and Preseruer of Heauen and Earth who in the beginning didst institute Matrimony foretelling the mysticall vnion of the Church with our Sauiour Christ who also in the time of his being vpon earth did honour Marriage with his first Miracle Ioh. 2. and hast appointed it also for a meanes whereby mankinde is propagated Gen. 2. for a remedy to auoide vnlawfull lust and for the mutuall comfort and consolation of thy Children I humbly entreat thee to giue me the assistance of thy diuine Grace that I may liue according to thy commandements with my wife whom thou hast giuen for my helpe and comfort in this world Mortifie in me all vncleane
Heauen his Fathers bosome did the Lord Iesus behold the earth and had compassion vpon all the Sonnes of men 20 To heare and pitie the groaning of the prisoners such as did groane vnder the burden of the law and to loose and set at liberty by his passion and intercession those of the posterity of Adam that are appointed to suffer death for not fulfilling the same 21 To the end that they being so deliuered may declare and shew the power and the Name of the Lord which is Iesus the Sauiour in Sion his Church and magnifie and extoll his praise in Ierusalem his holy habitation 22 When the faithfull people which are yet dispersed ouer the face of the earth are gathered together and made one congregation and the Kingdomes of the earth which are yet in darknesse are instructed to serue thee the only Lord of Heauen and earth 23 He euen the Lord in the time of this expectation hath weakened and abated my strength so that I can doe no good of my selfe in the way of this my earthly pilgrimage he hath shortned and cut off my dayes by afflicting me for my sinne 24 I said yet in this weakenesse and anguish of my soule O my God withdraw not now thy mercy from me and take me not away out of this world in the midst of my dayes in the chiefe time of my strength as for thy yeeres as they are from all eternity so shall they endure throughout all generations euen for euer 25 Of old at the beginning of time hast thou of thine owne power layd and created the foundations of the earth the visible world anwd all things in it and the heauens and firmament thereof are the onely worke of thy almighty hands and power 26 They euen heauen and earth and all things in them shall passe away and perish from the forme they now haue but thou O Lord the creator of them shalt endure immutable Yea without all doubt all of them as thou hast decreed shall waxe old and consume with age like a garment long worne and as a vesture or garment shalt thou by the sound of the last trump change and dissolue them and they shall yeeld to thy power and be changed 27 But thou O Lord art the same alwayes vnchangeable and thy yeeres being from all eternity shall haue no end but continue for euer 28 The children and posterity of thy faithfull Seruants begotten by the seedes-men of thy Word shall continue in grace in this life and their righteous seed shall stand fast and be established for euer together with them in glory hereafter and enioy euerlasting happinesse before thee in thy blessed presence Glory be to the father c. 6 Psalme 130. 1 OVt of the depth of tentations dangers and sorrowes for my sinnes wherein my Spirit is almost ouerwhelmed haue I by feruent prayer cryed and called vnto thee O Lord who onely art able to giue me reliefe 2. Lord of thy mercy haste thee and heare my voyce and petition and deliuer me from my misery O my God Let thine eares of pitie and compassion be attentiue to consider and well weigh the lamentable voyce of my humble supplications and let not my prayer returne vnpitied or vnheard of thee 3 If thou Lord contrary to thy disposition shouldest be so exact and extreame as in the rigour of thy Iustice to marke the iniquities which we by our naturall corruption dayly fall into and punish vs accordingly O good Lord who none not the most vpright shall be able to answere one for a thousand or stand before thee without much horror at thy Iudgement seate 4 But for the comfort of poore wretched sinners and to keepe vs from vtter desperation we finde it recorded by the holy Spirit that There is forgiuenesse of sinnes and mercy towards sinners repenting with thee by Iesus Christ who came to saue sinners and yet this mercy of thine is tyed with such conditions that thou who also art Iust mayest be also feared lest thy lenity be abused 5 I for my part wait and confidently expect for the Lord to receiue mercy from him My sinfull but repentant soule doth wait to receiue consolation and in his Word whereby he promiseth mercy to repentant sinners doe I hope and place my whole confidence because I know that he which hath promised is Iust 6 My sinfull Soule in this expectation waiteth for the Lord and tarieth his good pleasure to comfort it more earnestly then they that in a disconsolate long night watch for the morning yea I say it againe more zealously then they that are weary of the night and watch for the light of the morning 7 Let Israel and all Gods faithfull people hope still and put their trust in the goodnesse of the Lord and not without cause For with the Lord though hee iustly take vengeance on vs for our sinnes yet there is euer was and will bee found Mercy towards penitent sinners and with him by Iesus Christ is not onely forgiuenesse for a few sinnes but plenteous redemption from the captiuity of the Deuill and sinne 8 And he euen Iesus Christ by his merits and intercession shall redeeme and saue Israel and each of his faithfull seruants from all his iniquities and the punishment due for them Glory be to the Father c. 7 Psalme 134. 1. HEare my earnest and humble Prayer O Lord which in misery I make vnto thee Giue eare and be not deafe to my supplications in the time of my distresse but in thy faithfulnesse and truth which endureth for euer answer me and grant my petition which I make not trusting in any merits of mine owne but in thy righteousnesse 2 And my further petition to thee is that thou enter not into the throne of thy Iudgement by strictly examining my misdeeds and dealing rigorously with me thy poore Seruant who hath misspent his talent for in thy all-seeing sight shall no man liuing in this vale of misery be iustified or found innocent 3 For the old enemie of mankinde the Deuill hath by his malice persecuted and sought to entrap my soule to separate it from the loue of thee he hath smitten and cast my life and soule downe to the ground and filled me full of earthly desires he hath made and caused me to dwell and take pleasure in the darkenesse of my sinnes as those that are without sence and haue beene long dead 4 Therefore O Lord considering my desperate estate is my spirit ouerwhelmed with griefe within me and my heart is disquieted within me and is also desolate and sore troubled 5 I yet in the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart doe remember what I haue read and heard what thou hast done in the dayes of old how that thou hast beene gratious to the penitent and seuere against the vnrepentant sinner I meditate also on all thy workes but especially on that of thy mercy and I muse and exercise my selfe in contemplating on the worke
of thy hands admiring thy Power and Wisedome in the creation of all things 6 I stretch forth and lift vp my hands in my prayers vnto thee O Lord my soule which is drie for want of the deaw of thy grace thirsteth after thee for the water of life as a thirsty land in a time of drought 7 Heare me and answer me speedily delay not O Lord for my spirit waxeth faint and faileth me in my deuotion Oh hide not thy face and louing countenance from me miserable sinner least it come to passe that I bee like in condition vnto them that goe downe headlong after their owne inuentions into the pit of destruction and perdition 8 Cause mee by thy spirit to heare and feele thy louing kindnesse and mercy in the morning speedily least I perish for in thee only and not in the helpe of men or Angels doe I place my whole trust and confidence cause mee by thy grace to know and learne the way of thy testimonies wherein I should and ought to walke without declining to the right hand or the left For I lift vp my soule by prayer and repentance vnto thee who only canst direct me aright 9 Deliuer me O Lord by thy power from all mine enemies visible and inuisible for I flie and make hast for succour vnto thee as to my protector to hide and defend me from their violence 10 Teach and instruct mee that am ignorant to doe thy Will and those things which thou commandest for thou art my God and director Thy Spirit is good and all sufficient for me Lead me therefore by it into the right way which bringeth into the land of righteousnes and truth 11 Quicken mee againe O Lord and reuiue mee from the death of sinne for thy Names sake which is Iesus and for thy righteousnesse sake and loue to goodnesse bring my soule by thy grace out of the trouble and anguish whereinto my sinnes haue brought me 12 And of thy tender mercy and compassion cut of and kill in me mine enemies the concupiscences of the flesh and destroy and confound all them that with iniuries and tentations afflict and disquiet my soule which is wholly deuoted to thee for I am thy Seruant and Sonne of thy handmaid and desire to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of my life Glory be to the Father c. Directions before receiuing the Holy Communion AS many as desire to be partakers of the holy Sacrament of the Bodie and blood of Christ as of necessitte euery one must be that intendeth to receiue benefit by him ought before the taking of it to prepare his soule and fit it for the due receiuing of it and not come to it carelessely without due examination of himselfe and respectiue consideration of the excellency and worth thereof And therefore before the time of communicating wee ought to spend some time or dayes the more the better In meditating vpon the great and vnspeakeable loue and mercy of God toward vs. miserable sinners in ordeining so powerfull a meanes to purge and cleanse vs and bring vs to him In beleeuing all his promises made to vs in Christ Iesus in applying them to our selues in performing the workes of charitie in examining in what estate our soules doe stand in calling to minde our sinnes and confessing them to God in grieuing and repenting for them and that in all humility and Godly sorrow in a Luc. 15.20 returning with the Prodigall smiting our brests with the Publican b Luc. 18.13 weeping with Mary Magdalen begging mercy with the theefe on the Crosse Luc. 7.38 and lastly in promising to God to lead a better life for the time to come Thus if wee doe no doubt but wee shall be welcome guests to this feast as being of that number for whom it was prepared For by how much the more we come prepared to take this Sacrament so much the greater shall bee the grace which we shall receiue by it There are foure Duties required in euery Communicant First Faith to beleeue that Iesus Christ did and suffered all things which are written of him in the Holy Scriptures for the Redemption of mankinde Secondly Repentance by which a man confessing his sinnes to God with a purpose to lead a new life is reconciled to him Thirdly Reuerend behauiour that in all humility we make our selues fit guests for such a feast Fourthly Meditation and Attention that we during the time of the administration of the Sacrament attend no earthly thoughts but wholly fixe our soules vpon our Sauiour Christ and meditate on nothing but this great and high benefit and thereby bee inflamed with a hearty loue and thankefull minde to God not only for his infinite loue in suffering so great things for vs but also for instituting this blessed Sacrament to remaine to the end of the World as a sure pledge of his continuance amongst vs and perpetuall care ouer vs. After we haue communicated and are refreshed wee ought also to be thankfull to God for so great a benefit thankfulnesse being not the least dutie of this seruice The Sacrament it selfe being called Eucharistia which is thankesgiuing and to striue to imitate him as well in life as death to liue purely and not to defile our soules againe being purged and cleansed by the powerfull operation of this blessed Sacrament that so by Examination meditation thankesgiuing faith and constant resolution of amendment Wee may worthily receiue Christ into our soules and be made members of his mysticall bodie Meditations and Prayers before the Communion WHat am I O Lord that I should be so bold as to come neere to thee what am I that should attempt to receiue this so great and high a mystery what is man by nature but a vessell of corruption vnapt to any good and propense and most ready for any euill What is man but a creature of all others most wretched blinde in Iudgement inconstant in his actions vncleane in his desires and though small in desert yet proud and great in his owne conceit Thou seest O Lord what I am But thou O Lord art great good wise and eternall omnipotent in strength wonderfull in wisedome deepe in thy counsells terrible in thy Iudgements and absolutely perfect in all thy workes How then dare I that am so base and vncleane a creature approch to the Feast of so great a God and a Lord of so great Maiestie Behold the Heauens are not cleane in thy sight Iob 15.15 and the pillers of Heauen shake and tremble at thy nod Saint Iohn the Baptist who was sanctified in his mothers wombe professed himselfe not worthy to vnloose the latchâ—t of thy shoes Ioh. 1 27. Saint Peter cried out to thee Luc. 5.8 to depart from him a sinfull man How then can I the chiefe of all sinners but tremble at thy presence O LORD I feare that being thus wretched and vnfit I shall not bee admitted to this Feast but rather
towards God then presently God will withdraw his hand of mercy and bounty from vs. Thankesgiuing I Thanke thee O mercifull Father Lord of heauen and earth for all thy mercies and fauours continually heaped vpon me for that thou hast not onely created me after thine owne Image and likenesse Gen. 9.6 and giuen to me a body with all the parts and members thereof and a soule with all the powers and faculties thereof that with them and by them I might know loue and serue thee but that thou hast so gratiously preserued both body and soule from time to time from all dangers Thou hast alwayes beene my refuge in tribulations and my defence and succour in aduersities When I went astray thou didst reduce me into the right way when I offended thee thou didst gently correct me when I was sad thou didst comfort me and when for the grieuousnesse of my sinnes I was ready to despaire thou of thy mercy and compassion didst strengthen me and keepe me from vtter ruine I acknowledge O Lord thy more then fatherly indulgence toward me from my birth to this present time for volesse thou of thy goodnesse hadst vpheld me I had long ere this time beene drowned and ouerwhelmed in the bottomlesse gulfe of my sinnes But thou hast deliuered me from the iawes of the roaring Lyon who hath daily sought to deuoure me 1. Pet. 5.8 and hast defended me from al his snares and assaults And as thou hast of thy mercy preserued my soule from destruction so thou hast oftentimes deliuered my body from the gates of death when many sickenesses and infirmities tooke hold of me I thanke thee also O Lord for all other thy temporall blessings which thou in plentifull manner hast heaped vpon me as foode rayment wealth possessions and children For my health and liberty for the prerogatiue which thou hast giuen mee ouer all thy creatures in their subiection to my seruice and vse I thanke thee also O Sweete Sauiour for the infinite worke of my Redemption and for thy exceeding great loue in accomplishing that great worke that thou wouldest suffer so many torments sorrowes labours and griefes yea so bitter and disgracefull a death euen the death of malefactors to Redeeme me from a most desperate and certaine state of damantion which I must iustly haue fallen into to a state of Glory and Immortality which I by no meanes could haue deserued I thanke thee also O Lord most holy for all other thy Spirituall graces and blessings as my Regeneration Vocation Sanctification for thy blessed Sacraments for my preseruation and hope of glorification O Lord I am not sufficient to render vnto thee condigne thankes and praises for all these thy mercies yet accept I humbly pray thee these poore and weake thankes which I offer vnto thee according to my bounden duty and Seruice For as there is no houre of my life wherein I doe not enioy thy fauours and taste of thy goodnesse so if my frailty would permit I should spend no time of my life without remembring them and praising and blessing thee for the same Glory bee therefore to thee O Lord my Creator Glory be to thee O Iesus my Redeemer Glory be to thee O Holy Ghost my Sanctifier Glory to the high and vndiuided Trinitie whose workes are inseparable and whose dominion endureth world without end Another ALmightie and euer-liuing God I humbly thanke thy heauenly Maiestie for all thy blessings which thou hast vouchsafed to mee poore and sinfull creature that thou hast created me and giuen to me a body the worke-manship and excellency whereof when I behold and well consider I finde so many seuerall benefits receiued as I haue members veines ioynts sinewes and nerues all which discouer and manifest the wisedome and power of the Maker of them The benefit of which seuerall parts none can so well know as they which want any of them or are grieued with the infirmitie or weakenesse of them I therefore blesse thee that thou hast not created me blinde lame deafe or dumbe euill-shaped or weake in my sences but hast giuen me a sound and right minde in a healthfull body I further praise thy name O Lord for that thou hast infused a soule into this my body a worke so glorious and transcendent that if I were not altogether stupid and void of all Iudgement I would not by my actions account so basely of it as I seeme to doe nor defile it with such impure contemptible and vucleane workes as I daily commit I thanke thee O Lord that I was not borne among Infidels and amongst those who doe not truely call vpon thy Name but in that part of the world where thy Gospell is truely preached and thy Sacraments duely administred I thanke thee also for thy gratious preseruation of me from my birth to this present houre I confesse O Lord that it is of thy mercy and goodnesse that I am thus preserued for if thou shouldest but with-draw thy hand of preseruation from me it could not be but that in the twinckling of an eye I should miserably perish and returne to nothing I thanke thee that thou hast of thy prouidence appointed all thy Creatures for my sustenance and seruice some for health and some for delight Grant O Lord that I may vse them to those ends for which thou hast created them and that by them I may be mooued truely to meditate on thy goodnesse and seriously praise thee for them I further thanke thee O Father that when as by our first parents fall all mankinde was in the state of damnation it pleased thee not to deale with vs as thou diddest with Lucifer whom thou vtterly expelledst thy presence but to send thy onely Sonne from thy bosome into this world that by his bitter death we might be restored to our former estate I acknowledge O Lord that I owe much vnto thee for my Creation but much more for my Redemption For what would it haue profited me nay what misery should I not haue suffered to haue beene borne and afterward to be condemned for euer I thanke thee O Lord that thou hast also vouchsafed to call me out of the depth of darkenesse and shadow of death wherein I lay by the admirable light of thy Iustifying Grace to the true knowledge and loue of thee It is not the least of thy benefits O Lord it sheweth not the least part of thy power that thou hast called me from so vile an estate whereinto I had cast my selfe after Baptisme and in the same had continued many yeeres rebelliously to the estate of Saluation For it must needs be acknowledged that thy mercy is great in pardoning sinners their offences but withall it cannot be denied but that thy power is greater in making sinners righteous and iust Great was the benefit of my Creation but by that act I was only made the Son of man but greater is the benefit of Iustification for thereby in Christ I am made the
the humble and they which are any way deiected when they shall heare thereof how gratious God hath beene to me shall in hope of the like mercy to them reioyce and be glad also 3 O ye whosoeuer haue felt Gods fauour as I haue magnifie and extoll the mercies of the Lord with me for his goodnesse and let vs ioyfully with one accord exalt and praise his Name together 4 I my selfe when I was in trouble sought the Lord by praier and humiliation and hee reiected not my petition but graciously heard me and granted it yea and he not only deliuered me from the danger I was in but from all my feares also which I conceiued at it 5 They also that liued in former Ages our Fore-fathers whensoeuer they were distressed looked vp and cryed vnto him and were releeued by his mercy and lightned by his grace and their faces were not any whit ashamed because they did put their trust in him 6 This poore man euen my selfe cryed by their example in my distresse and the Lord plentifull in compassion gratiously heard him and caused and deliuered him immediately out of all his troubles and calamity 7 The good Angell of the Lord deputed by him for each mans protection encampeth and fortifieth round about them that with an vnfeined heart feare and serue him which Angell preserueth them in all their wayes and deliuereth them from all the machinations of the Deuill and his Angels 8 O taste ye therefore and see make experience and you shall soone finde that the Lord is good and louing to those that faithfully call vpon him and you will also confesse with me and say Blessed and happy is the man that layeth aside all confidence in himselfe and that in all his necessities trusteth in him and his protection 9 O feare reuerence and loue the Lord all ye that by truely beleeuing in him become his Saints and obserue his Commandements for take this as an infallible truth that There is no want to them they shall lacke nothing that is needfull for them that with an vpright heart feare and serue him 10 The young Lyons and mightie men of this world although they thinke themselues happy yet doe they lacke true peace of conscience and suffer hunger and want that which is truely good but they which with a pure heart and humble spirit seeke the Lord and desire to please him shall not want any good thing when the Lord in his Wisedome shall thinke it needfull for them 11 Come therefore O ye children that desire to be informed and with attentiue mindes hearken and giue good eare vnto me that am experienced in the mercies of the Lord and I will teach and instruct you in the feare of the Lord which is the beginning of wisedome 12 What man is he among the sonnes of men that desireth to liue a good life and loueth to spend many dayes so in this life that he may see and enioy good and happy dayes hereafter 13 Keepe first of all thy tongue from speaking euill let that member doe no man wrong and preserue thy lippes from speaking guile or that which is false though it be to thine owne preiudice for the Lord abhorreth lying lippes 14 Depart from euill auoid all things which thou knowest displeasing to God and yet thinke not that sufficient except thou also apply thy selfe to doe that which is good and acceptable to him Seeke peace betweene God and thy selfe thy selfe and thy conscience thy selfe and thy neighbour and if thou shalt finde that peace in any of these particulars shall fly from thee pursue it with all thy might that thou mayst recouer it 15 The prouident eyes of the Lord for thy comfort in taking this course are euer fixed vpon the righteous to preserue them from all euill and to confirme them in all good and his eares of compassion are alwayes open vnto their cry to deliuer them from all distresse 16 The face of displeasure and the angry countenance of the Lord on the contrary is set and bent against them that forsake good and doe euill without remorse of conscience to cut off and root out not only such wicked persons themselues but the very remembrance of them from the face of the earth that there shall remaine no memoriall of them 17 The righteous in their affliction crye and flie vnto God for succour and the Lord in mercy heareth their prayer yea and in his good time deliuereth them out of all their troubles either by aiding them with spirituall comfort that they faint not vnder them or by remouing their afflictions from them or them from their afflictions by taking them into Heauenly ioyes 18 The Lord who hath a continuall care ouer his elect is euer nigh vnto them in comfort that are of a broken and humble heart and alwaies saueth such and no other as are of a contrite and bruised Spirit that they fall not into desperation 19 Many in number and great in waight are the afflictions and troubles of the righteous for they that will liue godly in Christ must suffer persecution but the Lord of his infinite goodnesse forsaketh him not but deliuereth him in due time out of them all that they shall not bee able to doe him harme 20 He euen the Lord keepeth and preserueth all his bones which though the wicked goe about to breake yet notwithstanding all their attempts not so much as one of them is or shall bee broken by them and not only so but the haires of his head are numbred also 21 Euill on the other side shall slay the wicked and turne them to destruction and they whosoeuer they be that hate the righteous whom the Lord loueth shall be desolate and depriued of the comfort of Gods Holy Spirit 22 The Lord by his power and goodnesse redeemeth and saueth the Soule of euery one of his Seruants from all euill and none of them that put their trust and confidence in him and his mercy shall bee left desolate or without consolation Glory be to the Father c. 4 Psalme 103. 1 BLesseâ— and magnifie the Lord thy Creator O my soule for all his mercies and fauours extended to thee and all that is within me holy and pure giue praise vnto and blesse his holy and great Name 2 Blesse the Lord O my Soule I say againe as well for thy creation as for all his other great and glorious workes and at any hand take heed that thou be not ingratefull to him and forget not nor let slip out of thy remembrance all or any of his benefits not only in forming thee after his owne Image as in his continuall care and preseruing thee from many dangers 3 Who only by his power can and of his meere mercy and goodnesse forgiueth all thine iniquities pardoneth all thy sinnes as well actuall as originall how great so euer how many so euer as often as with a pure heart and humble spirit thou repentest thee of them Who like a good Phisitian