there being no hope of mercy left for such offendours that it is to no purpose for mee to pray for as I can not pray as I should otherwise then in hypocrisie so neither if I could pray aright can there bee any accesse vnto the throne of grace for the requests of such a trespasser Notwithstanding O most gracious God euen in despite of his suggestions and amidst all those discouragements which mine own heart mustereth against mee I doe héere aduenture my selfe into thy most glorious presence If I shall find fauour in thine eyes shew me the light of thy countenance and I shall bee safe If thou say I haue no delight in thee behold héere I am do to me as séemeth good in thine owne eyes I knowe what thou hast spoken in thy worde namely that if I draw néere vnto thee thou wilt drawe néere vnto mee and that thou wilt fulfill the desires and accept the vnexpresseable grones and sighings of thy seruants Trueth it is O Lord I dare not say that I draw néere vnto thee as I should or that my desires are such as they ought to be or that I groane vnder my sinnes with such an effectuall and pearcing féeling as is fit All that I am able to doe and that in much weakenesse is to cry fayntly vnto thee Oh draw mee and I will runne after thee make mee to desire thy mercy in sinceritie bruise my heart that it may yeeld out many vndissembled sighings after thee Yet O Lorde though there bee in mee but such poor beginnings of grace suffer me not I beséech thee to cast away my confidence I am well assured that thou hast not forgotten the promise of not breaking the bruised réede nor putting out the smoking flaxe and of giuing a blessing vnto those which hunger after righteousnesse Is it possible O Lorde that thou shouldest leaue off to bee gracious and shut vppe thy tender mercies in displeasure Didst not thou send thy sonne into the world to dye euen for chiefe sinners Is it not true that wheÌ„ sinne abounds there thy grace abouÌ„deth much more Could I euer so much as trulie desire reconciliation with thâ—e vnlesse thou didst worke it in me Is not this request Lord helpe my vnbeliefe the very voyce of thy spirit within me Could I complaine of the hardnesse of my heart or sincerely lothe mine owne corruptions as being displeasing to thy maiestie if thine owne finger had not effected it Should I féele such a combate in my Soule such a tumult within me if thou hadst not truely begun to draw mee to thy selfe Would sathan so continually molest me and so egerly pursue me with variety of most malicious and sharpe assaults if I were still held captiue by him at his will Rayse me vppe therefore O Lord I pray thee refresh my deiected and cast downe soule perfit the work of grace which thou hast begun within mee make mee to heare of ioy and gladnes that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce Thou hast set me as a marke vnto thy selfe thou hast written bitter things against mee and made mee to possesse my former iniquities thou hast hidden thy face from me and taken me for thine enemy coÌ„fort me now according to the dayes that thou hast afflicted me let mee behold thy face in righteousnesse and restore vnto me the ioy of thy saluation Rebuke sathan I most humbly beséech thee though thou please to buffet mee with his messengers yet let thy grace be sufficient for me and make thine owne power in reuiuing mee perfect and manifest by my weakenes which of it sell is ready to bee pressed downe with euery tentation Giue mee that holy wisedome not to belieue sathan no though he speake the trueth inasmuch as he is the father of lyes and neuer speaketh trueth but for a wicked purpose And O Lorde as thou encreasest my comfort so withall encrease my care that I may not fall from perplexitie to securitie but that I may alwayes keep my heart with all diligence proouing my fayth and searching my wayes and exercising my selfe vnto godlinesse Make mee a carefull and an vnderstanding hearer of thy word sith it is the word of life a quickening word a worde which doeth reioyce the heart and because except that be my delight I shall vtterly perish in mine afflictions Make mee circumspect to preuent sinne and fearefull ouer my selfe that sinne may not grow strong vpon me and graunt that I may study to preserue the peace of my conscience aboue all things taking héed of wounding it with presumptuous sinnes And O Lord stablish me with thy frée spirit that albeit sathan séeke to sift me to winnow me as wheat yet my faith may neuer fayle but may be as mouÌ„t ZioÌ„ which caÌ„not be remooued but remaineth for euermore Thus O my gracious God hauing through thy mercy peace in belieuing and ioy in thy holy spirit I shal finish my course in comfort which I pray thee graunt mee for his sake who is the Prince of peace euen Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holy Ghost bée all honour and glory now and for euer Amen 13. A Prayer then needfull when a man hath some speciall combate with some one or moe special sinnes against which hee desireth victory O Louing Father in Iesus Christ it hath pleased thee of thine abundant mercie to giue leaue to euery humbled distressed sinner to pour out his Soule before thee and thou hast bound thy selfe by a promise both to heare and to helpe all those which séeke thée with an vnfained heart The confident assuraÌ„ce hereof hath giueÌ„ me courage albeit most vnworthy to present my self here before thee to conceiue hope that thou wilt not send me empty away Wounded O Lord I am with mine owne hainous sins my vntamed flesh doth alwayes rebel lust against my spirit some good motions and purposes I sometimes haue but alas they are quickely quenched the law of my members so preuaileth that I cannot do the good which I would I haue in me I confesse the séed of euery sin my nature is apt to be wrought vnto any kind of euill But O God there are some principall corruptioÌ„s which do beare in me the greatest sway they do so euen raign in my mortal body that I am forced to obey them in the lusts therof The deuil also is ful of most malicious policie he still worketh vpoÌ„ all aduaÌ„tages out of al things almost taketh occasion to adde fuel to my wicked desires by pleasing delightful baites to lead them on vnto a hellish perfection The more I striue the stronger mee thinketh these corruptions grow which maketh me to feare the vtter quenching of thy gracrs the grieuing of thy holy spirit Hereby my Prayers are interrupted my meditations perplexed and robbed of their wonted swéetnesse my hearing and reading of thy word is made vnprofitable My fayth is encountred with grieuous doubtings because I cannot
with thee and to approue our very thoughts vnto thee Giue vs a sober vse of thy creatures make vs readie to reach out our hands vnto the wants of others beget in vs a godlie iealousie ouer our selues that we may walke circumspectly taking heede to our selues in our eatings in our apparell in our companie in our recreations often considering our wayes and labouring quicklie after euerie error to turne our féete into thy testimonies And Lord cause vs to be earnestlie mindfull of the estate of thy whole Church blesse all kingdomes and states professing thy truth bee gratious especiallie to this our kingdome forgiue the crying sins of the times continue thy gospel disappoint the hope and expectation of all Papists let them perish as manie as haue euill will at Sion discouer Antichrist more and more enlarge the territories of thy church stablish thy kingdome of grace hasten the kingdome of glorie Heape thy blessings vppon our gratious King make him a further instrument of much good vnto thy chosen blesse his Quéen prosper the worke of thine owne handes begun in the young Prince shew mercy to the rest of the royall progenie Be gracious to the Councell to the Court the Nobles the Gentry of the Realme graunt that they may all ayme at the honouring of thee by whom they haue receiued honor amongst men Bee with the Magistracy Ministrie of the Realme make thy word to grow by the labours of those whome thou hast appointed to the seruice of thy church Containe the subiects in their due obedience to authority bring to nought all tumultuous rebellious practises comfort al thine afflicted seruants refresh them with a sweete feeling of thy fauour Giue vs compassionate harts and a fellow feeling of others miseries prepare vs vnto the daie of triall and keepe vs by thy mightie power through faith vnto saluation Graunt vs these good thinges for Christs sake in whose name wee commend our selues and our sutes vnto thee saying as he hath taught vs Our Father c. 2. An Euening Prayer for priuate Families O Lord our GOD most mercifull and gratious in Iesus christ among other thy mercies with which thou doest euen follow vs thy most vnthankfull seruants we acknowledge this to be none of the least that we haue this comfortable freedom of comming into thy presence there to poure out our soules before thee and to laie open our necessities vnto thee We praie thee teach vs to value this priuiledge according to the true worth thereof that wee may come together to the performance of this duty with glad hearts and cheerefull spirits reioycing in it that wee haue opportunitie giuen vs to testifie some part of that great dutie which in manie respects wee owe vnto thy maiestie And now Lorde being come before thee wee cannot but confesse the vilenesse of our estate wee were conceiued in sinne and in sin wee haue continued all our dayes wee haue euen drunke iniquitie like water wee haue drawne it after vs and tyed it vnto vs as with cartropes wickednesse hath beene swéet in our mouth we haue fauoured it and would not forsake it we haue euen made a mocke of sinne and it hath beene a pastime to vs to doe wickedly Thou hast often called vs but we haue still refused thou hast againe and againe stretched out thine hand but wee haue not regarded thou hast sought to reclayme vs but wee haue hardned our neckes as it were yron sinewes and haue hated to be reformed Thou hast waited to haue mercie vppon vs thy spirit hath striuen with vs thy verie bowels haue beene troubled for vs and how graciouslie hast thou called vpon vs by thy word saying Returne yee sonnes of Adam why will ye die Come vnto me and ye shall finde rest for your soules Yet we notwithstanding haue despised thy patience wee haue abused thy goodnes we haue turned thy graces into wantonnesse and haue giuen thee cause to heape vppon vs all those fearefull plagues and punishmentes which in the extreamitie of thy law are belonging to the wicked When we looke into our hearts we see nothing but a confused heape of grosse corruptions vanitie ignorance frowardnes vnteachablenes dulnes vnwillingnes and vnaptnes vnto good pronenesse readines to any manner of euill secure irreligious profane vncleane enuious couetous and gréedy thoughts peruerse and disordred affections all these as it were marching together to rebell against thee and leading vs captiue vnto sinne The verie wisedome of our flesh is death and the spirits of our minds are defiled when we look forth into our liues wee behold sinnes more in number then the haires of our head when wee take view of our selues in the glasse of thy Law we can see in our bodies and soules in our outward and inward man nothing but vglines and deformitie Yea the sinnes of this one daie are sufficient to bring downe vppon vs the eternall weight of thy displeasur How negligent haue we béen in our callings how haue we yeelded to our own vnbridled lusts in the vse of thy creatures how haue we cherished in our selues worldlie carnall and voluptuous thoughts howe many blessings haue we vnthankefully enioyed neuer thinking vpon thee which didst bestow them how haue wee misspent this pretious time which thou vouchsafest vs how manie good opportunities haue we let slip by which wee might haue edified our selues done good to others howe negligentlie haue wee kept our heartes by meanes whereof sathan hath got great vantage against vs how slenderlie haue wee bewailed the iniquities of the times howe poorelie haue wee striuen against our owne corruptions O LORD if thou shouldest straightlie marke our iniquities O Lord how shall wee stand where shall we appeare what shal become of vs what answere shall wee bee able to make thée to one of a thousand And yet most gratious God which is worst of all custome in euill hath bred such a hardnesse in vs and hath brought such a crust vpon our consciences that wee cannot be perswaded that thy wrath is so terrible or our sinne so greeuous or our estate so wofull as indeede it is Hence it commeth that we do not stand in such awe of thy maiestie as we should we doe not so tremble at thy iustice nor esteeme thy promises and mercies as we ought to doe wee beseech thée therefore to take the stony hearts out of our bodies and to put newe spirites into our bowels that wee maie with feeling and with a liuelie and sensible apprehension confesse our selues to bee as we are poore and wretched and miserable and blind naked such as in whom there is no goodnes such as to whom there is nothing due but shame and confusion of face for euer And héere Lord according to that measure of spirituall féeling which by thy grace wee haue attayned to wée doe vtterlie renounce our selues wee doe whollie disclaime all hope of help by our selues we account all that is in vs but as drosse and dung and
furtherance of my humiliation sorow cause me O Lord to search to try my wayes to call my selfe to a straite account that I may sée my sins in particular the vanitie of my heart my extreame deadnes securitie my pride hautines of spirit my backwardnesse to all good seruices my worldly-mindednesse my ambitious rising and crauing thoughts my want of charity mercy to others my miscariage in my place calling my idle vnbeséeming speaches my offensiue scandalous behauiour thus O Lord make me carefull to rip vp my heart and life that so I may set my sins in order before me may thereby become the more humble the more forward to cast down my selfe before thee to iudge my selfe that I may not be iudged of thee Yet withall most gratious God make me able in the middest of all this to reach out the hand of faith to lay hold vpō Iesus Christ whō thou hast ordained to be the recōciliatiō for my sins I know O Lord the vertue of his blood that it can make my sins though they were as crimsm yet to become as white as snowe O then I beséech thee couer my filthy nakednesse with his glorious righteousnesse cloth me with the garments of his Saluatiō that so therby I may be holy and vnblameable without fault in thy sight Speake peace vnto my Conscience by thy holy Spirit Say vnto my soule I am thy Saluation My fayth O Lorde is but weake and poore strengthen it I beséech thée and bring it forward by thy mighty working vnto more perfection Thou hast promised not to quench the smoking flaxe nor to breake the bruised réede beare then I pray thee with my scantnesse and helpe my vnbeliefe perfite the worke of thy owne hands performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ My fayth is that I must liue by it is my victorie thou O Lord in mercy hast begun it cherish it I beséech thée together with all those graces which accompany saluation that they may bee in mee as a well of water springing vppe into euerlasting life And graunt that I may not be presumingly secure touching mine owne estate but may euer and anone bee proouing and examining my selfe whether I am in the fayth or no and that I may also study and striue to giue euidence of my fayth by shewing forth good works and by bringing foorth good fruite euen fruite worthy amendement of life I am compassed about with many weakenesses and as I haue found by the experience of this one day Sathan is full of malicious cunning to worke vpon all aduantages O Lorde strengthen mee to resist him giue mee holy wisedome to to discouer his sleights and grace to withstand his most sharpe assaults Arme mee also against the reproches and obloquies of the worlde I haue learned in thy word that if I serue thee in sinceritie my name shall bée put out as euill amongst men giue mée both care to cary my selfe out of the reach of iust exception and resolution also to sacrifice my credit estimation yea euen my life it selfe if néed be to thy glory Teach mee to learne of the author and finisher of my fayth to despise the shame and to endure the speaking against of sinners in respect of that eternall waight of ioy and glorie which is set before me And now Lorde with the bowing of my Soule I blesse thy name for this daies preseruation How many euils haue I escaped to which I was subiect by nature and to which I had made my selfe subiect through sin It is thou Lord onely which makest mee to dwell in safety Stretch out the wings of thy grace protectiō ouer me this night though sléepe seize vpon the eyes of my body yet let not securitie oppresse my soule kéepe mée from idle fancies from vaine dreames giue me a sober and sanctified vse of al outward refreshings that I may alwayes in all things ayme at this one thing namely how I may be the better fitted to serue thee faythfully in my place and calling and that for Christ Iesus his sake thy onely Sonne and through thy mercy my louing Sauiour Amen 5. A more particular Morning Prayer on the beginning of a Sabbath day MAnifold O Lorde are thy mercies thy goodnesse is infinite In euery particular which befalleth mee I haue aboundant experience of thy loue It is much most gratious God that I which haue so many wayes prouoked thee should bee let to liue to behold the light and comfort of the day But much more is it that hauing béene heretofore a profaner of thy holy day a barren and an hypocriticall professor of thy word a fruitlesse and an vnprofitable hearer I should yet enioy the blessed opportunitie of another Sabaoth How iustly mightst thou long since haue fatted vp my heart and giuen mee ouer vnto a reprobate mind taking from me the comfortable and happie freedome of going into thy house and of giuing attendance vpon the postes of thy doores O teach mee I pray theée to value thy mercy in this behalfe according to the true worth thereof Suffer me not slightly to entertaine either this or any other of thy fauours And as thou hast brought mee to the beginning of this holy rest so enable me I beséech thee to thee sanctifying it and to such a kind of spending the same as thou requirest Teach mee to remember that it is thine owne ordinance euen one of those vnchangeable lawes which thou wrotest with thine owne finger that this day should after a more speciall manner be diuerted deuoted to thy seruice that thou hast not therefore restrained outward imployments in our callings because idelenes pleaseth thee or because ease giuen vnto the flesh is a part of thy worship but that thou hast in thy infinite wisedome so appointed it that being fréed from all other encombrances we might wholy apply our selues eyther to the publique or priuate exercises of godlinesse Giue mee therefore grace I most humbly entreat thee that I may call thy Sabbaoth a delight to consecrate it as glorious vnto thee and that I may beware of doing mine owne waies or of séeking mine own will or of speaking vaine words and may euen bind my selfe to a serious and continued course of seruing thée in the practise of such dueties as belong to the hallowing of this day I know O Lord that herein I shall méet with many lets mine owne corrupt nature will repine thinke this a yoke and a burden that cannot be endured abroad in the world I shall sée many vaine fashions followed by great troupes making thy day a day of carnal pleasure I shall be derided and scorned if I refuse to doe as others doe I shal méet also with many cunning perswaders which will séeke by plausible reasons to draw mee from diligence and constancy in this course O Lorde I beséech thée euen with the bowing of my heart to make me strong against all
therunto make vs we beséech thée willingly and readily to subscribe to desire both his life our own onely so far forth as may be for his and our further good in the more diligēt zealous aduancement of thy glory Frame him also we pray thee vnto the like yéelding and so blesse vnto him this visitation that by it he may be more and more hūbled in the sight of his owne sinnes may encrease withall in an vnfayned and longing desire after Christ Enlighten his eyes that hee may know what is the hope of his calling what is the excéeding greatnes of thy mercy and power towards all belieuers Strengthen his faith that hee may with it vtterly renouncing himselfe lay fast holde vpon the merites of our onely Sauiour Protect him against sathan blunt the edge of his assaults that they may neuer wound him to despaire Remooue from him a dull spirit and all secure and hardned thoughts all worldly desires al lingring after the deceiuing swéetnesse of these earthly things Giue him patience to beare constancy to endure whatsoeuer it shal be thy pleasure to inflict Vouchsafe him comfort in conscience ioy in the spirit peace in belieuing together with a setled and wel grounded exspectation of eternall life and saluation by thy Sonne Graunt to vs tender and féeling hearts that both his sorrowes and the griefes of other of thy seruāts may be apprehended by vs as if they were our owne Let thy word of grace bee in our lips that we may be able to speak holily soundly and chéerefully to the comfort of his soule Teach vs in him and in this house of mourning to sée the ende of vs all and to lay it to our hearts that so wee may labour to bee prepared for our last departure All these graces both for him and for our selues we begge in all humilitie at thy mercifull hands in the name and worthines of thy beloued Sonne calling further on thee as hee hath taught vs in his word Our Father c. 18. A thankesgiuing for a sicke man if God be pleased to send recouery SVffer me not O Lord to be in the number of those who are forward to aske in the time of neede but carelesse to shew themselues thankefull when mercy is bestowed Make me as desirous to come vnto thee with this sacrifice of prayse as I was ready to beg ease and refreshing in the day of my great necessitie Thou hast chastened me O gratious God and corrected me but thou hast not giuen mee ouer vnto death I looked to haue beene cleane depriued of the residue of my yeares and thought I should haue séene man no more among the inhabitants of the world but it was thy pleasure to deliuer my Soule from the pit of corruptiō Oh what shal I render vnto thee for this and all other thy benefits towards mee Oh how and by what meanes shal I shew my selfe thankefull to thy Maiestie I haue nothing O Lord to render thee but the calues of my lips accept my seruice I beséech thée in Iesus Christ and let not the memory of this thy kindnesse dye within me but graunt that I may often recount thy mercy working there-with vpon mine owne heart and applying it as an effectuall motiue to obedience Make me euer mindfull of the vowes promises which I made in my sicknesse to serue thee more faithfully then heretofore that I may make conscience to performe them knowing that thou delightest not in fooles that by my neglect herein I shall lay my selfe open vnto a greater iudgement Teach me also to remember this that albeit thou hast now giuen me some little respite yet I must not deceiue my selfe in putting far off the day of my death but that I ought rather to vse my health strength to the better fitting and more effectuall preparing my selfe thereunto Together with the encrease of bodily and outward strength encrease in me strength of care to walk with thee and to approoue my selfe vnto thee in al holy cōuersation and godlinesse being more zealous in Religion more watchfull ouer my wayes more earnest in Prayer more feruent in Spirit more carefull to profite by thy Word more faithful in my place and calling then heretofore alwayes looking for the blessed hope and appearing of Iesus Christ my Sauiour to whom with thee the holy Ghost let my heart féelingly effectually giue all honour prayse might maiestie and dominion both now and for euer Amen 19. A Prayer for a woman in the time of her trauaile O Lord I now finde by experience the trueth certaintie of thy word the smart of that punishment which thou laidst vpon me being in the loynes of my Grād-mother Eue for my disobediēce towards thee Thou hast greatly encreased the sorowes of our sex our bearing of children is ful of paine Teach me by this to sée the desert of sinne and to grow into the hatred of that which hath brought into the world such store of miserie Giue mee true repentance pardon for my sinnes past that they may not stand at this time in this my néed betwixt me thy mercy Giue mee a comfortable féeling of thy loue in Christ which may swéeten all other pangs thogh neuer so violent or extreame Make mee still to lift vp my Soule vnto thee in my greatest anguish knowing that thou alone must giue a blessing to the ordinarie meanes for my safe deliuery Strengthen my weake body to the bearing of what sorrow soeuer by which it shall séeme good vnto thee to take triall of me Make mee to remember that howsoeuer it be with me yet I am alwayes in thy hād whose mercyes fayle not and which canst giue issue to the greatest paine And when thou hast safely giuen mee the exspected fruite of my wombe make mee with a thankefull heart to consecrate both it and the residue of my life to thy seruice through Iesus Christ my Sauiour and Redeemer Amen 20. A Thankesgiuing after deliuery BLessed bee thy great Name O my most deare louing Father for thy large mercy to me most weake sinfull woman Thou hast shewed thy power in my frailtie and thy louing kindnesse hath preuailed against my vnworthinesse Thou mightest for my sinnes haue left mee to perish in my great extremitie but thou hast compassed me about with ioyfull deliuerance Maruailous O Lord are thy workes infinite are thy mercyes and my Soule by present experience knoweth it well O my Soule prayse thou the Lord and all that is within mee praise his holy Name My Soule prayse thou the Lorde and forget not all his benefits hee hath heard thy Prayers hee hath looked vpon thy sorrowe hee hath forgiuen thine iniquities he hath healed thine infirmities hee hath redéemed thy life from the graue hée hath euen crowned thée with compassions Oh giue mee I beséech thee a thankefull heart not only now while the memorie sense of thy fauor is fresh before me but
and all other needfull fauours in and for Christ Iesus sake Amen 24. A Prayer for a man trauailing by Sea about his lawfull businesse O Heauenly Father vnto whose eares the Prayers of humbled sinners haue fréedome of accesse out of euery place let it please thee to encline to me who being prouoked by mine owne present néede and taking heart vnto my selfe by thy liberall large promises doe desire to powre out my Soule before thy Maiestie Heere O Lord by reason of the calling and place in which it hath béene thy prouidence to ranke mee I am come downe to the sea in a Ship and I doe now sée thy workes and continually beholde thy wonders in this déepe How easie a thing is it vnto thee when thou raysest a storme liftest vp the waues not only to tosse vs to and fro and to make vs stagger like a drunken man but vtterly to swallow vs vp and to turne vpon our heads in a moment the bottome of these mouing houses in which wee are It is thy great and excéeding mercy that these swelling billowes foaming surges doe not drinke vs in and so make our bodyes to become as a prey eyther to that great Leuiathan the Whale whom thou hast made to play here or to some other of thy creatures with â—…ire varietie and troupes whereof this vast body is replenished But it is euen thou O mightie Lord which layedst the foundations of the earth which diddest shut vp the Sea with doores thou didst first gather these waters together as vpon an heape and storedst vp the depths in thy treasures thogh the waues are maruailous though the floods lift vp their voyce though the waters rage and be troubled and the very mouÌ„taines shake at the surges of the same yet thou art much more mightie thou soone appeasest the noise and turnest the storme into a calme Look gratiously therfore vpon mee I beséech thée teach mée to vnderstand the greatnes of thy terror by that fearfulnes of thy creatures which I do still behold Cause me to rest my hope and comfort vpon the power of thy mercie let that be the anchor of my Soule both sure and stedfast And lest my sins not being pardoned should be a hinderance stoppage to thy fauor I pray thee settle in mee an hearty vnfained detestation of them a godly griefe and sorrow for them a stedfast resolution and purpose in the whole course of my life to striue against them Open my heart that I may often earnestly sue and entreate for thy grace in thy son and may neuer giue ouer till I féele in my conscience some comfortable assurance that thou hast forgiuen me Fit prepare me to thine owne appointments If it be thy pleasure that I should heere ende my dayes I know well that the soule which thou kéepest cannot miscary To thee therfore I coÌ„mend my spirit forsake mee not I pray thee in my last breathing Albeit these waues may ouerwhelme my body yet let them not bee able to quench my comfort or to plunge mee downe into despaire Graunt me euer to lay fast hold vpon my Sauiour that neither sea death nor hell may separate mee from his grace And if it shal séeme good vnto thee to bring me safe vnto that hauen where I would be Oh that I may neuer forget thy kindnesse but may make conscience to performe that obedience which I am now ready to vowe in my necessitie Make me alwayes to take as great delight to serue thée as I am now forward to aske and desirous to receiue life and safety from thée Heare me O Lord in these and other my petitions forgiuing my vnworthinesse in the merites of Iesus Christ thy blessed Sonne and my great Redéemer Amen 25. A Prayer applyed to the state and condition of a malefator condemned by law to dy and drawing neere to the time of his execution VOuchsafe O thou God of all mercie and compassion to looke with pity vpon the most wofull case of a poore wretch ready by the sword of Iustice to bee cut off as vnworthy to liue amongst men like also without thy spéedy fauor to be shut out of heauen and to haue my part in the second death Trueth it is O Lorde that all this though it bée grieuous yet is no more then my desert and touching that bodily death whereto I am adiudged I must confesse it to bee thy mercie and goodnesse toward me that I haue béene found out by the eye of the Maigstrate and stopped by the power of authoritie from going on into further euill I beséech thée that my death may bee both a chastizement to mee and an aduertizement to others to containe themselues within the listes of ciuill obedience But concerning my Soule which is now ere long to appeare before the Tribunall seate of thy great Maiestie I humbly pray thee to be mercifull thereunto I cannot but acknowledge that if thou giue me my due recoÌ„pense I must néeds be thrust into that dreadfull place of infinite eternall torment which thou hast prepared for the wicked the burning whereof is fire and much wood and which thy breath like a riuer of brimstone doth kindle neither sée I in my self or in any creature any means or possibilitie to escape Fearefull vnto mee hath beene the face of an earthly Iudge the sentence of death to bee inflicted vpoÌ„ this my house of clay hath made my heart to quake within mee What then will become of mee when I shall be arraigned before thee at whose rebuking the very fouÌ„dations of the earth are discouered before whom no man liuing can be iustified Thou O Lorde knowest all mine iniquities they are sealed vp with thee as in a hugge they are all noted in thy registers Although I haue many times sought for the couering of my euill wayes to hide my selfe in the darkenesse of the night supposing that no eye should sée me yet thou hast still compassed my pathes and beene accustomed to all my wayes there hath not bin a thought in my heart or a worde in my tongue but thou hast wholly knowen it Often haue I said in my heart God will not regard he hath forgotten hee hideth away his face wil neuer sée I shal neuer be mooued nor be in danger Thy word I had no delight to heare I hated knowledge I would none of thy couÌ„sel I sought to damme vp the mouth of my coÌ„science that it might not check me when my friends admonished me I hated scorned their reproofe Thus it was a pastime to mée to doe naughtily wickednesse was swéete in my mouth I fauoured it and would not be perswaded to forsake it Iustly therefore O Lord hast thou thus ouertaken me and made me to eat the fruit of my owne way bringing me to be a spectacle to the world to dye as one of the fooles of the people Yet O gratious God sith there is mercy with thee and that thou art
our forgetting thee in the dayes of our plenty but chiefly our loathing of that spirituall Mannah that heauenly diet of thy sacred Word prouided in thy abundant mercy for our Soules O make vs ashamed for these and other our monstrous sins besides those personall euils wherewith we are each of vs iustly to be charged Beget in vs a care to renounce and forsake our sinnes equall to our desire for the putting away of thy iudgements Forgiue vs in Iesus Christ and vouchsafe vs as a pledge of thy loue strength and grace to walke in a greater measure of obedience then heretofore And now O Lord teach vs to rely vpon thy prouiding and to know that when all things faile yet thy mercies are the same and thy power to help is not diminished Thou canst suddenly by meanes to mā vnknowen turne the greatest penury into plenty thou canst make a little to stretch farre and canst proportion our appetites to our store O make vs to depend on thee and to study more how to profite by thy hand then to haue thy rod remooued from vs. And when thou shalt shew thy selfe to haue heard our Prayers by sending greater plenty let vs not forget our present want but graunt that we may labour to bee thankefull and endeauour after a more sober vse of thy blessings then heretofore Heare vs in this and in all other our requests for Christes sake and for thine owne promise sake Amen * ⎠* 29. Another like applyed to the time of some great contagion WHither shall wee goe O Lorde in the day of our affliction but onely vnto thee Thou alone canst saue and out of thy hands none is able to giue deliuerāce Heauy at this time is thy hand vpon vs and fearefull is the disease with which thou hast afflicted vs Wee are afrayde one friend and neighbour of another and nothing is before vs but present death Scarsely can we looke foorth but we sée some one or other amongst vs caried away to the graue the mourners going about the streets Wée must needes confesse that though this he grieuous yet it is the smallest part of our desert It is iust with thee to smite vs with botches and scabs that cannot bee healed and to make the pestilence euen to cleaue vnto our loines and to swéep vs away from off the earth euen as a man swéepeth away doung till all bee gone For how haue we multiplied our iniquities before thee and to what a shamelesse and intolerable measure are our sinnes encreased Many warnings haue béene giuen by thy Ministers thou hast risen early and late and sent vnto vs by them yet wee haue made our hearts as an Adamant stone and haue put farre from vs the euill day perswading our selues that their sermons were but wind and that they did but commend vnto vs their own fancies Thus haue we encouraged our selues in euill and haue set thy iudgements at nought euery one turning to his owne course as the horse rusheth to the battell adding drunkennesse to thirst and falling away from thee more and more But O Lorde giue vs now at the last remorsefull and repentant hearts make vs as it were to smite vpon our thigh as a signe that wee see our wandrings and that we are ashamed of our sinnes Embolden vs in the name of Christ to come into thy presence and in all earnestnesse of spirit to cry vnto thee Take away our iniquities and receiue vs graciously Teach vs as well to feare sinne the cause of this wasting sickenesse as we doe the sicknesse it selfe which is the fruite of sinne Comfort vs according to the dayes that thou hast afflicted vs and let the swéet feeling of the gracious testimony of thy Spirit speaking peace vnto our soules preuaile against all other sadnes or cause of griefe or sorrow whatsoeuer Say O Lord vnto thy destroying Angel It is sufficient holde thy hand Or if it be thy pleasure to stretch thine hand yet further and to take vs away also O prepare vs to thine owne purpose endue vs with a holy patience to endure the vtmost triall and graunt that whatsoeuer befall our earthly tabernacles yet our soules may bee alwayes acceptable vnto thee and al for Christ Iesus sake who hath loued vs giuen himselfe to be a sacrifice of a swéet smelling sauor vnto thee Amen 30. A Meditation or Prayer necessary for a poore man TRueth it is O Lorde that to my mutinous repining nature want is of all things most distastful and pouertie is a burden euen intolerable Sometimes I am ready to call thy iustice in question who measurest out so large ouerflowing a portion vnto some and yet art so strait and sparing towards mee Sometimes do almost condemne Religion to be méerely vanity the louers whereof lye open to so great extremitie Otherwhiles my owne heart chargeth me with hypocrisie telling me that no man euer perished being an innocent and that if I did so feare thee as I should thou couldest not thus forsake mee And much adoe haue I to master my owne affections and to restraine my selfe from putting foorth my hand to wickednesse and from taking some strāge course for my own supply Thus O Lorde I am straitened thus I am euen haunted with whole troupes of vnquiet thoughtes all which by the continuance and enlargement of my owne scarcitie and by the vncompassionatenesse which I finde among the men of this yron age are rather multiplyed and encreased in mee then any way slaked or diminished But eternally blessed bee thy great Name which hast opened the gates of thy mercy giuen hope of hearing and of help to the basest and poorest amongst men Thou acceptest not the persons no not of Princes thou regardest not the rich sooner then the poore Behold therefore O louing Father in Iesus Christ to thee doe I cry to thy Mercy-seat doe I stretch out my féeble hands I haue learned O Lorde that miserie commeth not foorth of the dust neither doeth affliction spring out of the earth the pillars of the world are thine thou openest or shuttest thy hand at thine owne pleasure Thy wisedom also is infinite and thy iudgements are vnsearcheable who shall pleade with thee to aske thee a reason of thy wayes Let it bee inough for mee that it is thy pleasure thus to debase mee Am I not in thy hand as the clay in the potters If thou doe giue me a larger portion it is thy bounty if thou doe abridge me what haue I to complain or what challenge can I make to that which thou keepest from mée Teach mee I beséech thee not to look so much vpon this what others haue as to consider well how little I for my part doe deserue to haue If I doe but breath vpon the face of the earth if I had no house but the open ayre no garments but ragges no food but the bread and the water of affliction or the crummes that fal from some rich mans
very ready to forgiue be fauourable I entreat thee to mee a most vnworthy sinner Manasse being put in fetters and bound in chaines prayed vnto thee and humbled himselfe greatly before thee in his tribulation thou wast entreated of him The womā of Canaan whom thou tearmedst to be no better then a dog yet thou diddest afforde her some crummes of thy mercy and didst cause it to bee vnto her as she desired The thiefe at his execution confessed his sinne prayed to bee remembred in thy kingdome thou didst promise him an entrance into Paradise O Lord are not these things written for my learning that I through the comfort of these examples might haue hope Hath thy Word spoken it in vaine that at what time soeuer a sinner sigheth vnto thée thou wilt put all his wickednesse from before thée Shall I thinke that thou wilt call mee being laden with my sinnes to come vnto thee and then when I come wilt not accept mee Make me I pray thee to sée the depth of my sinnes that I may not beguile my Soule by lessening eyther the weight or number of mine iniquities Worke me to a true and vndissembled acknowledgement and confession of them euen before others that they which sée my end and know mine euill may haue some euidence of my repentance and may learne by me to beware of the deceitfulnesse of sinne Enable me to looke with the eye of my faith vpon my crucified Sauior casting my self wholly vpon him and desiring by him to bee hidden from thy wrath Giue mee some taste of thy loue and some inward and secret pledge of thy being reconciled to mee for his sake Strengthen mee against the feare of death that albeit I haue euery way iust cause to tremble at it it being both the desert of my offence to men the wages of my sinne against thee yet hauing some assurance in my Soule that the sting thereof is plucked out I may embrace it in my bosome and entertaine it as an end appointed for my miserie as a meanes to bring me vnto happines Thus O Lord with fulnesse of desire out of the bottome of this misery and shame which I am fallen into to fly vnto thy mercy and to be shrouded vnder the shadow of thy grace I commend my selfe my soule and my body into thy hands praying thée not to cast off him which hath no hope but onely in thée and that alone in and by Iesus Christ my only Lord and Sauiour Amen 26. A Prayer rising out of the serious meditation of the last Iudgement O Lord thou hast reuealed it in thy holy Word that the fashion and figure of this world must passe away that as by appointment wee must all dye so also wée must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ and that from thence some shal go into euerlasting paine and some into life eternall This the Atheists and Epicures and Libertines of the world doe thinke to bee but a méere fable they say in their hearts The Lord will doe neither good nor euill But yet O Lord as thou hast deliuerd this in thy Word of which one iote nor tittle shall not perish so thou hast not left it without a sufficient proofe in the very bosome of euery mā The accusing or excusing of our owne thoughts the secret checks accompanying those euils to which none is priuy the feares of wicked men who are continually as one that trauaileth of child flying oft times when none pursueth them and being chased at the very shaking of a leafe are an euident proofe of thy prouidence and a certaine assurāce written as with a point of a Diamond which can neuer be done out that verely there is fruite for the righteous and doubtles there is a God that iudgeth the earth This truth O Lord my God thou hast taught mee to belieue and I make no doubt but it shall shortly come to passe It was sayd long since that the Iudge did stand before the doore and that hee which should come would come would not tary and now the height of iniquitie is such and sinne is grown to that perfection that it cannot stand with thy Iustice much longer to forbeare Teach me I pray thee as I doe know belieue this so to make a true profitable vse of my knowledge Let it bee euer in my thoughts and in my best and most serious meditations whē I am about by the prouenesse of my corrupted nature to doe euill let the remembrance hereof be a bridle to me to restrayne me when I am like by the iniquitie of the times to suffer euill among men let the exspectation of the right which thou wilt then do to the oppressed be a comfort to mee to refresh me Especially O Lord grant mee to keep daily as it were a priuy sessions in the closet of mine owne heart arraigning my selfe before thy iudgement seat searching and trying my wayes accusing my selfe before thee frō whom nothing can be hid confessing my vnworthinesse bewailing my corruptions suing with al instant earnestnesse for thy grace fauour in thy Son O that I may learn thus to iudge my selfe that I may not be iudged of thee in that day Suffer me not to flatter my selfe or to blesse my Soule in any euill way or to goe about to finde hidings and couerts for my sinnes inasmuch as all things are naked in thy sight and that in that great terrible day thou wilt lighten the things which are hid in darkenesse and make manifest the counsell of all mens hearts Let mee not imagine this thy great session to be like the courses among men in which oft times by vniust meanes the vilest offenders do procure escapes but make me to know as the trueth is that with thée there is no hope by corruptiō or fauour or fraud or importunitie of sute to find euasions Thou art the Iudge of all the world and thou wilt doe right euery man shall receiue the things which haue beene done in his body according to that he hath done whether it bée good or euill And whereas O Lord it is a great griefe to thy seruants to liue among the vngodly it must néedes vexe their righteous soules to heare and sée their vnlawfull deeds let this be my comfort that though it be thy pleasure to suffer with long patience the vessels of wrath to permit the tares to growe vppe with the Wheate vntill the haruest yet then thy Angels shall come and shall gather out of thy Church all things that offend and bring the iust into the kingdome of their father Seeing also O gratious God that whosoeuer in this world wil liue godly shall suffer and ly open to the wrongs and iniuries and reproches of the wicked Grant that if at any time eyther my name be put out as euill or otherwise my estate or profession or life for thy trueths sake be called into question I may possesse my Soule with