me be once truly renewed by thy grace and setled in thy service that I never slip nor slide back but grant unto me most mercifull Father a sure and setled dependance upon thee so that in all my wordt workâ— and deeds I may rejoyce in serving fearing and obeying thee and that I may spend all the residue of my dayes truly serving thee seeking to glorifie thy Name and magnifie thy goodnesse unto me so long as it shall please thâ—e to lend me breath to this fâ—aile body And mercifull Father favourably governe and guide help instruct and teach me in thy wiâ—dom to magnifie thy holy Name multiply and increaâ—e thy mercies on me O Lord preserve and prospâ—r me in all my waies and works and all about me remember thy poore flock build up thy Church renew Sion governe assist and blesse all pain ull Preachers and Pastors of thy Word teach them and us understanding rihgtly to know thee and truly to follow thee awake my drowsie soule defend it from evill imaginations keep me in holy and heavenly meditations grant me to observe thy waies so that I may walke in piety and peace set my sinnes so before mine eyes that when I look back on them I may with sorrow weep lament and repent my time past which hath been spent so wickedly or unprofitably O powerfull Preserver remember me restore me to joy and comfort and hasten in time thy salvation unto me Draw my lingring soule and it shall run after thee turne me unto thee with all williâ—gnesse come thou neare unto me gâ—â—d Lord and dâ—clare and shew thy mercies on me estâ—blish me in grace excite me to goodâ—â—sse Give me grace that I may alwaies grow stronger and â—â—â—â—â—ger to walke before thee weaker and weâ—ker to sinne faithfull and â—â—â—me in thy service Grant this deare Gâ—d and mercifull Father for Christ Ieâ—us his sake our Saviour and Redeâ—mer Amen A Prayer in time of Warre O Glorious Lord God and everlasting Father we intreat theâ— mercifully to looke downe upon us and hearken unto our complaintâ— and desires and grant we beseech thee our requests O gracious Father thou knowest nor sinnes and our iniquities are not hid from thee they lye open to thy Judgements yet we know that thy mercies are the cure of our miseries and when wâ— fly to thee thou drawest neare to us we beseech thee now to be favourable and spare us for all our sinneâ— past and be ready to deliver us from sinnes to come looke down in mercy upon us and as thou hast been ouâ— everlasting defence so now defenâ— us from the rage of our enemies goâ— in ond out O Lord before our Armies before our Generalls before ouâ— Fleets and Commanders And granâ— we may be thy Souldiers to fight under thy Banner stirre up our hearts and strength against the enemy defend thy afflicted Flock remember we beseech thee the burthen of misery laid upon thy Church in this time in these our Kingdomes and elsewhere and in thy due time restore them to their former glory Settle our hearts and affections to regaine and recover that which hath been lost and grant that we seeing their double dealing may no longer trust to them which have no truth they imagine mischief in their hearts and are set on fire to doe ill but breake thou the knot of their malice lay open their plots discover their devices weaken their Armies over-throw their Inventions confound their Councels and consume their numbers O Lord thou hast in times past made the Starres to fight in order the Sun to stand still the Seas to devoure the Winds to overthrow thy enemies So now O Lord cause these thy Creatures to assist and help us and our distressed Neighbours that all the world may know It is thou that fightest our Battels and undertakest our cause Finally O Lord blesse we beseech thee us and every one of us in what we shall take in hand for defence of thy Church and Truth blesse we intreat thee our King and Parliament our State and Clergy our Communalty and give thy blessing unto us all and last of all blesse we beseech thee all the worthy Companies of Souldiers in Cities and all other places in the Land blesse O Lord their inventions of Warre and make them expert by their practises prosper all their undertakings so that all the world may know that thou art the Guider of our Councells and Leader of our Armies Grant this deare Father and all other good things unto us for the good of the Church amongst us and the reliefe of others by us now and ever for Christ Jesus sake our only Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for Gods protection of his Church in respect of the present troubles of it ALmighty God the Lord of Hosts and Governour of all things whose power no Creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners and to be mercifull to them that truly repent Worke in us and in all thy people unfained and effectuall repentance that what thou seest amisse in us and amongst us or in any parts of thy Church may speedily and thorowly be reformed that which is righteous and good in thy sight may be established and maintained especially in this our Land and other places professing thy Truth and Gospell and in the meane time while we strive after that which may be most agreeable to thy holy Will as it is revealed in thy holy Word be mercifull unto us and bring us on as thou seest it needfull evermore supporting us in our most gracious Shepherd by thy staffe of comfort And thou Sonne of David that knowest the mercilesse condition of Satan and cruell men his cursed Instruments we humbly beseech thee never to deliver us over into their power but save and defend us and all thy people evermore from the hands of all our enemies both bodily and ghostly And more particularly at this time we earnestly beseech thee O heavenly Father by the mediation of thy Sonne Jesus our only Mediator to be mercifull to those that are joyned with us or stand out for thy Truth or any righteous Cause and give that issue to the present troubles of thy Church as may make most for thy glory the advancement of thy Truth and Gospell the reliefe of all thy distressed people in all those parts of thy troubled Church and for the establishing of truth and peace in this our Land May it please thee once to free all our Brethren from the dominion of that Mistery of Iniquity as also still to shield and secure us and all other professing thy Name and Truth from that cruell Faction which as if they delighted in bloud have already spoyled so many Nations Lord thou only art the Catholick King we can acknowledge no King over all the Earth but thy selfe nor any Universâ—ll Head over all thy Church but that only Arch-bishop of of our soules thy Sonne Jesus our blessed Saviour to whom all power is
is the very nature of God and without end or measure as his Godhead is so also his justice is And these two are the two Armes as it were of God imbrasing and kissing one the other as the Scripture saith Therefore as in a man of this world if we had the measure of one arme we might easily conjâ—cture of the other so seeing the wonderfull examples dayly of Gods infinite mercy towards them that repent we may imagine by the same his severe justice towards them whom he reserveth to punishment in the next life and whâ—n for that cause he calleth in the Scriptuâ—es Vessels of his fury oâ— Vessels to shâ—w his fury upon A third reason to perswade us of the grâ—atâ—esse of these punishments may be the marvellous patience and long-suffering of God in this life As for example in that he suffereth divers men from one sin to another from one day to another from one year to another to spend all in dishonour and dispite of his Majestie adding offence to offence and refusing all perswasions allurements good inspirations or other means of friendship that his mercy can devise to offer for their amendments and what man in the world could suffer this or what mortall heart could shew such patience But now if all this should not be requited with severity of punishment in the world to come upon the obstinate it might seeme against the Law of Justice and equitie and one arme in God might seeme longer then the other Paul doth touch this reason in his Epistle to the Romans where hee saith Dost thou not know that the benignity of God is used to bring thee to repentance And thou by thy hard and impenitent heart dost hoord up vengeance unto thy selfe against the day of wrath and appearance of Gods just judgement which shall restore to every man according to his works He useth heare the words of hoording up of vengeance to signifie that even as the covetous man doth hoord up money to money dayly to make his heap great so the unrepentant sinner doth hoord up sinne to sinne and God on the contrary side hoordeth up vengeance to vengeance untill his measure be full to restore in the end measure against measure as the Prophet saith and to pay us home according to the multitude of our abominations This God meant when he said to Abraham that their iniquities was nâ—t yet full up Also in the Revelation of St. John when he used this conclusion of that Booâ—e He that doth evill let him doe yet more evill and he that lyâ—th in filth let him yet become more filthy for behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to render to every man according to his deeds By which words God signifieth that his bearing and tollerating with sinners in this life is an argument â—f his greater severity in the life to come Which the Prophet Dâ—vid also declareth when talking of a carelesse sinner he saith The Lord shall scoffe at hâ—m foreseeing that his day shall come This day no doubt is to be understood the day of account and punishment after this life for so doth God more at large declare himselfe in another place in these words And thou Son of man thus saith the Lord God The end is comâ— now I say the end is come upon thee and I will shew in thee my furie and I will judge thee according to thy wayes I will lay against thee all thy abominations and mâ—â—e eye shall not spare thee neither will I take any mercie upon thee but I will put thine own waies upon thee and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. Behold affliction commeth on the end is come the end I say is come that watched against thee and behold it is come crushing is come upon thee the time is come the day of slaughter is at hand shortly I will powre out my wrath upon thee and I will fill my fury in thee I wil judge thee according to thy waies and I will lay all thy wickednesse upon thee mine eye shall not pitty thee neither will I take any compâ—ssion upon thee but I will lay thy waies upon thee and thine abominations in the middest of thee and thou shalt know that I am the Lord that striketh Hitherto is the speech of God himselfe Seeing then we nâ—w understand in generall that the punishments of God in the life to come are most certain to be great and severe tâ— all such as fall into them for which câ—â—se the Apostle saith It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the living Gâ—â— Let us consider somewhat in particular what manner of pains and punishmens they shall be And first of all touching the place of punishment appointed for the damned commonly called Hell The Scripture in divers places and Languages used divers names but all tending to expresse the grivousness of punishment there suffered As in Latine it is called Infernus a place beneath or under ground as most of the old Fathers doe iâ—terpret But whether it be under ground or no most certaine it is that it is a place most opposite to heaven which is said to be above And this name is used for to signifie the miserable suppressing and â—urling down of the damned to be troden under the feet not only of God but also of good men for ever for so saith the Scripture Behold the day of the Lord cometh burning like a furnace and all proud and wicked men shall be straw to that furnace and you that feare my name shall tread them downe and they shall be as burnt Ashes under the soles of your feet in that day And this shall be one of the greatest miseries that can happen to the proud and stout Potentates of the world to be thrown down with such contempt and to be troden under feet of them whom they so much despised in this world The Hebrew word which the Scripture useth for Hell is Sheol which signifieth a great ditch or dungeon in which sence it is also called in the Apocalips Lacus irae Dei The Lake of the wrath of God And again A Poole burning with fire and brimston Also in the Gospel it is called utter darknesse And Job saith of iâ— there dwelleth no order but everlasting horror Having now in some part declared the names and thereby also in part the nature Iâ— remâ—ineth now that we consider what manner of paines men suffer there For declaration whereof we must noâ—e that as Heaven and Hell are contrary assigned to contrary persons for contrary causes so have they in all respects contrary properties conditions and â—ffâ—cts in such sort as whatsoever is spoken of the felicity of the one may seâ—ve to inferre the contrary of tâ—e other As when Saint Pâ—ul saith That no eye hath seen nor eare heard nor heart conceived the joyes that God haâ—h â—â—epareâ— fâ—r them that shalâ— be saved We may inferre that the paine of the damned must bâ— as great A
will be quiet and will be noâ— more angry Ezek. 16.42 Who is a God like unto thee that pardons the iniquity and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Michaâ— 7.18 For our light afflictions which is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall waight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 For like as a Father pittyeth his Children so the Lord pittyeth them that feare him for he knoweth our frame he remembreth we are but dust Psalme 103.13.14 Sing O heavens and be joyfull O earth and breake forth into singing O mountaines for God hath comforted his people and will have mercy on his afflicted but Sion said the Lord hath forgotten me Can a woman forget her sucking Childe that she should not have compassion on him yea they may forget yet will not I forget thee Esa 49.13 14 15. For the needy shall not alwaies be forâ—otten the expectation of the poore shall â—ot perish for ever Psal 9.18 In all their afflictions he was afflicted â—nd the Angell of his presence saved them 〈◊〉 his love and in his pitty he redeemed â—hem and he bare them and he carried â—hem all the dayes of old Esay 63.9 Behold happy is the man whom God â—orrecteth therefore despise not the chaâ—tening of the Almighty Job 5.17 Blessed is the man whom thou chasteâ—est O Lord and teachest him out of thy â—aw that thou mayest give him rest for â—he dayes of adversity untill the pit be â—igged for the wicked whom he loveth â—e correcteth even as the Father the Son 〈◊〉 whom he delighteth therefore despise â—ot the chastening of the Lord neither â—e weary of his correction for it is good â—or me that I have been afflicted that I â—ight learne thy Statutes Psalme 94. â—2 13. Who fed thee in the Wildernesse with Manna which thy Fathers knew not that â—e might humble thee and that he might â—rove thee to doe thee good at thy latter â—nd Deut. 8.16 For we know that all things worke together for good to them that love Goâ— to them that are called according to 〈◊〉 purpose Rom. 8.28 My brethren count it all joy when yâ— fall into divers temptations knowing thâ— that the trying of your faith worketh pâ—tienee James 2.3 Though he fall he shall not be utter cast downe for the Lord upholdeth hâ—â— with his hand Psal 37.24 God will lighten our darknesse he wâ— keep the feet of his Saints he will not foâ—sake them nor forget their complaint thâ— they shall not be confounded in time 〈◊〉 trouble he will hide them Psal 18.28 His Angels shall pitch about them 〈◊〉 will heale them and take all sicknesâ— from them they shall not feare their enemies but will make their enemies afraâ—â— of them be avenged of their enemies 〈◊〉 will repent him of the evill pronounced â—gainst them They cry and the Loâ—â— heareth them and delivereth them 〈◊〉 of all their troubles Many are the troâ—bles of the righteous but the Lord delâ—vereth them out of all Psal 34.7 But the salvation of the righteous is the Lord he is their strength in the tiâ—â— of trouble and the Lord shall help theâ— and deliver them he will deliver them â—om the wicked and save them because â—ey trust in him Psal 37.39 40. Comfortable Sentences concerning earthly Blessings FIrst seek the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all good things â—â—all be added unto you Mat. 6.33 O taste and see that the Lord is good â—lessed is the man that trusteth in him O â—eare the Lord yee his Saints for there is â—o want to them that feare him The Liâ—ns doe lack and suffer hunger but they â—hat seeke the Lord lack nothing Psal 4.8 9 10. The Lord is a sunne and shield and no â—ood thing will he with-hold from them â—hat walke uprightly Psal 84.12 Trust in the Lord and doe good so â—halt thou dwell in the Land and verily â—hou shalt be fed delight thy selfe in â—he Lord and he will give thee thy deâ—ires of thy heart Commit thy way unto â—he Lord trust also in him and he shall â—ring it to passe For the meeke shall inherit the earth and shall delight them selves in their abundance of peace a little that a righteous man hath is betteâ— then the riches of many wicked Psal 37 3 4 5. O how great is thy goodnesse whicâ— thou hast laid up for them that feare thee which thou hast wrought for them thaâ— trust in thee before the sonnes of men Psal 31.21 The Lord is good and his tender mercies is over all his workes for seeing godlinesse hath the promises of this life as welâ— as of the life to come He will dwell with his and not forsake them that he will love and blesse his people that he will be their God will rejoyce over them to doe them good will compasse them with favour as with a shield will keepe his Covenant with them that he will set peace in their borders and prosper them in all they goe about Psal 145.9 My Sonne forget not my Law but let thine heart keepe my Commandements for length of days and long life and peace shall they adde to thee length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her and happy is every one that retaineth her Prov. 3 â— 2 16. If thou wilt diligently hearken to the â—oyce of the Lord thy God and wilt doe â—hat which is right in his sight and wilt give eare to his Commandements and keepe all his Statutes I will put none of these diseases upon thee which I put upon the Aegyptians for I am the Lord that healeth thee Exod. 15.26 Honour the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of thine increase so shall thy Barnes be filled with plenty and thy Presses shall burst with new wine Prov 3.9.16 He that soweth bountifully shall reape bountifully and God is able to make all grace to abound towards you that yee alwaies having all sufficiency in all things may attaine to every good worke 2 Cor. 9.6.8 So shalt thou finde favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man Prov. 3.4 And I will give peace in the Land and â—ee shall lye downe and none shall make â—ou afraid Levit 26.6 Behold my servants shall rejoyce but yee shall be ashamed Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart but yee shall cry for sorrow of heart Esay 65.13 14. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee Peace bâ— within thy walls and prosperity withiâ— thy pallaces Psal 122.6 7. Then shalt thou walke in thy way safely and thy foote shall not stumble Prov. 3.23 The name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous run unto it and is safe Prov. 18.10 But who so hearkneth unto me shall dwell safely and be quiet from the feare
of evill Prov. 1.33 He shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evill touch thee in famine he shall redeeme thee from death and in warre from the power of the sword thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it commeth Job 5.19 20 21. He will honour those that honour him and bring forth their righteousnesse as the light and their judgement as the noone day Prov. For I will have respect unto you and make you faithfull and multiply and establish my Covenant with you Levit. 26.9 And he will love thee and blesse thee and multiply thee he will also blesse the fruit of thy wombe and the fruit of thy Land thy corne and thy wine and thine Oyle the increase of thy kine and the flocks of thy sheepe Deut. 7.13 Thou shalt know that thy seede shall be great and thy off-spring as the grasse of the earth Job 5.25 The Lord shall increase you more and more you and your Children Psal 115.14 Thy wife shall be as the fruitfull vine by the sides of thy house thy Children like Olive plants round about thy Table yea thou shalt see thy Childrens Children and peace upon Izrael Psal 128.3.6 I have been young and now am old yet have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread he is ever mercifull and lendeth and his seed is blessed Psai 37.25.26 The just man walketh in his integrity his Children are blessed after him Prov. 20.7 I will power my spirit upon thy seed and my blessiâ—g upon thy off-spring and they shall spring up among tâ—e grasse as willowes by the water courses Esay 44.3.4 Aâ—d their seed shall be known among the Gentiles and their off-spring among the people All that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed which the Lord hath bâ—essed Esay 61.6 I will give them one heart and oâ—e way that they may heare me for ever for the good of them and of their Childâ—en Jer. 32. â—9 The Children of thy Servants shall continue and their seâ—d shall be â—stablished before thee â—sal 102.28 Though hâ—nd joyn in hand the wicked shall not bâ— unâ—â—â—â—shed but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered Prov. 11.21 In the feare of the Lord is strong confidence and his Children shall have a place of refuge Prov. 14.26 All thy Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy Children Esay 54.13 For God will shew mercy to them that love him and keepe his Command ments Meditations and Resolutions PRide is the greatest enemy to reason and discretion the greatest opposite to pride for whiles wisdom makes Art the Axe of nature pride makes nature the Axe of Art The wise man shapes his apparell to his body the proud man shapes his body by his apparell T is no marvel then if he know not himself when he is not to day like him he was yesterday And lesse marvell if good men will not know him when he forgets himself and all goodnesse I should feare whilst I thus change my shape least my maker should change his opinion and finding me not like him he made me reject me as none of his making I would any day put off the cause of my apparell but not every day put on new fashioned apparell I see great reason to be ashamed of my pride but no reason to be proud of my shame Hipocricy desires to seeme good rather then be so honesty desires to be good rather then seeing so The worldlings purchased reputation by the sale of desert wise men by desert with the hazard of reputation I would do much to heare well more to deserve well and rather lose opinion then merit It shall more joy me that I know my self what I am then it shall grieve me to heare what others report me I had rather deserve well without praise then do ill with comendation There is nothing more certain then death nothing more uncertain then the time of dying I will therefore be prepared for that at all times which may come at any time must come at one time or another I shall not hasten my death by being still ready but sweeten it It makes me not dye the sooner but better Had I not more confidence in the truth of my Saviour then in the traditions of men poverty might stagger my faith and bring my thoughts into a perplexed purgatory wherein are the poor blessed if pardon shall be only by expence Or how is it hard for a rich man to enter into Heaven if mony may buy out the past present and future sins of himself his deceassed and succeeding progenie It Heaven be thus sould what been fit has my poverty by the prise alreapy paid I find no happinesse in roome on earth T is happinesse for me to have roome in Heaven Nature bids me love my self and hate all that hurt me Reason bids me love my friends and hate those that envy me Religion bids love all and hate none Nature sheweth care Reason wit Religion love Nature may induce me Reason perswade me but Religion shall rule me I will hearken to Nature in much to Reason in more to Religion in all Nature shall make me carefull of my self but hurtfull to none Reason shall make me wise for my self but harmlesse to all Religion shall make me loving to all but not carelesse of my self I may heare the former I will harken only to the latter I subscribe to somthings in all to all things in Religion A large promise without performance is like a false fire to a great peece which dischargeth a good expectation with a bad report I will fore-think what I will promise that I may promise but what I will do Thus whilst my words are led by my thoughts and followed by my actions I shall be carefull in my promisâ—s and just in their performance I had rather do and not promise then promise and not do I cannot sâ—e two Sawyers work at a pit but they put me in mind of the Pharisee and the Pubâ—ican the one casts his eye upward whiles his actions tend to the pâ—â— infernall The other standing with a dejected countenance whiles his hands and heart move upward 'T is not a shame to make shew of our profession so we truly professe what we make shew of But of the two I had rather be good and not seeme so then seem good and not be so The Publican went home to his house rather justified then the Pharisee When I see leaveâ— drop from their Trees in the beginning of Autumne just such think I is the friendship of the world whiles the sap of maintenance lasts my friends swarme in abundance but in the winter of my need they leave me naked He is a happy man that hath a true friend at his need but he is more truly happy that hath no need of his friend When I see the heavenly Sun buried
chant it as cheerfully in September the beginning of Winter as in March the approach of the Summer why should not we thinke I give as cheerfull entâ—rtainment to the hoary Haires of ouâ— ages Winter as to the Primroses of our youths spring why not to the declining Sunne in adversity as like Persians to the rising Sunne of prosperity I am sent to the Ant to learne industry to the Dove to learne innocencie to the Serpâ—nt to learne wisdome aâ—d why not to this Bird to lâ—arne Equanimity and patience aâ—â— to keep the same tenoâ— of my mindâ—â— qâ—â—etness as well at the appâ—â—acâ—â— of calamitous Winter as of the Spring of hâ—ppinâ—ssâ— And since the Romans constancâ—e is so commended who changed not his countenancâ— with his changed Fortunes why shâ—uld not I with a Christian resolution hold a steddy cou se in all weatâ—ers and though I be â—orced with crosse Winds â—o shift my Sayles and catch at side Winds yâ—t skilfully to steare and keep on my course by the Cape of good hope till I arrive at the haven of eternall happinesse And now to conclude Meditation is a busie search in the Store-house of Fantasie for some Ideas of matters to be cast in the moulds of resolution into some formes of words or actions in which search when I have used my greatest diligence I finde this in conclusion that to meditate on the best is the best of Meditations and a resolution to make a good end is a good end of my resolutions A Morning Prayer O Most gracious God and loving Father we heartily thanke thee for all thy loving kindnesses so abundantly shewed upon us for our Election Creation Redemption mercifull Vocation Justification Sanctification and continuall preservation and for our assured hope of our Glorification in the world to come We praise thy gracious goodnesse for so mercifully preserving us this night past and delivering us from all dangers both of soule and body for that thou hast given us so sweet and comfortable rest and hast brought us to the beginning of this day And as thou hast safely preserved us unto this present houre from all dangers of this life so we beseech thee to continue this thy favour towards us this day and the whole course of our life suffer us not by vaine alurements of this world to be drawne away into sinne and wickednesse assist us with thy Grace and holy Spirit that we spend not our times vainely or idely but that we may alwaies be diligently exercised in the duties of our Calling to the benefit of our Brethren and discharge of our Conscience Grant that in all our consultations words and workes we may ever have thee present before our eyes through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour Amen An Evening Prayer O Most gracious Lord God and loving Father we heartily thanke thee for all thy mercies blessings benefits and preservations so abundantly shewed towards us We doe praise thy glorious goodnesse for so mercifully preserving us this day past and delivering us from all perills and dangers both of body and soule for prospering and preserving us in health and prosperity for giving us all things necessary for this present life as health food and apparrell and other convenient things needfull this gracious goodnesse of thine we beseech thee O Lord to continue towards us for ever And here O Lord God we offer up unto thee our selves and ours our soules our bodies we recommend our lives our meanes and all we have unto thy gracious preservation and protection in assurance that that cannot perish which is committed unto thee keep us this night in safety and grant good Lord that our bodies may sleep and ouâ— souâ—es may watch for the commiâ—g of our Saviour thy Son Jesus Christ thaâ— so our soules and bodies may be more apt and able to serve thee in that estate and Calling wherein thou hast thought good to place us we doe confesse and acknowledge O mercifull God that we are most miserable and wicked sinners as well by originall corruption of Nature as by the course of our evill and naughty life we have and doe daily breake and transgresse thy most holy Law and Commandements both in thought word and deed By the meanes of this sinne and corruption we doe continually deserve most just condemnation and to be for ever cast out of thy presence yet such is thy goodnesse towards us thou wouldest not suffer us thus to perish in our sins but hast sent thine owne deare Sonne Christ Jesus to take upon him whatsoever is due to us and to reconcile and makâ— us one with thee againe In him therefore and thorow him we come unto thee beseeching thee for his sake that we feeliâ—g the grievâ—usnesse of our siâ—nes and groaning under the burthen of them may finde the release and â—ase of them in that we through thy â—â—â—y Spirit stedfastly belâ—eve that Christ hath borne the burthen of them even for us Grant O Lord that we being assured hereof in our conscience may through thy holy Spirit be renewed with more graces and hate detest and abhorre all manner of sinne and study to live in all things according to thy blessed Will during our whole life Grant this O deare Father for Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for remission of sins O Lord glorious ever-living loving everlasting Father I wretched sinner presume once againe after my sinne to returne home unto thee requesting begging praying and desiring of thy heavenly Majesty that thou wilâ— look downe upon me I confesse were it not for the hope of thy mercy anâ— the hold of thy comfort and the renewing graces which sometimes I feele from thee and that sweet taste and feeling of thy good gifts and thy heavenly Word I should sinke in despaire for my sinne is alwaies before me if I go they follow me if I run they fly after me if I look back they stare upon me if I go forward they meet me if I turne to the right hand they terrifie me if to the left hand they torment me If I look down to earth Hell is ready to devour me now have I no way but to look up to thee Lord be thou then hore ready to receive me help me good God save me deare Father succour me sweet Redeemer assist me mercifull Creator that my prayers may be so fervent so zealous so affectionate towards thee that they may draw down thy mercies upon me powre down thy blessings shower down thy graces open thy hand of mercy restore joy and comfort to my heavie and laden soule wash away my sins wipe away mine iniquity heale my infirmities purge my wicked minde of all evill thoughts pardon all misdeeds and wicked dealings renew the good Spirit of heâ—venly graces restore the joyes of thy holy comsorts upon me O Lord let me have some feeling some taste some scent some glimmering of thy glorious presence Let me feele some comfort finde some joy have some rest good Lord let
given both in Heaven and Earth Arise then thou Lord to whom the Kingdomes doe belong and shew thy selfe and let not the man of the Earth any longer exalt himselfe least he be too proud and least he ascribe to himselfe or to his graven Images or vaine Idols the conquest that thou shalt see and suffer over thy people Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be the praise For the honour of thy Name arise before Ephraim Benjamin and Manasses before Great Britaine Ireland and other Countries that call upon thy Name arise and shew thy selfe for us for on thee only doe we call We call on thee to save us and our Forces and thy people now in more danger how and in what manner and at what time fully to declare thy Salvation we referre to thy heavenly wisedome only in the meane time that it may please thee to sanctifie and save to preserâ—e and provide for them and us and all thine both in Field and City Protect and defend deliver us and ours at home and abroad And thou great Sheheard of Israel be pleased to take downe more and more that Man of Sinne that hath and would exalt himselfe against thee Asswage then the malice of those that are enemies to us or to any of thy people and evermore confound all their devices that we being armed with thy defence may ever more and more give praise to thee which art the only Author of our peace and Giver of all victory And all this good Lord for us for them and all thine not for our merits but for thy great Mercy sake and for the Truth sake of thy gracious Promises in Jesus Christ our Lord and only Advocate and Redeemer To whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be all praise and glory now and for ever-more Amen A Prayer before Sermon O Most gracious God assist me I humbly beseech thee in this my good purpose and zeale and give me grace at this present time godly to enter into thy service Deare Father assist me with thy holy Spirit and drive away all vain and idle cogitations out of my minde that I may heare thy Word to my Soules comfort grant that it may take deepe roote in my heart and bring forth plentifully to the honour of thy blessed Name to the comfort of my Soule and the good example of my Brethren who seeing my good workes may glorifie thee my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer before the receiving of the Sacrament O Most sweet lover of all Mankinde Lord and Saviour I beseech thee for thy bitter Passion sake to remove from me all pride envie and detraction wrath malice and impatience and all other sicknesses and diseases of the Soule and plant good Lord in my heart and minde true meeknesse charity temperance and modesty with all such other vertues and preservatives unto the Soule And mortifie in me good Lord all uncleane motions carnall desires and inordinate affections and revive in me the love of vertues and the perpetuall exercise thereof so that at this time and at all times I may worthily receive this holy and blessed Sacrament unto thine honour and glory and my soules endlesse joy and comfort Amen A Prayer after receiving of the Sacrament JN most humble and most hearty manner with most due reverence I thank thee good Lord most holy Father and everlasting God thaâ— by the bounty of thy mercifull grace wouldest vouchsafe thus to refresh and feed my Soule through faith with the benefit of the Death and Passion of thy Sonne our Lord God and Saviour Iesus Christ And I beseech thine infinite goodnesse that this the Sacrament of this thy Death and Passion which I most unworthy wretch have now received may never come hereafter in Iudgement and Condemnation unto me for mine evill merits and deservings but rather good Lord it may come to the profit and comfort of my body and to the salvation of my Soule unto the life everlasting Amen A Prayer at the houre of death O Heavenly Lord God wee poore wretches being overcome with griefe come all here attending thy good pleasure with this sick Servant of thine O Lord incline to heare our Prayers and his complaints unto thee be now O Lord present and send thy good Angels and Spirit to attend us be with us O Lord and comfort this sick person and now if the time be come of his departure grant O Lord he may depart with godly comfort and joy everlasting into thy Kingdome Ease O Lord his griefs mittigate his paines asswage his sorrowes anâ— give him a lively touch of thy heavenly comfort put by all worldly thoughts and beat downe all bad suggestions let nothing but good come in his minde and grant that he may to the last gaspe of breath breath out still some comfort of thy helpe and grant when he hath done his last to finish this mortall life then he may with Lazarus be carried into Abrahams bosome O Lord forgive him O Lord receive him O Lord protect him O Lord succour and save him and now and for ever grant he may rest with thee in eternall glory Heare us good Father for this our Brother and doe for him and us according to thy Fatherly mercy in Jesus Christ to whom we commend him with these our prayers for him and all his and our occasions in thaâ— prayer which thy blessed Sonne hath taught us Our Father which art c. FINIS Novemb. 29. 1648. Imprimatur John Downham