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
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
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
healeth all thy diseases and thy infirmities by the regeneration and renewing of his holy Spirit in thee 4 Who only redeemeth and saueth thy life from destruction and vtter ruine and who instead of taking iust and seuere reuenge of thee for thy sinnes crowneth and compasseth thee with louing kindnesse many blessings and comforteth thee with his tender mercies which are aboue the rest of his workes 5 Who in his prouidence satisfieth and filleth thy mouth and desire with all good things necessary for thy sustentation so that thy youth by his power is renewed like the Eagles by curing thy weaknesse and infirmitie and making the lustie and strong 6 The Lord releeueth them that suffer wrong and executeth Righteousnesse and Iudgement without respect of persons and standeth for all that are vniustly oppressed against those that are too mightie for them 7 He in former times at the publishing of the Law made knowne his wayes and taught his Commandements vnto Moses by whom he gaue directions to succeeding ages what they were to follow and what to auoid and his mightie acts were well knowne vnto the children of Israel by their many and great deliuerances 8 The Lord our God is mercifull in forgiuing offences and gratious in not imputing our sinnes vnto vs he is slow to anger expecting the conuersion of sinners and plenteous in mercy exceeding in his loue and liberall in his benefits to those that feare him 9 He will not alwayes chide nor be euer displeased with his children neither will he remember our sinnes and keepe his anger against vs for them for euer but in his wrath he will euer be mindfull of his mercy 10 He hath not dealt with vs nor punished vs rebellious wretches after the qualitie of our sins wherewith we haue dayly offended his patience nor hath he rewarded or retributed to vs according to the hainousnesse of our iniquities for he knoweth that if hee should strictly enter into Iudgement with vs no flesh could be saued 11 For like as the Heauen is high as we see and farre aboue the earth so great is his mercy aboue his Iustice towards them that feare him and in remorse for their offences truely turne vnto him 12 As farre also in distance as the East part of the world is scituate from the West which by reason of their separation can neuer come neere to each other so farre at the least hath hee remoued and put away our transgressions and sinnes from vs that they neuer shall come neere vnto vs to doe vs any harme 13 Like as a tender and compassionate Father pitieth his disobedient Children and vpon submission receiueth them againe to Grace so the Lord who is the Father of mercies pitieth and grieueth to see the afflictions of them that in feare and trembling for their sinnes returne vnto him 14 For hee the Lord which knoweth all things knoweth also our frame that wee consist of flesh and bloud subiect to corruption and frailty and he with all remembreth and considereth that we are but euen Dust fashioned out of the earth and therefore must needs partake and sauour of earthly substance 15 As for wretched and fraile Man therefore his dayes are but as grasse which is greene in the morning and before night is cut downe and withered and as a fading flower of the field which for a while only in the spring time is beautifull and afterward is cropt or decayeth euen so and in no more assurance is he that in the greatest prosperitie flourisheth For after a while in a short time hee is no more seene nor his remembrance shall be no where found 16 For as the Winde and Stormes passeth ouer it and presently it is gone and withered and the place thereof where it grew shall not know it nor beare it no more So man after he hath a while left the troubles and stormes of this world shall soone die and bee forgotten and the place of his being will bee no more knowne 17 But yet the mercy and louing kindnesse of the Lord to the Sonnes of Men is and was from euerlasting and shall continue to euerlasting to the end of the world and shall euer be vpon them especially that which vnfeined hearts serue loue and feare him and his righteousnesse in all his promises shall bee accomplished to his seruants and vnto their Childrens Children their posteritie through many generations 18 To such especially as forget not his Commandements but faithfully keepe and obserue his Couenant and to those that remember and be mindefull of his Commandements and frame themselues to doe them 19 The Lord who commandeth the obseruance of his Lawes is most worthy of all Honour and not to be neglected for hee hath before the foundations of the World prepared his Throne and seate of Maiestie in the Heauens where hee is attended on by the glorious company of Angells and his Kingdome is not streightned or limited to one peculiar place or countrey but he Ruleth and commandeth ouer all people and nations 20 Blesse therefore the Lord that is so mighty ye that be his holy Angels magnifie and laud his holy Name ye that excell in strength and that gladly doe and execute his Commandements and that by hearkning vnto and obeying the voice of his Word willingly execute his Will and pleasure 21 Blesse ye and praise I say the Lord your and our God all ye his heauenly Hostes ye blessed Angels ye that are Ministers and Seruants of his that willingly and gladly execute and doe his pleasure 22 Blesse and praise together with one accord the Lord our God all his workes which hee hath created for the celebrating of his Glory where so euer ye remaine in all places of his Dominion euery where and lastly as I began with thee O my Soule to stirre thee vp to his praise so I end with the same excitation Blesse Praise Laud and Magnifie the Lord thy God O my Soule to whom hee hath euer beene so gratious and mercifull Glory be to the Father c. 5 Psalme III. 1 I Will praise the Lord and giue thankes vnto his holy Name with my whole heart and that not only in my priuate deuotions but in the publique assembly and meeting of the vpright in heart and in the congregation of the faithfull the Church also 2 The wondrous workes of the Lord our God euen from the beginning through all ages euen to this time are so great and glorious that worthily he alone deserueth to be magnified for them they are sought out and searched into of all them that haue pleasure and delight in meditating and contemplating therein 3 His worke in the creation and fabrique of the vniuerse is honourable and glorious of all his creatures worthily to bee admired and his righteousnesse and equitie his care and prouidence in the preseruation and gouerment of it is likewise to be magnified because it is permanent and endureth for euer 4 He hath made and perfected his wonderfull workes with
whose mercy is ouer all thy workes Psal 145.9 All things are vnder thy Power and Rule both in Heauen and Earth Thou shewest mercy on whom thou wilt and art pitifull to whom thou pleasest and wouldest not the death of a sinner neither delightest in the destruction of any O God rich in mercy who Eph. 2.4 out of thy extraordinary Loue to mankinde euen when wee were thine enemies Rom. 5.10 didst send thine onely Sonne into the VVorld that euery one that beleeued on him might not perish but haue life euerlasting Haue mercy vpon me haue mercy vpon me according to thy mercy and according to the multitude of thy mercies Psal 51. doe away my offences Holy Father I haue sinned against heauen and before thee Luc. 15.18 and am no more worthy to be called thy Sonne I haue turned from thee and haue broken all thy Commandements I haue not walked aright but haue gone after mine owne lusts Esa 65.2 choosing those waies which thou hast forbidden me to tread in Neither O Lord haue I feared thine anger but haue beene in all things disobedient vnto thee and haue hardned my heart against thee I haue hated Instruction and cast thy sayings behinde me Truth hath found no place in mee and my hands haue been the workers of much wickednesse I haue spoken vainly idly and wickedly haue brought forth deceit and meditated the way of vntruth I haue prouoked thy wrath against me by accustoming my selfe to doe the workes of the flesh and reiecting the good motions of the Spirit Woe vnto mee rebellious wretch Esa 30.1 that I haue committed these wicked acts against thee so louing so good so gratious a God to the vtter destruction of my soule without thy mercy in Christ Iesus In remembrance and confidence whereof O Lord I come to thee and humbly intreat thee that thou wouldest not reiect a contrite humble miserable and repentant sinner who at this time earnestly inuocateth thy Name Psal 7.9 Returne a little O Lord and bee intreated for my manifold sinnes doe not vnto me according to the multitude of them neither reward me according to my transgressions Let my humble prayers sighes and groanes come into thy presence and according to thy promises receiue me againe into thy fauour For O Father I am one of those whom thy only Sonne redeemed with his most pretious bloud O Lord my soule doth loath my life by reason of my manifold sinnes and I humble my selfe vnder thy mighty hand 1. Pet. 5.6 because I know that in thine anger thou shewest mercy Abac. 3.2 and in time of trouble thou dost forgiue offences And behold O Lord that I confesse my sinnes beseeching thee for thy goodnesse to doe vnto me according to thy wonted mercy I am confounded and ashamed to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee because my sinnes haue preuented my prayers and haue ascended vp to thee before them Against thee O Lord haue I sinned Psal 51. and done much euill in thy sight yet wherefore should I dye in my sinnes seeing it is not thy pleasure that any sinner should dye Ezech. 18. but turne vnto thee and liue For thou art good and gracious and sauest those who are altogether vnworthy out of the abundance of thy mercy in Christ Iesus the Righteous For although thine anger against sinners is vnsufferable and who may abide it yet thy mercy towards offendors is vnsearchable and who can finde out the depth thereof or describe it Psal 22. Our Fathers in their troubles cried vnto thee and thou diddest deliuer them they put their trust in thee and were not confounded And though they by their offences had iustly prouoked thine anger yet vpon their humiliation thou diddest remember thy couenant and ease them of their afflictions O Lord be mercifull also vnto me for I am miserable and wretched Heale my soule Psal 41.4 for I haue sinned against thee Psal 6.3 My soule is very much disquieted within me how long Lord will it be Psal 13. ere thou looke vpon mee and deliuer it Lighten mine eyes Psal 13.3 for I haue too long slept in death and my sinnes haue too long had domminion ouer me Returne O Lord at the last and be gratious vnto me O deliuer my soule and haue mercy vpon me And all my bones shall say Lord who is like vnto thee To thee be all Honour Praise and Glory world without end Amen Another O Lord Iesus Christ the only Phisition of sicke soules who in the fulnesse of time came into this World not to call the Iust but sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 Behold me the most wretched of all sinners who with as much humility as I am able in the confidence of thy great goodnesse cast my self before the footestoole of thy Maiestie confessing my great and grieuous offences And if the Publican in the Gospell durst not lift vp his eyes to Heauen Luc. 18. but stood a farre of and smote his brest saying Lord be mercifull to me a sinner what shall I doe whose sinnes surpasse the greatest sinners offences For all my inward and outward parts are wholly depraued and nothing that is good remaineth in mee And when I looke into the booke of my conscience I finde that I haue abominablie polluted that garment of innocency which I receiued at my Baptisme I haue put all my strength to offend thee with all the members I haue For my feete Rom. 13.15 haue beene swift to euill and slow to good mine eyes open to Vanity and shut to that which is truely amiable My hands stretched to couetousnesse and closed from the workes of mercy mine eares ready to heare euill and stopped to the good motions of the Spirit and my Soule the noblest part in mee which hath eyes to contemplate the Glory of thy Maiestie I haue turned away from the consideration of thy Excellency to vaine and transitory things of this life I haue giuen liberty to whatsoeuer mine eyes haue desired and haue not resisted the vncleane passions of my heart so that the whole course of my life hath beene a continuall warfare against thee How often haue I returned as a dogge to the vomite and as a Sow washed 2. Pet. 2.22 to the myre I am that Foote which hath said in his heart Psal 14. there is no God For I haue liued so dissolutely that I haue made plaine demonstration by my behauiour that I beleeued Thou either wert not at all or else couldest doe nothing at all Thou O Lord hast often called me and I haue neglected thy voice Thou hast expected me and I haue abused thy patience Thou hast giuen me the treasure of a long time to repent and I haue consumed it wastefully Thou hast stricken me and I haue not beene sensible of thy hand Thou hast afflicted me and I haue made no vse of thy correction Thou didst sweate to make me cleane and I
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
strength in affliction and tentation Let it be a light and guide to my actions and my onely comfort in the day of my dissolution Let the Palate of my soule be so changed thereby that it may relish nothing besides thee Graunt also that I may hunger and thirst after this bread of life and cup of saluation and that I may with a pure minde and chast affection receiue it often that thereby my soule and body may be preserued to life euerlasting To thee be all praise power and dominion ascribed now and for euer Or thus I Yeeld thee all possible thanks O mercifull Lord that of thy owne meere goodnesse and without any merit of mine thou hast so plentifully at this time satisfied me with the extraordinary food of my soule thy blessed body and blood O Lord I heartily repent me of my many sinnes past and am heartily sory when I consider how vnprofitablie and wickedly I haue spent my life hitherto I desire O Lord to amend what is amisse in me bee thou aiding I beseech thee to mee that I may not only duely bewaile and lament for that which is past but take heede to my waies for the time to come And to this end O Lord doe thou strengthen me with thy spirituall aid for without thy helpe and the direction of the Holy Spirit I shall not bee able to doe any good thing or performe that which is pleasing to thee Grant O Lord that I may hereafter faithfully follow and serue thee who hast at this time so louingly vouchsafed to come to me And because through my infirmitie I cannot follow thee as I would be pleased to assist mee with thy power and draw me after thee Let my soule be so strengthned by vertue of this Sacrament that it may esteeme nothing pleasing or delightfull in comparison of thee that it may lust after no transitory thing nor be disquieted with any worldly crosse but by thy assisting grace I may ouercome all the difficulties of this life and blesse thee in the life to come Or thus O Blessed Lord Iesus who of thy vnspeakeable loue hast condescended to my infirmity and vouchsafed in these misteries to come vnto me and hast made me partaker of thy blessed body and blood I humbly intreate thee of thy infinite goodnesse not to looke backe vpon my sinfull life past and to giue me grace to obey thy Commandements hereafter 2. Pet. 2.22 and not to returne to those former sinnes as a dogge to his vomite Grant that this most holy Sacrament may be to me life and Saluation and not turne to my greater punishment and condemnation Graunt that it may cleanse my soule from sinne past and strengthen mee against all tentations to come Graunt that it may bee so wholsome and nourishing to mee that I may walke in the strength thereof all the dayes of my life and at last be brought by thy merits to that place of Glory where thou dost raigne together with the Father and the Blessed Spirit for euer Psal 103. Praise the Lord O my Soule and all that is within me praise his holy Name Praise the Lord O my Soule and forget not all his benefits Which forgiueth all thy sinne and healeth all thine infirmities Which saueth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and louing kindnesse Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things c. Motiues to thankesgiuing IT is not the least part of the Duty of a Christian in the sight of God to be thankefull to him for the benefits hee dayly bestoweth upon vs. For as God is kinde mercifull and louing to vs so hee expecteth that wee should render backe thankes to him for those blessings which wee receiue from him For we haue nothing else to retribute to him but a thankefull memoriall of his blessings And this King Dauid well vnderstood when he said what shall I render to the Lord Psal 116.12.17 for all the benefits hee hath done vnto mee I will offer to thee the Sacrifice of thankesgiuing c. As therefore we ought to be diligent in Prayer for those things we want so ought we also to bee perpetually thankefull for them when we haue obtained what we desire And when we haue done all that we can we cannot giue him due praise and thanks for the least part of that which wee daily receiue For if wee respect that which is past present or to come wee shall still meete with matter enough which expresseth his goodnesse and loue to vs and exacteth this Duty from vs. If we consider that which is past then we shall soone perceiue that but for him we had not beene at all nor beene preserued hitherto amongst so many dangers without his protection if that which is present wee cannot but acknowledge that by his alone goodnesse we liue and enioy those blessings wherewith we are loaded beyond desert if that which is to come he is our hope of all good things which we desire or expect either for this life or for the life to come And as God accounteth Thankes-giuing a Duty Psal 50.23.15.14 so hee taketh it for an Honour done vnto him if we performe it He hath so much esteemed of it alwaies euen from the beginning that he reputed and accounted it aboue the rest of the Sacrifices offered vnto him Ose 14.2 Mala. 1.11 Besides we may consider that in the Law God himselfe instituted a peculiar and speciall Sacrifice of oblation of thankes For the Feast of the Paschall Lambe was no other thing but an Eucharisticall or thankfull seruice Exo. 12. in remembrance of the wonderfull deliuery of the Iewes from their seruitude Our Sauiour also instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist Luc. 22. for a perpetuall remembrance and memoriall of all his benefits to mankinde especially of our Redemption by his death Hester established a feast Hest 9. to preserue a thankefull memory of the Iewes deliuerance from the plots of Haman And in briefe it was generally euermore the practize of Gods Saints to expresse this Duty as may bee seene by many Songs Hymnes Psalmes and Prayers of thankesgiuing which are left vnto vs in the Scriptures as patternes for vs to imitate Of a Exo. 15. Moses and Miriam b Deut. 32. Of Moses alone c Iud. 5. Of Deborah d 1. Sam. 2. Of Hanna e Psal 34.96.103.107.111.113 c. Of Dauid in diuerse places of the Psalmes f Esa 18.10 Of good King Ezechias g Io. 2.3 Of Ionas h Abac. 3.2 Of the Prophet Habacuc i Dan. 3 Of the three Children k Luc. 2.19 Of the Angels l Luc. 1 68. Of Zachary m Luc. 1.46 Of the Blessed Virgin Mary n Act. 4.24 Of the Church o Rene. 5.12 And of the Elders And after those examples of necessity wee must frame our selues for bee sure of this That whensoeuer praise and thankes shall faile and he wanting on our parts
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
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
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