be now and shall bee to the end of the world Of the which number I beleeue that I am one I beleeue that God knoweth them all and hath a most tender care ouer them Que. What callest thou the Communion of Saints An. The Communion of Saints is the society that all we which beleeue haue one with another as members of one head Iesus Christ whereby wee are ready to communicate all Gods benefites both Spirituall and Temporall to the mutuall health and comfort one of another according vnto the measure which we haue receyued of God in this life Que. What is it to beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes An. I beleeue that Iesus Christ hath wholy appeased God for my sinnes paide the full punishment due to them and therfore that they be freely forgiuen mee and shall neuer be laide vnto my charge Que. What beleeuest thou of the rising againe of the body Ans I beleeue that after this life eÌ„nded my soule shal go to God that gaue it and my body shall rest in the graue vntill the appoynted time and then I shall see God in my flesh and mine eyes shall looke vpon him and this my bodie shall bee made like to the glorious body of Christ without al corruption Que. What is it that thou sayest of Life euerlasting An. I beleeue that when God shall raise againe this my body and ioyn it againe together with my soule that then I shall liue with Christ for euer in his euerlasting kingdome of glory Que. By what means do we attaine to this which thou hast heere confessed An. The holy Ghost hath appointed the preaching of the word to be the ordinary meanes whereby hee worketh in our hearts this true and liuely faith and without this preaching of the Word we can neuer haue faith Que. After that GOD by the meanes of his word hath wrought in our hearts faith by what meanes afterward doeth he strengthen the same An. This faith doth God strengthen in vs by the selfe same preaching of the word and also by the vse of the Sacraments Que. What callest thou the Sacraments An. Sacraments bee outward signes ordaind of God for the greater assurance and strengthening of our Faith beeing vnto vs sure pledges of these benefits of our Saluation which we receiue in Christ to be ours and are represented vnto vs by the outward signes of water in baptisme and Bread and Wine in the Supper of the Lord. They serue also for a marke of our profession whereby we differ from other people which be Heathen Qu. How many Sacraments be there An. There be two Sacraments that is to say Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Qu. What strength of faith hast thou through Baptisme Ans I am taught and assured by Baptisme that my sinnes are forgiuen mee for as the water washeth away the filthinesse of my bodie euen so should I through the holy Ghost be thereby fully certified and perswaded that the bloud of Christ beeing sprinkled vpon my soule by the hand of Faith hath washed away both the guiltinesse of my sinne and the punishment due vnto the same the fruite and effect whereof appeareth heerein that through the power of Christ his death and resurrection I am dead as touching sin and raised vp againe in newnesse of life vvhich two things in whomsoeuer they appeare not they may well haue the name title of Baptisme but indeed they are no Christians Qu. What strength of faith do wee finde in the vse of the Lords Supper Ans The Supper of the Lord thorough the holy-Ghost doth strengthen my Faith that I should not doubt but as surely as I receiue the Bread and Wine into my body to become wholly mine so my soule receiueth withall Christ with his passion and righteousnesse to be wholy mine as surely as if I had wrought them mine owne selfe Que. Are not then the bread and wine in the supper of the Lord turned into the body and bloud of Christ An. The bread and wine as touching their nature and substance are not turned but as touching the vse of them they differ from common Bread and Wine in that they are appointed of God to serue vnto vs as Seales â—ledges of those benefits which Christ in his body hath wrought for vs. Qu. In what maner oughtest thou to prepare thy selfe to the receiuing these misteries An. In preparing my selfe to receiue the supper of the Lord I ought diligently to obserue these three things First to examine my selfe whether I stand in faith or no which I shall know if I feele my hart assured by the Spirit of God that the punishment of my sins is fully discharged in Christ and that whatsoeuer hee hath done pertaineth not onely to others but euen to me Secondly to examine my selfe whether I find my hart inwardly sorry for my sins with inward hatred and lothing of sin and an earnest desire and sure purpose wholy to conforme my selfe to the will of Gods word Thirdly if any offence be betwixt others and me that I reconcile my selfe vnto them All these things although they ought earnestly to be considered in the whole course of our life yet then especially when wee come to the supper of the Lord. Que. Now seeing wee be saued by Christes Works without our deseruings wherto then now serueth our wel doings or what auaileth it to do good workes An. We must do good workes not to deserue our saluation by them but by our works to glorifie God in walking as becommeth Gods Children declaring thereby our thankfulnes to God for our redemption Secondly by our works to make our election more certaine vnto our selues Thirdly to winne others vnto Christ by our holy life and conuersation Quest What works callest thou good works An. Our works can neuer be accepable and good in the sight of God vnlesse in doing them wee keepe these two things First that they be framed according to the rule of Gods lawes Commandements not after our owne deuice Secondly that they proceede from an heart purged by faith If either of these two pointes be lacking our workes are abhominable in the eyes of Almighty God although they appeare neuer so glorious in the sight of men Que. Because prayer is one especiall meanes which Gad will haue vs vse to increase our faith tell me what belongeth to true prayer An. It is requisite in true prayer that we obserue these fiue things First that we make our prayers onely to God thorough Christ and not to Saints Secondly that we be inwardly touched with neede of the thing we aske hauing our minde wholly bent therupon and not caried away with by-thoghts Thirdly that our prayers be grounded vppon Gods promise with full assurance that they shall be granted so farre as the Lord doth know them to be meete and needfull for vs. Fourthly that we continue in prayer although we haue not our requests at the first Fiftly that we aske not those things which we thinke
preuailed against my vnworthynesse Thou mightest for my sinnes haue left me to perish in mine extremities but thou hast compassed mee about with ioyfull deliuerance thou mightest haue made my wombe a graue to burie the dead or in affoording life to another thou mightest haue procured my death but yet thou hast not onely made my wombe a wel-spring of life but restored life vnto me also for the cherishing thereof Marueilous O Lord are thy workes infinite are thy mercies my soule by present experience knoweth it well O my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy Name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits Thou hast heard my prayers and looked vppon my sorrow thou hast redeemed my life from death and healed mine infirmities and crowned mee with thine euerlasting compassions O giue me I humbly pray thee a thankfull heart not onely now while the memorie and sense of thy fauour is fresh before mee but continually euen so long as I haue any being Grant that I may learne by this liuely euidence of thy power and mercy for euer heereafter to depend onely on thee Quicken mee also to all holy duties that my thankfulnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian carriage Make mee a kind and carefull mother willing to vndergoe the paine and trouble of education Let no nicenesse or curiositie hinder mee from those seruices to which both nature and religion hath appointed me let me also be carefull when time requireth to season the fruite thou hast giuen mee with the sauing knowledge of thee and thy deere Sonne that my desire may manifestly appeare to be set for the encrease of thy Kingdome Vouchsafe so to order my affections and to bring them in obedience vnder thee that if it should be thy pleasure either now or heerafter to take this Infant from me I may as willingly part with it as thou freely gaue it me And now O God perfect in mee that strength which thou hast begunne make me to grow in care to serue thee faithfully both in the duties of pietie and in other businesse of my place and calling that I may bee a comfort to my husband and example to my neighbours a grace to my profession and a meanes of glorie to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for those who are employed in the assistance of a trauailing woman HOly Father who hast commanded vs to serue one another in loue and hast made this the triall of our true loue vnto thee and our neighbour that wee helpe them in the time of need Be present we pray with vs â—y thy gracious Spirit to seale vp the pardon of our sinnes that they hinder vs not in this businesse and to assist vs with such conscience and diligence that our labour may not bee in vaine Wee confesse O Lord that wee are not worthy of â—ny gâ—â—d for our selues much lesse that wee should smother the good of others neither that any labour of ours can further thy good without thy speciall Grace enabling vs therein and accepting the same Accept vs therefore wee pray thee in the blood of thy Son shed thy loue into our hearts by thine holy Spirit that all our labour may be done in loue In loue to thy Maiesty who enablest vs to all good and in loue to our Christian Sister especially to her soule And therefore keepe vs wee pray thee from all idle sauours and superstitious conceits as auaileable heereunto from all rotten and vnsauoury speech which may interrupt the worke and teach vs to seeke helpe onely from thy Grace vsing al gracious communication both among our selues and to the comfort of the distressed that shee may only depend vpon thy mighty power applying all diligence and wisedome in affoording seasonable helpe for the easing of the paine or furthering of the birth Furnish vs with skill and her with strength patiently to awaite the appointed time of her deliuerance and knit all our hearts vnto thee that wee may feare thy Name obseruing the passages of thy prouidence in this and all other thy great workes and studying to giue thee praise and glory for the same in Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A thankesgiuing vpon the blessing of their labour in the Deliuerance HOly Father who hast reuealed thy selfe in thy word to bee a God that hearest prayer and hast now made good this promise vnto vs thine vnworthy seruants in hearing our prayers in the behalfe of this distressed woman Giue vs hearts we humbly pray thee to conceiue wisely of this thy great kindnesse and open our mouths we beseech thee that wee declare this thy goodnesse for the comfort of others that by this liuely example we may beleeue in thy great Name What hast thou not done heerein O Lord euen aboundantly aboue what wee could thinke or aske And what can we repay vnto thee worthy of so great saluation Wee confesse our selues vnworthy to aske much lesse to obtain for our selues yet behold thou hast heard our cries and releeued this thy desolate seruant It is not enough that thou hast giuen ease and deliuerance to the Mother vnlesse also thou didst liue to her Babe that so in it her life might bee againe receiued yea thou hast made our cup to run ouer with ioy and gladnesse who were almost ouerwhelmed with sorrow and dispaire Thine O Lord bee the onely glorie and praise heereof O fill our hearts with thankefulnesse that our reioycing may bee in trueth and humble vs vnfeignedly in the consciences of our owne vnworthinesse that we may giue thee the onely glory of all thy mercies Let our humility appeare in seruing each other in loue and let our loue bee manifest in prouoking each other to trust in thee alone for the time to come let our confidence in this prepare vs to this or the like occasion that so we may finde a gracious issue in our greatest extremities And let our experience of thy good hand heerein weane vs from the loue of the world wherin wee are like continually to meet with what will oppose or ensnare vs and prouoke vs to long for our dissolution when all teares shall be wiped from our eyes And let our desire to bee with thee make vs alwaies ready for thee in all sobriety modesty humility patience and perseuerance that so wee may bee found faithfull when our Maister commeth And that wee may bee found in peace at his glorious appearance O grant vs daily to deny our selues that still wee may bee found of thee in the righteousnes of our Sauiour may by the power thereof be daily accepted of thee by the efficacie of the same may bee more and more conformed to thine holy Image and so may at length be fully satisfied therewith And as thou hast now added one vnto the number of mankinde shewing thy wisedome and power in the framing of him in the wombe in bringing him
day of affliction wherein I called vpon the name of the Lord and hee heard mee and I found that his rod comforted me Neuerthelesse O good Lord consider and helpe two dayes of health take away the fruite of many dayes of sicknesse wee are as men Sea-sicke that comming on the shore presently returne to ioy and mirth and forget both dangers on the Sea and dangers on the Land So came it to passe from age to age in thy people of Israel being tied fast in miserie and iron they called vpon thee and receiued mercie being deliuered they soone turned backe like a bow and became drunken with prosperitie Then thy face was against them thy anger was kindled and they cast into affliction againe but in their miseries they renewed their prayers and thou diddest renew thy grace but new prosperitie brought new rebellion and new rebellion new punishments and new punishments new conuersation The house of mirth was to them and is to all a baite to wantonnesse but in the house of sorrow a prouocation of humilitie and prayer Prosperitie is as a Cup of wine mingled with poyson as a bed of securitie and a way to destruction Therefore O Lord with the fulnesse of earthly things giue mee also the fulnesse of spiâ—ituall thinges that I forget thee not in vanity of life or in the false delights of sinfull flesh O keepe my heart that it bee not made drunken with prosperity but grant mee in sobernesse to vse thy blessings to thy glory and to the releefe of my Brethren and when I reioyce not to reioyce in these base things for that reioycing is euill but to reioyce in thee turning my mirth from wanton Daunces from vaine Songs from other carnall delights to exercises of Religion to helpes of knowledge singing of Psalmes with melodie to thee in my heart Finally O Lord seeing that in this earthly prosperity there is so great abuse and so present danger for want of grace to abuse them O Lord teach mee the true vse of them that I may not set my heart thereon but in thee giuing thee thanks for them and labouring with all diligence through thy grace in Iesus Christ that they bee not through my wickednesse turned into curses As Salomon teacheth wisedome to take heede of an Harlot so teach mee to take heed of vaine pleasures in worldly matters that I be not bewitched with prosperity and forget thee bathing my selfe in pleasures and neuer setting thee before mine eyes O mercifull Father for thy deerely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ worke this in mee that I may bee rich in good workes that I may haue as not hauing that I may vse the world as not abusing it but vsing it to thy glory and praise through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons and one God bee all praise honor and glory both now and for euer Amen A Prayer against Whoredome and vncleannesse O God which by thy holy word hast commanded that for the auoyding of the filthy sinne of fornication eueâ—y man should haue his lawfull wife and euery woman enioy her lawfull husband threatning death and damnation to all such as seek to liue contrary to thy commandement herein I humbly beseech thee for Christs sake that thou wilt mortifie and kill in me all carnall concupiscence filthy motions and fleshly desires by the operation of thy holy Spirit in me that I neuer defile either my body or soule in this loathsome and stinking sinne of whoredome adultery fornication Incest or other vncleannesse of body whatsoeuer but liuing purely vnpolluted therewith all the dayes of my life I may practise to please thee in all my proceedings I know O Lord that flesh and blood the filthy vncleane workes of flesh and blood cannot enter into thy habitation nor yet possesse any portion in thine euerlasting kingdome of glory therefore whensoeuer the diuell his wicked members the world or the flesh shall tempt and prouoke mee to preparation hereto giue me power and strength to withstand their assaults and put into my minde to consider that thine eyes doe behold me and thine holy Angels looke vpon me also that the horrible company of diuels compasse me about ready to register my filthy fact in a booke of memoâ—ials against the great day of the Lord. And so by thy gracious assistance and thâ—se good considerations I may beâ— partly terrified and partly ashamed for euer to commit the same knowing that thou who sparedst not the former world but destroyedst Sodom and Gomorrha with fire brimstone from heauen the whole world with water the Citty of the Sichemites with the edge of the sword and the children of Israel at sundry times slaying infinite Millions of them for this horrible vice wilt not spare me a most wicked and abhominable sinner if I commit the like offence Wherefore blessed Father suffer mee not thy deere Child in Iesus Christ bought with thy most precious blood to bee once spotted stained or blemished either in body or mind with this filthy stinking sinne of whoredome fornication that I appearing cleane in thy sight may after this life ended liue with thee thy Sonne Iesus Christ and the holy Ghost one true and euer liuing God world without end Amen A Prayer against Couetousnes and ambition ALmighty God and most mercifull Father who hast commanded euery man to labour and trauaile in his vocation and calling thereby to releeue his necessities and to maintaine his estate and hast promised thereto thy blessing Blesse I beseech thee all my actions and laboures which I shall at any time take in hand in thy name and thereby I receiuing sufficent sustentation maintenance for mine estate and calling may be free from the insatiable desires of couetousnes ambition auarice and all desire of vnlawfull gaine knowing that those that desire to bee rich fall into diuers temâ—ptations and snares of the diuel From which coÌ„tagious infection I beseech thee so much more warily to keepe mee by how much more I finde the same forbidden in thy holy word The holy Apostle calleth it idolatry worshipping of Idols and the roote of all euill excluding them out of the kingdome of heauen that be infected therewith And thy deere Son Iesus Christ telleth vs that it shall be easier for the Camell to goe through the eye of a needle then for a rich man that is a couetous rich man whose affiance is in his riches to enter into the kingdome of heauen Wherefore good Father keepe me farre from this filthy vice of couetousnesse and ambition grant that I hauing food for my body and cloathes for my backe with all other necessaries incident to this life may bee well contented therewith not coueting or desiring any more and all the daies of my life in true simplicity of heart may giue thee praise for the same Finally grant that I seeking the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnesse thereof as thou hast
and feeling faith for we feel it oftentimes in vs very weake and troubled with many doubtes Increase it in vs O Lord that wee may through thy holy spirit bee assured that the punishment of our sinne is fully in thy Sonne discharged Make vs O Lord our God to feele the same in our soules and consciences that Iâ—sus Christ is ours and all that hee hath done that we are ingrafted into his body and made one with him and therefore fellow-heires with him of euerlasting life Let vs not onely haue these words in our mouths good Lord but through thy holy Spirit let vs feele the comfort of them in our hearts fully sealed setled in vs that we feeling our selues inwardly before thy Iudgement seate discharged and our consciences towards thee appeased may bee swallowed vp with an vnfained loue towards thy heauenly Maiesty and towards our Bretheren for thy sake Make sinne to die in vs daily more and more that wee may hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and wickednesse in all men but especially in our selues that wee mâ—y strongly through thy holy Spirit sette our selues in open defiance against all sin and wickednesse that wee please not our selues in our sins but straightly examining sin by the iust rule of thy holy Lawes wee may vtterly from the bottome of our hearts condemne euen the least sinne in our selues hauing our whole ioy comfort and consolation vpon those things which bee agreeable to thy blessed will alwaies being afraide to doe any thing contrary to the same that wee may euen from the bottome of our hearts examine and try our thoughts before thy presence that they bee vpright vnfained not hypocritical in outward shew only appearance but that euen all the corners of our hearts being opned and disclosed before thee we may euen as though it were openly before the face of the whole world bring them in shew knowing that a double heart is destitute in thine eyes and that wee may walke alwayes as before thine eyes not onely before the eyes of man being more carefull to walk circumspectly in this respect that we haue thee to be a viewer of our doings a thousand fold more then the eyes of man That thus wee may walke as becommeth thy Children not onely in outward shew but also in sincerity of hart abhorring euen the least sinne in our selues striuing resisting and fighting against sinne not nourishing the same in our breast but earnestly embracing and studiously seeking after those things which bee pleasant in thine eyes that neyther the feare of man nor losse of goods life landes possessions or friends draw vs away from thee to doe anie least thing contrary vnto thy will and pleasure neither the fauour and friendship of man nor yet the flattering enticements of this World nor the vaine promotions of the same do mooue vs â—ny whit from the true and endlesse ioy delight pleasure which we ought to haue in those things which be agreeable to thy will and the constant performance of the same but that alwayes to the end of our life wee may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength till at length we shall come to thine euerlasting rest Amen ¶ A Prayer for the prosperous estate of the whole Church O Lord our God and heauenly Father forasmuch as by thy holy word we are commanded in our Prayers not onely to be mindefull of our selues but also of all other thy children yea euen of our enemies wee commend vnto thy diuine Maiestie all thy whole true and Catholicke Church and euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the bright beames of thy holy word to shine ouer the whole world whereby thou hast expelled driuen away caused to vanish the darke and misty cloudes of ignorance and superstition so thou wouldest vouchsafe by thy holy Spirit to touch the hearts of men that they may ioyfully imbrace that thine so high a Treasure sent amongst vs that through our vnthankefulnesse wee prouoke not thy Maiesty in anger to take it from vs. Crush bruise and destroy with the breth of thy mouth the mightie power of that man of sin which so proudly exalteth himselfe aboue al that is called God Let not thy simple flocke deere Father in whose consciences he so long time hath yet doth sit as God bee any longer poisoned with his sweet inticing poisons but so lighten their harts that they may perceiue his iuglings embrace the sweet and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting reuealed in thy glorious Gospell And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue all Nations of the earth to powâ—e down the sweet showers of thy heauenly graces vpon this our English Nation aboundantly in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of thy holy Spirite in promoting thy Gospell and ouerthrowing Idolatrie we beseech thee continue thy fauour towards the same and vttery roote out all Remnants Reliques and Monâ—ments of Idolatrie that thy glorious name may be throughly exalted in sincere pure and holy worship And as thou hast in mercie from amongst vs in this thy Church vtterly banished all false venomous and poisonfull doctrine wherewith the soules of thy Children heretofore haue beene wounded â—o death and in place thereof hast placed the true and comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy children may be fedde and norished to euerlasting ioy so in like mercie and fauour we beseech thee deare Father establish in the same thy Church a true perfect and sincere regiment therof according to the prescript rule of thy blessed Word all fantasies of mans brains and dreames of humane policie vtterly abolished that thy glorious Maiesty onely may be exalted in the light of thy glorious Gospel and that thy Church may flourish increase being through thy protection aided supported maintained and defended we beseech thee â—â—thy holy Spirit guide and rule euery part and member thereof especially thy seruant Iames our King whome thy gracious fauor and mercifull prouidence hath appointed a cheefe member of the same vnder whose winges next vnto thy protection it hath a cheefe succour and support Grant vnto him O Lord a pure and perfect zeale aboue all things to promote thy glorie first cheeflie in labouring and endeuoring of himselfe earnestlie in wiping away and purging out of the Church all blots and deformities to reduce the same to a pure sincere forme of worshippe agreeing to thy blessed word vtterly to remooue all stumbling blockes which stay and hinder the course of thy Gospell Giue in like manner O Lord GOD the spitit of wisedome discretion gouerment that with equitie and iustice he may see this whole Realme which thou hast committed to his charge peaceably quietly gouerned that hee may studiouslie labour that as well through the whole Realme vertue be exalted vice abandoned as especially in his owne house and Court that all wicked
all meanes and waies possible namely by pride enuie malice couetousnesse gluttonie drunkennesse fornication and all other euill workes wherevnto hee doth moue vs and by him thrust into our hearts and whereby without the assistance of thy grace hee doth bring vs within his baits and snares laid for our soules And contrariwise wee of our selues haue no ability nor any meanes to preuaile against them vnlesse thou of thy mercy vouchsafe to be gracious vnto vs to strengthen vs by thy power and to defend vs in all temptations which he worketh against vs that he may not triumph ouer vs to ouâ— destruction We beseech thee from the bottome of our hearts to vouchsafe to be our comfort in all our troubles to defend vs against all temptations and that it would please thee to lead and gouerne vs in all our thoughts words and deeds so shall wee dwell in safety O Lord thou knowest that among all Creatures man is most rebellious against thee and his offences and transgressions against thee most manifolde and contrariwise euery one creature in his kind doth most worthily shew thy powâ—r might and praise and by them is thine omnipotency declared but we in our liues do shew our selues most vnkind and vnnaturall children towards thee daily offending thy diuine Maiesty and euery minute transgressing against thy Lawes and Commandements nothing regarding thy iudgements which might in a moment destroy vs. But thou O Lord in thy mercy dost vouchsafe notwithstanding to spare vs admonishing vs to repentance and newnesse of life that through our faithfull conuersion wee may bee saued Raise vs vp therefore good Lord from our drowsie sluggishnesse and carelesse security Suffer vs not any longer to wallow and tumble our selues in our grieuous Iniquities Let not sinne haue so much power ouer vs or increase in vs. Destroy and ouerthrow Satan and his wily policies Roote out of our hearts all workes of the world wicked motions of the flesh and pernitious practises of the Diuell that we may no longer offend thy goodnesse And plant in vs such good thoughts good motions and good endeuours that we may diligently serue thee in all things according to thy will and embrace with willingnesse thy holy word to the comfort of our Soules and setting forth of thy glory Open thy bountifull hands O Lord and blesse vs with all good guifts giue vs obedient hearts and willing mindes to search and seeke out the trueth of thy holy word strengthen vs with constancy in the same that in all things wee may leade our liues accordingly not as professors alone but as faithfull performers of the same to the vtter diligence of our power Confirme and establish vs in all good works thar wee may as true Christians sowe such Seeds of thy knowne truth that others from whom the brightnesse of thy Gospell hath beene concealed and kept vnknowne may by our good example take such happy fruites thereof that they may know thee and bee brought home to thy Fold as lost Sheepe Be thou O Lord our Shepheard and let vs be then sheepe of thy Fold and remaine in thy protection both now and alwaies to the end Increase the number of the faithfull diligent and carefull Ministers Preachers and distributers of thy holy word and Sacraments and giue vnto them a single heart towards thee Let them not be such as do onely preach and teach thy word with their lippes and tongues and haue their hearts farre from thee but that they inwardly with all their soule in perfect faith cleaue vnto thee and thy truth and accordingly shew the same in their life and conuersation Driue also out of thy Church all Buyers and Sellers and such as like rauening Wolues seeke to liue by the spoyle of thy sheepe Cast out O Lord wee pray thee such idle Pastors as are crept into thy Church who more respecting gaine then grace imploy their study for promotion and leaue the flocke vnfed which is vnder their charge Lord of thy vnspeakable Mercy deliuer vs from such carelesse keepers and blind guides least we also being made blinde by their negligence may bee kept blind in ignorance and so with them fall into the dangerous pit of thy deepe and heauy displeasure Rehearse and pardon vs all our offences teach vs to serue thee as we ought make strong our faith and hope in thee indue vs with thy heauenly light that wee may perfectly see our foule and manifold enormities and examining our owne conscices and discerning our imperfections wee may learne to amend our liues Make vs willing Followers of thee and diligent louers of thy Law Make vs penitent for our sinnes past and continue in vs thy feare Let vs not fall inro any manner of temptations but by thy mighty power deliuer vs from all euill To thee alone O Lord belongeth mercy and forgiuenesse and thou onely art our louing Sauiour Purge vs and make vs cleane that wee may bee found chosen vessels fit to serue thee in this life and after to obtaine perfect saluation at thy mercifull hands enioy euerlasting rest in thy Celestiall habitation prepared for thy faithfull and elect people and with thy holy and blessed Angels may sing praise vnto thy holy name for euer These blessings O Father wee beseech thee to bestow vpon vs for Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we pray vnto thee as hee himselfe hath taught vs Our Father c. A Thanksgiuing after blessings obtained to acknowledge them aâ— from God BLessed Lord I feele in my selfe how mercifully thou hast dealt with me greeuously I was troubled and now by thy goodnesse partly releasâ—d how dangerouslie I was assaulted and now by thy mercie partly deliuered this releefe although I must needs confesse by infallible arguments â—o bee thy onely worke in me yet such is the pride of my rebellious flesh that it will not suffer me to asâ—â—â—â—e fully the same to proceede of thee and thine onely goodnesse but seeketh out other fained causes according to the vaine deuises of my mind therefore I beseech thee most gracious Father that thou wilt so frame my heart that I may with my whole heart and mind with all the powers of my soule acknowledge aâ— my comfort and ayde to be thy onely worke wrought in me by thy holy Spirit and that I may bee thankfull for the same all the daies of my life O Lord thou hast sworne by thy holinesse that thou wilt not giue thine honor to any other Seeing then deere Father that thou hast sent mee this strength let mee bee perswaded fully in my heart deere Father that it commeth from thee that to thee I may render due honor praise thanksgiuing for the same and the rest of my life that I may be assured in heart of thy mercifull defence in mine extreame dangers as thou hast many times wonderfully deliuered me and thou wilt according to thy promise so continue thy mercifull ayde whereby thy name in mee may be glorified my
soule in mercy preserued and thy whole Church edified now for euer Amen A Prayer for patience in tribulation and that God may bee glorified thereby GRacious and mercifull Father who hast from time to time in all ages exercised euen thy most deere children with greeuous afflictions and sharpe corrections to draw their minds from too much loue of earthly pleasures to delight in heauenly ioyes and spirituall comforts of the soule graunt I beseech thee that I euen from my heart may acknowledge this affliction which doth nowe greeuously pierce my soule to bee thy Fatherly correction and scourge of thy meere mercy and loue layd vppon mee to put mee in minde of my dutie towards thee least else with too much quietnesse I should haue beene drawne through the flattering pleasures of this vaine world from the remembrance and delight of my spirituall ioy in heauenly things to haue had my sinfull delight in this vaine world and so should haue runne headlong to euerlasting damnation with the wicked world But that thou O Father hast called me back by this thy Fatherly rod whereby thou mindest to let me see that of my selfe I haue no strength vnto goodnesse but that it was thou who by thy aboundant mercy hadst before time replenished my heart with ioy that I tooke great pleasure and comfort in reading and hearing thy holy word and receiuing other benefits which spirituall comfort and quietnesse of mind because I did not fully acknowledge to bee thy good gift in mee thou hast now taken from mee for a time that I may effectually perceiue and learne by the lacke of it that it was thy worke in me and when thou restorest the same againe I may more aboundantly glorifie thee in thy manifold mercies But while it shall be thy good will pleasure O Lord to exercise mee with this thy louing correction giue me grace that I may patientiy abide whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vpon me for my amendment strengthen mee O Lord that I doe not faint vnder the burthen of affliction but being vpholden by the strength of thy holy Spirit in mee I may neuer cease calling vppon thy name with full perswasion that thou wilt at thy time appointed send mee full assurance to my singular comfort and thy eternall glory And when it shall please thee O Lord fully to deliuer mee I beseech thee so worke in my heart that I may acknowledge the same to come from thee and to be thy onely worke that I may be thankfull for thy so great mercies in all the daies of my life and I neuer forget thy louing and Fatherly dealings towards mee but so to the end of my life I may liue in thy feare and loue that thy holy name in my life may be glorified and after death I may bee receiued to that full ioy which thou hast prepared for thine elect children through our onely Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer for mortification and holinesse BLessed Lord God and most mercifull Father I doe acknowledge vnto thee that I am vnworthy to appeare before thy high Maiestie to offer vp vnto thee a sacrifice of prayer being full of sinne and corruption naturally glad of euill and vnprofitable to good Yea being so miserable yet I see not my miserie I feele it not I bewaile it not as I ought to doe but multiply mine iniquities prouoking thy iust iudgement against me My zeale is cold my loue feeble my exercises of Religion faint and few and I take no way but that which leadeth from euill to worse and finally would lead me from sinne to the reward of sin All this is true deere Father yet my heart is not moued with feare all this is true yet I doe not sorrow for it but walke with ioy where I must if I continue reape affliction therefore be mercifull vnto mee and blesse me be mercifull vnto me in Christ Iesus wash away all mine iniquities be mercifull vnto me and create in me a new heart and prepare it to prayer and to thy holy seruice for thou alone O Lord art my hope and the mighty God of my saluation Thou hast giuen mee a desire to serue thee O teach me that I may doe it and the good worke which thou hast begun make it perfect in me that I may no more loue wickednes follow vanity but that my good desires in thee may be increased and all of them accomplished so shall I praise thee and magnifie thee for euer For ther is no honor but thy honor no glory but thy glory O Lord it is vaine to trust in Princes but truely to trust in the Lord bringeth plentifull saluation From age to age it hath appeared that thou O Lord God art mercifull and that in thy Courts there is nothing but truth and holinesse This world is full of vanitie full of pride full of rebellion and the flesh also The world hath many baites of destruction and the flesh doth delight in them they are sworne together to betray vs to Sathan yea wee betray our selues therefore deere Father by the crosse of Christ mortifie in vs the deeds of the flesh and crucifie in vs the deeds of the flâ—sh and crucifie both vs to the world and the world to vs that our soules may liue In our generall calling make vs obedient to serue thâ—e in holinesse and in righteousnesse all the daies of our life in our particular callings also make vs faithfull that we may neither put away a good conscience nor make ship-wracke of faith I beleeue O Lord helpe my vnbeleefe in the day of peace and prosperitie make vs sober in the day of trouble and aduersitie make vs looke vppe and cheerefuly to waite and trust in thee for our deliuerance that our enemies mouthes may bee stopped by our godly conuersation and their hearts pricked with zeale to turne vnto thee Neither do I pray O Lord for my selfe alone but for the whole body into the which I am grafted by Christ Iesus that is for thy Church O God for thine inheritance that rhou wouldest encrease it from one end of the world to another that all Nations may worship before thy foot-stoole Especially O Lord I pray for them that professe thy Gospell as for this our Nation that thou wouldest be mercifull vnto it turning our hearts to thee for our gracious Soueraign the King and for all our Councell that thou wouldest poure thy graces vpon them to discharge of their dutie and our peace for all the holy Teachers in the Church that thou wouldest blesse them and their labours for the peace and full beautie of this Church for the peace and wealth of the Common-weale Wee pray thee also for to blesse all the meanes to bring this to passe Also we pray thee for our Parents for all others to whom wee owe speciall loue or seruice but principally wee beseech thee to shew thy compassion vpon all that are in persecution for thy Gospel O Lord
increase and renew their strength giue them victorie and turne their aduersaries hearts if they pertaine to thy holy election otherwise O Lord bring vpon them the confusion that they would bring vpon others into the pit that they haue digged let them fall and neuer rise vp againe O Lord heare vs in these suites pardon our dull spirits in praier and giue vs these and all other graces needfull for vs and the Church to thy glorie for our Lord Iesus Christ in whose name wee pray as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the feeling of the sinne of hyprocrisie that wee may direct our life according to the perscript rule of the word RIghteous Lord God and heauenly Father which art a iust â—udge to punish all them that doe continue to offend thee as thou art a Father most pittifull to receiue to mercie all those which giue ouer themselues to please thee shew mee thy grace and fauour To that I may be truely touched with inward displeasure of my sinnes and that in the place of flattering my selfe to sleepe in sinne I may be so cast downe in heart that the rather I may truely with mouth confesse most humbly to giue thee the honour glorie and prayse due vnto thy holy name and that as thou of thy great mercy dost instruct thereunto by thy holy word so for thy mercies sake make that the same may so lighten and cleere our conscience that in due examination of our life wee may truely learne to be angry and displeased with all our former and corruptible liuing O that it may please thee to draw neere vnto vs in addressing and guiding our footsteps in the true and perfect way of obedience to thy holy Lawes and Commandements Send thy holy Angell to pitch his Tents round about vs that Sathan and his infernall army neuer preuaile against vs but that alwaies with strong faith we may through Iesus Christ withstand all his crafty engines and snares knowing vndoubtedly that thou neuer forsakest them that put their trust in thee O let vs not bee led by the infirmity of our outward flesh but strengthen vs by the vertue of thy holy Spirit Suffer vs not to lie vnder thy heauy wrath and vengeance through hypocrisie but rather touch vs so inwardly that we may without ceasing sigh and grone vnto thee by true and vnfeigned repentance And although we be not alwaies so well disposed to aske and pray as we ought to doe yet good Lord for thy glorious Names sake stretch out thy mighty hand that by the gracious working of thy holy Spirit our mindes and hearts may be drawne from all earthly and corruptible things so that our prayers vnto thee may proceede of an inward earnest vehement affection so that wee neuer presume to come before the throne of thy Maiesty with a double heart knowing that whosoeuer asketh and prayeth for any thing of thee not asking in faith cannot obtaine Increase therefore sweet Lord our faith that we presently may liuely feele the benefite of remission and pardon all our sins through the merits and death of Christ Iesus our Sauiour and so worke in vs for euer heereafter to liue in thy feare and to stand in awe of thy displeasure that thou mayest continue our mercifull Father world without end Amen O Shepheard of sheepe seeke out mee thy wandring sheepe And being found lay mee vpon thy blessed shoulders and bring mee home to the very folde of thy flocke heale my sicke soule feede my hungry soule yea almost dying through hunger watch ouer the same O sweete Lord least the rauening Wolfe do inuade my soule and so slay it to vtter destruction Wherefore O most deere GOD be mercifull to mee a wretched sinner and grant pardon to him that repenteth giue not foorth the voice of thy sentence according to my demerits but like as thy mercy before hath done in the beginning of my life so let it conclude the end thereof to remaine with thee world without end Amen deere God Amen Forasmuch as in this life holy Scriptures doeth promise trouble penuries oppressions increase of griefe and aboundance of temptations vouchsafe O most louing Lord GOD to prepare my heart to all possible patience least I doe faint in thy foote-path compell my sweete Lord this stubborne and rebellious flesh of mine to bee subiect to thy holy Spirite beyond all expectation so that I may possesse my soule in patience and keepe the same continually in thy euerlasting seruice to the which purpose thou of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie hast created the same Wherefore O Lord GOD shew thine almighty power vnto mee most wretched sinner that so long as I fight in this wretched life I may obtaine victorie against mine enemies thou being my defence for there is none other that fighteth for mee but onely thou O God Now I say represse the violence of mine enemies and vouchsafe with great effect to bring into bondage my miserable flesh that tormenteth my soule So that obtaining victory I may giue praise to thee my onely deliuerer in perpetuall eternity Amen A prayer against tbe secret venim and great danger of prosperity O Lord prepare my heart to wisedom prepare it to prayer and teach my soule to feele all the dangers wherewith it is beset on euery side and grant good Father that I mâ—y not pray in wordes or in sound of speech but in Spirite and Faith I acknowledge to thee O Lord thy great mercies toward mee at this time for beside the vnspeakable graces of my redemption and of my holy calling in the Gospell which are euermore good thou hast giuen me a large measure of earthly blessings my table is richly and daintily furnished my Cup ouer-floweth mine enemies are chased away and I feele no want no affliction no sorrow My prosperitie leadeth mee as by the hand from one delight to another and from one pleasure to another In the morning peace is at my right hand and at night quietnesse at my left O Lord are not these thy blessings Hast not thou opened thy mercifull hand and filled me with all these comforts True it is O Lord that they came all from thee and for them I am indebted vnto thee and giue thee hearty thanks But alas O Lord I finde by experience that prosperitie such is our infirmitie carrieth vs too too farre away it feedeth vs from day to day and from time to time with new delights it ingendereth also secretly such peace and confidence in these things which are but as a reede to leane vpon that we are carried away wee forget not thee onely but our selues also But the day of aduersitie the day of sicknesse the day of trouble that layeth open our weakenesse it causeth much care to bee released it prouoketh many praiers for releefe O it is a happy day a day of returning to the Lord a day of repentance as in Sackcloath and Ashes O how may my soule praise the
commanded vs in thy holy word may receiue the reward of thy promise that is all things necessary for this life and in the life to come euerlasting glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer against vsuall and common swearing ETernall God and louâ—ng Father in thy holy word the word of truth thou sayest that the man who vseth to sweare much is accursed and the plague shall neuer depart from his house and in thy holy Gospell hast said that we shall render account at the day of iudgement for euery idle word that we shall speake O how much more shall we giue accounts of euery pâ—ophane blasphemous and bloody oath that wee sweare And therefore to the end wee might auoyd thy vengeance against that day thou hast commanded vs not to sweare at all but that our communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoeuer is more then that commeth of euill Wherefore I beseech thee good Lord in the bowels of mercy so to dispose order my tongue and mouth the vse whereof thou hast giuen me aboue other creatures to glorifie thee withall that thereby I abuse nor blaspheme not thy holy name For true it is O Lord that swearers blasphemers of thy holy name as much as lyeth in them do crucifie thy Sonne afresh and are as guilty of his blood as Iudas was that betrayed him or the cursed Iewes that slewe him And seeing that to sweare by thee whose blessed name is neuer to bee thought of nor yet once called into question but with great reuerence feare and dread is most horrible blasphemy and to sweare by any creature else is most detestable Idolatry keepe me I beseech thee from all manner of vnlawfull swearing and from all wicked bloody Oaths that both my heart tongue and mouth and all parts else both of body and soule may bee instruments of praise to set forth thy glory all the daies of my life through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer against pride HOly Lord thou hast in thy blessed Gospell commanded vs by all meanes possible to eschew the filthy vice of pride which is a certaine rebellion of the heart against thee and aboue all things to embrace and euer hold fast the anchor of humility A perfect patterne whereof wee may learne in thee O blessed Sauiour who was humble lowly curteous gentle mercifull pittifull full of compassion and all goodnesse not disdaining the vilest person or loathsomest Lazer that euer liued if hee faithfully beleeued in thee Thou humbledst thy selfe that we might bee exalted thou becamest poore to make vs rich thou camest downe to the earth to liue in humility that we might be exalted to liue in felicity Thou wast poore in estate meane in attire and base in all things before the world in respect of thy humanity but before thy heauenly Father in respect of thy Deity most magnificall and glorious And therefore not without cause thou biddest vs learne of thee saying Learne of me for I am humble lowly your Soules shall liue Thou ouerthrowest the proud in their owne imagination and giuest grace to the humble yea thou so much abhorrest pride that thou iudgest them to eternall damnation that offend therein If wee would consider with our selues our owne misery wee should haue no cause to rise vp into pride For in respect of our bodies are wee any thing else then vile dung and ashes And in respect of our soules til they be regenerate by the Spirit of God are they not bondslaues to Sathan receptacles to fiendes and subiect to euerlasting damnation What haue wee now that we haue not receiued Or whereof may we be proud Wherefore O my God I beseech thee who art the true mirrour of all humility giue me the spirit of meeknes humblenesse and lowlinesse of heart and keepe me from all filthy pride arrogancy of body or mind that I neuer lift vp my selfe into pride against thee or thinke of my selfe aboue that which I am of my selfe but that I casting downe my selfe and distrusting mine owne worthinesse may be by thee aduanced to eternall glory Grant that those things which thou gauest me for necessities sake onely as thou diddst my apparell to hide my shame withall may neuer bee abused of mee as instruments of wickednesse And those things which thou gauest me to praise and glorifie thee withall as thou diddest my heart my tongue mouth I neuer abuse to thy dishonour And as it may please thee to indue mee with this true humility of mind towards thee so I beseech thee to giue me the true humility of body and mind towards my brethren also that I be not puft vp nor aduance my selfe aboue them disdaining or contemning them though otherwise neuer so meane or contemptible before the world And whensoeuer the Enemie assaulteth me to stirre mee vp to pride I beseech thee whose power is incomprehensible to strengthen mee to with-stand his temptations and set before the eies of my minde the examples of thy Iudgement inflicted vpon the children of pride in all ages as namely how thou threwest downe Lucifer a bright Angel in heauen into hell fire how thou condemnest Adam and all his posterity How thou destroyedst Nymrod that huge Giant Goliah that fierce monster Nabuchadnezar that ambitious bloody tyrant Herod that arrogant miscreant and many others who through the sinne of pride rebelled against thee and may by these examples bee terrified from committing that great heynous sinne against thee that I humbling my selfe in this world after the consummatioÌ„ of this life may bee exalted in the kingdome of heauen there to raigne with thee for euer and euer Amen A Prayer against Gluttony and drunkennesse BLessed Lord as thou hast created man after thy owne similitude and likenesse and hast giuen him a perfect body like vnto thy Sonne Iesus Christ so thou hast ordained and prouided for him ordinary meanes as meate drinke flesh fish hearbes oyles wines what not to keepe and sustaine the same And hast commanded these thy creatures to bee moderately taken to the sustentation of the body with praise and thanksgiuing to thee accursing them to hell who by abusing not lawfully vsing these thy blâ—ssings make them instruments of sinne and so consequently of damnation to themselues Giue me grace I beseech thee that I may neuer abuse thy giftes through gluttony drunkennesse riot or excesse but that I liuing in all godly temperance and sobriety may bee thankfull vnto thee for them and also vse them for my necessity Knowing that our meates without thy blessing cannot nourish the body but destroy it rather as experience daily teacheth Make me O Lord to loath and detest this horrible vice so much the more in respect of the filthynes of the same for besides that it transformeth man into the Image of a beast or rather maketh him worse then a beast for they neither eate nor drinke without measure it also blindeth his eies of reason
and causeth vs to detest hate loathe and abhorre sinne in all men but especially in our selues and maketh vs to haue our whole delight and ioy in those things which be agreeable vnto Gods Will and causeth vs likewise to shew and expresse the same in our life and conuersation or else it is no true Faith but a dead Faith Que. Rehearse the summe of this faith An. I beleeue in God the Father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord which was conceyued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie He suffered vnder Pentius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hell and the third day he rose againe from death He ascended into Heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie From thence shall he come to iudge both the quick and the dead I beleeue in the holy Ghost The holie Catholike Church The Communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie and the life euerlasting So be it Que. What is the effect of this Creed An. This Creed contayneth foure especiall pointes First what we ought to beleeue concerning God the Father Secondly concerning God the Son Thirdly concerning God the holie Ghost Fourthly concerning Gods people called the Church Que. What beleeuest thou in the first part concerning God the Father An. First I beleeue that God the Father thorough Christ into whose bodie I am grafted by faith is not only a Father of other faithfull but euen my Father therefore loueth mee Secondly that hee is Almighty that is that hee hath all power in his hand guiding and ruling all things so that nothing can be done in heauen earth or hell without his prouidence Que. What beleeuest thou in the second part concerning God the Sonne An. I beleeue that Iesus Christ one God in substance with the Father and the holy Ghost tooke flesh of the Virgin and is become perfect man as I am in al things sinne onely excepted and in my Nature hath wrought for mee whatsoeuer was needfull for my saluation Que. What meanest thou when thou sayest Hee suffered vnder Pontius Pilate Ans Because that manner of death which men do suffer by the sentence of the Iudge and vnder the Title of Iustice is more shameful slanderous and terrible then if a man should dye naturally in his bedde Therefore Christ took on him our person to shew himselfe before an earthly Iudge and to bee condemned by the mouth of Pilate hee being then Iudge that therby we might be cleared before the iudgement seat of God Que. What meanest thou when thou sayest Christ was crucified dead and buried An. First I meane in that he was crucified that he suffered the death of the crosse which was an abhominable and cursed death to deliuer mee from the curse vvhich was due for my sinnes Secondly forasmuch as death was a punishment due vnto man for sinne therfore our Sauiour did suffer death and by suffering ouercame death For in his death doth lye the principall point of our saluation for if he had not beene truely dead wee should be yet subiect to eternall death and damnation Thirdly he was buried for the more greater confirmation of his death and Resurrection And in the intent to make it more certainely knowne vnto vs it pleased him also to bee buried after the common maner of men and that by two notable persons Nicodemus and Ioseph of Aramathia which was done also by the wil consent of Pilate who caused the body to be deliuered to them Que. What meanest thou concerning this that Christ descended into hell An. Where it is said that Christ descended into Hell therby I beleeue that Christ did not onely suffer in his body the punishment due to my body but also in his soul the punishment due to my soule which was the Torments of hell second death sorrowes of death and abiection from God as it doeth appeare by the anguish of his soule in the garden when drops of blood yssued out of his body and also vppon the Crosse by his lamentable crie to his Father For in miserable case had we beene if he had suffered onely the punishment due to our bodies and not to our soules Que. What fruite hast thou by the death of Christ Ans First I beleeue that this death and punishment which Christ suffered is the appeasing of Gods wrath a full satisfaction to God for all my sinnes Secondly that as he is dead for sinne so he will cause sinne to die in my mortall body Que. What profit hast thou by the rising againe of Christ An. First I am assured by his rising from death that he hath ouercome death hel and sinne and hath finished my iustification Secondly that as he is risen from death so he causeth mee as a member of him to rise from sin and delight in righteousnes Thirdly his rising againe is a sure pledge to me that my body shal in like manner rise againe Que. What is the meaning of this that Christ ascended into heauen An. Christ as touching his manhead is onely in Heauen but in his Godhead and comfort of his holy Spirite hee is with vs to the end of the world Que. What good gettest thou by the ascending of Christ into heauen An. First Christ his ascending into heauen is a sure pledge vnto mee that I shal in like maner as a member of him by his power be receyued into heauen in that same nature wherein he is ascended Secondly Christ hauing ascended into Heauen maketh continuall intercession for me Que. What is the meaning of this that Christ sitteth on the right hand of God the Father An. Christ sitteth on the right hand of the father that is hath all power giuen him of the Father ouer all things whatsoeuer Que. What fruite dost thou receiue by this that Christ shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead Ans To mee that am a member of Christ it is a singular comfort vvhen I know assuredly that none shal be my Iudge but he that is my Sauiour But terrible it will be to those that flee from Christ when they shall see him come to iudg them whom they in their life time refused Que. What beleeuest thou in the third part concerning God the holy Ghost An. I beleeue that GOD the holy Ghost sealeth into my heart all Christes benefites to be mine and maketh sinne to dye in me and stirreth me vp to righteousnes and holinesse of life Que. Seeing there is but one onely God why namest thou the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost An. Because God hath so opened himselfe in his Word that these three sundry persons are in substance but one true and euerlasting God Que. Now let vs come to the fourth part What callest thou the Catholicke Church Answer The Catholicke Church is the whole company of faithful people that euer were since the beginning of the world in all places which also
know that thou O Lord dost raigne in al ages to the behoofe of thy Church and terror of thinâ— enemies Grant these mercies good Lord not onely to a whole Church in generall but especially to euery one of vs thy Children particularly grant that we may affectually feele the force of this thy kingdome in our hearts Beat downe in vs our old Adam with all sinfull delights thoughts motions and desires and renew in vs day by day our spirituall and inward Man that we may be wholly bent to delight thinke desire doe those things which bee acceptable in thy sight The third petition Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen FRame our hearts good Lord with such humble obedience to thy holy will that we may be hartily well content with whatsoeuer it pleaseth thy goodnes to lay vpon vs that we neuer cease in our miseries but continually call on thee by harty prayres athough wee feele no release at all yet that still patiently we may abide and quietly wait for thy good leysure and appointed time of deliuerance when thou knowest it shall be most expedient for vs. The fourth petition Giue vs this day our dayly bread GRant vs deare Father that all our Counsels studies labours and endeauors being by thy holy spirit guided and framed we may euery one in that vocation in which thou hast placed him so fairhfully trauaile to the discharging of our Consciences and edyfying of thy Church that our account may be found acceptable before thy Throne Iudgement seate So blesse our labours and trauailes that we may haue sufficient for the preseruing of this present life and be content with those benefits which thou shalt bestow vppon vs whether they be many or few acknowledging them to be receiued of thee not greedily to care for them or vainely to delight in them and thankefully esteeme of them as thy benifits bestowed vpon vs and as faithfull Stewards moderately to vse them to the releefe of our bretheren and discharge of our consciences The fift petition Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse aginst vs. ENcrease in vs O Lord the gifte of Faith that we may daily more more in our Soules and consciences be assured that our sins be defaced cleane blotted out and couered with the full perfect and sufficient sacrifice of thy deare sonne Christ Iesu our Lord and Sauiour once made for vs that we are vnited knit and made one body with him partakers of his righteousncs iustification and holynesse and euen fellow-heirs with him of euerlasting life that wee may vnfainedly from the bottome of our hearts loue thee for this thine vnspeakeable goodnes and mercy forgetting from our hearts our Bretheren that do offend vs pray for them loue cherish and comfort them as fellow members all of one body with perfect naturall loue and compassion linked together vnto our head Christ Iesus The sixt petition Lead vs not into temptation STrengthen vs good Lord with thy holy Spirit that we be not ouercom with the subtle suggestions and sinfull motions of Sathan the diuel hold vs vp with thy merciful hand that we sleepe not in sinne that we be not drawne away with the wicked world nor the enticâ—ments of the flesh to delight in Wickednesse but so arme vs vvith thy mightie power that wee may strongly abide all the assaults and subtile sliâ—hteâ— of our ghostly enemy and sincerely to walke befoâ—â—â—â—ces both in prosperity and aduersity to thy honour and glory the health of our souls and profite of thy Church through Iesus Christ our only Lord and Sauiour Amen The Lords Prayer more at large The first Petition Our Father which art in Heauen MOst mighty and eternall Lord God who of thine infinit loue to mankinde hast giuen vs thine owne eternal Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord to be made man for vs in the similitude of sinnefull flesh to become flesh of our flesh bone of our bones in all things like vnto vs sin onely excepted who beeing thy true and naturall Sonne hath made vs with him sons children and heyres to thee our most merciful Father giuing vs by thy grace that which is his by Nature And by his due alone once suffered sufficient Sacrifice hath payde the ransome of our sins before thy diuine Maiestie to satisfie thy iustice vppon sinfull flesh Which debt being paide for vs he hath brought vs in fauor with thee so that we may now with boldnesse and trust come to thee as vnto our most mercifull and louing Father with full assurance that as thy soule is so much greater and more excellent towards vs then all loue of eatthly Parents toward their Children as thou passest all men in goodnesse and mercie so thou wilt deny vs nothing which shall be expedient for vs. So that although all the Fathers that are in earth hauing shaken off all seeing of Fatherly naturalnesse would forsake their children yet wouldest thou neuer forsake vs beecause thou canst not deny thy selfe Who promisest that if earthly Fathers being euill can giue good giftes to their Children how much more wilt thou our heauenly Father being altogether goodnes it selfe giue good things to them that aske in thy Sons name And that although a Mother should forsake her Children yet wilt thou not forsake vs thy children whoÌ„ thou hast before the beginning of the World in thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ chosen to be thy children heires with him of thine immortall Kingdome Whereof that we our selues might bee sure and certaine and out of al doubt that we are the children â—nd heyrs of euerlasting life thou hast giuen into our hearts thy holy Spirite as a true pledge and earnest of our inheritance which Spirit doth assure our spirites that we are thy children and thou therefore crieth in our hearts Abba Father Graunt this for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauior Amen The Second Petition Hallowed bee thy Name WEe therefore as thy deere Children ransommed and bought by thy deere Sonne flye to thee our most louing â—nd merciful Father who in goodnes art infinite in mercie abundant in substance incomprehensible in immortality euerlasting who by thy mightie power and singulare prouidence rulest all things according to thy heauenly Wisedome beseeching thee for thy deere Sonne Christ Iesus his sake that as thou hast sufficiently set forth thy glorious name in making and framing the whole world heauen earth and all the things therin contained so we may in beholding viewing thy Creatures the works of thine hands may be lifted vppe to thee our Lord God the Creator and maker and in them glorifie thy holy name acknowledging in them thy singular goodnesse and loue towards man for whose vse thou hast created all thinges both in heauen and earth that we may for the same euen from the bottome of our harts yeeld due honor praise and thankesgiuing vnto thee deere Father all the daies of our life Grant most mercifull Father that wee may in
vanities of this world all licentious and inordinate life all flattering and dissimulation being vtterly banishâ—d the fâ—are of thy glorious Maiesty may so reigne in the harts of all within his Highnesse Pallace and Court that their liues and conuersation may bee agreeable to thy blessed will in sinceritie and true holinesse and integritie of life that from them as from the head may shine purity of life and conuersation as an example and patterne of true godlinesse to the whole Realme Preserue him wee beseech thee good Lord from all conspiracies and Treasons that if it bee thy good will he may haue a long quiet raigne ouer vs to the benefite of thy Church and aduancement of thy glory Indue the whole Counsell good Lord with true and perfect wisedom that in all their consultations Counsels hauing thee present before their eies they may consult of those things which principally cheefly may bee for the aduancement of thy glory and the commodity of thy Church and next for the quiet peace and gracious gouernment of this his Realme So lighten all inferior Magistrates of this Realme good Lord with brightnesse of thy holy Spirit that vnderstanding thy will they may zealously defend maintaine and further the course of the Gospell with the sword of iustice cut off the wicked and cherish the godly Defend and gouerne by thy holy Spirit the Pastours of thy Church and labourâ—rs in thy vineyard that â—hey may zealously earnestly and diligently feed thy flocke committed vnto them with the food of life thy bl ssed word wherewith their soules may bee nourished to life euerlasting Increase the number of them deare Father place ouer euery flocke a godly learned and painfull Pastor who may painfully carefully trauell euery one in his charge to bring thy people which now alasse in many parts doe wander and goe astray like lost sheepe to the true knowledge of their Lord and God and of thy deare Son Iesus Christ their Sauiour And for thy mercy wee beseech thee to take pitty vppon thy poore and simple flocke roote out all rauening woolues which haue craftily crept into thy sheepfold and doe make hauocke of the soules of thy simple Flocke Câ—st out all hirelings time-seruers dumbe Dogges which to fill their bellies onely haue thrust themselues among thy sheepe and doe pittifully suffer the Flocke of Christ thy Sonne to be deuoured and scattered of the Woolfe Stirre vp good Lord and place in their roomes faithfull Sheepeheards which diligently painefully carefully and earnestly may labour in thy Vine-yard seeke to winne the soules of thy people out of the tyranny and power of Sathan to the freedome of thy deare Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord. And that thy Church may better be furnished with godly learned Pastors wee beseech thee good Lord to prosper and increase in all Godly knowledge all schooles of leaâ—ning especially the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxford Grant deare Father vnto all the students of the same that the chiefe end of all their studies may bee to the furtherance of thy Church and maintenance of the common-wealth Blesse their studies deare Father that al vaine studies set aside they may so fructifie in all profitable and godly Sciences that hereafter they may become profitable members of thy Church godly Vpholders of the Common-wealth Grant good Lord to all the whole Commons of this Realme that their hearts being touched with a sincere feare and reuerence of thy Heauenly Maiesty acknowledging thy mercy in placing ouer them a godly Religious Prince they may euery one in their callings walke in all true and humble obedience vnto him in thee and for thee without resistance tumults Insurrections conspiracies or rebellions knowâ— grâ—at to resist the higher Powers is to rebel against thy Maiesty Finally wee beseech thy goodnesse so to giude gouerne the hearts of all the whole Realme of euery degree that euery one in his calling being by thy holy wisedome supported may so occupy his Talent that thy glory in all things may be aduanced thy church inlarged this whole Realme into sincere godlines vertuously reduced Moreouer wee beseech thee O Lord our God in Mercy to behold all those which suffer persecution for thy glorious words sake whether it bee imprisonment death or banishment or whatsoeuer else strengthen them good Lord that they hauing thee alwaies before their eyes and the glory laide vp for them in the life to come may continue constant in defending thy truth without feare of man or vaine allurements of the world that whether it come by life or death they may glorifie thy holy Name in continuing in the truth to the end Preserue in like manner wee beseech thee all others thy Children whome it hath pleased thee with any kind of Crosse to chasten for their amendment whether by pestilence famine warre pouerty Imprisonment sicknesse or banishment trouble of conscience vexation of spirit vnquietnesse of minde want of spirituall comfort or whatsoeuer kinde of affliction of body or minde thou dost try them with that by thy holy spirit being fully assured that thou by this thy correction mindest to call them backe to a feeling of their sinne due consideration of their life conuersation they may patiently abide thy Fatherly tryall looking for aide helpe and comfort from thee when it seemeth most conuenient to thy holy wisedome and being by thy mercifull hand once deliuered may acknowledge thy singular power and worke giuing all laud and praise to thy glorious name and afterwards all the daies of their life study and liue before it hee in sincerity and perfect holinesse euen to their liues end This O Lord we beseech thee in Mercy to grant for thy beloued Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Morning prayer for priuate Houses and Families O Gracious God and louing Father according to thy commandement wee doe here present our selues before the throne of thy mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that we be miserable sinners daily breaking thy commandements both in thought word and deed wherein wee iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence yet O Lord wee see thy goodnesse againe toward vs who not suffering vs thus to perish in our sins hast sent thine owne deare Sonne Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due to reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him therfore good Lord and through him doe wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the grieuousnesse of our sinnes and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release ease of them in that we bee thorough thy holy Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ hath borne the burthen of them euen for vs. Grant likewise O most mercifull Lord heauenly Father that wee being assured hereof in our consciences may through thy holy Spirit be renued in the inner man to hate detest and abhorre sinne and
to study to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life Wee doe not onely pray for our selues but also for all thy whole Church especially such as bee persecuted for thy word grant vnto them that whether it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues end Be mercifull to this Church of England Scotland Ireland we beseech thee good Lord preserue euery part and menber of the same especially thy seruant Iames our King grant him all such giftes as bee needfull for so high a calling to the aduancement of thy glorie and benefit of this Common wealth to the establishing of a perfect gouerment of thy Church according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word to the rooting out of all superstition and reliques of Antichrist to the gouerning of his subiects in all peace and tranquilitie Defend him O Lord from all conspiracies treasons rebellions and so worke in the hearts of all his subiects that knowing his authoritie doth come from thy heauenly Maiesty they may with obedient hearts humbly obey them in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Councell and the Magistrates of the Realme that being lightened through thy holy Spirit they may defend the truth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Behold all the Pastours and Preachers of thy word blesse their labours increase the number of them place ouer euery Church a painefull watchman remoue all idle lubbers and confound the power of Antichrist and turne the hearts of the people that they may be obedient to thy truth Blesse the two famous Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxford all the students of the same with all Schooles of Learening Behold all those that bee afflicted with any kind of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of life Lastly for our selues here gathered wee humbly O Lord craue at thy handes that it would please thee to make vs thankefull vnto thy Maiestie for all thy louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs euen from our infancie especially that thou hast this present night deliuered vs from all dangers both of body and soule whereinto many haue fallen as wee in the like manner should haue done if we had not beene staied with thy mercifull hand that thou hast aâ—so granted vnto vs so sweete comfortable rest and hast now presently brought vs to the beginning of this day For these things good Lord wee yeeld thee most hearty thankes beseeching thee to make vs more more daily thankfull vnto thy Maiestie for them and pardon our vnthankfulnesse And as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this present houre from all the dangers of this life so we beseech thee continue thy fauour towardes vs this day and the whole course of our life Defend vs O Lord that we now entring into the affaires of this day bee not drawne away with the vaine allurements of this world to sinne and wickednesse that wee walke not in the shadow of death that wee be not intangled in the snares of sinne that wee stumble not at the blockes of iniquitie that we finally fall not into the pit of death and destruction but beeing shadowed vnder thy wings we may cheerefully constantlie goe on forward to the end of our course Grant vnto vs O Lord our God that this good time which thou grantest vnto vs in this life be not idlely or vainly of vs consumed but that euery one of vs may be diligently exercised in his calling this day and all our life long being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yeeld an account of our Stewardship Indue vs we beseech thee with those gifts and graces which bee needfull for vs in our calling that with a pure heart sincere conscience wee may vse them to the benefit of our bretheren and discharge of our owne conscience before thy Maiestie We beseech thee O Lord that in all our consultations words and workes this day and the whole course of our life we may alwayes haue thee presnet before our eyes knowing that thou seest euen the very deepe thoughts of our hearts which alwaies may bee as a bridle to pull vs backe that wee neither do nor yet consent to any sinne or wickednesse but that alwaies wee may bee so exercised in the affaires of this life that wee looke still to the end of our course when it shall please thee to bring vs through the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting rest with thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour In whose Name for these mercies and whatsoeuer thou knowest to bee needfull for vs for thy whole Church wee pray vnto thee as hee himselfe hath taught vs in his holy word saying Our Father c. The Lord blesse vs saue vs the Lord make his face shine vppon vs and bee mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauorable countenance towards vs grant vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable fâ—llowshippe of the holy Ghost bee with vs preserue vs this day and euermore Amen Euening Prayer for priuate Houses and Families O Gracious God and louing Father according to thy Commandement we do heere present our selues againe before thy Maiestie humbly prostrating our sinfull selues before the Throne of thy mercy acknowledging and confessing from the bottome of our hearts that wee are miserable sinners daylie breaking thy Commaundements both in thoght word and deede wherein we iustly deserue euerlasting damnation and to bee vtterly throwne from thy presence Yet O Lord wee see thy goodnesse againe towardes vs who not sâ—ffering vs thus to perish in our sinnes hast set thine owne deere Sonne Iesus Christ to take vppon him whatsoeuer is due â—o reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe In him theâ—efore good Lord and through him doe wee come vnto thee beseeching thee for his sake that wee feeling the greeuousnesse of our sins and groaning vnder the burthen of them may feele the release and ease of them in that we be through thy holie Spirit assured and stedfastly beleeue that Christ Iesus our Lord hath borne the burden of them euen for vs. Graunt O Lord that wee being assured heereof in our Consciences may thorough thy most holy and blessed Spirit be renewed in the inner man to hate detest and vtterly abhorre all sinne and that wee may studie to liue according to thy blessed will during our whole life And now O Lord God we pray not onely for our selues but likewise for all thy whole Church especiallie for such as be persecuted for the testimony of a good conscience Grant vnto them O Lord that whether it be by death or life they may glorifie thy Name to their liues end Blesse these Churches good Father wherein wee liue and therein our gracious Soueraigne and thy seruant Iames King of Great-Britaine France and Ireland Keepe him O Lord from all Conspiracies Treasons and Rebellions Preserue the Noble and hopefull Prince Charles the
illustrious Prince Palatine the Lady Elizabeth with their Princely Issue Blesse the Lords of his Maiesties most honourable Priuie Counsell the Magistrates Ministers of this Land Shower downe thy blessings O Lord vpon both the Vniuersities and all Schooles of Learning Comfort all those that bee afflicted with any kind of crosse that they may profit by thy correction to newnesse of life And lastly gracious Lord God we come vnto thee for our selues heere gathered together rendering vnto thy glorious Maiesty most hearty Thankes which hast hitherto from our infancy presetued vs by thy mercy from all perils and daungers both of soule and body whereunto fraile man is subiect that thou hast sent vnto vs euerie thing necessarie for this present life as health foode apparrell and such like which many of thy deere Children do want being notwithstanding as preciouslie bought with the precious bloud of thy deere Sonne as we be yet be in misery and calamity oppressed with pouertie nakednesse imprisonment and banishment in vvhose case also deare Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onely that thou dealest herein more fauourably with vs then with them For the which thy louing kindnesse we giue thee hearty thankes desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauorably in mercie preserued vs by thy protection and euen presently this day hast brought vs past all dangers therof so we beseech thee good Lord in like fauour to behold vs this night that we taking our naturall rest and quietnes may through thy protection bee defended that our Bodies resting our soules may bee occupied in beholding thy fauour and mercie towardes thy Children still looking for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for our full Redemption Graunt that our sleepe bee not immoderate according to the lust of our flesh but as much as is sufficient to refresh our weake nature that being thus refreshed both the body and the mind may be more able to doe their seuerall office and Function in that Vocation wherein thou hast placed vs. Grant that we laying our bodies downe to rest mâ—y be thereby put in minde oâ— our long rest of death that as we do now lay down our bodies in bed so we may be therby admonished that heereafter they shall be layde downe in the Graue to bee consumed to dust earth ashes from whence they were taken That we hauing this before our eyes may be stirred vp in minde warily to walke in this our Pilgrimage not knowing when the time shall be of our departure but alwaies to be found readie with ouâ— Lampes of pure faith clearly burning that we may be accepted to meete the Bridegroome when our mortall earthly and corruptible Bodies shall be made like to the glorious body of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ there to reigne with him in perpetuall ioy and consolation together with all the Elect children of God continually lauding with thy Heauenly multitude the glorious Maiesty of thee our Lord God and heauenly Father in our God and Sauiour Iesus Christ For these and whatsoeuer else thou knowst to be needfull for vs and thy whole Church we pray vnto thee as he himselfe hath taught vs saying Our Father c. The Lord blesse vs saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs The Lord turne his fauourable countenance vnto vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesu Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable Fellowship of God the holy Ghost be with vs preserue and keepe vs this night forth and for euermore Amen A forme of Prayer dayly to bee vsed of all faithfull Christians in their houses or elswhere ALmighty God and mercifull Father in and thorough Iesus Christ our Lord in whom and by whom we trust that thou art our God and Father we most humbly heere prostrate our selues before the Throne of thy Maiestie beseeching thee first good Father and God to pardon all our sinnes which wee confesse and acknowledge against our selues bâ—seeching thy gracious Spirit to worke in vs the knowledge of them daily more and more that thereby we may coâ—e vntâ— true Repentance for them together therewith vnto the knowledge of the heighth bredth depth and fulnesse in all sorts of thy grace and mercie whereby through Iesus Christ thou hast forgotten them and remoued them as farre from vs as the East is from the West And althogh we know by them too well good Lord that wee haue as much as in vs lay lyeth laboured to prouoke thine anger against vs heaping sinne vpon sinne and multiplying offences and transgressions against thy high grace and Maiesty breaking thy holy word Commandements yet thou O Lord hast not beene as Man nor thy affections as the affections of the Sonnes of men but hast continued gracious and mercifull and bountiful vnto vs in pardoning our sinnes and daily renewing in vs with the morning thy graces diuers and manifold Therefore we beseech thee most mercifull Father so to giue vs thy holy Spirit that wee prouoke thee no more that thou rise not against vs to destroy vs as we haue deserued for we haue bene are dry as stubble and yet thou hast not dispersed and consumed vs we haue beene vnfruitfull and thou hast not cut vs downe yea Lord we haue brought forth wild and sower Fruite corrupt and detestable and yet thou lettest thy raine to fall and Sun to shine vpon vs. Make vs therefore wee beseech thee sorry as becometh thy Children for that wee haue disobeyed thee so mercifull and louing a Father and frame vs daily and fashion vs to the likenesse of thy wel beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord that in knowledge and true holinesse wee may glorifie thee before the world and by the fruits of godlinesse and righteousnesse be assured and made certaine of thy holy Spirit and of the loue wherewith thou louest vs. Make vs thankfull deere Father for the infinite vnspeakeable benefites of our election to life and euerlasting glory before all time and for our creation redemption and sanctification in time to bring thy glorious counsell to passe Worke in vs certaine faith and assured hope in thy promises the true feare of thy Maiesty perfect hate and detestation of all disordered and sinfull affections Worke in vs eternal loue of thy trueth and Gospell sincere affection and loue towards thy Children and amongst our selues patience knowledge vertue loue compassion with all graces of thy kingdome that in all on behauiour thou O God mayest be glorified in vs. Also wee beseech thee most mercifull Father for the benefites of this life That as thou art not onely the God of our spirites and soules but also of our bodies so it would please thee notwithstanding our sinnes to grant vs thy blessings of health peace and maintenance of which by thy gracious prouidence some of vs doe feele the want and some of vs haue for long time enioyed
therefore in thine infinit wisdome thou hast now restrained vs from bodyly labours that wee might bee there by freed from all encombrances of care and worldly mindednesse and so might wholy apply our selues both to the publicke and priuate meanes and practice of thy worship therein euen all the day and that wee may so doe O grant vs wee humbly pray thee to call thy Sabbath a delight to consecrate it glorious vnto thee eschewing our owne waies and renouncing our owne will forsaking all vaine and ordinary words giuing no way to any loose or worldly thoughts but we may bind our selues to an entire and constant following thee in all the wayes of thy worship as may any way seeme to the saÌ„ctifying of this day And because I am like to meete with many hinderances herein both within and without mine owne heart within repining hereat as an heauy yoake and pleading for vnseasonable and carnall liberty The world without alluring by cunning pretences and contrary example and scorning my strictnes and scrupulousnesse herein O arme mee strongly gratious God against all these enchantments and foolish scarcrowes That I may not leane to mine owne wisdome but to thy sacred word studying the more carefully to please thee in all things that I may stop the mouthes of gainsayers or gloâ—ie herein the more that they are still opened against weldoing shall prouoake thee iustly to stoppe their mouthes in due time with confusion O perswade my heart as thou hast taught mee that thy yoake is easie thine ordinances not greeuous and grant mee to try mine ease by the diseasing of my flesh and to prepare for coÌ„fort therin by greefe for my fayllings which may still prouoake mee to continue therein and the subduing of my flesh may better fit mee to the cheerfull vndergoing thereof and the more I feele mine owne wants and greeue therein the more I may hunger after and value thy sweete ordinance whereby my wants may bee supplyed and sorrowes râ—freshed that so in the deniall of my selfe I may bee still found of thee in Christ and by his power may bee still enabled to goe through the spirituall occasions of the day and norished with hope of the acceptance of my weake endeauours therein So grant mee louing Father when I speake vnto thee to speake euen from thee From the sence of thy Maiesty to abase mee humbly before thee from the light of thy Truth to discerne my speciall wants by the light of faith to apprehend thy speciall fauour in Christ to cast me out of my selfe and cast mee boldly vppon thee and by remembrance of thy former mercies and faithfull promises to assure mee good successe in presence with thee and so from the sence of thy loue to offer a sacrifice of praise vnto thee that I may still receiue from thee by emptying my soule in compassion to others may bee more replenished by thee O grant mee Blessed Lord that when thou speakest to mee I may heare thee onely and alone by thee Let thy key open my heart that it may receiue thee inwardly Let it shut my heart againe that by meditation I may retaine thee constantly Let it open my heart againe by applying thine ordinance to my present and speciall wants and so breake the stony rocke againe that the teares of hearty Repentance may gush out plentifully O then let it shut my heart fast by confidence in thee that I sincke not in dispaire And then let it open and enlarge my heart againe with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious in the sence of thy rich mercies And now let it shut vp my heart againe against selfe loue spirituall pride that so it may be opened by speciall grace to all gratious and constant duties to thee my selfe and my neighbour And when we are to meet thee together in that holie communion O prepare the roome for thy selfe that thou mayest delight to feast with me and giue me an heauenly appetite that I may desire to feed on thee Humble my soule before thee that thou mayest stoope vnto me and ease my soule of its heauie burthen that it may ascend vnto thee and so knit my heart hereby vnto thee in an euerlasting fellowship When I obserue thy church enlarged by the admission of new members the breach of mine owne Vow to consider my decay and backe-slydings from thee and in the sense thereof to pray more earnestly for thy Blessings vpon thine owne Ordinance reioycing for the encrease of thy Church heereby and yet preparing vnto the bloodie Baptisme and so hungering afâ—er the full consummation of thy Chosen When I ioyne with the Congregation either in giuing thee praise or in prayer â—o receiue from thee O grant me to ioyne of conscience not custome to the satisfying of the flesh to humble each other that we may haue mutuall comfort to labour with one mind end that our paines may not be tedious or fruitlesse Giue mee so to praise thee that I bee more humbled in my selfe so to giue thee thankes that I part not stakes with thee so to sing vnto thee that I may sorrow for my sinnes so to reioyce before thee as that I may still hunger after thee and long for thy euerlasting presence So enlarge mee from thy bounty to all occasions for thy sake to fill the emptie to emptie the gorged stomacke to raise the humbled recall the wandring confirme the weakâ— informe the ignorant conuince the obstinate comfort the abiect and reconcile the auerse in all these giue mee good Lord a cheerfull heart rather choosing to preuent then bee preuented herein rather striuing with the last then giuing ouer with the first And so what I haue found a broad O grant me to communicate at home with my God in prayer to blesse it vnto mee with my selfe in priuate application to be bettered therby with my family in conference and instruction to increase the kingdome of Christ still raising my soule higher from the world by meditation of the wisedome and goodnes of my God in his wonderfull workes so still more abasing my flesh in the view and sence of mine owne vnprofitablenesse in the best I haue done yet comforting my soule in the promise of my God that hee will require no more then hee giues and shew his power in my weaknesse that though I find no more in my rekconing but a dearer and more deepe sence of my corruption as this day to discerne detest the same so this deepe sense of corruption may enable me to prepare more conscionably against the more publike occasions and prouoke mee more earnestly to hunger after the euerlasting Sabbath And euen so grant mee Gracious God thus to end the day with thee as I haue endeauoured to begin and continue the same in thee O pardon I humbly pray thee whaesoeuer hath bene mine and accept graciously and crowne thine owne worke in mee who am thy seruant and the Son of thy handmaide And so do heartily commend
not worthy to entertaine and receiue thee into my sinfull vncleane house Neuerthelesse most louing Lord which hast said that who so eateth thy flesh drinketh thy blood shall dwell in thee and thou in him haue mercy vppon mee O haue mercy vpon mee most mercifull Sauiour and behold mee most miserable sinner prepared at this present not only to let thee in vnder the roofe of my mouth but also to lodge thee in the house of my heart O bountifull Iesu be my gracious Redeemer and grant that I receiue not the Sacrament of thy body and blood vnworthily purchasing thereby vnto my selfe death and damnation but rather be made through faith in thee a worthy receiuer a meete member of thy blessed body and so by the strength of this heauenly foode may not onely bee enabled to cast away all my former sinnes and most beloued corruptions but may also walke before thee in all constant holines to the making sure of mine election Grant this I beseech thee for thine owne mercy sake Amen A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the Sacrament O Sweete Sauiour which with thy precious salue of compassion curest the foule and filthy sores of our sinnes and prouidest for vs all necessarie preseruatiues against the poyson of the soule-infecting maliciousnes heare I beseech thee the humble supplications of me thy poore seruant which heere present my selfe before thee at this present and grant that this my receiuing of the Sacrament of thy blessed body and blood may be a true testimony vnto my conscience that I haue through faith in thee receiued full remission of all my sinnes and offences past and am now become as it were a new Creature in thy sight I beseech thee likewise grant that casting away all my former workes of wickednesse I may henceforth walke in newnesse of life and godly conuersation bringing forth such fruits of true conuersion as may mooue others by my example to honor praise thy holy name And that running the whole race of my life in dutifull obedience toward thee I may when it shall please thee to thinke meete receiued among the number of thine elect into that euerlasting happinesse where wee shall bee perfect in holinesse Amen A Prayer for Constant perseuerance in praying when wee are dull to prayer O Lord God most mercifull Father according to thy commandement in mine afflictions and necessities I seeke to thee for succor by continuall prayer calling vppon thy Name I call vppon thee in the day time and in the night season doe I poure out my prayers vnto thee and yet for all that I feele mee nothing released but oftentimes worse and worse which maketh me many times deare Father almost to doubt of thy goodnesse that thou dost reiect my Prayers and giuest no heed vnto them whereby I doe almost thinke that it is no boot for me to pray seeing I feele no release but O Lord this is but weaknesse in me and the frailty of flesh which will not willingly bee subdued vnto thy Spirit which my frailty I beseech thee O Lord forgiue me For thou dost O Lord God see my conflicts and lookest vppon my continuall sighes and petitions but thou dost deferre prolong thy helpe the longer dost not at first helpe me to this end that I may see fully mine owne weaknes learne by little and little to subdue my rebellious will to thy good will who knoweth better what is meet for mee then I my selfe Therefore O most deare Father strengthen mee by thy holy Spirit that I may still perseuere and continue in prayer and with longing desires patiently waite for thee O Lord being assured that although it appeare not yet thou art alwaies present with mee and hearest my sighes and complaints and wilt when thou seest thy time declare thy selfe manifestly in the renewing my heart with spirituall ioy stirre vp O Lord my dull sluggish nature to call vpon thee continually appointing thee neyther time nor the meanes of my deliuerance but leauing all to thy good will and pleasure I may in the meane time neuer cease my continuall prayer to call for thy mercifull helpe vntill such time as it shall please thy goodnesse to send mee full deliuerance I feele my selfe O Lord oftentimes very vnwilling to pray for that I doe not fully perceiue my prayers to be heard but doe go on still languishing in my sorrowes as though thou hadst no care of mee But this my dulnesse I beseech thee O mercifull Father pardon in me and grant that I may be raised vppe to pray for aide and releefe of thee continually although I should see no signe of fauour yet that I may continue still with the faithfull Woman of Canaan and neuer cease in heart mind and mouth till thou grant my requests at thine appointed time when thou knowest it shall be most for my behoofe and for thy glory And that when thou shalt mercifully looke vpon mee to deliuer mee I may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge thy goodnesse toward me and let it neuer stirre out of my heart but continue thankfull for the same all the daies of my life whereby thy glorie in mee may be declared and my soule releeued thorough Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for all times O Lord God Father of mercy and God of all consolation without whom wee haue neither hope nor comfort we poore wretched sinners beseech thee of thy Fatherly goodnesse to looke vpon vs and to make vs partakers of thy gracious goodnesse so that euermore wee may set foorth thy honor and glory let our conuersation bee such that a great many beholding our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father and so direct our waies that we may hold forth the profession of thy Gospell as a Lanterne to lighten the steps of a great many that they may turne to the and prayse thy name in their visitation Thus O Lord wee beseech thee to deale with vs that in deed wee may be vessels of honor vnto thee now to set forth the glory of thy name and after this transitorie life to behold thy glory who hast immortallitie alone and dwellest in light that no man hath approched vnto remoue farre from vs our sinnes and iniquities that they may not separate betweene vs and thee blotte out of vs our offences and make our prayers righteous that thou mayest fauourably grant our requests looke vppon vs with thy fauourable mercy that thou mayest haue pittie vppon vs and behold vs in the righteousnesse of thy beloued Sonne Christ Iesus and that wee may be presented faultlesse in thy sight and thou accepting vs as holy we may haue the grace euermore to set forth thine honor and glory and to speake of thy praises in the midst of all thy people Let vs loue O Lord the things that are good and hate the things that are euil let vs delight in all things that may please thee and let vs
be greiued with whatsoeuer is displeasant in thy sight And to the intent we may haue true vnderstanding and be able to descerne betweene things what is good or euill wee beseech thee let thy word dwell in vs plentifully that it may guide our vnderstandings so that wee may abound in all knowledge and doe according to that which is righteous And in this estate of true Christianitie being instructed in mind and readie in body in all holy obedience we beseech thee make vs to grow and encrease from grace to grace from faith to faith vntill we come vnto the fulnesse of age to bee perfect members of the body of Christ waiting for the blessed hope of thine elect and sighing in spirit vntill the time that thy Children be reuealed In the meane season let vs sigh with all those that haue receiued the first fruits of thy spirit that these daies of sinne may cease that Sathan bee troden downe vnder feet that Antichrist may be reuealed yet to many thousands that bee in ignorance that the number of thine elect may be full the bodie of thy Saints made perfect all teares wiped from their eies euen then when thy Sonne shall appeare the second time to iudge the quicke and the dead which time O Lord send quickly according to thy good will and teach vs to pray with all thy Saints Come Lord Iesus come quickly Grant this O most mercifull Father for thy Sonnes sake in whose name wee pray vnto thee And although wee bee but earth and ashes yet wee are bold to say vnto thee the God of all glorie euen as hee hath taught vs. Our Father which art in heauen c. A Prayer for all estates O Lord God Father of light with whome is no change neyther yet shadow of change but hast established thine appointed counsels which shall not be changed for euer thou O God hast made among vs this diuersitie of estates and degrees according as euery Common-wealth needfully requiteth keepe vs all wee beseech thee that wee may walke obediently in our calling and follow the steps that thou hast set before vs euen from the highest to the lowest let vs accomplish that dutie vnto which thou hast appointed vs and with a faithfull remembrance of thy promise made of old to our Father Abraham that thou art his exceeding great reward wee may likewise depend on thy prouidence and seeke not any shamefull waies to get our liuing wandring from the righteousnes of our vocation into the manifold errors of sinne and iniquitie Looke vppon vs O Lord inrich vs with thy grace make vs obedient to our superiours meeke towards our enemies faithfull to our friends true and iust towards all men that wee may dwell stedfastly rooted in the hope of thine â—lect vntill thou shalt make an end of all our labour looke vppon our most excellent King and Prince with his Highnes honorable Counsell as thou hast called them to the highest roomes so giue vnto them the greatâ—st measure of grace that they faithfully dispense the Talents commited vnto them Lead them with good King Dauid into the Sanctuarie that they may see thy louing kindnes which is better then life and say with the Prophet All flesh is grasse and the glorie of man is as the flower of the field so consecreate themselues to do thy will offer vp their bodies to be holy liuing and reasonable sacrifices vnto thee that they may bee nurse-fathers vnto thy Church looke also wee beseech thee vppon the Ministers whom thou hast appointed to the preaching of thy Gospell make them O God faithfull dispencers of thy mysteries without respect of persons to do the worke vnto which thou hast appointed them that they may conuert sinners and haue their glorie perfect in the day of Christ knit vs together in peace and loue that they may bee full of compassion one towards another to reioyce with them that reioyce and mourne with them that mourne especially to instruct one another in the way of righteousnesse that by our mutuall helpe wee may the better withstand our enemie and dwell safe in hope of thine elect till our daies shall bee full and we shall walke in the waies of all the world which time we beseech thee bring vs happily vnto euen for thy Sonnes sake we beseech thee to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons and one God be all honor and glorie now for euer euermore Amen A Prayer to bee confirmed in the knowledge of God O Most mightie and eternall God thou that by the creatioÌ„ of the world the Sunne the Moone and Starres the Earth the Sea and all that therein is hath sufficiently declared thy selfe to be the euerlasting Almightie God for that these things doe farre passe the reach of mans wisedome And not herein onely hast thou declared thy selfe to bee a God but in that also that thou dost continually guide and gouerne all things of thee created It is thou therfore that thunderest from heauen that with lightnings and tempestes and of waters windes shewest thy terrible vengeance vpon sinfull flesh It is thou O God which lettest vs feele sensibly in our selues thy mighty power and working not only in that that thou hast made our bodies and soules but especially that thou makest vs euen of force to confesse thy eternall Spirit in vs who so mightily fighteth against the assaults of the enemie that of force we are driuen to acknowledge that it is thy working in vs and not we our selues Seeing therefore O most mercifull Father that wee haue both in thy creatures and also in our selues so manifest testimonie that thou onely art the eternall and euer-liuing God which raigneth in all thy creatures guiding them by thy heauenly prouidence grant we beseech thee that our hearts may be hereof fully assured to acknowledge thee not onely to bee God eternall who hath created all things but also that we may in heart be fully perswaded that thou O Lord God dost gouerne all things according to thy most blessed will so that nothing can bee done in the world without thine appointment and that thou hast such a singuler care ouer thine elected people so that not so much as an hayre of their head shall fall without thy prouidence that thou so guidest all their doings that all things shall turne to their commoditie and thy glory Grant O Lord God that hereof we may be fully assured in our hearts and soules that we may in all our doings set thee before our eyes acknowledging thee to bee our onely Lord and Father and by the working of thy holy Spirit in vs may bee confirmed in Faith and comforted in soule and lightened in vnderstanding that alwaies here vppon earth wee may glorifie thy holy name and after the dissolution of this body wee may attaine to euerlasting ioy through our Lord Sauiour Iesu Christ who liueth and raigneth world without end Amen A Prayer for the obtaining of sauing Faith O
might dayly grow vp in Christ to perfect holines therfore though corruption remaine in mee yet seeing it doth not raigne in mee here is my comfort that I am not vnder the Law but vnder Grace though I am sometimes as no better then lost in my selfe yet this is that I may still deny mine owne righteousnesse that I may be found of thee in Christ for the concerning of present corruption for the auesting of my person in him to bee enabled thereby to perfect holinesse Onely gracious God grant mee heere I pray thee still to iustifie thy wisedome in condemning mine owne folly and to aduance thy free and constant grace in the acknowledging of mine owne corruptions True it is holie Father that as thou madest man righteous at the first but he sought many inuentions to his owne ouerthrow so didst thou so restore me againe by thy power of Christ vnto a more durable state of holinesse that neither shall I euer fall away from thee finally neither though thou hast left corruption in mee yet seeing thy end heerein was to make mee still deny my selfe that I might stand fast in Christ in whom thou hast ingrafted mee therfore neither might I haue falne at al into such feareful distraction if I had kept me close vnto my hold neither though I haue fallen by letting goe my hold yet shall not my falling make thy truth without effect nay rather shall proue a meanes to make good the same And therefore I doe heere vnfainedly acknowledge before thee blessed Lord mine owne folly in letting goe my hold thou hast not beene wanting with all meanes to preserue me vpright but I haue beene wanting to the meanes and so I haue beene wanting vnto thee and to my selfe thou hast willed mee to liue by faith euen when I haue feeling of thy loue and my inward pride hath peruerted thy gracious feeling to make mee liue by sence and behold the Sunne when it shineth and so by peruerting the comfort of thy Spirit as an occasion to the flesh I haue iustly greiued thy Spirit and so thou with drewest thy face from mee and I haue beene troubled Troubled in my soule for the losse of thy fauour troubled of the world by seeking false remedies there from troubled in my Spiâ—it by the confusion of those remedies as breeding some times hardnesse of heart and so bringing forth troubles by exposing to outward euils and hindering in the vse of spirituall remedies sometimes herevpon breeding further trouble and inward horror and anguish of spirit many times laying the axe to the very roote challenging the maine And yet in all this farre lesse then I haue deserued that so I might haue hope in thy free grace for my recouerie And in all this aduancing thy righteousnesse in abasing my folly that so I might still renounce mine owne righteousnesse and labour to bee found in Christ for my recouery and perfection Onely keepe me here holy Father from presumptuous sinne that it may not haue dominion ouer me to turne thy grace into wantonnesse and then lead mee into thy priuy Chamber stay me with thy flaggons that I may not onely not sleepe in death but also awake and sing out of the dust and out of the deepe to admire thine infinite wisdome and to see thee who art inuisible that I may bee raised vp againe O giue me therefore most mighty Lord to condemme mine owne folly for being wise in mine owne eies in turning thy fauour as an occasion to the flesh grant mee to thanke my selfe that of the flesh I haue reaped such confusion and giue thee thankes the more thou hast sustained mee in the graue Grant me out of experience of mine owne foolishnesse to giue thee the glory of thy free goodnesse and out of the experience of thy power in my weaknesse to comfort my selfe that thou wilt returne againe And that thou maist vndoubtedly returne with speed O strengthen my weake faith I humbly pray thee with thy precious promises that thy foundation stands sure whatsoeuer my building may be thou knowest who are thine O let it comfort my fainting spirit that all things shall worke together for the best to those whome thou hast chosen that so I may wisely compare one thing with another things past with things present by those things to come that so I may liue by faith in the iudging of my present estate by looking behind and before and not be cast off my hold either by present temptations or future feares O establish me with thy precious promise that thou wilt keepe me to the end that so I may liue by faith in casting my selfe vppon thy mighty power and committing my selfe in weldoing into thine holy hands Teach mee to deny mine owne wisedome that I may trust perfectly in thy mercy and grant me in things to rely vppon the wisedome of thy word which is able to make mee wise and perfect to saluation Let thy word keepe me in all my waies that I may not decline to the right hand or to the left and let my supplications be alwaies manifest at the throne of grace that so I may be carefull for nothing O let me not in any case greiue thine holy Spirit any more but grant mee to entertaine and cherrish the motions therof by turning them into feruent prayers and conscioaÌ„ble practices seasonable to the occasion weane mee from the loue of the world that I may haue fellowship in thy loue and purge my heart from secret wickednesse that it bee not stolne away from thee keepe mee alwaies close vnto thee that I may not fall into open wickednesse and giue mee grace alwaies to remember my end that I may be still prepared against the comming of my Maister Sauiour Iesus Christ And so still accept me gracious Father as I am in him and not in my selfe as I would be in thee and not what I am in corruption as I shall be with thee not what I am in this present world enabling me still to desire aboue what I can do and to beleeue aboue what I can thinke or desire and so lead mee forward by thy power through the vally of teares that though I somtimes slippe yet I may vp againe though I stray a while yet I may thereby mend my pace follow close after the marke not looking on my selfe mine owne worth or inability but still looking vnto Iesus the Authour and finisher of my faith that so I may in him bee more then Conqueorr and so fighting still the good fight of faith I may finish my course with ioy and lay hold of eternall life in due season And so fil me O God of grace with all ioy in beleeuing that so I may liue by faith that I may bee readier to die in faith and to giue vp my soule by faith into thy holy hands apprehending by faith the Resurrection from the dead that so I may bee translated from death to life
my life hid with Christ in God when Christ which is my life shal appeare I may also appeare with him in glorie Grant this gracious Father for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Aduocate and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for grace and wisedome O Most mighty God and mercifull Father poure into my heart thy heauenly grace wisedome Comfort my sinnefull soule with thy heauenly Manna molifie and make soft my hard heart with the sweete pleasant oyle of thy most holy word Suffer me not O mercifull Lord to swerue or slide from the waies of truth but grant helpe of thy holy Spirit that I may walke in the same vnto my liues end and let not thy heauenly wisedome depart from me at any time during this life According to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Preserue me from this my youth and infancy vnder thy fauourable protection Giue mee grace O Lord that I may euen to the graue continue a faithfull and manly Souldâ—er in defence of thy truth and that I may in all my life daily grow to the ripe perfection of godly wisedome and truly and iustly acknowledge thee mine onely God Deut. 6. That I may onely feare thee and honor thee That I may cleaue fast vnto thee Deut. 10. That I doe not after the abhomination of any idolatrous people worship stocks or stones Deut. 8. Nor let me not O Lord harken to any false Prophets that teach their owne imaginations and not the word of God Deut. 13. Now vouchsafe O Lord God to heare me and let thy wisedome gouerne mee I know my God that no creature can truly say I haue done my dutie in the seâ—uice of the Lord neither is it in the power of man who is so deeply subiect to sinne to escape all those stumbling blockes which haue made our waies dangerous and perillous through those innumerable practises wherewith Sathan our great enemie through his malice and craft hath deuised to intrap our sinfull soules to our vtter destruction Lord of thy great mercy roote and pull out of my heart all the workes of Sathan namely fornication adultery vncleannes wantonnesse pride enuie vnnaturall desires vnpure thoughts lewd behauiour idlenesse and all other vicious and naughty actions which being followed according to the pleasures and delights of the world in this life bring with them euerlasting damnation of body and soule in the world to come Encrease in me O Lord such aboundance of thy grace wisedome and heauenly blessing that through the operation of the same in me I may proue a true workman in thy haruest such a seruant as occupieth his Maisters Talent vnto gaine a witnesse that beareth testimony of Christ to all people at all times and in euery place continue constant in the truth during the whole course of this my mortall life In thy truth O God do I delight therefore make me perfect in the same In thee alone doe I repose my whole trust and confidence saue me O God of all mercy and defend mee against my enemies Establish and confirme me O Lord in faith towards thee Keepe thou my lips and gouerne my tongue Suffer not my heart to purpose any thing that may displease thee nor my tongue or lips to speake ought whereby I should purchase thy wrath Whosoeuer doth trust in thee O God shall vnderstand thy truth and the faithfull shall haue rest in thy fauour but the vngodly according to their owne wicked thoughts shall find corruptioÌ„ The soules of the iust are in the hand of God and the force of death shall not touch them All wisedome commeth from the Lord and hath beene with him alwaies and is with him from the beginning Eccle. 1. The feare of the Lord doth expell sin Lord of thy mercy grant me thy heauenly wisedome whereby I may truly learne to know thee rightly and be diligent to performe thy precepts effectually Lord leaue me not in my young daies let thy wisedome enter into my heart and make her habitation in my soule so shall I liue in thy fauour and perseuer in thy lawes through thy grace Let not them that trust in thee O Lord God of Hoastes bee ashamed let not those that seeke thee bee confounded O God of Israel Lord I make my prayers vnto thee in an acceptable time euen in the multitude of thy mercies O God heare mee in the truth of thy saluation In thee alone O heauenly Father are all things generally and what is not of thee is altogether naught Replenish and blesse me O Lord with all good giftes shew thy louing countenance towards me gouerne me by thy grace continue me in thy fauour and protect and defend me now and euermore vnder the winges of thy manifold mercies so shall no vile temptation haue power to preuaile against me Such is the force of thy heauenly wisdome O God that whosoeuer obtaineth the same and directeth his life accordingly shall prosper and see good daies Whosoeuer pleaseth thee O Lord from the beginning are made whole through wisedome Sapient 9. Which of thy mercy O my God vouchsafe to grant vnto me for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ his sake To whome with thee the holy Ghost be all glory honor and praise now and for euer Amen A Prayer to walke conscionably in our ciuil and personall Calling O Most glorious and wise God who in thine infinit wisedome hast ordayned that euery Sonne of Adam should eate his bread in the sweat of his face and so hast wisely fitted each man in his seuerall place with seuerall and particular gifts of nature experience and grace that so hee might glorifie thee in some speciall calling not willing that any should liue idlely like an vnprofitable burthen of the earth mispending his precious time and wasting away thy Creatures neither doing good to humaine society And herein hast giuen vs a patterne from thy selfe who euen workest hitherto and albeit that thy great businesse of Creating all things ended with those first six daies in which euery particular was brought forth by thee in his proper kind yet thy prouidence is neuer intermixed in it neither slumber nor sleepe ouer taketh thee And so also thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ whilst in the daies of his flesh hâ—e humbled himselfe to liue as man vpon the earth both in his priuate life attended vppon a painefull trade and when the time came of his manifesting himselfe to the world went about doing of good yea with that chearfulnes that it was his meate and drinke to doe thy will and to finish the worke of him that sent him And all thine holy actions also in continuall action obeying the voyce of thy word and ministring for their sakes that shall be heires of life nay doth not euery Creature in his place obey this thine ordinance the Sunne the Moone all those heauenly Orbes Do they not execute their operations faithfully and finish their Reuolutions in their seasons Do not these inferior things daily performe thy
forth into thy light so in thy time adde him also to thy Church and beget him againe vnto a liuely hope by the immortall seed of thine holy word deliuering him from the power of darkenes in which by nature we are all into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God And if it shall seeme good vnto thee to lay any further triall either of sickenesse or death vpon this thy seruant or the fruite of her wombe prepare vs all to a quiet and patient bearing of thine holy hand and to a comfortable and contented resting vpon thy prouidence assuring our selues that all things shall turne to the good and benefite of thy chosen And so into thine holy hands wee commend our selues with thy seruant and her issue together with hers and our Families and that great Familie of thy chosen wheresoeuer distressed and dispersed to be kept by thy mighty power through Faith vnto saluation Grant vs these things O God of our saluation for the merite of thy beloued Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for such as in this world be very rich and wealthy ETernall GOD and most mercifull Father from whom all good things doe come and proceede who in thy wisedome distributest thy benefits and bestowest thy blessings manifoldwife as seemeth good to thy heauenly will to some more to some lesse as thou who knowest all things seest it to be best for euery one I giue thee hearty thanks in that it hath pleased thee to bestow vpon me a most vnworthy sinner such large blessings of earthly treasures and riches in this life most humbly beseeching thee for thy great mercies sake to giue mee grace to vse them to thy glory and to the helpe and comfort of those that haue neede knowing that thou hast giuen mee this aboundance to the end that I should be ayding and helpfull to others vpon whom it hath pleased thee to lay the crosse of pouerty and that I am but as a Steward from thee which must render account how I haue bestowed them I beseech thee also good Lord that while I liue and possesse plenty of all things from thee I may bee carefull to doe good vnto all men but especially vnto them that be of the houshold of Faith according as thy holy word hath commanded me laying vp therby a good store of my selfe against the day of wrath and to make me friends of vnrighteous Mammon that when I depart hence they may receiue mee into euerlasting habitations And as these thy good gifts O heauenly Father so I beseech thee that I abuse them not either by getting retaining or otherwise by mispending of them Let not my heart at any time be affected towards them nor my minde drowned in the delight of them but that alwaies I may esteeme both them and all things else as vile dung and filthy durt in respect of thee And in the midst of mine aboundance keepe mee O Lord that I aduance not my selfe vaingloriously aboue my Brethren that I be not puffed vp nor high minded that I consume not thy treasure vpon pride whoredome gluttonie drunkennesse or any other wickednesse else whatsoeuer thereby purchasing thy heauy iudgement against me for the same But grant good Lord that as thou hast made me rich wealthy in worldly substance so thou wilt make me much richer in all goodnesse righteousnesse holinesse and innocencie of life thorough Iesus Christ our only Mediatour and Aduocate to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be praise for euer Amen A Prayer for such as bee poore and needy O Eternall and euerliuing God who appointed diuers sundry states and conditions of men some rich some poore some high some low and hast notwithstanding commanded euery one to be content with his estate and calling without repining or grudging against thee for the same I poore wretch and miserable caitiue whom it hath pleased thee to place in the lowest and meanest degree most entirely beseech thy Fatherly goodnesse to giue me grace to be well contented with the sâ—me to submit my will to thy will to depend wholly vppon thy prouidence to cast all my care vppon thee who hast promised to care for mee to repose all my affiance trust and confidence in theâ— and none else and to looke for all good things from thy mercifull hands And though I be poore and needy O Lord yet I beseech thee let mee not dispaire of thy helpe nor yet attempt any vnlawfull or vniust meanes to maintaine my estate withall contrary to thy will But grant that I hauing all things necessary in this life for body and soule may neither bee swallowed vp nor choaked with the cares of the world nor yet remaine barren and destitute of good workes through Iesus Christ our Lord who liueth and raigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A Prayer to obtaine grace of God against the assaults of the world the Flesh and the Diuell O Lord God of eternall glory and Father of endlesse mercy wee thy vnworthy Creatures are bold in the name of thy beloued Sonne to represent our selues before thee humbly beseeching thee for his sake that thou wilt vouchsafe to send downe thy holy Spirit into our hearts to guide and gouerne vs in all our godly waies and to defend vs from all manner of temptations of this world and the assaults thereof Lord God of thine vnspeakable goodnesse grant that thy grace may continue with vs alwaies and that at no time we swerue nor fall from thee Let thy truth euermore bee with vs and make vs constant in the same that wee neuer bee afraid of any thing which lieth in the power of man ouer our bodies but alwaies confessing that whomsoeuer thou pleasest to defend no Tyrant shall bee able to destroy Strengthen and increase Faith Loue and Charity in the hearts of all people Make vs able to resist the vaine pleasures of the world let not the perillous allurements haue any power to conquer ouercome vs nor the subtilties thâ—reof bee able to deceiue vs. Defend vs also O Lord from the many perils and temptations which the diuell our aduersarie practiseth against vs least wee fall into his snaâ—es Let neither his endeuours nor the wanton inticements of our owne flesh preuaile against vs. Wee know O Lord that without thy sufferance hee of himselfe can take no hold on vs nor bee able to diminish the least haire of our head Giue therefore vnto vs such grace from thee that we may be willing to striue against the world the flesh and the diuell and such strength as we may be able to breake and beate downe the forcâ— and vehemencie of their strong temptations Grant vs thy heauenly light whereby wee may perfectly see and perceiue those malicious and cruell engines which they lay to entrap vs least vnawares we fall into the fame Euen now O Lord in these perillous daies the diuell and his ministers doe most busily seeke to sift vs by
that he seeth not the wickednesse that hee committeth And therefore Lot being drunke perceiued not his incestuous fact committed with his two Daughters The Israelites swelling in gluttony and drunkennesse perceiued not their grieuous sinne of Idolatry which they fell into The rich glutton drunken with the aboundance of all things perceiued not his contempt of the poore nor yet their great want and therefore thou in thy great wrath tookest him away from the face of the earth By these and the like exampes of thy Iudgements grant O heauenly Father that I being admonished may bee carefull and studious neuer to bee culpable in this filthy vice least in thy wrath thou depriue mee of the vse of thy creatures in this life and in the world to come giue mee my portion with the wicked in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone that neuer shall be quenched This is the reward thou threatnest in thy holy word to all drunkards gluttons and ryotous persons saying by the mouth of the Apostle neither whoremongers adulterers gluttons drunkards nor such like shall euer enter into the kingdome of heauen Wherefore most deere Father I beseech thee to deliuer me in mercy that I neuer bee stayned therewith but may alwayes vse thy giftes to thy glory the releefe of mine owne necessities and the helpe comfort of others that doe want the same And grant that I seeking after not onely this corporal food which perisheth but also that sweet Ambrosia and heauenly Nectar the word of life which neuer decayeth may after the end of this life haue the full fruition thereof to my eternall comfort and for euer laude and praise thy blessed name through Iesus Christ our Sauiour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer against idlenesse and sloth MOst holy Fathâ—r after thou haddest created man thou placedst him in paradise commanding him for the avoyding of idlenesse to dresse and manure the same And afterward being cast out of paradise for the sinne of transgression and sent into the world thou enioynest him in the sweat of his face to eate his bread to the end he should not at any hand be idle and so minister occasion to the enemie to inuade him for man being idle and inclined to sloath the diuell he besiegeth vs with a thousand of temptations our flesh lusteth to euill our minds are inflamed to all kinde of wickednesse Wherefore most mercifull Father I most heartily beseech thee that duting the short course of my life in this world I may be alwaies godly occupied and vertuously exercised in the affayers of this life and in all manner of good workes before thee that my enemies the Diuell the World nor the Flesh preuaile not against me And considering that I must render account of all my actions whatsoeuer and of euery minute of an houre or iotte of time lent mee in this life I beseech thee giue me grace to spend my time in such godly actions as may please thee not in idlenes sloath or in any wanton lewd lasciuious or wicked exercise that being found faithfull and vigilant in my calling when the day of Tribulation commeth when euery man shall be rewarded according to his deeds I may obtaine euerlasting life And as it may please thee to keepe my body from idlenes sloath so vouchsafe I beseech thee to exercise my soule in godly contemplations and vertuous Meditations of thee and of thy holy and blessed word together with the heauenly ioyes and beatitudes prepared for all those that vnfeignedly long for thy comming In the practising whereof make mee to loue nothing but thee to honor and obey thee to feare dread and reuerence thee and to desire and couet nothing but thee that I dwelling with thee in minde onely during this life may after the dissolution of this earthly tabernacle dwell with thee both in body and soule world without end through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whome with thee and thy holy Spirit bee all praise and glory now and for euermore Amen A Prayer against Infidelitie and dispaire necessarie for a troubled and wounded spirit GLorious Lord God and our most tender Father in Iesus Christ in whom thou hast elected vs before all worlds to life and glorie and in thy due time hast called vs to a liuely hope of eternall happinesse that we might walke before thee in holinesse and righteousnesse and in thine infinite wisedome hast so disposed of vs in this estate of holinesse that thou maiest haue the glory of thy free grace and therefore as thou hast discharged vs freely of the guilt of our sinne by the blood of thy Sonne and accepted vs perfectly righteous in his obedience so also thou hast left corruption in vs to be daily maistered and subdued that so being thereby daily conscious of our owne vnworthinesse and vnsufficiency and subiect in regard thereof to much distraction and infidelity wee might learne still to liue by faith in the Sonne of God denying our owne righteousnesse that still we may be found in him to the glorious praise of his free grace and so may bee keept by his mighty power through faith vnto saluation Looke graciously vpon me thine vnworthy seruant who doe here vnfeignedly acknowledge before thee that thy Foundation stands sure thou knowest who are thine yet my faith is so weake that I ofttimes am to seeke whither I am thine or no. For such is my ignorance of what I should know that I sometimes grope at the light in the noone day neither knowing the worth of my holy calling nor being able to vse the meanes which may truly informe me therein but somtimes ouer value mine estate as if it were better with mee then it is and sometimes abase my selfe to bee worse then indeed I am or should be And my corruption sometimes breaking out into grosse rebellion doth so hinder and obscure my spirituall eye of faith that I can neither truly discerne whereto I am come neither can see afarre to what I should attaine yea many times it fareth so ill with me that for want of speedie endeauour to recouer my selfe by repentance I doe not onely plunge my selfe deeper into the snare of sinne by not applying the true remedie aright or stumbling vpon vaine helpes but hereby many times am cast into such straights that I not onely question all former truth of thy grace as if I were no better then an hypocrite and had builded on the sands but also am ready to giue ouer all hope of attaining the same as if either it did not belong vnto me or else it were too late to pursue and apprehend the same as if thou hadst forgot to be mercifull because I feele my selfe so miserable as if thy compassion were cleane gone because my rebellion seemes so desperate Hence it is O my God that I turne all thy comforts to be corrasiues vnto me and esteeme all thy threatnings no better then flashes of hell and enterances to eternall vengeance
and enioy for euer thy glorious presence Grant these things O Gracious Lord according to thy goodnesse in Iesus Christ my Sauiour and blessed Redeemer Amen A Prayer for obtaining Triall and cherishing of the holy Spirit of God GLorious and euerlasting Lord God Father of all Spirits and soules of the righteous who hast reuealed thy selfe in thy sacred word to be a Spirit holy and incomprehensible eternall infinite immortall all-sufficient and therefore wilt be worshipped in Spirit and truth And hast in the riches of thy mercy promised to send thy holy Spirit the Comforter into our hearts to lead vs into all truth and to comfort vs in all our tribulations and so to seale vs vp to the day of Redemption Looke downe graciously vppon mee thy poore and forlorne seruant whose poâ—tion is in this valley of miserie to wander in darknesse and walke many times in the valley of the shadow of death altogether ignorant of my way and so subiect to continuall error and wholy destitute of all direction therein and so necessarily exposed to continuall danger For mine owne heart within me is no better then a guide to betray me to error and the glory of the world is nought else then a baite to deceiue me either by clogging mee in the way that I may faint in my iourney or diuerting mee from my right home that I may set vp my rest in mine Inne or build my foundation vpon the sands And mine old aduersarie still compasseth and watcheth all opportunities from both either to sinke mee with dispaire that I may perish in the way or to swell me with presumption that I may not enter into the straight gate And euen so did it fare with me Blessed Lord all the daies of my vanity before I knew thee in Christ As mine owne heart misled mee into all error through my wilfull ignorance so it betrayed mee hereby to all occasions of sinne without which I swallowed more greedily then my appointed food and blessed my soule therein as my cheefest happines and so was faster bound in the chaynes of Sathan as being led captiue at his will to euery lust and reioycing therin as my greatest liberty And so also hath it in part befalne mee since my liberty in Christ by whome though I receiued the free Spirit to lead mee in the way of thy statutes and so haue somtimes obeyed the motions thereof to the euidencing of my glorious libertie yet such hath beene the power of my corruption preuailing ouer mee that I haue many times greeued thy good Spirit by my manifold back-slidings and to my sense and apprehension seemed vtterly to haue quenched the same so strong haue I found my corruption to lead mee captiue into many desperate euils so little life and comfort haue I found in prayer hearing thy word especially in my endeauour to repentance either to resist temptations or release my selfe out of the snares thereof And yet thou hast promised that thy Spirit shall abide with mee for euer and still methought in my greatest wandrings on the right hand and on the left methought I heard the voyce of thy Spirit behind me saying This is the way walke in it Me thouhgt I haue heard the voyce of my beloued many times knocking at the doore of my heart when I haue beene asleepe in the bed of my securitie saying Open vnto mee my Loue my Doue my vndefiled yea I haue felt him puting in his finger at the hole of the doore to open it for mee that so I might arise and let him in And haue I not many times arose to entertaine him and loe he was gone Did I not follow after him to seeke him and yet found him not Haue I not many times smarted soundly for my folly because I would not open betimes Haue not the watch-men that should haue cherished mee wounded me iustly for my carelesnesse Haue they not pluckt away my vaile to discouer my nakednesse the more that so my face being couered with shame I might seeke thy face more humbly And yet O my God I am still to seeke of thee though thou still callest on mee to seeke thy face and my heart in some poore measure answereth Thy face Lord will I seeke Yet what fellowship can there be betweene light and darknesse what hope haue I to find thee seeing I want my guide vnto thee yet thou art not wanting vnto mee to tender this holy guide and my guide is not farre from me though I know it not yea thou art euer with me to keepe mee from vtter fainting and thine holy Spirit is within mee helping me to crie vnto thee O harken therefore I humbly pray thee vnto the groanes of thine owne Spirit and haue mercy vppon thine owne seruant for greeuing the same Restore to mee the ioy of thy saluation that I may discerne the seale of thy Spirit and establish mee with thy free Spirit that I may euer bee with thee O make mee wise to trie the Spirits whether they bee of God or no that neither I may be deluded by a Spirit of error and withall may be able to discerne the worke and euidence of thine holy Spirit from the motions and testimonie of mine owne ignorant and dâ—ceitfull heart Grant me therefore Gracious Father to plead mine interest in thy Spirit by such true meanes and endeauors as may vndoubtedly auouch it to proceed from thee and may apparantly conuince that it dwelleth in me Giue mee to discerne the means wherby thy Spirit is conuayed vnto mee that after I haue heard thy word and beleeued therein then I haue beene sealed with the Spirit of promise grant mee to discerne the maner how it tooke possession of mine heart that to make way for it fit habittation it cast downe euery Imagination that enabled it selfe against thy wisedome that it onely might rule and gouerne mee Spiritually and that withall thereby my house was swept and cleansed from the Dominion of sinne that Iesus Christ thereby might wholy gouerne mee And grant mee to auouch the truth of thy Spirit dwelling in me not somuch by my entertainment and apprehension thereof because it bloweth where it lifteth and though I may heare the sound thereof yet I know not whence it comes nor whether it goes but rather by the nature and qualitie of thy Spirit which will leaue it true stampe in my receiued Spirit in euery qualitie thereof for the assuring my possession thereof by resemblance therto though yet surely and absolutely according to the Nature of the Spirit neither working it at all times alike nor at any time in full measure but still working according to the capacitie of the vessell and the maine end the glorie of God that still it power may bee seene in my weaknesse that the glorie may be of God and not of Man And therefore as I may not challenge a right in thy Spirit vnlesse I find some liuely resemblance and effects of it holy nature in mee as to be