and try my wayes to looke backe upon all the ungodly actions and aberrations of my fore-past life to view my sinne-deformed soule in the cleare glasse of thy undefiled â—aw that so I may judge and abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and bee still more vile in mine owne esteeme make me to examine my selfe and so eate of that bread and drinke of that cup knowing that if I eate and drinke thereof unworthily I eate and drinke damnation to my selfe because I discerne not the Lords body Teach mee to try my selfe whether I be in the faith or no for without faith it is impossible to please thee in any service T is my faith in the death of my Saviour that is the hand and mouth by which I must apply him and make him mine in this Sacrament Assure me by these broad seales annexed to the covenant of grace and letters patents of thy holy word that thou wilt make good what thou hast promised that as thou hast called Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters so thou wilt refresh this my gasping and thirsting soule as thou callest all that be weary and heavie laden to come unto thee so thou wilt in no wise send mee empty away that cast my selfe into the bleeding armes of my dying Saviour Perswade my unbeleeving and doubting heart that as thy Minister taketh and blesseth and breaketh and poureth out and giveth and saith Take and eate the bread take and drinke the wine of the Sacrament so thou from everlasting hast separated consecrated and ordained Iesus Christ to be a Sacrifice for my sinnes hast poured out his blood to be a satisfaction to thy offended justice for my sinfull soule and that hereby I shall continue in communion with him my head and his mysticall body my fellow members Thy flesh O sweet Saviour is meate indeed and thy blood is drinke indeed O let me I beseeth thee find it so in my fainting soule that I may bee ravished with thy love that I may taste and see how gracious the Lord is and find thy free promises and pledges of thy grace to bee better than wine sweeter also than the honey and the honey combe Let thy holy spirit set to his privie seale on my heart inwardly by the secret and sweet refreshment of his blessed testimonie that I am my well beloveds and my well beloved is mine establishing my heart in thy love and knitting my soule unto thee for ever O draw me and I shall run after thee shew me the light of thy countenance and I shall bee saved And Lord make mee to love my brethren as thou hast loved me yea to love my very enemies for thy names sake reconciling my selfe to those whom I have offended following peace with all men and forgiving them their hundred pence as thou hast freely forgiven me my ten thousand talents Vouchsafe me this aud all other graces which may fit mee for thy service in thy kingdome of grace and prepare mee for the enjoyment of everlasting glory through my Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Amen After the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper O Lord what shall I render unto thee for all the benefits which thou hast bestowed upon mee and daily ladest mee withall a most unworthy sinner how shall I bee sufficiently thankefull unto thee for them when they bee more than I can reckon up unto thee more then my heart is able to conceive or comprehend Should I offer up unto thee thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oyle they all would come farre short of thy most free eternall undeserved infinite love Lebanon it selfe is not sufficient for wood nor the beasts upon a thousand hils for a burnt offering What shall I then doe unto thee O thou Preserver of men or what recompence shall I make thee I will even take the cup of salvation and give thankes to thy name O Lord. I will offer up my soule and body for a holy living and acceptable sacrifice unto thee this will please thee better than bullocke that hath hornes and hoofes Thou O Lord in the beginning didst make mee to bee when I was not before and when I had lost my selfe and forfeited my being and life and happinesse didst in Christ restore mee to a more blessed estate than at my Primitive integrity Thou thy selfe art become my Father thy sonne my Saviour thy holy Spirit my Sanctifier thy word my Instructor thy Sacraments the food to refresh satisfie and feed my poore hungry soule to everlasting life This day thou hast called me to thy holy Mountaine and made me joyfull in thy house of prayer this day hast thou invited me to sit downe at thy table and made unto mee a feast of fat things full of marrow a feast of wines on the lees well refined thou hast abundantly satisfied me with the fâ—â—nesse of thy house and hast made mee to drinke of the river of thy pleasures Blessed bee thy glorious name for ever and ever which is above all thankesgiving and prayse of mine O that I could bee indeed thankefull unto thee as thou art gracious unto me If I should open my mouth never so wide thou wouldest fill it thy favours to my poore soule are more than all tongues of men and Angels can worthily magnifie And now O Lord accept I beseech thee the free will-offering of thy servant that desires to feare thy name and to make a covenant with thee never to bee broken that my soule shall cleave close unto thee and avouch thee this day to bee my God and Saviour for ever more Here I doe resigne myselfe soule and body all that is in me and all that belongs unto me to bee wholly thine and that I will never wickedly depart from thee my God as I have done O that my wayes were so directed that I might keepe thy commandements alway Never let mee with the disgorged dog returne any more to my former vomit nor with the washed sow to wallow in the mire but as I have now washed my feete so suffer mee no more againe to defile them as I have put off the filthy rags of my old conversation so I may never againe put them on but become a new creature That seeing the expiation of my sins cost my Saviour so deare as the shedding of his precious blood and that thy wrath lay so heavie upon him who was our suretie onely being innocent in himselfe I may hence conceive how heinous a thing sinne is how abhorred by thee and so hate it in my selfe with a perfect hatred and resist it even to blood and not crucifie againe hereby the Lord of life and glory O make mee thankefully to remember that bitter passion of his and thy love O Father unto mee in that thou hast accepted mee to life in him and hast brought salvation this day home to my house to my heart Lord enter in abide with and dwell in my soule for ever Take not
to come out of it yea though with Lazarus I stinke already yet roll away the stone and speake thou by thy all-powerfull word and I shall come forth and live O purge my conscience from dead workes redeeme mee from death ransome me from power of the grave and though I be lesse than the least of all Saints lesse than the least of all thy mercies yet make me a prisoner of hope and by the bloud of thy covenant send forth my soule out of the pit wherein is no water Wash my robes and make them white in the bloud of the Lambe Create in me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Make thy word to be unto me like a refiners fire and like fullers sope cleansing me from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit that so I may be meete to be a partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but holy and without blemish the sonne of thy love through Christ Thou hast promised that if I returne unto thee thou wilt receive me and that if I seek thee early I shall finde thee that thou wilt have mercie upon me and wilt abundantly pardon all my sinnes heale my backeslidings and love me freely O Lord it is not sinne in the highest degree when it is out of measure sinfull and is come to the full that can hinder the Sunne of righteousnesse from arising with healing in his wings on any humbled soule no for where Sinne abounded Grace doth much more superabound and where shall or can the skill of thee our heavenly Physician be so much seene so much adored and magnified as in healing a poore soule weltring and wallowing in its bloud and desperately wounded unto everlasting death O speake thou the word and my soule shall live Subdue mine iniquities and cast all my sinnes into the depths of the Sea O redeeme me from my former vaine conversation that I may renounce the hidden things of dishonesty turne thou mee and I shall be turned betroth my soule unto thee in faithfulnesse make with me a covenant of peace And because no man can come to thee except the father which sent thee draw him O draw me and I will run after thee open my blinde eyes say Epphata to my deafe eares touch my lips with a coale from thy Altar that my iniquity may bee taken away and my sinne purged then shall my lame feet leape as an Hart and my dumbe tongue shall sing forth thy praise A new heart doe thou also give me and a new spirit doe thou put within me and take away the stony heart out of the midst of me and bestow upon me an heart of flesh and put thy spirit within mee as thou hast promised and cause me to walke in thy statutes and to keepe thy judgements and doe them And for the time to come Lord make me more zealous of thy glory more profitable in wayes of my calling more carefull to doe and receive all possible good that I can Alas I have beene a barren tree thou hast planted mee neere the rivers of water hast digged about me and taken much paines with me but I am still unfruitfull thy glory is not so deare unto me as it ought to be nor is my owne salvation or the edification of others so sincerely indevoured by me as was meet O turne me into another man circumcise the foreskinne of my heart let the time past of my life suffice to have served and live in sinne Give mee grace now in this my day to know the things that belong to my peace to make use of this time of my visitation to lay hold on eternall life to take the kingdome of heaven by violence now thou standest at the doore and knockest O let me open unto thee that thou mayest enter in and sup with me Give mee grace to worke out my salvation with feare and trembling to bee often in calling upon thee in prayer and lifting mine eyes up to the hills from whence both pardon of sinne and power over sinne must bee expected Make mee often search and trye my wayes and examine my selfe whether I be in the faith or no. Now I beseech thee to heare me and helpe me doe away the iniquity of thy servant cover my transgressions and let my sinnes bee blotted out from before thee for the Lord Iesus Christs sake Amen Amen Some particular formes of PRAYER For the English Colonies and Plantations in New-England Virginia c. O Most high God Possessor of heaven and earth the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the habitation of thy holinesse and of thy glory by thee the Mountaines were brought forth and thou hast formed the earth and the would and hast given it to the children of men for a possession And by thy word of blessing hast commanded man to encrease and multiply and replenish the face of the earth We in this nation have found thy gracious Providence over us in thy continuall protection and preservation for thou hast strengthned the bars of our gates and blessed our children within us thou hast set peace in our borders and hast abundantly given us blessings of the brest and of the wombe insomuch that wee are exceedingly multiplyed so that the place where wee dwell is too narrow for us for our seed is become as the sand and the offspring of our bowels as the gravell thereof And now O Lord thou of thy good providence hast espied out for us an exceeding good land watred with the dew of heaven from above blessed with the farnesse of the earth from beneath and hast made roome for us to bee planted therein that wee who are growne into so great a nation and are thronged at home may swarme out and bee gathered thither for the glory of thy great name the honour of this Kingdome and the further enlargement of our Kings dominions O let their designe be holinesse to the Lord honour and wealth to our nation and enlargement also to the kingdome of thy Christ who are transplanted into those remoter parts of the world Build a place of rest for thy tabernacle among them that the heathen that have not knowne thee and the families that have not called on thy name may by this meanes bee delivered from the power of darkenesse and translated into the kingdome of thy deare sonne Bee thou a wall of fire round about our people and a little Sanctuary unto them Let no sonne of wickednesse approach neere to hurt them build them up into a nation there plant them and make them to dwell in safety Let no seditious Sheba be author of faction or schisme among them And as thou causest the Sun to arise upon all the earth so that nothing is hid from the heate thereof so leâ— there bee no speech nor language where the voyce
thy holy spirit from mee make mee one with Christ my head flesh of his flesh bone of his bone make mee one with the mysticall body of thine Elect that I may have my part in the prayers of the Church in the Communion of Saints here on earth in the kingdome of grace and may enjoy thee and them face to face and sit downe and eat and drinke with thee in thy kingdome of glory Amen For the Sacrament of Baptisme O Lord our God the great the mighty and the terrible God who keepest covenant and mercy with all them that feare thy name and trust upon thee even to a thousand generations thou hast promised to bee our God and the God of our seed to enter into covenant with us that wee should bee thine O Lord I come to thy throne of grace at this time to lay claime to my interest in that new covenant sealed unto thy Church in the blood of Iesus that thou wouldst performe the same unto mee and mine also hast not thou said thou wilt circumcise mine heart and the heart of my seed to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soule that thou wilt put thy Law in our inward parts and write it in our hearts and that thou wilt bee our God and wee shall bee thy people that thou wilt forgive our injquity and wilt remember our sinne no more O Lord hast thou said it and wilt not thou also doe it By faith I plead my interest thereunto not for my selfe alone but for mine also with whom I beseech thee to make an everlasting covenant of life and peace that being baptized into Iesus Christ they may bee sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word O Lord wee are all borne the children of wrath and there is no way for us to escape the damnation of hell except wee bee borne againe of water and of the Spirit O Lord doe thou sprinkle cleane water upon us wash away the filth of Zion and purge the blood of Ierusalem from the midst thereof Baptize us with the Holy Ghost that having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water wee may bee new creatures fit to bee an habitation of God through the spirit O blessed be thy goodnesse for ever which hast given us this seale of thy rich promise this is that Arke in and through which thou savest thine Elect thou dalliest not with us herein it is no idle ceremonie thou art present in thy own ordinance to fulfill that which thou hast promised O wash our soules with the baptisme of Repentance as thou doest our bodies with the outward element of water Let the vertue of Christs death kill sinne in us for how shall wee that are buried with Christ by baptisme and thereby dead to sinne live yet therein Doe not wee herein vow to forsake the Devill the Pomps and vanities of this wicked world and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh and shal we break our vow transgresse the covenant O let this be far from us teach us therefore to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts deliver us from every evill worke that we may serve the living God Sprinkle cleane water upon us that we may bee cleane from our naturall filthinesse and from all our uncleannesses Wash us O wash us throughly from our iniquities and cleanse us from our sinnes Make our hearts to be stedfast in thy love and never to forget this covenant of our God thy mercie doe thou keepe for us and ours for evermore and let thy covenant stand fast with us and bee established for ever as the Moone and as a faithfull witnesse in heaven And as thou hast thus brought us into the bond of the covenant so let us never depart from thee Bee thou unto us a God and let us be thy people for evermore even till thou bringest us unto Mount Sion and to the Citie of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem and to an inumerable company of Angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Iesus the Mediatour of the new covenant and to the bloud of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel Make me to be thine my self be thou my Father and make me to be thy Sonne for if the first fruit be holy the lumpe also shall be holy and if the roote be holy so also shall the branches bee This mercie I beg of thee in his name merits and mediation out of whose pierced side issued forth water and bloud for the sanctifying and justifying of thine Elect. To whom with thee and the Holy Spirit be all glory service thanksgiving and dominion through all the Churches of the Saints for ever Amen For Regeneration Sanctification and grace to serve God O Lord thou God of truth who hast sworne in thy faithfulnesse that as thou livest thou hast no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that hee should turne from his way and live and therefore commandest thy people saying Turne ye turne ye from your evill wayes for why will ye dye O house of Israel and hast enjoyned that I should wash me and make me cleane put away the evill of my doings from before thine eyes promising moreover that though my sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they bee red like crimson they shall be as wooll I that am a wicked and miserable caitiffe a sinner before the Lord exceedingly even as the men of Sodome that have done abominable workes and denied the God that is above wilfully sinning after I had received the knowledge of the truth and treading under foote the Sonne of God counting the bloud of the covenant wherewith I was sanctified an unholy thing and having done deâ—piâ—e to the spirit of grace O Lord even out of the deepes doe I call unto thee for helpe yea out of the belly of hell doe I earnestly cry for thy mercie O cast not out my prayer Though mine iniquities be more than the haires of my head my transgressions heavier than the sand yet is there forgivenesse with thee and although my sinnes have reached up to heaven yet thy mercie is above the heavens mine are at the most but the sinnes of a man but thine at the least are the mercies of an infinite God yea thou hast the relenting bowells of a most tender Father O spread the robe of thy Sonnes righteousnesse over me that so thou mayest not behold my nakednesse cloath me with the garments of his salvation say unto my soule Live cause breath to enter into my dry bones lay sinewes upon them and bring flesh upon them and cover them with skinne that I may know that thou art the Lord. And albeit I be dead in trespasses and sinnes yet open my grave and cause me
bee removed neither shall any of the cords thereof bee broken O Scripture Psal 63. 1. how my soule thirsteth for thee how Head Desire my flesh longeth after thee in a dry and thirstie land where no water is But now O blessed day thrice welcome newes the Head Die messengers of death Scripture Pro. 16. 14. tell mee that the Scripture Gen. 47. 29. time drawes neere that I must dye 1. And shall I so Head Death Scripture Math. 25. 23. soone enter into the joy of my Lord is the time of my DEPARTING so Scripture 2 Tim. 4. 6. neere at hand then blesse the Lord O Scripture Psal 103. 1. my soule and all that is within mee bless his holy name I have long lyen Head World Scripture Dan. 7. 2. upon this great SEA the world looking longly for this happy day when one sweet gale of wind my last breath should wast me over Scripture Hebr. 11. 10. unto a better countrey that is an heavenly where Scripture 3. 11. I shall enter into REST and bee Scripture Col. 1. 12. partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light 2. Alas I am but a Stranger on this earth and woe is Scripture Psal 120. 5. Head Wicked me that I Sojourne in Mesech that I dwell in the tents of Kedar my soule Scripture 6. hath too long dwelt Scripture Mal. 3. 15. with such as tempt Scripture Ephe. 2. 2. Head Profane God children of disobedience that Scripture Pro. 30. 12. are not washed from their filthynesse I have beene long Head Vngodly absent from the Lord But now Scripture Eccle. 12. 5. I am going to my long HOME to Head Death my Fathers House Head Heaven Scripture Ioh. 14. 2. 3. where are many mansions whither my Saviour is gone before to provide me a place there Scripture 1 Sam 20. 3 is now but a step betwixt me and life everlasting Head Glorified I shall Scripture 2 Cor. 5. 8. now shortly be present with the Lordbeing Scripture Hebr. 7 26. seperate from sinners and made higher than the heavens 3. I dwell now Scripture Iob 4. 19. in a house of clay whose foundation is in the dust an Head Body Scripture 2 Cor. 5. 1. earthly Tabernacle which may bee crushed before the moaths But blessed bee God now I am â—â—itting to an House Head Heaven not made with hands but eternall in the Heavens whose builder and Scripture Heb. 11. 10. maker is God 4. Why should I then feare death Head Death though a King of terrours to ungodly Scripture Iob 18. 14. men â—aâ— with holy â—oâ— All the dayes of Scripture 14. 14 my appointed time I will waite till my CHANGE comefâ—r death is but a-Change yea and a Head Glorifie Change also for the better for thereby Scripture Phil. 3. 21. Christ shall Change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Scripture 2 Co 5. 4. mortalitie shall bee swallowed up of life then I shall hunger no more neither thirst any more nor sinne any more O blessed Change for my sinning against my God hath grieved me sore hath even Scripture Psal 69. 20. made me weary of my life and broken my heart but I shall then follow Scripture Rev 14 4. the Lambe whither soever hee goeth 5 What is Death Head Die but a putting off the rags of mortalitie Scripture 2 Cor. 5. 4. and why should I feare to be uâ—cloathed or be loath to put off this corruptible yea rather why should I not be glaâ— when I can find the grave For 6 Now I shall Scripture Iob 3 22. Scripture Iob 7. 21. -14. 12. Head Die Sleepe in the dust I shall lye downe and not rise againe till the heavens bee no more I shall make Scripture 17. 13. my bed in darkenesse I shall fall Scripture 1 Thess 4. 14. Scripture Acts 13. 36. asleepe in IESVS and bee laid to my Fathers where though wormes be spread under mee and wormes cover me and though after this skin they Scripture Iob 19. 26. shall destroy this body Head Resurrecti ¦ on yet in my flesh I shall see God Therefore as the Scripture Psal 42. 1. Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth Scripture 2 for God for the living God when shall I come and appeare Head Life before God My times Lord Scripture Psa 31. 15. are in thy hand-thou breathedst into me Scripture Gen. 2. 7. at first the breath of life command Head Die Scripture Tobit 3. 6. now therefore my Spirit to bee taken from me that I may be dissolved and become earth and my soule returne to God that gave it Father into thy hands I commend Scripture Psal 31. 5. my spirit for thou hast redeemed mee O Lord thou God of truth Amen An humble Soule bemoaning it selfe under its many Sins may thus pray O My God I am ashamed and Scripture Ezr. 9. 6. Head Ashamed blush to lift up my face to thee my God for mine inquities are increased over mine head and my trespasse is growne up unto the heavens yet suffer me O thou Holy Scripture 2 King 19. 22. Head God One of Israel suffer me who am Scripture Dan. 4. 17. Scripture Iob. 30. 8. Head Base the basest of men viler than earth Scripture 1 Tim. 1. 15 the chiefe of sinners to bring Scripture Numb 5. 15 mine iniquity to remembrance Head Repent to afflict Scripture 29 7. my soule in thy sight to abhorre Scripture Iob. 42. 6. Head Humble my selfe and repent in â—ust and â—shes Scripture Isai 57. 9. dâ—basing my selfe even unto hell because of my manifolde Scripture Amos 5. 12. transgressions Head Sinne. and my mightie sinnes Father I have sinned Scripture Luk. 15. 21. against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to bee called thy Sonne I have dealt treacherously Scripture Hos 5. 7. against thee and have gone a whoring Scripture 9. 1. from my God yea in the land of righteousness I have Head Sinne. done wickedly and thee the God Scripture Dan. 5. 23. in whose hands my life is and whose are all my wayes have I not glorified But have walked Scripture Lev. 26. 21. contrary unto 〈…〉 and to make Scripture Rom. 7. 13. 〈…〉 me become exceeding sinnefull I have added rebellion Scripture Iob. 34. 37. unto my sin Alas how often have I yeelded my Scripture Rom. 6. 13. members as instruments of unrighteousnesse unto sinne doing evill with Scripture Mic. 7. 3. both hands earnestly seeking after Scripture Numb 15. 39. mine owne heart and mine owne eyes making my Scripture Lev. 20. 25. soule abominable by those things which are forbidden to bee Scripture 5. 17. done by the commandements of the Lord. And as if it had Scripture 1 K. 16. 31. beene a light thing for me to commit those sinnes which men commit I Scripture 1 Kin. 16. 25. have done woorse than all that were before me drinking iniquity like water Scripture Iob 15. 16 and selling my selfe to doe eviâ—l in
forsake Forsake me not that am the worke Which thine owne hand did make O keepe me as thou wouldest keepe The apple of thine eye And under covert of thy wings Defend me secretly For I doe call to thee O Lord Surely thou wilt me ayde Then heare my prayer and weigh right well The words that I have sayd Into thy hands Lord I commit My spirit which is thy due For why thou hast redeemed it O Lord my God most true The length of all my life and age O Lord is in thy hand Defend me from the wrath and rage Of them that me with-stand Preserve my soule because my wayes And doings holy be And save thy servant O my Lord That puts his trust in thee I layd me downe and quietly I slept and rose againe For why I know assuredly The Lord will me sustaine In peace therefore lye downe will I Taking my rest and sleepe For thou onely wilt me O Lord Alone in safety keepe Within thy Tent I lust to dwell For ever to endure Vnder thy wings I know right well I shall be safe and sure I set the Lord still in my sight And trust him over all For he doth stand on my right hand Therefore I shall not fall He the desires which they require That feare him will fullfill And he will heare them when they cry And save them all he will For why our glory strength and ayd In thee alone doth lie Thy goodnesse eke that hath us stayd Shall lift our hornes on hie Our strength that doth defend us well The Lord to us doth bring The holy one of Israel He is our guide and King Therefore let thy goodnesse O Lord Still present with us be As we alwayes with one accord Doe onely trust in thee 2. Deprecation aversion and ablation of the evill of sinne and punishment MY Lord for guiding of my mouth Set thou a watch before And also of my moving lips O Lord keepe thou the dore Direct my foot-steps by thy word That I thy will may know And never let iniquity Thy servant overthrow Thy countenance which doth surmount The Sunne in his bright hew Let shine on me and by thy Law Teach me what to eschew That I should wicked workes commit Incline thou not my heart With ill men of their delicates Lord let me eate no part O shut not up my soule with them In sinne that take their fill Nor yet my life among those men That seeke much blood to spill All yee that love the Lord doe this Hate all things that are ill For he doth keepe the soules of his From such as would them spill Out of mine eyes great floods gush out Of dreary teares and fell When I behold how wicked men Thy lawes keepe never a dell But I in righteousnesse intend My time and dayes to serve Have mercy Lord and me defend So that I doe not swerve THine arrowes doe sticke fast in me Thine hand doth presse me sore And in my flesh no health at all Appeareth any more My wounds stinke and are festred so As loathsome is to see Which all through mine owne foolishnesse Betideth unto me And I in carefull wise am brought In trouble and distresse That I goe wailing all the day In dolefull heavinesse My loines are fill'd with sore disease My flesh hath no whole part I feeble am and broken sore I roare for griefe of heart Thou know'st Lord my desire my grones Are open in thy sight My heart doth pant my strength doth faile Mine eyes have lost their light One griefe another in doth call As clouds burst out their voyce The floods of evill that doe fall Run over me with noise And as an harth my bones are burnt My heart is smitten dead And withers like the grasse that I Forget to eate my bread By reason of my groning voyce My bones cleave to my skin As Pelican in wildernesse Such case now am I in And as an Owle in desart is Loe I am such a one I watch and as a Sparrow on The house-top am alone Lord take from me thy scourge and plague I can them not withstand I faint and pine away for feare Of thy most heavy hand Wherefore my God some pitty take O Lord I thee desire Doe not this simple soule forsake Of helpe I thee require Then didst thou turne my griefe and woe Into a cheerefull voyce The mourning weede thou took'st me fro And mad'st me to rejoyce For why his anger but a space Doth last and slacke againe But in his favour and his grace Alwayes doth life remaine Trust still in God whose whole thou art His will abide thou must And he shall ease and strength thy heart If thou in him doe trust HOw ev'er it be yet God is good And kind to Israel And to all such as safely keepe Their conscience pure and well For when I saw such foolish men I grudg'd and did disdaine That wicked men all things should have Without turmoile and paine And though I be nothing set by As one of base degree Yet doe I not thy lawes forget Nor shrinke away from thee TRouble and griefe have seaz'd on me And brought me wondrous low Yet doe I still of thy precepts Delight to heare and know When with my selfe I mused much And could no comfort finde Then Lord thy goodnesse did me touch And that did ease my mind How long wilt thou forget me Lord Shall I never be remembred How long wilt thou thy visage hide As though thou wert offended In heart and mind how long shall I With care tormented be How long eke shall my deadly foe Thus triumph over me THou art my hope and my strong hold I to the Lord will say My God he is in him will I My whole affiance stay What gaine is in my blood sayd I If death destroy my dayes Doth dust declare thy Majesty Or yet thy truth doth praise The Lord himselfe hath chastened And hath corrected me But hath not given me over yet To death as yee may see Even when the snares of cruell death About beset me round When paines of hell me caught and when I woe and sorrow found They that be dead doe not with praise Set forth the Lords renowne Nor any that into the place Of silence doe goe downe For why thy mercy shew'd to me Is great and doth excell Thou setst my soule at liberty Out from the lower hell The pangs of death did compasse me And bound me every where The flowing waves of wickednesse Did put me in great feare The flie and subtile snares of hell Were round about me set And for my death there was prepar'd A deadly trapping net How long away from me O Lord For ever wilt thou turne And shall thine anger still
all unrighteousnesse Secondly to Petition for 1 Pardon of Sinne. Though your sinnes be as scarlet they shall bee as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wooll I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more I have seene his wayes and will heale him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners If the wicked will turne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and doe that which is lawfull and right hee shall surely live he shall not dye All his transgressions which he hath committed they shall not be mentioned unto him in his righteousnesse that he hath done he shall live Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should dye saith the Lord God not that he should returne from his wayes and live Come unto mee all ye that labour and are heavie laden and I will give you rest 2 Power against Sins Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgressions of his heritage c. He will turne againe he will have compassion on us he will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sinnes into the depths of the Sea The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Sin shall not have dominion over you Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast downe for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand 3 Grace conferred continued and encreased I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be cleane A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put into you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh I will give you a heart of flesh And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and doe them And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seede to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soule that thou mayst live I will poure upon him that is thirstie and flouds upon the dry ground I will poure my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring A bruised reede shall he not breake and the smoking flax shall he not quench he shal bring forth judgement unto truth Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall be filled He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it untill the day of Iesus Christ Fourthly the Meanes of Grace With joy shall ye draw waters out of the wels of salvation Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will blesse thee 5 Personall concernements in our particular calling Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established In all thy wayes acknowledge him and he shal direct thy paths thy eares shall heare a word behind thee saying this is the way walke ye in it when ye turne to the right hand and when yee turne to the left The Lord shall preserve thy going out thy cōming in from this time forth for evermore Blessed shalt thou bee when thou commest in blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out The Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every worke of thy hand The Lord he is he that goeth before thee he wil be with thee he wil not faile thee neither forsake thee feare not neither bee dismayed Hee shall give his Angels charge over thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes Thou may est in the reading of the Scriptures find out and adde hereunto promises made to thy more particular occasions Thirdly Thansgiving The tongue of the dumb shall sing for in the wildernes shal waters break out the ransomed of the Lord shall return come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy gladnes and sorrow and sighing shall flye away Ye shall eate in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God that hath dealt wondrously with you Ye shall go forth with joy and be led forth with peace the mountaines the hils shall break forth before you into singing and al the trees of the fields shall clap their hands A METHOD of PRAYER PRayer is a lifting up of the Soule to God Wherein there is to bee considered the Preface to it and the Parts of it The Preface to it consists 1 In a description or compellation of God by his glorious inajesty terrible names holy nature incommunicable attributes strict justice consuming wrath gracious promises c. 2 In a craving of audience assistance and accceptance wee may conclude also herewith as Dan. 9. 17. 18. The Parts of Prayer are usually three 1 Confession 2 Petition 3 Thanksgiving Though in exactnes of speech Confession and Thankesgiuing be not Prayers formally but commonly prefixed or annexed therunto as Dan. 9. Ezr. 9. 1 Confession is an humble hearty and feeling acknowledgment of the evill of Sinne and of punishment done to or due for Sinne. 1 Confession of the euill of Sinne both in the Habits Acts Kindes thereof Which that it may bee done effectually and to purpose we must 1 Labour for the particular knowledge and discovery of Sin in our owne soules which must be by looking our selves in the glasse of the Law whereby we shall discover our Sinnes in each Commandement viz. 1 Comandement Atheisine Epicurisme Idolatry c Atheism in want of the Knowledge Love Feare of God Zeale Faith Epicurisme in mis-placing our affections Idolatry in neglect of Gods mercies in neglect of Gods works of Iustice in neglect of Gods Saints and communion with them c 2 Command Not worshipping God by praying reading Will-worship Idol-worship 3 Command Serving God hypocritically when his Word is preached read and prayer When his Sacraments are administred not examining our selves not reconciling our selves to our brethren not discerning the Lords body Luke warmenesse Uncheerefulnesse Unteachablenesse Incorrigiblenesse Security 4 Command Not remembring the Lords day longing to have it past Idlenesse omitting duties publike or private 5 Command In the Family Wife Husband Children Parents Master Servants In the Common-wealth Subjects Magistrates c. In the Church Ministers People c 6 Command Not pittying or relieving the afflicted Envying Anger Hatred Worldly sorrow Cursing Murthering of Soule or Body 7 Command Uncleannesse Wantonnesse Whoredome Drunkennesse Gluttony 8 Command Discontentednesse Sloth Unthriftinesse Oppression Sacriledge 9 Command Disgracing and speaking evill of others Censuring Lying Slandering Vaine-boasting Flattering False-witnesse 10 Command Not desiring
thy feare in our hearts that we may not depart from thee Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering CONTENTATION that we may learne in whatsoever state we are there with to be content knowing both how to be abased and to abound every where and in all things being instructed both to bee full and to bee hungry both to abound and to suffer need Because godlinesse with contentment is great gaine for we brought nothing into this world and it is certaine wee can carry nothing ouâ— Having therefore food and rayment let us bee therewith content That our conversation may bee without covetousnesse being content with such things as wee have For thou hast sayd thou wilt never leave us nor forsake us Casting all our care upon thee for thou carest for us What shall we receive good the hands of the Lord and not evill Take no thought for your life what ye shall eate or what ye shall drinke nor yet for your body what you shall put on the foules of the ayre they sow not neither doe they reape nor gather into barnes yet your heavenly father feedeth them Which of you by taking thought can adde one cubite unto his stature Consider the Lillies of the field how they grow they toyle not neither doe they spin If God so cloathe the grasse of the field which to day is and to morrow is cast into the oven shall he not much more cloathe you O ye of little faith take no thought saying what shall we eate or what shall we drinke or where withall shall we be cloathed Your heavenly father knoweth that you have neede of all these things give me neither poverty nor riches feed me with food convenient for me Lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord or lest I be poore and steale and take the name of my God in vaine PATIENCE under the CROSSE Helpe us to deny our selves and to take up our Crosse daily and follow our Saviour Thou hast fore-told us that in the world we shall have tribulation And that through much tribulation we must enter into the Kingdome of God Let us therefore reckon with our selves that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall bee revealed in us That it may be given unto us in the behalfe of Christ not only to beleeve on him but also to suffer for his sake Let us run with patience the way that is set before us Looking unto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himselfe lest you be wearied and faint in your mindes Thinke it not strange concerning the fiery triall which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you Rejoyce in as much as yee are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy If ye be reproched for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you GODS VVORD Let thy word be a lampe unto my feet and a light unto our path O make it unto us a word of power converting the soule quicke and powerfull and sharper than any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soule and spirit and of the joynts and marrow Give us the hearing eare and the seeing eye make thy word like fire and like a hammer that breaketh the rockes in pieces and as the raine commeth downe and the snow from heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eaâ—er so let thy word bee that goeth forth out of thy mouth let it not returne unto thee void but accomplish that which thou pleasest and prosper in the thing whither thou sendest it Lord give the Preacher the tongue of the learned that hee may know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary and create the fruit of his lips peace and let the worke of the Lord prosper in his hand They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thy house and thou shalt make them drinke of thy pleasures For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light We will goe into his tabernacles we will worship at his foot stoole Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law In the way of thy judgements O Lord have I waited for thee the desire of our soule is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee Come let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and hee will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his paths thine eares shall heare a word behind thee saying this is the way walke in it Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approch unto thee that hee may dwell in thy courts we shall be satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house euen of thy holy Temple And in this mountaine shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined Vid. vers 7. 8. Even them will I bring to my holy mountaine and make them joyfull in my house of prayer their burnt offrings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine Altar for mine house shall bee called a house of prayer unto all people SACRAMENTS in Speciall 〈…〉 let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that bread and drinke of that cup my father giveth you the true bread from heaven for the bread of God is he which commeth downe from heaven and giveth life unto the world As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God O God thou art my God early will I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirstie land where no water is what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord Personall Concernments and speciall employments in our particular calling Lord be thou with mee and keepe mee in this way that I goe and give me bread to eate and rayment to put on so that I may come againe to my fathers house in peace O Lord God I pray thee send mee good speed this day and shew kindnesse unto God Almighty give you mercie before the man that
for the morning O God be mercifull unto me and blesse me and cause thy upon face to shine upon me O fill me with thy mercie this morning so shall I rejoyce and bee glad all my dayes O God thou art my God earwill I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no wattr is O Sunne of righteousnesse shine upon me My voyce shalt thou heare in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will looke up Unto thee have I cryed O Lord and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light The night is past the day is at hand worke while it is called day the night commeth when no man can worke MEDITATIONS for the Evening Thou knowest my downe sitting and mine up rising thou understandest my thought a farre off Thou compassest my path and my lying downe and art acquainted with all my wayes Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening Sacrifice Let teares run downe like a river day and night give thy selfe no rest let not the Apple of thine eye cease Arise cry out in the night in the beginning of the watches powre out thy heart like water before the face of the Lord lift up thy hands towards him Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in death He that keepeth Israel neither slumbreth nor sleepeth the day is thine the night also is thine the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darknesse and the light to thee are both alike I will lay me downe in peace take my rest c. when thou liest downe thou shalt not bee afraid yea thou shalt lie c. MEDITATIONS for thee as thou goest into Bed Think with thy selfe that 1 Thou art one day neerer end than thou wert in the morning 2 Consider what thou hast seene heard or read that day worth the remembring and make use thereof 3 Seriously examine thy selfe what Sinne thou hast committed what duty thou hast omitted how thou hast failed and lament them on thy knees begging pardon in thy Saviours Name 4 Consider that many goe well to bed and never rise againe till the day of Iudgement therefore say Father into thy hands I commend my spirit 5 Let thy stripping thee naked put thee in mind of thy death thy bed of thy grave thy coverings of the moulds and wormes of the earth thy sheets of thy winding sheete thy sleepe of thy death thy waking of thy resurrection In the night when thou awakest say With my soule have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me will I seek thee early Thus will I blesse thee while I live I will lift up my hands in thy name my soule shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with joyfull lips when I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches MEDITATIONS for the Lords day in the Morning It is a good thing to give thankes unto thee O Lord and to sing praises to thy name O thou most high to shew forth thy loving kindnesse in the morning and thy faithfulnesse every night This is the day which the Lord hath made wee will rejoyce and be glad in it Blessed is the man that doth thiâ— and the Sonne of man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and keepeth his hands from doing any evill they that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God they shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall bee fat and flourishing As thou goest to the Church meditate thus One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seeke after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God At the Church thinke with thy selfe that The place where thou standest is Holy ground none other but the house of God How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hoasts Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will bee still praysing thee For a day in thy court is better than a thousand I had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of my God then dwell in the tents of wickednesse They that joyne themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the name of the Lord to bee his servants every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my covenant Even them will I bring to my holy mountaine and make them joyfull in my house of prayer the like course thou mayest take in other places of Scripture which thou mayest make use of for all kinde of meditations at home abroad in field towne journeyes c Matter for Graces before meat O Lord our God the onely giver of all good gifts thou feedest the young ravens when they cry they have their meat of God the eyes of all waite upon thee thou openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing every living thing thou lovedst us before we were thou hast kept us from our birth supply all our wants sanctifie all thy dealings towards us and let thy blessing be on the food which we are now to receive Speake a word of blessing to it from heaven that it may nourish and strengthen us comfort and do us good let us taste and see how gracious the Lord is let us feele the sweetnesse of that love with which thou hast loved us in Christ man liveth not by bread alone 't is by thy word of blessing not our meates alone that wee are nourished and preserved which satisfiest our mouth with good things thou shalt eate and blesse the name of the Lord thy God Let not these creatures turne to the hurt of our souls which thou hast given us for good of our bodies I am not worthy of the least morsell of thy good creatures unworthy of the crums which fall under thy table Let not our table become a snare unto us breake not the staffe of our bread curse not unto us any blessing Good Lord forgive us all our sinnes and blesse at this time these good creatures to our nourishment through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen O Lord it is not by bread alone that man lives it is thy blessing upon the creatures that they sustaine us O draw up our hearts and eyes to heaven to acknowledge thy providence in them to praise thy goodnesse for them that we
may receive them as pledges of thy favour and gracious assurances of thine everlasting love through Iesus c Matter for Graces after meate Blessed bee thy name for health life strength and for all the blessings of this and the blessed hopes of a better life make it our meate and drinke to doe the will of thee our heauenly father make us to hunger after that bread which endureth to everlasting life Provide dayly bread for all thy poore servants till thou bring us to that place where we shall never hunger nor thirst any more thy loving kindnesse is better than life that I may labour not so much for this meat that perisheth but for that meate which endureth to everlasting life the body and bloud of our Saviour which is meate indeed and drinke indeed Keepe us in thy feare while we live on earth and afterward receive us to glory in thy kingdome We thanke thee O Lord for the comfortable use of these good blessings we beseech thee also feed our soules to everlasting life with the meate that perisheth not through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Blessed bee thy name O Lord God for thus opening thy hand and filling us at this time with thy good creatures vouchsafe still to be our God with-hold no good thing from our soule or body Save all thy Church protect our King Queene Prince Royall Progeny and Realme Grant free passage to to thy Gospel comfort to thy Servants and peace of conscience to us all through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen An EPITOME of a Christians Conversation and Religious course of life gathered out of some Godly Practicall Divines c. Every day bestow halfe an houre in reading the Scriptures and Prayer Gods word will not onely shew thee what to do what to pray but will worke a secret power to accomplish the same Appoint and set a part some time once every day seriously and solemnely to cast up the eye of thy Faith on that never-fading crowne of life which after an inch of time shall for ever rest upon thy head The comforts hereof will make a man live almost without a soule and sweeten all the troubles of this life Set one houre in the weeke a part Saturday in the afternone is more fit by reason of the approching day to consider of search and try thy wayes this will snub and keepe downe the weeds of corruptions from overspreading thy soule Thou bestowed an houre on thy body every day in dressing it and lookest thy selfe in a glasse to attire thy outward sheath and wilt thou not once a weeke doe as much for thy soule thy body must one day rot and turne to dust perhaps to morrow thy soule must live ever either in weale or woe Life and death are now in thy choyse chuse then that good part Give God the honour of thy thoughts as well as of thy words and actions often thinke how all the glistering shewes of this whole world must and doe vanish and moulder into vanity and nothing very smoke As soone as thou hast broken of sleepe set God before thee and thinke What shall I doe what course shall I take that I may bring glory to God that I may not sinne this day O that my wayes were so directed Never speake the evill which thou too certainely knowest by others but with fearefulnesse as it were and some kinde of enforcement being sure thou hast a calling to it and then doe it seasonably charitably discreetly and not in humour spleene imperiousnesse T is the humor of Hypocritts to be supercilious and censorious but for Gods glory thy owne discharge use no moe wordes against mâ—ns sinnes than thou wilt make prayers for their soules in secret Be bold yet wise in speaking for Christ and with height of resolution goe through all the disgraces that the sinfull times lay in the wayes of God In Actions civil Doe as thou wouldst be done to religious Strive to live by faith because faith is the soule of all our actions our prayers will bee cold unlesse this warme them Take heed of falling from thy first love Serve not God for by-respects but onely for himselfe So long as thou art unfeinedly displeased with and sorry for all thy sinnes and dost mortifie the deedes of thy body by the spirit thy cafe is the state of salvation Let thy whole conversation favour of the Lord. Bee alwayes bemoaning thy spirituall pride knowne hypocrisie covetousnesse perfâ—â—ctorinesse and formality in Gods service Give not way to a heartlesse neglect of the use of Gods holy ordinances reading prayer fasting private humiliation for this is the fore-runner to some fearefull sinne or fiery temptation to some heavie judgement or dangerous apostasie Seeke not thy selfe in any of thy actions Looke to thy repentance that it bee sincere universall constant from the heart root for all sinne Incorporate thy selfe into the Communion of Saints be intimate onely with them such an holy and humble majesty is in their carriage such a deale of heaven is in their countenances such spirituall ravishments is in their hearts such grace and powerful piercings in their speeches such zeale and hearty melting is in their prayers that they cannot but worke upon thy heart if thou converse with them Looke well to thy carriage that thou leave not an ill savour behinde thee in any company Wait for occasions to doe good Act. 26. 28. In bad company give them apparent signes of thy dislike Unlesse you give some kinde of reall or verball reproofe they will be hardned Often withdraw your selfe apart imparting unto God your griefes wants desires Walke with God on the top of Mount Tabor once a day Prayer in secret will bee unto thee an unspeakeable comfort a testimony that thou art not left to thy selfe if words will not come sigh God heares the sighing of his servants if thou canst not sigh breath God hath an care for that thou hast heard my voyce hide not thine eare at my breathing at my cry yea speake with thy countenance be humbled for thy unfitnesse dulnesse c. Then wee pray most happily when wee arise from prayer most humbled After prayer thou shalt carry thy selfe in thy vocation with much more zeale and standing thus upright with God thou wilt not feare the world thou shalt have rest and peace within what ever stirres bee without Have a speciall eve to a sincere constant and fruitfull performance of holy duties take heed of customarinesse and Formality which cuts out the heart and drawes the very life-blood from them Strive by all meanes for attainment of what thou prayest for by all occasions helpes and heavenly offers Be diligent in thy personall employments and take heed of idlenesse 2 Have an eye to Gods glory in all thy undertakings 3 Goe about earthly busines with an heavenly mind 4 Let not any unrighteous gaine entice thee to sinne or belime thee 5 Set not thy delight
Vngodly whose spirit is not stedfast with our God therefore Scripture Dan. 9. 14. hath the Lord watched upon the evill and brought it upon Scripture Psal 106. 29. us therefore the Head Plague Plague breakes in upon us thou Scripture Isai 14. 23. sweepest us away with the beesome Scripture Deut. 28. 21. of destruction the noysome Pestilence cleaveth unto us and we dye of grievous Scripture Ier. 16. 4. Scripture Deut. 32. 23. deaths thus thou heapest mischeifes upon us and spendest thine arrowes upon us for surely destruction Scripture Iob. 31. 4. is to the wicked and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie O that we would Scripture 1 Kin. 8. 28 know every mā the plague of his owne Head Sinne. heart then the Scripture 1 Chr. 21. 12. sword of the Lord even the Pestilence Head Pestilence which thou bringest Scripture Lev. 26. 25. upon us to avenge the quarrell of thy covenant should no more goe Scripture 6. through our land to cut off from us Scripture Ier. 44. 7. man and woman Head Slay child and suckling thou wouldst then Scripture Mic. 6. 13. no longer make us Head Afflict sicke in smiting us thou wouldst then Scripture Isai 57. 18. heale us and leade us also and restore comforts untous and to our mourners Head Comfort O Lord though our Scripture Ier. 14. 7. iniquities testifie against us doe thou it for thy names sake for our backe-slidings are many wee have sinned against thee Amen Wouldst thou pray against Hypocrisie and for Sinceritie turne to those Heads Hypocrite Sincere c. SO for any other request resolve it briefely into a Proposition as thus Lord blesse unto mee thy Holy Word Here looke but compellations and titles of God 2 Blesse Sanctifie Prosper c. the ministry of thy Gospell Scriptures c So Lord grant me Pardon of my Sins Looke Grant Pardon Sinne c there thou shalt find words and matter Good Lord preserve me this day or night c See God Protect Day Night prosper my labours Blesse Success Labour Paines And thus even any meane Christian of ordinary parts and invention may be able soone to spinne and draw out from many of those Heads which Hee occasionally shall have neede to use much heavenly matter and words sweet Metaphors Allegories c. delightfull and of good use in Prayer Conference Meditation Thanksgiving Writing c. and on any Subject whatsoever I have here ranked into severall heads some choyse phrases and passages of Scripture to which thou mayest adde many like and contrive them into prayers or meditations c as thy occasion shall require O Lord every man that is borne of a woman is of few dayes and full of trouble thou hast caught us that wee must take up our crosse daily many are the troubles of the righteous wee have the Prophets an ensample of suffering adversity the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren which are in the world there hath nothing befalne us but what is common to man O Lord all my desires are before thee my groaning is not hid from thee thou doest not willingly afflict nor punish the children of men yea in all our affliction thou art afflicted should we then refuse thy chaftning dost thou not offer thy selfe to us as to sonnes what sonne is there whom the father chasteneth not As our afflictions abound shall not our consolation much more abound Light is sowne for the righteous heavinesse may endure in the night but joy commeth in the morning in thy favour is life thou wilt not cast off for ever though for a small moment thou mayest seeme to forsake us yet with great mercie thou wilt gather us in a little wrath thou maist hide thy face thou wilt lay no more upon us than wee are able to beare but wilt give an issue out of every temptation thou wilt correct us in measure and doest waite that thou may est be gracious we may be troubled on every side but not distressed perplexed yet not in dispaire Doe not all things worke together for the best to them that feare God Make these like fire to purge out our drosse and tinne thou dost now refine us in the furnesse of affliction this is the fruit of our trouble the taking away of our sinne should wee not then count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations knowing that the triall of our faith is much more precious than that of gold therefore let us in nothing bee carefull but in all things make our requests known to God Give thou us helpe against trouble for vaine is the helpe of man See Afflict Deliver Sinne. c. in the Scripture-phrases Aged O Lord the almond tree now begins to flourish grey-heires are here and there upon me they begin to be darke that looke out at the windowes thou hast filled mee with wrinkles O leave me not in the time of old age forsake mee not when my strength fayleth me Even to my old age doe thou preserve mee and even to hoarie haires doe thou carry me let mee bring forth more fruit in my age that it may bee a crowne of glory to me I walking before thee in the way of righteousnesse And seeing all these are monitours from thee to tell mee of my approaching end and that the time drawes neere in which I must die grant that as my outward man decayes so my inward man may bee renewed daily Amen Against Anger O Lord thou hast taught me in thy holy word that He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty man and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a Citie Among all those fleshly lusts that warre in my members and too often alas leade mee captive unto Sinne there is hardly one that more tyrannizeth over my poore soule than this of hastinesse of spirit and pronenesse to be rashly and unadvisedly angry this is that reigning lust that eates out the heart of all grace that maketh me that I cannot doe that good to the soules and bodies of my Christian brethren as my place and calling binde mee neither doe I receive that good from others as I might by their wholesome counsell and admonitions towards me yea Lord I cannot lift up pure hands without wrath unto thee but my prayers are quelled quenched and interrupted hereby O Lord helpe me I beseech thee against this masterfull Sin suffer me not to bee hasty in my spirit to bee angry because anger resteth in the bosome of fooles and if I be sometimes provoked to speake unadvisedly with my lips or to doe things that are not comely yet never let me suffer the Sunne to goe downe upon my wrath or so farre to give place to the Devill that my countenance should fall as Cains that it should not be towards my brethren as before that I cannot speake peaceably unto them Let me take thy Saints to bee an ensample unto me
of the Sea though the waters thereof roare and bee troubled though the mountaines shake with the swelling thereof for unto thee O Lord belong the issues from death O make us to cast the anchor of our hope still on thee who hast hitherto mercifully delivered us from so great a death and dost deliver us in whom we trust that thou wilt yet deliver us Let not the depths we pray thee cover us neither let us sink into the bottome as a stone though the flouds compasse us about yet let not the waves and billowes passe over us thou makest a way in the Sea and a path in the mighty waters thou art the God that hast made the Sea and the dry Land doe not thou suffer that there be the losse of any mans life among us let not a hayre of our heads perish Appease the mighty tempest when it ariseth that our Ship may not be broken rebuke the wind and say unto the waves peace and be still O teach every Ship-master and all the company in Ships those that handle the Oare the Marriners and all the Pilots of the Sea and as many as trade by Sea to trust in the saving helpe of thy right hand when we be toyled in rowing and the wind is contrary unto us and not to rely on our owne skill take from us that desperate boldnesse fearelesnesse of thee and danger that Atheisme Swearing and Prophanenesse and notorious Ungodlinesse which is too often found in many of us Make us to be at peace with thee in the blood of thy Sonne that he may be advantage unto us both in life and death There is continually but a step betwixt us and death yea even but an hand-breadth for thou hast made all mens dayes as an hand-breadth and our age is as nothing before thee Be thou our life in death and to trust thee with our bodies and soules knowing that the Sea shall at the last day give up the dead that are in it and our spirits shall returne unto God that gave them If thou please to bring us safely to land O make us to remember our vowes which we uttered with our-lips when wee were in trouble lest otherwise thou shouldst deliver us no more Grant this grace unto us for Iesus sake to whom with thee c. Amen Husbandman in Seed time O Lord doe thou teach me to cast abroad the fitches and scatter the cummin and cast in the principall wheat and the appointed barley and rye in their places and that I may plough and sow in hope make me to breake up the fallow ground of mine owne heart that the earth bring not forth bryars and thornes and thistâ—es unto me when it is tilled neither be cursed for my Sinne. Make me to sow to my selfe in righteousnesse 2 Spring-time BLessed bee thy name that thus renewest the face of the earth that crownest the yeare with thy goodnes and thy steps drop fatnesse the winter is past the raine is over the time of the singing of birds is come and the voyce of the turtle is heard in our Land the pastures are clothed with flocks the valleyes also are covered over with corne they shout for joy and sing O make my barren heart to flourish in grace to abound in the fruits of righteousnesse For Seasonable weather Plentie c. O Lord give us the raine of our seed that we have sowed the ground withall and bread of the encrease of the earth that it may be sat and plenteous Let not the Locust Catterpillar Cankerworme Blasting Mildew or unseasonable weather deprive us of the fruits of the earth but blesse them and bring them to maturity that our garners may be full abounding in all manner of store let our oxen be strong to labour let the mower fill his hand and hee that gathereth up the sheaves his bosome that our barnes may bee filled with plentie and our presses burst with new wine Reserve for us the appointed weeks of harvest and though wee deserve not the least morsell of bread we eate yet thou that art goodnesse it selfe and canst not but put on bowels of pitty wilt fulfill thine owne gracious promise that Seed-time and Harvest summer and winter may not cease true it is Lord we deserve not onely that the fruits of the earth but even that our selves also should be swept away like dung from off the earth for thou art pressed under us as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves thou changest the seasons because we change our obedience our hearts are stony and the heavens weepe for their hardnesse yet we lay not all this to heart teach mee to provide my meate in summer as a Sonne of wisedome and although the fig-tree shall not blossome neither fruit be in the vine though the Labour of the Olive shall faile and the fields shall yield no meate the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls yet that I may rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of my salvation Amen FINIS Some Choise places taken out of the singing PSALMES Digested into a method of PRAYER And PRAISES Per hujusmodi aurium oblectamenta quae pietatis doctrinam continent saepe infirmior animus in affectum pietatis assurgit Theodoret. Printed at London for Rob. Milbourne 1634. To the Christian READER AThanasius in his Treatise upon the Psalmes to Marcelinus reports that the ancient old Father Philoponus in a learned discourse which he vouchsafed once to make to him did evidently demonstrate that whatsoever was contayned abroad in the whole Scriptures was fully reported in the Booke of Psalmes It conteineth saith he the motions the mutations the alterations of every Christians heart and conscience described and lively painted to his owne sight so that if a man list he may easily gather out thereof certaine considerations of himselfe as out of a bright glasse and plaine patterne set before his face so thereby to reforme himselfe He may have a very good forme of Prayer meet to be sayd and presently at hand in every case and state The words here delivered in the Psalmes are as it were his owne spoken in his owne person and is so affected with them as if they were first by him conceived and pronounced c. Liber Psalmorum est ars ritè precandi Oratorium ut ita dicam divinisssimum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil Magn. Veteres vocârunt librum Psalmorum PARVA BIBLIA quia breviter omnia quae in Biblijs habentur continet ut historias legem promissiones fidem consolationes poenitentiam bona opera Antiquitùs hic liber vocatus est Soliloquium quia solius hominis Christiani cum solo Deo colloquium habetur Est anatome conscientiarum Nullum in se affectum quisquam reperiet cujus in hoc speculo non reluceat imago Ab alijs rectè appellatur Panacea
alway As fire consume and burne But sure the Lord will not forget The poore mans griefe and paine The patient people never looke For helpe of God in vaine Therefore I pray thee be not farre From me at my great neede But rather sich thou art my strength To helpe me Lord make speed And from the sword Lord save my soule By thy might and thy power And keepe my soule thy darling deare From dogges that would devoure And from the Lions mouth that would Me all in sunder shiver And from the hornes of Vnicornes Lord safely me deliver Then shall I to my brethren all Thy Majesty record And in the Church shall praise the Name Of thee the living Lord. O Lord my God thou onely art The strength that saveth me My head in day of battell hath Bèene covered still by thee Oft they now Israel may say Me from my youth assail'd Oft they assail'd me from my youth Yet never they prevail'd The Lord himselfe is on my side I will not stand in doubt Nor feare what man can doe to me When God stands me about The Lord doth take my part with them That helpe to succour me Therefore I shall see my desire Vpon mine enemy The Lord is my defence and strength My joy my mirth my song He is become for me indeede A Saviour most strong The Lord is both my health and light Shall man make me dismaid Sith God doth give me strength and might Why should I be affraid While that my foes with all their strength Begin with me to brawle And thinke to eate me up at length Themselves have caught the fall Though they in campe against me lie My heart is not affraide In battaile pight if they will trie I trust in God for ayd Lord plead my cause against my foes Confound their force and might Fight on my part against all those That seeke with me to fight Lay hand upon the speare and shield Thy selfe in armour dresse Stand up for me and fight the field And helpe me from distresse Gird on thy sword and stop the way Mine enemies to withstand That thou unto my soule mayest say Loe I thy helpe at hand Confound them with rebuke and blame That seeke my soule to spill Let them turne backe and fly with shame That thinke to worke me ill When they thinke least and haue no care O Lord destroy them all Let them be trap't in their owne snare And in their mischiefe fall Awake arise nnd stirre abroad Defend me in my right Revenge my cause my Lord my God And aide me with thy might Let not their heart rejoyce and cry There there this geare goeth trim Nor give them cause to say on hie Wee have our will on him Heare me O Lord and that anon To helpe me make good speed Be thou my rocke and house of stone My fence in time of need Plucke thou my feete out of the snare Which they for me have laide Thou art my strength and all my care Is for thy might and aide Plucke thou my feete out of the mire From drowning doe me keepe From such as owe me wrath and ire And from the waters deepe Lest with the waves I should be drown'd And depth my soule devoure And that the pit should me confound And shut me in her power Have mercy Lord on me I pray For man would me devoure He fighteth with me day by day And troubleth me each houre Send aide and save me from my foes O Lord I pray to thee Defend and keepe me from all those That rise and strive with me O Lord preserve me from those men Whose doings are not good And set me sure and safe from them That thirst still after blood For loe they waite my soule to take They rage against me still Yea for no fault that I did make I never did them ill Have mercy Lord on me poore wretch Whose enemies still remaine Which from the gates of death are wont To raise me up againe Alas how long shall I yet live Before I see the houre I hat on my foes which me torment Thy vengeance thou wilt poure Arise O Lord O God in whom The poore mans hope doth rest Lift up thy hand forget not Lord The poore that be opprest What blasphemy is this to thee Lord dost thou not abhorre it To heare the wicked in their hearts Say tush thou ear'st not for it Loc dayly in reproachfull wise Mine enemies doe me scorne And they that doe against me rage Against me they have sworne Although they curse with spite yet thou Shalt blesse with loving voyce They shall arise and come to shame Thy servant shall rejoyce Let them be clothed all with shame That enemies are to me And with confusion as a cloake Eke covered let them be LOrd save me from the evill man And from the cruell wight And from all those which evill doe Imagine in their spirit Which make on me continuall warre Their tongues loe they have whet Like Serpents un derne ath their lips Is Adders poyson set They mocke the doeings of the poore To their reproach and shame Because they put their trust in God And call upon his name The drunkards which in wine delight It is their chiefe pastime To seeke which way to worke me spight Of me they sing and rime O God of Hosts defend and stay All those that trust in thee Let no man doubt or shrinke away For ought that chanceth me The wicked and the bloudy men O that thou wouldest slay Even those O God to whom depart Depart from me I say Even those of thee O Lord my God That speake full wickedly Those that are lifted up in vaine Being enemies to thee O Lord thou doest revenge all wrong That office longs to thee Sith vengeance to thee doth belong Declare that all may see Set forth thy selfe for thou of right The earth doest judge and guide Reward the proud and men of might According to their pride For they consent against the life Of righteous men and good And in their counsels they are rise To shed the guiltlesse blood And he shall cause their mischiefes all Themselves for to annoy And in their malice they shall fall Our God shall them destroy Let them sustaine rebuke and shame That seeke my soule to spill Drive backe my foes and them defame That wish and would me ill For their ill feates doe them descry That would deface my name Alwayes on me they raile and cry Fie on him fie for shame Confound them with rebuke and shame That joy when I doe mourne And pay hem home with spite and blame That bragge at me with scorne WHy are thou Lord so long from us In all these dangers deepe Why doth thine anger