deare Father I confesse my weakenesse is such that I want patience to endure thy tryall take from me thy heauy hand or lay no more vpon mee then I can beare giue an issue vnto all temptations and make a way for mee to escape and in the end grant me a finall deliuerance As thou madest me of dust so thou canst take from me my breath againe and cause me soone to returne vnto my originall earth againe yet spare mee a little that I may recouer my health and strength before I goe hence and be no more seene There is I confesse no soundnesse in my flesh because of thine anger nor rest in my bones because of my sinnes my heart panteth my strength faileth my beauty and liuely-hood consumeth like a moth-eater-garment O Lord if it be thy will remoue thy stroake away from mee and consume mee not by the blow of thy hand Ease mine agonies mittigate mine extremities be mindfull of my sorrowes and mercifull vnto my sinnes redeeme my life from destruction strengthen my weakenes heale my disease and cause mee againe to walke before thee in the land of the liuing But if thou hast otherwise determined of me to translate mee hence thy will be done grant me patience vnder thy correcting hand and a liuely faith in the all sufficient and efficacious merit of Christ my Sauiour If thou wilt not heale my disease yet forgiue me mine iniquity seale vnto mee a free pardon of all my sinnes in the bloud of thy Sonne say vnto my soule that thou wilt be my saluation In affiance of thy mercifull absolution cause me to declare mine iniquities and be filled with godly sorrow which may worke repentance vnto saluation neuer to be repented of Sprinkle mee with the bloud of Christ and puriâ—â—e me from my dayly pollutions that being washed iustified and sanctified I may be presented vnto thee without spot or wrinkle Let nothing separate mee from thy loue but giue me perseveing grâ—ce to hold out vnto the end that dying thine Angels may conuey my soule into Abrahams bosome there to raigne with thee world without end Amen A Prayer to bee vsed by the friends of the sicke c. O Lord our God and most gracious Creator thou madest vs immortall creatures but by sinne we haue brought death and destruction vpon our selues for we haue profaned thy Sabbaths contemned thine ordinances cast thy word behinde our backs liued in all sinne and sensuality spirituall slumber and security so that thou mightest iustly cut vs off from the land of the liuing and giue vs our portion which hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth But Lord for thy mercy sake and for the merits of thy Sonne spare vs a little and giue vs space of amendment before we goe hence and bee no more seene and grace whereby we may draw neare vnto thee to seeke thy fauour in Iesus Christ. Correct vs in thy mercy and not in thy Iustice lest wee should be consumed and brought to nothing If thou giue ouer our bodies vnto sickenesse let it be to the destruction of the body of sin that being aliue vnto God through Iesus Christ we may grow in grace and bee more fruitfull in all good workes And whilest wee liue teach vs to dye dayly mortifying the deeds of the flesh contemning the world with the vanities thereof Weane vs from inordinate selfe-loue that wee may not endeare our selues too much to these transitory liues of ours but may bee ready to depart when it shall please thee to call for vs knowing that we cannot liue euer with thee vnlesse we be willing to dye and be with thee Wherefore we pray thee take away the bitternesse of death and sweeten by the wood of Christs Crosse these waters of Marah that we may sigh and groane in our selues desiring to be deliue-from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Worke in vs a willingnesse to depart but yet we humbly intreat thee let our liues and the life of this thy sicke seruant bee now and euer precious in thy sight looke mercifully vpon him that is grieued with sicknesse Lord if thou wilt thou canst make him whole Send him therefore helpe and health from thy holy place and euermore mightily defend him Let the enemy haue no aduantage against him nor the wicked approach to hurt him but bee thou present with him and strengthen his faith increase his patience vnder thy correcting hand Lift vp by the hand of thy mercy and Fatherly indulgence this thy seruant from the bedde of his sorrowes If thou wilt longer exercise him lend him strength to endure thy tryall and in the end bee bettered by it If thou hast determined to take him hence certify him how long he hath to liue make him to know his end and the measure of his daies that by prayer and repentance of faith hee may prouide wisely for his last end and bee found of thee in peace and inioy euerlasting happinesse dispose his â—editations aright for death and in the howre of death and alwayes make him to deny himselfe in renouncing iustification by any inherent worth or righteousnesse In all sorrowes and sufferings let thy comforts reioyce his soule To this end mortifie in him the corruption of nature quicken him with the soule of new life and establish him with thy free Spirit purge his heart from worldly thoughts and his minde from carnall desires motions and affections Wash his soule and body with the blood of Christ and sanctifie him throughout both in Spirit soule and body with the grace of thy Holy Spirit that departing in the true faith not casting away his confidence nor hope of reioycing in full assurance of a blessed resurrection he may haue boldnesse in the day of Christ and passe from death to life and bee euer with thee to behold thy glory grant this for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Another Prayer to be vsed by those that are about the sicke O Lord our God great and glorious thou that art the Iudge of all the earth we dust and ashes vile and miserable sinners doe here most humbly cast downe our selues before thee for our sinnes which are the causers of all the euils of punishment which thou inflictest on the sonnes and daughters of men Deare Father heare vs and forgiue whatsoeuer is past and grant that wee may euer hereafter serue and please thee through newnesse of life walking before thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all our dayes And because the dayes are evill giue vs grace to redeeme the time and numbring our dayes aright apply our hearts vnto wisdome Cause vs constantly to eschew euill and doe good to seeke peace and ensue it Looke mercifully on this thy seruant grieued with sickenesse and sanctifie this visitation vnto him that those graces which thou hast begun to worke in him may be strengthened increased and by degrees perfected Restore vnto him the voice of ioy and health that the
bones which thou hast broken may reioyce and seeing we haue neede of patience send this our brother or sister such competency of patience and constancy that he may continue thy faithfull souldier and seruant vnto his liues end worke in him a sense and feeling of sinne and true sorrow for the same which may cause repentance vnto saluation neuer to bee repented of If it be not thy good pleasure to raise him from his bed of languishing and set him vpon his feet againe prepare his heart for death and his soule for heauen washing away his sinnes in the bloud of Christ and imputing vnto him the righteousnesse of Christ that he appearing before thee without either spot or wrinkle may haue confidence of seeing his euer-liuing and euer-louing redeemer not with other but with â—hese his eyes weane his affections from the loue of this world and set them on those things which are aboue that being absent from the body hee may inioy thy presence of glory for euer Repaire in this thy seruant thine owne Image and renue it in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse that thou maiest know and acknowledge him for thine owne and raise him vp from the graue vnto the resurrection of life and for euer satisfie him with thine Image and change him into the same from glory to glory Amen A thanksgiuing for recouery from sicknesse OMnipotent Lord God the author of life who bringest downe vnto the graue and raisest vp againe I doe here confesse to the glory of thine infinite mercy that if thou haddest not blessâ—d and sustained mee in my sickenesse I should haue gone the way of all flesh but it was thy goodnesse to spare mee and deliuer mee from dangers thy name bee glorified for this thine vnualuable fauour and mercifull kindnesse And I humbly beseech thee to giue me grace to expresse my reall thankfullnesse by my sincere obedience and to serue thee more carefully and conscionably then heretofore I haue done and the shorter my dayes are the more â—o redeeme the time that by repenting me truely of my sinnes and calling on thee for grace by eschewing euill and doing good more especially vnto the household of faith I may haue the testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordayned mee vnto wrath but to obtaine eternall life and saluation through Iesus Christ my Lord and only Sauiour Amen A morning prayer for a family O Eternall and all-seeing God who art iust in thy iudgements true in thy promises wonderfull in thy maiesty and infinite in thy mercy who hast the heauens for thy throne and the earth for thy foot-stoole and the creatures of both at thy becke The heauens are full of the maiesty of thy glory and cannot containe the same looke downe therefore from thence vpon vs thy seruants who now prostrate our selues before the footstoole of thy throne of grace humbly beseeching thee for Iesus Christ his sake to be mercifull vnto vs miserable sinners One deepe calleth vnto another the depth of misery vnto the depth of mercy haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lord and in the multitude of thy mercies doe away all our offences Wee confesse that we are not worthy to speake of thee much lesse to speake vnto thee wee being so vile and miserable thou so glorious and admirable yet being assured that in forgiuing sinnes and helping poore afflicted soules the neuer drawne dry fountaine of thy mercy doth appeare we thine vnprofitable seruants are emboldened to present our selues this morning before thee to offer vp vnto thee a liuely sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the Crosse to be a propitiation for our sinnes O let this lifting vp of our hearts and hands bee a morning sacrifice pure and acceptable in thy sight Let not the greatnesse of our sinnes with-hold thy implored mercy but wash vs from all vncleannesse and remoue thy iudgements due vnto vs for them as farre from thy presence as is the East from the West Bury them in the graue with Christ raise vs vp by the power of thy Spirit vnto newnesse of life that we may walke in all holy obedience before thee this day and that endeuouring to keepe our faith and a good conscience voide of offence wee may now and in the houre of death be and remaine alwaies thine Defend vs from all euill and sense vs against the assaults of Satan watch ouer vs by the eye of thy good prouidence and cause thy Angels to pitch their tents about vs for our safety and continuall preseruation Into thy hands we here commit our soules and bodies our cogitations and actions to be guided by thee forgetting thee at any time doe thou in mercy remember vs and forgiue our trespasses make vs to see our sinnes in the glasse of thy Law to mourne for them in the closets of our hearts and confesse them in the bitternesse of our soules Teach vs to cast off the ragges of iniquity and by faith to put on the robes of righteousnesse helpe vs to manage the sword of the Spirit the shield of faith the helmet of saluation that wee may bee able to fight against the wiles of the deuill the vanities of the world the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life Be fauourable to Sion build vp the walls of Ierusalem more particularly preserue and enlarge these Churches of great Britaine France and Ireland feed them as thy flocke foster them as thy family dresse them as thy vineyard and decke them as thy spouse Defend the Kings maiesty from all enemies preserue his body in health his soule in soundnesse his heart in truth his life in honour his honour from vnderminers Blesse our gracious Queene Mary and grant that with Mary shee may chuse the better part which can neuer be taken from her Let thy good Spirit be with our hopefull Prince Charles and the Lady Mary sanctifie and season them with grace and make them thy darlings and beloued ones Blesse the Lady Elizabeth and her children and for the daies wherein they haue suffered aduersity send them abundance of peace and prosperity Blesse the counsellors of state all schooles of good Learning all thy ministers and maiestrates with all our kindsfolke in the flesh and friends in the Spirit to whom thou hast any wayes made vs bounden O Lord enable vs to requite them or lay it on thine owne account to restore it vnto them and their posterities And here we yeeld thee from the Altar of our hearts all possible thanks for that thou hast created vs when we were nothing predestinated vs vnto the Adoption and chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world and hast called vs by the working of thy spirit in the preaching of the Gospel hast freely iustified vs by Faith in Christ we thanke thee likewise for our preseruation this night past and for bringing of vs this day to see the light Now Lord awake our soules from sinne and carnall security that we
graces of thy Spirit that appearing in thine Image thou mayst know mee and acknowledge me for thine owne-Lord heare my prayers and let my praises be acceptable in thine eyes For vnto thee O Lord vpon the altar of mine heart doe I offer vp all possible praise and thanksgiuing for all thy blessings both spirituall and temporall heauenly and earthly in great abundance coÌ„ferâ—ed vpon mee and aboue all for Iesus Christ the fountaine of them all by whom I haue redemption through his bloud and accesse through his life I thanke thee likewise for the sweet influence of thy gracious well guiding holy Spirit for the manifestation of thy selfe and sacred will by thy word read and preached for the confirmation and strengthening of my faith by those sacred signes and pledges of thy loue which thou exhibitest and giuest to mee and vnto euery beleeuing soule in the Sacraments I thanke thee for my life liberty food and rayment health wealth peace and plenty which thou in much mercy hast afforded vnto me from time to time for keeping mee now and euer from sudden death and sundry dangers whereinto I might haue fallen by reason of my manifold sinnes And I beseech thee to continue this thy prouidence ouer me and mine and thy whole church as thou hast hitherto beene a Sâ—nne to comfort me so bee thou now a shield to protect me keepe me in soule and body goods and good name vouchsafe mee this night peace vnto my soule rest and quietnesse to my body that therein being refreshed I may bee cheared vp in my minde and made the more prompt and ready to doe thee laudable seruice the day following and all the dayes of my life and that for Christ Iesus sake the Sonne of thy loue Amen Tuesday A Morning Prayer MOst gracious God and mercifull Father thou that art glorious in power and holinesse I thy poore and miserable creature being but dust and ashes doe here humbly present my selfe soule and body before the throne of thy maiesty confessing and acknowledging from the bottome of my heart that I am a most vile sinner conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquity and am by nature backward vnto that which is good and prone vnto all manner of euill By meanes of this originaâ—l corruption drawne from the loynes of my first parents mine vnderstanding is full of all blindnesse and darkenesse my memory of forgetfulnesse my will of perversnesse mine affections of disorderlinesse my heart of hardnesse yea there is within mee a distemperature of all parts so that from the crowne of the head vnto the soule of the foote there is no soundnesse within mee wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse mee from my sinnes enrich my barren heart with the sanctifying graces of thy spirit that growing in knowledge fructifying in faith loue charity and abounding with all other holy vertues and heauenly qualities I may be washed iustified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of my God and haue the witnes and euidence within my selfe that there remaineth no condemnation to me being in Christ Iesus walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit Lord I confesse I am vtterly lost and haue no hope of saluation left vnto me having walked after the vanity of my mind and liued in al lust lewdnes riot reuelling vncleannes sinfulnes so that if thou shouldest be extreame to marke what is done amisse O Lord who may abide it Enter not therefore into Iudgement with 〈◊〉 seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing bee iustistified Though my sinnes haue magnified themselues in infinite length breadth depth and height yet let thy mercy which passeth all vnderstanding farre exceed them And howsoeuer by reason of my sinnes I haue iustly deserued to be not only depriued of thy blessings but for euer deserted forsaken yet for his sake in whom thou art well pleased cast me not away from thy presence of grace here or glory hereafter but by the one lead me to the other by holinesse bring me to happinesse Behold O Lord how I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy hand-maid O grant mee grace that I may liue with thee for euer Thou hast redeemed me oh let me not fall into captiuity and bondage vnto sin and Satan because I weare thy cognizance liuery but so confirme and strengthen me that both in life and death I may continue thine that I may neuer draw back vnto perdition or forsake thee the euer-liuing God or renounce my Christ who hath the words of eternall life yea who is the Way the Truth and the Life but that both in prosperity and aduersity abiding by thee I may liue in thy feare dye in thy fauour rest in thy peace rise in thy power and raigne with thee in thy glory Amen Tuesday An Euening Prayer O Lord God euerlasting and full of pitty I am a sinner yet thy seruant not hauing transgressed through wickednes but much weaknesse and infirmity spare me therefore good Lord according to thy usuall dealing with those which in prayer haue had recourse vnto thee and according to thine old vnchangeable nature of thy kindnesse and long suffering Thou mightest haue taken me away in my sinnes but thou hast giuen me space of amendment and grace to returne vnto thee to seeke thee whilst thou maist be found and call vpon thee whilst thou art neare O Lord be not farre from me but draw neere vnto my soule make haste to deliuer me and helpe me Nay Lord thou art euer with and neuer failest those who seeke after thee and call vpon thee with words of deuotion and contrition to such thou art a present helpe in trouble their shield and buckler their rocke and strong hold their castle and fortresse the horne also of their saluation Instantly doe I knocke at the gate of thy mercy Lord open vnto me and receiue me to thy protection this night as thou hast safe-garded and guided me this day past so keepe me now and euer because I trust in thee Lord preserue mee in health wealth and godlinesse if it be thy gracious pleasure voâ—chsafe mee peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost guide me here by thy counsell and after that receiue me to glory And now seeing thou hast brought the night vpon mee wherein thou hast ordained man to take his rest keepe me O Lord as the apple of thine eye saue and defend mee from all annoyances fond dreames strong fantasies and delusions Cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about mee and keepe watch ouer my soule and body that I may not if it bee possible sinne in either word or deede but may persist and goe forward in mine innocency and integrity vntill the appearing of my Lord and Sauiour vnto iudgement Good Lord deliuer mee from suddaine death feares and affrightments casualties by fire water or tempestuous weather disturbance by theeues or any other danger whatsoeuer Let my lying downe
in the bed put mee in minde of my resting in the graue and my rising from thence of my resurrection that both in life and death I may continue thine through Iesus Christ. Amen Wednesday A Morning Prayer O Eternall and all-seeing God who art of infinite maiesty looke downe from heauen the habitation of thy holinesse vpon me thy poore and vnworthy seruant lying groueling and groning vnder my sinfull misery Thou art a God of power and canst relieue me of goodnesse and wilt in thy good time mercifully helpe mee Vnto thee therefore upon the bended knee of my soule doe I come humbly beseeching thee to cure my sinfull corruptions and by that bloud which my blessed Sauiour out of his gashy wounds did shed for mee to wash away my sinfull staynes O Lord the fountaine of thy mercy can neuer bee drawne dry nor the merits of my blessed Sauiour emptied O therefore bathe my soule in them that being sanctified and iustified I may appeare in thy sight more pure and white then the snow in Salmon And because it is a pleasant thing vnto thee to giue thanks I blesse thy name for keeping mee this night past and bringing of me to the beginning of this day Defend me gracious father in the same let thy eyes alwayes attend vpon mee prosper preserue cheere vp and cherish guide and gouerne instruct and direct mee in all my studies labours actions imployments and duties of my calling that I may spend and imploy this day and the remainder of my life according to thy blessed wil setting thee alwaies before mine eyes and liuing in thy feare euer working that which may be found acceptable in thy sight to the glory of thy most holy name the peace of my conscience and the saluation of my owne soule and the edification by my good example of all those that attend and depend vpon mee To this end be thou O Lord my God and my guide my protector and defender keep me vnspotted of the world teach mee to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and to liue soberly towards my selfe righteously towards my neighbour and piously towards thee my God repenting me of my sinnes and seruing thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all my daies that in life thou maist bee my God in death my deliuerer after death my eternall rewarder Amen Wednesday An Euening Prayer O Most glorious and gracious God who ouerflowest in thy bountifull goodnes vnto the sons daughters of men that endeauour to serue thee and glorifie thy name I doe here at this time with that good Samaritane returne to giue thee thanks for al thy merciful blessings bestowed vpon my soule and body in things spirituall and temporall for mine election before all time my creation in the beginning of time my redemption in the fulnesse of time my iustification by faith in Christ for my sanctification begun and hope of eternall glory to bee reuealed I praise and glorifie thee most holy father for preseruing me hitherto for prospering me this day past in my vocation and calling and for that thou hast yet spared me and giuen me liberty and a gracious opportunity once more to inuocate thy holy name O Lord I acknowledge and confesse that thou mightest haue taken mee away in the middest of my sinnes and in the very act of committing of them but thou hast dealt more mercifully with me continue good Lord this thy mercy and gracious fauour towards mee this night and let thy blessing rest vpon me keepe mee from feare and danger and from all noysome dreames and from all other hinderances of sweet repose and comfortable rest which thou hast appointed for the recreating and refreshing of mankind But because sinne is that which may with-hold good things from mee and deny thy gracious blessing of protection therefore I most humbly and heartily intreate thee for Iesus Christ his sake to seale vnto me a free pardon of all my sinnes of what nature or quality so euer they be whether they be sinnes of omission or commission of knowledge or ignorance of weakenesse or wilfulnesse O Lord deale not with mee according to the magnitude and multitude of them but for thine infinite mercies and sons merits speake peace vnto my soule assuring me of thy gracious pardon and reconciliation in Iesus Christ. Adde them not vnto my account but blot them out of thy booke of remembrance and cast them out of thy sight into the bottome of the sea that they may neuer rise in this life to shame mee nor in the life to come to condemne mee worke in mee an vnfained sorrow for sinne which may occasion my repentance vnto saluation neuer to be repented of Make me to bewaile my sinnes committed and giue mee grace neuer againe to commit my sinnes bewayled but proceed from one degree of holinesse vnto another from faith to faith grace to grace vntill I appeare before thee the God of Gods in Sion Amen Thursday A Morning Prayer O Lord God great and glorious which inhabitest in the highest heauens and dwellest in that light which no mortall man can approach vnto yet beholdest in much mercy and compassion the sonnes and daughters of men not onely lightning euery one that comes into the world but making the out-goings of the morning to be full of glory causing the sunne to shine vpon the iust and vniust mercifully driuing away the darkenesse of the night and shadow of death I praise thy holy Name and thanke thee most humbly that thou hast vouchsafed mee to passe this night in comfortable sleepe and to be brought againe safe and sound vnto this morning light Now I beseech thee by the holy incarnation and blessed natiuity of thy Son Iesus Christ the thrice happy day-starre that appeared to the world let thy mercy this day rest vpon me and let the bright beames of thy light shine into mine heart that I bee not transported either through the corruption of my nature or power of darkenesse to spend this day after mine owne minde and pleasure but that I may carefully follow the heauenly light of thy word to performe thy holy will willingly without murmuring speedily without delaying constantly without ceasing and vniuersally without omitting of that which thou commendest vnto me in thy word Increase in me O Lord the gift of Faith and Hope that I may beleeue in thee and trust to thy mercifull promises made vnto me in Iesus Christ and labour to finde in my soule those graces to which thou hast annexed the promises and grant that neither by mine owne negligence nor the infirmity of the flesh nor the grieuousnesse of temptation I be drawn or driuen away from a sure confidence of thy gracious acceptance with thee in the merit of his sacred bloud dispell these mists and clouds of my sinfull life which blemish my soule and darken mine vnderstanding wash away all my pollutions and staines in the bloud of his passion that I may be acknowledged for one of thine when I
Iesu my sins originall and actuall of weaknes wickednesse haue deserued thy wrath and frowning ire yea that thou shouldest with-hold the eye of thy grace far from me and punish me with everlasting destruction from the presence of thy glory Yet Lord seeing thou hast shed thy blood for me O Lord I beseech thee to wash away all my sinnes in the streames that issued from thy precious wounds As thou hast loued mee in laying downe thy life for me and hast left vnto thy Church this holy Sacrament as a pledge and assurance that through thy death all that truely partake of this sacred and heauenly institution apprehending the mysteries therein contained and applying the merits of Christ Iesus crucified they may haue comfort and peace in beleeuing those mercifull promises which thou hast made vnto vs in thy Word and bee partakers of the benefits of thy Sonnes Passion and haue fruition of thy sauing vertue here and life and glory hereafter Accept mee good Lord in Iesus Christ as washed iustified and sanctified and by thy Spirit O my God cleanse and purifie my heart daily more and more sanctifie mine affections and enlarge my heart for holy and heauenly things that mortifying the deeds of the flesh I may grow and increase in grace perfecting my holinesse in the feare of God At this time I intreat thee of thy gracious goodnesse O most holy and heauenly Father by thy Spirit of confirmation to helpe and strengthen me against my weakenesse and grant that through a stedfast lively and constant faith I may receiue and eate this sanctified bread and hallowed Cup or blessed drinke in a holy and reuerend remembrance that thy body O Lord Iesus was crucified and thy blood was shed for the remission of my sinnes and grant that it may so effectually worke in my soule that I may ever hereafter liue in all holy obedience according to thy heauenly will through Iesus Christ my Lord and onely Sauiour Amen At the receiuing of the Bread say thus O Sweet Iesus as thou hast giuen thy flesh to bee the bread of eternall saluation so vouchsafe to worke in mee by a liuely faith that I receiuing the same may euermore continue in thee and thou in me Amen At the receiuing of the Cup say thus O Lord vouchsafe that as thy bloud was shed to wash mee a sinner from the corruption of old Adam so grant that it may through a liuely faith take effect in me washing me from the filth of Sinne and renue in me the fruits of righteousnesse that I may become a fitte member of thine liue in thee and dye in thee Amen A prayer after the receiuing of the most holy Communion of the body and bloud of Christ. O God Father euerlasting great and glorious I thy poore and vnworthy Creature being not able to yeeld thee thanks sufficiently praise the for thine vnspeakeable fauour and louing kindnesses in feeding mee at this time with the spirituall foode of the body and bloud of thy Sonne Iesus Christ whom thou vouchsafest to send for our redemption into this miserable world and to giue him euen vnto the death for me In remembrance whereof he hath willed me to eate his body and drinke his bloud to the end that by Faith I should bee knit and vnited vnto him and made a liuely member of his mysticall body and being washed from all my sinnes in his bloud I should leade a new life in all obedience holinesse and righteousnesse Vouchsafe I humbly intreate thee for his sake to indue me with thy holy Spirit whereby hereafter casting away the workes of darkenesse I may walke in the true light of thy holy Spirit and euer remaine in the number of thy holy and elect children waiting faithfully when hee shall come againe for my deliuerance out of this mortall life and whilest I liue here vouchsafe me an vnfained desire to pertake of that his holy Institution and through thy holy Spirit to leade my life according to thy holy will in all things keeping my body and soule vnspotted and vndefiled as fit receptacles of so heauenly food that my soule may bee pertaker of the misteries thereof by faith in Iesus Christ. Amen A prayer to be vsed by the tempted against the assaults of Satans temptations MOst gracious mercifull and louing Father which exercisest thy children with sundry and manifold trialls temptations and tribulations leauing hem vnto themselues as thou dâ—dâ—st Hezekiah to the end hee might discouer and see in himselfe his owne vaine-glory imbecility and much frailty Some like Peter thou exposest to the boisterous windes of Satan winnowings and others like Paul to the blowes of the aduersaries vehement buffetings Thine owne and only Sonne thou diddest not exempt from Satans sharpest and stoutest trials when thou diddest conduct him into the wildernesse to bee tempted of the devill If thou O Lord leade me in like manner to be tried and tempted suffer me not at any time to be ouercome hold thou me vp by thy mighty hand and power animate me by the presence of thy Spirit and holy Angels and let thy grace be euer sufficient for mee that I may giue mine aduersary the foile and in the end get the victory In his departure from me for a season let not Satan bee aduantaged or get strength but detect his policies discouer his subtilties vnto me and defeate his doings and dealings which are against mâ— To this end worke such wisdome in me as may make me to foresee his stratagems such vigilancy as that I may beware his pitfalls which hee prepareth for our soules destruction Let no temptation take me but such as is common to man In thy faithfulnesse O Father try me not aboue my strength and ability but with the temptation make a way to escape that I may be able to beare it Let me neuer yeeld to the devilish motions of Satan suggesting vnto me death or desperation but grant me patience to expect the howre of my departure my soules separation and the dissolution of my body and deliuerance from the misery of this wretched world My trouble let it be without distresse my perplexity without despaire my persecution without forsaking my casting downe without destruction If teare befall me in thy good time wipe them from mine eyes preserue them in thy bottle make them precious in thy sight and my selfe with thee Leauing mee for a little while draw nigh againe vnto me in great compassion and gather me vnto thy selfe that I may euer reioyce in thee and with thee Couer my head in the daies of my spirituall conflicts let thy loue be my bannor thy faithfulnesse and truth my shield and buckler Give mee faith and a sure confidence in thee make me perfectly to trust in thy grace looking for Iustification and saluation through thy mercy and my blessed Sauiours merits Let not any kinde of triall bee irkesome and grieuous vnto me but giue me a right iudgement as in all other things so