thy selfe hast is more then thou well deseruest or rightly canst vse without Gods speciall grace the lesse thou hast the lesse account thou art to make Striue to bee well pleased with Gods will and his disposing of all things for this ende pray much and feruently fast often but beware of hypocrisie reade the holy Scriptures diligently and that with all reuerence attention and faith make them thy counsellours in all thy enterprises thy comforts in aduersitie thy guide in prosperity and the rule of thy whole life Eighthly be much addicted vnto heauenly meditations lifting vp thy heart vnto the Lord sending forth spirituall eiaculations vpon euery occasion though prayers bee but short yet may they pierce the heauens by sighes that cannot be expressed If thou doe thinke of God let it be with high reuerence to his Maiestie speake of him with feare as his glorious excellencie requireth So know him as thou mayest in acknowledging him neuer dare to disobey his Commandements Behold him in his goodnes to loue him in his iustice to feare him in his word to know him and to beleeue in him Behold him also in his workes his wisedome and How to behold the Lord in his creatures power in the workes of creation his mercy and iustice in the worke of redemption his euer being in our continuall preseruation Acknowledge his prouidence in prouiding for his creatures his strength in the mightinesse of mountaines and powers vnresistable his holinesse by his Angels puritie and his Saints piety his inuisibility by the aire and strong winds his miraculous hand by the Ocean sea his glorious Maiestie by the brightnesse of the Sunne his bountie by extending his goodnesse to euery creature his dominion and soueraignty by his rule ouer the world his patience by not speedily confounding some presumptuous sinners yet his iustice in due inflicted punishments vpon others His beautie by the heauens brightnesse the Sun in his glory the shining starres the glistering gold and the liuely colours set vpon his faire creatures full of admiration to the beholders His truth by the performance of his word his stability by the certain and vnchangeable course of things and his infinitenesse by the earths roundnesse the heauens circumference and the immeasurable spatiousnes betwixt both Praise this God in all his proceedings disgrace none of his workes magnifie his goodnesse for the least of his gifts bee silent when hee crosseth thee feare when he is vsing vpon his children the rod of his correction but tremble at his wrath in his worke of destruction and euer submit to the powerfull hand of his prouidence Ninthly in the next place with thy thoughts of God sauour also the things that are of God that is his word and ordinances ministery and magistracie also all diuine truthes though aboue all reason likewise all holy motions pressing downe the corruptions of thy heart yea sharpe rebukes for reformatiō shew patience in bearing of wrōgs and manifest loue to the godly though neuer so poore and let their account of thee bee more esteemed of thē the countenance of the mightiest that bee enemies to goodnesse Let mourning and sorrow for sin please thee better then wicked mirth Preferre Gods honor and diuine worship before thine owne life and al thy wealth Hold it thy greatest preferment and glory to be a true Christian and a companion to all that feare God professing the truth with them in the way of life Iudge it no disgrace to bee noted for zeale in religion for following the holy Saints in true deuotion But desire and striue to bee like the best follow Dauid in feruencie Iosias in tendernes of spirit and a melting heart Barnabas in charitie Nathaniel in sinceritie without guile Moses in the spirit of meeknes and Ioshua in his resolution to feare God and that alone with all thine household and bee as Cornelius in his holy estimation of the ministerie and alacrity of spirit to ioyne with the people of God Step forward euer with these and the like in the way of vertue that vnto the death as holy Martyrs haue done constantly looke to the reward of glory in the end Tenthly as thou art religious so bee also righteous serue God and doe thy dutie vnto men obey lawful commands of such as haue authority ouer thee Looke on God in the Commander and for a reward at his hands Be of a peaceable spirit offer Of our carriage towards men wrong to none wrongs receiued seeke not to reuenge desire onely that which is thine owne require that peaceably which other withhold wrongfully vse law but as a moderator and not as an auenger hate no man though he haue deserued it by loue win him and by thy weldoing hold him fast to thee make account of thy neighbour as of thy selfe let his honour bee thy ioy his sorrow thy griefe and his life to thee pretious his chastitie preserue as thine owne honesty thinke thy good name touched in the cracke of his credit for the Gospels sake wish him euer well do as thou wouldest be done vnto If in his absence thou speakest of him let it be good and in his presence onely for his good Couet not to bee preferred before him that is pride not to haue his life that is bloody cruelty nor to satisfie thy lust that is filthie dishonestie nor to get his goods that is the euerie nor to take away his good name that is worse then death Though he dislike of thee yet loue thou him faile not thou of any dutie albeit other doe not obserue thee according as is meet There is in thee the more grace and the greater praise thou doest deserue when thou canst subdue thy passions passe by contempt neglect thy selfe and teach other men their duties onely by thine owne weldoing This will procure loue make all thy paths peaceable and get thee praise and due honour with men if not yet God seeth hee will iudge and plead thy cause for thee in their consciences reuenge thy wrongs vpon obstinate enemies and recompence fully thy goodnesse vpon thy selfe Let this comfort thee against their vnthankfulnesse and remember the end obserue the commandement of loue liue euer in daily expectation of death the reward of life the crowne of glory and by the helpe of Gods spirit thou shalt neuer doe amisse Gaius O blessed Lord God! how do I hunger to haue part in this blessednes my soule is as the thirstie land I preceiue heereby my great wants and bewaile my imperfections I see now the narrow way and the straight gate to life and feare Ah how much is professed how little practiced I should vtterly despaire of my safety but that I rest vpon Gods mercy and relie onely vpon Christ his merits Now the Lord vouchsafe mee his spirit and the helpe of his grace that I may be a true obseruer of all these things thus to doe his will thus to performe my bounden dutie Oh Sir that I could
in this manner liue towards God so in holines towards men so righteously Oh that I might passe thus thorow this sinfull world with that peace of conscience with that ioy of the spirit with that preparednes for death with that longing after our Lord Iesus his comming which is gotten hereby and which the very creatures doe groane for and all the godly true repentants heartily wish for Oh how grieuous is it now to mee to consider how far I am from this practice of piety especially when I doe weigh my owne weaknesses and also want of grace to attaine to the due full performance of this so conscionable a course Oh what shall I doe Oh what shall I do I am so loden with corruptions and the world so full of tentations compassing mee about with examples of wickednesse that I feare my fall He that seeketh goodnes oh how little is he regarded vertue wanteth praise vice is not abhorred innocency made a prey iustice set to sale sincerity reputed follie and iust dealing is held the high way to beggerie If yet for all these things I should disclaim the way of well doing I should therewith loose the hope of heauen if I should embrace vngodlinesse and vanitie I am sure to be damned in hell As Sir what shall I doe Ah my poore imprisoned soule oh that I were dissolued let mee loose O Lord out of this prison of my body O come Lord Iesu O come quickly and make an end of these dayes of sinne I desire bee dissolued and to bee with thee Iohn Alas good soule what moueth thee thus to bemone thy selfe thou art a happie Creature and hast no such cause to complaine in this so sorrowful a manner Comfort thy selfe my heart in that large portion of piety giuen vnto thee thy desire in time shall bee satisfied vpon thy lowlinesse assuredly the Lord doth look Feare not to finde mercy and fauour he will refresh those that trauell and bee heauie loden And therefore let vs proceed on as wee haue done hitherto if thou wouldest know more wherein I may enforme thee demand and I will make answere shew wherin and I will instruct thee and the Lord direct thee in the way that thou shalt chuse Gaius Sir seeing I haue thus found fauour in your eyes and that you iudge mee among the faithfull I desire to be informed more particularly The vse and end of this booke how from time to time euery day as a worke for euery weeke during life I may behaue my selfe religiously in the way to eternitie Iohn Is it thy desire beloued Gaius to haue mee set downe how thou The sum and parts handled herein shouldest exercise thy selfe first in the morning on the day time abroad in the euening returning home and in the night time awakening and so in the end of the weeke for a preparation to the Sabbath Gaius Euen so this indeed Sir is my desire for hauing particular rules so set before me I may the better vnderstand what to doe more orderly goe forward and according to the distinction of times looke ouer daily my precepts till I become cunning by a conscionable practice which the holy one vouchsafe mee of his great goodnesse and mercy Iohn Euen so be it my Directions for euery morning bowels Now therefore awaking in the morning forthwith before other things I. Consider how 1. Dutie graciously God hath renewed his mercy towards thee preseruing thee aliue in the night and giuing thee as it were in the morning a new life awaking thee perhaps by the voice of man by the crowing of a cooke by the sound of a bell or otherwise and opened againe thine eyes in darkenesse to behold the shining light for which mercy giue him hearty thanks and praises and withall desire him to giue thee sight to thy soule as thou hast light for thy body and that as hee expelleth darknesse from thee and affoordeth thee day light and Sun-shine to the eyes of the body so in like maner to bee pleased to remoue ignorance that spituall darknesse from thy minde by the light of his illuminating spirit that thy soule by the sun-shine of the holy Scriptures may see how to walke in this vaile of teares thorow this darkenesse in which the world lieth without sight of sinne or remorse of conscience vnto thy heauenly harbour Then secondly fall to 2. Dutie Meditations vpon our awaking meditation and first how God can awake vs from the sleepe of sinne and open our eyes to see the light of the truth either by extraordinarie means or by ordinarie and these weake or more forcible as it pleased him to awake Dauid by Nathan and Peter by the cocke although wee haue slept as many yeeres in sinne as houres in our bed Secondly that after a sleeping though long if there be life there followeth a wakening so is it with the elect though they fall asleepe againe in sin and lie therein a long time yet because they are not vtterly without the life of God they shall at length awake againe Thirdly that as awaking in the morning by the day light in the appointed time to arise and men vp in health there is not by and by a returning to sleepe in bed againe no more shall bodily death seaze vpon any there shall be no more returning to rest in the graue in the day of the last resurrection Fourthly that as a carefull husband aiming at his thrift is ashamed to lie sleeping in bed as if it were still night when the Sunne is vp yea shining vpon him and hee called to his businesse euen so should euery good Christian carefull of saluation be ashamed to lie sleepiing in any sinne when the cleare light of the Gospell shineth vpon him and is called vpon by faithfull Teachers to the performance of his duties Fifthly by thy rising vp Meditations in rising thinke vpon thy resurrection which is twofold first from the kingdome of darknesse and our naturall corruption to the true light and kingdome of grace and of the second resurrection from the darknesse of the graue to the heauēly light of the kingdome of glory Sixthly in arising vp Meditations vpon our naked nesse without clothes as naked 1. consider how naked we be by nature of all holines and righteousnesse when wee come into the world so to bewaile our wretchednesse 2. That wee shall arise naked at the last day as Adam was in his innocencie 3. That as in this bodily nakednes without clothes wee bee ashamed for the vncomelines therof to bee seene so of men vnlesse wee bee fooles or madde euen so should we be ashamed to be seen of God of his Angels and of any good men naked without the couering of grace and goodnesse because of the filthinesse of sinne And as none but fooles and madde men come naked before men so do none but mad men wicked fooles and men desperately leaud liue naked of goodnesse
maketh vs delicate in feeding or to desire variety of dishes and daintie fare but quezie stomackes or a custome in nice feeding want of appetite or weaknesse in digestion so nothing but daintinesse and an appetite to varietie weake spirits yet withall full of proud conceits fleshly apprehēsions itching eares want of good stomackkes and hearts vnhumbled doe cause the fine and delicate cooking of Gods word and saucing it with the froth of mens wits to make it fleshly sweet and pleasant to vaine persons 4. Consider how thou canst lay aside thy worldly businesses thy pleasures and profits to take thy bodily repast either at home or as occasion serues abroad where thou mayest haue it euen so shouldest thou lay aside thy pleasures and profits at times fitting for to get food for thy soule either at home or abroad for as food is necessarie for the bodie so is the word of God preached for thy soule 5. As thou knowest that food preserues not life without Gods blessing and that the least crum may bereaue thee of thy life if it go wrong and therefore doest thou pray to God before euen so know also that hearing and preaching of the word doth not giue not preserue the life of the soule except God blesse the same yea the least mistaking in the chiefest points if God preuent it not may cause thee to erre euen vnto death And therefore before we come to the word let vs pray heartily to God for a blessing 6. As thou wilt not sit downe to receiue food but with cleane hands so come not to Gods word or the Lords Table without a cleane heart and as thou wilt sit downe if thou hast a good stomack when meate is prepared for thee laying aside thy businesse for a while so indeed if our hearts bee good whē the Lord hath prepared by his Ministers food for vs let vs as wee ought lay aside worldly businesses a while to heare his doctrine words of instruction for our strength and edification And being set downe Meditations being set at the table at a feast then let the house in which thou art put thee in remembrance of Gods Church the Master of the house of Christ Iesus the head of his Church and Lord of the feast the table of the Lords Table thy sitting downe the spirituall rest at the heauenly banquet the faire linnens of puritie the furnishing of the Table the variety with plentie of all things of the things prepared for vs by Christ Let the cleanly decent seruice put thee in mind of the pure worship of God the wholesome food of sound doctrine the orderly placing of dishes the orderly administration of holy things The seruitours let them remember thee of Gods Ministers the bread of the word of God and Christs body in the Sacrament the drinke and wine of the water of life and blood of Christ milke of the principles of religion and catechizing strong meate of harder points of doctrine salt of the ministery of the word sauce of afflictiōs mingled with Gods mercies to make them taste the better The cunning caruing and cutting vp of the food of the right diuiding of Gods word the reaching of it cut of the giuing to euery man his part and portion thy hand of thy faith thy chewing in thy mouth of thy meditation in heart thy digestion of thy true receiuing of the word Remember by thy companie the communion of Saints by their talke together the holy conference by their idle speech the nature of vaine and iangling spirits and by their graue and sober speaking the wisdome of their words which are wise in heart By the musicke if any be consider of the sweet melody in concord of louing hearts liuing in vnity and of the ioies in heauen and mirth vnspeakable by the chearing of the heart with meate and drinke causing thee to bee merrie weigh the sweet comforts of the word refreshing thy soule making thee glad in the peace of a good conscience which is a continual feast When thou offerest of that thou hast vnto any let it put thee in mind of the cōmunicating of thy graces and gifts of heauenly things vnto others When thou receiuest willingly with thankes what other offer to thee thinke how willingly and thankfully thou shouldest receiue the food meanes of saluation from other when any shall offer the same vnto thee Being at length well refreshed Being refreshed and readie to arise frō the table and ready to arise thinke what a blessing of God it is to haue food to refresh the body and so in like manner to haue meanes of instruction to thy soule Let him that giueth thankes in the end call to thy remembrance how the Minister giueth thankes at the end of the time of the publike worship which thou art to stay for them as at the Table for saying of grace To conclude this as thou feelest strength of body by taking corporall food so labour to feele strength of grace by receiuing the food of the soule And as thou perceiuest that the body will famish without nourishing of it daily so the soule wil perish where there is no vision And as thou canst find in thy hart to bee at cost for the bodily food and canst labour and go farre for it so such a loue and hunger shouldest thou haue for the foode of the soule that thou shouldest willingly bee at cost for it to labour for it to seeke it as siluer and to search for it as treasurie that thou mayest come to the feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Gaius Alas my heart is heauie my soule is perplexed within me Oh how wanting hitherto haue I been of these duties and ignorant of these meditations I confesse I haue risen without any true reuerent remembrance of God a few prayers perhaps I haue made more in sound of words then with sighes and grones from an earnest affection of the heart But now haue I better vnderstood how euery morning I am to demeane my selfe the Lord giue mee grace what now I know and thou good man of God hast so largely instructed mee in hereafter neuer to neglect Iohn Comfort thy selfe my bowels thou hast a large portion in the Lords inheritance I wish chiefely that thou mayest prosper as well as thy soule prospereth thy beginnings in goodnes thy desire to encrease in grace thy faithfull endeauour to attaine thereunto by Gods blessing shall bring thee to perfection and to thy desired wish in the end Gaius Thou hast spoken I thanke thee comfortably vnto thy seruant but if that I haue now obtained thy grace and that I bee acceptable in thine eyes before thou proceedest any further I beseech thee to frame me a form of prayer for euery morning as may fitly agree with my former meditations Iohn Faithfull Gaius I very willingly condiscend to this thy holy desire if therefore it please thee in this or the like maner thou mayest frame thy prayer
of Gods Spirit 2. As the light of the candle being in our eye but a little light yet giueth a great light to the whole house euē so doth that heauenly enlightening of God though it seeme neuer so little to worldly wisedome yet doth it greatly enlighten vs. 3. As while the candle is light we can reade and it being out wee cannot see no more can wee see heauenly things if once the light of Gods spirit be taken from vs. So likewise meditate that the word is as fire which thou sittest by The fire thaweth off frostines and expels cold so the word melteth frozen hearts it comforteth vs going to rest so doth the word going out of the world it trieth mettals so the word doth men It diuideth things sending some vpward and leaueth some on the earth so the word diuideth people some sending vpward some leauing below c. Fourthly in going to thy 4. Dutie Meditations in going to rest rest thinke vpon the ende of this earthly toylesomenesse in the eternall rest in putting off thy clothes thinke how thou shalt at length be vnclothed and as thou art naked in a shirt so shalt thou bee naked in a sheet Thinke also as thou arisest naked in the morning and so returnest to thy bed naked in the euening euen so camest thou naked into the world and so naked shalt thou returne againe Fifthly in lying downe 5. Meditations in lying downe in thy bed consider thy bed as thy graue thy lying downe the laying of thy body in the place of the dead the couering the earthly molds vpon thee the closing of thine eyes the representation of death the sleepe possessing thee deaths ceasing vpon thee the impossibility to preuent sleepe euer the ineuitablenesse of death the ringing of the bell the sound of the last trumpet Thinke by thy companion in bed of the dead with thee in the graue that two may be together the one receiued the other refused Consider how as a flea in the bed may bite thee so the wormes in graue shall eate thee as sleepe taketh away all care of the world from thee so shall death in like manner set thee free from the same And as thou doest not feare to sleepe because thou art in hope to awake againe so be not afraid to die for that thou shalt arise afterwards to life eternall Lastly as thou knowest thou hast a soule awaking though thy body bee sleeping so know that albeit thy bodie lie a while asleepe in the graue yet thy soule euen then liueth and partaketh of ioy let this be for thy comfort Thus by these thy heauenly meditations thy last thoughts being so fixed vpon God and good things before thou doest fall asleepe they will cause thee to lift vp thine eies to the Lord to entreate him to take protection of thee for he neither slumbreth nor sleepeth which keepeth Israel These will preuent vaine dreames idle fantasies and prepare thy soule to better cogitations Yea thus graciously exercised albeit thou doest lie down to rise againe in the morning yet wilt thou so rest secure and lie downe without feare as one assured of life though for this light thou behold it no more with bodily eies vntil the day of iudgment It is euer therefore best to haue thy mind full of godly meditations in betaking thy selfe to rest and it shall not bee amisse so to lie downe as thinking no more to rise till the last day the preparation to death doth not any whit sooner hasten it but maketh it more comfortable when it doth come Gaius Blessed is that man that thus meditateth of his mortalitie happie is he surely that thus prepareth to his rest vndoubtedly hee shall finde the sweet fruites thereof in the end But I now desire to heare of some godly directions how to meditate in the night season if happily I doe awake but I thinke I heard thee speak of prayer before I should goe to my bed therefore as it hath pleased thee to set me downe a forme of prayer for the morning so I beseech thee affoord me the like helpe for the euening Iohn It is indeed Gaius as necessarie to praise God and to pray vnto him in the euening as in the morning and therefore hast thou well done to put me in mind hereof In the name therefore mediation of Christ Iesus thus or in some such like maner mayest thou make thy prayers vnto the Almighty Honour and praise bee giuen A Prayer for the euening to thee most holy Father my most gracious Lord and strong protector which hast of thy great goodnes this day both led me forth safely and now brought me home in peace This hath been thy mercy wholy of which I haue abundantly tasted blessed bee thy name therefore for euer and for euer I confesse to thy praise and glory O God that by thy light I haue walked by thy power I haue been preserued by thy grace preuented from sinnes which I might haue run into from perils which I might haue fallen into and by thy spirit haue I been directed in that which hath been comfortable vnto mee and wherin I haue cause to reioyce Albeit I doe acknowledge that in my best actions I haue shewed much humaine frailty and not a little offended thy diuine Maiesty in thought in words and in deeds which yet of thy great mercy thou hast passed by and not laid vnto my charge as thou mightest iustly haue done Now O Lord I beseech thee so be still gracious vnto me for Iesus Christ his sake and continue thy fauourable countenance and bee euer with me as heretofore and this day past so also the rest of my life this present night now come vpon me Vnclothe mee I pray thee of my old raymēt of vnrighteousnesse and make mee to throw away all my vncleane ragges of filthie corruptions that I may goe in the whitenesse of sincerity and holines vnto my eternall rest In the meane space giue mee the candle light of the truth to shine vnto me in this darke world and make thy word as a fire to heate and enflame my affections with the loue of thee O God and all goodnesse that I may see the way and go with a warm zeale of thy spirit vnto my graue And seeing I came naked into the world and so must lie downe naked bringing nothing neither carrying away any thing Oh blesse mee from couetousnesse and greedie cares of this fading world If I haue but to liue let mee bee therewith contented Put away from mee the feare of death seeing it is but as a sleepe and cannot depriue me of life Yea sythen I am mortall make mee willing to goe vnto my rest that I may cease to sinne and bee freed from the manifold tentations and troubles which accompanie vs heere that although my bodie lie in the graue asleepe my soule may ascend vnto my blessed Sauiour with whom I desire to bee Sanctifie vnto me my rest keepe
how contrary heereunto are the most and how defectiue are the best I may mourne heauily for the multitude and much lament my own wants but as I heare now my dutie so will I endeauour to performe by Gods grace more carefully hereafter the present desire of my heart and therefore proceed thou best beloued Apostle of the Lord to teach me what to do when the publike seruice to God is ended Iohn 1. Preuent al present occasions of worldly vnnecessarie communication 2. Betake thy selfe a Our duty after publike seruice of God while to some priuate place for priuate meditation and prayer vpon that which thou hast heard remembrest 3. Receiue that day so much nourishment only as may satisfie for necessitie auoiding superfluitie arising of variety which may cause drousines dulnesse of spirit and hinder thy meditation 4. Vse conference with other and occasion them to holy speeches if thou doest doubt thou mayest perhaps bee resolued if thou hast forgot the memories of other may help thee as also giue thee vnderstanding in that thou thy selfe knowest not 5. Being disposed to be merrie sing Psalms abandon foolish and leaud sports and vaine companie 6. Forget not this day to shew forth workes of mercy to visit the sicke to relieue the poore and to comfort the afflicted Lastly in the end of the day praise God for the comforts thereof remember what thou hast heard and that which especially concerned thy selfe make some vse of all but forget not that pray for a blessing resolue to put what thou learnest into daily practise and then before thy rest fall to thy daily deuotion and in all good things bee euer constant vnto the end Gaius O Lord grant me so great mercy how happie were I if thus I could doe I earnestly desire it Oh that I could attaine vnto it This were indeed a blessednesse here a heauen vpon earth a celestiall felicity in a terrestriall place in this wretched state of miserie This pearle if I could purchase I offer willingly to giue away all my carnal pleasures al my worldly profits all vaine honour and my selfe wholly for the loue of it For what am I if I had all the world without the effectuall sauing power and grace of the word if I had all pleasure and had no portion in the heauenly Paradise If I had all honour without certaine hope of heauen Woe would bee to mee endlesse woes would seaze vpon mee I will therefore now resolue to walke with God seek fellowship with the faithfull and abandon the waies of wickednesse whatsoeuer befalleth mee in this present world Iohn A most blessed resolution sweet soule go on and prosper looke for ioyfull fruits of thy blessed labour by well doing thou shalt haue assured hope of Gods fauour boldnesse in Christ to go vnto God who will be to thee a Father the Spirit a Comforter as Christ thy Redeemer and Iustifier Feare not death dread not hell heauen is thine inheritance The godly pray for thee Angels accompanie thee the Law will not curse thee the Gospel is for thy comfort and thy conscience will speake peace vnto thee Satan dare not claime thee God doth acknowledge thee for his owne and hath thee in his safe keeping to bring thee to heauen Gaius Blessed man of God thou beloued of the Lord thou hast comforted me and spoken comfortably vnto thy seruant the Lord recompence thy worke and a full reward bee giuen thee of the Lord God of Israel and now behold thy seruant and the seruant of the Lord bee it vnto mee according to all these thy words Yet good Sir before I end I must needs craue a little more helpe I was aduised to pray vpon the Sabbath day in the morning before I goe vnto the publike congregation and in the euening when the day is ended vouchsafe I beseech thee to help my weaknesse heerein also and to set me downe how to pray morning euening on the Sabbath Iohn Friend Gaius I am ready to further thy gracious desires in al good things much reioycing in thy vnfained loue to the Lord and to the holy exercises of religion I heartily wish thee heerein all happie successe such feruencie such growth such constancie as thy example may moue many to imitate thy vertues and to ioyne with thee in the way to eternitie Thus therefore mayest thou or to the like effect pray in the morning O Lord our God whose A Prayer for the Sabbath day in the morning will and commandement it is that wee should keepe holy this day as set apart for the publike worship and seruice of thy most holy name Now I do heartily beseech thee in thy tender compassion and mercy so to looke vpon me in Christ Iesus that my sinnes may not be a wall of separation betweene thee and me but that of thy gracious goodnesse through my blessed Sauiour I may obtaine ful remission of all my sinnes and by him the gift of thy most holy spirit which may happily prepare and make ready my heart that I may goe to the holy assembly of thy Saints as well prepared ground fit to receiue the good seed of thy most holy word Oh Lord open mine eyes to see thy truth mine eares encline to harken attentiuely bend my will to follow what I shall heare that I may not be a bare hearer but a doer of thy word Giue me wisdome to iudge of the truth humility to receiue it faith to beleeue it conscience to practise it make it vnto me the Sauiour of life vnto life a word of reconciliation that I may for euer by it be wonne vnto thee Withdraw my mind and affections wholly from euery thing that may hinder mee from the performance of my duty this day in thy diuine seruice Take from me blindnesse of mind dulnesse of wit disorderlines of affections deadnesse of spirit hardnesse of heart vnbeleefe pride selfe-conceit presumption of mercy and wicked prophanenes that so I may not contemne nor yet make light account of thy holy ordinances the word read and preached the administration of the Sacramēts prayer and thankes giuing with the whole congregation Being set to heare good Father blesse me from wandring thoughts vaine imaginations Satans suggestions drowsinesse of the flesh and whatsoeuer is an enemie to the sauing hearing of thy blessed word Sanctifie my vnderstanding rightly to conceiue my memory to retaine and keepe and my heart truly to affect what thy seruant shall speake vnto mee and to the rest of thy people this day O Lord open his mouth that hee may speake onely thy truth enforme his vnderstanding settle his iudgement enflame his affections with that truth which he shal deliuer vnto vs and guide so his tongue that he may speak wisely seasonably aptly and also with great power of thy spirit to the heart and consciences of euery of vs his hearers so as we may liuely feele the power of thine owne ordinance and may also truly say of him that