The Blind Mans Sermon, Prayer 1 – Prayer 3
A Godly Prayer to be ſaid at all times, eyther in publicke, or priuate.
ALmighty and euerliuing God, maker and preſeruer of all things in Heauen, and in earth, and in Ieſus Chriſt our moſt mercifull and louing Father, wee thy poore and vnworthy ſeruants, being deſirous to offer vntounto thy diuine Maieſty the fruits of our lippes, euen an Euening (or Morning) ſacrifice of prayer, praiſe, and thankſgiuing, do intreat thy fatherly goodneſſe, ſo to prepare our ſinfull hearts by thy good ſpirit, as that, although in much infirmity and weakeneſſe, yet in ſincerity and true deſire, wee may performe this duty in ſome ſort acceptably to thy gratious will.
For, O Lord, we humbly confeſſe here before thy glorious preſence, that wée are altogether in thy fight a loathſome maſſe of corruption, conceiued in ſinne, and borne in iniquity, all our righteouſnes being like a menſtruous cloth, our mindes full of ignorance, our wills full of rebellion, our affections earthly, and ſenſuall, our conſciences full of pollution, continually caſting vp mire and dirt, our liues a ſinfull race of iniquity to iniquity, growing riper in treſpaſſes and ſinnes then we doe in yeares.
Innumerable are the ſinnes of our deceitfull hearts, which for want of knowledge of our ſelues, and due examination, we paſſe by, without confeſſion, without ſorrow, without repentance & amendment. Our omiſſion of all good dueties towards thy maieſty, towards our brethren, and towards our ſelues is infinite. And the ſins that we daily commit againſt our owne knowledges, and conſciences, through preſumption, and carnall ſecurity, are without number. And yet our Conſciences accuſe vsus, and we féele by wofull experience, how full of wants, imperfections, and frailty we are, how prone to all euill, how backward to all goodnes, how doubtfull, diſtruſtfull, fearefull, and vnconſtant in eueryevery good action, yea our whole ſpirits, ſoules, and bodies are full of vanity and prophaneneſſe, deadneſſe, dulneſſe, and drowſineſſe in thy worſhip and ſeruice. And whereas thy goodneſſe toward vsus is endleſſe, in pouring plentifully vponupon vsus all temporall benefits and ſpirituall bleſſings; Yet ſuch is our vnthankefulneſſe, as that the one wée ſpend vponupon our luſts; and the other wée hauehave contemned, and neglected, or in our liues hauehave not ſufficiently expreſſed the ſwéete comforts thereof in thy Goſpell reuealed vntounto vsus.
But ſith (O deare Father) thou haſt taught vsus by thine owne word, that thou haſt loued vsus with an euerlaſting louelove in Chriſt Ieſus, before all times, and in time haſt héeretofore declared, and doeſt yet continually manifeſt thy grace, and mercy towards all thy people, and to vsus in ſpeciall, giuing vsus thy word and worſhippe, in ſo peaceable and plentifull manner, and together with the ſame all things néedfull both for ſoule and body: we beſéech thée alſo vouchſafe this ſpeciall grace vntounto vsus, euen a liuely féeling of our ſinne, and miſery, that on the one ſide, through the ſenſible apprehenſion of thy wrath, and ſharpe puniſhment, remorſe, and ſorrow may conſtraine our hard and ſtony hearts to humble our ſelues before thée with dread and reuerence, and on the other ſide the ſauing feeling of thy louelove, ſhed abroad in our hearts by thy holy ſpirit may comfort vsus in the ſtedfaſt aſſurance of the frée forgiueneſſe of all our ſinnes in the bloudſhed and death of thy deare ſon Chriſt Ieſus, and incourage vsus with all delight and chéerefulneſſe, conſtantly to practiſe all good duties, both in time of afflictions, and troubles, and in time of peace and proſperity.
And ſéeing that it hath béene thy good pleaſure to call vsus with an holy calling into the communion and fellowſhip of Ieſus Chriſt thy onelyonly Sonne, to the ende that denying all worldly, and fleſhly luſts, wée ſhould be vntounto thée a choſen generation, a royall Prieſt-hood, an holy natition, a peculiar people, to ſhew forth the vertues and graces of thy good ſpirit: inable vsus to mortifie all euill workes, and ſinfull luſts, that our liues may expreſſe our light, and faith in thée. And principally giuegive vsus victory ouer thoſe perſonall ſins, which thou knoweſt our nature moſt prone to commit. Powre vponupon vsus thy holy ſpirit of wiſedome, and grace; gouerne, and lead vsus by thy good word, that it may be a lanthorne to our féete, and a light to our paths. So inlighten the naturall blindneſſe of our darke hearts by thy ſpirit, as that wée may daily be renued by the ſame. By the which we pray thée to purge the groſnes of our hearing, and vnderſtanding, that wée may euer-more profitably reade, heare, and vnderſtand thine holy word, and heauenly will. And to that end, O Lord, beget in vsus a true louelove, and reuerence of all the faithfull Miniſters of thy Goſpell: GiueGive vsus melting hearts to feare and tremble at thy voyce, turbing all worldly, vaine, and light imaginations in vsus, that commonly ſhut the doore of the heart againſt the effectuall paſſage of thy word into the ſame. O Lord, our naturall hearts are ſo full of rebellion and hatred of thée, as that we cannot abide to hear thy voyce, or know thy will. All our deuotion towards thée, is as the morning dew, and the exerciſes of Chriſtian dueties, quickly become weariſome vntounto vsus.
GiueGive vsus grace therefore to louelove thy word feruently, to ſearch the Scriptures diligently, to read them humbly, to vnderſtand them truely, to heare thy word attentiuely, and to liue thereafter effectually and carefully. GiueGive vsus ſuch meaſure of wiſedome, and diſcerning of ſpirits, that among the manifold errors, opinions, and iudgements that are in the world, wée may ſtand vpright, and conſtant in thy truth, taught in thy holy word.
O Lord ſanctifie eueryevery one of vsus throughout in ſpirit, ſoule and body, that wée may be kept blameles, till the appearing of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: Strengthen our faith more and more, confirme our hope, increaſe our louelove towards thée, and our brethren for thy ſake, giuegive vsus a feare of thy name, a reuerence of thy maieſty, a zeale of thy glory. In time of peace and ſafety kéepe vsus from contention, oppreſſion, and cruelty. In plenty and proſperity from pride, vainglory, wantonnes, intemperancy, contempt of thee, thy word, thy Miniſters, and the poore. In afflictions comfort vsus, that neyther we deſpaire, nor blaſpheme thy holy name, but with patient thankefulnes truſt in thy deliuerance. And as wée daily fall into one ſinne or other through humane frailty, ſo giuegive vsus continuall penitent hearts, and ſpirits, that wée may be ſorry without deſperation, and truſt in thy mercy without preſumption.
That wée may more and more amend our liues, and become truly religious without hypocriſts, lowly in heart without feigning, faithfull without deceit. ioyfull without lightneſſe, ſad without diſtruſt, ſober without ſlothfulneſſe, conſcionable in all our dealings without grippleneſſe, content with that which thou ſendeſt without couetouſneſſe, ready to eueryevery good worke, apt to draw all men from vaine and fooliſh behauiour, by our ſober counſells, godly ſpéeches, and religious carriage. To make much of them that feare God, and entertaine them gladly: to embrace the fellowſhip of the godly wiſe, and to eſchew the company of all prophane perſons, and deſpiſers of them that are good: to aſſiſt, comfort, and incourage the Miniſters of thy worde in that high, waighty, and glorious calling, to our vttermoſt power: to gather together with them, and conſtantly to withſtand all ſcatterers, ſpoylers, and deuourers.
Theſe vertues and graces of thy good ſpirit, (O heauenly Father) like as wée acknowledge to receiue them from thée by vertue of our ingraffing into the myſticall body of thy Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, ſo wée beſéech thée to beget, to cheriſh, preſerue, and increaſe the ſame in vsus, that wée may daily more and more be tranſtormed into the image of thée that haſt tranſlated vsus out of darkenes into thy maruellous light, and that to thy honour and glory, the deſtruction of the kingdome of ſinne and Satan, and to the vtter and endleſſe confuſion of all Inffdells, Idolaters, and hypocrites that exalt and magnifie themſelues againſt thée, and thine holy ordinances.
And in theſe our weake and imperfect praiers, O Lord, we are not mindful of our ſelues alone, but of the whole eſtate of the Catholike Church militant héere in earth, and eueryevery particular member thereof. Bleſſe all Chriſtian Kings and Princes that call vponupon thy name, and eſpecially poure downe thy bleſſings vponupon our dread Soueraigne, whom next and immediately vnderunder thy ſelfe, thou haſt appointed to be our King and Gouernour. Bleſſe him both in body and ſoule, inrich him with all gifts neceſſary for ſo high a calling, and make him long a nurcing Father in Iſraell Bleſſe him in his Quéene, make her an helpe to him in all good things. Bleſſe the young Prince, and all their royall iſſue, on this ſide, and beyond the Seas, and grant that there may not want one of that line to ſit vponupon this throne ſo long as the Sun and Moone endureth. Bleſſe all his Maieſties moſt honourable priuy Counſell, be thou preſent with them in all their Counſells, and preſident ouer all their conſultations, that whatſoeuer they intend or doe, may be to thy glory, the honour of the King, and comfort of thy people. Bleſſe al Iudges, & Magiſtrates; giuegive them thy heauenly grace indifferently to execute iuſtice, to the puniſhment of wickednes, and vice, and to the maintenance of god ineſſe and vertue. Bleſſe all the Miniſters of thy word and Sacraments, thou that art Lord of the harueſt, thruſt forth many faithfull, and painfull labourers, that may féede thy people, with knowledge and vnderſtanding. And giuegive to all thy people, humble, loyall, and obedient hearts to thy Goſpell with louelove, and reuerence to the Miniſters thereof, whom thou haſt appointed to be the Shepheards, Teachers, and Gouernours of their ſouls in thy roome and place, till thy comming to iudgement at the laſt day.
Moreouer, we deſire to render vntounto thy heauenly Maieſty, all hearty and poſſible thanks for all thy mercies and bleſſings beſtowed on vsus from the beginning of our dayes till this preſent time, for thy fatherly care ouer vsus in prouiding all things neceſſary for our ſoules and bodies, for our food, rayment, health, peace, liberty, friends, which many of thy children want, that are as déere vntounto thée as our ſelues. But eſpecially aboue all, we praiſe thy name, for the bleſſings of a better life, as namely for our election in Chriſt Ieſus, before the world was; for our creation after thine owne image in the beginning, for our eſtectuall vocation out of the darkenes of this world into thy glorious light and kingdome by the outward preaching of thy word, and the inward operation of thy ſpirit: for our iuſtification by the obedience & bloudſhed of thine owne ſonne; for our adoption from the thraldome of Satan, into the glorious liberty and priuiledge of Sonnes; for our ſanctification in the crucifying of the body of ſinne, and quickning of the inner man; for our continuall preſeruation againſt the temptations, and conqueſt of ſinne, Satan, and this euill world; for the frée donation of thy holy ſpirit, the earneſt of our inheritance, vntill the redemption of the poſſeſſion purchaſed, and for the continuance of thy Goſpell, the word of truth, and the meanes whereby wée are partakers of all theſe bleſſings.
O Lord open our blinde eyes eueryevery day more and more to ſée, and conſider of thy great and maruellous louelove towards vsus in all theſe things, that by the due conſideration thereof we may be drawne néerer vntounto thée, to louelove thée much, becauſe thou haſt giuen much. And as thou doeſt abound towards vsus in all goodnes, ſo grant that wée may abound toward thee in all obedience, and thankefulneſſe.
And as O Lord, thou being infinite in mercy, haſt had mercy on vsus, when wée deſerued iudgement; euen ſo we beſéech thée, be mercifull to all them that ſit in darkeneſſe, and in the ſhadow of death; cauſe the glorious light of thy Goſpell to ſhine in their hearts, according to the good pleaſure of thine owne will: and in whom thou haſt already begun the worke of conuerſion, vouchſafe them alſo the grace of perſeuerance, that continuing to the end, they may be partakers of glory with thy Saints in light. And whereas ſaluation came of thine ancient people the Iewes, but they through vnbeléefe were cut off, that wée by faith might be grafted in: Lord call them in thine appointed time, take away the vaile from before their blinde and vncircumciſed hearts, and reueale the knowledge of thy ſonne vntounto them, that they and wée may be one ſhéepefold vnderunder one ſhepheard Chriſt Ieſus. In the meane time deſtroy the kingdom of ſinne, Satan, and Antichriſt, eueryevery day more and more. Build vp thine owne kingdome of Grace in the hearts of eueryevery one of vsus, and haſten thy kingdome of glory, that when this miſerable life is ended, wee may raigne with thée eternally in glory.
Be gratious and mercifull to them that ſuffer affliction for the teſtimony of a good Conſcience, deliuer them out of the hands of their enemies, or ſo ſtrengthen them with the comfortable aſſiſtance of thy ſpirit that in dying they may ouercome the world death, and hell. Comfort all that are troubled in mind with the burthen of their ſins, ſpeake peace to their Conſciences, ſay vntounto their ſoules, I am thy ſaluation, Come vntounto me all ye that are weary and heauy laden, and I will eaſe you. And to this end giuegive the tongue of the learned to thy Miniſters, that they may know to Miniſter a word in time to him that is weary.
Be mercifull to them that are afflicted in body with paines, ſickneſſes, or diſeaſes, giuegive them grace to beare the croſſe with patient thankefulneſſe, and to learne by thoſe viſitations to confeſſe their ſinnes, to acknowledge their faults, to call vponupon thy name, & to amend their liues, that as heretofore they hauehave gone aſtray after the courſe of this world, through the inticements of naturall concupiſcence, ſo they may now be brought to the knowledge of thée, and of themſelues. And alſo ſtrengthen them that are any manner of wayes aſſaulted by Satan, giuegive them a ioyfull iſſue with the temptation, that thy grace in their deliuerance by them may be glorified, and thy power conquering Satan in their weakeneſſe, may be manifeſted, and for euer magnified.
Thankeſgiuing before meate.
VVE thanke thée O Heauenly Father, for all thy bleſſings, and mercies heretofore beſtowed vponupon vsus, and ſtill continued, & renued vntounto vsus. Eſpecially at this time for theſe thy good creatures that of thine owne goodneſſe and bounty thou haſt ordained, and prouided for the maintenance of our bodies: giuegive them vertue and power to nouriſh vsus, that thereby our ſtrengths being renued, we may be more fit and able to ſerue thée in the duties of our callings, to thine honour and glory, and to the comfort of our owne ſoules and conſciences, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord,
Amen.
Thankeſgiuing after meate.
VVE deſire to return all honour, glory, praiſe, & thankeſgiuing to thy Maieſty, for thy fatherly care ouer vsus ſince the beginning of our dayes, till this preſent houre. Chiefly for thy heauenly word the foode of our ſoules, for thy Sabaoths, and the peaceable exerciſes of all holy dueties therein. And in ſpeciall at this time, for theſe thy good creatures, whereof at this preſent wée hauehave béene partakers by thy good prouidence, beſéeching thée ſo to bleſſe and ſanctifie the ſame vntounto vsus, as that we may walke in the ſtrength of them in the performance of all good duties to thy glory, and our owne comforts, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
FINIS,
End of the text · Thomas Granger, The Blind Mans Sermon (1616)