The Prisoners Prayers, Title page – Table of contents
THE PRISONERS PRAYERS. OR, An Heauenly helpe to DEVOTION.
Compoſed by H. Greenwood, Preacher of the Word of God.
1 THESS. 5.17.
Pray continually.
LONDON Printed by I. H. for Henry Bell. 1628.
To the moſt Illuſtrious and right Vertuous Princeſſe, the Lady KATHERINE, Ducheſſe of Buckingham her grace, all honor and grace in this life, and eternall glorie in the life to come.
RIght Gracious Lady, the counſell of the holy Apoſtle is,Iam. 5.13. That if any bee afflicted let him pray: I hauehave not onelyonly in my long and great afflictions in ſome meaſure herein delightfully obeyed, but alſo compoſed ſome few yet comfortable praiers for the benefit of the Church of God.
Now conſidering with my ſelfe to whom I ſhould commend the ſame, I thought vponupon your Grace, as moſt worthy of the Dedication, both in regard of your late and happy call from darkneſſe to light, as alſo for your conſtant & conſcionable maintenance of holy and wholeſome praiers in your family, to the glory of the Almighty, and the daily ſupporting and refreſhing of your owne ſoule.
Now that your Grace may grow and goe on in grace, and in the ſauing knowledge of the Lord Ieſus, let mee intreat you at your beſt leaſure, to peruſe this poore yet profitable preſent: the Lord giuegive you grace to ſtand faſt in the liberty wherewith Chriſt Ieſus made you free;Gal. 5.1. and bee not intangled againe with the yoke of bondage.
And as your Grace (by Gods eſpeciall mercy) hath taſted of the true and heauenly refreſhing, the Lord make you an happy and heauenly Inſtrument of the conuerſion of many great Ones among vsus, ſo ſhall you ſhine as a ſtarre in the firmament of ſaluation: Thus Andrew drew on Peter, and Philip Nathaniel: thus doing, greater ſhall your reward be in heauen.
And becauſe eueryevery thing is ſanctified by the Word and Prayer,1 Tim. 4.5. the Lord giuegive you grace to reuerence the one, and highly reſpect the other, that your ſoule may be preſerued aliue in the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt Ieſus, to life and glory euerlaſting:Pſal. 45.10. If you thus forget your fathers houſe, then ſhall the heauenly King, and earthly too, take pleaſure in your beauty.
The Pſalmiſt ſetting forth the glory of that famous Ieruſalem, ſpeaketh thus,Pſal. 87.3. Glorious things are ſpoken of thee thou City of God: ſo (without flattery I auerre it) good things are ſpoken of thee, O thou hopefull and happy Daughter of God.
Great is the outward glory caſt vponupon your Grace, I pray God with all my heart, that the commendation of the Kings daughter may be yours, That you may bee found alſo all glorious within.Pſal. 45.13.
Now the Lords beſt bleſſings euermore attend you, and the Lord proſper the perſon of your deareſt friend, the moſt Noble and Illuſtrious DVKE, with grace and honour, and all his lawfull attempts with good ſucceſſe and victory, for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake. Amen.
Your Graces moſt humbly obſeruant in the Lord Ieſus, H. Greenewood. From his Majeſties Priſon of the Fleet, this 13 of Nouemb. 1627.
A Catalogue of the Praiers contained in this Booke, with a note of the Pages where they may bee found.
A Praier againſt ſinne and Sathan in generall. Page 1
A prayer againſt the worlds illuſions. Page 5
A Prayer againſt Pride. Page 7
A Praier againſt Enuy Page 9
A Praier againſt Adultery. Page 12
A Praier againſt Couetouſneſſe. Page 15
A Praier againſt hardneſſe of heart. Page 18
A Praier againſt Drunkenneſſe. Page 21
A prayer againſt Murther. Page 25
A Praier againſt Hypocriſie. Page 27
A Praier againſt Reuenge. Page 31
A Praier againſt Theft. Page 35
A Praier againſt Swearing. Page 38
A Praier againſt Periury. Page 41
A Praier againſt Security. Page 43
A Praier againſt Deſperation. Page 46
A Praier againſt Hereſie. Page 50
A Praier againſt Lying. Page 54
A Praier againſt Sabbath breaking. Page 56
A Praier againſt idle words. Page 60
A Praier againſt euill thoughts. Page 63
A Praier againſt diſobedience to Parents. Page 67
A Praier againſt blaſphemy againſt the holy Ghoſt. Page 69
A Praier againſt Preſumption. Page 73
A Praier againſt the Plague. Page 77
A Praier againſt the Sword. Page 80
A Praier againſt Famine. Page 83
A Praier for grace in generall. Page 87
A Praier for knowledge. Page 92
A Praier for Humiliation. Page 96
A Praier for Faith. Page 99
A Praier for obedience. Page 105
A Praier for Zeale. Page 109
A Praier for brotherly louelove. Page 112
A Praier for Humility. Page 116
A Praier for Patience. Page 120
A Praier for Innocency. Page 124
A Praier for mercy and compaſsion. Page 126
A Praier for peace of Conſcience. Page 130
A Praier for ioy in the Holy Ghoſt. Page 134
A Praier for increaſe of Grace. Page 138
A Praier for perſeuerance in Grace. Page 143
A Praier for preparation to the Sacrament. Page 147
A Praier for the Goſpels continuance. Page 153
A Praier for preparation to Death. Page 156
A Praier for a woman in Child-birth. Page 160
A Praier after Child-birth. Page 164
A Praier for the Traueller by land. Page 167
A Praier for the Traueller by ſea. Page 170
A Praier for the Church. Page 174
A Praier for the conuerſion of the Iew. Page 179
A Morning Praier for a family. Page 183
An Euening Praier for a Family. Page 188
The Priſoners Prayers.
A Prayer againſt ſin and Sathan in generall.
MOST bleſſed and glorious LORD GOD, I beſeech thee of thine infinite mercies, be pitifully mercifull vntounto mee, poore, miſerable and moſt corrupted ſinner: O Lord, caſt out ſinne and Sathan, let a greater than Sathan enter (euen thine holy and good Spirit) and binde that enemie of thy glory, my ſaluation, that he may preuaile no longer againſt mee.
Thus thou didſt deale (O my gracious God) moſt mercifully with Mary Magdalene, …uk. 8.2.caſting ſeuen Deuils out of her: Good Father, I confeſſe that ſeuenty times ſeuen doe grieue my poore and penſiue ſoule, for ſo many foule luſts, ſo many vncleane Deuils: Lord, in thy might and mercy, giuegive mee to preuaile againſt them. What will ſinne afford mee, but ſhame in this world, and confuſion in the world to come?
Lord therfore ſtrengthen mee againſt theſe corruptions and chiefeſt enemies of my ſoule: let mee be as willing euermore to put a Toad into my mouth, as to ſuffer a ſinne to reſt and reigne in my ſoule. O that my wayes were made ſo direct, that I might neuer ſinne more. Lord heare my mournfull prayers, and let theſe my cries come vp vntounto thee, for Ieſus Chriſts ſake, thy Sonne, my Sauiour.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt the worlds illuſions.
MOſt gracious and bleſſed heauenly Father, foraſmuch as thou haſt taught mee, that I muſt vſe the world as not abuſing it; and ſeeing alſo I finde my ſelfe by nature too too prone and ready to ſet my delight on things below, and to giuegive more affection to things ſeene, than things vnſeene: O Lord (who art the only ſanctifier of thine elect) ſaue mee from immoderate louelove, and exceſſiue delight of the ſame: grant that no worldly honour, pleaſure, profit, may deceiue me, but I beſeech thee that thy lower bleſſings may be receiued of mee with a lower louelove, and thine heauenly graces, thine eternall glories, with the greateſt glory, and chiefeſt delight of my ſoule. Lord for thy Chriſts ſake heare mee herein. Amen,
Amen.
A Praier against Pride.
MOſt deare and gracious God, I moſt humbly intreat thee ſo to aſſiſt mee with thy grace, that I may euermore take heed of that firſt and worſt ſinne, the ſinne of the Deuill, namely pride: O Lord grant I may neuer be puffed vp in minde, nor hauehave a ſcornfull eye; for pride will hauehave a fearfull fall, and high-mindedneſſe alwayes goeth before deſtruction.
Dan. 4.27, 28.Nabuchadnezzar paid dearly for his vaine and fooliſh vaunting: and that proud and boaſting Phariſee went home condemned for his ſinne:Luk. 18.14. O Lord, then giuegive mee power and ſtrength againſt this wicked luſt, this baſe and ſenſeleſſe ſinne: Let not (O God of all goodneſſe) this euill appeare in mee, by mine apparell, ſpeech, looke, gate, or any other vnſeemely behauiour: for thou (O God) reſiſteſt the proud, and giueſt thy grace only to the humble: Humble mee then (I pray thee) that I may in due time be euerlaſtingly exalted of thee in the Lord IESVS.
Amen.
A Prayer against Enuie.
O LORD GOD, wheras thou haſt taught me by thy bleſſed Apoſtle,Rom. 12.15. to reioyce with them that reioyce; I beſeech thee ſaue and defend mee from that fearfull ſinne of Enuy, the ſinne of Sathan, for hee enuied the ſtanding power of Adam: the ſinne of Cain, Gen. 4.5.who vexed his ſoule at thy graces apparent in Abel: O God, of thy goodneſſe, ſaue mee from this ſinne and wickedneſſe.
Grant (moſt holy and heauenly Father) that I may abound in louelove towards my brethren, and bleſſe thee as heartily for any merciemercy or bleſſing conferred vponupon others, as vponupon mine owne ſoule: As one member reioyceth in the glory and welfare of another, ſo grant that I may proue my ſelf a true member of Chriſt Ieſus, in delighting in the proſperity of thy Saints and ſeruants.
Lord keepe me from an hatefull ſoule, and fulfill mine heart with louelove, to the glory of thy great name, and euerlaſting ſaluation of my poore ſoule, in the merits of the Lord Ieſus.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt Adultery.
MOſt mighty▪ and moſt mercifull Father, for as much as thou haſt ſhewen vntounto me frō thy holy & heauenly word, that no vncleane thing ſhal enter into thy Kingdom, and no adulterer ſhall inherit heauen,1 Cor. 6.9. ſuch ſhall onelyonly enter into thy glory as hauehave not defiled thēſelues with women, as Saint Iohn declareth in his Reuelations: Good Father (I pray thee) purge my ſoul from all foule and fleſhly luſts: my body is the Temple of thy holy Spirit, Lord let mee neuer defile it: grant (Lord) that I may preſerue and preſent it ſpotleſſe to the comming of the Lord Ieſus: turne away mine eies that I behold not vanity:Matth. 5.20. If mine eye offend mee, Lord grant that I may pull it out: better for me to go into that life with one eie, than to goe with two eies into the darkneſſe and damnation of hell.
GiueGive mee (O Lord) the helpe of thy grace, that I may conquer all beaſtly luſts, all vnclean deſires, al polluted and polluting actions, and be freed from them, for the honor of thy name, in the worthineſſe of the Lord Ieſus.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt Couetouſneſſe.
O Eternal & euerliuing Lord God, thou haſt reuealed vntounto me from thy bleſſed word,Pſal. 10.3. that thou abhorreſt the couetous, and couetouſnes is ſo foule an euill, as it is called, Spiritual Idolatry: O LORD of thy mercy ſaue my ſoul from this vile and earthly ſinne, giuegive mee to take heed and beware of Couetouſneſſe, for a mans life ſtands not in his wealth and abundance: that man in the Goſpel was rightly tearmed a foole for reſting on his goods,Luke 12.20. & making them his God: O Lord, what greater folly can there bee, than to leaue thee the fountaine of liuing waters, and to truſt in vaine and vncertaine riches: for as the Pſalmiſt tels me,Pſal 49.7. A man by his wealth cannot redeeme his brother, ſo precious is the redemption of ſouls, and their continuance for euer.
Therefore let my conuerſation (O Lord) be without couetouſnes, for thou haſt promiſed, I will not faile thee nor forſake thee.Heb. 13.5. Lord raiſe mine heart from earthly mindedneſſe, and let my chiefe delight bee on heauen and heauenly things; giuegive me this couetouſneſſe, namely to couet after ſpiritual things, and let all my delight bee in thy ſtatutes: that my life being holy and conuerſation heauenly, I may in the end obtaine the kingdome of heauen, and life euerlaſting, through Ieſus Chriſt mine onelyonly Lord and Sauiour.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt hardnes of heart.
O Lord my God, I moſt humbly beſeech thee, in the Lord Ieſus, to frame my ſoul according to thy will, to bring mine heart to the obedience of thy holy and heauenly law in all things: mollifie my ſtiffe and ſtubborne heart, giuegive me a teachable and tractable ſpirit, that I may euermore be guided by the motions of thy holy Spirit, and counſell of thy heauenly word into all goodneſſe. Take away (good Father) the ſtonineſſe of my heart (for I feele much hardneſſe in it) and giuegive me an heart of fleſh:Ezek. 36.26. giuegive mee the ſpirit of good King IOSIAH,2 Chron. 34.27. whoſe heart melted within him at the reading of thy Law: giuegive mee (O Lord) to tremble at my ſinnes, to mourne at thy iudgements, to bee comforted by thy mercies in the merits of the LORD IESVS. Create in me (O Lord) a new heart,Pſal. 51.10. and renew a right ſpirit within mee: turne me, and I ſhall bee turned; conuert me, and then ſhall my ſoule be conuerted vntounto thee.
Thy mercies now I aske, Lord grant that I may hauehave: thy ſweet graces now I ſeeke, grant (Lord) that I may finde: at thy heauenly gates I knock, Lord open vntounto me the doore of ſaluation, for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt Drunkenneſſe.
MOſt deare and gracious God, I thine vnworthy ſeruant, am bold vponupon the multitude of thy mercies to preſent my ſelfe before thee, earneſtly crauing pardon for my ſinnes, and thy power and preſence of grace, for the preuention of them in time to come.
In particular (O Lord) I beſeech thee, that I may bee preſerued from that ſwiniſh ſinne of drunkenneſſe: fearefull are thy woes denounced againſt the ſame; many other moſt damnable tranſgreſsions alwaies wait vponupon the ſame; yea, a legion of deuils attends the ſame, as ſwearing, adulterie, quarrelling, and the like: Lord for thy mercies ſake, ſaue me from exceſſe: whether I eat or drinke, or whatſoeuer I doe elſe, let mee doe all to the glory of thy bleſſed name.
And (good Father) giuegive me to ſhun all occaſions of this ſinne; eſpecially, I pray thee, to preſerue mee from vaine and vngodly ſociety, and let mee frequent euermore the company of thy ſaints: temper mine affections, moderate mine vnruly luſt: giuegive mee alwaies to conſider, that no drunkard ſhall inherit the kingdome of heauen: Alſo that vnſober perſons are vnable to reſiſt the deuill, but hee workes his will and pleaſure vponupon them: preſerue me then (my God) from this common, capitall, nationall euill: Lord giuegive mee a wiſe and moderate vſe of thy creatures: let them not bee ſnares vntounto me, but refreſhers of me; not deſtroyers, but ſupporters of me, to thy glory, and the eternall ſaluation of my poore ſoule in the Lord Ieſus.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt murther.
ALmightie and moſt mercifull heauenly Father, I thy poore ſeruant begge from thy throne of grace, grace & ſtrength againſt all ſinnes and tranſgreſsions whatſoeuer; eſpecially, againſt thoſe crying ſins ſpoken of in thy word, ſuch as wil neuer leaue roaring in thine eares, till thy iudgments bee …hundred againſt the committers of them, one wherof is murther: a fearefull and diabolicall ſinne, for the deuill was a murtherer from the beginning: Lord ſaue me from taking away the name or life of any man; grant I may not harbour malice in mine heart,1 Iohn 3.15. for he that hateth his brother in his heart, is a manſlayer: giuegive mee to looke vponupon thy iudgments executed vponupon ſuch malefactors as Cain, Ahab, others, that I may neuer offend in the ſame: Lord giuegive mee louelove, patience, meekeneſſe, that I may in the moderation of my paſsions and affections, preſerue my ſoule from this grieſly euill, for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt Hypocriſie.
O Moſt gracious & merciful God, thy holy word hath reuealed vntounto mee thy heauie vengeance againſt ſuch as are diſſemblers with thee, that deepe is their portion in hell, therefore is it ſaid, GiueGive him his portion with hypocrites: O my God, I craue hereupon thy mercifull aſsiſtance, that I may take heed of hypocriſie, that I may walke in vprightneſſe with thee, that I may with Nathaniel, John 1.47.be found a true Iſraelite, in whom is no guile: Lord grant in all good duties, I may ſeeke thy glory, and pleaſure of thy will, not mine own ends, or glory of mine owne name.
O Lord ſaue mee from pride, one maine cauſe of this foule and fooliſh ſinne, and giuegive mee ſincerity, for that man ſhall be aduanced to thy holy hill, that ſpeaketh the truth (without hypocriſie) and profeſſeth it from the heart.
Lord let not the marks of this Phariſaical euill be foūd in me, as pride, malicious cenſuring, and the like: O Lord, though my graces be ſmall, yet let them be true, and then the gates of hel ſhal not preuaile againſt mee: to this end, I beſeech thee, vouchſafe mee a large and plentifull meaſure of humility, that ſo I may in vprightneſſe ſerue thee in this life, and hereby bee ſealed vp to thy glory euerlaſting in that bleſſed life to come, for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, my only Sauiour and Redeemer.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt Reuenge.
MOſt louing and gracious GOD, thy holy word hath taught mee,Rom. 12.19. that vengeance is thine, thou wilt repay all offered wrongs whatſoeuer: whereupon I beſeech thee, O Lord, in all abuſes and oppreſſions, giuegive mee patience and meekeneſſe of ſpirit,Rom. 12.17. that I may not render euil for euil, that I may not ſeeke maliciouſly to reuenge thoſe that hauehave done wrong and iniury vntounto me: to doe good for good, Publicanes can do the ſame: to doe euill for euill, that is an act of fleſh and blood: to doe euill for good, is egregious vngodlines: but to doe good againſt euill, this is onelyonly proper to the righteous: when others curſe, let mee bleſſe; let me pray when others perſecute, as the firſt Martyr in the Goſpell prayed for them that ſtoned him,A… ….6…. and my bleſſed Sauiour for thoſe that mocked and killed him.
It is not poſſible but offences will come, man is ſo vicious, ſo malicious; How often ſhall I then forgiue? ſeuen times? No Lord, more than ſo, ſeuenty times ſeuen:Matth. 18.34 hee that would not forgiue his brother the pence, his pounds, yea, talents were exacted from him to the vttermoſt farthing in priſon: If I cannot heartily forgiue my brother, how ſhall I looke for forgiuenes of ſinnes at thy hands?
Therfore (deare God) grant mee thy grace to conquer malicious and reuengefull thoughts, and poſſeſſe mee with the ſpirit of meeknes and louelove, to my preſent peace, to mine euerlaſting ſaluation, in and through my Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt Theft.
O LORD and heauenly Father, whereas thine expreſſe commandment is,Exod. 20.15. that I ſhall not ſteale, O Lord giuegive me thy fear, that I may take heed that I oppreſſe not my brother, by vniuſt and deceitfull dealing, nor take away by violence that which is his, but as I would be done vntounto, ſo let me euermore do, for this is the Law and the Prophets:Matth. 7.12. As I deſire heartily thy grace to walke before thee in holineſſe, ſo alſo I beſeech thee, giuegive mee in all things to carry my ſelfe to my neighbour in righteouſnes: without ſhall be dogs, murtherers, theeues, theſe wretched perſons ſhall for euermore be expelled and excluded thy kingdome of glorie: and who ſhall dwell in thy holy Hill?Pſal. 15.3. euen he that hath not done euil to his neighbour, as in body and name, ſo in goods and eſtate.
A little that the righteous hath, being well got, is better than great riches of the vngodly, gotten by fraud, violence, wrong: GiueGive me to know that I muſt one day giuegive an account of my ſtewardſhip,Luke 16.2. how I hauehave gotten my goods, as well as how I hauehave ſpent them.
Therefore I beſeech thee giuegive me thy feare and grace, to preſerue my ſoule from theſe worldly and wicked errors here, and giuegive me euerlaſting ſaluation when I die, in the Lord Ieſus that freely died for me.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt Swearing.
MOST Mighty, moſt glorious, and moſt mercifull Lord God, great thou art in thy maieſty, wondrous in thy power, who is able to reſiſt thy wrath? O Lord euermore defend mee from taking thy great and mighty name in vaine,Exod. 20.7. for thou wilt not hold him guiltleſſe that taketh thy Name in vain: Heauy are thy iudgements denounced againſt this ſinne: thy curſe ſhall not depart from the houſe of the ſwearer: Therefore my good God, grant I may neuer bee found culpable of this ſinne, but giuegive me thy grace that I may ſerue thee in feare, & reioyce before thee in reuerence all the daies of my life: Lord let mee neuer thinke or ſpeake of thy great and holy Name, but with all feare, reſpect, reuerence, trembling.
GiueGive me alſo thy feare and grace, that I may not endure thy Name to bee diſhonoured of others, but let it bee a Simeons Sword to pierce my ſoule,Luke 2.35. and giuegive mee euermore to reprooue and condemne it.
Lord heare, helpe, and hauehave mercy vponupon thy poore ſeruant, here and in heauen.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt Periury.
O Lord God, to whō vengeance belongeth, thou great Iudge of heauen and earth, to whom all ſecrets are knowen; I moſt humbly pray thee that thy feare & grace may ſo aſſiſt me, that I may neuer ſwerue from the truth of thy Law: thou haſt charged mee not to beare falſe witnes againſt my neighbour,Exod. 20.16. but to ſpeake the truth impartially when I am thereunto called, for Lord thou knoweſt all ſecrets, though man cannot detect them: therefore keepe mee from falſe ſwearing, for as it is great wrong in iudgement, ſo is it odious and abominable before thee, for thine infinite wiſdome is diſhonoured; and he that diſhonoureth thee in this deſperate, impudent, and damnable manner, thou wilt diſhonour and condemne him for euer.
Lord giuegive me an honeſt heart and faithfull ſoule, that in all things I may carry my ſelfe vpright, as in thy great and mightie preſence, now and for euermore.
Amen.
A Prayer againſt Security.
BLeſſed and euer-glorious LORD GOD, I pray thee moſt humbly and earneſtly in Chriſt Ieſus, to keep mee from that dangerous euill of ſecurity: many are the enemies of my ſoule, the deuill goeth vp and downe, ſeeking whom he may deuoure: the world by his allurements ſeeketh to ouerturne my ſoule: carnall concupiſcence, and inbred corruption takes all aduantages to betray and ouerthrow mee: I beſeech thy Maieſty (ſeeing my poore ſoule is thus dangerouſly aſſaulted) giuegive mee all diligence and care to keepe my ſoule from ſinning againſt thee: O giuegive mee the watch of thy Spirit of grace, to preuent theſe wofull enemies of my ſoule:Matth. 26.41. let mee euer watch and pray, and ſtand vponupon my guard, leſt I fall into temptation: let me be leſſe carefull for the things of this life, & more carefull for thy glory, and the eternall ſaluation of my ſoule: that I glorifying thy great Name conſtantly in this life, may in IESVS CHRIST bee euerlaſtingly glorified of thee in the life to come.
Amen.