The Christians Garment, Prayer
Maſter Bayne his Prayer before his Sermons.
OVR gracious God and mercifull Father in Chriſt: We confeſſe, that as wee are vnworthy to appeare in thy ſight, ſo wee are of our ſelues inſufficient to eueryevery good worke; and much more to thoſe of ſpeaking and hearing thy Word: for which, who are ſufficient? Wee beſeech thee therefore, in the entrance of theſe our duties, to help vsus with thy good Spirit, that the thoughts of our hearts, and words of our mouthes may be acceptable before thee. Wee confeſſe to thy glory and our ſhame, that we are miſerable ſinners: if we looke to our ſelues, as lying in the loynes of our firſt parents, we are a tainted ſeed, iuſtly diſinherited of glory: if wee conſider our ſelues, as comming into this light, we are all conceiued and brought forth in ſinne, which like a Leproſy hath ſpred it ſelfe into all the powers of vsus; that what we hauehave done of our owne ſtrength, is abomination, and whatſoeuer is truely good, we hauehave altogether neglected it, there being not one that doth good, no not one. More particularly we acknowledge, euen we, to whom thou haſt beene mercifull, to make vsus taſte how good thou art in Chriſt; that ſince the effectuall working of grace in vsus, wee hauehave not ceaſed, through the relickes of our corruption, to multiply treſpaſſes againſt all thy commandements, eſpecially we hauehave prouoked the eyes of thy glory by taking thy Name in vaine, by comming to heare and ſpeake thy Word without renewing our faith, and repentance; and ſo hauehave deſerued, that thou ſhouldeſt turne thy Ordinances to become a ſauour of death vntounto vsus: Yea, if in none of theſe kinds we had offended heretofore, yet ſince we hauehave bowed our knees, making theſe our confeſſions, wee diſcerne ſuch blindeneſſe of minde, and hardneſſe of heart with vsus in the ſame, for which thou mighteſt iuſtly condemne vsus, wouldſt thou deale in Iuſtice, and deny vsus Mercy: Neuertheleſſe, ſeeing it pleaſed thee by faith in Chriſt to make vsus thy ſonnes and daughters, wee do in this regard enter thy preſence with boldneſſe, as it becommeth thy children, beſeeching thee to make vsus able alwaies to challenge our righteouſneſſe before thee, that we may ſay with good conſcience, making requeſts in the death and reſurrection of Chriſt: It is Chriſt, that is dead, yea who is riſen from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, and maketh interceſſion for vsus. Who ſhall condemne vsus, or lay any thing to the charge of vsus thy choſen? To this end, ſend the holy Spirit of thy Sonne into our hearts, which may renew vsus more and more to that heauenly Image from whence wee are fallen, which ſtandeth in ſauing knowledge, righteouſneſſe, and true holineſſe. And becauſe thou haſt appointed thy Word preached, for a meanes of begetting and ſtrengthening this faith, and perfecting thine owne Image in vsus, we beſeech thee, bleſſe thy Ordinance at this time vntounto vsus; Thou, who haſt made the Miniſtery of it, a Miniſtery of the Spirit, in which thy Spirit worketh our ſaluations: And becauſe we know, that when we ſhould receiue the greateſt benefite from thee, that then Sathan is moſt malicious againſt vsus; we beſeech thee to ſaue vsus from the power of all ſpirituall wickedneſſe, and from the darkeneſſe, deadneſſe, wandring and wearineſſe of our owne hearts. O thou who haſt promiſed, that if we reſiſt Sathan, he ſhall flye from vsus; grant, that we flying to thee in prayer of faith, may begin, proceed in, and conclude theſe, and all ſuch duties to the glory of thy name, and the furtherance of our true happineſſe. Bleſſe our dread Soueraigne the Kings Maieſty, bleſſe his Perſon and his Throne, ſanctifie his heart, enlarge it eueryevery day more and more for thy glory, his owne comfort, and the good of his people. Bleſſe the Queene, the Prince, with the Nobility and Clergie of this Land: giuegive them all, O Lord, from the higheſt to the loweſt, ſuch a meaſure of thy grace, that they may faithfully and conſcionably, according to their ſeuerall Callings, diſcharge ſuch duties both in Church and Commonwealth, as thou in thy ſacred Word haſt commanded. Wee beſeech thee to heare vsus in theſe, and all things thou knoweſt needfull for vsus: yea make vsus to ſee that thou heareſt vsus (for ſuch is our perſwaſion toward thee in CHRIST) that whatſoeuer we aske agreeable to thy will in his Name, it is giuen vntounto vsus, but make vsus finde it by good experience, that our faith may be ſtrengthened, and that wee may teach all fleſh to reſort vntounto thee, who art a God hearing prayer: To whom with thy Chriſt, and the Spirit, be giuen from our hearts all Honour, for euer. Amen.