Sermon in Norwich, Prayer
A right godly Prayer, made by Mr. Newhouſe, to be ſaid either Morning or Euening, as accaſion ſhall ſerue, changing ſome few words. (*⁎*)
MOſt mercifull and louing father in Ieſus Chriſt, we beſeech thee to remoue all impediments which vſually hinder vsus in this exerciſe of prayer, & quicken vp our hearts with feare and reuerence of thy Maieſtie, in feeling of our owne wants, in a deſire to receiue a ſupply of them from thee, and in aſſurance to be heard of thee in all our ſuites and requeſts, to put vp our praiers and ſupplications vntounto thee.
O Lord our God, wee doe here in thy preſence acknowledge and confeſſe that we are of our ſelues moſt wretched and miſerable ſinners, both in reſpect of the corruptions of our hearts, as alſo the tranſgreſſions of our liues: more particularly we doe acknowledge the infidelitie of our hearts, whereby wee hauehave not yet learned to depend vponupon thy prouidence for the things of this life, nor vponupon thy mercy, for the ſaluation of our ſoules: hence comes impatience vnderunder the croſſe, diſcontentation with our preſent eſtate, doubting and diſtruſtfulnes in regard of our ſaluation, immoderate care and deſire of the things of this life: we confeſſe alſo the Atheiſme and profanes both of our mindes and harts, whereby all our thoughts and affections are eſtranged from thee, and ſo glued & faſtened to the things of this world, that wee can take more ioy and delight in doing our owne wills, and in ſeruing our owne luſts, then euer we would doe in ſeruing and obaying thee; we acknowledge likewiſe the pride of our harts, whereby wee doe exalt our ſelues in the vanitie of our owne conceits againſt thy Maieſtie, and aboue our brethren, whom thou haſt made far more excellent then our ſelues: our ſecurity of the fleſh, whereby wee put away the day of euill and wrath farre from vsus, promiſing vntounto our ſelues immunitie from all thy curſes and plagues, notwithſtanding wee walke in ſinne and in the ſtubbornes of our harts: our vaine-glory, whereby wee deſire praiſe and commendation among men, more then thy glory; our ſelfe-louelove, whereby wee louelove our owne eaſe, libertie, peace, carnall pleaſures more then thy Maieſtie, more then our brethren: our hipocriſie, whereby wee content our ſelues with an outward name and profeſſion of religion and holines before men, not regarding the truth and power of godlines: anſwerably our liues abound in all actuall tranſgreſſions againſt euerie one of thy commaundements: we hauehave liued in the contempt of thy prouidence, and hauehave not beene aſhamed to commit ſinne and wickednes in thy ſight: in the abuſe of thy mercies, and hauehave not beene drawen neerer vntounto thee: in the neglect of thy iudgments, and fatherlie chaſticements, partly vponupon others, and partlie vponupon our ſelues, and hauehave not profitted thereby to true repentance and reformation of life: in the profanation of all thy holy ordinances, thy Word, Sacraments, this exerciſe of Prayer, neither preparing our ſelues hereunto aright, nor being conuerſant therein with that care, diligence, & conſcience, as we ought, and therefore hauehave miſſed of that fruit of edification we might hauehave reaped by the reuerent and religious handling of theſe thy diuine ordinances, in the abuſe of thy creatures vntounto intemperancy and exceſſe, whereby we hauehave diſabled our ſelues to thy worſhip and ſeruice, & to the duties of our particular callings. Many other ſinnes hauehave wee committed, the leaſt whereof if thou ſhouldeſt lay vntounto our charge, wee were neuer able to appeare in thy preſence or to anſwer thee one of a thouſand: wee beſeech thee to deale fauourably with vsus, as thou art wont to doe with thy children, that call vponupon thy name and ſeeke thee in the truth of their harts, and in the middeſt of iudgement, remember merciemercy; open our blind eyes, that we may come to a particular knowledge of our owne ſinnes; touch our hard and ſtonie harts that wee may ſigh and grone vnderunder the burden of them, being heartily diſpleaſed with our ſelues, becauſe therein we hauehave diſhonoured thy name. Stirre vp our hearts alſo, that wee may hunger and thirſt after Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe, and after eueryevery drop of his moſt precious bloud: in him alone be well pleaſed with vsus, and for his merit and righteouſneſſe vouchſafe mercifully and freely to doe away all our offences: waſh them all away in the precious bloud of Ieſus Chriſt, and our hearts from the filthineſſe and impuritie of them all. Say vntounto our ſoules, thou art our ſaluation: let thy holy and good ſpirit of Adoption, cry in our hearts through Ieſus Chriſt Abba-Father, telling and perſwading vntounto our conſciences by the inward teſtimonie of the ſame Spirit, that our ſins are pardoned, and we ſtand diſcharged of them all before thy tribunall ſeate.
And becauſe our faith is weake, partly through the manifold corruptions that be in our hearts, and partly through the innumerable tranſgreſſions that breake out into our liues, we beſeech thee to ſtrengthen the ſame by the often conſideration, meditation, and application of thy mercifull promiſes made vntounto vsus in Chriſt, ſtirring vp our vnbeleeuing hearts to aſſent vntounto, and to apply the ſame, that wee may receiue comfort thereby, ſpecially in the time of danger and diſtreſſe; and namely, in the agonie of conſcience, and in the houre of death. And becauſe there can be no greater enemie to true Faith, then is carnall confidence and vaine preſumption, confound this helliſh and damnable corruption in eueryevery one of our harts, and worke in the ſame the contrary grace of thy holy Spirit, namely, true Humilitie, whereby wee may acknowledge our owne nothing, and may vtterly renounce and deny ourſelues, and learne onelyonly and wholy to relye and depend vponupon the bleſſed merit of Chriſt, in matter of our ſaluation, aſcribing the whole worke and glory thereof to him alone, and to no other thing.
And becauſe all that are in Chriſt are new creatures, and walke not according to the fleſh, but according to the ſpirit, wee beſeech thee to renue vsus in the ſpirits of our mindes, and in the affections of our hearts, enlightening vsus more and more with true knowledge and vnderſtanding in ſpirituall things, and ſanctifying our hearts to the louelove and obedience thereof, that wee may walke worthy of thee, pleaſe thee in all things, fructifie in eueryevery good worke, and increaſe in the knowledge of thy holy will. Aboue all things ſet before vsus thy holy feare, imprint this grace of thine deepely in our hearts, perſwade vsus effectually of thy preſence whereſoeuer we doe become, in ſecret or open place, that wee may learne to make conſcience of ſinne, and of eueryevery euill way, endeuoring to pleaſe and obey thee in all thy Commandements, and euermore to preſerue pure and vnblameable conſciences before thee and before all men, and that to the end of our dayes.
And becauſe wee are at continuall warre againſt Sathan, this wicked world, and our owne damnable and fleſhly luſts, Lord help vsus in this ſpirituall combate, in all temptations; when wee are moſt weake, be thou moſt ſtrong in vsus, together with the temptation, grant an iſſue and an euaſion: teach vsus to watch ouer our owne hearts, and to keepe them with all diligent obſeruation, that wee be not any more circumuented of the wiles of Sathan, or ſeduced through the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne. Help our infirmities, giuegive ſtrength againſt our particular corruptions, that in the very act of temptation, wee may be able to reſiſt and to ouercome, that wee may hauehave as iuſt cauſe to praiſe thy name in our victories, as wee hauehave had cauſe to be humbled and caſt downe in our foyles.
And becauſe it is the lot of thy Children in this world, to be tryed ſundry wayes; Lord prepare vsus to the dayes of tryall, arme vsus with ſpirituall patience to beare thy hand, that wee may meekely and contentedly ſubmit our wils to thy good will and pleaſure; howſoeuer it ſhall pleaſe thee to deale with vsus, onelyonly teach vsus to profit vnderunder thy rods of correction: grant that we may learne hereby, to deny our ſelues, to forſake this world, pleaſures, profits, & preferments of it; to make vile and baſe account of them in reſpect of heauenly things, to louelove thy kingdome and thy righteouſneſſe, deſiring to be diſſolued and to be with Chriſt, that ſinne and the corruption thereof might be aboliſhed, and we might hauehave neere coniunction with thy Maieſtie in thine owne kingdome. Neuertheleſſe, ſo long as thou pleaſeſt to hold vsus here in this earthly tabernacle, diſſolue in our hearts the curſed workes of the Diuell, confound the power and tyranny of ſin daily more and more; increaſe the Graces of thy holy Spirit, namely, Faith and repentance, thy feare and thy louelove, humilitie, and a good conſcience, with all other graces wherby thy own image may be renued in vsus daily, that the longer we liue in this world, the nearer we may draw to thy Kingdome, the greater ſtrength we may hauehave againſt our owne ſins, the greater will and abilitie to ſerue and pleaſe thee in righteouſneſſe and new obedience.
Bleſſe with vsus thy whole Church and eueryevery member thereof: be good and gratious to theſe Churches in England and Ireland: giuegive thy Goſpell a free paſſage eueryevery where, with all good meanes whereby it may be further publiſhed and maintained, remouing all lets and impediments wherby the courſe and proceedings thereof are hindered and ſtayed: for this cauſe be good vntounto our gracious King, the principall member therof: bleſſe him with life & honor, confirme his heart in the truth of this holy Religion hee hath a long time profeſſed, and maintained, againſt all the aduerſaries thereof, increaſing his louelove and zeale thereunto, and his conſtancie therein, and adding vntounto his yeeres many dayes, that he may be an ancient Father in this Church of thine, a Patron & an vpholder of thy pure and true Religion, againſt all them that oppoſe themſelues againſt it. Bleſſe our gratious Queene, the Prince, and the reſidue of that Royall Progenie. Be mercifull to the Honourable Priuie Counſell, and the inferiour Magiſtrates of this Land, bleſſing them with the wiſedome of thy ſpirit from aboue, that they may take counſell with thy word in all their enterpriſes and deliberations, ſo as firſt they may conclude of thoſe things which make moſt for the aduancement of thy Kingdome and Goſpell; and then for the peaceable and religious gouernment both of Church and Common-weale. Bleſſe the Miniſters of thy word and Sacraments: increaſe the number of thoſe that are faithfull and painefull; double thy ſpirit and graces vponupon them, that they may goe in and out before thy people, not onelyonly in the light of pure doctrine, but of holy and vnblameable conuerſation, that by this meanes many may be wonne to the knowledge and obedience of thy truth. Be mercifull to the people of this Land: confirme them that are called; and ſtrengthen them that they may continue ſtedfaſt in the ſinceere profeſſion and practiſe of true religion vntounto the end: thoſe that yet wander and goe aſtray through ſinne and wickedneſſe; call them home in thy owne good time, that they with vsus, and we with them, may hauehave both hearts and mouthes enlarged to glorifie thy holy name. Touch all our hearts with true Repentance from the higheſt to the loweſt, that thy iudgements preſent and imminent may be remoued & preuented, thy mercies ſtill procured vntounto vsus, and the poſteritie after vsus, eſpecially in the continuance of thy word and Goſpell among vsus for euer.
Lord be mercifull to all thine afflicted, whether they be ſicke vponupon their beds, or diſtreſſed in conſcience for ſinne, or perſecuted for thy name and truth, or pinched with pouerty, wanting thoſe outward things which thou haſt in great abundance delt out vntounto vsus, relieue them according to their ſeuerall neceſſities, ſtrengthen them in their weakneſſe, comfort them in their diſtreſſe, mitigate their ſorrowes and extremities, put an end vntounto them in thine owne good time, and turne them to their humiliation, and in the end, to their eternall comfort and ſaluation by Chriſt.
Be mercifull to our friends in the fleſh, and acquaintance in the ſpirit, parents, brethren, ſiſters, children, ſeruants, and all other, for whom we are bound by any dutie to pray, granting vntounto them a ſupply of all graces needfull for their preſent ſtate and calling, and the finall ſaluation of their ſoules. HaueHave merciemercy on vsus, now calling on thy name; forgiue our ſinnes and manifold defects in this holy dutie, and accept at our hands this weake and imperfect obedience in Chriſt: and giuegive vsus thankfull hearts for all mercies receiued from thy bountifull hand, that thou haſt loued vsus in Ieſus Chriſt with an euerlaſting louelove before the world was, and from louelove haſt choſen vsus to life and glory; called vsus in time, to the certaine knowledge of this our Election; iuſtified and redeemed vsus by Ieſus Chriſt his death and reſurrection; ſanctified vsus in the inner man by his holy ſpirit; that thou haſt giuen vsus Faith in thy promiſes, and hope of a better life, feare of thy Name, louelove of thy Maieſtie, zeale of thy glory, louelove and tender affection towards our brethren; yea, towards our enemies, and thoſe that hate vsus; patience vnderunder the Croſſe, ſtrength againſt our particular temptations and corruptious; Humilitie, gentleneſſe, & meeknes, with many other gifts and graces of regeneration, all which we acknowledge hauehave proceeded of thy meere mercy and goodneſſe towards vsus, wee beſeech thee to increaſe them daily more and more in vsus, and …et vsus not be negligent in the vſe of all good meanes, whereby they may grow in vsus daily. We doe alſo with all thankfulnes, remember all temporall bleſſings concerning this life, and the preſeruation thereof, our health, libertie, peace, proſperitie, and all outward things wee doe enioy, this gratious gouernment, with all bleſſings accompanying the ſame. We thanke thee, that thou haſt ſuſtained vsus in great weakeneſſe, relieued vsus in much neceſſitie, comforted vsus in much diſtreſſe, reſolued vsus in many doubts, deliuered vsus from many and great dangers, and when wee were falling into them, haſt reſcued vsus with thine owne hand, and preſerued vsus from many grieuous ſinnes, into which through the corruptions of our natures and Sathans temptations, wee might hauehave fallen. Make vsus …nfaignedly thankfull, and teach vsus to walke worthy of them, and to teſtifie thankfulnes therefore, not in word onelyonly, but by a conſcionable walking with thee in all duty and obedience vntounto the end.
Bleſſe vsus this night, keepe vsus and all ours from all dangers, grant vntounto vsus (if it be thy holy and good will) ſuch a portion of reſt and ſleepe, that thereby body and ſenſes being refreſhed, we may riſe vp in the morning cheerfully, to glorifie thy name in the duties of Chriſtianitie, and in the works of our particular callings, as thou ſhalt ſeuerally diſpoſe of vsus, and giuegive vsus ſtrength and opportunitie, and that by Ieſus Chriſt In whoſe name we conclude our prayers as he himſelfe hath taught vsus, ſaying, Our Father which art, &c.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Newhouse, Sermon in Norwich (1612)