Prayers Upon Solemn Occasions, Prayer 16 – Prayer 17
A Prayer when any drawes neere unto death.
O Mercifull LORD GOD, upon the knees of our soules, and from the ground and bottome of our hearts we humbly beseech thee, that wherein soever Satan hath any waies blinded him, or his own heart deceived him, or how farre soever the image of CHRIST hath beene defaced and decayed in him. All his omissions of good duties, all his defects and wants in faith, repentance, prayer, obedience, &c. or whatsoever, I say wee most humbly beseech thee to forgive and pardon them all for the passions sake of thine onelyonly Sonne. Whatsoever at any time since hee had his being, he hath either thought, or said, or done amisse, doe it away deare LORD, as though it had never beene, and drowne it for ever in the bottomelesse sea of thine owne mercy. Thou hast promised by thy Prophet Isa. 44. 22. that thou wilt put away the transgressions of thy people like a cloud, and their sins as a mist. Now we pray thee let the inflamed heate of thy everlasting love shed thorow the bloody wounds of thy Son, and shining through the Sonne of righteousnesse upon his soule, disperse and dissolve into nothing all his iniquities, transgressions and sins. Thou hast promised by thy Prophet Micah 7. 19. That thou wilt cast them all into the bottome of the Sea. Now blessed LORD GOD, we pray thee, as that mighty host of Pharaoh sunke into the red Sea like a stone, so that neither Sonne of man, nor Sun of Heaven ever saw their faces any more; so let all his sins bee swallowed up for ever in the red sea of CHRIST JESVS his blood, that they never show their faces againe to his shame, discomfort or confusion.
Thou hast told us with thine owne mouth, that thou inhabitest eternity, and dwells in the high and holy place, and yet with him also, that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to give life to them that are of a contrite heart; we humbly intreate thee for CHRIST JESUS his sake, that thou wouldest make good this promise to this thy servant, to the utmost sweetnesse and comfort thereof.
O blessed LORD GOD, let thy glorious presence shine into his heart with all those sweet refreshings, with which thou art wont to fill those happy soules which depart in thy favour and at peace with thee. Let the pretious deservings and saving blood-shed of CHRIST JESVS appeare fresh unto the eye of his faith: And let the blessed Angell ministring Spirits to thy chosen, at thy appointed time carry his soule with peace and comfort into the bosome of thy glory.
O LORD he is now going the way of all flesh, and his habitation is remooving from him like a Shepheards tent. Helpe now LORD in this time of need. Comfort him, wee beseech thee, with all the strength of Heaven. Thou hast within the rich treasury of thy mercy, thine own tender hearted bowells of compassions, the unvaluable blood shed of thy deare Sonne, the unutterable comforts of thy good Spirit, the pretious promises of life, and all the joyes of Heaven, and he hath a poore soule that hungers and thirsts and longs for thy mercy and favour, before all the world. O LORD our GOD wee humbly pray thee crown that soule of his with them all. Let thine own omnipotent hand encompasse him, let the strong arme of the Sonne of GOD mightily protect him from all infernall power, let the Spirit of all comfort raise in his heart those heavenly raptures and sweet exultations of spirit, which are wont to fill the soules of them which are ready to lay hold upon a crowne of life, let thy blessed Angels at thine owne time, carry his soule into the bosome of Abraham, there to raigne with thee in rest, and joy thorow all eternity.
A Prayer in time of Plague.
O LORD our GOD, remember us wee pray thee in mercy concerning that heavie and sore judgement of the Plague of Pestilence that fearefully walketh in darknesse, and wasteth at noone day, which thy just wrath hath kindled in the chiefe City of this Kingdome. Wee pray thee, good Father, to blesse us with care and wisedome to meete thee now at first with truly remorsefull and repentant hearts, both for our own personall sinnes, and the crying abhominations of the times: Let us seeke thee with fervency and truth in daies of humiliation and fasting, and cry mightily unto thee that so turning al unto thee with unfained repentance and sincere resolution to amend, thou maist in mercy heale our Kingdome, and turne thine indignation away from us.