Prayers Upon Solemn Occasions, Title page – Errata
Certaine Devout PRAYERS OF Mr. BOLTON upon solemne occasions.
Published by E.B. by M. Boltons owne Coppy.
LONDON, Printed by George Miller dwelling in Black-Fryers. 1638.
To the Reader.
AMong Treatises fit to be published and read, Treatises of Devotion are most fit: as being freest from offence, and fullest of divine matter. If comparison may bee made betwixt parts of sacred Scripture, the Psalmes of David have an excellency in that they consist of matters of Devotion. Answerable to the stile of his name, is the stile of his book. The stile of his name was,1 Sam. 13. …4. A man after GODS owne heart. Acts 13. …2.For such was his piety and sincerity as GOD was well pleased therewith,Juxta cor …um. q. d. Qui praeceptum divini consi… exequi…ur virtute devotionis Greg. Mag. Expos lib. 5. in 1 Reg. Cap. 13. and tooke much delight therein. The rather because his devotion towards GOD incited him to doe what GOD required to be done. So the Booke of Psalmes, may well carry this stile, A booke after Gods owne heart, in that nothing is more acceptable unto GOD, nothing wherein hee takes more delight then Devotion. And no booke of sacred Scripture fuller of Devotion then that booke. Most of the Psalmes wholy consist of Prayers or Praises: very few, if any at all, wherein there are not some divine raptures,Devotio▪ est pius & humilia affectus in DEVM humilis ex conscientia infirmitatis pro priae: pius ex consideratione divinae clementiae Aug▪ de Spir. & Anima Cap 50. and such heavenly ejaculations, as manifest an heart full of Devotion. For Devotion is a pious and humble affection to God-wards. Humble through conscience of a mans owne infirmity. Pious through a due consideration of the divine clemency. Such Devotion is never more fully and to the life manifested then in Prayers and Praises. For in these divine duties, if rightly performed, the soule presents it selfe before GOD, and that in a speciall manner, being after a sort even rapt out of the body. Then, if ever, doth the soule, so farre as it is capable, with an holy admiration apprehend the divine Majesty, Purity, Justice, Wisdome, Power, yea Mercy, Goodnesse, and other excellencies wherwith GOD is decked. Then, if ever is the soule brought throughly to discerne its owne infirmity,foreign dixit Arist. impurity, basenesse, vilenesse and cursednesse. For contraries paralleld,Rhet lib. 3 cap. 2. or laid together doe most lively set forth each other in their owne proper colours. He that liveth in a darke dungeon, will be enamoured with the bright shining of the Sun, when hee can have liberty to see it. And hee that hath long lived under bright Sun-shine, more thorowly discernes the horrour and dammage of darknesse. Now GOD and man are in many respects directly opposite each to other: This opposition is best discerned in our most serious contemplations of Gods excellencies and due consideration of our owne manifold infirmities, which is most to purpose done in acts and exercises of Devotion. In this respect this present Treatise is worthy of all acceptation, even for the subject matter whereof it consisteth, which is divine Devotition. Herein you shall observe GOD most highly advanced; and man most lowly dejected. GOD advanced above the highest Heavens; Man dejected below the lowest parts of the earth. GOD magnified in his mercies, and justified in his judgements; Man judged and condemned according to his just deserts. If the Author of a Worke add any thing to the worth of a Worke, the Author of this Worke must needs add much to the worth of it. For he was a man of a profound judgement, and a zealous spirit: which endowments are most fit for matters of Devotion. Devotion must have fire in it, in which respect a zealous spirit is very requisite. Devotion hath an especiall reference to GOD, in which respect solid judgement is also requisite. As all the true genuine Workes of this Author give evidence of his more then ordinary spirit, so this Modell especially. By it you may perceive what kinde of fire fired the sacrifices which hee offered up to GOD. Wee reade in the Law (Levit. 9. 24.) that there came a fire out from the LORD, …lloigne qu… divinitùs ad Altare venerit deinceps custodito omnia erant accendenda quae in tabernaculo accendi oportebāt.and consumed upon the Altar the burnt offering. Aug. Quest. Super Levit. lib. 3. … 31.That fire which once came from the LORD being continually preserved, all things which required fier in the Tabernacle were to bee fired therewith, as all manner of sacrifice, and incense. Such a fire, a celestiall, a divine fire, which must needs come from the LORD, set on fire the spirituall sacrifices, and sacred incense which this Priest of the LORD, the Author of this Treatise, offered up to his GOD. We ought therefore to give the more earnest heed heereunto: and to helpe our owne devotion, and to quicken and enflame our own spirits thereby. Without all question the Modells of some eminent persons Devotion, may be a singular helpe to others Devotion. Every one that hath this divine fier of Devotion in his soule, cannot alwaies readily bring fit fuell to make it flame forth. But when fuell is brought by others, it will soone take, and quickly flame out. Neither is this (as some too weakly, though very violently cavill) to stint the spirit of supplication. For the worke of the Spirit consists not so much in the words and phrases whereby the matter of Devotion is expressed, as in the intention of the heart, and in the intirenesse and earnestnesse of the affection, wherin the very forme, soule and life of true Devotion consisteth. Otherwise, the spirit of all GODS people in all publicke Liturgies, and formes of prayer would be stinted: yea by this reason the spirit of every one that joyneth with another in prayer (except his spirit onelyonly who conceiveth and uttereth the prayer) would be stinted. And if so, then away with publick assemblies for prayer: away with family meetings to call upon GOD: away with all meetings of two or three together in CHRISTS name, notwithstanding CHRISTS promise of being in the midst of them (Mat. 18. 20.) But rather away with such proud and preposterous conceits,foreign LXX Oratio pro pau…ere. which cleane crosse the tenour of sacred Scripture,Tremel. & …un. and commendable custome of GODS Church in all ages.I…te Psalmus in principio vocem Prophetae continet ex persona peccatoris Hier. Sacred Scripture records sundry prayers conceived and uttered by one, but assented to by sundry others, wherby they became also the prayers of those others.Quod slen…es dica…s nos qui pro peccatis … his ver…iculis …do…emur. Arnob. The 102. Psalme beares this title, A Prayer for the afflicted when he is overwhelmed and powreth out his complaint before the LORD. This title apparently sheweth that the Prophet who first penned this Psalme, did it in the persons and for the use of any poore distressed servant of GOD. So as we thereby are taught what to pray when our sins lie heavy upon us, or when we are in any other distresse. It is expressely said that Iohn taught his Disciples to pray, Luke 11. 1. This questionlesse was done by prescribing unto them a forme of prayer. Whereupon when a Disciple of CHRIST said unto him, LORD teach us to pray as John also taught his Disciples, he said unto them, when ye pray, say Our Father which art in Heaven, &c. As Iohn had prescribed a forme to his Disciples, so CHRIST doth to his: and so teacheth them to pray, as Iohn did his. Sundry formes of prayers were by the Ancient Fathers composed for the Churches in their daies. In like manner have all Christian Churches in succeeding ages, had their particular formes. Never had any age, or countrey more pious, pithy formes then ours, some for publick, others for private use, among which the forme here tendered unto thee hath its excellency. As it is lawfull to have such helpe, so may such an helpe be very usefull.
W. GOVGE,
The Contents.
A Prayer upon a solemne occasion. Page 1.
A morning Prayer for a Family. p. 30.
Another morning Prayer. p. 53.
A generall forme of Prayer and praise. p. 88.
An evening Prayer. p. 105.
A Prayer before a Sermon. p. 116.
A Prayer before Sermon. p. 122.
A Grace before meate. p. 134.
A Prayer before Sermon. p. 135.
A Prayer after Sermon. p. 137.
An Evening Prayer most usefull in time of warre or invasion. p. 139.
The Preachers Prayer. p. 159.
A Thankesgiving for the Kings returne from Spaine and a Prayer for his prosperity. p. 163.
A Prayer for wholesome and seasonable weather. p. 168.
In visitation of the sicke. p. 170.
A Prayer when any drawes neare unto death. p. 176.
A Prayer in time of Plague. p. 184. & 186.
A Prayer for confession of sin p. 215.
A Thankesgiving. p. 233.
The Authors private Prayer. p. 256.
Errata.
Page 80. line 1. … reade stirring. pag▪ 155. l. 5. for bodies reade soules▪