The Ambassador Between Heaven and Earth, Prayers · Prayer 1
A morning Prayer for the Sabaoth day.
MOST mercifull God and eternall father, what may we render vntounto thee for all thy louing kindneſſe; for the which bleſſings and thankeſ-giuings for euermore be heaped vponupon thy holy name, in whom the treaſures of mercy and louing kindneſſe dwell bodily, who of thine owne good will and pleaſure haſt bene pleaſed to communicat vntounto vsus ſo many of thy fauours, ſo many ſeuerall ways without any manner of deſert of ours, to the which may it pleaſe thee to ad ſtil to the number, by taking away thoſe iniquities of ours, that take away thy fauours and bleſſings from vsus, or as a ſtranger that knoweth them not paſſe by our tranſgreſſions, retaine not thine anger againſt vsus foreuer, though w… retaine our ſins, the cauſe of thine anger, but returne to vsus by grace who returne not to thee by repentance, and hauehave compaſſion vponupon vsus who hauehave not compaſſion on ouer owne ſoules, ſubdue our raigning and raging vnrighteouſneſſe and drowne our offences in the bottome of the ſea, which elſe will drowne vsus in the bottome of deſtruction, raiſe vp our ſoules from the dead ſleepe of ſinne as thou haſt raiſed vp our bodies from this night of darkeneſſe, protect vsus from all dangers from the which no minute we are ſecured of our ſelues, but in thee, brought vsus to the begining of this thy bleſſed ſabaoth of reſt which good father ſo ſanctifie vntounto vsus through thy bleſſed ſpirit that thy name may be hallowed, thy power admired, thy mercy magnified, and thy louelove manifeſted to thy glory and our euerlaſting comfort, fill thou our hartes with ſuch a deſire and longing after thee (that no earthly felicity the traines and allurements of the fleſh wherewith this vaine world with her multitudes is tol'd a long) take hold on vsus, that ſee me honey in the mouth but are found wornewood in the ſtomacke, that ſay peace, peace and all is well when deſtruction and death is bayted ore with them, but let our delight bee in thy law and therein to exerciſe our ſelues both day and night our whoole felicity: Let that treaſure be our pleaſure that is layd vp in heauen, all other ioys are brittle and fadinge and there end is bitterneſſe, but in this there is neyther bitterneſſe, nor end, bleſſe good Lord the ſeed of thy word that ſhall this day be ſowen in our harts, and all faithfull teachers and hearers of the ſame, that it may fructifie and bring forth fruite to the amēdment of our liues and the ſaluation of our ſoules in that great day of ioy and ſorrow, and for the better furtherance thereof, good father inlarge and reforme our vnderſtanding, keepe the watch of our tongues and the doore of our lips in ſuch ſort that no ill word be vttered by or through the ſame, and ſo rule and gouerne our hartes that they thinke not, our hands that they touch not, our feet that they go not too, our eyes that they ſee not, our eares that they heare not, our ſences that they taſt not, our harts that they conſent not to any thing but that which is to thy glory and our good, that thereby thy louelove may be confirmed in vsus and we in it; that ſo we may walke cherfully in our vocations, wayting for that full redemption and crown of glory that remayneth for all ſuch as perſeuer in thy wayes, without wearineſſe to the end: which graunt and whatſoeuer beſides in thy wiſedome thou knoweſt needfull and neceſſary for vsus (good father) for thy deare ſonne Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, in whoſe name we further intreat thy mercy and goodneſſe towards vsus in that forme of prayer which he himſelfe hath both commanded and taught vsus ſaying our father &c.