A Short and Pithy Catechism Regarding the Lords Supper, Prayer 2
A forme of prayer.
O Lorde our moſte gracious, good, and mercifull Father, we thy ſeruants, & the work manſhyp of thy handes, fall downe before thy high maieſtie, humblye acknowledging our manifolde and heynous ſinnes, whereby wee hauehave broken thy holie Lawes, and iuſtly deſerued euen eternall death & condemnation at thy handes. VVe doo heere moſt inſtantly vponupon the knees of our harts, ſue vntounto thy fatherlye clemencie, for pardon and forgiuenes of all our ſinnes whatſoeuer, & for the remoouing & keeping backe of all thy iudgements frō vsus, which we by our ſins hauehave iuſtlie deſerued and accept of vsus and our prayers, wherewith we preſent thy maieſtie, in the name and mediation of thy ſonne Chriſte Ieſus, preparing our harts with reuerence & faith to call vponupon thee. And whereas wee were borne in ſinne and iniquitie, whereby we are altogether corrupt, & are more rightlie intituled to death and condemnation then to life, we pray thee (moſt merciful father) to renue vsus by thy holie ſpirite, and to roote out of vsus all thoſe euil rootes of our concupiſcence, clenſing vsus from all that which ſauoureth of our ſelues, and of vncleanenes. Purge our euyl thoughtes, our prophane imaginations, and carnall luſtes. Yea Lorde, wee humblye pray thee, ſcoure our harts from all hypocriſie, from all contempt of thee and of thy holye word, from all ignoraunce of thee, falſe worſhip, incredulity & diſtruſt of thy fatherlie prouidence, & from murmuring at thy hand in afflictiō. Let vsus not prophane thy moſt holy name, eyther in worde, deede, or thought, nor diſhallow thy Sabbaothes, but cleaue to al thy ordināces
Throwe out of vsus (O Lorde) all ſelfe-louelove, contempt againſt others, pride, wrath, impaciencie, vncharitablenes, all vnnaturall affections, vnmercifulnes, deſire of reuenge, hatred and enuie, all fornications, vnorderly and wanton luſtes, intemperancie and vnchaſte behauiour, al worldlie mindednes, couetouſnes, deceite and iniurie, all ſlaunderous wordes and ſurmiſes againſt our brethren. All theſe thinges wee pray thee to remooue out of vsus, and to ſanctifie our harts, to the obedience of all thy holie commaundements, that we may dailie be reformed to thy Image, in true holines and righteouſnes, expreſſing dueties to thee & our brethren, with a carefull conſcience. Take vppe our thoughtes and affections (O lord) that they may affect and long after thee day and night, and that the counſels of our harts may muſe on thee and thy holie wyll: and dwell thou wholie in our ſoules and bodies, directing our wyls, our iudgments and vnderſtanding, our ſpeeches and all our actions, that in our whole manne wee may ſerue thee. Good Lord plant in vsus, wee praye thee, the true louelove and feare of thy name, increaſe the knowledg of thy word in vsus, with faith, zeale, and iudgment, that we may reuerence & obey it in our ſoules, ſtudying to ſhewe the fruite therof in our liues. VVorke and increaſe a true & liuelie faith in vsus, whereby wee may cleaue to thee, and thine euerlaſting promiſes in Chriſt Ieſus, and may depend vponupon thy prouidence in all eſtates of thys mortall lyfe, without murmuring or repyning at thy hand, in ſicknes, pouerty, impriſonment, perſecution, or in any affliction eyther of bodie or minde, patientlie bearing all croſſes, knowing that thereby thou correcteſt our ſinnes, as a father, ſeeking our amēdment. On the otherſide, let vsus not be remiſſe, careleſſe and forgetful in our proſperitye, but may in wealth & woe acknowledge thy hand with thankfulnes and reuerence, reioycing that howſoeuer thou dealeſt with vsus in outward things, yet thou art ſo our father in Chriſte, that thou canſt not deny vsus anie thing, that may bee to the benefite of our ſoules, or to our ſafetie in the life to come, ſith that we hauehave intereſt euen vntounto thy ſelf in Chriſt our ſauiour. And ſith thou haſt truſted vsus wyth thine owne name and glorie, which in thy goſpell ſhineth vntounto vsus. O giuegive vsus grace to ſeeke the enlarging of thy kingdome, by furthering thy Goſpell in the miniſtrie thereof, to our power, being ielious ouer thy name, that our ſpeeches, thoughtes, or dooings, may not ſauour of contempt againſt thee, nor ſuffer thee to be diſhonoured of others, if wee may anie way hinder it: neyther let our life be ſo looſe, as occaſion ſhould be taken there from by men to blaſpheme thy name. But Lorde guyde vsus ſo by thy grace, that our godlie and ſober life amongſte men, may be a comelines, a glorie, and an honour vntounto thee, to bring credite to our profeſſyon.
(For alas Lord) heerein we hauehave beene traitors vntounto thee, to betray thy glorie into the reprochefull tongues of godleſſe men for want of watchfulnes and guidaunce in our wayes. Direct vsus therefore O Lorde, in thy whole worſhyppe, in ſpirite and trueth, and ſtirre vsus vp, that we may approue our fayth by carefull and continuall hearing, reading, and muſing of thy worde, by exerciſing prayer, both publiquelie with the aſſemblie of people, and priuatelie by our ſelues and with our families, that we may acknowledge thee to be our God, in ſeeking vntounto thee for all thinges, and returning thankes vntounto thee, as from whom commeth eueryevery good thing.
Gyue vsus fayth and repentaunce in the vſe of thy Sacramentes, that we rightlie frequenting all holie exerciſes of thy worſhippe, may ſanctifie thy Sabbaothes, and increaſe our faith, feare, and louelove towardes thee. Furthermore we pray thee O LORD, teach vsus to put on al affections of louelove towards our brethren, being indued with meeknes, humblenes of minde, patience, forbearing and forgiuing one another, when there are quarrels, euen as Chriſt hath forgiuen vsus, ſo as we may liue in all chriſtian manner amongſt men, without warres, & contentions, in all courteous, true, and iuſt dealing, in our affayres and buſines, not vſing any vnlawfull artes or practiſes, for the increaſe of our commodities & pleaſures, but faith fully labouring in our callings, may depende vponupon thy promiſes, approuing our faith. Let the name and credite of our brethren & neighbors be precious vntounto vsus, that by no mutteringes, ſurmiſings, reports, or light credence, wee impayre their good name, and when we meete with ſlā ders or reproches, giuegive vsus grace to beare our ſelues lowly & hūble, ſeeking redreſſe without bitternes of ſpirit, knowing howe Chriſt in the like caſes hath ſuffered. And becauſe wee can not alwaies enioye peace and libertye, vnderunder the profeſſion of thy Goſpell. O Lorde our God, wee pray thee let vsus not onelie nowe in theſe dayes of our ſafetye, allowe and cleaue vntounto thy trueth, whileſt others doo accompanye vsus in profeſſyon, whilſt Princes beare vsus out, freendes doo countenaunce vsus, whilſt our wiues, children, landes and poſſeſſyon abide by vsus, and all thinges ſmyle vponupon vsus: but O deere Father, if euer our ſinnes ſhould procure perſecution for thy trueth, ſo as companions ſhoulde leaue vsus, freendes fayle vsus, the cruel lookes of Princes, and their bloodye handes ſhould be turned vppon vsus, when mercileſſe impriſonment, the glittering ſword, the ſhaking ſpeare, or fierie flame ſhould with terror threaten death, when baniſhment & exile ſhalbe for natiue ſoile, when our deere wiues and tender babes, with woeful cryes & wringing of hands, on the one ſide ſhall mooue the bowels of pittie, the raging fire or other fearefull tortures of death on the otherſide, ſhall mooue terror & dyſcouragement, Oh, euen then Lord, we poore wretches and wormes vnable of our ſelues to abide the heereſaie of death, doo beſeeche thee to fortifie our faith, giuing vsus patience, confidence and hope vntounto the ende, that as thou haſte giuen vsus a deſire to holde out, which is a pledge of our continuaunce, ſo thou maiſt ſtil vphold vsus with the taſt of the ioyes to come, that in Chriſt we may abide vntounto the ende, ſo as nothing may ſeperate vsus from the louelove of God which is in Chriſte Ieſus our Lord.
O Lorde therefore giuegive vsus grace in our proſperitie, to mortifie our affections bothe from ſinne and the world, that it make vsus not vnfitt for the yoke, and vnrulie. Thou knoweſt Lord the deſire of our ſoules, O performe theſe thinges vntounto vsus for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake. VVe further pray thee (O Lorde) to be preſident and gouernour of vsus and our families, directing vsus ſincerelie in all thy wayes, that we giuegive not euill example either in worde or deede, not raging in our affections, ruling by them; but moderate thou our affections and ſpeeches in all our domeſticall gouernment, that wee may rule ouer them in thy name, beeing neyther too ſeuere nor too remiſſe, that ſo man and wife, with theyr families, may liue togeather religiouſly, ſoberlie, and peaceably, wyth freer vſe of prayer, and other holy exerciſes.
O LORDE, bleſſe our Seruauntes & chyldren wyth obedient and duetifull hearts to thy maieſtie, and vntounto vsus for thee, beeing without murmuring, vnfaithfulnes, replying or ſtubborne anſweres, but peaceable, lowlie, and tractable, Banniſh from them all ſwearing, lying, pryde, curſed ſpeaking, ſlaundering, ryot, and all intemperancie. And though by our ſinnes thou mighteſt take aduauntage to throwe out our children to thy curſe, and to with holde thy grace frō them, yet pardon thou our ſinnes for thy mercies ſake, and continue thy graces to vsus, and to our poſterity after vsus, to many generations. O Lorde, becauſe alſo nothing can proſper without thy bleſſinge (though wee care and toyle) bleſſe thou therefore and proſper all the affayres of our lawfull callinges, this day and euer heereafter, that we may ſee daylie a comfortable iſſue of our labours, for we reſigne vp all our affayres, and the ſucceſſe thereof vntounto thee, labouring in them vnderunder thy prouidence. And now Lorde, we praye thee for our neighbours rounde about vsus, and for the congregation, where we enioy the felowſhippe of this life, with other ritch graces of thine, O Lord bleſſe them all, and eache familie and perſon, both olde and young, huſbands and wyues, parents and chyldren, maſters and ſeruauntes, gouernors and people, that eache of theſe in their callinges being furniſhed with meete graces from thee, may diſcharge a good conſcience therin in thy feare. Bleſſe O LORDE the Magiſtrates of our towne, endue them with wiſedom, courage, faithfulnes, & the feare of thy name, and all graces neceſſarie, that they executing iudgment and iuſtice, thy glorie may bee aduaunced, the people may of conſcience obey, ſinne may bee ſupplanted, and godlines with trueth may happilye flouriſh among vsus. Bleſſe (O lord) wee pray thee, our miniſters of thy word, that they may abound with al neceſſary graces, fitte for that waighty calling: let vsus imbrace them in our hartes, as meſsengers ſent by thee for our ſaluation. Gyue vntounto them ſtrength, faithfulnes, grauitie, wiſedome, iudgment, patience, and courage in dooing thy wyll, that they may wade comfortablie, and with a good conſcience, through all daungers: make their labours fruitfull, in the hearts of the people, conuert or confounde all that riſe vp againſt wholeſome doctrine, reforme the diſobedient, keepe them in thy trueth that are called, increaſinge their faith and obedience, and gather home daielie ſome ſoules into thy folde, that the people being turned vntounto thee, thou maieſt hauehave praiſe. Preſerue O Lorde, this our Towne from inward perrills of the ſoule, and outward of the body, bee thou our watchman, and tower of defence frō al enimies, that our ſins betray not our peace: kepe vsus by ſea & by land in bleſſed ſafety, & let vsus not forget to praiſe thee for it: cōtinue thine holy ordinance of teaching ô Lord among vsus euermore, let vsus neuer want that bleſſed & ſoueraine meanes of our ſaluation, and giuegive vsus grace hartily, reuerently, & faithfully to regarde thy ſeruants & thy heauēly doctrin brought by thē ſo as both they & we may in our lyues expres the fruit of thy word, feeling effectually the power therof cō uerted into our ſoules, to the thorow reforming of the whole mā that we may ſtand aſſured of thy mercy & pardon of our ſins through faith, may be multiplied with al ſpiritual graces, directed, kept & cōtinued to the ende in al happy waies, ſo as our own ſoules may reape perfit cōfort, others may be edified, & turned vntounto thee, thy ſelf maiſt receiue glory, honor & eternal praiſe in Chriſt Ieſus: and now lord, we moſt earneſtly intreate thee for our whole lande, & principallye, for our moſte gracious Queene Elizabeth, ô lord giuegive her a long, a proſperous, a godly, & a happy raign ouer vsus, cōfounding all her enemies, ſafegarding her royall perſon, enritching her ſoule with all heauenlye graces vntounto ſaluation, that ſhe gouerning happilie on earth, may raigne euerlaſtingly in heauen with thee. Bleſſe her right honourable Counſellers, and all inferiour Magiſtrates, directing their counſels, conſultations and gouernments, to the aduauncing of thy glory, and the good of thy Church. Bleſſe all the Miniſters of thy holie worde, that they may ſincerely diſcharg a good conſcience in their places, to the edifying of thy church through louelove. Yea we pray thee for all our whole land, and people of all degrees, pardon their ſinnes, leade them in thy trueth, that they may in peace and godlines ſerue thee all their lyfe. Finallie, Lord we pray thee for all nations, kindreds, and tongues, where thy name is profeſſed, for all chriſtian Magiſtrates and Rulers, that thou wylt bleſſe and defende them, and keepe them in thy trueth from all their ennimies, cauſe the light of thy holie Goſpell to ſhyne to all nations, that they being turned to thee, thou mayſt hauehave praiſe, comfort the comfortles, helpe the helples, bee a father to the fatherles, and a huſbande to the wyddowes, ende the miſerie of the afflicted, confound al enimies of thy church, and giuegive to thy people euerlaſtyng peace in Chriſt Ieſus. Theſe graces with all other els neceſſarie for vsus, and thy whole Church, we humbly craue at thy maieſties hand, in ſuch manner as hee hath taught vsus, ſaying: Our Father which art in Heauen. &c.