The Right Way to Heaven, Prayers 2

The Right Way to Heaven · Prayers 2

p. 53HOLY PRAYERS.

A Prayer in forme of a Confeſsion.

7. LOrd my God and Father Almightie, and moſt gracious to thy children, I caſt downe my ſelfe in thy preſence, acknowledging my ſelfe a poore and miſerable creature, guilty of high treaſon againſt thy divine Majeſtie, For, O my God, I came into the world tainted with p. 54ſinne, polluted with iniquitie, and through my evill converſation I have thorow the whole courſe of my life exceedingly augmented the ſame, I have made infinite the number of my tranſgreſſions, I have beene over unthankfull for ſo many bleſſings, wherof it hath pleaſed thy bounty to afford me the fruition: too often have I oppoſed to thy infinite goodneſſe extreame ingratitude: by my hypocriſie and diſſimulation I have made my ſelfe utterly unworthy of that freedome and faithfulneſſe wherewith thou haſt entertained me: I have beene p. 55deafe to thy admonitions, have ſtopped mine eare at thy Word, I have eſtranged my heart from thy inſtructions: the feare of men hath hindred me from making free & publike profeſſion of thy Truth: I have more feared the world, then I have loved heaven: I preferred the preſervation of my goods, before the ſetting forth of thy glory; earthly repoſe, before eternall happineſſe. Alas, Lord, what puniſhments am I worthy of? What torments have I deſerved? For my conſcience accuſeth me, my ſinnes call for vengeance againſt me: p. 56and ſurely if the wages of the leaſt of our ſinnes be eternall death, and if it be impoſſible for me to number my ſinnes, or to conceive the enormiouſneſſe of them, how, O thou God of vengeance? how, whilſt I conſider my ſelfe in my ſelfe, ſhall I expect from thee with unſpeakeable feare eternall and infinite puniſhments?

Yet, O gracious God, thy word teacheth us, and experience witneſſeth to us, that thou wilt not the death of a ſinner, but that he turne unto thee, and live: ſo alſo haſt thou thy ſelfe found out in thine eternall p. 57counſell the meanes of our deliverance: and haſt in the fulneſſe of time ſent into the world the eternall Sonne of thy love, thy darling, even he, in whom thou art well pleaſed: thou haſt eſtabliſht him a Saviour and Redeemer for all thoſe that hope in him by converting them unto thee: He was made for us wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, and redemption: his bloud cleanſeth us from all ſinne, he was deſpiſed to raiſe us unto glory: he hath taken our nature, to make us partaker of his: he was borne the Sonne of Man to make us p. 58the Children of God, he was full of ſorrow, to fill us with happineſſe; he was wounded for our ſins, and bruiſed for our iniquities: upon him was laid the penaltie which brought us peace, and by his bruiſes are we healed: he came into the world to lead us to heaven: he died to give us life. he roſe againe for our juſtification. To conclude, Lord, thou ſo lovedſt the world, that thou gaveſt that ſpotleſſe Lamb, to the end, that whoſoever beleeveth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have life everlaſting.

And ſeeing, O my God and Father of mercy, that p. 59out of thy ſpeciall favour, it hath pleaſed thee in the midſt of my errour, even in mine infidelitie & ingratitude, to take pitie on me, to give me thy knowledg, and the reſolution to follow thy Goſpell: ſeeing thou haſt endued me with true faith in thy Sonne; ſeeing thou haſt touched my heart, wherefore Lord, ſhall I not have acceſſe unto thee with confidence? Why ſhall I not approch with aſſurance to the throne of thy grace to obtaine mercy, and to be releeved by thee in due time? For though I be miſerable, art not thou mercifull? If I be unrighteous, p. 60wilt thou not cloath me with the righteouſneſſe of my Saviour? Mine iniquitie amazeth me, but thy goodneſſe aſſureth me: my unworthineſſe eſtrangeth me from thee, but the worthineſſe of thy Sonne recalleth me back, inviteth me, and conducteth me to thee; unto thee that art the God of my ſalvation, that haſt redeemed my ſoule from death: that haſt purchaſed me life everlaſting and moſt happy: O my God, how great is my comfort, how excellent the joy, how precious and unſpeakeable the repoſe, which my ſoule enjoyeth in the meditation p. 61of theſe things? VntoUnto thee onelyonly then it is that I now addreſſe my ſelfe, as to confeſſe my ſinnes, ſo alſo to acknowledge thy merciemercy as to condemne my ſelfe, ſo withall to find abſolution in thy Sonne: If to be ſorrowfull, and to grieve for my ſinnes, ſo alſo to rejoyce, and to comfort my ſelfe in thy bounty, who ſhall lay any thing to my charge? Is it not thou which juſtifieſt me? Who ſhall condemne me, ſeeing that Chriſt died for me? Seeing he is riſen againe, ſeeing that for me he is at thy right hand, making requeſt for my ſalvation and queſt p. 62conſervation. Nothing O my God, ſhall ſeparate me from the love thou beareſt me: and ſeeing thou haſt loved me in thy Sonne, I ſhall in all things be more then victorious.

But what ſhall I render unto thee, O Lord, unto thee, that haſt delivered my ſoule from death, mine eyes from teares, and my feet from ſliding? VntoUnto thee O Lord, that haſt looſed the bands of death which compaſſed me about? VntoUnto thee that haſt converted and turned into joy the ſorrowes of the grave, which had overtaken me? What ſhall I render p. 63unto thee O Eternall Lord, for all thy benefits conferred upon me? I will take the cup of ſalvation, I will call upon thy Name, I will pay my vowes before the people: I am thy ſervant, thou haſt unlooſed my bands. I will ſacrifice unto thee the ſacrifice of thankſgiving, I will offer unto thee the fruit of my lips: I will confeſſe thy Name, thou haſt purchaſed me with a price: I will glorifie thee in my body, and in my ſoule, I am thine, unto thee therefore will I preſent my ſelfe as a lively and holy ſacrifice, that may be pleaſing and acceptable unto thee.

p. 64To this end, O my God, I crave ſtrength from thee, & the conduct of thy Spirit: thou haſt already given me a will to ſerve thee, produce, O Lord, in me not onelyonly the will, but withall perfect it with efficacie, and according to thy good pleaſure. Of my ſelfe I can do nothing to thy glorie, I perceive not the things which are of thy Spirit: all the imaginations of the thoughts of my heart are altogether continually evill: the wiſdome, the deſires of the fleſh is enmitie againſt thee, It will not, it cannot be ſubject to thy Law: and yet by thy Spirit p. 65thou haſt already given me the beginning of my regeneration: Yet Lord, though I will the thing that is good, yet find I not the meanes to performe the ſame: I do not the good that I would, but I do the evill that I would not do. It is to thee then that I have my recourſe, thou art the Author of every good gift, the fountaine of life lyeth in thee: in thy cleare light we ſee clearely, and from thee onelyonly is all our ſufficiencie: illuminate me by thy Spirit, that being directed by the ſame, I may render unto thee the ſervice which I owe in the p. 66acknowledgment of all thy benefits.

Give me grace that to ſerve thee I may do nothing but what may be acceptable to thee, that I may frame my ſelfe, not unto mine owne fancie, but according to thy will, that I may do not what ſeemes good unto my ſelfe, but what thou approoveſt, that I may perform… not mine owne deſignes, but thy will, not mine owne intentions, but thy commandements, not my will, but thy Word: Graunt I may propound unto my ſelfe for my end, not the vanitie of the world, but thy glory, p. 67not my reputation, but the manifeſtation of thy holy Name, not my eſtabliſhment on earth, but the advancement of thy truth, and of thy Church. Give me to ſerve thee not unwillingly, and by conſtraint, but freely and with a good heart: that I may be pricked forward, not by the rigour of Menaces, and the chaſtiſements of thy Law, but incited by the ſweetneſſe of the promiſes, and benefits of thy Goſpell: that I may be, not poſſeſſed with the Spirit of ſervitude, but ledd by the ſpirit of feare and true filiall love. Remove from my underſtanding p. 68all darkneſſe of error and ignorance: make me know thy works, cauſe mee to ſee in the mirrour of nature, the excellent works which thou madeſt in ſix dayes, and thine admirable providence in the upholding and preſervation of all thy creatures: there appeares before our eys both thine eternal power and Godhead: and there is not the leaſt of the world, which is not a faithfull witneſſe of the glory which is due to thee, by reaſon of thy wiſdome, power, and infinite goodneſſe: but Lord, give me eyes to looke into the mirrour p. 69of thy Word, in which are repreſented moſt clearely unto us the myſteries of our redemption: that in it I may ſee thy Sonne, that in thy Sonne I may behold thee. For, O good God, as we beſeech thee that thou wouldeſt not looke upon us but in thy Sonne; for that in him onelyonly thou findeſt us righteous and unblameable, ſo can we not behold thee but in him, becauſe in him onelyonly thou manifeſteſt thy ſelfe unto us; not as a rigorous Iudge, as thou doeſt to the reprobate, but a gracious and mercifull Father to thy children.

p. 70Moreover Lord, in ſuch ſort inſpire mee, that having beene ſoundly, and faithfully inſtructed in the knowledge of thy Truth, I may judge uprightly of all thy counſells, of thy whole Word, of all thy actions: for ſeeing it hath pleaſed thee to lodge me in the midſt of all thy creatures, and to put as it were into my hands the quiers of all thy Actions, namely thy holy Word, ought I not to avouch, that thou art juſt, wiſe, good, mightie and mercifull: and that glory is due unto thee, upon occaſion of every one of thy works: and wherefore p. 71haſt thou brought me up in the Schoole of thy Church, but to the end to forme in me a j…dgement, and to teach me to ſpeake againſt all the reaſons of men, be it that the Lord ſpareth, be it that he afflicteth, be it that he bleſſeth, be it that he puniſheth, or what ere he doth, it is every way juſtice, equitie, and wiſedome, and his ſole will is the moſt perfect rule of all righteouſneſſe.

But O my God, graunt that I may not know thee unto my condemnation: with ſcience give me conſcience: illuminate my underſtanding, rectifie alſo p. 72my will, accompanie it with a franke affection to thy ſervice: Graunt my heart may burn within me, let it be inflamed with the deſire of thy glory, let my ſoule be continually raviſht with admiration: above all ſeeing that to ſave us thou haſt turned our darkneſſe into light, our evils into good, our death into life: and us that were thine enemies, thou haſt made not onelyonly thy friends and ſervants, but of thy houſehold, but even thy children, without any deſert of ours, notwithſtanding our contrary demerits, even of thy meere free grace and p. 73mercy, and without ſparing of thine owne Sonne.

O Lord our God, let thy Name be magnified thorough out all the earth: but as thy works be admirable, but as thou art mercifull in thy Church, thou haſt done great things for us, thou haſt wrought powerfully by thine arme, and in ſuch ſort above my capacitie, that I cannot but crie out, ô the depth of the riches of thy wiſdome, and of the knowledge of God! Grant Lord, that I may not be ſtupid nor inſenſible in theſe things: but care that my ſoule may be affected with gladneſſe, my heart p. 74with joy and ſolid contentment. If the Devills and all thine enemies wonder at thy works, it is but in deſpight of themſelves, it is but in their murmuring againſt thee: but have not I wherein to rejoyce? have not I cauſe to put farre away from me all ſorrow, every vaine apprehenſion? ſeeing that I aſſuredly know that thou art not onelyonly wiſe and mighty in thy ſelfe, nor good to others: but wiſe, mighty, and good unto me, and unto my ſalvation and redemption.

Yet, O my God, that I may keepe meaſure in my p. 75mirth, beget in my heart true humilitie, which may ſerve to counterpoiſe it, ſo that whilſt I rejoyce in thee, I may be humbled in my ſelfe, that I may adore in all reverence thy divine Majeſtie: that I may be exempt from all pride, acknowledging how lamentable the poverty, and weakneſſe of my condition ſhould be, were it not, that I wholly depend on thy grace and on thy good pleaſure. For it is thou that reſiſteſt the proud, and that giveſt grace to the lowly: it is thou that abhorreſt every man of an haughty heart: he ſhall not p. 76from hand to hand abide ſcotfree and unpuniſhed: In ſtead whereof thy favours flow downe upon them, which come unto thee in humilitie and reverence.

Forme Lord, forthwith in my foule a true feare of thy Name, which may withold me, and keepe me from offending thee: for thou ſeeſt, thou underſtandeſt all things, thou art he, that wilt judge all the thoughts, words, & works of men. But why ſhould I not feare infinitely to offend thee? to provoke thee by mine iniquities? thou that haſt alwaies bin a moſt gracious and mercifull Father p. 77unto me, ſuffer not my heart to be hardened: for then ſhould I fall into all calamity, but make me happie in fearing continually. Let me feare Lord, not to out-paſſe the traditions of men, but the rules and inſtructions of thy Word. Let me apprehend not ſome imaginary puniſhments, but the rigour of thy juſt judgments. Let me have not the feare of the damned, and of Devils, which tremble with horrour; but the feare of thy children. To this end, O my God, give me thy love, to ſeaſon my feare, and to warrant me from deſpaire. The wicked p. 78feare thee onelyonly for the apprehenſion of thy puniſhments: but as for me, I wil feare thee Lord, becauſe in my heart ſhall lodge thy love. Alſo good God, wh…refore ſhall I not love thee when I conſider what heretofore thou haſt done for me, that which now thou doeſt in me, and that which hereafter thou wilt do with me? thou haſt elected me before all eternity, thou haſt juſtified me in calling me unto thy ſelfe in the fulneſſe of time: daily thou ſanctifieſt me by thy Spirit, and hereafter thou wilt glorifie me in everlaſting life. I will love thee p. 79then with all hearty affection, and wholly accurſed ſhall I account him, that ſhall practice the contrary. For my Saviours ſake, I will deprive my ſelfe of all things; I will account them all as dung: for thou haſt loved me, not ſimply the firſt, or before I knew thee, but Alas! Even then when I was of the number of thine enemies. And to ſum up all, art not thou Lord, the Soveraigne Good? Without thee, and out of thee is there any thing amiable? Let the world love it ſelfe, let men be Idolaters of their concupiſcences, of their goods, of their lives, p. 80and of their reputations on earth. As for me Lord, if I hate not all things for thy ſake, and in caſe thou ſo requireſt, and that it be expedient for thy glory, I am moſt aſſured, that I am unworthy of thee.

I will love thee, O my God; and give me grace to put my whole truſt and confidence in thee onelyonly, and ſo to repoſe and relie upon thy goodneſſe and holy providence, that from thee onelyonly almighty and moſt gracious, I may hope for, and expect patiently whatſoever is expedient and neceſſary for me. Curſed be the man that truſteth p. 81in man, that maketh fleſh his arme, and whoſe heart withdraweth it ſelfe from the Lord, It is better Lord, to cleave unto thee, then to truſt in the Princes of the people. Let worldlings and the reprobate live full of diffidence and diſtruſt, let them be bereau'd of judgement in their adverſitie, let them be daunted and forlorne in the firſt difficultie that befalls them: let them have recourſe to unlawfull meanes, and thoſe that are forbidden by thy Word: As for me, O God of my ſalvation, in thee only will I place my hope, that I may not be confounded. p. 82Yea, rather thus beholding with a ſetled and fixed eye what ere ſhall come to paſſe, I ſhall abide ſtedfaſt as y^e mountaine of thy holines.

But, O my God, horrid ſhould my condemnation be, if I hoorded up in my heart the precious gift of thy knowledge: how inexcuſable my proceeding if I ſhould boaſt of thy feare, of thy love, without my teſtifying thereof in my outward actions? I beſeech thee then ſo to ſtrengthen me, that I may ſhew forth by an holy converſation, that it is thou Lord, that ſanctifieſt me by thy ſpirit: Touch my ſoule, worke ſo p. 83in my heart, and in my conſcience, that I may be freed from hypocriſie, that my religion may not be a cloke to vaile from men the irregularitie of my paſſions, the violence of mine affections: but that being well ordered in my mind, from thence, as out of a purified fountaine may flow forth the ſtreames of all ſorts of good works, agreable to thy Word, meet for thy glory; and profitable to my neighbours, befitting my Vocation, and unto my ſalvation. To this end, O Lord, I beſeech thee that thou wilt be pleaſed to give me courage to teſtifie p. 84what I have in my heart by my outward actions, that I may glorifie thee every where and upon all occaſions, in making free and publike profeſſion of thy Truth: That I may not be aſhamed of thy Word: that I may not paſſe by thy bountie in ſilence, but that I may ſhew forth thy ſtrength, even from thee, Lord, that haſt called me out of darkneſſe into thy marvelous light; that with my mouth I may give unto thy works praiſe conformable to the judgment and approbation, I have already made of them in my ſoule: that I may never p. 85ceaſe to magnifie thee, and that my heart may take no other pleaſure but to ſee thee glorified in the world. For if even the liveleſſe creatures celebrate thee, why ſhould I thorow ingratitude be mute in the acknowledgment of thy benefits? Wherefore Lord, haſt thou given me a tong, but chiefly to ſerve as an inſtrument to bleſſe and praiſe thee? And that I may ſpeak nothing, but what may tend to thy glory? Let me not take thy Name in vaine, nor give my ſelf to evill ſpeaking, nor detraction: let no rotten ſpeech go forth of my p. 86mouth, but let all my talke tend to edification. Moreover, O Lord, give and enable me to confeſſe, not only in proſperity, and whilſt all things ſmile upon me according to the world, but even in the greateſt adverſity: that even in the midſt of perſecution, if it pleaſe thee not to exempt me from the ſame, I may anſwer alwayes with meeknes and reverence every one that ſhall demaund of me a reaſon of the hope that is in me. I know Lord, that very great is my weakneſſe, but is thy hand ſhortened or leſſe ſtrong for me then for the reſt of thy children? p. 87Is it thou that art pleaſed to perfect thy ſtrength in our weaknes and infirmity? Thou wilt give me then the conſtancie and that perſeverance which ſhall be neceſſary for me; that without feare, and without being troubled, I may be happy in ſuffering for righteouſnes.

Give me grace alſo that all my actions may be void of vanity, and preſumption, accompanied and ſeaſoned with humility and reverence, that I may humble my ſelfe under thy mighty hand, that the world may ſee, I wholly depend on thy goodnes and mercy; that p. 88I hold my life, being, and all things of thee only; that thou only haſt the power to do with me thy poore and miſerable creature, what ſhall ſeem good unto thee.

And ſeeing thou haſt given me to feare thee, and to love thee; give me alſo the ſtrength to do what thou haſt commanded me, to avoid what thou haſt forbidden me, enable me to order my life according to thy commandements, thou haſt given us in thy Law: As alſo, Lord, in that which diſpleaſeth thee, it may be ſeen, that I have thy feare, and that I have thy p. 89love, whilſt I do that which thou requireſt of me. Thy feare ſhall eſtrange me from that familiarity which hath no place but amongſt companions, and ſhall containe me within that reſpect which I ow unto thee, and thy love ſhall exempt me from that feare, which ſhall euer ceaze upon thine enemies.

Laſtly, O my God, above all the things which in all humility I deſire of thee, I beſeech thee that often thou wouldſt often graunt the leaſure and deſire to call upon thee, as thou now haſt done. Thou doſt familiarly ſpeak to me by thy p. 90Word, graunt that I may confidently ſpeak to thee by my prayers: that often I may withdraw my ſelfe apart, that I may ſhut my ſelf up in my cloſet, to impart unto thee my griefs, to confeſſe unto thee my ſinnes, to bewaile before thee my poverty, and my miſerie, and to implore from thee thine aſſiſtance and thy mercy; For Lord, prayer wilbe unto me an unſpeakable comfort, as an evident teſtimonie, that thou haſt not left me to my ſelf, that I am in the number of thy children, that thou wilt bleſſe me, and powre forth upon me thy p. 91mercy; and after I have called upon thee, I ſhall carry my ſelf in my vocation with much more zeale: ſtanding upright with thee I will not feare the world: having diſcharged my conſcience in thy preſence, I will march with my head born aloft: having carefully recommended my ſelf unto thy guidance, I ſhall have reſt in my ſoule, and ſhalbe moſt aſſured, that notwithſtanding the rage and ſubtilty of all mine enemies, which are alſo thine, thou wilt give me to continue faithfully my life in thy feare, and end it in thy holy favour, even then when out p. 92of this vale of miſery thou wilt receive me into thy glory unto everlaſting and moſt happy reſt.

Another Prayer.

8. O Lord, our gracious God, and almighty Father, as thou haſt alwaies thy hand opē to do us good thy wil is, that our mouthes likewiſe ſhould be ſo heartily to render unto thee thankſgiving: Now then we praiſe and bleſſe thee for that thou haſt ſo graciouſly preſerved us unto this preſent houre, by reaſon of our ſinnes our life is expoſed to an infinitnes of p. 93inconveniences, and in the mean time we ſtill ſubſiſt, and are filled with thy good things. Our being and our welbeing, Lord, we ſhould hold it of thee, we ow it to thy free grace and meere mercy: to thee alone for the ſame be all glory for evermore. But, O our moſt gracious God, it is moſt neceſſary for us, that thou continue thy gracious favours unto us: otherwiſe what thou haſt hitherto done for us, would turn to our confuſion. Leave us not then, for then we ſhall periſh, thou haſt created and redeemed us, not to deſtroy us, but that p. 94we might have eternall life. Shed forth then upon us thy more eſpeciall favours, and above all the grace of thy holy Spirit. Thou that haſt waſht us from our ſins in the precious bloud of thy Sonne: Sanctifie alſo our ſoules by thy Word, and according to thy promiſe: For Lord, ſhall we enjoy Ieſus Chriſt and his benefits without our ſerving of thee, without magnifying of thee? And what honour ſhall we render unto thee, or what acknowledgment, unleſſe thou thy ſelf confer upon us both the will and hability of performance? The will, and p. 95deſire to honour thee: We already have of thy free grace, give us alſo the power of performance. Give it us Lord with efficacy, and according to thy good pleaſure: graunt it unto us, and at the moſt humble and fervent requeſt which we make unto thee for the ſame. Give us not over neither to the malice of our enemies, nor to our own perverſnes, let neither of them hinder us in thy ſervice, nor let us not give them any ſubject of diſhonoring thee let our example ſerve for our converſion. That they ſeeing the holines of our lives may loſe their wils to p. 96hurt us, and may gain an affection to know thee aright: to acknowledg thee, O God, according to thy Truth, according to their duty. Let us not, O Lord, abuſe our health, and preſent proſperity. Grant we may imploy them to the glorifying of thee, and to the advancement of thy work with faithfulnes, and every one according to his vocation whereunto thou haſt called us, above all that in the midſt of our greateſt repoſe we may prepare our ſelves for afflictions, to the houre of death, and for the fruition of our eternall reſt. When thou ſhalt viſit vsus p. 97with thy rods, that it may be in thy mercy, and for our amendment, when thou ſhalt call us, that it may be in thy grace, and for our ſalvation, whether in proſperity or in adverſity, whether ſound, or ſick, whether living or dying, we may evermore confeſſe thy truth, and do nothing which may be unworthy of our profeſſion, nothing which not ſeriouſly teſtifies our repentance for our ſinnes, our deſire of thy grace, our ſeeking of thy glory, the peace of our ſoules, the comfort of our conſciences, and the aſſurance of our ſalvation in thy welbeloved Sonne p. 98IESVS CHRIST.

In his Name we further pray thee to conferre the ſame good things on all our kinsfolks and friends: call unto thee thoſe that know thee not, and ſtrengthen thoſe that already have thy feare. Eſtabliſh, maintaine every where, and make effectuall the Miniſterie of thy Word for the converſion & conſolation of al thine Elect, and for the enlarging of thy glory, & of the Kingdome of Ieſus Chriſt. Keep our King, and all His: grant Him a long Raigne in thy feare and for the good of of thy Church. Let his ſubjects O Lord, and above all, p. 99we, who are inſtructed by thy Goſpell, render unto him, and unto all our Superiours all obedience, unto which thy Word obligeth us. Make thine own ſenſible of the bitternes of thine afflictions, & rejoyce them alſo in the ſweetneſſe of thy comforts: ſo moderate and terminate thy corrections, that they may be wholſome unto them: Above all we beſeech thee for them which have need of thy ſuccours in this Church, deny them not thine aſſiſtance, heare their prayers and ours, comfort them and deliver them, that they and we may praiſe p. 100thee: ſolacing our ſelves in thy goodnes. And becauſe O God, it is onelyonly our ſins which are able to hinder us from hoping to receive from thee that which we ask of thee, as thou pardoneſt us our ſins in thy Son, graunt us grace voluntarily to renounce all iniquitie, ſo ſhal not the courſe of thy grace be interrupted: ſo ſhall we have experience both in our prayers of the Truth of thy promiſes, and in our whole life: Yea even unto the laſt gaſp therof, the continuance of thy fatherly mercy, in the ſame thy welbeloved Sonne, in whoſe Name, &c.

p. 101A Prayer for him, who after he hath beene worthily prepared to receive the holy Communion, approcheth to the Lords Table.

9. O My God, O my Father, I have had experience of thy mercy in the whole courſe of my life, eſpecially ſince thou gaveſt me the knowledge of thy Truth, and of my ſalvation, and at this preſent time Lord, thou openeſt before me the treaſure of all thy riches, thou preſenteſt and offer'ſt unto me whole Ieſus Chriſt, with all his benefits. p. 102Seeing then O God of my ſalvation, ſeeing thou wilt, that I ſhould obey thy Word, that I ſhould draw neare unto thy Table: Alas ſuffer not, nor permit that it ſhalbe to my condemnation: But O good God, far be it from me, that I ſhould admit any ſuch feare: For thou haſt touched my heart with ſerious repentance. I am right ſenſible, that thou ſtrengtheneſt my faith, and reacheſt forth unto me thy hand thy ſelfe to receive me this day, thou that art the Authour of my ſalvation. O happy day wherein I proteſt before thee to deteſt p. 103my ſinnes, to renounce mine iniquity, to be admitted unto the participation of the Sacrament of the New Teſtament. Good God, give me now the grace to ſhew forth the death of my Saviour: grant that in his ſufferings I may diſcern how great was thy wrath, how exact thy juſtice againſt our ſinnes, ſeeing that to blot them out, thou haſt not ſpared thine owne Sonne: Graunt alſo I may acknowledg thankfully thy infinite mercy towards us, in that for us thine enemies, thou haſt given unto death the juſt, thine onelyonly Sonne. But, p. 104Lord, give me to admire the never to be paralel'd love, which thy Sonne beareth me, in that he hath undergone both my ſins, and thy wrath, to affoord unto me the food of eternall life. O how wonderfull art thou in thy bounties? Seeing that this day thou wilt by viſible and ſacred ſignes augment my joy, and preſent to the view of mine eyes thy celeſtiall and inviſible graces. At this inſtant thou wilt give me an aſſured pledge of my conjunction with Ieſus Chriſt. And by him with thee, O my Father, as alſo with thy holy Spirit: Now ſhall I p. 105be aſſured, that Chriſt is in me, and I in him. O excellent Vnion, ſith it bringeth to paſſe, that I have peace with thee, that Ieſus Chriſt taketh upon him all my evill, and beſtoweth on me all his benefits, that he quickneth me by his Holy Spirit, that I am united unto all the faithfull, that nothing ſhall ſeparate me from thy love, that none ſhall pluck me neither out of the hands of my Saviour, nor out of the boſome of his Church. I feare neither my ſins; for behold here the bloud of my Saviour, which blotteth them out: nor thy wrath, for loe here the ſeale p. 106of my reconciliation with thee: nor the Devill, for behold here Chriſt who hath overcome: Nor death, for this day I receive the Sacrament of life everlaſting, this day is promiſe made unto me, and the ſcale of it is given me, that the heavens are opened unto me, that my habitation ſhalbe in the houſe of God for ever.

Lord increaſe my faith, Lord raiſe up my heart unto thee, graunt that unto thy glory, graunt that unto ſalvation, I may comprehend the excellency and the benefit of theſe things, and that thence I may take up p. 107a firm reſolution to renounce the world, to walk therein as a pilgrim, as keeping on my way towards my Saviour, to draw unto him my neighbours, to edifie them by mine example, to adhere to thy Truth, to continue their profeſſion thereof againſt the rage, and againſt the ſubtilties of all the enemies of thy Truth to my ſingular comfort, even unto the laſt gaſp of my life. Amen.

p. 108A Thanksgiving to be rendred unto God, after we have been partakers of the holy Communion.

10. LOrd my God, how is my ſoule raviſht in contemplation of the good things, which thou commeſt to give me thy poore ſervant. Alas, Lord, I am farr leſſe then the leaſt of thy mercies, and then all the truth thou uſeſt towards me, it is thou that aſſureſt me that thy Sonne, that thine onelyonly Sonne died for me; It is thou that haſt given me the ſeales of thine p. 109inviolable Covenant. But what ſay I the ſeales? O God, thou knoweſt what ardor I feele at this preſent within me, an aſſured teſtimonie, that Ieſus Chriſt is come to dwell in my heart, by the precious faith thou haſt given me: Yea, Lord, I feele that he dwelleth in me, I feele he engraveth in my heart the efficacie of his death and paſſion, he died once upon the Croſſe for my ſinnes: But he liveth for ever in my heart for my ſalvation. I know it, I beleeve it, with as much certainty as with truth, I have been partaker of the outward ſignes of thy grace, p. 110O let my ſoule enjoy ſo great repoſe, againſt her enemies, O let it have an unſpeakeable contentment in thy mercy: As Ieſus Chriſt died for me, let Ieſus Chriſt live in me. O God it is ſo: for thou wilt have it ſo, for I am ſenſible of it, and my faith is greatly ſtrengthened. Surely, Lord, thou wilt be my God for ever, for thou art with me, thou giveſt me the bread of life, thou cloatheſt me with the innocency and righteouſnes of thy Son. O good God, finiſh in me thine own work, thou haſt reſcued me out of the dangers of eternall death, thou haſt aſſured p. 111me of moſt happy reſt, graunt me, Lord, yet this period unto my prayer, that I may not repay thee with ingratitude, that I may not die in ſin, but may live to righteouſnes, that I may deny my ſelfe, may edifie my neighbours, may conſecrate my ſelf to thy glory, that in the ſobriety, righteouſnes, and religion of my life, I may affect nothing ſo heartily, have nothing ſo often before mine eyes, as my leaving of this world: And whilſt thou preſerveſt me therein, O God, as long as thou keepeſt me in the ſame, I may expect with all thine Elect, the moſt bleſſed p. 112hope and appearance of the glory of the great God, which is our Saviour Ieſus Chriſt, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghoſt be honour and glory from this time and for evermore. Amen.

A Confeſſion.

11. O Lord God, Eternall and Almighty Father, we confeſſe and acknowledge unfainedly before thy ſacred Majeſtie, we are poore miſerable ſinners, conceived and born in iniquity and corruption, inclined unto evill doing, unprofitable unto every p. 113good work; and that by our ſins we tranſgreſſe continually and without ceaſing all thy holy Commandements: In doing wherof we purchaſe to our ſelves by thy juſt judgment deſtruction and utter ruine. Yet Lord, we are diſpleaſed with our ſelves for having diſpleaſed & offended thee, we condēn ourſelves & our ſins, with true repentance, humbly praying thy grace may relieve our miſery and calamity. Have mercy then upon us, O God, and moſt gracious Father and full of mercy, for Ieſus Chriſts ſake, thy Sonne, our Lord. And blotting out our ſins p. 114and blemiſhes, inlarge in us and increaſe daily the graces of thy Holy Spirit; that we acknowledging heartily all our unrighteouſnes, may bee toucht with true diſpleaſure which may beget in us ſound repentance, which mortifying us unto all ſinne, may bring forth the fruits of righteouſneſſe and innocency, which may be acceptable and wel pleaſing unto thee, thorough the ſame Ieſus Chriſt, thy welbeloved Sonne, our Saviour. Amen.

p. 115A Morning Prayer.

12. O Lord God, Eternall Father, ſeeing it hath pleaſed thee to bring us ſafely unto this preſent day, be pleaſed alſo to give us grace we may paſſe the ſame without offending thee, and what ere we ſhall do, ſay, or think, may be to the glory and praiſe of thy Name; and edification of our neighbours. And look not Lord, upon our infirmities, upon our ſinnes, and on our unthankfulneſſe: But looke upon thine accuſtomed goodnes; and according p. 116to the ſame, turn not away thy face from us, but ever hold us up by thy hand, that we fall not from thee at all: and let not thoſe threatnings which thou haſt pronounced againſt them, that have knowne thee, and have not glorified thee as they ought, fall upon us. But Lord, hold us ever in thy feare, and forſake us not; teach us to do thy will, and give us the will and the power to do it, for without thee we can do nothing.

Above all, Lord make us alwayes with our whole hearts imbrace the memory and the merit of the death p. 117of thy Sonne: And eſpecially when the houre of our owne death ſhall come, graunt that in the ſame we may have ſuch faith, recourſe, and aſſurance, that we may be in the ranke of thoſe which die in the Lord. And even then alſo graunt us that we may leave this world without all diſcontent thereat, and that all our deſire may be to be with thee. Alſo Lord, thou haſt taught us to pray that thy Kingdome may come, be pleaſed to advance forward the ſame; and in ſo doing touch our Kings heart, and the hearts of his Councill, and illuminate p. 118them with thy brightneſſe, that thou maiſt be King, and rule every where: And that thine enemies may be made thy footſtoole: looke downe Lord in mercy upon all the poore afflicted ones, perſecuted and oppreſſed, eſpecially for thy Word; Deliver them, O good God, as thou haſt begun, from their enemies and thine, that thy children may be comforted and confirmed in their faith and hope, and that the wicked may learne to ceaſe from their blaſpheming of thee: And that they may know that thou art the King of Kings, and p. 119the Lord of Lords Lord be mercifull unto us poore and miſerable ſinners: Give gladneſſe unto our ſoules, give ſuccours unto thy Church, for it is time; O God, which art the God of Peace and of comfort, give us that true peace, which is the repoſe of our conſciences. In the meane time reforme our diſorders and confuſions, as it ſhalbe expedient for thy glory and our ſalvation, ſo that avoiding the ſurpriſes and practiſes which may be made againſt us by our enemies, we may ſerve thee in all ſecurity and tranquillity according to thy holy will. p. 120All the which things we aske, and moſt humbly crave of thee in the Name, and for thy beloved Sonne our Lord Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, praying unto thee as it hath pleaſed him to teach and ſhew us how to call upon thee, ſaying:

Our Father which art in heaven, &c.

An Evening Prayer.

13. O Lord God, eternal and Almighty Father, who haſt made & formed us with thine owne hands, that knoweſt of what matter we are faſhioned and made, and reſerveſt to p. 121ſelfe, as Lord and Maſter, the prerogative of ſounding and ſearching of the hearts of thy creatures, even unto their moſt retired thoughts. We cannot denie before thee this truth, namely; that we are poore ſinners, conceiv'd and born in iniquitie and corruption, inclined to do evill, unprofitable unto every good work, and that thorow our vitious diſpoſition wee tranſgreſſe continually and without ceaſing thy holy and heavenly Commandements, in doing wherof we purchaſe to our ſelves thy juſt judgment, our utter ruine and deſtruction. Yet p. 122Lord, we are grieved in our ſelves for the ſame.

O Lord God, who haſt created the day for our travell and the night for our reſt, pardon us if we have not imployed the day to thy ſervice in performing thy holy will and ordinance, and grant we may paſſe the night without offending thee, even that we may remaine unpolluted both in body and ſoule, to the end that in the morning for our firſt work we may praiſe thee, and give thanks unto thee, and diſpoſe our ſelves unto thy ſervice. And becauſe Lord, that in the night ſeaſon our p. 123afflictions preſſe ordinarily more then in the day, and we have leſſe ſuccors from men; re-inforce, Lord, thy Guard over us, and behold with pitie and compaſſion all thy poore, afflicted, perſecuted and oppreſſed ones, eſpecially for thy Word; deliver them, O good God, as thou haſt begun, from their enemies, and thine, that thy children may be comforted and confirmed in their faith and hope, and the wicked may learn to blaſpheme thee no more: but that they may know; that thou art the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Lord be mercifull unto us p. 124poore and miſerable ſinners, give joy to our ſoules, give relief to thy Church, for it is high time. O God, which art the God of peace and conſolation, give us that true peace, which is the repoſe of our conſciences: In the meane while remedie our diſorders and confuſions, as ſhall be expedient for thy glory, and our ſalvation: So that avoiding the ſurpriſes and deceitfull practiſes, which may be made againſt us by our enemies, we may ſerve thee in all ſecurity and tranquillity according to thy holy will. All the which things we ask and crave of thee p. 125moſt humbly, in the Name, and for the ſake of thy welbeloved Sonne, our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, according as it hath pleaſed him to informe and teach us to pray unto thee, ſaying:

Our Father which art in heaven, &c.

The bleſſing of our gracious God and Father, the peace and grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt remaine evermore with us, in the Communion of the Holy Ghoſt. Amen.

Another Morning Prayer.

13. O Lord God, and moſt gracious Father, p. 126I thy poore creature, that naturally am wrapt in darkneſſe, durſt not lift up mine eyes towards thee, that inhabiteſt inacceſſible light, were it not that thy deare Sonne, who is the brightnes of thy glory, hath made way for me to the Throne of thy Grace by the effuſion of his precious bloud. And now my God, I acknowledge that it is a great benefit, that I that am unworthy to live upon the face of the earth, and have deſerved by my ſins to be caſt for ever into utter darknes, have this happines to ſee the light of the day, and of the Sun, and to p. 127behold the works of thy hands with the fruition of the good things of the earth, which thou haſt given me. But becauſe, O gracious God, thy Sun ſhines as well on the bad, as on the good, and that this light is but to guide my body, be pleaſed O God, that the brightnes of thy face may ſhine upon me, in bleſſing me, and enlighten my underſtanding by regenerating and ſanctifying me, that I may walk in the way of thy Commandements, that in my Calling I may in ſuch ſort carry my ſelf, as that all my words, deeds, and thoughts may be correſpondent p. 128to thy honour and glory, and to the edification of my neighbours. Lord, thou haſt drawne me out of the darknes of idolatrie and ignorance, thou haſt taken away the vaile of ſuperſtition from before myne eyes, thou haſt alſo even in my time cauſed to ſhine forth, and as it were lighted againe that lamp of the preaching of thy Goſpell. But ſuffer me not, that having eyes, not to ſee with them: But Lord, inlighten all the parts of my ſoule, and graunt that what ere is in me, may be imployed to give thee all honour and obedience; that p. 129in my Calling thy feare may before mine eyes: And becauſe thou eſteemeſt not thy ſelfe to be loved of us, unleſſe we love our neighbours, imprint in me a faith working by love, in ſuch ſort, that with confidence I may have a good conſcience, doing nothing to any other, but what I would ſhould be done to my ſelfe: Let me have a mercifull and a relenting heart, let not my bowels be ſtraitened towards the needy and poore: Laſtly that ſeeing the ſhape of this world to paſſe away, I may uſe it as a paſſenger, remembring ever that my p. 130freedome is in heaven. Give me peace in my family, give a bleſſing upon my labour, contentment to my mind, repoſe and comfort to the poore afflicted, and full deliverance to thy Church by thy Sonne Ieſus. Amen.

Another Prayer for the Evening.

15. O Lord God, thy People Iſrael offered unto thee Evening and Morning Sacrifices in token of acknowledgment unto thee, that keepeſt us both morning and evening; but what more acceptable p. 131ſacrifice can we offer unto thee then our contrite hearts and tongues to praiſe and bleſſe thee? Wherefore Lord, in all humility and reverence I preſent my ſelf before thy face: beſeeching thee, thou wilt be pleaſed not to enter into account, nor into judgment with me thy poore creature, for whether thou lookeſt upon the firſt, or on the ſecond Table of thy Commandements, thou wilt find that I have offended thee many wayes. Yet as the child hath alwaies recourſe to his father, I have my refuge and my retrait unto thee O Lord, which art p. 132ſlow unto anger, and of great compaſſion, beſeeching thee by thy goodnes to cover my ſins, as all things are covered thorow the darknes ſpread over the earth. Alas, my God, I know Satan goeth round about us as a roaring Lion, I know he is the governour of the darknes, and Prince of this world: But withall if thou be for me, who ſhalbe againſt me? It is thou that haſt thouſands of Angels that are encamped round about us: It is thou that haſt created the Sun begetting heat, and the Moone affording coolenes: It is thou that governeſt p. 133the whole frame of nature, and never ſlumbereſt: Be pleaſed then to graunt me the favour to take my reſt this night in peace, not to ſuffer a ſleepe unto the things of the earth, but more and more to acknowledg thankfully thy goodnes, untill thou calleſt me unto that ſo greatly to be deſired reſt which thou haſt prepared for us; O how ſweet and amiable will that dwelling be to us, when in our graves we ſhall heare the voice of thy Sonne to raiſe us up unto glorious immortalitie. But in the mean time whilſt we expect that laſt comming, p. 134we commend unto thee, O heavenly Father, the peace and preſervation of thy Church, our Superiours, and Magiſtrates, and all them that have need of thy ſuccours: beſeeching thee that in this decrepit age of the world, wherein all the kingdomes of the earth do ſtagger, thou wilt be the prop and ſhoare of thy poore people, and in ſtead of the ſo many dolorous dayes and yeares which we have ſeen, we may ſee ſome reſt in the midſt of thy Church. Raiſe up, Lord, ſome nurſing father, and ſome retrait for thy children, that an over-violent p. 135oppreſſion trample them not under foot, and this for thy beloved Son our Lord Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, in whom I truſt, and on whom I repoſe my ſelfe. Amen.

A Prayer in the time of the Plague.

16. LOrd, whoſe infinite power ſeemeth ſmall, being compared to thy mercy, turne thine eye of pitie upon us, and amidſt the dangers of this peſtilent infection, which threatneth us on every ſide, retaine and uphold our languiſhing lives, p. 136which without thy grace would vaniſh to nothing, and be turned to corruption in a moment. With the ſame mercy, wherewith thou haſt cleanſed our ſoules, conſecrating them to thy ſervice by the badge of ſacred Baptiſme, repurge and cleanſe our bodies to ſerve as cleane veſſels unto our ſoules, and to co-operate in the myſterie of thy praiſe. Thou dreweſt light out of the bottomleſſe deep by thy power, thou draweſt away the darkeneſſe which obſcured the earth: Purge away now again by y^e ſame light the noiſomnes and corruption of the ayre, p. 137and in ſuch wiſe powre forth thy grace, that we may breath to our ſafety and preſervation. Lord, thou haſt juſtly ſuffered for the puniſhment of our ſins this poiſon and contagious venome to raigne with power over our bodies. But ſeeing thy deare and onelyonly beloved Sonne hath blotted out with his bloud the ſin which had provoked thee, he ſhould withall have drowned the ſcourges appointed for the puniſhment. We fall againe every day into the gulfe, whereout thou haſt drawne us, we renounce by our evill life the grace thou haſt p. 138given us. It is true, Lord, that if thou wilt judge us in thy juſtice, we have but to be ſilent and to ſuffer: but we implore thy mercy, greater yet then all our ſins: thy mercy Lord, which cannot bee invoked in vaine. It ſufficeth that we lift up our eyes unto thee, it ſufficeth that we ſigh, & turne our heart unto thee, ſo ſoone as we feele thee preſent, and neare unto us. But without thee, Lord, we cannot move towards thee. Take us then my God, and inſpire into us this wholſome motion: In the ſequell whereof we ſhall undoubtedly have what ere p. 139we crave of thee, in the name of thy precious Son our Saviour Ieſus Chriſt. Sith then that in his name we ask of thee the health of our bodies, preſerve them, my God, from the danger wherein they are, make the ayre we breath, the water we drink, the victuals we uſe, the garments wherewith we cloath our ſelves, may be inſtruments of health to our life, remove farr from us in every thing what is impure and peſtelent, fortifie the ſpirits that animate our bodies, to the end to be able to reſiſt all the infection, they may encounter, to overcome, and p. 140ſurmount the ſame. Give us firme and undaunted courage, to wit, relying and reſting on thy grace, thorough the which we may be enabled to paſſe without apprehenſion, the dangers amidſt the which it pleaſeth thee that we live, and make us continually ſenſible of thy comfort, by which we may be guided with a quiet mind thorough the midſt of theſe worldly miſeries, maintaining evermore that lively hope in our hearts, that giving thee the glory which is due to thy holy Name, we may arrive in the end to that which thou haſt p. 141promiſed to thine Elect. Amen.

A Prayer upon the Creation.

17. LOrd God, who haſt created all for thy glory, eſpecially man to be the principall inſtrument thereof, and haſt moreover received him unto the greateſt honour, aſſuring him, that he ſhall obtaine what ere he ſhall ask of thee in true faith and charity, raiſe up my thoughts, purifie my heart, ſanctifie my tongue, to the end I may ſing worthily thy praiſes, render unto thy p. 142bounty the thanksgivings which are due thereunto, and ask that which is neceſſary for my ſalvation, and convenient and meet for the advancement of thy glory. This Lord, I cannot do, but thorough thy favorable aſſiſtance. Not onelyonly all good commeth forth from thee, but even the hability to ask it. As then with fierie tongues thou openedſt the lips of thine Apoſtles, purge now this of a poore humble ſinner, and inſtruct my heart to ask of thee what may be pleaſing unto thee. Give me a new ſpirit, which may know how to conceive p. 143that good which is to be praied for from thee, which therin may take content, which may therin confirm and entertaine it ſelfe, not floting and wavering, but firme and ſurely anchored in the faith of thy promiſes and aſſurance of thy goodnes, as in that ſafe and calm haven, whither ought to be ſteared the whole equipage of all our deſires: looking alwayss for our moſt aſſured ſtar the merit of thy moſt deare Sonne our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, by the interceſſion of whom we cannot fall from any of our hopes: unto him I ſay be glory and honour for ever and ever. Amen.

p. 144A Morning Prayer.

18. O Light of lights, which haſt diſperſed the darkneſſe to bring light into the world, and to give man for a mirrour the beauty of thy works, and the elegant varietie of formes wherewith thou haſt diſtinguiſht them, and as thou now bringeſt upon the earth the brightnes of the day and of the Sun, bring alſo Lord, upon my ſoule the brightnes of thy holy Spirit, that according to the meſure, that my arms ſhalbe imployed for the maintenance of my body, p. 145the thoughts of my ſoule may be engaged in the invocating of thy holy grace, thorow the conduct wherof wee may walke ſo on thorough the wayes of this ſenſuall and corruptible world, that I may not go aſtray from the celeſtiall and incorruptible. That if my ſenſes deceived by the pleaſing baites, and delicious objects which offer themſelves in the world, would ſeduce my reaſon: hold them back Lord, by the hope of pleaſures infinitely greater, which are propoſed to them which live according to thy holy will, and by the feare of the p. 146paines … number, … …out meaſure, which … them that forſake the way of thy commandements, to follow that of their fleſh. And ſeeing that to lead me to thy mercy, thou haſt been pleaſed that the Author of light, that eternall wiſedome came downe upon earth, and there abode for a time, that he might converſe amongſt us to light the lamp of our ſoules, by the fire of thy holy Word: Infuſe, Lord, by the ſame bounty, the cleare light which thou haſt put therein by the operation of thy holy Spirit, that in thy wedding day, p. 147we finding our ſelves adorned with the wedding garment of thy grace, we may be led into the participation of thy celeſtiall glory.

A Prayer for the Evening.

19. LOrd, in as much as thine unſearchable wiſdome hath been pleaſed to divide our whole life into labour and reſt; and every one of our dayes into light and darknes, and yet appointeſt them both to ſerve thy glory: Now at this houre, that it hath pleaſed thee to ſhut in this day. and to call me from my labour to ſleepe, I lift up my hands unto thee, and offer unto thee for an Evening p. 148Sacrifice my heart and my tongue, and revolving and ruminating in my thoughts that favour wherewith thou haſt from morning unto this evening ſuſtained my life, conducted my actions, guided my ſteps, directed my hands, governed my thoughts, turned away the temptations of the world; I forme in my voice, in the beſt manner I am able, a thankſgiving and ſong of praiſe to thy infinite goodneſſe. And therefore, albeit I know well that in my works there is a great deale more want then good, yea not to file upon the account, but p. 149that which proceedeth from my ſelf, the whole muſt needs be damnable. I conjure thy ſacred mercy, that it will make them acceptable by powring forth on them that infinite grace which thy deare Son hath purchaſed for the world, which alone giveth perfection and ſanctification unto all the actions of men. Now that I go to yeeld my eyes unto ſleepe, graunt my body may take reſt in bed, my ſoule withall may repoſe in the boſome of thy Son Ieſus Chriſt. And thy Holy Spirit watching over me, may remove far away frō me all unclean concupiſcences, p. 150fooliſh imaginations, and uncouth dreames, and deliver me from all feare, ſaving from that of thy ſacred and ſevere judgment; and ſo moderate the courſe of my ſleep, that repairing my ſtrength of body, it may not lull it aſleep in idlenes, but let me awake at a fit houre, and exerciſe my ſelf in holy prayer thus all the dayes of my life, ſliding on one after another, untill it ſhall pleaſe thee to change this temporall into an eternall reſt, thorow the interceſſion of him, that hath purchaſed as with the price of his bloud, our SAVIOVR p. 151IESVS CHRIST. Amen.

A Prayer for our finall obtaining of victorie by Ieſus Christ.

20. O Almighty God, ſith we are filled with ſo many concupiſcences, which muſt needs pollute the pure and ſacred gifts of thy Holy Spirit, graunt we may take in good part the chaſtiſements which thou ſendeſt us to tame and bring under the ſaid concupiſcences: and that as we acknowledg thee to be our ſhepheard, we may yeeld up our ſelves to be governed by thy p. 152ſhepheards ſtaffe, profiting daily under thy chaſtiſements, and taſting in thy ſeveritie of thy bounty, that we may not be diſcouraged but walking on forward thorow miſ-reports and diſgraces; yea, even thorow the midſt of death for thy Names ſake, that we may rejoyce in thee, eſteeming all things loſſe, for the price of the knowledge of thy Sonne, who giveth the ſame Spirit that hath ſanctified us, which alſo ſtrengtheneth us: That being partakers of that unction of the Holy Ghoſt, we may withall be partakers of the victorie of thy Sonne p. 153IESVS CHRIST.

A Prayer for the preſervation of the Church.

21. ETernall Lord God, ſtrong, pitifull, mercifull, ſlow to anger, abundantly plentifull in thy free mercy and truth, keeping Covenant to a thouſand generations, taking away iniquity, tranſgreſſion, and ſin: We beſeech thee, that we may find favour before thine eyes, pardon our iniquities and our ſins, and poſſeſſe us, fill us with thy Spirit in wiſdome, in underſtanding, in knowledge, teach us that which p. 154we are to do, ſo that we may apply our hearts to thy Word, and may not hold on our courſe of ſinning, nor follow the multitude to do evill: But that we may ſeriouſly obey thy voice, keep thy covenant, may be ranked amongſt all people thy moſt precious jewell, although all the earth is thine, and we are unto thee a kingdome of Prieſts, and an holy Nation, dwell thou in the midſt of us, and be our God. Preſerve our houſes, and when thou ſhalt paſſe thorow the countrey …o ſtrike, and to exerciſe judgement, let there be no wound unto deſtruction p. 155among us, bedeaw with the bloud of the Lamb our threſhold and both our doore-poſts: look upon that bloud, and paſſe by the doore, and ſuffer not the deſtroyer to enter into our houſes to ſtrike, that we may know thou putteſt a difference between the Egyptians and the Iſraelites. Graunt thy children may grow and increaſe into exceeding great abundance, may be multiplied and reinforced mightily, ſo that even the earth may be repleniſhed with them, and the more it ſhall afflict them, the more they may multiplie in all abundance. p. 156Be moved with compaſſion towards them which ſigh and crie, let their crie come up unto thee, looke downe upon their affliction.

Another Prayer for the Church.

22. LOrd, thou takeſt no pleaſure in the death of a ſinner, but hadſt rather that he ſhould turne from his way and live. Powre not forth thy furie upon us, heape not thy wrath upon us, judge us not after our wayes; but let thine eye ſpare us, and have compaſſion upon us, for we p. 157are thy ſheep, the ſheep of thy paſture, and thou art our God. Hide not then thy face from us, but powre forth thy Spirit upon us. Graunt we may have all but one heart, and put into us a new ſpirit: Take from us our heart of ſtone, give us a heart of fleſh, that we may walk in thy ſtatutes, may keep thy ordinances, may do them, and be thy people, and thou our God. So ſhalt thou make known the Name of thy holines in the midſt of us, ſhalt be ſanctified in us, in the preſence of the Nations, and we will conſider in our hearts, will regard and look p. 158on with our eyes, will hearken unto with our eares what ere thou ſpeakeſt unto us, concerning all thy ordinances, and thy Lawes. Save thy flocke, that it may not become a prey; raiſe up Paſtors thy ſervants, that may feed it with wholſome food. And let them whom thou haſt ſet for watchmen in thine houſe hearken to the words of thy mouth, and give warning from thee. Give them a mouth opened amongſt us, that the ſheep which are diſperſed thorow y^e want of a ſhepheard, and which are expoſed to be devoured, and they which err, and are p. 159ſtrayed out of the way over the whole ſurface of the earth, may be drawn home, and gathered in, and that thou maieſt feed them, and give them reſt, ſeek out that which is loſt, bring back that which is driven away, bind up that which is broken, ſtrengthen that which is ſick, and thoſe that are afarr off amongſt the Nations, and thoſe that are ſcattered upon the earth, be thou unto them a ſafe Sanctuarie in the countries wherein they are. Sanctifie thy great Name, which hath been prophaned among the Nations, let them know that thou art the p. 160Lord, that thou maiſt be ſanctified among them, and that the earth may ſhine abroad with thy glorie.

A Prayer to be affected with Spirituall things, and to renounce the world.

23. LOrd we are rebellious againſt thy Truth, and have not been obedient to thy righteouſnes, nor have put in practiſe thy Law; whence our condemnation is juſt. Yet Lord, ſaith was imputed to Abraham for righteouſnes: Graunt it may be ſo alſo imputed to us, and that we may obtaine mercy: p. 161Seeing Chriſt died for us, and he is the end of the Law, righteouſnes unto all beleevers, and that whoſoever beleeveth in him, ſhall not be confounded. And for that they that are according to the fleſh, are affectioned to the things of the fleſh, but they that are according to the ſpirit, unto the things of the ſpirit: And in as much as the affection of the fleſh is death, but the affection of the ſpirit is life and peace. Let thy Spirit dwell in us, and let us put on the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and let us not be carefull for the fleſh to fulfill the luſts thereof: Knowing p. 162that Chriſt being riſen againe from the dead, dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over him: For in that he died, he died once for ſinne; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto thee. Alſo we ſumme up thus our account, that we are dead unto ſin, but live unto thee in Ieſus Chriſt our Lord: and that we ſhall appeare all before his judgment-Seat: and that every one of us ſhall render an account for himſelf.

Let then thy feare be before our eyes, having in horror all evill, & cleaving unto that which is good, that we lay no ſtumbling p. 163block or occaſion of falling before our brother, but may walk in charity, loving our neighbor as our ſelves, being fervent in ſpirit, ſerving thee, joyfull in hope, patient in tribulations, perſevering in prayer. That we may offer up our bodies as living ſacrifices, holy, and pleaſing unto thee, which is our reaſonable ſervice, and let us not faſhion our ſelves unto this preſent world: But let us be transformed by the renewing of our underſtanding, that we may ſearch out what thy good, pleaſant, and perfect wil is. And be it that we live, we may live unto thee; be it p. 164wv die, we may die unto thee; that whether we live, or whether we die, we may be thine: For therefore died Chriſt, and roſe againe, and returned unto life, that he might have dominion both over the dead and over the living. We commend unto thee all thy Churches, let the weak in faith be ſtrengthened, grant there may be the obedience of faith thorow out all nations. Let every knee bow before thee, and let every tongue give thee praiſe. Let all nations praiſe thee Lord, and let all people celebrate thee. Relieve the poore and afflicted, and make p. 165them partakers of ſpirituall good things. Furniſh them with the things of this life, aſſiſt them in every thing they ſtand in need of thorow Ieſus Chriſt.

Grace be with us, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Ieſus Chriſt.

A Thankeſgiving and a Prayer on the ſame ſubject.

24. O Our God and Father which raiſedſt from the dead Ieſus Chriſt, who gave himſelfe for our ſinnes, to the end, that according to thy will he might withdraw us out p. 166of this evill world. To thee be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 'Tis thou Lord, that haſt called us by thy grace, and haſt revealed unto us thy Sonne, who hath redeemed us from the curſe of the Law, when he was made a curſe for us, that we might receive the promiſe of the Spirit by faith, knowing that man is not juſtified by the works of the Law, but onelyonly by faith in Ieſus Chriſt, in whom we have believed that we might be juſtified by faith. Give us to obey thy Truth, furniſh us with thy Spirit, which may produce thy vertues in us. And becauſe p. 167we are thy children, ſend the Spirit of thy Sonne into our hearts, crying Abba Father; ſo that being thy children, we may be thine heires thorow Chriſt, and that we may walk according to y^e ſpirit, & not fulfil the luſts of the fleſh: becauſe what a man ſoweth, that ſhall he reape alſo. For he that ſoweth to the fleſh, ſhall reape of the fleſh corruption: But he that ſoweth to the Spirit, he ſhall reape of the Spirit life eternall. That we may live by the Spirit, and may walk alſo in the Spirit, the fruit whereof is love, joy, peace, patience, gentlenes, goodnes, p. 168faithfulnes, meeknes; temperance. And as they which are Chriſts, have crucified the fleſh with the Iuſts thereof, that we may be crucified with Chriſt, and may live not now we, but that Chriſt may live in us; and that what we now live in the fleſh, we may live in the faith of thy Son, who hath loved us, and gave himſelfe for us: that it might not happen unto us to glory in any thing ſave in the Croſſe of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, by whom the world may be crucified unto us, and we unto the world: And that in him we may be new p. 169creatures, not growing careleſſe of well doing, ſeeing we ſhall reape in due ſeaſon, if we grow not ſlacke. Wherefore whilſt we have time, let us do good unto al men, but eſpecially unto the houſhold of faith. And all they that ſhall walk according to this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon thy Iſrael O God. Work with efficacie by thoſe unto whom the preaching of the Goſpell is committed. That they which know thee not, and who ſerve thoſe that by nature are no gods, may know thee, and may be knowne of thee, and may p. 170not to be turned back to the weak and beggarly rudiments which they would ſerve. That all they that are baptiſed, may put on Chriſt, and that we may be all united in Ieſus Chriſt our Saviour.

Let thy grace be with our ſpirit. Amen.

A Prayer to be filled with Charitie.

25. LOrd, I beſeech thee I may abound in faith and charity, that I may yeeld up my ſelf wholly firſt unto thee, and then according to thy will unto my brethren: knowing the p. 171gracious favour of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, namely that he became poore for me, although he was rich, that by his poverty I might be made rich. That my abundance might ſupply their wāt, that I might have both a forwardnes of will thereunto, and an habilitie of bringing the ſame into action alſo, according to my meanes. That it may reliſh of bounty, not of cloſe-hand niggardlineſſe: Knowing that he that ſoweth ſparingly, ſhall alſo gather ſparingly: and he that ſoweth liberally, ſhall gather alſo liberally. That it may not be unwillingly or by conſtraint, p. 172ſeeing thou loveſt a chearefull giver: and art able to make to abound all grace in me, to the end that having alwayes all ſufficiencie in all things, I may be plentifull in every good work (as it is writ) he hath ſcattered abroad, he hath given to the poore: his righteouſnes abideth for ever. Now thou Lord, that giveſt ſeed to the ſower, be pleaſed alſo to give unto me bread to eat, and multiplie my wealth, augment the revenue of my righteouſnes, and that I may be enriched in all franknes of liberalitie.

p. 173The Kings Prayer. Samuel II.

26. LOrd, thou haſt anointed me to be King, thou haſt accepted me to be the Leader of thy People, be with me, be thou with me, be thou my Father, and I ſhalbe thy Son. Let not thy free mercy depart from me. Make an everlaſting Covenant with me. Keepe me whither ſoever I ſhall go. Protect me from the hand of all them that ſhall riſe up againſt me. Eſtabliſh the throne of my kingdome, bleſſe thou thy ſervants houſe, that it p. 174may be bleſſed for ever. Graunt my dominion over men may be juſt, that I may govern in thy feare: O God, and that I may raigne doing judgement and juſtice to all my people, even as thou haſt commanded me, and that I may be acceptable unto thee.

Another Prayer of the Kings. Chron. I.

27. O God, give me an upright & ſound heart, that I may keep thy commandements, and thy teſtimonies, and thy ſtatutes, that I may know and ſerve thee with an upright p. 175heart, and with a willing mind. For thou Lord ſearcheſt the hearts, and knoweſt all the imaginations of the thoughts thereof, graunt I may raigne doing judgment and juſtice to all thy people, that I may be thy Sonne, and that thou mayſt be unto me a Father. Eſtabliſh the throne of my Kingdome for ever. Be with me, that I may proſper, and build thy houſe, O Lord my God. Give me wiſdome and underſtanding, and teach me how to governe, and how I may keep thy Law, knowing that then I ſhall proſper, if I take heed to do thy ſtatutes p. 176and judgments which thou haſt commanded. Fortifie me, and double in me my ſtrength, keepe me whereſoever I go, bleſſe alſo thy ſervants houſe, that it may be alwayes before thee, and may be bleſſed for ever. Give peace and reſt unto thy people in my time. Graunt thy Name may abide firme, and be magnified for ever.

The Peoples Prayer for the King.

27. BLeſſed be thou, O Lord our God, that haſt accepted our King to ſet him upon the throne, p. 177becauſe thou haſt loved us, and haſt eſtabliſht him, to the end to do judgment and juſtice. Shew thy great mercy unto him, and that he may walk before thee in truth, in righteouſnes, and uprightnes of heart. Be with him, magnifie his Throne, lengthen his daies, and let him live for ever. Let there be peace to theewards alwayes for him, for his poſteritie, for his houſe, and for his Throne. Give him riches, and glory, ſo as there hath not been the like unto him amongſt Kings: Let him be greater then all the Kings of the earth, both in riches and in p. 178wiſdome: Let him walk in thy wayes, to keep thy ordinances, and thy commandements, and let there ever be in him divine wiſdome: Put his enemies under his feet: Give him reſt round about him, and let him have no adverſitie nor evill lucke. Let his people be very numerous, as the ſand which is on the ſea ſhore. Let him have peace round about him on every ſide, and let neither them nor their children turne back from thee, but keep thy commandements and thy ſtatutes, which thou haſt ſet before them, that men may know that thou p. 179art God in this Kingdome, and that we are thy ſervants.

A Prayer of the faithfull that fervently deſireth to participate in the publike exerciſes whereof he was deprived.

28. O Lord of Hoſts how amiable are thy Tabernacles! My ſoule ceaſeth not to deſire greatly, and even languiſheth after thy Courts, my heart and my fleſh leape for joy after thee, O mighty and living God. O how happy are they that dwell in thy houſe, which praiſe thee p. 180unceſſantly! O how happy is the man whoſe ſtrength is in thee, and they that go by troupes to preſent themſelves before thee in thy Temple! For better is a day in thy Courts, then a thouſand elſwhere. I had rather be a doore-keeper in thy houſe, O my God, then to dwell in the Tabernacles of the wicked. For Lord God, thou art unto us a Sunne and a ſhield: thou giveſt grace and glory, and withholdeſt no good thing from them that walk in integrity. O my God, I ſeek thee by the day breake, my ſoule thirſteth after thee: my fleſh deſireth thee as in p. 181a deſart land. I am athirſt, and without water to ſee thy face, and thy glory, as I have beheld thee in thy Sanctuary, for thy free mercy is better then life: therfore ſhall my lips praiſe thee: and ſo will I bleſſe thee whilſt I live, and will lift up my hands in thy Name. Satisfie my ſoule as it were with honie, and with fatnes, and let my mouth praiſe thee with a ſong of rejoicing. Be my helper, and I will rejoice in the ſhadow of thy wings. My ſoule ſhall cleave unto thee to follow thee, and thy right hand ſhall hold me up.

p. 182Another Prayer out of the ſecond Epiſtle of S^t. Iohn.

29. LOrd, cauſe thy Truth to abide in us, and to be alwayes with us, and let us be ever found walking in the Truth, according as we have received thy Commandement. Let us love one another, and walk according to thy commandements, taking heed unto our ſelves, that we loſe not that we have done, but rather that we may receive our full wages, and that our joy may be full.

Grace, mercy, and peace p. 183from God the Father, and from the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, the Sonne of the Father be with us in truth and love.