The Exaltation of the Soul, Prayer 100
A Morning Prayer for the Sabbath Day.
O Most High, O Eternal God, all whose works are glorious, all whose thoughts are very deep, there can be no better thing than to praise thy Name, and declare thy loving kindness in the morning, on thy holy and blessed Sabbath day, for it is thy Will and Commandment, that we should sanctifie this day in thy service, and praise him, and in the thankful remembrance of the Creation of the world, by the power of thy Word, so of the Redemption of mankind by the death of thy Son; thine, O Lord, I confess is greatness, and power, and glory, and victory, and praise, for all that is in Heaven and Earth is thine; thine is the Kingdom, O Lord, and thou excellest as head over all, both riches and honour come of thee, and thou raignest over all, and in thine hand is power and strength; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give grace unto all; now therefore, O my God, I praise thy glorious Name, that whereas I wretched sinner having so many waies provoked thy Majesty to anger and displeasure, thou notwithstanding of thy favour and goodness, passing by prophaneness and infirmities, hast vouchsafed, O heavenly Father, to add this Sabbath again to the number of my daies; and vouchsafe, O heavenly Father, for the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son, whose glorious Resurrection thy whole Church celebrateth this day, to pardon and forgive me all my sins and misdeeds; especially, O Lord, cleanse my soul from those filthy sins which my corrupt nature is most prone unto, with the blood of thy most pure and undefiled Lamb, and let thy Holy Spirit more and more subdue my corruptions, that I may be renewed after thine own Image, to serve thee in Righteousness, and true Holiness all the daies of our life; and as of thy mercy thou hast brought me safe to the beginning of this day, so I beseech thee to make it a day of Reconciliation betwixt my sinful soul and thy Divine Majesty; give me grace to make it a day of Repentance unto thee, that thy goodness may seal it to be a day of pardon unto me; and that I may remember, that the keeping holy of this, is a commandment which thine own finger hath written, that on this day I might meditate on thy glorious works of our Creation and Redemption, and learn how to keep all the rest of thy holy Laws and Commandments; and when anon I shall with the rest of the holy Assembly appear before thy presence, to offer unto thee our morning Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and to hear what thy Spirit, by the preaching of thy Word, shall speak unto thy servant, oh let not my sins stand as a cloud, to stop my prayers from ascending unto thee, or keep back thy grace from descending by thy Word into my heart. I know, O Lord, and tremble to think, that three parts of the good seed falls upon bad ground; O let not my heart be like the high way, which through hardness and want of true understanding receives not the seed, till the evil one cometh and catcheth it away; nor the stony ground, which heareth with joy for a time, but falleth away as soon as persecution ariseth for the Gospels sake; nor like the thorny ground, which by the cares of this world, and deceitfulness of riches choaketh the Word which it heareth, and maketh it altogether unfruitful; but that like unto the good ground, I may hear thy Word with an honest and a good heart, understand it, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience, in that measure that thy Divine Wisdom shall think meet for thy glory, and mine everlasting comfort. Open likewise, I beseech thee, O Lord, the door of utterance unto thy faithful servant, whom thou hast sent unto us to open our eyes, that we may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that we may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith in Christ; and give me grace to submit my self to his Ministry, as well when he terrifieth me with judgments, as when he comforteth me with thy mercies; and that I may have him in a singular love for his works sake, because he watcheth for my soul, as he that must give an account for the same unto his Master; and give me grace to behave my self in the holy Congregation with comeliness and reverence as in thy presence, and in the sight of thy holy Angels. Keep me from drowsiness and sleepiness, and from all wandring thoughts, and worldly imaginations; sanctifie my memory, that it may be apt to receive, and firm to remember those good and profitable doctrines which shall be taught unto us out of thy Word, and that through the assistance of thy holy Spirit, I may put the same lessons in practice, for my directions in prosperity, for my consolation in misery, for the amendment of my life, and the glory of thy Name; and that this day which godless and prophane persons spend in their own lusts and pleasures, I as an obedient servant of thine may make my chief delight to consecrate it to thy honour and glory, not doing my own waies, nor seeking mine own will, nor speaking a vain word, but that ceasing from the works of sin, as well as from the work of my ordinary calling, I may through thy blessing feel in my heart the beginning of that eternal Sabbath, which with unspeakable joy & glory I shall celebrate with thy Saints and Angels to thy praise and worship in thy heavenly Kingdom for evermore; all which I humbly beg and crave at thy hands, in the Name and Mediation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in that form of prayer which he hath taught me, Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.