The Exaltation of the Soul, Prayer 98
A Morning Prayer for a Family.
O Lord our God and heavenly Father, who art the only Creator of Heaven and of Earth, and all therein contained, we confess that we are unworthy to appear in thy sight and presence, considering our manifold sins and offences, which we have committed against Heaven, and before thee: and how that we have been born in sin, and do daily break thy holy Laws and Commandments contrary to our knowledge and consciences; albeit we know thou art our Creator, who hast made us, our Redeemer, who hast bought us with the blood of thy only begotten Son, and our Comforter, who bestowest upon us all the good and holy graces which we enjoy in our souls, and in our bodies; and if thou shouldest but deal with us as our wickedness and unthankfulness have deserved, what other thing might we, O Lord, expect from thee, but shame and confusion in this life, and in the world to come wrath and everlasting condemnation; yet, O Lord, in the obedience of thy Commandments, and in the confidence which we have in thy unspeakable and endless mercy in thy Son, and our Saviour Jesus Christ the Righteous, we thy poor servants appealing from thy Throne of Justice, to thy Throne of Crace, whose mercy reigneth to pardon abounding sin, do from the bottom of our hearts, most humbly beseech thee, to remit and forgive unto us all our sins and our offences, and misdeeds, that by the vertue of the precious blood of Jesus Christ, thy innocent Lamb, which he so abundantly shed upon the Cross, to take away the sins of the world, all our sins, both original and actual, may be so cleansed and washed from us, that they may never be laid to our charge, nor ever have power to rise up in judgment against us; and we beseech thee, good Father, for Christ his death and passion sake, that thou wilt not suffer to fall upon us that fearful curse and vengeance which thy Law hath threatned, and our sins have justly deserved: And for as much, O Lord, as we are taught by thy Word, that no Idolaters, Adulterers, covetous men, contentious persons, drunkards, gluttons, and such inordinate livers, shall inherit the Kingdom of God; pour the grace of thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, whereby we may see the filthiness of our sins, and abhor them, and may be more and more stirred up to live in newness of life, and love of thy Majesty, so we may daily increase in the obedience of thy words, and in conscionable care of keeping thy Commandments. And now, O Lord, I render unto thee most hearty thanks, for that thou hast elected, redeemed, called, justified us in good measure in this life, and given us an assured hope that thou wilt glorifie us in thy heavenly Kingdom, when this mortal life is ended. Likewise we thank thee for our life, health, wealth, liberty, prosperity, and peace; especially, O Lord, for the continuance of thy holy Gospel amongst us, and for sparing us so long, and granting us so gracious a time of repentance: Also we praise thee for all other thy mercies bestowed upon us; more especially for preserving us this night past, and from all dangers that might have befallen our souls or bodies; and seeing thou hast now brought us safe to the beginning of this day, we beseech thee protect and direct us in the same: Bless and defend us in our going out and in our coming in, this day, and ever more; shield us, O Lord, from the temptations of the Devil, and grant us the custody of thy holy Angels, to defend and direct us in all our waies; and to this end we recommend our selves, and all those that belong unto us, and are abroad from us, unto thy hands and almighty tuition; Lord defend them from all evil, prosper them with all graces, and fill them with thy goodness: Preserve us likewise this day, from falling into any gross sins, especially those whereunto our natures are most prone; set a watch before the door of our lips, that we offend not thy Divine Majesty by any rash or false oaths, or by any leud or lying speeches; give unto us patient minds, pure and chast hearts, and all other graces of thy Spirit, which thou knowest to be needful for us, that we may be the better enabled to serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the daies of our life; and seeing that all mens labours are in vain, without thy blessing, bless every one of us in our several places and callings; direct thou the works of our hands upon us, even prosper thou our handy-works; for except thou guide us with thy grace, our endeavours can have no good success; and provide for us all things which thou, O Father, knowest to be needful for every one of us, in our souls and bodies this day, and grant that we may pass through the pilgrimage of this short life, that our hearts being not settled upon any transitory things, which we meet with in the way, our souls may every day be more and more ravished with the love of our home, and thine everlasting Kingdom: Defend likewise, O Lord, thy universal Church, and every particular member thereof; especially we beseech thee to continue the peace and tranquility of these Churches and Kingdoms wherein we live; preserve from all evil and dangers our most gracious King Charles, endue his Royal heart with more and more grace, wisdom and understanding, and grant that his daies may be long, prosperous and happy: Bless our gracious Queen Katherine, James Duke of York, and all the Royal Family, multiply their daies with bliss and felicity, and afterwards crown them with everlasting joy and glory: Bless all our Ministers and Magistrates with all graces needful for their places, govern thou them, that they may govern us in peace, godliness, and true Religion; and of thy mercy, O Lord, comfort all our Brethren that are distressed, sick, or comfortless, especially those who are afflicted either with an evil conscience, because they have sinned against thy Word, or for a good conscience, because they will not sin against the Truth; make the first to know that not one drop of the blood of Christ was a drop of vengeance, but all drops of grace, powerful to procure pardon upon repentance, for the greatest sins of the chiefest sinners in the world; and for the other, let not, O Lord, thy long sufferance, either too much discourage them, or too much incourage their enemies; but grant them patience in suffering, and a gracious and speedy deliverance, which may stand best with thy glory, and their comfort; and give every one of us grace to be alwaies mindful of his last end, and to be alwaies prepared with faith and repentance, as with a weding garment, against the time thou shalt call for us out of this sinful world; and that in the mean while, we may in all things, and above all things, seek thy glory, that when this mortal life is ended, we may then be made partakers of Immortality and Life eternal in thy heavenly Kingdom; these, and all other graces and blessings, which thou, O heavenly Father, seest to be necessary for us, and for thy whole Church, we humbly beg and crave at thy hands, concluding this our imperfect prayer, in that most perfect form of prayer which Christ himself hath taught us, saying, Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.