The Exaltation of the Soul, Prayer 99
Evening Prayer for a Family.
O Eternal God, and most merciful Father, we thine unworthy servants here assembled, do cast down our selves at the foosttool of thy grace, acknowledging our selves that we inherit our Fathers corruption, in thought, word and deed, transgressing thy holy Commandments, so that in us naturally, there dwelleth nothing that is good; for our hearts are full of secret pride, anger, impatience, dissembling, lying, lust, vanity, prophaneness, distrust, too much love of our selves, too little love of thee, and thy Kingdom, but full of enmity, and void of love, patience, and every spiritual grace; if thou therefore shouldest enter into judgment with us, and search out our natural corruptions, and observe all the cursed fruit and effects that we have derived from thence, Satan might justly challenge us for his own, and we could not expect any from thy Majesty, but thy wrath, and our condemnation, which we have long ago deserved: But, good Father, for Jesus Christ his sake, who is thy dear Son, in whom only thou art well pleased, and for the merits of that bitter death and passion, which we believe he hath suffered for us, have mercy upon us, and free us from the shame and confusion which is due unto us for them, that they may never seize upon us to our confusion in this life, or to condemnation in the world which is to come: And for as much as thou hast created us, to serve thee, as all other creatures to serve us, so we humbly beseech thee inspire thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that by his illumination and effectual working we may have the inward sight and feeling of our sins, and natural corruptions; and that we may not be blinded in them through custom, as the Reprobate are, but that we may more and more loath them, and be heartily grieved for them, endeavouring by the use of all good means to overcome them, and get out of them. O let us feel the power of Christ's death killing sin in our mortal bodies, and the vertue of his Resurrection, raising up our souls to newness of life; convert our hearts, subdue our affections, regenerate our minds, purifie our natures, and suffer us not to be drowned in the streams of those filthy vices, and sinful pleasures, wherewith thousands are carried headlong to eternal destruction, but daily frame us more and more to the likeness of thy Son Jesus Christ, that in Righteousness and true Holiness we may so serve and glorifie thee, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favour, we may in thy appointed time, attain to the blessed Resurrection of the Just unto eternal life; in the mean while, O Lord, increase our faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel, and our repentance from dead works, the assurance of our hopes in thy promises, our fear of thy Name, the hatred of all our sins, and our love unto thy children, especially whom we see to stand in need of our help and comfort, that so by the fruit of piety, and a righteous life, we may be assured that thy Holy Spirit doth dwell in us, and that we are thy children by grace and adoption; and grant us, good Father, the continuance of health, peace and maintenance, and all other outward good things, so far forth as thy Divine Wisdom shall think meet to be requisite and necessary for every one. And here, O Lord, according to our bounden duty, we confess that thou hast been exceeding merciful unto us all in things of this life, but infinitely more merciful in the things of a better life; therefore we do here from our very souls, render unto thee most humble and hearty thanks from our very souls, for all thy blessings and benefits bestowed upon our souls and our bodies, acknowledging thee to be that Father of Light from whom we have received all those good and perfect gifts, and unto thee alone for them we ascribe to be due, all glory, honour, might, majesty and praise, both now and for ever more: But more especially we praise thy Divine Majesty, for that thou hast defended us this day past from all perils and dangers, so that none of those Judgments which our sins have deserved have fallen upon any one of us. Good Lord, forgive us the sins which this day we have committed against thy Divine Majesty, or our Brethren, and for Christ his sake, be reconciled unto us for them; and we humbly beseech thee likewise of thine infinite goodness, to defend and protect us this night, and all that belong unto us, from all perils and dangers of fire, robbery, terrours of evil Angels, or any other fear, which for our sins might justly have fallen upon us, and that we may be safe under the shadow of thy wings; and to this end and purpose we here recommend our bodies and souls, and all that we have unto thine Almighty Protection; Lord bless and defend both us and them from all evil; whilst we sleep, do thou, O Father, who never slumberest nor sleepest, watch over thy children, and give a charge to thy holy Angels to pitch their tents round about our houses and dwellings this night, to guard us from all dangers, that sleeping with thee, we may the next morning be awakened by thee, and so being refreshed with moderate sleep, we may be the fitter to set forth thy glory in the conscionable duties of our callings; and we beseech thee, O Lord, to be merciful likewise to thy whole Church, and to continue the tranquility of these Kingdoms wherein we live, turning from us those plagues which the crying sins of this Nation do cry aloud for. O Lord, preserve the principal member thereof, our most gracious King Charles, endue his Royal heart with grace, wisdom and understanding, and grant that his daies may be many, prosperous, vertuous and happy; cloath his enemies with shame, but upon his head let his Crown flourish: Bless our gracious Queen Katherine, James Duke of York, and the rest of the Royal Family, endow them with thy grace, and defend them from all evil: Bless all our Magistrates and Ministers with all those graces and gifts necessary for their places; govern thou them, that they may govern us in peace, godliness, and true Religion: Bless all that fear thee, and call upon thy Name; all our Christian Brethren and Sisters, that suffer sickness, or any other affliction, or misery, especially those who do any where suffer persecution for the testimony of thy holy Gospel▪ grant them patience to bear thy Cross, and deliverance when, and which way it shall seem best to thy Divine Wisdom; and Lord, suffer us never to forget our last end, and those reckonings which then we must render unto thee; in health and prosperity make us mindful of sickness, and of the evil day that is behind, that these things may not overtake us as a snare, but that we may in some good measure, like wise Virgins, be found prepared for the coming of Christ, the sweet Bridegroom of our souls. And now, O Lord, most holy and just, we confess there is no cause why thou who art so much displeased with sin, shouldest hear the prayers of sinners, but for his sake who suffered for sin, and sinned not, in the only mediation therefore of thine eternal Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, we humbly beg these and all other graces which thou knowest to be needful for us and for thy whole Church, shutting up these our imperfect requests in that most holy prayer which Christ himself hath taught us to say unto thee, Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.