The Whole Duty of Prayer, Part 1 · Subpart 3
Mondays Meditations.
O GOD, the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, who Created the Evening, and the Morning, continue, I beseech thee, unto me, as well the Comfortable rest of the Evening to refresh my weariness, as the most necessary Light of the Morning to manage my affairs and business; make my Conscience serene and clear, and let the pure Light of thy Gospel guide my Feet in the way of peace. This Light of thine, O Lord, sheweth what I was in my Birth, Slime and Filthiness; what I am in my Life, Vanity and Folly; and what I shall be in the Grave, Stench and Corruption.
LET these ponderous Considerations, Lord, humble me, that Christ may raise me; wound me, that Christ may heal me; load me, that Christ may ease me; and make me most vile in my own Eyes, that I may be most dear and precious in his sight. O thou, which as upon this day createdst the Clouds to Rain upon the Earth, shower down thy Graces plentifully into my hardned heart to mollifie it, whereby I may be fruitful in all good Works.
LORD, who this day didst separate the Waters, separate, I beseech thee, and distinguish betwixt the Water of Tears which I shed for my Sins, and those which I shed for Worldly crosses and afflictions; cast away the one, and put the other into thy Bottle. This day thou madest the Heavens and the Air, without which I cannot breath naturally; no not one moment: Infuse into my Soul thy blessed Spirit of Grace, without which Spiritually I cannot breath forth my Prayers, nor sigh, nor so much as move any Faculty of Soul and Body unto thee. But, Lord, as oft as I take in, or let out the Air which I breath, let me receive in Grace from thee, and breath out Praise unto thee.
Amen.
A Prayer for Monday Morning.
O GOD, as thou hast now rais'd up my Body from Sleep, the Image of Death, so I beseech thee deliver my mind and affections from the Sleep of Sin, and from the Darkness of this World; and as thou hast brought me to the beginning of this day, be thou present with me, and president in me. Let thy holy Spirit be my Counsellor and Instructor, my God and my Guide to lead me into all Truth; help me by assistance of the same Spirit to watch over my Thoughts, Words and Works, that I may neither think, speak, nor do any thing which is not agreeable to thy holy Word.
LET me in all reverence and humility of Soul, submit my self unto thy holy Will, so that ordering my Conversation aright, and walking according to thy Golden Rule, peace may be upon me, as upon the Israel of God. Suffer me not to oppress, or defraud my Brother in Bargaining, Buying, and Selling, by using false Weights, and Ballances, or any other unlawful means, but Guide me so by thy Grace, that my Conscience may ever cheer me up through a delightful apprehension of thy blessed Favour.
TO this end order thou my Paths▪ and establish my goings in the way of Peace, Grace and Salvation; cause thou me to walk upright before thee; make me to provide things honest before thee, and Men; behave my self as in thy sight, and do unto others as I would they should do unto me. Let no Sin, inordinate Lust, or unruly Passion, have dominion over me, but help me to lead Captivity Captive, to kill and crucifie my Lusts, and sinful Affections, and wage War with my Corruptions, until through Christ which strengthens me, I shall prove more than Conqueror. Grant this unto me for Jesus Christ his sake.
Amen.
A Prayer for Monday Night.
O GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I do in all humility prostrate my self before thy Divine Majesty, to offer up unto thee this my Evening Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving, who didst offer up thy Son upon the Cross to be a Propitiation, and meritorious Sacrifice for the Sins of the World. Lord hear me, and help me, and be merciful unto me; my Sins are great, but thy Mercies are greater; my Trespasses Finite, but thy Compassions Infinite, and never fail.
LORD hear my Prayers, and let my Praises be acceptable in thy sight, for unto thee, O Lord, upon the Altar of my Heart do I offer up all possible Praise and Thanksgiving, for all thy Blessings both Spiritual and Temporal, which thou hast in a great measure bestowed upon me; but above all, for Jesus Christ the Fountain of them all, by whom I have Redemption through his Blood, and Access through his Life. I also thank thee for thy Sacred Word, and for the Confirmation and Strengthning of my Faith, by those Sacred Signs and Pledges of thy Love which thou Exhibitest to me, and unto every Believing Soul in the Sacraments.
I RENDER all thanks unto thee, for my Life, Liberty, Food, and Raiment, Health, Wealth, Peace, and Plenty, which thou in much mercy hast afforded unto me, from time to time; and I beseech thee, to continue this thy providence over me, and as thou hast hitherto been a Sun to comfort me, so be thou now a shield to protect me: Keep me in Soul and Body, goods and good name: Vouchsafe me this Night Peace unto my Soul, and rest, and quietness to my Body, that so being refreshed, I may Praise thy name for evermore.
Amen.