The Whole Duty of Prayer, Part 1 · Prayer 1 – Subpart 1
What Prayer is, and the Parts of it.
PRayer is the Duty both of Soul and Body; it is an humble address unto God, for whatsoever we stand in need of, either in relation to this Life, or that which is to come: The First part of this Duty is Confession, which is the acknowledging of our Sins in all Humility before the great Author of our Being: Now Confession is twofold, general, and particular; the general is when we Confess only we are sinful, without naming any particulars, which indeed belongs to publick Prayer, but the acknowledging our Sins to God is very necessary, whether Publick, or Private: Particular Confession is when we express the several sorts, and acts of our Sins, and what ill habits we are most prone to; this is proper for Private Prayer, and ought often to be used, for we cannot repeat too often our soulest Sins which we are guilty of, nor cannot enough bewail our own unworthiness in committing them.
THE next part of prayer is by way of Petition, which is begging of God whatever we stand most in need of, either for our Souls or Bodies; first for our Souls we must beg pardon and absolution for all our Sins, in the name of Jesus Christ, who obtained it with his blood: Secondly we must earnestly beseech the grace and assistance of Gods blessed Spirit to enable us to forsake all sin and wickedness, and to live in obedience to him: then it will be very necessary to beg all these particular graces, faith, hope, Charity, love, zeal, purity, and repentance; if thou art proud, pray for Humility, if lustful for Chastity, if guilty of gluttony pray for temperance, and so for all other vertues thou standest most in need of.
IN Petitioning for our Bodies, we are to beg of God such accommodations of life, as are necessary for us, but in such a degree and measure, as his all-seeing Wisdom Knows is most suitable to our state, and Conditions the next duty, and Third part of Prayer is deprecation, which consists in praying to God to turn away from us either the evil of sin, or the evil of punishment; to pray against the evil of sin, is to beg earnestly of God to preserve us by his Grace from falling into any sin; and when we are under any great temptation, and even ready to yield, then we must Humbly beseech him, either to withdraw the temptation, or else by the Power of his Grace Strengthen us against it: next we are to pray against the evil of Punishment, which are, two sorts, Spiritual and Temporal; Spiritula punishments, are the wrath of God▪ the with-holding of his Grace, and Everlasting Damnation: temporal punishments, is loss of Friends, goods or reputation, but in these things we must wholy Submit to the will of God, unto whom all we have belongs.
A Fourth Duty in Prayer is intercession, which is praying for all sorts and Conditions of Men, as Governours in Church and State, our Parents, Husband, Wife, Children, or other Relations and Friends, for all those in affliction either in Body; mind or Estate; nay even for our very Enemies according to the example of our Lord and Master, who prayed for his very Crucifiers, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do: The fifth Duty of Prayer is thanksgiving, praising and blessing God for all his mercies Spiritual and Temporal, Spiritual blessings are his sending his Son into the World for our Redemption and his holy Spirit to Sanctifie us, that we are born Christians and are made partakers of his holy word and Sacraments: We are likewise to return him thanks, for his patience and long suffering, in not Cutting us off in our Sins and Follies: Temporal blessings, which we are to give thanks for may be for the prosperity of a Church or Nation, and all diliverances which are remarkable: Some belongs to our selves, as Health, Wealth, Food, Rayment, Friends, with many other Mercies we daily receive from God, which whoever receives the least blessing is indebted all his life time to Praise the author and giver of all good things.
THESE forementioned parts of our duty in Prayer, are to be made use of both in private and publick, that is in the Church and in our Closet, but more especially in the Church to which place there is a peculiar Blessing belongs, which Christ hath promised, that where two or three are gathered together in his Name he will be in the midst of them: The second Duty of publick Prayer, is that in a family, and that indeed ought to be the Masters Care to provide for the Souls of those that belong to him, as to provide food for their Temporal Nourishment: Now if he neglects this Duty and takes no care of his Household in this important affair that Man cannot well be esteemed a Christian, but a Heathen.
PRIVATE Prayer is a Duty to be used in secret, where we can more particularize our sins when alone then is requisite to be done in publick: Next we are to be frequent in Prayer, and not Complain we want leisure for so doing; for he which is most busie may find some time to perform this Duty, else how can he expect his Employment should be Sanctified; now it is a great advantage for Men to seek God, at least Morning and Evening, if they expect a Blessing upon their endeavours: Next, the advantages we reap by Prayer are many: First It is a great honour, to speak freely to the Almighty: Secondly It is a great benifit, for it brings down Blessings both Spiritual and Temporal to us; Thirdly it is a pleasant Duty, it draws us nearer to God, which qualifies us for the joys of Heaven, where Christ is, at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore.
NEXT we must take care that we ask nothing which is unlawful, but whatsoever we stand in need of to ask it in faith, and great humility; Secondly we must be attentive and mind what we are about, Considering that it is the Majesty of Heaven we are to treat withal, and that our necessities cannot be supplied without his Divine aid and assistance. Thirdly, Vigilancy, Zeal, and Purity of intention must not be omitted, for the Sacrifice of the wicked are abomination to the Lord: Lastly what we Pray for, must be to a good end, that is, not to Pray for Wealth, to Consume it upon our Lusts: Or for grandeur to exercise our malice upon our Enemies; but whatever we do must be done to the glory of God, through whom we have Redemption in his blood, even the forgiveness of our Sins.
Ejaculations at uprising.
AWake, O my Soul, and sing unto the Lord.
Glory be to the Holy and undivided Trinity for watching and preserving me this Night.
I laid me down and slept, for thou Lord sustainest me.
Lord arise, and lift up the Light of thy Countenance upon me.
A Prayer for a Private Person in the Morning.
MOst gracious God, whose Mercies are rich and infinite, to all thy Servants that call upon thee; accept I humbly beseech thee this my morning Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving which I now am to offer up unto thy Divine Majesty: O Lord, in thee I live, move, and have my being; thou formdst me in the womb, and hast writ my name in the Book of Life, and that I might not be miserable, but happy, thou sentest thy only beloved Son to dye for me and to redeem me from all iniquity.
WHAT shall I render unto thee, O Lord, for all these thine inestimable benefits, pour forth thy Grace upon me, I beseech thee, that I may abound in Thanksgiving and Praise for them; Enlarge my heart with thy Love, that I may in some degree Comprehend with all Saints, the measure of thine infinite Mercy and goodness manifested to me, by thy dear Son and my alone Saviour. To whom therefore with thee and thy blessed Spirit, be ascribed the whole glory of my Creation, Redemption, Sanctification, and Salvation.
FORGIVE, O Lord, the manifold Sins which I commit daily and hourly against thee, and grant that for the time to come thy restraining Grace may subdue my unruly: inclinations, and distempered affections; and as I have been a Servant of Sin, I may now become an Example of reformation: That so I may rejoyce in thee as my only Treasure, and rest in thee who art the Center of my felicity; and be throughly convinced how good it is to draw nigh unto thee, accounting all things but dross and dung in Comparison of the excellency of Jesus Christ and my alone Saviour and Redeemer.
O LORD, as thou in thy tender Mercy and Compassion hast watched over me this Night, and defended me from my Ghostly adversary, so I beseech thee, let thy all-seeing Eye of providence guide me this day in all my Thoughts Words, and Actions, whereby I may fall into no Sin, nor run into any kind of danger: But that all my doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do alwayes that which is Righteous in thy sight, through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour, in whose Blessed name, and Words, I shut up these my imperfect Prayers in that most absolute form of Prayer which he himself hath taught me, saying, Our Father, &c.
A Prayer at Departure from Home.
ALmighty and Everlasting God, who art the way, the truth, and the Life; looke down from thy Throne of Mercy to thy scorstcol of Compassion, and behold me now betwixt the Assaults of the Devil, the allurements of the World, and my own vain inclinations; I cannot look abroad, but they are ever ready to molest me; but O thou that leadest Ioseph like a sheep, thou most faithful and Almighty guide, lend me thy hand, open mine Eyes, direct my steps, and cause me to walk in thy fear.
THOU that didst go out with Iacob from Beer sheba unto Padan aran, guiding him in the wast-plains, and watching over him on his pillow of Stones, be not now far from me; lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, make my Paths straight, and strengthen my goings, that having finished my course here, I may sit down in thy Kingdom hereafter, an inheritance undefiled, purchased for me with the blood of my Saviour, and thy beloved Son Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Ejaculations for the Evening.
LET not the Sun go down upon thy Wrath, Eph. 4. 6. Watch ye, for ye know not when the Master of the House cometh, at Even, or at Mid-night, or at the Cock crowing, or in the Morning, lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping, Mark 13. 35
An Evening Prayer for a Private Person.
OEternal God, full of loving kindness, and long suffering, whose Mercy is above all thy Works, and thy Glory above the Heavens, forgive me, I beseech thee, my transgressions this day, my vain thoughts, idle words, and loose Conversation; my exceeding neglect and forgetfulness of thee, my headstrong inclinations and lusting after the World, preferring this Land of Cabul before the Snow of Lebanon, and a broken Cistern before the Well of Life.
JUSTLY, O Lord, might'st thou have cut me off this day, and cast me into the Lake of thy Displeasure, but thou hast had Mercy, and not Sacrifice; thou hast shed upon me the Light of thy Countenance, and removed my sins far out of thy sight. I know, O Lord, it is not in Man to Establish his own Ways, it is thy Almighty Arm must do it; it is thou alone that hast led me through this day, and kept me both from doing and from suffering Evil.
AND now, O thou Preserver of men! What shall I do unto thee? What shall I render unto my Lord, for all the mercies and loving kindnesses shewed unto thy Servant this day, and all the days of my life, even to this moment? I will offer unto thee the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and call upon the Name of the Lord: I will ever love thee, fear thee, praise thee, and trust in thee; my Song shall be of thee in the Night Season, and in the Day time I will be speaking of thy wondrous Works.
AND forasmuch as thou (out of thy tender Love and Compassion on thy Creatures) hast ordained this time for their rèpose and refreshment, that having past through the Cares and Dangers of the Day, they might under the shadow of thy Wings find rest and security; keep me, I most humbly beseech thee, from the Hours and the Powers of darkness; watch over me this Night in thy Almighty Providence, and scatter all the Rebellions and Devices of my Adversaries; enlighten my Soul, sanctifie my Body, govern my Affections, and guide my Thoughts, that in the fastest closures of my Eye-lids my Spirit may see thee, and in the depth of sleep be conversant with thee▪ This, and what ever thou knowest is needful for me, I humbly beg at thy hands, through the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer.
Amen.
Ejaculations to be used on several Occasions.
When you awake in the Night.
HOly, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabbath! Heaven and Earth are full of the Majesty of thy Glory.
When the Clock strikes.
BLESSED be the hour in which my Lord Iesus was Born, and the hour in which he Died! O Lord, remember me at the hour of Death, and in the Day of Iudgment.
When you intend any Business or Journey.
O do well unto thy Servant! that I may live and keep thy Word. Prosper thou the Work of my hands upon me, O prosper thou my handy Work.
When thou art Persecuted▪
HASTE thee, O God, to deliver me, make haste to help me, O Lord!
Upon some sudden Fear.
O set me upon the Rock that is higher than I, for thou art my Hope, and a strong Tower for me against my Enemy.
Upon any disorderly Thoughts.
MAKE me a clean Heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me.
Upon any occasions of Sadness.
THY rebuke hath broken my Heart, I am full of Heaviness, but thou, O Lord, shalt lift me up again.
Upon any Diffidence.
THOU art my Hope, O Lord, even from my Youth, through thee have I been holden up ever since I was Born; though thou shouldst kill me, yet will I trust in thee.
When thou perform'st any good Work.
NOT unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but unto thy Name give the praise.
When thou art provoked to Anger.
GIVE thy peace unto thy Servant, O God, let no man take away my Crown; in patience, O Lord, let me possess my Soul.
For thine Enemies.
LORD, lay not this Sin to their Charge, they know not what they do.
Upon any Deliverance, or Mercy received.
THE Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not Want; he maketh me to lie down in green Pastures, he leadeth me besides the still Waters; he hath prevented me with the blessings of Goodness, he hath granted me my Hearts desire, and not with-holden the Request of my Lips. Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my Life, and I will dwell in the House of my God for ever.
Upon any Loss or Adversity.
SHALL we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive Evil? Naked came I out of my Mothers Womb, and Naked shall I return thither; the Lord Gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the Name of the Lord.
When you hear the Bell Toll for one Departed.
TEACH me, O Lord, to number my days, that I may apply my Heart unto Wisdom.
Upon thought of thy Sins.
TURN away thy Face from my Sins, O Lord, and blot out all mine Offences.
Praise the Lord, O my Soul▪ and forget not all his Benefits, who forgiveth all thy Sins, and healeth all thine Infirmities.
When thou art weary of the Cares and Vanities of this World.
LIKE as the Hart brayeth for the Water-brooks, so thirsteth my Soul after thee, O God.
O who will give me the Wings of a Dove, that I may fly away and be at rest.