The Whole Duty of Prayer, Part 1 · Subpart 2
Meditations for Sunday.
THis is the day which the Lord hath made, let me rejoyce and be glad therein, it is a day of rest and sweetness unto my Soul, and a day of Ease from Labour… unto my Body; as thou, O God, didst rest this day from the Works of thy Creation, so grant that I may cease this day from all Sin, and by an earnest Repentance implore thy Pardon; thaw this frozen Heart of mine, that this day it may melt at thy presence; and say unto my Soul those comfortable Words which thou wert pleased once to say to Zacheus, This day is Salvation come to thy House,
O Lord, I am utterly unworthy in my self to stand at the Door of thy Sanctuary, much less to appear in thy presence, and be made partaker of thy Heavenly Gifts, for thou, O Lord art a God of pure Eyes, and canst not behold Iniquity; and I am thy sinful Creature, not only wilfully opposite unto thee, but even Enmity it self against thee. Unto thee therefore belongeth Righteousness, and unto me shame and confusion of Face. Lord, when I thus see my self in the Glass of thy Law, my flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Iudgments.
I HAVE sinned against Heaven, and before thee, by my sad refusal of thy gracious offer of Eternity, in my sinful relinquishing of thy Sacred Word; and am now no more Worthy to be called thy Child. I have been too long feeding on the empty husks of vanity, amongst the filthy Swine of sensuality, and am now willing, by thy Grace, to return home unto thee, and to humble my self low before thee, that thou mayest have the Glory, and I the Comfort of thy Gracious Pardon.
Amen.
A Prayer for Sunday Morning.
O Lord I acknowledge this day to be thine, as consecrated and set a part for thy Worship and Service, and to be obeserved not only as a Holy day, but a glorious day unto thee, wherein I ought to pay my vows, present my Person and my Prayers before thee, to hear thy word, and Meditate upon the same, to thy Glory, and my own Everlasting Comfort. To this end remove far from me all wandering thoughts, and Worldly Affections, and work in me a desire of studying thy Law, and walking in the Truth, that thy word may not prove unto me the Savour of Death unto Death, but of Life unto Life.
LET my Ears be attentive, that I may hear those things which thou shalt instruct me, that hearing I may understand them; understanding, I may remember them; remembring, I may practice them, to adorn that profession which I have invocated in thy name, and confirm me in the Faith of thy Son Jesus Christ, wherein I was Baptized and made a Member, raise me, O Father, by the power of my Saviours Resurrection from Sin and iniquity, and give me Spiritual rest, Peace of Conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and Fellowship in the Communion of Saints, that when I shall leave this Earthly Tabernacle, I may keep an Everlasting Sabbath with thee in the Kingdom of Heaven.
BEHOLD, O Lord, I knock at the Door of thy Mercy and tender Compassion, with all the Faculties of my Soul and Body, for all these Graces and particular favours, beseeching thee to continue unto me the right use of them, that thy Spirit may witness unto my Spirit that I am thy Son, and shall be Heir of thy Kingdom of Glory, and that I may be partaker of the inheritance of thy Saints in light, where are Pleasures that last for Evermore. Grant this O Father for Jesus Christ his sake.
Amen.
A Prayer for Sunday Noon.
O God, thou art great in Majesty and infinite in Mercy; wonderful in thy goodness unto thy Church and Children: Thou hast Commanded me to offer up my Prayer and supplications for those that shall enter into the Ministry, and stand before thee to wait at thine alter; the heaviest, O Lord, is very great, and the painful and Conscionable Labourers but few; I beseech thee, be pleased to send able Ministers into thy Church, and place such over particular Congregations as like Iohn the Baptist, may be burning lights, burning, as being zealous in fervency; and lights also as being conspicuous and eminent for Charity, Sanctity of life, and all holy Graces of thy Spirit.
LET thy Urim and thy Thummim be upon them, as upon thy Holy one; let them be sound for Doctrine, and holy for Life and Conversation; Preaching, let them practice, and by practice let them preach and teach the things which concern thy Kingdom: Open wide unto them the Door of utterance, that they may deliver thy Word freely and boldly: Take away all differences and animosities from amongst them; make them examples to those that believe, in soundness of Doctrine, and integrity of Conversation; bless them with all Graces befitting so high a Calling, that I may give thanks unto thee for them, finding the benefit of thy blessing upon me through their Labours, and may praise thy Name for evermore.
Amen.
A Prayer for Sunday Evening.
O Lord, look down from Heaven, thine holy Habitation, and behold with the Eye of thy Love, and tender Compassion, a wretched Creature, who now calls upon thee in the Words of the poor Publican: O God be merciful unto me a Sinner. Write not bitter things against me, neither suffer me to possess the Sins of my Youth. O forgive, and forget all my Transgressions, and cast mine Iniquities as far from thy presence, in distance, as the East is from the West.
LORD pardon, I humbly beseech thee, the faults and frailties which I have escaped this day in the sanctifying of thy Sabbath, whether they be Sins of Omission or Commission; wash them all away in the Blood of thy Son, sanctifie me by the Word, thy Word of Truth, that this day hath sounded in my Ears. Grant that like good Seed sown in good Ground, it may take root downward, and bring forth Fruit upwards to the Glory and Praise of thy great Name, and the Salvation of my Immortal Soul.
O LET thy Word be ever in my Mind, to meditate of it; in my Mouth, to speak of it; and in my Life and Conversation, to practice it. By it Work in my Heart Faith, Hope, Charity, and all other supernatural Graces, which accompany Salvation; open mine Eyes that I may see thy Law; and incline my Heart, that I may love the Truth; and loving the same, may yield Obedience to it; doing thy Will on Earth, or at least endeavouring to do it, as the Angels in Heaven; willingly, without murmuring; speedily, without delaying; constantly, without ceasing; and universally, without omitting what thou commandest and commendest in thy Word, so shall I not be distracted with Foolish fears, nor dispair of thy Mercy, but ever Hope and Trust in thee, and find Grace to help me in time of need; to whom be ascribed all Honour, Power and Glory, World without end.
Amen.