The Whole Duty of Prayer, Part 2
ADDITIONAL DEVOTIONS.
A Prayer for Christmass- Day.
O BLESSED Lord, who as upon this day took our Nature upon thee, and wast born of a pure Virgin, keep me from defiling my self with sinful pollutions, or abasing, or enthralling it to Satan; let thy Spirit quicken me, thy Flesh nourish me, thy Wisdom guide me, thy Grace sanctifie me: Let thy holy Ghost of whom thou wast conceived, beget thee in me, by the Immortal Seed of thy Word; let my Faith conceive thee, my Profession bring thee forth, my Love embrace thee, and Devotion entertain, and continually keep thee with me, unthy second coming.
Amen.
A Prayer for New Years Day.
O Lord, who this day wast Circumcised and Bleddest for my sins, have pity and compassion, who with weeping Eyes and a bleeding heart come unto thee; beseeching thee, that those drops of blood which fell from thee this day, may satisfie for the sin of my unworthy Birth; and as thou hast begun a new Year, begin in me a new reformation, make me, I beseech thee, a clean heart, and renew a right Spirit within me; let me now cast off the old Man, and put on the new; and from this day to the end of my life, walk in newness of life, that I may become a fit guest to be admitted into the new Heaven, where dwelleth Righteousness, and to be entertained at thy Table, and drink new Wine with thee, in thy Heavenly Kingdom, for evermore.
A Prayer for Twelfe Day.
O GOD, thou light of all the World, who guidedst the Heathen Sages by a Star, to seek after thee, give me Grace to hearken to the more sure Word of Prophesy in thy holy Scripture, till the day dawn, and the day-star arise in my heart, the Star guided them, till they approached thy presence, so, O Lord, let the light of Faith guide me in all the Paths of this Life, even till I come to behold thee, not in a poor Stable littered with straw and dung, but in a celestial Palace founded, upon Pearls, and built with Saphyrs; not receiving a present of Gold which fades away, but wearing a never fading Crown of Glory; not having a quantity of Frankingense or Myrh in thy hand, but a golden Censor full of Sweet odours, which are the praises of thy Saints and Angels; amongst which I beseech thee offer up the Prayers of me a Sinner, that I may become a Saint thy Heavenly Kingdom.
Amen.
A Prayer for Ash-wednesday.
O ETERNAL God, who dist fast forty dayes in the wilderness, accept of my humiliation these forty days; and grant that I may not only fast from accustomed Meats, but that all my senses may be restrained from their usual affections of this World, let no object delight me till I behold my sins removed like a mist, and the light of thy Countenance shine upon me: Let no sound or voice delight my Ear, till I hear thee by thy Spirit, speak peace to my Conscience, and say unto my Soul, I am thy Salvation: Let no other pleasures take hold of me, till with the lower Herbs of Sorrow and anguish I have Eaten the Christian passover, the flesh of thee, that Immaculate lamb, slain from the beginning of the World: Hear me, O belssed redeemer, and as thou wrotest in dust when thou tookest the woman in a adultery: So I beseech thee write my sins in dustand bury them all in the ashes of oblivion.
Amen.
A Prayer on good Friday.
O MOST Merciful and Gracious Lord God, who by thy obedience unto Death, even the Death of the Cross, didst become the Sacrifice of the whole universe, the magnificent example of patience, the Lord of Life, the good shepherd laying down thy Life for thy sheep, and the only Mediator between God and Man; let thy bleeding wounds heal, thy precious blood cleanse, thy shameful death make me to live, and thy holy Spirit make me to work righteousness all my dayes; that I may by thy aid, and example obey my Heavenly father with all my powers and faculties, reason and affections, with my Soul and Body, time and Estate in prosperity, and in adversity; that I may bear my Cross patiently, do thy work cheerfully, and be ready to benefit mankind, with great Charity and industry, that being a follower of thy Life, and a partaker of thy death, I may receive a part in the Resurrection of the just in thy inheritance for evermore.
Amen.
A Prayer on Easter Day.
O MOST glorious redeemer, thou didst pass from a painful life to an Ignominious death, and from the bitterness of it to the darkness of the Grave, and by thy Divine power didst raise thy self from thence to Life; I give thee thanks for thy infinite love to me and all Mankind; I acknowledg thee to be my Lord, and confess thee to be my God, I adore thy Majesty and rejoyce in thy Mercies; I humbly pray thee, to enable me with thy Spirit to believe all thy Doctrines, and obey all thy Commandments, that after a holy and religious life spent in doing honour to thy holy Name, I may be a partaker of thy holy Resurrection, passing from death to life, from the darkness of the Grave, to the light of Heaven, from an imperfect duty to the perfection of holiness in the fruition of the joyes of God in thy Heavenly Kingdom.
Amen.
A Prayer upon Ascension Day.
O BLESSED Jesus, thou didst ascend to thy holy Father and didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers; thou hast espoused thy Church unto thy self with the Everlasting circles of thy providence, with thy Love and with thy Care with thy Word and with thy Spirit, thy promises and thy holy intercession; thou hadst a feeling of my infirmiteis, and art my Merciful high Priest making intercession for me for ever; O be thou pleased to represent all my wants, and supply them, and excuse all my infirmities pity all my Calamities, pardon my Sins and send down thy holy Spirit of Grace into my heart, that though I wander here upon Earth, yet my Conversation may be in Heaven, where let my inheritance be for ever.
Amen.
A Prayer on Whitsunday.
O GOD, the Father of all Spirits, who didst send thy holy Spirit upon thy Church in the day of pentecost, and hast promised that he shall abide with thy Church for ever, let thy holy Spirit lead me into all truth, defend me from all Sins, enrich me with his gif…s, refresh me with his Comforts, rule in my heart for ever, Conduct me with his truth and lead me in the way▪ Everlasting, that living by thy Spirit and walking in him, I may by him be Sealed up to the day of my redemption; O let thy Spirit witness to my Spirit, that I am thy Child, and make me to be so▪ for ever, through Jesus Christ my Redeemer, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end.
Amen.
A Prayer upon Trinity Sunday.
O HOLY, Blessed and glorious Trinity, the Angels are amazed in the beauties of that glorious presence, how then can I poor sinful wretch praise thee either according to my Duty, or thy Glories; I confess and glory in thy omnipotency, thy omniscience, thy truth, and thy Mercy, O let me also receive thy blessings and gracious influences, that I may adore thee with all my power for ever, and serve thee with my best and earliest industry; that being here wholly inebriated with Love, and employed in thy service and the Duty of a holy obedience, I may to all eternity rejoyce in the beholding of those Glories which are above all capacities, even those Glories which stream forth from the Throne of the Eternal God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost to whom be Glory and Dominion, Honour and adoration, world without end.
Amen.
A Prayer to be used upon any Apostles Day.
O ALMIGHTY God, who has built thy Holy Church upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone, I bless and magnifie thy holy Name, for thy great Graces thou gavest to thy Apostles, Prophets, and Martyrs, in the days of their Flesh, and this day I have thy Servant [Here name the Apostle] in remembrance, praising thee for the benefit the Church hath received by his Ministry and Example; and I beseech thee give me thy Grace, that obeying thy Doctrine which he taught, and following his Example as he followed Christ, I may also with safety and holiness pass through this Valley of Tears, that serving thee in my Generation, advancing thy Honour, and obeying thy Laws, I may in the Society and Communion of Saints and Angels, Sing eternal Hallelujahs to the honour of thy Mercy, and of thy Majest…, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A Prayer for the Church.
O LORD God Almighty, I beseech thee keep thy holy Church, in Peace, Unity, and Safety, preserve it against all Storms, Temptations and Enemies, that she offering to thy Glory the never-ceasing Sacrifice of Praise and Yhanksgiving, may advance the honour of her Lord, and be partaker of his Glory, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
A Prayer for the King and Queen.
ALMIGHTY God, by whom Kings Reign, and Princes decree Justice, I humbly beseech thee to save, and with the choicest of thy Benedictions, bless thy Servants, and our Soveraign Lord and Lady, King William and Queen Mary; preserve their Royal Persons in Health and Honour, their power in Wealth and Dignity, their Dominions in Peace and Plenty; the Churches under their Protections, in Piety, Knowledge, and a strict and holy Religion. Let not the Wicked approach to hurt them, nor any Weapon that is formed against them prosper, but keep them perpetually in thy fear and favour, and Crown them at last with Glory and Immortality.
Amen.
A Prayer for the Royal Family.
BLESS, O Lord, I beseech thee, Katherine the Queen Dowager, her Royal Highness the Princess▪ Ann of Denmark, with the rest of the Royal Family; keep them in thy fear, and protect them with thy favour, and after this life is ended, Crown them with everlasting happiness in the World to come.
Amen.
A Prayer for the Clergy.
O ALMIGHTY God, protect thy Stars in thy right hand, the mo… Reverend the Archbishops, the right Reverend the Bishops, with all other Inferior Priests and Deacons; grant that all Congregations committed to their charge, may edifie by their Doctrine, and live Godly and Peaceable lives under them, to the saving of their Souls in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Amen.
A Prayer for the High Court of Parliament.
BLESS, O Lord, I beseech thee, the great Councel of the Nation, the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, grant that all their Consultations may tend to thy Glory, the good of thy Church, and the Safety, Honour, and Welfare, of our Soveraign Lord and Lady, and their Kingdoms; let Justice run down like a stream, and Righteousness like the mighty Waters, that there may be no leading into Captivity, nor no complaining in our Streets, but that Mercy and Truth may meet together, and Righteousness and Peace may kiss each other; grant this, O Lord, for thy Sons sake, and my alone Redeemer.
Amen.
A Prayer for the Navy and Army.
O ETERNAL God, thou art the Lord of Hosts, and the strength of all Nations is from thee, and no Victory can wait upon the justest Designs, upon the wisest Councels, upon the strongest Armies, if thou teach not their hands to War, and their fingers to Fight. Lend us, O Lord, thy assistance, by Land and Sea, be with our Armies, and the Armies of our Allies and Associates by Land, and be with our Navy at Sea; be not from the one, nor from the other, until thou hast brought them back with Honour, Victory, or a settled Peace: Let not that proud Disturber, and Destroyer of Mankind, any longer Insult over thy People, but turn his Sword into his own Bosom. O Lord, thy Servants are unfeignedly sorrowful for those Sins they have committed against thy Divine Majesty, O do thou pardon us, and receive us graciously, and then we may trust in thy goodness, that thou wilt pour down all thy Blessings upon this, and all other designs and actions of this State, undertaken for thy Glory, the Honour of our most gracious Soveraign Lord and Lady, the Peace and Welfare of the whole Church, and Their Majesties three Kingdoms; grant this, O Lord, for Jesus Christ his sake, our only Mediator and Advocate.
Amen.
A. Prayer for Gods People in General.
MOST gracious God, I humbly beseech thee to bless all thy People, wheresoever dispersed, or howsoever distressed, over the face of the whole Earth, more especially in these Nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland; give us all humble and obedient hearts to thee our God, Loyal hearts to our Soveraign Lord and Lady, King William and Queen Mary, and charitable thoughts one towards another; Convert and bring home thine own People the Iews, and bring in the fulness of the Gentiles; save and have Mercy upon all Asiaticks and Affricans, and all those that never heard of a Crucified Saviour; this I humbly beg for thy Sons sake, my alone Saviour.
Amen.
A Thanksgiving for our deliverance from the Spanish Invasion.
WE laud and magnifie thy holy Name for this thy wonderful deliverance from Roman Slavery, and Popish Usurpation, which would have destroyed the Renowned and Glorious Queen Elizabeth and her Kingdom; their Gallies and Ships came to assault us, being full of pride, and nominating themselves Invincible; but thou, O Lord, our strength, didst awake us out of sleep, and like a Giant refreshed with Wine, and smote our Enemies in the hinder parts, and didst put them all to Confusion. Grant, O Lord, that we may never want thankful hearts to praise thee, for this and all other thy Mercies, even to our lives end.
Amen.
A Thanksgiving for our great deliverance from the Powder Treason, and from Popery and Slavery, and Arbitrary Power.
O MOST mighty God, whose Allseeing Eye of Providence didst discover to us that Train which Popish malice had laid to destroy the King, his Nobles and Commons, then assembled in Parliament; they had contrived by their barbarous Invention, to have blown up the Bodies of that great and wise Councel, but thou, O God, didst defeat their Bloody Enterprise, whereof we rejoyce.
WE likewise praise and extol thy great Name, for this second and never to be forgotten Deliverance; O let after Ages, and the Children that are yet unborn, when they come to understand this thy wonderful Mercy, let it never slip from their memory. Thou, O Lord, didst raise up thy Servant, our Soveraign Lord, King William, who like Moses, stood in the Gap between us and Roman Slavery, which like a Torrent was pouring upon us; O let us never forget thy double Mercy extended towards us this day, thou hast plucked us as a Firebrand out of the burning, and hast restored to us those good and wholsome Laws, and Liberties, which our Ancestors have enjoyed; inspire our hearts that we may extol thy Name, O Lord, for these great Mercies and Deliverances, and let all the people with one voice say,
Amen.
A Thanksgiving for the happy success of Their Majesties Arms in reducing of Ireland, and for His Majesties safe return to England.
O GOD, the great Preserver of the Universe, I offer up unto thee all Praise and Thanksgiving, for putting an end to those troubles and disorders which were in Their Majesties Kingdom of Ireland; thou hast done great things for us, O Lord, whereof I rejoyce; thy Servant, and our Dear and Dread Soveraign King William, did expose his Person to the danger of the Enemy, but thou didst protect him from their Malice, gavest Success to his Arms and Royal Undertaking, and didst cover his Head in the day of Battel, and at last, thou hast brought him safe home with Joy and Victory. Prosper, O Lord, I beseech thee, both Their Majesties with long Life and Happiness, and grant that all their Subjects may be furnished with Loyal and Obedient Hearts towards them, and Love and Charity one towards another; give Peace in our time, O Lord, and put an end to all differences amongst us, for thy Sons sake, our only Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
A Prayer for Charity.
GRANT, O Lord I beseech thee, that I may abound in Charity, yeilding up my self first to thy service, and then according to thy blessed will to the service and relief of my poor Brethren; let me ever remember, that thou, O Lord, madest thy self poor, that I might be made rich; and he that Soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly, but he that Soweth liberally, shall also reap liberally; for thou lovest a cheerful giver: Make me to abound, O Lord, with thy Grace that I may be plentiful in every good word and work; and never let me hide my Face from the poor and needy: Thou, O Lord givest seed to the Sower, and Bread to the Eater, encrease my wealth and augment the revenue of my Righteousness, whereby I may be enriched in all frankness of liberality.
Amen.
A Prayer to renounce the World and affect Spiritual things.
O GOD the Father, who raised from the dead, our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered up himself a Sacrifice for the sins of the whole World; to the end he might withdraw our affections from Temporal, and fix them upon that which is Eternal; give us hearts to obey thy truth, and infuse into us thy Spirit, which may produce thy vertues in us: And because we are thy Children, send the Spirit of thy Son into our hearts whereby we may cry Abba Father, that' being thy Children, we may be heirs through Christ, and walk according to the Spirit, not fulfilling the Lusts of the flesh, knowing that what a Man Soweth, that shall he reap, for he that Soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap Corruption, but he that Soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life Everlasting.
LET us glory in nothing; save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world may be drucified unto us, and we unto the World; that in him we may become new Creatures, not growing weary of well-doing, knowing that we shall reap in due season, if we faint not: Wherefore while we have time, let us do good to all Men, but especially unto the Houshold of Faith, and all they that shall walk according to this rule, peace be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
A Conclusive Prayer.
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast promised to hear the Petitions of them that ask in thy Sons Name, I beseech thee mercifully to incline thing Ears unto me, who have now made my Prayers and Supplication unto thee, and grant that those things which I have faithfully asked according to thy Will, may be effectually obtained, to the relief of my Necessity, and to the setting forth of thy Glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Blessing.
THE Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep my heart and mind in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, with the Virtue of Christs blessed Cross, Passion, Resurrection and Ascension, be with me now, at the hour of Death, and in the Day of Judgment.
Amen.
GRACES.
A Grace before Meat.
O GOD, who art the giver of every good and perfect Gift, sanctifie we beseech thee, these thy Creatures now prepared for us, ma…e them wholsome for our Bodies, and ou… Souls and Bodies serviceable unto thee for them, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Or this.
MOST merciful Father, which openest thy hand, and fillest all things with Plenteousness, we pray thee sanctifie these thy good Creatures unto us, that we may eat to preserve life, and living serve thee our God, through thine only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Or this.
O LORD our God, by whose Providence it is that we live, move, and have our Being, send thy Blessing upon us and our Provision, and grant that whether we Eat, or Drink, or whatsoever we do else, we may do all to the Glory of thy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
After Meat.
THE Lords most holy Name be now and ever blessed and praised for all his Mercies, and for his blessings at this time bestowed upon us. Lord, as thou hast fed our Bodies with corporal Food, so feed our Souls likewise with spiritual Food unto life Eternal. Save thine Universal Church, these Realms, the King, the Queen, and all the Royal Family, and grant us thy Grace, Mercy, and Peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Or this.
THE God of all Grace and Goodness, who at this time hath fed and plenteously refreshed us, his most holy Name be blessed and praised, from this time forth, and for evermore. God save his Universal Church, &c.
Or this.
WE laud and praise thy Name, O Lord, for all thy blessings and favours, and for feeding us so plentifully at this time, desiring thee of thy Grace, that our thankfulness may not be in Word and in Tongue, but expressed by our careful study to glorifie thee our God, in all our Words and Works, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Save thy Universal Church, &c.
THE END.