The Signal Loyalty and Devotion of Gods True Saints Part 1 and 2, Part 2 · Chapter 6 · Part 4
A Prayer used by the Speaker of the Commons House of Parliament.
I.
O GOD, most great and glorious, which dwellest in the Heavens over all, yet humblest thy self to behold the things that are done upon the earth: we, the people and sheep of thy pasture, assembled by thy providence, to the performance of this high service, whereupon the honour of thy name, the beauty of thy Church amongst us, the glory of the King, and wealth of our State doth depend, knowing, that without thee, we can do nothing: do, at this time, with fear and reverence, in the beginning of our consultations, first look up unto thee (from whom wisedom and happie successe doth come) praying thee to look down upon us, who first look up unto thee (from whom wisdom and happie successe doth come) praying thee, to look down from Heaven upon us with the eye of thy mercy; to draw near unto us with the presence of thy grace: to prepare us all with counsel and understanding; and to be President, and Director of all our conferences: that those things may be propounded, conceived, allowed, and confirmed, which may best please thee, and most directlie and soundly uphold the honour of thy Name, the …nceritie of thy worship; the safety of our King; and peace of thy people: even for thy Son our Lords sake.
And that we may not our selves, be any hinderance to the obtaining of these our defires, either by means of any sin formerly committed, or of any corruption yet remaining in us: we humblie pray thee, to forgive our sins, and blot out all our iniquities: and to stand reconciled unto us, in an everlasting covenant of peace, as if we had never sinned against thee.
And, because our hearts by nature are not fit for good cogitations; create a new heart, and renew a right spirit in us: remove far from us all vain-glorious humour of advancing our private profit, all envious humour of disgracing other mens gifts, all malicious humour of hurting anie mans person: and (finally) all froward humour of opposing our selves, against just, needfull, and godly things, by whomsoever propounded. Furnish us with knowledge, wisedom, and zeal, by sending down thy spi…it into our hearts, that we may understand, discern, prefer, and set forward all things tending to the advancement of thy glorie, and such as may be thought worthie our assent and furtherance.
And, because all good things are not of equal goodness, nor all needfull things of equal necessitie: let our care and zeal be equallie proportioned to the degrees of things in g…nesse and necessitie different. And therefore, first, make us carefull of the glory of thy Name (which is the high end of all thy counsels and works, and ought to be the last, and first respect of all our purposes and doing…) And therein, let our especial care be, to provide for the continuance of thy word, and religious practice of thy worship by the Ministery and means that Christ hath planted in his Church: next, let the good of this whole Island move our care and zeal; which consisting in the safety and honour of the King, and the enacting and executing of good Laws; let us be wisely carefull, and faithfully zealous for the Person of our King, whom thou the King of Kings hast in mercy set over us.
And because no Law can be good, that is not agreeable to thy Law, which containeth the Fundamental equity of all Laws: in making Laws to govern thy people, let us alwaies have an eye unto thy Law, not digressing from the holy equity thereof: and what through thy mercy, we shall here profitably enact, we pray thee, through the whole Kingdom it may be truly executed, that our great labour may not be disgraced with little fruit.
And forasmuch as we all and every one of us have, in this place, with wonder and astonishment, and without any merit of ours, found a most evident assurance of thy mercy and goodnesse, in a miraculous deliverance from the greatest danger, by Popish treachery tha… ever was attempted or threatned, towards our King, our State and Us: give us (good Lord) hearts above the hearts of men, to offer unto thee in the same place, a daily sacrifice of thanksgiving in the highest measure; together with a fervent and incessant zeal, care, and diligence in all our proceedings, for the setling of the peace and happy estate of thy Church amongst us: the preservation of our King; his royal Progeny; our selves, and our Posterity: and for the preventing, suppressing, and final rooting out of the spring, issue, and fruit of all such hellish and popish hearts, intentions, and practices: to the everlasting praise and glory of thy blessed name.
Hear us, we pray thee (O Father of mercy) in these our most humble and needfull petitions: forgive and answer us, according to thy fatherly and great goodnesse, for Jesus Christ his sake, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, three Persons, and one God, be all praise, glory, and power, now, and forever,
Amen.