The Devout Christian Instructed How to Pray and Give Thanks, church · Prayers 6
HEre follow Prayers and Thanksgivings on ſundry other occaſions, which we may meet withal in the courſe of our life. In which it will be fit particularly to acknowledge God, and implore his mercy towards us. And let it be remembred, as I ſaid before, that it is a part of Chriſtian Piety to take care that alms and acts of Charity to others accompany our addreſſes to God. They are then certainly moſt ſeaſonable, when we deſire ſpecial favours from him, or return thanks for them. And hereby (as old Tobias ſaid, 4.9,11.) We lay up a good treaſure for our ſelves againſt the day of neceſſity. For alms is a good gift unto all them that give it, in the ſight of the moſt High.
A Prayer to be uſed by one that is going a long Iourney.
O God, who art alike preſent unto all places: who preſerveſt man and beaſt: for thou art good to all, Pſal. 36.6.and thy tender mercies are over all thy works. 145.9,10.All thy works ſhall praiſe thee, O Lord, and thy Saints ſhall bleſs thee. They ſhall ſpeak of the glory of thy kingdom, and declare thy power.
Bleſſed be thy name for the knowledge thou haſt given me, of thy wiſe and merciful providence incompaſſing all creatures. And more particularly I rejoyce in the revelation which thou haſt made, of thy Fatherly love and care over us the children of men, in Chriſt Jeſus: Who makes his Angels Miniſtring Spirits for them, Heb. 1. ult.that are heirs of Salvation. Pſal. 18.30.In an hearty belief of thy holy Goſpel, and a ſincere reſolution to be obedient unto it in hope of that eternal life; I commit both my ſoul and body to thy moſt gracious protection: who art the defender of all them, that put their truſt in thee. I truſt thee, O Lord, with my ſelf and all belonging to me. I intirely depend on thy goodneſs, to be with me and proſper me, in the way that I go. Give thy good Angels charge of me: And eſpecially accompany me with the preſence of thy holy Spirit, to preſerve my ſoul in ſafety, from all evil thoughts, deſires or paſſions, that may any way betray me in word or deed, to offend thy Divine Majeſty. Deliver me from the danger of any evil company into which I may fall: that I may not frame my ſelf to the humours of profane perſons, but by a pious and diſcreet behaviour rather reprove them. And give me grace thankfully to embrace the company of thoſe who are good, if I be bleſſed with it: that I may rejoyce in their ſociety, and improve it to my increaſe in wiſdom or pious affections towards thee.
Bleſs this habitation alſo, which I leave, and all remaining in it: that at what diſtance ſoever we be one from another, we may all live and walk in the ſame ſpirit of Faith, and Love, and Holineſs. Give us an happy meeting together again in this place, if it be thy good will and pleaſure, to pay thee the vows which I make of greater care and diligence in thy ſervice, and greater charity towards all my neighbours. Howſoever, in the end of our pilgrimage, bring us all together in that bleſſed reſt which thou haſt prepared for thy people, after all their travels and labours, through thy mercy in Chriſt Jeſus. To which I commend my ſelf and all mine, both now and ever. Amen.
A ſhort Prayer in ones Inne, or at the end of the Iourney.
BLeſſed be thy goodneſs, O Lord my Creator and continual Preſerver, by which I have been led it ſafety to this place; and am not only alive, but ſound and unmaimed▪ To thee, O God, will I ſing and give praiſe, who haſt dealt ſo bountifully with me. For thou haſt delivered my ſoul from death, Pſal. 116.1.7.8,9.mine eyes from tears, Gen. 15.1.and my feet from falling. 17.1.I love the Lord becauſe he hath heard my voice, and my ſupplications. Becauſe he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. I will walk alſo with a perfect heart before the Lord; who is my ſhield, and my exceeding great reward.
Preſerve in me, I beſeech thee, a pious remembrance of all thy mercies, and of all thoſe holy reſolutions, which they excite in me. Take me ſtill into thy Almighty protection. Continue me in thy fear, and love, and faithful obedience. That, having finiſhed this journey in peace, I may return to the place from whence I came, full of thankful affections to thee, and zealouſly diſpoſed to perform my vows, in a careful diſcharge of all the duties, which my place and relations require of me. And inable me, good Lord, ever to perform them with uprightneſs of heart and good will, as becomes the ſervant of Chriſt Jeſus.
To the ſame merciful providence which hath watched over me all this day, I commend my ſelf, and all my relations and friends every where, this night: Beſeeching thee to awaken in me in the morning, the ſame love, and thankfulneſs, and humble confidence, which I now find, and deſire ever to have, in my heart towards thee, my gracious Father, Saviour and Deliverer. To whom be glory, honour and praiſe everlaſting. Amen.
A Prayer in caſe of any hurt from Thieves, or otherwiſe.
O Moſt merciful Father, for ſo I ought ever to acknowledge thee, without whom one of the ſmalleſt creatures cannot fall to the ground, and to whom we are of more value than many of them;Matth. 10.29. I humbly and meekly ſubmit my ſelf to this croſs in my way, which thou in thy wiſdom haſt ſuffe…ed to befal me. I know that thou …rt able to make even this, with all …ther things, work together for my …ood. And therefore I beſeech thee …ut graciouſly to pardon my ſins which deſerve greater puniſhment, …nd to preſerve my ſoul ſtill in ſafety …om all murmuring and repining at …y providence, by a ſtedfaſt faith …nd truſt in thee, and an abſolute re…gnation to thy holy will and plea…ure; and I ſhall not ceaſe to …leſs thee, and to ſpeak good of thy …ame.
Help me to learn by this to live in conſtant ſenſe of the uncertainty …f all worldly hopes, to ſet my affe…ions more perfectly on unchangea…le enjoyments, and to place my …appineſs only in chearful obedience …nd contented patience, in all eſtates …nd conditions of life. I remember …at we are all but pilgrims and ſtran…ers whilſt we are here; ſubject to duplicate page duplicate page many other changes and chances i… this mortal life. And therefor… whatſoever I, or thoſe I have left a… home, may further ſuffer before m… return, Lord, aſſiſt us all to take tha… patiently alſo: And as we have received ſo many good things fro… thee, to receive likewiſe that whic… is evil; giving thanks to thee th… Father of mercies, who haſt give us ſuch a good hope of perfect ſec… rity, peace and joy in our heave… ly Country, when we have do… and endured all thy pleaſure. … the expectation of which bleſſe… ſtate I will continually rejoyce praying thee to purifie me more a… more, that I may be prepared f… it, and at laſt by thy mercy ent… into it, to give thee eternal praiſe Amen.
A Prayer to be ſaid for a Friend in a Iourney.
O God, whoſe Almighty Power, and wiſe Providence, and Omnipreſent Goodneſs, is the ſecurity, ſupport, and comfort of all thoſe that know thee. It is the higheſt ſatisfaction of our ſouls to have a lively hope in thee of eternal life in the other world. And to be perſwaded that thou loveſt us, and wilt take care of us, and bleſs us whilſt we continue here, and that nothing can befal us without the knowledge and conſent of thy infinite goodneſs, gives the moſt ſolid peace and repoſe unto our ſpirits, in all the alterations and changes of this life. I rejoyce in the belief, that I live in a world, which is full of thee; that I am always under thy eye, and have thee near unto me; as to obſerve me, ſo to help, protect and defend me.
And I beſeech thee, fill the mind of him*Or her., who is now gone from me, with the ſame ſenſe of thee; that he may carry along with him every where, this ſtedfaſt faith and hope in thee▪ as the ſtay, the reſt and the refreſhment of his ſoul. How far ſoeve… he be from me, O that he may be nigh to thee, in frequent, ſerious thoughts of thee, and hearty love to thee, and perfect truſt in thee▪ and a conſtant diſpoſition of mind and will to do and be what thou pleaſeſt. That travelling under the ſhadow of the Almighty, no harm may come to him: but even thoſe things which we account the greateſt miſchiefs, if they ſhall betide him, may be humbly accepted by us all, with fear and reverence, and chearful ſubmiſſion to thee; as becomes thoſe who profeſs our ſelves thy friends, as well as thy ſervants.
No Thieves, Murderers, or other evil perſons or things, can approach him, I know, without thy leave: who governeſt and over-ruleſt the motions of every creature at thy pleaſure, to which we ever ought …o ſubmit our own. But if thou …hinkeſt good to reſtore him hither …gain untouched by any of them, Lord, help us to be ſo much the more thankful to thee; who dealeſt with us according to our own hearts deſire. O that the ſenſe of …hy goodneſs then, may ſo power…ully affect our hearts; that we may …e moved thereby to a greater zeal …nd freedom of ſpirit in thy ſervice, …nd be the more forward to imitate …hee in doing good, and ſhowing mercy to all men! O that thy benefits may never ſlip out of our minds! O that the medi…ation of them may be …weet unto us!Pſal. 104.34. and we may learn thereby to …ruſt in thee at all times, 62.8.and pour out our hearts before thee: Tob. 4.16.7.12.for thou art a refuge for us.
Now the merciful God give him good ſucceſs in all things! Theſe laſt words may ſerve for a ſhort Ejaculation in his behalf at any time of the day.The God which dwelleth in heaven, proſper his journey, and the Ange… of God keep him company! Amen.
A Thanksgiving after a ſafe Retur… home.
IN an humble joyful ſenſe of th… fatherly care and providence over me, ever ſince I went from thi… place (to which thou haſt brought m… back in peace and ſafety) I caſt dow… my ſelf at thy feet, O Lord God o… heaven, praiſing thy Almighty goodneſs, with an heart full of love an… devotion to thee. It is of th… mercy alone that I am not conſumed, …nd becauſe thy compaſſions fail not. That I am not groaning under ſick…eſs, or wounds and bruiſes in my body; nor ſighing for the loſs of my goods either at home or abroad, is …o be aſcribed to that tender mercy which ſpreads its ſelf over all thy works; and hath been a covering to me night and day, in every place where I have been, from I know not how many dangers. I thank thee …lſo for letting me ſee the faces of my relations and friends again, and that no evil hath come nigh their dwellings: but eſpecially for preſerving my ſoul in integrity and uprightneſs before thee; and for delivering me from the power of temptations, and from wounding my conſcience, by any wilful offence againſt thy Divine Majeſty.
It is too little to render to thee my Praiſes and Thankſgivings; I will pay thee my Vows wherein I ſtand ingaged to thee; and here offer unto thee my ſelf, ſoul and body, t… be made a more pure, perfect and acceptable ſacrifice unto thee throug… Chriſt Jeſus. Maintain, I beſeec… thee, ſuch a lively and laſting remembrance of thy kindneſs in m… heart, as may both provoke me t… love and to good works, and alſ… ſtrengthen my faith and hope i… thee on all occaſions for the time t… come.
I ought not to forget, now that … mention thy late deliverances, a… the reſt of thy mercies: which ar… ſo many and ſo various, that, alas … we take little notice of many o… them. In the conſtant and undiſturbed courſe of them, we are ap… to be leſs ſenſible how much w… ſtand indebted to thee for them▪ Yea, they have been ſo long continued to us, and we are ſo far from the beginning of them, that we are too prone to forget the head and fountain from whence they ſpring▪ O how ſad is it, that we ſhould love thee leſs, becauſe thou loveſt us ſo much! and that we ſhould think the ſeldomer of thy bounty, becauſe thou conſtantly remembereſt us and doſt us good! How much ſhould we praiſe thee for our health and …eaſe, if we were ſick or in pain but a few days! And yet now we praiſe thee but a little, though we are well many years. How thankful ſhould we be, if we were freed from the Devil, after he had affrighted and …exed us but one night! and yet now, alas! we ſcarce mind thy goodneſs, which perpetually preſerves us from his aſſaults. Endue me, O God of all grace, with a more ſerious ſpirit, often reflecting and meditating upon thee, and upon thy benefits, both to my ſoul and body, for this …ife and that which is to come. That I may not be taught the value and number of thy bleſſings, by being deprived of them; but in their conſtant uſe and enjoyment may ever duly ponder them: extolling and praiſing thy infinite goodneſs, with ſenſible love to thee, and delight in doing of thy Will. For which end, I beſeech thee to indue me with power from above, that I may not deceive my own ſoul with ſome paſſionate deſires, tranſports of joy, or ſudden reſolutions: but deliberately and with the full conſent of my heart devoting my ſelf to thy ſervice, I may conſcientiouſly ſtudy to improve all thy mercies to the honour and glory of thy Name, the credit of my Religion, the good and profit of my Neighbours, and my own ſolid peace and comfort at preſent, and eternal joy at the day o… the Lord.
And bleſs all others, I beſeech thee, that deſire the ſame mercy, o… which thou haſt made me partaker▪ Receive them into thy protection … conduct them ſafely to the end o… their journies: Make them eve… mindful of thy loving kindneſs▪ and careful to remember that every new benefit is a new bond to better obedience. Unto which, good Lord, incline us all more and more, for thy mercies ſake in Chriſt Jeſus; by whom and for whom thy glorious Name be bleſſed and praiſed for ever. Amen.
A Prayer to be ſaid by one going a Voyage on the Sea: Which may be uſed, with a little alteration, by his Friends for him.
O Moſt mighty Lord, the God of our ſalvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, Pſal. 65.5.and of them that are afar off upon the Sea: Under whoſe powerful protection we are alike ſecure in every place; and without whoſe providence over us, we can no where be in ſafety. I am ſenſible of the tender care thou haſt long taken of me, and that I have been preſerved by thee from innumerable dangers, both in my infancy and childhood and ever ſince; for which I have not thankt thee as I ought. I moſt humbly beſeech thee graciouſly to pardon this and all other my offences, which might juſtly weaken my confidence in thee; did I not feel thy grace in Chriſt Jeſus, who dyed for us, to be ſo great, as to fill my heart not only with unfeigned ſorrow for them, but with holy reſolutions to be more grateful and dutiful in time to come.
This emboldens me, with an humble faith in thy Almighty goodneſs, to commend my ſelf ſtill to the conduct, guidance and bleſſing of thy merciful Providence. O God receive me, though a ſinful creature, into thy favour and grace. Purge my heart from all affection to every thing that is evil; that I may not carry the ſenſe of any guilt unrepented of, along with me in my voyage; but have my heart ſetled in ſuch an unmoveable love to all piety, righteouſneſs and ſobriety of mind and life, that no ſtorm or tempeſt or other danger may diſmay me and make me afraid. They are all, I know, in thy hands; to which I commit my ſelf with an intire truſt in thee, that nothing ſhall hurt me while I follow that which is good.
If thou art pleaſed to bring me to my deſired haven, Lord, poſſeſs me then with theſe good thoughts and affections which I feel at preſent in my heart towards thee: That my chief joy may be in thee, and in the love I find in my heart to thee; and I may never forget thee by intemperate mirth and pleaſure in any other enjoyment. But if thou thinkeſt good otherwiſe to diſpoſe of me, thy will, O Lord, be done. I commend both my body and my ſpirit into thy hands; who art able to make the Sea give up her dead, by thine Almighty Word. Help me always to hold faſt that hope of eternal life as an anchor of my ſoul both ſure and ſtedfaſt; Heb. 6.19,20.which may preſerve me in unſhaken comfort and joy at the hour of death it ſelf. And looking up to that quiet place whither Jeſus our fore-runner is entred for us, I may begin thoſe Praiſes and Thankſgivings which I hope ſhall have no end; but be continued for ever in the company of the bleſſed in the other world. Unto which I beſeech thee of thine infinite mercies to bring me, through Chriſt Jeſus; who is made an high prieſt for ever. Amen.
A Thanksgiving after it is finiſhed, and the party returned home again.
O Bleſſed Lord; Thou art great and greatly to be praiſed; for by thy word the heavens were made: Pſal. 48.1.33.6,7.and all the hoſt of them by the breath of thy mouth. 135.6.107.24, &c.Thou didſt gather the waters of the Sea together, as an heap: and laidſt them up in the ſtore-houſes of the deeps. They are all at thy command, and whatſoever thou pleaſeſt, that doſt thou in heaven and in earth, in the Seas and all deep places. I have ſeen thy works, O Lord, and thy wonders in the deep. For thou ſpakeſt the word, and the ſtormy wind aroſe, which lifted up the waves thereof. And again, when we cryed unto thee, thou madeſt the ſtorm a calm, ſo that the waves thereof were ſtill. Bleſſed be thy Almighty Goodneſs, which carried me ſafe through ſuch great and dreadful dangers. Bleſſed be thy goodneſs that the deep hath not ſwallowed me up, and that I am not gone down into ſilence. Bleſſed be thy goodneſs, that neither my body, nor my goods, became a prey to unreaſonable men; but that thou broughteſt me to the haven where I would be, and haſt now returned me home in ſafety.
O God, that I may never forget the vows, which I was forward to make when I was in trouble! Preſerve in me for ever an awful ſenſe and apprehenſion of thy great power, who bringeſt the wind out of thy treaſuries; Pſal. 135.7. 89.9.and rulest the raging of the Sea, Jer. 5.22.and ſtilleſt the noiſe of its waves. Pſal. 120.11.Who would not fear thee, O Lord, who would not tremble at thy preſence? who haſt placed the ſand for the bound of the Sea, by a perpetual decree that it cannot paſs it; and though the waves thereof toſs themſelves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not paſs over it? O poſſeſs my heart with a greater reverence of thy divine Majeſty, that I may ever ſerve thee with fear, and rejoyce before thee with trembling. Eſpecially make me fearful of offending thee, who art ſo great and powerful; and haſt done ſuch great things for me; and canſt do greater; and wilt do them, as thou haſt promiſed, by Chriſt Jeſus;Philip. 3.20. who hath power to ſubdue all things to himſelf.Heb. 2.3.
Bleſſed be thy infinite grace, which hath wrought ſuch a marvellous redemption for us by him. How ſhall I eſcape, if I neglect ſo great ſalvation? How miſerable ſhall I be, if, after all the dangers from which I have now been reſcued, I ſhould for my ingratitude and diſobedience be caſt into the lake of fire and brimſtone? O God, that all thy mercies and deliverances here may, by a thankful remembrance and careful improvement of them, only prepare me for that glorious deliverance at the day of the Lord Jeſus! And as by thy good providence thou haſt ſaved me from the violence of ſtorms and tempeſts, and other hazards: ſo by thy grace deliver me from the power and violence of all temptations; and enable me ſtedfaſtly to perſiſt in well doing, and patient ſuffering unto the end.
Endue me with ſuch a right ſenſe of my Religion as may make it to be my delight; that ſo I may be out of all danger of being prevailed withal, to forſake that which is ſo ſweet and pleaſant to my ſoul. O that it may be my guide in proſperity, and my comfort in adverſity; the rule of my life, and my great ſatisfaction in death! Sanctifie every condition unto me; that ſickneſs or health, poverty or riches, honour or diſgrace, may prove real bleſſings to me, and make me profit in piety and vertue. And let a great ſenſe of thee, and of Religion intermix it ſelf with all my employments. Teach me ſo to behave my ſelf that I may be acceptable in thy ſight, not only when I make ſuch addreſſes as theſe unto thee: But whether I eat or drink, or whatſoever I do elſe, I may abide in thy love, and be approved by thee for a good and faithful ſervant. All which I moſt humbly beg of thee, and whatſoever thou ſeeſt good for me, in the name of the Lord Jeſus; by whom and with whom, in the unity of the holy Ghoſt, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen.