The Devout Christian Instructed How to Pray and Give Thanks, church · Prayers 9
A Prayer of Parents for their Children when they are grown up to ſome underſtanding.
WE humbly worſhip thy glorious Majeſty, O Lord moſt high; we acknowledge thy infinite goodneſs, that thou art pleaſed to give us leave to call thee Father, who art the poſſeſſor of heaven and of earth. We thank thee for thy moſt tender care over us ever ſince we were born. More eſpecially for the knowledge thou haſt given us of thy great love in Jeſus Chriſt: And that thou haſt ſo timely prevented us with thy grace; and inclined our hearts to thy fear, and love, and ſervice.
Vouchſafe, we beſeech thee, O moſt merciful Father, to take our Children alſo (which we have already dedicated unto thee, and commended to thy care) into the protection and guidance of the ſame gracious providence, which hath been ſo watchful over us. Thou knoweſt the great weakneſs of our nature; how fooliſh and inconſiderate we are (eſpecially in our younger years) how violent in our paſſions; how apt to liſten to temptations, and eaſie to be ſeduced by them; how ready to flatter and abuſe our ſelves with vain hopes; and how unwilling to believe what is contrary to our deſires. And therefore we the more earneſtly implore thy bleſſing upon our indeavours to ſeaſon their minds betime with a Religious ſenſe of thee their Creator, and of their duty which they owe thee, and of that good in which their true happineſs lyes. And we beſeech thee likewiſe to excite our hearts to the greater diligence and thoughtfulneſs and care, to imitate thy fatherly love towards our ſelves; by watching over them to do them good, and to train them up in thy fear. Indue us with wiſdom and prudence to give them wholeſome and ſeaſonable inſtructions: and diſpoſe their hearts to receive and remember them. Help us to govern exactly all our affections and paſſions; that we may neither embolden them to any thing that is evil by too much indulgence, nor diſcourage them in their duty by too much ſeverity: But be examples of godlineſs and vertue to them, by a ſober, grave, gentle, humble, and devout behaviour and converſation. Work in them a great reverence to all their governours, teachers, and ſpiritual Paſtors; and bleſs their godly admonitions to them, that they may follow and obey them. Direct us alſo in the choice of fit perſons to aſſiſt us in their Education; and in the choice of fit imployments for them; whereby they may prove uſeful and profitable members of Church and State.
Bleſſed be thy goodneſs that they have eſcaped the dangers of infancy and child-hood. Good Lord, preſerve them from all the evil and miſchief to which the raſhneſs and indiſcretion of youth may betray them. And fortifie their minds againſt the power of all allurements to ſin; that we may live to ſee them thy dutiful and obedient children, and may leave the world in hope that they will continue ſo, unto their lives end. Or if thou takeſt us away before they come to their full age, we commend them with the more ardent affection, to thy never failing mercy and compaſſion. O thou who art the Father of the fatherleſs, Pſal. 68.5.be their God, and let them find mercy with thee, Hoſ. 14.3.according to thy word. Diſpoſe of them ſo, that by loving and careful governours, holy examples, innocent and good company, pious and diſcreet counſels, with the help of thy divine grace, they may ever be ſecured in their duty, and follow after us to eternal life; through Chriſt Jeſus. Amen.
A ſhort Prayer for the uſe of a little Child.
O Lord, my moſt loving Saviour and merciful Redeemer; who commanddeſt that the little children ſhould come unto thee, and didſt take them up in thine arms, lay thy hands upon them, & bleſs them: Look graciouſly upon me, I humbly beſeech thee, and bleſs me; who am one of thy children, dedicated to thy ſervice. Pitty the weakneſs of my tender age, and prevent me betimes with thy grace. Make me ſeriouſly to remember my Creator in the days of my youth. Indue me with the fear of my God: and make me always mindful of the Vow and Promiſe that was made in my name, when I was baptized; to forſake the Devil and all his works, to believe in God and to ſerve him.
Make me dutiful (as thou O Lord Jeſus waſt) unto my Parents [loving to my Brethren and Siſters] obedient to my inſtructors: thankful for the good counſel of my Friends: humble and reverent to my betters: and meek and gentle to all men. That as I grow in years, ſo I may grow in wiſdom and favour with thee, and with all thoſe who are good.
Preſerve me from all dangers; let thy good Angels be my keepers and defenders; and guide me by thy holy Spirit; that the longer I live, the better I may be: to the comfort of my Parents, the honour and glory of my God, and my own happineſs, here and for ever, Amen.
A ſhorter.
HEavenly Father, who deſpiſeſt nothing that thou haſt made, but takeſt care of the beaſts of the earth, and of the fowls of the air: bleſs me thy child, whom thou haſt made in thy own Image. Preſerve me this day from all evil, both in ſoul and body. Give me what thou ſeeſt good for me. Eſpecially an heart to know thee early, to be thankful to thee, to love thee, and to do thy will, as well as I am able. Bleſs my Father and my Mother, and all my friends: and make me a follower of thoſe who are good; for the ſake of my Saviour Chriſt Jeſus the Lord. Amen.
A Prayer for the uſe of a Child that hath loſt its Parents.
O Lord, who never faileſt thoſe that ſeek thee: but giveſt to the beaſt his food, Pſal. 147.9.and to the young ravens which cry. I caſt my ſelf upon thy infinite goodneſs, with whom the fatherleſs have been wont to find mercy. Be thou,Ecclus. 23.4. O Lord, Father and God of my life, a moſt merciful and gracious Father unto me: and provide what thou ſeeſt, in thy wiſdom, to be neceſſary for me. Eſpecially beſtow upon me ſome faithful friend, that will admoniſh me, and take care of my ſoul, to bring me up religiouſly in the fear of thee my God. Preſerve me from all diſtruſt of thy good providence. Give me favour in the eyes of others, by an humble, ſubmiſſive and good behaviour towards them. Make me diligent and induſtrious in ſome honeſt calling. And bleſs my labours and endeavours, that I may not be a burden unto others. But whatſoever my portion be in this world, give me grace to live ſo piouſly, juſtly and ſoberly, that I may not miſs of that incorruptible inheritance, which fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 1.4.reſerved in the heavens for us; through Chriſt Jeſus. Amen.
A Prayer to be uſed by a Widow.
O God, by whoſe wiſe providence, which I humbly adore and reverence, I am left without my deareſt companion and guide in this our pilgrimage; and thereby deprived of the ſweeteſt comfort of life: behold the deſolate and ſorrowful eſtate of thy poor handmaid, who ſupplicates thy tender mercy and compaſſion towards her. Comfort me, good Lord, with a delightful ſenſe of thy Divine Preſence with me; and draw my heart the nearer to thee, in holy love and devout affection, and a lively hope that thou wilt never leave me nor forſake me.
I ought to thank thee at all times, for the many tokens of thy love towards me; and particularly for lending me this bleſſing ſo long, the value of which I now feel, by the want I am in of its ſupport. Pardon me, I beſeech thee, that I have not been ſo thankful for it, and the reſt of thy mercies, as I ought: nor ſo carefully improved them, as I might have done. O take not away thy loving kindneſs from me in diſpleaſure. But vouchſafe ſtill the continuance of thy favour towards me; eſpecially the ſupport of thy Divine Grace by the power of the holy Ghoſt, to enable me to bear this affliction with an humble, meek and patient ſpirit. Moderate all my paſſions. Free me from all diſcontented and diſtruſtful thoughts. Help me to caſt all my care on thee, who relieveſt the fatherleſs and widow, Pſal. 146.9.and careſt even for the ſtrangers. Fix my mind upon thy love in the Lord Jeſus; in whom thou wouldſt have us to rejoyce always. Lift up my thoughts to thoſe heavenly enjoyments in that bleſſed place where he is; [to which I hope my husband is departed.] And help me to follow after him with all diligence in a pure, grave and godly converſation; and by a careful education of my Children, to endeavour that they may be alſo with us in that glory.
Let thy bleſſing ever reſt upon them. And now that they are left to me alone, give me ſo much the more wiſdom to inſtruct and govern them aright; and ſo much the more love to them, and tender affection to their good and welfare. Make them to be a comfort to me in my Widow-hood by their increaſe in godlineſs; that we may chearfully ſerve thee together, in Prayers, and Thanksgivings, and reading of thy holy Word, and Communion with our bleſſed Saviour, and all other actions of a Chriſtian life. Prepare us for whatſoever condition it is, into which thou ſhalt be pleaſed to bring us; that neither fulneſs nor poverty, honour nor reproaches, health nor ſickneſs, may ever ſeparate us from thy love in Chriſt Jeſus: but we may perſevere in patient obedience to thee, till we receive that crown of life which he hath promiſed to them that love thee. Amen.
A Prayer for the uſe of a poor Servant.
O Lord moſt high; who ar… the Maker of the rich and of the poor; Prov. 22.2.with whom there is no reſpect of perſons: Look graciouſly upon me, I humbly beſeech thee, who here caſt down my ſelf before thee; acknowledging thy Soveraign power over all, and thy wiſe providence which hath diſpoſed all things into ſeveral ranks and orders, for their mutual help and benefit. I humbly ſubmit to the ſtate and condition wherein thou haſt been pleaſed to place me, below many others. I thank thee that I live; and that I live in health; and have ſtrength of body; (great and invaluable bleſſings!) and that I have ſo much liberty as to make my requeſts unto thee, and acknowledge thy mercies; and that I have any hope thou wilt never ceaſe to do me good, till thou haſt crowned all thy mercies in eternal life.
Good Lord, pardon me, if I have at any time murmur'd and repin'd at my condition, or envied the higher eſtate of other perſons. Pardon all my other offences, whatſoever they have been: and vouchſafe but to deliver me from the bondage of ſin, and to make me a Servant of Righteouſneſs; and I ſhall not only be contented, but perpetually rejoyce in thy Salvation. Indue me with a right underſtanding of my duty in this relation wherein I ſtand. That according to thy command, I may account thoſe whom I ſerve worthy of all honour; being careful to pleaſe them in all things, 1 Tim. 6.1.never contradicting, Tit. 2.9,10.nor purloyning: Epheſ. 6.5,7.but ſhowing all good fidelity; and with good will and ſingleneſs of heart doing ſervice, as to the Lord and not to men. Help me to demean my ſelf ſo humbly,Colloſ. 3.23,25. and whatſoever I do, to do it ſo heartily; that I may obtain favour in their eyes. Or if they be froward and hard to pleaſe, O God, preſerve me from all unſeemly paſſions, and diſreſpectful behaviour towards them. And make me ſo much the more diligent in their buſineſs: remembring that I ſerve the Lord Chriſt from whom I expect to receive the reward of the inheritance.Coloſſ. 3.23,25.
If thou art pleaſed any other way to afflict me, with ſickneſs or pains …n my body, which may hinder my …abour and caſt me into poverty, Lord, ſtill ſtrengthen my faith and confidence in thee. And help me to …ear it with a patient mind; looking …nto Jeſus, who took upon him the form of a Servant, and became poor, and ſuffered much for our ſake: but how is therefore highly exalted to …uccour and comfort all thoſe that …ollow after him contentedly in welldoing. In his Name and Words I …ecommend my ſelf unto thy mercy, ſaying,
Our Father, &c.
A Prayer of a poor Priſoner for Debt.
O God, who art preſent to us in all places, and haſt regard to the ſighs and groans of the miſerable, who humbly implore thy pitty and compaſſion towards them▪ Vouchſafe to look graciouſly upon thy afflicted ſervant in this place; which is moſt deſolate and comfortleſs, unleſs the light of thy countenance ſhine upon me. I confeſs that I have too much abuſed the liberty which I formerly enjoyed; and did not ſo carefully improve, as I ough… to have done, thoſe happy opportunities, which therewith were pu… into my hands. Many ways, I am ſenſible, I have offended thy Divine Majeſty*Here acknowledge the particulars. for which I am heartily ſorry; and acknowledg… my ſelf infinitely indebted to thy goodneſs, that I am not plunged into the depth of miſery, to bewail my ſins in the bottomleſs pit.
I thank thee, O Lord, with all my ſoul that I am not ſhut up in the place of outer darkneſs; and that I have any hope to obtain the benefit: of the redemption, which is in Chriſt Jeſus. In whoſe Name I beſeech thee to pardon me; and likewiſe to ſanctifie theſe ſtraits wherein I lye, to the freeing my ſoul from the bond of all iniquity, and the reſtoring me to the glorious liberty of thy children. Help me ſeriouſly to follow the direction of thy Providence in this reſtraint; and now that I am ſo much alone by my ſelf, to deſcend into my own heart, to ſearch and try my ways, and unfeignedly to turn to thee, my God. Enlarge my ſpirit more than ever, now that my body is confined, in fervent Prayer for thy Divine Grace, and in chearful Thankſgivings for the innumerable benefits that I have received from thy bounty, and in tender pitty and commiſeration of the ſad condition of all diſtreſſed people. And be pleaſed to touch the hearts of my Creditors alſo, with a ſenſe of my miſeries: incline them to accept of what I am able to pay, and make me willing conſcientiouſly to ſatisfie them to the utmoſt of my power.
In the mean time beſtow upon me the bleſſing of a contented ſpirit. Help me patiently to endure the inconveniences of this place. And preſerve me from the danger of all the temptations, which I meet with in it: eſpecially from ſeeking a remedy of my ſorrows, in the pleaſures of intemperance, or evil company, or any prophane mirth whatſoever. Be thou my comfort; O God, my exceeding joy; and the full ſatisfaction of my ſoul, in all conditions. And when thou art pleaſed to deliver me from this place, and reſtore me again to my deſired freedom: O Lord, make me ever mindful of the vows, wherein I am now forward to bind my ſelf. Diſpoſe my heart then to be ſo ſenſibly affected, with the leaſt of thoſe mercies which formerly I have little regarded; that I may never forget to praiſe thee even for the benefit of a ſweeter air than now I enjoy, and to acknowledge thee in the night ſeaſon upon my bed, and to thank thee for the courſeſt food; and eſpecially I may rejoyce to go again into the great Congregation to praiſe thee with the moſt ardent love for all ſpiritual bleſſings in Chriſt Jeſus.
Preſerve in me alſo a grateful remembrance of the kindneſs of my Friends and Neighbours: eſpecially of thoſe perſons to whom I ſtand particularly indebted, when by their charity I ſhall be releaſed. And whatſoever loſs they ſuſtain by my poverty, good Lord, make it up abundantly to them and theirs, out of thy rich grace and mercy. Requite their love with plenty and proſperity in this world; and give them the reward of eternal life and glory in the world to come; through Chriſt Jeſus. Amen.
A Prayer of a great Malefactor in Priſon.
O Moſt holy and righteous Judge of the whole world; give a ſinful and miſerable wretch leave to proſtrate himſelf before the Throne of thy Grace, and implore that mercy which formerly I have deſpiſed or abuſed. I am not worthy, I confeſs, to lift up my eyes towards heaven; and it becomes me in the greateſt dejection of ſpirit to ſigh and groan under the load of my ſins: which have been ſo great and many, ſo bold, ſo preſumptuous and ſhameleſs, that when with an awakened mind I reflect upon them, I am ready to ſink into hell, and utterly deſpair of any mercy. O God, how have I hated inſtruction, Prov. 5.12,13.and my heart deſpiſed reproof? And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that admoniſhed me? How ſwift have my feet been to run into evil? and how backward and averſe have I been to any thing that is good? O the injuries which I have done my Neighbours! the abuſe of my ſelf and of thy good creatures! The prophane contempt or neglect of thee and the duties of thy worſhip and ſervice!*Here let him reckon up the blaſphemy, debauchery, and violence that he hath been guilty of. The remembrance of all this is dreadful: the burden of it is intolerable.
How ſhall I appear before thee, at whoſe rebuke the Mountains quake, ſince I cannot think of appearing before an earthly Judge without ſhame and affrightment of ſpirit? O Lord, work in me a greater dread of thee, with a greater ſhame and confuſion of face; now that I am in thy preſence. For which end, be pleaſed to repreſent unto me effectually, the wickedneſs, the baſeneſs and vileneſs of all my evil doings, as well as the guilt and juſt deſert of them. O that I could hate and abhorr them, more than that death,*Or puniſhment; when the crime is leſs. which I expect ſhortly to ſuffer for them! Beſtow on me that ingenuous and godly ſorrow which worketh repentance, and unfeigned purpoſes of amendment of life. They come too late indeed, I may juſtly think, to find acceptance with thee: and therefore, not without fear and trembling, and a great ſenſe of my undeſervings, I look up unto thee; acknowledging thy infinite goodneſs, if thou wilt vouchſafe but the ſmalleſt hope of mercy.
Mercy, mercy, good Lord: caſt me not quite out of thy ſight, for Jeſus Chriſts his ſake, who gave himſelf for us to redeem us from all iniquity. It is the beginning of ſome mercy, and an earneſt, I hope, of more, that thon haſt made me ſenſible of mine offences; and that thou haſt wrought in me a reſolution to forſake them, and ſome love to a godly, ſober and righteous life. Help me to manifeſt the ſincerity and uprightneſs of my ſoul in theſe reſolutions, as much as I am able; by giving thee hearty thanks that the hand of juſtice hath over-taken and laid hold upon me, and put a ſtop to the further miſchief which I might have committed; and by making a free and open confeſſion of my crimes, and taking the ſhame which belongs to me, before others; and by acknowledging that I am unworthy to live; and by earneſt admoniſhments to all, to be warned by my example, and to ceaſe betimes to do evil, and learn to do well. O God, that I could glorifie thee a little in my latter end, after this manner. And till I come to receive my deſerved puniſhment, help me to ſpend my time in bewailing my ſins; in humbling my ſelf before thee for them; in ſetting my heart againſt them; in ſtudying and admiring with the greateſt affection the holy life of the Lord Jeſus; in calling other offenders to repentance, and exhorting them thereby to give thee glory. Deny me not the grace, I beſeech thee, to enable me thus to imploy my ſelf; that I may have ſome taſte of thy mercy, and the fear of death may be abated by ſome hope, that when my ſoul ſhall be parted from the body, thou, O bleſſed Jeſus, wilt receive it, though ſo unworthy, into ſome of the heavenly manſions. Amen, Amen.
A Souldier's Prayer that fights for his Country.
O Moſt mighty Lord, the Fountain of life and ſtrength, and courage; whom all the hoſt of heaven continually obeys. I proſtrate my ſelf before thee in a religious ſenſe, that the fear of thy divine Majeſty, a pure conſcience, and a ſtrong hope and confidence in thy Omnipotent goodneſs, will give the moſt aſſured reſolution, valour and boldneſs to our ſpirits, in all dangers. Moſt humbly beſeeching thee to purge my heart from the love of every thing that is offenſive to thee; to pardon all my former ſins, negligences and ignorances; and to indue me with the grace of thy holy Spirit ſtrictly to amend and reform my life, according to thy holy Word.
Many temptations, I am ſenſible, will continually aſſault me, in this ſtate of life wherein I am ingaged. But I as earneſtly beſeech thee to defend me from the power of them, as I deſire to be defended from death, and to be covered by thee in the day of battle. O that no covetous deſires or greedineſs of ſpoil, no ambition or vain-glory, no hatred or malice, may puſh me forward in any enterprize! But give me the victory over theſe and all other vile affections and paſſions, before I meet with any other enemy. And graciouſly bleſs and proſper our arms, for the defence of our Country, and the preſervation of our Religion, Government, Laws and Liberties. And whilſt we fight for the preſervation of good Order, Lord, give us all grace to be examples of it our ſelves, That abhorring all blaſphemy and prophaneneſs, all riot and laſciviouſneſs;Luk. 3.14. and doing violence to no man, accuſing no man falſly, and being content with our wages, we may adorn both our Cauſe and our Religion: and whatſoever the iſſue be, we may have peace in our own hearts, and living or dying may be accepted with thee; through Chriſt Jeſus, the Prince of peace. To whom, &c. Amen.
A Prayer for the uſe of one that is Aged.
I Adore thee, O Lord of life and glory; who art from everlaſting to everlaſting, and changeſt not: beſeeching thee to look graciouſly upon thy unworthy ſervant, whoſe hope is only in thine infinite mercy; by which my life hath been prolonged to old age, and which is able to make me eternally bleſſed. I thank thee for thy inconceiveable love in the Lord Jeſus, who hath given me ſuch a ſolid and ſtedfaſt ground of hope, to ſuppport and ſtrengthen my heart, when all the comforts of this life fail me: and likewiſe praiſe and magnifie thy bounteous goodneſs, for thoſe innumerable bleſſings, which, time after time, thou haſt beſtowed upon me, from the beginning of my life till this preſent*Let them be reckoned up as particularly as you can..
O my God, help me always to ſolace my ſelf, now that the days are come wherein I have no pleaſure, with a perpetual remembrance of all thy paſt loving kindneſſes to me; and with thoſe hopes which I have of thy endleſs love in the other world. And the more my outward ſenſes decay, vouchſafe me the quicker and more lively ſenſe in my heart of thoſe good things which thou haſt laid up there, for thoſe that fear thee. Preſerve me from all diſcontented thoughts, and peeviſh paſſions. Make me an example unto others of Holineſs, diſcretion, temperance, gravity, Tit. 2.2,3.peaceableneſs and patience: Prov. 20.29.that ſo I may with the more authority be a teacher of good things; Ecclus. 25.4.and my hoary head may be a crown of glory, being found in the ways of righteouſneſs. O how comely a thing is judgement for gray hairs; and for ancient men to know counſel! Pardon me, good Lord, that I have made no better improvement of my time and experience; for the furniſhing of my mind with this wiſdom, and with thoſe vertues. Pardon all my negligences, and all my offences.*Remember them particularly. And fill my heart with a comfortable ſenſe of thy pardoning mercy in Chriſt Jeſus: that having no other burden, but that of age, to oppreſs my ſpirit, I may rejoyce in thee as long as I live, and at laſt lay my ſelf down to reſt in peace, and return my ſoul back unto thee chearfully, whenſoever thou calleſt for it; in ſure and certain hope of the reſurrection of the dead, and of that glory, honour and immortality, which thou haſt graciouſly promiſed us by thy dear Son, my moſt bleſſed Lord and Saviour, Chriſt Jeſus. With whom I deſire to live to give thee eternal praiſes. Amen.