Godly Private Prayers for Christian Families, Prayers · Prayer 3
The Lords Prayer more at large.
The firſt Petition.
Our Father, which art in Heauen.
MOſt mighty and eternall Lord God, who of thine infinit louelove to mankinde, haſt giuen vsus thine owne eternal Sonne Chriſt Ieſus our Lord, to be made man for vsus, in the ſimilitude of ſinnefull fleſh, to become fleſh of our fleſh, & bone of our bones, in all things like vntounto vsus, ſin onelyonly excepted: who beeing thy true and naturall Sonne, hath made vsus with him ſons, children, and heyres, to thee our moſt merciful Father, giuing vsus by thy grace, that which is his by Nature: And by his due alone, once ſuffered ſufficient Sacrifice, hath payde the ranſome of our ſins, before thy diuine Maieſtie, to ſatisfie thy iuſtice vppon ſinfull fleſh. Which debt being paide for vsus, he hath brought vsus in fauor with thee, ſo that we may now with boldneſſe and truſt come to thee, as vntounto our moſt mercifull and louing Father, with full aſſurance, that as thy ſoule is ſo much greater, and more excellent towards vsus, then all louelove of eatthly Parents toward their Children, as thou paſſeſt all men in goodneſſe and merciemercy; ſo thou wilt deny vsus nothing which ſhall be expedient for vsus. So that, although all the Fathers that are in earth, hauing ſhaken off all ſeeing of Fatherly naturalneſſe, would forſake their children, yet wouldeſt thou neuer forſake vsus, beecauſe thou canſt not deny thy ſelfe. Who promiſeſt, that if earthly Fathers being euill can giuegive good giftes to their Children: how much more wilt thou our heauenly Father, being altogether goodnes it ſelfe, giuegive good things to them that aske in thy Sons name? And that although a Mother ſhould forſake her Children, yet wilt thou not forſake vsus thy children, whō thou haſt before the beginning of the World, in thy deere Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, choſen to be thy children & heires with him of thine immortall Kingdome. Whereof that we our ſelues might bee ſure and certaine, and out of al doubt that we are the children …nd heyrs of euerlaſting life, thou haſt giuen into our hearts thy holy Spirite, as a true pledge and earneſt of our inheritance, which Spirit doth aſſure our ſpirites, that we are thy children, and thou therefore crieth in our hearts Abba, Father. Graunt this for thy deere Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Sauior, Amen.
The Second Petition.
Hallowed bee thy Name.
WEe therefore as thy deere Children, ranſommed and bought by thy deere Sonne, flye to thee our moſt louing …nd merciful Father, who in goodnes art infinite; in merciemercy, abundant; in ſubſtance, incomprehenſible; in immortality, euerlaſting: who by thy mightie power, and ſingulare prouidence ruleſt all things according to thy heauenly Wiſedome, beſeeching thee, for thy deere Sonne Chriſt Ieſus his ſake, that as thou haſt ſufficiently ſet forth thy glorious name in making and framing the whole world, heauen, earth, and all the things therin contained: ſo we may in beholding & viewing thy Creatures, the works of thine hands may be lifted vppe to thee our Lord God the Creator and maker, and in them glorifie thy holy name, acknowledging in them thy ſingular goodneſſe and louelove towards man, for whoſe vſe thou haſt created all thinges both in heauen and earth: & that we may for the ſame, euen from the bottome of our harts, yeeld due honor, praiſe and thankeſgiuing vntounto thee deere Father, all the daies of our life.
Grant moſt mercifull Father, that wee may in heart and minde bee fully aſſured, thou by thy heauenly prouidence, ruleſt and guideſt all things in heauen and earth; ſo that nothing in the vvhole world commeth to paſſe, but according to thine appointment: that thou guideſt and frameſt the aff…ires & doings of men; that thou haſt euen their hearts, and all their powers in thy mercifull hand, to turn them which way ſoeuer it ſeemeth beſt vntounto thy godly wiſedome: ſo that, whether we be in proſperity or aduerſity, we may acknoledge both of them to be thy worke in vsus: and therefore, be no leſſe thankfull for ſickneſſe, then for health; for ſorrow, then for comfort; for a troubled minde, then for a quiet; for impriſonment and baniſhment, then for liberty; eſpecially ſeeing wee know, that thou turneſt them all, ſeeme they neuer ſo ſharp, to the comfort and commodity of thy children, which feare thee: and that in all thinges which ſhall befall vntounto vsus; whether they be grieuous or ioyous, proſperity or aduerſity, life or death, thy holy name may be ſanctified in vsus by yeilding due and continuall praiſe and thankeſgiuing, to thy eternall Mai…ſty: that we neuer ceaſe to put our ful truſt and confidence in thy merciemercy, who haſt promiſed to be our defender, buckler, and ſhield; to keepe vsus as the apple of thine eye, to deliuer vsus when we cal vponupon thee, to open when wee knocke, to giuegive when we aske: that we knowing our owne weaknes, that of our ſelues wee hauehave no power or ſtrength to do, no not ſo much as to will that which is good, we may acknowledge al our ſtrength comfort, ioy, faith, louelove, hope, and confidence to be thine onelyonly guift and worke in vsus. And for the ſame, and the increaſe of the ſame, and for all thy benefites in vsus, whereof we feele our ſelues deſtitute, we may conſtantly flee vntounto thee by heartie prayer, requiring the ſame at thy mercifull hand. And hauing felt thy mercifull dealing towards vsus, we may alway to the end of our life continue thankfull vntounto thy bleſſed name: that wee neuer ſpeake or thinke of thee (O LORD GOD) without high reuerence, and an obedient fear vntounto thy glorious Name.
The third Petition.
Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heauen.
ANd foraſmuch (O Lord God) as of our ſelues wee bee nothing but ſtubborneſſe and rebellion, againſt thy holy Maieſty, we beſeech thee (deere Father) that as thine Angels in heauen doe willingly obey thy holy and moſt bleſſed will without any reſiſtance, ſo wee thy moſt vild and vnworthy Seruants and Children in earth (all ſtubobrneſſe rebellion & perueſnes, by thy holy Spirit in vsus being vtterly extinguiſhed and quenched) we may willingly ſubmit our ſelues, reſigne and yeeld our whole affections to thee, O Lord, to bee gouerned after thy bleſſed and heauenly will. That wee may feele in our ſelues no other motion or deſire, then a meete conſent to thy holy will: that whatſoeuer affections in vsus fight againſt thy holy will, thou wilt vtterly make them voide. That wee neuer will any thing of our ſelues, but that thy holy Spirite in vsus may gouerne our hearts, by whom inwardly being taught, wee may learne to louelove, embrace, and take comfort in thoſe things that pleaſe thee, and to hate thoſe thinges that diſpleaſe thee; That our hearrs, minds, and wills, being wholy ſubdued to thy bleſſed will, we may willingly bee content with that eſtate of life which it pleaſeth thy goodneſſe to excerciſe vsus withall in this world, whether it be in aduerſity or proſperity, in ſicknes or health, in ignominy or glory, in quietneſſe or trouble, in ſorrow or gladneſſe. Grant vsus deare Father, this willing and patient minde, that euen in our greateſt diſtreſſe, wee may bee content with thy good will, and not to murmure or grudge againſt thy Maieſty, knowing that thou wilt lay nothing vppon vsus, but that which ſhall turne to our goodn…ſſe and profit. And that wee may patiently abide whatſoeuer it ſhall pleaſe thee to lay vppon vsus: that we be aſſured in our hearts, that thou wilt lay no more vntounto vsus, then thou wilt giuegive vsus ſtrength to beare, & euen in our greateſt afflictions wilt find a way for our deliuerance, and that thy power and ſtrength is more fully declared, when wee feele our ſelues vtterly voyd of ſtrength, and ſee no way of deliuerance, that we may in our moſt greeuous aſſaults, conflicts, and anguiſh or mind ſubmit our ſelues wholy to thy bleſſed will, and looke for our deliuerance at thy hand, when thou knoweſt it moſt expedient for vsus, and moſt for thy glory, leauing the time and meanes of our deliuerance to thy good will and pleaſure, and that in the meane time, we neuer ceaſe but call vponupon thee by hearty prayers continually as thou haſt commaunded, vntill ſuch time as thou ſhalt heare our petitions. And although after many and ſundry callings vponupon thee thou ſeeme not to regard vsus, but rather deale more extreamly with vsus, yet notwithſtanding ſtrengthen vsus ſo with perſeuerance in prayer, that wee faint not, but ſtill continue in prayer, being aſſured that although we feele our ſelues nothing releaſed, yet we may quiet our ſelues herein, that we as thy Children hauehave laide our complaints, griefes, and ſorrows in the boſome of thee our heauenly Father, who will as a louing Father, when he ſeeth it moſt conuenient helpe vsus. And although thou ſeeme nothing to grant our requeſts, yet wee honor thee in calling vppon t…y name, ſeeing thou doſt accept it as a moſt cheefe honor to bee called vppon in the day of truble.
The fourth petition.
GiueGive vsus this day our dayly Bread.
ANd foraſmuch deare Father, as thou doſt by thy mighty power, nouriſh, feede, ſuſtaine, preſerue, and maintaine all liuing Creatures, yea euen the very young flocks and Beaſts, we beſeech thee to ſend vntounto vsus thy Children, (ouer whom thou haſt a more ſpeciall care) all things neceſſary for this our preſent life: that we hauing ſufficient may walke eueryevery one in our calling, in ſincerity and pure holynes before thy face acknowledging all our benifits of riches, health, wealth, meate, drinke, apparell, and all our ſubſtance to be thy meere gifts beſtowed vponupon vsus, and deliuered vntounto vsus from thine hands: that we be not drawne from thee, through ſetting our mindes too much vppon them, but ſo moderately vſe them, as thy benefits for a time beſtowed vppon vsus, knowing that thou wilt at our hands require an account how we hauehave vſed them.
That wee doe not carefully gape or ſeeke after them, but diſcreetly to thy glory vſe them, acknowledging in them thy goodneſſe and liberality towards vsus. And ſeeing moſt mercifull Father, that it is not our trauell, labour, paines, ſtudy, or endeauour, which is able to get vsus our liuing, but onelyonly in ſo much as it pleaſeth thy goodneſſe to bleſſe and proſper them: we beſeech thee that yet through our great Trauaily and paines, wee be yet ſtill poore, and in meane eſtate, that thou wilt giuegive vsus a contented heart, knowing that thereby thou letteſt vsus vnderſtand, that it is thy good will and pleaſure, ſo to keepe vsus vnderunder, that wee more effectually may giuegive our ſelues to ſerue thee. Or if it bee thy will and pleaſure more abundantly to bleſſe vsus, and our trauaile, to ſend vsus abundance of all things, wee beſeech thee deare Father giuegive vsus a thankfull heart to acknowledge them to bee thy good giftes, and frame our hearts with ſuch liberality, that wee may be contented to diſtribute them according to the neceſity of thy children, being aſſured, that thou haſt to this ende made vsus Stewards ouer them, that maiſt at his hands require much, on whome thou haſt beſtowed much: ſo that we hauing the due eſtimation of thy benefits which we ought to hauehave, may both reuerence thy goodneſſe in thy benefits, and ſupply the want of our bretheren, to the releefe of their neceſſity, and furtherance of thy glory.
The fift petition.
Forgiue vsus our treſpaſſes, as we forgiue them that treſpaſſe againſt vsus.
AND whereas moſt mercifull Father, thy Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt hath in our nature paide the ranſome and debt of all our ſinnes, which wee hauehave from the beginning of our life committed and do dayly commit, wee beſeech thy gracious gooodeſſe, that thou wilt by thy holy ſpirit in our hearts, aſſure our ſoules and conſciences with a liuely faith, that by that ſame one onelyonly ſufficient ſacrifice, the puniſhment of our ſinnes is paide, thy wrath appeaſed, and thy Iuſtice ſatiſfied: whereby our conſciences may be quieted & ſet at peace with thee our mercifull Father and God.
Let vsus deare Father feele in our ſoules and conſciences, that wee are vnited to thy deare Sonne Ieſus Chriſt and made one body with him, and heires with him of euerlaſting glory: ſo coupled and ioyned with him, that wee are members of his body, ſo that whatſoeuer hee hath done in his body, wee may bee aſſured that it is ours: that his righteouſneſſe is our righteouſneſſe, his ſanctification and holineſſe is ours: the curſe condemnation, and death, which hee ſuffered, is the ſame curſe, condemnation, and death due for our ſinns: that wee know that our ſins bee done away, and cleane forgotten and forgiuen by thy mercifull louelove & goodneſſe declared in offe…ing vp thy Sonne to death for vsus, wee may be driuen to louelove thee vnfainedly from the bottome of our hearts, for this thine vnſpeakable louelove. And conſidering that thou haſt in mercy pardoned ſo many our haynous offences, we may gladly bee moued to forgiue one another their offences, and put out of our heart all rancour, malice, & hatred, toward ou… Bretheren, knowing that we are all members of one body, Chriſt our Sauiour that ſo ſurely as we hauehave forgiuen them that offend vsus we may be ſo certainely aſſured that our mercifull Father hath forgiuen vsus, like as we hauehave forgiuen our Bretheren.
The ſixt petition.
Lead vsus not into temptation, but deliuer vsus from euill.
ANd for as much moſt heauenly Father, as we of our ſelues bee feeble, and fraile and weak, and hauehave a ſtrong and ſubtile Aduerſarie, Sathan the Diuell, who goeth about continually like a roaring Lyon, ſeeking whome hee may deuoure: we beſeech thee ſtrengthen vsus by thy holy Spirit, that wee may withſtand his ſubtle ſuggeſtions and motions: hold thou vsus by thy mercifull hand, and keepe vsus alwaies in thy ſafegard and protection, that wee be not ouercome in the mighty aſſaults of our aduerſary. And foraſmuch as he often vſeth euer our owne fleſh, armed againſt vsus to conquer vsus, we beſeech thee deare Father, mortifie, ſubdue, and kill in our fleſh all ſubtle ſuggeſtions, and ſinfull motions of Sathan, that we yeeld not our ſelues as ſlaues thereunto, but continually fight againſt them, and bring them into ſubiection of the Spirit. Grant vntounto vsus deare Father, that we may not be drawne through the ſubtile and ſliely torments of Sathan to hauehave our delight & pleaſure in the vanities of this world, but by thy grace, might, and power, may ſo in the proſperity of this life bee vpholden, that our minds with full ioy and comfort may be lifted vp to our perfect conſolation in our Lord and Sauiour Chriſt: and in him, take our full and perfect ioy and conſolation, ſo that no vaine delight of this world put vsus from the ſame, neyther any ſharpe aduerſaty, as pouerty, miſery, or calamity, through the malice of the diuell, driue vsus to diſpaire of thy mercifull goodneſſe towards vsus: but alwaies being through thy grace and aſſiſtance defended, we may be fully & perfectly armed againſt all the ſubtile intrappings of Sathan, and reſt wholy in thy mercifull defence and aide. For thou haſt (O Lord and eternall God) in thy gouernment, all things in heauen and earth, all power & dominion ouer all creatures, Angels and diuels, to rule them according to thy good pleaſure and will, to the profit and commoditie of thy Church, and eueryevery faithfull member thereof, and to thine incomprehenſible glorie: that in all things, in all ages, for euer and euer, thy glorious Name may be exalted, and thy faithful flocke edified th…ough Chriſt our Lord, Amen.