Godly Private Prayers for Christian Families, Prayers · Prayer 39
A Prayer for the feeling of the ſinne of hyprocriſie, that wee may direct our life according to the perſcript rule of the word.
RIghteous Lord God and heauenly Father, which art a iuſt …udge to puniſh all them that doe continue to offend thee: as thou art a Father moſt pittifull, to receiue to merciemercy all thoſe which giuegive ouer themſelues to pleaſe thee: ſhew mee thy grace and fauour, To that I may be truely touched with inward diſpleaſure of my ſinnes, and that in the place of flattering my ſelfe, to ſleepe in ſinne, I may be ſo caſt downe in heart, that the rather I may truely with mouth confeſſe, moſt humbly to giuegive thee the honour, glorie, and prayſe, due vntounto thy holy name: and that as thou of thy great mercy, doſt inſtruct thereunto by thy holy word, ſo (for thy mercies ſake) make that the ſame may ſo lighten and cleere our conſcience, that in due examination of our life, wee may truely learne to be angry and diſpleaſed with all our former and corruptible liuing.
O that it may pleaſe thee to draw neere vntounto vsus, in addreſſing and guiding our footſteps, in the true and perfect way of obedience to thy holy Lawes and Commandements. Send thy holy Angell to pitch his Tents round about vsus, that Sathan, and his infernall army neuer preuaile againſt vsus, but that alwaies with ſtrong faith, we may through Ieſus Chriſt withſtand all his crafty engines and ſnares, knowing vndoubtedly, that thou neuer forſakeſt them that put their truſt in thee. O let vsus not bee led by the infirmity of our outward fleſh, but ſtrengthen vsus by the vertue of thy holy Spirit. Suffer vsus not to lie vnderunder thy heauy wrath, and vengeance through hypocriſie: but rather touch vsus ſo inwardly, that we may without ceaſing, ſigh and grone vntounto thee, by true and vnfeigned repentance. And although we be not alwaies ſo well diſpoſed to aske and pray as we ought to doe, yet (good Lord, for thy glorious Names ſake) ſtretch out thy mighty hand, that by the gracious working of thy holy Spirit, our mindes and hearts, may be drawne from all earthly and corruptible things, ſo that our prayers vntounto thee, may proceede of an inward, earneſt, vehement affection, ſo that wee neuer preſume to come before the throne of thy Maieſty with a double heart, knowing, that whoſoeuer asketh and prayeth for any thing of thee, not asking in faith, cannot obtaine.
Increaſe therefore (ſweet Lord) our faith that we preſently may liuely feele the benefite of remiſſion, and pardon all our ſins through the merits and death of Chriſt Ieſus our Sauiour: and ſo worke in vsus for euer heereafter to liue in thy feare, and to ſtand in awe of thy diſpleaſure, that thou mayeſt continue our mercifull Father, world without end, Amen.
O Shepheard of ſheepe, ſeeke out mee thy wandring ſheepe. And being found, lay mee vponupon thy bleſſed ſhoulders, and bring mee home to the very folde of thy flocke, heale my ſicke ſoule: feede my hungry ſoule, yea, almoſt dying through hunger: watch ouer the ſame (O ſweete Lord) leaſt the rauening Wolfe do inuade my ſoule, and ſo ſlay it to vtter deſtruction. Wherefore, O moſt deere GOD) be mercifull to mee a wretched ſinner, and grant pardon to him that repenteth; giuegive not foorth the voice of thy ſentence according to my demerits, but like as thy mercy before hath done in the beginning of my life, ſo let it conclude the end thereof, to remaine with thee, world without end: Amen, deere God, Amen.
Foraſmuch as in this life, holy Scriptures doeth promiſe trouble, penuries, oppreſſions, increaſe of griefe, and aboundance of temptations, vouchſafe (O moſt louing Lord GOD) to prepare my heart to all poſſible patience, leaſt I doe faint in thy foote-path: compell (my ſweete Lord) this ſtubborne and rebellious fleſh of mine, to bee ſubiect to thy holy Spirite, beyond all expectation, ſo that I may poſſeſſe my ſoule in patience, and keepe the ſame continually in thy euerlaſting ſeruice: to the which purpoſe thou of thine infinite goodneſſe and merciemercy haſt created the ſame. Wherefore, (O Lord GOD) ſhew thine almighty power vntounto mee moſt wretched ſinner, that ſo long as I fight in this wretched life, I may obtaine victorie againſt mine enemies, (thou being my defence) for there is none other that fighteth for mee, but onelyonly thou O God. Now I ſay, repreſſe the violence of mine enemies, and vouchſafe with great effect to bring into bondage my miſerable fleſh, that tormenteth my ſoule. So that obtaining victory, I may giuegive praiſe to thee my onelyonly deliuerer, in perpetuall eternity. Amen.