Private Forms of Prayer, Form of prayer 2
A FORME OF Prayer FOR the Thirtieth of January.
A form of Prayer for the 30th of January. Preface to be read standing.
1. RIghteous art thou O Lord, when I plead with thee, yet let me talke with thee of thy judgments; wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy, that deal very treacherously?
2. Thou hast planted them, yea, they grow and bring forth fruit: thou art neare in their lips, and farre from their reines, wherefore holdest thou thy tongue, while the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous then he?
3. They have condemned and killed the Just, and he doth not resist them:
4. They make a man an offender for a word, and lay snares for him, that reproveth them in the gate, and turn aside the Just for a thing of nought.
5. They say, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurke privily for the Innocent blood, without cause; we shall finde all precious substance; we shall … our houses with spoile:
6. Wherefore they sacrifice …o their Net, and burn Incense to their Dragg; because by it. their portion is fat, and their meat plentious.
7. Art not thou from everlasting, my Lord, my God, my holy one? O Lord, thou hast ordained them for Judgment: O mighty God, thou hast established them for Correction.
8. But though the righteous be prevented by death, yet shall he be at rest.
9. For his soule pleased the Lord; therefore he hath hasted to take him from among the wicked.
10. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us for utter destruction; but they are in peace.
11. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their reward full of immortality
12. And after a little chastening they shall be greatly rewarded, for God hath proved them, and found them worthy for himself.
13. As Gold in the fire, hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.
14. Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours, and their works follow them▪
15. For if we have been planted with him in the likenesse of his death we shall also be in the likenesse of his resurrection.
16. O our God, we are ashamed, and blush to lift up our faces to thee; for our iniquities are increased over our heads, and our trespasse is gone up to Heaven; since the dayes of our Fathers, have we been in a great trespasse, unto this day; and for our Iniquities have we, our Kings, and our Priests, been delivered to the sword, to captivity, to a spoil; and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
17. What shall we say, or how shall we clear our selves? God hath found out the Iniquity of his Servants: We have transgressed, and rebelled; thou hast not pardoned.
18. Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us, thou hast slain, and not pittied.
19. The Lord hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.
20. For the sins of her Prophets, and her Priests, that have shed the blood of the Just, in the midst of her.
21. And now, O Lord, thou art most Just in all that is come upon us; for thou hast done right but we have done wickedly.
22. Behold we are before thee in our trespasse, for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
23. O Lord, though our iniquities testifie against us, yet do thou it for thy names sake, for we have sinned against thee.
24. Be not wrath very sore, neither remember iniquity for ever.
25. Be mercifull, O Lord, to thy people, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood to the charge of thy people.
26. Deliver us from bloud-guiltiness thou God of our health, and our tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end: Amen.
O come let us worship, let us humble our selves, let us fall low, and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Then this General Confession to be said, All kneeling.
O Thou Judge Eternall, we the sinfullest of all the sons of men, that have abused thy Mercies, provoked thy Judgements, unsheathed thy glittering Sword, forced all the Arrows and Darts of thy Quiver, and with our multiplied abominable crying sins, brought down a desolation on a most pleasant Land (that former delight of thine) the glory of all Lands.
We, that after thy wrath was poured out upon us, have yet further encreased our sins, as thou hast encreased the weight and number of thy Judgements upon us; walked most unprofitably and obdurately under all thy disciplines and visitations; suffered all thy pretious methods of reducing us (thine admonitions and thy stripes) to be utterly lost and frustrate amongst us, brought down a blast & mildew upon all that has been undertaken to repair our breaches, & reduce our peace. We do now at length, in the remorse and bitterness of our souls, desire to cast our selves down upon the ground before thee, to confess and acknowledg thy patience and long-suffering, that we have not been under the sharpest of thy displeasures; and to adore thy goodness, whatsoever becomes of us, though it be in the shame, and confusion, and condemnation, both of our bodies and soules. Lord! this is the mildest that we have reason to expect from thy Justice, in retribution to our sinnes: And whatever is lesse then this, whatsoever the bitterness of our cup be in this life, though thou shouldest cast us into the place of Dragons, give us to drink of the Wine of astonishment, the most stupifying deadly potion, number us all to the sword, pour out thy fire and brimstone upon us: Yet if by thus chastizing of us here, thou please to rescue us from that sadder doom, of being condemned with the world, this is a most inestimable mercy of thine, beyond all that we have (hitherto) so unworthily enjoyed. Lord! we desire, and profess, to acquit thy Justice in thy proceedings, to adore the bounty of thy Goodness and patience towards us, that we have not, long ago, been as Admah and Zeboim, as Sodom and Gomorrah, that we have this day liberty to approach thee, Lord! that it may yet be thy good pleasure, to come home to every one of our soules, to strike our hearts, to break up these fallow grounds of ours, that all thy pretious seed be no longer so cast away amongst thornes: And by the power of thy mighty, controuling, convincing Spirit, that thou wouldest once subdue all the resistances of our spirits against this most reasonable motion of humiliation within us.
Lord, this is the one earnest desire of our souls, that hath cast us low (this day) before thy foot stool, with cries, and tears, & earnest groans, that thou wouldst have this mercy upon us, that thou wouldest thus powerfully reveal thy self unto us, who hast thus long smitten and importunately called unto us; that being at last returnd unto thee, in weeping, fasting and mourning, and renting of our hearts; we might be capable of thy returns to us, of the further impressions of thy grace, and never more contradict or quench, or grieve that spirit of thine, which hath thus long contended and wrestled with us; that so it may be seasonable with thee, to give us the comfort of thy help again, and the confidence to approach thy presence, to praise that Majesty, which hath not cast out our prayer, nor turned his mercy from us; to whom be all honour, power, glory and praise, now and for ever,
Amen.
O LORD, the great and dreadfull God, keeping Covenant and mercy to them that love thee, and to them that keep thy Commandments, we have sinned with our forefathers; We our Kings, our Priests, our Nobles, and all the People of this Land, and have Rebelled, even by departing from thy Precepts and thy judgements.
BY our impious and godlesse thoughts of thee, our confidences in the Arm of Flesh, by placing our affections too much upon earthly things, by neglecting to love and delight in thee, by presuming of thy mercies, and yet continuing in our sins, we have provoked and Rebelled against thee:
O Lord, righteousnesse belongs unto thee▪ but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By our want of Reverence to thy Service, not considering the awfulness of thy presence, and that honour due to thee in thy house; by our formall and hypocritical worship; by open prophanation and sacriledge, by shews and pretences of piety to cover our worldly and wicked designes, we have provoked and rebelled against thee:
O Lord, righteousnesse belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By vain and rash Oaths, blasphemies and perjuries, especially our careless breaches of Oaths made to our Soveraign, forgeting that such are the Oaths of God, and that thou thy self in a more especiall manner, art a strict avenger of them; by our execrations of our selves, our Brethren, and our Enemies, we have provoked and rebelled against thee:
O Lord, righteousnes belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By undervaluing thy publick Service, and neglecting to beare a part in it; by mispending of that time, either there or elsewhere, in wanton or worldly thoughts and imployments, and not keeping the spiritual Sabboth unto thee, in serving thee truly all the dayes of our life; by not duely observing the times of Festivity, or Fasting, appointed by just Authority, according to the example of thy people in all ages, we have provoked and rebelled against thee:
O Lord, righteousnesse belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By not duely acknowledging thine Ordinance and Authority in the persons of our Superiours, by speaking evill of Dignities, and reviling the Rulers of thy People, by groundless jealousies and suspitions, misjudging and censuring their actions; and at last proceeding▪ to that highest and horrid pitch of violation of that Image of thine imprinted on them: By being as a People that strive with their Priests; by not obeying them that have the rule over us, and not submitting our selves to them, who by thy Appointment watch over our souls; by neglecting the care of those committed to our charge, not correcting those sins which have cryed loud for exemplary punishment, We have provoked and rebelled against thee.
O Lord, righteousness belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By rash anger, malice, hatred, and revenge, and the bloody effects thereof; by uncharitable contentions and divisions, factions and animosities; by cruelty and unmercifulness, and communicating in the sins of blood; We have provoked and rebelled against thee.
O Lord, righteousness belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By the manifold sins of uncleannesse, by seeking or not avoiding the occasions thereof, by idlenesse, intemperance and drunkennesse, by immodest words and gestures, by our shamelesse boasting, or not blushing at those sins. We have provoked and rebelled against thee;
O Lord, righteousness belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By Thefts, Rapines, and Oppressions, scandalizing thereby the Honour and Justice of a good Cause, by vexatious suites so much practised and countenanced, by exactions, by unjust gains in bargaining, by defrauding the labourer of his hire, by want of due care in expending what we have, and a good conscience in acquiring more, We have provoked and rebelled against thee;
O Lord, righteousness belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By lying, detraction and contumely, by endeavouring to advantage a good Cause by falshood and unjust means; by censuring and rash judgments; by false Witnesse and perverting the course of Justice, we have provoked and rebelled against thee.
O Lord, righteousness belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By desire of change, and uncontentednesse in our Estates; by giving our selves over to lustfull, covetous and inordinate affections; by desiring Peace not so much for thine honour or the publique good, as the satisfaction of our own private lusts; by neglecting acts of Charity, and doing as we would be done to; and not doing our duty in that state of life unto which it hath pleased thee to call us, We have provoked and rebelled against thee.
O Lord, righteousness belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By our want and neglect of those necessary Christian duties, of humiliation and godly sorrow for sins, of due indignation and revenge upon our selves for them; of confessing and forsaking, of restitution and satisfaction to others, and by not bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance, we have provoked and rebelled against thee:
O Lord, righteousnesse belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By impatience under thy correcting hand, by not endeavouring our amendment by it, in reflecting upon our own sins as the Causes of it, by despising thy chastisements, in not rejoycing in tribulations, and not glorifying thee, that hast counted us worthy to suffer for righteousnesse sake, We h…ve provoked and rebelled against thee
O Lord, righteousness belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By fretting our selves, because of the ungodly, and being envious against the evill doers; by not loving our enemies, not blessing them that curse us, not doing good to them that hate us, nor praying for those that despightfully use us, and persecute us, We have provoked and rebelled against thee;
O Lord, righteousness belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By presuming to do evill that good may come thereon; by placing piety in opinions, by straining at Gnats and swallowing of Camels, in scrupling at things indifferent, and making no conscience of known sins, we have provoked and rebelled against thee;
O Lord, righteousnesse belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
By running into open prophanesse, under colour of avoiding superstition; by guiding our conscience by humours and fancies, and not by the certain rules of thy Law; by having itching ears, and heaping to our selves teachers, and by having mens persons in admiration, because of advantage; We have provoked and rebelled against thee:
O Lord, righteousness belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day.
Who can tell, how oft he offendeth▪ O cleanse thou us from these, and from our secret sins.
Try us, O good God, and search the ground of our hearts, prove us, and examine our thoughts, and look well if there be any other way of wickednesse in us, and lead us in the way everlasting.
A Prayer for forgiveness.
O Almighty and most mercifull Father, who art the Lord God, mercifull and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodnesse and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, and forgiving iniquity, transgressions and sins. Look down upon us with thy compassionate eyes, who are here before thee, in the bitternesse of our soules, and doe now with troubled spirits, with broken and with contrite hearts, most humbly beg pardon for these multitudes of our offences. Look, we humbly beseech thee, upon the blood of thy sonne which speaks better things then that of Abell; for his sake spare us, Lord, spare thy people, that these sins rise not up against us: for his passions sake expose us not for a prey to their cruell hands, who would both devoure and deride us.
R. Spare us, Lord, spare thy people, for the glory of thy name; O deliver us, and be mercifull to all these our sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
OUr Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdome come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily ly bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespasse against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evill. Amen.
O Lord open thou our lips.
And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end: Amen.
LAMENTATIONS out of Jeremy the Prophet.
LOok down, O LORD, in the Bowels of thy pitty, and lend a tender ear unto the voice of our Lamentations. Our Adversaries are the chief, our enemies prosper: For thou hast afflicted us for the multitude of our transgressions: The Crown is fallen from the head, wo unto us, that we have sinned.
O Lord, behold our afflictions, for the Enemy hath magnified himself.
The Adversary hath spread out his hand upon all our pleasant things; they have entred into, and have prophaned thy sanctuaries: They have seen us low, and they have mocked at our Sabboaths, our solemn feasts are become their scorn, and our devotions their derision.
O Lord, behold our afflictions, for the Enemy hath magnified himself.
Thou art become our Enemy, thou hast increased among us Mourning and Lamentation, because thou hast despised in the indignation of thine anger both the King, and the Priest.
See, O Lord, and consider, for we are become very vile.
All our people sigh. The yoak of our transgressions is bound by thy hand, they are wreathed and come up upon our necks, thou hast made our strength to faile, thou hast delivered it into their hands, from whom we are not able to rise up. Thou hast troden us as in a Winepresse; our enemies heare our trouble, and they are glad thou hast done it.
Behold, O Lord, for we are in distresse: Our bowels are troubled, our heart is turned within us; for we have grievously Rebelled, abroad the sword devoureth, at home there is as death.
Our enemies have opened their mouth against us, they hiss and they gnash their Teeth, they say, We have swallowed them up; certainly, this is the day that we looked for, we have found, we have seen it. Thus are we in derision all the day long, Wee are become their Song, and their Musick.
O Lord, behold our afflictions, for the enemy hath magnified himself.
They have cryed unto us, depart ye, ye are unclean, depart, depart; touch not; yea, these men have said, they shall no more sojourn here.
O Lord, behold our afflictions, for the enemy hath magnified himself.
The breath of our Nostrils, the Anointed of the Lord is taken in their pits, and slaughtered by their hands; of whom yet we said, under his shadow we shall live among the midst of these sad distractions.
O Lord, behold this, and behold our afflictions, for the enemy hath very highly magnified himself.
Thus do we call to minde our afflictions, and our miseries, the Wormwood and the Gall, our souls have them in remembrace, and they are humbled in us, and therefore have we hope.
It is of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed, because his compassions faile not. They are new every morning, great is his faithfulnesse. For the Lord will not cast off for ever; but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his Mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
The Psalms for the Day 7.10.22.37.
First Lesson, 2 Chron. 35. from v. 20. ad fin. Lament. 5. Zach. 12. v. 10. ad finem.
A Form Collected out of the Psalms.
I.
HEar our voice, O Lord, out of thy holy Temple, let our complaint come before thee, let it enter even into thy ears.
Our heart is in heavinesse, O let us make our Prayer unto thee in an acceptable time.
Lord, our iniquities are against us, our rebellions are many wherewith we have transgressed against thee: But we confess our wickednesses, and are sorry for our sins.
Our confusion is daily before us, fearfulness and trembling are come upon us, and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed us, and it is thy great mercy onelyonly that we are not consumed, for we have sinned, O Lord, we have transgressed and done wickedly, yea, we have rebelled, and departed from thy precepts, and from thy Commandements.
Innumerable troubles are come about us, our sins have taken hold upon us, that we are not able to look up, yea, they are more in number then the hairs of our heads, and our hearts have failed us. O Lord, righteousnesse belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, because of all the offences we have committed against thee.
Yet compassion and forgivenesse is with thee, though we have rebelled against thee. O Lord, according to thy goodnesse, we beseech thee, let thine anger and thy wrath be turned away from us, and cause thy face to shine upon thy servants. Incline thine ears and hear, open thine eyes and behold our afflictions, for we doe not present our supplications before thee, in our own righteousness, but for thy manifold and great mercies.
We have sinned against heaven and against thee, and are no more worthy to be called thy Sons
Yet, O Lord, hear O Lord, forgive, consider and doe it, deferre not for thine own sake, O our God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne, and to the holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, aad ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
II.
HEar our prayers, O Lord, and hide not thy self from our Petitions, and hearken unto the words of our mouth, for strangers are risen up against us, and Tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after our Souls.
Cast us not away in the time of our weaknesse: forsake us not when our strength faileth us.
O remember not our offences, but according to thy mercy think thou upon us for thy goodness.
O turn thee unto us, and have mercy upon us: for we are desolate and in misery.
The sorrows of our hearts are enlarged: O bring thou us out of all our troubles.
Turn us, O God our Saviour, and let thine anger cease from us: send down from on high and deliver us, take us out of these many waters.
Why art thou absent from us so long? why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our misery and trouble? for our soul is brought low unto the dust, our belly cleaveth to the ground
Look upon our adversity and misery: and forgive us all our sins.
Arise, O Lord, and help us, and deliver us for thy mercy sake: so shall it be known that it is thy hand, and that thou Lord hast done it.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
III.
WE will cry unto the Lord with our voice; yea, even unto God will we cry with our voice, and he shall hearken unto us. For the Lord is gracious and long-suffering, and of great mercy to them that call upon him.
The Lord is nigh unto all them that be of a contrite heart, and will save such as are of an humble spirit.
And now, Lord, what is our hope? truly our hope is even in thee;
For our Fathers hoped in thee, they trusted in thee, and thou didst deliver them; they call…d upon thee and were holpen, they put their trust in thee, and were not confounded.
The Lord will be a defence for the oppressed, even a refuge in due time of trouble: and they that know thy name will put their trust in thee, for thou Lord never failest them that seek thee.
The mercifull goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever, upon them that fear him: and his righteousness upon Childrens Children; even upon such as keep his Covenant, and think upon his Commandments to do them.
Thou therefore that art a Saviour to all that trust in thee, thou that upholdest all such as are falling, and liftest up such as be down, thou that healest the broken in heart, and givest medicine to heale their sicknesse, thou that art the Father of mercy and God of all consolation, that art comfort to the sad, and strength to the weak, hear thy servants, we beseech thee, look down from Heaven, behold and visite us with thy salvation.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
The second Lesson, appointed by the Calendar of the Church, for the 30th. of January, throughout all time, is the 27. Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew.
GIve the King thy judgements, O G…d.
The Lord hear him in the day of trouble: the name of the God of Jacob defend him.
Send him help from his Sanctuary: and strengthen him out of Sion.
Let the King rejoyce in thy strength, O Lord: let him be exceeding glad of thy salvation.
Grant him his hearts desire, and deny him not the request of his lips.
[O Lord, gird him with strength unto the battaile: throw down his Enemies under him
Make them to turn their backs upon him: and disperse them that hate him.]
Deliver him from the strivings of his people.
Deliver him from his cruell Enemies, and set him up above his adversaries; thou shalt rid him from the wicked man: and why? because the King putteth his trust in the Lord, and in the mercy of the most high, he shall not miscarry.
Some put their trust in Charriots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Save Lord, and hear us, O King of Heaven, when we call upon thee.
Be thou exalted in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
V.
O Lord God, that doest build up Hierusalem, and gather together the outcasts of Israel.
Wherefore art thou absent so long? Why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?
O think upon thy Congregation: whom thou hast purchased and redeemed of old.
Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance: and mount Sion, where thou hast dwelt.
Lift up thy Feet, and disperse all those our Enemies: which have done evill in thy sanctuary.
For they have broken down the carved work thereof with Axes and Hammers: they have defiled the dwelling places of thy name, yea, they said in their hearts, let us make havock of them altogether.
O God, how long shall the Adversary doe this dishonour? how long shall the Enemy blaspheme thy name, for ever?
Why withdrawest thou thy hand, why pluckest not thou thy right hand out of thy bosome to scatter the enemy?
Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause: Remember how the foolish man blasphemes thee daily.
Forget not the voice of thine Enemies: the presumption of them that hate thee encreaseth ever more and more.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne, and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
The Creed.
I Believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth: and in Jesus Christ his onelyonly Son our Lord, which was conceived by the holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Ponce Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, he descended into Hell, the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and fitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: from thence he shall come, to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the holy Ghost, the holy Catholike Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgivenesse of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting, Amen.
Let us Pray.
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Lord have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Lord have mercy upon us.
OUr Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdome come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespasse against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evill, Amen.
O Thou most mighty Creator and wise Ruler of all things, who hast reserved the disposall of all events to thine own all-seeing Wisdome, and never permittest any thing to be done by the malice of men, or Devils, but what thou discernest absolutely most usefull and profitable for thy Servants. Thou who art good beyond all that we can judge or chuse, even when thy judgements are most terrible and astonishing; We thy sinfull creatures, do here prostrate our souls before thee, desiring to adore and tremble at thy presence, to admire the finger of thine own hand, in that great vengeance, which did (as upon this Day) befall us; Lord, it is the provocation of our sins that hath reached up to heaven, that hath brought down these amazing punishments upon earth: thou hast abounded to us in mercies, beyond all the Nations of the world, granted us all the advantages we could pray for, and we murmured against thy bounty, rebelled against thy most obliging methods of melting and overcoming an obdurate people: And then, what remained, but that thou shouldest withdraw those graces which we had so long abused and prophaned? Deprive us of all our ornaments, leave us naked and bare, cast us out into the open field, to the loathing of our persons? Judge us, as women that break wedlock and shed blood, are judged; and give us blood in jealousie and fury? And thus hast thou in thy just displeasure proceeded with us: thou hast abased our glory, thou hast spit in our very faces, thou hast cast reproach upon all that is precious amongst us: Thou hast permitted an host, not onelyonly against the daily sacrifice▪ to cast down the truth to the ground; but even against thine own Ordnance, thine own inscription, the Image of thine own power amongst us, and in all this to practise and prosper: Lord! thou hast called us to lamentation and bitter mourning, beyond the weeping of Rachel for her children, or the mourning of Hadadrimmon, in the valley of Megiddo: Lord, they are our rebellions against thee, which thou hast Visited upon our late Soveraigne, our beloved Josiah; and (to the aggravation of our sin and woe) they were our hands that executed this butchery upon him. In this thou hast more then delivered up this Nation unto Sathan, to the adversary, to buffet and thresh us; thou hast delivered us up to our selves, to assassinate our selves: Our greatest sin is our horridest punishment: The utmost of our provocations against thee, is the utmost of thy inflictions upon us: And yet (O Lord!) all these accursed effects of our sins have not served to alien us from them: none repenteth of his way, or saith, what have I done? But every one rusheth into his course, as the horse rusheth into the battell. And since (O Lord!) we have not in this our day, heard the things that belong to our peace, what can we expect, but that they should for ever be hid from our eyes? That our measure being filled up, and thy righteous servant removed by our violence, from holding up our Pillars, we should all become one common Ruine? That the earth should swallow us up for Corahs sins; or the destruction of thine own antient people the Jews should be the reward of the obduration of thine own people; And then (O Lord!) tis thy great mercy to our late Soveraign, that thou hast taken him away from the evill to come: And it is the joy of our hearts, in the midst of our lamentations, that having so fitted him for thy self, given him that wonderfull measure of Patience, Constancy and Magnanimity, thou wert pleased to crown all these Graces with perseverance here, and in exchange of his crown of thornes (the sad incumbrances of a broken Kingdome on earth) hast received him into a participation of thy crown of Glory. As for us (O Lord!) we are laid at thy feet, to hear what the Lord God will say, concerning us: whatsoever thy purposes are we desire to embrace them Christianly, though it be to cast us away, as straw to the dung-hill; but if yet there may be place of mercy, Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance and be gracious to the remnant of thine heritage; To this end, O Lord, convert us from the evill of our wayes; and our enemies from the cruelty of theirs; thou God of purity and peace, grant that we be no longer a wicked, nor a self-destroying Nation; but that we may all at length, joyn together in a serious unfeigned humiliation for the shedding that precious innocent blood, and all those other sinns that have brought down thy desertions on us; Grant this for Jesus Christ his sake. Amen.
II.
O Lord! this is a day of trouble, of rebuke and blasphemy, a day wherein a wonderfull and horrible thing was committed in our land, most sacred Innocent blood, shed with more barbarous aggravations, then we know where to paralell on this side the murder of thy dear Son; And because sentence against this evill work hath not been executed speedily, the hearts of this people are wholy set in them to doe evill; this respite, which thou hast given us to work our Repentance, hath served onelyonly to compleat our sin, by adding an obstinate impenitency to the former Guilt; and so fitting us, for that finall excision which thou hast threatned to obdurate sinners. And now, (O Lord,) this fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation is all that remains unto us, who have thus despised the riches of thy mercy: Yet (O Lord) out of these depths do we desire to call upon thee: Lord hear our voice; and (if that finall sentence be not irreversibly gone out against us) be pleased yet to turn thy wrath away, and not to suffer thy whole displeasure to arise? To this end, thou O Lord, who breakest the gates of brasse, and smitest the bars of Iron in sunder; be thou pleased to rend these unrelenting hearts of ours; to work in every one of us such a sense of our horrid abominations (especially, that of this day) as may cast us down in the lowest degree of Humiliation and Contrition before thee: that so we may be capable of that exaltation which thou hast promised to the humble, that Comfort which thou hast assigned to Mourners, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
III.
O Lord God, that rulest over all the Kingdomes of the earth, that hast threatned that for the sinnes of the Land, the Kings thereof should be many; and hast told us, that if we doe wickedly, we should be consumed, both we and our King: We miserable and wretched sinners, do here in the bitternesse of our souls prostrate our selves before thy Throne of Grace, acknowledging against our selves, that we have made thee to serve with our sins, and wearied thee with our iniquities; so that in the fiercenesse of thine anger, thou hast wounded us with the wound of an enemy, and chastised us with the chastisement of a cruel one: for in the indignation of thy fury, thou hast despised the King and the Priest: Wo unto us, that we have sinned, the Crown is fallen from our Head, and the beauty of our Israel is slain by the hands of wicked men. Thou hast suffered the Breath of our Nostrils the Anointed of the Lord, to be taken in their Pits, of whom we said, under his shadow we shall have Peace and Protection: The fire out of the Bramble hath devoured the lofty Cedars; the Base are risen up against the Honourable; the Sub…ects against their King, whom (after much contumelious usage) forgetting the Oath of God, their own Covenant, their own Protestation, and their often reiterated Vows, to preserve his Person, Crown and Dignity; and all this, with their hands lifted up to thee our God of Truth; have yet brought him as a Lamb to the slaughter, and with wicked hands have murdered thy Vice-gerent, as though he had not been anointed with oyle: A wonderfull and horrible sin is committed in the Land, over passing the deeds of the wicked; a sin that no Nation, no people ever committed, and such as the Sun never saw, since it withdrew its light at the Passion of thy dear Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ: Other Rebels have murdered Kings, but (as it was, in it self a deed of darknesse, so) they acted their sin in darknesse, shunning the light; But this Paricide was committed with a high hand, presumptuously, in the sight of the Sun, and owned as an Act of Justice: The cry of this Innocent blood of a righteous King, of our own King, a King too good for so wicked a People, is entered into thy presence, and cals loud to thee for vengeance upon this whole Nation; so that we may justly expect that thou shouldest root us and our posterity out of this Land, which is made an abomination, stained & polluted with the blood of thine Anointed Servant and Martyr: But the Judge of all the earth will not destroy the Innocent with the Guilty; for though our sins are many and grievous, yet in our tears we will wash our hands from this sin, saying, our hands have not shed this blood; And therefore when thou shalt make inquisition for blood, lay not (we beseech thee) this blood to our Charge! Be mercifull, O Lord, be mercifull unto thy people, whom thou hast redeemed, and let not this Innocent blood be required, neither of us, nor of our Posterity: For, as (before this great wickednesse was committed) we prayed against it, and in our Devotions entred our Protestation in Heaven, before thee, against so impious, so hellish Resolutions of the bloody Assassinates: So, since these sons of Belial have brought their mischievous imaginations to passe, for which our soules are wounded and humbled within us, we do from our hearts detest this Damnable Parricide; and doe from our souls renounce this abhorred Murder of thine Anointed Servant, our late Soveraigne King Charls: Saying with Jacob, O my soul, come not thou into their Secret, unto their Assembly mine honor be not thou united; for in their anger they have slain a man, the best of men, the Lords Anointed; Cursed be their Anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath for it was cruel! yea, we wil yet pray against their wickednes, for now they go on to strengthen one wickednesse with another: They Decree unrighteous Decrees, and write grievous things which they have prescribed, thereby to establish wickedness by a Law, to remove the bounds of the People, and destroy the very Foundations. But O thou preserver of men, and God of all order, blast all their designes which tend to nothing but Anarchy and Confusion, and destruction and scandal of the Christian Religion, but let all their turning of things upside down be esteemed as the Potters clay; Let it be in thy sight, as the Rebellion of Corah, Dathan and Abiram; and now (O Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh) let not the Congregation of the Lord be as sheep which have no shepheard; Though our breach be great like the sea, yet thou canst heal it: Be mercifull (we beseech thee) to these three Kingdomes united under one Crown by establishing the King in his Fathers Throne; Plead thou his cause, and (that thou mayest give rest unto the Land) make his way prosperous; direct all his Counsels, and Crown all his Designes with success; raise him up friends abroad, and at home turn the hearts of the People to their Soveraigne; upon whom, we beseech thee to double the Gifts and Graces of his Father, as thou didst the spirit of Elijah, on Elisha; Cloath him with Majesty & Power, that he may subdue the Rebellious, and appear terrible to thine and his Enemies: that so he may restore the daily Sacrifice, thy publique Worship and Service, relieve the Oppressed, and bring the punishment of the Innocent blood of his Father, upon those Murderers that shed it, as water spilt upon the ground: Hasten, O Lord, by him to restore Peace and Righteousnesse, Truth and Equity; Let them kiss each other under his government! O let the wickednesse of the wicked come to an end, but guide thou the just: Give O Lord, rest from our fears, and from our sorrows, and from the oppressions under which we groan; Let thine hand, O Lord, be known towards thy servants, and thine indignation towards thine and the Kings Enemies: Look down, O Lord, from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holinesse and of thy glory; restraine not (we beseech thee) thy zeale, nor thy strength, nor the soundings of thy Bowels, and of thy Mercies towards us: Heare us, O Lord, thou King of Heaven, when we call upon thee, and grant our requests, and that for Jesus Christ sake, our onelyonly Lord and Saviour, Amen.
IV.
BLessed Lord! in whose sight the death of thy Saints is most precious, we magnifie thy name for those wonderfull effusions of thy Grace on our late Martyred Soveraigne, which enabled him so happily to transcribe the Copy of his blessed Master in a Constant, Meek suffering of all barbarous indignities, and at last resisting even unto blood, and even then pursuing that glorious Pattern, and praying for his Murtherers: Let his Memory, O Lord, be ever blessed among us, and his example efficacious upon us, that we may follow him, as he follow'd Christ: And, O Lord, we beseech thee, let not his blood out-cry his Prayers; but let those that spilt the one, obtain benefit by the other: that by their Conviction and Repentance, his Innocency may receive the happiest attestation, our Religion be vindicated from the scandall of so horrid a fact, our Nation secured from the vengeance of that blood, and thy mercy glorified in the Conversion of so great sinners; and all for Jesus Christ his sake, Amen.
V.
O Just and Righteous Judge, who didst once for the iniquity of thy People Israel, give up thy Ark into the hands of the Philistines. We thy sinfull Creatures, that are now under as great a degree both of guilt and punishment, doe here cast our selves down before thee, acknowledging that we are not worthy any longer to retain the honour of Christian Profession, that have so long defamed it by enormous Practises; and that we, who loved darknesse more then light, deserve to have our Candlestick removed, and to be given up to that inundation of Atheism and Prophanenesse, which now invades this gasping Church: yet, O Lord? deale not with us after our sins, but turn thee again thou Lord of Hosts, look down from heaven, behold and visite this Vine; do not abhor us, for thy names-sake, do not disgrace the Throne of thy Glory: Behold, see (we beseech thee) we are all thy People; though a rebellious and stiff-necked generation, yet thy name is called upon us; leave us not, neither forsake us, O Lord God of our salvation; but, though thou feed us with bread of Adversity, and water of Affliction; yet let not our Teachers be removed into a corner; but let our eyes see our Teachers; let not Sion complain, that she hath none to lead her by the hand among all the Sons that she hath brought up; but provide her such supports in this her declining Condition, that she may have a seed and Remnant left; And in what degree soever thou shalt permit this storm to encrease upon this poor Church, be pleased proportionably to fortifie and confirm all those that are Members of it, that no one may be shaken or moved with these Afflictions, nor pervert that glorious advantage of suffering for thee, into an occasion of Apostatizing from thee; But that we may all run with patience the race that is set before us, and cheerfully partake of the Afflictions of the Gospel; that in suffering for Christ here, we may reign with him for ever hereafter and all for Jesus Christ his sake our onelyonly Lord and Saviour, Amen.
O Lord guard the Person of thy Servant the King!
Who putteth his trust in thee.
Send him help from thy holy Place:
And evermore mightily defend him.
Confound the designes of all those that are risen up against him.
And let not their rebellious wickednesse approach near to hurt him.
Let the Curse of Saul light upon the endeavours of those men, who contrive or Imagine mischief for him:
And let the blessings of David remaine upon his Head, and upon his Seed for evermore.
O Lord, hear our Prayer.
And let our Cry come unto thee.
VI.
O Lord God of Hosts, who didst deliver David, thy servant from the perill of the Sword! Hear us we beseech thee most miserable sinners; who do here poure out our souls before thee, intirely desiring the protection of thy hand upon thy Servant the King, let him finde safety under the shadow of thy wings, and preserve his Person as the Apple of thine own Eye: Suffer not that Sword, which thou hast put into his Hands, to be wrested out by the hand of man; but blesse his Counsels with successe, and his enterprizes with Victory; that he may become a terrour to all those that oppose him, and as the dew of the latter rain, upon the hearts of all those that do still continue loyall to him: And O thou that takest no delight in the misery of one single sinner, spare mercifull Lord; spare a great, though most sinfull Nation; pitty a despised Church and a distracted State; heale those wounds which our sins have made so wide, that none but thine own hands can close them; and in the tendernesse of thine unspeakable compassion, hasten to put so happy an end to these wasting Divisions, that thy service may be more duly celebrated, thine Anointed more conscienciously obeyed; that the Church may be restored to a true Christian Unity, and the Kingdome to its former Peace; And that for his sake, who is the Prince of peace, and that shed his precious blood to purchase our peace, even Jesus Christ the righteous, to whom, with thee O Father, and the blessed spirit, be all Honour and Glory, world without end, Amen.
VI.
O Thou most mighty Creator and wise Governour of all, that hast for our sins and provocations given us to drink of a most bitter astonishing cup; and demonstrated by thy late proceedings with us, how inexorable thou art towards us; who have been so obstinate and obdurate toward thee, that would not hear in that our Day the things belonging to our peace; and now they are hid from our eyes: We, those wretched Creatures of thine, do yet desire to adore, and prostrate our soules before thee, to put our hands upon our mouthes, and our mouths into the Dust, and acknowledge all Honour and Glory to be due unto thee, whatsoever becomes of us: Though to these amazing Calamities, thou shouldest yet super-add thy fire and Brimstone from Heaven, and all the horrors of astonished hearts, and the eternal Worm and Flames, the due portion of the damned in Hell: O Lord, thou art most just in all thy judgments; and infinitely merciful, that we live to call upon thee this day: O that these sharp last necessary methods of thine, may at length prove successefull on these thy gasping forlorn patients, that thy great work of recovery and change, the cleansing of our polluted leprous souls may be effectually wrought upon us, by this hand of thine Lord, save us, from these sad effects, by a powerfull removall of the Cause, or else we certainly perish: To this end, O Lord, we resigne our selves up to thy divine Methods; be they the sharpest that thou seest necessary to dispense to us; we desire to embrace them cheerfully, and not to interpose any thought of ours in contradiction to thy most safe, most medicinable prescriptions. It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good; not ours but thy sacred will be done! Be it unto us according to thy good pleasure: In the mean time, Lord permit us to intercede for others, that are not worthy to pray for our selves: O let the sorrowfull sighing of the poore, of the oppressed, and there is no Comforter; let the black gloomy Calamities that are fallen upon him, that is more worth then ten thousand of us, come before thee. Let thy Protection still continue unto him, if it be thy sacred Will, Thy Host of guardian Angels, that once appeared in the Mount, the Horses and Charriots round about Elisha, environ and surround that sacred Head; and by thine own wayes and means, and in thine own season, restore him (with out the effusion of any more blood) to his Fathers Crown & Thron: And, Lord, that it might yet be an acceptable time, a season wherein thou mightest be accessible to our Prayers, which we offer up in great Humility, for thy poore, wasted, disconsolate Church amongst us, That thou wouldest repair her breaches, restore her dayes as of old, that thou wouldest arise, and have mercy upon Sion, and Compassionate to see her in the Dust: Lord, where is thy Pitty? And the sounding of the Bowels, thy zeale to the place where thy rest dwelleth? Will the Lord absent himself for ever? And will he be no more entreated? Are his mercies clean gone for ever? and his promises come utterly to an end for evermore? Lord, remember thy old loving kindnesses which thou swarest unto David in thy truth: Arise, O Lord, and come into thy Rest, thou, and the Ark of thy strength: But if these Calamities and Desolations must still go on, and advance to the height of an irremediable ruine; yet, O Lord, intermix thy sweet and Comfortable Allays with this bitter Cup; Take us into thine immediate hand of Protection and Guidance, sanctifie all thy methods unto us, and by the same omnipotent work, whereby thou bringest a most glorious light out of the blackest darknesse, be pleased to produce all thy Divinest good things, out of the saddest evils, and (if it may yet be thy blessed will) to work the same work by the return of thy Mercies, which the continuance of thy punishments is wont to be assigned for: And Lord, receive us all under the safe guard of thy Divine Presence, the pillar of fire and Cloud to cover and direct us: That in every turn of thy hand, we may see and admire thy glorious and gracious Disposals, and by the happy experience, that even this also is to us for good, we may be for ever engaged to ascribe unto thee all Honour, and Glory, and render unto thee the uniform obedience of our hearts, world without end, Amen, Amen.
VIII.
O Most gracious Lord God, the Creator of all things; but of men and all mankinde a tender Compassionate Father in Jesus Christ: Thou that hast enlarged thy designes and purposes of Grace and mercy, as the Bowels and blood-shedding of thy Son, with an earnest desire, that every weak or sinfull man should partake of that Abiss, that infinite treasure of thy Bounty: Thou that hast bequeathed unto us that Legacy and Example of a sacred inviolable Peace, a large diffusive Charity; we meekly beseech thee, to overshadow with thy heavenly grace, the souls of all men, over all the world: (O Lord, thou lover of soules!) to bring home to the acknowledgment and embraces of thy Son, all that are yet strangers to that profession, and in whatsoever any of us, who have already received that mercy from thee, may be any way usefull or instrumentall to that so glorious an end, to direct and encline our hearts towards it; to work in us all an holy zeale to thy Name, and tender Bowels to all those whose eternity is concern'd in it! O give us a true serious full comprehension, and value of that one great Interest of others as well as of our selves! shew us, (the meanest of us) some way to contribute towards it (if it be but our daily affectionate Prayers) for the enlarging of thy Kingdome, and the care of approving all our Actions, so as may most effectually attract all others to this profession; And for all those that have already that glorious name of thy Son called upon them, blessed Lord! that they may at length (according to the many Engagements of their profession) depart from iniquity: That that holy City, that new Jerusalem may at length (according to thy promise) descend from Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband Christ: That, that Tabernacle of God with men, may be illustriously visible among us; that we may be a peculiar People, and thou inhabiting in power among us: That we which have so long professed thee, may no longer be content with that form of knowledge, which so often engenders strife, contentions, animosities, separating from and condemning one another, and that most unchristian detestable guilt of blood; but endeavour and earnestly contend for the uniform effectuall practise of all the precepts of thy Son, the Fruit and Power of Godlinesse: That all the People and Princes of Christendom, the Pastors and Sheep of thy fold, may at length (in some degree) walk worthy of that light and warmth, that knowledge of those graces, that the Sun of righteousness with healing on his wings, hath so long poured out upon us; Lord, purge and powerfully work out of all our hearts, that prophanenesse and Atheisticalnesse, those sacrilegious thirsts and enormous violations of all that is holy: those Unpeaceable, Rebellious, Mutinous, and (withall) Tyrannizing cruell spirits, those prides and haughtinesses, judgeing and condemning, defaming and despising of others; those unlimited ambitions and covetings joyned with the Invasion & violation of others rights, those most reproachfull excesses and abominable impurities, which (to the shame of our unreformed obdurate hearts) do still remain unmortified, unsubdued among us: but above all, those infamous Hypocrisies of suborning Religion to be the Engine of advancing our secular designes, or the disguise to conceale the foulest intentions, of bringing down that most sacred name, whereby we should be saved, to be the vilest instrument of all Carnalities; And by the power of thy controwling Spirit (Lord) humble and subdue all that exalts it self against the obedience of Christ: And when thou hast cast out so many evill spirits, be thou pleased thy self to possesse and enrich our souls, to plant, and root, and confirm, and secure in us all those precious fruits of Piety, and Faith, and Obedience, and Zeal towards thee; of Purity and Meeknesse, and Simplicity, and Contentednesse, and Sobriety in our selves; of Justice, and Charity, and Peaceablenesse, and Bowels of Mercy and Compassion towards all others: That having seriously and Industriously, (as our Holy Vocation engageth us) used all Diligence to add unto our Faith Virtue, and to Virtue patience and Perseverance in all Christian Practise, we may adorn that Profession which we have thus long depraved; and having had our Fruits unto Holynesse, we may attain our End, ever…asting Life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
IX.
O Long suffering and eternal King, (that for the Condemnation that for sin came into the World) wert lifted up upon the Cross, and taken from this earth by that shamefull death, and hast shewed forth thy self to all that Chuse to follow thy stepps, a Pattern and Copy of long-sufferance and Patience: and offeredst up thy Intercession to thy Coeternal Father, for those Enemies of God which Crucified Thee! Do thou (O Lord!) Thou the same Lover of Mankind, afford thy Mercy and pardon to all those that are Enemies to us; which either by Treachery, or Reproach, or Contumely, or Envy, or by any other means, (through the subtilty of Calumny of the Devil, that lover of Hatred) have expressed their Madness or Malice against us; But especially those that have embrued their hands in the blood of thine Anointed: Father forgive them, for they know not what they do; Lord! lay not this sin to their Charge, or to the Charge of a sinfull, wretched People! Change thou their Counsels from that mischievous, to a sweet Christian temper of gentleness; infuse into their hearts sincere and unfeigned Love; bind them fast to us in the inviolable Bands of Spiritual friendship, and (by what means thou knowest most fit) make them Partakers of eternal Life: and (O thou Father of Compassions) pitty all those afflicted that trust in Thee; draw all to the divine love of thee; be thou presiden… in all things, and assistant to all, together with us thy sinful and unprofitable Servants; and make us all Heirs of thy Kingdom; for unto Thee it belongeth to shew Mercy, and to save us (O our God) for thine is the Power for ever, Amen.
X.
O Lord, We beseech thee Mercifully Hear our Prayers, and spare all those which Confess their sins unto thee; that They, whose Consciences by sin are accused, by thy Mercifull Pardon may be absolved through Christ our Lord, Amen.
XI.
O Most mighty God and Mercifull Father, which hast Compassion on all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made: which wouldest not the Death of a sinner, but that he should rather turn from sin and be saved: Mercifully forgive us our Trespasses; receive and Comfort us which are grieved with the Burthen of our sins! Thy property is always to have Mercy; to thee only pertaineth to forgive sins: spare us therefore good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed; enter not into Judgment with thy servants which are vile earth and Miserable sinners, but so turn thine ire from us which meekly acknowledge our Vilenesse, and truly repent us of our Faults, so make hast to help us in this world, that we may ever live with thee in the world to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.
XII.
TUrn thou us O good Lord! and so shall we be turned; be favourable, O Lord be favourable to thy People which turn to thee in weeping, fasting, and praying; for thou art a Merciful God, long-suffering, and of great pitty: Thou sparest when we deserve punishment, and in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy: spare thy people, O Lord! spare them, and let not thine Heritage be brought to nought; Hear us O Lord! for thy Mercy is great, and after the Multitude of thy mercies look upon us through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
XIII.
O Lord the only begotten Son Jesus Christ! O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have Mercy upon us; Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our Prayers; Thou that fittest at the Right hand of God the Father, have Mercy upon us! for thou only art holy, thou only art the Lord, thou only O Christ! with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the Glory of God the Father, Amen.
The Peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your Hearts and Minds in the Knowledge and Love of God, and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost be amongst you and remain with you alwayes, Amen.
A proper Prayer for the Thirtieth of Ianuary.
O Blessed Lord God, who by thy Wisdom guidest and orderest all things most sutably to thy Justice, and performest thy pleasure, allwayes in such manner, that thou canst also appeal to us, whether thy wayes be not equall: We, thy poor afflicted People, fall down before thee, acknowledging the Justice of thy proceedings with us, and that the amazing Judgement, which as this day befel us (in thy permitting cruel men, sons of Beliall to execute the fury of their Rebellion upon Our late Gracious Soveraign, and to imbrew their hands in the Blood and Murder of the Lords Anointed) was drawn down by the great and long provocacions of this Nations sins against thee: For all which, and our own parts in which, we sinfull wretches here met together, desire to humble our selves before thee, and to tremble at thy presence in this dayes sore vengeance, the effect as well as desert of our impieties, the work of our own hands upon our selves, thy heavy Judgement, but our most horrid sin, for which alone (did not multitude of other sins cry out against us) thou mightest justly descend down upon us all, as thou didst in Sodom, and leave us no other memorial then to be the frightfull Monuments of thy Indignation and fury to all Posterity. Gracious is the Lord, and merfull, therefore it is, that We are not consumed! O let thy long-suffering and patience lead us to repentance: And now Lord, looking on this particular signal Judgement, as thy last Trump warning us to fly from the wrath to come; We come forth to meet our God, mourning in our prayers before thee, and begging the aversion of thy further displeasure, and the removall of these plagues of long continuance from us; for the all-sufficient merits of the death and sufferings of our blessed Saviour. O forgive our great and manifold transgressions, and for his bloody Passions sake, deliver this Nation from blood-guiltinesse, that of this day especially, O God of our Salvation. Let not our crying sins intercept our Prayers, or thy blessings; but hear the voice of our tears and hearing forgive and heal us: retire not quite from us into thine own place, laugh not at our calamities, neither mock in this day of our visitation: Vindicate thine own Cause, and thine own Providence, that it may appear unto men, that thou bearest up the Pillars of the earth; and that by thee Kings do reign. And though thou hast suffered our Enemies to proceed to that high pitch of violence against our late King, even to kill and take possession of his Throne and Revenews: Yet frustrate now at length their bold hopes and desires; let not their mischievous imaginations prosper, least they be too proud; let them not be able to establish themselves in that prosperity and greatness they have fancied; let them not say of his Family, God hath forsaken them, let us persecute them: shew some good token on his seed for good, that their enemies may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen and comforted them. Bow the hearts of the Subjects of this Land, as thou dist those of Israel to David, that they may acknowledge and receive joyfully the Heir of these Kingdoms; and fasten thou him as a nail in a sure place; behold his injuries, and have compassion on his Innocency; and let the desire of his enemies perish like that of the Hypocrite; but bring him, maugre all their oppositions, to a peaceable possession of that Throne, to which by his Birth-right thou hast designed him, and establish him in the Just Rights of his Family. O Lord, we wait on thee this day for this blessing; make no long tarrying, but according to the time thou hast plagued us, send us deliverance. Snatch the prey out of the Lyons teeth, and pull us out of the burnings like a fire-brand: We beseech thee, that We may this day spread before thee the words of Rabshekah, the proud railings, and scornfull reproaches of our enemies: Behold this day their exaltation, and our mourning: O Lord, our eyes are towards thee! for whom nothing is hard; let it not seem a small thing to thee, that we suffer, but concenter our Prayers with the many thousands that call on thee; That salvation may come to our King, and through him thy blessing of peace unto thy People. Think upon all those that are peaceable, and faithfull in the Land, and deal thou with us according to thy Word, wherein thou hast caused us to put our trust; Let the world see that there is a God that judgeth the earth, and send deliverance to his people in their needful time of trouble. But whatsoever thy purpose is, let not us behave our selves, frowardly, but with all Christian humility, run the race that thou settest before us, and qatiently bear the indignation of the Lord, because we have sinned against him. And we meekly beseech thee, that if the Divine Decree of thy Justice withstand our Petitions, our prayers may return into our own bosomes; and that thou wilt make thy judgements temporal and not spiritual upon us; but assist us with strength proportionable to our temptations; that we be not delivered to evil: but that in wel-doing we may commit our selves to thee our God, as unto a faithful Creator: And that both our King and we may say with all Christian submission and cheerfulness: It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good.
And here O Lord we offer unto thee all possible praise and thanks for all the Glory of thy Grace that hath shined forth in thine Anointed, our late Soveraign, and that thou wert pleased to own him (this Day especially) in the midst of his Enemies, and in the hour of death, and to endue him with such eminent Patience, Meekness, Humility, Charity and all other Christian Virtues, according to the example of thine own Son, suffering the fury of his and thine Enemies, for the preservation of thy Church and People.
We Praise thee also for the Courage and Comfort thou hast given unto us of his Party, by that owning and assisting him, or any that have suffered in that Righteous Cause.
And we beseech thee give us all grace to Remember and provide for our latter end, by a Careful studious imitation of those blessed patterns of thy Saints and Martyrs that have gone before us, that we may be made worthy to Receive benefit by their prayers, which they, in Communion with thy Church Catholick, offer up unto thee for that part of it here Militant and yet in sight with, and danger from the flesh, that following the Blessed stepps of their Holy Lives and Deaths, we may also shew forth the Light of a good example for the Glory of thy Name, the Conversion of Enemies, and the improvement of those Generations we shall shortly leave behind us, and then with all those that have born the Heat and burthen of the day (thy Servant whose Sufferings and Labours we this day commemorate) receive the Reward of our Labours, the Harvest of our Hopes, even the Salvation of our own souls, and that for the merits and through the mediation of thy Son our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.