A prayer for the assistance of Gods holy Spi­rit, in any spirituall or godly corporall action, or endeuour; fit to be vsed be­fore euery lawfull enterprise, especially before euery diuine exercise.

O Gracious Lord God, most merciful, louing, and helping Father; the supporter of the weake, the light of the blinde, the teacher of the ignorant, the directer of all that call vpon thee in their godly endeuors: I humbly beseech thy Maiestie, in the name of thy Sonne Christ Iesus, to heare me, in whom thou hast promised, to giue vnto thy children, what they aske, to finde what they seeke; and to o­pen vnto them when they knocke. I come vnto thee, good Father, not in mine owne, but in his name, in­treating [Page 3] thee not for mine owne, but for his sake, to accept me into thy presence, to giue me thy holy Spirit of wisedome, that I may receiue mercie, and finde grace. O­pen vnto mee the gate of true knowledge; and assist me in mine intended enterprise: for, of my selfe, I am of a dull and weake vnder­standing, of a corrupt conuersation, of a polluted heart, and of prophane lips; vnworthy of my selfe to at­tempt any worldly or corporall en­terprise, much lesse worthy to take thy blessed name into my mouth, or to intermeddle with any diuine of­fice, function or calling. But touch my hart, Lord, and inkindle it with a coale from thine Altar, so shal my heart be renued, reformed and en­larged, the words of my mouth sanctified, and the workes of my hands blessed. According therefore vnto thy promise, Lord, open my mouth and fill it: strengthen my hands, and confirme the powers and senses both of my soule and bo­die, to euery good and godly action. It is not in my power, without thy power, to open my naturall lippes, [Page 4] much lesse able, ye [...], altogether vn­able to open the dore of my heart, and to prepare mine owne affecti­ons, to any diuine and holy action, or to frame the powers of my body rightly in any comfortable enter­prise, without thy meere working in me both the will and the deed. Only my confidence is, Lord, that thou wilt be pleased to assist me, to inlighten my heart, to increase my knowledge, and to giue me vnder­standing according to thy word: That by thee I may be enabled in all mine actions, enterprises, and in [...]euours, to set forth thine owne glory. Sanctif [...]e my inward de­sires, blesse the will and the worke in me, and accept my weake will for the effectuall deed; And so sea­son me in both, that I may be sanc­tified throughout. And grant that the fruits of all mine endeuours, may so effectually appeare, that my selfe in them, and by them may be comforted; and thy children, to whose vse also, as to mine owne, I truly intend them, may bee benefi­ted, and stirred vp to a more liuely feeling of their owne wants, and a [Page 5] more serious desire to pray to thee for thy blessings, and to praise thee for thy relieuing fauours: That we thy weake children, feeling the Comforter to assist our weaknesse, we may in our seueral callings, of­fer vp such daily sacrifices vnto thee, as being, for Christ, accepted of thee, thou maye [...] be more and more glorified, and euery one of vs comforted and kept in thy fauour for euer, through Jesus Christ our Sauiour.

O Lord increase my faith.

A Prayer for the Morning for priuate families.
Lord increase our faith, prepare our hearts to prayer, and open our lippes.

O Mercifull Lord God, louing father in Iesus Christ, wee thine vnworthy people fall heere downe before the footstoole of thy Maiestie, and with vnfay­ned hearts giue thankes vnto thee [Page 9] for thy mercies, in number more then can be numbred: for they are more then our sinnes, and our sins more then the sea sands, which are without number. Thou hast bene our watchman this night: thou hast not onely kept vs from bodily daungers and harmes, but hast gi­uen vs rest, when our weake bo­dies were infeebled with weari­nesse and labours, and hast brought vs to the beginning of this day in safety: whereas many haue pe­rished this night in their beds, and haue not risen to prayse thee. How vnthankefull should wee shew our selues, Lord, if we should enter into our worldly affaires, without re­membring thy mercies, and our owne sinnes in asking pardon for them? Receiue therefore, wee humbly pray thee, good father, at our vnworthy hands, the sacrifice of our humble prayers, and prayses which we offer vnto thee this mor­ning, in the name of thine owne dearest Sonne: in whom thou hast acknowledged thy selfe so well pleased, as thou deniest nothing to any faithfully asking for his sake. [Page 10] Jn him, and by him, and for him, we come (Lord) vnto thee, humbly and heartily praying pardon for our sinnes, wherby we haue trans­gressed thy lawes, offended thy great Maiestie, in whose displea­sure is death. Pardon vs, merci­full Lord God, pardon vs, remoue our sinnes farre from vs, and wi [...]e them out of the booke of thy re­membrance. Remember the me­rits of Christ our Redeemer, leaue vs not in our owne miserable estates, lest we should forget to be mindfull or to be ignorant how to prayse thy Name, for thy goodnes past, and enter into our worldly oc­casions, without being reconciled vnto thee in Christ, for thy wrath being inkindled towards vs neuer so little, nothing can truely pros­per that we take in hand: we may labour, and yet without thy bles­sing, it shall not profite vs: [...] may eat and drinke, but it shall not nourish vs, we may follow our vo­cations, with great diligence, ry­sing earely▪ and taking rest late, yet shall it not feede vs. Oh gracious Lord, let thy blessings accompany [Page 11] all our labours; And grace vs euer with thy presence, according to thy promise, not to obserue our imper­fections: but to direct our heartes in prayer, to prepare vs to obedi­ence, to season vs with thy holy spi­rit, and to blesse and prosper all our actions: That whatsoeuer wee thinke, speake or doe this day, may be acceptable in thy fight. So shall all things goe well with vs, and prosper vnder our hands, we shall prayse thy name, and extoll thy mercies and goodnesse, which haue bene, are, and shall be towards vs for euer. And as thou hast taken away the vale of the darkenesse of night, which resembleth death: And hast opened vnto vs the win­dowes of heauen, to giue vs the light of the Sunne, which resem­bleth life: So abandon thou the workes of darkenesse and igno­rance, put away our faintnesse and dulnesse in prayer: And let the light of thy sauing truth; shine vnto vs, and the Sunne of righteous­nesse extend his beames of heauen­ly vnderstanding into our heartes, That we all may walk this day, in [Page 12] the way which is Christ the Lord, imbrace the truth, which is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world, And euer inioy that life which is eternall in him, which was, and which is, and which is to come. So shall our ry­sing from our naturall rest this morning, by thy power, as out of our graues of mortalitie, assure vs of our finall rysing out of the graue of our sins to immortality. And as thou hast blessed vnto vs our tem­poral sleepe this night: So vouch­safe to blesse vnto vs this day, the vse of thy creatures, that they may all serue to our comfortable vse in Christ Iesus, according to our neces­sities. And graunt that wee abuse them not to ryot or wantonnesse: but may carefully and religiously watch and be sober, that when our finall sleepe shall ouertake vs, we may lay downe our mortall bodies, not vnto the resurrection of death vnto death, but of the resurrection of life vnto life eternall. And du­ring the time of our mortalitie; re­member vs, O Lord, in the abun­dance of thy mercies, lest that wee [Page 13] who are but dust and ashes, should so fasten the eyes of our desires, vp­on the base things of this life, that we should forget the life to come: Graunt rather, Lord, that we may vse the things of this life at thy hands, so as we may not be sedu­ced by them, but rather led by the consideration, whence and from whom we receiue them, vnto the authour and giuer of them: So shal they not onely, not be vnto vs vaine or base; but worthy to be had in reuerence, for thy sake that gi­uest them freely, and blessest them graciously vnto our vse & comfort: which great mercy of thine, can­not but aduance the eies of our dul vnderstandings, to the contempla­tion of thy spirituall and heauenly blessings. As how we were freely from all beginnings elected to sal­uation by thee: how we were crea­ted when wee were not, by thee: how we were redeemed, when wee were captiues vnto Sathan, by thee: How wee were sauctified, when we were most prophane, by thee: How we are iustified, being guiltie of iudgement, by thee: How [Page 14] we haue taken hold of the hope, fu­ture glorification of our corrupt & vile bodies, in the life to come by thee. These thy super-abounding mercies, O Lord, who hath a heart to conceiue, or a tongue sufficient­ly to expresse? The Angels that at­tend thee in the heauens, behol­ding thee face to face, and minister thy will, in heauen and earth, are not yet able to declare the good things themselues inioy, by the glory of thy presence. Much lesse are we, Lord, who lodge in houses of clay, able to comprehend thee, and the height and depth of thine incomprehensible goodnes, shewed to them in earth, whom thou hast made heires with thy Sonne, of the glory in heauen. How much lesse able are wee to conceiue the glory prepared, for thine elect in the heauens? Giue vs therefore, good father, hearts of loue vnto thy Maiestie; that we may striue, with a godly egernesse, rather to aban­don all lets & impediments, which may hinder vs from that promised glory, then curiously to seeke to kn [...]w, in this mortalitie that (the [Page 15] secrets whereof) thou hast reserued vntil our immortalitie. And let not the cares of this transitory life, and the blind affections which we na­turally beare vnto the pleasures thereof, choake the good seede of grace in vs. Make the way of our saluation familiar vnto vs, as thou hast made it plaine for vs. And let not our bodily labours hinder our hearts from continuall meditation of thy goodnesse towards vs. Let vs lift vp pure mindes vnto the heauens, with a longing desire to with thee: where is no labour or sweate, or feare, or care, or hun­ger, or thirst, or nakednesse, or ene­mies, or strife, or paine, or griefe: But all comfort, all ioy, all peace and blessednes, and glory vnspeak­able: Giue vs therefore longing hearts, to remoue out of this body of miseries: yet so, as we omit not our callings, vntill thine appoin­ted time: but that we may labour accordingly in the world, not, as we so loued the world, as we should imbrace it as our home: but vse it as our Tabernacle, or lodging place, for the time of our pilgri­mage. [Page 16] And let thy blessing bee so vpon our labours this day, as wee may liue thereby, haue sufficient of all necessaries; as food, rayment, friendship, peace, plentie, health of bodie, preseruation of our limbes and sences, and a blessing vpon all that belongeth vnto vs. That we be not constrained to vse vnlawfull meanes for our reliefe. Then as we by thy blessing, haue entred in­to this morning, shall passe the day with comfort, and end the same in peace of conscience and consolation of the holy Ghost: and so continue from day to day, vntill the last of our dayes, when we shall surren­der againe vnto thee, to be disposed both our soules and bodies, for e­uer to liue with thee in the glory purchased by Christ our mediator, our hope, our strength, and our e­uerlasting redeemer, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost, bee all power, maiestie and dominion a­scribed for euer,

Amen.

O Lord euermore increase and con­firme our faith.

A short prayer for the morning, to be said of one in priuate, or in a Family, vsing the plurall instead of the singular number.

ALmightie Lord God, whose presence is alwaies light vn­to thy Saints, vouchsafe as thou hast banished the darknesse of the night past, and made the light to shine vnto our corporal eyes: So let the sauing Sunne of thy holy Spirit, lighten the darkenesse of mine vnderstanding this morning. And as the Sun of the firmament cleareth, cheereth, and comforteth all thy creatures in earth, with the beames thereof: so let thy sacred and sauing countenance recomfort my sad and dulled heart: and as it hath pleased thee to giue me power and ablenesse, to rise out of my bed of corporall rest; and by the sleepe which I haue this night enioyed, haue in some measure shaken off the heauie sluggishnes of my fleshly part: So I beseech thee to giue me power to rise out of the bed of sinne and securitie, and with cheerefull alacritie, to cast off the dulnes and drowsines of my corrupt heart, that [Page 18] with full affection and entire loue, I may praise thee for thy loue, wherein thou hast preserued mee this night from perils and dangers of the darknes, wherein the secret arrowes of Satan and sin, are sent forth to wound, euen the vpright in heart; wherein diuers casualties befall them that are dead in their sleepe, not able to preuent the least danger incident to soule or bodie: and hast now graciously brought me to the beginning of this day in safety, the end whereof, nor the least remaining part, what it shall afford me, thou only knowest, from whose all-seeing eye [...] nothing is hid, but as well the times to come, as the seasons past and present, are alike manifest. As thou therefore knowest what shal succeed me this day, turne those things from me, Lord, in thy prouidence, which thou knowest dangerous, and blesse vnto me all things for my comfort, and whatsoeuer befalleth me con­trary to my health, wealth, or peace, make me wise to make vse thereof to the confirmation of my further faith in thee: knowing, [Page 19] Lord, that all things shall worke to­gether for the best to them that loue thee. And therefore giue me pati­ence to vndergoe al thy corrections and trials, and to be vnfainedly thankfull for all thy benefits. And for asmuch as nothing can prosper vnto vs without thy blessing: blesse Lord, I beseech thee, vnto me all such thy creatures, as I shall haue cause to vse this day, & giue a bles­sing vnto all that appertaineth vn­to me, whomsoeuer, or whatsoeuer, and let the meditations of my hart, the words of my mouth, and the la­bours both of my bodie and minde, be sanctified vnto me this day; that whatsoeuer. I doe, it may prosper. I recommend my selfe, my soule and bodie, & all that I haue charge of vnder thee, into thy fatherly tui­tion and defence this day: for I know, Lord, and am assured, that thou, to whom I commit me, ar [...] a­ble and willing to keepe me. Let not my sinnes, gracious Father, which I haue no power to resist, preuent thy mercies, but in thy mercie preuent my sinnes; for Sa­tan, the World, and mine owne cor­ruptions, [Page 20] are euer ready to draw me into forbiddē vanities. But streng­then thou the armes of my faith, teach my spirituall fingers to fight valiantly against their enemies: giue me the sword of the Spirit, the brest-plate of righteousnes, the hel­met of saluation, that I feare not their assaults this day, that fighting the good fight of faith, I may pre­uaile, and receiue the crowne of victorie, through Christ, that tri­umphant Lion of the Tribe of Iudah. Remember thy promises made vn­to all that beleeue in him. I beleeue Lord, helpe mine vnbeliefe. Let the fruits of that loue, that is greater then faith, and hope, appeare in mine actions this day; the chiefe wherof is obedience vnto thee. So shall I passe this day in thy faith, feare, & due reuerence of thy great and glorious name: and daily more and more prepare my selfe in a holy readines to attend thy calling mee out of this mortall, to an immor­tall condition. And for my greater comfort in this my pilgrimage, giue me a true feeling of the ioyes pro­mised in the Kingdome of glorie, [Page 21] euen here in the Kingdom of grace, that hauing heere receiued the ear­nest of thy holy Spirit, I may dai­ly looke for the principall, in the Kingdom purchased by Iesus Christ, in whose name I humbly recom­mend my selfe and all my labours this day, vnto thy blessed proui­dence and direction, yeelding vnto thee all praise in Iesus Christ, by the holy Ghost, blessed for euer and e­uer.

Lord increase my faith.

A prayer to be said in priuate Families in the Euening, before they goe to rest.

ALmightie and most louing Lord God, Father of com­passion, infinit in power, iust in thy Judgements, wonderfull in thy prouidence, euer readie, and ne­uer failing in mercie, them that feare thy name: we acknowledge thy great goodnes towards vs this day past, and our owne vnworthi­nes to partake of thy mercies, by reason of our manifold and great sinnes; which, as it seemeth, thou neither seest nor obseruest, in that thou hast, as it were, passed by them, so patiently this day; as in stead of punishing them, hast made vs rich partakers of many most acceptable blessings. Yet, Lord, we doe not, by this thy forbearance to punish vs, either iusti [...]e our wayes wherein we haue walked this day, or thinke our selues freed from thy displeasure for our sinnes: but do [...] vtterly condemne our selues, and wholly attribute our preseruation from punishment; our health, out peace, our plenty, and the good suc­cesse [Page 25] of our affairs vnto thine own free mercie; and whatsoeuer crosse, losse, hurt or detriment hath be fal­len vs this day, in bodies, goods, credit or reputation among men, we lay it, and impute it wholly and altogether vnto our sinnes, which haue worthily deserued much more then we feele, or are able to beare: what we or any of vs haue done a­gainst thee this day, thou knowest, what thou hast done for vs, wet cannot expresse with our lips, nor conceiue in our harts, for thy mer­cies are so infinite, and thy proui­dence so high, and so farre past fin­ding out, as the more we search and seek, to know the hid treasures of thy loue towards vs, so much the more ignorant we are of knowing what thou are: we therefore ac­knowledge our selues st [...]ners, and thy selfe the Father of incompre­hensible mercies, which as Dauid thy seruant confesseth, are more then he could expresse. Great and manifest haue bin thy fauours to­wards vs, we haue found them, felt them, and enioyed them this day, and all our dayes in thy kee­ping, [Page 26] feeding, cloathing, and com­forting our mortall bodies. In gi­uing vnto vs, & preseruing for vs many things for our vse; the beasts of the field, the plants of the earth haue beene seruiceable vnto vs, through thy blessing. Giue vs, we beseech thee, vnderstanding and feeling hearts to acknowledge thy mercies. Teach vs to know, and to take knowledge of our own wants, which are many; & grant that they may be supplied by thee. Let vs looke into our owne corruptions that they may bee reformed and weakened by thee: for Nature re­uenleth not vnto vs our spirituall wants, nor can cleanse vs from our sinnes, which are many, and yet we account them few: great, and yet we see them not: weightie, and yet they seeme light vnto vs: we are spiritually poore, and spirituall▪ blinde, yet not poore in spirit, as we ought, we are rather barren of spi­rituall knowledge, and blinde to our owne imperfections, which puffeth vs vp with a vaine concei [...] of our owne worthines. Our faith is feeble, fraile, and imperfect, yet [Page 27] we thinke it strong; our prayers are cold and weake, our minds and affections wauering, and incon­stant in that diuine duty; yet would we seem religiously zealous. Thou findest in vs, Lord, these imperfec­tions, and we dote of our owne me­rit, which is a meer forbidden pre­sumption. Open, Lord, the eyes of our vnderstandings, that we may finde out, and feele our own errors, and looke into the working of thy grace, wherein thou acceptest vs, as poore in spirit, by the imputati­on of Christs humblenes, our faith perfect, through the perfection of his obedience: and our prayers a­uaileable through his preuailing mediation. So that thy spirituall consolations in Christ, are farre more abounding towards vs, then we are able to comprehend. Open therefore, Lord, the dore of thy di­uine knowledge, that we may be­come wise in thee, and enter into that holy of holiest, in puritie of spirit, in faith sound, with prayers feruent, & thanks vnfained: Stirre vp in vs a greater measure of obe­di [...], then hitherto we haue shewd [Page 28] vnto thee, that we receiuing grace for grace, may adde faith to faith, wisedome to knowledge, and finde how sweet a thing it is to serue thee truly, to walke before thee in vprightnes of heart. And as we are now come to the end of this day, and consequently haue finished the trauaile thereof, and now couet our rest: so we may watch for the euening of our dayes, and so labour while it is to day; that when the night of our last and finall sleepe shall ouertake vs, our workes may follow vs, not to condemne vs, nor as able to iustifie vs, but to witnes with vs, and for vs, that we haue not laboured altogether in thee in vaine: but according to that mea­sure of grace, which thou art plea­sed to bestow vpon vs, we may worke out our saluation with feare and trembling.

Looke, Lord, vpon vs heere ga­thered together before thee, in a re­uerend humiliation of our hearts. And because naturally we are ob­durate, and our affections hardly brought vnder or subdued: subdue, Lord, all the rebellious imaginati­ons, [Page 29] that intrude now, or at any time into our thoughts: And let vs giue no entertainment vnto those desires, which tende to vanities, whether of the minde, of the will, or the pride of life. Let no euill ac­company vs vnto our corporall rest, much lesse, Lord, vnto our fi­nall sleepe. Let vs now begin to cast off the dregges of sinne, while we haue time. Let vs n [...]t put off our repentance vntill to morrow. Rather, as the day is past, that gaue vs corporall light, and the night come, threatning darknesse: let vs liue this night in thy spiri­tuall light, and let the darknesse of sinne vanish, as the light of the day, neuer to rise againe vnto vs; That we beginning euen now to liue in that light which lighteneth the hearts of thy Saints, we may neuer ad [...]it the darknesse of vn­godlines, to ouershadow vs againe. But let vs make vse of the night, not for sleepe only, but rather me­ditating of the resemblance the night hath with the state of impe­nitent sinners, who liuing out of thy fauour, are still in darknesse. [Page 30] And as our sleepe resembleth our bodies rest in the graue: So giue vs grace, Lord, to consider, that we are euen at the end of our fi­nall day, wherein we shall, vn­till the day of our resurrection, commend our dust to dust, as we now for a night betake our bodies to our beds. And as we hope, and humbly desire thee, that our sleepe this night may be vnto vs more for the relieuing our wearinesse, then for wanton delight: So we likewise hope and desire, that when we shall lay downe our bo­dies in the graue, it may not bee as of the sauour of death vnto [...]eath; but of life, vnto euerlasting life.

Grant, gracious Lord God, that thy power and prouidence may preserue vs safe in bodie and soule vntill the morning, that we may then betake vs againe vnto our lawfull callings: and that when our bodies shall rest in our graues, our soules may be preserued vn­der thine Altar among the rest of thy Saints, vntill the most wished and glorious morning of our re­surrection, [Page 31] when wee shall no more returne vnto our labour, no more feare dangers, no more hunger, thirst, nor care for bo­dies necessaries, but for euermore enioy the most blessed Crowne of eternall glorie: which graunt, gracious Lord God, in, and for thy Christ, in whom all things for this life, and the life to come, are blessed vnto vs: to whome with thee, and the holy Ghost, bee ascribed all honour, power, Maiestie, and dominion, for euer­more.

Amen.

O Lord encrease our faith, blesse vs and preserue vs this night, and for e­uermore. So be it.

A short Prayer for the Euening, to be vsed of one man in priuate.

O Lord my God, mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ, I yceld thee humble thankes, for thy mercies, and lo­uing fauours, shewed towards me this day past: wherein thou hast bountifully testified thy fatherly care of me, and hast largely dealt with me in the vse of thy good crea­tures. And as I haue found grace & fauor at thy hands this day, shor­ten not thy hand of comforts, now the night is come, wherein we are beset with many dangers, the more in regard of the darkenesse of the night, wherein all that worke wic­kednesse, take their fittest oportu­nities to worke their deuices. I haue no defence, thou knowest, no protection, no refuge, no meanes of safetie of my selfe, but all my helpe standeth in thy Name: Thy power and prouidence, Lord, is my sure defence, and the least measure of thy fauour is sufficient to deliuer me from an hoast of enemies: much [Page 33] more from all the power, practice, & deuices of Sathan and his mini­sters: who howsoeuer subtilly they lay waite, and furiously assaile me; yet are they limited by thy power, and beyond the bounds of thy per­mission they cannot goe: onely my owne corrupt nature, and mine owne sinful inclination, make rea­diest way for their attempts. I am a sinner, not worthy to approch in­to thy presence: but as the poore Publicane, crying, Lord be merci­full vnto mee a sinner: Clense mee from my faults committed this day, wash me in the blood of the Lambe, that I bee not bard from thy presence, who refusest to heare sinners, among whom I am the greatest: & therfore in forgiuing me, the greater shall thy mercies ap­peare: and the more bound shall I bee vnto thee, who hast forgiuen much, and I shall loue thee much, in him whom thou louest most. In him heare me, & for him forgiue me: and let not the faults that I haue done this day, be registred against me in the heauens, nor reserued to be witnesses against me at the [Page 34] day of mine account. Blot out of the booke of thy remembrance, my sinnes done yesterday, and to day: and henceforth guide me in so sin­cere and perfect obedience, that I sinne not, though darkenesse ouer­shadow my body. Let the light of thy loue shine in my soule, that al­though my bodie sleepe, and bee senceles of many dangers, thy pro­uidence may watch ouer me, and in my deadest slumbers preserue me: and the more the darkenesse of the night doth blind my corporal eyes: so much the more let me couet and obtaine the light of thy sauing countenance: That howsoeuer I haue through weakenesse, falne this day, I may be now raysed a­gaine to newnesse of life, that I carry not the burden of my sinnes, vnto my bed, but cast them off as the rotten ragges of my naturall corruption: and being clensed, I may become more watchfull and constant, that the errors of darke­nesse seize not vpon me: That the enemies of my present happinesse in thee, and of my future glory with thee, take not oportunitie, in the [Page 35] time of my sleepe, or night wa­kings, either to plot or practise my hurt, or my soules trouble, by vaine dreames or feareful visions, which grow partly by the distemperature of our corrupt humors: but especi­ally by Sathans temptations. And because, Lord, the night is as a clo­set of wandring fantasies, by rea­son of the darkenes thereof, wher­in many vaine and idle imaginati­ons arise to prouoke vs to euill, when sleepe ceaseth: let thy holy Spirit, O Lord, rule in my heart, and keepe the house of my soule, as the strong man, that the workes of darkenes creepe not into myheart: but as an holy prompter vnto my soule, he may stirre vp in me diuine meditations, and prayers, that my heart being truly and zealously ex­ercised therein, in my wakings, I may admit no idle thought, to pos­sesse the same, nor giue Sathan or mine owne corrupt affections, oportunity to snare me, and to se­duce me from the works of the spi­rit, to the deeds of the flesh: but that sleeping and waking, I may euer rest vnder the shadow of thy [Page 36] powerfull protection out of the [...]each of all my corporall and spiri­tuall enemies, who are euer rest­lesse in their practises and deuices. Be thou therefore, Lord, on my [...]d [...], preuent them of their purpo­ses, garde [...]ee with thy holy An­gels this night, keepe me, & whom, and whatsoeuer belongeth vnto me: let all things prosper vnder my hands, O Lord, let neither the darkenesse of the night, the distem­perature of the ayre, the sterilit [...]e, and barrennesse of nature, hinder the prosperitie of the creatures or­dained to my vse. Neither let my sinnes make breach of thy fauours towards me: let the health of my body be at thy good pleasure, conti­nued, my limbes & sences preser­ued, my sleepe blessed: and all my thoughtes, words, and deeds, san­ [...]ti [...]ed vnto me in Christ my Sa­uiour and Redeemer, this night and euer,

Amen.

Lord increase my faith, and watch o­uer me this night.

A Prayer for the members of Christ, wher­soeuer dispersed, fit to bee vsed after our ordinarie prayers of Morning and Euening.

GRacious Lord God, merciful and louing Father, the kee­per and protector of all that truly professe the name of Christ thy Sonne: we the poore and weake members of that mysticall bodie, whereof he is the head, as feeling the wantes of our brethren, as our own, do here humblie present our petitions vnto thee for thy whole Church, and the members thereof howsoeuer, or whersoeuer distrac­ted, dispersed, and▪ estranged, by nation, tongue, or place from vs. That it may please thee, who knowest who are thine, to haue a fatherly [Page 40] care ouer them: and whom thou hast already called to the know­ledge of thy trueth, graunt them, Lord, mercifull, louing, and con­stant hearts, to stand in the profes­sion thereof, without wauering or starting backe, call and incorporate such as are contrarily minded, and whom thou hast in thy fore-electi­on appointed to saluation: That they also may be made of the same holy Communion with vs. And such as yet sit in darkenesse, & in the shadow of ignorance, by the seduce­ments of the ministers of Anti­christ, or of any other aduersaris▪ inlighten and bring home by thy word, vnto the sheepefold of the great Shepheard of our soules. Multiply thy sauing spirit vpon vs, and vpon all that belong vnto the kingdome of thy Sonne. A [...] vouchsafe, good Father, to inlarge the harts, increase the knowledge, confirme the faith more and more, of all those that haue any chiefe place in Church or Commonwealth, Kings, Priests, and People. About the rest, Lord, open the heart of our King: giue him a complete [Page 41] measure of true wisedome, not on­ly in gouerning his subiects in due obedience to his owne lawes: but in a religious course of obeying & seruing of thee in holinesse and trueth. Protect and deliuer him from all plots, complotments and conspiracies, of whatsoeuer aduer­saries, domesticall or forraine. Suffer not, Lord, the peace of thy Church, or Common-weale, to suffer violence, by ciuill tumults, treasons, or rebellions. Preserue his health, increase his strength, weaken his enemies, and confirme his crowne to his sonne, and his sonnes sonnes, to the end of time, Blesse and prosper in vertue and trueth, his Queene, and all that truly loue him, in and for thee, loue thou them, and comfort them: for thou hast made him a true main­tainer of thy truth, & an enemie of all thine enemies. Blesse vnto him a godly, religious, and wise coun­sell: learned, zealous and paine­full ministers, faithfull, religious, and truely loyall subiects: comfort, helpe, ayde, assist, and relieue all and euery true member of thy [Page 42] Sonne: Those that are persecuted for thy truth, comfort, & confirme, that they may constantly endure vnto the end: Them that are weak, strengthen: Them that are poore and distressed, relieue: Cure or comfort those that are sicke. Many are the troubles of thine own chil­dren, Lord; and according to thy promise, deliuer them out of all: make them able to indure, and la [...] no more vpon any of them, the [...] they shall be able to beare. Touch the hearts of all thy children, that they may be watching in prayer, considering the dayes wherein we liue are euill. And as thou hast promised to be present with vs, and with all thy children in their mee­tings before thee in prayer: Stir vs all vp, we beseech thee, to a more holy desire, to accompany one another, in that most holy exercise. And where one, two, or more pre­pare themselues to thee, in diuine supplications, assist them with thy holy Spirit, that all for one, and one for all, may pray vnto thee, in the name of our Redeemer, That all our hearts may agree in so holy [Page 43] a harmony of praying one for ano­ther, as thou mayest be pleased to blesse vs all with peace in Christ, with plentie, health, and the vse of all necessaries for this life, and grace to obtaine the glory to come, for his sake, who hath euer bene, is, and shall be our Mediatour, our strength, and our Redeemer,

A­men.

O Lord increase our faith.

A confession of sinnes, with a prayer for pardon for the same.

O Great and most mercifull God, maker of the heauens, founder of the earth, gouer­nor of the raging seas, and Crea­tor of all things visible and inuisi­ble, who all obey thee in their con­ditions; Man, the most glorious of all creatures, excepted, who re­belled as soone as he was created, I the poorest and vnworthiest of creatures, doe heere cast my selfe downe before thy mercies seat: and with the poore sinning Publican; humbly acknowledge mine iniqui­ties, who am a man of the seed of transgressing Adam, in whom, by whom, and from whom, the most deadly infection of originall sinn [...] is fallen vpon me; which hath so polluted mine vnderstanding, that I erre in iudging betweene good and euill. So tainted my will, that I runne after forbidden vanities: so blinded mine affections, that I loue what thou lothest, and adhor what thou wouldest I should em­brace: and my hart is so defiled and [Page 48] corrupted, that I lay vp in store, as in a treasury, within the bosome of my soule, a huge masse of most loth­some sinnes, whence ariseth, as out of a stincking dunghill of detesta­ble vncleannesse, most vgly and ab­horred transgressions, and most desperate rebellions against the [...]; more and more prouoking the [...] to indignation, by my continuall offending thy lawes, by contemning thy mercies, by abusing thy longsuffering, by despising thy most sa­cred word, by not belieuing thy fa­therly promises, by not fearing th [...] terrible iudgements, and by [...] cursed and carelesse course of life, whereby I haue defaced that di­uine Image of puritie and sancti­tie; wherein I was first created [...] thi [...] owne Image in Adam. Infinite are my sinnes, Lord, and pa [...] finding out; oh clense me from my se­cret sinnes. If thou, Lord, straitly ma [...] kest what is done amisse, who shall [...] able to stand? Lord, turne away t [...] face from my sinnes, put away [...] transgressions out of thy remembrance: consider not, Lord, mi [...] offences, how readie I haue been [Page 49] to embrace those forbidden fruits of the flesh, which being the sauour of death vnto death, and how wil­fully I haue reiected the fruits of the Spirit, sauouring vnto life e­ternall. It is too much, Lord, that I brought death into the world with my life; but much more by ad­ding actual to mine original trans­gression. There is no part within me or without me, free from deser­ued condemnation: my hart is cor­rupted, my tongue and lippes pro­fane, mine eyes blinded, my hands defiled, my feet polluted, and all the members of my body stained with the filthines of sinne, sinfull sinne, sins of all sorts, committing things forbidden, and omitting things commanded: So that I cannot but confesse against my selfe, I am wholly not only sinfull, but a lump of sin it selfe, a puddle of putrifac­tion, a sinke of vncleannes, a gulfe of grosse impieties, and a carcasse of most filthie leprosie, full of spiritu­all rottennesse, vnworthy the light of the Sunne, to lighten my corpo­rall eyes to see to do euill: not wor­thy to breathe in the ayre, to speake [Page 50] euill, nor worthie to partake of the ordinary food of men, to strengthen my flesh the more to sinne, nor wor­thie to consort with humane socie­tie, to make them sinfull by my sin. Oh wretch that I am; how haue I plunged my selfe into thy heauie displeasure? how haue I lost thy loue, who louest righteousnes, and hatest iniquitie? Oh wretch that I am, how haue I runne, without right reason, to my ruine rashly? Lord, I am vnfainedly sorie for my sinnes, and I long to be reconciled vnto thee; lest I goe to my graue with griefe, lest from the graue I should come into iudgement with horror, and be inforced to heare that fearefull and finall sentence of reprobatiō pronounced against [...], neuer to be reuoked, indure torments, neuer to be eased. Oh Lor [...] mercifull and louing, remember I am but dust: forget not how orig­nall sinne seazed vpon me, before I had sence or power to commit ac­tuall sin: call to minde that I was conceiued and borne in sinne, and brought corruption in my flesh, frō my mothers wombe, which I could [Page 51] not preuent. And although it be the rule of thy seuere Justice, to lay the guilt of parents vpō their chil­dren: yet let thy mercies which are aboue thy Judgemēts, shew them­selues now, when else there is no hope.

Amen.

Lord increase my faith, and forgiue my sinnes.

Another shorter prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes.

O Heauenly father, thy promi­ses are many, faithfull and comfortable. Thou wilt not the death of a sinner, but desirest ra­ther that he should repent and liue. If thou then desirest rather that I liue then perish, giue me a repen­ting hart, renue a right spirit with­in me: reforme me, and I shall be reformed: for in me, Lord, there is no goodnes, no power, and as little will to doe good, but a will and power to do euill only. Let there­fore thy grace worke effectually in me a new heart, a new minde, new affections, holy and sanctified: So [Page 52] shall sin become lothsome vnto me, which I haue loued: and holines of life shal be sweet vnto me, which I haue neglected: thy Comman­dements that I haue transgressed, I shall indeuour to fulfill: thy pa­tience which I haue abused, I wil answere with more filiall obediēce. The curses then, that I haue de­serued, shal be turnd into blessings: and I shall frame the residue of my life in better actions: I shall aban­don, as deceiuing vanities, those sinnes wherin I haue delited, and shal shun the baits wherwith Satan hath allured me to sin, and where­unto I consented, by the vanity of mine vnregenerate affecti­ons. Oh pardon, pardon my sins good Father in Iesus Christ, fill my hart with the liuely apprehension of thy mercies: speake peace vnto my sad and sorrowfull soule: re­uiue my dead & distracted thoughts plunged in despaire: cast thine ey [...] vpon Christ thy beloued, & in him, [...] louing eye vpon me; who without him, am a cast-away. Heare him [...] mediator for me; heare me a sinner, for his sake, and pardon me for thy [Page 53] mercies sake. Take me now, Lord, out of the dungeon of feare, wherin I haue bin long a captiue, sold vn­der sin. Set me now free from the danger of death and hell. Let Sa­tan flie and fall before my face. Let sin haue no more power ouer me: receiue me into thy fauour: assure me of full and free remission of my sinnes in Christ: worke true peace in my conscience. The sting of death being broken, the feare of the iudgement to come, may be turned into a liuely assurance of saluation; that white I liue here, I may euer­more feele the liuely worke of thy holy Spirit in me. Make the resi­due of my dayes, the dayes of vnfai­ned mourning for my former offen­ces, and of a most vpright and righ­teous conuersation to come: and let faith euermore preuaile against all future temptations, that I may fi­nish the course of my life in that peace which proceedeth of perfect loue, which loue bringeth forth fi­liall obedience vnto thee, which o­bedience is more acceptable in thy fight, then the sacrifices of bullocks and goates. Accept me now, good [Page 54] Father, in Iesus Christ, into thy fa­uour, remit my sinnes, number me amongst thine elect, and seale me vp in thy mercies against the day of my finall visitation. Heare me, O Lord, and let thy holy Spirit guide mee euer vnto that day, through Christ my Sauiour, my Mediator, my Strength, and my redeemer.

Amen.

O Lord increase my faith, and par­don my sinnes.

A Prayer for a godly life, and to resist sinne and Sathan.

O God my God in Iesus Christ, maker and creator of all things, gouernour of heauen and earth, preseruer of our soules and bodies, the giuer of life & light: The framer & disposer of all right and religious hearts, The perfec­ter, [Page 58] and finisher of our faith. In, & by whom are all things, and with­out whom nothing can haue any being: Much lesse corrupt man, haue any existence in life, though be seeme to liue in the body, except thou liue in him: for our life, which is our saluation, and our glory, and our crowne, is hidde with thee in Christ. Such is thy mercy towards vs, as thou vouchsafest to shew vs, our blessed being with thee in the heauens, in this our mortalitie in part, as in a glasse: lest wee should faint in our trials, powre down [...], O Lord, a full and large measure of thy sauing grace into my heart, that I apprehending in part, the sweetnesse of the life to come, may frame my selfe, to that course of life heere, as may assure me of that which is to come: Abandon and a­bolish the darkenes of mine vnder­standing, and giue me the light of true iudgement, that I may wari­ly, watchfully, & wisely foresee, ob­serue & shun, the subtill baytes and allurements of sinne and Sathan: giue me grace to walk in the way of life, leaue not the powerfull power of Satan, nor the poysoning sting [Page 59] of death in me. Settle mine affec­tions vpon the hid treasures of thy loue, guide & garde me, with thy sa­uing power, instruct me in the way of true wisedome: Adorne me with all thy spirituall graces, and diuine vertues: sow in me the seedes of sanctity, water me with the dew of thy holy Spirit: purifie and cleanse my heart, rectifie mine affections, blesse my godly enterprises and ho­ly endeauours, frame all the parts, powers, faculties and sences of my soule and bodie, that they may all meete in the loue of thee, and euery one performe his office, according to the greatnesse of thy name: Let my heart harbour holy thoughts, let my will euer be framed after thy word; let mine vnderstanding bee manifested by righteousnesse, and a sanctified life: let my memorie ne­uer let [...]ipthe good things thou hast done for my soule: Let my handes be purely clensed from pollution, my tongue from prophanation, mine eyes, from the gilt of concupi­scence, my feer from following va­nitie: and all the parts of my body from the least appearance of [...]: [Page 60] That I being thus clensed, and re­formed, I may walke euer in thy faith, liue euer in thy feare: and at the last, yeeld my body to the graue, in thy fauour: where the power and sting of death shall faile of fur­ther pursuing me: and there shall I leaue that sinning part, vntill it shall bee made a shining part with my soule, by the brightnesse & glory of thy presence in the heauens: Thy goodnesse and mercy shewed vnto sinners in this life, leadeth the seriously penitent, and truely faithfull, to the consideration of their present weakenesse, wants, and imperfections, and to the con­templation of their future fulnesse of ioy, comfort, and euer-continu­ing consolation. O stirre vp in me a liuely hunger and thirst for spiri­tuall graces in this life, where we are pressed downe with a mighty masse of corruption, and compassed about with a darke cloud of errors: Insomuch as I, a man begotten, conceiued and borne in sinne; can neuer be able to stand vnder the burden of the one: or to compre­hend thee, my Light, and my sal­uation, through the other. How [Page 61] then, Lord, shall I be able to walke in thee, who art the true way: vn­derstand thee, the sauing trueth, or attaine vnto thee, being eternall life? Therefore Lord, vouchsafe to inlarge my heart in all godly for­wardnesse, to proceede from know­ledge to knowledge, from faith to faith, from one diuine grace to ano­ther: vntill I attaine to full per­fection in Christ, in whom all our holy indenours be euermore bles­sed, sinne euermore weakened, and all goodnesse euermore increased. But many are the blockes, which Sathan layeth, and couereth them with the vayle of pleasure and pro­fite, which make many to stumble and fall. Many ministers hee v­seth, to snare vs, and many mise­ries and mischiefes hee plotreth and practiseth against vs, to dismay vs from following of thee: but hee hath not so many agents, to allure, or terrifie vs, as thou, Lord, hast meanes to preuent the one, and to defend vs in the other. Plead thou therefore my cause, and defend me against that spirituall enemie, that fighteth against me; leaue me not [Page 62] in his power, shorten the extent of his chaine, breake his teeth, that he may haue no power to seize vp­on me, weaken the poyson of his inchantments, that he pollute in me neither the will nor the deede: That I may leade my life vnspot­ted in the world, and that all mine actions and indeauours may pros­per: that sinne, that hangeth on so fast, may be cast off: And giue me a sound knowledge of thy good plea­sure, that I may truely determine to shake cleane off the vnprofitable workes of darkenesse, and be truly clothed with the holy robes of righ­teousnesse, and sanctity: That I may be euer able and ready to pray vnto thee, & obtaine at thy hands, the direction to liue vprightly in thy sight: and that I may euer con­sider mine owne weakenesse, and imperfections; to the end I may indeauour to keepe a good consci­ence in all mine actions: for, as our sences, and the members of our bodie, are many, and euery one sub­iect to sundry infirmities and temptations: and euery of our ac­tions open to diuers infections and [Page 63] pollutions: So, Lord, I beseech thee, to blesse all, and euery part of my soule and bodie, in all holi­nesse and sanctity, that in all my life I may truely walke before thee, in [...]i [...]all feare and obedience, and be of an vpright conuersation before the sonnes men: Grant this for Christ thy Sonne,

Amen.

O Lord increase my faith.

A Prayer to bee said, before the receiuing of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.

O Gracious Lord God, Fa­ther of our Sauiour Christ Iesus, and in him ours: I thy poore creature, wretched and ful of sinne, doe here humbly fall downe in thy presence, to be partaker of that holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of that Lambe that ta­keth away the sinnes of the world; Iesus Christ, who tooke vpon him the burden of thy heauy indignation▪ inkindled against all the sonnes of sinning Adam, and refused not the ignominious death of the crosse; to take away the curse, which lay vpon all mankind, pressing vs all downe euen to the hels: & hath re­deemed againe into thy fauour, and reconciled to thy grace, as many as truly beleeue in his death & satisfa­ction. Thy mercy, Lord, did it, won­derfull in our eyes: yea, a worke beyond the apprehension of hu­mane [Page 68] wisedome, a mystery incom­prehensible. Open therefore the eyes of our spirituall vnderstan­dings, that we may comprehend, and take holde by a liuely faith, of the free remission of our sinnes, and consequently of our reall, and per­fect adoption into the right of in­heritance of eternall glory with Christ in the heauens: Reueale, Lord God, euer louing, this most hidde and heauenly mysterie, vnto euery one here gathered together, to partake of this holy Table: and giue vs vnderstanding hearts, tru­ly to know, what a high and hea­uenly mystery we here are to com­municate: for we cannot but ac­knowledge, that although the crea­tures, whereof we desire corporal­ly to partake, be visible, and our ea­ting the bread, and drinking the wine, be vnto vs in taste and ver­dure, as are other like bread & wine: yet there is an inuisible, and spiri­tuall operation, in the worthy and vnworthy receiuing: namely, sal­uation or damnation; as appea­reth in that vnworthy, and most wicked Judas. But good Father, [Page 69] as he was marked from among the rest of thy Disciples to reproba­tion: let this thine holy ordinance be a sure seale vnto vs of our sal­uation, howsoeuer vnable we are to comprehend the height & depth of thy great mercie and wisedome, which in this most holy Commu­nion, thou offerest for the saluation of all worthy receiuers. But who, Lord, can account himselfe wor­thy? who dare presume to ap­proch vnto this holy and heauen­ly Banquet of the Lambe, as of his owne merit, to partake worthily? How can sinfull man, by eating the bread, and drinking the wine, assure himselfe of remission of his sinnes, not being spiritually instructed in this heauenly mystery? Sinne and sanctitie, truth and error, light and darknesse, agree not: and therefore man, as he is in himselfe by nature corrupt, ignorant, and in the sha­dow of death, cannot worthily par­take of this mystical banquet of the body and bloud of thy Sonne our Sauiour, without the inward working of thy grace in his heart, whereby it may please thee to giue [Page 70] him a liuely feeling of his imper­fections, a desire and power to cast off the lothsome clogge of sin, and to be truely sanctified to the parti­cipation of so effectuall a meane to obtaine saluation. But how farre we wretched sinners, heere gathe­red together, are short of feeling our own wants of power to cast off our sinnes; and how far from true sanc­tification, thou knowest. And ther­fore, louing Father in Iesus Christ, clense thou vs, and wee shall bee cleane, sanctifie vs, and we shall be holy: and though our imperfections be great, though our faith be weak, we shall be made perfect, and our o­bedience confirmed by the sincerity of the obedience of Christ our Sa­uiour, whose righteousnes and me­rits are made ours, by thy fatherly and free imputation, requiring of vs, mortall men, only to beleeue: I beleeue, Lord, help mine vnbeliefe, that I may lift vp a pure heart vn­to thee, begge faithfully of thee, and receiue plentifully from thee all spirituall graces; that I comming vnto this holy table, hauing fully cast off the habite of sinne, may be [Page 71] clothed with the sacred Robe of Christs Innocencie, and be found among the rest of thy Saints, ha­uing on that heauenly wedding garment; that I be not taken from this holy Table, thrust out with shame and horror into the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Re­member not our offences, Lord, bu­rie them in the graue of euerlasting forgetfulnesse, forget not whereof we are made, and be not vnminde­full what an armie of spirituall e­nemies doe continually assayle vs, and how in our most deuotest and most religious actions and exerci­ses, they are most busie to seduce and circumuent vs. Assist vs there­fore, Lord, and be thou on our side, grace vs now with thy blessed pre­sence, that we may heere offer vp vnto thee our soules and bodies, a holy, liuely, and acceptable sacri­fice, and become worthie Receiuers of this holy Mysterie; that as we eate of this Bread, and drinke of this Cup, we may truly find an ef­fectual mortification of our sinning part, and a liuely vi [...]ification, and regeneration of our spirituall part, [Page 72] and may be more and more changes in our liues, that we may walk be­fore thee, and be vpright, from hencefoorth all the dayes of our earthly pilgrimage; and teach vs euer more and more to obey and loue him, who so infinitly loued vs, that he contented himselfe to giue his bodie to be crucified, and his bloud to be shed for vs: which great loue of his being heere repre­sented vnto vs, by these thy visible creatures of bread and wine, giue vs truely and faithfully beleeuing hearts, that we may worthily re­ceiue them, and rightly retaine the reuerend memorie of his death, and be euer the better enabled to resist, and abandon sinne; and cleaue vn­to righteousnes, al the dayes of our liues; that at his comming againe we may be raised, and ascend with him, as members sanctified, and heires adopted into that inheri­tance, which he purchased with his bloud in heauen. Graciously grant this, O Father, for his sake that suffered that ignominious death and seale vp in our consciences, by thy holy Spirit, a full and liuely [Page 73] assurance that wee are truly in­grafted into him our head, and in, and by, and with him shall liue, eternally glorified in heauen,

A­men.

Lord increase our faith, and pre­pare our hearts to a faithfull and re­uerend receiuing of this holy Sacra­ment, to our soules comfort.

A Prayer to be said after the receiuing of the holy Communion.

GReat, good, and most graci­ous Lord God, the Author and finisher of our faith, who of thy free fauour, hast now vouch­safed me to be a guest at this thy heauenly banquet, where I haue beene refreshed, not so much with the visible creatures of bread and wine, for the strengthening of my weake bodie, which without thy corporall nutriment cannot long indure: But with the heauenly Manna, the food of the soules of thy Saints, the blessed body and bloud of that immaculate Lambe, who sealed our attonement with thee, with his bloud vpon the ignomini­ous and grieuous crosse, and there cancelled the hand-writing, which was against vs; and of the bond­ [...]aues of Satan, made vs the free men of the new Jerusalem, and [Page 77] in our nature, and for vs, and in our behalfes, triumphed ouer Satan, Death, and Hell, and now, Lord, as it hath pleased thee to accept me into this holy communion, and to make me partaker of that most holy mystery, by the outward receiuing of visible bread & wine: worke, gra­cious Lord, in me a true, liuely, and spiritual feeling of the grace which thou hast promised vnto all worthy Receiuers. And for as much as our assurance dependeth vpon thy pro­mise, and thy promise confirmed vnto vs by a liuely faith; and that faith is thine owne free gift also, by the operation of thy holy Spirit: worke in me, Lord, this faith, that may confirme vnto mee the ef­fect of thy promise, the free for­giuenesse of my sinues, newnes of life, a holy and sanctified conuersa­tion, a right reuerend vse of all thy creatures, a religious feare to of­fend thee, and vnfained loue of thee in Christ: that as I haue bin now a partaker of the outward elemēts, I may also and absolutely partake of the inuisible grace, that my soule may be liuely and continually fed [Page 78] with that heauenly bread, which maketh our soules strong in and by him, whose bodie and bloud I haue here sacramentally eaten & drunke, and thereby through faith am vni­ted euen of thy free mercie vnto, and made one with thee in him, in whom, whosoeuer is truly ingraf­ted, shall liue for euer in the glori­ous heauens with him, as coheires of that endlesse Kingdome of glory, which he purchased by his obedi­ence to the death of the Crosse. Good father, let the remembrance of that his death be so imprinted in my hart this day, that I neuer for­get it, but couet to renue, and con­tinually retaine the remembrance thereof, by often communicating at this holy Table, which, though it be as a snare vnto the vnworthy partakers, it is a sure seale of sal­uation to the faithfull & truly peni­tent. And therefore, good Father, confirme my repentace, renue mine obedience, strengthen my faith: Make me a liuely member of Christ, that as I haue this day pro­mised to become a new creature, and thou hast renued againe to me, [Page 79] thy promise of remission of my sins, and of my reconciliation with thee, through the bloud of the Lambe: Let this holy, and heauenly condi­tion be truely performed in my be­halfe, for euer. So shall I be as­sured, that thou wilt neuer faile in thy sacred couenant of grace to me, being euer the same, yea, and A­men. Thou, Lord, knowest my strong corruptions, and the feeble­nesse of my naturall power to resist sinne, and what strong and power­full aduersaries there lie in wayte for my soule, laying continuall snares to entangle mee anew, to make (if it were possible) this my reuniting into thee in Christ of none effect, and to seduce me again into the wayes of vngodlines. But good Father, preuent me with thy grace, that as I haue promised this day to forsake sinne, and cleaue vn­to righteousnesse, so I may per­forme and perseuere in a sanctified life vnto my liues end, through Christour Lord.

Lord increase and confirme my faith euermore.

A generall meditation or prayer in whatso­euer trouble or crosse.

GRacious and most mercifull Lord God, whose wisedome is past finding out, and whose prouidence disposeth of all the e­states of men, in mercy and iudge­ment: thou liftest out of the dung­hill, the humbled poore, and hurlest downe the mightie: thou giuest & takest, when, what, from whom, and wherefore it pleaseth thee: All thy wayes, O God, are mercie and truth, to them that feare thee: Thou Lord, art righteous in all thy workes, and holy in all thy wayes. Howsoe­uer thou correctest thy children, it is for their purgation, to clense them from the rust, and drosse of their corruptions: And makest po­uerty, sickenesse, enemies, and all crosses, not onely not burdensome or irkesome vnto thine, but sweete and easse to be borne: though the naturall man seeme to kicke a­gainst them, the man regenerate, and borne a new of the holy Ghost, imbraceth them as the true tokens [Page 85] of thy fatherly affection towards him: who hauing learned out of thy sacred word, that through ma­ny troubles, thy Saints must enter in­to ioy, and through disgrace into glo­ry: Hee feareth most, when he is most free from crosses; left that he should not be of the number of them that shalbe saued, whose sal­uation is the more certaine, by how much thou correctest him by thy fatherly visitations. All flesh is corrupt, and all men sinners. Thou therefore, who art iust, cleane, and pure in all thy wayes and workes, canst not but vse thy rod of gentle corrections, vpon them whom thou louest in Iesus Christ: But lettest the wicked, either to lie securely in a reprobate sence, or to lay thy heauy iudgement vpon them, euen in this life, where they begin their condemnation. But good Father, Enter not into iudgement with mee: Let not thy corrections become curses vnto me: but rather, Lord, let them be meerely medicines to cure the disease of sinne in me. So shall I, by the working of thy holy spirit, become more and more mor­tif [...]ed [Page 86] in the affections of my heart, which are then most offending thy Maiestie, when I am in greatest securitie: And therefore, louing fa­ther, take from me all grudging, discontent of mind, and murmu­ring against thy corrections, of what kind or qualitie soeuer they be: for thou hast testified vnto vs by thy word, that thou scourgest e­uery sonne thou receiuest. And therefore, he that wanteth thy fa­therly chastisements, seemeth to be a bastard and no sonne. And for­asmuch, Lord, as the causes of mens troubles in this life be ma­ny, and hidden, some to correct for sinnes alreadie committed, some to preuent sinnes, whereunto we are inclinable, and some to manifest thy power, by way of iudgement a­gainst the impenitēt wicked: Take Lord, away from the eyes of my darke vnderstanding, the vayle of ignorance, that I may see and feele in my conscience, a sure testimonie of thy sauing spirit; that thy corre­ctions light not vpon me in iudge­ment, but in mercy, not to condemn me, but to approue me to be one of [Page 87] thy Church militant, whose mem­bers haue their continuing afflicti­ons, which howsoeuer outwardly they seeme to blemish them, yet doe they make them beautifull within, and most amiable vnto thee, howsoeuer wee seeme vnto the world, outcastes & castawayes: yet are we thereby made the more like vnto our Sauiour, who pro­cured out saluation through affli­ction. And thereby thou, Lord, knowing our weakenesse, to vn­dergoe his crosses, lay no more vp­on me then withall thou mayest be pleased to giue mee grace and strength to beare it, according to thy promise: and then lay vpon me what thou wilt, pouertie, sicknesse, enemies, and whatsoeuer crosses may make me likest vnto thy sonne in his patient sufferings: although I haue learned, Lord, that all the afflictions of this life, are not wor­thy of the glory that shal be shewed in the life that is to come. And therefore, Lord, assist me with thy grace, that I with patience and godly reioycing, may vndergoe whatsoeuer it shall please thee to [Page 88] lay vpon me: As did Saint Paul, Silas, Saint Peter, and other thine Apostles, who imbraced all thy cor­rections, and their troubles for thy names sake, with heauenly alacri­tie, and spirituall consolation.

O Lord increase my faitli.

A Prayer to be sayd in pouerty and want of this lifes necessaries.

ALmightie Lord God, most powerfull, and most louing, I humbly recommend my selfe into thy holy protection, and to thy fatherly prouidence, who madestine and createdst me of nothing, and I came into this world poore and wretched, bringing nothing with me but nakednes, and original mi­serie, more hardly bested (of mine owne power) then the beast that perisheth. And in this manner all men came, and daily come into the world, from Adam to the last that shall be borne into the earth: yet in thy great and vnsearchable wise­dome, thou disposest of men in di­uers [Page 92] maners, according vnto thine owne will. Some, Lord, thou ma­kest Princes of the world, some ab­iects in the world; and yet neither the greatest, nor the meanest, by their high or low estate can bee iudged by humane reason, happy or vnhappy, Teach me therefore true wisedome, Lord, that I may right­ly conceiue and iudge of mine owne [...]enury and pouerty, not as a iudge­ment inflicted, but as a fauourable and fatherly portion giuen me, lest I should presume vpon, and rest the more secure, & consequently become the more proud of a more rich and more glorious worldly estate: for thou, Lord, best knowest whether pouerty or riches be most agreeable to my condition: and therefore I humbly accept and embrace that portion which thou hast giuen me, though it be to flesh and bloud har [...] and vnpleasant: make it yet, good father, spiritually sweet vnto [...] by thy grace: because it is thy will that I should be poore in worldly, make me so much the more rich in heauenly things. So shall I bo [...] my portion, Lord, great and glori­ous, [Page 93] howsoeuer I seeme outward­ly base and abiect. It is manifest, that thou causest the Sun to shine, and the raine to fall vpon the good, and the wicked. So giuest thou and distributest riches and pouertie, to the iust, and vniust, but to diuers ends: and they likewise receiue and vse them diuersly; the first, both ri­ches and pouertie, to one only end, namely, to thy glory, and their own true comfort, being rich, as if they were poore, being poore, as if they possessed all things: and this by the working of thy holy Spirit on their sanctified hearts. Sancti­ste my heart therefore, Lord, and giue mee patience, and a truely contented minde, in my greatest wants, and vnfained thankful­nesse, for the least supplie or en­crease of thy bountie towards me, and let not my poore estate direct me, as it doth the hypocrites, who in prosperitie waxe proud, and in pouertie grudge and murmure, and so offend thy Maiestie, who workest all for the best, to them that are thine: my weakenesse by Nature, I confesse to bee such, [Page 94] as I am prone to fall both in ful­nes and in want. And were I not vpholden by thy grace, I should in the one run headlong into many noysome iustes, and forbid­den vauities: and by the other, in­to vniust dealing to supplie m [...] ne­cessities. And therefore, good and gracious father. I humbly pray thee, for Christ, thy Sonues sake, either to inlarge my portion, in a competent measure, that I be not driuen through too much penurie to repine, as of mine owne nature I am apt: or els, giue me that true patience, through a liuely faith in thy prouidence and mercie, that may worke in me that hope, that may neuer make me ashamed. The world, thou knowest, Lord, loueth her owne, on whom she faw [...]es: But thy base ones are hatefull vn­to worldlings, disdained, and ab­horred, which is a sharpe tryall, and made thine owne dearest Da­uid to stagger in his troubles, and welnere made he shipwra [...]h of his faith and constancie: but when hee considered thy purpose in afflicting him, when he had consulted with [Page 95] thy word, he then found and con­fessed that it was good for him, that thou haddest afflicted him. Lord, lend an eare vnto my petition, and remember thy promise in Christ, thy beloued, that thou wilt lay no more vpon thine, then they shall be able to beare. Lord, thou knowest my weakenesse, to beare this hea­uy burden of pouertie, and disgrace among the sonnes of men: & there­fore, let it please thee to make it more light: or giue me sufficient strength, and then lay what thou wilt vpon me more: onely, Lord, be mindfull of me, who knowest, what I neede before I aske. And therefore, giue me grace to auoyde that presumption, which offereth to limite thee, the holy one of Israel, either in the time, the manner, or matter of my helpe: I will rest me only vpon thy prouidence and mer­cy; make hast to helpe, O Lord, my God, my strength, and my Re­deemer.

Amen.

O Lord increase my faith.

A Prayer to be said of one in prison, for what cause soeuer, changing the word [...] according to the occasion here set down.

GRacious Lord God, the most iust, & most wise, thou dispo­sest all things for all men, ac­cording to thine own will, in mer­cy and iudgement: In both which, the wisest caruall man is most ig­norant, censuring thy waies accor­ding to his weake vnderstanding, taking, and imagining, thy fauour and loue towards men, to consist it thy plentifully furnishing them, with the fulnes of worldly & carnal comforts; & thy hatred, & anger to appeare, by leauing them naked of corporall consolation: & imprison­ment, [Page 101] to be the highest argument of thy heauiest displeasure. But thou, Lord, knowest thine owne ends, in restrayning men of their libertie: wherin they haue scope to run in­to all forbidden & vngodly actions, delighting themselues in vanities, in wantonnes, & sinful security: and therfore thou restrainest thē whom thou louest, lest their liberty should so admit carnall delights, as thy feare being farre off, there should be neither time, place, or occasion to call vpon thee: but thy Iudgements are secret, & therfore mistakē of the seeming wisest men of the world, who looke not wherunto their own liberty tendeth, as to occasion them to run into forbidden lustes, & con­sequently into a reprobate sence: wherein yet they dreame of highest happinesse. And thy mercies are also misconceiued of such as want the light of thy sauing truth, as all men doe by nature, who thinke e­uery affliction or crosse bitter, and vnpleasant: but imprisonment the sharpest tryal that can befall them. Flesh and blood, Lord, cannot con­ceiue, but as thou hast made all thy creatures, at their beginnings free: [Page 102] So should man, thy most excellent creature, be euer free, and liue at libertie: But thou knowest man, better then man knoweth himself; and seest and considerest, whether libertie or imprisonment is most profitable vnto him: and forasmuch as I am of the number of them whom thou pleasest to trie with this kind of affliction, and of the number also of such as are by na­ture ignorant, whether this thy tryall be in mercy and iudgement: Teach me, Lord, the right rule of diuine knowledge, that I may tru­ly find this thy correction to bee in mercy; that thou hast found me out in mine offending course of life, and that my liberty, rather tended to thy dishonour, and mine owne dan­ger, then to the true seruice of thee, and mine owne true comfort. And therefore, assist me with thy sweet, and truly comforting grace, that I may make a godly vse of my re­straint: namely, Lord, to abandon all the remembrance of former car­nall delights, vulesse to repent them, and wholy, and altogether to dedicate my selfe, to the meditation [Page 103] of diuine and heauenly things, to earnest, zealous, and faithfull con­tinuall prayer for the increase of thy mercies towards me, and mine obedience towards thee: And that it may please thee, Lord, so to sea­son this thy medicine of Imprison­ment vnto me, with the gift of true patience, that it may make mēe to abhorre, from hence forth, the vani­ties, wherein. I delighted, in my li­bertie: that if thy pleasure bee to restore me to my former freedome, I may liue, as if I were still really restrained. Thou, Lord, knowest the harts of those, by whose means, in thy prouidence I suffer this re­straint, and the cause on my part.

If for debt, say thus.

WHich I confesse to bee iust, in that I am-in­debted, and not able to make present, and full satisfaction vnto my creditors: But I appeale vnto thy mercy, and prouidence, beseeching thee, to mitigate the ex­tremitie and rigour of their desires that thus oppresse me; or else raise [Page 104] vp some comfortable & preuailing meanes, to inable me to pay all that I owe vnto al men, that I owe no­thing to any man, but loue. Thou didst incrense the oyle and me [...]e of the istressed widow of Sareptha, so as she was inabled to pay what she ought: thy power is still the same, & thy loue is not lessened towards them that loue thee: giue me that loue, Lord: So shall my want, and mine imprisonment, and all other crosses, worke together for my greater consolatiō through Christ.

Amen.

If for matter for which life or member is in danger, say thus.

WHich I cannot but ac­knowledge, to be deser­uedly inflicted vpon me: for I haue not onely transgressed thy lawes, but broken the precepts of thine anointed, and stand wor­thy of the censure of corporall pu­nishment: But thou art a merciful God, and disposest the hearte of all then. If thou wilt, thou canst deliuer me, or moderate the sen­tence [Page 105] against me: or else giue mee patience to vndergoe whatsoeuer shall be laid vpon me, and as I ac­knowledge, [...]t my sinne is the cause of my restraint, & of my cor­porall feare, and am truely sorry, for mine offences: So, Lord, I beseech thee pardon thou mee in Christ, that whatsoeuer become of my bodily punishment, I may be yet assured of thy fauour, in the kingdome of glory: through Jesus Christ,

Amen.

If vpon vniust occasion, say thus.

For thou, Lord, knowest, al­though I cannot but confesse, that I haue many wayes offen­ded thy high Maiestie: yet in this whereof I am accused, and for which my libertie is restrained, I am innocent. And therfore, good fa­ther in lesus Christ, giue me pati­ence, & worke in the hearts of mine oppressors, some remorce, that they may recal & repent of their iniustice Thou knowest how innocēt Ioseph was falsly accused: And thou yet were pleased to permit him to be restrained long: but in the meane time diddest giue him fauour with th [...] G [...]olor, and in the end diddest [Page 106] aduance him to honor. Be pleased, I beseech thee, to deliuer me, if it may be, for my good, or make the prison easie, & the [...]olor louing: & giue me wisedome to make right vse of my present restraint, and to acknowledge it to be for my sinnes, and for my reformation. And when I shall in thy prouidence, receiue my former liberty, let me not be a­shamed of my restraint: but rather glory in thy mercy, y^t I suffer vp­on an vniust accusation, though I stand guilty before thee of infinite sinnes, for which I am sorry, and humbly craue pardon, and thy di­uine direction, that I may lead a holy life, in a godly and sincere con­uersation before men, and to walke before thee in vprightnes of heart through Christ my Sauiour and Redeemer.

If for the testimonie of thy faith in Iesus, say thus.

THe witnessing of thy truth, the profession of thy name, which my persecutors persecute in me more then me, for they aime more to suppresse the confession of thy glorious name, then them that professe it; they more seeke to aban­don [Page 107] the publike practise, & religi­ous vse of thy word and Gospel, then the abuse. And therefore, good Father, as thou hast in some mea­sure inlightned mine vnderstan­ding of thy will, and by thy spirit taught me how to professe thy name, according to thy truth: So confirme my faith therin, and mine obedience to thee: that neither this lothsome prison, the furie of my persecutors, nor the feare of death, terrifie me from the constant pro­fession of Iesus Christ, whom these men seeke to persecute in his mem­bers. And therfore, Lord, gracious in him, in him looke vpon me here at this time restrained, for his sake, and either in thy mercy work [...] my deliuery out of their hands, and out of this place of restraint by some ordinarie meanes, as thou diddest extraordinarily deliuer thy ser­uants Paul, Silos, Peter, and other thine Apostles, out of their cruell captiuities: or els giue me constant patience, to indure thy tryal, to vn­dergoe whatsoeuer shal seeme good vn [...] thee, to lay vpon me: And gra­ciously consider the weakenesse of [Page 108] flesh & blood: which if thou suffer to preuaile in me, I cannot stand. And therefore, assist me with thy holy spirit, that as I haue begun, so I may preseuere in thee, and be sustained by thee vnto the end, Let neither the vnsauory prison, nor the bitternes of death, remoue my heart, nor let my tongue, from professing thy name vnto the end: & if thou think me worthy of the glo­ry of martyrdome, and to crowne me with the honour of being a wit­nes of thy truth, giue me an obedi­ent heart, and a thankefull minde, willingly to lay down this earthly. Tabernacle, to whatsoeuer kind of death it shall please thee to giue mine, and thine owne aduersaries power to inflict vpon me: That af­ter this life ended, I may be really crowned with the merits, not of my suffering, but with the merits of him who suffered for me, and for whose sake, graunt, Lord, I may constantly suffer, what thou plea­sest to lay vpon me,

Amen.

Lord encrease my faith, giue me pa­tience and comfort in Iesus Christ.

A Prayer to be often vsed, that we may so liue, as we neuer need feare to die; fit to be often vsed of all men, especially in sicknesse.

GOod and gracious Father, who formedst me of dust, and breathedst life into a lumpe of earth, wher of I am made, and hast made mee partaker of thy Spirit, and so a liuing soule, of an eternall [Page 113] being, beyond that which thou hast done for any other earthly creature, who dying perish, & turne wholly to dust, whereof they are wholly and only made. As for mee, thou hast taught mee to know thy more then wonderfull work-manship, and thy more then apprehensible fauour and loue, in that thou hast not only made me a liuing creature, as are the beasts of the field, the fowles of the aite, and creeping things of the earth, but little inferiour to thine heauenly Angels, giuing me a soule diuine and immortal, which liueth eternally. And of thy further and more free grace, hast vouchsa­fed me a seed of the light of diuine vnderstanding, and thy word of glad tidings, to teach me thy will, to direct and encourage me in the way of saluation: lest hauing recei­ued the testimonie of thy lou [...] here in this life, and the earnest of thy Spirit, I should yet liue to die, and not die to liue. Thou, Lord, know­est whereof I am made; thou canst not forget, y^t I am but dust: giue me grace to remember alwayes my mortalitie, and that I am borne to [Page 114] die, and that then commeth iudge­ment. Lord, we are all the children of ssinning Adam, elected, and reiec­ted according to thy will, vessels of honor, or dishonor, as thou pleasest to make vs; we are the clay, thou the Potter, thou giuest life, and a­gaine thou sayest, Returne yee chil­dren of men to dust. Oh what is man, y^t thou so regardest him, or the son of Man, y^t thou so fatherly vi­s [...]test him Thou hast clothed him with glorie: And he hath brought shame vpon himselfe: thou off re [...]st life vnto him, but he hath embraced death. And he shall die, thou hast so decreed, yet hast conceiled from him the time when, the place where, and the maner how, to the end that none should presume vpon his strength, health, wisedome, or wealth, to become secure, and in their securitie to forget thee, sinne against thee our Creator, wh [...], as with the breath of thy mouth thou madest vs liuing soules, so by the breath of thy mouth canst thou con­foūd our bodies & soules: yea, Lord, our dearest soules, deare, in respect of thee who gauest them: deare, in [Page 115] respect of him that shed his dearest bloud for them: but most deare vn­to vs wretches, if for our mindes vanities, and our bodies pleasures, we should lose our bodies, & make shipwracke of our soules. Precious in thy sight is the death of thy Saints; but most feareful to the wicked in the death of their bodies, that sleeping in the graue, send their soules before them, to be mu­tually tormented, when they shall meet in Judgement. This fearefull separation, Lord, amazeth mee, when I consider it in my naturall vnderstanding, not looking into the course of thy loue, wherein thou didst send thy dearest Soune to die for sinners penitent. Oh teach me thy waies, instruct me in thy Com­mandements. Giue me a repenting heart, and sanctified conuersation, that before I goe hence, and be no more seene, I may assure my selfe that I am of the number of them, to whome thou imputest no sinne. Let thy word worke fruitfully in mee, the sauour of life vnto life. Teach me and guide me in the true course of holy obedience, in righte­ousnesse [Page 116] and true holinesse, that I may euer walke before thee, and be vpright: giue me a prepared heart, constantly and faithfully to desire to be dissolued, & to be with Christ. Take away the frailty of my fain­ting flesh, increase and confirme my faith in thee, and my hope of the glory promised in Christ after this mortall life. Let me alwayes wait the time of my deliuery, and be wil­lingly content to, lay downe this my earthly tabernacle, and to giue vp my soule into thy hands: giue me a continuall watchfull heart, that death come not vpon me vna­wares: a prepared heart, that I may be still readie, when or where, or how thou hast determined my dissolution. Let nothing be so deare vnto me, as Christ my Sauiour. Let me esteeme all things as dung, in respect of the glorie to come. Let nothing bewitch or intice me to the loue of this sinfull life, nor dismay or terrifie me frō embracing death: But that I may vse this life, as if I vsed it not, and feare death, as if I feared it not: That when my life shall be swallowed vp of death. I [Page 117] may then enter into that new life, and treade downe death and the power thereof vnder my feete, by Christ, that triumphed ouer Satan, death and Hell, vpon the Crosse for me: grant it for me, my Lord, my God, my life, my light, my strength, and my Redeemer.

Amen.

Lord increase my faith, and grant that I may liue in thy feare, and die in thy fauour.

Amen.

A Prayer to be said of one that is sick or diseased.

LOrd God almightie, Father louing in thy Son Iesus Christ, cast thine eye of compassion [...]n me thy creature, whom thou hast at this time touched with sicknesse, and brought low by thy present vi­sitation. Thou createdst me in the beginning, not to liue euer in this [...]abernacle of dust, but that my li­uing bodie of dust should be againe dissolued into dust, without life, at [...]hine appointed time: for all [...]lesh is grasse, and as the flower of the [...] it withereth & decayeth with [...] ▪ [Page 123] sicknes, or griefe of minde: we are all but as [...]arthen vessels, whome thou can [...] make and confound with the breath of thy mouth: and how­soeuer, and whensoeuer the most Iustie and strong stand conceited of their health, and permanent secu­ritie of their bodies agilitie, and the [...]imble [...]es of their limbes, and sences, suddenly thou touchest them, and they become feeble in strength, their beautie changed, their sences dulled, their hearts fainting, and all the parts and powers of their bodies altered; and the whole man turned, as it were, into the very image of pale death it selfe. Thou hast appointed that all men shall once die, but thou con­ceilest from al men the time when, the place where, & the manner how they shall die: and therefore it be­h [...]ueth all men to be euer watchful in well doing, that when thou shalt send thy Messenger, Sicknes of bo­die, to put them in mind, that their day is comming, they be not found vnprepared, and great happinesse it is to him, whom when he is suni­ [...]one [...], he may chearefully say, I am [Page 124] heerē, Lord, ready to attend thy will. Oh make me thus ready▪ deare fa­ther, that now thou callest me. I may not only, not flie from thee for feare of death, but hartily, willing­ly, and faithfully crie, Come, Lord Iesu, come quickly, for I am no bet­ter then my Fathers, who are fallen a­sleepe: & therfore, if this my sicknes be vnto death, fortifie me against the feare thereof: The spirit, Lord, is willing, but flesh and bloud weake and fearefull. But assist my spirit by thy sauing Spirit. So shall [...] heart within me reioyce, that thou remembrest me: and my weake [...] feeble body shal sing forth thy good­nes in this sad and sicke estate▪ all the powers of my bodie, and facul­ties of my soule, shall conioyne in the heauenly harmonie of thy sa­uing truth, in the peace of mine owne conscience in Iesus Christ, i [...] hope that thou wilt either restore me to happie health, or in thy good time take me to thy more happ [...] kingdome: and howsoeuer the will shall be, make me patient in my greatest fits of paine: and [...] mitigate the extremitie of my dis­ease, [Page 125] that I be not driuen to bee sencelesse of my sinnes, or forget­full of thy promises through the vi­olennce thereof, nor lay more vpon me, Lord, then I shall be able to beare.

Another prayer to be said of a sicke man.

I Do [...] confesse vnto thee, Oh fa­ther, my sinnes, for which I do acknowledge thou doest deser­uedly afflict me: I cannot beare, nor vndergoe the stripes that I haue deserued at thy hands; who knowing thy will, haue not done ac­cording vnto the same, but haue cast thy holy Commādements, and mine obedience vnto them, behinde my backe; what I should not haue done, that I haue done, and what I should haue done, I haue not done. O vnprofitable seruant that I haue bin: yet cast me not away, good father, for I am the worke of thine owne hands: as tou­ching the framing of this my earthly tabernacle; as for sinne, it is of myselfe, therein was I begotten and borne: and thereby doe I daily [Page 126] offend thee, and so much the more haue I sinned, by how much I haue enioyed the health and strength of my bodie, and the vse of my sences: and I cannot but acknowledge, Lord, that it is good for-me, tha [...] thou hast afflicted mee with this thy fatherly visitation; giue me grace to accept it as a fauour of thine, and the fruit of thy mercie, for my renouation and reformati [...] ­on: and let not Satan suggest or perswade mee that it is in iudge­ment, as the fruit of thine indigna­tion to driue me to despaire of the sauing health. The health of my bodie is a sweet blessing vnto me, yet thou knowest, Lord, what a spurre it is to forbidden vanities. And sicknes, as it is in it selfe, is most grieuous and lothsome; yet being seasoned with thy inward grace, a sweet remedie against the killing disease of sinne. Oh show it downe, Lord, into my distressed soule, the sweet showres of thy san­ctifying Spirit, that I may hee sanctified throughout: so shall my sicke and weake bodie bee richly and sweetly comforted in this com­fortlesse [Page 127] condition, which, were it not supported by thy fauour & loue, could not but faint, & al the powers, both of my soule & bodie faile with­in me. Oh speak cōfortable things, Lord, vnto thy diseased seruant, extend a fatherly helping hand to make my bed in my sicknes: Thou art the Physitian of our soules & bo­dies; I am sicke in both, cure me, Lord, in both; my sicke soule hath need of the bloud of the Lambe to refresh it, and to clense it from spi­rituall leprosse: and my body, Lord, lieth at the foot-stoole of thy mercy; and as thou by thy word didst make me in the beginning, so by thy word canst thou reuiue me, that am neere both spiritually & corporally dead. If thou in thy wisedome thinke, y^t this my infirmity be more profita­ble vnto me, then health, or death more cōuenient for me thē life, per­forme thine owne good pleasure to­wards me; only make me inward­ly and outwardly ready, that I set­ting both the houses of my soule and bodie in order through Christ, I may recommend both into thy most sacred and sauing disposition. [Page 128] Grant this, Oh Father, for Iesus Christ thy beare Sonnes sake, who liueth and raigneth with thee in the heauens, with whome, and in whom, grant, Lord, that I may liue, and after this life, raigne for euermore.

Amen.

O Lord increase my faith, euer­more.

Meditations vpon the sicke mans recoue­rie of his health.

I Will prayse thee, O Lord, with all my heart, and I will magnifie thy name for euer, for many are thy mercies towards me, for thou hast de­liuered my soule from the lowest graue. Therefore, now, as th [...] hast renued my outward health renue my inward obedience. Rec­tifie my iudgement, make true peace in my conscience, blesse my sences, purifie my affections, order my memorie, increase and con [...]e my loue of thee, who hast shew [...] [Page 129] me more mercies and fauours then my tongue can expresse. O my soule, praise thou the Lord, and all that is within thee, praise his holy name: my soule, praise thou the Lord, and for­get not all his benefits, which forgi­ueth all thy sinnes, and healeth all thine infirmities, which hath redee­med thy life from the graue, & crow­ned thee with mercie and louing kindnesse, which filleth thy mouth with good things, and renueth thine age as an Eagle. Thou Lord, are full of compassion and mercie, slow to anger, and of great goodnesse: thou wilt not alway childe, neither keepest thou thine anger for euer. Thou hast not dealt with mee accor­ding to my sinnes, nor rewarded mee according to mine iniquities. As a father hath compassion on his sonne, so hast thou compassion on them that feare thee. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people, I will sing vnto thee in the congregation of the Saints, for thy mercie is great aboue the Heauens, and thy truth reach­eth vnto the cloudes. Thou know­ [...]st whereof I am made. Thou re­membrest that I am but dust. [Page 130] Let my soule therefore liue, and it shall prayse thee.

Lord increase my faith, and con­firme it ouermore in Christ Iesus.

Amen.

A Prayer to be said for a sicke man, or wo­man, of his, or her friendes that visite them.

O Most gracious Lord God, who hast made all things, & preseruest euen the mea­nest of them, by thy prouidence: a sparrow lighteth not on the ground without thee: Much lesse can any thing befall man, but by thy will and determinate counsell. So that we doe acknowledge, that thou vi­sitest this thy seruant, here at this present languishing, and that the present infirmity, wherewith he is afflicted, is of theesent, to humble him for his sinnes. Let it please thee, O Lord, to behold him in mercy: and lay not vpon him too great a weight of thy dispeasure, knowing, that man in his greatest strength, is weake: how much more feeble, being crushed, as it were in [...]eeces, by the violence of [Page 134] thy visitation▪ mitigate, if it please thee, the extremitie of his sicknesse, and giue him patience, to beare this thy light and louing correcti­on: And for that sinne is the cause of all troubles, and tribulations: Remoue Lord, the guilt of all his offences, through the merits of Ie­sus Christ, and moderate his punish­mēt, though in iustice, the most iust man is worthy of more stripes then he is able to beare: yet thou refu­sest no truely repenting sinner; bee his sins as re [...] as scarlet, thou hast promised to make them as white as snow, through the blood of Ie­sus Christ, the sauing Lambe that ta­keth away the sinnes of the world. Touch the hart of this thy seruant, with a liuely feeling of his sinnes, and a full assurance of thy mercy in forgiuing them: That hee being really reunited vnto thee, through an [...]ufained faith in Christ, may [...]ouze vp his fainting soule vnto thee, and by thee, that howsoeuer his corporall weakenesse may ar­gue the heauy displeasure towards him, thy holy Spirit may yet work such peace in his conscienc, [Page 135] through the assurance, that his sins are freely forgiuen him, that hee may take this thy visitation as a fatherly correction, and louing chastisement for his former offen­ces: And that, if thou be pleased to restore him to health, it may worke in him a true renouation, & refor­mation of the rest of his life: heare, haue mercy vpon him, O Lord, haue mercy vpon him: and accor­ding to the multitude of thy mer­cies, doe away all his offences. Looke fauourably vpon him, cure him, if it please thee, restore him to health, if it may stand with thy glory, and his good. But thou knowest, Lord, whether sickenesse, or health bee most expedient for him, whereof both he, and wee are ignorant: And therefore, wee re­commend him vnto thy fatherly disposition, beseeching thee to con­firme his hope, assure him so of thy mercie, that hee may imbrace life or death, at thy pleasure, and wil­lingly to vndergoe this affliction, knowing that all the tribulations, which man can beare in this life, are not worthy of the glory, which [Page 136] thou hast prepared for them that loue thy second comming; wh [...] thou wilt giue to euery man accor­ding to his workes. And therfore Lord, turne his heart from the loue and vanities of this life, vnto th [...] loue of the ioyes to come: And [...] him no longer set his heart and af­fections vpon this world, or th [...] things in the world: but onely and altogether vpon heauen, and hea­uenly things: That when the mo­ment of time shall be, wherein th [...] shalt determine the separation [...] his soule from the bodie: let [...] the common enemie of our salu [...] ­tion preuent him: But let thy sanctifying spirit possesse all th [...] powers of his soule, that with ho­ly alacritie, and cheerefulnesse, he may commend his spirit into thy hands: and be thou pleased to re­ [...]iue him, as one of thine adopted children, into that celestial inheri­tance, by the merits of Christ: And in the meane time, while hee shall rest here, either in health, or sicke­nesse, be euer present with him, for whose bodily recouery, and hi [...] soules saluation, O Lord, hear [...] [Page 137] our prayers, and let our cry come vnto thee,

Amen.

O Lord increase his and our faith, for euermore.

A Prayer before a man begin his Lo [...] [...] attempt any weighty corporall [...]

MOst gracious Lord Go [...] most wise, louing, and pro­uident, who in thy wise­dome disposest all things in the loue, preseruest them that see [...] thine aide, & in thy prouidence [...] uentest all dangers, & prouidest [...] necessaries for them that as [...] them at thy hands: Let it pleast thee, good father in Iesus Christ▪ to guide me this day, in my Journey, and giue me good successe of [...] occassons: for I doe acknowledge mine owne weakenesse, and [...] ­blenesse, to performe my trau [...] being but dust & ashes, not able to endure without the strength of thy grace working strength in my members. Many dangers and ca­sualties also lurke in the way, where thou art not pleased to be a guide, in number and varietie so [Page 141] many, as cannot be numbred. And therefore, gracious Father, fauour me so much this day, as to accom­pany me in my wayes: send thine [...]uly Angels to administer comfort vnto me, direction & protectiō, that [...] going forth, & comining in, may the prosperous and in safetie: and leaue me not to my self, who am as a beast of my selfe, neither knowing what dangers lie in my wayes, nor how to auoide them. But thou knowest all things, & takest charge of them that recommend them­selues into thy hands; thou defen­dest them, and deliuerest them: take me, Lord, into thy defence: let no euill happen vnto me: be vnto me a strong towre and a place of safe­tie: for nothing can hurt them, whom thou keepest: keepe mee, Lord, and I shall bee safe: giue ablenesse vnto the creatures, which necessitie inforceth mee to vse: that they may serue to my vse: giue mee all necessaries for my Journey, and blesse them vnto mee: and as thou, Lord, know­est, whereof I haue neede, giue mee dayly and continuall supply, [Page 142] according to thy will. Thou know­est also mine occasions, and the end of my present intended [...] nailes: let it please thee, to worthe for me all things for the best, giue me wisedome to manage it, and to performe it, to the discharge of my godly duetie, & according to a go [...] conscience. I commend mee [...] thy hands, Lord, Lord, receiue [...] keepe me, hold me vp, that I [...] into no perill of soule or [...] keepe my cogitations euer holy [...] hands cleane, my heart pure, [...] all the parts and powers of my [...] by, euer prepared, with a [...] affection to serue thee, in a sancti­fied conuersation to thine own glo­ry, and mine euerlasting consolati­on, and send me a comfortable re­turne,

Amen.

Lord encrease my faith, and blesse my Iourney.

A thankesgiuing after the returne from a Journey, or comming safe to a place of rest.

MOst gracious and louing Lord God, I giue thee most humble & vnfained thanks, that thou so mercifully hast blessed me this day in my Journey and trauailes, preseruing me frō many perils that I haue escaped, euen by thine owne power and prouidence, [Page 146] and hast in safety brought me vnto this place of rest, which yet, with­out thy blessing, may becom a place of trouble: for as the fields and wayes are full of hidden dangers, which without thy protection could not but haue faln vpō me: so is not this place, whereinto I am safely retired, by thy prouidence, free from perils: and therefore, as thou hast hitherunto kept me, keepe me now in this place, wherein, if thou dwel not by thy power and louing fauor, there cannot but abide, Sathan, sinne, and vanities, powerfull ene­mies, and able to surprise the strongest naturall man. Streng­then me, Lord, aboue nature, and helpe the parts of most infirmitie, that my soule & body being streng­thened, I may be able to giue th [...] the more sound prayses, and haue spirituall power to resist whatsoe­uer shall spiritually seeke to seduc [...] me; and in thy prouidence preseru [...] me in body safe, giue me whatsoe­uer is needfull for me in this place, and continue thy louing fauour to­wards me, that all things, at all times, in all places, may prospe­rously [Page 147] succeed vnto me: depart not from me, good Father, but blesse me first, that I may be euer blessed; So shall all things goe well with me, both going foorth, and com­ming in, and all things worke to­gether, for my continuall consola­tion: wherefore giue me grace euer to loue thee in Christ mine euerla­sting Redeemer,

Amen.

O Lord increase my faith.

A Prayer to be said, before the hearing of a Sermon.

THou, Lord, hast commanded vs, or rather louingly inuited vs to seeke thy face; and yet thou art in the highest heauens a­mong thine Angels, Seraphims, and Cherubims: and wee dust and ashes, are in the earth, full of infirmities, not able to looke vnto, much lesse into the heauens to behold thee there, no the very Angels hide their [Page 153] faces at the glory of thy great Ma­iestie. And as for man clothed with mortality, thou affirmest, can­not see thy face and liue. And yet thou sayest, Seeke my face. Lord, what is it to seeke thy face, but to seeke thy truth, and to search thy word, to couet to know thy will, and to bee truely instructed, and faithfully and sincerely inclined to keepe thy commaundements? Thy word is a light vnto our pathes, and a lanthorne vnto our feet. It is the life of our soules, the hea­uenly Manna, without it, there is no light, no hope, no spiritu­all comfort, no assurance of sal­uation. O how deare ought this word then be vnto vs? Farre more sweet then the hony, or the hony combe, more precious then golde, yea, then the finest gold: therein, Lord, see wee thy face, therein beholde wee thy louing counte­nance, there finde we the hidde pearle, which, to purchase, the wisest will sell all worldly va­nities: yet is it to the foolish foolishnesse, and a stumbling blocke vnto the carnally minded. [Page 154] Jt is a mysterie, Lord, and a secret hidden from the wise of the world, and reuealed onely vnto the hum­ble, to such as acknowledge them­selues ignorant, and hunger and thirst for the knowledge of the truth. Such hast thou promised to teach, and to instruct in the way of true wisedome, by reuealing thy word, which howsoeuer it seeme in the outward letter easie to be vnderstood, it hath a spiritu­all and diuine sense, which requi­reth a spirituall and diuine inter­pretation, which commeth not, nei­ther can it be apprehended by na­ture. And therefore, in thy great mercy and loue thou hast ordained meanes, whereby they whom thou hast appointed to saluation, may bee made able to vnderstand the same: namely, the outward mini­strie of men, and the iuward elu­mination of thy holy spirit: for without the second, the first auay­leth nothing, neither in the mini­ster that speaketh, nor they to whom he speaketh: vnlesse hee be sent of thee, and the hearers eares opened, and their hearts prepared [Page 155] by thee, hee preacheth, and they heare in vaine. To the one a woe is pronounced, as not preaching the Gospel sincerely, to the other a curse, for not receiuing the good word of truth, as into good and fruitfull ground, bringing foorth the liuely fruits of a life answera­ble to that word, which is either the sauour of life vnto life, or the sauor of death vnto death. O Lord, I am now come into thy, pre­sence, to heare thee speake vnto vs here assembled, by the mouth of thy seruant, whom thou hast sent to preach thy word: open therefore mine eares, prepare my heart, san­ctifie mine Attention, inlighten mine Vnderstanding, strengthen my memo­rie, rectifie my will, that I may di­ligently heare, attentiuely harken, retentiuely remember, and wil­lingly imbrace and practice, what shall bee truely and sincerely deli­uered by thy minister. And let not thy word, Lord, that shall fall from his mouth, bee either choaked in mee with the thorny cares of the world, nor be cast into so corrupt a heart, as the vaine delights of [Page 156] my minde should deuoure it, nor into so [...]arraine a heart, as should not bring foorth fruit, at the least twentie fold, to the glory and prayse of thy most blessed name, to the be [...]ering, and bet­ter direction of my conuersation before men, to the assurance and sure sealing vp of my saluation, in Jesus Christ, to whom with thee, O Father, and the holy Ghost, [...] prayse for euer,

Amen.

Lord increase my faith.

A Prayer to be said after the hearing of a Sermon.

MOst bountifull, and most lo­uing Lord God, the giuer of all good things, feeder, releeuer, & preseruer of our soules and bodies: I yeeld thee most humble and most hartie thankes, for that thou at this time hast so lo­uingly and Fatherly reuealed vnto vs thy will, out of thy word, and ha [...] made our fainting soules par­takers [Page 161] of that celestiall and blessed Manna, thy sauing word. Good Fa­ther, as thou hast plentifully now fed vs with the milke of thy sacred word, giue it, Lord, a relieuing and nourishing power, to refresh and strengthen our soules, to walke be­fore thee, in liuely and acceptable obedience, and a sanctified conuer­sation. Grant that the word now sowne in our eares, may take deepe roote in our hearts, and bring forth fruit manifold: Let not the enuious man preuaile in casting in amongst thy good seed, the cockle, tares, and weeds of sinne and iniquitie, to the peruerting or preuenting of our new obedience. Let not the thorny cares of this world trouble and choake, nor the vanities of our cor­rupt mindes vinder the growth of this sauing seed in our hearts. Let not y^e scorching Sun of ouer hea­ui [...] afflictions cause this fruit of saluation to wither: but water it, Lord, with the continuall dew of thy holy Spirit; & as our vnfruitful and harren harts shall grow weak, wanting this liuely foode, sup­ply it, Lord, from time to time, by [Page 162] the preaching of thy word: and giue vs diligent eares, and obser­uing hearts at all times: and grant that wee bee not hearers only, but doers of thy will. And for that our hearts are hard to conceiue, open our vnderstandings: and for that our memories are short, and vna­ble to retaine the sauing word, giue vs hearts of continuall holy medi­tation, that we may be euer chew­ing the cudde of that heauenly food, and so digest the same, that it may more & more strengthen our faith vnto saluation. And let the words, O Lord, which we haue now and formerly heard, neuer returne in vaine, but worke that holy effect, for which thou hast appointed it, namely, the increase and confirma­tion of our faith in thee, obedience, repentance, and newnes of life, that we euer more and more hun­gring and thirsting for this sweete and sauing food, may at length bee made able to liue in all holy and spotlesse conuersation, before thee our heauenly Father, and inde­uour with all holy alacritie and ioyfulnes, to take the aduantage of [Page 163] all oportunities, to heare thee to speake vnto vs, to follow and per­forme what thou commandest, and to shun, and with carefulnes to a­uoid what thou forbiddest. Let no­thing hinder vs, Lord, from a lo­uing desire to repaire vnto thy house, to refresh our soules with the bread of heauen: and let vs not co­uet to bee seene of men, onely hea­rers, but found and allowed of thee, doers of thy will. Grant this, Lord, for thy Christs sake.

Amen.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer against enemies.

LOrd, looke downe in merci [...] from heauen vpon me, marke and consider mine enemies, what they are, and how many that lay wayt to doe me hurt. Many [...] there is no helpe for me in thee So proud and malicious are they, th [...] they forget that thou art God, who defendest the poore and oppressed that call vpon thee. They remem­ber that thou [...]ittest a righteous Judge, to iudge thy people with e­quitie: how thou crushest the ene­mies of thy people, as an earthen pot, with a rod of iron. Lord, let them know that th [...] art God, [...] thy deliuery of me out of th [...] [...]. They are too strong for [...] too wise and politicke, to [...] too ma­licious: for, Lord, thou knowest I would gladly be at peace with them, but when I seeke it, they [...] the more insolent, and the read [...] [Page 169] to oppresse me: And therefore I ap­peale vnto thee for succour, to whom saluation belougeth. Leade me, and direct my wayes aright, O Lord, because of mine enemies, de­liuer me from them, and saue mee for thy mercies sake. O Lord my God, I trust in thee, saue me from mine enemies, and deliuer me, lest they deuour me: lift vp thy selfe on my side against their malicious fu­ri [...]: let their malice come to an end, let their snares be broken, let their deuices come to nought, and their policies wherby they plot my hurt, become foolishnes, and turne to their own shame. Maintaine thou, Lord, my right, and my cause, for thou art set in the throne, and iud­gest right; yet deale not with me according to my sinnes. But to mine aduersaries what offēce haue I committed, I know not, yet would I be reconciled, and liue at peace. But if thou haue raised them vp to trie me, Lord, giue me strēgth and patience, and then let them rage and swell, for I know thou hast limited their power, they can­not doe what they list; and there­fore [Page 170] J will not feare what they can doe vnto mee; they may raile, as Shem did on Dauid, they may seeke my life, as Iesabel did the life of Eli­ah, and as Saul did the life of Dauid, they may vow not to eat nor drink, vntil they haue done me some mis­chiefe: but thou hast a ring in their nosthrills, thou hast bound them within the compasse of thine [...] will and power: keepe them [...], lest they preuaile against me, and say thou art not able to deliuer [...] out of their hands; as they said re­prochfully of thee, touching th [...] dearest Sonne, Let him deliuer him if he will haue him. Oh saue me, [...] deliuer me in that thy Sonne, from the power of this malicious gene­ration. Thou hast euer beene, [...] yet art my strength, my defence, and my saluation, therefore shall [...] not much be moued at their conten­tions; but vnder the shadow of the wings will I reioyce. Teach [...] thy way, O Lord, and I shal walke in thy truth; knit my heart [...] thee, and I will feare thy [...]. So shal mine enemies [...] put to [...] ­lence: they watch ouer my way [...] [Page 171] and couet to catch me in my sinnes, and lay baites to allure me to the breach of a good conscience, that they may colour their hatred with the seeming desire of sincerity. But thou knowest me and them, I can­not iustifie mine integritie before thee, for I am a man ful of infirmi­ties: but these men I haue not of­fended, therefore iudge betweene me and them, and leaue me not in their power, nor in me a reuenging spirit, but rather that I may couet to doe them good, that if they will not be hartily reconciled, the coales of thy displeasure fall on their [...] [...]ates. And my soule shall re­ioyce in thee, yea, I shall reioyce in thy saluation: I shall praise thy name, who hast deliuered me from him that is too mighty for me. And let not mine enemies, Lord, vuiust­ly reioyce ouer me; let them neuer say in their hearts, nor see the day wherein they may truely imagine, or say that they haue preuailed a­gainst me. So shall my tongue vt­ter thy righteousnes, and praise thy goodnes, thy prouidence & mercies, while I haue any being. Which [Page 172] grant, Lord, for thy deare Sonnes sake, my only Mediator.

Amen.

Lord increase my faith, and defend me from mine enemies.

A Prayer to be said for the Ministers of Gods word.

GRacious and mercifull, O Lord our God, art thou in all thy wayes and workes to­wards men, and in nothing more gracious then in thy word preached vnto vs; whereby thou doest open and reueile vnto vs the mystery of our saluation, according to thy good pleasure in Christ our Lord. Thou teachest vs heauenly wisedome in earth, by thy holy Spirit giuen vn­to men, whom thou doest set apart to that holy function, as men cho­sen to winne men to thee. And for as much as neither thy beloued Saints, Peter, nor Iohn, nor Paul, could preach or prophecie before they were sent; neither were they sent, before they were sanctified: Sanctifie and send foorth, Lord, worthy Labourers into thine har­uest, and sanctifie and blesse them, whom thou hast sent, with such spirituall gifts and graces, as may enable them to be instant in season and out of season, that they may winue many vnto thee. Inlighten their hearts with the light of true [Page 177] knowledge: Touch their tongues with the coale from thine Altar, that their lips may preserue knowledge, and in their hearts may bee true zeale, that they may still call vpon thy children to walk in the light of thy truth. And as thou diddest send downe vpon thine Apostles the holy Ghost in fiery tongues to teach thē: so instill into the hearts of all thy Ministers, Preachers of thy word, the fire of true zeale, & a godly bold­nes to speake thy truth without re­spect of persons, not to flatter the wicked, nor to spare the rebuking of sin: and let them comfort the weake harted: let thē be able to bring them that erre, into the right way, that they may conuert & liue, that they may beleeue & liue: for Faith cōmeth by hearing, and hearing by the prea­ching of thy word. Let therefore the beautiful fruit of thē plentifully ap­peare amongst vs, y^t bring glad ti­dings of peace w^c thē, y^e glad tidings of our saluation. And let thē speak nothing, but as thy word teacheth thē, y^t they may be foūd good dispo­sers of thy graces. Let their conuer­satiōs be vpright before thee: let thē [Page 178] be as lights set on a hill, that they may teach as well by the example of their owne liues, as by prea­ching thy Word: that thou in all things mayest be glorified, through Iesus Christ, to whom is praise and dominion, for euer and euer.

A­men.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer for the Uniuersall Church, and for euery member of the same, fit to be often said of euery Christian.

ALmighty Lord God, the foun­taine of all goodnes, the crea­tor of all men, who in Iesus Christ thy Sonne, hast redeemed them that were captiues, recalled & brought home them that estrayed, receiued and imbraced them again that were run from thee, and saued [Page 183] them that were lost: Looke now vpon them whom thou hast chosen, and behold in mercy whom thou hast redeemed: and as thou hast in thine owne free mercy, fauour and loue, gathered vnto thy selfe, and set apart for thy seruice, a remnant out of the whole number of man­kinde, a peculiar companie, and hast vouchsafed to make them of many, one sanctified body, all by the merits of thy sonne, in whom they are adopted, and made heires of heauen, in whom they liue, moue and haue their spirituall and hea­uenly being: So, Lord, be thou still their succour, their shield, buckler, and euerlasting defence: thou hast vouchsafed (good Father) to set a­part this elected and small compa­ny, for thine owne sacred seruice in this mortall life, calling them by the voyce of thy word, sounding through all partes of the vniuer­sall world, and by the inspiration of that holy comforter, left vnto thy children by promise, hast taught them that wisedome, that is farre about the wisedome of the wisest mortall man, & endowed thē with [Page 184] that sanctified integritie, that farre exceedeth the sinceritie of the best qualified carnall man, and hast thy selfe promised to continue with them by thy spirit to the end of the world, lest they should, through o­uermuch heauinesse and affliction, perish in the way of their pilgri­mage: Some thou hast released of their warfare, some, the more to te­stifie vnto the world, their faith and constant assurance of thine e­ternall loue and prouidence ouer them, suffrest to fall into the hands of them that could but kill their bodies, their soules being safe in thy protection, and haue in part re­ceiued their reward in heauen, ha­uing escaped the presentors hands: Some thou hast called by a natu­rall dissolution, elected, redeemed, sanctified, and in part glorified. And as yet, good Father, there is a small dispersed remnant, which haue not finished their warfare, but are still incountred with Sathan, with sinne, and with their owne corruptions, and still afflicted, per­secuted, and distressed: be neere vn­to them according to thy word, assist [Page 185] them by thy grace, enlighten them, teach them, and be euermore their defence: and as successiuely from age to age, the end of dayes, there shall be an increase of people: So let thy Gospel continually propa­gate, and beget new children vnto thy selfe, and let not the light of thy word decline, but rather shine day­ly, more and more cleerely. Let not the power thereof diminish, nor the sound thereof cease, vntill it haue gained and compleated the num­ber of all that shall be saued. Send foorth godly and painefull labou­rers, that they may be instant in season and out of season, giue them power to bent downe the power of sinne, to stay the violent currant of backessiding, and Apostacie. Send foorth thy word into all lands, let all nations heare it, and al tongues professe it: where thou hast planted it alreadie, water it with the con­tinuall showers of thy grace: where it is not yet sowne, let it fall & fru­ctifie: where it hath bene sowne, and is withered, renew the liuely spring thereof: continue, increase, & beget more & more children vnto [Page 186] thy selfe through all parts of the world through thy word. And al­though we bee falne into the last & most declining age, and as it were into the period of time: wherin (as thou hast foreshewed) sinne increa­seth, godlinesse diminisheth, holy zeale waxeth weake, loue becomes colde, and counterfeit, and thy sa­uing word become of none effect a­mong many: yet forget not to bee good vnto thy chosen, leaue not thy Saints vnto the spoyler, rather, shorten these dayes of sinne, lest that the increase of vngodlinesse seduce euen the righteous, and they perish also by straying from the way of life.

Lord increase our faith.

Another Prayer for the Uniuersall Church in the time of affliction or persecution.

MOst gracious Father, as thou hast shewed thy selfe in former times a most power­full protector of thy Church, euer since the propagation thereof, and by thy holy spirit hast conserued it [Page 187] in the vnitie of thy spirit, in a con­stant & true profession of thy word, in a bolde and sincere confessing of Christ, the head of that sanctified body, euen when persecution vnto death raged and tyrannized most: Bee still mindfull of the same thy little flocke: feede it still with thy word, defend it still with thy migh­tie hand, guide it euer with thy ho­ly spirit, and euermore preserue it as the vine, which thine own right hand hath planted. Gather toge­ther thy sheepe scattered vpon so many mountaines: let not the wolues seaze vpon thy tender lambes, to teare them in peeces while there is none to helpe. Let not the subtill foxes bewitch them with a false religion. Let not the wild Bo [...]e of Antichristian perse­cution deuoure them: Let not Sa­than, nor sinne preuaile against them. But as thou hast promised, let thy Church, and euery member of the same, be as Mount Sion, that shall neuer bee mooued: let them stand fast for euer. Let them florish in all faith and obedience, as trees planted by the riuers, and bring [Page 188] forth fruits of religion, & true pit­tie aboundantly: compasse them with armies of thine Angels, as thou diddest compasse Elisha with horses and chariots of fire: and as the mountains compasse Ierusalem: So let thy preuayling power com­passe them about: Suffer none, O Lord, to doe them violence: but if in thy wisedome thou thinkest meet to make any member of thy Church, a witnesse of thy trueth, giue him the spirit of true vnderstan­ding of thy word, faith and constan­cie to imbrace what measure of af­fliction or persecution thou shalt thinke fit to lay vpon him for the same: forsake him not, O Lord, in his trials, nor lay no more vpon him, then it may please thee to giue him power to indure. Make thy children, O Lord, strong, and then cannot the threats of the cruellest Tyrants dismay thy outwardly weakest witnesses, from vndergo­ing the extremest passion of mar­tyrdome. O fortifie all them whom thou hast appointed to any kind of torment, for the testimony of the truth of the Gospel of Iesus Christ. Season them so with the assu­rance [Page 189] of their future glory, that they flie not, nor start backe for feare of whatsoeuer torture thine enemies may threaten or execute. The least of which, not being assi­sted and made easie, by thy all-shi­ning countenance vpon the soule of the persecuted, cannot but dismay him, and dismaying, make him faint, and fainting, make him fall, and so to denie thee. Looke downe therefore, O Lord, vpon, and visite all thine afflicted members, protect them from secret conspiracies, o­pen practises, and violent incur­sions, plotted by Sathan and Anti­christ, and attempted by their be­witched instruments, by whom thy Church and the members thereof and dayly afflicted, and indangered▪ Take thou, wee humbly beseech thee, our defence into thine owne hands: Stop the breach, which the enemie hath made. Maintaine, Lord, thine owne word, protect and keepe thine owne people: conuert, reuert, or confound them that fight against thee, by word or sword, and fight against them that fight against thee in thy members, that thou maiest be glorified, thy Church [Page 190] increased, and euery member of the same euerlastingly comforted in Christ their head. Be it so, good Father.

Amen.

Lord increase our faith.

Another short Prayer for the prosperitie of the Church and gouernment thereof.

GOd Father in Iesus Christ, looke downe from heauen vpon, and visite the vi [...]e; which thy right hand hath planted; Send labourers into thy vineyard, that they may so prune it, and dresse it, that it may branch, and beare plentifully good fruit: Suffer n [...] loyterers or idle persons in steade of labourers, to enter into, or vn­dertake to husband this vine: Let no prophane person haue any su­perintendencie within the same: But let the holy, the faithfull, the diligent industrious, and such [...] haue care to aduance thy Gospel and glory, to instruct, to exhort, to improue, rebuke, and to bee instant in season and out of season, be esta­blished ouerseers in this vineyard: [Page 191] By whose watching and worke, all the branches may be so succou­red, and carried vpward, as they may not cease growing, vntill they mount vp vnto the perfection of spirituall knowledge, and practise of all pietie, and fi [...]all obedience; and consequently became members of that celestiall Ierusalem. Send, Lord, such watchmen to keepe thy vine, as by the sword of the spirit, may be able to incounter and keepe out, expulse, abandon, and driue a­way all hurtfull and prophane beasts, all Swinelike drunkards, all Lyonlike furious, and Wolfelike de­nouring and rauening persons, all Camelionlike Hypocrites, all Leo­pardlike spotted Professors, and all Foxelike crafty deuisors of, and in­ [...]i [...]rs to new and false doctrines, which the Gospel of thy Sonne Christ Iesus warranteth not. Let onely the meeke sheepe, and hum­ble lambes, the truly religious and holy, be euermore gouernours, and the gouerned in this heauenly Vineyard, thy Church. And although no visible Congregation can bee without these hidden and dange­rous [Page 192] members, knowne onely to thy selfe: confirme the faith of euery childe of thine, that they may be more and more inlightened & confirmed in their hope, through a sound and sincere profession of thy truth, neuer to be remoued vn­to the end.

Amen.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer and thankesgiuing for the Kings Maiestie, to be often vsed of euery good subiect.

O Mighty and euerliuing Lord God, who dwellest in the most glorious heauens, in greatnes and glory, whose won­derfull and vnresistible power pro­tecteth those that feare thee, and confoundest the strongest & migh­tiest princes that rise vp against thee. Thou afflictest the subiects of rebellious princes, and comfor­test those that are conformable vnto thy will, kings, and people: [...] cannot forget how the multitude of thy mercies did compasse vs abo [...] on euery [...]ide, in the dayes of thy late chosen Elizabeth, vnder wh [...] thou gauest vs peace, plentie, [...] aboue all, the vse of thy sacred word, the staffe and strength of our soules, which hath the promise of all kinds of blessings, which [...] inioyed vntill her translation fro [...] vs vnto thee. At what time (a [...] thou Lord well knowest) such was our generall feare of perill to haue [Page 197] succeeded her departure, as the wi­sest of our Ancients became doubtful what would be the successe of the succession: yet farre beyond our i­maginations, but farre more be­yond our deserts, thou (forgetting our sinnes) remembredst thy mer­cies: Insomuch, as although thou tookest from vs a most worthy. De­ [...], yet thou hast in her steade gi­uen vs in thy prouidence, a Iosiah most worthy, who still leadeth vs thy people through the wildernes of many spirituall dangers, to­wards mount Sion, the holy hill of assurance of saluation, through Christ thy Sonne, and laboureth, through a holy zeale, to bring them that erre from thy truth, into the way that leadeth vnto eternal life; to reconcile the obstinate, and to confirme the weake: So that we cannot but acknowledge, that in­deede, thy mercies are infinite to­wards vs, in him. O, that men would therefore prayse thy name, for thy goodnesse, and for thy bles­sings bestowed vpon vs, the most vnworthy amongst the children of men. Lord, we confesse, that a­mong [Page 198] all thy mercies and mira­cles, there is none more admired in the world, then is thy goodnesse and loue towards vs, (howsoeuer vnworthy) in keeping vs, not­withstanding so many Antichristian stratagems, vnder thine owne pro­tection, continuing to vs the light of thy sacred truth, that shineth a­mongst vs more bright the [...] the [...]nne in her strength: As if th [...] haddest a more speciall respect vn­to vs th [...] to any other nation, [...] thine owne dearest and peculiar people. Thou hast anointed vnto vs a religious [...]ing, to watch [...] ­uer vs, to nourish vs with the [...]ilke of thy sauing word, and hast not permitted a stranger from thy truth to intrude vpon vs: But with the sword of the spirit, hast hitherunto guarded vs, from the entrie of forraigne Potentates, enemies vnto thy Gospel. Inlarg [...] therefore, good Father, thy gift of wisedome and power, vnto thi [...] owne peculiar choice. Iames thi [...] Anointed, that he may be watch­full to obserue, and powerfull to withstand the enemies of thy [Page 199] truth, abroad and at home. Let no Achitophel bee neere his person, nor any sinister counsell bee heard, or malicious hand be lifted vp a­gainst him. Be a Father of mercy vnto him, and to his seede, that vn­der thee, he and they that haue and shall proceed from his or the loynes of them that proceede from him, may be fathers, and furtherers of many comforts to thy Church for euer. Take him not from vs, as thou hast taken our neighbour kings, though our sinnes deserue it, and haue already made a dange­rous breach in that Royall stocke: wherein, vnder thee, our hope of happinesse dependeth much. And therefore, Lord, depriue vs not of him (nor any of his issue) in thine anger, who brought vs peace after peace, and is as Dauid vnto vs, a man chosen after thine owne [...] ­uing kindnesse, to rule vs, [...] to con­tinue vs in the rules of right reli­gion, a blessing aboue blessings. Giue vs not [...]uer therefore, vnto the will of his, and ours, and thine owne enemies, who vnder the counterfeit colour of the name and [Page 200] cause of Christ, seeke to persecute Christ himself in his mēbers, falsly perswading themselues, that the murdering of Princes, and massa­cring of people, is a sacrifice ac­ceptable to thee, and a marke of Catholike religion. How it had fared with vs, the king and people, if thou hadst permitted that plot of confusion, lately practised, to haue preuailed, thou knowest. Thy chosen Israel wanting a king, all people did what they listed. If then Lord, they had depriued thine Eng­lish Israel; of King, Counsell, Bishops; Iudges and Chiefe men of the land, what could haue succeeded, but v­niuersall confusion? Wee confesse thy power and prouidence, to [...]e ab­solute, and couldest haue raysed and restored others for thine owne glory: But our sinnes deseruing the first, could not bee worthily se­conded by the latter: but that Anti­christ would haue reinuested him­selfe, where now Christ Iesus is vn­to vs, all in all. Blessed bee thy name, O Lord, whose eye be­held, and whose, prouidence pre­uented them, and whose arme, as [Page 201] with a rod of yron, brake the actors in pieces like a potters vessell. To thee therefore, most louing Lord God, to thy Sonne Christ, and to the holy Ghost, be prayse for euer.

Amen.

Lord increase our faith, and euermore preserue thy seruant our King.

A short thankesgiuing, and prayer for the Kings preseruation.

DEare Father, infinite in power towards vs, giue vs hearts to remember, with thankefulnes, thy too much forgot­ten goodnes, in so mercifully defen­ding our King, and vs thy people, from many dangers. And forget not, Lord, how the wicked still stu­dy the meanes to effect that, which thou in mercy diddest then preuent. Cōsider how they secretly thirst for the blood of thine Anointed, and of his most worthy branches likely to proue powerfull protectors of thy truth, and consequently long for the confusion of thy people. It suffiseth that thou seest it: but it [Page 202] suffiseth not for vs, to haue the words, and not to vse the workes of assurance of thy protection. And therfore, we humbly pray thee, gra­cious Lord God, & most louing fa­ther, to pardon our sinnes, which are the greatest aduersaries that can rise vp against vs. Thou sen­dest good and religious kings to a people, from whom thou expectest the fruits of holy obedience. But if they waxe cold in profession, and slacke in practizing thy reueiled will, thou takest their godly, [...] reli­gious and louing kings from them: and in stead sendest them Tyrants, mercilesse, and irreligious princes: & neither the wisedome, nor power of man can preuaile: where thou art a partie in the iudgement. Wherefore, louing Father, as th [...] hast furnished the heart of Iames thy seruant our King with hea­uenly wisedome, furnish our hearts with true obedience, to follow thy will reueiled in thy word: that so our obedience, beginning towards thy Maiestie, may appeare, and worke more and more in our conti­nuall thankefulnesse vnto thee [...] [Page 203] him, and our loue and true loyalty to him, that thy word may still pre­uaile with vs, & remaine amongst vs, and wee euermore abide con­stant in thee: that howsoeuer e­nemies rage, whatsoeuer euill counsaile they take, we may be ei­ther still free in thee protected by thy hand, or may with patience vn­dergoe thy fatherly tryall, knowing that all things worke together for the best, to them that loue thee, and are chosen of thy purpose, in him, by whose merits, both hee, our king, and we thine, and his people, haue receiued the pro­mise, that thou wilt neuer faile vs, nor forsake vs.

Lord increase our faith.

A most pi [...]ie and patheticall Prayer for the King, and ouerthrow of Anti­christian religion, and enemies of the truth.

BLesse LORD, and graci­ously defend and preserue our King, looke v [...]n him, as [Page 204] thou didst vpon Dauid, chosen after thine owne heart. Leade him by thine owne right hand, in all his wayes, that hee may leade vs thy people vnto thy holy Sanctuarie. Giue him a reioycing heart to see his subiects readie to resort vnto thy holy Temple, receiuing thy blessed Sacraments, and faithfully seruing thy sacred Maiestie, by his religious example. Let him euer be instant to call vpon, stirre vp, and incite the Ministers of thy word, that they be instant in soun­ding the trumpet of thy word vnto thy people, that sin may bee weak­ned, & obedience to thee increased, that mercie and truth may meet to­gether, and righteousnes and peace may kisse each other. Giue him e­uermore a preuailing power, to bring to nought, or weaken the power of Idolatry and superstiti­on within his Kingdomes, and to further & construie the sincere ser­uice of thee: let him neuer cease, O Lord, vntill hee haue banished, or fully reformed the Fauorites of An­tichrist, namely, such as haue the marke of that Beast in their fore­heads, [Page 205] or in their hands, whose names are not written in the booke of Life. Giue him, Lord, an eye to finde them out, and a right resolu­tion to abandon them, without re­spect of persons, together with all flatterers, and Hypocrites: And blesse vnto him godly, wise, reli­gious and faithfull Counsellers: and as thou hast giuen him a sword and Scepter: let him truly and va­lorously vse them, to the cutting off of all the daungerous branches of sinne and impietie, and all the in­ormities of thy Church and Com­mon. weale, and to the defence of the godly and innocent. Let his person (Lord) be euer in thy protection: keep him as the apple of thine eye: preuent all secret practises and o­pen violence pretēded against him. Stand betweene him and the ene­mie, and let the hailestones of thy seuere iudgements fall vpon the heads of them that hate him: woūd the hayrie scalpe of all that rise vp against him. And in all his occasio­ned incounters with Antichrist, or any of his adherents, giue him Io­shuahs [Page 206] prosperous victories, Dauids zeale, and Elishacs faith. Discouer vnto him largely the counsell of thine owne will, giue him a for­ward, willing, and constant heart, to effect what thou commandest: and grant that he dismay not more in the ouerthrow of Antichrist, then Ioshuah did at the confusion of Ieri­co. Be thou his buckler, whet his sword, bend thou his bow, make ready his arrowes vpon the string, and let them all, and alwayes be directed by thy prouidence, to the destruction of his & thine irrecon­ciliable enemies: as was the Sli [...] of Dauid against Goliah, so let the. Judgements be against the wicked in the day of battell. Let his Sub­iects loue him: let his enemies feare and flie him: let all Nations admire his righteous iudgements, Princely gouernment, and religi­ous constancie: let them all bee moued to follow him, as he deliteth Lord, to follow thee, in truth and equitie, to the glorie of thy vniuer­sally admired name, through Christ, in whom let him euer bee blessed: [Page 207] And so blesse vs, Lord, that we may blesse thee for him.

Amen.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer not vnfit to be sometimes vsed of a Counsellour of Estate, as he hath oportunitie.

O Gracious Lord God, most wise; prouident, and louing Father, I acknowledge my selfe farre vnworthy of the pl [...]c [...] and dignitie, whereunto thou i [...] great mercie hast aduanced me, a man of meanest vnderstanding. What am I, O Lord, that th [...] shouldest respect me so? That tho [...] shouldest associate mee with the grauest and most prudent, to m [...] me partaker of the secret counsel of thine Anointed? I know, that wit [...] thee is wisedom and counsell, mer­cie and iudgement: but I am igno­rant, [Page 211] only thou art the Author and fountaine of true wisedom, & giuest prudence & knowledge abundātly, to them y^t truly & faithfully aske it of thee, to the end to do good, to exe­cute Justice, to aduante thy word, [...] loue, countenance and defend the true professors of the same: not to seeme the more singular in Natu­rall and Humane policies: But in­deed, to be the more able to preuent the euils, which the enemies of thy sacred and sauing truth, plot and practise against thy Church, and thine Anointed. And therefore Fa­ther Al-sufficient, seeing it is thy good pleasure, to put into the heart of thine Anointed, to call me (vn­worthy) to his Counsell: make [...] more worthy, by infussing into mee wisedome to aduise, iudgement to determine, and strength to per­forme all the godly duties required in my high calling. Make me espe­cially studious in thy wor [...], & giue [...] vnderstanding according vnto the same; lest I through ignorance or rashnesse, should propose, delibe­rat, or censure any thing to thy dis­honor, to the danger or damage of [Page 212] our Soueraigne Lord, to the di­staste or disturbance of thy Church, or against the peace or profit of the [...]eale publike of the Domi­nious vnder the charge of thine A­nointed. And aboue all things, Lord, giue mee a religious heart, that in a godly and right constant resolution, I may more and more seeke the propagation, increase, continuance, and aduancement of the Gospell of Iesus Christ, and more and more seeke to weaken and bring to nought all Idolatrie and superstition. Take from me a parciall eye, that in respect of per­sons, I seeke not to free the faulty▪ or to discountenance, or condemne the innocent. Giue me a loyal hart to my Soueraigne: season my loue towards him with thy loue, that as much as in mee lieth, I may euer defend his person, though to the losse of whatsoeuer is dearest unto me: and that I may seeke to disco­uer those that hate him, and ende­uour to bring them to their deser­ued shame and punishment.

Lord increase my faith, and mine vnderstāding according to thy word▪

Another short effectuall Prayer to be said of a priuie Counseller, fit to bee said before consultation.

FRuctifie my heart, O gracious Lord God, with righteousnesse and sincere iudgement, that I may wisely consult, sincerely cen­sure, and iudge iustly all things, that at any time shall be propoun­ded to mine opinion: for of my self, Lord, I doe acknowledge, that I am a man of weake vnderstanding, of a corrupt heart, and ignorant of perfect equitie; and therefore▪ I humbly beg knowledge and wise­dome of thee. Keepe my feet aright in all my wayes, & free my hands, and keepe them euer cleane from gifts, that they cause me not to per­uert iustice, and wrest sound coun­sell. Indue mee with a mercifull heart, and let mine affections be e­uer such, as may in all things ad­minister true tokens of mine inte­grity. And for as much as things may diuersly fall out to be debated, and determined by vs of this high calling, & of so worthy and weighty [Page 214] consequence, as may concerne the life and state of Church & Common-weale, and we being but men, not able to fadome by our wisedomes the end of thy secret purposes, nor to sound the depth of thine vn­searchable iudgements, bee plea­sed to reueale vnto vs thy will, for the good of thine Anointed, vnder whom thou hast placed vs, that we may accordingly consult and deter­mine; for nothing succedeth wi [...] without thee: and against thee there is neither wisedome, vnderstanding, or counsell that can preuaile. Thy Judgements are vnsearchable, and thy wayes past finding out. Fur­nish vs, therfore, O louing Father, with all graces and vertues neces­sarie, to the performance of out bound duties to thy selfe, thine A­nointed, thy Church, and the Com­mon-weales vnder the gouernment of our Soueraigne Lord, thy ser­uant, through Christ, our wise­dome, our Strength, and ou [...] [...] ­ [...]eeiner.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer to be vsed of euery good Subiect, for the Kings Counsell of Estate.

ETernall, and al-knowing God, the fountaine of true wisedome and holy counsell, who not on­ly gouernest the hearts of kings, but doest raise vp and prouide for them that obey thee, gra [...], wise, and religious Counsellours, by whom they consult & determine all things for y^e maintenāce of thy Go­spel, & y^e godly gouernmēt of [...] peo­ple cōmitted to their charge. Blesse them. O Lord, whom thou hast set in that high place: grant that they may be truely religious, religiously prudent, and prudently graue▪ Me [...] [Page 219] fearing thee in their hearts. And [...] [...] [...], but the rightly wise in thee, whose [...] thou hast touched, and [...] vp with the [...] of thy ho­holy Spirit, to [...] forth all holy af­ [...] [...] to the [...] professors, an [...] [...] of thy [...] [...] [...], which [...] both [...] [...] of true wisdome, and the [...]and of Christi­an obedience. [...] them with watchfull hearts to foresee, proui­dence to [...] [...] strength and cou­rage to suppresse, all dangers pro­posed, [...], [...] ▪ or practi­sed against thine Anointed, thy Church or any superiour power, Minister, or member of the same, [...], ye [...], leaue them not vnto their [...] humane policies; but reach them by thy word, holy and heauenly wisedome, to determine and dispose a true and religious course for the safetie of Prince and people, whensoeuer any vnaccu­ [...] occasion or danger shall bee any way offered. For thou knowest the hidden deuices, and couert prac­tices of the enemies of thy truth, [Page 220] who are wiser and more politike in their generations, then the children of light, by transforming them­selues into the likenes of Angels, being yet inwardly Satanical, see­king vnder the colour of religious obedience, to vndermine and sup­plant (if it were possible) the verie word of truth it selfe, the principall defender of the same, and the very elect in Christ, professing it. Make them therfore, good Father, whom thou hast conioined in counsel vnto thine Au [...]inted, watchful and pru­dent in their places, wisely to con­sult, religiously to deliberate, and rightly to determine all things to thy glory, to the preseruatiō of thine Anoiuted, the comfort of thy chil­dren, & good of the Cōmon-weale: knowing that the prosperity of all (vnder thine vnsearchable proui­dence) dependeth vpon their inte­grity, prudence, and Christian poli­cies. Be thou therefore vnto them, good Father, a guide, lay before thē and learne them the booke of thy lawes: season their vnderstanding with the salt of thy grace, adorne their hearts with righteousnes and [Page 221] true holines; make the way of their consultations plaine: remoue al dif­ficulties & needlesse impediments, frō their godly resolutions, tending to thy glory: for, nothing pleasing vnto thee, can be dishonorable to the King, distasteful to thy Church, disprofitable to the kingdom, or dis­pleasing to thy people. And whatso­euer is contrary to thy will, beare it in humane opinion neuer so faire a pretence of conueniencie, vtility, or safetie, it worketh nothing lesse. Therefore, Lord, be thou alwayes present, and president in all their consultations.

Amen.

Lord increase our faith.

A short prayer for the Counsell Royall.

THou knowest, O Lord, that al humane creatures, what office or title soeuer they beare in Church or Cōmon-weale, are of thē ­selues but of natural vnderstāding only able to cōprehēd carnal things carnally, & can comprehend things of no higher or lower momēt, then may be fadomed by natural reason. So that their collectiōs of y^e causes [Page 222] of thine vnsearchable purposes in sending aduerse accidents amongst a people, and their prouidence to preuent danger, and to establish the security of the people cōmitted to their gouernment, cānot but of­tē faile of that wished successe they ayme at. And therefore in all hum­blenes, we [...] that, good Father, to assist & direct them, whom th [...] hast▪ appointed Couns [...]ll [...]rs of E­state vnder our King, by the rule of right reason, and diuine wisedome, that all their consultations and de­terminations may tend vnto, and come to a holy e [...]d, being [...] ­rated in thy feare, and sanctified by prayer. Heare our petitions for them, heare them for themselues, and vs, and heare them and vs, for the safetie of thi [...] Anointed, for the good of thy Church, pr [...] and peace of thy people, in and for thy Christ, our sol [...] and only [...] and [...] to whom with [...] and the holy [...]st be praise [...] ­nally.

Amen.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer to be vsed of Iudges and Ma­gistrates.

O Gracious and merciful Lord God, Father of mercie, inst in Judgement, absolute in wisdome, pure and holy in all thy waies and works: Lend thine eare of mercie vnto my petitions, who am a man weak in vnderstanding, ignorant in iudgement, apt to erre in opinion, vnworthy of the high calling, whereunto thou hast ad­uanced me to execute Justice and Judgemēt, as in thy stead in earth, and in thy name to giue sentence according to equity. But I am by nature of a corrupt heart, of pr [...] ­phane lips, and of a de [...]led conuer­sation. Therefore of mine own dis­position [Page 228] and wisedome vnable to iudge iustly, and consequently vnfit for so high a function. But thou, lo­uing Father, art y^e fountain of wis­dome, the directer of the hart, y^e mo­uer of y^e tongue, & the giuer of true knowledge: And therfore I do hū ­bly beseech thee to fill my hart with wisedom from aboue, my will with equity, & mine vnderstanding with iust iudgement, that I, laying aside all mine own wit, policy, & preten­ded prudence, which naturally is meerely carnall, may only rely vp­on thy holy & heauēly direction, and obtaine it, that I rightly cōceiuing the equity of all causes, that shal be tendred vnto my censure, I may iudge iustly between parties with­out respect of persons: & that I may truly imitate thee, who art iust in thy iudgements, & acceptest no per­son for reward. Giue me an vnder­stāding hare, to distinguish between truth & falshood, between y^e wrong­ed & the wrong-doer, that I punish not the iust, & let y^e wicked goe free. Let no priuate respect (Lord) ey­ther of mine owne benefit, or stee­ding a friend, miscarry my iudge­ment: but let thine owne glory and [Page 229] reueiled will, moue me to deale e­uermore iustly: knowing that I fit not to execute mine owne will, or mans iudgement, but thine: And if I wilfully erre, thou wilt not hold me guiltlesse, but wilt iudge me vniust, and punish mee iustly: Let not the opinion of the multi­tude, either ouersway the truth in me, or terrifie me from giuing sen­tence, according to equitie: And let me neuer be wearie of well doing, but if cause so require it, giue mee strength, as thou diddest to Moses, to heare, and iustly to determine all controuersies, from morning to night: giue me a sincere heart, free from malice and reuenge: close mine eyes, shut vp mine eares, and claspe my hands, that neither affe­ction blinde me, nor bribes peruert iudgement in me: but that I may doe all things to the glory of thy name, euer ayded by thy holy Spi­rit, in and for thy welbeloued Sonnes sake, Christ Jesus.

A­men.

Lord increase my faith, & in me con­firme wisdome, and iust iudgement.

A Prayer for Iudges and superior Magi­strates, to be vsed of all good and Chri­stian subiects, and especially of them that haue causes depending before Iudges and Magistrates.

FOrasmuch, most gracious God, and louing Father, in Iesus Christ; as thou being the Iudge of Iudges, hast appointed Iustice and Iudgement to be done in earth, and hast for the execution thereof, ap­pointed ministers, called Iudges, & hast commanded thy people, to o­bey them: wee appeale vnto thy mercie for our disobedience vnto thy lawes, which we dayly trans­gresse, and thereby cannot but in­curre [Page 234] the danger of Judgement, euen in this life. And we acknow­ledge that the sentence of an earth­ly Judge is not his, but thine: he pronouncing our punishment, th [...] confirmest it. Their censure [...] thine, if it be iust; if vniust, it is not thine, but theirs: yet their mini [...] is our iust reward for our [...] [...] therfore humbly beseech [...], to direct our hearts and our c [...] ­ [...]ersations, in all obedience to thy lawes, and to the constitutions of thine Anointed, who beareth the sword to punish offenders, and to defend the innocent, the fatherles, widowes, and the oppressed: and from his supereminent authoritie vnder thee, the power of inferiour Iudges and Magistrates is deri [...] to heare and determine causes of controuersie, betweene man and man, and matters of offence a­gainst the stare of superiours, the peace of the Church and Common-weale. They are indeed bu [...] [...], whom wee see in their s [...]t [...]s of Judgement: whom wee [...] [...] [...], whom we obseru [...] to [...] [...], & [...] th [...] [Page 235] censure they pronounce: but their hearts are in thine hands, and their sentence by thy direction or per­mission: thou directest none, but according to equitie, yet permittest iniustice to bee done vnto men for their iniquities; hee that iudgeth vniustly, and hee that is vniustly iudged, haue their punishments: the one in augmentation of his [...], to his greater punishment to [...]ne: the other either in iudge­ment for sinnes past, or in mercy to reforme him. Consider therefore, most gracious Lord God, how and in what porill thy people stand vn­der the censures of Judges vniust: and lay not vpon vs the burden of their vniustice, but conforme their hearts to true Judgement, and ac­count none to that high office of iudging thy people, but such as thou shalt first furnish with wise­dome, experience, and true sinceri­tie. Let them be of like, and of one mind with thee, abandoning par­tialitie, bribery, and respect of per­sons: and be thou alwayes with them, and direct them in all causes of Judgement: let them neither [Page 236] admit reward, and so corrupt Ju­stice, nor follow the opinion of the multitude: and so ouerthrow the truth. Let thy lawes be alwayes before their eyes, let them neuer swarue from thy statutes, in con­demning the innocent, and in­stifying the wicked. Blesse them, Lord, with true knowledge of the word, direct them by thy holy Spi­rit: so shall they not erre in Judge­ment, and thy people be freed fr [...] iniustice and wrongs, thy Church shall be in peace, and euery mem­ber receiue iustice: the Common-weale shall flourish, righteousnesse and peace shall meete together, mer­cie and truth shall imbrace each o­ther.

Amen.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer to be sayd of a man or woman vnmarried, intending to marrie.

O Gracious, euerliuing, and most louing Lord God, vouchsafe, I humbly be­seeth thee, as thou in the begin­ning diddest create man and wo­man, and diddest institute the holy order of marriage, that the one of them might be a helper vnto the o­ther, and hast confirmed and ap­proued this holy coniunction, by many diuine examples of thy bles­sed presence: As also by thy proui­dence, in ayding and assisting the vnmarried depending on thee, to make their choice according to the rule of right religion: Be pleased, Lord, that I feeling in my self a de­sire to enter into this sacred order, may be directed by thee, that (I set­ting apart all carnall respects, as chiefe motiues) I may aime onely, and altogether, to make such a choice, as aboue all things may please thee, who art the authour [Page 242] and giuer of all goodnesse, without whose prouidence and direction, things of meanest importance can­not be effected, without great affli­ction and danger: And by whose fauour & mercy, things of weighti­est consequence are easily and most comfortably brought to passe. For­asmuch therefore, gracious fa­ther, as this mysterie of marriage is most high and honourable a­mong all men, the bed vnde [...]led: Let mee not rashly runne into my choice, as if mine owne wisedome or naturall policie could worke my contentment or comfort. But aduise thou me, and direct me, O Lord: and although I confesse it not expedient, that I should expect from thee publike reuelatiō, or vi­sible Angels to leade me: yet let thy holy Spirit so guide mine affecti­ons, that I like not whom thou thinkest not meet to be conioyned vnto me in thy feare. But let all things so succeede my proceedings, as may argue and assure me of thy fatherly furtherance and diuine allowance; as thou diddest in all things further, with blessed suc­cesse, [Page 243] the seruant of Abraham, in choosing a wife for Isaac: So let all things, O Lord, be blessed vn­to me: preuent mine owne desires, if they concurre not with thy good pleasure, and alter my will and in­tention, if they answere not thy will, and giue me an vnderstan­ding and feeling heart, that I giue not way vnto my naturall moti­ons, and vaine inclination, which in this single estate often ouer­swayeth in me the rule of right reason. And graunt, that I may duely consider, that two thus con­ioyned, shall be made one flesh. And therefore, not vnaduisedly to be at­tempted, lest of a member of Christ my Sauiour, I should make my selfe the member of some prophane and wicked person: which is not in my power or policie, but in thy prouidence, to preuent. Preuent it, Lord, and whomsoeuer thou plea­sest that I imbrace, we may bee both made one intire bodie, sancti­fied throughout in Christ Iesus, that our vnion being thus made holy, it may resemble that heauenly vnion, which is betweene Christ and the [Page 244] Church his spowse: And let our hearts and affections bee so truely and intirely knit together in thee, that after the consummating of this sacred mysterie betweene vs, there may succeede no cause of dis­paradgement, no breach of thy sa­cred ordinance, nor any offence i [...] thy Church: But that, comming together in thy fauour, we may liue in thy feare, prosper by thy proui­dence, be blessed in the fruit of our bodies, gouerne our selues and our families religiously, liue in thy Church sincerely, deale with all mē iustly, and obtaine of thee necessa­ries plentifully: That wee; and for all things, may giue glory and prayse vnto thee ioyfully, and [...] our liues in thee faithfully, and a [...] ­ter reigne with thee in glory et [...] ­nally, through Christ our Saui­our, and euerlasting red [...]

Amen.

Lord increase my faith.

A Prayer to be sayd of married folkes, ei­ther priuatly or mutually together.

O Heauenly Father, that ma­dest in the beginning, all things of nothing, man of the dust of the earth, and woman of the man: that as she came of the substance of the bodie, flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones: So to be reunited vnto man, and in a mysticall manner, became one bo­dy with him, by the holy instituti­on of marriage: which we hauing, by thy prouidence in thy presence, solemnized, by our mutuall con­iunction: wee pray thee in Iesus Christ, to blesse vs, according to thy promise in all things: And al­though through our naturall, and originall weakenesse, we cannot but confesse, that we haue erred from the right, and religious rules of thy holy ordinance, in yeelding too much vnto our owne carnall desires, foolish fantasies, and fraile affections: Pardon vs, we hum­bly pray thee, knowing, and wee confessing, that flesh and blood can­not [Page 250] so precisely containe: but that it will fall into many noysome de­sires, offending thy Maiestie. Clense therfore, O mercifull Lord God, clense our hearts, and con­forme our conuersations to thy will, giue vs power to abandon all lightnesse, wantonnesse, and vani­ties, that we may become truely and religiously affected one to­wards another, keeping our selues cleane, without incastitie, & with­out any violating of thy holy ordi­nance, in thought, word or deede: and our hearts and bodies vnde­filed: That with the more inte­gritie of loue, and heartie obedi­ence towards thee, we may passe our limited course of this life. And forasmuch as thou knowest, Lord, that many crosses commonly ac­company the estate of wedlocke: and many, both domesticall and forraigne troubles, distract our affections, especially, while wee remaine in our naturall vanities, season them gracious Lord, what­soeuer they be, or shall be, with thy fauour and loue: So shall they not proue the fruits of thy displeasure, [Page 251] but of thy meere goodnes, to keepe vs vnderthine obedience. Lest our continuing tranquility & prosperity should cause vs to forget thee: Giue vs, we beseech thee, holy conuersa­tions, that we may euer walke be­fore thee in all vprightnes, that we may prosper in all our wayes, by thy blessing: grant that our children may grow vp in all goodnes, ver­tues, honesty, religion, & to means, whereby they may passe this their pilgrimage, with much spirituall comfort in Iesus Christ. Increase, ac­cording to thy good pleasure, our stocke & store, multiply thy many & blessed benefits vnto vs, & performe thy promises vnto vs and vnto our seed, as thou didst to Abraham, Isaac, & Iaacob, and to their seed: make vs & our seed faithfull, that we may be blessed with faithfull Abraham, and as the house of Obed edom was blessed for the Arkes sake: so, Lord, blesse vs with thine own presence, that we, & the house wherin we re­maine, may be euer blessed, and all that belongeth vnto vs, Through Iesus Christ our only mediatour.

A­men.

Lord increase our faith.

A prayer fit for parents to make vnto God, in the behalfe of their children.

O Gracious Lord God; father of mercy and louing kindnes: I giue thee hearty thanks for thy goodnesse, in blessing me with [Page 256] the gift of children: Blesse me also with wisedom and vnderstanding, to instruct them in the knowledge of thee, to educate them in thy fear, to confirme them in thy faith, and to winne them to thy loue. This dutie thou requirest at the hands of parents towards their children, and punishest the neglect thereof, as in Eli. Powre downe, Lord, ther­fore, into the hearts of my children, thy holy Spirit, that they may be­come fit members of that mysticall bodie, wherof Christ thy Sonne is the head: leade them by thine own right hand in the way of know­ledge, faith, and obedience: that their obedience beginning at them, it may extend vnto vs, their pa­rents: and assist vs, that we may teach them, instruct them, rebuke them, reproue them, and wish all goodnes vnto them, which yet is altogether fruitlesse, without thy blessing and grace; fruitlesse in re­spect of our selues, their parents, vnlesse thou blesse vs with a holy and powerfull zeale, to performe our parently duties towards them, religiously & faithfully in teaching [Page 257] them, fruitlesse in respect of them, vnlesse thou inable them by thy ho­ly Spirit to learne and imbrace such religious & wholesome docu­ments, as thou mayest be pleased to furnish vs with, for their instructi­on. Season my heart, I humbly beseech thee, with a holy desire to seeke their saluation: and season their harts with an humble and ho­ly inclination to obey thy truth. All humane creatures are prone to sin against thee; youth especially, who are most apt to fall into many for­bidden vanities and therefore need they not only continuall instruction in, and to goodnes, and debortation from sinne, but continuall watch­fulnes, and careful diligence, to ob­serue and follow the good, and to preuent and auoid the euill; which neither we their parents are able sufficiently to teach, nor they our children to performe by nature: fur­nish vs therfore, most gracious Fa­ther, with vnderstanding and ap­prehending hearts, that we in tea­ching neglect not our dueties, nor our children in learning and obey­ing [Page 258] thee, be foūd vnwilling. Teach vs all thy word, O Lord, that wee may direct our duties, and frame our conuersations thereby, that wee and they may walke before thee, and bee vpright. Incline their hearts and their affections vnto such course of life, as in thy prouidence may best stand with their ingenious inclinations, for their honest reliefe in this life▪ knowing that all are bound to be­take them to some vocation or cal­ling in Church or Common-weale. Direct them therefore by thy pro­uidence (good Father in Christ Ie­sus) that they may imbrace such callings, as may best stād with thy glory, and their comfort: adde bles­sing vpon blessing vnto their ho­nest endeuours: giue them religi­ous hearts and holy mindes, that in sinceritie of conuersation they may walke before thee, and euermore discharge a holy and Christian du­tie, before, and among men: and neuer leaue them, Lord, vnto their owne naturall corruptions, which are strong cordes, to draw them [Page 259] from good to euill, from obedience to rebellion. Let thy grace beare chiefe sway in them, that they may euer and in all things, prosper in this life: not as worldlings in ful­nesse of forbidden pleasures, and carnall contentments, but in a competent estate of this lifes ne­cessaries, as able rather to giue vn­to thy needie members, then to be inforced through penurie, to want or begge their bread. I recommend them, Lord, into thine owne Fa­therly disposition and protection; they are thine, left vnto me by thee: and therefore, good Father, take a fatherly care ouer them, that in this life they may so liue, as after this life, they may be made partakers with thee, of the heauenly inheri­tance, in Christ our Sauiour.

A­men.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer fit for children to vse for their parents.

GRacious Lord God, and lo­uing father, in thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ: as thou hast brought me into this world, by the carnall propagation of naturall parents, and hast giuen mee a life and being heere in the earth, and afforded me of thy great goodnes, some measure of naturall and spi­rituall vnderstanding, whereby I apprehend a dutie, which I owe vnto my parents according to the flesh: So giue me grace, I humbly pray thée, to performe all dutifull obedience vnto them in thee: and grant that their godly care, and re­ligious endeuours, tending to my education & instruction in the true knowledge and feare of thee, may [Page 264] take such roote, and worke such effect inwardly in my heart, as may approue mee to belong vnto thee, by whome I am begotten a­new in Christ Iesus. Accept my har­tie thankfulnes, O gracious Lord God, for thy spirituall blessings, and for thy goodnes towards me, in not only taking me out of my mo­thers womb, wherin I had perish­ed, and she with me, hadst not thou beene the Author of her strength, and my deliuery: but also in preser­uing me from many, both spirituall and corporall dangers, whereby I could not but haue vin many times confounded, without thy goodnesse and prouidence, in giuing me care­full and louing parents, who vnder thee haue beene the meanes of my often preseruation. What recom­pence, Lord, shall I giue vnto thee, for thy great goodnes, and mani­fold mercies towards me? Thou requirest no sacrifice, but obedi­ence, which with thee is more pre­cious, then the offering of many Bullocks and Goats. Giue me there­fore a faithfull heart, that I may search to know, and endeuour to [...] [Page 265] thy will. So shall I be the better able to yeeld vnto my parents con­digne honor: for by nature I am as [...]n vntamed Hey [...]er, or vnbridled Colt, prone to disobedience, wan­tonnes, and all forbidden vanities, vnable of my selfe to wish well vn­to them that haue done much good for me: much more vnable to per­forme that good towards them, that I would and ought. Forasmuch therefore as I haue no power of my selfe, giue mee at least a will, that my inward destres may work with thee, by the mediation of thy welbeloued Sonne, to the obtai­ning of inward loue, and filiall af­fection towards them, and be able to expresse it, in my cōtinual faith­full prayers for them. Deale with them mercifully (O Lord) heape vpon them thy blessings, the peace of a good conscience, plentie of di­uine knowledge, holy and religious hearts towards thee, the continu­all abundant supply of all necessa­ries, health of bodie, the strength and vse of their limbes, ayde in whatsoeuer their neede, defence from enemies, and prosperity in all [Page 266] things. Blesse them with all spi­rituall blessings and graces in hea­uenly things. Let them heare thy word attentiuely, let them beleeue it faithfully, let them embrace it cheerefully, let them practise it re­ligiously, and in a good conscience: and let them taste of thy fauours and loue continually, and seeke to please thee in all things truely: giue them comfort, I beseech thee, in my well doing, and of th [...] vertuous and religious conuersati­ons of al their children, friends, [...]l­lies, and seruants. Let not [...] misbehauiour or vnseemely course of life, procure their griefe or shame: but grant that they li [...]i [...] long (according to thy good plea­sure) in thy faith, feare, fauour [...] loue, they may so giue vp the [...] soules in peace, into thy hands th [...] gauest them, through Christ Jes [...] our Lord, and our euerlasting Re­deemer.

Amen.

Lord increase my faith.

A prayer to be said of masters for their ser­uants, not vnfit to bee vsed of all that haue command ouer others.

GRacious Father, who gouer­nest all thy creatures by the power and prouidence, ma­king many and great differences in the estates of humane creatures; as some to gouerne as Kings, som [...] to obey as subiects; some masters, and some seruants: I acknowledge thy great goodnes, in that thou hast made me (though a subiect to thine Anointed) as a King to command in [...]ine owne family, and hast gi­uen mee seruants, to whom I say, Goe, and they goe, Come, and they attend: Giue me wisedome to com­mand nothing, but what may be [...] lawfull, expedient and necessarie, tending euermore to thy glorie: and giue vnto all that are vnder my command, obedience vnto, know­ledge of, and willingnes to accom­plish all things that shall concerne their duties, and my necessarie ser­uice. Let thy holy Spirit be vpon them, to teach them, and to direct [Page 273] them in all their endeuours. Let them striue in a godly emulation one to exceed another in wel doing, that they may truely and religious­ly performe whatsoeuer is fit and consonant to their places & functi­ons: for it is neither the skill, nor the desire, nor the seruice done, can succeed, either to my priuate profit, to the good of others, or to thy glo­rie, without thy speciall direction and blessing. Blesse me therefore in right commanding, and blesse my seruants in rightly performing what in thy feare and reuerence to thy Maiestie they shall attempt. Giue vs all vnderstanding hearts, not according to the high points of humane knowledge only: But e­specially according to the right rules of Christian religion. Make mee apt, able, and willing, to in­struct and direct them in the prin­ciples of diuine knowledge, that a spirituall blessing may euer accom­pany their corporall callings: and giue me patience to forbeare their infirmities, in committing offen­ces against me: for I cannot but confesse, that thou art to me a Ma­ster, [Page 274] whome I haue and doe more often, and more egregiously offen [...] by my many sinnes, then any, or all my seruants can trespasse against me. Giue mee therefore a feeling heart, O Lord, that I may make vse of my seruāts offences against me, in recounting mine own trans­gressions against thee. And as thou hast euer bin patient towards mee, in forbearing to punish me accor­ding to my disobedience: so I may beare with my seruants weaknes, not maliciously offēding me. Guide thē by thy holy Spirit in all truth; make them (though my seruants in respect of their corporall seruice to me) thy sonnes and daughters, by their spirituall seruing of thee: and grant that we all may conioyne in one true obedience to serue thee, hearing thy word attentiuely, and praying vnto thee continually and faithfully, that both thy spirituall blessings and corporall comforts in Jesus Christ, may alwaies abound amongst vs, and that we may pro­sper together in all truth, peace, plentie, godly loue and happines, making no spirituall (though there [Page 275] seeme some worldly) difference be­tweene y^e gouernor, & the gouerned, knowing that thou hast no respect of persons; but the Lord & seruant, the bond and free, the outwardly glorious, and base, fearing thee, are equally accepted with thee.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer fit to be vsed of seruants.

GRacious Lord, & louing Fa­ther, I acknowledge my selfe vnworthy to bee called thy seruant, much lesse thy childe; by reason of my great weaknes and manifold sinnes: turne thy louing countenance towards mee againe▪ O Lord, and although I bee a ser­uant, and subiect to the command and authoritie of another, accor­ding to the flesh, as deseruing bon­dage, by reason of my too much ser­uing of Satan: Make me yet free in thee, and of the seruant of man, make me thy sonne. Let thy grace so gouerne mine affections, that I be not seduced by the suggestion of Satan, nor by my carnall and cor­rupt affections, from that subiecti­on and sincere seruice, which I owe vnto my corporall master and com­mander in thee: In thee, gracious Lord, without whose mercies and grace no seruice can be performed, [Page 279] nor any true dutie done. I am dull, I am ignorant, I am vnapt of my selfe to euery good worke, but from thee proceedeth the perfection, both of the will and the worke, of the de­sire and the deede. Inspire into my heart, gracious Father in Iesus Christ, good and godly motions: in­due me with a truly obedient heart vnto thee, that so I may truly obey, and sincerely serue in the place thou hast called me vnto: giue mee wise­dome, vnderstanding, and dexterity of wit, to apprehend and performe my calling: instruct me perfectly in the mysterie, trade, function, & im­ployment, which I do professe and practise: for, without thy assistance, I confesse, I can doe nothing as I ought to doe, neyther in the dis­charge of mine own dutie & seruice to my master, according to the flesh, for mine owne profit or reliefe, nor in answere any duetie in any thing. But thou, Lord, teachest the igno­rant, thou guidest the hart, and fra­mest the hand to euery perfit work. Grant therefore that I may dis­charge my duety in all things, faithfully, religiously, honestly, carefully, & cheerefully vnto my cor­poral [Page 280] master, not in eie-seruice only but at all times, in all places, and in all things, that I giue not occa­sions of offence, by reason of mine ignorance, negligence, idlenes, or disobedience. Giue me a religious hart to serue thee before all men, to feare & loue thee aboue al things, that thy blessing may so possesse me▪ that the goods of my master (vn­der my hand) may rather the better, and more and more increase and prosper, then to miscarrie, or dimi­nish for my sake. Labans goods pro­spered for Iaakobs, and Potiphers for Iosephs sake. So blesse mee, that what I doe, may be blessed, Giue vnto my Master, and confirme in him a wise and vnderstanding heart, that hee may know how to direct and command according to true knowledge in thy word; that he commanding me, and I obeying him in thee, wee may liue godly, peaceably, plentifully, and helpe­fully together, as long as thou shalt be pleased to continue me in cor­porall seruice, and after dispose of me in thy mercies, according to thine owne will.

Amen.

Lord increase my faith.

A prayer for Tradesmen, Handicraftsmen, and Artificers.

GReat and gracious Lord God, mercifull & louing Father in Iesus Christ: thou hast made the glorious & the base, y^e mightiest and meanest of condition; some to go­uerne, some to labor: I beseech thee, looke vpon me of the lowest ranke in this life. And although I were borne to labor, as y^e bird is created to flie, & the fish to swim, let me not be yet, Lord, so abiected, & cast out of the society of men, as not worthy of some place or function in Church or Common-weale. I am a member of thy Church, cōfirme me so, I pray thee, in Iesus Christ, y^e I may be the more fit to steed the Cōmon-weale by my vocation, though meane; for, thou hast not left me so naked of vn­derstāding, I thāk thee, but y^t in thy [...], I am able in some mea­sure [Page 284] to performe y^t calling that thou hast allotted vnto me, yet, not so ex­actly, and exquis [...]tely as I ought, by reason of my many. naturall in­firmities: and therefore I instant­ly craue of thee, my heauenly Fa­ther, who createdst mee, and has [...] brought me to the estate and cal­ling wherin I stand, that thou wil [...] teach mee, and instruct mee in this my l [...]wfull trade of life, that I [...] be able to performe it lawfully, per­fectly, iudicially, religiously, and sincerely, and so prosper and liue thereby; knowing that ignorance, deceit and corrupt dealing in my calling, cannot but offend men, with [...]hom [...] my profession occasioneth me to deale; and my corrupt and de­ceitfull dealing with men, cannot but extend to the dishonor, and con­sequently offend thy most righte­ous Maiestie, who punishest vnjust dealing, most iustly and seuerely, showing thy holy dislike of all vn­holy dealing with men. Blesse me therefore, Lord, with spirituall, to­gether with my humane know­ledge, that the last being sanctified by the [...], I may studie in all e­quitie to performe my calling to [Page 285] the good of my brethren, and to thy glory. Let the labours of my hands prosper, let all things go well with me: giue me health of bodie, the vse of my limbes, and of my sences: let no euill-happen vnto me, in bo­die, goods, or good name. Giue me carefull, able and faithful seruants: preserue vnto mee, whomsoeuer, and whatsoeuer belongeth vnto me: that although I be inforced to [...]te my bread by the sweate of my bodie, according to thy iust sentence pronounced vpon our originall transgression: yet I beseech thee blesse my lawfull calling vnto me, and blesse me in it; that I may end my labour in plentie, and my life in peace, through Jesus Christ, and bee finally sealed vp among the number that shall be eternally sa­ued.

Amen.

Lord increase my faith.

A Prayer fit to be vsed of husbandmen, not vnfit for all men whatsoeuer.

WE cannot but with sor­row and shame cal to mind (most louing Lord God in Iesus Christ) our common accursed condition, by the view and conside­ration of the earths sterrititie, bar­rennesse, and vnaptnesse of it o [...] accord to bring forth those thy good creatures, whereof all men haue [Page 291] need for the sustentation of their mortall bodies: much more are we put in mind of our originall trans­gression and disobedience, by behol­ding the natural fruits of the earth, bryers, thornes, thistles and weedes, in stead of things profitable for mans vse: agreeing with our cur­sed nature, which bringeth foorth sinne in stead of sanctity, the works of darkenesse in stead of the fruits of light, the fruits of the flesh, in stead of the fruits of the spirit; and iustly remaineth that curse in force a­gainst vs wretched men, and vpon the earth for our sakes, perseuering in our old accursed corruptions. And therefore, good and gracious Father, lee the death and merits of that immaculate Lamb restore vs b [...] a liuelie faith, vnto the priui­ledge of our first sinceritie, that wee being inwardly sanctified, we may be made partakers of all thy corpo­rall comforts; according to thy pro­mise made vnto all true beleeuers in him, that they shall be blessed in the house and in the field, in their corne and in their cattle, and in all things touching this life and the [Page 292] life to come. Be pleased therefore, louing Father, to blesse our labors in tilling the earth, in our sowing, setting, planting and dressing of the same. Let the earth bring foorth her plentifull increase, thirtie, sixty, and an hundred fold, according to thy good pleasure, to our vse. Let our flocks prosper, and bring foorth thousands, and tenne thousands in our streets: let our oxen and catt [...] be strong to labour. Send seasona­ble showers, good Father, vpon o [...] fields, fatten the furrowes thereof, and refresh the dry and thirstie land when it is weary. Showre down [...] the former and latter raine vpon the earth: let our corne grow [...], and shake as the Cebars in Leba­non: let our pastures yeeld plenti­ful and wholesome food for our c [...] ­tle: let our seruants be vnto v [...] [...] ­stie, strong, faithfull and diligent in their labours. Teach vs rightly to manage the things we take in hād, and blesse all our handy labors and indeuours. Continue the strength and vse of our limbs and senc [...], that wee may bee able to vndergoe that burthen patiently and thanke­fully, [Page 293] which thou laidst vpon all mankind in the beginning, the til­ling and manuring of the earth, which without thy blessing, we cannot but confesse, can yeeld vs no increase to our comfort: our rising earely, our hardest labour, and our late and little taking rest can profit vs little, without thy blessing. Blesse vs therefore, Lord, and our labours: blesse all that and those that do belong vnto vs. And as thy blessings and plentie shall increase and abound vnto vs; so let our con­tinuall desires to do good, increase, and according to our meanes, be helpefull to the poore and needie, and charitably performe all the workes of true pietie. If riches in­crease, make vs the more humble; if they diminish, make vs patient: let not Satan delude vs in either with pride or dispaire. Let not our corporall enemies haue power to preuaile against vs, to hurt vs, in bodie, goods or good name. Let vs walke before thee in true sinceritie, let vs liue in thee religiously and faithfully, in thy feare and loue, and [Page 294] die in thy fauour in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer to God to be vsed in the time of peace, to preuent warre, in plentie, to preuent famine, and in the time of health, to preuent the pestilence, fit also to be vsed in the time of warre, famine, and the pestilence also.

GReat and terrible art thou, O God, and in thy furie takest vengeance against a rebelli­ous, stubborne, stifenecked, and a wicked people. Bee patient with vs, O Lord, be patient with vs: and although we be of vnholy cōuersa­tions, spare vs, and be merciful vn­to vs. Shoote not the arrowes of thy displeasure against vs, for the least of them is able to wound the hayrie scalpe of thy mightiest ene­mies, and to crush them in peeces like a Potters vessell. O stay, stay thine anger against vs, preuent warres, draw not thy sword vpon vs, take not the staffe of bread from vs, send not the pestilence among vs; for we are not able to stand in thy fight when thou art angrie. Be appeased towards vs, good Fa­ther, in Christ our Mediatour: free [Page 302] vs of the dangers which wee haue deserued, and which (as wee can­not but feare) doe houer ouer our heads for our sins. Our sinnes are many, monstrous, horrible, and (as it seemeth) incorrigible. Thou hast shaken thy sword ouer vs, wee saw it, and were for the time afraid: thou hast punished vs with pesti­lence, we haue felt it, and were in­dangered. Thou hast weakened the staffe of bread amongst vs, wee haue tasted it. And yet we conti­nue in our wonted disobedience▪ we goe on still in our wickednesse, like vnto those rebellious Iewes, that put to death the Lord of life: who are giuen vp vnto a reprobate sence. We also haue eies to see, and yet see not our dangers, eares to heare, and yet we heare not with sense thy fearefull threats for sinne, and thy seuere iudgements vpon them that transgresse thy comman­dements wittingly: we haue hearts to perceiue, and yet we seeme not to vnderstand those things that be­long vnto our peace and punish­ment; we are not sensible of thy dis­pleasure: but we lull our selues a­sleepe [Page 303] with the sweet deceiuing de­lights of our fleshly affections, and harden our hearts as Adamants a­gainst thy word. O gracious Fa­ther, giue vs repentant hearts for our sins, vnderstanding harts of thy will; giue vs obedient hearts to practise true pietie and holinesse in faith vnfained, that we may ap­pease thy wrath inkindled against vs through Christ, the Mediatour of all that returne to thee in a holy submission. Turne vs therefore, Lord, and wee shall returne from our euill wayes, and obtaine mercy in him that is our aduocate with thee, Iesus Christ the righteous, by whose intercession it may please thee to spare vs thy people, spare vs: let neither the sword that de­uoureth without mercie, come neere vs: let not famine too much afflict vs, that hath no measure in pinch­ing: and let not the pestilence steale vpon vs, that secretly flieth and striketh without respect of person, sere or age. Lord, giue vs repen­tance, and accept thine owne gift, our repentance and our atonement with thee, that, if it please thee, [Page 304] these euils fall not vpon vs as wee haue deserued: but being made one againe with thee, thine eye may bee vpon vs euer in mercie to deliuer our soules in death, and to preserue vs in fa [...]ine. Thou art God, a strong hold in the day of trouble: let vs not esteeme our selues strong in our own might, nor leane vpon our own wisdome to defend our selues, when any of these calamities shall bee inflicted vpon vs. Make vs righteous, so shalt thou preserue vs▪ thou art the strength and hope of Is­rael, of al that are of a holy conuer­sation, faithfull. Bee vnto vs a strong rocke, whereunto wee may alwaies resort in warre, in famine, in pestilence, and in all the calamities that accompanie or follow them. Make vs constant in all goodnesse, giue vs helpe against trouble; for vaine is the helpe of man. Har­ken therefore vnto the prayer of thy seruants, and deliuer vs in Christ.

Amen.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer to be vsed in the time of warre.

O God of hoasts, wee beseeth thee looke downe vpon vs thy people, oppressed and af­flicted with the fearefull visitation of the sword, wherwith thou threat­nest to punish vs for our disobedi­ence. [Page 307] Thou art the God of peace, send peace, if it please thee; and if they will not bee appeased, breake the swords of thine, and the Kings and thy Churches enemies, shiuer their speares in sunder, confound their counsels, distract their league, dissipate and disperse their compa­nies, stop their furie, frustrate their hopes, strike terror in their hearts, weaken their armes, take from them the staffe of bread, and stand thou in the defence of thine Anoin­ted: incourage his heart, and the hearts of all his subiects, to shew themselues faithfull in thee: gir [...] thou their victorious swords vpon their loynes. Manage thou their battels, and giue them the victorie. Giue them such successe as Iehosh a­phat had against his enemies by thee. Confound the enemie, as thou didst Sennacheribs souldiers: do vn­to them, as thou didst vnto Pharaoh, and to his hoast. Prosper them that fight for thy truth, as thou didst Da­uid against the Philistims; and let thine Anointed take vp the trium­phant song of Dauid, The Lord hath diuided mine enemies asunder, as wa­ter [Page 308] is diuided. Goe out before our Captaines, as thou didst before De­borah and Barak: giue vs vi [...]ie as vnto them: for it consisteth in thy power and prouidence, not in Goli­ahs strength, nor in Achitophels counsell, nor in multitudes, but in thee alone: and therefore in thee do we trust, let vs neuer be confoun­ded. It is sinne, wee confesse, that stirreth vp these calamities a­gainst vs: giue vs repenting hearts and reformed spirits. Let vs lift vp pure hands with vndefiled hearts, as Moses did vnto thee, and prosper. Let our enemies fly before vs, as before Iosuah: and let their strong hol [...] be as the wals of cur­sed Iericho: hurle them downe, and let them neuer bee built againe to trouble the peace of thy Church. Thou art the author of peace; ex­tend thy peace ouer her like a floud▪ Lord, lift thou vp thy countenance vpon vs, and giue vs thy peace in Christ.

Amen.

Lord increase my faith.

A Prayer in the time of Famine and Dearth.

O Great and powerfull, mercifull and louing Fa­ther in Jesus Christ, who hast made man to serue thee, and all creatures to serue mā. Look down, wee beseech thee, vpon vs, now in the time of distresse, & want of ne­cessaries to sustaine our mortal bo­dies. Thou knowest whereof we are made, remember that we are but dust: and our liues are sustained by those thy creatures, that thou hast crea­ted [Page 312] for our vse, which thou hast now so diminished and decreased, as the staffe of our sustinance is broken, and we waxe faint vnder the burthen of thy heauie displea­sure. It is our sinnes, Lord, that haue drawne downe this fearefull visitation vpon vs, which we are not able to beare. And therefore, as thou art gracious, merciful, power­full and prouident, forgiue vs our sinnes, in thy mercie in Christ. Re­leeue vs by thy power for his sake, and prouide for vs in thy proui­dence: call to minde thy mercies of old, wherein thou relieuedst, not only our faithfull Fathers, but such as were strangers also vnto thy Couenant, the Aegyptians, to whom thou diddest send Ioseph to prouide for the Famine to come; a speciall worke of thy wonderfull prouidēce Come now vnto vs, Lord, co [...] now vnto vs; increase our small store, and blesse it, as thou diddest the oyle and meale of Eliahs h [...], faile vs not, nor forsake vs in the [...]e of our greatest need; leaue vs not in our distresse. Thou haddest compassion, Lord, vpon foure thou­sand, [Page 313] which were to depart from thee, and diddest feede them when they had nothing to eate, and thou gauest them sufficient, with seuen loa [...]es [...]as also fiue thousand, with fiue lo [...]es and a few fishes; all men suffised, and many fragments re­mained. Why therefore should we feare, or despaire of thy prouidence, seeing thou canst feed so many with so little shew of outward meanes; and as thou canst releeue with lit­tle in quantitie, so canst thou with things meane in qualitie: Daniel and his fellowes liued by pulse and water, and were more strong, and in better liking, then they that had the ful measure of the Kings choice dainties. Great and wonderfull art thou in thy power, vnsearchable in thy prouidence, and thou art one and the same for euer, thy loue is not diminished towards them that loue thee, neither is thy power weakened, neither can thy proui­dence be hindred; but whatsoeuer thou willest, commeth to passe in Mercie and lustice. Will thou ther­fore, good Father, will thou, and worke our comfort and reliefe, and [Page 314] whatsoeuer we then need, shall bee supplied vnto vs. Mollify the harts of such as haue reliefe in abūdance, that detain it, to inrich themselues, when the poore perish. S [...]ffer vs not, Lord, to fall into grea [...] mise­rie and want then wee can beart, Our flesh is weake, and vnable to vndergo the want of necessary food: giue vs, Lord, competent reliefe, that we faint not, nor perish alto­gether, for thy Christs sake, our only Redeemer and Aduocate, for whose sake thou hast promised to deliuer the soules of thine from death, and to preserue them in the time of famine: Therefore, Lord, heare and grant our requests.

A­men.

Lord increase our faith, and blesse vnto vs competent reliefe.

A Praier to be said in the time of any mor­talitie, Pestilence or infectious sicknes.

O Lord our God, who of the dust hast created all man­kind for a time to breathe in this mortall life; and at their ap­pointed times thou sayest, Returne againe into your dust, yee children of men. Looke, wee humbly beseech thee, vpon vs, vnder thy hand vi­sited with great mortalitie, so bes [...]t on euery side with the terrors of death, as we cannot but deeme out selues neere vnto the graue. Our festered corruptions haue brought forth stineking sins, that haue de [...] ­ [...]ed our bodies, and infected the ve­rie aire wherein we liue, whereby wee haue deseruedly drawne vpon vs in thy iustice, this fearefull vi­sitation. Giue vs, Lord, repenting hearts, & renue right spirits wi [...]i [...] [Page 319] vs, that we recounting our mani­fold and grosse sins, may truly be­waile them in the bitternes of our hearts; fill our heads with water, make our eyes a fountain of teares, that both inwardly and outwardly our sorrowes for our sinnes may be vnfainedly expressed, and by our constant obedience, and sincere ser­uice of thee, our renued conuersati­ons may be approued. Make vs, we beseech thee, alwayes watch­full ouer our wayes, that we erre not from thy Commandements, in this time wherin many are striken with thy hand, & many are finally fallen asleepe. Blesse vs, wee be­seech thee, with that blessed prero­gatiue, to be thy truly adopted chil­dren in Christ: so shall we be safe, according to thy promise, and this thy visitation shall not come neere our dwellings: a thousand shall fall on our rig [...]hand, and ten thou­sand on our left hand, and yet not touch vs. But what are we, Lord, that we should presume vpon this freedome, hauing deserued as hea­uie a weight of punishment, as any whom thy hand hath visited? Let [Page 320] not thy patience, and long forbea­ring of vs, perswade vs, that either thou seest vs not, or that for our owne worthines or desert, thou passest by vs: but rather to thinke, that we are also of the number of them, whom thou hast ordained to partake of this visitation, that wee may apply our selues to a serious calling to mind of our offences, and vnfained repentance for them, be­fore thy decree come forth against vs. Giue a holy preparation vnto our hearts, willingly to submit our selues to thy good pleasure, for life or death, whether of thē thou shalt be pleased to worke for vs: worke in vs for the one, such thankfulnes as thou deseruest, for so great a blessing, as the prolonging of life, and patience in the other; knowing that it is appointed to euery man once to die. Lord, let not death, which is but the dissol [...]ion of the soule from the bodie, be ouer terri­ble vnto vs: But rather make vs so to consider the benefit of our con­iunction, which through the mer­cie in Christ, wee are assured shall follow our dissolution, that we may [Page 321] reioyce, that the meanes of our dis­solution is foreshewed vnto vs: which yet, if thou in mercie, mayest be pleased for a time to forbeare, it may be vnto vs a liuely & preuai­ling Motiue, to stirre vs vp to a more religious, faithfull, and holy course of life before thee, that with patience and hope, we may waite the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ, and appeare blamelesse in that day: and in the meane time walke worthie of thee, pleasing thee in all things, strengthened with all might, through thy glorious power, to all pa­tience and long suffering, with ioyful­nes. And grant that our soules may euermore depend on thee our God, for of thee commeth our health, and our saluation: haue mercie vpon vs, haue mercie vpon vs, O God; for our soules trust in thee, and in the shadow of thy wings will wee trust, vntill this thy visitation bee ouerpast.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer to be vsed of souldiers.

OH God of hoasts, look downe vpon me thy vnworthy ser­uant, who in this life labour both in a corporall and spirituall warfare, fighting within and with­out: Assist me first with thy grace, faithfully to incounter, strongly to resist, and truly to triumph ouer sin and Satan, who lie in ambush with armies of infernall souldiers, see­king to surprize my inward and better part, my soule, and to de­priue me of al godly affections, that so I being conquered within, may not be able rightly to performe my outward calling, wherin thou Lord knowest, I walke in coutinuall danger of my mortall life, hauing of my selfe neither power nor poli­cie, to auoid the ordinarie perils and calamities that accompany [...] in this course of life. I am much sinfull, and therefore I may the more feare that thou, who hearest not sinners, wilt refuse to goe with me to battell, which euery where, and at all times threatneth mee [Page 327] with captiuitie, wounds, or death, as one abandoned (in humane opi­nion) to the mercilesse bullet and sword. Giue me therefore, Lord, a repenting heart, and a truly refor­med conuersation, that seeing by so many meanes death houereth ouer my head, I may be euer readie and prepared in a holy and sanctified life, to meet the same without feare; knowing that death is but the issue out of a wildernesse of miseries, troubles, calamities, and dangers, and an entrance into that most sweet, pleasant, and Paradise, plen­tifull of all good and most wished things: wherein is no warre, but peace; no care, but comfort; no feare, but ioy; no miserie, but mirth; no hunger nor thirst; no want, but a­boundance of all good things for the soule to enioy. Make me there­fore, O gracious Lord God, an vpright and faithfull souldier in this mortall warfare, that I seeke not, nor sinisterly take the goods, or sh [...] the blood of any man. Take [...] me al desire of vniust reuenge, [...]pine, and doing wrong to any. Conforme mine hart and mine af­fections, [Page 328] to sobrietie, modesty, patience, and true magnanimitie and boldnes. Preuent in me wanton­nesse, ryoting, drunkennes, swea­ring, blasphemy, whoredome, and such a profane and vngodly course, as commonly too much accompani­eth this militarie life. And seeing, Lord, that I, in duty, am inforced to vse the sword against those that rise vp against vs, blesse the vse of it to me, as thou didst the sling of Dauid, and the sword of Gideon; teach my hands to war, & my fingers to fight. Giue me a couragious heart, & vn­daunted spirit, to incounter the ene­my as oftē as need requireth: make strong my loynes, and fortifie my armes, let good successe befall our armies: daunt our enemies hearts. Teach our Leaders and Comman­ders wisedome and Christian poli­cie to direct vs, and giue vs cou­rage, strength and obedience to per­forme our dutie with good consci­ence. And if in thy wisedome, peace be more to our profit and comfort, and to thy glory, then warre, send vs peace, in thy name: and let both peace and warre, life and death, bee [Page 329] to our aduantage in Christ, in whom al things are blessed to them that truly serue thee. Let vs want no maner of thing, Lord, that is good: vouchsafe vs all things ne­cessary for our warfare. Stand e­uer on our side, and let thy sauing and protecting Angel preserue vs in all danger. Remamber thy lo­uing promises, and thy mercies of old: bee vnto vs a shield and buck­ler of defence, and a sword of offence against our enemies; accept vs into thy blessed protection: neuer faile, nor forsake vs, O God of hostes. Goe euermore foorth with our ar­mies; keepe euery one of vs free from the excommunicate thing, sin and iniquity: And sanctifie vs with thy holy spirit, that in thoughts, words and deeds we may be appro­ued not souldiers carnally valiant, or desperately bold, but truly and re­ligiously couragious, both in our outward and inward warfare., through Christ: to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be [...] ascribed all [...]ouor and power for euer.

Amen.

Lord increase our faith, and euermore mightily defend vs.

A Prayer to be said of such as haue occasi­on to vse trauell at sea.

GRacious Lord God, mightie, mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ, who hast made all things by thy word: And by thy power and prouidence dost gouerne all, and all obey thee in their kinds, the heauens, the earth and the seas: but man only is disobedient, only rebellious; therefore doe thy crea­tures whom thou madest to [...] [...], become aduersaries vnto man, especially the seas, which often­times rage and roare vnder the burden of their sinnes that passe in them, much daunting, dismay­ing and threatning the dry land, [Page 335] and the inhabitants thereof, much more such as in thy prouidence are appointed to haue their trauell and trafficke therein; we therefore in al humblenesse come vnto thee, O Ie­houah, who art the God and gouer­nour of the immensible and vnfa­domable sea. Thou callest for and commandest the tempests to arise; thou liftest vs the waues thereof, and wee are mounted vp to the clouds, and suddenly descend into the deepe againe. So that we are euen at the doore of death: yet such is thy might and thy mercie, that at thy rebuke they are still, and at thy word the tempest ceaseth. Receiue vs therefore into thy blessed prote­ction, for we recommend our selues vnto the seas in thy name, confes­sing that it is neither the strength or swiftnes of our ship that can saue vs, neither can our power or policy preuent the dangers of the merciles waues. It is not the Card nor Cō ­passe that can direct or bring vs to the hauen where wee would be. It is only thy power, prouidence and conduction, whereupon we doe de­pend. In thee is our hope and help: [Page 336] for thou commandest, and the Seas obey; at thy word, the Red Sea [...]laue in sunder, it stood still in heaps, to giue way to Israel: a worke against the ordinarie course of na­ture; and therefore much more ea­sie may it seeme to vs, for thee to giue way to vs through the Sea [...] by naturall and ordinarie meanes. And the rather, for that wee know, that at thy rebuke, the Sea of Iena­zeret being in violent rage, was suddenly appeased. Speake the word, and the Seas shall giue vs comfortable, & free passe, without any impediment. The winds and Seas obey thee, thou art omni [...] ­tent; thou canst doe what thou will in mercy and iudgement. Go with vs, O Iehouah, and be our guide, as thou wert neere vnto thy Disciples when they were like to perish i [...] the mercilesse waters. Prosper [...] voyage, blesse our meanes: let thy holy Angels accompanie vs, as as­sisting and preuailing ministers for our safetie and good successe. Re­buke and quiet the winds and tem­pests when they arise. Defend vs from mercilesse and tyrannous [...] ­rates▪ [Page 337] when they assaile vs: keepe vs from ship wracke, when wee are in perill: Supply vs with all ne­cessaries for our corporall susti­nance and safetie. [...]ouchsafe vnto vs health and strength of body, wis­dome and power to manage our af­faires, to thy glory and our comfort. Take from vs, and euery one of vs, all impietie, sinne and vncleannes; furnish vs with heauenly know­ledge, increase and strengthen our [...]aith in thee, confirme our hope of happie successe: make vs intirely to loue thee: giue vs true zeale to serue thee, and to call vpon thee, [...]tonely in all our calamities and [...]angers as of necessitie, but conti­ [...]ually, as of a Christian duty: That thou maist bee pleased euer­more to guide vs, and by thy migh­ty hand, in thy mercy, to direct our course, and bring vs to the hauen where we would be, and leaue vs not vnto the mercilesse waters: for without thee there is none that can deliuer vs. O giue vs hearts ne­uer to forget thy goodnesse, watch­full and obedient hearts, that wee neuer fall from thee to our naturall [Page 338] vanities and corruptions: giue vs not ouer to our owne hearts lusts, to sweari [...], swaggering, drunken­uesse, whoredome, and to the pro­phane course of life, whereunto by nature we are inclined: But assist vs euer with thy grace, that wee we may liue orderly, honestly, reli­giously, and [...]olily before thee, to deale faithfully and truly with all men, at land and sea: euer depen­ding on thy prouidence, who neuer failest nor forsakest them that call vpon thee in spirit and truth. Blesse our going foorth, blesse [...] voyage, blesse our indeuours, bless our calling and trafficke, and [...] vs a comfortable, prosperous, and happy returne. Make vs thank­full in holy obedience, which is the sacrifice, wherewith thou art [...] pleased. Grant vs, gracious Fa­ther, these and all other blessing [...] corporall and spirituall, for th [...] Christs sake, in whose bless [...] name we augment these our [...] prayers, with that heauenly [...] which he hath taught vs. Our F [...] ­ther which art in heauen, &c.

Lord increase our faith.

A Prayer before meate.

PArdon, we beseech thee, O merci­full Lord God, our manifold sins which we haue done, and do con­tinually commit against thy Maiestie, and thereby haue deserued to bee de­priued of al thy blessings, and of these which now thou plentifully tendrest vnto vs for our nourishment. Thou in Iesus Christ hast promised to blesse thy creatures vnto our vse. Blesse these vn­to vs, we beseech thee; and grant that they may be vnto vs the comfortable meanes to strengthen our mortall bo­dies. Let vs not abuse them by excesse, but vse them soberly to thy glory, and our nourishment, through Christ our Lord.

A thankesgiuing after meate.

WE acknowledge, good Fa­ther, louing in Iesus Christ, that of thy free mercie and bountie, we haue at this time, a [...] all the daies of our liues, been plentifully nourished with corporall foode: In­large the gifts of thy sanctifying spi­rit in vs, and in all the members of thy Church Preserue euermore our King, giue vs peace, plentie, health and hap­pines, through Christ our Lord.

Amen.