The second part of the true watch containing the perfect rule and summe of prayer: so plainlie set downe, that the weakest Christian, taking but the leas paines, may in a very short space, learne to pray of himselfe, with much assurance and comfort: both to get strength to obserue the Lords watch; and to helpe to turne away, or at least finde comfort in the euils that are to come. — True watch. Part 2

The second part of the true watch containing the perfect rule and summe of prayer: so plainlie set downe, that the weakest Christian, taking but the leas paines, may in a very short space, learne to pray of himselfe, with much assurance and comfort: both to get strength to obserue the Lords watch; and to helpe to turne away, or at least finde comfort in the euils that are to come. — True watch. Part 2

Table of contents

Title page

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY singular good Ladie, L. ELIZABETH Countesse of Huntingdon.

THE PREFACE TO THE CHRISTIan Reader, containing a large and plaine direction to all the simpler sort, how to vse this aright; and an earnest exhortation to all sorts to giue themselues instantly to watching and prayer.

The necessitie of prayer.

THE SPECIALL PROperties of them that can pray: (for as Iosuah told the people they could not serue the Lord, so euery one cannot pray) and these euidently grounded out of the Lords Prayer.

THE POWER OF true Prayer.

A MOST HEAVENlie and sure rule according to the whole Lords Prayer in order: whereby wee may grow to strong assurance and much power in Prayer.

THE SVMME OF all in other words, most plainly; for the vnderstanding of the simplest.

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THE PERFECT RVLE AND SVMME of Prayer.

[Page]THREE PRINCIPALL points to be first learned and felt of euery poore Christian, that intends to helpe in this worke of prayer; the summe where of being in our hearts, will bee as a continuall spurre and preparatiue to prayer, and as the life and soule thereof. • 1. The necessitie of prayer. , • 2. The speciall properties of them that can pray. , and • 3. The power of prayer rightly performed. 

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THE SECOND PART of the true watch, CONTAINING THE perfect rule and summe of Prayer: So plainelie set downe, that the weakest Christian, taking but the least paines, may in a very short space, learne to pray of himselfe, with much assurance and comfort: both to get strength to obserue the Lords watch; and to helpe to turne away, or at least finde comfort in the euils that are to come.

Luk. 21. 36. Watch and pray continually, that you may be accounted worthie to escape al these things that shall come to passe, and that yee may stand before the Sonne of Man.

Esay 62. 6. 7. Yee that are the Lords remembrancers, giue him no rest.

AT LONDON Printed F. K. for Samuel Macham, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church yard, at the signe of the Bul-head. 1607.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY singular good Ladie, L. ELIZABETH Countesse of Huntingdon.

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OVR Sauiour hath not without good cause, (Right Honorable) so oft called on vs to watch and pray,Mark. 13. 33. and 14. 38. ioyning these two together; and warning his Disciples in their greatest dangers to watch and pray, that they might not fall into temptation; and also charging vs al to watch and pray continually, that wee may bee accounted worthy to escape all the euils that shal come to passe,Luk. 21. 36. and to stand before the Sonne of man: because wee can neither watch vnlesse we pray, to obtaine strength from the Lord by it; nor pray with any comfort or power [Page] vnlesse we watch; nor euer get assurance to escape the euils that shall come on the world, much lesse the temptations of Satan, and damnation of hell, and appeare with boldnes before our Sauiour, vnlesse we both watch and pray. In regard whereof, first my dutie to the Maiestie of God, who prepared the watch against so needfull a time; and after so graciously caused my poore desire therein to be accepted in his church, hath encouraged me to endeuour to adioine vnto the watch, this short directiō for praier, as a secōd part & vnseparable cōpaniō, for the further good of his seruāts, of whō sundry haue desired it at my hands. And secōdly, your Ladiships most fauourable acceptance of it, being dedicated vnto my Honorable Lord, perswading mee of your Honors vnfained desire both [Page] to obserue the same, and walke in al the waies of the Lord, haue imboldened mee to presume to offer this vnto your Honorable Ladiship: both to testifie my dutifull & thankfull affection to your Honor also: and withall my feruent desire that you may both walke hand in hand all your daies, in the selfesame narrow way of eternall life; as being of the same heart and holy accord; inabled thereunto by the spirit of the Lord, obtained by continuall and instant prayer. That so ye may shine as glorious lights together in the earth, and after in the heauens aboue the brightnes of the Sunne for euermore.

This shall bee in the meane time your key into the palace of the Almightie,Mat. 7. 7. 8 and 21. 22. and to the presence chamber of his glorious Maiestie:Psal. 135. 18. whereby you may be admitted at al timesIames 4. 8. [Page] to most familiar conference; receiue immediate answers from his Highnes:Esay 65. 24 obtaine the riches and pleasures of his house, with the most pretious iewels of his treasurie, to adorne you farre more gloriouslie then al the pearle & pretious stones of all the Princes of the earth: all which shall vtterly vanish as the dimmest star, when the brightnesse of your glory shall appeare.Gen. 32. 28. and 1. 2. You shall as Israel preuaile with your God;Hebr. 1. 14. haue his Angels and all the hoasts of heauen at your desire;Iames 47. all being at a perpetuall league with you:Ephes. 6. 18. vanquish the diuels and put them to slight:Iob 22. 27. 28. 29. ouerthrow the plots of the wickedest, and bee accepted for the Church: subdue in your selfe each corruption: bring euery thought into an holy obedience: finde the Comforter at hand in all your trials; the sweete voice of the [Page] Spirit, making you with cōfidence to call him Abba, oh Father;Rom. 8. 15. 16. and giuing you most strong assurance of a kingdome, and the life of the Angels in the very terrours of death. And in a word, you shall thus most happilie redeeme the daies of our vanitie, and treasure vp in heauen abundantly against the time of the perfect accomplishment of your eternall triumph and felicitie.

Wherunto according to my perpetuall bounden dutie I shall alwaies striue during my life; both by my incessant prayer, and all other holy meanes, which the Lord shall in mercie vouchsafe vnto mee his poore and vnworthie seruant. And in this studie towards your eternall glory and happines I rest my selfe; nothing doubting of your like honorable acceptation of this my poore endeuour, howsoeuer [Page] penned in a most plaine and familiar stile; not to delight the curious with an houres reading, (which I leaue to others) but to helpe the honest heart that is desirous to learne of our Sauiour how to pray,Luke 18. 1. and con [...]inue therin in this life without fainting,Esay 65. 13. 14. to reioyce and sing with the Angels for euer after; when all others shall weepe and mourne, and neuer find any comfort or release.

Your Honors in the Lord euer to be commanded. IOHN BRINSLEY.

THE PREFACE TO THE CHRISTIan Reader, containing a large and plaine direction to all the simpler sort, how to vse this aright; and an earnest exhortation to all sorts to giue themselues instantly to watching and prayer.

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IT hath bin wished (Christian and louing Reader) that as I haue gone briefly thorow the Commandements and Articles of the faith, to set downe the true watch; so I would take some paines in like manner to go thorow the Lords Prayer, to set downe the rule and summe of prayer, for the further perfecting and our better [Page] performing the same watch. Whereupon notwithstanding my great inabilitie, in respect of many of my brethren, yet considering the Lords former mercie, who shewes his power in weakenes; and that by this motion of diuers, he seemes to require my poore labour in this also, I haue attempted likewise to make triall herein: the better to inable the simpler sort, and to stir vp all sorts to this holy dutie of prayer; that wee may obtaine strength from the Lord to keepe his watch more faithfully, with innumerable other benefits procured by the same. And the rather waying well into what dangerous times we are fallen; wherein the greatest part (as it is much to be feared) in such a declining to Atheisme, and generally to extreame coldnes or luke-warmenes, do seldome or neuer pray priuately; vnlesse perhaps they vse the Lords Prayer without vnderstanding. And of those who vse to pray, some although they [Page] pray much, yet they do it verie superstitiously, to the prouoking of the Lord, and hurt of their owne soules, insteed of receiuing any true comfort therein; as all our popish sort doe. Others haue a desire to pray, but want abilitie or leasure; as all our young and weak Christians. A third sort droope in their troubles, temptations and feares, & are at their wits end, as Iacobs sons, not knowing what way to take, and so continue fretting & vexing themselues, or attempt vnlawfull meanes for their reliefe and comfort. A fourth are afraid to vse the Lords Praier as a prayer, because they cannot comprehend the power and meaning of it in so short a forme. A fifth haue gone forth with our Sauiour into the garden, promising and beginning to watch & pray, which yet through our long peace, ease and prosperitie, are fallen a sleepe. Anoother sort liue in monstrous sinnes, as in oppression and vnmercifull dealing, deceit, [Page] secret vncleannesse and the like, without repentance; and yet imagine that they do pray, that their prayers are accepted, and that they shall be heard in the day when they crie, deceiuing their owne soules. A last sort, and those one only and scarse to befound abide therein with our Sauiour, in watching, cries and teares; wrastling and weeping as Iacob for the deadly malice & bloodie threats of Esau; and holding vp their hands with Moses against Amaleck, and also to pacifie the Lords wrath, that it may not be powred out vpon his people, for all our grieuous prouocations. To witnes my loue therefore yet further to all these, and all other the Lords people, I haue thought it my dutie, to offer this weake labour also vnto the Church of God, commending the successe vnto him who is only wise, and worketh by what instruments it pleaseth him, and aboue all that we are able to conceiue: yet not [Page] before I had first communicated it vnto some, much reuerenced of all, for their learning and pietie. Now I onely craue pardon to speake freely, to each of these sorts particularly.

And first to you that pray not at all,1 looke but vpon the necessitie of prayer,Harken you that pray not at all. and consider well in what state you stand vntill you both can and vse to pray; that you are in state of damnation, hauing all things accursed vnto you, and working your perdition; and that you but onely tarrie for the execution of Gods vengeance; and then if God open your eyes to see your selues and your danger, I shall not neede to call vpon you: for, I know you will giue no rest vnto your eyes, vntill yee both can and do practise this dutie: nor that you will euer let day passe hereafter, but reserue some part of it frō your pleasures and profits, to bestow on the Lord in praier, at least a morning and an euening sacrifice.

[Page] 2 For you that pray in an vnknowne tongue, or without vnderstanding,You that pray man vnknowne tongue. bee aduised to spend no more labor in vain, deceiuing your owne soules: but learne of your Lord and Sauiour to pray according to that heauenly paterne, wherein all true wisedome and comfort are to bee found, and which hee hath prescribed vnto you to vse, if you be any of his disciples; warranting you, that if you so aske you shall haue; and then shall you finde him to answere to your hearts desire, and carry you into all his sauing truth.

3 And you that haue a desire to pray, but know not how to performe this dutie aright;You that desire to pray. I haue chiefely intended your good, both to direct you for the things which are principally to be begged of vs, cōtained in the Lords praier, the summe whereof I haue indeuoured to set downe plainely in these short formes, applying them to the times; and also to helpe you [Page] for the maner of vttering your requests; ayming at this specially, that by daily practise and meditation herein, you may better attaine to the true vnderstānding of the Lords prayer, and euer haue it in fresh memorie: which being the true perfection and paterne of all holy prayer, doth in the infinite wisedome of God comprehend whatsoeuer wee can aske. That so you hauing first gathered by wise obseruation in the watch, a true catalogue of your owne speciall sinnes and wants, together with the maine sins and wants of the Church and Land, may be able of your selues both for matter and words, to make a most holy confession of sinnes, and powre forth your supplications according to your necessities, with comfort and assurance. I haue set them downe in two formes, both containing the same matter, as they are one set against the other: the one more shortly, because of our wearinesse in the best [Page] things, and chiefely in this dutie of praier, (though of all other most necessarie) the other somewhat more largely, for the fuller vnderstanding of it; & the heads of both in the margent, for the better remembring therof, or conceiuing the like. Not intending to tie any necessarily euer to vse one of these, (though it were much better to vse them or the like, then not to pray at all, or to pray vnprofi [...]ablie) nor to vse the whole euer at large; although all the things therin comprized, are to be begged daily for our selues, or our brethrē; but to vse those most which chiefely concerne our speciall necessities, and the necessities of the Church & our Land; all which may be referred to one of these sixe petitions; As when we would pray for the glorie of God, or to kindle the zeale of it in our hearts, or that hee would shew his glorie in the preseruation of our King and Realms, to vse the first. For the Church of God and perfect vnitie [Page] therein, and against the proude enemies thereof; or to get more assurance that we are true members of it, to vse the second petition. The third for cheerefulnes in doing Gods will or submission to the same. The fourth for dependance on God, for the things of this life, and against all worldly cares. The fifth for forgiuenes of sins. The last against dangers or feare of temptation, or any euill whatsoeuer. I haue laboured to set downe the heads so plainly in the margent, distinguishing them by figures, that euerie one that is desirous to learne, hauing but the seuerall parts of the Lords prayer in his mind may meditate of them happily at his worke, or as God giues any leasure; first marking how many things are chiefely to bee learned in the Preface; then in each petition; so in the conclusion: and withall labouring to feele the need that hee hath of them, our miserie without them, and our happinesse in inioying [Page] them; stirring vp his heart to a vehement desire of them: and then at time of prayer, to trie how hee can pray of himselfe according to the same order; vsing in the meane time, the helpe of one of the prayers set downe, to get fit words; and withall a daily meditation of his particular sinnes, (chiefely those following his nature and course of life, with his principall wants, dangers, chastisements and mercies receiued;) which wil be the speediest teacher to the simplest to pray with true feeling and power. If you would yet wish further direction for the generall confession of sinne, you may vse the first and second helpes in the watch of the miseries and hainousnes of sin, Edit. 2. p. 5. l. 9. If for an increase in holines, the third helpe of the blessings following a holy conuersation, pag.. 11. If for true comfort and thankesgiuing; you may vse the helpe of the rules for direction and comfort in our examination, [Page] pag. 13. All which with the graces we haue obtained in the Law, and promises wee are assured of in the Gospell, must needes cause the simplest to send forth most sweete prayers and thankesgiuings vnto the Lord. And so much for you that are desirous to pray.

Now to you that droope and faint vnder your seuerall troubles and temptations,4 not knowing what to doe,You that faint in your troubles. the Lord hath here shewed you plainly what you should doe. Learne of Eliphas in Iob: Iob 22. 21. Acquaint your selues with your God, search your sins by the true triall; Make peace with him;26. then you may lift vp your face to God, make your prayer vnto him, and he will heare you: 28. And his light shall shine vpon your waies. When others are cast downe you shall be lift vp,29. and God will saue the humble person. Therfore continue in prayer, wrastling with him, let him not go before he haue blessed [Page] you, hee will certainly doe it: Proue and see. Onely, waite vpon the Lord in the way of righteousnes vntill hee send you comfort; vsing all holy and warrantable meanes to helpe herein, to serue his diuine and fatherly prouidence; but bee afraid of so much as euer thinking of any indirect course (as to do but the least euil to obtaine neuer so great a good) and much more of rebelling against the Lord or his anointed, and that authoritie which he hath set ouer you; lest aboue all other your miseries, you bring vpon you the terrors of an accusing conscience,Rom. 13. 2. and procure vnto your selues most certaine w [...]e and endlesse damnation. And thus much also for you that faint in your trials. If you desire further aduice, looke the watch, pag. 127.

You that are afraid to pray, vsing the 5 Lords praier as a praier,You that are afraid to vse the Lords praier. because you cannot comprehend the meaning of it in so few words: and for that the multitude [Page] abuse it; accept my earnest endeuour to knit our hearts in one, both by assisting you, that you may haue the summe of the chiefe heads euer in fresh memorie, as before your faces; and that those who abuse it without vnderstanding may learne a more holy vse thereof. If yet you say, that you cannot so comprehend the full meaning of it, and all things contained in it, the like you may say (as I take it) of euery seuerall petition thereof, and so we should vse none of them in our prayers at all.

For you beloued that sometimes were 6 feruent in prayer,You that are fallen asleepe. but now are cold and heauie, or altogether fallen asleepe; I say not vnto you awake; Behold frō whence you are fallen, and the danger wherein your selues and the Church of God stand continually; seeing our experience teacheth vs, that there is but a haire bredth betweene vs and death; especially if euer the Lord should leaue his anointed, [Page] our Iosiah, the breath of our nostrils, for one minute, into the enemies hand. But only [...] put you in mind of the speech of our Sauiour to his drowsie Disciples; Sleepe hencef [...]th & take your rest. I beseech the Lord that I may neuer see that day. But what meane all our prodigious signes? and aboue all the worst, that almost all areI desire to awake you by oft beating vpon this point. fallen asleepe in the midst of such inueterate and deadly malice, with all sorts of grieuous sins, increased to the vttermost, to prouoke the Lord: after so many bloodie practises, and terrible forewarnings giuen so oft, and gratiously to preuent the fierce wrath of the Lord; with such sudden and insolent ouer flewings; some of them in the middest and highest part of the Land, where the people were altogether secure, as not hauing the least thought of any danger by water; which together with the former, (principally of the raging seas) all must needs acknowledge to bee [Page] the finger of God. If our sinnes had been so increased in the daies of popish blindnes, they had been nothing in respect; but now in such a glorious light, wherin all of vs haue been conui [...]ced so many waies; and subscribed in our hearts to the truth of God; and also doe generally still iustifie the good waies of God; and yet for most part set our selues to trample all vnder our feete, hating or scorning all that so walke, how gratious, dutifull and blamelesse soeuer they bee; this must needs make our sins vnmeasurablie sinfull, and aboue the sins of all other people.

And you that imagine you pray, and are accepted of the Lord, and yet liue in your vnmerciful oppression, or any other such haynous sin; may it not well be demaunded of you, as the Lord doth of the people before the Captiuitie:Ier. 7. 9. 10. Will you sweare, lie, dissemble, oppresse, build your houses with blood, commit adulterie, [Page] drinke the blood of soules and all other euil, and yet crie, the temple of the Lord, we are the seruants of the Lord, and call vpon his name? Will the Lord take a wicked man by the hand? Can the hypocrite call on God in the day of his aduersitie? No, no, you deceiue your own soules; vntill you haue made peace with God by vnfained repentance, and by Zacheus restitution peace with men. Nay although you cōmit not halfe these sins,Ezec. 18. 11. but liue in any one of them, or any other like, hath not the Lord saide you shall surely die for it? What good then can your prayers doe, when the Lord turnes away his eare (as frō that whichProu. 28. 9. is abominable,)Prou. 1. 24. 25. 26. and will laugh at your destruction; because you would not first harken vnto him to turne from your euill waies, while he stretched forth his 7 hands vnto you?You that still continue with our Sauiour.

Therefore vnto you (my deere brethren of all sorts and degrees) who haue [Page] continued with our Sauiour hitherto, in watching, prayers and teares, and yet at length begin with Moses to faint, with long holding vp your hands, or are in danger thereof; I vnfainedly desire of the Lord, that I may bee as Aaron or Hur, to helpe to confirme your weake hands and wearie knees.Deut. 20. 1. 2. 3▪ Let not your hearts faint.2. Chr. 25▪ 2. The Lord our God is with vs while we are with him. Let vs continue wrastling and weeping, and become so much more instant and importunate as the sins & dangers increase; vrging him euer with his owne glorie, the pride of his enemies, and their blasphemies, if euer they should preuaile: together with his gratious promises, loue and former mercies, both to all his owne people in all ages, and especially towards our selues, declared hitherto in all our peace, prosperitie, miraculous deliuerances, with continuance of the Gospell beyond all expectation. Oh that all in the Land fearing [Page] the Lord,Three things wished at the hands of all fearing God. and the tokens of his displeasure, had hearts to performe but these three duties to his heauenlie Maiestie.

1 First that euerie one of vs would but learne to know our owne speciall faults and wants by carefull meditation in the law,Each to know and amend our speciall faults. together with the sins and wants of the Church and Land, and so to consider each night how we preuaile in reforming our selues; and then frame our praiers and thankesgiuing accordingly: for each of our particular and principall sins, are as Satan that stood at Iehosuahs right hand, that our praiers cannot go vp vnto the Lord. And of all others, that euery one whose conscience doe accuse them of crueltie towards their brethren, would take away that crying sin of oppression, crying louder for vengeance then al the sins of the earth besides, which brought the floud of waters, when the earth was filled with crueltie; and [Page] brought in the fierce Babylonian, to oppresse and spoile the great men in Iudea, and to make those goodlie houses desolate,Esay 5. 8. 9. which had formerly been built by the oppressions and spoiling of the poore: which makes the poore to sigh being wearie of their liues,Psal. 12. 5. whose sighes the Lord must needes heare and auenge,Exod. 22. 22. 23. when man regardeth them not:Deut. 9. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. which will so shut vp the bowels of the Lords mercie and compassion, that hee will shew vs no more mercie, but, reiect all our praiers, because we would haue no mercie of the poore; no, though Noah, Iob and Daniel were amongst vs;Ezek. 14. 14. that they should but saue their owne soules; and so must needs bring a fearefull desolation vpon our sinfull nation, vnlesse it be speedilie redressed: besides the blasphemies of the Idolatrous enemies of the Church of God, and their braggs of their workes of mercie and pitie; thereby mouing the people to a discontentednes, & to dislike [Page] of the religion of the Lord, as being the breeder and nourisher of all such cruel and vnmercifull dealing; though euen in this same bloodie sin, they be as deepe as any other.

2 Secondly, that all would learne of our Sauiour to pray as he hath commanded.To learne of our Sauiour to pray. I haue this consident hope, that the weakest Christian amongst vs hauing a good heart,My hope of the simplest. although he haue neuer been able to vtter his requests to God for himselfe or Gods Church,Learne but the chiefe heads of the margents and trie, making them your morning meditation. would in few weekes (but following this poore direction) learne to pray in feeling with much comfort: & those who want good hearts, would by this practise obtaine them.

Thirdly, that wee would all ioyne to pray according to the two first petitions, 3 for the Church of God, our Prince and Realmes, with true vnitie therein,To pray according to the two first petitions chiefelie. and against all the enemies of them; for then vndoubtedly we should neither neede to feare the practises of the Popes Seminaries [Page] nor diuels,The fruit hereof. nor yet all the enemies of the world; but only stand still with Moses, and see what the Lord would still do for vs. Happie shall they be, whom the Lord singles out vnto this worke, to be if it were but as one of Gedeons three hundred, for the perpetuall preseruation of the Church of God and their countrey. But for the rest, although they scape the Beare, yet a Lion shall teare them in peeces; for being deliuered with Gods s [...]ruants from the temporal iudgement, the eternall wrath of God doth certainly remaine for them. Wherefore giue me leaue to speake a little furtherA further pressing the exhortation to prayer. vnto your soules in this important businesse, if I may awake but some of you.

You that spend your liues in pleasures,1 will you not be perswaded to spend someTo them that liue in pleasures. houres in this heauēly work, to talke with God for the sauing your owne soules and the people of the Lord? Oh that you knew the vnspeakable sweetenesse that heerein [Page] you should find; whereas in your vaine pleasures what can you looke for, but intolerable bitternes in the end? will not all these increase the wrath against vs? whereas the changing them into prayers, with fasting and teares, would be as the sacrifice of Noah, wherein the Lord would certainly smell a sauor of rest; and as the repentance of Niniuie, that hee that had compassion on the poore ignorant heathen, would much more cause his face to shine still more bright, vpon vs, whom he hath vouchsafed so long the profession of his name. Know it for certaine, as the Lord hath giuen any of you mo of his outward blessings, & with them more time & meanes to serue him, so hee lookes for so much more time at your hands to be spent in instant prayer, then of any other of the earth, and so must your account be. Do not the popish sort that liue in your bosoms obserue, besides your extreame irreligiousnes, how [Page] you neuer vse to pray priuately, or with any deuotion? and are they not hereby hardened to like far better of their owne blind superstition; wherein they spend so much time in praier? How will you answere your God for the blood of so many soules as hereby perish? If you could bee perswaded (which you will one day feele, either in this life, or when it is vtterlie too late) that these & all other your sins, wherein now is your felicitie, will bee as so many swords to peirce your poore soules, and so many diuels to torment you eternally; and your repentance & death altogether vncertaine: you durst not let one minute passe, but would fall into bitter mourning for all your sinnes, and for your time so ill spent, and bee warned by our Sauiour to begin to watch and pray, that you might escape all these miseries, that will certainly come vpon you.

You also that haue filled your houses 2 with the spoiles of the poore, & the earth [Page] with their cries, the crie of your sinnes is gone vp into the heauens, that the Lord threatneth to be auenged forthwith. Let the counsell of Daniel to Nabuchadnezar be acceptable vnto you,Dan. 4. 24. if you will escape the decree that is comming forth against you. Breake off your sins by righteousnes, and your iniquities by mercie towards the poore.Esay 1. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Repent and make restitution while you may▪ Cease to do euil, learne to doe well, seeke iudgement, releeue the oppressed, iudge the fatherlesse and defend the widow, as the Lord bids you by his Prophet. Then you may pray, and your praiers shall be heard: though your sins were as crimson (that is, most bloodie sins) yet they shall be made white as snow. If yee consent and obey, yee shall eate the good things of the Land: but if yee refuse and be rebellious, ye shall be deuoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Your oppressiōs which haue pressed downe the poore vnto [Page] the ground, will one day crush you into the bottome of hell, and will be a loade heauier then the whole earth vpon you: that you would giue all the world, if you had it, to be disburdened of them; and at your death the iudgement threatned vnto Iehoiakim shall surely light vpon you,Ierem. 22. 18. 19. that none shall lament or mourne for you, to say, ah Lord, ah his glorie; but all shall reioyce that the earth is eased of you; and your remembrance shall remaine most vile and loathsome to all posteritie, as the memorie of other oppressors doth before.

And for you that would neuer spare so much as one houre from your worldly 3 businesses to priuate praier,To the worldling. when God opens your eyes to discerne the true profit hereof, aboue the other, & that hitherto you haue been meerely of the world, and vtterly without God; howsoeuer you look to your worldly businesse, you will looke to this businesse of the Lord, and set your [Page] selues times of praier, which the gaining of the world cannot make you to forget.

4 And in a word, so many of you as can talke with men of any earthly matter,To all that cānot pray of themselues, nor regard to learne. and make any request for this present life, for whatsoeuer you need; and yet could neuer vtter so much as one speech, no not in secret to your Father in heauē, nor make any one supplication for any heauenly thing with feeling; how can you thinke that euer you were touched with Zeale of Gods glorie or his kingdome? or how can you imagine that you can be the children of the heauenlie Father, or haue any interest in the Lord and his kingdome; or be any thing but meere worldlings, sauoring onely the world, and it alone your portion, hauing a world of miseries and torment remaining for you for euer? Learne therefore to praie aboue all; you will finde this a treasure ten thousand times better then all the wealth & pleasures of the world. [Page] For what you would haue, this will vndoubtedlie procure you, as far as shall be good; and whereas all the honors, pleasures, riches and friends in the world, can neuer giue you any true contentmēt, nor adde one minute vnto your life; this only will fill your hearts in heauenly contentation, with abundant ioy and gladnesse, and make you liue and raigne with Christ for euer in the heauens.

Now so many as acknowledge that thus indeede you ought both to watch 4 and pray,To all that acknowledge the truth and necessitie hereof. and yet but only giue these the reading, without care to learne the practise of them, or happily hauing some good motions or purposes, to put them forthwith in practise, or it may be, haue begun well, yet through your pleasures or worldly businesse, or at least a carnall sloth and securitie leaue them off, and returne to your old courses, bee warned from the Lord; for this will certainly be one further witnesse and conuiction against [Page] you, then euer formerly you receiued, and much better it had bin for you, that you had neuer seene this way of life, thus plainly and easily set before you, and how you may either helpe to preserue the whole, or at least escape your selues from the euils to come; then after you haue knowne it, and subscribed in your hearts to the truth and necessitie of it, and happilie put your hands to the plow, to looke backe againe. Remember Lots wife; if you be out of Sodome hie for your liues, vntill you be safe in Zoar; and being safe your selues, learne to be as importunate with the Angell of the Couenant, when you but thinke of the sins of the Land, as faithfull Abraham was: comforting and incouraging your selues in this, that you are not alone but many with you, and the Lord hath yet his ten righteous left, in all quarters some, that mourne and crie for all the abominations. If in this attempt I haue failed of that I desire, [Page] I humblie craue pardon; and also that my good will may be accepted, in this endeuour intended chiefely to helpe the simple. Vouchsafe me your better direction, and I shall willinglie follow it. My desire is to labour herein also to bring this together with the watch to more perfection, if I shall find it accepted, and that it may bring the least good to Gods Church; in which I desire not to liue one day longer, then I may bee some way profitable. I haue so oft made reference to the watch as to a maine ground of prayer, and for that this is as a second part, and an vnseparable companion thereof,Ephes. 6. 13. 14. 18. (as the Apostle makes them Ephes. 6.) and also that I neede 5 not trouble you with oft repetition of theTo them that are not perswaded of such present necessitie of praier, but thinke me ouer fearefull. same things.

Cōcerning the present necessitie hereof, (that I may neither seeme ouer bold, not yet to fearful of some grieuous iudgment without cause) I desire of all sorts [Page] that you would examine it betweene the Lord and your owne consciences (to whom I appeale, and which I know will witnesse with me, when I shall stand before the great tribunall) your consciences I say, not asleep in this deepe security, but either throughly awaked by the law, or as they were vpon the instant of the discouerie of the gunpowder plot; or at any time before any of our great deliuerances, fullie accomplished in the midst of our extreame dangers. Remember but whether your hearts weare not then as my heart is now; that if God had done with vs as he then threatned, he had not been most righteous, and wee iustlie deserued it. Did not all hearts tremble in the acknowledgement of the truth of his Maiesties sacred speech in the Parliament house at that time? And who would not haue confessed in any of these dangers, that it had not been full time for each to haue betaken himselfe to this [Page] armour; to haue run to God by instant supplication, and stood vp in the breach; and for euery one to haue learned to watch and pray? And must not our case since be far more desperate, wee hauing receiued thus our third most terrible admonition, together with so many mercies still heaped vpon vs? Let vs but thinke what wee haue done since that time, to secure vs from the finall execution of his vengeance: haue we not most fearefully increased the transgression, going still many degrees backwards, running from the Lord, and suncken deeper in our rebellion, insteed of turning to him according to our oft promises, and his infinite mercy? Besides our impudencie in sinning; and our eating vp one another in euery corner and degree, racking al things to the vttermost farthing, and all commonly to maintaine pride and all excesse; countenancing the lewdest in euery place, disgracing and treading [Page] vpon the vpright, that he that abstaines from euil maketh himself a prey: Let but the shamelesnes of that one sin of quaffing, condēned by the heathē, in Assuerus Court in their greatest pomp and excesse that euer we reade of, and registred in Gods book for that cause, be witnes: although we cānot imagin that euer it was practised in halfe so odious a maner, as it is ordinarilie with vs euerie where, in scorning the Lord to his face, and sacrificing to Satan. Our cloakes of Ciuility wil proue but Adams figleaues. Inquire of your own hearts, whether this be not the generall verdict of all whom God hath touched, or who retaine any of their ancient feeling; yea whether the very blind may not grope it; that there was neuer such a declining to all loosenes, opē prophanenes & euen Atheisme heard or read of in any age, where the Gospell was professed, nor that sinne was practised with so high a hand. And then answere [Page] plainly, whether the Lord may not iustly get himselfe glory of vs, in the declaration of his iustice, and the power of his wrath against our sins; seeing the riches of his mercies in sparing and deliuering vs, haue made vs so far to exceede, as to deny the tokens of his wrath, and despise him to the face; scorning and hating nothing so much as a holy care to serue him according to his wil. Or what followes amongst men (euē the most equal & merciful) after the third admonitiō at most, but the due execution & final expulsiō? And whether we haue not iust cause to feare and seeke to pacifie his wrath? Or whether hee may not most righteouslie cause his owne children to crie in feeling the miseries which haue not cried out in seeing the abominatiōs, & seeking to pacifie him: and also whether hee may not iustly pluck the world frō vs, which hath so bewitched & plucked vs frō him. And to conclude, whether it be not much better [Page] that we each awake and meet him in time with intreaty of peace, because he is so merciful, thē to be awaked of him and crie day and night (as his people in the Captiuitie) when it is too late, and he will shew no mercy vntill his work be accōplished vpō vs. Thus hauing presumed this second time, to testifie my heart to al, and my earnest desire of a heauēly vnion, and all happines to Gods Church, & this our nation, I take my leaue; with my instant praiers that al Gods seruants may haue their eies open, to see the necessitie of this work aboue al other, & their harts prepared to set thēselues forthwith hereunto, (which hath made me the longer in perswading vnto it.) The whole successe I leaue to his heauenly Maiestie, whose this work is, & who hath long called vs al vnto the practise of it, looking & wondring that so few haue come to help,Esay 6. 3. 5. and whose only arme hath helped vs hithertoEzek. 22. 30▪ & wil for euer,Iudg. 5. 23. if we but only cry to him.

The necessitie of prayer.

1 WE can neuer come to any assurance that we are in the fauour of God,Without this cōstāt practise, we can neither be assured that we are Gods children, nor that wee haue right to any creature. or his children, before wee make conscience to practise this dutie daily: for the spirit of prayer, (which makes vs to pray with sighes & grones) is the earnest and seale of our adoption; [Page] and is giuen vnto vs so soone as euer Christ is made ours by faith; and therefore in the meane time we stand in stateRom. 8. 15. 16. of damnation,Gal. 4. 6. and are theeues and vsurpers of that which we haue.

2 We can haue no comfort,But haue all things work to our damnation. that the things which we enioy shal be to our saluation; but to increase and seale vp our condemnation; seeing they are only sanctified by the word and prayer;1. Tim. 4. 5. and for that we receiue them without giuing the Lord his due glory.Prou. 16. 4.

3 We cannot looke to obtaine any one thing as a blessing,We cannot looke to obtaine any thing as a blessing, nor turne away any euill. of al those things which our Sauiour hath taught vs to pray for, nor to turne away any one euil but by prayer: for God hath ordained this to be the onely hand hereunto,Mat. 7. 7. saying,Iam. 4. 2. 3. Aske and ye shall haue.

4 Seeing euery worldling can speake to his friend,Nor be any thing but meere worldlings, feeling no want, nor able to speake of any thing else. for worldly things; and euery child can and vseth to run to his louing father making his mone & requests for whatsoeuer he would haue; how can we imagin that God is our heauenly and tēder Father, or we any thing but merely [Page] earth-wormes and worldlings,Rom. 8. 5. vntill wee vse to run vnto him daily to beg of him heauenly things, which wee continually and principally stand in need of.

5 If we will be saued we must pray,Otherwise we cannot be saued. seeing our Lord and Sauiour, (who will saue only those that obey him, and destroy all the rest,) hath so oft charged vs to pray, and to pray continually, as the importunate widow; teaching vs also,Luke 18. 1. so plainly how to pray;Matth. 6. 9. leading vs by the hand, if we will be guided by him; and made vs such gracious promises if we wil pray;Psal. 14. 4. and contrarily describing the accursed Atheists to be such as call not vpon his name.Ier. 10. 25.

6 Lastly,The Lord cals vs al to step into the breach with Moses. the Lord our merciful God, at this time especially cals vs all that are in any fauour with his Maiestie, to steppe vp into the breach to stay his hand for being auenged,Ezec. 22. 30 for the generall ouerflow of iniquitie in all estates; concerning which all naturall men could say long agoe, that God must needes bring some terrible plague vpon our nation, without speedie repentance; which indeed [Page] hee had done sundrie times since, (butAt the intended inuasion. thrice aboue all other, neuer to be forgotten) had not his hand been wonderfully stayed: and we notwithstanding since insteed of repenting,The death of Q. Elizabeth. haue growne much worse in euery kind of iniquitie, being now become not only secure,The gunpowder plot. but also hardned in all our euill courses, to make but a sport of sin, and a scorne of al those who make any conscience to walk in the waies of the Lord; so that hereby our sin must needs be increased to the vttermost, and much more considering the Lords most miraculous deliuerances of vs; his continuall threatnings and admonitions by his seruants proclayming his wrath; warnings from heauen and earth; a continued pestilence for so many yeeres together, visiting euery corner of our Land; the raging of the winds and waters, to such a terror and desolation: the sword set to our very hearts; the graue prepared for vs by our enemies, yet wee deliuered, and sundrie of them throwne in as our ransome. Now after al this, and that in the cleare light of the [Page] Gospell, with innumerable mercies besides, & sundry promises of our amendment wee waxing still worse and worse, and now without all hope of recouerie; how can it be but the Lord must needes waxe wearie with forbearing; or what comfort can bee left vs but onely the instant prayers of Gods faithfull seruants,Reade with reuerence the Prophet Ieremie, with the rest who liued hard before the captiuitie euen in Iosiahs daies, and compare times with times, and it will make vs crie instātly to God, day and night. either to stay his hand still, or to secure vs to bee hid in the euill day? If all this cannot awake vs, yet this one thing well considered, will vndoubtedly rouse vs, as the certainest euidence of vengeance approching, that those enemies by whō he hath so oft threatned vs to auenge his quarrell, and whom we al know by long experience to thirst most greedily after our blood, are againe increased in number, pride and malice, after the time that we had thought them quashed for euer rising, or once daring to shew their faces againe: that knowing their holie father, the bloodie positions, Machiauellian plots and practises of their cursed religion in all countries, we must needes see our selues in imminent danger of vtter [Page] destruction euerie houre, more then that mightie arme shal still protect vs, which wee see to bee iustly stretched out against vs for our sinnes, and the power of praier which hitherto hath staied it, to be fearfully abated.

THE SPECIALL PROperties of them that can pray: (for as Iosuah told the people they could not serue the Lord,Ios. 24. 19. so euery one cannot pray)Prou. 28. 9. and these euidently grounded out of the Lords Prayer.

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1 WE must bee the children of GOD,Wee must be children of childlike affections towards our heauē ly Father, and able to cal him Father. borne anew by his Word and Spirit, hauing some assurance of his fauour, and a desire to grow therein; carrying alwaies childlike affections to his Maiestie: for we must come to him as to our deare Father, and be able by the Spirit of adoption to call him Abba, oh Father.

2 Wee must euer come vnto our Father only through his beloued Sonne,Rom. 8. 15. by whom we are reconciled,Comming in faith only in Christ & in a true sense of our owne vnworthines. made his children, and kept in his fauour; and withall in a true sense of our vnworthines to bee called his children, or make any request [Page] vnto him: and so we must make our petitions only in the name of this our Lord and Sauiour, in whom alone our Father is well pleased: begging in faith (that is) in full assurance to be heard for Christs merit, in whatsoeuer wee request of our tender Father.

3 We must come in all humilitie before his heauenly Maiestie,In all humilitie, being but dust and ashes; yet with our hearts lift vp to heauen. remembring we are but dust and ashes; yet full of heauenly affections; able to lift vp our harts vnto him, and to bee onely conuersant with him in the heauens for the time of prayer principally; hauing all our thoughts separated from the earth, and all earthly cogitations; because we speak to our Father which is in heauen.

4 We must be brethren of brotherly and tender hearts towards all the children of our heauenly father,Wee must be brethrē tenderly affected towards all the childrē of our heauenly Father. (that is, all those who soundly professe the Gospell of Christ in word and conuersation) because our heauenly Father will haue vs hereby both to declare and increase our loue; praying all one for another, and in the name of all, as deare brethren and [Page] feeling members; crying earnestly for all: Our Father.

5 We must be such as are zealous for the glory of our heauenly Father;Zealous of our Fathers glorie aboue all things in the wo [...]ld. desirous both to behold his glory, shining brightly in all his workes, and chiefely in his heauenly word; and labouring to draw all others to a like reuerend admiration thereof; making this the end of all our indeuours, that our heauenly Father may bee honoured; and casting all our thoughts which way we may gaine him any glorie; more afraid of dishonoring him any way, or offending him, but euen in our thoughts, then any euill that can befall vs in the world; and such as vse to mourne for all the dishonors done vnto God his heauenly Maiestie; that we may euer both truly begin and end our prayers with this feruent desire; That his great name may be glorified, because all kingdome,Seeking first the kingdome of heauen, and the righteousnes therof. power and glorie are only his for euer.

6 Such as first seek his kingdome and the righteousnes of it; that is, the inlargemēt of the Church wherin Christ raignes [Page] and is magnified, and so the spreading of his true religion, and of all the meanes belonging to the conuersion and sauing of his elect; with the vtter ouerthrow of all false religion and vngodlines, whereby Satan and Antichrist do raigne, vsing all diligence for sauing ourselues and others:) that being heere partakers of his kingdome of grace, wee may euer after raigne with him in glorie: and also such as long and waite for the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Otherwise how can wee pray in truth: Let thy kingdome come?

7 We must bee of an holy conuersation,Making cō science of euery tittle of the will & word of the Lord. as the loyal subiects of this heauenly kingdome; striuing to know the will of our heauēly Father, in al things which concerne vs; and such as make conscience of euery tittle of his word, as Noah and Moses: who in all things as the Lord bad them, so did they: able to say as Dauid, I am heere Lord to do thy will, I am desirous to do it as cheerefully as the Angels in heauen; readie with Abraham to leaue all at the Lords commandement, [Page] and offer vp whatsoeuer is dearest vnto vs in the world; and to receiue any triall with patience and thankfulnes, and with Paul, not onely ready to bee bound, but to die at Ierusalem for the name of Iesus. Or else we can neuer pray in sinceritie, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen.

8 Such also as labor to depend whollie vpon the Lords fatherly prouidence,Labouring to depend wholly vpō the Lords prouidēce and protection. and watchfull protection, for this life, and all the comforts of it; in a feeling of our owne naturall frailtie, that if hee but take away our breath wee are gone, and cannot of our selues continue one minute; and withall, that wee are neither worthie of, nor able of our selues to get the least crumme of bread, much lesse to cause it to do vs any good; and therfore such as vse to beg it euery day from our heauenly Father, and that as well for the poore as for our selues, being liuely touched with their miseries; desirous to imploy that which he bestowes vpon vs, to his glory and the good of his children; labouring (as Iacob and Paul) if we haue [Page] but bread to be therewith content: such as neither trust in the abundance of meanes, nor faint in the want of them; but onely vse all meanes appointed to serue his diuine and fatherly prouidence, casting all the care for the successe vpon him alone, being assured that he cannot faile vs, nor forsake vs of that that shall be best for vs; (so far as may stand with his owne glorie and the good of vs his people) at least so long as we endeuour to honor him, walking as his obedient children: without this we can neuer pray aright; Giue vs this day our daily bread.

9 We must bee such as vse to trauell vnder the burden of all our sins,Trauelling vnder the burden of our sinnes. especially presumptuous and scandalous; in the sense both of the multitude & haynousnes of them, & also our misery by them, vntill we be throughly washed from thē in the blood of Iesus Christ; as hauing no other meanes of deliuery or satisfaction: feeling with Paul the corruption of our nature, and our daily infirmities to be as a death vnto vs; and hereupon vsing to crie instantly in the eares of the Lord: [Page] Forgiue vs our trespasses; neuer giuing him ouer vntil we obtaine this assurance.

10 We must be voide of malice,Voide of malice, vsing to pray for our enemies. and such as vse to pray for our very enemies; and are readie to doe them any kindnes, wherby to gaine them to Christ, or leaue them more without excuse; because then wee haue this assurance to bee forgiuen, and not else; neither can we say in truth Forgiue vs our trespasses, as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs: but pray for a curse vpon our selues.

11 Hauing a continuall sense of the danger we stand in,Fearing alwaies, and watching, lest wee should fall into temptation, so suspecting all our waies. of falling into some sinne euery houre, to the dishonor of our heauenly Father, and prouoking his displeasure, with innumerable euils following thereupon; through the deadly malice and subtiltie of Satan, who hath the aduantage of our corrupt nature, and all things in the world to beguile vs: fearing alwaies lest for our sinnes the Lord should leaue vs in his hand; and thereupon such as are carefull to keepe our rankes, and the watch of the Lord. That wee may continually pray in feeling, [Page] Leade vs not into temptation, but deliuer vs from euill.

12 Carrying alwaies a reuerent and thankfull acknowledgement of his absolute kingdome,Acknowledging euer his soueraigntie, and how he disposeth al for his own glorie, and the good of his elect. power and soueraigntie ouer all creatures, that hee ouerrules both the rage of men and diuels, and all other things in heauen and earth, disposing all to his owne glorie, and the saluation of his obedient subiects and children; that we may be euer able to sound forth with thankfulnes, For thine is the kingdome, power and glory for euer and euer.

13 Lastly wee must bee such true beleeuers,Able in true faith with thākfulnes to say Amen. as being assured that hee will graunt all that we beg, as shall bee most for his own glory, and the greatest good of his elect, do rest our selues wholly vpon his fatherly loue, being able in thankfulnesse euer to say: Amen; Lord let it be so as we doe assure our hearts it shal bee.

THE POWER OF true Prayer.

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1 WHen we are such sound Christians,To giue vs assurance of Gods fauour. and vse to pray in this manner, wee shall haue a certaine assurance that we are Gods children,Rom. 10. 12. and in his fauour,Rom. 8. 15. 16. 26. and such as shall be saued vndoubtedly: for this is the Lords seale and the earnest of our inheritance.2 Cor. 1. 22.

2 We shall haue a comfortable and sanctified vse of all things wee enioy.To haue all things sanctified vnto vs. 1. Tim. 4. 5.

3 We shall bee sure to obtaine whatsoeuer he hath taught vs to pray for;To obtaine whatsoeuer we so pray for. so far as shal be for his owne glory and our good; for the very forme of prayer containes a most gratious promise; that so asking we shall obtaine: otherwise our Sauiour would neuer haue taught vs to pray so; assuring vs that if wee aske in faith we shall haue, and that according [Page] to our faith, it shall bee done vnto vs.

4 The seruent prayers of a few of vs,For the turning away any iudgement from our Land, or procuring any blessing. being such as are described, shall doe more for turning away any iudgement from the Church; discouering and ouerthrowing the deepest plots of Gods enemies, or for procuring any blessing to our Land, then many of our valiantest souldiers and wisest polititians; or then many thousands of our enemies, & hundred thousands of the wicked ioyning with them to prouoke the Lord by their sins, can doe to bring a iudgement vpon vs. For wee know how many times that one Moses staied the Lords hand, that he could not destroy his people; and also that Eliah was the Chariots and horsemen of Israel; yet were they men subiect to like passions that we are: for our God is still the same of infinite compassion; and therefore looke what Gods seruants haue been formerly able to doe by their praiers, the same shall wee doe still, so farre as shall be necessarie, if we striue to walke in their steps. So that we haue no cause to feare, sith one of them [Page] alone could so farre preuaile with the Lord, but that many of vs ioyning as an a mie to compasse the Lord about with our prayers and teares, may much more ouercome his heauenly Maiestie, if our hearts and hands be steadie with Moses; especially he hauing shewed such tokens of his compassion and loue towards his chosen flocke amongst vs, as neuer in any age more:Ezech. 22. 30. and now calling vs also to stand vp in the breach,Iob 22. 30. hauing assured vs that the innocent shall deliuer the Iland. Therefore all of vs that feare the Lord, must cheerfully each incourage one another to this dutie,Deut. 20. 1. 3. 4. confirming the wea [...]e hands and wearie knees;Heb. 12. 12. being certainly assured of this at least, that though the Lords decree should bee gone forth against vs for all our exceeding prouocations, and that hee would not spare the whole at our prayers, (whereof notwithstanding we may haue gratious hope to the contrarie, if we can but find our harts feruently set to this dutie of prayer) yet we shall saue our owne soules,Ezek. 14. 14. and the Lord will bee vnto vs as a sanctuarie, [Page] whereas otherwise, if such a iudgement come vpon vs, as hath been so oft almost fully executed, (which the Lord in mercie still saue vs from) we are all accessary to it, who haue not sought in time to turne it away, and accursed with Meroz, Iudg. 5. 23. because we came not to helpe the Lord against the mightie: and so shall find nothing but feare and an euill conscience to chase vs:Prou. 28. 1. whereas on the contrarie wee shall be strong and couragious as Lions whatsoeuer come to passe; knowing that euen in the midst of the fire there he will bee with vs,Esay 43. 1. 2. 3. that the flame shall not so much as kindle on vs (more then he wil dispose to his own exceeding glorie and our endlesse comfort) and also in the flouds that they do not ouerwhelme vs.

A MOST HEAVENlie and sure rule according to the whole Lords Prayer in order: whereby wee may grow to strong assurance and much power in Prayer.

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LIue alwaies as an obediēt child, in the eye of thy heauenly Father; humbled in the reuerence of his most holy and glorious Maiestie, and in the sense of thine owne vilenesse and vnworthines to be called his childe; longing vntill he take thee vnto himselfe into the heauens; studying what way thou mayest Let the desire of the two first petitions be euer in thy hart, & beg al other things for them only as being the end of all, then shalt thou bee each way most blessed, and aske what thou wilt so, & thou shall receiue it. honor him most in the meane time: and that first by yeelding all obedience to the lawes of his kingdome, and gayning moe thereunto: attending continually what his diuine will and pleasure is concerning thee, chiefely in thy particular [Page] calling, and the charge committed vnto thee: and then thou shalt surely find him God all-sufficient vnto thee, more tender ouer thee then euer was father or mother, performing vnto thee all his promises according to all thy petitions, for this and for the better life; and sealing vnto thee a plentifull assurance of the free pardon of all thy sinnes in the blood of his Sonne Iesus Christ; and that he will saue thee from the tempter, and all euill that they shall not hurt thee: That thou shall be able with all ioy and thankfulnes to acknowledge vpon happie experience, his absolute kingdome and power, and so to giue him continually with all his holy Angels, all glory, praise and dominion, resting thy selfe most fully satisfied in his onely loue and fauour for euer and euer.

THE SVMME OF all in other words, most plainly; for the vnderstanding of the simplest.

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OBserue diligently the Watch of the Lord; growing daily in the practise of euery Commā dement, and faith in all his promises: and keepe in thy heart a Catalogue or short summe of thine owne chiefe sins, wants and infirmities, together with the maine sins and wants of the Land, and tokens of the Lords wrath due therunto (gathered by wise obseruation according to the rule of the Watch) and withall set before thee the infinitnesse of the Lords loue and compassion towards his, with his speciall fauours towards thy selfe: and then pray feruently in faith to thy heauenly Father, looking stedfastlie at Iesus Christ thy Sauiour; crying [Page] onely in zeale for his glorie and kingdome; and thou shalt bee able to pierce the heauens; to preuaile with God as Iacob, and much more with men; and finde by good experience the truth of that promise,Esay 65. 24. that before thou callest God will answere; and whilest thou speakest hee will heare.

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THE PERFECT RVLE AND SVMME of Prayer.

Our Father] Oh Lord most holy and glorious, terrible to all the wicked, but most gratious and ful of compassion towards all that desire to obey al thy Commaundements: we that are but dust and ashes, children of wrath by nature, and most rebellious of all thy creaturs, dare not of our selues once [Page] lift vp our eies to heauen.

Father.] Yet neuerthelesse seeing it hath pleased thee to receiue vs for thine own children by grace, thorow thy Son Iesus Christ, by whō thou hast purchased & ordained vs to eternal glory, and giuē him to be our mediatour; wee come before thee, (oh Father) in his name; magnifying thee for this fauour, beeing the greatest happines that euer could befall vs.

[Page] Increase in vs daily this assurāce, by making vs to grow in repē tance & faith; & framing vs to the image of thy Son, in al knowledge▪ loue & obedience; wholly changing and renewing vs, that wee may bee no longer strāgers from thee, but may delight to be euer in thy presēce, hearing thy voice or speaking to thee in prayer, crying, Oh Father.

[Page] Our] And that it may bee more euident that thou art our Father indeede, giue vs grace to loue thy childrē aboue all other for thy sake: and each so much more, as they more excell in vertue, and are more deare vnto thee, that we may daily remember them in al our prayers, saying; [Page] Our Father: And delight in their companies onely, as those with whom we shal liue for euer. Knit our harts in brotherlie loue, that wee may tenderlie comfort & edifie one another, afraide of grieuing or hindering, & much more of turning anie one out of the way of life.

Let our holie agreemēt in al the substance of thy truth, with our ioint profession to walk together in the path of life, bee of [Page] more force to vnite vs, then all the trash of the world, or cunning of Satan to diuide vs.

Are we not all that so walke, thine owne children, and coheires of thy kingdom; notwithstanding all our imperfections and some lesse diuersities which must accōpanie vs while wee are in the earth.

Cōfoūd therfore all deuices working this diuision, to thy dishonor [Page] & reioycing to our enemies, who thus conspire to worke our shame & ruin, if it were possible.

Let vs neuer rest vntill wee finde these hartie affections towards al thy childrē, that heereby we may know certainly that we are trāslated frō death to life, whē we can pray, Our father.

VVhich art in heauen▪] And whereas thou raignest in [Page] the heauens where thou hast prouided throns for vs, humble vs stil more, in the sense of thy greatnes; seeing we are but poore wormes crawling in sin.

And yet so lift vp our hearts vnto thee, yt wee may bee with thee, esspecially in all our prayers; lōging to behold thee face to face: & let our cōuersation be so heauēly, that the world may see that wee are thy heauenlie children trauelling [Page] towards thee, & our selues may grow vp to a full assurance that heauē is ours, reserued by our Lord & Sauiour for vs, & all creatures euer to do vs good.

Hallowed] And seeing thou hast vouchsafed vs onelie this honor, to be the heires of thy kingdom, whereas thou mightest iustlie haue lefte vs with [Page] the wicked to euerlasting perdition.

Giue vs grace euer to testifie our thankfulnesse, seeking in and aboue al things to honor thee. Opē our eyes to behold thy power, wisedom & goodnes shining in all thy works, & much more in thy heauē ly word chieflie in all thy iudgmēts vpon thine enemies, & mercies towards thy children, still shewed euery day.

[Page] Make vs able to cōsider of, and set forth the prayses belonging to thee therein, both in word & deed; yt by vs thy great name may be knowne in all the world. Aboue all in that wherein thou hast bin magnified before our eyes, in shewing thy fatherly care for vs, & wrath against our enemies: how for dishonoring thee in abusing thy Gospel, and al thy blessings bestowed on vs aboue all people; thou hast not onely corrected vs [Page] tenderly with thy milder rods, but hast also sundrie times raysed vp most cruell enemies, threatning not onely to take away the Gospell, but our vtter destruction also, and brought them to the very executiō of it, because we would not hearken and turne vnto thee according to thy mercies: yet euer when we haue cried vnto thee, thou hast plucked thē backe in the instant, and taken vē geance for vs: so as we haue [Page] oft thought yt they durst neuer haue attēpted the like againe: & so, as if the most barbarous nations had receiued but the least of our deliuerances with our meanes they would haue repēted long agoe, as wee haue oft promised.

Oh gracious Father make vs euer to acknowledge this, & to see that thy anger is againe more [Page] fearfully kindled, for that these our enemies, (as our sinnes) do stil increase in number and malice, without hope of leauing off their practises, vntil they haue wrought either ours or their owne endlesse ruin.

Good Father, let this token of thy wrath, (together with the arming of the dumbe creatures, both windes and waters so oft threatning our destruction, [Page] for the ouerflow of all iniquitie in euerie place) preuaile so mightily with vs, that wee may all presently seek to appease thine anger. Diddest thou not before ye bloodie and fiery conspiracie warne vs all from heauen (as thou didst Ierusalem) inclosing vs in a fiery tent with pillers of darknesse, of fire & blood (foreshewing vs as by yt which followed we may iustlie deeme) yt bloodie destructiō which was towards vs?

[Page] Did not many of our hearts trēble at that sight, causing vs to seeke more earnestly to turne away the future euils?

And feared wee without cause? Had it not bin effected indeed, and we all inclosed in the most dark, fiery and bloody tent that euer ye world heard of; if yu hadst not heard the prayers of thy poore children, in the verie instant, and remembred vs in mercie?

[Page] And shall wee remain senselesse still in the middest of the tokens of thy wrath, making the whole land to trēble at the report of thē? Saue vs from that the heauiest iudgmēt that euer fell vpon the hart of man, wherby not onely the Egyptiās, but also thine owne people were prepared for their final desolatiō, so oft threatned by our Sauiour, that by seeing wee should see & not perceiue, but haue our [Page] harts more ful (by al ye means vsed for our repentance) lest we should conuert & be spared.

Opē our eyes to see our fearful estate, and how farre this iudgemēt hath seased on vs already. Conuert vs & we shal be cō uerted, & not harden our selues against the tokens of thy wrath, thy word and seruants.

[Page] Oh leaue vs not vnto thē whose mercies are crueltie, to cause them to blaspheme, but let vs still fall into thy hāds who pitiest vs whē thou smitest vs, and in wrath remembrest mercie.

Though our sinnes be haynous [Page] to anger thee, yet let the cry of thy seruants still preuaile.

Hast thou not saide it, that the innocent shall deliuer the Iland? and dost thou not cal vs to stand vp in ye breach, because thou wouldest not destroy vs? Hast thou not beene wont to pardon whole natiōs at the prayers of a few of thy seruants?

Therefore we thy remembrācers [Page] (knowing that thou art still the same, as to thy seruāts in former time, and wee as deare vnto thee; and that thou cāst denie vs nothing which we beg in thy Sonnes name, according to thy will, for our good) doe humblie intreate thee, to glorifie thy mercie in pardoning our sin, and turning vs speedilie vnto thee; but make thine enemies to feele thy hand, & those chiefely, who haue as Balaam caused vs to prouoke [Page] thee so grieuously, that we haue been so oft in so fearefull danger, by our backslidings and rebelliōs.

Get thy selfe glory vpō thē as vpon Pharaoh, that whē thou hast deliuered vs and ouerthrowne thē, as fundrie times thou hast begun, wee may sing praises, and euer keep a remembrāce of thy mercie.

Let vs bee afraid of obscuring any part of thy glorie; [Page] and much more of seeking our own honour, or taking any part of thine honour to our selues, being proud of thy gifts. But aboue all, keep vs from dishonoring thee, by our sinfull liues amongst the wicked, to cause them to blaspheme.

Let this bee our honor to honour thee, and contrarily our greatest dishonor.

Strēgthen vs to walk so vprightly, that others seeing our good workes, may [Page] glorifie thee, and wee may weare the reproch of the wicked as a crowne.

So kindle the zeale of thy glorie in our harts, that we may bee grieued continually for all the dishonors done vnto thee. And that insteede of being ashamed of thee, or any part of thy truth, we may euer professe it with all holie wisedome, and boldnesse as our chiefest glory; that our Sauiour may acknowledge vs before thee in the presēce [Page] of men & Angels, to be the heires of thy kingdom; whē he will denie all other, as those whom hee neuer knew, to their endlesse confusion.

Thy kingdome come]

And whereas thou (oh Father) art chiefly glorified in the increase of thine owne people which obey thy word, amongst whom onelie thou raignest, and especiallie when thou causest thy religion [Page] & people to prosper against all the power of hell: Grant thy Gospell whereby thou conquerest & rulest, to be sincerelie preached euery where, and make it so powerful that it may destroy the kingdome of Satā & Antichrist; & gather all thine vnto thee, that so thou mayest hasten thy glorious kingdome.

And to this end, raise vp Kings and Queenes to nourish vs with the word [Page] of life, & preserue vs from the rage of all our cruel enemies, especially that bloody Antichrist: and for those that are such already, make thē ten times more, accounting this their greatest dignitie to haue the bringing vp of ye heires of thy kingdome committed vnto them.

And as it hath pleased thee to settle this kingdome in so great peace amongst vs, deliuering vs frō that blood thirstie whore of Babylon, & [Page] to cōtinue the same beyond all former expectation vnder our dread Soueraigne, so indue him with such an abūdant portiō of thy Spirit, according to that high dignitie laide vpon him; and with such tender affections towards thy children, that in token of true thankfulnes for all his dominions, & chiefelie the wōderfull deliuerances of his Maiestie & his, (and of all vs thy people principally by him) hee may set himselfe with Iehosaphat [Page] and Ezechiah, & other worthie Kings of Iuda, to inlarge thy king dome, & promote thy pure religion, destroying al vngodlines; and to procure each way the good of vs thy poor childrē cōmitted to him; that al we being still more loyallie affected, as toward our most happie nursing father vnder thee, & as al the good people were towards Dauid, may euer sound foorth thy praises for him, and pray earnestlie for his preseruation, [Page] & of our Queene with all their royal progenie, that his kingdome may bee established vntill Christ shall come, to resigne vp this earthly scepter and raigne with thee eternally.

[Page] Giue all our Rulers ye same heart, yt they may be as the hāds of thine annointed in euery place, for this purpose.

And as thou hast ordained chiefely to finish thy kingdome by the preaching of thy Gospell, which thou did dest first spread by thy holy Apostles subduing the world therby, so wee pray thee to send foorth such powerful preachers into euerie congregation, which [Page] may not cease to admonish euerie one with teares: framing thē selues by all holy meanes to win all; afraid of the least offence, which might hinder the saluation of anie one. Awaken at length all sorts of vncō scionable ministers, drūkē with ye blood of their people; that remēbring the crie of Abels blood, they may be thinke themselues in time what to answere when Christ shall come: and either giue thē repentance & [Page] care for their peoples saluation, or free them frō thē, and cōmit thē to such by whō they may bee brought into obediēce to the lawes of thy kingdome; that thou alone maiest raigne as Lord amongst them, Antichrist being cast out vtterly, with al things whereby hee hath kept any of thy people vnder his slauerie, or seekes to pull them into Babylon.

[Page] Deface (oh Lord) all the prints of his Idolatrie, and cut off all hopes of euer building vp Babel againe.

And seeing the chiefe glorie and safetie of thy kingdom, is in the vnity of thy subiects; take away, good Lord, all causes of contentions. Confound all the plots of cursed Balaam, who knowing that no kingdome diuided can stād, seeks to rend thy Church in peeces, the easier to preuaile against [Page] it, when thou art also departed from it; as euer Satan hath beene wont. Graunt yt we may buy this peace, with the losse of all, except thy fauor, that al sorts seeing our holie agreemēt, may ioyne themselues vnto vs, and come into the bosome of thy Church. And moreouer, sith thou wilt haue euery one to helpe to build vp thy kingdome, and to saue others by bringing them therunto, graunt vs more care, not onely for our [Page] charges committed to vs; but for euerie one tied vnto vs by any special bond that wee may take euery first occasion for gaining them vnto thee, by all holy meanes.

Let vs not rest before they be safe. And that wee may preuaile the more, giue vs (oh Lord) a sweet feeling what a blessed thing it is to be of thy kingdome, & partakers of thy glorie: euen to be Kings & Priests vnto thee; and what happines [Page] there is in liuing such a holy conuersation, & how wretched the state of all other people is, being bōdslaues of Saran, and reserued for hell.

Graunt vs to liue in all things, as thy obedient subiects, that wee may passe frō this kingdom of grace into thy glorious kingdome.

Make vs to feare the occasiōs of backsliding, that wee neuer so much as once look back vnto the world, [Page] but hie fast towards heauē where our Sauiour keeps possession for vs. Destroy in vs all our corruption, wherby Satan preuailes against vs. Hastē that day when the differēce shall appeare between vs and thē that feare thee not, whē we shal raigne with thee for euer.

And because wee now liue by faith, and not by sight, the wicked oft flourishing whē thy children are afflicted: [Page] Oh Lord increase our faith in all thy sweete promises, yt through the comfort of it, & power of godlinesse, we may grow vp to a full assurance, that wee are the true heires of thy kingdome and ouercome all hinderances, that being faithful to the death, we may haue the crown of life. Fill our hearts with such peace & ioy, with all the fruits of righteousnes, that all may see to what kingdome wee belong, and wee feeling ye beginning [Page] of it here, may enter into thy heauenly ioy. Thy wil be &c.] And that our childlike affectiōs, with our zeale & thākfulnesse, may more appeare to all ye world; quicken vs to do thy heauē ly will, chiefelie wherein thou hast shewed vs how thou wilt haue vs walk, that wee may do it cheerefullie, as the Angels.

Accept our will for the deede. Let it be our chiefe desire to stād in thy presence, [Page] to enquire by all holy meanes what thy diuine pleasure is: and euer so soone as thou hast made it knowne vnto vs, giue vs Dauids Eccho, to say I am heere Lord to doe thy will, thy law is within my heart.

And whereas it is thy decree, that thorow many troubles wee must enter into thy kingdome; (good Father) subdue our corrupt wils to thy holy will, that hūbling our selues vnder [Page] thy hand, we may trie & reforme our waies immediately, without once whispering against thee: knowing yt in loue thou so workest our good in all our trials, and wilt giue vs a happy issue in thy due time.

And if it shall bee thy good pleasure to cal vs to suffer for thy name; keepe vs that we may suffer as thine owne children for righteousnes, and then to take vp our crosses with thankfulnes, [Page] reioicing that thou countest vs worthy that honour, looking stedfastly at our Lord & Sauiour, who hauing▪ first troden yt way before vs, sits for euer in glorie at thy right hand. But keepe vs that we neuer do any thing against thy reuealed will, to procure therby neuer so great a good; seeing thou canst and wilt effect whatsoeuer is best without our sin. That wee may euer truly pray; Thy will bee done in earth, as it is in heauen.

[Page] Giue vs this day &c.]

And thou (oh deare Father) when wee are such; that ye world may see thy tēder care ouer vs, and how thou fulfillest thy promises vnto vs, & that wee may the better attend the seeking of thy glorie and good pleasure; vouchsafe vs the cō forts of this present life. Shew vs thy loue in prouiding for vs in due time. Direct vs to vse all painfulnes and holy wisdom, chiefely [Page] in our particular calling, with all the meanes to serue thy prouidence: auoiding whatsoeuer may hinder our comfort, or hurt our estate. Graunt vs to hide our selus vnder thy watchful protection, knowing that our times are in thy hand, to continue as pleaseth thee; and to consider that of our selues, we cannot prolong our liues one minute, nor haue any power to get one morsell of bread, vnlesse thou both [Page] shew vs the meanes, assist vs to vse thē, & giue a blessing to them. Hūble vs here in, that wee are not worthie the least crumme of bread, which we are taught to beg daily: and that wee are but vsurpers of it, and of whatsoeuer else we haue, vnlesse we be in Christ; because wee hauing lost all, can haue no right to anie thing vntill it bee restored vnto vs in him who is Lord of all. Increase our assurance that thou hast giuen him vnto [Page] vs, yt we may haue a true title to whatsoeuer wee enioy. Blesse thy good creaturs to nourish & comfort vs.

Giue vs contented hearts though wee haue but bread, acknowledging thy fatherlie prouidēce as wel in want as plentie, and that thou wilt make euen bread sufficient when other means faile.

And if we shal come to haue no more but for the present [Page] day, nor any meanes of succour; then strengthen vs to cast our selues vpon thee without fainting, and to shew that we liue not by bread onelie, but by thy power & tender care and blessing Certifie our consciences, that though wicked men may bee hungerstarued, yet thou wilt neuer let any of vs that serue thee, being heires of thy kingdome, to wāt any thing that is good for vs, but wilt work extraordinarilie causing [Page] our enemies to feede vs, or the fouls to bring vs meate, rather then we shall want. Keep vs therfore from carking cares aforehand, for prouision for vs or ours, & much more from murmuring, whereby thou art dishonored & prouoked. Make vs able to sanctifie thee, vsing only the means for thy protection & prouidēce, cō mending our selues wholly vnto thee, being certainlie assured that thou canst not faile vs. And [Page] whē thou dost bestow thy gifts vpon vs, make vs to behold thy good nesse in them, vsing thē holily, & neuer abusing them to satisfie our lustes, or to puffe vs vp, or set our confidence & loue vpon thē; but that wee may imploy them to maintaine thy worship & seruice, and performe all holie duties, especially for the reliefe of thy children, for whom we are to praie daily, and to whom thou hast giuen an interest in the vse of them; [Page] that so we may shew our thākfulnesse to thy heauenly Maiestie, loue to thy childrē and chiefelie the most excellent, and therein the true practise of the Communion of Saints, wayting for the ioyfull sentence, [Page] Come ye blessed of my Father, receiue the kingdome prepared for you &c.

Forgiue vs our trespasses.]

And whereas our sins onely doe hinder, & turne from vs all these blessings which we haue begged▪ and bring innumerable euils vpon vs, insteede of thē, & so make vs most vnhappie, wherupō thou hast taught vs to crie euerie day, forgiue vs our sinnes;

Pardon (good Lord) and remoue all our [Page] sinnes out of thy sight. And to ye end that we may neuer giue thee rest vntill we haue gotten this assurance; teach vs that herein is all true happines, and without it we are most miserable, & without all hope of comfort.

Shew vs also the haynousnesse of sinne, declared in the fearefull punishment of thy most glorious Angels, the excellentest of all thy works, whom for one sinne thou diddest throw downe [Page] vnto hel to be reserued in chaines of darkenesse to the iudgemēt of the great day. And after wards in our first parents cast out of their happie estate accursed in themselues and all their posteritie, euen al vs, vntill wee obtaine deliuerance by laying hold of our Lord and Sauiour. Make vs able yet more plainely to behold the same, not only in the generall destruction of the olde world; turning Sodom into [Page] ashes; preparing hell for an euerlasting punishment to all vnbeleeuers and impenitent sinners; but also in thy seueritie against thine owne children, as in cutting off Moses (onelie for that hee did not sanctifie thee at the waters of strif) that he could not enter into Canaan, after hee had led thy people forty yeers and now brought them to the borders of it.

[Page] And besides the heauy punishmēt of Dauid and his house all his life long, and the fearefull iudgemēts on many of thine owne faithful seruāts. Teach vs to cōceiue aright of the vilenesse and danger of sin hereby, that the least sinne of thine elect could neuer haue bin ransomed, but by the sacrifice of thine owne deare Sonne; and how thou diddest powre out vpon him the ful viols of thy wrath, to cause him to crie, my God vvhy hast thou [Page]forsaken mee.

Giue vs a continuall meditation hereof, and of the innumerable euils which euerie sinne brings on thine owne children, vnlesse they bee preuented by speedy repentance, especially depriuing vs of all true comfort and power in praier, so long as wee remaine therein without repētāce, besides ye losse of many extraordinary fauours. Shew vs withal how our sinnes increased, being [Page] committed not onely against thy glorious Maiestie, but also against our high calling, and all thine abūdant mercies with so strong means to restrain vs, besides so many vowes and promises of amendment, & that after pardon formerly obtained and sealed vnto vs.

Grants vs some sight also of the multitude of our sins, not onely in breaking thy Commandements, [Page] in thought, word or deed, but euen in omitting anie part therof, or doing it without all our heart; besides the sin of our first parents whereof wee are all guiltie; and the corruption of our sinful natures whereby wee are so infected with sin, that wee are inclined vnto euil cōtinaully; & vnable to thinke anie thing but that which is sinfull; so little moued by thy iudgemēts or mercies, to make anie right vse therof. [Page] Giue vs such a liuelie sense hereof, & of our daily frailties, in [...]rmities & noysome lustes, flowing from this lothsome sinke, that in the feeling of this bondage of our corruption, wee may euer sigh, desiring to be deliuered therefrom.

Set before our faces also the grieuous sins of our youth, & much more those which [Page] we haue committed since our high calling, contrarie to our consciences, and whereby wee haue dishonored thee to the reproach of thy Gospel, griefe of thy seruants, or hindering the saluation of any soule: that by al these we beholding the infinitenes of our debt, and our great misery therby, that we may runne continually to the fountaine of thy Sonnes blood, which is open to all the house of Israel for sin & vncleannesse, crying, Wash [Page] me thorowlie from my sin, purge and purifie me. And yet that the vgelie view of them may not vtterly dismay vs, as though we could not be purged frō them; comfort vs in the infinite worth & merit of thy Sonnes blood which is al-sufficient to cleanse vs thorowly, although wee had al the sins of the world vpon vs, so long as wee can crie to be washed therin. But yet seing thou admittest none to this fountaine, but only [Page] them that come in true fainth, and vnfaied repentance for all their sins, resoluing to liue a new life, and crying after this fountain:

Make vs able in the sense of our vilenes by nature, and our particular sins, to mourn bitterly when wee looke at thy Son whō we haue pearced thereby, and so to hate sinne, that we may be afraid of euer defiling our selues againe, sinning against that precious blood.

[Page] Helpe vs to trie our repē tance & faith to bee such as are sound, & haue beene wrought in vs by the preaching of the Gospel, & do cōtinually increase, which are the certaine euidences thereof.

Grāt vs grace to iudge our selues daily, yt we may not be iudged of thee. Remember vs also, we intreate thee againe, for our sinfull Land; though euen the earth bee [Page] corrupt, & the crie of the sinnes exceeding great, yet let the cry of vs thy childrē in euery corner preuaile against ye crie of the sinnes, that thy mercie may bee magnified in all the world. As vvee for giue &c.] And as thou hast taught vs to pray onely so to be forgiuē, as we forgiue others; assuring vs that if we do forgiue wee shall bee forgiuen, and otherwise we shall neuer bee forgiuen. Change our malicious and proud hearts, [Page] that although we hate ye sins and company of the wicked, and reioice in the execution of thy righteous iudgmēts, and pray daily for the confounding of al the wicked practises and deuises of the enemies of thy Church; that yet wee may seeke the saluation of al sorts: and for them that are our enemies but vpon priuate respects, giue vs grace to pray earnestly for thē that they may repent & obtaine mercie.

[Page] And that wee may seeke to pacifie them, by offering them full satisfaction, and doing them any good, so far as may stād with their saluation, & the credit of the Gospell, to heape coales vpon their heads, either to gaine them or leaue them more without excuse; and to seale vp to our selues a ful remission of all our sins therby.

[Page] Leade vs not into temptation.] And seing our deadly enemy seekes hourely to tempt vs to sin to dishonour thee, and become his vassals, yt thou mightest leaue vs in his hand to execute his malice vpon vs, and bring vpon vs al the euils which follow sinne, wherupon our Sauiour hath taught vs to pray, Leade vs not into temptation: Open our eies (good Father) to see our continual danger; and [Page] first for the multitude of damned spirits ranging vp and downe as roaring Lions to deuour vs. Teach vs to know that they are able to bring vs to as fearful sins as euer were committed, & to destroy vs vtterlie in a moment with all that wee haue, if thou giue them leaue. Acquaint vs with their subt [...]lties in fitting their temptations to our particular estates and dispositiōs which they know, by dogging vs euer, & taking [Page] their aduantages to solicite vs to those sinnes, whereby they haue most preuailed against vs formerly or against other thy seruants; and how they are wont also to draw vs on by degrees, as first to yeelde to some smaller matters which are accounted no sinnes; or to thrust our selues carelessely or with our warrant into the danger and occasions of temptation, neglecting the calling laid vpon vs, as Dauid to lie on his bed [Page] in the afternoones insteede of looking to the affaires of his kingdome.

Make vs able to consider how they haue all the baites of the world, both the credit, riches & pleasures thereof, which they euer hold forth vnto vs, if wee will follow their counsel; and otherwise threaten not only the losse of all these, but also of all comforts, with hatred, disgrace and many other euils which wee must suffer frō [Page] malicious mē, if we wil make such a strict conscience of all our waies, to the verie least duty that thou hast cō manded.

And whereas wee are ordinarilie secure in ouerweening of our own strength; Shew vs (oh Lord) the vilenesse of our corrupt natures, which are euer readie to conspire with Satan to our vtter perdition, & to swallow euery baite which he layeth [Page] for vs, without anie feare of danger; so that wee haue no strēgth, more then thou reachest forth thine hand to helpe vs. Reueale vnto vs also the danger wee stand in frō thy glorious Maiesty, lest yu shouldest leaue vs vp vnto the power of the tempter, and our owne corruption; to awake vs from our security, for our neglect of thy watch, & carelesse vsing the meanes of grace, or at least for tēpting thee, in not auoiding [Page] each occasion of temptatiō.

And seing the tempter in all his temptations, hideth the danger & vglines of sin, shewing only the faire side of it, that is, the go [...]d that wee shall get thereby, and chuseth the subtillest and fittest instrumēts to serue his purpose, as the counsel or example of men of chiefest reputatiō, somtimes chā ging himselfe into an Angel of light, neuer comming like himself; wherby hee deceiues [Page] all the world, and oft preuailes with vs thine owne children, at least to presume to sinne, because thou art so mercifull;

Good Father set before vs a cōtinual view hereof, and of the sundry euils which by euery sin wee ha [...]e vpō our heads; especially the woūd of conscience which wil certainely come on vs vnlesse it be preuented, & which none can beare. Make vs to know that howsoeuer [Page] reprobats may wallow in their filth, and scape vnpunished here, being reserued for hell, and fatted for destruction: yet thou wilt not suffer any of vs thy childrē, who haue begunne to make a profession of thee according to thy word, to commit the very least sin, but wilt make vs feele the smart of it, vnlesse wee preuēt thee speedily by repentance, because thou wilt not bee dishonored by vs, nor haue vs condemned with [Page] the world; & that the wicked may see thy hatred against sin, and what plagues remaine for thēselues for euermore. Yea (oh holie Father) let vs feare alwaies lest thou shouldest leaue vs neuer so little, & suspect all our waies, in as much as Satan more maliceth vs, thē any other of the world, and therefore seeks hourely to prouoke thee to leaue vs in his hand, and for that our sins will cause moto blaspheme, hardening thē [Page] to perdition, than the sins of any other: wherupon verie few of thy worthiest seruants haue escaped to the end; without some grieuous wounds, the scarres wherof they haue carried to their graues, to the blemishing their professiō, the griefe of thē selues and all the godlie. And therfore as thou hast giuen vs this only remedie to watch and pray that wee enter not into temptation, so make vs able to keepe this thy [Page] watch, and by it to bee better acquainted with our selues, & our particular infirmities, that wee may alwaies weare the compleat armour, chieflie the shield of faith, & thy Word euer in readinesse against each temptation, which w [...]l put Satā to flight; that being strēgthned by thy Spirit, we may stand fast in the euill day, & get the cōquest without anie grieuous wounds; to thy greater glorie, & our owne greater honor in the [Page] heauens: Wee do not pray against temptations altogether, knowing the profit that wee reape thereby; but that wee may indure fighting valiantly and conquering, vntill thou set the crowne vpon our heads.

For thine is the &c.] We haue been bold to beg all these things of thee (oh holy Father▪) because all kingdome, power & glorie are onelie thine; acknowledging [Page] that we haue receiued all from thy heauenly bounty; and being assured th thou wilt grāt vs all these things for thy Sonnes sake, and whatsoeuer else is good for vs, so far as shall bee for thine owne glorie, seeing thou art absolute Lord & King in heauē and in earth, and doest dispose, guide and ouerrule all things, as shal make most for thine owne glorie, and the greatest good of vs thine obedient [Page] subiects and children;

That we may set foorth the glorie of thy dominiō, and happinesse of thy Kingdom, liuing as thy loyal subiects; to which wee hereby binde our selues for euer; and so returne all possible thāks and praise to thy heauenly Maiestie, saying euer, Amē.

Be it so (oh Lord holy & true) as wee [Page] fully beleeue it shall bee. Euen so Amen: Come Lord Iesus, come quicklie.

§

[Page] OVr Father which art in heauen]1. We must come trembling, because of Gods glorious Maiesty: Oh Lord most holy and most glorious, whose brightnes the Angels are not able to behold, so terrible to all the vngodly, as they shall wish the mountaines to couer them, that they may neuer appeare in thy presence; and yet a most gratious and tender Father to all thy children that desire to obey all thy Cōmandements:And our ovvne vilenesse by nature. we that are but dust and ashes, and by nature through the fal of our first parents, [Page] children of wrath in state of damnatiō, bond-slaues of Satan, and most rebellious of all thy creatures, dare not presume of our selues, once to lift vp our eies to heauen;2. Yet in cō fident boldnes, as to our Father in Christ. yet neuertheles seeing it hath pleased thee of thy free mercie to adopt vs to be thy childrē by grace, through thy Son Iesus Christ, and hast chosen vs hereunto, bought vs with his precious blood, called vs by thy Gospel, sealed vs with thy Spirit, and giuen him to bee our perpetuall mediator at thy right hand, bidden vs to come to thee as to our tēder father, and call thee father through him; oh deare Father wee present our selues before thy diuine Maiestie onely in his name,3. Onely in the name of Christ our Mediator. magnifying [Page] thy mercie that thou hast4. With thankfulnes for our happiestate in him. vouchsafed vs this blessed estate to be thy children,Watch. ed. 2. p. 1. l. 1. 2. and to haue thy fauor, being the greatest happines that euer can befal mortal creatures.5. Begging an increase of our assurance. Giue vs hearts (most gratious Father) to seek daily to increase this assurance, by growing in repentance for all our sins and faith in thy sweet promises; frame vs euery day more & more to the image of thy Sonne,By more conformitie to Christ in knowledge. Watch. pag. 88 lin. 6. in all knowledge of thy heauē ly Maiesty;And al childlike affections. being affectioned to reuerence, loue and obey thee as our most deare Father, wholly chā ged in all the parts & qualities both of our soules and bodies; that we may be no longer strangers frō thee, as all the wicked are, who bidde thee to depart [Page] from them; but may take our chiefest delight to be euer in thy presence,Delighting in the presence of our Father. to heare thee to speak to vs in thy heauēly word, & to vtter all our wants and our whole heart to thee in our praiers, crying, Oh Father.

Our] And that it may be more euident,6. And an increase of our loue to al Gods children: not only to our selues, but to all the world, that wee are thine own children indeed, giue vs hearts to loue all thy children, being our brethren and sisters, aboue all other for thy sake alone: and euery one so much the more, as they more liuely carry thy image in all holines excelling in vertue,Chiefely as they more excell in vertue: and so are more deare vnto thy heauenly Maiestie; that we may euery day in all our prayers remember them as our selues, begging [Page] alike for them all, saying,By praying for them as for our selues, and delighting in their companies. Our Father: And that wee may delight in their companies onely, as those with whom we shall cōuerse together for euer in the heauens. Knit all our hearts in this firme bond of brotherly loue,Begging most instantly our heauenly vnion to bee shevved in al duties: that we may tenderly exhort, releeue, helpe, comfort & support the weakenesses one of another, seeking by all meanes the edifying of others, afraid of giuing the least offence to grieue, and much more to hinder the saluation or turne any one out of the way of life.Confirmed by all bonds of agreement: Let this happie brotherhood and holy agreemēt in all the substance of thy truth, which is able vndoubtedlie to saue our soules, together with our ioynt profession [Page] to walke hand in hand, in all the narrow way of life, haue more power firmely to vnite vs, then all the trash, pompe or pleasure of the world, with all the cunning of Satan or Antichrist can haue to diuide vs.

Are wee not all that so walke,And common interest. thine owne children, hauing thy Son our Sauiour, thy Spirit our cō forter and earnest for our ioint inheritance and glorie; notwithstanding all our infirmitie and imperfections, with some lesse diuersities in iudgement, which must accompanie vs vntill we bee perfect in the heauens?

Confound therefore all the deuices of thine enemies,And all contrarie deuices of our enemies confounded. that worke this euill among thine owne children, [Page] to so great dishonor to thy heauenly Maiestie, whereby our enemies insult ouer vs, who haue conspired thus to worke our shame, and to prouoke thee against vs,Which by our di [...]isio [...] seeke our ruine: to leaue vs into their hāds to our vtter ruin, if it were possible. Deare Father, let vs neuer thinke our state to be good, vntill vve carrie these hartie affections to al thy children,That we may neuer thinke our state good. studying to knit this bond of loue, being able truly thus to pray, Our father. For hereby we know that wee are translated from death vnto life,Vntill vve loue the brethren. because we loue the brethren, and vntill this time we abide still in death.1. Iohn 3. 14.

Which art in heauē 7. To grow in reuerence to our heauenly Father. And whereas thou our Father art highly exalted in the [Page] heauen of heauens, and there also hast prouided thrones for vs thy childrē after wee haue suffered a little; humble vs euermore in the sense of thy greatnesse, together with our owne basenes and vnworthinesse, beeing but poore wormes crawling vpon the earth, & loaden with innumerable sinnes. And yet withall lift vp our hearts alwaies vnto the heauens,8. And in heauenly affections: there to be conuersant with thee our heauēly Father, minding heauenly things▪ especially in all our prayers; longing there to behold thee face to face: and that in the meane time while wee abide heere below,And conuersations: we may be of such heauenly conuersatiōs, so vsing ye world, as if wee vsed it not, that [Page] the world may see that wee are not of it, but pilgrims and strangers here, and thy heauenly childrē:To declare our selues his children. and that our selues also may hereby grow vp to a strong assurance that heauen is ours,Watch. pag. 90. lin. 9. & all the ioyes thereof reserued for vs by our Lord & Sauiour,And heauē ours, and all creatures at a league vvith vs for our good. and all the creatures in heauen and earth at a league with vs to do vs good, so far as shall stand with thine honor and our saluation, euer readie to helpe in time of need.

Hallowed be thy name] And seeing thou (oh tender Father) hast vouchsafed vs this honour aboue the greatest part of the word,For this honour that God hath vouchsafed to vs to be his children. to bee thine▪ owne children and heires of thy glorious kingdom, wheras thou mightest iustlie [Page] haue left vs in our sinnes with all the wicked to euerlasting shame and perditiō.1. To seeke his honor in and aboue al things. Giue vs grace (good Father) to testifie our loue and thankfulnesse all the dayes of our life,VVatch. p. 78. lin. 17. in studying in and aboue al things which way to honor thee.2. To haue our eies open to behold his glory, shining in all his workes, as his Creatures: Open our blinde eyes to this end, to behold the glory of thy wisedome, power, goodnes and righteousnes shining in al thy workes, euen in the basest creature in heauē or earth; and much more in thy heauenly word;VVord: Iudgement: chiefely in all thy terrible iudgements executed vpon the enemies of thy Church therin reueiled,Mercie: with mercies towards thy children,Watch. pag. 31. lin. 17. and which thou still shewest euery day, especiallie towards our selues. [Page] Make vs ab [...]e to take euery occasion to consider of aright,3. To be able to set foorth his praises belonging to him therein, and haue a holy vse of them. and set foorth the praises belonging to thee therein, and haue a holie vse of them both in word & deed, yt by vs thy great name may be knowne & magnified in al the world. Aboue all,4. Chiefely his glory manifested in our daies, for vs and against our enemies. set euer before our faces (good Lord) that wonderfull glory wherein thou hast been magnified in these our daies, and before our daies, in the euident declaration both of thy displeasure against vs of this sinfull nation; and withall of thy mercy and tender care for vs, and wrath against our enemies; how for dishonoring thee,First for vs, in ab [...]ndant mercies. by abusing thy Gospell which thou hast giuen vs with such peace and prosperitie, as neuer [Page] nation knowne before, thou hast not only corrected our grieuous transgressions and securitie,And then correcting vs fa [...]herly for abusing his mercies to his dishonor: So to bring vs to amendment: as a tender Father with thy milder rods of dearth, pestilence & sundrie the like, to bring vs to amendmēt, and cause vs with more cheerefulnes to embrace thy Gospell, and bring foorth the fruits of it:After threatning vs by cruell enemies, to take avvay all: but also raised vp against vs sundrie times, most cruell enemies, threatning not only the taking away thy Gospell, but our vtter destruction also,Bringing them to the execution: & brought the enemies to the verie execution thereof, because we would not serue thee with good hearts, according to all thy mercies bestowed vpon vs: and yet euer when we haue cried vnto thee, thou hast heard [Page] vs,Yet euer deliuering and auenging vs, vvhen vve haue cried vnto him: as thou diddest thy people Israel, and as thou diddest heare Iehosaphat against the Moabits, and Ezechiah and Esay against the proud Assyrian; and plucking them back in the instant, hast taken vengeance for vs: that we haue oft thought that they durst neuer haue risen against vs any more:So as it had been enough to haue conuerted the most barbarous nation. so as if the most barbarous nations of the earth, had receiued but the least of our deliuerances, with our meanes, they vndoubtedly had repented long ago in sack-cloath and ashes; as we for the present haue promised vnto thee. Oh gratious Father,5. To pray for grace euer to remember and acknowledge this. inable vs alwaies to remember and acknowledge this, and to see moreouer that thine anger is not yet turned away, [Page] but more fearefully kindled against vs,And to see moreouer his anger kindled againe, by increase of our sins, with these bloodie enemies, and their malice. for that as our sins and prouocations are multiplied, so these our bloody enemies insteede of decreasing, or ioyning themselues vnto vs, do still increase daily; and their malice is become much more deadly against vs thy poore children, without hope of leauing off,Without hope of leauing off; vntill they haue their vvils. vntill they haue wrought either ours, or at least their own vtter ruine, which in time they must needs effect.

Good Father cause this principal token of thy displeasure,And also witnessed by many fearefull signes: together with all other signes therof shewed from heauen and earth,Arming windes and vvaters against vs: (as the arming of the dumbe creatures against vs, both winds and waters so strangely and furiously [Page] in so many places, threatning vtterly to sweepe vsThreatning to sweepe vs avvay: away in our deadly securitie,For our ouerflovv of iniquitie, that we may be awaked, and seeke to appease his wrath in in time. for the great ouerflow of all iniquitie euerie where) cause this to work so mightilie, that we may all bee presently awaked out of our deepest securitie, and seek by al meanes to appease thy wrath. Oh Lord, diddest thou not before that most secret,That remembring our former vvarnings from heauē, and vvhat follovved the fierie tent spred ouer our heads. bloodie and fierie conspiracie, warne vs all frō heauen, (as thou diddest Ierusalem before her last destruction) by a fierie tent directly ouer our heads, inclosing vs all, with pillers of most horrible darknes, pillers of fire, and pillers of blood, foreshewing vs (as by that which followed wee may iustlie deeme) that bloody darknesse [Page] and fiery destruction that was towards vs? Did not the hearts of many of vs tremble in the beholding thereof, and in fearing some grieuous iudgment that was to come, causing vs to flie to thee, to seeke to hide our selues vnder thy wings? And did wee feare without iust cause? Had it not been effected indeed, and we all, chiefely our dread Soueraigne with all our heads and rulers, inclosed in the most darke, fiery & bloodie tent, that euer the world heard of; in that most vnnatural and accursed massacre, if thou our gracious and most tender Father haddest not heard the prayers of thy poore children, which both before and at that very instant [Page] were humbled before thee, and so thought on vs in mercy? And shall we now be senselesse still in these signes, & tokens still entring in vpon vs, as fearefully as euer any of the ten plagues vpon the Egyptians,VVee may not be senselesse in these tokens of his wrath, seazing vpon vs as fearefully as any of the piagues of Egypt. making the whole land to tremble, at the very report of them? Saue and deliuer vs from that iudgement,Chiefely to be saued frō that heauiest iudgement: of all other the heauiest that euer fall vpō the heart of man: and whereby not onely the Egytians were prepared for their finall ouerthrow in the sea, but also thine owne people Israel, both before the great captiuitie,VVhereby both Egypt and Israel vvere prepared for [...]estruction. and also before the last and vtter desolation of that natiō, so oft threatned by our Sauiour: (that by hearing we should [Page] heare,That we should be worse for all the meanes sent to call vs to repentance, vntill the iudgement come, that we may s [...]e our estate and turne: & not vnderstand, and seeing we should see, & not perceiue; but haue our hearts made more fat and senselesse (by all the meanes sent to call vs to repentance) lest wee should be conuerted, and thou shouldest spare vs. Oh open our eies that we may see in what state we stand, and how farre this iudgement hath seased vpon vs already. Conuert vs & we shall be conuerted; and neuer let vs, (as those whom thou hast vtterly destroyed) harden our selues against the euident tokens of thy wrath,And not harden our selues against the Lord. denying or making light of them, much lesse to oppose our selues against thee, thy word, and seruants. Preserue vs from the outragious ouerflowings [Page] of the multitude, which thou mayest iustly arme against vs in their ignorance, like the furious waues of the raging seas, for lack of our care & cō science to see thē taught, to knowe thee and thine ordinances, and to feare thy great and mighty name. Let not the flouds of iniquity swallow vs vp. Aboue all,That vvee may neuer fall into the bloody enemies hands: neuer leaue vs in their hands whose very mercies are cruelties, that they should blaspheme thy great name, to say where is now their God; but let vs still fall into thy hands,But still into the Lords. and deale with vs as it pleaseth thee, for with thee is mercy, and when thou smitest vs, yet thou pitiest vs,Because hee pitieth vs vvhen hee smiteth vs. euer in wrath remembring mercie. Though our prouocations [Page] be more hainous, then we are able to expresse, yet Lord heare the crie of thy seruants, and let them stil preuaile6. To pray instantly that the crie of his seruants may preuaile: with thee to stay thy hand. Hast thou not sayd it, and manie a time made it good, euen vnto this very day,As hitherto according to his promise: Sith he cals vs novv to stand in the breach, as Moses to stay his hād: to declare the riches of his mercie: sauing vs still at the prayers of a fevv. that the innocent should deliuer the Iland? & doest thou not call for vs thy poore seruants, to stand vp with Moses in the breach to stay thy fierce wrath, because thou art a God of mercie, and wouldest not destroy thy people? most declaring the riches of thy grace, in pardoning and sauing whole nations at the praiers of a few of thy poore seruants, and giuing the wicked for their ransome? Therfore (oh good Lord) [Page] we whom thou doest call to be thy remembrancers (knowing that thou art still the same good God to thine, as thou wast to Moses, Abraham, And seeing he is still the same to vs, as to Moses and Abraham: and Samuel; and being assured that through thy Son we are as deare vnto thee, as the apple of thine owne eie, that thou canst denie vs nothingAnd vve so deare to him that he can deny vs nothing: which we beg in his name, which may make for thine owne glorie and goodWhich may make for his glorie, and our good: of thy people) do humbly intreate thee to glorifie thy mercy, that it may shine to all the world,To intreate him to magnify his mercie in pardoning and turning our hearts to meete him: in pardoning the sinne of our Land, turning the harts of all sorts speedily vnto thee, to meete thee with an intreatie of peace: but make all the vnplacable enemies of thy Church to feele thy [Page] hand;But to make his enemies to feele his hand, who haue bin the causes of our sinne by their wiles: and those chiefly who haue as Balaam and the Midianites, caused vs with their wiles to prouoke thee to so fierce a wrath, wherein we haue bin so oft and so lately almost vtterly consumed, through our backslidings and rebellions against thee. Get thy selfe glory vpon them as vpon Pharo, To get himselfe glory vpon them, as vpon Pharaoh. in the heart of the sea, that when thou hast deliuered vs, & ouerthrowne them (as sundry times thou hast begunne,As he hath begunne & promised to accomplish to his euerlasting praise. and promised to accomplish) we may sing the song of Moses thy seruant: and all ages keepe a remembrāce of thine endlesse mercy.

Let euery one of vs be afraide of defacing or obscuring any part of thy glory,7. That we may be afraid of obscuring his glory: and much more of [Page] seeking vainly our owne glory,Seeking our owne glory, or taking his honour to our selues. especially of robbing thy Maiestie, by taking any part of thine honour to our selues as Herod; being proud of thy gifts, whereunto our sinfull natures are strongly inclined. But aboue all, keepe vs frō dishonoring thee by our euil example,8. That we may not dishonour him by our sins: amongst the wicked and vngodly, to cause them to blaspheme that glorious truth which we professe. Make vs to account it our greatest honour to honor thee,But account it our greatest honour to honour him; and contrarily. and the greatest dishonour and euill that euer can befall vs, so much as in shewe to dishonour thee. Strengthen vs to walke so vprightly,9. To honour him by our holy ensample. that others seeing our good workes, may glorifie thee our heauenly father; and that we [Page] may stop the mouthes of all the wicked,To stop the mouthes of the wicked. bearing their reproch as a crowne vpon our heads.

So inflame our harts with a zeale of thy glory, that our righteous soules may be vexed from day to day, for all the abominations,10. To haue the zeale of Lot against the abominations of our age. whereby thou art dishonored by Atheists, Papists, and all sorts of godlesse men.11. VVith a bold acknowledgement of the Lord, and euery part of his truth: And let vs be so farre off from dishonoring thee, by being ashamed with Peter of thee and thy religion, or any part thereof, where we ought to professe it, that in all places we may shewe it forth, with all wisdome and boldnesse, as that which is our chiefest glory,As being our glory: gracing it with a holy conuersation: that our Lord & Sauiour may [Page] acknowledge vs before thee our heauenly father,That vvee may be acknowledged of him before all the vvorld: to our ovvne euerlasting honor: in the presēce of thy glorious Angels, and of the whole world, to be thine owne children, and heires of thy Kingdome; when he will most iustly deny all the fearefull and vnbeleuers, as those whom he neuer knew, to their endlesse horror and confusion.

Thy kingdome come.]

And whereas thou (oh Father) art chiefely glorified when thy kingdome commeth,Seeing Gods glorie is in the inlarging his kingdome, and doing his vvill. and thy will is done; that is, in the increase of thine owne Church & people, which obey thy word, amongst whom alone thou raignest as Lord and King, & especially when thou doest inlarge thy dominions [Page] against al the subtlety and power of hell, causing thy religion and people to prosper & increase:1. To pray for a free course to the Gospell, which is the scepter of his kingdome, and that it may be powerfull euery where. Good father giue thy Gospell (which is the scepter of thy kingdome) whereby thou conquerest and rulest, a free course to be sincerely preached in all the world, all impediments being vtterly remoued; and make it so powerfull in all places that it may vtterly throw downe the kingdome of Satan, and Antichrist; conuerting & speedily gathering all thine elect vnto thee, that so thou maiest hasten thy kingdome of glory.

And to this end, wheras thou hast ordained Kings and Queenes, to be nursing fathers and mothers to thy poore2. For Kings and Queens, to be nursing fathers and mothers to the Church: [Page] Church, to nourish vs thy children with the word of life, and to preserue vs frō the rage of that bloody Antichrist,Chiefely to preserue is against the rage of all cruell enemies, and to account this their chiefest dignitie. and of all other cruell enemies; oh almighty and deare Father, raise vp such for vs in all the countries of the world, and those which are such already make thē ten times more, that they may account this their greatest dignity, to haue the bringing vp of thine own children & heires of thy kingdom, cōmitted to their care & faithfulnes.

More specially as thou hast setled this thy kingdome among vs, of this nation in much peace and prosperity, vnder our late tender nursing mother,3. Especially to pray for our soueraigne, raised vp for vs, in place of our tender mother. deliuering vs from the tyranny of that bloodthirsty [Page] whore of Babylon, and continued the same still most miraculously, and beyond all former expectation vnder our gracious Soueraigne, whom thou hast raised vp for a foster father in her place; so we beseech thee to inlarge the hart of thine anoynted seruant,That hee may haue an abundant portion of Gods Spirit: with such an abundant portion of thy Spirit, both of wisdome and zeale for thy glory & kingdome, and tender affections towards thy children,According to his high dignitie and charge: according to that high dignity layd vpon him; and the charge committed vnto him, that in token of true thankfulnes for all his dominions and great honour, and much more for the admirable deliuerances giuen vnto him and his, (and aboue [Page] all that thou hast made him twice, cheifely so wōderfully in our eies, thy principal instrument,And the deliuerances of the Church by him, he may set himselfe to aduance Christs kingdome and Gospell: Watch. pag. 43. lin. 2. in sauing vs thy poore Church) he may set himselfe much more earnestly then euer did Cyrus, or Darius, euen worthy Iehosaphat, and Ezekiah, to aduance thy glory, in inlarging and furthering this kingdome of thy Sonne, and in promoting thy pure religion with all his power, destroying whatsoeuer is against it, and discountenancing all vngodinesse; and to procure each way both by godly lawes,Procure the good of Gods seruants, repressing the vvicked: and all other holy meanes, the good of vs thy poore people committed vnto his trust, repressing all the wicked; that we may liue a quiet [Page] life in all godlinesse and honesty,That vve may liue in al peace and godlinesse without feare, affected towards him as the good people were towards Dauid: fearing none but onely thy heauenly Maiestie: that all we thy children being affected towards him, thine anoynted, more and more, as towards our happy nursing father vnder thee, and as all the good people were towards thy seruant Dauid, may euermore accordingly sound forth thy praises for him,Sound forth his praises: and cry continually vnto thee, for the preseruation of his Maiestie,And pray for him and his, to raigne for euermore. with our noble Queene, and all their royall progenie, that the throne of his kingdome may be establihed vntill Christ, the King of Kings shall come: then to resigne vp the scepter into his hands, and to be taken vp into his throne to [Page] raigne with thee for euermore.

4. For our Magistrates to haue the same harts. Good Lord giue all our Magistrats and Rulers vnder him the same heart, that they may be as the hands of thine anoynted in euery place, for the accomplishment of this worke.

And withall as thou hast appointed to build vp thy kingdome,5. For our Ministers to tread in the steps of the holy Apostles. Watch. p. 45. l. 11. 12. chiefely by the sincere preaching of thy sacred Gospell, whereby thou didst first spread it so speedily, subduing all the world by the Ministrie of thy holy Apostles; so we pray thee send forth such faithfull Preachers, into euery congregation, which being furnished with gifts,Seeking to saue euery soule. and tenderly affected with the care of euery soule, committed [Page] vnto their charge, may not cease with Paul, By vvord, to admonish euery one both publickly and priuately, day & night with teares; going before them in all holy conuersation,And conuersation. and framing themselues to all, to win all; afraid of giuing the least offence, either to harden, or any way to hinder the saluation of any one of them.To awaken all our vnconscionable Ministers: Awakē at length (oh Lord) all our blind guids, and all sorts of vnconscionable Ministers, who are drunke with the blood of soules, that they may but remember,They may remember the crie of Abels blood: how the blood of one Abel did crie for vengance from the earth, and thinke where they wil appeare,And Christ appearing. when Christ shall come to take an account for euery soule: and either [Page] giue them repentance for that bloody sinne,And either to repent & become profitable, or the people may be committed to such, as by whom Christ may raigne, and they saued: that they may saue thēselues, and those committed to them; or else vtterly free thy people from this heauie iudgement, and set such in their places, by whose faithfull Ministrie thy people may bee brought euery where, into a holy obedience to thy heauenly Gospell, to their euerlasting saluation; that thou alone mayest raigne as Lorde and King,Antichrist cast forth: and whatsoeuer belongeth to him, or whereby he hath deceiued the people of the Lord: and Antichrist cast out vtterly, with all that appertaines to his bloody religion, and whereby he hath vpholden his throne and tyrannie, & kept any of thy people vnder his flauery, or at least seekes to bewitch them, to pull them into Babylon againe. [Page] Good Lord destroy all the very prints of that cursed Idolatrie,And the very prints of his Idolatire vtterly destroyed. & whatsoeuer may put his fauorits in hope of euer repayring the ruines of their Babel.

And seeing (oh Lord) yt this is the glory & safetie of thy Kingdome,6. To pray for a holy vnitie in the Church, chiefely amongst the leaders: And to take away all causes of contention, confounding all Balaams deuices. whē all the subiects of it, especially the leaders of thy people, liue in a holy vnitie vnder thy laws: take away we beseech thee, all contentions frō amongst vs, with the causes therof. Confound we pray thee, all the plots of that cursed Balaam of Rome; who knowing that not thine owne kingdome, if it be diuided, can stand, seekes day and night by all his agents, to rend thy Church in peeces, the easier to [Page] preuaile against it when it is diuided,Who seekes by our diuisions, to preuaile against vs. and thou departed from it: as Satan hath euer preuailed by his instruments in all countries. Grant we may buy this peace with godly Abraham, with the losse of all things,And that we may buy this peace with the losse of all. except thy fauour; that all sorts seeing our holy agreement may come forth of Poperie,That all sorts may ioyne themselues vnto vs. & profanenes vnto vs; & our brethren departed, may turne into the bosome of thy Church againe.7. That euery one of vs may haue a care to saue others. Wat. p. 57. l. 14. 15. And wheras thou hast appointed that euery one of vs should labour to build vp thy Kingdome, by bringing others thereunto, that they may be saued; giue vs harts to haue a speciall regard,Especially all committed to our charge: not only of all those committed to our charge, to bring them [Page] in obedience to the lawes of thy Kingdome,With all knit vnto vs by any special bond: but euen all who are tyed vnto vs by any speciall bond, that we may take euery first occasion which thou offerest for procuring,Taking all occasions to saue them by al means, being as the Angels for Lot. or furthering their saluation, and so gayning them vnto thee, by all good admonitions, exhortations and examples. Let vs be as the Angels vnto Lot, neuer resting before we haue gotten them safe into Zoar. 8. That vve may haue a feeling of the happines of this kingdome. And that we may be able to perswade others more effectually, Lord giue euery one of vs a sweete feeling, what a blessed thing it is to bee the subiects of this thy Kingdome;VVatch. p. 11. lin. 2. p. 114. 115. to haue all the priuiledges thereof, and to be partakers of thy glory,And of the revvard of holines: euen Kings, and [Page] Priests vnto thee; and what reward and happines, there is in liuing such a holy conuersation; and how wretched & vnhappie,And hovv vvretched the state of all other is. VVatch. p. 56. 7. 8. 9. the state of all other people is, seeme they neuer so happy in this world, being but bondslaues of Sathan, reserued for the chaines of eternall darknesse.9. That vve may liue as the subiects of this kingdome: Oh heauenly King, grant vs to liue in all things, as the subiects of thy Kingdome, that so we may passe from this Kingdome of grace, into that thy Kingdome of glory.Fearing the causes of backsliding. Watch. pag. 122. lin. 8. Make vs to feare the causes of backsliding, that we may neuer so much as looke backe with Lots wife, towards this euill world; but euer hie fast towards thine heauenly Kingdome, hauing our [Page] eie at our Lord and Sauiour,Hying fast tovvards heauen, looking at our Sauiour. who fitteth at thy right hand, keeping there possession for vs. Destroy in vs euery corruption, whereby Satan keepes vs any way in his slauerie,10. To destroy all our corruption. or at any time gets the dominion ouer vs. Hasten that glorious day,11. To hasten the day of the appearing of our glorie and triumph. when the difference shall appeare betwene vs thy subiects, and those who serue thee not; when we shall wholly raigne in glory with thee, free from al our enemies, and from euer offending thee any more. And because in the meane time,12. And in the meane time seeing vve liue by faith. we thy subiects liue by faith, and not by sight in this world, where all things vsually seeme to go out of order; the wicked florishing in their vngodlinesse, when wee oft [Page] weepe and mourne:To increase our faith: Oh Lord increase our faith, in all thy gracious promises, that through the comfort and power of godlinesse wrought in vs thereby, we may grow vp to such a ful assurance,That vve grovving to ful assurāce, may ouercome the vvorld. VVat. 116. lin. 20. 117. lin. 7. that we are the true heires of thy kingdome, that we may easily ouercome al the hindrances of the world, and hauing the patiēce of Saints, we may be faithfull to the death, vntill thou set the crowne vpon our heads.And remaine faithfull to the death. Fill our harts with such peace of conscience, and ioy in thee,13. To be filled vvith peace, ioy and righteousnesse: That al may see of vvhat kingdome vve are: with all the fruits of righteousnesse, incoraged by thy sweete promises, that all others may see to what Kingdome we belong, and we our selues may feele daily, the beginning of it in our [Page] selues,And we feele the beginning of it in our selues, so entring into our ioy. so entring into thy heauenly ioy.

Thy wil be done in earth, as it is in heauē. And that our childlike affections towards thy heauenly Maiestie,1. To pray that vvee may declare our childlike effections, zeale and thankfulnes, [...]y doing his heauenly vvill: our zeale for thy glory, and thankfulnes for thy Kingdome, may bee more manifest to all the world; quicken vs to doe thy heauenly will, & commandements, chiefely those with which thou hast fully acquainted vs,As cheerefully as the Angels. how thou wilt haue vs to walke, and keepe thy watch;2. That hee vvill accept our will for the deed. and that with as much readinesse as thy Angels in heauen:3. That vve may delight to stand in his presence, to inquire his vvill by all meanes: and wherein we are too short accept (good Father) our will for the deede. Let it be our delight to stand euer in thy presence, to inquire thy diuine pleasure, [Page] both by reading and hearing thy heauenly word, and asking of others; and euer so soone as thou hast by any meanes made knowne vnto vs, what thy good wil is,Hauing Dauids Eccho, I am heere Lord: giue vs forthwith Dauids Eccho, that without consulting with flesh and blood we may say forthwith, I am heere Lord, to doe thy will, yea thy law is within my hart: that so all our seruice may be freevvill offrings vnto thee.That all our seruice may be freewill offerings. And whereas it is thy decree, that thorowe many troubles wee must enter into thy heauenly Kingdome;4. To prepare for troubles, and humble our selues vnder them, as his obedient children▪ Making right vse of them: (good Father) frame our corrupt wils vnto thy heauenly will, & giue vs grace both to look for them, & euer to humble our selues vnder thy hand as thy obedient [Page] children, seeking alwaies to pacifie thee, searching immediately, and amending whatsoeuer is amiste,VVithout whispering: without once whispering against thy diuine Maiestie:Assured that God doth all of loue for our good, and vvill giue a happy issue. being assured that thou still louest vs, euen when thou correctest vs most sharply, and art working our good; & wilt in thy due time giue a happy end to all our troubles, and cause thy louing countenance to shine on vs againe.5. To take vp our crosses, not suffering as euill doers, but onely for righteousnesse: And if it shall be thy good pleasure to call vs to suffer for thy name, keepe vs that we may not suffer as euill doers, or busie bodies for medling in things without our calling, so to bring crosses on our selus, but as thine owne childrē for righteousnesse; and [Page] then make vs to take vp our crosses,VVith ioy and thankfulnesse. with al ioyfulnesse and thankfulnesse, that thou accountest vs worthy that honor, looking stedfastly at the great reward holden forth vnto vs, in ye hand of our Lord & sauior,Looking at our Sauiour. who hauing troden that way before vs, is there highly exalted to raigne for euer.6. That vve may neuer do any thing against his reuealed wil, to obtaine neuer so great a good, which we imagine. But keepe vs that we neuer goe against thy reuealed will, whereby thou hast conuinced our consciences, vnder pretence either to honour thee, or doe any seruice vnto thy Church, or for neuer so great a good: seeing thou canst and wilt maintaine thine owne honour, & saue thy Church, effecting whatsoeuer is best without our sinne. That we may euer [Page] truly pray, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heauen.

Giue vs this day our daily bread.] And then (oh deare Father, when thou hast giuen vs such harts thus to seeke thy will;To the end that all may see the Lords tender care for vs, and that we may attend the doing of his vvill. that the world may see the tender care that thou hast for vs, and how thou dost fulfill vnto vs all thy promises, and that we likewise may wholy attend the seeking of thy glory,1. To pray for the comforts of this life. in the inlargement of thy Kingdome,Watch. pag. 51. lin. 6. and doing thy will; vouchsafe vs gratiouslie all things meete for the comfort of this present life:2. That hee would shew his f [...]therly prouidence for necessaries, and to direct vs to the means to serue his prouidence. Watch. pag. 65. lin. 15. Shew vs thy fatherly loue, prouiding sufficiently for all our necessities in thy due time: Direct vs to vse all the holy means, which thou hast appointed to serue thy diuine [Page] prouidence, both painfulnesse, thrift and godly wisdome,Chiefely in our particular calling, auoiding the contrarie. chiefely in our particular calling; auoyding as warily whatsoeuer may any way indanger vs, make our liues vncomfortable, or hurt our estate.3. To cōmit ourselues wholly to his protection, depending on him without feare. Grant vs grace also euermore, in all humility to commit our selues vnto thy Fatherly protection, not fearing what man can do vnto vs; remembring that our times are in thy hāds, to continue so long as it pleaseth thee; & that likwise vnlesse thou who hast giuen vs our liues do preserue them,4. To know our ovvne frailtie, wee cannot continue one moment.And vnabilitie to get a crumme of bread, or to see or vse the meanes. Make vs to know that of our selues wee haue no power to get one morsell of bread, vnlesse thou [Page] both shew vs the meanes, and after inable vs to vse the same, and giue a blessing to them.To be humbled in the sense of our vnworthines of bread: Humble vs in the sense of our vilenesse, that wee are so farre off from deseruing eternal life, that we are not worthy of the least crumme of bread, which thou hast taught vs to beg daily: and grant vs grace to knowe, that when we haue it, wee are but theeues and vsurpers of it,And that we are vsurpers of it▪ & of all other things, and of whatsoeuer else we possesse, & to make a dreadful account for it, vnlesse thou giue it vs in Iesus Christ;Vntill they be giuen vs in Christ, hauing lost al in Adam. because we hauing lost al through Adams transgression, can haue no right vnto it againe, vntill it be restored vnto vs,5. To get more assurance of our title in Christ. in our Lord and Sauiour. Vouchsafe therefore to increase our assurance [Page] that thou hast giuen vs thy Sonne who is Lord of all, that in him we may be certaine, that we haue a true title to whatsoeuer we inioy.6. For power to the creature to nourish vs. Giue withall both power and strength, to thy good creatures, to norish and comfort vs.

Bread.] Bestow vpon vs7. For contentation vvith our estate. contented harts, with the estate wherein thou settest vs,VVatch. p. 66 lin. 12. And to see the Lords prouidence in bread alone. though we haue but bread; & grace to see, and acknowledge thy wise and tender prouidence, aswell in want as plē [...]y, being vndoubtedly assured that thou canst, & wilt make bread alone to satisfie vs abundantly, when other meanes faile.

This day.]And vvhen we haue but for the day, nor any meanes. And if thou shalt euer bring vs into that strait, that we shall haue no more but for the [Page] presēt day, nor any means of succor in the world;To be able to cast our selues wholly on the Lord vvithout fainting. VVatch. p. 21. lin. 7. thē strengthen vs to giue thee glory, by casting our selus wholy vpon thee, without impatience or fainting; that we may be able euen then, to shewe our confidence in thee, & how we liue not by bread onely, but by euery word proceeding out of thy mouth. Certifie our consciences aforehand,8. To pray for assurance that the Lord will neuer let vs want that is good: that howsoeuer wicked men, be they neuer so rich, may starue with hunger before they die, yet thou wilt neuer let vs thine owne obedient children, and heires of thy Kingdome, to want any thing that shall be good for vs; but that thou wilt rather worke extraordinarily,But worke extraordinarily: when ordinarie meanes faile, causing our [Page] enemies to feede vs,When ordinary meanes faile. if our bretheren forget vs, the very foules to bring vs bread, and the heauens to poure vs downe a blessing.9. To be afraid of dishonoring the Lord, by carcking cares aforehand, or impatience in trials. And therefore (good Father) let vs alwaies bee reuerētly afraid of dishonoring, or grieuing thee by carcking cares aforehand, for prouision for vs or ours: and much more of murmuring, or impatience in any such trials, whereunto our sinfull natures are extreamly inclined.10. VVhen we vsed only the means to referre the blessing to the Lord. Make vs able to sanctifie thy great name, in vsing onely the meanes for thy protection and prouidence, referring the worke & whole successe vnto thy heauenly Maiestie alone, being certaine that thou wilt doe that, that shall be best, and [Page] that thou canst not faile vs nor forsake vs.11. To haue a holy vse of all Gods gifts to our saluation: And when thou doest bestowe thy gifts vpon vs, giue vs a holy vse of them; that both they may further our saluation; and that wee may see thy goodnes in them; and neuer abuse them to satisfie our sinfull desires;Neuer abusing them: or puffe vp our proud harts; or make thē our gods, putting our confidence or felicitie in them;But imploying them to the ends appointed, as first and chiefely, to maintaine Gods religion, and relieue his seruants: but that wee may imploy them to the maintenance of thy religion, with all the holy ends which thou hast ordained them for: and especially for the reliefe & comfort of our poore brethren, for whō thou hast taught vs to pray daily as for our selues; and to whom thou hast giuen an interest in [Page] the vse of our goods.Esay 58. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. &c. Giue vs bowels of compassion towards the poore and needy, that we may take off euery heauie burden, relieue the oppressed, deale our breade to the hungry soules, that their backes and bellies may blesse vs, and that thou mayest remember vs in the day of our aduersitie, and we lay vp a sure foundation against the time to come: that therin also we may shewe forth our homage to thy diuine Maiestie,So to shew our homage to God: that we hold all of thy goodnesse; and declare the loue we beare to thy children for thy sake, and chiefely to them that most excell in thy graces, and so the true practise of the Cōmunion of Saints,And the communion of Saints: wayting for the ioyfull sentence. waiting for that ioyfull [Page] sentence, Come yee blessed of my Father, receiue the Kingdome prepared for you, for when I was hungry, you gaue me meate.

Forgiue vs our trespasses.]

And wheras our sinnes onely do hinder our assurance,And seeing our sinnes onely do hinder all these things which we haue begged: that we are thy children, and cause vs that we can neither behold thy glory, nor feele the power and happinesse of thy Kingdome; neither yet haue that full securitie for thy fatherly prouidence, and protection from all euill, which otherwise we should find, and do moreouer bring all contrary euils vpon vs, and therefore thou hast taught vs to cry euery day,1. To pray for pardon of all our sinnes: forgiue vs our trespasses: Pardon (good Lord) and remoue all our [Page] sinnes, that keepe away these good things from vs. And that we may cry more earnestly for forgiuenesse, neuer giuing thee rest, vntill wee haue attained it;Because heerein alone stands all true happinesse. teach vs that heerein alone stands all true peace and blessednes, when we haue this full assurance sealed in our harts, that our sinnes are pardoned; and that all they whose sinnes are not remitted, are most accursed and vnhappy.2. To this end to see the haynousnes of sinne: And to this end shewe vs (good Father) first the hainousnesse of sinne, by making vs to consider aright thy wrath, declared against it from heauen,In the fearefull punishment of the Angels: in the fearefull punishment of thy most excellent creatures the Angels, whom for that one sinne, euen because [Page] they were not cōtent with their estate, thou hast cast down into hel, to be reserued in chaines of darknes, vnto the iudgemēt of the great day; then to be damned to endlesse torments: & afterwards in our first parents,Our first parents: cast frō their happy estate, for eating ye forbidden fruit, & for whose sin alone, all the curses of this life & that to come, fel not only vpō thēselues but also all their posterity, euen all of vs, being wrapped vnder the same condemnatiō, vntill we be deliuered by Iesus Christ. Open our eies to see this thy wrath against sinne yet more fully, not only vpon the wicked in the generall destruction of the old world, and in turning the filthy Cities of Sodome &The old world. [Page] Gomorrah into ashes, to remaine as eternal monuments to all posteritie;Sodome. & in preparing the lake burning with fire and brimstone, for an euerlasting punishment to all vnbeleeuers,Hell prepared for the wicked: and impenitent persons; but euen against the sinnes of thine owne dearest childrē,And in the punishment of Gods dearest seruāts: As Moses: as in y• heauy punishmēt vpon thine own faithful seruant Moses, for so smal a sin in our account (as not honoring thee before the people, in beleeuing and auouching thy power and truth) that thou didst cut him off for entring into Canaan, which of al earthly things he must needes most desire, being the land of promise, the type of heauen, and also after that he had led the people, fortie [Page] yeares towards it. And besides the punishment of Dauid, And Dauid. and his house for that one sinne, that thy hand did so pursue him and his, all his life long; & so thy sharpe corrections, laid vpon all other thy dearest seruants, registred in thy booke; Lord teach vs yet more rightly to cō ceaue the vilenesse of sin by this one thing chiefely,And chiefely that vpon our Sauiour himselfe. that the least sinne of thine elect, could neuer haue bin ransommed, but by the vnspeakeable torments of thine owne beloued Sonne, the Lord of glory, taking our nature to become a sacrifice to appease thy wrath, and to satisfie thy Iustice: & how thou didst poure out vpon him, the full viols of thy wrath, to cause him to [Page] sweate drops of blood, & to cry out; my God my God, why hast thou forsaken me. Giue vs thy children some true sense heereof,3. To haue some sense of the innumerable euils, which each sinne brings p. 5. l. 22 23. p. 6. 7. and withal this grace to keepe a cōtinuall remembrance of the innumerable euils, which euery sinne brings euen vpon vs, thine owne children in our soules or bodies,Vpon Gods owne children: goods, name or friends, vnlesse wee preuent them by speedy and vnfained repētance;Vnlesse they be preuented, especially depriuings vs of Gods protection and prouidence, and al power in prayer. especially how thereby we are left wholly destitute of thy protection & prouidence, and depriued of all comfort and power in prayer, so long as we remaine therein; and also of many extraordinary experiments of thy bounty, which otherwise wee should find. Make vs able [Page] in some sort to comprehend the greatnesse of sin,4. To bee able to comprehend in some sort the greatnes of our sin, how it is increased by circumstances, being [...]om [...]mitted [...]gainst the infinit God: our high calling: by the infinitnesse of thy glorious Maiestie, against whom each sinne is committed: & how our sinnes are increased heereby also, that they are committed against our high calling to be Christians, and heires of thy Kingdome: with such abundant mercies, both ordinarie and extraordinarie;All mercies: and so many and strong meanes to restraine vs;Meanes: besides sundry vowes and couenants renewed,Vovves: and that after mercy obtained, and pardon formerly sealed,After pardon obtained. vpon our promise of amendment. Open our blind eies to haue some sight also of the multitude of our sinnes,5. To haue some sight of the multitude of our sinnes. how they are more in number, [Page] then the starres of heauen, seeing they are euery breach of thy diuine will,Being euerie breach of Gods Commandement, in thought: reuealed vnto vs in thy law and Gospell, and that not only in thought, word or deede,Or in omitting the very least dutie: but euen in omitting of any part thereof, or doing it without all our hart, and all our strength;Besides Adams sin. besides the sinne of our first parents, whereby we are all the children of wrath, and vnder thy curse; and also besides the corruption of our sinfull natures receiued fromThe corruption of our nature: thence; whereupon wee are so wholy inclined vnto euill, that all the thoughts of our harts,Being wholly carried to euill: are onely euill continually; so as we cannot of our selues so much as thinke, much lesse will any thing but that which is sinfull; [Page] and hence also the hardnesse of our harts,And the hardnes of our hearts. that we are so little moued, either at the hearing of so many iudgements, or the inioying of so many mercies, to make any right vse of them.6. For a continuall feeling of ourdaily fraulties: Vouchsafe vs such a liuely, and continuall sense heereof, together with a feeling of our daily slips, wants, frailties, infirmities, imperfections & noisome lustes, issuing from this filthy puddle of originall corruption in vs, that we may bee wearie of this body of sinne,Trauelling vnder them, Desiring to be deliuered. groning vnder the bondage of this our corruption, & sighing to bee deliuered from it.7. That vve may see our most grieuous sinnes, both before our calling and since. Shewe vs also our most grieuous sinnes, not onely of our youth and ignorāce, but those much more which we haue committed, [Page] since thou hast called vs by thy grace vnto so high a dignitie, & conuinced our consciences; chiefely our open and scandalous sinnes,Chiefely our scandalous sinnes. whereby wee haue most dishonored thee, causing thy Gospell to bee euill spoken of; grieued thy children, or any way hindred the saluation of others; that by all these we may see vvhat debters we are,8. That by all these wee may see what debters vvee are: & how vnable to pay the least part, but to lie in hell for euermore; that we may crie continually with Dauid, And may be driuen to cry for forgiuenes, and to runne to the fountaine of Chrisis blood. Lord forgiue vs our sinnes, and blot out all our offences; wash vs thorowly, purge and clense vs; thus running euery moment, to the fountaine of thy Sons blood, which is open to all the house of [Page] Israel, for all sinnes & vncleannesse.And yet that we may find comfort in the al-sufficiencie thereof. And yet withal that we may not be vtterly ouerwhelmed, by the vgly view of the multitud or lothsomenesse of our sinnes, as though they could not bee pardoned, nor we purged from thē; comfort vs in this that thy Sonnes blood is of infinite merit, and all sufficient to wash vs from all our sinnes (though they were the most haynous sinnes, that euer were cō mitted; yea although we had all the sinnes of the world vpon vs) so long as in a true feeling of them, we cā desire to be washed therein.9. To the end that we may not bee deceiued in the forgiunes of our sinnes. But because wee are all very ready to deceiue our selues, imagining that we are washen, when we remaine still in [Page] our filthines; seeing thou neither callest, nor admitst of any to this fountaine, but them that come in true repentance for all their sinnes,To pray for true repentance and faith, which are the vnseparable companions of forgiuenes. fully purposing amendment; and in a liuely faith in thy sweete promises, desiring to grow therein; Oh grant vs grace, truely to see our particular sinnes, and the vilenesse of them, and make vs able in the sight of them, and the sense of our estate and danger by them, to mourne bitterly for them, looking at thy Sonne, whom wee haue pierced thereby; and so to hate and abhorre them, that being once purged in this Lauer, we may bee euer afraid of defiling our selues againe, or of sinning against that pretious [Page] blood.And to trie them both by the word, to be sincere. Wat. pag. 2. lin. 8. Helpe vs to trie both our repentance and faith, by the holy rule which thou hast giuen vs in thy law and Gospell, that we may know them to be such, as will abide the triall, and not hypocriticall; and which also haue bin first wrought in vs,And such as haue been vvrought in vs, by the Gospell, and do increase and grovv. by the powerfull preaching of thy Gospell, and doe continually increase and grow: which are the infallible euidences, yt they are sound and sincere.10. That vvee may continually examine & iudge our selues. Giue vs harts to be daily examining, and iudging our selues that we may escape thy iudgement. We intreate thee also againe for our sinfull Realmes,11. To pray againe for pardon of the sins of our land. to pardon all the fearefull prouocations thereof, and to be pacified at the instant prayers [Page] of thy faithfull seruants,As the instant prayers of Gods seruants by the blood of Christ. crying vnto thee in all places by the blood of thy Sonne, which speakes better things then the blood of Abel; Let that cry still preuaile against the cry of the sinnes, that thy mercie may bee magnified in all the world.

As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs.]Whereas we must pray to be forgiuen as we forgiue. And whereas thou (oh holy and gratious Father) hast taught vs euer to pray to be forgiuen, as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs, telling vs plainely that if wee forgiue others for thy cause, thou wilt also forgiue vs; and contrarily that if we will not forgiue others,1. To pray against all maliciousnes and desire of reuenge: we shall neuer bee forgiuen: Change (good Lord) the wickednesse of our sinfull hearts, which [Page] are most strongly bent to malice and reuenge, that howsoeuer wee hate the sins and company of the wicked,That though we hate the sinnes of the wicked and reioyce in the execution of Gods righteous iudgments on them: and whatsoeuer else is in them, whereby they dishonour thee, or shew themselues to bee thine enemies: and although we also reioyce in the execution of thy righteous iudgements, whereby thou gettest thy selfe glory vpon the proud enemies of thy Church; and do also pray daily for the confounding of all their wicked practises and deuises;And pray for confounding their euill practises: yet Lord graunt vs hearts to seeke the saluation of all sorts,Yet that we may pray for and seek their saluation. because we know not whether they belong to thine eternall election; and for them that are but our enemies vpō priuate respects,2. For them that are our enemies on priuate respects, to pray their sinne may be pardoned: giue [Page] vs grace that insteede of seeking reuenge, we may pray earnestly for them, that they may see their sins, and haue their hearts changed, and so obtaine pardon for it: And moreouer that we may seeke to pacifie them,And that vve may seeke to pacifie them and gaine their loue: by offering them reconciliation or ful satisfaction, doing them good or gratifying them by any kindnesse, so far as may stand with their saluation and credit of thy Gospell, euen when they hunger to feed them, and when they thirst to giue them drinke,to heape coales on their heades: to heape coales vpon their heads as thou hast commanded; either to gaine them by our Christian kindnesse, or to leaue them more without excuse;And get full assurance of forgiuenesse to our selues. and to seale vp to our selues a most plentiful [Page] assurance of a full remission of all our sins thereby.

Leade vs not into temptation, but deliuer vs from euill.]Seeing Satan seekes continuallie by temptations to draw vs to sinne to prouoke the Lord against vs & bring some euill vpon vs. And seeing (oh tender Father) that our deadly enemie seekes hourely by his temptations to draw vs to sin against thy heauenly Maiestie to dishonor thee, making vs his vassals to do his will, so to strippe vs vtterly both of thy protection and prouidence, and to cause thee to leaue vs in his hand, to bring vpō vs thy wrath with all the euils following vpon sin; whereupon our Sauiour hath taught vs to pray alwaies, Leade vs not into temptation, but deliuer vs from euill: 1. To pray we may see the danger we stand in each houre. Good Lord open our eies to see the danger wherein wee stand continually, & first [Page] for the multitude of those damned spirits that rangeFor the multitude of damned spirits▪ vp and downe day and night with a deadly malice seeking to deuour vs. Teach vs to know (oh holy Father) what their power is against vs,2. For their power to tempt and destroy vs in a moment. if thou do not restraine it; that they are able to bring vs to as fearefull sins, as euer they brought any of thy seruants vnto, and to destroy vs vtterly in a moment both soules and bodies, with al y• euer thou hast giuē vnto vs, if thou preserue vs not. Acquaint vs with their deep subtilties,3. Because of their subtilties: both in fitting their temptations to our particular natures and dispositions,Whereby they knowing our dispositions: to our conditions, callings and occasions which they know perfectly; alwaies dogging vs at the heeles, [Page] and watching vs,Marke and take all aduantages: & their meetest opportunities; whereby they take their fittest aduantage to ouercome vs, as against Eue and Dauid, To solicite vs to those sinnes wherin they are most like to preuaile, drawing vs on by degrees, to yeeld first to smaller matters which the world accounts no sinne: chiefely by soliciting vs to those sinnes, wherein we haue bin formerly ouertaken, or wherby they haue most preuailed against thy dearest seruants: & that also in drawing vs on by degrees, as first either to yeelde to some smaller matters which the world accounts no sins, but trifles, or too much precisenes; as Eue to eie the forbidden fruit, and to reason with the Serpent about the temptation:Or not to auoid the occasions of temptation or neglect our calling. or else not to auoid the danger and occasions of the temptations, but thrust our selues into them carelessely without [Page] any warrant, neglecting the calling laid vpon vs; as Dauid to lie idlely on his bed in the afternoones insteede of looking to the great affaires of his kingdome.4. For their innumerable allurements and baytes of this world: Make vs able yet more fully to conceiue of our perpetuall danger, through their innumerable allurements and baits to deceiue vs both of the credit and estimation of the world, with the riches and pleasures thereof; which they euer hold forth & proffer vnto vs,VVhich they proffer. if we will follow their perswasions;5. For their threatnings if we wil be so precise as to make conscience of each of Gods Commaundements. and otherwise threatning not onely the losse, or at least the hazarding of all these, but more also the hatred, disgrace and reproch of the world, with depriuing vs of all comforts, the losse of our [Page] goods, with many other euils, which we must bee sure to looke for daily at the hands of malicious men; if we will be so strict as to make conscience of euery one of thy commā dements, so as we wil not do the least thing forbidden, nor omit the least dutie commanded vs. And whereas we are ordinarily secure in an ouerweening of our owne strength and abilitie to resist Satan; Shew vs (oh Lord) euen in our hearts,6. For the vilenesse of our nature readie to conspire with them: the vilenesse of our corrupt nature, which is euer ready as a bond slaue of Satans, and a traitor against our soules to conspire with him presently to our vtter perdition, and as readie to run after & swallow euery one of his deadly temptatiōs,And to swallow euerie baite: [Page] as euer fish the baite:Without all strength to resist. so as we haue no strength in the world to help our selues, but all against our selues, more then that thou gratiously reachest foorth thine hand vnto vs, strengthening & deliuering vs.7. For Gods displeasure, to leaue vs in their power for our security. And heerein we pray thee also to reueale vnto vs that great danger which wee stand in continually from thy glorious Maiestie, seeing wee haue no warrant of protection, or any aide from thee (but rathe iust cause of feare that thou shouldest giue vs vp wholly into the power of the tempter, and our own corruption) longer then that we make cō science to obserue thy watch, walking carefully in euery one of thy Commandements; vsing diligently [Page] euery meanes of grace, & auoiding as warilie each least occasion of temptation.8. For Sathans cunning in hiding all this danger, and the vglinesse of sinne: And moreouer seeing the subtill tēpter in all his temptations, vseth all his cunning to hide all this danger with the vglines of sin, and the misery that he knoweth it will bring vpon vs; shewing onely the faire side of it,Shewing onely the faireside of it what we shal get by it, and vsing the fittest instruments to effect his purpose: as the safetie, credit, pleasure or gaine which we shall get by it, and also vseth the fittest instrumēts to perswade vs hereunto; as the counsell or example of the wisest, learnedst, or wealthiest & of chiefest reputation, & sometimes of those who haue a name for godlines, so changing himselfe into an Angel of light,Neuer cō [...]ing like him selfe to tempt, and neuer comming like himselfe, (vnlesse to [Page] driue poore soules into vtter dispaire) whereby he not onely deceiues the world,Whereby he deceiues all the world: but euen vs thy children, either to make vs to thinke sin to bee no sin,And oft times Gods owne children, making sinne to seeme no sin. or at least to presume to sin, because thou art so mercifull, or for that thou doest not punish presently. Cause vs (good Father)2. To pray we may haue a continuall remembrance of the seuerall miseries of each sinne, Watch. p. 5. 6. 7. to keepe a continuall and fresh remembrance hereof, and withal of that fearfull misery which we hale vpon our heads by euerie sin; especially the wound of conscience, which no creature was euer able to beare,Chiefely the wounds of conscience which none can beare: and vvill come vnlesse it bee speedilie preuented: and which will certainly come vpon vs, vnlesse it bee preuented by speedie repentance. And howsoeuer the reprobate and the vngodly may wallow in their filthines, [Page] and yet seeme to be more free from punishment thē any other,That although wicked men escape here, vvho are reserued for hell, the Lord yet vvill not suffer vs so: because thou reseruest them for hel, and therefore fattest them for the day of slaughter: yet make vs to know that thou wilt not let any of vs thy children (who haue specially giuen vp our names to thee, to make a more sincere profession of thy Gospell) to commit the very least sin, but that thou wilt surely make vs feel the smart of it, vnlesse we preuent it presently by vnfained repentance:Especially vvhen our sinnes are scandalous: and that thou wilt doe openly when our sins are hainous or to the offēce of others; because thou wilt neither be dishonored by vs,Because he vvill not be dishonored by vs, nor let vs be damned: nor let vs be condemned with the world; but wilt surely correct vs to let all the [Page] wicked see with what a perfect hatred thou hatest all sinne,And that the wicked may see his hatred against sinne, and vvhat remaines for thē for euer. when thou doest punish it so seuerely in thine owne children, and what plagues remaine for them eternally. Yea (oh gratious Father) make vs to feare alway,3. To pray we may feare alvvay lest God should leaue vs neuer so little, because of Satans most deadlie malice against vs who dreescaped frō him: lest thou shouldest leaue vs neuer so little; and to suspect al our waies, in as much as Satan carries a more deadly hatred against vs,To prouoke the Lord against vs: who are escaped from his tyrannie, then against any other people of the world; and therfore seekes euery houre to prouoke thee against vs, to leaue vs in his hand,And for that our sinnes vvill more dishonour him, and harden moe to perdition then of anie other: and also because he knowes that our sinnes will more cause thy glorious name to bee blasphemed, and harden moe to vtter perdition, than the [Page] sins of any other;Whence so few haue escaped to the end, wherupon very few of thy worthiest seruants through his continuall dogging them, haue escaped to the end of their liues without some grieuous foiles and wounds,VVithout some grieuous foiles. the scarres wherof they haue carried with them to their graues, to the blemishing their profession, & wounding their consciences, with the griefe and shame of the godly, and insulting of the wicked.4. To learne to vvatch and pray as the remidie against all temptations: And therefore as thou hast taught vs this as the remedie against euery assault of the enemie, to watch and pray that we enter not into temptation; so make vs alwaies able to obserue this thy watch which thou hast set before vs,And to be better acquainted vvithout selues: and to learne to bee better acquainted [Page] with our owne selues and our estates, knowing our particular infirmities,And weaknesses: and wherein we are weak, that we may put on daily the compleate armour,To put on the compleat armour, chieflie the shield of faith: chiefelie the shield of faith, and brestplate of righteousnes to saue vs from his fierie darts,And to haue the vvord euer in readinesse: and withall to haue thy holy Word euer in readinesse against euery temptation,That strēgthned by the spirit and continuing in prayer vve may stand fast: which is the sword of thy Spirit, able vtterly to vanquish him, and put him to flight, that being strēgthened by thy holy Spirit, obtained by cōtinuing in instant prayer,And preserue our selues without any grieuous woūds, vntill vvee haue gotten the finall conquest. wee may bee able to stand fast in the euill day, and so finish our course, vntill we haue gotten the finall conquest, without any grieuous wounds or [Page] foile; to thine euerlasting glorie, & our own greater triumph and honor in the heauens.5. That we pray not against all temptation: We do not pray that wee should not bee tempted at all; for thou hast taught vs to account it exceeding ioy, when we fall into diuers temptations, knowing the good that comes thereby; but that we may indure temptation,But onelie that in them vve may ouercome: fighting valiantly and ouercomming,So to receiue the crovvne of glorie in the ende. that when we are tried we may haue the crowne of glorie set vpon our heads.

For thine is the kingdom, power and glorie, VVe haue begged all from the Lord: for euer and euer: Amen.] We haue been bold (oh gratious Father) to beg all these things from they heauenly Maiestie,1. Because all kingdom, povver and glorie are his, and vve haue receiued all from him. because all kingdome, power and glorie belong onely to thee; acknowledging [Page] that whatsoeuer good things wee enioy, wee haue receiued them all from thy rich and fatherly bountie;2. Because hee vvill grant vs all good things, aboue all that vvee can aske: and being certainely assured that as thou hast bidden vs to pray thus, so thou wilt graunt vs all these things which wee haue begged in thy Sonnes name, and whatsoeuer else is good for vs, euen aboue all that wee are able to aske;So farre as shall bee for his glory and our good: so farre as shall be for thine owne glorie (seeing thou art absolute Lord and King in heauen and in earth, and doest by thy mightie power and wisedome dispose and guide all things,Seeing hee guideth and ouerruleth all things to serue hereunto: ouerruling the verie counsels and rage of all wicked men and diuels, as shall make [Page] most for thine owne glorie and the greatest good of vs thine owne obedient subiects and children) and hast assured vs that asking thus in faith,And hath assured vs that asking in faith, vve shall haue: wee shall receiue; That wee may set foorth by good experience the glorie of thy dominion and power, with the happinesse of thy Kingdome,That vvee may set foorth the glorie and happines of his kingdom: to all succeeding ages; to which wee doe hereby binde our selues all the dayes of our life, and to liue as the loyall subiects of this thy Kingdome,Whereunto vvee binde our selues, and to liue as his subiects all our daies: to thine euerlasting glorie; and so returne all possible thankes, praise and dominion to thy heauenlie Maiestie,And so returne all praise and thanks, saying, Amen. saying euer, Amen, Bee it so (oh LORD holie and true) as wee doe [Page] fullie beleeue that it shall bee.Euen so Lord Iesus. Euen so Amen. Amen, Come Lord Iesus, Come quicklie.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

The second part of the true watch containing the perfect rule and summe of prayer: so plainlie set downe, that the weakest Christian, taking but the leas paines, may in a very short space, learne to pray of himselfe, with much assurance and comfort: both to get strength to obserue the Lords watch; and to helpe to turne away, or at least finde comfort in the euils that are to come.True watch. Part 2

Brinsley, John, fl. 1581-1624.

Edition statement

1607

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A16881

ID [STC]

STC 3776

ID [STC]

ESTC S119301

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99854508

ID [PROQUEST]

99854508

ID [VID]

19934

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A16881)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 19934)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1196:7)

Source

— The second part of the true watch containing the perfect rule and summe of prayer: so plainlie set downe, that the weakest Christian, taking but the leas paines, may in a very short space, learne to pray of himselfe, with much assurance and comfort: both to get strength to obserue the Lords watch; and to helpe to turne away, or at least finde comfort in the euils that are to come., True watch. Part 2, Brinsley, John, fl. 1581-1624..

Extent

[42], 105, [1] p.

Printed by F. K[ingston] for Samuel Macham, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church yard, at the signe of the Bul-head,. At London :: 1607.. (Dedication signed: Iohn Brinsley.) (Printer's name from STC.) (Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.)

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