1. A preparation to Prayer.

O Everlasting fountaine of all goodnesse, and well-spring of grace, without whose speci­all assistance, we are altogether unapt and unable to performe any duty or service that may be ac­ceptable unto thee: Vouchsafe therefore (deare Lord) to helpe mine infirmities, who cannot of my selfe pray as I ought, but let thy holy Spirit direct and teach me truly to call upon thy divine Name, with a penitent and faithfull heart, an humble, contrite, and lowly spirit, a quiet, obser­vant and recollected minde, freed from the vani­ties and cares of this vilde world, or the love of [Page 12] this present life; so as I may dedicate my selfe wholly unto thee a living sacrifice, faithfully and devoutly to serve thee now, and all the daies of my life. O Lord, make mee to lift up innocent hands, with a pure heart; and guide thou my lips with wisdome, and set a watch of grace before my mouth, that my tongue may not offend thee at any time, but duly praise thy glorious Name, now and for ever, Amen.

2. A Prayer to the Holy Ghost.

O Gracious Lord Holy Ghost, I humbly be­seech thee to fit and prepare my heart, and to direct and assist me in the right and true perfor­mance of this duty and service now of prayer to­wards my God: Thou understandest my disabi­lity of my selfe to any goodnesse: neither know I how to pray as I ought, except thy holy Spirit teach me: Therefore I earnestly and humbly pray thee to give mee thy grace and true spirit of prayer, that so I may now and at all times offer up my petitions and praises, in calling upon thy great and glorious Name, in a right faithfull and acceptable manner, to the glory of God, and the good and comfort of me thy poor servant, in soul and body, with the furtherance of my salvation, through Jesus Christ, my blessed and only Saviour, Amen.

3. A Preface to any Prayer.

O My Lord, in all humility I come unto thee, the giver of all grace; thou knowest my un­aptnesse to any goodnesse, thou hast given me an earnest desire to please thee, make perfect thine owne good worke, and grant me a ready will and ability to performe my humble duty herein a­right, that so I may sincerely and intirely love, fear and honour thee above all, and most carefully o­bey thy blessed will in all things: Good Father, let thy manifold mercies cover my infinite offen­ces from thy All-seeing eyes, and by thy grace cast all vaine thoughts, and sinfull hindrances out of my soule, that thy sacred Spirit may direct my spirit to pray with due reverence to thy Majesty, confidence in thy mercy, with sure trust in thy promises, and feare of thy judgements. And that I may offer up all my supplications unto thee, with unfeigned zeale, true faith, humility and repen­tance: Sweet Lord, make me heartily thankfull unto thee for all thy blessings, and let all my peti­tions tend to thy glory; so as I may finde favour with thee, that thou wilt be graciously pleased to heare and accept of me and my prayers, that they may enter into thy presence, and obtaine pardon of all my sins past, with grace to frame my life in true obedience to all thy Commandements, the rest of my daies to come, that so my last end may [Page 14] be happy, and after death I may enjoy the felici­ty to live with thee, my Lord, for evermore, through the merits and passion of my only Savi­our Jesus Christ, So be it.

4. A confession of sins, with a prayer for remission, taken partly out of the prayer of Manasses.

ALmighty Lord God of our fathers, who hast made heaven and earth, with all the orna­ments thereof, who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandement, whose terrible and glorious Name all men doe feare, and tremble be­fore thy powerfull judgements; for the displea­sure of thy great Majesty cannot be borne, and thy angry threatnings against sinners is import­able, and who can stand in thy presence when thou art offended? But yet (O Lord) thy merci­full promises to penitent sinners are unmeasure­able, and unspeakable; for thou art the most gra­cious Lord, full of mercy and great compassion, and of long suffering, that desires not the death of a sinner, but that he should repent and live, who of thy great goodnesse hast promised to give re­pentance and forgivenesse to them that sinne a­gainst thee, that they may be saved. Now thou therefore (most dear Lord) who camest not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (of [Page 15] whom I am the chiefe) thou of thy infinite mercy (I trust) hast appointed repentance and remis­sion unto me, whose sins are in number above the sands of the sea, or the haires of my head; I have committed much evill, and have omitted to doe the good I ought, for I have neglected all my du­ty and service towards thee, and am not worthy to be called thy servant, nor to behold the height of heaven, or to looke up unto the place where thine honour dwelleth, for the multitude of mine iniquities have bowed me downe, and as a weigh­ty burden are too heavy for me; I am depressed with the load of my sinnes, and oppressed with the feare of due punishment for them; for I have justly provoked thy wrath (O God) and multi­plied my transgressions before thee: I have not done thy will, neither thy holy Commandements have I obeyed. Now therefore (O my Redee­mer) to thee I humbly bow the knee of my heart, imploring thy mercy, and beseeching thee of grace: I will confesse my sins against my selfe, and will not hide my unrighteousnesse from thee: I have sinned (O Lord) I have grievously sinned, & I acknowledge my manifold offences; for which I have nothing to answer, but (like the Publican) Lord be mercifull unto me a miserable sinner: Wherefore I most humbly intreat thee to forgive me, my sweet Saviour forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquities, be not angry with me for ever, neither condemne me in thy displea­sure [Page 16] to the lower part of the earth, and reserve not evill for me hereafter: But (deare Father) make me of that blessed number, to whom thou imputest not their faults, and whose sinnes by my Saviours righteousnesse are covered; for thou art the God of the just, and the God of them that will repent, and in poore me, thou wilt shew all thy goodnesse and pity: for thou wilt pardon and save me that am so vilde and unworthy, even of thine owne great grace and mercy: Therefore I will turn my steps into thy waies, and will seeke thy will, and obey thee with my whole heart: I will praise thee all the daies of my life, and for ever: And let the heavens and the earth praise thy eternall Majesty; for thine is all glory for ever, Amen.

5. A Prayer for the Lords day, before we goe to Church.

O Eternall God, most high Creator; preser­ver and disposer of all things: to thee is due all praise, honour, and worship, for thou art our gracious Lord, the only author of all our good, by whom we live, move, and have our being. O with what humble reverence, and devotion ought we to prepare our ears and hearts, to hear, receive and performe any thing which concerneth thy [Page 17] most sacred Majesty; and even to take heed unto our feet when we enter into the house of God, that our waies may not offend thee: Neither ought we to presume to take thy holy Name into our mouths, except we endeavoured our selves to be reformed by thy lawes. Thou, O God, art Lord God of Sabbath, and hast inobled this day by the glorious resurrection of thy Son our Lord Jesus, and by the guidance of the Holy Ghost in thy blessed Apostles, and Catholicke Church, hast ordained it for thy publicke service, honour and worship: so make me to serve thee therein with due feare and reverence. I most humbly beseech thee to sanctifie my heart and soule to the true performance of thy blessed will in rightly obser­ving the same; and leave me not unto my owne weaknesse and disability, who can of my selfe neither thinke well, nor doe any thing that is good, for all my strength and righteousnesse is in Christ my Redeemer: Assist me therefore (sweet Saviour) with thy Spirit of grace to cease from sin, and all worldly workes, or earthly cogitati­ons this day, that may withdraw me from thy fear and service: And give me an attentive eare to hearken diligently to thy divine word: Open my heart as thou didst the heart of Lydia, that with true understanding, I may receive, and faithfully keep the same, with a conscionable care to pra­ctise what I shall learne thereby, devoutly calling upon thy most holy Name. and using due reve­rence [Page 18] in all my actions before thee: And good Lord, blesse thy servant whom thou hast appoin­ted this day to instruct and direct us in thy word and will; open to him the doore of utterance, and give him the true understanding of thy holy word, that according to thy gracious pleasure all may be saved that come unto the knowledge of thy truth, and that he may be faithfull in thy ser­vice, rightly to dispose thy divine mysteries, and to teach in faith and verity: And grant that I may heare with due attention, and resolve to fol­low and practice all good instructions, with true intention to thy glory, and the furtherance of my salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

6. An entrance to Prayer.

O God of mercy, thou wilt not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turne from his wicked waies and live: Vouchsafe to knit (deare Lord) my soule unto thee, that I may truly fear thee, and unfeignedly love thee, dedicating my selfe unto thy service, and setting mine affe­ctions and desires in all true obedience, to seeke above all things thy glory, thy Kingdome, and thy righteousnesse; that so all thy graces may daily increase in me, and my humble and unperfect ser­vice in calling on thy holy name, may grow daily [Page 19] more faithfull and fervent, now and at all times to be acceptable unto thee, through the merits of thy deare Son, and my only Saviour, in whom thou art well-pleased, Amen.

7. A short thanksgiving at the first sight of the morning light.

O Lord, I blesse thee for my health, rest and preservation this last night, and all my time past: And now most humbly pray thee give mee grace so to spend this day, that some glory may redound unto thee by my service, some benefit and good unto them with whom I live, by my ex­ample, and some further assurance unto my selfe of thy favour, and my eternall salvation, through Jesus Christ my Redeemer, Amen.

8. A private morning Prayer.

ETernall God, and my most loving Father, in all humility of soule, and unfeigned acknow­ledgement of my bounden duty, I humbly present my sinfull selfe here before thy Throne of grace and glory; beseeching thee to strike an awfull re­verence into my heart, lest my presumption and [Page 20] want of due respect towards thy great Majesty; should turne my prayers into sinne. And seeing without faith it is impossible to please God, indue me, good Lord, with true faith to believe, and apply unto my owne soule, all thy most gracious promises in Jesus Christ, whom thou hast appoin­ted to be my righteousnesse, redemption, and the reconciliation of my sins; his pretious bloud I know is all sufficient to satisfie thy just displeasure against me, and to make me, through him, to ap­peare pure, holy, and acceptable before thee: But of my selfe, alas, I confesse that I am poor, wretched, miserable, and wholly corrupt both in soule and body, the chiefe of all sinners, guilty of the breach of all thy Commandements, such an one as in whom is no goodnesse, and to whom there is nothing due, but shame and utter confu­sion for ever! Lord give me a lively apprehen­sion and sight of my wofull estate, that with true faith, contrition, and unfeigned repentance, I lay hold on thy mercy and gracious pardon, in thy beloved Son my only Saviour, humbly beseeching thee (O dear Lord) to accept his blessed death, as an absolute discharge for all mine offences; so as my sins may never be imputed unto me, but that all my infirmities may be healed by his wounds; for I know thy mercy is above all thy works, and thou delightest not in the death of a poor sinner. Ther­fore I will wait for thy salvation, relie on thy gra­cious promises, and trust in thee for ever and ever, Amen.

9. A thanksgiving.

I Will praise the Name of the Lord because he is good, and his mercy endureth for ever; for thou hast many waies extended thy great good­nesse towards me, thine unworthy servant, which I acknowledge with all humble thankfulnesse; for who am I, that thou shouldest be mindfull of me in mercy, to refresh me this night past with quiet rest, and to defend both my soule and body from all the perills thereof, preserving me by thy gra­cious providence all my life hitherto, from many evills and just punishments that my sinnes have deserved, should have fallen upon me: And thy mercies are renewed every morning: O Lord, thy compassions faile not, but thou hast multipli­ed thy benefits towards me, both spirituall and temporall; which I beseech thee for Christ Jesus sake still to continue and increase, especially thy favour in bestowing all spirituall graces on mee needfull to salvation. O let thy holy Spirit direct me in every word and good worke, and fill me with the fruit of righteousnesse, so as I may have a holy care this day and ever, to live as in thy sight, and to study to please and obey thee in all things, with reverence and feare, in a pure, holy, and blamelesse conversation. O God, knit my soule unto thee, and create a new and upright heart within me, and sanctifie me throughout, in soule, [Page 22] body and spirit, that I may give up my selfe a li­ving sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto thee, and may be preserved from all sin and evill, this day and for ever: crucifie my sinfull flesh with the lusts thereof, and withdraw mine affections from the love of this vile world, and fix my desires on things that are above, where my Saviour sitteth at thy right hand, who is my treasure, my hope and help, with whom I trust to live for evermore, Amen. And further I beg all these blessings in the name, merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, concluding in that perfect prayer which he hath sanctified and left us saying, Our Father, &c.

10. A Prayer for the afternoone.

MOst Gracious God, and my mercifull Father in Jesus Christ: how exceedingly are wee wretched creatures bound unto thy excellent Majesty for that unspeakable priviledge which thou vouchsafest unto mortall man, to have free liberty and accesse (through Christ) unto thy gracious presence, there to unfold our woes, to powre out our soules, and lay open our griefes and desires before the immortall God, who is ready to heare, and art both able and willing to relieve and helpe us? This imboldneth me (unworthy wretch) to present my person and petitions unto [Page 23] thy grace, and to call upon thy holy name through thy beloved Son: Lord let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be al­waies right and acceptable in thy sight, my strength and my Redeemer; for thou knowest my nature and substance, being but flesh and bloud, how corrupt and fraile it is, so that I am not of my selfe able to performe any holy duty as I ought, neither to will or do any thing that is good, without thou grant me the assistance of thy holy Spirit, to sanctifie my thoughts, to guide my tongue, and to helpe my infirmities: what am I but dust and ashes, a most vile and miserable sinner, conceived and borne in iniquity, and my transgressions are daily multiplied, adding sinne unto sinne till they be innumerable? how have I mispent this present day, the sinnes whereof, may justly provoke thy heavy displeasure against me, having throughout my whole life, commit­ted all evill, and omitted all good, and have neg­lected the performance of my bounden duty and service towards thee upon every flight occasion; and which is worst of all, custome of sinning, hath seared up my conscience, and deprived me of the true sight and sense of my sins and wofull estate, and bred such a fearfull hardnesse in my heart, that I cannot duly repent as I ought, and as the greatnesse of my fault requires? Thou hast cal­led often, and sought to reclaime me, and hast waited to have mercy on me, but I have refused, [Page 24] and hated to be reformed, carelessely neglecting thy infinite patience, long sufferance, and good­nesse towards me. But now to thee, O God of mercy, I bring my heavy laden soule, casting my selfe downe at thy feet, beseeching thee, O Lord, to receive me to grace and favour, and reject me not as I have deserved, but convert thou me, and I shall be changed: make me turne unto thee in true contrition, that thou maiest returne unto me in gracious compassion, to forgive all mine ini­quities, remit my ungratefulnesse, and remember my offences no more. O wash and cleanse my sinfull soule in the pure bloud of that innocent Lambe, that I may feele the vertue of his death, to slay all sin in me, and the power of his resurrecti­on to raise me to newnesse of life, in true obedi­ence to all thy Commandements; and with a child-like love, feare to offend thee, striving to please thee in all things, that so I may obtaine fa­vour and mercy in thy sight, both for thy blessing in this life, and eternall salvation after death. through thy dear Son, and my only Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.

11. A short Prayer for night.

O God, the fountaine of all goodnesse, I hum­bly and thankfully acknowledge, although I am altogether unworthy of the least of thy mani­fold [Page 25] mercies; yet have I great experience of thy infinite goodnesse, bounty and favour, both to­wards my soule and body all my time past, this day, and alwaies, preserving me from all the evills which sin and nature have made me subject unto, with a gracious supply daily ever since I was born, of all things needfull for this present life: For all which I humbly bow the knee of my heart and soule unto thy glorious Majesty; but especially for all thy graces furthering my salvation by Jesus Christ, I blesse and praise thy most holy name, yeelding all possible and hearty thanks for all thy benefits vouchsafed to mee, the continuance whereof▪ I humbly beg at thy gracious hands, commending and committing my soule and body into thy mercifull protection this night and ever, praying thee to preserve me therein from all pe­rills, sin or evill, for thou Lord only keepest mee in safety: now stretch out thy wings of grace and mercy over me, that while sleep seizeth upon my body, let not security oppresse my soule, but so sanctifie all outward refreshings unto me, as there­by I may bee the more fit and able to serve thee faithfully all my life to come, that taking quiet rest, because thou Lord sustainest me, I may also when this life ceaseth, lay downe my head in thy peace, and be made partaker of thy glory, through thy mercies and Christs merits, with the assistance of the blessed Spirit. To whom, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be all praise, power, dominion, [Page 26] and glory now and for ever, Amen: Continuing my prayers further as Christ hath taught us, say­ing, Our Father, &c.

12. A short Prayer in bed before sleep.

DEare Lord, receive me this night and alwaies, into thy gracious protection, to give mee now health, safety, and rest, if it be thy will: And dear God, when I shall enter into my long sleep of death, vouchsafe to sanctifie, and prepare my soule for eternall life, by the assistance of thy grace and holy Spirit, before thou call me away hence; and grant me a happy and blessed depar­ture out of this world, that thou maiest receive me into thy favour and mercy, to be with mee in my death, that I may dye in the Lord, and rest in peace, and obtaine a blessed resurrection, that so I may be accepted to live with thee, to praise thy great and holy name for ever, Amen.

13. A Prayer before the receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.

O Most sweet Saviour Jesus Christ, and my deare Lord, who art the author and finish­er of my faith, redemption, and salvation, the life [Page 27] and food of my soule: I most miserable sinner, presuming nothing at all on mine owne merits or worthinesse, but trusting wholly in thy infinite mercy and goodnesse, doe feare and tremble to appeare before thy Majesty, or to come unto the table of this heavenly banquet: But thou Lord Jesus who graciously callest me, and all heavy laden sinners, accept in mercy the will for the deed, in that I am unworthy and ill prepared to presume into thy presence; and vouchsafe me the assistance of thy divine Spirit, I humbly beseech thee, in this holy action, that my duty and service therein may bee acceptable in thy sight: And powre down thy heavenly blessing upon this thy holy Ordinance of thy Word and Sacraments, that they may be effectuall to revive, strengthen, and supply in me all sanctifying and saving graces needfull to the due and right performance of this sacred duty in an acceptable manner, whereby to enlighten my understanding with thy grace to the right knowledge of thee and thy truth; and work in me a lively true faith, wherewith I may lay hold and apply unto my sicke soule all the sweet and comfortable promises and benefits purchased by the bitter death of my sweet Saviour: Indue me also with most unfeigned and hearty sorrow and repentance for all my great and grievous sins and offences committed against thee; for all which I most humbly beg thy gracious pardon: and grant me such perfect love and charity, that I [Page 28] may sincerely, with all due reverence and devo­tion, love thee, my God, with all my heart, soul and strength, and may love my neighbour as my selfe, yea my very enemies for Christs sake; that so I may rightly receive this blessed Sacrament, being prepared by thy grace as I ought to bee: And let, O Lord, thy pretious bloud shed for me, cleanse and wash away all my sins, and the breaking of thy pretious body, heale all the wounds of my cor­rupt soule, that by the gracious operation of the Holy Ghost, I may be inwardly and inseparably joyned to thee my head Christ; that thou maiest supply all my weaknesse and defects in soule or body, out of thy infinite fulnesse of grace and mercy; that being cloathed with thy righteous­nesse, I may be accepted by thee, and through thee; and so be accounted worthy to be partaker of all thy merits, that with the outward signe of bread and wine, I may blessedly receive the true signified Christ, with all his benefits, and may have grace to hunger and thirst after the spirituall food of Christs body and bloud, to nourish my soule unto eternall life, and to make me become a new creature in holinesse of living, with all true and humble thankfulnesse, to thy glory and my everlasting salvation: beseeching thee to accept my poor endeavours for perfect performance, and reach forth thy helping hand from heaven to save me, thy unworthy servant, pardoning my sins, and covering my imperfections, with the pure in­nocencie [Page 29] of that immaculate Lambe, Jesus my Saviour. And so I humbly commend my selfe unto thy mercy, who art able to doe abundantly, above all that I can aske or thinke; to thee be all honour, power, and praise for evermore, Amen.

14. A thanksgiving after the holy communion of the Lords Supper.

OH! blessed and praised for ever, be the Name of the Lord my God, who hath done great and many things for me; and holy is thy gracious and glo­rious [Page 33] name, and let thy mercy and thy truth (O Lord) never forsake me, but vouchsafe to conti­nue thy goodnesse and loving kindnesse towards me for ever, and say unto my soule thou art my God, my helpe and my salvation for evermore. And now especially (O Lord) as I am infinitely bound, I render unto thy divine Majesty all humble and possible praise and thanks for this present and particular favour shewed unto me thy unworthy servant, in feeding my soule to eternall lfe, with the most pretious food of thine owne sacred body and bloud, blotting out all my sinnes, and sanctifying mee by thy holy Spirit, imputing to me thy righteousnesse, and admitting mee (so unworthy) to be a happy partaker of this blessed Sacrament: The benefit whereof is unspeakable, and the mercy therein unexpressable; only I ad­mire thy goodnesse towards mankind, and magni­fie thy great mercy, beseeching thee (my God) as thou hast vouchsafed to accept mee at this holy Table; so (good Lord) let mee not depart without a blessing, but be pleased to receive me into thy gracious care and favour, that I may live and die therein; and give mee grace to spend the rest of my time in a carefull reformation of all evills past, a diligent performance of thy most holy will in all things, and true obedience to all thy Comman­dements, with a faithfull and right application of all thy mercies and merits; so that I may feele thy bitter passion (O Lord) sweet unto my soule, and [Page 34] by the assistance of thy Spirit, bring forth the fruits of amendment of life, and most hearty thankful­nesse all my daies; that at the end of this life, I may obtaine a blessed roome in the Kingdome of glory, there to praise thy holy name for ever­more, Amen.

15. A short Prayer for conclusion to any prayer.

O God the Father, blesse and governe my soule and body, in all things to thy service: O Lord the Sonne my Saviour Jesus, protect me, and direct me at all times to doe thy will: O holy Ghost, blessed Spirit, preserve mee from falling into any sinne or evill: but instruct, sanctifie and lead me into the waies of truth and righteousnesse, that I may live in thy feare, and dye in thy fa­vour, and may continue in thy right Church and true faith unto my end: So that in the houre of my death, and in the dreadfull day of judgement, I may finde grace in thy sight that thou maiest pardon and passe by my sins, and receive me to mercy through Jesus Christ, that I may live with thee my God for evermore, Amen.

16. A Prayer for the Lords day in the afternoone when you are from Church; being seven humble petitions from a poor sinner to our Saviour Je­sus Christ, the Lord and fountain of mercy, pre­scribed and allowed by sacred Scrip­ture.

MOst great and gracious Lord, and 1. Remis­sion of sins, and amend­ment of life. Luke 18. 13. Rom. 6. 6. my only Saviour Jesus Christ, whom the Angels doe admire, all the Saints doe magnifie, and at thy name (O Jesus) doth every knee bow in hea­ven and earth: I most humbly beseech thee, to have mercy on me that presume to speake unto thee, who am but dust and ashes; yet Lord I beg of thee to forgive all my grievous and manifold offences, and cast all my sins out of thy sight, and not only to pardon all my past misdeeds, but also by thy mighty power and spirit, to slay all sin in me for the time to come. And of thy gracious favour vouchsafe while I live in this world to make mee a blessed partaker in the first resurrection 2. To rise from sin, Rev. 20. in this life▪ to arise here, from remaining or lying dead in sin, and so the second death shall [Page 36] have no power to hurt me, but by thy 3. In death Rev. 14. 13 21. 3. 4. Luke 22. 32. 36. grace and assistance, I may become a new creature in all holinesse of life be­fore thee, that I may daily bee raised from sin by thy holy Spirit to a new life of grace in Christ. But when the ap­pointed time of my death doth approach, sweet Jesus leave me not, but keep and deliver mee from that great houre of temptation, when Sathan will sift mee, and seeke my destruction, then deare Lord, pray for me that my faith may ne­ver faile, neither let my soules enemies prevaile over mee, but make thy poore servant one of those blessed that shall die in thee, O Lord, whose tears God will wipe from their eyes, and they shall rest from their labours, and their workes follow them. Now, good Iesus, grant also in the last day and houre of death, 4 The first judgemēt. Mat. 25. 34. 41. when I shall come to my first account before the Throne of God, and the dreadfull Majesty of the Father; O my Saviour, appeare with mee, that by thy gracious mediation I may finde favour in his sight, and through thee obtaine to bee received into the society of thy Saints and servants; and also by thy in­finite mercy and bitter passion, that I may in and through thee have my sins [Page 37] covered and pardoned, and may be ac­counted worthy to escape thy just and great wrath, which my iniquities have deserved, and say alwaies unto my soule thou art my God, and my salvation for ever. And so I miserable sinner, through thy merits, sufferings, and unspeakable mercy, may be made able to stand before thee the blessed Son of God and man, at my appearance in thy glorious and aw­full presence when thou commest to judge the world, and hast full power to save or to condemne us, then looke Sa­viour on me as one of thine. And sweet 5. At the last judge­ment, 6. Is after death. Rev. 8. 20. 15. Saviour, I further beseech thee by thine owne former and free election and meer grace towards me, vouchsafe in the dreadfull time of thy great visitation, that my poore name may be found writ­ten in heaven in the booke of life, so as sin nor Sathan may not bee able to blot mee out; but that thou, gracious Iesus, wilt be pleased to acknowledge me (thy most unworthy servant) to be thine, be­fore God and all his holy Angells. Now lastly, Lord by thy great goodnesse and The 7th. For eter­nall life, John 17. 22. 24. Ps. 16. 11. Conclusi­on. mercy, that I may be received into thy grace and favour, and so accepted as to injoy that most happy place and hea­venly inheritance of everlasting glory, [Page 38] which thou our Iesus hast dearly purchased for us: that where he my blessed Saviour is, I may live with him, who loved me so much as to die for me, and through him being admitted into the glori­ous presence of God, which is the fulnesse of joy, at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore: I shall there eternally serve, praise and magnifie his most holy name, who liveth for ever and ever, Amen.

17. A Prayer to the Trinity for direction and acceptance from God, of all our prayers.

MOst glorious God, and our heavenly Father in Christ, I most humbly pray thee for his sake to heare and accept mee, and my supplicati­ons that I offer up unto thy Majesty in the name of thy beloved Son: And I beseech thee sweet Iesus, in thy love and mercie, which made thee become our Redeemer; vouchsafe also to be my gracious advocate, and to direct and receive my petitions, and present them to the Father, for by and through thee only, I must obtaine acceptance. Now further I beg of thee, Lord Holy Ghost, who best can teach us to pray as we ought, to take compassion on my frailties and infirmities, to heale and helpe them, and be pleased to sanctifie and assist my heart and soule to performe this duty [Page 39] and service at all times, rightly, faithfully, and constantly; to Gods glory, and mine owne com­fort and furtherance of my eternall salvation in Christ my Saviour, Amen.

18. Another Prayer for the afternoon for many severall blessings.

OH most dear Lord, who knowest my mani­fold infirmities, and innumerable miseries: In mercy let thy gracious care and holy hand bee over me now and ever, to guide me into thy right paths, that I may walke in the wayes of thy Com­mandements, and keepe them with my whole heart unto my end. And vouchsafe, good God, to clense and change the thoughts of my corrup heart from vaine and idle imaginations, to good and godly meditations, which may produce [...] me by thy assistance, holy actions agreeable to thy most blessed will; and by thy spirit let my af­fections be reformed, and my love withdrawne from the vanities of this vile world, and may bee fixed on heavenly things above, that there may be my heart and only joy, where my Lord Christ sits in glory at the right hand of his Father; and so I may with blessed Mary chuse the better part, to forsake all the world, and my selfe also, to follow and heare Iesus; and first and chiefly so to seek as [Page 40] to obtaine that which is most needfull, even thy glory, O God, thy Kingdome, and the righteous­nesse thereof, and leave all other things to be be­stowed on me as shall seem best unto thee. And Lord grant that my understanding may be inlight­ned to discerne, imbrace, and practice the holy workes of thy blessed Spirit, and that my memory may be strengthned to retaine and make right use of all the good instruction that I heare or read ac­cording to thy will, and make my heart the store­house of all thy divine precepts, that by thy grace I may bring forth good fruit in my life; and make mee able rightly and reverently, to read and heare thy holy word, and heavenly will daily as I ought to doe, and by thy grace to frame my life thereafter; and direct thou me thy poor servant in all I goe about to doe that which is best, and most to thy glory, that howsoever all the powers and [...]culties of my soule, or the members or senses of [...]y body may be decayed or lost by age, griefe, or [...]cknesse, for the occasions of this life, yet so Lord all that is needfull for thy constant service, I be­seech thee, continue to my last breath. And also be pleased to grant, that my death be neither sudden, nor unexpected, nor my pains violent, whereby to be made unable earnestly and faithful­ly to pray and call upon thy holy name; but if it be thy will, give mee knowledge of my death when thy time is come to call mee out of this world, and assist me fervently to crie unto thee [Page 41] for grace and mercie, in the needfull time of dread and danger; then (deare Lord) fit and pre­pare me for thy selfe, and give me a blessed depar­ture hence to dye in thee, my Lord, and so I shall remaine safe and ever happy; and sweet Iesus, make me pray unto thee with my last breath, and yeeld up my spirit to God that gave it with prai­ses in my mouth unto my gracious God, the Fa­ther, Son, and Holy Ghost. Now vouchsafe, good Lord, while I live, to indue me thy most un­worthy servant with thy grace and holy Spirit, whereby devout love, and feare of thy Majesty, with true faith, stedfast hope, perfect charity, and unfained repentance, with all other saving gra­ces, may be daily renued and increased in mee, towards thee, to thy glory, and the furtherance of my salvation through Christ: O sweet Saviour, who hast performed and suffered great and many things for mee; deare Jesus, continue thy infinite favour, and finish thy worke of mercy towards me the least of thy servants, still to call and draw me daily unto thee, and make me faithfull, con­stantly, and wholly thine, in all humble obedience and true humility to serve thee in uprightnesse of life, and a holy conversation towards all so long as I live, and wilt assure my soule, that thou art my mercifull God, and after death, make me a happy partaker of thy everlasting Kingdome of glory. So be it. Amen.

19. A Prayer of three petitions, to the blessed Tri­nity, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, for the spirit of prayer, for repentance and remission of sins, and grace to amend and lead a new life.

O My Lord Holy Ghost, our sanctifier and comforter, and preserver, the giver of all heavenly gifts and graces, and the directer and assister of us to all goodnesse: I most humbly pray thee to indue me thy poore sinfull servant, with thy true spirit of grace and prayer, to helpe and teach me how to pray as I ought, and to drive a­way, and banish from me in the performance of this my duty, all evill temptations, and wicked hindrances that seek to pervert and withdraw my heart and soule from the true service of my God; and suffer not the world, the divell, nor any his agents to have power over me, or part in mee, to prevaile against me, and to cause God to turn his eare and face of mercy, from hearing and recei­ving my prayers and supplications: but Lord, by thy grace make my petitions now and alwaies right, faithfull, and acceptable to Almighty God, through Iesus Christ my blessed Saviour.

But O my God heavenly Father, the originall of all goodnesse, and mercy, who graciously com­mandest us to call upon thee in the time of trouble, that thou delivering us, we may glorifie thee; [Page 43] what greater misery and danger, then a heavy load of sins that will not easily be cast off, and a wounded spirit who can beare it? for I confesse I have most grievously sinned against thee, and my iniquities are multiplied before thee, as the starres which cannot be numbred. O Lord, whose compassion never faileth those that seek and trust in thee, as thy mercy exceedeth all thy great workes, so let that through thy deare Son move thee to release mee of this intolerable burthen; which else will throw mee out of thy presence and favour, wherein is the fulnesse of joy; and presse me down to hell into everlasting torments amongst the enemies of God and man. Now mercifull God, who hast pity on thy poore crea­tures, and delightest not in the death of a sinner; Lord turne me from all my evill waies, that I may be converted unto thee, to feare, love, and obey thee unto my end: And vouchsafe to pardon all my transgressions past, and remove my sins from me as farre as the East is from the West, and bury them in oblivion, that they may not be able to se­parate my God from mee, as far as heaven from hell: but Gracious Lord, be pleased to give me, thy unworthy servant, the blessed gift of true sorrow and repentance to salvation, to fit me for thy mer­cy, and prepare me with grace by the amendment of all my misdeeds, for thy loving acceptance of me in thy favour againe, and say to my lost soule, I am thy God, and thy salvation for ever; and so [Page 44] thou working in me, both the will and the deed, the praise, honour and glory be only thine, for e­vermore.

Now swet Jesus, the fountaine of mercy, and Saviour of all that trust and believe in thee, who graciously callest all heavy laden and penitent sin­ners to come to thee, that thou maiest ease them; have mercy on me, and heale my sinfull soul with thy most pretious bloud; and thy righteousnesse I know is alsufficient to cover a world of sinnes, if thou please to impute it unto mee. O shrowd mee under thy innocent wing, that the great wrath I have deserved may never fall upon mee: but vouchsafe, dear Lord, to receive mee sinfull creature into thy favour, as thou didst Mary, to become wholly thine, and be thy faithfull dis­ciple so long as I live; and stretch forth thy hand of mercy, as thou didst to Peter from sinking in the sea; so Lord save me thy unworthy servant, from perishing in my sins; and by thy assistance, accor­ding to thy blessed advice, that I may make my peace here, where I have transgressed, before I goe where the utmost farthing must bee paid. O Lord, by thy grace make me a new creature, dai­ly to worke out my salvation, with sorrow for my time lost, feare to offend again, and trembling at the heavy judgements due unto me, and striving to make my calling and election sure, by a holy life and godly conversation both towards God and man all the rest of my dayes. And make mee [Page 45] cast utterly off all love of this deceitfull world, which is but lost, and my owne vaine desires that hang so fast on, and only apply my heart and soule to seek after thee and thy Kingdome, with the righteousnesse thereof, and then I shall obtain the end of my faith and hope; even thy glory, and my owne salvation, through thee only dear Jesus, my blessed Lord and alone Saviour. To whom with God the Father, and the Holy Ghost, three Persons, one eternall God and glorious Trinity, be rendred as is due, all praise, honour and glory, for ever and ever, Amen.

20. The conclusion to this booke. A short Prayer so to performe our duties here towards God, that we may obtaine heaven hereafter.

OH most mercifull Lord God, thou knowest my unaptnesse to any good: I humbly pray thee to give me thy poor unworthy servant grace so truly to feare thee, as not to offend thee; so con­stantly to beleeve in thee, and confidently to re­lye upon all thy gracious promises, in all my trou­bles and necessities; and so entirely and sincerely to love and honour thee above all things, that no­thing in this world may withdraw my minde from thee, nor any vaine hopes, or earthly desires make mee neglect my service to thee; but that I [Page 46] may daily study and strive, rightly and carefully to obey thee my Lord at all times, diligently to seek thee, and know thy will, and faithfully to serve and please thee as I ought to doe as long as I live. For thou, O God the Father, lovedst us first, and sent thy deare Son out of thy bosome to redeeme us, and our sweet Saviour Jesus in his love gave himselfe, and laid downe his owne life to save us from eternall death; greater love cannot bee found then for one to dye for a friend, but thou Lord diedst for thine enemies; much more having now reconciled us to the father, and to thy selfe: I trust being united to thee also by the Holy Ghost, by sanctification and true faith wrought in me by that blessed Spirit, I shall obtaine mercy through the merits and sufferings of my deare Jesus, to live with thee in heaven hereafter, to glorifie the great Name of God, the eternall Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to whom bee all praise and honour for ever; and let heaven and earth, Saints and Angells, and all creatures, give glory to him for evermore, Amen.

Here is one Prayer more which I joyne to these, because it concerned one of my daughters, to whom this Booke belonged, though it was lately penned upon a very strange accident.

21. A thanksgiving to Almighty God, for his most mercifull preservation of my noble kinswoman the Lady Eliz. Feelding, and of my owne daughter, the Lady Eliz. Cornwalleis, from drowning under the Bridge, and was long under water: and one worthy Gentlewoman in the company could not bee recovered. This may serve upon any such fearfull accident.

MOst Mighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, and the only disposer of all things therein, thou art the defender and protecter of all thy children and servants, and the gracious pre­server of all those that depend upon thee: thy po­wer ruleth both by sea and land, and thy all­guiding providence directeth all things in the world, according to thy own high will and good pleasure, and for the good of all them that trust in thee. Whereof thou hast given many, and mee the unworthiest of thy servants, an especiall testi­mony of thy infinite mercy towards my deare daughter and kinswoman, in that great and mira­culous deliverance lately of them, in the dreadfull danger of sudden death by drowning in the Thames; for thou didst mercifully provide and take care to save their lives, when they were past sense to take care of themselves, or to call upon thee for helpe; yet beyond all hope, thou didst bring them backe from the gates of death, praised [Page 48] for ever be thy most glorious Name; and let nei­ther us, nor any of our generation forget this thy great mercy. Now Lord, make us duly to ac­knowledge all thy benefits, and let us not passe them out of our mindes without true thankful­nesse for all thy favours continually vouchsafed unto us undeserved: for all which we poor crea­tures have nothing to returne to thee, but devout love, faithfull service, and carefull obedience, with the humble sacrifice of praise and thanks­giving; which by thy assistance, I will performe towards thee with a gratefull heart, so long as I live, and for ever, Amen.

22. A Petition of the Author for herselfe.

O Lord, as Paul said, he would readily per­forme the duty in his charge that lay upon him, lest while he preached to save others, himself should become a cast-away: so dearest Lord, I having taken pains to compose many Prayers for the use of others (under my care) to further them in the constant performance of this duty of pray­er; which being rightly used, will draw many blessings from thee: Almighty God, I most hum­bly beseech thee, to heare and receive their sup­plications, that call upon thee by these Prayers. So, Gracious Lord, suffer not me to neglect my [Page 49] duty and daily service herein, towards thy Maje­sty, but make me carefully, rightly and reverently to offer up due praises and prayers, daily unto thee in a faithfull and acceptable manner all the daies of my life. And give me thy poor servant the assi­stance of thy grace and holy Spirit, to reform all my waies before thee; to suppresse and overcome the corruption of my heart, the vanity of my mind, and to forsake and abandon the love of this vile world, with all the deceitfull vanities thereof, and to cast off those great & superfluous cares and desires after the things of this mutable life, which passe away like a shadow or dream. Wise So­lomon that had the plenty, and triall of all things under the Sun, tells us what it will prove, only vanity of vanities, and vexation of spirit. Where­fore let me learne with Paul, in what estate soever I am, therewith to be content, and to submit with humble patience to thy pleasure in all things thou sendest, who knowest what is best and fittest for me; and keep me for repining and despairing in thy chastisements; for thou canst heale as well as wound, when thou pleasest. Therefore I will de­dicate my heart and soule, and all my endeavours unto thy faithfull service, striving to make my cal­ling and election sure, by looking after thee my God, thy Kingdome, and thy righteousnesse, which is the only thing needfull: This grace grant unto mee, O God, for Jesus Christs sake. Amen.

1. A short Petition to precede any other Prayers.

O Lord Holy Ghost, who knowest my cor­rupt heart, and the frailty of my soule, which can performe no good but by thy grace. Vouch­safe, my Lord, to sanctifie, assist and teach me the unworthiest of thy servants, by thy holy Spirit, so to pray now and alwayes, that my supplications may be faithfull and acceptable to my God, to his glory, and the comfort and good of my selfe, both in soul and body for ever, Amen.

2. A Prayer to God the Holy Ghost, for the true spirit of grace in prayer.

O God Holy Ghost, the giver of all good gifts and graces, give mee thy true Spirit Lord, who art the comforter and sanctifier of thine E­lect: thou knowest my great and manifold infir­mities, and frailties; all which, I humbly pray thee in thy love and mercie to heale and helpe. And Lord give me power, strength, and grace, by thy assistance, to resist and overcome all wicked assaults and temptations of the divell, that seeke to draw me from God and goodnesse, and lead mee to all evill: but vouchsafe Lord, I beseech thee, still to be present with me in this holy exer­cise, and indue thy poore servant with thy blessed Spirit and gift of prayer to call upon thy glori­ous Name faithfully and sincerely, whereby my unworthy petitions (though full of imperfecti­ons) may be received and accepted by thee. And Lord, banish all wandring thoughts, and wicked hindrances from my soule, in the performance of this my bounden duty and service, that I owe un­to thee, my God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: And be pleased Lord, to assist mee now and ever with thy grace to worship thee at all times, in spi­rit and truth, as thou requirest: and not to present a dead, dull and corrupt offering unto my Lord, of the lips without the heart, or by joyning in my [Page 55] thoughts God and the world, or mammon toge­ther, which thou hatest, and so make my prayers abominable to thy Majesty; for thou hast made the heart, who ought and must be served and ho­noured with it. Therefore I humbly pray thee, to inable me by thy assistance, to offer unto thee, my God, a holy and living sacrifice, of my selfe, my prayers, and praises daily, in a right and ac­ceptable manner, not looking so much to the be­nefit and recompence of reward that shall bee re­ceived thereby from thy mercifull hands to my owne good, but chiefly for the honour and glory of thy great Name, whose I am, and whom I am bound to serve, and from whom I have already received so many great blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall: for which I render most humble and hearty thanks unto thy Majesty. Now lastly, deare Lord Holy Ghost, I earnestly beg of thee, daily to unite mee unto thy glorious head, and only Saviour Jesus Christ, that so I may performe with true faith, good devotion, humili­ty, and sincerity, this, and all other holy duties and services, according to thy blessed will and word, to thy glory and my great comfort; now and for ever: So be it.

3. A short preface before any other Prayers, for the Lords day.

ALmighty Lord God, in whose glorious pre­sence I am, presuming to take thy sacred name into my sinfull mouth: before thee, Lord, I most humbly prostrate my selfe; thou seest the heart, and knowest our wants before we aske, yet hast thou commanded us to ask in thy Sons name, promising for his sake, to grant us all needfull blessings both for soule and body. O Lord, thou understandest my great weaknesse and disability, who can doe no good, but by thy assistance: I now most humbly pray thee, to keep all evill in­terruptions from my heart and soule, and so to in­due mee with thy true Spirit of grace and prayer, in performing this duty and service to thy glori­ous Majesty; that so all my supplications may now and at all times be right, faithfull, accep­table, and pleasing unto thee: and by thy great mercy also, prevailing for my good, and furthe­rance of my salvation, through my only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

4. A Prayer for the Lords day at first awaking.

O Most glorious Lord God, the high and gra­cious Creator of heaven and earth, with all [Page 57] things therein; Thou didst finish that mighty work­in six dayes, and rested the seventh, commanding thy Church and people of the Jewes to keep holy the seventh day, to thy due service and praise. But our Lord Jesus having finished the redemption of mankinde by his crosse and passion, and bitter suf­ferings, didst bury that Sabbath in his grave upon that day, and by thy Spirit didst guide thy Apostles and Christian Church to sanctifie and keep holy this first day of the weeke, in perpetuall memory of his glorious resurrection and eternall rest from that labour, and suffering for our redemption, to thy due service and praise; blessed be thy holy name therefore. And now, dear Lord, for all my former neglects of my duty herein; for Jesus his sake, pardon my sinfull breaches of this, and all o­ther thy holy Commandements heretofore: and vouchsafe, O God, alwaies to knit my straying heart, to the true feare of thy great name, to keep me from offending thee, and fill my soul with the infinite love of thy divine Majesty, that I may dai­ly strive to lead the rest of my life in all obedience to thy holy will. And Lord, vouchsafe to inspire me thy most unworthy servant, I humbly pray thee, with thy blessed Spirit, that I may withdraw my minde this blessed day, from all worldly cogi­tations, thinking my owne thoughts, speaking my owne words, doing my daily works, or going my owne waies; but assist me with thy grace, that I may apply my heart and soule wholly to medi­tate [Page 58] of thy wonderfull works, and manifold mer­cies, with thankfulnesse, and to attend thy service either publique or private, with care and faithful­nesse, and to obey all thy Commandements hence­forth with diligence, and constantly serving thee all my life to come, that so I may praise and glorifie thee, and thou maiest pardon my sins, and save my poore soule, through thy great and un­merited mercie in Jesus Christ, my Lord and only Redeemer, Amen.

5. A Prayer for the Lords day in the morning before going to Church.

My soule praise thou the Lord, and all that is within me praise his holy name, who is most worthy of all honour and glory.

ALmighty God, our heavenly Father in Jesus Christ thy beloved Son, who of thy infinite goodnesse by thy great power and divine word, didst in six dayes create heaven and earth, the sea and the whole world, with all things therein, and resting the seventh day, didst blesse and hallow it, commanding all thy people in purity after thine owne image, to keep the same holy to thy due honour and praise; having also given us six dayes for our owne occasions: and after this great and [Page 59] unexpressible worke, thou didst also in thy ap­pointed time accomplish by thy beloved Son Je­sus, that happy redemption of mankinde, who were lost by sin, and fallen from thee; which un­speakable mercie and benefit was as upon this first day of the week consummated by the miraculous blessed resurrection of our Saviour, which wee Christians now keep in commemoration of these thy infinite benefits; that according to thine ap­pointment thy servants may rest this holy Lords day, from all worldly affaires to thy honour and glory: blessed and praised now and for ever, bee thy glorious Name, for these thy marvellous workes. Therefore I most humbly beseech thee, O Lord, of thy great mercie, by thy Spirit of grace, to sanctifie mee thy most unworthy ser­vant, both in soule and body, that I may at all times, but especially this Lords day, and upon all other daies consecrated by thy Church to the me­mory of any of thy blessings, benefits and delive­rances, wholly devote my selfe, to thy true feare, holy devotion; and faithfull service, in perfor­mance of thy blessed will and commandement: And so thy worthy name may be glorified, my sal­vation furthered, and thy favour and blessing rest alwaies upon me and mine. And likewise I most humbly pray thee, O God, for thy Son Jesus sake, to forgive all my sins done in my whole life past, in breaking this and all other thy divine Laws, that through the death and bitter passion of my deare [Page 60] and innocent Saviour, which hee suffered to re­deem us, thou wilt vouchsafe to be reconciled un­to me, thy guilty and sinfull creature; that as this is a day of rest to thy due praise, so by thy marcy it may bee a happy day of joy and peace to my poore soule and conscience, through my only Lord and blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen, Amen.

6. A Prayer to be said at the Church, as soone as we are come into our seat.

O Lord our God, who art here present amongst us, thou seest and understandest all things, and knowest my heart; prepare, sanctifie, and as­sist my heart and soule, with thy grace, so to be­have my selfe, both outwardly and inwardly, as in the presence of thy glorious Majesty, in this thy blessed house of prayer and hearing thy word, with such due reverence, feare, humility, true faith and devotion, as may be best pleasing and ac­ceptable unto thee, and most profitable and a­vailable for the good of mine owne soule. O God, indue thy servant the Preacher, with thy holy Spirit, to teach thy saving truth rightly and sincerely, that it may be powerfull to our edifica­tion, and effectuall to the beating downe, and ba­nishing of all sins from our soules, and the en­crease [Page 61] of faith and grace in us that heare him; to thy glory, and the furthering of our salvations, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

7. Another shorter Prayer to the same purpose.

GOod Lord, that knowest my infirmities, pre­vent and remove all sin and evill hindrances and impediments of drous [...]nesse, and wandring thoughts from me fraile sinfull creature, and open my ears and heart like Lidiees to attend and marke diligently what is taught out of thy most sacred word. Inlighten, Lord, my understanding, to conceive rightly what I heare, and keep my mind wholly intentive upon thy faithfull service; in hearing thy holy word with true devotion before thee; and make my memory retentive of all the good instructions that I learne, and give me grace carefully and conscionably to practice them throughout my whole life, to the honour of thy great name, the performance of thy most holy will, the amendment of all my faults; and finally, the salvation of mee thy poore servant; through my Saviour Jesus Christs merits and mercies, Amen.

8. A Prayer after the Sermon is ended, before we go out of the Church.

MOst Gracious Lord God, I humbly beseech thee, to pardon all my sinfull neglects, de­fects, and want of due preparation, or any infir­mities that have overtaken mee in the perfor­mance of my duty towards thee, in this thy house, and blessed exercise of Prayer, and hearing of thy divine Word. And let me not depart out of this holy place without thy blessing, whereby my knowledge, faith, holinesse, and comfort in thee may be daily increased in me: And Lord, adde thy grace to what I have now heard, that by thy gracious assistance, it may bring forth plentifull fruit in me, to the reformation of my life and con­versation, in avoiding all evill, and doing all good, which may be serviceable and acceptable to thy Majesty, and best pleasing in thy sight, through Jesus Christ, my only Saviour. Amen.

A Prayer for the Lords day at night, of three Petitions.

FIrst, thankfulnesse for benefits already received, with prayer for the continuance of all Gods mercies. Secondly, for repentance, true faith, re­mission of sins, and amendment of life. Lastly, so to live and dye unto God here, that after death, we may live with him in heaven for ever.

9. The Prayer.

MY soule praise thou the Lord, and forget not all his benefits, which forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thine infirmities, which redeemeth thy life from death, and crowneth thee in mercy and compassion, who provided a ran­some for thee, before thou hadst being to under­stand thine owne wretched estate. Oh, my Lord God! how good and gracious hast thou ever been in all thy mercies both spirituall and temporall towards me, the least and unworthiest of thy ser­vants, before I was borne, and ever since, from time to time? Now Lord, I humbly pray thee, in the same love and favour, from which I have hi­therto received so many and great benefits, vouch­safe thou alwaies to continue thy blessings unto me, especially in daily renewing all spirituall gra­ces in my soule, for the true performance of all holy duties and service, in a right and acceptable manner towards thy Majesty: and Lord, make my humble thankfulnesse unto thee, appeare in my true obedience of thee in all things, that I may duly praise and glorifie thy name for ever. Now deare God, let not thy mercy in prolonging my daies, encrease the number of my sinnes, and so to heap up wrath unto my selfe against the day of wrath, by drawing upon me due punishments for my offences; but mercifull God, adde thou grace [Page 64] unto my daies; and for Jesus sake, forgive all my sinnes past that I have done before thee in my whole life time, especially in my many breaches of this holy and blessed Lords day, which we keep in remembrance of our Saviours resurrection; with all my neglects and defects in the performance of my duties towards thee this present day, and heretofore, according to thy Commandements. And grant, O God, through thy mercies, and my Saviours merits, that my iniquities may never bee imputed unto mee; but Lord, let thy goodnesse, patience, and long sufferings, lead me to daily and unfaigned repentance: and give me true faith in all thy gracious promises, and by the assistance of thy holy Spirit, to bring forth amendment of all my former faults, with true obedience unto thy bles­sed will, and holinesse of living all my life to come: That so I may obtaine grace and favour in thy sight, to prevent and keep mee hereafter from all sin and evil, or offending thee, my God, in thought, word and deed; and direct thou my waies right before thee, in all godlinesse and uprightnesse of heart, that I may be enabled through my Lord Je­sus Christ, to doe every good worke, and by thy grace to live here according to all thy Comman­dements; and when thou pleasest to call for mee [...]ut of this wicked world unto thy selfe, Lord as­sist me with thy spirit and grace to make a blessed end, and to die in thee, my Lord, and so I shall finde mercie through the merits of my Saviour [Page 65] Jesus, after death to be accepted and received in­to the Kingdome of heaven, and through Christ my Saviour, may bee admitted into thy glorious presence, O God, where is the fulnesse of joy, and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore, of which Lord make me a happy partaker, when this life is ended. Amen, Amen.

10. A Prayer for Munday to God the Father, at first awaking.

I Will praise thee with my whole heart, for thou hast dealt lovingly with mee. Blessed and prai­sed now and ever, be thy most glorious Name, O my God, heavenly Father, for all thy great and manifold mercies and blessings, both spirituall and temporall in soule and body, vouchsafed unto mee thy most unworthy and sinfull servant, before I was borne, and hitherto, this last night, and all my life past; for thy favours have ever been right, good and gracious towards mee, having done great and many things for mee, praysed be thy most holy Name, who hast been my only stay, succour, helpe and comfort in this world; and thy infinite mercy in Ghrist, is all my hope and confi­dence, for the life to come. Now Gracious Lord, who hast been my good God and guide from my youth, have pity upon my infirmities: and for [Page 66] Jesus sake, forgive all my sinnes that I have com­mitted before thee in my whole life past, and let thy mercy and truth, never leave me nor forsake me, neither in life, in death, nor in the last judgement, but be pleased by thy Spirit, to say alwaies unto my soule, especially at my death, thou art my God and my salvation, for in thee will I trust so long as I live, and for ever. So be it.

A short supplication before the weekly Prayers. 11. A morning Prayer for Munday to God the Father.

HEare me when I call upon thee, O God of my righteousnesse, have mercy upon mee, and hearken unto my prayer. Most Gracious Lord God, and my heavenly Father, in Christ Je­sus my Saviour; thou knowest my great and grie­vous infirmities, that I can of my selfe neither will nor performe any good, nor think a good thought, but by thy grace; therefore I most humbly pray thee to indue mee thy poore unworthy servant with thy holy Spirit, whereby these and all other my prayers and petitions, that I presume to offer unto thy Majesty, may by thy assistance be made in a right manner, and in an acceptable time, when thou wilt please to be found of me, and gra­ciously to heare and receive me and my supplica­tions. [Page 67] And now vouchsafe, dear God, to sanctifie, prepare and assist my heart and soule, with thy true Spirit of grace and prayer, to drive away all vaine and wandring thoughts, sluggish dulnesse, and all evill temptations out of my minde; and knit my heart and soule to the true feare of thy great Name, and to the devout love of thy divine Majesty; and teach mee with all due reverence, and such true humility and devotion, as is fit to ap­pear in thy sacred presence, that I may rightly, faithfully, and humbly, now and at all times, call upon thy holy Name as I ought to doe, and daily pray unto thee, O my blessed Lord God, who hast awaked mee in health and safety to this daies light, which I most thankfully acknowledge, with all other thy blessings and benefits, both spirituall and temporall, bestowed on me thy sinfull servant, from time to time; beseeching thee of thy infinite mercy alwaies to continue them unto me. And as thy gracious providence hath brought me to be­gin this new day, so Lord, by thy power defend me therein from falling into any sin or evill, to offend thee; but give me grace at this present to performe, and ever continue to lead a new, a ho­ly, and an upright life in thy sight, all the rest of my daies to come, to frame my heart, and reforme my waies in all true obedience hereafter to thy most holy will and Commandements. And fur­ther, I humbly praise thy glorious Name, for thy gracious preservation of me and mine, and all o­ther [Page 68] thy benefits vouchsafed me the last night, and all my life past unto this instant houre, having hi­therto given me health, maintenance and safety; which, I pray thee, whilst I live, still to vouchsafe me, and make me truly thankfull to thee for all thy mercies; and let thy benefits never slip out of my minde, but that I may daily and duly acknow­ledge them to the true praise of thy most holy Name. And grant me grace to spend the rest of my time to come more carefully and faithfully then I have formerly done, to seeke, serve, feare, love, obey, and please thee my Lord, in all things as I ought to doe, so that it may bee more then meat and drinke unto me, to doe the will of thee my heavenly Father. And I most humbly beseech thee, O God, the fountaine of mercy, to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and offences past that I have committed against thee, either in soule or body throughout my whole life; Lord blot them out of thy remembrance, with the most pretious bloud of thy deare Son, my only Saviour Jesus Christ; and grant through thy mercies, and his merits, and sufferings, that my iniquities may ne­ver be imputed unto me. But vouchsafe, O God, now and ever, to keepe me thy poore servant, as the apple of thine own eie from all sin and shame, and hide mee under the shadow of thy wings from falling into any evill or danger this day; es­pecially, O Lord, preserve mee alwaies from the great wickednesse of committing any presumptu­ous [Page 69] sin before thee, and from the fearfull sinne a­gainst the Holy Ghost (which is unpardonable) and from the dangerous sins of neglect towards thee, hardnesse of heart, senselesse security, or fal­ling into wicked despaire, whereby I may pre­vent my soule of thy mercy in Christ for my salva­tion. But, good God, direct thou my thoughts, desires, words, and deeds, to be ever agreeable to thy most holy will, and obedient to all thy Com­mandements, that I may henceforth live before thee with an upright heart, daily studying and striving to serve and please thee in all things, so long as I live, that after death, I may praise and magnifie thy Name in heaven among thy Saints and servants, for ever and ever. These great mercies, O gracious God, with all other thou knowest needfull for me, either for this life or the life to come, I further beg of thee, in the name, merits and mediation of thy deare Son, and my sweet Jesus, concluding in that perfect forme of prayer, which hee hath taught us, saying, Our Father, &c.

12. A Prayer to God the Father for Munday night.

O Lord my God, how excellent is thy name in all the world, who hast done great workes, and brought mighty things to passe.

ALmighty Lord, and my heavenly Father in Christ, most high and mighty God, Creator, [Page 70] possessor, preserver, and disposer of heaven and earth, and all that is therein, the fountaine of grace and mercy, and Father of light, from whom commeth all good and perfect gifts: I most hum­bly pray thee of thy great goodnesse to give mee thy poore sinfull servant, thy grace and holy Spi­rit, to direct my heart and all my waies aright in thy sight, and to guide me in the paths of truth and righteousnesse; and Lord, lead mee into that streight way, and through that narrow gate, which bringeth unto life eternall; that so of thy infinite mercie through Christ, I may enter in (though most unworthy) with them that obtaine grace to finde it, and there to live with thee, my God, in joy and blisse for evermore. And fur­ther, I yeeld and render unto thee, my Lord, all humble and possible praise, honour, and thankes, for all thy great and manifold mercies and bene­fits, spirituall and temporall, vouchsafed unto me thy most unworthy servant in soule and body from time to time; and also for thy gracious pre­servation of me and mine, and all other thy bles­sings bestowed upon me this day past, and all my life hitherto. Now, good God, for Christs sake, I humbly pray thee, to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and trespasses that I have committed before thee, inwardly or outwardly in soul or body, by thought, desire, word or deed, this present day, or any time of my life heretofore. Mercifull Fa­ther, wash away all my sinnes out of thy sight, [Page 71] with the most pretious bloud of that All-sufficient sacrifice, the innocent Lamb of God, Jesus, who was slaine for our transgressions: hide all my sins in his wounds, and bury them in his grave, so as they may never bee able to rise in judgement a­gainst me, either to accuse or to condemne mee. But Lord, make me of that blessed number, whose sinnes thou wilt cover, and whose iniquities thou wilt pardon. And vouchsafe also to forgive my omission of all those good deeds I ought to have done, and my sinfull neglect in the true perfor­mance of all duty and service that I owe unto thee; especially my wicked negligence in calling upon thy holy Name, and daily praising thee for all thy mercies: and likewise I beg pardon for my often omitting, or slightly performing this du­ty of praying unto thee as I ought, now and at all times; which Lord give me grace more carefully, faithfully and devoutly to perform towards thee, by the assistance of thy holy Spirit ever hereafter, that so of thine infinite mercy thou maiest b [...]ing mee to that eternall Kingdome which thou hall prepared, O God the Father, before the world be­gan, for all that truly love and beleeve in thee, to thy great praise and honour, and my salvation i [...] Christ, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, to whom be glory now and ever.Amen.

13. The conclusion for Munday, to be said last, or in bed.

O My God, I most humbly commmend and commit my selfe both body and soule, my children and grand-children, my kindred, friends and family, and all that doth belong unto me, here or else where, with all my fellow members in thy whole Church, into thy most gracious protection and preservation, this night and alwaies. Good God, I beseech thee, vouchsafe to blesse, sanctifie and keep our soules and bodies in thy true faith, feare and favour, with safety, this night, and to our lives end. Amen.

14. A Prayer at first awaking, for Tuesday, to our Saviour Jesus Christ.

MY soule shall magnifie thee, O Lord, and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour, who hath done and suffered great and many things for me, blessed be thy most holy Name for thy infinite benefits and blessings, both spirituall and tempo­rall bestowed upon mee thy unworthy sinfull ser­vant from time to time. And chiefly (Gracious Lord) for thy accomplishment of my redemption before I had any being: who didst vouchsafe to [Page 73] come into the world amongst evill men, and to be borne of a Virgin, to take the shape and nature of man upon thee, and in our flesh didst work and performe all righteousnesse to bee imputed unto us; and also submitted thy selfe to suffer the most bitter and ignominious death of the Crosse, to free us from that eternall death, which our sinnes have deserved; and also rose againe from the grave the third day, to overcome sin, death, the grave, hell and Sathan, with all other things for us. And so thou, sweet Jesus, art become our reconciliation, redemption, righteousnesse, and justification, with hope also through thee of salvation and glo­rification hereafter. Of all which thy inestimable benefits, I humbly pray thee, O Lord my Saviour, of thy infinite mercy both in this world, and after this life is ended, to make me thy poor unworthy servant a happy partaker amongst thy Saints and servants, that I may live hereafter with thee and them, to praise and glorifie thy Name, my deare Jesus, for ever. Amen.

15. A Prayer for Tuesday morning, to God the Son, our Redeemer.

I Know that my Redeemer liveth, and shall stand the last day upon the earth, to judge the world in righteousnesse, and all the people with equity. [Page 74] O sweet Iesus Christ, who art my Lord and per­fect Saviour, the beloved Son of God, the blessed Redeemer of the world, the only searcher of mans heart, before whom all things are manifest, all desires knowne, and from thee no secrets can be hid: Lord cleanse and reforme the thoughts of my wicked corrupt heart, by the inspiration of thy most holy Spirit, to purge my heart, soul and conscience from all sin, evill, and dead works, rightly and faithfully, to feare and serve thee, the true and living Lord, that I may unfainedly love thee, and constantly praise and magnifie thy holy and blessed Name all the daies of my life, and for ever. Now, Gracious Iesus, grant that the words of my mouth, and the thoughts, and meditations of my heart, in these and all other prayers and pe­titions that I make unto thy Majesty, may bee al­waies guided by thy blessed Spirit, and that all my waies and actions; be directed according to thy holy word, and so by thy merciful assistance, all things I goe about, shall be ever right and accep­table in thy sight, O Lord God of truth, that art my strength and my Redeemer. And deare Savi­our, who knowest the infinite corruption of my wretched nature, and my unaptnesse to all good­nesse, vouchsafe to draw and knit my heart and soule, to thy true feare and faithfull service, and suffer no worldly respects, regard of persons, nor any pleasures, to withdraw my minde, or hinder my soule from the true performance of my daily [Page 75] duties and service towards thee, my God, with due observance of thy great Majestie, faithfully, devoutly and constantly serving thee, and calling on thy holy name, now and at all times, and dai­ly worshipping thee in spirit and truth, as thy selfe hast commanded. And be thou pleased, dear Lord, by thy grace, to guide and direct my heart, soule, and body, with all my desires, waies, and workes, according to thy owne good will and pleasure; for I humbly commend and commit my selfe, my children and grand-children, with all belonging to mee, and all things that any way concerneth me, to thy most gracious protection, direction, and disposing, now and ever. And I humbly pray thee, O my sweet Iesus, so to pre­vent me with thy holy Spirit, that I bee led into no temptation this day by the divell or his evill agents, the vaine world, or my owne corrupt flesh, neither suffer any sinfull thoughts to possesse my soule; but assist me, I beseech thee, to set a watch over my heart and waies, and before my mouth, and set a seale of grace and wisdome over my soul, and upon my lips, that I offend not with my tongue, or in my actions, either against thee my God, my neighbour or my owne soule; but Lord, make my heart cleane and upright before thee, and keep me from falling into my former sins againe, but indue me with grace so to number my daies, that I may apply my heart to wisdome and goodnesse, and daily endeavour and strive to [Page 76] lead a new and godly life in thy sight; and make me firme, stedfast, and constant in thy right Church, saving truth, and true faith unto my lives end, to live and die therein; but if I hold any errors con­trary to thy will and word (O Lord) speedily con­vert my soule unto thee, and shew me the paths of life, and teach me thy truth, and suffer me not to slide from it, but so long as I live here, constant­ly to set my whole heart, soule, and delight, to seek, to serve, to love, and to fear thee, my Lord, in all true obedience, humility, repentance, and purity, with stedfast faith in thee, and true holi­nesse of living, as is required of thy children and servants, through the assistance of thy blessed Spi­rit, and the blessing of thy heavenly Father, who liveth and reigneth with thee, three Persons, and one true eternall God, blessed for ever. Amen. Concluding my humble petition, with that per­fect prayer, which Christ our advocate hath san­ctified, and taught us saying, Our Father, &c.

16. A Prayer for Tuesday at night to our blessed Saviour, for my selfe and children.

O Sweet Iesus Christ, that art both God and man, my blessed Saviour, Redeemer, and Mediator, who understandest all things, and seest what we want before we aske, and knowest best [Page 77] what is in miserable mortall man, that is made of earth, how corrupt my nature and substance is, how many and great my frailties and infirmities are, and how subject I am to fall into all manner of evill both in soule and body, if thy grace uphold me not: therefore I most humbly beseech thee, O Lord, to receive me and mine now and ever, into thy provident and gracious care, to protect and direct us in all our waies to doe thy blessed will, and to live in all thy holy feare, to save and guide us waking from all sinne and shame, and to keep and defend us sleeping from all perills and dan­gers either of soule or body, that so by thy mercie we may rest in peace and safety this night, and al­so awake in thy grace and favour, and doe all things to thy honour and glory, and may live and dye thy true and faithfull servants; and after death vouchsafe, dear Lord, by thy merits and sufferings to give us eternall life with thee in heaven, which thou hast dearly purchased for us. Now sweet Jesus, vouchsafe to indue and assist mee with thy grace and holy Spirit, that I may be able rightly, faithfully, and confidently (as I ought to doe) to cry and pray unto thee, my God, for grace and mercie, that I may finde favour in thy sight, and that my trust in thee may never cease, that so I may obtaine true contrition for all my offences, and pardon for my sins past, with all sa­ving graces for my salvation both in life and death, and assured hope of everlasting life when [Page 78] this is ended, through thy pretious death and bitter passion, sweet Iesus my Saviour. Now, good Lord, indue me with grace, to fit and prepare my soule as I ought, before my day of death approa­cheth, that I be not taken unprovided; but assist me with thy blessed Spirit to worke in my heart a true and lively faith, to lay fast hold upon all thy mercies, merits, and gracious promises, and right­ly to apply them to my owne soule. And further give mee, I humbly pray thee, unfaigned repen­tance and remission of all my sinnes, with other needfull graces for the performing of all holy du­ties to thy Majestie, that so I may be inabled right­ly and faithfully to serve and please thee while I live here; and also make me carefully to fit and prepare my soule for thy mercifull acceptance, before thou call me to thy selfe out of this vale of misery; and give mee grace daily to die unto this world, and forsake it while I am in it, that I may live more and more in true holinesse and righte­ousnesse before thee; and so I shall obtain bles­sednesse here to be directed by thee in all things, and to have thy protection over me to die happily in thee, and live eternally with thee, who art my only Saviour and Redeemer, Iesus Christ the righteous, to whom be all glory for ever and e­ver. So be it.

17. The conclusion for Tuesday, to be said at night or in bed, to the Son, for my selfe and children.

MY sweet Iesus, by thy grace and holy Name, keep mee thy poore servant, and all mine from all sinne and shame, and by thy bitter death and passion, save us from thy great wrath, and endlesse damnation, and by thy powerfull resur­rection, raise us daily from sin to grace and new­nesse of life, and by thy glorious ascention, draw me thy unworthy servant continually to heaven after thee by a holy life and godly conversation; and of thy great mercie, after death, reserve me to be where thou art, and make me partaker of thy everlasting salvation; and in all my troubles, sor­rows and distresse, doe thou my griefes redresse, and be my blessed consolation; and vouchsafe to receive me this night and alwaies into thy merci­full preservation: for now I will lay me downe in peace, and also rest and sleep, because thou Lord, dost only mee sustaine, and wilt in safety keep: for on thee alone I wholly doe depend, who art all my hope, helpe, comfort, and confi­dence, sweet Iesus my Saviour. Amen.

18. A Prayer for Wednesday to the glorious Trinity at first awaking.

GReat is our God, and worthy to be praised, I will speake of all thy marvellous workes, for thou hast done great things, and holy is thy Name.

To thee O God, heavenly Father, our gracious Creator of all things; with God the Son, that bles­sed Redeemer of mankinde, and God the Holy Ghost the sanctifier of thine elect; unto thee, O Lord, three Persons, one true and everliving God, be given and rendred as is due by mee, and all o­ther thy children and servants, all humble and possible praise and thanks, now and ever. For I thy most unworthy servant, doe humbly and thankfully acknowledge, that I finde thy blessings and benefits both spirituall and temporall, slee­ping and waking, daily and howrely, to be renued towards me, for which I blesse and magnifie thy holy Name, especially for those spirituall graces thou hast vouchsafed unto my soule from time to time, before I had any being, for my election by the whole Trinity, and my creation by God the Father, which thou didst fully performe in thine owne innocent person: but chiefly in that infi­nite love token unto mankinde, of God the Fa­ther in ordaining and sending thy deare Son out of thy bosome into the world; and thou, O Christ, [Page 81] in comming amongst wicked men, to put thy selfe into their cruell hands for our redemption, and so become our righteousnesse, justification, and sal­vation, which thou hast dearly purchased for us with thy own bloud. And since I was borne, O blessed Spirit, for my continuall preservation, and daily supply of all needfull blessings for my soule and body, especially for my vocation, and calling to the right knowledge of God and his saving truth, with some measure of true faith, sanctifica­tion, and regeneration from sinne to grace, all wrought in mee by the holy operation of thee Lord Holy Ghost; by whom also we are united unto our Lord and head Christ Jesus, from whom Lord let me never be separated. Now vouchsafe O God, still to continue all thy mercies towards me; and chiefly in giving me daily a supply and increase of all heavenly gifts, and spirituall gra­ces, whereby I may be able rightly, faithfully, and constantly, to feare and love, to seek, serve, and please thee my God, in all things as I ought to doe; that so I may obtaine thy grace and favour (by thy assistance) to live a holy life here accor­ding to thy will, that thou of thy infinite mercie, Almighty God, and glorious Trinity, maiest make me partaker of thy heavenly Kingdome of glory hereafter. Amen.

19. A Prayer to the Trinity for Wednesday morning.

O God the Father of heaven, the gracious Creator of all things, the righteous judge, that searcheth the heart, and trieth the children of men, and beholdeth all our waies; and knowest my substance is but dust, flesh and bloud, and my nature as it is corrupted by sin, is of it selfe, earth­ly, sensuall and divelish, and can merit nothing from thee, O Lord, but condemnation. Deare God, the originall of all goodnesse, I most humbly beseech thee to have mercy upon mee miserable sinner, and enter not into judgement with thy poore servant, for no flesh living is righteous be­fore thee; neither reward me after my wicked­nesse, for I am a wretched and most sinfull crea­ture, and have done exceeding much evill in thy sight; but I humbly pray thee, O God, for thy dear Son and my Saviours sake, to withdraw thy great wrath and heavy displeasure from mee, which my sinnes have justly deserved; and if it be thy will Lord release my present afflictions, which now and long have lain upon me: and vouchsafe also to prevent and remove those weighty judge­ments, that hang over my head for my iniquities, that by thy unspeakable mercies I may escape them; yet if thou please further to visit mee with fatherly chastisements for the amendment of my [Page 83] faults; Lord give me wisdome and patience to beare all things as I ought to doe, without offence towards thee, and by thy grace to make the best and rightest use of all thou sendest, so as in the end they may turne to thy glory and the furthe­rance of my salvation in Christ my Lord. O God the Son, Redeemer of mankinde, who didst vouchsafe to bee borne of a woman, to become man for our redemption, and camest into the world to seek and save all those that were lost by sin, that they might live by faith in thee; which Lord grant unto me, sweet Jesus my Saviour, and have mercie upon me a wicked sinner, to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and offences that I have done before thee all my life past in thought, word and deed; and impute not my iniquities unto me, neither destroy mee with my transgressions, nor let thy heavy displeasure reserve evill for me here­after: but deare Lord, of thy great goodnesse grant me thy poore servant true faith, and unfeig­ned repentance, with thy gracious remission of all my trespasses, and wash my sinnes out of thy sight with thine owne most pretious and inno­cent bloud, which thou didst so freely shed for our redemption; naile all my offences upon thy crosse, and bury them in thy grave, so as they may never be able to come in judgement against mee, either to accuse or shame me in this world, or to condemne and confound mee in the world to come, for thy mercies sake, sweet Jesus my Savi­our: [Page 84] But I most humbly beseech thee, O Lord, [...] sanctifie and cleanse my heart and soule from all sinne and evill, by thy holy Spirit, that I may be upright in thy sight, to reforme all my waies before thee, and let thy grace and holy Spirit lead mee into the paths of truth and righteousnesse all my life, that after death thou maiest of thy infinite mercy bring me to that everlasting inheritance of happinesse which thou hast so dearly purchased for us with thine owne bloud, in whom is all my trust, who art my only Saviour, Mediator and Ad­vocate for ever. O God the Holy Ghost, our comforter, preserve and sanctifie thou my heart and soule, that I may unfeignedly love thee, truly feare thy holy Name, and faithfully serve, please and obey thee, as I ought to doe now and all the daies of my life: And vouchsafe, O blessed Spi­rit, to instruct and inlighten my soule and under­standing, with the true knowledge, devout love, and stedfast beliefe of thy sacred truth, and keepe me therein for ever. O Holy Ghost, vouchsafe to make thy seat and dwelling in my soule, and let thy holy Spirit take full possession of my heart, and abide alwaies with mee to fill me with all sa­ving graces, whereby I may bee preserved from falling into any sinne or evill, and bee inabled to doe all good that may be best pleasing unto thee, and to performe all duty and service (by thy assi­stance) in an acceptable manner unto my graci­ous and Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and [Page 85] the Holy Ghost, three Persons, and one ever glo­rious Trinity, to whom be rendred all praise, ho­nour, power, and thanks, as is right due, for ever and ever. Amen.

20. An evening Prayer to God the Holy Ghost for Wednesday.

O God the Holy Ghost, blessed Spirit, by whom we are sanctified and sealed unto the day of redemption, and by whose holy operation, we are joyned unto our blessed Lord and head Christ Je­sus; from whom let nothing in heaven or earth e­ver separate me: And mercifull Lord I humbly pray thee, cast me not in thy displeasure out of thy care and favour for my sinnes, and with­draw not thy grace and holy Spirit from me, nei­ther forsake me, nor leave me to my selfe, who am wholly subject to all wickednesse. But I most humbly beseech thee, to creat in me a new, a clean, an upright, a faithfull and perfect heart in thy sight, to walke in all true holinesse before thee, as thou requirest, all my daies to come; and good Lord, daily renue thy grace, and a right ho­ly spirit within mee, to sanctifie and cleanse my soule from sinne, to preserve mee from falling into evill, and to guide me into the waies of truth and righteousnesse. Now dear Lord, marke me thy [Page 86] poore servant for thine owne, and prevent mee with thy grace that I never grieve, despight, or neglect thee my God in any thing, neither to re­sist or quench the good motions of thy holy Spirit in my heart at any time; but I most humbly pray and desire to bee led and directed in all things by thee, who best knowest my frailties and infirmities, that I can (of my selfe) neither will nor performe any good at all, much lesse call upon thy holy Name as I ought, all my best works and endea­vours, being full of imperfection and corruption; but I humbly beseech thee, good Lord, to accept in me the will for thee deed, the affection for the action; and vouchsafe to heale and helpe my great disability to any goodnesse, and teach, and assist me rightly, faithfully and constantly, to pray un­to thee my God, now and at all times according to thy holy will, and daily to call upon thy great Name in truth and sincerity. And be pleased, O Lord Holy Ghost, to prepare, assist and lift up my heart and soule towards thee, and bend downe thine eare of mercy to heare me, and vouchsafe thou blessed Lord, to make request by thy grace in mee, with such inward and faithfull devotion, humility, sighs and groans as cannot be expressed, that so my supplications may bee acceptable to God my heavenly Father, through the merits and sufferings, of my dear Saviour Jesus, and the holy working of thee O God the Holy Ghost, my com­forter, [Page 87] who art the sanctifier and preserver both of my soule and body; I humbly pray thee to in­flame my heart and spirit with fervent zeale and unfeigned devotion to the true and constant per­formance of all duties and services that I owe un­to thee my God. And vouchsafe Lord, by thy holy Spirit to infuse into my soule everlasting and devout love towards thy Majesty, with Christian charity towards all my brethren, thy children and servants: And Lord, put thou a right and stedfast hope into my heart that my trust in thee may never faile, till I have attained to the eternall felicity, which God the Father hath prepared, and our blessed Saviour hath purchased, and thou blessed Spirit by thy holy assistance wilt bring us unto, to glorifie the Name of my God in heaven hereafter for ever. Amen.

21. The conclusion for Wednesday at night, to the blessed Trinity.

MErcifull God, heavenly Father, blessed Son, and Holy Ghost, who hast appointed the night for all mortall creatures to take rest, with­out which our weake natures cannot subsist: I am now in health by thy gracious providence, by thy favour, and laid downe in my bed, which re­presenteth the grave, and by thy mercie hope al­so [Page 88] to take quiet rest and sleepe, that is the image of death, from which I know not whether ever I shall awake againe to this worlds light, for my life dependeth on thy good pleasure; therefore I most humbly pray thee of thy infinite mercy, O God, to forgive all my sins past that I have com­mitted against thee, this present day or heretofore, through the merits and sufferings of my Redee­mer Jesus; and vouchsafe heavenly Father to bee reconciled unto mee, thy most guilty sinfull ser­vant, in and through thy dear and innocent Son, who is my righteous Saviour: And grant while I live here, that in Christ I may hereafter live to thee, and thy faithfull service; and when I sleepe, Lord let me safely rest by thy blessed preservati­on, and by the assistance of thy holy Spirit, that I may continue in thy true faith, feare and favour with a good conscience unto my last breath; that so if thou call me away this night, or any other time in my sleep, thou wilt in Christ pardon my sinnes, and after death receive my soule to thy grace and mercy, to remaine with thee for ever, and may praise thee, my God, everlastingly. Amen, Amen.

22. A Prayer for Thursday morning at first awaking to God the Father.

MY God, I heartily praise thee for my present health, rest and preservation this night and formerly, and safe approach by thy providence to this light. I humbly beseech thee, vouchsafe this day and alwaies, to bee my present helpe in all dangers, and my mercifull God to pardon all my sinnes and wickednesse, that I have done hereto­fore, and to prevent and to protect mee by thy grace and favour from falling into any sin or evill to offend thee hereafter; and direct me by thy holy Spirit in all things I goe about, to doe that which is acceptable in thy sight (through Christ) and to the best for my owne soule. Deare Lord, give me thy sinfull servant thy grace, whereby I may be able rightly and faithfully to seeke, serve, and please thee my God, as I ought to doe, this day and at all times throughout my whole life: These great blessings I beg of thee, O God the Fa­ther, by thy gracious assistance, in, and through, and for the sake of thine owne deare Sonne, and my only Saviour, Jesus Christ the righteous. So bee it.

23. A Prayer for Thursday morning to God the Father.

MOst mighty God, and my mercifull Father, the giver of all good gifts: grant mee thy grace and the light of thy countenance, to guide mee this day and ever, to walke in thy paths of truth and righteousnesse all my life, and to runne in the way of thy Commandements unto my end; for thy beloved Sonne hath taught us before all things to seek that which is most needfull, even the Kingdome of God, and the rightousnesse thereof, and then our heavenly Father will supply all things else which he knoweth to be necessary for us: Good Lord, make me (with Mary) to choose the better part, to seek, heare, and follow our Saviour Jesus, and let that never bee taken from mee thy poore servant. To which end, I humbly pray thee, O God, to weane and with­draw my heart and soule, from the cares, love or liking of this vilde world, and all the vanities thereof, all which like a dream and shadow fade away: And Lord, drive all wicked thoughts out of my minde, and banish covetous desires (the root of all evill) from my heart, and make me ever consider what it would advantage me, if I could win the whole world, and should lose my owne soule. Therefore I beseech thee, O Lord, by thy holy Spirit, to settle my heart and soul, my desires, [Page 91] affections, and delight, only upon thee my God, thy glory, thy Kingdome, thy righteousnesse; and make me to account all earthly things but drosse and dirt so that I may win Christ, and attaine to the excellent knowledge of Jesus my Saviour, who is the Lord of life, him chiefly, O God, let me finde and obtaine to be mine, with whom I shall have all other good things, by thy infinite mercie I beseech thee, that so I may be able rightly and faithfully to serve and please thee as I ought, while I live heare, that after death thou of thy unspeak­able goodnesse, maiest make mee partaker of thy heavenly Kingdome of glory. And now, deare God, vouchsafe unto me thy most unworthy ser­vant the grace of daily and unfeigned sorrow and repentance for all my sins, with a sound sense and feeling of them in a contrite spirit, with care to reforme all my former faults in the rest of my life, and make me strictly to examine my owne heart, soule, knowledge, and conscience, of all the evills I have done before thee, and severely to judge, hate and condemne my selfe for them, that so I may escape thy great wrath, and may not bee judged and condemned by thee in thy heavy dis­pleasure, which I am not able to beare; for who can stand in the sight of thy great Majesty when thou art angry? therefore I most humbly pray thee, good God, in the multitude of thy mercies, to forgive and grant me thy grace and pardon of all my sins and offences past that I am guilty of, [Page 92] for thy beloved Sonnes sake, that so my iniquities may never be imputed unto me; but Lord give me true faith to lay fast hold upon thy mercies, and all thy gracious promises, and the merits and suffe­rings of Ghrist, with grace rightly to apply them to my owne salvation, through Jesus my Saviour; that so I may be quit through him, and freed of my account with thee before I die; and grant that I may daily die unto the world, and hate all the vaine pressures thereof, and may live more and more unto thee in all righteousnesse and true holi­nesse of living before thee as becommeth thy Saints: that so when thy appointed time is come for me to enter into my long sleep of death, that thou wilt be pleased by thy holy Spirit to fit and prepare me, and to give me a happy and blessed departure out of this life, to die in the Lord that I may rest in peace and safety, and be raised up by my Saviour to grace and glory, that thou pardo­ning all my sinnes, and receiving me to mercie, thou maiest wipe all teares from mine eies, and re­move all sorrow from my soule, and for Jesus sake to admit me into thy glorious presence, and there to enjoy eternall felicitie, and be a happy member of thy blessed Church triumphant to praise thee there for evermore. Amen. And the blessing of God Almighty, the eternall Father, the beloved Son, and the Holy Ghost, be ever with mee, to sanctifie, blesse and preserve my soule and body in thy feare and favour, and true faith, stedfast [Page 93] hope, and perfect charity unto my lifes end. Amen.

24. A Prayer to God the Father for Thursday night.

HAve mercy upon me, O Lord, and hearken unto my prayer, for I know thou Lord wilt blesse the righteous, and with thy favour wilt compasse him as with a shield. Lord thou lovest not wickednesse, neither shall evill dwell with thee, thou shalt destroy them that speake lies, for thou abhorrest all them that worke iniquity: yet thou desirest not the death of a sinner but that he should returne and live; therefore deare Lord, deliver my soule and save me in thy manifold mercies, for I have grievously sinned before thee, and my ini­quities are gone over my head into thy presence, and are too heavy for mee to beare. But I most humbly beseech thee, for thy beloved Son Jesus sake, to give me unfaigned sorrow and repentance for all my sinnes past, which are great and many, and grant me thy gracious pardon and remission for all my offences committed this day or hereto­fore against thee; and Lord, indue me with true faith to lay hold of all thy mercies, and my Saviours merits and sufferings, with grace to a­mend, reforme my life, according to thy most holy word and Commandements, all the rest of my [Page 94] daies to come: to which end Lord give me a soft, a penitent, upright and contrite heart, with a tender conscience, and a true and sound sense and feeling of all my sinnes, infirmities, and spirituall wants, with grace earnestly and faithfully to cry and pray unto thee for mercie and reliefe in all my necessities, and chiefly for all spirituall graces to my soule. And as I trust thou wilt awake mee from the dulnesse of this nights sleep in safety to the morning light; so dear Lord, by thy holy Spi­rit daily quicken my soule from the deadnesse of sinne, to newnesse of life, and raise me up in mer­cie hereafter, from the darknesse of death, unto light and life eternall, to live with thee my God for evermore. Now gracious Lord, receive mee with all that doth belong unto me into thy merci­full protection now and alwaies, to keep and de­liver us from all sinne and evill, giving us this night quiet sleep, health and rest if it be thy will; and grant whether I sleep or wake, live or dye, I may be wholly thine, and doe all to thy honour and glory; that so both in life and death, Christ may be to me an advantage, through thy infinite mercie, O my blessed Lord God. Now I humbly pray thee, so to inlighten the darknesse of my soul and understanding with thy grace, that I may see clearly the right way to heavenly happinesse, and by thy assistance follow hard after it untill I have attained to it; and also for thy holy Names sake defend mee from all perills and dangers of this [Page 95] night either to my soule or body, to me or any of mine, for the love of thy only Son, my deare Sa­viour Jesus Christ: for whose sake, grant me also the guard of thy holy and good Angells now and ever, that they may pitch their tents about mee to preserve mee from all my enemies bodily and ghostly; and commit mee Lord to the custody of thy blessed Spirit to keep me from falling into any sinne or evill, and to guide my waies into the paths of truth and righteousnesse, that I may live in thy holy feare, and dye in thy faith and favour; and good God, grant that in the howre of my death, and in the day of judgement, thy dear Son and my sweet Jesus, may bee my mercifull judge and Saviour, to pardon and pasle by all my sinnes, and cover them with his righteousnesse, that after death I may bee received and accepted into thy grace and favour, to live and remaine in joy and blisse eternally with thee my God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Now, O God, who canst doe abundantly, more then I can aske or thinke, to thee be all praise, honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

25. The conclusion for Thursday night in bed.

O Lord my God, I thanke thee for all thy mer­cies vouchsafed unto mee this present day [Page 96] and formerly: and now be pleased, O Lord, by thy holy Spirit to sanctifie me thy poor unworthy servant, in soule, body and spirit throughout, to thy right faithfull and constant service all my daies; and assist me with thy grace that I may dai­ly confesse, lament, hate, leave and amend all my former misdeeds, and may become faithfully and unfainedly thine in all true obedience and sincere and perfect love toward thy Majesty, both living and dying, and for ever; that through thy mercy and Christs merits, I may be found blamelesse at the appearance of my Lord Jesus, by whom I trust to obtaine to live in heaven with thee, and to bee presented by my Saviour unto thy gracious ac­ceptance in that great day of the Lord, to remain with thee my God for ever. Amen.

26. A Prayer for Friday at first awaking to God the Son.

DEare Saviour Jesus, have mercy upon mee a miserable sinner: Thou immaculate Lambe of God, that knewest no sinne, but diedst for our transgressions, and shed thine owne most pretious bloud to cleanse us from sinne: I most humbly praise and magnifie thy holy Name for all thy mer­cies who hast done and suffered great and many things for mee, but especially I blesse thee for [Page 97] those spirituall blessings thou hast bestowed upon me before I was borne, and hitherto. Now sweet Jesus, who knowest my frailty, I doe most humbly pray thee never to leave me to my self, nor to my soules enemies, neither while I live, at my death, nor in the great and dreadfull day of judgement, when all things shall bee made manifest before thee, and it will be wholly in thy power to save or to condemne; then Lord Jesus looke in mercie on me as one of thine, whom thou lovest to the end, to pardon and cover all my sinnes, and re­ceive me into thy grace and favour, for by thee only commeth my salvation, and in thee, O Lord, is my whole trust: Therefore vouchsafe Lord, to continue thy goodnesse, thy favour, and thy lo­ving kindnesse towards me this day and for ever, in forgiving all my iniquities, that I have com­mitted in my whole life past; and also my sinfull omission of those duties and good workes, which thou hast commanded, and I have wickedly ne­glected. But I most humbly beseech thee, my Sa­viour, to indue mee thy most unworthy servant with thy grace and holy Spirit, to direct my heart, and all my waies aright before thee, and preserve me at all times in the sincere and perfect love of thy divine Majesty, and in thy feare and favour, with unfaigned repentance and amendment of life, that I may obtaine thy gracious pardon for all my offences; and Lord, give me true faith, stedfast hope, and perfect charity unto my li [...] [Page 98] end. These great mercies I aske at thy gracious hands, deare Jesus Christ, who art my only Savi­our, Redeemer, Mediator, and Advocate; to whom be all praise and glory for ever. Amen.

27. A morning Prayer for Friday, to God the Sonne.

SWeet Saviour, none can come to the Father but by thee; and whosoever commeth unto thee thou castest not away, but wilt raise him up at the last day unto eternall life.

Now deare Jesus, thou blessed Son, and inno­cent Lambe of God, that takest away the sinnes of the sinnes of the world, who graciously callest unto thee all heavy laden and penitent sinners that thou maiest ease and refresh them; have pity on me, and vouchsafe to sanctifie and cleanse my soule and body, from all sinne and evill by thy ho­ly Spirit, and make mee pure and upright in thy sight, and be pleased to protect and direct my heart and soule, and all my waies before thee, and to indue me with thy blessed Spirit, to preserve mee from falling into any sin or offence towards thee; but assist me with thy grace in all things I goe about to doe, that I may doe that which may be most acceptable and best pleasing in thy fight. Now Lord, I confesse that I was concei­ved [Page 99] and borne in sinne, and I am a miserable and wretched sinner above all others, and unto whom should I come, but to thee the Saviour of mankinde, who camest into the world to save sinners by thy grace, of whom I am chiefe? O fountaine of mercy, who didst vouchsafe to bee borne of the blessed and pure Virgin Mary, (to be­come man) and tookest our wretched nature upon thee, therein to suffer death, to reassume us from eternall death, sinne, the grave, hell and Sathan, and didst willingly lay down thine owne life for us, which no man could take from thee, that wee might live by faith through thee; and also thou hadst power to take it up againe, and didst rise from the grave the third day for our justification, and to vanish all our spirituall enemies: and last­ly, thou our Lord, didst gloriously ascend into hea­ven, there to take possession, and make intercessi­on for us unto thy heavenly Father, with whom thou dost reigne in heaven for ever, whither thou dost graciously and daily draw to thee all those that truly beleeve in thee, there to live hereafter with thee; of which number, deare Lord, in the fulnesse of thy mercies make me one. Now I fur­ther humbly pray thee, sweet Jesus, the Saviour of all that trust in thee, that thou wilt have mercy on mee, to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and offences past, and present, both originall and a­ctuall, of omission and commission, of infirmity or presumption, whatsoever I stand guilty of be­fore [Page 100] theee, and even those secret sinnes, that none but thy All-seeing eyes, and my owne conscience can testifie against mee, which is more then a thousand witnesses: I humbly pray thee to cast them all behinde thy backe into the pit of oblivi­on, never to come in remembrance with thee; and wash all my faults out of thy sight with that blessed streame of thine owne most pretious bloud, which thou didst so plentifully shed for us in thy most bitter passion. O blessed Lord, let not all these thy mercies and benefits which thou hast done and purchased for mankinde, be fruitlesse or in vaine towards mee, thy poore unworthy ser­vant, whose confidence is only in thee, that thou wilt make mee a happy partaker of all thy great benefits and favours: And sweet Iesus, grant through thy mercies, merits and infinit sufferings, that my transgressions may never bee laid to my charge: for there is no other name under heaven but thine only, blessed Iesus our righteous Lord, by which we can be saved. To thee bee rendred as is due all honour, praise, thanks, and glory, for ever and ever: Concluding my petition with that perfect Prayer, which thy selfe hast taught us, saying, Our Father which art in heaven, &c.

28. A Prayer for Friday night, to God the Sonne, our blessed Saviour.

I Will love thee dearly, O Lord my strength, for thou art my helper, my refuge, and the lifter up of my head, and I will praise thy name so long as I have breath. O Lord Christ, by whom was ful­filled the Law and the Prophets, and in thee all the promises of God are Yea and Amen, to the glory of God the Father, and the comfort of all thy servants; thou art that pure and innocent Lambe of God, that was killed and is alive, to thee was given all power, honour and glory, who liveth and raigneth for ever in heaven and earth, of whose Kingdome there is no end; to thee Lord bee all possible praise and thanks for ever. This is my only Lord and blessed Saviour Jesus Christ the righteous, who died for our sinnes, and rose againe for our justification, and art our Ad­vocate in heaven; so that whatsoever we shall ask the Father in thy name, according to thy will, if we beleeve, we shall obtaine it for thy sake, who art the beloved Son of God, in whom only hee is well pleased. My deare God, have mercy upon me a most grievous sinner to pardon all my offen­ces past, in soule or body, of ignorance or wilful­nesse, of frailty, neglect, contempt or wicked stubbornesse; bury them all, sweet Jesus, in thy grave, and cleanse them from before thine eyes, [Page 102] with thy most pretious bloud, which thou didst of thine owne accord and infinite love shed for us, to free us from eternall death which by our sinnes are due; therefore gracious Lord, grant through thy merits, and manifold sufferings, that my ini­quities may never be able to appeare before thee against me, either to accuse or condemne me, nei­ther in this life, at my death, nor in the great and last judgement: but in that dreadfull day, Lord by all thy mercies I beseech thee, shew thy self my lo­ving Saviour, to passe by & cover all my misdeeds with thy righteousnesse, that so I may escape thy just wrath which my transgressions have deser­ved. Now, deare Iesus, while I live here, make me thy unworthy servant wholly thine, to be thy faithfull and constant disciple, and so to love thee as to keep thy Commandements which are not grievous, but in obeying them there is great re­ward; and let me so follow thee here, as to bee lowly and meek, to forsake my selfe and the world, and to take up all my crosses with patience, and strive to goe after thy steps, though I be farre unable to drinke of that heavy and bitter cup of Gods wrath of which thou so deeply tastedst, who art the propitiation for our sinnes to deliver us from that fearfull condemnation due unto us: my offences Lord, I confesse did adde unto that weighty burden of Gods heavy displeasure, and our grievous sinnes which thou didst beare upon the crosse for all true beleevers, who shall passe [Page 103] from death, to life eternall, which thy sufferings, O Christ, hath purchased for us; whereby I, the unworthiest of thy servants doe also hope to fol­low thee hereafter, from the grave to heaven at the resurrection of the just, that according to thy will declared before thy death, all that are thine shall bee with thee, even where thou art to enjoy all blisse and happinesse; in thine owne love by thy unmerited mercies, we shall bee made parta­kers with thee of thy heavenly Kingdome of glo­ry, there to serve and praise thy glorious Name, who art most worthy, world without end. Amen.

29. The conclusion for Friday night.

LOrd Iesus, vouchsafe to receive me this night into thy gracious protection both in life and death: And deare Lord, I humbly pray thee to in­lighten me with thy grace rightly and faithfully to serve and obey thee in all true devotion, and with due submission to thy holy will in all things so long as I live; and now Lord, I am in health laid downe in my bed by thy loving permission, hoping to take quiet rest and sleep, which I be­seech thee to give me, and also I trust by thy mer­cie to a wake in thy grace and favour to the mor­ning light againe, because thou gracious Lord, [Page 104] dost only me sustaine, and wilt in safety thy poore servant keep; who doe most humbly commend and commit my selfe, my soule and body, my children and grand-children, and all I have to thee, from whom I have received all the good I doe enjoy, for thou hast shewed great mercies unto me; for which I blesse and praise thy holy Name, beseeching thee to give me grace, never to forget thy benefits, but to continue Lord thy true and faithfull servant unto my death, and for ever. Amen.

30. A Prayer to the blessed Trinity, at first waking for Saturday morning.

I Will praise the Lord because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever; by whom we live, move, and have our being, our maintenance, safe­ty and preservation. Now glorious Trinity, Fa­ther, Son, and Holy Ghost, I humbly pray thee, vouchsafe unto mee thy most unworthy servant, such grace and favour to knit my heart and soule fast to theee, so that my sinnes, nor my soules ene­mies, the wicked world, my owne corrupt flesh, nor the malice of the Divell, may not be able to pluck mee out of thy mercifull and powerfull hands; but Lord assist me with thine owne bles­sed Spirit, that I may daily continue and increase [Page 105] in all sincere and perfect love and obedience to­wards thy Majesty; and in thy feare and favour, and all other saving graces, to have a good con­science before thee, with true faith, stedfast hope, and perfect charity unto my lifes end. Amen.

31. A Prayer unto the Trinity for Saturday morning.

O Lord our God, how excellent is thy Name in all the world, for thou hast laid the foun­dation of the earth, and the heavens are the workes of thy hands, and thou didst create, and dost governe, dispose and rule the whole world, with all things therein, according to thy good pleasure. O most divine and adored Trinity, Fa­ther Son and Holy Ghost, three persons, but one true, eternall and everliving God, to whom be all praise, honour and glory as is right and due for ever. Thou only by thy word and power didst make all things for thine owne glory, especially mankinde after thine image in purity and holi­nesse to thine own service; for by thy ptovidence and mercy commeth all good gifts and blessings unto us, and also deliverances only from thee, of those evills and dangers which sinne hath made us subject unto in falling from thee, and our first in­tegrity, by the subtillty and malice of Sathan and [Page 106] our owne frailty, yet of thine owne free grace thou didst elect a number by thee selected of thy chosen servants to inherit an eternall Kingdome, with and through thy beloved Son, whom thou didst ordain and send into the world at thine ap­pointed time to be the redemption of all that be­leeve in thee. O God the Son our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, it is written of thee that thou shoul­dest doe the will of God the Father, who ordai­ned thee to be our Redeemer, and wert made of God unto us, wisdome, righteousnesse, sanctifi­cation and salvation, with glorification hereafter. Now deare Jesus, who hast paid our ransome, e­ven the all-sufficient and acceptable sacrifice of thine own pretious bloud to wash away our sins, who was lifted upon the crosse between heaven and earth to make an attonement betwixt God and man, his heavy wrath and our grievous offen­ces, and so thou art become our Priest, to offer up thy innocent selfe to cleanse us from our sinnes, who art our Prophet to instruct and teach us and direct our waies aright, to shew us the path of life, and make the way plaine before our faces, and by thy example, to beare our crosse pati­ently, and follow thee that art the way, the truth and the life, to lead us to eternall salvation; also thou art our King to protect, defend, and reigne over us in mercy, truth and righteousnesse, till thine enemies be made thy footstoole, and all that hate thee be destroyed before thee, for God hath [Page 107] put all things in subjection under his feet, then shalt thou judge the whole world in righteous­nesse and equity, and wilt bring thy servants, to that eternall inheritance, which thou hast by thy merits and sufferings so dearly purchased for us, who wert borne unto us to be the joy and com­fort of all people, and the glory and salvation of all that truly beleeve and trust in thee our Saviour. O God Holy Ghost, the giver, worker and sealer of all graces unto us; by thee we are called to the knowledge of God and his saving truth, san­ctified to the performance of his will and Com­mandements certified by the holy Spirit of our salvation in Christ Jesus, and by thee applied unto us to bee regenerated and borne againe by thy holy operation from sin to grace, to thy glory and our endlesse felicity. And thy Spirit also witnes­seth to our spirits that we are the children of God and heires with Christ of the Kingdome of hea­ven to the eternall comfort of all thy servants, be­ing by thee also united to our blessed Christ, and sealed to the day of redemption, and continually assisting us to all goodnesse. Now great and glorious Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, thou hast plentifully powred downe thy manifold mercies and favours upon us, and multiplied ex­ceedingly thy blessings and benefits spirituall and temporall towards us before we had being in the world, since we were borne, and after death thou hast laid up an eternall weight of glory for all [Page 108] those to possesse that truly beleeve in thee, which give me grace to doe, for none hath or ever can deserve them. Oh the abundant mercy, bounty, and goodnesse of our gracious God towards mor­tall mankinde! who can declare the height and depth of Gods unspeakable love, or be sufficient­ly thankfull to him for such unexpressible bene­fits; but with David, we may say (Lord) What is man that thou art mindefull of him? Or what shall we render to thee for all thy mercies, having in us no good at all, but what we receive from thy selfe? therefore Lord, adde this further grace unto thy former favours, by the assistance of thine owne Spirit, to make us thy unworthy ser­vants, able, rightly, faithfully, and constantly to feare, love, honour, serve, obey and praise thy most glorious Name while we live, and for ever and ever. Amen.

32. A Prayer to God the Holy Ghost, for Saturday night.

O God Holy Ghost, the giver of all graces and and my gracious sanctifier, comforter and preserver, thou knowest my infirmities, my incli­nation to all evill, and backwardnesse to any goodnesse: vouchsafe Lord, to sanctifie mee thy poore sinfull servant, in soule, body and spirit [Page 109] throughout, to thy true feare, intire love, and right faithfull and constant service, all my time to come: And be pleased Lord, by thy grace to enlighten my dull soule and understanding, with the sound knowledge, sincere love, and stedfast beleefe of thy saving truth, and keepe me ever constant therein. And vouchsafe, deare Lord, to inrich me thy poore unworthy servant, with the infinite treasure of that heavenly wisdome from above, which waiteth about thy Throne, that may teach me thy holy will, and what is good and ac­ceptable unto thee; and inable me with grace to doe it, that so I may discerne between good and evill, and make me shunne and hate that which is evill, and follow and cleave unto that which is good; and to withdraw my love from this vaine world, and fix my affections upon thee my God, and on heavenly things that are above, that my chiefe treasure may be settled there in heaven, and my heart also; and so I shall first seek to obtaine that which is most needfull, even thy glory, thy favour, and thy blessed Kingdome, and then Lord, I know thou wilt supply all the defects of grace in my soule, and heale all the infirmities of my body; but chiefly vouchsafe daily to continue and increase all spirituall graces in my soule by thy mercy and mighty power, O my blessed Lord God: to which end, O gracious Spirit, give mee an upright and penitent heart, an humble and lowly spirit, a quiet recollected minde freed [Page 110] from the vanities and cares of this present world, and the love of this vile life; but Lord teach mee with Mary first and above all things to seek after thee my God, thy Kingdome, and the righteous­nesse thereof, so that I may have grace wholly to devote and dedicate my selfe, my time and best endeavours unto thy true and faithfull service, and daily study and strive to doe thy holy will in all things, and seek thy glory here, that so I may be partaker of thy heavenly Kingdome hereafter. And deare Lord Holy Ghost, inspire me with thy grace daily to heare and read thy holy and blessed word as I ought to do, and that I may so imploy my time therein as to frame my life hereafter to thy glory and my soules good. And grant mee graciously, O God, to chuse, to speake, and to walke in the waies of truth and righteousnesse, and to set thy heavy judgements against sin con­tinually before my face to deter and make mee daily to remember my owne last end, and by thy assistance to prepare for it, and to consider the end in all my actions before I doe them, that I may never doe amisse; and let me still remember thy all-seeing eyes are ever upon our waies that I may not displease or offend thee in any thing: But Lord, indue me with thy holy Spirit to direct my heart and all my waies aright before thee, that so thou maiest witnesse to my spirit that I am the childe of God, and ever continue unto mee that unspeakable comfort to give me the joyfull hope [Page 111] of my salvation, through my Lord Jesus Christ, unto my end: and in my end especially establish me with thy free spirit to worke in my soul all sa­ving graces that may make me acceptable in thy sight, through my Lord Jesus Christ, for whose sake I beseech thee further to extend thy goodnes towards me, to forgive all my sinnes and offen­ces that I have done before thee in my whole life past, and preserve me in soul and body from all sin and evill, either committing or falling on mee; but deare Lord, vouchsafe daily to supply and be­stow upon me all the benefits and blessings neces­sary for this present life; but chiefly be pleased to sanctifie my soule and body unto thy faithfull ser­vice, and indue me with all saving graces for my salvation both in life and death, that so I may bee able rightly and constantly to serve and please thee whilst I live here, that also by thy gracious assistance I may obtaine a place hereafter to live with thee eternally, O Holy Ghost, and my bles­sed Lord God, to whom be all thanks and praise for ever. Amen.

33. The conclusion for Saturday night in bed to the weeks Prayers for mornings and nights.

I Most humbly beseech thee, my Lord God, mer­cifully to loke upon me and my manifold infir­mities, [Page 112] and for Jesus my Saviours sake, vouchsafe to forgive and pardon all my sinnes and grievous offences that I have committed in thy sight all the daies of my life past; and in thy great mercy turne from me all those evils that my transgressions have justly deserved; and Lord, grant me thy preven­ting grace and fatherly providence to bee still with mee to preserve me at all times from falling into any sinne or evill, either to offend thee my God, or to hurt my owne soule. And vouchsafe, Lord, so to direct and dispose the heart and waies of me (thy most unworthy servant) towards the right performance of all duties and services that I owe unto thee my God, and the happy ob­taining (by my Lord Iesus) of everlasting salva­tion to my owne selfe; that amongst all the changes, chances and adversities of this miserable, mutable, and mortall life, I may ever be defen­ded by thy ready helpe and favour from falling into sin, shame, harme or danger, either in soule or body, and may be directed and assisted by thy grace and providence to walke in the waies of righteousnesse and true holinesse before thee, that thou my Lord Holy Ghost, maiest guide me in all things I goe about, to doe that which may be most serviceable, acceptable, and best pleasing in the sight of my Lord God, to whom be all praise, ho­nour, power and eternall glory, for ever and e­ver. Amen.

2. A short thanksgiving at first sight of the morning light.

MY blessed Lord God, I most humbly praise thee for thy gracious preservation of mee with quiet rest and health this night past, and brin­ging [Page 114] me in safety to this light; Lord blesse and san­ctifie me this day and ever unto thy faithfull ser­vice, and keep me alwaies in thy true faith, feare, favour and ready obedience; and make me con­stantly and unfaignedly thine all my life time, but in my death especially, that when it pleaseth thee to call for me out of this miserable world, thou maiest bring me to eternall salvation by thine own merits and meer mercy, sweet Jesus, I most hum­bly beseech thee. So be it.

3. A Prayer for helpe in present temptation, in the time of prayer to our Lord Jesus, who overcame and subdued the old tempter, the subtile Serpent our everlasting enemy, from whom God defend us.

OH my God, heavenly Father, who hast made and seest all hearts, and knowest my great affection and fervent desire rightly to serve thee, and my weaknesse and frailty in performance thereof, have pity on my infirmities, and assist me with thy grace. And sweet Jesus my Saviour, who didst suffer thy selfe to bee tempted by the Divell, that thou mightest overcome the tempter, and succour all those that are tempted; to thee Lord, I call and pray, for helpe and defence a­gainst this malicious adversary. O God the Holy Ghost, indue me with thy blessed Spirit and po­wer so to resist him that he may flye from me, and banish thou Lord, all wicked hindrances and tem­ptations [Page 115] away from thy poore servant in perfor­ming all my duties towards thee. Now deare God, have mercy upon me most miserable sinner, and in thy infinite mercy drive away this subtill enemy of my poore soule, with his pernitious a­gents, the vaine world, and the corruptions of our owne nature, let them not prevaile over me at any time, for these are very ready to assault, tempt and draw my minde from thee in all my devotions and services that I endeavour to offer unto thy Majesty; and to make my prayers vaine and void, and drive me to fall into wicked neglect towards my God, whereby to prevent, destroy, and divert all my comforts and hopes in thee O Lord, which is the whole life of my soule. But Gracious God Almighty, whose power and strength is above all, vouchsafe to overcome and banish all from mee, never to returne againe; and let thy blessed Spirit rest constantly in me to withstand all disturbances in the performance of my duty before thee; and deare Lord, make new, cleane, and upright my heart, and frame it to thy holy will, that so by thy gracious assistance, I may faithfully serve and ho­nour thee, please and praise thee my God, now and at all times, in this life and for ever, to thy glory, and my eternall comfort. Amen.

The afternoone prayers at foure a clock for each day in the week. Munday. 1. A thanks giving to the blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

O My good and gracious God, great and ma­ny are thy mercies and blessings I have re­ceived from thee both spirituall and temporall, from time to time; and now what shall I render unto thee, having no good to returne, but the poore fruit of my lips, which is nothing unto thee but the performance of our duties to praise thy great Name, and to acknowledge all thy benefits? therefore now I will give thanks to God the Fa­ther, our gracious Creator, who so loved us when we were his enemies, and had lost our selves by sinne, that he ordained, and after sent his only be­gotten and beloved Son into the world, that who­soever, beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life; Christ being the propitiation for our sinnes, that we may live by faith through him. And also I yeeld all possible praise unto my blessed Saviour, who became man, and in his in­finite love willingly laid downe his life for us, and washed away our sinnes with his owne pre­tious bloud, and made us by his merits and suffe­rings, Kings and Priests unto God, and adopted children to his Father, and heires with himselfe of an eternall Kingdome, by whose resurrection we [Page 117] have a lively hope of an inheritance that cannot be shaken, and withereth not, reserved in heaven for us. Now to thee Lord Holy Ghost, the pre­server, sanctifier, and comforter of mankinde, by whom we are sealed unto the day of redemption, and by whose holy working wee are united unto Jesus our blessed head, and are certified by thy Spirit, witnessing to our spirits that wee are the children of God to our great comfort; and fur­ther by thy assistance and grace, our weake pray­ers are rightly and effectually offered up unto the Lord our God. Now to thee, Almighty God, three Persons and glorious Trinity, but one true and everliving God, from whose mercifull hands we daily receive all the good we doe injoy in this present world, with further and full assurance of far greater happinesse by thy infinite mercies in the life to come, be all praise and glory. Amen.

Tuesday. 2. A Prayer to the Trinity for grace and true faith.

O Sweet Jesus Christ, Son of God, who art the divine word, without whom nothing was made, and being made had been utterly lost, hadst thou not been our powerfull and mercifull Re­deemer; thou art the way, the truth, and the life, and thou who hast said, that no man can come un­to the Father but by thee, who camest into the world, and didst willingly lay down thine owne [Page 118] life only to save sinners by thy grace, of whom I am chiefe; have mercy upon me miserable sinner, who can of my selfe neither will nor performe a­ny good worke towards God as I ought to doe▪ but vouchsafe Lord, to indue mee with grace to serve and obey thee, to learne thy will and to doe it, and through faith to lay hold of thy mercies, that so thou my Saviour maiest in thy righteous­nesse present me to thy heavenly Father, that hee may looke upon me poor sinfull creature, through thee his deare Son, and for thy sake to receive and accept me into his gracious favour, to pardon all my sinnes, and save my soule, through thy perfect righteousnesse, and manifold sufferings all perfor­med for me. Now thou Lord hast further said that none can come unto thee except the Father draw him, therefore I most humbly pray thee, O God the Father, by that infinite love to wards mankind, which caused thee to send downe thy beloved Son out of thine owne bosome into this wicked world, that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life: I earnestly pray thee, O God the Father, to draw me to thy Son Jesus, that I may lay fast hold by faith on him to be my Saviour, and to be his faithfull and con­stant servant, and to be made through him, and by thy mercie a happy member of him our blessed head, & then I shall be sure never to fall into con­demnation, but by stedfast faith in him obtaine e­ternall salvation: And deare Lord Holy Ghost, [Page 119] the giver of grace, by whom we are joyned to our Lord and head Christ, and sanctified to a new and holy life: Lord cleanse and frame my heart and soule by the holy working and assistance of thy Spirit and grace, unto the right, faithfull and constant service of my Lord God my Saviour Je­sus, with thee O Holy Ghost, so long as I live: Lord daily increase my faith and all saving graces in me for my salvation, and may by thee be dire­cted and lead into the waies of righteousnesse, un­till thou hast brought me unto endlesse happinesse through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Wednesday. 3. A prayer to God for charity.

O Mercifull Lord God, the giver of all graces, I humbly beseech thee to frame my heart, will and affections, in all ready obedience to thy most holy will and Commandements in all things, especially in the workes of mercy, and charity, they being a sweet smelling sacrifice wherewith thou art well pleased, and wherein we may imi­tate thee, and shall thereby gaine the honour to be made like unto thy selfe, and be knowne to bee one of thy disciples if we love our brethren as our selves. O God, as thou hast blessed mee of thy meer goodnesse with an estate above some others, to give me the grace of compassion and charity, and inlarge my heart towards thy service, to shew mercy unto them that want, as thou hast been [Page 120] mercifull unto me, that I may willingly distribute, communicate to those that are in need, and be li­berall of my earthly vanishing wealth to relieve thy childrens necessities, for thy sake, that are dear unto thee, who wert free of thy very bloud, and sparedst not thine owne life to ransome them and me from utter destruction: and so the loynes and bellies of the poore shall praise thee and blesse me in their comforts; and thou maiest vouchsafe to receive and accept at my poore hands that small mi [...]e of thankfulnesse and obedience to­wards thee my God, from whose most gracious hand I have received many bountifull blessings and benefits throughout my whole life, which let mee never forget, gratefully to acknowledge while [...] have breath, and to praise thy holy Name [...] [...]ll thy mercies now and for evermore. Amen d [...]re God. Amen.

Thursday. 4. A Prayer to the Trinity for spirituall graces.

MOst gracious Lord God, who didst create man of the dust of the earth, and knowest we are by nature the children of wrath, and wholy inclined to evill; for thou best understandest how unapt and unable I sinfull creature am to doe any good before thee, much lesse to call upon thy great and glorious Name as I ought to doe, yet thou in mercy hast appointed prayer to bee the chiefe [Page 121] meanes betwixt thy great Majesty, and the un­worthinesse of us thy poore sinfull servants, wher­by to declare our wants, griefes, and desires unto thee, who art our only hope and helpe: Therefore deare Lord, indue me thy unworthy servant with thy true spirit of grace and prayer, to teach mee how to pray as I ought, that thereby I may have power and strength to withstand all evill tempta­tions that seek to draw me from thy service, and by thy assistance that I may be able so to resist the Divell that hee may flye from me in the perfor­mance of all duties towards thee; and give mee grace with faith and fervency, humility and true devotion, to cry and pray daily and constantly unto thee for relief and distresse in all my troubles and wants, and faithfully to call and relye upon thee for all thy blessings and benefits both spiri­tuall and temporall, to be bestowed on my soule and body as thou shalt thinke fittest; that so I may render all thanks and magnifie thy Name, as I am right bound to doe, for all thy mercies and fa­vours vouchsafed unto me the most unworthiest of all thy servants from time to time. And I hum­bly pray thee, O Lord, to give me the blessed gift of true faith, without which it is impossible for me to please thee my God, but thereby I may lay hold, and rightly apply unto my owne soule all the infinite benefits purchased by the bitter death and passion, and precious bloud-shedding of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that I may bring [Page 122] forth the fruits of righteousnesse and true holinesse before thee as becommeth that Saints and ser­vants; whereby I may glorifie thee, and have assu­rance to my owne conscience that I am thine by constantly obeying thy will: And also Lord grant me hearty and unfaigned repentance and true sorrow for all my sinnes originall and actuall, in omitting the good I ought to do, and committing the evill I should not doe against thee, that so I may obtaine pardon of all my trespasses, through the merits of Jesus Christ the righteous; and let thy blessed Spirit produce in me amendment of my life all my time to come, and assist mee with thy grace to shun and hate all approaches of evil, and Lord shew me the way of life, and turne my steps into the right paths that I may wallke in true obe­dience to all thy holy Commandements. Now deare God of thy mercy, give me the true feare of thy holy Name, with assurance of thy gracious favour towards me, and continuall joy and com­fort in the Holy Ghost, that I may strive alwaies to keep faith and a good conscience before thee towards all; and indue me with grace, will, un­derstanding and ability, to do good workes to thy glory, and bring comfort and profit to my soule in praying, reading, and hearing of thy most holy word at all times, and most devout love towards thy Majesty, with affection to all my brethren, thy children, servants and all the daies of my life to come, by thy gracious assistance dear God. Amen.

Friday. 5. A Prayer for defence against our soules enemies, in all temptations.

GOod Lord God, who knowest the power and great malice of our spirituall enemies, from whō none can defend or deliver us, but only thou, O Lord, whose power and strength is over and a­bove all; and if thou please to receive me into thy gracious protection, who can hurt or plucke mee out of thy mercifull hands? Therefore I most humbly beseech thee, O God, to defend me both in soule and body, in life and death, from all the temptations of my owne wretched nature within me, the wicked inticements of this vaine world round about me, with the malicious snares, and evill temptations of the Divell that are ever at my backe ready to intrap me, and draw my soul from thee my God and all goodnesse, and to lead mee captive into all wickednesse, sinne and evill, to se­perate me from thee, all which like roaring Li­ons seeke to devoure and destroy me everlasting­ly. But I most humbly pray unto thee, O Lord, who understandest my frailties, to preserve and de­liver me from all their assaults, that they may ne­ver be able to prevaile over me to draw mee to sin against thee my God, in any thing; neither suffer them to prevent, hinder, disturbe or carry away my minde, or possesse my vaine heart with wan­dring thoughts in the performance of any holy [Page 124] duty or service towards thy Majesty; nor give them power to bring those harmes, dangers or mischiefes upon me either in soule or body which they desire to doe. But let thy blessed Spirit so fully possesse me, and ever direct and assist mee in all my waies, to doe all things in a right, faithfull and acceptable manner before thee, that so at all times thy Spirit may witnesse unto my spirit, that I am thy childe and servant; and of thy infinite mercy good Lord, vouchsafe thou alwaies to say unto my soule, especially at my death, that thou art my God, my helpe and my salvation for ever: and by thy grace make my heart and soule to an­swer and performe unto thee againe, that I am, and will bee thy true, faithfull and obedient ser­vant unto my last breath for ever. Amen.

Saturday. 6. A Prayer for the true spirit of prayer, or a meditation. With a short prayer to Jesus our Saviour.

DEare Lord Holy Ghost, the helper of our in­firmities, the preserver and sanctifier of man­kinde, I most humbly begge of thee to indue mee thy unworthy sinfull servant, with thy true Spirit of grace and prayer, that I may rightly performe that duty towards thee of calling upon thy holy Name, and all other thy service this day and at all times, with true and right devotion, that so my petitions being humbly presented to thy great [Page 125] Majesty lowly and meekly on the knees of my heart & body; they may by thy mercifull assistance be lifted up and ascend by the wings of faith and devotion unto the highest heavens, and there with confidence through my Saviour Jesus, enter into the glorious eares and presence of Al­mighty God, where all mercy, grace and good­nesse aboundeth. And then my supplications by thy favour, may be heard and accepted by thee my God, to prevaile and draw downe from thy mercifull hand all graces and blessings needfull, upon me thy poore creature both in soule and bo­dy; and so my unworthy sacrifice of due praise and thanks that I offer unto thee may be received and accepted by thee, the Lord of all mercies, who doth often take in good part even the will for the deed, from thy fraile unworthy servants, and then my poore prayers shall bring much joy and comfort to me, and give glory to thee, my Lord. To whom (as of right belongs) be all ho­nour and praise, for evermore. Amen.

A short Prayer to our blessed Saviour Jesus, to be joyned to the former prayers.

OH my deare Lord Jesus, who didst in thy in­finite mercy give thy innocent selfe to death for me a poore miserable sinner; Lord by thy grace make me to dedicate and offer up my selfe a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto thee, in [Page 126] daily striving rightly and faithfully to serve and obey thee, that I may be wholly thine; and as thou hast bought me with an unvaluable treasure, even thine owne most pretious bloud, so sweet Jesus by thy holy Spirit unite me unseparably un­to thee, my blessed head; and by thy assistance, that I may become a new creature, to hate and forsake all sinnes, the vaine world, and my wicked selfe, and to be a true, carefull and constant ser­vant unto thee, to feare, love, honour, and glori­fie thy great and heavenly Name, who art the comfort and salvation of all that beleeve and trust in thee, which Lord, let me unfaignedly doe, so long as I live.

7. A Prayer to God, the Lord of all grace and mercie, containing seven humble petitions from a penitent sinner: 1. For true faith. 2. For the Holy Ghost. 3. For wisdome. 4. For the feare of God. 5. For the love of God, and charity to our neighbours. 6. For repentance and true contrition of heart. 7. And for the grace and right spirit of prayer.

O Most bountifull Lord God, which giveth to all men liberally, and reproacheth none, if we aske in faith and waver not: and our blessed Saviour maketh us a large promise, saying, Aske and yee shall receive, seeke and you shall finde, knock and it shall bee opened unto you: And whatsoever you shall aske in my Name I will doe [Page 127] it, if you beleeve when you pray that you shall have it; for your heavenly Father if you aske in my name, will give the Holy Ghost to them that desire him, and wisdome to such as aske it of God, and no good thing shall be wanting or with-held from them which feare the Lord, and walke up­rightly in his sight; so that we may well say with David, What is man that thou Lord art mindefull of him, and dost visit him with thy mercie, and crownest him with glory and honour? Most mer­cifull Lord, these thy gracious promises and great goodnesse towards mortall man, imboldneth mee, though a miserable sinner, and most unworthy of thy favours, now to offer up my supplications, and become an humble suter to thy Majesty, to begge these great blessings at thy hands, who have justly deserved grievous punishments from thee for my offences. But of thine owne meer mercie, deare God, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but our repentance, conversion, and salvation; and for thy best beloved Sons sake, in whom thou wilt deny us nothing, vouchsafe to incline thine ear to receive the humble petitions of me thy poore ser­vant, who presumeth to crave of thee, the Father of mercie, and the originall of all goodnesse, from whom only commeth all good and perfect gifts, the seven spirituall and heavenly graces, wherewith to vanquish and banishus from the se­ven dangerous deadly sinnes, which like Serpents slay and destroy so many soules, the least sinne [Page 128] we commit, being sufficient to condemne us for ever. And now first, Good God, I humbly pray thee to bestow upon mee the blessed and most needfull gift of true faith, without which it is im­possible to please thee, whereby I may stedfastly believe and trust in thy goodnesse, and lay fast hold of all thy mercies and gracious promises, es­pecially upon the merits and sufferings of thy dear Son, and my Saviour Jesus for my redemption, and by thy grace rightly to apply them all to my salvation. And grant I may with thy assistance, bring forth such fruits of true holinesse and righte­ousnesse, as may be most to thy glory and the peace and comfort of mine owne conscience. And since I have begun to speake to thee, O Lord, who am but dust and ashes, vouchsafe for Jesus sake, further to give me the most excellent gift of the Holy Ghost, to unite me inseparably to my blessed head and Saviour Christ, and inspire my soule with all saving graces, which may change all the evill in me to goodnesse, darknesse to light, vices to vertues, and so wholy to cleanse and san­ctifie my soule, body, and spirit, throughout, that I may be made perfect to every good worke, and re­newed and inabled to all obedience, godlinesse and holinesse of life before thee: and I also most humbly beseech thee (O gracious God) to inrich me thy poore unworthy servant, with the unva­luable treasure of that heavenly wisdome from a­bove, which abideth about thy Throne, to direct [Page 129] and reforme my heart, and all my wayes aright in thy sight, and to teach me thy holy will, and what is good and acceptable unto thee, and in­able me with grace to doe it; and likewise Lord indue me with the true understanding of thy holy Lawes, that I may keepe them with my whole heart unto my end? Now, O my Lord, we are taught by Solomon, That the beginning of wis­dome is the feare of the Lord, and the knowledge of divine things, true understanding; therefore I doe most humbly intreat thee to knit my rebelli­ous heart to the holy feare of thy glorious Name, who only art to be feared, with the due conside­ration of thy righteous and terrible judgements, who canst cast both body and soul into hel; let this detaine me from falling into any evill or offence towards thee, and thereby also draw my sinfull soule unto thy faithfull service, with true contri­tion for all my past transgressions against thee. But especially, good God, be pleased to indue my poore soule with the infinite gift and blessing of thy sincere and perfect love of thy divine and heavenly Majesty who art the true and only good. And, O God, grant that I may love and honour thee above and beyond all other things, with all my heart, all my soule, all my strength, and with all my minde, setting my affections not on things that are below, but upon heavenly treasures that are above, which are permanent and fade not, where my sweet Saviour who dyed for mee on [Page 130] earth, now liveth and reigneth with thee in hea­ven for ever, and maketh intercession for mee there, that by thy assistance I may continually study and strive, carefully and willingly to per­forme all duties towards thee in obeying thy Commandements with an upright and perfect heart before thee: and in all true charity being ready to doe good to others as thou commandest, and to love my neighbour as my selfe, even my e­nemies for thy sake. Most mercifull Lord, who knowest our fraile and wretched natures, and de­sirest the conversion, & not the confusion of poor miserable sinners; thou sweet Jesus, camest to call, not the righteous, but sinners to repentance, such as I am, and to save that which was lost; Oh let not my poore soule be lost which cost thee thy deare pretious bloud to save; but Lord, make mee by true faith lay hold of my redemption by thee, and all other thy workes of mercy; and though I have grievously offended in thy sight, yet I beseech thee, with-hold not thy favour from me thy poor sinfull servant, but give me the grace of unfeigned sorrow and repentance, with a true contrite spi­rit, and a broken heart for all my sinnes commit­ted before thee, from the greatest to the least, wherein I have displeased thee, by thought, desire, word or deed; hating, judging and condemning my selfe, for so offending thee my Lord God; and most earnestly and humbly crave thy assistance, that I may now happily returne to thee with a [Page 131] penitent and grieved heart, from whom I have so unhappily gone astray by a vaine corrupt mind and sinfull soule, whereby I hope in thy great mercy to escape thy just wrath and condemnati­on due to my grievous offences; and may also ob­taine thy gracious pardon for all my passed mis­deeds, with the assistance of thy holy Spirit, which I most humbly crave, to amend my former faults, and to reforme my wayes the rest of my life in all things according to thy blessed will. Now lastly, O gracious Lord our righteousnesse, my sure hope and heavenly Father, the fountaine of all goodnesse, in whom is all mercy and com­passion, from thee only we receive all good gifts and graces; for thou hearest the prayers, and to thee shall all flesh come, who understandest our wants before we aske, and knowest our wretched natures and disabilities to all goodnesse, so that thy grace only must worke both the will and the deed of all that is good in us, and then of thine owne mercie accept the same through the merits and mediation of our Saviour Jesus; so doubling thy favours towards us miserable mortall crea­tures, whose hearts are vile and false unto our selves and to thee also, and our thoughts are only evill continually: Therefore sweet Jesus the mir­rour of mercie, vouchsafe to heare and helpe me, to call and draw me to thy selfe, and knit fast my heart and soule unto thy true feare, devout love, and faithfull service for ever; that so by thy selfe. [Page 132] I may be inabled to run willingly and joyfully af­ter thee, rightly and readily to performe all duties towards thee, and keep all thy Commandements constantly. Oh gracious Lord Holy Ghost, our blessed preserver, comforter and sanctifier, sof­ten thou my hardened heart by thy grace, and in­lighten my dull and sinfull soule, with all the po­wers thereof, my understanding, memory, will and affection, with all saving graces; especially as the chiefe means to gaine the rest, vouchsafe to inspire me with thy true spirit of grace and prayer rightly, humbly, fervently and faithfully to call daily on thy sacred Name, and to worship thee in spirit and truth, even as thou requirest to be ser­ved, that so by thy favour I may obtaine grace, power and strength, to banish all wandring thoughts, and to vanquish and resist all wicked hindrances cast in by the divell or his agents, the world, and mine owne corruptions, which di­stract and disturbe my serious and devout atten­dance of both soule and body in rightly perfor­ming this du [...]y of prayer unto my Lord God, whereby I may be duly thankfull for all thy be­nefits and mercies, already bestowed on me and mine, and also to begge and obtaine the gracious countenance of all thy blessings spirituall and tem­porall, in whatsoever thou seest necessary for this present life, and that which is to come; but more especially in giving me all saving graces, which may fit, prepare and further me here for thy hea­venly [Page 133] Kingdome hereafter. To which my Savi­our and Redeemer bring me by all the merits and sufferings, and in the fulnesse of thy mercies, I humbly beseech thee, dear Jesus. Amen, Amen.

1. A sorrowfull widowes prayer and petition unto the gracious protector and defender of widowes, and father of the fatherlesse, which I composed shortly after the death of my dear husband: And this may also serve any other upon the like occasion.

ALmighty God, and most gracious Lord, who art full of pity and goodnesse, vouchsafe to heare, assist, and accept the humble devotion and supplication of me thy poore unworthy servant, in Jesus Christ thy deare Son. Most mighty God, whose mercies are above all thy great works, and whose power and divine providence directeth and disposeth all things to the best, for those that doe love and depend upon thee. Thou hast ever been pleased to shew mercie unto me thy poore handmaid, the most sinfull of all thy servants, and hast taken care of mee even from my mothers wombe, and vouchsafed me many benefits and blessings, and delivering mee out of very great crosses and troubles, still holding me up by thy gra­cious hand from sinking in the midst of a sea of sorrowes; and like a most loving Father in my di­vers change of fortunes, hast at all times provi­ded for me and mine beyond our deserts, or the [Page 134] worlds expectation, having in thy mercifull goodnesse made me see with comfort all my chil­dren, who were left destitute, now by thy pro­vident provision and blessing, well setled for this life: All which by thy infinite favours, Lord make me ever thankfully to acknowledge, and grant that I and all mine, may serve, obey, praise, and glorifie thy great and blessed Name for ever, and ever. And as thou Lord, hast stretched forth thy hand of bounty to supply all my worldly wants; so dear God, vouchsafe more especially to extend thy gracious care over my soule, to pre­vent and keep me from sin, and indue me with all spirituall graces, so that my whole life and waies may ever be serviceable and acceptable to thy hea­venly Majesty. And now, O Lord, since it hath been thy will and pleasure, to take away, and call to thy selfe my deare husband out of this transito­ry life before me, and to bereave me of him who was my chiefe comfort in this world: I humbly beseech thee, vouchsafe to take me into thy care, and give me grace to choose with Mary. that better part which may never be taken from mee, chiefly to serve and follow thee, that so I may turne this freedome from the bond of mariage on­ly the more to thy service, and may become thy bond woman to serve and praise thee day and night like Hanna, so long as I live. And Lord, assist me with thy grace to obey thee in all things according to thy holy will, daily endeavouring to [Page 135] work out my salvation with feare and trembling, and continually striving by a godly life and holy conversation, to make my calling and election sure, which is one of the chiefest things needfull. Now deare God, make me to change and far ex­ceed the fervent affection and carefull observance I have lived in towards my husband, into a holy feare, with devout and sincere love of thy Maje­sty and service, and due watchfulnesse over my selfe, that I displease not thee my God in any thing. And good God, by thy holy Spirit, with­draw my heart from the covetous seeking, de­siring and longing after the vanities, riches, de­lights, preferments, or vaine pleasures of this wicked deceitfull world, but instead of my for­mer care and troubles in worldly businesses, to please my husband, and for the good of my chil­dren, let me now bend my minde, and wholly set my heart and soule, to seeke after thee my good God, thy glory, thy Kingdome, and the righteous­nesse thereof, that so I may walke before thee all the rest of my daies, with an upright, faithfull, and perfect heart in thy sight. Lastly, indue mee with true thankfulnesse to thy gracious Majesty for all thy manifold mercies vouchsafed unto me, Lord give me grace to use those benefits thou be­stowest on me conscionably as may be best plea­sing unto thee, and to imploy all I have to thy glory, the relievement of thy truest servants, and my owne comfort, especially the good of my [Page 136] soule in performing my duty towards thee, in stri­ving to doe all the good I can, while I have time, for I desire so to use and receive thy blessings here, as I may be also received into the place of eternall blessednesse hereafter, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Finally, I most humbly beg that thou wilt vouchsafe to be a loving and gracious Father in thy care and comfort to me, and all mine, and let thy mercie, blessing and favour, rest alwaies upon me, my children and grand-children kindred and friends, with all that thou hast given thy poore servant, who doth in all humility commend and commit my selfe, my waies and workes, wholy to thy most blessed protection, and direction, to dispose according to thy good pleasure; that so I may doe all things to thy glory here, and by thy mercy be a happy partaker of thy eternall Kingdome of glory hereafter, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.

2. A Prayer to the God of mercy in time of affliction.

O Most gracious Lord God, the originall of all goodnesse, and fountaine of mercie, thou hast commanded thy poore servants to call upon thee in the day of trouble, that thou maiest deli­ver us, and we may glorifie thee; great are the troubles of thy children, but thou deliverest them out of all; thine eyes, O Lord, are upon thy ser­vants, [Page 137] and thine eares are open to their cry, for thou art near unto all that call upon thee in truth, and wilt save such as bee afflicted in spirit: the sorrows of my heart are increased, Lord draw me out of my troubles; the poore crieth, and the Lord heareth, he prepareth their hearts, and bendeth his eares to them, and delivereth them out of all their feare and care; for the hope afflicted shall not perish before thee for ever. The Lord also will be a refuge in due time, even in affliction, and they that know thy Name will trust in thee, for thou wilt not faile them that seek thee: have mercy upon me, O Lord, consider my troubles which I suffer of them that hate me without cause, thou hast been my defence, and hast lifted me up from the gates of death: O Lord my God, in thee I put my trust, save me from them that persecute mee, and deliver me in thy good time. But, dear God, I most humbly confesse that my sinnes are so many and grievous, as they have deserved farre greater punishment then I am able to beare, and I can hope for no helpe or release but from thine owne goodnesse, who art my only hope and sure refuge; for thou hast mercy on whom thou wilt have mercy, and takest compassion on whom thou pleasest; but I acknowledge that my sufferings are not answerable to my sinnes, for thou hast corrected me with favour, not in rigor; therefore if thou shouldest kill me, yet will I trust in thee, for thy mercy exceedeth all thy workes, and un­der [Page 138] the shadow of thy wings will I rest in confi­dence, till all my afflictions be overpassed. Yet Lord, if it seem good unto thee to continue these heavy troubles and visitations, that now lye sore on me, I humbly pray thee to sanctifie all my af­flictions unto me thy poore servant, which I hope are but fatherly chastisements for the amendment of my faults, and not the fearfull judgements and ensignes of thy wrathfull displeasure; from which Lord, for thy Sonnes sake, preserve me [...]y poore sinfull creature, and lay no more upon me then thou wilt make me able to undergoe as I ought to doe, saying with Ely, It is the Lord, let him do what he pleaseth: and make me to consider like Job, that naked I came into the world, and naked I shall returne, the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken, praised be his name for ever; but thou Lord art my stength and my stay in all distractions. I further humbly beseech thee, to give me grace and patience in all things, and at all times, to keep my selfe from any offence towards thee, by repi­ning at thy just and favourable corrections for my transgressions; but grant that I may as Christ hath taught us, meekly and humbly, submit my selfe to thy most righteous and blessed will, that so I may (by thy assistance) make the best and right use of whatsoever thou sendest, that all may be to the best for thy honour, and turne to my good when thou art pleased to give a happy issue to this temptation, and in thy good time to ease and de­liver [Page 139] me out of these great adversities to thy glory. But I know that the afflictions of this present world, are not worthy of the glory that shall bee revealed to us hereafter; yet I humbly desire if it so please thee, that I may live the rest of my daies in peace and quiet, constantly to attend thy ser­vice, and seek after my owne salvation. Lord be mercifull to this whole Kingdome, now in very great distraction, distresse and misery, and also to all my fellow members in thy whole Church uni­versall, wheresoever any of us are afflicted, in­wardly or outwardly in body or minde, grant us either speedy delivery, or else grace to performe thy good pleasure, and with patience to wait thy leasure, untill thou please to have mercy on us to our release and comfort, and to thy owne praise and glory, who never failest those that depend upon thee. Now I most humbly acknowledge with all possible praise and thanks, which I am bound ever to render unto thee, that thou hast for­merly delivered me out of many sorrowes, eares, troubles and vexations, both in body and minde, and also I blesse and magnifie thy holy Name for all thy great and manifold blessings which thou hast bestowed upon me, thy most unworthy ser­vant; and I pray thee Lord, of thy infinite good­nesse, not to let my sinnes and wickednesse hin­der thy mercies towards me, but pardon and cast all my offences out of thy sight, through Jesus Christ my Saviour; and vouchsafe alwaies to con­tinue [Page 140] thy grace and favour to mee, and especially in daily renewing all spirituall graces in me, that so, when, or how soone soever thou hast appoin­ted an end unto my daies here, I may then ob­taine the end of my faith and hope, even thy glory and my owne salvation, through thy beloved Son and my only Saviour Jesus: for whose sake, Lord heare me, and grant these my humble requests, with all things else which thou best knowest necessary either for my soule or body, for this life, or for the life to come, in which, deare God, make mee in thy manifold mercies partaker of eternall happi­nesse, for evermore. Amen.

3. A Prayer for due preparation before the holy Communion of the Lords Supper.

O Most gracious God, and our heavenly and mercifull Father in Jesus Christ, who hatest nothing thou hast made, and desirest not the death of sinners, but that we should return to thee and live; thou absolvest all those that truly repent and beleeve thy holy Gospell, and didst send thine only and beloved Son Jesus into the world, to seek those that were lost, and to save sinners by thy grace, of whom I am chiefe. O sweet Jesus, thou callest to thee, those that are heavy laden and truly penitent, and weary of their burthen­some sinnes, that thou maiest mercifully ease and refresh them; thou camest to call sinners to repen­tance, [Page 141] and restore us that were lost by sinne, and to lay downe thine owne life to redeeme man­kinde from eternall death, and hast left us a graci­ous remembrance thereof in thy most holy Supper of that unspeakable worke of our redemption, which we are exceedingly bound often to cele­brate, in acknowledgement of thy unexpressible mercy and favour towards us. But oh my Lord! I tremble and feare, knowing that I am a wret­ched and wicked sinner, and my offences have made me abominable in thy sight, being wholy corrupt both in soule and body, from the crowne of my head, to the soal of the foot, the worst de­serving of all thy servants, and if thou shouldest strictly marke what I have done amisse, or enter into judgement with me, how should I dare to come into thy presence having nothing to answer for my selfe, but (to cry with the Publican) I have grievously offended, Lord be mercifull to mee a sinner? (and as another saith of himselfe, how should I presume to appeare in the presence of God, can the Lord be mercifull to so miserable a sinner as I am?) But Lord, I have learned, and do beleeve that there is mercy with thee, and plenti­full redemption; therefore we are infinitly bound to love and feare thee; but I doe humbly confesse that I am altogether unworthy of my selfe to ap­proach unto thy blessed table, but thou Lord that givest both the will and the deed in all good workes, so Lord I pray thee to worke in me a due [Page 142] preparation for thy acceptance, and then inable me to performe my duty herein in a right and faithfull manner, for there at thy heavenly ban­quet, thou Lord, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, art present in thy great Majesty beholding our unper­fect devotions, wants in preparation, and mani­fold infirmities; but thou Lord by thy powerfull grace cleansest us from sin, and changest us into new creatures, and in thy highest bounty giving thy selfe really unto us to be received spiritually by faith, and by the working of the Holy Ghost; thou art the heavenly food of our soules unto e­ternall life, powring such great and wonderfull treasure into poore earthen vessels, as we are, and and so making us partakers of all the benefits of thy unspeakable merits, and bitter passions and sufferings. Oh Lord, who invitest me thither, continue thy mercy to perfect the good worke thou hast begun for my salvation, and heale thou my corrupt soule, converting my straying and de­ceitfull heart, and knit it unto thee my God, and by thy grace prepare and fit me, rightly, reverent­ly, faithfully and worthily, to receive that high and divine mystery, in all humility, contrition, true faith and charity, with such devotion as I ought to doe. Now deare Lord, give me grace rightly to understand, and duly to consider and ponder of thy greatnesse to feare thee, of thy goodnesse to love thee, of thy power and mani­fold mercies towards me, ever to beleeve and trust [Page 143] in thee: And also to looke into my owne rebelli­ous disobedience, and shamefull ingratitude to­wards thee, and my most miserable estate, who am in danger of everlasting damnation by my in­numerable transgressions committed against thee; Lord touch my hardened heart with the oyle of thy grace, that it may be fastened to receive a sound and sensible feeling and sight of all my grie­vious sinnes past, both in committing the evill I was forbidden, and omitting the good I am com­manded, with a true sense of thy just wrath a­gainst me for the same, which may worke in mee by thy assistance, such unfaigned sorrow and pe­nitencie, even to breake my stony heart with ha­tred of my self and all sinne for so offending thee, with such true contrition and repentance un­to salvation, as I may obtaine thy mercifull par­don sweet Jesus, that by thy wounds I may bee healed, and all my offences hidden, never to bee imputed unto me hereafter; and by thy grace hear­tily purposing, constantly to endeavour the a­mendment of all my misdeeds for the time to come, and by thy helpe to lead a holy and a san­ctified life so long as I live. Now I humbly be­seech thee, oh dear Lord, to indue me also with the blessed gift of true faith, which is the only hand to lay hold of thee, and all thy mercies whereby thou maiest dwell in me, and I in thee for ever; I beleeve, Lord helpe my unbeleefe, and strengthen and increase in me a right hope, [Page 144] and lively faith, stedfastly to beleeve, and rightly to apply to my owne soule all thy gracious pro­mises, benefits, merits and sufferings for me to my salvation. Oh my God Holy Ghost, vouchsafe to inspire my heart with true and perfect charity to­wards all my brethren and neighbours, yea even to my very enemies for thy sake, that I may for­give them, as thou dost pardon me. And thou Lord, preserver of mankinde, by thy gracious o­peration in this blessed Sacrament, joyne me an unworthy member unseparably unto thy blessed head Christ Jesus, especially at this time, grant that through thy holy working and assistance, I may bee a happy partaker not only of the outward signes, but also of the inward and inestimable gra­ces bestowed upon our soules by the reall body broken, and pretious bloud shed of our deare Sa­viour Jesus, which was crucified for us, to be the pretious food of our soules, all which Lord rightly apply unto my soule, with all other benefits there­by signified and assured unto us, and through his righteousnesse and merits, that I may be reconci­led and accepted by God our heavenly Father, to my eternall comfort and happinesse; that so I may devoutly and everlastingly love and honour, magnifie, and admire the infinite mercy, love and favour of God, the Father, our deare Saviour Je­sus, and of the Holy Ghost, to whom be all praise and glory for ever. Now Almighty God, grant me thy poore servant grace to live in true faith, [Page 145] ready obedience, and continuall thankfullnesse all the rest of my daies here, that I may live hereaf­ter in heaven with thee, in joy and blisse for ever­more. Amen.

4. An humble thanksgiving after the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.

I Yeeld unto thee my mercifull Lord God, Fa­ther, Son and Holy Ghost, all humble and pos­sible praise and thanks, for all thy great benefits and loving favours vouchsafed unto me, thy poor sinfull creature both spirituall and temporall all my life hitherto; and deare Lord, the fountaine of all mercie, thou hast been exceeding good and gracious towards mee, which I humbly acknow­ledge, especially in vouchsafing so great and ma­nifold blessings to me thy most unworthy servant in this thy present favour, which thou hast been pleased to make me partaker of amongst thy chil­dren. Now, deare Lord, make me ever truly thankfull with all my heart and soule unto thee for all thy mercies bestowed on mee, who with shame and sorrow doe confesse, I have deserved no good, but all evill at thy hands by my mani­fold offences committed against thee; therefore in all humility I doe beseech thee, to cast all my sinnes and wickednesse out of thy sight▪ and let them be no hindrance to thy grace and mercy to­wards me; but Lord still continue and increase thy [Page 146] fatherly care and loving kindnesse both to my soule and body to prevent and preserve me from falling into any sin or evill; and vouchsafe to be­stow all spirituall graces on mee, that may inable me to live a more holy and acceptable life before thee ever hereafter; and seale thou my pardon for all my sinnes past, for Christ Jesus sake, who dyed for me, and with his owne unvaluable bloud paid my ransome, and fully satisfied thy great and just wrath against me. But gracious God, how un­speakable is thy goodnesse and infinite favour to­wards mankinde, that instead of powring down punishments upon us for our great offences a­gainst thee, thou didst thy selfe in thy tender love ordaine the meanes for our redemption, justifica­tion and eternall salvation, through Christ thine owne deare Son: praised be thy glorious Name for ever, and chiefly at this time I magnifie thee sweet Jesus (the mirrour of mercy) who before thou hadst finished the great worke of our redem­ption, didst also institute the blessed Sacrament of thy holy Supper that inestimable benefit, to all thy servants which rightly receive the same, it being a pledge of thy love, a remembrance of thy mercy, a renuing of grace in us, a testimony of thy favours, a confirmation of our faith, a uniting of us (by thy Holy Ghost) to our blessed Lord and head Christ Jesus, and all our fellow members in perfect charity one towards another, with assu­rance thereby of the pardon of all our sinnes, and [Page 147] eternall salvation to our soules: the great benefit thereof is beyond my expression, of which this day thou hast graciously vouchsafed to make mee (though unworthy of my selfe) yet by thy favour a happy partaker. Now deare Lord, enlarge thy goodnesse further toward me thy poor servant, to give me daily the spirituall gifts of sound repen­tance, encrease of true faith to beleeve all thy gracious promises, with grace rightly to apply them to my owne soule, and all the infinite bene­fits which thou my deare Saviour hast purchased for me, that so this Sacrament may worke those good effects in me which thou hast therein offered unto us, and that I may by thy assistance, bring forth the fruits of righteousnesse, obedience, and true holinesse of life, all the rest of my daies, and to make such thankfull and constant acknowledge­ment and right use of all thy mercies, as I may glo­rifie thy blessed Name; reforme my waies, and frame my heart in all things to be faithfully and constantly thine, and then I know that thou wilt ever be my gracious God, to thy honour and my endlesse felicity, through my Lord Jesus Christ the righteous. Amen.

1. A meditation concerning death.

O Lord God Holy Ghost, our sanctifier, pre­server and comforter, who best knowes my corrupt nature, that cannot of my selfe performe [Page 148] any true service towards God, being inclined to all evill, and unapt to any goodnesse, I humbly be­seecb thee, that understandest my manifold infir­mities, be pleased to indue me with all saving graces in the performance of all holy duties to­wards God. And I humbly pray thee sweet Jesus to call and draw me daily unto thee; and vouch­safe Lord by thy holy Spirit to possesse my heart and soule, to make mee wholly and constantly thine, truly to feare and love thee, to serve and o­bey thee in all things, that so thou in thy infinite mercy maiest never leave me, but be my gracious Lord, and mercifull God for ever. And I hum­bly pray thee Lord Holy Ghost, to sanctifie and assist me thy poore sinfull servant, with all spiritu­all graces for my salvation in Christ, both living and dying, that I may strive to become what I ought to be, and to doe thy holy will in all things while I live. Now O good God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, thou knowest that many and evill have been my daies in this world, and by thy pro­vidence I have attained to a great age, but have not performed the ends for which I came into the world, who being made only to serve God in ho­linesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our lives to his glory, and our salvation, which is the chief thing needfull; but alas, for the most part it is the least regarded or thought upon, where I confesse (with sorrow) that I have been too much neg­lectfull, having sometimes been drawne by the [Page 149] cares and troubles of this life, which necessity brought upon me, to set my heart ever carefully upon earthly things, and likewise, too often have I been carried away with the vanity of my owne heart in following after the preferments, or va­nity of my owne heart, in following after the pre­ferments, or delighting in the pleasures of this vile world, all which perish in the using, by which de­lusions and deceits, that old subtill serpent Sathan (that first wrought our ruine) he now steals away our time and hearts, only to make us lose our souls also. But deare Lord, though I have too long gone astray, yet while I am going towards my God, Lord let it be thy worke of grace and mer­cie to make me see and understand when I am out of the right way before I goe too far to fall into irrecoverable danger, from which I cannot re­turne. Oh shew me the paths of life and lead mee into the true way to heaven that I may first turne to thee in true faith with a contrite spirit, and a broken heart for my lost time past which I have mispent, that so I may obtaine pardon for all my sinnes formerly committed before thee, and then I know thou wilt receive me as one of thine, and in mercie bring me to thy salvation. Now Lord, although our times are only knowne to thee, yet I cannot have long to live, for the life of man is but short, and old age laden with infirmities and sick­nesse is a sure messenger and forerunner of death, and then draweth near the first appearance when [Page 150] my breath ceaseth, of my poore soule before the tribunall seat, of thy great Majesty, O God, and before all thy holy Angels there to bee called to give an account of all my life and time mispent: Alas, how can I answer one thing of a thousand; now what should I doe, if I had not there in hea­ven an All-sufficient Saviour, who is also my blessed advocate to mediate for me, in whom is all my trust, comfort and confidence; therefore gra­cious Lord Jesus helpe me now while I am here, and assist me to make my peace (as thou dost ad­vise) while I am in the way before the grim and cruell Sergeants of sicknesse and death lay hold upon me to prevent me of the freedome, and abi­lity of my senses, and spirit, being aided with thy power, strength and grace by unfaigned repen­tance, and true faith to obtaine through Christ my release, and pardon of those grievous debts and trespasses that I stand guilty of before God, which I am no waies able to satisfie, but only by thee my Saviour Jesus, or else I shall be throwne into that dreadfull dungeon, from whence there is no escaping: Therefore now I doe most hum­bly beg and pray thee, that I may finde such fa­vour in thy sight, knowing my owne disabilities, that thou Lord wouldest knit and prepare my heart and soule, for thine owne mercifull acceptance, before thou call and ceise upon me by death, to take me out of this life, and make me continually mindfull of my last end while I live in health, and [Page 151] of that strict reckoning which then I must make unto thee, the great God of heaven and earth, who seeth and knoweth all things of all my life past, e­ven to my very words. And let me still remember that thou Lord searchest the hearts and triest the reines, and beholdest all our waies, and will bring each worke to judgement, with every se­cret thing, whether it be good or evill: There­fore I most humbly beseech thee, while I am in this world, give me the grace of daily and un­faigned repentance for all my sinnes past, with care to amend all my former faults in the rest of my life, and narrowly to examine my own heart, soule and conscience of all the evills I have done before thee, hating and severely judging and con­demning my selfe for them, that so I may escape thy great wrath, and not be judged and condem­ned by thee, O Lord, in thy heavy displeasure, which I am not able to beare; for who can stand in the sight of thy great Majesty when thou art angry? Therefore gracious God, let me here ob­tain thy mercifull pardon for all my offences past, with grace to reforme my former misdeeds, and by thy blessed assistance become a new creature all my daies, that so I may gaine a blessed end, through my Saviour to dye in him, and make my peace with God here, before I goe hence and be no more: To which purpose I humbly pray thee while I live, to make me a true and faithfull mem­ber of thy right Church & Kingdom of grace here [Page 152] to professe and practice true Religion, and all ho­linesse of life to my last end; but chiefly, Lord, give me a blessed part in the first resurrection, that I may not lye dead in trespasses and sinnes, but may by thy holy Spirit be daily raised from the grave of sinne, and enabled to live the life of grace, that so the second death may have no po­wer to hurt me; and at the last when it shall please thee to appoint a stop to my daies, and to set a pe­riod unto my time, grant that my death be neither suddaine, nor unexpected, neither my paines vio­lent, whereby I should be unable, faithfully, ear­nestly and constantly to cry unto thee my God, and call upon thy holy Name, for reliefe and comfort in that great and dreadfull day and time of death and danger, when my soules enemies will seek my utter destruction; then Lord, depart not from me, but pray that my faith in thee faile not, and strengthen my weaknesse by thy power, and supply my soule with all saving graces, and defend me from the malice and subtill temptation of my spirituall adversaries, that they may never be able to prevaile against me in any thing. But I humbly pray thee sweet Saviour, to grant that in the day of thy great visitation, my poore name through thy unspeakable goodnesse, may be then found written in thy blessed booke of life, so that my sinnes, nor my soules enemies, may not be able to blot it out; but that by thy infinite mercy and favour, sweet Jesus, unto me, I may then be ac­counted [Page 153] in thee worthy to escape thy just wrath, and by thy power and clemency, who didst vouchsafe to be borne of a woman, and shalt bee judge of the whole world, grant through thy mercies, merits, and manifold sufferings, that I poore sinfull creature, may be made able to stand before thee the blessed Son of God and man in that great and dreadfull day of judgement, when all our secret wickednesses shall be made manifest, and thou Lord, to whom all judgement is given by the Father, art to give our finall sentence: Oh then dear Jesus, in whom only I trust, receive me into thy gracious favour as one of thine, that my sinnes may be covered with thy righteousnesse, that so I may be preserved from thy wrath, and that wofull doom, Go ye cursed into hell fire, ap­pointed for the Divell and his Angells; but Lord, in the fulnesse of thy mercy, make me one of that happy chosen number, to whom that joyfull call shall belong, Come ye blessed of my Father, inhe­rit, and enter into that Kingdome, which he hath prepared for you before the beginning of the world; and also thou our Saviour hast purchased for us; then Lord in thy infinite love grant me a part in that everlasting happinesse, to live with thee, and glorifie thee there, for ever and ever. Amen.

2. A Prayer to live blessedly, and dye happily.

OH gracious Lord God, who didst create all things by thy omnipotent power, and lastly made mankinde! thou best knowest the frailties and corruption of our wretched nature which we inherit from our first parents, whose substance was but earth, and we are of our selves inclined onely to earthly and evill things, and such is the condition of mortall man, that all that are borne must dye, and returne to dust from whence they came, but the spirit returnes to thee, O God, that gave it, to receive either joy or blisse with thee for ever, or else eternall banishment from thee, who art the only good; therefore I doe most hum­bly beseech thee, deare Lord, to looke mercifully upon me, to helpe my manifold infirmities, and daily to prevent and keep me from falling into a­ny sinne or evill to offend thee. But especially in the time of my death, dear Lord, be mercifull un­to me a most miserable sinner, to forgive all my sinnes and offences past, that I have committed against thee my God, my brethren, or my owne soule; and grant through the merits, and many sufferings of thy beloved Son, and my only Savi­our Jesus, that they may never bee imputed unto me thy poor servant, but vouchsafe good God, in thy manifold mercies to indue mee thy most un­worthy suppliant, with all saving graces leading [Page 155] to my salvation both in life and death; for we daily see by example how suddainly death may surprise us when we least expect it; therefore while this life is in being, and I am going on in the way of all flesh, which can be of no long continuance; Lord teach and assist mee to make my peace for my offences with thee my God while I am here, who else wilt take an account of me in a dreadfull place, and art able if thy wrath be not pacified, to cast me into hell fire, from which there is no re­demption; therefore have mercy on me, sweet Je­sus, that I may by thy helpe, grace and assistance, rightly fit and prepare my self for thy acceptance before sicknesse lay hold on me; for when death seiseth it will carry mee immediately before the judgement seat of thy great Majesty: Oh there let me finde thee, deare Jesus, to be my gracious Sa­viour and Advocate, and so I shall obtaine mercy and favour, and by thy sufferings, my offences pardoned, and Gods severe justice satisfied. And thus in thee and through thee only, my blessed Re­deemer Iesus Christ, I shall be received to grace and mercy, and made partaker of eternall life, and remaine with Almighty God, in whose presence is the fulnesse of joy, and at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore, which Lord make me partaker of, there to glorifie the Name of Al­mighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for ever. Amen.

3. A Prayer to be prepared for a happy death, and to gaine a joyfull resurrection.

MOst glorious Lord God, who didst make all things, thou well understandest that we poor creatures (how highly soever we are conceited of our selves) are but dust and ashes, and must re­turne to earth from whence we came; our lives and times are in thy hand and power, and what thou hast appointed we cannot change, and all things to our selves are most uncertaine; for when thou with just rebuke dost chastise man for iniqui­ty, thou makest his strength and beauty to con­sume away like a flower of the field that withe­reth and falleth: for when thou callest, man can­not retaine the spirit, nor adde one houre to his time, but it returnes to thee that gave it, and hee goeth downe to the grave, from which he shall not returne againe till this world is at an end: Therefore, deare Lord, I now most humbly be­seech thee, for thy beloved sonnes sake, who hath satisfied thy just wrath by his infinite and inno­cent sufferings, and redeemed me from sin and Sa­than by his death, Lord forgive and pardon me all my sinnes and offences past, either in soule or bo­dy, that I have committed against thee ever since I came into this miserable world, which I confesse are innumerable, more then the haires of my head, or the sand upon the Sea shoare, but vouch­safe, [Page 157] O mercifull God, to be reconciled unto mee a wicked sinner, in thy deare and righteous Son Christ Iesus my only Saviour, who hath paid my ransome with his owne pretious bloud, where­with, oh God of mercie, blot my debt to thee by sinne, out of thy sight; and also he did fulfill all righteousnesse for me, who is now my blessed Me­diator in heaven, to impute all this unto mee: Therefore, deare Lord Holy Ghost, by thy graci­ous and holy Spirit, joyne and unite me unto my Lord and head Christ, never to be separated from him while I live here, and when I goe from hence carry me to be where he is, and give mee grace and faith in and through him, to make my peace while I am in the way and passage of this life, and while I have breath to call upon thee, before I am laid into the darke dungeon of the earth, when the wormes shall eat my corrupt flesh; yet I trust and doe believe through him, that hath overcome death, the grave, and hell for me, that at the blessed resurrection of thy children and servants, that my corruption shall put on incor­ruption, and I shall see my blessed Lord and Sa­viour with these my eyes, who did redeeme me, and shall be my mercifull judge to save me; there­fore I have sure confidence in his favour, and un­der the wings of his mercie shall I rest in safety. Now I humbly pray thee, O God the Holy Ghost, to sanctifie, fit, prepare, and assist my heart and soule with thy Spirit, to fill me with all saving [Page 158] graces for my salvation; while I live, to enable me to call, pray and strive to please thee here in all things; but especially Lord at my death stand by me and pray for me that my faith faile not: fit and prepare me for thy gracious acceptance, be­fore thou call and seise upon me to take me out of this present life; and make me alwaies mindefull both in health and sicknesse of my owne last end, and then of my appearance before thee, to make answer before the great God of Heaven & Earth (from whom nothing can bee hid) of all my life and deeds past, even to my very words; for thou art only and above all to be feared, who canst both save and kill, and cast both soule and body into utter perdition in hell: Therefore Lord, vouchsafe to assist me with thy grace to worke in me all things which may make me acceptable un­to thee before the day of my departure, that when it doth approach it may not bee fearfull and ter­rible, but happy and comfortable unto me in Christ Jesus my Lord, that through him, my last day may be my best, and most welcome to my soule; that I may then call and pray, and say with confidence, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, for into thy hands I most humbly commend my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth; and vouch­safe thou even to my last breath, alwaies to say unto my soule, thou art my God, and my salvation for ever. Amen.

4. A Prayer in sicknesse, with expectation of death.

OH heavenly Father, who hast been my gra­cious God before I had being, and my mer­cifull guide from my youth, be pleased especially now at the houre and point of my death which I shall shortly expect, to be mercifull, O God, unto me a miserable sinner, to pardon for Jesus sake all my sinnes and iniquities that I have committed formerly; and vouchsafe to heale and save my wretched soule that hath infinitly offended thee, and strengthen my weaknesse with thy power, and supply all graces wanting in me by thy mer­cie, and defend me from all my spirituall adversa­ries, who will endeavour my destruction if they can, but let them not prevaile against me; and Lord Jesus, be not farre from me, neither forsake me in a time when so much trouble and danger is about me; but in the multitude of thy mercy, Lord pray for mee that my faith faile not, and stretch forth thy hand to save me, as thou didst to Peter, lest I perish. Now, O God, give me such sound and unfaigned repentance, as may obtaine from thee remission of all my sinnes, with true faith to lay hold of all thy gracious promises, and a right and a stedfast hope in all thy mercies; but chiefly indue me with devout and perfect love toward thy Majesty, which may make me faithfully and [Page 160] constantly thine to serve and obey thy holy will in all things, with Christian charity towards all my brethren: but Lord, if it be thy will give mee knowledge of my death when it is neare, that I may faithfully pray unto thee, and call on thy most blessed Name with my last breath, and may joyfully and willingly yeeld up and commend my spirit backe to thee my Lord, who gave it unto me: And deare Lord, prevent and remove all e­vill hindrances in my way to heavenly happinesse, that through Christ Jesus my Saviour, I may bee received amongst thy children and servants, and admitted into the presence of thy Majesty, O heavenly Father, there to enjoy eternall felicity with thee in heaven when this life is ended by death. But if thou shouldest please at this time to continue and prolong my daies upon earth; Lord, so long as I live, teach me by thy grace so to num­ber my daies that I may apply my heart to wis­dome and godlinesse and holinesse of life, seeking to redeem my lost time past which I have mispent, by daily repentance and amendment of life, stri­ving to make my calling and election sure, by a holy and good conversation the rest of my time to come, that by thy mercy, and merits of my Savi­our Jesus I may be freed of my trespasses, and hea­vy account with thee before I dye, and may es­cape thy just and great wrath which is due for my manifold transgressions. Now Lord Jesus, I willingly submit my selfe to thy good pleasure to [Page 161] dispose of me as thou seest best: but I most hum­bly beg of thee, when my last and appointed hour is come, that I shall enter into my long sleep of death, and goe to lye downe in the dust; deare Lord, give me a happy departure out of this life, that I may dye in thee, O Lord, to rest in peace and safety, and may be raised up by thee at the last day to grace and glory, that thou receiving mee into thy mercy▪ and favour, I may live and remain with thee in eternall happinesse to glorifie thy blessed Name, and sing hallelujah amongst thy Saints for ever and ever. Amen.

5. A Prayer unto the Lord of mercy in the time of sicknesse to be fitted for death, and assisted in that dreadfull houre against all temptations, to gaine a blessed passage out of this world at Gods appointed time.

O Great and mercifull God, who reignest and disposest of all things in heaven, and in the whole world as it pleaseth thee, and understan­dest all the passage here below on earth, be it never so secret, and by thy mercie and power dost work all things to the best for those that love and de­pend upon thee; for thou art full of goodnesse, pa­tience and long-suffering towards us poore weak and fraile creatures, and thy abounding mercy, doth exceed all other thy great workes in pardo­ning sinners; but beyond all other thy favours to­wards [Page 161] us, thy infinite love to mankinde did most appeare in sending thine owne dear Son into the world to save sinners by thy grace, that all that beleeve in him might be saved; without which thy mercie, what hope, comfort, or helpe were there left unto us miserable sinfull creatures; for the just man falleth seven times a day, but the wicked much more, and if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear, such as I am? Therefore I come and cry and pray unto thee, who only canst relieve me, in all humility, contrition and confession of my manifold trans­gressions, and in the blessed Name of thy dear be­loved Son, my only Saviour, I do beg and beseech thee, O Father, full of compassion, not to enter into judgement with me, nor to remember what I have done amisse; but to consider what thy Christ hath done and suffered for mee, and looking on mee through him, have mercy and pity upon me a most grievous sinner; I know too well, how justly thou maiest condemne me; but Lord, to save a poore sinner by thy grace is farre greater ho­nour and glory unto thee: And gracious God, who of thine owne meer mercy didst give us thy most deare Son to be our reconciliation and re­demption whē we were thine enemies, much more being reconciled, and having performed all things for us, thou canst deny us no good thing that wee aske in his beloved Name: Therefore, O God, for Christ innocent sake, vouchsafe to be recon­ciled [Page 162] unto me, thy most unworthy sinfull servant, and cast all my offences into his grave, where my Saviour paid the last part of my ransome; and by his power rising againe the third day from death, he conquered and overcame all my soules ene­mies, sin, death, hell and Sathan; and deare Lord, with his pretious bloudshed upon the crosse, wash my soule cleane before it appeare in thy presence, and take away all my iniquities out of thy sight, never to come in remembrance before thee, so that Christ may be unto me both in life and death an advantage. And now most deare God, my life and time here is only in thy hand and pleasure, and thou hast cast me upon the bed of sicknesse, from which I know not whether I shall recover, or rise any more while I live in this world; therefore I most humbly pray thee, sweet Jesus, never to leave or forsake me, but stand thou alwaies in mercy by me, and let thy right hand uphold and sustaine me to preserve me from all my spirituall e­nemies that wait to destroy my soule: But thou my Lord, art sufficient for me, O Lord, vouchsafe me thy grace to direct my heart and words to­wards thee, and by thy ready helpe to assist me in all things, and at all times, that in thy mercie at the last thou maiest finish all thy favour in mee, which is the accomplishment of my faith and hope in thee: And Lord grant that I may willing­ly and readily come unto thee when thou callest; and vouchsafe, O blessed Spirit Holy Ghost, to [Page 164] fit and prepare me by unfeigned repentance to ob­taine remission of all my sinnes that I have done before thee, with true faith to lay hold of all the mercies of my God in Christ, and with stedfast hope to rest on all thy gracious promises, O Lord, who never failest those that trust in thee. Now Lord, give me strength and patience to wait thy good leasure and pleasure, untill thou have pity and compassion on me, either to recover and re­store my health here (if it be thy will) that I may live and glorifie thee longer in this life, or else that thou wilt please to receive and prepare me for thy selfe, and give me all saving graces for thine own mercifull acceptance, when thou pleasest to call and take me to thee out of this wretched world, that so my faith and sure trust in thee may never faile unto my last breath. Now lastly, Lord grant, that as the outward man (the body) decayeth and groweth weaker, so the inward part (the soule) may by thy gracious assistance grow together in faith and confidence towards thee, with full assu­rance of thy Spirit within me of thy favour to me for my eternall salvation: Then come Lord Iesus when thou pleasest, for into thy hands I humbly commend my spirit, that when this life shall leave me, thy grace and mercy may receive mee into that endlesse happinesse in heaven, which my Lord and only Saviour hath purchased for me, that I may praise God everlastingly. Amen.

6. My Prayer of thanksgiving after my long and great fit of sicknesse, which begun on Twelfth day at night and held me till Whitsontide: This may serve upon any other occasion.

MOst gracious Lord God, I blesse and praise thy great and holy Name, for all thy bles­sings and benefits both spirituall and temporall vouchsafed to my soule and body; but especially. I magnifie thy glorious Majesty for all those spi­rituall graces thou hast bestowed upon my soule before I was borne and hitherto, which I beseech thee of thy mercie daily to continue and increase towards me: Now deare Lord, make me thy un­worthy servant ever truly thankfull to thee for all thy goodnesse extended towards me, and grant me grace to make such right use of all thy mercies as may be most to thy glory, and my salvation in Christ. But now, O Lord, that art my God, I must at this time render thee humble thanks in particu­lar, and not forget to acknowledge thy benefits, and to praise thy holy Name for all thy mercies shewed unto me; for in my late and long sicknes thou hast heard my groanes, and taken pity on me, and released me from all my paine and griefs, for thou dost visit my transgressions with favour (not in wrath) and hast alwaies been my stay and comfort from my youth, and thou art my delive­rance and ready helpe in all my adversities, thou [Page 166] didst bring me downe for my sinnes almost to the grave, and hast in mercy lifted me up again from the gates of death, and restored me to health, who healest all my infirmities, pardonest all my iniqui­ties, and givest me present supply in all my neces­sities, blessed be thy glorious Name for ever. Now O God, as thou art pleased to prolong my dayes on earth, so especially I humbly pray thee daily to increase all saving graces in mee for thy true and faithfull service, and vouchsafe alwaies to continue all thy goodnesse and mercies towards me, that I may truly feare, perfectly love, and carefully obey thee in all things; and by the assi­stance of thy holy Spirit, make me to become, and ever to continue to bee more and more thy un­feigned servant: And now I am aged, and fit to leave the world when thou pleasest, yet while I am in it, Lord make me continually to grow from grace to grace unto the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, with faith in him rightly to please and praise thee so long as I live. And gracious Lord vouchsafe never to withdraw thy grace and favour from me, untill thou hast finished thy grea­test worke of mercy, and the height of my hopes, and happinesse, which is the salvation of my poor soule, through thine owne deare Sonne, and my only Saviour Jesus Christ; and when it shall please thee to call me away to thy selfe out of this vaine world, be pleased to give me a happy and blessed departure to dye in my Lord Jesus, and in thy true [Page 167] faith and favour, that thou having pardoned all my sins, and passing by my unworthinesse, in Christ, thou maiest after death receive and accept mee poore sinner into thy grace and favour, though thy dearly beloved Sonne, in whom only thou art pleased, who is my righteousnesse, Lord, and my Redeemer; and so when I have left this life, I shall rest in peace and safety, sleep in Christ, and bee raised by him hereafter to great glory amongst his servants, and may obtaine favour to be accepted into the society of holy Angels and blessed Saints, and admitted into the glorious presence of Al­mighty God, there to praise and magnifie his Name, for ever and ever. Amen.

7. My conclusion. A Prayer to my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

OH my deare Lord Jesus, I most humbly begge for thy love and mercies sake to pardon all my sinnes past, that thou maiest looke downe in pity and compassion on me, to heare the prayer of thy unworthy sinfull servant, who doth ear­nesty intreat thee, to vouchsafe me thy gracious and continuall helpe, protection and direction, in all my weake endeavours, wants and troubles, that so all my desires wayes and actions, being begun, continued, and ended in thee, I may bee able rightly and faithfully to serve and please thee at all times, really to love and honour thee above [Page 168] all things, truly and carefully to feare and obey thee according to thine owne will; confidently to relye upon thee, and willingly to submit to thy pleasure in all my crosses and calamities; and con­stantly to praise and magnifie thy most worthy and holy Name, for thy great and manifold bles­sings and benefits bestowed upon me of thy meer grace and mercy: O my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who art the author and finisher of my good, and finally of my eternall salvation, to thee be all praise, honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

8. Another short Prayer.

O Lord my God, have pity upon me that am a most miserable sinner, and full of frailty, un­apt and unable to doe any good, I earnestly de­sire rightly to serve thee, but without thy grace and help I cannot doe it, a fit subject for thy great mercy. Dear Iesus, pardon all my sinnes past, and give me grace henceforth to become a new crea­ture in thee, daily to attend thy service constantly, and to performe all holy duties which Iowe unto thee faithfully; and to shun and resist all sinfull ne­glects towards thee carefully; that so while I live, I may duly feare and obey thee rightly and truly to love and praise thee, here and for ever. Amen.