10 PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS.

A Morning Prayer at our first rysing from sleepe.

O Heauenly Father
of all Light the
true Sun-shine,
so open my heart
with this the opening of
my eyes, that it may still be
so fixed on thee, that this
day, and all the rest of my
life, I may find comfort and
consolation in thee: And
grant most mercifull Father,
as thou hast beene my
Keeper this night, for
which I giue thee most
humble and heartie thanks,
so thou mayst bee my Guider
and comforter this day,
and all the dayes of my life.
Grant this, good God, and
mercifull Father, for Iesus
Christ his sake, our Lord
and Sauiour, Amen.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

11 Another Morning Prayers.

O Most gracious God
and louing Father,
we heartily thanke thee for
abundantly shewed vpon
vs: For our Election, Creation,
Redemption, mercifull
Vocation, Iustification,
Sanctification, and continuall
Preseruation, and for the
same assured & most comfortable
Hope which thou
hast giuen vs of our Glorification
in the World to
come. We prayse thy gracious
goodnesse, for so
mercifully preseruing vs
this present night, and deliuering
vs from all dangers
both of Soule and body, for
that thou hast giuen vs so
sweet and comfortable
rest, and hast at this present
brought vs to the begining
of this day. And as thou
hast safely preserued vs vnto
this present houre, from
all dangers of this life: So
wee beseech thee to continue
this thy fauour toward
vs this day, and the whole
course of our life. Suffer vs
not by vaine allurements of
this World, to bee drawne
away vnto sin and wickednes,
assist vs with thy grace
and Holy Spirit, that wee
spend not our time vainely
or idely, but that wee may
alwayes be diligently exercised
in the duties of our
calling, to the benefit of
our brethren, and discharge
of our Conscience: Grant
that in al our consultations,
words, and workes, wee
may euer haue thee present
before our eyes, through
Iesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
Our Father which art, &c.

12 A Prayer to be said when we wash in the Morning.

O Lord God, heauenly
Father, wash
away, I beseech thee, our
sinnes, clense vs from our
iniquities, purge our harts,
and purifie vs wholly with
thy Grace: and as this watery
Element washeth off
the filth from our Bodyes;
so wee beseech thee, send
downe thy heauenly grace,
to wash & clense our Soules
from sin, and grant we may
keepe them this day free
from all spots of vncleannesse,
and all manner of
wickednesse: Grant this,
O gracious God, wee beseech
thee, and for Christ
Iesus sake, who therefore
came to take away the sins
of the world, heare & haue
mercie vpon vs, Amen.

13 A Noone Prayer.

O Lord God, glorious
in Maiestie,
strong in power, mightie
in deliuerance: I poore
Worme, dust and ashes of
the Earth, present my selfe
before thee, most intirely
thanking thee for preseruing
mee this part of this
day past: and now I intreat
thee to preserue me the rest
of it comming, and grant I
may so carrie my selfe in all
my affaires and occasions,
that I may find my selfe directed
by thy heauenly
Wisedome, and thy good
prouidence ouer mee; And
to that purpose O Lord
let me haue thy feare before
mine eyes, thy helpe and
assistance to lead mee in the
waies of godlinesse, righteousnesse,
and all true holinesse.
Keepe me, O Lord,
from sin and wickednesse,
deceipt and vngodlinesse,
and prosper and preserue
me in all happiness, the rest
of this day comming, and
through the whole course
of my life, I beseech thee,
for Christ Iesus sake,
Amen.

14 A Prayer before meat.

O Lord God blesse and
sanctifie wee beseech
thee these thy good Creatures,
which thou hast prouided for
our nourishment, make them
fit food for our bodyes, that by
the strength of them, we may
be quickned, and made more
apt and able to serue thee, and
grant, O Lord, that as we are
carefull to prouide food for our
bodyes, so wee may much more
labour for the heauenly bread,
and bee carefull to gather of
the Crummes of Comfort
which fall from thy Table,
that both our Soules and Bodyes
being fully satisfied, wee
may bee made wholly fit to
serue thee both now and euer,
and walke acceptably before
thee, till thou bring vs to the
place where wee shall neuer
hunger nor thurst more, but
liue eternally, through Iesus
Christ our Sauiour, Amen.
God forgiue vs our sins,
increase our Faith, and giue
vs Grace to bring forth the
right fruits of Faith,
Amen.

15 A Thankes-giuing after meat.

O Lord wee giue thee
heartie thankes, for
all thy blessings and benefites
bestowed vpon vs, and beseech
thee, that as thou dost cloath
our Bodyes, and now hast also
fed them with corporall food,
so thou wilt couer our Soules
with thy heauenly Graces, and
nourish them with the food of
thy holy Word. And grant
O Lord God that as thou
hast beene mindfull of vs in
satisfying our hunger, and
supplying our wants, we may
bee mindfull of our poore brethren,
in affording them such
comfort, as our abilitie can
performe: And that wee may
still enioy both these temporal
and Spirituall blessings, wee
pray thee continue thy goodnesse
towards vs: Keepe and
defend thy Church, with euerie
part and member of the
same; Saue our King, and
this Land, and helpe thy distressed
people, and such as
stand in need of any thy comforts.
We beseech thee succour
all poore people, and such as be
in any want: Replenish the
sad heart with ioy, release the
Prisoners, relieue the Fatherlesse
and Widdows, and send
vs all so much Grace, that the
Rich may remember the affliction
of Ioseph, and the poore
be contented with that portion
which thou hast appointed,
and that we all may hunger
and thirst after righteousness,
and be satisfied according to
thy promise: Grant this O
Lord God for Iesus Christs
sake, to whom with thee, and
thy sanctifying Spirit, both
now and euermore, bee all
thankes, all prayse, and glorie,
Amen.

16 An Euening Prayer.

O MOST gracious
Lord God, and louing
Father, wee heartily
thanke thee for all thy louing
kindness so abundantly
shewed toward vs: For
our Election, Creation, Redemption,
mercifull Vocation,
Iustification, Sanctification,
continuall Preseruation,
and for that same assured
and most comfortable
hope, which thou hast giuen
vs of our Glorification
in the World to come. We
doe prayse thy gracious
goodnesse for so mercifully
preseruing vs this present
day, and deliuering vs from
perils and dangers, both of
Body and Soule; for prospering,
and preseruing vs in
health and prosperitie, for
keeping vs from suddaine
death, and all dangers, and
giuing vs all things necessarie
for this present life; as
Health, Food, Apparell, and
all other conuenient things
needfull. This gracious
goodnesse of thine, we beseech
thee O Lord to
continue towards vs for
euer. And here, O Lord
God, we offer vp vnto thee
our selues and ours, our
Soules, our bodyes; we recommend
our liues, our
meanes, and all wee haue,
vnto thy gracious preseruation
and protection,
assurance that that cannot
perish which is committed
vnto thee: Keepe vs this
night in safetie, and grant
good Lord, that our bodye
may sleepe, and our Soule
may watch for the coming
of our Sauiour, thy Sonne
Iesus Christ, that so our
Soules and Bodyes may bee
more apt and able to serue
thee in that estate & calling
wherein thou hast thought
good to place vs. We confesse
and acknowledge O
mercifull God that we are
most miserable and wicked
sinners, as well by originall
corruption of our Nature,
as by the course of our euill
and naughtie life: We haue
and doe daily breake and
transgresse thy most holy
Lawes & Commandments
both in thought, word, and
deed. By the meanes of this
sin and corruption, we doe
continually deserue most
iust condemnation, and to
bee for euer cast out of thy
presence; Yet such is thy
goodnesse towards vs, that
thou wouldest not suffer vs
thus to perish in our sinnes,
but hast sent thy own deare
Sonne, Christ Iesus, to take
vpon him whatsoeuer is
due to vs, and to reconcile
and make vs one with thee
againe. In him therefore,

C

and through him, we come
vnto thee, beseeching thee
for his sake, that we feeling
the grieuousnesse of our
sinnes, and groaning vnder
the burthen of them, may
find the reliefe and ease of
them, in that wee, through
thy Holy Spirit, stedfastly
belieue, that Christ hath
borne the burthen of them
euen for vs. Grant O Lord
that we being assured hereof
in our Conscience, may
through thy Holy Spirit be
renewed with more graces;
and hate, detest, and abhor
all manner of sin, and study
to liue in all things according
to thy blessed will, during
our whole life: Grant
this O Father for Iesus
Christ his sake, Amen.
O Lord increase our Faith.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

18 A Morning Prayer for Seruants.

O Most gracious and
mercifull, glorious
and euerlasting Father,
which createdst Light and
Darkenesse, which hast
made all things, and gouernest
and guidest all things;
I poore, wretched, miserable,
and wicked sinner, cast
myselfe downe here before
thy glorious Throne; begging,
crauing, and beseeching
thee, euen for Christ
Iesus sake, to looke downe
vpon me poore and distressed
wretch, with pittie and
compassion, to pardon, forgiue,
and forget all my sins,
actuall and originall, omissions
and commissions, or
whatsoeuer: All O Lord
God that I haue committed
against thee in thought,
word, or deed: O pardon
them, I beseech thee, burie
them in the depth of the
Sea. O Lord, open the
streames of thy Mercie,
poure downe the showres
of thy Grace: quell the ill

C 3

imaginations and wicked
thoughts of my mind. Settle
assured Faith in my
Conscience: fill my heart
with thy heauenly Graces;
grant in all my Seruice, I
may bee thy true Seruant,
and so for thee, may doe
true seruice to my Master
and Mistresse, that in all dutie,
I may bee pleasing and
acceptable to them; that
with all singlenesse and sinceritie
of heart, I may doe
all things, and deale vprightly
in all I take in hand,
and that at the last, I may
heare with comfort that
ioyfull saying, Well done
thou good and faithfull Seruant,
enter into the rest and
ioy of thy heauenly Master:
which grant most gracious
God, for Iesus Christs sake,
Amen.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

I beleeue in God the Father
Almightie, &c.

19 An Euening Prayer for a Seruant.

O Lord God, I giue
thee most heartie
thankes for that thou hast
granted mee grace to passe
this day quietly, in doing
my dutie toward my Master,

C 4

grant I may passe this
night in quiet sleepe: keep
mee O Lord set a watch
ouer mee, let thy good Angels
guard mee, and grant
me such sweet and comfortable
rest, that I may be refreshed
in the morning,
and made fit to serue and
obey thee, and also to serue
and please my Master in all
vprightnesse and diligence,
Let me euer be employed
in thy seruice, and grant
that sleeping and waking, I
may be acceptable to thee,
through Iesus Christ, in
whom I take my rest, and
commend my selfe, this
House, and all my good
Friends, and all thy People,
now, and for euer, to thy
gracious and powerfull
preseruation & protection,
Amen.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

20 A Prayer for Children.

O Eternall God, Creator
and Gouernor
of all things, Father of our
Lord Iesus Christ, and in
him our gracious Father,
we thy poore Children beseech
thee to giue vs thy
Fatherly, thy Heauenly
blessing, to take vs into thy
holy gouernment, to spread

C 5

the wings of thy protection
ouer vs: But first of all
wee doe here confesse, that
wee were conceiued in sin,
and brought forth in iniquitie;
And by reason of
our originall corruption,
drawne from the loynes of
our Parents, wee are apt to
euerie thing that is euill,
auerse to any thing that is
good. Being now in the beginning
of our dayes, wee
are ready to begin to sinne,
and now in our tender
yeeres, are strong enough
to act wickednesse. Here
therefore doe we prostrate
our selues before thee, with
this humble petition, that
thou would'st bee pleased,
to mortifie the corruption,
and to suppresse the rebellion
of our proud Nature;
to subdue our carnall lusts,
to ouer-rule our vnruly
willes, to bring into order
our irregular affections, to
season our hearts with thy
Grace, and to plant in vs
such a feare of thy Name,
that wee may neuer depart
from thee. Regenerate vs
with thy Holy Spirit, that
wee may bee borne againe;
and haue our Soules bathed
in the Blood of thy Sonne,
as well as our Bodyes were
washed with water in Baptisme.
Baptize vs into the
death of Christ, that wee
may dye vnto sin; make vs
to feele the vertue of his
Resurrection, that we walk
in newnesse of life. Catechize
vs out of thy Holy
Word, that it may bee a
Light to our Feet, and a
Lanthorne to our Paths:
and frame vs to the respectiue
entertainment of their
wholesome counsell, who
are able to instruct vs. Preserue
our Parents and Gouernours,
whom thou hast
set ouer vs, that they may
bring vs vp in the nurture
and admonition of the
Lord: And plant in vs obedience
vnto them, and a
care of shewing all due reuerence
not onely to them,
but also to all our Elders
and Betters, that are before
vs. Make vs circumspect in
all our wayes, conscionable
in our walking, and verie
warie with what persons
we conuerse. Worke in vs
betimes both a desire and
endeauour to serue thee;
grant that we may remember
thee our Creator in the
dayes of our youth, that we
may then set our selues to
thy worship, when we are
best able to performe it.
Make vs daily to dye vnto
sinne, daily to liue vnto
righteousness, and to grow
in Grace like young Plants,
and neuer to leaue growing
till wee come to be tall Cedars
in the Paradise of
God, euen perfect men in
Christ Iesus. In whose
sweet Name wee begge at
thy hands these, and all
other blessings which thou
knowest to bee needfull for
vs; not doubting but that
for his sake, who commanded
Children to be brought
vnto him, fauourably receiued
them, louingly imbraced
them, and graciously
blessed them, thou also wilt
receiue, imbrace, and blesse
vs now comming vnto
thee. So be it, O Father, for
the merits of that thy deare
Sonne, who with thee and
thy Holy Spirit be praysed
and magnified now and
euermore, Amen.

21 Sunday Morning Prayer.

O MOST glorious
Lord God, with a
trembling heart, and fearefull
Conscience, and watry
plaints, and bended knees, I
here poore deiected wretch
prostrate my selfe at thy
Throne of Mercie. O Lord
I thank thee, than thou hast
brought this weeke about
with me, helping mee with
all things which were needfull
for my Body. Now, O
Lord, fit and prepare my
Soule and Body for thy Sabaoth.
I confesse, this night
past, and all my life, thou
hast bin my refuge and stay
Bee vnto mee O Lord as
thou hast bin, still my Protector,
my euerlasting Defence,
my Stay, my Guide,
my Hope, my Hold, my
strong Fortresse, to which
I may alwayes resort: And
as thou hast appointed this
Sabbaoth day for man to
employ himselfe in thy seruice;
so O Lord grant my
heart to bee free, and to rest
from all worldly cares, and
wholly to bee spent and setled
vpon thee. Grant I may
apply my selfe to heare
wisedome and godlinesse.
Sanctifie my Soule, my Body,
my Mind, Thoughts,
Deeds, and Words. Lord
fit and prepare my heart to
heare, reade, practise, and
follow thy Word; and as
thou hast appointed thy
Preachers, to teach and instruct
vs this day in thy
Word; so open our hearts,
and prepare our sences to
puritie and godlinesse, that
we may be alwayes readie
prepared for thy Kingdom.
Grant vnto vs, that neither
this day, nor at any time,
any euill may take hold of
vs, but that all good may be
so rooted in our hearts and
minds, that our thoughts
may alwayes bee of thee.
And Lord wee beseech
thee, to grant vs grace so to
reade and hearken to thy
Word, that wee may reape
profit thereby in all things.
Grant thy good Angels to
guard vs, and to bee about
vs, that Satan may not hinder
any good worke in vs:
And grant that wee may
spend this whole day in the
workes of Sanctification,
in publique and priuate
prayse and thankesgiuing,
to thy glorie, and our comfort,
and Soules health,
through Christ our Mediator
and Redeemer, and by
the helpe of thy Holy Spirit
our Sanctifier,
Amen.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

22 Sunday Nights Prayer.

PRepare, O Lord, our
hearts to Prayer; O
Lord open our mouthes, and
let our lips shew forth thy
prayse. Settle our affections
vpon thee: Grant vnto vs or
me our requests: Bend and
prepare vs for thy seruice,
Lord, we beseech thee.

O Our Euerlasting and
louing Father, mercifull
good God, Creator,
Guider, Defender, Protector,
Gouernor, and Maker
of all things, which createdst
the Light & darkness,
who prepared the Seas, and
founded the dry Land, who
hast made Man, and giuen
him wit, sense, and vnderstanding,
to bee a second
meanes to helpe himselfe
by thee; Looke downe we
beseech thee, vpon all miserable
distressed sinners,
more especially vpon vs;
and grant vnto vs pardon
for all our sinnes, Actuall
and Originall; sinnes of
omission, or commission,
imagination, or any way
whatsoeuer. O Lord, pardon
them, quit and free vs
from all punishment; let
them not bee a horror vnto
our Conscience, nor terror
to our Soules, but wash and
cleanse vs: O Lord free and
quit them from vs, let them
not come as a Iudge to condemne
vs, nor choose our
sins as a Iury to ouerthrow
vs; but O Lord burie
them, cast them behind
thee, forget and forgiue
them, and we beseech thee
not to call vs to account for
them. Let not mischiefe fall
vpon vs nor our Children;
wee intreat thee let not miserie
come neere vnto vs,
but blesse and keepe vs wee
beseech thee, now and for
euer. Lord, we beseech thee
to blesse the Word which
wee haue heard preached
vnto vs this day, and also
that which wee haue read;
blesse and sanctifie the same
vnto vs, Lord, we begge of
thee. Blesse likewise the
whole Church distressed,
dispersed, and dispised,
helpe and relieue it in due
time, and comfort all that
be in danger; build it vp
where it is new begun, as
namely, in Virginia, New-England,
Summer-Ilands,
the East and West-Indyes.
Lord blesse the meanes
prouided for the furtherance
of the same; and wee
desire thee to call home the
Indians in those parts, and
the Atheists, Arminians,
Papists of this Land, and
else-where, and all others,
that they may see their Errors
and blindnesse; the
wilfull blinded Iewes, good
Lord recall them to fulfill
the number of thy Church.
O mercifull Father, wee
intreat thee to relieue and
release all poore Prisoners,
and Captiues wheresoeuer;
also all that are troubled in
mind, those whose Consciences
are laden with griefe
for their sins, Lord ease and
relieue them; poore Idiots,
Foolish or Franticke persons,
restore their senses, wits,
and vnderstanding, & grant
as thou hast left them to be
as it were examples vnto
vs, to feare and tremble at
thy iudgement in them, so
grant vs O Lord to haue
the more care to feare and
obey thee. Likewise comfort
all fatherlesse Children,
Widdowes, or poore oppressed
Seruants, all Captiues
oppressed by Slauerie, Tyrannie,
or Miserie, put a period
and an end vnto their
griefes, or else Lord giue
them hearts to beare them
patiently. And now, O
Lord, we intreat thee to receiue
vs into thy protection,
keepe vs, O Lord, from
suddaine Death, Fire, and
Theeues, Stormes, Tempests
and all Affrightments, succour
and relieue vs in all
needs and dangers, and send
thy good Angels to guard
vs now. O Lord, we return
with all thankes and prayse
vnto thee, and thy holy
Name, for all thy blessings
vnto this present, so continue
wee beseech thee, thy
loue vpon vs: we haue deserued
the Curse, thou instead
thereof, hast giuen vs
thy Blessing, so continually,
O Lord, poure downe thy
Blessings, and so blesse vs
with heauenly Blessings,
that wee may feele and find
thy true comforts. Also
blesse vs with earthly blessings,
that we may be helpfull
to others that feele
want or need: Grant these
and all good things, euen
for Christs sake, our Lord
and Sauiour, Amen.

D

24 A Morning Prayer for Munday.

O Lord God, which
made the Heauens,
the Earth, the Seas, Man,
Fish, Birds, and Beasts, and
all things: Wee poore distressed
sinners, full of sin
and iniquitie, presume to
bring vnto thee, our wounded
Soules for to cure; our
sins and wickednesse haue
wounded vs, our transgressions
haue taken hold vpon
vs, we are euen laden with

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filth, we daily prouoke thy
anger, weeke after weeke,
day after day, houre after
houre, and euerie minute
we transgresse by thought,
word, or deed; we promise
amendment, but daily run
on in our course of wickednesse,
we haue no mind of
Heauenly things, but the
Diuell, the World, and the
Flesh, haunt vs in all our
thoughts at all times: Nay,
in our very Prayers they
betray vs, and carrie our
minds another way: Yet
Lord, thou hast spared vs
this weeke past, and all the
rest of our liues, so wee beseech
thee to spare vs this
weeke comming, and all the
time wee haue to liue: And
as we now begin the week,
so grant good God wee
may begin with new Spirituall
graces, to feare, serue,
and obey thee all the dayes
of our life. Keepe vs, O
Lord, from suddaine death,
temptation, tribulation,
persecution, and affliction:
prosper our workes, our
labours, our paines; be with
vs at the beginning, the end
and proceeding in our Vocation
and Calling, grant
wee may deale vprightly,
and let the carriage of our
Affaires be so pleasing vnto
thee, that they may draw
downe thy blessings vpon
vs; and keepe vs, we pray,

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thee, this weeke following
thriuing in our Estates, and
religious in our carriage,
alwaies meditating of good
for thy glorie, the Church,
and the Common-wealths
good, so that whatsoeuer
wee lay our hands vnto,
thou wilt bend our hearts
to the same, so it be to thy
prayse and glorie. Receiue
vs, mercifull Father, into
thy protection, and grant
to vs these graces, and all
comforts that are, may, or
can be for the furtherance
to saluation, euen for thy
onely Sonnes sake, Christ
Iesus our Lord, to whom
with thee, and thy Holy
Spirit, be all prayse, honour
and glorie, now and for
euer, Amen.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

25 An Euening Prayer for Munday.

O LORD, which art
our God, we intreat
thee vpon the bended knees
of our Bodyes, to accept
this our Euening Sacrifice
of thanksgiuing & prayse.
Wee thanke thee, O Lord
God, for keeping vs this
day past, and all the rest of
our life; for giuing vs food,
raiment, health and prosperitie,

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for keeping vs now
and euer from sudden death
and all other miseries; so
we beseech thee, O Lord
God, to keepe vs this night
comming in peace and quietnesse
both in Body and
goods: Grant, good God,
vnto vs, quiet rest & sleepe;
keep vs from all euill whatsoeuer,
we humbly intreate
thee, and set thy good Angels
as a Guard and watch
ouer vs, that we may inioy
the sweet rest and comfort
of this night, that we may
be the better able to goe on
in thy Seruice; and grant
that when wee wake, wee
may wake with the ioy of
thy Holy Spirit, and bee so
setled in the true assurance
of thy gracious protection,
that we may daily find and
feele some comforts of thy
Heauenly graces in our
harts, with ioy & comfort.
Grant this, good Father,
for Christ Iesus sake our
Lord and Sauiour,
Amen.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

26 A Morning Prayer for Tuesday.

WE intreate thee,
most mercifull
Father, to accept our prayers

D 5

& supplications, which
wee shall offer before thy
Diuine Maiestie; We confesse
and acknowledge thou
mightst haue poured down
iustly thy Iudgement and
indignation vpon vs; In
iustice thou mightst haue
taken vs this night past in
our sleepe, and plunged vs
suddenly into Hell and perpetuall
destruction: yet in
mercie thou hast spared vs.
O Lord God, we heartily
thanke thee, that of thy
great bountie thou hast
kept vs safe this night, and
brought vs to the begining
of this day, now spare vs
good Lord, spare vs we beseech
thee; and as thou hast
euer been our defence, so
we beseech thee defend and
protect vs hereafter, that
we may become thy faithfull
seruants and followers.
Blesse we beseech thee, this
day and for euer, all our studyes,
our labours & trauels,
further our endeauours,
blesse vs in our Trading,
helpe vs in our necessities,
and guid vs in our wayes,
ayd vs in all good workes,
preserue vs from all sin and
wickednesse, and deliuer vs
in all temptations, blesse we
beseech thee our whole
houshold, and all about vs,
be mercifull to our Friends
and Foes, lessen the number
of our Foes, increase the
number of our Friends,
blesse our neighbors, grant
vnitie, and concord, & loue
betwixt them and vs, keep
them and vs, and all about
vs, now and for euer: grant
vs good Lord, full pardon
of our sinnes, and true and
liuely hope in thy mercies,
through Christ our Sauiour,
Amen.
Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

27 An Euening Prayer for Tuesday.

HEauenly God, and
mercifull Father,
assist vs in our prayers, and
grant vs our requests we
humbly intreat thee. Looke
downe, O Lord, looke
downe we beseech thee,
and grant our requests. We
thanke thee that thou hast
kept and preserued vs this
day, and all the rest of our
liues to this present, in
health, and prosperitie, and
giuen good successe to our
trauels and studies. Mercifull
Father, we intreat thee
that as thou hast kept vs
this day past, so we beseech
thee, to keepe vs this night
comming, and as thou hast
appointed times & seasons,
as this to be the second
night in this weeke, so we
beseech thee set a second
watch ouer our Soules and
Bodies, that we commit no
sinne, in thought nor deed:
Grant vs quiet sleepe, comfortable
rest, keepe and defend
vs from sudden death
and fearfull affrightments,
danger of fire or tempests,
disturbance by Theeues, or
any other dangers whatsoeuer,
and grant as we now
lye downe to rest in bed, so
we may remember the rest
of our Bodies in the graue,
till it please thee to raise vs.
Blesse this night and for
euer, all that be forced to
trauell by Land or Water,
all poore Souldiers, that
keepe watch and ward, and
we beseech thee so to wach
and wake with them, and
vs, that we may rise in the
morning to giue prayse and
thankes to thee, through
Christ Iesus our Lord and
Sauiour, Amen.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

28 A Morning Prayer for Wednesday.

O Eternall, merciful,
and louing Father,
I intreat thee to look down
vpon me, wicked and wretched
sinner, & to grant my
request: O Lord, I giue
thee humble and heartie
thankes, for keeping me
this night past, and that
thou hast safely brought me
to the beginning of this
day, defend me, O Lord, in
the same, and grant I may
spend this day to thy glory,
my comfort, and the good
example of all that are
about me. O Lord, I beseech
thee, be vnto me a
Guid & Protector, ouer the
wayes, workes and words,
that I shall walke, doe, or
speake this day, and all the
rest of my life, grant I may
wholly dedicate my selfe
vnto thee, and striue to liue
more godly and purely, and
alwaies study to feare, serue
and obey thee, and to set
forth thy praise, that I may
find thy fauour, mercie, and
goodnesse, showred and
poured vpon me, both now
and for euer hereafter:
Grant this deare God and
mercifull Father, as we beg
in that Prayer which thou
hast taught me, saying,
Our father which art, &c.

29 An Euening Prayer for Wednesday.

O MOST gracious
God and heauenly
Father, renew I beseech
thee my strength to praier.
As the Eagle reneweth his
age, so let me renew in
Grace. O Lord, I beseech
thee, accept this Euening
Prayer for all thy mercies:
I haue sinned O Lord
against thee, in thought,
word, and deed, this day,
and all the daies of my life,
I haue done wickedly, in
so much that I am ashamed
to confesse my sinnes: Yet
thou hast spared me this
day, and all my life past. O
Lord, I beseech thee, if I
haue done any thing this
day, or at any other time
heretofore, that hath beene
displeasing vnto thee, pardon
it, I beseech thee, forgiue
it I intreat thee, forget
it I desire thee, and finally
quit and free me from the
punishment of the same. O
Lord, blesse and keepe me
this night, and this House
where I am, and each of vs
from all bodily and ghostly
enemies, from all ill dreams
and fantasies, and suggestions
of the Diuell, from all
stormes and tempests, from
fire, sudden death and danger,
good Lord deliuer vs
all, and grant I may rise in
the morning to praise thee,
through Iesus Christ our
Lord, Amen.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

30 A Prayer at any time in the night, in the time of danger or feare.

O Lord, what shall I
doe? Whether shall
I flye? Where shall I be safe,
but with thee? Take me, receiue
me, keepe, and defend
me, now and for euer. O Lord,
giue me quiet rest and sleepe,
and protect me, and grant me,
and this House, comfort
in thee this night and
for euermore,
Amen.

31 A Morning Prayer for Thursday.

O Heauenly Father,
and good GOD,
rayse and rowse vp my dull
senses. As the morning
Larke flyeth vp with sweet
singing, still looking vpwards
towards thee: So,
O Lord, grant my heart,
eyes, and affections, and all,
may be lift vp vnto thee. O
Lord, it is thy mercie that
hath kept me this night
past, and brought me to
the beginning of this day;
I giue thee heartie thankes
for the same: So O Lord
guid and gouerne me this
day, that I may walke vprightly
in all my dealing, [illegible]
true and iust in all my doing,
and giue me the sanctification
of thy Holy Spirit,
to find and feele thy helpe
in the vse of the prosperitie,
and health, and happinesse
that shall attend to
the setting forth of thy
prayse and glorie, that
may so inioy the benefit of
this day, that I may finde
and feele thy comfort
through Iesus Christ our
Lord, Amen.

32 An Euening Prayer for Thursday.

O Most omnipotent
God, and heauenly
Father, most glorious Creator,
I intreat thee to grant
my request, and accept this
my Euening Sacrifice of
prayer and thankesgiuing:
I beseech thee be a powerfull
Protector & Defender
of me this night, & as thou
hast beene O Lord my
defender all this week past,
so I beseech thee, be a Defender
of me all this part
that is to come. Keepe me
in thy protection, shield
me from all dangers, defend
me from sudden death, and
send I intreat thee, the good
Spirit, to watch ouer mee
this night, and for euer
hereafter. I thanke thee for
blessing me this day past,
and I intreat thee good
God, so to continue thy
blessings, and to increase
them more and more toward
me, that I may feele
and find, that thou, O Lord,
art my euerlasting shield,
and succour. And heauenly
Father, let me feele those
ioyes that be true comforts
vnto my Soule; and I beseech
thee, grant my very
dreames may be of Heauen
and heauenly ioyes, and
grant I may at last inioy
such ioy and comfort in
thee, that I may rest in thy
Kingdome for euer & euer,
Amen.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

33 Fryday Morning Prayer.

VNto thee O Lord
I come with a broken
and contrite heart, sorrowing
for my sinnes, seeking
to find comfort at thy
hands: O! Thou knowest
my griefe, my sorrow, and
care, O! I feele and find thy
comforts. Lord I thanke

E

thee, that thou hast kept me
this night past, & that thou
hast safely brought me to
see the glistring light: O
Lord, stir me vp, that I may
find some comfort; preserue
and keepe me, that I
may feele some ioy in Soule
and Body this day and for
euer: And as the Church
obserues this day a Fast, so
prepare thou me O Lord
in Soule and Body, that I
may fast from all sinne and
wickednesse, and be strong
against the World, the
Flesh, and the Diuel, and all
temptations, that I fall not
into sinne or transgression;
but grant that I may spend
this day, with all the dayes
of my life, in all holy conuersation,
to thy glorie, and
good example of all men.
Grant this, O Father,
now and for euer,
Amen.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

34 Fryday Nights Prayer.

MErcifull LORD
God, which hast
let me passe this day in
health and prosperitie, I
intreat thee, grant that this
night I may take my rest in
quietnesse and peace: and

E 2

although thou hast now taken
away the day light, yet
I intreat thee, not to take
away the Spirituall light of
thy Grace: Infuse into me
O Lord the Spirit of
comfort, and although our
Sleepe be as Death, and the
Bed as the Graue, yet suffer
vs not to perish suddainly,
or vnprepared; but watch
ouer vs, good Father, and
guid and guard vs now and
for euermore: Let not affrightments
fall vpon vs,
keepe vs from fire, stormes
and tempests, theeues, sudden
death, and danger; and
be vnto vs now & for euer,
a gracious Protector, a Defender,
and Director. Let
thy Angels, O Lord, pitch
their Tents about vs, and
our Houses: Remember
thy Church, and euerie
Member thereof, to preserue
and keepe it, especially,
the poore afflicted Protestants
of the Truth, in
Germany, France, Denmarke
and else-where. All that are
persecuted for the Gospel,
all in tribulation, or temptation,
or miserie; put an
end and period to their
griefes, and send comfort
vnto them, and turne thy
mercie to them, and Lord
receiue them and vs, this
night & euer, into thy gracious
protection, through
the mediation of Christ

E 3

Iesus, in whose Name we
conclude, saying:
Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

36 Saturday Morning Prayer.

SAnctifie O Lord
this day vnto vs, and
to all about vs: Heare vs
deare Father, and grant our
request now and for euer.
O Lord, we giue thee
thanks, that thou hast kept
vs this night, and to this
present, and brought vs to
the last day of this weeke:
Grant we may spend this
day soberly, quietly, and
religiously from our harts:
bring vs to thy righteous
will in all things, that it
may be for thy glorie, and
our ioy and comfort; root

E 4

out all vniust, couetous, malicious,
& lustfull thoughts
out of our minds. Keepe vs
O Lord from all wickednesse,
and from all sinne, and
bee a Guid vnto vs in all
our wayes, and a strength
in all our necessarie occasions:
And as thou hast
brought vs to this last day
of the weeke, so we intreat
thee to bring an end of sin
vnto vs, and cloath vs with
the Robes of Righteousnesse.
O God, we intreat
thee to grant this, for our
blessed Mediators sake,
Christ Iesus our Lord,
Amen.

37 Saturday Nights Prayer.

MErcifull and heauenly
Father, look
vpon me wretched sinner
in mercie, before I come to
giue account of all my sins
committed this weeke, this
day, and all my life past. I
haue iustly deserued Hell,
Death, and damnation euerie
way, euerie day, and
euerie houre, this weeke,
and all my life past: Yet
like a mercifull God, thou
hast defended me. O Lord,
as this weeke is now at an
end, so let my sinnes end,
and call me not to an exact

E 5

account O Lord
I confesse all, I yeald my
selfe worthy of death; Yet
Lord, spare me, spare me,
haue mercie vpon me, pardon
me, and grant that I
may haue this night quiet
rest, that I may be the better
able to serue thee tomorrow.
Be this night my
Defence, my Guid, my
strong Hold, my Fortresse,
and sole comfort; & grant
that I may with a quiet
Conscience, lye downe to
take my rest in peace and
quietnesse. Let thy good
Angels attend on me sleeping
or waking, let no affrightments
trouble me,
but in the middest of darknesse
inlighten me with thy
Glorie; and pardon, and
forget, and forgiue all my
sinnes past: grant this now
and for euer I beseech thee
in that Prayer which thy
Sonne hath taught me,
saying.
Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

38 A Prayer before a Sermon.

O Grant most gracious
Father, that
our thoughts may not be
caried away with any vaine
illusions, or bad imaginations:
Grant that we be not
ouercome with sleepe, or
drowsinesse, but quicken
O Lord we beseech thee
our senses, open we intreat
thee our eares, apply our
hearts to heare, and vnderstand,
and follow thy heauenly
Word. Grant this
good Father, for thy onely
Sonnes sake, Christ Iesus
our Sauiour, Amen.

39 A Prayer after a Sermon.

LORD God, we intreat
that the Word
which we haue heard
preached at this time to vs,
be so deepely settled in our
hearts, that by it we may
so learne to liue, that we
may please thee, and daily
indeauour to fulfill thy wil,
and spend the rest of our
liues in thy true seruice,
and obedience of thee in all
things, to the honor of thy
Grace, and our Soules sure
comfort, through Iesus
Christ our Lord, Amen.

40 A Prayer to be said before the receiuing of the Communion.

O Father of Mercie,
and GOD of all
consolation, seeing all creatures
doe acknowledge and
confesse thee to be their
Gouernour and Lord; it
becommeth vs, the workmanship
of thy own hands,
much more to reuerence
and magnifie thy great Maiestie,
for that thou hast
created vs to thine owne
Image and Similitude, but
chiefly in that thou hast deliuered
vs from that euerlasting
death, and damnation,
to which Satan subiected
all mankind by the reason
of sin: From the bondage
whereof, neither Men
nor Angels were able to set
vs free: But thou, O Lord,
rich in mercie, and infinite
in goodnesse, hast prouided
our Redemption to consist
in thine onely and wellbeloued
Son, whom of verie
loue thou did'st giue to
be made Man like vnto vs
in all things sin onely excepted
that in his Body he
might receiue the punishment
of our transgressions,
by his death to make satisfaction
to thy Iustice, by his
strips and wounds, that we
that were the sinners indeed,
should be healed and
free, by his Humiliation,
that we might be glorified
and exalted, and that by his
Resurrection, Death and
Hell should be vanquished,
to bring vs to life euerlasting,
and ioies eternall, from
which the whole off-spring
of Adam, was iustly exiled.
O Lord, we acknowledge
that no Creature is able to
comprehend the length,
breadth, deepenesse, and
heighth of that thy most
excellent loue. For thou
did'st shew thy mercie,
when none was deserued,
thou gauest life, when death
had gotten the victorie,
thou receiuedst vs into
Grace, when we rebelled
against thy Maiestie, and
when we were all bespotted
and defiled with the filth of
vnrighteousness, thou didst
cleanse and purifie vs with
the Blood of Iesus Christ:
and although through the
peruerse blindnesse and dulnesse
of our corrupt nature,
we neither do nor can sufficiently
weigh or consider
these thy most ample benefits:
yet neuerthelesse as
Iesus Christ our Lord hath
instituted and commanded
we present our selues to
this thy Table, to manifest
and witnesse to the whole
World, that by him alone
we haue receiued libertie
and life, that by him alone
thou do'st acknowledge vs
to be thy Children, and
Heires, that by him alone
we haue entrance to the
Throne of Grace, that by
him alone we are admitted
to sit at thy heauenly Table,
and receiue Spirituall
strength, both to doe good
and to auoid all euill, that
by him alone our Soules
shall be raised from sin, and
our bodies from death, that
by him alone we receiue
both grace & mercie here,
and assurance of glorie for
euer: Wherefore to him
alone, with thee O most
gracious and louing Father,
and thy blessed Spirit, one
true glorious GOD, be all
prayse, thankes,
now and euer,
Amen.

41 A Prayer and Thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the holy Communion.

MOST Mercifull
Father, we render
vnto thee, all thankes,
prayse, honour, and glorie,
for that it hath pleased thee
of thy great mercy, to grant
vnto vs miserable sinners,
so excellent benefits and
priuiledges, as to be receiued
into the fellowship and
companie of thy deare Son
Iesus Christ our Lord: yea,
by this meane we are thy
adopted Children, and he
is made our elder Brother:
Yea O Lord we come
neerer then so, He is our
Head, and we are the members
of his mysticall Body:
and all this proceeds from
thy gracious goodnesse and
from compassion. For thou
hast deliuered him to death
to giue vs life; thou hast
made him a Sacrifice for
the necessarie food and
nourishment of our Soules:
Thou gauest way to the
piercing of his sides, from
whence issued Water and
blood, that we might know
how we came cleansed
from our sinnes, and redeemed
from damnation. Yea
O Lord God thou hast
presented vs in this Sacrament
the whole Tragedie
of his Passion, that we out
of his sorrowes might recouer
ioyes, out of his
grones might be comforted,
out of his sighes and
teares might haue ours put
into his Bottle, and out of
his death be presented to
life euerlasting. We beseech
thee then, O heauenly
Father, to grant vs this request,
that thou neuer suffer
vs to become so vnkind, as
to forget such worthy benefits,
but rather make a
sure impression of them in
our hearts for euer, and let
the vertue and strength of
his Spirit euer be found in
vs, by which we may be
confirmed and established,
so that we may not onely
preuaile against all our spirituall
Enemies, but continue
also in the confession of
thy goodnesse, and reformation
of our liues, and
performance of all good
duties, to the glorie of thy
Name, through the same
Christ Iesus our Lord, to
whom with thee O Father,
and thy holy Spirit, be
all glorie and prayse
now and euer,
Amen.

42 A Prayer to be vsed before Catechizing.

WE most heartily
thanke thee, O
most mercifull Father, for
all thy blessings bestowed
vpon vs, from the begining
of the World, vnto this
present time: For our Election,
Creation, Redemption,
mercifull Vocation, Iustification,
Sanctification,
continuall Preseruation,
and for that same assured
and most comfortable
hope, that thou hast giuen
vs of our Glorification in
the World to come. And
we beseech thee to direct
vs, that considering thy
mercies, we may acknowledge
and confesse our sins,
which should prouoke
thee rather to curse then to
blesse vs, to confound vs
rather then to preserue vs,
We haue sinned against
thee, both in thought,
word, and deed: grant that
we seeing the horrour of
our sins, and the fiercenesse
of thy wrath, may without
hypocrisie or dissimulation
be earnestly sorrie, and hartily
repentant for our former
wickednesse: howbeit
in such sort as that we despaire
not, but that in bitternesse
of our griefe, we
may haue comfort, by faith
in thy Sonne Christ, that
our offences are pardoned.
Grant O Lord that we
being assured hereof in our
Consciences, may through
thy Holy Spirit, be renewed
in the inner man, to hate
detest and abhor sin, and to
study to liue according to
thy blessed will, during our
whole life. And as now
through thy goodnesse we
are here assembled togeather,
so we beseech thee to
direct vs, that at this present,
both our words, harts
and all our behauiours, may
be in such sort ordered, as
that we may truly vtter,
and reuerently receiue, the
Principles of thy holy and

F

Heauenly Word to the
strengthning of our Faith,
to the comfort of our Consciences,
to the amendment
of our sinnefull and lewd
liues, & to the glorie of thy
most holy Name, through
Iesus Christ our Lord,
So be it.

43 A Prayer to be vsed after Catechizing.

WEE heartily
thanke thee,
O most mercifull Father,
for that thou hast bestowed
the inestimable Treasure of
thy holy & heauenly Word
vpon vs, most vile and sinfull
wretches. And seeing
it is not in him that planteth,
nor in him that watereth,
but in thy mercifull
hand, to mortifie our sinfull
lusts, and to create new
hearts in vs: we beseech
thee so to order and direct
vs, that we proue not like
the greene Fig-tree, flourishing
without Fruit, or be
of the number of those hypocrits,
which with tongue
can say, Lord, Lord, in thy
Name we prophesie, cast
out Diuels, and doe many
great workes, and yet are
condemned for wicked, because
their hearts are not
aright: nor like to them
which are swept and garnished,

F 2

but yet emptie,
whereinto the vncleane
Spirit returnes with seuen
worse then himselfe, and
so our end be worse then
our beginning: but gouern
vs with thy Holy Spirit,
that in heart we may loue
and seeke thee, and in Body
and Soule obey and serue
thee, in righteousnesse and
true holynesse all the dayes
of our life, through Iesus
Christ our Lord.
As we pray for our selues,
so we beseech thee to look
with fauor vpon the whole
Church, increase the number
of thy Children, grant
thy Gospell a free passage,
comfort the comfortlesse,
raise vp them that are faln,
and strengthen them that
stand, that they fall not,
haue mercie vpon this
Realme, long continue thy
blessings of peace and quietnesse
towards vs, and remoue
farre from vs all lets
and hindrances of the same.
Gouerne the hearts and the
Swords of all Magistrates,
that they may not lift vp
themselues in vain-glorie,
to please themselues, but
that they may apply the
authoritie which thou hast
giuen them, to the aduancement
of thy glorie, for the
comfort of thy Children,
and the terrour of thine
Enemies. And seeing the

F 3

continuance of our peace
in these dayes, next vnder
thee, lyeth in the preseruation
of our most gracious
King; blesse vs with him,
and blesse him with all gifts
fit for so high a calling: and
whosoeuer shall attempt,
deuise, or conspire ought
against his Maiesties Person,
Crowne, Dignitie, and
royall Estate; we beseech
thee, either in mercie to
conuert them speedily, or
in iudgement to confound
them, that we may vnder
him, lead a quiet and peaceable
life, in all godlinesse
and honestie. Counsell the
Councellors, order the
Nobles, direct the Magistrates,
instruct the Ministers,
guid and gouerne the
whole Body of this Common-wealth,
that we may
ioyne togeather in humblenesse
of heart, and vnitie
of mind, to seeke the glorie
of thy Name, the increase
of thy Kingdome, the establishing
of thy Truth, the
rooting vp of Sinne, the
maintenance of Vertue, and
the long continuance of the
prosperous estate of this
Common-wealth. Haue
mercie vpon them that be
in affliction, in Body or in
Mind, especially such as
suffer for the testimonie of
a good Conscience, asswage
their sorrowes, mitigate

F 4

their miseries speedily, if
it be thy will, or else arme
them with patience, to
abide such tryall, as thou
shalt lay vpon them. Grant
these things for thy Sonnes
sake, Iesus Christ our Sauiour,
in whose Name we
pray for the same, and all
other graces which thou
knowest needfull either for
vs, or thy whole Church,
in that same Prayer, which
he himselfe hath taught vs
in his holy Word, saying:

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

44 A most effectuall Prayer against the Plague, in the time of danger.

O Lord God, great
IEHOVAH, thou
mercifull Creator of Man,
and Founder of Heauen
and Earth: we wretched,
miserable, and deiected
sinners, here present our
selues before thy heauenly
Throne, intreating thee to
looke down vpon vs, poor
distressed offenders. We
confesse we are vnworthy
of the name of thy Children,
we haue despised thy
loue, and forsaken thy

F 5

wayes, made flight of thy
words, and refused thy
chastisements, without
thinking what we deserue,
wee haue not feared thy
Iudgements, nor dreaded
thy threatnings, we haue
not sought thy fauours, nor
listened after thy mercies,
we haue wincked at our
small sinnes, and smothred
our great sinnes, we haue
promised amendment, but
still continue obstinate, our
thoughts are wicked, our
deeds damnable, our liues
impious, our sayings deceitfull,
our hearts hollow,
our dealings double, wee
run from sinne to sinne, as
though their were no Hell
to swallow vs, no Diuels to
torment vs, no Iudge to
terrifie vs: we feare not
Hell, nor looke after Heauen:
we haue drawn down
thy Iudgements vpon vs,
thou hast iustly sent the
Plague of Pestilence vpon
vs, and we deserue to be
swept away from the Face
of the Earth. Our sinnes
are manifold, our transgressions
without number,
they haue euen sought for
vengance, and now according
to our deserts, thou
hast sent the destroying
Angell to marke vs out for
death. The Graue seekes to
deuour vs, the Bells toule
for vs, Death and Time are
agreed to carrie vs away.
Heauen calls for his, and
Hell is prepared, our daies
are ended, our glasse is run,
our time is spent, and we
cannot return, but forward
we must goe. If we looke
backe, the World refuseth
vs, if forward, the Diuels
desire vs, onely in thy mercifull
helpe there is hope,
and on thee we depend for
helpe. O helpe vs, good
God, O spare vs, sweet
Sauiour, and as thou did'st
spare in the time of King
Dauid, and chargedst the
destroying Angell to cease,
so we beseech thee now to
spare thy People, cease thy
anger, take we intreat thee
this Plague of Pestilence
from vs, with-hold backe
thy wrath, and as thou sparedst
the repenting Niniuites,
so make vs repentant,
and spare this Land. O
Lord, helpe vs vnfainedly
to bewayle our former life
past, and seeke effectuall
amendment for a better
life hereafter, to which
better life presently bring
vs, Lord, we beseech thee,
and therein hold vs for
euer by the power of thy
grace in Iesus Christ, to
whom with thee O Father
and thy blessed Spirit, be
glorie by vs, for all thy
mercies on vs, now & euer
Amen.

45 A Prayer for remission of sinnes.

O LORD, glorious,
euerliuing, louing,
euerlasting Father, I wretched
sinner, presume once
againe after my sinne to
returne home vnto thee,
requesting, begging, praying,
and desiring of thy
heauenly Maiestie, that
thou wilt looke downe vpon
me, I confesse, were it
not for the hope of thy
mercie, and the hold of thy
comfort, and the renewing
graces which sometimes I
feele from thee, and that
sweet taste and feeling of
thy good guifts, and thy
heauenly Word, I should
sinke in despaire, for my sin
is alwayes before me: If
I goe, they follow me, if
I run, they flee after me, if
I looke backe, they stare
vpon me, if I goe forward,
they meet me, if I turne to
the right hand, they terrifie
me, if to the left hand,
they torment me, if I looke
downe to Hell, they are
ready to deuour me: Now
haue I no way but to looke
vp to thee Lord be thou
then here ready to receiue
me, helpe me, good God,
saue me, deare Father; succour
me, sweet Redeemer,
assist me, mercifull Creator
that my Prayers may be so
feruent, so zealous, so affectionate
toward thee, that
they may draw downe thy
mercies vpon me: Poure
down thy blessings, showre
down thy graces, open thy
hand of mercie, restore ioy
and comfort to my heauie
and laden Soule, wash away
my sinne, wipe away mine
iniquitie, heale mine infirmities,
purge my wicked
mind of all ill thoughts,
pardon all my damnable
deeds, and detestable dealings,
renew the good Spirit
of heauenly graces, restore
the ioyes of thy holy
comforts vpon me: O Lord
let me haue some feeling,
some taste, some sent, some
glimmering of thy glorious
presence: Let me feele
some comfort, find some
ioy, haue some rest: Good
Lord, let me be once truly
renewed by thy grace, and
setled in thy seruice, that I
neuer slip nor slide backe,
but grant vnto me most
mercifull Father a sure and
settled dependance vpon
thee, so that in all my words
workes and deeds, I may
reioyce in seruing, fearing,
and obeying thee, and that
I may spend all the residue
of my daies in truly seruing
thee, seeking to glorifie thy
Name, and magnifie thy
goodnesse vnto me, so long
as it shall please thee to
lend me breath to this frale
Body: and mercifull Father
fauourably gouerne & guid
helpe, instruct, and teach
me in thy wisedome, to
magnifie thy Name, multiply
and increase thy mercies
on me: O Lord, preserue
and prosper me, in all
my wayes and workes, and
all about me. Remember
thy poore Flocke, build vp
thy Church, renew Sion,
gouerne, assist, and blesse all
painfull Preachers, and Pastors
of thy Word, teach
them and vs vnderstanding
rightly to know thee, and
truly to follow thee, awake
my drowsie Soule, defend
it from euill imaginations,
keepe me in holy and heauenly
Meditations, grant
me to obserue my wayes,
so that I may walke in pietie
and peace: set my sinnes
so before my eyes, that
when I looke backe on
them, I may with sorrow
weepe, lament, and repent
my time past, which hath
been spent so wickedly or
vnprofitably. O powerfull
preseruer, remember me,
restore me to ioy and comfort,
and hasten in time thy
Saluation vnto me. Draw
my lingring Soule, and it
shall run after thee, turne
me vnto thee with all willingnesse,
come thou neere
vnto me good Lord and
declare, and shew thy mercies
on me, establish me in
grace, excite me to goodnesse,
giue me grace that I
may alwaies grow stronger
and stronger to walke before
thee, weaker and weaker
to sinne, faithfull and
firme in thy seruice. Grant
this deare God and mercifull
Father, for Christs sake
our Sauiour, Amen.

46 A Prayer for Gods Graces.

O Mercifull GOD,
grant me to couet
with an ardent desire, those
things which may please
thee, to read the Scriptures
diligently, to search them
wisely, to know them
truly, to vnderstand them
rightly, to fullfill them perfectly,
to the laud and glory
and prayse of thy Name,
and my owne Soules true
comfort. Order my liuing
so, that I may doe that
which thou requirest of
me, and giue me grace, that
I may know it, and haue
will and power to doe it,
and that I may obtain those
things which be most conuenient
for the Saluation of
my Soule. Good Lord,
make my wayes sure and
straight to thee, so that I
fall not betweene prosperitie
and aduersitie, but that
in prosperous things I may
giue thee thankes, and in
aduersitie be patient, so
that I be not lift vp with
the one, nor oppressed with
the other, and that I may
reioyce in nothing but that
which moueth me to thee,
nor be sorrie for any thing
but that which draweth
me from thee, desiring to
please none but for thee,
nor feare to displease any
besides thee. Lord, let all
worldly things be alike
vnto me in respect of thee:
Let me not be merrie with
the ioy which is without
thee, and let me desire nothing
in comparison of
thee, let me grow wearie of
all which is not in thee,
make me to lift my heart
oftentimes vnto thee, and
when I am ready to fall, do
thou sustaine, and vphold
me, and grant me with a
stedfast purpose of amendment,
to seek grace of thee.
O my God, make me humble
without fayning, merrie
without lightnesse, sad
without dulnes, true without
doublenesse, seruing
thee without desperation,
trusting in thee without
presumption, telling my
Neighbours their faults
without dissimulation, teaching
them not with words
onely or admonition, but
much more by my example:
Let me be obedient
without reuenging, patient
without grudging. Purge
me, O Lord, from all my
corruptions: My most louing
Lord God, giue me, I
pray thee, a waking heart,
let no euill thoughts withdraw
me from thee, let it
be so strong, that no worldly
affection draw it backewards,
so stable, that no tribulation
breake it, so free,
that no violence make any
challenge vnto it. O my
Lord God, grant me wisedome
to know thee, conuersation
to please thee, and
finally, hope to imbrace
thee. Grant this, most mercifull
Father, for the precious
Blood of that immaculate
Lambe, Christ Iesus,
our only Lord and Sauiour,
to whom with thee, and
the Holy Ghost, three Persons,
and one God, be all
Glorie, and Honour, world
without end, Amen.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

47 A Prayer for a quiet Conscience.

MOST Mercifull,
most louing and
deare Father, I poore distressed

G

sinner, being disturbed
in Mind, troubled
in Conscience, with distraction
and vanitie of the
world, and oppressed in
heart with the burden of
my sinne, come vnto thee
with a wounded and deiected
Soule, intreating thee
of thy clemencie, to ease
me of my trouble, to cease
my griefe, and comfort my
heauinesse, gather together
my distracted thoughts,
and heale my broken heart:
for I acknowledge that I
am iustly afflicted, so iustly
that I am euen ready to dispaire
of all comforts: but
yet my hope is in thy goodnesse,
O God: come now,
I cry and call, hearken vnto
my suit, and cleare me, so
that I may find comfort,
and peace, and quietnesse in
my mind. Grant this deare
Iesu, who hast bid vs to
come to thee when we are
heauie laden, and promised
to ease vs, and commanded
vs to cast our care on thee,
and promised to helpe vs,
euen so Lord Iesus,
Amen.

48 A Prayer against wicked and carnall thoughts.

O Great, good, glorious,
and euerlasting
Father, I poore deiected

G 2

wretch, full of filth
and sinne, not hauing one
good thought in me, come
at this time, seeking to
leaue my filthy detestable
life, desiring thee to grant
my requests, fulfill my desires,
and hearken to my
Prayers and petitions: I
confesse continually, that I
sinne in thought, word, and
deed, and there is no good
remaineth in me: When I
thinke to be feruent in prayer,
the Diuel, the World,
and the Flesh assault me: I
cannot doe as I would, I do
that which I would not:
Sinne followes me, shame
is like to ouertake me, confusion
is like to lay hold
vpon me, destruction attends
me, and horror and
feare affright me: I haue
no where to fly but to thee,
helpe, good God, saue me,
mercifull Father, defend
me, sweet Creator, a poore
wretched creature, pull me
from my sins, saue and succour
me, pardon and forgiue
me, wash me, make
me cleane, giue me Spirituall
thoughts, and renew all
good purposes in me, helpe
me to abandon all foolish,
vaine, and lustfull thoughts
of the Flesh, to auoid, resist
and shake off all malicious,
reproachfull, and froward
thoughts, that proceed
from the Diuel or worldly

G 3

occasions, so that I may liue
purely, thinke chastly, continue
soberly in thy seruice;
alwaies fearing to displease
so louing a Father, as thee,
regarding my wayes and
workes, giuing good example
to all that liue about
me, desiring and seeking
for no thing but thee, and
thy sauing health. Grant
this, good Father, both
now and euer, for Christ
Iesus his sake,
Amen.

49 An humble confession of sins.

O LORD GOD,
heauenly Father, I
am ashamed to come before
thee, and thy glorious
Throne, I am so sinfull: yet
heare me, good God, and
grant my requests. By my
rebellious nature, I haue offended,
I confesse my selfe
vnworthy of the name of
thy Child, I haue despised
thy loue, forsaken thy
waies, made slight of thy
words, scorned thy chastisements
which thou hast
layd vpon me, without
thinking what I doe deserue:
I haue not felt the
affliction of my Brethren,
I haue not mourned with
them, I feare not thy
iudgements, nor dread thy
threatnings. What shall I

G 4

say? I regard not thy mercies,
curses & punishments
haue I deserued, hauing so
vilely, so wilfully, and so
obstinately despised thy fauours.
I run after sinne, as
Swine after filth, I delight
in euill, I apply my selfe to
vngodlines. I tread the
steps of the prophane and
wicked, I encline to lying,
deceit, and couzenage, lust,
periurie and all wickednes,
I goe slily away with my
transgressions, I winke at
great sins, and I make small
sins no sins at all, I promise
amendment, but still continue
obstinate, I am prone
and apt to all badnesse, dull
and heauie to all goodnesse,
my thoughts wicked, my
deeds damnable, my life
impious, my sayings deceitfull,
my heart hollow.
I say one thing, and doe an
other, I run from sin to sin,
from drunkennesse to lust,
from lust to greater sinnes,
from one bad deed to another,
from one ill thought
to another. I am stained
with polution, stuft with
couetousnesse, desirous of
the World, ambitious of
honour, I neuer looke back
how wicked I haue beene,
but continue as though
there were no Hell to swallow
me, no Diuels to torment
me, no Conscience to
accuse me, no Iudgement

G 5

to terrifie me. I regard not
Hell, nor looke after Heauen,
I become loathsome
vnto thee: Yet most glorious
Lord God, once, once
againe looke backe, I beseech
thee, behold and pittie
me, poore condemned
wretch, seale me a pardon:
Helpe, O helpe me deare
Father, open the Fountaine
of thy Mercies, let downe
the showres of thy Grace
vpon me: Let teares distill
from my eyes, sighes and
sobs rise from my heart, let
sorrow kill my sinnes, and
grant vnto me speedy courses
of amendment of life,
and a stedfast and sure confidence
in thy Mercie to
pardon, and thy Grace to
purge me of all my vncleannesse
and wickedness,
by Iesus Christ, my Lord
and Sauiour, Amen.

50 A Prayer to be sayd of all that are fallen into pouertie.

O Mercifull, Euerliuing
and louing
Father, I intreat thee, vpon
the bended knees of my
Soule to hearken vnto my
grieuous complaints: grant
O Lord God that I may
be inabled to goe thorow
all the afflictions thou hast
pleased to lay vpon me, and
that at all times I may call
to mind, that it is not I only,
but many of thy deare
Seruants, with whom thou
dealest in like sort. Grant
I may beare my pouertie
with patience, as Iob did,
that at all times I may remember,
I came naked into
the world, and brought nothing
with me, and that
which I haue had, came
from thee. Grant mercifull
Father, that in no extremitie
I may neuer despaire of
thy mercie, but that by it I
may be more inclined to
call and seeke for thy Spirituall
comforts, and heauenly
blessings. And though I
want worldly wealth, yet
grant me thy heauenly graces,
so shall I not want: and
grant that the afflictions of
this life may be sanctified
vnto me, and turne to my
eternall good, through Iesus
Christ our Lord and
Sauiour, Amen.

51 A Prayer in Prosperitie.

I Wretched sinner, appeare
here before
thee, mercifull Father, intreating
thee of thy great
bountie, that as at all times
thou hast giuen me a more
liberall portion of worldly
wealth, so thou wilt please
to grant me grace euer to
be thankfull to thee for the
same, and grant I may so
vse it, that it may be for thy
Glorie, my Saluation, and
the comfort of the needy.
Grant I may not be hard
hearted, but liberally giue
and bestow it on the oppressed
and fatherlesse, on
the blind, the lame, and the
naked, to comfort and succour
all that are in distresse,
to further thy Word, and
plantation of the Gospell.
O grant most mercifull Father,
that the more earthly
blessings that thou giuest
me, I may the more seeke
thy heauenly Graces, and
that I may be the more
humbled in due consideration
of my great vnthankfulnesse,
& that I may seeke
to liue more piously and
religiously, and that when
I shall depart this vale of
miserie, I may be mindfull
to leaue some good and
godly examples of Charitie,
to those which follow.
Grant that this my wealth
may not be a stumbling
blocke or hindrance to my
Saluation, but that it may
be a furtherance to me in
all good and godly actions.
Grant this, good God, euen
for Christ Iesus sake I intreat
thee, to whom with
thee and thy Holy Spirit, be
prayse and glorie now and
euer, Amen.

52 A Prayer for all in distresse at Sea, by storme or tempest.

O LORD GOD,
Heauenly Father,
Maker and Founder of the
Sea and Land, looke downe
vpon vs miserable sinners,
who haue iustly plucked
downe thy vengance vpon
vs: O Lord, we haue prouoked
thy wrath, we haue
deserued to be swallowed
vp quicke by the merciless
waters. O Lord, the floods
come ouer vs, they euen
enter into our Soules, O
Lord, the Seas rage and rise
against vs, here we see thy
wounders and iudgments,
in the twinkling of an eye,
thou canst destroy vs. O
Lord, we confesse and acknowledge
we haue sinned.
Most iustly therefore are
thy fierce iudgments come
vpon vs. Yet Lord spare
vs, Lord, we beseech thee,
let vs not be swallowed vp
quicke where there is none
to helpe vs, but thou canst
saue vs. O Lord, cease these
stormes and tempests, cease
we beseech thee, these
swelling Seas, command
these blustring winds, and
they shall obey: We are at
the Pit of Destruction, at
the brinke and brim. Sane
Master, we perish, Lord
increase our faith, strengthen
it in thee. Mercifull Father
take vs we beseech thee into
thy protection, be O
Lord our shelter: And if
thou hast appointed vnto
vs death at this present, O
Lord, be thou present, we
beseech thee, to receiue our
Soules, vntill the ioyfull resurrection
of our Bodyes,
and then receiue vs Bodyes
and Soules into thy Kingdome.
If it be life, then
grant we may so liue, that
we may take warning by
these afflictions now vpon
vs, that we may liue to
amend our liues, and to liue
more godly, religiously,
and righteously all the daies
of our liues. Grant this
good God and mercifull
Father, for Iesus Christ his
sake our onely Sauiour
Amen.

53 A Prayer for all that trauell by Land.

O LORD lead me in
the paths of Righteousnesse,
and direct my
going in the way of Truth.
We, O Lord, are borne to
trauell, and man hath no
certaine place of aboad: our
dayes are like a span, and
our liues passe as a weauers
shuttle. O what is man that
thou art mindfull of him,
or the Sonne of Man that
thou regardest him? We
are like to a bubble or a
blast, we goe hence and are
seene no more: O teach vs
to number our dayes, that
we may walke the pathes
of Godlinesse: Direct our
steps in the word of Truth,
and as thou hast appointed
man to be a Pilgrime, and
to trauell for his liuing, and
soiourne vpon the Earth, so
O Lord, guid and gouerne
me in my trauel, that I may
goe on with comfort in
this my iourney. Be thou
my God, my helpe and guid
to direct me aright in my
way and businesse, keep me
from all feares and dangers
by Theeues, or other mischiefe
and trouble, that I
may haue no disturbance in
my iourney, no lets nor
hindrance, no sorrow nor
heauinesse, but for my sins:
and O Lord, keepe & blesse
all my Friends at home and
abroad, & keepe them and
me in perfect health till my
returne vnto them. Thou,
O Lord, knowest the sorrowes
of my heart, and I
cannot expresse my griefes
so well as thou knowest
them: then, O Lord, let me
euer feele and find accordingly
thy comforts, doe
thou put good thoughts
and godly cogitations allwayes
in my mind, that I
may so thinke vpon heauenly
things, as one that
hath set and settled his affections
and desires to come
vnto that place. Gracious
Lord make all my thoughts
words and workes well
pleasing vnto thee: And
now let thy good Angels
conduct and lead me, that
they may be a Cloud by
day, and as a Pillar by night
to watch and attend vpon
me, to keepe me that I fall
not, nor goe awry: And
for my chiefe Companion,
grant I may euer haue a
quiet Conscience, and a
willing mind to serue, feare
and obey thee, and a contrite
and sorrowfull Soule
for sin, and so direct me in
the wayes of Truth, that I
may not stray or goe awry
by any by-pathes of vngodlinesse,
but conduct me
in the stedfast wayes of
vprightnesse, wherein giue
me strength, and grace to
striue to performe in all
things thy most righteous
will, and to submit my selfe
vnto thee, through Iesus
Christ our onely Lord
and Sauiour,
Amen.

54 A Prayer for a sicke Man.

O Lord, glorious louing
Lord God, I
beseech thee to heare my
complaint, and grant me
strength to poure out my
prayers before thee: O
God, O haue sinned, I haue
sinned, and done wickedly,
I haue all my life long run
from sinne to sinne, I haue
transgressed, I haue done so
bad, that I cannot call all to
remembrance: Yet mercifull
Sauiour, returne vnto
me, that I may haue a feeling
of thy good Spirit in
me: Let not the sins of my
youth, nor the iniquities of
that time lye vpon me, and
O God as thou hast laide
thy hand of affliction vpon
mee, so I intreate thee to
arme me with patience, to
beare this my visitation patiently:
If it be thy will to
take me out of this transitory
life, prepare mee so O
good God and fit me, that
I may be receiued into thy
Kingdome: arme mee and
strengthen me to beare the
burthen here of patiently, to
vndergoe this my affliction
willingly, and to fight it out
manfully: but vnlesse thou
helpe, what am I? O God,
a Worme, a poore deiected
Wretch. I haue no comfort
but from thee, and of thee:
therefore I doe flye vnto
thee, beseeching thee either
to restore me to health, and
withall to amendment of
life, or else to receiue mee,
and take me into thy Kingdome
of glory: Lord cease
my paine, ease my griefes.
Lord I intreat thee to
grant that the Diuel, nor the
World, may any way preuaile
to tempt me, but grant
mee strength to ouercome
all. Send the good Angels
to keepe and conduct mee,
both in sicknesse and in
health, and grant I may not
feare death, but that I may
bee fitted and prepared for
it; yet if it bee
thy gracious will, let me
recouer a little strength,
and spare me a little before I
goe hence and am seene no
more: O grant that I may
find thy grace now working
for my good in me, and
if it be thy will to take me
hence, Lord receiue me vnto
thee, & then come Lord
Iesus, come quickly. And so
Lord, I commit and commend
my selfe vnto thee in
that Prayer which thou
hast taught me, saying:
Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.
Lord strengthen my Faith
to the end.
I beleeue in God the Father
Almighty, &c.

H 2

55 A Prayer for a Woman in the time of her trauell.

RIghteous and holy
Lord God, I doe
now find by experience the
fruit of my sin, that I must
trauell in sorrow, and bring
forth in paine: and I vnfainedly
adore the truth of
thy sacred Word, as certifying
vnto me, that sorrow
must be in the Euening: so
comforting me also against
the Morning, that a Child
shall be borne. Willingly I
doe desire to submit my
selfe in hope vnto this thy
chastisement; and to learne
the desert of my sinnes,
horrible in themselues,
that these temporall paines
are fore-runners of eternall:
and yet by thy mercy
may be so sanctified vnto
me, as not onely to preuent
eternall vengeance, but also
prepare for eternall comforts,
euen to be saued by
bearing of Children. Grant
me therefore, gracious Father,
true repentance, and
pardon for my sinnes past,
that they may not stand at
this time in this my need
betweene me and thy mercie.
Giue me a comfortable
feeling of thy loue in
Christ, which may sweeten
all other pangs, though

H 3

neuer so violent or extreame:
make me still to lift vp my
Soule vnto thee in my greatest
agonies, knowing that
thou alone must giue a blessing
to the ordinarie means
for my safe deliuerance.
Lay no more vpon me then
I am able to endure; and
strengthen my weake body
to the bearing of what
sorrow soeuer, by which it
shall seeme good vnto thee
to make triall of me. Grant
me to consider that howsoeuer
it be with me, yet I
am alwayes in thine hand,
whose mercies faile not,
who will be found in the
Mount, and in greatest extremitie,
and to whom belong
the issues of death: so
prepare me therefore to
death, that I may be fit for
life, euen to yeeld fruit
aliue vnto the world, and
to be renewed and enabled
to nourish the same. And
when thou hast safely giuen
me the expected Fruit
of my Wombe, make me
with a thankefull heart to
consecrate both it and my
selfe wholly to thy seruice
all the dayes of my life,
through Iesus Christ mine
onely Sauiour and Redeemer,
Amen.

H 4

56 A Thankesgiuing after safe deliuerance.

O Blessed for euer be
thy great and glorious
Name most deare
and louing Father for thy
great mercie to me most
weake and sinfull Woman.
Wonderfull art thou in all
thy workes O Lord the
riches of thy mercies are
past finding out: thou hast
plunged me into great afflictions,
and yet thou hast
returned and refreshed me
againe: Thou hast brought
me to the feare of the graue
and yet thou hast raised me
vp againe to life. O how
hast thou shewed thy power
in my weaknesse? How
hath thy louing kindnesse
preuailed against my vnworthinesse?
Thou mightest
for my sinnes haue left
me to perish in mine extremities,
but thou hast
compassed me about with
ioyfull deliuerance: Thou
mightest haue made my
Wombe a Graue to burie
the dead: Or in affording
life to another, thou mightest
haue procured my
death: But yet thou hast
not onely made my wombe
a Well-spring of life, but
restored life vnto me also,
for the cherishing thereof.
Maruailous O Lord are

H 5

thy workes, infinite are thy
mercies, my Soule by present
experience knoweth
it well. O my Soule prayse
thou the Lord, and all that is
within me prayse his holy
Name. My Soule prayse thou
the Lord, and forget not all
his benefits. Thou hast heard
my prayers, and looked vpon
my sorrow: Thou hast redeemed
my life from death, and
healed mine infirmities, and
crowned me with thine euerlasting
compassions. O giue
me, I humbly pray thee, a
thankfull heart, not onely
now while the memorie
and sense of thy fauour is
fresh before me, but continually
euen so long as I
haue any being. Grant that
I may learne by this liuely
euidence of thy power and
mercie, for euer hereafter
to depend onely on thee.
Quicken me also to all holy
duties, that my thankfulnes
may appeare in my pure
and Christian carriage.
Make me a kind and carefull
Mother, willing to vndergoe
the paine and trouble
of education. Let no
nicenesse or curiositie hinder
me from those seruices,
to whom both Nature
and Religion hath appointed
me: Let me also be
carefull when time requireth,
to season the Fruit
thou hast giuen me, with
the sauing knowledge of
thee, and thy deare Sonne,
that my desire may manifestly
appeare to be set for
the encrease of thy Kingdome:
Vouchsafe so to order
my affections, and to
bring them in obedience
vnto thee, that if it should
be thy pleasure either now
or hereafter to take this
Infant from me, I may as
willingly part with it, as
thou freely gaue it me. And
now O God perfect in
me that strength which
thou hast begun, make me
to grow in care to serue
thee faithfully, both in the
duties of pietie, and in
other businesse of my place
and calling, that I may be a
comfort to my Husband,
an example to my Neighbours,
a grace to my Profession,
and a meanes of glorie
to thy Name, through
Iesus Christ my Lord
and Sauiour,
Amen.

57 A Prayer at the houre of Death.

O Heauenly LORD
GOD, we poore
wretches being ouercome
with griefe, come all here
attending thy good pleasure
with this sicke seruant
of thine. O Lord, incline to
heare our Prayers, and his
complaints vnto thee. Be
now O Lord present, and
send thy good Angels, and
thy Spirit to attend vs, be
with vs, O Lord, and comfort
this sicke person, and
now if the time be come
of his departure, grant O
Lord he may depart with
godly comfort, and ioy
euerlasting, into thy Kingdome.
Ease O Lord his
griefs, mittigate his pains,
asswage his sorrowes, and
giue him a liuely touch of
thy heauenly comfort: put
by all worldly thoughts,
and beat downe all bad
suggestions, let nothing
but good come in his mind
and grant that he may to
the last gaspe of breath,
breath out still some comfort
of thy helpe, and grant
when he hath done his last
to finish this mortall life,
then he may with Lazarus
be carried into Abraham's
Bosome. O Lord, forgiue
him: O Lord, receiue him:
O Lord, protect him: O
Lord, succour and saue
him: and now and for euer
grant he may rest with
thee in eternall Glorie.
Heare vs, good Father, for
this our Brother or Sister
and doe for him or her and
vs according to thy fatherly
mercie in Iesus Christ,
in whom we commend
him, with these our praiers
for him, and all his, and our
occasions, in that Prayer
which thy blessed Son hath
taught vs.

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.

59 A Prayer in time of Warre.

O LORD, glorious
God, and euerlasting
Father, we intreat thee
mercifully to looke downe
vpon vs, and hearken vnto
our complaints and desires
and grant we beseech thee
our requests: O gracious
Father, thou knowest our
sinnes, and our iniquities
are not hid from thee, they
lye open to thy iudgments:
Yet wee know that thy
mercies are the cure of our
miseries, and when we flye
to thee, thou draw'st neere
to vs; Wee beseech thee
now to be fauourable, and
spare vs for all our sinnes
past, & be ready to deliuer
vs from sins to come; look
downe in mercie vpon vs,
and as thou hast beene our
euerlasting defence, so now
defend vs from the rage of
our Enemies. Goe in and
out O Lord before our
Armies, before our Generals,
before our Fleets, and
Commanders, and grant
we may be thy Souldiers,
to fight vnder thy Banner:
Stirre vp our hearts and
strength against the Enemie;
Defend thy afflicted
Flocke; Remember we beseech
thee, the burthen of
miserie layd vpon thy
Church at this time in
Germany, France, Denmarke
and else-where, and in thy
due time restore it to her
former glorie: Settle our
hearts and afflictions to regaine
and recouer that
which hath been lost: and
we seing their double dealing,
grant we may no longer
trust to them which
haue no truth; They imagine
mischiefe in their
hearts, and are set on fire
to doe ill, but breake thou
the knot of their malice,
lay open their plots, discouer
their deuises, weaken
their Armies, ouerthrow
their inuentions, confound
their counsels and consume
their numbers. O Lord,
thou hast in times past
made the Starres to fight
in order, the Sunne to stand
still, the Seas to deuoure,
the Winds to ouerthrow
thy Enemies: So now O
LORD cause these thy
Creatures to assist and help
vs, & our distressed Neighbours,
that all the World
may know, it is thou that
fightest our Battels, and
vndertakest our cause. Finally
O Lord blesse we
beseech thee, vs, and euery
one of vs, in what we shall
take in hand for defence of
thy Church and Truth.
Blesse we intreat thee, our
King, our State, our Clergy
our Commonaltie, & giue
thy blessing vnto vs all.
And last of all blesse wee
beseech thee, all the worthy
Companies of Souldiers
in the chiefe Citie, and
in all places of this Land:
Blesse O Lord we intreat
thee, their inuentions of
Warre, and make them expert
by their practises:
Preuent and prosper all our
vndertakings, so that all
the World may know that
thou art the Guider of our
Councels, and Leader of
our Armies. Grant this
deare Father, and all other
good things vnto vs, for
the good of thy Church
amongst vs, and the relief
of others by vs, now, and
alwayes, for Christ Iesus
sake, our onely Sauiour
Amen.

60 A Forme of Thankesgiuing and Prayer, to be vsed of godly Christians in their Families.

WE most humbly
thank thee
O heauenly Father, for all
thy louing kindnesses, so
abundantly shewed towards
vs, not only this day
or night but all the times
of our life vnto this present:
And especially, for
that it hath pleased thee of
thy fatherly fauour, and infinite
loue, before we had
done good or ill in thy
sight, and before the beginning
of the world, to write
vs in the Booke of Life,
and vnchangeably to ordain
that we should be thy
Children, and Vessels prepared
to Honour, with the
rest of the Saints. And we
thanke thee for the great
worke of our Creation,
which as it is wonderfull
in it self, being first framed
according to thine owne
Image, in Wisedome, Holinesse,
and Immortalitie, so
doth the excellencie thereof,
much more clearly appeare,
in that thou hast
made infinite numbers of
other Creatures vpon the
earth, in the heauens aboue
and in the waters beneath,
not onely farre inferiour
vnto vs, but to serue for our
vse and benefit: Yea, thou
hast made thy holy Angels
ministring Spirits to attend
guard, and defend thy children.
But most especially,
we prayse thy holy Name,
and euermore thanke thy
Maiestie, for the abasing,
and manifesting of thine
only begotten Sonne in our
poore and fraile nature, that
he might in the same yeeld
vnto thee, O Father, a full,
and perfect obedience for
vs, such as in thy most iust

I

Law was required at our
hands: And that by his
most painefull and hellish
sufferings, anguishes, and
horrours, both in Soule and
Body, as well in death as in
life, we might be made free
from all those euerlasting
sorrowes, feares, and torments,
deserued of vs, and
prepared for all those that
doe not belieue: Euen so
was it thy good pleasure
O Father most mercifull
that he, in the verie substance
of our Nature
through that mighty power
of his Godhead, should
not onely beare the intollerable
weight of all our sins
together with all the punishments
due for the same
but also ouercome sinne,
destroy the power of sinne
in vs, and obtaine for vs a
glorious victorie ouer Sin,
the World, Death, Hel, and
all Enemies: Yea, that he
should restore vnto vs, by
the vertue and worthinesse
of that his obedience, all
good things, which before
were lost through our folly
and disobedience; and that
in a more perfect estate
then euer wee had them,
insomuch, as now our
strength, our wisdome, our
righteousnesse, our worthinesse,
our assurance of thy
fauour, our ioy, and felicitie,
resteth not in our selues

I 2

fraile Creatures, but in him
our onely and Almightie
Sauiour, who sitteth at thy
right Hand, in glorie and
power for euermore, that
henceforth there shall bee
no more Sacrifice for sin,
no other Mediator to intreat
thy Maiestie, no more
deseruers or purchasers of
thy fauour for vs: But that
all Flesh should confesse,
that there is no other name
vnder Heauen, by which
wee may bee saued, but
onely the Lord Iesus: And
that whosoeuer reioyceth,
might reioyce in the Crosse
of Christ. This Mysterie
O Lord is too high for
vs, we cannot comprehend
the fullnesse, the length, the
breadth, and the deepnesse
thereof perfectly: Yea, all
the wisedome of Man is
too grosse and blind, to
perceiue any part thereof
perfectly: The very Angels
doe alwayes wonder at the
same: And the Diuell, and
Antichrist, with all the
Princes of the World, haue
laboured vtterly to extinguish
the knowledge and
memorie of the same. Yet
now in these dayes thou
hast againe, clearly reuealed
the same by the preaching
of thy Word, and we here
present, through the abundance
of thy grace, in some
sort forced to see and feele

I 3

the glorious power of the
same.
But such is our horrible
blindnesse, peruersenesse,
vanitie and vnthankfulnes,
that wee see it not clearly,
we belieue it not perfectly,
nor weigh it sufficiently,
nor meditate thereon effectually:
for we should loue
thy Maiestie, for this famous
worke of our Redemption
by Iesus Christ,
with a most perfect loue,
without all comparison,
and farre aboue all other
things in the world: whatsoeuer
we loue, we should
loue for thy sake, so that no
thing should be more deare
and ioyfull vnto vs, then
the setting foorth of thy
glorie, the praysing of thy
Name, the furtherance of
thy true Religion, and prosperitie
of thy Church: and
nothing so great a griefe,
as the contrarie to any of
these: But this loue we find
verie cold in vs; for wee
long not earnestly to bee in
thy continuall presence, we
are verie negligent, & soon
wearie in speaking vnto
thy Maiestie by Prayer, and
in hearing of thy Maiestie
speaking vnto vs, by the
Ministerie of thy holy
Word: we take not felicitie
in meditating of thy
mercies, in declaring thy
prayses, in commending

I 4

thy wonderfull workes:
Yea, wee haue oftentimes
more pleasure in beholding
vanities, in worldly matters,
in idle and prophane
exercises, and in workes of
darknesse: wee are violent
in reuenging our owne iniuries,
and in hating those
that doe hurt our selues,
but we are not so much as
heartily grieued with those
that offend thy Maiestie by
sinne, and obscure thy glorie
by corrupting thy true
Religion. Our loue toward
our Brethren ought to bee
like the loue wherewith
thou hast loued vs, that is,
pure, vncorrupt, vehement
and euerlasting; but wee
loue for our own pleasures
and for worldly respects,
we are soone prouoked to
anger, we mislike long, we
are hard to bee reconciled,
we are not so dutiful to our
Parents and Gouernors, so
kind to our Friends, so
courteous to Strangers, so
charitable to those that are
in necessitie as we ought to
be. We should be holy, and
pure, as thou art pure, because
Lord thou hast redeemed
vs from all impurenesse,
that we should continually
offer vp vnto thee
our Soules and Bodyes, as a
pure, liuing, and acceptable
Sacrifice: And because we
are thy Temples, wherein

I 5

it pleaseth thee to dwell, by
thy grace and Holy Spirit:
but wee feele too too many
rebellious motions, and
corrupt cogitations, such
as we are ashamed to speak
of to any mortall man. Our
minds should be drawn vp
on high, with the loue of
Heauenly and Spirituall
things, because wee are
Strangers here, & Citizens
in Heauen; for that wee
know the things that are
here below, to be vncertaine
and transitorie, as the
Flower of the Grasse; our
selues fraile and mortall,
and the ioyes prepared for
vs after this mortall life, to
be infinite, inestimable, and
euerlasting. howbeit, wee
spend a great part of our
time, in following after the
things of this World, in
prouiding for this lumpe
of Earth: our studies, cares
and communications, are
verie earthly and profane.
Finally we haue broken all
thy Lawes, wee can performe
no good thing perfectly,
wee consider not allwayes
effectually, that wee
are in thy presence, and that
all things are open vnto
thee, be they in respect of
men neuer so secret. We
depend not constantly vpon
thy prouidence, we rest
not with full contentation
of mind, in thy good pleasure,
we haue not yet learned
wholly to resigne our
Selues, our Children, our
Friends, and those blessings
which thou hast giuen vs,
into thy hands, and to bee
contented without any
murmuring or repining,
with that estate of life,
wherein thou placest vs.
We are not carefull enough
for those whom thou hast
committed to our especiall
charge. We corrupt and
abuse all thy good gifts, we
cannot reherse the multitude
of our offences, for we
are guiltie, we are guiltie of
infinite crimes which we
remember not, nor neuer
knew, because of our ignorance
and negligence. And
although we be in so ill a
case, so vile of nature, so
void of goodnesse, so full of
infirmities, and so neere a
thousand destructions, yet
are we not thorowly humbled
before thee; we doe
not loathe and lament our
sinnes as we ought to doe,
we flatter our selues, we
extenuate our faults, we
inwardly mislike those that
admonish vs, we are slow
in reforming of our selues,
yea, which thou of all
things most abhorrest, we
are soone blowne vp with
vaine glorie, & made proud
of thy gifts, and of those
good things which thou of
thy goodnesse workest in
vs, and by vs. Therefore,
O Lord, according to the
multitude of these our miseries,
wee flye vnto the
Throne of thy Grace, as
they that are guiltie of infinite
crimes, crauing thy
pardon, as they that are
ashamed of their foulnesse,
and faine would be washed
with the Blood of thy Son
Iesus Christ, as they that
are wounded to death euerlasting,
and desire to bee
healed with the soueraigne
Oyle of thy Grace and
Holy Spirit. O Lord, forsake
not those that desire
earnestly to forsake themselues:
Receiue vs into thy
fauour, who onely appeale
to thy Mercies: we know
not any way to come vnto
thee, nor any meanes to obtaine
any good thing at thy
hands, but onely him, euen
our Lord and Sauiour, who
hath said, I am the Way, the
Truth, and the Life: Who
hath promised, that whatsoeuer
we aske in his Name,
thou wilt giue it vs: And of
whom thou thy selfe hast
witnessed by all the Prophets
and Apostles, that
he is the Propitiation for all
our sinnes. In him therefore
and through him, we aske
all good things of thy infinite
Maiestie. O Lord, allthough
our Faith be weak,
our Repentance, our Sanctification,
and all things in
vs vnperfect, yet heare and
accept vs for the worthynesse
and perfection of thy
Sonne, our Aduocate and
Redeemer. O Lord our
God, forsake not the work
of thine owne hands: Remember
not our sinnes any
more, but vouchsafe to finish
that new birth which
thou hast begun in vs: And
to this end, wee beseech
thee alwayes to soften and
to prepare our hearts by
thy Holy Spirit, vnto the
perfect obedience of thy
Gospel, and to imprint in
our Consciences a deepe
feeling of our sinnes, howbeit
in such measure, as
that we be not driuen therby
to despaire of thy mercies,
but better humbled
before thee, prouoked to a
more serious repentance of
our former euill life, to a
greater feruencie in praying,
and seeking for thy
helpe, and a more carefulnesse
euer hereafter, to flee
euen the shew of euerie
euill thing, and all occasions
of offending against
thee and our brethren. But
because it is not enough to
auoid euill, we beseech
thee to giue vs a full assurance,
and a sweet feeling of
thy loue towards vs in Iesus
Christ, wherewith our
hearts being throughly inflamed,
we may bring forth
abundantly, the Fruits of
thy Holy Spirit, and shew
our Faith by good Works,
to the testifying of our
most dutifull seruice towards
thee O LORD our
God the stopping of the
mouthes of the vngodly,
and prouoking of a great
many to prayse thy most
holy Name, for those good
things which thou hast
wrought in vs; therefore
grant vs, O most mercifull
Lord, a zeale for thy glorie
according to knowledge,
boldnesse for thy causes,
ioyned with humilitie,
wisedome, with sinceritie,
ioyfulnesse of mind, with
true sadnesse for our sinnes
and the afflictions of our
Brethren. Teach vs to obey
and reuerence our Superiours,
to be louing to all our
Equals and Inferiours, charitable
to our Enemies, desirous
to doe good to all
men, to be diligent in our
Calling, to abhorre all deceitfull,
and vnrighteous
dealing. Make vs thankfull
for all thy benefits, faithfull
in vsing them according to
thy will, patient in forbearing
of them, constant in
suffering the losse of all
earthly benefits, for thy
euerlasting truth. And because
it is thy good pleasure,
that we should wrastle
and striue against our rebellious
Nature, and a huge
host of spirituall Enemies,
we beseech thee to arme vs
from aboue, with the compleat
harnesse of thy grace.
And for as much as our
strength and furniture is
nothing in respect of our
Aduersaries, assist vs mightily,
that in all temptations,
dangers, and assaults, we
may lay sure hold, with the
hand of Faith, vpon the victorie
of our Sauiour Iesus
Christ, that all-be-it we be
not able to ouercome in
our owne persons, yet we
may ouercome in his, who
hath ouercome for vs, and
so after this warfare finished,
be made partakers of
those promises which are
knit vnto the victorie, euen
the Crowne of Glorie, the
fellowship of all thy Saints
and the most comfortable
presence of thy Maiestie,
through the same our Lord
and Sauiour, Iesus Christ.
And we pray not onely for
our Selues, but also for all
Nations of the world, that
they may be called to the
comfortable light, and effectuall
feeling of thy Gospel,
through the preaching
of the same, and for those
that are already called. O
Lord, we humbly beseech
thee, to make vp, and happily
to finish that heauenly
worke of the new Birth,
which thou in mercie hast
begun in them, strengthening
and comforting their
Soules, daily more & more
with the liuely Food of
thy blessed Word and Sacraments,
sincerely ministred,
according to thy
most holy Ordinance: the
which inestimable Grace,
we beseech thee to make
this Church of England
partaker of yet more abundantly.
And to this end, we
most humbly craue of thy
Maiestie, to blesse thy Seruant
Charles, our gracious
King and Gouernour, with
all manner of excellent
blessings, that hee may
worthily seeke, and set
forth thy glorie, by aduancing
thy true Religion, and
suppressing all things that
hinder the same. Giue
grace to his honourable
Councellors, and to all that
be put in authoritie vnder
him, faithfully to assist him
in this great worke. Make
the Ministers of thy Word
zealous in thy Truth, diligent
in their office, wise in
propounding thy Mysteries
vnto the people, happy
and comfortable in their
labours: increase the number
of them, for they are
few, and great is the multitude
of those that want,
and thirst after thy Word.
Finally, shew thy selfe O
Lord mightie, and mercifull
in relieuing and comforting
all those that be afflicted,
and humbled with
any kind of calamitie, whether
it be extreame pouertie,
or bodily sicknesse, or
inward griefe of mind for
the burden of their sinnes.
But especially, remember
those in thy mercie, which
are in bonds or troubles
for thy Truth, granting
vnto them patience in
suffering, cheerefullnesse
in praysing thy glorious
Name, for thy euerlasting
loue towards them in
Christ, and constancie in
professing a good cause,
with a good Conscience
vnto the end, through our
Lord Iesus Christ: In
whose Name, we pray for
these, and all other graces
needfull, either for our
Selues, or for the whole
Church, as he hath taught,
and commanded vs,
saying:

Our Father which art in
Heauen, &c.