GODLY PRIVATE PRAYERS

FOR HOUSEHOLDERS

TO MEDITATE UPON

AND TO SAY IN THEIR PARTICULAR FAMILIES

MADE BY

MR. EDWARD DERING

SOMETIME READER OF THE DIVINITY LECTURE IN PAUL'S.

LONDON, PRINTED BY ISAAC IAGGARD, 1624.

Originally published in 1624, in London.

The team from PROJECT PURITAS (Logan West with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf) offered an edited draft obtained from the University of Michigan Library.

This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

Edited, formatted, and republished by Crowdedship Publishing, April 2025.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Prayer Containing the Effect of the Householder's Catechism

A Prayer Upon the Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer, More at Large

A Confession of Sins with Faith and Repentance

A Prayer for the Prosperous Estate of the Whole Church

Morning Prayer for Private Houses and Families

Evening Prayer for Private Houses and Families

A Form of Prayer Daily to be Used of All Faithful Christians, in Their Houses, or Elsewhere

A Special Morning Prayer for the Sabbath

A Prayer for the Sabbath Evening

A Prayer to be Said Before the Hearing or Reading of the Holy Scripture

A Thanksgiving After the Hearing or Reading of the Word of God

A Prayer Before the Receiving of the Sacrament

A Prayer to be Said After the Receiving of the Sacrament

A Prayer for Constant Perseverance in Praying, When We are Dull to Prayer

A Prayer for All Times

A Prayer for All Estates

A Prayer to be Confirmed in the Knowledge of God

A Prayer for the Obtaining of Saving Faith

A Prayer to Feel in Heart Spiritual Comfort, and the Lively Sense of our Adoption by Faith

A Prayer Against Doubting to Strengthen a Weak Faith, and to Persevere Therein

A Prayer for Obtaining Trial, and Cherishing of the Holy Spirit of God

A Prayer for the Obtaining of a Lively Hope

A Prayer for the Obtaining and Increase of Love

A Prayer to Obtain and Preserve the Fear of God, that We May Be Kept Constant Thereby in Holiness to the End

A Prayer for Grace and Wisdom

A Prayer to Walk Conscionably in our Civil and Personal Calling

A Prayer Before the Taking of a Journey

A Thanksgiving After a Journey

A Prayer for a Woman in Time of Her Travail

A Thanksgiving After Safe Deliverance

A Prayer for Those Who Are Employed in the Assistance of a Travailing Woman

A Thanksgiving Upon the Blessing of Their Labor in the Deliverance

A Prayer for Such as in This World Be Very Rich and Wealthy

A Prayer for Such as Be Poor and Needy

A Thanksgiving After Blessings Obtained, to Acknowledge Them as from God

A Prayer for Patience in Tribulation, and that God May Be Glorified Thereby

A Prayer for Mortification and Holiness

A Prayer for the Feeling of the Sin of Hypocrisy, That We May Direct Our Lives According to the Prescript Rule of the Word

A Prayer Against the Secret Venom and Great Danger of Prosperity

A Prayer Against Whoredom and Uncleanness

A Prayer Against Covetousness and Ambition

A Prayer Against Usual and Common Swearing

A Prayer Against Pride

A Prayer Against Gluttony and Drunkenness

A Prayer Against Idleness and Sloth

A Prayer Against Infidelity and Despair, Necessary for a Troubled and Wounded Spirit

A Prayer Containing the Effect of the Householder's Catechism

Almighty God, and most merciful Father, I see in Your blessed Laws and commandments, the greatness of my sins and wickedness; yes, I see, oh Lord my God, the whole course of my life to be almost nothing else, but a continual breaking of Your holy Laws and commandments. The thoughts of my heart (either in vanity, or else open wickedness) are in number infinite, daily in the abundance of them, causing my mouth to speak, and my body to execute, and do contrary to Your holy will. And again, oh Lord, I see Your heavy wrath, vengeance and judgment against sin, to be intolerable, that even the least wicked thoughts, and most secret cogitations of my heart, procure Your heavy wrath and everlasting curse, the torments of hell, and everlasting fire, even although I had but once in all my life broken any of Your commandments, so much as once in thought. And I know, oh Lord God, that You are true and just, and cannot abide sin and wickedness, but will justly punish every sin, even with the selfsame torments of hell, which Your justice has appointed.

This, oh Lord my God, throws me down, and even amazes me so that I know not what to do. I look into myself, viewing my own power, whether I am able to overcome this punishment of my sin or no; and I see that all, even the most exquisite punishment which I can devise of myself, in whipping of my body as long as I live, wearing hair-cloth, pining myself with fasting, or any other pain, I see, oh Lord, that all this punishment is not sufficient for one of my least sins, because it deserves even the everlasting pains of hell. I look to Heaven; I see there is no saint, nor angel, able to abide and overcome this punishment of sin; I look to men in this world, even to the pope's treasure (that wicked man of sin) and I see that neither his Mass, nor purgatory, pilgrimage, pardons, penance, satisfactions, nor any of such like wicked stuff, alas, I see they are nothing for the satisfying for one of my least wicked thoughts, seeing the punishment is due by the just decree and sentence of Your everlasting curse. Wherefore I am driven out from myself, and all that I can do, to seek this punishment discharged otherwhere, or else to quail under the burden; I see there is no help for me in angels, saints, nor mortal men, but only in that perfect man Christ Jesus Your dear Son, in whom I see the full punishment of my sin wholly paid, satisfied, discharged, and overcome: death vanquished, the pains of hell in victory swallowed up, the curse satisfied, and the eternity of the punishment (thorough His everlasting power) over-reached.

This I see (oh Lord) by the eyes of faith, being through Your Holy Spirit, wholly assured, that all the whole punishment of sin paid by my Savior Christ, is not only paid for other men, but even also for me and my sin. This assurance of faith being Yours only, work in me, I beseech You in mercy to strengthen and increase, for I feel it often full of wavering and doubting. Grant that I may daily more and more in my soul and conscience, feel myself knit and engrafted into the body of Your Son, whereby I may be assured that whatsoever he has done, pertains to me, and is fully and wholly mine, that I may through the power of his death, feel sin daily die in me, and through the power of His resurrection feel myself risen from sin, to have my full joy and comfort in those things which be agreeable to Your holy will, only detesting, hating, and abhorring from my heart, all things which be contrary to Your will and pleasure, that even in this life I may still look for His endless joy and felicity, using the things of this world, as though I used them not, till that good time that it shall please You to call me to Your everlasting Kingdom of glory, there to reign with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

A Prayer Upon the Lord's Prayer

The First Petition. Our Father who is in heaven. Oh Most mighty Lord and eternal God, who has by Your dear Son Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, reconciled unto Yourself all things in Heaven and earth, and in Him have made an everlasting bond and Covenant with us Your faithful children, that You will not only be our God, but also our most loving and merciful Father, whereof as a pledge You have given us Your Holy Spirit of adoption, whereby we may with boldness and full trust and confidence come to You by hearty prayer, as unto our most loving and merciful Father, being assured that You will not deny anything which You know shall be expedient for us. Grant, we beseech You dear Father, that being fully persuaded in our hearts of this Your fatherly love and affection toward us, we may be stirred up to make our petitions with such an affection, ardent desire, love, and reverence to Your Majesty, that our minds be not carried away with by-thoughts creeping in, but without all wandering may be fully bent and attentive to the things we ask, and fully staid upon Your merciful and just protection.

The Second Petition. Hallowed be Your Name. We then beseech You (dear Father) that You will strengthen our hearts with Your Holy Spirit, that considering You have made all things for the glory of Your Name, so we may in all our doings, enterprises, counsels, and purposes, chiefly above all things seek Your glory, that we may fully acknowledge You, not only the author of all things, but the ruler, guider, and governor of all things, both in heaven and earth, that we never diminish Your incomprehensible glory, by attributing unto ourselves any power, strength, or ability to do, will, or think that which is good; but from our hearts we may acknowledge all our goodness to come from You, yielding for the same continual praise and thanksgiving to Your glorious Name, that we never by distrusting Your merciful providence, dishonor Your Name; but that even in our greatest desires we may put our full confidence in You, not looking upon our weakness, but staying upon Your power and promises, by hearty prayer, flying unto You our only refuge: that our whole life may be framed, according to Your holy will in all points, that Your glorious Name in us may be sanctified, and that we be not an occasion that Your holy Name be any way blasphemed through our wicked life and conversation.

The Third Petition. Your Kingdom come. Let Your Kingdom most merciful Father, appear and manifestly be declared in all the world, but especially amongst Your church and faithful flock. Declare Yourself Lord and King over them, ruling them by the scepter of Your holy Word and force of Your Holy Spirit. Increase the number of faithful pastors and preachers among the people: bless their labors, to the increase of this Kingdom of Your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to the destruction of the kingdom of Satan and Antichrist. Suppress the rage of the enemies, that they may know that You (oh Lord) do reign in all ages, to the benefit of Your church, and terror of Your enemies. Grant these mercies, good Lord, not only to a whole church in general, but especially to everyone of us, Your children particularly. Grant that we may effectually feel the force of this Your Kingdom in our hearts. Beat down in us our old Adam, with all sinful delights, thoughts, motions, and desires, and renew in us day by day, our spiritual and inward Man, that we may be wholly bent to delight, think, desire, and do those things which be acceptable in Your sight.

The Fourth Petition. Your will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Frame our hearts, good Lord, with such humble obedience to Your holy will, that we may be heartily well content with whatsoever it pleases Your goodness to lay upon us, that we never cease in our miseries, but continually call on You by hearty prayers although we feel no release at all; yet that still patiently we may abide and quietly wait for Your good leisure, and appointed time of deliverance, when You know it shall be most expedient for us.

The Fifth Petition. Give us this day our daily bread. Grant us, dear Father, that all our counsels, studies, labors and endeavors, being by Your Holy Spirit guided and framed, we may everyone in that vocation in which You have placed him, so faithfully travail to the discharging of our consciences, and edifying of Your church, that our account may be found acceptable before Your throne and judgment seat. So bless our labors and travails, that we may have sufficient for the preserving of this present life and be content with those benefits which You shall bestow upon us, whether they be many or few, acknowledging them to be received of You, not greedily to care for them, or vainly to delight in them, and thankfully esteem of them as Your benefits bestowed upon us, and as faithful stewards moderately to use them to the relief of our brethren and discharge of our consciences.

The Sixth Petition. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Increase in us, oh Lord, the gift of faith, that we may daily more and more in our souls and consciences be assured; that our sins be defaced, clean blotted out, and covered with the full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice of Your dear Son Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior once made for us, that we are united, knit, and made one body with Him partakers of His righteousness, justification, and holiness, and even fellow-heirs with Him of everlasting life, that we may unfeignedly from the bottom of our hearts love You for this Your unspeakable goodness and mercy, forgetting from our hearts our brethren that do offend us, pray for them, love, cherish and comfort them as fellow members all of one body, with perfect natural love and compassion linked together unto our head Christ Jesus.

The Seventh Petition. Lead us not into temptation. Strengthen us good Lord with Your Holy Spirit, that we be not overcome with the subtle suggestions and sinful motions of Satan the devil. Hold us up with Your merciful hand, that we sleep not in sin, that we be not drawn away with the wicked world nor the enticements of the flesh, to delight in wickedness, but so arm us with Your mighty power, that we may strongly abide all the assaults and subtle slights of our ghostly enemy, and sincerely to walk before others both in prosperity and adversity, to Your honor and glory, the health of our souls and profit of Your church, through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Savior, Amen.

The Lord's Prayer, More at Large

The First Petition. Our Father who is in heaven. Most mighty and eternal Lord God, who of Your infinite love to mankind, has given us Your own eternal Son Christ Jesus our Lord, to be made man for us, in the similitude of sinful flesh, to become flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bones, in all things like unto us, sin only excepted, who being Your true and natural Son, has made us with him sons, children, and heirs, to You our most merciful Father, giving us by Your grace, that which is His by nature. And by His due alone, once suffered sufficient sacrifice, has paid the ransom of our sins, before Your divine Majesty, to satisfy Your justice upon sinful flesh. Which debt being paid for us, He has brought us in favor with You, so that we may now with boldness and trust come to You, as unto our most merciful and loving Father, with full assurance, that as Your soul is so much greater, and more excellent towards us, then all love of earthly parents toward their children, as You pass all men in goodness and mercy; so You will deny us nothing which shall be expedient for us. So that, although all the fathers that are in earth, having shaken off all seeing of fatherly naturalness, would forsake their children, yet would You never forsake us, because You cannot deny Yourself, who promises, that if earthly fathers being evil can give good gifts to their children: how much more will You our heavenly Father, being altogether goodness itself, give good things to those who ask in Your Son's Name? And that although a mother should forsake her children, yet will You not forsake us Your children, whom You have before the beginning of the world, in Your dear Son Jesus Christ, chosen to be Your children and heirs with Him of Your immortal Kingdom. Whereof that we ourselves might be sure and certain, and out of all doubt that we are the children and heirs of everlasting life, You have given into our hearts Your Holy Spirit, as a true pledge and earnest of our inheritance, which Spirit does assure our spirits, that we are Your children, and You therefore cry in our hearts Abba, Father. Grant this for Your dear Son Jesus Christ our Savior, Amen.

The Second Petition. Hallowed be Your Name. We therefore as Your dear children, ransomed and bought by Your dear Son, fly to You, our most loving and merciful Father, who in goodness are infinite: in mercy, abundant; in substance, incomprehensible; in immortality, everlasting: who by Your mighty power, and singular providence rule all things according to Your heavenly wisdom, beseeching You, for Your dear Son Christ Jesus' sake, that as You have sufficiently set forth Your glorious Name in making and framing the whole world, heaven, earth, and all the things therein contained, so we may in beholding and viewing Your creatures, the works of Your hands, may be lifted up to You, our Lord God the Creator and maker, and in them glorify Your holy Name, acknowledging in them Your singular goodness and love towards man, for whose use You have created all things both in heaven and earth; and that we may for the same, even from the bottom of our hearts, yield due honor, praise and thanksgiving unto You dear Father, all the days of our lives.

Grant most merciful Father, that we may in heart and mind be fully assured, You by Your heavenly providence, rule and guide all things in heaven and earth; so that nothing in the whole world comes to pass, but according to Your appointment: that You guide and frame the affairs and doings of men; that You have even their hearts, and all their powers in Your merciful hand, to turn them which way soever it seems best unto Your godly wisdom: so that, whether we be in prosperity or adversity, we may acknowledge both of them to be Your work in us: and therefore, be no less thankful for sickness, than for health; for sorrow, than for comfort; for a troubled mind, than for a quiet; for imprisonment and banishment, than for liberty; especially seeing we know that You turn them all, seem they never so sharp, to the comfort and commodity of Your children, who fear You: and that in all things which shall befall unto us; whether they be grievous or joyous, prosperity or adversity, life or death, Your holy Name may be sanctified in us by yielding due and continual praise and thanksgiving, to Your eternal Majesty: that we never cease to put our full trust and confidence in Your mercy, who have promised to be our defender, buckler, and shield; to keep us as the apple of Your eye, to deliver us when we call upon You, to open when we knock, to give when we ask: that we, knowing our own weakness, that of ourselves we have no power or strength to do, no not so much as to will that which is good, we may acknowledge all our strength, comfort, joy, faith, love, hope, and confidence to be Your only gift and work in us. And for the same, and the increase of the same, and for all Your benefits in us, whereof we feel ourselves destitute, we may constantly flee unto You by hearty prayer, requiring the same at Your merciful hand. And having felt Your merciful dealing towards us, we may always to the end of our life continue thankful unto Your blessed Name: that we never speak or think of You (oh Lord God) without high reverence, and an obedient fear unto Your glorious Name.

The Fourth Petition. Your will be done in earth as it is in heaven. And forasmuch (oh Lord God) as of ourselves we be nothing but stubbornness and rebellion, against Your holy Majesty, we beseech You (dear Father) that as Your angels in heaven do willingly obey Your holy and most blessed will without any resistance, so we Your most vile and unworthy servants and children in earth (all stubbornness, rebellion, and perverseness, by Your Holy Spirit in us being utterly extinguished and quenched) we may willingly submit ourselves, resign and yield our whole affections to You, oh Lord, to be governed after Your blessed and heavenly will, that we may feel in ourselves no other motion or desire, then a meet consent to Your holy will, that whatsoever affections in us fight against Your holy will, You will utterly make them void, that we never will anything of ourselves, but that Your Holy Spirit in us may govern our hearts, by whom inwardly being taught, we may learn to love, embrace, and take comfort in those things that please You, and to hate those things that displease You; that our hearts, minds, and wills, being wholly subdued to Your blessed will, we may willingly be content with that estate of life which it pleases Your goodness to exercise us withal in this world, whether it be in adversity or prosperity, in sickness or health, in ignominy or glory, in quietness or trouble, in sorrow or gladness. Grant us, dear Father, this willing and patient mind, that even in our greatest distress, we may be content with Your good will, and not to murmur or grudge against Your Majesty, knowing that You will lay nothing upon us, but that which shall turn to our goodness and profit, and that we may patiently abide whatsoever it shall please You to lay upon us, that we be assured in our hearts, that You will lay no more unto us, then You will give us strength to bear, and even in our greatest afflictions will find a way for our deliverance, and that Your power and strength are more fully declared, when we feel ourselves utterly void of strength, and see no way of deliverance, that we may in our most grievous assaults, conflicts, and anguish of mind submit ourselves wholly to Your blessed will, and look for our deliverance at Your hand, when You know it most expedient for us, and most for Your glory, leaving the time and means of our deliverance to Your good will and pleasure, and that in the mean time, we never cease but call upon You by hearty prayers continually as You have commanded, until such time as You shall hear our petitions. And although after many and sundry callings upon You, You seem not to regard us, but rather deal more extremely with us, yet notwithstanding strengthen us so with perseverance in prayer, that we faint not, but still continue in prayer, being assured that although we feel ourselves nothing released, yet we may quiet ourselves herein, that we as Your children have laid our complaints, griefs, and sorrows in the bosom of You, our heavenly Father, who will as a loving Father, when He sees it most convenient, help us. And although You seem nothing to grant our requests, yet we honor You in calling upon Your Name, seeing You do accept it as a most chief honor to be called upon in the day of trouble.

The Fifth Petition. Give us this day our daily bread. And forasmuch, dear Father, as You do by Your mighty power, nourish, feed, sustain, preserve, and maintain all living creatures, yes, even the very young flocks and beasts, we beseech You to send unto us, Your children, (over whom You have a more special care) all things necessary for this our present life: that we having sufficient, may walk every one in our calling, in sincerity and pure holiness before Your face, acknowledging all our benefits of riches, health, wealth, meat, drink, apparel, and all our substance to be Your mere gifts bestowed upon us, and delivered unto us from Your hands, that we be not drawn from You, through setting our minds too much upon them, but so moderately use them, as Your benefits for a time bestowed upon us, knowing that You will at our hands require an account how we have used them, that we do not carefully gape or seek after them, but discreetly to Your glory use them, acknowledging in them Your goodness and liberality towards us. And seeing, most merciful Father, that it is not our travel, labor, pains, study, or endeavor, which are able to get us our living, but only in so much as it pleases Your goodness to bless and prosper them, we beseech You that yet through our great travail and pains, we be yet still poor, and in mean estate, that You will give us a contented heart, knowing that thereby You let us understand, that it is Your good will and pleasure, so to keep us under, that we more effectually may give ourselves to serve You. Or if it be Your will and pleasure more abundantly to bless us and our travail, to send us abundance of all things, we beseech You, dear Father, give us a thankful heart to acknowledge them to be Your good gifts, and frame our hearts with such liberality, that we may be contented to distribute them according to the necessity of Your children, being assured, that You have to this end made us stewards over them, that may at his hands require much, on whom You have bestowed much: so that we having the due estimation of Your benefits which we ought to have, may both reverence Your goodness in Your benefits, and supply the want of our brethren, to the relief of their necessity, and furtherance of Your glory.

The Sixth Petition. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And whereas, most merciful Father, Your Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has in our nature paid the ransom and debt of all our sins, which we have from the beginning of our life committed and do daily commit, we beseech Your gracious goodness, that You will by Your Holy Spirit in our hearts, assure our souls and consciences with a lively faith, that by that same one only sufficient sacrifice, the punishment of our sins is paid, Your wrath appeased, and Your Justice satisfied: whereby our consciences may be quieted and set at peace with You our merciful Father and God.

Let us, dear Father, feel in our souls and consciences, that we are united to Your dear Son Jesus Christ and made one body with Him, and heirs with Him of everlasting glory, so coupled and joined with Him, that we are members of His body, so that whatsoever He has done in His body, we may be assured that it is ours, that His righteousness is our righteousness, His sanctification and holiness is ours, the curse condemnation, and death, which He suffered is the same curse, condemnation, and death due for our sins, that we know that our sins be done away, and clean forgotten and forgiven by Your merciful love and goodness declared in offering up Your Son to death for us, we may be driven to love You unfeignedly from the bottom of our hearts, for this Your unspeakable love, and considering that You have in mercy pardoned so many our heinous offenses, we may gladly be moved to forgive one another their offenses, and put out of our heart all rancor, malice, and hatred, toward our brethren, knowing that we are all members of one body, Christ our Savior that so surely as we have forgiven those who offend us we may be so certainly assured that our merciful Father has forgiven us, like as we have forgiven our brethren.

The Seventh Petition. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. And for as much, most heavenly Father, as we of ourselves be feeble, and frail and weak, and have a strong and subtle adversary, Satan the devil, who goes about continually like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour: we beseech You strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit, that we may withstand his subtle suggestions and motions. Hold us by Your merciful hand, and keep us always in Your safeguard and protection, that we be not overcome in the mighty assaults of our adversary. And forasmuch as he often uses ever our own flesh, armed against us to conquer us, we beseech You, dear Father, mortify, subdue, and kill in our flesh all subtle suggestions, and sinful motions of Satan, that we yield not ourselves as slaves thereunto, but continually fight against them, and bring them into subjection of the Spirit. Grant unto us, dear Father, that we may not be drawn through the subtle and sly torments of Satan to have our delight and pleasure in the vanities of this world, but by Your grace, might, and power, may so in the prosperity of this life be upheld, that our minds with full joy and comfort may be lifted up to our perfect consolation in our Lord and Savior Christ: and in him, take our full and perfect joy and consolation, so that no vain delight of this world put us from the same, neither any sharp adversity, as poverty, misery, or calamity, through the malice of the devil, drive us to despair of Your merciful goodness towards us; but always being through Your grace and assistance defended, we may be fully and perfectly armed against all the subtle entrappings of Satan, and rest wholly in Your merciful defense and aide. For You have (oh Lord and eternal God) in Your government, all things in heaven and earth, all power and dominion over all creatures, angels and devils, to rule them according to Your good pleasure and will, to the profit and commodity of Your church, and every faithful member thereof, and to Your incomprehensible glory: that in all things, in all ages, forever and ever, Your glorious Name may be exalted, and Your faithful flock edified through Christ our Lord, Amen.

A Confession of Sins with Faith and Repentance

Oh merciful and heavenly Father, we Your servants do humbly prostrate ourselves before Your Majesty, acknowledging here in Your sight, our heinous offenses committed against Your Majesty, seeing and beholding Your heavy wrath against them: we feel ourselves laden, oh Lord our God, with a huge company of horrible sins, whereof the very least, being but conceived in thought, is sufficient in judgment to throw us down to the everlasting burning lake.

Our own consciences (oh Lord) do bear witness against us of our manifold transgressions of Your blessed Law, of our security, senseless blindness, running headlong to destruction, committing sin after sin, although not notorious to the world, yet horrible before Your eyes.

The thoughts of our hearts rise up in judgment against us: the vanity of our talk before Your Majesty condemns us. The wickedness of our deeds from Your sight rejects us. All our wicked thoughts, words, and deeds; with the inward corruption of our nature, do altogether as it were a whole lump and load of sin, lie heavy upon us, and with their intolerable weight, do even press us down to hell. We do daily groan under the burden of them, inwardly lamenting our own folly, too greedily running into them. In heaven, earth, or hell, we see none able to sustain the weight of them, but even Your dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, who in mercy infinite, and compassion endless, has sustained and overcome that endless punishment due unto them in Him therefore, in Him most merciful Father, and through Him, we come to You, being fully assured according to Your promise, that You will accept and take that full recompense which He, Your dear Son, has made for us, as a just ransom for the sin of all those, who with a true faith take hold on Him. In Him therefore we see Your anger towards us appeased, Your wrath satisfied, and our debts paid.

Increase in us good Lord we beseech You, this lively and feeling faith, for we feel it oftentimes in us very weak, and troubled with many doubts. Increase it in us, oh Lord, that we may through Your Holy Spirit be assured that the punishment of our sin is fully in Your Son discharged. Make us, oh Lord our God, to feel the same in our souls and consciences, that Jesus Christ is ours, and all that He has done, that we are engrafted into His body, and made one with Him, and therefore fellow-heirs with Him of everlasting life. Let us not only have these words in our mouths, good Lord, but through Your Holy Spirit, let us feel the comfort of them in our hearts, fully sealed and settled in us, that we feeling ourselves inwardly before Your judgment seat discharged, and our consciences towards You appeased, may be swallowed up with an unfeigned love towards Your heavenly Majesty, and towards our brethren for Your sake. Make sin to die in us daily more and more, that we may hate, detest, and utterly abhor all sin and wickedness in all men, but especially in ourselves, that we may strongly, through Your Holy Spirit set ourselves in open defiance against all sin and wickedness: that we please not ourselves in our sins, but straightly examining sin by the just rule of Your holy Laws, we may utterly from the bottom of our hearts condemn even the least sin in ourselves, having our whole joy, comfort, and consolation upon those things which be agreeable to Your blessed will, always being afraid to do anything contrary to the same, that we may even from the bottom of our hearts, examine and try our thoughts before Your presence, that they be upright and unfeigned, not hypocritical in outward show only and appearance, but that even all the corners of our hearts being opened and disclosed before You, we may even as though it were openly before the face of the whole world, bring them in show, knowing that a double heart is destitute in Your eyes, and that we may walk always as before Your eyes, not only before the eyes of man, being more careful to walk circumspectly in this respect, that we have You to be a viewer of our doings a thousand fold more than the eyes of man, that thus we may walk as becomes Your children, not only in outward show, but also in sincerity of heart, abhorring even the least sin in ourselves, striving, resisting, and fighting against sin, not nourishing the same in our breast, but earnestly embracing, and studiously seeking after those things which be pleasant in Your eyes, that neither the fear of man, nor loss of goods, life, lands, possessions, or friends, draw us away from You to do any least thing contrary unto Your will and pleasure, neither the favor and friendship of man, nor yet the flattering enticements of this world, nor the vain promotions of the same, do move us any whit from the true and endless joy, delight, and pleasure which we ought to have in those things which be agreeable to Your will, and the constant performance of the same, but that always to the end of our life we may continue in Your paths, growing and increasing from faith to faith, from strength to strength, till at length, we shall come to Your everlasting rest, Amen.

A Prayer for the Prosperous Estate of the Whole Church

Oh Lord our God and heavenly Father, forasmuch as by Your holy word, we are commanded in our prayers, not only to be mindful of ourselves, but also of all other of Your children: yes, even of our enemies, we commend unto Your divine Majesty, all Your whole true and catholic church, and every member thereof, that as it has pleased Your goodness by the bright beams of Your holy Word to shine over the whole world, whereby You have expelled, driven away, and caused to vanish the dark and misty clouds of ignorance and superstition, so You would vouchsafe by Your Holy Spirit, to touch the hearts of men, that they may joyfully embrace that Your so high a Treasure sent amongst us, that through our unthankfulness, we provoke not Your Majesty in anger to take it from us.

Crush, bruise, and destroy with the breath of Your mouth the mighty power of that man of sin, who so proudly exalts himself above all that is called God. Let not Your simple flock (dear Father) in whose consciences he so long time has, and yet does sit as God, be any longer poisoned with his sweet enticing poisons; but so lighten their hearts, that they may perceive his jugglings, and embrace the sweet and comfortable doctrine of life everlasting revealed in Your glorious gospel.

And forasmuch as it has pleased You in mercy above all nations of the earth, to pour down the sweet showers of Your heavenly graces upon this our English nation abundantly, in more plentiful-wise, watering the same with the gifts of Your Holy Spirit, in promoting Your gospel, and overthrowing idolatry, we beseech You, continue Your favor towards the same, and utterly root out all remnants, relics, and monuments of idolatry, that Your glorious Name may be throughly exalted in sincere, pure, and holy worship.

And as You have in mercy from amongst us in this Your church, utterly banished all false, venomous, and poisonous doctrine, wherewith the souls of Your children heretofore have been wounded to death, and in place thereof, have placed the true and comfortable doctrine of life everlasting; wherewith the souls of Your children may be fed and nourished to everlasting joy. So in like mercy and favor we beseech You, dear Father, establish in the same Your church, a true, perfect, and sincere regiment thereof, according to the prescript rule of Your blessed Word, all fantasies of man's brains, and dreams of human policy utterly abolished, that Your glorious majesty only may be exalted in the light of Your glorious gospel, and that Your church may flourish and increase, being through Your protection aided, supported, maintained, and defended. We beseech You and Your Holy Spirit, guide and rule every part and member thereof, especially Your servant James, our King, whom Your gracious favor and merciful providence has appointed a chief member of the same, under whose wings (next unto Your protection) it has a chief succor and support. Grant unto him, oh Lord, a pure and perfect zeal, above all things to promote Your glory, first and chiefly in laboring and endeavoring of himself earnestly in wiping away and purging out of the church all blots and deformities, to reduce the same to a pure and sincere form of worship, agreeing to Your blessed Word, utterly to remove all stumbling blocks, which stay and hinder the course of Your gospel. Give in like manner, oh Lord GOD, the spirit of wisdom, discretion, and government, that with equity and justice he may see this whole realm, which You have committed to his charge, peaceably and quietly governed, that he may studiously labor, that as well through the whole realm virtue be exalted, and vice abandoned, as especially in his own house and court, that all wicked vanities of this world, all licentious and inordinate life, all flattering and dissimulation being utterly banished, the fear of Your glorious Majesty may so reign in the hearts of all within his Highness' palace and court, that their lives and conversation may be agreeable to Your blessed will, in sincerity and true holiness, and integrity of life, that from them, as from the head, may shine purity of life and conversation as an example and pattern of true godliness to the whole realm.

Preserve him we beseech You, good Lord, from all conspiracies and treasons, that if it be Your good will he may have a long and quiet reign over us, to the benefit of Your church, and advancement of Your glory. Endue the whole Counsel, good Lord, with true and perfect wisdom, that in all their consultations and counsels, having You present before their eyes, they may consult of those things which principally and chiefly may be for the advancement of Your glory, and the commodity of Your church, and next for the quiet peace and gracious government of this his realm. So lighten all inferior magistrates of this realm, good Lord, with brightness of Your Holy Spirit, that understanding Your will, they may zealously defend, maintain, and further the course of the gospel, with the sword of justice cut off the wicked and cherish the godly.

Defend and govern by Your Holy Spirit, the pastors of Your church, and laborers in Your vineyard, that they may zealously, earnestly, and diligently feed Your flock committed unto them, with the food of life, Your blessed Word, wherewith their souls may be nourished to life everlasting. Increase the number of them dear Father, place over every flock, a godly, learned, and painful pastor, who may painfully and carefully travel everyone in his charge, to bring Your people (which now alas in many parts do wander and go astray like lost sheep) to the true knowledge of their Lord and God, and of Your dear Son Jesus Christ their Savior. And for Your mercy, we beseech You to take pity upon Your poor and simple flock, root out all ravening wolves, which have craftily crept into Your sheepfold, and do make havoc of the souls of Your simple flock. Cast out all hirelings, time-servers and dumb dogs, which to fill their bellies only, have thrust themselves among Your sheep, and do pitifully suffer the flock of Christ Your Son, to be devoured and scattered of the wolf. Stir up, good Lord, and place in their rooms faithful shepherds, which diligently, painfully, carefully, and earnestly may labor in Your vineyard, seek to win the souls of Your people, out of the tyranny and power of Satan, to the freedom of Your dear Son Christ Jesus our Lord.

And that Your church may better be furnished with godly learned pastors, we beseech You good Lord, to prosper and increase in all godly knowledge all schools of learning: especially the two universities, Cambridge and Oxford. Grant, dear Father unto all the students of the same, that the chief end of all their studies, may be to the furtherance of Your church, and maintenance of the commonwealth. Bless their studies (dear Father) that all vain studies set aside, they may so fructify in all profitable and godly sciences, that hereafter they may become profitable members of Your church and godly upholders of the commonwealth.

Grant (good Lord) to all the whole commons of this realm, that their hearts being touched with a sincere fear and reverence of Your heavenly majesty, acknowledging Your mercy in placing over them a godly and religious prince, they may everyone in their callings walk in all true and humble obedience unto him, in You and for You, without resistance, tumults, insurrections, conspiracies, or rebellions know that to resist the higher powers, is to rebel against Your Majesty. Finally we beseech Your goodness, so to guide and govern the hearts of all the whole realm of every degree, that everyone in his calling, being by Your holy wisdom supported, may so occupy his talent, that Your glory in all things may be advanced, Your church enlarged, and this whole realm into sincere godliness virtuously reduced.

Moreover, we beseech You (oh Lord our God) in mercy to behold all those who suffer persecution for Your glorious Word's sake, whether it be imprisonment, death, or banishment, or whatsoever else, strengthen them good Lord, that they having You always before their eyes, and the glory laid up for them in the life to come, may continue constant in defending Your truth without fear of man, or vain allurements of the world, that whether it come by life or death, they may glorify Your holy Name in continuing in the truth to the end.

Preserve in like manner, we beseech You, all Your other children, whom it has pleased You with any kind of cross to chasten for their amendment, whether by pestilence, famine, war, poverty, imprisonment, sickness, or banishment, trouble of conscience, vexation of spirit, unquietness of mind, want of spiritual comfort, or whatsoever kind of affliction of body or mind You do try them with: that by Your Holy Spirit being fully assured that You by this Your correction mind to call them back to a feeling of their sin, and due consideration of their life and conversation, they may patiently abide Your fatherly trial, looking for aide, help, and comfort from You, when it seems most convenient to Your holy wisdom; and being by Your merciful hand once delivered, may acknowledge Your singular power and work, giving all laud and praise to Your glorious Name; and afterwards all the days of their life, study and live before it, he in sincerity and perfect holiness, even to their lives' end. This oh Lord, we beseech You in mercy to grant, for Your beloved Son's sake, Jesus Christ our Lord, and only Savior, Amen.

Morning Prayer for Private Houses and Families

Oh gracious God, and loving Father, according to Your commandment, we do here present ourselves before the throne of Your mercy, acknowledging and confessing from the bottom of our hearts, that we be miserable sinners, daily breaking Your commandments, both in thought, word, and deed, wherein we justly deserve everlasting damnation, and to be utterly thrown from Your presence: yet oh Lord, we see Your goodness again toward us, who not suffering us thus to perish in our sins, have sent Your own dear Son Jesus Christ, to take upon Him whatsoever is due, to reconcile and make us at one with You again. In Him therefore good Lord, and through Him, do we come unto You, beseeching You for His sake, that we feeling the grievousness of our sins, and groaning under the burden of them, may feel the release and ease of them, in that we be through Your Holy Spirit assured, and steadfastly believe, that Christ has borne the burden of them even for us. Grant likewise, oh most merciful Lord and heavenly Father, that we being assured hereof in our consciences, may through Your Holy Spirit be renewed in the inner man, to hate, detest, and abhor sin, and to study to live according to Your blessed will during our whole life.

We do not only pray for ourselves, but also for all Your whole church, especially such as be persecuted for Your Word; grant unto them, that whether it be by death or life, they may glorify Your Name to their lives' end. Be merciful to this Church of England, Scotland, and Ireland, we beseech You good Lord, and preserve every part and member of the same, especially Your servant James our King. Grant him all such gifts as be needful for so high a calling, to the advancement of Your glory, and benefit of this commonwealth, to the establishing of a perfect government of Your church, according to the prescript rule of Your blessed Word, to the rooting out of all superstition and relics of Antichrist, to the governing of his subjects in all peace and tranquility. Defend him, oh Lord, from all conspiracies, treasons, and rebellions, and so work in the hearts of all his subjects, that knowing his authority doth come from Your heavenly Majesty, they may with obedient hearts humbly obey them in You and for You. Preserve the whole council and the magistrates of the realm, that being lightened through Your Holy Spirit, they may defend the truth, suppress wickedness, and maintain equity. Behold all the pastors and preachers of Your Word, bless their labors, increase the number of them, place over every church a painful watchman, remove all idle lubbers, and confound the power of Antichrist, and turn the hearts of the people that they may be obedient to Your truth. Bless the two famous universities, Cambridge and Oxford, and all the students of the same, with all schools of learning. Behold all those who be afflicted with any kind of cross, that they may profit by Your correction in newness of life.

Lastly, for ourselves here gathered, we humbly (oh Lord) crave at Your hands, that it would please You to make us thankful unto Your Majesty for all Your loving kindness shown unto us even from our infancy, especially, that You have this present night delivered us from all dangers both of body and soul, whereinto many have fallen, as we in the like manner should have done, if we had not been stayed with Your merciful hand, that You have also granted unto us so sweet and comfortable rest, and have now presently brought us to the beginning of this day. For these things, good Lord, we yield to You most hearty thanks, beseeching You to make us more and more daily thankful unto Your Majesty for them, and pardon our unthankfulness. And as You have safely preserved us unto this present hour from all the dangers of this life: so we beseech You continue Your favor towards us this day, and the whole course of our life. Defend us, oh Lord, that we now entering into the affairs of this day, be not drawn away with the vain allurements of this world, to sin and wickedness, that we walk not in the shadow of death, that we be not entangled in the snares of sin, that we stumble not at the blocks of iniquity, that we finally fall not into the pit of death and destruction, but being shadowed under Your wings, we may cheerfully and constantly go on forward to the end of our course. Grant unto us, oh Lord our God, that this good time which You grant unto us in this life, be not idly, or vainly of us consumed, but that everyone of us may be diligently exercised in his calling this day, and all our life long, being assured that You will once call us to yield an account of our stewardship. Endue us, we beseech You, with those gifts and graces which be needful for us in our calling, and that with a pure heart and sincere conscience, we may use them to the benefit of our brethren, and discharge of our own conscience before Your Majesty. We beseech You, oh Lord, that in all our consultations, words and works this day, and the whole course of our life, we may always have You present before our eyes, knowing that You see even the very deep thoughts of our hearts, which always may be as a bridle to pull us back, that we neither do, nor yet consent to any sin or wickedness, but that always we may be so exercised in the affairs of this life, that we look still to the end of our course, when it shall please You to bring us through the pilgrimage of this life to our everlasting rest with Your dear Son Jesus Christ our Savior, in whose Name for these mercies and whatsoever You know to be needful for us, and for Your whole church we pray unto You, as He Himself has taught us in His holy Word, saying. Our Father, etc. The Lord bless us and save us, the Lord make His face shine upon us, and be merciful unto us, the Lord turn His favorable countenance towards us, and grant us His peace. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the most comfortable fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us, preserve us this day and evermore, Amen.

Evening Prayer for Private Houses and Families

Oh Gracious God and loving Father, according to Your commandment we do here present ourselves again before Your Majesty, humbly prostrating our sinful selves before the throne of Your mercy, acknowledging and confessing from the bottom of our hearts, that we are miserable sinners, daily breaking Your commandments, both in thought, word, and deed; wherein we justly deserve everlasting damnation, and to be utterly thrown from Your presence. Yet (oh Lord) we see Your goodness again towards us, who not suffering us thus to perish in our sins, has set Your own dear Son Jesus Christ, to take upon Him whatsoever is due, to reconcile and make us at one with You again. In Him therefore (good Lord) and through Him, do we come unto You, beseeching You for His sake, that we feeling the grievousness of our sins, and groaning under the burden of them, may feel the release and ease of them, in that we be through Your Holy Spirit assured, and steadfastly believe, that Christ Jesus our Lord, has borne the burden of them, even for us. Grant, oh Lord, that we being assured hereof in our consciences, may through Your most holy and blessed Spirit, be renewed in the inner man, to hate, detest, and utterly abhor all sin, and that we may study to live according to Your blessed will, during our whole life.

And now (oh Lord God) we pray not only for ourselves, but likewise for all Your whole church, especially for such as be persecuted for the testimony of a good conscience. Grant unto them, oh Lord, that whether it be by death or life, they may glorify Your Name to their lives' end. Bless these churches (good Father) wherein we live, and therein our gracious sovereign, and Your servant James, king of Great-Britain, France and Ireland. Keep him, oh Lord, from all conspiracies, treasons, and rebellions. Preserve the noble and hopeful Prince Charles, the illustrious Prince Palatine, the Lady Elizabeth with their princely issue. Bless the lord's of his Majesty's most honorable privy counsel, the magistrates and ministers of this land. Shower down Your blessings (oh Lord) upon both the universities and all schools of learning comfort all those who be afflicted with any kind of cross, that they may profit by Your correction, to newness of life.

And lastly (gracious Lord God) we come unto You for ourselves here gathered together, rendering unto Your glorious Majesty, most hearty thanks, which has hitherto from our infancy preserved us by Your mercy from all perils and dangers both of soul and body, whereunto frail man is subject, that You have sent unto us everything necessary for this present life, as health, food, apparel, and such like, which many of Your dear children do want, being notwithstanding, as preciously bought with the precious blood of Your dear Son, as we be, and yet be in misery and calamity, oppressed with poverty, nakedness, imprisonment, and banishment; in whose case also (dear Father) You might have brought us, save only that You dealt herein more favorably with us, then with them. For the which Your loving kindness, we give You hearty thanks, desiring You, that as You have hitherto thus favorably in mercy preserved us by Your protection, and even presently this day have brought us past all dangers thereof, so we beseech You (good Lord) in like favor to behold us this night, that we, taking our natural rest and quietness, may through Your protection, be defended; that our bodies resting, our souls may be occupied in beholding Your favor and mercy towards Your children, still looking for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for our full Redemption.

Grant that our sleep be not immoderate, according to the lust of our flesh, but as much as is sufficient to refresh our weak nature, that being thus refreshed, both the body and the mind, may be more able to do their several office and function, in that vocation wherein You have placed us.

Grant, that we laying our bodies down to rest, may be thereby put in mind of our long rest of death, that as we do now lay down our bodies in bed, so we may be thereby admonished, that hereafter they shall be laid down in the grave, to be consumed to dust, earth, and ashes; from whence they were taken: That we having this before our eyes, may be stirred up in mind, warily to walk in this our pilgrimage, not knowing when the time shall be of our departure, but always to be found ready with our lamps of pure faith clearly burning, that we may be accepted to meet the bridegroom, when our mortal, earthly, and corruptible bodies shall be made like to the glorious body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, there to reign with Him, in perpetual joy and consolation, together with all the elect children of God, continually lauding with Your heavenly multitude, the glorious majesty of You, our Lord God and heavenly Father, in our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For these, and whatsoever else You know to be needful for us, and Your whole church, we pray unto You, as He Himself has taught us saying, Our Father, etc.

The Lord bless us, and save us, the Lord make His face to shine upon us, and be merciful unto us. The Lord turn His favorable countenance unto us, and grant us His peace. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the most comfortable fellowship of God the Holy Ghost, be with us, preserve, and keep us, this night forth, and for evermore, Amen.

A Form of Prayer Daily to be Used of All Faithful Christians, in Their Houses, or Elsewhere

Almighty God, and merciful Father, in and through Jesus Christ our Lord; in whom, and by whom, we trust that You are our God and Father, we most humbly here prostrate ourselves before the Throne of Your majesty, beseeching You first (good Father and God) to pardon all our sins, which we confess and acknowledge against ourselves, beseeching Your gracious Spirit, to work in us the knowledge of them daily more and more, that thereby we may come unto true repentance for them; and together therewith, unto the knowledge of the height, breadth, depth, and fullness, in all sorts of Your grace and mercy, whereby through Jesus Christ You have forgotten them, and removed them as far from us, as the east is from the west. And, although we know by them too well (good Lord) that we have, as much as in us lay and lies, labored to provoke Your anger against us, heaping sin upon sin, and multiplying offenses and transgressions against Your high grace and majesty, breaking Your holy Word and commandments; yet You (oh Lord) have not been as man, nor Your affections as the affections of the sons of men, but have continued gracious and merciful and bountiful unto us, in pardoning our sins, and daily renewing in us with the morning, Your graces diverse and manifold.

Therefore we beseech You, most merciful Father, so to give us Your Holy Spirit, that we provoke You no more, that You rise not against us to destroy us as we have deserved: for we have been, and are dry as stubble, and yet You have not dispersed and consumed us; we have been unfruitful, and You have not cut us down. Yes, Lord, we have brought forth wild and sour fruit, corrupt, and detestable, and yet You let Your Your to fall, and sun to shine upon us.

Make us therefore we beseech You, sorry as becomes Your children, for that we have disobeyed You, so merciful and loving a Father, and frame us daily, and fashion us to the likeness of Your well beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, that in knowledge and true holiness, we may glorify You before the world, and by the fruits of godliness and righteousness, be assured and made certain of Your Holy Spirit, and of the love wherewith You love us. Make us thankful dear Father, for the infinite and unspeakable benefits of our election to life and everlasting glory before all time and for our creation, redemption, and sanctification, in time to bring Your glorious counsel to pass.

Work in us certain faith, and assured hope in Your promises, the true fear of Your Majesty, perfect hate and detestation of all disordered and sinful affections. Work in us eternal love of Your truth and gospel, sincere affection and love towards Your children, and amongst ourselves patience, knowledge, virtue, love, compassion, with all graces of Your Kingdom, that in all on behavior, You, oh God, may be glorified in us. Also we beseech You, most merciful Father, for the benefits of this life, that as You are not only the God of our spirits and souls, but also of our bodies: so it would please You, notwithstanding our sins, to grant us Your blessings of health, peace, and maintenance, of which (by Your gracious providence) some of us do feel the want, and some of us have for long time enjoyed and used the same; that together with them, we may have Your Spirit to instruct us, as well in the wants, as in the true and lawful use of them, that we may more earnestly and seriously study and labor in these vocations wherein You have set us, through Your great mercy, to the promoting and increasing of Your Kingdom, to the benefit and comfort of Your children. And we, pray not only for ourselves, but beseech You make us earnest and fervent in prayer unto Your Majesty, even for others also, yes, for all men: that as You are the creator of all, so You would mercifully regard them, and continue Your gracious goodness and mercy, in administering and ordering the world, so that by no tyrants nor wicked men, that order which You have established be overthrown, but the spring and harvest, the rain and fruitful times, and the joy which You show and give by them, may provoke all men continually to fear and love You, yes, to seek You and find You, that not in those outward blessings alone, but much more in Your Spirit, they whom You have there-unto ordained, may rejoice in Your fatherly goodness by Jesus Christ, and that to this end, it may please You to pour out Your graces upon men, that they may be instructed and framed meet instruments, for the calling of all such as You have appointed to be of Your church.

That these builders may be cunning and expert. That these gardeners, may be wise to plant and water with judgment and discretion; that these stewards of Your mysteries, may so behave themselves in Your church, that they knowing how and wherewith to feed Your house, the glory and beauty thereof may appear in the eyes of all the world, which You have before so long time promised, and which to see the eyes dazzle and faint with looking for. And although we know well, oh Lord, that the cause of all miserable disorders, deformities, and breaches nowadays is in ourselves, which shut up Your hand, and (as it were) bind Your arms from reaching them out unto us, for our salvation and comfort, yet let the Lord arise and be merciful unto Zion, and have pity on the ruins thereof. For the time is come, our own Country and people are before our eyes continually, whose sin and disorder, whose ignorance and stubbornness, whose negligence and contempt of Your Word, You have now long time punished, withdrawing Your hand from doing them good. For by Your just judgment now many years, You have plagued them, and us, with idle, profane, unlearned, and unskillful pastors; guiders You have given them, but to their ruin; feeders, but of themselves, not of Your flock: Teachers and Doctors, who have mouths but speak not, eyes but see not, neither have they Judgment to instruct Your people, nor wisdom, how to go out and in before them; and that which is most fearful, Your good hand is not with those prophets who are amongst them, who do sow indeed, but the earth gives not her increase. They water, but Your plants rise not in any number. They feed, but Your flock is poor, not fat nor beautiful. Oh let the Lord forget the sins of His people. Why has He bound them upon His hand to look upon them forever? Why has He set them day and night in the sight of His countenance? We confess and acknowledge against ourselves, oh Lord, all our sins, we judge and condemn ourselves. Yes we testify against ourselves, that we have deserved that even those sparks of Your fire and heavenly light which are amongst us, should be quenched and put out, that the smoke of Your glory which is still in Your church amongst us, should rise up and vanish away from amongst us as the dew of the morning; that the same building which as yet stands were to be thrown down, that the Lord should mount upon His Chariot, and flee from us. But shall the Lord deal with His people by weight and measure? Shall He use judgment, and not mercy? Shall our Father forget his children, although we provoke him? Shall not the sighs and groans of those who bewail Zion, come before him and enter into His ears? Oh Lord, let the judgment and severity which we have deserved, be stayed. Let chariots and horses be loosed, let the armies of the Lord be discharged, and let the Lord ungird Himself, and forget His counsel, and turn and be merciful and gracious unto them acknowledge and confess their sins. Let the angels that be the destroyers, go from before Your face, to overthrow and cast down all that stands to hinder Your glory, and to maintain sin and ignorance, pride, and vanity. That Your good angels may follow, to mete out and describe all things that pertain to the building of Your temple. Let them lay to it the square and plummet, and let all Your people stand and shout and sing glory at the laying of this foundation. Let Your Spirit guide all those, good Lord, that in fear and reverence before You, walk in their vocation. In the universities and in all parts of the realm, yes, of the earth, looking and laboring for this work, and increase the little number, as the thousands of Ephraim, and the ten thousands of Manasseh, and those who laugh at, and hinder, and draw back this work, let them be ashamed and confounded, and all Your marvelous blessings be shown in the success thereof. But let them have no force nor strength to hinder it. So shall Jacob rejoice in Your mercy, and Israel in Your everlasting truth. So shall our eyes see Your glory, oh Lord, and we sing perpetually to Your praise. So shall Jesus Christ delight in the beauty of His church, and His people be a people meet to serve Him, decked and adorned with His gifts, laboring and studying to please Him, that in them His love may rest. To this end, good Lord, show Your mercy upon all princes and magistrates of the earth, that belong to Your election: turning the hearts of all those who hitherto have not known Your truth, but lent their power and might to Satan and Antichrist, to persecute Your people, to the great dishonor of Your Name. That yet now at the last, they may be brought home into Your sheepfold, and instead of persecutors, become nurse-fathers, and nurse-mothers to Your church. But especially, we most humbly beseech You for all such princes and magistrates, as have received Your truth. And namely, for our dear sovereign lord, the king's Majesty, whom You have placed over us in this realm, and for his most honorable counsel, and all magistrates therein, that You would augment the graces of Your Holy Spirit in him, and in them: especially, the spirit of wisdom, counsel, and power: that he and they may go forward in the work of the building up of Your church, in all obedience to Your will, speedily, and constantly, and perseveringly, that Your people the sheep of Your pastures, whom You have committed to him and their government, may godly and peaceably live and die to You, and with them and for them, glorify Your most holy Name forever and ever. We beseech You also good Lord our God, for all our Brethren wheresoever, that those which are in Your church in peace and safety, may prosper and go forward, and stand in Your truth forever, that Your goodness may be assured unto them, and that You would keep their place, and maintain their cause, against all that labor to trouble them. And for such as do yet labor under tyranny and affliction, whose sufferings You know, oh Lord, better than we can declare: It may please You to break the rod of their oppressors, to quench the fire of their adversaries, and to lighten, or rather clean take away that burden, that they so press them withal; that they together with us, may join in Your congregation, and feed safely, so that there may be none to scar us. Let Your Spirit of comfort possess our hearts, that all trouble may seem less then Your truth and glory, and so lighten our eyes, that in our darkness we may have such sight of Your glory, and of Jesus Christ, who is in that high mountain where He is now so glorious, that our griefs may be swallowed up.

A Special Morning Prayer for the Sabbath

Most mighty, and glorious Lord of Hosts, and God of Sabbaths, who though You did rest from all Your works of creation, yet daily work in all the world, disposing and preserving all things therein, by Your general providence, and especially rule in Your church and children; doing all their works for them, and daily preserving them from the evils of the time: encouraging them daily by the renewing of Your mercies to seek Your face, and refreshing Your beloved (daily) from Sabbath to Sabbath with the fruits of Your house, that they may be fitted to rest forever with You in Your eternal Sabbath. It is Your singular mercy, and great patience (oh Lord our God) that Your unworthy and unprofitable servants, having so often provoked You, to call us to an account and take our talents from us; are yet respited to a further use of Your blessings, and redeeming of the time in better husbanding thereof. But (oh Lord our God) how wonderfully and (above all other) unspeakable is this Your goodness, that though we have no better than profaned this Your holy day, generally heretofore by speaking our own words, and thinking our own thoughts therein; so far from being bettered by Your ordinances, that we still remain more hardened and inexcusable thereby, more leavened with hypocrisy and worldliness, more barren in uprightness and holiness of conversation, and so deserve forever to be plucked up by the roots, and cast out of Your presence. Yet have You offered us once again this gracious opportunity of Your blessed presence, and to draw near unto You, this Your day in the use of Your holy ordinances. How justly might You long since, either fatted up our hearts, and so given us up to our own lust, and reprobate ways, that all good motions might be utterly quenched in us, all desire of Your presence wholly extinguished. Or though we had any desire, yet You might justly hide Your face from us, and turn this day of our visitation into a perpetual night. Have You not thus reckoned with our neighbors round about? And what might You find in us (oh blessed Lord) that any way could stay this fearful reckoning? Is it because we have enjoyed more favors longer then they have done? Lord, what may we truly expect herefrom than to be beaten with more stripes? And though Your patience be more enlarged towards us, yet shall not the reckoning be the more intolerable? Or is it not Your singular wisdom, to warn us graciously by our bretheren's harms, and humble us the more by the sense of our unprofitableness, as if our case were bootless and desperate? Or is it because You have given us some remorse of Joseph's affliction, and enlarged our hearts with some compassion towards them. Oh how does this continue our cruelty towards them, that while we seek to ease them of their smart by our cold compassions, we yet encourage them by our example in sin? How does this challenge our want of mercy to ourselves, while we more harden our hearts hereby in wickedness, as if we were more righteous then they, because we are spared, and they are punished; and so heap up more wrath against ourselves by our impenitence, while we labor to reclaim others from the fury thereof. Thus find we nothing by ourselves, why we fare better than others; but that our best fare is like to prove our deadly bane. Only in You (oh our God) there is absolute power to do with Your own what You will; with You there is free mercy, to spare whom You please. In You, there is infinite wisdom to draw Your children unto Yourself, by contrary means; some by fear, plucking out of the fire; alluring others by Your tender compassions, that You only might have the glory of all Your works; melting some by Your patience, which hardens others, and hardening some by Your corrections, which softens others. Meditate (oh my soul) on this power, wisdom, and mercy of Your glorious God. Exalt Him and say: Who is like our God, who spares and punishes whom He pleases, who punishes by sparing, and spares by punishing? And so let Your heart begin this day with such devout meditation and ravishment therewith, that it may truly cast you down before His glorious presence, and utterly cast you out of all carnal confidence, and so wholly cast out of you all vain and earthly thoughts, that may interrupt your sweet fellowship with your glorious God, while you labor to power out your soul before Him in judging yourself, and justifying His free goodness for your former preservation, and crying for acceptance in your Savior for the pardon of your sins, and to be clothed with His righteousness, that you may appear all fair in the presence of your God, and so be safely carried by His Spirit, into the chamber of your mother, there to suck and be satisfied. Oh, grant us (gracious God) thus to begin this day in You, and with You. And that we may be better quickened and enabled hereunto, and set to the spending thereof wholly in Your fear. Persuade our hearts, we pray to You (blessed Lord) of the morality and equity of this Your own ordinance, that what You have for Your own entire and solemn worship so unchangeably ratified, we may not esteem common and indifferent, as either to seek myself any whit therein, or else not to seek You in all Your ways; as if either You had imposed rest from our worldly employments, because idleness pleases You, and the ease of the flesh were part of the worship; or else might excuse us from spiritual employments; or else, that herein also we might take our ease, and serve ourselves, refreshing the labors of our souls, by satisfying the flesh. But cause us (gracious God) to know, that therefore, in Your infinite wisdom You have now restrained us from bodily labors, that we might be there by freed from all encumbrances of care and worldly mindedness, and so might wholly apply ourselves both to the public and private means and practice of Your worship therein, even all the day; and that we may so do, oh, grant us we humbly pray to You, to call Your Sabbath a delight, to consecrate it glorious unto You; eschewing our own ways, and renouncing our own will, forsaking all vain and ordinary words, giving no way to any loose or worldly thoughts; but we may bind ourselves to an entire and constant following You, in all the ways of Your worship, as may any way seem to the sanctifying of this day.

And because I am like to meet with many hindrances herein, both within and without: my own heart within, repining heart, as an heavy yoke, and pleading for unseasonable and carnal liberty; the world without, alluring by cunning pretences and contrary example, and scorning my strictness and scrupulousness herein. Oh, arm me strongly (gracious God) against all these enchantments, and foolish scarecrows, that I may not lean to my own wisdom, but to Your sacred Word, studying the more carefully to please You in all things, that I may stop the mouths of gainsayers, or glory herein the more, that they are still opened against well-doing, and shall provoke You justly to stop their mouths in due time, with confusion. Oh, persuade my heart (as You have taught me) that Your yoke is easy, Your ordinances not grievous; and grant me to try my ease, by the diseasing of my flesh; and to prepare for comfort therein, by grief for my failings, which may still provoke me to continue therein; and the subduing of my flesh may better fit me to the cheerful undergoing thereof; and the more I feel my own wants and grieve therein, the more I may hunger after and value Your sweet ordinance, whereby my wants may be supplied, and sorrows refreshed, that so in the denial of myself, I may be still found of You in Christ, and by His power may be still enabled to go through the spiritual occasions of the day, and nourished with hope of the acceptance of my weak endeavors therein.

So grant me (loving Father) when I speak unto You, to speak even from You; from the sense of Your majesty, to abase me humbly before You: from the light of Your truth, to discern my special wants by the light of faith, to apprehend Your special favor in Christ, to cast me out of myself, and cast me boldly upon You, and by remembrance of Your former mercies and faithful promises, to assure me good success in presence with You, and so from the sense of Your love, to offer a sacrifice of praise unto You, that I may still receive from You by emptying my soul in compassion to others may be more replenished by You.

Oh grant me (Blessed Lord) that when You speak to me, I may hear You only, and alone by You. Let Your key open my heart that it may receive You inwardly: Let it shut my heart again that by meditation, I may retain You constantly. Let it open my heart again, by applying Your ordinance to my present and special wants; and so break the stony rock again, that the tears of hearty repentance may gush out plentifully. Oh, then let it shut my heart fast by confidence in You, that I sink not in despair. And then let it open and enlarge my heart again, with joy unspeakable and glorious, in the sense of Your rich mercies. And now let it shut up my heart again, against self love and spiritual pride, that so it may be opened by special grace, to all gracious and constant duties to You, myself, and my neighbor.

And when we are to meet You together in that holy communion, oh, prepare the room for Yourself, that You may delight to feast with me, and give me an heavenly appetite, that I may desire to feed on You. Humble my soul before You, that You may stoop unto me; and ease my soul of its heavy burden, that it may ascend unto You, and so knit my heart hereby unto You in an everlasting fellowship.

When I observe Your church enlarged by the admission of new members, the breach of my own vow, to consider my decay and backslidings from You; and in the sense thereof, to pray more earnestly for Your blessings upon Your own ordinance, rejoicing for the increase of Your church hereby, and yet preparing unto the bloody baptism, and so hungering after the full consummation of Your chosen.

When I join with the congregation, either in giving You praise, or in prayer to receive from You, oh, grant me to join of conscience not custom, to the satisfying of the flesh, to humble each other, that we may have mutual comfort, to labor with one mind and end, that our pains may not be tedious or fruitless.

Give me so to praise You, that I be more humbled in myself, so to give You thanks, that I part not stakes with You; so to sing unto You, that I may sorrow for my sins, so to rejoice before You, as that I may still hunger after You, and long for Your everlasting presence.

So enlarge me from Your bounty, to all occasions for Your sake, to fill the empty, to empty the gorged stomach, to raise the humbled, recall the wandering; confirm the weak, inform the ignorant, convince the obstinate, comfort the abject, and reconcile the averse; and in all these, give me, good Lord a cheerful heart, rather choosing to prevent, than be prevented, herein rather striving with the last, then giving over with the first. And so what I have found abroad, oh, grant me to communicate at home with my God in prayer, to bless it unto me; with myself in private application to be bettered thereby, with my family in conference and instruction, to increase the Kingdom of Christ, still raising my soul higher from the world, by meditation of the wisdom and goodness of my God, in His wonderful works, and so still more abasing my flesh, in the view and sense of my own unprofitableness in the best I have done; yet comforting my soul in the promise of my God, that He will require no more then He gives, and show His power in my weakness; that though I find no more in my reckoning, but a dearer and more deep sense of my corruption, as this day to discern and detest the same: so this deep sense of corruption, may enable me to prepare more conscionably against the more public occasions, and provoke me more earnestly to hunger after the everlasting Sabbath.

And even so grant me (gracious God) thus to end the day with You, as I have endeavored to begin, and continue the same in You. Oh, pardon, I humbly pray to You, whatsoever has been mine, and accept graciously, and crown Your own work in me, who am Your servant and the son of Your handmaid. And so do heartily commend myself, and all mine, into Your special tuition, beseeching You to give me my full acquittance before I meet You in public, that I may approach Your presence with comfort, and partake Your own ordinances as my appointed food, make such benefit by them as may satisfy me with Your fullness, to the rejoicing of my soul in the light of Your countenance, and to provoke me to long for Your everlasting presence, and fit me daily to meet my Savior in the clouds, in whose worthiness, I humbly pray to You to accept Your unworthy servant, and his weak prayers, to whom with Your own Majesty, and God the blessed Spirit, three glorious Persons, one God in unity, might, and majesty, be ascribed as most due, all glory and power, and majesty, and dominion, with all fear and hearty obedience, of us and the whole church of God now and forever, Amen.

A Prayer for the Sabbath Evening

Almighty and ever-living Lord God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in Him our most loving and gracious Father, whose faithfulness is everlasting, and loving kindness past finding out: it is Your good providence (holy Father) that we Your unworthy servants, have had this opportunity to commerce with Your glorious Majesty this day, in Your holy ordinances, and now are to make up our reckoning for our employment therein, in the shutting up thereof, and it is Your infinite mercy and tender compassion towards us, that You have yet respited us to the end of this Your holy Sabbath, to make our peace with You, that so we may lie down in Your favor, and so be sealed up hereby unto Your eternal Sabbath. For we unfeignedly here confess before You, oh You, the searcher of our hearts, that though You have offered Yourself most graciously unto us this day in all Your ordinances, to the reclaiming of us from our vain and perverse ways, as also to allure us to constant and cheerful obedience, yet Lord, You know what little power we have found to subdue the rebellions of our proud spirits, how little comfort we have reaped from there, to arm us against temptation, and stay us from sinking therein: No, our wisdom has the more opposed Your Spirit, by how much the more it has been convinced thereby, and our wounds have more stunk and putrefied, the more You have labored to lance and cure them.

How slightly did we prepare ourselves to Your public worship, being only formal and customary in the private, rather standing upon the adorning of our stinking carcasses to please men, then to humble our souls that we may be accepted of You. How careless have we been in exhorting and preaching to Your family, that they together with us, might go up with confidence to the house of God, and so be there refreshed with the fatness of Your house. And as we took not heed to our feet when we should come before You, so when we came, our footing deceived us; and though we saw our face in Your glass, and were justly abased at the foul spots therein, yet we forgot presently the true hue thereof, and so lose ourselves at home, even when we sought to find You abroad, departing always without sound comfort from Your presence, because we could not endure to be thoroughly abased in ourselves before You.

And thus has it befallen us (holy Lord) even while we have endeavored to honor You in Your ordinances, that while, we have rather sought therein our own glory, than Yours; and desired rather the outward credit of profession, then the power of conversion, and renewing of our inward spirits. Though You gave us our desire to be seen of men, yet You did send leanness into our soul; denying us justly, the true comfort which we did not chiefly desire, or indeed were not fit for. For (alas) what leave could we expect from You, or at all in You, who while we tendered with the harlot offerings of peace and made glorious shows of loyalty unto You; yet did no better than usurp upon Your honor by our hypocrisy and vain-glory, and (as much as lay in us) challenge most blasphemously Your omniscient righteousness; as if either You did not discern our inward rottenness, or did approve of our outside and bodily worship. And did ever any fight against God, and prosper? Even so (Lord) has it fared with me this day. My own proud heart has fought against You in the use and sense of all Your blessings, seeking to serve myself by them, and not Your glory, and so to harden my heart therewith, that though You fill the hungry with good things, yet did You send me away empty of true comfort, because my proud and swollen heart utterly excluded the same. And so it justly befell me, according to Your Word, that it carried me from the presence of Your grace. While I stood in the presence of Your ordinances, Lord how my mind wandered from You, while my body was before You. No, my disheartened mind perverted my body also, that even with much deadness of the outward man, much drowsiness and irreverence, I behaved myself so before You, as I dared not before my friend; as I might give just advantage to my enemy; rather thinking the time too long, because my mind was on my belly, yes, sometimes wishing my cares shorter, and more slow to hear, that so I might not conceive what was contrary unto my corruption, that I might (as it were) bless my soul in my shallow and counterfeit holiness? And what I yet conceived, how quickly either did I lose it, that I might not find myself; or how foolishly did I turn it, to the puffing up of my flesh, with a conceit of knowledge, or to the adoring of the vessel that yielded the treasure, that so he also might cloak and magnify me?

Oh Lord, how my deceitful heart cozened itself herein? Either in applying what I heard to others, as if myself were not aimed at, that so I might hereby commit two evils, both to condemn others, and justify myself; or else, in misapplying what I heard unto myself, fastening on such comforts as did not belong unto me, or slighting such terrors, as specially aimed at my sore. What should I say unto You (oh You more inward with me, then my inmost parts)? Though my ear was sometime tickled, yet my heart was not moved at all, or more hardened by its contrary motion. Though my heart was stricken for the present, and shaken by Your terrors, yet it was calmed again by the enchantments of hypocrisy and security. And although I saw my true face in Your glass, yet I stopped my ears from the hearing of Your Law; and therefore You did also hide Your ears from my prayers, which I afterward made before to You in private, and denied Your gracious blessing to my endeavors, in the informing of my family, and conferring of what I had heard, for their further building up in knowledge and obedience; and because I had been so careless in attending You, therefore You did justly leave me to the neglect of my duty to myself, and mine; that so in our failing each other, wherein happily we might be more confounded, as making this the main of our religion, rather to be honored of each other, in mutual help, than to honor You, our God, in seeking help from You alone, we might know the true cause, why You failed us in the public, even because we sought ourselves, and not Your glory. Oh the infinite riches of the wisdom of God! How wisely did You abase Your servant at home, where he sought to advance himself in private by profiting others, who neither sought Your honor abroad, nor how to benefit himself by the public ordinances. And yet how mercifully did You herein deal with him, by calling him to account, and charging him as an unprofitable servant, for his unworthy walking before You in the public, while he was casting up his pennyworths at home, and expiated the approbation and recompense of a profitable servant. Even thus, oh Lord my God, fared it with me at home, the best that I reaped was accordingly as I had sown. As I sowed to the flesh abroad, so of the flesh I reaped corruption and confusion at home: and while I endeavored to heal the wound, and mend myself, by imparting of my bad pennyworths to others, it was more increased by their drowsiness and deceitful chaffering with me, yielding me no better than the chaff and refuse of bodily and formal attendance for all my lip-labor and cold devotions bestowed upon them. And this is all that I can truly account with You (oh searcher of my secret parts) for all the goodness I have received from You this day, even to account myself unworthy of the least of Your mercies, not able to answer You one for a thousand, if You should enter into judgment with me. But herein yet have I boldness before You, and comfort from You, that in this I do unfeignedly judge myself, that You may not condemn me, that in the judging of myself I desire to give You the only glory of all Your mercies vouchsafed unto me this day in acknowledging myself unworthy of the least of them, that so still I may be found of You in Jesus Christ; not having my own righteousness, and so in his peace, may find peace and comfort with You.

Oh, pardon therefore (I humbly pray to You) the manifold wanderings of Your poor servant from You this day, even while he has been with You, and discharge him of those fearful reckonings which he has had with his own soul, because he has reckoned without You, and not measured himself by his acceptance with You, but rather by what he has slightly performed unto You. Accept me therefore in the righteousness of my Savior, and cover all my imperfections, with the perfect holiness of my redeemer, that in Him I may appear all fair before You. And speak unto my poor soul, by the testimony of Your good Spirit, sealing up unto me, the forgiveness of my best endeavors; that so the conscience of my manifold wanderings, and backslidings from You, in my vain and worldly thoughts, carnal walking, and behavior far unbeseeming either this day, or Your presence, may not confound me in Your presence, while I sue out my discharge from You.

Oh, give me to mourn unfeignedly for grieving Your Spirit so often this day, and dishonoring Your great Name, wherein I have sought to honor You; and make me to abhor myself before You in a just detestation of my best endeavors, as to be justified thereby; that so I may be acquitted by Your free mercy in Jesus Christ, and in Him may find peace and comfort in You; both that my failings are not imputed unto me, and that my poor endeavors being the work of Your own Spirit, may be accepted of You. Let this comfort me (oh my God) that I have desired to walk before You this day in the truth of my heart: and let this still humble me before You, that I have not answered my desires herein, that so I may have comfort in Your free acceptance, above all that I could do, or desire. And so in this comfort, grant me to repose myself wholly, in Your free grace, both to refresh me in the night season, that I may not sleep in death; and so to raise me up again to a wise redeeming of the time of my civil calling, and therein to lay up a good foundation, for better preparation against the next Sabbath, and so to be prepared to my eternal Sabbath with You forever in Your glorious Kingdom. Hear me (oh Lord) in these my supplications, pardon the weakness of my sinful prayers, accept my person in the Son of Your love, and answer me above all that I can ask or think, even for the only merit of Your dear Son my only Savior Jesus Christ, in whom You are well pleased, Amen.

A Prayer to be Said Before the Hearing or Reading of the Holy Scripture

Oh Heavenly Father, whatsoever I am, whatsoever I have, whatsoever I know, it is only by Your grace: for by nature I am the child of wrath, and I am not born anew of flesh and blood, neither of the seed of man, or of the will of man. Flesh and blood cannot reveal the mysteries of Your heavenly Kingdom unto me; but by Your blessed will I am that I am, and by the same know I that I know. Therefore, oh Father, do I commit into Your hands only, my salvation. If my knowledge be small, yet I doubt nothing but that I am the child of Your everlasting Kingdom, and therefore by Your mighty power, I shall grow (when it shall be Your good will and pleasure) to a more full and riper knowledge, as of a more perfect age, wherein my faith shall be fully able to comprehend and perceive the breadth, depth, height, and largeness of Your great mercies and gracious promises. But seeing, Oh Father, this power of full knowledge and perfect revelation, passes all power natural, and remains only in Your power, and light of Your Spirit; oh Lord, do whatsoever it shall please You, to open unto me and all the rest of Your elect servants and children, depending upon You, so much of the light of Your countenance, as may be most for Your glory, and our comfort; yes, and at such time as shall seem good to Your wisdom and fatherly mercy. In the mean while, thus resting wholly upon You, neither can I despair, neither will I be too much careful, although I cannot attain to the knowledge of many of Your works, neither to the understanding of many places of Your Scriptures. But I will confess unto You the weakness of my faith, waiting always for the further revealing of Your glorious light to be uttered unto me Your poor servant, when You shall think (of Your Fatherly benevolence and goodness) meet and convenient. I knowing most assuredly, that You will pity my weak imbecility and childish infancy, and cause the same to serve for Your glory, and my great commodity; seeing that I err as a child before such a Father, which cannot but off Your Fatherly pity and compassion, but rather as You have bought me unto Yourself, to be an heir of Your Kingdom by the blood of Your natural Son my Savior Jesus Christ; so am I sure that You will lighten me in the end, with full fruition of the bright light of Your countenance, that I may see You, and know, that as this Your Son knows You; yes, see You and know You my Father face to face, to know You as I am known. Thus rest I only in Your hands (oh my God) craving of You to increase my knowledge in Your holy Word, whereby I may know Your good will and pleasure. And knowing the same, give me, Oh Lord, Your Holy Spirit to conduct and lead me in the same all the days of my life; that in sincerity of faith, and pureness of living and conversation, Your glorious Majesty be magnified in me forever. Give me grace therefore (most merciful Father) that for so high a treasure left among us, as is this Your most holy Word, I may be thankful, reverently embrace, accept, and esteem of the same, as the most precious jewel in earth, be therein confirmed more strongly, that all things therein contained to be most certain and undoubtedly true, not by any mortal man, but by Your most Holy Spirit in man, penned and written to the comfort and behoove of man; that I may most humbly, lowly, and with most high reverence, submit myself thereunto, as becomes Your Majesty, and Your Word proceeding out of Your most blessed mouth: that I may reverently with humbleness and obedience, read, hear, and occupy myself in the same, to the comfort of my soul, and increase of Your glory. Lighten my understanding, most dear Father, with Your Holy Spirit, that I may learn, clearly to conceive, and understand the things therein contained, which no mortal man can conceive, save those who have learned of You, and whom You by Your Holy Spirit do lighten and instruct. Guide me (dear Father) with Your Holy Spirit, that having the true understanding of the mysteries therein contained, I may be fully established and confirmed in the true knowledge of You, my dear Father, and of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, thoroughly in conscience persuaded that I have my full and perfect salvation and life everlasting in Him, and through His atonement, made through His death and passion, that I do not vainly abuse the knowledge of Your sacred word, to satisfy vain curiosity, or brag of knowledge; but only to the relieving of my hungry and wounded conscience, to the loosing of my fettered soul, and the appeasing of my sorrowful heart; that I may to the end of my life, walk in sincerity before You, my heavenly Father, in the comforts of Your dear Son our Savior, upheld still by the merciful power of the Holy Ghost, to Your everlasting praise and glory, world without end. Amen.

A Thanksgiving After the Hearing or Reading of the Word of God

Oh eternal God, and most merciful Father, I yield unto You most hearty thanks, for all Your benefits bestowed upon me, especially that it has pleased Your heavenly goodness to shine into my heart through the light of Your Holy Spirit, in the mysteries of Your holy Word, and that You have framed my heart and mind to take such unspeakable joy, and comfort in Your most blessed and holy Word, and the embracing of my salvation therein offered unto me. For these Your unspeakable mercies, I beseech You, oh Lord, make me thankful, that I may acknowledge the great benefit thereof, and esteem of so inestimable a treasure, above all earthly possessions or treasures. And, oh Lord my God, for so much as I wander in this present life, among many and infinite dangers, whereby I am every moment in peril of sliding back, and falling from this fervent zeal of Your everlasting truth, which You have kindled in my breast, if otherwise You do not stay me by Your merciful hand; and for so much as I learn out of Your most blessed and holy Word, that it is not sufficient to have begun well unless I continue to the end, not sufficient to hold my hand to the plough, and look back. I crave at Your hands, in the Name of Your beloved Son, my Lord and Savior Christ, that this Your work which You have begun in me, You will in mercy increase in me, more and more, and continue it even to the end of my life: that I do not wax cold, secure, dull, or faint, but continually increasing in true zeal, I may still more and more be delighted with reading, hearing, and meditating of Your holy Word. I may thereby also daily increase in true knowledge of Your blessed will, from faith to faith, that I may even from the bottom of my heart, so sincerely profess Your true Religion, that all hypocrisy, vain-glory, and feigned holiness, utterly through Your Holy Spirit rooted out of my heart: I may only hold myself contented, that I may have the eyes of Your Majesty, beholding my inward heart and mind, whereby I only studying to be allowed before Your Majesty, may utterly reject all the vain praise of men, which might puff me up; or the scoffing jests, taunts, or reproaches of the ungodly, which might else drive me down. To this end (oh Lord my God) that I may increase, and daily more and more be confirmed in Your mercies begun in me. I beseech You, stir up true and sincere preachers, and messengers, who daily may stir up my mind and heart, otherwise by nature dull, to the joyful embracing of the glad tidings of peace. Leave me not destitute, oh Lord my God, of the means which You have appointed for the increase of a lively faith, and true zeal; which mean, is only the ministry of Your blessed and holy Word: but make me always careful for the seeking of it; and so provide, oh Lord my God, that I may always have it, comfortably receive it, and sweetly digest it. Keep me by Your Holy Spirit, oh Lord, that I never be seduced by erroneous doctrine, but that only I may give ear unto Your voice, that cleaving only unto You, I may in this present life which You have given me, so occupy myself, and use this good time which You have appointed, that I may still look for the coming of Your dear Son, to receive me into the everlasting rest, prepared for all the elect and chosen, whereby I shall forever remain together with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom with You and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end, Amen.

A Prayer Before the Receiving of the Sacrament

Oh Lord Jesus Christ, who are the sweet comfort of all that call upon You, and the sure succor of all such as sue unto You; behold me a most sinful creature, and foul offender, which bowing the knees of my heart with all humility before You, confess unfeignedly, that I am not worthy to entertain and receive You into my sinful and unclean house. Nevertheless, most loving Lord, who has said, that whoso eats Your flesh, and drinks Your blood, shall dwell in You, and You in him, have mercy upon me, oh, have mercy upon me most merciful Savior, and behold me most miserable sinner, prepared at this present, not only to let You in under the roof of my mouth, but also to lodge You in the house of my heart. Oh bountiful Jesus, be my gracious Redeemer, and grant that I receive not the sacrament of Your body and blood unworthily, purchasing thereby unto myself death and damnation, but rather be made through faith in You, a worthy receiver, and a meet member of Your blessed body, and so by the strength of this heavenly food, may not only be enabled to cast away all my former sins, and most beloved corruptions; but may also walk before You, in all constant holiness, to the making sure of my election. Grant this I beseech You, for Your own mercy's sake, Amen.

A Prayer to be Said After the Receiving of the Sacrament

Oh sweet Savior, which with Your precious salve of compassion, cures the foul and filthy sores of our sins, and provides for us all necessary preservatives against the poison of the soul-infecting maliciousness, hear I beseech You, the humble supplications of me Your poor servant, which here present myself before You at this present, and grant that this my receiving of the sacrament of Your blessed body and blood, may be a true testimony unto my conscience, that I have through faith in You, received full remission of all my sins and offenses past; and am now become (as it were) a new creature in Your sight. I beseech You likewise grant, that casting away all my former works of wickedness, I may henceforth walk in newness of life, and godly conversation, bringing forth such fruits of true conversion, as may move others by my example, to honor and praise Your holy Name. And that running the whole race of my life in dutiful obedience toward You, I may when it shall please You to think meet, received among the number of Your elect, into that everlasting happiness where we shall be perfect in holiness, Amen.

A Prayer for Constant Perseverance in Praying, When We are Dull to Prayer

Oh Lord God, most merciful Father, according to Your commandment, in my afflictions, and necessities, I seek to You for succor by continual prayer and calling upon Your Name. I call upon You in the day time, and in the night season do I pour out my prayers unto You, and yet for all that I feel me nothing released, but oftentimes worse and worse, which makes me many times dear Father almost to doubt of Your goodness, that You do reject my prayers, and give no heed unto them, whereby I do almost think that it is no boot for me to pray, seeing I feel no release; but (oh Lord) this is but weakness in me, and the frailty of flesh, which will not willingly be subdued unto Your Spirit: which my frailty, I beseech You, oh Lord, forgive me. For You do, oh Lord God, see my conflicts, and look upon my continual sighs and petitions, but You do defer and prolong Your help the longer; and do not at first help me, to this end, that I may see fully my own weakness, learn by little and little to subdue my rebellious will to Your good will, who knows better what is meet for me then I myself. Therefore (oh most dear Father) strengthen me by Your Holy Spirit, that I may still persevere and continue in prayer, and with longing desires patiently wait for You, oh Lord, being assured that although it appear not, yet You are always present with me, and hear my sighs and complaints, and will when You see Your time declare Yourself manifestly in the renewing my heart with spiritual joy; stir up, oh Lord, my dull and sluggish nature, to call upon You continually, appointing neither time, nor the means of my deliverance, but leaving all to Your good will and pleasure: I may in the mean time, never cease my continual prayer, to call for Your merciful help, until such time as it shall please Your goodness to send me full deliverance. I feel myself (oh Lord) oftentimes very unwilling to pray, for that I do not fully perceive my prayers to be heard, but do go on still languishing in my sorrows, as though You had no care of me. But this my dullness, I beseech You, oh merciful Father, pardon in me, and grant that I may be raised up to pray for aide and relief of You continually, although I should see no sign of favor; yet that I may continue still, with the faithful woman of Canaan, and never cease in heart, mind, and mouth, till You grant my requests at Your appointed time, when You know it shall be most for my behoove, and for Your glory. And that when You shall mercifully look upon me to deliver me, I may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge Your goodness toward me, and let it never stir out of my heart, but continue thankful for the same all the days of my life, whereby Your glory in me may be declared, and my soul relieved through Christ my Lord and Savior, Amen.

A Prayer for All Times

Oh Lord God, Father of mercy, and God of all consolation, without whom we have neither hope nor comfort, we poor wretched sinners beseech You of Your fatherly goodness, to look upon us, and to make us partakers of Your gracious goodness, so that evermore we may set forth Your honor and glory. Let our conversation be such, that a great many beholding our good works, may glorify You our heavenly Father; and so direct our ways, that we may hold forth the profession of Your gospel, as a lantern to lighten the steps of a great many, that they may turn to You, and praise Your Name in their visitation. Thus (oh Lord) we beseech You to deal with us, that in deed we may be vessels of honor unto You, now to set forth the glory of Your Name, and after this transitory life, to behold Your glory, who has immortality alone, and dwells in light, that no man has approached unto. Remove far from us our sins and iniquities, that they may not separate between us and You. Blot out of us our offenses, and make our prayers righteous, that You may favorably grant our requests. Look upon us with Your favorable mercy, that You may have pity upon us, and behold us in the righteousness of Your beloved Son Christ Jesus; and that we may be presented faultless in Your sight; and You accepting us as holy, we may have the grace evermore to set forth Your honor and glory, and to speak of Your praises in the midst of all Your people.

Let us love (oh Lord) the things that are good, and hate the things that are evil, let us delight in all things that may please You, and let us be grieved with whatsoever is displeasing in Your sight. And to the intent we may have true understanding, and be able to discern between things, what is good or evil, we beseech You, let Your Word dwell in us plentifully, that it may guide our understandings so that we may abound in all knowledge, and do according to that which is righteous. And in this estate of true Christianity, being instructed in mind, and ready in body in all holy obedience, we beseech You, make us to grow and increase from grace to grace, from faith to faith, until we come unto the fullness of age, to be perfect members of the body of Christ, waiting for the blessed hope of Your elect, and sighing in spirit until the time that Your children be revealed.

In the mean season, let us sigh with all those who have received the first fruits of Your Spirit, that these days of sin may cease, that Satan be trodden down under feet, that Antichrist may be revealed yet to many thousands that be in ignorance, that the number of Your elect may be full, the body of Your saints made perfect, all tears wiped from their eyes; even then when Your Son shall appear the second time, to judge the quick and the dead, which time (oh Lord) send quickly, according to Your good will, and teach us to pray with all Your saints, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Grant this, oh most merciful Father, for Your Son's sake, in whose Name we pray unto You. And although we be but earth and ashes, yet we are bold to say unto You, (the God of all glory) even as He has taught us. Our Father who is in heaven, etc.

A Prayer for All Estates

Oh Lord God, Father of light, with whom is no change, neither yet shadow of change, but has established Your appointed counsels, which shall not be changed forever. You, oh God, have made among us this diversity of estates and degrees, according as every commonwealth needfully requites, keep us all, we beseech You, that we may walk obediently in our calling, and follow the steps that You have set before us, even from the highest to the lowest; let us accomplish that duty unto which You have appointed us, and with a faithful remembrance of Your promise made of old to our father Abraham, that You are his exceeding great reward, we may likewise depend on Your providence, and seek not any shameful ways to get our living, wandering from the righteousness of our vocation, into the manifold errors of sin and iniquity. Look upon us (oh Lord) and enrich us with Your grace. Make us obedient to our superiors, meek towards our enemies, faithful to our friends, true and just towards all men, that we may dwell steadfastly rooted in the hope of Your elect, until You shall make an end of all our labor. Look upon our most excellent king, and prince, with his Highness' honorable counsel; as You have called them to the highest rooms, so give unto them the greatest measure of grace, that they faithfully dispense the talents committed unto them. Lead them with good King David into the sanctuary, that they may see Your lovingkindness, which is better than life, and say with the prophet, All flesh is grass, and the glory of man is as the flower of the field, and so consecrate themselves to do Your will, offer up their bodies to be holy, living, and reasonable sacrifices unto You, that they may be nurse-fathers unto Your church. Look also, we beseech You, upon the ministers, whom You have appointed to the preaching of Your gospel, make them (oh God) faithful dispensers of Your mysteries, without respect of persons, to do the work unto which You have appointed them, that they may convert sinners, and have their glory perfect in the day of Christ; and knit us together in peace and love, that they may be full of compassion one towards another, to rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn, especially to instruct one another in the way of righteousness, that by our mutual help we may the better withstand our enemy, and dwell safe in hope of Your elect, till our days shall be full, and we shall walk in the ways of all the world, which time we beseech You bring us happily unto, even for Your Son's sake, we beseech You, to whom with You, and the holy Ghost, three persons and one God, be all honor and glory, now forever, and evermore, Amen.

A Prayer to be Confirmed in the Knowledge of God

Oh most mighty, and eternal God, You that by the creation of the world, the sun, the moon, and stars, the earth, the sea, and all that therein is, have sufficiently declared Yourself to be the everlasting and Almighty God, for that these things do far pass the reach of man's wisdom. And not herein only have You declared Yourself to be a God: but in that also, that You do continually guide and govern all things of You created. It is You therefore that thunders from heaven, that with lightnings and tempests, and of waters and winds, show Your terrible vengeance upon sinful flesh. It is You (oh God) who lets us feel sensibly in ourselves, Your mighty power and working, not only in that, that You have made our bodies and souls, but especially, that You make us even of force to confess Your eternal Spirit in us, who so mightily fights against the assaults of the enemy, that of force we are driven to acknowledge that it is Your working in us, and not we ourselves. Seeing therefore, oh most merciful Father, that we have both in Your creatures, and also in ourselves so manifest testimony, that You only are the eternal and ever-living God, who reigns in all Your creatures, guiding them by Your heavenly providence. Grant we beseech You, that our hearts may be hereof fully assured, to acknowledge You not only to be God eternal, who has created all things, but also that we may in heart be fully persuaded, that You, oh Lord God, do govern all things according to Your most blessed will, so that nothing can be done in the world without Your appointment, and that You have such a singular care over Your elected people, so that not so much as an hair of their head shall fall without Your providence; that You so guide all their doings, that all things shall turn to their commodity, and Your glory. Grant, oh Lord God, that hereof we may be fully assured in our hearts and souls, that we may in all our doings set You before our eyes, acknowledging You to be our only Lord and Father, and by the working of Your Holy Spirit in us, may be confirmed in faith, and comforted in soul, and lightened in understanding, that always here upon earth, we may glorify Your holy Name, and after the dissolution of this body, we may attain to everlasting joy, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns, world without end, Amen.

A Prayer for the Obtaining of Saving Faith

Oh eternal God, and merciful Father, who in the riches of Your mercy, have ordained Your only Son Jesus Christ, to be the propitiation for the sins of Your elect; that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life; that so many as receive Him, and believe in His Name, may have power from Him, to be the sons of God, and heirs with Him of eternal glory; and in Your infinite wisdom, have so disposed of me Your creature, that being first estated by You, in a condition of holiness, and falling willingly from the same, by my own rebellion, into a most fearful and desperate estate of sin and damnation, I might be restored again to a better condition of life and immortality, by the death and passion of Your dear Son. Look down, I humbly pray to You, with the eyes of Your mercy upon me Your most unworthy servant, who does unfeignedly here confess before You that, though I am by nature most sinful and miserable; yet such herein is my desperate case: that through the blindness of my mind, and hardness of heart, which cannot repent, I am so far from knowing my misery, much less how to help myself out of this woeful estate, that the very wisdom of my flesh, is enmity against You; and myself, not only rebelling against the means, which might discover unto me my misery, but most desperately perverting those means, to the further hardening of my heart, and so to the more desperate enwrapping me in the bonds of damnation, by heaping up wrath against the day of wrath.

And therefore, first I humbly pray to You, blessed Lord, who has the key of David; who opens and no man shuts, that shuts and no man opens, to open the blind eyes of my mind, that I discern the wondrous things of Your Law; that so in the true glass of Your holy Law, I may clearly discern my own miserable estate, and by the hammer of Your Law, my hard heart may be thoroughly broken, with the sense of my sins, that so feeling my sin a burden, which I am not able to bear; I may be wholly confounded in myself, as discerning myself to be an utter castaway, and reprobate branch, fit for nothing, but for the unquenchable fire of Your jealousy. Oh, make me Lord, to see the inward vileness of my heart, and that all the thoughts, and imaginations thereof, are only evil continually: that though I may be happily free from gross evils, and seem to show forth some civil goodness, yet those may be convinced to be most abominable, because they proceed from the filthy sink of my heart; and the less I discern the evil of my ways the more I may acknowledge the deceitfulness of my heart, the more I may convince the obliquity thereof; that howsoever I seemed to be alive, as being ignorant of my misery; yet now discerning myself in Your righteous Law, I may not only acknowledge myself dead in sins and trespasses, and so utterly senseless and unable to help myself; but also, may renounce utterly my own wit and wisdom to any good, as being no better than desperate rebellion against You.

Thus being confounded, and wholly cast out of myself, and finding my case to be out of measure sinful, and so altogether desperate in regard of any ability as of myself, to my recovery, oh, let me not sink utterly under this insupportable burden, but put Your holy hand under me, to prevent utter despair, and sustain me secretly by Your mighty power, that I be not swallowed up in death. Oh, raise me up I humbly pray to You, with the hope of Your mercy, and lead me by the hand of Your grace, to seek it where it may be found. Bring me into the secret chamber of Your gracious presence, where I may behold Your face in my Savior, and grant me to admire Your infinite wisdom and mercy, in providing so sovereign a remedy for my distress.

Oh, give me to be ravished with Your love, in the exceeding riches of my Redeemer, and make me so to value the worth of His merit, as for the obtaining thereof, to resolve on utter renouncing and parting with whatsoever I have, to obtain the same. And so finding now by Your grace, what need I have thereof, oh work in me a secret hope that You may be reconciled if I can fasten on the means thereto, and grant me above all, to hunger after His righteousness, that so my iniquities being thereby covered, I may draw near with confidence unto the throne of grace, to beg unfeignedly, even with strong cries, the pardon of my sins. And though I receive not a present answer to my desire, yet sustain me I pray to You, with Your gracious Spirit, that so I may with patience wait Your good leisure, and never give over, till You have said unto my soul, I am Your salvation.

And though I do not presently feel this testimony of Your Spirit, sealing me up to the day of redemption, yet grant me (I pray to You) to be strong in faith, believing what I feel not as I would, and hoping for what I do not yet enjoy, that so thereby being knit unto Christ my Savior, and made one with Him, I may thereby draw virtue from His death, to the mortifying of my corrupt nature, and killing of those special lusts that do hinder this sense of Your love in Him towards me; that so feeling in me a dying to corruption, I may also thereby apprehend more fully, the discharge of the guilt of my sins, in the merits of my Savior; and so thereby renewing my peace with You my gracious God, I may rejoice in the hope of that glory, which He has purchased for me.

And so in the hope of that glory, grant me (I humbly pray) to draw virtue from the resurrection of my Savior, that so I may be raised up with Him to newness of life, whereby I may render thanks unto You for this unspeakable gift, and to be made meet for the same, in the acceptable time.

And that I may not be disappointed of my hope, oh grant me still to live by faith in the Son of God, daily denying my own righteousness, that still I may be found acceptable with You in Him, above all worthiness in myself, of my imperfect endeavors, only in His righteousness, and so thereby may be prepared to the hope of glory.

And seeing I am like to meet with many hindrances in pursuit of this glory, both from the world without, either detaining me in the way, or drawing me from the mark; as also from my own deceitful heart within, as discouraging me in my course, and laggering me in my pace; and sometimes also blinding me either not to discern, or mistake the goal. Oh grant me to walk by faith and not by sight, as to rest on the foundation which stands sure, the Lord knows who are His, though sometimes in the building I may miss of it; so to walk as a stranger and pilgrim in the world, not clogging myself in my journey with unnecessary luggage, and fretting cares, nor setting up my rest in any present inn of outward happiness, or inward means thereto, but still casting away everything that presses down, and the sin that hangs so fast upon me, I may run with joy the race that is set before, looking unto Christ Jesus the author and finisher of my faith, and so by Him seeing within the rule into the glory that is set before me, I may despise the shame, and wait with patience, the great recompense of reward; that so neither riches may daunt my faith by presuming too far, nor depth may quail it, by stooping too low; that principalities may not shake it by force of temptation, nor powers overcome it by their violent impressions; that neither things present may abase it by groveling thereon, nor things to come may deject it by doubtings or false fears; that neither life may corrupt it by doting thereon, nor death may confound it by unpreparedness thereto; that nothing may separate me from the love of God in Jesus Christ, in whom (by faith) I am more than conqueror over all things.

Thus grant me (gracious God) to walk by faith, and not by sight. And that I may receive the end of my faith, even the salvation of my soul, oh keep me by Your mighty power through faith unto salvation, and guide me by the Word of faith in all my ways, that I may not lean to my own wisdom, but to Your sure Word, as to a light shining in a dark place, that so I may daily grow in knowledge, and in the grace of Jesus Christ from faith to faith; filled with all joy and peace, in believing and abounding in all fruits of righteousness and perfect holiness, that so I may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing, waiting for the appearance of Jesus Christ; that so my conversation being in heaven, an entrance may be thereby made unto me, into the everlasting Kingdom of Your dear Son, even to take possession by faith in this life thereof, and to see afar off by faith, into the fullness of that glory, that so I may fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold of eternal life, in full assurance of what I have already the earnest of by faith; and so in that hope daily purging myself of all wickedness of the spirit and of the flesh, that I may grow up to perfect holiness in the favor of God, waiting daily by faith the adoption of the sons of God, and laboring to attain the resurrection of the dead; that so I may be kept blameless, in soul, body, and spirit, unto the coming of my Savior Jesus Christ. Grant these things (gracious Father) even for His sake in whom You are well pleased, Jesus Christ the righteous, to whom with Your own blessed Spirit, one glorious united Trinity, be glory, and praise, and dominion, now and forever, Amen.

A Prayer to Feel in Heart Spiritual Comfort, and the Lively Sense of our Adoption by Faith

Oh Lord God, most merciful Father, now I fully perceive and know that the heart of man is not in his own hand, for You have taught me by diminishing Your Spirit of comfort in my heart, that it rests wholly in Your power to make joyful the heart of man, and to diminish the same joy according to Your good pleasure and will. For if (oh God) it had been in my own power and will to have received comfort in Your holy Word, or to have believed Your promises from my heart, I would long since have enjoyed comfort, and been confirmed in faith; but I cannot (most merciful Father) it is Your mere work, I look therefore, oh gracious God, for Your blessed comfort and strength of faith, which I beseech You, oh Lord, send into my heart to fill the same with spiritual joy, that by the working of Your Holy Spirit in me, the comfortable promises of Your merciful protection may be thoroughly sealed in my heart, and sink down deep into my soul, that I may be fully assured that You are my strong rock and house of defense, that You do keep me as the apple of Your eye, as You have promised in Your blessed Word, that You will not lay more upon me than You will give me strength to abide, and that You will assuredly at Your appointed time renew my heart, and the whole powers of my mind, that I may fully glorify Your holy Name. But in the mean time (oh Lord) alas, my heart is clean void of spiritual joy, yes, even as hard as a stone, so that the loving promises of Your holy Word (although I know them to be true) yet they cannot sink into my hard and stony heart, until such time as You by increasing of Your Holy Spirit to me, shall mollify and make tender my hard heart, that it may be meet to receive the sweet comfort of Your Spirit. Your Holy Spirit, oh Lord, in me, which is the assurance of my salvation, does continually send forth unspeakable sighs and longings, for Your full and joyful presence. I beseech You therefore (dear Father) for Your Son Christ Jesus sake, hearken unto my prayers, and grant my requests, make tender my hard and stony heart, by Your Holy Spirit, that I may from the bottom of my heart, acknowledge You to be my most merciful God and Father, and all things in Your holy Word contained, to be most certain and true, reverently embrace the same, and into my soul take comfort and joy in the same, that I may, dear Father, even unto my life's end, walk before Your face in sincerity of heart, being assured of my salvation, through that one alone sufficient sacrifice for my sins, made by Your dear Son Christ Jesus, to whom with You, and the Holy Ghost, be all honor, and glory, world without end, Amen.

A Prayer Against Doubting to Strengthen a Weak Faith, and to Persevere Therein

Glorious and mighty Lord, who by Your sovereign and all-sufficient power, as You made all things of nothing, so You call those things which are not, as if they were, and do command light to shine out of darkness, that so we might be translated out of darkness, into this marvelous light. Holy Father, it is Your unspeakable mercy, that I Your most unworthy servant, being once the child of hell, yes, darkness itself, am now through Your free grace, enlightening my heart by faith, enabled to behold Your face in Jesus Christ, and so through this light, am become light in the Lord, being enabled by faith, to discern the great mystery of Christ, and so by faith to lay hold thereon, as to be freely thereby discharged from the guilt of my sin, and to be invested with the perfect righteousness of my Savior; that so I might be found acceptable unto You. Holy Father, how unspeakable herein have been Your mercies to me a vile sinner; that passing by the wise and noble of the world, it has pleased You of Your free grace to visit me, a very reprobate branch, with Your saving health, and to send the Spirit of Your Son into my dead heart, whereby You have quickened me by faith in the merits of my Savior, enabled me with boldness to draw near unto You, and to cry with confidence, Abba, Father. Oh, how have You shed Your love abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost, which You have given me, whereby, though I have been in great heaviness through many temptations, especially with the sense and horror of my sins; yet have You wonderfully refreshed my fainting spirit, and caused me to rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorious. Oh, how have these holy ravishments taken me up into the third heavens! How has my soul now longed to put off this corruption, and to be taken up, forever to enjoy Your glorious presence! How gladly would I now have obtained the mark, before I had run my race! How willingly would I have the crown, before I had finished my course! Oh, the unspeakable riches of the wisdom, and mercy of my God toward me! Did You not put this precious treasure of faith into an earthen vessel, that the glory might be of God, and not of man? Did You not redeem me out of the hands of our enemies, that so I might pass the time of my pilgrimage in fear, and magnify Your power daily in my infirmities, daily denying my own righteousness, that still I may be found of You in Christ, that still I might live by faith, in the Son of God, and grow up in Him to perfect holiness? Surely blessed Lord, when I consider my own corruption, daily more and more appearing in me, and rebelling against Your righteous will, and casting up daily mists to dim the eye of my faith, that I cannot so clearly discern the light of Your countenance; yes, sometimes so leading me captive into sin, that I am many times to seek of the sense of Your love, I am many times put to question the truth of my faith, and to distrust myself whether I have any faith, or no. For alas Lord, I must needs confess, to Your glory, that although You command me to believe perfectly in Your Son, and to be strong in faith, yet I find on the other side, such strength of corruption, prevailing over me, and commanding me forcibly to give way thereunto, and so not only interrupting the sense of Your love unto me, but also challenging my love unto You, that I am forced many times to fear, whether I am led by the Spirit truly of faith or no; whether ever Your love were shed abroad in my heart; if ever I loved You in truth, seeing it seems unto me, that my love unto sin is not altogether quenched. Nay, I feel the power of corruption, carrying me so violently after the lusts of my heart, that as I find myself less cheerful and constant in Your service, so on the other side, I sometimes find myself less able to resist temptations; more apt and inclinable to such lusts which heretofore I have subdued, yes, often more foully overcome and foiled by them. What shall I say unto You (oh searcher of my heart, and preserver of my soul) do You not see how cold sometimes I am in prayer? How dull in the hearing of the Word? How careless of Your Sabbaths? How unconscionable and negligent in my calling? How rebellious and inordinate in my affections? Oh, how often have I grieved Your Holy Spirit, by neglecting the good motions thereof, yes, many times willingly crossing the same, and entertaining contrary suggestions of my cruel enemy? How careless have I been to examine my heart, and renew my covenant with You! How deceitful or careless, in breaking often my vows which I have made unto You against special corruptions, for renewing of decayed graces! Oh, how often have I been ready to give way to such cursed thoughts of blasphemy, and fearful impiety, which might even quench Your Spirit, and lead to the despiting thereof! How have I sometimes been ready to violate my conscience, by rushing on desperate evils! Yes, how fearfully have I wounded the same by committing gross sins, and to make up the measure of my misery! How have I hardened my heart by sleeping in sin, and neglecting the saving means of deep humiliation, to awaken me to repentance! Alas (Lord) You know full well that though You have followed me with many secret and open afflictions to rouse me out of this sleep of security, yet either it has proved but a dream, and so I have fallen asleep again; or if my heart has been awake, yet it has not been unto You to make my sound peace, but rather unto my enemy, to cease his violence; yes, sometimes to the world, to procure some temporary lenity rather to ease my present pain, then to heal me thoroughly. And surely (righteous Lord) even thus it has befallen, that such as I have sown, I have often reaped even more hardness of heart, less sense and remorse for sin, more boldness thereto, and more ease therein; less delight in holy duties, less life in prayer, less conscience in the Word, more slights in my calling, more distraction in my reckonings, and more confusion in my spirit.

Yet still (oh Lord) I hear a voice behind me, saying: This is the way, walk in it. Yet still I find Your hand over me to stay me from sinking; still my better advised heart tells me, it was better with me formerly than now, when I had comfort in Your presence, and conscience in Your ordinances. Still Your Spirit is ready to revive me with hope, that I may recover again, and my hope is confirmed hereby, that the means are still offered me, and I am capable of them. But (alas Lord) instead of comfort by them, I reap nothing but further confusion, because as I am unable to apply them to myself, so indeed I am not now fit for that comfort which I seek for in You. For what peace can there be to me, while my corruptions stink before You? Or how can I look for comfort, before I be soundly healed? Oh, the unspeakable riches of the wisdom and mercy of my God! How unsearchable are Your councils, and Your ways past finding out? As You did bring light out of darkness in calling me from darkness unto light; so do You cause Your light to shine in darkness, that Your glory may be perfected in my infirmities. And therefore, though I am now Your creature, renewed after Your own image, yet seeing You will have the only glory of Your work, therefore as the light of the righteous must shine more and more unto the perfect day; so the darkness of corruptions must not be dispelled utterly at once; but daily be banished more and more unto the coming of Christ.

Therefore is it (blessed Lord) that though You have cancelled the guilt of my sin at once by faith in Christ, yet You have wisely left the corruption of sin to be abolished by degrees, that so I might still live by faith in the death of Christ for the mortifying thereof, that I might daily grow up in Christ to perfect holiness, and therefore though corruption remain in me; yet seeing it does not reign in me, here is my comfort, that I am not under the Law, but under grace, and though I am sometimes as no better than lost in myself; yet, this is that I may still deny my own righteousness, that I may be found of You in Christ; for the concerning of present corruption, and for the vesting of my person in Him, to be enabled thereby to perfect holiness. Only gracious God, grant me here I pray to You, still to justify Your wisdom, in condemning my own folly, and to advance Your free and constant grace, in the acknowledging of my own corruptions. True it is holy Father, that as You made man righteous at the first, but he sought many inventions to his own overthrow, so did You so restore me again by Your power of Christ unto a more durable state of holiness, that neither shall I ever fall away from You finally, neither though You have left corruption in me; yet, seeing Your end herein was to make me still deny myself, that I might stand fast in Christ, in whom You have engrafted me, therefore neither might I have fallen at all into such fearful distraction, if I had kept me close unto my hold, neither though I have fallen by letting go my hold; yet shall not my falling make Your truth without effect; nay, rather shall prove a means to make good the same. And therefore I do here unfeignedly acknowledge before You (blessed Lord) my own folly in letting go my hold; You have not been wanting with all means to preserve me upright; but I have been wanting to the means, and so I have been wanting unto You and to myself. You have willed me to live by faith, even when I have feeling of Your love; and my inward pride has perverted Your gracious feeling to make me live by sense, and behold the sun when it shines; and so by perverting the comfort of Your Spirit, as an occasion to the flesh, I have justly grieved Your Spirit, and so You withdrew Your face from me, and I have been troubled, troubled in my soul for the loss of Your favor, troubled of the world by seeking false remedies there from, troubled in my spirit by the confusion of those remedies, as breeding sometimes hardness of heart, and so bringing forth troubles, by exposing to outward evils, and hindering in the use of spiritual remedies; sometimes hereupon breeding further trouble and inward horror and anguish of spirit, many times laying the axe to the very root, and challenging the main. And yet in all this, far less then I have deserved, that so I might have hope in Your free grace for my recovery. And in all this, advancing Your righteousness, in abasing my folly, that so I might still renounce my own righteousness, and labor to be found in Christ for my recovery and perfection. Only keep me here (holy Father) from presumptuous sin, that it may not have dominion over me to turn Your grace into wantonness, and then lead me into Your privy chamber, and stay me with Your flagons, that I may not only not sleep in death, but also awake and sing out of the dust, and out of the deep; to admire Your infinite wisdom, and to see You who are invisible, that I may be raised up again. Oh, give me therefore (most mighty Lord) to condemn my own folly, for being wise in my own eyes, in turning Your favor as an occasion to the flesh. Grant me to thank myself, that of the flesh I have reaped such confusion, and give You thanks, the more You have sustained me in the grave. Grant me out of experience of my own foolishness, to give You the glory of Your free goodness, and out of the experience of Your power, in my weakness, to comfort myself, that You will return again. And that You may undoubtedly return with speed: Oh, strengthen my weak faith I humbly pray to You, with Your precious promises, that Your foundation stands sure, whatsoever my building may be. You know who are Yours. Oh, let it comfort my fainting spirit, that all things shall work together for the best, to those whom You have chosen, that so I may wisely compare one thing with another: things past, with things present, and by those things to come, that so I may live by faith, in the judging of my present estate, by looking behind and before, and not be cast off my hold, either by present temptations, or future fears. Oh, establish me with Your precious promise, that You will keep me to the end, that so I may live by faith, in casting myself upon Your mighty power, and committing myself in well-doing into Your holy hands. Teach me to deny my own wisdom, that I may trust perfectly in Your mercy, and grant me in things to rely upon the wisdom of Your Word, which is able to make me wise and perfect to salvation. Let Your Word keep me in all my ways, that I may not decline to the right hand or to the left: and let my supplications be always manifest at the throne of grace, that so I may be careful for nothing. Oh, let me not in any case, grieve Your Holy Spirit anymore, but grant me to entertain and cherish the motions thereof, by turning them into fervent prayers, and conscionable practices, seasonable to the occasion. Wean me from the love of the world, that I may have fellowship in Your love, and purge my heart from secret wickedness, that it be not stolen away from You. Keep me always close unto You, that I may not fall into open wickedness; and give me grace always to remember my end, that I may be still prepared, against the coming of my master and Savior Jesus Christ. And so still accept me (gracious Father) as I am in Him and not in myself, as I would be in You, and not what I am in corruption; as I shall be with You, not what I am in this present world, enabling me still to desire above what I can do, and to believe above what I can think or desire, and so lead me forward by Your power, through the valley of tears, that though I sometimes slip, yet I may up again; though I stray a while, yet I may thereby mend my pace, and follow close after the mark, not looking on myself, and my own worth or inability, but still looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of my faith: that so I may in Him be more than conqueror, and so fighting still the good fight of faith, I may finish my course with joy, and lay hold of eternal life in due season. And so fill me (oh God of grace) with all joy in believing, that so I may live by faith, that I may be readier to die in faith, and to give up my soul by faith into Your holy hands, apprehending by faith, the resurrection from the dead, that so I may be translated from death to life, and enjoy forever Your glorious presence. Grant these things (oh Gracious Lord) according to Your goodness, in Jesus Christ my Savior, and blessed Redeemer, Amen.

A Prayer for Obtaining Trial, and Cherishing of the Holy Spirit of God

Glorious and everlasting Lord God, Father of all spirits and souls of the righteous, who has revealed Yourself in Your sacred Word to be a Spirit, holy, and incomprehensible, eternal, infinite, immortal, and all-sufficient; and therefore will be worshipped in spirit, and truth; and has in the riches of Your mercy, promised to send Your Holy Spirit the Comforter, into our hearts, to lead us into all truth, and to comfort us in all our tribulations, and so to seal us up to the day of redemption. Look down graciously upon me Your poor and forlorn servant, whose portion is in this valley of misery, to wander in darkness, and walk many times in the valley of the shadow of death, altogether ignorant of my way, and so subject to continual error, and wholly destitute of all direction therein, and so necessarily exposed to continual danger. For my own heart within me is no better than a guide to betray me to error, and the glory of the world is naught else then a bait to deceive me, either by clogging me in the way, that I may faint in my journey, or diverting me from my right home, that I may set up my rest in my inn, or build my foundation upon the sands. And my old adversary still compasses and watches all opportunities from both: either to sink me with despair, that I may perish in the way, or to swell me with presumption that I may not enter into the straight gate. And even so did it fare with me, (blessed Lord) all the days of my vanity, before I knew You in Christ. As my own heart misled me into all error, through my willful ignorance, so it betrayed me hereby, to all occasions of sin without, which I swallowed more greedily than my appointed food, and blessed my soul therein as my chiefest happiness, and so was faster bound in the chains of Satan, as being led captive at his will, to every lust, and rejoicing therein as my greatest liberty. And so also has it in part befallen me since my liberty in Christ, by whom though I received the free Spirit to lead me in the way of Your statutes, and so have sometimes obeyed the motions thereof, to the evidencing of my glorious liberty; yet such has been the power of my corruption prevailing over me, that I have many times grieved Your good Spirit, by my manifold backslidings, and to my sense and apprehension, seemed utterly to have quenched the same. So strong have I found my corruption, to lead me captive into many desperate evils; so little life and comfort have I found in prayer, hearing Your Word, especially, in my endeavor to repentance, either to resist temptations, or release myself out of the snares thereof. And yet You have promised, that Your Spirit shall abide with me forever; and still methought in my greatest wanderings, on the right hand, and on the left, methought I heard the voice of Your Spirit behind me, saying, This is the way walk in it. Methought I have heard the voice of my beloved, many times knocking at the door of my heart, when I have been asleep in the bed of my security, saying, Open unto me, my love, my dove, my undefiled; yes, I have felt Him putting in His finger at the hole of the door, to open it for me, that so I might arise and let Him in. And have I not many times arose to entertain Him, and low, He was gone? Did I not follow after Him to seek Him, and yet found Him not? Have I not many times smarted soundly for my folly, because I would not open betimes? Have not the watch-men that should have cherished me, wounded me justly for my carelessness? Have they not plucked away my veil to discover my nakedness the more, that so my face being covered with shame, I might seek Your face more humbly? And yet (oh my God) I am still to seek of You, though You still call on me to seek Your face, and my heart in some poor measure, answers, Your face Lord will I seek. Yet what fellowship can there be between light and darkness, what hope have I to find You, seeing I want my guide unto You: yet You are not wanting unto me, to tender this holy guide; and my guide is not far from me, though I know it not; yes, You are ever with me, to keep me from utter fainting, and Your Holy Spirit is within me, helping me to cry unto You. Oh, hearken therefore I humbly pray to You, unto the groans of Your own Spirit, and have mercy upon Your own servant, for grieving the same. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, that I may discern the seal of Your Spirit, and establish me with Your free Spirit, that I may ever be with You. Oh, make me wise to try the spirits, whether they be of God or no, that neither I may be deluded by a spirit of error, and withal may be able to discern the work and evidence of Your Holy Spirit, from the motions and testimony of my own ignorant and deceitful heart. Grant me therefore (gracious Father) to plead my interest in Your Spirit, by such true means and endeavors, as may undoubtedly avouch it to proceed from You; and may apparently convince, that it dwells in me. Give me to discern the means whereby Your Spirit is conveyed unto me, that after I have heard Your Word, and believed therein, then I have been sealed with the Spirit of promise. Grant me to discern the manner how it took possession of my heart: that, to make way for it fit habitation, it cast down every imagination that enabled itself against Your wisdom, that it only might rule and govern me spiritually (and that withal) thereby my house was swept and cleansed from the dominion of sin, that Jesus Christ thereby might wholly govern me. And grant me to avouch the truth of Your Spirit dwelling in me, not so much by my entertainment and apprehension thereof, because it blows where it lists: and though I may hear the sound thereof; yet I know not whence it comes nor whither it goes, but rather by the nature and quality of Your Spirit; which will leave its true stamp in my received spirit, in every quality thereof, for the assuring my possession thereof, by resemblance thereto, though yet surely and absolutely according to the nature of the Spirit: neither working it at all times alike, nor at any time in full measure; but still working according to the capacity of the vessel, and the main end, the glory of God, that still it power may be seen in my weakness, that the glory may be of God, and not of Man. And therefore, as I may not challenge a right in Your Spirit, unless I find some lively resemblance and effects of it holy nature in me, as to be holy, meek, peaceable, sincere, and the like; so I may not challenge the truth thereof in me, though I find not at all times a like measure of it working, nor at any time in this life may express the full image thereof, seeing it works freely, and so cannot always be apprehended alike: and it works freely, that it only may have the glory of the work, and therefore so still works, that its power may be in weakness, and it glory perfected by infirmity. And therefore as I may at all times find the like working of Your Holy Spirit, so if I feel, in regard of this different working thereof, a different apprehension of the seal: as sometimes not to feel it at all, sometimes more or less to apprehend the same; yet grant me (holy Father) not to challenge the working of Your Spirit, because it is free and wise, working according to what is best for my present state, which is not sometimes fit for comfort, and yet absolutely in it good pleasure, even then suspending comfort, when I have long fitted myself thereto. But rather, specially to condemn my own folly, in depriving myself of such effect of it, working above all; to adore the infinite wisdom and power of Your Spirit, working yet in these greatest desertions so with me, as to keep me from utter fainting, and further my chief good, to raise me up again by repentance, that I may be fit for comfort: and yet when I have done my best, to suspend what I most desire, that so in the best, I may acknowledge myself an unprofitable servant, and so still labor to be found in Christ, to be lead along to perfection.

Thus grant me (gracious Father) to make trial of spirits, and when I have found by some such lively evidences that Your Holy Spirit dwells in me. Oh, make, me I humbly pray to You, wise to cherish and retain this blessed guest, that I may never break through by grieving the same, that not departing from its guidance, it may never depart from me; and therefore give me still, to hearken to the call of Your Spirit, showing me the right way, and enable me to submit myself to the yoke of Your Spirit, howsoever irksome and unsavory to my rebellious corruptions. Let me not consult at any hand, with flesh and blood, in the motions of Your Spirit; neither let me turn the comforts of Your Spirit, as an occasion to the flesh. Keep me I beseech You from spiritual wickedness, that I may not abuse Your blessed Spirit, and enable me to avoid gross offenses, lest I offer violence to Your Spirit, and drive it from me. Above all keep me I pray, from wisdom in sin, either to commit it upon carnal grounds or ends, which Your Word allows not; or to lie in it by presumption, or security lest I waste my conscience, and so quench Your Spirit. Oh, make me still jealous of myself and best ability, that I may not challenge the power of Your Spirit, and give me conscience even of secret thoughts, that I may tremble at, and abominate them, lest I grieve Your Spirit, make me to startle at the motion of such sins as the world makes a sport of, lest I startle Your good Spirit. And grant me to be humbled in my best endeavors, that so the Spirit of Christ may help me for the acceptance thereof. Oh, give me to make my requests manifest daily unto the throne of grace, lest I be distracted in all things, and so grieve Your Holy Spirit: and in all things grant me to resign up myself, to the guiding and tuition of Your blessed Spirit, that so in all occasions it may go well with me.

Thus grant me (gracious Father) to retain the comfort of Your Spirit, by entertaining all good occasions to cherish the same. And seeing I must needs acknowledge, that by my neglect of these duties, I have much grieved Your Spirit, and have done what lies in me, even to quench the same. Oh, grant me (blessed Lord) to recover Your Spirit again, and so to enjoy the most powerful presence thereof. And therefore give wisdom herein seriously to enter into my own heart, and to judge myself for grieving Your Spirit. Enable me with strong cries to cause the return of Your Spirit, and give me patience to endure such afflictions, as my wantonness has procured me. Make me wise to remember the times of old, when Your face did shine upon me, and give me comfort in the present, that it is far better with me then I have deserved. It is Your infinite mercies that I am not swallowed up of despair, that hence I may gather hope of the return thereof again.

Grant me to stir up Your Spirit in me, by communing with my own heart, and submitting the same wisely to the search and censure thereof, and make me more vile in myself, because I have so abased Your Spirit, that You may have the glory in the denial of myself. Oh, let me never give over until You have spoken peace to my soul, and Your good Spirit has answered me, that You are my salvation; and grant me to esteem highly, and so make use of the least glimpse of Your favor, even in the meanest and unlikeliest occasions, as undoubted emblems of a greater supply in Your good time. And so teach me to wait Your good leisure, in healing my soul of that stinking rottenness that has grieved Your Spirit; yet to be led meekly by Your Word, that so I may be fit for comfort, and then to wait Your good pleasure, when You will refresh me. Yes, though I find not haply such return all my life long, which formerly I have had; yet grant me to wait all the days of my mourning, upon Your holy hand, who knows what is best for me, and to live still by faith in the Son of God, that although You kill me, yet I will trust in You, that You who are coming, will come, and the just must live by faith. Even so (oh Father) keep me by Your mighty power, when I seem lost in myself, and that through Faith in Your Son Jesus, that I may still be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, and that I may be kept unto salvation by the power of His merit. Unto whom with Your own glorious majesty, and God the blessed Spirit, be ascribed as is most due, all honor, and power, and praise, and obedience in all the churches, Amen.

A Prayer for the Obtaining of a Lively Hope

Oh God of hope, who are the hope of all the ends of the earth, and in Your special wisdom, as You have commanded us to believe in Your Son, that so we might have everlasting salvation; so have You enjoined us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling; and that we may not faint in our endeavors, nor be to seek of what we yet enjoy not, have promised an anchor of hope, both to give us some security, amidst the manifold troubles of this life, and to give assurance also unto us, that we shall at length attain the haven. Have mercy upon me, Your poor servant, and vouchsafe me this grace of hope, to establish my wavering spirit, that neither things present may discourage me from the hope of a good issue, nor things to come may confound me, in the pursuit thereof, as being so far above my capacity, so exceeding my desert. For I confess (oh Lord) unfeignedly before You, by reason of this body of sin which I carry about me, I am a stranger from You, as all my Fathers were; and in regard of my inward blindness, cannot see afar off, to the price of the high calling that is set before me, and therefore am subject to many distractions and slavish fears, both to divert or stay me in my journey, and to disappoint me of the mark which I should hasten too, so that I many times miss of my way, and many times am ready to give over in the midst of my race. Oh, grant me therefore (holy Father) to live by hope in what You have promised, that I neither may be confounded in any present distress, nor yet may rest in any present comfort whatsoever, that I may not be deceived with the counterfeit thereof, nor yet may settle myself in any true measure of the same. Oh, grant me a lively hope, that I may not fear in death, and give me to apprehend that blessed hope, of the appearance of Jesus Christ, that I may attain to the resurrection of the dead. And that I may improve my unfeigned hope in You alone, oh, strengthen my weak faith, to see more clearly within the veil, that so I may be strong in hope, to enjoy, what yet I see not. And make me more acquainted, with the secrets of Your special providence, that by my own experience of Your wonderful dealing, in bringing contraries out of contraries, even light out of darkness, I may hope for the accomplishment of Your promises, though never so impossible to human capacity. Above all, make more expert the riches of the glory of that great mystery, even Christ in me, the hope of glory, that so I may not be weary nor faint in my mind. Let the aim of my hope be, to see You, who are invisible; and in You, those unspeakable mercies which as yet I do not see. And grant me (blessed Lord) an undaunted and invincible hope, even to hope above hope, that no oppositions may confound me. Let my hope be patient, that I may wait for that I yet enjoy not, and purify my hope daily, in the expectation of what I shall be, that so I may be purged and fitted to the enjoying thereof. Season my hope with joy, that I may not quail in any present troubles, and quicken my weak and fainting hope, with the strong cries and groans of Your blessed Spirit, that I may fasten on the inestimable glory which is laid up for me. Let the hope of the life to come establish me in Your blessed fear, and so make me lively and diligent in all present occasions, enabling me to hold fast the profession of my hope without wavering, and to sanctify my God, in giving a reason of my hope, with meekness and fear to those who may demand it. And that I may not be disappointed of my hope, comfort me (oh Lord) with the sweet and glorious fruits thereof; that seeing it is the hope of salvation and eternal life, which is surely laid up for me in the highest heavens. Grant me in all occasions to lay hold upon eternal life, that I may not be ashamed of my hope. Oh, let me have hope even in death, because I have hope in the resurrection from the dead. And let the hope of what I enjoy not, humble me daily in the sense of my imperfections, which are the cause thereof, that so I may daily fear, and depart from evil. And seeing I am a prisoner of hope, oh, grant me daily to groan under this body of sin which I carry about me; that so I may long for my glorious deliverance from this body of death; and in the hope of this deliverance, cause me in all my troubles, to commit myself in well doing, into the hands of You my faithful Creator, that so I may be kept by Your mighty power through faith. Grant me these things (oh God of my hope) even for Your dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, the hope of my endless glory, to whom with You (oh righteous Father) with God the blessed Spirit the Comforter, be ascribed all glory, power, dominion, and thanksgiving forever and ever, Amen.

A Prayer for the Obtaining and Increase of Love

Holy Father, who out of the boundless riches of Your free grace, did so love me, that You gave Your only Son to death for me, that being redeemed from the bondage of sin, and snares of destruction, I might be translated from death to life; and therefore did love me first, that I might serve You in love, and offer up myself a free-will offering, gracious and acceptable before You in all holy obedience, and have hereby assured me; that I am beloved of You, if all my works be done in love, loving You for Yourself, and all other things for Your sake. Look graciously upon me, Your unworthy servant, and shed Your love into my heart by Your blessed Spirit, that I may love You above all things, and all things in and for You. And that I may so love You, that I may be more united unto You, and fully at the length enjoy You. Oh, grant me first to know You in Jesus Christ the Son of Your love, that so I may know, what love in Him You have shown me; that when I was dead in sin, You did raise me up in him from dead works, that I might serve You, the living God, in the newness of spirit, that so discerning in this lively mirror of Your love unto me, my own unworthiness of Your love, and inability to love You again, I may wholly deny myself, that I may be found of You in Christ, and by His power be enabled to love You again. Grant me therefore, (gracious God) to trust perfectly in Jesus Christ, that I may feel myself to be beloved of You in Him, and inflame my heart with the love of Christ, that so in Him, I may love You again.

And seeing nothing in me was able to hinder this Your love in Him to me, oh grant me, that nothing within me, or without me, may hinder or separate my love from You. And seeing, of Your own free grace You did love me in Him, oh grant me for His sake only to love You; seeing He thought nothing, no not His precious blood too dear to express His love unto me; oh let me think all things base in comparison of my love unto Him. Seeing he loved me in deeds, not only in words, both doing for me what I could not do, and suffering for me what I could never have endured; oh grant me to love You again, not in words, but in deeds, both doing what You command with all sincerity and diligence, and suffering what You impose with all joy, cheerfulness, and patience: so to love You for Your mercies, as to fear to offend You in regard of my corruption; so to fear in respect of my own aptness to offend You, as to love You for Your free grace in Christ, accepting me in Him, above my own unworthiness, not imputing my sins unto me, and for His sake accepting my willing mind, to do what I cannot, and enabling me daily in Him to do above what I am able in myself, yes, doing in Him all my works above the worth thereof; yes, doing wonderfully by Him in me above what I presently can discern; yes, above whatsoever I am able to ask or think: that You in Him may have the glory of all Your goodness. Oh, let Your unspeakable love unto me enlarge my heart from You to the love of the brethren: that so I may know hereby that I am translated from life to death. Grant me so to love Your own image, wheresoever I find it stamped on man; that I may love him best, that is most like unto You; and yet loath that in him which is unlike unto You. Give me to love him with a pure heart as You love me, and to affect him fervently, as You affect me. Grant me to do the best good to him, as You gave the best for me: and yet not to neglect to do the least, as You fail not me in the least occasions. Give me to love him constantly, as Your love to me continues, and not to be weary of well-doing, that I may obtain the reward. And as You loved me when I was Your enemy, so grant me to love my enemies, and pray for those who persecute me, because they carry Your image and are Your instruments to do me good, that so I may overcome evil with good and heap coals of love upon their heads. And seeing I am yet a stranger and sojourner in this world, oh, grant me not to love the world, nor the things therein, but so to use them as if I used them not: and yet thereby be stirred up to love Your most wise providence, who has made all these things for me, that I therein serve and honor You; and that I may so do, oh, knit my heart fast unto You by this hand of love, that I may love You more, the more You open Your hand to fill me with them, and yet love You more constantly, the more You sustain me without them, still returning to You the praise both of giving them to me, and taking them from me; that nothing may be able to separate me from Your love, that I may daily more and more hate my corruption, and all occasions thereof; so to hate my sin that still I may more love Your mercy in pardoning thereof, more admire Your wisdom in turning it to my good, more love and long for the appearance of Jesus Christ, for the full abolishing of the same. That so living in Your love, I may die in Your favor, and dying in love I may live forever with You, to love and glorify You, my blessed God in Jesus Christ, with the blessed Spirit, one glorious God in three persons, blessed for evermore, to whom be praise and dominion, with all hearty love and obedience, of all that love the coming of Jesus Christ, Amen.

A Prayer to Obtain and Preserve the Fear of God, that We May Be Kept Constant Thereby in Holiness to the End

Glorious and everlasting God, whose love is as Yourself, free and unchangeable, and because You are not changed, therefore the sons of Jacob are not consumed, and that they may not miscarry You have promised to put Your fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from You. And having accepted the blood of Your Son as a sufficient satisfaction for their sins, do daily accept also the cry of that blood to preserve them in Your fear, and to present them blameless at the glorious appearance of Your righteous Son Jesus. Have mercy upon me, Your poor servant, and put Your fear in my heart, that I may cleave fast unto You and never depart from Your holy covenant; for I confess unfeignedly (oh Lord my God) that as my own unbelieving heart daily feels misgivings and is ready to betray me to such occasions as may withdraw me from my steadfastness, so there is no occasion without; which without Your special grace is not likely daily so to inveigle and estrange my heart from You, as that it may stagger and utterly deny You. For if I look on the right hand to fair shows of the world, what are they else but so many baits to ensnare my wavering spirit, and steal it from You? If I look on the left hand to the sorrows and storms thereof, are they not either as so many billows to overthrow my weak bark in the first setting out, or else to sink or swallow up in the midway? Above all (oh Lord) my own deceitful heart is so subject to presumption and security, that I am in danger, either to be split upon the Rocks, even at the shore, or else to be swallowed of quick-sands in the very haven. Against all who seeing Your Name (oh Lord) is a strong tower, and as Your Name, so is Your fear. Oh, grant me in all things to fear Your great and glorious Name, to stand in awe of Your majesty that I may daily fear my own self, and so distrusting my own inability, I may both fear to offend You, and in all things may study to please Your; and that I may so fear You, as still to rely upon You, and draw near with confidence to You. Oh, grant me to fear You for Your mercies, that I may love You in the entertainment of them, so to be afraid of Your judgments, as to take warning by Your threatenings that I may avoid them, as to answer You by repentance that I may not be swallowed up of them. Give me so to fear You, as not to be daunted with things present, lest my life be unprofitable and uncomfortable, neither to be distracted with things to come, lest I be unprepared to my end. And that I may be continually prepared for You, oh, grant me daily to make even reckoning with You by repentance, that I be not taken tardy, and to renew my life daily in Christ, so living by faith in Him, that I may work out my salvation in fear and trembling, both renouncing the worth of whatsoever good I have or can do, as to be justified thereby; yes, though I know evil by myself, yet not standing upon my clearing, because You know all things, and also not resting in any present measure, as if I had attained or were already perfect, but forgetting what is behind and hastening that which is before, I may press towards the mark, for the price of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ. That so being daily dead to sin, yes, to myself, and having my life hid with Christ in God, when Christ which is my life shall appear, I may also appear with Him in glory. Grant this gracious Father for Jesus Christ's sake my only advocate and Redeemer, Amen.

A Prayer for Grace and Wisdom

Oh most mighty God and merciful Father, pour into my heart Your heavenly grace and wisdom. Comfort my sinful soul with Your heavenly manna. Mollify and make soft my hard heart with the sweet and pleasant oil of Your most holy Word. Suffer me not (oh merciful Lord) to swerve or slide from the ways of truth, but grant help of Your Holy Spirit, that I may walk in the same unto my lives end, and let not Your heavenly wisdom depart from me at any time during this life.

According to the multitude of Your mercies do away my offenses. Preserve me from this my youth and infancy, under Your favorable protection. Give me grace (oh Lord) that I may even to the grave continue a faithful and manly soldier in defense of Your truth, and that I may in all my life, daily grow to the ripe perfection of godly wisdom, and truly and justly, acknowledge You my only God (Deut. 6), that I may only fear You and honor You, that I may cleave fast unto You (Deut. 10), that I do not after the abomination of any idolatrous people, worship sticks or stones (Deut. 8), nor let me not (oh Lord) hearken to any false prophets that teach their own imaginations, and not the Word of God (Deut. 13).

Now vouchsafe (oh Lord God) to hear me, and let Your wisdom govern me. I know (my God) that no creature can truly say, I have done my duty in the service of the Lord; neither is it in the power of man (who is so deeply subject to sin) to escape all those stumbling blocks which have made our ways dangerous and perilous through those innumerable practices, wherewith Satan, our great enemy, through his malice and craft, has devised to entrap our sinful souls to our utter destruction.

Lord of Your great mercy, root and pull out of my heart all the works of Satan: namely, fornication, adultery, uncleanness, wantonness, pride, envy, unnatural desires, impure thoughts, lewd behavior, idleness, and all other vicious and naughty actions, which being followed according to the pleasures and delights of the world in this life, bring with them everlasting damnation of body and soul, in the world to come.

Increase in me (oh Lord) such abundance of Your grace, wisdom, and heavenly blessing, that through the operation of the same in me, I may prove a true workman in Your harvest, such a servant as occupies his master's talent unto gain, a witness that bears testimony of Christ, to all people, at all times, and in every place, continue constant in the truth, during the whole course of this my mortal life.

In Your truth (oh God) do I delight, therefore make me perfect in the same. In You alone do I repose my whole trust and confidence, save me (oh God) of all mercy, and defend me against my enemies.

Establish and confirm me (oh Lord) in faith towards You. Keep my lips, and govern my tongue. Suffer not my heart to purpose anything that may displease You, nor my tongue or lips to speak ought whereby I should purchase Your wrath.

Whosoever doth trust in You (oh God) shall understand Your truth, and the faithful shall have rest in Your favor; but the ungodly according to their own wicked thoughts shall find corruption. The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the force of death shall not touch them.

All wisdom comes from the Lord, and has been with Him always, and is with Him from the beginning (Ecclesiastes 1). The fear of the Lord expels sin. Lord of Your mercy grant me Your heavenly wisdom, whereby I may truly learn to know You rightly, and be diligent to perform Your precepts effectually.

Lord leave me not in my young days, let Your wisdom enter into my heart, and make her habitation in my soul; so shall I live in Your favor, and persevere in Your Laws through Your grace.

Let not those who trust in You (oh Lord God of Hosts) be ashamed: let not those who seek You be confounded, oh God of Israel. Lord I make my prayers unto You in an acceptable time, even in the multitude of Your mercies. Oh God, hear me in the truth of Your salvation.

In You alone (oh heavenly Father) are all things generally; and what is not of You, is altogether naught. Replenish and bless me (oh Lord) with all good gifts: show Your loving countenance towards me, govern me by Your grace, continue me in Your favor, and protect and defend me now and evermore, under the wings of Your manifold mercies, so shall no vile temptation have power to prevail against me.

Such is the force of Your heavenly wisdom (oh God) that whosoever obtains the same, and directs his life accordingly, shall prosper and see good days. Whosoever pleases You (oh Lord) from the beginning, are made whole through wisdom (Prov. 9), which of Your mercy (oh my God) vouchsafe to grant unto me, for Your deer Son Jesus Christ's sake. To whom with You, and the holy Ghost be all glory, honor, and praise, now and forever, Amen.

A Prayer to Walk Conscionably in our Civil and Personal Calling

Oh most glorious and wise God, who in Your infinite wisdom, have ordained, that every son of Adam should eat his bread in the sweat of his face, and so have wisely fitted each man in his several places, with several and particular gifts of nature, experience, and grace, that so he might glorify You in some special calling, not willing that any should live idly, like an unprofitable burden of the earth, misspending his precious time, and wasting away Your creatures, neither doing good to human society; and herein have given us a pattern from Yourself, who even worked hitherto, and albeit that Your great business of creating all things ended with those first six days, in which every particular was brought forth by You in his proper kind, yet Your providence is never intermixed in it, neither slumber nor sleep overtakes You. And so also Your dear Son Jesus Christ, whilst in the days of his flesh He humbled Himself to live as man upon the earth, both in His private life attended upon a painful trade, and when the time came of His manifesting Himself to the world, went about doing of good; yes, and with that cheerfulness, that it was His meat and drink to do Your will, and to finish the work of Him who sent Him. And all Your holy actions, also in continual action, obeying the voice of Your Word and ministering for their sakes, that shall be heirs of life; no, does not every creature in his place obey this Your ordinance: the sun, the moon, and all those heavenly orbs? Do they not execute their operations faithfully, and finish their revolutions in their seasons? Do not these inferior things daily perform Your will herein? Who am I that (blessed Lord) that I should not rejoice, that it has seemed good unto You, to make me among other of Your servants, and to set me as it were my proper task upon which to give my faithful attendance.

Grant me therefore I pray to You, not to repine hereat, as at some uneasy burden put upon me, but that I may contentedly and comfortably undergo it, even like that glorious creature the sun, who having his tabernacle set him in the heavens, rejoices like a mighty man to run his race. And seeing You have not placed me (oh Lord) in this calling, for my own private good alone, but also for a more public and common benefit; give me such an honest, sincere, and charitable heart, that I may determine with myself never to seek, no not yet willingly to receive that gain which comes by the wronging, or loss of others.

Let me ever have in mind that golden rule, whatsoever I would that men should do unto me, of doing even so unto them. Let it never slip out of my mind, that the wages of unrighteousness is put into a broken bag. And that as the good man shall give inheritance to his children's children, so the riches of vanity shall diminish, and that You will draw even out of the belly of the oppressor the substance which he has devoured; or if it do continue with him, it shall be for his great hurt, his own ease shall slay him, and his prosperity shall be his destruction. Grant me therefore I humbly pray to You, rather to choose a little with Your blessing, then great revenues with Your curse and vengeance accompanying the same.

And if it shall be Your good pleasure to bless my basket and my store, and to increase my portion by my honest industry: Oh, keep me, I humbly pray to You, that I may not set my heart upon it, let not my riches be my strong city, or as an high wall in my imagination; so I may be more and more afraid of myself, lest the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches should choke in me the seeds of grace, and steal away my mind from better things; and therefore make it my care (good Father) to follow my calling with that holy wisdom, as that I may not so far ensnare myself into the business of it, that I should abridge and scant myself of convenient opportunities for heavenly and spiritual employments. And as I shall feel Your hand to be opened unto me, so open my heart and hand towards others, knowing that he who scatters shall be more increased. so he who spares more than is right shall surely come to poverty. Ever make me to consider Your all-seeing presence, that all things are naked and open before You, and that You will surely bring forth to judgment every secret thing, that so I knowing You to be a witness to all my courses, my care may be to walk as in Your presence, and to approve myself unto You by an even and upright behavior, so walking still in my civil calling, as that I may begin and sanctify the same by my spiritual; so carrying myself therein, as still to look higher to the things above, still to look low to what may befall me, preparing for want in my greatest abundance, and abounding with content in my greatest wants, humbling myself in my disappointment herein for my negligence in better things, and comforting myself in my spiritual thrift, that all shall work for the best; using diligence in what is set before me, and leaving the issue to Your wise providence, not indenting with You for what measure You shall bestow, but still laboring to attain to the greatest measure of grace, that it may be sufficient for me in all occasions, so grant me to commit myself in well-doing into the hands of You, my faithful Creator, and so try my thriving in these outward things, by my thriving in grace and holiness in the fear of You, our God, and so hastening in all these things, which can give me no sound comfort nor true contentment, to the life of glory, wherein I shall be fully satisfied, with Your fullness, who are all in all, God blessed forever and ever, and with Jesus Christ Your Son, our blessed Savior, to whom with You, and God the Holy Spirit, be all praise, glory, and honor forever, Amen.

A Prayer Before the Taking of a Journey

Almighty and most holy Father, who has promised to be with Your servant, whithersoever I go, and to attend me with ministering spirits, Your holy angels, to pitch their tents round about me, and bear me in their hands; unspeakable as Your goodness herein, oh Lord, unto me, who is by nature a child of wrath, and a mere slave of Satan should be assured of so high an hand of heavenly protection. Make good (I pray to You) now at this time these Your mercy [angels], being my necessary business, to travel from my own place. Many are the perils which both by nature and desert I am subject; no man is able to number them, or by his own strength or policy, to avoid them. Compass me with Your favor as with a shield: Go before me as You did of old before Your people in the wilderness: it is only You who can make me go and come in safely. Some put their trust in outward help, but cause me to remember Your Name, and to make Your truth to be my shield and buckler. A horse is a vain help, and shall not deliver any by his great strength; neither is the mighty man saved by his power. It is better to trust in the Lord, then to have confidence in princes.

If You (oh Lord) be my sight and my salvation, whom shall I fear? If You be the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Let this, I pray to You, be the Anchor of my soul both sure and steadfast: suffer no power of Satan to remove my faith from this foundation. Howbeit (gracious Father) if it shall be Your pleasure in this my journey to bring some cross upon me, either by making me a prey to spoilers, or by some other hazard, I beseech You prepare me to it, give me patience and comfort in it, and an holy assurance, that no outward inconvenience can separate me from Your love in Jesus Christ.

Make me always mindful of this, that Your favor must not be measured by these outward accidents, and cause me ever to hold fast this rule, that all things shall work together for the best unto Your servants. And as in my travails I am desirous of Your favor, so teach me (good Father) I humbly pray to You, to make conscience of Your fear, that as I expect and crave protection from You, so I may apply myself to yield obedience unto You. Wherefore when I am journeying on earth; grant me to mind my departure from the world, and my journey to heaven. When I am alone grant that I may possess my heart with holy thoughts, and may diligently watch over myself, for the preventing of all unclean and worldly cogitations. Let me never presume upon the advantage of my secrecy, seeing You are in my secret parts, nor that I am unknown in the places where I come, as to do ought unbeseeming the profession of a Christian, seeing in all places I am known to You, and would be known and approved of You.

And if I light into the company of others, make me still careful to seek and entertain all good opportunities of doing or receiving good; that I may never conform myself to the humors of profane persons, but in a godly discretion may so carry myself, as that I may neither willfully make myself a scorn to the wicked, neither yet may any why be offensive to the godly, either by wounding them by my scandalous carriage or wounding my soul by communicating with their evils, but either may win or bridle, or at least make them inexcusable, either bettering them, or being better by them; not returning to them, if they will not return to me.

This grant me, gracious God, in an assured expectation of Your gracious guidance to betake myself to my intended journey. And so I commend both myself and it, together with these my suits unto You, my loving Father, in the Name and worthiness of Jesus Christ my only mediator and Redeemer, Amen.

A Thanksgiving After a Journey

It is Your great mercy (oh Lord my God) that as I craved Your assistance in my journey, so it has pleased You to give me good success therein, and to bring me safe again unto my own home; and it is my duty as I have obtained favor from You herein, so to return to You the only praise and glory thereof, for You (oh Lord) have only prospered my occasions, You only cause me to go forth and return in safety.

Gracious have You been unto me even from the womb unto this present, delivering me out of all my troubles, supplying all my wants, and doing all my works for me; above all crowning Your own graces in me, and accepting both me and all my service above the worth thereof, in the merit of my Savior, in whom You have pardoned all my sins, and sanctified my afflictions; yes, my very sins unto my good. There is no day, nor hour of the day, nor minute of the hour, no occasion that has befallen me in any moment of time, in which Your blessings are not renewed towards me. Oh, that I could be so lively and effectually thankful unto You as becomes me. Oh, that my heart within me might even melt with grief, that I have passed over so many of Your favors without due regard. And yet behold, how now also You provoke me to this duty. Oh, quicken me, I humbly pray to You hereunto. Make me diligently to look back into the course and order of the whole journey, and to observe by degrees, how You have been good unto me, how You have blessed my going out, and my coming in, and have brought me in peace to my resting place. Many dangers might have swallowed me up, which yet (through Your great goodness I have happily escaped) sundry times have there been (such is the brittleness of this house of clay which I bear about me) but even a step between me and death, out of the jaws whereof Your right hand, and Your own only arm has saved me. I can ascribe nothing to myself or my own providence, neither can I say that my safety is the reward of my own deserving. Not unto me (oh Lord) not unto me, but to Your Name belongs the glory, for You have preserved me (oh God of truth). And now grant (I beseech You) that the sense of Your love, may beget in me such a love of You, and of that which You command, that I may willingly and cheerfully and with full purpose of heart, dedicate myself to Your service; accounting as my life now renewed unto me, so every new kindness is as it were a new bond and a fresh encouragement hereunto, that I may walk before You daily in newness of life, passing the time of my pilgrimage in fear, and going on from strength to strength till I appear before You, my God in Zion, even that new Jerusalem which is above. Grant me these things gracious Father, even for Your dear Son's sake, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

A Prayer for a Woman in Time of Her Travail

Righteous and holy Lord God, I do now find by experience the fruit of my sin, that I must travail in sorrow, and bring forth in pains; and I unfeignedly adore the truth of Your sacred Word, as certifying unto me, that sorrow must be in the evening; so comforting me also against the morning, that a child shall be born. Willingly do I desire to submit myself in hope into this Your chastisement; and to learn the desert of my sins, horrible in themselves, that these temporal pains, are fore-runners of eternal; and yet by Your mercy may be so sanctified unto me, as not only to prevent eternal vengeance, but also prepare for eternal comforts, even to be sacred by bearing of children.

Grant me therefore (gracious Father) true repentance and pardon for my sins past, that they may not stand at this time in this my need between me and Your mercy. Give me a comfortable feeling of Your love in Christ, which may sweeten all other pangs, though never so violent or extreme. Make me still to lift up my soul unto You, in my greatest agonies, knowing that You alone must give a blessing to the ordinary means for my safe deliverance. Lay no more upon me than I am able to endure; and strengthen my weak body to the bearing of what sorrow soever, by which it shall seem good unto You to make trial of me.

Grant me to consider that howsoever it be with me, yet I am always as Your hand, whose mercies fail not, who will be found in the mount and greatest extremity, and to whom belong the issues of death; so prepare me therefore to death, that I may be fit for life, even to yield fruit alive unto the world, and to be renewed and enabled to nourish the same. And when You have safely given me the expected fruit of my womb, make me with a thankful heart, to consecrate both it and myself wholly to Your service all the days of my life, through Jesus Christ my only Savior and Redeemer, Amen.

A Thanksgiving After Safe Deliverance

Oh blessed forever be Your great and glorious Name (most dear and loving Father) for Your great mercy to me, most weak and sinful woman.

Wonderful are You in all Your works (oh Lord); the riches of Your mercies are past finding out; You have plunged me with great afflictions, and yet You have returned and refreshed me again. You have brought me to the fear of the grave, and yet You have raised me up again to life. Oh, how have You shown Your power in my weakness? How has Your loving kindness prevailed against my unworthiness? You might for my sins have left me to perish in my extremities, but You have compassed me about with joyful deliverance. You might have made my womb a grave to bury the dead; or in affording life to another, You might have procured my death, but yet You have not only made my womb a well-spring of life, but restored life unto me also, for the cherishing thereof. Marvelous (oh Lord) are Your works; infinite are Your mercies, my soul by present experience knows it well. Oh, my soul praise the Lord, and all that is within me praise His holy Name. My soul praise the Lord, and forget not all his benefits. You have heard my prayers, and looked upon my sorrow, You have redeemed my life from death, and healed my infirmities, and crowned me with Your everlasting compassions.

O give me, I humbly pray to You, a thankful heart, not only now while the memory and sense of Your favor is fresh before me, but continually even so long as I have any being.

Grant that I may learn by this lively evidence of Your power and mercy, forever hereafter to depend only on You. Quicken me also to all holy duties, that my thankfulness may appear in my pure and Christian carriage.

Make me a kind and careful mother, willing to undergo the pain and trouble of education. Let no niceness or curiosity hinder me from those services, to which both nature and religion have appointed me: let me also be careful when time requires to season the fruit You have given me, with the saving knowledge of You, and Your dear Son, that my desire may manifestly appear to be set for the increase of Your Kingdom. Vouchsafe so to order my affections and to bring them in obedience under You, that if it should be Your pleasure, either now or hereafter to take this infant from me, I may as willingly part with it as You freely gave it me.

And now (oh God) perfect in me that strength which You have begun; make me to grow in care to serve You faithfully, both in the duties of piety, and in other business of my place and calling, that I may be a comfort to my husband, and example to my neighbors, a grace to my profession, and a means of glory to Your Name, through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, Amen.

A Prayer for Those Who Are Employed in the Assistance of a Travailing Woman

Holy Father, who has commanded us to serve one another in love, and has made this the trial of our true love unto You and our neighbor, that we help them in the time of need. Be present we pray with us, by Your gracious Spirit, to seal up the pardon of our sins, that they hinder us not in this business; and to assist us with such conscience and diligence, that our labor may not be in vain.

We confess (oh Lord) that we are not worthy of any good for our selves, much less that we should smother the good of others: neither that any labor of ours can further Your good without Your special grace enabling us therein, and accepting the same. Accept us therefore we pray to You, in the blood of Your Son, and shed Your love into our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, that all our labor may be done in love. In love to Your Majesty, who enables us to all good, and in love to our Christian sister, especially to her soul. And therefore keep us we pray to You, from all idle savors and superstitious conceits, as available hereunto from all rotten and unsavory speech which may interrupt the work; and teach us to seek help only from Your grace, using all gracious communication both among ourselves, and to the comfort of the distressed, that she may only depend upon Your mighty power, applying all diligence and wisdom, in affording seasonable help for the easing of the pain, or furthering of the birth. Furnish us with skill, and her with strength, patiently to await the appointed time of her deliverance; and knit all our hearts unto You, that we may fear Your Name; observing the passages of Your providence in this, and all other Your great works; and studying to give You praise and glory for the same, in Jesus Christ our only Lord and Savior, Amen.

A Thanksgiving Upon the Blessing of Their Labor in the Deliverance

Holy Father, who has revealed Yourself in Your Word to be a God that hears prayer, and has now made good this promise unto us, Your unworthy servants, in hearing our prayers in the behalf of this distressed woman. Give us hearts we humbly pray to You, to conceive wisely of this Your great kindness; and open our mouths, we beseech You, that we declare this Your goodness for the comfort of others, that by this lively example, we may believe in Your great Name.

What have You not done herein (oh Lord) even abundantly above what we could think or ask? And what can we repay unto You worthy of so great salvation? We confess ourselves unworthy to ask, much less to obtain for ourselves, and yet behold, You have heard our cries, and relieved this Your desolate servant. It is not enough, that You have given ease and deliverance to the mother, unless also You did give to her babe, that so in it her life might be again received; yes, You have made our cup to run over with joy and gladness; who were almost overwhelmed with sorrow and despair. Yours (oh Lord) be the only glory and praise hereof. Oh, fill our hearts with thankfulness, that our rejoicing may be in truth, and humble us unfeignedly in the consciences of our own unworthiness, that we may give You the only glory of all Your mercies. Let our humility appear in serving each other in love, and let our love be manifest in provoking each other to trust in You alone, for the time to come; let our confidence in this prepare us to this or the like occasion, that so we may find a gracious issue in our greatest extremities. And let our experience of Your good hand herein wean us from the love of the world, wherein we are like continually to meet with what will oppose or ensnare us: and provoke us to long for our dissolution when all tears shall be wiped from our eyes. And let our desire to be with You, make us always ready for You, in all sobriety, modesty, humility, patience, and perseverance, that so we may be found faithful when our Master comes. And that we may be found in peace at His glorious appearance, Oh, grant us daily to deny ourselves, that still we may be found of You in the righteousness of our Savior, may by the power thereof be daily accepted of You by the efficacy of the same, may be more and more conformed to Your holy image, and so may at length be fully satisfied therewith.

And as You have now added one unto the number of mankind, showing Your wisdom and power in the framing of him in the womb, and in bringing him forth into Your light; so in Your time add him also to Your church, and beget him again unto a lively hope, by the immortal seed of Your holy Word, delivering him from the power of darkness (in which by nature we are all) into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

And if it shall seem good unto You, to lay any further trial, either of sickness, or death upon this Your servant, or the fruit of her womb: prepare us all to a quiet and patient bearing of Your holy hand, and to a comfortable and contented resting upon Your providence, assuring ourselves, that all things shall turn to the good and benefit of Your chosen. And so into Your holy hands we commend ourselves, with Your servant and her issue, together with hers and our families, and that great family of Your chosen, wheresoever distressed and dispersed, to be kept by Your mighty power through faith unto salvation. Grant us these things (oh God of our salvation) for the merit of Your beloved Son, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

A Prayer for Such as in This World Be Very Rich and Wealthy

Eternal God, and most merciful Father, from whom all good things do come and proceed, who in Your wisdom distribute Your benefits, and bestow Your blessings manifold-wise, as seems good to Your heavenly will, to some more, to some less, as You (who know all things) see it to be best for everyone. I give You hearty thanks, in that it has pleased You to bestow upon me, a most unworthy sinner, such large blessings of earthly treasures and riches in this life, most humbly beseeching You for Your great mercy's sake, to give me grace to use them to Your glory, and to the help and comfort of those who have need, knowing that You have given me this abundance, to the end that I should be aiding and helpful to others, upon whom it has pleased You to lay the cross of poverty: and that I am but as a steward from You which must render account how I have bestowed them, I beseech You also, good Lord, that while I live and possess plenty of all things from You, I may be careful to do good unto all men, but especially unto those who be of the household of faith, according as Your holy Word has commanded me, laying up thereby a good store of myself, against the day of wrath, and to make me friends of unrighteous mammon, that when I depart from here, they may receive me into everlasting habitations.

And as these Your good gifts, oh heavenly Father, so I beseech You, that I abuse them not, either by getting, retaining, or otherwise by misspending of them. Let not my heart at any time be affected towards them, nor my mind drowned in the delight of them, but that always I may esteem both them and all things else, as vile dung and filthy dirt in respect of You. And in the midst of my abundance, keep me (oh Lord) that I advance not myself vaingloriously above my brethren, that I be not puffed up, nor high minded, and that I consume not Your treasure upon pride, whoredom, gluttony, drunkenness, or any other wickedness else whatsoever, thereby purchasing Your heavy judgment against me for the same. But grant good Lord, that as You have made me rich and wealthy in worldly substance, so You will make me much richer in all goodness, righteousness, holiness, and innocence of life, thorough Jesus Christ our only mediator and advocate: to whom with You and the Holy Ghost, be praise forever, Amen.

A Prayer for Such as Be Poor and Needy

Oh eternal and ever-living God, who appointed diverse and sundry states and conditions of men, some rich, some poor, some high, some low, and has notwithstanding commanded everyone to be content with his estate and calling, without repining or grudging against You for the same. I poor wretch and miserable captive, whom it has pleased You to place in the lowest and meanest degree, most entirely beseech Your fatherly goodness, to give me grace to be well contented with the same, to submit my will to Your will, to depend wholly upon Your providence, to cast all my care upon You (who has promised to care for me) to repose all my affiance, trust, and confidence in You, and none else, and to look for all good things from Your merciful hands. And though I be poor and needy (oh Lord) yet I beseech You, let me not despair of Your help, nor yet attempt any unlawful or unjust means to maintain my estate withal, contrary to Your will. But grant that I, having all things necessary in this life for body and soul, may neither be swallowed up, nor choked with the cares of the world, nor yet remain barren, and destitute of good works, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, world without end, Amen.

A Prayer to Obtain Grace of God, Against the Assaults of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil.

Oh Lord God of eternal glory, and Father of endless mercy, we Your unworthy creatures, are bold in the Name of Your beloved Son, to represent ourselves before You, humbly beseeching You for His sake, that You will vouchsafe to send down Your Holy Spirit into our hearts to guide and govern us in all our godly ways, and to defend us from all manner of temptations of this world, and the assaults thereof.

Lord God of Your unspeakable goodness, grant that Your grace may continue with us always, and that at no time we swerve nor fall from You. Let Your truth evermore be with us, and make us constant in the same, that we never be afraid of anything which lies in the power of man over our bodies, but always confessing, that whomsoever You please to defend, no tyrant shall be able to destroy. Strengthen and increase faith, love, and charity, in the hearts of all people. Make us able to resist the vain pleasures of the world; let not the perilous allurements have any power to conquer and overcome us, nor the subtleties thereof be able to deceive us. Defend us also (oh Lord) from the many perils and temptations, which the devil our adversary practices against us, lest we fall into his snares. Let neither his endeavours, nor the wanton enticements of our own flesh prevail against us. We know (oh Lord) that without Your sufferance, he of himself can take no hold on us, nor be able to diminish the least hair of our head. Give therefore unto us, such grace from You, that we may be willing to strive against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and such strength, as we may be able to break and beat down the force and vehemency of their strong temptations. Grant us Your heavenly light, whereby we may perfectly see and perceive, those malicious and cruel engines which they lay to entrap us, lest unawares we fall into the fame. Even now (oh Lord) in these perilous days, the devil and his ministers do most busily seek to sift us by all means and ways possible, namely, by pride, envy, malice, covetousness, gluttony, drunkenness, fornication, and all other evil works whereunto he does move us, and by him thrust into our hearts, and whereby (without the assistance of Your grace) he does bring us within his baits and snares laid for our souls. And contrariwise we of ourselves have no ability nor any means to prevail against them, unless You of Your mercy vouchsafe to be gracious unto us, to strengthen us by Your power, and to defend us in all temptations which he works against us, that he may not triumph over us, to our destruction.

We beseech You from the bottom of our hearts, to vouchsafe to be our comfort in all our troubles, to defend us against all temptations, and that it would please You to lead and govern us in all our thoughts, words, and deeds, so shall we dwell in safety.

Oh Lord You know that among all creatures man is most rebellious against You, and his offenses and transgressions against You most manifold and contrariwise, everyone creature in his kind, does most worthily show Your power, might, and praise; and by them is Your omnipotence declared. But we in our lives do show ourselves most unkind and unnatural children towards You, daily offending Your divine Majesty, and every minute transgressing against Your Laws and commandments, nothing regarding Your judgments, which might in a moment destroy us. But You (oh Lord) in Your mercy do vouchsafe notwithstanding to spare us, admonishing us to repentance and newness of life, that through our faithful conversion we may be saved. Raise us up therefore, good Lord, from our drowsy sluggishness and careless security. Suffer us not any longer to wallow and tumble ourselves in our grievous iniquities. Let not sin have so much power over us, or increase in us. Destroy and overthrow Satan and his wily policies. Root out of our hearts, all works of the world, wicked motions of the flesh, and pernicious practices of the devil, that we may no longer offend Your goodness. And plant in us such good thoughts, good motions, and good endeavours, that we may diligently serve You in all things according to Your will, and embrace with willingness Your holy word, to the comfort of our souls, and setting forth of Your glory.

Open Your bountiful hands, oh Lord, and bless us with all good gifts; give us obedient hearts and willing minds, to search and seek out the truth of Your holy Word: strengthen us with constancy in the same, that in all things we may lead our lives accordingly, not as professors alone, but as faithful performers of the same, to the utter diligence of our power. Confirme and establish us in all good works, that we may as true Christians, sow such seeds of Your known truth, that others from whom the brightness of Your gospel has been concealed and kept unknown, may by our good example, take such happy fruits thereof, that they may know You, and be brought home to Your fold as lost sheep. Be (oh Lord) our Shepherd, and let us be then sheep of Your fold, and remain in Your protection, both now and always to the end. Increase the number of the faithful: diligent, and careful ministers, preachers, and distributers of Your holy Word and sacraments, and give unto them a single heart towards You. Let them not be such as do only preach and teach Your Word with their lips and tongues, and have their hearts far from You, but that they inwardly with all their soul, in perfect faith cleave unto You and Your truth, and accordingly show the same in their life and conversation. Drive also out of Your church, all buyers and sellers, and such as like ravening wolves seek to live by the spoil of Your sheep. Cast out (oh Lord) we pray to You, such idle pastors as are crept into Your church, who more respecting gain then grace, employ their study for promotion, and leave the flock unfed which is under their charge. Lord of Your unspeakable Mercy, deliver us from such careless keepers, and blind guides, lest we also being made blind by their negligence, may be kept blind in ignorance, and so with them fall into the dangerous pit of Your deep and heavy displeasure.

Rehearse and pardon us all our offenses, teach us to serve You as we ought, make strong our faith and hope in You; endue us with Your heavenly light, that we may perfectly see our foul and manifold enormities, and examining our own consciences, and discerning our imperfections, we may learn to amend our lives.

Make us willing followers of You, and diligent lovers of Your Law. Make us penitent for our sins past, and continue in us Your fear. Let us not fall into any manner of temptations, but by Your mighty power deliver us from all evil. To You alone (oh Lord) belongs mercy and forgiveness, and You only are our loving Savior. Purge us and make us clean, that we may be found chosen vessels, fit to serve You in this life, and after to obtain perfect salvation at Your merciful hands, and enjoy everlasting rest in Your celestial habitation, prepared for Your faithful and elect people, and with Your holy and blessed Angels may sing praise unto Your holy Name forever. These blessings (oh Father) we beseech You to bestow upon us for Jesus Christ's sake, in whose Name we pray unto You as He himself has taught us, Our Father, etc.

A Thanksgiving After Blessings Obtained, to Acknowledge Them as from God

Blessed Lord, I feel in myself how mercifully You have dealt with me, grievously I was troubled, and now by Your goodness partly released how dangerously I was assaulted, and now by Your mercy partly delivered; this relief (although I must needs confess by infallible arguments to be Your only work in me, yet such is the pride of my rebellious flesh, that it will not suffer me to ascribe fully) the same to proceed of You, and Your only goodness but seeks out other feigned causes, according to the vain devises of my mind, therefore I beseech You, most gracious Father, that You will so frame my heart, that I may with my whole heart and mind, and with all the powers of my soul, acknowledge as my comfort and aid to be Your only work, wrought in me by Your Holy Spirit, and that I may be thankful for the same all the days of my life (oh Lord) You have sworn by Your holiness, that You will not give Your honor to any other. Seeing then, dear Father, that You have sent me this strength, let me be persuaded fully in my heart (dear Father) that it comes from You, that to You I may render due honor, praise, and thanksgiving for the same, and the rest of my life, that I may be assured in heart of Your merciful defense, in my extreme dangers, as You have many times wonderfully delivered me, and You will according to Your promise so continue Your merciful aid, whereby Your Name in me may be glorified, my soul in mercy preserved, and Your whole church edified, now and forever, Amen.

A Prayer for Patience in Tribulation, and that God May Be Glorified Thereby

Gracious and merciful Father, who has from time to time, in all ages exercised even Your most dear children with grievous afflictions, and sharp corrections, to draw their minds from too much love of earthly pleasures, to delight in heavenly joys, and spiritual comforts of the soul: grant I beseech You, that I even from my heart, may acknowledge this affliction, which does now grievously pierce my soul, to be Your fatherly correction, and scourge of Your mere mercy and love, laid upon me, to put me in mind of my duty towards You, lest else, with too much quietness, I should have been drawn through the flattering pleasures of this vain world: from the remembrance and delight of my spiritual joy in heavenly things, to have had my sinful delight in this vain world and so should have run headlong to everlasting damnation with the wicked world. But that You (oh Father) have called me back by this Your fatherly rod, whereby You mind to let me see, that of myself I have no strength unto goodness, but that it was You, who by Your abundant mercy, had before time replenished my heart with joy, that I took great pleasure and comfort in reading and hearing Your holy Word, and receiving other benefits: which spiritual comfort and quietness of mind, because I did not fully acknowledge to be Your good gift in me, You have now taken from me (for a time) that I may effectually perceive and learn by the lack of it, that it was Your work in me; and when You restore the same again, I may more abundantly glorify You in Your manifold mercies. But while it shall be Your good will and pleasure, (oh Lord) to exercise me with this Your loving correction: give me grace that I may patiently abide, whatsoever it shall please You to lay upon me for my amendment, strengthen me (oh Lord) that I do not faint under the burden of affliction: but being upheld by the strength of Your Holy Spirit in me, I may never cease calling upon Your Name, with full persuasion that You will at Your time appointed, send me full assurance, to my singular comfort, and Your eternal glory. And when it shall please You (oh Lord) fully to deliver me, I beseech You so work in my heart, that I may acknowledge the same to come from You, and to be Your only work, that I may be thankful for Your so great mercies in all the days of my life, and I never forget Your loving and fatherly dealings towards me, but so to the end of my life I may live in Your fear and love, that Your holy Name in my life may be glorified, and after death, I may be received to that full joy, which You have prepared for Your elect children, through our only Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

A Prayer for Mortification and Holiness

Blessed Lord God, and most merciful Father, I do acknowledge unto You, that I am unworthy to appear before Your high Majesty, to offer up unto You a sacrifice of prayer; being full of sin and corruption, naturally glad of evil, and unprofitable to good. Yes, being so miserable, yet I see not my misery, I feel it not, I bewail it not as I ought to do, but multiply my iniquities, provoking Your just judgment against me. My zeal is cold, my love feeble, my exercises of religion faint and few, and I take no way but that which leads from evil to worse, and finally, would lead me from sin, to the reward of sin. All this is true, dear Father, yet my heart is not moved with fear; all this is true, yet I do not sorrow for it, but walk with joy, where I must (if I continue) reap affliction: therefore be merciful unto me, and bless me. Be merciful unto me, and in Christ Jesus, wash away all my iniquities; be merciful unto me, and create in me a new heart, and prepare it to prayer, and to Your holy service; for You alone (oh Lord) are my hope, and the mighty God of my salvation. You have given me a desire to serve You; oh, teach me that I may do it, and the good work which You have begun, make it perfect in me, that I may no more love wickedness and follow vanity, but that my good desires in You may be increased, and all of them accomplished; so shall I praise You and magnify You forever. For there is no honor but Your honor, no glory but Your glory. Oh Lord, it is vain to trust in princes, but truly to trust in the Lord brings plentiful salvation. From age to age it has appeared, that You (oh Lord God) are merciful, and that in Your courts there is nothing but truth and holiness. This world is full of vanity, full of pride, full of rebellion, and the flesh also. The world has many baits of destruction, and the flesh does delight in them. They are sworn together to betray us to Satan; yes, we betray ourselves, therefore (dear Father) by the cross of Christ, mortify in us the deeds of the flesh and crucify in us the deeds of the flesh, and crucify both us to the world, and the world to us, that our souls may live. In our general calling make us obedient to serve You in holiness and in righteousness all the days of our lives. In our particular callings, also make us faithful, that we may neither put away a good conscience, nor make shipwreck of faith. I believe, oh Lord, help my unbelief. In the day of peace and prosperity make us sober; in the day of trouble and adversity, make us look up, and cheerfully to wait and trust in You for our deliverance, that our enemies mouths may be stopped by our godly conversation, and their hearts pricked with zeal to turn unto You. Neither do I pray (oh Lord) for myself alone, but for the whole body into the which I am grafted by Christ Jesus: that is, for Your church (oh God) for Your inheritance, that You would increase it from one end of the world to another, that all nations may worship before Your footstool. Especially (oh Lord) I pray for those who profess Your gospel, as for this our nation, that You would be merciful unto it, turning our hearts to Yourself; for our gracious sovereign the king, and for all our council, that You would pour Your graces upon them, to discharge of their duty and our peace: for all the holy teachers in the church, that You would bless them and their labors: for the peace and full beauty of this church, for the peace and wealth of the commonwealth. We pray to You also for to bless all the means to bring this to pass. Also we pray to You for our parents, for all others to whom we owe special love or service; but principally, we beseech You to show Your compassion upon all that are in persecution for Your gospel. Oh Lord, increase and renew their strength, give them victory, and turn their adversaries hearts, if they pertain to Your holy election, otherwise (oh Lord) bring upon them the confusion that they would bring upon others, and into the pit that they have dug, let them fall and never rise up again. Oh Lord, hear us in these suites; pardon our dull spirits in prayer, and give us these and all other graces needful for us, and the church, to Your glory, for our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose Name we pray as he has taught us, saying: Our Father, etc.

A Prayer for the Feeling of the Sin of Hypocrisy, That We May Direct Our Lives According to the Prescript Rule of the Word

Righteous Lord God and heavenly Father, who are a just judge to punish all those who do continue to offend You: as You are a Father most pitiful, to receive to mercy all those which give over themselves to please You, show me Your grace and favor, so that I may be truly touched with inward displeasure of my sins, and that in the place of flattering myself, to sleep in sin, I may be so cast down in heart, that the rather I may truly with mouth confess, most humbly to give You the honor, glory, and praise, due unto Your holy Name; and that as You of Your great mercy, do instruct thereunto by Your holy Word, so (for Your mercy's sake) make that the same may so lighten and clear our conscience, that in due examination of our life, we may truly learn to be angry and displeased with all our former and corruptible living.

Oh, that it may please You to draw near unto us, in addressing and guiding our footsteps, in the true and perfect way of obedience to Your holy Laws and commandments. Send Your holy angel to pitch his tents round about us, that Satan, and his infernal army never prevail against us, but that always with strong faith, we may through Jesus Christ withstand all his crafty engines and snares, knowing undoubtedly, that You never forsake those who put their trust in You. Oh, let us not be led by the infirmity of our outward flesh, but strengthen us by the virtue of Your Holy Spirit. Suffer us not to lie under Your heavy wrath, and vengeance through hypocrisy, but rather touch us so inwardly that we may without ceasing sigh and groan unto You by true and unfeigned repentance. And although we be not always so well disposed to ask and pray as we ought to do, yet (good Lord, for Your glorious Name's sake) stretch out Your mighty hand, that by the gracious working of Your Holy Spirit, our minds and hearts, may be drawn from all earthly and corruptible things, so that our prayers unto You, may proceed of an inward, earnest, vehement affection, so that we never presume to come before the throne of Your majesty with a double heart, knowing, that whosoever asks and prays for anything of You, not asking in faith, cannot obtain.

Increase therefore (sweet Lord) our faith that we presently may lively feel the benefit of remission and pardon all our sins through the merits and death of Christ Jesus our Savior; and so work in us forever hereafter to live in Your fear, and to stand in awe of Your displeasure, that You may continue our merciful Father, world without end, Amen.

Oh Shepherd of sheep, seek out me, Your wandering sheep. And being found, lay me upon Your blessed shoulders, and bring me home to the very fold of Your flock, heal my sick soul; feed my hungry soul, yes, almost dying through hunger. Watch over the same (oh sweet Lord) lest the ravening wolf does invade my soul, and so slay it to utter destruction. Wherefore, oh most dear God) be merciful to me a wretched sinner, and grant pardon to him who repents. Give not forth the voice of Your sentence according to my demerits, but like as Your mercy before has done in the beginning of my life, so let it conclude the end thereof, to remain with You, world without end, Amen, dear God, Amen.

Forasmuch as in this life, holy Scriptures do promise trouble, penuries, oppressions, increase of grief, and abundance of temptations, vouchsafe (oh most loving Lord God) to prepare my heart to all possible patience, lest I do faint in Your foot-path; compel (my sweet Lord) this stubborn and rebellious flesh of mine, to be subject to Your Holy Spirit, beyond all expectation, so that I may possess my soul in patience, and keep the same continually in Your everlasting service, to the which purpose You of Your infinite goodness and mercy have created the same. Wherefore, (oh Lord God) show Your almighty power unto me most wretched sinner, that so long as I fight in this wretched life, I may obtain victory against my enemies, (You being my defense) for there is none other who fights for me, but only You, oh God. Now I say, repress the violence of my enemies, and vouchsafe with great effect to bring into bondage my miserable flesh, that tormenta my soul. So that obtaining victory, I may give praise to You, my only deliverer, in perpetual eternity. Amen.

A Prayer Against the Secret Venom and Great Danger of Prosperity

Oh Lord, prepare my heart to wisdom, prepare it to prayer, and teach my soul to feel all the dangers wherewith it is beset on every side; and grant, good Father, that I may not pray in words, or in sound of speech, but in spirit and faith. I acknowledge to You, oh Lord, Your great mercies toward me at this time; for beside the unspeakable graces of my redemption, and of my holy calling in the gospel, (which are evermore good) You have given me a large measure of earthly blessings; my table is richly and daintily furnished, my cup over-flows, my enemies are chased away, and I feel no want, no affliction, no sorrow. My prosperity leads me, as by the hand, from one delight to another, and from one pleasure to another. In the morning, peace is at my right hand, and at night quietness at my left. Oh Lord are not these Your blessings? Have not You opened Your merciful hand, and filled me with all these comforts? True it is, oh Lord, that they came all from You, and for them I am indebted unto You, and give You hearty thanks. But alas, oh Lord, I find by experience that prosperity (such is our infirmity) carries us too, too far away, it feeds us from day today, and from time to time, with new delights, it engenders also secretly such peace and confidence in these things, which are but as a reed to lean upon, that we are carried away, we forget not You only, but ourselves also. But the day of adversity, the day of sickness, the day of trouble, that lays open our weakness, it causes much care to be released, it provokes many prayers for relief. Oh, it is a happy day, a day of returning to the Lord, a day of repentance, as in sackcloth and ashes. Oh, how may my soul praise the day of affliction, wherein I called upon the Name of the Lord, and He heard me, and I found that His rod comforted me. Nevertheless, oh good Lord, consider and help to days of health, take away the fruit of many days of sickness: we are as men seasick, that coming on the shore, presently return to joy and mirth, and forget both dangers on the sea; and dangers on the land. So came it to pass from age to age in Your people of Israel, being tied fast in misery and iron, they called upon You and received mercy; being delivered, they soon turned back like a bow, and became drunken with prosperity. Then Your face was against them, Your anger was kindled, and they cast into affliction again; but in their miseries they renewed their prayers and You did renew Your grace; but new prosperity brought new rebellion, and new rebellion new punishments, and new punishments new conversation. The house of mirth was to them, and is to all, a bait to wantonness, but in the house of sorrow, a provocation of humility and prayer. Prosperity is as a cup of wine mingled with poison, as a bed of security, and a way to destruction. Therefore, oh Lord with the fullness of earthly things, give me also the fullness of spiritual things, that I forget You not in vanity of life, or in the false delights of sinful flesh. Oh, keep my heart that it be not made drunken with prosperity, but grant me in soberness to use Your blessings to Your glory, and to the relief of my brethren: and when I rejoice, not to rejoice in these base things (for that rejoicing is evil) but to rejoice in You, turning my mirth from wanton dances, from vain songs, from other carnal delights, to exercises of religion, to helps of knowledge, and singing of Psalms, with melody to You in my heart.

Finally, oh Lord, seeing that in this earthly prosperity there is so great abuse and so present danger for want of grace to abuse them, oh Lord teach me the true use of them, that I may not set my heart thereon, but in You, giving You thanks for them and laboring with all diligence through Your grace in Jesus Christ, that they be not through my wickedness turned into curses. As Solomon teaches wisdom to take heed of an harlot, so teach me to take heed of vain pleasures, in worldly matters, that I be not bewitched with prosperity, and forget You, bathing myself in pleasures, and never setting You before my eyes. Oh merciful Father for Your dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, work this in me, that I may be rich in good works, that I may have, as not having: that I may use the world, as not abusing it, but using it to Your glory and praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Savior, to whom with You and the Holy Ghost, three persons, and one God, be all praise, honor, and glory both now and forever, Amen.

A Prayer Against Whoredom and Uncleanness

Oh God, who by Your holy Word have commanded, that for the avoiding of the filthy sin of fornication, every man should have his lawful wife, and every woman enjoy her lawful husband, threatening death and damnation to all such as seek to live contrary to Your commandment herein, I humbly beseech You for Christ's sake, that You will mortify and kill in me all carnal concupiscence, filthy motions, and fleshly desires, by the operation of Your Holy Spirit in me, that I never defile either my body or soul in this loathsome and stinking sin of whoredom, adultery, fornication, incest, or other uncleanness of body whatsoever, but living purely and unpolluted therewith all the days of my life, I may practice to please You in all my proceedings. I know (oh Lord) that flesh and blood, (the filthy unclean works of flesh and blood) cannot enter into Your habitation, nor yet possess any portion in Your everlasting Kingdom of glory. And therefore whensoever the devil, his wicked members, the world, or the flesh shall tempt and provoke me to preparation hereto, give me power and strength to withstand their assaults, and put into my mind to consider that Your eyes do behold me, and Your holy angels look upon me also; that the horrible company of devils compass me about, ready to register my filthy fact in a book of memorials against the great day of the Lord. And so by Your gracious assistance, and these good considerations, I may be partly terrified, and partly ashamed forever to commit the same; knowing that You who spared not the former world, but destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone from heaven, the whole world with water, the city of the Shechemites with the edge of the sword, and the children of Israel at sundry times, slaying infinite millions of them for this horrible vice, will not spare me a most wicked and abominable sinner, if I commit the like offense. Wherefore (blessed Father) suffer me not Your dear child in Jesus Christ, bought with Your most precious blood, to be once spotted, stained, or blemished, either in body or mind, with this filthy stinking sin of whoredom and fornication, that I appearing clean in Your sight, may after this life ended live with You, Your Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost: one true and ever living God, world without end, Amen.

A Prayer Against Covetousness and Ambition

Almighty God, and most merciful Father, who has commanded every man to labor and travail in his vocation and calling, thereby to relieve his necessities, and to maintain his estate, and has promised thereto Your blessing. Bless I beseech You, all my actions and labors which I shall at any time take in hand in Your Name, and thereby I receiving sufficient sustentation and maintenance for my estate and calling, may be free from the insatiable desires of covetousness, ambition, avarice, and all desire of unlawful gain; knowing that those who desire to be rich, fall into diverse temptations and snares of the devil. From which contagious infection, I beseech You, so much more warily to keep me, by how much more I find the same forbidden in Your holy Word. The holy apostle calls it idolatry, worshipping of idols, and the root of all evil, excluding them out of the Kingdom of heaven that be infected therewith. And Your dear Son Jesus Christ tells us, that it shall be easier for the camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man (that is, a covetous rich man, whose affiance is in his riches) to enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Wherefore (good Father) keep me far from this filthy vice of covetousness and ambition, and grant that I having food for my body, and clothes for my back, with all other necessaries incident to this life, may be well contented therewith, not coveting or desiring anymore; and all the days of my life in true simplicity of heart, may give You praise for the same. Finally, grant that I seeking the Kingdom of heaven and the righteousness thereof, as You have commanded us in Your holy Word, may receive the reward of Your promise, that is, all things necessary for this life, and in the life to come everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.

A Prayer Against Usual and Common Swearing

Eternal God and loving Father, in Your holy Word, the word of truth, You say that the man who to swears much is accursed, and the plague shall never depart from his house; and in Your holy gospel have said, that we shall render account at the day of judgment for every idle word that we shall speak. Oh, how much more shall we give accounts of every profane, blasphemous and bloody oath that we swear? And therefore to the end we might avoid Your vengeance against that day, You have commanded us not to swear at all, but that our communication be yes, yes; no, no; for whatsoever is more than that, comes of evil. Wherefore I beseech You(good Lord) in the bowels of mercy, so to dispose and order my tongue and mouth (the use whereof You have given me above other creatures to glorify You withal) that thereby I abuse nor blaspheme not Your holy Name. For true it is (oh Lord) that swearers and blasphemers of Your holy Name, as much as lies in them, do crucify Your Son afresh, and are as guilty of His blood as Judas was that betrayed Him, or the cursed Jews that slew Him.

And seeing that to swear by You, whose blessed Name is never to be thought of, nor yet once called into question, but with great reverence, fear, and dread, is most horrible blasphemy, and to swear by any creature else, is most detestable idolatry, keep me I beseech You from all manner of unlawful swearing, and from all wicked bloody oaths, that both my heart, tongue, and mouth, and all parts else both of body and soul, may be instruments of praise to set forth Your glory, all the days of my life, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.

A Prayer Against Pride

Holy Lord, You have in Your blessed gospel commanded us by all means possible, to eschew the filthy vice of pride (which is a certain rebellion of the heart against You) and above all things to embrace and ever hold fast the anchor of humility. A perfect pattern whereof we may learn in You (oh blessed Savior) who was humble, lowly, courteous, gentle, merciful, pitiful, full of compassion, and all goodness, not disdaining the vilest person, or most loathsome lazer that ever lived, if he faithfully believed in Your. You humbled Yourself, that we might be exalted. You became poor, to make us rich. You came down to the earth to live in humility, that we might be exalted to live in felicity.

You were poor in estate, mean in attire, and base in all things before the world, in respect of Your humanity; but before Your heavenly Father, in respect of Your deity, most magnificent and glorious. And therefore not without cause, You bid us learn of You, saying, Learn of me, for I am humble and lowly, and your souls shall live. You overthrow the proud in their own imagination, and give grace to the humble, yes You so much abhor pride, that You judge them to eternal damnation that offend therein.

If we would consider with ourselves our own misery, we should have no cause to rise up into pride. For in respect of our bodies, are we anything else then vile dung and ashes? And in respect of our souls, till they be regenerate by the Spirit of God, are they not bond-slaves to Satan, receptacles to fiends, and subject to everlasting damnation? What have we now that we have not received? Or whereof may we be proud? Wherefore (oh my God) I beseech You who are the true mirror of all humility, give me the spirit of meekness, humbleness, and lowliness of heart, and keep me from all filthy pride and arrogance of body or mind, that I never lift up myself into pride against You, or think of myself above that which I am of myself, but that I, casting down myself, and distrusting my own worthiness, may be by You advanced to eternal glory. Grant that those things which You gave me for necessities sake only (as You did my apparel to hide my shame withal) may never be abused of me as instruments of wickedness. And those things which You gave me to praise and glorify You withal, as You did my heart, my tongue, and mouth, I never abuse to Your dishonor. And as it may please You to endue me with this true humility of mind towards You, so I beseech You to give me the true humility of body and mind towards my brethren also, that I be not puffed up, nor advance myself above them, disdaining or contemning them, though otherwise never so mean or contemptible before the world.

And whensoever the enemy assaults me to stir me up to pride, I beseech You, whose power is incomprehensible, to strengthen me to withstand his temptations, and set before the eyes of my mind, the examples of Your judgment inflicted upon the children of pride in all ages, as namely, how You threw down Lucifer a bright angel in heaven into hell fire, how You condemned Adam and all his posterity. How You destroyed Nimrod that huge giant, Goliath that fierce monster, Nebuchadnezzar that ambitious and bloody tyrant, Herod that arrogant miscreant, and many others, who through the sin of pride rebelled against You, and may by these examples be terrified from committing that great and heinous sin against You: that I humbling myself in this world, after the consummation of this life, may be exalted in the Kingdom of heaven, there to reign with You forever and ever, Amen.

A Prayer Against Gluttony and Drunkenness

Blessed Lord, as You have created man after Your own similitude and likeness, and have given him a perfect body like unto Your Son Jesus Christ; so You have ordained and provided for him ordinary means, as meat, drink, flesh, fish, herbs, oils, wines, and what not, to keep and sustain the same; and has commanded these Your creatures to be moderately taken, to the sustentation of the body, with praise and thanksgiving to You, accursing them to hell, who by abusing, not lawfully using these Your blessings, make them instruments of sin, and so consequently of damnation to themselves. Give me grace I beseech You that I may never abuse Your gifts through gluttony, drunkenness, riot, or excess, but that I living in all godly temperance and sobriety, may be thankful unto You for them, and also use them for my necessity. Knowing that our meats without Your blessing, cannot nourish the body, but destroy it rather, as experience daily teaches. Make me (oh Lord) to loath and detest this horrible vice so much the more in respect of the filthynes of the same, for besides that, it transforms man into the image of a beast, or rather makes him worse than a beast (for they neither eat nor drink, without measure) it also blinds his eyes of reason, that he sees not the wickedness that he commits. And therefore Lot, being drunk, perceived not his incestuous fact committed with his two daughters. The Israelites swelling in gluttony and drunkenness, perceived not their grievous sin of idolatry which they fell into. The rich glutton, drunken with the abundance of all things, perceived not his contempt of the poor, nor yet their great want; and therefore You in Your great wrath took him away from the face of the earth. By these and the like examples of Your judgments (grant, oh heavenly Father) that I being admonished, may be careful and studious, never to be culpable in this filthy vice, lest in Your wrath You deprive me of the use of Your creatures in this life, and in the world to come, give me my portion with the wicked in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, that never shall be quenched.

This is the reward You threaten in Your holy Word, to all drunkards, gluttons, and riotous persons, saying by the mouth of the apostle; neither whoremongers, adulterers, gluttons, drunkards, nor such like, shall ever enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Wherefore most dear Father, I beseech You to deliver me in mercy, that I never be stained therewith, but may always use Your gifts to Your glory, the relief of my own necessities, and the help and comfort of others that do want the same. And grant, that I seeking after not only this corporal food which perishes, but also that sweet ambrosia and heavenly nectar, the Word of life, which never decays, may after the end of this life, have the full fruition thereof, to my eternal comfort; and forever laude and praise Your blessed Name, through Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer, Amen.

A Prayer Against Idleness and Sloth

Most holy Father, after You had created man, You placed him in paradise, commanding him for the avoiding of idleness, to dress and manure the same. And afterward being cast out of paradise for the sin of transgression, and sent into the world, You enjoined him in the sweat of his face to eat his bread, to the end he should not at any hand be idle, and so minister occasion to the enemy to invade him; for man being idle and inclined to sloth, the devil he besieged us with a thousand of temptations, our flesh lusts to evil, and our minds are inflamed to all kind of wickedness. Wherefore most merciful Father, I most heartily beseech You, that during the short course of my life in this world, I may be always godly occupied, and virtuously exercised in the affairs of this life, and in all manner of good works before You, that my enemies the devil, the world, nor the flesh, prevail not against me. And considering that I must render account of all my actions whatsoever, and of every minute of an hour, or iota of time lent me in this life, I beseech You, give me grace to spend my time in such godly actions, as may please You, and not in idleness, sloth, or in any wanton, lewd, lascivious, or wicked exercise, that being found faithful and vigilant in my calling, when the day of tribulation comes, when every man shall be rewarded according to his deeds, I may obtain everlasting life. And as it may please You to keep my body from idleness and sloth, so vouchsafe I beseech You, to exercise my soul in godly contemplations and virtuous meditations of You, and of Your holy and blessed Word, together with the heavenly joys and beatitudes prepared for all those who unfeignedly long for Your coming. In the practicing whereof, make me to love nothing but You, to honor and obey You, to fear, dread, and reverence You, and to desire and covet nothing but You, that I, dwelling with You in mind only during this life, may after the dissolution of this earthly tabernacle, dwell with You both in body and soul, world without end, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Savior, to whom with You, and Your Holy Spirit, be all praise and glory, now and for evermore, Amen.

A Prayer Against Infidelity and Despair, Necessary for a Troubled and Wounded Spirit

Glorious Lord God, and our most tender Father in Jesus Christ, in whom You have elected us before all worlds to life and glory, and in Your due time have called us to a lively hope of eternal happiness, that we might walk before You in holiness and righteousness; and in Your infinite wisdom have so disposed of us in this estate of holiness, that You may have the glory of Your free grace; and therefore as You have discharged us freely of the guilt of our sin by the blood of Your Son, and accepted us perfectly righteous in His obedience, so also You have left corruption in us, to be daily mastered and subdued, that so being thereby daily conscious of our own unworthiness and insufficiency; and subject in regard thereof to much distraction and infidelity, we might learn still to live by faith in the Son of God, denying our own righteousness, that still we may be found in Him, to the glorious praise of His free grace, and so may be kept by His mighty power through faith unto salvation.

Look graciously upon me (Your unworthy servant) who do here unfeignedly acknowledge before You, that Your foundation stands sure, You know who are Yours; yet my faith is so weak, that I ofttimes am to seek whether I am Yours or no. For such is my ignorance of what I should know, that I sometimes grope at the light in the noon day, neither knowing the worth of my holy calling, nor being able to use the means which may truly inform me therein, but sometimes overvalue my estate, as if it were better with me then it is, and sometimes abase myself to be worse than indeed I am, or should be. And my corruption sometimes breaking out into gross rebellion, does so hinder and obscure my spiritual eye of faith, that I can neither truly discern whereto I am come, neither can see afar to what I should attain; yes, many times it fares so ill with me, that for want of speedy endeavor to recover myself by repentance, I do not only plunge myself deeper into the snare of sin, by not applying the true remedy aright, or stumbling upon vain helps; but hereby many times am cast into such straights that I not only question all former truth of Your grace, as if I were no better than an hypocrite, and had built on the sands, but also am ready to give over all hope of attaining the same: as if either it did not belong unto me, or else it were too late to pursue and apprehend the same, as if You had forgotten to be merciful, because I feel myself so miserable; as if Your compassion were clean gone, because my rebellion seems so desperate. Hence it is (oh my God) that I turn all Your comforts to be corrosives unto me, and esteem all Your threatenings no better than flashes of hell and entrances to eternal vengeance. Thus am I become (oh Lord) as one forlorn and out of mind, free among the dead, no better in my own account then a mere abject and castaway, whose hope is not only perished from the earth, but without hope or help from You my God. And all this is justly come upon me by reason of my own foolishness, who have neglected my watch, and so have fallen from You, and have been careless of the means to restore me speedily again, whereby my wounds have festered, and seem to be incurable, and so my anguish is greater than I can express; my sins are become a burden that I am not able to bear, my heart within wastes with continual sorrow, and I daily receive a sentence of death. And yet though all this be come upon me, yet Your foundation stands sure, You know who are Yours; though You have chastised me sore for my folly, yet You have not given me over unto death, and therefore yet there is hope; though I have received a sentence of death; yet it is that I might die to my own confidence, and trust in You the living God, who raises up from the dead. The more I feel my sins a burden which I am not able to bear, the more do You invite me to come unto You, that I may be raised: and therefore I must find myself, daily lost in myself, that I may be found of You in Christ, not having my own righteousness. Though Your Law does thunder nothing but vengeance against me, yet You command me still to believe in Your Name, and therefore though You kill me, yet I will trust in You For You (oh my God) will be found in the issues of death: You loved me even when I was Your enemy, and therefore cannot reject me now I seek You in truth. You have embraced me with everlasting compassions, and therefore cannot, neither will forsake me in my great extremity; and You have many times heretofore delivered me from the lion and the bear, from many desperate snares You have many times rescued me, and will You not deliver me from every evil work, and preserve me constantly unto Your glorious appearance? Yes, certainly (blessed Lord) I believe, help my unbelief. I believe, that You are able to do wonderfully above what I can think or desire, and therefore that You will not deny me what I ask in Your Name. I believe that You can bring light out of darkness, and therefore You will turn my darkness into light. I believe that all things shall work together to the best, to those who are called according to Your purpose, and therefore that You will turn this my greatest abasement, to my greatest comfort.

Only I humbly pray to You, give me patience to wait upon You until You come and comfort me; submit me to Your wise physic, whereby You may heal me, that so being healed, I may be fit for comfort. Oh, heal me therefore I humbly pray to You, by the blood of Your Son, wash me thoroughly from all my sins, and cleanse me from all my iniquities. Create in me (oh Lord) a clean heart, that I may appear all fair before You, and renew a right spirit within me, that I may worship You in spirit and truth. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, that I may be persuaded of Your love unto me, and stablish me with Your free Spirit, that I may unfeignedly love You again and never depart from Your holy covenant. Grant me to renew my covenant daily with You, that You may be forever with me, to keep me in Your fear; and keep me daily lowly in my own eyes, that still I may be accepted of You in Your beloved. Give me trust in You, by distrusting my own deceitful heart, especially in time of temptation; and teach me to rely on Your mighty power by faith, even when powers and principalities do most oppose me. Oh, strengthen me with the strong cries of Your blessed Spirit, that I may be fervent in prayer, to wrestle with Your Majesty, that so You may hasten Your work to comfort me, And though I find not that comfort I have had, or desire, yet let this comfort me: that I have done Your will, and let it humble me still, that I am not fit for the comfort I do desire, that so with patience I may wait for the same, comforting myself, that seeing this is the time of my warfare, and not of my crowning, therefore if I wait for what I am not fit for, yet there is enough before me to satisfy me abundantly; and therefore grant me still to forget what is behind, and to hasten to what is before, to wait for the coming of my Lord and Savior, and so prepare myself daily to His glorious appearance. And even so, come Lord Jesus come quickly, Amen.

FINIS.

Table of Contents

A Prayer Containing the Effect of the Householder's Catechism

A Prayer Upon the Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer, More at Large

A Confession of Sins with Faith and Repentance

A Prayer for the Prosperous Estate of the Whole Church

Morning Prayer for Private Houses and Families

Evening Prayer for Private Houses and Families

A Form of Prayer Daily to be Used of All Faithful Christians, in Their Houses, or Elsewhere

A Special Morning Prayer for the Sabbath

A Prayer for the Sabbath Evening

A Prayer to be Said Before the Hearing or Reading of the Holy Scripture

A Thanksgiving After the Hearing or Reading of the Word of God

A Prayer Before the Receiving of the Sacrament

A Prayer to be Said After the Receiving of the Sacrament

A Prayer for Constant Perseverance in Praying, When We are Dull to Prayer

A Prayer for All Times

A Prayer for All Estates

A Prayer to be Confirmed in the Knowledge of God

A Prayer for the Obtaining of Saving Faith

A Prayer to Feel in Heart Spiritual Comfort, and the Lively Sense of our Adoption by Faith

A Prayer Against Doubting to Strengthen a Weak Faith, and to Persevere Therein

A Prayer for Obtaining Trial, and Cherishing of the Holy Spirit of God

A Prayer for the Obtaining of a Lively Hope

A Prayer for the Obtaining and Increase of Love

A Prayer to Obtain and Preserve the Fear of God, that We May Be Kept Constant Thereby in Holiness to the End

A Prayer for Grace and Wisdom

A Prayer to Walk Conscionably in our Civil and Personal Calling

A Prayer Before the Taking of a Journey

A Thanksgiving After a Journey

A Prayer for a Woman in Time of Her Travail

A Thanksgiving After Safe Deliverance

A Prayer for Those Who Are Employed in the Assistance of a Travailing Woman

A Thanksgiving Upon the Blessing of Their Labor in the Deliverance

A Prayer for Such as in This World Be Very Rich and Wealthy

A Prayer for Such as Be Poor and Needy

A Thanksgiving After Blessings Obtained, to Acknowledge Them as from God

A Prayer for Patience in Tribulation, and that God May Be Glorified Thereby

A Prayer for Mortification and Holiness

A Prayer for the Feeling of the Sin of Hypocrisy, That We May Direct Our Lives According to the Prescript Rule of the Word

A Prayer Against the Secret Venom and Great Danger of Prosperity

A Prayer Against Whoredom and Uncleanness

A Prayer Against Covetousness and Ambition

A Prayer Against Usual and Common Swearing

A Prayer Against Pride

A Prayer Against Gluttony and Drunkenness

A Prayer Against Idleness and Sloth

A Prayer Against Infidelity and Despair, Necessary for a Troubled and Wounded Spirit