A POOR MAN'S REST: Founded upon 

Motives,  
Meditations,  
Prayers.   and Expressing to the inward MAN, true Consolation. In all Kinds and Times of Affliction.  
By IO. NORDEN.  
Now the eight time augmented, and much reform by the AUTHOR.  PSAL. 10.14. 
The Poor committeth himself unto thee, for thou art the helper of the Fatherless.  
London: Printed for john Budge, and are to be sold at the signed of the Greene-Dragon in Paul's Churchyard. 1620.   


1. januarie  
called of the Latins, januarius. Grecians, Gamelion. Hebrews, Tebeth, and is their 10. month. hath 31 days.  
1 A Calends.  2 b  The first day of this Month Christ was circumcised, Luk. 1. 21. The tops of the mountains appeared unto Noah, Gen 8. 5. The Israelites put away their wives, Ezra 10. 16. 3 c 
Nones of Jan. 


4  
3     4 d  5 e  6 f Day before the N. 7 g Nones of januar 8 A  9 b  The 5. of this month, word was brought unto Ezechiel the Prophet, that the City jerusalem was smitten, Ezechiel 33. 21. 10 c 
Idus of januarie. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     11 d  12 e  13 f  14 g Day before the Id. The sixth of this month Christ was worshipped of the wise men, Mat. 2. 1. etc. baptised, Mat. 3. 15. turned water into wine, joh. 2. 1. etc. as testifieth Epiphanius 15 A Idus of januarie 16 b  17 c  18 d  19 e  20 f  The 10. of this Month Nabuchadnezzar, King of Babel, moved thereunto by the rebellion of Zedechiah, besieged jerusalem most fiercely, as may appear, 2 Kings 15. &c, Jer. 52. 4. Also Ezechiel was willed to utter his parable, Ezech. 2. etc. 21 g  22 A 
Calends of February. 


17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     23 b  24 c  25 d  26 e  27 f  28 g  29 A  Paul called, and converted the 25. of this month, Acts 9 3. 30 b  31 c Day before the Calends of Feb.  
Festival days in this month be 

Circumcision the first day.  
Epiphanie the sixth day.     

2. February,  
called of the Latins, Februarius, Grecians, Elaphebolion Hebrews, Shebat, and is their 11. month. hath 28. days unless it be year Bissextil and then 29.  
1 d Calends. The first of this month, Moses repeated the Law unto the children of Israel, Deut. 1. 3. 2 e 
Nones of February. 


4  
3     3 f  4 g Day before the N. 5 A Nones of Febru. The second of this month our Saviour was presented to the Lord, and Mary purified, Luk 〈◊〉. 22. 6 b  7 c  8 d 
Idus of February. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     9 e  The ninth of this month, Noah, 40. days after he had seen the tops of the mountains, sent out of the Ark a Raven, & afterward a Dove, which returned, Goe 8. 6. etc. 10 f  11 g  12 A Day before the Id 13 b Idus of February. 14 c  15 d  The 15. of this month, the jews spend merrily together, for that the Spring of the year doth enter then, as they think. 16 e  17 f  18 g  19 A  20 b  The 16. of this month, Noah the second time sent out a Dove, which returned with an Olive branch in her bill, Gen. 8. 10. 21 c 
Calends of March. 


17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     22 d  23 e  24 f  25 g  The 24. of this month, Zachariah was commanded to prophecy, Zach. 1. 7. Mathias was elected into the number of the Apostles, Acts 1. 26. 26 A  27 b  28 c  29 d Day before the Calends of March.  
Festival days in this month be the 2. called the Purification of S. Mary. The 24. which is Saint Mathias day.   

3. March,  
called of the Latins, Martius. Grecians, Mo●uichyon. Hebrews, Adar: and is their 12. month. hath 31. days.  
1 d Calends. The Temple of jerusalem was finished the third day of this month, Esra. 6. 15. In the 1 of Esdr. 7. 5. it is said to be the 23. of this month. 2 e  3 f 
Nones of March. 


6  
5  
4  
3     4 g  5 A  6 b Day before the N. The tenth of this month, Christ was advertised that Lazarus was sick, joh. 11. 3. 7 c Nones of March 8 d  9 e  A feast was celebrated among the jews, for the overthrow of Nicanor, the 13. of this month, 2 Mac. 15. 37 Also upon the same day all the jews under Ashuerosh were commanded to be put to death, Esth 3. 13. upon the same day the jews had a privilege given them to stay all their enemies, Est. 8. 12. This day also the jews solemnised for their joyful deliverance, Est. 8. 17. 10 f 
Idus of March. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     11 g  12 A  13 b  14 c Day before the Id. 15 d Idus of March. 16 e  17 f  18 g  19 A  20 b  21 c  22 d 
Calends of April. 


17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     23 e  The 14. day of this month was called of the jews, Mardocheus day, 2 Macc. 15. 37. also Purim, as may appear, Esth. 9 vers. 21. 26. 24 f  25 g  26 A  27 b 28 c  The 15. also is another day of Purim, Est 9 21. 29 d  30 e  The 16. of this Month Lazarus was raised from the dead. John 11. 43. 31 f Day before the Calends of April.     
This Month hath one festival day called the Annunciation of Saint Marie, celebrated the 25. of this month.   

4 April  
called of the Latins, Aprilis. Grecians, Thargelion. Hebrews, A●ib, or Nisan and is their first month. hath 30 days.  
1 〈◊〉 Calenas'. The first of this Month Noah uncovered the Ark, & saw earth, Gen. 8. 13. Moses reared the Tabernacle, Exo. 40. 2. 17. the Temple began to be sanctified, 2 Chr. 29. 17. 2 A 
Nones of April. 


4  
3     3 b  4 c Day b●fore the 〈◊〉. 5 d Nones of April. 6 e  7 f  The 10. of this month the children of Israel passed thorough the river jordan on dry foot, josis 4. 19 the Paschal Lamb was chosen, Exo. 12. 3. 8 g 
Idus of April. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     9 A  10 b  11 c  12 d Day before the Id. The 13. of this month the edict of King Ahashuerosh came out for the murdering of the jews, Esth. 3. 12. 13 e Idus of April. 14 f  15 g  16 A  The 14. of this month the Passeover was kept, Exo. 12. 6. Levit. 23. 5. Jos. 5. 10. 17 b  18 c  19 d  The 15 of this month the Israelites departed out of Egypt, Numb. 33. 3. 20 e  21 f 
Calends of May. 


18  
17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     22 g  The 16. of this month Hezekiah made an end of sanctifying and purging the Temple, 2 Chron. 29 17. 23 A  24 b  25 c  26 d  The 18. of this month the children of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the red sea, Exod. 14. 19 27 e  28 f  29 g  30 A Day before the Calends of May. The 24 Daniel saw his vision, Dan. 10. 4.     
The 25. of this month the feast of S. Mark is observed.   

5. May,  
called of the Latins, Maius. Grecians, Sc●irophorion Hebrews, Liar, which is their 2. month. hath 31 days.  
1 b Calends. The first of this month Moses was commanded to number the children of Israel, Numb. 1. 1. etc. 2 c  3 d 
Nones of May. 


6  
5  
4  
3     4 e  5 f  The 5. of this Month, Christ is thought to have ascended up into heaven, Mar. 16. 9 Luk. 24. 51. Act. 19 They which could not keep the Passeover at the day appointed by the Lord, were willed to celebrate the same the 14. of this Month, Nu. 39 v. 10. 11. So did the Israelites at the commandment of King Hezekiah, 2 Ch. 30. 15. 6 g Day before the N. 7 A Nones of May. 8 b  9 c  10 d 
Idus of May. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     11 e  12 f  13 g  14 A Day before the Id. 15 b Idus of May. 16 c  17 d  The 16 day, Manna reigned from heaven, Exod. 16. 14. 18 e  19 f  The 17. day, Noah entered the Ark, and the flood began, Gen. 7 11. 13. 20 g  21 A  2● b 
Calends of Iu●e. 


17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     The 22. fire from Heaven consumed such as murmured against the Lord, Nu. 11 1 23 c  24 d  25 e  The 23 the Israelites with great joy triumphingly entered into the Castle of jerusalem, 1 Mac. 13 51. 26 f  27 g  28 A  ●9 b  The 27. Noah, the water being dried up, came forth of the Ark, Gen. 8. 14. 30 c  31 d Day before the Calends of jane  
The first of this Month is usually celebrated for the feast of Philip and jacob.   

6 june,  
called of the Latins, junius, Grecians, Ekatombaion. Hebrews, Sivan, which is their third month. hath 30 days.  
1 e Calends. The first coming of the children of Israel unto meni Sinai was the first of this month, where they abode 11. months, and 20. days, in which time all those things were done, recorded in Exod, cap. 19 1. etc. 2 f 
Nones of june. 


4  
3     3 g  4 A Day before the N. 5 b Nones of june. 6 c  7 d  8 e 
Idus of june. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     9 f  The sixth of this month, Alexander that mighty Monarch of the world was borne, of whom Dan. c. 11. 3. doth prophesy. Also on this day that famous temple of Diana in Ephesus, numbered among the seven wonders of the world, was set on fire by Herostratus. The jews likewise kept then feast of Pentecost on this day. 10 g  11 A  12 b Day before the Id. 13 c Idus of june. 14 d  15 e  16 f  17 g  18 A  19 b  20 c 
Calends of july. 


18  
17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     21 d  22 e  The 23 of this month, the first edict came out for the safety of God's people, the jews, against Haman, and the rest of their enemies, Esth. 8. 9 23 f  24 g  25 A  26 b  27 c  28 d  The 29. of this month, the Ark of Noah, through the increase of waters, was lifted up from the earth, Gen. 7. 12. 29 e  30 f Day before the Calends ●f july.  
Festival days in this month, are the 2●. which is the feast of S. john Baptist. 29. which is S. Peter's.   

7. july,  
called of the Latins, julius, Grecians, Metageitnion, Hebrews, Thamus, being their 4. month.  
1 g Calends.  2 A  The 5. of this month Ezechiel saw his visions, Ezech. 1. 1. 3 b 
Nones of July. 


6  
5  
4  
3     4 c  5 d   6 e Day before the N. The 6. of this month, the Capital of Rome, counted one of the 7. wonders of the world, was burned: and the mirror of Christian Princes King Edward the sixth, died the sixth of this month, Anno 1553. 7 f Nones of july. 8 g  9 A  10 b 
Idus of july. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     11 c  12 d  13 e  14 f Day before the Id.  15 g Idus of july.  16 A  The 9 of this Month, jerusalem, after it had a long while been besieged by Nabuchadnezzar, was taken, jer. 39 2. 17 b  18 c  19 d  20 e  21 f   22 g   23 A 
Calends of August. 


17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     The 12. of this month, julius Caesar, the first Roman Emperor was borne. Of him is this month called july. 24 b  25 c  26 d  27 e   28 f  The 18. of this their year, month, the 29 g  Egyptians begin 30 A  Plin. lib. 8. cap. 47. 31 b Day before the Calends of Aug.  
The 25. of this month is the feast of S. james the Apostle: and upon this day K. james was crowned King of England, 1603.   

8. August.  
called of the Latins, Augustus. Grecians, Boedromion. Hebrews, Ab, which is their 5. month.  
1 c Calends.  2 d 
Nones of August. 


4  
3     The first of this month, Aaron, 40. years after the children of Israel were come out of Egypt, died on mount Hor, Num. 33. 38. Also on this day Ezra, with his company came out of Babel unto jerusalem, Ezra 7. 9 3 e  4 f Day before the N. 5 g Nones of August. 6 A  7 b  8 c 
Idus of August. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     9 d  10 e   11 f   12 g Day before the Id. The 7. of this month Nabuchadnezzar burned the house of the Lord, and all jerusalem, 2 Kings 25. 8. 9 13 A Idus of August. 14 b  15 c  16 d   17 e   18 f  The 10. of this month, some think jerusalem to have been burnt by the Babylonians, jerem. 52. 12. josephus (lib. 5. cap. 26.) said it was burned afterward by the Romans the same day. Therefore do the jews on this day observe a most strait fast, and go barefooted, and sitting on the ground, read twice over the Lamentations of jeremy. 19 g  20 A  21 b 
Calends of Septemb. 


18  
17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     22 c  23 d  24 e  25 f  26 g  27 A  28 b  29 c  30 d Day before the Calends of Sep. 31 e   
The 24. of this month is usually called S. Bartholomew's day.   

9 September  
called of the Latins, September. Grecians, Maimacterion. Hebrews, Elul, which is their 6. month.  
1 f Calends.  2 g 
Nones of Septemb. 


4  
3     The first of this Month Haggai the Prophet began to prophesy, Hag. 1. 1. 3 A  4 b Day before the N. 5 c Nones of Septemb.  6 d   7 e  The sixth of this month Ezechiel saw another vision Ezec. 8. 1. 8 f 
Idus of Septemb. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     9 g  10 A   11 b   12 c Day before the Id.  13 d Idus of Septemb. The 7 of this month our late most noble Queen Elizabeth was borne at Greenwich, Anno. 1533. 14 e  15 f  16 g  17 A   18 b   19 c   20 d  The 8. of this Month, Anno 73. jerusalem was utterly with fire and sword destroyed by Titus the Emperor, joseph lib. 7. cap. 16. 21 e 
Calends of October. 


18  
17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     22 f  23 g  24 A  25 b   26 c   27 d   28 e  The 25. of this month, Nehemiah finished the walls of jerusalem, Nehem. 6. 15. 29 f  30 g Day before the Calends of October.  
Festival days in this month be the 

21. S. Matthew.  
29. S. Michael.     

10 October,  
called of the Latins, October. Grecians, Pianepsion. Hebrews, Thisri, and is their 7. month. hath 31. days.  
1 A Calends. The 1. of this month, the jews celebrated the feast of Trumpets, Levit. 23. 24. the latter jews call this day the beginning of the new year. 2 b  3 c 
Nones of October. 


6  
5  
4  
3     4 d  5 e  6 f Day before the No. jerusalem, after it had been possessed of Christian Princes 88 years, through mortal dissension, came into the hands of the Sarazens, Anno 1187. 7 g Nones of October 8 A  9 b  10 c 
Idus of October. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     11 d  12 e  The 3. of this month, some think the jews fasted for the death of Gedaliah: whereby occasion was offered to bring them again into the miserable servitude of the Egyptians, 2 King. 25. 25 ●erem. 4●. 1. 2. etc. 13 f  14 g Day before the Id. 15 A Idus of October. 16 b  17 c  18 d  19 e  20 f  The 10. of this month, the feast of reconciliation was kept, Levit. 23. 27. So did the year of jubilee every fifty year begin as on the same day, Levit. 25. 9 21 g  22 A 
Calends of Novemb. 


17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     23 b  24 c  25 d  26 c  The 15 of this month the jews observed the feast of Tabernacles 7. days together, in memory of the Lords protecting them in the desert, Levit. 23. 34. 27 f  28 g  29 A  30 b  31 c Day before the Calends of Novemb.  
Festival days in this month are, 18. day, S Luke. 28. Simon and jude.   

11. November  
called of the Latins, November. Grecians, Anthesterion. Hebrews, Marbesuam. which is their 8. month.  
1 d Calends. The third of this month, Constantius the Emperor, Son to Constantinus the great, departed out of this world, An. 364 Hist. tripart. in the end of the fifth book. 2 e 
Nones of Novemb. 


4  
3     3 f  4 g Day before the N. 5 A Nones of Novemb. 6 b  7 c  The tenth of this month, An. ●483. D. Martin Luther, was borne in Islebia. 8 d 
Idus of November. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     9 e  10 f  The 15. of this month, was made a new holiday by jeroboam without the commandment of God, whereupon he committed most wicked Idolatry in Dan and Bethel: but he remained not long unpunished, nor his people unplagued for the same, as may appear, 1 Kin 12. verse 32. 33. 1 King. 13. 1. 2. etc. 11 g  12 A Day before the Id. 13 b Idus of Novemb. 14 c  15 d  16 e  17 f  18 g  19 A  20 b  21 c 
Calends of Decemb. 


18  
17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     22 d  Queen Elizabeth began happily to reign for the advancement of the Gospel of our Saviour Christ, the 17. of this month 1558. 23 e  24 f  25 g  26 A  27 b  The 18. of this month Titus the Emperor most cruelly executed to death a great number of the jews, joseph. lib. 7. cap. 10. 28 c  29 d  30 e Day before the Calends of Decemb.    
Festival days in this month, are the first day. The feast of All Saints. The 30. and last day, Saint Andrew the Apostle.   

12. December  
called of the Latins, December. Grecians, Posetdo●, Hebrews, Sisleu, and is their 9 month. hath 31 days.  
1 f Calends. The 15. of this month Antiochus placed an abominable Idol upon the altar of the Lord, 1 Macc. 1. 57 2 g 
Nones of December. 


4  
3     3 A  4 b Day before the No. 5 c Nones of Decemb. The 20. of this month Es●dra exhorted the Israelites to put away their strange wives, 1 Esd. 9 5. 6. 6 d  7 e  8 f 
Idus of Decemb. 


8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     9 g  The foundation of the second Temple was laid the 24. of this month. Hagg. 2, vers. 11. 19 10 A  11 b  12 c Day before the Id. 13 d Idus of Decemb. The 25. of this month our Saviour Christ was borne of the Virgin, the year after the world's creation, 4018. On which day also Antiochus Epiphanes entered into jerusalem with a mighty army & spoilt the same, jos. li. 21. c. 16. On this day he profaned the altar of the Lord, 1 Macc. 1. 62. which day also the jews kept holy, because thereon the Temple was purged from idolatry, 1 Mac. 4. 50. 14 e  15 f  16 g  17 A  18 b  19 c  20 d  21 e  22 f 
Calends of january. 


19  
18  
17  
16  
15  
14  
13  
12  
11  
10  
9  
8  
7  
6  
5  
4  
3     23 g  24 A  25 b  26 b  27 〈◊〉  28 e  The 28. of this month Herod caused the poor Innocents' to be murdered, thinking thereby to have slain Christ, Mat 2. 16. etc. 29 f  30 g  31 A Day before the Calends of januar.     
Festival days in this month are the 21. Thomas Apost. 25. The Nativity of Christ. 26. S Steven. 27. john the Euang, 28. Innocents', called commonly Childe●… day.    

A rule to know how many days be contained in every month in the year.  

Thirty days hath November,  
April, june, and September.  
The rest hath thirty and one,  
Except it be February alone,  
Which always hath twenty eight mere,  
When it is no Bisextile or Leape-yeere.    

A note of the Months, weeks, days, and hours, throughout the whole veer.  
The year containeth Months 12. Hours. 69478 Weeks 5●. Days 365.  
Day Natural, hath 24 hours. Artificiali, 12   

An Almanac for ten years.  
The vere of our Lord. The prime. Sundays letter. Leap year. Ash-wednesday the first day of Lent. Easter day. Whit sunday. 1620 1 B A Mar. 1. Apr. 16. june 4. 1621. 2 G  Feb. 14 Apr. 1. May 20. 1622 3 F  Mar. 6. Apr. 21. june 9 1623. 4 E  Feb. 16. Apr. 13. june 1. 1624. 5 D C Feb. 11. Mar. 28. May 16. 1625 6 B  Mar. 3. Apr. 17 june 5. 1626. 7 A  Feb. 12. Apr. 9 May 28. 1627. 8 G  Feb. 7. Mar. 25 May 13. 1628. 9 F E Feb. 27. Apr. 13. june 1. 1629 10 D  Feb. 18. Apr. 5. May 24.   

TO THE RIGHT Virtuous and godly Lady, the Lady, MARGERY KILLEGREWE, wife unto the right Worshipful, SIR WILLIAM KILLEGREWE, KNIGHT.  
IT pleased you (RIGHT worthy LADY) heretofore, to afford this little Treatise kind allowance, to enter under your Roof, and to accept it, as a friendless Pilgrim, committed to your shelter & protection: and such hath been the opinion of yourself, the Patroness, touching the same, that many others in imitation of your kind acceptance of it, have likewise favourably censured it, and friendly received it, not for his sake that sent it, to seek friends, but for yours, I assure me, that showed it and me friendship. And now the Book (simple as it is) being dispersed into the hands of many, with the poor Title of A poor Mansrest, becomes to be more and more richly regarded: And therefore, I could do no less, after this seaventh Impression, but review it, and augment it, and recommed it again unto your favourable tuition, nothing doubting, but the longer it passeth abroad in the world's view, the more it shall increase in your high commendation, that will vouchsafe to countenance so poor a Guest.  
Your Ladyships, ever at commandment, Io. NORDEN.   

To all that are in any distress; rest, and consolation, in Christ JESUS.  
I Am out of doubt, by mine own experience, that this little Book, entitled, The poor Man's rest, shall bring no less unto thee, than the title importeth: if thou faithfully use it, it offereth thee the mean by perseverance and practice, to attain unto the rest of the soul: not as the rich man, vainly promising rest unto his Soul, through the superfluous fullness of worldly blessings, & was sent suddenly to hell: but that rest which Christ himself promiseth, Mat. 11. 29. Where he saith: Take my yoke on you, & learn of me, that I am meek & lowly in heart, & ye shall find rest for your souls. True rest cometh not by the pleasures of this life, but by the yoke of Christ, namely, by his corrections, which consisteth in troubles, in crosses, in afflictions, in miseries, in want, in hunger, in nakedness, in imprisonment, in banishment, in things displeasing to flesh & blood: Why then should we seem to kick against God's loving chastisements and mild corrections, which as an easy yoke he putteth on our necks, & as a light burden he layeth on our shoulders? He trieth us but a little while, & will never over-charge us if we seek rest, and relief, and power, and strength to bear it at his hands, & not at the hands of mortal men: whom yet the Lord in mercy useth to comfort his afflicted Children. Why then covet we not to bevisited with the rod, rather than to be left to the liberty of this wicked world's vanities, that are only the baits of confusion? And therefore saith Eliphas, job 5. 17. Blessed is the man whom GOD correcteth. Paul, 2 Thes. 1. 5. affirmeth, that it is a token of GOD'S righteous judgement, to punish his Children here, that they may be accounted worthy of the Kingdom of God, and that they be not condemned with the world: and it is a righteous thing with him, to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you, but to you that are troubled, rest; not the outward rest of the body, while it abideth on the earth, though woldly men hold liberty and lust, and health, and honour, & possessions, and authority, and wealth, and wantonness, and vanity, and fullness; yea, and filthiness, a sweet and more certain rest, than the rest & peace of a good conscience, which in all the assaults of sin and Satan, in all trials, troubles and crosses, in poverty, sickness, taunts and ignominy, and in most bitter misery, if thou canst say truly with Paul, Gal. 6. 14. God forbid, that I should rejoice, but in the cross of our Lord jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world: thou shalt have rest for thy soul. And therefore, what if ye be cast down as into the gulf of disdain among men, and seem outcasts in the world, & castawaies of the world for your troubles & trials sake, and because of the want of the world's glory? think it not strange, nor grudge, hut rejoice; for it ministereth unto you occasion to fly worldly confidence, & to take hold of the heavenly promises: it worketh discord between you & Belial, and concord between you and Christ, raising your thoughts from earth to heave, because as the body is earthly, & being furnished with the world's pleasing vanities, is loath to depart and leave them; so the soul being fettered by natural & carnal affections, is held also captive, and cannot lift itself up by the wings of desire of heavenly things, until the body be deprived of her delights here; then hath the Soul & inner man scope (sanctified by the spirit of God) to mount by the wings of Faith unto her rest namely, to a resolute contentation, to abide the Lords leisure & purpose in all things; yea, when we seem to be merely forsaken of the world, we should neither fear nor be faint-hearted, knowing that our Redeemer liveth. But as the Lord of life saith, Seek ye my face, Psal. 27. 8. Let us answer with David. Thy face, O Lord, will we seek. For this is the rest that poor men must seek; this is the rest that will fill us better than the Gluttons feast, & is more precious than the health of the body, than the wealth of the world, than the pleasures of the flesh. The gold of all the Indies cannot purchase it, the Kings of the earth (by force) cannot obtain it, nor the wisest of the world comprehend it. But thou poor man, who so thou be, in what case soever thou art, poor and needy sick and weak, hated & despised, threatened and abused, apprehended and imprisoned, or in what miserable case else soever, even thou shalt attain unto this rest, if thou seek it instantly, praying faithfully; if thou be patient, and grudge not when thou art visited of the Lord, thou shalt be merry when others mourn, and thou shalt sing when others lament. And therefore learn of Paul in what estate soever thou be, to be content. Infinite are the comforts in the Bible, search and ye shall add more and more rest unto your souls. For this little trifle, which I here offer thee, peruse it, and use it: It may move thee to meditate, and procure thee to pray, which prevaileth much if it be fervent. The eyes of the Lord are over the Righteous, and his ears are open unto their cries. 1 Pet. 3. 12. And therefore cast your care upon him, for he careth for you, he will not fail you, nor forsake you, that hath conquered, and hath provided for you a Crown: therefore fight the good fight, and fear not what man can do to you.  
Yours in Christian good will, Io. NORDEN.   

A familiar Admonition to the CHRISTIAN READER, touching the most comfortable exercise of Divine Prayer.  ESAY 55. 6. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. 
THere are three things, especially to be considered in the true seeking and calling upon God: The first is Preparation, before we call upon God in Prayer. The second is, Attention in Prayer: The third and last is, Thanksgiving after Prayer.  

A PREPARATION to PRAYER.  
AS touching the first namely, Preparation, we may observe & use a kind of imitation of men, occasioned to communicate with mortal Princes, who are observed to preponder with themselves; first, how to shape their behaviour, and external gesture: Secondly, how to frame their speech to gain Attention of him to whom they speak: and how to avoid the censure of indiscretion, in the delivery of what they affirm, or defend. If such curiosity and carefulness be necessarily observed, in our communication with men whose breath is in their nostrils: how much more observant and careful aught we to be, when we address ourselves to speak unto the Majesty of the immortal God? To intrude abruptly into the presence of this great God, and unadvisedly to speak unto him, becometh not a Petitioner, but bewrayeth an unsanctified and an unprepared heart; rather tempting and dishonouring, then glorifying of the name of God. And therefore, before we presume to present our petitions to God, in hope to be heard; we must prepare ourselves, not in our outward gesture, only in eloquence of words, and Pharisaical outward holiness: But in rightly ordering & disposing the affections of the inner man; which, if they be set on carnal, or earthly vanities, if our heart's delight in the fruits of the flesh, and the unprofitable works of darkness: (though our words be never so good of themselves) we may fear the reward of Ananias and Saphira his wife, who brought a part of their substance (hypocritically Concealing therest) & laid that part at the Apostles feet. So, if we come unto God giving him good words, keeping back our hearts, to serve our own carnal and profane appetites: Shall we think that God will be content with the leaves of our good words, when we give the fruits of our hearts to the world? will God take such hypocrites by the hand? we must know, that unless we can truly and unfeignedly cast off our carnal thoughts, corrupt desires, and sinful affections, it cannot be that God, who loveth holiness and truth, in the inward affections, can look upon us, as upon his children, who speak unto him, as to a father, with counterfeit words, proceeding from unsanctified hearts. When we come therefore unto God in prayer, we must depart from all iniquity, knowing that he heareth not sinners, such as the promises of God cannot win to obedience; nor his threats enforce to forsake their sins; who yet will adventure to rush rashly into the presence of God, in a formal kind of praying with the lips, without any premeditation, preparation, or reformation of the heart, at all. These offer words for deeds: leaves for fruits: Wolves for Lambs; and all manner, halt, lame, blind, and blemished sacrifices, and yet would seem holy: And so in stead of a blessing, procure a curse unto themselves for their hypocrisy. We must consider that God is a jealous God, and holdeth none guiltless, that taketh his name in vain as they manifestly do, that come near him with their lips, when their hearts are far from him. It is a kind of spiritual adultery, outwardly to seem wholly to be Gods, and yet inwardly to be mere worldlings. Before we open our mouths therefore to God, we must cast out of the Temple of God (which is our heart) all buyers and sellers, as Christ did out of the Temple of jerusalem: for as long as our hearts do harbour the desires of worldly profits, and carnal pleasures, above the sincere service of God, our heart, the Temple of the living God, becometh a den of thieves, that steals away all our godly affections, to settle them on Belial. Let us look unto the man Christ jesus crucified, by whose blood we are redeemed, by whose mediation we are sure to have our prayers heard of God, and granted; especially, if for our further and more perfect preparation, we can truly observe the rule of Christ, to forgive our Enemies, knowing that if we forgive not our brother that offendeth us, God will not forgiveus, that far more grievously offend him. And therefore Christ counselleth us, that if we bring our sacrifice to the Altar, namely, if we intent to pray; and there remember that a brother hath aught against us, we ought to leave our offering before the Altar, that is, forbear for the time to pray, yet to continue our holy intention to pray; and to go first, and be reconciled to our brother, & then to come to offer our gift; namely, our prayers freely unto God in Christ: for before we be unburdened of all Rancour, Malice, Envy, Hatred, and all other profane desires; it is not only not available, but lamentable, that so many will (as do) presume to come before God, with hearts so fearfully fraught with these unholy affections; and stagger no more to press into God's presence, nay, not so much; as some that come unto God with most prepared, peaceful, and most sanctified consciences. Let such cast out the bondwoman with her sonne● namely; the old man, the works and lusts of the flesh: and give entertainment unto the freewoman, and her son, the new man; which, after God is created unto righteousness, & true holiness; And so recommend our prayers unto God, the object of our prayers, in Christ the Mediator of our prayers, by the holy Ghost, the Author of all holy prayers.   

ATTENTION IN PRAYER.  
BEing thus prepared, let us endeavour to yield due and true Attention in our Prayers, that is, to give heed to what we pray, to whom we pray, for what we pray, and with what zeal we pray: which are the truest tokens, and greatest arguments, that our prayers are lively, powerful, effectual, and of faith; which properties can never be in lip-labour: for there cannot be a more apparent discovery of a rank Hypocrite, then to make outward shows of Devotion, with the gesture and lips, and yet the heart to be busied in the cogitation of idle, earthly, and profane things. And nothing more discovereth an idle heart outwardly, than the wandering of the eye in the time of divine prayer: for it is probable, and often found by experience, that the eye withdraweth the heart: and if the eye be inconstant, the prayer hath not, nor can have the due Attention of the heart: yet it doth not follow, that although the eye be fixed on any certain object, or be shut, that therefore the heart is rightly set on God, for oftentimes the eye follows the heart, the cogitation of the heart making the eye to forget it object: as when the heart is wand'ring in the fields of Corn, viewing the herds of cattle, and flocks of Sheep, when it is in the Warehouse, in the Shop, in the Chest, minding bands and payments, overcome with pride, plotting revenge, oppressed with fear, besotted with pleasure, entangled with cares, or otherwise perverted by any profane and ungodly cogitations. Prayers made with such an extravagant heart, be they in words never so holy they are imputed unto us as sin: for shall we think, that God will hear our prayers, to our profit or comfort, when the thoughts of our hearts in the mean time dishonour him? Many pray in their own familiar language, and yet consider no more what they speak (for want of Attention) then if they spoke in an unknown tongue: & yet such men will hold themselves very devout, & to have power in themselves to pray when they list: as if true prayer were of that facility and ease, to utter, as in an idle tale, and as it seems by Beggars, that tumble out the Lords Prayer, with one breath at a door, & yet mind nothing but their Alms. Such men are to be pitied, and to be wished better to advise themselves, before they attempt this service of God most holy; for Prayer is not an easy work, it is of a deeper strain than a tale, that is but from the tongue to the teeth, from the teeth to the lips, & so into the air. True Prayer is cordial, & of that force & efficacy, as it constraineth the heart to sighs, groans, & tears, with such inward fervency of holy zeal, as tenters the heart with such internal gripes, as may betruly said, the renting of the heart. And the more we feel our hearts thus inwardly sharply touched: so much the more comfort it yieldeth to the soul of the faithful Petitioner, yea such, and so great consolation, as he that feels it cannot express it with his tongue, be he never so eloquent; neither can any conceive or apprehend the sweetness of it, that is not exercised and experienced in the same; for nature apprehendeth it not. No man can say that jesus is Christ, but by the holy Ghost: and none can desire the Spirit of God, but by the Spirit of God, Flesh & blood cannot as much as desire spiritual things, spiritually; for spiritual things are to be compared with spiritual things, and spiritual gifts are obtained by spiritual means: And therefore are words without the Spirit, as naked and bare Incense without fire: but, being enkindled in the heart, and sanctified by the holy Spirit of God, who is promised to assist our spirits, they are as a lively and acceptable sacrifice to God, working so powerfully with him, through Christ's mediation, as they never return empty of whatsoever blessing we desire. Prayer can never be effectual, unless there be some certain spiritual object of the mind, to move the attention of the heart, which object is God: and we must consider, that when we pray unto him, or yield him any other worship, that we are not to conceive him, in the form of any earthly or heavenly, bodily or spiritual creature whatsoever: for in that manner, not to conceive him, is a degree of conceiving him aright, according to Master Perkins. God must be conceived of us in our prayers, as subsisting in the whole three persons, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost. The Unity in Trinity, & Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped, retaining in mind the distinction and order of all the three persons, without severing or sundering them: for, as they are conjoined in nature; so are they to be conjoined in worship. And therefore, he that prayeth unto God the Father, for the forgiveness of his sins, must ask it of him, for the merits of the Son, and by the assurance of the holy Ghost: and he that prayeth for the remission of sins to God the Son, must pray that he would procure the Father, to grant him pardon, and to assure it by his Spirit. He also that prayeth for the same to God the holy Ghost, must pray that he would assure unto him the remission of his sins, from the Father, for, and by the merits of his Son. Thus must we apprehend the Trinity in our prayers: so shall we avoid that Idolatrous conceiving of him, embraced of some, who cannot pray, unless they have the figure of a humane Creature, to represent unto their bodily eyes, the shape of God the Father, in likeness of an old Man and a Crucifix figuring Christ, suffering on the Cross, and the holy Ghost, by a Dove, whose worship cannot be reputed spiritual, but carnal; and their prayers, not heavenly, but profane. Prayer is a spiritual action, proper only to the children of God, who are Saints by calling, sanctified in Christ: And they, and none other truly call upon the name of the Lord JESUS: profane persons pray not, though they seem to pray. But most happy is that man, that cometh unto God, Father, Son, & holy Ghost, truly prepared, and duly attentive; he may boldly ask, and confidently assure himself, to receive grace for grace, and all blessings spiritual, without limitation, and all benefits corporal needful. If our prayers be made in us, by him, who hath promised, and hath power to give what we ask, shall we think he will fail to perform? The hope of Hypocrites, indeed, shall perish, & their prayers vanish as the smoke: because they wait upon lying vanities, and desire carnal pleasures, and worldly profits. But the Lord will surely fulfil the desires of them that fear him, because their prayers t●●d to the setting forth of God's gloly, to the good of the Church, to the remission of their own sins, and other men's, to the obtaining of God's graces, to the increase of the understanding of heavenly things, that they may walk before God, and be upright, that they may do the works, & bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. These are the prayers that are the POOR MAMS REST. These are the prayers that wound the Serpent, and that please God bringing peace to the conscience afflicted. But (which is to be lamented) all men are dull by nature: And the very Elect, sometimes weakly disposed to pray. And therefore is every godly man to use all holy means, to enkindle their hearts, to the right performance of this heavenly duty: And nothing more prevaileth th●… in, than Meditation: whereunto we are also very unapt by nature, & know not how, nor upon what ground to lay the foundation thereof: yet, if we can truly frame our hearts to a holy Meditation, we shall find, that it is the very key that openeth our dull hearts, looked up under grief, under fear, under trouble, under persecution & misery: and sendeth forth by little & little, the fire of true zeal, which at length becometh a great flame of prevailing prayers, which thing they easily find, that are conversant in this sacred exercise of Meditation and Prayer: who yet, many times find themselves most dull, & most unapt to pray, having yet an inward desire thereunto which desire they cannot contain: but labouring a while in silence, speaking inwardly to God in sighs and groans, at length they speak effectually with their tongues. Seeing therefore, that all men need motives to stir them up to payer: let everyman address himself to the word of God, or peruse some godly work of religious men. And although vocally he cannot read, by reason of his natural dulness; yet, if his heart can be but conversant, & duly attend the sense, as the eye observes the letter, his mind by little and little shall mount itself from earth to heaven, fixed on the Trinity, whence shall arise such spiritual fruits of faith, & fervency of Spirit, as shall fill the soul with more sweet consolation by enkindled prayer, than the tongue can utter. And to this end (gentle Reader) according to the small measure of mine understanding, I have prefixed before every prayer, a Motive or Meditation, touching the substance and matter of the Prayer following.   

thanksgiving after PRAYER.  
THe third and last duty in this holy exercise is Thanksgiving, which cannot but follow sanctified prayers, and that with such joy in the holy Ghost, as it cannot but break forth into most unspeakable inward thankfulness to God, who hath been so graciously pleased, not only to forgive our sins, but to help our infirmities by his holy Spirit, by whom we have had access unto the Throne of grace, and found such favour with God in Christ, as we have obtained by the holy Ghost, both the will and the power to pray. Also we ought in all things to give thanks to God, for every blessing and benefit we receive at his hands, according to the counsel and precept of the Apostle, who commands us to give thanks always for all things unto God, even the Father, in the name of our Lord jesus Christ, Ephes. 5. 20. Thus much touching the admonition.    

A PRIVATE PRAYER for the Morning.  

The MOTIVE.  
I Laid me down and slept, and rose again, for the Lord sustained me, Psal. 3. 5. This Confession did holy David make (to the glory of God) in the morning, and hath left it to us, to move us likewise to glorify God, by whom we live and labour, and by whose love and providence we lay us down to rest after our weariness, and daily travel, and do enjoy the comfortable benefit of sweet sleep, which he hath afforded to refresh all Creatures. And man the most excellent of all other Creatures, receiving this sweet blessing, and rising from his bed, without thanksgiving to him that can give it, or deprive him of it; cannot assure himself, whether his sleep shall turn to his good or evil: for the greatest good thing that we receive at the hands of God, turneth to our hurt, if we be unthankful. But unto the godly, to such as fear him, and give him praise, he turneth even evil things to good. Therefore as David saith, I will give thanks unto the Lord, his praise shall be in my mouth continually, Morning and Night, and at all times, and for all things, Psal 34. 1. Whereby it cometh to pass, that no danger can annoy us; for why? The Angel of the Lord pitcheth round about us, to preserve us sleeping and waking, if we fear him, and call upon his Name, P●al. 34. 7. The poor man therefore cryeth unto the Lord: Lord, here my voice in the morning for in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will wait till thou hear me and help me, Psal. 5. 3.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer for the Morning, to be said in private.  
OH Father full of power, mercy and love, how dare I look up unto heaven where thou sittest in Majesty and glory? How can I think or hope to receive any good thing here in the earth, where thou art in thy power and knowledge? for thou, Lord seest my ways, and my vanities, and my corruptions and my sins: yea, my thoughts, idle and evil, are before thee: yea, my pollutions and imperfections are such and so great, as I am afraid of thy judgements, if thou shouldest note all that I have done amiss: yet like a loving Father, thou hast mercifully preserved me this night, and vouch safed me sweet rest and sleep, and hast raised me by thy hand, for it is thou only that preservest me, and defendest me whether I wake or sleep, walk or work, eat or drink: yea, thou blessest all these things unto me, or else they would easily destroy me. For I a weak Creature, am subject to the infinite dangers that lurk in the paths of this evil and corrupt life. In the night and darkness I sleep, and have no watch, and therefore easily may I be overtaken with the dangers of the wicked that hate the light, and practise evil in the dark, but that thou the watchman of Israel, thou sleepest not, but hast a fatherly care, and vigilant eye, and loving regard to thy weakest ones: when they slumber beset with dangers, thou appointest thine Ange●s, and they pitch about them, and they are late. O good Father, I thank thee for thy infinite blessings; bear with my weakness, and wash me from my sins, and forgive mine offences, and direct me in the ●ight way of obedience, of thankfulness, of repentance, and reformation of my life, which is still subject to vanity, still ready to slide into one sin or other. I am never free (Oh Father) from temptations, never at true peace, but beset with continual enemies within me; my own corruptions fight against faith and obedience, wresting my will and mine affections, from sincerity to sin, from a desire of good things to evil, from obedience to rebellion, from trust in thee to despair, or to depend on the vain things of this deceiving world, which being full of subtle baits, & every where beset with snares to catch my sou●e, and to seduce me with dangerous vanities, I fly only to the sanctuary of thy love, to the castle of thy providence, and to the harbour of thy saving promises. Keep me therefore. keep me, dear Father, as the apple of thine Eye, shroud me under the shadow of thy saving wings this day, and teach me truth, give me knowledge & wisdom, and humbleness, and obedience, and mortification, and zeal, and faith, and hope, and all graces that may change me from sin to sanctity, from darkness to light, and from coldness to a more perfect zeal, to serve thee in all things. Teach me, O Lord, teach me to execute my vocation truly and perfectly, and give such issue, and blessed success to all my endeavours, labours, purposes, and proceedings, as I may discharge my duty in obedience to thy divine Majesty, to my brethren in love and equity, and to myself and mine in godly care and true piety. And let thy holy Spirit so guide and govern me this day and for ever, that I may more and more fructify & increase in all godliness, until thou shalt cut off this corruptible life: After which (good Father) in the merits of thy Son, let me inhabit, & evermore inherit that heavenly City, new jerusalem, where thou sittest and raignest one God; with whom shall live all thine elect, in joys unspeakable for ever.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase our Faith.    

A Morning Prayer, where the FAMILY assembles.  
O Almighty God, full of love and pity, the chiefest comfort that any sinful soul can have: when we miserable sinners here met together, do consider of thy great mercy and goodness, which we have ever since our births, and before, found, and daily do find at the hands of thy divine Majesty, together with our great unthankfulness every way to thee again for the same, we must needs confess, and even from the bottom of our hearts do acknowledge, that most unspeakable is thy mercy in sparing us to live until this morning, before which time thou mightest justly have consumed us. But (O dear God) of thy free mercies, before the foundation of the World was laid, thou hast chosen and elected us for thy Children; and hast, to our endless comfort, certified and made known the same unto our spirits, by thy spirit, by whom, and not of ourselves, we now cry unto thee Abba, father: and for our Redemption, hast sent thine own Son to shed his most precious blood upon the Cross, no other means being whereby we could be saved?  
Thou hast by thy holy Spirit wrought Faith in our hearts, to believe by him, and in him to be justified before thee, and in some measure begun the death of sin in us, and wrought our sanctification; and of thy free favour we enjoy the benefit of thy Word, the freedom of conscience, great peace and plenty in outward things, with many and infinite other benefits, waking and sleeping, at home and abroad, in ourselves and our friends: for all which, instead of thankfulness, we become the more disobedient, not doing that we ought to do, but with pleasure and profit, with vanity and self-love we are carried away, spending our days in iniquity, carelessness, and unféeling of our sin, and there is no goodness in us: yet is there mercy with thee. O Lord, and pardon upon repentance. Wherefore, we here this Morning met together before thy Majesty, humbly confess our wants, and most entirely beseech thee, for Jesus Christ's sake to have mercy upon us: Have mercy upon us most merciful Father, and forgive us all that is past: strengthen us hereafter, that daily both in bodies and souls we may glorify thee more than we have done, yielding thanks for daily benefits, and striving in holiness and righteousness to please thee all the days of our life. But because we cannot but offend, and fall diverse ways, and every day; good Lord, for thy mercy sake, pierce our hearts with a feeling of the same, and never suffer us to go on with dull and dead souls, not seeing nor sighing for our offences.  
As a special means to keep us in obedience before thee (O dear Father) work in us a continual remembrance, and an effectual consideration that we shall not always live here in this wretched world, that doth much please us now, but that a day will come when the trump shall sound, the Dead shall arise, and all we shall appear before the Tribunal seat of Judgement, there to receive according to our deeds, without respect of Persons: oh, good Lord, give us a remembrance, and a feeling of that unspeakable comfort, and eternal weight of glory, which in that day shall be given unto us, if in this day we serve and please thee: and chose, even terrifle our cousciences, and let us, as it were, see before our faces the dreadful Judgements, and the fearful Torments, that both in Body and Soul, they shall be sure to have for evermore, which in this life do not serve and please thee; but follow their own fancies and wicked delights: give us an hatred of sin, and a true love of righteousness: bless thy Word evermore with fruit unto our souls, when we hear it: give us a desire to hear it often, and to practise it faithfully and obediently, and keep our hearts ever free from disummulation and counterfeit holiness: prepare our hearts diligently to watch for the coming of thy Son; make us ready, fit, and willing to meet him in the clouds, if thou wilt that we live to his coming, if it please thee in the mean time to call us, let us with joy yield our bodies to the earth, and receive our souls unto thyself, until the day when both our bodies and souls shall be remitted, and be totally glorified with thee in Heaven. And let this day be a day of our true reformation and repentance, that we becoming new creatures, may serve thee in holiness all the days of our lives, yielding thee most humble and hearty thanks for thy goodness to us this night: let thy merciful eye look upon us this day, and so keep us bodies and souls, that being occupied in our several callings, we may be safe by thee from all our Enemies, and live to thee in fear, that we may die in thy favour, and live hereafter with thee in glory: which grant, and all things in the mean time necessary for souls and bodies, for Christ his sake, in whose name we ask them, saying as he hath taught us:  
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily Bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.  
Let thy mighty hand and outstretched arm (O Lord) be still our defence: thy mercy & loving kindness in jesus Christ, our salvation; thy true and holy word our instruction; thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation unto the end and in the end. Amen.  
The Lord bless us, and save us: and make his face to shine upon us, and be merciful unto us: the Lord turn his favourable countenance towards us this day and evermore.  
Amen.   

A private Prayer for the EVENING.  

The Motive.  
I Will lay me down, and also sleep in peace, for thou, Lord, only makest me dwelin safety. Psal. 4. 8. David by this declareth his own bodily infirmity, whereunto all men are likewise subject, namely, to such debility, as without rest and sleep they cannot long continue; yet this rest (as he acknowledgeth) may be a troublesome rest, unless God bless it: for as David did, so all men lie down and take their rest, but all not in peace; for such as lie down forgetting God, God leaveth them to themselves, and so their sleep (in stead of peace) turneth into troublesome dreams, idle & sinful imaginations, horrible visions, and fearful fantasies, whereby not only the body is distempered, but the soul also grievously vexed. And therefore, though we couch us on a bed of Down, with Curtains of gold, & coverings of silk, these administer not the peace that David speaketh of, but God is he that giveth it only. It is not then the sweet sound of Music, or the cradle of pleasures, that can give us that peaceable sleep and safe rest that David speaketh of, but Prayer unto God, in faith and true atonement with him in Christ, thoughts free from sin, and the conscience cleared, may safely assure a man, that when he lieth down, God is with him; and when he riseth up, God will not give him over, but be his God, loving and merciful for ever.   

A Prayer for the Evening.  
MY God and Father, loving and all-sufficient, I yield thee praise and thanks for thy mercies, in that thou hast this day passed strongly guarded me with thy hand, lovingly refreshed me with thy favours, and now safely brought me to the end of this day, night and darkness being at hand, wherein all thy creatures draw to their rest. And I wretched creature, finding mine own infirmity and imbecility, run now unto thy heavenly favour, who hast made me of that brittle and gross matter, as cannot continue without rest after labour, without sleep after waking, and without comfort after sorrow and grief: I do therefore beseech thee, as thou art the Fountain of all rest, and succour, and health, and help, so thou wil● consider me in my weakness, and give me strength, see and behold my miseries, and be merciful unto me. And sith the time now is come, wherein I covet rest and sleep, receive me into thy protection, and yield me thy helping hand, that when this my corrupt lump of flesh shall (through the heaviness and dulness of sleep) be deprived of moving and sense, and ableness to help itself, I may be kept safe, and securely preserved by thee, for it is thyself (Lord) only that makest me dwell and abide in safety. Thou art my Watchman when I slumber: thou art my Defender when I am in danger: thou art my Castle, my Rock, my Sword, my Buckler and my Refuge: thou art to me and for me all in all: without thee what am I, but a beast that know nothing? but a block that feel nothing? but a wretch that can do nothing rightly? And therefore, dear Father, stretch out thy loving favour over the house wherein I rest: let thy Angels compass the bed whereon I rest, and thy holy Spirit keep my soul and spirit in peace when I rest, that I may rest in peace: that I may rise in peace, and live in peace: that the troubles of the world dismay me not, that the sleights of sin deceive me not, and that the devices of the wicked overtake me not; but as I am weak of myself, I may be made strong by thy strength; as I am poor of myself, I may be made able by thy riches; and as I am ignorant of myself, I may be made wise in thee: so shall my lying down be acceptable, my sleep comfortable, and my rising up profitable. In hope of this thy free bounty, loving favour, and high providence, I will lay me down and take my rest: let it be in peace, and (Lord) let it be unto me and all thine (when they rest) sweet and comfortable in thee, who makest all thine to rest, and rise up in safety.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase our Faith.    

An Evening Prayer where the Family assembles.  
O Most high & mighty God, Father and Protector of all things in heaven & earth, before whom all creatures fear and tremble, were it not in that thou hast commanded us, never durst we appear before thee, so corrupt is our nature, and so many are our sins. But, good Father, thou dost bid, and therefore we obey, thou dost call, and therefore we come, give us spirits to pray aright. We yield thee most humble and hearty thanks, for all the mercies that ever thou hast bestowed upon us in body or mind, in ourselves or in ours, private or common, temporal or eternal. Many and marvelous have they been, and still are upon us: yea, even (good Lord) past finding out. This day what thou hast done for us, which of us knoweth, or is able to express? Father of heaven, forgive us that we cannot acknowledge them, or praise thee for them as we ought, and quicken us in this duty more and more. Pardon and forgive us whatsoever we have offended thee withal this day, or at any time, either in thought, word, or deed, even our secret sins, such as we have committed and know not of: remit them unto us, for Christ's sake: change us (O Lord) and we shall be changed: create in us clean hearts, and renew a right spirit within us. Break the strength of sin, that would subdue us more & more: And (O merciful Father) so frame these hearts of ours, within us, that we may more delight to live according to thy will, then to enjoy all the world, and all the pleasures therein. Lay it often (good Lord) before our eyes, by thy remembering Spirit, that thou hast not breathed the breath of life into us, that we should live as we list, but that in holiness and righteousness, we should walk before thee all our days. Lay it before us (O Lord) that the time will come, when the Trumpet shall sound, the dead shall rise, and we, even we here met together at this time, all and every one of us, shall most assuredly stand before thy Judgement-seate with naked hearts, with open and unfolded consciences, there to give an account how and what we have done. Then shall all such as have believed in Christ, and truly served thee in this life, to their endless joy, hear that most comfortable voice of thine: Come ye blessed of my Father, possess the Kingdom prepared for you. But woe, woe to all careless livers in that day, they shall drink the wive of the wrath of God, be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels, & before the Lamb. They shall have no rest day nor night, and the smoke of their torment shall ascend for evermore. Father of heaven, have mercy upon us, knit these hearts of ours fast unto thee, and now while we have time, give us grace not only rightly to think of these things, but so to walk before thee in this present life, as becometh thy Saints. O continue thy word of truth amongst us, ever to our comfort. Let the seed thereof now sown in our hearts, take such deep root, that neither the burning heat of persecntion cause it to wither, nor the thorny cares of this world, riches, or voluptuous living choke it, but as seed sown in good ground, it may bring forth fruit according to thy pleasure. O Father, give us grace, that when we hear or ●●nde by thy word, any sin that is in us, we may strive and study without delay, willingly to reform it. Keep us, good God, that we never swerve for the fear of man, from our own true knowledge, becoming servers of time, and deviers of thee. Keep us from all hardness of heart, contempt of thy word, and from all dissembling of sincerity. Increase true love amongst us more and more. Bless thy whole Church (O God) with graces necessary, this parcel of it, our native Land and Country: dear Father, bless it still with continuance of thy truth: jessen in it daily the number of blind and ignorant Papists, profane Atheists, and increase the number of thy true children. Preserve unto us long alive, good Lord, if it please thee, our gracious King and Governor: multiply thy Spirit upon him and all his, that still more and more, he and they may seek and set forth thy glory in maintaining Christian religion in all purity, suppressing all vice, superstition, and Idolatry, with all severity. Give unto him an honourable Counsel: give them graces necessary for such a calling. Bless all other Nobles, Magistrates, and the whole body of this Realm, with true hearts to thee and to this Country. Increase in this our Israel the number of true Watchmen, whose hearts may seek thee and thy people, and not their own glory and commodity. Bring to thy fold by them such wand'ring remnants as are thine, And (O Lord) be gracious to our kindred and friends in the flesh, lighten their hearts with the Sun of understanding, that they and we acknowledging one truth, may glorify thee in the true and constant profession of the same, all the days of our life. Comfort (O Christ) thy afflicted members, wheresoever, or howsoever troubled, and grant us peace in our days, if it be thy pleasure.  
Finally, because the night is now upon us, and we ready to take our rest, let the bed (O Lord) strike into our hearts a consideration, that the grave is almost ready for us. Which of us can tell whether these eyes of ours once closed up, shall ever open any more again or no? Lord, therefore receive us: into thy hands we all here now commend ourselves, bodies & souls, unto thy holy protection and providence: keep us this night and evermore ready for thee when thou shalt call us. Hear us, O Lord, O God, and Father merciful, in these our petitions, for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake, our Saviour: in whose name we altogether beg these mercies, saying as Christ our Saviour hath taught us:  
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.  
Let thy mighty hand and outstretched arm (O Lord) be still our defence: thy mercy & loving kindness in jesus Christ, our salvation; thy true and holy word our instruction; thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation unto the end and in the end. Amen.  
The Lord bless us, and save us: and make his face to shine upon us, and be merciful unto us: the Lord turn his favourable countenance towards us this night and evermore.  
Amen.   

A Prayer to be used in private Families, Morning and Evening.  Levit. 26. 6. 
If ye truly serve God, ye shall sleep, and none shall make you afraid.  
Lord prepare our hearts, open our lips, sanctify our prayers, and increase our Faith.  
O Most mighty Lord God, and our most merciful and loving Father in Jesus Christ, we thy poor creatures, and unworthy children, humbly present ourselves in his name before thy glorious majesty, acknowledging that we be most unworthy to appear in thy presence, by reason not only of our original, but also of our continual actual sins, and deep disobedience, being originally borne the children of wrath, and the least of our actual transgressions is sufficient to cast us into hell and utter perdition, if thou shouldest deal with us according to the measure of our manifold iniquities. We therefore do humbly beseech thee (O merciful Father) in the merits of Jesus Christ, freely to pardon and forgive our manifold offences, both in that we have committed and done those things thou hast forbidden, and left undone the things thou hast commanded. Lord forgive us, and remember our sins no more: let them never (good and gracious Father) rise up in Judgement to our condemnation, Give us a full assurance of thy mercies, and free forgiveness in Jesus Christ, and let thy holy Spirit from henceforth evermore so sanctify our hearts, minds, and bodies, that we never hereafter give consent to the corrupt motions of our fleshly affections, and unclean desires: and let the lively light of thy continual presence so illuminate our dark understandings, that we may still search for thy will in thy word revealed, and give us will and power to practise and perform all godly service, duties and obedience to thee: give us feeling hearts, that we may find out our own weakness, and confess unto thee our infirmities, and that we may boldly in the Name of thy Son Christ Jesus fall down before thee, calling faithfully and sincerely upon thy holy name, for pardon for our former evils, & for grace to reform so the rest of our wicked lives, that thou mayst be pleased to accept us anew into thy favour and fatherly protection.  
Grant that we may continually feel in our hearts and consciences, more and more the virtue and power of the death & resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, & that we may continually strive against, and mortify our gross sins and foul corruptions, and grow more strong against all evil motions and temptations in thought, word and deed, and be more and more renewed in the spirit of our mind, and feel a continual increase of joy and comfort in the reading, hearing and meditating of thy holy and heavenly word, and a fervency of true zeal to séekethy glory, by increasing more and more in knowledge, and in the hatred of sin in ourselves, & rebuking it in others, especially, in those of whom we have charge, and in a happy and faithful going forward in all godly obedience unto thy will all the days of our lives. Direct and strengthen us, that we may with all faithfulness labour to discharge that duty whereunto we are bound by our several callings, which in thy providence either are already, or shall be allotted unto us. Hold us, we beseech thee, by thy right hand, that we fall not into any danger of body or mind.  
Guide us by thy holy Spirit in the paths of righteousness: set continual watch before our lips, that we offend not with our tongues. Keep our eyes from looking any more upon, and our hearts from seeking after or consenting unto vanities: shut up our ears, that they delight not in hearing the things offensive to thy sacred Majesty. Rule & govern our hearts, that we may be always studious of good things, and that we may be always truly inclined to deal faithfully with all men, and enable us to perform all duties required at our hand by them, and keep both our hands and feet, that we go not about, or take any thing in hand dishonourable to thee, dangerous to ourselves, or hurtful to any, and that all that we think, speak or do, may be to the glory of thy name. Let us not spend the time, O Lord, of this our pilgrimage, any more in wantonness, idleness, or vanity, but in all godly & virtuous exercises, always in simplicity and singleness of heart, and in a good conscience, as becometh thy dearest Children. Bless, we humbly beseech thee, and prosper all the labours and works of our hands, and bless all the Creatures which thou hast appointed for our use, that we may receive comfort and relief in them, and by them in due season, by thy blessing, and by the daily comfortable use of them, be the more moved and stirred up to a thankful acknowledging thy fatherly goodness, in vouchsafing them unto us, which without thy blessing, would rather turn to our prejudice then profit, rather to a curse unto us, then to our true comfort: therefore good Father, bless us to a godly using of all thy good creatures, and thy creatures to a comfortable use for us.  
And forasmuch, good Father, as our duty in this sacred exercise of prayer, bindeth us also to entreat thy Majesty for all our Brethren and Sisters, members of that body, whereof thy Son Jesus Christ is the head, frame in us a true, perfect, and hearty zeal to pray, and hear us, also for them: beseeching thee to raise up the Ministry of thy Gospel in all places of the earth, that by the means thereof, such as do appertain to thy Kingdom, may be daily called home to thy fold: and that the Kingdom of Satan, Antichrist, Sin and darkness may be weakened, and more and more beaten down in all the world: hold up & maintain the sceptre of thy word, where thou hast already planted and advanced the same, & increase all the means by which it may be increased and confirmed, and weaken all the powers that resist or strive against it. Bless those, O Lord, that endeavour to promote and further it: increase their zeal, wisdom, knowledge and power; him especially, good Father, whom in great mercy towards us, thou hast made Sovereign over us, james thy servant, our King, and all his Royal Issue, the Counsellors, Magistrates, Nobility, and the Preachers of thy holy word; all godly and Christian Families, all true Professors of thy Gospel. Beseeching thee to pour on every of them in their several Callings, such graces, benefits and blessings, as are most meet for them, whereby they may all show themselves thy true and faithful mivisters, in furthering all sincerity in Religion, and all pureness and godliness of life, not only in themselves, but in others, so far as appertaineth to their charge, public or private. Beseeching thee also to be mindful to comfort all our afflicted Brethren and Sisters, howsoever, or for whatsoever they suffer; especially such as suffer for the testimony of a good conscience. Comfort all them that are pressed down with the burden of their sins: help, relieve, succour and assist all that be in want, in misery and affliction, that fly unto thee for succour. And as, good Father, we do thus boldly beg at thy hands these many and several favours, for ourselves and others: so (Lord) accept at our hands our humble thankfulness which we here yield unto thee, for thy manifold blessings and benefits daily, so lovingly and freely bestowed upon us, both inward and outward, spiritual and corporal, in number infinite, for greatness unspeakable, and for goodness far better than we could either ask or think: beseeching thee to continue thy gracious favour towards us always, and in all things, that we may still give thee the glory for our continual safety and relief.  

In the Morning. Add this.  
ANd finally, we thank thee, good Father, that thou hast so graciously kept and preserved us this night past, and hast given unto our body's rest, and hast brought us to the beginning of this day in peace, good Father, pardon whatsoever corruption hath taken hold of us this night: pardon our present dulness of Spirit, coldness of Zeal, weakness of Faith, and all whatsoever offendeth thee in us: & bless the labours of our hands, and our godly endeavours this day, and make us rather able to be helpful to others that need, then to be forced to ask, or to be chargeable to any, by reason of our corporal wants. Grant these things, good Father, and all other graces necessary for us, and for every member of thy Church, for Jesus Christ thy Son's sake: in whose name we further pray, Our Father which art, etc.   

In the Evening, Add this.  
WE thank thee also, most gracious Father, for that thou hast so mercifully kept and relieved us this day past: beseeching thee to receive us also this night into thy Fatherly protection, and keep our souls, bodies and goods free from dangers: let thine Angels encamp about us, guard us, and defend us: give unto our bodies that competent rest and sleep, that may be only sufficient, and let our thoughts be ever on thee, in love, fear, and due obedience and reverence, that we may be fearful to commit the least evil, yea, in the dark, which with thee is as the noon day. Watch over us, good Father, that Satan prevail not against us: and give us grace to be always watchful for the time, when our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ shall make his glorious appearance in the clouds, to finish these days of sin. And at this time, pardon, O Lord, our weakness in prayer, our coldness in zeal, and whatsoever doth hinder us from the true publishing of our own wants and imperfections at full, & thy praise and glory as thou deservest: increase our Faith, and grant us, and all thy Children, all other graces necessary for souls and bodies, for Jesus Christ's sake: in whose name we further pray, Our Father, etc.    

A Prayer for the King.  It is God that giveth deliverance unto Kings, it is he that rescued David his servant, from the hurtful sword. Psal. 144. 10. Take away the wicked from the King, and his throne shall be established in righteousness, Pro. 25. 5. 
WE render and yield unto thee all possible thanks, O Lord of mercy, King of all Kings and Kingdoms of the Earth, for (as a great blessing unto us) thou hast placed over us in this Realm, so ●ure a guide of true Religion, JAMES (by thy heavenly providence) our gracious King, under whom enjoying free liberty of the true service of thee, we rest in a quiet estate both of body and mind: we humbly beseech thee, to behold with thy eyes of mercy, the same thy Servant our Sovereign Lord and Governor, & to replenish his heart with the grace of thy holy Spirit, that he by the working thereof, being inclined to the setting forth of thy Word, may walk according to the truth of the same sincerely: that we thy Servants, and under thee his Subjects, seeing his godly examples, may be ashamed to fall from that true form of honouring thy Name, which for thy glory, through thy grace, by the rule of thy holy Word, is prescribed unto us: and vouchsafe to stir up in him zeal of thy glory, & a desire to establish whatsoever wanteth in this Church of England, for the increase of true and sincere Discipline: Let no ignorance abide in his Royal heart, but enrich him with divine and heavenly Knowledge: give him an obedient mind, abounding with all humility towards thy divine Majesty: save and defend him from the tyranny of foreign Powrr, and Authority, and from all such as profess not inwardly unfeigned zeal of thy Gospel: give him godly Counsellors, and such zealous and true hearted Ministers of thy Will, that he and we may sincerely serve thee in this life, and in the end for evermore reign with thee in thy heavenly Kingdom, for Jesus Christ his sake, our only Advocate.  
Amen.   

A Prayer for obedience unto God.  Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as when his voy●e is obeyed? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, & to hearken is better than the fat of Rams, 1 Sam. 15. 22. Paul commendeth the obedience of the Romans, Rom. 16. 19 Obey my voice, saith God, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people, jer. 7. 23. 
O God, the Governor of Heaven and Earth, thou that rulest in the highest, that only canst do all things, and raignest for ever: at whose beck the Pillars of Heaven shake, and all Creatures tremble: I miserable creature, framed of the earth, do with great fear and trembling, prostrate myself before the ●hrone of thy Majesty, acknowledging and confessing my wickedness, and ways, abominable in thy sight. Without thee I think not a good thought: without thee I do no good work: without thee I am worse than a worm of the earth, yea a beast in thy sight.  
I render unto thee thanks, O God, that thou hast vouchsafed me that knowledge, that I may see and know that I am nothing, and unable to do any thing without thee. Thou art the Potter, I the Clay: such as thou pleasest to have me be, such canst thou form and fashion me: if thou makest me blessed, thou showest thy mercy and grace; if thou cast me into hell, thou showest thy justice, & executest thy judgement; neither is it my duty to contradict thee, why, or for what reason thou dost it, for thou hast mercy upon him whom thou lovest. These things I consider with myself (O Lord) and I fear thy judgments, & depend only on thy mercy.  
Forasmuch therefore, as all my safety and salvation relieth wholly on thee, and consisteth in thy hand and power, and thou hast showed thyself a merciful & long-suffering God to the whole world, & hast testified the same indeed, in that thou wouldst thy only Son Christ Jesus (the innocent) should die for our offences, & should wipe away our sins with his blood on the Cross; and since thou hast taught us in all our perturbations and afflictions to call upon thee, & crave thy grace and mercy, for that thou wilt give us allthings, which we shall ask in the name of thy Son: I come unto thee, being dross and clay, O merciful and celestial Father, humbly beseeching thee, that thou wilt in thy mercy, make of this unworthy carcase of mine, an habitation for thy holy spirit, that though I line in the earth, I may have my conversation holy as in the Heavens.  
O merciful and most loving Father grant me forgiveness of all my sins, through the death of thy beloved S●n Jesus Christ: make me to please thee, increase in me all heavenly virtues, and grant that I may persevere in the same to the end: increase in me that faith and love towards thee, which thou hast begun in me; kindle my affections towards thee more and more in lively obedience, that by thy help, and presence of thy grace, I may obtain everlasting life, (which thou hast promised us of thy mere goodness) to the end I may praise thee, and give thee thanks in thy celestial Kingdom for ever and ever.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer to be confirmed in the way of Righteousness.  God is the fountain of righteousness; and he that giveth himself to righteousness, is known to be borne of him, 1 john 2. 29. 
O Gracious Lord God, loving in Jesus Christ, Redeemer of mankind, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, I humbly beg at thy hands, that I may never wander nor go astray from thee, who art the way, neither at any time to distrust thy promises, who art the truth, & performest whatsoever thou dost promise: thou art eternal Life, more to be desired then any thing in heaven or in earth, by thee we have learned the true and direct way to eternal salvation, thou didst instruct and teach us readily how to believe, what to do, what to hope, and in whom we ought to trust: by thee we have learned how unhappy we were borne through our first Father Adam: by thee we are taught that there is no hope of salvation, except by faith in thee, we take hold of our free redemption and adoption in Christ.  
Thou art the only light, that shinest to all Creatures in the Desert of this World, conduding them through the ignorance of their minds, from the Egyptian darkness, to that blessed Land, which thou promisest unto the meek, and such as follow thee in humility. For in us was nothing but utter darkness, who neither could discern our calamity, neither knew from whence to seek the remedy of our misery. Thou didst enter into the World in the shape of a Servant, and didst take upon thee our nature, that thy brightness might disperse the cloud of our ignorance, that by thy precepts thou mightst director feet in the way of peace: by the examples of thy life in thy humility, thou didst limit out a path for us to immortality, making it easy for us to tread in by thy heavenly way: so becamest thou unto us a way that leadeth to Life, in which, lest we should be wearied, thou hast assured us by thy promises, that in following thy footsteps, there is an inheritance of eternity prepared for us: therefore, whilst we are in this journey, be thou a staff to us, whereby we may be sustained in all our ways: And by the comfort of thy holy Spirit, repair our strengths, to the end we may more willingly come unto thee: and as thou art made a way unto us, seclude all error, become our ●●uth, take away all distrust, and confirm our Faith in thee.  
And as thou art made life unto us, revive us that were dead in sin, by a lively knowledge of thee: For it is eternal life to know thee, Father, Son and holy Ghost, to be one true God. Wherefore I humbly beseech thee, O most merciful Father, to increase Faith in me, who am thy unworthy servant, lest at any time I waver in thy Celestial doctrine: increase obedience in me, lest I swerve from thy precepts: increase constancy, that walking in thy ways, I never be alured by the enticements of Satan, nor seduced by his terrors, but that I may persevere in thee who art the true way to life eternal: increase my Faith, that being partaker of thy Promises, I may never wa●e slow or dull in the study and practise of godliness, and that I may always strive and endeavour for more and more perfection.  
Increase thy Grace in me, that being mortified unto myself, I may live, and have my conversation with thee in Heaven, and be encouraged by thy holy Spirit, fearing nothing but thee, than whom there is nothing more to be loved or feared, glorified or more to be rejoiced in, who art the true glory of all Saints: in whom there is nothing, but full and perfect Felicity.   

A Prayer for the assistance of the holy Ghost.  No man can say that jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 12. 3. 4. If ye that be evil can give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy Ghost to them that desire him? Luke 11. 13. 
O Gracious Lord God, who didst send upon thy Apostles, and others, thy holy Spirit, filling their hearts with grace and wisdom; I humbly beseech thee, by thy unspeakable mercy, that thou wilt vouchsafe to fill my soul with thy grace, and water my heart with the unspeakable sweetness of thy Love, in the love of Jesus Christ thy most dear beloved.  
Send down, Lord, thy holy Spirit, to guide me, being ignorant, banish by his light the blackness of sin through Christ Jesus, by him refresh my sad and sorrowful soul: there is neither wisdom nor strength without thee: aid me therefore by that holy Spirit, and I shall be able to shun the deceits of Satan, and to withstand his power.  
Thou art not ignorant, that I can do nothing of myself, extend thy favourable hand over me therefore, and grant that I may forsake and utterly relinquish myself, and fly unto thee. Mortify in me whatsoever is displeasant unto thy Majesty, that in all things thou mayest conform me unto thy will, by thy holy Spirit, that my life may be ever hereafter perfect in thy sight.  
O Lord my God, look upon me, thy miserable Creature, whose soul sigheth after thee day and night, when shall I come and appear before thy presence? when shall I enter into that admirable place of thy Tabernacle, the house of my God? O comfort me with thy presence, that I may taste here in this my mortal pilgrimage, the sweetness of thy glory, which shall continue for ever. O my God, I long to be delivered from all temptations? O eternal fountain of light, bring me back again to that eternal goodness, by whom I am created, that I may know thine omnipotency, even as I am known of thee, and may so love thee, as I am loved by thee, that I may see and enjoy thee in the society of all the Elect, who livest and raignest together with the Father, and the Son, a Trinity in Unity, for ever and ever.  
Amen.   

A Prayer for Sunday-Morning.  Thus saith the Lord: take heed to your souls, and bear no burdens on the Sabbath day, nor bring it into the gates of jerusalem: Neither carry forth burdens out of your houses on the Sabbath day, neigh do ye any work; but sanctify the Sabbath, as I commanded your Fathers, jer. 17. 21. 22. He that gathered sticks on the Sabbath day, was stoned to death, Numb. 15. 32 35. 36. 
O Eternal God and heaùenly Father, I extol thine infinite goodness and mercy, together with thine eternal wisdom and truth, who hast protected me this night, & made me to rest quietly and securely by thy most holy and divine providence, I humbly beseech thee of thine infinite goodness, to protect and govern me this day, by thy mighty hand, from all dangers both of Body and Soul: Give thy holy Angels charge over me, to direct me in all my ways: drive away the deadly enemy, remove all offences of this World, mortify and kill in me all carnal lusts and evil affections, that they may have no dominion over me; give me a sorrowful heart to bewail my wicked life, and comfort my soul by a lively assurance, that thou hast freely forgiven my sins.  
Sanctify me, O Father, this day, I humbly beseech thee, with thine especial grace, that I may have decent carriage in my behaviour, true devotion in prayer, and reverend attention to hear thy heavenly and holy Word, and that thou wilt please to give me understanding, joined with true devotion, to observe, learn and embrace such things as are necessary to me, for the confirming of my faith in Christ Jesus: raise me (O Lord) by the power of thy resurrection, from sin, and give me spiritual rest in the Communion et Saints, that afterward I may keep the everlasting Sabbath with thee in the Kingdom of Heaven: behold (O Lord) I knock at the door of thy mercy, with all my power and strength; beseeching thee to continue unto me the right use of all my senses and limbs, and send thy holy Spirit to bear witness to my spirit, that I am thy child, and shall be heir of thy glorious kingdom, through the merits of Christ Jesus our Lord: for whose sake I humbly pray thee to grant all those things that I have prayed for, and have need of.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer before the hearing of God's Word.  
O Eternal, most high and mighty God, vouchsafe, I humbly beseech thee, to enlighten my dark & dull understanding, that thy word may enter into my soul, and be so received of me, as that Ignorance, the mother of disobedience, being put away, heavenly knowledge may enter in, and have perfect rest and abiding in me: Give power, O Lord, to the seed of Truth, that being sown in my heart, it may take deep root, and bring furth, to the comfort of my soul, sixty, an hundred, yea, a thousand-fold: and let thy Spirit so guide the lips of this thy Minister and Preacher, as that he deliver nothing but the Word oflife, with such sincerity and boldness, as neither fear nor affection may hinder the same, that we thy flock may fructify and increase our knowledge in Faith thereby, and more and more desire to feed at that, the Table of thy Word, and be filled: open my heart, as thou didst Lidyacs, that I may attend with diligence to the preaching of thy Word. Send forth store of Labourers (O good Lord) into thy Harvest, which by their careful pains and faithful endeavours, may gather the dispersed sheaves of thy Church into thy celestial Barn, and banish from this wholesome work all such as are not sent from thee, and come not truly to edify, but rather to reap their own gain, making as it were ma●… chandise of thy holy Word, teaching in stead of truth, the tradition of men: Lord, vouchsafe grace into the lips of those that are now prepared to declare thy will, & grace into our hearts that are present to hear it, that they by teaching truly, and we by following effectually, may through Christ obtain of thee remission of our sins past, light instead of darkness, peace for trouble, and heavenly happiness in stead of worldly felicity, that tasting the sweetness of celestial comfort, we may despise terrestrial, and after this life ended, enjoy the perfect joys of eternal felicity, through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Redeemer.  
O Lord increase our Faith.   

A Prayer after the Preaching of the holy Word.  Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it, Luke 11. 28. The hearers of the Law are not righteous, but the doers of the Law shall be justified, Rom. 2. 13. Be ye doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves, Rom. 1. 22. 
O Heavenly Father, and most merciful God, seeing that we have now received the benefit of the hearing of thy heavenly and holy word, by the mouth of thy Minister, the fruits whereof doetend to the perfection of a godly life, and a godly life is the way to eternal life in Christ our Lord, vouchsafe, O good Father, we humbly beseech thee, to imprint in our hearts the gladsome and most comfortable tidings, which we have heard and received this day of thee, by the mouth of thy Minister; and grant that in faith unfeigned, ●t may lay up the same in our understanding and remembrance, lest that forgetting the same, and neglecting the exercise of a godly life, we be taken away as trees that bear no fruit, and so be cast into the fire: therefore we most humbly pray and beseech thee, that thou wouldst send us thy holy Spirit the Comforter, which may retain the good tidings of the Gospel in our hearts, whereby we may appear as trees bearing good fruits, and so be preserved until the coming of our Lord Jesus, who will then receive us, and give us the inheritance which he hath purchased for as many as believe in his most holy Word.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase our Faith.   

A Prayer for the Sabbath day at night.  
O everlasting and merciful God, I give thee thanks from the bottom of my heart, that of thy mercy thou hast nourished and preserved me by thy divine power, and governed me by thy Word & holy Spirit this day, and all this week, yea, and at all other times of my life protected me by thy power and providence: and I most humbly beseech thee for the merits of Christ Jesus, to cover and bury all my misdeeds, which heretofore I have committed in thought, word and deed against thy divine Majesty, in the death of thy Son.  
Forgive (O Lord) the evil that I have committed; supply the good which I have omitted, restore what I have lost, heal my sores, cleanse my filthiness, lighten my darkness, and alter the whole state of my mind, that nothing may be wanting to good purposes in me, nor any thing lurk in me which may offend thee.  
Water (O Lord) the seed of thy holy Word, which I have received this day, with the dew of thy grace, that with sound judgement, and godly devotion, I may practise such things as are pleasing to thy divine Majesty, and that my heart being always obedient to thy Commandments, I may pass my time in peace, through thy protection. O Lord, stretch out thy hand over me, and of thy accustomed goodness defend me this night: Keep me from searefull and wicked dreams, unprofitable cares, idle cogitations, and outward violence. Compass me about on every side with thy grace, that when I shall either take care for things of this life, or carefully seek for those things which appertain unto the Kingdom of heaven, I may hear the voice of thy holy Spirit sounding in my heart from the mouth of the Apostle, The Lord shall relieve thee in all thy necessities, and yield thee a Crown of eternal glory with Christ, his beloved, in the heavens. Grant (O Lord) this, and all other graces meet for me, even for Jesus Christ's sake, my only Lord and Saviour.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer to be said before a man begins his Labour, or enter into the execution of any profession.  
OMnipotent God, and most merciful Father, since thou hast commanded, that all humane creatures shall labour, and eat their bread in the sweat of their brows, while they abide in this life, and yet seeing no man can prosper without thy blessing, or receive any good success in his affairs, we humbly beseech thee, that thou wouldst bless our labours in such sort, as thereby we may have just occasion to confess thy goodness, assistance, and fatherly care, which thou takest of us.  
Let thy holy Spirit (O Lord) be our guide, to the end we may faithfully exercise the works of our estate and vocation, without any fraud or deceit: & give us grace rather to regard the following of thine ordinance, then to satisfy the appetite of our own sinful flesh, which covets to enrich itself by any means whatsoever.  
Nevertheless, if it be thy pleasure to bless and prosper our endeavours, grant us also cheerful dispositions, to help and relieve such as are in distress, according to thy talents best owed upon us. And let us keep within the bounds of humility, not puffing ourselves up above the poor and needy, by that which we enjoy by thy bounty and goodness. But if thy good pleasure be so to deal with us, as to abase and impoverish us far beyond that which our weak nature can bear, yet vouchsafe to enrich us,. with cleaving faithfully to thy promises, whereby we shall no way fall into distrust, but rather be more certainly assured, that thou wilt never forsake us in the extremity of our wants and calamities; enable us to perform truly the duties of our callings: give us the use of all our limbs and senses, with an holy endeavour to perform our callings, and patience to attend thy leisure, to replenish us both with temporal and spiritual comforts, receiving thereby daily new occasion to give thee praise and thanks, and to expect all things from thee. Hear us, O Father of mercy, for thy dear Son Christ Jesus sake, our Lord and Saviour.  
Amen.  
O Lord, increase our Faith, and bless our labours.   

A Thanksgiving, or Prayer, to be used after a man's labour is finished.  
O My gracious Lord God, I yield unto thee hearty thanks, because thou hast preserved me from imminent and infinite dangers, which might otherwise have happened to oppress, and utterly overthrown me, if thou Lord hadst not carefully regarded, and kept me from many inconveniences. Therefore now, O most loving Father, I humbly entreat and beseech thee for Jesus Christ's sake, to pardon all the faults wherein I have offended thee, in the time of my labour or otherwise: correct me not in thine anger, nor punish me in thy heavy displeasure: work in me so by the power of thy holy Spirit, that hence forth I may walk in greater integrity, and carefully perform those duties which are required in my vocation and calling, to the end, that though I labour with my body, yet in spirit I may be led by thy spirit, to love, serve and glorify thy name in all my doings, words and thoughts.  
Direct and guide me by thy holy Word, in all truth and honest conversation among men, never swerving from thy commandments, that in the end I may attain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.  
Amen.  
Lord evermore increase and confirm my Faith in thee.   

A general Confession of sins, and of the vanities of carnal delights.  If we acknowledge our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us, 1 john 1. 9 10. 
O God Almighty, and all-knowing Father, the fountain of all comfort and consolation, I confess against myself, as evermore I have done, that I have grievously offended thee, by my manifold transgressions, and have thereby drawn down a most heavy weight of thine importable judgements upon me; under the burden whereof I cannot but faint and fall, unless thou set to thy helping hand of mercy in Jesus Christ to support me: for (good Father) I am weak, and cannot bear thy displeasure; I am ignorant, and know not which way to turn me, unless thou point out the way unto me by thy holy Spirit, directing me within, as thy Word teacheth me without. For it is not every one that heareth, that understandeth; not every one that understandeth, that can practise and perform what thou commandest: for who so is not guided by a better line, then that of flesh and blood, mistaketh the right path, and treadeth the way of vanity, whose end is death: yet, for the time it is most sweet and pleasing to the outward man, the man unsanctified and unregenerate, because he loveth to be said with the dainties of this life, as with honour, preferment, riches, health, friends, and worldly delights, esteeming these the earnest-penny here of Heaven to come, and that wants, and poverty, and sickness, and enemies, and imprisonments, and crosses, are even here the entrance into Hell itself. So foolish are they (O Lord) and ignorant, whom thou guidest not in thy way. And this hath been my foolishness, and my misconceit of the several estates of men in this life, even unto this day. But having now found by due trial and experience, the foolishness of such, as put their delight in these transttory, fickle, and uncertain vanities, do disclaim all confidence in them, and do heartily and most unfeignedly abhor and detest the deceiving baits of temporal and carnal delights, and do wholly betake me unto the sweet saving sanctuary of thy wisdom and providence, wherein, howsoever the worldly minded do contrarily judge, is truest safety, happiness and security: for therein, bear Father, is the true feéling and founded hope of future eternal felicity: thy wisdom, O Father, is the wisdom of the Spirit, the Spirit the sanctifier of the Soul, the mind and affections, which being sanctified, begetteth true fear of thee, and that fear is the beginning of that sacred wisdom, which guideth and governeth the whole man in the blessed way, the way to life, even unto Christ himself, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  
O Lord increase our Faith.   

A Prayer for humiliation and sorrow after sin committed.  
O Lord my God, and most loving Father in Jesus Christ, I confess and acknowledge, that mine offences, are increased, and my sins are grown up unto the heavens, that I am ashamed to lift up mine eyes to thee, admiring at thy influite mercy, in forbearing to punish me, knowing that I am worthy to be swallowed up, or swept away with some extraordinary and sudden judgement. And now (O Lord) especially having so grossly sinned against thee, and done so great evil in thy sight: how have I (vile wretch that I am) wounded mine own conscience? how h●ue I laid myself open to the malice and envy of the Devil? what a disgrace and slander have I brought upon my Profession? what an offence and scandal have I given unto others? what a toy will this be to the wicked, that they have now by men gotten something to speak evil of? But (above all, O Lord) how have I dishonoured thee, whose favours have been so many, and so innumerable towards me? I know not how to express my detestable sins, and the heinous and hideous natures of them, when I think upon thy patience, upon the means of grace which thou hast afforded me: upon the light of knowledge which thou hast given me, upon the good motions which thou hast from time to time stirred up in me, upon the profession which I make upon the sundry vows and promises of better obedience, with which I have linked myself unto thy Majesty, upon the diverse admonitions (which by thy providence I know) have been used to me by thy Servants, purposely to prevent and stop this evil in me, me thinketh I may call it rebellion (which is as the sin of witchcraft) or presumption in the highest degree. O Lord, I see my sins, and know them to been exceeding great: nevertheless, I cannot so lament them, so grieve for them, so detest and abhor them as I should. Strive (O gracious God) strike, I beseech thee, my flinty heart, make it even to melt within me, at the sight of mine own transgression. Settle in it that godly sorrow, which causeth Repentance unto salvation. Humble my soul under thy mighty hand, and suffer me not to freeze in the dregges of mine own corruptions: make my head full of water, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, which may run down like a River day and night. O let me take no rest, nor suffer the apple of mine eye to cease: cause me to pour out my heart like water before thy face, that I may, by all means, testify the unfeigned grief of my Soul, that I have so displeased thee. And grant (O Lord) that I may not sorrow so much because of hell & condemnation, which I have made to be due to me, but that my chief vexation may be to think how I have abused thy mercy, and requited thy exceeding love, with so foul a trespesse. Withal (most merciful God) seeing there is mercy with thee, and that thou desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness, and live, give me leave to become a suitor unto thy grace, not in mine own name, but in the name of thy dearest Son, the only Mediator & Intercessor of his chosen, I most humbly beseech thee, for his sake, to have mercy on me, O Lord, one drop of his most precious blood, shall be a sovereign Medicine, to cure my running ●ore: his stripes and wounds are of an healing nature, O then, I pray thee, purgeme clean from mine intquitie, and according to the multitude of thy mercy, wipe away all my uncleanness: let the apprehension of my sin be tempered with a comfortable application of thy mercy, that I may hold an even course, betwixt fearless security, and faithless despair, beholding at once, both my vileness to humble me, and the riches of thy grace to revive me. And (Lord) permit me not. I humbly pray thee, to think it sufficient, that I have once made some show of humiliation and sorrow for my fal●, but grant I may endeavour myself in the performance of these duties and may every day renew and increase my repentance, with a deep detestation of my sins, and with a fervent desire more and more earnestly strive to be renewed in the spirit of my mind, that being so cleansed from all filthiness, both of flesh and spirit, I may attain unto perfect holiness in thy fear, through our Lord Jesus: in whose name I commend unto thee my Petitions, and for whose sake thou hast promised to deny nothing to thy Servant. So be it.  
Amen.  
Lord increase my Faith.   

A preparation to the Receiving of the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of JESUS CHRIST.  
ADAM, the first man, was forbidden to eat of one fruit, which was fore-shewed to be mortal, and he did hasten to eat thereof. We, the Children of the second Adam, are commanded to eat of the lively and saving fruit, the Body and Blood of Christ to our salvation; yet, how slack are we to prepare us thereunto, and to partake thereof?  
The first step therefore of true preparation thereunto, is to search the Scriptures, who teach the Mystery of this holy Communion, and the institution of the same, as also the signification of the outward signs, which are Bread and Wine; the things signified, the Body and Blood of Christ shed for all believers: the end of the receiving whereof, is to retain the remembrance of the Death & Passion of Christ, which he suffered for our sins.  
By the true receiving of this Sacrament, we are united unto the love of God, in, and by the death of Christ, the second Adam, being separated from him by the fall of the first. We are made heirs by adoption of eternal salvation, in, by, and with Christ, which we lost in, & by Adam.  
The true receiving of this blessed Sacrament, must be in sincerity, with a repentant heart, and faith unfeigned.  
And because it is not provided for sinners (who coming thereunto unworthily, receive their own damnation) we must, before we repair thereunto, cleanse our souls from all sin: which cannot be done without diving into our own souls, with an impartial search, to find out our own corruption, and truly to repent our sins. Therefore, saith the Apostle, Let a man try and examine himself, before he presume to come to this holy Table, etc.  
It is not fit that we should come to this holy Banquet abruptly, ●s men do to their ordinary feasts, where they Pharisaically and ceremoniously will wash their hands before they eat; but to this most holy Supper we are not to come without inward washing of the soul from sin? for if unwashed hands profane the meat for the belly, how much more an unwashed heart, this sacred Sacrament, the food of the Soul? Inward examination, impartial accusation, and an absolute condemnation of ourselves for sin, is the best preparation to this holy Table. For he that looketh into, and examineth the hidden profaneness lurking in the heart, cannot, but (upon due view of the same) accuse himself of deep disobedience to God, which deserveth death. Finding this, he cannot but judge himself worthy to be rejected from this communion of Saints, and so condemn himself that he be not condemned of the Lord: for he that confesseth his sins to God, covereth them: and he that coveteth to hide them, increaseth them. Therefore the Apostle willeth all men to try and examine themselves, which importeth repentance, and so to eat.  
This caveat is no inhibition, but a terrifying of the soul, not to presume to come to this holy Table, without purification and sanctification.  
Herein doth the Lord jesus discover his wonderful love towards us, who before he invite us to come to this Table to eat, doth instruct us how we should come, and how we should feed. He lays not this Table to snare us, as Absalon did Amnon: and yet forewarns us, that there is danger in receiving it, namely, with polluted hands, with hands full of bribery and extortion, to take it with lips defiled with blasphemy, cursing, and lying; to put it into a stomach gorged with drunkenness and gluttony, and with a heart making no difference of the Lords body.  
We must therefore lay aside all our old sins, and put on the new man, a Righteous, a Holy, and Christian conversation and disposition. We must be holy and heavenly minded towards God, we must be loving to our Neighbours, slow in taking advantages, or revenging wrongs, we must be lowly and little in our own eyes, meek and sober in all our actions.  
And because things of so wonderful value are herein exhibited and offered to the worthy Receivers, we must consider who we are, how we are cleansed of our spiritual Leprosy, before we presume into the company of the Saints to communicate. We must consider well, whether upon trial made, as afore is said, we can assure ourselves that we are of the number of those, to whom these holy things do appertain For who so is profane in his person, and an unsanctified Creature, let him forbear to come to this holy Table, and let him first use the means of better assurance: namely, repentance for his sins, amendment of his corrupt and sinful life: let him use often zealous prayer to God, for remission of his omissions and transgressions: let him crave the assistance of his holy Spirit, to assist him in the beating down, and mortifying sin in him, and that his Heart and Conscience may be sanctified. And when he is cleansed, let him show himself to the Priest, his Pastor, and let him take knowledge by his outward Confession, of his inward Contrition, not by particularising of his sins, but by manifesting his repentance; and then in all reverence, let him come to this holy Table, let him eat the Bread, and drink the Blood of that Lamb that taketh away his sins, and will present him pure unto the Lord.  
The Lord's eye is pure, and can abide no wickedness. The Sacrament is holy; touch it not rashly. If thou have not on the wedding Garment of sincerity, come not: the Lord will find thee out, and thrust thee forth of his presence, among the unbelievers, whose portion shall be with the Devil and his Angels.  
Let us therefore search and examine our ways: let us lift up our hands with our hearts unto God in the Heavens, and feed on this holy mystery, the life of our souls, in remembrance of Christ's death, until his second coming.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer to be said at the receiving of the holy Communion.  
OH, most gracious Lord God, merciful and loving Father in Jesus Christ my Redeemer, in whom thou art also my Father by Adoption, in, and by thy Son; my soul, O Lord, which was lost in Adam, bought and redeemed by the Death and Passion of Jesus Christ, doth earnestly long, and entirely desire to be more and more assured, that I am fully and really united unto thee again in him, and therefore I do hunger and thirst to partake of those means, whereby that sweet and precious union may be confirmed in me: Increase my knowledge more and more of thy saving truth, revealed unto us in thy word, and increase my faith to believe what thou hast taught for our salvation: let me take perfect and assured hold of my regeneration wrought in me by Baptism, the seal of thy promise set upon me, when I knew not thy Law; wherein as I promised to forsake sin, and cleave unto righteousness; so Lord, let the operation of thy holy Spirit then promised, work in my soul, a true detestation of the works of darkness, and love unfeigned to thy celestial and divine light. And for that thou in Christ hast left unto us a second seal of thy love, and our adoption, the Sacrament of the body and blood of that immaculate Lamb, who for a remembrance of his death, & our free adoption by him, instituted the same at his last supper with his Disciples, and commanded thy Saints dispersed through the world, through all generations, to this day and for ever, to the end of the world, to communicate of this holy Sacrament, in commemoration of that high and most prevailing sacrifice, the offering of thy Son upon the Cross for our redemption and atonement with thee. And therefore, most loving Father, I come in the name of him thy Son, not of myself presuming, but in all humbleness, through his merits, unto this holy Table, to partake with the rest of thy Saints by adoption, here at this time gathered together, of this holy and heavenly banquet; humbly begging at thy hands for his sake, that it may please thee to prepare my heart, which of itself is not only dull, but profane: teach me, being of myself not only ignorant of this sacred mystery, but too much knowing sin: Sanctify me by thy holy Spirit, who of myself am not only corrupt, but wholly prone to evil evermore, & consequently unworthy to eat at this holy Table, to partake of thy love so unspeakable: Oh forgive me, Father, & in thy Christ here represented unto us, engraft in me a lively assurance, that my sins are done away by his blood: give me faith to believe in him, who by faith is made ours, and we in him, thine by adoption: elected even of thy free mercy, and made heirs with Christ Jesus of eternal glory: whereof this holy mystery is the most assured pledge: Oh make me a worthy partaker of so precious a benefit.  
And for that sinners, Lord, are not admitted to this sacred banquet of saving food; where shall I appear, whose sins drew down from heaven, him, whom thou most dear lovedst, and betrayed him to the Cross: how then shall I presume to appear in this holy assembly, appointed for thy Saints only: a Table of sanctity, whereof none partake, but such as are free from sin? Who then (Lord) dare presume to eat of this bread, or to drink of this Cup? only those whom thou hast called, who though sinners by nature, yet are they thy children by grace, and so their sins are not imputed unto them, for whom Christ by his death hath satisfied, (apprehended by faith, showed forth in newness of life) and wrought in us by his righteousness, in whose name accept me (good Father,) and let the garment of his innocency cover my sins, and so let me come to this holy Table. And as a new man, shaped in holiness and righteousness, let me evermore henceforth walk before thee, and more delight in thy Commandments, then in any, or in all worldly things: let me by thy power be powerful over Satan: let his instigations never prevail in me, and let all corrupt affections die in me, and let me wholly die to sin, and live to righteousness and true holiness.  
And for that I live among men of diverse dispositions, give me grace to love all, but to covet to converse only with such as are thine, as near as I may: to revenge me of none, but to forgive all wrongs and injuries, and so far to forget them, as I may study and endeavour to do good unto all, especially to such as are of the communion of Saints. And enlighten mine understanding more and more, that I may see and consider always mine own weakness, wants, and imperfections, that I may so much the more bear, with others, by how much I cannot but confesie, I come far short of my duty to thee: who so offendeth me most, I offend thee much more. And therefore, good Father, frame in my heart love unfeigned, true patience, and lively obedience, Leave me not either to the dulness, perverseness, or pride of mine own nature, or to mine own corrupt will, make me little and lowly in mine own eyes, and give me humbleness of spirit, and endue me with all heavenly virtues, that I may rrsemble my first estate of innocency, and let my present estate of grace come near to resemble thy dearest children, yea, thyself, who as thou forgavest us in him, that was Lord of all, and for us became as a servant, & by his blood washed away our sins, offering his most innocent body, a sacrifice for our sins; whose rent body, and spilt blood being here represented unto us by bread and wine: I do most humbly pray thee, that we may be accepted worthy receivers of his true body and blood signified thereby; and that we may feel even instantly, a renewing of our minds, our hearts to be changed from all corrupt affections, and our souls swallowed up with the due contemplation of this most sacred mystery, wherein thou givest us not only thy visible creatures of bread and wine, to refresh our weak bodies, but thine own Son, to save our souls and bodies. Oh, who is worthy to open the book of this so high, and so heavenly a mystery? not the worldly wise, not the great learned, nor the most glorious in the world; only the poor in spirit, the humble and meek, such as truly hunger and thirst for their salvation in and by Christ. They only ask, seek and knock, they receive knowledge and find mercy: and they are accepted into this heavenly society, seeing yet but in part, knowing yet but in part, feeling yet but in part, receiving but in part, glorying but in part, & where they yet praise thee but in part. But thou hast promised, that we partaking of thee in this life, after this life we shall fully enjoy thee, in, and by Christ in the heavens, to our everlasting comfort, to our inestimable glory, and endless praising thee in him, whom here we see by the eyes of our souls in faith, on whom we depend in faith, and of whom we here partake in faith; which faith (O Lord) increase more and more for ever in us all.  
Amen.   

A thanksgiving after the receiving of the holy Communion.  
IEsus Christ our true Sovereign and eternal sacrifice, thou art seated at the right hand of God, upon the Throne of Majesty in heaven, having the administration of all goodness to come, and of the true Tabernacle which is not made by hands.  
Thou enterdst once (by thy precious blood) into the holy places, and hast obtained for us eternal Redemption, by sacrificing thyself unto thy Father, to cleanse our consciences from all dead works, to the end we might serve the living God.  
We give thee thanks with all our hearts, because by willing obedience to thy Father, thou didst suffer a most ignominious death on the Cross, for us poor, miserable, and wretched sinners, and hast instituted this blessed Sacrament, for an eternal memory of thy faithfulness, and favour, on out behalf, leaving it like wise as an earnest penny, seal, or testimony, for the remission of our sins.  
Thou hast called and brought us to the Communion of this wonderful feeding, to the end that we might refresh our hungry souls, languishing and thirsting after life everlasting.  
O Lord my God, great is thy love, thy mercy unexprsseable, & thy grace uncomprehensible. Thou despisest no persons, coming to this Banquet, except they exclude themselves, or intrude thither unworthily.  
If any one do hunger or thirst, here he is fully satisfied: such as are in necessity, may here find the riches and treasures of Life: the desolate here meet with comfort: the st●ke, here find physic, and health for their souls: such as are over-laden with their sins, are here disburdoned in their consciences, and they which are assailed by Death, do here meet with life that cannot be molested. Help us then, O good God, that this blessed Sacrament, which we have received, may avail us to our salvation: and that hereafter we may retain the fullness of our hope, without any wavering, because thou art faithful in all thy promises, and let us care one for another: give us grace to love all, but covet only the society of such as either may stirreus up more and more to godliness, or that we may win them to more knowledge of, and obedience to thee, and that we may in a holy and heavenly union often assemble ourselves at this holy and sacred banquet, comforting one another in thee, hopefully looking for thy blessed appearance in the clouds for our full and final redemption.  
Amen.  
Lord increase our faith, and renew a right spirit within us.   


A Motive to the Prayer following, against Temptation.  
FOrasmuch as no man is free from Temptation, it is a necessary exercise for the Children of God to pray daily to be strengthened against the same, for if the Devil spared not to tempt Christ, Mat 4. 1. 3. Mark 1. 12. 13. he cannot but tempt us. And as he began with Christ, knowing him to have long fasted, and deemed him so desirous to eat, as he would have done any thing to have had bread, as Esau longed for his brother's pottage. And as he himself in the beginning fell by ambition and vainglory, he thought it had been the humour of Christ likewise to de●…e terrene glory: according therefore to these two occasions he tempted Christ to accept of both, or either of them. But he had no advantage against Christ, but fifth and findeth man of another inclination, wholly and altogether corrupt, and so prone naturally to sin, as there resteth in all men some peculiar humour, and a kind of private and commanding sin, which so far commonly over-ruleth the affections, as whensoever it offereth itself, it easily draweth consent even of the whole man, as Nabals' covetousness, whom the rich do imitate, who although they might be free from all other sins (as they cannot be) it were sufficient to condemn them: some are wholly overcome, and make drunkenness their whole delight, some bribery and extorsion, some whoredom, some wantonness. And these and such like sins, are, as it were, the Bailiffs and Stewards of the houses of men's hearts, which who so embraceth, and holdeth them so dear, as he will not endeavour to be freed of them, is not the child of God. And therefore this prayer following may be used of all men to that end, although he would be ashamed to confess it before men. God already knowing it, his confession to him shall more and more make a way for repentance, and obtain strength to resist the Devil in his temptation, who observing our inclinations, bendeth his temptations accordingly: and having won but the outerward of our hearts at the first, a bare consent, he then will visit oftener, until he have made custom so strong, as it becometh an habit, or as it were another nature: So that a man may as well endure the plucking out of his eyes, as the shaking off of that accustomed sin. And therefore it behooveth all men to be watchful against Satan, and to resist him by prayer.   

A Prayer against Temptations, especially fit for a man that findeth in himself a continual strong inclination to any particular sin.  
O Gracious God, and most loving Father, who in the beginning didst create man to thine own image and likeness, in all sincerity, and didst place him (in the holy estate of his innocency) in the sweet garden of all heavenly and earthly delights, and in thy superabundant mercies didst ordain all thy creatures in Heaven and Earth to do him service: O what was man, that thou hadst such respect unto him? And yet how suddenly (Lord God) did he fall from that estate of original grace? how grossly did he disobey, and rebel against thy will revealed unto him? By whose fall all corruption entered, where before was nothing but sanctity: by whose corruption the earth became corrupt, and all things in the earth began to disobey him for whom they were created, as he disobeyed thee by whom he was created. And by his transgression, all that have proceeded of him by a lineal original pollution; have all defiled their ways, and all men by nature are likewise so far tainted with that first offence, as infinite offences are bred in every man by that offence: as I, for my part (good Father, against whom that first sin was done) do acknowledge, that I feel the force of that original corruption, working so strongly in me, that I cannot but accuse myself to be the most vile, and unworthiest of all Adam's issue: for I cannot otherwise judge of myself, when I look into, and see, and consider what I am, and how I am inclined to sin. I cannot but confess, what I cannot hide from thee, who seest the most secret and most covered thought of the heart, much more than the deeds of darkness, which I commit, to whose all-seeing eyes the darkness and light are all one, and therefore findest out all my sins, whether they be in thought, intent, or action. And although every sin bringeth death, yet there is a promise upon repentance, that they shall be forgiven. But (Lord) among many sins, remaining in me, thou seest one principal, and as it were, a reigning & commanding sin in me, whereunto I am drawn by the continual violence of that never-ceasing adversary Satan, who worketh my more corruption, and by my corruptions polluteth mine affections, and mine affections breed so strong an inclination to that odious sin, that I am weak to perform what thou commandest, and strong to effect what thou forbiddest. Therefore (good Father) kill all, and especially this sin, that hangeth so fast on me, that it reign no longer in me: for I feel it an heavy and loathsome burden unto my soul, which I cannot shake off, as of mine own power, but by the special working and strength of thy holy Spirit, who worketh true repentance. O work true repentance in me, and make sin more and more loathsome unto me: for thou seest (Lord) that I commit all sin, as it were against my wil Give me therefore power to bridle all my corrupt affections; the consideration whereof grieveth me, and a heap of fear possesseth my soul, despair presenting itself before me, which would utterly devour all hope of reconciliation with thee, did not thy word and promise firmly assure me, not only of free pardon for all that is past, but of power also to withstand Satan's future assaults, in the blood and merits of Christ Jesus thy Son my Saviour; yet not without my true and serious repentance, which also is thy gift. O work in me true repentance, give me grace to withstand all temptations. And although I shall never so mortify my corruptions, but some dregs will remain, and break forth, yet kill the strength of this & all other sins in me, that I may be able truly to assure my conscience, that what I would do, that I do not; & what I would not, that I do: that thy free favour and love in Jesus Christ, working in me, for me, & by me, faith, obedience, and a renewed heart, may work and prevail in me, to the withstanding of the tempter and his temptations: suppress my corruptions, and their fruits, and make me to become more & more holy, by the imputed holiness which in thy son, by promise, is mine: to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be ascribed all honour and praise for ever.  
Amen.  
Lord increase my Faith, and give me true repentance for my sins, and power evermore to resist them.    

A Prayer for a prosperous journey.  
O Lord, in whose hands all things, and all men are, the Guide and Protector of all that believe and come unto thee, I come (Lord) unto thy divine Majesty, begging at thy hands pardon for my sins, which I do confess to be very great, & worthily may pull down a great and weighty burden of thy Judgements upon me, and nothing can truly prosper with me, until I be reconciled unto thee in Christ, in whom thou art so well pleased, as who so in him cometh unto thee, never departeth empty of some blessing or other: and therefore I now, good Father, under thy favour, by thy permission and fatherly furtherance, intending to take my journey, do beseech thee, to pardon my sins: and grant that before I betake me to my travel, I may seel in my conscience a lively assurance that thou hast forgiven me, and that I am reconciled unto thee, and at peace with thee, that so I may be assured, that as thine holy Angel went with the servant of Abraham, and prospered his journey; as an Hast of Angels were present with Elisha, to defend him from the King of Aram, and as thine Angels comforted and conducted jacob in his journey: so thou wilt send thine Angels with me, that they may take charge of me, conduct me, guide me, and prosperously speed my journey, and give good success unto the occasion of my travels: for I do confess and acknowledge, that it is not in the wisdom, the art, power, ●r providence of man, either to prevent the dangers, which in diverse manners do lie hid and concealed from the wisest, till they fall; neither to perform his journey, or to accomplish the occasion of the same prosperously: and therefore, unless thou mayst be pleased to assist me with thy grace, to support me with thy hand, to defend me in thy mercy, to bless me in thy love, and in thy providence to comfort me: I cannot but confess, that my journey cannot be prosperous, myself in body or soul safe, nor the business where about I go, come to good effect. ●ith therefore, good Father, thou hast made unto all men that come unto thee, an assured promise, that thou wilt never fail, nor forsake them, but wilt command thine Angels to take charge of them, that nothing shall hurt them; and that thou wilt be with them in the way they ride or ●o, in the house wherein they rest, or refresh them; and wilt enable them to perform that which they intent, better than they have either skill or ableness: bless me, I beseech thee, with such wisdom, will, power, and discretion, as I may so perform my journey, and the occasion thereof, as may be to the discharge of my duty to thee in true obedience, to man in a good conscience, and to myself in a due regard of the relief of me, and such as thou hast given me: and withal, most gracious Father, sith that thou hast ordained thy Creatures to serve to my use in this my journey, bless them (I beseech thee) with strength and power to perform the service for me, which the necessity of my journey requireth, that my journey being ended, and my business duly effected, I may return the praise and glory to thy most holy name in Christ: to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be ascribed all honour, power, glory, and dominion for ever more.  
Amen.  
Lord increase my Faith, and prosper my journey.   

A Motive to the Prayer following, against Enemies.  
IT is the nature of carnal men to hate their Enemies, and seek all means possible to be revenged of them: wherein they offend the Majesty of God, and make him their enemy: for he hath said, Vengeance is mine, Rom. 12. 19 And therefore we must take heed, we take not the office of God upon us, in taking revenge of our Enemies, either by our own sword, or by any sinister means, but to appeal unto the Christian Magistrate, who beareth the Sword to right the wrongs done unto his children. We must leave the revenge to whom it belongeth, and seek to be, and to continue at peace with God, without which no Creature can be at true peace with us. And being reconciled to him in Christ, we shall not need to fear our enemies, for he will make our Enemies to fear us, as he made Esau to fear jacob, Genes 35. 5. 6. If we walk in his commandments, and observe his Laws, among many other blessings, We shall chase our Enemies, & they shall fall before us, Levit. 26. 7. 8. Deut. 11. 23. 25. & 28. 1. 7. And he will deliver our Enemies into our hands, if it be expedient, or our cause being heard before the Magistrate, he will give censure with us, and make us to rejoice over them, that would triumph over us. And therefore in these crosses of Enemies, we must fly unto God by prayer, as David in many of his Psalms showeth himself to have done, and especially in the 35. Psalm. If therefore thy cause be just, and thou be unjustly pursued, fear not, for God will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.   

A Prayer against the power and practices of Enemies, who slander and pursue a man, either without a cause, or in a matter which he cannot reconcile.  
INcline thine ear, Lord, unto my prayer, and hearken mercifully unto my complaints, for thou seest how man intendeth mischief against me; many lay snares for me to catch me, that they may take me, and so devour me, but thou art my trust, I will not fear what man can do unto me: yet, good Father, judge and revenge my cause, let them not triumph over me that hate me without a cause: say I, without a cause? yea, Lord, without cause committed against them, unless thou calling to mind my sins committed against thee, dost stir them up to be instruments of thy wrath against me: So am I indeed in excusable, for I do confess, that I have transgressed thy Laws, I have done evil in thy ●ight, but to these men, Lord what have I done? my conscience is clear of all desire to offend them: and therefore, Lord, let their malice come to an end, if not, Lord, give me Faith in thee, and patience to endure them for thee, whom indeed I have offended. They travel in mischief, thou art merciful; they conceive wickedness, and bring forth lies, but thou art righteous, the God of truth: my defence is in thee, and therefore, though they dig pits for me, they shall fall in themselves, and be taken in the same, that they themselves have laid. Their mischief shall return upon their own head, and their cruelties upon their own pates, although in their pride and malice they boast themselves, as if they had already destroyed me. Up, Lord, therefore, and defend me, let them not prevail against me, rather let them relent or perish. They think in their hearts, as it seemeth by their insolence, they shall never be removed, and thou seest it; thou beholdest their wrong done unto thee: take my cause therefore into thine own hand, for thou judgest right, and helpest such as suffer violence. Oh, break the arm of the wicked and malicious, who bend, their bow, and make ready their arrows upon the string, that they may secretly shoot at them which are upright in heart: they shoot out their sharp and malicious accusations, bitter words and slenders against me: yet, Lord, of thy mercy it is, that though they hit me, yet they wound me not deadly, their hatred and malice tendeth but to the hurt of my body, not being able to touch my soul: and therefore if they should prevail, their conquest were small, but my ransom is their own ruin: curb them, good Father, and bridle their wicked devices: set me at liberty, whom these wicked men would hold for ever snared. I rest upon thy providence to be defended: I seek not revenge against them, vengeance is thine, thou wilt reward: but were I inclinable to revenge, they are more mighty than I, more carnally politic than I, more befriended of the world than I, and yet as Elisha said unto his Servant, there are more with me then with them: for thou pitchest an Host of Angels about such as are thine. Therefore, I will never fear what these men can do unto me, either by fraud or force, openly or secretly: for thou who judgest rightly, wilt turn all their malicious devices to work for my good, and their own confusion, as thou didst end the malice of hateful Haman, against harmless Mordecai. Wherein thy providence brought it to pass, that he was snared that laid the grin, and fell into the pit he made for another. Therefore, good Father, I will rest me upon thy providence, and rely upon thy mercies in Christ, in whom all things shall work together for my good, as did the selling of joseph by his Brethren, his Mistresses false accusation, & his wrongful imprisonment, all which together wrought to his high advancement. Even so, Lord, let all things work to my conformation, and consolation in Christ: hear me, oh, hear me, lest they rejoice over me, for when my feet slip, they rejoice and extol themselves against me.  
O Lord increase my Faith, and weaken mine Enemies.   

A Prayer of the Flock, for their diligent, painful and faithful Pastor.  
O Most bountiful and great God, how gracious hast thou been unto us, in lending us a good and godly Past or according to thine own heart, who is able and willing to instruct us with knowledge and understanding, and to deliver unto us faithfully thy holy Word, one, who is sufficient to resolve us in our doubts, and to comfort us in our calamities, to recall our wanderings, to instruct our ignorances, and to go before us, as a guide, in the way that leadeth to salvation: O Lord, thou hast not so dealt with all people, neither is there any desert at all in us, for which thou shouldest bestow on us such a favour. If thou hadst still left us in our natural darkness, and hadst suffered us to be perpetually plunged into that region of the shadow of death, in which we sat of ourselves, it had been but justice in thee even utterly to have forsaken ●s. O Lord, make us thankful, and quicken us up, that we may even fill our mouths with the praises of thy name, who hast caused the light of thy Gospel thus to shine amongst us, to our exceeding great comfort. O make us careful and diligent to walk while we have light, that we may be the children of light, and to beware how we receive thy word in vain, or neglect so great salvation: let us ever remember, that to whom much is given, of them there will be much required, and that our sins will be the greater, and our judgement the more heavy, if we make not right use of this thy mercy. And concerning the Watchman, whom thou hast appointed over our souls, we beseech thee to enlarge his heart, to increase his gifts, and to replenish him yet with a fuller measure of thy Graces. Give him (O Lord) the true zeal and spirit of Paul, that he may with all boldness of speech give unto us thy Gospel, and publish even the secrets thereof, for the edifying and comfort of our souls. Make him powerful in the holy Scriptures, like Apollo's, that by the power thereof he may both convict our consciences, and stop the mouths of all gainsayers. Pour into him thy holy Spirit, the word of wisdom and knowledge, that he may rightly judge of our estates, and understand what things are most expedient and necessary for us, and so may speak to our consciences, finding us out in our special sins, and directing us in those holy courses, from which we have chiefly strayed. Let his words prick our hearts forward, that we may not be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Make him firm and constant in the best courses, that he may not be as a Reed shaken with the wind, but as a sure foundation, that by his perseverance in good works, our hearts may be the better established. And we beseech thee (O Christ) who commandest the Stars, and holdest them in thy right hand, to defend him from unreasonable and evil men, and from the wrongs and injuries of the wicked enemies of thy truth: for doubtless, men of corrupt minds will resist the Truth with all their power. Therefore (good Lord) bless his labour, to the calling and converting of those, which are elected unto salvation.  
Make our hearts flexible to yield true obedience to thy Word delivered from his mouth, that we may receive it, not as the word of a man, but (as it is indeed) thy Word, and make it also effectual in us, that we may not only be professors and hearers of thy holy will, but also practisers and continual performers of the same. And teach us to reverence him, we beseech thee, and to love him for his profession and works sake, not sparing our goods to relieve him, knowing it is a small thing for him to ●eape our earthly things, who soweth amongst us spiritual food for our souls. In all our Supplications make us mindful of him without ceasing, that his studies may be directed, his endeavours guided, and his labours in thy work blessed, to the glory of thy holy name, and the salvation both of him, and of us which hear him: All which we humbly and earnestly beg at thy fatherly hands, for thy dear Son's sake, who hath ordained Pastors and Teachers for the gathering together of his Saints, and who is the supreme and sovereign Bishop of all our souls: to whom be all praise, honour and glory, now and for evermore.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase our Faith.   

A Prayer for the true observation of the Commandments of the Lord.  
O Omnipotent, and everlasting God, maker of heaven and earth, who hast from the very beginning promised to be our Lord and our God, our fortress, our buckler and defence, our castle & refuge, who hast brought us with a mighty and strong hand, with an outstretched arm, out of the land wherein we were strangers, and lived in bondage (under the yoke and tyranny of Antichrist and Satan) into the land that floweth with milk and honey, and of true Religion, wherewith thou feédest the Souls of the faithful ones, to their unspeakable comfort, grant that as through thy mercy and love, thou vouchsafest to bring us into this world, and to frame us to thine own image and likeness, so we may account thee as our only God, worshipping none other besides thee, making ourselves none image of any likeness, either of things above, or things beneath, nor to seek help at the hands of any, as a God, beside thee, who as by thy mighty power, thou broughtest the children of Israel out of Egypt, by the hands of Moses and Aaron, where they were in bondage, and were continually oppressed with sundry kinds of vexations, both of body and mind, so thou hast vouchsafed to bring us and deliver us from a greater bondage and slavery, evenfrom the power of Satan, under whose tyranny we rested, and now escaped not by any other policy, strength, or power, but by the bloodshedding of thine only Son, Jesus Christ, who took upon him the death of the Cross for our sakes, to bring us from darkness, wherein we walked according to the will of the flesh, unto the true knowledge of thee again, and to redeem us out of the bondage of sin, into the land of righteousness; from blind ignorance to the bright shining daystar of thy heavenly will, who art not only a most loving and most gentle Father, but also a most sharp punisher and revenger, who art not only desirous that we should come unto thee, but art also most jealous over us, lest we should seek or follow any other gods besides thee: yea, in all our afflictions and troubles thou wilt that we seek only thee; and being relieved, to attribute the only mean thereof unto thyself, whereby thou hast promised to be merciful unto thousands that ●oue thee, fear thee, seek thee, and truly take hold of thee, as their only God: and again, threatnest vengeance on the third and fourth generation of them that hate thee, and follow strange gods, neglecting thy Commandments: O God, vouchsafe that we never put our feet towards any strange gods, appear their help never so likely and plentiful, but that it may both now and ever continue in our hearts to confess both in word & conversation, that there is none other God besides thee, who art a most gracious and loving Father. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, and so vouchsafe to direct us in all our doings, cogitations and words, as we may always, and in all things, fulfil thy will, without taking thy most holy and most glorious Name in vain, by blasphemous speeches, dishonouring the same: keep us, most loving Father, not only from the most detestable sin of perjury, whereby thy holy Name is often defaced, and as it were, trodden underfoot, as in making it the author of abominable falsehoods and lies; but from all frivolous and vain eathes, which to the great grief of thy Children, and dishonour of thy Name, are most uncomely in the mouths of such; as unreverently and rashly use it even in common speeches, without any urgent cause, whereby they fall into the most heinous sin of taking thy most glorious Name in vain: O Lord forgive us, and grant that we may use such a reverend manner, and godly order in trial of matters in controversy, as we may be always true hallowers, and not abusers of thy Name therein. And forasmuch as thou within six days didst finish all things in the beginning, and in the seventh day didst rest from the same labour, commanding us to observe the sanctification of the same for ever, and to rest from all labours, travels, and worldly businesses, and not only ourselves, but our Servants, Oxen, Asses, and such like: Grant that we may not only lay a side all worldly cares and businesses on the Sabbath day, but may in all things sanctify and keep it holy with godly exercises, divine prayers, and heavenly meditations, with diligent regard to the avoiding of all pastimes, foolish and uncomely exercises, and unlawful practices, whereby oftentimes the affection being moved to impatience, poureth forth choler, to the dishonouring of thee. Let our conversation be altogether modest, mortifying our own desires, wholly applying ourselves, not only on the Sabbath day, but all the week; yea, all our whole life, to the service of thee, to the honouring and glorifying of thy Name, to the benefit of our souls, profit of our neighbours, and due reverence to our Parents, whom thou hast commanded us to honour, love: and obey, as the instruments of our beginning, thou being the workman. Grant, Lord, that we truly and unfeignedly reverence them, as thou willest we should, that we may long continue upon the earth, not in the number of careless and disobedient children, in whom resteth no thankfulness for so great benefits had and received at the hand of their parents, from whom thou hast said, thou wilt withhold thy blessings, and altogether deprive them of their liberty of living. But grant that we may so order ourselves by thy grace, both to them and other our Superiors, that we may receive at thy hands, many good gifts and length of days here, according to thy promise in Christ.  
Let it likewise please thee (O Lord) to continue thy blessings in and upon us, that it may go well with us all the days of our lives: take from us (Lord) all desires of revenge, all rancour, hatred, and malice, lest the Devil (who readily stands to prick us forward to a desperate mind) procure us to slay the innocent. We beseech thee (good Lord) let not at any time such evil imaginations enter into our hearts, lest we (giving ourselves thereunto) lose the reynes of our natural disposition, which is 〈◊〉 inclined to wrath, that unless the strength thereof be subdued, or the venomous s●ing thereof plucked out by virtue of thy holy Spirit, it provoke us to wait opportunity to wreak our malice with violence upon such as by small occasions have offended us, yea, and by little and little break out into that height of hatred, as to provoke us to seek the means to destroy the innocent.  
O Lord forbid it, and keep us from the most pernicious sin of adultery, which being so odious in thy sight, as thou causedst to fall in one day for the same twenty and three thousand, but endue us with thine holy Spirit, that we may keep our bodies clean and undefiled members of thee, endued with perfect sanctity, may abandon all occasions that may procure us to offend thee, retaining a godly behaviour, which thou dear lovest, and expelling evil concupiscence which thou deadly hatest.  
O merciful God, vouchsafe to keep us from taking any thing by indirect means from any man, whom we ought to love as ourselves; the desire whereof (good Lord) proceedeth often by scarcity and want, by poverty and need, which indeed thou art able and willing to relieve without any such unlawful means. And therefore I beseech thee to grant us a sufficient and necessary portion, or else constancy and unfeigned hope in thee, to be relieved in thy good time, and utterly to detest the horrible sin of stealing, for thou hast promised, neither to fail us, nor forsake us, cal●ing faithfully upon thee in time of our necessity. And as we ought to beware of taking any thing of others by steaith, so likewise vouchsafe when any occasion serveth, to grant us heedful minds to depose and testify that which is truth, according to our knowledge, without any respect, either of greatness, friendship, or favour of the one, or the envy, malice, or poverty of the other. And grant that we raise no false accusation or slander upon any man, but that we may keep our mouths from speakeing any thing hurtful unto others, but to show ourselves helpful both in word and deed to all: and like good men, muse and meditate aforehand, what we ought to speak, not letting the bridle of our lips lose, to babble out that which first cometh into our minds, and that we may content ourselves with our estates, whatsoever thou sendest, without an ungodly desire of any thing that belongeth unto our Neighbours. And grant us by thine especial grace, evermore to observe, and faithfully to fulfil all thy most godly Commandments, in the name, & for the sake of Jesus Christ: in whose Name: as well for grace to keep thy Laws, as also for all necessaries for body and soul, I heartily beseech thee, in that form of prayer which he hath set down unto us in these words:  
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power and glory, for ever and ever.  
Amen.   

A Prayer and Meditation concerning the continuance of God's corrections, notwithstanding our continual humiliation, and daily Prayers unto him, for comfort and relief.  
O Father, most merciful and loving in Jesus Christ, what shall I bring unto thee, whereby to appease thy wrath, conceived against my sin? If I should bring the sacrifice of Bulls or Goats, thou art not delighted with them.  
Teach me therefore, O Lord, teach me what to do, to be reconciled unto thee again.  
I have long called upon thee, and that in the name of thy most beloved Son, and find not that I have long sought: I receive not that I have many days desired of thee: I have long and earnestly knocked at the door of thy mercy, and find no entrance for my Soul.  
I see, I am shut out of thy presence: I wait, and am weary; I sigh, and see no remorse; and lingering thus in distress, I languish under the burden of thy displeasure, which seemeth to be so hetly kindled against me, as I am ready to give over my suit.  
For behold, Lord, my miseries are beyond measure, and my grief groweth daily more and more, being of myself ignorant what to say more unto thee, than I have said: I know not what course to take, nor to whom to make my moan, direct me and hear my prayers.  
Thou being angry with me, all thy Creatures seem to be also offended at me, and nothing seemeth to yield me comfort.  
Dear Father, what shall I do? whither shall I fly to find rest? there is no rest for me, but in thee: and therefore, unless thou mayest be pacified with me, I cry in vain, I seek, and find nothing, and knock, and feel no comfort.  
I have nothing to give thee, to redeem thy favour towards me, for if I had Mountains of gold, if I had Rivers of Oil, or ten thousand Sacrifices to bestow upon thee, it booted me nothing, they are all thine own.  
Accept therefore the Calves of mine vn●ained lips, and the simple zeal of my sorrowful soul, and be at peace with me in the mediation of thy all-sufficient Peacemaker, thy beloved Son, in whom thou delightest: Oh, hear me for him, and relieve me in him, without whom there can be no help for my soul, no case for my heart nor relief of mine estate: neither can inward comfort nor outward aid appear, until thou be appeased with me in him.  
O unhappy wretch that I am, that ever I offended so loving a God, that worketh all good for them that fear him: so wise a God, that can find man out in his most secret ways: so watchful a God, that considereth whatsoever man thinketh, heareth whatsoever man speaketh, and seeth whatsoever he doth: a God most powerful, that for sin can hurl down the loftiest, and in love can exalt the lowliest!  
O Lord increase our Faith.   

A fit and comfortable Meditation, when God seemeth most angry with us.  
ALas, that ever I offended this great God, this God of all gods, this high King of all Kings: that God that prevaileth against mightiest mortal men,  
This God (alas) have I offended, this God have I stirred up against me, and he in recompense of my sins maketh all his Creatures, as it were displeased with me also, and hardeneth the hearts of men against me. The blessings and good things of the earth he withholdeth from me, and instead thereof, he sendeth me a troop of evils to afflict me.  
Alas, what shall I say unto thee dear Father? what course can I take to help this? by this are my sorrows increased, and one evil followeth another, as waves in the Sea, I am weary to bear the burden of so many calamities, and still I cry to mine offended God, in hope of help, but my hope quarleth, and I despair: all my comforts are crossed with continual troubles, as if I were only the man that had deserved to be punished above all other men.  
I would yet gladly appeal unto my God, but I fear to be rejected again. But shall I think it a fruitless work, to repair unto my God, that of his own accord calleth sinners to come unto him? Is it bootless to fall down before his Throne of mercy in prayer? may not mine unfeigned cries at last prevail with him, that is full of pity?  
I will frame my heart to meditate, and my tongue to utter what may please him: though I be a Sinner, I will go unto him, in the Name of him that he dear loveth, that he may be appeased, and look upon me again in love.  
He is a God all-sufficient, and can aswell behold and consider my inward faithful desires, as he seeth and observeth what I have done by ignorance or negligence, what I have done contrary to his will.  
All that I think, speak, or do amiss, he noteth and writeth it up in his remembrance, as with a Pen of Iron: Oh, why should he not also mercifully consider, what I intent justly to do, though I cannot do it, who hath promised to accept the Will for the Deed?  
He knoweth that I am but flesh: and what is flesh, but frailty itself? and what is man but a lump of natural corruption and frailty?  
And will this high jehovah, this God so strong and powerful, set hisforce so fiercely against a weak Worm? What conquest can there be in God against a silly man?  
But why reason I thus with my Maker? Why, rather do I not lay myself do ●ne unto his will? if he will afflict me more, let it be so: if he will punish me further, let it be so: if he will kill me, let it be so; for I am his, and he will do with me what he listeth: there is no reasoning against him, there is no pacification of his displeasure by Art or Flattery. It is not words that will work my welfare with him: friends cannot defend me from his fury, nor take me out of the hands of so powerful a God: no shield nor backler can prevent the stroke of his Rod.  
I will yield me ●…erefore to his will, I will say unto him, Lord, do with me what thou wilt, turn me whither thou wilt, I will wait thy leisure, till the time shall come, wherein I may see the issue of thy determinate purpose with me.  
And in the mean time I will consult with thy Word. I will therein exercise myself, and take comfort through hope; I will refresh my dulled spirits, with the dew of thy sweet promises, and laying aside all vain expectation of fleshly aid, I will only rest myself upon thy protection, and in an assured resolution, I will seek thee, being the Way, wherein who so walketh, shall at length attain unto perfect happiness: the Truth, which who so embraceth, shall never err: and the Life, wherein who so liveth, shall never die eternally.  
O Lord increase our Faith.   

A Prayer against Despair.  
O God of mercy, for as much as many ways I h●… transgressed thy holy Precepts, contemned thee our Lord and maker, & offended thy divine Majesty, greatly am I grieved in mind, and stand wonderfully in fear of thine everlasting displeasure. And although thine holy Word doth tender unto me pardon and remission of my sins freely, through thy mere grace and mercy, yet have I not grace as yet to apprehend the same, for busy is our most cruel and crafty adversary, and doth labour to bring us from all hope and comfort of salvation. The only remedy which we have against this our deadly adversary, is, that we never doubt of thy grace, and readiness to forgive our sins. Comfort us at all times, especially at the hour of death, and give us grace to fasten all our confidence and trust on thee, and never to think my offence greater, than thou canst and wilt pardon.  
O loving and everliving God, the lively Fountain of all grace, overflowing the whole World with the Rivers of thy mercy: enlighten mine understanding, increase my Faith, that I may truly know, and assuredly believe the Death and Merits of Christ thy Son, the least drop of whose most precious blood, shed for me, is of more efficacy and power to save me, than all my enormities and heinous sins to condemn me. Look upon me (O my Saviour) with those Eyes of pity and fatherly compassion, wherewith thou didst behold Peter, after he denied thee, le●t otherwise I despair, and so commit the sin against the holy Ghost.  
Give me (Lord) the holy help of thy sacred Spirit, that when Satan doth accuse me, and my Conscience bear witness against me, when the cogitations of Hell and Death do dismay me, when the snares of Death and horrible tentations would entrap me, when the whole World forsakes me, and all things set themselves against me, then strengthen me, I beseech thee, that I forsake not thee my Saviour, and fall from hope of thy free mercy.  
O, comfort my heart with an inward assurance and seal of mine Adoption in thy Son, in whom the forgiveness of sins is promised unto all Beléevers. Call to memory thy holy Covenant entered into with us, at our Baptism, and the promise thereunto annexed, (He which believeth, and is baptised, shall be saved,) and grant that we may evermore consider the same, to our perpetual comfort.  
Amen.   

A comfortable Prayer against back-sliding in Religion, and for increase of Faith: most worthy often to be said of every Christian.  
O Almighty & Eternal God, which hast in thy Word commanded, that we should beware of falling from thy grace, and hast also witnessed that the end of those which go back from thy Word, after they have once known the way of righteousness, will be exceeding fearful: Have mercy therefore on me (O Lord) I most humbly pray thee, for I find in myself great weakness, no power have I of myself to persevere in goodness: I begin to waver in my judgement, and to grow doubtful, even of those things, which I heretofore have embraced with fullness of persuasion: The exercises of godliness are not so pleasant unto me, as they have been, a strange kind of dulness stealeth upon me, and I have no such life and spirit in matters of Religion, as in times past I have had: and to what a woeful pass these things may come, though I have much hope when I think upon thy mercy, yet well may I fear, when I look into myself. I confess that thy goodness is great, in that thou makest my heart within me to smart for these things, and dost not suffer me to run on without stay, into that hellish and infernal Pit, in which I should be soon plunged, if thou shouldest once leave me to my own weakness. Therefore (O Lord) I beseech thee, to quicken my dull heart, kindle those sparks which are even upon quenching, and like utterly to go out, unless it shall please thee to revive them: make strong my thoughts and conscience: make me able more and more to see the Truth in cases of Religion, and to discern things that differ from the same. Give me understanding to know both good and evil, give me also increase of zeal, that I may spring up in grace, and thrive in godliness, until I come to that measure to which thou hast appointed me to come in Christ Jesus: let see not in these key-cold and decaying times, be carried away with every blast of doctrine, through the subtlety and wil●nesse of those which lie in wait to beguile me: suffer neither the cares of this vain world, to wither and dry up thy graces in me, nor transitory pleasures to entrap me, nor evil examples to misguide me, nor mine own slothful and heavy nature to make me grow weary of well-doing: but make me so to burn in love with heavenly things, that I may not satisfle myself with any measure, either of knowledge or practice, but may rather still be ashamed of myself, that I make no better proceedings, and so may ever desire and strive to more perfection.  
To this end, enkindle in me affection more and more, by the hearing and reading of thy heavenly and holy Word, earnest praying, intentive and fervent meditation, careful watching over mine own soul, following the example of godly men, and imitating their gracious and holy conversation.  
As thy promises (O Lord and most merciful Father) have encouraged me thus to pray, so (I beseech thee) let it be thy gracious will to accept of these my humble petitions, which proceed from a contrite & a sorrowful heart, so shall my soul magnify thee, and my tongue set forth thy praises with joyful lips, and that in Jesus Christ thy Son and my Saviour.  
Amen.   

A most Christian and comfortable Consultation, and sweet resolution, what course in time of deepest distress men ought to take: worthy of all men to be considered, to their unspeakable comfort.  
Read and Regard.  
IT is a general complaint among the distressed children of men, that great and dangerous is the trial, to be long visited with the punishing hand of our high and powerful God, especially notwithstanding the many instant cries, and humble petitions of the afflicted soul, who finding no ease, nor feeling any comfort, but chose troubles & miseries, crosses & griefs to increase daily, thinking himself utterly forgotten of God, or merely to be hated of him: the silly afflicted soul thus bewrapped with fear, & feeling of his miseries, many times fainteth, and so falleth from faith in God, to seek succour at the hands of mortal men, and finding that to be a course of cold comfort, with whom neither prayers take place, nor endeavours prevail, he then (pressed down, as under the burden of utter despair of any succour) is moved oftentimes to frame his affections to contrive unlawful means, by his natural and corrupt conceit, that his own will and wit may shape some course to a haven of more secure rest: and so hoisting the sails of his own perverse imaginations, betaketh himself to the main sea of his ungodly devices, t●l at the length, instead of a happy hoped harbour, he suddenly sinketh, and is swallowed up of the ugly devouring gulf of irrecuperable confusion. For the world, as a sea, tossing the weak ones that sail therein, trieth the inclinations of all, and approveth and condemneth, but not according to the right rule of Christian reason, and godly wisdom, but after a sensual manner of false judgement, affirmeth, such as sail with a full forewind of prosperity here, to be only blessed, happy, and beloved of God, and such as are becalmed with distress and miseries, with crosses and calamities, and keep not the glorious way with the worldly-minded, to be hated and accursed of him. And this wretched and false censure of carnal men, drives many weak souls upon the rocks of bitter ruin, even when they dream of a course of sweetest happiness. For as David found, Psalm 49. 18. much more this age affordeth the experience, that men do praise them that make much of themselves, namely, such as wallow in the delights and pleasures of the flesh. But them they esteem mad men and fools, and castaways, and accursed, that live in a base, and low, and poor, and ignominious estate, though never so contented: the foolishness of worldly men is wisdom, and the true wisdom of the poor is foolishness, with the world's flatterers. And this is that dangerous rock, upon which oftentimes even the godly make shipwreck, when they consult with flesh and blood, which argueth it the safest course, to become licentious, to embrace vanity, and to study the profitable and praised arts of flattery and dissimulation, to walk the broad way to preferment, to scale the walls of wealth and estimation by fraud and force, to leap over love and lowliness (as dangerous blocks) and to sit in the seat of scorning the poor, with the proud and ambitious. And if the godly (such as have professed knowledge and zeal) be driven from their right course, by the wind of this vain worlds Paralites, what becomes of such as have no coasting card of Christian knowledge, nor needle of faith to conduct them? And if such as have the world under their feet, & can crush the poor in their fist, be easily carried away from justice and judgement, to rapine and bribery, extortion and wrong; what a dangerous trial is it unto the poor and distressed man, who even for relieving necessaries, is forced to bend his course to the haven of any small comfort? Yet this world's wisdom censureth, that it is holden hardly lawful for the poor to tread the steps of the rich to relieve himself. Such an unequal match there is between these two, that for strength the one subdueth the other without great encounter; for wisdom, he stoppeth his mouth with fair words, Eccles. 9 16. Because the world holdeth him wisest that is wealthiest, and him best that is bravest. The wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard. He is accounted most honourable, that can subdue the lowest with loftiest looks: great men often speak what their hearts think not; and the poor pine in penury, while the rich preach dissimulate plenty: the worst in their lives seem most glorious in their livings: the wicked increase in worldly wealth, while the poor do perish. But sith it thus fareth with the dearest children of God, that they must be as cast-outs in the world and castaways among worldlings; sith they have no hope here, nor help, nor succour, nor pleasure, nor delight here, it is necessary that a careful consultation be had in such a dangerous warfare, how we may be best defended, and most eased, and surest guarded. And for that the poor s●●me to have no share amongst the rich, the weak no part with the strong, nor the simple any portion with the deceitful, (and yet a necessity laid upon the poorest to provide ●oode, though in mean measure to sustain life, and rags in simplest manner to cover the skin) a course must be taken after the rule of right reason, wherein we must leave the sleights of the mere flesh, and lean to the advice of the spirit; lest that, through a careless negligence, and negligent sluggishness, we be found authors and workers of our own miseries.  
And to this end that all should be without excuse, and none should plead God's injustice or partiality, in punishing or correcting: God, the Father of all, hath sent proclamation and warrant to all to come to him. Such as are burdened, he will ease: such as are hungry, he will feed: such as are sad, he will comfort: and such as are in misery, he will relieve. He than that complaineth, must complain to him, he that prayeth, must cry to him: and he that n●●deth, must come to him. But a caveat is given, as a proviso in this general warrant, that he that will come to God, must depart from s●●ne: wherein are comprehended two inseparable conditions: the one, that we believe the premise of God's protection: the other, that we perform our duties in our calling: for without the latter, the first hath no ground: for we cannot believe without the promise, and to the promise is tied obedience, and to this obedience, exercise of good things, the endeavours of virtue and godly life.  
And this cannot be without the blessing, which bringeth with it the timely supply of bodily necessaries here, and the true assurance of the joys to come in heaven, which also begin even here, through the testimony of that lively spiritual Comforter, which giveth inward contentation, in outward crosses, and outward relief in inward sorrow: it yieldeth illumination to the dark understanding, and quickeneth the dull desires to do good: it heaveth us from the earth and unhelping earthly things seen, to heaven and heavenly society concealed: it turneth our carnal desires of working our own wills, to the contemplation of divine things, and maketh us to seek first that Kingdom which is above, as the principal end of our hope and happiness, and then to seek the things of this life, as things of necessity; and not to covet them, to be the more glorious here, but the more godly; not to be wealthy here, but rightly wise; not to be ambitious here, but humble, and content with a mean estate; not to fill our bellies with the gluttonous, but to seed, as fasting from all desire of superfluities.  
Being thus mortified in our affections, and furnished and adorned with the most savoury fruits of contentation in our estates, high or low, rich or poor, famous or base, we cannot but walk patiently in our callings, and not to grudge at our miseries, be they never so great; we cannot but be resolute Christians, and abide the encounter of the world's furies, be they never so fierce and cruel: and therefore let us be all of good courage, let us fight the good fight, and stand as men. Fly not to idle and evil means to relieve our distresses, nor repine at the wealthy and wicked, that have the wind of every man's plausible All hail, to drive them on from one proud conceit of themselves to another: for if it be duly weighed, what weight of vanities it heapeth on them (which as stabble in the end shall consume themselves with the fire of their guilty consciences) it will cause us to leave off to love their lives, or long for the like: for their time is short and sweet (as a feast in a dream) here; but in the end bitter, and for ever.  
And chose, our miseries are but for a moment, and our joys perpetual, and the smallest things (if we fear God) are better to us then the greatest riches to the wicked. And though we fall, we shall not be cast off, for God supporteth us with his hand.  
But the wicked shall be cast down, and never be able to rise: though they flatter themselves in their own eyes, while their wickedness is found out, worthy to be hated and abhorred of all godly and virtuous men.  
Let us therefore trust in the Lord, and not be idle in well-doing; and in our deepest miseries, let us wait patiently for the Lord, and not be weary: let us hold fast by his promises, for though he see me to hide himself from us, he will be found at length, and will grant and give us what is necessary for us as children, and not what may make us more wanton, as his Enemies, Worldlings and Reprobates: he may suffer us to lie among Lions, for a season with Daniel, but he will shut & close up their devouring laws, that they shall not prevail, till the Wicked come within their power, whom they shall tear in pieces without mercy.  
He may suffer us a while to live in the Wilderness, as he did his dear David; but he will bring us home again, to take comfort of our friends, and to comfort our families: he may suffer us to be imprisoned long, as he did joseph, but at the length he will enfranchise us, and turn it to our advantage.  
And what if the wicked rail and revile us, as Shemei did David? It may be, and surely the Lord will do us good for their evil, if we can temper and mortifle our choler, and with patience brook their slanders: we may be sick and diseased, yea twelve, or thirty years, with the woman and the man in the Gospel; but he can cure us, or comfort us, that it shall be easily borne. We may lose our goods, as job did, and become merely undone, as we think, and yet he will restore it, if we be patient and faithful.  
God hath a time to correct, and a time to comfort, a time of trial, and a time of reward: he never faileth them that faint not, nor forsaketh them that forsake him not: he may make us mourn now, but he will make us merry again: though he make us weep now, he will take a time to wipe away our tears, and put them in a bottle, reserving the remembrance of them till the end, when we shall have our portion with him in joys endless and unspeakable.  
And therefore we that go forth with little seed, and sow it in sorrow, let us wait, without wavering: for a plentiful increase will come, and a joyful harvest. We see our beginning, and feel it hard and dangerous: but if we dwell in the land and grudge not, our end shall be joyful and glorious. We have but one day to labour, and then comes our hire: he that calleth us is sure, he that promiseth is faithful; what he speaketh, is Yea and Amen, as certain as if it were presently done.  
Our natural Fathers indeed may forget us, and our familiar friends may forsake us, and our enemies may threaten us; but he will take us up, stand by us, and guard us: he will foster us and defend us.  
As a Father favoureth his Son, and as a Mother tendereth her infant; so doth our heavenly Father, and far more dear regard his children: yea, when he seemeth to frown, it is not in disfavour; when he correcteth us, he hateth us not; when we think he leaveth us to the raging waves of this world's troubles, and when we seem to sink, he hath us in his hand to hold us up: we are always in his sight, and he beholdeth all our ways, and recordeth all our works: our going forth, and our coming in, are in and by him, and he hath charged his Angels to watch over us, and to guard us from evils that lie in secret to devour us: when we rise up, and when we lie down, sleeping, or waking, he careth for us: he is the Watchman of Israel, that slumbreth not: he is the Lion of the Tribe of juda, at whose voice the Wicked tremble, and by whose strength the Righteous stand.  
In our youth, and in our age, in our wealth, and in our want, in our life, and in our death, he is always ours, and neither the height above nor depth beneath, nor distance of place, can separate us from him, nor hinder his presence with his Children; neither poverty, nor sickness, nor ignominy, nor misery, can estrange him from such as trust in him.  
Such a Father is he unto the fatherless: such a Friend to the Friendless: such a staff to the Weak, and such a Benefactor to the needy, as no man truly trusting in him shall perish: he heareth his Children, as in his bosom, and loveth them whom the World hateth: he favoureth them on whom the World frowneth: he embraceth them that the World retecteth: he cleareth them that the World accuseth, and saveth them that the World condemneth; his glorious, are in the World most base; his dearest, are in the World disdained. Not the most Rich, but the most Righteous, not the most Glorious, but the most godly; not the most Lofty, but the most Lowly in the world are dearest to him: he preferred the poor Beggar in h●s rags, and with his scabs, before the glorious Glutton with his riches and perfumed Robes. Who then will rep●ne at a poor estate? Who will be sad at ignominy? Who will grudge at misery? ●…h we have riches unseen, glory concealed, and infinite joys, & comforts unspeakable within, through the Comforter, which no man, but the Soul of the godly man can comprehend? Thus is the faithful Soul fed, thus is the Godly man relieved, and thus is the Child of GOD preserved. And therefore, let us that are poor and miserable, and despised in the World, be silent in the World, that hateth us, and cry unto God who heareth us, because we are his, and in his beloved he loveth us, he can and will help us, when most need is, and in greatest perils show his powerful presence: he came to Daniel, when the Lions would have devoured him: to the three Children, when they should have been consumed with fire: to Susanna, when she should have been unjustly condemned; to the Widow of Sarepta, in her need, and when all her oil and meal was spent, he then renewed her store: he heard the groans of Israel in Egypt; he considered the desire of Anna in her silence; he saw Agar solitary, and grieved in the Wilderness: he was with David banished, with Eliah an hungered, with Samson when he thirsted. And none, no not one, was ever disappointed of his hope, that continued constant unto the end: though we silly Souls cannot comprehend his providence, nor limit his power, both which are always working wonderful things, and are never idle, ever perfect, and never defective in any thing, his will shall come to pass: he is only wise, and all flesh fools: he is only strong, and all men weak: Princes are at his disposition: Kings are at his command, the raging Sea he calmeth, the driest land he watereth, the hardest heart he bendeth, and the most Tyrannous he talmeth, as a Lamb, by his Word.  
May not this suffice to bring our raging affections under, and work such contentation in our miseries, as that we should think us beholding to this powerful Protector, and lay down our necks to his will, and heartily and willingly wait his good time of renewing our estates? but if it be his will to keep us always low, and never to raise us; always poor, and never to relieve us; always distressed, and never to comfort us with the comfort of this life, can we think that we through our small and short sufferings could deserve the high favour of so prevailing a God, especially the joys that he hath laid up in heaven for ever, for such as with Patience, and Faith, and Love, and Obedience, and Welldoing, endure unto the end.  
And therefore for our present resolution & comfort, let us consider that we are not as the World deemeth us, nor the Worldlings as the World esteemeth them. For we are in their eyes castawaies, but in our own consciences, the children of God through Christ: and they, in their own conceits, blessed in their wealth, & wanton, and delicate, and loose lives; but by the Word of God, without repentance, Reprobates▪  
And therefore faith Christ unto them; Woe be unto you that are rich, for you receive your consolation in this life. And again, Weep and howl, ye wealthy and worldly men, for the miseries that shall come upon you. But unto his little ones, such as are least esteemed in the World, he saith: Fear not, my little Children, I have prepared for you a City. And again, I will neither fail you, nor forsake you: What shall we then say? The Lord is our portion, and our sure defence, why then should we fear, what man can do unto us? Esay 9 7. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this  
Let us therefore rouse up our souls that are dulled with our miseries, and let us rest upon him that is the God of mercies. Let us be faithful, patient, and humble? let us only grieve that we have sinned, and be fearful to offend again. Let us fall down before his footstool, for he is holy: let us cry to him, for he is pitiful: let us ask of him, for he is liberal: let us refer us to his will, for he is loving.  
O Lord increase our Faith.   

Here follow sundry most effectual Prayers for distressed men, howsoever their trials continue or increase.  When thou saidst, Seek my face, my heart answered, Thy face, O Lord, will I seek, Psal. 27. 8. 
IT appeareth by this resolution of godly David, that he was moved by the Spirit of God in his troubles, to seek aid from above, and not in the Earth; of God, and not of Man. And to the end that David's true affection which he bore towards the good of all Posterities, and especially the love of God towards his Children, might be recorded to their perpetual encouragement, it is continued even unto us, that we that are even now afflicted, should see, and as in a glass behold the good will of God, wherein he willeth us to seek his face: which importeth a most sweet encouragement, that all men troubled should seek aid at God, who to the end that this World, and the comforts thereof, should not allure his Children, lest they should be also miscarried thereby, and so be condemned with the World, he setteth a veil (as it were) before their eyes, namely, poverty, ignominy, crosses, miseries, and sundry calamities, that they delight not in the face and shape of this World, but that rather, it appearing ugly, and nothing pleasant unto them, they might seek another way to comfort themselves, namely; the most amiable face of heavenly jehovah, who willeth us, as he did will David, to seek him only in our distress; that is, to call on him faithfully, to crave his favour instantly, and to lead our lives uprightly. So shall his most loving countenance shine upon us, his hand be extended towards us, and his power and might be with us.  
And therefore as he saith freely, Seek ye 〈◊〉, let us instantly and faithfully seek him with our whole hearts: so shall we be sure to see his salvation, after we have patiently undergone the sweet burden of the yoke of his fatherly chastisements.   


A Motive to the Prayer following, for Patience in Affliction.  
PErforce maketh a man patient against his will; but that cannot be called Patience, but a discontentment. But that is Patience, when a man beareth all injuries, wrongs, crosses, afflictions, and miseries, with a willing mind, without grudging or murmuring, without seeking or using any evil or sinister practice or attempt, to ease himself of that which God layeth upon him, wherein he would seem to be wiser than God, who knoweth better than the wisest man, what is best for him. And therefore David giveth counsel, To wait patiently upon the Lord, and to hope in him, in what estate soever we be, although we be poor and see others rich and prosper. Fret not thyself for him which prospereth in his ways, Psal. 37. 7. Natural reason is deceived; when it conceiveth men happiest, that prosper most in the world: for than were the Word of God not true; which saith, Many are the troubles of the righteous: and then were the wicked in better case than the godly; for they prosper best in the world. But read the 37. Psalm, their estate is there described, their end presaged, and the godly comforted, and confirmed in patience.   

A Prayer for patience in affliction, very comfortable.  
Heavenly Father, merciful and loving, full of power, absolute in wisdom, unsearchable in thy providence, and giver of all divine and spiritual graces, whereby thy children are guided in the way of Obedience, supported in their dangers, and relieved in their wants: whereby they learn to love thee for thy mercies, to reverence thee for thy greatness, and to obey thee for thy goodness; and in all the changes and alterations of their estates to embrace Patience, whereby such as thou blessest, become thankful, such as thou afflictest, become meekly contented, and bear the burden of their crosses without any outward show of discontentment, or inward grudging or murmuring at thy corrections, but depending upon thy fatherly providence, they are either timely delivered, or inwardly comforted, their hearts eased, and their consciences quieted, never presuming to limit the time when, or the manner, or means how, thou shouldest ease or relieve them: but rest assured by thy Spirit working in their hearts, that they are thine, and therefore all things are promised by thee in thy Word, to work together for their good; sickness of the body, grief of the mind, want of necessaries, enemies, and all crosses, all conjoin to work good unto those that are thine: and being hereof assured, they rest themselves in patience, and wait thy timely release for their miseries, in hearty obedience to thy will. And for that (most gracious Father) it is not the nature, nor in the power of man, to accomplish these heavenly duties; no, not in thine own Elect: give me this heavenly virtue, Patience, to undergo whatsoever thou shalt lay upon me with a willing and contented mind, acknowledging that I know nothing less than thy secret purpose, in working with man in this life, why thou advancest one, and pullest down another: Why one prospereth, and another is miserable: knowing yet by thine own Word and Promise, that to such as are thine, all things turn to their good. And therefore I come unto thee, who hast willed me to come: I beg of thee, who hast willed me to ask: and I knock at thee, who hast willed me to enter into thy presence, and all for Patience. Good Father, give patience unto my perplexed Soul, that howsoever I feel either inward grief or outward troubles, I may rest me only in thee and by thee, in peace within, howsoever the outward man seem to perish. And let neither my fainting heart be cast down, nor my spirit disquieted within me, nor my conscience be difmayed at any of thy corrections. Lie my heart within me rejoice: let my soul triumph, and my conscience retain true peace and godly alacrity, in the midst of the causes of my deepest discontentments. And assist me, Lord, so with thy grace, that I may not only seem, but be indeed truly patient; and by the same thy grace, let Patience have her true and lively working in me, bringing forth all other spiritual effects of Obedience, all the fruits of thy sanctifying Spirit. Faith to believe, zeal to pray, and constant perseverance in that hope, which maketh not ashamed. So shall all my trials and temptations, crosses and afflictions work for my good, to thy glory; and all my troubles be approved trials of thy love, and fatherly favours toward me, howsoever the desires of flesh and blood oppose themselves to weaken the sweet assurance settled in me by a lively feeling of thy promises, made in thy word, infinite in number, comfortable, and never failing. Plant therefore in me, O good Father, plant in me these saving fruits, and water them continually with the distilling dew of thy sanctifying Spirit, that they may grow up in me, from the small and weak buds, that scarcely appear in me, to such lively fructifying, and neverdying branches, as may bear in me true testimonies unto myself of mine assured Salvation, and future Glorification; and to thine Elect, encouragements of divine imitation; and to the contrary minded, examples either to their reformation, or condemnation.    

A Prayer against the temptations of the Devil.  
MOst merciful God, and leving Father, thy blessed World teacheth us, that the old Dragon and subtle Serpent, our adversary the Devil, ●uns about us like a roaring Lion, seeking daily to devour us.  
He useth all his wicked sleights against our Souls, with an in finite number of devilish Stratagems to make us fall into sin or despair.  
He practiseth to entrap us by riches, by poverty, by voluptuous and wanton pleasures, by greedy desire after honour, & worldly dignities, by coveting earthly goods and possessions, by care for the belly, and provision therefore, with all other unrighteous and sinful affections and desires.  
He cunningly doth cast abroad his daits and snares to entangle us, night and day, in our words and works, so that wake we or sleep we, he is before or behind us to devour us.  
O glorious God, who can escape? for he is continually watching, and never at rest, and we are weak and unable of ourselves to resist.  
Open thou our eyes (O Lord) that we may comprehend how mighty and crafty our enemy is. Confirm our Faith, for we are not to fight against flesh and blood, but against Satan, the utter enemy of the Soul, therefore (O faithful Father) have compassion on us.  
Make us strong in the power of thine own streugth, put upon us thy defensive armour to resist manfully the temptations, and subtle devices of the Devil.  
Give us thy weapons: gird our reynes with the Girdle of truth, put on our breasts the Breastplate of righteousness, let our feet be shod with Euangelical peace, and above all things let our hearts be defended with the shield of Faith, so shall we be sure to quench all the fiery darts of the devil, so that our hearts be covered with the Helmet of Salvation, and our hands hold fast the Sword of the Spirit, which is, thy most sacred, an● never failing Word.  
Then shall we be able to do any good thing, and valiantly (through thy ●ide and succour) over come our adversary the Devil, for in thy very name we shall strongly with stand him.  
Be thou but our helper, and no fear can assault us, stand thou but by us, and though the world should be overwhelmed, and the Mountains tumbled into the bottom of the Sea, yet shall we be safe: for thou art our assistance, that livest and raignest world without end.  
Amen.   


The Motive to the first Prayer in distress: Being a Confession of sins, and a Petition to be released of the punishments due for the same.  
DAngers and afflictions move poor men to repair unto God, not only in their silent sighs, as Anna and Moses did, but also in their unfamed zeal, using the means, the tongue and lips, in crying unto the Lord, who willeth us to ask, and enjoineth us to wait, until his good time be to give what we desire.  
And for that God heareth not sinners, here is inserted a Confession and Prayer for forgiveness, that our unworthiness may be put away, and our unaptness turned into true submission, and our coldness into zeal, that the Spirit of God being renewed within us, through our humiliation and prayer, we may not faint, but live in hope, and undergo the correction of our loving God, in what manner, and for what time heseeth it fit for us, without indenting with him what to do for us, or when to come to us, because he is wise, and we ourselves fools: he is merciful, and never faileth, nor forsaketh the miserable.  
God is love, and embraceth them that deserve to be hated. And therefore he● beareth with our imperfections, and accepteth us righteous, being unrighteous; worthy, being unworthy of ourselves. And in this hope and assurance, is this prayer following, to be faithfully used, and it shall comfort the soul of the most sorrowful.  
The way truly to seek our God, is to do justly, to love mercy, to humble ourselves, and to walk with him.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, continuing in Prayer, Rom. 12. 12.  

The first Prayer in distress.  
O Father, full of knowledge, thou searchest the hidden thoughts of all hearts, thou beholdest the desires, even of such as keep silence: But yet thou requirest that thy children should know and confess thee to be their Father, and so to judge of thy works, as that thou hast framed in man an heart wherewith to believe, and a tongue and lips, whereby to confess thee to be his loving Father, and dost challenge at his hands, the Sacrifices of Prayer and Praise continually.  
Thy children must not be dumb in their Souls, nor mute in their lips, that want thine aid: no, thou commandest them to ask, seek, and knock, an't she west thyself ready to hear, ready to be found, and ready to receive thy distressed ones, who are faithful and patient, and persevere unto the end.  
And therefore, dear Father, I (beset with many miseries) come unto thee, as unto the chief fountain of all rest and relief, inward and outward: but I am st●full, and that I confess, and thou wi●● not hear such as are defiled with iniquity: the wicked cannot find thee, and the unjust cannot come before thy presence.  
Alas, what shall I then do, being so unfit to ask, so unapt to seek, and so unworthy to receive what I desire, by reason of my sins?  
But cleanse me, O Father most pure, and sanctify me, O thou most holy: teach me what to speak unto thee, for I cannot keep silence, my griefs are great, and my miseries increase more and more: I must therefore speak: O shape in me a new Spirit, give me a renewed heart, and a tongue that may speak acceptable things unto thee: that thine ears may be opened at my cries, and thy mercies (O Lord) ready to receive my humble complaints.  
Thine eyes (O Lord) are open unto the cries of all that fear thee, and relicuest all that trust truly in thee, thou deliverest their souls from death, and comfortest their hearts in the time of sorrow.  
And therefore doth every man that is godly, make his prayer unto thee, and holdeth not his tongue, he may ●use and meditate for a time at his miseries, but at the length the fire of zeal will enkindle, and he cannot but speak with his tongue, and cry unto thee, to show his hope, that he hath an helper in heaven: he cryeth, and thou considerest: he desireth, and thou relievest: he believeth, and at the last, thy mercy and goodness appeareth, and thou embracest him with joyful and timely deliverance.  
And how cometh it to pass (O merciful Lord) that I so long have sought thee, and thou seemest to hide thee from me? How long have I prayed unto thee, and thou seemest to give no ●are unto me? which maketh me weary, and almost ready to faint, and to give over my suit, which I have so long sought, and made unto thee, O God, my Strength, and my Redeemer.  
But lo, O Lord God, thy promises and loving kindness do only ●éede and nourish me with a continual and never dying hope, that the time expected will come at the last, when thou forgetting my sins, will't both hear me, and fully deliver me.  
Thou art God, and therefore good: thou art the Father of all, and therefore only, thou knowest the wants of all thy children, and the things most fit to give unto them, and the time when to bestow it on them.  
And therefore, Father all-sufficient, and full of love, I presume not to say unto thee, Come now, or Do this, but for the time when, and the thing what thou wilt work for me, I refer to thee, yet be not overelong away: for thou knowest my séeblenesse, and my miseries, and how near I am brought to an unrecoverable fall: what shall I do, Lord, but hope only in thee?  
Thy Prophet witnesseth unto us wretched men, that when the righteous cry, thou hearest them, and deliverest them out of all their troubles.  
But who is righteous, O Lord? who is clean? he also witnesseth that none is righteous, none is clean, but all are sinners: yea, our most holy fathers were impute in thy sight, and yet they received the Promise, and obtained grace and mercy, and relief, and strength, and salvation at thy hands.  
But, Lord, they were thus comforted and thus blessed, and thus relieved only of thy free ●auour (wherein thou acceptedst them righteous, and imputedst not sin unto them) and not of their deservings.  
Thou art love, and in love thou embracest them, that deserve to be hated for their sins; and therefore sith thou art so full of compassion, and so infinite in thy mercies, bear with mine imperfections, and cover my sins; accept me righteous, and I am righteous: accept me worthy, and I am worthy to receive the good things of thy love, which is without all limitation.  
Hold me righteous in the righteousness of thy beloved, that I also may be heard when I cry, as my righteous Fathers were, and let me be delivered out of my distresses, as the righteous have been delivered out of all their troubles.  
For, what can it profit thee (O Father) to forsake me utterly, and to suffer me to be forsaken of all, as if thou hadst no respect unto mine offering? I cry daily, and yet my trouble continueth: I seek thee, and am deprived of all earthly blessings.  
O wretch that I am, what shall be the end of my complaint? I will cry yet, if thou wilt hear: I will seek thee still, till thou mayest be found: be it as thou wilt, into thy hands I commend me, and to thy providence I commit mine estate most grievous, and best known unto thyself.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

The Motive to the second Prayer, to be said of distressed men.  
WHerein the poor man desireth God to consider in mercy his temptations, which are so much the more heavy and grievous, because the worldly minded do taunt at him for his afflictions; affirming that God hath forsaken him, for that he punisheth him so deeply. And the poor man having no other refuge, but to fly unto God, i● encouraged through God's promises, and persuaded through faith, that these men speak so hardly of him, for that they savour not of the true knowledge of God's loving corrections, whereby he visiteth his dearest Children here for a time, that they perish not eternally: and resolveth himself to hold fast by God, and therefore prayeth for strength; and withal, he desireth the assistance of God's directions in the government of his life and actions, lest that such as see his poverty and afflictions, should see him fall from God by gross sins, and so take the stronger occasion to censure him justly punished for his wickedness. Yet withal he confesseth unto God, that he is indeed a sinner, and for his sins justly touched with crosses, by the mere providence of God in love, and taketh comfort by examining his ways, & his will, which although they be not so right as they ought, yet in respect he erreth through frailty, not by a full consent, rather as a sufferer by Satan's oppressions, than a wilful doer against the will of his Maker: he desireth God to look upon him in the merit of Christ, and in him prepare his dull heart to repentance, and his whole man to a more sincere course of life: that his ways being reform by the word of Truth, his hard afflictions may be in the end, and by little and little, mitigated, and that God will break the fetters of grief and sorrow, and according to his divine Promises, by his delivery, give him occasion to sing a new song, a song of joyful deliverance, both from the tyranny of Satan, and also from the heavy burden of his afflictions.   

The second Prayer for Constancy in affliction, and to endure malicious slanders patiently.  
LOrd, how are my troubles increased? how many and how grievous miseries have seized & taken hold upon me? insomuch as the world argueth me forsaken of thee: affirming that there is no help for me in thee.  
But, Lord, are they not such as have a carnal eye, and do not spiritually discern thy secret purposes, in chastifing them whom thou lovest?  
They look only upon the outward means that the world worketh, and comprehend not thy mercy and providence, wherein thou workest, by means without means, and against means, even as thou wilt.  
Therefore, let not their malice move me, nor their taunts dismay me: I will hold me by thy promises, and endeavour to keep thy Statutes, and perform what thou hast commanded.  
O Father, lead me in thy righteousness, that I sin not in their sight that covet to catch me in the snare, and to 〈◊〉 ap me in the net of deserved reproof. Bear me upon the wings of thy blessed protection, and let me not come within the reach of their malicious inventions.  
Let not such as lay wait for me, have just cause to desire, or opportunity to work any evil against me: rather let me so trend the paths of that love, and perform that duty to all men, that thou hast willed in thy word, that my conscience bearing me witness of mine innocency, I may freely say, The Lord is my helper, no evil shall happen unto me.  
I confess, that I cannot so carry myself in this life, but offence w●ll be taken against me, and I shall deserve (as I do) the just reproofs of men, yea, against my will: and consequently, the carnally affected cannot but break out into bitterness against me for the same, and the more, by reason they see me afflicted, as it were by thy hand, which they take as a strong argument, that I am a sinner most notorious, and that thou hast utterly cast me off forever.  
I cannot indeed (loving Father) but confess my sins, and that I am worthy of sharper corrections, the● I have yet tasted, or am able to bear: yet consider that I have not maliciously done what thou dislikest, but in weakness, and of natural imbecility only, and much against my will, rather as suffering Satan's oppressions, then willingly or wilfully committing sin.  
And therefore trust I in thy mercies, O forgive me: I depend on thy power, O save me and deliver me, lest my miseries over-whelming me, such as pretend evil against me, take occasion to pursue me, and so devour me.  
Consider my troubles, O Lord, behold my dangers, and be unto me a perpetual rest and refuge.  
Why standest thou aloof, O Lord, and seemest not to regard my trouble's? why turnest thou away thy face, and considerest not my wants? thy hidest thou thyself, when my troubles so much abound?  
Arise, and let not the wicked take occasion through mine afflictions, to say, there is no help for me in thee, or that thou regardest not the causes of thy distressed children.  
Deliver me rather, and relieve me, that the righteous perceiving thy readiness to save me, may the more fear thee, and trust in thee, and not ●aint when they are likewise afflicted.  
Thou willest the poor to commit himself unto thee, and promisest to relieve such as have no helper. Thou preparest the dull hearts to call upon thee, & thou again hearest their cries, and comfortest them.  
How long then, O Lord, how long wilt thou forget me? how long shall I cry and not be heard? how long shall I seek counsel of thee, and yet be ignorant what course to take? I am wearied with my daily sighs and groans, which my heart (fraught with grief and heaviness) doth power forth before thee continually. O be unto me that lively light, that may lighten my sad and pensive Soul. Send that Comforter unto me, whom thou hast promised to send, that he may teach me what to do in this my misery.  
Thou hast threatened to increase the sorrows of such as seek unto other gods, why then should they continue still miserable, and heavy, and grieved, that seek thee only, and only believe in thee? how shall they be still ignorant that ask counsel and wisdom of thee, who hast created all in the beginning, and dost preserve all, and maintain all for ever, being God only powerful, provident, and loving?  
To thee I only come, on thee I only call, thee I only seek: with thee is mercy, and with thee is right Redemption, and thou deliverest all that trust in thee, as a most sure Saviour, and mighty Protector.  
And thy Word expresseth the lively force of thy love and power, wherein thou keepest them that are thine, as the apple of thine est, and coverest them with the wings of thy savour, from the merciless and cruel men.  
O be therefore my Rock, whereon I may safely rest: be thou my strong Castle, wherein I may be freed from the dangers prepared against me: for thou hast promised, that all such as hope in thee, shall be as Mount Zion, that shall never be moved.  
Break thou my fetters (Lord) wherewith I am tied, and remove my sorrows, wherewith I am brought even to the door of death, that I walking in the liberty of a free spirit, may grieve no more at my crosses, but glorify thee with a song of joyful deliverance.  
Let not sin prevail against me any more, which as a Lion, teareth in pieces the assurance of my soul.  
Bear me upon thy saving wings, through the miseries of this life, and let not the Mire and Clay, wherein I stick fast, detain me ever: let not the Water-floods which roar fearfully, and fiercely swell against me, utterly swallow meup. But rather divide and put back the merciless Waves, that so dangerously rage on all sides against me, that I may pass on, and finish this my mortal course, as one that liveth, and hath his being of thy mere love, and not as one that languisheth in thy displeasure.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

The Motive to the third Prayer.  
WHerein the poor Man disclaimeth his own worthiness, and appealeth to the mercies of God; yet grieved under the burden of his miseries, he instantly prayeth unto God, that he will not correct him over-sharpely, lest he faint. For by reason of his grievous crosses, (not withstanding his continual prayers) he feareth (as it were) lest he pray in vain, and be driven to think that either God heareth him not, or regardeth not his Petitions: and therefore beseeching God to come now at the length, either with delivery, or to give him such inward spiritual strength, as he may constantly endure unto the end. For he having tried the help of mortal men, findeth it to tend only to words, and not to relieving works; assuring himself, that God is not as Man, that promiseth and performeth not, but is absolute, to work by means, against means, and without means, even what he will for his; setting before the eye of his hope, God's former favours and fatherly assistance, showed unto our faithful Fathers of old; by whose example he seemeth to challenge at the hands of God the like loving kindness, and that God will not suffer him utterly to perish, putting his trust in him, although the World gaze on him and deride him, as if he were a Monster, and no man: expostulating, as it were with God, that forasmuch as he was cast upon him, as soon as he was borne, & he only depending on his mercies, he cannot leave him in the deep, but rather, for his own glories sake, lift him out of his calamities, lest the Righteous faint also to see him still visited, notwithstanding his continual Prayers: and that the wicked should thereby gather, that there is not a God that regardeth the causes of poor Men.   

The third Prayer: wherein he flieth, and wholly relieth upon God, and trusteth not in the help, nor feareth the hurt of men.  
O Lord, I cannot excuse mine evils, they are infinite in mine own eyes, and many as gross which I have forgotten, & slightly passed over, as if they were no sins before thee: and therefore I appeal unto thy mercy for all: for by mine own deserving or satisfaction, I can clear myself of none at all.  
Who can rehearse or call to memory, all that he hath done amiss before thee, who keepest account of the least sins? And therefore what availeth it me to justify myself, if I knew nothing by myself? It is thou that seest and judgest: it is thou that hast found matter enough to condemn me, and cause enough to punish me: & therefore I have no means to be freed from thine anger, and consequently from my miseries, but thy mercy only, in thy beloved Christ Jesus.  
Correct me not therefore, dear Father, as I deserve, but in him have compassion upon me: and as for my reformation, thou beatest me with thy rod, so for my preservation, hold me up by thy staff, that I be not confounded utterly, or perish altogether.  
Thou seemest as if thou hadst utterly forsaken me: Oh, why art thou so far from me in the woeful time of my troubles? Why stoppest thou thine ears at my cry? Why dost thou turn away thy face, when I offer the sacrifice of prayer unto thee, and seemest not to regard me, though I put my trust wholly in thee?  
O come, Lord, come now at the last, perform thy promises of aid and comfort, when most need is: for vain are the helps of flesh, weak is man's arm, and his heart is not right in equity and judgement: therefore I trusting in thee only, let me not be disappointed of my hope: let me not go mourning, by reason of my miseries, and never find relief at thy hands.  
Our Fathers trusted in thee, they called upon thee in their troubles and dangers, and were delivered and freed from that which oppressed them: they prayed unto thee, and were heard: they fought thee, and thou show'dst thyself a helping Father unto them, even when they were ready to be swallowed up of merciless waters.  
Great was thy favour towards all our believing fathers: but alas, Lord, what am I? I am a Worm and no Man, yet I believe, Lord, help mine unbelief: I am covered with shame, be thou my glory, that I may glorify thee among the people that now contemn me, because thou seemest to hide thy face from me.  
I am gazed on, and derided, scorned, and despised, because of my miseries: my neighbours that should assist me, disdain me: my familiars that should comfort me, do not only forsake me, but say of me, that all my hope is in vain: my kinsfolks who should aid me in my necessities, add grief unto my miseries, and tauntingly say, I am deservedly fallen, and cannot rise again.  
Oh behold this, thou that sittest on high, consider this, and instead of these miseries (increased by such as should friendly visit me) stand thou by me, and afford me the cup of thy salvation, that I tasting of it, may answer these men, and say, as I am assured that my Redeemer liveth, even thou my God, merciful and all-sufficient, who art one and the same for ever.  
I was cast upon thee as soon as I was borne, and thou receivedst me: But the faults of my youth, and the sins of my riper years, have caused a divorce between thy love and my lewd life. I am sorry, dear Father, I am sorry for my fault, take me again into the bosom of thy favour: and from hence forth be present with me again, and let me only joy in obeying thee, and let my soul take comfort of thee, and my whole man be relieved by thee; for besides thee I have no helper.  
Oh help thou me, and restore me to comfort again: banish all mine afflictions as a mist, and refresh my soul with the timely dew of thy reliete, pour down the sweet drops of thy quickening Spirit, and let a comfortable calm follow the fearful storms of this dangerous tempest.  
And I will yield thee the praise, who art worthy of all praise, I will magnify thy name that workest wonderful things, and bringest to pass that which the worldly ones cannot comprehend; I will declare thy name for ever among the children of men. The righteous shall hear it, and be glad, and the wicked shall quail to see me restored, whom they so long have scorned, and deemed a castaway, because of my miseries.  
For thine own names sake therefore, O Lord my God, hear my prayers, consider my meditations, help me in time convenient, before I shall utterly, lest the righteous be discouraged by my decay, and the ungodly take heart to persevere the more in their obstinate and malicious ways, whilst they imagine there is not a God, that respecteth the miseries of his distressed Children.  
O Lord increase our Faith.   

The Motive to the fourth Prayer.  
Wherein the poor man showeth his accustomed constancy and faith. And feeling the weight of his crosses yet heavy, prayeth that he may not be utterly consumed, nor that his enemies prevail against him, but rather God will furnish him with such ability, as he may pacify them in paying all men their due: and the rather, for that many do look upon his dangers, both the wicked & the godly, the one in derision, the other in grief. These yet expect what will be the issue of the poor man's crosses. But the godly wishing it to be comfortable, he prayeth that they may see it come to a wished end, for conformation of their hope in the like dangers: and because the poor man findeth his own infirmities, he prayeth for strength, and seeing his own ignorance, prayeth for knowledge, and looking into his dulness, & cold inclination to good things, prayeth for fervency and zeal: knowing assuredly, that there is no way to attain unto delivery from thraldom, but to walk rightly before the Lord, who is ready to set the just upon a sure rock, against which the wicked cannot prevail. And although Father, Mother, Kinsmen and Friends forsake him, he is assured the Lord supplieth them all, and by the experience he hath of the Lords readiness to help, having upholden him in former dangers, he will not fail him, nor forsake him, when he is ready to be swallowed up of most merciless troubles.   

The fourth Prayer: wherein he prayeth for faith, for zeal and strength, to undergo God's corrections, and to be delivered from the dangers prepared against him.  
LOrd, I lift up mine heart unto thee, my soul trusteth in thee, let me not be confounded: let not men have their desires against me: let thy blessings be poured down upon me, let thy cup of comfort and salvation be filled unto me, and let thy right hand be ready and outstretched to hold me up, and in thy providence furnish me with the hid treasures of thy love.  
So shall I sit safely upon a sure rock, and be furnished with such things as may pacify such as now are importunate with me for that which I cannot perform: and resting in danger of their cruelties, have no other refuge, but to depend on thy mercy and providence, wherein (as in a safe sanctuary) I shall rest evermore preserved, until these dangers be overpast.  
Many do look upon me, to see and consider what will become of my miseries, and I continually plead thy free mercy in Christ, wherein thou promisest to cover the multitude of my sins, for which I am thus afflicted: the righteous thereby take hold of hope, and in my behalf wish a prosperous and happy end of my desires, encouraging me to persevere; for that thy word, ever sure, warranteth a timely delivery of all such as are penitent, patient, and faithful unto the end.  
But alas, good Father in Christ Jesus, I a most sinful man, do challenge no comfort, ease, or relief in mine own right, but in the merits of him, in whom thou art well pleased, and in whom thou showest mercy unto sinners, among whom I am the greatest.  
Yea, Lord, I am ignorant of good things, and wander as a beast, by nature, in the vast wilderness of this world's vanities, having little or no taste of thy saving truth, or feeling of future dangers; but of thee only I have knowledge, of myself I am weak, but from thee I have all strength; of myself is misery, from thee is mercy, of myself. I am altogether unperfect, but from thee is all perfection, both inward, tending to the consolation of my said soul, and outward, to the relief of my distressed body.  
Therefore teach me, O Lord, teach me thy truth, show me thy ways, and lead me in thy paths continually: withhold my heart from every evil thought, & my hands that they commit no evil, keep mine eyes sincere, and my tongue that it speak no unseemly thing, and my feet from falling.  
Regard more not as I am in mine own self, nor deal with me as I deserve by mine own ways, but according to thy tender mercies and loving kindness banish my sins as a mist, drive away my imperfections as a cloud, and supply my wants with timely relief.  
Thou art righteous and gracious, and reformest sinners, and forgivest their sins. Be merciful therefore unto mine iniquities, for they are very great. Keep my soul and deliver me, let me not be confounded, nor perish utterly, for I trust in thee.  
Thou art the light of my salvation, the strength of my life, and my refuge, and sure defence in trouble.  
In the time of my greatest dangers, thou shalt hide me in thy tabernacle, namely, in the secret places of thy providence, which no man can find out: thou shalt keep me, and hide me from them that covet my destruction: thou shalt set me upon a rock, against which man shall not prevail.  
Hearken therefore, O Lord, hearken unto my voice, when I cry unto thee, have mercy upon me, and comfort me.  
Thou sayest, Seek ye my Face: And what is it, O Lord, but to seek thy help in distress and danger? to crave thy favour and succour in the time of need.  
O Father, my soul (by the privilege of thy free Spirit, which teacheth truth in the inner parts) is ready; my heart also is prepared to seek thee: my tongue speaketh unto thee, as unto the lively helper of all that are oppressed.  
Hide not therefore thy face in displeasure, which in love thou willest me to seek: be unto me as heretofore thou hast been, my succour and shield, and leave me not unto the end.  
My natural father indeed that begat me, and my mother that bore me, may forget me, my friends that pretend to favour me, may forsake me, when thou rebukest me, but thou canst not forget me, nor forsake me; for thou in thy Word hast promised the contrary; and therefore I will not fear to fly unto thee, who givest what earthly fathers cannot give, and supplyest my wants, that neither my most familiar and my dearest friends can supply.  
I should utterly faint, did I not verily trust in thee, and assuredly know that thou hast no respect of persons, and that thou acceptest not of men, as the world doth, by the outward habit and external glory, but the inward parts, decked with faith, fear, and obedience thou likest, and embracest the poorest for piety, and in the proud whom the world doth reverence, thou hast no delight.  
Frame thou therefore mine inward zeal, and let not my outward baseness overmuch deprive me of some comfort among the children of men; and when I cry unto thee, be not as men, who regard not the poor; but with speed hear and consider, and refuse not to answer me with timely relief.  
And let not the unsavoury miseries of this life, accompanied with the natural weakness of my flesh, draw me into the way of the wicked, but let me rather hold fast by thy promised protection, as by the Altar of a lively refuge.  
●ow down thine ear, I ●ay. O Lord, and let me not for ever cry unto thee in vain.  
Draw me out of the net that is laid for me, deliver me from the dangers prepared against me.  
Thou hast seen my troubles, and hast known my soul in the bitterness of distress, and yet thou hast not utterly forsaken me, but in mercy hast mightily preserved me from infinite perils.  
And now, Lord, even now, seeing my life wasteth in heaviness, and my years consume in sorrow: sith I am a reproach even among my neighbours, and all my friends fail me: and sith I am even at the point to perish, be pleased to think of my miseries, and send me speedy relief.  
As thy goodness, O Lord, is great, which thou hast laid up as in a treasury, for all that fear thee: so let thy mercy appear, and thy providence and power toward me, be seen, among such as think indeed thou hast forsaken me utterly.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

The Motive to the fifth Prayer.  
WHerein the poor man appealeth unto God, being stricken with a kind of despair, because there be that say of him. There is no help for him in God: he therefore not only cryeth unto God, that he will consider it, but he himself also entereth into the cause, why they so say, and findeth it to be, for that they see his store consumed, and his basket emptied, and his foes furious against him: but he herewith not dismayed, reasoneth against these men's infidelity; who, in these their allegations seem to deny, that either there is a God, or that he careth for, or will, or can help the poor. And yet he presumeth not upon his own integrity, but confesseth God to be just, and rightly may punish sinners, among whom he is the greatest: and he finding this temptation to be very grievous, he prayeth God to second his feeble nature, by his free grace, and that he will stay him with his staff, while he correcteth him with his rod, because he is but a weak man, & may easily be burdened above his own strength. But being assisted by God, he assureth himself, that no arm of flesh can prevail further against him, then shall be profitable for him: nay, he is assured that it shall come so to pass, that even they that most upbraid him, shall acknowledge the mighty hand of God in delivering him, and therefore determineth to wait the good pleasure of God, when and how it shall come to pass, and will not be discouraged though men say, There is no help for him in God.   

The fifth Prayer, wherein the poor man prayeth God to keep him from despair, howsoever men go about to make him afraid.  
IN thee, O Lord, I put my trust, and yet there are that say, There is no help for me in thee: but thou art my God, how say they then, Thou canst not help me? sith thou art most loving and absolutely all-sufficient.  
I am indeed brought low and much weakened, I have no helper among the sons of men. This they consider, that say, There is no help for me in thee.  
They perceive that my baiket is empty, they see that my store is consumed, and therefore they say, There is no help for me, nor recovery of me by thee.  
I ponder these their words, O Lord, in my heart, and keep silence: I consider their thoughts, yet faint I not: I mark what they speak of me, and yet I despair not, for thou art my God, that canst defend me, my Father that canst restore me and sustain me, thou art to me all in all: how say they then, There is no help for me in thee?  
Do not these men say in their hearts, Thou art not God, that thus diminish thy power? and that thou art either unable, or unwilling to help the needy, and to uphold thy distressed children? But as thou knowest them liars, so make them know their vain conceits, by some sure token, that thou never faiisst them for ever, that persevere constantly, and trust truly in thee unto the end.  
Thou art indeed a jealous God, and punishest such as go● astray; yet thou art a loving God, and callest thy chosen children from their evil ways, by a gentle correction.  
And therefore foolish and unadussed are they, that measure thy favour towards men, by the fullness of good things, tending to the satiety of fleshly desires, and thy displeasure by want and affliction, that think that thou lovest them, that thou feedest fat with the plenty of worldly riches and pleasures of this life, and hatest them that are low by crosses and corrections.  
And great is this temptation (good father) unless thou second our feeble natures by thy grace, being touched with thy correcting hand, stay me therefore, O stay me, with thy staff, whilst thou smitest me with thy punishing rod.  
Lay not upon me wretched man, a more heavy burden than I shall be able to bear. And though thou see it most convenient for me to suffer want, afflictions, crosses, and reproaches in this life, to the end that I be not miscarried with the pleasing vanities of this World, yet withal consider, that I am but a man, weak and unapt to bear the yoke of oversharp trials, without such supply of thy blessed comfort, inward and outward, as may maintain faith and bodily necessaries in me, and for me.  
So shall I rejoice in my low estate, and no calamity shall bring me into despair of thy provident protection: I shall be assured that thou art indeed my God, and that whatsoever men say of me to the contrary, thou art & wilt be my helper, in the time of my greatest need.  
And then shall it come to pass, that even these men shall see how great thy goodness is, which thou hast in store for them that fear thee, and thy mercy, which thou showest them that trust in thee, even in the sight of the sons of men.  
They shall see and behold, how thou dost seem to expose thy children, as it were, to the fury and rage of the world's miseries, and yet dost hide them as in a sacred Sanctuary, a place, whereunto the proud, and such as embrace vanity, shall never come.  
And such as now pursue me, either with hate or reproach, shall see in the end, that there is help only in thee, and that no arm of flesh can prevail against thee, O God, nor against them that trust in thee.  
They shall say, when they see the issue of my hope to be good, and that my prosperity is renewed, Lo, we thought this man mad, we deemed him a cast away: but lo, the Lord, in whom he trusted, hath made him to stand, and his hand hath brought to pass what he desired.  
And I myself shall then consider that I erred, when rashly I said, I was utterly cast down; for though when I cried, thou séemedst not to hear; when I sought thee, thou séemedst to hide thee from me: and when I complained unto thee, thou didst not regard it: I shell then confess, that thy wisdom in humbling me, thy mercy in sustaining me, and thy providence in relieving me, doth pass the capacity of the wisest men.  
Therefore (dear Father) I will yet wait that acceptable time, I will yet attend thy good pleasure and will, and will not indent with thee when, nor direct thee the manner how thou shouldest help me: but submitting myself unto thee, I will hold my peace, though men say yet of me, There is no help for me in thee.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

The Motive to the sixth Prayer.  
THe poor Man finding the troubles of this life grievous unto him still, begins his Prayer with a Meditation, wherein he desireth to leave the Earth, and earthly things, and to be with God, where all good things are; flying to God with serious lamentations, for that God absenteth himself, and keepeth back his comforts, notwithstanding his long crying unto him. And therefore heartily prayeth, that God will hear him, and help him now in the deepest of his troubles: being become ignominious to the World, by reason of his miseries, in somuch as he is ashamed to be seen of men, and withal seemeth to be rapt up with the contemplation of heaven and heavenly things. And standing thus balanced between grief of his crosses, and joy of his comfort to come, he resolveth himself to endure for the time, and referreth the end and managing of his course to God alone, to whom he prayeth, that he will so much favour him, as that he may receive such inward consolation, and outward comfort, as he may have cause to begin his praise of God here, for his delivery promising as it were in himself, that he will glory in nothing in this life (howsoever he be advanced) but in God only. But fearing lest he should be deprived of the occasion of praising God, for his help extended, he instantly beseecheth God, that as he is beaten down by his corrections, so he may be raised again by his mercy and providence.   

The sixth Prayer, to learn how to leave the world and worldly things, and to desire heaven and heavenly things.  
MY soul longeth and thirsteth for the living God, I desire to appear before his glorious presence, that I may see the good things that he hath laid up in heaven for them that are his.  
For I am weary of my groaning, I faint under the most cruel burden of the miseries, which he, for my sins, hath laid justly upon me here in this mortal life.  
O God, the Rock of my strength, Lord of mercy, why sufferest thou 〈◊〉 thus to languish, and find no relief? why mourn I daily, and have no comfort? why cry I unto thee, and thou hearest not? why do my sorrow's increase, ●●th I seek thee unfeignedly?  
Defend me, O defend me, in this time of my greatest danger, relieve me in the time of my most need, preserve me from the merciless and cruel men, feed me with the hid treasures of thy love, and multiply thy blessings upon me; for I am poor, miserable, and past help, unless thou help me, and sustain me, O Lord.  
Be not far away from me, and put me not altogether to confusion: let me not utterly perish, while there is none to help: I am ignominious in the sight of all men, by reason of my miseries, & miserable, by reason of my sins: I am a reproach unto my neighbours, and many jest and laugh at my fall.  
Insomuch as I am ashamed to be seen of men, and wish I were able to fly out of the earth, and that I might once be, where I might with joy behold thee in thy triumphant Throne, where is neither hunger, nor thirst, nor nakedness, nor want, nor ignominy, nor sin, nor death; but all fullness, and glory, and truth, and joy, and life eternal.  
O sweet being with thee! most happy dwelling and abiding with thee.  
But lo, Lord, this place so glorious, these joys so sweet, and these comforts so sure, are not attained unto, but with unfavoury affliction in this life. This future happy, and immortal life, cannot be without the death and suffering of this mortal body.  
And therefore, Father eternal, be it unto me in this frail life, even as thou wilt, that I may possess thee, and the joys with thee, of eternal life.  
Afford me thy favour: let me enjoy thy blessings, even here in this life, that I may here begin to joy in thee, and here begin to praise thee among the children of men, that they may see and consider, that though great are the troubles, and miseries, and afflictions, which the Righteous suffer here, thou yet deliverest them out of all. So shall I also give thanks unto thee, thy praise shall be in my mouth continually, my soul and m●ne inward parts shall glory in thee, and glorify thee.  
I will say unto thee, O mine hope and my fortress, thou art my God, in thee will I trust: when thou shalt make me glad again, I will be glad in thee; and when I rejoice, I will rejoice in thee; for it is thyself only that comfortest the abject, and deliverest the poor from them that persecute them.  
Awake therefore in time (O Lord) awake, preserve me, that I perish not in these miseries, and lest I being as one forgotten and forsaken of thee, be censured a castaway among such as see me: and so being deprived of the occasion of praising thee for my delivery, I be driven from one sorrow to another, and all my hope turned into distrust of any recovery. Hide not thou therefore thy face, forget not my miseries, and be not careless of mine afflictions for ever.  
My soul is beaten down even to the dust; my heart fainteth, my hands become weak, my knees wax feeble, mine eyes are dim, and all the parts of my body are vexed, and I go continually mourning in my miseries.  
O see & regard my miserable plight, look upon my griefs, and ease the intolerable burdens of my calamities: for though thou hast made a great wound by thy corrections, yet, O Lord, thou canst cure it again with spiritual comfort, & not withhold the outward good things, ordained for the comfort of thy Children in this life.  
Turn thy face unto me, which I instantly seek; send down thine aid, which I heartily crave, and have mercy upon me, for I am most desolate and poor.  
Rise up, O Lord, rise up, thou that art loving and bountiful: let me rise up again by thee, that am thrown down by thee; and though my sins (as a sword) have cut me from thy favour, let the righteousness of thy beloved unite me unto thee again, in such sort, as nothing may separate me from thee for ever.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Motive to the seaventh Prayer.  
In which the poor distressed man showeth his desire, to hold fast the Promises of God, and to show himself thankful.  
THE poor Man being lately in an extreme agony, near unto despair, by reason of his sins and miseries, he here begins to rouse himself up again, suddenly crying out, that the Lord is yet his hope, and therefore promiseth to hold fast by him, and not to give over for ever: no, whatsoever troubles do befall him, and miseries assail him: yea, howsoever the world and worldly things be moved against him, he armeth himself with faith in God, to stand with patience in all. Nay, such is his assurance of a more blessed being, after this little time of trial, that he affirmeth these crosses that happen here, to be but trifles, and of no weight to be borne, in respect of the future happiness: yet because he will not seem senseless of God's corrections, and be idle in well doing, he still soliciteth the Lord for some tokens of his love here; namely, that he will bind up his sores, and heal his wounds with his holy help, and that he will renew him with spiritual understanding, and cleanse his affections, that he may think, speak, and do all to the glory of his name, and that his tongue may be an instrument to praise him before the children of men, for his delivery, promising to continue constant till the time appointed.   

The seaventh Prayer in distress.  
O Lord, thou art yet my hope and strength, thou art a helper in trouble, and dost not hi●e thee for ever from thy distressed Children.  
Therefore I will yet hold fast by thee, and will yet trust in thee, while I live and have breath: I will not utterly faint, nor fear, though greater storms yet arise th●n hither to I have endured: though the Earth tremble under me, and all thy creatures rage round about me, I will say still, and confess and acknowledge, that thou art my God, and therefore thou wilt not suffer me to be utterly lost, or perish altogether.  
No, Lord, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be tumbled into the midst of the Sea, though the waters roar and swell, and the lofty hills tremble at the fury thereof: yet will I not be discouraged, because I have thee my Salvation.  
Should I then faint at the small afflictions, which as little darts, thou shootest at me in love, not to kill me, but to put me in mind of my vanity and forgetfulness of thee, to call me from mine errors of the truth, from sin to salvation, and from death to eternal life? I must confess against myself, that I have deserved the darts of eternal death, and to be shut out of the land of the living: but mitigate thine anger, and turn thy heavy displeasure into love and lively relief, and let me once taste, and be refreshed with that comforting river, that maketh glad thy distressed Children.  
O God of hosts, come and behold my desolation, and cause those thy deadly darts, which so fast stick on me, by little and little to fall away, and cure the wounds which thou hast made.  
Bind up the sores of my sorrowful soul, cleanse the corrupted affections of my defiled heart, lighten the dim eyes of my dark understanding, wash me throughly from mine iniquities, and purify me from sin.  
Make me to hear joy and gladness again after my long mourning, give me relief again after my long want, set me upon a sure rock, and plant me on a fruitful ground, among the flourishing trees, that prosper by the sweet waters of thy lively favour.  
Oh cast me not away, dear Father, cast me not away from thy presence, restore me rather to the glory of thy salvation, and establish me with thy free Spirit.  
Lord, open my mouth, that my tongue may be an instrument to praise thee for thy liberal relief, and ready help in my need and necessity.  
So when thou shalt renew my decayed store, and replenish my empty basket, when thou shalt yield comfort to my sad soul, and refresh my sorrowful heart, I will surely utter forth thy praise with unfeigned lips, I will give glory unto thy name, and publish thy mercy to all the world.  
Oh ●e therefore unto me a speedy helper, delay not too long to come, my salvation: for behold, I am in a miserable case, as thou well knowest, poor, as thou seest.  
Reject not yet my petition, who cry instantly to thee for help, O help before I perish utterly, hold me fast by thy hand, and lift me up again before I fall altogether.  
Thou hast not promised, I know, that which thou wilt not perform, and therefore I will wait faithfully, for the time is at hand that thou hast ordained for my delivery. And therefore by the privilege of a lively hope, which will never make them ashamed that fix it on thee, I will persevere: confirm my hope, and make it perfect, until I may enjoy the lively fruits of thine assured salvation.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

The Motive to the eight Prayer.  
In which the poor distressed man craveth pardon for his sins, the cause of his miseries.  
THe poor man, as it were overcharged with the burden of his miseries, wisheth himself wings to fly away from all occasions of calamities, but forthwith checketh his rashness & folly, in seeming desirous to hide him from God, that is every where, and can every where punish the transgressors of his will. And therefore prayeth, that God will bridle his affections, and give him patience, appealing unto the Almighty, who knoweth his desires to do well, though the perverseness of his nature do draw him into things offensive: and therefore disclaiming his own worthiness, craveth pardon and mercy, acknowledging the general weakness of all mankind, and his own to be the greatest of all; and therefore prayeth for strength, for wisdom and instruction, affirming him to be most happy indeed, whom he favoureth, by reason of the infinite blessings that he even here enjoyeth in this mortal life: although he withal cryeth out against the miseries that do still oppress him, keeping fast hold through hope, that yet God will not suffer him to perish, nor fall utterly, because he is a rock whereon the righteous, such as do take hold of the death and passion of Christ, do rest most safe from all dangers: and therefore concludeth his Prayer with an instant Petition, that God will give him a blessed end of his hope, that he may talk of his glory, and sing of his praise, that all men may see by his example, that God respecteth the cause of the needy.   

The eight Prayer in distress.  
OH that I had wing like a Dove than would I fly away from these troubles, and make mine abode in the wilderness among the thick bushes and branches of the Cedars, rather than to endure these intolerable miseries among the sons of men.  
But alas, Lord, what do I consult thus with the vain wisdom of flesh and blood? thou art God, and were I in the Wilderness, thou art there; were I in the uttermost parts of the earth, thou art there: were I on the highest mountains, or in the bowels of the Earth, or in the Sea, or in the clouds, thou art there, and canst there also find me out, and there visit mine iniquities with stripes, and my sins with scourges.  
It booteth me not to covet to hide me from thee: better is it for me to subject me unto thy will. And therefore bridle mine affections, tame the unruliness and fierceness of my heart, reform the words of my mouth, teach me right wisdom, and learn me true understanding: vouchsafe me perfect patience, and then shall I be nearest unto that liberty which I long for, and best freed from the dangers which I fear, and soon enjoy the comforts that I desire.  
O make no long tarrying, O Lord, but hasten my deliverance: preserve me from the furious storms & raging tempests that are yet ready to give my wearied Soul a new encounter.  
Wherefore hast thou left unto us (by thy Word) a commandment to cast our cares upon thee, and tolay our burdens upon thee, promising to comfort us and to ease us? It is not to deceive, but to deliver us.  
Thou seest my desires, and knowest the secrets of my heart, and all 〈◊〉 ways are manifest before thee. If therefore I should justify myself, thou wilt condemn me: if I hide my sins, thou findest out my corruptions, and that all my righteousness is worse than vanity itself.  
And therefore disclaiming mine integrity, I crave pardon; and ask mercy, wherein thou art rich, and whereof thou art most bountiful, even to such as acknowledge their own weakness, wants and wickedness.  
To thy mercy I appeal, I fly unto thee, I depend on thee, I lay my burden upon thee, fearing thee, and reverencing thee, loving thee, and trusting in thee.  
What imperfections, O Lord, seest thou in me, for which thou shouldest thus afflict me? O wretch that I am, amost wicked one, a corrupted one, defiled within and without, how can I plead any good duties done unto thee?  
But, good Father, thou art not ignorant of the general vanity of man, who is evil in his best ways, and the most pure of us is imperfect. Pardon then my weakness, and give me that strength, and that zeal, and that obedience, and that perfect love, that thou requirest.  
Be unto me a Father to instruct me in true wisdom; be unto me a guide, to lead me in that way that leadeth unto life, that after my long estraying from thee, I may be at last brought home to thy blessed favour again, wherein is life, and liberty, and comfort, and fullness, and joy, and rest, and peace for ever.  
Oh happy is he, that is in thy protection, most happy is he whom thou favourest: for he is wise, he is strong, he is godly, he is fed, he is clad, he is safe, and he is rich in every good thing.  
When he calleth, thou hearest, when he asketh, thou givest; when he seeketh, he findeth; when he is sick, thou curest him; when he is poor, thou providest for him, when he is sad, thou comfortest him; when he is weary, thou easest him: when he hungreth, thou feedest him: when he is in trouble, thou defendest him: when he is in danger, thou preservest him: when he is hated, thou lovest him: and when he is dead, he than entereth into that life which is eternal, and then partaketh of the joys which are unspeakable.  
Oh, accept me into this favour, wherein are so many blessings certain: furnish me with these blessings, wherein are so sweet contentations, and bestow on me those graces that make the most despised in the world most honourable with thee. So shall my sorrows be turned into joy, my want into sufficiency, my tears into gladness, and all my miseries into godly mirth.  
Deliver my soul from death, keep my feet from sliding, let me walk righteously before thee, and call instantly upon thee, who performest thy promises, and sufferest none to depart empty away, that seek thee with their whole hearts.  
Oh send therefore, and save me from them that would devour me, and from that which afflicteth me; for my soul is among Lions; I wade as through a raging sea: I dwell among men set on fire against me, whose teeth are spears, and whose tongues are as a two edged sword: let thy mercy therefore and truth be my shield & buckler.  
Thou hast ever been mine hope, help me therefore, and let not my troubles increase, renew my joys, and set me upon the rock of never-failing relief, and let my rest and refuge be for ever under the shadow of thy protection.  
Bring to pass what is fit for me, and which thou knowest expedient; let the righteous see the blessed end of my hope, that they may likewise talk of thy glory, and speak of thy praise.  
And all men shall say, Verily, there is fruit for the righteous: doubtless, there is a God that worketh good for them that are of a perfect heart.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

The Motive to the ninth Prayer, for assurance of God's Providence.  
THe poor man, notwithstanding his present heavy burden of affliction, hath and feeleth in himself an inward instinct of comfort, and in mere zeal of God's glory, breaketh out into an admiration, as it were, of his infinite Majesty, power and excellency, and consequently, recounteth the innumerable blessings, and infinite mercies of the Lord: who, so regardeth the frailty of man, as he seemeth to wink at his many evils, confessing it the mere kindness, and free favour of God, that all mankind is not confounded for disobedience; laying upon himself the guilt of his own sins, for which, beyond all other, the Lord may justly punish him; acknowledging that he more offendeth God by his sins, than he can appease him with his Prayers, and doth more move him to anger by his transgressions, than he can please him by his best zeal: And yet he longeth still to be at one with God, in whom he knoweth there is mercy and love, and liberty, and relief: In hope whereof, and that God will remember his loving kindness again towards him, he will yet trust and pray, and be patient. And yet seeing his corruptions still strong to beat down his faith in God, prayeth God to bridle his ungodly affections, lest he fear overmuch, and so faint and give over his suit; and desireth by the examples of joh, joseph and David, and other godly Fathers, that endured their troubles patiently, he may likewise be patient unto the end. And thus rowzing up his dead thoughts, and sorrowful soul, with the sweet consideration of infinite comforts (which his loving God hath ever, and doth daily bestow upon his poor oppressed children) he resolveth not to faint.   

The ninth Prayer, in which the poor distressed Man acknowledgeth, that though God do deservedly punish him, yet he assureth himself that God will relieve him.  
O Lord my God, thy name is most excellent in all the World, thy glory is spread abroad thorough the Heavens, and thy praise is uttered by all thy Creatures, as in an universal harmony, thorough Heaven and Earth.  
For thy mercies are infinite, and thy blessings without number, that thou hast best owed upon them all, especially upon the Children of men, who yet among all other Creatures, are most forgetful, and aptest to break out into strongest disobedience against thy Majesty: and of thy free favour and mercy it is, that all Adam's issue is not utterly rooted out of the Land of the living.  
And I for my part (Father most loving) cannot hold myself guiltless of infinite evils, whereby I have yielded greatest cause among many, that thou shouldest punish even the whole World for disobedience: but myself especially I confess worthy of my miseries, and not to deserve the use of the Air to breathe in, nor of any of thy creatures to be comforted by them.  
Worthily therefore hast thou afflicted me, and worthily mayst thou still visit me: for I see I do rather more incense thee by my sins, then appease thee by my prayers; I more offend th●e by transgressions, than I can please thee by my best zeal.  
I faint at mine own unworthiness, yet fain would I be at one with thee, in whom is only safety and succour, and assured salvation, to them that truly reform their lives, & rightly frame their repentance, and sincerely follow thy will, which is thine own gift.  
All this I desire to perform, and distrust thee not: for thou hast promised pardon to the penitent, and relief to the lowly, and to be with them that seek thee, and to hold them up that hold by thee, and to instruct them that seek wisdom of thee.  
Forasmuch therefore, as I have so long cried unto thee, & so long sought thee, I will yet hope, though I shut up my sad soul in silence, only unto thee, who well considerest the inward gro●es, and rightly ponderest the sorrows, and sighs, and wants, and desires of thy distressed Children, though they seem mute in their lips, and to speak nothing with their tongues.  
If thou mightest at all have been pleased to hear by earnest cries, thou mightst have heard me: if it might have pleased thee to succour me by earnest desires, I might have been relieved. But lo●, the time is not yet come, that thou hast appointed for my delivery, and therefore I will still wait, and not be weary; for my help, and my comfort, and my life, and my salvation dependeth on thee.  
O brible therefore all ungodly affections in me: let me neither murmur, nor grudge, nor fear, nor faint, but with patience (in well doing) tarry till thou have decreed to have mercy upon me.  
For, is there not an appointed time for all things▪ job was brought low by thee: yet at thine appointed time lifted up again. joseph was long afflicted in prison; yet when thou sawest the time, he was advanced again. Thy dear David was long and fiercely persecuted, yet at length established in his desired dignity.  
When the poor ●iddow was even at the end of her hope of further relief, her cruse of Oil being emptied, and her vessel of Meal spent, even then didst thou send her a relieving guest, by whom thou gavest her increase of necessary succour.  
Therefore yet a little while, and my appointed time will come, wherein I shall be also delivered out of all my miseries.  
Yea, thou art my strength, and my portion, and my defence, and my salvation: thou ●éest my miseries what they are, and how many they be, and how heavy they lie upon me: for thou that sendest them, art not ignorant of them; and thou that madest me, well knowest what is fittest to preserve me.  
I am brought to the very Pit of confusion, as the natural man deemeth; but thou hast decreed the time of my delivery, to me unknown, that when it cometh, I may rejoice in thee, and not attribute my recovery to the fleshly aid of mortal men, which I have sought in vain; yea, while I ca●●ed instantly upon there, that I might acknowledge all help to proceed from thee, and all that the world affordeth, to be but the effects of thy love, of thy power, and of thy providence.  
O, blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to come unto thee by afflictions: for although he seemeth to be a companion of Death, yet he liveth by the secret sweetness of the pleasures of thy inward consolation, and safely dwelleth in the Courts of thy protection, f●●ding on the lively assurance of thy Providence and Love, and fainteth not at any frown of the mightiest on earth.  
So am I assured, O Lord, that thou art my portion, and thou tenderest me as a son, though thou visit me with thy Rod, as a sinner: and that thou wilt not suffer me to fall utterly, though thou seem to correct me sharply.  
Although I seem to be deprived of all hope of recovery of my wont comfort, because I see no ready mean before my eyes, nor present likelihood: notwithstanding my long and instant cries, I will not shrink, knowing this, that thy love is infinite, thy power wonderful, and thy providence past finding out.  
For if the stony Rock, and the withered Jow-bone; could yield water to refresh the thirsty: if thou couldst send Manna from heaven, and meat by a ●a●en, and feed so many thousand people with little show of bread: if thou couldst send Quails so plentifully in the Desert, with infinite other things, miraculously for thy distressed Children: confirm my Faith evermore, that I may constantly believe, that thou both canst, and will in thy good time relieve me.  
All power belongeth unto thee: who then will say, or who can imagine that thou canst not help when most need is? who will say thou hast not love, sith thou so freely hast done these many and mighty things for thy distressed Children, that could not relieve themselves?  
But lo (Lord) all things are thine, the Heavens are thine, and the Earth is thine, the Cattle in the fields, the Fowls on the Mountains, the Gold and Silver, and all that is above us or beneath us, is thine: who then can say, thou canst not give and bestow on whom thou wilt, what thou wist, when thou wilt?  
Thou makest the Corn to grow, and waterest the Earth with thy sweet showers from above, so that even the Beasts also of the field are fed, as by the dew of Heaven.  
Sith then that thou art Lord of all, and sith thou commandest and forbiddest, sith thou makest poor and enrichest, sith thou throwest down and advancest, sith thou triest and rewardest, and sith thou dost what thou wilt, in what manner thou wilt, to whom thou wilt, and when thou wilt, and no man can command thee or forbid thee; I yield me wholly to thy will, and crave only to will as thou willest, and do as thou directest in all things. Be it thus, dear Father, for his merits that thou most dear lovest, that died, and rose again for all, and who sitteth with thee, a Mediator for all: for his sake, O Father, hear and help me in time convenient.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.    


A Motive to thankfulness to GOD, for Comfort and Relief received of him, after long praying unto him in the time of necessity and affliction.  PSAL. 28. 7. The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusteth in him, and I was holpen therefore my heart shall rejoice, and with my tongue will I praise him. 
AS no man knoweth how profitable a thing physic is, but he that hath been sick, and hath been eased by it, nor of what value faithful friends are, but he that hath been brought to extreme need, and tasted of their help: so none can sufficiently comprehend, how great the goodness of God is, but such as have been tried by some affliction, and felt grievous calamity, and have been delivered by God, out of their dangers, and miseries, or in some measure been eased. And if he that in sickness hath received health by physic: if he that in his great necessity and want hath been relieved by friends, do not acknowledge the benefit received by either of them, will not all men of civil carriage condemn them of ingratitude? So, and far more, worthy is he to be condemned, that being afflicted by whatsoever means, and is delivered by the providence and favour of God, if he stand silent and mute, not endeavouring to give God the praise and glory of his delivery. This I confess is my case, and no doubt there is no man exempted out of the number of them, whom God hath delivered out of one danger, and affliction, or another: But some being blind of that side, see no other means of their delivery, but their self-wit, policy, strength, or carnal means, never turning eye to the true help, the power and providence of God: and that is the cause why (as there were of ten Lepers, but one returned to give thanks to Christ) so few, scarcely one of ten that receive blessings and comforts at the hands of God, return thanks truly to God for the same, and yet there is not one of what estate, degree, or profession he be of, but must (if he be not an Atheist) acknowledge himself a debtor unto God in this behalf, who requireth but only thankfulness for all his benefits. Some may say, they were never afflicted, never oppressed, never distressed, never in danger, for they have had continual prosperity, and therefore could never observe, wherein God hath showed them any such needful deliverance: some are borne noble, some left rich, many preferred to Offices, and that immediately of their Parents, Friends, or themselves, never conceiving that the hand of God had a share in these. And therefore (it to any) they give the glory to the wrong means, forgetting their Creator, by whom they were made, preserved, and by whom they were (indeed) preferred to place of dignity or profit, by whom they were taught and instructed in the mysteries, whereby they become glorious in the ●…orld, and so become graceless usurpers of Gods gracious and free blessings: in recompense whereof it is often observed, that God (as it were) winking at their vanities for a time, permitteth them to run their own race, until they fall into some apparent dangers: as some into want, some into disgrace, some into sickness, some into the hands of Enemies, some into gross fatuity and foolishness. In all which they run unto their former vain considerations, seeking redress by wrong means, and finding none, they then consult with some better guide, who set them in the way to seek God, who being merciful, refuseth not to be their refuge that come unto him, at length, by faith in prayer, who yet will seem not to hear them by and by, when they speak unto him, nor to give what, and when they ask, to make them the more earnest and servant in ask, and finding at the length God's favour, and receiving in some measure what they want, than the upright in heart (as David saith,) become thankful, having gotten comfort from the Lord, they willingly give him the glory: the true Children of God cannot rest contented, when God hath refreshed them with his mercies, till they have truly given the Lord again his due praises: a mark to distinguish the Children of God from the wicked, who swallow up all God's blessings, namely the profitable and pleasing things of this life, ascribing the glory, and doing their Sacrifices (as it were) unto their own arms for the same: what blessings soever God doth bestow upon them, they are never the fuller of thankfulness, nor made thereby the more obedient to God, like the Lake Asphaltis or the dead Sea, whereinto jordan runneth, the water of itself being salt, becomes nothing the fresher by the sweetness of the quality, nor the bigger by the quantity of the water of jordan; they take from the Lord without giving again, like barren and unprofitable ground, that receiveth the seed, but returneth none, and therefore is near unto burning (as the Prophet Hosea saith) whose end is to be burned. Let us therefore learn to be thankful to God for every benefit received of God, which if it increaseth not thankfulness, it increaseth judgement. It is a dangerous thing to forget God, in thanksgiving, neglecting heaven, and heavenly things, and to mind the world only and worldly things, they that preach unto themselves peace, without peace with God, in what outward state of contentment soever they stand in their own conceits, and in the view and admiration of men, they be but in slippery state, though they seem to have no occasion to fly unto God for succour; they are in deeper danger than he, whose estate without seemeth most dangerous, who yet within hath an assurance of the help of jehovah. Such as to whom Christ spoke, joh. 16. Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye sh●ll weep and lament, but the world (such as have all things in the world at their desires) shall rejoice, and ye shall sorrow, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.  
You shall be delivered from all your dangers wherein you shall rejoice, and glorify God for your deliverance, whereas this sentence being turned contrary, may be applied unto such as forgetting their duties and thankfulness to God, because they are full, and think they have no need of God's assistance; Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye shall rejoice and triumph, but the godly shall lament and mourn, ye shall laugh, but your laughter shall be turned into weeping.  
But I will leave the ingrateful Worldlings, whom not I, but God will judge, and will only seeks to stir up myself and others that are afflicted to fly unto God, as I have done, assuring them in the good time they shall be comforted. And let patience have it true work in you that are in any aifliction, and let true thankfulness appear in you, that have been any way comforted by the Lord. Patience and Thankfulness are qualities, or rather virtues, observed only in the Children of God, yet are they not in these accounted fools or mad men? for if a man that feareth God fall into penury, poverty, want, or into any kind of misery, or is overtaken with any strong temptation, or tried by God's visitation, he is censured according to the natural and carnal opinions of the worldly minded; who as they are blind in heavenly things, as in the secret disposition of the things of God, so judge they amiss of the man afflicted, holding him as a man accursed of God, because he is chastened of God: and themselves, whose matters prosper well in the world, to be only blessed as by desert: and this breedeth such coniempt of the rich towards the poor fearing God, and this usurpeth such reverence of the poor towards the rich, both which especially proceed of an overgood opinion that the rich have of themselves, & of a base conceit they have of such as are of law estate, though they be the dearest children of God: which in the rich is arrogancy, and in the poor fearing God, humility: yet it often cometh to pass, that the rich are made poor, the high are ●…ade low, & the most glorious become despised: and again, the poor are made rich, the lowly exalted, & such as were before despised, become honourable even among men, according to the saying of the blessed Wirgin: The Lord showeth strength with his a●me, he scatt●reth the proud in the imaginations of their hearts, he putteth down the mighty from their seats, and exalteth the humble and meek, he filleth the hungry with good things, and sendeth the rich empty away. These are the works of God's justice & providence: his justice then showeth it self, when he plucketh down the ingrateful arrogant, and his providence in providing for, and exalting the faithfully thankful poor man.  
The first cannot pretend injustice or wrong in God, for taking away from him that which he falsely suggested to be his, in such sort, as he was not beholden to God for it: neither can the other (nor will he) assume unto himself merit to have that bestowed upon him by desert, which he cannot but acknowledge, and thankfully accept to be the free gift of God: as God is ●ust, so is he merciful, and even in this case of his justice he showeth mercy, to the end men may seek and find mercy: and in this case of his providence he confirmeth his mercy, and performeth his promise: the one to move to thankfulness, the other to increase and continue it: he interrupteth the haughty and highminded in the way of their pride, fatherly to reclaim them from the way of death, the end of God's corrections. The godliest men are many times, and by many means likewise plunged in dangers, but they feel in their sharpest afflictions sweetest comforts: for though they feel the rod of Gods correcting hand, yet they hold fast by the staff of his mercy, praying unto God for delivery, not as they will, but as the Lord will: not for their own private benefit only, but also, and especially, that his glory and power, by their deliverance, might be the more celebrated of all that fear him: for there is not a more forcible inducement of imitation than success: when men see the issue of another man's course, they will in discretion follow or forsake, as is the profit or danger, especially men of one profession, observe time, and mean, and matter, and place, and person, of precedent good or evil: and by the same endeavour to frame and shape unto themselves a course answerable for their own private commodities, this is the manner of worldlings: and shall not the children of God make use of other men's most blessed success, of faithful prayer for delivery out of their miseries▪ who being in danger, seeing before his eyes the manner how another in like peril was delivered, and will not seek the same way to be relieved? It is the nature of true godliness to publish every benefit received at the hands of God, as David in many places by his own example, and many other holy men have done: and left their examples for us to follow, to the end that all, were it possible, might be partakers of the knowledge of God's providence & love towards all that seek him with a true zeal, contrary to the course of worldly men, who covet to conceal the means whereby they achieve commodities, not willing that any should partake of their gain. The man of God having that celestial Jewel in what measure soever, willingly and freely maketh all others that are desirous, partakers of it, that all may grow likewise rich in the same faith, knowledge, and virtue with him; the godly much rejoice in him that most excelleth in divine virtues, notdisdaining any for his poverty or baseness of his worldly estate, but embracing the poverty of the body, & the estate of outward wants, in regard of the inward riches of the mind: for as he that seemeth rich in outward things, may be indeed a bankrupt; so he that is poor in carnal things, may be rich in heavenly: else were the miserable poor man more wretched than any creature, that walketh or creepeth upon the earth, flieth in the air, or that floateth in the waters: of whom all have a contented being; but the poor oppressed man hath no comfort at all, if he be not inwardly comforted of God: in whom if he be truly comforted, his comfort is beyond all that the world can afford.  
The worldly farmer, the rich Merchant, the gallant Gentleman, the honourable person, and the greatest Monarch without the same, hath no true comfort, but earthly and vanishing shadows of things without true comfort or continuance: yet is not this so taken, nor so accounted; for the glorious having only terrene reverence, receive their glory from the basest: but the poor despised, having confidence in God, have their glory from above: whereunto no earthly honour can compare. This than may work in them patience to bear the burden of misery, here for a while, and for every small benefit or blessing which God shall bestow upon them to be truly thankful, and yet not to deject themselves, and be so careless of their estates, as to neglect all lawful means of worldly prosperity, because poverty, affliction, and persecution in the godly, seem to be a glorious title, bearing as it were, the Cross of Christ thereby. But so far to endeavour to achieve necessary ability and outward peace, as that ambition may be far from the thought in desiring; and avarice in using, or repineth against what God sendeth. And to be careful, diligent, and faithful in the execution of their callings, praying for a blessing at the hands of God: and if endeavours prosper, always to return for all things praises unto God, that maketh all things prosper unto us: and if the industry of our bodies, and the continual care of our hearts cannot attain to that which we think fit, we must rest contented with the portion allotted by him unto us, who knoweth better what is fit for us, than we ourselves, and yet never to give over praying unto the great giver, who will never fail to add more and more comfort, as he seeth most just occasion, best known to himself, & can turn all our crosses and deepest afflictions to our greatest consolation, when the best and most pleasing earthly delights tend to the evil of such as have them, and either abuse them, or be not thankful for them. Such as are ignorant of the discipline which God useth to instruct and educate his children, can conceive of no comfort in crosses, berause as they are strangers from the School of God, so learn they not the things belonging to such as are God's disciples: but condemn what is to be approved, and approve what is to be condemned; holding no man happy, but he that prospereth in his ways, and he to whom all things succeed according to his hearts desire, when indeed nothing is more dangerous, than fullness of all things, which breedeth security, and security killeth all other virtues, and reuiueth all vices: carnal security plucketh up faith (as it were) by the roots, Faith being the tree of all virtues, it dying, Neglect of God, and all goodness, begins to branch, and bears Forgetfulness of duty to God and men. Where then is thankfulness? Where is giving Glory to God? Where is prayer and seeking to God for blessings, when he findeth no cause to ask, for what he supposeth he enjoyeth? blessing himself in his own wretched estate, which he foolishly deemeth a most warthy and incomparable portion. But he that is godly, abandoneth all carnal security, acknowledging himself ever in so great danger, as when he carnally thinks himself most safe, and therefore taketh continual occasion to fly unto God for daily supply of daily wants, having no assurance of the continuance of any earthly thing, but from day to day: and therefore daily and hourly acknowledgeth the goodness of God, in giving him what he daily enjoyeth. He forgetteth not that all things that he hath, he hath from God, his creation, his life, the use of all his limbs, his senses, his food, his raiment, his health, his ableness to perform the least duty in his calling, and whatsoever else, inward or outward, he holdeth them at the will of the Almighty, to whom he prayeth for all graces and divine virtues, that he may be furnished with that riches that none can possess, but such as have them from that great God, who giveth to them that ask, and upbraideth no man, neither denyeth he any man's request, if it be according to his will revealed in his word: and for all that he giveth, requireth only true thankfulness for requital: not that thankfulness, which some carnally minded rich men would seem to afford him, a cap vailed with both the hands, with words only, I thank God: This may be counterfeit and lip-thankefulnesse, which God respecteth as the offering of hypocrites. The organs of the tongue & lips are necessary instruments to declare the meaning of the heart, if they move by the power of a feeling spirit: but if the mouth speak in these divine offices what the heart enforceth not, it shall not only not profit, but witness against the heart & conscience that deep dissimulation before men, & hypocrisy before God, that shall work their own just condemnation. But we must fall down upon the knees, not only of the outward body, but of a lively feeling heart, & acknowledge that all we have received, to be his blessing and especial gift: which if we can rightly perform, it will follow, that of the same faith will proceed with words of thankfulness, works of obedience, which God accepteth above all sacrifices whatsoever. But who so still asketh and receiveth blessings, and only saith, They are the gifts of God, and disposeth of them contrary to the rule which God hath prescribed in his Word, that thankfulness will return into his bosom as sin, and he be imputed a plain usurper of his blessings. For, as when a man by fair and flattering means obtaineth any thing of his friends, and having obtained it, rejecteth the kindness of the giver, and becometh ingrateful and unkind, what is it but mere extorting of the thing obtained? Although the all-seeing eye of God foreséeth the heart, and knoweth how and to what end we ask, whether for our own gain, or his glory: and he often bestoweth great benefits upon men, never desiring them in open speech. The very groans of the heart ascend unto God, and God is moved even with the mere desires, and that oftentimes when they proceed not of faith; yea, he granteth the very things that the wicked long for, but not for their comfort, only to fulfil their carnal appetites, to make them so much the more beholden to him, for their worldly and corporal prosperity, and makes their condemnation so much the more just, by how much they are inexcusable, for not serving God in true obedience, which is the sum of most acceptable thankfulness for all blessings. It is the nature of all men, to covet earthly things, which we see God giveth to the evil as well, and in greater measure than to the godly: yet are the godly far more thankful for their smallest, than the wicked for their greatest portions; which last do hunger and thirst continually to add more and more corporal means unto what they have: and no abundance can make a stay to their coveting, neither can there be satisfaction to the covetous. And howsoever it increase, all their thankfulness is swallowed up in their Chests, or cast upon their fields, given to their wits, to their Art, or drowned in their vanities, the back and belly have their condign gratifications of the most, and they are most beholding to some, who rest as much indebted unto these two, in answering their necessities, as unto God, in a sort, to whom they owe many, and will never pay any thanks. And yet the profanest of these will say, that all the things they enjoy, are the gifts of God. But as for the cordial and true thankfulness, it is a language unknown unto them. The blessings of God to many, may be compared to sweet showers, and our hearts to dry ground, receiving them to refresh it when it is weary, but returning no drops back again: no more do unthankful men return condign thanks for God's greatest benefits, but as the Sun by his force and exhalations, draweth up the moistures of the ingrateful earth by force, so when men can keep their usurped and extorted earthly blessings no longer, than they bestow them, and yet oftentimes not at all consulting with the true owner, God the lender, but bestow them to some such ends as are displeasing unto him, as was their former abusing them. They dispose of them by their wills, as it were against their wills: their Testaments are as testimonies of their unwillingness to leave what they so dear loved, which proveth their gross ingratitude, even in their last conflict with death, who commonly is not so cruel an Enemy, but he telleth a man by one token or another, that he must prepare himself to endure his encounter, sometimes many days, many months, and often many years before he show his uttermost force: in all which time, the most forgetful and most unthankful man might call himself to mind, and consult and consider wherefore, and by whom the things he enjoyeth were bestowed upon him: if by his own deserts, or by his own mere industry, let him then kiss his own hand, as the author of his happiness: but if it came of the free gift and mere benevolence of God, let him rather cut off his hands, then rest unthankful to God, who can turn (as we see) wealth into wretchedness, mirth into mourning, health into sickness, strength into weakness, and all whatsoever a man in this world delighteth in, into bitterness and wormwood: all which may be assured to turn to their good, whosoever rest patient and thankful. Who then will not afford so small a recompense for so great blessings?  
And all thankfulness is comprehended under this one word Obedience. Sacrifices were acceptable duties done in their time unto God, but obedience is more acceptable than all other kinds of sacrifices. This obedience consisteth not in the outward ceremonies of performing only the outward duties required at our hands, as to live in this World without doing hurt to others, in paying that we owe, in doing good to such as do us service, and to love them that love us: but in doing good to them that do us hurt, in giving them that take from us, in forgiving them that offend us, in loving them that hate us, in feeding them that we see hunger-starved, in clothing them that we see want their corporal covering, in comforting the sad and ●rowfull, in visiting such, both with counsel and aid, that have not their wished liberty of Body or Mind, and in performing such other offices of Christian commiseration and piety, as are commanded us in the Word of God, to be done towards our Brethren and Neighbours. These are outward works, which being performed by a feeling heart, touched with the Spirit of God, are sweet sacrifices to God, and are accepted of God, as that true thankfulness, which God requireth in recompense of our abundance, which God so freely and lovingly bestoweth upon us above others in this life: and for his spiritual gifts and blessings, as the blessing of the inward peace of conscience, the blessing of the knowledge of his Word and Testimonies, the benefit of Faith, of Repentance, & of other divine graces, he only requireth the true use of them, as to love him above all things, to live in sobriety, temperance, in his fear, in the exercise of true religion, in prayer, in hearing his Word preached, in reading the same with reverence, in continual going forward from faith to faith, from one heavenly virtue to another, and in behaving our hearts inwardly, in such a lively and willing remembrance, and execution of his divine Will, as nothing may miscarry us from what he hath commanded, or draw us into what he hath forbidden.  
Thus if he find us prepared, he will then, as he hath promised, bless us more and more, and give and bestow upon us, more and more of his spiritual benefits, and add unto our stock and store such abundance of all necessary outward things of this life, as we shall not only be able to feed, cloth, maintain, and relieve our selves with wished contentment, but will give such continual increase, as we shall be able to perform these former duties to his needy members, and there by not only testify to the World our Faith by our works, who will glorify God for us: but God shall see our faith in him, and approve our outward works amongst men, to be good by our faith. These being the fruits of true obedience, and obedience the most acceptable sacrifice of thankfulness, a work not only not painful or tedious, but most sweet unto the soul, let us unbrace it as the true wisdom, which, for the sweetness, passeth the honey and the honeycomb, and for preciousness and worth, of more value than the finest gold, or dearest earthly Jewels. Who will not then apply his heart unto this most acceptable thankfulness, to which is promised a new and daily renewing of blessings, one blessing shall follow another, as the sweet drops of the morning dew: happy is the man that is in such a case. But most unhappy the man forgetting God, and Gods benefits, nay, who offereth the sacrifice of praise in a false, or a cold, or counterfeit manner, as Cain did, who would be seen to give unto God part of his earthly abundance, but because it was done with no true affection, it was not accepted: no more are these unworthy praises, which many worldlings seem to flatter God withal, offering the Sacrifices not of idle, but of hateful fools, though in common speech they can make semblance of great piety: As when they speak of God's blessings, the increase of their Corn, Oil, and Wine, the prosperity of their Cattle, the long continuance of the health of their bodies, good success in their affairs, they can use an outward kind of humiliation, bowing their counterfeit knee, and ●ailing their dissembling ●onnet; as if the true praise of God consisted in these ceremonies, when indeed their hearts are full of ●●arice, their hands of Bribes, and their lips of dissimulation Hath God respect to these kinds of offerings▪ No, he accepteth the obedience to his will: and his will is, that thankfulness to him (being in heaven not seen) should begin in earth, in doing good to our brethren whom we daily see: else though God vouchsafe to se● (as he did upon Cain) a mark upon such ungrateful dissemblers, that they come not into misfortune in this life, like other men, yet it shall be a mark of their reprobation, which they shall carry with them to their eternal graves. Had not the men of the old world great blessings at the hands of God? But where was their thankfulness? The earth was full of cruelty: a base recompense for so many blessings: yet did think themselves very secure: yea, when God in his secret Justice prepared their general confusion. Was God so strict in observing, & so severe in punishing the whole world for unthankfulness, having but the Law of nature their guide? and will he be less to a stiffnecked people, or to one disobedient person, having the use of his word▪ Is not man's unthankfulness towards man, censured in most evil part by man? how much more man's unthankfulness to God? Laban found great benefit, and many blessings to grow unto him in his earthly estate, by Jacob's faithful and true service, yet how unkindly did he reward him? Gen. 31. 2. Yet see the mercies of the Lord, who seeing thankful Jacob's afflicted heart, under his ungrateful and severe Master, wrought his delivery, and sent him from cruel Laban, rich. But did jacob attribute his success, and increase of his wealth, to proceed from his care and industry▪ or did he attribute it to his ●rt of speckled Rods▪ No, he confessed by whose means he was so blessed, namely, by God, to whom, as to the Author of all the good that befell him, he gave the glory, saying, (at his return) Over this Brook I came with my staff and scrip only; but lo●, Lord, I now return with mighty Droves. Here was the true and lively image of the Sacrifice of praise in godly iacob▪ and the very picture of ingratitude in unthankful Laban, giving thanks neither to God nor Men, for his prosperity.  
Many Laban's now live, that receive the benefits of poor men's travels and endeavours, and at the hand of God, rich blessings; and yet they will not admit, either the help of man, nor the providence of God, to be the means of their advancement, but their own wit, policy, desert, or humane friendship: and to defend their gross and 〈◊〉 ingratitude, ●●icke not to affirm, that the Servant that laboureth is worthy of his hire, I am (saith this carnal Logician) the Servant of God, and therefore worthy of the gifts I receive from him. Such hellish Syllogisms worldly men, the Scholars of perdition, can frame against themselves, not finding the subtlety of the Devil in these Arguments, who striveth to colour by his Sophistry, this erroneous conceit of theirs, in assuming desert to receive good, where they deserve to receive evil evermore.  
The Servant of an earthly Master may perform in some measure his Master's work, and may thereby deserve his promised hire: but who so thus pretendeth himself to be, or is indeed the servant of God, by whom a lawful calling may be assigned him, howsoever he wade in the execution of his external vocation, yet he cometh to far short of his true duty commanded, as he not only meriteth no earthly or temporal benefits, but to be corrected with many stripes. As who so looketh into, or compareth his own performance with the Commandments of God, shall find himself so far behind with God in thankfulness for his least benefits, as he shall be driven to confess he is unworthy of the Bread and Raiment, (be it never so mean) that he enjoyeth: which also, how mean soever it be, it is the gift of God, and in no other, nor by any other means made ours, but in Christ alone, without whom the greatest Riches, the most glorious Estate, and most wished earthly prosperity, becometh a curse unto them, that make them not theirs by him that is blessed for ever. Heathen men are thankful unto their false gods, for the supposed good turns they do receive of them, and in recompense they do not only give verbal thanks, but will offer unto them, even their dearest Children in Sacrifice, to show their thankfulness. And yet such as receive every day new blessings of the true God, yea although their plenty and health never so much increase and continue, they will not offer unto him the least part of their superfivous store, in giving it to the Poor, in whom even Christ himself maketh Petition for a cup of cold water, (as it were) and yet can hardly obtain it at their hands, that will not stick to affirm they are most thankful to God. But know that God will not be served as Men are. Master's can no further judge of their Servants and their service, than they see: the idleness and loitering of their Servants they may in presence observe, but the hidden and concealed falsehoods they cannot discern: and if it be discovered, it is but by doubtful means, as by conjecture, or report: but our great and all-knowing Master hath never his eye from our work; nay, he seeth and knoweth our wills, the secret idleness or vanity of the heart, howsoever the hands or lips may seem to labour in the praise of God before men, he can find out our counterfeit holiness, and dissembling thanks. It is no boot to tell men, We be thankful to God, though men cannot reprove us, nor distinguish between our dissimulation and true thankfulness. Who would or could have condemned Ananias and Saphira, that voluntarily gave the most part of their goods to the use of God's people? & yet the holy Ghost finding their hypocrisy, gave them the reward of death, for that which they concealed from men.  
Man could not have found out the bribery of Gehezi, nor the hypocrisy of judas. It is a dangerous thing to dally with holy things, much more to dissemble with him that is most holy.  
Ingratitude is a contemptible vice, yet not so odious as is hypocritical unthankfulness, for by the one, man findeth apparently, who are thought unworthy of a second good turn, but by the other, man is drawn to do a favour unto the undeserving, that by dissembling insinuation, and counterfeit thanks for a former, obtains a second kindness, when in truth he is merely unthankful for both: but God is not thus overtaken, he cannot deceine by dissembling gifts, nor be deluded by counterfeit thanks. And yet God oftentimes giveth new gifts, as health, wealth, honour, office, favour of friends, a good wife, and dutiful children, and many such like earthly blessings, to the most unthankful, by which the minds of carnal men are so much the more besotted, in observing that all things succeed so well, they think God is well pleased with them, flattering themselves, that they stand much in God's favour, because their occasions succeed better than other men's, persuading themselves that to keep a formal & moral course of life among men, and to make a superficial show of thankfulness unto God, and at their death to allot some matter of forced benevolence to the World, as the building of an Almshouse, Hospital, College, or such like, is so high a recompense to God, for the loan of his benefits, as he resteth rather in such a benefactors debt for this good deed, than such a vainglorious giver indebted to God for his long using and abusing of his blessings.  
By which, I condemn not such works, tending to charitable uses, as are done in due time, and by men, first, seeking to be themselves in the true favour of God, before they so seek the glory and commendation of the world: for I presume to say, that the bestowing of men's goods, while they are their own, by their own hands, in secret to the needy members of Christ, is more acceptable to God, than the former (though commendable) intendments after their deaths: while we live, we know what is for the time in our disposition, but after death we cannot take knowledge what course will be taken with that we intent to best actions: neither doth the giving after death, testify a man's assurance of God's providence, as doth the liberal giving in time of life: for who so keeps his treasure till he die, he leaveth it perforce, and against his will, which no man can deny, and though he grieve to forgo, he cannot fear to want them: but he that giveth in his life time, giveth in assurance, that he that gave it him, and made the promise of rewarding the Givers to the poor, dependeth so surely thereupon, as he shall never want what may be sufficient, which indeed is a worthy testimony of truest thankfulness to God, for the things he enjoyeth in this life.   

Preparatives to thankfulness.  Salvation belongeth unto the Lord, and his blessing is upon all that are his, Psal. 3. 8. The Lord hath heard my petition, the Lord doth receive my Prayer, Psal. 6. 10. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, I will be glad and rejoice in thee, Oh thou most High, Psal. 9 1. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the poor, thou preparest their heart, thou bendest thine ear unto them, Psal. 10. 17. In my trouble did I call upon the Lord, and cried unto my God, he heard my voice out of his Temple, my cry came before him, and he helped me, Psal. 18. 6. I sought the Lord, and he heard me; yea, he delivered me out of all my fear, Psal. 24. 7. Taste ye, and see how gracious the Lord is: blessed is the man that trusteth in him, Psal. 34. 8. Let the Lordline, and blessed be my strength, and the God of my salvation be exalted, Psal. 18. 46. Thou art my Lord, my well doing extendeth not to thee, but to the Saints that are in the earth, Psalm 26. 2. 3. 
THough men by their best gifts cannot enrich God, yet they must bestow God's gifts to the use of his children, and that is the best recompense they can make unto him for all his earthly blessings, and to be obedient unto him according to his will revealed in his Word, is the Sacrifice wherewith he is pleased for all his benefits spiritual and corporal, which who so neglecteth, is merely unthankful, what shows so ever he maketh of outward Thanksgiving. Therefore every faithful receiver of any his blessings, will fall down before his Majesty in this or the like manner of hearty thankfulness, to manifest with his words, the inward willingness of the heart.  

A general thanksgiving unto God, for all his benefits, spiritual and corporal.  
Eternal God, and everliving, and most loving Father, I the poorest and most unworthy of all thy creatures, do bow and prostrate the knees of a truly thankful heart unto thy majesty, yielding unto thee all humble, unfeigned, and possible thanks for all thy fatherly favours, both divine and corporal; above all (Oh Father) I thank thee, for that thou didst elect and choose me to salvation before all worlds: for that thou createdst me being nothing, and being borne a sinful reprobate by nature, didst redeem me from Satan and hell, and adoptedst me one of thine own children, by thine own Son's blood, in whom, and for whose sake, thou acceptest me an heir, with thy Saints, of the glory of Heaven. And for ●ine assurance here in this life, hast given me not only thy promise in thy Word, but hast sanctified me with thy holy Spirit, whereby I believe: and can in some measure resist the motions which arise in me, by means of that original corruption which I brought into the world, and bear about me, which could not but condemn me, were it not that the death and resurrection of. Jesus Christ the righteous did justify me by a lively apprehension, and a faithful feeling of his most free merits, working for me, and in my behalf.  
These most sweet spiritual favours so far surmount the apprehension of the most wise in the world, and any feeling to the comfort of carnal men, that they cannot assure themselves of their own salvation, a more miserable estate then which cannot light upon man. How much then, Lord, am I wretched creature, bound unto thy free mercy, in choosing me to be one of thine own by Adoption, and to give me the earnest-penny of thy Spirit, to assure me thereof, and that so far from presuming upon any desert of mine own, as I wholly condemn myself, and acknowledge all my hope and assurance to be wrought in me by thine own free love, I unworthy, deserving nothing less, deserving rather thine heavy and high indignation, and consequently thy just Judgements, whereby, in stead of my free election, I should be rejected, in stead of my redemption, I should be condemned, and to be retained in the fearful power and bondage of Satan and hell: in stead of my sanctification and justification, I have merited reprobation, and yet, dear Father, in the abundance of thy favours, I have, and do enjoy the blessings of all spiritual comfort and contentment, and withal have enjoyed so many corporal comforts, and earthly graces at thy hands, as are more in number then my sins, which are more than the dust of the earth: my life I had of thee, the continuance thereof of thee: the health of my body thou preservest, and when I have been sick, thou hast healed me. In my hunger thou feedest me, and refreshest me, when I am thirsty: thou cloathest me, and which is more, thou bearest me as the Eagle doth her young, even upon the wings of thy providence: so that I have been defended from infinite imminent dangers, both from the peril of the sword, and the plague, and from the violence of many misfortunes which might have befallen me, whereby had I not been protected by thee, I had perished long ago, and many times being poor, thou hast relieved me: being envied, thou hast kept me from the power, and open force, and secret devices of my many enemies. And moreover, which is not the least, (Lord) thou hast not only given me the use of my limbs, and service of my senses, but hast taught my heart to conceive, and my hands to perform that, by which, in thy providence, I profit in my calling, and live. How then, most gracious and loving Father, am I bound unto thy divine Majesty, for such and so many heavenly and spiritual blessings, and corporal and earthly benefits, the least of which as I have not deserved, so can I not make recompense unto thee for the least? But as thou hast freely bestowed them all upon me in Christ: so in Christ I return to thee the glory, in whom thou art well pleased, and in him reconciled unto me, or else would the benefits which I receive, become rather a curse then a blessing unto me.  
Oh that I were therefore of wisdom sufficient, of power able, in disposition willing, and in zeal so servant, as I might pour forth thy deserved praises with a joyful heart. But, good Father, accept the sacrifice of my wi●ling mind, and impute not unto me either weakness or unwillingness, unthankfulness or forgetfulness of this high duty, forasmuch as that all-sufficient Lamb sacrificed for me, mediateth as well for me, and in my behalf my inward thanksgiving, & presenteth them upon thine altar of mercy, as he ever presenteth unto thee my prayers for pardon of my sins. Of myself, Lord, I cannot bring thee Abel or Elias sacrifice, but an heart of true thanksgiving, which it may please thee to accept, as thou didst the sacrifice of Bullocks and Goats. ●nd let me, Lord, be truly able to offer unto thee David's morning and evening sacrifice of praise: especially that most sweet and prevailing sacrifice of filial obedience which thou so much acceptest: and although it can merit no favour at thy hands, as it is my work, it being sanctified in Christ, it is the special means, not only to discharge my duty in part, but to obtain new and continuing blessings and benefits at thy hands in Christ: to whom, with thee and the holy Ghost, be all honour, power, praise, and thanksgiving, for evermore,  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith, and make me evermore thankful.     

Another thanksgiving, in, and for God's gentle corrections.  
O Eternal God, powerful, and true, which bringest down to nought, & again advancest: thou in mercy often correctest thy dearest children, and holdest them in by afflictions, lest their overmuch liberty should give them overmuch scope to run astray, and consequently to sin, and dishonour thy name, to their own destruction. Therefore, O loving and most merciful, and dear Father, I do yield thee thanks that thou hast visited me with crosses, and beaten me with gentle afflictions, and corrected me with fatherly chastisements: for they are thy loving embracements, welcome to the spiritually minded, likesome yet to flesh and blood, that favour not of any thing contentedly, but of sin, delight and vanity, baits and snares of death. Good therefore is it for me, dear Father, that thou hast humbled me with thy loving corrections: and great is thy favour, ye●, and thy providence and power, past all the capacity of the wisest: for 〈◊〉, Lord, I have found favour in thy sight, I have received comfort at thy hands, even in the time of my deepest afflictions; yea, when I was cast down, and in the conceit of mortal men, confounded altogether, thou yet didst take me up, and didst not suffer me to perish utterly: for when mine enemies laid wait for me, and snares to take me, and intended my destruction, they were by thee prevenced of their purpose, and when they hasted to take me, they stumbled and fell, and I escaped from them, as a bird from the snare of a Fowler: therefore do I give thee the glory, I praise thy name, and I will magnify thy goodness for ever.  
O Father. who hath looked upon me in my troubles, but thou? who hath sustained me, but thou? who hath fed me, but thou? who hath preserved me, but thou? who took me out of the Lion's mouths, but thou? who relieved me when I wanted things necessary, but thou? who hath delivered me in the time of danger, but thou? who shall have the praise and glory, but thou, the God of my salvation, and mine everlasting refuge?  
But what recompense, dear Father, shall I make unto thee? what reward shall I give thee? what sacrifice shall I offer thee? I am a worm & no man, I have no good thing to present unto thee, but only I say, and confess, and acknowledge even from my heart and soul, with my tongue and lips, that thou only art God, only good, only able, and willing to help the poor, to relieve the distressed, to comfort the abject, and to deliver them that are ready to be swallowed up of merciless waters.  
I am poor, yet thou providest for me: I want, and thou givest me things expedient: I have Enemies, but thou defendest me from their tyranny: I am feeble, and weak, and fearful to fall, but thou dost yet strengthen me and uphold me: thou leavest me not in misery: thou forgettest me not in my calamity, thou dost not ever hide thee from me, nor turn thy face when I seek thee, but thou rather hearest me before I call, and preparest me salve before I unfold my sore, and givest before I ask, more than I can desire: Yea, Father, when I think myself overwhelmed with the troubles, that like raging waves do follow one another, thou takest me up, and settest me on a sure Rock, and when I begin to slide, and my faith seemeth to fail me, thou even then, with thy helping hand dost hold me up: so that neither the waters of this world's troubles can altogether swallow me up, neither I altogether so fall, as if there were none to help me up.  
Therefore, O Father, full of love, full of power, full of compassion, and patient, to thee only I yield praise, for my present relief and comfort: I thank thee for thy loving and fatherly help, who art absolute in thy providence, and therein raisest means to support thy Children, when they are in danger. And as thou of thy free favour in Christ thy beloved, hast at this time, and for ever delivered me, yea, when I was past hope; so continue my loving God, and helper, and Saviour unto the end: and as thou seest my Soul in adversity continually: so be thou my continual helper, that I may still sing unto thee the song of praise, for thou art worthy to be praised, oh, thou art worthy to be praised: to thee be praise for ever.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.  PSAL. 18. 2. The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and he that delivereth me, my God and my strength: In him will I trust, my shield, and the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge.  

A Thanksgiving to God, for that Enemies have not prevailed according to their desires, with prayer to prevent them.  
OH Lord of Hosts, Lord of heaven and earth, who defendedst David from the malice of Saul, Hezekiah from the power of Senacherib, and all thy Children from their Enemies, so far as was ever expedient for thy glory, and their soul's comfort: I thank thee, and blessed be thy holy Name for ever, for that thou hast not suffered mine Enemies to triumph over me, buc hast most graciously delivered me from their malicious devices, & hateful inventions. Thine eye hath seen their laying in wait for me, and their wicked practices, and in thy providence they are fallen, and I stand; they are snared, and I am delivered; they are punished, and I am preserved. But it was not mine own policy, mine own power, wisdom, or sword, that hath kept them back, it was thine own will, thy work, and thine is the glory: neither have I escaped their wicked practices, because I was just, nor because I was innocent: neither of which deserveth so much, but it was thine own free mercy in Jesus Christ, by which they are snared, and I am delivered: and I do acknowledge it, and do confess before all men, yea, I do publish thy praise for thy goodness, who art my strength and my salvation: be thou evermore so, and I shall never be moved: be thou my rock, whereupon I may ever more rest say. And grant that as I have seen thy salvation, tasted of thy saving health, felt the power of thy right hand, and been partaker of so many of thy benefits and blessings: make me able to glorify thy Name, that as thou hast now disappointed mine Enemies of their hope, and weakened their power, as thou hast scattered them, & brought their devices and imaginations to nought: so, Lord, stand always by me: and as they have made a mock of me, trusting in thee, so let shame befall them for their cruelties; let their mouths, which spoke lies, be stopped, their arms still weakened, and their hearts wa●e faint, whensoever they shall attempt their malicious devices against me again, when they shall compass me about with the multitude of their wicked imaginations, then let the multitude of thy mercies over-match them. They have sought my hurt without a cause, and therefore fell without my force: thou tookest my cause into thine own hand, and hast brought me out of the snare that they had laid, and taken them, for thou judgest right: let them therefore know that it is thou hath haste done it, and although they say in their hearts, The Lord will not see, nor consider: let them find that thou seest and considerest their practices, and let them understand that thou regardest the cause of the oppressed, let them never have power to rise again against me, let them never prevail: let me evermore rejoice in thee, O Lord, my God, my strength, and my Redeemer.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Thanksgiving to be used after the return of a journey, or coming to some Inn, or place of rest.  
O God of all goodness, mercy, and love, I give thee most humble & hearty thanks, for thy divine providence, in leading and conducting me in this my Journey, and for preserving me from dangers in the same, wherein I do acknowledge thy goodness towards me, who as thou didst even by thy hand, conduct Lot out of Sodom, so hast thou taken me, as it were in thine arms, and delivered me from peril. And as thou didst send Raphael thine Angel to conduct Tobias. And as thou didst lead the Servant of Abraham, and didst guide jacob in their journeys, even by thy holy ministering Spirits: so do I acknowledge, that thou hast been this day with me in my journey, thou hast brought me in peace and safety unto this place, wherein I may take my bodily rest and refection, having graciously protected me from many secret dangers, not only of Enemies, Robbers, and Théeues, but also from danger and hurts of my limbs, which are commonly incident, and dye befall even thine own Children: blessed be therefore thy holy Name for ever. I give glory unto thy sacred and most glorious Name, for that thou hast not only preserved me, but hast also blessed my journey with such success, as in thy wisdom is most for my comfort and profit: for in all things thou knowest better what is fit for man, than man: and therefore as thou hast been pleased to deal with me, or shalt think hereafter fit for me: grant that I consult not with flesh and blood, to find the expediency of the success of my journey, knowing this, that we are ignorant of the things most convenient for us: And therefore whatsoever doth or shall succeed by thy providence, give me wisdom, patience, and thankfulness to embrace the same.  
Let me never forget the words of thy mouth, thy promises made unto thy Children, that all things shall work together for the best for them. And therefore I do assure me, that thou hast brought my journey to prosper, to far as may be to thy glory, my comfort, and the discharge of my duty, in all the circumstances of the occasion of the same. Make me able therefore to extol thee, O my God, let my Soul praise thee, O everlasting Guide. Lord, most loving, God all-sufficient, and ever-helping Father: to whom, with thy Son, in whom thou preservest, and to the holy Ghost, in whom thou sanctifiest all that are thine, be evermore ascribed all Glory, Power, Dominion, and Majesty for ever.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer for the Fruits of the Earth.  
O Almighty and most merciful God, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, which of thine abundant and infinite goodness, dost adorn and fill the Earth with all kind of fruit and grain, whereby is sustained both the life of Man and Beast, and which yet cannot prosper without thy blessing: we humbly beseech thee, of thine infinite goodness and mercy, to bless our Fields and Ground, and make them prosperous to yield their increase: for without thy favour and blessing, the Earth can bring forth nothing, but unprofitable and hurtful weeds, nor we by our endeavours make the same to prosper. Let not our grounds be desolate in thine indignation: shut not up the Heavens in wrath for our sins, that it be not as Iron, nor our Earth as Brass; but of thy goodness give us both the early and latter rain, that we may have abundance of all Fruit. Thy River, O Lord, is full of Water, prepare our Corn, and prosper our earth, crown the year with thy goodness, and let the clouds drop fatness, let the Plains be replenished with Sheep, and the valleys with Corn, that the Possessors of the earth may be merry and rejoice. Preserve us (O Lord) in the time of dearth, that we perish not for hunger, nor be confounded in the time of danger: we confess our sins (O Lord) with groan and grief of heart unto thee: hear our prayers in thy holy Habitation, and be merciful unto thy people, which have transgressed thy holy Commandments, and give every man according to his wants, that in all things we may confess and acknowledge with all reverence, thy omnipotent and divine power, and thy bountiful hand, with giving thanks and continual praises unto thee, which hast given us all things here to enjoy.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

Meditations.  

A most divine and comfortable Meditation, concerning the Majesty, and Power, and Love of God, whereby men distressed, and in continual dangers, may be stirred up the more assuredly, to depend on him, for their delivery and relief, though it come not suddenly.  
WHy shouldest thou fear or faint, O my poor soul, though yet thou find no more rest than the Dove, that could find no place to set her foot on? Be yet comforted, for the Lord he is God, and he turneth all things to good, to them that are his.  
Thou hast long sighed and bewailed thy miseries, and yet thou art as joseph, still in prison: but look not upon the weak means of flesh and blood, to be freed: look not upon the staff of Egypt, the bruised Reed of carnal aid to be stayed by: they are but false allure, to draw thee from the sweet contemplation of the admirable works of the worker of all good, the Lord of hosts, besides whom there is no God. He sitteth in glory in the Heavens, and hath clothed himself with Majesty. It is he that maketh all knees to bow, and forceth Kings to stoop, and driveth away the armies of his most mighty enemies.  
He is the hope, and strength, and help, and refuge, and rescue, and relief of them that trust in him: and he is not curious or coy, as man that worketh for money: he doth not good for good again, but all in love, all in mercy, freely, and wanting no power to bring to pass what he will: either in mercy to his children, or in judgement against his enemies.  
For the heavens are his seat, the earth is his foot▪ stool, the Angels are his ministers, and all creatures serve him, and that for man only. I will not then dismay, though I cry yet, and be not yet heard: there is an appointed time, and there is an appointed means in his providence already decreed in my behalf, I know well by his promises, which are Yea and Amen.  
Therefore be yet patient, O my soul: trust yet, O my soul: stand fast, and this God, yea, this high and glorious God, this great and terrible God, will be thy keeper, thy Saviour and protector evermore.  
He is an immaculate God, a God pure, perfect, & holy: fear him therefore. O my soul; for as he is clean, he will have thee cleansed from all impiety, he will have thee beautified with sanctity and holiness, as he is holy: no evil dwelleth in him, sin must not remain with thee, fly therefore all impiety, and embrace the righteousness of Christ, who will put on thee his robe of righteousness, and thou shalt be perfect. And this God then shall be with thee, this God, I say, shall be thy refuge for evermore.  
Though he sit in the high heavens, not seen with the eye of flesh, nor can be reached unto by the hand of natural reason, yet he commandeth all, & doth even what he will, both in heaven and in earth.  
So powerful he is, so magnificent, and so absolute in power, that at his word the earth trembleth, the mountains move, and in his displeasure he killeth even Kings for his righteous children's sakes.  
The heavens above do show the glory of this God, and the artificial frame of the firmament, the glistering Stars therein, the Sun and Moon, and their due courses unchangeable throughout all ages, and the beautiful ornaments of the earth beneath, do approve the admirable works of his hands.  
His voice is a mighty voice: for he speaketh, and it is heard from one end of the world to another: his voice is a terrible voice, at which all powers, Princes, & Potentates do tremble.  
That mighty Nabuchadnezzar at his voice, was thrust forth into the field among the wild Beasts, from his Throne: and David from the wilderness, called back to sit in the seat of honour: by him was Haman hanged, and Mordecay delivered, Susanna cleared, and the judges stoned.  
Every Kingdom is this great Gods, and he reigneth over all Nations: he controlleth, and is not controlled: he ●●iteth, and is not resisted: thee advanceth, and none can throw them down.  
O my Soul, fear, and serve, and love, and reverence, & obey this great God, this Lord high and terrible, that approveth himself a King over all the earth, being guarded with such invincible power and majesty, that he can strike Saul to the ground with his terrible voice, and again raise Saul with a loving and kind hand.  
O Lord, how terrible art thou in thy works? Through the infinite greatness of thy power, thou hast made all things, and preservest all men: insomuch as all such as seem to deny thee, thy power and providence, the fools that say in their hearts, there is no God, are made mute, and put to silence, and both their will and their practices made all subject unto thy will and pleasure.  
What then? shall I rest amazed at the frivolous inventions of fleshly men, that seem by their own power to build themselves Babel's on earth, working terror to the poor by their pride, and practice impiety without any remorse of conscience?  
No, I will keep silence, and neither mine own wants, nor sorrows, nor dangers, nor the world's ignominious taunts at my base estate, shall wrest me from this glorious God, from this powerful jehovah, from this so loving and kind a father: that feareth not the strength and forces of millions of Kings, but shieldeth and defendeth his by his mighty hand, and keepeth them safe in the flaming fire, in the raging seas, and in the strength of the Lion's paws.  
Let this God, I say, arise and chase his enemies, and cherish his little ones, and pull down the proud, and set up the simple, and scatter the wicked, that they dwell not beyond his time appointed to tyrannize over his chosen upon the earth.  
The Chariots of this God are twenty thousand Angels, the Lord himself being among them the general worker of all good for all his, and of all judgement against the unjust.  
All the gods that are esteemed as Gods among men, are but Idols, but the Lord he is God, that hath covered himself with light, as with a garment, whereby he discovereth all darkness, infidelity, disobedience and sin: he findeth out the faithless, howsoever they dissemble zeal, and approveth them not most godly, that are most glorious, nor them reprobates that the world rejecteth: but through the light of his most high wisdom and providence, he yieldeth to every one his own: to him that doth well, life, and relief, and succour, and patience, and rest, and peace: but unto the wicked, sorrow, and anguish, and tribulations, and a worm ever devouring, in perpetual horror in hell fire.  
O my soul, be therefore patient in these transitory troubles, in these momentany afflictions: stand fast, faint not, fear not, fly not, but feed on hope; for a strong help cometh, & for this small suffering, thou shalt receive a perpetual and most admirable weight of glory.  
O my soul, now consider: whom hast thou in heaven but this God? or whom, or what desirest thou in earth in comparison of him? for he is the portion of thine inheritance, he filleth the cup of salvation unto thee for ever: therefore I fear not, neither will I faint, for this God hath promised, neither to fail me, nor forsake me.  
There is none like unto God, Oh righteous people, which rideth upon the heavens for thy help, and on the clouds in his glory.  
The eternal God is thy refuge, and under his arm thou art for ever: he shall cast out the enemy before thee, and will say, Destroy them, Deuteronomy 33. 26. 27.  
O the deepness of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out! Rom. 11. 33.  
Of him, and through him, and for him, are all things: to him be glory for ever, Amen. Vers. 36.  
They inherited not the Land by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou didst favour them, Psal. 44. 3.   

A sweet Meditation concerning the knowledge and providence of God, whereby the souls of the distressed members of Christ, are so quickened through faith in Christ, that they rest assured, that God having foreseen all things, cannot but in mercy, bring all their sorrows to a joyful and wished end.  
IT is in vain I see, for me a wretched creature, to strive with my powerful Creator. If I should seem to bide me from him, and to seek to escape his rod and corrections, he being always solitary, I do but deceive myself, for he is in all places, and with all persons, and knoweth the ways of men, & searcheth the hidden thoughts within, and soeth mine actions without: the works of his children he seeth and approveth, the evil actions of the reprobates he seeth and condemneth: yea, this righteous God trieth the very hearts and reynes: he finds out the hidden dissimulation of hypocrites, pretend they never so great denotion and sanctity. Should I therefore think to colour my sins with the painted show of dissimulate holiness, could I perform it so far, as men might approve of all my sayings, and allow all my doings, and that I were held just? No, no: for if my inner parts be not perfect, he in his most absolute knowledge findeth me a deceiver, and so will make mine evils at the last break out as the morning light.  
O my soul therefore, as thou tenderest thy salvation to come, and my comfort here in this life, leave off to sin in secret, and fly all shows of impiety, and regard truth, and embrace justice, and follow good, even with thy most inward affection: and let neither my hand, nor mine eye, nor mine ear, nor my tongue be instruments of iniquity, but rather of sincere piety, and of a sanctified life.  
The cause of misery is sin, the way to obtain mercy is repentance, and a reformed conversation.  
How canst thou look for love, that lovest not to live well? and how canst thou live, and not lack many, yea, all God's blessings inward and outward, unless thou love him, and reform thyself before him, that seeth thy loose behaviour towards him?  
Thou art in outward poverty, because thou art full of inward impiety: thou hast many enemies, because thou art enemy to God: and thy dangers increase daily, because thou dwellest not in God, nor God's Spirit in thee.  
Thou sayest thou art Gods, and yet ungodly: thou sayest, thou fearest him: and yet thou still offendest him: thou thinkest thou shouldest receive what good thou desirest, and yet thou desirest amiss, and deservest evil.  
God knoweth who are his, and who are not his: and none know they are Gods, but who know God, and serve him rightly. The righteous only he knoweth, and their wants, and the unrighteous he despiseth because of their sins, wherein they say, Tush, the Lord will not regard it.  
O Lord, thou seest and beholdest, thou findest out and considerest all men's ways: mischief and wrong, equity and justice are before thee, and thou takest the causes of men into thy hands, and thou givest just judgement, because thou only knowest the truth of every man's cause.  
The poor commit themselves to this God that knoweth them, to this God that seeth them, and to this God that pitieth them, and provideth for them.  
The Lord looketh down from heaven upon all men, such is the force of his knowledge, that he knoweth in man, more than the heart of man itself: for he fashioneth the heart, and understandeth all my thoughts long before they be conceived within me.  
And therefore, my soul, prepare thee to patience, address thee to praise God, and continue in prayer, be not idle to meditate good things, that the Lords goodness may be thy goodness, that his love may be thy life, and his providence thy protection: for as he knoweth thy going, and marketh well thy wand'ring, when thy feel follow value things, and fatherly correcteth thee for them: so doth he behold thy tears, and heareth thy groans, which thou makest for sin committed against him, and healeth thee, and comforteth thee. Yet all things are so hidden in the treasure-house of his providence, that the natural man seeth not the means how to be cured when he is sick, how to be raised again being brought low, how to be defended having many mighty enemies: But the Spirit of God discerneth, and as he is God, knowing all things done, so he is a God, foreseeing all things to be done hereafter.  
And he seeing me in my mother's womb before I was any thing, or dained for me then, what I receive now, & therefore my hope must not fail, but take hold of his ancient love, wherein he first created me to live in him, and by him: and therefore, Oh, that I might be able truly to serve him, that he might lovingly relieve me still, that I might faithfully obey him, that he might fatherly help me still.  
He is the good shepherd: Oh that I were a good sheep of his pasture: he feedeth, and guideth, and holdeth up and comforteth, and maintaineth all that are his: he looseth none that are his, he confoundeth none that are his, neither doth he forsake any of his unto the end.  
Within his fold is his favour, and in his favour is life, and in that life is liberty, and in that liberty is relief, and in that relief true peace, and in that peace the assurance of salvation, and in that assurance, the joy and comfort of the Spirit, whereby every outward unsavoury thing is made inwardly sweet: every cross hath his comfort, and every trial, and temptation, and sorrow, and grief, is turned to the unspeakable good of the sheep of his pasture.  
Therefore, O my soul, sigh no more, sorrow no more, be no more pensive at outward poverty, fret no more at the world's miseries, dismay no more for thy many sins, but strive to stand in the favour of this God, and he will set thee free, and banish thy fear, and fill thy Cup, and feed thee with the hid treasures of his never-failing love.  
O Lord increase my Faith.  God knoweth the hearts of all men, Acts 1. 24. & 15. 8. The foundation of God remaineth sure, and hath this seal: The Lord knoweth who are his: and let every one that calleth on the Name of the Lord, depart from iniquity, 2 Tim. 2. vers. 19 Thou hast counted my wanderings, and put my tears into thy bottle; Psal. 56. 8.  

A Godly Meditation of the Word of God, whereby men distressed, may be strongly resolved to cast off all fear, and to cast all their care on God, that careth for them, according to his promise in his Word.  
OH, what am I, that I should conceive of any happiness, or glory, or joy, or comfort to be given me, either in this earth below, or in the heavens above? for I am a man of corrupt conversation, my heart is fraught within me with corruption, my soul is defiled, and my whole man polluted. Is it not therefore my just portion to have here misery, and calamity, and crosses, and enemies, and evils innumerable, to follow me for my sin, and to vex me for mine iniquities? so hath the Lord threatened in his word.  
Most true it is, that right it were, that I should receive these unsavoury things of this life, and to be deprived of the Land of them that live for ever, if I should receive according to my deservings: for death is due for sin, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this danger of death, that shall never have end!  
Surely, when I look into this book of mine own ways, and works, and wantonness, and wicked life, I see nothing but danger, and fear, and sorrow, and death itself, written therein: how then, my poor soul, unhappy soul, wretched soul, how canst thou escape? oh, tremble and fear: for i● thou find not favour, thou are fallen for ever, and for ever forlorn.  
Where then wilt thou seek for succour? to whom will't thou fly for grace? to the weak, and wicked, and woeful World, or wanton worldlings? No, my Soul, fly from these feeble friends, and look into, and consider, and believe, and embrace the Word of God: taste that Bread of life, drink of that Fountain that floweth from the lively Spirit of truth, & thou shalt live. It is a pure Word, and will purify thee: it is a lively Word, and will revive thee: the Word of truth, and will teach thee: the Word of comfort, and will recomfort thee.  
O my soul, what thing is so precious as this Word, that bringeth the glad tidings of thy salvation, thou deserving damnation? of Life, thou deserving death? of Comfort, thou deserving confusion? and of mercy endless, thou deserving miseries infinite?  
It is a Word full of consolation, to such as are sorry for their sins, and seek after righteousness: a Word of terror to the obstinate: it is a kill sword unto the wicked, and saving shield unto God's children: the savour of Life unto life, to them that are his: and the savour of Death unto death, to the wicked. It is more to be desired, than the purest gold, or sweetest honey: Come unto me (saith this Word) and I will refresh you. Seek (saith this Word) and you shall find rest for your souls.  
O my Soul, here then to thy rest, here is thy safety, and here is thy satiety, and here is thy life and liberty, and here shalt thou dwell as upon the Mountain of Peace, upon the Rock of Relief, and Hill of continual Help.  
This is the Staff to stay thee by, this is the Weapon to defend thee with, this is the Way to walk in, and this is the Food to relieve thee withal.  
Oh, rejoice therefore in the Lord, O my soul, because of his Word, by which he assureth thee of health, if thou be sick: of comfort, when thou art sad: of defence, when thou art in danger: and of his presence, when thou seemest to be left alone, forsaken of all.  
By his Word, he saith, Come: by thine obedience, say, Lord, I come: delay not to cast away the superfluous ear of carnal things, and seek things spiritual and heavenly.  
By his Word, he saith, Seek first the Kingdom of God: answer thou, by a detestation of the World and worldly vanity, Lord, thy Kingdom I seek: seek then this heavenly Inheritance, more to be wished then the Land, and Revenues, and Riches, and glory of the greatest earthly subject, who hath but the casual, and vain, and slippery things of this World, that leave him, and we leave them: but, lo, a Kingdom is provided in Heaven for the poorest Child of God. Seek this Kingdom, O my Soul, even while thou art here in this vast Wilderness of this World's miseries: for when thou hast suffered, thou shalt receive glory: and when thou hast fought that good fight, thou shalt be crowned: and when thou leavest these things so vile, and vain, and loathsome below, thou shalt enjoy things glorious and sweet, and full of joy and consolation above: when thou hast left the society and fellowship of men below, thou shalt accompany Angels above: and when thou hast made an end of sighing, and grieving, and groaning, under the burden of tyrannous men here, thou shalt sing praise and glory to this glorious God above, who hath sent thee his Wordhere in thy mortality, to comfort thee with the sweet contemplation of thine immortality.  
Oh, then let this be thy daily meditation, let this be thy continual exercise, that in want and weakness, in sorrow, and ignominy, and misery, and crosses, and temptations, and in all trials whatsoever, thou mayest duly weigh, how thou mayest be assured, that none of these shall hurt thee: for, lo, even this glorious, and sweet, and most joyful word telleth thee from thy loving Redeemer; My grace is sufficient for thee.  
O sweet word of truth, yea of truth: for he speaketh and performeth: his grace is sufficient: what then shall I fear? If his favour be not further off but always at hand, what shall I scare? if it be sufficient, what can resist it? nothing but sin: nay, his grace is sufficient to kill sin: then nothing can stand between me and this Kingdom of God, if I fly unto this Word, if I keep this Word, and meditate this Word, & bring forth the fruits of this Word: then this Word will further assure me, that this good God, this powerful, provident, and loving God, will never fail me, nor forsake me.  
O Lord increase my Faith.  The word of God is lively, and mighty in operation, and sharper than any two-edged Sword, and entereth thorough, even unto the dividing a sunder of the Soul and the Spirit, and of the joints and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts, and the intents of the heart, Heb. 4. 12. The word of God is our delight in affliction, And giveth wisdom to the simple. Psal. 119. 130. As new borne Babes desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2. 2. Let not the book of the Law depart out of thy mo●th, but meditate therein day and night, that thou mayst observe, and do according to all that is written therein: for then shalt thou make thy ways prosperous, and have good success, joshua 1. 8.  

A Meditation, concerning the benefit of Faith in God, and how it holdeth the Children of God from falling from him, in their deepest miseries.  
OWretch that I am, where is my hope? where is my help? where is my rest? where is my assurance of salvation, or help in my troubles?  
I have a forcible and strong Law in mine own carnal wisdom, that to trust in Man, to put confidence in Wealth, and to fly unto the relief of mine own devices, mine own ways and works avail me more than all other means, that elsewhere I may seek.  
O Fool that I am! O silly Sot, and wretch most feeble, what can I do, or speak, or work, or devose to bring to pass, the least good thing to comfort me withal?  
Mine heart is corrupt, my conversation evil, my tongue unholy, and all parts of my body vnp●…: can I then hope of any help, or work any good, or devose any course to comfort 〈◊〉?  
No, I disdain all mine own ●aies, and works, and wisdom, and incl●me wholly unto the counsel of the most high, and he will instruct me, I will trust in him, and he will help me: I will fly to him, and he will receive me: I will pray to him, and he will hear me: I will fall down yet again, yea, again, and again, before him, and he will take me up.  
Shrink not therefore, O my soul, nor be over-sad at these my miseries: be not afraid at the World's injuries; saint not at the fury of the eu●il and malicious men, for thou hast an helper in heaven, in whom whosoever trusteth, shall rejoice: & whom whosoever feareth, shall stand fast; & whom whosoever truly seeketh, shall prevatle in his desires, & shall triumph evermore▪  
O my soul, set the Lord always before thee, for he always is near thee Let me not think that he seeth not my ways and my walkings, as if he were a God, that considered not the actions of men.  
He is at my right hand, and on my left hand; he is before me and behind me; he compasseth me about on all sides, and findeth me out in my secret intentions, & his ways are only perfect and 〈◊〉; his Word 〈◊〉▪ 〈◊〉 capacity of wisest men. In this God I trust: in this Word I believe: in this Wisdom I repose my hope: and as he hath promised, it shall come to pass; and as is fittest I shall receive.  
And therefore I will not dismay, I will not be discouraged at my miseries; no, if I should pass through the ●alley of the shadow of Death, I will not fear; for my God attendeth me, and is in all things, at all places, and at all times with me; and though he correct me with his rod, he upholdeth me, and comforteth me with his prevailing hand.  
None, that trusteth in God, shall be put to shame; not one that putteth his confidence in him, and embraceth his Word, & obeyeth his Will, and walketh in his Ways, shall be confounded for ever.  
He is my light, and he directeth me, he is my help, and he sustaineth me, he is my rest and mysaluation, whom then, or what need I to fear?  
O my soul, I should have fainted in ●●se importable miseries, and contisée the goodne●… did not believe to life; if I were not assured to taste of his blessings, before I go hence, and b● no more seen:  
And I find his favour, and his mercy, and his power, and his providence, and his infinite blessings, both within me and without me daily; yea, he is my strength and my shield, he is my defence in trouble, and my portion, and my salvation. O my soul, trust in him, and thou shalt be fed, and shalt have cause to rejoice in him, and to sing praises unto his name: for trusting in him, his mercy shall compass me about, and comfort me with joyful deliverance, yea, none that trusteth in him shall perish.  
The eyes of the Lord are upon them that trust in him: trust in him, O my soul; then shalt thou say, I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me, and relieved me, and defended me, and brought me out of all my dangers.  
O how good and how gracious is this God, who sendeth his Angels to encamp about such as truly trust 〈◊〉. him, that no peril, or fear, or cross, or temptation hurt them! Blessed are they that trust in him.  
Fear the Lord, O my soul, trust in him, cry unto him, cease not to do good, be not weary of well doing; for nothing wanteth to them that fear him. Delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee thy hearts desire: commit thy way unto the Lord, and trust in him, and he shall bring all things to good end for thee.  
Wait patiently upon the Lord, hope in him; fear not, though the earth be moved, and though trouble environ thee round about, for the Lord out of heaven shall send and save thee, and shall not suffer thee to perish altogether.  
O God, remember thy promises, how thou hast said, thou wilt not fail me. I believe it, Lord; Lord, help mine unbelief.  
Upon thee I have been stayed from my youth, and it is only of thy mercy, that I had not been confounded long agone: for of myself I have fallen, but thou (Lord) hast raised me; of myself I perish, but through thee I have been ever preserved.  
Consider this, O my soul, and forget not the benefits of the Lord, how he hath made thee as Mount Zion, that can never be moved.  
Let neither poverty, or sickness, or loss, or enemies, or any crosses, or whatsoever troubles, drive thee from trust in this God: and assure thee, that neither life, nor death, nor things present, nor things to come, shall dismay thee: his mercies, and goodness, and blessings, and favour, & love shall follow thee, and feed thee, and relieve thee, and protect thee, and save thee from all dangers for eue●.  
O Lord increase my Faith.  Faith is the ground of things which are hoped for, & the evidence of things that are not seen, Heb. 11. 1. Above all, take the shield of faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, Ephes 6. ver. 16. I believed, and therefore I spoke, Psal. 116. 10. They that trust in the Lord, shall be as Mount Zion, that cannot be moved, Psal. 125. 1.  

A necessary Meditation, concerning the uncertainty of man's happiness in this life, and the certainty of the endless happiness of the children of God in the life to come, notwithstanding their present miseries here.  
MJne eyes have seen, and mine heart hath duly considered the fickle, and frail, and feeble, and uncoustant happiness of man in this life; yea, I myself have found by experience, that this world administereth unto man no periect comfort, while he liveth upon the earth.  
Yet flesh & blood, the foolish outward man, besotted with the vain delights of sins deceits, and snared with the baits of vain hope, the pleasures, and comforts, and glory, and ease, and fullness of earthly vanities, thinketh himself safe, and in state of such sure and never-failing happiness, that he walloweth in the mire of deceiving security, until at unawares the hand of the living God be stretched out against him, and either turneth his hope to despair, his glory into shame, his ease into trouble, his fullness into want, or all the vain things wherein he delighteth, into grief and sorrow.  
O my soul, trust not therefore in the transitory trash, and pelf, & wealth of this world, for it deceiveth and devoureth men; and as the rust and can●er eateth and wasteth iron, so doth the love thereof devour thy trust in God, and thy practice of better things.  
Trust not in worldly friends, for their words are vain, their promises not performed, nor their help worth thy hope. It is better to put confidence in the Lord, then to trust in Princes; for they who have their breath in their nostrils, are but men, whose power is of the earth, and whose hands are feeble, and their devices vain. Some trust in chariots, and some in horsemen: but (O my soul) trust thou in the living God: be doing good, and thou shalt remain, when the foolish man that believeth in flesh, and dependeth on earthly means, shall fall and perish.  
Be not carried away, O my soul: therefore, with the hope of any man's help, nor fear what man can do against thee: for suddenly is thy friend taken from thee, and he that seeketh thy destruction▪ brought to a fearful end. Thy happiness is not to have heaps of gold and silver, many friends, and all earthly abundance: for the abuse of these are dangerous, because they draw thee from seeking God, and they are short, and bring thee to destruction, leaving thy carcase naked in the grave, and thyself, O my soul, in the merciless pit.  
What availed the rich man's worldly pleasures, when he went suddenly to hell? What hindered the beggar's poverty, when he went immediately to heaven?  
How was job impoverished, having mighty wealth? What miseries do follow the mightest men, is daily seen, and how terrible the end is of such as have not the Lord their strength, but put their trust in the multitude of their riches?  
Who can say, The wealthy man is happy? When he sleepeth, he sleepeth in fear: when he walketh, he walketh in danger; and when he is in his best age, strongest body, and best state, he suddenly dieth, and leaveth his wealth he knoweth not to whom.  
And who can say, the poor, fearing God, is unhappy in his baseness, and want, and ignominy, sith he setteth his hope upon the never-failing God? he seeketh his help from heaven, and is fed as with the dew thereof? only hope sustaineth him, and his want is timely supplied with wished necessaries, and his heart comforted in his deepest miseries: he lieth down in faith, and patience, and thankfulness, and the Lord sustaineth him, and when he dieth, he liveth, and reigneth, and rejoiceth in God his Saviour.  
O that I might have no delight in the vain things of this world. O my soul, be at peace within me, when I have wars without me, be contented, and grudge not, when I want the outward fullness of worldly things: for I see and consider, that carnal means cannot save me, but the mercies of the Lord, wherein he affordeth unto his faithful ones all things to enjoy.  
Though he make me a reproach among my friends, and though he suffer me to stand a gazing stock before the eyes of the wicked, who triumph in their own glory, gotten by their own hands and devices, and the Lord none of their counsel, I will not yet be dismayed, neither will I be moved at their prosperity: for I know, the day of their sorrows cometh on, when they shall howl, and cry out in horror, for the pains that ●nsue their pleasures, and for the want that shall follow their wealth, and for the miseries that shall follow their mirth, and for their death that shall follow their glorious and wanton life.  
Oh, how foolish are they that trust in their goods? how mad are they that make wealth their warrant, and riches their arm, and friends their staff, when none of these can save them from sickness, from sorrow, from dangers, nor from death?  
No man can redeem his brother from God's displeasure, and from his appointed torments in hell, by his much wealth: he cannot save himself by the multitude of his riches: but God shall deliver thee, my soul, from the power of hell, and shall save me.  
Be not therefore afraid, O my soul, though many be made rich, and thou in poverty: many advanced, and thou rejected; many graced, and thou disdained; many comforted, and thou injured among the sons of mortal men: thy riches, and thy glory, and thy favour, and thy comfort, and thy joys are hid in Christ with God.  
And what thinkest thou, O my soul, of these short miseries, that shall be exchanged for infinite comforts? whether is it not profitable for thee to have these moment any corrections, to enjoy an eternal crown? thou hast tried the inconstant course of worldly things, and the day is coming wherein thou shalt possess the permanent consolation of heavenly things.  
How long hast thou looked about thee for help in the earth? Upon my right hand I looked, and behold, none that would know me, or comfort me (as David saith) and upon my left hand, and no man I found that cared for my soul.  
Then I cried unto the Lord, & said, Thou only art my hope & my portion, in whom I live, & have an unmoveable being.  
O Lord increase my Faith.  We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain, that we can carry nothing out, 1 Tim. 6. 7. Therefore when we have food and raiment, let us therewith be content, Vers. 8. The children of men are vain, the chief men are liars, to lay them upon a balance, they are lighter than vanity itself, Psal. 62. 9  

A sweet Contemplation of Heaven, and heavenly things, whereby the sad distressed soul is much comforted, and encouraged to endure unto the end, that he may possess the joys prepared for such as patiently suffer, and without grudging bear the burden of this world's miseries.  
O My soul lift up thyself above thyself, fly away in the contemplation of Heaven, and heavenly things: make not thy further abode in this inferior region, where is nothing but travels and trials, and sorrow, and woe, and wretchedness, and sin, and trouble, and fear, and all deceiving and destroying vanities.  
Bend all thine affections upward unto the superior place, where thy Redeemer liveth and reigneth, and where thy joys are laid up in the treasury of his merits, which shall be made thy merits, his perfection thy perfection, and his death thy life eternal, and his resurrection thy salvation. Esteem not the trifling pleasures of this life, to be the way to this wealth, nor the ignominious estate here, to be any bar to prevent thee from the full use, and joyful fruition of the glory there prepared for thee.  
I am assured, that though I want here, I shall have riches there, though I hunger here, I shall have fullness there; though I faint here, I shall be refreshed there, and though I be accounted here as a dead man, I shall there live in perpetual glory.  
That is the City promised to the Captives, whom Christ hath made free: that is the kingdom assured to them whom Christ shall crown; there are the joys prepared for them that mourn: there is the light that never shall go out: there is the health that shall never be impaired: there is the glory: that shall never be defaced: there is the life that shall taste no death: and there is the portion, that passeth all the world's preferment: there is the world that never shall wax worse: there is every want supplied freely without money: there is no danger, but happiness, and honour, and singing. and praise, and thanksgiving unto the heavenly jehovah: to him that sitteth on the throne, to the Lamb that here was led to the slaughter that now reigneth: with whom I shall reign, after I have run this comfortless race, through this miserable earthly val●.  
The honour in this earth, is baseness, the riches of this world poverty, the fullness of this life is want: the joys of this world's kingdom are sorrow, and woe, and misery, and sadness, and grief: and yet the fool saith in his heart, There is no other heaven, but this harmful deceiving world's happiness, no other hell but this world's bitterness, no better comfort than this world's cares, nor further help then this world's wealth.  
Thus is man's wisdom made foolishness, and man's glory turned into shame, & man's power made of no force. And the faithful poor that are here despised, there are advanced: the sorrowful are comforted, & the castaways in this world are received to that blessed being, that cannot be expressed with the tongue of man, nor conceived with the heart of man.  
Oh that I had wings (saith heavenly-hearted David) that I might fly away from this world's vanities, and possess heaven's happiness. Oh, that I were dissolved (saith blessed Paul) that I might be with Christ. Oh, that I were in this place of such wished happiness, where I might rest from these worldly labours, and earthly miseries, and transitory vanities.  
But be not heavy, O my soul, though thou must yet wade through the sea of these earthly troubles: for these heavenly mysteries are not seen of carnalleyes, nor can be obtained by carnal means, but through troubles and afflictions, and dangers, and persecutions, they must be achieved: and none that are Gods elected, shall be free from this World's hatred: for such difference there is between earth and heaven, and between earthly and heavenly things, that who so delighteth in the first, shall be deprived of the latter: for we cannot have this world's heaven, and the Heaven of heavens, the heaven of Saints, and Angels, and Cherubins, and Seraphins, where are all unspotted, and all glorious, and all in white Robes of sanctity, and where Christ, the sacrificed Lamb, is unto them all in all.  
Oh blessed are all they that are thus assured: blessed are the Poor that shall have this heaven's riches: blessed are the Base that shall be thus advanced: blessed are the Low that shall be thus raised: and blessed are the Worlds despised, that shall have this heaven's happiness; yea, happy is this wretched world's unhappy man, for he shall be happy.  
I will daily meditate of the greatness and Majesty of this high heaven's blessed estate, where I shall one day bless my God, with the company of his Saints, and where I shall one day sit secure and free from the dangers, perils, crosses, and afflictions that now do assatle me on the right hand, and on the left, within me, and without me, and am never free from one calamity or other.  
But it is good for me to be here humbled, that I may be there advanced, where I wish speedily to come. It is good that I was in want here, that I might seek heavenly necessaries. It is good that the World did discourage me, that I might fly to God that comforteth me. It is good that I am daily killed here, that I might live continually there.  
Now therefore, O my soul, stand up, fear not, faint not at this world's crosses: but give glory to this great God, praise this high and helping God, seek him while it is to day, drive not off to pray to this God, notwithstanding any hope thou hast in mortal men; nor reject not his gracious means, who in favour infinite, and mercy endless, moveth the hearts of men in this life, to do good unto such as he seeth distressed; he can find out and afford infinite means to succour them that are his, and will not leave them forsaken in danger: for he even here giveth me his blessings, as pledges of his never-failing lout, that being visited in his mercy with timely comforts here, I may assure me of greater blessings in Heaven, where they are prepared beyond all that I can ask or think.  
O Lord God of Hosts, who is like unto thee, who hast established thy Kingdom with truth and equity, with mercy and judgement? thou hast a mighty arm, strong is thine hand, and high is thy right hand, who so is under thy protection, he is safe, and he that trusteth in thee, mercy embraceth him on every side.  
Oh, blessed art thou, O my soul, if thou canst rejoice in the Lord: he is thy Father, he is thy helper: walk therefore in the light of his countenance, and be patient: wait in hope, till these storms be past, and then shalt thou have that quiet rest, that he hath prepared in heaven for thee.  
O Lord increase my Faith.  
Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, even the Lord jesus.  
If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God,  Col. 3. 1. Set your affections on things which are above, and not on things which are on the earth, Vers. 2.  

A consideration of the dangerous estate of the impenitent wicked ones after this life, notwithstanding their wealth, and power, and great glory, which they have here, where they seem to triumph over poor distressed men.  
Read and consider, ye Rich and Poor.  
IT is a strange temptation unto a man, when he findeth himself still afflicted, notwithstanding he seeketh help continually at the hands of God, and the more, when he seeth that such as neither serve God, or fear God, such as are wanton and wicked, and hardened in sin, to prosper and to flourish in this life, and to have all things that their hearts can desire.  
David beholding this, began a little to stagger, and was ready to give over his godly beginning, and to end with the wicked: and as long as he took no better regard, but only as natural wisdom led him, he commended their estates, because they were rich, and wanted nothing, they were healthful and lusty, and their goods did increase, which Worldlings hold true happiness.  
But when David considered their greatness, as it was discovered unto him by the light of true knowledge, he then altered his conceit of these Men, and renounced their ways, and hated their works, and avoided their company, and betook himself to prayer, as the thing whereby he should prevail better, then with all the wealth the world could yield him.  
And surely, the present time affordeth unto us that now live, no less cause of vigilant regard, that we be not carried away with the World, whose glory is embraced, whose power is practised, whose policy is preferred, and whose happiness is had in greatest esteem: insomuch as who so is poor, or helpless, or distressed, or endangered in the World, by worldlings is censured a castaway, a reprobate, a man forsaken of God.  
It is not virtue, nor godly life, nor inward zeal, nor any good quality of the spirit, that hath any favour in the World: but the rich, and glorious, and men of countenance, and of power, and of office, and of gay attire, that be accounted Gods favourites. As for such as are ragged, they are not regarded; such as are base in show, are accounted base in deed. So that God's children have the least share of the world's liberality: and the impudent, and shameless, and wicked, and worst men, are they that possess and usurp the earth, and earthly glory.  
But alas, short and slippery is this glorious show of theirs: they are as Cedar's, that overshaddow the low bushes for a while, but they shall be as stubble in the Furnace, when the ●re is put to their roots. They are now as devouring she Bears, and as raging Lions: but the time cometh, wherein the Lord will smite them upon their jaw-bones, and will pull out the teeth of these merciless wretches.  
They have set themselves in glory, but God shall turn it to shame: they have fastened their footing, as they think, never to be moved; but the Lord will make their standing unsure, and their ways slippery, and their days short, and their end horrible.  
And howsoever they now make boast of their own hearts wickedness, and though they seem to contend with God, and subdue his members, and make no reckoning of his Saints, or think there is no God: God will find them out, and he will rebuke them with a perpetual rebuke, and put out their name for ever, not only out of the Earth, which they hold their Heaven, but even out of Heaven, and his Book of life.  
Who yet are commended, and esteemed, and advanced, and reverenced, but these men, of least merit? Only their riches, and their bribes, and their flattery, win them dignity, and preferment, and honour, and favour, and what may fill them full of all tokens of perdition.  
But this is a heavy weight of temptation to the poor, that deserve to be made rich for virtues: for the low, that aught to be raised for praiseworthy qualities, when they see that the worst are preferred for reward, and the best rejected for want.  
Surely, this World may be compared to the Pool of Bethesda, into which what diseased person stepped first, was healed, but the strongest and best limmed, and he that had best helps, had always the benefit of the healing: so now in this Puddle of worldly partiality, not the first that cometh is preferred, nor the most fit, but the most liberal giver.  
But there is a Judge that sitteth and seeth, how the World's wealthy ones make others wealthy, not for worthiness, but for gain.  
What striving, and struggling, and working, and inventing, and swearing, and painstaking, is there about the Philosophers stone? Many a man hath been long hammering, and hazarding goods, and lands, and liberty, and life, and some pawn soul and all, to have this strange mean to make himself a great man, and a rich man, and a wise man, and a cunning man, and a man to be admired at for his rare skill, and great wealth, and hidden wisdom: and while he sought this stone of wisdom, he became a fool, and a beggar, and a laughingstock to them that become the wiser, to see his ambition and folly.  
But hadst thou this stone, that could transinute Maluerne Hills into pure gold, and all the Earth into silver, and couldst make thyself young again, and lusty and strong again, and hadst what thou couldst wish here in this life: what were this unto thee? thou wert yet but a worldly wise man, a worldly rich man, a carnal man. But the Philosophers stone indeed thou hast not found, which is, to fear God, and to embrace his Word, and to be content with a competent estate: and therefore as impossible for thee to go to heaven, as a Camel to go thorough a needle's eye: But tush, thou wilt say, Abraham was rich, Lot was rich; job was rich, and Solomon was rich: and yet they were in God's favour, and Gods elected ones.  
True it is, they were blessed of God in their riches, because they knew God, and believed his promises, They held not their wealth, but as means to relieve themselves and others: but thou holdest thy wealth to get vainglory by them. They were bountiful and liberal where need required, and had not the desire of money, as thou that hast never enough, and wilt depart from none: that by rapine, and wrong, and oppression, and bribery, and sin, inrichest thyself. They used their wealth, as though they used it not, in respect of themselves, but to do good to God's children by it.  
Who can but imagine, that if the Philosophers stone were to be contrived or compounded of the powder of poor men's hearts, and of the blood of their own souls, would not there be some of these stones composed by merciless men, that hate to be reform, and say by all their cruelties, daily practised, that either there is not a God to recompense their wickedness, or else that God seeth not, nor considereth their oppression and wrong?  
These men yet prosper in the world, and say that these things are theirs: these things are Gods blessings: these things are to be disposed after their own hearts lusts, in vanity and pride, in wantonness and sin: but to relieve the necessity of the poor they have no will: the words of worldlings warrant them, that they may do with their own what they list.  
But the word of God cryeth, we to the rich, many more to the hardhearted and fast-handed rich Man: because there is no love in him, or mercy, or compassion in him, the poor 〈◊〉ous unto him, and the needy or 〈◊〉 said man's cry he cannot hear.  
But God shall hear these afflicters of poor men; he shall find out their hidden muck, and approve them liars that say unto the poor, I have not for you; yea, God shall hear them, and afflict them: even he that reigneth of old shall cast them down, though they long flatter themselves in their prospority, and say, We will prevail; who is Lord over us?  
Let no child of God therefore repine against these evil men, that have the world at will, who are so fat, and so well liking, as they hold themselves in most happy case. Let them alone, their day is coming, and their confusion cometh: they shall be cut down like grass, and wither as the green herb, and at last be cast into the unquenchable Furnace.  
The Lord laugheth them to scorn, while they laugh the Poor to scorn, and the Lord out of Heaven thundereth terror unto them, while they work trouble, and misery, and vexation against the Just, that dwell in ●●se show upon the Earth, whom yet t●…ord holdeth under his protection▪ and guardeth so, as the wicked prevail no further against them, then may make for the profit of their souls. These oppressors, and these mighty men, that care not for God, nor regard his Word, nor feat his threats, nor believe his promises, they shall be surely confounded, and perish, when there shall be none to help: they shall be consumed as the fat of Lambs: even with the viper of their own guilty consciences they shall be stung, and consume away, and come unto a fearful end.  
I have seen the wicked strong, (saith David) and spreading himself like a green baytree: but he withered ere he was plucked up, and being plucked up, he is cast into the fire. So that let these men of power, that oppress and pity not the poor, think what a goodly show they make in the Streets, in the Church, and in the Markets, and seats of Judgement: how wonderful they are in their own conceits, by reason of their wealth, and honour, and glorious attite, and how the poor fall at their feet, and they cast by their countenance from beholding such wretched poor men, and withhold their hands from giving, and their tongues from comforting, as if they themselves were (and none else) the substance, and the poor but the shadows of men. But consider (I say) consider thy state, and place, and pomp, and pride, and vanity well, and it shall all appear but as a cloud that vanisheth away suddenly, like a glistering bubble in the Sun. So thou goest to the grave in fear, and the worm's prey upon thee, as thou didst on the poor: for as thou piecemeal didst rob the poor by extortion and bribery, so do the worms by little and little devour that proud car●eis, that now, as to a● Idol, men are forced to crouch, and bow themselves.  
Hast thou any thing rightly to boast of, O thou foolish man, that esteemest the more of thyself for thy wealth and great glory, being the very means to make thee proud, and thy pride to make thee despise thy Brethren, and consequently God, that made thee and them? Were it not better for thee to become a Zacheus, to restore all thou hast wrongfully and sinisterly gotten, and of thy goods well gotten to give half to the poor, that thou mayst say, and be said to be rich in good things, because thou dost good? But to be rich and hoard it up, to be rich and do no good, is a badge of a man that shall never enjoy the Kingdom of God.  
Were it not better to weep here, that we may rejoice hereafter, then to rejoice here, and howl for ever? But weep, and howl, and lament, and be wail yourselves, ye rich men, that have no remorse: for the pains, and horror, and anguish, and torments endless, shall be your reward if ye repent not, and reform your evil ways.  
Be no more stiffnecked, nor covetous, nor disdainful, but liberal, and humble, and helpful to the people of God, that God in his mercy may make you rich in knowledge of good things, rich in practice, and rich in godly zeal.  
And be not grieved, though by this alteration you become poor: for a mess of portage, to one fearing God, is better than all the riches of the wicked.  
He is not poor, who loveth God: for God loveth him, and in his love is life, and liberty, and lively relief.  
But who so feareth not God, have be never so great abundance, is a beggar, a castaway, and a reprobate from the joys of heaven: the least of which cannot be purchased with millions of kingdoms: the least of them more worth than all your gold and silver, and lands, and possessions, and offices, and honour, and what else the whole world, which deceiveth you, can afford.  
The Book of God is full of terrible and sharp threats against merciless rich men: and many woes the Lord (that loveth the lowly) pronounceth against the proud. And what a judgement it is that their hearts are shut up, that they cannot consider their end, to be as the Ox that is fattened for the slaughter, who delighteth in the deep féeding, while the Butcher determineth his death: as the covetous, and wanton, and wicked ones, take pleasure in their vanities, while their death and destruction cometh without redemption?  
But if these men will not hear, nor conceive, nor consider the peril of their estate: if they will not, while the Lord may be found, seek to return, that they may be saved, their judgement, and destruction, and reprobation will be the more just.  
O Lord increase my Faith.  Why boastest thou thyself in thy wickedness, O man of power? Psalm 52. 1. The Lord shall destroy thee for ever; he shall take thee, and pluck thee out of thy tabernacle, and root thee out of the land of the living, Verse 5.  

An exhortative Conclusion: wherein the afflicted are stirred up to patience, and not to be ashamed of their miseries and base estate, so long as they endeavour to do their duties in their several callings, and stay themselves upon God's providence.  
AS the man that is borne blind, cannot judge of colours, nor the dease man distinguish of sounds: no more can a man that hath been kept blind and muffled with the mask of this world's pleasures, and become dumb with his secure estate here, discern the things of God: he cannot distinguish between, Woe be unto you rich, because you have your consolation here; And, Blessed are the poor, for they shall receive comfort. These things are not so heard, nor so regarded of Worldlings, as might bring them to a true and lively consideration, that there is a woe and a blessing pronounced: that there is fire and water set before them, and life and death offered them. But as Children that have no more discretion than Moses being an Infant, who refused a Crown, and took burning coals, do reject the better things as dross, and embrace the worst, as most dear and precious: and therefore prefer their Oxen, and their Farms, and their heaps of transitory vanities, before the sweet banquet of a contented estate. And so far they are from the true conceit of God's purpose in punishing man, that they censure crosses that light upon other men, as curses, and the glory, and riches, and muck, and pelf of their own, to be given them, because they, and none else are blessed: whereby many times the dear Children of God are put to a deep agony, when they hear and perceive the taunts, and reproofs, that the world and worldlings cast at them for their poverty, and base estates sake. They stand before the world's Gallant-ones, as David's men, that had the shirts of their garments cut to their buttocks, as men derided and scoffed, and as castaways, and men forlorn and forsaken of all men: and cast down and confounded by God himself: in regard whereof many times the poor, though indeed the very Children of God, are so ashamed of their estate, as they be forced not only to avoid the familiarity of the wealthy, but even to be seen of them a far off: nay rather, they hide themselves as men cast off, or dross from the gold: where indeed the Word of Truth findeth them out, and approveth them the refined gold, and the worldly-minded straw and stubble: provided withal, that he that is cast down, must not so justify himself, as to argue himself the child of God because he is cast down, because he is made poor, or because he hath enemies, or sickness, or want, or persecution: (for all these things may happen also unto the reprobate:) for as sin is the ground of all our afflictions, and our offences the cause of God's displeasure, and God's displeasure poureth forth crosses and curses too upon sinners: So must every man carefully consider how he standeth in his troubles, whether he have fallen into the same by his own riot or lascivious and wanton life, by his ungodly conversation, and neglect of the fear of God; for which things sake, the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience, and he poureth out of the cup of his indignation upon them, either in judgement, because their condemnation shall here begin, and so be perpetual, or else to reclaim them from their wicked ways, that they may be saved.  
And he that findeth himself in his conceit, lest deserving afflictions, because he either feeleth not, or findeth, or will not acknowledge that he is such a sinner that deserveth so great punishment, as many times lighteth upon other men: let him think that he in thus justifying of his own ways, is in a dangerous state.  
It is the pride of the heart, which God that searcheth it, well seeth, and considereth, that such a one is in a perilous way, if he be not humbled. And surely godly David himself was gone a little that way, and God saw that he must pull down this chosen vessel of his, before he would tread his steps as he should: for as he confesseth himself, Before I was corrected, I went awry, So that our troubles and miseries. and all the adverse things that may befall us, are God's corrections to his children to reform them: but his judgements are messengers of his utter renunciation to the obstinate, who by his punishments wax worse and worse, and who murmur and grudge at the course that he taketh with them to amend them, as did the rebellious Israelites, whom he often visited in mercy, before he entered into judgement against them: So that none that standeth may say, he cannot fall, none that are high may say, they cannot be brought low: for all have sinned, and all have need of correction, all are sick, and all have need of Physic; all have gone astray, and therefore all have need to be reclaimed. Who then will be ashamed of God's visitation? who will be impatient when afflictions come? Surely, none but the man that knoweth not God, none but he that loveth this world more than heaven, and the pleasures of this life, more than the joys of the life to come.  
David was not ashamed of God's corrections: for he praised it as a great benefit, and took it as an high blessing, and said it was good for him. Was it good for him, and ill for us? was it profitable to him, and hurtful to us? No, and therefore Paul was not ashamed of his crosses: for crosses make us the companions of the blessed Children of God; nay, they make us the more like to our elder brother, Christ Jesus, who finished our Redemptions through the Cross, and made the way to the joys of heaven through afflictions, and he that is ashamed to follow him that way, he cannot come to him at all, he will not know him, and therefore he shall never enter into that holy place, he shall never attain unto that rest that shall be endless, and most joyful in the heavens.  
How unsavoury therefore soever our troubles seem, we must be patient, and never give over to cry unto our helping Father, nor to use our best endeavours in our callings, which God will bless, staying ourselves in hope upon his promises. Let us never dismay, for God that maketh this little wound without, doth it to cure a greater within: and while he seemeth to kill us, it is, that we may live ever: and while he suffereth us to be here ignominious, it is that we may become all glorious with him in heaven.  
The poor man cryeth, and the Lord heareth him, and saveth him out of all his troubles, Psal. 34. 6.  
The Angel of the Lord pitcheth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them, Vers. 6.  
Taste ye, and see how gracious the Lord is: blessed is the man that trusteth in him, Vers. 8.    

A Prayer to be used of a sick man.  
O Almighty and everlasting God, who although thou art still in thy judgement, yet art thou a merciful God to the soul that seeketh théeth, infinite in thy mercy, and plenteous in redemption, for though thou send sickness, yet wilt thou show pity, according to the multitude of thy compassions, for thou dost not willingly chastise and afflict the children of men: therefore I poor wretched sinner, which am but dust, earth and ashes, unworthy the least of thy favours, do freely confess, to thy glory, and mine own shame, that I am conceived and borne in sin, that original corruption, staining and infecting my whole nature, hath deprived me of all holiness, and left in me an inclination to all evil: and that I have by mine innumerable transgressions, in thought, word, and deed, broken all thy holy Commandments, and therefore (besides all other evils) I have justly drawn this sickness, and these diseases upon me, yet not withstand, seeing that thou (such is thy exceeding great mercy) hast no pleasure in the miseries and destruction of thy Children, but dost only by affliction try, correct, humble, and reform them, for there present and everlasting good: I do therefore, most dear and loving Father, most humbly beseech thy heavenly Majesty, to pardon my sins, the only causes of my misery and affliction: increase and perfect in me all graces that concern salvation: assist me with the counsel and comfort of thy sacred Spirit, and convert this my visitation to mine amendment, and salvation of my soul in Christ.  
If it be thy good pleasure and will (O Lord) restore me to my perfect and former health, that I may not only perform my good purposes, and pay my vows, which my lips have promised, and my mouth hath spoken in my affliction, but also henceforth grow up in grace, in obedience, in holiness, until I come to the end of mine hope, which is the salvation of my Soul. But if it be thy will and decree by this chastisement, to finish my days, I most humbly and earnestly entreat thee (O my God) as the outward man decayeth, to renew in me the inner man, and to grant that as the body dyeth, so thy grace may live and revive in me. Shut not the eyes of my mind, but open them and make me understand what the hope of my heavenly calling is, and what is the riches of the glorions inheritance, that thou hast prepared for me, that I may live in thy faith and obedience, and end my life in thy favour, and when this life endeth, remain and reign with thee in glory for ever.  
Vouchsafe to be a Father to my family, kinsfolk, and posterity: plant thy fear in their hearts, confirm them in thy grace, and give them all things competently necessary for the maintenance of this present life. Hearken (O Lord to these my prayers, and grant me all other things, which thy heavenly wisdom seeth necessary for my soul or body, for thy dearly beloved Sons sake. To whom, with thy Majesty, and God the holy Ghost, be rendered and ascribed all honour and glory, now and for ever.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer for Patience in sickness, and truly to express sorrow for sin.  
O My most loving and merciful Father, God omnipotent, who art nigh unto all those that call upon thee in truth, thou art a present help in time of trouble, all powerful, full of wisdom and compassion, wonderfully surpassing all earthly Parents: I poor miserable wretch, long troubled with grievous sickness, and so sore vexed with pain and torment, that neither my body can take any sleep or rest, nor my Spirit feel any ease or comfort, do here in the only merit and mediation of Jesus Christ, present and humble myself before thee, humbly begging and entreating for favour and mercy at thy hands. Work in my heart by thy holy Spirit, godly sorrow and repentance for all mine offences: impute none of them unto me, but let me feel and be assured in my conscience, that the guilt and punishment of them are removed. Be thou my Physician, to cure and heal me: avert and turn this present sickness into a sovereign medicine, and this vehement and grievous pain into a fatherly and gentle visitation: let thy strength appear in my weakness: let thy power be perfected in mine infirmity: and so arm me in this my temptation, with the gift of Patience and long-suffering, that I be not withdrawn from the constant practice of holy duties, neither yield unto mine own passions, and the suggestions of Satan.  
To this end pour down thy blessed and sacred Spirit into mine heart, ●each, assist, and direct me, that he may open to the eyes of my mind, the righteousness of thy Judgements, that I may in all willingness a●… knowledge the equity of the same: that he may bring to my remembrance, the cruel and most bitter pains and torments of my merciful Lord and Saviour Jesus, who by his death hath swallowed the very dregges of thy wrath, and by the merit and virtue of it, hath so tempered and swéetned the Cup of affliction unto ●: manifest unto me the glorious and heavenly happiness, and holiness, of thy Saints and Servants in heaven, that the certain assurance, hope, and expectation thereof, may abundantly exceed, and take away all my present grinie and torment.  
I beseech thee (O Lord) according to thy promise, ease my burden: give me quiet and comfortable sleep, and refreshment to my restless body, and to bless all those good means, which shall be prescribed unto me, that they may tend to my cure and amendment (for without thy blessing they are of no force and virtue) that I with thy blessed Servants, job, Lazarus, David, and others, having experience of thy might, truth, and mercy, in my relief and amendment, may with all joy and love praise thee, truly serve thee, and more confidently rely upon thee all the days of my life, yea, and (for the instruction and encouragement of the afflicted) publish and declare the infinite and exceeding Power of thy might and compassion.  
Vouchsafe (O most gracious Father) to incline thine ears to this mine humble Petition, and to grant me all other things needful and necessary for my soul and body, for thy dear Son Christ ●esus sake, my only Saviour and Redeemer: to whom, with thy Majesty, and thy blessed Spirit, three persons and one God, al-powerfull and sufficient, be ascribed and given all honour, praise, and glory, now and always.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer to be said at the point of Death.  
O Lord God Almighty, I assuring myself my time is come, my soul waxeth heavy even unto death: vouchsafe therefore (O Lord) to cast down thine eyes upon me, bedew my heart with the Oil of thy grace, forgive me my sins, confirm my faith, shorten my pangs of Death, expel Satan, for thine infinite mercy help me in this my last conflict: look upon Jesus Christ thy Son my Saviour and Redeemer: into thy most blessed and gracious hands, I commit my soul, refuse it not (O God) but accept me, for it is thy own workmanship, and let me depart in thy fear, and rise again in thy merciful favour: that I may attain and come to thy eternal and most wished joys of heaven, for and through the merits of my blessed Saviour, Christ Jesus, to whom with thee, and the holy Ghost, be all glory, honour, and praise for evermore.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith, and receive my soul.   

A Confession of sins, with a very necessary Prayer, to be said of poor distressed men, Morning and Evening, and at all times else, as they shall be thereunto moved.  
O Father full of mercy, I yield unto thee all praise and thanks, for thy continual most sweet favours, and especial graces, bestowed frankly on me thy unworthy Creature: for Electing me to salvation, for Creating me, for Redeeming me, for Relieving me, and for Preserving me evermore. Great is thy love in Christ my Saviour, infinite thy Power, unspeakable thy Mercies. Relieve me always, and direct nice in all things: let thy will be a Law unto my will, that my corrupt affections draw me not to consent again to the unsavoury lusts of my carnal will, which to this day ha●h overmuch miscarried me, into the vain desires of this wicked World's pleasures, the baits of that mortal adversary, deceiving Satan, the defiled fruits of my sinful flesh, and the cords whereby I have been drawn from virtue to vice, from sanctity to sin, from light to darkness, from Heaven to dreadful Hell. My sins, O Lord, have been many and continual: my serving of thee, cold and seldom. O forgive me, and let not my years consume any longer in vanity: let mine hands hate to handle unholy things: let my heart harbour no more the hateful thoughts of unrighteousness, and let my soul be so seasoned with the spiritual dew of thy blessed Word, that my Soul and Body, being sanctified to every good work, I may cast off the unprofitable works of darkness, and only cleave to the true service of thee, who art full of grace and truth. Be unto me the sweet savour of life unto life: be unto me the light of truth, that my life be not unprofitable in good things, nor my soul deprived of thy sacred spirit; without which, man is poor, possessing all worldly riches, base, in most high worldly honour, and dead, live he never so strongly in the flesh.  
Therefore, Father full of mercy, be merciful unto me: full of power, protect me: provident, relieve me: most sacred, sanctify me. Let the eyes of thy favour be always on me: let the relieving hand of thy help be always toward me: be unto me a strong Castle, a Restful refuge, a Fountain of relief, the Supply of my wants, my Protector, my Saviour, my Guide, and my wisdom, my will, and my zeal. Be unto me my Jesus, my Christ, my Father, my Physician, my lot, and my portion: be unto me all in all, that nothing want in me which thou likest; nor any thing dwell in me which thou misl●kest: that I being a sanctified vessel of heaven, may be a fit Mansion for thy sacred Majesty, to abide in by thy blessed Spirit.  
Yield me (O Lord) yield me continual shelter under thy relieving wings: foster me with the hid treasures of thy love, and learn me so to live, that I may ever live in thee, and thou in me: make that union between my will and thy Word, that I will nothing but as thou hast willed, and blot out all mine unworthiness: and in stead thereof, imprint the merits of thy Son, in whom, Lord Almighty, let me be also partaker of the good things of this life: let not poverty utterly deprive me of a competent estate here: but bless thou the works of my hands, prosper thou my endeavours, and raise up gracious means for me, that I may live & not lack things necessary. Thou art all: sufficient, and in thy gifts manifold, thy love is without limitation, and thy will without contradiction: what thou decreest shall stand, and what thou willest shall come to pass. Will thou therefore, will thou thy creatures, which thou hast ordained for the good and service of thy children, ●o serve my use, that I and mine may be sustained by thy providence: for what am I (Lord) that I should stand upon mine own power, wit, or policy, which are weakness and foolishness before thee? Thy Word prevaileth: speak, and all things in heaven and earth shall obey thee: yea, thine heavenly Angels shall be ministering Spirits for my good, and all the fruits of the earth shall add comfort to my wretched estate. Good Father, sanctify me within and without, and fructify my calling: bless my endeavours, and teach me to use my function justly, and as I ought, that I may so prosper in this present life, that I may truly pay all men their due, and owe nothing to any man but good will: a thing to me impossible, but to thee easy to bring to pass. To thee therefore, I refer me wholly: bless me, that being blessed, I may prosper: that prospering, I may praise thee: and in praising thee, please thee, and be here comforted of thee, and live righteously in thee, through the merits of thy beloved Son Christ Jesus, who having purchased all things for this life, and in the life to come for me, be with thee, and the holy Ghost, praised for evermore.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A very comfortable and most pathetical Prayer, to be said of such as are in greatest distress and danger, having wife and children, and in debt, not able to maintain and relieve the one, or to satisfy the other.  
O Most mighty, merciful, and all-knowing Father, the fountain of all comfort and consolation, who findest out in thy deep and all-searching knowledge, all the sins that are, or can be committed amongst the children of men, howsoever hidden and secret: I do confess unto thee, against myself, that I have grievously offended thee by my manifold transgressions, and thereby have drawn upon me, a most intolerable weight of thy deserved wrath, and fearful indignation, insomuch as if thou mayst not be pleased to mitigate thy ●ury towards me, I shall faint, and fall, and shall not be able to lift up my head any more, in hope of thy favour: for, dear Father in Jesus Christ, I am weak, and am not able to bear thy heavy displeasure by mine own power or merit. And therefore, good Father, lay not upon me the punishments which I have deserved: take away thy heavy hand of correction, and as thou art patient and long in suffering the sins of thy weak children, he yet patient with me, and send thine holy Spirit to season me anew, that I may bring forth now the fruits of amendment of life. So shall thy punishment cease, and comfort increase, though I am heset with no small or few dangers, before me, behind me, on my right hand, and on my left, I am beset with perils: so that which way soever I seem to run, or howsoever I covet to escape, I fall into dangers. What shall I do, Lord, in these miseries? I stand amazed at the consideration, what will become of me languishing in fear, while there is none to help. I live where none but mortal creatures are, and what can they do to my comfort, Lord, that have their breath in their nostrils? They move, and breathe, and live, and speak: but little availeth their help, unless thou that guidest and governest the hearts of all, vouchsafe to move them to commiseration and patience with me, I have sinned (Lord) against thee, and am indebted unto men, and cannot be released, and all cometh of my sins. Father, pardon thou me: so shalt thou in thy renewed love send me new relief. Raise me means to satisfy men, or qualify their extremities, that they may be patient until thy help come: And in the mean time, teach me, O teach me the way that I should choose. Direct me Lord, what course I shall take: for thou, Lord, art wise and provident, and merciful, and all goodness cometh of thee. Therefore, O Lord, instruct me by the inward working of thy holy Spirit, to do this or that, and make me obedient unto thy will: so shall all return to my good. Raise up some gracious means (Lord) for my succour: for thou knowest, though I be but one man, whose ruin can be but as the death of the least creature in the censure of such as feel not, nor partake of my griefs: neither will my overthrow grieve such as have no share of my, miseries. Some there be yet, dear Father, whom thou knowest, that shall taste of the bitterness of my fall: and therefore, Lord, consider in mercy: and although none of them (Lord) that shall feel the smart of my calamities, but have also added sin unto my sin, and so aggravated thy displeasure against us, yet in thy Christ forgive us all, and reclaim us all by thy gentle corrections, not by thy furious judgements. And as a sparrow (Lord) lighteth not on the ground, nor one hair falleth from our heads, without thy providedre: so I know (Lord) that nothing shall befall me, but what thou hast decreed, even for my good, both in this life, and in the life to come. Thou hast never, Lord, dealt so sharply with any, but upon serious repentance they have received comfort, they have tasted of thy love, and of inward peace. So work, Lord, in these my trials, and by these my crosses and dangers, that I be neither inwardly too much afflicted with fear and sorrow, nor outwardly too much cast down with want, but as I taste of thy correcting rod, so I may also flood thy supporting staff. Lord, thou art moved by a better Mediator, then are my complaints. Oh hear me for him, and hear him for me: me, Lord, for his sake; and him for thy promise sake, lest I remaining here in this vale of continual miseries, where there is no true or lively helper, I utterly perish in my troubles. It is no true help, Lord, that cometh not of true compassion: and there is no true compassion, without true feeling of another's miseries: but how far, Lord, that is from the hearts of many, thou knowest, and I feel it. And therefore every heart truly moved to true commiseration, is first moved by thee. Oh move them therefore, move thou such as thou pleasest to use as instruments of thy will for my good: so shall I use it, and accept it as thy goodness, to thy glory. But, Lord, the course of thy providence teacheth us, that thou wilt not have thy dearest children to be lifted up by the fullness of earthly things, above that which becometh the humble, to keep them still in awe of thy corrections. Forere while, O Lord, I thought of seife-peace, little fearing further perils, nor to be thus chased anew, as I am, by such as seek to molest me, and to exact that from me by rigour, which thou knowest I am not yet able to perform: though thou féest the inward desires of my heart willing, by my best lawful endeavours to obtain the means to satisfy all men their due, and it grieveth me that I cannot do as they require.  
And therefore (O loving Father) as thou well knowest what is wanting, supply it in thy mercies, in thy good time, before I be confounded altogether, and before I go hence, and be no more seen. As thou blessest me, O Lord, by the labours of my hands, so thou knowest I yield to them, to whom it is due. And therefore, Lord, sith they will not have patience with me of their own accord, work their hearts to be more pliable to my entreats: or else, which I ask especially, if it please thee, raise up means for me, that I may be enabled to pay them all: wherein thy will be done. I have seen thy salvation and delivery already, in great dangers, and thy promise, and thy power, and thy providence are still in force, and thy mercy is no whit diminished, therefore (Lord) remember thy mercies, and look on me: and as thou saidst unto the blind man in the Gospel, Receive thy ●ight, and he saw: so Lord, say to me, Receive comfort and relief, and I shall receive it: thy word is thy will, and thy will is thy work, therefore speak, and thy will shall be done, to restore me to constancy: let not the floods of these dangerous waters overflow me quite, but when I am ready to sink, yield me thy helping hand and save me: lift me out of the mire and clay of all my miseries, and set me on the relieving pastures of thy continual free favours: let the cheerful dew of thy blessings, and blessed graces shower down upon me, so shall my little store increase, and my empty basket become full. And forasmuch as I have no free portion in this earth, not the breadth of a foot: neither have I of mine own a house to hide my head in, put me therefore where thou wilt, and let mine abode in earth be in what place, and how long, of short time thou wilt, for of myself, whither to turn me, or what to do I know not: Be thou therefore my guide, and direct all my desires of earthly things by thy Word, and let my will always follow thy will, lest my will, led by the blind affections of corrupt reason, bring me mine own prejudice and shame. Thou evermore providest for them that ask of thee, & directest them that take counsel of thee: therefore having thus weakly laid open my cause before thee, consider it, and give me patience in all my trials, and let me not so much mourn, and hang down my head, and be heavy for the want of outward necessaries, as at the consideration and looking back into the ugly gulf of my former continuing sins. Oh, free me, Lord, free me from my sins, and sanctify me anew, that howsoever the outward man seem to be discouraged, yet the inward man may be still more and more filled with all spiritual knowledge and consolation, and true contentment. Thou hearest my reproofs, thou knowest my sorrows, and my groans are not hid from thee: put my tears, few and weak, into thy bottle. Remember thy promises, and I shall never forget thy praises: Oh fail me not, forsake me not my God, and my Redeemer.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Thanksgiving and Prayer to be used of a sick man when he is recovered; oftentimes.  
I Yield and give unto thee (O merciful and most dear Father) all humble thanks, honour, glory, and praise for thine infinite and exceeding great blessings, (having no way merited the least of them) and namely, for that it hath pleased thee of late to deliver me from the very point of death, and (as it were) raised my feeble body from the grave, and redeemed my soul from death, that I should walk before thee in the land of the living, that I might further glorify thy name, do more good in my calling, and be made meet for the inheritance of thy Kingdom. This work, O Lord, proceeded from thy mercy, and no desert at all of mine, and for thy grace, and not of any goodness in me: not unto me, not unto me, but unto thy blessed name be given all glory. But seeing that I through my sinful corruption, am more ready to bury in the grave of oblivion, then to keep in thankful remembrance thy great mercy, yea, and rather to grow cold & backward in all holy exercises and duties, then to holiness of life: I therefore beseech thee, with all earnestness, to renew my nature, and to engrave the remembrance of this thy goodness in my heart, by the illumination of thy holy Spirit, and grant that for the residue of my temporal life, I may in humility and truth be directed by thy most sacred Word, and always submit myself to the government of thy blessed Spirit. Make me (good Father) a light and example of virtue and godliness unto others, and to grow in grace, as I increase in years, that so I may live in thy fear, and dye in true peace of conscience, and assurance of eternal glory with all the Saints and Angels in heaven: vouchsafe (O my heavenly Father) to grant me all other things convenient for me in this life, for the only merits, obedience, and mediation of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer.  
Amen.   

In time of affliction pray thus: yea, often.  The Lord shall make the Pestilence cleave unto thee, until he hath consumed thee: the Lord shall smite thee with a consumption, and with the fever, and with a burning ague, etc. until thou repent, Deut. 28. 21. 
O Lord most just, and Father most merciful, thou it is that renewest thy plagues against man when he offendeth thee: thy vengeance from heaven is both sudden and fearful toward the rebellious and disobedient children: thou for one sin in King David, destroyedst with the loathsome disease of the Pestilence many thousands of his people: cast thine eyes of mercy upon us, O thou preserver of men, which languish now in this land, and in this house, with the like disease and sickness. Now, dear God, hath not David only offended thee, in trusting to his strength, and numbering of his people: but even each congregation, and every household hath one way or other provoked thee to plague thy disobedient people: & now that we see thy plagues appearing, to the piercing and piercing of our bodies and souls asunder: Lord, we stand amazed in our minds, heartily sighing with groans at the sight of our sins. Now we consider, we have sinned grievously, we have done amiss, we have dealt wickedly, we have lived ungodly, we have iwerued from the way of truth, without any godly fear or remorse of conscience: thy great benefit of peace, and rare blessing of long prosperity, under so good and gracious a Governor, have brought too too many of us, to such security and contempt of Religion, that altogether forgetting to be thankful, we have abused thy benefits as fast as they came, & that with a churlish kind of impiety: the thoughts of our hearts, the words of our mouths, and the works of our hands are vain, carnal, and devilish: yea, our service to thee oftentimes but mere abomination: so far (alas) have we erred from the path of thy Commandments. As thou didst find with the Israelites wickedness in Gilgal, sin in Bethel, and iniquity in B●rsheba: so in every Church, in every Court, nay, in every concourse or assembly amongst us, thou beholdest how the flesh hath overgrown the spirit, and how reason is overruled with affections: so many labour in these days under the displayed Ensign of Satan, that very few (dear Father) are found settled in the dutiful form of upright and spiritual Obedience, which thou requirest. We confess, thou mightest justly therefore forsake us, as we have forsaken thee: and not only proceed to sting the head-Cities, and whole body of this Land, with sundry plagues and grievous diseases; but for our manifold sins and iniquities, which we daily commit, thou mightest justly and worthily condemn us, man after man, to eternal death, all consciences being so guilty, that they already condemn themselves. Yet who is he (O merciful Lord) that can measure thy goodness, who by thy word dost oftentimes bring sinners to belief, repentance, and salvation? though it be not thy pleasure (good Lord) to make the wicked innocent, but rather to visit their iniquities, yet have we this comfort, that thy mercy to the humble ever rests unmeasurable and unmoveable: though thou spakest to the Prophet against thine own people, being disobedient to thee, saying, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet have I no heart to this people: Drive them away that they may go out of my sight, some unto death, some to the sword, and some to captivity: yet we know (O our good God) that when as Ephraim was heard lamenting and praying heartily in his distress, thou thoughtest then upon mercy, as a Father pitying his own children. This thy clemency to others encourageth us to cry for thy mercies, in this our misery, upon our repentance, both for us, ours, and the whole Land. Vouchsafe O loving Saviour) to repress the vehement heat of thy fire with godly pity: stay thine hand from our destruction; thou art long suffering, good, gracious, and unwilling sinners should perish. Be entreated therefore (O Lord) most glorious) to bid th' ne Angels cease from punishing: look forthwith upon this Land: (good Father) pity the infected people thereof, that we altogether may say, The Lord liveth for ever, worthy of praise, because he hath been merciful unto sinners.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

If not Infected, pray thus.  
IT pleased thee, O heavenly Father, who art Lord of life and death, once to plague the Egyptians, and yet to spare the Israelites, in the borders of Gosen; only because thou plaguest where thou pleasest. So with the pestilence now hast thou infected, even from Dan to Beersheba; yet myself, and diverse others in this place, rest safe from this so pestilent an Infection, protected and kept as yet safe therefrom, only by thy hand, only by thy goodness: for, our sins (we confess) stand up as rampired walls against us, and deserve no less than theirs, whom already thou hast bruised with a just measure of thy Judgements. O gracious Lord God, stir us up, to ●hew our hearts throughly thankful unto thee, that in thanksgiving and praise, we may go before others, which in pains and plagues do go before 〈◊〉. And as in mercy thou hast drawn ●…knesse from our bodies, so in lo●e to our souls, make us loathe the vain delights of this life, that we may faithfully se●ue and seek thee, in these our days of health, wherein we obtain thy mercy, enjoy thy favour, and rest preserved from the pestilence, wherewith many of our Brethren lie perplexed, beside sundry thousands, whom the gra●t hath swallowed. Bless us still, O Lord our God, bless us, O Father, without & within: be thou our guard, thy Word our guide, thy Spirit our comfort, and thy Son our Saviour. Lord, stand by us for our good continually, that when the world repineth at thy Judgements, when the wicked swell in their impatiency, when the unregenerate grudge and murmur at thy plagues and punishments (wherewith thou chastisest and correctest thy dear Children) that even than we may have and enjoy quietness of heart, and peace of conscience, never to be dismayed, or to distrust thy providence over us, but still to lea●e steadfastly unto thee, and rest upon thee, and the rock of thy Truth. This confidence (Lord) grant us, and thy protection from this courageous disease that reigneth, that we may cheerfully ●ound forth thy divine praises amongst men, unto the praise of thy grace in Christ Jesus: To whom our Saviour and Redeemer, with thee the blessed Father of us all, and the holy Spirit, the Sanctifier of our souls, three persons, yet one divine essence, be given all la●d, glory, and thanks, in this world, and in that to come, for ever.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer in the time of Tempests and unseasonable Wether.  God bringeth up the clouds from the ends of the earth, and maketh the lightnings with the rain: he draweth forth the wind●s out of his treasures, Psal. 135. 7. He commandeth and raiseth the stormy winds, and it lifteth up the waves of the se●, Psal. 107. 25. But he ariseth and rebuketh the winds and the sea, and maketh them calm, Mat. 8. 26. Mark 4. 39 By his word he stilleth the wind, and by his counsel appealeth the deep, Ecclus. 43. 23. 
O Most mighty and merciful Lord God, let all the powers of the earth bless thee, and praise thee their everliving God, in thine holy and heavenly habitation, for thou, O Lord, sittest on high in the Throne of thy Majesty, and makest thy strength and might known to all Nations, thy voice is upon the waters. From thee (O God) proceedeth Thunder, thy voice maketh the Wilderness to tremble; yea, thou makest the mighty hills to tremble and shake: the Earth trembleth and quaketh, the foundations also of the Mountains move and shake when thou art displeased: there cometh out of thy nostril's smoke, and out of thy mouth a consuming fire: thou makest darkness thy secret place, and at the glory of thy presence the Clouds pass away: thou thunderest from the heavens, and givest out thy voice: thou drawest forth the Winds out of thy treasures, and commandest them back again to their places: all things are in subjection unto thee, thy works magnify thee (O Lord) yea, they tremble at thy presence: the Mountains and Hills dread thee when thou art displeased; yea, the whole world is afraid. The Waters, O God, know thee, and are afraid; yea, the depths tremble: thy voice (O Lord) divideth the fiery flames: O Lord, thy voice maketh the Wilderness to tremble. Thou remainest King forever, thou wilt give strength unto thy People and bless them with peace. O most merciful God, shadow us from thy displeasure, which is too vehement and intolerable: let thy countenance shine upon us and have mercy on us: protect thou our houses and us, that we be neither consumed by fire, nor drowned by waters: send not upon the earth such untemperate or untimely Showers, or any other unseasonable weather, whereby the Fruits thereof may be hurt, or our souls harmed. O God the Father, which didst send thy only Son to die the death of the Cross for my sake, preserve me, and grant unto me a blessed end. O God the Son, which didst suffer for my sake the heavy death of the Cross, defend me: and, O God the holy Ghost, comfort me, bless and keep me from all dangers, from this time forth and for ever.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer for Peace in true RELIGION.  Behold, saith the Lord, I will extend peace upon my Church, like a flood: as one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in jerusalem, Esay 66. 12. 13. These things have I spoken to you, saith Christ, that ye in me might have peace: in the world, ye shall have affliction; but be of good comfort, I have overcome the world, john 16. 33. 
O Most high and glorious God, who art the Author of Peace, from whom do proceed holy counsels, and righteous desires, give unto us thy Servants, that Peace which the world cannot give, that both our hearts and works may answer thy Commandments, and that our days through thy protection, may be always quiet from trouble.  
Speak thou peace unto all people, especially to thy Saints. Let thy salvation be nigh them that fear thee, that glory may dwell within our Land.  
Let mercy and Truth meet together; yea, let Justice and Peace embrace each other.  
Let Truth arise out of the Earth, and Righteousness look down from Heaven.  
Let the Mountains and the Hills bring Peace to the people, and Sheep of thy Pasture.  
Bless, Lord, all Countries, Cities, Towns, and places, where thy Word doth abide, and is purely preached, and increase the number of them in the universal World.  
O Lord, send them much peace that delight in thy Law, let them be without stones to stumble at, and bless them with prosperity within their places.  
O eternal God, which hast called us in peace grant we may have peace with all men, and let us highly account of holiness without which none can see the Lord, nor have peace in the Lord.  
Repress the Devil, the breaker of godly Concord and Christian Peace▪ which 〈◊〉 aging throughout all Nations, soweth every where the seed of strife and discord, as the Séeds-man of falsehood and l●es.  
O God of Peace, which makest an end of War throughout the World, protect us from War and slaughter, scatter the Kingdoms that delight in War, break and hinder all evil Counsels, and the purpose of such as mind after nothing else, but the shedding of innocent blood.  
Let them come to shame and perish, through their own imaginations, that practise evil against thy Church.  
Give all men a desire of peace, contented minds in their vocation, and a care to advance the welfare of that place where they inhabit. Where Strife, Contention, and Discord is amongst men, reconcile their hearts and minds, that these flames & fires may speedily be put out: for thou canst conclude a Truce for us and all Men, and make the Wolf to dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard to lie down with the Kid.  
Make our Tabernacles safe and quiet, that about them there may be arich tranquillity, which may abound like the Stream running over his Banks, and our righteousness as the Waves of the Sea which is never dry. In thee shall we have our wished peace, and the work of righteousness shall be peace, and her fruit rest and quietness for ever, and thy people shall dwell in the Inns of peace, and in sure dwellings, and in safe places of comfort.  
Hear us, O Lord of peace, and grant that thy peace which passeth all understanding, may keep our hearts and minds in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the holy Spirit, now and for evermore.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase our Faith in Peace.   

A Prayer to be used of a Widow.  Doth not the tears run down the Widow's checks? and her cry is against them that causeth them: for, from her cheeks do they go into heaven, and the Lord which heareth them, doth accept them, Ecclus. 25. 15. She that is a Widow indeed, and left alone, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day: But she that liveth in play, is dead while she liveth, 1 Tim. 5. 5 6. 
O Eternal, and most merciful God, which according to thine holy will hast made me a poor distressed Widow, by taking away my bear and loving husband out of this transitory world: unto thee do I cry in this my misery: have mercy on me, I humbly beseech thee, and forgive all mine offences, which I have committed against thy divine majesty: be favourable unto me, O Lord, and take pity on me, for I am alone and comfortless. Behold mine affliction and misery: relieve my wants, as thou didst relieve that Widow of Sarepta, whom thou didst most miraculously preserve by the Prophet Elias: take the like compassion on me, assist me, behold my necessity, and deliver me out of all troubles. Grant likewise that I may find favour in the sight of all Governors and Magistrates, that I be not injured contrary to equity. In like manner let me find amongst men Christian consideration, and commiseration of my present ●state, and succour with godly counsel, protect me from false tongues, which are like razors, cutting deceitfully, and as the sharp arrows of a mighty man, Keep me (O Lord) from slander, and from the tongues of wicked men, which with poisoned words have bend themselves to cast down the poor and needy, and to destroy such as are of upright conversation. I humbly betéech thee (O Lord) to give me grace to live in this mine estate of widowhood, chastely and godly, showing myself an example of godliness to others, putting always my hope and affiance in thy mercy: let me with all patience and fortitude, endure all crosses laid upon me, and continue faithfully in making of supplicatious night and day unto thee. Look how the eyes of a servant are upon her Mistress, so are mine eyes bend upon thee my Lord, until thou have mercy on me. Have mercy therefore (O Lord) on me, for I am full of infirmity: hear me (O Father) even for Christ's sake, thy Son and my Saviour: to whom be given all praise and honour now and evermore.  
Amen.   

A Prayer for one that prepares himself for marriage.  House and riches are the inheritance of the fathers, but a prudent wife cometh of the Lord, Pro. 19 14. Well is he that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, Ecclus. 25. 8. Blessed is he that hath a virtuous wife, for the number of his years shall be double: an honest woman recovereth her husband, and she shall fill the years of his life with peace: A virtuous woman is a good portion, which shall be given as a gift unto such as fear and serve the Lord, Ecclus. 26. 1. 2. 3. 
O Heavenly God, everlasting and most powerful Father, I do prostrate myself before the throne of thy Majesty, humbly thanking thee, in that thou hast form me in the womb of my mother, and suffered me to be borne such as I am, maintained me likewise from mine infancy to this instant, and preserved me from infinite perils: for it is through thy goodness and fatherly blessing, that I have attained to the years I am now in, and in that time, thou hast taught me by thy holy word, to know Jesus Christ thy beloved Son, the only joy and comfort that a Christian can have, because in the true knowledge of him consisteth eternal life; and therefore I cannot sufficiently yield thee praise, for the infinite and innumerable benefits thou hast bestowed on me. Nevertheless, because thou hast commanded us to call upon thee in all our necessities, and most lovingly hast promised to hear us, let it now please thee graciously to help me.  
For I have found and proved, that in regard of mine own nature's corruption, I cannot continue chaste and blameless, except I use the means which thou hast ordained, and by thy holy Word hast also approved the same, saying; To avoid whoredom, let every man have his wife, and every woman her husband. Then I beseech thee in mercy to lend m●e thy helping bend, and so bless me and my Patents, that in this intended matter, we may not be abused by any exterior appearance, either of beauty, riches, or deceiving speeches, which may forerun, or proceed in this business: but as thy Word saith, A virtuous wife is a gift which comes from thee, O Lord▪ and as it is most certain, that not only thou gavest Eve to Adam, but didst likewise conjoin Abraham with Sarah, Iseac with Rebecca, and jacob with his best esteemed Rachel; even so I entreat and beseech thee, O Father of lights, not only to be my Father, but also to appoint me my fellow-partner, in regard thou oughtest to be the author and actor in so honourable a business. Send down the holy Angel to be my guide and leader towards her whom thou hast prepared for me, as (in like case) thou madest them servants to Abraham and young Tobias. Then let me meet her, enjoy her, and live with her in thy fear and favour. O Lord Jesus, may it please thee with thy blessing to be with me at my marriage, as thou didst vouchsafe to honour that at Cana in Galilee, with thy own presence.  
And as thou art well pleased to conjoin man and wife, and to make them one body, so unite us both unto thee, that we may evermore live in thee, and thou in us.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase our Faith.   

A Prayer for a young Man, or Maid, prepared to Marriage.  To avoid fornication, let every man have his wife, and let every woman have her own husband, 1 Cor. 7. 2. The price of a virtuous woman is far above the value of pearls: she will do her husband good, and not evil, all the days of her life, Pro. 31. 10. 12. 
O Omnipotent, and everliving God, without whom, men's enbenours are frivolous, & cannot prosper in this world, I thy poor creature, and the work of thine hands, whom thou hast vouchsafed nevertheless to receive into the fellowship of thy Saints, by the holy Sacrament of Baptism, do here present myself before thy divine Majesty, humbly beseeching thee in the name of Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son, to stretch forth thy holy hand, and help me, to the end that if it be thy will I shall marry, thou mayst lead and direct me to a virtuous yoke-fellow, with whom I may live, so long as we shall continue together, in thy love and fear. O God, it was thou that gavest Eve to Adam, and didst address the servant of Abraham to Rebecca, that she might be wife to the Patriarch Isaac.  
Thou didst send thine Angel with young Tobias, to deliver Sara, the daughter of Raguel, out of the poor, desolate, and approbrious condition wherein she then lived, and to match her in marriage with the said Tobias. This is not a case of chance or Fortune, neither guided by men's wisdom, for heaping up goods together. It often happeneth, that after one hath carefully considered all circumstances, and causes thereto belonging, searching into the uttermost as may be devised, that party falls short of his hopes expected, and in stead of an helper, happeneth on an hinderer. I heartily therefore pray thee (O God) to provide me such a one, as thou knowest fittest for me, and so to order the deliberations, counsels, and enterprises of my Parents & friends, that the whole issue and event may first redound to the advancement of thy glory, and next to the endless contentment, good, and salvation of us all in Christ Jesus, our Lord and only Saviour.  
Amen.   

A Prayer to be said of Women with child.  Women shall be saved by bearing of children, if they continue in faith, and love, and holiness, with modesty, 1 Tim. 2. 15. 
O Merciful and mighty God, the framer, wise governor, and gracious preserver of all things, I render unto thy majesty most humble thanks, for that thou art pleased of thy gracious goodness, to remove from me the reproach of barrenness, and hast opened my womb to conception: prosper, O Lord, within me the work of thine own hands, which is wonderfully made, whose bones and members are known to thee, whose very hairs thou numbrest and takest care of them. Bless (O Lord) the work of thme own hand within me, that it may receive a perfect shape and portion, and live to praise thee in the midst of the congregation: I commend it, with myself, into thy holy hands, whom I beseech thee (O most gracious God) so to bless, guide, and preserve, that neither the malice of the wicked spirit overcome me, nor any other inconvenience approach nigh me to hurt me: keep me from vame fears and foolish desires, that without danger I may bear, and with joy bring forth the fruit where with thou hast blessed me, to the glory of thy most holy Name, and my great comfort in thee: to whom be given and ascribed all honour, might, power, and praise, now and for ever.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer to be said of a Woman in travel.  
O Good Lord, I acknowledge and confess, that thy displeasure for sin committed, was, and is very great (which I do at this present feel) and was first committed by our first mother Eve, and continued by us (we being by nature inclined thereunto,) whom for punishment thereof, thou hast said, in sorrow we shall bring forth children: Impose not that heavy burden upon my weak body, but regard me with thy favour in the promised Seed of the woman, and give me comfort from heaven: lay upon me no more, than I shall be well able to undergo, and even in the midst of my calamities, prepare thou the way for me, that I may patiently bear them: strengthen (O Lord) my body, give courage unto my heart, and comfort my soul, that in all parts being fastened unto thee, neither frailty of the flesh, nor temptation of the Devil, in my greatest extremity, may make me faint, or fall from thee, or have the least distrust of thy gracious favour towards me. Thou art nigh (O Lord) unto all that call upon thee in heart: I humbly beseech thee, not to be absent from me at my time, but that the assurance of thy presence may be my stay and comfort, that in respect thereof, I may sustain all torments, and wholly rest in thee, which art the God of my strength and consolation: to whom be given all praise, now and for ever.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Thanksgiving of a Woman after her Delivery.  
eternal God, and most loving Father, thou art great, and worthy to be feared, thou art gracious, and worthy to be praised, for thy mercy exceedeth all thy works: thou woundest, & thou healest, thou throwest down, and helpest up again: I most humbly thank thee, my most loving and gentle Father, that it hath pleased thee in thy goodness, now, at the length, to deliver me from the great extremity of childbirth, and to give unto me the sweet taste and feeling of thy comfort, not only in joy that a man is born into the world, which maketh me to forget my sorrows, but much more in the assurance of thy blessed providence and care over me, whose holy hand hath strengthened and upholden me, who hath brought fa●te weather after storms, and joy after tears: let thy sweet comfort always rest with me, and give me grace, since it hath pleased thee to make me a glad mother, that I may also become a good mother, in showing myself obedient unto thee, and to be careful for the instruction and bringing up of my child in thy ●eare, that we may show forth thy glory in this life, and be made partakers of thy glory in the life to come, through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour: to whom, with thee, and the sweet Comforter, the holy Ghost, three persons and one glorious God, be all honour, and praise for ever and ever.  
Amen.  
O Lord increase my Faith.   

A Prayer for a manservant.  Let servants be subject to their Masters, and please them in all things, not answering again, neither pickers; but that they show all good faithfulness, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, 1 Tit. 2. 9 10. & 1 Pet. 2. 18. 
O Most merciful, and everliving God, who hast ordained in the world, that there should be masters and servants, and didst hear Abraham's servant crying to thee, I now prepare myself to thy divine Majesty, because service is necessary for me, to maintain me in this life, and do beseech thee, O most loving Father, to provide for me among good people, that may not debar me from hearing thy Word, but rather give me occasion by their good example, to seek those things which belong to my salvation. Assist me also by thy holy Spirit, that I may render them good and honest service, and truly take charge of whatsoever they trust me withal.  
Prosper (O God) my labours, and give a blessing to those affairs which I shall manage and undertake, that thy grace governing me while I serve on earth, I may afterward be an Heir and fellow-Citizen (by Christ Jesus ●eanes) in the Kingdom of heaven. Thy mercy was so great at Capernaum, to the Centurion's Servant, that he found a good Master. Thou didst likewise so lovingly respect poor joseph, when he was a servant, that all things prospered under his hand. I beseech thee, extend thy mercy to me a poor willing Servant, and as thou hast appointed, so let me rest contented.  
Amen.  
Lord increase my Faith, and prosper mine endeavours.   

A Prayer of a Maid-servant.  
O My Lord and Saviour, seeing it hath pleased thee to call me to this estate and condition, that I must serve to sustain life, and gain those benefits necessarily belonging thereto, I submit myself willingly to thy providence and appointment. For I know thou didst not despise to speak to Abraham's servant, Hagar, and didst likewise provide good Mistresses for Bilha and Zilpha; therefore, I humbly beseech thy Majesty, to provide an honest place for me, where too much rigour, severity, and hard usage may not be showed me. Give me grace also to yield unto them faithful and true service, carrying always a good conscience, and keeping myself chaste and honest, with dutiful obedience to my Mistress, and ordering my Master's business as it becometh me. Bless all my indenours, that I neither waste, spoil, nor destroy any thing: Set a lock on my lips, that by evil words, I give no occasion of strife or dissension, but rather that I may procure peace, so much as lieth in my power to do. Thou knowest (O God) much better than myself, what is needful for me, and thy word teacheth me, that with thee there is no respect of persons, but thou hearest the poor and needy, as well as the great and mighty, when they unfeignedly make their prayers unto thee in the mediation of Christ Jesus, our only Lord and Saviour.  
Amen.   

A Thanksgiving before Meat.  
O Lord our God and heavenly Father, which of thy unspeakable mercy towards us, hast provided Meat and drink, for the nourishment of our weak bodies, give us grace to use them reverently, as from thy hands, with thankful hearts, let thy blessing rest upon these thy good Creatures, to our comfort and sustentation; and grant we humbly beseech thee, that as we do hunger and thirst for this food of our bodies, so our souls may earnestly long after the food of eternal life, through jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.  
Amen.   

A Thanksgiving after Meat.  
TO thee, O Lord our God, which hast created, redeemed, continually preserved, and at this time fed us, be ascribed all honour, glory, and power, might, and Dominion, now and ever more. O Lord, preserve thy Church universal, this Church wherein we live, the King's Majesty, the Prince, and Realm. Grant thy Gospel a free passage: confound Antichrist, and all Heresies: finish soon these days of sin, and bring us to everlasting peace, through thy Son our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ.  
Amen.  
FINIS.   

A brief Table of all the Prayers, and other things, contained in this BOOK.  

THe Motive for a private Prayer for the Morning. Fol. 1.  
A Prayer for the Morning. 2  
Morning Prayer, where the Family assembles. 6  
The Motive for a private Prayer for the Evening. 11  
A Prayer for the Evening. 13  
An Evening Prayer where the Family assembles. 15  
A Prayer to be used in private Families, Morning and Evening. 22  
In the Morning, add this. 29  
In the Evening, add this. 30  
A Prayer for the King. 31  
For obedience unto God. 33  
To be confirmed in the way of Righteousness. 36  
For the assistance of the holy Ghost. 40  
For Sunday Morning. 42  
Before the hearing of God's Word. 44  
For the Preaching of the holy Word. 46  
For Sunday night. 48  
A Prayer to be said before a man begins his Labour. 50  
A Thanksgiving or Prayer to be used, after a man's Labour is finished. 52  
A general Confession for sins, and of the vanities of carnal delights. 53  
For humiliation and sorrow, after sin committed. 56  
A preparation to the Communion. 61  
At the Communion. 66  
After the Communion. 73  
A Motive to the Prayer following, against Temptation. 75  
A Prayer against all Temptations, especially to any particular sin. 78  
For a prosperous journey. 82  
A Motive to a Prayer against Enemies. 85  
A Prayer against Enemies. 87  
Of the flock for their faithful Pastor. 91  
For observation of God's Commandments. 95  
A Prayer and Meditation concerning the continuance of God's corrections. 104  
A fit and comfortable Meditation, when God seemeth most angry with us. 107  
Against despair. 110  
Against backsliding in Religion, and for increase of Faith. 113  
A comfortable Consultation, and sweet Resolution, what course to take in time of deepest distress. 116  
Effectual Prayers for distressed men. 133  
A Motive to a Prayer for Patience in affliction. 135  
A Prayer for Patience in affliction. 136  
Against the Temptations of the Devil. 140  
The way truly to seek our God, etc. being the first prayer in distress. 144  
The Motive to the second Prayer, to be said of distressed men. 150  
The second Prayer for Constancy in affliction. 152  
The Motive to the third Prayer. 158  
The third Prayer: wherein he flieth, and wholly relieth upon God. 159  
The Motive to the fourth Prayer. 164  
The fourth Prayer: wherein he prayeth for faith, zeal and strength, to undergo God's corrections. 166  
A Morive to the fifth Prayer. 172  
The fifth prayer: wherein the poor man prayeth God to keep him from despair. 174  
The Motive to the sixth prayer. 179  
The sixth prayer to learn how to leave the world, and to desire heaven. 180  
A Motive to the seaventh Prayer: wherein the poor distressed man's desire is, to hold fast the promises of God, and to show himself thankful. 185  
The seaventh prayer in distress. 186  
The Motive to the eight prayer: wherein the poor distressed man craveth pardon for his sins. 190  
The Motive to the ninth prayer, for assurance of God's providence. 197  
The ninth prayer: wherein the poor distressed man acknowledgeth, that though God do deservedly punish him, yet he assureth himself, that God will relieve him. 199  
A Motive to thankfulness to God, for comfort and relief received of him in the time of necessity and affliction. 206  
Preparatives to Thankfulness. 238  
A general Thanksgiving unto God, for all his benefits, spiritual and corporal, 240  
Another thanksgiving, in, and for God's corrections. 245  
A Thanksgiving to God, for that enemies have not prevailed according to their desires. 250  
A Thanksgiving to be used after the return of a journey, or coming to some Inn, or place of rest. 253  
A prayer for the Fruits of the earth. 255.   

Meditations.  
COncerning the Majesty, Power and Love of God. 258  
Concerning the Knowledge and Providence of God. 264  
Of the Word of God. 272  
Of the benefit of Faith in God, 279  
Concerning the uncertainty of man's haphappinesse in this life. 285  
A sweet contemplation of heaven, and heavenly things. 291  
A consideration of the dangerous estate of the impenitent wicked ones after this life. 298  
An exhortative Conclusion: wherein the afflicted are stirred up to Patience, and not to be ashamed of their miseries and base estate. 311  
A Prayer to be used of a sick man. 318  
For Patience in sickness. 319  
A Prayer to be said at the point of death. 324  
A Confession of sins, with a Prayer to be said of poor distressed men, Morning and Evening, and at all times else as they shall be there unto moved. 326  
A very comfortable and most pathetical prayer, to be said of such as are in greatest distress, having wife and children, and in debt, not able to maintain the one, or satisfy the other. 331  
A Prayer to be used of a sick man when he is recovered. 339  
In time of Infection, pray thus: yea, often. 341  
If not infected, pray thus. 345  
In time of Tempests and unseasonable weather. 348  
For Peace in true Religion. 351  
A devout Prayer to be used of a Widow. 355  
For one that prepares himself for Marriage. 358  
For a young Man or Maid preparing to Marriage. 361  
A Prayer to be said of women great with Child. 363  
To be said of a woman in travel. 365  
A Thanksgiving of a Woman after her Delivery. 367  
A Prayer of a manservant. 370  
A Prayer of a Maid-servant. 37●  
A Thanksgiving before Meat. 373  
A Thanksgiving after Meat. 375   
FINIS.