CERTAIN Short PRAYERS and MEDITATIONS upon the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments. With other particular Prayers for several purposes. Written by the right Worshipful Sir JAMES PERROTT Knight. LONDON, Printed by Aug. Mathewes for ROBERT SWAIN, and are to be sold at the Sign of the Bible, at Britain's Burse. 1630. TO THE Right Honourable, WILLIAM Earl of Pembroke, Lord high Steward of his Majesty's Household, one of the noble Order of the Garter, and of his Majesty's Honourable Privy Council, Chancellor of the Vn versitie of Oxenford. Right Honourable, IT may seem strange unto some, that I being no professed Divine; should presume to present unto the view and verdict of curious Censurers, a Treatise of prayers; It being a subject fittest for deep grounded Divines to deal withal. And as much, that I should Dedicate these my Medi●ations unto your Lordship. For the first, my excuse is, that I offer them not for instruction of the judicious, but for the use of them that are as weak in judgement, as I am, and to others of meaner capacity, if any such there be. For my address of them to your Honour, I have no other excuse, or defence, but that which is best known unto your Honour, to whom I am more obliged, than my weak Abilities can give hopes to yield other recompense, then by Prayer unto God, that your proceed may prosper by piety, and be rewarded with eternal felicity. Your Lordship's most bounden to be at commandment. JAMES PERROT. The Preface to the ensuing Prayers and Meditations THE Reader may easily find the Writers weakness: yet in reading perchance he may find sowmewhat, though it be but simple, that may inform his conscience, and stir up his mind to better meditations. By using that is good, our inclinations grow to greater goodness; as by the bad, that that which is evil becomes worse. In this small and slender Tract of mine, of Prayers on the Lord's Prayer, and on the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments. The first containing the rule of all our Prayers, delivered by our Lord and Saviour, who taught us how, to whom, and for what to pray. This Doctrine being the fountain, and so from it, by us, there may flow streams of pious Prayers, though our cisterns are but shallow, yet the conduit, or rather Conductor of them, may thereby water the fields of our souls, and hearts with piety, felicity, & fertileness, that so ourselves and our posterities may receive increase of all spiritual & temporal blessings. The true practice of Prayer, is as the Pathway to heaven, the guide of our life on earth, the remoovers of such Remoras, and rubs as do hinder us here, and do stay us from eternal happiness hereafter: For our true belief, credendorum, of things to be believed, which we call the Creed, is Regula & via vitae, the rule and way of life. So the Decalogue, or ten Commandments, being regula faciendorum, the rule of things to be done, is vita viae the life of this way. both these making up by fervent, frequent and faithful prayers, our progression unto eternal life. This as a gate, the other as goles unto eternal glory; betwixt these two, Prayers are as the Sails, & the holy Spirit as the wings that carries us thorough the troublesome waves of this world, and beareth us up in all tentations, afflictions, and calamities. In the use of Prayers, as of the other parts of piety, Humility is the ground, Faith the foundation, Petition and thanksgiving the walls, elevated Meditations the roof, & knowledge joined with conscience, the props and pillars. So is holy prayer made scala caeli, the ladder that leads us to asscend unto heaven. Prayer then being the precious balm of Gilead, that cures the festering sores of our sins; I crave pardon to publish these my weak conceptions of Prayers and meditations; Which proceedeth from no other purpose, but to help the weak and ignorant, in their well disposed devotions. To such I say, it is not enough to pray much, long and often, except it be done with a regenerate, a devout, and an understanding hart, although the saying was ancient: Brevis oratio penetrat caelum; short Prayer pierceth the heavens. Yet it is neither the length, nor shortness of our prayer, that moves God unto mercy, unless they be joined with a godly and conscionable use of them, in cleansing and casting away our corruptions, distractions, dulness, coldness, carnal cares & vain imaginations, which press upon us in the time of Prayer, when it is not the voice, or the sound of words, but the holy affection and pure desires of the heart, with the assistance of God's holy spirit, that makes our prayers unto God profitable, and powerful, as the old verse hath it. Non vox, sed votum; non cordula musica, sed cor: Non clamans, sed amans, cantat in ore Dei. Which signifieth thus much, Not voice, but vows; not music but the heart, Not cr●es but love; sweet songs to God impart. If any man question, why so many treatises of prayer being published; myself or any other should set forth any more; therein yet I conceive it is with the readers, and specially with the users and learners of Prayers, as with Physicians who seeking simples to cure their Patients, go not only to one garden, meadow, or field to gather them, but unto many: for in some places there grows of one kind, in some another sort. So in the relish, use, & choice of prayers, which is that herb of grace; Some desire such as are short and pithy, others make use of them that are of good length & weight. Besides, this consideration, though I acknowledge there are diverse excellent treatises of Prayers, yet I have seldom seen any, that have closely and punctually handled the Petitions of the Lords Prayer, and the parts of the Ten Commandments, with a strict mixture of Doctrinal Meditations in the form, and to be used as prayers, containing therein their contents, which I have endeavoured to do according to my weak skill and judgement. First, for mine own exercise, and then for the use of such as shall need, and desire it as much as I do. Which I have done the rather, because I see how fearful, dangerous, and common a thing it is, to find such multitudes of people, who using only the Lords Prayer, or reading the Ten Commandments, with out premeditation or knowledge what either of them contains, do yet think that they have sufficiently served God, when they know little, or use not that aright they should know, and do better. To know much and do little, doth little avail in divine or humane things: to do much & to know little proves unprofitable, if not hurtful. Yet not to find fault with others, but to come home unto myself: for these my Meditations, such as they are I leave them with the readers and users of them, to the direction of God's holy Spirit. The Contents of the Prayers and Meditations contained in this Book. Several Prayers upon the several Petitions of the Lords Prayer. 1 One entire Prayer framed on all the Lords prayer 45 Several Prayers on the Decalogue or Ten Commandments. 57 Short Meditations for a Christian man to make for the examination of himself, his conscience, & course of life. 112 A Prayer for the performance of those points. 119 The differences in Devotion and exercises of Religion betwixt the Protestants and Koman Catholics. 124 A Prayer for the peace and prosperity of the King's Majesty, his dominions, and subjects. 142 A Prayer for our afflicted Brethron the Protestants beyond the Seas 149 A Prayer to be used on the Sabbath day. 156 A Prayer in the time of trouble and affliction, 160 A Prayer when public calamities appr●●●●, or are doubted. 164 A Prayer against the reigning sins, that a man finds to remain in himself. 174 A Prayer necessary to be used often. 179 A Prayer against pride, anger, and Enuy. 193 A Prayer after delivery from sickness, and danger of death. 203 A Prayer for the maintenance of Zeal. Certain short Prayers and Meditations upon the Lord's Prayer. Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name: O Lord God, most high & ●●uenly 〈◊〉 how art our Father by creation. We are thy Children by Adoption. What an honour and happiness is it to us miserable Men: that thou our mighty God, vouchsafest to accept and call us thy Children: Having Elected us, thou hast given us a great, a glorious, and an everlasting Inheritance. Having created us of nothing, thou hast yet made v●● Heirs, yea Possessor● of thore then earthly even heavenly endowments. Our earthly mould, and our carthly minds only, keep us from this heavenly possession. Thy merciful and powerful providence hath provided it; our finnefull and corrupt nature keeps us from it. Thou (O gracious Father) hast given us the earth, and all things in this world to govern; that we might make use of it for thy service, and for our own sustenance. But the loving of this earth, and the longing after earthly things, keeps us from aspiring and attaining to thy heavenly Inheritance. If as sons here on earth, wee● could seek the glory of thee our Father● in heaven; we should sooner and bette● obtain the blessings both of Earth and Heaven. If we the● could consider wherefore thou hast chose● us for thy children and so show our selue● obedient children i● keeping thy heauonl● Commandment w● should not only find comfort in our own souls and consciences, shun thy wrath and the shipwreck of our souls, enjoy thy blessings, and avoid thy curses, but be made partakers of that patrimony, which thou hast provided for thine elect children. But alas (most gracious Father) we make ourselves by our daily and continual sins unworthy to be called thy sons, and most unworthy to receive the inheritance of thy children. Yet thou hast sent thy only begotten Son to suffer death for our sins, to restore us thy adopted Sons to the inheritance which we by our fall and transgressions had forfeited; yea, to a fare more excellent, and heavenly inheritance. And yet, as disobedient children, we have again and again revolted from thee, as Prodigal Sons misspent that Patrimony thou hast given us, wasted in luxury and lust, have been forced to feed on husks after we have followed sin and Satan. And that which is worse, by our long and obdurated sins, we do as much as in us lieth, crucify the Lord of life, our elder Brother, thy best beloved Son, whom thou hast sent, and we have sold him by our mis-beliefes and evill-living. As judas sold him to the jews for a few Talents or pieces of silver. Thus we of Children become Rebels, and of Freeborne made our selves slaves. Yet (most merciful Father) since by thy own choisethou haste called us to be thy Children, Have compassion upon thy weak, frail, and wand'ring Children; bring us back from the bypaths wherein we have gone astray. Restore us to innocency and to thy favour. Renew in us right spirits, Mollify our stony hearts, and give us fleshy hearts. Set thy fear before our eyes, so we shall by thy strength honour thee Our Father which art in Heaven. So we by thy help shall hollow and honour thy hallowed and ever honoured Name. Let us not dishonour thee by cursing, swearing, or blasphemy. Thy Name is, as thou art, great and glorious; It is holy as thou art. We cannot hollow it, except thou make us holy, who of our selves are most unholy. O sanctify us thy Children, that we may hollow thee our Father upon earth, and in heaven, with Hallelujahs, praise, and glory, for ever & ever Amen. Thy Kingdom come. THy kingdom (O Lord) is an everlasting Kingdom, and thy Dominion endureth throughout all ages. The earth is thy footstool, thou fittest in the highest Heaven, and the Sceptre of thy power stretcheth over all the earth. All things with thee are present, as well that is past, as that is to come. And yet we poor sinners, who stand still in thy presence, do not as we should, seek thy kingdom: that it should come unto us, or that we by Faith and Repentance should come unto thee, that we might enjoy thy kingdom. We seek not thy kingdom in thy word to do thy will: we seek it not in thy works, to glorify thee, our Lord & Maker. Thou excellest in eminence, whereby thy kingdom in heaven and earth is governed. Yet the kings of the earth conspire against thee and thine Anointed. O make them yet to feel thy high and heavy hand, that they may seek thee, and shun the suppression of thy truth, Church and people, which is a great part of thy kingdom here on earth. Thy flock and fold of thy militant Church is here on earth: gather them together, shield and shelter them by thy outstretched Arm, that they may make thy kingdom known to be as it is, great and glorious. O suffer not the sufferings of thy Saints still to continue, lest the enemies of thy kingdom grow more proud and presumptuous. Thou in thy eternal wisdom and counsel considerest, that the chosen children of thy kingdom must be as gold purified in the fire of affliction; that so they may manifest the glory of thy kingdom; ●y prayers, persecuti●on, patience and deliverance. Yet the enemies of thy truth, who seek their own glory by thy dishonour, tread down ●hy vineyard, to the end it may bring forth no more fruit. But thy Kingdom cannot be destroyed, ●hough the members ●hereof may for the ●ime be defaced. Thou canst build up ●he ruins when man cannot restore it. Show thyself a Defender, as thou art a Builder of thine own Kingdom, in the Church and Common weal. Show us the way unto thy Kingdom. Teach us the truth: teach us to preserve it, and to prefer it as a pillar of thy Kingdom, before the safeguard of our own lives: So shall thy Kingdom of thy grace come, and be conserved by us; that we may come unto thy Kingdom of Glory. Thy Son our Saviour said, His Kingdom was not of this world: because ●t was not temporatie, but eternal; it was not earthly, but heavenly: yet his power being thine, thy Kingdom is here by Creation and Preservation: It is in Heaven by all fullness of glory and praises. O let the Kingdom and Sceptre of thy word come unto us; rule and direct our hearts here on earth, that we may come to thy Kingdom in heaven: That here we may obey and serve thee in this thy kingdom, and hereafter enjoy thy happiness, and give thee glory in in thine everlasting Kingdom. Amen. Thy Will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven. Most gracious and glorious Sovereign, ●hy will and thy wisdom are the same: ●n wisdom hast thou ●one all things, Thy wisdom hath wrought ●ll; Thy Word hath revealed thy will and ●hy wisdom. Thou ●n thy wonderful works of Creation, didst command all things to be done, and it was done. Our wills (good Lord) are weak in that which is good, and strong to do evil. In Heaven all things obey thee, and upon earth Man is most disobedient to thy Majesty. The Earth brings forth fruits for the sustenance of man; and man is fertile in bringing forth sin to thy displeasure and dishonour. It is thy will, that we should serve thee: but our wilful desires draw us from thy service: So in earth & earthly creatures is contention and corruption: In Heaven and heavenly minded men is unity, concord, and contentment. Heaven gives thee glory: Earth yields us fruits. The fruits of the earth not well and thankfully used, turn to the diseases of our bodies & fowls. As thy good will hath wrought all things for our good: so (good Lord) give us good wills, to do thy will, whilst we live here on earth 〈◊〉 that we may make i● as a foot-step to a● scend unto Heaven's Let it therefore be our chiefest desire to conform our wills to thy blessed will 〈◊〉 That when our Pilgrimage is passed here upon Earth 〈◊〉 and we have passed through the vale o● misery, thou mayest provide for us a resting place in Heaven, that we may be seated with thy Saints, to do thee service, and to sing unto thee perpetual praises. Give us this Day our daily Bread. THIS Day (O Lord) as all other days of our frail● and fading life, being short, and a space wherein we still commit sin. We stand in need of sustenance. Our daily bread; and food being the mean● to maintain our lives we cannot have it except thou afford it 〈◊〉 and when we have it, we do not afford thee deserved praises. Thou hast afforded us plenty, and yet of our thankfulness there is great penury. We riot in excess, and suffer thy servants to sustain wants. We have not only bread, food, and raiment, but all things necessary from thy liberal hands, and yet we neither return thee laud, nor to our needy neighbours supply out of the store thou hast sent us. O Lord as thou hast comforted us with thy creatures: so teach us to make a right use o● them, that we abus● not thy bounty i● mispending them, no● restrain our Chari● tie, in relieving thos● who are in greatest necessity, according to the means which in mercy thou ha● given us. We hau● need of food for ou● Souls, and other things necessary, a● well for our life's a● for our bodies. O giu● us (good God) thi● day, and at all other times, what is convenient both for our souls and bodies: and therewith grant us contentment and moderation, that we may be satisfied with what is sufficient, and not seek things superfluous to abuse or misspend that we have: So we having sufficient, may not only ●ee satisfied, but may do good therewith to our own souls, and spare that which may ●ee spared unto the ●oore, forwhom thou hast not provided. And so not only this day, but all the days of our lives, we may be good Stewards of thy blessings, and true Accomptants of thy earthly and Heavenly Treasures. Forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. HOW often and continually we offend thy Heavenly Majesty, thou (good God) only, that feast all things, dost best dilcer●e. We sinne hourly, and therefore have still need of thy pardon. We often desire it, and do more often offend: We desire it with condition, yet we seldom perform the condition. How fearful is our state when we commit sins, crave pardon, promise to remit others trespasses, and yet neither avoid the evil, amend our lives, or pass by with pardon the smallest harms we have from our Brethren, but seek release from thee, and revenge against them: O good God, teach us to look back unto our former backslidings, even in this behalf. And if there be any whose faults we have not remitted, done only against ourselves. Move our hearts to relent, and to be reconciled as fare forth as may stand with thy glory and the good of thy Church. If the cause be such as may not be concealed, or kept from question: Yet let not our particular revenge be the ground to seek any man's ruin. But so teach and temper our hearts to distinguish betwixt private spleen & public justice, thy glory, & our own vain glory, wrath or displeasure, as this our daily prayer, or forgiving others, be not made unfruitful unto them, or hurtful unto our own souls, but by pardoninge their lesser offences thou mayst be moved to pardon our greater sins, and that for thy sake, and the safety of our souls through jesus Christ our LORD, Amen. And lead us not into Temptation. But deliver us from evil: Lead us not, or rather (Gracious God) suffer us not to be led into temptation: we lead ourselves, our Concupiscence and natural corruptions lead us, The flesh, the World and the Devil lead us & drive us unto temptations: What help, or what hold have we in ourselves, good God? When that which is without, assails, that which is within us is more ready to be overcome then to withstand: Nay, our inward, natural, inbred corruptions, gives and receives, and therefore cannot withstand these assaults. Our flesh is pampered and puffed up with Pride. Our lusts rising from our natural instigations of the flesh, and provocations of others, procured by internal inflammations, and external incensements, lead us and overwhelm us with temptations. When we (good Lord) as we are directed, desire thee not to lead us, or suffer us to be lead into temptation: we therein crave thy deliverances from the frailty of our flesh, which cannot resist, but rayseth temptations: Our Captivity comes from our selu, our Deliverance from thee: We are daily, hourly, and continually assaulted with temptations of lusts, when we do but see or feel that wherein we delight: Of pride, when exalted, or desiring to be exalted, we climb higher than our strength, or capacity can reach unto; or if coming unto it, and coming by means unto it: we fall (good Lord) from thy grace further and further, as at the first we fell from it, when we sought not from the sacred Counsels of thy holy Commandments, which way we should walk. Our Temptations, (O blessed resister and restrainer of the Tempter) are, either sudden, wherein our flesh and frailty, easily suffers us to be surprised: or else continued; and importunate, wherein we cannot without thy heavenly assistance, maintain the Combat, or continue the Conflict. In all these we are weak, and thou (O Lord) art strong; strengthen our weakness, sustain us against Satan: Suffer us not to be surprised: Repulse him by reuniting thy heavenly Spirit unto our frail flesh; stregthening us when we cannot stand, and restoring us when we are fallen. O Lord, Thou only art able to deliver us from dangers both of body and soul. Our temptations comes from both: Our natural corruptions in the body, our infused contagions in the soul, had need of thy aid to defend and deliver us from temptations. Our deliverance comes from thee, that our praises and thanksgiving may return unto thee. O deliver, save, and defend us from the suggestions of Satan. Amen. For thine is the Kingdom, Power, Glory, and Dominion. THe Kingdoms and Territories of the Earth (most mighty Lord) are thine in Creation, power, praise, and Dominion. It is thine (O LORD) for thou hast first framed it: It is thine, for thou dost conserve, and presetue it: It is thine, for thou dost rule and govern the Universe: Thy Son hath said, His Kingdom was not of this World, because he would not rule visibly, and temporally, but spiritually and eternally. Yet thou hast given him power in heaven and in earth to redeem sinners, and to save sinful men: What Kingdom can be greater, more glorious and firm? What power can be more ample, or so beneficial? What glory can shine more in and under the firmament of Heaven? O therefore, by that thy power bring us unto this thy Kingdom: where we may have rest without trouble, comfort without contention: joy without end: and thou mayest receive kingdom without resistance, Power without diminution: Glory without denial: and Dominion without disobedience: To this thy Kingdom, by thine own power bring us to give thee glory, and to be true subjects of thy dominion: for thine own, for thy Son, and for thy servant's sake, Amen. One Prayer framed upon all the parts of the Lords Prayer. MOst mighty God, most merciful Father, Thou art not only in Heaven by thy presence, but in Heaven and Earth by thy power: Thou in thy mercy hast vouschsafed to choose and account us for thy children. We by our transgressions have failed to do the duties of Children. Thou art in heaven and beholdest us; We are on earth and are so earthly minded, that we cannot behold and confess, as we should thy Majesty, thy mercy, and thy justice: Thy Name is hallowed and holy, yet we take thy name in vain; dishonour it, and thereby destroy our own souls: Thy Kingdom is already come both in heaven, and in the hearts of the Regenerate. O grant us regenerate hearts, that we may come unto thee, and unto thy kingdom. Thy Will (O good and gracious God) is that they whom thou hast ordained to be Saints in Heaven, should be holy, and so serve thee, to do thy will here on earth that they may attain to thy heavenly inheritance. But alas, how do we transgress the will, break thy laws, and follow our own wills. O yet here make us Ministers and fulfillers of thy holy will, that hereafter we may be partakers of thy heavenly possessions. Thou givest us (good Lord) daily bread, food, and sustenance; we (as we have need) daily desire the continuance thereof. We come with hands to receive, but not with hearts to render pray ●ses for these thy blessings. O let our days to come be as full of thankfulness, as those past have been of unthankfulness. Teach us day by day to desire not only corporal, but spiritual food, holily to use and not fleshly to abuse either of both. That we may not desire our meat to pamper our bodies, and to provoke them to lust: but to live soberly, to take sufficient, and to avoid excess. That we seek not spiritual food only to seem to be, but indeed to be truly religious. Our trespasses (mos● merciful Father) are great, infinite, and grievous. We come to thee, and we cry to thee for forgiveness: Thou, O Lord art ready to remi● them upon our repentance: We go o● with our sins, bu● not with sorrow fo● having committed them, with promis● of pardon unto other who have offende● us; and yet we for give not them as we desire to be forgiven. This is the cause that we neither receive pardon, nor amend our sinful lives: And this is the cause of our present hardness of our hearts, and will be of our future greater punishments, except thou in thy mercy forget and forgive our former trespasses, make us able hereafter to amend them, and make us charitable to forgive the trespasses of our brethren offending us, as we do thee: It is not thou (gracious God) that leadest us into temptations, but we are led into them by our own lusts and infirmities, we fall into them by our own frailties, we are invited by the enticements o● others, and by the subtlety of Satan. I● thou (good God) dost suffer and no● sustain us, we no● only receive, bu● run headlong into temptations, and eue● sink under the burden; Before we know where we stand, we fall: and can neither withstand, nor rise up again, except thou help us: O be thou our supporter & strength: Arm our souls, our hearts, and our consciences, so shall we be safe under thy salvation, and be covered under the wings of thy most merciful protection: The evils that come to us are from the evils that are within us, and are entertained by us: The evil affections of our hearts threaten to pull upon us corporal, temporal, spiritual, and eternal punishments. O keep us from the evil of our offences and sins, that we may shun the evil of punishment for the same, that so we may not feel the weight of thy power and indignation, but may here so be subject & obedient to thy Dominion, that we may hereafter enter into the joys of that celestial kingdom, which is thine, and which thou hast prepared for such as truly serve thee here, and shall be blessed Saints in heaven, Amen. Certain short Prayers and Meditations upon the ten Commandments. I am the Lord thy God that brought thee out of Bon dage. SInce thou, O Lord GOD, great and glorious, hast brought us from bondage, not only corporal, but from spiritual and eternal captivity, by sending thy Son, our Saviour, to suffer for our sins. Suffer us not (O gracious God) to fall again into worse than the Egyptian bondage of Idolatry, Infidelity, Superstition, and Ignorance. Teach us only truly and faithfully to adore thee our everliving God, and our God that givest life. Let us not (O Lord) doubt, or distrust of thy power or providence, but that our faith may be firm, our hope assured, and our confidence in thee always constant, to expect the good pleasure in performance of thy gracious promises: but that I may love and honour thee above, and more than all creatures which are corruptible, the workmanship of thy hands, and which as they have their being from thee, so they can not be at all, or subsist without thy sustentation. As thou art. (O Lord) grant that we may honour thee as thou art our God, that we may praise thee World without end, Amen. Thou shalt have no other Gods but me. THe Heathen, O LORD GOD everlasting, give thy glory unto sticks, stones, and other imaginary, idle, vain, and evil things. The Infidels and unbelievers do either openly, or secretly deny thy Deity, and divine incomprehensible Majesty. The ignorant and evil instructed people, though they by custom profess somewhat of thy service and power, yet they know not what it is, but either through evil instruction, or for want of instruction, know not, or care not how to keep thy Commandments, O Lord, teach them that believe amiss, the ways of truth, and to amend their errors, those that believe not, touch their hearts, make them to tremble at thy terrors, and divine justice, which yet they feel not, and so to entertain Faith, that their souls may be saved. Teach us that profess thy truth to practise it, That we may have none other Gods but thee, the True and only Euerliving GOD: There is none other but only thou that art good, and goodness itself. How then shall we stand in judgement before thee, who prefer and account any any created thing before, or in comparison of thee. O let our knees and hearts bow down before thee alone, with faith, with fear, and with acknowledgement: Then we shall have none other Gods but thee; neither follow our own fantasies, nor the corrupt doctrine of such as mislead others. Thou shalt not make unto thyself the Image or likeness of any thing in Heaven above, or in the Earth beneath, or in the Waters under the Earth: For, etc. AS thy power, O LORD is greatest, and thy pre-eminence above all thy Creatures in the heavens, and in the earth: So is thine Honour so precious, that thou wouldst not have it given to any thing in heaven or in in earth. Yet (good Lord) our natures are so frail, and our souls so sinful, that we fancy and frame unto ourselves imaginary worship of creatures in Heaven, in earth, and in the waters, by their similitude and likeness; giving, or attributing thy glory to those glowworms being false and fading fantasies of our own imaginations: Since than most mighty Maker and Monarch of heaven and earth, thou seest our frailty to fall, and the dishonour of thy Majesty, by false worship; by framing the likeness of any creature to worship: O suffer us not to make, to set up, or to adore false Gods, to fall before them, to place any power, or hope in them, to trust to our own policy or power: to depend upon earthly helps, joys, or delights, but to rely only upon thy strength, good will and pleasure: That nothing in heaven above, in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth, may carry us from thy true worship and service, which is our safety, and concerns thy glory, to whom be given praise without ceasing, and Honour without Superstition, now and for ever, Amen. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. O Lord GOD most mighty and merciful, since thy majesty is so high, great, and glorious, how careful should we be to conserve a reverend and awful estimation of thy holy name, as to honour it in thought, word, and deed: But, O most gracious God, how careless are we to keep thy holy Commandment: How ready by irreligion to blaspheme thy holy Name with oaths, curses, execrations, to abuse thy holy Attributes, in forswearing, and false accusing, to name thee (O our good GOD) in our mouths, when we have thee not in our hearts, to dissemble and make Hypocritical profession of thy holy and true Religion, without any care or conscience to put it in practice. O most mighty and merciful God, we beseech thee to pardon and pass by our profaneness, in taking thy name in vain, our impiety in blaspheming thy holy name, our rashness in naming thee without inward reverence, or remembrance of thy power, honour, and Majesty; our proneness to mention thy Word, Works, and Worship, without due premed tation and consideration. O teach us when we talk, think or invocate thy holy name, to do it with conscience, faith, and sear, when we think on it, to cogitate and call to memory that we are in thy presence, to believe that we are under thy power, and subject to thy punishment. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath Day: six days, etc. SInce thou (most glorious God) by thine omnipotent power hast created this World, and by thy providence, for a perpetual memorial of this thy most wonderful Work, hast or dained a Sabbath, or seaveth day of rest, to be celebrated and set apart for thy Service. In which we should be free from servile works, and worldly cares O LORD, therefore sanctify us, and so prepare our hearts for this thy service, that we may make a conscience of performing this thy Precept: For this purpose, Let us be careful to keep thy Sabbaothes in public in the Congregation, and Assembly of thy Servants, by Prayer, praises, and hearing of thy Word: In private, by Preparation, Meditation, Conference, Consideration of thy Clemency; and Works of Creation and Preservation, as in deeds of Charity, Mercy, and Compassion to the needy. For this end (good and gracious GOD) fit and furnish our hearts, our wits and our understandings, with Zeal, Knowledge, and Conscience to shake off on this thy holy Sabbaths, sloth, and slowness to come unto thine Assemblies, and to exercise these religious Duties, to cast away worldly cares, bodily labours, except such as are for necessity, for present preservation of things ready to perish, which cannot be otherwise prevented, or longer deferred, and of that which may with most Moderation set forward the religious Exercises and holy Duties of that Day. These Graces grant us, Amen. Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy, etc. O Lord God, as thou art the Propagator, and Protector of our souls, to whom only we should give divine Honour: so wouldst thou that we should give to our natural Parents, reverence, obedience, sustenance, and faithfulness, which in justice is due for the cause of our birth, being, education and maintenance by them: And that we may do this which thou (good God) requirest; We beseech thee, remove from us Pride, selfe-conceite, and self-love, neglect of our duty to our Parents, and Superiors: impatience, when they shall exercise authority, inflict punishment, or demand those things to be done, which we do dislike, or not desire; Hardness of heart, when they stand in need of our help. O Lord, grant that we overweane not ourselves, thinking ourselves wiser than our Parents, Teachers, Magistrates or Superiors, but that we may perform all their lawful Commandments, without grudging or delaying●, lest by disobedience we dishonour them, procure thy curse, thy displeasure, and our own danger. Let us not be like to cursed Cam, the discoverer of his Father's nakedness: But that we may so keep this thy Commandment, that in honouring them we may receive honour from thee; and that happiness which thou hast promised, that our days may be long and blessed not only in this Land which thou hast given us to live here upon earth, but even in the Land of the Living, where thou dost reign for ever: and where we may remain in thy glorious presence evermore to give thee Praise, Amen. Thou shalt do no Murder. MOst merciful GOD, that givest life, & desirest not the death of sinners, nor that we by sin, or violence, should slay our own souls, or our Brethren, that bear thine Image. We beseech thee to teach us wherein we commit murder, by our hands, tongues, or hearts, that so we may shun the sin and punishment that followeth the same. O Lord we slay our own souls by our manifold and great sins; we murder other men's souls by causing them to commit sins; by which we take from ourselves, and them, the life of grace: O Lord we slay our souls by extinguishing the inspirations of thy holy spirit, not suffering it to purge our sins by Prayer and Repentance, not receiving or retaining, but rejecting those good motions and holy desires, which thy grace gives unto us. We commit Murder, if not of the lives of men) yet of their good Names. In our hearts by Anger, Wrath, and Envy: with our tongues, by slander, reproach, sowing of sedition, cursing, and evil speaking, with our hands done upon the persons of ourselves by Violence, Drunkenness, Adultery and other Distempers: whereby either the souls or lives of ourselves, or of others, are destroyed, by not succouring them, as we are able, with counsel, correction, or charitable relief, when they stand in need of us: by these & many other ways, most merciful GOD, we murder either our own souls or bodies, or the souls and bodies of our Neighbours: O Lord God, therefore who hast given us souls and bodies, give us grace and assistance not to destroy them in ourselves or others, but purify our hearts and affections, enlighten our understandings, kindle zeal to thy glory and truth, which may save our own souls, and settle us to seek the salvation of others: and not to be a means of our own, or of other men's subversions: Plant in our heart's Charity Meekness, and mercifulness towards all men, sobriety in our desires, carriage, and conversations: a desire to seek the good, and not the hurt of our Neighbours: Remove from us Pride, Presumption, Cruelty and hardness of heart, whereby we slay our own souls, and destroy the lives, estate or estimation of our brethren; So we being thus fenced by the grace and good gifts of thy holy Spirit, with faith and fear to offend thy Majesty, may thereby learn to keep this thy holy Commandment, to the saving, and not the destroying of the souls and lives of ourselves and others: Grant this good Lord, for thy mercy's sake, Amen. Thou shalt not commit Adultery. O Lord GOD, thou by thy holy Word hast taught us, that there is spiritual and corporal Adultery. Thou hast commanded not to commit them: Yet our corrupt natures draw us to both: We forsake thee, our God, the true Spouse of our souls, by adhering in confidence, worship or disordinate affection unto the corruptible creatures, and so adulterating thy service and Worship, become forgetful of thee, following more our own lusts, pleasures, or profits, than thy precepts: O God, full of power who hast created us thy poor creatures, who seest and searchest the secret corners of our hearts, unsearchable and secret unto our selves. Cleanse these secret, yet strong and prevailing lusts which draw us to commit the Spiritual and Carnal Adultery: restrain our unchaste looks, and enticing aspects one of another. Cause us to refrain wanton speeches, to abstain from Drunkenness, and excess of Diet, (which are the Instruments and provocation to Idolatry, To forbear pampering of our bodies. gorgeousness & Curiosity of apparel which draws us to overmuch delight of ourselves, and to a desire to defile our bodies, with Adultery, Fornication, & other filthy bestial Contaminating of our own bodies, corrupting of others and breaking the bounds of this thy holy Commandment. That we should not commit Adultery spiritual against thee, or corporal against one another, and both against thy Laws. Keep us therefore, O Sovereign Lord, within the compass of this thy holy Commandment, by thine own power and providence. By, and for which only we shall be able to give thee laude and glory now, and for ever. Amen. Thou shalt not steal. THou, O gracious GOD, who hast given us sufficiency, requirest of us contentedness with that we have: And though we think we have less than we need, and have much less than we desire: yet thou, O our good God, the giver of all we have, dost only know what is best for us: Our several estates have need of means for maintenance, according to our callings, but we do not rightly measure the lawful and right means by which we should come to this competency, we go by means to seek it, we only weigh what we would have, but do not consider so well where and how it may be godly, and lawfully gotten, which makes us to take from our Neighbours, and others what belongeth unto them. O Lord therefore take from us Covetousness, the root of deceit and false dealing, stealths of things we want, or would have. Extortion to get any thing by colour of justice, and bribing to pervert justice. Violence to take any thing by force, power, or strong hand from others; Negligence and slothfulness in our several estates and callings, which breed beggary, necessity, and robbery. Send us lawful, christian, and honest care to provide things necessary, without deceit, cozening, or double dealing: discretion, and frugality in the disposing of our Estates, whereby we may provide things needful without being burdensome to others, or forced to steal or purloin from them. Grant, good Lord, therefore that our endeavour may be to get what is sufficient for ourselves, without doing wrong unto others: Diligence in our callings, without overmuch care, cruelty, covetousness, or circumvention. Just dealing with all men: Frugality without misery, Contentedness with our estates, And if we have plenty, to use it providently, and charitably, avoiding misery or mispending, not seeking any thing by unjust or unlawful means, nor keeping it by frande or falsehood. O Lord GOD, grant that we rob not thee of thine honour, by stealing from ourselves in sloth and security, that time which we should spend in thy service but that we may keep this thy holy Commandment with care and conscience, to thy honour, and our own salvation, thorough jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour. THou, O Lord, that art the God of truth, and teachest us to maintain truth, forbiddest us to bear false witness to the loss, discredit, hindrance, or shame of our Neighbours: that we neither slander them with our tongs, accuse them, by oath or word, wrongfully; think or judge evil of them without cause, Deceive them by flattery or hypocrisy, backbite any, nor bolster any bad causes by countenance, cunning, or give sudden and rash belief unto raysers of sedition, or evil reports: that we teach not false doctrine in matters of faith; nor violate faith, or promise with any man to their delusion and deceit: but that we may avoid the peril and punishment of breaking this Commandment. Teach us most just and wise GOD, to make Conscience of our words, aswell as our works, to avoid slander, false accusation, to speak the truth, to be sincere, and single-hearted, when we come, or are called to give testimony of the truth, without respect of persons, profit, friendship, envy, revenge, or reward, that we may know and consider, we are always in thy presence, and under thy power to be punished, if we transgress these thy holy precept. That we may say and swear the truth in all things, since all that we say, swear, or do, is in thy sight, and subject to thy severe and uncorrupted judgement. Grant and give us grace by thy power to do this for thy glory and our own good, thou gracious God to whom be praise, for ever and ever, Amen. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's house: his Wife, his servant, etc. SInce thou, our Sovereign Lord and God, hast given us all that we have, knowest what is needful for us to have and keepest for us that thou hast given. Thou commandest we should subdue our lustful thoughts, and desires, of coveting that which is not ours: and be content with that thou art pleased to make ours. O make us (most merciful God) moderate in desiring, sober in using, and abstinent from concupiscence, and coveting those things that belong not unto us: Suffer not our wanton eyes to wander, our corrupt hearts to covet, or our lose thoughts to be led with enticements of worldly, vain, and transitory things which may make us to cover any thing that thou hast given, and doth belong to others, and not unto ourselves, whether it be the persons estates, lives, liberties, services, or duties of our Neighbours; be they our Superiors, equals, or inferiors. O Lord God, holy and just, to this end cleanse our Conseiences, restrain our appetites and evil affections; chastise our inordinate desires, subdue our lustful inflammations: Conquer our unbridled corruptions. Send thy holy and heavenly spirit into our hearts, to take the possession and protection of our poor sinful souls, that we be not seduced, but may be kept as cleave vessels, sanctified for thy service to keep this, and all thy Commandments, for thy mercy's sake, for thy merits, & through the Mediation of thy Son our Lord and Saviour. O LORD, if our Houses be but poor, let us not covet to make them better, by seeking that which belongs not unto us, or by getting that which we cannot lawfully have: If our store be small, suffer us not to seek that which we should not seek; either our Neighbours Wives by Adultery, enticements, or carnal provocations, or any of his goods, by oppression, deceit or any kind of corruption, his servants, by fraud, flattery, or false dealing: But do thou, gracious God, settle our souls to contentment with what we have, or may obtain by industry, void of injury; by lawful means without unlawful practices, with conscience, moderation, and sobriety; that shunning to seek and covet that which is not ours: we may here faithfully serve thee, set forth thy glory, and hereafter receive eternal happiness with thee in Heaven. Amen. My Mementoes which I should make to myself. 1 THe consideration and acknowledgement of my sins, general, and: particular; by prayer, and by repentance. 2 The Examination of my life, how it hath been lead, either in goodness, or in looseness of living. 3 Whether I have amended or continued in any known gross sins. 4 What they are, how they have their beginning & growth 5 What resistance I have made, and what success that hath had. 6 Whether I have repelled those sins, and whether they have again returned. 7 What hopes or means I have to banish those, or the like sins? 8 Whether my prayers befainter or stronger; more frequent or seldomer than they have been? 9 Whether my distractions, doubts, and dulness, in the time of prayer remains, or be removed. 10 Whether those Passions which were more prevalent in me are yet pacified 11 Whether I cannot yet hearty forgive, and pray for those that have injured me. 12 Whether my want of Love and Charity to my Neighbours be yet amended? 13 Whether I have joined Faith with Examination, and that with Repentance. There is no day wherein I live, but I should call myself to account, and bestow some time in examination of myself, to see and search, which of these, or the like sins I have committed, which of them I have corrected: what yet remains to be done, that I may no more do them: And if I can fall to these remembrances by exact repetition, I shall sooner come to repentance: If I cannot altogeter remember them, yet I must first read them in these, or the like lines, then answer to every Article, as if I were examined before the strickest judge for any capital offence, or else I may be assured I shall come at last before a severe and allseeing judge, who knows and will judge all: when I have done this, I must go to prayer for the removing of these evils; the continuance in doing better: Or if I find I cannot do it, I must still pray that I may be able to do it. These Meditations and the Prayers following them, being the best Medicines to cure all the maladies of my mind and soul: for which end, and to attain to that holy and happy end, It is necessary that I should frame unto myself, if not unto others, some short supplications, as th●se following or the like. A Prayer for performance of the former Points. O Lord GOD, my sins are great & grievous, many and infinite in number: they are so many that I cannot reckon or remember them. Those that I do remember, which are the fewest in comparison of the rest; I have not confessed or acknowledged as I should do. I have not examined my sinful life that I have led, nor sought amendment of the same, I have not looked into the beginning or growth of my sins, nor how I have resisted the same, or if at any time I have done it, yet I have fallen more backwards than I went forwards. My hope of resistance is nothing but in thy power and mercy, O therefore most merciful God, Grant me power not only to proceed in examination, but in amendment. For my prayers good God which should be the pathway to thy praise, and the steps to my salvation; they are feeble and slow. O make them stronger and more frequent. Take from me in my prayers distractions, doubting, and dullness. Remove my most violent passions, the perturbers of mind and soul. Grant me grace to forgive them that wrong me, and that I may pray for them that persecute me, as thy son my Saviour did and hath taught me to do And as thy servant Stephen hath showed me an example: Take from me hatred, and increase in me lou● and charity: Graun● me grace to ioyn● faith with examination, and examination with repentance: And that I may be the better able to do this and all other good duties, Give me power to pray unto thee and to praise thee: So be it Good Lord Amen. The Differences in Devotion and exercises of Religion betwixt the Protestants and the Roman Catholics. Especially in regard of Excess and Defect. FOr the excess: The Romanists tie themselves too much unto Canonical hours as they call them, in the public or private service of God. As to say or sing Mass at such hours: as in the forenoon, at the hours of nine and eleven to have Angular Masses whereof many in one Church, and in diverse Corners of the same Church at the same time: To tie them in their private Devotions, to read or rather to run over the jesus Psalter, and other manual books heretofore altogether in the Lative tongue, which most of them understood not at all: So might they speak as Birds are taught to speak, by the pronunciation, scarce of syllables aright; sometime saying one word or at the least sounding one for another without any sense or signification, to themselves, what they speak: But of latter times here in England (though not so in other Countries, where the Roman Catholic Religion (as themselves call it) only hath use and force here more than elsewhere,) They are lately tolerated by the authority of the Church of Rome to have some few prayer books both in Latin and english, but which of both they do most use, themselves do best know. And either they are so full farced and stuffed with hymns, short versicles; some without conclusion of sense, and in most, the sentences so shortly and suddenly set together, the one leaping so close upon the back of the other, that hardly can they remember, or scarce perceive what they say. Only they are made to believe, that these ready, but raw repetitions may serve for God's service, whereas the understanding should be aswell supplied as the affection, in performance of true Religion. Herein is their excess joined with defect: Excess of measure in heaping many words not well weighed: Defect in the conception and knowledge of what they do deliver: Besides there is an exceeding great Error allowed and taught in putting them not only to pronounce those prayers so peeced, which must needs be over perfunctorily thus sped: but some (nay many) I may say most of their prayers are directed to the Saints as intercessors, whereof some were such as in their liue● were scarce holy but so esteemed, and yet were in a manner deified, only because they adhered to the Pope of: Rome Namely (amongst others) Thomas Becket sometime Archbishop of Canterbury, rebellious to his Sovereign, and so though evil slain therefore Canonised: Prayers allowed by public authority printed and practised even in our times. As desiring God by the blood of this Becket to make the poor seduced suppliant to ascend where Christ ascended. They making in those common prayer books more prayers to the blessed Virgin Mary then to our Saviour himself. They calling on her to beseech God the Father: and to command God her son by the right of a Mother: Which with many other most gross superstitions, aswell in their public, as in their private Devotions, themselves cannot deny; or if they should, yet their books are extant and their practices perspicuous, Their creeping and their bending and bowing of their Bodies before the Images of some but supposed Saints. The adoring of the Image of the Cross and crucifix, with other, but said to be but hallowed relics: what dishonour it hath brought to the Christian Religion, and what danger to themselves, although they will not acknowledge, and their learnedest Teacher's will seem to defend or to excuse: yet Intelligent and pious men who are not seduced by jesuits and Romish Priests, or so unhappy as to be bred up in their Schools of superstition, may perceive though they will not confess; That devotion without true understanding, turns soon unto superstition: That fervour without Faith, and belief without knowledge, makes many men err grossly, and offend most where they think they do best: Their books of Meditation are in many parts good to stir Devotion, but in some places patched with superstition. If this Cockle might be separated from their Corn it would proovemore profitable. For the Protestants profession & practice of Religion, whereof I profess to be one. If most Protestant's would be as fervent, & as frequent in their Prayers, as many of them are intelligent in that they pray, they should more shun sin, and shame the Romanists; who yet seem to shun them by being more devout in that which they do less understand, and are far more frequent in Prayer. And if there were more zeal joined with Conscience, it would much adorn the profession, & make it most excellent as it is in deed, so would it be in estimation and effect. But no profession can make men perfect: The most perfection we have consists or is consummated in practice and action. Peace and prosperity which should help, doth yet hinder Devotion. It begets Pride, and that engenders presumption: Affliction gives instruction, gains humility, guides the Conscience, and reforms evil living: Witness, nay, many witnesses hereof, were the persecutions of the Primitive Church, when under the Tyrannies and bloody Massacres of the Christians, by the Heathen Emperors, Princes, and Magistrates: the Christians lives were shining lights of sanctity: their patiented and constant sufferings, causes of conversion to many men, who before knew not God, nor what Godliness meant: Their sincerity and singleness of heart set up Trophies for themselves, and made them Conquerors over their cruelest and causeless Enemies. And I would I could not say in mine own particular, for my poor sinful self, that when I enjoyed the World as I did most wish, I was ever then worst. I would I could as well say, that since Adversity came, I became better: yet if any thing work in me, or in others, amendment, it must be Affliction, and some Adversity. Affliction in mind for sin: and a touch of Adversity for the same. O therefore that so I may do as now I say, and that others may do as I wish. My Prayers (I hope by the heavenly assistancce) shall be, That yet in these times of Peace and Prosperity, whilst our Protestant Religion (the best, because the truest) is enjoyed and established, might by God's permission, and all helping power in these serene and and Sunshining days before there come more darkness and danger, cast off carelessness of planting Truth, supplanting Errors; practising of Piety, preserving the public peace and safety; reforming of things amiss in the Church & Commonweal, which cannot be done without more diligence and vigilancy, courage, providence, and care; especially by setting the chief watchmen in the Church and State more closely to their Stations, the one by Doctrine, Discipline, and Diligence: the other by Counsel and Circunspection to prevent perils, and to procure the peace of this our Zion. And that this may be performed, I conclude with the ensuing Prayer, that being the subject of this small preceding Treatise. A Prayer for the peace and prosperity of the King's Majesty, his Dominions, and Subjects. MOst mighty, gracious, and merciful God who hast made, dost govern and preserve the Heavens, the Earth, and all the Creatures therein contained: Be merciful unto us most miserable and sinful creatures, who were ordained for thy service, and yet do nothing more, or so much, as commit sins against thy sup●came Majesty: We have from the highest to the lowest, been polluted with original sins. Our great, our grievous, and our out-crying sins call unto thee for our destruction and damnanation. But because thy Mercy is above all thy other works, which yet exceed in greatness. We prostrate ourselves before thy Throne of grace; beseeching thee for thy Son's sake, and for thine own goodness sake to save us poor sinners, who desire to do thee service, though hitherto we have gone astray: and walked in the ways of wickedness: Thou hast planted thy glorious Gospel of truth here amongst us, we have professed, but we have not practised it as we should, yet because it is the planting of thine own right hand: suffer not our sins to pluck up the same: but rather supplant our sins and thereby strengthen our states and souls: To this end (good and gracious God) look upon thy servant our Sovereign whom thou hast set over us: enlighten his royal heart with thy saving Graces of knowledge, piety, counsel, care, providence, for preservation and advancement of thy truth, and of the people that thou hast committed to his charge. Give him Zeal, fortitude, power, peace and protection against all that are Enemies to true Religion, and to those Realms thou hast appointed him to rule: Give him a discerning heart to discover and shun all dangers, and all that be dangerous to him and to his Dominions, unite his heart in love to his people, and them in loyalty to him. O LORD, preserve thy people under him in peace: Protect them from foreign power, and both him and them from homebred conspiracies, and all other mischievous machinations: Make the Prince, his Magistrates and People zealous of thy service and glory, constant and careful in keeping thy Commandments: courageous for defence of thy Truth, and their Country: Conscionable and Charitable. That so they may be still thy faithful servants and thou their merciful God: So shall thy glorious Gospel and the light of thy Truth ever remain amongst us until the coming of thy Son Christ jesus: that thou mayest reign over us: and we remain with thee in eternal Bliss. Amen. Amen. Good Lord. A Prayer for our afflicted Brethren, the Protestants beyond the Seas: MOst gracious and merciful Father, who usest to chasten thy Children, and to correct whom thou lovest, Have mercy on those that suffer for mainetenance of thy truth: Their sins have deserved thy punishments, and yet we that have sinned as much, if not more, have not suffered so much for our sins: Thou hast sent thy scourge to let them see their sins. Thou hast not gone out with their hosts, but hast scattered them. O Lord yet heal and bind up their bones which thou hast broken: gather them together, and now thou hast taught the Princes, that their power is in vain without thy protection, and the people that there is no confidence in the arm of flesh, give them yet confidence in thy favour, patience in adversity, courage to fight for thy Truth, comfort amidst their calamities: O Lord thou dost permit thy people Israel many times after thy long sufferings, and their great sins to be overcome by the jebusites, Amalachites and Philistines, The Ark was taken, and they cried out, the glory of Israel was departed, yet thou didst send help, when there was no help nor hope in Man: O Lord thou hast executed justice and judgement, yet leave not thine to their oppressors, and when thou hast dealt with them according to thy mercy, teach them thy Statutes; that they may know thy Testimonies. It is time (O Lord) for thee to work, for the persecutors of the Truth have destroyed thy Law: The Kings of the earth band themselves, and the Princes are assembled together against the Lord and his anointed. O yet thou Lord of Hosts break their bands in sunder, and cast away their cords: And though the water's rage and be troubled, yet let thy servants find and say; the Lord of hosts is with them, and the God of jacob is their refuge. And that when thy servants, our persecuted brethren, have received comfort and deliverance; they may rejoice in thy mercies, sing praises unto thee, and call unto their neighbours, to behold the wonderful works thou hast done for them, to make it known unto the world. It is thou that makest wars to cease: It is thou that hast broken the bow, cuttest the spear, and burnest the Chatiot in sunder: So we pray for them and for one another: Beseeching thee to grant us these requests. For thy Son's sake our Saviour jesus Christ. Amen. A Prayer to be used on the Sabbath Day. O Lord God of infinite power and providence, who after thy ever to be admired and praised work of creating this World, didst ordain one day of seven to be kept as a Sabbath; not only to be free from labour and travel, but to be wholly dedicated and kept holy, for thy service in Prayers and praises, to be offered unto thy Majesty, as an incense and oblation of thankful acknowledgement of thy most great might and mercies; in creating this world and ordaining man to govern all creatures therein contained: in conserving all these thy Creatures for his use, and him for thy service, in giving him light of Knowledge and understanding, of thy Word and Commandment: and of the things he should do, or leave undone. As we receive these thy blessings and benefits, so specially on this day, which thou hast selected for thy service. O Lord settle us unto it, fit us for it, and grant grace not only unto us here present, but to the public state, and to particular persons in other places: not only to rest from labours on this day, but to shun sin, to communicate with thy servants in thy service, to read thy Word, to hear it, where it is preached; to come unto thy Congregations, and where thy word is not preached, to use all the good means we may for maintenance and increase of knowledge and of conscience; by praying, reading, meditating and conference. To this end (good Lord) teach us to cast away, as all servile works, so sloth, evil and idle company-keeping, profane speeches, with other evil actions and thoughts; that may either draw us from our Christian duties, offend thy divine Majesty, or give evil example unto others: Make our hearts and Consciences clean, our conferences, words and works holy, and conversation upright and pure. So beginning and continuing in thy service this day in such sort as thou requirest, we may not only sanctify this, but all the rest of thy Sabbaths, during the remain of our days here upon earth: until we come to that Sabbath of Sabbaths, that eternal rest: rejoicing and praising of thy Holy and Blessed Name in the highest Heavens: wherein grant us the assistance of thy holy Spirit, and the aid of thy Son our Saviour Christ jesus. Amen. A Prayer in the time of trouble and affliction. O LORD our God: great are our sins, and heavy are our visitations: yet our chastisements are nothing answerable to our corruption, we have sinned much and thou hast suffered us long, yet though our sins be as red as scarlet, thou hast said and we believe that thou wilt make them as white as snow. Our sins do fester through our own Corruptions, cleanse them, (O thou the sovereign & sole physician of our souls: Since thou art pleased to purge us with some bitter pills that urge us to sweat and groan yet more for worldly matters then for the offence of thy divine Majesty. Make us therefore first sensible of our sins and sorrowful for them: And when thou hast purged us, take away thy punishments: Cure first our souls, then make our bodies and estates sound and safe: Yet again and again bring us back to consider and see from whence all our calamities do come, Deliver us (if it be thy blessed will from present and ensuing dangers, or else grant us patience to undergo whatsoever thy good pleasure shallbe to lay upon us: Renew us and then restore us to thy wont favour, not for our merits but for the merits and mercies of thy beloved Son, and our blessed Saviour, Amen. A Prayer when public Calamities approach or are doubted. OOr sins (O Lord) have drawn upon us thy heavy displeasure and greater punishments than yet we feel or fear, for we have multiplied our offences, and yet thou hast held back thy punishing hand, we have not been alured by thy merits though they be many, nor admonished by thy chastisements sent to draw us unto conformity: But rather thy long suffering hath made us more secure, hard hearted and negligent: This hath caused thee sometimes to send signs of thy fearful wrath, as sickness, unseasonable weather, want of means to maintain many who heretofore have lived well: Our brethren abroad professing the same Religion suffer many heavy pressuers and are in much peril, we at home though we have long enjoyed the liberty of exercising the Religion we profess, yet our coldness and carelessness in practising (besides our many other sins) hath hindered the propagation of piety, dishonoured thy name, and endangered the truth: O Lord, yet at length, humble us in the sight and sense of these our sins: Teach us to learn, consider and remember, that for such, if not for less sins, thou didst consume Sodom, draw the deluge over the whole earth, and destroy, almost consume at an instant all the Creatures of the World. Yet neither these examples nor our own chastisements have prevailed to persuade us unto true humiliation, repentance and amendment of life: But now of late when thou hast sent signs in the air, inundations of waters, pestilence, poverty, decay of trades: and hast found amongst us a decrease of desire to do good: a desire to deceive, p●ide of hart, delicious and luxurious living, perjury, and perfidious dealing, profanation of thy Name, Word and Sacraments: So that there being little hope of better belief, or of better living when thy sword of justice is ready to be drawn, the light of truth in some danger to be diminished; and we to receive such punishments as we most justly have deserved: Yet consider we are the workmanship ordained for thy service: And though the Axe should be put unto the tree, ready to out of our lives, estates and saving knowledge, yet correct, but do not (for thy mercy's sake) confound us; reform but do not destroy us: Make us yet new creatures: O spare and de●iuer us from the evil days to come: Thou desirest not the death of sinners, but rather Conversion, Let us yet live to honour thee whom we have dishonoured; Though long peace and much plenty hath set us asleep, and provoked us to much pride and presumption, yet let us with Hezechiah, turning to the wall and weeping, be reprived from that sentence which our sins have sent out against us: and let us learn to serve thee and not Satan: So being preserved by thy mercy we may yield Honour and praise to thy eternal Majesty. A Prayer against the reigning sins that a man finds to remain in himself. LOrd God, how senseless am I of mine own sins, that cannot see nor feel those I daily and continually commit: Some are secret and concealed from myself which I know not or cannot conceive. And those though less heinous, or at the least, less understood, yet too heavy for me to bear, Other greater and more grievous by me not acknowledged, or not repent: and amongst many more that I pass over without any examination of myself or repentance for them: Those cleave most to the corruptions of mine own nature, as pride, self conceit, and other sins whereto I am most subject, etc. These press me most, and others too much; yet pardon me (O Lord) pardon that is past, purge me from them for time to come, cleanse the corruptions of my nature, cure the Contagion that comes by evil company and the enticements of others, with whose fashions, wits, faces or flatteries, we are seduced: And for mine own inward concupiscence which easily sets itself on fire: O Lord quench it with the cooling and comforting gifts of Grace, sobriety, temperance and circumspection. Be thou (most gracious God) that good Samaritan, to pour into my wounded soul the oil of thy mercy, that so these destroyers of my soul being by thee destroyed, I may then surely say, O Death where is thy sting: O Hell where is thy victory, and bless thee, who hast blessed me with thine abundant mercies: to whom be praises and glory for ever Amen. A Prayer necessary to be used often O LORD God most mighty merciful and just, who hast created all things of nothing only by thy power and word, who hast preserved all that thou hast made, and dost save all those that do faithfully call and trust on thee. We most miserable and wretched sinners do confess unto thee against ourselves to our own shame and to thy glory, that we were borne and conceived in sin, that we have lived and continued in sin: that our whole lives have been nothing else but a heaping up of sin and iniquity against thy Holy and Heavenly Majesty: That there is no sin in his own nature so heinous, or to thee so displeasing but either we have committed or else we have a proneness to commit the same. The sins of our youth; of our riper age and of our later, even of these last time shave flowed one upon another, and have polluted our souls, defiled our bodies, and displeased thy Majesty, so that there is nothing due unto us, if thou shouldst deal with us according to our deserts, but death and destruction in this life, Hell and perdition in the life to come. Whither then should we fly for succour and relief: If we go unto Man, his breath is in his nostrils: that perishing he perisheth: If we go unto Angels, or to any power in Heaven, they have no power but what they receiue● from thee; We come therefore unto thee, whose mercy is above all thy works, beseeching thee in the multitude of thy mercies to have compassion on us. And in that love (which thou show'dst unto Mankind, in sending thy Son to suffer for us, and to save us sinners, that thou wouldst by his blood, death and suffering, wash away our sins: And since thou hast sent him to Redeem us, suffer us not to be destroyed: O Lord GOD, grant us penitence and true repentance for our sins past, watchfulness over all our ways for time to come, Care to keep thy Common dements, strength to withstand the temptations of Satan. Humility of heart, patience in the times of trial and adversity: Constancy in calling upon thee: Fervency in prayer, Faith in thy promises, Assurance of thy love: Assistance in Temptations, Deliverance from dangers of soul and body, The right and Sanctified use of thy creatures: Charity towards our neighbours: and contentedness with our estates, To this end (gracious God) take from us all those things that take us from thee, and give us those graces that may make us to love thee, and declare us to be entirely beloved of thee. Take from us hardness of heart, dulness and slowness, in coming to thy service, Neglect of those Holy duties thou requirest us to do: Contempt of thy Commandments, Misbelief, Unbelief, Despair and doubting of thy mercy: Distrust of thy providence, Give us, above all things, Faith, steadfastly to believe in thee, fervour in thy service: faithfulness in maintenance of thy truth: courage to lay down our lives for the continuance of thy glorious Gospel: thankfulness for all thy unspeakable mercies: a love of those that serve thee in sin cerity of heart, Liberality (according to our abilities) to those that are in distress and danger for doing that they ought to do. And when thou hast fitted us for thy service, and furnished our hearts with thy good graces, then send us the joy of thy Holy Spirit, a detestation of our former evil courses, delight in keeping thy Laws, a desire to be dissolved in thy good appointed time, a meditation of our frail lives, and a preparation for our uncertain deaths: And now (O blessed Lord) we pray not for ourselves alone here present, but for thy despised, dispersed and distressed flock through the face of the earth: It is a little flock. O Lord increase it: It is dispersed, O Lord gather them together into thy fold: It is despised & distressed. Lord succour defend & support them: Let not the wild Boars destroy thy Vineyard; nor the fat Bulls of Basan environ and overwhelm thy chosen ones, & those that love thy truth: Thou hast heretofore hedged thy Zion, Thou hast mightily and miraculously defended thy chosen Israel: Thy hand is not shortened thy power is still the same: Let not therefore those that love not thy truth, or them that love it, say; where is now their God. Be merciful to our sovereign, & to all the Royal Progeny: Govern the Governors of this Land, Give them true wisdom, sincere, uncorrupt, and courageous hearts: Ennoble the true Nobility, with Loyalty to their Prince and State, the leading of a good life, and the longing for a better. Inspire the Clergy, with care and diligence to discharge their duties in their several places: Make the Commons of this Kingdom more just, more holy, more conscionable in their courses, more careful of the common safety and prosperity of the public State: touch us all with a zeal of thy service and truth, an inward reverence of thy most holy Majesty, a remorse of our former irreligious life That so when we shall part from this place, we may part from our sins, but not from sorrow for having committed them; but may leave them and lead a better life, till we be brought from death to that life where sorrow and sin reigneth not, where death hath no dominion, and where complaints & controversies are not known, but have their end. This life, good Lord, grant us to lead in thy fear, and in the end, to enjoy that life, where joys do last for ever, by the mercies of thee our Lord and only Saviour, Amen. A Prayer against Pride anger and Enuy. O LORD God who seest and searchest the secrets of all men's hearts; Thou that knowest how subject I am to Pride, Anger and Envy: My heart (good Lord) is puffed up with pride, it swess with self conceit, vain glory and ostentation: I take too much pride of those parts of my Body, as beauty, strength and stature, and make myself believe they are much more fair and fashionable then indeed they are. So am I efflated and blown up like a bladder with conceit of mine own knowledge, wit, understanding and skill, making them greater and more goodly unto myself than they are or can be; These foul faults (gracious God) sometimes I find in myself, but nothing so often as I commit them: And though now I confess it, yet I have no power of myself to forsake this sin, by which our first Parents fell out of Paradise, and we his sinful Progeny follow the same steps, and are ready thereby to run headlong unto Hell. O yet (most merciful father) cleanse me from this corruption, cure me and I shall be clean, grant me a lowly, penitent and humble heart: Teach me to think worse of myself for my sins then of other men whose faults I know not; that I may not think so well of myself to contemn others: O teach me to learn meekness of thee my Saviour, who in thy humanity hast led us to the way of humbleness and meekness both of thy precepts and practise: Thou hast said, learn of me for I am meek, O sweet Saviour, what precept could be sweeter, better or what Example could be more Holy and perfect. If Lucifer an Angel of Heaven could not be safe but was cast down from thence through pride and arrogancy: How should I be safe whilst I commit this sin so much, and so often here on earth: Purge me therefore O God from Pride, and lead me by thy Heavenly hand unto Humility, and lowliness of heart: Lord God how much am I overwhelmed with wrath and anger, how suddenly incensed, upon how small and slender occasions am I moved by wrath to use reproach, and to seek revenge, to forsake Charity, to seek others harm, and to adventure mine own ruin; so that my mind cannot be peaceable and quiet: Suddenly by anger, reason is disturbed, love and good will forsaken, Faith broken, and fury drawing me almost to madness, by which I break the bounds of Christian Charity, I beseech thee (good Lord) (who feast how much I am subject to this fin) make me more patiented and peaceable, suppress this passion of anger in me, that I may pass by small offences and may not be suddenly provoked unto impatience: O Lord infuse into me moderation and modesty, temperance and sobriety, by which, and especially by the assistance of thy holy Spirit, I may be able to master anger and passion, the furies of my mind, and the enemies of my Soul, And if anger at any time seize on me, grant that it may be settled on the zeal of thy truth, and the service of thee my God, for the suppressing of superstition, and the seeking to vindicate thine honour against such as seek to dishonour thee by Atheism, profaneness and impiety, yet so as I sin not by rashness or reviling, but by making a difference betwixt the persons and their perverseness, reserving Charity to the one, and labouring reformation of the other: take from me O Lord God, envy and malice, suffer me not to fret at the prosperity of any, no not of the wicked and impious persons whose bounds are set, beyond which they shall not be able to go, much less let me envy them who walk in upright ways. But if through offence or injuries I have been at any time provoked to proceed against them yet let me not continue with them in contention through dislike or disgust to wish them evil: But teach me by singleness and sincerity of heart to shun the malicing of any man; that so showing mercy and meekness I may receive mercy from thee that art the Lord of mercy: to whom be given Honour and glory now and for ever Amen. A Prayer of Thanksgiving after delivery from Sickness and Danger of Disease. THou O Lord most mighty and merciful hast sent sickness as a scourge for sin, as a trial of our Faith, and testimony of thy favour, when it pleaseth thee to restore health. Thou hast visited me and brought me near the gates of Death, yet hast thou delivered me from danger, to the end I might publish thy praise and lead a more godly life, Fear came upon me on every side, my flesh & Spirit did faint, but thy holy hand did sustain me and help me up: What praises (most gracious God) shall I render unto thee for thy protection and preservation: But that I do as I am able. And, O Lord, enable me more to laud thee, more to call upon thy name, and to show thy works unto the people, to sing unto thee praises for this thy mercy in delivering me from the danger of Death; And now that thou hast restored me to health, O Lord, restore me to thy favour: And as thou hast given strength unto my body: so blessed God, strengthen my Soul against Sin and Satan, that I may live to give thee Glory; and during this fading life, I may be made faithful in keeping thy Commandments, serving thee in sincerity of soul: and seeking thy glory both now, and at all times, Amen. A Prayer for the mainetenance of Peace. O LORD God most mighty and gracious: Our sins are great and grievous, our pride, malice and ambition, begets contentions, whence grows Wars and Desolation: Bloodshedding and destruction: thou that art the Lord of Hosts, seest it is in the hands of Princes to make wars, but it is in thy power only to end them, and to save thy people: Great are the gatherings and forces already of armed men, ready to destroy one another, and great is like to be the slaughter, Except thou most merciful God, be pleased to pacify the minds of the Princes, and of the People, and to save them who otherwise will fall to slaughter. Take yet (most gracious God) thine own Cause into thine own hand, help thy people that professethy truth, lest they perish: Preserve them from perils: Save, good Lord, such as serve thee in truth, and call upon thee in sincerity of heart: Let not the Mighty overwhelm thy chosen Children, but either let the Oppressors feel thy power, or make them to incline their hearts unto peace, and so save the effusion of blood, and temper the hearts of Christian Princes that they may come to the Knowledge of the truth, that Mercy and Truth may meet together, that righteousness and peace may kiss each other. So be it, good Lord. FINIS. LONDON, Printed by Aug: Mathewes for Robert Swayne, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Sign of the Bible in Britain's Burse.