A Prayer very Comfortable and necessary to be used of all Christians every Morning and Evening, amongst their Families, that it would please the Lord God to be appeased in his wrath, and to withdraw his heavy hand and grievous visitation from among us. O Almighty, Omnipotent, and eternal God, most just, and yet most merciful Father in Christ jesus. We most wretched and miserable sinners, acknowledge, that in regard of our manifold sins, it is no marvel that we be afflicted with sundry kinds of miseries, grief's, and extraordinary visitations. If we should go about to reckon up our perteculer sins, we know not where to begin, or how to make an end, they are more in number then the hairs of our heads, they are far more than we can possible feel or knew: For who knoweth the height or depth of his corruptions? Who knoweth how oft he offendeth? We acknowledge (O Lord) that our sins have grievously provoked thee, not only to take vengeance of our bodies and goods, but even also to separate both our bodies and Souls from thee to everlasting destruction of both. It is no marvel therefore (nay it were to be marveled at) in respect of our monstruous sins, that thou shouldst not speak unto us by thy strange judgements: that thou shouldst not visit us with storms and tempests: that thou shouldst not strike us with thunder and lightning: the earth also to quake and shake under us, and out of the belly and bowels thereof, to send forth such strong exhalations & brething, as may so infect the air, as shall breed amongst us the murrain & pestilence. And not without just cause, for we have abused all thy good gifts, and overburthended the Earth with our sins and transgressions. The very waters, the air and all the creatures are infected and corrupted with our uncleanness, wherein we wallow like Swine in the mire, never entering into consideration, either of thy mercies, or our own miseries. And therefore it is thy judgement, that all things should be armed by thee against us. And although we like rebellious Traitors, yield no obedience unto thee, yet are they raady to do thy will in punishing us: O Lord, if we did but look a little back, to behold thy late love and abundant mercy bestowed upon us (the people of England) yea even when to the eyes of the World we were bereft of all help or hope of help (our Consciences accusing us) expecting nothing but wrack both of our soul, body & goods. O Lord, we cannot but acknowledge thy exceeding great mercy, that in stead of war, thou hast sent us peace: in stead of scarcity, plenty: in stead of Popery, thy Gospel still established amongst us, to our everlasting comfort: and in stead of all curses which we have justly deserved, thou sendest all blessings which we have not deserved. All which mercies considered, might long since have moved us to a greater measure of thankfulness and obedience, than we have any way performed unto thee: For like she dog to his vomit, and the swine to the mire, do we from fullness, return to filthiness: from fasting, to feasting: from blessing, to cursing: and from all religious exercises, to all irreligious practices. So that we can justly expect nothing but fearful judgements to be powered down upon us. Wherefore we beseech thee (O Lord) that yet at last we may fall down under thy hand, and profit by thy chastisements: that we may tremble before thee when thou dost roar, and submit ourselves, when thou sendest out thine armies against us. O Lord teach us that we may deny the world, and considering that all is but vanity, our desires may be drawn up to that life and happiness which is for ever. We humbly beseech thee, in the midst of thy wrath, to be mindful of thy mercy, make thine anger to cease, and power out thy judgements upon the wicked. Clear us from the contagion of sin, and we shall be cleared from the infection of the pestilence, so that it shall not hurt us. But this (good Father) belongeth unto thee, and thou must do both the one and the other. Thou canst deliver our spirits from the venom of that dragon the devil. And also thou canst keep our bodies in safety from the other infection wherewith that Basilisk the plague doth insect us. Our help (O Lord) is only in thee, other men of the world (who have their pleasure altogether in the vain things of this life) thank to escape by such means as flesh and blood do prescribe unto them, and therefore all their hope is in the preservatives of Physicians, in shifting of places, in Magical cunning, and such other unlawful witcheries: but contrariwise, we (howsoever we use the remedies that are fit one convenient, to show our obedience unto thee) yet flee we unto thee alone, and know that thy good blessing can only make the means profitable unto us. Thy hand we know cannot be avoided, for if thou wilt reach us, thou canst find us out wheresoever we be. There is no safety but in thy presence. Be at hand therefore O Lord to help us. Take away (O Lord) the filthy infections of sin, which cleaveth as an infection upon the whole face of this land, and damn up the pestiferous pits of corruption, that have ascended up, even up to heaven: and turn us, O Lord, unto thee, and we shall be turned, and when we shall be turned unto thee, thy wrath shall cease. If we shall humble ourselves, and meet thee with true faith, and unfeigned repentance, with hearty tears, and true fasting in Sackcloth and Ashes, than thou shall call in again thy messengers, and show mercy upon us. If we shall fear thy judgements, and love thy commandments, detest sin, and fight against the corruption of our hearts: if we shall advance righteousness, and prefer obedience before our lives, then shalt thou purify both our souls and bodies, and prepare us to that everlasting kingdom and glory, which thou hast purchased for us, by the blood of jesus Chrst, thine only begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour, Amen. Printed for T. Pauyer, and are to be sold at his shop entering into the Exchange.