England's PRAYers TO HEAVEN FOR MERCY:  
With very good instructions to all people in these dangerous times, to call to the Lord for mercy in time, exhorting every Christian to take heed they be not deceived in these dangerous times.  Psal 9 verse 13. 
Have mercy upon me, O Lord, consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.  
Written by Thomas Robins. B. of D.  
LONDON: Printed by E. B. for John Stafford, and are to be sold at his house at the George at Fleetbridge, 1657.   

 printer's device, presumably of John Stafford, who does not appear in McKerrow   
Psal. 49. 1. 2. 
Hear this, all ye people, give ear al●●●e inhabitants of the world:  
2 Both low and high, rich and poor together.  
 frontispiece of a kneeling man praying 
Mercy LORD    
1 Timothy chap 2. verse 1. 
I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.  
MY beloved brethren, here you may understand the humble obedience that belongs to every one that doth desire to be a faithful servant to the Lord, as you may understand by this place of Scripture, for Paul, here you may see gave Timothy a charge over the people, to let prayer be made for all men, and indeed good people, I cannot perceive but Paul did see they was a wicked and a sinful people, so he thought that by prayer they might be converted, but alas how many is there now a days that would have a sinner converted by prayer: no my brethren, we now a days fly too much off the Apostles rules, and the reason is, we think our wits far better than theirs, for rather than we will pray for a sinner: nay, we had rather curse them; but good people I would desire every one of you to take the same exhortation that Paul gave to Timothy, that is, to pray for all men: for if you see a drunkard take heed of him, but pray for him: if you see a swearer, delight not in his company, but pray for him: if you s●● a whoremonger, take heed of his wickedness but pray for him: for you may perceive where b● this place of Scripture that we ought to pray f●● all men a●de by God's Grace we may prevails for in the 5 chapter o● Jam●s and ●he ●6 vers● there you have a rule for it, why you should pra● for all men, and this is the rule that you may b● healed: nay my brethren there is great comfort too for every one that will pray faithfully: f●● in this verse of this chapter you may find th● the prayers of the faithful shall prevail as y● may find it written in Jame● 5 16. therefore 〈◊〉 the name of God, I would desire every go●● Christian to give their mind to pra●er and wi●● as good confidence as the Prophet David 〈◊〉 Psalm. 62. 1. In these words, Truly my so● waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. Indeed I would desire every good Christian to have as good confidence in the Lord, 〈◊〉 the Prophets had: for certainly we must ha● a good confidence in the Lord if we mean to 〈◊〉 saved, and have as much power in spirit as D●vid had, then may we boldly say as he said 〈◊〉 Psalm. 73. 24. In these words, Thou sha●● guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to thy glory. and in the 25 vers. the● you may see the confidence that he had in Go● more than in man: for said he, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee. Indeed good people, we ought to have no confidence in any man, but in God: which the Lord of his mercy give every man, woman and child, grace to serve him and obey him, till the hour of death: which indeed we do not know how soon it may please God to call us: Indeed we do not know how soon, it may be to night before to morrow, no man can tell when. Therefore as the Apostle said in Mark 13. 33. Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is.  
Indeed my brethren, you may perceive here, that we have no time set, when the time of the coming of our Lord and Saviour shall be: therefore it is good for us all to have a care in time. for fear the Lord give us a just cause to cry out as Zion did, as you may find it written in the Lamentations 4. 4 in these words, The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. And in the 5 verse of this Chapter, there you may see what misery came upon these people for sin: they that did feed delicately, are desolate in the streets, they that were brought up in scarlets, embrace dunghills.  
I would desire every good Christian to take heed in time, for fear the Lord execute the very ●ame judgement upon these Lands and Nations that we live in; for by woeful experience, too many in these times have found it too true, that the very same judgements, partly upon a great many, for in many places you may see many a brave House and Family ruinated and gone to decay, which certainly, was not altogether for their own sins, no my brethren, I am afraid that we all stand guilty of sin. and although the Lord spare us for a time, to see if we will repent, yet certainly without true repentance, the Lord will not spare us no more than he spared Egypt, when he threatened their destruction, as you may find it written in the 32 chap. of Ezekiel, beginning at the 9 verse, and so to the 12.  
I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the Nations, into the Countries which thou hast not known.  
10 Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their Kings shall be horribly afraid of thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them, and they shall tremble at every moment; every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall. 11 For thus saith the Lord GOD, The sword of the King of Babylon shall come upon thee.  
12 By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the Nati●ns all of them, and they shall spoil the pomp 〈◊〉 Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be ●●stroyed.  
Indeed my brethren, you may see here by this ●ace of Scripture, that the Lord threatened the egyptians with most heavy judgements for their ●●s, and do not we think that our sins be as ●eat as theirs: yes certainly, and greater too, herefore in the name of God, let us all pray un●● the Lord for mercy, and surely he will hear 〈◊〉, for he hath no delight in the death of the ●icked: but he had rather that we should turn ●om our wicked ways, and repent: and be inverted: And indeed I would de●ire every ●e of you young or old, rich or poor, to do ●ur best endeavours to forsake your wicked ●ayes, for as the Lord said to Ezekiel, so I say ●to you all here present: Therefore O thou ●n of man, speak unto the house of Israel, thus 〈◊〉 spoke saying, if our transgressions and our ●s be upon us, and we pine away in them, how ●all we then live, Ez●k●el 33. 10. here good people you may see that these people was afraid ●at they should pine away in their sins, I but ●e what comfort the Lord sends by Ez●kiel in ●e 11 vers. of this Chapter, in these words, Say ●to them, As I live, saith the Lo●d GOD, I ●ve no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and liv● turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for w● will ye die, O house of Israel?  
Indeed you may see here, the Lord hath no desire that we should die in our wickedness: 〈◊〉 he had rather that we would turn from o● wicked ways and live: which the Lord of h● heavenly mercy, give us all grace so to do: th● it may be the Lord will speak as comfortably this Land, as he did to the Land of Israel, these words, Therefore thus saith the Lo● GOD, I have lifted up mine hand, surely t● heathen that are about you, they shall bear the shame.  
For behold, I am for you, and I will tur● unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown. you may find it written in the 36 of Ezeki● the 7 and 9 verses.  
And indeed, I would desire you all that 〈◊〉 here present to take notice what you hear at th● present, and the Lord of his mercy give us a● grace to make good use of it: Indeed my brothers I would desire to move one question to you, a● that is this, in case the day of doom was to da● which the Lord knows how soon it may com● it may be this very hour, for any thing that w● know: what answer could we make to so lovi● and merciful a God as we have: Indeed I a● persuaded that we should be very unready: n● I do believe that we should not be able to look him in the face, no nor able to make an answer for the least sin of ten thousand: Therefore I desire you all to cry and call to the Lord for mercy, before it be too late: for indeed we do not know how soon the Lord will call us; For certainly there is but a few things to come to pass, which our Saviour Christ told his Disciples in Mat●hew 24 what should come to pass, for said he Nation shall rise against Nation and by woeful experience we have seen that full filled ●n the●e times that we live in, and he told them that there should be false Teachers, and false Prophets, and false Christ's, and all this we ●ay boldly say, we see come to pass in our days, for just such as Christ said should be, such be now: for in many places there is a sort of people that will not stick to say that they be Christ, which ●s most abominable that they should be suffered: the Minister's are counted by them bal● Priests, and babbling Fellows: But I would desire every good Christian to have a care of ●hem, behold I have told you be●ore, Ma●●hew 24 25. and indeed good people, there is a great many more warning pieces in the Scripture, which indeed I cannot understand, but either all ●r the most of them are come to pass already: ●ut only the calling of the jews, and indeed ●e do not know how soon that may be: it may be now for any thing that we know, for it is n● very long since they made great preparations 〈◊〉 come into this land, where I hope the light 〈◊〉 the Gospel doth shine, and I hope the Lord o● of his mercy will continue it among us, while● the Sun and Moon endures; But I trust 〈◊〉 God that he will put it to the hearts of our Ruler's, that they shall never have the power to invade us: for they that would betray our blesse● Lord and Saviour. Such as those can hardly be true to man: no, we have had fair example● enough before hand: I would desire you but 〈◊〉 look into the Book of Martyrs, and you m● hear how most barbarously they used the Christians that confessed the Gospel of Christ, an● certainly I do believe that they would have 〈◊〉 more mercy on us, than they had of them, ●f th● had the same power, which I trust the Lord wi● never give it them: Indeed my brethren, I ca● not perceive but we have jews enough already, for as our Saviour said, that the Father should be against the Son, and the Son against the Father, so it is now, for the Father woul● sell the life of the Son, and the Son the Father now a days, and indeed I cannot perceive b● such as these be jews bad enough, but as David said in the 59 Psalm and the 1 and 2 ver● so I would desire every good Christian to pr● as he did, and that with a true heart, and the● ●e the words, Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.  
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.  
Prov. 4. 1, 2, 13. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.  
2. For I give you good doctrine: forsake you not my law▪ and in the thirteenth verse,  
Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go; keep her, for she is thy life.  
Which I pray God give every good Christian grace to take good counsel, for indeed we stand in great need of it: for truly my brethren the times is just as the Prophet Isaiah said, should be in the 3 of Isaiah and the 5 verse.  
And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.  
And indeed just so it is now, for never was there more oppressing both of poor and rich, and as for the behaviour of children: I do believe that it is as plainly fulfilled as can be just now: for let a child of twelve years of age meet a man of fourscore, and you shall see him pass by as proudly, as if he were not worthy to dry his shoes, which is a shame to see it, and indeed I must needs tell such Parents with fire which i● a most heavy judgement, and do we not thin● that we deserve it too: yes certainly we do deserve as much as they: indeed the Lord hath given us many fair warning pieces by fire, in many places in this Land: yet there is bu● small crying out to God for mercy, no longer than we either see it, or hear of it, just as a child fears the rod no longer than he is a beating: bu● in the name of God every good Christian pray unto the Lord night and day, that he may be merciful unto our poor souls at the latter day and hour of death ●he● may we come to hear tha● blessed voice of our Lord and Saviour sounding in our ear.  
Matthew 25. 34. Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of ●he world.  
And indeed a blessed sounding it is, and th● Lord give us grace to prepare our hearts, s● here upon earth, that we may have both ou● hearts and ears, that we may be ready at th● coming of our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ therefore I would desire all to, Take heed, watch and pray: for ●e know not when the time i● Mark. 13. vers. 33.  
And once more I do exhort you to take he● that you be not deceived in these dangerous ●nes, for the Lord gives us a fair warning to ●ke heed.  
Matthew. 24. 4, 5. And Jesus answered and ●d unto them, Take heed that no man deceive ●●.  
5 For many shall come in my Name saying, ●m Christ: and shall deceive many.  
Indeed this is come to pass now a dares, for ●u may see such abroad in many places: I but would desire every one of you to have a care of ●em, for as Paul said in the second of Timothy chap 3 verse. For the time will come when ●y will not endure found doctrine, but after ●eir own lusts shall they heap to themselves ●chers, having i●ch●ng ea●s.  
And indeed there is a great many of those a●ad but have a care of them, for certainly if ●ey should entangle you in their snare of delu●n, you will not so easily get out, for they be 2 Timothy 3. 4. Traitors, heady, high●nded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers 〈◊〉 God.  
Indeed my brethren I would desire you to ●●e a care of them for fear they should deceive ●●, so I would desire you not to despise them, 〈◊〉 certainly they be that people our Saviour ●d should come and therefore we ought not to spise, but exhort them, and pray for them, and love their person; but abhor their conditions: f● though they be a seducing people, which Chri● said should come: yet they be our brethren i● the same form and shape of man, and wh● knows how soon it may please the Lord t● call them back again, as he did Saul by th● highway, therefore in the name of God, let u● pray for their conversion, for Timothy charge● the people that they should pray for all men, a● you may find it written in the first of Timoth● and the second chapter, and the first verse. 〈◊〉 these words: I exhort therefore, that first 〈◊〉 all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, an● giving of thanks be made for all men.  
Indeed by this place of scripture, I canno● perceive but we must pray for them, as w● would do for ourselves, which the Lord of hi● mercy put it into the hearts of every good Christian so to do, and as David said in the 37 Psa● and the first and second verses, so I say to yo● all that be here present : Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they sha● soon be cut down like the grass, and with● as the green herb.  
So here you may see, David gives us a fai● exhortation here in this Psalm that we shou● not fret at the wicked, and in the 35 and 36 v● of this Psalm there says David: I have se● ●he wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay-tree. Yet he pas●d away, and Io, he was not: yea, I sought ●im, but he could not be found. Here my ●ethren, you may perceive, that if we will ●ut wait with patience, they will all vanish ●way in time: therefore as it is written in ●e 34 verse. ●f this Psalm, Wait on the ●ord, and ke●p his way, and he shall exalt ●hee to inherit the land: when the wicked ●e cut off, thou shalt see it. Indeed it is ●est for us all to look into our own sins, and ●y and call night & day for mercy for them, ●nd let us call to mind the lamentation of ●erusalem: All her people sigh, they seek read, they have given their pleasant things ●or meat to relieve the soul: see, O Lord, ●nd consider, for I am become vile, Lamen●tions the first and the 11 vers. and in the 2 ver. there you may here parents, that it is ●ng of them: Train up a child in the way ●e should go: and when he is old, he will ●ot departed from it. Proverbs 22. 6. And children, obey your parents in the Lord: ●r this is right. Ephesians the 6 and the 1 ●●d the 2 verses. Honour thy Father and ●other, which is the first Commandment ●ith promise, and in the 20 Chapter of Exodus and the 12 vers. there you shall find tha● is one of the Commandments that the Lor● commanded the people to keep, that is to say● Honour thy Father and thy Mother tha● thy days may be long in the Land whic● the Lord thy God giveth thee: for as yo● may find it in Proverbs the 19 and the 2● verse. He that wasteth his father, and casteth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. And indeed there be too many such disobedient childre● now a days, which the Lord of his merc● give them all grace to amend, for certainly they cannot say with a true heart that the● fear God, if they do not honour father an● mother, and I pray God give us all grace t● amend our wicked lives, and pray to th● Lord, for fear he should come upon us, as h● did upon Jerusalem, in the 20 of Ezekiel an● the 45. 46, 47. verses. Moreover, the wor● of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son 〈◊〉 man, set thy face toward the south, a●● drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south fiel● And say to the forest of the south, Hear th● word of the Lord, Thus saith the Lord Go● Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and shall devour every green tree in thee, and very dry tree: the flaming flame shall not ●e quenched, and all faces from the south ●o the north shall be burnt therein.  
Indeed my brethren, here you see that the Lord threatened the people with fire, here her lamentation for the misery that the Lord had ●rought her to, by reason of her sin, which ●akes her lament, in these words: Is it ●othing to you, all ye that pass by? behold ●nd see, if there be any sorrow like unto my ●orrow, which is done unto me, wherewith ●he Lord hath afflicted me, in the day of his ●erce anger. and in the 4 chap. of Lamenta. ●nd the 6 vers. For the punishment of the ●niqui●y of the daughter of my people, is ●reater than the punishment of the sin of ●●dom, that was overthrown as in a mo●ent, and no hand stayed on her.  
Therefore my brethren. to draw to a con●usion, I exhort you all in the name of God 〈◊〉 take notice of what you have heard at this present, and strive by all means to make ●me good use of it, which must be done by ●rayer, and take heed of despising one another ●nd beg night and day of the Lord, to send ●own his spiritual grace into the hearts of ●very one of us, that we may deserve his ●ercy at the hour of death: and that for jesus Christ his sake, to whom be give● as is most due: all honour power and praise both now and for ever more, Amen.  
I am yours in Christ Jesus till death. T. R.   

A Prayer to conclude, fit for every Christian to make use of.  Psal. 102. 1. 
Hear our Prayers, O Lord, and let our crying come unto thee.  
O thou eternal and everlasting Lord God, Maker and Creator of Heaven and Earth, in whom we live, move and have our being, thou, whom the winds and Seas doth obey: in whose powerful hands are all the corners of the Earth, we thy poor distressed servants and children, do in all humility of spirit, send up our petitions and prayers unto the throne of thy divine Majesty, desiring upon the bended knees of our penitent hearts, that thou wilt be pleased to hear, and graciously to answer these our supplications which we make unto thee: we do acknowledge, O Lord, that before we could do any thing we could sin, and when we could do any thing, we could do nothing but sin; neither are we able of ourselves to think a good thought much less to do a good deed; therefore O Lord, we cast ourselves, our souls and our bodies, only upon thy mercies: therefore we beseech thee to guide us in all our actions, and to bless our uprising and lying down, our go forth and our coming in: guide our hands that they do n● harm, guide our tongues that they speak● not evil, guide our ears that they harken not to every vain talk, which tends to n● good purpose: guide our eyes that they wander not after the vain delights and pleasure● of this sinful world: guide our hearts with the grace of thy holy spirit, so that every one of us may be contented with that portion that thou hast allotted for us, and not to covet and desire other men's goods, more the● becomes us to do: guide our feet that they may tread in true paths of righteousness, which may bring us into the way to life everlasting; Moreover we pray thee to forgive us all our sins which we have formerly committed, and that we may make better use of the time to come, than heretofore we have done, and that we may love thee O Lord above all things, and our neighbours as ourselves, laying apart all hypocrisy, fraud, deceit and dissimulation, all vain and idle talks, all cursing, swearing, and blaspheming, all envy, pride, covetousness, hatred and malice, and all other uncharitable deal: so that whilst it is thy good pleasure that we shall remain in this transitory world, we may live in thy fear, and at the last, die in thy favour, so that after this life ended, we may enjoy eternal happiness in ●he kingdom of heaven, and that for the sake ●f thy only Son, our only Saviour, jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, three persons and one ever living God, be all honour and glory, power, praise, might, majesty and thanksgiving, both now and for ever Amen.  
FINIS.