A Morning Prayer . O Lord prepare our harts to pray .

ETernall God , giuer to them which want , Comforter to them which suffer , and forgiuer to them which repent : we haue nothing to render thee but thine owne . If we could giue thee our bodies , and soules , they should bee saued by it : but thou were neuer the richer for them . All is our dutie and all of vs cannot performe it : therefore thy sonne died , and thy spirit discended , and thy Angels guide , and thy Ministers teach , to help the weakenes of men . All things call vpon vs , to call vpon thee , and we are prostrate before thee before wee knowe how to worshippe thee : euen since we rose , we haue tasted many of thy blessings , and thou hast begun to serue vs , before we beginne to serue thee . Why shouldest thou bestow thy health and wealth , and rest , and libertie vpon vs more then other ? we can giue no reason for it , but that thou art mercifull .

And if thou shouldest drawe all backe againe , wee haue nothing to saie , but that thou art iust . Our sinnes are so greeuous and infinite , that we are faine to say with Iudas , I haue sinned : and there stoppe because wee cannot reckon them . All things serue thee , as they did at first , onely men are the sinners in this world .

Our hart is a roote of corruption , our eyes are the eyes of vanity , our eares are the eares of follie , our mouthes are the mouthes of deceit , our hands are the handes of iniquitie , and euery part dooth dishonour thee , which wold be glorified of thee . The vnderstanding which was giuen vs to learn vertue , is apt nowe to apprehende nothing but sinne ; the will which was giuen vs to affect righteousnes , is apt now to loue nothing but wickednes .

The memory which was giuen vs to remember good things , is apt nowe to keepe nothing but euill things . There is no difference betweene vs and the wicked , wee haue doone more against thee this weeke , then we haue done for thee since wee were borne , and yet we haue not resolued to amend ; but this is the course of our whole life , first we sinne , & then we pray thee to forgiue it , and then to our sinnes againe , as though we cam to thee for leaue to offend thee .

And that which shoulde get pardon at thy handes for all the rest , that is , ( our prayer ) is so full of toyes and fancies , for want of fayth and reuerence , that when we haue prayed , we had neede to pray againe that thou woldest forgiue our prayers , because we think least of thee when we pray vnto thee . What Father but thou , coulde suffer this contempt , & be contemned stil ? Yet when we think vpon thy sonne , al our feare is turned into ioy , because his righteousnesse for vs , is more then our wickednes against our selues . Settle our fayth in thy beloued , and it sufficeth for all our iniquities , necessities , and infirmities .

Now Lord we goe forth to fight against the world , the flesh , and the deuill : and the weakest of our enemies , is stronger then we : therefore we come vnto thee , for thy holy spirite to take our parte ; that is , to chaunge our mindes , and wils , and affections , which we haue corrupted , to remoue all the hinderances which lets vs to serue thee : and to direct all our thoughts , speeches & actions , to thy glory , as thou hast directed thy glory to our saluation . Although we be sinners ( O Lord ) yet we are thine , & therefore wee beseech thee to separate our sinnes from vs , which woulde separate vs from thee , that wee may be ready to euery good , as wee are to euill . Teach vs to remember our sinnes , that thou mayest forgette them , and lette our sorrowe heere , preuent the sorrowe to come . Wee were made lyke thee , let not flesh and bloode turne the Image of GGD to the image of sathan : our foes are thy foes , let not thine enemies preuaile against thee to take vs from thee , but make thy worde vnto vs , like the starre which ledde vnto Christ : make thy benefites , like the piller which brought to the lande of promise : make thy crosse , like the messenger which compelled guests vnto the banquet : that wee may walke before men like examples , and alway looke vppon thy sonne , how he would speake and doe , before we speake or doe any thing .

Keepe vs in that feare of thy Maiesty , that we may make conscience of all that we doe , and that wee may count no sinne smal , but leaue our lying , and swearing , and surfeting , and coueting , and boasting , & flanting , & inordinate gaming , & wanton sporting , because they draw vs to other sins , & are forbidden as straightly as other . Let not our hearts at any time be so dazled , but that in all temptations , we may discern betweene good and euill , betweene right and wrong , betweene truth and error : and that we may iudge of all things as they are , and not as they seeme to bee ; let our mindes be alwaies so occupied , that we may learn somthing of euery thing , & vse all those creatures as meanes and helpes prepared for vs to serue thee . Let our affections grow so toward one another , that we may loue thee as much for the prosperity of other as if it were our owne : let our faith , & loue , and prayer be alwaie so ready to goe vnto thee for our help , that in sicknes we may find patience , in prison we may finde ioy , in pouertie wee may finde contentment , and in all troubles we may finde hope . Turne al our ioyes to the ioy of the holy Ghost , & al our peace to the peace of consciences , and all our feares to the feare of sinne , that we may loue righteousnes , with as great good will as euer we loued wickednes : and goe before other in thankfulnes towards thee , as farre as thou goest in mercy towards vs before them ; taking all that thou sendest as a gift , & leauing our pleasures before they leaue vs , that our time to come , may bee a repentance of the time past , thinking alway of the ioyes of heauen , the paines of hell , our owne death , and the death of thy sonne for vs .

Yet Lord let vs speake once againe like Abraham , one thing more we will beg at thy hands , our resolutions are variable , and we cannot performe our promises to thee , therefore settle vs in a constant forme of obedience , that we may serue thee from thys houre , with those duties which the world , the deuill , and the flesh , woulde haue vs deferre vntill the point of death .

Lord we are vnworthy to aske any thing for our selues , yet thy fauour hath preferred vs to be peticioners for other . Therefore we beseech thee to heare vs for them , and them for vs , and thy son for all . Blesse thy vniuersall Church , with trueth , with peace , and thy holy discipline . Strengthen all them which suffer for thy cause , and let them see the Spirite of comfort comming towards them , as thy Angels came to thy sonne , when he was hungry .

Be mercifull vnto all those which lye in anguish of conscience , for remorse of their sinnes : as thou hast made them examples , so teach vs to take example by them , that we may looke vpon thy Gospell , to keepe vs from despayre : and vppon thy lawe , to keepe vs from presumption . Prosper the Armies which fight thy battayles , & shew a difference betweene thy seruaunts & thy enemies , as thou didst betweene the Isralites and the Egiptians , that they which serue thee not , may com to thy seruice , seeing that no God dooth blesse besides thee . Make vs thankfull for our peace , whom thou hast sette at libertie , while thou hast laid our dangers vpon others , which mightest haue laid their dangers vpon vs : And teach vs to build thy Church in our rest , as Salomon built thy Temple in his peace . Haue mercy vpon this sinfull Land , which is sicke of long prosperitie , let not thy blessings rise vppe against vs , but indue vs with grace as thou hast with riches , that wee may goe before other Nations in Religion , as wee goe before them in plentie ; giue vs such harts as thy seruaunts should haue : that thy will may be our will ; that thy Lawe may be our Law ; and that wee may seeke our kingdome in thy kingdom . Giue vnto our Prince a princely hart , vnto our Counsellers , the spyrit of counsell , vnto our Iudges , the spirit of Iudgement , vnto our Ministers the spirit of doctrine , vnto our people , the spirit of obedience : that wee may all retaine that communion heere , that we may enioy the communion of Saints heereafter .

Blesse this Familie with thy grace and peace , that the Rulers thereof may gouerne according to thy word , that the seruants may obey like the Seruants of God , and that wee may all so loue one another , that wee may all be loued of thee . Nowe Lord we haue commenced our sute , our vnderstanding is weake , and our memorie short , and we vnworthy to pray vnto thee , more vnwoorthy to receiue the thinges which we pray for . Therefore wee commend our prayers and our selues vnto thy mercie in the name of thy beloued son our louing Sauiour , whose righteousnes pleadeth for our vnrighteousnes . Our Father which art in heauen . &c.

A Prayer for the Euening .

O Lorde God , what shall wee render vnto thee for all thy benefits ? which hast giuen thy sonne for a raunsome , thy holy spirit for a pledge , thy word for a guide , and reseruest a kingdome for our perpetuall inheritance : of whose goodnesse we are created , of whose iustice wee are corrected , of whose mercie we are saued : our sinnes stryue with thy benefites which are moe , let vs count al creatures , & there be not so many of any kinde , as thy gifts , except our offences , which we returne vnto thee for them . Thou mightest haue saide before wee were formed : let them be monsters , or let them be Infidels , or let them be beggers , or Cripples , or bond-slaues so long as they liue . But thou hast made vs to the best likenes , and nursed vs in the best religion , and placed vs in the best land , that thousands wold thinke themselues happy , if they had but a peece of our happines . Therefore why should any serue thee more then we , which want nothing but thankfulnesse ?

Thou hast giuen vs so many things , that scarfe wee haue any thing left to pray for , but that thou wouldest continue those benefites which thou hast bestowed already , yet wee couet as though wee had nothing , and liue as though we knewe nothing : when we were children , wee deferred till we were men , now we are men , we deferre vntill we be olde men ; and when we bee old men , we will deferre vntill death . Thus we steale thy gifts , and do nothing for them , yet we looke for as much at thy hands , as they which serue thee all theyr liues . The least of thy blessings , is greater then al the curtesies of men , and yet wee are not so thankefull to thee for all that wee haue , as wee are to a freende fore one good turne : we are ashamed of many sinnes in other , and yet we are not ashamed to commit the same sinnes our selues , & worse then they ; yea we haue sinned so long almost , that we can doe nothing els but sinne , and make others sinne too , which would not sin but for vs .

If we doe any euill , wee doe it cheerefully and quickly , and easily : but if we doe any good , we doe it faintlie , and rudely and slackly ; When did wee talke without vanitie ? when did wee giue without hypocrisie ? when did we bargaine without deceit ? when did wee reprooue without enuie ? when did wee heare without wearinesse ? when did wee pray without tediousnesse ? Such is our corruption , as though wee were made to sinne : in deede , or in worde , or in thought , we haue broken all thy Commaundements , that we myght fee what good is in euill , which hath left nothing but guilt , and shame , and expectation of iudgement , while wee might haue had peace of conscience , ioy of hart , and all the graces which come with the holy spirite . Some haue beene wonne by thy word , but we woulde not suffer it to change vs : some haue beene reformed by thy crosse , but we would not suffer it to purge vs : some haue beene mooued by thy benefites , but wee woulde not suffer them to perswade vs : nay we haue giuen consent vnto the deuill , that we wil abuse all thy gifts , so fast as they come : & therefore thy blessings make vs proude , thy riches couetous , thy peace wanton , thy meates intemperate , thy mercy secure , and all thy benefits are weapons to rebell against thee , that if thou looke into our harts , thou maist say our Religion is hypocrisie , our zeale enuie , but wisedome pollicie ; our peace securitie , our life rebellion : our deuotion endes with our prayers , and wee liue , as though wee had no soules to saue .

What shall we aunswer for that which our conscience condemnes ? Wee are one day neerer to death since we rose , when we shall giue account howe euery day hath beene spent , and howe wee haue got these things which other will consume when we are gone .

And if thou shouldest aske vs nowe , what lust asswaged , what affection qualified , what passion expelled , what sinne repented , what good performed , since wee began to receiue thy benefits thys day , we must confesse against our selues , that all our works , words , & thoughts , haue beene the seruice of the world , the flesh and the deuill : we haue offended thee and contemned thee all the day , and at night wee pray vnto thee , Father forgiue vs all our sinnes , which haue dishonoured thee , while thou didst serue vs : run from thee while thou didst call vs : & forgotten thee whilst thou didst feede vs ; so thou sparest vs , so wee sleepe , and to morrow we sin againe : this is the course of all our pilgrimage , to leaue that which thou commaundest , and doe that which thou forbiddest . Therefore thou mightest iustly forsake vs , as we forsake thee , & condemne vs , whose conscience condemnes our selues ; But who can measure thy goodnes which giuest all , and forgiuest all ?

Though we are sinfull , yet thou louest vs : though we knocke not , yet thou openest , though we aske not , yet thou giuest ; What should we haue if we did serue thee , which hast done all these things for thine enemies ? therefore thou which hast giuen vs all things for thy seruice , O Lorde giue vs a hast to serue thee , and let this bee the houre of our conuersion , let not euill ouercome good , let not thine enemy haue hys will , but giue vs strength to resist , patience to endure , & constancie to perseuere vnto the end .

Instruct vs by thy word , guide vs by thy spirit , mollifie vs by thy grace , humble vs by thy corrections , win vs by thy benefites , reconcile our nature to thy will , and teache vs to make profite of euerie thing , that we may see thee in all thinges , and all thinges in thee . And because ( ô most merciful father ) , we walke betweene thy mercie and iustice , through many temptations , gouerne our steppes with such discretion , that the hope of mercie may preuent dispaire , and the feare of iustice may keepe vs from presumption : that in myrth , wee bee not vaine , in knowledge wee bee not proud , in zeale we be not bitter , but as the Tree bringeth forth first leaues , then blossomes , and then fruite , so first wee may bring foorth good thoughtes , then good speeches and after a good life , to thee honour of thy name , the good of thy Children , and the saluation of our soules , remembring the time when we shall sleep in the graue , & the day when we shall awake to iudgement . Nowe the time is come ( O Lord ) which thou hast appointed for rest , and without thee wee can neither wake nor sleepe , which hast made the day and night , and rulest both : therefore , into thy handes wee commende our soules and bodies which thou hast bought , that they may serue thee : restore them O Lord to their first Image , and keepe them in thy seruice , and resigne vs not to our selues againe , but finish thy worke , that wee may euerie day come neerer and neerer to thy kingdome , till wee hate the way to hell , asmuch as hell it selfe , and euerie cogitation , and speech , and action , bee so many steps to heauen . For thy names sake , for thy promise sake , for thy sonnes sake O Lord , wee lift vp our heartes , handes , and voice vnto thee in his name , which suffered for sinne , and sinned not . Our Father &c.

A Prayer for a sicke-man .

ALmightie God and almercifull Father , which art the Phisition of our bodies and soules , in thy handes are life and death , thou bringest to the graue , and pullest backe againe : wee came into this worlde vpon condition , to forsake it whensoeuer thou wouldest call vs , and now the Somners are come , thy fetters hold me , & none can loose me but he which bounde mee : I am sicke in bodie & soule , but he hath stroken mee which in iudgement sheweth mercy . I deserued to die , so soone as I came to life : but thou hast preserued mee till now , and shall this mercie be in vaine , as though I were preserued for nothing ? Who can praise thee in the graue ? I haue done thee no seruice since I was borne , but my goodnes is to come , and shal I die before I begin to liue ? But Lord thou knowest what is best for all , and if thou conuert mee , I shall bee conuerted in an houre : And as thou acceptedst the will of Dauid as well as the act of Salomon : so thou wilt accept my desire to serue thee , as well as if I did liue to glorifie thee . The spirit is willing , but the flesh is fraile , and as I did liue sinfully whensoeuer thy spirit was from me , so I shall die vnwillingly , vnlesse thy spirit prepare me : therfore deere father giue me that minde which a sicke-man should haue , & increase my patience with my paine , and call vnto my remembraunce , all which I haue heard or read , or felt , or meditated to strengthen me in thys houre of my tryall , that I which neuer taught any good while I liued , may nowe teach other how to die , and to beare theyr sicknes patiently : apply vnto me all the mercies and merits of thy beloued sonne , as if he had died for me alone . Be not from me when the enemie comes : but when the tempter is busiest , let thy spirit be busiest too : and if it please thee to loose mee out of this prison , when I shall leaue my earth to earth , let thine Angels carrie vppe my soule to heauen , as they did Lazarus , and place mee in one of those mancions which thy sonne is gone to prepare for me . Thys is my mediatour which hath reconciled mee and thee , when thou didst abhorre me for my sinnes , and thou didst sende him from heauen to vs , to shewe that thou art bound to heare him for vs . Therefore in him I come vnto thee , in him I call vppon thee : ô my redeemer , my preseruer , and my Sauiour ; to thee be all prayse with thy father and the holy spirit for euer . Amen .

What shall stay me from my father , my brother , and my Comforter ?