Daily Meditations and Prayers

by John Bradford

Table of Contents

1 When you Awake out of your Sleep, Pray thus:

1.1 So soon as you behold the Daylight, Pray:
1.2 When you Arise, Pray:
1.3 When you Dress yourself, Pray:
1.4 When you are made Ready to begin the Day, Pray:
2 Cogitations Proper to Begin the Day with prayer
2.1 When you go Forth out of Doors, Pray:
2.2 When you are going any Journey, Pray:
2.3 Or Pray thus:
2.4 When you we about to Receive your Meat, Pray:
2.5 In the Meal-time, Pray:
2.6 After your Meat, Pray thus:
3 Cogitations for about the Midday time
3.1 When you come Home again, Pray:
3.2 At the Sun's going Down, Pray:
3.3 When the Candles are lighted, Pray:
3.4 When you Undress yourself, Pray:
3.5 When you Enter into your Bed, Pray:
3.6 When you feel Sleep to be Coming, Pray:
4 Another Prayer
5 A Godly Prayer to be read at all Times

The following meditations and prayers were written by Bradford to

supersede the ones upon similar subjects in use among the papists and
which are still found in many of their books of devotion.
When you Awake out of your Sleep, Pray thus:
O most dear Father of our Saviour Jesus Christ, whom none does know
but by thy gift, grant that to the manifold great benefits of thy goodness
given to me, this which of all other is the greatest, may be added; that like
as thou hast awakened my body from sleep, so thou would thoroughly
awake, yea, deliver my soul from the sleep of sin and the darkness of this
world, and that which now is awakened out of sleep, be pleased, after
death, to restore to life, for that is but sleep to thee, which is death to us.
O God, I most heartily beseech and humbly pray thy goodness to make
my body such a companion, or rather such a minister of godliness to my
soul, in this present life, that in the life to come it may partake therewith
everlasting happiness by Jesus Christ our Lord. Awake, thou that sleeps,
and arise from the dead, and Christ shall show light unto thee. (Eph. 5.)

Occasions to meditate

Here call to mind the great joy and blessedness of the everlasting
resurrection; also remember to muse upon that most clear light and
bright morning, and clearness of our bodies, after the long darkness they
will hare been in: all then shad be full of joy.

So soon as you behold the Daylight, Pray:

O Lord, thou greatest and most true Light, whence this light of the day
and of the sun does spring! O Light, which does lighten every man that
comes into this world! O Light, which knows no night nor evening, but
are always a midday, most clear and fair, without whom all is most dark
darknessoby whom all are most resplendent! O thou Wisdom of the
eternal Father of mercies! enlighten my mind, that I may only see those
things that please thee and may be blinded to all other things. Grant that
I may walk in thy ways, and that nothing else may be light and pleasant
unto me. Lighten mine eyes, O Lord! that I sleep not in death, lest mine
enemies say, "I have prevailed against him."

Occasions to meditate

Muse a little how much the light and eye of the mind and soul are better
than those of the body; also that we care more for the soul's seeing well,
than for the body. Think that beasts have bodily eyes, and therewith see,
but men have eyes of the mind, and therewith should see.

When you Arise, Pray:

Our first father tumbled down himself from a most excellent, high, and
honourable estate into the mire of misery and deep sea of shame and
mischief; but, O Christ, thou, putting forth thine hand, did raise him up;
even so we, except we be lifted up by thee, shall lie still for ever. O good
Christ, our most gracious Redeemer, grant that as thou dost mercifully
now raise up this my body and burden, even so I beseech thee raise up my
mind and heart to the light of the true knowledge of the love of thee, that
my conversation may be in heaven, where thou art. If thou risen with
Christ, think upon those things that be above.

Occasions to meditate

Think how foul and filthy Adam's fall was by reason of sin, and so the fall
of every one of us from the height of God's grace; again, think upon the
great benefit of Christ, by whose help we do daily arise from our failings.

When you Dress yourself, Pray:

O Christ, clothe me with thine own self, that I may be so far from making
provision for my flesh to fulfil the lusts of it, that I may quite put off all
my carnal desires, and crucify the kingdom of the flesh in me. Be thou
unto me a garment to warm me from catching the cold of this world if
thou be away from me, dear Lord, all things will forthwith be unto me
cold, weak, dead, &c. But if thou art with me, all things will be warm,
lively, fireside &c. Grant therefore, that as I compass this my body with
this coat, so thou would clothe me wholly, but especially my soul, with
thine own self. Put upon me as the elect of God, mercy, meekness, love,
peace, &c.

Occasions to meditate

Call to mind a little how we are incorporated into Christ; again, how he
clothes us, and nourishes us under his wings, protection, and providence,
preserves us, &c.

When you are made Ready to begin the Day, Pray:

O God and merciful Father, thou knows and hast taught us somewhat to
know, that the weakness of man is much, and that without thy grace and
virtue he cannot do or think any good thing; have mercy upon me, I
humbly beseech thee, who am thy most unworthy and most weak child.
Oh! be gracious and tender towards me, enlighten me, that I may with
pleasure look only upon good things; exhort me, that I may covet them;
carefully lead me, that I may follow, and at length attain them. I,
distrusting myself altogether, commend and offer myself wholly, soul,
body, life, &c., into thy hands. Thy loving Spirit lead me forth unto the
land of righteousness.

Cogitations Proper to Begin the Day with prayer

Think first that a man consists of a soul and a body and that the soul is
from heaven, firm and immortal; but the body is of the earth, earthly,
frail, and mortal. Again, think that by reason of sin, wherein you are
conceived and born, the parts of the soul that understand and desire are
so corrupt, that without especial grace to both soul and body, you can
neither know nor love any good thing in God's sight, much less do good.
Yet notwithstanding think, that you are regenerate by Christ's
resurrection, whereof your baptism requires faith, and therefore have
both body and soul something reformed both to know and love, and
therefore to do some good in the sight of God through Christ, for whose
sake our poor doings are accepted for good, the evil and infirmity cleaving
thereto not being imputed through faith. Think that by faith, which is
God's seed, (for they which believe are born of God, and made God's
children,) and which is given to those that are ordained to eternal life;
think (I say) that by faith you receive more and more the Spirit of
sanctification, through the use of God's word and sacraments, and
earnest prayer, to illumine and enlighten your mind's understanding,
judgment, and reason, and to bow, form, frame, and inflame your
affections with love and power to that which is good; and therefore use
the means aforesaid accordingly. Think that, by this Spirit, you are
through faith united to Christ as a lively member, and so to God, and, as
it were, made one with him, and by love which springs out of this faith
you are made one also with all that are of God. And so you have
fellowship with God and all good men that ever were or shall be, in all the
good that God and all his saints have or shall have. Think that as, by faith
and love through the Spirit, you are now entered into this communion,
the blessedness whereof no tongue can express, so after this life you shall,
first in soul, and in the last day in body also, enjoy for ever the same
society most perfectly, which now is only begun in you. Think then of
your negligence, that cares so little for this your happy estate. Think upon
your ingratitude to God, making you, redeeming you, calling you, and so
lovingly adopting you. Think upon your foolishness in fancying so much
earthly and bodily pleasures. Think upon your deafness and blindness,
who hear not God nor see him, though he calls you so diligently by his
works, words, and sacraments. Think upon your frowardness, who will
not be led of God and his Spirit. Think upon your forgetfulness and
inconsideration of your high estate, how your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost, how your members are the members of Christ, how the
whole world and all things are your own ( I Cor. iii. vi.) And therefore say
unto your soul, O soul! arise, follow God, contemn this world, purpose
well, and pursue it, long for thy Lord's coming, be ready and watch that
he come not upon you unawares. And forasmuch as you must live to
God's pleasure, consider the vocation and state of your life whereto God
has called you, and pray to God for grace, knowledge, and ability to take
the most profitable things in hand; to begin well, to go on better, and,
best of all, to end the same to God's glory, and the profit of your brethren;
and think that time lost wherein you speak or do not, or at the least think
not, something to God's glory and your brethren's advantage.

When you go Forth out of Doors, Pray:

Now must I walk among the snares of death, which are stretched out by
Satan and his mischievous ministers in the world, carrying with me a
friend to them both, and a foe to myself, even this body of sin and sinful
flesh. O grand Captain, Christ, lead me and guide me, I beseech thee;
defend me from the plagues and subtleties whereby I am endangered.
Grant that I may take all things that happen as I should do; only upon
thee set thou mine eyes, that I may so go on forwards in thy wars so that
by nothing I may be hindered, but rather forwarded, and may refer all
things to thee accordingly. Show me thy way, O Lord, and teach me thy
paths; consider how vainly the most part of men are occupied, how they
trouble and cumber themselves diversely, how they meddle with many
things, thereby much alienating their minds from the knowledge and
cogitation of that which they should most esteem, and so become a
hindrance and an offence to others.

Occasions to meditate

As in going abroad, you look that your apparel is seemly in the sight of
men, so examine how seemly you appear in the sight of God.

When you are going any Journey, Pray:

This our life is a pilgrimage. From the Lord we came, and to the Lord we
make our journey; howbeit we pass through thievish places, and painful,
yea, perilous ways, which our cruel enemies have, and do prepare for us,
who now are more than stark blind by reason of sin. O Christ! who art a
most true Lodesman (pilot, editor) and Guide, and thereto most expert,
faithful, and friendly, do thou put out thine hand, open mine eyes, make
thy highways known unto me, which way thou did first enter into out of
this corruptible life, and hast fenced the same for us to immortality. Thou
art the way, lead us to the Father by thyself, that we all may be one with
him, as thou and he together are one. Show me thy way that I should walk
in, for I lift up my soul unto thee. (Psalm cxliii.)

Or Pray thus:
Merciful Father, thou art wont to send to thy servants and men of simple
hearts, thine angels to be their keepers, and, as it were, guides: as elder
brethren, to watch over thy weak children; so did thou to Jacob, to
Abraham's servant, to Joshua, &c. O good God! though we are much
unlike unto them, so many are our sins, yet for thine own goodness' sake,
send thine holy angels, to pitch their tents about us, from Satan and his
slaves to hide and defend, to carry us in their hands, that we come not
into further danger than thou throughout wilt deliver us from for thine
own sake;oeven his angels are ministers for them that are heirs of
salvation. (Heb. i.) Satan sleeps not, but seeks always to destroy us.

Occasions to meditate

Think how we are strangers from our country, from our home, from our
original; I mean from God. Again, think upon our madness, that linger
and loiter so willingly in this our journey and pilgrimage; also how foolish
we are to fancy things which we cannot carry with us, and to contemn
conscience, which will always be a companion to us, to our joy if it is
good, but to our shame and sorrow, if it is evil and corrupt. Finally, how
unnatural we are, that so little desire to be at our home, to be with our
only Father, and Master, our fellows, friends, &c.

When you we about to Receive your Meat, Pray:

This is a wonderful mystery of thy work, O Maker and Governor of the
world, that thou dost sustain the lives of men and beasts with these
meats! Surely this power is neither in the bread nor food, but in thy will
and word, by which word all things live and have their being. Again, how
great a thing is it, that thou art able yearly to give sustenance to so many
creatures; this is spoken of by thy prophets in thy praises. All things look
up to thee, and thou gives them meat in due season; thou opens thine
hand, and fills with thy blessing every living thing. These, doubtless, are
wonderful works of thine almightyness. I therefore heartily pray thee, O
most liberal Lord and faithful Father, that as thou by meat through thy
word dost minister life to these our bodies, even so by the same word
with thy grace do thou quicken our souls; that both in soul and body we
may please thee till this our mortal body shall put on immortality, and we
shall need no more any other food, but thee only, who then wilt be all in
all. Taste, and see how good the Lord is; bless the Lord, O my soul, who
feeds and fills thy mouth with good things.

Occasions to meditate

Think a little how great God's power is, that made us; also think how
great his wisdom is to preserve us; but most of all, think how many things
are given for our use, how wonderful it is to give us life, but most of all, to
propagate to immortality the life of the soul by his beck alone. Last of all,
think that God, by his providence for thy body, would have thee confirm
thy faith respecting God's providence for thy soul.

In the Meal-time, Pray:

O most liberal Distributor of thy gifts, who gives all kinds of good things
to use, thou being pure give pure things, grant to me thy grace, that I
misuse not these thy gracious gifts given to our use and profit. Let us not
love them because thou dost give us these things, but rather let us love
Thee, because thou gives them, and because they are necessary for us for
a season, till we come unto thee. Grant us to be conversant among thy
gifts soberly, purely, temperately, holily, because thou art such: so shall
not we turn to the poison of our souls, that which thou hast given for the
medicine of our bodies, but using thy benefits thankfully, we shall find
them profitable both to soul and body

Occasions to meditate

Think that the meats and drinks set before you, are given to you to use,
and not to abuse; think they are given to profit and not to hurt you, think
that they are not given to you alone, but unto others also, by you. In
eating and drinking, think that you do but feed the worms. Remember the
poor prisoners, the sick, &c., as though you were in their case. Think
upon the food of your soul, Christ's body broken, and his blood shed.
Desire the meat that lasts for ever, (John vi.) work for it; Christ's meat
was to do his Father's will. (John iv.)

After your Meat, Pray thus:

By corporeal meats thou dost sustain our corporeal daily life, which
otherwise is ready to perish, which surely is a great work, but yet this is
much greater, more profitable, and more holyothat thy grace, O Jesus
Christ, keeps away from us the death of the soul. For this life we ought
much to thank thee, and because thou prolongs it with thy good gifts, we
most heartily praise thee; howbeit, this life is but the way to eternal life,
which we beseech thee, for thy death's sake, that thou wilt give us; and so
shall we not only give thee, as we can, thanks in time for temporal things,
but also eternal thanks for eternal things. Oh! grant to us these our
desires for thy mercy's sake. Amen.

Occasions to meditate

Think now that God has given thee this his blessing of meat, &c., and also
time that thou might repent to seek his glory, and the advantage of thy
brethren. Therefore go thereabout; but first pray for grace well to begin,
and again consider how thou hast been partaker of other men's labours,
as of the husbandman, the miller, the baker, the brewer, the butcher, the
cook, &c. See therefore that thou art not a drone, but rather such a bee as
may help the hive. If God have thus fed thy body, which he loves not,
except for thy soul's sake, how can it be then, but that he will be much
more ready to feed thy soul? Therefore take courage to thee, and go to
him for grace accordingly.

Cogitations for about the Midday time

As the body is now enlightened on all sides with light so see that thy mind
may be. As God gives thee thus plentifully this corporeal light, so pray
him that he will give thee the spiritual light. Think that as the sun is now
most clear, so shall our bodies be in the day of judgement. As now the sun
is come to the highest, and therefore will begin to draw downward, so is
there nothing in the world so perfect and glorious, which, when it is at the
full, will not decrease, and so wear away.

When you come Home again, Pray:

There is nothing, O Lord, more like to thy holy nature than a quiet mind;
thou hast called us out of the troublesome disquietness of the world, into
thy quiet rest and peace, which the world cannot give, being such a peace
as passes all men's understanding. Houses are ordained for us, that we
might get into them from the injury of weather, from the cruelty of
beasts, from disquietness of people, and from the toils of the world. O
gracious Father, grant that through thy great mercy my body may enter
into this house from outward actions, but so that it may become willing
and obedient to the soul, and make no resistance there against; that in
soul and body I may have a godly quietness, and peace to praise thee.
Amen. Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell in the same.

Occasions to meditate

Think what a return, and how joyful a return, it will be to come to our
eternal, most quiet, and most happy home; then all grief will be gone
away; whatsoever here is pleasant and joyful, the same is nothing, but a
very shadow in comparison, &c.

At the Sun's going Down, Pray:

Oh! how unhappy are they, O Lord, on whom thy sun goes down, and
gives no light! I mean, thy grace, which is always clear as the midday. The
midday is dark night unto them which depart from thee, in thee there
never is night, but always daylight most clear. This corporeal sun has his
courses, now up, now down; but thou, dear Lord, if we love thee, art
always one. Oh! that this block and veil of sin were taken away from me,
that the air might be always clear day in my mind.

Occasions to meditate

Think that as we are not sorry when the sun goes down, because we know
it will rise again, even so let us not sorrow for death wherethrough the
soul and body part asunder, for they shall soon return, and come together
again. So long as the sun is up, wild beasts keep their dens, foxes their
burrows, owls their holes, &c.; but when the sun is down, then they come
abroad; so wicked men and hypocrites keep their dens in the gospel time;
but it being taken away, then they swarm out of their holes like bees, as
this day teaches.

When the Candles are lighted, Pray:

Most thick and dark clouds do cover our minds, except thy light, O Lord,
dispels them. Thy sun, O most wise Worker, is as it were a firebrand to
the world; thy wisdom, whereby light comes both to soul and body, is a
firebrand (a torch, editor) to the spiritual world. After day, when the
night comes, thou hast given for the remedy of darkness, a candle; after
sin, for the remedy of ignorance, thou hast given thy doctrine, which thy
dear Son has brought unto us. Oh! thou, who art the Author and Master
of all truth, make us to see by both the lights, so that the dimness of our
minds may be driven quite away: lift upon us thy joy in our hearts. Thy
word is a lantern to my feet, and a light unto my paths.

Occasions to meditate

Think that the knowledge and wisdom that God has given unto us by
candles this night, whereby we see those things in this night of our
bodies, which are expedient for us, make us to wish much more for this
doctrine of God; and when we get it, to esteem and diligently embrace it
the more, that as all would be horror without candles so there is nothing
but there confusion, where God's word takes not place.
When you Undress yourself, Pray:
This our life and weak-knit body, by reason of sin, will be dissolved by
little and little, and so shall be restored to the earth whence it was taken,
then will be an end of this vanity, which by our foolishness we have
wrought to ourselves. O, most merciful Father, so do thou untie, unloose,
and loose me, (for thou hast knit me together,) that I may perceive myself
to be made unready and dissolved, and so may remember both of whom I
was made, and also whither I go, lest I be taken unprepared to thy
tribunal and judgment-seat.

Occasions to meditate

Put off the old man, with his lusts and concupiscence;--be content, with
Joseph, to put off thy prison-apparel, that thou may put on new;othink
that we willingly put off our garments, which in the morning we shall put
on again; and therefore as after the night of the world, we shall receive
our bodies again, let us not unwillingly put them off when God by death
shall call.

When you Enter into your Bed, Pray:

The day now ended, men give themselves to rest in the night, and so, this
night finished, we shall rest in death. Nothing is more like this life than
every day; nothing is more like death than sleep; nothing more like to our
grave than our bed. O Lord, our Keeper and Defender, grant that I now,
lying down to rest, being unable to keep myself, may be preserved from
the crafts and assaults of the wicked enemy; and grant further, that when
I have run the race of this life, thou would of thy mercy call me unto
thyself, that I may always live and watch with it's thee. Now, good God,
give me to take my rest in thee, and bring to pass that thy gracious
goodness may be, even in sleep, before mine eyes; that when sleeping, I
be not absent from thee, but may have my dreams to draw me unto thee,
and so both soul and body may be kept pure and holy for ever. I will lay
me down in peace, and take my rest.

Occasion, to meditate

Think that as this troublesome day is now past, and night is come, and so
rest, bed, and pleasant sleep, which makes the most excellent princes and
poorest peasants alike; even so after the tumults, troubles, temptations,
and tempests of this life, they that believe in Christ have prepared for
them a heaven and rest, most pleasant and joyful. As you are not afraid to
enter into your bed, and to dispose yourself to sleep; so be not afraid to
die, but rather prepare yourself for it; think that now you are nearer your
end by one day's journey, than you were in the morning.

When you feel Sleep to be Coming, Pray:

O Lord Jesus Christ, my Watchman and Keeper, take me to thy care;
grant that while my body is sleeping my mind may watch in thee, and be
made joyful by some sight of that celestial and heavenly life wherein thou
art the King and Prince, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost. Thy
angels and holy souls are most happy citizens. Oh! purify my soul, keep
clean my body, that in both I may please thee, sleeping and waking, for
ever. Amen.

A most fruitful prayer for the dispersed Church of Christ, very necessary
to be used by the godly in these days of affliction most omnipotent,
magnificent, and glorious God and Father of all consolation; we here
assembled do not presume to present and prostrate ourselves before thy
mercy-seat in respect of our own worthiness and righteousness, which
are altogether polluted and defiled; but in the merits, righteousness, and
worthiness of thy only Son Jesus Christ; whom thou hast given unto us as
a most pure and precious garment to cover our pollution and filthiness
withal, that we might appear holy and justified in thy sight through him.
Wherefore in obedience to thy commandments, and confiding in thy
promises, contained in thy holy word, that thou wilt accept and grant our
prayers presented unto thee in the favour of thy only Son our Saviour
Jesus Christ, either for ourselves or for the necessity of thy saints and
congregation; we here, congregated together, do with one mouth and
mind most humbly beseech thee, not only to pardon and forgive us all our
sins, negligences, ignorances, and iniquities, which we, from time to time,
incessantly do commit against thy divine majesty, in word, deed, and
thoughtosuch is the infirmity of our corrupted nature; but also that it
would please thee, O benign Father, to be favourable and merciful unto
thy poor afflicted church and congregation, dispersed throughout the
whole world, which in these days of iniquity are oppressed, injured,
despised, persecuted, and afflicted for the testimony of thy word, and for
obedience to thy laws.

And especially, O Lord and Father, we humbly beseech thee to extend thy
mercy and favourable countenance upon all those that are imprisoned or
condemned for the cause of thy gospel, whom thou hast chosen for thee,
and made worthy to glorify thy name. That it may please thee to give
them such constancy as thou hast given to thy saints and martyrs in time
past, willingly to shed their blood for the testimony of thy word; or else
mightily to deliver them from the tyranny of their enemies, as thou
delivered the condemned Daniel from the lions, and the persecuted Peter
out of prisons to the exaltation of thy glory, and the rejoicing of thy
church.

Furthermore, most beneficent Father, we humbly beseech thee to stretch

forth thy mighty arm unto the protection and defence of those that are
exiled for the testimony of thy verity, because they would not bend their
backs, and incline their necks under the yoke of antichrist, and be
polluted with the execrable idolatries and blasphemous superstitions of
the ungodly. That it would please thee not only to feed them in strange
countries, but also to prepare a resting place for them, as thou hast done
from time to time for thine elect in all ages; whereby they may unite
themselves together in the sincere ministration of thy word and
sacraments, to their singular edification. And in due time restore them
home again to their land, to celebrate thy praises, promote thy gospel,
and edify thy desolate congregation.

And also, O Lord, thou who hast said, thou wilt not break the bruised
reed, nor quench the smoking flax, be merciful, we beseech thee, unto all
those who, through fear and weakness, have denied thee, by
dissimulation and hypocrisy. That it may please thee to strengthen their
weak knees, (thou who art the strength of them that stand,) and to lift up
their feeble hands, that their little smoke may increase into a great flame,
and their bruised reed into a mighty oak, able to abide all the blustering
blasts and stormy tempests of adversity; that the ungodly may no longer
triumph over their fate, which, as they think, they have utterly quenched
and subduedostir up thy strength in them, O Lord, and behold them with
that merciful eye wherewith thou did behold Peter, that they, rising by
repentance, may become the constant confessors of thy word, and the
sanctified members of thy church to the end; that when as by thy
providence thou purposes to lay thy cross upon them, they do no more
seek unlawful means to avoid the same, but most willingly be contented
with patience to take it up and follow thee, in what sort soever it shall
please thee to lay the same upon their shoulders, either by death,
imprisonment, or exile; and that it will please thee not to tempt them
above their power, but to give them grace utterly to despair of their own
strength, and wholly to depend upon thy mercy.

On the other side, O Lord God, thou righteous Judge, let not the ungodly,
the enemies of thy truth, continually triumph over us, as they do at this
day; let not thine heritage become a reproach and common laughing-
stock unto the impudent and wicked papists, who, by all possible means,
seek the utter destruction of thy little flock, by shedding the blood of thy
saints for the testimony of the word; seeking by most devilish and
damnable practices to subvert thy truth. Confound there, O God, and all
their wicked counsels, and let them be taken in the same pit they have
dug for others; that it may be universally known that there is no counsel
nor force that can prevail against the Lord our God. Break, O Lord, the
horns of those bloody bulls of Bashan; pull down those high mountains
that elevate themselves against thee; and root up the rotten race of the
ungodly, that they being consumed in the fire of thine indignation, thine
exiled church may, in their own land, find place of habitation.

O Lord, deliver our land, which thou hast given us for a portion to possess
in this life, from the invasion and subduing of strangers. Truth it is we
cannot deny, but that our sins have justly deserved this great plague, now
imminent (threatening; the nation had great cause at that time to fear lest
it should be brought under the yoke of Spain, editor) and approaching,
even to be given over into the hands and subjection of that proud and
brutish nation, that neither know thee nor fear thee, and to serve them in
bodily captivity who have refused to serve thee in a spiritual liberty. Yet,
Lord, forasmuch as we are assuredly persuaded by thy holy word, that
thine anger does not last for ever towards those that earnestly repent, but
instead of vengeance thou dost show mercy, we most penitently beseech
thee to remove this thy great indignation bent towards us, and give not
over our land, our cities, towns and cattle, our goods, possessions and
tithes, our wives, children, and our own lives, into the subjection of
strangers. But rather, O Lord, expel them from our land, subvert their
counsels, dissipate their devices, and deliver us from their tyranny, as
thou delivered Samaria from cruel Benhadad, and Jerusalem from
blasphemous Sennacherib.

Give us, O Lord, such princes and rulers, such magistrates and governors,
as will advance thy glory, erect thy gospel, suppress idolatry, banish all
papistry, and execute justice and equity. Water again, O Lord, the vine of
England with the moisture of thy holy word, lest it utterly perish and
wither away. Build up again the decayed walls of thy new Jerusalem; thy
congregation in this land, lest the ungodly attribute our confusion, not
unto our sins, as the truth is, but unto our profession in religion.

Remember, O Lord, that we are a parcel of thy portion, thy flock, the
inheritors of thy kingdom, the sheep of thy pasture, and the members of
thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Deal with us therefore according to the
multitude of thy mercies, that all nations, kindreds, and languages, may
celebrate thy praises in the restoring of thy ruined church to perfection
again. for it is thy work, O Lord, and not man's, and from thee do we with
patience look for the same, and not from the fleshly arm of man, and
therefore to thee only is due all dominion, power, and thanksgiving, now
in our days and for evermore. Amen.

Another Prayer
Pray in every place, lifting up your hands. 1 Tim. 2.

O mighty King, and most high almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who mercifully governess all things which thou hast made, look
down upon the faithful seed of Abraham, the children of thy chosen
Jacob, thy chosen people I mean, consecrated unto thee by the anointing
of thy Holy Spirit, and appointed to thy kingdom by thy eternal purpose,
free mercy, and grace, but yet, as strangers, wandering in this vale of
misery, brought forth daily by the worldly tyrants like sheep to the
slaughter. O Father of all flesh, who, by thy divine providence, changes
times and seasons, and most wonderfully disposes kingdoms; thou did
destroy Pharaoh, with all his horses and chariots, puffed up with pride
against thy people, and thou did lead forth safely, by the hands of thy
mercy, thy beloved Israel through the high waves of the raging waters.
Thou, O God, the Lord of all hosts and arms, did first drive away from the
gates of thy people the blasphemous Sennacherib, slaying of his army an
hundred fourscore and five thousand, by thy angel in one night, and
afterwards by his own sons, before his own idols, did kill the same
blasphemous idolater, showing openly to all heathens thy provident
power towards thy despised little ones Thou did transform and change
proud Nebuchadnezzar, the enemy of thy people, into a brute beast, to eat
grass and hay, to the horrible terror of all worldly tyrants. And as thou art
the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation, so of thy wonderful
mercy thou did preserve those thy servants in Babylon, who with bold
courage gave their bodies to the fire, because they would not worship any
dead idol; and when they were cast into the burning furnace, thou did
give them cheerful hearts to rejoice: and sing psalms, and saved unhurt
the very hairs of their beads, turning the flame from them to devour their
enemies. Thou, O Lord God, by the might of thy right arm, which governs
all, did bring Daniel, thy prophet, safe into light and life out of the dark
den of the devouring lions, where, by false accusations, he was shut under
the earth to be destroyed by those raging beasts; but thou turned their
cruelty upon his accusers repaying the wicked upon their own pates. Yea,
Lord, who passes all wonders, and art far above man's power to perceive
therein thy working, thou did cause the huge and great dragon of the
seas, that horrible Leviathan and Behemoth, the mighty fish, to swallow
up and devour thy servant Jonah, to keep him three days and three nights
in the dungeon of his belly, the dark hellish grave to a living man; thou
did cause that great monster to carry him to the place that thou had
appointed, and there to cast him up safe and able to do thy message.

Now also, O heavenly Father, beholder of all things, to whom only

belongs vengeance, thou sees and considers how thy holy name is
dishonoured by the wicked worldlings and blasphemous idolaters; thy
sacred word refused, forsaken, and despised; thy Holy Spirit provoked
and offended; thy chosen temple polluted and defiled: tarry not too long,
therefore, but show thy power speedily upon thy chosen household,
which is so grievously vexed, and so cruelly handled by thy open enemies.
Avenge thine own glory, and shorten these evil days for thine elect's sake.
Let thy kingdom come of all thy desired, and though our lives have
offended thy majesty, as we do confess unfeignedly, O Lord, that we have
all sinned, our kings, princes, priests, prophets, and peopleoall we,
together with our parents, fathers, and mothers, have most grievously,
infinitely passing all measure and number, with our hard flintish hearts,
our dissolute and careless lives, without shame and repentance for sin,
have offended, transgressed, trespassed, sinned, and committed most
horrible wickedness, so that we have worthily deserved the uttermost of
thy plagues and terrible vengeance. Yet for thine own glory, O merciful
Lord, suffer not the enemy of thy Son Christ, the Romish antichrist, thus
wretchedly to delude and draw from thee our poor brethren, for whom
thy Son once died, that by his cruelty, after so clear light, they should be
made captives to dumb idols and devilish inventions of popish
ceremonies thereunto pertaining. Suffer him not to seduce the simple
sort with his fond (foolish, editor) opinion, that his false gods, blind
mumbling, feigned religion, and his foolish superstition, give him such
conquests, such victories, such triumphs, and such a high hand over us.
We know most certainly, O Lord, that it is not their arm and power, but
our sins and offences, that have delivered us to their fury, and have
caused thee to turn away from us. But turn again, O Lord, let us fall into
thy hands; otherwise (seeing thy justice must punish us) let us fall into
thy hands as David chose, by dearth, famine, or pestilence, or what way
thou likes; lest these vain idolaters rejoice at the miserable destruction of
those men whom they make proselytes, and apostates from thy doctrine.
But, holy Lord, thy holy will be fulfilled. This is thy righteous judgment to
punish us with the tyrannical yoke of blindness, because we have cast
away from us the sweet yoke of the wholesome word of thy Son our
Saviour. Yet consider the horrible blasphemies of thine and our enemies;
they call a cake (the consecrated wafer used at the Romish sacrament,
editor) their God, their Christ, and altogether they know nothing of thy
power. They say in their hearts, There is no God, who either can or will
deliver us; wherefore, O heavenly Father, the Governor of all things, the
Avenger of the cause of the poor, the fatherless, the widow, and the
oppressed, look down from heaven with the face of the fatherly mercies,
and forgive us all former offences; and for thy Son Christ's sake have
mercy upon us, who by the force and cruelty of wicked and blasphemous
idolaters without just causes, are haled and pulled from our own houses,
are slandered slain, and murdered as rebels and traitors, like persons
pernicious, pestiferous, seditious, pestilent, and full of mortal poison
contagious to all men. Whereas we meddle no further than against the
hellish powers of darkness, against the spiritual craftiness in heavenly
things, which would deny the will of our Christ unto us. We contend no
further than for our Christ crucified, and the only salvation by his blessed
passion, acknowledging none other God, none other Christ or Saviour,
but only the ever-living Lord and our most merciful Father, and thy dear
Son our Saviour, who is in the same glory with thee in the highest
heavens. Therefore, O Lord, for thy glorious name's sake, for Jesus
Christ's sake, be whom thou hast promised to grant all righteous
requests, make the wicked idolaters all wonder and stand amazed at thy
almighty power, use thy wonted strength to the confusion of thine
enemies and to the help and deliverance of thy persecuted people. All thy
saints do beseech thee thereforeothe young infants which have somewhat
tasted of thy sweet word, by whose mouth thou hast promised to make
perfect thy praises, whose angels always behold thy face, who, besides the
loss of us their parents, are in danger to be compelled and driven without
thy great mercies, to serve dumb and insensible idols, do cry and call to
thee. Their pitiful mothers with lamentable tears, lie prostrate before the
throne of thy grace. Thou, Father of the fatherless, Judge of the widows,
and Avenger of all the oppressed, let it appear, O Lord omnipotent, that
thou dost hear, and in due season avenge and punish all wrongs offered
to all thy little ones that do believe in thee. Do this, O Lord, for thy name's
sake. Arise up, O Lord, and thine enemies shall be scattered and
confounded. So be it, O Lord, most merciful, at thy time appointed.

A Godly Prayer to be read at all Times

Honour and praise be given to thee, O Lord God Almighty, most dear
Father of heaven, for all thy mercies and loving kindness showed unto us,
in that it has pleased thy gracious goodness freely and of thine own
accord to elect and choose us to salvation before the beginning of the
world. And the like continual thanks be given to thee for creating us after
thine own image; for redeeming us with the precious blood of thy dear
son, when we were utterly lost; for sanctifying us with thy Holy Spirit in
the revelation and knowledge of thy holy word; for helping and
succouring us in all our needs and necessities; for saving us from all
dangers of body and soul; for comforting us so fatherly in all our
tribulations and persecutions; for sparing us so long, and giving us so
large a time for repentance. These benefits, O most merciful Father, like
as we acknowledge to have received them of thy only goodness, even so
we beseech thee, for thy dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, to grant us always
thy Holy Spirit, whereby we may continually grow in thankfulness
towards thee, be led into all truth, and comforted in all our adversities. O
Lord strengthen our faith, kindle it more in fervour and love towards
thee, and our neighbours, for thy sake. Suffer us not, dearest Father, to
receive thy word any more in vain; but grant us always the assistance of
thy grace and Holy Spirit, that in heart, word, and deed we may sanctify
and worship thy holy name. Help to amplify and increase thy kingdom,
that whatsoever thou sends we may be heartily well content with thy good
pleasure and will. Let us not lack that, O Father, without which we cannot
serve thee, but bless thou so all the works of our hands, that we may have
sufficient, and not be chargeable but rather helpful unto others. Be
merciful, O Lord, to our offences, and, seeing our debt is great, which
thou hast forgiven us in Jesus Christ, make us to love thee and our
neighbours so much the more. Be thou our Father, our Captain, and
Defender in all temptations; hold thou us by thy merciful hands, that we
may be delivered from all inconveniences, and end our lives in the
sanctifying and honour of thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord
and only Saviour. Amen.

Let thy mighty hand and outstretched arm, O Lord, still be our defence;
thy mercy and loving kindness in Jesus Christ thy dear Son our salvation;
thy true and holy word our instruction; thy grace and Holy Spirit our
comfort and consolation unto the end and in the end. Amen.

O Lord, increase our faith.