A poore mans rest founded vpon motiues, meditations, and prayers. Expressing to the inward man, true consolation. In all kindes and times of afflication. By Io. Norden.

A Morning Prayer, where the FAMILY assembles.

O Almighty God, full of loue and pitty, the chiefest comfort that a∣ny sinfull soule can haue: when wée miserable sinners here met toge∣ther, doe consider of thy great mercy and goodnesse, which we haue euer since our births, and before, found, and daily doe finde at the hands of thy diuine Maiesty, together with our great vn∣thankfulnesse euery way to thée againe for the same, we must néedes confesse, and euen from the bottom of our hearts doe acknowledge, that most vnspeake∣able is thy mercy in sparing vs to liue vntill this morning, before which time thou mightest iustly haue consumed vs. But (O deare God) of thy frée mercies, before the foundation of the World was laid, thou hast chosen and elected vs for thy Children; and hast, to our endlesse comfort, certified and made knowne the same vnto our spi∣rits, by thy spirit, by whom, and not of our selues, wee now cry vnto thée

Abba, father: and for our Redemption, hast sent thine owne Sonne to shed his most precious bloud vpon the Crosse, no other meanes being whereby wée could be saued?

Thou hast by thy holy Spirit wrought Faith in our hearts, to be∣léeue by him, and in him to be iustified before thée, and in some measure be∣gunne the death of sinne in vs, and wrought our sanctification; and of thy frée fauour we enioy the benefit of thy Word, the freedome of conscience, great peace and plenty in outward things, with many and infinite other benefits, waking and sléeping, at home and abroad, in our selues and our friends: for all which, instead of thankefulnesse, wee become the more disobedient, not doing that wée ought to doe, but with pleasure and profit, with vanity and selfe-loue wée are carried away, spending our daies in iniquity, carelesnesse, and vnféeling of our sinne, and there is no goodnesse in vs: yet is there mercy with thée. O Lord, and pardon vpon repentance. Wherefore, we here this Morning met together before thy Maiesty, hum∣bly confesse our wants, and most en∣tirely

beséech thée, for Jesus Christs sake to haue mercy vpon vs: Haue mercy vpon vs most mercifull Fa∣ther, and forgiue vs all that is past: strengthen vs hereafter, that daily both in bodies and soules we may glo∣rifie thée more then we haue done, yéel∣ding thankes for daily benefits, and striuing in holinesse and righteousnes to please thée all the dayes of our life. But because we cannot but offend, and fall diuers wayes, and euery day; good Lord, for thy mercy sake, pierce our hearts with a féeling of the same, and neuer suffer vs to goe on with dull and dead soules, not séeing nor sighing for our offences.

As a speciall meanes to kéepe vs in obedience before thée (O deare Fa∣ther) worke in vs a continuall re∣membrance, and an effectuall conside∣ration that wée shall not alwayes liue here in this wretched world, that doth much please vs now, but that a day wil come when the trumpe shall sound, the Dead shall arise, and all wée shall appeare before the Tribunall seat of Judgement, there to receiue according to our déedes, without respect of Per∣sons: oh, good Lord, giue vs a remem∣brance,

and a féeling of that vnspeake∣able comfort, and eternall waight of glory, which in that day shall be giuen vnto vs, if in this day wée serue and please thée: and contrariwise, euen ter∣rifle our cousciences, and let vs, as it were, see before our faces the dreadfull Judgements, and the fearefull Tor∣ments, that both in Body and Soule, they shall be sure to haue for euermore, which in this life doe not serue and please thée; but follow their owne fancies and wicked delights: giue vs an hatred of sinne, and a true loue of righteousnesse: blesse thy Word euer∣more with fruit vnto our soules, when we heare it: giue vs a desire to heare it often, and to practise it faithfully and obediently, and keepe our hearts euer free from disūmulation and counter∣feit holinesse: prepare our hearts dili∣gently to watch for the comming of thy Sonne; make vs ready, fit, and willing to meete him in the clouds, if thou wilt that we liue to his comming, if it please thee in the meane time to call vs, let vs with ioy yeeld our bo∣dies to the earth, and receiue our soules vnto thy selfe, vntill the day when both our bodies and soules shall

be remitted, and bee totally glorified with thee in Heauen. And let this day be a day of our true reformation and repentance, that we becomming new creatures, may serue thee in holinesse all the dayes of our liues, yeelding thee most humble and hearty thankes for thy goodnesse to vs this night: let thy mercifull eye looke vpon vs this day, and so keep vs bodies and soules, that being occupied in our seuerall cal∣lings, we may be safe by thee from all our Enemies, and liue to thee in feare, that we may die in thy fauour, and liue hereafter with thee in glory: which grant, and all things in the meane time necessary for soules and bodies, for Christ his sake, in whose name we ask them, saying as he hath taught vs:

Our Father vvhich art in heauen, hal∣lovved be thy Name. Thy Kingdome come. Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen. Giue vs this day our daily Bread. And forgiue vs our trespasses, as vve forgiue them that trespasse against vs, and lead vs not into temptation, but de∣liuer vs from euill. For thine is the King∣dome, the povver, and the glory, for euer and euer. Amen.

Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme (O Lord) be still our defence: thy mercy & louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ, our saluation; thy true and holy vvord our instruction; thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end. Amen.

The Lord blesse vs, and saue vs: and make his face to shine vpon vs, and be mercifull vnto vs: the Lord turne his fa∣uourable countenance tovvards vs this day and euermore.

Amen.