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 comfortable Prayer against back-sliding in Religion, and for increase of Faith: most worthy often to be said of euery Christian.

O Almighty & Eternall God, which hast in thy Word commanded, that we should beware of falling from thy grace, and hast also witnessed that the end of those which goe backe from thy Word, after they haue once knowne the way of righteousnesse, will be excéeding fearefull: Haue mercy therefore on mee (O Lord) I most humbly pray thée, for I finde in my selfe great weakenesse, no power haue I of my selfe to perseuere in goodnesse: I beginne to wauer in my iudgement, and to grow doubtfull, euen of those things, which I heretofore haue em∣braced with fulnesse of perswasion: The exercises of godlinesse are not

so pleasant vnto me, as they haue béen, a strange kinde of dulnesse stealeth vp∣on me, and I haue no such life and spi∣rit in matters of Religion, as in times past I haue had: and to what a wofull passe these things may come, though I haue much hope when I thinke vpon thy mercy, yet well may I feare, when I looke into my selfe. I confesse that thy goodnes is great, in that thou makest my heart within mee to smart for these things, and doest not suffer me to run on without stay, into that hel∣lish and infernall Pit, in which I should be soone plunged, if thou shouldest once leaue mée to my owne weakenesse. Therefore (O Lord) I beséech thée, to quicken my dull heart, kindle those sparkes which are euen vpon quenching, and like vtterly to goe out, vnlesse it shall please thée to reuiue them: make strong my thoughts and conscience: make mée able more and more to sée the Truth in cases of Religion, and to discerne things that differ from the same. Giue mée vnder∣standing to know both good and euill, giue mée also increase of zeale, that I may spring vp in grace, and thriue in godlines, vntil I come to that measure

to which thou hast appointed mee to come in Christ Jesus: let ••eé not in these key-colde and decaying times, be carried away with euery blast of doctrine, through the subtiltie and wil••nesse of those which lie in waite to beguile mée: suffer neither the cares of this vaine world, to wither and dry vp thy graces in mée, nor transitory pleasures to entrap mée, nor euill ex∣amples to misguide me, nor mine owne sloathfull and heauy nature to make mée grow weary of well-doing: but make mée so to burne in loue with heauenly things, that I may not sa∣tisfle myselfe with any measure, either of knowledge or practice, but may ra∣ther still be ashamed of my selfe, that I make no better procéedings, and so may euer desire and striue to more per∣fection.

To this end, enkindle in mee af∣fection more and more, by the hearing and reading of thy heauenly and holy Word, earnest praying, intentiue and feruent meditation, carefull watch∣ing ouer mine owne soule, following the example of godly men, and imita∣ting their gracious and holy conuersa∣tion.

As thy promises (O Lord and most mercifull Father) haue encouraged mée thus to pray, so (I he séech thée) let it be thy gracious will to accept of these my humble petitions, which procéede from a contrite & a sorrow∣full heart, so shall my soule magnifie thée, and my tongue set forth thy prai∣ses with ioyfull lips, and that in Jesus Christ thy Sonne and my Sauiour.

Amen.