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O Eternall God, Father of our Lord Iesu Christ, which with thine onlie begotten Sonne, and the holie Ghost, art the maker, preseruer, and
helper of all creatures. Upon thee doo I call, in the name of Christ the Mediator. Helpe and gouerne mee with thy holie spirit, that with a stedfast purpose I may constantlie cleane vnto thy word: that my steps, my thoughts, intents, purposes, actions, and all the course of my life, may be directed & made conformable to thy commandements and promises, and that I may euer haue thy word before mine eies, to followe it as the onlie and most infallible rule of my life, and light∣some lampe to my feet.
Order my steps in thy word, that I may feare in my hart thy great wrath and threatnings against sinne, and quake and tremble at the dreadfull examples of punishments, which therefore from the beginning, thou hast published in the world against all the wicked and vngodlie ones, that haue and doo contemne thy word, and that I may acknowledge those punish∣ments to be forewarnings of thy iudgements to come, in the which this most dreadfull sentence shall be pronounced against all the vngodlie, Go yee cursed into euerlasting fire.
Order my steps in thy word, that in true feare and awe of thy Maiestie, I may tame my mind, bridle my lusts, keepe vnder mine affections, rule mine imaginations, restraine my thoughts, represse and stop all vicious motions, shun all wickednesse, and kill the life of sinne in me.
Order my steps in thy word, that in frights and feares, in terrors and temptations, in all astonishments, troubles, afflictions, distresses and dangers bodilie or ghostlie, with fixed eie and firme faith, I may behold & looke vpon thy grace and mercie, which for thy sonne our Lord Iesus Christes sake is shewed and declared vnto vs in thy Gospell; and neuer seeke thy will anie where else but in thy word, and surelie persuade my selfe that trulie to be thy will, which in thy word and
promises is reuealed and set foorth. Helpe me also, O God, I beseech thee, that in all mine agonies & feares, I may cheere and raise vp my selfe with the heauenlie comfort of thy word, and so with a constant faith in thy mercifull promises that I find there, I may repose my trust, and quiet my conscience in Christ my mercifull Mediator, assuring my selfe vndoubtedlie that for his sake I shall be both heard, receiued, helped, deliuered, and saued.
Order my steps in thy word, that in all this short course of my life I may be obedient vnto thee, and serue thee faithfullie and diligentlie in my vocation: that I may keepe my selfe within the limits of my charge, and serue thee trulie in those works which thou requirest of me in my seuerall calling.
Order my steps in thy word, that this knowledge of thy word in me be firme, constant, certaine, immoue∣able, and vnchangeable, that my mind wauer not, nor wander to and fro, neither be caried hither and thi∣ther inconstantlie with euerie blast of opinions.
Order my steps in thy word, that in the race & course of this life, there be no obstacles, lets, or vaine strife and contention betweene flesh and bloud, to burst the bonds of my vocation; but let it be constant, healthfull, hap∣pie and prosperous to the end, and helpe me therein, that I may perseuere in a right course, and win the goale; and make me an instrument and vessell of mer∣cie, caring and ministring healthfull and good things both to my selfe and to others, that I may be comfor∣ted in this thy promise, which saiedst, Thy labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord, and all that thou dooest shall prosper.
But alas, sinne dwelling and sticking in this our corrupt nature, doth too too much trouble, and hinder our steps. Our vntamed lusts, vncomlie affections, and inordinate desires, euen like furious mad men, doo
solicit vs, vexe, disquiet, and torment vs, and quite drawe, driue, and carrie our steps foorth of the true waie, which thy word sheweth, into the by-paths, and strange waies that are most perillous, dangerous, pernicious, and leade to destruction, Yea alas (such is the miserie of our corrupt nature) that sinne, a thing most horrible and detestable, doth smile vpon vs, and is become verie delightfull and pleasant vnto vs, and most willinglie and gladlie we obeie, and are readie to followe the flickering intisements and vaine allure∣ments of all manner of vices. Yea so great and lamen∣table is the weakenesse and imbecillitie of our nature thus corrupted, that quicklie and easilie we suffer our selues continuallie to be more and more remooued, dri∣uen backe, and distracted from the right waie that lea∣deth to thee.
Order my steps therefore in thy word, O Lord I beseech thee, and so rule, direct, gouerne & helpe me, that sinne neither dwell in me, nor haue dominion ouer me in action nor to damnation. O let not sinne reigne in mee, I saie, to action, as it did in Dauid, by forcing me to follow the sugred suggestions of Sathan, the delight∣some vanities of the world, nor the brittle and short pleasures of the flesh, nor by compelling and driuing my deeds and actions to obeie cleane contrarie to my conscience. Neither let sinne reigne in me to damna∣tion, as it did in Saule, by not regarding thy word, by furie, wrath, malice and contempt of thy commande∣ments: that I be not ouerwhelmed in terrors and woonderfull great furies, nor drowned in eternall dam∣nation; but helpe me, that in temptations I may con∣stantlie stand, and valiantlie resist, and in all dread and distresse be lifted vp, and comforted with the voice of the Gospell, as it is written: Sinne shall not beare rule ouer you, for you are not vnder the lawe, but vnder grace. So shall it come to passe, that though this tyrant sin
rob and rage neuer so cruellie, yet I through faith im∣bracing the sweet comfort of the Gospell, and beleeuing surelie that it is pardoned, and the terrors of the lawe ouercome, by the conquest and triumph of our media∣tor and Lord Iesus Christ, it shall not ouercome me; but I it in him, through the helpe of his holie spirit, power and grace, which grant vnto me, O Lord I be∣seech thee, for thy holie name sake,