Jacobs ladder, or, The devout souls ascention to Heaven, in prayers, thanksgivings, and praises in four parts ... : with graces and thanksgivings : illustrated with sculptures / by Jo. Hall.

PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, OR, A COLLECTION OF Morning & Evening PRAYERS For Private Persons, For every day in the Week.

Evening and Morning, and at Noon will I Pray, and cry Aloud, and he shall hear my voyce,

Psal. 55. 17.

Private Devotions.

A Prayer for Sunday-Morning.

ALmighty God, the blessed Cre∣ator and Finisher of the Salva∣tion of Mankind, who in memory of thy glorious Rest from both thy no∣ble works, hast blessed and sanctifi∣ed a day of holy rest unto thy self, sanctify me for it, that laying aside my accustomed business, and seque∣string my thoughts from all worldly cares, I may keep it and my self ho∣ly to thee, by dedicating and devo∣ting my self wholly to thy peculiar worship, and immediate service, and to the end that this my Religious service may be more acceptable to thee, quicken me with thy Spirit, that I may perform it with all alla∣crity

and cheerfulness, and may make thy Sabbath my delight. Touch my Heart and Tongue with a coal from thy Altar, that from the sweet Incense of my Meditations, Hymns, Prayers, and Thanksgivings, thou mayest smell a savour of Rest. O Prince of Peace, sanctify thy rest un∣to me, that I may find rest to my Soul from all temptations, troubles, and fears, and may rest from my own works which are painful and sinful travels, and may imploy this day, all the powers and faculties of my Soul and Body in doing and considering thy works, in adoring thy Majesty, and admiring thy wisdom, and ac∣knowledging thy Power, and em∣bracing thy Love, and magnifying thy goodness, and rejoycing in thy Mercies, and trembling at thy Judg∣ments; In visiting thy holy Tem∣ple, and praising thee with thy Saints, and offering up the Calves of my lips; In diligently reading thy Scrip∣tures, attentively hearing thy Word,

••everently celebrating thy Mysteries, charitably relieving thy Members, & zealously practizing all holy duties both publick and private! O let me this Whole day walk with thee as Enoch sometimes did, and talk with thee as Moses did, and seek thy Face as David did: And grant, that be∣holding thine Image in thy holy Word, as in a clear and Christal Mir∣rour, I may be changed ••to the same Image, even from Glory to Glo∣ry. Let this Sabbath put me in mind of thy Holy rest from thy works, and assure me thereby of an Everlasting Sabbath in Heaven from my Works; into which rest, that I may enter, stir up good desires in me, raise my thoughts and affections to the things which are above, renew me accord∣ing to the Image of thy Son, and frame my Life to a Heavenly con∣versation, enlighten my understand∣ing, sanctify my will, moderate my desires, govern my affections, mortifie my fleshly members, de∣story

the man of sin in me, and deli∣ver me from the Body of death: work 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me a fear of thy power, and a love of thy goodness, and zeal of thy glo∣ry, and thirst after thy grace, and an earnest desire and constant resoluti∣on (as much as in me lyeth) to ap∣prove my self to thee in all things, and frame all my actions to the rule of thy Word. Hear me, I beseech thee, for thy Church, and thy Church for me, and Christ for us all, saying, Our Father, &c.

A Prayer for Sunday Evening.

HOly, Holy, Holy, Lord God Al∣mighty, which wast, which art, and which art to come; Hollow my nature, that I may Hollow thy Name: As thou impartest thy good∣ness to me, whereby I live and move in thee; communicate to me some measure of thy Holiness, that I may live and move to thee. Let thy Spirit of grace possess my Body and

Soul, that the desires of my mind, and thoughts of my heart, and words of my lips, may be holiness unto thee: Sanctifie me that I may glorifie thee. And first with Joy and Thankfulness I acknowledg it a special Testimony of thy love, that thou hast given me liberty, and meanes to keep a holy Sabbath unto thee, to meet in thy House, to offer up my Joynt-Prayers, and thanksgiving, with thy Holy congregation, to confess my sin, to profess my faith, to lay open my wants, to clear up my self, by Sing∣ing the sweet Songs of Sion, to hear thy Sacred Word read, and Preached; whereby my faith hath been strength∣ened in the Mysteries of Salvation, my hope established in the promises of the Gospel, and my life set forward in a setled course of holyness, and righteousness, whereby the Kingdom of sin and Satan is beat down and de∣stroyed, and the Kingdom of Christ built up in me; By this thy Word, the careless sinner is admonished, the

ignorant instructed, the presumptu∣ous te••rified, and the Penitent com∣forted, the Power of sin is abated, the force of temptations weakned, the motions of the Spirit quickned, grace received, and my Election as∣sured by the infallible marks and to∣kens thereof, set before me in holy Scriptures. Blessed be thy Name for it, this day thy word hath dwelt with me richly in all wisdom: The dispencer of thy Mysteries hath scat∣tered many Doctrines, like so many Pearls among the People; Lord grant that with Mary I may keep these and all thy sayings in my heart, and make use of them in my life, and receive comfort from them at my Death. And here I would proceed to intreat at thy hands, the continu∣ance and increase of thy Spiritual & Temporal blessings upon me; but my sins lye at the door of my Con∣science, and affright me. My heart smites me for my failings, in the per∣formance of the duties of this day:

My devout meditations have been ••tifled in the womb that bare them, my Prayers have not been without distractions, my hearing without ••earisomness, nor my Alms-deeds without Grudging: Pardon, dear Father, the want of preparation be∣fore I come to thy house, of intenti∣on and Zeal at thy service; and of Meditation and Application of those things which I heard there, since I came thence. Bury I beseech thee these slips, and all my sins, especially of this week and day, in the night of eternal oblivion. Ease me of the bur∣then of them, that I may more se∣curely repose my soul and body up∣on thy gracious protection, to take their natural refreshing by sleep, whereby I may be enabled and strengthened to do the better service the next day, in walking carefully, diligently, conscionably, and con∣stantly, in the wayes of thy Com∣mandements, and in the duties of my Calling; so as may be to thy ho∣nour

and Glory, and my eternal comfort, through Jesus Christ our Lord. To whom be honour and glory world without end. Amen.

Our Father. &c.

A Prayer for Munday-Morning.

MOst Glorious Lord God, the great Creator and preserver of all mankind; Blessed be thy Name that thou hast been graciously plea∣sed to preserve me the night past, and that thou hast once more vouch∣safed me the light of the Morning, whereby to manage my affairs and business; O Lord preserve me this day, and keep me in all my wayes, give unto me the repose of a quiet Conscience, and the clear light of the Gospel, to guide my feet in the way of peace; and grant that this light may convince me of the Er∣rors of my understanding, the de∣pravedness of my will, the disorder

of my affections, the Impunity of my thoughts; the vanity of my desires, the deceitfulness of my heart, and the wickedness thereof. Make me sensible O Lord what a wretched cre∣ature I was in my birth, slime and filthiness; what I am in my life, va∣nity and solly; and what shall be in my death, stench and rottenness, Discover unto me O Lord that I have nothing, which I have not received; that without Christ, I can do no∣thing; that in me, that is, in my flesh dwelleth no good; that I am not a∣ble of my self (as of my self) to think a good thought; that I cannot desire to think, nor have will to desire, nor grace to will any good: O Lord let me consider, that my comforts in this world, are very few and small; my crosses and troubles many and great; my pleasures here are momentary and short, my pains hereafter (with∣out my repentance, and thy great mercy) are permanent and everlast∣ing: My gifts O Lord are very small,

my wants and infirmities are great, my helps are weak, my assaults and temptations are strong, my good deeds are few, and they tainted with Imperfections, but my ill deeds are infinite. Let these considerations, O Lord, humble me in my self, that Christ may raise me; and wound me in my self, that Christ may heal me. And O Lord, who this day ma∣dest the Heavens or Air, without which I cannot breath naturally, no not for a moment; infuse into my heart the Spirit of thy grace, with∣out which I cannot breath Spiritual∣ly in my Prayers, nor sigh, nor so much as move any part or faculty of my soul or body unto thee; and as oft as I take in, or let out the air which I breath, let receive me in grace from thee, and breathe out praise unto thee. Be my guide, O Lord, this day, and do thou keep me both Now and Ever, Amen.

Our Father. &c.

A Prayer for Munday-Evening.

HOly and Eternal Lord God, who art the King of Heaven and the Watchman of Israel, who never slum∣brest nor sleepest; Look upon me thy unworthy servant, who by rea∣son of my sin and the corruption of my nature, am wholly subject to sloth, and am even now ready to ease and rest my self upon my bed: I know not whether thou wilt this very night make my bed in the dark; and the hour of my visitation be this pre∣sent Evening, all my years are but a span long, my dayes pass like a Wea∣vers Shuttle; my life ends like a Tail that is told; this hour may be my last hour, my next sleep may be my last and long sleep: I beseech thee therefore, that I may every Even∣ing seriously ponder and meditate heaven, that I may be the better pre∣pared in that day and hour that thou shalt call me: And though my Eyes shall now sleep, and enjoy that mo∣derate

refreshment which thou hast appointed for the wearisome condi∣tion of my weak body, yet let my soul continually watch unto thee, to attend thy coming. Forgive me, O Lord, the sins of this day past, and all other my former sins and misde∣meanors; keep me this night both in body and soul, that I may with the next light joyfully rise again. Let not my sleep be unmeasurable and excessive, to please the ease of my flesh, but sufficient and season∣able, whereby I may be the better disposed to thy service to morrow, diligently and fruitfully walking in my calling, and repenting me of my sins, with fear to offend thee.

Let thy unspeakable mercy alwayes preserve me, let thine endless sweetness rejoyce me, let thine heavenly truth strengthen me, let thy knowledg im∣bolden me, and thy goodness keep me from my Enemies, visible and in∣visible, now and for Evermore. Amen. Our Father, &c.

A Prayer for Tuesday Morning.

O Eternal Lord God, thou com∣mandest us alwayes, at all times, and in all things, to call upon thee; day by day, I come unto thee, beg∣ing refreshment from the overflow∣ing streams of thy mercy; O Lord open unto me the gate of thy favour, and let me be satisfied with the foun∣tain of thy loving kindness. O mer∣ciful Lord, who hast said, As surely as I live, I desire not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should Convert and A∣mend, and Live; Who hast also said, Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee; have mercy upon me for Jesus Christ his sake, whom thou wouldest should be a peace∣maker, to the end that thou mightest shew thine exceeding great Wrath a∣gainst sin, and thine inestimable mer∣cy towards Mankind, sanctifie and il∣luminate my heart with thy holy Spirit. O God the guide of my life, forsake me not, turn from me the

filthiness of desire. Turne mine Eyes away from beholding vanity, strengthen me in thy wayes, and grant that mine offences in this world overcome me not, and I be∣seech thee, O Lord, with a most ar∣dent affection, that this day and ever thou wilt keep me, and all mine, and that thou wilt be unto me a Mighty Protector, a firmament of strength, a covering against heat, a shadow at noon-tide, a defence from falling, an assister from offending, a comforter of my soul, an enlightner of my mind, a giver of health and happiness in Christ Jesus, my Lord and Saviour; To whom be all glory, honour, and power, for ever. Amen.

Our Father. &c.

A Prayer for Tuesday-Evening.

MOst mighty and most merciful Lord God, by whose good∣ness I was created, by whose Justice I am punished, and by whose mercy

I am saved; I cast my self down be∣fore thee, and lift up my hands unto thee at this present as my Evening-sacrifice, but alas my conscience ac∣cuseth me, the secret cogitations of my heart reprove me, my fear check∣eth me, the infinite number of my sins oppress me, yea, my miscarriages this day witness against me, and ex∣ceedingly condemn me; O Lord what am I, that thou shouldest yet favour me and shew thy self so loving and bountiful a Father unto me? why should'st thou so nourish me, who am so unworthy a wretch, with thy mercy and loving-kindness? I know that it is for His sake in whom there is no guile, and in whom there was found no evil, that thou regardest me and imbracest me; Pardon, I be∣seech thee, through Jesus Christ, all my sins, faults, vices, and offences, and indue me with all holy vertues; make me to live a godly life, and to continue to the end in good works; Take away all darkness from my

mind, that I may see thee by under∣standing thee, and love thee by know∣ing thee. And grant O Lord, that I may so keep, and govern, and end my life, that I may sleep in peace and rest in thee; and so into thy hands I commend my self, both soul and bo∣dy, this night and for ever. Hide me I beseech thee under the shaddow of thy Wings, that I may rest quietly, void of all fear, spiritual darkness, danger and despair; comfort me in all those things wherein I have been any way discouraged this day; Pre∣serve me to the end, that sleep with rest, and rest with quietness, and quietness with everlastingness, may receive me, that having run the race of this life, I may be made partaker of a better; that so I may live and reign with thee for ever, through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Savi∣our. Amen.

Our Father. &c.

A Prayer for Wednesday-Morning.

HOly Lord God, the glorious face of the Sun, which sheweth it self, and casteth its beams over the whole World, I take it for an argu∣ment and earnest of thy good will toward thy Children, in the number of whom I account my self, though the chief of Sinners, and not wor∣thy to loose the latchet of thy shooe, for if we enjoy such benefits in this strange country, together with thine Enemies, then what joy and glory, what excellent goodness shall we be made partakers of, when we come to our heavenly country, the blessed land of Canaan, where we shall not see this earthly Sun, but thou, O Lord, who art the Son of Righte∣ousness will be continually before us. And now, O Lord, I Praise thy blessed name for preserving me from the many dangers of the Night past, and for bringing me safe to the be∣ginning of this day; As thou hast

now wakened my Body from sleep, so, I beseech thee, awaken my Soul from sin, and carnal Security, and as thou hast caused the Light of the day to shine in my bodily Eyes, so, good Lord, cause the light of thy word, and holy Spirit to illuminate my heart, and give me grace as a Child of Light, to walk in all holy obedience before thy face this day; and grant me to endeavour to keep a good Conscience towards thee, & toward all men, in all my thoughts, words, and dealings; and to this end I commend my self, and all my ways and actions, together with all that do belong to me, unto thy gracious direction and protection, beseeching thee to keep both them and me from all evil, and to give a blessing to my honest Labours and endeavours, this day following, and for evermore. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

A Prayer for Wednesday Evening.

O Most Mighty Lord God, and most mercifull and loving Fa∣ther in thy Son Jesus Christ: I sin∣ful Creature am bold to return unto thee, all possible Praise and thanks for all thy great and manifold fa∣vours, which thou in thy mercy hast from time to time vouchsafed unto me a sinful wretch, who am full of sin, and iniquity. I beseech thee, fa∣vourably to hear my imperfect pray∣ers, and to grant my requests, and needful suits, which I make unto thee at this time: Forgive me I in∣treat thee good Father, all the sins that I have committed from day to day against thy divine Majesty, and suffer me not, O Lord, to offend thee any more hereafter, that neither sin nor Satan, nor any unruly passions may have dominion, nor reign any longer in my mortal body: for I confess I have herein done wickedly, and have broken all thy command∣ments;

for which thou mightest in thy severe Justice, punish me both in Soul and Body, to eternal Death, besides those sins which I have this day committed. Forgive me O Lord all my sins past, and blessed be thy name that thou hast kept me this day in my going out, and in my return∣ing home. O Lord watch over me this night, and be thou my defence and protection, from all dangers, casualties, and troubles; grant that I be not overcome with any fantasies, and dreams, or other Temptations, but that I may fully set my mind up∣on thee, love thee, fear thee, and rest in thee, and thou, O Lord, waken me again in due time, that I may be∣hold the light of the next day, to my comfort, still preparing my heart and mind to thy service every day, and my whole life time in truth and sincerity, that when I have run the short race of this mortal life, thou mayest be pleased to call me to be partaker of a better; and so I may

live and die, and ever remain with thee, in thy Heavenly Kingdom, through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour; in whose name I beg all these graces, in that short, and absolute form of Prayer, which he hath taught us. Our Father, &c.

A Prayer for Thursday-Morning.

BLessed and glorious Lord God, thy mercys are infinite, and thy long-suffering and pati∣e••ce is exceeding great, else had not I a poor wreched miserable sin∣ner been spared so long, consider∣ing my many provocations against thee, in thought word and deed; but thou hast exalted thy mercy above all thy works, and of thine infinit goodness hast preserved me this night, and hast given me the light of this day: Lead me, I be∣seech thee, O Lord, and guide me this day in the way of all truth and righteousness, and so govern all

my actions that I may not run into any Sin, or any kind of danger, but that all may Actions may tend to thy glory, and the discharge of my duty, in my life and Conversation; defend and deliver me also from all temptations, and afflictions, in this sinful world, and from all mine E∣nemies, and from all the deceits and dangers of Satan, the deadly Enemy of Mankind. Kindle in my heart and affections a fervent Zeal to do thy will, and let me imbrace thy holy word, and walk in thy wayes, strengthen me with thy ho∣ly Spirit, boldly and constantly to profess the honour and service of thy great name. O Lord, strength∣en my weak faith; Kindle it more and more in fervency and love to reward thee, and in all Christian love towards my Neigbours. Give me a contented mind with my estate, and all other blessings which thou, O Lord God, of thy bounti∣ful goodness in mercy hast bestow∣ed

upon me, that I may use them soberly and discreetly, and be tru∣ly thankful to thee for them; keep my wandring will and affections from all evil thoughts, my tongue from profane and lewd Speeches, my body and every part thereof, from all sinful Actions, and out∣ward violence; let all my love, my hope, my delight and confi∣dence, be only upon thee. And grant that I may lead my whole life, and conversation so, that I may live in the fear of thy holy and blessed name, and may die in thy favour, that I may also rise a∣gain, to live for ever and ever with my Lord Jesus. In whose Name and Words I further pray.

Our Father, &c.

A Prayer for Thursday-Evening.

O Heavenly Father, the giver of all good things, and the Pro∣tector of all those that love thee, I yield thee most humble and hearty thanks, not only for keeping and preserving me this day, but also all my life, that neither my Enemies have prevailed against me as they might, nor any other danger which in this world is incident to Man∣kind, hath overcome me; but that thou as a loving father, and care∣ful purveyor, hast given unto me, and provided for me, all things ne∣cessary; for which thine inestima∣ble love I cannot suffiently praise thee; O Lord forgive me mine of∣fences, which this day I have com∣mitted, and done against thy most holy Majesty; pardon them O God, for Jesus Christ his sake, and vouchsafe me thy grace to amend

my life, and to return unfeignedly unto thee in serving of thee; And since I cannot have a being with∣out thy continual Protection, be pleased to extend the same toward me (a wretched poor creature) this night, that I may quietly take my rest, which thou hast appointed for the refreshing of my weak and wearied body. I beseech thee, O Lord, to guard me and defend me, that nothing hurt me; preserve me by the watching of thy holy Angel, that I may take my rest with thee, until the morning; and that I may then give my self to the ful∣filling of my duty, and the dis∣charge of my calling, and the do∣ing of thy will unto my lives end. Here me, I beseech thee, for these things, and for all things necessary for me, and for all others whom thou hast commanded me to pray for, even for all such as are in any kind of Affliction in body or mind. O Lord, Strengthen them, and

bless them, and me; and keep me, and mine, this Night, and for Ever∣more. All these Petitions I hum∣bly beg of thy Majesty in and through thy Son Jesus Christ; in whose Blessed Name and Words, I further Pray, Our Father, &c.

A Prayer for Friday Morning.

HOly, and most Gracious Lord God, who art full of loving Kindness and Mercy, and art a con∣tinual Defence to all that trust in thee, whether they wake or sleep, I a poor unworthy Sinner, render unto thee humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy Great Goodness to keep and pre∣serve me the Night past, as well from all my Enemies, as from all other casualties and dangers that poor mortal Creatures are subject unto, and that thou hast given me sweet and pleasant sleep, that I

find my Body refreshed and com∣forted, for performing the Duties of this Day. O Lord, I beseech thee, show thy goodness to me this Day, in preserving my Body and Soul, that no evil may overtake me, and that I may neither speak nor do any thing that may be dis∣pleasing to thy Fatherly Goodness, nor dangerous to my Soul, nor hurtful to my Neighbour, but that all my enterprises may be agreeable to thy most blessed Will, by doing always that which may advance thy Glory, and be sutable to my calling; that whensoever thou shalt be pleased to call me from this Vale of Misery, I may be found a Child of Light, and not of dark∣ness, and so may for ever Reign with thee in Glory, who art the True and Everlasting Light, whose Kingdome is an Everlasting King∣dom, whose Joyes and Glories are such as Eye hath not seen, neither hath Ear heard, nor hath it entred

into the heart of Man to conceive what it is. To this Blessed Place O Lord doe thou at last bring me, through Jesus Christ; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all Honour, Glory, Power and Praise, for Ever and for Evermore. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

A Prayer for Friday Evening.

GRacious Lord, and heavenly Father, I cannot cease but I must cry unto thee for mercy, be∣cause my sins cry against me for Ju∣stice, how shall I address my self unto thee, but with the Publican, I must stand and admire thy good∣ness toward me, considering thy tender mercy, and long patience toward me, in that thou hast kept me this day past from being con∣sumed, and brought to naught? for Lord, what is man, or the son of

man, that thou regardest him? for the more days past over my head, the more sins and iniquities I heap up against thee; if I should cast up the Accounts of my good deeds this day, O Lord how few and how small would they be? but if I should reckon up my miscarriages this day, surely they would amount to many and great. O blessed Fa∣ther, let thy sons blood wash me, and cleanse me from all my impuri∣ties, and from all the stains of sin that are upon me; give me grace to lay fast hold upon his merites, that it may be my Reconcilation and Attonement unto thee; that I may assure my self, that my sins are forgiven by his death and pas∣sion. And now, O Lord, I beseech thee, to imbrace me in the Armes of thy mercy; vouchsafe to re∣ceive me into the bosom of thy love, shadow me with thy wings, that I may safely take my rest in thee this night; in the Name of thy

Son Jesus Christ, in whom I refer my self wholly to thy protection, beseeching thee, that when this life shall end, my last sleep being come, I may take my everlasting rest with thee in thy heavenly Kingdome, for the glory of thy holy Name, and to my eternal com∣fort; through the merits of thy dearly beloved Son, my Lord, and only Saviour; in whose perfect form of Prayer, I conclude my im∣perfect Petitions, saying,

Our Father, &c.

A Prayer for Saturday Morning.

O Merciful Father, for Jesus Christ his sake, I beseech thee, forgive me all my known and secret sins, which in Thought Word or Deed, I have committed against thy Divine Majesty; and deliver me from all those Judg∣ments which are due unto me for

them, and sanctifie my heart with thy Holy Spirit, that I may hence∣forth lead a more Godly, and Re∣ligious life. And here, O Lord, I praise thy Holy Name, for that thou hast refreshed me this Night with moderate sleep and rest: And I beseech theee, to defend me this day from all Perils, and dan∣gers of Body and Soul; and to this end I commend my self, and all my actions, unto thy blessed pro∣tection and government, beseech∣ing thee, that whether I live or die, I may live and die to thy Glory, and the Salvation of my poor Soul, which thou hast bought with thy precious Blood: Blesse me, O Lord, in my going out, and comming in; and grant, that whatsoever I shall think, speak, or take in hand this day, may tend to the glory of thy Name, the good of others, and the comfort of my own Conscience, when I shall come to make up my last accounts before thee. O my

God, help thy servant, that I do no evil to any man this day; and let it be thy blessed will, not to suffer the Devil, nor any of his wicked Angels, nor any of his evil Members, to have power to do me any hurt or violence; but let the eye of thy holy providence watch over me for good, and not for evil; and command thy holy An∣gels to pitch their Tents round a∣bout me, for my defence and Safety in my going out, and coming in, as thou hast promised they shall do about them that fear thy name; Grant this O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ thy sons sake, in whose blessed name I give thee glory, and beg at thy hands, all other graces which thou seest to be needful, for me this day and ever, in that pray∣er which Christ himself hath taught me, saying.

Our Father, &c.

A Prayer for Saturday-Evening.

O Most gracious God, and loving Father, who are about my Bed, and knowest my down-ly∣ing, and mine up-rising, and art near unto all that call upon thee in truth and sincerity; I wretched sin∣ner do beseech thee to look upon me with the Eyes of thy Mercy; Father, I beseech thee, let thy holy Spirit work in me such a serious Repentance, as that I may with Tears lament my sins past, with grief of heart be humbled for my sins present, and with all my endea∣vour, resist the fame sins for the time to come. And now, O Lord, I Bless thee for my Health, Food, Rayment, and Prosperity, and more especial∣ly, that thou hast defended me this day now past, from all dangers and Perils both of Body and Soul, fur∣nishing me with all necessary good

things, that I stand in need of; and as thou hast ordained the Day for man to Travel in, and the Night for him to take his rest, so I beseech thee sanctifie unto me this Nights rest and sleep, that I may enjoy the same as thy sweet blessing and be∣nefit, that so this dull and wearied body of mine, being refreshed with moderate sleep and rest, I may be the better enabled to walk before thee, doing all such good works as thou hast appointed, when it shall Please thee of thy Divine goodness, to waken me the next Morning: More especially, I beseech thee, to prepare me for thy Service to Mor∣row; it is thine Holy day, O Lord, prepare me for the Sanctifying of the same, that I may not spend it in my own Lusts and pleasures; but that my chief delight may be to Consecrate it to thy Glory and Honour, and that ceasing from the works of sin, as well as from the works of my ordinary Calling, I

may through thy Blessing, feel in my heart, the beginning of that Eternal Sabbath, which in un∣speakable Joy and Glory I shall ce∣lebrate with the Saints and Angels, to thy Praise and Glory, in thy Heavenly Kingdom for Evermore.

Keep my heart, O Lord, in thy fear, and guide all the course of my life by thy Favour, and prepare me against the hour of Death and Dissolution, that if thou shouldest this night make my Bed in the dark, and turn my sleep into Death, I may Live and Die unto thee, who livest Everlastingly: these Graces, and all other Blessings which thou O Father, knowest to be requisite and necessary for me, I humbly beg, and crave at thy Hands, in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son, in that form of Prayer which he himself hath Taught me, saying.

Our Father, &c.