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.

A Prayer for a Family for Thurs∣day Evening.

O Eternal God, and most mer∣ciful Father, in Jesus Christ, in whom thou hast made a Cove∣nant of Grace and Mercy with all those that come unto thee in him; in his Name and Mediation, we humbly prostrate our selves before the throne of thy mercy-seat, ac∣knowledging that by the breach of all thy holy Laws and Commande∣ments, we are become wild Olive Branches, strangers to thy Cove∣nant of Grace; we have defaced in our selves, thy sacred Image, im∣printed in us by Creation; we have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and are no more worthy to be called thy children: O admit us into the place of hired servants Lord, thou hast formed us in ou••

Mothers Wombs, thy Providence hath hitherto watched over us, and preserved us, to this present time; O stay not the course of thy Mer∣cies and loving kindness toward us; Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for thy dear Son Jesus Christ his sake, who is the way, the truth, and the Life; In him, O Lord, we appeal from thy Justice, to thy Mercy, be∣seeching thee in his Name, and for his sake only, that thou wilt be gra∣ciously pleased freely to pardon us all our sins, and disobedience, whe∣ther in thought, word, or deed, committed against thy divine Ma∣jesty, and in his precious Blood∣sheding Death, and perfect obedi∣ence, free us from all the guilt, the stain, the punishment, and domi∣nion of all our sins, and cloth us with his perfect Righteousness; there is mercy with thee, O Lord, that thou mayest be feared; yea thy mercyes swallow up the great∣ness of our sins; speak peace to

our souls and consciences, make us happy, in the free Remission of all our sins, and be reconciled to thy poor servants in Jesus Christ, in whom thou art well pleased. Suffer not the works of thine own Hands to Perish, thou art not delighted in the death of sinners, but in their Conversion; turn our hearts, and we shall be turned; convert us, and we shall be converted: Illuminate the eyes of our minds, and under∣standings, with the bright beams of thy holy Spirit, that we may day∣ly grow in the saving knowledg of the heavenly mystery of our Re∣demption, wrought by our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; san∣ctifie our wills and affections, by the same Spirit, the most sacred fountain of all grace and goodness; reduce them to the obedience of thy most holy will, in the practise of all piety toward thee, and charity to∣wards all men. And with us, be gra∣cious to thy whole Church, bless thy servant Charles, our gracious King

and Governour; bless our graci∣ous Queen, James Duke of York, and all the Royal Family: bless the Nobility, the Magistracy, and Ministery of this land, of what quality, or degree soever. Be mer∣ciful to all, that are under any affli∣ction, or tryal whatsoever; be a Father to the fatherless, a husband to the Widdow, and a Comforter to the Comfortless, in what streight or necessity soever they are: sup∣port them, and bring them out of it, to thy Glory, and their comfort. Be merciful to all that we are bound to pray for; bless our Re∣lations, Kindred and Friends, and let them serve thee, and live to thy Glory. And now we desire to re∣turn all humble and hearty thanks, to thy heavenly Majesty, for all thy blessings, continually showred down upon us; In Creating us, and Preserving us to this day; in keep∣ing us the day past, from all dan∣gers, and casualties, that we are

continually subject to: Continue, O Lord, we beseech thee, this fa∣vour to us, and let thy Angels pitch their Tents round about us, this night, to guard and defend us from all perils both of soul and body; let our weak, and wearied bodies, be refreshed with seasonable, and convenient rest and sleep, that so we may be the more fit to discharge our duties, both toward God, and man, the day following; Grant these our weak Petitions, and give us all other blessings that thou knowest we stand in need of, and all we ask of thee, in the blessed Name and Words, of our dear Saviour, and Redeemer, further Praying. Our Father, &c.