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 Satur∣day Evening.

HOly Lord God, and our Hea∣venly Father in Jesus Christ, we thine unworthy creatures now here before thee, ca••not but acknow∣ledge and confess, even from the bot∣tom of our hearts against our selves, our own unworthiness, that we are grievous sinners, conceaved in sin and born in iniquity, whereof we have brought forth most vile fruits in our lives, to the great dishonour of thy name, the utter dismaying of our own consciences, and the evil example of our brethren, by which we have de∣served likewise thy wrath and heavy indignation to be poured upon us, both in this life and that which is to come. But yet, O Lord, we know that the merits of thy d••ar Son do far exceed our sins, though the mul∣titude

of ••hem were as the sand upon the Sea-shore; in his name therefore and for his sake, we present our selves Souls and bodies before thy most hea∣venly Majesty, beseeching thee to for∣give us all our sins and transgressions, and we do further desire to bless thy name and to shew forth thy praise this, Evening and to magnify thy goodness toward us for perserving us this day from all dangers, and for keeping us from our birth even hi∣therto, for thou art a God of pati∣ence, pity, and much forgiveness, shew∣ing mercy unto thousands, and blot∣ting out all our offences: O Lord, set not before us the sinfulness of our hearts and ways, so as to hinder good things from us, but grant us thy grace that we may amend our lives, and unfeignedly serve thee in the several duties of our callings, to thy glory, and the comfort of our Souls; remit our punishment, continue thy favour unto us, and receive us into thy most gracious protection, and

keep us this night and for evermore, that the Devil may have no power over us, nor any evil overtake us; and, O Lord, whether we sleep or wake, live or dye, let us be always thine, for thou art our Creator and Redeemer, guard us about with the Armies of thy holy Angels in our habitations, do thou, O God, assist us, that we may peaceably sleep and rest in thee; hide us in thy Taberna∣cle, and we will fear no evil, for thou that keepest us dost neither slumber nor sleep; let thy rod and thy staff comfort and defend us, and let thy mercies, O God, prevent and follow us all the days of our lives, that at last we may dwell with thee, praising thee for evermore: and to that end re∣fresh our wearied weak bodies with moderate sleep, that if thou shalt let us live till the next day, even thy ho∣ly Sabbath day, we may be fit to per∣form all the services and duties thou requirest of us. Let us hear thy word with fear and re••erence, and let us

lay it up in our hearts, that the fruits of it may be seen in our holy lives and conversations. Let us pray unto thee by saith, that so we may receive what we aske; and let us devote our whole Souls, minds and affections to thy service.

And with us be gracious to these Churches in this Kingdom, we be∣seech thee to put a stop to that Spirit of Atheism, Irreligion, and Propha∣ness that is come in upon us like a flood, and make us all an holy people, that so we may be a happy people. Let the choicest of thy blessings de∣scend upon our gracious King and Queen, and all the Royal Family; bless all estates and conditions of men of what quality soever, the Nobility, Clergy, Gentry and Commonalty; bless all our friends, kindred and rela∣tions, be a father to the fatherless▪ a husband to the widdow, and a com∣fort to the comfortless. Be our God and guide in all our ways; lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord,

and by thy great mercy, defend us from all Perils and dangers of this night; let thy mighty Hand, and Out-stretched Arm, O Lord, be still our defence. And hear us, and an∣swer us above and beyond the desires of these our weak Petitions; In the blessed Name of Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour, in whose most holy Words, we further pray.

Our Father, &c.