Prison-pietie, or, Meditations divine and moral digested into poetical heads, on mixt and various subjects : whereunto is added a panegyrick to the right reverend, and most nobly descended, Henry Lord Bishop of London / by Samuel Speed ...

¶ On Supplication.

AS in a Ship when sailing from its Port, The Sails are Loised, thereby to exhort

Some skilful Mariner to shew his art, Who presently doth to the Rudder start. So every morning when we rise from rest, Our hearts should study for a just Request: For that's the Rudder of our life and age, To guide us through our Earthly Pilgrimage. Heav'n is our home, and God alone; to him Through Rivers of our Tears we ought to swim: For when God's wrath is kindled to a fire, No other water can allay his ire. Christians no better Messengers can send Than Prayers and Tears, Angels on them attend. Moses by Prayer, that prevailing Word, Harm'd Amalik much more than Israel's Sword. Th'Apostle Paul this golden Rule hath laid, Let supplications for all men be made: In which great duty let this be observ'd, First a due preparation, not with carv'd Or starch'd Expressions made by Wit and Art; God doth desire truth in the inward part. Consider, thou the Supplicant art dust, A vile and sinful man, a heap of Lust. The Lord, to whom thou dost thy Prayers apply, Is Holy, Wise, of Sacred Majesty. Let Meditation guide thee in thy way, Lest thy frail minde distracted be, and ftray. Pray sor things lawful, don't that bound exceed; For God, before ye ask, knows what ye need: But silence in the Soul he doth abhor; Mercies are small, if not worth asking for. Pray not for Mercies as thy fancy drives, As little Children do for Toys and Knives, Who when they have them know not how they're us'd; Mercies are better wanted than abus'd. Make Supplications in the Name of Christ; Thou mayst be good, yet shew not merits list. Examine well thine heart, keep Faith therein, For whatsoever's not of faith, is sin. Be constant, that thou mayst abide the touch; For servent righteous prayer availeth much.

Birds without motion cannot fly i'th' Air, Nor without work can we persist in Prayer. Pray in Humility, and nothing fear; The poor man cryed, and the Lord did hear. In Supplications be importunate; Pray perseveringly; and in that state So guide thy thoughts, and so thy heart prepare, As if thy life were one continual Prayer. All our Iniquities we must forbear; In vain we pray, when God shall stop his ear.