The Christian centurians observations, advices, and resolutions containing matters divine and morall / collected according to his owne experience by Philip Skippon ...

If he comes into Gods House be∣fore the beginning of publike worship.

O Most holy Lord God, pre∣pare every one of our un∣prepared hearts, in most holy manner, to seek thy face in eve∣ry one of thy most holy Ordi∣nances; work effectually with

thy most holy spirit upon every one of our hearts, that the meanes of grace may prove ef∣fectuall to every one of our most sinfull soules; to the buil∣ding of them up in all grace, to our present comfort and eter∣nall happinesse in Christ Jesus, Amen.

When Amen is pronounced at the end of the publike prayers.

Amen Lord Amen, of thy in∣finite mercy, according to thy immutable truth, by thy unre∣sistable working, notwithstan∣ding our unworthinesse, insuf∣ficiency, and all other impedi∣ments, thy great name shall have all the glory, to which a∣lone the same is due wholy.

When he gives Almes.

Good Lord accept the will for the deed, forgive and re∣forme what is amisse, vouchsafe a plentifull blessing in due sea∣son,

according to thy wonted goodnesse and faithfull promi∣ses in Christ Jesus.

When the blessing is pronounced.

O Lord our God most migh∣ty, mercifull and true, vouch∣safe graciously, seasonably and effectually, to leave thy pro∣mised blessing of mercy, grace and peace behind thee, Amen.

When he awakes in the morning.

O Lord my God, it is of thine owne and onely wonted, unde∣served, infinite, never failing mercies, that I have not in this night past been smothered in my sleep and sinnes, that I may behold the light of this day in peace; awaken my heart with all holy affections, towards thee, cause me to cast off all works of darknesse, and to walk in the light before thee, renew

remission unto me for my sins (of the night) renewed against thee, throughout this day go∣verne me by thy Word and spi∣rit in all I goe about, and let thy blessing be upon me in all that any way concernes me, my soule through Jesus Christ shall more and more magnifie thee, Amen.

When he layes him downe at night to take his rest.

O Lord my God by thy espe∣ciall providence & assistance, I lay me downe in peace at this present, and blesse thy name unfainedly, that all things (throughout this day) hath gone so well with me, whereas else I had been every way most un∣happy: Oh multiply pardon to me, for my fauls multiplyed against thee, even this day past I beseech thee, and watch over me the rest of this night, to pre∣serve me from sinning against

thee, though never so secretly, and to keep off whatsoever would any way harme me; for all grace and good my soule shall more and more through Jesus Christ glorifie thee, Amen.

Before his going to heare Gods Word preached.

O Lord my God, whose word I goe to heare, grant me thy grace to heare it as thy word, with all due reverence, earnest attention and holy affection, oh help me against all dead, heartednesse, distractednes and wearinesse; make my heart as the good ground rightly to re∣ceive this heavenly seed, water the same with the dew of thy grace, that it may bring forth fruit abundantly in my know∣ledge, resolution and practice in faith and godlinesse, with all patience and constancy; thus work in and for me mercifully

powerfully, faithfully, notwith∣standing my unprepared, insen∣sible unprofitable hearing ther∣of (whereof alas I am most hai∣nously & continually guilty, for which I beg pardon and amend∣ment) yea, in spite of all that the flesh, the world & the devill la∣bour to the contrary, Amen, A∣men; my Father in Christ, here∣in help me, I most humbly and earnestly beg, pray and beseech thee: Amen at this time, and upon the like occasions continu∣ally.

When be comes from hearing Gods Word.

Now my good and gracious God, having by thy especiall providence, goodnesse and grace, injoyed the gracious meanes, happy opportunity and thy help to heare thy most holy word, (for which exceeding great favours make me tru•••• thankfull, and of which crave

the continuance unto my lives end) bring the same to my re∣membrance, affect me with each part thereof throughly, cause me to mix it with faith rightly, and to put each part thereof in practice Christianly, as the ne∣cessities of my poore soule re∣quire especially, heare and blesse in mercy, as thou hast promised, though I have sinned and whatsoever opposeth, Amen.

Before his reading Gods Word in private.

O my heavenly Father, be intreated (mercifully, power∣fully, faithfully, now and at all other times, be I never so un∣worthy, indisposed, and what∣soever opposeth) to strengthen and blesse me in the reading, understanding, remembring, applying and practising of thy most holy word, as may be most to thy great glory and my eter∣nall

good through Christ Jesus, Amen.

After his reading Gods Word in private.

O my God, I most heartily thank thee for this most inesti∣mable Jewell of thy most holy Word, for this great freedome, and thy especiall help to be ex∣ercised therein, and for all the good that by thy blessing, my poore soul hath received there∣by: Oh forgive my unthank∣fulnesse therefore, and abusing thereof, reforme these foule of∣fences in me, and notwithstan∣ding the same, and whatsoever else would hinder; continue these great mercies unto me, and make each part of thy most holy word my guide and com∣fort in life and death, through Jesus Christ, Amen, I beg of thee.

Before his meditating in private.

Good Lord it is my most hum∣ble & earnest suit unto thy most sacred Majesty, that thou wilt not lay to my charge my long & wilfull neglect of, miserable aversnesse from, and extream indisposition to this so much re∣quired and exceeding needfull dutie of divine Meditation; but notwithstanding these, and though I neither know how, nor have any abilitie to discharge the same as I ought, I pray and beseech thee to learne me the right way thereto, and to dis∣pose me in some good measure, to the performance thereof; help me to begin, goe on and end, in respect of the present matter thereof, with sound judgement, moved affection, powerfull ap∣plication and unfained purpose to put all to conscionable pra∣ctice, to the encrease of all

grace and godlinesse, through thy alone deare Sonne, my a∣lone sweet Saviour Christ Jesus Amen.

After his meditating in private.

My deare God, my soule mag∣nifieth thee, for this opportuni∣tie and assistance thou hast vouchsafed me (most weak and unworthie) in the performance of this holy dutie; oh pardon, pittie and reforme my igno∣rance, insensiblenesse and ma∣nifold distempers herein; oh helpe me more and more bet∣ter hereunto, and doe me this exceeding great favour, that I may constantly beare in mind, and seasonably shew forth the life and power of each part of what thou hast inabled me to thinke upon, according to the warrant of thy most holie word, that I may be every way the more fit to serve thee, and in e∣very

thing find the more com∣fort from thee through thy Christ my Redeemer, Amen.

Before Meales.

Our heavenly Father, be in∣treated to vouchsafe a gracious blessing upon these thy good creatures which we are about to receive from thy bountifull hands; grant us to receive them as we ought; in the strength of them vouchsafe us the continu∣ance of good health if it be thy will; above all, make us the more fit to doe thee all accepta∣ble service, to thy glory and our eternal happinesse in Christ Jesus, Amen.

After Meales.

O our God, for ever blessed be thy name, for refreshing •••• againe so graciously at this time with thy good creatures, and alwaies providing so bountiful∣ly for us, whereas we are un∣worthy

of one drop of cold wa∣ter, and merit the worst of e∣vils, whereas many of thy deare children suffer great want of those things which we injoy in abundance: Lord make us tru∣ly thankfull, forgive our sins, cause us to serve thee better, continue towards us thy fa∣vours, never suffer us to want any thing thou seest good for us, provide reliefe for all in any distresse, accept and blesse us alwaies and in all things, through Christ Jesus, Amen.

A serious Prayer at any time.

O my heavenly Father, be intreated freely and fully to forget and forgive all my offen∣ces, though never so many and hainous, which make me most unworthy the least of thy mer∣ties, and whereby I provoke all thy heaviest displeasure a∣gainst

me; sanctifie my soule speedily, throughly and con∣stantly, that I may serve thee all the rest of my time sincere∣ly, watchfully, zealously; save me from thy wrath which I fear and merit, and can by no meanes else escape; continue towards me all needfull favours which I can by no meanes else injoy; turne all my present and future, inward and outward sufferings to my soules eternall good, and doe what thou plea∣sest with me; afford true grace, peace and comfort to my poore soule, and I desire no more of thee; make me willing to leave this, and fit for a better life; when I leave this, receive me to a better life, and it is enough for me, Amen, through thy Christ my Redeemer, the Lord Jesus my intercessor, I beseech thee.

A Thanksgiving at any time.

O my reconciled God, most gracious Father, and alone al∣sufficient, most wise, mercifull, faithfull and immutable helper in Jesus Christ, whom thou hast freely given unto me to be an al-sufficient Saviour and conti∣nuall intercessor for me; in whom thou art in covenant with me, and all thy promises are my portion, through whom thou hast afforded and assured all grace and good unto me here, and all happinesse with thee in Heaven for evermore: Behold, as I am every way exceedingly bound beyond all I can remem∣ber or acknowledge, my soules desire is alwayes set to render in all, and above all things, all possible praises to thy Majesty, acknowledging ingenuously, that all my inward & outward, present, former and future wel∣fare

is only from thee, and that else no heart could conceive or tongue expresse my misery; accept my unfained, though exceeding weak desires now and at all times, to give thy great name for all, all the glory, Amen.

When he must goe abroad, and a∣bout businesse in hast, wanting time convenient, to seek the Lord solemnly.

O my heavenly Fatherin, the name of thy Sonne my Saviour I goe abroad and about my bu∣sinesse; in thou leavest me I shall doe sinfully and foolishly, and shame and harme will be∣fall me; therefore for his sake I beseech thee governe me wit•• thy holy spirit, let thine owne blessing be with me, so shall I demeane my self discreetly and honestly, and all shall goe well with me in all I undertake, and

that concernes me; according to the especiall occasions guide and prosper me more especial∣ly; as I look for all help onely from thee, my soule shall there∣fore give thee alone all the glory, Amen.