SUPPLEMENT. I. Before prayers publick. Let ye words of my mouth, and ye [M. H. i.] meditations of my heart, be always acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeem'. Hear us, O King of Heaven, wn we call upon Thee in ye name of o La J. Xt. Let Thy H. Spt. teach us how to pray: give us just apprehensions of or wants, and just resentments of Thy mercies; yt or pray's may be heard, and o' requests be granted, to Thy hon' and ye salvation of or soules. After prayers publick. The Good God say Amen to o' prayers; and pardon every one yt has now set his heart to seek ye Lord, tho' he was not prepar'd according to ye purity wch is required of those yt tread His courts. II. Before prayers private. My Good God grant, yt as oft as I pesent myself bef. Thee, Thy good Spt may be wth me, to dispose me unto, and to assist me in Thy service. Keep my mind stedfast in ye duty I am abt, yt no sinfull distractions may carry me away fr. Thee; yt I may serve Thee wth my heart as well as wth my body; and yt my prays in ye name of J. Xt. may be heard, and my petits granted. After prayers private. Good God say Amen to my pray's [M.H. ii.] if it be Thy gracious will; but if in any thing I have ask'd or done amiss, pardon mine infirmities, and answer my necessities, for Jesus and His mercies' sake. Ecclus. xviii. 23. Before thou prayest prepare thyself, and [ii. 3.] SUPPLE be not as one that tempteth the Lord: i. e. expecting His blessings without using the means of obtaining them. MENT No. II. May the good Spirit of God dispose me unto, and assist me in His service, that now I present myself before the Majesty of Heaven and earth, no sinful distractions may carry me from the duty I am about, but that I may serve Him with my heart as well as with my body. St. Matt. v. 6. Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed God, who never gavest a regular appetite but Thou didst provide for it, satisfy my soul, I beseech Thee, with what Thou hast made me long for-such a love for Thee and for Thy service as shall make me think of Thee with pleasure, pray to Thee with attention, and serve Thee with joyfulness and gladness of heart. Give me a just sense of mine iniquities, of my wants, and of Thy mercies, that I may with all humility present my supplications before Thee, depend upon Thy goodness and truth, and be satisfied with the pleasures of Thy house, even of Thine holy temple. Amen. Matt. vi. 21. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark xi. 24. The Lord increase my faith, that it may be unto His servant according to this word. Lord, pardon mine infirmities, and answer my necessities for Jesus Christ His sake. [M. H. ii. ; ii. 2.] III. Before sermon in the pulpit, private. John xxi. 17. Jesus said unto him, Feed My sheep. O Thou Good Shepheard, and my Great Master, behold this flock for wch Thou wast contented to suffer; feed them by me Thy unworthy servant, and preserve ym by Thy grace, tod ye day of Thy coming to judge ye world. After sermon in ye pulpit, private. The Good God, fr. whom alone cometh ye increase of all our labours, and who alone canst order ye unruly wills and affections of sinful men; give a blessing (if it be Thy gracious will) to all my endeavrs wch are directed to Thy hon', and ye good of mankind; for ye sake of J. Xt., my Master and Saviour. Amen. [ii. 2* reads], Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. The good God, from whom cometh the increase of all our labours, give His blessing to what I have now spoken; direct and rule my heart and actions, that I may instruct as well [by] my life as by my sermons; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Put words into my mouth, and make this people to understand their meaning. I came not to seek my own glory, but the glory of Him that sent me. SUPPLENo. III. MENT IV. Prayer before Study. James i. 5. "Will you diligently exercise yourself in the same H. Ss. &c." vid. Consecration. O God, the Fountain of all wisdom, in a deep sense of my own ignorance, and of that great charge which lies upon me, I am constrained to come often before Thee, from whom I have learned whatever I know, to ask that help without which I shall disquiet myself in vain: most humbly beseeching Thee to guide me with Thine eye; to enlighten my mind, that I may see myself, and teach others the wonders of Thy law; that I may learn from Thee what I ought to think and speak concerning Thee. Direct and bless all the labours of my mind, give me a discerning spirit, a sound judgment, and an honest and a religious heart. And grant that, in all my studies, my first aim may be to set forth Thy glory, and to set forward the salvation of mankind; that I may give a comfortable account of my time at the great day, when all our labours shall be tried. And if Thou art pleased that by my ministry sinners shall be converted, and Thy kingdom enlarged, give me the grace of humility, that I may never ascribe the success to myself, but to Thy Holy Spirit, which enables me to will and to do according to Thy good pleasure. Grant this, O Father of all light and truth, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen. [M.H. iii.] SUPPLE MENT No. V. [M.H. xxxiii.] Prayer before Sermon. v. Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings, &c., [as in the Communion service.]... Through Jesus Christ: For whose merits we beg the acceptance of those prayers which we have already made, and all other devotions both public and private, which we offer according to Thy will to Thy Divine Majesty. And deny us not, for Thy gracious goodness' sake, those things which Thou mightest justly deny to our unworthiness. And that our prayers may be more acceptable in Thy sight, we most humbly present them together with all the good prayers which are this day offered to the Throne of Grace; the intercession of our Lord, and the supplications of all Thy servants. Beseeching Thee, O Father of mankind, to hear and accept them for all Jews, Turks, and Heathens, that they may be converted to the truth, and with us be made partakers of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ.For all Christian Churches throughout the world, that they may be united in religion.-For our Church in particular, that whatever is amiss in it may be mended.-For all Christian Kingdoms and Commonwealths [that all violent spirits by which the Christian world is unjustly disturbed, may be suppressed, and] that truth and justice, true religion and piety, may be established in them and countenanced: and that all atheism and profaneness, and whatever else opposes Thy Divine will revealed to us, may be discouraged, punished, and rooted out of the world. More especially we beg that this blessed Reformation may be promoted in these kingdoms; that they may flourish in peace and in Thy favour. To which end we offer up our prayers-For the King's Majesty and his prosperity, that he may do those things which shall be acceptable to Thee and profitable for his people.-That the Royal Family may be happy and prosper, and that Thou wouldst give them the blessings of this life, and of that which is to come.-That [the Parliament now assembled, and] his Majesty's Council, may be blessed, in all their undertakings for Thy honour and glory, with good success.-That the Nobility, the Gentry, and the Magistrates, may in their several places, both by their example and authority, promote Thy honour, the ease, SUPPLEand welfare and happiness of all below them [E. D.e] Give Thy blessing to the Clergy, that they may teach well, and that they may live well-that their labours may be blessed, and that the people may follow their good instructions. [Bish.] We humbly pray unto Thee for the prosperous education of youth in all universities and schools, that those places may answer the end of their foundations, the glory of God, and the good of mankind. For the prosperous and good success of all merchants, husbandmen, and tradesmen; and that they may diligently and with an upright conscience follow their several vocations. [Cit. and Corp.] We humbly beseech Thee to hear us for all those that desire our prayers, and especially for such as are in affliction of mind or body, in danger or want; in prison or persecution for a righteous cause; that Thou wouldst in mercy look upon all such; support them under, and graciously deliver them out of all their distresses. We offer up our prayers for all those who never pray for themselves : open their eyes that they may see their own wants, and how much they stand in need of Thy gracious and powerful assistance and defence that they may consider, before it be too late, whither their unwary steps will lead them that we and they may all with one heart and voice beg of Thee such things as we stand in need of, and all with one heart and voice praise that infinite goodness which bestows them on us. : And, good God, give us grace that we may never forget to praise Thy Holy Name, for all the mercies and blessings we have, and every day receive from Thy good Providence: but let the sense of Thy kindness create in us a true and lively faith and gratitude: that we may have such thoughts of God as becomes us; for His power in creating us; for His wonderful providence in preserving us; for His great goodness in redeeming us by Jesus Christ. For whose Gospel and example we bless Thy Holy Name, and for the examples of all those who by Thy grace followed His doctrine, and through e [i.e. Mention was to be made, in the Isle of Man, of the Earl of Derby as Lord thereof. So afterwards the Bishop of the Diocese and Heads of MENT No. V. |