Prayers upon sundry Publick Occasions.

MOst gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for this Kingdom in general, so especially for the High Court of Parliament, under our most Religious and Gracious King at this time assembled; that thou wouldest be pleased to bless and direct all their Consultations, to the preservation of thy Glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honour, and welfare of our Soveraign and his Kingdomes. Lord, look upon the humility and devotion with which they are come into thy Courts. And they are come into thy House in assured confidence upon the merits and mercies of Christ (our blessed Saviour,) that thou wilt not deny them the grace and favour which they beg of thee. Therefore, O Lord, bless them with that wisdom which thou knowest necessary to speed, and bring great designes into action; and to make the maturity of his Majesties and their Counsels, the happiness and the blessing of this Common-wealth. These, and all other necessaries for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and Mediation of Iesus Christ our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

O Eternal God and our most gracious Father, thou art the Lord of Hosts, and the strength of all Nations is from thee: If thou keepest not the City, the Watchman waketh but in vain. And no Victory can wait upon the justest Designs, upon the wisest Counsels, upon the strongest Armies, if thou teach not their hands to warre, and their fingers to fight. Thou art the steady hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them which go and remain in the broad sea. Lord, at this time we need thy more special Assistance both by Land and Sea; and …or the mercy of Christ deny us neither. Be with our Armies, and the Armies of our Allies and Associates by Land; be with our Navy at Sea. Be not from the one, nor from the other in power and in great mercy, until thou hast brought them back with honour and a setled Peace. Lord, turn our Enemies sword into their own bosome: For we sought Peace and ensued it; and while we did so, they did more then make themselves ready to battel. We are thy servants, truly and heartily sorry for our sins.

Lord, forgive them, and then we will trust upon thee, that thou wilt pour down all thy blessings upon this & all other designes and actions of this State, undertaken for thy glory, the honour of our most gracious King CHARLES, and the peace and welfare of this Church and Common-wealth. Grant this we humbly beseech thee, for Iesus Christ his sake our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

Most gracious God, we humbly beseech thee pardon and forgive all our many, great and grievous transgressions. We may not hope thou wilt take off thy punishments, until thou hast forgiven our sins. We may not think thou wilt forgive our sins, until our humiliation and repentance come to ask forgiveness. We have been too slow to come, and now thou hast apparell'd thy Mercy in Justice, to force us to thee. Lord, we believe, but do thou increase our Faith, our Devotion, our Repentance, and all Christian Vertues in us. At this time the viols of thy heavy displeasure drop down upon us, and while we smart under one Judgment, thou threatnest the rest. The Pestilence spreads in our Streets, and so as if it sought whom to devour. No strength is able to stand against it, and it threatens to make Families, nay, Cities desolate.

While the Pestilence eats up thy People, we hear the sound of War, and the Sword calleth for such as it would devour. In the mean time the heavens are black over us, and the clouds drop leaneness; and it will be Famine, to swallow what the Pestilence and the Sword shall leave alive, unless thou send more seasonable weather to give the fruits of the earth in their season. Our sins have deserved all this and more, and we neither do nor can deny it. We have no whither to go but to mercy. We have no way to that, but by the Alsufficient merit of thy Son our blessed Saviour. Lord, for his merit and mercies sake look down upon us thy distressed servants: Command thine Angel to stay his hand, and remember that in death we cannot praise thee, nor give thanks in the pit. Go forth with our Armies when they go, and make us remember that all our strength and deliverance is in thee. Clear up the Heavens over us, and take not from us the great plenty with which thou hast crowned the Earth: but remember us, O thou that feedest the Ravens when they call upon thee.

Lord, we need all thy mercies to come upon us, and thy mercies are altogether in Christ, in whom, and for whose sake we beg them of thee, who livest and reignest in the unity of the Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

O Eternal God and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech thee be merciful unto us, and be near to help us in all those extremities which our sins threaten to bring upon us. Our Enemies are strengthened against us, by our multiplied Rebellions against thee. And we deserve to suffer whatever our Enemies threaten. But there is mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared. O Lord, shew us this mercy, and give us grace so to fear thee, as that we may never be brought to fear or feel them. And whensoever thou wilt correct us for our sins, let us fall into thy hands, and not into the hands of men. Grant this for Iesus Christ his sake our only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

O Eternal God and most gracious Father, we have deserved whatsoever thy Law hath threatned against sinners. Our Contempt of thy Divine Worship is great, and we hear thy Word, but obey it not. Forgive us, O Lord, forgive us these and all other our grievous sins. Give us light in our understanding, readiness and obedience in our will, discretion in our words and actions; true, serious, and loyal endeavours for the peace and prosperity of Ierusalem, the unity and glory of this Church and State: that so we may love it and prosper in it, and be full of grace in this life, and filled with glory in the life to come, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O most merciful God, we give thee praise and thanks for the wonderful ceasing of the late raging Pestilence in the chief City of this Kingdom and other places. Lord, shew us yet fa…ther mercy, and look upon all parts of this Land with tender compassion. Keep back the destroying Angel, that he enter not into places that are yet free, nor make farther waste in those which are already visited. Comfort them that are sick, preserve them that are sound, receive them that die to mercy, that living and dying, they and we may continue thy faithful servants, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O most gracious God and loving Father, we have felt thy manifold mercies, no Nation more: and we have committed sins against thee, few Nations greater. Enter not into judgment with us, O Lord, but for Christ and his mercy sake, pacifie thine anger, and save us from the malice and cruelty of our Enemies. They are our crying sins that have called them upon us. Let it be an addition to thy wonted mercy, to restrain their fury. To this end, Lord, p…t thy bridle into their mouths, and thy bit between their teeth. Frustrate their designes…and let them find no way in our Seas, nor any path in our Floods: but scatter them with thy tempest, & follow them with all thy storms; that we being delivered by thy hand, may bless and honour thy Name, devoutly serving thee all our daies, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, thou gracious Governour of all the Kingdoms of the Earth: Look down, we beseech thee, in mercy upon this Realm, & upon all other Reformed Churches. Save and deliver us and them from the hands of all such as threaten our destruction. Protect the person of our Gracious Soveraign, direct his Counsels, go forth with his Armies, be unto him and to us a wall of brass, and a strong tower of defence against his and our Enemies; that so we being safe through thy mercy, may live to serve thee in thy Church, and ever give thee praise and glory, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Eternal God and merciful Father, all peace and strength of Kingdoms is from thee: and lineal Succession is thy great blessing both upon Princes and States; the great means to preserve unity, and confirm strength. We therefore give thee humble and hear…y thanks, as for all thy blessings, so especially at this time for thy great mercy and loving-kindness to our dread Soveraign, his Royal Queen, and this whole State, in giving her Majesty hope of her long desired Issue, thereby filling their and our hearts with gladness. Lord, go along with thine own blessings to perfect them. Be with her in soul and in body, preserve her from all dangers. Keep her safe to and in the hour of Travel, that there may be strength to bring forth her Joy and our Hope. And make her a joyful Mother of many Children, to the glory of thy great Name, the happiness of his Majesty, the security of this State, and the flourishing of the Church and true Religion amongst us. Grant this, even for Iesus Christ his sake our only Lord and Saviour. Amen.

O Eternal God and merciful Father, since lineal Succession is under thee, the great security of Kingdoms, and the very life of Peace. We therefore give thee most humble and hearty thanks for the great blessing which thou hast again begun to work for our Gracious King CHARLES and this whole State, in giving the Queens Majesty further hopes of a desired and happy Issue. And as we give thee humble and hearty thanks for this, so we pray thee to perfect this great blessing thus begun, to preserve her from all dangers, and to be with her by special assistance in the hour of Travel. Lord, make her a happy Mother of succesful Children, to the increase of thy glory, the comfort of his Majesty, the joy of her own heart, the safety of the State, and the preservation of the Church and true Religion among us. Grant this even for Iesus Christ his sake our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.

O most merciful God & gracious Father, thou hast given us the joy of our hearts, the contentment of our souls for this life, in blessing our dear and dread Soveraign, and his vertuous Royal Queen with a hopeful Son, & us with a Prince in thy just time and his to rule over us. We give thy glorious Name most humble and hearty thanks for this. Lord, make us so thankful, so obedient to thee for this great mercy, that thy goodness may delight to encrease it to us. Encrease, it good Lord, to more Children, the prop one of another against single hope. Encrease it to more Sons, the great strength of his Majesty and his Throne. Encrease it in the Joy of his Royal Parents, and all true-hearted Subjects. Encrease it by his Christian and happy Education both in Faith and Goodness: that this Kingdom and People may be happy in the long life and prosperity of our most Gracious Soveraign and his Royal Consort. And when fulness of daies must gather time, Lord double his Graces, and make them apparent in this his Heir and his Heirs after him, for all Generations to come, even for Iesus Christ his sake our Lord and only Saviour.

Amen.

O most gracious God and loving Father, we give thee, as we are bound, most humble and hearty thanks for thy great mercy extended to us and this whole State, in blessing the Queens Majesty with a happy Deliverance in and from the great pains and perils of Child-birth. We humbly beseech thee to continue and encrease this Blessing: to give her strength, that she may happily overcome this, and all dangers else: that his most Gracious Majesty may long have joy in her happy life: that she may have joy in his Majesties prosperity; that both of them may have comfort in the Royal Prince Charles, the new-born Princess the Lady Mary, and with them in a hopeful, healthful and succesful Posterity: that the whole Kingdome may have fulness of joy in them; and that both they and we may all have joy in the true honour and service of God: that both Church and Kingdom may be blessed, and their Royal Persons filled with honour in this life, and with eternal happiness in the life to come, even for Iesus Christ his sake our only Lord and Saviour. Amen.

O Eternal God and merciful Father, we give thee all humble and hearty thanks for our most Gracious Soveraign Lord King Charles; both for the gentleness of thy hand in a disease otherwise so troublesome and fearful. And for the mercifulness of thy hand in taking it off: so soon, and so happily. We know and acknowledge before thee our sins, and what grievous punishments they have deserved. But Lord we beseech thee still to remember us in mercy, and long to bless our Gracious King with life and heal…h, and strength, and happiness; and above all with the fear of thy holy Name: that so he may continue under thee, and over us, a Father of the State, a Patron of the Church, a Comfort to his Royal Queen, till he see his Childrens Children, and peace upon Israel. Grant this good Lord, even for Iesus Christ his sake. Amen.

Most gracious God and loving Father, we give thee all humble and hearty thanks for thy great mercy in blessing the Queen's Majesty with a happy Deliverance in and from the great pains and peril of Child-birth. We humbly beseech thee to continue thy mercies towards her, that she may happily overcome this and all other dangers; that his most Gracious Majesty may long have joy in her most happy life, & both of them comfort in the Royal Prince Charles, & the rest of their Princely Issue; particularly in the new-born Prince the Duke of York, that they all may prove a healthful, hopeful, and a succesful Posterity; that both Church and Kingdom may have fulness of joy in them. That their Majesties Royal Persons may be filled with honour in this life, and with eternal happiness in the life to come. And this even for Iesus Christ his sake our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.

O Eternal God and merciful Father, by whom alone Kings reign, thou Lord of Hosts, and giver of all Victory, we humbly beseech thee to guard our most Gracious Soveraign Lord King Charles; to bless him in his Person with health and safety, in his Counsels with wisdome and prudence, and in all his Actions with honour and good success. Grant, blessed Lord, that Victory may attend his designes, and that his liege People may rejoyce in thee; but that shame may cover the face of thine and his treacherous Enemies. Give him, blessed Father, so to settle his Subjects in Peace, and the true fear of thy Divine Majesty, that he may return with joy and honour, and proceed long to Govern his Kingdoms in peace and plenty, and in the happiness of true Religion and Piety all his daies. These blessings, and whatsoever else shall be necessary for him, or for our selves, we humbly beg of thee, O merciful Father, for Iesus Christ his sake our only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

O Eternal God and merciful Father, by whom alone Kings reign, thou Lord of Hosts and Giver of all Victory: We humbly beseech thee both now and ever to guide & preserve our most gracious Soveraign Lord King CHARLES. To bless him in his Person with health and safety; in his Counsels with wisdom and prudence, and in all his Actions with honour and good success: especially against those his Traiterous Subjects, who having cast off all Obedience to their Anointed Soveraign, do at this time in Rebellious manner invade this Realm. Grant, Blessed Lord, that Victory may attend his Majesties designs, that his Liege People may rejoyce in thee; but that shame may cover the faces of thine and his treacherous Enemies, Enable him (blessed Father) so to vanquish and subdue them all, that his Loyal Subjects being setled in Peace and the true fear of thy holy Name, he may return with joy and honour, & continue to Govern his Kingdomes in peace and plenty, and in the happiness of true Religion and Piety all his daies. These blessings, and whatsoever else shall be necessary for him, or for our selves, we humbly beg of thee, O merciful Father, for Iesus Christ his sake, our only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.