O Lord, forgive me my former follies and unthankfulness, that I was not more careful to love thee according to thy goodness: nor to serve ⟨p. 852⟩thee, according to thy will; nor to obey thee, according to thy commandments; nor to thank thee, according to thy benefits. And seeing thou knowest that of my self I am not sufficient, so much as to think a good thought (much less to do that which is good, and acceptable in thy sight:) assist me with thy grace and holy spirit, that I may (in my prosperity) as devoutly spend my health in thy service: as I was earnest in my sickness to beg it at thy hands. And suffer me never to forget either this thy mercy, in restoring me to my health; or those vows and promises, which I have made unto thee in my sickness. With my new health, ⟨p. 853⟩renew in me, O Lord, a right spirit, which may free me from the slavery of sin, and establish my heart in the service of grace. Work in me a greater detestation of all sins (which were the causes of thy anger and my sickness) and increase my faith in Jesus Christ, who is the author of my health and salvation. Let thy good spirit lead me in the way, 1that I should walk, and teach me to deny all ungodliness, and worldly lusts, & to live soberly, righteously and godly in this world: that others by my example may think better of thy truth. And sith this time (which I have yet to live) is but a little respite and small remnant of days, which cannot long continue: ⟨p. 854⟩teach me, 2O my God, so to number my days, that I may apply my heart to that spiritual wisdom, which directeth to salvation. And to this end make me more zealous then I have been in religion, more devout in prayer, more fervent in spirit, more careful to hear and profit by the preaching of thy Gospel, more helpful to my poor brethren, more watchful over my ways, more faithful in my calling, and every way more abundant in all good works. Let me (in the joyful time of prosperity) fear the evil day of affliction: in the time of health, think of sickness: in the time of sickness make my self ready for death; and when death ⟨p. 855⟩approacheth, prepare my self for judgement. Let my whole life be an expressing thankfulness unto thee for thy grace and mercy.
O Lord, forgiue mee my former follies and vnthankefulnesse, that I was not more careful to loue thee according to thy goodnesse: nor to serue ⟨p. 852⟩thee, according to thy will; nor to obey thee, according to thy commandements; nor to thanke thee, according to thy benefits. And seeing thou knowest that of my selfe I am not sufficient, so much as to thinke a good thought (much lesse to doe that which is good, and acceptable in thy sight:) assist mee with thy grace and holy spirit, that I may (in my prosperity) as deuoutely spend my health in thy seruice: as I was eranest in my sickenesse to beg it at thy hands. And suffer mee neuer to forget eyther this thy mercy, in restoring mee to my health; or those vowes and promises, which I haue made vnto thee in my sickenesse. With my new health, ⟨p. 853⟩renew in me, O Lord, a right spirit, which may free mee from the slauery of sinne, and establish my heart in the seruice of grace. Worke in mee a greater detestation of all sinnes (which were the causes of thy anger and my sicknesse) and increase my faith in Jesus Christ, who is the author of my health and saluation. Let thy good spirit leade me in the way, 1that I should walke, and teach me to deny all vngodlines, and worldly lusts, & to liue soberly, righteously and godly in this world: that others by my example may thinke better of thy truth. And sith this time (which I haue yet to liue) is but a little respite and small remnant of daies, which cannot long continue: ⟨p. 854⟩teach me, 2O my God, so to number my daies, that I may apply my heart to that spiritual wisdome, which directeth to saluation. And to this end make me more zealous then I haue beene in religion, more deuout in praier, more feruent in spirit, more carefull to heare and profit by the preaching of thy Gospell, more helpefull to my poore brethren, more watchfull ouer my waies, more faithfull in my calling, and euery way more aboundant in all good workes. Let me (in the ioyfull time of prosperity) feare the euill day of affliction: in the time of health, thinke of sicknesse: in the time of sickenesse make my selfe ready for death; and when death ⟨p. 855⟩approcheth, prepare my selfe for iudgement. Let my whole life be an expressing thankfulnesse vnto thee for thy grace and mercy.
- 1Tit 2.12.
- 2Psal. 90.1•.
