B02626:990
The plain mans path-way to heaven
The plain mans path-way to heaven wherein every man may clearly see whether he shall be saved or damned. / Set forth dialogue-wise for the better understanding of the simple, by Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex.
London: printed by Ja. Young for G. Lathum, 1643
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
A Morning Prayer to be used in private Families.
O Lord our God, and heavenly Father, we thy unworthy children do here come into thy most holy and heavenly presence, to give thee praise and glory for all thy great mercies and manifold blessings toward us, especially for that thou hast preserved us this night past from all the dangers and fears thereof, hast given us quiet rest to our bodies, and brought us now safely to the beginning of this day, and dost now afresh renew all thy mercies upon us, as the Eagle reneweth her bill; giving us all things abundantly to enjoy, as food, raiment, health, peace, liberty, and freedom from many miseries, diseases, casualties, and calamities which we are subject to in this life every minute of an hour: and not only so, but also for vouchsafing unto us many good things, not only for necessity, but even for delight also. But above all (dear Father) we praise thy name for the blessings of a better life, especially for thy most holy Word and Sacraments, and all the good we enjoy thereby; for the continuance of the Gospel amongst us, for the death of thy Son, and all that happiness ⟨image 238⟩which we have thereby; also because thou hast chosen us to life before we were, and that of thy mere goodness and undeserved favour toward us; and hast called us in thine appointed time, justified us by thy grace, and sanctified us by thy Spirit, and adopted us to be thine own children, and heirs apparent to the great Crown. O Lord, open our eyes every day more and more, to see and consider of thy great and marvellous love to us in all these things; that by the due consideration thereof, our hearts may be drawn yet nearer unto thee, even more to love thee, fear thee, and obey thee: that as thou art enlarged towards us in mercy, so we may be enlarged towards thee in thanksgiving: and as thou dost abound towards us in goodness, so we may abound towards thee in obedience and love. And sith (dear Father) thou art never weary of doing us good, notwithstanding all our unworthiness and naughtiness, therefore let the consideration of thy great mercy and fatherly kindness towards us, even as it were force our hearts, and compel us to come into thy most glorious presence, with new songs of thanksgiving in our mouths.