Hieron - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.H54 S4 1624

eifHelpe 7he'Prayer ofthe ßged, 47' Hou (OLord) art the gncitatof 1 dryes Andfrom cuerla fingto e.. uetlaf}ing, thou artGod: thou waft yeferday, and to day, thy yeeres failenot, butthou artthe fame for e-. tier: Thou counteff hcauen with thy fpan,and comprehendcfi the duff of the earthin a meafure : thou difpofetl the times, and thoudetetminefi each mans dàyes, the nun his mo- tieths is with the, thou appointett hisbounds, towhich bee(hall come, and beyond whichhecannotpaffe. It bath pleafed thee to draw out the thread of my life, furtherthen thou hail many others , and haft granted meto fill vp the tale ofmany yeeres. Thoumightefthaue turnedmee tomy duftlong ogee , yea, thou tnighteft haue flopped my breath as foone as Ifirlireceiuedit, and haue prelintlie condemnedme toeuerlaffingchaines, there to be keptvino the laff day. O makemethankful for thygoodnelfe, whohaft vouchfafed to multiplie my dates vpon this earth and thatnot limply, O Lord, becaufe Ihaue Hued fo long (forwhat can long life auaile ifI lofe my foule?) butbecaufe I haue had a long time ofrepentance, and haue fo plentifullie enjoyed ahe good meaner ofknowing theeinChrik. torgiueuntome (notwithftanding) mygreatnegleu and paffeby the in- finite vanities and offences of my youth. Iconfefk, O Lord,that Ihaue not focarefully taken theopportuni- ties whichthou haftgiven me,norat- tained tothat meafure ofknowledge andofrcpentance,which I might haue done, the timeofmy lifeconfidered neither bath mygrowth ingracebeen aufwerabfeto themany helpeswhich thy great mercyhath afforded nee': fothat whenI looke backe into the dalesthat atepaf}, andconfiderhow much time hath been confumed in but appertaining to the body, and how mall a portion bathbeen fpentinfpirituallthings be longing tothe foule, and doe trade in ntoDeuotian, therecordsofmycourt:knee,theMa- nyflips, yeagrofk faults, whichIam guilty of, Iam evenafhamed and con- founded:in my felfe t neither can I fayought for myfelfe, but essenwith many.fighesandfobsof foulecry out lint° thee,. .O.remember notahefmmrof myyorrth, no. myreóel1onr, dutaccording rethykindnclfer. emember thesemeButtfor thygoodnerfake, OLord And I befeech theemake meeyet morehumble, and morevile in mineowne fight, forthefe my lingfinecommitted culls, that fo my repentance may bee more vn- fained, andsly longingforthymercy in fetus Chrift, the more Itrong and vehement. Andnow (Lord) withall J befeech thee,togetherwith increafeofyeeres, gistme an increafeoffaith,and an in.. creak of ftedfaft afiùrance of thy loue. Let not thygraces in ante wi- therwith mine age or my zeale for thyglory, cook, with that decayof bodilyheat, which accompameth this my declining'time : But makeme as thofe Trees which bee planted inthy houfe, & flourith inthy courts, which in their age doe bring forth fruit, and arethen fat, and flourifbing That now chiefely Imay bee fruitful in all good works, : knowing that vnleffe myage befoundinthewayof righte- oufnefk,it cannot vetomea crown ofglory. Let mee bee at patternof grate and godlincfk vnto theft that areyoung é'acdttfemee, byfonndnefk in the Faith,andbyafober, honett, and difrect behauiour, to beeatea- cher to themof good thing. And eíkrange m minder more and more from wort :things : fuf£er menot to delude nay. Ife üntha vain hope of fining yetatitilc' artel little while : but letmelikeP.ärl,dieeucry day,and bea continualtprouider formy loftdepar tute-:tukiclttimewhen it Mallcome, asI knowit cannotbee farhexhee, OI befeechtheedoe notthen forfkke me, fo fiabliflimewith thyfree fpirit, andfilmyheart with theioyfull fee- lingof thymercy in the pardon ofmy ins,that Imay fleep in peace,and may comfortably yeeld myfolkinto yy thy 737

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