Next to spiritual good things, we are permitted to pray for those matters which concerne our Temporal well-fare, answerable to that Petition in the Lords Prayer, Give us this day our daily bread; under the expression of daily bread, we are to understand all those particulars that are either necessary or convenient for our natural life in respect
Both of Provision for us in our Soules. Bodies. Callings. Names. Friends. Estates. Protection of us in our Soules. Bodies. Callings. Names. Friends. Estates.
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For our Souls; that God would be pleased to blesse and continue to us the use of our wits and memories, that he would give us power to enjoy these temporal blessings; filling us with gladnesse of heart, (Act. 14.17) with peace and serenity of mind, expelling from us all unnecessary cares, earthly sorrows, unprofitable dejections.
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For our Bodies; that he would continue to us our health and strength, the free use of our senses and limbs, supplying, directing, blessing us in the use of all such means as shall conduce to our preservation and well-being.
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For our Callings; that he would furnish us with wisdome and abilities suitable to our several vocations, making us diligent and industrious in them, whereby we may be enabled in our places to promote his glory,1 and to be instrumental for the good of others. Being just towards all men, and ready to serve one another in love; and because without his blessing it will be in vain for us to rise up early, (Ps 127.2) and to sit up late, and to eat the bread of carefulnesse; Therefore we should likewise pray that he would blesse our endeavours, and all that we set our hands unto:2 Prospering the work of our hands upon us.
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For our Names; that he would take care of our reputations, restraining others from reproaching and slandring of us, and restraining us from scandalous sinnes; and appearances of evil; that he would teach us to behave our selves so wisely and circumspectly, that we may bring credit to our persons and professions, growing in favour both with God and man. That he would deliver us from those, (Psal. 57.4) whose teeth are speares and arrowes, and their tongues a sharp sword.
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For our Friends; that he would raise up for us such as may be kindly affectioned to us, blessing us in all our neere relations, kindred, families, friends, neighbours, acquaintance, continuing to us the help and comfort that we have by them.
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For our Estates; in respect. 1. Of Liberty, that he would still preserve us in our wonted freedome, from bondage, captivity, imprisonment. 2. That he would be pleased to restore and continue that precious blessing of Peace, both in our Nations, Towns, Families, Conversations. 3. That he would make us Plenteous in the fruit of our ground, and in the increase of our cattel; (Deut. 28.4) Crowning the yeare with his goodnesse,3 opening to us his good treasures, the heavens; Putting a force and efficacy into their influences,4 and fruitfulnesse into the earth, that it may yeeld us the staffe of bread, to strengthen our hearts.5 That he would alwayes supply us with food convenient for us; so much as may with sobriety serve to conveigh us through this earthly Pilgrimage.
In brief, that he would be pleased to blesse unto us the things we have, and bestow upon us the things we want.
And as we should beseech God to provide for us, so likewise to protect us in all these respects; more especially according to those divers seasons wherein our prayers are to be framed, whether for the Day, or Night: For the Day is his, the Night also is his, (Psal. 74.16) he hath prepared the light, and the Sun; They continue still according to his Ordinances, for all things serve him. (Ps. 119.91) ‘Tis he that turneth darknesse into light, (Ps. 104.30) and renues the face of the earth.
- For our morning addresses, O God thou art my God, (Ps. 63.2) early will I seek thee, my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also longeth after thee; we should herein petition for his protection of us the day following, that he would watch over us for good, by his fatherly providence; and defend us from all those sins and dangers to which we are exposed, that we may not be insnared by any of those temptations which we shall meet with: That he would give his Angels charge over us, to keep us in all our wayes. (Ps. 91.11)