vs so large a time of repentance These benefits O most mercifull father like as we do acknowledge that we haue receiued of thy only goodnes euen so we beseech thee for thy deare son Iesus Christ his sake to grant vs alwayes thy holy spirit whereby we may continually grow in thaÌ„kfulnes towards thee he led in all truth and comâ—orted in all aduersity Strengthen our faith O Lord kindle it more more in feruentnes and loue towards thee our neighbours for thy sake Suffer vs not most deare father to receiue thy word any more in vaine but grant vs alwaies the assistance of thy grace and holy spirit that in heart word and deed we may sanctifie and doe worship to thy holy name that wee may helpe to amplifie and increase thy kingdome and that whatsoeuer thou sendest Thy kingdome come Thy will be done Giue vs this day c. we may hartily well be content with thy good wil and pleasure Suffer vs not to lack the thing O Father without the which we cannot serue thee but blesse thou so al the workes of our hands that we may haue sufficient and not to bee chargeable but rather helpfull vnto others Be mercifull O Lord vnto our offences Forgiue vâ— c. and seeing our debt is great which thou hast forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee our neighbours so much the more Bee thou O Father our captain defender in all temptations Lead vs not into temptation hold thou vs by thy mercifull hand that we thereby may be deliuered from al inconueniences and end our liues in the sanctifying and honouring of thy name But deliuer vs from euâ—ll through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A aier for true mortification O God my creator preseruer and euerlasting defender where first in my creation I was made like vnto thine owne likenesse the diuell alas hath since by Adams fal made me vgly monstrous and euill fauored like to himselfe For what are now Lord mine earthly members but as thine Apostle writeth adultery whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lusts euill concupiscence Colos 3. couetousnes which is the worshipping of Idols and such other for the which thy wrath is wont to come vpon the children of vnbeliefe Neuerthelesse Lord of thy great mercy and goodnesse against this so great a mischiefe a much greater remedy thy fatherly prouidence hath ordained for thou hast sent Iesus Christ thy dear and only naturall sonne into this world the vale of miseries to loose the works of the diuell and to take away my sinnes 1. Joh. 3. Therefore Sathan hath now nothing to brag of for through Christ all that beleeue in thee 1. Joh 5. so become thy children doe ouercome the world the flesh the diuel And this is the victory which ouer commeth them al euen our faith that faith I meane which is perswaded that whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ Ioh. 3. Ioh. 5. shall not perish but haue euerlasting life That faith which beleeueth the testimony to be true which thou God the Father dost testify of thy son so making thee no liar and this is the testimony that thou hast giuen vs eternall life that faith which beleeueth that thou Father who raisedst vp Christ froÌ„ death shalt also quicken our mortall bodies Rom. 8 through thy holy spirit dwelling in vs. That faith which beleeueth it to bee true which thy Sonne Christ affirmed with a double oath saying Verily Joh. 1. verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth in me the works that I doe the same shall he doe and greater works then these shall he doe Ioh. 15. because I goe to my Father And finally that faith which beleeueth that now Christ hath been lift vpon the crosse he shal draw al things vnto him this faith I say is the victory which ouercommeth our enemies the diuell Joh. 12. the world and our flesh Thou therfore dear father which hast promised to giue whatsoeuer I shall aske in thy dear Sonne Iesus name 1. Joh. 3â— for thy great mercy and infallible truths sake do now in me the thing that he came for loose in me the works of the diuel take away my sinnes I beseech thee make stedfast my faith and confidence in thy promised mercies and merciful promises so that I assuredly beleeuing in thee may haue as thou hast promised euerlasting life making thee deare God no lyer may beleeue feele and know in my heart and conscience that the same euerlasting life is thy meere and free gift vnto me yea already of thy great goodnes vndoubtedly giuen me being now translated from death to life Colos 3. In thankfulnesse whereof Lord cause me now daily to mortifie my earthly meÌ„bers yea dear father sith thy spirit which raised vp Christ from death dwelleth within me doe thou who raisedst Christ froÌ„ death quicken my mortal body through thy spirit so dwelling within me I beseech thee yea Lord Iesu according to thy promise because thou art now gone to thy Father make me worke the wonderful great work that thou spakest off Ioh. 6.4 I meane make me being of my selfe but a lumpe of sinne and a monster most vgly as the vices whereof the members of my earthly body are aboue declared to be compact doe proue make me I say yet through thy grace to hate abhorre flee and subdue all adultery whoredom vncleannes vnnaturall lusts euill concupiscence vnordinate desires wantonnes tendernesse delicatenes idlenesse drunkennesse gluttony slothfulnes distrust despaire ignorance weaknes wilfulnes idolatry superstition hypocrisie heresie error sects variaÌ„ce strife wrath enuy slanders lying swearing cursing vainglory pride couetousnes theft deceit flattery and whatsoeuer else O Lord fighteth or rebelleth against thy holy spirit and then O Father I will boast and make vant against mine enemy the diuell that I haue done greater works then thy deare Sonne Iesus did at what time hee spake these words amongst the Iewes because albeit he vanquished Sathan yet in as much as he himselfe was vtterly without sinne the victory seemed the more easie But I to vanquish Sathan being my self altogether sinful yea contrary to my most sinful nature to subdue sinne the Diuel and mine owne flesh it seemeth a more victory a greater worke then the other For the which neuerthelesse I will with all submission acknowledge vnto thy diuine maiesty that the whole victory Lord indeede is thine and thy holy spirit the beginner and finisher both of the wil and the worke Now therefore Lord Iesu strengthen me with thy grace and might that thou maiest by me a most sinful wretch draw all these our earthly members and horrible vices before rehearsed vnder my feet that I may not only fight against them but also subdue them so that they may all turne to the best for me as meete matter whereon I may exercise my faith powre forth my hearty praier and giue thee most hearty thanks for victory whereby
me to be thy childe so I pray thee giue me these things which bee the properties of thy children giuen from thee in thy good time Hallowed be thy name THy name is that whereby thou art knowne for names serue to discerne and know one thing from another Now though thou art knowne by creatures yet is this our corrupt estate Rom. 1 they serue but to make vs excuselesse Therefore most properly liuely and comfortably thou art knowne by thy holy word and specially by thy promise of grace Psalme 84.138 How Gods name is hallowed and freely pardoning and receiuing vs into thy fauour for Christ Iesus sake For the which goodnesse in Christ thou art praised and magâ—ified according to thy name that is so much as men know thee in Christ they magnifie thee and praise thee which here thou callest hallowing or sanctifying For that thou art the more holy not in respect of thy selfe but in respect of men who the more they know thee the more they caÌ„not but sanctifie thee that is they cannot but as in themselues by true faith loue feare spirituall seruice honour thee so also in their outward behauiour and words they cannot but liue in such sort The chiefe desire of Gods children as other seeing them may in and by their holinesse and godly conuersation bee occasioned as to know thee so to sanctifie thy name accordingly and therefore thou settest forth here vnto me what is the chiefe and principall wish and desire of thy children and people namely that â—hou in Christ mightest bee truely knowen and honoured both of themselues and of other inwardly and outwardly as by the contrary a man may easily perceiue The greatest griefe of Goâ—s people that the greatest sorrowe and griefe thy people haue is ignorance of thee false seruice or religion and wicked conuersation Against the which they pray and labour diligently after their vocation as they for the obtaining of the other both to other and to themselues doe take no small paine in prayer studie and godly exercise By reason heereof I see that I am farre from this desire and lamentation which is in thy children I see mine ignorance of the true knowledge of thee and thy name for else it had not needed thee so by thy word to haue reuealed thy selfe I see also mine owne ignorance of the excellencie of the same Our ignorance for else wouldest thou not haue told mee that the saÌ„ctifying of thy name is the chiefest thing thou requirest of euery man Againe I see my great want of holinesse Our great neede for else thou needest not to teach me to seeke and pray for that I want not Moreouer I see my great peruersity which would not seeke at thy hands for sanctification although I see my need thereof For the which thou wouldest not haue commaunded mee to pray if I seeing my want would haue prayed vnto thee for the same Last of all Gods loue I see thy wonderfull goodnesse which wilt vndoubtedly giue vnto me sanctification and holinesse for thou wouldest not that I should aske for that thing that thou wilt not giue mee So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament because I am so farre from this desire and lamentation which thy children haue also because of mine ignorance pouerty peruersity vnthankfulnes c. But most of all because thy holy name word and religion is so blasphemed both in doctrine in liuing of many especially in this Realme To reioice I haue great cause for thy exceeding goodnes and mercie which wouldest so disclose thy selfe by thy workes word and Gospell which wouldest open these things thus vnto me and also giue vnto mee and others sanctification in thy sight by faith and in the sight of men by purenesse of life and godly conuersation But alas I doe hartely neither the one nor the other that is lament or reioice as thou father which searchest my heart dost right well know Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me yea giue me for thine owne pity thy holy spirit to reueale and open to my minde effectually my miserable estate and condition my ignorance peruersity my carelesnesse for thy true honour and dishonour in such sort that I may hartily lament these euills and haue them pardoned and taken from mee through Iesus Christ our Lord. Againe good father giue mee the same thy holy spirit to reueale to me thy name word and Gospell that I may liuely know thee vnfainedly loue thee heartily obey thee and aboue all things desire and labour by all meanes lawfull that all godlines in doctrine and conuersation may bee exercised both in mee and all others for whom thou wouldest I should pray Here think vpon the state of religion the life of the professors of the Gospel that thou maist lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come Gods kingdom in respect of his power THy kingdome is in two sorts to be considered vniuersally and particularly Vniuersally according to thy power wherwith thou gouernest all things euery where in earth Heauen hell diuels Angels men beasts fowles fishes and all other creatures Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he said This kingdome ruleth ouer all Psal 10 4. Particularly thy kingdome is to bee considered according to thy grace wherewith thou rainest only in thy Church and elect people Gods kingdom in respect of his grace ruling and gouerning all and euery member of thy Church to thy glory and their eternall comfort Not that out of this Church I exclude thy power for as therewith thou defendest thy people so thou punishest thy enemies but because thy grace is specially considered being as it were the very keeper that keepeth and guideth thy people Godâ— kingdome in respect of his glory The time will be when this kingdome of grace and power now being as distinct shall be vnited and made one kingdome of glory which will bee when Christ shall giue vp his kingdome into thyne hands that is in the resurrection when death the last enemie shal be subdued and thou shalt be all in all In the meane season How Gods kingdome is here conside ed and enlarged this kingdome of grace is miraculously and mightily propagated enlarged and gouerned by the true ministery of thy word and Sacraments through the working of thy holy spirit And this is the meane and way whereby as thou didst first plant so doest thou enlarge amplifie and preserue the same This kingdome of grace begun continued and enlarged by the true preaching of thy Gospell and ministration of thy Sacraments is the thing which Christ teacheth here thy children to pray for that it might come that is to say that thâ— Gospel might so mightily purely and plenteously bee preached maugre the head of all thine enemies that the number of thine elect might bee brought in and so the kingdome of thy glory might appeare So that as I
inspiration quicknest the mindes of them that afore were dead in sinne makest ioifull the hearts of the faithfull penitent bringest into the way of truth all such as haâ—e erred and gone astray comfortest the soules of such as hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and plenteouslie enrichest those with diuers gifts which aske them in Iesus Christs name purifie our hearts wee beseech thee and inflame them with the fire of thy loue replenish them with thy heauenly benefits and spirituall blessings that they may bee made meere temples for thee leade vs into all truth which aet the onely fountaine of truth and mortifie in vs whatsoeuer proceedeth not of thee Or else pray thus O holy spirit powred into the Apostles which hast promised vnto vs by the sonne of God our Redeemer to kindle in vs a true knowledge and inuocation of God as it is written I will powre vpon you the spirit of grace and compassion make to arise in our harts a true feare of God and faith and knowledge of thy mercy which the eternal father of our Lord Iesus Christ hath promised vnto vs for his sons sake Be our comforter in all our counsels and dangers Illuminate our vnderstanding and fill our hearts with new affections and spirituall motions and renew vs both in soule and body that we may die to sinne and liue to righteousnes and so in true obedience may praise the father of our Lord Iesus Christ and his sonne our redeemer and theâ— also our comforter euerlastingly A thanksgiuing to God the Father the Son and the holy Ghost VVE reÌ„der thanks vnto thee O Almighty and eternall God with the deare sonne our Lord Iesus Christ and with thy holy spirit for that of thin exceeding great goodnes thou hast made thy selfe knowne vnto vs by most assured and euidenâ— testimonies and for that thou hast gaâ—hered and chosen vnto thy selfe a perpetuall Church and wouldest that thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ should suffer death to restore vs from death to life for that thou hast giuen to vs thy Gospel and the holy Ghost for that thou forgiuest vs our sinnes deliuerest vs from the power of the diuel and from eternall death and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life finally for that thou hast visited vs with many great benefits giuing vs life food doctrine peace in such places as we haue liued in and hast diminished the pains which we haue iustly deserued We giue thankes vnto thee O Lord Iesus Christ A thanksgiuing to the Son sonne of the liuing God crucified for vs and risen againe because thou hast coupled vnto thee our humane nature and of thy inestimable loue diddest giue thy selfe to death for vs turning vpon thee the great wrath of GOD the Father conceiued against vs to reconcile vs vnto him and â—o purchase vs eternall redemption because thou hast brought vs to this grace wherin we stand and reioice in hope of the glory of GOD because thou doest preserue cherish and defend send thy Church against the Diuell and all thine enemies because thou giuest and renewest often the light of thy Gospell and maintainest the ministery of thy word because thou doest forgiue vs our sinnes and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life because thou art our mediator and makest continuall intercession for vs finally because thou doest succour preserue vs in all our necessities dangers and afflictions A thanksgiuing to God the holy Ghost We giue thanks also vnto thee O holy spirit the giuer of life which wast powred vpon the Apostles be cause thou kindlest thy light in our hearts because thou rulest instructest admonishest and helpest vs because thou gouernest and guidest the labours and works of our vocation and sanctifiest vs to eternall life A praier to God for his helpe and protection against the obstinate enemies of the truth MOst righteous Iudge God of all mercy and comfort which by thy secret iudgement and wisedome doest suffer the wicked to triumph a increase for a time for triall of the faith of thy welbeloued litle flocke and the mortifying of their lusts now at length to the vtter confusioÌ„ ot thy enemies and ioifull deliuerance of thy people look downe we beseech thee on thy dispersed sheepe out of thy holy habitation in heauen and strengthen our weaknesse against their furious rages abate their pride asswage their malice confound their deuises wherwith they lift vp themselues against Christ Iesus thy sonne our Lord and Sauiour to deface his glory and to set vp Antichrist We be not able our selues to thinke a good thought much lesse to stand against their assaults except thy vndeserued grace and mighty arme defend and deliuer vs. Performe thy promises made to Iacob stop the mouthes of the wicked Edomits Cal them to repentaÌ„ce whom thou hast appointed to saluationâ— bring home them that run astrayâ— lighten the blind and teach the ignorant forgiue all those that wilfully and obstinatly rebel against thy holy will Let thy fearefull threatnings pearce our stony hearts and make vs tremble at thy iudgements make the examples of theÌ„ whom thou hast ouerthrowne in their owne deuises as Cain Cham Nimrod Esau Pharoh Saul Aâ—chitophel Iudas and such other to be a warning for vs that we set not vp our selues against thy holy will Grantfree passage to thy holy word that it may worke effectually in vs the worke of life and blessed hope of our saluation to the eternall praise of thy maiesty through our mediator Christ Iesus to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons and one God be praise and thanksgiuing in all congregations world without end So be it A praier for the afflicted and persecuted vnder the tyranny of Antichrist O Mercifull Father who neuer doest forsake such as put their trust in thee stretch forth thy mighty arme to the defence of our brethren by the rage of enemies persecuted and grieuously tormented in sundry places for the true profession of the holy Gospell who in their extream necessities cry for coÌ„fort vnto thee Let not thy long suffering O Lord be an occasioÌ„ either to increase the tyranny of thy enemies or to discourage thy children but with speed O Lord consider their great miseries and afflictions Preuent the cruell deuise of Haman stay the rage of Holofernes breake off the counsell of Achitophel Let not the wicked say Where is now their God Let thy afflicted flocke feele present aid and releefe from thee O Lord looke downe vpon them with thy pitifull eie from thy holy habitation send terror and trembling among their enemies make an ende of their outragious tyranny beate backe their boldnesse in suppressing the truth in destroying thy true seruants in defacing thy glory and in setting vp Antichrist Let them not thus proudly aduance themselues against thee and thy Christ but let them vnderstand and feele that against thâ— they fight Preserue and defend the vine which thy right hand hath planted and let all Nations see the glory of thine annointed Amen