of iniquitie perished altogither and were vtterlie confounded and drowned in the mightie waters that ouerflowed the whole earth Uouchsafe therefore I beseech thee O most mightie God and mercifull father the ruler and gouernour both of heauen earth and sea with all the creatures conteined therein in thy mercie so to dispose the wind and the weather and to giue my husband or father such successe in this his voiage and iournie which he hath now presumed to take onlie vppon a sure faith assurance of thy mercie that it may turne him to no danger dammage losse or misfortune but that he may alwaie be deliuered from all the dangers both of the sea pirats and enimies and so that he may be safelie conducted by thy mercifull protection and assistance and haue a safe and prosperous returne home againe into his countrie as was righteous Noah in his arke and as may be most to thy glorie my comfort and his commoditie Behold I thine hand-maiden whom thou hast ransomed and redeemed doo crie vnto thee yea euen I as now a sâ—litarie woman left all desolate alone whom thou hast with thy pretious blood redeemed doo still crie and call hartilie vpon thee for my deere and welbeloued husband or father according to my dutie and thy commandement Heare me O God my sauiour the hope of â—ll the ends of the earth and of all them that be in the sea a far off Heare me I saie O mercifull father for now my deere husband or father is conuersant in a troublesome sea and perillous waters O stand thou vpon the shore of thy heauenlie countrie and looke at his perils Lord saue him for thy name sake that he perish not Gouerne his ship with thy right hand by the helpe of thy grace that he perish not in the waues of the stormie sea that the tempest of the waters â—rowne him not and that the deepe swallowe him not vp but Lord grant him so to keepe his course amiddes the vast seas betweene the most perillous rockes of Scilla and Caribdis and to hold so with the anchor of faith and hope in thee and in thy crosse and passion that he may escape the danger of both those dangerous rocks and be guided by thee the morning light and sea-star of daie sonne of righteousnes that he may come safe to land both outward and homeward without losse of man ship or fraught so will I yeeld thee immortall thanks perpetuall praises for thy fatherlie benefits and my tongue shall record thy works of glorie for euer and euer which thou dooest for the children of men both vpon the sea and land Yet O father not my will but thy blessed will and secret counsell be fulfilled both in him and in me and I beseech thee set thy feare alwaies before mine eies and indue me with such plentie of thy grace to strengthen my weakenes and frailtie in falling that in this my husbands or fathers absence I may continue faithfull and godlie in my vocation and persist in faith loue and holines with modestie Make me diligent to rule well my children and familie and to keepe them in all christian obedience that I may get my selfe a good report of all men Let me abandon all vaine pleasures fond delights which beguile vnstable soules Make me to shun and auoid all vnprofitable practises all idlenes sâ—oth and securitie and let me be well giuen and disposed to all huswifelines sobrietie godlines and chastitie keeping home instructing my houshold and praieng continuallie day and night because of my great necessitie that so liuing purelie and behauing my selfe christianâ—e in all obedience towards thee and loiall faithfulnes towards my husband or father I may giue occasion to the aduersarie to speake well of the professors of the Gospell to thy glorie and my comfort in Christ Iesus to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor and glorie now and for euermore Amen Amen When your husband or father is come safe home from his iournie giue God thanks therefore and saie I Thanke thee O heauenlie father for this thy great mercie and grace which thou hast shewed vnto mee thine vnwoorthie hand-maid both in hearing and granting mine humble requests also in leading foorth and bringing in and causing this my deere husband or father to returne and come home againe safe and sound in good health to my great ioie and comfort This I acknowledge and confesse O Lord is brought to passe euen through thy meere mercie gracious goodnes and holie blessing which thou of thy woonted clemencie and bountifull liberalitie giuest and extendest to all them that keepe thy holie word and doo thereafter Blessed and praised therefore be thy most holie name for euer and I beseech thee O gratious God grant now both vnto my husband or father and me whiles we liue heere in this vale of miserie where we haue no abiding dwelling place or permanent citie but looke for one else-where with thee in our celestiall home a sure and quiet conscience to loue each other of vs in thee and for thee and to serue thee loue thee and praise thee with all our harts with all our strength and with all our soules for euer and euer through thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who is our onlie rest and peace to whome with thee and the holie Ghost three persons and one inuisible God be all praise dominion thanks for euer and euer Amen A praier and thanks-giuing to be said when your husband or father with his ship is safelie come home from his voiage by sea O Most mercifull Lord and heauenlie father I render vnto thee most humble and hartie thanks for the manifold and great mercies which thou from time to time hast mercifully bestowed vpon me both for my soule and bodie And amongst other O father I thanke thee for the good and prosperous successe which thou in thy mercie hast giuen my husband or my father in this his voiage and iournie deliuering him and his from all the dangers of the same disposing all things by thy good prouidence to a good and happie end and now safelie bringing him with ship and fraught home into his owne countrie and house to my great comfort and his commoditie Let this thy fatherlie fauour O Lord be both vnto him and me a sufficient cause to mooue vs continuallie to render thanks vnto thee and wholie to depend vpon thy mercifull prouidence both in prosperitie and aduersitie and that we may so walke before thee as thy glorie alwaie may shine in vs and that our tongues may be instruments of thy praise at all times and in all places euen all the daies of our life that we thus liuing in thy faith feare and loue and in the obedience of thy holie commandements may passe the time of this our pilgrimage in peace concord mutuall loue and amitie so that when the same is ended wee may liue and reigne with thee for euer and euer Amen When your
their lewd doings haue now found shame the most pestilent wound of the Diuell amongst the vngodlie I that should haue allured others to the knowledge of the Sonne of God am now become ignorant and vnskilfull in the diuers slaights of Sathan which commonlie entrap men and women Wherefore after much alluring and sifting they promised me vnhappie woman craftie conueiances to auoid the subtiltie of Sathan but afterward the Diuell in the same night transformed into an Angell of light reasoned with me saieng When thou art alone get thee vp and go vnto them and if in case they perswade or entise thee then condiscend and harken vnto them do it and cease not neither stagger thou at the matter till they be satisfied And againe the Diuell going before to prepare the waie whetted their wits to deuise mischiefe against me seelie wretch he sowed in their minds adulterie fornication dissimulation and deceit but I oh vnhappie creature skipping out of my bed at the dawning of the day could not finish my woonted deuotion neither accomplish my vsuall praier and christian exercises but following too much mine owne fleshlie affections folded and wrapped my selfe in the snares of the Diuell I got me vnto the bed of the wicked and required of them to performe the couenants in the night which we had made the day before Oh seelie soule oh blinded hart how didst thou not remember thy promise and vow made in baptisme to forsake the diuell the world and the flesh O foolish mind how didst thou not bethinke thy selfe what would followe O witlesse braine how didst thou not vnderstand so damnable a defiance O thou sense of vnderstanding I saie where didst thou sleepe in such senseles securitie O but it was the Diuell which prouoked thee so to slumber and snort that in the end he might slaie thine vnhappie and wretched soule Alas he bound my mightie men and spoiled me of my knowledge he bound my mightie men and wounded me I answered but in a word and foorthwith became reprochfullie defamed I spake vnaduisedlie and felt spite The diuell raised an assemblie of wicked ones about me and when I consented to obeie their filthie lusts then pronounced he against me strait this iust sentence M.C. saith he hath plaid the harlot M. C. hath committed adulterie and defiled hir fathers house and hir husbands bed CAP. III. O Thou diuell what hast thou done vnto me O thou diuell how hast thou wounded me I bewailed somtime the fall of Dinah and Thamar but now haue I felt far woorse my selfe I bewailed heretofore the fall of Aholla and Ahollibah but now am I fallen much woorse my selfe I bewailed heretofore the fall of Cosbie Bersabe Rizpa Tamer and the Leuits wife but now haue I felt far woorse my selfe I haue bewailed heretofore the state of all sinners yet now am I plunged in them all For I haue beene more bold than Apam more impudent than Memphetica Potiphers wife more shameles than Lots two daughters more wicked than Baara or Salomen and more bloudie in persecuting than Iesabel Dinah and Thamer through violence offered them were defloured against their wils but I with all greedines haue most filthilie followed my fleshlie desires Iudith decked hir selfe brauelie of a right discretion and vertue for the safegard of hir people but I for voluptuousnes and pleasure of the flesh to allure the eies of all men and catch the soules of the simple in the net of sinne and snares of Satan Susanna being secretlie and forciblie assaulted sighed and thought it better to crie and shrich out that she might so fall into the hands of hir enimies and suffer death without the deed dooing than to sin in thy sight by consenting vnto their wicked wils but I both openly and priuilie haue followed too much the deuises and desires of mine owne hart and too soone consented to those that haue burnt in lust towards me It was Dinahs libertie that brought hir to hir fall but it is mine owne wanton eies mine owne rash tongue and mine owne wilful follie that hath brought me to this sinfull fall and great confusion And as she was the cause that manie of the Sichemites lost their earthlie possessions and liues euen so my lewdnes hath depriued me of the spirituall gifts which somtime haue flowed with heauenlie riches And euen as she being seuered from hir father and brethren and cleauing vnto strangers and forreners endured great annoie euen so I in satisfieng the lusts of notorious sinners haue brought my selfe captiue vnto captiues and made my selfe the bondslaue of sinne For alas my parents liue yet am I an Orphan and fatherlesse Alas my brethren and freends are liuing yet am I comfortlesse and freendles Alas my husband liueth yet am I a widowe Alas my children be aliue yet am I barren Alas euerie creature reioiceth and I alone am forsaken and sorrowfull Alas O house wherein I was gladsome Alas O familie wherein I sate full merrie Alas O holie Ghost thou spirit of puritie which heeretofore camest downe vpon me why hast thou forsaken me I am forsaken and become desolate because of the corruption and filth of mine iniquitie Bewaile me O all ye virgins that am defloured of all virginitie Bewaile me O all ye womenkind that am depriued of all chastitie and goodnes Bewaile me O ye blessed people of God which am banished from God Bewaile hir that is bereaued of the holie Ghost Bewaile me that like a foolish virgin am thrust out of the wedding chamber of my spouse Christ. Bewaile me who once was thought worthie the kingdome of God now altogither most vnworthie Bewaile me that am abhorred of the Angels and seuered from the Saints of God Bewaile me for that I am condemned to eternall punishment Bewaile me for that I am heere languishing on this miserable earth and thus now tormented with the prick of conscience I do feare death because I am wicked I doo feare the dreadfull daie of iudgement for that I am damned for euer I do feare the punishment for that it is eternall I doo feare the Angels which ouersee the punishment bicause they are void of mercie I doo feare out of measure all the torments and what I shall doo I wot not being thus on euerie side beset with miserie If there be anie man or woman which can I beseech them now assist me with their earnest praiers and with their sorrowfull teares For now it behooueth me to shed infinite teares for mine infinite sins Who knoweth whether the Lord will haue mercie vpon me whether he will pitie my fall whether he will tender my person whether he will be mooued with my desolation whether he will shew mercie vnto mee whether he will haue respect vnto mine humilitie and incline his tender compassion towards me as he hath done to Rahab Marie Magdalen the woman of Samaria and the woman taken in adulterie besides manie others CAP. IIII. BUT I will prostrate my selfe before the thresholds and
doo it yea with such diligent care and faithfull discharge of their owne duties to thee O God with such loue and entier affection towards me their child and with such due regard to the man vnto whome they shall match me as namelie not so much for anie his externall goods of the bodie as chiefelie for the inward vertue and goods of the mind that in euerie respect it may be trulie said they haue verie well ioined and married me in the Lord to the reioicing of all parties so shall it come to passe that they thereby shall not onlie procure vnto me their daughter perpetuall ioie comfort and felicitie by causing my marriage to become easie and well-liking vnto me but also prouide by this meanes for themselues such a sonne in lawe as shall be a faithfull freend a dailie succour and continuall aid vnto them euen in their old age to their great comfort and thy glorie which grant O blessed God for his sake who was most obedient not onelie to his blessed mother Marie but also vnto thee his celestiall Father thy hâ—lie sonne Iesus I meane to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be now and euer eternall praise thanks and vniuersall power rule and dominion Amen You may reade in the sixt and seuenth Lamps more of the dutie of daughters A praier to be said of a daughter in lawe that is married FOr asmuch O almightie God as through the corruption of our nature the common custome and opinion of most are that all mothers in lawe beare a stepmothers hate vnto their daughters in lawe and contrariwise that daughters in lawe for the most part beare no great good loue and charitie towards their mothers in lawe the cause of both which hatred or enimitie as it is found vaine and vnchristian so it seemeth to arise when on the one side the mother is discontent that all hir sonnes loue should be turned vnto hir daughter in lawe and when the wife on the other part cannot suffer any to be loued but hir selfe as though the motherhood of the one were lessened by the daughter in lawe and the wifehood of the other were minished by the mother in lawe or as though friendship were impared by the multitude of freends when rather in troth it is the more increased and strengthened by alliance and mariage and therefore either ought to beare with others infirmitie and charitablie to be reconciled one to another if at anie time bralles hatred strife or discord rise or chance betweene them Therefore to auoid the causes of this common hatred betwixt me and my mother in lawe and that we may the better liue louinglie and christianlie togither as becommeth vs both before God and the world to the good example of all other grant O God I beseech thee that my mother in lawe for hir part may be content that hir sonne my husband doo loue me his wife as his deere mate and inseparable companion with whome he ought to dwell without anie displeasure Againe that I hir daughter in lawe for my part knowing my husband and I am all one may not onlie take and repute his parents to be my parents but also may be willing and verie well pleased that my husband doo loue hir also as his owne mother as vnto whome he is greatlie bound and oweth much louing kindnesse for these great benefits receiued of hir I meane his life his nourishing and bringing vp in the feare of God but especiallie bicause I gladlie doo or would loue mine owne mother also as nature thereto bindeth me and for that I both see and know how that by this my mother in lawe as by an instrument and meanes appointed of thee I now presentlie enioie this my husband hir sonne for whose sake therefore at the least I am bound both by the lawes of God nature forsomuch as we are now no more two but one flesh to loue cherish and obeie this my mother in lawe in thee as if she were mine owne mother Grant I saie O gratious God that my mother in lawe may loue me hir daughter in lawe no lesse than Naomie loued Ruth Orpha and that she may giue me good counsell teach me instruct me praie for me and doo all such things as may be an example vnto me both of godlines chastitie and sobernesse Driue far from vs all hatred enuie brallings and contentions Suffer hir not I beseech thee O Lord to make anie discord or variance betweene my husband and me for anie cause but and if anie chance betweene vs grant that she rather to the vttermost of hir power by hir wisedome and good motherlie counsellâ—giuing may auoid it and reconcile vs againe that thus she bearing a motherlie affection towards me it may so come to passe that both my husband may be the more bound to loue hir not onlie for that she is his deere mother but also bicause she hath thereby bene the cause of a great part of his felicitie in that he hath mee both a more chaste sober louing obedient and vertuous wife and better agreeing with him by the meanes of this hir motherlie instruction and graue godlie counsell and also I be no lesse bound to loue hir and to beare none other mind towards hir than if she were mine owne mother as Ruth did to Naomie and Sara to Anna by reason that I also haue by this hir graue aduice and wise teaching both gotten to my selfe more knowledge aâ— made better and haue my husband hir sonne more plesant louing and tender vnto me This grant not onlie vnto vs O good father but also to all other mothers and daughters in lawe for Iesus Christes sake our onlie Lord and sauiour Amen Another praier to be vsed of a daughter in lawe THou hast commanded in thy holie lawe O almightie God that all children should honor their parents as they will obteine the promise of long life and blessings of their parents vpon earth and contrariwise auoid thy cursse and the cursse of their parents pronounced against all disobedient and vngodlie children grant therefore vnto me whom it pleaseth thee after the death of mine owne mother to keepe still as yet in the number and obedience of a child by giuing me this woman to be my mother in lawe in stead of mine owne mother whome thou hast taken vnto thy selfe that sith I am now hir child by adoption and affinitie I may according to thy commandement fulfill and doo all that dutie which I owe and is due vnto hir euen as vnto mine owne naturall mother if she were heere aliue and that not for a shew or outward pretence of loue but with true obedience and due reuerence from the verie hart vnfeignedlie bicause I knowe it shall be rewarded of thee whatsoeuer I doo vnto hir be it good or ill O let me not be in the number of those wicked daughters in lawe which as the Prophet saith doo impudentlie rise vp and contemptâ—ouslie striue against their mothers
I maie onelie marrie thee in the couenant of thy heauenlie father louing Iesus and haue nothing to doo with the adulterer the diuell the father of deadlie fornication This is the onelie bed of ioie wherein I will sleepe O Lord and the onelie arke of all comfort wherein I will saile till I shall see thee face to face to whom be praise and honour both now and euer Amen A praier to be said of widowes for widowes GRatious faithfull God father of orphans and iudge of widowes which by thy word hast commanded that none iniurie be done to widowes and fatherlesse children I beseech thee haue pitie on me desolate woman and my poore fatherlesse children and vpon all widowes and orphans else where through the world be thou our patrone and defender and minister such things vnto vs as thou knowest we dailie stand in need of whether it be meat clothing or else what for our sustentation Let magistrates thy ministers releeue the oppressed iudge the fatherlesse and defend the widowe against all oppression and wrong Grant that our patrons may fatherlie looke vnto vs widowes and all men gladlie and godlie prouide for vs and our orphans Moreouer giue all men grace for their parts not to hurt vs or ours anie waies but to the vttermost of their powers to helpe vs bicause pure religion and vndefiled before thee is to visit the fatherlesse and widowes in their aduersitie and to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world In like sort grant that I and all widowes for our parts may at all times and in all our afflictions put our whole trust in thee the liuing God our Lord father and continue in supplications and praiers night and daie auoiding filthie pleasure vncomelie gesture and vndecent behauiour whereby either others may bee offended or our selues defamed or at the least suspected of lightnes Blesse thou my fatherlesse children O heauenlie father togither with all yoong pupils vnder heauen that by thy prouidence and fatherlie care they may be honestlie and godlie brought vp in thy feare vnto euerie good worke whereby they may alwaies feare thee their cheefe father obeie their tutors teachers harken vnto good counsell and correction and so increase as in yeres so in wisedome both in the fauour of men and of thee their God And I beseech thee O Lord defend all married folke with their children that through thy displeasure purchased by their wickednes they perish not with the sword nor otherwise by vntimelie death be dispatched that their wiâ—es proue not widowes nor their children fatherlesse Oh blesse vs Lord with thy fauour euen for Christs sake thy welbeâ— loued sonne Amen The same praier more at large to be vsed generallie for all widowes and orphans O Most mercifull and faithfull God father of orphans and iudge of widowes looke downe from heauen thou which considerest our labour and sorrowe and in whose hands all our saluation doth consist The poore is left to thee for thou art the helper of the fatherles The Lord doth heare the desire of the poore thou preparest their hearts and thine eare harkeneth therevnto to helpe the fatherles and widowe vnto their right that the man of the earth be no more exalted against the miserable We beseech thee O most righteous auenger haue thou a consideration of all widowes and orphans and prouide for them by ministring cloaths and nourishment vnto them Haue pitie on them in all their perils and necessities stretch out thine helping hand and deliuer them as thou didst that widowe whose pitcher of oile by the Prophet Elias thou didst so increase with thy blessing that not onelie she deliuered hir children in bondage for debt out of the hands of hir creditors but also of the oile she sold and had wherwith to susteme both hir selfe and hir children For thou art the Lord which carest for strangers and releeuest the fatherles and widowe but destroiest the waies of the vngodlie Thou art touched with care of the afflicted and despisest not the desires of the fatherles nor the widowe when she powreth out hir praiers before thee For the teares running downe the cheeks of the widowe ascend vp into the heauens and hir crie against him which wrings it out by oppression Graâ—t therefore O mercifull God that in the sight of all gouernours and iudges they may find fauour and haue equall iudges and patrones of their matters that the iudgement of the stranger and fatherles be not peruerted nor the cause of the widowe neglected but that iudgement may be sought according to thy lawe the oppressed holpen iudgement giuen for the orphane and the widowe defended For thou hast giuen a straight commandement vnto all iudges saieng Keepe equitie and righteousnes deliuer the oppressed from the power of the oppressor Do not greeue nor oppresse the stranger the fatherles nor the widowe and shed none innocent bloud for thou art the God which wilt auenge thine elect that crie vnto thee Thou keepest truth for euer and euer dooing iustice to the oppressed with wrong Now therefore deliuer thou O Lord the fatherles and widowe out of the pawes of the rauening theeues which eate vp the houses of the widowes vnder the pretence of godlines and colour of right deliuer them I saie out of the hands of wicked iudges which faine and inuent lawes to suppresse the poore and to hurt the cause of the base among the people that widowes may be a praie for them and that they may rob the fatherles such peruerse iudges O Lord God in the daie of their visitation and calamitie from a far thou wilt vtterlie destroie Appoint vnto orphanes and widowes faithfull patrons which will be touched with an earnest care of their welfare And also giue vs willing minds to pleasure widowes fatherles children according to our abilitie to deliuer the poore when he crieth the fatherles which hath none to helpe to susteine and helpe him that is readie to fall to comfort the widowe euermore to be as a father to the fatherles and from our tender yeares to minister instruction to the widowes and suffer them neuer to perish but in blessing to blesse them and to fill them with bread For pure religion and vndefiled before thee O Lord our father is to visit the fatherles and widowes in their aduersitie and to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world For he which is mercifull towards the orphane as a father and sheweth himselfe as an husband towards his mother in taking the defence of their cause vpon him he shall be as an obedient son of the highest and thou God wilt more fauour him than a mother can pitie hir son but they which despite the sighes and teares of the widowe and keepe backe their loafe that the fatherles eate not thereof and suffer them to perish for want of cloathing and apparell yea which lift vp their hands to afflict them they shall greeuouslie be punished their shoulders shall fall from their ioints and their armes
me with thine oile of gladnes put vpon me the robes of righteousnes and couer me with the glorious purple adorne mee with the pretious stones of vertue and place vpon mine head glorie and honour that all mine ornament may be inward and that I may please thee through liuing in thy faith and â—eare and hoping in thy mercie For thou O sweet Iesu Christ art mine husband which tenderlie louest me my God whome I worship my head wherevntoâ— I am subiect and my bridegrome with whom I hope in heauen to reigne eternallie Amen Another praier to be said of anie noble woman ladie gentlewoman or modest matrone married FOrasmuch as it hath pleased thee O heauenlie father of thine inestimable mercie to bring me to this high estate of dignitie and to put me in possession of a place of honor as a matrone for other women to behold grant vnto mee I humblie beseech thee that in all my dooings I may followe the example of all vertuous and graue matrones which are specified and described for our example in the holy scripture that is to be as louing and obedient vnto my Lord and husband as Sara was to Abraham as Susanna was to Ioachim and as humble loiall and wise as Abigaell was to King Dauid Hester to King Ahesuerus or the blessed and noble virgin Marie was to Ioseph Grant also I beseech thee that I be neither proud presumptuous ambitious disdainefull of others in comparison of my selfe high-minded nor a boaster in mine owne bloud kindred beautie wit or dignitie but with the noble Queene Hester to saie Thou knowest my state O Lord and that I hate this signe of preeminence and worship which I beare vpon my head what time I must go foorth to be seene and that I abhor it as an vncleane cloth and that I weare it not when I am quiet alone by my selfe that bearing alwaies an euen mind and hauing an humble opinion of my selfe as she that knoweth hir selfe to be but dust and ashes and enâ—bled by thee from whome alone commeth the true nobilitie and gentrie to so manie as are borne of thee and made thy children through faith I may laie awaie all pompe and pride nicenes tendernes and disdaine and euer set more by others than by my selfe yea and thinke my selfe worsse than anie other in thy sight to the end I may alwaies liue vertuouslie holilie shamefastlie soberlie and chastlie in all meekenes gentle behauiour discreete conuersation prudence wisedome learning vertue and puritie both in bodie and soule both before thee and all men as becommeth a christian and faithfull woman and such a one as will be a true imitator of Rebecca Hester and the rest of those holie matrones and noble women mentioned in the scriptures that all other seeing my good example of life may praise thy name and be encouraged thereby to glorifie thee in their vertuous conuersations world without end Amen A praier to be vsed of the wife that hath a froward and bitter husband as a present remedie against the mischiefe of diâ—orcement and separation O Most wise and prouident GOD which in the beginning didst create man in thine owne image and out of him didst make the woman and didst bring hir vnto the man that she might be an helper vnto him and therefore thou causedst him to saie and confesse that she was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones thereby teaching him not onlie the holie and indissoluble band of loue vnitie and mutuall societie that ought to be betweene man and his wife as for whose sake he ought to leaue father and mother and to cleaâ—e vnto hir but also the most sâ—cred and blessed coniunction and knitting togither of our Lord Iesus Christ his sanctified Church and people so that no man can breake or despise that bond and vnitie but he must needs be giltie of presumption against God and of the wilfull breach and contempt of his ordinance Wherefore oh Lord sith it hath pleased thee to match me in this most honourable state of marriage according to thy diuine prouidence I beseech thee to make him an head vnto me and my selfe an helper vnto him according to my creation and as thy holie institution requireth And because thy holie word is the onlie rule and ordinarie to gouerne and direct our liues I hartilie desire thee oh good God giue this mine husband thy grace and holie spirit and so open thou his wits and senses that hauing by the light of thy grace the true knowledge and vnderstanding of thy holie word in all discretion he may knowe how to walke in his vocation both towards mee his poore wife and yoke-fellowe and all others as becommeth him and thereby become vnto me not so bitter a despiser and hater but a true louer sweet freend and godlie gouernour Thou O good father seest the great lacke and necessitie that I thine handmaid haue of a wise guide graue counseller holie instructor and continuall comforter O therefore I beseech thee looke vpon my trouble which I endure consider my reproofe and reproches that I beare in my bosome pitie my miserie ease me of so great a burthen and releeue my great need and necessitie Make this my husband I saie O deere God a head a vaile and defence vnto me for my preseruation and safetie for if we thus bite and deuour one another it cannot possible be but we shall be consumed one of another Make him therefore tender carefull and comfortable vnto me thy weake creature if it be thy good pleasure and grant that according to his promise made before thee and as thou hast commanded else-where in thy holie word he may with perfect and holie loue cherish nourish and loue me as his owne flesh and as Christ loueth his Church and as she that is heire togither with him of the grace of life that our praiers and godlie exercises to the benefiting of our soules and bodies be not interrupted or hindered Grant that he forsaking all other may cleaue onlie vnto me as becommeth without separation and that he may dwell with me as a man of knowledge and christian behauiour and gouernement to thy glorie my comfort and others edifieng But alas I must needs confesse vnto thee my God that I am most vnwoorthie of so good a beâ—efit for I haue not walked in this most honorable state purelie and holilie according to thy diuine ordinance whereby I haue made my selfe much more vnworthie to haue so pretious a gift at thy fatherlie hands and if it be thy good pleasure with frowardnes bitternes and vnkindnesse yea the hatred and disdaine of my husband thus to correct me for my fault I most hartilie thanke thee for it And I beseech thee so to order me in all things in thy great mercie that I neuer murmur or grudge impatientlie against thee for the same nor doo anie thing either against thee or my husband whereby thy maiestie may be displeased my husband offended or thy Gospell
and people slandered but deere God giue mee perfect patience I beseech thee and cause thou me to plucke mine eies from this my husband and yokefellow in too narrowlie beholding his infirmities and make me to behold thee my God in this thine holiâ— ordinance and to looke vpon my selfe and the wallet before me that I may see mine owne slips and faults and learne to pull the beame out of mine owne eie first before I find fault with the moâ—e in his Grant I saie that we may louinglie and with the spirit of meekenes beare one anothers burthen and that I for my part may quietlie beare the frailtie infirmities and faults of my husband with more patience mildnesse and modestie than hitherto I haue so that mine example may be to the comfort and commoditie of other to doo the like Oh Lord thou seest the great corruption of my nature and the pronesse thereof to sin and my weakenesse infirmitie and vnablenes to stand in temptation laie no more on me therefore deere father than thou wilt make me able to beare nor suffer me not to be tempted aboue my strength but in the middest of my temptations make such a waie and issue for me to escape out of dangers that may happen by the instigation of Sathan or his members as shall seeme best to thy diuine prouidence and wisedome so as the same may be to the furtherance of thy glorie the profit of the Church and the comfort of my conscience by Iesus Christ mine onlie mediatour and sauiour So be it A praier to be vsed of the wife for hir husband before or in his trauelling by land TO thee O Lord Iesu Christ I commend my husbands going foorth and his comming in his iourneie and his returning beseeching thee happelie by the hand of thy grace to leade him the way he is about to go or ride and purposeth now to take gratiouslie defend him O good God from the crafts deceits and lieng await of all his enimies as well bodilie as ghostlie Mercifullie keepe and preserue him from all perils both externall and internall and finallie by thine ineffable clemencie grace bring him safe whole and vnhurt home againe from all danger So be it Another O Lord which art the waie the truth and life thou hast promised in the holie scriptures that they which put their trust in thee and looke for helpe at thy hand and take thee for their mightie defender and strong castell shall be preserued harmelesse and walke in all their iourneie safelie and without danger for thou thy selfe wilt take charge of them and shadow them vnder thy mercifull wings so that none euill shall chance vnto them Yea as thou didst send thy holie Angell with Abraham and Tobit and with other thy faithfull seruants to be their guide and defender and to make their iournie prosperous so wilt thou send thy blessed Angels with them that wholie depend on thee and with strong faith commit themselues to thy most godlie tuition which shall safelie keepe them in all their waies yea and sooner hold them vp with thine hands then they shall dash their foote against a stone This thine accustomed gentlenesse towards thy seruants and these thy louing promises encourage methine handmaid greatlie at this present to come vnto thy maiestie and according to my dutie most humblie to beseech thee that as my husband now in thy name hath taken this his iournie vpon him so thou wilt vouchsafe him thy mercy and grace both in the beginning entrie gate and ending of this his trauell and iournie and that thou which art our God wilt keepe him both going out and comming in and direct his feet that he erre not in his waies O Lord I beseech thee giue thine holie Angels charge ouer him to keepe him in thy faith and â—eare wheresoeuer he goeth to take care for him to defend him from all misfortunes and to bring him prosperouslie to that place where his busines lieth Let them guide him I saie O Lord too and fro throughout all his iournie euen as Tobit the yonger was guided of the Angell Raphaell vnto Gabaell habiting in Ragis a Citie of the Medes O Lord our God direct thou his steps that he fall into no perill either of soule or bodie Blesse thou him I saie in this his iournie and preserue him both from the clawes of theeues and murtherers and from the iawes of deuouring beasts Let him find fauour wheresoeuer he commeth and let him honestlie be intreated in all places and his busines being happilie ended and his iournie prosperouslie finished doo thou vouchsafe to bring him safelie home againe of thy mercie and goodnesse that I may praise thee In all his waies be thou present with him as thou wast with Iacob trauelling into Mesopotamia and descending into Egypt Likewise as thou didst conduct the Israelites through the red sea and through the vncomfortable and perillous wildernesse going before them by day in a piller of a cloud and by night in a piller of fire so be thou with my deere husband alwaies in all places and leade him in all this his iournie and bring him home againe in safetie Be thou both his companion and conducter O Lord for into thy hands I commend both his life and all that he hath Finallie graunt that I continuing his faithfull trustie and louing spouse heere at home he may find both me and all his in good health and peace both of bodie and soule at his returne through our Lord Iesus Christ which liueth and reigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie spirit a God for euermore Amen A praier to be vsed of the wife for hir husband being a Captaine or Souldiour and gone a war-fare ALthough O most sweet Iesu there is nothing more commended and set forth vnto vs in thy holie scriptures than peace vnitie quietnes and concord vnto the which also not onlie Moses and the Prophets but thou and thine Apostles also doo therein diligentlie exhort and contrariwise vehementlie dehort and dissuade all men from discord enmitie malice and war bicause nothing is more seemelie for man than to embrace amiable peace friendlie concord and quiet amitie yea the verie creation shape birth of man proueth euidentlie man to be formed and made vnto peace yet such is the monstrous malice of Sathan that old enimie of mankind that he goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuoure and with all manner of labour sweateth to banish peace from the children of men and in sted thereof violentlie to thrust in discord tumults seditions wars bloud-sheading man-slaughter destruction of realmes and countries cities and villages intending by this meanes to make hauocke of all togither so that he furiouslie raging in his members prouoketh manie times thy seruants for the defence of their countrie and the safegard of their wife children families and people to go on warfare and to wage battell with their enimies I therefore most humblie beseech thee to assist my