mercy tovvardes vs for euer VVe confesse that our sinnes haue wel deserued thy vvrath and our vvickednesse is great ynough to prouoke thy anger and we know that thy mercies already shewed vnto vs haue beene more then our deseruinges vve haue alwayes felt thy fatherly affection towardes vs vvhen we haue shewed our selues vnnaturall children and revvarded thee euill for good Oh lord forgiue it vs forgiue our vngodly behauiour lay not our sins to our charge but continue thy mercy tovvardes vs still Looke fauourably vppon this Realme blesse va vvith thy goodnesse and defende vs from Sathan and all his ministers ouerthrow their deuelish deuices and bevvray their vngodly pollices preserue our Queene vvhome thou hast placed ouer vs let her rule faithfully in thy feare make her dayes happy and sende her a long life if it be thy good pleasure and vvhen this her earthly princely state shall ceasse giue her a heauenly kingdome where shee may reigne for euer make her counsellers vvise in thy feare to giue such councel as may tende to thy glory let he nobles know that their honors consisteth in thy worship Teach magistrates to humble themselues and seeke the aduancement of thy glory let them know that they are not placed in office by thee to gouern as they list or do that which seemeth good in their owne eyes but to suppresse sinne support vertue let them draw their swordes to cut downe vice and imbrace godlines as that which is onely their worship teach the ministerie to teach the trueth vnto their flocke and seeke the safety of thy people and not their owne priuate gayne let them not be such as can teach others and not them selues that can shere the sheepe and not feed the flocke let not the desire of filthy lucre make them carelesse to do their duety but let the remembrance of thee which wilt call them to an account cause them to haue a care of their charge Teach masters of housholdes mystresses and Dames children and seruauntes to serue thee and lead their liues in thy feare O Lord learne theÌ„ to know that to dwell vnder thy defence is only to be happy and not to obey thee is to be accursed and to heap vp for our selues wrath against the day of wrath vvhen euery man shall be revvarded according to his vvorkes let the power of thy majestie vvhich canst vvith a vvorde shake all the povvers in heauen and earth strike so deepe into our hearts that we may set more by thy fauour then all the fayre countenaunces of the world which are but vaniti let not any thing be our delight but that vvhich may please thee let nothing make vs sory but that which doth offend thy maiesty Also we beseech thee to looke vppon thy vvhole Churche vvheresoeuer with fauour beholde it comfort the afflicted members therof deliuer them with speed or giue them patience to tarry thy leasure let them not faint in that good course they haue begon that suffer for thy truch but be thou their help in trouble and lay no more vppon them then they are able to beare And although we at this time here at home haue not so great cause to complayne as many of our brethren in other countries But thou O Lord hast delt more fauourably vvith vs then with them yet let vs not be proude of our estate but giue vs heartes of humilitie to prostrate our selues before thy maiestie for vve know that our deseruings are not such nor thy hande is not so shortned but that thou canst strike vs as well as them let not so great wickednesse lodge in our brests that our prosperity shoulde make vs to forget thee for although vve sleepe now in secutitie and thinke our selues out of danger yet thou canst quickly set the nations about vs vpon our eares and giue vs ouer to a worse mischeefe euen amongest our selues thou canst soone make a whole man a sicke body and of a liuing body a dead corps and all our pleasures may soone be gone the aduersitie of one howre may make vs to forget all our sinnes haue truly deserued these and greater plagues but that thy mercy tovvardes vs hath beene great vvhich I beseech thee for euer to continue Forgiue vs our sinnes and pardon vs for thy sonne Christs sake quicken vs as thou art wont to do thy chosen giue vs a taste of the ioyes of thy kingdome that vve may knowe it is better to be a dore keeper in thy house then to dwel in the tentes of the wicked vngodly let not the vaine delights of this corrupt world lead vs vnto vanity nor let the alterations of this changeable time turne our harts from thee but teach vs to knovve that thou art alvvayes one and the same dost neuer forget such as doe put their trust in thee VVe know that thy fatherly care ouer thy children is great that they shal not loose a haire of their head but thou wilt knowe how they come forÌ„ it oh learn vs for so gret loue to loue thee againe and feare to offend so deare a Father keep farre from vs the breach of thy laws couetous mindes lying lipes swearing tongues malicious hearts vnchast and vngodly behauiour which doth offend thee and prouoke thine anger againsty vs beate down our stoute stomcks that we may stand in awe feare thy displeasure that the plagues due for our sinnes may be turned away from vs. O Lord make vs wise in time plaÌ„t in our harts a loue to thy iudgements and alwaies haue im minde that thou which madest the eye must needs see which madest the eare must needs heare and thou which seaâ—chest the hearts and reins must needs find out our wickednesse And because of our selues we are not able to doe any thing that is good but prone and apt to all kinde of sinne and wickednesse we beseech thee so to assist vs with the ayde and help of thy holy spirite that we may through the same do those things vvhich of our selues we are not able that it may be to thy glory and for the health of our owne soules Oh let these our praiers pearce the heauens and enter into thine eares and giue vs this and all other things necessary for vs from this time to the end of our liues and after death a life to liue for euer for thy deare sonnes sake in whose name vve beg it of thee in that praier vvhich he himselfe hath taughte vs saying Our father c.
in the old time did the holie women which trusted in God attire themselues let them take heede in anie wise the they put not on pride with their apparel for * Iam. 4.6 God resisteth the proude and giueth grace vnto the lowlie This is the counsel that I woulde wishe them to take which is not mine own aduise but the couÌ„sell of the holie ghost which did know what was best meete for them and therefore I would wish al such as feare God gladly to accept it Par. In deede I thinke the counsel bee good and how it wil bee accepted hereafter I cannot tel but I am sure that it is nowe litle or nothing regarded neither doe I thinke that amongst the moste part it wil be any thing followed for women wil bee fine and handsome I tel you say you what you wil. Gen. If they set more by the fauoure of God then they doe by the praise of man let them frame themselues to that order which God himselfe by the mouth of his seruants hath set down and he wil blesse them and make them ioyful mothers of vertuous children and shal spend their daies in happinesse and end their liues in peace if not they shal one daye finde that their glorie wil be their shame such pride is their vtter destruction and the breach of Gods lawes their euerlasting confusion Par. They are bound to thanke you for your good wil but I feare mee a greate manie of them woulde like you better if you had held your peace Gen. I knowe not nor I care not what thanks I haue for the same but that which I haue saide is for good wil that I beare vnto them and to discharge my duetie which I owe vnto God Par. I praâ—e you sir if a man woulde chuse a good wife amongest the like of all these women whom you haue spoken of by what tokens shal she bee knowne Gen. Saloman doth teach vs that fauor * Pro. 31.3 is deceitfull and beautie is a vaine thing and a woman that feareth the Lorde is only to be praised Therefore to chuse a good Wife by Salomans aduise is in a Woman to respect the feare of God as the chéefest thing that is to be sought for Par. And I praie you Sir haue your selfe met with so good a one as you speake of Gen. Truelie it is not for me to answere to that question but such as she is I prayse God for her and this she could saie in making â—hoise of a husband that she wold non but him that would chuse a wife for vertue for hee that marrieth his Wife for riches promotion beautie or such like which are the delights of a corruptible eye and maye soone vanish and vade awaie when the woman shal want these thinges the good man wil lacke his wife and for her selfe if shee might haue al the worlde in iointer and a husband that coulde bring her al world lye delightes and yet without vertue is like a painted sepulchre that is faire withoute and within ful of deade mens bones But where the marriage is made for vertue which doth continue for euer they shal bee sure alwaies to loue and liue wel together Par. If you haue founde so good a Wife you maie think your selfe happie Gen. I doe confesse it and knowe it to be the greatest blessing that in this worlde man may possesse For examples to teache vs what inconueniences wicked women vnto their husbandes haue wrought * 3. Kin. 11.4 3. Kin. 21.9 Salomons wiues did turne his heart and caused him to commit idolatrie wicked Iezabel wrought the destruction of her husband as wel as herselfe Iob his * Iob. 2.9 wife bid him curse God and die and the wise man saith that it is better to dwel with a * Eccle. 25.8 Lion and a Dragon then with a wicked and a brauling woman Par. You are verie ful of your Scripture I maruel how a man of your calling coulde atteine to this knowledge for you haue manie lets and a great charge to looke vnto which in my iudgement woulde occupie so much of your time that you might not haue leasure to studie for this learning Gen. It was my first studie before I had so great a charge to knowe howe I mighte aunswere it before I tooke it in hande for in al my affairs I ought to make the * Psal 119. statutes of the Lorde my counsellers that I may be sure alwaies to bee wel aduised of that which I take in hand Par. What you are a Gentleman and me thinkes this grauetie dothe not become you for you must be lustie as the world goeth now a daies or else you wil bee little or nothing set by Gen. Howe I am accounted of in the worlde I set no store for I hunt not after the praise of men if I did I * Gal. 1.10 could not bee the seruaunt of God I am contented to let the worlde goe as it is with the vanities thereof leaue the idle praises of a vaine man to those that loue them and my selfe doe esteeme them no better woorth then a blast of winde blown into the ayre whiche is come vnlooked for gone we knowe not whither but if there be any that wil think euil of mee for framing a life to liue according to the worde of God I woulde they knew the daungers are greate and their enimies more then they are ware of for by what meanes they may chaunce to plucke al the powers of heauen and earth aboute their eares for the cause is the Lordes and although hee do a while * Psal 50.2 Pro. 12.6 wink at their sin yet in the end he wil laugh at their destruction Therfore I woulde wishe them to bee wise in time and be no longer a friende to filthinesse and an enemie to vertue but let them thinke it sufficient to haue spente the time past of their life in * 1. Pet. 4.3 wantonnesse drunkennesse gluttonie and such like and to return though long first yet at last that the Lord may haue mercie vpon them Par. You say wel but yet there is a time for al things I thinke you are not alwaies in your booke nor so holy but that you can be contented to vse lawful exercises which are fit for a Gentleman as hauking hunting and such like Gen. Lawful exercises being lawfully vsed I can very wel like of and as for hauking and hunting they are such exercises as many men in these daies do make them their occupations and as the thinges are indifferent beeing indifferently vsed so as they are now amongst the most part put in practise they are shamefully abused Par. I pray you Sir let me know what you dislike in these thinges mee thinkes there is no such fault to be founde therein I pray you giue me leaue to speake for theÌ„ for I loue to keepe a Hauke my selfe and course a Hare sometime me thinkes it is a goodly sport Gen.
It is not vnlike but you loue it wel for there are some of your coate that are so â—n loue with these thinges that they haue greater care ouer their Dogges then for the soules of the people Par. But to let that matter passe I pray you let me know what bee the faultes that you finde in hauking and hunting Gen. For hunting this I may saye and such as are hound kéepers shal bear me witnesse that there is as much spent about the feeding of their vile dogges as woulde fill the bellies of many a poore body as deere in the sight of the Lord as they themselues And the time that they bestowe vainlie al the daie al the weeke a whole moneth a whole yeare yea and some their whole life in these and such like vanities mighte and ought to be spent much better Their vaine talke their blasphemous othes for whiche they shal aunswere are the fruites of this their pleasure which in the end withoute amendment wil work them their vtter destruction Par. Although in manie these faultes maie be found yet there are some that can hehaue themselues better and vse none of these things whereof you speak Gen. Some there maie bee of that number you speake of or else they were naught al but they are so few that amongst twenti a man shal hardlie find two that can keepe their mouths from cursing their tongues from blaspheming the glorious name of God and he that can thinke best of himself and hath kept his tong a great while yet when it is come to that passe that his patience shall bee tried as when his houndes are at a fault or his hauk cannot be serued then he himself wil be at a fault and think the greatest othe he can inuent to little to help the matter and then with shame they shewe their religion that they set not so much by the dishonouring of their God as they doe by the rating of a vile Cur. But I woulde wishe suche faultes to bee looked vnto in time that they be not ouertaken in their sinne and rewarded for their iniquity they haue manie orders to bee obserued in these pastimes and many lecinges there is amongst them for trifles I wish they wold leaue these vaine matters and lece one another for greater faultes as cursing lying swearing and suche like that the name of God be not blasphemed in the end themselues for their sinnes accordingly rewarded for if the Lord fall a lecing of them he will pay them home and giue them suche stripes as they shall feele the smart thereof for euer for let them flatter themselues as fayre as they can and thinke better of themselues then they do deserue yet if their pastimes be full of abuse and their mirth be not in the feare of God they drawe iniquitie with coards of vanitie and sin as it were with a Cartrope Par. In deed as you saie it were verie wel if this that you haue spoken of might be put in practise that this lying curssing and swearing might be vtterlie abolished but yet mee thinkes a Hauking othe sometimes is a smal matter and they are but Gentlemens faultes and therefore I thinke they may the better bee borne with all Gen. What doe you thinke M. Parson that the Lorde doth regarde the person of one man more then another for that he can be contented to suffer than in a gentleman which he doth punishe in others No holde this for an euerlasting trueth that with him there is no * 2. Chr. 19.7 Act. 10.3.4 Rom. 2.11 Ephe. 6.9 respect of persons but such as continue in well doing shall receiue according they that offend his maiestie without amendment shal find no mercy Par. But I will tell you Gentleman some there bee that are so accustomed to these faultes that they ran not leaue it if a man woulde hand them and therefore you must beare somwhat with the world or else there wil be no pastime Gen. What M. Parson woulde you haue mee to bee a baude to the wickednesse of the people and to soothe them in their sinne Fye vpon you fye vpon you are you a minister wil vtter such vngodly speech I perceiue you sauour of the things that are not of God And I woulde you knew it it is so farre from me to alowe of their wickednesse that I seeke by al meanes possible to suppresse the same for I know it is not lawful for me to sow * Ezec. 13.18 pillowes vnder mens elbowes nor to laugh at their sinne If I did I might chance weepe for my wickednes and be guiltie of their sinne Therefore I woulde they al knewe that suche as * Psal 119. Leuâ— 1â— 11 delight in cursing it shal fal on them selues and that * Apoc. 21.8 lyinge is forbidden and they that vse it shal haue their part * Eccle. 23.12 in that laâ—e which burneth with â—iâ—e and Brimstone that the * Exod. 20.7 mouth of the swearer sleâ—eth the soule and the Lorde will not holde them guiltlesse that take his name in vaine now if they thinke it good to sweare cursse and lye and loue the punishmentes due for the same let them vse it stil if not let theÌ„ learn to feare before the maiestie of God tremble at his iudgements for as the night doth follow the day so doth these punishmentes so vngodly a life for such as offend without any scare of God shall be punished for euer without repentance and they the neuer leaue their sinne shall be sure neuer to bee forgiuen but because repentaunce is a remedie at all times and time must be taken while it is I would wish it be sought for while it may be founde vnlesse they seeke it hereafter when it will not be gotten Par. I perceiue you are verie seuere in punishing of sinne where you may beare rule and therefore I thinke you are a harde master to your seruauntes or else they are verie good seruants to their Master Gen. As for me and my seruants my desire is that we may be such as may serue God so shall I be sure to vse them well and they shall not faile to serue me faithfullie Par. And are all your housholde such as feare God Gen. If they be not they are not such as may please me and if I knewe them to bee otherwise they shoulde not remaine in my house for I know where the feare of God is not that place is * Pro. 3.33 Deut. 28.16 accursed but the dwellinges of the righteous shall euermore bee blessed and to my knowledge I haue not one but is so reformed of his life that hee doth not giue any example of euill Par. If it bee true you may saie more then any that euer I heard of before and I praie you what orders haue you taken to bring this to passe Gen. First I haue according to the * Deut. 6.7 commaundement shewed them the lawe of the Lorde