of mortall body from our breath What 's that but a cessation from cares and from a liuing death What 's that cessation Why it is a sleepe by which we wholly are refreshed Yea but in sleepe who shall vs keepe euen he that guards his owne redeemed But who made death it was made by sinne and what is sinne the lawes transgression Of that how should I vantage winne all sinne is weakened by confession But by death's dint 't is ouercome and whence came sinne from hell beneath When was 't first bred in Mothers wombe when will it end not till our death This seemeth strange but this is true by nature sinne is hatch'd in vs Old Adams Rules till God renue Why then I see the case stands thus As sinne goes in so life goes out as sinne goes out so life comes in So by the Lord 't is brought about sinne conquers life life conquers sinne Though life by sinne be still annoy'd and sinne of death by strength and sting Yet viprous sinne by death 's destroy'd life killeth death when death kills sinne The death of body or of nature is that where to all subiect bee Cause sinne hath taintod euery creature according vnto Gods decree When bodies life doth â—ade away and we giue vp our dying ghost And thâ—… our corpes is clad in clay and vnto God our soulâ—s doth post It is ordained and decreed that all men by necessity Through that first Adams sinfull deede are subiect made the death to dye To dye for sinne 't is due for sinne to aye in sinne a heauie case To dye to sinne is to beginne to leaue our sinne and liue to grace The death in sinne without repenting in affect effect and aspecting In thinking doing and frequenting and offered grace of God reiecting I wretched wofull execrable haue plague of God by sinne for sinne Of miseries most miserable to them that liue and dye therein But he that dies before he dies when he is dead he is not dead But old age dies and he shall rise with glory from the graue his bed And he that 's toucht with conscience pricke whose sence of sinne is sharpe and quicke That man is sicke ere he is sicke and when he 's sicke he is not sicke I looke poore wretch on mine estate and others monish by mine harmes That was neere death but now of late by sinne enchanted by her charmes Had I not dyed sure I had dide O happy Phaenix liuing death Still let my flesh be mortifide O let me breath a liuing breath Sweet Iesus thou didst dye for me and in thy death with thee I dide O liue in me and I in thee shall liue and euermore abide And wormes meate thou durt clay slime kill carnall lust thy soule to saue Quaile vild affections whilst hast time that life through death by grace maist haue Shake hands with sinnes and all offences and learne to dye before thou dye When bidst adiew vnto thy sences then shalt thou liue eternally The cause of death The cause of death is wicked sinne for out of sinne our death did flowe From thence did all our plagues begin out of this tree our ills did growe Hunger fire death and all created were for punishment And layd on man for Adams fall and was the cause of our torment God said to Adam Scripture saith what houre soeuer thou shalt eate Thou shalt be sure to dye the death doe thou not taste forbidden meate Through enuious malice of the deuill into the world came this estate Sinnes entered with all actions euill by Adams fault not by our Fate Two sorts of death from death by sinne proceedes as effects from their cause The death of nature doth begin and death of grace next by Gods lawes By which we are made slaues for euer in darknesse called death eternall From worme of conscience freed neuer depriu'd of all the ioyes supernall As by example euident two sorts of death approued well The glutton rich to hell was sent his body buried quick in hell And Lazarus poore beggar dead to Abrahams bosome carried is With Angels wings with glory spread where is true ioy and comforts blisse The one hath heauen the other hell the one hath blisse the other bale The one in heauen still must dwell and the other deuils pull and hale He died with his conscience euill in death he sawe his wickednesse And his damnations with the deuill as holy Scriptures doe expresse This is the consolation great of them that in their death-beds lie Their mindes flie vp to the mercy seate and there for mercy lowdly crie By Christ which death abollished and sinne that 's cleans'd by his blood Whose merits pardon purchased for all our sinnes and death withstood To vs his goodnesse is imputed to him the sinnes that we committed And we for righteous are reputed and all our sinnes they are remitted For he alone by death hath bought vs from power and paine of deuill of hell Beat Sathan downe with iron rod to place where damned spirits dwell Eternall death could not preuaile 'gainst him nor ouer him haue power Christ strengthned those whom sinne did quaile his might the mighty did deuoure O're death o're sinne and hideous hell he gaue vs life and victory To all those that keepe his precepts well and them enstalls in endlesse glory For as by Adam all men dyed for sinne and by iniquity In Christ shall all men be reuiu'd to liue with him eternally The godly and iust people haue most comfort though with paine and griefe They suffer death and lye in graue and seeme forsaken saue reliefe They are sheepe which men ordaine to death and slaughter to be put As silly guiltlesse Lambes are slaine when Butchers knifes their threats doe cut For we which liue shall giuen be to death for Jesus Christ his sake If they doe not dispaire in thee no feare of death can cause them quake But rest assured they shall passe through death to life eternally Who aske for mercy and for grace and vnto God for Faith doe cry They suffer both his hand and rod and when he strikes are patieut They put their hope and trust in God who comforts them with hearts content Their death is good and of great price they also know through Christ his passion Death 's ouercome in wonderous wise and so receiue they consolation If any touch'd in latest paines of dire full death this faith holds fast In midst of death his liâ—t attaines and shall haue lasting life at last The Christians surely doe beleeue that when they seeme to be most dead That then they most of all doe liue and so with ioy lift vp their head Christ calls the death of godly men a sleepe his owne a death and why The souldiers speare was made a pen his blood the Inke to write thereby Quietus est for-Christians all and then the same to vs was sealed A sleepe he iustly may it call cause by his stripes our wounds were
my carelesse and negligent receiuing by the suddaine hand of sicknesse be struck vnto death but as the faithfull Iewes in their constant and conscionable celebration of their feast of Passeouer by them kept a perpetuall remembrance of their Egyptian deliuerrnce from Pharaohs bondage were exceedingly edified confirmed in the promises of thy loue that thou wouldest be their God and they should be thy people which they sawe fulfilled in their Fathers and still continued vnto themselues through the hope of the Messiah by whom they expected their greatest safety and deliuerance Graunt vnto mee O heauenly Father that as the Minister of thy Word and Sacraments setteth a part the Bread and Wine so I may remember the eternall loue by which in the beginning thou diddest set a part thy Sonne through faith in him to be my saluation promising that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life And as I see the Wine powred out and the Bread broken so I may remember thy patient enduring the breaking of thy body and shedding of thy blood whereby thou hast payed the price and satisfied the punishment that was due vnto me and as the Bread Wine doe presently comfort and refresh my body so most sweet Sauiour let me feele my soule so comforted and edified this day and so often as I shall thinke of thee and thy mercies hereby promised and assured yea graunt that being made one with thee by spirituall vnion I may liue in thee and thou in me in the encrease of a godly life to the honour of thee my Sauiour To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be giuen by me and all thine both present and eternall praise Amen Amen Another godly Meditation before the receiuing of the holy Communion O Almighty God and mercifull Father I am a secret sinner and my heart is a bottomlesse pit of all corruptions wilfully and foolishly ignorantly and obstinately haue I sinned against thee vnto whose eye all the secrets of my soule lye open but now I come vnto thee as the sick man vnto the Physitian as an vncleane man vnto the Well of mercy and grace offered in the pretious blood-shedding of Iesus Christ and represented to my soule in this blessed Sacrament Haue mercy vpon mee O Lord haue mercy vpon mee and forgiue mee all the euills that I am guilty of Giue mee grace that I may discerne the Lords body and so receiue it in this Sacrament with such chastity of body humblenesse of minde thankfulnesse of soule hearty contrition dread and reuerence as is meete for such a mysterie O Lord Iesus it is truly said of thee that thou didst receiue sinners and eate with them and I verily beleeue that thou art the same still full of goodnesse and mercy wherefore I beseech thee leaue me not to my selfe reiect me not from thy Table come into my heart and purge me from all filthinesse of the flesh and of the spirit Enter into my soule seale and sanctifie me both within and without Inflame me with loue and charity towards all men to forgiue and forget to doe good to pray for them that I may follow the steps of my blessed Sauiour Open the eyes of my vnderstanding and helpe mee to examine my selfe concerning my knowledge faith and repentance Send mee the hunger and thirst after this righteousnesse satisfie me with this heauenly foode make mee verily partaker of all the benefits of his Passion Oh deare Lord Iesus since thou hast suffered so many things for my sake and hast commanded mee not to dispaire nor distrust thy goodnesse graunt me grace to eate of this bread and to drinke of this Cup worthily that I may continually remaine in thy grace and fauour O Lord God the Father giue mee the full consolation of this mysterie and commemoration that my faith may be encreased my hope confirmed my charity enflamed my weake conscience comforted all dangers repelled and my soule assured of her saluation in the blood of Christ let no profanenesse enter into my heart so long as I am about this holy action but giue mee grace to receiue with purity of heart and cleanenesse of soule with loue dread and stedfast faith haue mercy vpon me good Lord that by vnworthy receiuing I be not guilty of his pretious body and blood who came downe from heauen liued with men and swamme through a red sea of blood in his agony and passion to bee my Redeemer Haue mercy vpon the whole Church and to this purpose haue mercy vpon this place and this companie that they may serue and please thee in this holy seruice and all other actions of their life O Lord be not angry with mee a barren and dry tree a creature with a face of brasse and heart of flint I haue not so many teares as are sufficient to wash thy feete with Mary Magdalen but thou hast shed as much of thine owne blood as surficeth to wash away all the sinnes of mee and all the world then be not angry with mee O Lord but let thy grace supply my wants let thy mercy pardon my sinnes let thy holy spirit prepare my soule thy merits enrich my pouerty and thy most pretious blood wash away all the spots of my life that I may worthily receiue this heauenly Sacrament so that I may bee strengthened thereby throughly filled with the heauenly foode of thy body and blood for the mortification of the old man the confirmation of my faith and the finall saluation of my soule O Lord heare my prayers graunt my requests I beseech thee Amen Godly Meditations vpon the loue and mercy of God in bestowing together with his Sonne these holy Mysteries vpon vs the commemoration whereof may moue vs to an awefull reuerence in the participation of the same O Father of mercy and God of all consolation seeing all creatures doe confesse thee to bee their Gouernour and Lord it becommeth vs the workmanship of thine owne hands to reuerence and magnifie thy godly Maiestie First for that thou hast created vs to thine owne image and similitude but chiefely because thou â—ast deliuered vs from that euerlasting death and damnation into which Sathan drew mankinde by the meanes of sinne from the â—ondage whereof neither man nor Angell was able to make vs free But thou O Lord rich in mercy and infinite in goodnesse hast prouided our redemption to stand in thine onely and welbeleued Sonne whom of very loue thou didst giue to bee made man perfect in all things freely exempted and excepted from sinne that in his body he might receiue the punishment of our transgression by his death to make satisfaction to thy Iustice and by his resurrection to destroy him that was the Author of death and so bring againe life vnto the world from which the whole off-spring of Adam was most iustly exiled O Lord we acknowledge that no creature was able to comprehend the length and breadth the deepenesse and height of that
thy most excellent loue which moued thee to shew mercy where none was deserued to promise and giue life where death had gotten victory to receiue vs into thy grace when wee could doe not hing but rebell against thy maiestie O Lord the blinde dulnesse of our corrupt nature will not suffer vs sufficiently to weigh these thy most ample benefits Yet neuerthelesse at the commandement of Iesus Christ our Lord wee present our selues to this his Table which hee hath left to be vsed in remembrance of his death vntill his comming againe to declare and witnesse before the world that by him alone we haue receiued liberty and life â—hat by him alone thou doest acknowledge vs to be thy children and heires that by him alone we haue entrance to the Throne of thy grace that by him alone wee are possessed in our spirituall Kingdome to eate and drinke at his Table with whom wee haue our conuersation presently in heauen and by whom our bodies shall be raised vp agâ—ine from the dust and shall be placed with him in that endlesse ioy which thou O Father of mercy hast prepared for thine Elect before the foundation of the world was layd And these most inestimable benefits wee acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercy and grace by thine onely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ for thâ— which we therefore thy congregation mooued by thy holy Spirit render vnto thee all thanks praise and glory for euer What tongue or what heart can worthily giue thee thankes O Lord Iesu for thine vnspeakeâ— able loue towards vs who to thâ—â— intent to redeeme mankinde forlâ—rne didst vouchsafe to become man and to take all the miseries of our estates vpon thee insomuch that in the end thou being a pure and vnspotted Lambe wast contented to bee made a sacrifice for vs vpon the Altar of the Crosse and to abide the punishment due for our sinnes that thou mightest reconcile vs to thy Father yea and both in life and death thou didst spend giue and bestow thy selfe wholy vpon vs and for vs. And thy gracious goodnesse was not so contented but also lest we might at any time perchance forget so great a benefit or at least our trust in thee might at any time quaile euen now raigning in heauen thou refreshest our soules from time to time with the foode of thy body and chearest them vp with the holy Cup of thy blood Wherefore I beseech thee let thy spirit cleanse my heart that I may not come vnworthily to that heauenly feast and to the table whereat euen the very Angels doe tremble but that by thy shedding thy selfe into my bâ—wels I may growe manly in thee and become the liuelier by spirituall encreasements so as I may continue vnto the end in the blessed fellowship of thy mysticall body whom it is thy will to haue all one with thee in such wise as thou art all one with the Father by the knitting of the holy Ghost to whom be praise and thanks for euermore Amen I yeeld thee hearty thankes O Lord Iesus Christ for thine vnutterable loue in vouchsafing to redeeme mankinde by thine own death And I beseech thee suffer not thy most holy blood to haue beene shed in vaine for mee but that I growing vp in thee by continuall encrease of heauenly strength may become a fit member of thy mysticall body which is the Church and neuer swarne from that most holy couenant which thou madest with thy chosen Disciples in thy last Supper by distributing the bread vnto them and by reaching them the Cup and by them to all those that by a liuely faith apprehend the merits of thy most pretious death and passion My Lord Iesus Christ what am I that thou shouldest vouchsafe to come vnder my roofe Can a sinfull man deserue such grace O Lord my God I am certainly altogether vnworthy Am I better then all my Fathers were thou wouldest not shew thy selfe to Moses one twinkling of an eye and how happeneth it that thou humblest thy selfe so much as to come to a man that is both a Publican and a sinner And thou vouchsafest not onely to eate with him but also to giue thy selfe to be eaten of him Haile O bread of life which cammest downe from heauen and which giuest life to as many as receiue thee worthily Surely whosoeuer receiueth thee wâ—rthily although his soule be seuered from his body by temporall death yet shal he not die for euer because that the separation is not a death but a passing from death to life by reason whereof hee that eateth thee worthyly beginneth to liue with thee for euer when he dieth in this world thou art the bread of the Angels the very sight of thee doth solace and glorifie the Angels thou art the food of the soule the glory of heauen the solace of all Angels Saints O most holy food by the eating whereof by a liuely faith is set free from all euill is filled with all goodnesse and is vndoubtedly made immortall O sacred foode of our pilgrimage by the strength whereof wee passe out of this naughty world to the glorious company in heauen Goe on therfore O beleeuing and faithfull soule be merry and reioyce in God thy Sauiour take thy fill of this feast wherein the body of thy Sauiour is set before thee to feede on man fell from God by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree but by this foode hee is redeemed againe to endlesse glory These â—achrymae following containe godly and deâ—out Prayers for constancâ—e in affâ—ictions and to beare malicious slanders patiâ—â—tly O Lord how doe my woes encrease how many are my miseries My troubles rise and neuer cease men iudge thou wilt not heare my cries They say thou wilt me quite forsake that there 's no helpe for me in thee But Lord they are but such that make their censure with a carnall eye And doe not spiritually discerne thy secret purpose and intents Correcting them whom thou wouldst learne to know thy Law and Commandements Chastising them whom thou do'st loue and scourging them oft with thy rod That thou their hearts and mindes may'st moue to feare and serue thee mighty God The wicked outward meanes preferre and worldly helpes at neede they muster And not to God themselues referre nor comfort take from heauenly lustre Who workes by meanes his sacred will and without meanes brings to effect And against meanes can saue or kill for those him serue his true Elect Therefore let not their malice moue nor yet their taunts diâ—may my minde I will hold fast by God aboue whose promise iust and true I finde I striue thy statutes Lord to keepe what thou command'st I will performe Direct me right to thee I creepe O Lord doe thou my life reforme Defend me Lord from their despight that watch to catch me in their snare And to entrap me day and night with nets and ginnes ere I beware And scoffe me basely with reproach with shamefull
Keepe me from fees that neuer 〈◊〉 to take my life from me ô Lord Thy seruice is most perfect free to know thee 't is eternall life Reach out thy helping hand to mee against my foes that gainst me striue O God from whom all good desires from whom all iust workes doe proceedâ— Whose wise great actes all men admires assist me in the time of neede O Lord whose power and qualitie is sinners trespasse to forget Being tied and bound with chaines of sinne for pitty loose me I intreat Assist me in this mortall age what change or chance so ere befall From Sathan sinne and enemies rage Lord still defend me from them all Almighty God which giu'st vs grace now in thy name to pray to thee And promisest in any place when ioynes together two or three Thou wilt giue and grant what they request now Lord doe the desires fulfill Of vs thy serâ—…ts us seeme best and most expedient to thy will In this world knowledge vs granting of thy pure trueth and sanctity And after death let our new being be life with thee eternally O God that no time doest despise the fighing of a contrite heart Nor the desires of sinners cries in troubles anguish griefe and smart Assist our prayers in distresse and graciously vouchsafe to heare When sudden euils vs oppresse and subtill crafâ—s of foes vs fear Let them ô Lord be brought to nought and by thy goodnesse scattered be That so to vs no hurt being brought we may giue thankes and praise to thee Oh God of mercy we thee pray to looke on our infirmities And all those euils turne away which we deserue contâ—…llie Grant that in troubles and sicknes we put our trust and hope in thee And serue thee in true holines in awefull â—rueth and sanctitie Through Christ the onely aduocate and mighty Lord of all mankinde That workes Gods loue from wrath and hate towards his elect to be most kinde Oh God to whom all hearts are seene and hid desires are plainely kâ—owne My life reforme and minde make cleane my spirit inspire to be thine owne That I may loue thee perfectly and magnifie thy holy name Through Christ my Sauiour worthily and all the world confesse the same Lighten my darkenesse Lord I pray thee from daily dangers me defend Let not flesh world nor deuill dismay me keepe me both to and in the end Thy mighty hand and arme protect mee thy mercy in Christ be my saluation Lord euer let thy word direct mee and thy Spirit giue me consolation The peace of God which farre exceeds all vnderstanding of mans wit Preserue my soule from wicked deeds and gâ—ide my heart to doe what 's fit A Morning Prayer for a priuate person ALmighty God and heauenly Father I make my prayer vnto thee in an acceptable time calling most faithfully and feruently vpon thee in the name and mediation of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ thy well beloued Sonne in whom thou art well pleased trusting that for his sake and for the multitude of thy mercies thou wilt heare me and grant my petitions may be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my saluation Almighty immortall and invisible God who inhabitest eternitie and dwellest in light that none can attaine vnto whom neuer man saw neither can see as thou art in thy eternall glory with this eye of flesh and liue vnto thee oh Lord God doe I prostrate and direct my selfe most humbly confessing that I am but dust and ashes not worthy to open my lippes to speake vnto thee or once with my eyes to looke vp to thy heauens to behold thy glory in thy wonderfull workes for oh Lord I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and am not worthy to bee counted or called thy Sonne being by nature the child of wrath a fire-brand of hell altogether both in body and soule begotten conceiued and brought foorth in sinne and have euer since my first originall liued and continued therein adding sinne vnto sinne and heaping vp transgression vpon transgression and drinking in iniquitie as the beast doth water so that oh my Lord God if thou shouldest but behold mee with thy pure eyes that can abide no iniquite thou mightest not onely punish and afflict me with diuers crosses with sundry paines sicknesse and diseases in this mortall life but O Lord thou mightest follow and pursue mee with thy secret hatred with thy infinite and eternall displeasure yea and for euer giue me my part portion with the wicked reprobates and damned spirits in infernall darkenesse But oh Lord though by nature and desert hell be my portion yet thou hast pleased for Christ his sake in whom alone I beleeue the pardon of all my sinnes originall and actuall of omission and commission of ignorance and knowledge and of presumption in all which kindes I haue mightily offended thee mine owne conscience beside the testimony of thy word bearing witnesse which is greater then if ten thousands of witnesses should stand vp against me But ô Lord for thy Christ his sake that immaculate and vnspotted I am be that was once sacrificed for the Redemption of the whole world doe away all my sinnes and offences and let them not at any time through Sathâ—ns accusation or aggrauation stand vp against me neither in conscience in this world to accuse mee or in the day of thy second comming to condemne mee wash them away ô Lord in the precious blood of thy Sonne and for his sake bee at peace with mee Seale vp vnto my soule and conscience this day and while I am in this life the assured pardon of all my sinnes of thought word and deed Let thy Spirit dwell in me and testifie vnto and with my Spirit this day the assurance of my Iustification and adoption O Lord sanctifie and regenerate mee to thy Image through thy holy Spirit from whence through Adams sinne and my owne actuall I am fallen should for euer lye plunged therein if thou Lord shuldest denie to reach foorth vnto mee thy mercifull hand or thy hand full of mercy and aboundant kindnesse in Christ. O Lord if when we were dead in sinnes and trespasses and inasmuch as in vs lay thy most malicious enemies when wee were without God and without hope in the world and sought not after thee till thou as to Adam in the garden didst seeke and finde vs out How much more beeing in Christ and in him seeking thee wilt thou be found of vs and nigh vnto vs when wee call vpon thee O Lord thou hast promised that if wee aske wee shall haue if we seeke we shall finde if wee knocke it shall bee opened vnto vs wherefore I beseech thee pardon my weake Faith O Lord encrease in me godly sorrow for all my offences past and present ô let mee sorrow that I cannot sorrow according to the heighâ—… multitude of my transgreâ—… Lord make mee to know my sâ—… not onely open but secret not 〈◊〉 the highest but
euen in the lowest degree and breed in me a perfecâ—… hatred of them not in respect of punishment temporall or eternall but in filiall feare and godly affection grant for thy Christ his sake that I may hate and detest them and my selfe in them and for them And to this end Lord open mine eyes that in the hearing and reading of thy word as the linely and most effectuall meanes I may obtaine the assurance of thy loue and fauour and let it be that to mee which it is in it selfe thy strong power and mighty arme to my saluation Let it be vnto mee the sweete sauour of life vnto life and not at any time through my vnworthinesse the sauour of death vnto death Good Lord hereby create in me a cleane heart and renew a right Spirit within mee that I may delight in thy word aboue gold aboue much fine gold yea aboue thousands of gold and siluer let thy word bee a continuall light vnto my patheâ— and a daily lanterne vnto my feet ôlet me not stand at a stay in grace nor in any measure of gift of grace much less decline or goe backe in any grace or gift of grace but grant that I may in the vse of all holy meanes goe on in grace till I come vnto a perfect man in Christ â—esus Lord keepe me this day that I may not like Lots wife looke back again or like the vnthankful Israelites esteeme the homely fare of Egypt of this world of things of this life aboue the heauenly Manna thy word the only true food of life But like Abraham the rich Marchant leaue sell all that this world can affoord to attaine the Kingdome of heauen vnto which thou hast called mee by faith in Christ at this day and for euer Hauing begd these graces I returne vnto thee humble thanks for all thy benefits that I haue receiued not onely before but since my being as for my election before time and for my vocation in time from whence haue followed my iustification and some measure of sanctification in this life and my assured hope of glorification in the life to come For these inestimable blessings which no minde can conceiue nor tongue expresse I returne vnto thee all such possible praise and hearty thankes as my vnderstanding can conceiue beseeching thee that I may this day all the dayes of my life walke worthy of all these thy mercies O Lord I thanke thee for these other inferiour testimonies of thy loue which thou hast made more common with the vniust then with the iust I thanke thee ô Father that thou hast shared mee out so great a portion euen beyond many of thy Saints seruants Lord grant that while thou continuest the trust of them in my hands for they are thy talents and not mine I may soberly vse them to thy glory and to mine owne comfort and the comfort of the Saints O Lord grant I may abound in charitie to all of all sorts that I shall behold to stand in neede of my helpe but especially to the houshold of Faith and grant that I may giue no reliefe in worldly ostentation or vaine glory to bee seene or talked of of men but in an vpright heart good conscience vnto thee And all this I beseech thee to grant for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Lord and Sauiour Last of all I beseech thee as a seeling member of thy holy Church militant howsoeuer or wheresoeuer dispersed scattered or afflicted for all thine that suffer any kinde of sorrow neede sicknesse or any other aduersitie in soule or body by sea or land but especially for all thine that suffer bonds chaines or imprisonments with Ioseph for righteousnesse sake mittigate all their paines and troubles and giue them Faith and patience in all their seueral distresses as may bee most for thine owne glory and their comforts through Christ our Mediator and Redeemer To thee ô Father Sonne and holy Ghost the eternall and most blessed Trinitie bee rendred all praise and glory not onely by all men in generall but by me in speciall with thy holy Church this day and for euermore Amen Amen A particular confession of a sorrowfull sinner MOst mighty and all-knowing Lord â—…true spring of consâ—…ion J doe confesse with heaâ—t and voyce thou art my preseruation I haue offended griâ—uously by my transgâ—…ssions donâ— against thee And haue drawne downe a weight on mee of thy great Iudgements willfully Vnder which burden cannot I but faint and fall in wofull sort Vnlesse thy hand and thy mercy through Iesus Christ doe me support Thou knowest good Father I am weake and cannot beare thy heauy Ire Not knowing what to doe or speake or how to escape my sinfull hire Vnlesse thou point 〈◊〉 oâ—t the way with thy wise Spirit me directing Vnto my foe I am made a pray were not thy power me protecting Not euery one that heares thy word can vnderstand thy wiâ—edome great Nor euery one that cries Lord Lord shall enter in at heauens gate Who is not led by better line then doth proâ—… from fleâ—â— and blood Erres from the trueth and doeth decline from right to wrong to ill from good Whose end is death though for a time seemes sweete to please the outward man That 's nothing else but durt and slyme or like a puffe in length a span As honour riches friends and health Preferment life and Worlds delight Esteeming these true happy wealth but the true blisse is out of sight They thinke that sicknes pouerty imprisonment and enemies fell And worldly crosses verely are gates and entrance into hell So foolish and so ignorant are those thou guid'st not in thy way Mong'st whom euen I through wisdomes want haue bin misled vntill this day But hauing found the truth by triall that earthly ioyes are transitory When they me tempt I make deniall and onely seeke the eternall glory Now I disclaime all confidence in honour health in wealth or feature In wit or worldly Sapience or yet in any earthly creature And Lord I here doe dedicate all thou hast giuen me to thine honour My selfe I wholly consecrate to march and fight vnder thy banner And now I bid these toyes adue that onely-please my flesh and sences Because they all are most vntrue and still doe cause so great offences Because their glorious bounty fades and leaues nought but deformities Because they are nought else but shades and bring forth grosse enormities Because they are most false and fickle because they are indeed hels fewell Because their rose hath many a prickle because their slauery is most cruell Because they are not firme and stable because they are profane not holy Because they are but as a fable because they are but sottish folly Because my soule they coll and kill because they giue me Iudas kisse Because my good they spot and spill and draw me from mine heauenly wish Because like swords they wound my soule because like Serpents they doe
summe of all thy mercies whereof I haue beene this day partaker O Lord I am vile looke not vpon mine vnworthinesse folly and wickednesse but appease thy anger iustly conceiued against me and forgiue what hath beene amisse in me this day or at any other time euen for his sake who is thy well beloued Sonne and my deare Aduocate Roote vp ô Lord the thornes of mine euill inclination and affections and in their places make the fruits of vertue to spring inflame my heart with the desire of heauenly loue that I may loue obedience to thy Gommandements with zeale as hot as fire louing thee aboue all things and my neighbour as my selfe Giue me grace ô Lord to serue thee in true faith feare and holinesse all the dayes of my life and to ouercome my mortall enemies the desires of the world the pleasures of the flesh and the suggestious of the wicked Spirit remembring my promise made to thee in Baptisme for the performance whereof I depend onely vpon thy holy Spirit O God of glorious light let thine Angels pitch their tents round about this house for our defence now in the time of this darkenesse and grant that this nights sleepe may bee quiet vnto mee without griefe or trouble preserue me and mine both in body and soule from all dangers and offences which may come either by foolish dreames noysome spirits or vncleannesse of corrupt nature waken me againe ô Lord in due time and let me behold the light of the next day to my comfort prepare my heart and minde to thy seruice euery day in all trueth and sinceritie that when I haue runne the race of this life thou mayest please to call mee to be partaker of a better Comfort mee ô Lord in all those things wherein I haue beene any wayes dismayed this day take not thy holy spirit from me but continue the motions thereof in my heart that when as the tempter shalâ— come with his assaults I may bee furnished with the shield oâ— faith to quench his fiery darts Confirme my weakenesse and grant that this nights sleepe may be sweet and healthfull for my body and a profitable memoriall of that sleepe which at my last end in that great night shall make a separation betweene my body and soule Let alwayes thine vnspeakeable mercies preserue mee thy endlesse sweetnesse reioyce mee thy heauenly trueth strengthen mee thy knowledge embolden mee and thy goodnesse keepe me now and for euermore from mine enemies visible and inuisible that I may awake in the morning in perfect sense and good health and for the same bee thankefull vnto thee and carefully betake mee to my vocation and calling for Iesus Christs sake my onely Sauiour Amen Amen Another for the Euening MOst glorious and sacred Trinitie the most mighty God the Father the Sonne and the holy Spirit which art the authour and originall of all things both in heauen and in earth and that hast appointed vnto euery thing his end and way in this life The eyes of all things are towards thee to finish in their courses that obedience they owe vnto thee The Sunne the Moone the Starres in most constant order extend their light heate to the comforting not onely of fowles and beasts but specially to the direction of man how to know thee and walke in thy wayes as being the bookes and characters wherein wee may reade thy power wisedome and incomprehensible glory for their sound and language as a Harold is gone foorth to proclaime vnto the Nations both Pagan Christian that thou art the Lord God Almighty and most worthy to be praised as in the Morning so in the Euening also Therefore knowing the great dependancy that all things caelestiall and terrestriall haue on thee I doe humbly intreate thee to take mee into thy custody this night knowing that if a Sparrow cannot with safetie fall to the ground but by thee that without thee so great refreshing of sleepe cannot be attained vnlesse I begge it of thee many are the visions of the night as idle dreames and fancies that would interrupt my sleepe if thou Lord by thy gracious power and presence of thy good Spirit driue them not away And Sathan would like Abiâ—hai â—nto Saul in his sleepe with fearefull darts of despaire strike 〈◊〉 dead at once as Jacl did Siseâ—… vnto eternall death in soule 〈◊〉 body Therefore vnto thee the keeper of Israel that neither slumberest nor sleepest by night nor by day doe I come beseeching thee that laying my selfe to rest in thee I may in the acustomed time which thou hast appointed wake again but if thou pleasest that this night shall bee my last and that this mortall shall bee swallowed vppe in immortallity O Lord grant though I die in body yet I may awake in soule and liue with thee for euermore and that my body so sleeping yet againe may awake at the resurrection of the iust and with those that shall not sleepe bee caught vp with soule vnited by the same power by which thou ô Sauiour didst at once rise from death to life euen as that life which thou hadst with the father before the world was And as thou art one with him so grant that after my last sleepe I may be one with thee in the presence of the Father and the holy Ghost for euermore But ô Lord if thou please to raise me vp againe to spend more dayes in this vale of teares grant that I may liue honestly in the workes of my vocation which thou hast ordained me to liue in or liue by Grant that I may set thee before mine eyes day and night and behold thee alwayes in my presence that when I am tempted to any eueill in the work of my calling or any other wayes I may not bee tickled with the profit or pleasures therein obiected and so prouoked to sinne against thee Keepe my tongue from lying lest thereby I become the child of Sathan for hee is a lyer and the Father of lyes from the beginning keepe my tongue from swearing and that I may not take thy name in vaine empty my heart of couetousnesse of pride of vaine-glory and let mee not respect worldly vanitie let me not be selfe-conceited but ô Lord giue mee to bee of humble gentle harmelesse and courteous disposition and behauiour both in my words and deeds to my superiours and inferiours O Lord giue me to be of a charitable nature and of a pittifull affection toward all men in generall but especially towards all those that are of the houshold of Faith of broken and contrite hearts which thou Lord hast promised that thou wilt not despise Grant ô heauenly Father that Christ both sleeping and waking in this life and after this life may be to me aduantage O let me not fall into a custome or habite of sinning lest therewith my heart become hardened that I cannot repent but giue mee such a conscience of sinne that I may neuer commit sin either great or
hands and liues by which wee haue this day offended thee iniured and oppressed others but that thou mightest as on Iobs children suffer the deuill by his instigation of wicked men to robbe and spoyle vs not onely of our goods and cattell and other our personall estates but also of our liues But ô our good God wee are confident that through thy mercy and loue in Christ no euill shall come vnto vs for thou hast promised that thou wilt bee a refuge and fortresse to keepe safe all those that trust in thee not onely from the arrow of the day but from the terror of the night which thou at thy will and pleasure sendest for the punishmeÌ„t and correction of our sinnes as thou â—iddest Shemâ—i with his rayling â—ongue to aâ—â—â—ict Dauid O Lord for the wâ—rthinesse of thy Sonne our Sauiour in whom onely wee lay down our bodies to rest turne backe this night and at all other times of our sleepe all the euill and wicked purposes of those that intend vs any hurt in our bodies or goods and send thy holy Angels to protect vs with their hands as they did thee our Sauiour against the prince of darkenesse when he had ended on thee his three temptations in the wildernesse And as they fought against the Assirans hoaste that proudely boasted themselues against thy seruant Hezekiah So ô Lord let thine Angels fight against all our enemies and the enemies of thy church not of flesh but of Spirit which resolue our hurt whether walking in the day or sleeping in the night And though our sinnes in which wee so much abound haue deserued that thou shouldest send those ministring Spirits as on Egypts first borne in the night to take away this our dying life or life full of death yet for thy mercies sake let them be our gardians not ouely this night but all the dayes and nights of this life for euer to further our soules and bodies in thy obedience and in and after death to conduct them to Abrahams bosome to rest in ioy and blisse with thee for euermore yea let thine Angels of light that continually behold thy face in heauen bee about our bodies night and day and with louing and kind assistance keeping euill from vs and vs from euill not onely of sinne but of temptation with which that worldly Gouernour and Prince of the Ayre neuer ceaâ—eth millions of wayes to withdraw vs from thee if he cannot through couetousnesse as Iudas â—or through the world as Deâ—as and Achan yet through pleasure as into our first mother Eue Dauid Solomon Sampson hee will a thousand to one craftely enter and seate himselfe in our hearts O Lord if by thy holy Spirit we happen to be so strong as by none of these baites to bee caught then hee laboureth by temporall crosses and afflictions of body and minde as on Iob to draw vs to distrust and dispaire in thy mercie and loue in all which assaults let thy grace and our faith keepe vs that we may not bee ouercome but as valiant souldiers in Christ and through the Armory of God in which by our holy calling we are girt we may leade captiuitie captiue and bee more then Conquerours through him that loueth vs. So that neither the feares of the day nor the terrours of the night of death and hell should separate vs from the assured guard of thee and thy Angels the conductors and furtherers of our saluation This thy great helpe and especiall assistance wee are continually enforced to craue not for our owne sakes but for thy Sonne his sake and that as hee himselfe hath taught vs in his most holy word saving Our Father which art in heauen c. To the Lord of Hoastes and God of glory our Creatour to thee ô Christ Iesus our Mediator thee most holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Sonne bee ascribed all praise and glory this night and for euermore Amen Amen Another for the Euening O Eternall God and most mercifull Father wee acknowledge and confesse against our selues that our hearts and hands are full of all filthinesse and sinnes whatsoeuer and we are altogether vnworthy to speake vnto thee or to come neere thy presence Neuertheles being so much bouÌ„d vnto thee as this day past and all other times of our liues doe witnesse we most humbly offer vnto thy holinesse by the hands of Iesus Christ our Mediatour our humble duties of praise thanksgiuing for our Creation Election Redemption Vocation and Sanctification with all other good graces appertaining to this life or that which is to come And namely ô Lord our tongues and lippes shall glorifie thee sitting aboue the Cherubims for preseruing vs this day past from so many miseries and casualties whereunto wee might iustly haue fallen if thou wouldest haue entered into iudgement with vs but Lord thou art mercifull and passest by our manifold offences to winne vs by thy long sufferance we beseech thee make vs thankefull for thy mercies and carefull to doethy will O Lord pardon and forgiue vâ— all our sinnes and grant vs euery day more and more the sight oâ— them true vnfained sorrow anâ— repentance for the same Giue vs faith and grace to beleeue all the sweete promises that thou hast made to vs in Christ Iesus both for the remission of our sins and the hope of a better life strengtheÌ„ vs from aboue with thy mighty hand to walke in euery good way and to bring forth the fruits of a true liuely faith in our liues and conuersation all the daies of our pilgrimage here Arme vs ô Lord with thy grace and holy Spirit against all the corruptions of the world the temptations of the deuill the allurements of the flesh and settle our mindes to the continuall exercise of deuout prayer with the hearing of thy sacred word watching for thy comming both publicke and priuate Continue thy goodnes towards vs in prouiding for vs such things as are necessary for the maintenance of this present life blesse the same vnder our hands that the little which wee haue by thy goodnesse may be encreased and the encrease may serue as well to furnish our necessary vses as to minister vnto the necessitie of others according to our abilities Keepe vs Lord this night from all euils which may happen either to our bodies or soules Extend thy goodnesse towards all those that depend vpon vs or wee on them Giue vs quiet sleepe and rest and when we shall awake let all our thoughts and cogitations be holy meditations on thee and thy law Blesse vs ô Lord all the nights and dayes of our liues and at the end thereof send vs a blessed departure and afterward a ioyfull resurrection vnto life eternall grant vs these good things most mercifull Father and all other needefull graces for Iesus Christ his sake in whose name wee further call vpon thee as our Lord and Sauiour hath taught vs in his Gospell saying Our Father which are in heauen
is a sweet sacrifice Repentant sinners him delight farre more then iust men in their eyes What I haue bene my God hath knowne What I now am the Lord doth see What I shall bee to him is showne from him no secret kept can be How I consum'd so many yeares mispent so many months and dayes Both houres and minutes all appeares to God who markes my life and wayes Time is the meane that all things tries Time worketh what mens wits deuise Time with his swiftnesse euer flyes And Time in time will make men wise Fly from me follies of my youth packe hence my sinnes that burd'ned me Welcome to me is Age and Truth now I by faith in Christ will be Whose sinnes doe make my heart to bleed let them examples take by me Whose wickednesse all mens exceeds come Lord in mercy pardon me Lord now let me depart in peace I â—â—ele thy rod I finde thy loue My paines doe grow my ioyes encrease this mercie comes from thee aboue My sicknesse is a present meane to heale and cure my wounds of sinne Lord purge all my corruptions cleane and let my death my life beginne A Prayer for the forgiuenesse of Sinnes ETernall God and louing Sauiour before thy Baptisme thou didst send Iohn the Baptist to preach remission of sins through repentance and faith in thy name And after thou wert Baptized and entered into thy Ministrie thou that didst exhort all that were weary and laden with their sinnes to come vnto thee saying that thou cammest to call sinners to repentance and that the whole had no need of the Phisitian but the sicke Wherefore o Lord being deadly sicke with the sence of my sinnes and with the Samaritane wounded vnto death I entreate thee in the teares of a sorrowfull heart to wash me not onely my hands feete and head but also my heart from sinne O Lord powre into my wounds the oyle of mercy that it may pacifie and quiet my minde in thee O Lord wash me with the bloud of thy Sonne as with Hysop for I haue with the Prodigall sonne and Lost sheepe erred in the vanitie of my minde But ô Lord as Philip found Nathaniel when hee looked not for him So by true repentance and hearty confession let me be found of thee and in thee now seeking after thee O Lord I thirst after thee and for thee wherefore send thy holy Spirit into mee to mollifie and comfort my hard and vnrepentant heart O Lord it cannot by nature enter into my minde that I am so wretched a sinner but by thy word as vnto Nichodemus thou hast made me to see that except by true repentance I be regenerat and so as it were borne againe I cannot enter into the Kingdome of heauen that is possibly be saued But ô Lord thou hast made me to know sinne and how sinne became sinne by the reuerent vse of thy word for though there be sinne in vs before the knowledge of thy Law yet sinne without thy Law was not imputed but thou hast giuen vs Christians this thy law as a touchstone to know sin and that sinne is the transgression of the Law for if there were no Law there would be no transgression wherefore thy Law which was ordained vnto me vnto life by the search thereof hath slaine mee vnto death and made me immeasurably sinfull for by the Law thou hast made mee to know sinne which by no other meanes I could know or should euer haue found out for how should I haue knowne lust to be sinne if thou hadst not said I should not lust Wherefore O Lord seeing it is so with me that I doe the euill which I would not and leaue vndone the good that I would binde this strong man in mee that though Sinne dwell in mee yet hee may not raigne ouer or rule in mee yea mortifie the wicked deeds of my flesh by thy holy word and mighty operation of thy spirit O grant that by the dying of the Lord Iesus sinne in all his kindes and force may be subdued and dye in me lest that thereby I be made to come short of thy glory which thou hast promised to all repentant sinners Good God grant that I may not yeeld my members seruants vnto sinnes but reserue them seruants vnto thee in true righteousnesse and holinesse all the dayes I haue to liue in this life O Lord as Ammon hated his sister Tamar after hee had abused her with himselfe and himselfe with her so that hee could not abide â—ere nor well might himselfe by reason of himselfe giue mee grace I may hate sinne not onely after but before it is committed with no lesse indignation then they did each other and thou them both O Lord let the old man that is in me be so crucified with Christ in the power of his death that I may henceforth be no more seruant vnto sinne for that thou hast said that a carnall man liuing in sinne cannot please thee O Lord giue me thy spirit that I may hate the things of the flesh which are nothing but san against thee and loue the things of thy spirit as ioy in the holy Ghost peace of conscience long-suffering patience in bearing and forbearing wrongs with faith and the like graces and fruits of thy most holy spirit O Lord seeing I haue to the subduing of sin desired the gift of thy holy spirit let mee be carefull by the vse of all holy meanes to walke in the spirit And seeing thou hast condemned sinne in him that knew no sinne for my sake O Lord condemne it not in me againe and as the first birth is nothing but sinfull Adam Lord graunt that by this my second birth I may be a continuall liuing spirituall man in Christ thus hauing confessed my sinnes with hearty sorrow I beseech thee for my Sauiour his sake to forgiue me my sinne and to strengthen mee all the dayes of my life to come that with the man in the Gospell I may follow thy heauenly counsell and sinne no more neither in action affection nor intention lest this my confession and contrition should be in vaine which O Lord forbid for thy Christ his sake Amen Amen The Repentant complaineth of the grieuousnesse of his sinnes and desireth mercie and pardon and to be deliuered from Sinne and the guilt and punishment thereof HIdden O Lord are my most horrid sinnes vnto the world though open plain to thee He neuer betters that no time begins corruption killeth all good thoughts in me What sinne doth dwell in this vild flesh of ours but doeth encrease like monsters huge in me Committing them both minuts dayes houres as swift as time so fast grow they in me Rent thine own flesh teare thy wretched haire scrape clean corruptions marrow froÌ„ thy bones Put out thine eyes cut off thy tongue stop eares lame all thy senses to kill sinne at once I faine would walk that know not how to creepe I am opprest with such most
healed His was a death cause death was due in him di'd all he died for all Gods Iustice vs to death doth sue he pay'd it and repair'd the fall That we might sleepe he suffered paines that we might laugh he oft did weepe His was the losse ours was the gaines thus did he change death to a sleepe To Christ did Stephen yeeld vp his spirit for he 's the way the truth the life He purchast life by death and merit the husband's he the Church his wife He is that Noah his Church the Doue that holds his hand for to receiue vs He bids vs come to embrace his Loue we flye to him when all deceiues vs. The heauens the earth the Lord commands to him all creatures runne but wee None can vs take out of his hands in life and death to him we flee Pillar of faith Basis of blisse of true Religion true supporter The point of Resurrection is in death it is the chiefe Comforter If this doe fall all faith may faile what Article doth vs refresh When life and health and strength doth quaile the Resurrection of the flesh Our bones shall blossome as the grasse we shall be raised out of dust The body that before time was by Christ his power arise it must The first fruits Christ the head is rais'd the members shall the same likewise The Lord God for the same be prais'd we know that we shall also rise If he ad aboue the water be how can the body then be drowned We shall arise and Iesus see and with him shall be Kingly crowned Of life and death the true directour who in his life and in his dying Of our misdoing is Correctour and into all our actions prying Christ is afflicted for our sake left vs example that we should Follow his steps and his way take thy crosse to beare with courage bold Our Sauiour Iesus teacheth thee how can that be say'st thou behold Example if thou punish'd be with sicknesse hunger thirst and cold With thy selfe reckon and account how it cannot compared be With his thornes his nayles surmount the greatest paine that paineth thee Art thou restrain'd of thy desire and lusts that draw thou know'st not whither Thinke on Christs Crosse his wrath and ire and put his tortures all together If pride puffe vp thy minde with motions looke on Christ nayl'd on the Crosse And thinke as bound by due deuotions of our great gaine by his great losse If thou in filthy lust doest burne or any other ill desire Thinke but how Christ his flesh was torne to saue thy soule from flames of fire With stripes thrust through and all to broken his drinke was Eysell mixt with gall With his last gaspe the earth was shaken who suffered for the sinnes of all If enuie hate reuenge thee grieue thinke with thy selfe how Christ did pray O Father doe them all forgiue for them that tooke his life away God vs commanded to forgiue and sayeth then we shall be forgiuen Without offence no man can liue and God his ballance hangeth euen He â—hat doth not forgiue his brother will then the Lord his faults remit No as he deâ—…h with another another shall repay 't is sit And when you kneele to God and pray forgiue if you haue any thing Gainst any liuing man that day that Christ may you remission bring And when thy gift thou do'st present and on the Altar sacrifice First with thy brother make consent and him forgiue in any wise When thou to Christ wast enemie and strengthened in great extreames Yet then did he giue remedie and o're thee spread his mercy beames He gaue to thee his holy spirit to guide and leade thy soule aright And gaue thee heauen there to inherit all ioyes and blisse aye in his sight When thou from him was gone astray be sought thee out and did thee finde And finding thee brought thee away vnto his fold he thee resignde Thanke God therefore and render praise exalt and laude his holy name Vnto the heauens sing alwayes All men on earth doe yee the same Henceforth my soule walke in his path and erre not from him any more Lest thou prouoke his heauy wrath and then art worse then wert before Let not Gods gifts be giuen thee to worke thy condemnation With feare and trembling walke sincere confirming thy Saluation Shunne thou all wicked Company with doers ill associate not Lest thou from faith should'st fall and 〈◊〉 and soule and body soile and spot But blesse his name who called thee vnto the state of righteousnesse And thy sinnes vengeance tane hath he to giue thee heauens happinesse Blesse thou his blessed Holinesse his praise let heart and minde record And let thy tongue and voyce confesse the gracious goodnesse of the Lord Prostrate thy selfe downe at his feete offer thy seruice with free heart O yeeld God all for 't is most meete since he made sau'd and blest each part Who spared not his onely Sonne but let him dye thy soule to saue To pay and ransome thy faults done and to redeeme thee from the graue So in the Prayer of our Lord we doe forgiue what 's done against vs As God forgiuenesse shall afford our Sauiour Christ doth teach vs thus A Prayer to beare patiently the Crosse of Christ or any affliction And if God so please to call vs to that triall euen to reioyce in Martyrdome O Almighty God most mercifull and louing Father that hast decrced that through manifold tribulations and afflictions in this world we that trust in thee must enter into the Kingdome of heauen And those that will follow thee my Sauiour and be thy Disciples must take vpon them by the constraint of the world as Simon of Cyrene to beare thy Crosse and to follow thee and those that liue godly in thy Son must suffer reproach and affliction And that there is neuer a Son whom thou louest but must like Peter drinke of thy Cup and endure chastening And in so doing thou offerest thy selfe an assured louing Father and assurest vs that wee are thy sonnes because it is giuen vs not onely to beleeue in thee but also that wee should suffer for his names sake O Lord I am willing not onely to liue with thee but also to dye with thee My Spirit is willing though my flesh bee weake Wherefore if it bee possible let this bitter Cup passe from me or if thou please and hast appointed that I by death should glorifie thee and with my blood seale and confirme thy truth sweet Iesus giue mee strength comfort and patience blessed be thy name and thy most holy will be done O Lord manifest thy power in my weakenesse and strengthen me that I may by the same power whereby thou raisest thy selfe from death to life patiently beare and willingly suffer that for thy name sake which otherwise for flesh and blood seemeth fearefull to be endured O Lord when I consider the hazards that wee runne through for the obtaining of
these present profits and delights of this life and with what vnwearied paines wee prosecute the winning of this worlds vanities that in the end are nothing worth but to pamper the body and make it vpon euery slight occasion most willing to deny thee O Lord when I consider the pleasure of this world and the abundance of content I haue in this life wanting nothing for my bodie Oh what a Coward doth it make mee that with the young man that was most ready to follow thee yet when thou biddest him sell all his worldly riches and follow thee O simple man hee neuer came at thee more So me thinkes I feele Sathan to say vnto me What a foole art thou to leaue father or mâ—ther wife and children houses lands gooâ—s a certainty for an vncertainty to follow thee O Lord how am I tempted by the Papists the Enemies of the Gospell to think this way foolishnesse a Sect and heresie lately risen and seperated from the Church meaning themselues Oh how they doe tempt mee by the examples of my â—ore-fathers that for many genâ—rations time out of minde haue liued and died in the Romish Religion and why should I thinke my selfe wiser then they O heauenly Father see and behold these subtill instruments of Sathan and keepe me that these crafty baytes of Sathan arising from the flesh and the world preuaile not ouer me that like Peter in the water or the young man I let goe my true faith not to beleeue in lyes and errours and so finally forsake thee who hath so dearely loued me and bought me But O God my Sauiour strengthen my faith that I be not moued to let goe my first loue with which I haue been so much comforted in thee O strengthen me that neither Sathan by himselfe nor by his Antichristian Instruments which hee ruleth at his pleasure preuaile against me either to doubt of my faith much lesse to denie thee my Lord and Sauiour but as thou for my sake didst not contemne nor despise the reproach of the wicked nor yet the cursed death of the Cross but for the ioy that was set before thee and which thou hadst with the Father before the world was endured the same and though thou wert reuiled yet thou reuilest not againe but with infinite patience committed thy cause to thy Father So O Lord graunt that by my faith in thy power I may bee no lesse assured of patience in the greatest torment that shall be inflicted vpon my body For I know that although they kill my body yet they cannot touch my soule but that it shall liue with thee for euer And in despight of their malice while they thinke to destroy my soule with death they shall extract my spirit into glorious life with God the Father and his Christ for euermore Sweet Sauiour as Sampson in his death triumphed most gloriously ouer his enemies so graunt to me that they seeing my patience and beholding my vnmoueable hope may be so ashamed and in their conscience so affrighted that they may like Saul at the death of Stephen be conuerted and after their change of minde magnifie as most pretious the death of thy Saints and by preaching the truth strengthen the brethren and stand fast in the Faith vnto the end O Lord strengthen mee that I may not faint vnder the crosse because thou hast appointed vs thereunto that in thy crosse wee should be more then conquerours and by his example whose steps we should onely follow account our selues most happy that thou wilt call vs and grace vs to lay downe our liues for his name sake as thou hast layd downe thy life for our sakes O God if the righteous scarcely be saued as it seemeth vnto the world through these bitter torments with which wee are to be scourged and made cleane vessels to serue thee in thy Kingdome where shall the wicked and sinners which regard not thy crosse appeare O Lord being confident of thy mercy in the merits of thy Sonne doe I submit my selfe in soule and body to doe seruice and sacrifice vnto thee as vnto a faithfull Creatour knowing that a crowne of glory remaineth for mee Father into thy hands doe I commend my spirit Lord Jesus after death receiue my soule as thou hast all those braue champions that were slaine with the sword that wandered about in Sheepe-skins and Goat-skins and thought it better to liue with beasts in woods and dennes to enioy thee then to liue among men Gentiles and Antichristians and denie thee being destitute afflicted and tormented wandering in Desarts mountaines and dens and holes of the earth to auoyde the beastly and cruell enemies of thy word O Lord as thou hast made thy wrath smoke against the Heathens the Assirians the Egyptians the Moabites the Ammonites that first trampled vnder foote the blood of thy Saints by labouring an vtter consuming of them So O Lord either graunt the conuersion or else let thine indignation appeare in these our dayes against the Turkes Heretikes Athiests and all Antichristian enemies that like Herod and Iulian obstinately persecute and scorne thy name And this though a most vnworthy Suppliant I beseech thee to graunt and that for the honour of thy great name in which thy true Church doth onely trust Amen Amen A thanksgiuing for Gods temporall and spirituall blessings O Most bountifull and kinde Creatour vnto thee in Christ Iesus doe I come and returne most humble and heartie thankes not onely for the generall goodnesse which thou hast extended vnto all mankinde but for that especiall part which thou hadst diuided vnto mee in more speciall manner O Lord I giue thee most humble thankes and praise for that portion of thy blessings set forth vnto mee to my present vse and comfort in this life as for thy daily preseruations of mee not onely in the wombe of my parents but for my safety in my birth that I was not mishapen in breeding nor in comming forth into this world and that after my birth in the time of my swadling bands infancie childhood and youth no mishap nor mishape befell me to the defacing of that perfect shape in which at first thou broughtest me forth O Lord how many children and youth haue beene maymed at nurse and through the carelesnesse of those vnto whom they haue beene committed vnto trust how many haue fallen into the fire and beene burned noâ— onely in some part but in thâ— whole body vnto death and by other chances whereof thiâ— world is full as drowned bruised broken in the body armes backe legges thighes feet in the eyes nose and face O Lord how innumerable arâ— the perils and dangers of this life vnto which euery man is subiect and doth continually run througâ— in euery state and degree of thiâ— present age and life and yet re ceiue no dammage O Lord foâ— these deliuerances from dangers through which I haue passed anâ— receiued no hurt and for whicâ— I haue neuer giuen thee thanks 〈◊〉
scandalls and disgrace With thy protection Lord approach and let thy mercy me embrace Let not me come within the reach of their inuentions and deuice Whose facts are foule they faire in speech and by base flattery me entice Nor such as lye in wayte for me obtaine their wish who doe desire Fit time and opportunity to worke the euill they conspire O let me tread in the right path and walke from faith to faith in loue Obserue thy lawes and shunne thy wrath and forward to all vertue mone And let my conscience witnesse beare of my saith and integrity Let all men see the Christall cleare of my poore hearts sincerity Though I good Father cannot liue free from all sinne and all offence And some take cause though I none giue yet keepe thou cleare my conscience Shall I deserue still as I doe mens iust reproofes through indiscretion And that against my meaning too and suffer carnall mens oppression That breake forth into bitternesse against me that am weake and lame And vomite out their filthinesse What thou hast done they count my shame And take it as an argument that I am in deiection And thinke it is thy full intent to keepe me from protection Indeede O Lord I must confesse my sinnes deserue sharpe punishment Worthy of more and not of lâ—sse then all the plagues on me hast sent I more should taste then I can beare or able them for to endure Thy mercies yet they doe me spare and make me cleane that am impure But in my weakenesse of behauiour I this haue done which caus'd me fall But yet I trust in Christ my Sauiour his pâ—â—tious blood hath payd for all Depending on thy mighty power to saue keepe and deliuer me Lest miseries doe me deuoure and enemies my sorrowes see And take oâ—casion to pursue pretending to my soule no good Inâ—etered hatred they renue to eats my flesh and spill my blood Therefore consider my great groanes preuent the dangers comming nigh me My heart is rent with sighes and moanes J flye to thee O Lord stand by me Why standest thou a loose alas seem'st not my troubles to regard Why turn'st thou Lord away thy fâ—câ— mine heart doth hope for some reward Why hidest thou thy selfe me fro when troubles are so much abounding As though thou Lord dâ—dst me not know thy darts are alwayes mine heart wounding There is no helpe for mâ— in thee they say thou nothing doâ—st respect me I neuerthelesse will come to thee for Christ his sake thou wilt not reiect me The rather therefore me relieue that righteous men may well perceiâ—â— Thou ready art thine ayde to giue and their desires wilt not deceiue And not to faâ—nt when they are tride with like afflictions any wayes But shall with patient minde abide thy will and giue thy name the praise The dullest hearts thou doest prepare to call on thee and thou againe Doest heare their cries and them do'st spare and easest them of griefe and paine How long O Lord how long wilt thou forget me and how long shall I Seeke to be heard and know not how to make thee listen to my crie How long shall I thy counsell seeke yet ignorant what course to take I pray thee O Lord most meete with sighes and groanes which neuer slake My heart with griefe and heauinesse powres forth complaints continually Before thee in my great disâ—…sse yet inward light obtaine not I That lighten should my pensiue soule and comfort mine afflicted heart Thy wrath with rigour doth controle my forward hopes and causeth smart Thou threatn'st sorrowes to encrease to such as seeke to other gods Why should not then my torments cease that child-like feare thy awfull rods Sith I in thee my faith repone why should I then true wisedome want It being sought from thee alone why do'st thou then refuse to graunt Thou didst create all men at first and doest preserue and all maintaine Thy Sunne doth shine on best and worst the same to all thou do'st remaine But sith to thee alone I kneele and onely vnto thee doe call O let me Lord thy mercies feele and let thy drops of mercy fall With thee there is redemption and thou deliuerest all that trust In Christ for their saluation by whom the sinfull are made iust Thou keep'st them safe vnder thy wings of fauour from the mercilesse Thy fauour giueth all good things to thine Elect in their distresse O therefore be my rocke where on I may both safely build and rest Castle of refuge Arke alone in which I am in safety blest For thou hast promis'd in thy loue that they that put their trust in thee Like Syons mount which doth not moue shall safely stand eternally Breake thou the chaines which haue me tide remoue the sorrowes from my heart Wherewith Lord all my vaines are dried and I am parcht in euery part That I walking at liberty with a free spirâ—â— may salue my sore My hope may liue and crosses die and I sing praise to thee therefore And let my â—oes no more preuaile that Lyon-like doe me destroy And like to Wolues they me â—ssâ—ile that spoile the Sheepe the Shepheards ioy O carry me Lord in thine armes througâ— out these miseries cleane away And safâ—ly keâ—pe me from all harmes that now sticke fast in mire and clay Let no vntimely suddâ—ine Fate cut off my dayes ere fully spent Or raging floods sinke mine estate nor swallow me incontinent But rather Lord returne them backe these swelling waues that reare and rage On euery side to worke me wraâ—ke their gusts and tempests Lord asswage Let me passe on my mortall course and finish these my dayes of life Of thy meere loue and kinde remorse in peace and loue from hate and strife A thanksgiuing after the receiuing of the Lords Supper O Heauenly Father I thanke thee that thou hast made me this day to sit downe with thee at thy heauenly Table and hast giuen me the bread of God that came downe from heauen not as the Mannah which being eaten afterward did perish and the eaters too and hast made this Sacramentall body and bloud of thy Sonne to be meate indeede and drinke indeede farre surpassing the olde carnall Mannah which extended but vnto the body but this spirituall foode which thou hast giuen mee with thiâ—e owne hand hath in it a quickning life for the present and an assurance of an eternall life in the life to come Wherefore hauing fed on thee this day by faith in my heart let the sweet comfort thereof so cheare my soule that I may more and more thirst after thee and by godly liuing expresse my dwelling in thee and so be more and more assured that thou art that Christ and Sonne of the liuing God my Sauiour and Redeemer in life and death and for euermore after death for vnto this end O God the Father thou hast sealed thy Sonne to be my Sauiour in thee will I for euer trust in this life to be
Church euen so by the profits and pleasures which he profereth vs would hee cunningly steale our hearts from thee and thy worship vnto himselfe which we abhorre as most wicked and vngodly And considering how hee stirreth our vncleane hearts and wicked corruptions as a stinking puddle to breath forth many noysome and loathsome cogitations and euill actions whereby he would brand our consciences not only to doubt of our redemption by Christ but also of thy mercy which is so exceeding comfortable For all these considerations wee entreate thee to heare vs helpe vs and strengthen vs in all these seuerall temptations and as in these so in all other of what nature or kinde so euer they are or shall be in this world and that not onely in prosperity but in aduersity and in the strength of Sathans temptations especially when thou shalt haue cast vs vpon the bed of sicknesse and bring vs vnto the point of death when we are most weake and Sathan in his greatest insolencie Wherefore O Lord giue vs grace that in the time of this life we may not be negligent but most carefull in the vse of all good meanes whereby wee may finish our saluation in feare and trembling for of our selues we cannot moue one foot forward vnto thy Kingdome without thy helpe to stirre vs inwardly by the motions of thy spirit and outwardly by the hearing and reading of thy word with conference meditation and prayer Let not thy grace be absent at such times but goe on with vs in blessing helping and guiding vs till wee haue obtained full assurance euen the testimony of thy holy Spirit in our hearts witnessing vnto vs and with vs that thou art our God and wee thine adopted sonnes and children in Christ Iesus our Lord and so may bee enabled to stand fast in loue and charity as to all men in generall so especially to thy Church which are onely the houshold of faith O make me mercifull to the fatherlesse to widowes indeede to captiues bondslaues and all sorts that suffer aduersity in soule or body Hauing prayed for our selues and such things as concerne this present life as feeling members of the misticall body of thy Church militant dispersed and scattered throughout the whole world we entreate thee to haue mercy vpon it and blesse it by strengthening those that thou hast called that we may stand fast in the profession of thy Name and not bee ashamed of that inseparable yoke-fellow thy crosse vnder which thou hast caused vs as spirituall souldiers alwayes to warre And graunt that by no temptations inward or outward wee be forced to faint but enable vs that fighting against our most subtill aduersaries flesh or spirit our corrupt nature men or the deuill being Lords of the whole world that iâ— wicked carnall and vnregenerate men that are wholly led of Sathan and the power of darknesseâ— Heauenly Father I beseech thee more particularly to looke downe vpon the reformed Churches and among them more especially vpon the Churches of England Scotland and Ireland and all otheâ— our owne and neighbouring Nations that we may enioy the promises of the Gospell as long as the Sunne and Moone endureâ— And graunt that out of those Churches may be spread farre and wide among the Iewes and Heathen that are called the amiabiâ— tidings of the Gospel that thereby the Kingdome of thy Sonne may be more and more enlarged To this end blesse all Christian Kings Princes and Potentates but especially thy seruant Charleâ— our King that by thine appointment at this present doth rule and gouerne vs encrease in him â—nd them religious zealous and â—incere hearts so as hee and they â—ay goe before all other Kings â—nd Princes in mâ—st holy wise Christian life ministring iudgement and iustice without respect â—f persons O Lord make our King and all other Kings strong â—aintainers and defenders of thy â—ue ancient Catholicke and Christian faith now established 〈◊〉 these his Dominions that no â—olicie of man nor subtilty of Saâ—han may preuaile against it but â—hat his Maiestie by the tempoâ—all sword and the Ministers of â—…e Word by the spirituall sword â—…e preaching of the Word as â—…ttle Dauid may preuaile against â—…l the enemies thereof secret or â—pen abroad or at home within â—…ese his owne Dominions Heaâ—enly Father send him wee beâ—…ech thee if it be thy will Noâ—…e and Royall issue that after him 〈◊〉 euery Age they may sit vpon â—…e Throne of this Kingdome râ—le and gouâ—rne it vnto the comming of thy deare Sonne our Sauiour vnto iudgement O Lord settle about him and them iâ— euery age and generation a god ly learned religious truly noble and wise Counsell And graunâ— that both hee and they may truly loue and aduance vnto and in gouenrnment a learned and religious Ministerie and Magistracâ—… within thy Church of great Brittaine especially And most mighâ— ty God I pray thee perpetually to looke downe vpon all men buâ— especially vpon our owne Country men that are in any aduersity by sea or land and in their seuerall trialls and crosses of this lifeâ— giue them patience to beare 〈◊〉 deliuerance in or out of them 〈◊〉 may be best vnto thy godly wise dome as may make most to thâ— glory and their comforts 〈◊〉 these and all other blessings spirituall and temporall beyond thâ— wee are able to aske and thinke we pray thee to hearâ— vs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onely and alone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sonâ—e our Sauiours saâ—e 〈◊〉 â—hom with thee and thy â—…t holy Spirit be 〈◊〉 hoâ—… and glory from this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for euermore Amen LACHRIM 6. In which the distressed craueth pardon for his sinnes the cause of all his miseries O Had I wings like to a Doue then should I from these troubles flie To wildernesse I would remoue to spend my life and there to die Mongst bushes thicke and branches tall of mighty Cedars huge and hie With sauages and wilde beasts all for to auoyde my miserie But why thus wish I Lord alas that am vaine man of flesh and blood Thou God that bring'st all things to passe doest know this sorts not for my good For were â—…in vaste wildernesse in furthest part of earth or ayre I could no whit my case redresse as being in thy power there Were I in bowells of the earth were I in sea in cloudes or skie With sorrow griefe with ioy or mirth there Lord thou art with powerfull eye There canst thou also finde me out and visite there my foule effence Thou art my pathes and bed about t is vaine to hide or feele defence Then let me at thy footestoole fall and there acknowledge mine amisse For pardon begge and mercy call and pray for griefe and heauenly blisse And that thou bridle my desires cleanse mine affections with thy spirit Inflame me with thy holy fire in nought but thee let me delight Lord can the fiercenesse of my heart râ—forme my words my mouth my speech Thou fountaine of all wisedome art therefore true wisedome